The Savvy

Back in Action!

2010-06-25T11:52:00.001-07:00

The Savvy is back! Mostly because I have too much time on my hands now that it is summer. Yet the fact remains, we are officially back in action. More to come very soon, and possibly a switch to a new hosting site maybe. Stay tuned!

Bean to Bar Chocolate: My New Dream Job.

2010-01-21T11:42:00.000-08:00

The most recent post from the Selby is about Mast Brothers Chocolate Factory in Brooklyn... well technically Williamsburg, which is New York City's only "bean to bar" chocolate shop in the whole city. Personally I think the idea is inspired and I would absolutely love to learn what they do and start up a version out here in Portland.

Overall, I think the aesthetic is perfect for a shop of this type. It has an industrial/factory look that fits perfectly with the product they are offering and the chocolate itself seems so perfect. No worrying about what is in the goods or what huge corporation made them, no you get to see the whole process right in front of you. I love it. Take a look at the photos, which are great, and then head over to the official site where you can get a bit of the history of the company and even order a box of ten bars! It'll set you back a cool $92 but who knows, this chocolate looks fantastic and it could be worth it.

Via TheSelby
- Josh

Indie+Relief

2010-01-20T14:54:00.000-08:00

Given the terrible events that have unfolded in Haiti, particularly the 5.9 aftershock that happened just today, it seems that everyone is looking for a way to help out. Well, if straight up donation isn't your thing, there are a number of companies offering to match a part or all of their revenue to various Hatian relief efforts. One such group are the people behind Indie+Relief: a team of software developers that have pledged to donate every cent they make from their apps and software to Hatian relief.

The product list is actually quite extensive and is worth a closer look. Some programs of note are Acorn, Delicious Library 2, MoneyWell, My Eyes Only, and Twitterific, but the list goes on and on. If you've been needing a certain software or might want something new please go take a look. There is so much there and the money is desperately needed right now.

If, by the way you do want to give a straight donation, it seems yele.org is the best place to do so. In fact, you can simply text essage the word "HAITI" to 501-501 to Make a $10 Contribution to the Yele Haiti Earthquake fund. More info here.

-Josh

Slowing Down Our Cities

2010-01-13T13:52:00.000-08:00

The most recent article of GOOD Magazine, a quarterly publication that I probably reference way too much on this site, is all about the slow movement and what it could mean for us in the future. The whole magazine was fantastic, but one section stood out to me in particular and that was about the recent push in Europe for "slow cities".

Similar to the slow food movement which we see emerging here in Portland, the slow city movement promotes local culture, goods, and services on a city-wide scale. This is achieved by pushing out big business to the outskirts of town, by encouraging residents to shop and eat local, and by making the city center more pedestrian friendly - that is, by banning cars!

The requirements, though far from officially established, are actually quite strict. According to the Charter of the Slow Cities movement, slow cities are those that:

1- implement an environmental policy designed to maintain and develop the characteristics of their surrounding area and urban fabric, placing the onus on recovery and reuse techniques

2- implement an infrastructural policy which is functional for the improvement, not the occupation, of the land

3- promote the use of technologies to improve the quality of the environment and the urban fabric

4- encourage the production and use of foodstuffs produced using natural, eco-compatible techniques, excluding transgenic products, and setting up, where necessary, presidia to safeguard and develop typical products currently in difficulty, in close collaboration with the Slow Food Ark project and wine and food Presidia

5- safeguard autocthonous production, rooted in culture and tradition, which contributes to the typification of an area, maintaining its modes and mores and promoting preferential occasions and spaces for direct contacts between consumers and quality producers and purveyors

6- promote the quality of hospitality as a real bond with the local community and its specific features, removing the physical and cultural obstacles which may jeopardize the complete, widespread use of a city's resources

7- promote awareness among all citizens, and not only among inside operators, that they live in a Slow City, with special attention to the of young people and schools through the systematic introduction of taste education.

Understandably, this movement is progressing somewhat.. well, slowly. And it seems to me that the major obstacle facing the movement is getting bigger cities on board. From researching it a bit, it seems the majority of the places to accept these guidelines are smaller cities or towns able to give up transportation in the city center... It is hard for me to imagine Portlanders giving up their cars once they get south of Burnside. Especially with this weather!

Yet on the other hand, if there were a city to do it, Portland would be right there. We already force out big chains and promote local economy almost on our own and that really says something about our population. In a city willing to go that far for a cleaner, better city, what is one more step along the path going to take? Personally I'll be watching this movement and crossing my fingers that we start to see more like this in the future. If only for the fact that I'd love to have bike-only roads downtown.

- Josh

Press+ by Benjamin Ducroz

2009-12-16T11:11:00.000-08:00

PRESS + from benjamin ducroz on Vimeo.
(You might need to open the full post to see the vid. Working on that)

KN recently posted on this new piece by Benjamin Ducroz and I fell in love. Initially Ducroz made the animation, then individual frames were printed out and reworked with watercolors. The music blends perfectly with the overall grainy-ness of the film and the watercolor explosions look so amazing against the intricacy of the animation. As an added bonus you can get a look at the creation process here. It is well worth the visit.

