Don't forget: RSVP now (rsvp@annakustera.com) for the opening party for Ju$t Another Rich Kid & Stuart Semple's installation The Black Market from 6-9 pm on 06.02.07 at Anna Kustera Gallery (521 West 21st Street). Space is limited. Only those with RSVP's will be admitted.

"The Black Market is an exploration of the desire and drive caused by commercialization and the designer product. The show will highlight the gap between the promised utopian ideal of designer perfection and the reality of everyday existence."

Featured in the show will be paintings by Semple, clothing and objects by Ju$t Another Rich Kid (including a 24k dipped pair of Nike Dunk high tops), as well as works by the following artists and designers: Carlo Zanni, Mattia Biaggi, Adham Faramawy, Cory Ingram, the launch of The Playground Project, and a custom soundtrack by London Nu Ravers, Warboy and K-tron.

And don't miss the after party with the Nu Rave crew All You Can Eat, featuring the music of legndary DJs Warboy and K-tron, which will be at Rififi on East 11th Street immediately following the opening.

Finally, checkout this viral video London video artist Adham Faramawy created to promote the show. He's the guy who also did the Casetteplaya Fall/Winter 2006 video I was so crazy about last month.

1. He's at it again. No, not rehab. He just got out! Marc Jacobs just launched a new line of sneakers for Vans. This time around it's all slip-ons. Check it out. And don't forget this hot history of Vans by Sneaker Freaker.

2. Everybody knows I love crazy people. The story of Burt and Linda Pugach, stars of the documentary Crazy Love, takes the cake. This one line synopsis on IMDB sums it up perfectly: "Sixteen years after Linda Riss has acid thrown in her face by Burt Pagach, the couple marry." Hot. Checkout this page of reviews and info on RottenTomatoes, the list of theaters playing the film, this article on NYTimes.com, and the trailer on YouTube.

3. check back shortly for updates...

1. He's definitely the James Dean of our time: Kurt Cobain. Shockingly, given his continued fame and icon status, not as much has been written about him as you'd expect. Just out Nirvana: The Biography. "British rock journalist Everett True's new six-hundred-page book, Nirvana, is one of the most comprehensive Nirvana biographies yet. It includes several decades' worth of interviews with the members of Nirvana, musicians from Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic's early Pacific Northwest music scene, some of Cobain’s pre-“Kurtney” girlfriends, the infamous Courtney Love, various music insiders, and the likeable young junkies who surrounded Cobain at the end of his life." Get it at Amazon. And don't forget to checkout Everett True's Myspace.

2. Checkout Jonathan Monk's restaging of Daniel Buren's Seven Ballets in Manhattan on its 32nd anniversary. "Re-titling the work, Five Ballerinas in Manhattan, five performers dressed in dance rehearsal clothes will attempt to perform Buren’s choreography at the identical locations on the same days and times of the original performances. In 1975, the dancers carried placards featuring the striped work of Buren; for this rendition, Monk will have the dancers distribute an adaptation of Buren’s brochure featuring illustrations of the choreography for each site." Daily performances begin Sunday 05.27 and run through Saturday June 02. Checkout this page on Creative Time's site for detailed info.

Super cool Miami store BASE has hooked up this.hearts.on.fire. once again with their Album Club Picks. The picks are a very well-curated set of some of the sexiest, coolest music anywhere. I love it because it's so different from my usual taste and always introduces me to new artists that I might not hear about otherwise. You can listen to samples and buy each album by clicking on the links below.

10. Pink Martini (Hey Eugene!) / Pink Martini, with their mix of nostalgia, modernism and classical, are utterly and simply unique and may have single-handedly brought the cocktail hour to a whole new generation of listeners.

9. Bebel Gilberto (Momento) / Brazilian songstress Bebel Gilberto's Momento encourages listeners to "live in the moment," and with intimate vocals, soft pulsating rhythms, and the occasional dip into up-tempo and uplifting beats(as on her collaboration with the Brazilian Girls), she delivers.

