the daily view from Thru Other Eyes

Diesel powered window dressing

 August 14, 2009; Heiligeweg 11- 17, Amsterdam @ 14.45

With my mind in the window display mode of August 12, I noticed two creative window displays at the flagship Diesel store in the town center. First I noticed this lovely Norman Rockwell window display of a man and his best friend making use of a huge pile of dog food and dog biscuits.

 But the window right next to it, made the journey from wholesome family values to edgy sexual fantasy. As I shot the second display window I wondered, "What's the female equivalent of misogamist?" A bit of Googling revealed it is either misandrist or misandronist.

Is the human male brain really so primitive?

 August 12, 2009; Rijnstraat 25, Amsterdam @ 18.35

Across the street from our house is Je m'Appelle Nikki/Je m'Appelle Iggy, a very nice and friendly lingerie, underwear and swimwear store for men and women. In one window display they had this fine selection of attractive lingerie and beachwear for women. In the display window next to that was some underwear and swimwear for men.

Does shoving a sock in these boxer shorts really make it more attractive for us men as we fantasize ourselves wearing them and chatting up beautiful women in the stuff we see in the other display? Is the human male really so simple and primitive?

De Dampkring

May 6, 2009; Handboogstraat 29, Amsterdam @ 12.20

This is the exterior of one of Amsterdam's premier and most funky coffeshops De Dampkring (The Atmosphere). And by coffeshop I mean a soft drugs cafe not a Starbucks kind of place. This is where the 'Lost in Translation' scene from Ocean's Twelve was filmed.

See those suitcases by the entrance? Not surprisingly the city's coffeshops are often either the first or last place tourists go when visiting. For some the coffeshop becomes like Hotel California - a place you can check in to but never leave.

Oh that feels good, can you turn up the bass

April 12, 2009; Warmoestraat, Amsterdam @ 22.10

As we strolled down one of Amsterdam's clubs/bars/restaurants/coffeshops/erotica streets this poster caught our eyes: a new Ipod-vibrator. Brings totally new meaning to getting off on your favorite music. This company may have been inspired by the Ipod-Nike trainers with Ipod software for registering, tracking and analyzing your training while of course listening to music. For those into jogging there's the Nike-Ipod combo and for those into.. well... you know.. another kind of workout there's this. You gotta love this city! Too bad this wasn't around while Sex in the City was on the air. Who would have been the first to check it out: Miranda or Samantha?

Shop till you drop

April 10, 2009; Kalverstraat, Amsterdam @ 15.30

Although there are stores everywhere, along the street and in shopping centers, European cities have the concept of what the English call a 'high street' or shopping street. Many high streets are pedestrian only like Amsterdam's primary high street called the Kalverstraat. It runs for probably 2 or so kilometers through the city center. On one side of Dam Square it's called Kalverstraat and on the other side it continues as the Nieuwendijk.

The World's Oldest Profession

March 30, 2009; Molensteeg, Amsterdam @ 13.45

Was walking to Amsterdam's Chinatown for lunch and passed through the Red Light district. Casually holding my phone down by my side I surreptitiously took this picture but was caught in the act by another lady (at least I think it was a biological lady) and got chased out of the alleyway. They don't like to be photographed.