Just a bit of looking around on the site led me to a couple new favorites as well, namely this video titled popscycle. I love seeing a well executed stop motion and this video definitely did some things I'd never seen before. That circular wave of arches at the end is brilliant.

(update: as of today, something is up with the ducroz site. Hopefully this will get sorted soon but until then enjoy the first vid. thanks)

Enjoy!

via Kitsune Noir, thanks!

Cormac McCarthy talks about The Road

2009-12-09T14:37:00.000-08:00

Having just finished Blood Meridian, the 1985 breakthrough novel by the acclaimed writer Cormac McCarthy, I have recently been snooping around for related stuff on the author and what he is doing these days which - given the movie adaptation of No Country for Old Men in 2007 and the recent release of The Road - was not hard to come by. In so doing I ran across this "conversation" between McCarthy and the Wall Street Journal and found it pretty interesting.

The Journal covers topics ranging from the recent film presence of McCarthy's works all the way to his relationship with his son and his painting ability as a child. Perhaps not all that intriguing, but given my recent interest I thought I'd share.

The Road hit theaters on November 25 and if you haven't yet, I highly recommend going out and seeing it. The film was exceptionally true to the book, almost to a fault, and I was very impressed by just how convincing the end of the world looked on screen.
Also, there are rumors of a 2011 version of Blood Meridian in the works... the jury is still out as to how it will turn out but I am going to go ahead and side with McCarthy on this one. "The issue is it would be very difficult to do and would require someone with a bountiful imagination and a lot of balls. But the payoff could be extraordinary." I certainly hope they found the right person for it.

Some Links:
The Road
No Country For Old Men
Cormac McCarthy and the Wall Street Journal

The Great War: A Caricatured Map

2009-11-20T15:25:00.000-08:00

From artist/illustrator Keith Thompson, a caricatured map of 1914. Just perfect.
via Kottke.org.

The artist also has a description of what he was trying to represent in the map. I think he's done an excellent job. Description from KeithThompsonArt after the jump.

The Clanker Powers:

Germany is a massive military machine with weapons aimed outwards to all surrounding countries. It points threateningly at Britain, not so much as a sign of direct aggression, but more as an indicator that it was now Germany’s turn to start a grand global Empire to challenge the world’s current one.
Austria Hungary is an aggressive armoured giant, teetering on shoddy foundations. It is also the primary aggressor in a land grab against Serbia, with two bayonets piercing the border.
The Ottoman empire is a teetering automaton, collapsing under the weight of a paranoid and ungainly spying network that gazes at Europe through many lenses and spy glasses. Istanbul is labeled Constantinople following the period's English naming conventions.
The Swiss watch ticks away the time, comfortable to wait it all out.
The Darwinist Powers:
Britain is an militaristic lion with a Roman Imperial italic-type helmet. It sits upon a mound of riches gathered from its Empire.
France’s elephant beast (wearing the French kepi they started the war with before adapting their firefighter helmets) is influenced by the Elephantine Collossus built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889 in Paris (later it ended up going to the Moulin Rouge.)
Russia is a huge imperialist bear, rotting and filled with maggots.
Serbia’s imagery is an indicator of the huge amounts of civilian deaths and suffering they’ll find themselves subject to.
Norway and Sweden are both Scandinavian trolls in the style of John Bauer, an inspirational illustrator from the era who produced a lot of phenomenal work during the war.
Portugal is a parrot for the Entente trying to goad a slumbering Spain into the war.
Ireland looks askance to Britain and brandishes a shillelagh. An indicator of their very rough relationship at the time, and of their upcoming involvement with the Central powers.
Italy is a clutch of snakes with intents on the Central powers despite existing agreements. A foreshadowing of their arrangements at the secret 1915 Treaty of London where they were promised land in exchange for involvement. It was heavily influenced by Italian Prime Minister, Antonio Salandra’s open policy of serving Italy’s "divine self-interest."

Population Growth/Shrinking Cities

2009-11-20T14:50:00.000-08:00

Moving Datas from 1kilo on Vimeo.

I found this video on Michael Surtees' site DesignNotes and thought it was really interesting. I love maps and the way that cities are designed, or not designed, to work and this video really visualizes that process beautifully.
This project, done by a group called 1kilo who has only one other video in their playlist (that video, about declining city population, is available here), is connected with a project called shrinking cities. Shrinking Cities was a three-year initiative project of Germany's Federal Cultural Foundation started to research declining local populations and how to prevent the spread of abandoned buildings in these "shrinking cities".

There are all kinds of resources and articles to look through on the site, and some of the considerations are entirely new to me (such as the increasing size of deserts due to global warming and the subsequent increase in large city population size, followed by decreased water supply in those same large cities -- scary).
If you are so inclined, please check out their site and snoop around. There is a lot there and the problem, as emphasized by places like Detroit, is definitely worth thinking about.

Local Currencies: Totally Awesome

2009-11-19T15:10:00.000-08:00

I ran into this article over at GOOD magazine and was immediately intrigued with the idea of local currencies. I had no idea this could actually happen but it turns out that a number of communities have already adopted their own currencies in the hopes of boosting local economy. I really think this type of thing would work in Portland, there is already so much support for local shops and if it helps boost our struggling economy I am down.

