Keeping Cool Hunting mascots Otis and Logan well rewarded in recent weeks has been NYC’s very own Bocce’s Bakery. Driven by wellness and sustainability, the small batch dog treatery uses only “human-grade” ingredients—antibiotic-free beef, hormone-free white meat chicken, wheat free flour—for their all-natural dog biscuits. What started as a humble project for a beloved pet has evolved into a professional business, although the hands on, oven baked cooking process has yet to change.

Otis and Logan devour the treats in seconds, delightfully licking the hard wood floors for every last savory taste. Hit flavors included chicken cordon bleu, beef bourguinon, fish and chips and PB’n'J, which is made with a short and simple list of just three organic ingredients—oat flour, blueberries, peanut butter. These few items, along with all others used by Bocce’s Bakery are locally sourced from upstate NY and the tri-state area whenever seasonably possible.

Bocce’s Bakery biscuits are offered in seven distinct flavors, each with heaps of healthy ingredients your four-legged friends will love. Available through Bocce’s Bakery online and a long list ofloyal stockists for $9.50 a bag.

John Jameson’s Dublin distillery was founded in 1780, guided by the family motto “Sine Metu”, meaning without fear. To this day, those words appear on every bottle of Irish whisky. At the original distillery, located next to Smithfield Market, Jameson used well water, searched for superior strains of barley, sought out high quality casks and believed the whisky should be matured in cool, damp cellars. Eventually, he built larger warehouses that captured rainwater to recreate such conditions, and by 1890 Irish whiskey had become one of the most popular whiskeys in the world.

Later, because of Prohibition in the U.S. and the consequentially insurmountable tariff barriers in England, there was decline in the market which led to the demise of many Irish whiskey companies and, eventually, to the formation of the Irish Distillers Group. In 1971, Jameson’s Bow Street distillery stopped operations and all production was moved to the Midleton Distillery in Cork.

Back in Dublin, tours of the Bow Street Distillery in Smithfield Village continue today, recounting the legacy and proud heritage of Irish whiskey. Visitors can watch a short documentary film, take the tour and enjoy the tasting room and restaurant. The distillery building is also the setting for special events including the Jameson Global Party on St. Patrick’s Day.

We went behind the scenes of the public tasting tours at the Jameson Experience in Cork to meet the core team. The steps behind the sourcing and repairing of casks was presented inside the coopers’ workshop, revealing a process of connecting flawless pieces of oak cut precisely according to the wood’s rings, that has remained relatively unchanged throughout the years.

We met the current master distiller Barry Crockett, who apprenticed under his father, master distiller Max Crockett, to learn the age-old trade. During lunch with the junior Crockett in his childhood home, we learned about the triple distillation process Jameson has perfected since 1790, and the five-year aging period for the single-pot still and grain whiskey blends.

Since the beginning, “Jameson has been made using same type of equipment and methods, but the product made today is cleaner more refined and sweeter that would have been possible with the old equipment in the late 1700s,” says Crockett. “With the higher level of control with the modern equipment and controls we can achieve a finer quality of spirit.”

“Irish whiskey has always been different to Scottish and American whiskeys,” says Crockett. “The fact that makes it different is the production technique, which is part of what we do. The use of high proportions of barley, harvested locally which gives it a very unique flavor and taste to the whiskey. The barley in my view offers a type of apple, pear or peach type aroma. You will find that very much in all of the Irish whiskies. It also gives a smooth even mouthy effect that lends to a more soft and sweet aftertaste.”

There’s a section of the cottage being transformed to better showcase the history of the brand. “Jameson has a strong story in term of its heritage, imagery, and we are advancing that imagery by getting our archives together to display,” says Crockett. “We know when people are coming here. The principal thing is to understand why it is a popular whiskey in the first place.”

While the company focuses primarily on filling orders, Crockett’s main responsibility lies in developing single-origin pot still expressions. “These certainly show the consumer public that Irish whiskey is not just Jameson, but is also able to present a range of different flavor characteristics,” he explains. “We believe the single-origin pot still range will do for Irish whiskey what the concept of single malt did for Scotland.” Crockett says that their goal is to launch one to two new single pot still whiskeys each year.

Our tour concluded at the Jameson warehouses, where up to 36,000 barrels are stored upright on rows of palettes. When asked what he’d want to drink if he were stranded on a desert island, Crockett answered, “Jameson 18-year-old, or the Legacy.”

