Zandland Blog - Powered by Zandl Group

Coffee Growlers | DRINK / RETAIL TRENDS

2011-04-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

Beer growlers have been gaining big popularity here in NYC, with local delis, Whole Foods and even Duane Reade (NYC) selling draft beer in the refillable 64-oz bottles. Now, the trend is catching on in other drink categories...Nolita Mart and Espresso Bar at 156 Mott Street in Manhattan is selling growlers full of cold-brewed coffee, inspired by the trend in beer.

via NY Times

Duane Reade, Williamsburg Brooklyn

-jmd

Skittles Touch | ADS / ONLINE VIDEO

2011-03-31T14:39:00.000-07:00

Skittles never ceases to---weird us out? This new semi-interactive online video campaign is for sure on par with what we're used to with Skittles. Smart, strange and smile-worthy. Although, it doesn't necessarily make us want to 'taste the rainbow'.

-jmd

Shazam that Show! | ENTERTAINMENT/TECH

2011-03-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

Shazam, the popular mobile music identifier app (for iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Android) has opened up their door to a world of new potential partnerships. Last week, the app hooked up with SyFy channel's original series, Being Human, allowing viewers to tag any point of dialogue in the episode for exclusive footage, info and promotions. Now that Shazam has the clear capability of tagging more than just music, we think trend-forward entertainment outlets are going to start making use of the free app for promotions and other specialty-feature-unlocking-campaigns. Not only is it fun for the viewer/consumer, but it's also great for the sponsor, and super great for Shazam, who locks in extra cash and user interest. Everybody wins!

Meanwhile, we're still waiting for an image-based Shazam-style app to hit the mobile market...

-jmd

Are Aliens The New Vampires? | ENTERTAINMENT TRENDS

2011-03-03T13:08:00.000-08:00

(New tween/teen heartthrob Alex Pettyfer stars in I Am Number Four. Has Edward Cullen met his match?)

Aliens seem to have been sneaking up in pop culture lately. And as vampires tire out, alongside their werewolf counterparts, there's some good opportunity for otherworldly characters and themes. Some recent examples of alien pop culture invasion are the recent Twilight-esque film, I Am Number Four (DreamWorks), the upcoming Mars Needs Moms (Disney) and the reboot of 'V' (ABC) - now in it's second season (albeit mixed ratings). And we certainly can't forget the power of last year's Avatar...The next installment is scheduled to drop in 2014. Meanwhile, alien invasion films never get old - with Sony Pictures' Battle: Los Angeles hitting theaters next week.

Katy Perry's newest single, E.T., has been inching up the top 40 charts, and is currently number 6 on iTunes. And with a weirder take on the trend, Lady Gaga has taken to an alien persona for her new album, music video and even appearances (clad in body modifying costume & facial prostheses, Gaga arrived to the 2011 Grammy Awards in an alien egg).

So keep your eyes to the sky, or screen...There's still a ways to go before this trend hits it's peak...

-jmd

Go swimming on Xbox w/ Michael Phelps! | GAMING / SPORTS

2011-02-10T13:02:00.000-08:00

(image via videogamesblogger.com)

For the first time ever, swimming is getting some exergaming attention, by way of the Michael Phelps branded game, Push The Limit for Xbox 360 Kinect system. The game focuses on stroke technique (albeit while standing), as taught to players by the famed olympian.

We're pretty excited about the new game on a few fronts…
- Firstly, it's simply pretty cool that swimming will have some exposure to young people, outside of Olympic season.
- Secondly, it's a nice evolution in movement-based gaming -- the Kinect system allows for a real(ish) swimming experience. A technological hurdle past systems simply couldn't offer.
- And thirdly, thumbs up to Michael Phelps, who parlayed into the sports gaming arena…He was one of the only celebrity-athletes left without a game to call his own…

Good stuff all around. Can't wait to go for a virtual swim!

USA Today: Dive in with Michael Phelps to 'Push the Limit'

-jmd

Google Art Project: Visit museums around the world - from home | TECH / ART

2011-02-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

Completely enamored with the new Google Art Project! Google has taken it's street view technology, and partnered up with about 20 or so museums around the world to deliver a spectacular interactive virtual experience of their collections, complete with solid info on a breadth of work and a selection of mega high-res images. Go on an international art exploration without leaving home. While it's not quite the same experience (and the site could use a little bit of tightening up), we here in Zandland give Google a big thumbs up for bringing the art world a bit closer us all...

-jmd

Coca-Cola's 'Unlock the Secret Formula' | ADS / INTERACTIVE

2011-01-27T12:02:00.000-08:00

Just saw this Coca-Cola 'Unlock the Secret Formula' commercial on TV last night. A delightful homage to the brand's many decades of solid advertising.

The YouTube version comes with some secrets of it's own. Click on the keyhole when it pops up to unveil secret files of Coca-Cola inventor John Pemberton, along with a few other goodies. Nothing too extreme or riveting, but definitely showing off some classy interactive spirit!

-jmd

Last Stretch: Nintendo 3DS to hit US shelves March 27 | TECH & GAMING

2011-01-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

Last week, Nintendo announced the March 27th release date for the long-awaited Nintendo 3DS, for $250. Our panelists have been aching to get their hands on the new mobile gaming device since it was originally announced, back in March 2010. We're sure it's going to be a solid hit for Nintendo, and a major move in the glasses-free 3D entertainment landscape.

In addition to glasses-free 3D, the 3DS comes jam-packed with some pretty kickin features, such as a motion/gyro sensor, a 3D camera, and StreetPass™ technology, allowing users to 'exchange game data like Mii™ characters, high scores, and custom characters with other users you pass on the street' (even in sleep mode). The device also comes with an Augmented Reality card and a couple games to bring your real life surroundings to the virtual 3D world.

Nintendo 3DS Official Site

RELATED ON ZANDLAND:
Nintendo to release 3D portable gaming device, 3DS | TECH / GAMING / ENTERTAINMENT

-jmd

Must See: 'Babyland' at Sundance | FILM / EVENTS

2011-01-19T08:21:00.000-08:00

Massive congratulations and best of luck to Zandland friend, director Marc Fratello on his truly spectacular short film, 'Babyland' (with producer Zandland-alum Anna D'Agrosa). Check it out at Sundance this weekend! For screening times, go to sundance.slated.com. Sure to be a massive crowd-pleaser!

'Babyland' made big waves at last year's Columbia Film Festival at IFC theatre here in NYC, collecting some big awards including the Focus Features Best Film and Student Choice Best Film. A must see for anyone planning on checking out the festival this year.

Also, follow 'Babyland' on Facebook

Dark, funny, subtle and bold, 'Babyland' is an original and rewarding filmic experience. Check it out!

Babylandfilm.com
-jmd

Photoshop Rap! | TECH / HUMOR VIDEO

2011-01-12T13:09:00.000-08:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

HYSTERICAL rap video from College Humor featuring tips and tricks for Photoshop. A big laugh for all, an even bigger laugh for all you Photoshop-heads. I've personally tried to explain some of these very same tricks to others, but think it would've been way more effective had I just had this video on hand...Good work, College Humor!

Thanks for the tip AD!

College Humor via FreeWilliamsburg

-jmd

Thom Browne Women's Collection, Spring/Summer 2011 | FASHION / TRENDS

2010-12-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

(image via Jak & Jil Blog)

Totally inspired.

This month's issue of our Trend Tracking report covers the Neo-Prep trend we've been seeing developing over the last couple of years. One of the highlights from the report is Thom Browne's new Women's line of spectacular fashions - an explosion of delicious patterns and trims that are simply making us gush. We're holding out for a Thom Browne collaboration with Target -- hint hint.

Back in June Thom Browne announced his fore into womenswear. First will come a small womenswear Spring 2011 collection, we were told, then in February we will get a full Fall 2011 runway show.

Browne promised this collection will be, in his words, “understandable” and embody a strong but sexy woman’s spirit. Indeed it does. The ultra-refined waspy silhouettes that he created with superb tailoring, he broke down with bold colors and whimsical prints. These are no ordinary preppy clothes. In a sea of today’s grungy too-cool-for-school looks, Thom Browne’s womenswear is what really will make you stand out.

Thom Browne Women’s Spring 2011 collection will be sold in Thom Browne’s flagship store in Tribeca and Barney’s.
[via fashionlvr.com]

And what's going on in the always lovely Thom Browne Mens? Check it out at WWD

Lookbook Preview images via Jak & Jil Blog; Runway images via <fashionlvr.com.

-jmd

Cherry juice turns Brooklyn bees and honey red | TRENDS / EAT

2010-12-01T09:16:00.000-08:00

(David Selig of Red Hook, Brooklyn, a restaurant owner and amateur beekeeper, was disappointed that instead of honey his bees had produced a red concoction more reminiscent of maraschino cherries, or of cough syrup. via NYTimes.com)

We've been following the urban beekeeping trend for some time now. In an interesting twist, the New York Times reported this week on a mystery solved involving a Red Hook, Brooklyn hive of bees changing color. That's a change of color in both the bees themselves (added bright red stripes) and the honey they were producing. So what was the culprit, you ask? Apparently, the bees were indulging in the sweet flavor of maraschino cherry juice from a nearby factory.

But Mr. Selig [who owns the restaurant chain Rice and raises the bees as a hobby] said there was something extraordinary, too, about those corn-syrup-happy bees that came flying back this summer.

“When the sun is a bit down, they glow red in the evenings,” he said. “They were slightly fluorescent. And it was beautiful.”
[via NYTimes.com]

Personally, the sound of maraschino flavored honey isn't so terrible…in fact, it sounds quite tasty. Maybe these bees are just bored of making the same old stuff season after season? Whatever the case, now that the mystery is solved, all involved parties are going to work to prevent the bees from overindulging in the red stuff...

-jmd

Radiohead Cover + Stop Motion Animation + Mean Girl Barbie = Genius | VIDEO ART

2010-11-22T10:49:00.000-08:00

Creep (Radiohead) - Scala & Kolacny Brothers from Alex Heller on Vimeo.

This is a pretty awesome stop motion video art piece, set to a cover of Radiohead's 'Creep' (also heard on The Social Network trailer - by Scala & Kolacny Brothers choir).

The video has a pretty good message (I think) -- be happy with yourself, just the way you are. And also, Barbie's a real b*tch.

The artist, Alex Heller, from Chicago, says of herself: 'Seventeen. Trapped in the suburbs. I root for the underdog.' Wait...seventeen?

...just goes to show (Mr Pixar) that you don't need a huge budget to produce an animation that has class, pathos and a real heart. We all want to belong but sometimes recreating ourselves to suit others will end in more rejection and hurt than if we just remain true to what we are. This wonderful short animation is composed of 1554 pictures, shot with a Nikon D60. Fantastic.
[via Kuriositas.com]

Thanks RH for sharing this gem!

-jmd

Time: Coffee losing steam to energy drinks? | BEVERAGES / PRESS

2010-11-17T17:21:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, Irma Zandl weighed in to Time on the decline of young coffee drinkers -- and the rise of energy drinks:

Coffee has to party more too. Irma Zandl, president of Zandl Group, a New York consumer-research group, notes that it was Red Bull's introduction into the bar scene, where people would order the drink with vodka, that first attracted consumers to it. (And exposed the company to criticism.) Likewise, "the best way to get them to consider buying a coffee machine and buying coffee is if they've had that experience in a fabulous coffee bar," she says. Zandl cites the Stumptown café in the Ace Hotel in New York City as an example.
[via Time.com]

We here in Zandland might be known to grab a Red Bull or two when we're out and about, but we're certainly not about to turn our backs on good ol' cup of joe.

The Ruins of Six Flags New Orleans | ART / VIRAL VIDEO

2010-11-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

This amazing video by Teddy Smith has been making the viral rounds this week. The vid showcases the vacant and dilapidated Six Flags New Orleans, which has been out of commission since Hurricane Katrina. Pretty stunning footage.

via Gawker
-p!n, jmd

Malaysia Kitchen Food Truck gives out free food to raise cuisine awareness | MARKETING / EATS

2010-11-09T12:30:00.000-08:00

A special surprise met us outside the LIC Zandl Group office today. The Malaysia Kitchen Food Truck was parked on the corner, handing out free samples of deliciousness to passers by. The truck has been making it's way through NYC over the last month, spreading the word (and flavor) of Malaysia's tasty offerings with samplings from participating tri-state area Malaysian hot spots.

Unlike most food trucks, the Malaysia Kitchen Food Truck only offers free samples (rather large ones at that) with the sole purpose of igniting interest in the cuisine. And it worked! Today's offerings came from the menu of Flushing's Sentosa (39-07 Prince St.). We tried the Mee Goreng, a fried noodle dish with tofu and vegetables in a squid sauce and we give it two big, satisfied thumbs up!