8. Buscemi (Retro Nuevo) / Buscemi's new disc Retro Nuevo is a kind of latin lounge fusion if you will, with vocals in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arab and Hindi, all over a layer of lush tropical beats, this is one lounge disc which keeps it interesting and alive.

7. Amy Winehouse (Back To Black) / Amy Winehouse's new disc Back to Black has "rewritten Motown for the 21st Century." with soul inflected rhythms harking back to the 60's Doo-Wop era and gut wrenching, unflinchingly honest lyrics.

6. The Dining Rooms (Ink) / Italian duo The Dining Rooms have released their fifth studio album, Ink, and again it represents the best in modern lounge music as six instrumental and five vocal tracks take you through the gamut of musical styles, from blues and soul to funk, jazz and nu-folk.

5. Frivolous (Midnight Black Indulgence) / Minimal deep-house gets fun with the new release from Frivolous, whose sound comes with simple basslines, lush synthesizers and disco-house drums, all underscored by a bit of funk and jazz; eccentric and unique, Frivolous more than lives up to its name.

4. Ojos De Brujo (Techari) / Flamenco fusion is the name of Ojos De Brujo's trademark sound--hip hop, rumba, tango, funk, jazz, even punk-all are thrown in the musical mix.

3. Sunlight Square (Urban Sessions) / Composer/keyboardist Claudio Passavanti has dropped a diverse collection of modern dance club tracks he labels "urban dancefloor jazz." -it's a fresh compositional variety of jazz, Latin, drum 'n' bass, and funk.

2. Björk (Volta) / Dark, moody, futuristic and lush over a phalange of new beats, all tinged with a bit of madness, who else could we be talking about but the one and only Björk?

1. Sissel Vera Petterson/Nikolaj Hess (By This River) / Pettersen and Hess bring their trademark love of noise effects and open spaces, and create an album firmly rooted in ethereal sounds capes and ambient electronica.

1. Checkout Tranquility of the Heart Torment of the Flesh - Open Wide the Eye of the Heart, and Nothing is Invisible by Japanese pop artist Takashi Murakami. (Remember his bags for Louis Vuitton that caused such a craze a few years back? That's when his US fame began to rise.) Some of the work in the show is what you'd expect (bright, smiley, flowers) and some is completely new and hot. Checkout the artist's official site, his Wikiepedia entry, and this interview on CNN. And don't forget to head uptown to Gagosian's Madison Avenue space (980 Madison Avenue) before it ends 06.09.07.

2. I was cruising around MySpace this morning and stumbled upon a band that brought back crazy memories: Digable Planets. What ever happened to those guys?? I must have listened to their debut EP Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) a million times. According to their Wikipedia entry, with the release of their second EP Blowout Comb "the novelty of the group's jazz/hip-hop fusion had passed, leading to disappointing sales. The trio soon broke up due to creative differences..." Checkout the official Digable site, their MySpace page to listen to a few tunes, and the current sites of each of the original members: Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler; Craig "Doodlebug" Irving and Mary Ann "Ladybug Mecca" Vieira. Each has current musical projects under way. And don't forget this renegade Digable MySpace page, where u can listen to this song Graffiti that I've never heard before. It's hot!

3. check back later for updates...

1. I got an email from Dazed Digital a few months back and it got lost in my "Pending" folder. Two (2) months later, I've finally had a chance to have a look: Dazed hosted a house at Sundance, where photographer Magnus Unnar shot more than thirty (30) of the most interesting emerging and established US talent out there, including Parker Posey, Jena Malone, Jared Leto, and Wes Bentley, for whom there are short video clips of the shoots. Check it out.

2. Checkout The New Vitruvians, the collaboration between artist Yazmany Arboleda and Issey Miyake showing now through 06.22.07 at the Issey Miyake shop in Tribeca. "New Vitruvians is a study of appearance and proportions, and examines the geometry of beauty to reveal new truths about our perceptions of the physical ideals, along with the social and cultural factors that influence them." I saw the work at the Surface party last week for the opening: it looks amazing and fits the space perfectly. Missed the party? Checkout these pics on Patrick McMullan's site.