The way it works is someone goes around and convinces local companies to accept the currency. When the list is extensive enough, a conversion site or sites are set up to switch the money over, then as a consumer you simply go to a participating vendor and use your currency just like you would regular money. The benefit of this lies in keeping money local and circulating. With big companies like Walmart, you buy something and the profit is zipped off to another part of the country, there is no economic benefit in your community whatsoever. With this system on the other hand, the money you use for goods and services is then reused in the community for other services and your local economy is given guaranteed support rather than struggling to compete with outsourced big business. The only problem is getting enough people to sign up for it. Below is a video all about the Brixton Pound that goes into how it all works.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of info on the success of local currencies but there are a number of them popping up all over the world. In England there are at least three major local currencies (the Brixton pound is what the GOOD article referenced) and in the US we have Ithica Hours, Butte Bucks, and the proposed Brooklyn Torch just to name a few, but there are A LOT.

I would not be surprised at all if something like this started happening in Portland very soon. Times being what they are I think everyone here would appreciate a little more community support and the benefits of such an easy switch seem almost too good to be true. The E.F. Schumacher Society has an excellent list of resources if you are interested in looking into this a little more. Also below I've posted a news report on Ithica Hours.

Blogs We Like: David Stark Sketchbook

2009-11-06T12:16:00.000-08:00

David Stark is the president and creative director of David Stark Design and Production, a high-profile event planning company that does really inspired work for big corporations, celebrities, and (very well to-do) non-profits. His sketchbook is a fantastic site full of things that he finds interesting, inspiring, or just plain cool - not to mention a good look at some of the work he has done.

Given that his company is known for re-purposing simple and unexpected materials into fantastic displays (see above), his site is also a very eclectic collection of unexpected finds. It is well worth it to dig deep into the archives, there is a lot there.

Additionally, Stark has a line of products out from West Elm that follow the same vibe as his event planning work. Lots of cardboard and paper and recycled materials used to create simple and unconventional decorative accessories. Very West Elm-y so not quite my bag but definitely worth a look.

You Are What You Eat by Mark Menjivar

2009-10-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

This new series from Mark Menjivar examines eating habits in America by looking at what foods we purchase. Specifically, it looks at refrigerators... what is in them. AND, believe it or not, he will be showing his work right here in Portland up until October 25.

I don't remember where I found out about this series but I totally love it, I've even got two of his photos up - where else?- on my fridge. Needless to say it came as a nice surprise to hear I can actually go see the originals in town. The show is happening Tuesdays to Saturdays, 12-6 p.m. and Sundays, 12-5 p.m. until the 25th at Amperstand Vintage on Alberta. I think my favorite part about the whole thing is being able to read about who owns each fridge. Many of the fridges definitely draw parallels to the lifestyles of their owners and it makes me wonder what my barren fridge says about me... hmm.

Also! If you really like his stuff you can cruise on over to 20x200 and grab a print. I think there's still some left-overs there. Zing!

The Links:
Mark Menjivar
Amperstand Vintage (and a map here)
Mark's 20x200 page

Joe Ryckebosch at Half & Half

2009-10-16T18:14:00.000-07:00

Portland (via New York via California) artist Joe Ryckebosch is having his art shown at the SW coffee shop Half & Half from now to November 1st. Ryckebosch uses found images of animals and landscapes and then creates patterns using colored architectural drafting tape to make them his own. The result is really stunning. I especially like the images of birds he has done.

If you are in the area, I recommend checking it out. The coffee there is great and the art is even better. For a full write up on the event check out this article put out by the Mercury. And last but not least, if you are interested in getting your very own work of art, Joe also has an Etsy page where you can buy originals (for pretty reasonable prices too!).

Links:
Joe Ryckebosch Homepage
Joe's Etsy Page
Portland Mercury Article
Map to Half & Half

Blogs We Like: TheDieline

2009-10-16T17:41:00.000-07:00

Just ran into the packaging and design blog TheDieline today and was on there for waaay too long. Its a big collection of excellent examples of quality design in packaging, both on a sustainable level and an artistic level.

The site is put together by a handful of very qualified people and there are a whole lot of great examples of beautifully designed products. Go on, look around, you'll be amazed how many products go above and beyond in their design... all the way down to the packaging it comes in.

Thanks to Kitsune Noir for the link here.

This American Health Care System

2009-10-16T17:19:00.000-07:00

I am far from an expert on our current health care troubles, but I found the recent installment of This American Life to be quite insightful on a number of levels. From looking at big picture issues to specific examples of the failing system, you get a good sense of the problem that the president and America are faced with today.
No matter where you stand on the issue the opening statistics are grim: in the next nine years the average American family can expect to spend well over half of their yearly salary on health care alone. I don't know about you but right now universal health care never sounded so good.

There's a link to the show here but I personally recommend getting on to itunes and subscribing to the show. The next episode is a continuation on this week's theme, looking at the health insurance industry and where all that money you pay for insurance goes to.

*n.b. - Despite my views on the situation, This American Life does an excellent job at providing unbiased reporting on whatever they cover. Even if you disagree with me I hope you don't deny the show the chance it deserves.

Related Links:
This American Life homepage
This American Life in the Itunes store
An interesting article on health care by Roger Ebert

The Future is* Sabotaging Science!!!

