Seeing a city by bike undoubtedly lends to experiences not found on motorized transportation. Rapha, global purveyors of stylishly functional cycling gear, understand this and are launching a series of bike-based );…
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The never-ending urban highways, the pale and empty grandeur of Tian’anmen Square, the heavy traffic and the mantle of dust which is just occasionally swept away by the bitter winds from Mongolia—these don’t necessarily make China’s capital a place you fall in love with at first sight. On the…
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Test-driving the airline’s new Premium Economy hybrid flight experience
by Joanna Prisco
Aiming to bridge the gap between the sophistication of business class and the cramped quarters of coach, Cathay Pacific recently launched Premium Economy class in its 747 and 777 aircraft, available on flights between New York and Hong Kong from April 2012.
I had the opportunity to test drive the new seats and amenities on a delivery flight out of Seattle last month, and at a 60% increase in fare—or approximately $1,600 versus $1,000 from JFK to HKG—the upgrade is worth the perks.
To start, there is priority check-in at dedicated counters and priority boarding before regular economy passengers, which means less waiting in line and more time for duty-free shopping. Speaking of shopping—one of the great Hong Kong pastimes—Premium Economy passengers also receive an increased baggage allowance from 20kg to 25kg, so there’s no need to leave behind that extra pair of shoes.
Onboard the plane, Premium Economy is housed in its own private cabin behind Business Class. With just 26-34 seats depending on the plane, the section automatically feels more intimate than Economy—a pleasant plus for me, and many other travelers. To add to the upscale ambience, flight attendants stand ready and waiting with complimentary champagne or juice that rests on its own retractable cocktail table from the armrest. Even more crucial was the pair of noise-canceling headphones, which allowed me to sip in silence while the rest walked past me toward Economy.
While the seats themselves will never achieve the luxury and comfort of the flatbeds available in every Cathay Business Class pod, customers will be pleased to find that the Premium Economy seat pitch is 38 inches—a full six inches more than Economy. The seats are wider and cozier, and come outfitted with plush pillows and blankets. Add to that an amenity kit filled with soft grey socks, an eye mask, a tiny tube of toothpaste and a travel toothbrush, and you’re ready for bed.
Some may find themselves too excited by the entertainment options to fall asleep right away, however. Each Premium Economy seat is equipped with a 10.6-inch personal TV screen featuring more than 200 movie options and other entertainment. If you’re somehow dissatisfied with the selection in the viewing catalog, you can also connect your iPod or iPhone to the seat’s port and stream personal videos from that device. Plus, if you need to write an article about the flight while you’re on said flight, there’s also an in-seat power source for your devices.
If you’re less of a technophile than a food lover, you’ll be more than pleased with the added menu options offered to you in Premium. From a seasonal salad with grilled prawns to braised e-fu noodles with assorted dim sum, har gow and siu mai or century egg and salted pork congee, you can start your overseas experience before you even arrive. And though the service details in Business—warmed nuts, post-dinner gourmet chocolates—were slightly more over-the-top, the snack offerings in our cabin still abounded.
Maintaining its proven track record of signature service at this in-between price point, Cathay opens up a new level of comfortable travel to a segment of the population we imagine has been waiting for such an option, and won’t be disappointed.
Seven memorable stops on a recent trip to Dublin
On our recent visit to Dublin we encountered a hospitable community recovering from the economic downturn with a resurgence of fashion, food and boutique hotels. Here, we share seven of the most memorable stops we made along the way.
When asking around for shops carrying the best independent fashion in Dublin, the name Indigo & Cloth came up more than once. Tucked into a subterranean space on South William Street, the modern, minimalist boutique carries menswear and accessories by Our Legacy, Oliver Spencer and S.N.S. Herning, as well as a smaller selection of womenswear. Owner Garrett Pitcher flexes his creativity on various other projects about town, collaborating on the original label design for Kilbeggan Whiskey and working with the editorial team at the Dublin fashion magazine, Thread. Pitcher is currently working with the other merchants on the street and surrounding blocks to name their shopping district South William Quarter.
