Public By Design

30 Saturday Jun 2012

Posted by Scott David Burgess in Featured Store, Local, San Francisco

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Design Within Reach, Public Bikes, Rob Forbes

The first thing you might notice when you step inside the Mission District location of Public Bikes is the wall of red bicycle bells. It has a great effect to it that calls to mind Andy Warhol’s pop art with its shiny repetition. More glaringly, however, might me the fact that this particular shop is not entirely its own brick and mortar – it shares a much larger space with Harrington Galleries, a furniture gallery that sells new and used pieces as well as art and home decor. Interesting combination. But there’s a simple reason for this. The Public Bikes in the Mission is actually a pop-up store, opened in March of this year with a closing date of November 2013. Even more interesting. When I first decided to do a post on Public Bikes, the motivation was simple – it’s a cool little shop that makes great looking bicycles and they just opened a couple of new locations in San Francisco. Seemed timely and relevant enough. And while, for a moment, I thought this pop-up angle might be a more compelling way with which to frame the piece, it was a quick five-minute conversation with sales associate and mechanic David Goldiron that revealed what would become the heart of this story. “You know Design Within Reach?” David asked. Which, of course, I did. “Rob Forbes? Well, the founder of Design Within Reach is the founder of Public Bikes.” Really. Now that was something.

Perhaps this shouldn’t have been new information to me. That I wasn’t in the know, however, was precisely the reason that the Rob Forbes element, with his unique vision and approach, was so appealing. I grew up loving bikes. Got my first red and white Huffy dirt bike when I was a little boy, crashed it a few times, as is necessary, and learned to fly on that thing. As a teen, I got a Sunday job to save up enough to money to buy a more “serious” bike – a cobalt blue Schwinn 10-speed decked out with a pump, toe-clips, a pannier and water bottle holster. That was the last bike I ever bought. Living in San Francisco, bike culture can be so cultish and polarizing that when I’ve longed, even nostalgically, to get a new bike, I’ve felt too intimidated to just talk bikes at one of the local stores. Much in the way I avoided purchasing a pair of skinny jeans for years, I’ve done the same with bicycles. In my mind, there was too much of a culture schism attached to it. But Rob Forbes has always had the regular person in mind, and with him at the helm, Public Bikes has a different take. “Bike companies hire designers that are inevitably ‘bike people’, so there’s always this sort of bike geek slant toward whatever new is coming out. It’s really sort of myopic. Rob Forbes brings design. Not from within the bike industry, but from without,” David told me. And this was reflective of Rob Forbes vision as a whole. “Part of his whole focus is conjoined public spaces, and instead of stepping out of your front door into a car, why not have the outside, where you can have parks, social spaces outside that are tasteful and peaceful. City governments can provide that, and companies can provide that. These bikes are like the token city bikes, where you can wear normal clothes on them, they last, they’re comfortable. Anyone can jump on one of these, and still have the quality that appeals to the sophisticated customer.” Lovely. Bicycling as a way to share social and public space, and postured in a way that wasn’t so specialized, was a wonderful idea, and decidedly more accessible for someone like myself, someone not so in the know.

This type of culture is more apparent in European cities, an infrastructure Forbes likes to emulate. You can see that reflected in the design of Public Bikes. Like the Public M, based on the classic Parisian Mixte frame design that was hugely popular in the 1960′s. Or the Public C, commonly referred to as a Dutch bike with its vintage aesthetic beauty. Ultimately, however, the primary goal with Public Bikes is comfort and durability. The all-purpose Public V was a gorgeous expression of this. Beyond the bikes, Public Bikes was smartly stocked with accessories on smooth wooden walls. They also seemed to embody a spirit that was classic and fun. The Nutcase line of bicycle helmets made me want to be a kid again and take some “sweet jumps”, while the Peterboro picnic basket made me want to take a ride to the beach with my girlfriend and some strawberries. The company also makes panniers of their own. I quite liked the handsome leather seats by Brooks. And, once again, there was that very playful line of bike bells by Public Bikes. Everything was quality craftsmanship with an understated elegance, but it was the feeling of just how fun it is to jump on a bike and head out into the city or to your best friend’s house that spoke to me the most. It reminded me that I didn’t need spandex or a fixie, nor did I need to be a member of Critical Mass to experience that. All I really needed was a Public bike.

