What could be more luxurious than a custom bicycle hand-upholstered in supple tan leather? How about one the comes with a built-in flask? →

A reason regularly cited by non-theater people for not going to dramatic productions is that without knowing which are good and which are questionable, it can be a most expensive crapshoot. One answer is the Echo Theater Company’s free public reading series. Here’s an opportunity to see if this is a play you’d want to catch if finally produced and if you don’t like it, you aren’t out anything either. →

Flying Lotus – Backpack Caviar

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Various Artists
Porter Records
(2009)
***
In 2007, the dublab set off on a European tour of its DJs and producers that showcased the medley of world beats, found sounds and soul samples that make up what is tenuously referred to as “Future Roots” music. Eight songs by dublab members (notably Daedelus, Flying Lotus and DNTEL) comprised the original vinyl release of the Echo Expansion compilation. In this latest Porter Records release, dublab supplements the original tracklist with six previously unreleased tracks, culled from the works of active members of the DUBLAB Soundsystem. →

Austrian crystal empire Swarovski has landed in New York with their first stateside concept boutique located in SoHo. Decked out with a full service restaurant, lounge and design area, guests are invited to not only create their own baubles from the massive collection of stones known as the “library of light”, but they can also sit down with a Swarovski rep and tweak any of the house designed ready-to-wear pieces for a more customized feel. The block long space also holds the company’s guest designer collections which currently include work from Botkier, Ted Rossi and Hollywould. Now this is multitasking I can handle.

Swarovski Boutique: 499 Broadway between Broome and Spring

Photo Courtesy of TimeOut New York.

Many of us started blogging as a hobby several years ago.  The blogosphere first emerged on forums to discuss technology as well as opinions about politics. Today, it affects nearly all aspects of communication and the exchange of information we receive on a daily basis; blogs now cover fashion, entertainment, the environment, celebrity gossip and other broad subjects. A study conducted by eMarketer forecasted that by the year 2012, more than 145 million people (67% of the U.S. internet population) will be reading blogs at least once a month.  →

Ortolan – I’ll See You There

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Ortolan
Sounds Familyre
(2009)
***
Family bands don’t make it big like they did in the past, with exceptions, of course, in the canon of Radio Disney musicians that sell out stadium shows and 3D concert movies. The Cottinghams are four sisters from southern New Jersey who, shortly after having learned how to play their instruments, came together to record their self-titled four-song EP under the direction of Sounds Familyre Records founder and producer Daniel Smith →

We first discovered Guillaume Blanchet’s work through Laïka, stop-motion short film about the first earthling in Space. Alongside his creative animation work, Blanchet works for the Montreal-based advertising agency Bleublancrouge, which has worked with clients such as Toyota, WWF-Canada and the Vancouver Olympics. The agency’s latest campaign with Toyota Canada encourages not only better transportation habits but also leads the way in developing more responsible businesses and consumers. In the following Q&A, Guillaume tells us about his neighborhood in Montreal, discovery of animation and work in commercial advertising. →

Well-known designer, Alexander Wang has decided to expand his line to menswear, which is scheduled to release for Spring 2010. Switching over to menswear seems to be a new trend among designers, including Matthew Williamson, Roland Mouret, Gareth Pugh, and Christophe Decarnin, just to name a few. Crossing gender lines should not be something completely foreign to Wang, considering the fact that his women’s look generally has a definitive tomboyish slant. Having recently won the Perry Ellis Award at the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, Wang incorporates his award-winning design aesthetic to a new mens line which focuses on intricate details within simple apparel essentials →

Infidelity, drug use and mysterious deaths are nothing new in the celebrity realm—they’re downright expected these days. Michael Jackson was addicted to drugs.  Steve McNair was cheating on his wife.  Deserved or not, death came of these choices.   Ignoring these facts in favor of tribute isn’t spreading positivity—it’s glorifying unaccountability and doing us all a disservice. →

Mad Mondays Presents Stones Throw Artist, James Pants
The Purple Lounge – Hollwyood, CA
7/27/09
***
Stones Throw is in the house this coming Monday at the usual party spot in the Standard Hollywood Hotel.  They will be bringing special guest, James Pants.  Of course there will be the usual DJs for the night: Valida, LAX, Ellei, Hoff and Spider.  Plus special giveaways and fashion goodies from fLuXuS. →