Those who have tried to plough through the works of Ferdinand de Saussure or Jacques Derrida are likely to flee from anything with “semiotics” in the title—and with good reason. Without a significant amount of time and dedication, the field is nearly impenetrable. “This Means This, This Means That“, however, delivers on a promise to explain the obscure field of semiotics by way of example. Dedicating only one double-sided page per term, author Sean Hall has effectively distilled the essential vocabulary that underlies all semiotic thought.

The layout relies on a few apt examples rather than long-winded, technical explanations of linguistic terminology. Much in the way that John Berger’s famous “Ways of Seeing” series opened people’s eyes to visual language, this book challenges the reader to anticipate layers of meaning in common images. The Q&A layout engages readers to become more than simply receptive, teaching them to react rather than absorb. A simple question and an image conjure up associations and thought processes, and readers employ the tenets of semiotics as part of the experience.

Readers discover the role that cultural education plays in the way we understand representations in explanations throughout the book. You probably know more than you think, and Hall’s work has the added advantage of arming you with words like “paralanguage” and “intratextuality” to bust out at your next cocktail party. Those with a love of graphic design will find that a basic understanding of semiotics heightens their ability to read the layered texts of images.

The second edition of “This Means This, This Means That” releases 6 March 2012 and is available for pre-order from Amazon.

A new line of games from Funnybone Toys looks to the design world as inspiration. The three innovative card games, Array, Cubu and Spectrix, build off of the color spectrum, sequencing and counting to create engaging children’s activities. While the rules for each game are somewhat similar to traditional dominoes, the punched up colors and non-traditional shapes of the colorful trio are bound to enhance both creativity and cognitive learning.

Spectrix is the most approachable of the three games, and arguably the most entertaining. Players are dealt a hand of cards with the purpose of getting rid of it before their opponents do so. By combining colors pairs and arranging cards into a communal spectrum, players gradually unload their hand in a colorful, number-free variation of gin rummy. When a player finishes off a spectrum, he or she calls out “White Light” to tack on five extra points to other players’ scores. Spectrix cards also function as simple memory game for young children.

The nicely free-flowing Array uses twelve-sided cards that players must lay down and connect by color, with the ultimate goal of eliminating your hand while creating the highest number of different color arrays. If players are particularly creative in their strategy, they have the ability of playing multiple cards per turn, based on the different combinations available. Additionally, the game is mixed up by “slam” and “splatter” cards, which add cards and points to a fellow player’s hand.

Admittedly more complicated, Cubu uses a radial sequence of multicolored squares and rectangles to determine player moves. In order to use a card, participants must play a series up or down from one of the cards on the table. For example, a card with a red rectangle at position three could be followed by a card with a red rectangle at position four. While it takes a little while to get used to Cubu, it is by far the most challenging and well-suited for older players.

A self-taught woodworker, Jason Ross‘ foray into leather goods happened by chance. While working on a furniture project in a friend’s woodshop, Ross noticed a band saw running on a leather belt and was so impressed it still worked that he “immediately contacted the company and bought scraps by the pound,” he says. The natural artisan taught himself how to manipulate his newfound medium and began integrating leather into his woodworking.

Today Ross peddles his expertly crafted leather accessories under the moniker Artemas Quibble, a name that suggests his continued interest in ancient objects and techniques. Working out of his studio in Brooklyn, Ross and his team create each belt, bag and jewelry item by hand for his own label as well as for his collaboration with Donna Karan.

“I enjoy reading how archaeologists think through the purpose of things and materials,” Ross explains. Gleaning insight from his favorite archaeology website, Ross learns from the methods of thinking and draws conclusions from fragmented evidence. These informed interpretations provide a foundation of authenticity for a mien blending the primitive with the modern. “I generally look for an aesthetically pleasing decorative or functional element that can’t be traced to one culture or another,” he notes.

Ross’ understanding of material also stems from his father—the inventor of the first plastic push-pin for Moore Push-Pin—who taught him about memory in materials. This guidance helped Ross develop one of his ingenious techniques, based on a “rivet-less” closure system in which a piece of leather is looped around itself or a piece of hardware and strung through a hole to hold it firmly in place without any give, even as the hide wears over time.