Visit Public Bikes at 599 Valencia Street and be sure to download StoreSnaps onto your iPhone so you can keep up to date with their info and products.

Local Is As Local Does

21 Thursday Jun 2012

Posted by Scott David Burgess in Featured Store, San Francisco

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Castro District, designer, Kenneth Wingard, san francisco

Walking home from A & G Merch last week, feeling pretty content with a job well done, I strolled languidly up Market Street thinking I’d take the long way home back to my apartment in the Mission. The air had a nice hush to it, people were quietly bustling about, the sky was an infinite blue. It was a perfect moment to window shop. One store in particular, however, rather thoroughly pulled me from the sidewalk and landed me on the other side of its aperture and inside of Kenneth Wingard. The previous store I’d visited already had the wheels of my mind turning, and I had been impressed with the care and selection of the product they carried. Good owners do this, and, thankfully, San Francisco has more than a few of them. But my unplanned visit to Kenneth Wingard revealed an entirely different revelation – that of the local, independent business owner who not only stocks his shelves and walls handsomely and artfully, but goes even further and fills it with his or her own work. Wingard, originally from Georgia and a San Francisco resident for the last 25 years, does just that.

There is more to Kenneth’s shop than his own line of accessories and home decor. There are crisp button-ups, a nicely tailored line of edgy t-shirts by Badcock Apparel and hand woven fedoras by Newhattan. The small world pillow, in beige and in the shape of a globe was also pretty great. There’s even a vintage typewriter, which the writer in me thought was a nice touch. But the real stars in the skyline of this shop are Kenneth’s. As I was told by J.M. Gonzalez, a photographer who helps Kenneth work the floor, “anything you see hanging from the ceiling or on a wall are his, and all the lamps too.” Except for that one.” But who’s counting when you realize you are standing inside a gallery as much as a brick and mortar. I loved his modernist take on a bamboo floor plant, as well as the steel sunburst clock which was both elegant and modern, yet had a striking vintage, almost baroque, effect as well. The same was true of the small capri mirror, with painstakingly rendered sqaures of mirror loosely reassembled to create luminous movement of form.

All of this becomes less surprising when you take into consideration Kenneth’s background. Years before working his way up to become director of the accessories division at Pottery Barn, Kenneth studied architecture at Princeton University with renowned architect Michael Graves as his mentor. From all appearances, Kenneth never forgot what he learned there and ultimately, taking his own long road home, manifested what he learned many years later by creating visually astounding pieces that he could showcase in his very own store (two, actually, when you include the Los Angeles location) as well as develop his own brand and company. This is reflected beautifully in two interestingly titled pieces, both in eye catching ivory white – his shiny Open Mobilio Grand SQ, and the Op Art wall hanging, the former resembling an otherworldly, geometrical wall hanging straight out of Kubrick’s “2012″. Stunning. And even more affecting to think that the owner himself was the mind and hands behind it. So next time you set out with the intention of buying local, you may want to consider Kenneth Wingard. Because this wonderful stuff is his, and he actually lives here among us.

Visit Kenneth Wingard at 2319 Market Street and be sure to download StoreSnaps onto your iPhone so you can keep up to date with their info and products.

Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag

16 Saturday Jun 2012

Posted by Scott David Burgess in San Francisco

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Aldea, Bath House, Belljar, Benny Gold, Shoe Biz, Teroforma, The Candystore Collective, The Whisky Lover

Every year in June we celebrate our fathers of the world for the gifts they give us and the work they do to provide their children with opportunities for the future. With that in mind, here’s a list of five of StoreSnaps favorite gifts for this year’s Father’s Day:

1. Rag and Bone Work Boots by Timberland

Is your papa a working man? Comes home, perhaps, after a long day at the construction site with calloused fingers the texture of sandpaper, dirt-stained jeans and boots that look he fell down a manhole? It might just be time for a new pair, then. Someone who works so hard deserves to look good. We really loved this pair at Shoe Biz, in this case their Mission District location, which typically hosts a wide array of men’s and women’s urban shoes and hats. But these boots have a classic beauty that transcends any young, urban adult-only notions about what to give a man born generations ago. Tailored by up and coming boutique designer Rag And Bone and manufactured by Timberland, these boots are both stylishly handsome and earthily rugged. So pop can work hard and still look fantastic. Visit Shoe Biz at 877 Valencia Street to pick them up.

