Anthem - Travel

On Sarajevo Time

nik.mercer — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:10:16 -0700

I got into town early last week after having not enough sleep and already starting my travels in Monterrey, Mexico early in the morning the day before I left for Sarajevo, Bosnia. This is my second time in the region, so the process of getting here was a little more familiar to me, and I was more prepared for the intense jet-lag that ensued.

Since the 14th Sarajevo Film Festival started last week, the airport was full of interesting people and paparazzi looking for stars to arrive. I quickly met up with my partner in crime, Valida, and drove into Bascarsija (Old Town) for Cevapi and a couple Sarajevsko Pivo's (a favorite local beer that operated one of the only functioning factories during the war and one of the only sources of water in the city).

We did a little people watching there while catching up on the local gossip; it appears Orlando Bloom is in town, location scouting for a film about a British reporter’s diary during the war. Since this is big news for a small country, everyone around is talking about it. We did cross paths later on our way home but, being an Angelino, I had to maintain my integrity and not get star-struck. I can’t speak for my partner, but I quickly defused this situation and insisted we remain on our way.

Since the festival starts this week, everyone in the region flocks to Sarajevo to attend sold-out screenings of current regional films like The Seeker and Snijec, a Bosnian post-war film that took the opening ceremony duties and is stirring a lot of controversy here in town. There is also a Tribute to Todd Haynes screening series this week along with special screenings of Man on Wire and Shane Meadow’s new film Somers Town. Kevin Spacey will host the closing ceremony which will feature Bryan Singer’s 1995 classic, The Usual Suspects.

I will also be embracing the opportunity to attend "Coffee with Agnes B," the French designer's high-profile get-together (Charlie Kaufman and Kevin Spacey, for example, are thought to be coming as well). Everyone chats (or schmoozes?) while indulging in an unusual, extra-strong Turkish specialty coffee which is favored by locals in Bosnia.

It’s the best time of the year to be in Sarajevo, and I am looking for to the next ten days. Stay tuned, as I will be rolling out updates periodically with interviews, photos, reviews of films, extended after-parties, and my struggle to find a cold drink in this town.

Brian Finke's "Flight Attendants"

nik.mercer — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:55:56 -0700

PingMag: Shibuya vs. Marunouchi

nik.mercer — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:36:21 -0700

Over the year's of its existence, PingMag has repeatedly found interesting, unusual, and unexpected facets of Japanese culture to focus on. From unearthing the most common ad tricks in Tokyo to highlighting the aesthetic appeals of Subway construction signage in the capital, PingMag is never in want of bizarre and compelling stories.

Today the Web publication rolled out the latest in a series of "urban research" pieces focusing on the core differences between the many districts of Tokyo, this week's being titled, "Shibuya vs. Marunouchi". Shibuya is generally know to be the fashion center of the metropolis while Marunouchi is traditionally noted as one of the city's major business hubs, albeit one that's attempting to hip up its image. PingMag looks at the subtler and less immediately noticeable details that distinguish the city, though: Shibuya's train station has many narrow staircases covered with colorful posters while Marunouchi's is comprised of wide hallways and bland direction cards; Shibuya is plastered with ads whereas Marunouchi is littered with office buildings and complexes; Shibuya offers little in the way of public places to relax, but in Marunouchi, such benched spaces are plentiful and decorated with immaculate potted plants and ornate shrubbery.

One would never imagine the prefectures of Tokyo to be so intrinsically distinct―the place is governed in the same capitol!―but that seems to be the reality.

Can't Get a Ride to Coachella? Hop on the Coachella Express

nik.mercer — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:42:19 -0700

Every year, a whole ton of people wind up in the middle of the Southern California desert to attend the world's greates music festival, Coachella (uh... we're having an awesome party). Problem is, most festival goers drive alone or pick up a friend or two to accompany them to the grounds, and, as we all know, this is bad for the environment! Stop wasting fossil fuels, folks, and hop on the Coachella Express, a free ride to the three-day music extravaganza provided by Amtrak.

While Amtrak may not be the hippest way to get around these days, but it's awfully hard to ignore this killer offer. Not only will you skip out on buying pricey gasoline, but you'll also be able to swing by our party and not fret about getting a D.U.I. on the way home.

Do the right thing and choose Coachella Express this year!