I used to be Martha Stewart.

Or, at least I wanted to be. I wanted to spend my days handmaking paper scrapbooks, growing begonias and wild roses, and “antiquing” — scouring flea markets for my ever-growing collection of handblown green glass bottles.

I know. Sick.

Thankfully, I’m so over that phase of my life. (I couldn’t keep a desk cactus alive to save my life.) And it’s been ages since I last went to a flea market. That is, until the new L.A. Flea Market opened up at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last month.

Despite the fact that it was the hottest weekend to date in an unusually cool summer for us Angelenos, I had to check it out. Had flea markets changed since my last foray years ago? Would this one be different?

Smart shoppers kept the UV rays at bay under umbrellas.

There were plenty of celebs and dignitaries at the grand opening. Shoppers hobnobbed with the likes of Zooey Deschanel, Kelly Lynch, Kate Linder and Shenae Grimes. Bloggers and journalists alike snapped photos as they snapped up goods. Local deejay Rick Dees held a Hollywood Yard Sale, 460 vendors hawked their wares ranging from clothing to antiques to gourmet goodies, live music wafted throughout, and a kids’ area (rock climbing, go-carts) kept the young ones busy.

My favorite part of the experience were the food trucks — 20 in all — gathered in one area like some dream-come-true buffet. Mandoline’s to-die-for banh mi or a chili dog? Indian or pizza? I even ran into my old friend Debbie Lee, runner-up of last season’s The Next Food Network Star, at her newest venture, the Ahn-Joo food truck. (Read about it in our upcoming Fall 2010 issue!)

People lined up to try Debbie Lee's Korean pub food at her gourmet truck Ahn-Joo.

But it wasn’t all just narcissistic self-indulgence. The flea market’s non-profit section hosted the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center, North East Trees Organization, and Dalmatian Firehouse. (More organizations, including the Dodger’s Dream Foundation, are participating in future events.) And Homeboy Industries, which helps at-risk and formerly gang-involved youth to become contributing members of society through job placement, training and education, provided logistics and maintenance support. How cool is that.

The next L.A. Flea Market is this coming Sunday, August 29, and it sounds like it’s going to be better than ever. They’ve upped their amenities, including cooling stations, a beer garden, and a “Dodger Experience” where you can try their famous Dodger dog.

You know, I just may have to get into this flea market thing yet again.

DETAILS

When: Sunday, August 29, 2010. Thereafter: October 31, November 21, December 19, January 16 and February 20

Where: Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave, Los Angeles, Calif.

Tickets: General admission is $5 starting at 9 am and includes free parking; preferred parking is $10; Early Bird tickets allowing 7 am entry are $10; V.I.P. tickets including early bird entry are $15; kids under 12 get in free. You can purchase tickets by emailing order@tix.com.

Info: www.thelafleamarket.com, 866.966.9495

As much as I love how I look when I’m toting my SLR camera around my neck, it can get a bit painful after awhile. I mean, it’s fine when I’m visiting the Eiffel Tower or the Great Wall of China but when I’m just hanging out? Unnecessary.

That’s why this KidViskous “Camera” necklace on a long silver chain is perfect. Made of light-weight, silver mirror Lucite, it’s got the look down pat without the necessary neck massage afterwards. But, it would still be nice to get a neck massage.

Every year, there seems to be one majorly buzzed-about film with a heavy Asian American ensemble cast. This year, Quentin Lee’s The People I’ve Slept With is it.  Starring Karin Anna Cheung and a slew of other sexies including Archie Kao, Randall Park and Lynn Chen, the film revolves around one woman’s frisky ways causing her to get knocked up without knowing who the babydaddy is. This is definitely not your typical Asian American romantic comedy.  Which is why you should definitely check it out…With Audrey! And Angry Asian Man!

On August 28^th, Audrey Gets Angry. Seriously. Let me explain.

The People I’ve Slept With will be playing in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Sunset 5 with a cast and crew Q&A moderated by Angry Asian Man’s Phil Yu. Following that, head on over to Libertine on Sunset, where Audrey is hosting an intimate after-party with the stars of the film. Karin Anna Cheung, Lynn Chen, Archie Kao, writer Koji Steven Sakai, producer Stanley Yung and director Quentin Lee are already slated to appear.

To attend, RSVP to rsvp@audreymagazine.com. If you attend the after party, you might even get a chance to win two VIP tickets to Audrey’s Night Out 2010— the hottest fashion event for the Asian American community.

