Another year up in smoke….lets inhale a fresh breath of 2012

Do you need someone else to tell you your product/idea/execution/brand is great? We say don’t worry what anyone else thinks, trust your own judgment. When others doubt, be confident in your vision. Stop waiting for the perfect time to do what you want to do. Just go for it and do it now.

Don’t’ follow fashion trends. The most fashionable thing you can be is to be you. Travel the world, live in other cities, learn cultures. Learn because it keeps your mind young. You don’t need a university degree to be successful, although it may be helpful, but don’t do it because your parents – or you? – have status anxiety. Stop whining about it.

But what you do need is vision, tenacity and confidence in what you do. Do what you love now. Switch topics or schools now. Don’t wait till the last year of your education to realize that this isn’t your path. Listen to your heart, it knows what makes you happy.
If your job sucks, stop blaming others, your boss, your parents, the unverse. Just quit and take responsibility for your own choices. It’s not about the sucky job. It is about you being in the wrong place. There’s never a better time than now.

Start doing what your mind has been ticking away for you to do for years. Take risks. Be in a relationship that flows effortlessly. Trust your gut feeling. Intuition is strong and powerful.

Stop smoking, invest in your body, get off your ass and exercise. If you’re an entrepreneur , don’t spend all night on your projects. Practice balance and time management and have a life. Your family and kids are wondering why you aren’t home for dinner, again. What a waste of your time.

Have the tenacity and focus to execute an idea no matter how daunting it may seem at first. Have the confidence in what you’re doing even when others doubt. Create opportunities for yourself. It is time for you to step up.

Here at HR, we practice what we preach and we learn something every day. Everything we feature here on HR, is based on intuition. We don’t care if you or anyone else don’t like it or agree with what we feature. If we did that, we’d go insane and HR would be fake and boring and bland.

Sugar House Detroit

Sugar House Detroit from The Work on Vimeo.

Stepping up the standard established by more conventional cocktail bars and lounges, Sugar House specializes in a unique craft and classic cocktail experience for its thirsty and demanding Detroit clientele. From hand-crushed ice and freshly squeezed fruit juices to flaming cocktail inventions and an early 1900s environment, Sugar House offers a glimpse into its unique and refined underpinnings via its latest short film by The Work. Compiling a range of internationally curated beers, exceptional wines and locally grown ingredients, the Detroit-based craft cocktail bar puts an entirely new spin on the old “watering hole” cliche.

The Thursday Cocktail Recipe…for the Weekend

The Affiliate

1½ ounces rum, preferably Plantation Rum Jamaica 8-Year-Old
¾ ounce fino sherry, preferably Dry Sack medium
¾ ounce Cherry Heering
3 dashes Angostura bitters
3 dashes Angostura orange bitters
Ice
1 two-inch strip of orange peel, for garnish

In a cocktail shaker, combine the rum, sherry, Cherry Heering and both bitters. Add ice to fill. Stir until very cold. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice and garnish with the orange peel. Serve.

Travelteq Pencil Holder

The fine folks at Acquire have turned us to this pencil holder from Travelteq. Known for their fine leather goods, this one’s another stunning piece to add to their lineup. The case is hand-crafted from Florentine Vachetta leather and contains 19 colored pencils from Holland’s Bruynzeel.

Rose & Born Formal Collection

Here’s a first look at Italian label Rose & Born‘s Formal wear collection. The offerings range from a well-designed tuxedo to proper footwear for the black-tie affair as well as a few different cuff links, all offered up in a black and gold finish. Look for the collection to be offered through Rose & Born in the near future.

Louis Vuitton Holiday 2011 Accessories Men’s Collection

Here we have a look at goods from Louis Vuitton’s Holiday 2011 collection, with a strong focus on the accessories that are currently available from the Italian label. Included in the mix is a wide range of leather goods like wallets and phone holders as well as eyewear and wristwear. The pieces can be found now through Louis Vuittonboutiques and select stockiest.

Merry Christmas…….

My Christmas this Year……Santa brought me two things on my list..

Mercedes G Wagon….

Paul Smith Sherpa Hat…..

Before the point and shoot...

Before the age of the digital camera, there was a thing called film. Many of us will never learn how to use film, with our phones now having picture capabilities. But those you still seek out the true art of picture taking , as well as very unique piece to use when capturing that 35mm image, I would still use today's technology to convert my pictures and archive them...
This Leica M7 limited Edition Hermès offers a total of 200 silver chrome Leica M7 cameras with exquisite leather finishes applied by Hermès. The body and the carrying strap of the camera are made in Swift calfskin, a drummed leather with extreme suppleness. Connoisseurs of pieces that are extraordinary in both quality and style may choose between two eye-catching varieties in "étoupe" and "orange". Only 100 cameras are available in each of the two leather colours

Friday afternoon inspiration...