2009-10-16T17:04:00.000-07:00

*by "is" I mean, it has been proposed by a couple leading physicists in regards to the Large Hadron Collider that this could, maybe be happening...

At risk of getting too deep in techno-jargon, Holger Bech Nielsen, of the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, and Masao Ninomiya of the Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics in Kyoto, Japan have suggested that the LHC's current focus of discovering the Higgs boson (the hypothesized scalar particle that could, if discovered, help explain the origin of mass in the universe) could be the very reason that the team has had so much technical difficulty.

According to this article in the New York Times, the two have hypothesized that the particle "might be so abhorrent to nature that its creation would ripple backward through time and stop the collider before it could make one, like a time traveler who goes back in time to kill his grandfather."

They argue that this phenomenon is also responsible for the failure of other efforts similar to the LHC (like the inexplicable cancellation of the US's SSC). And furthermore that the only thing needed to finally make the LHC fully functional is for the team to stop searching for the Higgs boson.

This is so totally fascinating to me! It might be because we just threw a space party and the future is on my mind but I am so interested in where this project is going. I've posted links to some articles on this below, so snoop around. The LHC is supposed to be up and running again this coming spring... I guess we'll see.

Links:
The Collider, the Particle and a Theory About Fate (New York Times)
Large Hadron Collider (New York Times)
LHC Restart (Discover)

The French get real... or at least tell you when they're not.

2009-09-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

According to AdAge.com, a recent bill proposed by French politicians would require magazines and advertisements to put warnings on photos that have been doctored (airbrushed or photoshopped) in one way or another.
The leading lady behind this is eating disorder expert Valerie Boyer who says the campaign is aimed at "combat[ing] the stereotypical image that all women are young and slim." The proposed warning would read "Retouched photograph aimed at changing a person's physical appearance."

Though surprisingly mild, I suppose in context this warning would certainly get the point across and perhaps would challenge the advertising world to reconsider its standards of beauty and presentation for the rest of us (the proposed $16,000 fine might help dissuade some as well). Personally I think this is an excellent bill and hope that it garners enough support. The world has spent too long comparing itself to images that aren't even factual or necessarily attainable.

Vive la France!

Some Links:
Web Site for Valerie Boyer (the site is in French, this is the translated page)
Original Article from AdAge

Portland's TBA Festival

2009-09-05T13:18:00.001-07:00

Portland's Time Based Art Festival is in full swing here in the city and so last night we ventured out to Washington High School to check out "The Works", featuring a handful of installations and finishing in a performance by Portland's own Explode Into Colors.

The installations did not appeal to me overall, but I did love a couple pieces. Specifically, I thought "Movements" by Ethan Rose and "C.L.U.E" by robbinschilds + A.L. Steiner stood out from the rest. Rose blends audio and visual textures into a constantly evolving and shifting piece by wiring over 100 tiny music boxes arranged all around the walls of the room to play simultaneously, with a precisely programmed order. The result was truly surreal and I would recommend going to see it if you have the means.

Here's a video to give you an idea of what it looked like.

The same goes for the "C.L.U.E." exhibit, which was a group of televisions set within a geometric shell...of sorts. Some simply played a single color, casting a glow on the walls of the room and on the structure in which it was housed, while others showed video of robbinschilds (two movement artists from NY) both complimenting and contrasting the environment in which they are set. The attention to color and sound in this exhibit was particularly striking to me.

As for Explode Into Colors, I was not expecting the set to be as much of performance art as it was. I know that sounds funny given that this is, in fact, the Time Based Art Festival... but I wasn't aware that they were in the performance art world. I'll reserve my judgments for them for later I suppose. They did do a nice job with the material however and it was interesting to see a band work outside of their traditional medium/audience/spiel.

The TBA Festival will be here in Portland until mid-October, featuring more of what is shown at The Works, and also more music, art, performance, and film. If you are in town and are at all interested I highly recommend going to whatever you can, this is the only festival of its kind in the nation and we are truly lucky to have it so close to home.

Some Links:
TBA Festival Homepage
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (They host TBA)
robbinschilds
Ethan Rose
Explode Into Colors on Myspace

Steve Lambert's Instant Grantification Program

2009-09-04T17:34:00.000-07:00

I ran across the Generosity Foundation website today, also known as the "Federation of Students and Nominally or Unemployed Artists", and was really taken with their instant grant project. I admit this is a little dated, but I love the idea of raising money to support the arts in all forms, especially ones that may not be supported by traditional grants (read: nominally or unemployed artists).

The primary goal of the FSNUA is to inspire people to rekindle artistic talent that may have fallen by the wayside, and to promote everyday people to complete artistic undertakings that they may have otherwise never considered doing. The grants were all between $10-$60, and a total of $1,000 was raised for the event. The only requirement for receiving the money: that you come up with a creative endeavor on the spot, and follow through.

It really is refreshing to see a group of people trying to encourage creativity and generosity without asking for anything in return. I only wish that the project was still ongoing. Hopefully we'll see more from the FSNUA soon, there should be more projects like this happening today.

Below is a video that they put together about the project, and you can browse around their site to find out more.

Instant Grant Program from Steve Lambert on Vimeo.

And Speaking of Type!

