13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. 677)

1. Haute Couture from the village of Goor in the Caucasus Mountains Found on Tumblr. 2. This perfect Belle Epoque Mansion in the Loire Valley for Sale Found via The Spaces, asking 1.59 million euros on Espaces Atypiques. 3. These Art Nouveau prints by French painter Georges de Feure Found on Gods and Foolish Grandeur.…

The Snowman, introduced by David Bowie

I remember every detail, as if it was yesterday. Without fail, we would put on the VHS tape on Christmas day after opening presents. I also remember at the time having no idea who David Bowie actually was, just that he was the man that introduced the Snowman in his attic. Here is the full…

13 Cheap, Last Minute and Actually Good DIY Gift Ideas

From D.I.Y. TO “I.O.U”, here is a round-up of the best and cheapest gift last-minute ideas out there. For just about anyone: A “Gift Bucket”… Stock it with personalised little surprises according to the person’s taste and personality. You can find the lanterns or buckets at most supermarkets/ gardening/ homeware stores for as little as…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. 676)

1. New National Museum of… (fill in the blank) invites contemplation on the role and pervasiveness of US museums The Pittsburgh-based artist Jon Rubin’s latest public project, The National Museum, considers the pervasiveness of museums across the country, the narratives they present and those they exclude. The project occupies an abandoned storefront at 604 Wood Street…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. 675)

1. A record of 1960s Lebanese life, long hidden from view At the height of his popularity in the 60s and 70s, Studio Shehrazade, run by local man Hashem El Madani, would have up to 100 customers a day passing through in the upmarket Shehrazade building, in the port city of Saida. Not only did…

The Messy Nessy Personality-Curated Gift Guide

“Remember, the big stores don’t do ‘a little Jig’ when they make a sale. Make someone ‘jig’ this year.” I’ve always put a lot of thought into finding unique gifts at the holidays and if you’re a long-time reader, chances are we probably share similar tastes. So without further ado, let’s go gift-shopping… For the…

A French Youtuber went to Visit China’s Fake Paris for Himself

It’s been over a decade since we first blogged (yes, back when we called it blogging) about the European clone towns of China, including the city on the outskirts of Shanghai built around a fake Eiffel Tower with a replica Champs Elysées and rows of Haussmann-inspired Parisian townhouses. The gated community of Tianducheng, built in…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. 674)

1. How to do a Picnic in the Mountains Found via the Hobnob Journal / Hobnob Mountain Club. 2. These surreal clocks by Mexican designer Pedro Friedeberg (circa 1980s) Found here. 3. The World’s First Portable Record Player (1924) Found on Open Culture. 4. Elvis & Frank Sinatra singing “Love me Tender & Witchcraft” in 1960 5. Imagine…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. 673)

1. This miniature artist Discover more on A House of Wonders found via This isn’t Happiness. 2. East Berlin Factory Girls In 1984, the German photographer Helga Paris spent several weeks at a state-owned clothing factory in East Berlin capturing female employees and their ‘unforeseen beauty’. More photos found on The Guardian. 3. These handbags…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. 672)

1. Portraits from the Back of a Grocery Store in Mid-Century Algeria Lazhar Mansouri (1932-1985) was an Algerian photographer active from the late 1950s through the 1970s in Aïn Beïda (Aurés Mountains region, Northern Algeria). During this period, he owned and operated a photography studio and created an archive of local everyday people and rarely…