The idea really clicked when Ross began deconstructing an African hunting bag given to him byGraham Cassie, on which, he says, “leather thongs were stitched through holes to hold the various panels of the bag together.” He explains, “I could not, in most cases pull the old straps through the holes. The holes had been stretched and seemed to lock around the leather. I was forced to cut the straps in order to deconstruct the leather.” Ross uses the ancient concept to lock leather to leather as a way of holding hardware, which he also forges in his workshop.

A former Calvin Klein model, Ross’ interest in accessories seems like a natural progression, but his obsession with his craft goes beyond a connection to fashion. “I think that I appreciate beauty in discarded objects and remake those things, perhaps there is a connection to reading about excavations and discovery,” he says. The pieces he creates truly reflect his thoughtful nature and talent for combining the past with the future.

Select Artemas Quibble items sells online, as well as at Urban Zen and ABC Carpet & Home in NYC. See more images in the slideshow below.

While many menswear designers continue to rethink heritage workwear styling, others are returning to the classics to find inspiration in formal footwear. Recent dress shoe design toys with tradition with daring moves toward bold soles and contrasting patterns. Pioneered by the likes of Mark McNairy, many designers have offered their take in new collections, promoting a playful side of menswear. Here are five of our favorite styles from the Fall 2012 collections.

Florsheim by Duckie Brown

A new design from the Fall/Winter 2012 collection set to debut at New York Fashion Week, the Wedge Brogue blends current trends with mountaineering style eyelets, an exaggerated PU sole and warm color for a truly contemporary take on the classic longwing style. The standout design aims to bring a bit of life to the onset of winter next season.

Mark McNairy

Straying from the neon Vibram sole that’s become synonymous with the McNairy name, these suede longwings still manage the signature flair without the overwhelming color palette. Traditionally a rather formal design, the classic silhouette is dressed down nicely here with a platform sole and contrasting green suede upper for a strong look.

Caminando

Similarly tackling the full brogue, the Tokyo-based brand Caminando injects significant aesthetic impact into a simple idea. Although the colors are a bit tame compared to the rest, the jagged sole on the Wingtip Ripple makes them an a key piece in dressing up an understated outfit.

Swear

Bright without being ostentatious, the simple Lou 4 features a brilliant blue PU sole in contrast against the perfectly clean black leather upper. The resulting aesthetic exudes easy confidence.

GRAM

The 380g insjön runner takes its distinct look from fabric woven by Insjöns Väveri, the sole fabric makers for the Swedish Royal Court. Woven on 1930s-era looms, the heavy-duty cotton and linen blend makes the collaboration shoe an elegant, fun and extremely durable choice

Unveiled today at NAIAS in Detroit is the new Acura NSX Concept, a supercar slated for sale in 2014. Sporting a 400 hp engine with a hybrid SH-AWD drivetrain, the sexed-up model is meant to combine green ideology with hedonistic performance. The current NSX is a revival of the suspended version that first established Acura in the luxury scene during the ’90s. Though the original enjoyed pop culture appearances galore, the line faltered in the early 2000s. The brand has long struggled with sales of recent models, but the NSX seems poised to put Acura back on the map.

The release of a high-performance model has been long in the making, with plans for an even more powerful V10 NSX abandoned as a result of the recession. The current version includes a direct-injected V6, dual clutch transmission and electric motor that work in conjunction for impressive acceleration and efficiency. For cornering ability, the new model uses a Bilateral Torque Adjustable Control System to create positive or negative torque on the front wheels. The rare combination of environmental considerations and next-generation performance aims to anticipate a shift in the expectations of a supercar.

Many details remain to be seen regarding the final product. The materials used for the lightweight body weren’t specified, and performance specs including fuel economy and acceleration haven’t been released. The NSX is set to be manufactured in Ohio, a move that will hopefully breath some new life into the perpetually troubled American auto industry. This is the sort of brand revival that can potentially be a major game changer within the industry, so we’re anxious to see where Acura takes it from her

