Oddly enough, one of my favorite things about New York is the presence of nature in the city.

My friend Lisa Wyatt, a photographer who's shot for Esquire, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, Outside, Fortune, ESPN, and I.D. (to name just a few) kindly offered to write a guest blog giving recommendations about three up-and-comers in the photo world. Thanks Lisa!

Fine art Photography to invest in now.
by Lisa Wyatt

RYAN McGINLEY

He's the current darling of the fine-art photo world. In fact, he was the youngest artist to have a solo show at the Whitney. His series “I Know Where The Summer Goes” captures the raw sensibilities of youth, free spirit and rebellion. If I absolutely had to choose (but please never make me), I would have “Ann (Slingshot), 2007,” “Running Field, 2007,” and “Hysteric Fireworks, 2007” (shown above) hanging on my living room wall. Also check out "The Breakout Performances” series he shot for NYT Magazine. You can see more of his work here.


KATHERINE WOLKOFF

Her photographs are sopping with color and texture and are simply beautiful in execution, especially the series “Deer Beds" which was exhibited at the New York Photo Festival in Dumbo, Brooklyn last Spring. Wolkoff has also been gaining recognition for her evocative, faintly lit portraits and her work chronicling the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

TODD HIDO

His landscapes undoubtedly speak for themselves. There's a certain eeriness to them that mesmerizes me each time I look at his work.


For those of us not ready to start collecting we can focus first on creating a photo book library. Here are Lisa's recs:

Go-Sees by Jeurgen Teller
Tokyo Suburbia by Takashi Homma
Passing Though Eden by Tod Papageorge
Subway by Bruce Davidson
Niagra by Alec Soth
Room with a View by Andrew Hetherington

Dashwood Books in NYC is arguably the best photo bookstore in the country, stop in if you can.

With the geo-political situation on the Russian-Georgian border, I thought it would be appropriate to blog about A Peace Treaty, a fashion collection aimed at creating ethically-produced, artisan-level goods for the luxury market. The company was started by Faraf Malik, a Pakistani Muslim, and Dana Arbib, a Lybian Jew—both with a love for high fashion and the common goal of increasing awareness of ancient, disappearing crafting traditions. I think their handkerchief scarves and pocket squares are really great and am actually looking forward to Fall now. Above: MUSHRI Handkerchief Scarf ($109). Below: JHATPAT Handkerchief Scarf ($78); KASUR Pocket Square ($26). Check out the whole collection and local dealers right here, I think this label is bound to take off.

There's nothing wrong with a little vintage Rolex around your wrist. I love the men's Oyster Perpetual design because it will always be in style. I've been seeing these vintage timepieces pop up in the past few years at places like Paul Smith, Bergdorf Goodman, and now even J.Crew is hocking 'em. Above right Rolex vintage silver bracelet watch ($3,500) at Bergdorf; the second watch is also from Bergdorf (call 212-753-7300); and far right Vintage Rolex 14k gold Oyster Perpetual ($5,200) circa 1960s from J. Crew.

Superdeluxe NYC is known for their custom stationary, but I'm also liking the monogram collection from their collection store. Clockwise from top left: 6" square glass plate ($136); paperweight ($65); Letterpress Coasters ($26 for set of 12 of one pattern); 6" x 10" glass plate ($156); Glass pen cup ($125). Click here to shop!

Loving this summery John Robshaw Vintage Uzbek pillow (on sale for $291) at Auto.

If I would have known how effective Facebook would be of reuniting people I thought I'd never ever see again from boarding school, I probably wouldn't have filled up empty trash cans with water and leaned them against freshman doors and knocked and ran away. Last week, through the magic of online social networking, I found that one out the hard way. Hopefully this post will help Danie Bubenik, the talent behind Boone Books forgive the water I spilled all over her CD burner (how late 90s is that?). I'm loving her Etsy shop for its Anatomy series of cards like the below heart notecards ($10). But what I'm really loving from her store are the blank notebooks she binds with old book covers, like the above Along Friendly Roads notebook ($30), perfect for summer traveling. Thanks Danie!

I know a lot of people will think this is too out there, but I think it's really cool. What's so amazing about this ipod speaker is that it doesn't require any external power! The Phonofone II ($500) uses passive amplification alone, like a traditional phonograph horn. It transforms any ipod with earbuds into a sculptural audio console. And, just think, you could take it outside for an outdoor dinner party. Click here to purchase.

It's always a challenge deciding what to get my stylish fiance when it comes to gifts. He was due for one last weekend when he graduated business school (with honors mind you!), and I'm confident my parents and I succeeded with an Ernest Alexander Fulton Waxed Olive Messenger bag ($245). It's a manly, practical and damn good looking bag, and as he said with a grin, "It's not a Filson." Apparently the Chicago Booth School of Business is littered with Filson messenger bags, not to mention vintage Vuarnet shades—which I really enjoyed seeing on graduation day.

Chicagoan Stephanie Izard's big win last night as season 4's Top Chef prompted me to post about something in the culinary realm today. I love the London-based company Joseph Joseph and all their bold yet functional kitchen products, but it can be rather hard to get their stuff in the U.S. I was really excited when I saw that Broadway Panhandler carries a few things of theirs now, like the above folding colanders ($22 each) that fold completely flat for easy storage.

GO LAKERS!

