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Fashion: Etnies 2008 Spring SEED Project Collection

2008-02-12T14:03:00.000-08:00

The Etnies PAS DA collection was clearly foreshadowing from skate label Etnies as they begin to integrate a ecologically friendly philosophy into their products. New for the 2008 Spring collection, the SEED Project has incorporated clean aesthetics to go alongside with their green friendly production and material use such as bamboo, hemp, vegetable dyes and cotton blends. The collection seen here includes footwear and t-shirts designed by San Diego artist Gary Benzel. 1% of all proceeds from the sale of this collection will be donated to the Sierra Club's 1% For the Planet initiative which promotes environmentally friendly initiatives. Available now at select Etnies dealers.
I want this one:

Home: Scratch it! Sniff it! that's just wallpaper!

2008-02-12T13:31:00.000-08:00

FRUIT COCKTAIL COLLECTION

The Fruit Cocktail Collection began when Michael Angelo asked if we could actually make scratch & sniff wallpaper. The result is a fantastic trio of hand screened fruit wallpaper designed by Michael and Flavor Paper. And, when scratched, B-A-N-A-N-A-S! smells like bananas, Cherry Forever like cherries, and Tutti Frutti like…tutti frutti! Visual AND olfactory satisfaction from the walls.

So cool!

Best of all, a percentage of sales goes to the Human Rights Campaign to help achieve human equality.

Where? @ Flavor Paper

Events: SHOWOFF 2007, oct 17-22, Paris

2007-10-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

2006 attracted nearly 15 000 visitors. This year, Show Off for its second edition expand twice its size, including a theater with 650 seats where a program full of surprises will present performances, videos and other new ideas.

2007 is also the year for kids with 200 sqm dedicated to them.

The fair still maintains its charming, relaxed atmosphere with the arrival of new international galleries and keeps the focus on cutting-edge-art content.

booking & visiting information

Show Off
Espace Pierre Cardin
Nearly 40 contemporary art galleries
from 17 to 22 october 2007
(opening on invitation 16 october 2007)

1 avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris
Subways : Concorde (ligne 1) ou Champs-Elysées (lines 1 &8)
Opening Hours : from wednesday to saturday 12 to 8 pm

Ticket Prices
Ticket : 5 euro / Free for children under 18 years old
Activities and conférences : free
Catalogue 15 euro

Events: "Kurikku" Tokyo Art Beat 3rd Year Anniversary Party! , October 13th 2007,Tokyo

2007-09-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

A celebration for the Japanese and international crowd of art-goers and creators mixing in Tokyo. A celebration of three years of buzzing excitement across Tokyo, three years of fun and entertainment beyond television, three years of cultural wealth and three years of free choice!
Come and meet with the team, the users, artists, venue owners, and special guests.
Grab the new TAB-shirts from an exclusive third line designed by 5 popular artists and designers (arrive early for the special giveaway!), enjoy a retrospective slideshow of the best of TAB's third year, and don't miss TAB's surprises!

Visual and musical delight will be provided through the evening by the Minimal Tokyo Crew and special guests.

Bring Your Friends!!

Location: Super Deluxe, 3-1-25-B1F Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0031
Phone: 03-5412-0515 Fax: 03-5412-0516

Prices: Soft drinks and food available at the venue from ¥500, Alcohol from ¥700

Design&Events: The London Design Festival 15-25 September 2007

2007-09-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

The London Design Festival is now in its fifth year and has become a fixture on the international creative calendar. With over 200 projects and audiences of 300,000 it has quickly become one of the most important design events in the world.

The Festival is an umbrella brand and works in partnership with a wide network of organisations and individuals. They range from museums and retailers, to educational institutes, creative businesses, trade shows, magazines, designers and international cities.

London's design scene has an unparalleled range of diverse contributors, and an extraordinay breadth and depth in comparison to other international cities - the Festival aims to mirror this unique eclecticism. Meanwhile, the number of international projects continues to grow, ensuring its global relevance and reputation.

Still a young event, the Festival continues to develop and evolve, creating new networks, stimulating growth in the sector, increasing the opportunities for trade, and enhancing the reputation of London and the UK as a place for creative excellence and innovation.

Street Culture: This is New Rave

2007-09-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

Born in UK last year, New Rave turns up in the rest of Europe, Japan and USA. The codes of the street culture are dressing in neon colours , hyper energetically gesturing and talking with a lot of exclamation marks!

Every street culture movement is given a name by someone or other. Often it is the media that desperately tries to find a term for something inexplicable, thus creating the trend by themselves. That is why New Rave, which originally emerged from musical backgrounds, was named by the undeniably British music magazine, NME. As you might already have expected, the name is a spoof of the popular 80’s “New Wave” music, but literally meaning at the same time.

We know it hurts the eye but flamboyant fashion in fluorescent colours is one of the essential elements of New Rave. As usual, some journalists already predicted the arrival of fluorescent colours in town last year, and obviously their forecast wasn’t all that far off. As you might spotted on your city’s streets, pink and yellow fluorescent colours popularised by the New Ravers are spilling over into major brands! Not surprisingly, the street wear movement caught the haute couture’s attention: So, for this 2007 autumn/winter collection, cosmic-patterned dresses and jumpers were presented by Jeremy Scott. He happens not only to be Madonna’s costume designer, but also released a 12″ full of Electroclash for the New Yorker label A Touch Of Class. Even Martin Margiela famous for his graceful style has announced capes and shoes in fluorescent colours.

New Rave was not only responsible for pouring the idea of “fluorescence” into the world of fashion, this trend also invoked some strange visual phenomena in recent music videos. For example, look at this bizarre sequence in the Klaxons’ clip Magick: There is fluorescent green fluid spurting out of the band members’ eyes. Okay, this is obviously a citation of 70’s and 80’s horror flicks of the gruesome kind. But still, it so New Rave to turn the spurting blood into something fluorescent green… and it really manages to look disturbing enough!

Thanks to Pingmag

Design: Color your nights

2007-09-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

Designed by a young german designer, Zascho Petkow, Bunte Betten is a collection of colorful beds, which illuminate your nights.

Just to sleep different...

Fashion: Marc Jacobs X Vans, Fall 2007

2007-08-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Marc Jacobs has choosen for the Vans Fall 2007 collection the classic Authentic and Slip On silhouettes in canvas and added a rubber toe cap. The colors are totally flashy: we love or we hate ;)

Available exclusively at Marc by Marc Jacobs stores.

Price: $85USD

Fashion: French Winter 2008 by A.P.C.

2007-08-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

A.P.C. for Winter 2008 is definitely an elegant collection defined by its unique style and quality.
Womenswear & menswear are cleverly presented style by style just to inspire a day by day attitude. Minimalist and efficient...

By the way, what does A.P.C. mean? "Atelier de Production et de Creation".

I love A.P.C!

A free paper catalog is issued every season. To get it, just fill in a form in the website.

Design: Fish bowls variation, Roger Arquer

2007-08-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

This young and talented designer has designed a collection of thoughtful fish bowls (15 variations).

"Each piece examines a topic or suggests a solution to an issue," says Roger Arquer.
The above design, called "XS or XL", illustrates the relationship between a big fish and small fish coexisting.

Exposition: Conversational Spanish 02

Fashion: JFW, the 5th, August 29th to September 5th, Tokyo

2007-08-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

The 5th JFW will be held from August 29th to September 5th. At the heart of JFW are the runway shows of Tokyo Collection Week, with nearly 40 participating brands.
This year, the shows will be held for a period of five days, from August 30th to September 3rd, so as not to overlap with the start of the New York Collection on September 5th.
In addition to the Tokyo Collection shows, six brands will also participate in the JFW Designers' Exhibition, as well as fashion events open to the general public.
This year, most events will be concentrated in the Roppongi area, allowing for convenient access and the creation of an atmosphere permeated with the spirit of the occasion.

