New Trendcaster Sara
Culturcosm is proud to welcome Sara Wood to the eyewitness trendspotting team.
Sara is a writer and marketing maven with style that can’t be pinned-down. Recessionista extraordinaire, she knows how to get through the week on free drinks, event and venue hopping her way around The Bay from The Mission to Oakland.
Her tastes in music, art, fashion and the written word are as diverse as the many places she’s called home, including her current command center in San Francisco’s Trendyloin.
Look for the first of many colorful trendcasts from Sara starting next week.
Counsel That’s Always Camp
She’s outlandish, outspoken, and out to give you a piece of her mind.
Culturcosm is spawning a new breed of advice column, Dear Tranny.
Featuring the incomparable talents of Miss Sandra O. Noshi-Di’n't
and debuting exclusively at Culturcosm April 6th.
iPhone the Third, Summer 2009
Today, down at the Grand Genius Bar known as Apple in Cupertino, our tech demi-gods unveiled the new 3.0 Operating System for the iPhone. The most advancements will come for applications, allowing developers to sell monthly subscriptions of their product. Other improvements include enhanced Google maps and “push” notifications which allow companies to ping subscribers with sports updates and instant messages. All this plus, Apple’s trademark cut-and-paste feature finally gets the iPhone treatment. And I thought Transformers 2 was going to be this summer’s blockbuster.
Apple OS 3.0 launches this summer, at no cost to current iPhone users and for $9.95 to iPod Touch owners.
—Michael
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The Time Is Wright, The Price Ain’t
With the housing market still languishing and new federal incentives providing a fresh draw, many are finding this the best time to invest in property. For those of you who still have cash in the piggy bank (are you out there?), our loss may just be your capital gain.
Ever dream of owning a historic landmark? The Fawcett Ranch House by the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright has just recently been listed in Los Banos (approximately 2 hours south of San Francisco). Completed in 1961, the sweeping country estate of 6 bedrooms and 4.5 baths is one of the last residences Wright ever designed. Proposed as an “executive retreat, arts center, gentlemen’s farm, or family residence,” it sits on 80 acres of working farmland. Walk-in closets, you ask? How about a walk-in fireplace, 6 feet by 12? Pretty unreal, I’d say. But don’t break out your check book just yet. The iconic landmark is offered at $2.7 million. Regrettably, I have nothing to offer in return.
The Fawcett Ranch House is located at 21200 South Center Drive, near Los Banos, CA. View the real estate listing here.
—Michael
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Scorecard: The State of California vs. Marriage
In the ongoing battle over civil equality, much of America remains divided. Is it morally unconscionable to legally recognize civil unions between same-sex couples? Is it constitutional to deny basic civil rights to anyone on the basis of their sexual orientation? And, once and for all, is there a gay agenda?
In May 2008, same sex couples were granted the right to marry. On November 4th, with the passing of Prop 8, those rights were revoked. As both sides continue to spar for control, it is only clear that the fight is long from over.
THE CONTENDERS
Team Make It Right (those that support the freedom to marry)
Team Make It Righteous (those that wish to protect traditional marriage laws)
Last night, Team Make It Right held a candlelight march and vigil through the streets of San Francisco. The staggering show of unity and outpouring of civic support delivered a definitive blow to their opponents. Team Make It Righteous has yet to counter. California courts are next expected to hear arguments on the validity of Prop 8 and its effect on previously administered same-sex marriages on March 5, 2009.
—Michael
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Hip To Be Shrewd
I am a bargain shopper. I willfully admit it. I was raised on the practical notion that you only buy on sale and there’s no shame in clipping a coupon. And now, with money saving tactics firmly in vogue, I’m finding that my upbringing is kicking into overdrive.
At a recent happy hour outing, I was given a savvy tip about the best location in the city for steals and deals— the Goodwill on the corner of Fillmore and Post. So off I went to Japantown to seek my fortune or, in this case, someone else’s trash.
I wasn’t disappointed in the selection. Menswear boasted labels from Saks and Geoffrey Beane. The store was clean, not cluttered, and the staff surprisingly upbeat and helpful. But it wasn’t until I made my way to the music department that I discovered my Holy Grail— Huey Lewis and the News‘ quintessiental and career-defining album Fore! I practically broke out into “Hip To Be Square” right then and there. And priced at only a buck, that’s the kinda deal Patrick Bateman would kill for. Literally.
It was Goodwill’s new campaign posters that left me puzzled. Do my eyes deceive me or is Madeleine Martin of Showtime’s “Californication” hawking thrift? Regardless of celebrity endorsement, I’m buying what Goodwill’s selling. Not to mention that Billy Ocean LP I spotted, still in the plastic.
Goodwill Japantown is located at 1669 Fillmore Street, at Post Street. 415-354-8570. Open Monday-Saturday 9am-8pm, Sunday 10am-6pm.
—Michael
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About
Culturcosm is your online authority on the climate of trend throughout the Bay Area. Your roving reporters are taking to the streets and chasing down the real story. Be it stormy or serene, torrid or just plain tragic, we will break it down before you hit it up. Stay tuned. There's a new trend breaking every minute.
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Contact
General Inquiriesinfo@culturcosm.com
Michael, founder / editor-in-chiefmichael@culturcosm.com
Kay, founder / contributing editorkay@culturcosm.com
Sara, trendcaster / managing editorsara@culturcosm.com
Heather, social commentatorheather@culturcosm.com
Taylor, music trendcastertaylor@culturcosm.com
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