Weekender 5.22-5.24

Thursday, May 21, 2009 | |


Another great weekend for art and booty-shaking! Check full listings after the jump!

FRIDAY
BAM: Dance Africa (Brooklyn)
TRUE, 12 Years of Photography (NYC)
Peer Pressure with HELLZ and The Collective (LA)

SATURDAY
Mas Discoteca with Mas Exitos Crew and Chico Sonidas (LA)
Energy 2 Burn with Negroclash (Brooklyn)
'SUP 019 (Brooklyn)
Thugs & Hugs (London)

SUNDAY
Sunday Best with Quentin Harris (Brooklyn)
'90s Joyride with Deadly Dragon Sound (NYC)
Happy Feet with Rich Medina and Bobbito Garcia (NYC)


FRIDAY

BAM
May 22-25

Now in its 32nd year, DanceAfrica, guided by the inspired, creative vision of Artistic Director Chuck Davis, unites dance companies from across the nation to shake the Opera House stage. This year Washington DC-based percussion orchestra Farafina Kan—the "sound of Africa"—shares the history and spirit of West African music; New York group SeeWe African Dance Company uses African rhythms and instruments to enlighten audiences; Brooklyn-based Evidence, A Dance Company fuses traditional African dance with contemporary movements and spoken word; and the BAM/Restoration DanceAfrica Ensemble from Bed-Stuy performs for the thirteenth straight year at BAM. A Memorial Day weekend tradition, DanceAfrica is packed with dance, music, art, and film events—plus the one-and-only DanceAfrica outdoor bazaar.


Closing Friday, May 22
Dapper Dan's Imperial Gallery
139 West 14th St. between 6th and 7th Ave, NYC
TRUE, Twelve Years of Photography by Mike Schreiber exemplifies the image of some of the world’s top Hip Hop icons, placing forth a sense of reality that is often obscured through other forms of media. Additionally, Schreiber juxtaposes Hip Hop imagery with multi-cultural authenticity that he has captured during his travels. Earning a degree in Anthropology from the University of Connecticut, Schreiber is a self-taught photographer, who possesses an eye for unique and intriguing social situations. Having trekked the world, documenting his journeys, his socially conscious style adds an aesthetic, which is both gripping and provocative. His photography has been featured in publications such as Esquire, XXL, Vibe and many others.

Through his work with various Hip Hop artists, TRUE provides a means for individuals to emotionally connect with their heroes of Hip Hop culture. Schreiber’s ability to expose the rappers true identity sheds the pretense of expectation and replaces it with a raw interpretation of direct feelings. TRUE is the realism and expression that surrounds our daily lives.


HELLZ and the fellas from THE COLLECTIVE present:
☠ PEER PRESSURE ☠

STONE ROSE inside the Sofitel Hotel
8555 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles

Private cabanas + huge outdoor patio! We are proud to present the talented and beautiful DJ RASHIDA on the 1's and 2's.
Ladies, this one is for you..

Chill with the hosts of the evening...
★ Misslawn [HELLZ]
★ Doug Wu
★ Kenny Mac
★ Carly Hoftman
★ Bee Nguyen
★ Ben Wang
★ Arsen

Featuring special cocktails with Belvedere macerations and fun in the Belvedere Photobooth!

SATURDAY


Mas Exitos Crew Invites you to celebrate:
MAS DISCOTECA!

Presenta
CHICO SONIDO • GANAS • LENGUA • ENORBITO • HOSEH

Special Guests
TROPICAZA, B+, COLEMAN, DR. RUDS

CELEBRATING 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY and CHICO SONIDO'S RECORD RELEASE!

9PM-3AM | $10 COVER | $5 BEFORE 11PM

542 S ALAMEDA ST
LOS ANGELES CALIFAS 90013

come celebrate on the dance floor with the craziest mexican dance music, fuzzy cumbias, booty shaking disco en español and more!!!!


Trophy Bar and Negroclash present
Energy 2 Burn at Trophy Bar
351 Broadway(between Keap and Rodney)
Brooklyn, NY

We had so much fun the first time around, we had to do a Shalamar and do the "Second time around"..we heard it's always better!!