Mad et Len Scents for Autumn/Winter 2011

A new collection of scents from Mad et Len. As Por Vocacao tells us, “With its artisanal perfume making formula, we knew Mad et Len was going to be a hit, the moment we first set our eyes on those alluring black vials. Standing a long way from massive perfume making, the french brand focuses on sourcing the best natural raw materials.” Waft this way if you could, please.

The Thursday Cocktail Recipe…for the Weekend

North Garden

Demerara Syrup
1 cup demerara sugar
½ cup water

Dash Angostura Bitters
1 teaspoon rich demerara syrup
¼ ounce scotch, preferably Laphroaig 10-Year Islay Scotch
¾ ounce bourbon, preferably Buffalo Trace Bourbon
1½ ounce apple brandy, preferably Laird's Bonded Apple Brandy
Ice

1. Make the demerara syrup: In a large pot set over high heat, combine the demerara sugar and water and heat, stirring occasionally until dissolved. Set aside to cool and store in the refrigerator.

2. Make the cocktail: In a mixing glass, combine the bitters, 1 teaspoon of the reserved demerara syrup, Scotch, bourbon and apple brandy. Stir the ingredients. Pour into a rocks glass filled with ice. Serve.

Video | Alexander Olch, a Beautiful Model and the Four-in-Hand Knot

Alexander Olch and TheCorner.com produced this new video short on how to tie Olch’s favorite necktie knot, the four-in-hand. Model Aurelie Claudel is clearly more beautiful than Olch, but we still hear him narrating this one. That’s ok.
Directed by Matt Lenski.

Alexander Olch -- Knot Yourself from Alexander Olch on Vimeo.

The Scent | Odin New York 07 Tanoke

With five other extremely well-received scents in Odin New York’s lineup already, here’s another one that’s sure to get your attention. This unisex scent, 07 Tanoke, was developed with Paris-based Drom perfumer Corinne Cachen and blends memorable outdoor notes of Northern California. Ginger, orange, pepper, redwood and gaiac wood are all blended in 07 Tanoke. Other unisex scents in the lineup include 01 Nomad, 02 Owari, 03 Century, 04 Petrana and 06 Amanu.

Odin New York 07 Tanoke is available in 100 ml Eau de Toilette for $125 through Odin boutiques as well as select Barneys locations.

Normann Copenhagen Whisky Glass

Here's the perfect companion to that 25 year old single malt you recently procured. Rikke Hagen's Whisky Glass($53) for Normann Copenhagen was inspired by the designer's passion for collecting stones at the beach

J. Panther Luggage Co. Courier Ruc Case

Japan’s J. Panther Luggage Co. just released their latest, the Courier Ruc Case. Available in tan of black water resistant Horween leather, the Ruc Case is made to resist the toughest conditions in the city and beyond.  Features three-way carry options and plenty of storage for all your office goods. Available for $990 USD.

The Sunday Drive…1966 Porsche Typ 906 Carrera

Even a seasoned Porsche purist may not recognize this beast on the open road.  The 1966 Porsche Typ 906 Carrera wasn’t built with the modern family in mind, this one was designed to devastate on the racetrack.  One of 66 made, this Porsche ate Ferraris and Fords for breakfast, screaming across the track at speeds of up to 170mph.  At modern standards, this isn’t a shocking number, but for 1966, this vehicle pushed the cutting edge.  This week, this very 1966 Porsche Typ 906 will be auctioned by Bonhams for an expected price of $1.1 million.  Sure, you could spend that on a used Bugatti, but you won’t be getting the classic that this Porsche represents.

Our favorite part?  This Porsche has a rare personality.  We wouldn’t be surprised if we spent some time alone with this car and it began talking to us.  It may be fast and ferocious on the road, but there’s clearly something… loveable about this one.  We’ll take it.  Anyone mind floating us a loan for the auction payment?

Hufnagel Porteur City Bike

Jordan Hufnagel likes bikes. He rides them a lot and when not spinning around Portland Oregon he’s designing and building them. His latest project is the Porteur/City bike, the result of a years work to create his perfect bike. As you can see it’s pretty good looking but we’re told it’s also a joy to ride. But seriously, look at it,  handsome right?

Anyway, this features “a custom fitted hand built frame, fork, stem and rack.All designed to have a clean look and intuitive function.” A lot of the bits n’ pieces that make up the frame were made in Jordan’s own house with much love care and attention no doubt. It’s a limited run and if you’re looking for a Christmas present to make everyone elses efforts seem pathetic then this is it. 

PicNYC Table

Made by Haiko Cornelissen Archtecten, this PicNYC table is designed for the urban farmer in you. Or maybe it’ll inspire the urban farmer in you, it’d be hard to ignore it with grass on your table. The grass is meant to offer the experience of picnicking inside, and you’ll have to do upkeep on the grass  – which will be fun depending on how green your fingers are. (Architizer)

Louis Vuitton Tambour Minute Repeater

Nowness features this short film highlighting Louis Vuitton‘s new timepiece, the Tambour Minute Repeater. It was crafted in collaboration with Swiss master horologists of La Fabrique du Temps. True to the brand’s renown for handcrafted luxury travel accessories, the watchmakers reveal the complex mechanics employed to display one time while being able, upon request, to chime an alternative ‘home’ time. Video can be found below.