Press Release:

October 4, 2010, New York - In an effort to drive consumers to experience the exotic flavors of Malaysian cuisine, Malaysia Kitchen for the World will host a food truck offering free samples of delicious food from local Malaysian restaurants. From October 11 to November 6 in Manhattan and from November 8 to 19 in Queens, the Malaysia Kitchen Food Truck will offer free portions of Malaysian delicacies weekdays from 11:30 am - 3:00 pm.

Stationed at different, high-traffic locations in Manhattan and Queens, the Malaysia Kitchen Food Truck will feature food from restaurants such as Café Asean, Penang (Upper West Side), Laut, Nyonya (Chinatown), Fatty Crab, and New Malaysia from Manhattan, Bentara from New Haven, Connecticut, and Malay Restaurant Inc. (Restorant Malaysia) from Queens.

On Tuesday, October 12, the Malaysia Kitchen Food Truck will officially launch at Bryant Park (40th St. between 5th and 6th Aves). On that day, sampling will commence at 7:00 am with Malaysian breakfast dishes and continue with lunch offerings at 11:00 am. Samples available while supplies last. Chef Zak Pelaccio from Fatty Crab and Fatty ‘Cue restaurants in New York, and Chef Hasni Ghazali from Bentara restaurant in New Haven, will be on hand Tuesday morning to discuss their culinary contributions to the truck. In addition, Chef Ghazali will demonstrate his dramatic cooking technique for Roti Jala, the signature Malaysian flat bread. Bentara will provide samples for the Malaysia Kitchen Food Truck November 5 and 6 to complement the "Eat| Drink| Explore Malaysia Kitchen" celebration at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal.

A schedule of truck sampling locations, dates, restaurants and dishes will appear on the Malaysia Kitchen for the World web site (www.MalaysiaKitchenNYC.com) on October 11. Updates will also be available via Twitter by following @malaysiakitchn.

"We're delighted to give New Yorkers the opportunity to sample the flavors of Malaysia by bringing our food directly to them," said Wan Latiff, MATRADE Commissioner. "We think the truck will be an effective and fun way to promote Malaysian cuisine and entice consumers to visit their local Malaysian restaurants."
At the truck, consumers can enjoy a free sample of some Malaysian signature dishes ranging fromBeef Rendang, a dry beef curry, to Chicken Satay, chicken meat on skewers served with a tasty peanut sauce, and Nasi Lemak, a coconut rice dish traditionally served with chicken curry and spicy chili sauce called Sambal. Menus from restaurants sampling food on the truck as well as a restaurant guide of local Malaysian restaurants and restaurants serving Malaysian dishes will be available for patrons.
[via MalaysiaKitchenNYC.com]

-jmd

Sandra Bernhard Tour, 'Kiss Me On The Lips, Texas' | EVENTS

2010-11-09T12:06:00.000-08:00

This is a must-catch tour if you'll be in Texas later this month. The always fabulous and funny Sandra Bernhard (featuring Zandland fave, White Widow) is going to knock out some serious awesomeness for three nights only -- in Houston (11/18), San Antonio (11/19) and Austin (11/20).

Tickets available at District512.com.

The tour benefits a good cause too! Check out the great work of Equality Texas.

Also check out this retro clip of Sandra on Letterman circa 1989:

RELATED ON ZANDLAND:
White Widow, Black Heart | NEW MUSIC/REVIEW
NEW MUSIC/VIDEO - White Widow, 'Black Heart'

-jmd

Extreme Product Placement - Days of Our Lives | ADS

2010-11-08T07:59:00.000-08:00

With waning interest in daytime TV, the soaps are forced to step up shameless product endorsement. Cracking us up... But seriously, this has simply gone too far...

via WorldOfWonder.net

-jmd

Most Popular Time of Year To Go Single: Information Design | TECH / BUSINESS

2010-11-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

Just caught this intelligent presentation from David McCandless' at TED (from August 2010) called, 'The Beauty of data visualizations'.

David McCandless turns complex data sets (like worldwide military spending, media buzz, Facebook status updates) into beautiful, simple diagrams that tease out unseen patterns and connections. Good design, he suggests, is the best way to navigate information glut -- and it may just change the way we see the world.
[via YouTube]

We found our way to the vid by way of this humorous and intriguing chart (via Best Week Ever via mathiasmikkelsen.com) generated by information gathered on Facebook on 'peak breakup times':

(With information compiled from 10,000 Facebook status updates, the above chart visualizes specific peaks and lulls of user breakups during the course of a year.)

Point is, our sense of vision can so beautifully illustrate (pun intended) how we comprehend and engage with information. Nothing new, really -- but McCandless does an impressive job at pointing at the effectivity of visualizing information.

Over the years, we've found that our clients have increasingly responded more excitingly to highly visual reports and presentations, with less text. With more access to fancier chart-building tools, programs and applications that can easily retool information into a visual format, this trend will certainly keep on the up.

Enter more professional opportunities and schools offering education in Information Design.

-jmd

Amy Sedaris, Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People | READ

2010-11-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

Entertainer Amy Sedaris wears plenty of hats - and always looks good doing it. Today marks the release of her new book, Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People, a followup to 2008's I Like You: Hospitality Under The Influence. And we couldn't be more excited. The comedian excels at pretty much everything she touches -- this is sure to be of no exception. Check out Sedaris' video promo via Amazon.

Also, get some giggle-worthy insights from Sedaris in a recent interview on Etsy. Cracking us up. An excerpt:

Is it true that anyone can craft? (Really? Anyone?)
Absolutely, anyone can craft. Stick a fistful of pencils into a potato and you've got a pencil holder. Who can't do that?

If you could craft with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
If I pick a dead person does it mean I have to craft while accompanied by their corpse? That just makes me uneasy.

Simple Times: Crafts For Poor People is available at a STEAL of a price ($16.49) on Amazon.com.

RELATED ON ZANDLAND:
Amy Sedaris Talks Hallween To Epicurious

-jmd

Gossip Girl Stylist Does Charlotte Russe Line | FASHION / TRENDS

2010-10-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

The girls of Gossip Girl sport some of the hottest fashions on television. The styles are pretty much the star of the show -- and now, Gossip Girl stylist, Eric Daman has signed on to do a line of accessible dresses inspired by the on-air collection for Charlotte Russe.

Meet Our New BFF…

Eric Daman

The man, the myth, the stylist behind GOSSIP GIRL and SEX AND THE CITY. He's our new bff, and we are thrilled to partner with him as we present the fabulous, new collection of holiday dresses he designed exclusively for us.

Enjoy!
[via Charlotte Russe]

Well, the price is right (about $40 for a dress), and the styles are pretty sweet -- and we're all about designer collaborations with fast fashion and masstige retailers. But as with most brands like Charlotte Russe, Forever 21 and H&M, don't expect these garments to hold up for the long-haul.

Paige, fashion expert here at Zandl Group, added that Charlotte Russe's massive selection of accessories are notably on trend - an excellent source for frugal-friendly bits and pieces that give any old number a fashion-forward twist. So maybe (for all you frugalistas out there) it's worth investing in a quality, versatile little black dress, and styling it up to the max instead of picking up a dress that would last for one night only. But, of course, that's the beauty of accessible, fast fashion!

This isn't the first time we've seen Gossip Girl as inspiration for a fast fashion line. Last year, Anna Sui rocked out a collection of chic Gossip Girl-infused styles for Target.

Check out the full collection of dresses at Charlotte Russe.

READ MORE:
People Style Watch: Get ‘Gossip Girl’ Party-Perfect Dresses — Designed by the Show’s Stylist For Under $50!

-jmd

Zandl Group office featured in NY Daily News | PLACES

2010-10-22T11:12:00.000-07:00

(Irma Zandl and Research Director, Paige Newman @ Zandl Group office, Long Island City)

Check out our new Zandl Group office space, featured in the NY Daily News today:
NY Daily News: Long Island City loft conversion offers different designs on life in three apartments

YouTube Play announces creative video winners | EVENTS / TRENDS

2010-10-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

YouTube unveiled the 125-video 'Shortlist' from the YouTube Play Biennial Creative Video showcase -- a collection of online videos curated by the Guggenheim and the video site. The Shortlist was selected from over 23,000 submissions from 91 countries. Of the videos selected in this group, a final 20 or so, chosen by jury, will be announced and showcased at Guggenheim museums worldwide starting tonight and will run through October 24.

(Projections on Guggenheim facade)

We tried flipping though some of the shortlist selections and got stuck in the world of YouTube Play for more than we'd like to admit. Some genius creative in the mix.

In the August 2010 issue of the Zandl Group Trend Tracking Report, we highlighted the rise of museum culture interest amongst our panelists, citing the Guggenheim/YouTube partnership as an example in this developing trend.

Art & Museum Love: Highlights from the Zandl Group Trend Tracking Report August 2010

Also, if you're in the NYC area tonight and tomorrow night, check out some wild projections on the exterior of the famed Guggenheim facade or tune into at 8PM ET for the full live steamed event!

-jmd

2010: Halloween hair color trends not just for Halloween | FASHION / TRENDS

2010-10-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

(Halloween-friendly hairstyles of today's hottest icons: M.I.A., Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry)

With Halloween just around the corner, it's no wonder we're seeing an influx of bright neon wigs lining the shelves of costume stores, department stores and pharmacies across the country.

But wild hair and crazy wigs aren't just a Halloween costume trend right now. Superstars like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and M.I.A. have been regularly sporting rainbow-vibrant locks. Most recently, Rihanna and LA Ink star Kat Von D have both been showing off some unnaturally fiery-fierce red strands. Hip-hop sensation Nicki Minaj has also been making the most of the spectrum, showcasing wigs regularly in almost every color.

(Kat Von D. and Rihanna sporting fiery-red locks)

Certainly an interesting evolution of the '90s trend that's been hitting the mainstream hard for the last couple of years. Flashback to Lil Kim's wild wigs, Gwen Stefani's blue pigtails, Claire Danes' alterna-teen orange-red do, and the rest of the Manic Panic-splattered hair color stories of the 1990s.

('90s flashback! Gwen Stefani, Claire Danes, Lil' Kim)

And if neon isn't really for you, maybe just the opposite will do for your do? In our latest Zandl Group Trend Tracking Report, we highlighted (no pun intended) the newest hair color trend to hit our young adult panel -- grey! From the wig-happy Lady Gaga to stars like Kelly Osbourne, Pink and Kate Moss, celeb fashion icons are opting for some silver sheen.

From the Zandl Group October 2010 Trend Tracking Report:

Point is, ladies, make the most of your Halloween wig purchases this year, and repurpose those bold hairstyles even after the costume season is over! Or, if you're feeling a bit more adventurous, stop by your local beauty supply store for some more permanent goods! Hey, if the stars of the Top 40 can do it, you can too!

-jmd

Makeup artist transforms herself into Jared Leto | BEAUTY / ART / VIRAL

2010-10-14T14:43:00.000-07:00

Oh the wonders of makeup! While Photoshop is constantly under public scrutiny for falsifying reality, nobody ever points to the reality-bending magic of a little bit powder and a pencil. This girl rocks out the Jared Leto look almost as well as Mister Leto himself... Well done!

[via Jezebel: Watch A Cute Girl Morph Into Jared Leto]

-p!n, jmd

NYC under 8-Bit Pixel attack! | VIDEO ART

2010-10-14T14:36:00.000-07:00

Really great video art piece:

PIXELS
New York invasion by 8-bits creatures!
PIXELS is Patrick Jean's latest short film, shot on location in New York.

Written, directed by : Patrick Jean
Director of Photograhy : Matias Boucard
SFX by Patrick Jean and Onemoreprod

Massive hearts all over from Zandland. Thanks Kate T. for the heads up on this one.
-jmd

Sesame Street Parody of Viral Old Spice Campaign | ONLINE VIDEO / HUMOR

2010-10-13T08:17:00.000-07:00

And also hitting the viral world this week, Grover, of Sesame Street fame parodies the wildly popular 'The Man Your Man Could Smell Like' Old Spice campaign. Grover's version has almost 4M views in a week. We'll see if it has the goods to beat out the original's 21.5M (since February 2010)!

-jmd

Graffiti artist Banksy does Simpsons controversial opening credits | TV / CULTURE / VIRAL

2010-10-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

The latest Simpsons episode created a stir this week, with an extended, brilliant, yet controversial opening sequence by famed graffiti artist Banksy. The episode marked the first time in Simpsons history that an outside artist was asked to help with storyboards on the opening sequence. The dark and twisted sequence was apparently in response to recent claims that the show outsources much of their animation to South Korea (EW).

It features Bart Simpson with his face covered as he writes all over his classroom walls.

While in the sweatshop, kittens are thrown into a wood chipper so their fur can be used to stuff Bart Simpson dolls and a chained unicorn is used to punch holes in Simpsons DVDs.

According to the street artist, his storyboard led to delays, disputes over broadcast standards and a threatened walk out by the animation department.

"This is what you get when you outsource," joked The Simpsons executive producer Al Jean.
[via BBC News]

Meanwhile, in just two days, the YouTube clip has garnered almost 3M hits...

