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Archive for September, 2011

The Gucci Museum.


Italian fashion label Gucci inaugurated a museum in Florence Monday, showcasing the luggage and high-end clothing that have fueled the company’s success.  Located in the Palazzo della Mercanzia, the museum is only a few steps away from the 13th century Palazzo Vecchio and Michelangelo’s David.  The museum features an exhibit showing how their logo has evolved since Guccio Gucci, a former porter at the London’s Savoy hotel, founded the company in 1921.  Covering 18,460 square feet over three floors, the Gucci Museo is arranged by theme and not in chronological order. In the private basement are the Gucci archives.  On the ground floor will be a coffee shop and bookstore just downstairs from a display of handbags, red carpet outfits, and other archival pieces from Gucci.  On the second floor of the museum is a display of garments and artworks that are emblazoned with the GG logo.  Ahead of the public opening, some 200 celebrities, including the Vogue magazine chief Anna Wintour and US artist Bill Viola, attended a party held in the 14th-century palace in central Florence where the exhibits are installed.  Admission to the museum will be 6 euros with half going to help restore the City of Florence.

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2011
09/27
CATEGORY
Art
Design
Fashion
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Europe’s Top 5 Beaches.


Tons of people are just coming back to the bay from summer vacations, but if you’re like me, you’d take your vacation to somewhere warm in the winter.  Most people across the globe prefer to escape to some exotic beach destinations where they can spend some quality time with their friends and family regardless of the time of year though. There are tons of beach destinations in Europe, but only a few beach destinations can gather more crowd because of their exotic landscape and climate. I picked my favorite five to go to.  Now before we start, I haven’t been to all of these locations, (Croatia and Turkey are among some of the spots I have yet to travel through) but I chose them all because of their exclusivity, scenic beauty, and the male to female ratio.

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Navagio Beach – Greece

Many people want to escape the crowd when they think about beach destinations which makes Navagio Beach really popular.  It’s a small beach which can only be reached by boat from Port Vromi. This beach is also known as Shipwreck Bay and is rated as one of the best beach in Europe.

Pristine white sand at Navagio Beach

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Playa Papagayo – Spain

There is no doubt that when we think about Europe, we think about top tourism countries like France and Spain. The Playa Papagayo is a virgin beach that attracts a lot of people from across the globe. The beach can only be reached through a dirt road and therefore not many people prefer to come here but it still gets the most number of votes during destination and tourism surveys which is why it is second on the list.

The tranquil, and romantic ambience at Playa Papagayo

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Zlatni Rat – Croatia

If you’re looking for some exquisite beach destinations then don’t miss this one, there are very rare beaches like Zlatni Rat that can change shapes right in front of your eyes. This golden pebble beach also known as Golden Horn has the ability to change shape and position depending on wind directions. This is truly unique in its own way and many tourists flock from different parts of the world only to see it change shapes.

Zlatni Rat is the most spectacular beach on Adriatic Sea, located on Island Brac nearby a spot called Bol

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Spiaggia Sabbie Nere – Italy

Are you tired of watching those pristine white beaches in Bahamas and Hawaii? Well, you can take a break and come down to Italy where you will find this volcanic beach which is also known as Black Sands Beach. The beach is made up of volcanic pebble sand giving it a look unique from other white sand beaches.

A unique panorama at Black Sands Beach in Italy

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Patara – Turkey

Some folks like virgin beaches where there is no human intervention.  If you want to be one with nature then head to Patara Beach at Turquoise Coast in Turkey. The beach does not have any buildings around or any human civilization and it is one of the few beaches in the world where Loggerhead turtles come to lay their eggs.

Patara is a birthplace of St Nicholas (Santa Claus), with a long beach on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast

2011
09/26
CATEGORY
Entertainment
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The Construction of Beijing’s Tallest Building Begins.


Construction has started on Beijing‘s tallest skyscraper, set to rise 500 metres and shaped like a vase, the state-owned CITIC group said Tuesday.  The building is the latest in a surge of ambitious construction projects in the Chinese capital, which along with other cities in China is attracting cutting-edge international architects keen to push design boundaries.  A groundbreaking ceremony on the planned 500-metre tall China Zun tower, named after a type of traditional Chinese wine vessel, took place in Beijing Monday.

