Luxa to Play with The Sight Below and Svarte Greiner

New Luxa show announced with The Sight Below and Svarte Greiner. Mark your calendars, May 19th. The Sight Below's latest album Glider just got reviewed on Pitchfork--read it here.

Also, thank you is due to Tristan in Singapore for letting us use his image. Check out his Flickr stream for more great shots.

Market Publique

For those of you who may be a fan on Facebook, you may remember some time ago when I shared a tip on the new vintage online market place Market Publique. In a round about way I ended up getting in contact with one of the founders, Pamela, who also runs the awesome blog.

In short, MP is alot like Etsy, but for vintage clothing hounds, way way better. There is room for hosting many more and much larger photos (without having to click to zoom in, and really, with clothing, you need more than just 5 pictures), a much more clothing-friendly layout, a way hipper aesthetic and logo (really Etsy? that's the best you can do on a logo?), and maybe the best part: selectivity of sellers. This means you don't have to sift through five thousand posts of some crazy lady trying to convince you that something that is butt-ugly isn't. No crappy photos, no faux Hong Kong "vintage", no 5 seasons old Target clothes. It's a big sigh of aesthetic relief for the vintage clothing shopper.

Lucky for us, we've been made members, joining the likes of NYC neighbors Amarcord, Boston's Artifaktori, along with MP's very own selections. I've only got a few items up, but many more soon to follow. Here's a photo of a belted leather coat that is a MP exclusive:

And just look how cute Pamela is!

Luxa Opening for Mark Van Hoen and Ulrich Schnauss

My band, Luxa, is opening for Mark Van Hoen and Ulrich Schnauss at the Bell House on February 25th. While I am of course excited to play the show, I completely cannot wait to get to see Mark Van Hoen and Ulrich Schnauss on the same bill. It is such a complete honor to be on the bill with these two greats.

Here's a favorite MVH song:



Here's a favorite Ulrich Schnauss song:



Here's the press release for the show too, with all the juicy details:

"Ulrich Schnauss is best known for his hand in the resurgence of 90’s shoegaze, influenced particularly by My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and Slowdive. With these influences, Schnauss has taken the shoegaze-defining wash of sound from a different approach, relying heavily on electronics rather than guitars to produce an analogous effect. On top of his three successful albums Far Away Trains Passing By, A Strangely Isolated Place, and EP Goodbye, Schnauss has remixed countless bands from Depeche Mode to Asobi Seksu to Mojave 3 to A Sunny Day in Glasgow. Schnauss has announced plans to release an album of selected remixes entitled Missing Deadlines, available on March 22th on Rocket Girl Records. In collaboration with Loveless Music Group, Schnauss has remixed, performed, and toured with New York shoegaze bands Soundpool, Elika, Dead Leaf Echo, Project Skyward, and Mahogany as well as Luxa.

While the name Mark Van Hoen may not immediately garner as much recognition as Schnauss, his reach and influence is arguably as authoritative. As an original member of Seefeel, the BBC noted, “In a brief listen one can hear the influence on Boards of Canada’s damaged melodies and dense claustrophobia, more so than even the usual suspects like Aphex Twin.” After tours with Massive Attack, Orbital, and opening for Slowdive, Van Hoen formed Scala with three members of Seefeel, releasing three albums. Van Hoen has also released four albums as Locust, including the electronic masterpieces Morning Light and Playing with Time, succeeding at infusing electronic music with moving emotional swells. Among his many production credits, Van Hoen has produced multiple titles for Mojave 3 and Sing Sing (Emma Anderson of Lush), as well as Seven Principles of Leave No Trace by Edison Woods.

Van Hoen will be releasing a new album, Where Is the Truth, in late February, his first in over five years. The Bell House performance will also be Van Hoen’s first in several years to feature backing musicians, including members of Edison Woods and Anthony and The Johnsons, accompanying his heavily visual and electronic performance."

Check out Luxa on MySpace, lastFM, or Facebook.

Interim Website

Check out our new website for the time being. Pretty straightforward, but hopefully in the coming months, we will put something together that can reflect our new posh loft.

We Made It

We're in our new loft space, and enjoying the new year. Lots of organizing and unpacking, but very exciting. Here's to the future, filled with warmth and light.

Official New Address, Start of Relaunch!

Whew! What a crazy long month, and it's not even the holidays yet. The good news though is that we've secured new location for Deluxa in East Williamsburg off the L at Morgan in the OfficeOps building on Thames Street.

If you're not familiar with the area, it is a bit debatable if this is still "technically" East Williamsburg, or Bushwick, and even some have nicknamed it "Morgantown" for the Morgan stop on the L train. Regardless, I'd describe the area as something like East-Village-meets-Soho-in-the-BK, with soaring industrial buildings, street level murals, great street fashion, and the feeling that something in the air is...happening. I love our area here in Carroll Gardens, but the something in the air here is maybe a bit more staid--not quite happening. There are also lots of new business opening, and it turns out more than a couple friends and acquaintances already call the area home.

