These Are a Few Of My Favorite Things

Hey remember me? Remember us? It's been a while, so let's get this self-indulgent 2012 party started with some things I like. (As opposed to most of the time, when I'll just be moaning and bitching about things I don't like.)

 Thing I Like #1: New York City in the 80s 

 Shit was ballinnn! And tuff. And fresh to deff.  (I think now it's just like flossy or something.)

People who chose to live in the city back then were making a real decision, weighing the pros and cons in a much different way than people have to do now.

CONS
 Today: the rent is 2 damn high.
 1980s: I will be surrounded by knife-wielding muggers and heroine addicts on 70% of the city's corners.

PROS
 Today: you can be anyone you want to be and do anything you want to do in the city, so long as you know the right people and the right places to hang out.
 1980s: you can be anyone you want to be and do anything you want to do in the city, absolutely anywhere, even if that entails breaking the law, because no one gives a fuck.

 So... toss up. Let's take a walk down Memory Lane and mull those ideas for a minute.

These kids are dripping with boombox pride. Forget all that hard 'n' scary stuff I was talking about before. This is just adorable. Sadly, in today's city, these kids would probably be the victims of stop and frisk and that boombox would be confiscated faster than you can say "flip the script." Damn.  

For more subway photography, check out this collection from Bruce Davidson. 

Also these! I just can't get enough: 

Man, are those trains not kind of horrifying? In the best way ever? 

Plus, at the time the graffiti was being done by the likes of Scharf and Basquiat and Haring, so, like, whaaat?! 

Clearly awesome. 

Ok, what else? 

Thing I Like #2: Sitting Down on Cool Things Made for Sitting, and Sitting Down on Cool Things That Look Like They Are Not Made for Sitting, but Actually Are 

Like this Molletta Bench by Baldessari E Baldessari! 

I hope that this thing opens and closes so, so bad. Look at that perfect-sized head hole! 

On a more traditional note, the Antelope Rocker by Ernest Race. Throw back! 

Not only does this chair make me want to read more in that charming, breezy, springtime Dove commercial apartment sort of way, but it also goes pretty well with the creepy dream I had last night about having a baby. Yeesh. Watch out, gentlemen. 

(Note: this does not go well at all with my love for 1980s New York, so I think we're safe.) 

Oh hey! Speaking of which, you know what chair does go really well with my love for 1980s New York? Blarrrr!! Bwraaaarrrr! Ack! Alack! Glurblaaaghh: 

This chair from BRC Designs' Risen in 30 Days Collection looks like something one might pull up from the East River after a particularly gruesome week of NYC's 1989-1990 murder spike. I also can't help but think of Paris Hilton. Anyone else, or is that just me? 

Alright, well let's end this chair nonsense on a lighter note. Oh no wait, let's not. Bone chairs! 

These stools made out of old cow bones by Ama Darko Williams will get your living room yelling "Yippe-kay-yay, mother fucker!" and "Pew-Pew! Pew-Pew!" Metacarpals up. 

You know what? Let's not end this chair nonsense at all. In other news.... Jesus Christ Someone Make The Swing Car by Hans Brockhage In Adult Sizes Immediately: 

This is one of the prouder moments for the Germans, wouldn't you say? Sorry I couldn't hear you, I was too busy swinging back and forth in my climby ladder chair car. 

Ok, ok, one more and then onto Thing #3. Let's breathe a fresh sigh of slightly nautical relief and appreciate the Corliss chair by Dunn. Ahhh.. 

Oh and PS - Jessica Carnevale's Puffy Dining Chair is totes a clam: 

Thing I Like #3: Rainbowy Things 

Spoons! 

Puke! (I guess?)

Bridges to nowhere! (Totally!)

Jello? (Show me how!) 

Bike Wheels! (Hey - that's pretty resourceful!) 

Phew! Hopefully that was enough non-sequitur madness to whet everyone's whistle for what is about to be the most-likely-quite-temporary-and-disappointing revival of The Daily Clam! No promises. Just dreamz. 

