Craig Richardson’s weblog, guestbook, database of music and collections of writings

Since the sleek hotel's debut in NYC's formerly grimy Lower East Side in 2004, there's been a lot of talk about The Hotel on Rivington. Opinions mellowed to a simmer over time and a recent stay allowed us to take a second look, experiencing how a few key design details put the hotel a notch above the bevy of generically overdone boutique hotels out...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

by Ezra Natalia Already known for her illustration and design work, Muqliza Imroni started with making jewelry for herself. When more and more people were asking where to get the pieces, Sou Brette Jewelry was born. Talking with Lizsa (as most call her), we wondered, “Why jewelry? Why not something else?" And she answered, "A person said to me once that jewelry, unlike clothes, will...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

by Laura Neilson I know I'm not alone in my love for grocery shopping in foreign countries. It's a great way to get a sense of a country's consumer culture—not just by seeing what the people of that country buy, but also the particular ways that all the product are packaged and displayed. But what exactly does an Austrian MPREIS grocery store, self-dubbed "The Seriously...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

Whether handsomely storing record collections or melding classic design with the durability of something suited for an office, the picks below represent furniture that goes beyond simply being furniture—in both substance and style. Fire Table Dutch designers Ward Huting and Gerard de Hoop simulate the physical and social warmth of a campfire in the living room. In addition to serving its function as a coffee...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

One thing that didn't set 2008 apart was the abundance of tees improving on the classic Hanes. As we tear the final page off the calendar, we reflect on the top five tees featured here on Cool Hunting. We checked back in with Klaus Industries whose irreverent brand of political satire makes us grin on the outside even while we wince on the inside. Toward...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

by Tamara Warren In 2008, green officially made the transition from hue to lifestyle in style, transportation and construction. As environmentalism becomes increasing a part of every day life, several eco-minded designs stood out from the pack and are destined to take consumers mindfully through 2009 and beyond. Nau Relaunch Down to delivery by bike messenger, the future is Nau. Right on time, Nau relaunched...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

Though much of the architectural world focused on massive undertakings at the Summer Olympics, Beijing didn't have a monopoly on the creative buildings of 2008. Of the many structures that graced Cool Hunting's bandwidth this year, a handful stood out from the pack. Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center Recently opened at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, the EMPAC fuses the best aspects of...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

Books can at times be like an art and culture lover's version of the baseball card, collecting them as mementos of our favorite players or going the extra mile and scoring a limited edition we know will always be of great worth. With alluring images and genres to suit even your quirkiest interest, it can be difficult to decipher which to own and which to...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

by Ariston AndersonThe year brought a wealth of art shows that transcended the average gallery night of wine, cheese and browsing into full-on events. Below our top five faves that made the Cool Hunting cut by consistently inviting the spectator to become a participant in the work. Bansky: The Village Pet Store With rat murals across the city and animatronic fast food pets, Bansky's Village...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

Hawaii's geographic isolation is a blessing and curse. Though often lacking the attention of their continental neighbors, the separation helps fosters a distillation and refinement of native style. In the late 19th century, western traders brought quilting techniques to the archipelag. And for the next hundred years, natives injected the art with their own regional distinctiveness, namely botanical imagery and vibrant, symmetrical patterns Print...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting