NewCityMovement

“There is a very common mind-set right now which holds that all that we’re going to need to do to avert the large-scale planetary catastrophes upon us is make slightly different shopping decisions,” said Alex Steffen, the executive editor of Worldchanging.com, a Web site devoted to sustainability issues.

The genuine solution, he and other critics say, is to significantly reduce one’s consumption of goods and resources. It’s not enough to build a vacation home of recycled lumber; the real way to reduce one’s carbon footprint is to only own one home. [Via: NYTimes, Login Required]

"Bliss is Salt Lakes HOTTEST new night club!!!"

Spiderman In The Ring

And here we have a few pictures from the Dan Deacon show last night at the Urban Lounge. It was unconventional as far as rock shows go. We've seen it before, this new hybrid of crafter-hipster-musician-DJ-MC. Deacon sounds like a child prodigy resulting from a threesome between Leslie Hall, Animal Collective and LCD Soundsystem all fists and elbows ...coming at'cha like a whirling dervish. It was kick ash once things got going too. His little table of electronic doo-dads was set up on the dance floor rather than the stage, resulting in some intense crowd participation. And, most of us were fairly certain he was playing live over back-up tracks streaming from an iPod shuffle attached to a banana.

His album 'Spiderman Of The Rings' is out now on Carpark Records. Check the myspace to catch the drift.

Who Is The Mid-Century Modernist?

Kambara House, 2007. Oil on Canvas, 22 x 28 inches. © David Jonason

Our good friend Stephen Coles (aka 'Stewf') has a new obsession documenting his love for Mid-Century Modern design over at MidCenturyModernist.com. Dedicated to the movement, as both a historical milestone and a living, breathing ideal, reflected in much of today’s design. He offers tips and ideas for the home and office, links to furniture for sale (both old and new), information on designers and suppliers, and hot spots around the world where mid-century modern design is celebrated.

Stephen Coles is a writer and graphic designer living in the San Francisco Bay Area. His other endeavor is Typographica, a journal of typography.

Touched By The Hand Of Chaka

It was a busy weekend with both the Filthy Gorgeous fashion show at the Arts Festival happening every night and a trip to Orem, Utah on Saturday for the Human Rights Campaign fund raiser which is held on the private estate of Word Perfect co-founder turned millionaire and LBGT philanthropist Bruce Bastian. The event sold out to 700 people. Even with the blazing heat, the program was tight and the speeches honorable. However my personal highlight was hearing the legendary funk-jazz-disco soul singer Chaka Kahn. She touched my hand during the first song!

Men's Spring 2008 Fashion Shows at Men.Style.com

Cruise On A Lime

I read about these new automatic shifting bikes in Dwell tonight. I don't know how well made Trek bikes are in the scheme of things but this new Lime seems adequate for people who just want to get around town and cause a little trouble now and then. It's a great alternative to a car, has puncture-proof tires and a seat that pops up to reveal storage space. The auto-shifting technology is by a company called Shimano and it's used on several other models including the geriatric looking Coasting Bike by Raleigh and the Suede DX by Giant which, like the Lime is in need of a metrosexual to ride it. For more information see Coasting.com.

Twilight Concert Series Features Something Other Than Jam Bands And Bluegrass

The 20th Anniversary of the Twilight Concert Series at Gallivan Center has some fairly good acts on the bill this Summer. The 2007 series features an eclectic line-up of nationally and internationally acclaimed performing artists including one's we might recommend like Yo La Tengo on July 19th, Peter Bjorn & John on August 2nd and Calexico with The French Kicks on August 23rd.

Thursday evenings at 7:00pm. July 5 - August 23.
Gallivan Center, Downtown Salt Lake City. FREE ADMISSION

The Science of Gaydar. [Via: TMN]

When Brooklyn-based (Greenpoint, to be exact) menswear label This Old Thing recently introduced a set of skinny-ish ties on their site, the onslaught of requests was so overwhelming that designers Tommy Cole and Roy Caires had trouble sourcing enough one-of-a-kind fabric to satisfy the ravenous demand. The tiered ties—which are reconstructed from official, controlled-supply uniforms—sold out before hopefuls even got off the G train. Luckily for you, the duo has tapped into a secret stash of vintage uniforms to produce four limited-edition ties only for the HintMagazine Shop. Sure to please your picky girlfriend and steal the conversation at any art opening, the ties are also discreet enough for your day job and perfect for spiffying up your faded everyday jeans. Best of all, with these architectural masterworks, you don't have to wait for Zaha Hadid to land a tie commission. [Via: Hintmag]

After being forced to vacate the historic Granite Furniture building in Sugarhouse, Orion's Music is now under new ownership, renamed 'Positively Fourth Street' and located on the first floor of the Stoneground Pizza Building (249 East 400 South).

