For all of the NY Design Week randomness we’ve loved and already posted, flipping through our instagrams (and Shawn’s) proved the real fun happened between the events! So here’s a peek at everything ELSE that inspired and amused us that turned up on our phones! Take a peek at everything from the LOOK signage i was hunting for, to street art, to taco store floors, to the game of thrones like saw chair, the wedding we went to, the wooden beer slide, suits and surf photoshoot, and so much more on the next page… (and for those who follow our instagrams, here’s a bit more context.)

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We’ve been curious about the Museum of Math since we first heard it was in the works last year and opened Dec 2012, so we had to check it out while in NYC… as designers with a love of math (particularly as it applies to geometry, design, patterns, puzzles, and more), Shawn and I have been excited to see how the MoMath brought these concepts to life with interactive installations for kids! And as most of you know, my rule on NOTCOT has always been to share the things i LOVE that inspire me! But, as much as i hate breaking my own rule… we are SO disappointed! Sadly, the Yelp reviewers are right ~ It has SO much potential, but unfortunately i wouldn’t recommend it… yet? It’s been open nearly 6 months now and the majority of the interactive exhibits in the spacious two levels are either not functioning, impressively unintuitive, or have taken quite the beating and don’t feel like you’re visiting a brand new museum. (But i must say the docent we ran into upstairs was trying his best, and had great enthusiasm and knowledge even when explaining how exhibits would work… were they functioning.) While it does have a 3D printer, laser cutter, badges that are supposed to sync with various exhibits to send you your creations later, an interactive floor, fractal video cameras to interact with, interactive kinect driven projections, and other digital setups, in the end the analog exhibits are more engaging. Ultimately the bike above is probably the most fun of all the working exhibits (but don’t forget to wear closed toe shoes, which i learned the hard way)… but that isn’t worth the price of admission.

All of that being said ~ working or not, i took a bunch of pics for those as curious and excited as we were that haven’t been yet to get a peek inside the MoMath. And i’m not giving up hope on it, i just hoped for so much more? Take a peek on the next page…

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This weekend’s adventures lead me from LA to St. Tropez by way of Paris and Marseille to try out the new Mercedes-Benz CLA. While there, Mercedes-Benz took over newly redone, iconic Hotel de Paris St. Tropez, which barely reopened the doors before Mercedes moved in for this round of drives. Mixed into the sculptures throughout the lobby, we were greeted with displays of the new CLA Dashboard, Direct Steer System, various engines and more… which fit right in! In the main courtyard, the new CLA and it’s larger influence, the CLS were on show. Apparently the Hotel de Paris was one of THE first hotels in St Tropez back in the 1930s, and was THE spot to be seen in the 60s and 70s (think artists, starlets, and more). Freshly redone by interior designer, Sybille de Margerie, it is quite a mix of design styles, and the hardest things to miss are the stunning spherical chandelier of metal petals of sorts in the lobby… and the nearly ready glass bottom pool that is suspended over the lobby which is viewable from all floors! Take a peek at the details of the Hotel de Paris St. Tropez with its Mercedes-Benz CLA flourishes on the next page!

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This week’s roundup from NotVentures includes wildlife safaris, a Mexico City speakeasy, an escape to Alentejo and more. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

This week’s roundup from NotVentures includes glacial views, fermenting food on the road, dune stamping and more. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

This week’s roundup from NotVentures includes the elephants of Chang Mai, London in black and white, and rare tea in Vancouver. Find out more about each delectable post by clicking its individual image.

This week’s roundup from NotVentures includes cooking and eating on the Italian Riviera, adventures in Laos and the shores of Mozambique. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.

We’ve recently been researching the world of Luggage Tags. Since i was rounding it all up anyhow, figured you might be interested too (and this is an easy way for me to not lose what we’ve found!) There are also some of our random notes on the next page…

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This week’s roundup from NotVentures includes falconry in England, skiing adventures, stargazing and more. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.

Wow - what a day it was yesterday. Bounced from LA to Phoenix to Page and across the AZ/UT border to Amangiri to explore the latest 4th gen 2013 Range Rover, and in 12 crazy hours, went through everything from freezing cold to bright sunshine, to fresh snow covered endlessness, to more sun, to hail, to rocky climbs, to red sandiness, a stunning cliff sunset and more. When Land Rover takes you out to show you what their cars can do, they are serious about the “breadth of capability”. The new faster, lighter, smarter Range Rovers hold on to their luxurious, explorer heritage while embracing new technology to ensure their drivers are ready for anything from racing through the city (supercharged will get you 0-60 in 5 seconds!) to climbing through just about any terrain (including wading through nearly 3 ft of water) at the push of a button. And they really brought us out to an incredibly remote spot that left us dancing across the Arizona and Utah border. Take a peek on the next page at some of yesterday’s adventure.

I say “some”, because there is doing and there is shooting - biggest thing i realized going back through these pictures is that some of the best fun i had, i was too busy driving to take pictures! So for this post you’ll get a peek at what it looked like when i was passengering… and perhaps as more photos get shared, i’ll have a few of what it looked like while i was driving to add in! (UPDATE: added more pics of what it was like when i was driving to the end of the post!) And having grown up an SUV driver, i love a car that can handle more than just what you’ll usually throw at it - and the handling on the 2013 Range Rover is fantastic… definitely worth a drive if you have the chance, and try to get it off road if possible too! But first - adventure pics on the next page!

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This week’s roundup from NotVentures includes freediving in Indonesia, culinary tours, the fearless wildlife of the Galapagos and more. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.

Happy 2013!!! To ring in the new year, we suddenly decided to hop in the car and escape to Palm Springs, relaxing and celebrating an incredible 2012 in the brilliantly colored Saguaro Palm Springs. While it still has the layout and feel of a roadside motel of day’s past, the classic Joie de Vivre style of livening and updating it certainly breathes new life into the space. From the hallways to the patios to the lobby, you can’t escape the playful rainbow that follows you everywhere… the color palette just screams HAPPY all over! Take a peek at the details on the next page… from looking inside our room, to running around with my cell phone, and more!

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Wintry driving school, grand mosques in Brunei and the beaches of Rio all feature in this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each post, click on its individual image.

This week’s roundup from NotVentures includes last minute Asian getaways, luxury in Switzerland, Christmas in London’s Goring and more. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.

Vietnamese games, horseback-riding services in London and a gourmet guide to food in Mexico all feature in this week’s roundup from NotVentures. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.