So, to sum it all up, a night to watch the hottest AA film of the year, hang with the stars and possibly win tickets to another fabulous event? This could be better than sex.

Purchase movie tickets here.

Video & interview from Ink’n'Undies

Take a minute to think about the underwear you have on. Think about all it’s done for you, those endless wash cycles and bean burritos. Very few people will see your underwear (unless you are of the mall-crawling crowd that belts up around the lower thigh, in which case you might be considered an underwear activist here), but for one particular group of people, the challenge goes beyond ‘boxers or briefs.’

When Helen Huang told her friends and relatives about starting a non-profit to provide underwear — just underwear — to the homeless, they mostly laughed. When she bought the idea to homeless shelters, they said please.

Helen Huang, founder of Undershare

“It’s not just what you see,” Huang says regarding homelessness. To people struggling to pick themselves up, getting a bra that fits is just as much a hurdle as having an address to fill in on job applications. Women who escape domestic violence situations often don’t have time to pack their underwear. Then there are the babies. “Can I just talk about the homeless babies?” She pipes up during our interview. “Homeless children need new diapers, and pull-ups to be toilet-trained.”

Any parent can attest to how crucial those are.

So with that, Huang founded Undershare, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that relies exclusively on volunteers and donations to provide underwear to the homeless and distressed. They do drop-offs (simple: they just drop underwear off) at Los Angeles homeless shelters and sent undergarments to Louisiana when Katrina landed. Their latest project also involved underwear, but with flair: a skivvy fashion show fundraiser at the Ecco Lounge. Modeled by the Suicide Girls, a punk-rock-flavored girls club that threw all body shapes, tattoos and piercings on a runway, Ink’n'Undies had drawn a full house before 9pm. Clothes, or underwear rather, were provided by Seven ’til Midnight.

Suicide Girls modeled undergarment designs by Seven 'til Midnight

Organizations like hers, Huang says, aren’t solving the problem of homelessness. “We’re lending compassion and dignity.” In the end, she’s just trying to get some money for new undergarments. “And the people who laughed at me at first,” she adds, “they’ve all come and donated underwear.”

So, I have a sister who always seems to be getting bath sets for presents. It’s as though her friends are trying to tell her to take a bath or something! I would get this Bubalina Chocolat gift set for her though. Not because she needs a bath or anything but because this gift pack, which includes body sugar scrub, body butter creme and hand and body lotion, smells really good. Yummy.

Time to book the babysitters and clear your datebook because Audrey’s Night Out is back!  For the third year, Audrey Magazine is hosting Audrey’s Night Out 2010, a fashion show bringing the Asian American community together for an evening of fashion, fantasy and fun.

Collaborating with some of the most exciting talents in the fashion, entertainment and music industry, Audrey’s Night Out will include hot celebrity models (and hot professional models) in the coolest Fall fashion, stellar musical performances and a fabulous star-studded after-party with a hosted bar.

Ticket sales start September 3rd, but get your party pants ready NOW! And make it a fashionable pair, please.

The powers of the universe work in crazy ways sometimes. In the case of Korean American rapper/producer/deejay Kero One, those powers definitely worked in his favor.

With just his homemade studio and a personal credit card, the San Francisco native released his first single “Check the Blueprints” in 2003 on his own imprint, Plug Label. Due to a lack of experience with distributing a record, Kero One enlisted a group of friends to help him out.

That’s when the universe stepped in.

One out of the only 50 copies that were distributed around the world somehow made its way to a tiny record store in Tokyo, Japan. A Japanese deejay found that one copy a few weeks later and played it at a club that night. People began asking the deejay about Kero One’s record, including a Japanese label executive who immediately contacted the rapper and asked for 3,000 copies of the record. The record became an underground hip-hop classic almost overnight in Japan and established Kero One’s status of a “mogul in the jazzy hip-hop genre.”

Kero One began performing in different cities around Japan where he was surprised to see the hundreds of fans who were waiting to get his autograph and take pictures with him. Despite the sudden fame, Kero One didn’t let it get to his head. He eventually finished his first album in 2005, Windmills of the Soul, doing everything from playing instruments, rapping, and sound engineering. And without the support of a label or street team, Kero One took it upon himself to handle all the responsibilities of promotion and marketing, manufacturing, finances, graphic layouts and web design. He personally handed out promo fliers to anyone who’d take them.

