F ASHION LIFESTYLE ART ENTERTAINMENT OCTOBER 2010 FREE Glamour Returns to Courtlandt Place Clara C Keeps the Hits Coming Love Your Chopsticks Miss Chinatown to Miss Universe yellowmags.com FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF I like October because it is a relaxing month and serves as a buffer between the brutally hot days of summer and the hot holiday season that looms around the corner. Gone are the 100 degree days and I can comfortably participate in outdoor activities that were a struggle during the preceding months. We may not have the explosive fall foliage found in other parts of the country but we definitely can appreciate our “change of the seasons”, nonetheless. There is a private gated community in Houston that is centrally located yet, generally, invisible. Courtlandt Place consists of a collection of stately homes that include many that are 100 years old, harkening back to a simpler time in our city’s history. Unless you have been fortunate to attend a private party or event in this community, it is unlikely that you have had an opportunity to absorb its timeless beauty and essence. Read our article about the history of Courtlandt Place and see how you can participate in a home tour this month. See a part of our city that is splendid and truly unique. When I channel surf, I often land on a show about how something works or about the origin of ordinary things. I am often amazed that even the most mundane items can make for interesting stories. We take a stab at such a story as we consider the history of chopsticks. Perhaps “stab” is not the most suitable word because using chopsticks to stab one’s food is strictly taboo. We introduced you to the aspiring YouTube sensation, Marie Digby, several years back, and now we want to introduce you to another one, Clara Chung. Clara was the Kollaboration-X winner and has just released her debut CD. A recent self-described “closet musician”, Clara has an enormous and growing presence online. Her music has been “hit” millions of times and that is, of course, music to her ears. Enjoy the temperate days of October. Stroll through historic neighborhoods as you listen to the edgy music of Clara Chung on your iPod. The rest is up to you. See you in November! Photo by Collin Kelly V. Hoang The color yellow has played a recurrent symbolic role throughout the history of Asian culture. It symbolizes the earth that sustains all life, yet has been embraced by Buddhist monks as an expression of unchallenged power. Such is the role of yellow: always revered but in different ways under different circumstances. The mission of Yellow Magazine is to introduce our readers to the artistic , fashion, lifestyle and entertainment contributions made by Asian Americans. It is our hope that the depth and breadth of the topics and events we cover do justice to the pride that the color yellow has represented throughout the millennia. As the editor in chief of Yellow Magazine, my last name is Hoang, which also means yellow. Just as I am proud of my name, I am proud of my heritage, and proud of Yellow Magazine. Editor in Chief V. Van Hoang, President of MV Media Editor Website Henri Merceron Leo Sipras Cultural Editors Contributing Photographers Vuthy Kuon Chad Landry Tricia Volore Thang Nguyen Health Editor [email protected] Ivy Yang Timothy Frederick Travel Editor timothyfrederick.com Matt Sims Shehla Z. Shah shehlazshahphotography.com Wine Editor Peter Tham Philip Cuisimano Fashion Photographer Music Editor Collin Kelly Tyler Merceron Assistant Photographer Lifestyle Editor Jonathan Foelker Chau Nguyen-Todd Fashion Stylist Beauty Editor Leslie Rivas Tree Vaello Hair Fashion Editor Sarah Frank Vi Hua Makeup Contributing Writers Bianca Linette Deanne Nguyen Fashion Intern Leo Sipras Reisa Traboulay Creative Director Business Manager Jeff Martin Karla Montejo Publisher Publisher/Managing Director MV Media Frank Perez National Advertising Local Advertising Verve Communications 713.528.6000 x103 Group [email protected] 325 N. St. Paul Street Suite 1360 Dallas, TX 75201 214.965.9933 x106 vervecommunications.com Yellow Magazine 3040 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 1440 Houston, TX 77056 p 713.528.6000 f 713.228.3186 yellowmags.com Yellow Magazine is published monthly. