Sunset Tower Hotel.

If it's good enough for Capote, it's good enough for me. Definitely on my wish list now.


Sunset Tower Hotel | Sunset Boulevard | West Hollywood, CA

p.s. Can you tell I'm in full-on summer travel mode right now?

Procrastination.

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

(via Mr. Glass)

Little Brother | The propaganda robot.

An oldie but goodie. I would have fallen for this in a heartbeat.



Pamphleteer, aka "Little Brother," is a propaganda robot which distributes subersive literature. Pamphleteer is designed to bypass the social conditioning that inhibits activists' ability to distribute propaganda by capitalizing on the aesthetics of cuteness. The robot's form references a tradition of robot aesthetics developed in science fiction and popular media.

"Studies have shown that people are more likely to accept literature from a robot than a human activist."
- IAA Research

Institute for Applied Autonomy

Newell Harry | The Natives Are Restless

Caught my eye.


Newell Harry - The Natives Are Restless | Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery

(via Artkrush)

Wisconsin "Great Moments" Photo Contest.

Share your greatest Wisconsin vacation moments in our photo contest for a chance to win a four-night stay for four in Eagle River at a classic Northwoods resort, along with four rounds of golf, a half-day guided fishing outing, and dining - all worth more than $1,800! We'll also be awarding five runner-up prizes of $50 gift certificates from Shutterfly.com good toward photo processing or custom photo gifts.

TravelWisconsin.com :: Great Moments Photo Contest

How bizarre.

So I post this link to Site59, my new favorite travel site last night, only to go there this morning and discover they've been eaten up by lastminute.com.

AND they no longer have the two-departing-cities-one-destination feature.

This bites.

Montgomery Ward still exists?

I had no idea until I stumbled across it. This Asian wall mural is kind of intriguing for the price.


This Oriental Garden mural features a painterly, stylized Asian scene that includes trees with song birds, rhododendron bushes in full bloom, pagoda, and Chinese Chippendale details. Product is pre-pasted, strippable and scrubbable. Available in 2 sizes. The small version comes in 7 panels and the large version comes in 10 panels.

Oriental Garden Mural

Site59 - my new fave travel site.

Okay. Another unsolicited travel tip here.


If you're planning a last minute trip with a friend or relative who lives in another city, you should definitely check out Site59. They allow you to book a whole vacation package, even if you and your companion are coming in from different cities.

The monk and I used Site59 for a weekend getaway to Baltimore, and it was great. Their prices are really reasonable, and you can be as frou-frou or frugal as you want to be.

It's not always easy to find an online booking site you can trust, so I thought I'd mention it... Maybe someone needs to get away over the 4th of July. :)

Meet Me In...Two Departure Cities, One Destination - Site59.com

Analog atomic alarm/desk clock.

I share this only because I have such a strange reaction to it. I like the overall design, but I hate the font they used for the numbers. But I was almost tempted to overlook the numbers, because it's radio controlled, and, well, that's just cool. Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. No.



I'm the only person I know who's been searching for an alarm clock for well over a year. Yes. I'm a freak. Any alarm clock suggestions to put me out of my misery would be appreciated.

T/T Time Analog Atomic Alarm/Desk Clock

Thumbs up for Hotel Blake.

The boy and I stayed at this lovely modern boutique hotel in Chicago last weekend. HUGE room, big bathroom, tall ceilings, nice view, comfy bed... We even managed to park on the street for free Saturday night, saving $40 on hotel parking. Oh, and there's a fantastic bookstore about two blocks away - perfect for nerds like us. The reviews on Trip Advisor were a bit scary and mixed, but I'd definitely recommend it if you like boutique hotels.

HOTEL BLAKE, Chicago, IL

Pfffft.

I love Catherine Ledner's animal photography, so I was very happy to see that she's starting to sell her work outside galleries. If I find one of her chicken prints, I'll be all over it.

Cow Poster by Catherine Ledner at AllPosters.com

She's also got a book coming out in September.

Random House | Animal House by Catherine Ledner

The Black Cubes

I'm making 999 wooden black cubes. Every cube has the same shape, appearence and dimensions (every facet is 20 cm.). The strange thing is that there is something inside the cube! But nobody can take possession of its real sense, because if the cube is opened this sense is lost irreparably. The cube is the material representation of human curiosity.