2. Teroforma Whisky Lover Tumblers and Stones

Speaking of working a long day, outside of a loving family and a hot cooked meal, is there anything nicer to come home to than a nice, relaxing drink? I visited Aldea, an upscale homewares, furniture and gift shop in the Mission and found a beautifully modernist take on the classic tumbler set. Designed by Teroforma, their Whisky Lover set of mouthblown Avaa tumblers are not only sleekly designed, but included in the box are the highly unique Whisky Stones, essentially small soapstones that can be stored in the freezer and used in place of ice to chill the drink without diluting its natural balance of flavors. We think its a thoughtful, exciting new twist to share with a new breed of fathers as they relax at the end of the evening. To grab a set, head to Aldea at 890 Valencia Street.

3. Bath House Spanish Fig and Nutmeg

As more traditional perceptions of fatherhood become more sophisticated, so also might it be time for your daddy to toss out the Old Spice or Brut in favor of something a bit more elegant. When I stopped into Belljar, a wonderful boutique offering a unique array of vintage decor, art and clothing by cutting edge designers, I found the perfect solution. Made by the United Kingdom’s Bath House, a tight knit group of four dedicated to using the finest natural ingredients and extracts, the Spanish Fig and Nutmeg set of soaps, colognes, shaving gels and bath soaks are exquisite. They smell fantastic, spicily masculine, with an understated nod to their feminine side, and mark a bold new entry into body care for the modern man. Sound nice? Then consider stopping by Belljar on 3187 16th Street to smell the sweet goodness for yourself.

4. Benny Gold Wallet

Benny Gold is not inherently a place you might traditionally consider stopping into while out and about shopping for Father’s Day, though your father might likely head in there to birthday shop for his twenty-something son. It caters to a younger clientele, with its own line of skateboards, t-shirts and nicely tailored button-ups, canvas bags, and alternative wear. But every man needs a new wallet now and again. We loved this finely crafted offering, in bold, black leather with a smart, cross-hatched design and pockets for enough credit cards to finance a mortgage on a new home. And there’s no really no reason in this day and age your papa can’t be just as hip as you. You can head over to Benny Gold at 3169 16th Street to have a look.

5. Vintage Royal Typewriter

And last, but certainly not least, it’s time to honor the father who was born perhaps a bit ahead of the renaissance curve with a natural leaning toward creativity. A writer, poet, or photojournalist, perhaps. Even a man who wrote Henry Miller style love letters while overseas. We think that man today would certainly be the kind to bring his lady into a place like Candystore Collective to buy her a lovely new set of earrings, a necklace or a sexy new dress, the likes of which you can find in abundance here, as well as apothecary and cute gifts, mostly offerings from local and independent designers that reflect a refined and modern spirit. This is all assuming he could get past the window installation, which showcased a wonderfully refurbished Royal typewriter with attractive mint green keys. I sure couldn’t. This machine looks great, and would give any man’s office a smart, earthy, evolved flair. And it just might inspire your pop to roll up his sleeves and tell some fantastic stories. Like most fathers, we bet he’s got more than just a few. Stop by Candystore Collective at 3153 16th Street to give this beauty a look.

Be sure to download StoreSnaps onto your iPhone so you can keep up to date with their info and products. And Happy Father’s Day, everyone!

Lumberjack City

08 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by Scott David Burgess in Featured Store, San Francisco

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A & G Merch, decoration, design, Jill Goldhan, Peter Worger, san francisco, Williamsburg

Ah, the grass is always greener on the other side, isn’t it. The sentiment needs no explanation, and so it’s really no surprise that so many primarily urban environments have been experiencing something of a movement toward a style and culture that, at its roots, owes to the countryside, the cabin in the woods, the pioneering spirit of Americana. Perhaps, surrounded by so much concrete and technology, there is that innate part of us that wants to connect to something more pastoral and rugged. Or perhaps it is merely a stylistic trend, evidenced by sleek couches beneath ceramic bull heads in warmly lit living rooms, the civil war haircuts and beards on men wearing finely tailored flannels and boots that are likely far too nice and expensive to camp in, even while well built enough to endure it. Either way, its an interesting mix, a bucolic yet refined commodity, fully realized at a store like A & G Merch which first opened in the fashionable community of Williamsburg, New York, six years ago, and, as recently at this past October, in its West Coast equivalent of San Francisco.

