London – Retrenders

The Age of Treachery by Gavin Scott

June 21, 2016 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

I recently watched Guy Ritchie’s “The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)” on rental. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. And by coincidence my next book review takes place around this post-WWII/Cold War era, it’s “The Age of Treachery” by author Gavin Scott.

World War II has just ended and like many soldiers returning home to England, Duncan Forrester is trying to adjust into normal civilian life. The ex-Special Operations Executive agent, Duncan is back at Oxford College as a archaeology researcher. A fellow colleague David Lyall is murdered on campus and everything points to Duncan’s best friend Gordon Clark. Duncan Forrester begins his own investigation.

Filed Under: Books, Featured, Reviews, Series Tagged With: Berlin, Duncan Forrester, espionage, Gavin Scott, London, murder, mystery, Norway, Oxford, Special Operations, UK

Music: The PSB are back with Pop Kids!

March 25, 2016 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

One of my favorite 1980s’ bands was the Pet Shop Boys and you might find it hard to believe they are still around making music. The Pet Shop Boys caught my attention again in 2013 with their single “Vocal” from the Electric album. A return to that 1980s and early 1990s sound that got me hooked, and now here in 2016 – the Pet Shop Boys are back with their latest single “Pop Kids.”

Filed Under: Music Tagged With: 1980s, Dance, electric, London, Pet Shop Boys, pop kids, pop music, PSB, Sythn-Pop, UK, Vocal

Massive LEGO Star Wars Death Star

March 3, 2016 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Over 500,000 LEGO bricks took to build one of the world’s biggest Star Wars diorama, the Empire’s Death Star. Fifteen LEGO builders took 3 months to build this special effects laden LEGO diorama/playset for Legoland Windsor in the UK.

Filed Under: Geeky, Toys Tagged With: bricks, Death Star, diorama, Empire, Lego, Legoland, Legoland UK, London, Lucas, planet, playset, Rebels, Star Wars, UK, Windsor

Meet the Stormtrooper Prop Master

December 17, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Meet Hollywood prop maker Andrew Ainsworth. You might ask, “Who is he?” Well, he’s the creator of the most iconic character helmets in film – the original Star Wars Stormtrooper helmet.

Filed Under: Art, Design, Geeky, Movies, Tech Tagged With: Alien, Andrew Ainsworth, designer, helmet, Little White Lies, London, Lucas, prop, prop master, Star Wars, Stormtrooper, Superman

Board Game: Monopoly Here & Now – World Edition

November 19, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Tired of the classic Monopoly property grabbing board game? Now you can travel around the world from Hong Kong to London with the new Monopoly – Here & Now – World Edition powered by BuzzFeed. The goal is get your passport filled up to win the game!

Filed Under: Games Tagged With: board game, BuzzFeed, hasbro, Here & Now, Hong Kong, London, monopoly, Paris, passport stamps, passports, World Edition

Thakoon for DesigNation 2015

August 25, 2015 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

I have to admit, I have never shopped at Kohl’s or stepped into one of their retail stores before, but American designer Thakoon Panichgul will have a limited-edition clothing line for Kohl’s DesigNation 2015. The women’s wear collection theme is all things London-inspired with a feminine-tomboy look.

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: British, collection, DesigNation, dresses, florals, Kohls, London, Panichgul, prints, shirts, Thakoon, UK, women

Gap HK – Gap Remix Project

May 28, 2015 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

Another year, another Gap Remix Project.

The concept is re-interpret the iconic Gap logo and the project takes 11 artists from around the globe into making a fresh graphic tee to rock. The 11 artist involved in this year’s Gap Remix is: No. 223 from Beijing, Candy Bird from Taipei, Chocomoo from Tokyo, Fantasista Utamaro from Tokyo, Jessica Hische from San Francisco, Kyle Pierce from San Francisco, Loic Lavenu from Paris, Maud Vantours from Paris, Neville Brody from London, Pose from Chicago, and Quentin Jones from London.

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: Candy Bird, Chocomoo, Fantasista Utamaro, Gap, Gap Remix, Gap Remix Project, GapHK, graphic tees, Hong Kong, Japan, Jessica Hische, Kyle Pierce, Loic Lavenu, London, Maud Vantours, Neville Brody, No. 223, Paris, Pose, Quentin Jones, t-shirt, tee

The Art & Making of Penny Dreadful

April 24, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

I have to admit I only started watching this hit Showtime series only for Eva Green (Casino Royale, 300: Rise of an Empire), but I stayed for for the story and characters driving the “Penny Dreadful” program. We are already knee-deep into the second season and Titan Books has just released “The Art and Making of Penny Dreadful”, the official companion book to the program.