All of Kero One’s hard work was not in vain. He was able to quit his job as a web designer in 2006 to pursue music full time. Since then Kero One has been awarded the title of Best HipHop Album of 2006 from Remix magazine, topped the iTunes hip-hop charts, received praise from the likes of Emmy award winning producer Will.i.am, and toured all over Asia, Europe, Australia and the U.S.

But despite all his travels, his heart was clearly at home. In Kero One’s newest music video, “On Bended Knee” featuring Sam Ock from Kinetic World, shot and directed by Johnny Le, Kero One sings of his personal experiences traveling around the world and looking for love “in all the wrong places.” Whether you’re a fan of hip-hop, this is a video you’re all gonna wanna watch. (And in case you’re wondering, the girl he’s rapping about in the song said “yes”! They just got married a couple months ago!) Check it out:

Kero One has also shared the stage with artists like KRS 1, Blu + Exile , DJ Cash Money, Dj Kentaro and Epik High (where he participated in arguably the first successful Asian American hip-hop tour). Additionally, Kero One has kept busy collaborating with the likes of renowned acts such as Talib Kweli, Mark Farina, Epik High, and Dynamic Duo.

In 2007, Kero One opened his first office and recording studio in downtown San Francisco to house his fledging hip-hop/dance/funk imprint, Plug Label, releasing more than a dozen records and CDs.

In 2009, Kero One independently released his official sophomore album Early Believers showcasing the talents of some of his favorite vocalists such as UK singer Ben Westbeech, Finland’s Tuomo, and Portland’s Ohmega Watts. A fantastic blend of “soulful jazz tinged tracks to upbeat synth-driven party bangers,” Early Believers is a reflection of Kero One’s growth and maturity as a writer, composer, vocalist and arranger.

In 2010, Kero One released his third solo album entitled Kinetic World which again features some of his favorite artists, including Fashawn, Tablo of Epik High, Dumbfoundead (check out our interview with him!) and Othello. In addition, Kero One’s interest in the YouTube generation has inspired features from young talents such as Esna and Sam Ock.

Visit www.kero1.com for more information on the rapper and his music.

There is nothing complicated about this origami! By Beth Springer, this Silver Origami Italian Leather Purse is simply a pleasure to look at and hold.  It’s lightweight and eco-friendly and super pretty! So not only do I feel like I am making the world a prettier place, I feel like I’m also making it a better place. And who doesn’t like that, right?

Katie strikes a Jackie O pose for New York Magazine

Katie Holmes is channeling former First Lady Jackie O for the cover of New York Magazine’s Fall Fashion issue.

In the issue, which has Mrs. Tom Cruise looking easy breezy  fashionable, Holmes talks about designing for her luxury clothing line, Holmes & Yang, with Korean American stylist Jeanne Yang, which debuted in Fall 2009. Holmes’ inception to fashion design began after she became a mom. Holmes tells New York, “I started making clothes for Suri when she was born, designing dresses, and then having seamstresses sew them, because I don’t sew very well. As a child, I was always drawing clothes, and I’ve always loved fabrics, and when Suri was born, I wanted to have certain things be from me and created just by me for her. And so that kind of got me into it, and then one day, Jeanne and I were getting ready for something and we thought, men have such beautiful tailored shirts, they have such a uniform, and we thought it would be nice to make things that are simple that you can have forever.”

Holmes, 31,  and Yang, 40, met six years ago at a shoot and decided to collaborate on a classic and functional collection four years later. Parts of the Fall 2010 pieces were debuted in Elle Magazine late June, where creams, pinks and blacks ruled the color palette, inspired by the timeless, simple beauty of ballet dancers.

Holmes and Yang surrounded by Holmes & Yang designs

The Holmes & Yang collection also includes Mommy & Me designs for little girls to match their mothers, a trend Katie and her super-stylist tot, Suri has been regenerating as of late. Yang’s 7-year-old twin daughters are also fans.

Suri Cruise holds mommy's hand and dons her designs

And they’re not the only ones embracing Holmes & Yang’s collection. Barney’s New York has agreed to extend sales of the line  for another 8 month, a contract that reportedly net Holmes and Yang a cool $5 million.

I don’t know about you, but I think this is a pretty dope ring. For those of you who want to take your outfits to the next level with edgier accessories, the Dome Two-Finger Ring in Silver by IZESX is for you. It makes a subtle but bold statement. Plus, no sleazy guy will want to mess with you once they take a look at this bad boy resting on your knuckles.

Available in sizes 6/7 and 7/8.