space hamilton

Another surprise in Itaewon.

Space Hamilton hosted an Open Market Art Co-op (for art works, books, magazines, used things, food, and clothing) last month.

I fell in love with the space.

Especially the decaying walls. And the name, which was a little reminder of home.

flea market

Two Saturdays ago my boyfriend and I found ourselves at a (rather intimate) flea market.

We were invited by the fellows playing music in the third photo (20th Century Boys - listen here). They are both very sweet, play with great energy, and have cool post-punk fashion.

The flea market itself offered an eclectic assortment of vintage goods (for cheap!) hosted by stylish, young Koreans munching on McDonalds fries. Everyone was very friendly, the sun was shining, and it was a lovely time all around.

I wish I had taken more pictures, however there are lots to look at here.

exteriors

The Galleria Department Store has an unmissable exterior comprised of iridescent LCD discs, shingled like cartoonish fish scales.

Across the street, a less futuristic apartment building also caught my eye.

deli heinzburg

Oooh, this place is so good. So good that it required two back-to-back Sunday lunches. A serious sandwich with proper cheese is (relatively) hard to find in Seoul, so my boyfriend and I were both delighted with this spot. Located in Sinsa-dong, Deli Heinzburg prides itself in a wide (and meaty) selection of paninis, burgers, and deli sandwiches. Their toppings-to-bread ratio is exceptionally good. They also serve the best pickled daikon and cabbage I've tried since being in Korea. We'll no doubt be returning in the (very) near future.

mixed tape

Some pictures I took outside a cafe/gallery in Itaewon. I liked their window coverings.

I'm also a fan of Japanese masking tape company mt. Lucky for me, their colourful tapes are abundantly available in Korea.

Along with pretty tape, they're coming out with a new line of wrapping paper. See some cute wrap ideas over here - I love the donuts (and the 'wrap only myself' heading).

high five

Along with a killer chickpea salad, Takeout Drawing also offers great views from their second floor.

takeout drawing

Itaewon keeps surprising me. When I first visited this former expat ghetto last year I took one look around and left in a hurry, deciding that it was so not my scene. However, my most recent visit was filled with delightful surprises. One being Takeout Drawing, a cafe/artist residency, that served up both great atmosphere and a much-needed chickpea salad. I hadn't had a single chickpea since coming to Korea, so when I saw that this was offered (on their take-home zine/menu) I ordered it immediately. Roasted chickpeas, pine nuts, spinach, dehydrated strawberries, garlic - yes please! They also have a dangerous spread of carbs, which certainly won both my boyfriend and I over. As for the clientele, there were plenty of stylish Koreans lounging on the artificial turf, sipping on espressos and Moroccan mint teas, and luring in those passing by (myself included).

the book society

The Book Society is a great little bookstore/project space run by Media Bus. Here you can find a well curated selection of small press and artists' publications, along with a variety of self-published books. It's easy to spend well over an hour here fondling the beautiful covers and smooth pages (even longer when it comes time to decide which ones to actually purchase). The store itself has a refreshingly unpretentious DIY feel, which made for a very comfortable browse. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's only about a ten minute walk from Hongdae, which means I'll certainly be visiting again in the near future.

Location
The Book Society
서울시 마포구 상수동 331-8
1F(#3), 331-8, Sangsu-dong,
Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea
121-829

chlorine green

I saw The Hurt Locker about a month ago and took these pictures after exiting the theater.

prints and cans

Carlos was testing out display options for his new prints (see more here). I am very lucky to live with someone who can so playfully brighten up our loft.

I picked up these colourful cans and egg cup at a pop-up Swedish antique store on Sunday. The woman who ran the shop was very kind - she gave us one of the cans as a gift because we had visited more than once. I was very surprised/delighted. All of the furniture she had was beautiful - if I was planning on staying in Korea, I would have wanted to buy so many pieces.

sunday

Today I took a stroll in the back alleys of Sinsa-dong. It was really nice to see this little green yard. And I really want to get some alphabet magnets.

insadong

Insadong isn't a place I visit very often. However, on weekends when the weather's nice, the street is closed to traffic and taken over by locals and tourists alike, giving the area a summer festival feel. There are numerous restaurants up the side alleys (Insadong is a gastronomic heaven for traditional Korean food), and arts and crafts (pottery galore!) spill out from every direction. Lots of art galleries are located throughout as well (although none as quite as nice as those found in Samcheong-dong).

Nestled in between the cobbled streets of Insadong and the big box stores of Myeongdong, sits Jongno Tower, which is worth zipping up for fantastic views of the city through floor to ceiling windows.

Overall, Insadong is a great place to pick up crafty souvenirs/delicious street food, but the overwhelming crowds usually send me elsewhere.