Hip-Hop Schadenfreude
I usually try to avoid schadenfreude, but karma’s influence seems especially clear in the case of pharma CEO Martin Shkreli. You can read all about his recent arrest and massive bail posting pretty much everywhere, but this December 16 Hip Hop DX piece is a pretty amazing history of his antics to date. ~ Lisa Jasper/ story via Hip Hop DX / image via Andrew Burton/Getty Images
Scent of Seoul
Processed with VSCOcam with hb1 preset
With every trip home to Seoul, aside from the ever-strong shopping and food consumption lists, one of the biggest curiosities is always: what are the latest trends?? Seoul is an enigmatic city in which a fad is over before you even realize it began. Even if you’ve left for only 6 months, you can be sure to expect something new that’s all the rage upon your next visit. One of the more unexpected trends I was surprised to see was the popularity of new scents—scented candles, diffusers, room sprays—but mostly candles.
Soohyang is a young brand in Seoul, less than two years old, which has two store locations in the city’s trendiest locations Garosugil and Kyungridan, Itaewon. I was initially drawn in by the bright mint green exterior wall shining brightly against the graphic interior, but ended up spending a bit of time smelling all of the different soy candles. I was hoping to get a custom scent made, but the manager was out that evening so I ended up leaving with several pounds of pre-made product to carry back with me to New York. Itaewon 565 (named after the address of the store) is known to be her signature scent, but it’s a bit too floral for me—I recommend verbena for a crispy citrus scent and hinoki for a masculine, woody blend. ~ Margaret Park
Netflix & Murder?
Netflix has hit the ball out of the park with the release of its new true-crime documentary series Making a Murderer. Set in rural Wisconsin, the series examines the case of Steven Avery, a man who is released after being wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years and then rearrested for a violent murder. The film feels like a novel, addicting, emotional and sometimes mundane. The viewer is left feeling deceived by the American criminal justice system and questioning whether the police have framed two innocent men. Checkout the first episode, released for free on Youtube, and start bing-watching today.
~ Michelle Addo / story via HTRnews / video via Netflix
Escape the Room Moves Uptown
I grew up playing Escape the Room and while I’m excited that NY pioneered some of the first real life versions, I’m even more excited to try it out with my VP+C team! ~ Melodie Mendez / story & image via DNAinfo
