*NOTCOT in playful -

San Diego Comic-con 2008

sdcc08.jpgSo, for those of you who follow my twitter or facebook ~ you already know i ran away to San Diego. It’s been far too long since i’ve been back in these parts, and i’d forgotten how much i missed it! So, spent yesterday popping by all my old houses/apartments/neighborhoods/etc, getting a burrito, and hiding out in little italy. Anyhow, we just popped by comic-con today for a few hours, and it’s absolute insanity, massive crowds, yet everyone is so nice, and they keep things flowing so well. Also - SO giddy to see the toys i’ve been lusting after… in person! And super nice to meet up with a bunch of the comics and toy guys in person as well, of course. So here’s a mad roundup to show you some of my favorites, click the pic to see the full gallery of my images running around the convention floor… and now i think i’m off to the zoo.

*NOTCOT in food+drink - 07.22.08 -

Prairie Vodka Sends the Prairie

corn1.jpgPrairie Vodka wants you to “let the prairie in” ~ and they aren’t kidding around! When they sent a sample bottle over, i was literally overwhelmed with the prairie… in the form of a gorgeous intricately laser engraved wood box filled with their certified organic #2 yellow corn (which costs twice that of conventionally farmed corn) and straw… all protecting the deliciously smooth bottle of Prairie Vodka (it really is THAT delicious). If you recall, i highlighted the incredible nature/prairie meets city photography on their website previously… and their label and branding design is gorgeous, but now combining that with the deliciously smooth taste and mind-blowing packaging this is one sample that will be hard to beat… i’m smitten.

Oh, and lets not forget - Prairie Vodka’s got more behind it than just great vodka - it is actually the result of a “unique partnership between a 5th gen distilled spirits company and a co-op of over 900 Minnesota farmers who are stakeholders in the brand. The distillery has earned Oregon Tilth organic certification. Each batch is distilled as many times are necessary to yield the desired character and smoothness. In the spirit of self-reliance, the distillery converts leftover corncobs and other biomass to create biogas energy for powering the stills and returns distillers grains, a coproduct of distillation, to farms for reuse as feed. And because Prairie is crafted many thousands of miles closer than imported brands, far less petroleum is consumed to bring the vodka to market.” Oh, and it’s also certified kosher by The Orthodox Union. And did i mention the packaging was mind-blowing? See more pictures of the unboxing on the next page!

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*NOTCOT in wearable -

Pratima Ayurvedic Skincare

pratima1.jpgWhile dropping something off for Andy at A+R in venice, i popped next door to Vert, the “high end luxury retail store specializing in all natural, eco-friendly products” primarily focused on health and beauty. While there, i was drawn to the packaging of the Ayurvedic line, Pratima.

As they showed me each and every product, and explained the process of the products, i was as much intrigued by the experience of each product (from smells to textures) as the packaging and background. Completely natural, ingredients from india, the only spa/clinic in Soho, and Vert is the only one carrying the line outside of the Pratima Spa. The line is also surprisingly affordable. The facial cleansers start out in a sandy, powder which you mix with water. For moisture, you mix a few drops of the liposomes with a few drops of the essential oils and massage it into your skin. Additionally they also have masks, oils for various treatments, body oils, creams, and more. The Anti-Stress Aroma Oil is already doing wonders for my workaholic day! Take a look at the next page for more pics of the packaging and display, as well as some background on Dr. Pratima Raichur, and a peek at Vert!

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*NOTCOT in design -

NOTCOT Roundup!

notcotorg #12047 notcotorg #12094 notcotorg #12101 notcotorg #12079 notcotorg #12024 notcotorg #12082 notcotorg #12087 notcotorg #12036 notcotorg #12097 notcotorg #12052 notcotorg #12102 notcotorg #12064 notcotorg #12119 notcotorg #12112 notcotorg #12022 notcotorg #12007 notcotorg #12069 notcotorg #12028 notcotorg #12000 notcotorg #12080 notcotorg #11993 notcotorg #11996 notcotorg #12068 notcotorg #12095 notcotorg #11978Click the images to find out more! Here’s a fun mid week roundup of some of the most popular posts on NOTCOT.org in the last week…

*NOTCOT in tech - 07.21.08 -

Ultimate Accessories: Geneva Sound Systems

infinitigeneva.jpgClick HereNOTCOT Note: This is the fourth in my series of Ultimate Accessories posts which have been sponsored by the new Infiniti G Sedan! As with any sponsored content ~ these posts are done - my way - my product choices, my content, and they help me keep doing what i love!

