Recap: TCAF and Toronto!

my table at TCAF!

I had an amazing time in Toronto!! I met sooooo many new people, ate so much amazing food and experienced some new beers. Toronto is definitely a place I want to revisit again and again. :)
TCAF was an incredible time. It reminded me of Brooklyn Comic Fest a bit, except larger scale. The free admission definitely makes a huge difference. This festival had a diverse and friendly crowd without being overwhelming the way Brooklyn Fest was. My tote bags did surprisingly well, I'm used to only selling maybe a few, but I actually ran out of all the Lemon + Lime totes that I brought, I even had a few people asking for them after they ran out! :O
My comics and silkscreen books also did really well. I found TCAF a more enjoyable festival than Stumptown, but this is my first time exhibiting both events that have evolved so much over the decade. I would love to do both festivals again if I get the chance!

Having tex-mex brunch at Sneaky Dee's! With Irme, Taylor and their friends Agatha and Laura (pictured below)

The Dunking Donuts of Toronto, or as they call it, "Timmies" This was Deo's dream come true.

Exploring the Distillery District where we had a sake tasting, some artisanal gelato, and a cheese sampling at a place that imports from Quebec! Plus we strolled around with the cutest dog in the world, Murray!

Embarking onto Kensington Market! Where we had family style tacos at "El Trompo"

Post-TCAF karaoke-ing! Pictured here are Hellen Jo, Calvin Wong, Ryan Sands, and Jen Wang.

This is the infamous Canadian dish called Poutine, consisting of french fries slathered with gravy and topped with cheese curds!! This is the classic. Next time I visit I want to try poutine with pulled pork on top...or bacon....! The accompanying drink is called a Ceaser, which is Canada's bloody mary, except it's spicier and more savory, the extra ingredient is clam juice! yumm yum!

Photos above (basically all the good looking ones) taken by my close friend Deo, he is the best traveling companion!

Portland recap + TCAF

I'm tabling at TCAF this year for the first time and I'm so excited! I'm also stoked about visiting Toronto Canada for the first time, I am getting there via 11 hour bus ride (!!!) and I might have a buddy traveling with me to explore Toronto with. (yippeeeee!!!)

outside of Guapo comics and coffee

Portland was AMAZING.... I had the best time, thanks to some new friends who were incredible hosts. Stumptown was an interesting convention, I've never seen so many pirates in one place, although Amy (of Pony Club) mentioned to me that the pirate thing was something new this year. Anyway, the screen-print posters were a hit. You can now find some of my prints at Pony Club Gallery!



Here I am at my table, photo taken by Jen Vaughn. She did a great recap of the fest on The Beat. One guy bought my new "hot + cold" book as a wedding present for his friend who, if I remember correctly, is an architect getting married to his other friend who is a poet. I thought it was very touching! And yes, my books can make a great wedding present! :)

Portland is all kinds of wonderful. There were instances where I could see myself living there, even! But instead I think I will visit there, a lot! Here are some highlights of my trip:

some of the yummiest biscuits n gravy I've ever had at Pine State Biscuits on Belmont!

Bicycle fencing :)

any coffee lovin' town is my kinda town!

All the way North at Cathedral Park, where the grass is so tall...

Walking through Irving Park on my way to Mississippi St.

For more photos of my Portland adventure check out my flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jentong/sets/72157626557067668/

Alternative Press Expo 2010

photo courtesy of giantrobotmag's flickr

I had a wonderful time this year at APE in San Francisco! I was there with Jon Vermilyea. We had a full 6 days in which we spent walking over the Golden Gate Bridge like last year, and sipped on some salted caramel hot cocoa at Ghirardelli Square, which has become sort of a tradition for us. We ate In-N-Out burger and Mexican burritos every single day. :)

The convention was very successful. I enjoyed talking to people about the silkscreen process (which is in itself a hard thing to explain). I had the privilege of meeting Anne Koyama of Koyama Press for the first time, she came all the way from Toronto and she is awesome! I got to hang out with the talented Cat Lauigan, and chatted briefly with Lisa Hanawalt (actually ended up running into her at the airport on our way back, boarding the same flight!).

Plenty of after parties and post hang outs ensued, Ryan threw his annual party which had a much bigger turn out this year than before. Had post drinks with some of the Canadian comics family at Elbo Room, and dinner the following night at Taste of Formosa with a bunch of rad folks, including Hellen Jo, Calvin Wong, and Aaron Mew. All in all, an amazing trip. :)

robot reference

Some reference photos I've gathered through the internet, in light of my latest project.

penelope cruz


aki hoshino

heidi klum

This is just a sampling of my folder filled with hundreds of these photos, i admit its fun collect these on behalf of my new series. My upcoming pieces are pretty much influenced by combination of these photos (the models seem almost robotic-like to me) plus my own personal experiences.

Reading now: Henry Miller

Listening to: Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
The Dodos - Visiter

liesurely things

ever since the move, i find myself going to places and doing many things that are very in tune to this neighborhood. I guess that goes with anywhere you live, you get to know the locals and acquire a few favorite places.I recently saw Gogol Bordello play at McCarren Park pool with my friend Cat who introduced me to them for the first time. They were crazy good and they had all this energy that made most of the audience near the front jump up and down. McCarren is a ridiculously gigantic space/formerly a swimming pool (although i can't imagine that) so its easy to either jump around or do cartwheels if you want, or lay back and relax from a distance. Every night there's a band or movie playing at the pool.


Other book I've been reading--- (besides "The heart is a lonely hunter" which, so far, s been sad but beautifully written)
"No One Belongs Here More Than You" stories by Miranda July
comics/visuals--
"Goddess of War" by Laura Weinstein (so good!)
"Elvis Road" Helge Reumann, Xavier Robel