Now that we’re actually in ‘09, you’re helplessly behind the times if haven’t changed your calendar. Well, maybe not. Maybe you’ve just been waiting for a special day to make the switch. The Standard Hotel understands fashionably late — their hopelessly hip tribute to all things 2009 is available today. The hotel chain’s “high school” themed annual staff calendar features model employees from Standard locations around the country. The subjects were culled from locations in Miami, New York, and L.A. for the photo shoot by Michael Elins, a veteran whose photospreads have been seen in publications such as Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone. The images provocatively display the personnel in high school roles ranging from “Student Council” to “Bully” to “Prom Queen”, allowing us relive our past in the future (it’s complex). Unfortunately, there’s the calendar is limited to a run of 500, so you best get a move on.
Last year, you sported Obama tees, held BBQs at your pad to get likeminded voters together, and threw a giant party on election night – with extra champagne on hand to drown your sorrows should the other guy win. But all of that is passe now that Obama is just days from being inaugurated, so you’ve got to find a new way to show your support. We think this skateboard will do the trick. Designed by illustrator Oliver Barrett of Go Media, this board that has been emblazoned with the President-elect’s mug serves as both wall art or, if you don’t mind a few scratches, your Democratic transportation around town. If you want it, snag it quick, because like tickets to the Inauguration, these 800 decks will go fast.
Being able to stay in business for five years is a good sign you’ve achieved a suitable level of success. In these tough economic times most companies would be forced to celebrate with a few noisemakers and an anniversary cake in the break room. While savings are certainly on the mind of the hat and apparel masterminds at Monsieur T, it’s not their wallets they’re worried about, it’s yours. To celebrate five years of churning out quality designs, the Portland producers of fine wearable prints are passing the savings on to you with a festive five day sale. From now until midnight PST on Friday (1/16), hats and apparel are 30% to 50% off. So head on over to their site and get a slice of that sweet anniversary pie for yourself.
There’s something about airplanes that really gets us going. Taking off, sleeping for no reason, watching tiny personal TVs and getting snacks at our seat … there’s something about that experience. The plane landing sculpture that recently appeared in the Zurich airport immortalizes the moment just before a plane lands. The Swiss let the artists have access to an actual tarmac to create their near life-size blow up plane. Check out this link for a look the process of blowing and deflating the airplane and some really surreal shots of it hovering in flight. The sculpture was a part of the Shifting Identities – (Swiss) Art Now project and has made appearances in London and Paris.
In honor of their tenth anniversary, Upper Playground’s first ever “thank you” sale begins today. The sale is good for 50% off on everything in stock at their retail stores and website. With clothes, hats, books and toys by Sam Flores, Jeremy Fish, Estevan Oriol, David Choe and Alex Pardee, there’s never a better time to stretch your dollar. Upper Playground is open 24/7 on the www and has stores and galleries in San Francisco, Berkeley, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, New York and London.