Employing traditional techniques, Paula Rowan makes her hand-stitched gloves from the finest quality lambskin, deerskin and suede with silk and cashmere linings and embellishments like buttons, zippers and fur. Rowan’s Dublin boutique is located in the quaint Westbury Mall just steps from the bustle of Grafton Street. In addition to the local flagship, she currently operates the “Glove Pod” pop-up in the Westfield Shopping Centre in London.
In the sunlit atrium of the Powerscourt Centre, Wendy Crawford, Margaret O’Rourke and Ellis Boyle stock Bow with a diverse range of Irish designers. In-store finds include cashmere and silk arm warmers, bows and loop scarves by Eilis Boyle, gold vermeil jewelry with lace, pearl and semi precious stones from Momuse, hats from Electronic Sheep hats and a prime vintage selection.
Located in a building that was once a nurse’s home in a quiet neighborhood in Dublin 4, this family-owned boutique hotel is walking distance from some of the best shopping and restaurants in the city. Each room is uniquely and playfully decorated, and the downstairs lounge features a custom library in which every volume, from the classics to David Beckham’s autobiography, has been bound in pearly green covers. Dubliners go to the Dylan for cocktails, romantic meals and celebratory overnights, and the property marks the city’s only boutique hotel included in the Mr. & Mrs. Smith collection.
These two coffee bars from three-time Irish Barista Champion Colin Harmon provide Dublin with expertly prepared pour-over coffees and espresso drinks in a low-key atmosphere. Serving single origin coffee from Has Bean, the tasting menu reads like an exploration of flavors, with coffee, espresso and cappuccino brewed side by side with the same beans. 3FE started as a small set-up on the front porch of the Twisted Pepper building and has since taken over the pub space and also opened a shop on Lower Grand Canal Street.
In this tiny shop on South William Street, their signature sleek black tins of loose-leaf teas, herbs and tisanes line the far wall. In the store, they serve tea and hand-poured single origin coffees with a selection of light pastries. Part of the new South William Quarter community, Clement & Pekoe is frequented by the local merchants and shoppers in the know.
A self-described eating and drinking emporium on Stoneybatter—a street once considered pretty desolate for a modern locavore pub—L. Mulligan Grocer uses locally sourced ingredients to update classic Irish dishes. The extensive, familiar menu includes organic blood pudding, bangers and mash, scotch eggs and fish ‘n chips, as well as vegetable stews, fresh salads and seafood. The “Libations” list features more than 100 whiskies, Irish craft and imported beers. Also know for their popular quiz nights and beer tastings, it’s often hard to get a table but always worth the wait.
This top-of-the-line wet/dry rechargeable shaver trims the competition
One of the best things about electric razors is their low environmental impact. I love to shave in the shower but am always concerned about wasting water, and even though the indispensable Razor Pit extends the life of overpriced razor blades I cringe every time I throw a pack in the garbage, knowing it will sit in a landfill for way too long.
Electric shavers can be a tough alternative though—there’s the tug factor, plus they’re noisy, hard to clean and often dry-shave only. Shavers are still evolving, and very few models have been able to do it right. Panasonic’s awkwardly named ES-LV81-K shaver surprisingly comes as close to perfection as any we’ve seen so far.
For starters, it’s a wet/dry razor, which gives you the flexibility to shave at the sink or in the shower. The cleaning mechanism uses a refillable water tank which mixes with the concentrated, solid cleaning solution—inexpensive, long-lasting and easy to install. Other razors use costly fluid cartridges that gunk up quickly and need more frequent replacement. Panasonic’s five thin foil blades give a shockingly close shave, especially compared to lower-end shavers, which favor one or two larger—and less effective—blades. The head pivots in all directions for help around the jaw, and because it has the fastest cycles per minute of any electric shaver, your whiskers get cut, not tugged. The small pop-up trimmer feels like an afterthought, though, and will do in a pinch but won’t replace a proper beard or body trimmer, and the shaver head feels a bit larger than necessary. Its design won’t win any accolades from Jony Ive or Dieter Rams, but it won’t offend either. Its simple digital battery readout on the front keeps track of your charge and use (I’ve gone two weeks without needing a charge), and a twist of a switch prevents it from turning on accidentally.