2. I have a feeling this is going to be my new favorite thing: Friday Night Fights NYC. "The bimonthly parties held in the squat basement of St. Paul the Apostle, a church on Columbus Avenue, are not your typical Manhattan affair. You got thugs from the ghetto, and blue-collar working class types, and you got rich dudes and hipsters, said DJ Mano, who provides the music between fights and between rounds." Read the full article in the NYTimes and the About Us section of their site. I'm psyched to go watch some hardcore amateur fighting in a church basement while drinking $4 cans of beer. And who knows, you might even get a celebrity citing, with Jimmy Fallon and David Cross in attendance in the past. Rock on.

I was planning to write about the collaboration/installation between artist Yazmany Arboleda and Issey Miyake and the party Surface Magazine threw for it on Friday, but, after a day of listening to music on various jukeboxes (aka bars) around town, I've decided to do a "Top 10" list of YouTube videos instead.

10. Original Sin (INXS)
9... Last Night (Diddy and Keisha Cole)
8... Private Dancer (Tina Turner)
7... Master And Servant (Depeche Mode)
6... Where I End And You Begin (Radiohead)
5... Innocence (Björk & Timbaland)
4... Blue Jean (David Bowie)
3... Tommy Gun (The Clash)
2... Longview (Green Day)
1... Everybody Everybody (Black Box)

And don't hate on the #1 entry. You know you love it.

1. One of my favorite new mags--Pin-Up (For Architectural Entertainment)--has just released Issue #2. Included are: Ettore Sottsass, Takashi Homma, Xevi Muntane, John Harwood, Sol LeWitt, and Ole Scheeren. Preview the issue here.

2. Odin's up to something new, again: Den. Located in original Odin space on East 11th Street, Den will showcase a different designer every 6-8 weeks, including both men and womenswear. Lined up so far: Cheap Monday, Rag & Bone, Karen Walker, and Tim Hamilton. Coming Summer of 2007.

3. Seems like there's a bit of a trend happening: test your first store in Brooklyn. If all goes well, open a second location in Manhattan. The latest to move west: Matter. "It doesn't look like much yet, but come May 18th you can enjoy Matter on both sides of the East River. The new location will feature many of the same designers you've come to love in our Brooklyn location plus so many new items we can't even begin to list them all here. Come celebrate our opening from May18 - 22 and see the latest from Established & Sons, fresh from the furniture fair in Milan as well new pieces from Thorsten van Elten, Kathleen Hills, Hivemindesign, Lindsey Adelman, Michael Anastassiades, Christine J Brandt, Nicole Landaw, Thomas Eyck and more and more and more." Just make sure not to put anything, including your bag, your hoodie, or yourself, on any of the furniture. Major faux-pas.

Last night was a celebration of art and fun with several of our Playground contributors. We all gathered at the Soho Grand to raise a glass to Polaroid artist, Jeremy Kost, at the closing reception for his show, Not a Play Area.

Jeremy gets around, always with his Polaroid in tow, most recently rocking out behind the velvet ropes with the likes of Lindsay Lohan and more at Coachella for style.com. Jeremy's got a great little collection of celebrity Polaroids, which he's approached in a whole new way for us at Playground...can't wait to show you all!

We're a little hung over this morning because Myself designer, Kai Kuhne, brought us one more drink too many, but once Todd DiCiurcio stopped by with stories of his latest sketch art and music collaborations, we just couldn't resist. Todd's the latest artist to put his hand to each and every one of his Playground pages, and we couldn't be more excited!

Well, we're off to go meet with Kai to discuss his collaboration for Playground. We're keeping mum about the details, but he and photographer, Phil Knott, are joining forces for a great little project! Stay tuned...

1. If really cheesey music offends you, don't click this link. This is my first time seeing the video. Be prepared, it's really bad!! I have to admit, though, I know every word to the song and am playing it over and over right now. Next up: Black Box.

