Latest news with #Hinoki
Time Out
a day ago
- General
- Time Out
Central Park has sadly chopped down the 'Furever Tree,' a beloved pet memorial
Central Park has lost one of its most secret—and sweetest—traditions. The so-called 'Furever Tree,' an 18-foot Hinoki false cypress tucked deep inside the Ramble, has been cut down after more than four decades of service as New York's unofficial pet memorial. For years, dog owners, cat lovers and even squirrel enthusiasts flocked to the tree every holiday season to hang laminated photos, ornaments and notes for four-legged friends no longer with us. It was a shrine, a Christmas tree and a community hug rolled into one. Milo the 'Good Boy,' Sherman the turtle and countless city dogs all had their spot on its branches. But after months of decline, the Central Park Conservancy quietly removed the tree in August. 'It was clear the tree had died due to a combination of environmental stress and wear on the landscape,' a Conservancy spokesperson confirmed to West Side Rag. Translation: drought, rough winters soil compaction, and—yes—possibly too much love. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Larry Closs (@larrycloss) Adding to the problem? Ashes. In recent years, a sign appeared near the tree pleading with visitors not to scatter pet remains at its roots, warning that 'ashes are toxic to the tree.' Some caretakers now believe that practice may have accelerated its demise. One longtime visitor, Peggy Fields Goldstein, put it bluntly: 'The pet memorial tree…apparently was the demise of that beautiful evergreen tree. It was loved to death.' The loss stings particularly hard for Marianne Larsen, the tree's unofficial 'Keeper,' who along with fellow volunteer Larry Closs has helped tend the memorial for years. 'For 45 years, the Furever Tree has been a healing place for pet owners to remember, honor and celebrate their beloved pets,' they said, adding that they're already exploring ways to keep the tradition alive. The Conservancy echoed that commitment, promising to work with the community on a 'thoughtful, sustainable alternative' that won't compromise the park's landscape. Which means there's hope that, someday, a new tree or memorial might sprout to take its place. Until then, New Yorkers will have to say goodbye to one of the city's quirkiest, most heartfelt holiday rituals. The Ramble may still be full of winding paths and secret corners—but one of its best-kept secrets has gone to the great dog park in the sky.
Hypebeast
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hypebeast
Aston Martin Unveils First Bespoke Residence in Japan: N°001 Minami Aoyama
Summary Aston Martinhas revealed N°001 Minami Aoyama, its first custom-designed private residence in Asia, located inTokyo's prestigious Omotesandō neighborhood. Created in partnership with Japanese luxury developerVIBROA Inc., the four-storey townhouse reflects the brand's signature blend of craftsmanship, performance and design innovation. Spanning 724 m² (7,793 ft²), the home features a sculptural steel staircase, spa terrace, rooftop with Tokyo Tower views and a dramatic automotive gallery that showcases two Aston Martins like works of art. Designed by Aston Martin's in-house team, led by Marek Reichman, the residence channels the same attention to proportion, materiality and drama as the brand's cars. Inside, the home includes a private spa, golf simulator, wine cellar and Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Interiors are finished with Molteni&C furnishings, Hinoki wood spa cladding and black lava stone kitchens. The basement and rooftop create a spatial journey from dark to light materials, symbolizing retreat and renewal. N°001 Minami Aoyama follows Aston Martin's global expansion into real estate, joining projects in Miami and the UAE and marks another milestone in the brand's growth across Japan and Asia.