In addition to powering down the store here (please come in and help me move what is left! lots of lovelies! at least 50% off almost everything--often more!), I'm starting to rev up our transition to internet based sales. While our final internet trajectory is still being debated (Etsy only? Etsy and direct sales? Direct sales only??? Look at those Three Potato Four people...HMMMMMmmmmm...Oy, and boy would I love to learn Flash and do something like that Supermarket Sarah)--for now, and for at first at least, furniture will be on Craigstlist and Ebay (listings to come), and then a stand alone Etsy stores for clothing and home. I designed/redesigned the store banners for the stores, and have decided the new deluxa design scheme will consist of our original "deluxa" typography logo, and Helvetica Thin, and in black and white as much as possible. Here we go...

Important Deluxa News

After going for a little over a year here in Carroll Gardens, Deluxa will be moving on to greener, more internet friendly pastures. Our last day in store will be sometime between Christmas and New Years. We are hoping in the up coming months to set up a photo studio and furniture show room in East Williamsburg, open by appointment, and will move all of our clothing and housewares sales exclusively online. It is a decision made with both sadness and excitement, as Deluxa enters a new phase.

With closing the store, we are sad to leave our local friends, John and Kirsten of Ilampe, all the kids at Naidre's, Eton Chang and his staff at Eton (who has also left the block for the higher traffic Smith Street area), Angelo and Rocco of General Nightmare, regular customers like Peter, Wendy, Tom, Bo and Kristen, Jen, and a bunch more who's names I forget, but whose faces I don't. I've also got to give a big thanks to our personal friends who have helped and supported us as we started this adventure: Gina and Meghan, John and Kim of Aloft, Lloyd, Ryan, Andrew, Dirk (who is soon to start a vintage and antiques business of his own), Amy of Tiburon, and of course most importantly our family who have been incredibly supportive in every way in getting us here so far.

But as this door closes, a new one will be opening, and for that, we are grateful. Here's looking forward to the future!

PS. COME TO OUR CLEARANCE SALE! TONS O' SCORES!

Some Big Sales

Are starting this weekend: half off all Pyrex, all records $1.50, half off all holiday, all furniture 20% off, a whole table covered in half off or more reductions! Shop vintage and get a deal!

VW Bus

This guy has been parked on our block for a couple of days now, teasing me with its infinite cuteness and kayak. Er, canoe. Just thought I'd share...

In Store Virtual Tour Video

Made this video yesterday. Enjoy the quick peek around the store! The video also features Golf's "Yellow" on Chat Blanc Records--one of my favorite tracks... We carry their limited 3" CD in store!

Google Maps

Updated their street view of our block!

Overflow Magazine

If you've been anywhere near South Brooklyn recently, you may have noticed a new free local mag, Overflow. I've read all three of the first issues cover to cover, and think it's a great source for local articles on everything from the Battle of Brooklyn to the beautifully decrepit building on 3rd Ave. and 3rd St to artist coops to local fashion. The folks running the mag are making a great contribution to our community, and really have their finger on the pulse of the neighborhood. I can't wait to see their new issues, and am thinking of doing some print advertising with them (a first!).

Anyhow, I was supremely delighted when I was reading my copy on the train on my way to the Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show and got to the article "Recession Special" by Robert Dupree. I think his piece on dressing in supremely dapper duds from vintage stores in the area was ingenious, and creates some rather stunning looks. He also sweetly featured a black button up he got from none other than Deluxa--woot woot!





PS. The Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show, devastatingly amazing. Vendor after vendor with gorgeous showroom quality pieces. I could have been there all day. Verrrrry pricey, but most of it rightly so. I spotted a LV suitcase that was said to have belonged to JFK, monogramed and everything. $7500. Italian carmel leather handbag, $185. Flannel lined mandarin collar twill coat, $240. 30's print day dress, $380. Sadly, no pics allowed. :( Highly recommended though, and it's still going on tomorrow where you might be able to bargain for better discounts as the event draws to a close...

October Window

Goin' a little fancier for our anniversary! Oleg Cassini dress, Captivators shoes, men's white button up with a tassel embroidered tie, Herman Miller Aluminum Group Lounge Chair, Alvar Aalto Series 65 chair, Cole Steel task chair, child's black welded chair, Arteluce lamp, little girl's party dress, and signed and framed charocal of "Summer Landscape". Oh yes, and I've included the most incredible pair of Salvatore Ferragamo riding boots. They are to kill for.

Official One Year Anniversary

Today, it has been officially three hundred and sixty five days since opening Deluxa. It's been a quiet day for the store, and gloomy out lately, and a bit difficult to swallow that while this year has been a great adventure, financially, like most people, the year has not unfolded as I'd hoped. Who knew Brooklyn could would be so frugal?

Regardless, I know that if economics stay the same through next year, I'm better equipped, and can only hope to see improvements. I've learned so much, become so inspired, and know now more than when I'd started, that this is what I want to do, and this is who I am, and this is what I believe in.



Found via SwissMiss .

