We have a blog crush on Takashi Murakami. So any chance we get to see some new paintings by him, we are totally all over it. Opening today at the London branch of Gagosian Gallery is something of a warm up show before a full on exhibition of new work at the Gagosian in Spain later this year. The show includes three large scale paintings … and … well, that’s kinda it. Like I said, it’s a warm up event. The paintings come from his Time Bokan series (pictured) and KaiKai and Kiki characters. So if you need to get your fix of millions of little flower faces you’ve got till April 9th.

Needles, get ready to bust some heads. In recent years, knitting and crocheting have taken a “wild” turn away from the usual roundup of scarves, scarves, and more scarves towards three-dimensional creatures and objects. Take the work of Needle Noodle, for instance. There are no boring projects here. Christen Haden, the author of Creepy Cute, brings you crocheted zombie and breakfast platter (complete with heart-stopping bacon, eggs, and sausage) to satisfy hungry crocheters and a knit sushi platter and brass knuckles–for feisty knitters. If you’ve got the talent, you’re sure to find something to whip up in time to warm your lover’s heart by this Saturday.

Displaying your favorite pics on your wall is an undertaking that requires great care. Fotoflōt aims to keep your images in immaculate condition by removing the element of glass from the equation. Instead it utilizes a magnetic mounting system that allows for easy access should you want ever switch photos, and eliminates glare and reflection as your photos subtly float off the platform. You can even order a fotoflōt while browsing your own images online at sites such as Kodak Gallery, Picasa, SmugMug and Zenfolio. How convenient.

I first remember playing The Oregon Trail back in first grade. Our screens may have only been green and black and our discs floppy, but we thought it was the coolest thing ever. In fact, it may have been one of my first experiences ever using a computer. I could ford the mightiest rivers and shoot the most squirrely squirrels–as well as the most seasoned frontiersman. Sure, I might have lost my wife and a few kids along the way, but they were dead weight anyways. You can imagine my surprise when I heard that a new version of The Oregon Trail is being released for the iPhone on February 28th. Now I’ll be able to die of dysentery and use Wikipedia to see what dysentery is, all while I’m on the go. This new version features updated graphics and game play, but I really hope they maintain the original integrity of the old-school game.

Josh Kenyon and Colby Nichols, known collectively as Jolby, are launching their first solo show entitled “Home is Where You Make It.” The exhibition tells the story of a boy named William’s adventures in an aging forest filled with musically inclined animals, dark characters, and backdrops for every mood. The project reflects the lives and experiences of the artists, and expresses themes of hope, faith, isolation, and rebirth through a collection of visually striking images. If you’re in San Diego, check them out Subtext starting February 21st. If not, get a taste here.

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