DIScourse - Antwerp

Just a short entry before I head to Amsterdam for the weekend. Earlier in the week I found out about some special live performances and installations by Ryoji Ikeda that are happening in Amsterdam being today and ending on June 21 (DreamAmsterdam). There isn't a lot of opportunity to see Ikeda in concert in the states and the idea of a city shutting off it's lights for an art installation by a somewhat obscure Japanese musician/artist is something I couldn't miss out on, so I rescheduled my hair appointment that was for Saturday and bought concert and train tickets and booked a hotel room near Paradiso (the venue where the concert is being held).

Speaking of concerts, on Tuesday I caught a train to Brussels and went back to AB Club to see Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues Band. I got there a little early so I walked around the city a bit, but I didn't bring my camera, so no photos. When the doors opened I got my pass which turned out to be an all access pass, which was great. I got a drink and then headed back stage to see if I could find my friend, Jim, who's drumming in the band. It turned out that he was back at the hotel, so I went back out front and bought a t-shirt and another drink and waited for the show to start. I hadn't heard of the opening band, Appalooza, they turned out to be a two piece: vocals and electronics/guitar. It wasn't bad but I think it would work better as a recording. It was very dance oriented. Cat Power and band came on at 9:00 (I love these early shows). The band was great and Chan Marshall was much more involved with the crowd than I'd seen her before, however she wasn't playing guitar so she could move around stage more easily. Her voice has improved a lot since the first time I saw her and but she seemed to be having throat problems and left the stage for a few minutes about half way through the show. She played until 10:30 when the curfew starts. Overall the show was really good and I was happy to see it. After the show I went back stage again and hung out with Jim and most of the band (Jim introduced me to everyone). I seemed to be the only person back there that wasn't in the band or crew, which was nice but surprising, since the show was sold out. It was nice catching up with Jim but I had to leave early to catch the last train. On my way to the train station as I was getting into a cab (I got turned around and was afraid of missing the train) Chan passed me in a van and through a flower to me, which was nice. Not sure what kind of flower it is (do you?) but I kept it:






















Wednesday night I went with a co-worker to a Pré-Soirée party that was being held on a barge. The first Wednesday of each month, from 7-12, there is a party held in Antwerp basically for the 25-45 year old people (aka Yuppies). This was the last party of the season which is why my coworker decided to go. So, it was all drinks, techno dance music and button shirts for the men while the women mostly wore skirts and heels. Pretty similar to 30 year old professional crowds I've seen in Portland, Seattle, New York... As soon as we got there we both agreed that it was not our idea of a good party. However it had the benefit of being on a barge, on the Schelde river, in Antwerp, so I spent most of my time on the deck outside with a drink in my hand talking to my coworker. I did dance a little towards the end, just because I'm missing dancing in Portland a bit.

That's about all for now. I'm getting my hair cut soon and then I'm on a train to Amsterdam (about 2 hours north of here). I'm bringing my camera so, pictures to come...

-Dustin

DIScourse - Antwerp

It's Monday evening and shortly after I got returned home from work the sky started to get really dark and a storm started to move in. It's alomost 8:00 pm as I type this and the storm has past my apartment but it can still be heard in the distance. I love thunder storms and this one was really good! I didn't see a lot of lightning but I did see a lot of flashing in the sky. I'm going to try and post some footage I shot with my camera if I can.

The weekend was pretty uneventful. I didn't end up going to the "Vampire Party" on Friday because I saw the set list from the previous party and there were only three songs that I liked in the 8 hour set, and nothing that I love. Since when to vampires listen to "cyber punk" music? After work I did take a long walk and ended up finding a really good jewelry store, Atelier 11 (they do all the jewelry for Raf Simons along with having done jewelry for many other Belgian designers). I didn't buy anything but I think I might have to get something before I leave.

