BITE THIS

livinginthestills: Always a fan of Carlos Campos’ work. At Milk...

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 07:56:21 -0600

Always a fan of Carlos Campos’ work. At Milk Studios.

NYC Update

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:57:51 -0600

So here’s what you missed on FARZ….

To say that everything has been perfect since I made the move to NYC would be a flat-out lie. I was fully aware and completely at ease with the fact that I would be giving up the lap of luxury to move to this city that’s so nice, they named it twice.

New York, New York has been a learning experience, as I expected it to be. Let’s start on the day before I boarded the flight to the rest of my life….

Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - It was a warm morning in El Paso when I made my way to the post office to ship the majority of my belongings (at least the essentials) to NYC. Having a history with back problems, more specifically, a herniated disc in my lower back, I knew that the boxes should be small, light and not overpacked, so that I could carry them with ease and without risk of injury. It was a great idea—then, I decided to stack a few up and rush into the post office. Initially, I didn’t feel a *snap* to indicate any kind of injury. Every step I took closer and closer to the door of the post office told me that I’d overexerted myself and there was no turning back, literally and figuratively. I made it to the counter and within seconds of releasing the boxes, I could feel my back begin to tighten and spasm. That was when I started having second thoughts about moving to NYC.

What was I going to do without my chiropractor?! Isn’t everything more expensive in NYC? I can’t afford a new doctor!

Those thoughts, among many others, swirled in my head for the remainder of my last day in El Paso. To those around me, I masked my feelings with the excuse of the back pain. In reality, all I wanted was a back rub and a quesadilla from my mom.

Was I going to let these second thoughts hold me back? HELL NO. I may only be in my 20s but I’ve lived through enough to know that feelings are ever-changing and making a decision based on a moment of weakness is one of the worst things a person can do.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 - I woke up early (did I even sleep?) to catch my 6am flight to NYC. My mom and a couple of friends already cried their feelings out the night before so I was hoping for a ‘dry’ ride to the airport. I got was I was hoping for although I’m sure my mom let the river of sorrow flow on her way back home. It was extremely difficult for me to leave my mom. Without going into detail, I know that not having me home (or at least in the same city) is going to be very difficult for her. She promised to try not calling me everyday. [I think I counted 11 calls between July 2-3, only a couple of days into my NYC tenure.] Although my back was still a miserable mess and considerably worse after being shuffled across the country on 3 flights whose planes were much too small to accomodate my height, I arrived slightly drained but, nevertheless, in good spirits. After a quick trip to Bed, Bath & Beyond (the only Targets here are in the ghetto. I may need Target rehab) for some essentials, my new roommate, Molly, and I made our way back to the apartment and I pretty much passed out.

Thursday, June 28, 2012 - This is when I wanted to go back home. I could hardly move because of my back pain. I was moving like a zombie. If that zombie had a stroke, a soggy diaper and was pregnant. To quite literally add insult to injury, my mother called me that morning with some disheartening news. Due to a family situation, I have to go to Iran for nearly the entire month of August. Normally, I’d be excited at the thought of overseas travel. However, in this instance, nothing is exciting me more than the thought of a safe return to NYC. After I got off the phone with my mom, as much as I tried, I just couldn’t hold it back anymore—I cried. We all know, I hardly ever cry. I can count on one hand the times I’ve cried in the past 5 years: [thumb] When my dad kicked me out of the house for losing the contacts in his cell phone. Yes, that’s a real story. [index finger] When Miles (my schnauzer) died. [middle finger] When my brother gave me schnauzer bookends nearly a year after Miles died. It was the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever received in my life. [ring finger] When Reza on Shahs of Sunset had a very real, very emotional conversation with his dad. I’ve never seen a Persian dad be so open and honest. It brought a tear to my eye. Just one tear…nothing cray. And that’s it! 3 cries and a tear in the past five years. So can you picture this Thursday in your head? I’m immobile due to a back injury, I just got very sad news, and because of that news, I now have to go to Iran for nearly a month AND I’m crying. On the floor. If my life were a movie, that would be the scene that wins me the Oscar. And the Golden Globe. And the Tony, cuz YOU KNOW my life would be a fantastic, emotional, raw, hilarious and occasionally tragic, Broadway musical.

This day ended with a trip to a chiropractor who, although only a couple of blocks from my apartment, required a cab to get to due to my physical condition. Back pain is the absolute worst thing that a usually-fully-functional human being can go through. It is debilitating and embarrassing because you literally cannot do things or move in ways that normally would require little to no effort or thought.

