Giant Robot Store and GR2 News

In the last few days, two names have emerged as the biggest news makers of Asian America – perhaps of the year, and it’s only early February. Our friend, David Choe (below right) made huge news because of a Facebook mural, the right choice, and reportedly $200 million dollars. No, he didn’t build Facebook, but he decorated it and chose stocks over a decent sum of money for his labor in 2005. Years later, he has more than a winning lotto ticket or even Kobe Bryant. He’s been on Howard Stern, Nightline tomorrow, and there’s plenty of media he’s turning down. He’s been in the forefront of the news.     Then there’s Jeremy Lin, two games 58 points, a lot of assists and he’s playing in New York City. From the dumps to one of the biggest stages in sports. Who knows what kind of contract he has and what will happen in the next game or when the other guards heal up, but he’s doing the Jackie Robinson type of thing in the NBA for Asian America, although it’s only 2 games.     Surely, the Jeremy Lin story might be more important although it’s a mere two games and not an annual All Star candidate, but he’s pushing Asian America in the most traditional ways. From high school stand out to Harvard to the NBA, getting cut a few times then sent to the D League, and now “starring.” Yet, the Choe story is something that’s akin to a new Asian America and new world. Social media riches isn’t the same as the age old NBA, yet for an outspoken Asian American, it’s a great medium and in the case of David Choe, he chose free speeching Howard Stern as his first interview over all of traditional media and was interviewed by Barbara Walters doing graffiti. Since the title of the post has a vs… who’s news is more important? It’s hard to tell just yet. David Choe has potential energy to do a lot more and go to the billionaire mark and be the biggest artist period. Jeremy Lin can be a great basketball player. An All Star if he keep playing like he is, at the moment, Jeremy Lin has the edge but it can die out. Choe on the other hand is like Richard Pryor in Brewster’s Millions. Who knows what he’ll do.
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Some people have dreams of fame and fortune, and others want to sit next to Baba Booey and a short man with bugged out teeth named Beetlejuice. David Choe is living his dream. Tomorrow, Tuesday February 7, 2012, David Choe will be in NYC making an experience on the Howard Stern radio show, discussing all things Facebook, art, gambling, porn, and perhaps Dave will get naked. If Howard asks, of course. Stay tuned at UpperPlayground.com for an entire week of news of David’s week in NYC, as well as information on his drumming position in South African musical group, Die Antwoord. Check out our Choe goods. -Via Upperplayground! 
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  YEAR OF THE DRAGONJANUARY 28 – FEBRUARY 15NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE The Giant Robot 2 (GR2) presents: YEAR OF THE DRAGON – an art exhibition featuring Dragons! This is the official GR2 Grand Re-Opening as well as our beloved Michelle Borok’s Farewell… Michelle Borok who is coincidentally Year of the Dragon, began as a clerk at Giant Robot LA and quickly found herself managing all locations, curating exhibitions, building the brand, and needless to say, much much more. She will be moving to Mongolia. “While the Year of the Rabbit was characterized by calm and tranquility, the Year of the Dragon will be marked by excitement, unpredictability, exhilaration and intensity. The Rabbit imbues people with a sense of cautious optimism, but people respond to the spirit of the Dragon with energy, vitality and unbridled enthusiasm, often throwing all caution to the wind – which can be an unwise move: The Dragon is all about drama but if you take unnecessary risks, you may find yourself starring in your own personal tragedy.” The exhibition includes work by: Andrice Arp, Robert Bellm, Aaron Brown, Elliot  Brown, Stasia Burrington, Bjorn Calleja, Ako Castuera, Sean Chao, Louise Chen, Shawn Cheng, James Chong, Luke Chueh, Chris Cilla, Jesse Fillingham, Cam Floyd, Harrison Freeman, Renee French, Gabe  Gonzales, Kio Griffith, Joe Hahn, Nao Harada, Hiro Hayashi, David Horvath, Kerry Horvath, Martin Hsu, Mark Ingram, Mari Inukai, Elizabeth Ito, Marc Johns, Jeremiah LaTorre, Little Friends of Printmaking, Tessar Lo, Bradford Lynn, Miso, Gary Musgrave, Mark Nagata, Ming Ong, Martin Ontiveros, Sana Park, Sidney Pink, Jarrett Quon, Jesse Reklaw, Sara Saedi, Ryan Jacob Smith, Dave Stolte, Ken Taya, Edwin Ushiro, Christine Vincent, Steven Weissman, Heidi  Woan, Yoskay Yamamoto, Jeni Yang, Yejin Oh, Sashiko Yuen ELLIOT BROWN PABST DRAGON HIRO HAYASHI GROWING STRONG MARI INUKAI TATSU-DOSHI ROBERT BELLEM WATER VS. FIRE VIEW THE ENTIRE EXHIBIT                                                              GAME NIGHT 8 MONACO: WHAT’S YOURS IS MINE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 7-10PM In conjunction with the Attract Mode, Meat Bun apparel, Angry Bananas, and LA Game Space, Giant Robot is proud to host Game Night 8, an event that takes place at GR2 about every two months. For this eighth installment, we are featuring Monaco. Monaco is a 1 to 4-player cooperative crime caper inspired by classic French heist movies and set in modern day Monte Carlo. It can be summed up as ‘Pac-Man Meets Hitman.’ In 2010 Monaco won the Independent Game Festival Awards Grand Prize for Best Independent Game, as well as the award for Excellence in Design. It is still in development, and this is a rare opportunity to play the in-progress title and interact with creator Andy Schatz and producer Andy Nguyen. HELLO SPRING!A GROUP ART EXHIBITIONFEBRUARY 18 – MARCH 7 RECEPTION: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 6:30-10PM Featuring: APAK, Ulises Farinas, Renee French, Pamela Henderson, Albert Reyes, and Erika Yamashiro. DVD...
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