Thursday, September 02, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Stuff We Like: Mary & Matt Chocolate Editions
Brooklyn-based designers Mary Matson and Matt Even are making chocolate.
Their motto? Handmade chocolates made in small batches. Always fresh and delicious. We haven't gotten our hands on one of these bars yet, but have already fallen for the whole package.
And what is that package, you ask? Bright colors and clean lines served with a heaping side of nostalgia.
The husband and wife team (she's designed for Kate Spade, he's an art director at an ad agency), made sweet treats for friends each holiday for a decade before deciding to make a business of it. They claim to draw inspiration from vintage rugby shirts to Sol LeWitt's deceptively simple canvases to old fashioned Neapolitan ice cream.
It's the celebration of the candy bar as a perfect pop object.
As if the whole situation couldn't get more precious, you can watch the trailer for the bespoke chocolate editions here or take a peek inside Mary & Matt's studio here.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Ketchup + Relish = Dunny
Founded in 2002, Kidrobot creates limited-edition art toys and apparel for grown ups. We couldn't help but fall in love with their latest Dunny series, launched this month.
Even though you won't find any actual condiments inside these pop gems, we think they'd be a welcome update to the same old packaging of our usual ketchup & relish.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Pop-Tart Pops Up in Times Square
Pop-Tart sushi? Count us in.
Kellogg Co.'s Pop-Tart destination, appropriately named Pop-Tart World, debuted Tuesday to fans in Times Square. The 43-year-old frosted treats join M&M World and the Hershey store as stand-alone food boutiques in the landmark neighborhood.
One may envision a Spears or a Cyrus performing their hits and reveling in paparazzi-fueled antics housed inside a space called Pop-Tart World, particularly in the past few years as gossip blogs have adopted the term to describe such infamous figures. But aside from perky brand ambassadors cheerfully explaining how to use The Varietizer (a sort of mix and match vending machine), the original toaster pastry is the star of the show at here.
Store attractions include a bakery featuring Pop-Tart inspired treats, loads of merchandise, the aforementioned Varietizer, interactive social media portals, and an hourly light show that simulates frosting. Let's pause to absorb the magnificence of a light installation that mimics the production process of the pastries, from frosting to sprinkling to wrapping in foil. After all, Pop Tarts originally got their name the Pop Art movement, a household buzz word thanks to the Brillo box & soup can antics of Andy Warhol.
We suspect Mr. Warhol would be proud, although he may have passed on the sushi.
(via The New York Times)
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Nostalgia in a Giant Noodle
For your safety, do not climb on the noodle.
Kraft is tugging at the heartstrings of grown up mac & cheese fans with their latest push for the original convenience food. Measuring 20 feet long and 9 feet high, huge noodle statues are the newest additions to Kraft's nostalgic ad campaign, which also features the smiling noodles in interactive storefront displays.
The noodles are currently on display at Wrigley Field and Navy Pier in Chicago and Fisherman's Wharf Pier 39 in San Francisco. Other locations will be added throughout the summer.
Not to be the squeaky wheel here, but we'd much prefer a noodle slide that lands us fresh into a puddle of cheese sauce. Anyone?
(via AdWeek)
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Visualizing Energy Consumption
Celine Marcq, a textile designer, has developed wallpaper that interacts with energy usage. Flip on a switch or plug into an outlet and patterns begin to grow.
Marcq's masters thesis, Inconspicuous Matter, poses the question: Can the visualization of electrical energy flows lead to textile and
material innovation? It definitely generates awareness. Imagine an office wall after a long day at work. Or the possibility of applying Marcq's technology to building exteriors.
The only problem? We're not sure we'd want to turn out the lights.
(via Co.Design)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Hot Heat, Grown-Up Treats
In case you haven't heard, it's hot outside. If you find yourself in need of a little post-work refreshment while soaking up those last-minute rays, may we suggest the following recipe? Think of it as reimagined nostalgia for the 21-plus set.
Watermelon Margarita Popsicles
Recipe via YumSugar
Ingredients
- 2 cups watermelon puree (roughly 1/4 medium size seedless watermelon)
- 1/4 cup lime juice (roughly 1 large lime)
- 3 ounces tequila
- 1 ounce cointreau
- 2/3 cup sugar
- Popsicle molds
Directions
- Chop the watermelon into small pieces. Using a Cuisinart, puree the watermelon. Place the puree in a large mixing bowl.
- Add lime juice and sugar to watermelon puree. Stir until the sugar has dissolved.
- Add tequila and cointreau and stir well.
- Fill popsicle molds.
- Place the popsicles in the freezer and wait patiently until frozen.
Makes 10 3-ounce popsicles.
If the thought of mixing and freezing is just too much for you to bear, try a pint of spiked delights from Silver Moon. A four-pack of their signature flavors features Lavender Limoncello, Mojito Ice, Orange Creamsicle, and Mango Mimosa. Yum.
Any way you shake it, summer is more delicious with grown-up refreshers.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
SparkBlog by
- The Hartman Group, Inc.
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