I imagine a man, sitting on his sofa, drinking a cup of tea: every fortuitous glance at the cube brings always the same question: "What does it contain?"

For some people i have met in my life, this question can become a real torture. And that's because the curiosity is one of the strongest human feeling.

I think at curiosity in its deepest sense as the source of every human action and thought. Every human discovery, for example, is an effort that starts from a curiosity about something.

THE BLACK CUBES

AbeBooks: Books For Under $10

My favorite kind of list.

AbeBooks: Summer Reading - Books For Under $10

Beautiful modern furniture at PCH Modern.

Have a gander. Some of their prices are great. Like this Danish Floating Top Side Table at $225.


PCH Modern

(via Ascender Rises Above)

FOUND Magazine greeting cards.

Just in case a Tiny Little Division of Hallmark doesn't do it for you.


No need to stand in the drugstore trying to choose between Ziggy and Cathy... we here at FOUND made some cards you'll be proud to give away. Sure, mom said she liked that last birthday card, but underneath that smile was boundless disappointment; we think we even heard her mutter, "I went through 26 hours of labor for this?"

Some of these cards match the typical card-giving occasions - Christmas, Valentine's Day, birthdays, etc-- plus we've got some special cards for other occasions you want to commemorate: LOVE, heart-felt apologies.. and we even included a subtle way to get that hot friend of yours to sleep with you. Let us know how they all work out, ok?

FOUND Magazine | Greeting Cards

Buy an apology from Miranda July.

One of the best things I've seen on the interweb in a long time -- McSweeney's is holding an auction.


They're auctioning off stuff from artists and performers. So, remember Miranda July -- the one who wrote No one belongs here more than you? She's a viral sensation. And she'll write an apology, invitation or congratulatory note for you. Come on. How cool is that?

eBay Seller: timothymcsweeneys: Posters, Self-Representing Artists items

McSweeney's is also having a sale - you might want to check it out.

eBay Seller: timothymcsweeneys: Posters, Self-Representing Artists items

Chema Madoz | Photographer.

I love the Cracker Jack surprise of Madoz's images.





Chema Madoz :: fotografo

(via getTRIO.com)

Etsy :: Brief Jerky

Possibly the weirdest and best Etsy posting I've seen. And I won't post the photo. You have to see it yourself.

Etsy :: Brief Jerky RESERVED FOR TED NUGENT

(via b3ta.com)

New "Die Hard" movie bus ads.

Who'd have thought they'd actually be smart, understated and cool? Man, I'd have lost that bet... I like.



Adrants :: Yippe_Kay_Yay_mo

Quote of the day : Noah Brier

I'm trying to write an article for a magazine right now and I'm realizing how hard it is after blogging for a while. Because I can't use hyperlinks to give people credit I just keep thinking that I'm pretending to have come up with other people's ideas. I don't like that. Blogging seems much more honest.

Noah Brier dot com: Carefully Curated Since 2004

Richard Goodall Gallery.

Some interesting stuff over at RG Gallery. I particularly like this Rudolph Valentino silkscreen print.


Rob Jones - Aluminium Rudy Valentino :: Richard Goodall Gallery

Excellent art installation/self-promotion.

Curriculum vitae | 304

(via the always-fascinating VVORK)

Vintage Black & White Dice Lamps

I kinda love these a little or like 'em a lot.*

*Please note: Not $750 worth of like/love. I just think they're cute.

1stDibs.com :: Pair of Enameled Black & White Dice Lamps

What the World Eats | TIME Photo Essays

Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23
Favorite foods: soup with fresh sheep meat

What the World Eats | Photo Essays | TIME

(Fantastic find via Czeltic Girl)

Yes. Another panda post.

My name is BB. I'm a panda junkie.


someecards.com

Awww. It's a LOLshirt!

Ace.


Geekologie :: Customizable LOL Shirts

(via electro^plankton)

Consider this a public service announcement.

Puppy mills break my heart.

How to avoid buying a puppy mill puppy.

StopPuppyMills.org :: Puppy Buying Tips

Hmmm.

I dunno. I kinda like it.