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of the magazine is strictly prohibited without the permission of the publisher. Yellow Magazine is not responsible for any unsolicited materials submitted. Subscriptions to Yellow Magazine may be purchased for $36/12 issues. Mail check to: Yellow Magazine, 3040 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1440, Houston, TX 77056. © 2010 MV Media On the cover On Kristen: VIntage fur collar coat provided by residents of Courtlandt Place Hat by Louise Green Available at Neiman Marcus On Sherry: Cheetah coat by Dolce & Gabanna Hat by Louise Green All available at Neiman Marcus October 2010 PEOPLE Thousands of Fans and Millions of Hits Can’t be Wrong Clara Chung by V. HOANG It has been a number of years since we connected with a YouTube sensation for an interview. In this day and age, it seems that stars are born via venues such as American Idol and YouTube, and Clara Chung is on the launching pad. Having just released her debut album, this talented songstress plays A LOT of instruments (some of which are Well, I’m still the same old me. But, seeing that I’m an independent artist, new to me) and she writes her own lyrics. Clara has a growing army of fans and has been my life has gotten insanely busy. There’s going to be a lot of touring now, a ton of things to do, and bigger and better opportunities to come. viewed millions of times. Pretty good for a newcomer. Oh, she also conquered all contenders What was the hardest thing about producing your first CD? What was and took home the prize in this year’s Kollaboration-X talent competition. the most positive experience associated with it? How would you describe the music? Well, naturally, budget and time are always issues with every project. This You have been described as a closeted musician. When did you first realize is especially difficult when you’re an independent artist. I wish that we that you wanted to become a singer and what inspired you to finally give could have spent more time in the studio. I could live the rest of my life in to your passion? trapped in a music studio, even if it means no sunlight because there It wasn’t a realization as much as it was a desire I was born with. I always aren’t any windows in studios. watched music videos and listened to songs thinking, “Man, that is the There has been a mile-long list of positive experiences from when we first perfect job.” I just never thought I could make it anywhere because it’s stepped foot into Paramount’s beautiful recording studios to when fans such a competitive and sometimes corrupt field. respond to the previews of the album by saying how much they loved a You have been singing professionally for about a year now and in that song. However, the best moment has yet to come. This coming Monday, short period of time have attracted 70,000 YouTube subscribers and the CDs are going to arrive at my doorstep by the truckload, and I’m going chalked up 2.5 million upload views. That is pretty quick success. How do to actually have it in my hands. All my hard work, compressed and written you process this? into this one little digipack case. OHMYGOD I can’t wait. Whoever is with It does.not.compute. That was my robot voice…well, it was the best I could me at that moment is the designated tissue box holder because I may do on paper. It’s all unbelievable to me. More so than YouTube, I realize soak the box with tears of joy. that I have an album that’s being printed and shipped to my house by the How is the release being received? Clara C’s album Art in My truckload. I realize that the people of YouTube have ordered this CD and Amazingly well. Everything’s going better than I had ever expected. My Heart is currently available. kept my music alive by doing so. The dream I had as a little girl actually For more info, visit team always had complete faith in me all the way, but I’m my own worst came true. In my mind, that’s just not the way the world worked. Most claracmusic.bigcartel.com. critic. I feared that the album would flop, that nobody would like my music people don’t actually get their biggest wish. As a result of all the blessings because it wasn’t what mainstream sells. However, my lovely fans have Clara Chung will be at the I have received, I’ll be eternally grateful. shut those lame-o voices up. I can’t express how much I love my supporters Houston Korean Festival, an event featuring Korean food I read that you play many instruments including a melodica. I have seen for, first of all, actually purchasing the album and for actually loving it. and both traditional and you play the guitar on your videos. What other instruments do you play contemporary Korean Cultural You have won many talent competitions. What impact did this have on performances. and have you or do you plan to incorporate those into your songs? your career? Yes! I love my melodica.