I'll often attribute personality traits to companies, such as the place I work or the clients and brands I interact with and love. While eating at SLC's newest restaurant Pallet, I almost instantly knew that this joint not only has personality, it has a personality.
Designed my friends over at the cityhomeCOLLECTIVE, the interior takes on a perfect balance of old and new, modern and classic, simple and complex. I love the communal seating layout combined with some excellent tunes that could have been stripped from my own playlists. When filled with folks, Pallet took on the vibe of a hopping yet intimate dinner party.
My understanding is that all the woodwork throughout the establishment is custom and original, which makes everything feel extremely rich and fresh. You get the definite sensation that Pallet was pulled out of Portland or New York and carefully placed here in SLC... like a present.
A great example of Pallet's personality is how perfectly one of its modern plates plays with the classic flatware. The juxtaposition of these elements creates an eclectic style that just flat out works.
Not only is this place designed to impress, the menu keeps up with the decor. I ordered the salmon, which was seared to perfection. And I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that, though not on the menu, Pallet stocks Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Bonus!
Photos by the cityhomeCOLLECTIVE
If you've got about 25 minutes to spare, make sure you catch this beautifully shot studio session with Justin Vernon and Sean Carey.
Mrs. Kyailty typically chooses our Sundance flicks each year and for 2012, she went 100% rockumentary awesomeness. We kicked of the festival with what was easily one of the most inspirational films I've seen in a long time.
Searching for Sugar Man is the larger than life story of the late-'60s, early-'70s singer-songwriter named Rodriguez, whose albums fell flat in the US. However, those same tunes found their way through all kinds of economic sanctions into South Africa at the height of Apartheid. Within the confines of this then police-state, Rodriguez's music fueled the anti-Apartheid movement among young Afrikaners.
Rodriguez became bigger than Elvis. But no one outside of South Africa knew it and everyone inside figured that since no new albums were being produced, he must have gone down in a literal blaze of glory. The stories of his death grew more and more elaborate over time and inspired two South African sleuths to search once and for all for Sugar Man.
Ironically, Rodriguez's album Cold Fact was released domestically just two months after Simon & Garfunkel's epic Bridge Over Troubled Water. It barely had a chance. In a strange twist of fate, a film called Under African Skies also premiered at Sundance this year. Mrs. Kyality caught this doc about Paul Simon's controversial Graceland album recorded in Apartheid-laden South Africa.
We wrapped up our Sundance fest with Shut Up and Play The Hits. Though entered in the documentary category, this was without a doubt a straight up concert flick. It beautifully covers the final LCD Soundsystem show at Madison Square Garden and captures the day after. Interlaced throughout the film is an amazing interview between pop culture expert Chuck Klosterman and LCD frontman and creative force James Murphy. I love LCD Soundsystem and I loved this flick, but there's not doubt you'll question Murphy's motives. Was he in for the art or did he actually get out of it for art?
Yeah, pretty much one of the coolest previews ever.
Talk about some great content creation, well done JMT. Can't wait for spring!
This beautifully shot vid is a must watch. BMW motorcycles in Italy? Awesome.
Each year I post a selection of my Christmas gifts. This year I've mixed my favorites with some recent acquisitions. Loving my new Poler Cuffed Beanie, Timex Weekender, red boot laces scored at Journey's, Levi's 514 Rigid Denim, Old Navy Flannel and a Green Inspired New York notebook. These lumberjack-ish duds are joined by some seasonal faves, my classic, homemade Chex Mix and Fentiman's Botanically Brewed Ginger Beer.
This just in. Pursuit Systems, Inc. has released their "incredibly quick and agile [camera rig] with compact dimensions." With a description like that, you better believe their rig is affixed to a MINI.
Growing up, when there were absolutely no cartoons left on TV, I'd resort to one last option before giving up and finally doing something else. I'd watch a serene, globe-haired hippie named Bob Ross teach folks how to paint happy, little trees. Though this landscape oil painter from The Joy of Painting passed away in 1995, his relaxing painting vibes live on.
I recently snagged a new accessory to the iPad called the Nomad Brush—a paint brush-style stylus. I was stoked on the clean design of both the product and packaging and the construction of the brush totally complements the industrial design of the iPad. Most definitely stocking stuffable.
After finding a couple of painting apps that the Nomad site pointed me toward, I started what was going to be my masterpiece. And sure enough what did I immediately start to paint? Happy. Little. Trees. It was pure, unfiltered instinct on my part. And I'll admit, the process of digitally channeling my inner Bob Ross was completely therapeutic.
I scored the dual-tipped Nomad Compose, and I found myself using the short tip on my iPhone, doing quick little sketches at the airport while waiting for a flight. Very relaxing. There's just something calming about holding a brush in hand and creating with actual brush strokes. It trumps digital finger painting, for sure.
The Kyality Kids love it too. All I needed to do was hold up the brush and the iPad. Thanks to their complimentary design, it instantly registered with them what to do. They just yelled AWESOME and then I didn't see the iPad again for well over an hour. Apparently they made a happy, little kitten.
Some quick tips. I'd recommend paying for a less expensive painting app than opting for a free one. The quality of the app has a lot to do with the overall digital painting experience (though the free ones are fun too). And you'll learn quick not to press too hard with the Nomad's longer brush tip. When spread out, the fibers read as multitouch-points and zoom into your canvas rather than paint on it.
Bottom line, if you're ever feeling a little stressed, perhaps shut down the new Twitter app, grab a brush and light up some zen-like moments by painting some happy little trees.
Satisfy all your MINI-in-motion-madness with this one folks.
I'll often attribute personality traits to companies, such as the place I work or the clients and brands I interact with and love. While eating at SLC's newest restaurant Pallet, I almost instantly knew that this joint not only has personality, it has a personality.
Designed my friends over at the cityhomeCOLLECTIVE, the interior takes on a perfect balance of old and new, modern and classic, simple and complex. I love the communal seating layout combined with some excellent tunes that could have been stripped from my own playlists. When filled with folks, Pallet took on the vibe of a hopping yet intimate dinner party.
My understanding is that all the woodwork throughout the establishment is custom and original, which makes everything feel extremely rich and fresh. You get the definite sensation that Pallet was pulled out of Portland or New York and carefully placed here in SLC... like a present.
A great example of Pallet's personality is how perfectly one of its modern plates plays with the classic flatware. The juxtaposition of these elements creates an eclectic style that just flat out works.
Not only is this place designed to impress, the menu keeps up with the decor. I ordered the salmon, which was seared to perfection. And I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that, though not on the menu, Pallet stocks Bundaberg Ginger Beer. Bonus! 