Filed Under: Books, Featured, Reviews, TV Tagged With: BBC, Dorian Gray, dracula, drama, Eva Green, fiction, Frankenstein, horror, John Logan, London, Pulp Fiction, Showtime, thriller, TV show, UK, Van Helsing, Victorian London

Billionaire Boys Club Spring 2015

March 24, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

This is the Billionaire Boys Club Lookbook for Spring 2015. If by chance you are in London, make sure to check out the first Billionaire Boys Club/Ice Cream flaghip store located in the Soho district.

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: BBC, Billionaire Boys Club, flagship, ice cream, London, Nigo, parlour, Pharrell Williams, retail store, Soho, Spring 2015, UK

Miniature Sculptures Made From Shark Tooth

February 11, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Two weeks of Shark madness beginning Febuary 14, 2015 through March 1, 2015 at the Sea Life London Aquarium will also feature the works of artist Hedley Wiggan. Hedley is world famous for his miniature sculptures and this time he uses shark teeth to create his miniature animals.

Filed Under: Art, Design Tagged With: endanger, global, Hedley Wiggan, London, ocean, sculptures, Sea Life London, shark, shark teeth, teeth, UK

Photo Eating Series: “Brunchcity”

February 5, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Is it snack time yet here at the office? My mouth is all watery and hungry to eat, because of this photo series: “Brunchcity”. Photographer Andrea G. Portoles teams-up with illustrator Bea Crespo on this concept project.

Filed Under: Art, Photos Tagged With: Andrea G. Portoles, Bea Crespo, Berlin, Brunchcity, City, food, foody, London, photo essay, photo series, pictures, waffles

Polar Bear Roaming London

February 5, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

If you find yourself commuting in London on the ‘Tube and spot a giant polar bear … it’s not real. To promote Sky Atlantic’s new program Fortitude, a team of Hollywood SFX crew made a animatronic polar bear. And inside, you will find 2 people controlling the bear.

Filed Under: Culture Tagged With: animatronic, commuting, Fortitude, Hollywood, London, polar bear, sfx, Sky Atlantic, special effects, Tube

Adidas Originals x Undefeated x Maharishi

November 28, 2014 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

If you’re a sneaker addict, the mega team-ups of team-ups is here. Adidas Originals signs-up sneaker shop Undefeated and UK street brand Maharishi for this super limited edition kicks collection.

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: Adidas, boutiques, Jabbar Hi, Kicks, London, maharishi, Originals, sneaker, UK, undefeated, ZX5000

A Large Evil Corporation Team-up with Funko

November 25, 2014 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

The UK-based animation house A Large Evil Corporation not only makes cool animations for clients around the way, but also has a knack of making neat vinyl figures.

Filed Under: Culture Tagged With: A Large Evil Corporation, animated, animation, Funko, London, shorts, UK, vinyl, vinyl figures, vinyl toys

Adidas Originals x Mary Katrantzou

November 18, 2014 by kellyannbrooke Leave a Comment

If you’re familiar with London-based fashion designer Mary Katrantzou’s resume of work, then you know she fits right in with this collaboration project with Adidas Originals. Her signature is using a bright patterns and bold colors that standout from the crowd. This colorful capsule collection not only features apparel, but sneakers as well.

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: Adidas, capsule, collection, Kicks, London, Mary Katrantzou, Originals, sneakers, womens

Resistance by Samit Basu

August 19, 2014 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

I had a blast reading author Samit Basu’s critically-acclaimed 2012 Turbulence novel awhile back, and it got me hungry for his second serving, the sequel – Resistance. Eleven years have passed, since the flight of BA142 from London to Delhi gave passengers on the plane incredible powers. This was known as the First Wave, the age of the super power humans. It is now 2020 and the world has changed with many super human beings. This Second Wave, humans with no powers serve the ruling super power elites.

Filed Under: Books, Reviews, Series Tagged With: comic books, Delhi, graphic novel, heroes, India, London, Resistance, Samit Basu, Superpowers, villians

Viral Video Friday: The Ting Tings “Wrong Club”

August 1, 2014 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Another great Ting Tings track that makes you wanna dance on a Friday. The Ting Tings with the “Wrong Club.”

Filed Under: Entertainment, Music Tagged With: Dance, iTunes, London, mixes, rock, Super Critical, the ting tings, UK, Wrong Club

London Calling: House of Vans

July 16, 2014 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Like the one in Brooklyn, New York, kicks-maker VANS will be opening a House of Vans in London on August 9th, 2014. Not only will there be an in-door skate park, but a venue for musicians and artists alike. So the next time you take the Tube in London, stop at Waterloo Station.

