This abstract street art ‘portrait’ with the words “Rebel” at the top — which is an obvious nod to David Bowie’sAladdin Sane album cover — is painted at end of the trash bin corral adjacent to Alternative Apparel clothing store at 281 Lafayette Street. It’s just a short stroll down the block from Bowie’s former residence at 285 Lafayette Street, where his widow, Iman, and daughter Lexi still reside. Daniel Winchester is the artist. A friend who used be the family’s dog nanny told me that this piece actually went up a week after David died. I can’t believe I just noticed it, and how great it stills looks. David Bowie Forever.
Unless I am in some kind of crazy hurry, getting temporarily lost or misdirected in NYC is always a blessing, because it allows me to stumble upon amazing finds like this fantastic Neon Tiger. I spotted this beauty, from the sidewalk, inside a casual-menswear boutique called Blue In Green, which is located on Greene Street, one block north of Canal, in SoHo. Grrr.
I saw this fabulous Pink Metallic Mesh Dress in a shop on Greene Street in SoHo when I was party-hopping during the Open Showrooms evening that closes out the two-week long NYCxDesign event.
Here’s a detail shot of the mesh that I managed to get, even though at this point I was already too tipsy to remember to note the name of the store I was in. Oops.
The camera roll on my phone tells me that pictures of the dress were taken at 31 1/2 Greene Street, but I looked up that address and I am pretty sure it was south of that exact location. It sure is a great-looking dress. I would wear it.
Update 10/19/19: The store is called The Webster and it’s located at 29 Greene Street!
Artist Curtis Kulig’s popular Love Me campaign can be found on everything from Tote Bags and Baseball Caps to Jewelry and Nike sneakers. But sometimes you just see it out on the street, where it originated.
This minimalist mural, which just says Love twice in black and again in pink paint, was spotted while I was headed uptown on Sixth Avenue, somewhere between Dominick and Spring Street in SoHo, NYC.
It had been raining in Manhattan for three days straight when we got a slight reprieve on Saturday evening. As I exited the subway at the corner of Spring and Lafayette Streets in Soho, I could not miss this rather oversized Bright Pink Shopping Bag, which had been discarded on the sidewalk, irresponsibly short of the garbage bin. No one likes a Litterbug.
Big Pink Shopping Bag, Detail
Mostly, looking at this impossibly compelling bag made me want to locate the Great Buy! 99 Cent store, and do some bargain shopping. Instead, I carried on to my evening’s destination of various NYCxDesign Parties, where I had a ton of fun and got drunk for free!
Note: It has come to my attention that this bag came from an Arizona Iced Tea Promotional Pop Up Shop, which was happening on Nearby Crosby Street from May 16th to May 21st.
Mansur Gavriel, which takes its name from founding designers Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel, sells pricey leather handbags and shoes of all styles. I happened to walk by their SoHo store location back in late October, and was drawn in not by the desire to spend all of my money, but by the fact that the store interior is, as you can see, a lovely and compelling shade of Millennial Pink. *Sigh*
Mansur Gavriel is Located at 134 Wooster Street in SoHo, NYC.
Summer is in full swing here in the city, and warm weather fashions mean you are showing off more skin. Maybe you are thinking that it’s the perfect time to enhance your summer looks with a few pieces of fine jewelry that you can continue to wear all year long. I know just the plce you should go: the John Hardy boutique on Prince Street in SoHo. Their jewelry is gorgeous and their sale staff is friendly an knowledgeable. Best of all, each piece of jewelry is handmade, so the quality is unmatched.
Established on the island of Bali in Indonesia in 1975, John Hardy is dedicated to the creation of ultimate beauty through artisan hand-crafted jewelry. Their master artisans honor original craft through the perfection of modern design, creating timeless one-of-a-kind pieces that are brilliantly alive.
Founder John Hardy, an artist and visionary, first visited Bali in the 1970s and was enchanted by the island’s sublime beauty. There, he founded an authentic collective with local artisans and, since inception, the company has remained passionately committed to community, artisanship and sustainability.
Each of John Hardy’s distinctive collections convey evocative symbolism and honor the transmission of creative energy from the artisan to the wearer. More than jewelry — an eternal connection to the source of inspiration. For the seekers, the explorers, the storytellers. Let’s take look at what a selection of the designs you’ll find at their store in SoHo.
Bamboo Collection Pendants in Gold with Diamonds
Precious and Tranquil, each piece in the Bamboo Collection reveals elegance and adaptability, and gives back through John Hardy’s“Wear Bamboo, Plant Bamboo” initiative, which ensures the planting of bamboo seedlings in Bali with each sustainable, luxury jewelry purchase, celebrating respect of the earth.
Bamboo Earrings and Rings With Faceted Gemstone
Top: Bamboo Chandelier Earrings with Polished Gemstones
Dot Chandelier Earrings in Hammered Gold
With no beginning and no end, the textured and symmetrical spheres of the Dot Collection epitomize boundless love and infinite possibility. For these earrings, the ancient technique of hand-hammering metal produces lustrous, textured surfaces with a hint of the exotic
Dot Cuff in Silver with Enamel, Dot Drop and Chandelier Earrings with Gemstones
Each tiny circle is applied by hand by dedicated artisans.