RELATED ON ZANDLAND:
Exit Through The Gift Shop | STREET ART / FILM
ART/FILM - Banksy's Coming To Dinner

-jmd

Kid Power - Business Billions (Tween/Teen Brands/Trends) | NEWS / MARKETING

2010-10-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

Check out this video clip of Zandl Group President, Irma Zandl reporting live yesterday from NASDAQ in Times Square on BNN's SqueezePlay, discussing popular brands and marketing to today's digitally-minded tweens and teens.

SqueezePlay : October 7, 2010 : Kid Power - Business Billions [10-07-10]

2010 Holiday Shopping Outlook | CONSUMER POLL / TREND TRACKING

2010-10-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

2010 Holiday Shopping: Consumer Poll

With the holidays fast approaching, we asked the 'Zandl 100' to tell us about their outlook for this season. The majority of respondents plan on spending between $100 and $500 on gifts; more than half tell us this is the same amount of money they spent as last year.

See the the poll results (above) from the 2010 October Trend Tracking Report.

Also, check out Irma Zandl's video commentary on the report and this Holiday Season.

Jello Shot Mixology | COCKTAILS / DRINK

2010-10-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

(Jelly Cosmo via Jelly Shot Test Kitchen)

Now that the whole Punch Bowl movement has had it's spotlight moment, are gourmet Jello Shots the next big thing to hit mixology? We're not totally convinced it will catch on, but not quite sure why it wouldn't?

Check out the Jelly Shot Test Kitchen blog to get some fun ideas and recipes...including some gelatinous twists on classic cocktails. They also have a recipe book slated for Spring 2011 release. We're ready to try adding some jiggle to some of our favorite tasty beverages...Are you?

(Cucumber-Lime Margarita Jelly Shot via Jelly Shot Test Kitchen)

(Watermelon Basil Martini Jelly Shot via Jelly Shot Test Kitchen)

[via Liqurious]
-jmd

Sierra Nevada Estate Ale | PACKAGE DESIGN / DRINK

2010-10-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous label design on Sierra Nevada's Estate Ale, their first UDA certified organic beer. By Mutt Ink.
via The Dieline

-jmd

The Bleeker Collection - Urban Looks for Gap Kids / Baby | FASHION / TRENDS

2010-10-06T13:14:00.000-07:00

Totally loving 'The Bleeker Collection' by Gap Kids and Gap Baby. These hipster-infused styles are a perfect draw for 'cool & hip' parents looking to up the ante on their kids' uber-cool street styles (on a Gap-sized budget). Offerings from the collection inclue Hi-top sneakers, skinny jeans, stirrup jeans for girls, biker boots, and a variety of skull and animal print graphic fabrics. With fashions available in sizes from newborn to Youth XXL, we're giving some major props to the Gap on this collection.

Kids Highlights:

Baby/Toddler Highlights:

-jmd

Snickers' Creepy Halloween TV Spot | ADS

2010-10-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

We had to rewind this one and do a double take when we first saw this on TV last week. Not quite sure how this totally weird spot got the approval of some of the big wigs at Snickers, but we're sure glad it did.
-jmd

Bring to Light: Nuit Blanche New York | EVENTS / ART & DESIGN

2010-10-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

Bring to Light: Nuit Blanche NYC from Michael Zick Doherty on Vimeo.

This weekend, we checked out Bring To Light, a Nuit Blanche event in Greenpoint Brooklyn. It was a visual extravaganza of light, projection, performance and general wonderment. Hard to truly explain in words how cool the scene really was, but check out the Flickr Pool for a visual recap, or watch the video above to get an idea of the total awesome that was this festival of lights.

Some info about the event:

Nuit Blanche, the global, all-night public art festival that began in Paris, Berlin and St. Petersburg and illuminates cities around the world, has arrived in New York City. For the first time, Bring to Light will gather New Yorkers together for a community-based visual and performance art event that animates public space and illuminates the industrial waterfront in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

More than 50 artists and performers will create site-specific installations, projections, and performances along several blocks of North Brooklyn’s landmark architecture. Film, video, and interactive media will illuminate the facades of shipping warehouses, abandoned water towers, and massive factories. Visitors will be drawn through streets, parks, and open courtyards by light sculptures, LED art, and sound installations. A curated group of chefs and artisan food makers will present their creations in a dining room with reclaimed wood banquet tables within one of Brooklyn’s historic factory buildings. An alleyway swirling with film projections will lead participants along a path that culminates in an expansive view of the Manhattan skyline--and a  late-night dance party.

The event takes place in coordination with Greenpoint Open Studios, a weekend-long celebration of the working spaces of area artists, and will be broadcast live at a simultaneous Nuit Blanche event in Toronto.   Please help us fund the inaugural year of this annual event. All money raised through Kickstarter will go to fund permits, develop artists projects, secure additional space in the neighborhood and provide electricity for this event.

Nuit Blanche New York, LLC  Organized by: DoTank:Brooklyn: Michael Doherty, Ken Farmer, Aurash Khawarzad, Tom Peyton, Ted Ullrich  Produced by: Furnace Media: Ethan Vogt  Co-produced by: Pepin Gelardi, Jacquie Jordan, Annie de Mayo, Anna Muessig, Stephen Zacks
via [Kickstarter]

If you caught the event (or you're just generally inspired), there are still 5 days left to contribute towards the Bring To Light Kickstarter fund. They've still got a bit to go to reach their goal and get the support they need.

-jmd

Florence and the Machine VMA Performance | LIVE MUSIC

2010-09-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

(image via thecsperspective.com)

Florence and the Machine - Dog Days Are Over (Live)

Relatively decent VMAs this week. Florence and the Machine was a special personal highlight. Excellent performance, sick talent, and beautiful on stage art direction. On repeat. Watch it (click link above)!

-jmd

Greetings from Zandland...

2010-09-10T12:58:00.000-07:00

Zandland is making a short journey from Bushwick, Brooklyn to Long Island City, Queens. We're going to be a bit slow on the postings in the coming weeks, but looking forward to reporting from the new digs!

See ya'll on the flip side! Cheers!

Ikea sets 100 cats loose in store for campaign | ADS / HUMOR / PETS

2010-09-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

This Ikea commercial has been giving us mega-smiles and definitely worthy of a Friday afternoon diversion.

IKEA UK releases 100 house cats into their Wembley, UK store [via IkeaCats]

Also check out the behind the scenes vid...already garnered over 350,000 hits since it went up yesterday!

via Jezebel

-p!n, jmd

Shoot the bear! Tipp-Ex on YouTube | ONLINE AD

2010-09-07T11:12:00.000-07:00

Brilliant choose your own adventure-type YouTube ad for Tipp-Ex Pocket Mouse white out from Buzzman (France). Totally rocking out the digital platform. We won't spoil it all for you, but definitely worth a minute to check it out. Well done.

-jmd

Brooklyn's Bagel Store - Tequila Bagel?!? | FOOD TRENDS

2010-09-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

Here in Brooklyn, we've been seeing some serious creativity in the bagel department. Williamsburg's famed The Bagel Store has been at the forefront of the trend, offering noteworthy flavors like Coconut, Mac & Cheese (!!) and the buzzworthy Bacon Egg & Cheese bagel (introduced last Spring - try it with bacon, egg and cheese!) alongside equally creative cream cheese offerings (we're partial to the new Mexicali - taco flavored, with peppers and black beans). Today, the Bagel Store announced their new 'Tequila Bagel,' complete with lime and salt cream cheese! The combo comes with a warning: must be 21, special order.

We've been frequenting the bagel spot, and it's been an absolute blast configuring interesting pairings. If you happen to be by either of their two Williamsburg locations, it's definitely worth a pop in and a taste of bagelicious decadence.

The Bagel Store
247 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY, 11211
718-218-7244
Fax- 718-218-7266

754 Metropolitan Ave
Brooklyn, NY, 11211
718-782-5856
Fax- 718-782-5866

Meanwhile, in other bagel-news, the NY Daily News recently had Brooklyn's Chipshop deep fry a bagel w/ cream cheese… [via Gothamist]

-jmd

Gucci Guilty trailer (Frank Miller) | ADS / FRAGRANCE / FILM

2010-08-31T12:43:00.000-07:00

Looks like Gucci's been co-mingling with director Frank Miller on a new video project in promotion of Gucci's new fragrance (for her), Guilty. The Directors Cut, starring Evan Rachel Wood and Chris Evans (with soundtrack by Friendly Fires) will premiere at the 2010 MTV VMAs (Sunday, Sept. 12). Looks like more of the same from the Sin City director, but we're still looking forward to the big ad premiere - sure to generate some solid buzz.

-jmd

Quiznos Singimals Campaign - DIY it and win $5K | ADS

2010-08-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

Love it or hate it, Quiznos has a history of making waves with it's critter-centric advertising. Several years back, it was the Spongemonkeys, which was a massive hit with Zandl Group panelists (but didn't make the most pleasant associations for the sandwich chain, as many consumers thought the spokesanimals were rats). Now, they've moved onto more cuddly beasts, with the Singimals campaign. And after seeing solid feedback, Quiznos has opened up the floor to the consumers, with a contest to make your own variation on the video. Check out the Quiznos site to see the contenders. Only a few up there to vote on right now. Some are pretty great, and some...well...are interesting. We have our suspicions that some of the entries are from Quiznos themselves. See some below:

Also see this lo-fi homemade variation.

And let's remember those Spongemonkeys:

READ MORE:
AdFreak: Quiznos really loves its annoying Singimals

-jmd

Marketing 'The Last Exorcism' on Chatroulette | ADS / TECH

2010-08-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

The peeps at Lionsgate are up to some pretty savvy marketing schemes. To promote The Last Exorcism, they've planted video footage on Chatroulette of a flirtatious girl who quickly and surprisingly becomes possessed. And with a concept directed specifically towards teen & YA boys, we're thinking this will be an uber successful campaign....certain to wrangle up some extra ticket sales in that target.

The video is pretty gosh darn genius and beyond hysterical. Massive props to Lionsgate.

via AdFeak

-jmd

New Sharpie Pencil turns to Ink | WEIRD

2010-08-18T15:52:00.000-07:00

(image via Sharpie Blog (there's a Sharpie blog??)

Pencil THIS in...new Sharpie 'Liquid Pencil' is eraseable at first, but turns permanent after three days. Not the best invention for the digital age, when writing stuff down has been trumped by smart phone notation apps and computers....So, we're not exactly sure why someone would need this, but we're still excited that it exists.

-jmd

Flipboard for iPad | TECH / MEDIA

2010-08-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

We just tried out the app, Flipboard for iPad for the first time, and it sort of flipped us out (in a good way). The app is basically an aggregator for all your social networking worlds (Facebook, Twitter), transforming posts and tweets into a magazine style format, incorporating participating feeds (i.e. Wired, Huffington Post, etc.). While it kind of slows down your experience (isn't as functional as scrolling through a straight feed), Flipboard provides for a really rewarding experience/interface. Try it for yourselves, it's pretty gosh darn neat! It will be interesting when this type of format gets even more integrated with the print/advertising world. Genius.

Watch out future, we're catching up to you!

Read more about this week's APP OF THE WEEK: www.flipboard.com

-jmd

'Let Me In' - Swedish Vampires get US treatment | FILM / TRENDS

2010-08-13T08:34:00.000-07:00

The social networking landscape is abuzz about the Let Me In trailer, a remake of the 2008 Swedish vampire flick, Let The Right One In (based on the book of the same name). The Swedish version got some seriously solid kudos from horror fans and vampire enthusiasts alike, and now it looks like the US take will definitely get its notice come the October release.

Vampires are STILL not over, as shows like True Blood continue to garner new fans, and each installment in the Twilight Saga blasts away box office competition. Check out the Zandland post from July 2009 on Vampires and Macabre, including a timeline on the trend.

-jmd

M.I.A.'s XXXO | MUSIC VIDEO (heart)

2010-08-11T13:15:00.000-07:00

Loving loving loving this blinged out new video by M.I.A. for single, XXXO. The vid was officially released today on YouTube. Great track, too!

Also, thanks tracy f. for spotting the [not so] hidden galloping unicorns, per our 'Unicorn is the New Skull' post earlier this month.

RELATED ON ZANDLAND:
New M.I.A., 'XXXO' making big waves | NEW MUSIC / FREE MUSIC

-jmd

Intellivision Lives! comes to DS | RETRO GAMING

2010-08-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

A pre-Nintendo world is pretty foreign to most young people today. But those youngsters might just get a dose of the early '80s, with the arrival of Intellivision Lives! to the Nintendo DS this September, to coincide with Intellivision's 30th anniversary. The console was a hit back then, owned by Mattel Electronics - but didn't stand a chance against the less-capable, but way cheaper Atari system.

Back five years ago, Intellivision Lives! was formed to license and bring back some of the console's signature games (developed by Realtime Associates) for Xbox, PS2 and GameCube. The release got some niche blogger buzz, and good reviews. Now, 60 old-school games are getting the modern day handheld treatment with the DS, and we're pretty stoked about that.