Got something you love? Tell me about it and I'll make the most totally smashing killer photo round-up, plus probably some awesomely terribly photoshopped collages to boot! Want to add in a cat? Boom--your cat's eating skittles. Want to get some sweet typography involved? Presto! Expletives, riddled throughout. 

LMK, K? THX! BBQ! 

Epic Saturday: Part 1

Is it ok to have an after glow from a low-key, daytime art event? This weekend was great on so many levels.

I would not hesitate to call yesterday's weather the best Brooklyn has seen in at least a year. There were several points throughout the day where I literally walked down the street with arms outstretched, face tilted toward the sun and eyes closed. I didn't even trip, or walk into moving traffic. Wait, that second thing almost happened, but then it was like the city was my guide dog. New York saves the day again!

Some highlights from phase one of our romp, which began at Oslo, consistent maker of the best iced mocha latte I have ever had, and ended at the northernmost tip of Brooklyn, where we bumped into Janusz, standing outside of an old factory-turned-studio space, next to a James Bond-style mini-plane, which it turns out is owned by his father. It was at the end of phase one that our jaws literally hit the floor. Janusz has access to a plane like this!  For realz! And I am getting a ride no matter what it takes.  I'm also kind of confused (offended?) it took me so long to figure this out.  Whatevs.  Grudges don't get you rides in planes.

Anyway, back to the highlights:

Jackie Hoving, whose studio is in the Pencil Factory, made these really hilarious/badass collage paintings.  Basically my new life goal is to save up enough money to put a bid on these two. (Couldn't decide which was cooler: kaleidescope bear, or owl vs wolf laser eye stare down.)

Rossa Cole, also at the Pencil Factory, had a lot going on, from photography to model airplanes made out of sticks, but it all tied together with a clear perspective on social and environmental responsibility, lightened up with a healthy dose of wit and whimsy.  Plus he's super nice and has the cutest daughter -- bonus points! 

Allison Read Smith, at the GMDG Building (where Janusz's dad keeps his fancy shmancy flying machine), also had a wide range of work, with a whimsical take.  Plus she gave us a beer, so we love her. Some standouts were her stop motion films, and this amazing new project where she's collaging the heads of people from vintage stamps onto butterflies, and hanging them in frames with magnifying glasses that dangle from the bottom, so you can interact with the details of each one.  Also I'm an idiot and didn't take pictures of any of this. I did snag a shot of her "Thugs," of which there were a trail around the massive GMDG Building leading to her studio space.  See a bunch more here.

Oh, and I found the greatest combination lamp-table on the planet at Kill Devil Hill.

Do I have to mention the Christmas List?

At the end of all this, we got freeee pizzas at Lulu's, (and a really sweet vintage map calendar on the street!) followed by the most heavenly of futon naps. Phase two to come later, when we trekked it all the way back to Greenpoint for the light show. Pretty thrilling, right?

OMGZ Give Me Suitcase Furniture Now

And I'm not talking about the kind with rollers.

Gone are the days of hard-topped, square-shaped, leather-handled briefcase-style suitcases.  You know, the kind you might wear with a bowler hat, some white gloves, or a weird smattering of lace across your face.  The kind of suitcase you held in one hand, while puffing a pipe in the other saying, "Now, look here, see!"

Now it's all nylon and rollers, and people who can't seem to take responsibility for 30 pounds of their shit dragging behind them.  (That's you, guy running over my foot.)

But wait! These sexy traveling vestiges are back! Back and better than ever.

This brilliant idea comes from Recreate, a furniture design brand started by Katie Thompson in 2009.  Everything they make comes from recycled bits of awesomeness past, i.e. this old scale-turned-clock:

So brillz, I can't take it.

Ok, that's it. Go buy.


PS - this is all procrastination from talking about New York Fashion Week. 2much2handle.com.

PPS- let's buy the domain 2much2handle.com right now