As i clean through many ICFF pics ~ i snapped a few as we were coming in to LAX, and it was such a foggy day the sunset was absolutely stunning, and caused some crazy lens flare with awesome orange blobs i’m quite liking tonight… and the colors… if you haven’t been able to tell by now sunsets/sunrises/incredible views are just so inspiring and entrancing to me! So here’s a random weekend post of the glowing orbs my camera found… you can watch the sun disappear on the next page…

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As promised, here is a look at the many different views from my window… down at the highline running directly below, the statue of liberty on the horizon, breath taking sunsets… every room at the Standard New York definitely gives you an amazing floor to ceiling window to watch (and be watched) as the world goes by around you…

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I have so much to show you its hard to know where to start ~ especially when all i want to do is curl up in bed, stare at the view, and pass out! Sad to be leaving NY tomorrow already, but will definitely be back soon! SO, for starters, it only made sense to run a hot bubble bath to figure out what to write, and that lead to taking pics in the bath, and then of course i had to give you a peek into my favorite part of The Standard New York… while i did tour the facility (both open, and not - the roof is so awesome!) with Andre Balazs the other day, that will have to wait. Prioritizing, what you really need to see first is the TUB! You can literally open up the slats so from the tub you can watch the skyline ~ which is stunning whether its day, sunset, night, etc… or i guess you could watch tv too… or chat with whoever you have in the room with you. It’s also such a deep massive tub you could easily sink into it, or fit a bunch of people in, whatever suits you.

So take a peek of the view from the tub ~ and around the room and various details that have caught my eye. While there are 16 different room layouts/color schemes in the hotel ~ of the ones i toured, this one is definitely my favorite! Take a peek on the next page, and view shots to come…

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Sinking into my bed barely conscious, debating what to show you before i give in and pass out… been quite the night of wandering, but the most bizarre and not so design week related event this evening brought me back to those awesome Artek Shigeru Ban chairs i showed you… only instead of being on a tour… this was the The Standard SPiN New York Classic - for those (like me) who know little about the ping pong world - here is the SPiN bio: “SPiN New York is a 13,000 square foot ping pong social club on Park Avenue in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. The club offers unparalleled table tennis courts with Olympic quality cushioned flooring and 17 individual tables, including a stadium-like center court. In addition, SPIN New York houses a pro shop, lounge, bar, private room sponsored by Fred Perry and over a dozen internationally known professional coaches and players who are available for private and group instruction.” Intense, right? Did you know Susan Sarandon is a huge ping pong lover?

Anyhow, in addition to this party of a ping pong classic (don’t get me wrong, there were some there extremely serious about the sport, and alongside were many party goers and an open bar) - the sunset out on the deck and in the background was absolutely stunning. Jaw dropping to say the least… so check out the many pics of this scene on the next page!

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Landed in NYC at the equivalent time earlier than i normally go to sleep in LA… huge points for the sweet Ace Hotel NYC guys for giving me a room at 7am and letting me curl up in bed with wifi and post to you now… yes, i’m a little deliriously giddy and going to crash in a few, but far too excited not to show you these pics first…

I think i’m *home* ~ but i must admit i was nervous ~ kind of like meeting someone you’ve talked to online for ever, and you know you like a lot of the same stuff, but when you finally meet in the flesh ~ well its nerve racking. And you hit your kinks and panic attacks along the way (they JUST soft opened yesterday after delays) ~ but then its love at first sight?

So we’re going to do this the inside out way ~ starting with the room itself, its amazingly awesome details (my house so needs a black smeg, i wish i could just stick it in my suitcase and bring it home!) ~ adorably cozy vintage designy furnishings ~ glossy black outlets and faceplates! ~ big metal door ~ gorgeous lights ~ yummy treats ~ anyhow, see for yourself… pics of the room on the next page…

p.s.
saw sunset in LA and sunrise in NYC ~ and in between it was incredibly clear out tonight ~ really bright moon and stars and darkness with patches of towns/cities in the middle… so also a few pics of the crazy view.

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On incredible openings ~ today the Annenberg Community Beach House opened in Santa Monica. “A public place henceforth: The story of the Beach House is one of evolution from private to public. the facility is open to all, no membership required.” It is the only one of it’s kind on the california coast!

Originally built by William Randolph Hearst for silent film star, Marion Davies, in the late 20’s ~ it later became a hote; ~ then a private beach club, and was even on of the settings of Beverly Hills 90210 ~ then shut down after the ‘94 quake. After 10+ years of planning (and i’ve been driving past this spot since i was a kid almost daily!) ~ it’s amazing to see what it has evolved into. Set right on the beach in Santa Monica ~ the house has been restored for events, there is a beautiful pool (with stunning restored tiles), cafe, pool house, volleyball/tennis courts and more… and there is even a bicycle valet! And its a green facility! Silver LEED Rating and all…

For its big launch this morning ~ there were events for everyone ~ from Cirque Du Soleil performers to synchronized swimmers and sand castles…. kite flying and power volleyball exhibitions… and so much more. While i wasn’t able to make it, Sanna Björn, biked over with camera in tow, and took SO many incredible pictures of the event to share with us! Take a look at her experience on the next page! (Thank you, Sanna!)