I'm back ;)

2007-08-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

Sorry, these last months, I was a bit busy with my actual project in Africa. I'm gonna try to discover some other cool stuffs and share again as usual.
Peace
Ruffer

Fashion: 2007 Spring/Summer v1.1 Catalog Highlights, Tokyo

2007-04-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

Here it is folks; the long awaited Spring/Summer v1.1 Catalog by A Bathing Ape. Here are some choice selections from the catalog. Enjoy!

Event: I Saloni 2007, An Appointment with Quality, Milan

2007-04-15T12:24:00.000-07:00

The signs of reprisal in the furniture sector form the background to all the preparatory work going into the next edition of i Saloni which, like last year, will be held in the New Milan Fairgrounds in Rho from 18^th to 23^rd April. It will also host the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, Euroluce, the International Furnishings Accessories Exhibition and SaloneSatellite.

Along with the general financial expectations, there is the amazing success of the 2006 edition to consider – here are just some of the figures: 2,578 exhibitors, 229,059 square metres, 223,138 visitors, of whom 123,391 came from 146 different countries and 4,128 journalists, of whom 2,065 came from 57 different countries – and this year the fact that demand from exhibitors and for exhibition space has far outstripped supply means that yet again we are taking on the challenge of both the exhibition and the sector with tremendous optimism.

Art: Underground Art trend

2007-04-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

The formal dissertations on collecting the most underground of modern art continue to appear. This recent piece from Alan Bamberger takes a look at recent buying trends by comparing the careers of Shepard Fairey & Banksy:

ART, MONEY, SHEPARD FAIREY, BANKSY, AND THE QUEST FOR CLARITY
or, “Adventures in Art Market Comparison and Analysis”
By Alan Bamberger, 2007

Highly recommended essay on Supertouch.

Design: Illoiha, Designer Gym, Japan

2007-03-31T09:49:00.000-07:00

To express the original brand concept of "becoming beautiful through movement", we chose the theme "rock-climbing on Omotesando" and developed a design that uses the mismatch between a rugged outdoor sport and Tokyo's fashion district to its advantage. Instead of the usual rough and outdoorsy climbing wall, we came up with the idea of using interior design elements like picture frames, mirrors, deer heads, bird cages and flower vases to create a challenging wall with hard-to-find holds and unusual finger grips. We hope that our uniquely Omotesando-style climbing wall inspires newcomers to try out the sport, and starts a new wave in fitness with style.

Design: Peekaboo by Stefan Borselius

2007-03-31T09:40:00.000-07:00

In a time when we are pulling down existing barriers to promote encounters and a sense op community, a new need for separation is soon created.
A modern wing chair in molded felt and textile, with the material in the seat rim pressed to it limit and a stand of crome-plated steel. Possibility of adding a cover/visor in molded felt with a plexiglass front.

A little oasis amidst the chaos.

Event: SweetTalk20, Mar 17, 2007, NYC

2007-03-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

For the first time in New York, it's SweetTalkNYC, a one-day conference featuring some of today's leading creatives in design, photography, and illustration. With the goal of showing you the best work available anywhere, they are honored to bring these speakers together for the first time for this unique event.

Speakers:

Brenb, Michael Gillette, Timothy Saccenti, Elisabeth Arkiphoff, Michael C. Place, Build, Dalek, Glenn E. Friedman.

On Saturday, March 17, 2007, 2:00 PM -9:00PM @ Center of Architecture, 536 la guardia place [west village], NYC.

Design&Restaurant: Belga Queen, Ghent

2007-03-05T11:57:00.000-08:00

For those who, like me, love Belgium must visit Ghent, for its historical architecture and its restaurant & club, Belga Queen.

That's what I do, everytime I come back to Lille:

the Belga Queen is a prerequisite, a must!

This concept, developed by Antoine Pinto, proposes several atmospheres with sophisticated designs, all confined within one welcoming and warm space: a restaurant, a terrace and a club, where you can enjoy an exclusive selection of beverages and a wide choice of first-class cigars.

This gourmet institution, housed in a former grain storehouse known locally as the ‘Spijker’, overlooks the canal and bridges of the historical Graslei.

Belga Queen, Ghent
Graslei 10
9000 Ghent, Belgium

Event: The Style Scout*, March 1st 2007, Paris

2007-02-20T12:33:00.000-08:00

Style Scout* will be creating a series of videos between 13:00 and 15:00 @ the Carrousel du Louvre. Please come by and be interviewed.

From 15:00-18:00 Style Scout* and 360Fashion will meet @ Le Nemours for networking and a presentation of the next 360Fashion project: a geo-location map of shopping to help promote local shops, designers, and favorite local places. This will give a global visibility on a local level.
The Style Scout*'s intiative is to create interconnectivity between human spirits and help the fashion industry meet up with technology.

Yvan (The Facehunter), Emi (Letters to Marc Jacobs) and Susie Bubble have all confirmed they will attend.

Dress code : casual chic

Adresse :	2 Place de Colette just accross from the Louvre 75001 Paris (FRANCE)
Métro :	Palais Royal
Date :	du jeudi 1 mars 2007 à 03:00 au jeudi 1 mars 2007 à 18:00

Architecture: COR by Chad Oppenheim, Miami

2007-02-20T11:56:00.000-08:00

Designed by Chad Oppenheim, COR, the first sustainable, mixed-use condominium in Miami, Florida represents a dynamic synergy between architecture, structural engineering and ecology.
Rising 400’ above the Design District, COR extracts power from its environment utilizing the latest advancements in wind turbines, photovoltaics and solar hot water generation -- while integrating them into its architectural identity.
A hyper-efficient exoskeleton simultaneously provides building structure, thermal mass for insulation, shading for natural cooling, enclosure for terraces, armatures for turbines, and loggias for congregating on the ground.
Comprising commercial, office, fitness, live/work, and pure residential spaces, COR provides a uniquely flexible platform for lifestyle enhancement.
To be completed in 2009 (estimated)

Fashion: A.P.C for summer

2007-02-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

A.P.C. for Summer 2007 is definitely an elegant collection defined by its unique style and quality.
Womenswear & menswear are cleverly presented style by style just to inspire a day by day attitude. Minimalist and efficient...

By the way, what does A.P.C. mean? "Atelier de Production et de Creation"

Personally, I just bought this one, just to rock the summer!

A free paper catalog is issued every season. To get it, just fill in a form in the website.

Design: Zyken NightCove, Sleep-improvement System

2007-02-12T11:13:00.000-08:00

Inspired by nature, guided by medical and scientific knowledge and supported by the latest high-tech innovations. NightCove uses a world of sound and light whose sole purpose is improving your quality and architecture of your sleep.

How it works?
The transitions between wakefulness and sleep are closely linked to variations in the level of melatonin, a hormone produced by the brain which falls in the morning and rises in the evening. These variations depend heavily on the influence of light: its intensity and its wavelength, the visible manifestation of which is color. NightCove uses LEDs rather than traditional bulbs. This makes it possible to control wavelengths, intensity and variations of light to produce the optimal sleeping environment.

