The most chic trashcan fire
This metal trashcan was laser-cut into a lace based on Philadelphia’s street grid by artist John Briscella, a designer inspired by his growing up in Philly. Here’s the explanation, which, uh, doesn’t exactly reach the heights of sensitivity about the homeless:
When its cold out, its kinda of the rage to have metal barrel fires on the streets of Philadelphia… well at least for the homeless…
By using a 5-axis laser cutter used in car manufacturing and metal barrels used in industrial storage, the hobo-chic design is transformed into a großartig fireplace that emanates the qualities of the city, wherever you decided to have a fire.
I loathe that thing the fashion/design complex does every once in a while that glamorizes some subset of the desperately poor for the irony/novelty points (”I give you… DERELICTE!” being the image that comes to mind, although yes I am aware that Zoolander is not real. But hobo chic? An actual, infuriating term).
But just pretend I didn’t just show you the description, or pretend there was a better explanation. Pretty amazing, right?
The best Philly tattoos
We mentioned a couple of days ago, spurred by the above excellent neon skyline tattoo above (done by Chad Knight at Boulevard Tattoo in Collingsdale), that we were gonna try to round up the boldest and beautiful-est Philly-love tattoos. We found a lot of LOVE Parks, a lot of sports team logos and a lot of Liberty Bells, but we’ve sorted through them all and come up with the neatest ones, starting with a rather less abstract skyline than the one above:
Skin City
Over at Philthy blog, they have a picture of what is indeed “seriously the best fucking Philly skyline tattoo I’ve ever seen.” It’s on the arm of Lana Thompson, and it is sweet. They’ve got more information on why the Comcast Center isn’t in there over at Philthy.
I found it interesting that in the comments there were a few people describing their own Philly-related tattoos… I’d like to see/catalog ‘em if that’d be cool; if you’ve got a Philly tattoo that you’re particularly proud of, why don’t you send a picture over to eguendelsberger@philadelphiaweekly.com (kind of a mouthful, I’m aware) and I’ll see if I can’t put a gallery together.
And just because I’m reminded of it, the skyline out the front of the bus back from New York this weekend. Philly, you’re purty sometimes!
Here’s to the tiniest models
So Jennifer, one of the final four contestants on America’s Next Top Model, was kicked off yesterday and had to immediately pack her bags and go home to Philly. Boo. OK, yeah, the way the show was being edited it was pretty clear you weren’t going much further, but still. At least she gets to hang out with Laura in Maui?
Whatever, girl. You were awesome, and, in terms of reality show contestants, a delightfully decent human being. We’ve really been enjoying this cycle. There’s so many questions we’d like to ask you (what was the conversation like about only being able to wear flats to panel so it was even clearer what short tint miniscule models you were; we hear if you don’t scream and freak out enough about whatever quasi-exciting thing the producers show you, they make you do another take, true?; so you seemed like you weren’t getting a ton of sleep near the end, yeah?;Tyra: actually mentally ill?) but we’re pretty sure the ANTM contract’s gag rule won’t let you answer any of them for another couple of years.
But here’s to Jennifer! We liked you!
Live and Let Tie
Well now. I’d like the boys of Tie or Die: Who Wore It Best? to take a bow: for those of us watching, they were two very dapper gents all October long. Jon and Ryan have helped me set my wardrobe expectations a little higher for young dudes in the work place.
You hear that, boys born after 1980? It is no longer enough to merely wash your work clothes– from now on, you’re going to have to match.
These lads were hardly at a loss for votes; the verdict came in at Jon: 2795 total votes and Ryan with 3532 total votes. Despite some nail-biter weeks, the verdict is out: Ryan won.
Congrats! And for the record, Ryan: I think you look damn fine in a vest. We’ll be awaiting Jon’s …aftermath.. in photos. High fives!
Tweed Ride: not intolerable
As much as I am generally weary of all things reminiscent of
A. self-consciously wacky flash mobs
B. self-consciously wacky facial hair
I have been charmed against my better judgment by the pictures from this past weekend’s Tweed Ride. Well done, folks, you looked dapper indeed.
Bunch more pictures by Jenelle Rittenhouse over at Philebrity.
Impermanent Bliss
Cool exhibit alert! I’ll have a guide up with plenty to do this First Friday, but I thought I’d feature one that really caught my eye a day early:
Art in the Age is a cool gallery/store/performance space in Old City. It’s named for an essay (Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction) by a German cultural theorist. The mission and common theme behind each artist is to “bring integrity back to art in the spaces of everyday life.”
In Impermanent Bliss, mixed-media works by Eric Amling, Kirkland Bray and Matt LaFleur examine the fluctuating nature of memory and its effects on our ongoing sense of self and place. By manipulating and transforming man-made artifacts, the artists press the viewer to reexamine the identities of the familiar. We should be approaching our own memories with the same scrutiny that these works demand, as memory often distorts the places, events and emotional states of our past.
Check out some work from the artists:
Kirkland Bray
Matt Lafleur
Eric Amling
Eric Amling’s uses printed matter to create new forms of present space in motion through collage. He is the author two books, Twin Vapor and Split Level Igloo, and his collage and written works have appeared on albums by Dr. Dog and the Bowerbirds. Matt LaFleur’s paintings evoke an imaginative environment filled with cabins burgeoning spectrums of color and contrast. He currently lives and works in Taborton, NY. Kirkland Bray’s recent paintings explore a series of elevated forms of construction on found surfaces of wood and canvas. He has exhibited on both coasts, and co-owns the leather goods brand BillyKirk.
