We’re keeping our eyes peeled for enlightenment, new tools, and far flung experiences from the worlds of travel, design, + social media.

This week, we’re rounding up a report on the boundaries of (good, bad and very expensive) taste from our favorite design, fashion, business, and food news sources.

In this week’s news, the team took note of some smart marketing partnerships, great finds for business travelers, the pitfalls of “pay-it-forward”, and exciting new design techniques.

This week’s sweet top stories – including dispatches from Architectural Digest, GrubStreet, The Wall Street Journal, AdAge, and Forbes – touch on sugary treats, marketing mishaps, corporate competition + classic cars.

Just a few blocks from our SoHo office, growing San Francisco brand Everlane created a charmingly unique pop-up shop. Their inspired basics are underscored by radical transparency in which they outline their manufacturing cycle to bring you high quality at a low cost. Sounds good to me! They brought this concept to life by creating an exhibition where they sold their wares, called out pricing on everything (including the build out of the pop-up itself) and held a variety of events to engage foodies, fashionistas and more. The design was a minimal, San Francisco modern vibe with wood shelving units, pegs, neutral tones,…

There are certain ads, activations or partnerships that make us stop and think: Wow, this brand really gets it! It’s culturally relevant, visually fresh and intellectually inspiring. Sony earned such a reaction with their recent Sony 4K TV video in which they enlisted McCANN and photographer Nick Meek to create an unusually beautiful series of exotic installations. The video that resulted illustrates the awesomeness of their new technology (four times the detail of full HD) via a surreal, technicolor dream. Set against the beauty of Costa Rica’s volcanos, rivers and urban streets, millions of petals and leaves were arranged and manipulated…

Purveyors of cool, Bullett Media, recently opened a pop-up boutique for funky, forward wares above their TriBeCa basement offices. It is a pared down, swagged up exhibition of the newest era of downtown chic. From hologram shoes in a case of cacti, to indie magazine walls and mermaid bathing suit tops, it is all about confidence with a sense of humor. Simple plywood shelves and racks with bungee cords are mixed with accents of neon-toned acrylic for a homespun, D.I.Y. retail design. Similar lighthearted yet sassy street-wear styles are seen in several local shops in our lower SoHo / TriBeCa…

Art Basel 2013 through the eyes of an outsider, who experienced the show online, and an insider who traveled to Miami to experience the fairs.

Halloween is upon us! In the spirit of the spooky holiday, we’ve compiled our own office storybook of Halloween memories and inspiration. Read on for shrieks and laughs… Esther’s Bridal Entrance Halloween irony: Every year of childhood I insisted on dressing as a bride — never once switched it up. Admittedly, my decision was driven by the fact that I loved to make an entrance down our home’s staircase while my mother played the wedding march on the piano. To this date, never been married. Hmmm… Lisa Loves Boxes. A lot. The box business is a family trade that goes…

Have you heard of Public Relations Tailgating? Probably not, because we invented it today. Let us explain… We pulled in to our final destination, Meredith Publications, in Des Moines, IA, around 9:30 am. Rolled out our RV awning and Mohawk SmartStrand rug, inflated some Blofield furniture, and laid down our tablecloths made from Calico fabrics. Then we whipped up some delicious sandwiches, sliders, and fresh cookies to put on QSquared serving pieces, and arranged the jcpenney MarthaCelebrations paper goods. By 11 am sharp we were ready for company- we have grown quite accustomed to inviting people into our RV (motor…