Modern 50

These guys too...same folks as Factory 20. Good stuff!
www.modern50.com

Factory 20

I dig these guys. They are a great resource for architectural artifacts.
www.factory20.com

CS Interiors

So I'm quite proud of all the attention that we've been getting and flattered to have such a great article written about this great group of individuals that I have the opportunity to work with. All of you are indeed way more than partners in this. You've all become family to me.

So here's a shout out...to everyone I've ever had the pleasure of creating with.
Pariah, love you bro! Mr.Slick, you never cease to amaze me with your drive and taste. Bettlejuice, what can I say? You're the greatest! A gentle giant, for sure. To the asian sensation...you definitely keep this thing movin! I am forever indebted. Shark fin, I'm in. Anytime bro. Anytime. Goodman/Rourke, I believe that we are finding that we are more similar than the rest ever would've thought...challah! (like the bread, my brotha).

To everyone else who's been involved, it has been a privilege. To all mentioned above, it most certainly will continue to be one.

Much Love,
Hank

Boston Institute of Contemorary Art

Love this place! Diller Scofidio & Renfro...they kill me!

NAU

Okay, one more...
This is a piece of news that I was very happy to stumble across. While I don't/didn't really love many of the garments that NAU designed, I loved the design of their company. Truly innovators in their field. Go ahead, smile if you already knew about 2.0, Google around if you didn't know of em.
Here's a start... http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/06/nau-outdoor-eco-clothier-is-back.php

Watch This Company! Trust me.

Library

This is just a little break from all of the restaurant/bar bullshit I've been writing about lately. Just hoping that everyone remembers that we deal with all things design and branding...wake up team...I'm still in the warehouse.
Do you know where your Creative Director is?
Anyway, this is a rollout that Siegel + Gale did for the Philadelphia Public Library. I think it's extremely successful. With the digital world at all of our fingertips, I think it's easy to forget about what great community organizations and institutions are here to do...offer FREE help and resources.
Either way, I'm impressed here guys. So engaging, I think I'll go to the library tomorrow.

Butcher

I love this fucking place! I would love to import the whole shop, signs and all, and transform it into the fascade of a concept steak joint. Think Esquina folks. Come on, you ought to know that one, at least. Here's a hint...corner of Lafayette and Kenmare.

Of course, now the owner just signed a deal to put the concept on some rooftop in Miami. Talk about bullshit! Brand dilution anyone? Oh, or should I just say sellout?
Either way, if you haven't seen it yet, go. We'll chat when you return.

That's the one that kicked it off for me. Brilliant! The idea of PRETENSE WITHOUT PRETENSE. That's right, Pretension hiding behind Non-Pretension. I love it! That's why all of these PDT concepts and Backroom Bar venues are making it. Everyone wants to feel like they've found something, right?
I know I fell into it. I went to PDT. I even knew what to expect. When I walked out, I still felt that tickle. Perfect. Walking back out into Crif Dogs where people were gawking and wondering where the hell "THE PARIAH" and I came from. Hilarious. I totally fell for it. Like I was sooo cool...and the shit was just in Vanity Fair! NEXT....

Something New?

Looking for something new? Well, I'm off to New York again. I'll keep you posted...

Allen and Delancey

Okay...one more.
Allen and Delancey. Eat there. Sit for a long time and really soak it in. (the)Period.

Bohemia

So here it is...the hospitality design world has been struggling for a new foothold for some time now. Looking at the clean lines and polished concrete for too long has created a void in originality and expression amongst the masses. While there are some great moments found over the past 5 or 10 years, ultimately the whole process has left me feeling a bit sterile. And I think the masses have gotten there as well.
Here's to looking at expression and a slight (or not so slight, in some cases) head nod to tradition. Take notes from the places that sparked conversation. Places where like minds mingled. The essence of Bohemia. It's coming.
These are from some of my notes...
The first is from Lafayette House in New York.
I found Lafayette after a string of bullshit Schraeger-esque places over the course of a week or so. Flying straight in from 3 nights at the Delano in Miami, I was eager to find something different. The "PARIAH" put me up to it. He told me, "I'm not even going to qualify what you are about to experience. I just want you to have an open mind and trust me."
He was right.
It was on that first night at Lafayette that I fell in love. No front desk. No bullshit posers trying to get in to the Rose Bar. Just my own little pied a terre. Perfect.
Every room outfitted with its own fireplace, the bathroom styled in Parisian fixtures accompanied by a full set of Bigelow products.
This is not for the see and be seen. This is for for the independent.

If you can't relate, fuck off. We'll build a place for you to come and feel important soon enough. But then again, I would guess you wouldn't be reading this anyway, would you.

Is this a parody?

I'm confused...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAO4EVMlpwM

a true Sportsman...

So lately we've been getting quite a bit of turgidity for Slim Aarons and his body of work ("An Intimate Portrait of the Good Life"). One of the projects our collective is working on is in San Diego in an old industrial coffee factory - just super fucking raw. We're doing an urbane slant on the neighborhood shithole bar and have been toying with these preposterous shots from Aarons of the uber-wealthy cavorting in various preposterously wealthy vacation spots and homes. Picture mid century shots of Clark Gable hanging with the Countess Messei and a random assortment of nubile young things in a converted Duomo on a private beach in Mustique. Just crazy. He gives these surreal snapshots of the good life. A life that is fictional for nearly all of us. We just really dig the idea of alluding to that lifestyle - that of a Sportsman - in such a rugged space. Like the rest of the space, it's meant to gently poke at the lifestyle while wearing your vintage Frye boots and having just come off the beach in San Diego. After all, a true Sportsman knows he makes the scene wherever he deigns to imbibe or recreate...

put em on the table

That's right everyone, this is the place where the collective gets to play. Screw work, invoicing, scheduling, assessing measurability, conference calls, celebrity designers. Whatever. You got somethin to see? You found somethin you like? How about old dirty vans with paul smith socks? Anyone? Hit me up. I'll let you in.

first things first...lets not lose sight...