just sake.

read about ginjo + daiginjo sakes here. an informative book on the subject is The Insider's Guide to Sake by brewer Philip Harper (published by Kodansha International Ltd), available here.

i'm a fan of the colorful (+ reasonable) assortments of sake sets + glasses pictured below @ pearl river market. click here to order. oh, these can double as tea sets.

sushi class 101.

fish is good. sake is good. if you like the combo + know a sushi enthusiast, why not check out sushi samba sushi + sake 101 (new york + chicago + miami locations) offer two-hour classes @ $70/pp. Classes are limited to 20 people. Offered the last Monday of every month from 7 PM- 9 PM (212) 691.7885 (reservations in New York). call the other branches for respective schedules.

here is a mock-up menu:

*tempura with junmai sake
*white meat (chicken) & fish skewers with ginjo sake
*sushi platter, chefs roll from SAMBA sushi menu (changes monthly) + 4pcs of nigiri sushi fresh salmon, tuna, yellowtail, eel-- can be paired with any sake

Roll your own sushi rolls whichever way you like. Use chef tools and get a bit of buzz on.
types of fish discussed: Tuna, salmon, yellowtail, kanpachi (baby yellowtail), striped bass, madai + snapper.

guests are given booklets that include brief information from the class such as: history of sake, types of sake, sake production, history of sushi, types of fish plus the recipe for yummy S.S. signature Rainbow Dragon Roll and recipe for Tuna Seviche.

++ if you don't want to spring for that...purchase a nice bottle of sake, a sharp chef knife or dinnerware.

(behold)...tis' the gift season.

the next few days, i'll offer some suggestions for gifts and the like for the holiday season. feel free to add your own suggestions (either via email or in the commentary).

falalala-lala

check out elsewares for the quirky or difficult gal or guy to please. gifts from $25 to $100.

dzama + wallace

the five year anniversary fiesta @ mz wallace has unleashed these wicked designs collaborated with the offbeat, original artist marcel dzama. check out here...wickedly cool, unique and something for the taste of the macabre.

**bonus: mz wallace is also having their annual sample sale today and tomorrow @ 93 crosby street (b/w prince + spring) from 10-8PM. ALL BAGS $50.00 (cash only).

paper weights.

small, stylish and colorful. nice gift idea. keep the paper organized...@ iomoi for around $35 (including monogramming).

silver spoon

italy's no. one cook book for 50 years + illustrations + the fact it's a phaidon book is finally available to the states. order here.

victory @ arrowhead.

doubters stand down.*greg wesley intercepts three.

after the turkey...

still recovering from the food...oh boy.

thought i would share my pal ryan's take on the birds, in the form of these owls and other forms of prey by OIVA TOIKKA...glass blower extraordinaire...also available at velocity.

Professor Oiva Toikka’s apparently limitless imagination, combined with a sophisticated knowledge of glass, has made it possible for him and his glassblowers to create small miracles of life from glass for over 30 years.

esque.

in the theme of the turkey-bird season, one should not miss this collection from designers andi kovel + justin parker called esque. DIG on the sleeping bird + sleeping bird light. they use blown-glass to create lights, vases, pitchers, ashtrays, sculpture...you name it. mission statement from website reads: "though experimentation with various forms and techniques, we strive to achieve a coherent vision of functional home accessories, lighting, and architectural detailing. our interest is in the inherent attributes of glass, which we infuse into each aspect of the living environment. the name esque refers to the suffix, and is a nod to the acknowledgment of outside influences and inspiration." available at portland store, intelligent design (*ask for jen) and velocity.

mz wallace.

the folks here can do no wrong @ mz wallace. dig on their winter 05 collection of handbags. my camo bag is in it's 3rd season of use. still going + going...great bargain on a durable, long-lasting bag--the classic totes are super for computers.

just good.

jenn tipped me off to this great design website, good on paper design, which offers an array of simple graphic designs by a california based-artist in the form of cards and such.

holidays + the moma

cool holiday gifts abound at the moma. check here for some festive party hits for wine + cheese and other stocking stuffers.

alexander taylor.

another UK designer, alexander taylor makes it this AM's blog-bag of goodies. a bit of bio: "After studying Furniture and Product Design at Nottingham Trent University Alexander started his career working on the furniture collection at Procter-Rihl...Milan 2004 was the first international launch of the 'Antlers' coat hook (pictured atop) for London manufacturer Thorsten van Elten."

waterloo + army dudes + rock stars.

plastic army guys (here: War Bowl Series, Waterloo edition--bowl made from melted plastic soldiers from the Battle of Waterloo, half french infantry, half British artillery.) you wish you had thought of this project but it's too late because east london designers mosley meets wilsey have already considered it + beat you to the punch. they also have a rock'n'roll site (naturally) with blondie shoes + iggy pop plates (check below), along with vases + screen printed tables paying homage to the leathery Jaggers of the world.

azure.

an excellent portland architect told me about the architectural design magazine, azure. i love this lighting concept by british designer jessica shaw, included in the most recent issue of azure (on newsstands).

be serious.

wall decor folks...this one is for you, check out serious gnome. from their site: "Inspired by both decorative chalkware from the 1940s and contemporary design, the result is a set of modern icons for your home. Each sculptural wall plaque is lovingly made by hand, and is finished with up to nine layers of colored coatings. This meticulous layering results in a rich, candy-like finish." available at the ever-great, rare device in brooklyn.

canoe.

Add a new favorite city to the list--portland. for various reasons. one being this great, warm design store, canoe (@ 1136 SW Adler St). the website is up+coming (the store itself owned by the lovely Sean is brand new), but to get an idea...check out his simple, clean and highly design worthy collection of goods. a few faves: the log cabin, the birds, the slinky (one for nico), the noguchi lanterns....the list goes on + on. and, please, go visit Portland immediately.

think BIG.

just returned from portland + discussed bringing back think BIG (apparently big in Germany right now). Love the big shoe, tennis ball, ruler, toothbrush + pencil. think big. 80's but works in the moderne world.

comic tees.

great t-shirts by emily ryan lerner @ her website appropriately titled girl of the future.

tags.

keep yourself in the know/now...with the daily street tags of NYC + LA+ PARIS + TOKOYO @ streetsy. it's old skool (note: we can never go home again) meets new skool meets anti-bush sentiments and paris hilton, pop culture botherings + the ole' regular old andre tags and inspiration to a new (yet skeptial) generation.

the teaching co.

should you be sick of your i-pod or need some verbal stimulation, check out the teaching company with lectures on history, the fine arts, literature, philosophy, religion, business + the sciences. all courses come on cd, dvd or tape along with a standard syllabi + supplemental material. professors come from yale, harvard, university of chicago, stanford....the distinguished list goes on + on. a great continuing education piece or gift to hand out (tis' the upcoming season).