When picking some of the “Ultimate Accessories” for these posts, Geneva Sound systems always pop to mind, maybe it’s because i’ve been so tempted, but between moving and traveling quite a bit, i’ve had trouble committing to the pricetag for these gorgeous (and awesome sound quality!) audio systems! Ok, let’s be honest, that glossy lacquered finish in the red, white, or black are far too appealing ~ and when on the floor stand, just perched so perfectly, who can ignore it in a room? Details not to miss: the cd slot, is just that - a slot in the top of the system. The hidden red LED display that shows your settings, etc from behind the speaker…. when you’re ipod isn’t docked, everything is hidden under a panel on the top. I’ve toyed with buying one of these for YEARS now… and now, to further tempt me, they debuted a prototype of the perfect black glossy tv stand/shelf with built in sound system… its gorgeous, more pics on the next page.

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*NOTCOT in tech -

Shih Chieh Huang’s Recycled Bots

robo1.jpgAnother find at at GLOW ~ was a collection of suspended robots under the pier, EX-SE-08, Shieh Chieh Huang. Made from plastic bags, plastic bottles of various sizes, computer fans, portable dvd players - all combined with circuit boards and what looked like many power adapters for the larger pieces… these robots were buzzing and breathing (well the bags looked like inhaling and exhaling oxygen bags that come down in airplane emergencies?) and spinning about - while filled with glowing lights, black lights, and uv glowing liquids… It was mesmerizing to say the least, especially when i wandered back in around 5am in a bit of a haze… i ended up taking more video of these creatures than pictures, so check out the video below for an overview of them in action, and a few more pics as well on the next page!

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*NOTCOT in tech -

Usman Haque’s Primal Source

primal1.jpgThe show stealer at GLOW yesterday was hands down, Usman Haque’s Primal Source. Ask anyone who went what the best thing they saw was and odds are they will say “that giant fountain projection thing”.

On so many levels, this was an incredible art installation ~ a GIANT screen of water that with rear projection, set up such that the dark night sky served as the perfect backdrop for the perfectly clear visualizations - but it’s not just about watching, the group interaction element was there too: a series of microphones against the fence encourage the audience to participate by screaming into them in order to directly alter the visualizations. It was the only piece that truly sucked everyone into it, and kept them there for ages. Kids of all ages were absolutely mesmerized. And yes, i admit, it was one of the first things i was drawn to, even from up at the park - and i went back multiple times in that 12 hour window… and there were ALWAYS crowds at the piece… even at 5am. See images of Usman Haque’s Primal Source from all angles on the next page ~ as well as a video to give you the full effect of how awesome this was to behold in person!

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*NOTCOT in travel - 07.20.08 -

GLOW: Santa Monica - Overview

glow.jpg
I think i’ve waited 25 years for GLOW to happen - i love my beach towns, and Santa Monica is where i grew up, and the first ocean and beach i ever touched… and FINALLY, the City of Santa Monica let go of all their many rules for 12 precious hours (and we went, from 7pm to about 6:30am) - with an incredible first GLOW festival - the pier, with its new crazy uberbright-LED ferris wheel, the whole park overlooking PCH, the neighboring restaurants and shops, the beach, the work out rings and ropes - all packed with people of all sorts and all ages all night long… enjoying various music, techno/eco-art installations, and ultimately just each others company, and how nice it was to have all of this come together so beautifully and so playfully in Santa Monica. So before i get into the specific installations i have to show you video of… here’s an overview post to give you a feel of what an incredibly nice 12 hours it was… highlights are definitely lying on the beach listening to pirate lullabies at 3am, the interactive projection on a HUGE water spray, the computer fan driven upcycled electronic organisms under the pier, and watching people from such varying walks of life coming together for this Santa Monica first. (Oh and for really odd things, in the midst of all of this, we even ended up at Google for drinks, since the bars were just maddness - which led to a finger rocket war through the cubicles.)

