Steve Jobs - "it just works" WWDC SF

If you weren't able to get out to SF for another WWDC event lead by (seemingly) master of all things cool, tech, business etc, the stream is now available.  And if you are an avid Apple/Steve Jobs fan as I am, it's more than worth the effort.  Even though Steve's been on health leave with all kinds of problems (including a liver transplant), looks like he (seemingly barely) and Apple computer continue to be ticking along.  I've always felt that Steve's computer interface was a work of art, and this art just keeps getting better.  So many great new features, but I think the new auto-backup (forgot the name) might be my fave. 

If you work with computers, you have experienced losing files and wondering just why you couldn't hit the command S keys!  Looks like never again.  It's using the technology, or at least the principle of Apple's Time Machine auto back up hard drive and software.

The "cloud's" been discussed for years.  Looks like Steve wanted to make sure he got it right, and it looks like he did.  He's got this massive futuristic looking data center somewhere in North Carolina just full of massive servers.  Really unbelievable.

Just the way the "cloud" will automatically sync all info on all of your devices is quite amazing.  Make a change on any of them, and the data gets pushed to the cloud, and then immediately pushed back down to each of your devices.  Totally transparently. 

So many more cool things with Lion and Ios5, but I've got to get back to work with this rinky dink old Macbook with osx 10.6.7

Hang in there Steve!  You are just getting better!

mattie's last frisbee

Friday my most loyal companion Mattie Wade had a little cyst smaller than a golf ball on her neck.  This morning it was more the size of a softball.  I hate losing a companion, but I'm so glad to be able to make the decision to allow her to be free from pain.  Seems like we deserve the same respect and options. 

This pic was taken this morning during her last walk in our neighborhood. 

It's embarrising just how attached we get to a goofy little dog.

yikes, my mac ain't back

I'm way behind on posts here, but here's the "skinny".  My Mac's been sitting at an Apple repair facility in Memphis for over a week - and I need it back!  Was hoping for today, but it's now looking like Monday.  I've had access to Linda's Macbook Air and her Ipad, but they don't have my suite of graphic design applications, plus, plus. 

Lots going on around here. The museum benches are looking great and will be completed next week.  Big marketing schedule changes.  The Let's Talk Tables Tour will not make it to Dallas and LA next month.  We will be making an announcement about it soon, but we've added the venues of the Atlanta Home Furnishings Market as well as the Las Vegas Furniture Markets in July.

We are working on the June issue of our newsletter, the MonoLOG, where you'll find an all new design, a strengthening green marketing partnership, the new show schedule, and more.

Centiva in Las Vegas

It was great to see Centiva, a wonderful green hometown company so well respresented in Las Vegas.  They have been making beautiful high end vinyl flooring in environmentally green ways for years.  Mayor Irons has suggested a couple of times that I meet these guys - particularly Thomas Trissl.  Well, he wasn't in Las Vegas this week but his company was so well represented in a beautiful, large booth.  Really funny to have to go to Las Vegas to meet these great guys.  But I look forward to seeing Leigh Wright, their senior designer as well as John Bonney when they get back to town. 

janus et cie in las vegas

JANUS et Cie in Las Vegas

I enjoy this California girl's cool modern outdoor vibe.  It was fun meeting Janice and hearing about and seeing her latest contemporary creations.  Janice, I look forward to seeing you again in High Point in the Fall!

my best travel tip yet - samsung rest area @ dfw

Samsung rest area at DFW

Our three leg table tour ran so smoothly, without a single hitch . . .  That is until I arrived back at DFW.  DFW is notorious for layover problems, primarily due to bad weather.  I'm a loyal American Airlines customer, have been since the late 80's and have flown thru DFW for years.  I've had layover's there, but with this 10 hour layover I just found this amazing little tip.

