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Mackenzie and I are headed to Mexico City for the first time tomorrow. If Duolingo doesn’t make me a fluid Spanish speaker by the time I land I’m firing off a one start review in the App Store.
I’m trying to eat well and see everything worth seeing. Staying in Roma Norte, willing to go anywhere.
Whatchya got?
Comment below to share publicly or respond to this email and lemme know. Google Maps bookmarks are ready to go.
Taco report coming next week. 🌮🌮🌮
— Alex
Ideas from me
I. BOTTLENECK
Waiting for the perfect idea or circumstances will always be the bottleneck. Write down words and start doodling until it makes sense to you. If it doesn’t make sense today, try again tomorrow. And then again the next day.
The person who sits down to make sense of their thoughts 100 times will strike lightning more than the person who sits down a few times before throwing in the towel.
II. DEFINITION
Humans are so hell-bent on assigning linear definition to everything that the opposite of definition has somehow resulted in confusion.
While language and prior successful styles of work have helped us make sense of the world, it should be the creative person’s mission to un-define and redefine those methods of thinking by drawing new connections and expound what we come to know as “good.”
Do this by telling the truth. The more we try to re-tell the stories of our successors, the further we get away from what makes us unique individuals.
There are 7.9 billion of us which means that if it speaks to you, it will likely speak to somebody else.
III. PRESENCE
We spend far too much energy in a state of preparation versus being present.
Better results occur when we’re dialed into working through problems as opposed to anticipating problems that have yet to happen.
A quote from somebody else
"When people say, ‘I’m the kind of person who,’ my heart always sinks. These are formulas, we’ve all got about ten formulas about who we are, what we like, the kind of people we like, all that stuff. The disparity between these phrases and how one experiences oneself minute by minute is ludicrous."
— Adam Phillips, The Paris Review
Links worth sharing
🎞 Our friends at Querida launched a great new site for Norte Image Studio.
🧰 DOODAD makes tools for making the internet fast, accessible, expressive, and green.
😵💫 This is the best and worst website of all time.
🧩 My business partner and friend Abraham is the best Art Director I've ever worked with. He finally is making his more focused research public. Start with this Russian Prison Tattoos channel he's curating.
🧢 Kiko Kostadinov temporary digital shop.
🧑🔬 SEGMENT provides an array of functional bags and accessories, all made from X-Pac® fabric, as well as mostly generic unisex merch.
Thanks for another week!
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ART
* LUXOR by Sebastián Narbona https://local.mx/cultura/diseno/sebastian-narbona-restauracion-mobiliario-cdmx-luxor/
* GALLERIA OMR in Roma need to make a reservation.
* CASA BASALTA also in Roma. It’s a concept house with galleries, shops , cafes, etc. Explore it all (front, back, up and down). Walk along Colima for the cool shops. Eat at Rosetta.
* There a lot of Art Galleries in the same area…
FOOD
* Panaderia Rosetta for breakfast + pastries
* Contramar - Get the grilled fish with green and red sauces
* Lardo - for brunch
* La Docena
* Huset - great for dinner – make a reservation
* Buna 42 - for great coffee and good food too
* Neveria Roxy for old-school ice cream + ices
* El Cardenal for breakfast, it's supposed to be a classic
DRINKS
* Bosforo is a must for mezcal
* Gin Gin – great cocktails
* Felina – cool spot, more hidden, great cocktails
* La Clandestina
* Romita Comedor (entrance is hidden with no sign, but a door man is in front)
Elsewhere:
* On Saturday, go to San Angel for the Mercado Sabado; amazing crafts, ceramics, etc inside an old house (and there's a packed market all around it, too).
* LOS DANZANTES is a nice restaurant for lunch in Cuyaocan, visit the Mercado after and then make your way to CINATECA.
SHOPPING
* Utilitario Mexicano
* PAY'S store
* Casa Bosques
* Hi-BYE Store
Mexico City is easily one of my favorite, if not my favorite, cities in the world. So good choice, you will have lots of fun!
I unfortunately hadn't picked up the habit of creating Google Maps of my favorite places when I visited but these are the things I remember and highly recommend:
Food
1. Maximo Bistrot
2. Contramar
3. Pujol (It's a Michelin Star restaurant so good luck on the reservation, but it's worth the price if you can manage to get a table. Compared to LA's fine dining prices is actually pretty cheap)
4. Margaritas on the rooftop of the Condesa DF hotel
Visit:
Luis Barragan House (also needs a reservation)
Soumaya Museum
The House of Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera
Jumex Museum
Unno Gallery
The flea market on Paseo De LA Reforma
Mercado Abelardo Rodriguez (houses a Diego Rivera Mural)
Shop:
Casa Bosques
Apt 25 (I think this is the name)
Hi Bye
Enjoy!!