Kiosk, New York City
Find the neon sign at 95 Spring Street in New York, and ascend the stairs to enter a counter-cultural world of wonder, a shop unlike any other. Kiosk is a well-curated boutique offering things that are “humble, straightforward and beautiful for their simplicity and directness.” The misfits who run this place have assembled, in their tiny second floor location, a wide range of classic, everyday pieces in such a way that you’ll never look at your salt shaker the same way again.
Set up like a gallery, their shop is a working a document of the trips they take. They travel the world for a short period of time, amassing stuff they’ve found of interest, and turn around to sell their travels’ treasures in their shop. Imagine, if you will, that “What’d you bring me?” moment lurking just beyond every item available. And while some of their greatest hits are part of an ongoing collection, at Kiosk, when it sells out, it sells out.
The Black Cross Skateboard. Perfect for the subway.
Recently, I met Brandon Capps, Mr. Drinkin’ and Dronin’, at Kiosk, and we had ourselves a ball.
Flying Turtle. Drinkin’ and Dronin’, indeed. Try as he may, Brandon could not make that Turtle fly.
On the other hand, I had no problem snapping that little turtle around the store. Knees in my neck, with each turn of that hard plastic, turquoise triangle, the memories just came flooding back.
Their trip to Florida was epic.
Brandon, whose had some experience with Materva, the yerba mate soda, warned me, “Don’t mess with that stuff unless you’re looking for a late night, man.”
This trip, I bought a creamer to go with the pitcher I picked up on my last visit.
I’m still kicking myself for failing to nab a couple of the Red Dot Tenugui.
Security Mail Bag. One has to assume this, or something like it, was the precursor to the Billykirk for Freemans Sporting Club Banker Bag.
This Steele Canvas bag is part of a collection Kiosk did with Andy Beach of Reference Library and Stork Bites Man.
The next time you find yourself stumbling around SoHo, stomach full of Bloody Marys on a Sunday afternoon, stop into Kiosk for a lesson in simple, beautiful design, and pick up something for yourself or a loved one. Thanks to the folks at Kiosk, you’ll never be able to come home empty-handed again.
For more of my visit to Kiosk, see Flickr.