To celebrate the release of 'SUP 019 (with sultry coverboy Sébastien Tellier), the staff of 'SUP Magazine are putting together a little shindig at new Williamsburg venue Cameo Gallery. If you've yet to get your hands on a copy, come early to grab yours (first come, first served, y'all).

Cameo Gallery
93 N. 6th St.
Brooklyn, NY

LIVE PERFORMANCES BY:
In! Visions! VISIONS! (9PM)
ZAZA (10PM)
OMG MICHELLE (Issue 019 - 11PM)
HOUSE OF LADOSHA (Issue 020 - 12AM)

DJ sets by Rescue and the 'SUP Magazine All-Stars
Doors @ 8 - Happy Hour till 9PM!

$8 at the door // RSVP to info@supmag.com!



The Legion
341 Old Street
London

Free before 10PM / £5 After
THUGS & HUGS IS BACK AFTER THE DANTE FRIED CHICKEN SPEAK EASY WITH -
SLUGABED
JOY ORBISON
PATCHWORK PIRATES

SUNDAY

It's the opening day of Sunday Best at BKLYN Yard. Tacos, sangria, little kids running around, trees, water, and good, good music. Residents Doug Singer, Justin Carter, and Eamon Harkin are playing alongside soulful house maestro Quentin Harris. It's good to be back!
3p – 9p
cover $10 // $8 before 4pm with rsvp OR $8 in advance rsvp@sundaybestnyc.com


'90s Joyride
10PM-3AM
Happy Ending
302 Broome St.
New York, NY

Deadly Dragon is Shaking Down Broome Street inna pure Biltmore style on May 24th. Yes indeed Scratch Famous, JD, Queen Majesty and MR. K will be celebrating Memorial Day Weekend by reaching into the crates for the wickedest in 90s dancehall from the pure classics to underground bubblers. FREE!!! and FREE Pabst Blue Ribbon from 11 to 12! Big things a gwaan! Deadly Dragon BOOM BOOM two to the chest!


My favorite NYC DJs Rich Medina and Bobbito Garcia kick-off the summer edition of Happy Feet, a holiday-centric party that makes you sweat your perm out and just DANCE! Tonite's edition is extra special cuz its the official release party for their new album, The Connection Volume One: Modern Explorations in Afrobeat and Afrolatin

Le Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker St, New York City
10pm til 4am

Sunday May 24 Memorial Day Weekend Connection Release Party
Sunday, July 5 No More Fake Freedoms Independence Day Jam
Sunday, September 6 Labor Day Day Off Jawn
Sunday October 11 Columbus Discovered Some Shit That Had Already Been Discovered Disco

Yesterday’s Loner: Steve McQueen

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The Film Society of Lincoln Center presents Yesterday’s Loner: Steve McQueen,
a 12-film program of the actor's best work, where he plays a doctor, convict, cop, gambler, robber, musician, mercenary, gunfighter, sailor, POW, firefighter and gentleman-thief. Whew...let me fan myself for a second...McQueen's rugged everyman, married with effortless sophistication, became an icon of masculinity in America and beyond.

McQueen, who never went gay or "full retard" (this was pre-1980s), was only nominated for an Oscar once. Ex-Marine, staunch Republican and noted pothead, he was also a pallbearer at the funeral of Bruce Lee and became an Evangelist later in life. He died in Mexico of cancer after three marriages. Cool!

Tickets are $11 adults, $7 students. Check the schedule for special guest appearances. May 20-26, 2009 at Walter Reade Theater, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York.

NDA tonite!

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Check this monthly with some of the best creatives in New York! It's going down tonite with Prince Paul and Worship Worthy!

NDA
with Worship Worthy

10PM-?
subMercer
147 1/2 Mercer St. btwn Houston and Prince

Music by Prince Paul

hosted by: Katie Longmyer (Good Peoples), Tim Yu (Cool Hunting) and Kat Popiel (The Most Influential)

Whole in the Wall @ Helenbeck

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 | |


Whole in the Wall
May 29-June 27

Helenbeck Gallery
529-535 West 35th St
New York City
Hours: Tue-Sat 10:30am-6:30pm/ Thu afterhours until 10pm

Masters from the 1970s NYC graf movement (Blade, Crash, Daze, Jonone, Quik , Lee Quinones, Rammellzee, Sharp) and European art starts (Victor Ash, Banksy, Blek le Rat, Ikon, Sozy, Plateus) are among 20 painters, sculptors and photographers who’ve been working non-stop the last six months on new pieces for “Whole In The Wall: 1970 – Now”. It’s an unprecedented, museum-quality, 150-piece exploration of street art’s ongoing transition to, yes, fine art.