The state-owned investment giant said the tower would be both its office building and a tourist attraction.  It would feature the latest energy-saving technology, and the top floor would encourage sightseeing from a platform and have a cafe with panoramic views.  Online pictures show a slender glass and steel structure that appears to have an observation platform on the roof and a central atrium at the top of the building.  It will be built just a stone’s throw from the 330-metre-tall China World Trade Center Tower 3 (pictured below), Beijing’s current tallest building.

2011
09/26
CATEGORY
Design
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The Top 50 THINGS Women Do Wrong During Sex.


This is quite a sticky subject (one I’ll probably get in a little trouble for writing about, but who cares).  And worst of all, I know all the perplexed comments I’ll get will obviously  be from women.  Women are the first to be critical about sex. “He’s too small”, “it wasn’t that good”, “he’s lucky I was drunk”, blah blah blah.  Then you’ve got the Cosmo readers who get all their info from some balding female writer at a desk somewhere who re-structures the same sex article over and over and calls it a different name for the cover of the magazine.  Reading sex articles written by a woman on how to please a man can’t help you get everything right all the time in bed.  However when I saw this list from ‘TheirToys’, I realized this is different, its concise, its informative, and best of all it’s true. Never thought I’d find a list like this.  ANY complaint I’ve EVER had about any woman I’ve ever slept with, all in one simple list.

2011
09/26
CATEGORY
Entertainment
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15 Of The Best Black And White Photos.


We all know a picture is worth a thousand words.  A photograph however is also worth the time, effort, conceptual vision, and execution that the photographer put into it.  Black and white photography seems to have a special grit to it that not too many other styles can capture, which makes them a bit more gripping when on display.  I know I’ve covered several different sets of stunning black and white photographs before, but the selection I stumbled on recently left me needing to put them up.  So check the method.

2011
09/26
CATEGORY
Art
Design
Photography
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Jolina Bonita.


Born and raised in Argentina with an added mixture of Brazilian and Italian, Ms. Bonita relocated to London a couple of years ago.  She says she’s a  fun, outgoing, and ambitious aspiring model who loves been in the modeling industry.  Although Jonlina to meet new people, try different things, and go many places, her passion is photography.  “I take my work serious but I also have fun with it because I am able to be myself in front & behind the camera! I am interested in fashion, editorial, glamorous, print and anything else that is hot and creative.”  Jolina Bonita speaks spanish , portuguese and english.  She even attended art school and got a degree in Photography- Graphic and Media Design.  She’s been seen in the Iceberg Clothing Exibition in London, DJ Paul Oakenfold’s SOS Remix Videoshoot in the US and the MTV Europe Awards Commercial.  She’s got tons of print work from INSA Graffiti Fetish, Fresh Flames Clothing, Stush Clothing, and plethora of magazine spots.  Check the her out below.

2011
09/26
CATEGORY
Women
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Cinemagraphs.


Today my assistant showed me some very interesting “more than a photo, but not quite a video” work.  I had seen this collection of work before, but WordPress never allowed me to put up the format of photo before, but trying it again after a few months has paid off.  Art works of artists duo: New York City-based fashion photographer Jamie Beck and visual designer Kevin Burg. They created amazing series of animated GIFs called “cinemagraphs”. They really raised the GIF animation to a new level. People on these cinemagraphs are smiling, wind is ruffling their hair… And the first that came to mind is magical photos from movies about Harry Potter.  Check the method and enjoy.

2011
09/25
CATEGORY
Art
Design
Photography
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Extreme Body Paint.


Craig Tracy is a miraculous artist who was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Shapes of models’ bodies are an inspiration for his ideas, but the paintings you see before you are nothing less than inspirational.  Check the method.

2011
09/25
CATEGORY
Art
Design
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Red Cafe ft. Lloyd Banks & Fabolous – The Realest.


Finding new music is part of my job, but I always love when I come across a new track “by accident”.  My boy Andreas Fischer was telling me about his love of New York emcee Red Cafe, and while looking up some info for him, I came across the new video for ‘The Realest’, featuring Lloyd Banks and Fabolous.  Check the method.

2011
09/25
CATEGORY
Entertainment
Music
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Dennis Calvert’s Light Paintings.


