Remember the Dewey Decimal System? We loved it in grade school. Author, Subject and Title were our bread and butter. That’s why we took note when we saw the Library Hotel, New York’s hot spot for people in search of literacy rich environments. The concept driven hotel has 10 guest floors, 60 rooms and over 6,000 volumes of books – all organized by the Dewey Decimal System.
They say the best innovations come from cross pollinating ideas. This is definitely true for the Library Hotel. Although you may wonder, hotel and library? It makes perfect sense. Libraries do suggest comfort and peace. We recommend the Library Hotel as a place to stay if you’re in NY. It’s located at 299 Madison Avenue – 41st street. Click read more for additional information and photos.
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Many people around the world will travel to various destinations to join in on the New Year’s Eve festivities. Some of the top spots famous for New Year’s Eve celebration are: Amsterdam, London, Madrid, New Orleans and New York, Rio De Janeiro, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, and Vienna.
Australia was one of the first countries in the world to celebrate the New Year. One of the largest fireworks in the world is displayed in Sydney’s harbor gathering 1-1.5 million people. In New York City, the celebrations are commemorated by the drop of the world famous Waterford Crystal Ball located above Times Square. Other ball drops are part of the celebrations in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro and Sydney. In Russia, the New Year is greeted with eating extravagant foods and drinking champagne while the giant clock of the Kremlin tower chimes in the New Year…
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Today’s travel briefing highlights bad weather present throughout the country. The midwest is getting hit with a fast moving storm-system spreading snow and rain over most of the region. Hopefully it will break in time for New Year’s Eve. Click read more for today’s travel headlines…
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The way we travel says a lot. A recent article published by the New York Times analyzes Iraq’s sudden increase in motor scooter use. It also offers an astute look into everyday life as an Iraqi.
As tensions flare due to the war, traffic jams, threats of car bombs and other system failures, the scooter has risen as an unexpected response to the tension. According to the article, the scooter’s appeal stems from several factors. The most notable being its cost effectiveness, ability to detract attention from both militia and checkpoint guards, as well as allowing riders to swiftly navigate lenghty traffic jams.
The NY Times describes it best when they say, “Every day, more cars venture onto Baghdad’s dust-choked streets, adding to epic traffic jams and sending blood-pressure levels through the roof, as drivers spew invective, gesticulate wildly and steadfastly ignore any and all driving laws. But tens of thousands of Baghdadis have found an antidote in the venerable motor scooter.” This article is a great read – be sure to check it out. Also, click read more for additional photos and information. We’ve listed a few of our favorite quotes from the article with a picture of our choice scooter – the honda ruckus.
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Discovering art among the hustle & bustle of a city is one of the best ways to experience a new destination. If you visit NYC over the next few months you have to stop by Fulton Street. You won’t be disappointed.
Construction never looked this good. Fulton Fence is a temporary installation on the corner of Fulton Street and Broadway in New York City. It is on view until spring of 2008. The project is a response to the effects of development; in particular the visual pollution created by the presence of construction sites in small concentrated areas. The beautifying methods used on Fulton Street are something that could easily be replicated in other cities. Click read more for additional photos and information.
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WEJETSET is delighted to welcome another writer to our editorial team. Dr. Lana Braverman, an expert in the field of travel health, is a current member of the International Society of Travel Medicine. ISTM is an organization dedicated to the promotion of safe and healthy travel. Independently and through ISTM, Dr. Braverman’s activities are focused on pharmaceutical sciences, medical education and research. As a healthcare professional and constant traveler, Dr. Braverman understands the risks and needs of today’s travel.
Dr. Braverman will guide wejetset’s editorial on travel health. Each article will provide easy to use information for healthy and safe travel. We’ve assembled a team of experts, led by Dr. Lana Braverman, to help you meet your travel health needs and will continue to provide health news, solutions and alerts on topics of travel health.
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If you like saving time, you’ll love the Clear Card. The Clear Card allows its members to pass through airport security faster, with more predictability and less hassle. With Clear you will get a consistent experience all the way to the gate. Clear members have access to a separate, express security lane by using an identity card containing their encrypted fingerprint or iris images at select airports. The gift card comes imprinted with a unique code which, when entered on the online application, will grant the recipient one free year of Clear membership. A perfect item for the frequent traveler.
The Clear Gift Cards are available in the wejetset store.
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Autopilot is closer than you think. In April 2008, the opening of Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 will launch a slue of progressive projects to make travel easier. Our favorite is the Personal Rapid Transport – a driverless travel system that uses its own guideway network to get around.
