Yanagi style japanese knife


aritsugu ao-ko layered steel hongasumi yanagi – priced between $498.70 – $1,170.00 based on length and options. this is the knife to have if you are remotely serious about homemade sashimi…. to have and to hold, cutting fish will change meaning forever. Korin is my favorite place to shop for japanese style kitchenware when away from tokyo, which is, quite often. bonus: for $25-40 a japanese samurai (not really-but could have been) master will sharpen your knife with a variety of water stones by hand, just watching him is worth $40… no english spoken. by dd

CATEGORIES: objects, perfect gift

stanley Kubrick meets bowie – ligne roset’s facett chair



designed by the great french duo ronan & erwan bouroullec the armchairs were first introduced to me at the ICFF show by a friend/architect when they where launched. i loved them immediately for their comfort and pure aesthetic, but the +5K price tag kept me thinking. eventually, i acquired two facett chairs and one footrest (my guests are usually foot-less) and they have become a centerpiece in my home ever since. pros: love the origami inspired pure shape, the lovely white leather, detailed sticking, and hand work.  cons: easy to tilt (when drunk, or reaching for a glass), a bit of a surprising choice on the velcro enclosure on the back. grey felt version highly recommended if you can ban children below 21 from entry. by dd

CATEGORIES: design, objects

speaking about guitars

above-model 6119: note the “cadillac” V at the bottom! gretsch 6119 chet atkins tennesseean (also 6120, and the 6121 model, released at the same time, 6121 looked like a solid body, but was actually more of a small, semi-hollow version).

below-model 6196: a beautiful green country club from 1956. (click images to see detail)

above-model 6132: solid body duo jet from 1957. (click images to see detail)

below-model 6136: the dream machine that gretsch originally put together to show off a little at the trade show was never intended for production. but it became the symbol of the glorious excesses of the 50’s and a cult item. from its debut in 1954 falcon featured white paint, real mother of pearl, exotic ebony hard wood and 24 karat gold plating and remained virtually unchanged until 1958. it was the cadillac of guitars when cadillac was the cadillac of cars. it cost $600 back in 1954 that’s like 5 figures today!

we were discussing guitars the other day and i couldn’t help but look into my dream guitar that i never had, a vintage gretsch! vintage as in before 1966, when the family sold the company. from my first trip to new york until today, everytime i crossed the bridge to brooklyn i would see the old factory and wonder how it must have been. unfortunately it has been turned into a pseudo-luxury apt. complex now… my favorites were and are the jazz synchromatic archtops (not pictured here), and the chet atkins semi-hollow bodies. they run about 10-15k if you can find them, or must settle for a new reissue for about 3-4K. either way, like my favorite chess set that i never bought, i have to become much better of a player to actually deserve owning one. by dd

CATEGORIES: audio-electronics, perfect gift

Le labo oud 27

oud, which by the way was the predecessor of the modern lute and eventually the guitar, when it was first brought to spain, is not only the name of my favorite string instrument but now a scent. Le Labo is launching their first scent in three years, and it’s called Oud 27. their latest arrival was introduced this wednesday! expect cedar, agar wood, black pepper and some air of scheherazade. i for one cant wait to get my hands on it. by dd

CATEGORIES: fragrance, objects, perfect gift

old masters at the pawnshop

so crazy…last fall, photographer annie leibovitz, borrowed $5 million from a company called art capital group. in december, she borrowed $10.5 million more from the same firm. as collateral, among other items, she used town houses she owns in greenwich village, a country house, and something else: the rights to all of her photographs.julian schnabel also turned to an art lender when building palazzo chupi in greenwich village, later borrowing against his artwork with a bank. by dd

CATEGORIES: art

Mexico: las mañanitas hotel

 

 

created in 1955 in the city of “eternal spring”, cuernavaca. the hotel which is an hour away from mexico city is yet another great find. a must for a quiet get away and amazing food. be sure to try the exotic ant eggs, a delicacy comparative to the caviar of the east. i had to try it and it was amazing. the manicured grounds and the exotic african cranes are the key attractions of the hotel. open swimming pool, spacious rooms and great service. be sure to ask for a table, which can be set up for you anywhere on the grounds, for an afternoon drink. Its like having/being at you private home without the headache of managing the staff. truely remarkable. by dd

CATEGORIES: hotels

Painting With Light

painting with light, a documentary about the life and work of louise dahl-wolfe, 1895-1989. as the first female fashion photographer and a staff photographer for harper’s bazaar from 1936 through 1958.  dahl-wolfe defined the post-war look of american women.  her work is a true inspiration and remains as such today. by kv

CATEGORIES: clips, must see films