Search

Friday Five with Deadgood

UK company Deadgood was set up in 2004 by design entrepreneurs Dan Ziglam and Elliot Brook as a graduate spin out from Northumbria University. Back in those early days they operated under a number of different guises, including a design exhibition called “Launch,” which grew out of a lack of opportunity to promote their work in the UK. They were then approached by Barker & Stonehouse, a leading furniture retailer, to design a collection of products. The resulting collaboration, the Love Collection, helped raise awareness and publicity for their brand. Deadgood is now continuing to support young, talented designers and nurture them through the Deadgood brand. They’ll be talking design at this year’s Design Event in London, being held October 21-31st.

In today’s Friday Five, Deadgood gives NYC some love.

New York has been a place of great inspiration for the both of us for over ten years, we return annually for inspiration, kicks and thrills, here our top five favorite things to do in New York:

1. American Museum of Natural History
For inspiration on every level, check out the American Museum of Natural History where you could spend an entire lifetime wandering around the 25 interconnected buildings and still not see all of the 32 million specimens in the collection. It is Theodore Roosevelt’s thoughts and values however, inscribed on marble slabs hanging on the walls in the Entrance Hall, that stand out as the greatest testament to this monumental institution.

2. Coney Island Polar Bear Club
The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States. The group swims in the Atlantic Ocean at Coney Island every Sunday from November through to April and anyone’s invited to join them. Just turn up at the Aquarium on the boardwalk and sign your life away (quite literally). If you look closely you might be able to identify us in the picture — believe us it’s cold in there!

3. Follow in the footsteps of Jack Kerouac
A particular highlight of any trip to New York is to immerse yourself in the culture of one of the greatest American literates and Beat Generation’s founding father, Jack Kerouac. New York played home to the Beats for a number of years and Jack (and ourselves) have spent a significant amount of time bouncing around the streets of New York. The Ear bar and the Chelsea Hotel have been the scene of many a raucous evening, both past and present.

4. Top of the Rock
To really get your bearings in the city you have to get up high, very high! Standing in between 48th and 51st streets is Rockefeller Center. A great alternative to its slightly bigger brother The Empire State and without the long wait, take an ear popping ride 850 feet above street level in a Willy Wonka-style glass elevator. My favorite time to arrive is just before sunset where you get the best of both worlds, watching New York sparkle at night really is something special!

5. A day (or two) in Brooklyn
Take a trip of the beaten path and head for Brooklyn. Edgier and grittier than Manhattan, Brooklyn is a vast borough containing many great alternative neighborhoods. It really is “where it’s at.” Highlights include a walk around the redbrick splendor of Brooklyn Heights, vintage Danish furniture warehouses in Dumbo and the alternative bars, restaurants and shops scene of Williamsburg. Finally take the walk back to Manhattan across the beautiful Brooklyn bridge for some amazing 19th century engineering and more spectacular views of Manhattan!

Jaime Derringer, Founder + Executive Editor of Design Milk, is a Jersey girl living in SoCal. She dreams about funky, artistic jewelry + having enough free time to enjoy some of her favorite things—running, reading, making music, and drawing.