The debut of this project is a significant step in its history of trial and error. Since 1953 people have worked to implement a networked system of personal transports, but this will be the first time it’s ever been publicly tested. We’re excited to see how things develop. A successful implementation of the project could lead to other benefits for cities, the environment, and traffic safety. Click read more for additional pictures and links.
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Google sends the gift of information this Holiday Season. They recently announced a new feature that will allow users to find the latest information on a flight’s status. All the user has to do is simply search for an airline and flight number, and the first result will tell you whether your flight is on time or delayed as well as the estimated departure and arrival times. Over the holidays, this will be particularly useful considering the usual travel madness.
Google announces Flight Tracking
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It’s intimidating to learn a new public transit system. Which line do I take? What if I don’t have my transfer pass? How many trains before there is enough room for me to get on? If I leave home an hour early, will I still have enough time to get to work? Many of us have had these questions racing through our minds when all we wanted to do was get from point A to B. Recognizing this need, HopSpot jumped in with a solution.
HopStop is your online city transit guide. They provide door-to-door subway and bus directions. Think of them like Google Maps for public transportation. The site is fairly intuitive and continues to offer impressive new features – like mobile access and new categories of interests while you’re moving around the city.
wejetset recommends HopStop
Visit their site for locations
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Qbic Hotels claim to be no frills, but their hands-off approach and smart design provide exactly what you need and more. These affordable space-conscious hotels have mastered their niche. With a travel industry that is zooming toward the mantra that cheaper is better, many often miss the concept of value. Sometimes we don’t need those extra services if the core ones are done right. That is Qbic’s ethos. They’ve seen growing success in Europe by appealing to the individual who wants a nice place to rest their head, but doesn’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a huge room he or she will never be in.
We recommend Qbic Hotels if you’re looking for an inspiring place to stay, that’s brimming with wi-fi, tasteful technology, good service, city access, night life and just the right amount of design touches by folks like Philippe Starck. Click read more to view additional pictures and information.
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The iPhone’s functionality continues to grow. As spotted by PSFK, the techies are whispering of possibilities for a TomTom x iPhone collaboration.
Engadget reports: “Dutch manufacturer TomTom might be developing a GPS module for the iPhone. A spy shot of the GPS device suggests that the mapping would work and look like TomTom’s other navigation systems, and that the small device would connect to the iPhone through its sync port. The rumor remains unconfirmed, but here’s to hoping…” We would love to see this happen.
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This year’s Art Basel Miami saw an unprecedented number of murals by street artists and graffiti aficionados hit the walls of the Wynwood Art District in downtown Miami. The site specific, street level installation called Primary Flight included artists: David Choe, Lady Pink, Retna, El Mac, Richard Hambleton, She Kills He, Santiago Rubino, Siner, Depoe, Logan Hicks, Peat Wollaeger, Kenton Parker, Reyes, Dolla, AIM, MSG, Brandon Opalka, Blek Le Rat, Tes One, Bask, Michael De Feo, Futura, Andy Howell, Cycle, Ellis G., Gorilla Tactiks, The London Police. We were fortunate enough to see some of the artists at work on ladders with spray paint in hand in an exhilarating display of public art in action. The Mac, an artist based in Los Angeles, graced one warehouse exterior wall with a stunningly sensual image of a woman in green, aqua and blue tones. Nearby, abstract pieces alongside what appeared to be painted in projections of life-size portraits of city folk, converged with multiple pieces of work and one panoramic photo installation on a series of corners in the vicinity of NW 2nd Avenue and NW 23rd Street.
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Monocle releases their Travel Top 50. Instead of using obvious topics for selecting the best in travel, they’ve stepped off the beaten path and present something slightly different. Compiled by the editors’ top experiences, you’ll find their suggestions dig deeper into the realm of travel. For instance, instead of best hotel, they present the best hotel gym, most complete concierge, bed-linen to look forward to and best high-altitude retreat.
We were happy to see Haneda Airport (also known as Tokyo International Airport) named as the most efficient transit hub. Watching their efficiency is art in motion. Handling 65.3 million passengers in 2006 with the majority of its services dedicated to domestic travel is quite an impressive feat.
