By:
On:
In: Design, Urban Life

The international symbols for man and woman often used on signage for restrooms at airports, museums, restaurants and public places, etc., throughout the world are sometimes reinterpreted by designers. We noticed a lot of variations on the symbols at various places in Amsterdam on our recent visit there. Pictured hereContinue Reading

By:
On:
In: Street Art

We love this large stencil street art image of a black puma in Amsterdam Centrum, along Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal street with lots of street art that connect Centraal Station to the Western Canals District.

By:
On:
In: Art, Street Art

The introduction wall at a show of works by contemporary Polish artist Polina Olowska at Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum displays the exhibition’s title “Au Bonheur des Dames” written  as classic, early “wild style”-era graffiti by Mick La Rock along with some tags by other prominent graffiti artists from the international scene,Continue Reading

By:
On:
In: Spaces, Places & Architecture, Urban Life

We just arrived in Amsterdam, and now, after settling into our hotel and freshening up from the flight from NYC, we’re enjoying a coffee in front of the Christmas tree in the lobby, pictured below. We’ll be spending a few days here hanging out with old friends, collaborators and creators,Continue Reading

By:
On:
In: Art

Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum has an excellent modern and contemporary art collection, which includes “Something Pacific,” the cheeky and literally meditative artwork by pioneering Korean-American video artist Nam June Paik. The installation (pictured below) is of a classical, somber Buddha statue facing a closed circuit video camera and television set displayingContinue Reading

By:
On:
In: Street Art

Here’s a nice piece of photo-based stencil street art by the artist TONA in Amsterdam’s Centrum neighborhood. The artwork is wheat-pasted and shows a small, blonde child holding an aluminum can (perhaps a can of beer?)

By:
On:
In: Design

This is one of the more interesting things we’ve seen in a museum lately. It’s the notebook of the man who originally conceived the iconic Volkswagen van, which eventually became the basis for the more popularly known VW bus. The notebook contains his initial sketches of the vehicle, and it’sContinue Reading

By:
On:
In: Design, Style & Fashion, Urban Life

Now that we’re finally getting some real summer weather here in New York City, we’ve busted out a pair of denim espadrilles with an awesome skull-and-bones sewn into each shoe. The skulls are wearing hats, though — look closely — and you’ll notice that the hats are different for theContinue Reading

By:
On:
In: Street Art

De Pijp is a popular — if overplayed — Amsterdam neighborhood among hipsters, tourists, and expats locals alike. Not that these are mutually exclusive tribes, mind you. It’s home to a huge, famous street market, cool advertising agency offices, great cafes and lots and lots of street art, including theseContinue Reading

By:
On:
In: Design, Urban Life

A few months ago we posted about the really great espresso cafe in Amsterdam called Headfirst. We recently re-visited Headfirst and picked up a bag of their rich, heady-flavorful espresso beans, which came in a bag with hand-drawn labeling (“Costa Rica, Los Robles, Cup of Excellence #2”) by one ofContinue Reading