Montauk, NY

-sunny

MET

Not a bad place to visit right now.

-sunbuns

Coincidence Part XV

(dedicated to the ICP family)

-sunny

love fest

Here is to one of the best 4th of July's yet, and our NY family. Everything people tell you isn't possible to have in this city, like front lawns, backyards and closets - not necessarily true.  With a little luck and patience, you'll find a front lawn to sleep on with all your friends in the summer, a killer backyard for bbqs, and a walk in closet in your apartment to fit all your shit. It's been over a year now, and boy does it feel cozy.

- sunny

reading material

Feeling like filling your brain with some stuff? Read here..

passions in the sand

Terrorist romance novel zine by yours truly Arien Valizadeh - if his other stuff doesn't excite you, this sure should, unless of course you hate fun and life and love and art.

-sunny

old roll: ly's bday

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dude 4

Meet Jeff Henrikson. Jeff doesn't really care about anything other than work, hanging, and Minnesota. He keeps quiet about his talents as a photographer. Everyone always asks, "hey jeff, lets see your photos," and he's all, "eh" and shrugs. I think it's because he's coming out with something big one day and he just doesn't wanna blow his load. He's our little jeffy baby because he looks forever 19.

-sunny

weird day

waves. see y'all on the other side.

Song of the Month

Ghazal, I couldn't have said it better myself. Click here and read.

babe report

Stumbled across this new Mika Miko video via the No Age Blog; it is such a simple concept but so aesthetically appealing with its bold vertical lines and colors. As one fan comment on Youtube put it, "This is a perfect match of sound and vision. The video looks exactly how Mika Miko sounds!" Glad to see young creative women doing well in this world.

Enjoy,

Sadaf

armenian ashug sayat nova

Daniel Arnold posted the entirety of The Color of Pomegranates by Sergei Parajanov. It's a fantastic little gem of a film, take a looky.

-sunny

Wider Implications

The way information is traveling right now is mind blowing. To keep up with the state of things in Iran, refer here. 

I knew all this social networking could be good for something. Also never doubted youtube for a minute -

For those who don't know, Iran is currently in a state of riot and protest because of the election results.  Get to it.

-sunny

dude love vs lady love, both good loves

-sunny

collective autonomy

I declare June the month to mix things up. One, Two, GO.

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arrangements.

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Bizarro Beach

Sheeps Meadow, Central Park. 

-sunny

better than disneyworld

Great human Nick Dewitt once told me about this magical place in the great state of Wisconsin. It's called House on the Rock.  Three sections hold "the worlds greatest" everything's from organs, to circus's and carousel's, to re-created streets and mill houses, etc, and an original house with 14 rooms full of marvels... into Alex Jordan's imagination is where I'd like to go. 

-sunny

three thumbs up

Of course our friends at Fader put out an issue with David Byrne on the cover and a super spread including the raddest map ever made in reference to Byrnes' life. Way to crush it zero per zero and everyone at the magazine. Get yourself a copy.

-sunny

girl 5

Meet Julie Brooke Williams. So 8 years ago I took my first real trip to NY with my then boyfriend and we stayed with one of his friends who had just started dating Julie at the time. I had no idea how close we would become in the next 8 years to come. Fast forward to the present and we are practically in love and ready for marriage (in the friendship sense). She is also a killer stylist owning this city which is constant inspiration and everything that comes out of her mouth in terms of girl advice is solid gold.  I'm looking forward to getting free at Lazy Meadow this summer, we are making plans. 

-sunny

extra sheets

It's the season for visitors. Hopefully New York hasn't turned me a jaded grump when the wave of tan, happy Californians we love and miss so much come running into our laps in search of a wild long weekend in the caves and pits of Manhattan nightlife and Brooklyn parties.

Good thing we jumped ship to a bigger apartment to fit more suitcases.

-sunny

Coincidence Part XIV

a visual language is everyone's language;

Friendly exchanges from out-of-towner movers & shakers is always a nice thing to encounter. If you can't read this, you can always take a look at the photos, they work it out.