2009-09-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

Check out this cool wikipedia-like site devoted to Typefaces. Pretty cool, though I am not even close to familiar with Typography enough to truly appreciate this.
Look around! Like I said I'm new to this department of design but I find it fascinating. Just reading about the amount of thought that went into the logo alone is interesting. I have to admit that on a day-to-day basis I don't think too much about how type is used to promote ideas. Definitely something to look into. Enjoy!

Here's the link: Typedia

The Know Your Type Series from idsgn

2009-09-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

I've always been interested in how advertisers and companies choose typefaces to promote their companies. Why futura versus helvetica, etc. Well, the good folks over at the blog idsgn have started a series called Know Your Type in which they look into the history behind some of the most significant typefaces.

It really is interesting to look at the subconscious significance that certain typefaces have, and the way that companies use that to their advantage in advertising. Companies such as Sony, Starbucks, and Wells Fargo like Clarendon due to the attention-getting boldness of the type. An attribute employed years ago in old west "Wanted" posters. Whereas DIN evolved out of the German Railway system. Who knew?

Each article is quite interesting and worth a look. I particularly like the one on Futura. Links below.

Know Your Type: Clarendon
Know your type: Gotham
Know your type: Futura
Know your type: Verlag
Know your type: Din

Thanks to Kitsune Noir for the tip here! All photos lifted from idsgn, thanks.

R.I.P. Life + Limb

2009-08-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

To our dismay, we recently discovered that one of our favorite PDX shops, Life+Limb, is closing down at the end of the month.

To help clear out the inventory, Molly is having a huge sale up until the end of the month. As of tomorrow (almost) everything will be 40% off! Some of the fixtures are even for sale... if that's your thing.
Be sure to give some support to this great Portland shop while its still around to do so. Life and Limb, we will miss you.

2009/2010 Season Posters from PCS

2009-08-14T15:34:00.001-07:00

Michael Buchino, the graphic artist for Portland Center Stage, just released 9 of the 10 show posters for the 2009-2010 season of performances.

The posters look great all around and I'm sure the performances themselves will be equally exciting.

Below is the entire staff that Buchino oversaw, with links to their own sites and lists of the specific works they contributed to. Check it out.

Kris Hargis
The Receptionist, The Chosen

Andrew Holder
Josh Kornbluth’s Ben Franklin: Unplugged, Mike’s Incredible Indian Adventure

Julia McNamara
Ragtime, Snow Falling on Cedars

Lee Moyer
A Christmas Carol, The Santaland Diaries, Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps

Relevant Links:
Portland Center Stage
Michael Buchino's Twitter
PCS Poster Photostream

Blogs We Like: Designfragment

2009-08-14T11:23:00.000-07:00

I just ran across the interior design blog Designfragment and love so much of the stuff shown there. The writer is a student in Gothenburg and as a result much of the decor discussed is great Swedish and Scandinavian design. Just be sure to click on the post links... it won't be in English until you do.

The writer describes the blog as "the site where I report the news of the design world, our apartment renovation and interiors that will hopefully amuse, tickle your fancy and inspire you" and it certainly lives up to the claim. They have a real eye for what is hip and original and it certainly comes out here. Take a look!

Thanks go to Apartment Therapy

(Even) GOOD(er) Transparencies

2009-08-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

I made a post a little while back about the Transparency series that GOOD magazine features on its site. Well, it turns out that some of these informative and attractive displays are being made into short videos.

As is the case with their non-moving counterparts, these videos cover relevant topics, deliver little-known facts, and look really good... Pun intended.

Below are a few of the videos I found most interesting (and harrowing) but there is a lot more to choose from so take a look around.

Also, I didn't include it here, but the newest video on the history of Memorial Day is absolutely chilling.

Additional Links:
GOOD Homepage
Video Index
Transparencies Stream
Old Post: Really Good Transparencies

Some things on ETSY

2009-08-12T11:46:00.001-07:00

I was skimming through Etsy today and came across some interesting finds. Hope you enjoy!

Handmade Constellation Embroidery from Miniature Rhino
-Did you know that 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy? Celebrate it with these awesome recreations of selected constellations.
Tiny Stoneware Pottery from Sara Paloma
-Mini versions of Sara's signature line, these come in three shapes and four colors.
Animal Portraits by Captain Cat
- I Ran into this artist at the Last Thursday street fair on Alberta last month and loved his work. Apparently each portrait is supposed to represent a favorite historical figure. If I remember correctly the seal is meant to be Winston Churchill. I can see the resemblance.
Paper Wreath Sculpture by Simple Joys Paperie
- Very cool looking wreathes made from vintage books.
Vintage Parisian Clocks from Maison Reve
- Stylish vintage alarm clocks for your dresser or bookcase.
Silhouette Prints by Nora Aoyagi
- Simple and whimsical prints and miniature houses made by Nora.

Grow Your Own Fresh Air!

2009-08-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

This is somewhat related to our last post, but I think it deserves mention on its own as well. Kamal Meattle recently gave a speech at the TED conference in Long Beach about the use of certain plants to easily and noticeably clean the air in your home.

Meattle developed the system when he became allergic to the ambient air of New Dheli, India. In an effort to combat his allergies, he discovered that using only three common house plants we can "grow" healthy air within our own homes!