2. Mark your calendars: The Future Is Unwritten opens on 05.18.07. In case you haven't heard, it's the killer, new documentary on punk rock legend/icon Joe Strummer. "Filmmaker Julien Temple chronicles the transformation of a self-described "mouthy little git," born John Mellor, into an antiestablishment icon known to the world as Joe Strummer. In his latest documentary, Temple uncovers the myth behind the front man of the seminal punk band the Clash." I can't tell from the site if it's opening in theaters in the UK only or if there will be US theaters as well. It's not yet listed on Moviefone, though, which is a bad sign. The film opened at Sundance and has gotten rave reviews. As far as I'm concerned, any documentary featuring Joe Strummer is going to be pretty amazing no matter what the critics say. Checkout this synopsis on the NYTime's site, the MySpace page for the film, and the trailer on YouTube. And don't forget to checkout this East Village mural (SE corner of 7th and A) commemorating Strummer's death that has miraculously never been tagged on.

This just in: RSVP now (rsvp@annakustera.com) for the opening party for Ju$t Another Rich Kid & Stuart Semple's installation The Black Market on 06.02.07 at Anna Kustera Gallery (521 West 21st Street). Space is limited. Only those with RSVP's will be admitted.

"The Black Market is an exploration of the desire and drive caused by commercialization and the designer product. The show will highlight the gap between the promised utopian ideal of designer perfection and the reality of everyday existence."

Featured in the show will be paintings by Semple, clothing and objects by Ju$t Another Rich Kid, as well as works by the following artists and designers: Carlo Zanni, Mattia Biaggi, Adham Faramawy, Cory Ingram, the launch of The Playground Project, and a custom soundtrack by London Nu Ravers, Warboy and K-tron.

And don't miss the after party with the Nu Rave crew All You Can Eat, featuring the music of legndary DJs Warboy and K-tron, which will be at Rififi on East 11th Street immediately following the opening.

Finally, checkout this viral video London video artist Adham Faramawy created to promote the show. He's the guy who also did the Casetteplaya Fall/Winter 2006 video I was so crazy about last month.

1. I love The Horrors. The indie band from the UK is coming to the US. They're playing two gigs in New York: one at Luna Lounge (Brooklyn) on 06.04.07 and one at Fillmore New York (aka Irving Plaza) on 06.05.07. Checkout their Wikipedia entry for more info on the band and their MySpace page, where you can get all of the tour dates and listen to eleven (11) of their songs, including their hit, which I can't stop listening to, Sheena Was A Parasite. Don't forget to checkout the Chris Cunningham produced video for the single on YouTube, which "stars Oscar nominee Samantha Morton as the song's manic, transmogrifying subject who whips around like a banshee and spews her intestines at the viewer." Hot.

1. The line is not quite as cutting edge as Cloak, but at least designer Andre Plokhov of the now-defunct label is still working. This time with Japanese brand that's all of the sudden everywhere: Uniqlo. "The Russian-born designer’s eight-piece spring ’07 collection, which includes white poplin shirts, cargo shorts and skinny jeans, is scheduled to hit Uniqlo stores in the U.S. and Japan on May 22." Checkout this piece on DNR's site and this one on Style.com for more info.

2. Checkout indie fashion label Artysm, a men's line comprised of hot and wearable street-meets-fashion tees, hoodies, sweatpants. I have to get my hands on one of their JACK'ART: All over weaving hoodies and think the JACK'ART: All over weaving pants are sick. Not sure where they can be found in the US, but they're available online at hip German shop StyleServer, at Le Bouclard in Paris, and at Belleville in Berlin. Get 'em while they're hot.

1. Gagosian's got it going on again with Beneath The Underdog showing through 06.16.07 at the 980 Madison Ave space. Curated by Nate Lowman and Adam McEwen, "Beneath the Underdog addresses the individual's relationship to the towering vertical landscape of late capitalism, particularly within urban environments where the exaggerated scale of skyscrapers, luxury apartments and housing projects signify economic realities." See their site for the full press release. Artists included: Cecily Brown, Dash Snow, Yayoi Kusama, Richard Prince, Jim Dine, and many more. Check it out!