Originally unveiled in 2006, Nike+ has grown to a committed community of over six million digitally connected users. To build upon this concrete foundation Nike has today announced theNike+ basketball and training shoes embedded with pressure sensors and accelerometers to collect previously unmeasurable, movement-based statistics across multiple levels of speed and agility. The groundbreaking technology is the next step in building a robust ecosystem, in compliment with the innovative Nike FuelBand and specialized Nike+ mobile apps. While these first shoes and apps are focused on basketball and training, this massive innovation represents the beginning of an entirely new chapter in sport measurement and motivation.The first sneakers to feature the sensor technology are the Hyperdunk+ basketball shoe and the Lunar Hyperworkout+ and Lunar TR1+ training shoes. In all three shoes four embedded sensors—toe, heel, ball and outer foot—work with an internal accelerometer to accurately measure movement and relay stats to your iPhone wirelessly. The three-axis accelerometer and Bluetooth sensor are contained in a removable disc that lasts for about 40 hours between charges, which are achieved using the included USB adapter. An innovation from Nike’s “Kitchen,” this measurement technology isn’t new—it has been used extensively in design research to better understand how athletes move. The revolution comes from the company’s ability to bring this innovation to consumers in a usable and exciting form.

While the sensor arrays are the same in all shoes, the Nike+ apps the data is sent to provide the different approaches to tracking, motivation and sharing data. Nike+ Basketball lets you know how high you jump, how quick you run, and how hard you play. In addition to these precise stats a universal NikeFuel score is captured—all allowing the user to compare to previous games plus general exercise with their friends.

The Nike+ Training platform takes the same approach, quantifying each and every movement, shuffle, step, lunge and jump. For training, however, the app features videos of pro athletes coaching you through a series of workouts dynamically sequenced based on your fitness goals. The data captured from these workouts not only provides the measurement necessary to set new goals and improve, but also statistics to share with friends or competitors.

All the data gathered is meant not only to impress but to inspire. By making a workout into something close to a game, feelings will positively shift to improve performance and dedication. To fully understand what the latest Nike+ advancements mean for the company, consider President and CEO Mark Parker’s general but bold statement: “It’s about much more than a shoe. It represents a shift for Nike from product, to product plus experience.”

The Nike+ Pressure Sensor enabled Hyperdunk+, Hyperworkout+ and Lunar TR1+ will debut in specialty shops come 29 June, 201

by Ryan McManus

The resurgence of handcrafted objects has spread from fashion to electronics to spirits—you can listen to vinyl LPs while wearing reissued Levi’s 1947 501s and sipping small-batch local bourbon in almost any city in America—but bespoke craft has largely eluded the auto industry. Sure, you can’t throw a rock in a mall parking lot without hitting a retro-inspired muscle car, and some manufacturers have made bolt-on aftermarket “customization” as easy as assembling an IKEA bookshelf, but theoretically, something can only be so unique when it’s being mass-produced for global distribution. On the other hand, vintage models give rise to safety concerns and lack the power of modern technology.

Thankfully, there is an emerging middle ground between the unique excitement of a vintage machine and the reliability of a modern one. More commonly seen in motorcycles that automobiles, a few small companies have emerged in the last few years to fill the gap. These 21st-century coachbuilders offer a product that is custom-built for each owner, a one-of-a-kind piece of drivable art for those who appreciate obsessive craftsmanship.

You’ve probably heard of the DeLorean Motor Company, maker of the legendary DMC-12. The original DMC folded in 1982, but a new DeLorean Motor Company was started in Texas in 1995 to support the 6,000 or so owners of the original cars. The new DeLorean has reached beyond just a parts clearinghouse—for around $60,000 they will build you a brand new deadstock DMC-12. You can keep it stock of course, but DeLorean will happily install satellite radio, iPod interfaces, GPS and Bluetooth for an additional cost. They also offer upgrades to the performance of the engine and suspension, which we’d recommend—the original DMC-12 managed a 0-60 time of about 10.5 seconds, just a bit slower than the 1991 Toyota Corolla. For those of you eager to drive the true car of the future, starting in 2013, customers will be able to order an all-electric version of the DMC-12. A perfect match for your Nike Mags.

If your tastes are more performance-based, and you already own a Porsche 911 in need of some modification, Singer Vehicle Design (SVD) has a proposition for you. Using Cosworth engines and new composite bodies from Aria, Singer re-imagines a customer’s existing 911 into a machine that looks iconic and actually outperforms its modern brethren. SVD collaborates directly with artisans, craftsmen and small manufacturers in Southern California to custom-build each car to the owner’s specifications and intended use.