You'll need Areca Palm, Mother-In-Law's Tongue, and Money Plant to make the system work. See below for more information (via greenspaces.in)

1. Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

Works well in the day time
Great for living areas
One needs about 4 shoulder high plants/person
Needs to be put outdoors once every 3-4 months
The leaves of the plant need to be wiped everyday in Delhi and perhaps once a month in a cleaner city
The soil used should be of vermi manure or use hydroponics

2. Mother-in-law’s Tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata)

Converts CO2 into O2 at night
One requires about 6-8 such waist high plants per person in the bedroom
Leaves need to be wiped in the same way as the Areca Palm
The soil used should be of vermi manure or use hydroponics

3. Money Plant (Epipremnum aureum)

Excellent for removing Formaldehyde and other VOC’s
Best grown using hydroponics

Such a simple and green way to clean up our own enviroments, I love it!

You can also take a look at Meattle's speech below.

Other Links:
Creators Inn (which uses this system in its rooms)
TED Homepage
Kamal Meattle Profile

Creators Inn, Stockholm

2009-08-08T01:02:00.000-07:00

The clothing brand Elvine, along with design agency Next Century Modern and the hotel Scandic Malmen, has just opened up their "Creators Inn" in Stockholm. The hotel-within-a-hotel officially opened on the 1st, offering accommodations for the non-traditional traveler completely free of charge. Specifically, for people doing "some sort of creative activity, preferably together with local creators or something that incorporates the city in some way."

While I don't imagine I'll be booking a stay any time soon, the hotel looks incredible and it employs some truly creative ideas for decoration and design. I particularly like the collaborative quality of the room. The group contribution map and the records on loan from various locals make the place seem very friendly and welcoming. Plus the "grow your own air" idea is just plain cool.

Check out the rest of the pictures on the Creators Inn site and, if you happen to be a "creator", apply for a free stay here.

Some Links:
Creator's Inn Main Page
Eveline Homepage
How to Grow Your Own Air (a fascinating article, and the system used in the Inn)

Free Breakfast Every Last Friday!

2009-08-06T13:08:00.000-07:00

I just found out about the free breakfast deal that the friendly folks from Shift Bikes put together on the last Friday of every month on the Steel and Hawthorne Bridges.

Just ride up on your bike between 7 and 9 AM any last Friday and get some free coffee and a pastry! Yay Portland!

via Portland Mercury

Rosemarie Fiore's "Pyrotechnics"

2009-07-21T23:54:00.000-07:00

New York artist Rosemarie Fiore is known for using unexpected materials in her art and her newest series, Pyrotechnics, is no exception.
These "firework drawings" as she calls them are made using real live fireworks! The results are absolutely stunning and if you watch the video of the process, which are awesome, you get a real sense for what goes in to each piece.

Take a look around her site if you are interested, there is a lot of amazing stuff there that you won't find many other artists doing.

PDX Pop v. MFNW, Portland's Music Festival Season is Here!

2009-07-15T09:53:00.000-07:00

The festival season is finally at hand and while I've probably taken far too long to get these lists up, I think its worth a look. These two festivals, along with July 4th's Blues Festival, are an easy way to appreciate just how cool our city is.

PDX Pop Now! - July 24-26

PDX Pop is a two day festival saluting all things Portland-y, all-ages, and F-R-E-E. Its mission is to celebrate, promote, and expand the already diverse and vibrant music community. Hosted by Rotture in southeast, the festival takes place on two stages, one on the block and one in the club *ahem*, and at any given time you can catch a band on stage AND ITS FREE.

I'll see you at:
The Shaky Hands, Menomena, Au, Explode Into Colors, Fist Fite, Guidance Counselor, Nurses, and YACHT

Check the PDX Pop website for more info and for the full lineup.
Also, here is the site for Rotture with directions and what not, and here is an article the Mercury put out about the festival.

MusicFest Northwest - September 16-19

Though not able to boast the non-existent price tag of PDX Pop, MFNW is worth every penny (if you make sure and make the most of that wrist band). Its a 4 day festival set up by the Willamette Week, held at venues all across the city featuring nationally renown artists while also spotlighting the diverse music scene that makes the northwest so special. There are tons of bands and genres represented so everyone can find something to like and you also have the option of getting a wristband for every show, all 4 days, or simply buying a ticket for individual shows. The $60 price tag can be a little rough but when you think about the individual bands you get to see you can really get your money's worth.

I'll see you at:
Explosions in the Sky, Guidance Counselor, Girl Talk, Bad Brains, Will Sheff, Frightened Rabbit,Beach House, The Long Winters, Chairlift, Mount Eerie, Japanther, Common Market, Copy, Explode Into Colors, Portland Cello Project, and Eluvium!!

Get more info at the Willi-Week's site here and get your wristbands at various places around town including Jackpot Records, the Ace Hotel, Backspace, Music Millennium, and the WW headquarters.

Bill Rankin and Radical Cartography

2009-06-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

I keep coming back to this amazing collection of all kinds of interesting maps and graphs on Bill Rankin's site Radical Cartography.

Rankin is a grad student at Harvard and uses this site to collect beautiful and unique maps that he comes across, while also showcasing some of the work he has done. Much of the stuff shown here is both visually stunning while also informative and they offer some really cool inspiration for decorating and design. It reminds me a bit of the post we did recently on the transparencies from GOOD Magazine. I just love it when interesting information (or non-information) is presented with a little creativity.