Samsung has a fairly private, very quiet, very comfy little lounge area with approx a dozen big, comfy leather recliners, each facing a crisp Samsung flat screen tv.  All you need to use it is ear phones.  Amazing that so many flights were delayed, thousands of folks were sleeping on the floor and in the little chairs all around, and this beautiful, clean, safe little piece of heaven had seating to spare.  This is one I hadn't heard about.  I don't think I'll forget it on the next layover in Dallas.

The Modern, super cool Aria Resort & Casino

 

Just before the housing bust, several quite amazing hotels were built in Las Vegas.  The Cosmopilitan seems to be getting most of the glory these days, but this super cool, super modern Aria is impressive.  The Aria Resort and Casino is just beautiful.  Great modern aesthetic.  Totally different than what you'd expect to see in Las Vegas.  And, with full disclosure in mind here;  I didn't stay here.  I opted to stay right across the street at Bill's Gambling Hall.  Which was a big savings from the $300 per night starting price tag of the Aria.  But with just completed remodeled rooms, for a starving artist watching his budget (who was traveling without Linda to Impress with just how cool I am - she know's better) was a great value.

The 2011 HD Expo Las Vegas

The HD Expo in Las Vegas is the primary venue for the Hospitality industry in the US.  They also have a smaller "Boutique" show in Miami that I haven't yet attended, but understand it's quite unique.  It's interesting to see several of the vendors that cross the street from the retail markets over into the very different hospitality market.  Great seeing local Alabamans (the very green Centiva) as well as friends from the High Point Markets (and possibly even family) Currey & Company showing quite well there.

The Textile Building NYC

Textiles have had such a tough time in the US, it's wonderful to see the Textile Building on 5th Ave still doing great business.  This pic was taken from the nice little coffee shop from across the street - a perfect spot to dry off and warm up before a meeting.

Interiors From Spain

It was great seeing lots of American designers during Design Week, but Design Week and ICFF are clearly international venues.  The most significant presence from a country was by far from Spain.  They leased massive floor space, and supplied many of Spain's best modern designer's with room for each of their showings.  Quite impressive.  It was also interesting that they seemingly had the same large presence with big sleek, modern booth at the HDexpo in Las Vegas.  What the heck is Spain up to?  I don't know, but their modern furnishings are quite impressive.

the pod hotel nyc

This (above) is a quick little tour of the entrance and lobby of this funky little Pod Hotel.

It was great fun to stay in this super cool little hotel in NYC during Design Week.  As I'm sure you know, NYC is one of the most expensive spots to stay - well at least in this country.  Typically, unless I'm willing to up my budget by a couple of hundred percent, the hotel (in NY) is not so great.

Well, in this case the compromise was the size of the room.  That's it!  And since I'm not a room lounger when I travel, this was the perfect compromise.  Location - amazing.  Service - couldn't be better.  Cool factor - over the top.  Shower - one of the best hotel shower's I've - well showered in.  With a handle for temp control, I felt right at home.  Great design, and it even had body sprays -- now I know how my car feels.  Clean factor - great. Can you see that the Reservations desk (above) is shimmering transluscent green??  And, one of my most important criteria - Quiet - Never heard a peep out of neighbors. 

Ok, so for the compromise.  It was the smallest room I've ever stayed in.  Really tiny.  Had a small, new flat screen built into the wall, and barely enough room for a built in desk and chair.  Perfectly clean.  Felt brand new.  I've already tried to book this place for ICFF 2012, but their computer isn't taking reservations yet. 

ICFF & Design Week NY

Design Week, and in particular ICFF was the most exciting venue I've experienced, well, certainly since the housing bust in 2007.  So many great designs, designers, excitement and enthusiasm in the air. 

And all this, in the setting of one of the best, most exciting cities in the world, made for a remarkable week.  Will follow with some details.