An Intellivision app is also currently available for iPhone, as well, sponsored by VH1 Classic. The app is a portal to 6 paid versions of popular games (Chip Shot Golf, Night Stalker, Skiing, Thin Ice, Thunder Castle) - also on iPad.

(I remember how quickly I dropped the Intellivision in exchange for my first Nintendo NES…Funny how some 2+ decades later, I'm aching longingly for those blocky graphics…)

RELATED:
Intellivision Lives! Thanks to a DS Revival This September - Nintendo Life: DS
Intellivision Lives! (Retro) review
Intellivision on Facebook

-jmd

Levi's Curve ID - Dream Come True! | FASHION / DENIM

2010-08-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love winter, and was already ready for summer to be over, but the release of Levi’s new Curve ID line has me crossing my fingers even harder, hoping for it to be cold enough for jeans soon.

Zandl panelists already love Levi's, and it’s fair to guess that this new line will only increase buzz surrounding the brand. The three different fits are slight curve, demi curve, and bold curve; Levi’s states that 80% of women worldwide will fit into one of the three categories. Levi’s did extensive research for this line, and came up with some (not entirely surprising) stats:

• More than half of women (54 percent) try on at least 10 pairs of jeans to find one pair they would buy.
• Most women (87 percent) wish they could find jeans that fit better than the ones they own.
• Most women (67 percent) believe that jeans are designed for women with "ideal" figures.
• Very few women (28 percent) believe that jeans are designed to fit their bodies.

(via Levi's Press Release)

I have high hopes for Curve ID; the minute that the mercury dips into the 60s you’ll find me at a Levi’s store with a fit expert at my side, and a grin on my face.

-as

Superman in The Garden | SPORTS

2010-08-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

This is a huge head scratcher for me: the Celtics signed…Shaq. When I think of O’Neal, I think of the Lakers powerhouse of yesteryear, but that guy appears to be long-gone. Now Shaq is the oldest active player in the NBA (he’s 38), and hasn’t been too productive on-court in a few seasons. As a result, he’s bounced around a bit: from the Heat, to the Suns, then the Cavaliers, and now the Celtics.

The longtime Celtics – Lakers rivalry (I have been chanting “BEAT LA!” for years) makes the transition even more bizarre. Even Shaq apparently didn’t think that he’d have to stoop to the level of the green jersey; in his 1993 book Shaq Attaq he wrote,

"Did I want to play for the Los Angeles Lakers? Man, what do you think? Of course I did. The Lakers were the Lakers. They had tradition, but they weren't old and musty like the Boston Celtics."

Guess now that he’s old and musty himself, Shaq will take his measly $1.4 mil wherever he can get it. Really though, I’m glad that Boston has him. The Celtics need a center, and Shaq’s attitude seems to have genuinely changed. He's quoted in the Celtics’ press release,

"I am honored to be joining the Celtics. I have played against Paul, Ray, Kevin, Rajon, and Jermaine for many years and it will be great to be able to call them my teammates. I cannot wait to get to Boston to get started in pursuit of another championship."

-as

Jennifer Aniston as Barbara Streisand | FASHION / ART & DESIGN / ENTERTAINMENT

2010-08-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

The blogosphere has been a twitter lately over the Harper's Bazaar Streisand-inspired photo shoot starring Jennifer Aniston, and I couldn't help myself from commenting. I present, for your elucidation, side-by-side comparisons:

(images from HarpersBazaar.com)

Honestly, I feel like I should let these pictures speak for themselves, but I'm getting dizzy trying to choke down how angry these pictures make me (apparently, much like Summer Roberts on The O.C., I tend to suffer rage blackouts). Part of the....how do you say...swagger of the originals comes from Babs' "unconventional" beauty and her uncompromising "this is me, take it or leave it" attitude. All I see from Ms. Aniston is "take me seriously! I'm an icon!" Honey - maybe if you had stuck with your original nose, not spent the better part of your career on a sit-com that died a slow, painful, embarrassing death, and tried to position yourself as anything other than the poster-child for the pedestrian and totally tired "America's sweetheart/girl next door" construct, you'd be able to pull off this photo shoot.

For those of you as upset as I, let me leave you with this clip of the extraordinarily talented Lea Michele performing Don't Rain on My Parade in Glee:

That, my friends, is how you do a heart-felt, inspired, charismatic tribute to Ms. Streisand.

-p!n

3D Express Coach | TRAVEL / TECH / GREEN

2010-08-05T06:49:00.000-07:00

Since moving to the city a few months ago, I have made several trips home to New England on the clean, friendly, and inexpensive Bolt Bus. The (huuuuge) downside to bus travel is traffic- my most recent trip to Boston took nearly two hours longer than it should have. Enter: Shenzhen Huashi Future Parking Equipment Co. Ltd. in China. The company has started production on the coolest and most dangerous (?) new way to travel– a ‘straddling’ bus called the 3D Express Coach.

The idea is that the bus can travel over cars, thus avoiding congested traffic. On top of the communing benefits, the system aims to reduce pollution by using electricity, solar energy, and reducing overall emissions. The thought of riding on or underneath this system totally freaks me out, and I would likely panic if a bus appeared above my car as I was cruising down the highway. Let’s just hope that Chinese drivers can keep cool under the pressure; they’ll have about a year to prepare - the system will likely begin operating at the end of 2011.

-as

The Odd Couple: Kanye and the New Yorker |TWITTER / HUMOR

2010-08-03T12:51:00.000-07:00

Rapper Kanye West joined Twitter about a month ago, and he’s having quite the impact on the Twitterverse. West only ‘follows’ one person- Steven Holmes, a British college student, who appears to hate the fact that West’s attention has put a spotlight on him. On the flip side, Kanye is well on his way to 500,000 followers, and has been transmitting some memorable tweets. BuzzFeed has kindly assembled the most hilarious thing to result from them: New Yorker cartoons paired with West's 140-character pearls of wisdom. Two of the best:

LOL!

-as

Oregon Trail "Movie Trailer" | ENTERTAINMENT

2010-08-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

When I was in middle school, one of the best "rewards" we would get for behaving or doing well on assignments was time to play Oregon Trail. All though I had a hard time hunting and always ended up sick with dysentery and then dying of a snakebite, I enjoyed every second of play (so much so that when I met someone from Oregon for the first time [when I was 18], I couldn't contain my happiness and immediately asked, "WOW SO YOU MUST LOVE OREGON TRAIL!").

The folks over at Half Day Today!, a Los Angeles based new media production group, also seem to share the love of this game, and created an amazing tribute to the game in the form of a movie trailer:

Caulk that wagon, and ford that river...Manifest Destiny!

-p!n, as

New Tron Legacy Trailer released at Comic-Con 2010 | FILM BUZZ / 3D

2010-08-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

Tron Legacy - Sure to be a visual extravaganza (in IMAX 3D). This trailer was just released at Comic-Con last week, and the flick (and Daft Punk soundtrack) has been generating some serious buzz with teens looking for an action-filled 3D feast, and young adults some early '80s nostalgia (I had the Tron game for Intellivision). While IMAX 3D seems to be the big thing these days (who's excited for Step Up 3D?), our bet is Avatar's gonna keep it's record-breaking stronghold for now in that arena.

Rewind to 1982:

-jmd

American Apparel is in Trouble....Let the Sales Begin | FASHION / TRENDS / NEWS

2010-08-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

We just read over at Jezebel that things are looking pretty dire for retailer American Apparel. The company is looking at serious decline in same-store sales, and rumor has it they're on the verge of bankruptcy. While it's sad to think what this might mean for the people who are employed in the AA factory in LA or in their stores throughout the country/world, let's focus on the one positive thing that could come from all of this: a massive close-out sale. Here's my list of the top 10 things I would buy in that case.

Loose Crop Tank

I already have this tank in "composition note book" print, and it's the absolute perfect shirt to wear during the dog days of summer. I'll take one in every color.

Printed Cotton Spandex Jersey High-Waist Skirt

Again, I own this skirt in "Afrika print" (I'm actually wearing it as I type this), so I can attest to its awesomeness. Upon perusing the American Apparel website, I found out you can also turn it upside down to create a mini skirt with a peplum. Versatile!

Rigid Corduroy Circle Skirt

Baby blue corduroy. Enough said.

Chiffon Double-Layered Full Length Skirt

This is one of their newer styles; a perfect length for fall. And, you know, not every skirt can be a mini skirt.

Wide Elastic Clasp Belt

A girl's gotta accessorize, no?

Four-Way Stretch High-Waist Side Zipper Pant

Everyone should have at least one pair of these, depending on this hypothetical markdown, I'll take at least 3: Medium Grey, Jet Black and Bubblegum

Cotton Spandex Jersey Legging

Now we're getting into the section of basic pieces of clothing that American Apparel does so well. These leggings are absolutely perfect and OH THE COLORS THE NICE BRIGHT COLORS! In this hypothetical sale, I'd stock up on as many pairs of these as I could carry.

Cotton Spandex Jersey Unitard

Lots of people chide American Apparel for making clothes that are seemingly useless, but I've found lots of use for my mesh lace unitard, thank you very much. This unitard is perfect for winter-time layering. The chicest long-johns around.

Chain-Link Solid Thigh-High Sock

As boots get higher and higher, we're going to need socks to wear underneath.

Unisex Colored Knee Stripe Sock

Just because you get socks every year for Christmas and/or Hanukkah doesn't mean you can't buy them for yourself.

-p!n

Waiting for 600 | SPORTS

2010-07-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

I can’t claim to be a huge baseball fan, but I do enjoy attending pro games, so a week ago I went to see the Yankees play the Kansas City Royals. At the time, I was only semi-aware that Yankee Alex Rodriguez was on the verge of reaching a major career milestone – 600 homers.

When he reaches this mark, which is inevitable, he will be the seventh MLB player in the “600 HR Club,” a pretty big deal. That night at Yankee Stadium, every time A-Rod was at bat the fans went crazy – cheering yes, but more striking was the abundance of flashbulbs and at-the-ready iPhone cams; it seemed that everyone wanted to get a shot of A-Rod making the shot. The thing is, in the seven games that the Yankees have played since A-Rod hit HR 599 on July 22, he hasn’t made that shot. A-Rod seems (rightly) unconcerned about the 8 day delay on reaching the record, saying,

From NYTimes:

“I think the thing to remember is that when I hit this, nothing’s going to change. We’re in the middle of a pennant race, and we're just trying to play good baseball."

It may be that my New England upbringing has poisoned me against the Yankees, but I’m definitely impressed at the big-picture attitude that this big star is taking.

All of that aside… GO SOX!

-as

Andy Cohen, Colbert talk Real Housewives | HUMOR / ENTERTAINMENT

2010-07-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

Funny interview with Bravo's Andy Cohen on The Colbert Report. The segment ends with a transcript reading from Real Housewives of New York, and it's pretty gosh darn entertaining.

So for your Friday Afternoon Fix:

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Andy Cohen

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

2010 Election

Fox News

-jmd

Rock And Roll Hearts | WEDDING VIDEO

2010-07-29T09:29:00.000-07:00

Lauren + JP from Matt Odom on Vimeo.

This beautiful and creative wedding video is a serious standout as far as wedding vids go...

Artist Matt Odom is rocking out some great stuff with his engagement & wedding photo/vido biz, ROCK AND ROLL HEARTS' (for couples who rock). Totally inspired.

[via Like Cool]

-jmd

Get Fat Instantly with FatBooth! | TECH / PHOTOGRAPHY / APP OF THE WEEK

2010-07-28T08:20:00.000-07:00

Thinking about finishing off that box of cookies? Well, if you need a bit of an incentive to reach for carrot sticks instead, check out FatBooth, an iPhone app that shows you what you'd look like with a few extra pounds (and chins). The app has been sweeping the nation. Simply take a picture of yourself or your friends, and it'll fatten y'all up.

While it's probably not an effective dieting strategy, it's definitely an entertaining party app! Surprise your friends, it's a hoot! Totally beyond worth the 99 cents. And that's why we're making it this week's APP OF THE WEEK.

Photo filter apps are gaining some serious momentum in the app world right now. From humorous ones like FatBooth (and it's counterpart, AgingBooth) to Hipstamatic and Photoshop Mobile, novice point-and-shooters are rocking out some pretty great imagery.

-jmd

Dolce Vita + Target Collaboration Has Me Drooling | RETAIL

2010-07-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

Women's Dolce Vita for Target Black Buckle Ankle Boots, $34.99

I am literally in disbelief over the Dolce Vita for Target collection. They have released images of my three perfect fall shoes. Target: you're doing it right.

Dolce Vita for Target Black Vita Lace Up Boot, $34.99

Dolce Vita for Target Grey Studded Oxford, $29.99

According to Racked, these babies have been launched exclusively at the East Harlem Target, which opened this past Sunday. They will be followed by a rollout to more stores August 22. Looks like Paige and I will be heading to Harlem this week....