Events: Fashion Week Fall 2007 Collections · New York · Feb. 2-9

2007-02-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

Fashion Week Schedule here

Event: Lagerfeld Confidentiel @ Colette, Paris

2007-01-31T12:55:00.000-08:00

Colette hosts a world preview of Lagerfeld Confidentiel, an in-depth documentary by Rodolphe Marconi on mr. Chanel himself on february 5-10 before its première at the Berlin Film Festival.

location: 213 rue st.-honoré [1er].

Fashion: Vans by Marc Jacobs

2007-01-31T12:03:00.000-08:00

American fashion designer Marc Jacobs has been an innovator in the fashion industry for almost 20 years. Starting his career in '89 at Perry Ellis, Marc Jacobs introduced high fashion to American youth sub-cultures most notably Grunge in 90's. Ultimately starting his own label, and holding the title of artistic director for Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs was the driving force in creating collaborations with LV and Stephen Sprouse, and Takashi Murakami.
These limited classic Vans were once available only in Marc Jacobs retail stores. Featuring innovative uses in color, pattern and materials, these Vans are available in variety of the favorite Classic silhouettes: Sk8 Hi, Slip-On, Chukka, and the Prison Issues.

pics from Hpebeast

Event: Pompidou Centre, 30th birthday, Paris

2007-01-31T11:43:00.000-08:00

Opened in central Paris on January 31, 1977, amid a public furore over its eye-catching futuristic design, the Georges Pompidou Centre -- its full name -- has since become one of the city's most popular museums, with 5.1 million visitors last year, a million less than the Louvre.
Because architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers opted to place its insides -- pipes and escalators -- outside, many Parisians decried it as an eyesore, disdainfully dubbing it "the gasworks" or "refinery".

Paris' Pompidou Centre celebrates its 30th birthday this month
© AFP Eric Feferberg

"Today it's as emblematic of the Paris skyline as the Eiffel Tower," director Bruno Racine said in an interview with AFP.
Breaking with tradition, the Pompidou Centre, currently Europe's biggest contemporary art museum, was designed to be an arthouse and a centre of creativity under a single roof, combining a library, exhibition space, cinemas, workshops and theatres.
"We've proven this utopia was feasible, that a whole range of activities can coexist in one place, reading, contemplating works, shows, and can reach a wide public," Racine said.

Paris' Pompidou Centre

AFP Joel Saget

"The Centre has played a vital role in opening the eyes of visitors to 20th century art and to the international artistic and cultural scene.
"But 30 years on there are new challenges and projects. The public is more educated today, there are new forms of access to culture via new technologies. The cultural scene, once centred on Europe and America, is now global and planetary."
"We need to go global," he said.
Reaching out to Europe in the first instance, the centre has begun work to build a clone in the eastern town of Metz near the borders of Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg. That museum is to open in 2008.
More significantly, Pompidou has set its sights on China, Racine said, with a satellite centre due to open in Shanghai in the next couple of years. The centre, to be owned by China with Pompidou acting as operator and programmer, will feature exhibitions brought from Paris as well as shows specifically tailored for the local public of both Chinese and Western artists.
"The plan to open a centre in Shanghai is because we believe China will occupy a place on the world artistic scene in the coming years," Racine said. "We need to be competent on these new scenes, on the one hand bringing Western art from the 20th and 21st centuries to China, and on the other deepening our knowledge of Chinese and Asian art."

People mill around the hall in the Pompidou Centre

AFP Saget Joel

The move east comes as the French art world rows over plans by the Louvre to create a satellite in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi that will mean loaning out some of its prized works.
"You cannot control everything from Paris," Racine said, adding that Pompidou would not empty its reserves. The centre currently has 58,000 works, with a mere 2,000 on show in Paris and 3,000 loaned out to other museums each year.
While the centre continues to acquire new works, a fifth of its annual budget -- or 20 million euros (26 million dollars) -- has to be set aside each year just for maintenance.
"Making a prototype last costs a lot more than maintaining a standard product," Racine said.
To begin with, there are 9,800 square metres (105,000 square feet) of glass to be cleaned and pots of paint required for the insides featured on the outside -- water pipes are green, air pipes are blue, while equipment used for circulating such as lifts and escalators are all painted red.
Pompidou, which remains open from 11 am to 10 pm six days a week, was built before the rise in petrol prices and ahead of theories about sustainable development. "The building is one huge draught, it isn't airtight and it consumes enormous amounts of energy," said Stephane Viale, the museum's building and security director.
While management has been attempting to cut costs, it is about to replace 13 air-treatment pipes that had to be initially helicoptered onto the roof, as well as replacing four escalators.

"It's the ransom of success," Racine said. "The building's suffers from wear and tear because it's popular."

Event: Marc Newson @ Gagosian Gallery, NYC

2007-01-23T12:04:00.000-08:00

International Designer Marc Newson's show @ Gagosian Gallery opens thursday, january 25.

On display will be range of new limited edition designs. In his first exhibition with the gallery (first solo exhibition in US) , Marc Newson has reached new heights of complexity and sophistication with several bodies of related work. Each work is fashioned in a single, seamless piece from various materials, including marble and nickel.

Marc Newson approaches design as an experimental exercise in extreme structures and advanced technologies, combined with a highly tactile and exacting exploration of materials, processes, and skills.

Highly recommended
Location: Gagosian Gallery, 555 west 24th street, NYC.

MARC NEWSON
Voronoi Shelf (white), 2006
White Carrara marble
70-7/8 x 110-3/16 x 15-11/16 inches (180.1 x 279.9 x 39.9 cm)
Ed. of 8

Design: Air Tube Watch by Laurence Dawes

2007-01-23T11:44:00.000-08:00

This concept, designed by Laurence Dawes, could bring a touch of modern design to Swatch, which needs to give a new breath to its digital range.

The wrist wear can be customised, just by swapping the strap according taste's swatchers.
The time display is just housed in a translucid plastic bubble.

Wait and see...

Design&Events: 100% Chocolate Cafe inspiration, Tokyo

2007-01-17T11:15:00.000-08:00

Within the framework of the international event "Salon du Chocolat", Masamichi Katayama has lovely designed a temporary in-store inspired by his original 100% Chocolate Cafe, created in 2004 @ Kyobashi, Tokyo.

The fair will be held January 24-29 at the Shinjuku Isetan Department Store.

Events: Haute-Couture Spring / Summer 2007, Paris

2007-01-16T11:58:00.000-08:00

In Paris

Design: Stairs designed like DNA

2007-01-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

The DNA stair is the first in a range of unique staircases from the designer Geoffrey Packer.

Specialising in experimental 3D design, he has created some unusual designs, which have wo awards and been published all over the world.

DNA V4.0

Events: Snow Day in Toronto, Canada

2007-01-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

Last time, I reported about Newmindspace, an interactive public art movement, founded by 2 students in Toronto.
After parties in the subway and street cars, capture flag games, picnics and massive bubble battle, they propose a Snow Day:
Snow Day will be a fun winter afternoon with snowpeople, sledding and epic snowball fight!
Notice for this event will come very shortly before the event based on weather reports. The first major snow Toronto has, either on a week-end or school cancellation day, will trigger this event/
Snowball fight!
Pics coming soon.

Fashion: Fendi, remixed by urban street

2007-01-14T04:55:00.000-08:00

Fendi, the Italian luxury brand owned by LVMH, wants to team up with Japanese "street" label A Bathing Ape, created by the 34-year-old entrepreneur Nigo.