Saturday I watched some television in the morning and then got up to go to the open air market and then the grocery store. I still find it strange that grocery stores are closed on Sunday. Who knows what they are going to want to eat on Sunday on Saturday? After doing my shopping I ended up walking to work to pick up my bike and then I rode around for awhile. I found a couple more offices of designers that I like (Dries Van Noten and Veronique Branquinho) then I got Westmalle Triple at the Cappucinno Club. On my way back home I ended up riding past the placed I stayed at two years ago (Seamens Huis). Who knew it was in the Red Light District? I also found the house that a couple of local architects built that's a little over 2 meters wide and is all glass on the exterior. I am still trying to figure out what to do in the evenings on the weekend. The people I know from my previous trip to Antwerp haven't been available and I'm not up to going to pubs (the only thing open in the evening on weekends) in the evening by myself.

After I got up on Sunday I decided it was time to do laundry. Unfortunately, my apartment doesn't have laundry facilities which means I needed to brave the laundry mat. Luckily I don't have that many clothes with me and the apartment owner comes in once a week to clean and do the towels and bedding. To my horror each load of laundry cost 3.60 euro to wash (about $5.50) and another 1.50 euro to dry (luckily i don't dry many things. The washers are nicer than in the US but not that much nicer. I got through the laundry and went back home where I began to make a pasta dinner. I have to say that I am cooking more again since being in Antwerp, which is nice. I would be nicer if I had an oven but I'm getting by. I'm glad I brought my knives from home though. I opened a really nice bottle of 2006 Côtes de Rhône to go along with dinner and then proceeded to watch too much television.

Television is strange here, interesting but strange. I have about 50 channels but there are triplets of many channels so I actually think there are about 20 channels. Like I said before, it's great switching between all the different languages and seeing what US programs get shown abroad (Different Strokes, Sex in the City, South Park, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Simpsons...). Last night there was some French show on about sexuality and they had three guys testing different "male enhancement" methods (all devices). It was really strange and I could only deducts from the doctor on the show that none of the methods work after the doctor said something and then all the guys took off their pumps, stretchers and weights with looks of defeat. It was hilarious!

Tomorrow is Tuesday and I'm going back to Brussels to watch a Cat Power show. My friend is drumming for her and he's my favorite drummer. I'm looking forward to the show and being back in Brussels. Hopefully, I will be able to spend a little more time there and be a little more relaxed.

Cheers!

Dustin

DIScourse

I finished my first day of work and all seemed to go well.  We sort of reviewed what I'm possibly going to be working on over the next three months.  Everyone in the office seem to be nice.  I have only had a chance to talk to a couple people so far.

I think I heard the new Nick Cave single coming from someone's computer.  I can't believe I haven't bought the album though.

Last night I slept a little better and I'm finally feeling a little more normal after all the moving.  I'm still not 100% though.

After work I walked to the grocery store and though I found it, I totally went the long way, which I only realized when I was leaving.  I made my first dinner (pasta and a salad).  Some groceries are more expensive here but then some like cheese and beer are much less (I can't get over the $1+ Belgian ales!).  

Off to my second day of work.  Cheers! 

-Dustin

DIScourse - Antwerp

a view from my apartment balcony





















I arrived at the Centraal Station in Antwerp, Belgium yesterday around 2:30. I was met by Mik and his girlfriend, Tina. We then walked to my new apartment which took about 10 minutes. The weather was pretty grey and not too warm (coming from the too warm Portland) but it was good to be back in Antwerp after two years.

My apartment is pretty large and came furnished including dish soap, bath towels and even a guitar. It's on the 1st floor (or 2nd floor to Americans) right above a pub. It overlooks a large square (unfortunately they are working on most of it, so there is a lot of construction mess) and is sort of in the theater district. After putting my things away I had lunch with Mik and Tina in there apartment (the top floor in the same building as me) then I went to the grocery store with Mik to get some food for my apartment since stores are closed on Sunday. After that Mik, Tina and I went to get a SIM card for my phone and then we went to an art opening (The Phonebook of Atlantis) and then met Tina's parents for drinks. We then met up with Filip (another Theo employee) and he and I went out for dinner. I pretty much instantly fell asleep when I came back to my flat. I'm not really sure what time I got back to my apartment because I was a little out of sorts from being tired and having too many drinks.