-ca

General Hospital's Art/ Pop Intersection | TV / ART

2010-07-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

Performance artist Kalup Linzy & James Franco

James Franco's death scene yesterday in General Hospital was NEXT LEVEL. The fact that they managed to cast James Franco was a total coup in the first place - and now I've found out that they also have video/ performance artist Kalup Linzy on board. Linzy's work satirizes soap operas, making his appearance on GH a bit meta. The Kalup Linzy and James Franco collaboration is actually part of a bigger James Franco project, where I assume he is trying to blow our minds with the life imitates art, imitates life, imitates art.... (BOOM! ow).

From Linzy's website:

Kalup Linzy is an American video and performance artist currently living and working in Brooklyn. Born in Stuckey, Florida, Linzy graduated from the MFA program at the University of South Florida in 2003. He also attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and in 2005 received a grant from the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation. In 2007, he was named a Guggenheim fellow and in 2008 he received a Creative Capital Grant and a fellowship from the Jerome Foundation. Linzy's best known work is a series of video art pieces satirizing the tone and narrative approach of television soap opera. Linzy performs most of the characters himself, many of them in drag. Linzy also performs on stage using many of the same characters. His work has been reviewed in The New York Times, Art in America, and Artforum. In 2007, New York Magazine named him one of the ten most promising artists.

On GH Linzy plays a transsexual performer who recites the words to Tears For Fears' "Mad World" as Franco giddily falls to his death. I couldn't make up a more amazing scene.... (it gets really good at 04:45)

This footage from a forthcoming documentary gives more flavor on Linzy as an artist:

Earlier on Zandland:
James Franco continues performance art schtick with MOCA collaboration | ART / EVENTS

-ca

Unicorn is the New Skull: Mainstreaming of Gay Symbolism | CULTURE / TRENDS / ART & DESIGN

2010-07-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Pop culture has started to embrace and find humorous irony in gay iconography, symbolism and culture, without coming across as derogatory or un-PC.

Specifically, a portfolio of [traditionally recognized] gay symbolism like rainbows, sparkles, unicorns, etc. are infiltrating mainstream pop culture, most particularly in style & design. And not in like a totally gay sort of way.

While the growing popularity of rainbows and unicorns may seem a bit topical, the increased usage of such symbolism in mass entertainment, fashion and general pop culture is actually quite indicative of a larger shift in perceptions of gay culture, homophobia, etc.

Let's just step aside and take a second to talk in depth about just one of those iconic symbols: The Unicorn.

Unicorn is the new skull.
We've already seen the unicorn creeping its way into several facets of style and design, from fashion to jewelry, emblems and even tattoos. (We caught a hipster subway rider rocking out a huge unicorn tattoo on his neck…and it was pretty badass.)

The skull has had it's run, but it's played out, in fashion, art, jewelry & accessories, logos & graphics. It's dark and gothic and represents death -- interesting symbolism to coincide with a decade of conservatism and war. Enter the unicorn: It's equally iconic, but exudes a lighter, more uplifting portfolio of associations, fantasy & adventure, sunshine & sparkles…and gayness… However, it still has an emblem-ready character about it (as seen in the British Royal Coat of Arms), readily lending itself to a variety of graphic applications. Also, let's not forget that the unicorn is deeply rooted in a layered history, both in legend and in art (medieval art, etc.).
(image: Coat of Arms of Prince Charles of Wales, via philologos.org)

Our prediction: We're going to see the unicorn lending itself to style & design in the same way that the skull has been for the last ten years.

We've even seen unicorns popping up in fine art! Check out the work of Amanda Dolan. Meanwhile, a slew of unicorn-themed artworks and crafts have been popping up on craft sites and marketplaces like Etsy. The winning piece on last week's 'Work of Art' (Bravo) was a sex & drug themed unicorn sculpture.

(Artist Amanda Dolan rocks out with unicorns and other sparkly sweet deliciousness in her unique paintings and collages -- Read more on Zandland)

We've been seeing unicorn-themed viral content gaining popularity on the social network circuit. Charlie the Unicorn, the animated gay unicorn saga/YouTube sensation has 50 million views! Meanwhile, ThinkGeek's faux product for this last April Fools Day, Unicorn Meat spread like wildfire on the social media front, landing on hundreds of blogs, news sites and Facebook pages. The joke garnered the attention of the National Pork Board, who placed a cease and desist letter on the site. They were advertising Unicorn as 'the new white meat' (they also claimed that unicorn was an 'excellent source of sparkles').

Unicorns have even infiltrated the gaming world, with the smash hit Robot Unicorn Attack by Adult Swim for the iPhone. Players navigate their unicorn through a rainbow sparkle universe to burst through stars with their rainbow power. Set to the tune of Erasure's 'Always'. It seriously doesn't get more gay than this. But interestingly, this game isn't positioned for little girls. Rather, they're aiming their attentions at the Adult Swim viewer, straight 20-to-early-30-something males. And it's an intensely addicting game to say the least. It's made several of Apple's best of lists, including 'What we're playing,' 'What's Hot,' and 'Best Games You've Never Played.' A big 180 from first person shooter games like Call of Duty!

Continue Reading...

(Unicorn Princess Heels in sparkle gold by Jeffrey Campbell)

Jeffrey Campbell's Unicorn Princess Heels were a mega-hit last year, selling out on almost all online venues. The shoes came with a unicorn horn heel that made girls swoon. One Zandl Group Young Adult male panelist excitingly bought a pair in sparkle gold for his wife, alongside a unicorn-themed tee.

Check out this poster for a dance party last week in Downtown Los Angeles:

Unicorns aside, there are plenty of areas where mainstream culture is picking up on gay visual cues. Katy Perry's new video, 'California Gurls' is full of over-the-top gay symbolism. The lyrics to the song are anything but, talking about the hotness of California girls (i.e. "daisy dukes, bikinis on top…so hot they'll melt your popsicle")… And also features womanizer Snoop Dogg, set against a landscape of rainbows, candy colors, sparkles and cotton candy clouds (art directed by Will Cotton). Nothing seems heterosexual in this saccharine pink glitter candy world, but somehow it works -- and is a hit with all segments. We're thinking 5-10 years ago, Snoop's fan base wouldn't have been so totally down with all those rainbows.

(still: Snoop Dogg in Katy Perry's 'California Gurls')

Similarly, Major Lazer's video, 'Keep It Goin' Louder' (dir. Eric Wareheim) from last summer's LP, 'Guns Don't Kill People…Lazers Do,' features a bizarre twist on chauvinism, yet set against a rainbow-gay themed landscape of sparkles and rainbows. One could equate the video with an acid trip through a gay wonderland, complete with humanoid plus-size woman gyrating, etc. (somewhat NSFW). Major Lazer is an electronic-dance reggae-themed duo, and the track and album was a huge hit with hip hop audiences and dance enthusiasts alike. Additionally, to coincide with their tour, they sold unisex tees with neon pink sparkly boom box graphics.

(And while we're on sparkles: let's not totally put aside the non-masculine pretty-boy ultra-sparkly heartthrob vampires of the Twilight Saga.)

So is traditional gay symbolism losing it's meaning?

In short, it's more of a generational shift than a loss of meaning. Many of these icons have been linked in some way gay culture in the last several decades. Of course the adoption of the rainbow flag in 1978 immediately gave the rainbow a specific association to gay culture. But other symbols like the unicorn garner similar associations based on their extreme lack of masculinity and heightened sense of feminine frivolity (and of course they're often portrayed on or near rainbows). Now, in 2010, cultural affiliations with these symbols are evolving. And we think that's a good thing.

Meanwhile, many of the above examples are using traditionally gay symbolism for ironic juxtaposition. The humor proves a level of acceptance, and an unspoken friendly cultural collaboration moving forward into the new decade.

There's a new generation of more socially liberal young adults now, who are driving pop culture. Their formative years were laden with news, debate and information regarding the homosexual movement, from marriage rights to DOMA to Don't Ask, Don't Tell…and they've seen progress and action along the way, and have had more educated conversations with their peers on those topics. Meanwhile, there's way less fear of being perceived as gay because there's less negative slant associated with it. Pop culture has played a big role in this, with a slew of personalities on Bravo, MTV, reality shows, influential celebrities like Adam Lambert and megastars like Lady Gaga who use their influence to further equal rights and awareness.

Meanwhile, teen soaps are no holds barred when it comes to bringing in gay characters and story lines. '90210' (CW) and 'Secret Life of the American Teen' (ABC Family) are just two of many shows that feature gay protagonists in the high school hallways. An interesting twist in the new decade, however, is that these characters are generally not fighting for acceptance based on their sexual identity, but rather deal with the same issues as everyone else -- a big shift from how homosexuality was portrayed in the '90s, etc. with shows like 'My So Called Life' among others which dealt with dramatic tales of coming out and finding acceptance.

Of course, kids these days still throw out, ‘That’s so gay,’ and other similarly cringe-worthy remarks - perhaps more than ever. The term, ‘Gay,’ however, has lost a portion of its actual mean-spirited message. Often, the term comes with a friendly banter sentiment, void of derogatory meaning. And that’s important to understand when following teen lingo.

With all of this pop culture entertainment pushing a general theme of, 'It's not a big deal,' it makes sense that people would generally be less wary of cues that traditionally set off the red (or rainbow) flag. Interestingly, those who shut themselves off to all things ‘gay’ are in effect turning their back on a large chunk of pop culture, and alienating themselves from the cultural circle of knowledge. And as we've seen develop in the last several years, knowledge carries a massive 'cool factor' amongst todays youth.

As an umbrella to this whole evolution: In this harsh economy and steamy current event climate (oil spill, health care, war), people are looking for an escape, an uplifting balance.

And let's face it…By definition, Gay = Happy.

-jmd

In Defense of Snooki | TV / POP CULTURE

2010-07-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

Stuffy, stodgy, the gray lady, at least a year behind on pop culture, leaders in a dying industry.

It's just another day in the press room at the NY Times and uptight writer Cathy Horyn can't hide her scorn for Jersey Shore reality mega-star Snooki Polizzi. In a contemptuous profile, Horyn slings cuts at everything about the Snooks:

Extreme body snarking

(S)he’s short, drawing our attention like a berserk windup toy.

That Snooki is not conventionally attractive — “A spray-painted Chihuahua,” Mike (The Situation) said when he first saw her — has a lot to do with why she is the breakout member of the cast. She is busty and short-waisted with small legs; sort of like a turnip turned on its tip. There is the weird tan, but the pièce de résistance of Snookiness is the half-doughnut-shaped pouf on top of her head.

Intellectual superiority

She simply isn’t capable of serious introspection. She told me she has read only two books in her life, “Twilight” and “Dear John.”

With the help of her managers, Snooki is trying to spin her image into Snooki-theme products and maybe a book, which undoubtedly she will never read...

Downright nastiness

But trying to hold a conversation with Snooki is a little like getting down on your hands and knees with a child. You have to come down to her level, and sometimes you almost think you need to bribe her with a piece of candy to coax her to be more responsive. She is really only responsive to her own immediate needs and desires.

Part of (or some might argue, most of) the public's fascination with reality stars is mocking them, tearing them down, calling them out on being totally nutso. This is especially true for a certain breed of reality TV which, for some reason, is very centered around New Jersey. Real Housewives of New Jersey and Jersey Shore have achieved a kind of pinnacle for trashy TV. Of course, this pinnacle has been reached before - it's just that our attention spans are short enough that we have all already forgotten about Flavor of Love and The Swan. In line with the general media attention that reality stars get, Horyn's critique is certainly not saying anything that hasn't already been slammed at Snooki.

That, however, is not the point.

The NY Times attempting to analyze Snooki is (for me) on par with Snooki claiming to be a Joycean scholar. Here's the difference: Snooki wouldn't bother putting us through that. Snooki, unapologetically, is what she is. Horyn claims throughout the piece that she is trying desperately to figure out Snooki's appeal, but how CAN she if Snooki's own father thinks she's talentless?? This author, much more acclimated to commenting on Balenciaga's latest collection, is simply not equipped to understand the Snickers phenomenon.

So what is the Snooki appeal?

In between jabs Horyn does manage to hit on some of the key reasons why I love Snooks, mainly that she's very likable and she's an extreme character. Blasting her for having no talent is ignoring the entire reason why Snooki is famous in the first place. She is entertaining. In the entertainment business, that is a talent. Just as we love Britney despite the fact that she can't sing, Snooki has that certain charisma that enthralls viewers. Her tan, her pouf, her over-the-top wardrobe choices (animal print on animal print, yes, please), her willingness to say anything she damn well pleases, her pickle munching, her bar brawling, and finally, the fact that she clearly doesn't take herself too seriously - all of this adds up to great TV. Plus, as Jezebel pointed out today, "at least Snooki wouldn't wait until she left your home to talk shit about you to everyone else."

That's why it's "Snooki's Time." Thanks for playing NY Times and Cathy Horyn.

