Amorsolo Paintings in The Vargas Museum

First time I went into Vargas Museum was when I was a freshman back in UP Diliman. Since I was a student, admission was free, and every now and then, I found myself going to the museum in case I had a free period, I was lucky because it was just two blocks away from CSSP. 

The museum has quite a collection of Amorsolo paintings. Yesterday, after going to Mark Justiniani's Reverb exhibit, Kim and I went up to the 2nd floor, I wanted to look at the Amorsolos. 

I confess, I also went up to look at the collection of paintings because I wanted to get inspiration for the frame that I wanted to have made for the painting I had commissioned. 

Here are some of the paintings by Fernando Amorsolo, all part of the collection of the Vargas Museum:

How I wish I get to afford an Amorsolo in the future!

Mark Justiniani's Reverb

Yesterday, Kim and I found ourselves gravitating towards Vargas Museum in UP Diliman. Mark Justiniani had an exhibit at the ground floor called Reverb. 

I was introduced to Mark Justiniani's works from Pinto Art Museum, so I was expecting paintings to dot along the ground floor gallery of the Vargas Museum. What greeted was just beyond description. They were like giant light-boxes, which had amazing dioramas. But the dioramas had so much depth, it seemed as if I was looking at a tunnel, due to his play on lights, and mirrors. It was simply amazing, you have to go and visit the exhibit to experience it for yourself. 

The exhibit is only until May 6, 2016. Best to catch it. 

The Vargas Museum

Roxas Avenue, UP Diliman, Quezon City

tel no. 928.1927

Ginza Bairin in UP Town Center

Ginza Bairin is one of our favourite restaurants in UP Town Centre, this and Red Onion (okay, Kim doesn't like Red Onion).

We had our feet scrubbed, and we were able to purchase St. Ives' Anti-itch lotion, so we were more than ready for a little (that is... heavy) dinner tonight - before I had to run off to pick up my evil sister (okay, she's not that evil).

Parking in UP Town was at its all time worst. Then again, it may be because they're still building parking buildings. That didn't deter us from making the hike to Ginza Bairin. How did we live before the arrival of Ginza Bairin and Saboten, really?

This is our third time to eat in Ginza Bairin, I think. And like Saboten.. and fine, Yabu, na din, you have to grind sesame seeds for your katsu sauce. In other words, you have to put some elbow grease into grinding if you want to have dinner *winkwink,

We didn't actually need to do this because both Kim and I ordered the Menchi Katsu with Cheese Curry Set. 

All sets come with refillable cabbage-salad, Miso soup, Japanese rice, and fresh fruits. 

There's the dressing and Shoyu Wasabi sauce for the cabbage salad - more than anything, I was so looking forward to the cabbage. 

I so appreciated the food server, because she suggested to put the curry sauce on the side so that I could appreciate the labor I put into grinding. 

Bon appetit! The Japanese curry has arrived! I've been hankering for Japanese curry for 2 weeks already!

Unfortunately, though, Kim wasn't successful in getting me to forget the #HOMEGROWN stores we passed by before we crashed in Ginza Bairin. The Polaris Project's bazaar of sorts in UP Town Centre, had a booth, by Polaris Project themselves, which sold artworks. I saw this cute painting of a bird house - really adorable. It was only PhP 350.00 - which is really affordable for an acrylic on canvas painting. 

Bird House, Acrylic on 12" x 9" canvas, Renee Avila

At first, I thought I wanted to present it similar to the painting of Miguel Villanueva, but now, I'm thinking I want to have a big gold frame. I have time to decide. Its a nice piece by Renee Avila. Will try to research on the artist. 

All in all, amazing Saturday!

Ginza Bairin

G/F UP Town Centre, 

Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City

tel. no. 0917.871.0041

Polaris Project

thepolarisprojectph@gmail.com

When Uan Met Sally

Yes, that's the name of the store/coffee shop that Derek and tried out last Saturday night. Sorry it took so long to upload the pictures and the experience, have been pretty busy. Had it not been for the typhoon and the holiday, I might have waited a few more days before I uploaded them.

Last Saturday, Derek and I met up to have dinner in Don Day in UP Village. The food was good, but the place was something else. It's a Korean restaurant where you can grill meat, and have a field day with the Kimchi and other Korean delicacy buffet in the restaurant. When we arrived, there were quite a lot of patrons, and the staff found it hard to keep out. We ended up eating on a table next to an area that had recently been vacated, and with piled used dishes.

Too bad, since I enjoyed the food in Don Day. After dinner, Derek and I drove around UP Village to look for a nice quaint coffee shop, and we chanced upon this store.

I was initially drawn to the colorful clothes on display in the store, and when we were inside, ended up discovering that they had food and coffee as well.

The clothes were quite unique, and the attendant informed us that the owner of the shop purchase the clothes from Bangkok.

I love the theme and the adherence of the store and coffee shop to it. It had a shabby chic vibe going about the store, and obviously, the owner seemed to love birds as a theme. Here's the detail on the wooden placemat used on the coffee tables.

The store's menu was placed on a blue-washed clipboard with a pretty bird medallion detail.

I ordered the Artisan's Coffee, which came with a free cookie. The cup was painted with a bird-detail, and even the cookie was not spared. 

I love the sugar that they used. I should have taken a video of how it melted when I put the lump in the brewed coffee. 

If ever you're in the area, visit the shop and have a lovely cup of coffee or two. I would love to just sit at the store's patio during a rainy day and enjoy their coffee. 

When Uan Met Sally

154-A Maginhawa Street, UP Village, Quezon City