Converse x Original Jams: Skidgrip Mid-Shoe

by CH Contributor

by Laura Neilson

More than twenty years after their original collaboration, Converse is high-fiving with Original Jams once again for a small—but definitely noticeable—Spring '09 collection.

To celebrate the collaboration-slash-reunion, Converse will debut an exact replica of its Original Jams Skidgrip mid-shoe. As an awesome flashback to the surf and skate scene of the 1980s, the shoe comes decked out in an acid-hued zig-zaggy print, matching multicolored eyelets and laces, and the Original Jams side license plate-style logo.

Other shoes in the collection will include a low-top skidgrip version, and a Chuck Taylor All Star high and low top sneaker—all designed with authentic graphic patterns and color schemes straight from the Jams archives.

The Jams collection will be available this month for $55-$70 at Converse retailers and online.

Four Unconventional Restaurants for Valentine's Day

by CH Contributor

by Ariston Anderson

Face it. Trying to be creative on Valentine's Day is rough. The pressure's on to do something original and when the clock comes down, you end up with the same old bouquet of roses. Here's a selection of restaurants that will do the work for you.

Le Refuge des Fondues
In Paris, Le Refuge des Fondues, where the only thing to be ordered is fondue, the owner took to serving wine in baby bottles, to avoid the city's stringent wine glass tax. The concept took on in this cozy Montmarte restaurant. It's perfect if the idea of feeding your loved one from a biberon is appealing. For 15 euros for the fondue special, and all the wine you can drink from a baby bottle, it's a steal.

There's even a copycat restaurant that opened recently in New York, Les Cave des Fondues

Le Refuge des Fondues
17, Rue des Trois Fréres
Paris, France 75018 map
tel. +01 42 55 22 65

Irving Mill, New York City: Heart Tasting Menu To show your date that you're all heart, the Irving Mill in New York is offering a seven course Heart Tasting Menu for $85. Starting with chicken heart tempura, it's followed by duck heart confit, grilled pork heart blt, squab heart sugo, cured shaved lamb heart and sweetbread stuffed calves heart. For dessert? Hearts of Palm Tres Leches.

Irving Mill
116 East 16th Street
New York, NY 10003 map
+1 212 254 1600

Nocti Vagus
Dining in the dark at Berlin's first pitch-black restaurant, the sensory-deprived Nocti Vagus, you won't be able to actually taste much of your food. But that's not the point. If you go a little wild, no one will notice. The night includes film and music, in the dark of course, included in the price of a three course meal for 59€.

For similar restaurants, called Dans le Noir in both Paris and London, check out the site for more info.

Nocti Vagus
Saarbrücker Strasse 36-38
10405 Berlin, Germany map
tel. +49 30 7474 9123‎

Bed Miami
Bed bars have been around for quite some time now, but what about bed restaurants? There's nothing more fun than eating in bed, especially when it's not your own bed. Bed Miami does have an annoying nightclub vibe, so try to get seated in one of the many private areas, and show up early.

Bed Miami
929 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139 map
tel. +1 305 532 9070

Tom Dixon: Interior Worlds

by Doug Black

Over the past two decades, Tom Dixon made an indelible mark on the world of furniture design. His S-Bend chair, Soft System couch and Mirrorball light (pictured) are all modern classics and he ranks among the biggest names in British design. His latest work is a hefty tome called "Interior Worlds." Though more images the words, the main editorial thrust is defining the infamous "D-word" of design. Dixon takes the approach that it's an activity enjoyed by almost everybody on a constant basis. The clothes you wear, the order of books on your self, the plants in your garden—all design choices.

With this in mind, the book presents a series of nearly 700 photographs, half of which are taken by Dixon himself. The entirely pedestrian images juxtapose things like the chipping paint on chairs, snowflakes and vegetation with the designers work. It simultaneously traces the origins of his inspiration, while giving an overview of the design process. The book is separated into six different isms: materialism, constructivism, expressionism, primitivism, reductionism and futurism. For each section, he gives a brief introduction with some personal and historical context for his conception of each category.

The book itself was designed by Dixon with a handsome canvas cover emblazoned with an introductory essay. Available in March 2009, you can currently pre-order "Interior Worlds" on the Amazon or the Rizzoli site.

My House Nightclub

by Mike Giles

Nightlife visionary David Judaken teamed up with design guru Dodd Mitchell on his latest project to create My House, a world-class nightclub set against the stunning backdrop of a contemporary, luxury home. The collaboration seeks to revolutionize Hollywood nightlife by perfectly balancing the intimacy and comforts of a lounge with the hedonistic pleasures of a club.

For decor, in addition to luxurious furniture supplied by Mogul of L.A., the space nods to 1960s architecture with notable design features including crocodile bars, a nickel-scaled ceiling, fire-breathing sculptures and stunning chandeliers. When a DJ wants to take over the party, they'll do so on a custom steel table, resembling the chopped branches of a tree.

My House
7080 Hollywood Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA map
For reservations, please call +1 323 960 3300

Christian Jankowski: Living Sculptures

by Brian Fichtner

Part of the Public Art Fund's current programming, Christian Jankowski's Living Sculptures, on view in the Doris Freedman Plaza in Central Park through April 2009, is a must see for New Yorkers and visitors alike. Essentially statues of people presenting themselves as statues, the triptych pays homage to the nameless performers who enliven most every metropolis through this humble art. Pay close attention to these sculptures and you'll soon spot the subtle details Jankowski uses to fuse the actual cultural figures—Ceasar, Dali's "Cabinet Woman" and Che Guevara—with the fictitious performers representing them.

Be sure to check out the other projects orchestrated by the Public Art Fund as well. From City Hall Park to the MetroTech Center in downtown Brooklyn, there's an installation to please every discerning eye.

MoMA Design Store: Destination Seoul

by Tim Yu

We were lucky enough to attend the opening for the MoMA Design Store's new product collection, Destination Seoul, which highlights designers and products from South Korea. Buyers selected young, emerging Korean designers and their creations across a range of categories for a diverse curatorial of goods usually only found on the peninsula.

As part of the MoMA Design Store's destination series and sponsored by HyundaiCard, the Korea Institute of Design Promotion (KIDP) and Design Seoul, it's the first Korean design collection of its kind in the States, further cementing Korea's place in the international contemporary creative scene. Products range from a spoon reimagined as a bottle opener to mini replicas of Bibimbap, but our favorites from the collection have to be the Sandwich Sponge ($10), Wooden Block Rattle Set ($18) and the Cloud Memo Pad ($8).

Designed by Jaewon Yang and Hyung Jeong Lee, the Sandwich Sponge is an absurd take on the cleaning utensil, playing on the similarity between breads and sponges, as well as the idea of cleaning food with food. The Wooden Block Rattle Set designed by Jae Keun Song is a clever combination of two childhood toys. Made from natural wood finished with linseed oil, each wooden block features a different face and makes a distinctive sounds. And Ami's favorite, the Cloud Memo Pad, designed by Mi-Jung Ju, features Korea's traditional color stripes in the form of a cloud shape. The pad consists of an array of lined and unlined paper of different colors.

All the Destination Seoul products are exclusive to MoMA and available for a limited time online.