Hot Lust: Midcentury Czech Pendant Lighting

I want them all now. All available in Prague Kolektiv's 1st dibs site, or check out their website, or their showroom in Dumbo.

Here's a little on Czech design as well, pulled from their website:

what is czech design? The pre-war and post-war periods in Czechoslovakia produced outstanding designs in extraordinarily different political, social, and economic contexts. In many of the pre-war Czech pieces that we carry, the influences from the Bauhaus and architects such as Le Corbusier, Mart Stam, Adolf Loos and Mies van der Rohe are unmistakable. As Kenneth Frampton noted in his work Modern Architecture: A Critical History "The one country which has always been inadequately represented in any account of the International Style is Czechoslovakia." Czech pieces from this period imbue interiors with an elegance and simplicity that are as appealing to our senses today as they were eighty years ago.

Some people may be familiar with the tubular chrome-plated steel and lacquered wood typically used in functionalist furniture design in Czechoslovakia as elsewhere in Europe in the 1920s and 1930s, but most people are not familiar with the designs that emerged in Czechoslovakia during the 1950s and 1960s. While the Communist rule of that period did have an impact on much of the creative and entrepreneurial activity in Czech society, sensible and attractive designs in the decorative arts continued to emerge.

Deluxa's One Year Anniversary Celebration

It is of course, still a bit away, but I wanted to get the word out now for Deluxa's first anniversary party. Champagne cocktails, and maybe cupcakes too, open to everyone from 12-7, then a few hours with some close friends. Details below:



Click to view larger...

MyWiseBunny.com and Criagslist

As someone who spends way more time on Craigslist than I ever imagined in my wildest dreams, this site--MyWiseBunny.com--makes Craigslist much more user friendly and less of a wild west/jungle free for all of (mis?)information.

I haven't really trolled through the whole site yet, but going through the Brooklyn furniture section, it is amazing how it has a great thumbnail gallery with prices, and is listed by date. It even has expanded photo rollovers. For me, and for virtually all of my customers who've found me and shopped from me via Craigslist, using MyWiseBunny is going to be in the daily website visiting rotation.

Here is a screenshot of their thumbnail gallery for Brooklyn:


And lookie there! What a cute kids chair and desk set!

Deluxa Named One of Top 5 Thrift (but we're sure they mean vintage) Stores in Brooklyn on About .com

Sweet! While I personally don't classify the store as a "thrift store" being in the company of Beacon's Closet and Housing Works is a huge honor.

From the post:
This Carroll Gardens shop is a hidden gem. Located on Sackett Street just off of Henry, Deluxa sells an eclectic mix of mid-century furniture, dishes, and nostalgia. Don't miss the fantastic jewelry collection.

Read the full post here, which also includes the Salvation Army, and Baltic Bazaar.

Luxa, Dead Leaf Echo, and Mark Van Hoen Playing MonkeyTown August 14th

Luxa is playing a show next Friday with Mark Van Hoen and Dead Leaf Echo at MonkeyTown in Williamsburg.

Mark Van Hoen. OMG. Mark Van Hoen. OMG. Check out this new write up in Jezebel.

OMG/MVH aside, I personally am really excited to play this show because we're going to be playing some new songs that I think are our best yet, and we're going to be reinstating our long-neglected visuals.

If you haven't gotten a chance to check out MonkeyTown yet, it is fantastic for visuals and for any kind of intimate performace. All the aucience seating is on low banquette style cushions while the performance goes on in the middle of the room. All four walls have visuals projected on them, making for a very enveloping/psychadelic experience (but in a good way!).


I've seen Dead Leaf Echo--who we carry in Deluxa, and with whom we are sharing this bill--play there once before, and have to report that it was quite a lovely and mesmerizing experience. Kudos to LG for the great vintage edgy (read: kinky) footage and beautiful ambient set. Here's hoping he'll have an experience for us this time just as entrancing...

PS. the poster image was taken from a vintage magazine in store--pretty fantastic pie, right?

Announcing Ilampe Designs at Deluxa

As longtime Deluxa favorites, I am so thrilled to get to share Ilampe's special one of a kind found object lamp constructions now available in the store. John and Kirsten's Ilampe designs are so beautifully executed mash-ups of hardware parts, doo-dads, thingies, and a serious dose of industrial elegance that I hardly can part with them in the store myself. There are only 3 designs in stock at the moment, but we're hoping to carry a few more, and to always have a few on hand.

Chemical Brothers. Pair of lamps with integrated Bunsen burner components. Perfect for bookshelves or bedside tables. $300, pair.

"Twisty" Fully bendable gooseneck desk task light. $120










"Schmidt". Table lamp with integrated Schmidt metal plate, $175.

All the lamp parts are brand new. All bulbs have been chosen for their special incandescence and light spaces beautifully. While they are made with specialty bulbs, they are widely available at lighting stores. Believe me, the special trip is totally worth it--one thing I have to credit Ilampe's John and Kirsten with, is teaching appreciate the subtly of good lighting, especially when it comes from a well designed lamp.

Check out Ilampe's website here. Also note that they do take commissions!