Located in San Francisco’s Castro District, A & G Merch is lovely space with high ceilings, crisp, bone-white walls artfully adorned with multi-toned wood paneling. Wood is everywhere in this store, in fact, whether it be lamps (in some cases, in beautiful redwood), fantastic desks, one of which was made entirely from driftwood, wood slab plaques featuring illustrations of wildlife, or playful prints in barn wood frames, so I couldn’t help but reminded of the “lumberjack” reference I’ve seen thrown around quite a bit since the store opened seven years ago. Lumberjacks, after all, chop some wood. With owner Jill Goldhan unavailable for comment, I asked salesperson Peter Worger if he cared to weigh in on whether or not that usage was apt. He chuckled a bit, and sidestepped the coinage by telling me, “we prefer to think of it as an ‘urban suburban hunting lodge’. It’s a mishmash,” Worger continued. “We definitely have a rustic undertone to everything we’re doing.” True enough. Though, “rustic”, in a thesaurus, appears as an antonym to “refined”. Yet here the two play off one another within a perfect interspace of backwoods, kitsch and luxury. As I continued to browse I found myself compiling a mental list of everything I might need to renovate my apartment and convert it from a San Francisco flat to house in the hills, at least from the inside. There was an amazing cow hide butterfly chair, workshop stools, a playful take on a seven foot yucca tree, a branch bird pic that left me longing for the countryside chirping, and a gorgeous redwood floor lamp.

As a nice, mercurial, however unintended, or not, widescreen perspective on this particularly sweet harmony of homespun high living, the exit was wonderfully apropos. Sprawling from behind an elegant desk in amber light, which calls to mind an evening of a journal and a glass of whiskey after a hard day’s work in the yard, is, once again, that nicely rendered slat of plank wood. In this case, the slats resembled steps, which lead to the glass door opening out to the traffic, the honk, the siren, the skinny jean, and the paved floor of the earth. They were at once the then and the now, and, whether it might have any real connection to simpler times is completely subjective. But I, for one, would have loved to take a step back inside, sit at that desk, write something, create something, vegetable soup from the home garden warming in the kitchen, and soak in the quiet of a home away from home, where just outside the grass is truly green.

Visit A & G Merch at 2279 Market Street and be sure to download StoreSnaps onto your iPhone so you can keep up to date with their info and products.

Magnetic North

01 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by Laura in Featured Store, Portland

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clothing, handmade, housewares, prints

Located in Northeast Portland is a new collaborative art studio and retail space called Magnetic North. The building is set back off of the street, but you’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the hand painted bright red sign and pennants at the end of the driveway. As you approach the building you are greeted with wonderful hand-painted details such as their address sign and shop hours. The shop itself is small compared to the studio space attached, but it’s filled to the brim with incredible work! When I visited the shop, I spoke with the 3 of the 6 artists who share a studio at Magnetic North: Mary Kate McDevitt, Fred DiMeglio (Man Vs. Ink) and BT Livermore. Mary Kate creates hand lettered goods such as posters and chalkboards. Fred makes hand pulled silkscreen prints and hand dyed and silkscreened t-shirts. BT does screen printed prints, and hand painted signs in addition to running the mustache wax company Man’s Face Stuff, which also calls Magnetic North home. The other two artists who share the space are KB Sawyer and Lacey Van Nortwick. When they started their search for a studio space, they were hoping to find something that had the feel of an old mechanic shop or gas station. So when they found their current spot, they completely fell in love with it. The extra space for the storefront was an added bonus since Mary Kate and Fred mentioned it was one of their dreams to open up their own shop. Inside the shop you’ll find all sorts of local handmade goods for yourself, your home or to give as a gift—such as a hand dyed and printed bandana, an ink drop pillow, a framed print, a beard book, a bottle opener, or an eco tote bag, just to name a few things! In addition to supplying Portland locals with an array of lovely handmade goodies, Magnetic North also plans on hosting monthly events to engage the community. Last month they held their hugely successful grand opening party and this month they will be hosting a bike-in movie for Pedalpalooza, Portland’s annual month long bicycle festival. To learn more about the artists at Magnetic North, check out their Tumblr or Facebook page. And if you’re not in Portland, you can still get your hands on work from Magnetic North by visiting the individual artists online shops. For those of you who are in Portland, we hope you’ll visit the shop and add some cool photos to StoreSnaps.