Hasta La Ideas

My brother Marc is an amazing musician and guitar/amp genius. Yamaha has recognized his talents by asking him to demo their cool new amp, the THR10.

From the Yahama website: 

“The go-to guy for anything guitar-related in LA, Marc’s credits include Daughtry (Marc’s THR5 made it on to the latest record!), Kelly Clarkson, Black Stone Cherry, Theory of a Deadman, Creed, Adam Lambert, Papa Roach and 3 Doors Down and he’s as likely to be found modding an amp or building a pedalboard as he is tracking an amazing guitar part or finding the perfect guitar sound for a hit record with his awesome collection of amps (a small part of which can be seen in the background of the video). Suffice to say, what he doesn’t now about tone isn’t really worth knowing…

And don’t be fooled by the collection of incredible amps and outboard in the control room at Bay 7 Studios, everything you can hear was done using only what comes in the THR box (apart from the laptop and guitars).”

You can download the track that Marc recorded here. The product design is cool, too.

SF-based Pop-Up Magazine brings their live act to NYC for a collaborative production with ESPN The Magazine

While the big debate among publications today mainly falls over print versus digital, Pop-Up Magazine offers a new way to think about editorial formatting with their with their ephemeral live events. At four “issues” strong, the performances piqued the interest of ESPN The Magazine‘s editor-in-chief Gary Belsky, who brought the San Francisco-based team behind Pop-Up to NYC for an unrehearsed, sports-enthused “Live Issue.” The upshot was a highly entertaining and informative 90 minutes that mixed various forms of media to its full potential.

Keeping each edition’s contents top secret (images here are of the team preparing), Pop-Up founder Doug McGray explained that as a whole, they “try to make it flow like paging through a magazine, giving a brief editor’s note and then straight into the content, no MC or introductions.” With a who’s who of journalists, artists and directors on board to contribute—including Starlee Kine, Cheryl Dunn and Craig Damrauer to name a few—the show gave commentators often masked by the written word the chance to tell stories in their own way.

For example, infographic maniac Andrew Kuo brought his charts to life with an entertaining break-down of his New York Knicks obsession. Kuo’s idiosyncratic analyses might go overlooked by the uninitiated pilfering through a magazine spread, but the passion behind his heartfelt explanation really captured just how big a fan he is. Radiolab producer Pat Walters would have had a difficult time demonstrating just how long world champion free diver Tanya Streeter could hold her breath without asking the audience to participate in the challenge, as he told her backstory in the time frame she would use for one dive (roughly six minutes).

Despite its sports-focused theme, the mix of longer and shorter stories, video excerpts, animated performances and more, the Live Issue was an exciting way to peruse the news and it definitely had the audience on the edge of their seats. Keep an eye out for Issue 5, hitting the San Fransisco Opera House this summer.

Organized on the go with Nau’s elegant carrying case

A modern day tool kit, Nau’s Fluent Stash organizes all of your cords, chargers, notebooks and other essentials into an elegant origami-style wallet. Made from 100% recycled wool, the Stash reflects Nau’s commitment to creating environmentally-friendly, performance-driven products. Folding pockets snap shut to keep items from moving around while in transit, and the top flap closes with a 100%-recycled aluminum buckle through a fabric loop—perfect for turning the Stash into a toiletries case hung by the sink.

Other standouts from the collection include the Traveler, a 100%-organic cotton duffel, and the Doc, a zip-wallet made from 100%-recycled polyester packed with pockets for passports, credit cards and cash.

The Stash sells for $80 online from Nau.

Check out our video on Nau to learn more about the brand.

One of our favorite Parisian hotels hosts Dita Von Teese for a month of burlesque affairs

Having visited the Hotel Particulier Montmartre when it opened in 2007, we recently returned for another stay in the artfully decorated private-residence-turned-hotel. While some of its charms remained the same—such as the view of the pétanque players in the neighboring courtyard, a curious collection of art books and fashion-forward magazines, and the feeling that you’ve stepped into an eccentric French fantasyland—the hotel’s ambiance and decor is consistently evolving, thanks to the vision of co-owner and conceptual artist Morgane Rousseau. (See more images here.)

As the former curator of the renowned Château de Bionnay, a massive castle near Lyon that’s now a residence for artists, transforming the hotel periodically comes naturally to Rousseau. Its latest incarnation, a tasteful burlesque theme, was designed to serve as the home to Dita Von Teese, who will perform there nightly for the month of October 2010.

The event, Le Cointreau Privé, is part of Von Teese’s ongoing collaboration with Cointreau dating back to 2008. Accessed by a bracelet, the exclusive cocktail club includes signature drinks and private meals held in each of the hotel’s five rooms (for guests who’ve been personally invited by Hotel Particulier).

A place where reality and dreams blur, Hotel Particulier Montmartre is the perfect place for a romantic visit to Paris.

Rooms span €290 to €590, to reserve visit Mr and Mrs Smith.

L.A. bookstore Family brings their indie spirit to the East Coast with a month-long extravaganza of art, music and literature, sponsored by Absolut. Set in a 4,200-square-foot pop-up space in NYC’s TriBeCa neighborhood, Thirty Days NY features a host of daily festivities from some of the creative community’s finest.

Curated by Family‘s David Jacob Kramer and Sammy Harkham, the duo lined up an event to happen every day of the month for the next 30 days. A rotating cast of artists such as Matthew Thurber and Sumi Ink Club will be on location, conducting classes and letting visitors observe them at work. There will also be an exhibit of artists from the Los Angeles area by the King Kong gallery, with works from Ed Templeton, Geoff McFetridge and Rodarte.

The project delivers an assortment of interesting people and events (check out the site for a full schedule), among them a performance by Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore, who will sign their newly released Sonic Youth art book “Sensational Fix” as well as “Kim Gordon: The Noise Paintings.” Gary Panter and Joshua White’s light shows accompany music performances, Lance Bangs will present Super-8 films and A.M. Homes and Art Spiegelman will deliver author readings and conversation.

Yesterday’s opening party felt like NYC’s official Spring warm-up with live sets by Aska, Brian Degraw of Gang Gang Dance, and White and Panter’s light show. Thirty Days NY runs through 7 May 2010, all events are free.