The Thursday Cocktail Recipe…for the Weekend

Boudoir
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise pod
1 peach, peeled and pitted
1 ounce rye whiskey
1 ounce fresh lemon juice
Ice
2½ ounces Demi-Sec sparkling wine

1. In a small saucepot, bring the sugar and 1 cup water to a boil. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the cinnamon stick and star anise pod, followed by the peach. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 40 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let cool. Refrigerate the syrup until ready to use.

2. In a cocktail shaker, combine the rye whiskey, lemon juice and 1¼ ounces peach syrup. Add ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled flute and top with the sparkling wine. Serve.

Openings: David Flores x Phil Stern – “The Beginning of an Era” @ The Phil Stern Gallery

A few days ago, artist David Flores and photographer Phil Stern unveiled their joint exhibition at the Phil Stern Gallery showcasing an incredible collection of timeless images blending Stern’s photography and Flores’ unique design. The pictures included iconic personalities ranging from Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, Frank Sinatra, and James Dean, just to name a few. Having Flores add his design over every one of those photos gave the collection a unique twist which seemed to blend the past and the present almost seamlessly. As we have seen with previous murals painted by Flores such as the James Dean wall (covered), he takes iconic images and reworks them in such a way that the original source feels new and innovative. Of course, the credit also goes to Stern and his collection of superb photos, a variety of which had never been shown to the public before.

Rounding out the exhibit, there was only one photo which was not shot by Phil Stern, a portrait of Stern shot by our own AM staffer Carlos Gonzalez and fittingly, it featured Stern not behind the camera but rather in front of it; thus  highlighting the collaboration between Flores and Stern. Overall, the exhibit was certainly a treat to those who were able to attend and it will remain open till February 4th, 2012.

Cocoon Fireplace by Federico Otero

Bring a little 1960′s contemporary ski chalet to your modern home environment with the Cocoon Fireplace by Federico Otero.  This ceiling-mounted, small-form fireplace cooks clean bio fuel for a bright burn without the smoke or safety hazards of a traditional fireplace.  Insert the lighting mechanism, give it a spark and your room is aglow with an accent that can make your modern interior.  When not in use, note Otero’s suggestion of using the Cocoon Fireplace as a wine chiller.  Nice touch– we’ll take one for each room, thank-you-very-much. [viabeautifullife]

Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2012 Lookbook

Italian label Louis Vuitton has unveiled their Spring/Summer 2012 Men’s Collection through this lookbook which highlights the offerings throughout different travels explored by a stylish adventurer. The Ready-to-wear pieces range from sweaters and jackets to sneakers while other goods are highlighted as well included eyewear and a few travel pieces,

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The Sunday Drive…part duex BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

BMW debuts its answer to the CLS (and the A7) with the new 6 Series Gran Coupe. The car will hit USA showrooms with three models: a 3.0L 315 hp Twin Turbo V6, a 4.4L 415 hp Twin Turbo V8, and all wheel drive "xDrive" model with the same V8. The former engine will hit 0-62 in 5.4 seconds while the top of the line V8 will reach 62 in just 4.6 second

The Sunday Drive…ICON 4×4 1968 Ford Bronco

With the blessing and assistance from Ford MoCo in the way of CAD files, archivals and tech support, ICONbegan the project to bring this stunning ICON 1968 Ford Bronco to life. It began with five extremely hard to come by uncut-fender late 1960′s Ford Broncos. ICON then garnered both emotional and financial support from a few people hungry to get their hands on these first versions. A modern custom chassis was then designed by the group at Art Morrison.

From that point, the development went full force and painstakingly so. ICON 4×4 went full on and worked on development of all new components for the suspension, steering, axles, and brakes. They dropped in a Ford 5.0 liter V8 found in the current Mustang GT, spewing out 412 horsepower and 390 lb feet of torque. Talk about choosing wisely. This power was coupled with Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing, which provides 25 mpg on average to the blocky beast, quite remarkable for a vehicle this size. Custom exterior bits include stainless steel grille, tailgate panel, door handles, side mirrors and exterior light guards. Going high-tech, ICON also installed a full battery of LED lighting, front and rear. But they didn’t stop on the outside. The interior is fully custom with revised, modern ergonomics such as new instrument dash panel, gauges, door panels and glovebox panel, sparing no detail to bring the cabin into the 21st century. The project’s overwhelming degree of detail cannot be overstated, utilizing specialists in each field, from chassis design to fine details such as the numbered, laser-cut plate, identifying the fact that you were one of the privileged few to get his hands on one. Since the first precious batch, ICON has made two more, special order, naturally. No word as to how many more will be made, if any, but it’s good to know that this kind of craftsmanship and detail still exists today.

T & F Slack Shoemakers - London

Wanna add little pop of color to a classic shoe, or little shelf expression, check out these oxfords from T& F shoemakers.  These modern classics can also be made to order.