In this episode, you will learn the importance of destigmatizing money in the creative industry, and how necessary it is to be around people who help you dream bigger and encourage you to think about yourself in a different way.
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Dear Burnt Out Art Director...
Remember how hard you worked because of how excited you were? You are more than capable of channeling that same excitement, ambition and dedication towards shifting the tides of your career towards something better suited for you.
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Peen Cuisine Mixes Food & Sex for Elevated Bachelorette Parties or Random Weekday Meals
Lauren Hom describes it as "elevated bachelorette party food" but that doesn't mean that she hasn't been getting help from her grandmother sampling some of the recipes before their respective launches.
Read MoreHOW TO START A BUSINESS WHEN YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS STARTING A BUSINESS
HOW TO START A BUSINESS
WHEN YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS
STARTING A BUSINESS
When Hyperakt gave WNW co-founder Justin Gignac the opportunity to speak at their monthly Lunch Talks, the answer was an immediate yes. With professional heroes Michael Bierut and Paola Antonelli (and WNW Member Lauren Hom, hey girl!) among the previous speakers, there was clearly no pressure to present.
This video includes highlights from Justin's presentation, geared towards anyone who is itching to make their ideas a business but consider themselves more artist than entrepreneur. Justin talks about how his side projects catapulted him into what he’s doing now, including how 'The Justin Gignac Freelance Status Apparatus' evolved into Working Not Working. WNW Creatives: if you’ve wondered what the site looks like to those that hire you, we lift the curtain (minute 8:24) on the other side.
Below is Justin’s totally simple, 18-step guide that he assures us he definitely did not make up the night before this talk.
Are you a WNW Member with new work, exhibits, products, or news to share? Email us!
EATING NOT EATING: JULIANA'S PIZZA
EATING NOT EATING: JULIANA'S PIZZA
WNW Member #2245 Lauren Hom, the brilliant mind behind Will Letter for Lunch, reveals her most recent chalkboard magic trick. She shares her artistry, and delicious food appears on the table. This time around, it's mouth-watering pies from Juliana's Pizza in Dumbo. Below, Lauren will effortlessly convince you that you need to make a trip to Juliana's.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for PIZZA! The day I received the email from Juliana’s asking me to letter for pizza was the best day of my life. Owned and operated by the original couple behind Grimaldi’s, Juliana’s is a charming Italian restaurant serving up coal-fired pizzas underneath the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo. It’s named after owner Patsy’s mother too. Adorable AND delicious? Sign me up.
Since I did a bit more lettering than the typical Letter for Lunch project, I was able to treat seven of my closest friends to a pizza party! We inhaled 4 speciality pizzas and lots of wine over the course of a Sunday afternoon. The No. 1 with mozzarella, scamorza affumicata, pancetta, scallions and Oregon-grown white truffles in olive oil was a rich and salty start to our meal, followed by the very classic No. 2 with cherry tomato, Bufala mozzarella, garlic and sea salt. Next came the No. 3 with mozzarella, sausage, broccoli rabe and garlic, which we all loaded up with red pepper flakes to add an extra kick to an already savory bite. We finished the meal with the No. 4 with tomato, mozzarella, peppery arugula and prosciutto.
Toppings aside, the dough was what really stole the show. I’m one of those annoying people who usually doesn’t eat the crust of a slice of pizza, so when I feel compelled to finish the crust that’s when I know it’s really good pizza. GUYS, I ATE ALL OF THE CRUST. For anyone thinking about going to Grimaldi’s or recommending it to a friend from out of town, I’d strongly suggest sending them to Juliana’s instead. The decor is nicer, the line is shorter, and it’s the original Grimaldi’s pizza recipe. Spread the word and have a pizza party of your own!
Juliana's Pizza: 19 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (11:30 am - 11:00 pm)
Want to write about restaurants in your city? Email us.
EATING NOT EATING: STONEFRUIT ESPRESSO + KITCHEN
EATING NOT EATING:
STONEFRUIT ESPRESSO + KITCHEN
ICYMI, WNW Member #2245 Lauren Hom's project Will Letter For Lunch has inspired a new Free Range series of restaurant reviews. First Lauren reviewed Souvlaki GR then headed over to Chickpea & Olive. A month later, we decided we were still hungry. This time Lauren headed to Stonefruit Espresso + Kitchen for some classic (albeit vegetarian), brunch. In Lauren's words, "Here you go. Some drool-worthy Brooklyn food porn."
