Mykonos Theoxenia

by Ami Kealoha

Overlooking the Aegean, the Mykonos Theoxenia has been a top destination in the Greek isles for over 40 years. Their recent interior re-design makes it all the more appealing by adding a retro-modern look, a harmonious match with Aris Konstantinidis' original architecture. Billed as "60s glam," the new decor has an unabashed Jonathan Adler feel with a mix of organic egg-like vases and lamps alongside chunky geometrical wood furniture. But the place is more than simply good-looking, the full-service boutique hotel has a full range of services, including a pool, restaurant, bar, a conference "board", and spa, and it's located nearby the historic Saint Charalambos chapel where visitors can arrange weddings and other events.

Opening in April with rates starting at €140, you can book through Design Hotels.

More images after the jump.

This Week at Refinery29

by Ami Kealoha

This week at Refinery29, check out the first installment of "Postcard from Berlin", which focuses on the neighborhood Mitte (the heart of the city), home to plenty of Berlin's best small stores and restaurants as well as great custom leather goods, inventive wallpapers, and hard-to-find local designers. Back home in New York, the editors of the site have chosen their favorite designers and collections from Fashion Week in a colorful roundup of the year's most promising independent designers. Finally, there is a quick profile of the duo behind Smythe Les Vestes, two designers who have built an entire gorgeous collection on the simple premise of the "perfect little jacket."

The Shadow Conspiracy x Invisible Man LE 24" Shadow Cruiser

by Evan Orensten

We recently checked in with Ronnie Bonner at The Shadow Conspiracy about their new Limited Edition 24" Shadow Cruiser collaboration with Andrew Lee of Invisible:Man.

Ron has been focused full-time on The Shadow Conspiracy since selling UGP, a pioneering brand of BMX clothing and accessories. Serious bikers (or those who want to look like them) often customize their bikes or build them from the ground up. When they do, they look to companies like The Shadow Conspiracy, who make very high quality (and stylin') BMX gear—things like chains, seats, grips, pedals and gears. Check out their Penumbra line of limited edition seats; it's a shame to cover them up with your butt.

You may be familiar with some of Andrew's previous collaborations with éS Footwear, MadFoot, Stussy, Kinetics, T-19 and Neighborhood, or with his Invisible:Man clothing line.

Ron met Andrew through a mutual friend, and it wasn't long before they came up with the idea to collaborate on this bike, which is the first complete bike that The Shadow Conspiracy has made.

Story, photos, and details after the jump.

This Week in Tropolism

by Ami Kealoha

Tropolism explores the outer fringes this week. First, it reviews the designs for the first two commercial spaceports for humankind and finds them, well, awful. Next it reviewed a winning (finally) competition entry by Zaha Hadid for a library in the remote city of Sevilla and finds it, well, underdone. The remote inner city regions of Detroit are being rediscovered by an activist group painting derelict buildings orange. And finally, the remote neighborhood of Long Island City in the remote borough called Queens, New York.

Second Life

by Carol T Chung

If you'll recall, earlier this week I mentioned the Second Life. What makes this virtual space different than that of others, is that the content is both created and owned by its members. Owned as in, they own the intellectual property rights to it; thereby able to buy, sell and trade whatever they make. They also own land in game. Linden Lab, the creators of Second Life, also implemented an economic system with the ability to exchange in game currency, Linden Dollars, with that of U.S. Dollars. Robin Harper, the keynote speaker at the event and SVP of Community and Support for Linden Lab, spoke about the types of things women are doing in this space as well as some of the amazing things that have come out of it. More after the jump...

Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan: Ballad of the Broken Seas

by Ami Kealoha

Sad music is my favorite music. Is that because I’m depressed? Maybe, but I’ll take early Leonard Cohen and bottle of single malt over the latest Arctic Monkeys-type record and a vodka Red Bull every time. That’s just me. And for people like me, Mark Lanegan’s whiskey-soaked growl has always been as reliable as a drunk friend.

After leaving grunge band the Screaming Trees, Lanegan released six mesmerizing, if overlooked, solo records—all gems. But as much as I loved those records, it always felt like something was missing. To my surprise, that something was Isobel Campbell, the angelic-voiced Scottish cellist. In a career move that seemed very questionable at the time, she quit Belle and Sebastian right as the band was reaching the upper echelons of indie-rock. But on their new record of collaborations, she plays the beauty to Lanegan's beast, and the place where they meet makes for a very satisfying listen.

The standout track on the album is “The False Husband,” a dark, beautifully arranged song that Tarantino would be proud of. If there’s a weakness, it’s that Campbell tendency to double her voice on too many tracks. Just one of her would suffice. Fans of Tom Waits, Nancy Sinatra, and film noir will relish this album. Fans of daylight, American Idol, and dancing should steer clear.

Preorder from Amazon

by Rory Carroll

Wallpaper* 10th Anniversary

by SummerSeventySix

British-based and internationally-read Wallpaper* celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, limited-editions of the magazine are being produced, starting this month with a cover by artist Richard Patterson. On the left is his effort, which is available to subscribers or from the Wallpaper* site, while on the right is the widely-available cover. I know which one I prefer.