Modernica, the official site for George Nelson Bubble Lamp sales and distribution, has just reissued versions of the Criss Cross Bubble Lamp that have been out of production since 1979. The first Bubble Lamp was designed by Nelson in 1947, and produced in the early 1950's by Howard Miller (son of Herman). Modernica has reissued the Cigar ($359), Pear ($405), and Ball ($359 shown above) "CC lamps" to the original specifications using the original Howard Miller tooling. The Bubble Lamp is featured in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and I'd really like it to be part of the Lizzie Garrett's kitchen's permanent collection too. We'll see how that works out...

There's a debate within the design world about whether computer generated art should be given the same "weight" as designs created by hand. I understand why some would want undermine work that was created by designing on a CAD computer model. But I have to assume that this is the future. The above Black Honey curved bowl by Arik Levy ($2,400) is the perfect example. Levy used the process of stereolithography, which creates "rapid prototypes", allowing one to "print" three-dimensional structures from a computer. The computer model is sliced into very thin layers, and each layer is created through the use of a laser, which fuses together the material. Upon completion, the physical model replicates the CAD computer model to the finest detail. Just because something is easier to create, does that make it less worthy? Maybe.

My friend Anne took these photos from "Jeff Koons on the Roof", one of The Met's special exhibitions which features three of his sculptures that have never before been on public display. They'll be on display at The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden, which, as you can see, offers a spectacular view of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. On display until October 26th. Amazing. Thanks Anne!

It's finally almost bike season in Chicago, despite the fact that the weather forecast called for snow last night. Srsly, Chicago, WTF, let's go, this is getting really dumb. Everywhere else magnolia trees are blooming and the sun is shining! If I had any choice in bikes I think I'd get my mitts on a Swedish designed Skeppshult. The company claims there are many reasons people love Skeppshult. Some appreciate Swedish design, some like the upright seat positions, some prefer Skeppshult for the easy to operate gear shift and brake system, and then there's those who choose Skeppshult simply because a good looking bike inspires them to ride more often. That would be me. The downside is of course the prices start at around $1800 and work there way on up from them. Click here for more info.

I've blogged about my friend Lisa's photography a few times before, but this morning I was checking out her newly designed website and discovered something awesome. When you click the "about" link, the website directs you to a memory game with all images that correlate to things she loves, you know, like that her all-time favorite rap star is Biggie, her favorite car is the 1968 Dodge Charger, Black Sabbath is the "most rockin'est", Toshiro Mofune is her favorite samurai (clearly), and her favorite make-believe animal is the unicorn! The website was designed by Krate, a New York based design agency. Check out Lisa's website and play memory if you need a good distraction from work today. Below is one of my favorite Lisa Wyatt photos: Rainer Hertrich, the man who holds the world record for most consecutive days skied. I'm headed to the press preview of Jayson Home & Garden's European flea market tonight where I will be taking lots of photos.

I saw Canadian geese flying north, a powerful thunderstorm rolled through Chicago a few days ago, buds on trees are budding (you have to really look, but they ARE), and our park was flush with baseball gloves and kites last weekend. I thought, "Ok, this is actually happening." I started channeling my own Midwestern summer-self by browsing the Built By Wendy Spring line. Wendy Mullin is a Lake Forest-native and one of my favorite fashion designers because many of her pieces are inspired from her suburban Chicago upbringing. From her new line I'm loving the Neon Sunfish Tee ($35) and Wisconsin Dells-inspired belt ($90). But apparently I completely jinxed it, not soon after I hit the "purchase" button, I saw the weekend forecast: Snow. Really? Snow? REALLY? Umm...REALLY? It's mid-April! I hate you. I hate you. I hate you times infinity.

I don't know if it is lack of sleep or coincidence, but I was looking around for today's post and all I saw were circles. Then I put them together and decided they looked cool. Clockwise from top left: Missoni "Jimmy" beach towel ($200); old-school Air Mail envelopes imported from Hong Kong ($6 for pack of five); John Derian 6x12 Color Dots decoupage tray ($92); Eames Hang-It-All ($149); Fornasetti drinking glasses ($305 for set of six).

There isn't much that UK designer Tom Dixon makes that I don't like—but I am especially loving his new Beat Lights ($420) which come in three shapes: fat, tall, wide—their silhouettes look great all together too. They're made of hand-beaten brass (hence the name) and inspired by typical water carrying receptacles found in India—not only that but Dixon has employed skilled artisans of India to actually manufacture them.

Phil Frost is a self-taught artist who is part of a greater coalition of New York street artists who have broken into the art world in the past ten years. His signature style is a sort of a tiki modern-tribalism, some have called it "Hawaii by way of New York City". In the 90s, Frost gained recognition by painting walls, using found objects and organic matter with his "intricate, compulsive and highly evolved form of tagging." Above is Frost's first monograph which chronicles his work from 1992-2004, you can pick it up right here ($30). Tomorrow (Wed April 9th) he will be at the New York design shop Auto for a book signing from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Below is an example of one of his paintings exhibited by the Jack Shainman Gallery in New York.

It seems people have a real longing for that neighborhood general store that doesn't really exist anymore. Frequently I see artists, designers, restaurateurs reinventing the idea, touching on the subject, being inspired by it, etc. I just discovered Shopsin's General Store through the link of an illustrator and love the web design and the quirky products they sell. Shopsin's General Store is part of Shopsin's Restaurant which is part of Essex Street Market in NYC. Clockwise from top left: The Pining Porcupine note cards that say "I wish I didn't love balloons so much" ($12 for set of 5); wooden tongue depressor silk screened "I was born on a pirate ship" ($1)—also makes a good bookmark; Honest Abe lapel pin ($15); 5 year diary ($25).