Stonefruit Espresso + Kitchen is a brand new cafe tucked right in between Bed Stuy and Clinton Hill. The bright and cozy space looks straight out of your favorite Pinterest board, and they’re serving up equally delightful fare: delicious coffee, house baked goods, and simple breakfasts and lunches that nourish your body and soul. I had the loveliest time chatting with the owner, Laura, while I chalked up their new menu. And later that weekend, my girlfriends and I were treated to a dream brunch by the lovely folks at Stonefruit.
Brunch started out with a shared plate of vibrant beet and feta dip served with fresh carrots, snap peas, and endive leaves. The dip, made from a blend of feta, roasted beets, lemon, and garlic, was creamy and sweet with a little kick from the cheese. It paired perfectly with the sweet and crunchy rainbow of raw vegetables on the plate. Seriously, this dip was so good that I went home and spent half an hour searching for similar recipes. It was just that good.
The rest of brunch was a dizzying, colorful storm of dishes being brought to the table; thick slices of sourdough toast with homemade raspberry chia jam, a beet and quinoa salad with mint and feta, sweet potato sandwiches with marinated kale and ricotta, and, of course, avocado toast. What Brooklyn brunch would be complete without AVOCADO TOAST? (And someone standing up on a chair to get a perfect aerial shot of the food.)
Now let me tell you, I’ve stuffed many an avocado toast into my mouth in my lifetime, but I’ve never had one as beautiful or delicious as the one from Stonefruit Espresso + Kitchen. A whole avocado is mashed on top of a thick, crusty slice of sourdough, sprinkled with watercress and spices, and then topped with a soft-boiled egg and a drizzle of olive oil. It was almost too pretty to eat. The key word being almost; we polished it off in six impressively large bites.
The quinoa salad was a beautiful, deep burgundy from the beets, and every bite was magic: sweet roasted beets, toasted walnuts, tangy feta, and a little burst of freshness from the mint. The sweet potato sandwich, though a little hard to eat, was also a winner: half of a roasted sweet potato nestled in between marinated kale leaves and a thick slathering of ricotta. To finish off the meal, we nibbled on some simple toast with salted butter and raspberry chia jam. After devouring our Sunday morning feast, we felt full and happy (as opposed to full and in agony, which is pretty standard for me). Go to Stonefruit Espresso + Kitchen to eat food that feels as good as it looks.
Want to write about restaurants in your city? Email us.
Not Working: Will Letter For Lunch
Not Working: Will Letter For Lunch
WNW Member #2245 Lauren Hom is a genius with an unquenchable hunger and thirst. To elaborate, the New York-based illustrator has found a way to use her set of skills to instantly put food on the table. And not just any food, but specials served at restaurants all over New York. Lauren lettered... and Lauren lunched. To find out how Lauren tapped directly into the source with Will Letter For Lunch, read on. If Lauren ever wants to invite us to lunch, we’re great at lettering hyphens and periods.
Restaurant: Empire Mayonnaise Co. / Neighborhood: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Lauren Lunched: "I’m not really sure if mayonnaise counts as a meal, but I got to taste every flavor of mayonnaise in the store. I also scored two delicious jars of Ghostly Pepper mayo and Red Chili mayo. I biked home and immediately made an avocado sandwich with one flavor on each piece of bread, and it was phenomenal."
Restaurant: Nourish Kitchen + Table / Neighborhood: West Village, Manhattan
Lauren Lunched: "An egg sandwich with arugula, avocado, and sriracha aioli, roasted pork sandwich, kale salad with local plums, watermelon radish, sesame seeds, scallions and ginger-lime dressing, sesame-soba noodle salad, roasted carrots, truffle oil wheatberry salad, goat cheese and sundried tomato scone, slice of caramelized apple-honey cake, and two Morning Green juices with pineapple, spinach, and jalapeño!"
Restaurant: Docklands / Neighborhood: Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Lauren Lunched: "Bluepoint oysters with cocktail sauce, mignonette, and lemon. Black and white bean soup with kale. Grilled Shishito peppers with olives and garlic. Deep fried lobster macaroni and cheese balls drizzled with Cajun lobster sauce. Grilled whole fish with lemon and kale. Salmon on a bed of polenta topped with jumbo shrimp and shallots. Rosemary cocktails with bourbon, lime, and maple syrup. Too many glasses of white wine. Guinness ice cream not pictured because I have no self control and ate it before I could even snap a photo."
