How to say no to pension funds and yes to art

I don't have stocks, pension funds or RRSPs.  I have art.  A safe, approachable and long term investment.

If you're looking for an investment I suggest heading over to Art for Hope (Oct. 1) and then straight up to WhiteWalls in San Francisco and back in time for Tarfest in Los Angeles (October 4).  Stop at Bonny Doon vineyard and tasting room in Santa Cruz on your way.

Shepard Fairey has already taken the UK by storm so grab him while you still can.

someone can send me the print of this please...

we'll call it a finder's fee

What will they say when you die?

With the beginning of the autumn equinox I'm reminded of the unpredictability of life and death. 

The changing leaves reading like summer's obituary to the world.  

Why not make sure your obituary reads like the changing of the leaves?

Here are my top five obituaries that prove you should write your own:

1.  'Notorious throughout the world.'  Benedict Arnold

2.  '...she gave a few faint gasps and died.'  Mattie Ayers

3.  'His intellectual abilities and literary skills were never in question,... his judgement was.'      John Allegro

4.  '... she was a worthy partner to the worthiest of men.'  Martha Washington

5.  'Bongo-drummer, confidence trickster, brothel-keeper, drug-smuggler and police informant".   Lord Tony Moynihan

Obituary of Benedict Arnold

33 things for your cocktail party tonight

Friends are coming for cocktails tonight.  Easy - right?  Wrong.

33 things to have on hand:

1.   wasabi peas

2.   ice ice and more ice baby

3.   cocktail serviettes

4.   coasters

5.   honey roasted nuts

6.   vintage kitsch serving bowls

7.   incense (sandalwood, super hit, amber)

8.   bits 'n bites

9.   vintage Tias Eckhoff rosewood and steel ice bucket

10.  hot n spicy peanuts

11.  ginger beer

12.  stubby cocktail straws

13.  vintage rock glasses

14.  ice tongs

15.  toilet paper

16.  Highland Park 18 year

17.  french champagne flutes

18.  clean hand towels

19.  bottle opener

20. Philips Brewing  - Black Toque 

21.  burgundy glasses

22.  corkscrew

23.  Veuve de Verney  

24.  music from my 22 list

25.  Philips Brewing - The Hammer 

26.  organized front closet with empty hangers

27.  walnuts

28.  Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape

29.  Robert Welch nutcracker

30.  beer glasses (Villeroy & Boch Munich)

31.  Black Hills Estate Chardonnay

32.  ibuprofen

33.  vintage hostess gown, smoking jacket or reasonable facsimile - after all, it is cocktails

Lundtofte Tias Eckhoff

 stainless steel and rosewood ice bucket

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Helmut Lang - Don't call it a comeback

He's been here for years. The F/W 08 collection will remind you of why you loved Lang in the 80s. Sold to Japanese powerhouse, Link Theory, the brand was relaunched in 2007 under the creative direction of Michael and Nicole Colovos of denim label Habitual.

Some critics say the new Helmut Lang is nothing like the old. I disagree. Helmut Lang in the 80s represented the sexy, dirty, bat caving, vodka drinking, creative set and still does - they're just not sporting jet black asymetrical hair cuts, mc hammer pants and elfin shoes.

What you see in the F/W 08 collection is Japanese street chic to a T. Now all Lang needs is a cigarette brand...

Check out Helmut Lang for the full collection.

How To Do Goth Like the Japanese

Goth is back and black has never been blacker. Get inspired by watching the Japanese take on goth:

Tips for decor in 620 square feet

after

When working with 620 square feet it can be challenging to find furniture that doesn't over power  your space.

Windows, area rugs, drapes and a colour wheel (for direction) can help you define the space.

In this space I chose a 5 x 8 flokati rug to bring the room together.  Your furniture should sit at just the edge of the rug and should be placed at a comfortable conversation distance from each other and close enough to the coffee table to rest your drink on.  In this room the coffee table is a Nakashima inspired vintage old growth burl. 

The color scheme was chosen to compliment the view of Stanley Park out the window.  It was important to have some bright accents as this home faces northwest and nine months of the year are gray and raining.  I chose shades of purple, red, green and gold to liven up the champagne velvet tufted couch and chairs.

