Dine. Travel. Design.

…on the first weekend of each month! From Bank of America’s Museum’s on Us

This weekend I saw Boston’s MFA exhibit on Imperishable Beauty: Art Nouveau Jewelry. Dazzling to say the least.

Tonight I went to Boston Public Library to listen to Suzanne Thorin, University Librarian and Dean of Libraries of Syracuse University (my alma mater!), speak about SU’s treasured artifacts and special collections. And what an incredible collection it is! Of course, as always, I wish I knew about it sooner- when I was a student less than 2 years ago. Although there were only a handful of items presented, all had an impact that I wish I had known about- particularly during freshman art history class. I had no idea that SU had nearly 80% of Marcel Breuer’s original architectural design sketches or Margaret Burke-White’s original camera equipment and photography prints and negatives. It truly brings history to life to be able to see first hand the thought process of writers and artists or to appreciate artwork close up!

I was able to snap a few photographs of some artifacts:

It’s not just the sound of “Thomas Edison’s Blue Amber Record,” but the packaging that is significant. Package on right LEFT uses less material and 1 less color- saves on cost, production, and materials! A genius Edison was.

“Illuminated Manuscript,” significant in its use of vellum paper and Gutenberg’s Printing Press over woodblock typography setting. Gorgeous.

The Special Collection (6th floor, Bird Library) is constantly in search of ways to better itself for the use of Syracuse University’s faculty and students. I can’t wait to hear more about the Plastics Collection of the 1940’s-50’s that came from Leominster, MA! This will certainly be a great resource for ID students in Smith Hall

Thanks for the educational evening! Learn more about Syracuse University’s Library here.

EatDrinkDesign intersects culinary delight with design. Seven Dutch chefs and Dutch designers team up in pairs to design and create Signature Snacks, during Dutch Design Week (until Sunday, October 26, 2008).

“Bite3, the snack by Restaurant 1910 & Lonneke Gordijn & Ralph Nauta incorporates nine different tastes – from raw filet of sirloin to oyster – arranged as a tasty mosaic. The sequence in which they are eaten determines the culinary experience.”

See more Images and read the Press Release here

via Wallpaper

Some links in honor of tonight’s last night’s (I’m a flake sometimes!) GreenDrinks gathering:

• LightsOut, conservation on for city’s tall towers

• Biggest Property owner going green

• Nov 8 Event: Real Green Conference

• earlier post: Green Taxi’s

• Activity #1: Ice-cream (and dinner) at Cabot’s Ice Cream + Restaurant in Newton, MA. A classic diner-style experience with quality comfort foods and great desserts. From their website:

Cabot’s is a family owned and operated old-fashioned ice cream parlor and restaurant. We are especially known for our generous portions of unique premium ice cream and frozen yogurt creations. We serve breakfast (all day), lunch, dinner and late night treats featuring deli style sandwiches, wraps, flame-broiled burgers, salads, and traditional home-style dinners.

What more could one ask for? Especially in an environment that brings you back to the ’70s. I remember going to Cabot’s as a kid and loving it! (not that I was alive in the 70’s, but you get the point.) That nostalgic feeling and environment is certainly working to their benefit. A definite classic spot for locals and tourists alike.

• Activity #2: The Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, MA.
  This weekend there was a European bike show which I attended with a couple of friends. A great opportunity to take the camera out for some interesting photos. (Wish I could have stayed longer.) Not to mention the bikes on display were so interesting to look at from a pure product perspective. I may not know too much about them, but I could certainly appreciate the attention to design details that were addressed in the variety of bikes shown.
  Photos after the jump.

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There were 4 Target’s Bullseye Bodegas open for 4 days in NYC.  Sounds like an interesting store concept that carried designer-named designs for Target products.

Now, ever wonder where these name-designers got themselves into Target? Your answer at Target’s Design Scout from BusinessWeek

Bodegas via NotCot

Labor Day weekend has just passed, the unofficial last weekend of summer..

Above is from an event that’s passed, but I just liked the image

via It’sNiceThat

It’s been a few weeks since NY design week and my attendance of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). Apologies as I’ve been pre-occupied with daily life.

This was my first visit to the ICFF and it was certainly worth it.
Some thoughts: 1) Wish I had many more hours and more than 1 day to absorb it all and take the time to explore and appreciate all that was there. 2) I should have taken more photos! But here are a few of my favorites that make me go “huh! how cleaver”

Nicolo Taliani

David D’Imperio

Rachel Oneill with more from MocoLoco

3) Most important, irrelevant takeaway: I should have worn more comfortable shoes! Then, I would not have been tired and cranky and be able to view the products and not constantly thinking about my sore feet. Lesson learned.

Editor’s awards at ICFF

Check out more coverage on NY Design week at Core 77, Design*Sponge (part1, part2, part3, part4, part 5), and Treehugger (here, here, and here with much more).

Moscow

San Francisco

via Core77 and BoingBoing

The circa 1920 Mah Jong set below was on display at the National Heritage Museum during my visit to the Raymond Lowey exhibit. This item seems to be a good transition into my trip to Hong Kong.

I’ve just arrived in this vibrant city filled with as much old as there is new. An ancient form of Chinese poker as a past time has turned into souvenirs for foreigners to bring home and a way for contemporary lifestyle stores like GOD to continue to create novel products by transforming and reinventing an old tradition to seamlessly fit in today’s contemporary lifestyle.

I’m extremely disappointed that I probably won’t be able to visit London before the closing of the China Design Now exhibit in July at the V&A.

Instead, for my birthday last week, I bought myself a present: the book. I’ve only briefly flipped through it, but there is a lot of great background information on the influences of current Chinese design and how design has changed in 3 major cities in China: Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzen. Needless to say China is the spotlight. Like many, I’m excited to see how design will continue to evolve and mature. Hopefully native Chinese along with those raised elsewhere, like myself, will continue to embrace their heritage and culture.

Exhibit review by Core77.

This weekend I saw the Raymond Lowey exhibit at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, MA.

To think that the father of my profession, industrial design, started as a graphic designer and was proud of being a ‘stylist’ as written on the stationary of his resume “Raymond Lowey, Industrial Designer and Stylist”.
Nonetheless, it was great to see the range and beauty of his work from graphics, advertising and logos to functional, decorative products and machinery. I was impressed to see the streamline style side-by-side with products that existed previous to Lowey’s influence and style. Lowey’s Rosenthal China Tableware was particularly interesting to me. The surface patterns used were just as beautiful as the simplicity in lines and plain color that Lowey used on various pieces of Rosenthal China. To imagine that one person could be successful in so many lines of work- advertising, graphics, cars, boats, household products and packaging. At this point in my early career, I could only dream of accomplishing a fraction of what Lowey did.

added: Wired article 1, Wired article 2