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SubscriptionsSites I Read
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| DécorSo torn! I really like the Le-Corbusier style sofa, but I'm not sure which one. I certainly can't afford the real thing, nor could I even find one. But there's a micro-suede version from Apt-NY which might actually be superior to the real thing. The real one is leather and somewhat difficult to care for. Apt-NY's comes in a huge palette of colors and has removable covers for easy washing. It costs $1400 + $400S&H = $1800. ouch. But it's also a sofa-bed. On average, that feature adds $500-800 to any given sofa, even at IKEA, so it's really not a terrible deal. And the polyurethane foam is like a memory-foam material which would make it comfortable both as a bed and sofa.
I could go the cheap route and buy a leather+leatherette knock-off from Overstock.com. This definitely looks like the real deal. However, it's a mish-mash of real and fake leather. I'm not sure which parts are real and which aren't. I would HOPE the designers put real leather in the high-wear areas like seat, back & armrest tops, but who knows? The crinkles in the cushions suggest otherwise. Still, they sure look nice. Only $760 + $3S&H = $763. Unfortunately, like the real-thing, it's only available in white or black. Reviews say the cushions are firm and therefore not very comfortable.
The third option is to go with IKEA. While they don't have any direct knock-offs, they have something they call the TYLOSAND which appears to be inspired by the Le-Corbusier. I've sat in it and it's very plush. Without a doubt, it would be the most comfortable of the 3 choices. The material is kinda like a crushed-velvet/terry-cloth. It's modular so I can stick an extra section in the middle for additional seating if I rearrange my place and suddenly discover more space.
And yes, I plan to buy orange sofas. All my living room furniture is black, and a brightly color sofa would really pop. Red and white are also possibilities. In the case of the Overstock sofa, I plan to stick with the black for a very cold square masculine feel. | | |
| DécorI bought the NYC mat because it was on sale and because it's more meaningful. It's like I brought a piece of NYC down with me. Now it kind of makes me want a real one, but I'm pretty sure stealing one would be difficult, illegal, smelly, and dangerous. But it would look SOOOOO cool if I carved a hole in the middle of my garage and topped it with a manhole cover. It's probably best to buy a new one. I wonder if any Cooper peeps at Con-Ed could help me. | | |
| Home theaterConclusion: There's no one best choice. An HTPC (or a cleverly hidden tower) will do nearly everything I want, but if I want to play games, I have to buy the consoles. And the only person who reads my blog is DWC. [edit: and T.]
I wonder how long an HDMI cable can be before there are appreciable loses.
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| CoffeeYup, I got free coffee today like the freebie-lovin' brand-w#ore that I am. I have to say, I actually liked the Pike Place brew. I should point out that I dislike Starbucks coffee, but drink it anyway because sometimes I need the caffeine-buzz and am too lazy or busy to brew some myself.
In an effort to get back to their roots, Starbucks dropped many of their food items months ago, and today, have renewed their efforts in the "regular" coffee arena. They've introduced a new brew called Pike Place Roast in honor of Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA where they began. The coffee is ground and brewed on site. They claim roasting is done at their locations, but not necessarily the one you frequent. Most significant of all, they brew fresh coffee every 30 minutes.
In my opinion, this has less to do with getting back to their roots, but financial pressure from their top competitor: McDonald's. It's no secret that the number 1 coffee out there is McDonalds coffee and I have to agree; as far as chains go, theirs is the most consistently well-balanced smooth coffee you can buy. The most common complaint about Starbucks coffee is that it's over-roasted which results in bitter burnt flavors. I guess this is Starbucks' way of saying, "Hey, we're listening. Come back!" McD's beans are roasted & ground off-site. The only reason their coffee tastes better as it does is that it's brewed fresh and often. As far as I can tell, Starbucks coffee sits in that pump-urn until it's empty or cold. Unfortunately, very few people order regular coffee at SB, so it can take hours before it's refilled. Now that they have a 30 minute time-cap, their coffee is always fresh. That makes the biggest difference. Their new policy on roasting and grinding help too.
Bottom line: Thank you, McDonald's, for kicking Starbucks back into shape. Starbucks, you should have stuck to your roots in the first place, instead of crawling back to them in defeat. How many years before Starbucks gets cocky, spreads itself too thin, and retreats again?
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