Can I just tell you about how absolutely amazing this chiropractor is? I think he is even cheaper than my usual doctor in El Paso! During the initial exam, the doctor made small talk with me, as doctors usually do, but upon hearing that I was in NYC for the purpose of becoming a stylist, his ears sprung up like a puppy who just caught a whiff of fresh bacon. He immediately proceeded to tell me about his daughter, who also wants to work in fashion and is interested in attending Parsons, where she takes summer courses until she graduates from high school. We chat for a few minutes when a true blessing in disguise revealed itself—the doctor mentioned that he has a few clients who are high up in the fashion industry AND HE OFFERED TO PASS MY INFO ALONG TO THEM! This made me feel like I might have been hallucinating from the muscle relaxer I took earlier. It wasn’t until after the exam and back adjustment were all done when he asked permission again to pass my info along AND offered me his personal cell phone number in case I needed anything during my first couple of weeks in NYC that I knew this docta was not farkakta. Don’t know that word? Google it. It’s Yiddish.

Friday, June 29, 2012 - My back is feeling better thanks to the previous day’s trip to the chiropractor but I have to stay in all day waiting for all my things from EP to arrive. Starting to feel restless and antsy from being cooped up in the hot apartment all day. I know these anxious feelings (and homesickness) will pass once I’m fully mobile again and able to get out into the city. For now, I’m icing my back and taking it reeeeeally easy.

So that was just a sample of my first few days in NYC. Not the best and still, not the worst. I’m sure that during my time here, I’ll experience days that would make me wish I had never left the warm cocoon of my parents house but alas, that is life.

Since that Friday, I’ve visited the chiropractor a few more times and each time, he brings up points from our previous conversations, just as if we were old friends picking up exactly where we left off. My back has returned to it’s original state and I can move about freely once more. I’ve started school and my feelings of anxiety, regret and longing for El Paso have somewhat dissipated. I’m starting to find my way in NYC and it is slowly, veerrryyyy slowly, starting to feel like home.

Since I’ll be in Iran for nearly the entire month of August, I’ve been advised by my parents to not get a job until I return. While most people see that as an opportunity to relax and just take it easy for a few weeks, I am absolutely restless at the thought of sitting around all day not being able to do anything until the end of August. Silver lining? This gives me the opportunity to familiarize myself with the city a bit more, which will be very important in any job I can find out here. I hate that the word “budget” is now part of my vocabulary. Oh, well. It beats being in El Paso.

It’s like Joey (C., not D.) once told me, “El Paso is like a golden cage…” We were drinking when he said that so I don’t quite remember the rest of it. I think he meant that El Paso, since it’s where our families are, where we feel comfortable and “at home”, can be luxurious but if you don’t get out when you get the chance, you could be trapped forever.

So this Texan walks into NYC....

Wed, 23 May 2012 18:18:00 -0600

I find myself at somewhat of a crossroads. I’ve exhausted my opportunities in El Paso. I’ve done the desk job, I’ve done theatre, I’ve done acting, I’ve done writing, styling, photography, marketing….basically, you name it, I’ve done it. The only problem with all of that is the fact that I’ve remained on the same level. There’s no growth happening in EP. Imagine baking a full-sized cake in an Easy-Bake oven. I’m that full-sized cake and it’s time for me to upgrade to a professional oven.

This may come as a shock to some but it’s never been a secret. I love NYC. How can I say that having never been there? I don’t know. Since I was just a young Persian-Mexican boy, I’ve always seen movies, read magazines and heard stories all to do with New York. Since I got my first issue of GQ, I dreamed of being The Style Guy, answering the questions of the sartorially-challenged from around our great nation. I knew that my aunt lived in NYC for a short-time. I knew my dad had friends there—so how did it take me 26 years to finally make the trip? That spark was lit by an old friend of mine, Joey. While we have never been close before, throughout the past couple of years, he was the only person who would call me up as soon as seeing my latest shoot just to give me pointers, advice and tons of constructive criticism. Joey has been living in NYC for the past couple of years and has done makeup for Vogue, Marie Claire, W Mag & Carolina Herrera, just to name a few. During a recent trip back home, Joey and I were talking and he told me, ” I know you can make it if you’d just get your ass to NYC.” Ok…maybe not exactly like that but you get the point.

I started looking into some options and I registered for a couple of summer courses at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology), which start July 3. Now, I’m in NYC for the first time in my life and I can’t say it hasn’t lived up to its expectations. In less than 24 hrs, there hasn’t been a moment that I’ve seen this city stop. Things are happening here (NON-STOP) and I want to be a part of it.

While I have a huge fear of failure, I’m not letting it stop me. One of my tricks when performing in theatre is to transform the nervous energy that I get into creative energy. Use it to to make the best out of a situation in which you feel shaky. So far, that strategy hasn’t let me down and I’m crossing my fingers and saying my prayers that it doesn’t let me down now.