The classic air-cooled engines can run from a sprightly 300hp touring model all the way up to a 4.0L, 400HP track monster. The interiors are refinished in new leather upholstery and beautifully minimal dashes that match the mechanical excellence under the hood. Bespoke quality comes at a cost, of course—SVD’s recreations will run from $190,000 to more than $300,000, and you still need to supply the original 964-body 911. And while Porsche purists might raise an eyebrow at a modern 911 that looks like it was built in 1971, you’ll be looking at them in your (hand-crafted) rear-view mirror.

By far the most intense of this new breed of bespoke auto craftsmen, ICON began as a Toyota LandCruiser restoration company that quickly shifted into an obsession with building more perfect versions of classic 4 x 4s like the Jeep CJ and Toyota FJ. In fact, ICON’s FJ44 is high on Cool Hunting’s list of vehicles we’d want during the Apocalypse.

The most exciting truck to come from ICON is their newest, the ICON Bronco, a faithful, if burly, reinterpretation of the cult-favorite 1966-77 Ford Broncos. ICON owner Jonathan Ward worked directly with Ford’s rockstar designer Camilo Pardo and Nike and Frog Design to re-imagine one of Ford’s most classic sport utility vehicles.

Utilizing an all-new reproduction Bronco bodyshell from Ford supplier Dynacorn, the ICON Bronco has the handsome good looks of the original, without being cloyingly retro. Under the hood, the Bronco is powered by Ford’s new 5.0L V8 that is currently in the 2012 Mustang GT, doubling the original’s 205HP. Other modern upgrades include a Parrot in-dash stereo running Android, military-grade LED lighting throughout, and a heavy-duty winch hidden in the front bumper. Everywhere you look you find obsessively rebuilt parts, like door lock knobs machined from solid aluminum instead of cheap plastic. About the only complaint we have is the loss of the original gauge design, but we’re nostalgic that way. For an exhaustive look at the making of the ICON Bronco, head over toCar Domain.

These newly reengineered vintage vehicles from DeLorean, Singer Vehicle Design and ICONare an obsessive, loving homage to the halcyon days of automobile production, and offer today’s independent driver exciting alternatives to the status quo of another all-wheel-drive supercar or mass-produced rockhopper. While none of these options come cheap, the amount of skill and labor that goes into making each one can justify the cost as buying more than just another car. Now that Ford is licensing full-body reproductions of their 1960s and ’70s Mustangs, we can only hope that this trend will continue to thriv

Although the year’s busiest travel days are over for some, our globe-trotting schedule never seems to let up. Inspired by the thought of the next adventure on the horizon we’ve gathered up a handful of our favorite new duffel bags—each expertly crafted in the USA. From dead-stock denim to Wisconsin-grown leather, these five bags will look great slung over the shoulder of both him and her.

Will Leather Goods

Made in America with both domestic and international materials is the Oaxacan Duffel from Eugene, Oregon’s Will Leather Goods. Each unique bag incorporates hand-woven, vegetable-dyed wool rugs from the Oaxaca region in southern Mexico, and comes trimmed with American leather. With this multicultural approach, Will supports small communities through fair trade and sustainable production. Available online from Will for $495.

Rag & Bone

The latest travel piece from the New York-based label brings a subdued aesthetic with a hint of spring to guide you through the gloomy winter months. The Devere Duffel‘s thick denim bottom and canvas upper are made of 100% cotton with rich leather accents. Available online from Rag & Bone for $275.

Brown Bag Co.

As the most industrial of the group, the Alpine Duffel Bag is technically meant for the construction site. However, its heavy-duty leather duffle features supple, Milwaukee-grown oil-tanned leather that’ll last a lifetime and only look better with wear, so we couldn’t help but recognize its aesthetic appeal. Plus, the multitude of pockets—two outer, ten inner—come in handy even if you’re hauling office supplies instead of power tools. Look to Home Depot where it sells for $313.

Blue Claw Co.

Named for the nautical term for luggage taken on a voyage, the Dunnage is a slender duffel perfect for daily commutes and weekends away. The minimalist bag features one slit pocket on the outside and a zippered one the inside, providing just enough storage to keep things in order. The ballistic nylon shell sports leather accents for a classic look. Available from Blue Claw Co. for $178.

Me & Arrow

Constructed by hand in Los Angeles, the Arrow Duffel Bag features a wrapped denim body with 100% cotton lining in a hue they call “lime sorbet”, and dark brown leather straps. Like all Me & Arrow goods, each product is made with vintage, dead-stock fabrics. Both go for $234 online.