It’s not just the scale of the show that’s important. It’s presented in a lavish style only Europeans could pull off — with 17th Century antiques. This juxtaposition of authentic Luis XVI/XV furniture and crystal chandeliers in a two-story, 25,000-sf space on Manhattan’s industrial West Side puts the artists and their work in a setting Paris gallerists Chantal and Brigitte Helenbeck (Helenbeck Gallery) believe is simply approprié.

The fun-loving, art-loving sisters — identical twins no less — staged a similar show in Paris in November, in which ALL pieces sold (explaining why their artists have been so hard at work).

Legendary NYC graf photographers Martha Cooper and Henry Chalfant will be among four photographers with featured works, including a new, 40-foot mural. This show also marks the 25th anniversary re-release of Cooper and Chalfant’s roundbreaking photo book of NYC transit masterpieces, “Subway Art.” Be on the look-out for updates, including previews of new works and video interviews, including exclusive clips with Cooper, Chalfant and other artists from this show.

Roots Picnic Giveaway!

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Speaking of Santigold, 215 Magazine is giving out FREE Roots Picnic Summer Getaway tickets, including transportation and hotel rooms for a friend and their guest to spend a luxe weekend in our fair city. Hook up with some of the best live music Philly has to offer. All you have to do is sign up at 215mag.com. Who doesn’t love a good sweepstakes? Plus, you can check out the Sun Ra exhibition while youre in Philly! Winners will be announced May 29.

Enter to win tickets to the 2nd Annual ROOTS PICNIC and a VIP weekend package in Philadelphia, the home of The Roots! The Roots Picnic -- held at the Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing on the waterfront -- stars The Roots, Santigold, Kid Cudi, The Black Keys, TV on the Radio, Asher Roth and more, including a special feature performance by Public Enemy, playing It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back, backed by Antibalas and The Roots.

Your prize weekend includes:
-Two free tickets and VIP access to The Roots Picnic and Picnic Pre-Party
-Round-trip transportation on Amtrak*
-Two nights hotel accommodation for you and a guest at the Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing
-Signed copy of the limited edition Philly 360° book featuring The Roots
-Dinner for two at one of Philly’s spectacular restaurants
-A gift basket filled with goodies from local boutiques and restaurants
*Roundtrip transportation provided by Amtrak on scheduled service from northeast corridor train station closest to winner's residence served by Amtrak to Philadelphia.

Ghetto Palms: Phone Sex

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My good friend, selector, editor and new dad DJ Eddie Stats puts together a weekly mini-mix of tunes for The FADER to keep us up to date on sounds coming from our friendly south-lying island neighbors. Check out this week's comp and download it here! (Rightclick-save as)


So it’s spring time and apparently sex is in the airwaves. It started with Major Lazer’s "Hold the Line." Then Cham and Santigold did the booty call collabo "Call Mi." Then somebody messed up and passed the number to Demarco and Busy and the phone sex jams have um, multiplied forthwith.

Phone Sex Blend:
Cham f. Santigold, "Call Mi"
Major Lazer f. Santigold and Mr. Lexx, "Hold the Line" (Ghislain Poirier rmx)
Demarco, "She Can’t Wait"
Busy Signal, "Da Style Deh"
Busy Signal, "Nah Ansa"
Busy Signal, "The Ansa"

Negritude at Exit Art

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Négritude
May 20 – July 25, 2009
Exit Art
475 Tenth Avenue
New York City

Négritude, an experimental multi-disciplinary exhibition at Exit Art, explores the visionary 20th century political and artistic movement of the same name — coined by the Martinican poet, playwright, and politician Aimé Césaire in the 1930s — which flourished among Black intellectuals in post-World War I Paris and later spread to Africa, the United States and the Caribbean.

