Fenway Boots! LL Bean Gives Away 50 Made-To-Order Boots Created With Fenway Park Rain Tarp.

Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean has revealed the most innovative version of its signature product: the Fenway Bean Boot. Made of upcycled Fenway Park tarp from the 2012 season, the one-of-a-kind boots will be made-to-order for a select number of lucky Red Sox fans who engage with L.L.Bean on Facebook and other channels.




The opportunity to win has already begun. When fans can visit Facebook.com/llbean to share their favorite Red Sox moment, they are entered for a chance to own a piece of baseball history. Submissions will be received through Sunday, October 20, 2013.



Company founder Leon Leonwood (“L.L.”) Bean believed in the reuse of materials long before the concept of “upcycling” came into vogue. The one-of-a-kind Bean Boots put the rain delay tarp that covered the Fenway Park infield in 2012 – the 100th anniversary year for both Fenway Park and L.L.Bean – to great use as the upper material of the weatherproof rubber soled boots.



“This project brings together two of L.L.’s favorite things: Bean Boots and baseball,” said Steve Fuller, Chief Marketing Officer for L.L.Bean. “As a season ticket holder, L.L. loved the Red Sox and he would be delighted to see the Fenway tarp put to use in a way that fans can enjoy.”


above: The LL Bean logo is at the center of the tarp that protects the field at Fenway Park during its 100th season.


above: The 100th anniversary L.L.Bean rain tarp photo via @mdanubio4 on Twitter.

Originally named the Maine Hunting Shoe, the popular Bean Boot has seen a variety of style changes since its introduction in 1912, all remaining true to the original and still handcrafted in Maine. Early versions had a red brick sole, reintroduced for the 100th anniversary of L.L.Bean, and today’s collection includes an assortment of styles for women and men such as waxed canvas and shearling-lined leather.

Each of the 100 limited-edition Fenway Bean Boots will be custom made for lucky recipients at L.L.Bean’s manufacturing facility in Brunswick, ME.

“These unique boots are just one of the many ways L.L.Bean has demonstrated their innovative spirit throughout our partnership,” said Troup Parkinson, Red Sox Senior Vice President. “From the 100th anniversary tote bags, to The One Fund Boston Tote, to these Fenway Bean Boots, they continue to highlight new ways of bringing our two New England brands closer.”



Last month, L.L.Bean announced a contribution of $114,000 to The One Fund Boston following the sale of 3,500 limited edition totes also made from the 2012 Fenway Park tarp (shown above). The One Fund Boston totes sold out in just over a day with 100% percent of profits benefitting the cause.

Share your favorite Fenway Park moment with L.L. Bean to enter to win one of 50 pairs of made-to-order Fenway Bean Boots, handcrafted from the 2012 100th anniversary Fenway rain tarp.



Find out more about the contest and learn how L.L.Bean upcycled the Fenway Park infield rain tarp here

Fifty winners will be selected at random and notified on October 21. Additional ways to win – including on campus at select Northeast colleges – will be announced. Follow @LLBean for more details.

*All contest entries are moderated and will appear in the gallery within 24 hours of submission*

A Promotion For The Upcoming Release of "Carrie" Scares The Pants Off Of West Village Coffee Shop Patrons.

To promote the new adaptation of Carrie, an impressive stunt was pulled off in 'sNice Cafe, an unsuspecting West Village coffee shop. A young woman, feigning a fit over coffee spilled on her keyboard, uses telekentic powers to express her anger, freaking out the folks inside. A fake wall rigged to move a man, spring loaded books and pictures and moving tables seamlessly reacted to the young ladies' outburst, eliciting fabulously fearful reactions. See for yourself:



The video was the creation of Thinkmodo, the New York-based viral video marketing company and stars actress Andrea Morales. Thinkmodo co-founder Michael Krivicka told Yahoo Movies via email that it took an entire day to prepare for the stunt at the 'sNice Cafe in the West Village. Krivicka said, "The stunt team had to build a fake wall and rehearse the wall stunt. A separate crew was installing the hidden cameras and setting up a control room downstairs. A third crew was in charge of the props: spring loaded books, motorized tables & chairs, and spring-loaded picture frames. People screamed, they ran, and some were simply stunned and frozen - trying to process what they just saw," Krivicka said. "In other words, we basically scared the living hell out of people." Thinkmodo then compiled the best reactions into their viral video montage.



The new adaptation of Brian de Palma's classic horror film stars Chloe Maretz and Julianne Moore and is directed by Kimberly Peirce. Carrie is based on Stephen King's 1974 novel and hits theaters October 18.

