The Dachshund Spring Fiesta 2007

by m ss ng p eces

In this video we visit the 19th annual Dachshund Spring Fiesta in NYC's Washington Square Park. Put on by the Dachshund Friendship Club, the event is one of two get-togethers they hold each year and draws hundreds of Dachsies and their owners. The only official activity is the singing of the Dachshund Song, composed by Murray Weinstock (who also made a CD of "dog tunes" called Tales of the City) and Paul de Vries. With Weinstock on accordion and de Vries' custom organ (built in honor of his now deceased Dachshund), the polka song is a befitting tribute to the hot dog.

Photo Album Alternatives

by Tim Yu

Recent years have seen several offline products that are a way to enjoy all the digital photos that otherwise end up lost to the inner depths of our hard drives or on Flickr servers. For a mom looking to show off photos, we put together a few options that make for a great Mother's Day gift—also allowing her to boast how amazing her kids are for finding such a clever way to display digital pics. We've also included some of the "no-brainers" that are quality gifts but shine more for your lovingly selected pictures than for innovation. Be sure to check out the recently-launched Moo Notecards as well that we reported here on Cool Hunting earlier this month. (Pictured above left.)

Blurb, currently in beta, is a helpful way to get your photos into a professional quality book. (Pictured above right.) Fully customizable, just download the Blurb Book Smart bookmaking software for a step-by-step guide to format a book featuring your latest travel photos. Include captions, text and logos—Blurb allows you to make virtually any type of book you want. Prices start at $13 for a formatted, bound and delivered book. Order today to get in time for Mother's Day.

Like Blurb, other sites offer services to make your own book, such as Tabblo and Lulu, both recommended for their quality printing and ease-of-use. But if you'd rather leave the production entirely to someone else, try Hammond Editions. (Pictured left.) Culling the talents of a fine art photographer, an award-winning graphic designer and a photography director, Hammond Editions is a team that makes bespoke books to intimately document the people and places in your life. The custom-made editions are portraits—like a generations-old family home or a painter's work and her apartment—taken to the level of an heirloom-quality book. A keepsake of that caliber doesn't come cheap however, Hammond Editions start at $25,000—start saving now for Mother's Day 2010.

Kodak's slowly but surely catching up with the times and offering more and more digital-friendly services. Their services stands out for the clean, modern look and quality construction. (Pictured far right.) Fill a whole album by uploading your photos to view and edit here.

Snapfish also offers an online service allowing users to upload photos to make hardbound books or a paperback version, but their Pocket Books are perfect for portability. (Pictured above left.) May we suggest making a flipbook? $15 for three from Snapfish.

A couple new gadgets making the rounds make carrying around wrinkled paper photos of your loved ones in your wallet a thing of the past. I keep them in my cellphone, but this new digital photo wallet could put them back in a wallet. The removable 1.4" digital photo viewer stores up to 55 color images and is rechargeable. The wallet is fully functional and made of soft Nappa leather. Available for $50 here.

via Gizmodo.

Shiny Shiny recently singled out Brookstone's digital photo keychain, but we're more drawn to the egg-shape and white color of the Royal Key Chain Picture Frame which holds up to 56 photos and has a 1.1-inch display. Pick it up from Amazon or Ambient Weather.

Kaight Eco-Boutique

by Ami Kealoha

When Kaight owner Kate McGregor initially envisioned an eco-friendly boutique, she saw it in L.A. where the green movement had seriously taken root. Thankfully, she decided that a fair-trade boutique in New York would be a little more interesting. Now, the lofty space offers something for conscientious and discerning shoppers alike. A worktable finds organic cotton jeans from Loomstate piled next to beachy glass cases framing one-of-a-kind jewelry crafted from found antiques by Jami Rodriguez. Other standouts include Linda Loudermilk dresses and KRELwear knits made from mill-end (scrap) yarn especially for Kaight. McGregor is quick to point out that Kaight is about eco-fashion with an emphasis on the fashion part. "If a designer is making an effort at environmental design, or has it in their mission statement, then that's what matters."

by Laurel Pinson

The Cinematic Orchestra: Ma Fleur

by SummerSeventySix

"To Build A Home," which opens the new album from The Cinematic Orchestra, is extraordinary. A piano signature already heavy with melancholy provides the bed on which Patrick Watson's even more achingly beautiful singing voice lies. Altogether, it's moving enough to make you sorrowful on the sunniest of days.

The man behind The Cinematic Orchestra, Londoner Jason Swinscoe, is acclaimed for marrying near-horizontal jazz-tinged rhythms to widescreen ambition on previous stand-out records Motion and Every Day. In a development to the successful sound, Ma Fleur—inspired by his time living in Paris before he based himself in New York—adds a potent dose of raw emotion. True to the name, the record was also written as a soundtrack to screenplay for an imagined film that may yet be made.

Despite failing health, soul heroine Fontella Bass makes a welcome return, while Mercury-prize nominated Mancunian Lou Rhodes lends her vocals to a couple of tracks, including the duet "Music Box" with the aforementioned Watson. It's his inclusion that really lifts things, as the Montreal native has such an enchanting voice.

As a whole, Ma Fleur is a poignant, soulful record, and I'd love to see the movie it's meant to soundtrack. It's released on 7 May 2007.

The White Book

by Lost At E Minor

Launched earlier this week, The White Book is an "ongoing collaboration with Australian fashion designers to keep you up to date with the latest launches, collections, looks and news." Also featuring services, styling and street photography, The White Book showcases popular Australian labels including Romance was Born and global fashion players Saint Augustine Academy.