Converse Rogger (Chuck Taylor) x Sonic Lab

Converse has recently teamed up with Japanese Brand Sonic Lab to produce this pair of Converse Rogger (Chuck Taylor).The designis sort of a hybrid of the Chuck Taylors and a pair of hiking boots, as they feature metal lace loops, round boot laces and even an extra patch of fringed suede to protect the toebox.Two versions are available one a low top (OX) and the other, a high top. Unfortunately, they are only available in Japan, and are available now at Futura’s Japan based FL Shop. Via Kicks On Fire


Photos: Futura Laboratories

Guess what Chuck's serving up

Chuck Taylor All Star Diner

By Hali Felice

Eggs over easy? Or scrambled? Would you like that with bacon? Or sausage? Remember the good old days when diners were on every corner and we could just about find anything and everything our taste buds craved? Well, the diners might be on the extinction list, but that doesn’t mean that the menus of great food are! Restored on another true classic, the Chuck Taylor All Star Diner sneaker, these high tops remain a mystery to me! How’d they get the menu to fit onto the shoe?! They are actually made from the paper that used to accompany fries. Makes you crave a basket of those crinkly wonders, doesn’t it? No matter how you order your eggs, breakfast or fries, we sure hope that you will still enjoy the classic nostalgia these sneakers bring to everyone.

Buy | $46.99

Source:Damn I Like That!

Flight Club Reopens for Liftoff in NYC

Flight Club Greene Street, the original location of Flight Club, has reopened.

Located on 254 Greene Street in Manhattan (just south of 8th street, to the north east of Washington Square Park), this redesigned FCNY Greene Street now accepts both new and used footwear of the highest quality and exclusivity.

The reopening of this store also represents Flight Club having four brick and mortar stores (2 in NY, 1 in LA and one in Japan) to compliment its world-famous online specialty shop.

Source: Rico/LacedMagazine

Flight Club
254 Greene Street | Map
New York, NY 10003
(between Eighth and Waverly Streets)
http://www.flightclubny.com/

Coffee that's "good to the last dropping"

British department store Peter Jones in Sloane Square is selling a gourmet coffee “Caffe Raro” blended from Jamaica’s highest region the Blue Mountains. The Kopi (Indonesian for coffee) Luwak (civet cat) bean grows in dozens of countries around the world, “Some varieties have earned a special reputation, often based on a combination of rarity, unusual circumstances and particularly good flavor. These coffees, from Jamaican Blue Mountain to Kona to Tanzanian Peaberry, command a premium price”. The Kopi Luwak could sell for $60.00 + by the cup, $75.00 per quarter pound, to $450.00 USD per pound and up to $600 per pound in Canada, which I’m sure most would consider ridiculous for some crappy coffee, but if you have deep pockets give it try. My arms are too short right now to dish out the money for it besides; I’m a tea man myself.

The process for this unique coffee is a natural one at that, go figure! The fermentation process takes place in the stomach of the civet cat “musang”, in high Javanese it’s “Luwak”. The Kopi Luwak beans are processed by these meticulous Indonesian mammals that climb among the coffee trees eating only the best and ripest coffee cherries. Enzymes in their digestive system break down the flesh of the fruit and then excreted by the animals to be gathered by workers and locals. The excrement is washed away so that the seed (bean) is clean enough to roast and produce this exotic coffee. It’s not so much that the coffee itself is expensive but the process alone that puts this luxury blend in the high priced gourmet coffee category.

I’m pretty sure you’re wondering how it must taste, right? Some have said that it has a chocolate taste to it, funny! I would assume so if it looks like a chocolate bar with peanuts…hah! Alas this same animal has also been blamed for causing the SARS epidemic in Asia. According to Peter Jones reps. All Profit from sales will go to Macmillan Cancer Support and are being sold at London, for £50 per cup and £324 a kilogram.

Photo by: miscpix

Photo by: miscpix

2008 Wine Trade "Buzz"

People, (directed to friends and those who think otherwise) I don't care what you say about wine and it not being your preferred social drink of choice but, I'm French and my family has instilled the wine conosuier in me since day one. Wine is the move in my book! Not only do I have an acquired taste for it, but I can't get enough of it.

An almost estimated 25 cultivateurs de vin (wine growers) will be attending wine trade tasting events in Chicago on Monday, April 14th and New York on Tuesday, April 15th as well as a series of consumer events that will run throughout the week in New York. Expect to catch me and the misses at some of these events looking for new wines to add to our collection. Mom will be proud!