The official movie trailer:


You can also create your own Carrie prom scene with the official free Carrie Buckets of Blood app, now available in the iTunes App Store! http://bit.ly/CarrieBucketsOfBlood



About Carrie:
A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shy girl outcast by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother (Julianne Moore), who unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom. Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, Carrie is directed by Kimberly Peirce with a screenplay by Lawrence D. Cohen and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Produced by Kevin Misher, it stars Chloë Grace Moretz, Judy Greer, Portia Doubleday, Alex Russell, Gabriella Wilde, Ansel Elgort and Julianne Moore


above: Sissy Spacek as Carrie in 1976

May I also recommend the first movie adaptation of the book? Directed by Brian de Palma in 1976 and starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving and John Travolta, it's definitely worth a look.

Brain de Palma's Carrie

Miley Mocks Herself (And The Government). See The Whole Funny SNL Music Video.

In case you missed it - whether on purpose or by accident, Miley Cyrus' hosting gig on SNL certainly had its moments, the best of which was when Miley and the cast parodied her own song, "We Can't Stop" by giving it a political twist.



Cyrus dressed as Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann with Taran Killam as House Speaker John Boehner suggestively danced and vamped to the new lyrics, which presented a raunchy Republican celebration of the government shutdown.



The full video:


"Cause we came to shut it all down now, no government around now, if you're not ready for healthcare, can I get a 'hell no,'" Cyrus sang while dressed as Bachmann, spanking Uncle Sam, licking Killam as Boehner, and holding and licking an Abraham Lincoln doll. "Government workers on a furlough, even though you're already paid low ... everyone in line for early child care, anyone who planned to see a grizzly bear, we are so shut down yeah."

Some of the best moments:


Miley licks an Abraham Lincoln doll at one point:


The original video's bears are replaced with the GOP elephants:

Mammaries To Build Your Muscles. Introducing Breast-Shaped Kettlebells.

You might have seen an image of these floating around the web and asked yourself if they were real. While not real breasts, they are a real product. The 306 Communication Agency in the Ukraine has designed and begun marketing cast iron dumbbells in the shape of a pair of breasts.



The kettlebells, which are said to soon be available in sporting goods retail stores (albeit I have no idea which countries), are available in three different weights:16kg, 24kg and 32kg and three different finishes.





The Kiev-based advertising, branding and design agency says "they were designed to increase male interest in sports."

Initially designed to have the female names Lolita, Monica and Pamela, it appears they are now merely calling them S (small), M (medium) and L (large).


above: a piece of direct mail touting the new product shows them in three different finishes (a matte black, high gloss silver and high gloss gold).

above: A manufactured prototype of the kettlebell (size m) for the castings made of natural iron.

Note: Ads of The World and Coloribus referred to the product as Bob-boobs, when showcasing the direct mail piece. But I did not found them named as that on the company website.


Credits:
Advertising Agency: 306 Creative Communication Agency, Kiev, Ukraine
Creative Director: Stas Boyko
Art Director: Andrey Chernenko
3D: Yaroslav Litovchenko
Released: August 2013

It's True. Grumpy Cat Branded Bottled Flavored Coffees, Grumppuccinos, Hit The Market.

Everyone's favorite foul-faced feline, Grumpy Cat, made famous via social media, is capitalizing on her popularity. Grumpy Cat Grumppuccino™, a premium coffee drink that combines quality, quirkiness, and humor, is coming to the Ready-To-Drink coffee market.



Made from premium Arabica coffee and milk, Grumpy Cat™ Grumppuccino™ is available in Mocha, Coffee, and Vanilla flavors. Tagged with "It's Awfully Good™", the flavored bottled coffees will be available August 7th.





The Official Website

New Cream Soda in "A Big Can for the Big Man." Introducing Soda Shaq.

AriZona Beverages has teamed up with Shaquille O'Neal to launch an all-natural cream soda line. SODA SHAQ, named for the basketball legend known for his personality, has hit the market in AriZona's signature single-serve 23.5oz. can from Rexam.

SODA SHAQ contains real vanilla from Madagascar, is sweetened with pure cane sugar and has just 90 calories per serving. Like all AriZona products, it is made with no artificial colors or preservatives and is available in Original Vanilla Cream, Orange Cream, Blueberry Cream and Strawberry Cream flavors.

"We are excited to expand our offerings to include a great carbonated beverage innovation based on a soda shop classic," said Don Vultaggio, Chairman of AriZona Beverages. "With nearly a third less calories than the competition, SODA SHAQ's great-tasting and all-natural cream sodas are perfect for consumers looking for variety. And through our continued partnership with Rexam, we are bringing them to market in another great version of our iconic big cans."



The new can designs (of which there are 8 for the flour flavors) include the tagline "A Big Can for the Big Man" and prominently feature Shaq's famous likeness.



