[image via *Bitch Cakes* Flikr set]

Well, there's probably no diving, per se. Because these pools are only 8 x 22 feet; but they are indeed dumpsters. You've probably heard about these alterna-pools hitting Park Avenue during the Summer Streets program in NYC. I have vaguely, but totally forgot. Good news: if you want to check out this spectacle, you can do it this Saturday! I am rather excited.

There will be three pools just south of Grand Central on Park Avenue between 40th and 41st Streets. Pool hours this Saturday, August 21, are 7am-1pm. Get there early if you want to take a dip because bracelets will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis. Swimmers (I think I should say "dippers" here because there's no room for actual swimming) enter in shifts, 10 per pool.

Talk about feeling packed like sardines in a can. Ah New York. You are so crowded and crowd-controlling.

Olsen Haus shoes, available on nimli.com

Yes, I like this mixture. Just a bit of cork on the toe and silver everywhere else. An interesting side note: these shoes are totally vegan-friendly. From Olsen Haus.

The newest Bird, on Grand Street in Williamsburg.


Spacious and incredible Bird

Bird interior. March 2009, when I visited.

If you are already a devotee of the Brooklyn-based women's and men's clothing boutique, Bird, then you have already delighted in their well-edited selection of designer clothing and accessories for some years now. When you step into the brand new loft-style floor-though space, opened February 2009 in Williamsburg, you realize that the newest Bird (location #3!) is not just about the clothes. Did I gasp out loud? Yes. The space is gorgeous. Light-filled, minimal and warm. Textured. Very textured.

The architect for the project is Norwegian-born, Ole Sondreson. This Bird is LEED certified, (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) which means that it has met standards for environmentally friendly construction, more fully explained here. Look at Mr. Sondreson's Website and drool. That doesn't sound dignified. Admire him in a more dignified manner, because his work is beautifully understated. He not only designed the space, he also designed the store fixtures (which are all modular, by the way.)

The dressing room is wood-paneled like a sauna. Not necessarily in cedar, I am told after making a call to the store, but definitely in reclaimed wood. Of course. The cushion is upholstered in a rare fabric by Scandanavian textile designer, Josef Frank, which after you read this, you will again be reminded how much I love this designer. This was one of my favorite spots in the store... Visit Bird soon! It will please all your senses.


Bird
203 Grand Street (Bedford and Driggs Avenues)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn

T: 718.388.1655

The Dressing Room.
With the Josef Frank upholstered seat cushion.


Bird has a good sense of humor about its name.
I love all the soft sculpture birds they carry.
Birdhouses.


Plus this peacock.


Ah, beautiful reclaimed texture


Yes, I did say "floor-through"

I like this trend of eco-friendly lookalikes. There are so many of them nowadays. The ceramic Greek Cup. The "not a paper cup" ceramic paper coffee cup with travel lid. The ceramic paper plates. And now, the leather paper bag. I love it. So funny. Found on Popgloss today.

Ceramic Paper Plates, via DesignBoom

[image from the Curiosity Shoppe]

Here is the latest product from a design site I discovered last month called the Curiosity Shoppe. You know, the Potato Chip Necklace vendor? Yes, that's the one. This time, I found IT'S OK. A handcut wood sculpture by Sighn, available in bamboo, mahogany, or walnut. Limited edition of one million. Measures 2.5" x 3" x .375". The good news is: proceeds from the sales of these pieces go to the Arbor Day Foundation. Every piece plants one tree!

Made from reclaimed wood: Walnut Pepper Shaker [L] and Poplar Salt Shaker [R]
by Domestic Aesthetic, available on Branch, $48.

I was browsing Happy Mundane this morning and found these beautiful wood salt and pepper shakers, by Domestic Aesthetic. Of course, the designers are from Brooklyn! I love the photo too.