"Street" style, in Japan, is not about the mass-produced styles that are fairly common in the US when the term is applied, but about high-quality, contemporary designs that appeal to the next generation of consumers, who are looking for uniqueness at any price, but not necessarily for luxury.
Nigo is succeeding where fashion brands with a more obviously elevated product have failed: by building a profitable global empire without sacrificing credibility, not only in Japan but all around the world.This cross-cultural arrangement indicates a subtle shift in the global marketing of luxury goods.
According to Susie Rushton, this mix of the urban and the über-luxe is the future of fashion.

Design: Bali Barret Shop 2, Omotesando Tokyo

2007-01-10T13:24:00.000-08:00

After the "red bunker", Franklin Azzi has designed for Bali Barret a second shop in Tokyo.

The project of the military “red tent” gives the archetypic radical image of the military tent. Textile is initially of the beige or khaki color, and with the image of an intervention of artist, the fabric is subtly declined in red, is thus found disguised, touched in the middle same of its fibres.

The principal idea remains to impose on the space of the street and the city a prototype out of his initial geographical context.
While playing on the imaginary commun run, the object of fiction is then revealed by the geographical and space shift of an architectural prototype extremely.
Once moved away from its place initial, the object then reflects a shifted image which starts to vibrate the urban space which surrounds it.

The project consists of a frontage in oiled red fabric held using leather strap natural and suspended by a metal reinforcement. This fabric is held partly low by sand bags.
The entry is carried out via a hopper out of wooden.

Digital features: iPhone, coming soon

2007-01-09T14:27:00.000-08:00

The Apple iPhone was officially announced today at CES. The mobile phone weighs 4.6-ounces, is just 11.6 millimeters thick and has a 3.5-inch (480x320) touchscreen display. It includes a 2 megapixel camera, 4-8 GB of storage, Bluetooth.
It also runs the OS X operating system and will support a variety of programs and browsers, in addition to iTunes, and a partnership with Yahoo! will "allow all iPhone customers to hook up with free push IMAP email.

The phone will be available as a Cingular exclusive starting this June, with the 4GB model at $499 and the 8GB model at $599.

Design: Hansacanyon by Reinhard Zetsch

2007-01-08T13:00:00.000-08:00

It's not a new concept since Hansa proposes this beautiful faucet since 2005, but I find it so design and creative.

Reinhard Zetsch has designed the faucet as a canyon from where a backlighted water spurts out.

The color of the water changes according to the water temperature (LED systems).

A shower with the same system is proposed too.

Design: Square CD on the wall

2007-01-04T13:00:00.000-08:00

Designed by Matteo Bertanelli, Michele di Monte, Chiara Cremona and Andrea Biraghi, Square CD is a "On the wall" CD player, supplied with minimalist display (sensitive interface) and special lights surrounding the square.

The corian surface works also as a speaker tanks to the smart material technologies.

We can imagine one called Square MP3, allowing unlimited storage.

Fashion: I "Adidas" Tokyo

2007-01-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

These limited Adidas Gazelle TKY sneakers are available at the Seibu department store in Ikebukuro (Adidas corner).
Price: 6600 yen (42€)

I want these sneakers!

thanks to J. Snow

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2007-01-03T11:43:00.000-08:00

Design: Ring Faucet by Sun Liang

2007-01-03T11:23:00.000-08:00

Ring Faucet, a unique faucet visually frames flowing water in a circular fashion, giving you a full view of the water just as it falls over the edge.

The opening orifice at the spout end lets in natural light which illuminates the flowing water for a striking view.
The external form is simple and pure, as befits a faucet that is meant to emphasize the elemental beauty of water. The simple form allows the design to be easily translated into a series of faucets that cater to different settings and requirements. While the design is novel in terms of aesthetics, the sense of comfort in using a familiar domestic fitting is not lost as the faucet is designed to adopt the conventional interface of the hot and cold -handles basin mixer.
Moreover, this tripartite arrangement fits in well with large basins and/or vanity tops.

Scenography&Design: Electronic Shadow, Paris

2006-12-26T06:38:00.000-08:00

Founded in PARIS in 2000, Electronic Shadow is a group of research and creation dealing with the integration of the technology into creation and defining new usages and new kind of spaces shared between the physical space and the virtual one. Body and space are used as interfaces, technology become transparent, Electronic Shadow suggests new ways how to use technology in order to modify our perception and extend our abilities.

Electronic Shadow melts its practice on various fields of creation, which go from architecture to new technologies, including the design, graphic design, real-time 3D or video. Electronic Shadow articulates them around the problems of the relationship between the physical world and the new electronic territories.With several years of experience in these fields, Naziha MESTAOUI, Belgian architect (I-tube projects, lightscapes, liquid axis) and Yacine AIT KACI, French multi-media director (CD-Rom Yves the St. Laurent, DVD-Rom of the Louvre, television production) combine their expertise to create a new field, hybrid design.All the projects carried out by Electronic Shadow enrich this search by real applications.: interactive installations, like I-skin or V-med; innovative objects like the “écharpe communicante” presented at the Moma in February, 2001; and architecture with the French Cultural Centre of Palermo and Sicily.In 2003, Electronic Shadow founds the production company iDEALiD which recently develops several productions in the architecture, multimedia, audio-visual and interactive TV's fields.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2006-12-25T04:50:00.000-08:00

Design&Architecture: Le Corbusier's Mural, Nov. 19 2006 - Jan 20 2007 - Paris

2006-12-17T14:37:00.000-08:00

The Mural in the studio at 35 rue de Sèvres has recently undergone full of the structure and the pictorial layer, technical support and scientific monitoring for which were provided by the French Museums Centre for Research and Restoration (C2RMF) @ Versailles.

The public is invited to preview of this impressive work @ the Fondation Le Corbusier.
It will be displayed together with preparatory drawings and photographs taken in its original position, in the studio at 35 rue de Sèvres. Drawings of the large mural painting at Swiss Pavilion at the Cité Universitaire Internationale de Paris, executed the same year, will also be exhibited. In addition, there will be a photographic reproduction of all the other murals executed by Le Corbusier: Vezelay, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin (E1027, Cabanon, Etoile de Mer), Long Island, The Swiss Pavilion.

Snowboard: Snowboarding Dayz

2006-12-17T12:37:00.000-08:00

Society: Support Amnesty International

2006-12-08T14:50:00.000-08:00

As I support AI , I just link the website.

"To be informed makes you free!"

Digital Features: Bakelite phones come-back

2006-12-08T14:04:00.000-08:00

Hulger has launched the 23rd of November its 2 new phones : PIP*PHONE and PENELOPE*PHONE.

The PENELOPE*PHONE echoes the famous Bakelite phones of the 30’s. These phones, restricted by the material’s brittleness, could never become the flowing, sensual objects they meant to be. By the time technology caught up, the trend had moved on to the harder, squarer shapes considered progressive at the time. HULGER have therefore returned to these essential forms of the 30’s, to resolve their unfinished business.
The PIP*PHONE is brutally simple. It echoes 80’s style, but affords even cleaner lines by dropping fussy functionality. A speaker, a microphone, a button and a flat, slim body. Nothing else is required.
PIP*PHONE available in Black & Yellow, Black & Amp, Black or Black & White,
PENELOPE*PHONE available in Black, Maroon or Ivory.

Furniture: Warm Mirror and Digital Radiator

2006-12-06T12:52:00.000-08:00

The swedish design studio No Picnic has designed for the italian TUBOR the concept ONE, a charming mirror giving warmth.

Supplied with digital display, date and with special lights creating magic atmosphere.

ONE is available in 2 sizes and working both by water and electricity.