The ES-LV81-K is not an inexpensive investment with a retail price of $600 (you can expect to pay 20-30-percent off at most retailers) though it does appear to be a solid investment for years of eco-friendly shaving. It’s available from Amazon and other retailers.
Photo book and personal travel planner from our favorite travel agents
Jetsetter and Partners & Spade have teamed-up to launch Bon Voyage, a large and luxurious “kit” that includes a book of photography from the travel site’s best trips of the last year, a certificate for a Jetsetter concierge consultation and a travel journal to record it all.
As difficult as it may be to let go of the impeccably photographed volume edited by Jetsetter’s own Nikki Ridgeway, Cool Hunting will be giving away one Bon Voyage set today on Twitter (see below for more details).
From the fairy chimneys of Cappadocchia to the white walls of Santorini, Bon Voyage chronicles Jetsetter clientele on their customized trips to exotic locales. The photography appeals to even the most hardened traveler, providing ample inspiration for the next international jaunt. The massive book isn’t itself suited for travel but you can grab the pocket-sized journal from its pages and set off on an adventure as the tome quietly stands guard over the coffee table.
Bon Voyage retails for $199 (the concierge service is sold à la carte for $200), at Jetsetter and Gilt, and drops at The Shop at the Standard New York on 2 November 2011. Read more about Jetsetter in this Cool Hunting interview from last winter. To win, Tweet @coolhunting with the link to your favorite Cool Hunting travel piece
before midnight EST tonight, 31 October 2011. We’ll pick one winner to receive the complete kit with book, journal and concierge consultation certificate.
A comprehensive study of tribal art
American art historian Carl Schuster spent more than three decades traveling the world exploring tribal customs and patterns, gathering ancient tribal art and artifacts along the way. Though his goal was to illustrate the intrinsic human connection to artistic expression in an anthropological study, Shuster never managed to compile his research into a cohesive form. With the help of a fellow anthropologist, Edmund Carter, who transferred Schuster’s notes and musings, they were able to transform Shuster’s work into “Patterns that Connect: Social Symbolism in Ancient & Tribal Art“, a seminal book from 1996 that provides evidence and examples to support the scholar’s theories on our natural connection to art.
Comprehensive and comparative, the study contains a total of 1,023 illustrations, featuring sculpted figurines, garments, carved stones, paintings and body decorations from cultures and tribes around the world. Schuster labors to decode this complex iconography in notes and analyses that accompany the images, providing insight into the surprising unity of human society.
According to Schuster, tribal designs such as the ubiquitous zig-zag motif and artifacts such as “Y-posts” are really attempts to record family lineage, not meaningless doodles or objects meant for play. Of the continuous patterns generally used in ceremonial and even everyday garments Schuster remarks, “This is a graphic representation of the puzzle of procreation itself, in which there is neither beginning nor end.”
In contrast to the common anthropological idea that each culture is singularly unique, Schuster argues that since these designs did not just occur in isolated cultures, but were widespread across the earth at different time periods, they are proof of a collective human instinct. Schuster further pushes his theory by positing that ancient patterns continue to survive and are in fact relevant today. Stacked chevrons, for example, ubiquitous in several tribal cultures, are used as modern military insignia denoting rank. Another extension of this relevance appears in modern tattoos, textiles, fashion and art, which all seem to draw from frivolous and innocuous patterns that are actually saturated with hidden meaning through their connection to our tribal past.