Have you seen the latest from Method, the popular eco cleaning products sold at Target, and, I am happy to report, non-big-box stores like Ricky's, and small local stores like Bridge Apothecary on Jay Street in Dumbo? The product is Almond Flower Natural Moisturizing Hand Wash. The price is around $5. The quilted matte plastic packaging is so great, you could give it as a gift. Be sure to check out the other scents in this product line as well, including White Tea, and a more restrained Olive Leaf. There is a Natural Moisturizing Body Wash and Body Bar too. Remember, matching sets are always better to give and receive. hint hint.

Linhardt, the new jewelry shop and design studio on 1st Avenue
in the East Village will catch your eye and draw you right in.


One of the floating display cases, designed by Wary Meyers, shows off
Lisa Linhardt's own silver cuffs, made from re-purposed and recycled flatware,
creamers, water pitchers, and other assorted tableware.


White pendant lamps, designed by Wary Meyers.
Each lamp is made from two garden shop plastic planters. So clever!

My eyes flash as I run along 1st Avenue in the East Village on my way to an appointment. New jewelry store! Wow, nice font. Great store design. I must investigate on my way back.

I meet Lisa Linhardt, jewelry designer and owner of the eponymous studio and shop which opened May 2. She is gracious, humble about her many accomplishments, and passionate about using design to make human connections with artisans from other cultures. Lisa works with artisans from Colombia and Africa to craft aesthetically pleasing, economically viable pieces of jewelry, using their own indigenous renewable materials. Linhardt's "Seed Rings" are a case in point, made from sustainable tagua seeds, shaped to her specifications by Colombian artisans. Earlier this year, Lisa participated in a 100-mile walk across Kenya to help raise funds for Beads for Education. While there, she got to work with Maasai women to make special beaded bracelets for her collection. She now showcases the pieces in her store.

The store itself, custom-designed by Maine-based Wary Meyers has a calming, organic flow, and the rusticity of a New England shoreline. Design details, such as wall-mounted floating display cases, are all made from salvaged re-purposed materials. The door handle is taken from "a 70s wingback sofa which washed ashore on a Maine island." The various planks are rescued from an old church, schoolhouse, and barn in Maine. The pendant lamps are each made from two garden shop plastic planters.

Another facet of the Linhardt design studio is custom orders. Lisa and I had to cut our conversation short when an architect from L.A. made a beeline for Lisa's "Signature Ring," pictured here, on a recommendation from a New York friend. When Lisa said she could make the ring in her size right in the store, and have it ready in an hour and a half, the customer's eyes lit up. An hour and a half? Now that's service. I let Lisa get to it.

Be sure to visit this hidden gem of a store soon, before Linhardt is deluged with press, and the wait for a "Signature Ring" is 4-6 weeks.


Linhardt
Design Studio NYC
156 1st Avenue (9th & 10th Street)
East Village, New York
917.748.9000

Lisa is inspired to work with furniture designers because "they see jewelry in materials
that aren't typically used," such as this cuff in cork.


"Tagua Rings," shaped to Lisa's specifications by Colombian artisans.
The tagua seed (shown whole in foreground) is a sustainable natural seed from Colombia.
Lisa sees jewelry in everything, especially in nature. She is a natural sculptor.

Lisa Linhardt's own faceted "Ice Pixel Ring" in white jade, $135.
Doesn't this scream Barneys Coop? Lisa does not wholesale as of yet,
but perhaps in the future.
Available in additional colors and materials, only at Linhardt.


Linhardt also features work from several other designers,
such as this necklace, made from found vintage beads, by Joann Scully.

This post is featured on Coutorture for June 17, 2008





And also featured on Racked for June 18, 2008

Dandelion-colored chairs in front of the new wine shop.

13 featured wines this week.

When you walk in to Dandelion Wine at 153 Franklin Street in Greenpoint, you will notice quite a few interesting Spanish wines, perhaps some you have never seen before. Lily Peachin's latest obsession is Spanish wine, but not because it is the hot wine of the season. Owner of the newest addition to the Franklin Street retail scene, Lily focuses on wines with a story to tell.