Southern Food & Beverage Museum

Next visit I'll have to slow down and spend more time in the wonderful Southern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans.  Promoting and sharing two of my very favorite things;  southern food and southern beverages!

central grocery's muffaletta

Central Grocery's muffaletta is hand's down one of the best sandwiches in the world.  And unless you are alergic to olives or olive oil, (if you haven't already) you've gotta try one.  This very unique sandwich can be found throughout New Orleans, but was originated at the Central Grocery in New Orleans over a hundred years ago.  I love going to the source, and have been enjoying this litle (well ok, big) delicacy for over three decades.

This visit to New Orleans, I came away with not only a Muffaletta (half of which I enjoyed during during my flight from New Orleans to Design Week New York) but with this little video of a tour of this century old New Orleans Grocery store. 

new orleans holocaust memorial

New Orleans is full of art and history, but I just thoroughly enjoy a few moments of meditation at the New Orleans Holocaust Memorial.

google exhibiting @ aia new orleans

To say that I'm intrigued by Google is an understatement.  Google's web search engine is nothing short of amazing.  To be able to type almost any topic of interest and find highly relevant results within seconds has become the norm over the last few years. 

A less known tool that's been tremendously beneficial for years is Google's SketchUp, 3d modeling program.  I've been using this little gem for almost a decade for design, and now furniture 3d layout and design.  SketchUp was originally developed by Last Software in 2000, and at some point (maybe 5 years ago or so??) Google purchased it and made it available like most of it's software for free.

Because Google is so powerful, yet so secretive about just what they're up to, I seem to be magnetically drawn to them in the rare instances of direct communication.  Google had quite a presence here at the AIA expo.  They were promoting their upgrade to "sketchup pro" featuring "layout" to the egos (I mean architects) throughout the convention.  After receiving a brief overvue by one of the google reps, the upgrade seems to have some very nice features for architects.  The layouts features primarily seemed to be more aimed toward "sales" than actual architectural drawings.  Looks like I'll stick with the basic v. of Sketchup, which I use for almost every custom job we design.  Google is awesome.  Google sketchup is awesome.  Not so sure about Google sketchup Pro, but I'm guessing for the right market, it's awesome too.

Google had what I'd call a medium sized presence as well as areas (pictured above) where they taught some basic classes - primarily showing benefits of SketchUp pro.

greenguard booth @ architecture expo

16,000 egos - aia convention new orleans

Oh me, that had to be a typo.  What I meant was that 16,000 architects in one building, even one city is quite a happening.  And this happening happens in a different city each year.  The truth of the matter is that I have great respect for Architects' egos - woops - what I meant was - their advanced understanding of design.  There is no singular group (that my personal market research department has disclosed) that understands my design aesthetic better than architects.

It was a blast to mix meetings with architects in what I believe to be the best food city in the world.  It was great to see New Orleans looking so good.  When I was there - last weekend - the locals were hopefully optimistic that creek wouldn't rise on them again this soon.  Let's hope not, because these poor folks have had more than their share for a while.  Yes, I LOVE New Orleans - and yes - architects.

whew! NO NY & Vegas in 9 days

So good to be back home after visiting three awesome shows in nine days.  Last night, it was beggining to look like I was going to make it back to my bed.  As (seemingly) always, weather delays at DFW.  After flight cancellations and four gate changes, I was happy to be home allbeit with 9 hours of delays.  Great shows.  Great to be home.  Once I get some rest and come back to my senses, I'll be recapping soon.

ICFF Energy

Way behind on blog posts.  I'm now 2/3rds through my first week of my "2011 Table Talk Tour", and have lots to share, but I'm afraid it's going to have to be delayed till I get to Las Vegas and get some pool time in.

There's more energy and excitement at Design Week NY, than I've seen in years!  So many new products, great designs, and even more important - positive energy than I've felt since 2007. 

The only negative I can come up with is the weather, and only two Starbucks kiosks in the entire Javits Center.  Neither seems to be slowing anybody down. 

Yes, it's actually getting to be fun again!  The pic to the left was a beautiful display of lighting from a company from Spain.  I'll get the name a credit these over the top creative folks from across the sea.