December 31, 2009 • 12:32 pm • POSTED BY Jim Walls
Soon, everything you own will be available in Star Wars format. Which I, for one, am comfortable with, as long as I never see a KitchenAid Jar Jar Edition Stand Mixer. Check out these 2010 collaborations between the franchise and Adidas. They had me at the Millennium Falcons, though the Dagobahs look pretty comfortable for lounging around on the weekend or during your self-imposed exile in your swamp hut.
What’s your favorite sneaker collaboration of the last decade?
December 28, 2009 • 1:07 pm • POSTED BY tim beitz
It’s the last week of December, and if you’re reading this, you’re probably at work. Looking for something to get you thru? If that’s a hell yeah, I’d like to introduce you to Frank & Erik. They’re Internet Famous, and you can too!
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December 23, 2009 • 5:17 pm • POSTED BY Brian Tennyson
To highlight a few of the new faces, and keep the tradition going, here is this year’s dose of holiday photos.
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December 22, 2009 • 4:48 pm • POSTED BY lhendler
The Phillies didn’t win the world series this year. But as an avid fan, I think I speak for most people when I say, we Phillies fans are just fine with that. Why? Because we won in 2008 and no one thought we would. And one of the key players responsible for clinching the 2008 World Series for the Phightin Phils, Jimmy Rollins, decided to make another contribution to Philadelphia history yesterday — his 2008 jersey.
The Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia, the city’s history museum, gladly accepted along with the City, the opportunity to showcase Rollins’ jersey in their new sports gallery when the Museum reopens after major renovations through much of 2010.
160over90 is currently rebranding the Museum which will also become public in 2010, so my colleagues and I had the pleasure of attending the dedication event yesterday afternoon at the Independence Visitor Center. Originally scheduled for City Hall, a last minute venue change was necessary due to heightened interest that not even two feet of snow could derail. Speakers included Mayor Nutter, Phillies President David Montgomery, Executive Director of the Museum Viki Sand, Philadelphia politico and now filmmaker Sam Katz, and of course J Roll.
J Roll, humbly smiled and joked as many spoke of his contributions to the game, the city and community. But, besides seeing JRoll impecibly dressed with just the right amount of bling for the occasion, my favorite part of the event was the clip shown of Sam Katz’s new documentary film, Philadelphia: The Great Experiment. Rollins narrates the film, of which only a teaser is currently available for viewing. Worth checking out if you like Philly, history, baseball or any combination of the three.
Congrats Jimmy!
December 22, 2009 • 4:33 pm • POSTED BY Dan Shepelavy
I discovered Mew the day after they played a show for the ages in Philly. Argh. If the dragon on the cover of the Asia record and the aardvark tank on the cover of ELP’s Tarkus had a band they would sound like Mew. Fantasies, by Metric, was a grower. At first I thought it was hazy and unfocused, now I think it’s hazy and sexy, which is better. Lissy Trullie is the kind of rock they play at photoshoots, and by all rights I should hate it on it’s too-cool for school-ness alone. Nope. Love it. Lissy gets the flannel and leather CBGB & OMFUG merit ribbon.
LaRoux’s retro synth pop confection shuts off the noggin and cues the shimmy. There is chrome cheese all over Invisible Limits, a hopelessly obscure 80’s German dark synth band, but it rules my late night headphoning when my resolve is weak. Rheingold are also German, but sharper and smarter and can be played proudly in the sober light of morning. The Photos were supposed to be Britain’s answer to Blondie. Oh well. Clothidle is a brilliantly odd side of old french pop – Ye-Ye riding Joe Meek’s Telstar.
Silver Jews, Algebra Suicide, the Wipers, and Giant Sand - weird that we should only meet now. God Help the Girl – thanks for introducing me to the Divine Comedy of Neil Hannon. Tortoise! Tortoise! Tortoise!
Some slivers of nostalgia. The home digitized 7″ of “All Ages Show” by Dag Nasty smells of clove cigarettes, VFW halls. The Dead Kennedys mature over time as well as Iron Maiden – from my fogie vantage Frankenchrist is now a deeply arty pleasure. And a ripping hardcore record. DI’s 2007 resurgence is a bitchin‘ validation of the awesomeness of OC punk.
At this point Dan Bejar’s Destroyer dwells in some magical Baroque hotel of blissed out self indulgence, across the hall from Jimmy Webb and drunk thespian Richard Harris. “Bay of Pigs” is his “MacArthur Park” – ridiculous, sublime, and, yes, drunk.
Morrissey released this years best record, Years of Refusal.
[Download the comp, here.]
Front cover image: William Merritt Chase, The Tenth Street Studio, c. 1880
Back cover image: Wingate Paine, from Mirror of Venus, 1964-65
December 21, 2009 • 6:58 pm • POSTED BY stephen penning
De’Longhi creates products that have innovative features. Whether it is a heater that turns itself off when knocked over or a coffee machine that you can fill without having to move it. Now, more than in recent memory, people are doing more comparison shopping and looking to make quality purchases that offer them real value (imagine the last sentence with a VO from Sam Waterson). That is why our latest campaign for De’Longhi focuses on getting people to experience one of their elite lines of products – automatic espresso machines.
How? We first established a larger presence at retail with De’Longhi ambassadors who give private demonstrations of automatic espresso machines. We promote the product at the retail location in kiosks and with banners. Around retail locations where people aren’t in the direct periphery of a De’Longhi ambassador we cast a wider net with the products we promote and the mediums we use.
Online we use rich media to communicate the automatic espresso experience. People can literally test the product inside of a banner. (Here is an example of how it works – sans the banner). Once they have made themselves a virtual latte, cappuccino, macchiato or espresso they can share their beverage through Facebook using De’Longhi Sip Sender or find out where to get a private demonstration.
The early results of the campaign are positive with a huge increase in web traffic and web banner interaction out performing relevant category interaction. Data on the success of the retail demos to come. Stay tuned.