Legends Cobra Necklace and Bracelet
The Cobra shedding its skin is a powerful manifestation of the creative life force of reincarnation. Wear items in the Legends Cobra collection to invoke transformation, renewal and vitality.
Legends Cobra Drop Necklaces with Gemstones
Legends Cobra Drop Earrings and Rings
Legends Cobra Opal Ring (Detail)
Cuff with Faceted Gemstones
Legends Macan Pendent Necklace
The spirit of the Macan, or Tiger, is known for its ferocity and perseverance. Wear Legends Macan designs to be imbued with courage, strength and passion.
One-of-a-kind, Hand-hammered Silver Metal Clutch, Displayed with with Legends Macan Doorknocker Earrings
This unique clutch converts to a cross-body bag with an attachable chain strap, which is included.
Assorted Legends Macan Cuffs
Legends Macan Post Earrings (Top) and Rings
Classic Chain Bracelets for Men in Silver and Rubber
John Hardy also makes variety of jewellery styles just for men.
Assorted Mens Bracelets
Braided Chain Cuff-links and Cuff in Blackened Bronze
Mens Classic Dog Tag Necklaces in Assorted Finishes
There is really so much to see at the John Hardy Boutique, only a small fraction of which is shown in this post. It is almost like visiting jewelry museum.
Legends Macan Tassle Pendent with Amber Beads
Each friendly and informed associate can answer any question you have and is there to ensure that you choose a piece of jewelry that speaks to you. Why not plan to visit John Hardy today?
John Hardy Boutique is Located at 118 Price Street in SoHo, NYC. For other locations and more information on the Collections, please visit This Link!
Superloon, 2015, Black Finish Option, By Jasper Morrison (This Image Courtesy of FLOS. All Other Photos By Gail Except Where Noted)
This week in Eye on Design, we get a bit more in-depth to take you inside an exclusive industry party, held at the FLOS lighting showroom in Soho, for the launch of the Superloon floor lamp, designed Jasper Morrison.
Superloon is a minimally designed, flat disc lamp mounted on a gyroscopic axis atop a three-legged stand. The moon-inspired light surface for which the lamp is named is the result of a revolutionary Edge Lighting technology, which combines maximum performance, efficiency and visual comfort. Superloon includes the Dim-to-Warm function: as the intensity decreases, the light goes from a colder blue tone to a warmer spectrum, as seen with popular filament lamps.
The stem includes the Soft Touch sensor, which reinvents interaction with the product. This optical sensor guarantees a fluid and precise control of the light flow with a simple, natural touch of the hand.
Morrison offers the following insight about his inspiration to integrate this new technology with contemporary, modern design:
“A couple of years ago Piero Gandini showed me a new LED technology which consists of a ring of LEDs that send light sideways into the edge of a flat composite disc of translucent white material which, when lit, appears to be a flat white disc. Superloon is the answer to the question of what to do with this intriguing technology. Mounting the disc on a gyroscopic axis allows the light to be directed in infinite directions, while the light it gives out is broad and diffused but can be dimmed to a soft glow.”
Image Courtesy of FLOS
In the above image, you can see easily how Superloon was inspired directly by the moon as a light source.
Superloon is ideal as ambient light or reading lamp, its emission of the light is adjustable in intensity and temperature thanks to the Warm Tone Dimming. And its definitely conversation piece in any room or setting.
The food was also pretty special. Design, Booze, Food: I had a great time this party!
Jasper Morison’s Superloon Floor Lamp is available for Purchase at FLOS, Located at 152 Greene Street (Corner of Houston), Soho, New York. Find a Location near You at This Link! Available Finishes: Chrome, Black, and White. Contact the Store for Pricing.
I spotted this D*Face mural of a lovely blonde on Broome Street between Crosby and Lafayette Streets in Soho, NYC. These photos were taken around 5 PM, when the position of the sun makes it look pretty washed out. This mural, entitled Double Crossed, is part of the Lisa Project.
The French Cheese Board opened its first US concept store in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood in Mid-May, and we attended the opening party; because, free cheese! At this boutique storefront, which is located at 41 Spring Street, Certified Cheese Masters will showcase their knowledge of flavor chemistry and cheese and beverage pairings. The flagship location will also serve as a customizable venue for cuisine, art, lifestyle, education, and more. The FCB plans to leverage its partnerships with industry and pop culture influencers to create private events in year-long programming.
They also try to make the cheese displays look like art, or sweets, which is fun. However, you can tell by the way it smells in there, that they are selling cheese. Just giving you a head’s up on that.
Cheese Art
The mission of the FCB, the umbrella organization for French dairy products, is to create awareness about the variety of cheeses from France available on the U.S. market. The organization also provides a platform for information, communication and exchange of ideas between French cheesemakers, researchers of the French dairy sector, artists, designers and chefs.