A hefty tome in and of itself, Schuster & Carpenter’s “Patterns That Connect,” is intended for more than casual students of anthropological beauty (I discovered it in the library of New Mexico-based artist Judy Tuwaletstiwa). It’s out of print but a good copy can be found for around $100. Those even more serious about the discipline will want to check out the monumental work from which “Patterns” is derived, the 1986 “Materials for the Study of Social Symbolism in Ancient and Tribal Art,” which consists of twelve books in three volumes. Alibris is a good place to start your search.
Retour sur cette superbe vidéo traveling dans le Shinkansen, le système de train à grande vitesse en service au Japon, entre Shinosaka et Tokyo. Un travail visuel très original grâce à une captation avec l’appareil Olympus PEN E-P1 de l’artiste Daihei Shibata, sur la musique Van She – So High.
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Sanrio’s coast-to-coast celebration of 50 years of Hello Kitty and friends
For anyone who’s ever wanted to live inside their Hello Kitty pencil case, the cat character’s founder Sanrio is currently celebrating its 50th with Small Gift—a massive, national blow-out tour. Following last year’s global celebration of Kitty’s 35th anniversary last year, the parent company will host events at L.A.‘s Barker Hangar from 12-21 November before making its way to Miami for a celebration coinciding with Art Basel from 2-5 December. Small Gift Los Angeles is a Sanrio wonderland, complete with a Midway Carnival area that includes themed games like Hello Kitty’s Spilled Milk Bottle Toss, Little Twins Shooting Stars and Tuxedosam Bowtie Bounce as well as a video arcade, photo booths, two nine-hole mini-golf courses and a Ferris wheel that fans can ride.
Like Hello Kitty’s 35th anniversary exhibit “Three Apples,” Sanrio again tapped curator Jaime Rivadeneira to select 50 artists for the show, which includes Gary Baseman, Kozyndan, Luke Chueh and Simon Legno.
To round it all out, the extravaganza will also have are food trucks serving up special Hello Kitty flavors and desserts, a pop-up shop for fans to indulge in their Kitty compulsion, workshops on craft-making and beauty, plus parties scheduled throughout the duration of the event.
The Small Gift tour U.S. cities through mid-December 2010 as a mobile pop-up shop, stocked with products like a skateboard from Girl, perfume from Demeter Fragrance and Sanrio collaborations with Lomography and Mimico.
A ’65 double-decker bus puts Portland’s latest vintage shop on wheels
On the corner of Williams and Failing in northeast Portland, OR, a newly-restored double-decker bus gleams in the early afternoon sunlight. People walking to any of the nearby cafes and restaurants take out their iPhones and take pictures as they pass. “I have the greatest job in the world,” said the owner, Erin Sutherland, who restored the bus with the help of a few friends and converted it to a vintage shop, now called
Lodekka.
The name comes from the bus model. It’s a 1965 Bristol Lodekka that Sutherland found and renovated with the help of her friends, ripping out chairs and scraping off wallpaper paste. When Sutherland lost her job six months ago, she found herself with a lot of time on her hands and an ingenious idea. Portland has a booming food cart industry, why not start a vintage dress cart? The idea meshed well with Sutherland’s other occupation as a member of the Portland 1930’s jazz band The Stolen Sweets. Now she can sell vintage clothes by day, and sing vintage music by night.
Sutherland spends half the week shopping for stock and the other half chit-chatting with customers as they navigate the bus interior, examining its many treasures. Sutherland manages to display a lot of items in a small space, from vintage magazines to silky sweaters. A dog snoozes outside in the grass while Sutherland prices some items on a restored bus bench. A girl from Brooklyn tries on a pair of white cowboy boots and hauls some dresses up the spiral staircase to the dressing room. Downstairs, her mother squeals, “I haven’t seen this book since I was a kid!” Which book is uncertain, but one thing is clear: Sometimes getting fired can be the best thing to ever happen to you.
Lodekka has a Facebook page and a Twitter account. The shop is open Thursday through Saturday, 11am to 6pm and Sunday noon to 5pm. For more information, check out Lodekka’s website.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
