Cool Hunting
| 28 July 2006view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Nike Plus Contest
by Ami Kealoha
In the beginning there was Nike Plus, the Nano-integrated running shoe that tracks time and distance to help manage workouts. Next Crystal Method came out with a track called "Drive" paced for a standard distance run. Now, CH has a complete Nike Plus kit (Moires in the colorway of your choice, the Nike+iPod Sport kit, and a Nano) as well as a free download of "Drive" to giveaway to a reader who answers the following question correctly. What was the name of the athlete disqualified from the Olympics for using a horse and carriage? Submit answers here by next Friday, 4 August 2006, to qualify. (We'll pick at random from correct entries.)
Max Brenner
by Ami Kealoha
Since the British invention of the chocolate bar by Frye and Sons in 1847, not much has changed about the way we eat chocolate. Sure, you'll find Green tea-infused fillings and single-origins so fine they're kept in humidors, but Brenner's mission takes the fantasy and emotion of chocolate—what he says comes to him when he closes his eyes and thinks about it—and translates it into a complete experience.
The latest outpost in his empire (and the first stateside) opened yesterday in NYC's Union Square, showcasing his innovative products—from pure chocolate and fresh cream dispensed on-site into glass jars (pictured above right) to "Magnet," an egg-shaped confection designed to be slipped in a kiss from mouth to mouth. Menu items include a range of spectacular indulgences, like toffee banana split waffles served with strawberries and warm chocolate sauce that comes in a mini-beaker, a shot glass filled with chocolate fudge and topped with pop rocks-style popping candies, and a vanilla popsicle that comes with melted chocolate fondue and toppings for dipping.
Several items make use of innovative utensils and dishes designed by Brenner that make eating and sipping his chocolate creations into multi-sensory events. Shaped for cupping, the Hug Mug (pictured above left) warms hands and encourages the simple pleasure of lingering over a cup of hot chocolate, while the Kangaroo cup features a pocket for chocolate that melts into hot coffee and comes with a double-ended spoon for mixing and licking. With a menu of savory treats (including a munchies section and calorie-conscious items) as well, Max Brenner's is like a chocolate amusement park with universal appeal.
Nola Star
by Ami Kealoha
The right room divider can transform a sprawling open space by creating intimacy and adding dimension. Nola Star takes the concept a couple steps further with customizable patterns that also let in light. Available in two different patterns (pictured above and after the jump) and in transluscent candy colors, the round-edged plastic squares measure approximately 8x8 inches and have holes on all four sides that connect with metal rings. The flexibility means Nola Star can be configured to nearly any space—whether mid-room, as a wall covering, in a window, or simply as an accent element—and it can fold out of the way if needed.
Griffin Tune Center
by Josh Rubin
Griffin and got a preview of their recently announced Tune Center iPod accessory. Further decentralizing your connectivity and entertainment content, the sleek little dock connects to your TV or TV and home stereo to provide a big screen, remote controlled experience for iPod based home music and video playback. The Tune Center can also connect to your home network (via ethernet or WiFi) to allow you to tune in to internet radio. Check out the screen shots below (click to zoom)—the interface is as straight-forward as it gets.
Preorder for $149 from Griffin.
The Fish That Ate the Shooting Star
by Wendy Dembo
I am in Sao Paulo for the opening of "The Fish That Ate the Shooting Star" Os Gemeos' first solo show in their homeland, Brazil, opening today, 28 July 2006. Most of Os Gemeos' friends and family in Brazil have never experienced their installations, and they've really outdone themselves for the occassion. There are details upon details upon details. In the middle of the gallery, a giant puppet wearing a sequined vest sits in a houseboat. The house part of the boat features a large-scale cuckoo clock, flashing lights, people who chase fish, little people that swing around, and roof tiles that have each been painted into a distinct character. Patchwork metal pieces cover the floors and turn into waves at the hull of the boat, which is adorned with colored fish scales. Os Gemeos' characteristic figures show up as large scale, highly detailed murals on the walls; it's impossible to take them all in during just one visit. To top it all off, the exterior of the gallery has been transformed to look like one of their trademark heads. See more images after the jump.
Galeria Fortes Vilaça
Rua Fradique Coutinho 1500
Såo Paulo, Brasil
tel. 55 11 303 27 066
Also on Cool Hunting: Graffiti Brazil