View Monocle’s Travel Top 50
Subscribe to their podcast
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Miami Beach’s Base Annex on Lincoln Road (a popular stretch of shops and outdoor eats) offers a delectable experience in the art of shopping. Tucked off in a corner down a small walkway, the store’s Alice in Wonderland ambience is felt as soon as you step across its threshold. Items from furniture, pillows and jewelry to clothes, lamps and bags are presented in small color themed rooms. Curated by the stores owner Steven Giles, every room offers a full bodied experience of seating, lighting and accessories built around a shared color, red, green, black, you name it.
Each item within the rooms has an elegant handmade artsy feel that inspires shoppers to purchase it, and artists to go home and make it. Imagine painting your grandmother’s antique Louis XVI chair lavender, reupholstering it with silk purple and gold Indian Sari fabric, placing your favorite purple fuzzy slippers underneath it and sipping mint tea from your periwinkle tea glass bought in Morocco – you get the idea.
wejetset recommends Base Annex
Location: 927 Lincoln Road, Suite 118 (next to Design Within Reach)
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From the BlueSky Design Group we present another great holiday gift. The Dosh Wallet is designed and manufactured in Sydney Australia. The unique blend of flexible and semi-flexible polymers create a wallet that is durable, stylish, and packed with clever features for modern lifestyles. The patented design consists of special storage areas for credit cards, notes, coins, as well as a unique integrated compartment for items including sim cards, keys, condoms and security cards. All of these features are packaged in a beautiful form that is molded in a range of vivid contemporary colors.
Dosh wallets are available in the wejetset store.
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Bike riding is quickly becoming a sensible (not-to-mention chic) alternative to driving a car. Velib, Paris’ public bicycle rental program, makes it easier (and greener) to get around the city in style. After depositing 150-Euros, bikers can purchase subscriptions ranging from one day to one year. Considering Paris’ metro closes at 1am and cab fare can be pricey, Velib is a great alternative – especially for those late night excursions. Read more to see additional pics and video.
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While vacationing with his family at the Ritz-Carlton in Miami, Alex Goldberg got bored. So he snuck out. There was a pool party going on at the uber-hip Delano Hotel and Alex got in wearing sneakers, cargo shorts and a baggy t-shirt. In no time a crowd of women gathered around Alex. Jamie Foxx took notice and bought him a drink. Alex ended his night at Nobu, where he hung out with Venus and Serena Williams, while the paparazzi snapped pics. Alex was 12 at the time.
Alex Goldberg is far from your typical teen (he’s 14 now). The precocious Goldberg gets free gourmet meals, complimentary gear from Supreme and courtside Knicks tickets. The kid is cool with Jay-Z and Beyoncé – not a bad life. When asked what he wants to do when he get older, he said, “I want to own Nike.”
The beauty of Alex’s fame is the fact he earned it the old-fashioned way: by being himself. He roams the streets of New York the way kids in the suburbs cruise the mall. Except Alex actually engages the adults in serious conversation. He’s curious about everything and interested in everyone.
Read about Alex’s exceptional childhood [Here]
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In our high speed lives it’s easy to forget the natural beauty that exists around us. Fiberoptics, iPhones, 156-story buildings in Dubai are impressive, but they’re all humbled by the world’s natural wonders. The New7Wonders, an organization dedicated to creating respect and enthusiasm for the beauty of our planet will host a worldwide contest to name the world’s 7 natural wonders.
The foundation was established by Swiss-Canadian adventurer Bernard Weber in 1999. CNN quotes him as saying, “The closer we bring the beauty of our planet … to the people, the more likely they will say, ‘Oh, we have to do something to conserve it.’” We couldn’t agree more. With more than 300 Million suggestions from more than 6 continents, it looks like it’s going to be an interesting run. You can suggest wonders at their site. Voting will be open in early 2009.
Spotted via CNNtravel
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Over the weekend PBS aired Supersonic Dream – a remarkable documentary on the life of the Concorde. Watching this reminded us that just a few decades ago travel was making astonishing advancements – faster speeds, more stations, airports and satellites – then suddenly it slowed down. Instead of using our technological might to develop faster travel techniques, the pendulum swung in favor of more comfortable secure advancements. For example, the Concorde is no more, but the Airbus is right around the corner.
With so many variables to consider it was amazing that the Concorde survived as long as it did. If you love aviation history, this retrospective look at the Concorde is for you. Here’s a brief summary, “Between 1976 and 2003, the fastest, highest flying, and most elegant way to travel between Europe and the U.S. was aboard the British-French Concorde, a marvel of aircraft engineering that had to battle protesters, politicians, and nervous accountants to earn its place in aviation history and also win the hearts of an adoring public, including many who could never afford to fly it. In Supersonic Dream, NOVA explores the mystique of this technological wonder of the world.”
wejetset recommends Supersonic Dream [Info for Viewing]
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New York ’s coldest days and first snow of the season ushered in my departure to Miami ’s South Beach for Art Basel 2007.
