SeanChron | Korina Emmerich on Project Runway

Deisgn and culture have intersected again. Psyched to see another Native American designer on Project Runway. Korina Emmerich (Puyallup) will be one of 18 designers that start Season 13 of Project Runway.

SeanChron | Canoe Crops on Top Chef

Sean the huge culture geek here and once again I was really pleased to see culture taking center stage in the final episodes of Top Chef Season 11. The season was primarily based in New Orleans, where culture also had a starring role, but the final episodes were on the Hawaiian island of Maui.

It should come as no surprise the chefs would want to showcase local proteins and produce that have cultural meaning and value but Top Chef took it a step further and in the elimination challenge of Episode 16, the remaining chefs (Shirley Chung, Nina Compton, Nicholas Elmi, and Louis Maldonado) were tasked to use the Canoe Crops that ancient Polynesians first brought to Hawaii.

The dish I was most impressed with (and perhaps a plug for who I think should have won the season) was Nina Compton's Grilled Opah with Taro Root and Coconut Puree (below).

SeanChron | Cultural Heritage Inspiration on Project Runway Allstars

Being the culture geek that I am and my strong desire that everyone have a chance to connect to their cultural heritage, it should come as no surprise that I was really pleased with the challenge in the finale episode of Project Runway Allstars - Season 3, Episode 10 in which the designers had to design a full collection based on their family's country of origin.

For Elena Slivnyak it was Ukraine, for Seth Aaron Henderson it was Spain, and for Korto Momolu it was Liberia. The designers all did a fantastic job and the final runway was presented at the United Nations with the UN delegates from the designer's inspiration country country in attendance.

Fast Future - Bravo's The Fashion Show

In the 'Time Capsule' episode of Bravo's The Fashion Show hosted by Isaak Mizrahi and Iman, the designers had to reference both past and future in their challenge, a concept we love here at Future-ish. Designers met Iman at the American Museum of Natural History's New York Times Capsule and then had to each choose a box with a specific design era to use as inspiration in creating an original futuristic design. Throw in that each garment had to include plaid, identified as a "timeless pattern", in some way and you get a true sartorial struggle. The House of Emerald had the week's "ultimate collection" with Jeffrey Williams' gown (above left) as the week's individual winner.

Spelling Bee hits prime time

You heard it here first sports fans, the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee not only appeared on ESPN - the world's top sports channel - the final will be televised in prime time on ABC, Thursday, May 28th at 8P/7C. We at Future-ish think that is totally honorificabilitudinitatibus...use that in a sentence David Beckham!

NASA TV

Looking for the next big thing in reality TV? Check out NASA TV...its literally OUT OF THIS WORLD! For example, on the morning of Saturday, May 6th, 2009 you could watch and listen as the crew used some new space tools to get some big jobs done on the Hubble Space station. Don't see the drama in that? Well, at any given point in repairs one small slip of a tool that hits the station could result in MULTI MILLION DOLLAR DAMAGE. EEEK! With a new helmet cam, some awesome action shots, and great play by play insight its reality TV truly at its highest point! Next time you've got some time, grab some nibbles, sit back in your comfy chair, and watch the world go by, literally, just behind the crew and station.