Impermanent Bliss: Examining the Fluid State of Memory
Mixed Media Works by Eric Amling, Kirkland Bray and Matt LaFleur
November 6-29, 2009
Opening: Friday, November 6th, 6-8 pm
Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
116 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia
Phil-box hats
Show your allegiance with a hat that’s dapper.
The pillbox is an unconventional enough silhouette that it’s only available on New Era’s Japanese site, which of course leads to your standard crazy-ass incomprehensible Babelfish translation:
To 1985, it is the design which [pitsutsubagupairetsu] has worn with the tournament. Size is the same standard as the usual FITTED cap, but it turns out even at the same size by comparison with 59FIFTY from the form and/or with it becomes the fitting impression of doing.
It took like twenty minutes of thinking about something else entirely for my subconscious to equate “pitsutsubagupairetsu” with “Pittsburgh Pirates” and “kupazutaun” with “Cooperstown.” So with some googling (because despite my recent enthusiasm for the Phillies, I’m fundamentally sports-illiterate) I have determined that this pillbox-type shape is based on the style of the 1977-1986 Pittsburgh Pirates hats, which… I guess I had expected it to be more in the WW1 date range. When I imagine someone wearing a hat of that shape, they also have a waxed mustache and are sepia-toned. (If you’re interested in that sort of thing, btw, Bianca did a post on the evolution of the Phillies uniform a while back.)
The pillbox-esque hats (which are available for a few other teams, too) are ￥5,250, which is about… $57.50? Damn you, tanking exchange rates!
And one more Phillies-related thing today, from the dudes at chwuny, because god knows we have a thing for homemade-ass bootleg t-shirts and last night’s game was pretty awesome. This one’s for you, Chase Utley:
Yeah, that’s Giant Utley; in his spare time he enjoys throwing cars, telling people that he’s 15 feet… AROUND and complaining about this chick who’s kind of crazy but who’s the only one who really gets him, you know?
What To Do This HALLOWEEN
Philly loves a good party, and this isn’t news to anyone in the 215. But first — how about those champs?! Last night clearly wasn’t our favorite of more recent games, but we have some comin’ up this weekend and will be cheering in our seats! Go team!
Also, in lieu of a potential SEPTA strike, be sure to plan your weekend in carpools, bicycles and on foot. FYI: The regional rails will still be running, but will be packed and only accepting riders who purchased tickets in advance.
Thriller @ Society Hill Dance Academy Lauren tipped me off about learning to dance like the undead. There is a Thriller Dance Class happening in Philly tonight! “Join the folks at Society Hill Dance Academy to learn the infamous Thriller moves. Feel free to dress the part and get ready to break a sweat. Why? No one’s gonna save you from the beast about to strike. Friday at the Society Hill Dance Academy at 409 S. 2nd Street. Creep on over by 8:30pm.
Trick or Treat Sale You read the banner, kids! On Saturday there will be a giant sale: Everything in-store at Grasshopper Boutique on Walnut Street is on sale! But one day only– check their blog for updates.
Titan and The Fireflys Exhibit Emily G tipped me off about this exhibit and it really sounds boss. The Titan and The Fireflys is an awesome exhibit in Fishtown, by local artist Jason Hackenwerths, and it opens today. What makes me so excited? His main medium isn’t paint, paper or fiber…. it’s balloons! The giant 3-d sculptures are completely fascinating in the pictures– I’m dying to know what they look like in person! More details here.
Making Time Halloween Freakout Talk about the ultimate costume rager– when is the last time you went to Making Time and We got this email from R5 Productions reminding us all about their Halloween Part– err, “freakout.”
This costume rager seems to have ditched Transit for a new warehouse space (2424 Studios) and will be featuring Simian Mobile Disco, all you can drink. The Making Time DJ’s will be spinning and the Phillies game will be projected on a giant wall with full audio. The party starts at 9pm at 2424 E. York Street (Fishtown) and more details can be found here.
Trick Or Treat at the Kimmel Center This sounds adorable. Read more on Uwishunu.
FreshMeltWater Hallowe’en Teeshirt Launch Surely you’ve heard of FreshMeltWater before: They’re located in the NoLibs, make some pretty sweet tees you may have seen around town, and are totally in on a Halloween throwdown to launch their new tees! Details here.
Fright of Fancy Dance Party @ Fabric Horse Our favorite quirky NoLibs boutique is bringing it. And by it, we mean a party with music, boozin’ and a ton of bad-ass fanny packs. More details here.
Hand Turkey Crafts @ Tattooed Mom’s Usher in November at Tmom’s on South Street! The Sunday after Halloween is really only about relaxing, anyway. There will be a craft-up featuring a fav we all did in elementary school: hand turkeys! Have a beer and get crafty before the game.
Philly fall colors
Oh, one more thing: we’ve got a Philly girl in the semifinals of the Apartment Therapy Fall Colors contest. Right now her studio is a mere few votes behind some guy from L.A., whose West-Elm-colored stripes I am not a huge fan of, anyway. Click on the picture to see the two spaces and vote!