Today is my first full day living in Antwerp. It actually started of poorly, since I woke up at 4:30am only to find that my refrigerator and hot water heater weren't working, neither of which are the end of the world but I really wanted to take a bath (I'm sore from moving, and traveling) and I bought some perishable groceries yesterday that I'm afraid are spoiled now.

It was nice to wake up early though and watch the light change outside and watch the market slowly come together as carts and stalls showed up. I also watched a little TV (Dutch, Flemish, French and British programs) and played the dime-store guitar that is in my apartment.

After making coffee and eating some bread, fruit and cheese I went to the open market in the Vogelmarkt (Bird Market) and walked around the city some. The city is pretty much shut down on Sundays except for some cafes, restaurants and of course the churches. There are a lot of people walking around though which is a big change from when I was here 2 years ago in August when Antwerp was more like a ghost town.

After my walk I came back and found the the circuit board for my apartment and saw that one switch was off. After turning it back on everything seems to be working now. I figured out that there are some free wi-fi signals that I can pick up from my apartment which is great even though they don't seem to be too reliable.

I'm not sure what the rest of today will bring besides dinner with some of the Theo Family and a hot bath.

DIScourse

It's Thursday and I'm back at the Ace Hotel catching up on my Daily DIScriptions. Today it's rather grey and rainy outside. I was supposed to have lunch with an ex-coworker today but she was behind in her work and had to postpone our lunch.

I spent the last couple days at my parents making pins and watching t.v. I have now watched the first two seasons of Dexter as well as way too many episodes of Family Guy. I also saw some South Park and Simpsons episodes and the final episode of Gone Country (I can't believe Julio Iglesias Jr. won. What a sham!), which proves that I have a disease called television addiction, "Hello, my name is Dustin and I am an addict." Thankfully, I do not own a television and have no plans on ever getting one.

Yesterday I found out that the job in Antwerp is not going to happen, which is pretty disappointing. However, now it frees me to focus all my positive energy and thoughts on getting into MIT's Visual Arts Program. I really need to get back into school so I can redirect my career path and I need to have the academic stimulation that graduate school will bring.

I started reading The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross which is the book my friend lent me about the music of the 20th century, or rather the history of the 20th century as heard through music. I'm just a couple chapters into it so far and it's fairly interesting. I already want to see Salome.

Today, I mailed off the pins (badges) I made for the Imaad Wasif with Two Part Beast tour. Everyone should go see this band if you get a chance. The tour this time is just a West Coast thing (March 27 through April 07) but I think they'll be doing a national tour later in the year. I think the pins turned out well so I'm hoping they can make some money off them, since I can't afford to release the 7" single that I wanted to.

I'm not sure what I'm doing tonight. I may go out to dinner with a friend. I am also thinking of possibly going to see a film. I also need to practice my bass scales some more and of course read some more of the book. So, that's all for now.

-Dis

DIScourse

It's Saturday and the rain of yesterday is now a memory. It's sunny and cool outside which is some of my favorite weather.

For those of you that have been following this blog I'm going to start posting the Daily DIScription separately from the journal entries. That way you can either just look at the Daily DIScriptions or avoid them altogether and just read the journal entries.
Today, I'm going to work on the concert poster for the Imaad Wasif show that happens on April 4. I'll post the finished image(s) here when I'm finished. Other than that there are no big plans for the day. I will probably practice bass scales since I haven't totally memorized the one I've been working on. I also have to try and find more scales to learn.

I may also start reading the book my friend lent me on music from the 20th century. Or, I will get back to reading one of the books I have on interactive art.

-Dis