Furniture: Funky Baroque

2006-12-05T14:31:00.000-08:00

If you want your own and unique traditional French Louis XIV style armchair or a carved Baroque bed, you should visit Jimmie Martin shop.

This designer, winner of the "New Designer in Practice (award 2005) and finalist in the "Furniture Design" award, proposes some amazing baroque furniture in flashy colours and grafittis. The two-floor bar and dining room of the Burlington Club in London propose eclectic decor with this funky, modern furniture.

Design: International Design Biennial 2006, Saint Etienne, Nov. 22- Dec. 3, France

2006-11-29T12:33:00.000-08:00

This year, the 2006 International Design Biennial is happy to send a mainstream invitation to both professionals and the others who, as privileged few, will open out to the world.
There will be several exhibition sites scattered around the city and its outlying parts ; there will be highlights along a course with topics that concern eath of us.
This approach to design is made of diverse points of view and far from being thorough, it is strongly biased as it purports to deal with innovations that it tries to illustrate with many complementary examples... technological examples, scientific, social or even cultural ones.

The 2006 International Design Biennial is worked out and organized by the Cité du Design team, directed by Elsa Francès who is in charge of the Commissariat Général of the Biennial.
The 2006 Biennial team has built this exhibition programme by gathering different exhibition curators, whether they are French or foreign, or people working for the Cité du Design team, French creators and designers and their foreign counterparts, many local companies, regional and international ones, but also students from the Ecole Supérieure d'Art et Design de Saint-Etienne and fifty other schools in the world.

Pics credit: thanks to Carole D.

Nightlife: Bed Supperclub @ Bangkok - Thailand

2006-11-26T05:59:00.000-08:00

Bed Supperclub is a "dining in bed" experience. Best described as a unique combination of upscale restaurant, club, art gallery, theatre and stage merged into one.

The Bed's design is amazing, as a long, cylinder-like shaft realized by Orbit Design Studio.

This "bed dinner" concept is inspired by the Amsterdam original. Some others exist in San Francisco, Roma, Istanbul, but the most beautiful is definetely Bed Supperclub in Bangkok.
I did the one in Antwerpen (Belgium), called OnStage, which does not exist now: it was an amazing experience to live. Good souvenirs.
Bed Supperclub's elliptical tubular construction appears to have beem beamed dowm from another planet, proposing finest cuisine and music.

Bed Supperclub
26 Soi Sukhumvit 11
Sukhumvit Road
Klongtoey-nua, Wattana
Bangkok 10110
Thailand

Fashion: Walk and Invade !

2006-11-23T12:31:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the "Space Invaders" game, created by a small Japanese company called Taito, you can now stamp the famous aliens (kind of mosaics) on the street. A french shop, in its concept to support the Invasion, proposes the "R_Invader", the sneakers whose soles would be stamps.

Design: Design Brussels 2006, Nov. 18-26 , 2006, Belgium

2006-11-20T13:12:00.000-08:00

The second edition of design brussels takes place in Hall 7 of Brussels Expo from 18 till 26 November and runs parallel with two other fairs, Cocoon and Smart Living.

For some time now, Cocoon has specialized in more conventional home style, from traditional to modern. Smart Living is a brand new fair, focusing on the latest technological gadgets for homes, from household appliances and home automation systems to swimming pools.

Together with design brussels, these events now form the home and interior fair, an event unequalled in the Benelux, both in terms of numbers of visitors and size, and offer and completeness.

Pics: coming soon.

Design&Food: Pasta ancora! Gold, Milan - Italy

2006-11-18T15:01:00.000-08:00

Gold is the duo D&G 's new restaurant concept, recently opened in Milan.

Finest italian cuisine and first rate wine selection are proposed in this fashion-place, decked out in any tone of gold imaginable, for the mouth&eye's pleasure.

Incredibile!

Location: Via Poerio 2a @ Porta Romana, Milano.

Skateboards: Avoid to rock-slide!

2006-11-17T12:06:00.000-08:00

Pop Cling is a group of artists producing art-prints for those who want to have fresh pop art on their walls!

This adhesive art compagny realizes some limited edition skateboard decks, real art objects.

The Pop Cling decks are so beautiful (warm colors and pop graphs) than rock-slides are considered, for the first time, as a crime ;o)

Each deck is delivered with a certificate of authenticity.

"Enjoy the product and support your local art scene", they say.

Fashion: Play Box Comme Des Garçons, Aoyama Japan

2006-11-13T12:49:00.000-08:00

Only few days (till nov 19) to buy your Comme des Garcons black heart polo shirt in the outside store, called Play Box Store.

During one month, the iconic japanese clothing company sells special and limited cool stuffs in this Play Box, located outside their usual Comme des Garcons store in Aoyama.

For the lucky people there: Enjoy...

Event: Future Design Days, Nov. 13-14, Stockholm Sweden

2006-11-11T06:34:00.000-08:00

Design festival and conference Future Design Days kicks off monday, Nov 13.

Themed SHARE, this year's edition includes speakers Tsumori Chisato, Malcolm McLaren and Jean Marie Massaud. Many others complete the Line-Up:

location: stockholmsmässan, mässvägan 1 [älvsjö].

Fashion: Skatewell, Skate cool

2006-11-08T14:39:00.000-08:00

This new brand was established in 2005 as the creation of Anthony Skatewell a young dude from the middle of the U.S.
With a simple design and big dream Skatewell will quickly become an apparel brand that will gain love from young skaters across the land.
Unlike the other brands, Skatewell's production area is limited to a small group of manufacturers, so products each year are very limitated.

A minimalist design: appreciated!

Digital Feature: Boombox by Nokia

2006-11-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

The finnish vendor Nokia decides to face to Ipod by launching its first music boombox, Ghetto Blaster.
Designed clearly for the eyes, Ghetto Blaster is a sort of transparent briefcase equiped with a Nokia phone & two loud speakers.
An amazing product for this brand, available now just in Finland before a worldwide launch.

Shop: Dope Store, Lyon

2006-11-08T12:25:00.001-08:00

The Dope Store has now opened its doors right across from the Shoez Gallery in Lyon, France. Dope Store and Shoez Gallery are actually from the same owner, with both carrying the best in streetwear and sneaker labels.

The Shoez Gallery has a Nike Quickstrike and 45 Days Account, but also carry brands like Adidas, Etnies Plus, New Balance, Creative Recreation and Visvim. The Dope Store on the other hand carries premium streetwer labels like Stussy, Zoo York, Freshjive, aNYthing, Levi’s Vintage, with MHI and Mighty Healthy being added to their account soon.

Art: Colour Vision by Alexander Wiethoff

2006-11-08T11:52:00.000-08:00

The designer Alexander Wiethoff presentes an interactive installation @ the Museum of Perception in Rohrbach (Austria): the visitor can change the room colour over his body position. The posture symbolizes the different statuses like activity, calmness, reflectiveness, and is visualized by different colours.

Colour Vision is an installation based on interdepenency.

Event: Tokyo Designer's Week , Jingu Gaien, 31, oct. - 5, nov. 2006

2006-10-30T12:48:00.000-08:00

Today starts the Tokyo Designer's Week for 5 days @ Jingu Gaien, where you can see 100% Design Tokyo, the UK's most influential design event taking place in Tokyo for the second time. Housed in an impressive temporary structure built specially for the exhibition, this is a show that is not to be missed.

Thanks to Shingo

Thanks to MocoLoco

Lifestyle: antidepressant perfume?

2006-10-29T11:53:00.000-08:00

We knew french people as addicted to antidepresseurs and perfumes. They can now combine both thanks to the french product designer Ora Ito, which proposes Smiley, an antidepressant perfume.

