Archive
archive for October, 2009
Fashion's Night Out September '09
Looks like shopping parties are becoming a trend in the Big City. This year’s Fashion’s Night Out was a huge success and must have been if it managed to please one of fashion’s toughest critics, Anna Wintour.
The night in terms of street traffic was comparable to Halloween, New Year’s Eve, and St. Patrick’s Day. There were no cabs anywhere, people spilled out onto the streets drinks in hand, and celebrities roamed around with lay people with no natural barriers between them.
I honestly credit a lot of the night’s success to social media. Blogs and Twitter talked about the event everyday non-stop for like two weeks before the event. You couldn’t log onto the web and not see something about FNO. And you didn’t have to be “on the list” to get into the stores to mingle with fashion folk. Anyone could go anywhere and the draw of that is hard to resist.
But did people actually spend money? Some people thought that even though people came out in droves to see designers, models, and celebrities in person, no one actually bought anything. Well according to WWD, a survey was taken from 1,300 shoppers and 75% of them had purchased something and some purchased items from stores that they normally wouldn’t have gone to. Success!?
Well enough success for Mayor Bloomberg to consider getting rid of the 9% percent sales tax for next year’s FNO. And I really hope he’s just not saying that to get re-elected.
Next year’s event promises to be bigger and better so best to start shopping now to practice for next year!
Photo: Style.com
Lindsey Calla is a fashion writer living in NYC. Read more from Lindsey at her blog, Saucy Glossie
Via chichi212
The oscar nominee and partially reformed bad boy has his name engraved on his usual table (1st on the left) at 1OAK. Other notables who have the dubious honor include Jeremy Fraenkel, Shawn Modell, and Abdullah (sp?)
Last week, we did a roundup of what all of our friends were dressing up as for Halloween, for inspiration for your own costumes. Today, we give you our list of where to go to party. We have a pretty exhaustive list of suggestions and like all good New Yorkers, we plan to start early and end late. Get your tickets and invites now because the celebrations start Today!
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[Krieger, 10/27/09]
Earlier this week Anthony and Tom Martignetti, debuted their newest project, Brinkley’s, a kind of McNally-lite corner restaurant bar on Broome and Cleavland. The space, which gets killer light during the day (they should open for lunch) features black and white tile floors, plush red banquettes, a communal table near the front, old church pews in the place of benches, and chalkboard menus. The restaurant/bar serves a large menu of bar snacks, small plates, and entrees with a sustainable bent but a gentle pricepoint. And for those less interested in the food, all the major international games will be played behind the bar. For more on the space and the menu, see earlier coverage here.
Via eater
One of the sweetest/geekiest/most eccentric DJing devices that I have ever seen would have to be the MIDI Bodysuit.
The MIDI Bodysuit is basically a suit worn by a DJ that requires movement and dance-moves to spin and remix songs. The suit could definitely make for some pretty epic DJ dance-offs that would create some sweet, sweet remixes along with high quality entertainment.
Personally, I hope that the next dance party rave that I attend sees the DJ wearing one of these.
via trendhunter
WELCOME TO NYC’S HOTTEST UNDERGROUND PARTIES
If you missed last night’s party, here’s your VIP pass to New York City’s deliciously sexy club scene.
It’s a voyeuristic spin with today’s downtown demimonde, where hipsters, rockers, celebrities, and drag queens meet and misbehave with unabashed enthusiasm. Bared flesh, intertwined tongues, and de rigueur attitudes are all captured by Bonques’s lens in photographs that are fresh, fun, and hot. If this is your scene you may find yourself here; if not, welcome to the best party in town.
About the Author
Merlin Bronques is the controversial nightlife personality behind the web site lastnightsparty.com who believes that photography is more rock and roll than rock and roll is. He lives in New York City.
To Purchase Your Own Copy CLICK HERE
To compliment a swanky hotel, well-dressed staff is key to imparting a great first and lasting impression on the guests. While the staff at Hotel on Rivington are currently decked out in Ted Baker uniforms, DC LIFE created some exclusive new kicks to complete the outfit. Working on the DC LIFE Admiral Sport silhouette, DC LIFE etched the words “Hotel On Rivington” onto the crisp white soles contrasting with the sleek all-black leather upper. The kicks are finished with a red strap that pays homage to the hotel’s key color. This is the fourth time DC LIFE is creating exclusive kicks for the hotel, the previous models being Sector 7, Dress Sneaker and Admiral. Check out the kicks and look out for Admiral Sport that will be available as a part of the DC LIFE collection dropping in Jan 2010.
via freshness mag
The famous private club in the eighth arrondissement of Paris, the hub of the artistic Parisian elite since 2004, celebrates its first 5 years of existence. Founded by Andre, who naturally signs the artwork of this splendid double CD, and Lionel, a night-prowler of the Capital’s streets, Le Baron has become the lounge where the Parisian initiates can rediscover a way of partying that is both intimate and intense. The CD contains a poster by Andre, available now through colette.