Auto Blog
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Aston Martin Unveils Ultra-Luxury Private Residence in Tokyo's Most Desirable Location
Another real estate wonder from the British automaker If the article detailing Aston Martin's residence tower in Miami left you wanting more, you're in luck! The British automaker recently revealed N°001 Minami Aoyama, Tokyo, its first ultra-luxury residence in Asia, and what a residence it is. 0:30 / -- Skip Ad A desirable house in a desirable location Created in partnership with Japanese luxury real estate developer VIBROA Inc., the four-story residence is situated in Tokyo's Omotesandō neighborhood, a renowned shopping district located between Harajuku and Aoyama. Right away, the façade stands out thanks to its vertical metal louvers, whose appearances change as the sun rises and falls in the sky, reflecting off their surface. Glimpses of the interior can also be seen between the louvers. The first floor houses the spa facilities, including a sauna and spa bath with natural Hinoki timber cladding and a specially designed audio system. Right next door is a landscaped private terrace, with its own outdoor Onsen pool and seating. Oh, and about that audio system, the entire residence has a Bowers & Wilkins Audio System wired in, so your tunes can play in any room. The basement takes advantage of the site's sloping nature to house a gym, wine cellar, a golf simulator system, a private spa, and three en-suite bedrooms. The two-car garage, or 'automotive gallery' as Aston Martin refers to it, features adaptive lighting and a wave-textured metal ceiling. The cars can also be from within the house, thanks to the glass panel that separates the garage from the lounge and meeting room on the ground floor. Talk about attention to detail Natural light was reportedly a high priority when building the residence, and as you ascend to the rooftop terrace, the materials transition from dark to light 'to mirror the journey towards the light.' The terrace contains a kitchen facility, a section of planted green roof, and tremendous views of the Tokyo Tower. Oh, and speaking of that staircase, Aston Martin and VIBROA Inc. call it an 'origami staircase,' made from folded steel and illuminated by a pendant chandelier. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The two companies also curated some very fitting Italian furniture for the residence, ranging from bespoke wardrobes to kitchen cabinets by Italian brand Molteni&C. The kitchen sports black lava stone surfaces and gray oak cabinetry, with 'nebula steel' and pewter metal accents throughout. If you're worried that these are all off-the-shelf pieces, fret not, as reportedly many of the pieces were custom-designed under Aston Martin's direct supervision. Final thoughts I'm a design nerd, whether it's modern minimalism, 1970s kitsch, or everything in between. I was already entranced by Aston Martin's Miami residences, but their Japanese residence knocks it out of the park. It's clean, yet it doesn't feel empty. The various materials and colors used throughout, like the wood and dark metals, create a cozy, modern, and classy ambiance simultaneously. Aston Martin and VIBROA Inc. don't mention a price tag or owner, of course, but considering the prices of their Miami residences, and the fact that this was built as a private residence, it's probably a figure that us mere mortals can't comprehend. About the Author Gabriel Ionica View Profile
Miami Herald
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Aston Martin Unveils Ultra-Luxury Private Residence in Tokyo's Most Desirable Location
If the article detailing Aston Martin's residence tower in Miami left you wanting more, you're in luck! The British automaker recently revealed N°001 Minami Aoyama, Tokyo, its first ultra-luxury residence in Asia, and what a residence it is. Created in partnership with Japanese luxury real estate developer VIBROA Inc., the four-story residence is situated in Tokyo's Omotesandō neighborhood, a renowned shopping district located between Harajuku and Aoyama. Right away, the façade stands out thanks to its vertical metal louvers, whose appearances change as the sun rises and falls in the sky, reflecting off their surface. Glimpses of the interior can also be seen between the louvers. The first floor houses the spa facilities, including a sauna and spa bath with natural Hinoki timber cladding and a specially designed audio system. Right next door is a landscaped private terrace, with its own outdoor Onsen pool and seating. Oh, and about that audio system, the entire residence has a Bowers & Wilkins Audio System wired in, so your tunes can play in any room. The basement takes advantage of the site's sloping nature to house a gym, wine cellar, a golf simulator system, a private spa, and three en-suite bedrooms. The two-car garage, or "automotive gallery" as Aston Martin refers to it, features adaptive lighting and a wave-textured metal