This unisex scent, in a medical spray like, contains micro-nutrients that activate happiness, said the perfume house. The notes of this perfume: bergamot, patchouli and musk.

Nightlife: Jicoo, the floating bar, Tokyo

2006-10-27T12:45:00.000-07:00

"Do you know this urban bar floating and drifting in the midst of Tokyo bay?" asks Jicoo's official site.

This unique bar space is a ship designed by Leiji Matsumoto, Captain Harlock's creator. Jicoo seems to be an exciting cruise party all night long.

A floating pass goes for 2500 yen, with drinks and cocktails starting at 700 yen. The boat docks at Hinode Pier and Odaiba (from 20:00 to 22:30, every half hour), and cruises on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Art: Jean Pierre Raynaud whithout reserve, Christie's Paris Oct. 27, 2006

2006-10-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

The famous French artist, Jean-Pierre Raynaud, whose Golden Pot stands in front of the Pompidou Centre in Paris, is selling 80 of his own works from his personal collection, currently being shown at Nice's Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain.
This kind of radical artistic gesture is typical of the artist. The auction, which is taking place during the French art fair FIAC, will offer major historical works by Raynaud from the early 1960s through to those from the present day.
The 80 lots will be sold without reserve as the artist himself wishes to free these works by putting them on the market. This gesture is as impulsive and primal as the destruction of his tiled house in 1993. One of the most spectacular works in the sale is the 600 containers, to be sold in one lot, which hold the remains of his destroyed house.
The sale will offer a broad selection of pieces: from his first No Entry Sign, stolen in 1962 from a rubbish tip; the Pot rouge, a recollection of his years at horticultural school; Carrelage, tiled panels that are a homage to Mondrian; and Drapeau et boîte, with 182 cans that demonstrates our consumer-orientated and materialistic society.
Elegance and strength, fragility and power-these are the ingredients of Raynaud's artistic process and the auction itself will become the next step in his incredible oeuvre.

Design: Interieur2006, Kortrijk / Belgium

2006-10-22T04:51:00.000-07:00

The INTERIEUR Biennale celebrates its 20th edition this year: Interieur2006.

During ten days (from october, 13 to 22), professional and private visitors will be confronted with residential design of the highest quality, from timeless icons to the very latest trends. INTERIEUR is at the forefront of design. Hundreds of national and international exhibitors, the presence of a prominent Guest of Honour and the many cultural happenings in the margin of INTERIEUR, add to the value and reputation of the event.
The international DESIGN FOR EUROPE competition and the separate 'theyoungdesignersfair' for young design companies help INTERIEUR facilitate contacts with the designers of tomorrow.
INTERIEUR is the ideal meeting place for manufacturers, visitors and contemporary designers.

It was cool, so I was there .

Lifestyle: Neiman Marcus Book 2006

2006-10-22T03:58:00.000-07:00

The Neiman Marcus 2006 Christmas book has been released. It's 101 pages of holiday shopping but it's really on those last pages, the Fantasy Gifts that we rush to see each year. Last year's book offered a chance to buy the Skycar, an adult treehouse and a red piano from Elton John. This year's offerings are the usual collection of things to drive, places to visit and one-of-a-kind treasures for your home:

some 2007 Fantasy Gifts:
Virgin Galactic charter to space: $1.764 million
Seven-foot tall pencil skyscraper: $40,000
Membership in Perpetuity to The Club at Castiglion Del Bosco: $3,800,000
House of Jacques Fath Couture Archives: $3,500,000
Two luxury pet homes from Italian designer Marco Morosini: $5,000 and $7,500
Your own backyard waterpark: $100,000
2007 NM Limited Edition BMW M6 Convertible: $139,000

Personally, I only wish a snowy winter on french Alps and have good fun on riding :o). No price for that, and shared by all.

Music&Events: CBGB, the Home of Underground Rock closed

2006-10-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

The legendary, historic Manhattan rock cave CBGB, which helped nurture American punk and post-punk heroes Television, the Ramones, the New York Dolls, Blondie, the Talking Heads, and Patti Smith, closed last Sunday after 33 years. (Lease was up, owners wanted many $$$.) CBGB owner Hilly Kristal says he'll strip the bar interior and move as much of it as possible (including the urinals, he said) to a new CBGB's in Las Vegas.

The club, which opened in December '73, was named CBGB for Country BlueGrass Blues. (Kristal & Co. quickly moved on to different genres.)

Culture&Events: Bombaysers de Lille (Lille3000)

2006-10-15T05:32:00.000-07:00

More 100000 people took part in the celebrations of "Bombaysers de Lille", dansing & singing on Indie sounds all night long.

Yesterday, the city resembled the bustling, bright and heady streets of Bombay as it hosts Bombaysers de Lille.

For three months the city will become a huge exhibition space with influences from India filling the streets and buildings, be it through art shows, dance, music, theatre, literature, fashion or food.

Music: Playlist#3

2006-10-12T14:34:00.000-07:00

-1 Quantic - Apricot Morning
-2 Diesler - A Little Something Feat. Laura Vane
-3 Steve Pointdexter - Sex Chants (rdo play version)
-4 Omar S - I Hate
-5 Marcellus Pittman - Skylark (late morning mix foool )
-6 Norm Talley - Change
-7 Theo Parrish - Future Primitive
-8 Mike Grant - A Beautiful Thing
-9 Dj Snotburger - Snotann
-10 Oasis Collaborating Omar S - Oasis 6

Enjoy...

Culture&Events: Lille3000

2006-10-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

Lille 2004 drew its strength from the artists and residents who transformed the city throughout the year. It left landmarks which will remain both in the collective memory and in reality: the Metamorphoses, the Mondes Parallèles, the Maisons Folie, festivals, celebrations and, above all, an amazing enthusiasm.

This dynamism will be extended further by lille3000, encompassing the wider world and questions of the future, by making full use of the know-how and attributes of the Lille metropolitan area and surrounding region.

Lille3000 explores various domains: the economy and new technologies – through, for example, the exposure of new textiles, one of the fields of excellence of our region -, the idea of a new city lifestyle and the construction of the city of tomorrow, notions of spirituality and, in more general terms, questions of society and civilisation.

Lille3000 > every two years exploring a new theme from across the globe.

For four months, lille3000 will inject a dose of Eastern exoticism into the city and wider region. With an energy reminiscent of the one deployed during Lille 2004, lille3000 will involve several towns and cities on a local as well as Euroregional level.

In 2006, India and - to a lesser extent - Finland provide the themes. In 2008, it will be the turn of Eastern Europe.

Art: Interactive art with Carsten Höller

2006-10-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

For her last artwork, Carsten Höller invites visitors to slide into some impressive scultures presented in London's Tate Modern’s vast Turbine Hall from Oct., 10, 2006 to Apr., 9, 2007.

Höller’s commission continues his exploration of communal human experience by asking visitors to interact with her artwork.

The experience promises to be fun and fascinating for all involved.

Architecture: Kubik by Modulorbeat

2006-10-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

Modulorbeat, an architecture studio based in Münster, has designed a temporary installation, called Kubik's Big Tank for some daily electronic music events, organised this last summer by Balestra Berlin.

To create Kubik, Modulorbeat used 120 illuminated plastic water tanks, filled with an illuminant (bulbs). Hence, each tank can be controlled thanks to the electric bulbs, creating an amazing oversized low-tech screen.

This outdoor club was at Köpenicker Straße 36 in Berlin-Kreuzberg from July 14th to September 16th, 2006.

