Cool Things We Want

We’re a pretty satisfied bunch, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t covetous. Sometimes we see things out there that we just must have. This is an archive of those earthly desires.

Cool Things We Want

How to Make a Model of the Moon at Home While Social Distancing

All you need is a plastic sphere, some candle wax, a sheet of sandpaper, some paint and a global pandemic that gives you the time.

Cool Things We Want / Downtown East Side

We Want One of Local Artist Christina Kenton’s Fanciful Bic Lighter Sculptures

These cases are hand-sewn, built up and painted over with intricate patterns to create elaborate dioramas of animals and objects.

Cool Things We Want / East Vancouver

New Cup Share Program Now in Action at Four Coffee Spots Around East Van

This smartly designed, easy-to-use local cup share program is already in operation at several cafes in Vancouver.

Cool Things We Want

We Want This ‘Be Goose Do Crimes’ Patch

We're not entirely sure why this 3-inch, iron-on, embroidered patch needs to be in our lives but such is the mystery of material desire.

Cool Things We Want

Creator of BB-8 Develops New Hexapod ‘Mantis’ Vehicle (and We Want to Drive One)

I don't like that it's slow, heavy (4,200 lbs) and runs on diesel fuel, but I still want to give Matt Denton's creation a go...

Cool Things We Want

Six Ways to Enable and Inspire Some Self-Care This Holiday Season

8 Places

We've thought up a short list of local products and services that we think might help inspire and enable a self-care ritual this season.

Cool Things We Want

8 Thoughtful Gift Ideas for the Picky Food Lovers on Your Christmas List

From wine to chocolate, these gift ideas provide not only instant and delicious gratification, but also tasty reasons to come together.

Cool Things We Want / The Okanagan

23 Super Sure Things to Get the Local Wine Lover on Your Christmas List…

Skip the long haul trip to wine country; it's pretty sleepy this time of year and most of the Wine Club wines are exclusive to members anyways.

Cool Things We Want / Main Street

Defeating Winter’s Monotony With a Chilled Out Visit to Sunja Link’s Body Shoppe

Feel uneasy getting fawned over in extravagant settings? Try this understated spa treatment room with a humble vibe...

Cool Things We Want

New Book Will Make You Fall in Love With US National Parks’ Graphic Design

For lovers (and dreamers) of adventure and fans of good design, Brian Kelley's 'Parks' looks to be a captivating 384 pages.

Cool Things We Want / East Vancouver

We Want to See the Creepy, Comedic Play ‘Kuroko’ When it Premieres Next Month

We're feeling mighty inspired to see Tetsuro Shigematsu's new play in East Van (November 6-17th).

Cool Things We Want

New Book Details How Explorers Once Conveyed Wonder Through Maps

The new book from the Princeton Architectural Press zeroes in on the beautiful maps made by 19th century adventurers.

Cool Things We Want

We Want This Anti-Inspo Tote From Adam J. Kurtis

If you're (jaded) like me then you'll appreciate this no-bullshit tote bag that gives hardworking people the respect they deserve.

Cool Things We Want

We Want This Soft, Oversized French Bread Pillow

We never thought we'd see a novelty pillow so perfectly suited to our hearts' desires, but this one really threads the needle.

Cool Things We Want

We Want a Copy of Devon Fredericksen’s New Book, ‘How to Camp in the Woods’

This new guide to enjoying your adventures in the woods has information on everything from survival basics to wilderness etiquette.

Cool Things We Want / Main Street

We Want This Badass Calette Custom Bike

In a perfect world, we'd spend our summer brewery hopping and beach commuting astride this tricked out Redline 925.

Cool Things We Want

We Want to Take These Not-So-Disposable Cameras on Our Next Big Road Trip

Remember the pre-Instagram days when disposable cameras were a cool and easy way to document good times? They're back...

Cool Things We Want

We Want a Self-Fertilizing Planter Made of Upcycled Lobster Shells

The Shellworks team has created a versatile bioplastic made by mixing vinegar with the biopolymer found in crustacean exoskeletons.

Cool Things We Want

We Want One of These Plinko-Style Bottle Opener Boards

This hand-made, wall-mounted bottle opener from Maryland's LeRoy Woodworks looks like it would fun to mess around with.

Cool Things We Want

We Want a Copy of the ‘Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America’

Featuring "Fuck-Tailed Flycatchers" and "Great Blue Morons", this new book is a taxonomic takedown of winged and evil elusiveness.

Cool Things We Want

We Love the Frank Spirit of This Marena Skinner T-Shirt, and We Want One

These original t-shirts are screenprinted by the local artist herself and are currently for sale in a highly limited run.

Cool Things We Want

We Want This Awesome Coffee-Making Alarm Clock

Made by London-based designer Joshua Renouf, all you need to do for prep is add coffee grounds, set the alarm and go to sleep.

Cool Things We Want

We Want to Browse This Vintage Cast Iron Market With All the Money in Our Pockets

Where do cast iron pans go when they die? Trick question -- they don't die. But if they did, this would be their heaven.

Cool Things We Want / California

The Small Garage That Converts Finicky Classic Vehicles Into Reliable Electric Heroes

California company EV West has made a brisk business out of converting old Ferraris, Porsches and even VW vans to electric. 

Cool Things We Want

We Want This Rube Goldberg-Inspired Back Scratching Adirondack Chair

Matt Thompson of Michigan's Thompson Woodworks created a Adirondack chair that does a lot for those who sit in it.

Cool Things We Want

We Want One of Scott Reinhard’s Topographic Maps

Reinhard - a freelance Multimedia and Graphics Editor at the New York Times - has been busy with an awesome side hustle.

Cool Things We Want / Main Street

We Want a Summer Subscription to Beautiful Flowers From Local Grower ‘Valley Buds’

Buying into this flower share is a brilliant way to pre-emptively ensure fresh, gorgeous, local blooms all summer long.

Cool Things We Want / East Vancouver

We Want One of Steven Brekelmans New Drawings

The local artist's new series of drawings is currently hanging on the walls of Chernoff Fine Art on East 2nd Avenue.