Edging Towards Vegetarianism

Sage's Cafe, among one of SLC's first downtown vegetarian restaurants is not as dubious as it's Keebler Elf tree house exterior might suggest. I seem to remember having some of the worst service ever there when it opened some 5 years ago. But since I have been enjoying the guilt free, healthy taste of vegetarian cuisine more often I agreed to join a friend there last week for lunch and was surprised at how much better it was than I remembered. Why I waited so long is beyond me, it's less than a block from my work. Sage's joins my shortlist of favorite non-meat based establishments alongside the Oasis Cafe and the newer Vertical Diner. I also love the house made veggie burger at Urban Bistro.

If you go, try one of the following dishes which tend to get rave reviews:

Soba Salad
Buckwheat noodles tossed in a sesame vinaigrette served on a bed of fresh mixed greens and topped with tahini dressing, seasonal vegetables, and cumin sesame blackened tempeh 11.00

Tacos Vegetarianos
corn soft tacos filled with your choice of tempeh, tofu, vegetarian chicken or portabella mushrooms served with grilled vegetables, cilantro-lime vinaigrette tossed greens sour cream and guacamole 12.50

The first major design overhaul in 30 years for McDonalds. Still, they won't ever look as cool as the ones in the Netherlands.

Flight Of The Conchords

After witnessing the maddening trainwreck that was John From Cincinatti on HBO last Sunday, I was relieved last night to catch a promising new show called Flight Of The Conchords that was at least ten times more interesting. The dry humor delivered by two New Zealand musicians living in New York and their cast of characters will grow on you by the time you pull through the first in a series of very clever musical numbers. Here's couple reviews, here and here to illustrate and you can actually catch the full first episode at the HBO website.

Patton

Echoing the City Weekly Blog post by Jamie Gadette, we thinks Patton Oswalt is probably the funniest comedian of our time. His latest recording called Werewolves and Lollipops will be out on SubPop July 10th. The nu-psychedelic artwork is by Zeloot.

Folklore Arabia

Folklore Arabia T-light candle holder with shade by DesignCode, Spain. Traditional and authentic Japanese, Indian and Arabian patterns are lasercut onto fireproof paper and printed with specific colors associated with those cultures. Unpretentious and beautiful. [Via: MoCo Loco]

September Dawn, a film about the 1857 Mountain Meadows Massacre starring Jon Voight and Terrance Stamp as Brigham Young comes out on August 24th. NYTimes article here.

HSM2 Trailer

For anyone with a passing interest in the 'tween' cultural phenomenon High School Musical 2, which was filmed here in Salt Lake City and St. George Utah, there's a new trailer/music video online here with quite a few scenes from the show. I happen to know several people who worked on the production so it's exciting to see it coming out soon.

Design Arts '07

The Utah Arts Council Design Arts Program proudly continues the annual salute and celebration of Utah's designers with the fifth annual exhibition DesignArts Utah '07.  This year's exhibit will be hosted at the Rio Gallery in the Rio Grande train depot (300 South Rio Grande) in Salt Lake City from June 15 through July 28, 2007.

Opening reception June 15, 2007 6-9 p.m.

Designers selected for DesignArts '07:

Lisa Benham and Anne Mooney - Environmental / furniture design
R.P. Bissland - Communication / graphic design
Anna Bliss - Communication / book design
Robert Bliss - Consumer / toy design
Rodney Cuellar - Environmental / set design
Staffani Hogan Coverson - Consumer / graphic design
Design Engine Lab - Consumer / electronics accessories
Espiritu Design - Consumer / prosthetic design
John Helton - Architecture / environmental design
Infinite Scale Design Group - Environmental design
Jacob Knudsen - Consumer / household design
Dorothee Martins - Fashion design
John O'Connor - Consumer / electronics accessories
Sparano+Mooney Architects - Architecture
Joy Stein - Communication / graphic design

Designers living in Utah and working in any design field were encouraged to submit an application and documentation of their work to be reviewed by this year’s influential juror, Tucker Viemeister.  Past design exhibitions have featured the work of architects, landscape architects, industrial designers, furniture, fashion, commuter jets, automobiles, stage set design, mobility designs for physically challenged, books, graphic design, textiles, environmental, etc.

Just Eat It

I came across this delicious new space food called PRO BAR the other day at the White Folks health food store. I love the packaging and design which features fruit painted in a realistic pop art kind of way. The bars are made of whole, raw foods and are 100 percent certified vegan. To my surprise, PRO BAR was created and are made right here in Utah by a Park City resident ski bum named Art Eggertsen. Try one bitches.