In a move to prevent people from virtually climbing Uluru—a sacred, 600-million-year-old sandstone rock formation in Australia’s Northern Territory—Google removed images of the site from the internet. The Anangu people (the traditional owners of Uluru and its surrounding land) banned visitors from clambering the site a year ago, but many have defied the law and traversed the spiritually significant formation through “virtual walking tours” thanks …
$44
Produced with fruit carefully selected from a family-run farm in California’s Central Coast, Brightland’s two double-fermented table vinegars—PARASOL, a zingy champagne vinegar, and RAPTURE, a luscious balsamic vinegar—exemplify quality in the category. Made in California (much like the brand’s high-quality olive oils), these vinegars incorporate fresh chardonnay and zinfandel grapes, triple crown blackberries and navel and valencia oranges. Both are distinct enough to punch up recipes …
100 sellers were selected for Etsy’s annual Design Awards, an index of independent creativity with a $5,000 cash prize. Spanning jewelry, apparel, furniture, art, toys, wedding decorations, vintage items and beyond, it’s a comprehensive initiative meant not only to support these sellers (who are often small operations or solo efforts) but also to celebrate them. This year’s judges include Drew Barrymore and Dayna Isom Johnson, …
Commissioned by Dominique and John de Menil, and opened in 1971, Houston’s Rothko Chapel houses 14 paintings by abstract expressionist Mark Rothko. During the chapel’s development, Rothko proposed that the octagonal structure, designed by architect Philip Johnson (and then Howard Barnstone and Eugene Aubry after Johnson quit), feature a skylight. Rothko died before the building was complete and, to protect his work from the Texas …
Found in the mass burial ground known as Saqqara, 27 unopened 2,500-year-old sarcophagi tease the possibility of many more. They were found in shafts as deep as 30 feet below surface level in two plots—13 in one and 14 in the other. Largely preserved and seemingly unopened since buried, they offer in-depth looks at the art used to adorn the dead and the methods of …
Bipartisan civic engagement organization Work the Polls encourages all who can to apply to be a poll worker for the 2020 election. Poll workers are typically older (60+ on average, according to the org’s data) and polling locations close if they’re not properly staffed. Given the ongoing pandemic, at-risk individuals are not applying in the same numbers as previous years and places are more likely …
$29
As the weather gets colder and harsher, many people begin the search for hydrating skin- and hair-care. A leave-in treatment that nourishes your hair, evo’s Happy Campers can be sprayed throughout your tresses or pumped into one’s hands first to create a creme effect that’s even more concentrated. Either way, the formula hydrates and smooths, while protecting from heat and UV rays without leaving hair …
$170
In a bold, limited edition colorway, Dangle Supply’s collaborative Blaze Orange Titanium DangleBong Water Pipe was imagined in partnership with the design-forward outdoor publication Field Mag. That bright orange represents durable powdercoat finishing atop the sturdy but lightweight aerospace-grade titanium, making this a tool that’s easy to transport and use outside. The purchase of each bong comes complete with one 50/50 hemp-cotton blend Blaze Beanie. …
$99
With 100% of net proceeds donated to Every Mother Counts—a non-profit dedicated to making reproductive health, pregnancy and childbirth safer for women all over the world—this denim tote features a take on the French motto, “Liberté, égalité, fraternité.” Replacing “fraternité” with “maternité,” the design playfully takes on an important cause. The sturdy denim fabric means this tote (which features short and long carry straps) is …
$35
Growing tomatoes year-round is made easier with Bloomscape’s Potted Micro Tomato Plant—which sprouts from PanAm Seed. The healthy plant arrives in nutrient-rich soil and a pot that it won’t outgrow (in one of five different colors). This particular varietal remains compact even through budding and thus won’t need to be transferred to a bigger vessel or garden. Its tomatoes veer toward the smaller side but can …
From Bristol, UK-based Bearcraft comes the tantalizing electronic track “Where the Sun Sets.” A mix of unsettling lyrics and moody composition, the song could be the soundtrack to a real-life occult mystery. It’s another treasure from the band’s recently released album, Fabrefactions, and comes with an equally haunting music video, directed and shot by Paul Johnson. The visuals features eerie, obscured and occult moments—many of which …
Toronto artist Mustafa (aka Mustafa the Poet, and Mustafa Ahmed) self-describes his music as folk. That said, his newest release, the serene “Air Forces,” certainly blends genres. The Jamie xx- and Frank Dukes-produced track ruminates on violence, faith, fame, friendship and more, and furthers these inquiries in the Kid. Studio-directed visual treatment. Altogether, the intensely emotional song sounds subtle and soothing—and emphasizes Mustafa’s originality.
Just three months after releasing the powerful Untitled (Black Is), UK collective SAULT returns with their second album of 2020, Untitled (Rise). This new record imparts a more exuberant sound through upbeat disco, funk and even house elements, but the topics remain just as poignant—exploring race, resilience and rebellion. A standout from the album, “Free” begins with classic boom-bap, a super-funky bass line and a …
Though most will notice a nod to the Beatles in its title, Tune-Yards’ first new single since 2018, “nowhere, man,” is not a cover; rather it’s a frenetic adventure into the soundscapes of the ’90s. Once again, front-woman Merrill Garbus mesmerizes with her seemingly unlimited vocal powers—allowing the song’s central message to ring loud and clear: “If you cannot hear a woman then how can …
Fleet Foxes made a statement by releasing their highly anticipated fourth album, Shore, on the autumn equinox—a move that emphasizes long-held associations between the indie-folk act and fall colors, a crisp breeze and the reflection associated with the season’s sensory elements. Thus, we found the track “I’m Not My Season” to be the album’s emotional anchor and one aligns with frontman Robin Pecknold’s desire to …
$18
With 100% of the proceeds from sales donated to the Anotherwild Fund—a grant for BIPOC LGBTQ+ independent makers—this colorful mug offers double the positivity. Emblazoned with “Radical Lovers Forever” in all the hues of Daniel Quasar’s Pride flag—which incorporates black and brown stripes to represent People of Color, along with the pink, white and blue of the trans pride flag—this cute ceramic cup is microwave- …