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So last night i finally got to meet Tyler Brule!!! Pretty sure he has no clue who i am, but he was totally on my list of people i looked up to (as far as fun lives and awesome careers…) Unfortunately people are seldom as amazing as you build them up to be in your head, right? (Perhaps this is why i freak out about meeting readers!) I was slightly saddened, although not all that surprised, that Brule said LA was casual to a fault… (more juicy details coming up in the LAist interview Kemp did while there)… and can you believe it’s all run on only 35 people? Tyler and his super nice PR folks popped in from Tokyo and London, and many were popping off the next day already…

ANYHOW, the most exciting thing of all? The second international Monocle store has opened! And right in one of my childhood hangouts, the Brentwood Country Mart! In fact, i still hang out there, the food and shopping is so delicious and chill (mmm mrs beasleys, burritos, james perse, and that awesome apothecary). But i digress… adorably cute shop, set up like a little living room you can settle in to, read some Monocle, browse the website, and the best part? Finally we have a local shop to check out those gorgeous Porter bags, notebooks, candles and more! Personally i may need to go back and grab some of the adorable posters! They wouldn’t let me take pics inside the shop, but you can however see just about everything from outside the super cute space! Take a look at more pics on the next page!

p.s.
I was surprised how incredibly low key and what a mixed crowd this event was! It felt more like a picnic than a launch party…

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I’m back to real life now ~ 18 hour direct flight was surprisingly less painful than expected… also the all business class flight with lay flat beds certainly didn’t hurt… 4-5 movies and like a 10 hour nap… and i am home! (You can take a peek at some of the pics on the LAX-Singapore flight here) Took off at 4:15pm landed in LA at 5:00…

It was a good trip, putting in some family time to pay my respects to my grandmother and help with family affairs… nice chance to step out of my NOTCOT life for a few days… but of course i couldn’t help myself and i have a little pile that just jumped out of my suitcase waiting to be photographed and shared! With the perfect timing on the flights this trip back the views were so gorgeous i couldn’t help taking a few snapshots and mini videos with the point and shoot… so check it out on the next page! Also some fun details of Changi airport… i love the backlit walls of hanging plants and the giant robotic flower fan!

(ok videos are taking forever on Vimeo ~ will add those when they are up!)

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Singapore’s landscape is this crazy juxtaposition of incredibly lush green rain forest with a fascinatingly modern/urban shopaholics dream mixed throughout… for some reason, this latest trip i’ve been completely drawn in by the beautiful color palettes - staring upwards out of the car windows into the trees on every drive… and while taking a breather between things, i started noticing the tiny details like the incredible textures and colors of the MANY types of moss found in just one part of the yard… so here are some close up looks at some of my favorite mossy details (and my grandmother’s tiny orchids) on the next page!

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SO freshly back and hundreds of pics and still kind of spinning trying to process the last few hours of my life… ~ on the next page you’ll find a visual walkthrough of the chaos that was the President Obama Town Hall meeting in Los Angeles ~ i was lucky enough to snag a ticket (#0010!!!)… Not going to go into the politics, but it was an incredible thing to experience in person ~ so here’s a look at how it felt to be there… and while i’m not the best at playing “spot/name the politician” many around me were remarking about how the event was a real who’s who of politics in California… the chairs around the stage were VIP, and us ticket holders were in the bleachers. Also, i’ve never been SO close to a president before… it was kind of trippy sitting so near the stage, and having him enter just a few feet away!

p.s.
for the full text of the meeting check out the LA Times

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WINNER!!! Janeen in Gainesville, FL

Yes! Giveaway time! We’re giving away 2 Chrome Bags… Here are the two ways to win:

(1) Leave a comment on this post with (a) why you need the weatherproof goodness and (b)which size/color you love most!

(2) TWITTER! Follow @notcot and tweet your favorite size/color with #chromebags in the tweet!

I’ll pick a random winner for each one on Monday (so get those in by Sunday midnight PST)!!!

OK, so moving along, WHY are we giving away Chrome Bags? Well they have a lifetime warranty, seatbelt buckles and straps, and a SECRET POCKET and are totally weatherproof! And that’s just the classic messenger bag… that beat up one in the picture with the rabbid stashed away is my personal one that i’ve had for around 4 years now… that thing will survive about anything and has traveled the world with me… so when Chrome reached out saying they were into NOTCOT, i was absolutely giddy. And together we decided it would be fun to share the love with a giveaway to you!

Their company philosophies sum it up nicely: “Chrome was founded in Boulder, CO by a couple of guys who needed a bag that lasted forever. They began sewing in their garage using the toughest material they could find. A company came out of that with a philosophy of building stuff that would function well in tough conditions and would last a lifetime. There’s not a lot of nonsense in our gear, just materials and construction that serve a purpose and last a lifetime. We stand behind everything we make.” It’s great to see they’ve been expanding the line, working their way into performance apparel and more new bags for 09 in the works… so for now take a peek at the details options on the next page!

