The Swimming Cities

The Swimming Cities of Serenissima was a fleet of three hand crafted ships that navigated the Adriatic Sea from the Litoral region to Venice, Italy in May of 2009.  The boats were inspired by urban cityscapes and thick swamps and were built from salvaged and reclaimed materials, including modified Mercedes car motors with long-tail propellers.

As the Swimming Cities moved toward Venice, the crew collected and installed keepsakes that was displayed on the boats when they arrived. Once in Venice, the boats and crew offered intimate performances that incorporate music, shadow puppetry, and story.

The vessels were imagined as a hybrid between boats and bits of land broken off and headed out to sea.  The crew was made up of 30 collaborating artists from the United States and the boats were a place of refuge – both a home and a way of moving through the world. To those who encounter the boats for the first time, they were a reminder that anything that can be imagined can be built.

What's Your Next Read?

YourNextRead.com is the online service that assist bookworms in finding more literature of their specific taste. Simple and straight forward, YourNextRead.com looks at the books you read and gives recommendations based on what books you enjoy. 

Home Page

First Step: Type in the name of an author, book title or genre

Second Step: Select the correct author, book title, or genre that you initially typed

Third Step: Review the books that are in the same book family. On the left hand size, brief summaries of the book options. Click on any of the books that you are interested in.

Lastly, continue to click on books till you are finished!

Life on Mars

Based on a character from Spike Lee's break out film, She's Gotta Have It, Mars was a shoe fanatic that had an affixation for Nike Air Jordans. This character blossomed into the spokesperson for Nike and forever is affiliated with Brooklyn, exclusive kicks, and of course, Michael Jordan.

Nola and Mars from She's Gotta Have It

This is one of the commercial starring Mars, who is played by Spike Lee. 

Phil Wade

I have no idea who this kid is. He is seen everywhere on youtube and even recognized from his parodies, but outside of that, he is a mystery. Check out his impression of Trey Songz and his rendition of B.M.F.

Trey Songz Impression

"B.M.F."

Library Hotel

Library Hotel Lobby

The Library Hotel, located in Manhattan, is the hottest luxury boutique hotels in New York. Created from a early 1900 brick and terra cotta structure, this hotel offers modern elegance to guests of New York for a weekend trip, a business meeting or a wedding.

Madison and Vine Restaurant at the Library Hotel

What makes the Library Hotel so different from its counterparts is the method of choosing rooms. Each of the ten guestroom floors is dedicated to the ten major categories of the Dewey Decimal System: Social Sciences, Religion, the Arts, Philosophy, Technology, General Knowledge, Math & Science, Literature, and Languages. Each of appointed luxury rooms are individually adorned with art and a collection of books that relate to the room’s unique theme.

Astronomy Room

Love Room

The Library Hotel is conveniently located on Madison Ave and 41^st Street, a few feet away from the New York Public library, Bryant Park, Grand Central Terminal, and Pierpont Morgan Library. 

Elva Fields

Elva Fields best exemplifies statement piece jewelry. Started in 2003, designer Emily Wheat Maynard sought out to create jewelry that is timeless yet unexpected. All three of her jewelry lines, Elva, June and Deb, are named after her great-grandmother, grandmother and mother and they serve as her inspiration. 

Maynard both French and Art History at Hollins University and quickly discovered a passion for the history of jewelry in her graduate work at The Bard Graduate Center for Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture in New York City. Here, she acquired metalworking skills in the ancient tradition and, simultaneously, a recognition that it might be possible to combine interests in the study of jewelry and the creation of it.

Maynard searches through local and far markets, auctions, and shops for vintage and antique pieces. These finds are then reconfigured and incorporated into her designs. Elva Fields Jewelry are made in the designer’s studio in Kentucky and can be found in boutiques throughout the States or online at Elva Fields.

Love Cafe

Love Cafe

Located on the historic U Street in Washington, D.C., Love Cafe is the ideal place to grab a quick coffee, sandwich and of course, a delectable cupcake. Sister to the bakery Cake Love (and located across the street), Love Cafe is owned by Warren Brown, former attorney turned pastry chef.

They have classic deserts such as yellow cupcake with chocolate frosting, brownies, and chocolate covered strawberries. As far as their cakes, the variety on the menu includes Strawberry Shortcake, Lemon Swirl, New German Chocolate Cake and Toffee Crunch.

Love Cafe and Cake Love now has expanded to locations throughout the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. Make sure to look at their website Cake Love and Love Cafe.