Art Basel is widely known as one of the most important art shows in the United States. As the sister event to Switzerland’s Art Basel, the two have arguably become some of the most prestigious art shows worldwide for the past 38 years.
From the moment I stepped off the plane and into the dewy warmth of Miami my heart said, yeeahh babbyy. It’s only been 36 hours and I feel like I’ve been here for a week. To be honest the number of art, food and entertainment options is overwhelming, so my travel partners (fellow artists Toofly and Alice Mizrachi) and I have decided to go with the flow, touch base with friends, who are also down here, and see what happens. Art Basel’s continued identity as a trendy stop on the well heeled art market chase is definitely in full effect, but as always, where there is art there are always artists, and where there are artists there’s always fun…
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WEJETSET would like to introduce a new feature entitled Carry On. Here we’ll regularly spotlight a few of our readers and find out how they travel, what’s in their bag and what inspires them. Since wejetset is all about the ecology of movement, we want to hear how you efficiently travel. What are your resources? What do you take with you? What is the one thing you can’t go anywhere without? Whether you’re commuting to work or traveling to Shanghai, we want to hear about it. Feel free to send us an email if you would like to share your ideas through Carry On.
Our first featured traveler is Tom Kirkby. His extensive travel and passion to experience the world peaked our interest. Whether he’s on his bike, hiking through the pre-Andes or walking through Shibuya – he remains focused on taking in the moment. Read more of our interview with Tom below.
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When it comes to work, our muse lives on trains and airplanes. It’s a weird phenomenon. You’ve probably experienced it too. For some reason it’s so easy to get focused and finish tons of work in these environments. If only we had the internet. Well, it looks like JetBlue is working on it.
As reported by MSNBC today, “JetBlue Airways Corp. will start offering limited e-mail and instant messaging services for free on one of its planes next week as airlines renew efforts to offer in-flight Internet access.” It’s not the full internet experience (no email attachments and access is limited to email & messaging from Yahoo Inc), but it’s a step in the right direction. We can’t wait to see this spread.
Spotted via MSNBC
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Would you move the poles away from the door? Would you make flip-up seats so there’s standing room only like they do in Japan? Or would you order more cars that are larger and faster? Whatever you would do, we all know what we want – dependable trains that get us to work on time.
Today the NY Times wrote an article about New York City Transit’s approach to improve the subway. Although they’re not exactly asking every rider what they should do, they are doing something close. “The agency announced plans yesterday to subdivide the octopuslike system and make the manager of each line responsible for everything on that line, from bunched-together trains to unintelligible public-address announcements.” Within this effort managers are asking riders what they think. The outcome could be interesting.
Read the article:
Bigger Cars, Flip-Up Seats, Poetry: How Riders Would Run a Subway
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Kozy and Dan are a couple. They’re also very good artists who work hard and travel the world. Some would keep these experiences to themselves, but not these guys. They graciously share them with anyone interested.
We admire their art, which continually inspires us. And there’s more! Their blog and flickr page allow you to enjoy a world they see while traveling to many known and unkown parts. Ironically, as most artists work to have their art curated, there’s something different and more sincere about Kozy and Dan, it appears that these guys work hard to curate their own perfect life, whether it be art, travel or spending time with one another…
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One of our favorite travel sites, Gadling, recently reported that Houston Intercontinental Airport will be allowing passengers to board flights by using their cellphone or personal digital assistant instead of a boarding pass. This efficient and green move is part of a three month trial period that will hopefully expedite the boarding process. We’re excited because that little piece of paper can be a serious nuisance when you’re trying to keep track of all your other items going through security.
The report also states, “Passengers boarding Continental flights will show a code on their screen that has been sent to their phone or PDA. A bar code stores the passenger’s name and flight information, and a TSA screener will confirm the bar code’s authenticity by scanning it with a special handheld device. Passengers will still need to show photo ID.”
