My friend in San Diego is a big-time chef, and she spends a lot of money — a tonne of money — on expensive kitchen equipment because well, she can and she needs to. A while back, she went out and bought a vacuum sealer to aid in her obsession with sous-vide, and if I recall, she spent a considerable amount of money on it. Imagine my smugness, then, when I sent her the link that popped up in our Showcase this week for a small, affordable vacuum sealer that is seemingly perfect (not to mention, considerably smaller than what she purchased) for her little kitchen idée fixe. When my Frisper Freshkeeper turns up in the mail next week, I’ll have one less reason to feel inadequate next to her…and one more reason to feel superior next to my culinarily-challenged dinner guests. So go ahead and feed my ego; submit stuff that’ll make me (and everyone else) feel better about ourselves at our Showcase right now.

I learned my lesson a long time ago about writing music reviews. There’s a million journalists — even commenters — on the planet who do it better than me, so I’m going to leave it to them to tell you how inspired Radiohead’s In Rainbows is. I won’t tell you how this album’s version of “Nude” is miles better than the multiple iterations before it, or share my theory on it being their best work since, say, Kid A. I will, however, tell you that you must, must, must go and spend however much you *think* it’s worth, listen to it, then realize you probably should have spent more money on it than you did. We’re all pretty stoked that it turned out to be for real, contrary to a certain other team member’s prediction.

(Update: looks like the In Rainbows site is busted right now. Keep checking back — you won’t be sorry.)

Londoners and jetsetters alike should do their best to make it to the Frieze Art Fair, a Regent Park-located event that introduces and showcases new and established artists to visitors from around the world. Happening tomorrow through Sunday, the fair (according to the temporarily London-based Mr. Spear himself, who attended the press preview this morning) promises to be a worthwhile visit, and will feature a ton of buzzy items (like an “absurd” $250,000 Louis Vuitton Murakami — head over to the the Gagosian booth to check it out). The long weekend holds a number of noteworthy events, so if you plan on being in the area, head here to buy tickets and plot your course, and (as always) feel free to share your finds with us!

I’m a total dunce at graphic design. I can write about it, but heck if i know which option I should pick in order to shade or shadow. But with the help of the online tool Paper Critters, anyone with C-level design skills can pretty convincingly fake their way through the design of a pro-looking, standing paper toy creature that stands *almost* right up there with Furni’s Big Chief. It’s all in the application; you’re supplied with different tools used to decorate your critter, like shapes, thematic stencils that range from “cute” to “rebel” — good for those of us who can’t even draw a straight line to save our lives — a palette of colors, as well as the option to incorporate an uploaded image from your hard drive. But the best is the end result; when you’re finished, you print out your little bad-ass, fold and glue him together, and wait for office workers to think you’re keeping your secret talent on the DL.

Related: SpeakerDog

Not that we think any of our readers need help dressing themselves , but just in case, online lifestyle magazine inqmnd has put together a fairly comprehensive, user-friendly Fall Lookbook. The guide, which primarily features streetwear (veering, however, head-long into hipsterism upon occasion), mixes easy-to-find items with a higher-end pieces to create some awesome (though admittedly safe) looks. Brands repped in the lookbook include class favorites like New Era, John Varvatos, ALIFE, Arcteryx, and Poets and Thieves, as well as close to 20 other well-loved labels. Again, I’m not pointing fingers, but if, say, you’re too busy saving starving kittens or african orphans to give dressing yourself the attention it deserves, this will help you more than you know.

The international fashion, design, and lifestyle magazine Wallpaper* will launch an online directory of the world’s best new stores tomorrow, featuring a variety of niche boutiques, the latest from global fashion houses, and other notable shopping destinations. The guide (which I’m assuming will read much like the Wallpaper* City Guides, i.e., informatively, simply, and pleasantly) will direct readers to the world’s best “revolutionary retail locations” to throw away their hard earned money, including places like opticians and patisseries. I think these locations were judged on their overall design as well as their offerings, so you’ll probably find the guide to be visually inspiring as well as, uh, debt inspiring. It looks like the November issue of Wallpaper* will also include an edited-down version of the directory, so if you’d prefer to spend money on the “real thing” (or not, if you’re already a subscriber), feel free to hold out.

Looking for something different to showcase on your wrist, but a little shy of the Rolex range? Have a look at the Bell & Ross lineup. Jamie gushed about their Steel Case line earlier this year. With its military simplicity and unique square shape, it might just be the perfect adornment for the “understated man.”

Now they’ve created a new piece in that line; the design is more urban-chic than military simple, but it lives up to the eye-catching hotness of the previous versions with little trouble. The BR 03-92 has been released in white ceramic with brushed and stainless accents. It also features a white leather band in place of the usual dark fabric for a little extra garnish. Shake well over ice, add olive, enjoy responsibly.

What happens when you create a collaboration among three of the hottest names in designer toys? You get this. Tokidoki has teamed up with STRANGEco and NYC’s YoyaMart to create tokidoki-land this Saturday, the 13th. The entire YoyaMart store will be transformed, featuring tokidoki’s entire catalog of goodies. Designer Simone Legno will be on hand to hawk his newest wares.

The words “customized” and “drinks” have also been thrown around, so you know this party will be raging. To top it off, a rare, limited-edition Adios and ciao ciao set will be given away sometime during the party. So get ready to brave the cobbles and dodge Ferraris; the party goes down Saturday at the YoyaMart store in the Meatpacking District.

Full flyer goodness after the jump.

READ MORE…