Thursday, 12. November 2009
I live in New York, home to some of the best food in the world. The same can be said about coffee too. There are so many great makers of coffee in this city that it’s sometimes hard to keep up with them all.
It was just last week when I stumbled upon my favorite new coffee. In fact, this is the best coffee I’ve ever tried in my life. That’s a really bold statement when you consider how much coffee I actually drink.
The store has its origins in Portland, Oregon, with a few locations throughout the city and some others in Seattle. The founder of the chain moved to New York, and that’s all to our benefit, as the first of a few planned branches has opened here.
Many patrons of Stumptown praise the high quality of the entire menu, but I’ve stuck with the regular house brew so far and it’s excellent. The cafe lattes and the cappuccinos are said by many to be even better than the regular coffee.
You’d be surprised to know that Stumptown coffee doesn’t really cost any more than you’d pay at a major chain, which happens to be a great thing. The atmosphere, though it lacks seating in this particular location, also seems to be one entirely based around the quality of the coffee.
I’m not alone when I say that this is the best coffee I’ve ever had. The chain has won numerous awards, and those who’ve tried it seem to be just as hooked as I am.
Seattle residents are going as far as saying that Stumptown has the best coffee in their city. When a coffee chain is winning the praise of drinkers in a huge coffee city like Seattle, I think the praise speaks for itself.
I can only envy those on the West coast who’ve been fortunate enough to have a Stumptown in their city for the last decade. As for me, I’ll definitely be making the most of my new found obsession.
If you like this author’s style, read his articles about Giorgio Armani suits for men and Armani tuxedos.
Posted in Coffee by Simon Reese -
Saturday, 17. October 2009
A popular new trend has began to appear in the world of high fashion and home decorating: the use of the colour pink. What began as a fashion statement has become a personal obsession, as pink lovers discover new ways to use pink in every aspect of their daily lives. The history of pink provides interesting insight into the rising popularity of the colour pink.
The History of Pink – Pink has been used as a colour in fashion and make-up for centuries. However, it was only after the second World War that pink became associated with femininity. Before World War II, baby boys were often dressed in pink, as red was viewed as a masculine colour, and pink was just a “watered down” red. (By contrast, baby girls were typically dressed in blue.) However, after World War II, pink began to be associated with traditional womanhood.
As women began to return from the wartime factories into the home in the 1950s, there was a rise in consumer goods, which prompted women to purchase more pink products. (Pink represented the blush of health and vitality, and was particularly popular as a make-up color.) Audrey Hepburn, the great icon of 1950s femininity, appeared in the film “Funny Face” in 1957, which included the song “Think Pink.” The pink-clad Barbie doll was also introduced in the 1950s, further linking the color pink to girlishness. In the 1960s, pink became the color of anti-masculinity in film “The Pink Panther”. In the 1980s, songs like “Pink Cadillac” and “Pretty in Pink” played with the idea of pink femininity, and in 2000, the singer Pink emerged on the scene with a shock of hot pink hair.
What Started the Current Pink Obsession? – The real cause of the current pink obsession may be the 2001 film “Legally Blond.” In the film, Reese Witherspoon stars as Elle Woods, a law student with a pink-clad Chihuahua who manages to overcome the sexism of her cruel boyfriend and the legal system by pluckiness and a love of the colour pink. The film, which depicts how a woman can simultaneously be intelligent and sexy, was so popular that it was even turned into a Broadway musical. The popularity of pink climbed as women began to embrace the colour as the perfect symbol of modern femininity.
Pink in the Home – Those in search of a rosier world can now find a wide range of ways to decorate their homes in fashionable pink things. Pink can be the dominant colour scheme for a room, or it can be used as an accent colour to bring a little fun to the everyday. In the bedroom, pink blankets and sheets create a cosy haven, with pink fuzzy slippers waiting at the foot of the bed. In the bathroom, pink toothbrushes and shower curtains can create a sense of pampering, and pink clocks and rugs create elegant touches for the living room as well. Pink has even invaded the kitchen. Now pink kitchen accessories are available, from pink kettles and toasters to a pink microwave oven!
Pink on the Road – Pink lovers are starting to bring their passion to their travels as well. Pink car accessories are now available, ranging from car mats to key chains. A pink steering wheel cover allows drivers to make a statement. Travellers by rail or air also have a chance to accessorize: elegant pink luggage is easy to pick out from at the airport carousel.
Pink Princess – A “pink princess” is a woman who has decided to surround herself with a world of pink stuff. She has adopted the colour pink as an identity and as a personal statement. Why would someone do this? It goes back to what pink has come to symbolize: softness, flirtation, and beauty on the one hand, and elegance and high fashion on the other. The budding field of colour psychology suggests the use of pink for soothing, too: there have even been reports of criminals behaving better if their cells were painted pink!
The rise of pink may be driven by these new psychological explanations. Pink lovers are doing more than just choosing a few fashion accessories. They are hoping to “see the world through rose-colored glasses,” to use the power of a positive colour to bring more happiness to their lives.
Ian talks about new automobile trends like pink car mats alternatively known as rose accessoires auto
Posted in Cooking by Ian Tyrrell -