Négritude includes different “islands” created and produced by five individuals (Papo Colo, Tânia Cypriano, Rose Myriam Réjouis, Franklin Sirmans, Greg Tate) who are curators, cultural critics, scholars, filmmakers and artists, representing African-American, African, Caribbean and South American cultures. Over the course of several months, these individuals met to share their ideas and develop their “islands.” Each person was asked to produce their “island” of Négritude by presenting an exhibition of visual art; film screenings; music; performances; and/or public activities that detail their own experience, interest, or study of Négritude.

Showcasing several generations of African-American, Caribbean, South American and African artists, performers and writers, Négritude features work that examines the history, impact, and transmutations of this cultural movement. It looks beyond the historical Négritude movement to investigate also the emergence of the Harlem Renaissance and Modernism in the 1920s and 30s and contemporary responses to the concept of “blackness, highlighting the post-Civil Rights generation of black artists who have new perspectives on racial identity and politics.

Through a series of mini-exhibitions, film screenings, performances, readings, stories and discussions, Exit Art will examine the historical effects and contemporary impact of Négritude by exploring its archipelago, island by island.

Sriracha, My Love

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The New York Times beat me to the punch! This has long been a story I would've loved to cover..the mysterious and fascinating story of Rooster-brand Sriracha. Beloved condiment for Asians and gwai-lo alike, one of my favorite parts of this story is the "State-by-state" listing of restaurants and dishes that utilize this ubiquitous sauce.

AFTER-HOURS calls to Huy Fong Foods, here in the suburbs of the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles, are intercepted by an answering machine. One recent day, 14 messages were blinking when Donna Lam, the operations manager, hit “play.”

A woman told of smearing Huy Fong’s flagship product, Tuong Ot Sriracha (Sriracha Chili Sauce), on multigrain snack chips. A man proclaimed the purée of fresh red jalapeños, garlic powder, sugar, salt and vinegar to be “the bomb,” and thanked Ms. Lam’s employers for “much joy and pleasure.”

Another caller, hampered by a slight slur, botched the pronunciation of the product name before asking whether discount pricing might be available. Finally, he blurted, “I love rooster sauce!” (A strutting rooster, gleaming white against a backdrop of the bright red sauce, dominates Huy Fong’s trademark green-capped clear plastic squeeze bottles.)

“I guess it goes with alcohol,” deadpanned Ms. Lam, who, like David Tran, the 64-year-old founder of Huy Fong and creator of its sauce, is both proud of the product’s popularity and flummoxed by fans’ devotion.

The lure of Asian authenticity is part of the appeal. Some American consumers believe sriracha (properly pronounced SIR-rotch-ah) to be a Thai sauce. Others think it is Vietnamese. The truth is that sriracha, as manufactured by Huy Fong Foods, may be best understood as an American sauce, a polyglot purée with roots in different places and peoples.


Read the full article here.

Nicholas Kirkwood on The Moment

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What a way to start your day! A quick q+a with British shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood at The Moment. The 28-year-old gives us his rundown of his favorite London haunts, inspirations and picks.



Public Ad Campaign

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A Little Pink So You Can Think

Now you can check googlemaps for a full rundown of locations hit up by the Public Ad Campaign

This map shows illegal/unpermitted NPA City Outdoor locations located in Lower Manhattan. All the ads together cover approximately 29,450 square feet of our public environment.

On April 25th approximately 30 participants whitewashed nearly 120 street level billboards in broad daylight between the hours of 10:30am and 2:00pm.

At approximately 3:00pm nearly 50 artists and public individuals came back and used those blank canvases for the production of public messages instead of corporate messages.

The Godfather of American graphic design

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 | |



For many, Milton Glaser is the personification of American graphic design. Best known for co-founding
New York Magazine and the enduring I ♥ NY campaign, the full breadth of Glaser's remarkable artistic output is revealed in this documentary portrait, MILTON GLASER: TO INFORM & DELIGHT. From newspapers and magazine designs, to interior spaces, logos and brand identities, to his celebrated prints, drawings, posters and paintings, the documentary offers audiences a much richer appreciation for one of the great modern renaissance men.

Artfully directed by first time filmmaker Wendy Keys, the film glances into everyday moments of Glaser's personal life and captures his immense warmth and humanity, and the boundless depth of his intelligence and creativity.