Some Links:
Radical Cartography
Bill Rankin's Homepage
GOOD Magazine
Fake is the New Real (Source of 1st photo)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn... Really.

2009-06-15T00:06:00.001-07:00

Emma Livingston's most recent project, "Tree Portraits", is a simple and elegant series of photos examining life in the most inhospitable and unlikely place: the inner-city.

The whole idea is really cool because it truly is amazing that plants manage to grow in some of these places despite heavy traffic, litter, pollution, pedestrians, etc. The simplicity of the photos and the attention to detail in location are what really make this series shine. Take a look at the rest of the set on her website and check out her older stuff. Its all very understated and all quite beautiful.

Jeremy Levine Design

2009-06-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

I recently came across the design website of Jeremy Levine, a California architect and designer who does really inspiring work and has an amazing site to showcase it all.

Levine spent a number of years working in the film industry and later turned his creative powers around, and started his design firm in 2002. Levine's designs explore the flows of energy, material, and information within a space while also finding ways to integrate the digital world of living with the natural one.

I particularly love how unique each house is while maintaining consistent and recognizable themes throughout, and the sheer spaciousness of the work isn't bad either. Now I just need to get out of this apartment!

Enjoy.

(Really) GOOD Transparencies

2009-06-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

The self-described collaboration for “people who give a damn”, GOOD Magazine, has set up a Flickr stream of their Transparencies series.

The magazine is devoted to discussing important news and information related to social action and they use this series to cover critical issues in a creative and powerful way. There are over 70 right now, and new ones are added every Tuesday on the main site, so be sure to look around.

Additionally, if you’re interested in subscribing to GOOD, they’ll put 100% of your subscription fee into the social action project of your choice on Global Giving! Seriously... 100%! It really is good to be good.

Additional Links:
GOOD Homepage
Transparencies Stream
Global Giving

Hotel Budir

2009-05-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

As summer is rapidly approaching, and my college career coming to a close, I've been thinking about getting out of Portland and seeing more of the world. While my trip is probably limited to a drive to the coast for a weekend, if I had my way, it would be a trip to Hotel Budir, this amazing hotel on Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula.

From the incredible landscape all around, to the beautiful rooms, to the history behind it; everything about this hotel is amazing. Originally a farm and homestead, the hotel is surrounded by incredible scenery and features design and decor inspired by the mix between the hotel's settlement days and more modern Scandinavian sentiments.

While I don't see myself making it out to Iceland any time soon (especially with the price tag that accompanies a stay here), I know the first place I'll be heading when I strike it rich. I really can't imagine a more peaceful place.

More Info
Visit the hotel's website at www.budir.is
or, check out the original post on Apartment Therapy where we also snagged these pictures from.

The New York Street Advertising Takeover

2009-04-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, the 25th of April, a team of artists and volunteers from around New York raided the streets and white-washed over 120 illegal outdoor advertisement spaces all over Manhattan. This was all part of an "anti-ad" campaign organized by Jordan Seiler to get people aware of the illegality of these unapproved ad spaces, and to give everyone a break from the barrage of advertisement that we experience every day. The works are all really great and there is something so satisfying about seeing street art where ads used to be.

Though I'm sure we have it pretty easy here in Portland, I do get sick of the constant Clear Channel billboards at every turn. So this project is really quite exciting. Somehow, in the process of painting over 120 spaces, there was only one arrest made! This is because the ads have just as little right to be there as the art. According to the Wooster Collective, "While illegal, these violations are not being prosecuted by the City of New York, allowing the billboard companies to garner huge profits by cluttering our outdoor space with intrusive and ugly ads."

Brilliant! I can't wait for the Portland version...

More info can be found at these links:

We initially found this story at Fecal Face
"Artists Reclaim the City's Illegal Billboards" - via NBC NYC
You can also find info about Jordan Seiler at www.publicadcampaign.com
Both Wooster Collective and Animal New York have some photos to look at.

** Pictures 1 and 3 came from here. 2 from here.

Marco Zamora

2009-04-26T23:09:00.000-07:00

The most recent addition to Kitsune Noir's Desktop Wallpaper Project comes from California based artist and illustrator Marco Zamora. While I loved the work that he did for KN, I was even more impressed with the rest of his work available on his site.

Marco draws inspiration from the urban landscape around him, experimenting with colors and scale to fit his own unique style. His recent work has been featured in a number of galleries down the coast and also in a number of Vans advertisements and collaboration projects (such as "Islands in LA" which did a piece for Poketo recently).

If you like his work, be sure to pick up the wallpaper from KN, and also take a look at his site at www.marcozamora.com

Three for $30

2009-04-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

While Portland is blessed with an incredible array of amazing restaurants to choose from, our tightening wallets have made visiting our favorite spots a little harder. That's why I was particularly excited to hear about this deal.

In an effort to encourage business in the midst of this recession, three NoPo restaurants have come up with an awesome deal available to anyone. Belly, Ned Ludd, and Lincoln are selling a card for $30 that is good for a chef's choice appetizer and one bar beverage at each restaurant. The card is good for a year, can be used any time, and is sold at any of the three participating stops which, by the way, are walking distance from each other! Check the map!

