Artist: Lucy McKenzie

"Cheyney and Eileen Disturb a Historian at Pompeii"

Just when I thought there was nothing to write about, I stumbled across Scottish illustrator Lucy McKenzie. McKenzie is a very diverse artist who takes on numerous styles ranging from hyperrealist to abstraction in a variety of media. Her latest series of work is very much influenced by Belgian artist Hergé - who created Tintin - and places her subjects in interesting world destinations in the style of Hergé.

"Lucy and Paulina in the Moscow Metro" / "Simon in Fort Greene"

MSTRKRFT Essential Mix 05.23.2008

Toronto's MSTRKRFT - consisting of Jesse Keeler and Al-P - lend their hands to this week's Essential Mix on BBC Radio One. The two hour electro punk house mix is out-of-this-world and worth checking out - only if you like to party hard.

To be honest, I wasn't much of a fan until I heard this mix. Glad to see these Toronto boys putting out something that can seriously compete with the world's best! This is my top Essential Mix of the year so far.

Imagination Garden

I was strolling along Yonge St this morning as they were setting up for their annual Green Toronto Festival. They close down the City's busiest intersection outside of the Eaton Centre for car-free activities for everyone - especially hippies and families.


This little thing set up by ING Direct caught my eye - it's called an 'Imagination Garden' and it is equipped with trees and a play area for children. I think it would be a great idea to set up similar micro-environments like this all over the city could give the illusion of green space, and retrofit them with tables for people to sit and enjoy the good weather in the middle of the busiest areas of Toronto. This would be good for the psyche and even as an decorative installation for the landscape. It doesn't take up too much space and is a great idea that I could see people falling for.

It would make a nice intimate break from the concrete jungle that is the city.

As green as it gets

He makes it look so easy

St. Patrick's Day was earlier this week and it made me realize two things:

i. everyone claims to have some connection to Ireland and,
ii. I have no green clothing!

If I were to go out to a bar and drink green beer on that festive day, I would have nothing to wear! I mean, who doesn't wear green on St. Patty's Day?? It just wouldn't look right.

I have always been simple with my colours: keeping it grey, black and white for the most part. I like the dark, mysterious look. I experimented with purple, but it didn't really work out for me... I sure as hell couldn't go green.

It's not like I hate the green or anything. I do consume things that are green. Like, money (specifically, $20 bills being the most common of cash), my aftershave happens to be green, same with my mouthwash... but clothes? Maybe I should branch out a little, take some risks. Summer's coming up, making it a perfect time to do this. I should have made this a New Year's resolution or something.

But this goes to show you, it's not easy being green.

Pimp my Eiffel

I love design competitions.

Especially those that mess with an iconic structure in attempt to refresh it's image.

The competition is for the 120th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower and was an open call to designers to reconfigure any of the public reception or access areas in a manner that suits Gustave Eiffel’s renowned structure.


The winner of the competition was Serero Architects and their design consists of a carbon kevlar structure TEMPORARILY (thankfully) affixed to the top floor plate. Not only will this double the capacity of the platform, it will give visitors a new and improved 360-degree view of the city and an interesting new look for the structure and the Paris skyline.

What do you wear under that Batsuit?

Bale and Freeman while filming The Dark Knight

Not only does Italian design house Giorgio Armani design the Italian Police Force's uniforms, they will soon be taking care of another crime fighter: one Caped Crusader. Batman's alter ego, Bruce Wayne will be getting the designer treatment in this summer's The Dark Knight being clad from head-to-toe in an Armani wardrobe when he's not in his Batsuit. Why expect anything less from billionaire-playboy Bruce Wayne? You can see Christian Bale looking pretty sleek in Dark Knight-themed print ads in fashion magazines when marketing for the film begins.

Craig and Bond girls

Another big movie getting the designer treatment is James Bond, who has a new tailor, namely Tom Ford. The 007 franchise is known to have brand names associated with it, like Omega watches, and previously, Brioni suits. Daniel Craig is reported to have ruined around 40 bespoke suits by Ford during filming already. I'm sure there will be 40 more by the time Quantum of Solace reaches theatres later this year.

Fashion seems to be the the newest addition to movie product tie-ins, or at least, it's more on the radar because of these two blockbusters coming out. I don't understand why this hasn't caught on in other Hollywood films. I mean, fashion is more realistic to have in your flick than Dominos Pizza or Pepsi, because people wear clothes the whole time - unless it's a love scene or something - maybe then they could have designer underwear or sheets. More films should have fashion incorporated in their marketing campaigns to get the names out there and to even influence style.

This has got me wondering: who will Tony Stark be wearing?

Satellite Radio

I've always wanted it, now I'm listening to the greatness of what is Satellite Radio! They have even have portable XM devices so you can have the world at your earbuds - with no commercials!

I suppose this is how it works

Maybe I'm just really excited because I'm craving an alternative to my ever-static iPod. It's possible they will standardize satellite radio the way they are getting rid of analog televisions by 2010, but no announcements made yet.


XM

Sirius