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*NOTCOT in -

NotCouture T-Shirt Roundup

notcouture #2384 notcouture #2376 notcouture #2381 notcouture #2382 notcouture #2380 notcouture #2377 notcouture #2378 notcouture #2379 notcouture #2375 notcouture #2355 notcouture #2354 notcouture #2351 notcouture #2359 notcouture #2352 notcouture #2370

Finding the perfect tshirt is right up there with the search for the perfect jeans. The fact that there’s so much out there makes it that much more difficult. So here are some that don’t sacrifice comfort for looks, and aren’t in your face with some tacky graphics. And if you’ve already found your perfect tshirt (feel free to share it with us on NotCouture!), then the last row is full of other random goodness from this week. I’m definitely loving the insane Shu Uemura x Viktor & Rolf eyelash collaboration that alizababy posted!

*NOTCOT in playful - 07.17.08 -

Jimmyjane Contour Ceramic Stones

jjceram.jpgOn sex toys and massage tools that you can leave out, and people can easily assume they are sculptural play things - Jimmyjane has done it again with their new line of CONTOUR Ceramic Massage Stones. “Jimmyjane introduces CONTOUR Ceramic Massage Stones, offering a modern take on traditional hot stone massage. With smooth, polished surfaces, they glide over the skin, relieving tension as they go. CONTOUR Ceramic Massage Stones retain heat, and can be used at different temperatures for extra stimulation - warm them up to soothe or cool them down to refresh. Made from double-fired porcelain, they’re ergonomic, bio- compatible, durable and easy to clean. With every surface designed for massage, each CONTOUR offers limitless possibilities.” The designs are designed in house, and certainly have that distinctively minimalist style that is so Jimmyjane. For a mere $25 each, i’m extremely curious to get a pair to experiment with! See more close ups, and more information about the CONTOUR line (including some massage techniques) on the next page!

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*NOTCOT in design -

Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis

0717ltl1.jpgNOTCOT Note: Here’s another fun one from our resident architect, Anna (Sub-Studio)!

David Lewis of Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis was one of my studio professors back when I was studying architecture at Cornell and he was very influential in the way that I learned how to draw and present information. LTL has perfected the art of multi-media drawing, using computer models to generate the building forms and to create severe, impossible perspectives and sections, and then hand-drawing hyper-detailed drawings which are layered on top of the model. The meticulousness of the drawings is amazing and I love the texture that the pencil provides - the more intense and detailed a section of a drawing, the dirtier it is.

Besides great drawings, LTL also creates really beautiful built spaces that are focused on materials and construction methods. The same attention to detail in their drawings shows up in their built work. I’ve only chosen to include their restaurant work in this post (after the jump), but LTL also has a bunch of great large scale projects and competitions on their website. If you want to see more of their drawn work, you should definitely check out a recently published a book of their work, Opportunistic Architecture, or an older publication, Situation Normal, by P.A. Press.

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*NOTCOT in wearable - 07.16.08 -

Adithread Nano-engraving for All Blacks

adithread.jpgOn fascinating new uses for nanotech-engraving… Adidas has launched adiThread on their “This Is Not A Jersey” site - where supporters of the New Zealand All Blacks team can get closer than ever to the players, and literally come together to form the thread of the jerseys with their names! See stills from the video, and more from the campaign below. Even go add your name to the thread at adiThread!