2. This is far from a hot tip, but from my experience, there are still lots of people who haven't been to the much-hyped Beatrice Inn, the once quaint West Village restaurant that is now owned by Paul Sevigny and Andre, that guy from Paris. I went to a party last week for Girls Like US (GLU), a Dutch, lesbian, fashion mag vying for attention in the US. One of the editors--Jessica Gysel--used to do Kutt--the now defunct sister mag to Butt. The space: rocked. The drinks: killer and aptly-priced given the venue. The music: right on. The crowd: at first, it was the usual suspects at a hipster, fashion party. As the night progressed and the party waned, things began to change. The "blackberry" crowd (I don't know what else to call them) started to show up, which was our queue to drink up and get a move on. Will I go back? Yes, but early in the evening on weeknights, which is what I suggest you do too, unless of course you're part of the "blackberry" crowd.

3. check back shortly for updates...

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Unfortunately, all goods things must come to an end. British fashion icon Isabella Blow is dead at age 49.

Checkout her profile on Wikipedia. This bio on Vogue.com. Some photos on Style.com. And this piece on her death.

There are rumors online that cancer may not have been the cause of her death, but can't we just let her rest in peace.

Listen to The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths.

Checkout killer new Dallas shop Centre (5331 Mockingbird Lane).

Centre stands as an experimental fusion of aesthetics with a concept sure to send the retail experience on a new course. Centre specializes in sourcing and mixing the best in young designer labels and contemporary street fashions: a marriage of luxurious extremes.

"We are a concept born not of necessity, but of an enthusiasm for finding those rare pieces that convey a sense of exploration and lifestyle in a sophisticated, yet subtle manner," says Centre's Phillip Sterling. "Our loyalty lies with design and its process; not labels and price-points."

The store's interior is a case study in iconic extremes, combining scenes from the debauchedness of the disco-era Manhattan penthouse with the calming, digital symmetry of Japanese modernism. The space heralds a style giving nods to the groundbreaking architectural works of Rem Koolhaas, Tadao Ando, and the lesser-known Masamichi Katayama.

The boutique is proud to present an eclectic range of vendors for Spring 2007, including WESC, Maharishi MHI, b.Son, Ju$t Another Rich Kid, Alex and Chloe, Cassette Homme, Tom Ford, Evil Genius, and many more.

The apparel will stand alongside an ever changing array of books and music targeted towards the globally and design-minded consumer.

1. Checkout this book: I Hate Myself and Want to Die: The 52 Most Depressing Songs You've Ever Heard. I want it! Says Rev Moose on CMJ Staff Blog: "File this under Things I Should Have Thought Of First. Tom Reynolds just released I Hate Myself And Want To Die: The 52 Most Depressing Songs You’ve Ever Heard (Hyperion). It’s a great dissection of those perfect gloomy songs that end in distraught phone calls and bloody bathtubs. Easy targets like Joy Division and The Cure are tied in with the Carpenters, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Celine Dion." It's good to know I'm not the only one who gets semi suicidal when a Carpenters song comes on.

2. Luckily for those us of us who live in places like New York, we don't have much firsthand experience with Wal*Mart. We've only heard the stories: local economies devestated; staff members who resort to Medicaid because they're not paid enough; and, of course, the infamous Walton family, with its billionaire members ranking in at 11 and up on the Forbes 400 Richest Americans list. Checkout Wal*Mart: The High Cost Of Low Price, an amazing documentary exposing the underbelly of the retail giant and its many unsavory business practices. Don't forget this NY Times review, this one by Ebert & Roeper, and this blog that chronicles issues related to the store. I guarantee you will be horrified.

3. One of my favorite singers ever, Elliott Smith, has a posthumous double CD coming out. "On May 8, 2007, Kill Rock Stars will release a double CD of music by Elliott Smith entitled New Moon. The album contains 24 songs recorded 1994-1997, a prolific time in Smith's career, when he recorded his self-titled album and Either/Or (both also released by Kill Rock Stars)." Checkout the MySpace profile for the CD (where you can preview all of the songs), the Kill Rock Stars online shop where you can buy it, and this fan site.