It’s always wild to come across someone’s work that is truely mind blowing, but when that person comes from your old alma mater, it almost makes me proud.  Dennis Calvert, a reported Academy of Art graduate, has some pretty incredible ideas when it comes to the style of light painting.  Check out just a few of his works below.

2011
09/25
CATEGORY
Design
Photography
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YMCMB Take L.A. (VMA’s And Lil Wayne’s C4 Release Party)


There’s no doubt that YMCMB has been doing it big for a few years.  But when the entire group descended on Los Angeles, for the Video Music Awards, and Lil Wayne’s record release party, things got a little crazy.  Check the method below.

2011
09/24
CATEGORY
Entertainment
Music
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The Ikepod Hourglass.


This one-of-a-kind Hourglass by Marc Newson will be auctioned off at Only Watch 2011 in Monaco tonight.  Technically, there are no difference between this and the traditional hourglass from Basel 2010 , but the red tinted glass is absolutely beautiful.  Needless to say, the Ikepod Hourglass is one of those items that would be such a thrill to be able to display on one’s desk, coffee table etc.

2011
09/24
CATEGORY
Design
Tech
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The LRG LSV.


LRG clothing, based out of California, is a creative lifestyle company. Aiming to bridge the gap between skate and hip-hop cultures, they position themselves as a support group for underground, independent culture. There slogan “underground inventive, over ground effective” represents the roots of the company.  “The Spot” is designed as a lifestyle support vehicle (LSV), aiming to further bridge the gap between the two cultures, as well as connect people in both physical and digital realm.  Graffiti Inspired exterior. Both the hip hop and skateboard cultures share a common love for graffiti art. From tagging walls and customizing boards, to the digital world where anybody can be an artist. The exterior styling is separate from the inner structure. It can be replaced later for newer styling options, and the outdated framing would be donated to skate parks and playgrounds for young people to enjoy. Intertwining frames also symbolize bridging the gap between the two cultures, offering something that appeals to all.

2011
09/22
CATEGORY
Art
Automotive
Tech
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Top 5 Genre Crossing Remakes.


I know quite a few people that think of cover bands as groups who can’t produce their own material, and are forced to take the already successful material of others.  But in most cases, this is very far from the truth.  Even further away from the truth is the belief that hip hop songs can’t be properly re-conceived by anyone other than a hip hop artist.  I’ve got 5 videos that prove otherwise.

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5. Anya Marina – Whatever You Like

Thanks to exposure from Gossip Girl (yeah son) this song flew into all of our hearts with Anya Marina’s exotic voice singing to pre-jail T.I. Sung from a female perspective, Marina seem completely in charge. it’s more pop than rock, but it’s still an amazing rendition.

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4. The Fray – Heartless

Say what you will about Isaac Slade’s sing-song voice, but it does wonders to Kanye’s heavily auto-tuned break-up jam. The band’s cover is haunting and you can really feel the pain behind the lyrics the way they perform it.

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3. Jenny Owen Youngs – Hot In Herre

Hearing a soft-spoken Jenny Owen Youngs sing “I was like, good gracious ass is bodacious / flirtaticious, tryin’ to show faces / lookin’ for the right time to shoot my steam” is the best way to open the most awesome rap cover ever. Throughout the song she sings with such seriousness about “poppin’ the bottles” that I had to listen to it twice to hear through my own laughter.

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2. Framing Hanley – Lollipop

I know many readers may not know that a mashup of Lil Wayne’s track Lollipop that basically took me from an amateur with a buzz, to a up-and-coming professional.  That being said, I have a special appreciate for this song, and personal distaste for anyone who messes it up.  But when my good friend Adam Patton shot the Framing Hanley version my way, I was far more than impressed.  When you watch the video however, keep in mind that this version is like a little mini movie, with a plot and the whole nine yards, but the actual songs starts at about 2:20 into the video.

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1. Ben Folds – B*tches Aint Shit

This song was the inspiration for this list. It’s everything a rap cover needs to be: make it original without changing lyrics. By far one the best and funniest covers I’ve ever heard… Hands down.

2011
09/22
CATEGORY
Entertainment
Movies
Music
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Sugamo Shinkin: The Rainbow Bank.


Japanese practice Emmanuelle Moureaux Architecture + Design has completed ‘Sugamo Shinkin Bank’, a credit union located in Shimura, Japan.  The design, an offset volume of rainbow-like layers, is the third branch designed by Moureaux, with the first two located in Tokiwadai and Niiza. Both the interior and exterior hit all colors in the spectrum, and at night, the entire building lights up in such a way that you’d never imagine it was only a bank.

