Because a good thing needs to be mentioned twice or maybe three times. Spotted over at Reference Library and How To Change a Flat, is Stanley & Sons, an apron and bag company based out of Brooklyn. The founder, Chris Grodzki followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and extended the family trade by launching the company in 2008 producing everyone of its products by hand. Though familiar fabrics are used like wax and unwaxed canvas along with recycled materials, there’s still a distinction to the line considering the limit in quantity. It’s not mass produced. Stanley & Sons is currently only available in three locations, Luddite, Eleven, and Save Khaki United but can also be ordered through their website.

Porter, the Japanese bag company founded in 1962 by Yoshida & Co., based its business on the fundamental principal that passion is required in every stitch. It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that you would be hard-pressed to find a Porter bag in the United States. As common and successful as the brand is in Japan, it was slow to arrive here. Though based in the U.K., Porter’s collaboration with Monocle gave the company more recognition in the west, and little by little, stores like Steven Alan and Opening Ceremony began to carry a selection of designs from its vast catalog.

We were able to preview Porter’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection this morning which includes over 11 lines with several older lines (Tanker and Smokey) from past seasons. The collection carries on the tradition of durability and functionalism without compromising style. Ever conscious of its construction, Porter uses various traditional and non-traditional techniques including stitching cotton conventionally used for silk to create intricate patterns, hand dyeing, and mixing fabrics complementing and contrasting its final product. We were especially drawn towards the Deep Blue line which uses traditional techniques in dyeing its fabric from Kyoto which are then stonewashed giving it a natural texture. It also ages really well. 2010 may prove to be the year that Porter sees a wider distribution as they plan to collaborate on exclusive items with brands from Barneys to Bloomingdales. More photos after the jump.

Heath Ceramics in LA will be celebrating Mardi Gras with Louisiana native Clare Crespo. The artist, chef, writer, and TV personality has been inspiring kids and adults to be creative in the kitchen for some time now. She’s also the mastermind behind Treat Street, a roving bake sale based in LA. For the jamboree at Heath Ceramics, Crespo will be serving gumbo, oysters, shrimp cocktail, soft-shell crab, and catfish po’boys. However, none of it will be edible, Crespo will be crocheting every food item which all will be lovingly displayed on Heath dinnerware. A reception will be held tomorrow evening from 6-8pm.

For the past 35 years, BMW has been inviting artists to reinterpret the designs of their cars, beginning in 1975 with Alexander Calder. Only 16 artists have been selected for this project, including Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, and Olafur Eliasson. Many of the past artists have used the vehicles as a canvas, except for Eliasson. Eliasson’s reinterpretation of BMW’s H2R’s car is unrecognizable. He replaces its original frame with a new skin that resembles a metallic cocoon.

BMW announced a couple of days ago that Jeff Koons will be its 17th artist. No information has been released yet on which car Koons has selected or what the designs will look like. The car is expected to be revealed later on this year. (via mediabistro)

It’s a rare opportunity for one to walk through the interior of the Eames house, only patrons of the Eames Foundation is offered a tour. In celebration of the release of House Industries’ Eames font collection, the type foundry and foundation have launched a contest for a chance at winning an exclusive Eames house sunset tour.

It’s good to see that people are still organizing benefits for Haiti. The San Francisco Community Art Show is a silent auction held on March 12th with all profits going towards Architecture for Humanity’s work in Haiti. Over 40 artists will be participating including Barry McGee.

Gordon Gekko returns, in the sequel to Wall Street with Oliver Stone directing. Money Never Sleeps opens April 22nd.

No other director is capable of romanticizing New York City like Woody Allen. His love affair with the city on film began in 1977 with Annie Hall but it was in Manhattan where Allen paid homage. From the opening shot of the film, George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue builds from the introductory note of the clarinet and swells to a crescendo while the Manhattan skyline stands at the forefront. Allen embraces all its grittiness in lovely black and white. His appreciation for the music goes beyond its enjoyment, Allen is an extremely talented clarinet player as well. Barbara Kopple’s 1997 documentary Wild Man Blues displays much of this as the camera follows Allen through a European tour. Good news for New Yorkers, its hometown auteur will be performing at The Carlyle every Monday night till May 31st with The Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band.