The growers will include:

• Matthieu Baudry from Domaine Bernard Baudry in Chinon
• Pierre Breton from Catherine & Pierre Breton in Bourgueil
• Jean-Paul Brun from Terres Dorées in the Beaujolais
• Nathalie & Christian Chaussard from Domaine le Briseau in Jasnières
• Evelyne de Jessey from Domaine du Closel in Savennières
• Georges Descombes from Morgon
• Claude-Emmanuelle & Louis-Benoit Desvignes from Domaine Louis-Claude Desvignes in Morgon
• Fredrik Filliatreau from Domaine Filliatreau in Saumur-Champigny
• Grégoire Hubau from Château Moulin Pey-Labrie in Canon-Fronsac
• Olivier & Cécile Lemasson from Les Vins Contés in the Touraine
• Jean Manciat from the Mâconnais
• Marc Ollivier from Domaine de la Pépière in Muscadet
• Franck Peillot from Montagnieu in the Bugey
• François & Suzanne Pinon from Vouvray
• Thierry Puzelat from Clos du Tue-Boeuf
• Suzana & Sasa Radikon from Friuli
• Elie Renardat from Domaine Renardat-Fâche in the Bugey
• Luca Roagna from Barbaresco
• Catherine Roussel & Didier Barrouillet from Clos Roche Blanche in the Touraine
• Pascal & Annick Quénard from Chignin in the Savoie
• Michel & Françoise Tête form Juliénas
• Laurence & Eric Texier from the Rhône
• Gautier Thévenet from the Domaine de Roally in Clessé
• Jean-Paul Versino from Domaine Bois de Boursan in Châteauneuf-du-Pape

For more info check out Louis/Dressner

West Pier in Rapture

Destroyed by an unknown cause of fire and neglected, somewhere in or outside the U.K. lays an individual that still has a bit of hope for the second coming of Brighton’s West Pier, or for a lack of better words some faith that its partial departure into the Brighton shore isn’t long lost. However, remnants of the historical pier have been put to an interesting form of artistic usage. An unknown artist took the initiative to make use of the piers remains and creatively stenciled an image of Jesus Christ on a pole circumvented with barbed wire which is symbolic to the Crown of Thorns. In my opinion, this is simply a brilliant work of art.

Photos provided by Steve Sherriff:

Crown Point Festival Back Again

The Crown Point Festival

Film - Theater - Music

October 27- November 17, 2007

Abrons Art Center, LES, New York City
466 Grand Street

The Crown Point Festival is a three week festival of the best emerging and pioneering artists in film, theater and music from around the world showcased in the Lower East Side of New York City. Crown Points is organized with the belief that the current state of downtown culture offers tremendous opportunities for growth to those willing to embrace the challenge by making a commitment to excellence. Every performance is tailor-made to transport the audience on a unique unforgettable emotional experience.

Flower Power Revamped

Not really, but I'm sure most of you New Yorkers and out-of-towners are wondering what's the deal with some of the yellow cabs painted with flowers, right? By now nearly everyone has seen or glanced at them. It seems as though they’re arising and multiplying throughout the city. Well, guess what? It’s only the beginning! A non-profit charity called Portraits of Hope, brothers Ed and Bernie Massey who founded the charity in 1995 have formed yet another unique project, "Gardens in Transit”.

This may seem mundane at first but, there’s a lot of good in this artful mission. Garden in Transit may be the most ambitious community collaboration and public art project in New York City history. From September 2007 and until the year ends, New York City is being visually transformed, as the NYC taxi - the ubiquitous yellow icon -becomes a mobile artistic canvas, or Garden in Transit. As part of this art, education and creative therapy project, 23,000 children in schools and hospitals - in addition to many adult volunteers - have painted 80,000 flowers on 750,000 square feet of adhesive panels for a four month public art exhibition featured on taxis citywide. 90% of children participated through schools and hospitals across Greater New York City. Children in New Jersey, California, Ohio, Georgia, and Pennsylvania also participated in the project. So far, a little over 2000 cabs have had the makeover. The goal is to get all 23,000 cabs in NYC painted by the first week of October. The exhibit will last through December.

Little ones at work:Example on display:

More on Portraits of Hope

Preclusive Fashion

Fearing Crime, Japanese Wear the Hiding Place

by Martin Fackler
The New York Times
October 20, 2007

Though street crime is relatively low in Japan, quirky camouflage designs like this vending-machine dress are being offered to an increasingly anxious public to hide from would-be assailants.

Seems like our neighbors under the red sun, have thought of another yet more intriguing piece of fashion which may actually protect us. Yeah, it looks funny at first glance and the idea seems bizarre but, just think of how it would be to actually avoid being the victim of a crime in which the after affects may possibly alter the way you live and think in life, not too funny is it? Rape victim or whatever the case may be. Depending on where you reside, this article of clothing really just might save your life, seriously!

Another interesting fashion concept is the “manhole bag,” a purse that can hide valuables by unfolding to look like a sewer cover. Lay it on the street with your wallet inside, and unwitting thieves are supposed to walk right by. There is also a line of knife-proof high school uniforms made with the same material as Kevlar, and a book with tips on how to dress even the nerdiest children like “pseudohoodlums” to fend off schoolyard bullies.