I will be there on the next time...

Digital Features: Aeon by Nokia

2006-10-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

Nokia's R&D unveils its last concept, called Aeon, a full surface screen cellphone. Aeon appears as a complete touchscreen streching over the full surface area of the phone. But this not yet a reality: we hope that Nokia will develop this amazing project.

Unfortunately, the defunct Benq-Siemens has never released its exciting Black Box concept phone, a full surface screen phone.

Design: SMOOL Designstudio from NL

2006-10-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

Looking for a new watch, I discovered a non-existing watch designed by Smool, a design studio based in Netherlands. Smool designs products for innovative companies and creates refreshing concepts for new products: from special interior products, mobile phones to design shoes...

My wanted watch is unfortunatly not in production yet :(

Events: Nightlights in Toronto, mid October 2006

2006-10-06T13:12:00.000-07:00

Last time, I reported about Newmindspace, an interactive public art movement, founded by 2 students in Toronto.
After parties in the subway and street cars, capture flag games, picnics and massive bubble battle, they decide to light Toronto's nights with their own stars (LED's, glowsticks, laser pointers, anything that glows). They promise an evening of starcraft, constellation installation, hot cocoa and a 13-storey tower of light visible from across the city.

This event will be organised on mid october.
So to the lucky people living in Toronto, one word: Enjoy...

Pics: coming soon.

Fashion: my next T-shirt

2006-10-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the "Stache is back", I'm purchasing my next T-shirt.

Let's rock it! Rock The Stache!

Events: ABS BURTON Lyon Sep,30, 2006

2006-10-01T05:41:00.000-07:00

This last saturday was organised the annual ABS BURTON party @ Plateforme in Lyon.

The famous snow&sk8 shop ABS proposed a fine line-up to celebrate the brand, incoming european videos and snow season:
Romain DEMARCHI
Anne-Flore MARXER
Nicolas MULLER
Morgan LEFAUCHEUR
ADVITA
PSYKOPIT
PIRATES
In the place: proriders, cute babz, cool people (mustache is back) and fat sounds!

Digital Features: Zune now the price

2006-09-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

- Zune: $249.99
- 1 song from Zune Marketplace: $0.99
- ZunePass on Zune Marketplace: $14.99/month
- Release: on November the 14th

Design&Champagne: Dom Perignon by Marc Newson

2006-09-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

When the designer Marc Newson decided to "reinterpret" the iconic Dom Pérignon bottle, the result was certain to be impressive: a sculptural rendition of the timeless bottle in the intense neon green the designer is best known for.
Newson has kept the essence of the original shape of the bottle and added a silver version of the Dom Pérignon label. His signature is featured on the back in bright orange. Closed, the "Dom Pérignon by Marc Newson" measures an impressive 70 cm (27 inches).
Exclusively designed to hold a Dom Pérignon Magnum, serving guests "Dom Pérignon by Marc Newson" becomes a tantalising and spectacular event.
A very limited edition, for the lucky few who will have the privilege to enjoy it, "Dom Pérignon by Marc Newson" is a true object of desire.

The price of this tantalising event: 1000€

Design: Stones for living

2006-09-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

Smarindesign has designed Livingstones: a large range of amazing comfortable sofas, poufs & pillows, looking like smooth rocks and pebbles.

Livingstones brings to your interior an organic touch and proposes unlimited configurations.

A design realized by the french designer Stéphanie Marin.

Digital Features: Rega P3

2006-09-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

The latest version of this Rega turntable is coming with innovative changes in design and performance: high quality synchronous motor, 12mm floated plate glass, RB300 tonearm.

The P3 is available in a range of colours.

Nightlife: Gent, Belgium

2006-09-19T12:05:00.000-07:00

Oct, 7, 2006 Opening Night, Culture Club

Last time, I presented a belgian club called Culture Club.
The fifth season of this wonderful club is coming with a total & complete makeover realized by the wild guys of Interface Architecture. It promises some surprises!!!!

So to discover a restyled Culture Club, don't miss the Opening Night of this fifth season on saturday Oct, 7, 2006.

Culture & Events: Biennale de la Danse Lyon 2006

2006-09-18T11:57:00.000-07:00

Sep, 09, 2006 - Sep, 30, 2006,

Biennale de la Danse Lyon 2006.
Organised in Lyon, this biennial dance festival brings together an exciting programme of dance performances covering everything from classical ballet to contemporary jazz and just about everything that falls somewhere in-between. Past performances have ranged from traditional Romanian folk songs and dances to the urban cool of hip-hop crews. Whether you are a dance expert or just a curious onlooker, this is a vibrant festival that is sure to offer some interesting and exciting performances .
Begun back in 1991 with the laudable theme L'Amour de l'Art, Lyon's biennial festival of contemporary art has established itself as one of the best in France. Thierry Raspail and Thierry Prat have been curators since the event's inception.
One of this Lyon's key event was Le Défilé organised on Sep,17 from Les Terreaux to Bellecour: this grand parade gathered 3000 amazing dansers for the pleasure of 200,000 satisfied people.
Enjoy the programme!

Digital features: Official Zune Announcement

2006-09-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

This week, Microsoft confirmed the official launch of Zune and Zune MarketPlace, the online music store. The music player will have a 30GB hard drive, built-in FM tuner, 3.0-inch screen, and 802.11 wireless. It will also be available in three colors: black, brown and white. Toshiba has been contracted to build this music player.
Zune could be launched in USA the week before Thanksgiving (November 14th or 17th), says the buzz. Anyway, it will be on the wish list for the Christmas season.
Price : not official / Buzz: some speculate around $300.

Music: Playlist # 2

2006-09-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

-1 Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks (beyond the wizard's sleeve re-animation)
-2 Jumbonics - Slinger
-3 Air - Universal Traveller
-4 Oval - Textuell
-5 Baxter Dury - Cocaine Man
-6 Le Tigre - Let's Run
-7 The Fort Knox Five - The Brazilian Hipster
-8 Takumi Kato - Tone 10
-9 Bungle - 25th Floor
-10 Blu Mar Ten - BRO (Bazil Remix)

Enjoy...

Events: Happy gatherings

2006-09-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

How the life can be really fun thanks some people like Lori Kufner and Kevin Bracken, 2 students at the university of Toronto. In March 2005, they decided to organize with their friends a giant eggs hunt in the city, using the streets as an urban playground. Newmindspace started. In February, they hosted a surprising pillow fight in NYC (Union Square) which gathered 450 people. Parties in the subway and street cars, capture flag games, picnics and massive bubble battle are some of the happy urban events occured in Toronto and NYC.

Lori and Kevin define Newmindspace as "interactive public art, creative cultural interventions and urban bliss dissemination".

Newmindspace's growing popularity will certainly inspire the urban people from all around the world!

Whoisruffer is convinced...

Digital features: The new deal

2006-09-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

The PS3 worldwide launch on Nov.17 will initiate the official start of Consoles battle. Although high-priced (from $499 to $599), Sony expects to sell out all the 4 million PS3 by year-end and to face to Microsoft and its 5 million Xbox 360s already sold (released on end of 2005, from $299 to $399).

Nintendo should launch his Wii system this fall at a lower price for different performance and use: this strategy could pay regarding to the video game revenue, expected to fall 4% to 5% from 2005 ($10 billion!).
This competition between Sony and Microsoft will take place on different battlefields: Sony's Blu-ray Disc Vs futur MS HD DVD, Game Licences (MS claims Fifa 2007 + Pro Evolution Soccer 6 exclusivity), Game Prices...
About Microsoft, Sony Computer Entertainment America president Kaz Hirai said recently: "...Every time we go down a path, we look behind and they're right there - we just can't shake these guys. I wish that they would come up with some strategies of their own, but they seem to be going down the path of everything we do. If you look at their strategy in other business areas as well, they tend to do that...."