Belly, 3500 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., 249-9764
Ned Ludd, 3925 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 288-6900
Lincoln 3808 N Williams Ave., No. 127, 288-6200

New Stuff at ThreePotatoFour!

2009-04-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

I love the great collection of cool vintage items offered at ThreePotatoFour. They have a careful eye for unique products and often (especially in the sale section) the price tags are quite reasonable. New items are constantly being added to the shop so be sure to check back often! These are my favorites from the last batch, as well as a couple classics.

Hovis Bread Tins

Elephant Card Holder

Wise Owl Desk Statue

Vintage Wire Shopping Basket

ThreePotatoFour also runs a blog which is worth a look.

Life + Limb

2009-04-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our new found love for succulent plants, we headed over to Portland's own Life+Limb last week and were pleasantly surprised with the great selection of household accessories, planters and pots, and a collection of unique and interesting plants for the taking.

Opened in November of 2008 by graphic designer Molly Quan, Life+Limb features an ever evolving selection of carefully chosen plants, home accessories, and ceramics, while also providing a gallery for local artists, in-home consultations, AND all the potting soil/decorative rocks etc. you need!

I couldn't resist picking out a plant of my own, and with such a wide selection you know you are getting something truly unique. If you are in the market for a cool pot or vase, this is certainly the place to start and for those of you not based here in Portland, the online shop is a semi-new addition where you can get most things from the store shipped right to your door!

Additionally, for those interested, Design*Sponge did a tour of Molly's home in February which is definitely worth a look.

Life+Limb
1716 E. Burnside St.
Portland, OR 97214
Map

Store Hours:
tue-fri 11-6
sat 11-5
sun 12-5

See you there!

*Photo 1 comes from More Ways to Waste Time, photos #2 come from Life+Limb, the 3rd is our own.

Interior Design by Jessica Helgerson

2009-03-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

I recently came across Portland-based interior designer, Jessica Helgerson, and was instantly intrigued by the beauty, color and simple elegance of her work. On top of that, Jessica's designs are made largely from environmentally sustainable materials, adding a sense of functionality and practicality to her unique spaces.
You should definitely check out her portfolio, and stay tuned for more info on "one of the top 25 young designers in America", according to House Beautiful Magazine. Below are some pics from some of the spaces that Jessica has designed.

The Fever

2009-03-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

With spring rapidly approaching, we've found ourselves quite taken to gardening in the last few weeks. The rainy weather out here makes it really easy to turn your thumb just a little greener and the plants are a great way to liven up your place after the gloom of winter.

With that in mind, here are a few articles on indoor gardening that we've been checking out. The succulents are my absolute favorite. If you don't have one of your own they are ridiculously easy to take care of and they look great anywhere. Happy gardening!

This page about container gardening is a nice place to start, just for selecting the plants and the pots you will need.

Re-Nest has another helpful article that walks you through the steps of making your very own herb garden. I can smell the basil already!

And... SUCCULENTS!
Apartment Therapy shares our love for succulents and (thankfully!) they have a handful of articles relating to them. Additionally, for those who aren't already in the know, AT is a great resource for home and design ideas for those of us with a smaller space... or a budget.

via ApartmentTherapy.com
Make Your Own Succulent Garden!
Succulent Planters
Flower Alternatives

Good Luck!

787 Cliparts - Oliver Laric

2009-03-28T18:28:00.000-07:00

This is just great.

Thanks go to Wooster Collective for showing us this one.
Additionally, here is the site for Mr. Laric's work.

Office Space

2009-03-23T23:02:00.000-07:00

We've recently had the pleasure of visiting Office, the 50's inspired home office retailer on Alberta. Office is great because they offer local art, distinctive products,and also host events and design related classes and workshops, all targeted for the modern worker. If you live in Portland this is a great place to check out, and if not it is at least a good place for design inspiration.

Something like Home

2009-03-23T16:24:00.000-07:00

There is something very familiar about the photography of Bryan Schutmaat. Maybe its from living in the Midwest followed by Colorado for the better part of my life. Anyway, according to the folks over at yewknee.com his official site has only just been released. I love the simplicity of his work. Do check it out, very nice stuff in there.

Contact

2008-01-01T00:01:00.001-08:00

Have something you want to show us?
Just need someone to talk to?

Write to TheSavvy at : theSavvyPDX@gmail.com

About TheSavvy

2008-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Hey there. Our names are Keri Miller and Josh Schield and we are the kids behind TheSavvy and all that it entails. We are a pair of students living in Portland, Oregon with big interests in design, fashion, art, etc. When we're not being studious, we run this blog where we share things that catch our eye from Portland to wherever.

This blog was started in April of 2009 and as we finish up our time in college we will also continue to post on interesting and unique things that we run across. We hope you enjoy reading this as much as we like creating it!

If you like what you see you can follow us on Twitter. Also, subscribe to our feed and keep updated on what is new here at TheSavvy.

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PDX Spotlight

2008-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

This is the future home of the "PDX Spotlight" section. In this section we will give tours of various streets/areas in portland and offer up our opinion on the best places to go to there.

Be on the lookout for our first post in the coming months!