I have written about how much I adore the Ace Hotel here many times before. The chain is just freaking cool. The vibe, energy, design, food. All is spot on, not too overpriced, and a unique experience.
It makes total sense then that the hotel chain now has a blog. The topics covered there have the usual stuff: events at the hotel, press, and collaborations. But it also dives into the artist relationships that help make each Ace such a unique place. The above video shows Chris Rubino painting four huge canvases for Ace Hotel New York. It captures the funky vibe and artist spirit of the Ace. They’re a welcome addition to my blog roll.
I have written here about my love of the Ace Hotel. It is casual yet polished. It can be a wild time, but also peaceful. And it is the hotel with the hottest visitors. Don’t trust me? Check out the Palm Springs pool or the NYC lobby for proof.
It is also the gayest hotel on the planet. Hands down! Want proof of that too? Easy. On a recent visit to a friend’s room I discovered that the Ace has more than your typical X-rated viewing channels as the image I snapped above proves. You have your typical straight porn, your typical gay porn, and then you have a channel sponsored and curated by Butt Magazine. It is classic, hot, gay stuff. And it makes the Ace worth the price of admission.
CRUSHfanzine is a self-published by two guys, Nicolas & Khary, and it’s a zine focusing on a single theme. Their current issue is all about the obsession with feet. Yes, I said feet. Called Foot Soldiers it explores a fetish that many don’t know exists or keep secret. While I love the book and think you should pick it up I also encourage you to check out the pop-up shop if in NYC. The items they’re selling, including one of a kind customized Chuck Taylor All Stars by NY designers and artists Desi Santiago, Zaldy and Miguel Villalobos, sound awesome. But I am most intrigued to see the guys who show up. If anything like those featured in the zine you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs is a magical place. Sunny year round and designed in a style that has a mid-century vibe, it’s not too glam and not too pretentious as some of Palm Springs’ swankier hotels. I stayed there this weekend and left my heart.
Artist and illustrator Chris Rubino (whose resume is as diverse as it is impressive) recently finished a series of four canvases commissioned by the newly opened Ace Hotel in NY. A video directed by Jim Helton documents the month-long process with music by Big Blood. Whether he’s designing a poster for Jay-Z, packaging for a brand, or illustrations for a magazine, Rubino’s eye for composition is always spot on.
