Our New York City homies over at Mosaic Skate Gallery are having a Back-To-School Sale and you'd be a fool not to take advantage, as the shop is offering 10% off on all hard goods (boards, trucks) and 20% off soft goods (shirts, hats). Go support and tell 'em República sent you!
By Kimber Streams
The Harman Kardon GLA-55 speakers are truly the embodiment of the the Wow Factor. Their clear as crystal design matches the clear as crystal sound these speakers pump out.
Right out of the box, the GLA-55 are stunning, who knew speakers could look so good? These are no wood and screen speakers, they add a beautiful piece to any sound set-up, not to mention a fantastic conversation piece. Some may be turned off by the Crystal-Skull like design, but setting that unfortunate movie aside, they’re a truly stunning visual piece.
Set-up is very simple, plug in the speakers, attach them to your iPod, computer, smartphone, or anything that has a 3.5mm output, and blast some music! There is also space on the speakers to attach a subwoofer if you really need more than these speakers can provide, but I was honestly very pleased with the base, but more on that soon.
The GLA-55 also sports touch sensitive volume controls that are very responsive and can crank up the volume pretty quickly, or mute in an instant by pressing both buttons at the same time which is handy for any number of situations.
Now for what’s inside. Harmon Kardon packed these speakers with as much high-end equipment as they could fit into such a small package. The speakers have Atlas™ AL Woofers and CMMD® Lite Tweeters, which provide amazingly full bass and extremely clear sound, without leaving out anything in between. I will admit that I am not very versed in audiophilia, but when I heard these speakers I knew that I’d been listening to music wrong my whole life. The GLA-55 pumped out such a range of sound that I was hearing parts of songs I’d never heard before, and the cannon-fire in Tachovsky’s 1812 Overture was astounding. I really found no complaint about these speakers, especially considering what a small package they are, I was impressed that a 2-speaker setup could outperform every movie theater I’ve ever been in for overall sound clarity. The only minor concern that I ran into was that the speaker connected to the power source was getting warm at the bottom after only about half an hour of use. Otherwise, everything about the product looks, sounds, and works wonderfully.
Now for the price tag. $999.95. Ouch. That’s asking a lot for a 2-speaker setup, and I’ve heard a lot of people say that you can get way better equipment for that price, or at the very least a subwoofer included. However, I will say that everything about the GLA-55’s performance is amazing and it comes in a beautiful package. If you have the extra money to throw around, this is definitely a great choice.
For more info visit: www.harmankardon.com
Unlike the states, where the majority of urban grocery shopping revolves around supermarkets and convenience stores, the center of the Dominican Republic's day-to-day household needs are met in one sole place, the colmado. The colmado is the one-stop neighborhood shop that focuses its inventory on specifically what its clientele buy on a daily basis. Think open market meets "bodega." Here, local rice, grains, and other fresh produce arrive on a daily basis, sometimes depending on how bountiful they are in the season. Also, like that daily produce, the prices here can fluctuate. Yesterday´s bananas may have been 4 pesos for 10, but ask again today and you might grab them for 3. The local colmado also stores its share of hardware store goods because, remember, as likely as it is to find a hardware store in more delevoped places, they're hard to come by in the DR. You'll also find a healthy quantity of spirits in stock, mostly island produced like Presidente beer and Brahma, along with local rums like Brugal and Barcelo. The average business day for these establishments run from as early as 7AM, sun up, until 10PM in the evening. In between those hours you can expect customers to stop in for everything from meats to mops. Colmados also deliver! Some of the older or more occupied locals love to make good use of the service. Not bad! It's said that colmados are the inspiration behind bodegas, where convenience plays a significant role in tailoring to local clientele to foster business and help them finance weekly groceries. Watching firsthand how the establishment operates, I'd have to agree!
Hip-Hop pioneer, Afrika Bambaataa and the Universal Zulu Nation get their own shoe! That's right, the good folks over at Circa have teamed up with the nation to create two special edition sneakers, the Convert and the 99 Vulc--both to raise awareness and funds for Bambaata's Hip-Hop community center in the Bronx. The collaboration will be available this Spring at most Circa accounts. Party people, time to get funky and support the movement on your feet!
Chicago-based styling company, Trunk Club, offers a prefixed "menu" of fashion for the modern male on the go. Here's how it works: subscribers submit a completed questionnaire that includes style likes, measurements, and a list of important upcoming events. The club handles the rest! Wardrobes are then shipped on a pay-for-keeps basis, where customers return anything that they don't thoroughly enjoy, free of charge! Fresh.
[via Luxist]
Check out 8 Moms, a glorious, internet-based, busy-mom-supporting concept. How it works? Well, the site partners up with local businesses (spas, programs for kids, restaurants, retailers) to offer "deals" that moms can make reality by purchasing. Get enough mothers interested and the deal actually goes through. Sweet!
Denim. So ubiquitous and yet so mystifying to the average consumer. Until now. Check out the fascinating process behind making a solid pair of jeans, thanks to the folks over at WeSC. Bet you didn't realize how thoroughly involving making a good pair of jeans really is! Appreciate them.
[via High Snobiety]
Here's a "look" into the fashion industry via the BBC's documentary film vault. The Look is a series that examines the social context of famous labels like Polo, Stussy, and Chanel. While dated (circa 1990's), the series still captures the relevance of an industry that markets aspirations and status to its consumers. Designers Ralph Lauren, Coco Chanel, and Shawn Stussy are the focus of episode 4.
Okay, so we know that surfing and New York City aren't necessarily synonymous, but try telling that to Soho-based shop, Surf Saturdays. Nestled down on Crosby Street, the unique venue houses vintage surf gear, surf books, a sweet patio, and, according to "locals only," some bangin' coffee! Word.
18 years later, and pioneer Hip-Hop group, the Wu-Tang Clan still "ain't nothing to f- with!" Just ask Japanese clothing label, Rocksmith, as they prepare to release a 2010 Wu-inspired holiday capsule collection complete with C.R.E.A.M. beanies and leathers!
