Photo Credit: Aaron Gautschi

I’ve never been a big Valentine’s Day girl. It’s not that I don’t appreciate love—in fact quite the opposite. It’s just that I resent the feelings of obligation that seem to come with the holiday, not to mention the sub-par chocolate. (Just because it’s wrapped in red tinfoil doesn’t mean it’s good.) But ever since last Saturday, February 13^th, I’ve become an official Valentine’s Day nut-job. Let’s just say I had a vision that changed everything, and that vision was Lucent L’amour. →

TimesTalks 2010
The TimesCenter – NYC
1/7 – 1/10/09

The 2010 New York Times Arts & Leisure Weekend will take place January 7 to 10.  The Times’s signature event is a four-day celebration of the arts featuring TimesTalks interviews between New York Times journalists and celebrated guests from film, media, music, television and theater.

This year’s guests include: the star of the new film “Crazy Heart,” Jeff Bridges interviewed by Lynn Hirschberg; the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash →

Slow Children Crossing is an African-American sketch comedy group consisting of three women and two men: Alem Sapp, Brett Butler, Destini Meshack (BET’s “Played by Fame”), Saudia Rashed (“The New Guy”), Tiffany Thomas (“The Boondocks”). Their electric energy has been compared to “Kids in the Hall” meets “In Living Color” and as vibrant individuals, they each possess a unique voice in world of comedy. Due to growing popularity, they have performed in front of sold-out audiences.

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“SERENDIPITY” PRE-HALLOWEEN BASH!
Central Blvd. – Downtown LA
10/17/09
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Our last Serendipity bash was a huge success- the one-time event received such acclaim support that Tree Top Productions and Madera Design have decided to bring it back just in time for Halloween! Imagination, fashion, music, and performance art, created the setting for the swankiest and most artistic party of the summer. Now, Serendipity is here again adding a new twist to the Halloween festivities. Bring your best threads or your favorite avant-guard costume and get the celebration started!!! →

This past year has been a real head scratcher for retailers as they try to figure out new and innovative ways to get customers through the door and to the cash wrap. The recession has not been kind to the industry and everyone has been searching for that magic fix that will get people dropping cash again. Womenswear Daily recently did a piece focusing on how designers, creative directors, ad agencies and PR offices are brainstorming for new ways to lure patrons back and keep them intrigued. The article touched on topics from new digital markets to the sudden rise in high-low collaborations to Johnny Cupcakes founder John Earle’s community style approach of Twitter spread “meet-ups” inviting people to take part in free pizza and movies. →

Interview with Leroy Burgess
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As one of disco boogie’s founding fathers, Leroy Burgess boasts a formidable body of work in the music industry. Every DJ, musician, disco head, boogie fanatic and soul brother is inevitably a fan of his legendary voice and the production skills that shaped scenes from the underground sound of the 70s’ smooth soul right on through to modern day house, collaborating with such artists as Ron Carroll and Joey Negro. His studio creations, reaching tour audiences across the globe, have given the world over vinyl slices of New York to add to their record collections. Burgess has also gained a huge following that ranges from London to Tokyo; he’s been specially invited to Rome to lecture young music students at the Red Bull Music Academy’s yearly get-together, which saw participants from ever corner of the planet wide-eyed at Burgess’s generation-crossing influence. →

This new White House that the Obama administration runs is full of spontaneity.  Take note of this recent Ambassador’s Reception that President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted. They employed professional tango dancers to bust their dance moves in the midst of this social mixer. Pretty rad.

In life there are moments few and far between where you have your friends awaiting in the wings as your audience. I came across this today and I couldn’t contain my laughter and happiness.  Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of Jeff Croft, licensed under Creative Commons

39th Annual Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival
Seattle Center – Seattle, WA
9/5/09 – 9/7/09
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Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival presents a truly comprehensive arts festival that includes performances and events in music, comedy, literature, visual arts, dance, theater and cinema. Across three days and 74 acres, the festival is located beneath the city’s iconic Space Needle. More event information and full music lineup after the jump… →

Sticky ideas these days are about a dime a dozen, but Studio Brussels managed to take the things we use everyday and create an original idea that many will want to use.  Introducing the Eternal Moonwalk, a website created as a tribute to the late Michael Jackson, designed for a community that is still coming to terms with the superstar’s tragic passing. →