-sunny

Pleasantries

-sunny

Song of the Month

Parallel Worlds

There were two parts to the North Carolina trip. One was finally experiencing the state that many of our friends from California are from & constantly reference, and two was the 72 hour celebration leading up to the big bang of the most perfect wedding I've ever had the honor of attending. The LA gang was present in strong form, and southern hospitality and hosting from both the Hullihan and Joliff family was tip-top. Southerners are a lot like Persians except they are white and proper, but just as chatty and ready for some real shit. 

Highlights include:

- Mansion cocktail party at tobacco Rob's estate

- Quarry jump off

- Breaking into the banquet room to play a well-mannered, drunk round of charades , bros vs brahs 

- Reynolda Park turtle denial and frisbee throwing

- Graylan castle exploring (note: there was an "ice cream room" on every floor)

- Wafflehouse, Bojangles, and Cookout

- Dallas's firework show 

- and the Wedding itself, Duh.

Big congrats Jimmy & Eleanor.

- ms. sunny shokrae

on point

Do yourself a favor and eat here at least twice a month.

-sunny

dude 3

Meet Jason Langdon. He does a great Boston accent but his girlfriend Emily refuses to be in the same room as him when he does. We've known eachother for a couple years now, taking it all the way from LA to NY.  You know it's time to take Jason home when his glasses are on the tip of his nose and his eyebrows are questioning you without knowing they're questioning you. 

This is an outtake from a project in the works, he still manages to look so cool without even trying. He also put on his robe for me, quite the gentleman if you ask me.

-sunny

'tis the season

Grill time. 

china chalet

The magic in NY lies in its little surprises. Who knew a party in Wall Street could be so raw? 

Rather than being a thematic disaster, the pink party was a grand hit. More please.  

- ms. sunny shokrae

Do-able

For fucks sake, do it yourself. 

Refer here  

-sunny

Metropolitan Ave

Our time on Metropolitan Ave is coming to a close. 

I will miss our Laundromat guy Sam for sending us home with cookies every time we drop off dirty clothes, the sun bathing Italians in the lawn chairs, and the convenience /curse of walking past Hana at 3am many of nights.

xo, sunny

pulled from dallas clayton

- sunny

pop pop blow blow bubble gum

- sunny

Song of the Month

-sunny

Best Cookie award goes to...

Uncle Eddie's Cookies!

These amazing, all-natural, vegan cookies have been my pastry of choice since the young age of 14, when I started being more "active." They're moist, naturally sweetened, and have the cutest brown paper bag packaging along with hand-drawn, island inspired doodles. Not to mention, it's a local California company. My personal favorite are the molasses cookies, but I haven't seen those out on the shelves recently. I recommend indulging in these delicious treats. Un-regrettable. 

- Sadaf

Adventure: Deep Nights

-sunny

dream job well deserved

way to kill it Charley Harper.

dude 2

Meet James Jollif, we call him Jimmy but he likes formalities because he's from North Carolina so you might wanna stick to James. He's shown here eating a slice of guava cheese pie from Cafe Tropical in Los Angeles, my favorite dessert. 

When we first met he would refer to me as the governor of LA, it was so flattering.  He also always tells me I need to work on my manners and I try to argue we come from different cultures where different things are considered polite.  

I miss Jimmy a lot because he looked after me like a big brother and I was always in good hands, even when we would fight like siblings (I would always be right). He is getting married to Eleanor Hullihan next month - I'm tickled with joy for the big day. For this, I must find a worthy dress and the wedding present of the century. Big ups to the both of them.

-sunny

Friday, March 27th 2009 8PM
Starr Space, 108-110 Starr Street
Brooklyn NY 11237
$10 door

-Amir

the future

There was that one evening when mac photobooth picture taking blew our minds, and as of recent times, videochatting has surpassed that level of madness with extreme superiority. For friends far and near, it's nice to be able to see you even when you're not technically "here."

-sunny