Lily has a reverence for the earth and what it provides, having grown up on a farm in upstate New York. As such, she is interested in the wine makers, the vineyards, and in family-run businesses that have a true love for the soil and the earth. And if the product is organic or bio-dynamic, so much the better. I hear her tell customer after customer, "Be sure to come back and tell me what you think of it. I really want to know how you like it."

Lily is passionate about her new store in a neighborhood that has become a part of her over the years. She tells me that she dreamed of opening her own place when she moved to Greenpoint back in 1999. At that time on Franklin, there was only the Franklin Street Corner Store. She lived above the Greenpoint Coffee House, which was then a residential apartment. She wanted to open a place there, but it wasn't zoned for retail yet. At her current location at 153, her landlord has owned the building for 60 years, and is happy to see the changes happening on Franklin.

Lily is passionate about making her place a fun place to hang out and learn about wine. This evening (and every Friday) stop by for a wine and cheese sampling. On weekends check out live acoustic music and wine tastings. In the summer, stay tuned for monthly wine classes taught by a local expert, offered at reasonable prices. I am pretty excited about that. Dandelion Wine is open until midnight on weekends and until 11pm during the week. Stop in for a chat and check out the selection. I am sure you will find an interesting bottle or two to try.


previous post:
What Will Inhabit 153 Franklin?

Inside the store, back to front.

Anneke Jakobs, Chiquita Chandelier (and detail), recycled cardboard, 2003
[images: Anneke Jakobs]

Advertising is Good for You is a humorous, well-written, informative blog by Boston-area copywriter and creative director, Paula Zargaj-Reynolds. As of today, it is going on my list of weekly reads. The "Advertising Arts & Crafts" section offers some great examples of post-consumer recycling, like this ballgown by Jamie Kuli McIntosh. I also found the Chiquita Chandelier, pictured above, by Dutch designer and master recycler, Anneke Jakobs. If you would like to make one, the artist has graciously provided a digital how-to manual for you on her Website. As I have an affinity for both bananas and corrugated cardboard, I may just download it. Click on tekst> to access a PDF. For a list of Jakobs' projects, click here.

The new look in recyclable salad bar containers at Whole Foods Market

The latest salad bar containers at Whole Foods market are not only recyclable, unbleached, and made from a renewable source, they are compostable. After an informative phone conversation with a knowledgeable employee at the Whole Foods Headquarters in Austin, Texas, I found out that the new container was introduced in the stores in December, offered in addition to the plastic to-go containers, the unbleached Chinese take-out boxes, and the to-stay salad bowls. The new salad boxes are made from unbleached pulp from two different renewable sources. One is sugarcane fiber, which is the (normally discarded) by-product of the sugar cane crop. The other is bull rush cattails which grow in the wild and are harvested annually. The crops from which the pulp is harvested contain no chemicals or fertilizers.

Instead of putting my salad in them, I took two home to photograph. I am not sure what I will do with them yet, but they are such a pleasing design, color and material, I am sure I will come up with something.

Who says only kids at Christmas like the box better than the toy that comes inside.

Some alternate uses for the new Whole Foods salad bar container:
you could store your winter hats

or your pens

or your tiny gold pine cone collection...
As I said, I don't know what I will do with them yet, but I like them.
Perhaps I'll make a salad today.

The Story of Stuff is a compelling 20 minute presentation written by Annie Leonard. It is worth a watch. Suffice it to say, it might make you think about production and consumption in a new way.

The Morton Salt Website has an interesting section called Household Tips. I rather like it. They list 19 alternate uses for salt, including household cleaning hints, and even art projects. Take a look. My favorite idea is the natural air freshener, using an orange rind and some salt. What a great idea! I am off to buy an orange and some salt.

Just cut an orange in half,
remove pulp,
fill the peel with Morton® Salt.
It will provide a pleasant, aromatic scent anywhere in your home.