-ca

Die Antwoord in Bushwick | MUSIC

2010-07-26T08:35:00.000-07:00

Die Antwoord in Bushwick! .....Plus this videographer's footage from Eastern Europe, which is a strange combination with the South African rap-rave duo, but hey, what a good way to get your vacation films some airtime!

I sort of forgot about these two until I saw this video, but now it's all coming back to me. Back in February I thought this was a great summer jam.... I might have to resurrect it for August. Another track to revisit is my summer jam of 2009: Das Racist "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell." STILL GOOD!

-ca

Fancy Fast Food | EAT / ART

2010-07-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

How do you get this....

From this....

Erik Trinidad uses everyday fast food to create culinary art. This guy makes foie gras out of Nathan's hot dogs, 'Boston Krème Brûlée & Fruit Tart' out of Dunkin' Donuts, and (above) Osso BuKko from a BK Fire-Grilled Rib combo. His blog has passed through our emails a bunch of times over the last year or so...But after seeing his last stint on Rachel Ray (thanks DK for the link), we felt inspired to spread the word to all of you Zandland readers out there on this summer Friday. Check out his blog for today's Friday Afternoon Fix.

Did somebody say...
Fancy Fast Food?

These photographs show extreme makeovers of actual fast food items purchased at popular fast food restaurants. No additional ingredients have been added except for an occasional simple garnish.
[via Fancy Fast Food]

An example of Trinidad's genius...This 'Wendy's Napoleon' made from the Baconator Combo from the chain. Check out the recipe here.

And the press has noticed … From PC Magazine's list of 'Favorite Blogs' to Wired, ABC News, MSNBC, The NY Times, InStyle, American Public Media…and a LONG list of others.

So what's next for this food art star? We're pretty sure this schtick will parlay into some big moneymaking opportunities (book deals, tv specials, endorsement deals).

Fancy Fast Food
Fancy Fast Food on YouTube
Fancy Fast Food on Twitter

(all images via Fancy Fast Food)

-jmd

Bloody Mary Boom | DRINK / COCKTAIL TRENDS

2010-07-21T07:56:00.000-07:00

Tandem bloody marys: classic bloody mary and garden bloody mary

In a recent Tipsy Diaries for the NY Times, Frank Bruni points out that "the city is in a bloody mary craze like never before right now." Bloody marys are popping up in a multitude of gourmet variations, my favorite being Tandem's garden mary, made with beet juice and served with delicious pickled green beans.

While I love an upscale mary, I have to admit that I discovered something amazingly easier this weekend while visiting my extended family. I had the best bloody mary of my entire life and when I raved about it, I was told the secret: it was a mix. THE PERFECT MIX. It's called Zing Zang and it's tragically not available in NYC (I was in back home in Virginia when I tried the magical concoction). It's the exact right balance of salty, spicy, sour, and tomato. Just add vodka and impress everyone around you!! It is seriously THAT GOOD.

hiiiiii delicious Zing Zang...... hiiiiii

........... I might have to mail order some.

-ca

Pop-Tarts World Cafe | COMING SOON

2010-07-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

If M&Ms can do it....

Quietly excited to visit the Pop-Tarts World Cafe in Times Square.

According to Eater, the exclusive opening event includes:
- samplings from the Pop-Tarts World Café;
- the Varietizer, which creates customized boxes of Pop-Tarts that feature your favorite flavors
- the Customization Station, which helps you design your very own Pop-Tarts T-shirt.

Not sure if we're feeling like rocking out in Pop-Tarts Tees, but a Zandland signature selection of these pastries does sound pretty special.

Well, something to check out next time you're up in the TS hood. Opens to the public August 10.

[via Eater]

And as an aside, we're kind of hoping maybe they'll bring back the Hello Kitty Meow-Berry flavor from a few years back. Everything should come in Meow-Berry...just sayin.

poptarts.com

-jmd

The Social Network - Trailer | FILM

2010-07-20T08:57:00.000-07:00

Lots of buzz right now on The Social Network -- or as many people call it, 'that Facebook movie'. Directed by David Fincher, written by Aaron Sorkin -- we think this is going to be big. Excellent trailer, complete with a haunting cover of Radiohead's Creep, by Scala.

-jmd

Courtney Love, Fashion Blogger | FASHION / ENTERTAINMENT

2010-07-19T12:11:00.000-07:00

(image via What Courtney Wore Today)

Courtney Love drove the grunge alternateen look of the '90s for girls, with high-waisted babydoll dresses, messy makeup, ragged bleached out hair equipped with little girl accessories, and of course ripped fishnets. She's a polarizing figure in pop culture, but whether you love her or hate her, the influence Love had on a generation of '90s grunge chicks is undeniable.

Stepping out of the '90s, we saw Love shift her style sensibilities, from babydoll grunge to high-end couture to just plain weird. And it's been an extreme fashion adventure to say the least. With a raised and confused eyebrow, the tabloids are always asking, 'What IS Courtney Love wearing??!'

Well, the self-described fashionista is publically embracing her passion for fashion and answering that very same question in her new fashion blog, 'What Courtney Wore Today.'

Let's take a trip down memory lane:

So how does Miss Love compete with Zandl Group's Paige (and partner-in-fashion Jessica) on the fashion blog front?? See Workoutfits and judge for yourself. Our vote: This round goes to the stylish ladies of Bushwick...but let's give Courtney some time to get comfortable... and give those Workoutfitters a run for their money.

RELATED ON ZANDLAND:
Courtney Love takes Hole on the road - Terminal Five, NYC recap | LIVE MUSIC
BIRTHDAYS - Courtney Love is 45
EVENTS - Courtney Love at Hiro Ballroom
Courtney Love resrrects Hole w/ 'Nobody's Daughter' | NEW MUSIC

-jmd

I-dosing: The Digital Drug Craze | WEIRD / IN THE NEWS

2010-07-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

Our clients are always asking us what the kids are up to these days… Well, this one took us completely off guard when we read about it in a post this week on Wired.com.

I-dosing is the term used to describe the newest drug trend, which uses MP3s to 'induce a state of ecstasy.'

"Those who want to get addicted to the “drugs” can purchase tracks that will purportedly bring about the same effects of marijuana, cocaine, opium and peyote. While street drugs rarely come with instruction manuals, potential digital drug users are advised to buy a 40-page guide so that they learn how to properly get high on MP3s."
via Wired.com

The Wired article references the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs's stance on I-dosing…and they see it as a huge threat. One Kansas school district even banned iPods in schools and sent out a letter to parents warning them of the dangers of these MP3s.

Psychology Today has an interesting take on the digital drug phenomenon:

But really, Idozer (or I-doser as it is also known) is an extremely old "drug" in a new package. And breathe easy my fellow parents—because it's not really a drug—it's binaural beat therapy.

In 1839, Heinrich Wilhelm Dove discovered that two constant tones, played at slightly different frequencies in each ear, cause the listener to perceive the sound of a fast-paced beat. Calling this phenomenon "binaural beats," Dove helped launch two centuries of legitimate research and, as is almost always followed by exciting empirical study, money-grabbing pseudoscience.

First, the facts: Binaural beat therapy has been used in clinical settings to research hearing and sleep cycles, to induce various brain wave states, and treat anxiety.

But there are more controversial (dare I say dubious?) claims associated with binaural beats: Increased dopamine and beta-endorphin production, faster learning rates, improved sleep cycles, and yes, if you dig around less scientific communities like, oh, MySpace and YouTube, you'll find kids telling each other that "dude, those beats get you like totally high."

If you've wandered through a Brookstone or Sharper Image store in your local shopping mall and noticed sleep therapy or "brain-controller" devices for sale, that's just an upper middle class, "I need to stop thinking about my 401(k)" version of the same digital drug that the new crop of seedy i-dosing websites are offering to teens.

Is it a real drug? Probably not.
via Psychology Today

There are a lot of relatively safe things out there in life that can get you to various states of high…Yoga, exercise, shopping, coffee, Avatar (ok, maybe not for everyone)…and we're betting that MP3s can easily fall into that category, as opposed to meth and peyote. Interesting food for thought though. We'll be keeping our eyes out for more on this.

-jmd, ca

James Franco continues performance art schtick with MOCA collaboration | ART / EVENTS

2010-07-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

(image via Screen Rant)

We simply can't get enough of James Franco lately...His actor/artist career fell into a supermassive metasphere that has caught the attention of both the entertainment and fine art worlds, further proving that there's much more behind Franco's pretty boy image.

From the Young Adult Buzz, Zandl Group Trend Tracking Report, Feb. 2010:

YOU’LL ALWAYS BE DANIEL DESARIO TO ME
James Franco is having a big moment. Recently he’s appeared on SNL, played “himself” on a hilarious episode of 30 Rock (his romance with a Japanese body pillow was brilliant), and guested on General Hospital as artist “Franco, just Franco.” He approached the soap gig as performance art “because no matter how far I got into the character, I was going to be perceived as something that doesn’t belong to the incredibly stylized world.” The gig will culminate in a gallery show at Deitch Projects in NY. We love the way he is playing with his persona, both subverting the idea of what’s real and at the same time not taking himself too seriously. It doesn’t matter whether he’s being “James Franco” or “Franco,” we’ll be watching whatever he does next!

So what happened next, you ask?

Well, Franco's art schtick followed Jeffrey Deitch (of the famed Deitch Projects, now director of MOCA) to Los Angeles with a MOCA-hosted performance art piece at the Pacific Design Center. The performance was a continuation of his character on General Hospital. Read more about the event, and all things 'Franco' in this great article in The New Yorker:
The actor James Franco's dizzying art project: The New Yorker

And whether it's 'James Franco', 'Franco', or simply, 'Franco, just Franco', we're sure there will be plenty more to see here...

-jmd

(thanks kt for the new yorker link)

Jezebel: We love you and we hate you...and that's why we love you | A BLOG SUCCESS STORY

2010-07-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

Interesting read in yesterday's NY Times about Jon Stewart, The Daily Show, and a post on Jezebel claiming the show's sexist environment. The post drew over 211,000 views and over 1,000 comments. And while the female work staff of The Daily Show spoke out against the claims on the show's site, citing the statements on Jezebel as unfounded, the whole ordeal surely proved the power of Gawker's kid-sister, a self-described 'postfeminist' blog.

The article continues to talk about the success of Jezebel, citing it's clear point of view, cunning attitude and 50+ daily posts that balance pop culture with current events, all with an air of intelligence and irony. As with Gawker, it's the smart-laced angle that keeps readers coming back.

Here on Zandland, we've noticed that our posts on pop culture, fashion and entertainment get the biggest hits (exponentially so). It makes sense…it is called 'popular culture' after all. Where Jezebel has struck gold is in how they take already popular tabloid stories and topics, and provide commentaries and smart perspectives, which separate it from others in the tabloid arena.

Of course, just because they bring a smart angle to the mix doesn't mean that they're always going to be agreeable. While Jezebel is on all of our daily online sweeps, the girls here in our office have a definite "love/hate" relationship with the blog… As with any strong-willed, opinionated force, we're not always going to agree with everything, and Jezebel can sometimes get a bit 'preachy'. Another point of frustration for us: The blog will jump on the opportunity to expose a Photoshop scandal, wagging a finger in disgust, and in the same stream, admire stickly model-types and couture culture. But somehow, these opinionated contradictions keep us engaged, compelled to keep coming back, day after day. Because at the end of the day, we're all a bit contradictory…and that human element is what connects us to Ms. Jezebel as a friend, not a news source.

(Jezebel exposes a pre-retouched photo of Faith Hill for Redbook. via Jezebel)

The sentiment positioned by Jezebel is quite attractive to a higher caliber reader than, say, Perez Hilton or Dlisted. Where these blogs own the low-brow angle on pop culture news, Jezebel brings an intelligent twist to the gossip blog landscape… And for fair measure, they also throw in a balance of 'real' news commentary, bringing perspective to some of the bigger news stories that fall under the Jezebel 'postfeminist' umbrella.

We can all learn a thing or two from the the success of Jezebel. Fame in the blogosphere comes with a lot of hard work, constant content, and an opinionated personality that can generate conversation, and sometimes a bit of controversy.

And that's how you get a feature story in the NY Times.

READ MORE:
NY Times: The Blog Jezebel Is Not Afraid to Pick a Fight

-jmd, ca

Marketing in Museum Culture | CONSUMER POLL

2010-07-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

Art & Museums: Consumer Poll
We asked the Zandl 100, our panel of online thought leaders if they've seen a rise in interest in art and museum culture, and to gauge what might be driving this trend (i.e. marketing, online presence, pop culture influences). Check out the full report (above) and Zandl Group President Irma Zandl's video commentary (below).

via Zandlicious

Saturdays Surf NYC | VIDEO / ADS

2010-07-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

Just because you live in NYC doesn't mean you have to give up your passion for riding those waves. At least that's the inspirational message behind this beautiful video created by Saturdays Surf NYC, a Soho lifestyle shop, gallery and coffee spot.

Also check out Saturdays' blog -- lovely & feel good.

