We wrote about the Triko brand back in November– an awesome story about a designer celebrating individuality, creativity and mastering the Art of Life. They finally got their own online store up and running so you can purchase these unbelievable pieces directly from the creator– this is the CMYK hoodie shown, gorgeous.

On April 14th, join the masses and head to Battery Park in NYC to participate in the Sea of People, an event which is part of the Step It Up 2007 Campaign, and which has both an environmental activism component and a “interactive artistic installation” component to it. Organizers are shooting to attract at least 5000 participants and 200 volunteers (all wearing blue) to join in Battery Park and then stretch north in two columns along the projected eastern and western 10-foot waterlines that may one day redefine lower Manhattan under the ten-foot sea level rise scenario. This is a great initiative by New York based groups and others who realize that the city has a lot at stake in the global warming battle. I hope all of you in NYC– and even those living elsewhere who want to make the trip for the event– make a powerful and long-lasting message on April 14th.
Via Treehugger

Last week, designer Nanette Lepore began testing a new breed of interactive mirrors in her department at Bloomingdale’s in New York. While these reflectors look like any other fitting room partner, they actually function as a three-part, high-resolution digital screen that projects a virtual image of selected fashions onto the potential buyer. The resulting image is then forwarded to a special webpage, where logged-in friends can post their opinions about the ensemble. Lepore plans to install these mirrors in her New York, Tokyo and Las Vegas boutiques, apparently in hopes that her shoppers will utilize this new technology to further develop their dependent personalities. While I’m intrigued by the technology behind this new dressing room addition (developed by IconNicholson, an interactive design firm), the overall theory behind it’s current use is almost appalling to me– what woman wants to– or has the time to– sit around and give fashion advice from behind a computer screen? Girls shop together for a reason, and I don’t see much potential for similar psychological benefits in this rather impersonal connection. This has value as a novelty, maybe, but I’ll be shocked if it’s granted a more meaningful assessment.

The Black Turtle Lodge in Costa Rica– an eco-lodge aimed at teaching its guests about the endangered wildlife and eco-system of Costa Rica– recently teamed up with Xeko Games to help families or couples go on vacation while learning a little something about the delicate world we live in. The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, where the Black Turtle Lodge is located is considered to be one of the most bio-diverse areas of Costa Rica. Vacationers get their own Xeko Mission: Costa Rica upon check in and can play along while they explore the jungle and the Golfo Dulce, one of only four tropical fiords in the world– a place you’ll easily find dolphins, sea turtles, and whales. Sign me up!

While I’m the last person you’ll find at a rave or any party where ecstasy is being passed around, I’ve been digging the electronic music of Maps. They hail from North Hampton in the U.K., where James writes and records the songs on his 16 track in his bedroom. For live shows, James brings on Ben, Phil, Matt and Andy to help him. This video is called ‘Don’t Fear’– it’s pretty dark and trancey at first, but is filmed well and hints at some light in the end. I also urge you to listen to ‘Elouise,’ which is my favorite song of theirs; you can stream it on their website. Looks like Maps are touring throughout the U.K. in the coming weeks, so if you’re in the area, go to a show and let me know how it is.

While at the Kid Robot store in San Francisco this weekend, I got my foodie kick from the toy world. I'm totally head-over-heels for the Tofu Kubrick Series by the Toyko based Devilrobots. This limited series is an assortment of tofu figures like Bone Tofu, Bear Tofu and Cherry Tofu (my favorite that comes complete with a dog tofu cube). With typically cute Japanese toy packaging, including quirky sayings on topics like dumplings, you want to collect them all.