MOCCA Museum of Comic and Cartoon Festival

Another Event I attended was the MoCCA (Museum of Comic and Cartoon) Art Festival 2009 held last weekend from June 6th and 7th at the Regiment Armory at Lexington Avenue and 25th Street in New York City.
It was in this same building where the first major exhibition of contemporary art in America was held and where for the first time many Americans saw the works of Cezanne, Van Gogh, Matisse and Picasso.

Here I am with some Illustrator friends in front of the Regiment Armory Building:
Chris Margeson, Marilyn Pappas and (myself-Madonna Davidoff)

Chris Margeson is an illustrator from Baltimore who took these 2 photos inside the Cartoon Festival:
THANKS CHRIS!

Madonna Davidoff at the MoCCA cartoon festival 2009, Photo credit:Chris Margeson

Note: The Rest of the photos below where taken by myself:

I bought a graphic novel by Keenan Rubenstein-His graphic novel was done in a calendar format and I've never seen anything like it before: It has no text, just visuals using the different months to depict the development of his story. It's really cool and his line art were fantastic.

Here is Keenan's Booth with his Calendar/Graphic Novel which he signed for me:

Also met some of Chris Margeson cartoonist friends at their Twin Comics booth:
Cartoonists are fun people don't you think?

Fellow CBIG member  Stephanie Ruble, author of " Sheila, The Zombie Cheerleader"
below signing her book for me:

Stephanie Ruble and Madonna Davidoff

Another amazing cartoonist is Ken Wong who does Origami Cartoon.
He taught me how to construct one below:

The MOCCA Festival in New York City was a great weekend of comic and cartoon art exhibitors, panels, lectures, sketches, autographs, and more! Some of the world's best cartoonists, animators, and graphic novelists were exhibited there. For anyone interested in the art of making cartoon and comics, I highly recommend it.  I'll be back again next year!

Philippines: Last Destination to be with my Family again

I have re-united once again with my family back in the Philippines:

One of the reasons for going back to the Philippines was to
visit my father, Jose L. Angeles, who is now 90 years old:

Below, Papa and myself in front of the pool. As you can see, Papa is wearing
the Obama hat and t-shirt I sent him: He is now an Obama fan:

Enjoying the pool with my father:

I also visited and stayed with my brother's family
in Pampanga, in front of the house:

The newest addition to the family:

Lazlo Patajo -Angeles

Lazlo is my brother Jolan's first grandson

Madonna Davidoff, Lazlo Patajo Angeles and my brother Jolan Angeles

Lazlo's parents, my niece Anna Patajo and her hubby Paolo:

My niece Anna with her son Lazlo:
My niece Anna's Blog

Myself with my sister in law Tonette Palma Angeles, wife of my brother Jolan:

Below with my other niece, Amanda Angeles:

We visited the former Clark airbase in Pampanga Manila andwe visited
A traditional Filipino restaurant in Pampanga:

A bakery in Manila where you can buy the famous filipino Pan de sal:

I bought a quilted toy for Lazlo:


where we visited a quilting workshop below,
A Filipino Quilt artist with his design:

At Korea Town in Pampangga, Philippines

Finally, with the rest of the Angeles Clan below:

Last Day Vietnam: Water Puppet

Our Last Day in Vietnam, we made sure we watch the Vietnamese Water Puppet in the Old Town, Hanoi. We booked for an evening performance. Below, in the lobby of the theatre, are some puppets for sale. I bought one.

Vietnamese Water Puppets on stage:

The Puppeteers:

The Vietnamese Water Puppet Musicians:

I am waiting for the show to begin:

We had dinner the same night at this fabulous restaurant called
The Green Tangerine which was featured in the book " 100 Things to do before you Die"
Food was Asian Fusion ( Vietnamese/ French) They also have a good selection of wines.

The Green Tangerine :

One of the appetizers we ordered: soft shell crab with mango sauce:

Bart and I love Vietnamese Food:

Our last day in Hanoi, Vietnam, we also just relaxed during the day by the pool:

Ha Long Bay Cruise, Vietnam

Our Cruise to Ha Long Bay, From Start to Finish

Bart & I waiting for our car service to take us to our crusie ship to Ha Long Bay,

A three hour drive from our Intercon Hotel Hanoi. Ha Long Bay is a world Heritage site
and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The traffic in Vietnam--filled with motorcycles, some carrying stuffs you cannot imagine:
The drive is an experience in itself.

More Motorcycles:



Stopping at a ceramic workshop where you can buy souveniers done by the disabled:




Some rural scene on the way to Ha Long Bay:




Beautiful sculptures:

The ceramic workshop:

Madonna Davidoff in the middle of two buddhas:

Finally, we reached the port to board our ship to Ha Long Bay:

Our ship the Ha Long Ginger has only 10 cabins plus an interior made up of all wood .
It resembles an old Asian sail ship. Really beautiful and cozy, plus romantic:

Having my first Vietnamese beer while waiting to board:

The captain of our ship The Ha Long Ginger

Our ship The Ha Long Ginger:

The Ship's bar:

Our Ship Guide named SON

My lifesaver--I made sure I know where it is...

Our cabin:


Our cabin bathroom:all marble

The ship dining area:

More views of Ha Long Bay( lime stone islands, lots of them)

Bart getting his coffee:

Stopping at a beach at Ha long Bay:

Another cruise ship The Indochine: a view from the beach

Madonna Davidoff at the beach in Ha Long Bay:

Bart swimming at Ha Long Bay beach:

Again, yours truly after a swim in the water:

Back again in our ship:

Bart enjoying the breeze at the top deck of the ship:

Madonna Davidoff on the top deck of Ha Long Ginger:

Approaching the Fisherman's Village: some of the fisherman's kids selling shells:

Fisherman's Village homes: All of them have TV and electrical power:

After seeing the Fisherman's village, we are now visiting the Ha Long Bay National Park:

Waiting for dinner at sunset:

Our dinner at the ship: giant prawn, Vietnamese fresh spring rolls, crab soup, grilled fish, calamari and of course dessert

The Morning after: before breakfast in the ship, more vendors -
I bought a sea shell from one of them:

Bart & I before breakfast:

This is a typical Mini Mart vendor in the sea:

After breakfast, we are now visiting one of the famous caves in Ha Long Bay:

Madonna & Bart inside the caves:

Going back to our ship after the caves:

Madonna Davidoff in a tradti0nal Vietnamese dress:

Our last lunch buffet at the ship:

An unforgetable cruise of the Ha Long Bay:

Bart and Madonna Davidoff 2009, Vietnam