----
Video Credits:
Surf NYC: A 4K short for YouTube.

Director: Adam Neustadter

Director of Photography: James Henry
Assistant Camera: Roxane Calvignac

Producers: Adam Neustadter
Shawn Christensen
Damon Russell

Editor: Cole Hannan
Music: Dominic Matar

Surfer: Morgan Collett

‪http://adamneustadter.com‬
‪http://jameshenry.co.uk/‬
‪http://dominicmatar.com/‬
‪http://saturdaysnyc.com/
----

via Antenna Magazine
-jmd

Etsy is hiring! (Recruitment Video) | HUMOR / BUSINESS

2010-07-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

Friday Afternoon LOL:

Big nod to Etsy, the leading online marketplace for handmade goods, who released an amazingly funny and entertaining company recruitment video. Great stuff from a solid company. The Brooklyn-based firm presents themselves as creative, fun, with a solid sense of humor. Good work.

-jmd

Upcoming Teen Obsession: Aaron Fresh | MUSIC / TEENS

2010-07-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

I first saw this video on Nickelodeon last weekend, and I can’t get the catchy tune out of my head:

Justin Bieber and Chris Brown should probably watch their backs: this kid has combined the appeal of both teen sensation artists, mixed it with what he calls “Caribbean dub voice mixed with American R&B,” and stolen my heart...I expect he’s poised to steal millions more.

Like Bieber, Fresh was magically discovered (in rehearsal for a high school talent show) and quickly found an R&B artist mentor (in this case, Nick Cannon) to guide him to stardom.

Nick Cannon isn’t the only one making a move to ride the wave of King Bieber’s success (his net worth is estimated at $5.5 million). American Idol recently announced a decision to lower their minimum age from 16 to 15, in an effort to snag the next Bieber/Brown/Fresh/Greyson Chance before he can be scooped up by Usher/Def Jam/Nick Cannon/Ellen DeGeneres. It’ll be interesting to see how many 15-year-old hopefuls show up, and if any of them make it to the final rounds.

Personally, I’m just “Spending all my Time” waiting to hear the rest of Fresh’s debut album, Fresh N Up, in August.

-as

Emmy Nominations Are In..! | ENTERTAINMENT

2010-07-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

Nominations for the 2010 Emmy Awards were announced this morning, and I gotta give them props on recognizing some of the new, amazing shows that have come out this past year - it's always nice to see some new blood in contention. After looking the list over, I thought I would give some unsolicited advice to the powers that be and suggest winners in some of the categories. While reviewing the list, it dawned on me that I watch mostly comedy shows, so I'll go one by one through the nominations in that category.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I am a Gleek, a Twihard (and therefore susceptible to other vampiretainment) , and opinionated.

BEST COMEDY SERIES

Paige!'s Pick: Modern Family
Again, full disclosure here, I haven't seen this season of Curb Your Enthusiasm yet but I do own all of the previous seasons on DVD and I watch them regularly, so you could say that I'm a huge fan. Additionally, I haven't watched Nurse Jackie but just based on the fact that Eddie Falco (sorry but you will always be Carmella Soprano to me) & Peter Faccinelli (Carlisle Cullen!!!!!!) are in it, I'm kinda sold. However, since I feel like I should pick out of shows I've actually seen, I have to hand it to Modern Family. Throughout the season, there was NOT ONE episode where I felt they had made a misstep, or that the writing wasn't "on," which isn't something I can say for the rest of the pack. I'm sorry, 30 Rock, but some of those episodes were total stinkers. And The Office. Oy vey. DID YOU REALLY TRY TO PASS OFF A CLIP SHOW AS A NEW EPISODE?

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

I'm picking Alec Baldwin for his work in 30 Rock purely because of his smooth, velvety voice. Jargon, jargon, synergy.

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

This award should absolutely go to Amy Poehler for Parks and Recreation. She is supremely talented and I think the show is completely underrated. Again, another example of a consistently solid comedy show.

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

This one was super hard for me to choose, because I love love love all of the nominees. That being said, whenever I watch Modern Family, I find my self yelling at the TV, "he's sooooo good! Why is he so funny!?" every time Ty Burrell is on the screen. So there you go.

However, I have to add: WHERE IS AZIZ ANSARI IN THIS LIST? He's brilliant and definitely deserves a nomination.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

This one is impossible, so I say it's a tie between Jane Lynch for her incredible performance as Sue Sylvester, or Sofia Vergara as Gloria in Modern Family. Both women deliver every time they're on the screen, it's a joy to watch.

GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Hands down, without question, this award goes to Neil Patric Harris in Glee. I watched that episode 3 times in a row and possibly 5 times total.

GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Dude, she's 88 years old. And she got the guest spot through Facebook. Case closed.

As far as the other major categories are concerned, well....I'm not.

True Blood should win for BEST DRAMA SERIES, but really there should be a separate category for "SEXIEST TV VAMPIRE" so I could wax poetic about trying to choose between Alexander Skarsgård, Stephen Moyer, Kristin Bauer (all True Blood-ers), Paul Wesley, Ian Somerhalder (Vampire Diaries) and Rhona Mitra (The Gates).

Lastly, THANK YOU for nominating Conan O'Brien for Best Variety show and snubbing Jay Leno. You know how we feel about him.

-p!n

Ridley Scott's 'Life In A Day' brings vlogging to a whole new level | ENTERTAINMENT / TECH

2010-07-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

Attention all vloggers...

Ridley Scott is putting on the producers hat alongside director Kevin Macdonald for a new documentary-style experimental film featuring prospective YouTube submissions. They've called for the YouTube community to shoot and submit their own videos on July 24, 2011. Selected highlights will be edited into 'Life In A Day,' set to premiere at Sundance 2011, positioned to act as a filmic time capsule for July 24, 2011.

YouTube and the entertainment industry continue to collide. We've seen castings via YouTube submission, and even user-created commercial contests, but 'Life In A Day' marks the first time the film industry embraces the actual footage submitted to the site, incorporating it into a feature film.

As the digital landscape continues to provide simpler-to-use tools for creative content creation, and as we track the continued 'democratization of celebrity', we're confident this is just the very beginning of a huge trend in entertainment, technology and culture.

Life In A Day

RELATED ON ZANDLAND:
Photo Fuse, CS5 and the Evolution of the Prosumer | BUSINESS / TECH
10 Marketing Trends for 2010 | OUT LOUD (Pop Culture is the Zeitgeist)

-jmd

UPDATE:
This guy is cracking us up...

Food Truck Drive-In, Brooklyn Bridge | EATS / EVENTS

2010-07-06T13:44:00.000-07:00

Headed out to the 'World's First Food Truck Drive-In' under the Brooklyn Bridge a couple weekends ago - stuffed our mouths with food truck goodness. Check out our recap, above.

(also fyi totally shot all vid & audio on the new iPhone 4! Hot. Music by diplo)

via zandlicious
-jmd

Summer Rules! | PHOTO BLOG

2010-07-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

Well, we're in the middle of a scorching heat wave right now...reminding us all that summer is most certainly here. And if the heat is just too much, here's a lovely photo blog to remind us all what we truly do love about summer (you might even spot a Zandlite in the mix)...Great images with a dose of impressively casual wit...Check it out.
Summer Rules!

We just love how blogging culture has allowed us to all have a simple and easy venue for creative expression...Many of our panelists have embraced blogging hosts like Blogger, Wordpress and Tumblr to strut their expressive minds online...and show it off to the world.

-jmd

Gillette Venus Razor | PRODUCT REVIEW

2010-07-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

Irma's latest vlog post covers her newfound appreciation for the Venus Razor by Gillette.

See more about what's on Irma's mind at Zandlicious, Zandl Group's newest video blog... enjoy!

Kelly Cutrone's "If You Have to Cry, Go Outside" | Book Review

2010-07-01T13:44:00.000-07:00

Irma's first book review! She's mad for Kelly Cutrone (and loves her reality show, Kell on Earth too)!

via YouTube:

Kelly Cutrone's "If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You." Great insights for entrepreneurs on what it takes to be successful for example: street smarts, bootstrapping, passion for the business, and the ability to create your own brand. A great read for both business owners and those just starting out.

Faux Unicorn Meat Meets Legal Controversy | HUMOR / VIRAL / NEWS

2010-06-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

In a hysterical twist to what was already a hilarious April Fools joke, the National Pork Board has issued a cease-and-desist letter to ThinkGeek on account of their [clearly fake] Unicorn Meat, a hoax product which got mega-viral attention this Spring. Why is the National Pork Board so upset? Well, ThinkGeek referred to Unicorns as The New White Meat and well, Pork owns the rights to the phrase, The Other White Meat. Who knew unicorn meat would be such a touchy subject?

ThinkGeek released a Press Release in response to the 12 page letter. Some highlights:

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, June 21, 2010 - Geeknet, Inc (NASDAQ: LNUX), the online network for the global geek community, announces its public apology to the National Pork Board for unintended confusion surrounding unicorn meat versus pork...

"It was never our intention to cause a national crisis and misguide American citizens regarding the differences between the pig and the unicorn," said Scott Kauffman, President and CEO of Geeknet. "In fact, ThinkGeek's canned unicorn meat is sparkly, a bit red, and not approved by any goverment entity."

Of course, this attempt to shut down the faux-meat in its tracks only brought more (much more) attention to ThinkGeek and their very funny product offerings, effectively recirculating the product into the social networking/viral landscape. The powers that be at ThinkGeek clearly aren't taking the threat too seriously, as the site still (in bold) states: 'Pâté is passé. Unicorn - the new white meat.'

Pretty sure the Pork Board can call this one a giant legal FAIL... but we'll have to wait and see how it pans out for them.

Read more:
ThinkGeek :: Blurgh! The ThinkGeek Blog - Officially our best-ever cease and desist

-jmd

Katy Perry's 'California Gurls', by director Mathew Cullen (w/ Will Cotton!) | ART + DESIGN / MUSIC VIDEO

2010-06-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

We just love it when the people we love collaborate to make something totally awesome. Freakin loving the new video to Katy Perry's top-40 single, California Gurls (featuring Snoop Dogg). But we're not talking about Katy Perry and Snoop (although the song is catchy as all heck). What really gets us all sorts of excited is the collaboration of seasoned music vid director (among many other hats) Mathew Cullen of Motion Theory and Zandland (all-star) fave artist, Will Cotton, whose stunning oil paintings have been pleasing our eyes for the last decade or so. This video is... well, just plain dreamy.

Cotton's very specific aesthetic lends itself perfectly to California Gurls, and we couldn't be happier to see his genius in motion. Check out some of his delicious work.

Will Cotton, APPENINE, 2009, oil on linen, 84 x 76 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Mary Boone Gallery

Will Cotton, PASTORAL, 2009, oil on linen, 60 x 72 inches

WILL COTTON “COTTON CANDY SKY” 2006, OIL ON LINEN, 72” X 84”

The video's received some mixed reviews on the blogosphere, but we here in Zandland give this trip to Candyland 2 thumbs up!

Note: video embedding is disabled. Thanks Capitol... but check it out on YouTube here.

xo.

(Will Cotton's images via willcotton.com)

-jmd

Urban Outfitters' Bodega-Themed Fauxade | FASHION / BUSINESS

2010-06-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

We are super intrigued by the new Urban Outfitters Upper West Side store (opening in August). The new store will have a split facade, appearing to be "four distinct 'storefronts': a hat store, a hardware store, a neighborhood bar and a bodega." We're hoping the interior takes some of those same old school NYC cues as well...and does it with a solid sense of authenticity. This can be totally awesome or a complete bust based on their execution.

"The whole idea was to do this kind of ironic statement of lining the building with storefronts that would be reminiscent of independent businesses," says Ron Pompei, creative director of Pompei A.D., which designed the store, slated to open in August. "It's the story about the streets of New York as they once were."
[Wall Street Journal: Commercial Property Briefs]

While Urban spends a great deal of time and energy on the trendy interior aesthetic of their stores (and they're generally quite good at it), they're now joining only a few corporate retailers who have embraced these sort of permanent 'offshoot mood spaces'. J.Crew, for instance, opened up their 'Tribeca Liquor Store' location not too long ago (btw: not a real liquor store), and it's a stunning and intriguing spinoff shoppe for the brand...keeping their consumers engaged and interested in the brand. The small space helps J.Crew align themselves with a small boutique image that they couldn't possibly achieve with their regular branches, and also allows them to make some creative choices that may not work so well in a mall setting.

(J.Crew Liquor Store, Tribeca)

While the pop-up movement has seen similar effects for many big brands in the last several years, permanent locations like the Liquor Store, and (hopefully) the new Urban Outfitters help keep long-term dimensional positioning in check.

Meanwhile, Urban is also opening up its flagship store on Fifth Avenue this year, hitting up the other extreme.

-jmd

Hipster Fashion Cycle | FASHION / HUMOR

2010-06-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

(via Flavorpill, design by Emily Miethner)

This great chart on the 'Hipster Fashion Cycle' from Flavorpill has us chuckling all the way over to American Apparel...