Above, a view of Julian Schnabel’s new hot-pink high-rise at 360 W. 11th St. Below, the magenta monolith seen from another angle — through two of the Richard Meier-designed glass towers on West St.

The Villager :: Not so pretty in pink: Wraps come off Schnabel

Box seats.

Far too expensive, but very fun.



The box looks like a normal carton box but when you come closer you'll notice that it's soft and that you can sit on it. The box is soft and can be coated for outdoor use on request. (please let us know during ordering.)

Size: 45x45x45cm / 18".7" x 18.7" x 18.7"

Also available in other colours on request (RAL, PANTONE and NCS colours)

Pieter Jamart :: The Box

(Thanks to Chris Glass.)

Grace Weston Photography.

These are fun. Creepy, but fun.




Grace Weston Photography, Staged Vignettes and Photo Illustration

(via dérive)

Cool Etsy buys.

Some lovely vintage stuff over at blue bell bazaar. I nearly forgot I bought these - they should be coming in the mail any day. Yay!




Etsy :: blue bell bazaar

Tom Haney is wonderful.

And, strangely, he's from Atlanta, where I just was. I've posted his stuff before, but he has some new pieces.






Tom Haney | Atlanta Artist | Automata, Kinetic Art, Creative Sculpture

One for Mollymolly – baby panda 'tocks!

Baby Mei Lan taking a nap at the Atlanta Zoo yesterday afternoon. It was disappointing not to see her babypandaface, but her tiny bum is ever-so-cute.




Atlanta Fulton County Zoo :: Mei Lan photo gallery

Whoo-hoo! Off to Atlanta!

Today's the day -- I'm off to the HOW Conference until Thursday. Probably won't be posting between now and then, but you never know.


The best part (and there are many wonderful parts) is that I get to hang, chat and have bevvies with one of my bestest pals, swissmiss. With any luck, maybe I'll run into some of you guys there. I'll be the midwestern blonde with a big grin, a sassy new short haircut and a drink in her hand. You'll have to take it from there... Peace, kids. (No playing with matches or parties while I'm gone. You hear me?)

HOWconference.com - The creativity, business and technology conference for graphic designers.

p.s. Can anyone tell me where the phrase "Hotlanta" came from? I swear, EVERY time I mention I'm going to Atlanta, the person I'm speaking to is involuntarily compelled to say, "Hotlanta!" I cannot remember for the life of me where this came from, but I'm amazed at how it's embedded itself in people's brains. Major kudos to the agency or firm that came up with that one.

Sweet packaging.

Tala's new kitchenware packaging is based on its original packaging from the 1950s. (Or maybe they just never changed it. I can't find a web site for them, so it's not out of the question...)





The Conran Shop Online

Backroom logo discussion.

I absolutely LOVE that a logo is creating such chaos and furor, inside the design community and out.


2012-wolff-olins (image)

(via Adrants)

Scariest headline in quite awhile...

Mass circumcision to fight Aids

Hideous and mesmerizing.

Ladles and jellyspoons, I give you -- "Pug With Velvet Bag."


'pug With Velvet Bag' Lamp By Dietlind Preiss - Home Furnishings - Unica Home

(via getTRIO.com)

The library bathtub.

A hybrid bathtub/bookshelf/armchair. The ultimate luxury as far as I'm concerned. It'd be like a mini-vacation.



Malin Lundmark

(kinda via the wonderful Beton & Garten)

Excellent book title.

A Sunday Afternoon Hotdog Meal, A Guide To Chicago Featuring Shrimp From The Future, A Park Shaped Like A Spot Of Paint, Six-Foot Tall Smelly, Sweaty Men, A Pizza Crust That's Humongous, Kind And Friendly Neighbors, And Cabs That Smell Like Fresh Flowers, Written And Illustrated By 205 Second Through Sixth Grade Students, All Of Whom Are Eager To Show You Around

(via 826 Chicago - a Non-Profit Writing / Tutoring Center, Chicago, IL)

Pretty, pretty.

And only $5 each. Sweet.


Sophisticated in its simplicity, the glass votive is fashioned exquisitely after a traditional Japanese paper lantern. This refined piece is a treasure for special occasions. The glass base separates from the lantern for easy lighting and candle replacement.

the Home Port

(via Rare Bird Finds)