Last week I had true artist admiration (and envy!) while dining at Chubby Cafe with Michael Keferl, of CScout Japan. Michael turned me on to this gem of a spot which is tucked away in the Setagaya suburb, just outside of Shibuya station. The cafe is a creative trifecta of art, food and retail and is housed just below Hiroshi Murakami’s graphic design studio, Gaim Graphics. Murakami is a believer in merging interesting people with good art and soulful music and has succeeded in creating an unpretentious vibe in the space below his office. Everything is perfectly curated, from the organic menu to the paintings on the walls to the graphic merchandise on the shelves. If you’re in the Tokyo area, definitely check it out- it’s a rejuvenating break from the madness [...]

Today we’re featuring a walking tour of Le Marais in Paris by yours truly. I was recently asked to give creative recommendations and I realized it was time to share my thoughts on Pattern Pulp. Le Marais is filled with inspiration- from concept stores to stenciled graffiti to restaurant tile work, nearly every square foot is filled with eye candy. Every trend tracker, designer and food aficionado I know weaves through this neighborhood with fury, armed with a camera, a note pad and acute taste buds. Follow along, take the tour and let us know what you think!

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1. 1. A patterned makeup bag at the homegoods concept store, Autour du Monde.
2. 2. Stenciled street art along Rue des Rosiers.
3. 3. Shoes Up poster at the sneaker store across from Muji in Le [...]

Oftentimes the cities surrounding New York are overlooked, as travelers don’t always know where to go or what they’ll find beyond the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines. Today we’re featuring a creative city tour by Don Sipley, a freelance illustrator and FIT instructor who currently resides in Jersey City, New Jersey. Sipley’s illustrations are fantastical and extremely print friendly. He’s designed countless book covers and has been supplying the glossies with illustrations for over a decade now. This photo series was taken over a period of time over the past winter while Sipley walked his dog at sunrise. She’s an older dog and walks at a slow pace, so Sipley started taking photos to amuse himself. Follow along, take the tour and let us know what you think!

1. 1. View of downtown Jersey city from top of 150 Bay st [...]

So you’re Austin-bound for this year’s SXSW and you’re ready to be inspired. Guess what, you’re in luck! I just returned from a phenomenal week of interactive mayhem, and now have a treasured list of creative must-sees. Be it shopping on South Congress, tunes on East 6th or five star trailer grub, it’s hard to be disappointed when visiting this city. Whether you’re a seasoned regular or new to the Austin scene, follow along, take the tour and let us know what you think!

1. 1. Austin Texas Music Mural, East 6th at the Driskill Hotel
2. 2. Iron Works BBQ: Best corn on the cobb for the veggies- Great ribs for the carnivores. (100 Red River Street)
3. 3. Stag: Freeman’s-esque men’s store with a burly meets hip lifestyle twist. Fantastic product and displays. (1423 S. Congress [...]

Today we’re featuring a walking tour of Greenpoint by Sam Fleischner, a Brooklyn based artist and filmmaker. Having grown accustomed to life on the road, Fleischner’s gotten dependably good at documenting his daily travails. From his monthly photo logs to his site specific video installations to his most recent feature film, Wah Do Dem, a coming of age narrative shot and directed in Jamaica with his childhood friend, Ben Chance, all of Fleischner’s work explores the independent spirit and value of personal adventure. Fleischner’s not alone in this northern Brooklyn borough, as over the past decade, artists have been migrating in droves, setting up shop alongside their Polish neighbors. Follow along, take the tour and let us know what you think!

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1. 1. The concrete floor of the Lorimer L stop
2. 2. The commercial [...]

Today, we’re featuring a walking tour of Echo Park by the talented J. Nordberg. Nordberg is a Creative Director, photographer, musician and designer, not to mention, a recent transplant to the area. It’s no secret that artists from around the globe have been migrating to Echo Park for years, making it one of the most appealing neighborhoods of Los Angeles. When he’s not directing a team, Nordberg is out and about observing his surroundings, be it graphic, green or architectural. Follow along, take the tour and let us know what you think!

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1. Curran St. Stairs
2. Vista Gordo
3. Elysian Park
4. Elysian Park
5. Elysian Park
6. Elysian Park
7. Echo Park Ave.
8. Echo Park Ave.
9. Cerro Gordo, Echo Park
10. Top Curran
11. Scott Ave.

The full set of photos can be viewed here.

Today we’re featuring San Francisco through the eyes of Courtney Cummins. Cummins has the delightful job of running the bookstore at The Art Institute of California in San Francisco. In her spare time, Cummins is an aspiring stylist and scours her city for daily doses of creative inspiration. If you’re in the Bay Area, come experience San Francisco through Cummins’ eyes, as anyone in the fashion or art business knows you must live and breathe your environment in order to create tangible designs. Have a look, take the walking tour and let us know what you think!

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1. Murals, Clarion Alley: The Misson.

2. San Francisco Botanical Garden, 1199 9th Ave.

3. Vesuvio Cafe, 255 Columbus Ave.

4. De Young Museum: Hagiwara Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park 50 Hagiwara [...]

Today we’re featuring Reykjavik through the eyes of Megan Herbert. Herbert is an illustrator and writer living in Reykjavik, Iceland. She writes television and film scripts, designs gift-wrapping paper, and produces two and three-dimensional artworks laced with narrative. You can read her ramblings and see her scribblings here.

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1. Tie Mural – 32 Laugavegur

How-To-Tie-A-Tie Mural. Genius. Once the winter darkness has descended upon this northern rock, even the most elementary of dressing procedures can trigger mass confusion. Office workers of Reykjavík, regard ye carefully. Located just across the road from clothes Mecca Ein Vera and local record haven Smekkleysa.

2. Tíu Dropar – 27 Laugavegur

Tíu Dropar is the home of delicious baked goodies, an unparalleled latte, and an olde-worlde charm that has hipsters and grandmas alike tripping over their bowling shoes [...]

Today we’re featuring Philadelphia through the eyes of Amanda Benson. Benson is a product and packaging designer by day and an entrepreneurial savant by night. She’s been living in Philly for the past five years and is quite adamant about putting her beloved city on the creative map. Beyond making it her home, she knows all the ins and outs that make this city special. Have a look, take the walking tour and let us know what you think!

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1. Philadelphia Museum of Art: 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy

Head over to what’s known as “The Art Museum,” made famous by Rocky, and jog up the steps like a champion. The top is beautifully scenic and makes [...]

I’m very pleased to announce the start of a new series we’re launching:  The Pattern Pulp Global Tour.

In today’s digital travel age, we’re all familiar with the endless to-do tips found on sites like the New York Times, Trip Advisor and Gridskipper.  While more traditional recommendations are always welcome, the notion of self-discovery should not be forgotten. With each neighborhood exploration, we hope to take our readers off the beaten path to uncover the overlooked elements of city living, be it decals on an office building or graffiti in a bathroom stall.  Some of what we feature may be gone by the time you arrive, others, such as buildings and landmarks will certainly find their place along the chain, but either way, our goal is to provide the groundwork for a visual stream of [...]