Dark chocolate vintage crushed velvet drapes frame the view and pull out the wood grains in the original mid century oak flooring.

before

The A-Z of Inspirational Design

A

Alvar Aalto

B

Maarten Baas

C

Rose Cabat

D

Adrien Dalpayrat

E

Paul Evans

F

Anna Castelli Ferrieri

G

Alexander Girard

H

Poul Henningsen

I

Arata Isozaki

J

Curtis Jeré

K

Thomas Kakinuma

L

Le Corbusier

M

Carlo Mollino

N

George Nakashima

O

Rossana Orlandi

P

Giò Ponti

Q

Qubus

R

Alfio Rapisardi

S

Gaetano Sciolari

T

Torben Ørskov

U

Arthur Umanoff

V

Giorgio Vigna

W

Frank Lloyd Wright

X

The artist unknown and anonymous

Y

Shoei Yoh

Z

Marco Zanuso

22 Albums To Play At Dinner Parties

1.   Sergio Mendez & Brasil 66 - Herb Alpert Presents... 

2.   Maury Muehleisen - Gingerbread

3.   Stevie Wonder - Talking Back

4.   The Verve - Urban Hymns

5.   The Rolling Stones - Aftermath

6.   Nick Drake - Pink Moon

7.   Frijid Pink - Frijid Pink

8.   Portishead - Portishead

9.   The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses

10.  Neil Young - Live at Massey Hall 1971

11.  Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Gold (1959-1991)

12.  Jim Croce - I Got a Name

13.  Big Brother and the Holding Company - Cheap Thrills

14.  Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights

15.  Modern English - Ricochet Days

16.  The Charlatans - The Amazing Charlatans

17.  Tom Waits - Small Change

18.  Beastie Boys - The In Sound From Way Out!

19.  Dead Presidents Soundtrack

20.  Johnny Cash - at San Quentin

21.  Marvin Gay - What's Going On

22.  Sigur Rós  -  Ágætis Byrjun

West Coast Modernism for the 21st century

While vast amounts of West Coast modernist commercial architecture fall victim to the wrecking ball there is a revival of the medium sprouting up in the residential arena.

Moore Building 626 Bute St. - demolished 2004

photo Laviolette

1477 Pender St. - demolished 2008

photo Laviolette

The award winning Wakefield Beach community project on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia is an example of how today's architects are using their inspiration from Arts and Crafts and Modernism and translating it into contemporary homes for tomorrow's inspiration.

Wakefield Beach Project - Sunshine Coast British Columbia

photo Wakefield Beach

Wakefield Beach - Sunshine Coast, British Columbia

photo Blue Sky Architecture

Organic architecture on the West Coast incorporates, what many often take for granted, into the planning, design and development - the four basic elements of air, earth, fire and water. The elements become an integral part of the overall objective of the project.

Scott House - Gulf Islands, British Columbia

photo Blue Sky Architecture

Kick Start - 8 of The Best Men's Boots F/W '08

Fall/Winter 2009 Here

Pull yourself up by your boot straps because this season is all about boots.

Whether you're grabbing the ubiquitous Beatle boot, the vintage combat or the city over boot you can't go wrong.

Here are my eight picks for Fall Winter 2008: (for Spring/Summer 2009 click here)

1. John Varvatos - anything by Mr. Varvatos looks hot for fall. You've gotta rock when your boutique is in the old CBGB's space.

2. Ann Demeulemeester - Ms. Demeulemeester has made a name for herself with her womens' boots, now it's the guys turn! Go to her site for more pics.

3. N.D.C. (nom de code) - made by hand. Known as everyone's best kept shoe secret, ndc give distressed a whole new name.

4. Vintage Combat - you survived Lollapalooza '92 thanks to these babies so get them out and polish them up,

5. Diet Butcher Slim Skin - the 'bizarrely brilliant' Japanese line to keep your eyes open for.

6. The City Overboot - Marc Jacobs' men have their rubbers on.

7. Vintage Biker - if you prefer leather over rubber.

8. The Beatle boot - always a classic and perfect for the Dior 19 cm raw denim

Related Posts:

Best 9 Men's Boots For S/S 2009

How to Wear a Scarf

10 Desert Boots

How to Wear a Cardigan

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