Sure, the Battle starts...

Last minute: the european launch will be delayed to March 2007.

Architecture & Botanism: Vertical Gardens

2006-09-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

To mix Architecture and Botanism was the brilliant and original idea of the green-haired french botanist Patrick Blanc: he creates now gardens on the walls of buildings all around the world, called Le Mur Végétal (coming soon).

This scientist (from CNRS) uses his profound knowledge of local microclimates and plant integration to pull off these vertical system outdoors, where orchids, anthurium, ficus, philodendrons and other plants are growing on.
“I try to reconcile the city with nature,” said Patrick Blanc, who remains a humble artist and poet, faced to the acclaim.

His latest work can be seen the Jean Nouvel's Musée du Quay Branly.

Amazing...

Culture: AFRICA Hi-Fi

2006-09-04T13:44:00.000-07:00

AFRICA HI-FI is the brainchild of SONIA HASSAN and co-creator, World Renown DJ/Producer/Remixer RON TRENT. This monthly event is a musical tribute of respect to Africa and all that it has touched and influenced in World music and culture.

AFRICA HI-FI fuses music and social consciousness with art and dance. The evening is geared toward educating people about Africa as the birthplace of music that we all listen to and love, whether it be Jazz, Dance, World Music, Hip Hop...
AFRICA HI-FI is being presented as an open forum that will tap into the creative energy of the Motherland to help elevate the consciousness of all people, thereby creating a positive collective community.

AFRICA HI-FI is a part of the Chicago Culture for 2 years now.

Society: Support Amnesty International

2006-09-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

As I support AI , I just link the website.

"To be informed makes you free!"

Digital features: Never lose any contacts again

2006-09-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

"- How to recover all the contacts stored on a disappeared mobile???"
"- Humm... without any previous back-up, it's not really easy..."
Now you can try ZYB, a danish online service that allows you to store, manage, and share mobiles contacts and calendar online. After signing up on zyb.com and configuring your mobile phone to a zyb profile, your mobile can be synchronised with your account. Hence, it ensures that your contact data remains safe, updated and avalaible at all times from anywhere.

All the basic services that ZYB offers are free (except some next special features priced at a small fee).

Events: Braderie Lille 2006

2006-09-02T00:29:00.000-07:00

Each year, on the first weekend of September, 2 millions visitors throng the streets of Lille for the annual "Braderie" street fair.

What is the "Braderie" ?
Professional tradesmen set up shop on the street and the citizens of Lille sale or exchange their unwanted possessions. They are settled on 100 km of pavements throughout Lille selling paintings, antiques, ornaments, furniture, books, records, and junk of every description.
Part of the celebrations is eating moules-frites - mussels and chips, with a pinte of beer. Traditionally, after eating your mussels you leave your empty shells outside the stall of restaurant and there is a competition to see which one amasses the biggest heap by the end of the fair.

How to come to Lille ?
From England, Netherlands or Belgium, you can get a train (Eurostar&Thalys) to go to Lille (Lille Europe station) or fly towards the closest Airport (Lille Lesquin). From England, you can also take the Channel shuttle with your car, towards Calais (100km from Lille).
Public transportation in Lille :
If you come by the car, you can park around the city (free carparks) and go to the downtown by tram, bus or underground.
1 "two days" ticket (valid on saturday and sunday) : € 4,60 ("Pass'Braderie")
1 "one day" ticket (valid on saturday or sunday) : € 3,50 ("Pass'journée")
10 single tickets : € 10,20

Music: Playlist # 1

2006-09-01T13:47:00.000-07:00

-1 T.O.M. Project - Untitled
-2 Omar S - Groove On
-3 Headcase Ladz - Why Dont You Pay Us Visit
-4 Dirty Diggers - For The Haters
-5 Tarwater - Otomo (Jazzanova remix)
-6 Jazzanova - Keep Falling
-7 Quantic - An Announcement To Answer
-8 Life - Come On
-9 Le Tigre - Deceptacon
-10 Demon Boyz - Dett

Enjoy...

Design: Pascal Bardel

2006-09-01T12:18:00.000-07:00

This french talented designer innovates in the design&development of household appliances and electronic goods, offering clean flowing lines.
Some of Pascal Bardel's producs lounge : the clock radio-gellule, the mp3 player-billball or a circle portable dvd player...

Lifestyle: The Mustache Summer Tour

2006-08-31T15:28:00.000-07:00

Even if we didn't see any mustachioed german players during the last world cup soccer, the 'Stache could be back this year! In NYC, the film-maker Jason Della Valle tries to reverse the course of men's grooming. He wants to make the mustache hip again by making a documentary about mustache in modern American culture: the Glorius Mustache Challenge. In USA, Europe, everywhere, some trendsetters adopte the 'Stache and organize some famous parties called "Mustache Soirée", "Rock The Stache!" or "La StachMou, ça claque!"
Is it gonna be a mainstream? Wait and see...

Architecture: Jean Nouvel

2006-08-31T13:42:00.000-07:00

Musée du Quai Branly / Paris, France (2006)
37, quai Branly - portail Debilly

The museum of the Quai Branly Arts and Civilisations of Africa, of Asia, of Oceania and Americas, drawn by Jean Nouvel, fleet like a majestic ship on the garden drawn by Gilles Clement. He presents himself with a set of multicoloured boxes on a wood lattice separated of the Quai Branly by a high glazed wall. He connects himself to the existing frame on the quay with a vertical garden due to Patrick Blanc and on the street of the University with a building whose design for the various ceilings comes to touch the rough concrete from the frontage.
Nicknamed MKB, the museum of the Quai Branly was is designed to reflect cultural diversity. It is "the sign and the symbol of a France that knows and recognises the cultures of the world and the need for dialog ue between those cultures", Chirac emphasised.

Digital features: Digital Jay

2006-08-31T13:21:00.000-07:00

Even if unofficial, sldz1200.net gathers the Technics SL-DZ1200 Direct-Drive Digital Turntable online DJ community. This DJ forum is dedicated to bringing users the latest industry and information on the Technics SL-DZ1200 and other Technics DJ products.
General discussion, Tips & Tricks, Troubleshooting, Improvements, Accessories and Pics are available in forum format. A question? just post it!
You can check too the excellent and complete official site for more information.

Society: We can do it

2006-08-31T12:40:00.000-07:00

One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is a non-profit association dedicated to research to develop a $100 laptop, called 2B1, a technology that could revolutionize how we educate the world's children.
2B1 was designed collaboratively by experts from both academia and industry, bringing to bear both extraordinary talent and many decades of collective field experience in every aspect of this non-profit humanitarian project. The result is a unique harmony of form and function; a flexible, ultra low-cost, power-efficient, responsive, and durable machine with which nations of the emerging world can leapfrog decades of development—immediately transforming the content and quality of their children's learning.

Fashion: French touch

2006-08-31T11:33:00.000-07:00

A.P.C. for Winter 2007 is definitely an elegant collection defined by its unique style and quality.
Womenswear & menswear are cleverly presented style by style just to inspire a day by day attitude. Minimalist and efficient...

By the way, what does A.P.C. mean? "Atelier de Production et de Creation"

A free paper catalog is issued every season. To get it, just fill in a form in the website.