Lamar is a muse for the ages, a lens through which we can explore the love within both our hearts and others'.
Check out the video and photos below.
I was chauffeured to my room in a golf cart. As we zigzagged through grapevines and hotel rooms perched up on the hills, I noticed the swimming pool and knew exactly where I’d be for the remainder of the afternoon. I got to my room, threw my bags down, put on a two piece and went for a dip. Of course, I couldn’t say no to the 60-minute massage that came afterward, which set me up for an anxiety free evening ahead. I truly felt like royalty, and as I got ready for dinner, I couldn’t believe that Sarah Gargano invited me to spend the next two days with McLaren Automotive in the first place.
I knew I wanted to make a good first impression but with only 10 minutes until dinner, I ran back to my room, threw on a fresh wife pleaser and a $6 blazer from L Train Vintage and called it a day. Perhaps I made a slight error in judgment when I “subconsciously” chose to overlook the “smart/chic” dress code but I thought to myself, “Fuck it, these people are about to let me drive a half a million dollar car they can’t be that concerned with what I’m wearing to dinner.” During the dinner, we were introduced to the McLaren team and filled in on what the brand is all about. I was excited for what the next day had in store.
The next morning, sitting in the driveway of the hotel was a brand new McLaren Artura with my name on it. I wonder if this is how Kris Jenner feels on an ordinary Tuesday morning. The Artura is the brand’s first-ever hybrid supercar built on all-new McLaren carbon lightweight architecture. It is built with a twin turbocharged V6 engine combined with an electric motor that allows you to switch between electric, comfort, sport and track mode in a matter of seconds. As I sped off from the hotel blasting “Welcome To Jamrock” on the built-in subwoofers I felt like I was sixteen years old again, only this time I wasn't driving around in my busted-up 1998 Toyota Camry. With all of the different features I was able to customize my driving experience and pull over to take pictures of the scenery during my three hour drive through Sonoma County.
The Artura had a way of making me feel like I was the only girl in the world and all of my worries disappeared. An hour into the drive I had completely forgotten what I was ever intimidated by and grateful to have tried something outside of my comfort zone. Not only driving a car I had only heard about in rap songs, but spending quality time with people I didn’t know. We ended the trip with a ten course meal at SingleThread. Surrounded by people who were strangers only 24 hours prior suddenly felt like friends I had known my entire life, I laughed so hard throughout the dinner I almost peed myself.
Sam Lui's fascination with the wok laid the foundation for Wendy Wok's World. Through the language and culture surrounding wok dishes, Sam discovered a sense of definitive standards. She explains, "For every wok dish, there seemed to be a certain set of standards that they were judged against; a definite right or wrong that recalled the rectitude and ideological purity that I was personally consumed by."
To immerse herself in the practice of the wok, she began her journey at a modern Chinese restaurant that welcomed newcomers, providing her first exposure to the art. However, to truly grasp the fundamental techniques, she spent time in traditional Cantonese establishments. It was through relentless practice at her own wok range, experimenting and investigating the techniques unique to each dish, that Wendy truly flourished. Sam likens this process to "studio time," where Wendy's character progress took shape.
When discussing the concept of "objective perfection,” Sam explains that in wok dishes, the principles of timing and heat control reign supreme. As the majority of these dishes are cooked at high temperatures within a short span of time, every second becomes crucial, and precision becomes paramount. Each dish adheres to its own set of standards, contributing to its individual pursuit of perfection. And this delivery of precision and rigidity is experienced through the dishes, as well as made uniquely visible to the guests via a live-streamed performance during the dinner.
Wendy is more than a character; she is a wok apprentice who embodies the very essence of the cooking style itself. Wendy personifies the values intrinsic to this culinary art form. Sam explains, "Wendy is a mode of being; a mode of being principled, rigid and adhering to an authoritative set of rules, a mode of ideological purity."
Entering Wendy's headspace aligns perfectly with the practice of the wok. By assuming this alter ego, Sam delves into the necessary mindset required to master the various techniques. "This is precisely the process and my reason for having an alter ego," Sam reveals. Becoming Wendy allows her to fully immerse herself in the practice.
Preview five out of the six dishes below.
SALTED EGG YOLK TIGER PRAWNS
STIR FRIED GARLIC CHIVES
BEEF & POTATOES IN HONEY BLACK PEPPER SAUCE
LOBSTER E FU NOODLES IN SUPREME STOCK
SUGAR COATED TARO
The collaboration between Sam Lui and the Swiss Institute came to fruition after meeting artist Lap-See Lam in Bangkok when both were involved in Ghost2565, a video and performance art series. Sam, along with Hillary, her sister and the producer of the series, gladly accepted the invitation to be part of the Swiss Institute's public programming.
The series kicked off on May 22nd and 23rd, at Cafe Hong Kong in Chinatown, New York City, with a second round that happened on June 5th and 6th. Each night had two sessions, one from 6-8 pm and the other from 8-10 pm, during which 60 guests were served six courses of wok-specific dishes, all cooked by Wendy.
The night began with an intense DJ set from Michigan-born, Brooklyn-based DJ BREE who put so much into the night and looked forward to seeing it all come together. Fittingly, there was also a cocktail named after her and Finlay, who co-hosted the reopening. Although we could barely see three feet in front of us with the smoke seeping through, it was obvious the room was quickly filling up. DJs Daybreak, ÆON, and Eros kept the crowd on their feet until it was close to sunrise.
The well-dressed locals (more or less) didn’t tread lightly; they went hard. And by that, we mean many stayed from the second they opened down to the minute they closed. While Hell Phone was a well-known spot in the area, we anticipate it to become a community staple in the underground music and club scene.
Pacini came to New York City from Nice, France in 2012. She opened Hell Phone in 2014 as a French bistro but saw the potential to do something more with the space. She began to use the French bistro as a space to host private events. Pacini always made it a goal to continuously do better for herself and her businesses. Despite being in hospitality since 2015, she’s been learning the ins and outs of owning an event space and club. “Opening Hell Phone as a regular bar with DJs and music events open to the public is a very exciting feeling,” she says. “As a woman owner, it’s a really profound accomplishment. I’m really proud of this. It was a long road to finalize this idea and I’m finally tasting the fruits of my labor.”
The demand was high for Pacini to utilize Hell Phone as an event space because it wasn’t only Pacini who saw the potential, but frequent customers as well. “Tonight (Friday’s opening) is not only about me but more about a full team working together to make everything possible.”
