Archive for October, 2011

Reception Area

Oct. 31, 2011

The reception area at MinkWell’s World HQ are all set for Halloween and waiting for trick or treaters. Speaking of which, I was at a friends house last weekend and they introduced me to the glory of “The Paul Lynde Halloween Special” which they bought from amazon. It is awful, but for all the right reasons. I guess you would call it a variety hour kind of show, but the casting has shades Love Boat, like lets get the most random celebs of moment and put them on a big boat. Well Paul’s boat features Betty White, Tim Conway, Witchiepoo from H.R. Pufnstuf, Margret Hamilton doing her Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz, Florence Henderson, Donny and Marie, and in their first televised appearance KISS. Amaze-ballz.

Van Alen Books

Oct. 28, 2011

I was running some errands last week and found this bookstore. What a catch! The interior was designed by Lot-Ek and comprised of salvaged doors that tumble down the center of the store. The Van Alen Institute mission is “to promote inquiry into the processes that shape the design of the public realm.” That might come off as a bit high and mighty, but don’t let it fool you, the staff is incredibly helpful and friendly.

Go There: Van Alen Books 30 West 22nd NYC

The Giving Tree

Oct. 26, 2011

Currently there is a tree in my backyard that won’t stop producing apples. Luckily my motto has always been “When Life Gives You Too Many Apples, Make A Galette”. It also helps when you have a boyfriend who can make pie dough in his sleep. A division of labor is key to making this dessert quickly: I peel the apples, he cuts them into wedge shapes, removes the seeds and marinates the fruit in a pool of lemon and orange juices. The scent that will come from your oven might be the second best part of this dessert. The best part? You’ll have to make one and find out.

Dear Santa,

Oct. 24, 2011

If you’re listening, Santa please please please I want one of these trip-tastic new LYTRO cameras. Not sure I completely understand the optics, but I’ll try to ‘splain: the camera captures the entire focal length of a single shot allowing you to select the focus after you shoot the image, and even play around, creating as many focuses as you want. (foci?) The images below are the same frame, with the focus moved.

Play with the images here

New Mag Alert: Wilder Quarterly

Oct. 24, 2011

Wilder magazine launches today with an interesting mix of stories from how to create a modular cold frame, a field trip to Yves Saint Laurent’s Jardin Majorelle in Morocco, and musings from Dominique Browning. I’m excited to get my hands on a copy.

Celebrity Skin?

Oct. 20, 2011

I’m not sure what to think of this Courtney Love film that is on the new Vanity Fair iPad. Sure, she is crackers, but the bunnies and macrons just ratchet up the insanity. Thoughts?

Watch It: Courtney Love for Vanity Fair

Bored With Spotify?

Oct. 17, 2011

Today Monocle (one of my favorite magazines) is launching their new 24/7 radio station called “Monocle 24”. Broadcasting from their world headquarters at Midori House, the station offers a mix of reports from the worlds of business, design, culture as well music you haven’t heard before.

More Info: Desktop Listening

Field Trip: Don Carney @ Clic Gallery NYC

Oct. 15, 2011

Homeware and accessories designer Don Carney (and co-founder of Patch NYC) has recreated his Cambridge, MA studio inside Clic Gallery at 255 Centre Street, New York. The installation includes drawings, wallpapers, feathers, bones and other curiosities that surround him at work.

The drawings, which look like woodcuts, are actually ink drawn directly from the bottle’s dropper. The resulting inky black line gives his work an illustrative intensity like Rockwell Kent‘s drawings for Moby Dick. Carney’s menagerie of owls, whales, foxes and antelope are telling a story, I suspect, but the artist is not giving up the text quite yet. I like to stand back and let the characters animate the wall around them. I love, too, the antique frames he selects for each piece.

New to me this viewing are these great needlepoint pieces, below, designed by the artist but stitched by his mother.

The work’s a bit pricey for me, but affordable prints can be found on 20×200.

Font Crush of the Month: Strangelove

Oct. 15, 2011

Introducing Strangelove, FaceType’s homage to Paul Ferro’s hand-drawn titles for Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove, shown below.

Paul Ferro is a Cuban-born designer/director and AIGA medalist who also created the titles to the ’80s classic Stop Making Sense.


Available from FaceType.

The Best Place To Read And Have A Snack Attack

Oct. 14, 2011

When I’m running around the city and need to take a break, one of my favorite places to hit is CityBakery, now celebrating its 20th year. I avoid the obvious times like breakfast and lunch and opt for the later afternoon re-charge of coffee and a cookie. Sitting on the second level gives me a glimpse into busy city life with strollers, business meetings, and casual conversations go on all around you. I like to sit, read my book, and savor the view. The best part? Nobody bothers you.
I’m curious: where else can you still do this in NYC. And Starbucks does not count.

Go There: 3 West 18th St New York, (212) 366-1414