-jmd

SyFy pins Debbie Gibson against Tiffany in new flick | RETRO / ENTERTAINMENT

2010-06-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

Turns out SyFy got the memo that the '80s were totally back, and they're riding with it. Not too long ago, we caught '80s pop sensation Debbie Gibson starring in SyFy original film, 'Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus,' where Ms. Gibson played a high level scientist of some sort aside Lorenzo Lamas…It was terrible, but pretty entertaining.

Meanwhile, her teen rival, Tiffany came out of hiding for the similarly ridiculous 'Mega Piranha' (with Brady Bunch star Barry Williams).

Well now, SyFy is revisiting the pop rivalry with the upcoming film, 'Mega Python vs. Gatoroid'.

"Gibson will play a fanatical animal-rights activist who frees illegally imported exotic snakes from pet stores, sending them into the Everglades, where they grow to mega sizes. Tiffany will play an overzealous park ranger who uses dangerous methods to save endangered alligators."
[via Hollywood Reporter]

Looks like these gals have found their niche in the new millennium. We just might tune in (airing next year) and see the drama unfold.

Since changing their name from Sci-Fi to SyFy, the NBC owned cable channel has been stepping it up with quality programming lately, with the acquisition of Merlin, and the WWE (NXT and upcoming annoucement to host Smackdown) and high budget original series' like Caprica and Warehouse 13. Meanwhile, they've become the go-to for modern day B-Horror/Sci-fi films, like the recent 'Princess of Mars' starring Traci Lords and Antonio Sabato Jr. Gotta love it.

-jmd

Wimbledon: I’m Exhausted Just Watching | SPORTS

2010-06-23T13:39:00.000-07:00

The Wimbledon Championships began a few days ago, and yesterday/today’s match (yes, that’s two days, one match…) between Frenchman Nicolas Mahut and American John Isner has broken several records – including longest tennis match ever (over nine hours so far), and greatest number of games in a match ever (currently 59 games each in the final set).

To win this match, one player must win two games in a row – and for 118 games in this set, that hasn’t happened. Both players look exhausted and are relying on impressive serves to win points and stay alive in the match. The crowd is invested too – cheering about equally for “John!” and “Nico!”

Wimbledon is my favorite Grand Slam (it has such an old school feeling – the grass courts, the royal box, the mandatory tennis whites…), but this match reminds me of something bigger: why I love sports. These two guys refuse to quit. They’re playing each point with guts, and running down most shots. Whoever wins this match will have earned his spot in the second round more than anyone else…ever.

Update: For the second day, the match has been suspended because of insufficient light.
Reminder to self: Patience is a virtue, and someone will win...eventually.

UPDATE 2: American John Isner has won! 70-68 in the fifth set. Unreal.

-as

Wall St. for Sale | ART / NYC

2010-06-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

Not everything Wall Street-related is taking a hit today; auction house Christie’s has sold a vintage enamel street marker for $116,500 – way more than it was expected to fetch ($60,000-$80,000). The sign marked the intersection of Wall St. and Broad St. in Manhattan in the late 19th century.

Sure, the wining bid seems a little steep, but this isn’t ye olde average antique street sign; according to Christie’s, the sign is scarred from shrapnel that struck it during the 1920 Wall Street bombing. The bombing killed 38, and injured hundreds- not necessarily something that I’d like to think about while I admire my overpriced décor, but there really is a buyer for every seller, and Christie’s obviously found theirs.

-as

Friendly's Grilled Cheese BurgerMelt | FAST FOOD / HEALTH

2010-06-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

Just when you thought KFC's Double Down took the 2010 prize in extreme fast food sandwich innovation, Friendly's has announced the new 'Ultimate Grilled Cheese BurgerMelt.' This burger switches out the traditional bun with two grilled cheese sandwiches. While Friendly's Grilled Cheese sits atop the short list of my personal favorites (esp. dipped in some honey mustard - mmm), we're not convinced that slapping a burger and fixings in between two of these cheesy guys is the best for the belt. Of course, no burger is complete without fries...and while you're at Friendly's, you might as well finish it off with a signature sundae (I'm partial to the Reese's Pieces Sundae - standard comes with 5 scoops, peanut butter, marshmallow, hot fudge and candy).

So what will the 'Ultimate Grilled Cheese BurgerMelt' cost your waistline? According to the Friendly's nutrition site, we're talking 1500 calories and 97g fat (not to mention a whopping 2090mg sodium). That's almost triple the calories and fat and just shy of 2X the sodium in a Double Down! We'll have to see how KFC retaliates. We're thinking maybe a hybrid of the two? Only time will tell...

We've been tracking the Health & Fitness trends here for awhile now, as our tween, teen and young adult panelists have been increasingly adopting better lifestyle choices in that department, from exercise to foods they eat and activities they partake in. That said, it's been really interesting to chart the healthy foods backlash as a counter-trend - from fatty food icon, Paula Deen to KFC and now Friendly's, among others.

RELATED ON ZANDLAND:
KFC Double Down | FAST FOOD
Health & Fitness Trends | CONSUMER POLL

-jmd

Starbuck's 'Express Your Love' Campaign (BBDO) | ADS / TREATS

2010-06-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

This Starbucks 'Express Your Love' campaign (BBDO) continues to snag our attention. Refreshing, cool, simple and graphic, complete with some nice flavor cues...we like it...And props to Starbucks for trying to update the Frappuccino image, bringing some DIY customizable fun to the not-so-healthy treat. Can you come up with a better way to express your love than via a customizable Frapp?

-jmd

Google Wave comes out of Beta; But what does that mean? | TECH / TRENDS

2010-06-21T13:51:00.000-07:00

Google Wave is officially out of Beta, meaning you no longer need an invitation to join.

From the beginning, we've been riding the Wave, hailing Google for embracing the 'real-time' trend we've been tracking over the last couple years or so. So why hasn't it taken off yet? For starters, Google Wave comes across as very confusing. And it kind of is. While it's an obscenely functional, real-time collaborative platform, it's also a bit of a mind jumble when you first get into the program, and nobody is really sure what exactly it does. And even once you're deep in a 'wave', there's still no apparent rationale as to where to add, edit and attach in any given conversation. Wave allows for any chat participant to jump in anywhere in the conversation…and further complicates things by allowing others to edit others' earlier comments. And when it comes down to it, most people simply aren't ready to get out of the linear timeframe chat mode.

Once Google more seamlessly incorporates Wave into their already very popular Gmail and Gchat services, more users will certainly give it a chance. They also need to bring more education and training on Wave to businesses and schools, two areas that could potentially benefit the most from this type of platform, to help generate interest and user affinity.

That said, we're pretty sure this is just the start of some really big changes on how we communicate. The implications of real-time, collaborative platforms like this are vast, and will revolutionize communications for small business, education, and social networking in the years to come. In the meantime, let's hope Google gives the Wave a push and a bit of an 'interface intuition' makeover, before someone else (Apple, perhaps?) comes to steal their thunder in the Real-Time collaborative communications market.

Check out our writeup on Google Wave in the 'Tech Buzz' section of the Zandl Group December 2009 Trend Tracking Report (below):

Real Time Technology, From the Zandl Group Trend Tracking Report, 12/09

Google Press Center

RELATED ON ZANDLAND:
Top 7 Online Trends Moving Into 2010 | TECH / CONSUMER INSIGHTS

-jmd

Snoop Dogg's True Blood Rap | FRIDAY AFTERNOON FIX

2010-06-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

So for your Friday Afternoon Fix:

We posted a few weeks ago about True Blood and all of the super-effective, non-traditional promotions HBO has been churning out leading into the third season. Add this one to the list: Snoop Dogg's video ode to the show's protagonist, Sookie Stackhouse, 'Oh, Sookie'. Wow.

RELATED ON ZANDLAND:
True Blood Season 3: Promotional Powerhouse | ADS/TV/ENTERTAINMENT

-jmd

iLove Apple but will iLove You? | TECH / SOCIAL NETWORKING

2010-06-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

At first glance new online-dating site Cupidtino seems like a lot of things (overly specific, eerily familiar-looking, just unnecessary…). But after reading the company mission statement/press release, I can kind of see where Cupidotino creators are coming from.

Diehard Mac & Apple fans often have a lot in common - personalities, creative professions, a similar sense of style and aesthetics, taste, and a love for technology.
[via Cupidtino]

The site’s name is a hybrid of Apple HQ hometown Cupertino, CA, and Roman God of erotic love, Cupid. (clever, no?).

Users of Cupidtino are able to display Mac-related information about themselves on profiles – including iTunes and App preferences.

In exploring Cupidtino for this post, I was startled to find that, even though I wasn’t trying to sign up for the service, I wasn’t able to access parts of the site because I’m not using a Mac – these guys aren’t fooling around.

I have my doubts that a mutual love for Apple products alone will make for a lasting relationship, but maybe there is something to the idea that people who like Apple are creative, stylish, hip, etc. The 16,000 first-week users (and approx. 1,000 new members joining every week) seem to think so.

-as

'The Creators Project' by Intel and Vice Magazine | ART & DESIGN INSPIRATION

2010-06-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

Intel and Vice magazine have teamed up forces and developed The Creators Project, which highlights some of the most awesomist creative minds of today. The project acts as both a venue to showcase some great creative minds as well as act as a production studio and arts foundation for content creation.

"The Creators Project is a new network dedicated to the celebration of creativity and culture across media, and around the world. At a time in the history of the arts where digital technologies have revolutionized distribution, democratized access, and completely re-imagined the scope and scale with which an artist can create a vision and reach an audience, The Creators Project is a completely new kind of arts and culture channel for a completely new kind of world.

"The Creators Project has two mandates: on one hand it’s a modern day media channel that we will continually identify and celebrate the work of visionary artists wherever they are. On the other hand it is also a content creation studio, an arts foundation of sorts that will facilitate the production and dissemination of new work with these artists and their collaborators."
[via The Creators Project]

A really awesome spot to check out what's cooking in the creative world. We talked about their (really great) feature on Diplo last week…but there are plenty more, equally inspiring peeps involved with the project, including talents in music, art, film, design, gaming and fashion. We could get lost in this for hours.

Kind of like a beautifully curated who's who-style snapshot of the creative professional landscape, The Creators Project could easily act as a delicious resource for brands and businesses searching to team up with some fresh blood for promotions, campaigns or special events. It's also a great resource for artists, musicians and other creatives looking for some fresh inspiration.

We're totally bummed that registration is already closed for The Creators Project Launch Event here in NYC on June 26. Events will move from the US to the UK, Brazil, South Korea and Beijing this summer and will include live music, DJ sets, exhibits, and film screenings. Check it out if you can!

-jmd

Smurf'd: Live Action Smurfs?? | MOVIE TRAILER

2010-06-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

Hi Zandland readers. I present you with the trailer for the new live action/animation 3-D Smurf movie. I'm confused.
-Why are they in Manhattan?! Will they make it back to their little toadstool homes?
-Why do the Smurfs look so heinous? In cartoon form they are adorbz.
-Why must Hollywood desecrate my childhood favorites?

Thoughts?? Am I the only one completely turned off by this??

-ca

Video Game Trends | CONSUMER POLL

2010-06-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

Video Game Trends: Consumer Poll

Last week, The Zandl Group conducted a consumer poll on video game trends with The Zandl 100, our nationwide panel of thought leaders, ages 20-40. Read and download the report above!

Read more about our panel and other research we do at Zandl Group: Consumer Research.

Brazilian Baby is a Dance Machine | HUMOR / ONLINE VIDEO

2010-06-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU Jezebel for making me grin ear to ear. This baby has some serious dance moves... I might need to steal that pelvic swivel.

-ca

Ambush Marketing at the World Cup | SPORTS/MARKETING

2010-06-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

With so many people around the world watching the FIFA World Cup in South Africa for the next few weeks, it’s no wonder that corporations want to be associated with the games. Some do it legitimately (Adidas, Coca-Cola, Hyundai, McDonald’s, Emirates and Budweiser are all official sponsors), while others take a more rogue approach. Fans who enter stadiums with flags, outfits, or other heavily branded items are ambush marketers, and FIFA is not tolerating it. Recently, 36 women who were dressed in orange outfits to promote a Dutch brewery were thrown out of a stadium, and several were later arrested for the ambush marketing attempt.

Another type of ambush marketing at the World Cup is the creation of ad campaigns that connect a brand to the event, without stating that it’s a sponsor. Already a study has been done to see how effective ambush marketing is. Neither Nike nor Carlsberg officially sponsor the World Cup, yet both have been mentioned by the media more often than official sponsors Adidas and Budweiser.

FIFA must take ambush marketing seriously so that it can protect the Cup sponsors who are paying for advertising rights. It feels almost unnecessary to point out, however, that the media attention that followed the ejection and arrest of the brewery girls has had more of an impact on global recognition of the company than the group of orange ladies had in the stadium. Legal issues aside, ambush marketing at the World Cup appears to be time well spent.

-as