OK in the New York TImes

Team OK - Action Shots

Mark Tschanz, a.k.a "the Swiss Diesel Locomotive" wearing one of our OK cycling jerseys. Great action shots by photographer Andreea Radutoiu (www.andreear.com).

As anyone who knows me, all I really care about anymore is my cycling. Just about my favorite thing I did last year was produce an "OK" jersey for friends of mine and friends of the store.

Conceived and designed by James Fish (www.fishlab.com) he based on the jersey worn by the Renault Elf team of years ago.

Second run is pretty much sold out, but if there is any interest send me an email here or via facebook and I can let you know when the next run is. A wool jersey is in the works for fall of '10.

Other Turntable Options

More from CES. The one on the pedestal is $125,000. I'm pretty sure the rest are a bit less. Big problem is cable can run another $10,000. to $20,000. Who knew?

"Rule, Britannia!" Object Envy Continued.

More from the CES. Apprently not as good as the $150,000.turntable but killer graphics and easier to move. Happy that great audio still comes from England.

Original "Domestic Furniture" by Roy McMakin

A main influence in my work and aesthetic life was my short stint working at the legendary but now defunct "Domestic Furniture Company" (I was there four months before they fired me).

Artist/Designer Roy McMakin was actively taking on Modernism with understated goods that focused directly on memory, feeling and emotion (in contrast to the failed functionalism of Modernism).

I was fascinated in how people generally desired to live with his work, rather than simply interested in the modern furniture I had been importing from Europe at my last job. I owe a great debt to Roy and Carol as my current business is focused on the idea of good design that feel "good" and "right" not just "interesting" or "important".

These beds were designed around the time I worked at Domestic many years ago. They are at one of my favorite houses, the "Alexander" house by Harwell Hamilton Harris. It was great to see that the family who owns them have really used them. They have aged beautifully and only look better for wear.

beware of speakers larger than yourself

Object lust? Mor from the Consumer Electronics Show. Extremely large, super expensive speakers.

jiang yiming

Just returned from Photo L.A. All anyone could talk about was the "Chinese Gallery". Most amazing were photos by Jiang Yiming. Idealized photos of Chinese kindergartners, dressed up as their "Dream Future Profession". Stylistically posed in from of trees produced by traditional brush painting. Amazing.

I-Phone accessories

This year's CES (Consumer Electronics Show) was a little overloaded with I-Phone crap. This item was kind of fantastic and the woman demonstrating it was charming.

A little electric guitar with built-in speaker. Load the software, pop the I-Phone in and next thing you have a little instrument.

Object of Desire

Just back from the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show. I think the way we listen to music has really changed. The digital age of cds is nothing compared to the ipod, pandora mp3s etc. Home technology has yet to catch up on the consumer level. Audiophiles have committed to better dac's (digital audio converters) in the gear, the rest of us have been pretty much screwed over by over designed crap with mediocre sound quality (read Bose, and just about anything for sale at the Apple store).

Doing research now to see if I can bring to OK affordable gear that will help us get the most of the convenient technology of the ipod. Stay posted, info and gear on the way.

In the mean time, also at the show was a lot of really beautiful, super high-end gear such as this artemis tube-amp above.

Ready to ride in the new year

Before I opened the store, I had as many as a dozen vintage bikes (and for years before that, no car).

Ten years later, the store is running well (thanks to the best staff imaginable) I can think about riding again. Problem with vintage bikes is when you ride them everyday, they will run every day, if you don't ...... Hoping that this year will be the year.

Here is one of the 3 bikes I kept.

MORE FROM JAPAN

Tokinokumo Gallery. Glass, ceramics, wood..

noguchi noguchi

Maybe I have to re-think where I put things in the house. This Noguchi lamp is a little close to the stack of Noguchi books .....

joseph beuys piano

MODERN CHESS SET

From menswear designer Graham Fowler. An extremely modern machined aluminum chess set. Very limited production. Clearly a project of passion.

Seen In Japan

Great collection of vintage boom boxes. At the Makoo Journal factory in Tokyo