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By Guest Writer Heather Hoskeer: The first issue of Edible Brooklyn I picked up had a photo of a man in a sleeveless tee-shirt, standing proudly behind a whole pig roasting on a spit in the driveway in front of his garage on the cover. That photo was so evocative of the hidden, delightful and slightly strange Brooklyn that is endearing and yet so difficult to describe to anyone who hasn’t experienced it. I was even happier to learn, upon reading this issue, that Edible Brooklyn is not just another pretty food magazine (though it is full of beautiful, mouthwatering photos). Edible Brooklyn is devoted to providing a forum for issues, information, news and stories relating to sustainable food and agriculture (yes, agriculture) in Brooklyn…
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Escape crowded subways and morning traffic with Jorg&Olif’s citybikes. Their 3 Speed Oma and Opa Scouts provide a fantastic option for getting around. Both simple and nimble, they let you navigate the city landscape with ease.
Jorg&Olif blend sustainability and style through their contemporary lifestyle collection. As the first company in North America to offer the sensible and iconic Dutch citybike, they’ve created a brand for ordinary people that love extraordinary things.
Jorg&Olif’s Oma and Opa Scouts are available in the wejetset store.
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Sugarcube has quickly become a favorite clothing boutique in Philadelphia. Nestled in the side streets of Olde City, Sugarcube offers a mix of vintage and modern clothing and accessories for men and women that will leave you wanting more. Choose from designers like A.P.C., Veena, Saja, second hand pumps and uniquely styled jewelry for a complete shopping experience. Their spacious new digs – a loft style shopping experience – beautifully showcases each product, leaving no piece overlooked.
While many boutiques have lost the meaning of customer service, Sugarcube shows each customer how important they are – and not just when they buy something either. Owner Elisa Burrato and her staff are extremely friendly, making Sugarcube such an enjoyable environment, that you’ll visit just to have a warm exchange with a fellow fashion junkie. Elisa is more than a friendly face, her knowledge of vintage clothing dates back to her days working as a vintage buyer for Urban Outfitters. One visit, and you’ll be hooked. Be sure to visit them at 124 N. 3rd Street, Old City Philadelphia.
wejetset recommends Sugarcube as a shopping destination.
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Hotel Fox takes branding, travel and art to new levels. If you’re looking for inspiring places to stay, this is definitely one of them. A few years ago, for the launch of the new Volkswagen Fox, 21 international artists from the fields of graphic design, urban art and illustration turned one of Copenhagen’s hotels into a creative lifestyle destination.
With 61 rooms acting like blank canvases, the 21 commissioned artists designed each room with their unique expression. As the HF site describes, “Each room is an individual piece of art. From whacky comical styles to strict graphic design. From fantastic street art and Japanese Manga to simply spaced out fantasies. You will find flowers, fairy-tales, friendly monsters, dreaming creatures, secrets vaults and more.” Click read more to view pictures of the hotel’s interior.
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WEJETSET is excited to welcome another writer to our team. Born and raised in Western Massachusetts, Heather Hoskeer spent her childhood daydreaming about being a famous astronomer, a world renowned haiku poetess, or maybe a prima ballerina. Then, as an adult, she moved to Brooklyn, where she has lived for the last ten years. She has spent most of her time, money and precious youth chasing adventures in far flung destinations, like Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan and more recently, Tupper Lake in The Adirondacks, while always happily calling Brooklyn home.
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Monocle magazine terrifically covers international affairs, business, culture and design. With a careful eye for detail, the journalistic temperament is sophisticated and knowledgeable while still being inclusive and diverse. This is not a magazine. It’s a book that you get monthly. We have every issue at the office, and we refer to them as coffee table resources. Their design is inspiring and moving, and you can reference it for months and still find new and interesting information each time.
It was no surprise that we weren’t the only fans of Monocle. Arriving as one of the top selling debuts in magazine history, it definitely has its followers. Who could blame them. For example we came across an awesome photo collection by one of its readers. The photos were taken in response to a challenge posed by Tyler Brûlé, the editor.
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Writer and photographer Diana McClure took her first trip when she was 2, to Haiti. Since then she has touched down in multiple countries in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Some of these trips were taken too far back to remember. Nevertheless, she’s traveled by foot, car, bus, train, courier flight, first class, on frequent flier miles, cash, credit, or whatever, in order to satisfy her wanderlust. When she’s not on the road you’ll find her on travel excursions in her home city.
Currently, Ms. McClure is Founder and Creative Director of Cultureserve, a global art & culture news website. She holds a BA from Columbia University, an MA from The New School for Social Research and is based in Brooklyn, New York. We’re excited to have Diana on the team. Her posts will surely inspire, so stay tuned.
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