MILTON GLASER: TO INFORM & DELIGHT opens this Friday at Cinema Village in New York and is also partnering with AIGA chapters
for nationwide release. Glaser spoke with former New York Times art director Steven Heller and director Wendy Keys last week at his newly-designed SVA Theater in Chelsea following a private premiere.

Mercury in Retrograde

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May 6-May 30, 2009

At several points throughout the year most of us will be bombarded with the maddening effects of Mercury in retrograde. Mercury is a planet which governs all transportation and communication issues. Mercury is not an emotional planet, but rather a highly objective, truth-seeking one. It rules intelligence, education and truth. When it is in retrograde, some of its power is held back.

When Mercury starts turning in an apparent backward motion, we will start to feel the effects of this event days or even as far as two weeks earlier. When the planet normalizes we will see the tempo of events pick up in our lives as the planet becomes "stationary" and then speeds forward.

What happens when Mercury retrogrades? You miss appointments, your computer equipment crashes, checks get lost, you find the car you just purchased during Mercury retrograde is a lemon. (Or, you hate your haircut, the lamp you bought shorts out, your sister hates her birthday gift.) There will be countless delays, cancellations and postponements--but know these will benefit you in the long run. Don't fight them, although your frustration level and feeling of restlessness will be hard to cope with at times.

All machinery and things with moving parts--such as computers, VCRs, camera equipment, garbage disposals, and so forth, will reveal any weak links now. It is critical that you back up your data system and be more careful and vigilant than ever. Projects will demand more time and money than anticipated this month.

In matters of the heart, if your boyfriend or girlfriend breaks up with you or says something hurtful, take a wait-and-see attitude. Since Mercury rules speech, they may not mean what you think they are saying now. Let them have some space, and wait to see if they mean in October what they said in September.

When traveling, leave early and allow for extra travel time. Have all bags double-taped closed, count your belongings, double-check addresses and reconfirm appointments. Things get lost when Mercury messes us up. Take NOTHING for granted. The sector of your chart that Mercury happens to be skating through will be effected most dramatically, so check your forecast!

Why would the Universe give us Mercury retrograde? Because to move forward it is sometimes necessary to backtrack and reconfigure our paths in life. It is important to reconsider, repair, reflect, and reconnect. Mercury forces us to slow down and fix what's broken, and in so doing, rethink things. It also gives us time to get to projects we have put on the back-burner.

Some activities are lucky or actually improve when Mercury retrogrades. You are likely to bump into old friends that you haven't seen in years. Adopted children tend to find their birth parents during Mercury retrograde periods, or people locate their long lost siblings. Prosecutors often find clues to crimes that had previously remained unsolved for years. (Although sometimes the reverse is true--there is a greater danger, or example, that police can bungle evidence during a Mercury retrograde period, for clear thinking doesn't come easy for any of us then.) Mail that went astray weeks or even years ago shows up during Mercury retrograde. Some things that were lost reappear.

Now is also a good time to dress old wounds, clean up relationships or to simply bury the hatchet. Some people have great breakthroughs in psychotherapy during a Mercury retrograde period. For salesman, it is a positive time to backtrack over previous contacts rather than call on new ones. It is a perfect time to schedule work on projects that you haven't had time to do and you've let pile up. Bring your resume or portfolio up to date, and clean out your closets. Take time to paint the house. Clear your decks.

Just try not to start new things. If you have to start a job during a Mercury retrograde period know that the nature of the job is likely to change dramatically over time. Perhaps the person you report to will leave, or your responsibilities will be very different from what you thought they would be. Or your company won't be ready to take you on, and you won't have much to do until things are reorganized. But remember, if this was a position that you tried for in the past, then you've got the vibes working for you rather than against you.

Skateistan

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Children in Afghanistan are discovering the joy of skateboarding through the help of one Australian man.

Check this awesome NYTimes Video here.

Rojo Magazine

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ROJO Magazine is probably my favorite magazine that I've never actually seen. I stumbled upon their website on some sort of internet adventure and immediately signed up for their artspace newsletter that sends out info about upcoming exhibitions from their network of galleries around the world. Based in Barcelona but with outposts in Milan and São Paulo, they publish art books as well as their "world-class compendium textless art magazine" quarterly. You can pre-order the next ad-free issue here.

