Just last week I was admiring my Adidas American Lux snakeskin sneakers when I realized how filthy they had become. I tried a cloth and warm water (scared i was going to break off the delicate fake scales)– but that failed. Coincidentally the next day I got a box from Jason Markk, the sneaker-obsessed cleaning aficionado sent me his Premium Sneaker Solution kit. The kit includes an 8 oz. bottle of cleaning solution and a gorgeous handcrafted woodblock brush. The soap is 98.3% natural and completely biodegradable– it also doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals or abrasives, it’s made of natural soaps dissolved from coconut and jojoba oils. Alas, an elegant cleaning solution for all sneaker snobs worldwide! More pictures of the packaging and products after the jump.
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Il Mulino is the Cartier of pasta. The number one Italian restaurant in NYC recently came out with a retail line, and let me just say it lives up to its name. We put Il Mulino to the test and made everything from pasta to salad dressing with their line of products. We had friends doing shots of their olive oil and balsamic vinegar by the end of the night– this stuff is that good. They use simple ingredients, but it's the method that makes the difference. They sent us one of their recipes that their celeb clientele keeps coming back for– ‘Porcini ravioli in a truffle cream sauce.’ We want to share it with you, so check it out after the jump.

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This morning I finally saw some Wrath Arcane clothes up close and personal; as I told you before, Wrath Arcane is still pretty young and is just now finding its place on the fashion map. Look for it to show up in boutiques near you soon, because from the appearance of the Fall 06 collection, I think these guys are poised for success. Fall 06 not only looks great, but it is one of the more unique lines (from a construction standpoint) that I’ve seen. The Striped Blazer (shown here) is a perfect example– it’s a ‘wear to a bar’ three-button blazer with subtly striped fabric; but the magical details are a free-floating strap that runs from the left shoulder to under the right arm, and a slightly raised and tattered seem that runs across the left half of the back panel. Pair it with Wrath Arcane’s signature ‘hooded scarf’ and you’ll have quite the look going for you. And… this just in: the Wrath Arcane rush order for Spring/Summer 07 should be here in about 5 weeks, so keep your eyes peeled.

The Wurstminster Dog Show is now live, a project where artists were invited to reserve a dog breed on a first come, first serve basis. Every artist attempted to capture the look and spirit of each breed in their own unique way. A portion of proceeds go to a DoveLewis, a Portland, OR emergency animal hospital. It’s hard to pick favorites, but I love Dan Funderburgh’s Briard ($400), a collage on wood, Scott Rench’s Golden Retriever ($125), a slip-cast earthenware with ceramic over-glaze decals, and of course, Cody Hudson’s Akita ($800), mixed media. Browse around and support a great cause!

Our friend Matt Curry (Ninja Cruise) has a serious knack for design– most of you already know that. He’s been a busy guy lately. First off, you should know that, starting February 17th, he will be showing his work at the Limited Addiction show in Denver right alongside Jason Thielke and others. Secondly, he will be jetting to L.A. this week to attend the GRAMMYS– he has been nominated for ‘Best Recording Package’ alongside Neal Ashby for their collaborative work on Thievery Corporation’s The Art of Versions (which is a must see and will be featured this month on Apple’s Pro page ). Finally, I’ll just throw in that he designed an awesome line of skateboards for Enjin, which you can see after the jump. Wheeeeeww! Busy guy. Congrats Matt– keep it up!

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