2011
09/22
CATEGORY
Design
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Some Tips About Eating Out.


I know at least a quarter of my close friends who saw the title of this post have their minds in a totally different direction than need be.  But as much as I hear I should give people my secrets about why I’m so good at it, let me assure you this post has nothing to do with cunnilingus.   What I was actually shooting for is the answer to the question: Is it rude to tweet about a luscious treacle tart at dinner? Or take a phone call when your starter is being served?  It’s an issue that has London divided in a Zagat London Restaurants survey released Wednesday that asked respondents to weigh on the issue.  According to the 5,500 diners answering the survey, 53 percent said it’s “rude and inappropriate” to text, tweet or talk on the phone while dining at the table.  A trans-Atlantic comparison reveals that the Brits — who have a historic reputation as the exemplification of etiquette and manners — are more forgiving than their American counterparts.  In Los Angeles, for example, more than half of Zagat readers — 67 percent — said it was rude to text and dine, while 64 percent of New Yorkers shared the same opinion.  Meanwhile, preserving your Michelin meal or epic triple-decker sandwich on camera was considered acceptable by the majority of diners, with 74 percent of Londoners saying it was “ok.”

2011
09/22
CATEGORY
Entertainment
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The One Man Photo Studio.


For all those who know about the Burning Man festival, the concept seems pretty surreal.  (A bunch of people partying their faces off around a giant burning man.)  For those who have been there, we know when you go, it can appear almost like an entirely different world.  But when acclaimed studio photographer Eric Schwabel goes to Burning Man he doesn’t leave his passion behind. In 2010 he took a clever hand built “light suit” to the massive festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert and captured the plethora of beautiful, colorful revelers in engaging detail. Below we catch up with Schwabel for an exclusive interview about his experiences on the dusty playa.  Schwabel is currently raising support for a new improved “light-suit” for Burning Man 2012.  If you like Burning Man, make sure to check out the photography of Eric Schwabel at schwabelstudio.com.

2011
09/22
CATEGORY
Art
Entertainment
Photography
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A $3 billion Casino Resort Plan For Miami?


Miami is to get a new $3 billion mega-resort next year constructed by the same firm behind Singapore’s massive Resorts World Sentosa destination.  The enormous Resorts World Miami, which will overlook Miami’s prized waterfront, is set to open next year in between Miami International Airport and Miami Beach, Malaysian developer Genting confirmed.  The development will stretch three miles along the bayfront, filling a total of 13.9 acres and containing multiple skyscrapers with a futuristic ocean-inspired design.  With approximately 10 million feet of space, it will be one of the largest development projects in the history of Miami, one of the U.S. most popular holiday destinations.

A total of four hotels will call Resorts World Miami home, offering a total of 5,200 rooms, alongside which a series of residential towers will also be built.  Underneath the skyscrapers is an eight-story base building, which will hold a 250,000 square foot retail centre, over 50 restaurants, lounges bars and nightclubs and the largest ball room in the United States.  Genting also confirmed that it plans to include a casino, subject to approval from Florida’s lawmakers.  On top of the base podium’s rooftop will be a 3.6 acre lagoon with beaches, allowing guests to swim over 1,000 feet from one end to the other — or walk the length of the building on a new Baywalk, which stretches for three miles.

Genting is the name behind the enormous Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, which, along with Marina Bay Sands, was among the world’s first truly ‘integrated resort’ and has significantly boosted Singapore’s tourism income.  With the announcement of Resorts World Miami, it looks like Florida could also be in for a touch of the Genting magic.

2011
09/21
CATEGORY
Design
Entertainment
Tech
1 comment

Yelawolf ft. Lil Jon – Hard White (Up In The Club).


What happens when you take a gutter, down south club filled with people, god-like ass slapping, an inflatable pool full of dirty water, Lil Jon, a slow motion camera, two hot chicks wrestling, a white guy with half his head shaved, and tons of drinks?  You’d either have the most random fiasco ever, or the new Yelawolf video featuring Lil Jon.   A backwoods night club and some incredible videography sets the backdrop for what I think is one of the more memorable videos of the year.  For some reason, I’m completely infatuated with this video.  From all the slow motion shots, to the two half naked chick’s fighting, to the raw look-and-feel that sets this video apart from many others to drop in 2011, this one is one of my personal favorites.  Oh, and wait till the end of the video to see the most epic ass-slap ever in life.