Danger Mouse And Sparklehorse Team Up With David Lynch

Monday, May 18, 2009 | |




I have no words. Honestly I don't. And I have lots of words all the time. Words I share with your dog, words I share with your mom. I can't stop listening to this body of work (we can't call it an album now, can we?). Julian Casablancas, Nina Persson, the Shins, Iggy Pop, Suzanne Vega and more and more and more and DAVID LYNCH. This is a sleepy collection of songs with a dark shadowy inky presence. This might be your only chance to hear it exclusively at NPR before it's gone forever.

Scratching the Surface by Vhils

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Chamarelli at Art Space Sao Paulo

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Chamarelli lives in a multicultural country full of contrasts that reflects in his work. Featuring mosaic, geometric elements, organic forms and harmonic lines connecting symbols, legends, philosophies, religions and customs of ancient and modern civilizations. Within this diversity is the strong influence of Brazilian popular culture and pre-Columbian indigenous art. Chamarelli's art follows the rhythm of globalization, bringing borders and cultures closer. His characters with serious expressions live in different realities and situations that appear surreal. Music has a very important role during Chamarelli's creation processes, helping to give it flow.

Viracocha
POP
05.19.09-06.20.09
Rua Virgilio de Carvalho Pinto 297, Pinheiros
05415-030 Sao Paulo. Brazil

Coreen Simpson and The Black Cameo

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Photographer and accessories designer Coreen Simpson talks with The FADER about her new book, The Black Cameo in a great Q+A!

We first came across Coreen Simpson via her iconic collection of street style portraits of impossibly stylish black men and women on the NYC nightlife scene of the 1980s that we published back in FADER #33. Simpson also happens to have a good helping of style herself, working as a jewelry designer throughout her photography career. Her new book, The Black Cameo, pays homage to the accessories sensation she started back in the late '80s—chic black and white cameos with the profile of a black woman. Before her pieces, black images on jewelry of this kind were pretty much unheard of, and when her collection launched at the Studio Museum of Harlem there were literally hoards of women lining up to get them. We chatted with Simpson about her days street-vending on 57th street, about the origins of the cameo and why, in her opinion, personal style is the only thing that we really own.

Read the full interview here.

Blk Jks at Sasquatch and NYC

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The BLK JKS are back in the US and heading out to the west coast for a couple dates, playing the Sasquatch festival in Washington State, and then coming back to NYC for a slew of NYC shows!!

Checkit:

05/24/09 The Cuthbert Amphitheatre in Eugene, OR opening for Santigold, Soja, Michael Franti & Spearhead

05/25/09 Quincy, WA - Sasquatch Music Festival

05/27/09 Brooklyn, NY - Bell House with The Present and Popo

06/02/09 New York, NY - Knitting Factory Afro-beat festival with Geko Jones (Que Bajo), Uproot Andy and Bajah+The Dry Yai Crew

06/03/09 and 06/04/09 New York, NY - Irving Plaza opening for Femi Kuti!

Weekender

Friday, May 15, 2009 | |


You know those New York Times commercials with the intelligent-looking rainbow mafia of Times readers proclaiming their undying love for the Times' 3-day "weekender" edition—Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Check MissChin's version.

Things to check for this weekend.


Asian Contemporary Art Week
Check for over 200 Asian artists exhibiting work at 35 galleries and museums this weekend! Okay, maybe you cant see them all but you can check this great google map for a view of all the venues. Click a venue and see a quick summary of the exhibiting show! Highlights include Tyler Rollins' group show of Southeast Asian artists including Eko Nugroho, Leila Taghinia-Milani Heller Gallery's "Superstars" exhibition of Iranian artists working from the 1960s till today, and Gana Art's exhibition of contemporary Korean photographers.

Through May 18
Galleries throughout New York


The New York Photo Festival
Speaking of photography, after last year’s successful debut, The New York Photo Festival returns this spring with a new lineup of guest curators, talks, exhibitions, and more. With special exhibitions by an international roster of guest curators, the week promises to introduce new dialogue about contemporary photography.