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It’s just not possible to get mail with retro/official booklets from the Dept. of Cultural Engineering with the Technical Specifications for Ace Hotel Properties… pop them open and see pages with figures that remind me of grade school readers… and not post about it! Two booklets just showed up showing off and explaining the latest additions to the Ace Hotel line up ~ first was Seattle, then Portland, Palm Springs opens this weekend, and New York City in March! While i’ve yet to see any of them in person STILL ~ i’ve been wanting to get to Seattle and Portland and stay at them since… 2006? SO, on exciting news ~ we will be staying at the Ace Hotel NYC in May for ICFF and Design Week!!! (Also, if you’re doing the ICFF thing and don’t have a place to stay yet, check them out ~ they are doing promotional $99+ promotional rates)

Anyhow, i digress, the booklet! It’s so cute, you have to take a peek at the cover and insides on the next page! And ok, i’ll admit ~ the Smeg fridges, customized Gibson guitars, record players, and free wifi are huge draws to me… all of their hotels are so different down to every room, yet seemingly homey for design/detail junkies ~ they support passionate incredible independent businesses like Stumptown Coffee Roasters and Ken and April of The Spotted Pig which will both be in the NYC hotel! And they have one of the most adorable/tempting looking minibars and Smeg fridges filled with everything from vitamin water to mini kegs to coke in classic bottles… not to over-gush, but i love the concept ~ and these quotes seem to sum it up so nicely… so before i send you off to the pics on the next page: Re:Up Magazine said “… a highly developed sense of how culture functions best when left unmolested by over-production”, and Best Designed Hotels in North and South America said “… the Ace clientele - hip urbanites in for a visit who like a lick of luxury, but don’t necessarily need all the indulgences of a typical high-class hotels”… basically these feel chock full of character, but with a designer’s eye, without sacrificing functionality…

But, back to the booklets! So cute! Check out the details and cover on the next page… and maybe we’ll see you in NY!

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Wow. There is something so magical about having the Natural History Museum as the backdrop for a friday night filled with science, food/wine, live music and exploration… especially when in between all of that you add some wild lighting and simple glowing modern furniture… As part of the Los Angeles Natural History Museums First Fridays, tonight we got to see The Bird and The Bee with a bison diorama as the backdrop! Listened to DJs spin in front of elephants… learned about “Evolution: What the fossils say and why it matters” from Dr. Don Prothero in front of some moose. Got wine from in front of some apes… Saw projections on and around the skeletons of a t-rex and triceratops… All in all it was a hell of a night, and a fascinating multisensoral experience. Check out images of some of the very surreal situations encountered on the next page!

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Wow. Well, today was quite a day. We are now in the era of President Barack Obama ~ and we’re quite anxious to see what happens in this first 100 days… Currently curled up in a hotel room watching CNN, getting a peek at the many balls taking place throughout DC and the country tonight… and i’m exhausted! I can’t even imagine how the Obamas must feel! Beyond the info you can get just about anywhere ~ on the next page you can get a peek at what our experience here was like today ~ from the 4am vendors setting up shop ~ to the humvee outside the window by 7am ~ to the masses of people traversing the city streets to and from the ceremony ~ to an inflated spiderman! One thing that definitely stands out today ~ i do not think i’ve ever been in a crowd of so many people in my life ~ and there was something incredibly moving about the energy of it ~ everyone so excited and literally from everywhere! Seeing them all come together, being in the midst of the cold for hours, and having millions sing taunting good-byes to Bush and come together with hopeful screams for what the future holds… it was quite an unforgettable day.

… and we’re headed back to LA tomorrow ~ so back to regular random postings in no time!

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Curiosity meant i couldn’t resist seeing what the scene was like at today’s concert at Lincoln Memorial ~ We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration. NPR had exclusive live broadcasting of the concert ~ and they have a great photo gallery (of things close up that i wasn’t able to see in person!) ~ with a star studded line up and the national mall filled with jumbotrons ~ we wandered over towards the end and caught barack obama’s speech from a nice spot near the washington monument ~ the real spectacle was the sheer number of people as we looked out from the massive obelisk down toward the teeny tiny lincoln memorial (live view 10x helped me see what was actually going on down there through the 5D!). It was pretty incredible how tens of thousands of people became dead quiet as he spoke. Silly as it sounds, just being a part of the masses was a fascinating experience ~ even the national park rangers were giddy about how many people were there! So here are some pics from our perspective to give you a feel of the (incredibly civilized!) crowds ~ and some fun tech amusements ~ from the awesome star wars feeling “ICx Tactical Platforms” police cherry-picker like high tech viewing towers, to the masses climbing on the jumbotron generators, to the people in trees… it was a pretty insane number of bodies out there! I can’t even image what Tuesday is going to be like…

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