1. I've got a favorite new spot: Salt Bar on Clinton. Says New York Magazine: "Salt Bar, an offshoot of Salt in Soho, has endeared itself to the LES's youthful denizens with its cozy atmosphere and playfully eclectic American cuisine. Inside, the rustic tavern aesthetic prevails: large windows, dark wood banquettes, exposed beams, raw brick walls, and a communal table suitable for a medieval feast." Says me: The space is hot. Didn't try the food, but the menu is amazing. It was a little loud, I have to admit, but it was Friday on the LES. Make sure to checkout the house cocktails. The two we tried rock: Mexican Rose (Gran Centenario tequila and hibiscus tea) and the Bullshot (Stoli, beef boullion, horseradish, and lime). And, yes, the Bullshot has beef bouillion, which I thought was going to be pretty gross, but it turned out to be killer. Kind of like a Blood Mary with a hint of steak.

2. Sex and excess: two of America's favorite things. Ask porn star (and USC grad) Annabel Chong, famous (infamous?) for her 251 man gangbang back in the 90's called The World's Biggest Gang Bang. (Side note: her record was later broken by the lovely and talented Ms. Jasmine St. Claire in World's Biggest Gang Bang II) Surprisingly, Chong's not exactly what you'd expect her to be. Not right in the head, but definitely not a run of the mill porn actress. Checkout Sex: The Annabel Chong Story, the 1999 documentary profiling Chong that "was released at the Sundance Film Festival, nominated for the Grand Jury Prize, and championed by Robert Redford and Jeff Gilmore." It's a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the life of a porn icon.

1. Vancouver rockers Ladyhawk kickoff their North American tour tomorrow at Dante's in Portland--the one in Oregon. Checkout their tour dates, listen to some some songs and become their friends on MySpace, download hit singles The Dugout and War, and checkout the other artists on their label, Jagjaguwar. Oh, and don't forget to get tickets to one or both of their New York shows: at Irving Plaza on 05.18.07 and at Mercury Lounge on 05.30.07. The band teams up with Minneapolis-based Tapes 'n Tapes for both shows.

2. Don't miss Jeff Wall In His Own Words at MOMA before it ends 05.14.07. Wall is "best known for his large-scale back-lit cibachrome photographs and art-historical writing." Checkout his Wikipedia profile and this review of the show in the NY Times. If you're not in New York, the show will travel to The Art Institute of Chicago (06.30 - 09.23.07) and SFMOMA (10.27.07 - 01.27.08).

1. Netflix has a killer new section on their site: a selection of films you can stream on demand. Given my usual mode of watching DVDs is via laptop while lying in bed, for me, this isn't much of a change. It's kinda like having pay-per-view without having to pay any extra fees. The catch: the selection of movies is really limited. Let's just say: you're not going to find new releases any time soon. I did find Zoolander, which I've been wanting to watch again forever, Little Britain Season 1, Sherrybaby, Supersize Me, and a lot of other random stuff I'd never put in my queue again. Best part: I didn't have to wait.

2. "Bond. James Bond." Mondays and Thursday's from now until 05.15.07, Film Forum hosts a killer series entitled Vintage 007. On the list some of the most memorable Bond flicks ever made: Goldfinger, From Russia With Love, Octopussy, Diamonds Are Forever, For Your Eyes Only, A View To A Kill (with Grace Jones), Never Say Never Again, and You Only Live Twice, the only 007 movie ever with a Roald Dahl screenplay. Checkout Film Forum's site for the list of films, times and dates, and to buy tickets.

On the same day I promised not to do this very often, Angels And Kings (Pete Wentz's new bar) opened underneath my apartment.

Coming home tonight, there was a group of paparazzi staked out, two (2) Maybachs, three (3) black Cadillac SUVS, and such on the street. This could only mean one thing: celebrities inside.

Not shockingly, Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson were there.

The shocker: Jay-Z was at the opening. I saw him come out, get into his Maybach, and drive off.

A homeless guy who was harassing the paparazzi was so excited he starting yelling "Yo Jay. Brooklyn in the house." He then proceeded to dance in circles for five (5) or so minutes repeating Jay-Z's name over and over before taking off as quickly as he appeared.

Only in New York.