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*NOTCOT in tech - 07.15.08 -

KRINK + Incase + Arkitip

krinkmain.jpgIncase has done it again… waking me up to yet another giddiness inducing package. They always manage to put me in the best moods with their great packaging (from packaging of the product, to the silver penned notes to go with them!). I’m sure you’ve been seeing these new limited edition cases buzzing around the web all morning, but here’s an unboxing and some close up pics of my own. And for those just catching up…

Incase has teamed up once again with Arkitip Magazine, and this time they’ve pulled in one or my favorite artists, Craig Costello aka “KRINK” aka “KR”, the legendary creator of KRINK inks and markers and artist behind those awesome silver drippy mail boxes! So this new KRINK Sleeve is the first in the “Curate by Arkitip” series. First impression, was being smitten by the silver on black drippiness, so messy, yet so clean. Next thing to hit me… although it is an awesome art product, the quality is incredible, but then again what else would you expect from Incase? This would be such a fun case to carry into a formal meeting… if not just to see what the reactions are like! Anyhow, go see the many pics on the next page, as well as the video with behind the scenes on how this sleeve came to be.

p.s.
i know it sounds silly, but part of me is dying to spraypaint ‘NOTCOT’ on mine…

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*NOTCOT in tech - 07.14.08 -

Ultimate Accessories: Eton FR1000

infinitieton.jpgClick HereNOTCOT Note: This is the third in my series of Ultimate Accessories posts which have been sponsored by the new Infiniti G Sedan! As with any sponsored content ~ these posts are done - my way - my product choices, my content, and they help keep the site free!

These days, you really need to be prepared for any and everything. And no reason why those do it all lifesavers can’t look gorgeous too. I’ve been drawn to the Eton FR1000 since CES, where it made my Top 10 Cravings List. You never know when you might need a Self-Powered Hand-Crank AM/FM/NOAA Weather/2-Way GMRS Radio with Flashlight, Siren and Cell Phone Charger! Not only is it gorgeous… but check out some of the many features:
- 22 GMRS (General Mobile Radio System)/FRS (Family Radio System) channels
- 121 privacy codes (38 CTCSS / 83 DCS)
- AM/FM receiver
- VOX (Voice operated transmission)
- NOAA weather radio and NOAA weather alert
- Siren and Flashlight
- Can be powered from four different sources: Rechargeable Ni-MH battery, Dynamo crank alone, 4 “AA” batteries, AC Adapter (included)
- Cell-phone charging jack

For any camping trip, or just one in each car, this has definitely made my list of great gifts and emergency kits. I got my hands on one of the White Red Cross co-branded FR 1000s, so check out a full unboxing and up close shots of some of the details that show just how high the quality is! Also embedded the Eton product video for your viewing pleasure.

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*NOTCOT in food+drink -

Liqurious: Molecular Mixology

liqurious #690 liqurious #689 liqurious #655 liqurious #666 liqurious #695 liqurious #691 liqurious #682 liqurious #683 liqurious #693 liqurious #694 liqurious #681 liqurious #183 liqurious #687 liqurious #684 liqurious #696 liqurious #697 liqurious #650 liqurious #685 liqurious #688 liqurious #703As with all our roundups, click the images to find out more! As you can see, this week these aren’t your usual drinks!

So for those of you asking “What is Molecular Mixology?” - Well, lets begin with Molecular Gastronomy, which Peter Barham says is “The application of scientific principles to the understanding and improvement of domestic and gastronomic food preparation.” and Harold McGee says is “The scientific study of deliciousness.”… Molecular Mixology = Art + Science +Drinks = unexpected multisensory experiences and experiments! Liquids take the forms of liquid filled spheres (as tiny as caviar, as large as tablespoons), cotton candy, gels, dusts, sorbets, foams, infusions and more. Your traditional martini can transform into a Martini Infused Cucumber or Martini Sorbet with Olive Caviar ~ as you can imagine, the forms and experiences drinks can take are now nearly endless!

This weekend on Liqurious i’ve been rounding up all that i can find, which ended up being articles, recipes, videos, etc ~ and the definite leader in the Molecular Mixology space (particularly online), Jamie Boudreau, , who blogs at Spirits & Cocktails, and is even moderating the seminar on the subject at this weeks’ Tales of the Cocktail.

So, see all Liqurious posts on Molecular Mixology here! And feel free to share others you find or write about! You can be certain that i’ll be experimenting with Molecular Mixology soon!

P.S.
One of the best resources i found for all of your Molecular Gastronomy questions, an incredible supplier list, and the most comprehensive book on ingredients/techniques/recipes… see Khymos.

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