2011
09/20
CATEGORY
Entertainment
Music
1 comment

A Quick And Comprehensive Guide To Type.


2011
09/20
CATEGORY
Design
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N.O.R.E. ft Lil Wayne & Pharell.


Thanks to Spiff TV, N.O.’s been spotted on a remote island, but finally displays the video for his animal anthem featuring Weezy and Pharrell. S.U.P.E.R.T.H.U.G. coming soon. It’s popping, popping.  Check the method below.

2011
09/18
CATEGORY
Entertainment
Music
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The Drips.


The Light Drop is supposed to make people think about how we are dealing with our natural resources, in this particular case, the water, which is the main source of energy for every living organism in this fantastic world. Water is energy indeed.  This wall-mounted lighting element illuminates the custom-moldedpolycarbonate bulb with an embedded, dimmable LED in the faucet, whichis intuitively controlled by the tap (the more you twist, the more light you get) which also is a good way to contextualize energy use (though at a greatly reduced rate, compared to an incandescent  version of the same design.  This design won the Third Prize in the Bright LED international design competition, by design boom.  It´s currently being sold and produced by Wever & Ducre, with the help from my great partners and friends from the fabulous Studio Mango.

2011
09/18
CATEGORY
Design
Tech
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The Jaguar C-X75.


To celebrate the birth of the new Jaguar C-X75 Alfred Dunhill have filmed a short movie that links its inception to the legendary 1960’s icon – the Jaguar XJ13.  Produced to celebrate 75 years of Jaguar, the C-X75, is an example of state of the art thinking and engineering.  It is propelled by a combination of four electric generators, two jet turbines and a diesel engine making it very fast and extremely efficient.

It is a thoroughly modern car but it takes its inspiration from a little known legend from the 1960’s – the Jaguar XJ13.  The XJ13 was produced to win Le Mans, a race that it would never take part in due to a change in the rules and it is this car, not the e-Type, which is held above all others by Jaguar. There was only one XJ13 ever made.

The C-X75 perfectly combines the future and the past. Its high speeds and low emissions put it in the vanguard of modern motoring while its aesthetic cues come from the golden age of British automotive design.

 

2011
09/18
CATEGORY
Automotive
Entertainment
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The New Team BackPack Cypher.


Click the pic to see more from Team BackPack.

Team BackPack has been rising the ranks of the web’s premier hip hop spots for quite some time now, but with new directors, and a new look, the Cypher is on full attack.  Check out the the newest cypher, (season 3, episode 7) below, and click the pic above to get familiar with the Team BackPack movement, and all their doing for Bay Area hip hop.

2011
09/18
CATEGORY
Entertainment
Music
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Johnnie Walker Blue Label Private Bar.


Luxury whisky Johnnie Walker Blue Label has partnered with Porsche Design Studio, to create the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Collection by Porsche Design Studio.  The collection consists of “The Chiller” and “The Cube”, but is led by a made-to-order Johnnie Walker Blue Label Private Bar (price available on request).  Made from the finest materials – including brushed titanium and leather – the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Private Bar, measures 220cm high by 65cm and weighs 450 Kg.

Utilising state of the art motion sensors to activate its opening sequence, it arcs through a perfect 180 degrees to reveal three bottles of H and four crystal glasses.  They are presented on a precisely angled surface – 24 degrees, like the bottle’s label – and are subtly illuminated to showcase the perfect serve of JWBL.  The Chiller (£240) holds a single bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, encased in sophisticated dark blue leather and brushed titanium, whilst the top removes to function as an ice chiller.

The Cube (£490) comes with an individually numbered bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label alongside an ice chiller, stainless steel tongs, and four bespoke Blue Label crystal glasses, ideal for entertaining.  The Chiller and the Cube will be available at Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, and Royal Mile Whiskies from October 2011.  The Private Bar is available made to order exclusively from Harrods. The collection will also be displayed at London hotels including The Savoy and the Mandarin Oriental.

2011
09/16
CATEGORY
Design
Entertainment
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