The Smiths' Hotel Collections

by Ami Kealoha

Long available in the UK, The Smiths' Hotel Collections—the couple-oriented guides to the best European getaway spots—arrived stateside last month. Two slick volumes, one focusing on the British Isles and the other covering the rest of Europe, are unstuffy, first-person observations of the best hotels in Europe written by a team of taste-makers (including, most notably, fashion designer Stella McCartney) who travel anonymously in pairs. Each hand-picked lodging option is geared toward the weekend getaway and describes the location's atmosphere (both inside and in the surrounding area), dishes "need to know" tips about rooms, services, rates, and other info, and offers assorted discounts and perks that are redeemable with an included membership card. Naturally, the choices tend toward the more design-oriented, boutique hotels and the lush images printed on matte stock and dynamic layouts follow suit.

European edition and UK & Ireland edition $30 from Amazon.

Orikaso Picnic Set

by Evan Orensten

Orikaso Products of Sheffield, England makes this practical (and affordable at £10) folding picnic set. It's made of thin, foldable plastic pieces that weigh virtually nothing.

When it's time to get the dishes assembled, you unfold them and voila! a liquid-tight bowl, cup suitable for hot liquids, a small platter, even a cutting board.

Perfect for a trip to the neighborhood park or 10 days backpacking in the woods.

Toby Neilan

by Josh Rubin

Toby Neilan is an illustrator and screen printer with a clean, familiar style applied to modern buildings and fashion models. His process typically starts with his own photography before bringing in hand drawing and digital manipulation. His fashion work is in collaboration with make-up artist Sharon Dowsett, which gets him backstage at London, New York, Milan and Paris fashion weeks. More exciting to me, however, is his architectural work which can be seen here.

Spothunters: The Fine Art of Real Estate

by Wendy Dembo

The residents of Newton, MA, the safest city in the US, are in for a treat. The New Art Center is the host of this unusual show of graffiti artists who use streets, galleries and publishing to get their views across.

Shepard Fairey, Monster Project, Greg Lamarche (designer of the above graphic) and Caleb Neelon are hooking up the art center, housed in a picturesque New England former church.

Shepard Fairey has altered the altar. Monster Project has built a walk-in monster. Greg Lamarche has done a bunch of signs and corrugated obsessive collages. Caleb Neelon is showing his funky and fun seafaring- inspired work. Everyone is making the most of the high ceilings, and God still probably approves.

Runs through 7 April 2006. Opening reception Friday, 10 March 2006, 6-9pm

Mark Dean Veca: The Strangler

by Ami Kealoha

Known for his immersive installation pieces, this large-scale mural, titled "The Strangler", is one of Mark Dean Veca's latest works. Created for a two-artist, community based exhibit in Boca Raton called "Picturing Florida", Veca worked with middle school students to paint the oval-shaped work in his characteristic layered comic book-like style. Images of the process and of the completed work follow after the jump.

Also on Cool Hunting: Aldrich Editions and Mark Dean Veca.