The Experience of Being a DJ
Written by Lindsay Luv
My background was originally in the music industry having worked in business development at the Orchard and as an agent with top artists like The Raveonettes, as a DJ booker with notable DJs like Eddie Baez, and then in brand event marketing with emerging DJs and artists including Justice, Chromeo, Ladytron, Crystal Castles, Dangerous Muse, Busy P, The Presets and so many others. For five years I worked the business side of the sphere yet my jobs always relied on my ability to seek out new artists and emerging talent. This was definitely an inevitable setup for me to one day pursue DJing although I never even thought it a possibility until my friend, Adam Goldstein aka the late DJ AM, pointed out I should give it a whirl.
I was sitting with him in his room at the Bryant Park Hotel catching up before his set at Deko Lounge in Jersey and shouting some of the latest tunes I had discovered from relatively unknown artists at the time, Canada’s Thurderheist and Dragonette, as well as LA’s own Shiny Toy Guns, as he downloaded them in a fury. Adam loved the tracks and gave me a sideways smile and asked me if I have ever considered DJing…. No, I hadn’t.
When the recession hit and music marketing started to hit a standstill, I remember sitting on my couch bored and restless thinking what the HELL am I going to do with my life! I remembered Adam’s words and I just picked up and jetted over to Guitar Center and bought everything I would need to teach myself to DJ (with some help from my DJ friends). Without a trust fund or a sugar daddy (ha!) the basic facts were I needed to make money to survive here and fast by switching my focus in the music industry. However instead of taking the easy way out-Ipod DJing etc-I wanted to learn from the ground-up no matter how challenging it seemed and eventually be respected for my craft. With my friends the Boyd brothers opening up their clubs to me, and DJ friends like Cindy Kim, I studied, practiced and learned what I needed to start spinning. I practiced at friends’ studio spaces and these venues during the day for hours –pretending the place was packed.
Landing great gigs was made possible by my industry contacts from my past work and thousands of followers on Myspace, Facebook, and Joonbug. Today, after a year of full-time DJing (and always practicing every day) I still feel like I have so much more to learn. To be a ‘DJ’ these days is a loose word, but to be a true ‘DJ’ is a whole different ballgame, and one that I continue to self teach myself every day and improve upon. My business motto is to start in the mail-room if you want to be a CEO, and I apply that to my own skill set and career. I know who I am and where I started and where I am going. I think if you want to be successful at any activity you need to put in the time but stay confident in your progress and be real.
What AM saw in me was my ability to discover new music and emerging artists–I think that is what makes me special in my craft– the same way mash-ups are what made him extra special in his. I was so excited to one day maybe have an opportunity to DJ with him and am so incredibly sad he is gone. He is and will forever remain a huge inspiration in my career.
(Photo Credit : Coachella 2009- Palm Springs | Photographed by: Denise Mijares |
MakeUp & Hair: Courtney Wolfe | Styled by: Dalit Gwenna)
Things that I’m Currently Obsessed With::
ART of Sebastian Picker
I dated his nephew, singer-songwriter Pablo, for a number of years in college and fell in love with his artwork. Pablo had a few of his paintings and when I left Boston to pursue a career in NYC he gave me an original piece from his early days to christen my new apartment. The canvas hangs above my bed and his use of a monochromatic color scheme is calming and stunning and sends a message of struggle, hope, peace and love. His work is highly regarded in the art world and I hope to buy more pieces in the near future.
MUSIC of The Raveonettes
I essentially never stop talking about my favorite band, The Raveonettes! I have grown up with this band throughout my NYC years. They were in many ways my first big ‘break” in working in the music industry. I came here by myself after college from Boston- not knowing anyone and knowing I had to “make it” here to survive.
I began working with the management team for this new band right when they were releasing their very first EP “Whip It On”, and have continued to support and work with them in varying capacities even today. The Raveonettes have released multiple full length albums and have toured with the likes of Depeche Mode and the Strokes, playing hundreds of sold out shows in the US and abroad.
The band is truly original and their sound is unlike any other artist I have heard today. I have seen them perform in major cities– Chicago, Austin, LA, NYC– and my parents will see them this week in Boston. They are both friends and an inspiration and continue to surprise and delight me with each CD released.
MOVIES of The 80s
I am pretty much obsessed with everything 80’s and am known to watch Pretty In Pink on rainy days. I have loved re-discovering my 80’s movie favorites and can’t get over how kooky and borderline creepy Jim Henson’s “Labyrinth” is! I love, love, love David Bowie and think this movie and the music and imagery is simply genius! Some other favorites include Weird Science, Lost Boys, Big, Say Anything, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Can’t Buy Me Love. The 80’s rock!
Lindsay Luv MixTape
I love electro house and the 80’s, so here are some of my favorite tracks of today and yesterday, all with an electric edge! Rawk!
Heavy Cross- The Gossip (Fred Falke Remix)
Night By Night- Chromeo
Do Ya Think I’m Sexy- Rod Stewart (Discotech Remix)
Little Booty Girl- Thunderheist
Paris Is Burning- Ladyhawke (Cut Copy Remix)
I Remember- Deadmau5 (Caspa Remix)
What Is Love- Haddaway (Refreshmento Remix)
One Day- The Juan Maclean (Surkin Remix)
Fever- Madonna & EnVogue (Dance Floor Mix)