Rich Grimley, president and CEO, Rexam BCNA, says, "As the industry leader in 24oz. 'big' can production, we continue to grow our relationship with AriZona Beverages, supporting this brand extension with an ideal packaging choice that delivers superior recycling and environmental benefits as well as filling and distribution economics."

SODA SHAQ is currently available at retailers nationwide at a suggested retail price of $.99 per can.

www.drinksodashaq.com

Hannibal Lecter and Princess Bride Wines For The Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas

The Drafthouse Cinemas, a chain of movie theaters that serve food and wine, have occasionally commissioned special movie-related wines which they pair up with the appropriate meals and serve at their unique cinemas. The special movie-themed wines are beautifully designed and packaged with labels and branding by the Austin based creative firm Helms Workshop.



SILENCE OF THE LAMB WINES


Their latest offering is a Chianti and Pinot Grigio inspired by the movie Silence Of The Lambs.







“The Cannibal Chianti” is a DOCG-wine from a vineyard situated between Florence and Sienna. It is a blend of 85% Sangiovese, balanced with smaller contributions of Canaiolo and Malvasia del Chianti. The nose is loaded with dark berry fruit with bass notes of allspice and baked quince. Its mouth feel is medium-bodied and well balanced, with savory plum and tobacco leaf notes leading to a slight sandalwood finish.



“Suit Yourself Pinot Grigio” is a 2012 vintage with a mixture of fruit from California’s Central Coast and inland vineyards. It offers a lush bouquet of tangerine and orange blossom. The palate starts with a crisp entry and a velvety mouth feel that bursts into flavors of tropical peach and Mexican limes with just a hint of honey, leading to a zesty, citrus-laced finish.



A limited number of packaged wine sets will be available for purchase online only. “The Cannibal Chianti” set comes with a leather red dragon bag of fava beans with a recipe for their preparation by Alamo Chef Trish Eichelberger. The “Suit Yourself Pinot Grigio” set features a burlap bag containing a bottle of Buffalo Bill lotion.


above: The four-course menu, created by Alamo Drafthouse Austin Market Chef Trish Eichelberger served at their various locations, along with the wines and movie.

To develop the bottle and package design of these wines, Alamo Drafthouse again turned to local Austin creative firm Helms Workshop. The subtle yet intricate designs unfold like a puzzle for fans of the movie, with tiny details referencing the film and its central characters of Buffalo Bill, Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling.



“Suit Yourself Pinot Grigio” and “The Cannibal Chianti” will only be available for one year. Both of these covetable wines will be available at all Alamo Drafthouse locations for $8 a glass and $32 a bottle (prices may vary).

Retail bottles are available for purchase here and at select Alamo Drafthouse locations where local laws permit.

PRINCESS BRIDE WINES
Hello. My Name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

UPDATE: The Princess Bride Wines ARE still available for purchase, only without the box or extra goodies. You can buy them here.

Their previous offering, launched last year on Valentine's Day, was also beautifully designed by Helms Workshop. The movie-themed wines featured a Cabernet and a White inspired by the cult classic The Princess Bride.



As fans will recognize, “The Bottle Of Wits,” is derived from the iconic “battle of wits” scene when Westley first rescues Princess Buttercup from Vizzini and his henchmen.



The custom wine line includes two varietals: “Inconceivable Cab” and “As You Wish White”.

The As You Wish White:


The Inconceivable Cab:


Wine charms: A six-fingered man. A Sicilian. The Dread Pirate Roberts. Princess Buttercup:


The menu that accompanied the Princess bride Wines and movie showing :


The folks over at Helms Workshop in Austin had this to say about the project:
"When you leave design school and look for work with your portfolio of fictitious student projects, half of your interviewers pause to tell you that, in the “real world,” you’ll never have the opportunity to design wine packaging. Much less, packaging themed after one of your favorite movies. Those folks never had the chance to work with Tim League and the team at Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas.





In looking at developing an identity for Alamo’s in-house branded wines, we quickly decided that it would be impossible to sum up everything that makes the Alamo unique in a single packaging system. Why not redesign the wine each year, based on a film that aligns with the brand? Alamo’s 2012 offering became two wines inspired by The Princess Bride, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the film."

“The “Battle of Wits” sequence between Cary Elwes and Wallace Shawn easily stands toe-to-toe with “the Sideways Spit Bucket” and “The Silence of the Lambs Chianti slurp” as wine’s shining moment in film,” said Alamo CEO and Founder Tim League. Workshop worked to pack the full scope and wonder of the film experience into the packaging.

Buy the Princess Bride wines (bottles only) here.

All photos of Silence of the Lambs Wines courtesy of Alamo Drafthouse
All Princess bride Wine photos with streamer backgrounds by Annie Ray
other photos courtesy of Helms Workshop