Aiko

by Carol T Chung

Niko Stumpo is half Norwegian and half Italian. He's worked as an art director for Wieden+Kennedy in Amsterdam. After having worked mostly in digital media, he wanted to take a more hands on approach and express himself with things people could touch. Aiko, which means "to bring love," is the by-product of his new found ways. He paints, prints table cloths, t-shirts, and hoodies. His work is quirky and cute with a touch of badass that I would be honored to rock. Sadly however, Niko has been having trouble finding distributors in the U.S. so that you all can go touch his stuff. Hopefully it'll all work out soon. By the way, the t-shirt on the left bears the motto, "Death Or Glory."

Very Hot Chocolate

by Evan Orensten

Mindy Segal is well known to Chicago dessert lovers for her increbile desserts at well known MK. She's recently opened her own place, made her desserts more accessible (cookies are under a buck, a plate of warm doughnuts $5) and shown us that she has great flair for food too. Heading to Chicago? Stop by Hot Chocolate and admire its great design and hip Bucktown location next door to one of our favorite shops. Brunch, lunch and dinner are served and a case full of tasty treats ready to take out. Our brunch of donuts, fresh fruit, brioche french toast, housemade granola, and my favorite, a local fried duck egg on top of duck rillettes on toast, was a home run, and the cookies and brownies came to the rescue on a much-delayed flight home. Of course you can get the eponymous beverage, French press coffee and great shakes too.

Hot Chocolate
1747 North Damen, Chicago
+1 773 489 1747

ic! berlin

by Josh Rubin

Even though ic! berlin has been making innovative glasses for several years now, they're still post-worthy. Made from ultra-light, super-thin stainless steel they feature an innovative screwless spring hinge-clasp-system. The 0.5mm thick frames are flexible so they can be adjusted to the perfect fit. With over 30 new models being added to the already broad collection and easily swapped lenses, there's a diverse range of style options.

Missing: Since January

by Carol T Chung

This is not a typical game. Consequently, it doesn't have typical game packaging. Missing: Since January is a puzzle game where the user attempts to solve the mystery of a journalist and his companion's disappearance, (hence the keyword, missing). Using Windows and the Internet for game play, users have access to 300 real and fictional websites to help with the investigation. Users also receive emails from non-player characters. Missing: Since January also uses a cast of professional actors to create real video footage for the game.

Maharishi's Fall/Winter '05 Promo Shoot

by Ami Kealoha

Maharishi just doesn't quit. This time they add a bit of sly wit to fashion photography, dressing Warhol and Basquiat dolls from their 20th Century Artists Series in scale reproductions from their Fall/Winter '05 collection. Inspired by Christopher Makos' gender-bending Warhol photos, Maharishi tapped legendary stylist and friend of Warhol, Isabella Blow, to cross-dress the Warhol doll in the women's line. With the Basquiat doll decked out in the men's line, the campaign is intended to point to "the way we perceive our universe in terms of dualities." The result is a sweeping, humorous gesture towards art, fashion, and identity politics.

The new line is available worldwide in all stores that carry Maharishi, including their London flagship in Covent Garden at 19 Floral St. Call +44 207 494 7500 for international store locations.

Also, look out for an upcoming show of the photos by Schoerner at Maharishi's Churchill Gallery at their flagship store, as well as two new dolls in their 20th Century Artists line, graf legend Sharp and pop artist Keith Haring, that will be available on dpmhi later this year.

Kozyndan

by Carol T Chung

Kozyndan are in illustration couple that do fantastic artwork that is both witty and serene. Based in Los Angeles, the duo has created coverart for Postal Service. They blew me away a couple years back when I saw the cover they did for Giant Robot Magazine (issue #28). On this cover they took the classic Hokusai print, The Great Wave, and changed the surf into bunnies.

Phoenix Rising

by Ari Bendersky

It’s funny when people who like music, but aren’t necessarily totally into music, inform me about a new band. Such was the case last week when Josh, the editor of this website, wrote to ask if I have ever heard of this group called Phoenix.

I emailed him back with some sort of smart-ass response that went something like, “Have I ever heard of them? Have you ever heard of Adidas?”

When Phoenix dropped Alphabetical early last year, something clicked for me. As soon as I heard the CD, I knew good things were happening in music (and see, then all of these other bands started popping up out of nowhere and everyone, including myself, started celebrating the “revolution” taking place in rock). This was Phoenix’s second album and it had a much tighter, more refined sound than their first, United, which came out nearly four years earlier. It was filled with a smattering of influences including ‘80s pop, uplifting retro ditties a la ‘70s SoCal singer-songwriters and even a little hip-hop.