I’ve just found a Japanese version of American Apparel. It’s called Uniqlo and sells affordable clothing. Visit the website to learn more about this cool brand: www.uniqlo.com
Uniqlo
546 Broadway, New York
www.uniqlo.com
So far, I think the best way to discover the districts of New York is with Soundwalk’s audio guide. Soundwalk is a cutting-edge audio guide in which you are able to follow a narrator: in the Dumbo experience, the narrator is Asa Mader-a filmaker- because this is his neighborhood. Honestly, this is the kind of experience that gives you shivers. You have to follow the steps of the narrator and follow the instructions. At some point of this audio guide you have to enter a building with a secret code, to get acces to the roof:
And here’s the view you get:
That is for sure something you won’t find in a Lonely Planet! After this magnificent view, we visited the artist area to see some Guerilla art. Here are few snapshots of these art works:
We also stoped by the Gleason’s Gym (You really have to look at this post). Every corner of this area is amazing! I think I took close to 200 photos…
After this experience, I have to admit I totally fell in love with Dumbo. Soundwalk really shows the best of the New York’s district. See the map of this audio guide to visualize the tour. And visit Asa Mader’s website to learn more about his work.
Soundwalk created many audio guide: Chinatown, Little Italy, Meat Packing and many more. Visit www.soundwalk.com/
Each time I’m in New York I have to stop at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Shop. They have a great selection of design books and other little design treasures. My best advice? Don’t bring your credit card or you will spend waaay to much money on great books… I’ve been able to limit myself to buy only 3 this time around.
Cooper Hewitt Design Museum Shop
2 East 91st Street NY
www.cooperhewittshop.org
We will try to find the Xylopholks in the subway but we may not be lucky. Thanks to Gina Desjardins.
If you want to know more about the Xylopholks here’s an article about the costumed musicians:
http://flavorwire.com/17685/exclusive-x-is-for-xylopholks
Here is a great link if you want to shop in Dumbo (Brooklyn)
www.designindumbo.com/
If you don’t know Cool Hunting by now, I suggest you subscribe to their newsletter because they always share tons of new stuff on design, architecture, and everything that is, well, cool. Their videos are little gems. You can watch them on their website or on your iPod and iPhone for free, just visit the iTunes Store in the video podcasts section.
Cool Hunting showed me around Manhattan and Brooklyn last Friday with other creative minds during the 99 Percent Conference and I found some inspiring shops:
- Alter
- Fred Flare
- Eat Records
- Greendepot
- The Smile
Even if you don’t have enough money to buy anything at Moss just check it out because it’s really one of the best places to find great design in SOHO. There are 4 different showrooms to see - don’t miss the one in the basement!
150 Greene St New York NY 10012We met Monkey at the Brooklyn Flea Market on Saturday: his stuff was absolutely amazing and original. Wrecords By Monkey is a Brooklyn-based design company that bridges the worlds of fashion, art and music. Using reclaimed vinyl records, they create handmade jewelry like bracelets, necklaces, earings, rings and t-shirts. Veronique could not resist the temptation and bought 2 really cool bracelets.
To Learn more about Wrecords By Monkey visit:www.wrecordsbymonkey.com
Fred Flare is a great shop and colorful place where you can find all sorts of things like astronaut ice cream, hats, gadgets, tapedeck USB recorders, books and other cool stuff. On the other side of the street be sure you stop at Eat Records.
And as I was researching the shop online, I found out that they also have a video podcast series on the iTunes Store and on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/fredflareinc
Fred Flare
131 Meserole Ave at Leonard Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn 11222
www.fredflare.com
While doing the Dumbo’s Soundwalk we came across the Gleason’s Gym. It’s not your average Gym, in fact it’s the oldest active boxing gym in the United States. They have trained 131 world champions and two Olympic Gold medalists. When we got in the gym, we could really feel the history behind the place. We were lucky enough to see the WUW or the World of Unpredictable Wrestling. It was really unpredictable: we saw a Zombie, a wannabe french wrestler called The Musketeer with his assistant called “Oui Oui”, a Pimp called Tristan Spade and the Gay Wrestler Rick Cataldo (Veronique’s coup de coeur) in action.
Watch a few videos to get the feeling of the place:
Gleason’s Gym
77 Front Street 2nd Floor, Brooklyn (Dumbo)
www.gleasonsgym.net
Newsletter
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on twitter