{nervous energy——->creative energy}

I’ll be moving here in mid-June. That’s only a couple of weeks away! Now you know what’s happening with Farz.

What’s going on in your neck of the woods?

nickelcobalt: Iconatonomy by George Chamoun Audrey...

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:29:35 -0600

nickelcobalt:

Iconatonomy by George Chamoun

Audrey Hepburn/Natalie Portman, Cary Grant/George Clooney, Marilyn Monroe/Scarlett Johansson, James Dean/Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Taylor/Angelina Jolie

@Jess_esc this is what I was trying to show you.

For @MrsMissTY jayblr: ITS MOTHER TIME!

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:44:56 -0600

For @MrsMissTY

jayblr:

ITS MOTHER TIME!

Step by Step….oooh babyyyy. One of my favorite recipes for...

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 09:08:00 -0600

2 - 15oz. cans of black beans

2 - 15oz. cans of corn

3 bell peppers of varying colors

2 jalapeños

chopped cilantro

Salt, pep, cumin, lime juice & olive oil

Mix, store in fridge for @ least 1hr

My little cousin Ariana cracking pepper

Step by Step….oooh babyyyy. One of my favorite recipes for “Texas Caviar”. I like to add blended avocados to make this into a sort of super-chunky guacamole. I made the salad last night and you can bet I’ll be adding the avocado in the morning.

p.s. the lighting in my parent’s kitchen sucks. that’s the only way i can explain the poor color and focus of these pics. :-/

Took my cousin Raffael to Chico’s for the 1st (maybe 2nd?)...

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:05:40 -0600

Took my cousin Raffael to Chico’s for the 1st (maybe 2nd?) time. He ordered a cheeseburger.

On the first night in our new apartment, @jess_esc and I made...

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:44:28 -0600

Zucchini, sliced

Ready for assembly

Pinot Grigio on ice...so nice

finished product!

white wine w/ frozen berries

On the first night in our new apartment, @jess_esc and I made some “paleo” lasagna. Zucchini in place of noodles and it’s supposed to not have cheese BUT who are we kidding? A world without cheese is a world that is unpleased.

Tuna Ceviche and Cucumber-Mint Agua Fresca at Crave.

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:27:42 -0600

Tuna Ceviche and Cucumber-Mint Agua Fresca at Crave.

So, yeah…I occasionally grab some McDonald’s....

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:11:11 -0600

So, yeah…I occasionally grab some McDonald’s. Don’t Judge.

@ Singapore Cafe: spicy curry noodles. SO GOOD!!!!

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 07:52:25 -0600

@ Singapore Cafe: spicy curry noodles. SO GOOD!!!!

@ Singapore Cafe: chicken thaiyaki bowl

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 07:51:25 -0600

@ Singapore Cafe: chicken thaiyaki bowl

@ Carnitas Queretaro. Terrible service, good food. Always the...

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:32:24 -0600

@ Carnitas Queretaro. Terrible service, good food. Always the worst predicament to find yourself in.

I can only post this pic of @CreateGoEats AMAZING Chorizo Torta...

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 08:56:00 -0600

I can only post this pic of @CreateGoEats AMAZING Chorizo Torta because I’ve got to save the rest for TSMs new issue (goes live next week!). It’s got the burger patty (80/20 w brisket & ground chuck), chorizo, jalapeños, hot dogs, avocado and a fried egg on top of it all. Sounds like a lot but you wont believe this intense flavor combo until you try it! Next week, check out an article on TheStantonMagazine.com all about how Steven Hernandez and his fiancée, Drina, turned this decadent dream into a delicious reality.

@BitesCupcake - Click through to see some AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS...

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:25:40 -0600

@BitesCupcake - Click through to see some AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS cupcakes provided by Bites Cupcakes & Cake Pops at The Stanton Magazine’s first-ever charity event.

@RipeEatery - if you haven’t, you must. Breakfast, lunch...

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:06:43 -0600

@RipeEatery - if you haven’t, you must. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, they never disappoint.

@RipeEatery - I may have also had a pancake. Don’t judge...

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:05:09 -0600

@RipeEatery - I may have also had a pancake. Don’t judge me. It had pineapple, coconut, slivered almonds and lots [and lots] of maple syrup. Ok…judge me.

@RipeEatery - I had the quiche. The amazing, fluffy, velvety,...

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:03:22 -0600

@RipeEatery - I had the quiche. The amazing, fluffy, velvety, creamy, flaky-crusted quiche. Yes, I recommend it.

Breakfast @RipeEatery. I believe this was the Southwest...

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:01:01 -0600

Breakfast @RipeEatery. I believe this was the Southwest Scramble, sauce on the side.

More creamer at Ripe Eatery.

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:57:24 -0600

More creamer at Ripe Eatery.