In Scotland, a sitooterie is basically a gazebo—a little building for sitting around outside. We suspect not many look like this one, produced by London's Heatherwick Studio and on view in Essex. Dubbed Sitooterie II, it consists of 5,000 glazed acrylic tubes, each of which is illuminated. (And true to the project's name, you can even sit inside some of the tubes.) A cool project, for sure—think of it as the new cubism.

[Design Boom]

What do you do after you house Denmark's elephants? If you're Norman Foster, you get to work on Fellini's hometown, apparently. Foster + Partners recently unveiled its proposal for a revitalized seafront in Rimini, Italy, complete with the sort of rounded tower that seems to be in vogue these days. More compellingly, the proposal includes space for a museum dedicated to the great director's life and work. It's a fitting tribute to the legendary auteur, though we can't help but think that the carnivalesque filmmaker would have been just as tickled by an elephant house of his own.

[Inhabitat]

Brooklyn's latest artistic venture? The Nu Hotel, the borough's first boutique lodgings. Just opened by Hersha Hospitality (who recently introduced the Duane Street Hotel in Tribeca), Nu's 93 modern-designed rooms are big on minimalism with a nod to eco-awareness (including cork floors, lead-free paint, organic sheets, and a recycling program). The hotel also embraces the Brooklyn lifestyle—think bike racks and "loft-inspired" rooms—so guests feel at home in the residential community. Well, provided they bring their own PBR: As yet, the hotel doesn't have a liquor license.

85 Smith St., Brooklyn, (718) 852-8585, nuhotelbrooklyn.com

Judging from the new titles at E3, the annual expo that wraps up today in the City of Angels, the gaming industry has a Hollywood-level infatuation with sequels (Resident Evil 5, Resistance 2) and adaptations (Quantum of Solace). The four-day event was light on, er, game-changing announcements, though the tech side got a few welcome shots in the arm (Netflix on 360, the Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus controller add-on) We did, however, find four new offerings worth getting excited about—including Ghostbusters, out September 26, which brings together all of the original actors except Rick Moranis. (Apparently, he's too busy.) Check out the trailer below, then click here for the rest of the best.

The experts at McIntosh have just introduced their first-ever power controller. What it does: helps you monitor and manage the energy levels of up to 12 home theater components—good for keeping, say, AC power noise from making your speakers buzz. The MPC1500 also includes a top-of-the-line surge protector—and it better, considering it costs 4,500 bucks. Then again, it uses much of the same technology that keeps hospitals' lifesaving systems in tune; and after all, cranking Appetite for Destruction up to 11 is almost as important.
mcintoshlabs.com

Pierre Hardy has had his technicolor moments, but in his forthcoming footwear collaboration with the Gap, simplicity reigns: The mini-collection will include only a black leather combat boot and a taupe desert boot. (We warned you back in February.) They're minimal classics from a master of hyperbole—and luckily enough, at decidedly minimal prices. Of course, maximalists needn't worry: Pierre is there for you, too. His pricey collaboration with Kitsuné is now available exclusively at Colette.
Combat boot, $298, and desert boot, $178, available September 15th at select Gap stores

Aside from one or two over-hyped megabrand extensions—think Johnnie Walker Blue—high-end blended Scotch has never really caught on in this country. It's a different story, of course, in Scotland, where there are plenty of blends still brimming with peat. None of those weren't available stateside, until Mitchell's, part of the famed Springbank dynasty, began exporting their Glengyle blend of Campbeltown whiskies. The stuff includes a dose of Longrow, makers of the Gaja Barolo bottling we told you about earlier, for a touch of smooth smoke (which goes down well when poured over ice).
About $49, available at The Party Source, 95 Riveria Dr., Bellevue, KY, (859) 291-4007, thepartysource.com

Photographer Tod Seelie has shot for such up-and-coming publications as The New York Times and New York—not to mention for Rogan and Loomstate—but he's never had a solo gallery show in the five boroughs. That changes tonight: Slowdancing to Slayerfeatures images from Seelie's various journeys—rafting down the Mississippi with art collective The Miss Rockaway Armada, touring with the hipster-heavy F*ck Yeah Fest, and stopping off everywhere from New Orleans to L.A. in between. Perhaps the exhibit will even answer that immortal question: How exactly does one slow dance to Slayer, anyway?
Through August 9 at Cinders Gallery, 103 Havemeyer St., Brooklyn, NY, (718) 388-2311, cindersgallery.com

Here's a reason to watch VH1 that doesn't involve Flavor Flav: Tonight's Rock Honors fandango, which honors The Who (or its two surviving members, anyway) and features performances by Pearl Jam, the Foo Fighters, and the Flaming Lips (pictured), among others. (We'll be cooking dinner during Incubus's set.)
9 p.m. on VH1

Given the V-22 Osprey's troubled history—the military aircraft's development famously included soaring budgets and numerous fatal crashes—you wouldn't think people would be eager for a commercial version. And yet, here one is: The Bell 609, a hybrid that flies like a plane and lands like a chopper. The exact price remains top-secret, but expect to pay around 20 mil. Chump change to guys like Greg Norman and Ross Perot, who have already bought models (seriously). We wouldn't be surprised if Travolta's already reserved two.

[Gizmodo via The Register]

Samsung just announced its fall point-and-shoot lineup, led by the TL34HD, above. (Catchy name, we know.) The camera has some interesting features—it shoots in 720p HD (through a Schneider lens), and sports a sizable 3-inch touch screen. But it also comes with a whopping 14.7 megapixels, which seems like overkill, given the underwhelming sensor and modest 3.6x optical zoom. Hey, the case looks sharp, though.

More intriguing is the design flourish Samsung has given its lower-tier TL9: Analog gauges atop the camera. (One's for battery life, and one's for memory capacity—see below.) Too cute by half? Sure, but frankly an on-screen battery-life meter has never made much sense. Both cameras are available in September; the TL34HD for $330, the TL9 for $280.

For shooters you can buy right now, check out our newly updated compact digicams Hotlist.

Although MoMA's Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling exhibit doesn't open until Sunday, the museum has previewed the work for months now. As curator Barry Bergdoll explains, the show's "also about the process of making an architecture exhibition," which means he's welcomed public viewings of the show's five full-scale prefab buildings since May. (Time-lapse construction video? Check.) Those more interested in the final product can see the completed works this weekend, including Instant House (pictured), architect Larry Sass' solution for New Orleans—a cozy 196-square-foot home that costs around $40,000 to produce. More traditional displays include films, blueprints, and partial reconstructions of work by starchitects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Jean Prouvé, and Buckminster Fuller. Worth noting: Not since a 1948 Marcel Breuer series has MoMA built 1:1 scale prefabs.
July 20-October 20, for more information visit momahomedelivery.org

Five things worth knowing today

- Spain's Festival International de Benicàssim begins, with Morrissey, Leonard Cohen, and the Raconteurs all lined up to play. Hedi Slimane's been known to photograph the crowd, so look your best.
- Fashion Week Miami starts: four days of swimsuits, gawking encouraged.
- The British Open begins at Royal Birkdale.
- Today in 1997, Woolworth's closed its last American stores after 117 years in business.
- And today in 1952, the Hoff was born. Seriously, how can you not love this guy?