Are you a WNW member with new work to share? Email us.
WORK: DAILY DISHONESTY
WORK: DAILY DISHONESTY
WNW Member #2245 Lauren Hom's super cheeky, Webby-winning blog Daily Dishonesty has just been released in book form. Published by Abrams, Daily Dishonesty hits shelves today. The hilarious and stylish collection features over 150 "beautiful little lies we tell ourselves every day," reveling in an array of familiar phrases of self-denial. Buy the hardcover or eBook here.
Are you a WNW member with new work to share? Email us.
MEET #2245 LAUREN HOM
MEET #2245 LAUREN HOM
Illustrator/Designer/Letterer • New York, NY
Lauren Hom is a New York-based illustrator, designer, and letterer. In 2013, she won a Webby Award for her blog Daily Dishonesty, where she designs "lovely little lies."
1. How long have you been freelancing?
I've been freelancing for about four years. It all started at the end of my freshman year of college; I used to go onto the creative gigs section of Craigslist and take any projects I could get my hands onto. After building up my portfolio and a steady stream of clients, I retired from Craigslist and started my own little one-woman studio, Hom Sweet Hom.
2. Is there a time or place that you feel most creative/have the best ideas?
I wouldn't say it's a specific time or place because my best ideas come to me when I'm either a.) eating with friends, b.) laughing with friends, or c.) all of the above. Honestly, I've found that I'm most creative when I'm not trying to be. Of course I'm still creative when I try to be because that's my job, but I think the real gold is in the ideas that just smack you in the head out of nowhere, like a droplet of water from an AC unit on a NYC building. Looking back, my best ideas have come to me while eating a grilled cheese and a bagel, so I guess you could say that carbs fuel my creativity.
3. What's your ideal Working:Not Working ratio?
Even when I'm not working, I'm working. My friends call me the side project queen, but I'd have to say my ideal ratio would probably be 60% client work and 35% personal work. The extra 5% is for picnics and sleeping in late on Sundays.
4. Do your parents understand what you do?
Thank goodness, yes they do. My parents sent me to art school without batting an eyelash, which I really appreciated, since I know deep deep down my dad was worried about me being a starving artist. They've been really supportive and enthusiastic about my career choice. When I send my dad an article about my work or an interview I did, he's the kind of guy who will print it out, make a dozen copies, and hand them out to his coworkers.
Dad, if you're reading this, just email it. Save some trees. Love you.
5. What scene from a movie makes you laugh just thinking about it?
The scene in Anchorman where the people at the office are describing what Sex Panther smells like when Paul Rudd walks into the room. I cry every time.
6. If you were stranded on a desert island, with your computer, what 3 websites would you take with you?
tumblr.com - so I could update my blog (dailydishonesty.com) and also send desperate HELP messages to my followers. I would hope at least one of them would want to save me.
dribbble.com - so I could see what all my lucky non-stranded design friends are up to.
pinterest.com - food porn, enough said.
7. What do you do when Not Working?
When I'm "Not Working", I'm still working on some kind of food-humor-typography personal project. But when I do actually take a day off, you can find me worsening my hoarding tendencies at a thrift shop, baking a pie in the middle of the day, or going back for thirds from the free sample booth at Trader Joe's.
8. Do you have a hidden talent?
I can make a slice of pizza disappear in the blink of an eye at 3am on a Friday night.
9. Any tips or advice for fellow freelancers?
The advice I give to all of my fellow freelancers is to "work hard and snack often". It's my personal motto, and it means that it's important to eat snacks but to also take creative snacks as well: to read a book, take a walk around the park, bake a cake, etc. I know from personal experience how easy it is to get sucked into the computer and let your work consume you. I think it's really important to step away from the computer and do other things you enjoy. It really comes back to you and helps you be a better creative thinker.
Oh and also, always wear pants when you do a video call with a client. You never think you'll have to stand up during it, but you never know.
10. What's your favorite thing on the internet this week?
I recently competed in this design event, and they had a photo booth called The Bosco that gave you hard copies and a link to a GIF of the photos online. I think I spent the entire next day watching them. Here's me and my besties: http://www.thebos.co/p/5YY3U9
