Weekend Update

5 February 2009

I recently returned from a long weekend in NYC and New Haven. While in New York, I took part in the judging of SPD 44 an annual competition which brings together magazines from across the US and abroad. Though the international set do make an appearance the bulk of the entires are primarily US based. Next year, I’d love to see favorites Esquire UK, Apartamento, and Fantastic Man make an appearance. The show also provided a good opportunity to meet up with a lot of industry peeps. Working out of SF at times can feel like an island, so it was nice to be in NYC where so many magazines are published. With that said, there was an unsettled feeling among the crowd due to the economy and the impact that is having throughout the publishing community. Most conversations start with a sobering “How many pages you got next month?”

During down time, I met up with friends from American Craft and Saffron. I also checked out the New Museum on Bowery Street. The New Museum is the Japanese architecture firm Sanaa’s second US commission. If you’re familiar with NYC you’ve certainly seen this building as it resembles a series of offset metallic stacked boxes.

Outside of design and cycling, my other major interest would be coffee. Over the weekend, I really wanted to track down this little cafe on 1st Avenue and 7th Street called Abraco. This cafe was started by a former Blue Bottle barista from SF. Worth the journey: a very good cup to be had here!

After finishing up judging on Sunday, I hopped the Metro North to New Haven to drop in on my friend who is pursuing an MFA in GD from Yale. Here are a few shots to round out the trip. The Beinecke Library on the Yale campus by Gordon Bunshaft was the highlight!

The New Haven Rail logo was designed by Herbert Matter. So solid!