Hot hot hot

Hot hot hot

Everyone’s favorite boot manufacturer, LL Bean, plans to triple its U.S. stores by 2020, citing strong sales growth in—you guessed it—their footwear division. Whether this sets them up to find out the hard way about the existence of Zappos and the idea of a “fad,” only time will tell. (NYT)

Art Basel Hong Kong, an Asian offshoot of the Swiss original, will this year feature nearly $3 billion in art and antiques available for private purchase. Among the offerings are works by Picasso, Basquiat, and Warhol, all of whom have devoted (i.e., billionaire) followings in the region. (Bloomberg)

Just in time for global warming to drown it again, a new island (pictured above) has been formed by a volcanic eruption in the South Pacific, near Tonga. Roughly half a kilometer across and “highly unstable,” the island features a sulphurous lake and rocky beaches for the adventurous vacationer. (BBC)

The New York State Assembly is set to consider legislation banning powdered alcohol over fears that product, known as Palcohol, would increase the chances of accidental overdose and prove difficult to regulate. Palcohol predictably argues that the product’s convenience justifies what little risk it poses. (NYT)