I recently (while somewhat high on mushrooms) signed up for this three-week course on the recommendation of Molly Young, and don’t think I’ve ever been as excited for a class in my life. Maybe it’s a question of age and/or distance from school, which, as they say, is absolutely wasted on the young—or at least was wasted on me. I can’t even imagine what a dream it would be to be able to go to college again now, after almost twenty years of professional life. A genuine pleasure! If exploring plants, rocks, and smoke as both physical and metaphorical “modes of more-than-human attention” is a little too esoteric for you, I was also eyeing Captive Audiences and the Carceral State. The Strother School of Radical Attention as a whole is fascinating to me. A non-profit based in Brooklyn, it was founded as a response to “the commodification of human attention” and offers both courses and labs, the latter of which they describe as “experiential, participatory workshops . . . dedicated to the joint exploration of radical human attention.” On a related note, or if you can’t make one of their classes, I thought this interactive piece published by The New York Times (it’s a riff on an art history assignment offered at Harvard) was a neat experience. -VvP |
|
Sadly, this incredible, one-of-a-kind music box joint holder sold out before I could write it up, but I’m leaving it in because it’s just that cool. Originally designed as a lipstick carousel and then used for cigarettes, I trust that it has found its final form. Make sure to watch this video to get the full effect. Maybe it’ll inspire you to track down a different one for yourself. -DW |
|
Who knew jello needed a rebrand? Made with pulverized freeze-dried fruit and traditional beef gelatin, Gelée is an Erewhon-ready twist on the classic dessert. I’ve tried all three of the flavors—Passion, Guava Nectar, and Pina Coco—and would be hard-pressed to choose a favorite. The site has plenty of recipes to play with, but I’m sticking with my go-to party trick: Gelée Shots. -VvP |
|
While I often write about the products that help me as a parent, I feel like I rarely do the same for the ones that help me as a dog owner. So I’m correcting that with this recommendation for Springer’s Dog & Me Insulated Bottle. I bought this rather simple innovation a couple of months ago after my dedicated dog water dispenser broke. Not wanting to purchase more plastic and also realizing that I was essentially walking around with two water bottles—one for me and one for my dog—I realized there had to be a better option. Historically, I have taken a small bowl with me in which to pour water, but that required carrying a bag in 95 degree heat or having an extremely odd bulge in my shorts pocket, neither of which was very appealing. The genius of Springer’s bottle is that by having the water bowl fit tightly around the bottom but come off easily when needed, my dog and I can—and do—share a single water bottle. I feel a little silly spending so many words on what is essentially a normal water bottle with a silicone boot, so if you read this far, I apologize. But if you want a water bottle that is great for walks with your dog (or other pet), just get this one. -DW |
|
If you’re looking for some wholesome family fun today or just want to get stoned and transported back to a vintage America, rush on over to the South Slope Derby. Now in its 17th year (which is wild because I’m pretty sure I covered the event in its early days), the race features a wide assortment of soap box race cars made from recycled materials by local kids. Festivities start at noon today and continue until 3PM. -DW |
|
Freshen up your bathroom with a hand soap and lotion set from Frama. This Copenhagen-based brand is known for its Scandi-style furniture and lifestyle objects, but has gotten increasingly creative in the fragrance department as well. Frama’s latest scent, Columnae, is inspired by ancient stone sculpture, with notes of vetiver, black pepper, bitter orange, and thuja (also known as cedar leaf). A little piece of Rome, right at home. -VvP |
|
|
|
|