Through May 17
DUMBO, Brooklyn
Curated by William A. Ewing (Musée de l’Elysée), Chris Boot (publisher), Jody Quon (New York Magazine), and Jon Levy (Foto 8)


International Contemporary Furniture Fair
With 552 exhibitors at the 21st annual ICFF, with almost half showing from out of the country, this furniture extravaganza is not to be missed! This year, the fair even boasts of a "Japan by Design" hall, a designboom Mart, and the bookstore run by Archivia Books, the renowned independent bookstore headquartered in New York City on Lexington Avenue. "A specialist in illustrated books, Archivia Books carries a comprehensive and passionately curated inventory of art-related books from domestic and foreign publishers, as well as out-of-print titles from all over the world!" Check out special talks at the bookstore by design superstars Karim Rashid, Thad Hayes, Donald Kaufman, and Richard Mishaan.

May 16-19
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
655 West 34th Street

Bblessing for Save Fashion

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One of my favorite retailers and brands in New York, BBlessing, created some custom pieces for the Refinery29 pop-up shop, Save Fashion! With a rotating cast of amazing independent brands, each week presents an alternating selection of mens and womenswear at affordable prices.

Save Fashion
641 8th Avenue(NW Corner of 41st Street)
@ The Port Authority Bus Terminal

Hours
Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat, 10-9pm
Sundays, 11-7pm
Closed Thursdays

Besides BBlessing, this week's lineup of menswear options include:

Acne Jeans, Alejandro Ingelmo Shoes, Alexandre Herchovitch, Band of Outsiders, BBlessing, Gilded Age, Helmut Lang, Inhabit, Black Fleece by Brooks Brothers, Earnest Sewn, Nudie Jeans, Operations, Organic by John Patrick, Rag & Bone, Rogan, Rogues Gallery, Sophomore, Steven Alan, Whyred

About Save Fashion
Save Fashion is a fresh new kind of shop and sale that brings together today's coolest fashion in a space that's inspiring and unexpected. Realizing the tired sample sale and outlet vibe had run its course, we decided to create the Sample Sale of our dreams - a place where all our favorites designers came together in one beautiful space and at prices we could all afford. Save Fashion will debut May 1st in New York at one of the City's most iconic destinations: the Port Authority Bus Terminal. With Save Fashion we hope to restore the pure joy of shopping - at a grassroots level, city to city - reminding consumers and designers alike that fashion is, was, and always will be FUN.

Big Party

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A Day in the Life is officially on newsstands and its time to party like its 2007!! Come out Saturday nite and dance the night away in a fancy Manhattan loft! Grab the newest issue of Theme, and make some new friends. Don’t forget to RSVP to BIGPARTYRSVP@GMAIL.COM by the end of today!!

BIG PARTY!!!
Yes, we’re having a big party…

Saturday, May 16
9:30PM-3AM

85 Leonard Street, 1st Floor
(Between Church and Broadway)

Music By DJ Dialectic and Miss Conspicuous

Open Bar (Saigon Beer courtesy of An Choi, Svedka Vodka) until we run out!
BYOB if coming late!

RSVP by FRIDAY: bigpartyrsvp@gmail.com

Brought to you by: An Choi, 80%20, safe, TDINK and THEME Magazine

Delay No More: 2ndary Line from G-O-D

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Moving from Hong Kong to New York has definitely made me nostalgic for everything I've taken for granted, including Maxim's baked pork chop on rice, flying cockroaches and my favorite store, GOD. Even though I have the world's best design at my disposal in NY, I still consider GOD as one of my favorite retail inspirations - they have the most whimsical window dressings, the wittiest boxers and the most eccentric collection of home furnishings and accessories.

Today,while perusing through NYTime's HK travel section for some memory morsels to jog my rusty memory of my (spiritual) homeland, I came across this article on GOD which briefly describes their secondary line, Delay No More. For anyone who knows a bit of Cantonese, Delay No More is hilarity incarnate (synonomous with....). It's so good. I can't wait until I go home during Christmas to check it out.

Thanks NY Times Travel Section Magic!