I thought these cotton screen printed totes by Minus Bags were an attractive alternative to the dreaded plastic, and a quieter, more friendly alternative to the Anya Hindmarch tote. As New York is truly a tote bag city* you will probably want more than one. At a very reasonable $16 each, you can buy one for your grocery shopping and another for your gym stuff/shoes/lunch general city toting. Minus Bags are locally grown in Brooklyn and printed in New Hampshire. Hmm. That sounds familiar. My line is locally grown in Brooklyn and printed in Massachusetts. MB Mullan and I should get together and chat.

Minus Bags are a plus, aren't they?




*When I first moved here, my friend Elizabeth told me that New York was a tote bag city, and she was right. All I do is tote things. Tote tote tote. My shoulder hurts. I need a Minus Bag. Maybe the chocolate brown with the green peas. Or the grey with they yellow lemons.

The coat check
curtained off with hole-punched craft paper.
I would describe the look as 'Eco-Moroccan.'
Don't you think?

The dramatic approach to Domino's festivities
at Industria Superstudio.
The invitations festooned.

Party revellers, featuring two staffers wearing the
Vanessa Barrantes Dress at center. At left, accessorized
with the bronze open toe Art Deco-style heels.

I love this shot.
The 100% recyled napkins and stemless glasses at the bar.

The time at the Domino green issue release party was visually rewarding, as all design-based things should be. I give you my photographic observations and captions for your vicarious enjoyment, down to every last craft paper and pressed board eco-friendly detail.

Simply stated, the Conde Nast crowd is quite good looking. I enjoyed sipping my pomegranate and Prosecco cocktail in the stemless glass that is all the rage right now, enjoying an organic truffle or two, and watching all the fantastic outfits go by. At first I could not comprehend just how each outfit worked so well to make each woman look so fashion-forward yet so effortless. I was in the presence of fashion masters. Shalom Harlow was an expected guest at this party, after all. This was high-caliber dressing. I sipped and studied. Suffice it to say, many mental notes were made by me.

Indonesian fish cakes with tamarind sauce.
All hors d'ouevres were presented on a pressed board tray,
topped with craft paper, and adorned with a similar young branch.
I like this action shot I got.
In all of the photos I did not use a flash.

Domino commissioned soft, roomy totes made from certified organic hemp and cotton.
The bags were a limited edition of 500 and complimentary when you shopped.
So naturally, I shopped. I love my bag.

Domino Pencils provided to mark our shopping lists.
Some Fair Trade Organic French Roast Peace Coffee I purchased.

An example of The Dress (right, back) in the party crowd.
Note how the ruffle sleeve flatters her bare arm.

Vanessa Barrantes Sophia Dress (Side Buttons)

If you attended the Domino party at Industria Superstudio last night, you noticed this dress by Vanessa Barrantes walking around quite a lot. The dress, cut from fabric with bamboo fibers in the mix, was selected in navy as the official uniform of sorts for the walking-around magazine staff.

Let me tell you, bamboo has incredible drape. The dress looked really quite stunning on each and every person. I loved the shape of the skirt. A little volumetric, a little tapered. (This mannequin doesn't do it justice.) All wore the buttons open, as pictured below, with black tights, and most with black patent 3 inch heels. Some wore colored shoes, like silver sling-back wedges, or bronze open toe Art Deco-style heels, which also looked quite striking.

The Vanessa Barrantes Sophia Dress (Side Buttons)
worn open, as shown, by the Domino staff

Domino Magazine's issue release party was held last night at Industria Superstudio, to celebrate their first "Green" issue and collaboration with eco-blog TreeHugger. I was invited, for my blogabilities, and I have lots of pictures of the event to show you. In the above invitation (made from all recycled materials) are the 125 pioneering companies and people celebrated in the March issue with "undeniable eco cred." The invitation also said that their would be shopping (cash and checks only) while I enjoyed organic food and cocktails. Sounded like fun. I wanted to finger the merchandise from these 125 winners, particularly the clothes. And the furniture.