Old York

Always remember, “You’re looking at the man in the mirror.”

What else can I say, photo taken two hours after the announcement of Michael Jackson’s passing.

While driving around Floyd Bennett Field (a retired airport near Far Rockaway) on other business, a huge mass of shipping containers covered with green screen started to poke out from behind the trees. After some closer investigation and a run in with security, it was revealed that it was one of the major sets for The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Produced by Jerry Brukheimer and shot by Walt Disney Pictures, it stars Nicholas Cage and is set for a 2010 release. This film has apparently been cursed this year involving a couple of auto accidents in downtown Manhattan, one involving a Ferrari and a Sbarros in Times Square.

Coming into market within the past few months are the “re-branding” attempts by Pepsi, which includes Tropicana brands. There is much discussion about the new suite of logos which, to the trained eye, are horrid. After much research, I have come to the conclusion that all of the re-branding efforts by Pepsi are to realign itself with the downward economy. You might not hear it from them directly, but this is an attempt by the company to assure consumers that Pepsi is now closer to “Generic” brands and the consumer can be confident that she or he is on board with thrifty spending. The issue with this, in my opinion, is that there should never be a drift so far from the brand that consumers have trusted for so many years. When changing a logo, you are changing the consumers image view so drastically that it may be tough to recover in the long run. Pepsi (and Coke) have had a solid family of brands for more than several years and this was due in part to the fact that they held a solid IMAGE that reinforced IDENTITY in the public eye. Now, the problem for Pepsi is that they have switched to matching their image with something that can be considered “trendy,” and we all know what happens to trends. They could recover, or the future of the world may realize what happens when it drinks too much soda!

Before and After

C-Town Market, 150 and Broadway, Harlem

Fairway Market, Harlem location, NYC

The Museum of Arts and Design, or MAD, has opened its new location in Columbus Circle. Replaceing the Gallery of Modern Art, built in 1964. The new upgrade has addressed some problems with the original structure, such as interior light and foot traffic movement through the building. More information here.

One of the most prominent retailers of high-end modern furniture, Design Within Reach, had a clearance sale this past weekend at their annex location. They offered a free bus ride out to visit the large showroom in Secaucus NJ for those who wanted to save up to 80% off of already discounted items. To a furniture or interior designer, or any designer for that matter, this is the closest to paying a somewhat reasonable price for some of the best and well crafted furniture by such brands as Herman Miller, Umbra and Steelcase. Needless to say, the negotiation managers were not able to haggle anywhere less then 10% off the marked down price for slightly damaged goods — paying $500 for an originally $3200 couch turned out to be a pipe dream!

As everyone in New York City, or at least Red Hook, knows, IKEA has opened up a new showroom/warehouse. It is kinda isolated as far as visibility and train service, however is across the East River from Manhattan. IKEA is really the designers dream when it comes to products and furniture. Items, as well as the store are laid out in a user friendly aesthetic and mock and “Modernize Modern Furniture.” The only problem is that once you buy something designed by IKEA, it is a race against time towards product endlife. Has anyone had anything from IKEA last more that 3 years? Well cant complain, actually had this spatula that I got there a few years ago and it is holding up very well. The pan I got with it has since been retired though. Check out this great new view of the Statue of Liberty from Sunset Park…

With the latest releases of the iPhone come the birth of Webclips. They are the images that show up on the home screen of the iPhone representing applications and links to websites. They can be created as 158×158 pixel png files — the iPhone will take care of the rounded edges and the glossy 2.0 feel! Store them in the root folder of your site and they will be automatically recognized.

Here is some new transit advertising (mostly dealing with the Star Wars and Spike TV). Also used in the campaign, and springing up underground in other locations, are color projectors for moving and interactive advertising.

Star Wars / Spike TV Bus Shelter Ads at 1 Penn Plaza, NYC (Penn Station)

More Star Wars / Spike advertising - this time motion - in the Herald Square Station.

CBS Outdoor Advertising in between the Shuttle and Grand Central Station.

There are interactive motion detectors in the projector box that manipulate the graphics on screen in response to pedestrian traffic.