Maps as metaphor

What a great way to start off this morning: a new series of map-based illustrations by Christoph Niemann. Reserve Battery Park is a favorite. So is this omelet recipe:

I Lego N.Y. book

Remember Christoph Niemann's excellent I Lego N.Y.? He's coming out with a book based on that post:

There's a short trailer for the book on YouTube. (via @h_fj)

All kinds of leaves

In his excellent NY Times blog, Christoph Niemann uses leaves to illustrate a forest of ideas.

I Lego N.Y.

Christoph Niemann makes New York things out of Legos. Fresh pepper and Greenpoint are my faves.

Quirky maps and charts for NYC wayfinding

Christoph Niemann shares a series of his New York City cheatsheets, including tips for getting on and off the subway at the proper points, muffin poking (you know, for checking freshness), and a door opening maneuver called "The Northside Eagle".

Whenever I rode the subway with my two older boys, I tried to hold on to their hands at all times. In the process, I developed a special move. I think anyone who saw it must have been impressed.

I would hold the boys' hands as we briskly made our way out of the station, then, just as we reached the turnstiles, I would let go. We would pass through the turnstiles simultaneously, and so smoothly that the boys' hands would still be up in the air when we got to the other side, where I would grab their little fingers again in one fluid motion. (Requires practice.)

These are great fun.

Arty bathroom tiles

Christoph Niemann has used some unusual image sources to tile his bathrooms. For the shower, an appropriation of Warhol's Brillo box. For the kids bathroom, a NYC subway map.