Book Review: On Beauty by Zadie Smith

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On Beauty by Zadie Smith

Everyone (who reads) typically has their own strong opinions about Zadie Smith’s best work to date. The majority scream WHITE TEETH, the minority, AUTOGRAPH MAN, never do they say ON BEAUTY. On Beauty is my pick because of Ms. Smith’s clever way of weaving complicated subjects like the politics, religion, fragility of adult relationships, sexual objectification of women by youth, beauty or color, the complexities of being bi-racial and of belonging in sub-cultures that create the characters’ identities (young vs. old, black vs. white, rich vs. poor, educated vs. street, religious vs. secular) as well as create conflict among the family. It’s a beautiful book with a clever storyline and the million witticisms we know to expect from the du jour Brit author and while the story is true to its soul and doesn’t climax frantically, the subject and characters stay in your mind long after you’ve put it down.

On Beauty by Zadie Smith

The Best Song in the World

Thursday, May 14, 2009 | |



In the club, dont need a shorty, cutie
all i gotta take is a bowl of tabbouleh.

Truer words have never been spoke. Thanks Feedbag!

Michael Pollan on The Colbert Report

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The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Michael Pollan
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From Serious Eats!

Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food, was on The Colbert Report last night. Colbert welcomed him with Sierra Mist soda, which definitely doesn't make Pollan's five-ingredients-or-less rule for virtuous foods. But Pollan politely took a sip and argued that he can still be American while avoiding American cheese (and other synthetic foods). For example, he encourages all parents to go the breast milk route, except we learn, thanks to a Mrs. Pollan in the audience, that he was not breast fed himself! Scandal.

K'naan's T.I.A.

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K'NAAN "T.I.A" music video directed by: NABIL from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.


From Somalian rapper K'naan. Met him a couple years back when The Dusty Foot Philosopher dropped...really love the video from director NABIL.

Yinka Shonibare @ Brooklyn Museum

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 | |



I am so excited to hear that Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare will be having a huge exhibition opening at the Brooklyn Museum this summer. The first major survey of the British-based artist's works will include more than twenty pieces—scuplture, paintings, large-scale installations, and films.

Shonibare's work explores the effect of colonialism on contemporary African identity often creating installations involving intricate Victorian costuming using African textiles, stage settings, models, and props. Exploration of themes like wealth, class and privilege are intertwined with issues of identity. This exhibition also includes site-specific installations in the Museum's period rooms.

Yinka Shonibare
June 26-September 20

Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway

Two Notes from Andrew Kuo

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Friends! Hex Message is embarking on another grueling tour! We got the trail mix! We got the Doors tapes! We got the weed!

TONIGHT
Closing Party for Leo Fitzpatrick's "Fuck Friends" at ASS Gallery with TV Baby! I love those guys! 45 Canal 7-10. We go on at like 8 ish!
The art show is awesome and if you haven't seen it (Case) this is your chance (Ben). If you think saying "Hex is playing at ASS" isn't always amusing, you're wrong.

THIS FRIDAY THE 15TH
Closing party for my show "I'm Dyin' Over Here!" at Texter and Spenglemann. 123 12th st bet 3rd/4th

Andrew Kuo
What recession? Kuo commits himself to approximately 40 works that discuss and elaborate on such topics as; creatures with four legs, emotional former chefs turned travel show hosts, trips to the lumber store, and any and all marijuana references. If you take the time to navigate through such works as "Work: What Is It Good For?" and "Young Jeezy... The Rise and Fall and Rise (and Fall)" you get the impression that the artist is trying to tell you something. Could it be... "Fish in 15?" Through May 15
-New Yorker

This was the most fun I've ever had making a show and I'd be psyched if you came to see it! To celebrate its death we got some live music, beers, and pizzas for you!

HEX at 9 (it's great to finally be home)
MIKE FELLOWS solo or w Jesper at 10 (He hasn't played in like 420 months! Whatta treat!)
BRAIN DEGRAW solo at 11 (First time ever solo! I'm gonna take my first ever vaporizer toke when he plays!)

Sincerely, Tex Mexage

Samhattan

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My good friend Sam Kim—caterer, mixologist, event planner and amazing shoe-wearer—taught me about the intricate beauty of whiskey when she was the bartendress at neighborhood haunt, Palais Royale. Just in time for the summer, she now brings us the Samhattan! Check out her blog for more food craziness!

SAMHATTAN
Two Servings

3 Parts Rye Whiskey
2 Parts Cointreau
Splash of Sweet Vermouth
Splash of Lemon Juice

Pour ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake. Strain into two lowballs. Add ice to fill glass. Garnish with Lemon.