Author Archives: Vern Chen

Posts: 6 (archived below)
Comments: 2

Smokers!

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Vern Chen

: The regular ‘social’ gathering

: Is it really Smoke Free?

: Smoking right in front of entrance

: Down to the very last puff

: Some even smokes right in front of the sign that says ‘No Smoking’

: The issue itself

: Violaters ‘legally’ smoking around Baruch

: Problem that has been hindering Baruch community for years

For issue, I am doing smokers smoke in front of Baruch College. Just like all education entities across the country, Baruch is a smoke-free zone. However, there are many smokers, mainly students, that do not obey that law. Most of these law-breakers are, even boldly, smoking right in front of the school’s entrances as if those are the designated spots where they are allowed to do so. For example, the entrance of 23rd St Building on Lexington Ave, the entrances of VC Building on 24th St and 25th St, and entrance of library building. I have been studying in Baruch for four years and this issue was and still is lingering today. Not only that, these smokers usually smoke with their friends as if it is like a social gathering. Most of these violators smoke in between the classes time- mainly around 1-2pm. I did a rough estimate headcount and do not be surprised that sometimes the number reaches about 100.

Will, this issue continues to foster, or will someone or some party tries to put it to an end?

Posted in assignment Five - ISSUES (black & white) | 2 Comments

FIKA- Traditional Swedish’s Coffee Ritual in New York

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Vern Chen

Hejsan or Hello in Swedish!

After five years of operation, FIKA gained its’ recognition from an enormous amount of New York’s coffee lovers. At FIKA, it is more than just a coffee. Unlike Americans that take their coffee to go, Swedish love to spend some moments to indulge in conversations and relaxation with their friends and coworkers with a cup of great coffee. On top of that, most of the Swedish will pair their coffee with their famous sweet and delicious pastries. Hence, it is no surprise that the word ‘fika’ means to take a coffee break in Swedish.

FIKA Espresso Bar does not only promise the exceptional taste and quality of their coffee but also in their chocolates- or choklad in Swedish- made by their very own world renown’s pastry chef and chocolatier, Håkan Mårtensson. Mårtensson, the gold medalist of 2008 Culinary Olympic, is well known in Europe for his outstanding flavors, exquisite craftsmanship on all of his choklads. Being a fan of his creation, I would really recommend anyone to try any of the chocolates- my favorite is Adam.

Furthermore, FIKA also offers full breakfast and lunch menus as well. They serve some of the Swedish classic dishes and, best of all, everything is made in house and fresh daily. Not only that, for those who like to have some touch of taste of Swedish gourmet, this Swedish espresso bar also features some wide selections of homemade jams, cookies, and raspberry vinegar- all made accordingly to the traditional Swedish recipes!

For those who have visited FIKA, you know the indulgence is real and for those who have not, make a trip today.

Let’s have a FIKA…

FIKA Espresso Bar

66 Pearl St. (next to Broad St.)

New York, NY 10004

Tel: 646.837.6588

: A FIKA Moment…

: “Pastries, choklad, and coffee. That’s FIKA” -Franc, Barista

: FIKA’s choklads

: Indulgence in Conversations

: FIKA (v.-Swedish)= Take a Coffee Break

: Conversation and Coffee are the rituals of FIKA

: Let’s Have a FIKA

: The Perfect Latte

: Meg- The Barista

: Relaxation

: Håkan “The Rockstar” Pastry Chef of FIKA (on right)

: The Infamous Swedish Cookies and Pastries

: FIKA’s Cookies, Rasberry Vinegars and Coffee Lovers

: FIKA-ians on the Line

: The Expression of Espresso

Posted in Assignment Six - Final Project | 55 Comments

Woodside

Posted on November 15, 2010 by Vern Chen

Woodside, Woodside,
Where you can find all races, ages, and cultures in sight,
Some happy little ones with their smiles so bright,
And some strangers’ gloomy faces oh so fright,
Yet, the next generation holds their pride.

Woodside, Woodside,
The blend of religions, jobs, and beliefs,
Asia meets Latin and Irish ‘good time’ all beneath,
With tolerance and acceptance,
Jewish, Christians, and Muslims live in peace.

Woodside, Woodside,
During rush hour people dash like wind,
Yet, those five-cents collectors patiently wait in line to cash em’ in,
Barbers in uniform skillfully shape the hype and make the scene.

Woodside, Woodside,
Graffiti skin of art signifies it all,
Woodside walks of lives stand proud and tall…

: Representation of races, ages, and cultures

: Happy little one

: Strangers and friends

: The next generation

: Religion and belief

: Asia meets Latin

: Good time

: Tolerance and acceptance

: The rush hours

: Five-cents Collectors

: Uniformity

: Skin of Art

: the Woodside walks of lives

Posted in Assignment Four - Community | 69 Comments

A Night of a Bartender

Posted on October 3, 2010 by Vern Chen

Done on our fellow classmate, Mehdi, this set served as a portraiture that evolved around another side of him that most, if not all, of us do not know about.

Mehdi has been bartending for five years by now. He loves his job as he said “It’s more than just a job. It is a place where you’re in-charged and every night, you will hear some fascinating stories, see some new faces, and make some new friends.”

Hence, I do this set as a way to live the experience of what he told me… A Night of a Bartender!