The 30,000 square feet palace will be hipster fresh. Tunnel One will feature an art gallery; Tunnel Two will have the VansLab artist studios and a 100 person capacity screening room; Tunnel Three will hold a music stage for around 850 concert-goers and of course, a bar; Tunnel Four will hold the in-door skate park and restaurant/cafe; and Tunnel Five will hold another in-door skate park.

For more information, go to: House of Vans – London.

Filed Under: Art, Culture, Design, Fashion Tagged With: art gallery, House of VANS, Kicks, London, Shoes, skate, skate park, skateboard, skaters, UK, Vans, venue, Waterloo Station

Sex, Drugs and Superpowers is Death Sentence

July 9, 2014 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

The G+ Virus gives humans superpowers! Writer Monty Nero and artist Mike Dowling deliver an off-beat mature-audience superhero book in “Death Sentence.” In this world, the G+ Virus is like the AIDS virus that has spread across the globe affecting the general population. The G+ Virus is transmitted through unprotected sex, but the virus gives humans superhuman powers. There is a catch though, once you get it, you will ONLY have 6 months to live. Now what will you do with 6 months on the planet? What kind of superhuman power(s) will you get? And what will you do with your superpowers?

Filed Under: Books, Comics, Reviews Tagged With: AD2000, adult, Death Sentence, G+ Virus, London, Mike Dowling, Monty Nero, sex, STD, Titan Comics, UK, Vertigo

Universal Orlando: Walkthrough Diagon Alley!

June 20, 2014 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Why do you need to go to Universal Orlando? Do I have to ask why? If you are a true Harry Potter fan then a point of destination is the land of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. The buildings, all the details, it just looks and feels you’re in that world. Amazing. Check out this video walkthrough of Diagon Alley by Inside the Magic!

Filed Under: Books, Entertainment, Games, Movies, Videos Tagged With: Diagon Alley, Florida, Harry Potter, Inside the Magic, JK Rowling, London, roller coasters, theme parks, Universal Orlando, walkthrough

Hamburger Sneakers by END. x Saucony

May 5, 2014 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Sneaker-heads and burger fans can rejoice with this yummy sneaker collab between UK’s END Hunting Co. and kick’s label Saucony. The END. x Saucony Shadow 5000 “Burger” dropped this past weekend in the UK.

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: burger, cheeseburger, END., hamburger, Kicks, London, Saucony, Shoes, sneakers, UK

Drink: The Pepsi Bus Shelter on Oxford Street

April 7, 2014 by kellyannbrooke 1 Comment

London commuters get creative Pepsi ads at a London bus stop. You will find this Pepsi bus shelter on Oxford Street. This is not your typical bus shelter, as BBC News takes a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this Pepsi bus shelter.

Filed Under: Art, Design Tagged With: BBC News, bus, bus shelter, London, Max, MUNI, Oxford Street, Pepsi, soda, soft drink, Windows 7

Kano: Build your own DIY computer in 20 minutes

November 28, 2013 by Stephen Jang 2 Comments

Building your own PC can be tough for non-geeks or non-technical people. Well, now kids all of ages can build their own DIY computer in about 20 minutes and learn programing and coding in a fun and easy way with Kano. The London agency MAP Project Office teamed up Kano founders Alex Klein and Yonatan Raz-Fridman to build these cheap computer kits.

Filed Under: Geeky, Tech Tagged With: children, coding, computer, DIY, education, Kano, kids, London, MAP Project Office, open source, PC, programming, UK

Plush Lamb Toys Crying for Help

October 24, 2013 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

UK-based street artist and political activist Banksy always has something to say and point out. Check this short clip out:

Filed Under: Art, Videos Tagged With: Banksy, London, Plush Toys, political, sheep, sirens of the lambs, street artist, UK

Turbulence by Samit Basu

July 11, 2013 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

What if you found yourself with amazing superhuman powers suddenly and the ability to change lives and the world around you? What you would do? These are the many questions asked by passengers of Flight BA142 from London to Delhi as each passenger mysteriously gains a superhuman ability.

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“We want to form a real-world Justice League – of India,” Aman says.

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A group of individuals from the flight intersect for a force of change when they realize they have amazing powers. Aman Sen finds himself with incredible communications skills and his brain is always connected to the internet. Indian Air Force pilot Vir Singh has the power of flight. British-Pakistani Uzma Abidi looking to be a Bollywood actress in Mumbai has the power of charisma, making people like her. A Bengali woman Tia can make multiple versions of herself. Sundar “The Scientist” Narayan is now an insane genius builder, whatever he dreams, he builds. And Balaji “Young Bob” Batodekar controls the weather.

Filed Under: Books, Reviews Tagged With: comics, India, Indian, Justice League, London, Mumbai, Samit Basu, super heroes, super powers, X-men