Between ICFF and the NY Photo Fest there's plenty to do this weekend, but I'd like to direct your attention to one event in particular. If you've not yet visited the SoHo concept store Kiosk, their first Mini-Exhibition opening this Saturday is for a show by collaborative group Rich, Brilliant, Willing and will be the perfect opportunity. Continue reading for more about RBW (their "Candle Party" pictured below) and the story behind Kiosk's Hong Kong neon.

° Siouxsie and the Banshees - Hong Kong Gardens mp3

° A Certain Ratio - Wild Party mp3

I discovered Kiosk a few lovely Saturdays ago (thanks, Cortni) and fell in love. Much has already been written about the place (and I unfortunately missed owner Alisa Grifo's AIGA Small Talk), but in their words:

We opened the store to offer an antidote to over-design. We consider the objects we stock to be humble, straightforward and beautiful for their simplicity and directness. Often they are traditional goods that have developed over generations or anonymous design found in general stores, DIYs and kiosks, products created by not one personality but things that are the result of local aesthetics and needs.

They're displaying goods from Hong Kong right now. On kioskkiosk.com you can shop the Hong Kong merch, along with the ongoing items and a couple things leftover from past runs (like this great Finnish saw.) Next up is America, so they'll be on the lookout for independently produced goods in Massachusetts soon.

As for RBW's Candle Party, it will be a product for sale ($25) as part of the show on Saturday. Murketing's Rob Walker wrote about their award-winning hypothetical Green Cell battery in a recent NY Times Consumed, so I'm excited to see what else they present in the show.

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Kiosk Mini-Exhibition: #1 Rich, Brilliant, Willing
[on view Saturday, May 17 until Tuesday, May 20. Opening Saturday 7-10p.]
Enter Kiosk from the street at 95 Spring and head up to the 2nd floor.
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As for the neon, Alisa explains that a customer saw their neon sign downstairs and offered up some of the scrap neon in his Brooklyn workshop: "We said yes, and we went out there and spelled out Hong Kong with the neon—learned how to wire it up and also how neon was made. It was a great time." I think it turned out really nicely.

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See Also:

+ Streetlab Amsterdam in NYC
[Saturday at Milk Gallery, 450 W 15th St. Cocktails at 8p / Show at 10p]
Featuring (among others) Bodkin, a Brooklyn-based design collaboration between fashion designer Samantha Pleet and writer Eviana Hartman. "BODKIN show will have projections by AXIV capturing industrial cleanup and recycling processes in North Brooklyn."

+ Core77 Ping Pong Party: "Beats, Balls and Beers!"
[Saturday, 8p at secret Chinatown location]
Making it a theme night, start by purchasing your authentic Hong Kong-sourced paddles at Kiosk. Then you'll want to wear some neon 'cos this party's under blacklight. Snag a ping pong ball invite out and about ICFF or rsvp77@core77.com.