ceiling. The cars can also be from within the house, thanks to the glass panel that separates the garage from the lounge and meeting room on the ground floor. Natural light was reportedly a high priority when building the residence, and as you ascend to the rooftop terrace, the materials transition from dark to light "to mirror the journey towards the light." The terrace contains a kitchen facility, a section of planted green roof, and tremendous views of the Tokyo Tower. Oh, and speaking of that staircase, Aston Martin and VIBROA Inc. call it an "origami staircase," made from folded steel and illuminated by a pendant chandelier. The two companies also curated some very fitting Italian furniture for the residence, ranging from bespoke wardrobes to kitchen cabinets by Italian brand Molteni&C. The kitchen sports black lava stone surfaces and gray oak cabinetry, with "nebula steel" and pewter metal accents throughout. If you're worried that these are all off-the-shelf pieces, fret not, as reportedly many of the pieces were custom-designed under Aston Martin's direct supervision. I'm a design nerd, whether it's modern minimalism, 1970s kitsch, or everything in between. I was already entranced by Aston Martin's Miami residences, but their Japanese residence knocks it out of the park. It's clean, yet it doesn't feel empty. The various materials and colors used throughout, like the wood and dark metals, create a cozy, modern, and classy ambiance simultaneously. Aston Martin and VIBROA Inc. don't mention a price tag or owner, of course, but considering the prices of their Miami residences, and the fact that this was built as a private residence, it's probably a figure that us mere mortals can't comprehend. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Food Picks: Sushi restaurant Ashino moves to Club Street
Gizzard shad from Ashino, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a new address in Club Street. PHOTOS: ASHINO SINGAPORE – Sushi restaurant Ashino celebrates its 10th anniversary with a fresh menu and new dwelling. After spending the last decade at Chijmes, it is now parked in Club Street, under the terracotta feature fins of the Mercure Icon Singapore City Centre. It occupies an otherwise nondescript unit, marked only by a fluted wooden door and khaki noren bearing the restaurant's name. Its interior is panelled in the same blond monochrome that characterised the Chijmes outlet. There is something quietly reverential about the space, a tiny chapel flooded in shades of gold, to which chef Taku Ashino tends with priest-like devotion. His quest for perfection is threaded through every last centimetre of the restaurant. There are tiny tatami boards on which guests are to rest their cellphones to avoid scratching the tables carved from 100-year-old Hinoki cypress wood. Wasabi is contained in a clam shell. Sushi is glazed with a perpetual soya sauce that has been fermenting for as long as the restaurant has been in business. Ashino celebrates its 10th anniversary with a new address in Club Street. PHOTO: ASHINO This maddening attention to detail extends to the processes unseen by guests around the 10-seater counter. Fish is dispatched by a respected supplier who specialises in shinkejime – a precise and humane method of killing that involves piercing the brain of the fish, thereby supposedly preserving its freshness and texture. The sacrificial animal is then aged in chef Ashino's signature style or cured in kelp to allow its flavours to mature. This jukusei – the Japanese term for ageing – process takes anywhere from a few days to several weeks. The other cornerstone of his craft is rice. He uses a blend of two varieties – one sweet and firm, the other nutty and sticky – to achieve that sublime balance. This mixture is then cooked in a Nanbu Tetsu iron kettle that distributes heat evenly and imparts a subtle aroma impossible to replicate with modern equipment. Naturally, all this makes for very good sushi – uniquely vinegared rice blanketed in sweet, buttery chunks of fish that burst with umami and melt in your mouth. As might also be expected, however, such thoughtfulness does not come cheap. Lunch omakase ranges from $165++ to $400++, while dinner is priced between $235++ and $450++. To ensure that those opting for leaner courses can still get a taste of the chef's prized cuts, the restaurant has rolled out an okonomi menu, from which diners can select add-ons ranging from appetisers such as Sentosa steamed queen fish with soup ($8) to handrolls filled with negitoro ($40). Items on this menu rotate with the seasons, but certain staples like irresistibly fatty otoro sushi ($35) and decadent uni handroll ($65) are mainstays. Where: 01-12/13 Mercure Icon Singapore City Centre, 8 Club Street MRT: Telok Ayer Open: Noon to 2pm (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays), 6 to 10pm (Mondays to Saturdays) Info: Check out ST's Food Guide for the latest foodie recommendations in Singapore.
