Not all that long ago, watery diner swill was the only form of coffee one could get outside the home in the U.S. Though Starbucks has since mainstreamed the concept of bespoke java drinks, there’s a back-to-basics movement brewing in the face of coffee corporatization. Indeed, serious coffee drinkers are seeking out local cafés whose main point of pride is merely roasting their own beans. Here are three that are poised to be the next Stumptown.
Handsome Coffee Roasters: Despite the omnipresence of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, L.A. is actually home to one of the most ascendant coffee scenes in the country. Buzzing its way to the front of the caffeine rush is Handsome Coffee Roasters, a boutique brand that’s elevating the elegance of a simple quality brew through thoughtfully roasted beans and a purposefully succinct menu. Established just last year by a trio of expert coffee bar veterans (all earned their stripes with Intelligentsia), Handsome just opened a gorgeous new HQ in LA’s downtown Arts District this past Saturday. The airy, predominantly glass-and-wood space serves as a fitting complement to its coffee’s craftsman appeal.
Although Paris Fashion Week still remains to be seen and analyzed, styles on the fall 2012 runways in New York and London already point to one significant trend. From the deconstructed cat eye that evokes sixties chic to “skinny” hair that pairs nicely with the wearable clothing on recent display, makeup artists and hair stylists are turning to the classics for inspiration.
Headbangers: Celebrities often take their style cues from the runway, but it seems that one new look may have been borne on the red carpet—the return of the headband. After the hairpiece made multiple appearances at the Golden Globes, it was featured prominently at Oscar de la Renta, Doo.Ri, Carolina Herrera, and Moschino Cheap & Chic. The form varied (jeweled, skinny, knotted, ballerina-esque) and the styling ranged (some kept hair down, other pulled it back), but it injected all with a touch of regality. While it might just be coincidence, stylist Orlando Pita saw it coming, predicting just a few days in during Fashion Week that headbands would have “a big moment this season.”
Following the success of Airbnb, the peer-to-peer accommodation model is surfacing as one of 2012’s emergent consumer trends. With the advent of the so-called Sharing Economy, people are proud to rent, obliged to lend, and not afraid to borrow, as it appears that we’ve entered an era of social collaboration in which most everything exists in the cloud and stands available for use by others.
SnapGoods: In a world where access often trumps ownership, consumers are opting to borrow rather than buy, and online classifieds are enabling users to exchange items without making purchases. One new such platform, SnapGoods, offers a forum in which anyone can post what they have to share and what they want to borrow from those with whom they are socially connected. One click creates a customized account that can be integrated into Facebook and/or Twitter, through which members can instantly ‘window shop.’ Although individual members determine the pricing and details of each exchange, the site offers an official guarantee that damaged goods will be replaced or repaired.
With the emergence of so-called Sixth Sense technology, mind-control devices are moving to the forefront of the digital realm. While some of these neurological tools are being used in marketing endeavors, others have more immediate implications for media such as games, apps, and even movies that react not to words or movement, but to thoughts, feelings, and minute neurological responses. Indeed, the singularity is near.
MyndPlay: Touted as the first-ever mind-controlled media player, the MyndPlay system relies on real-time brainwave tracking to garner info about a viewer’s emotional state, and modifies media content in response. The MyndPlay headset uses EEG technology to cull brain data, which corresponding software interprets to determine a viewer’s neurological reaction to a movie or game. The progression of the story at hand depends on that response, so that viewers can mentally navigate through alternate plot lines and endings, ultimately controlling the trajectory of the content via their thoughts. The headset is now available through the MyndPlay site, along with a handful of choose your own adventure-style movies and games.
You didn’t have to be at CES this year to get the memo that tablets are taking over. Up until now, the iPad has dominated the market, but with the government push for e-textbooks and consumers finding new uses for these types of devices, innovative tablets with unconventional features are hitting the shelves in escalating numbers.
Convertible: A common hesitation when considering a tablet purchase is its lack of a keyboard. People like portability but functionality comes first, making the ultrabook a sound solution. Lenovo’s IdeaPad YOGA bridges the gap between tablet and notebook as a first of its kind four-in-one folding device. Closed, it functions as a 13-inch tablet. But when open, it’s a full-size notebook with a keyboard and palm rest. Additionally, it bends like an easel to prop itself up for presentations. As tablets are being used for display boards increasingly often, the ability to stand alone is vital. Fortunately, the IdeaPad YOGA does a pretty impressive downward facing dog.
