Summer is here, people who’ve been in New York long enough will tell you that there’s a lot of things going on here during this season. It’s true, it’s true. For film enthusiasts, the 2009 New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) just ended this week, while JAPAN CUTS, a sister festival (co-presented with the NYAFF09) is happening as we speak. But if you prefer to be outside, enjoying nature and stuff, there’s a bunch of outdoors film screenings happening. Some of these are free, some of them give you free booze and pop corns with admission! I’ve compiled some of the event listings after the cut.
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This autumn, British accessory brand Jimmy Choo will bring its international glamour and covetable shoes and bags to 200 selected H&M stores across the world, starting November 14. It’s the first time that H&M is collaborating with an accessories brand–to celebrate Jimmy Choo will extend its design vision for this collection to women’s clothing to complement the accessories. In addition, this collaboration will also include a men’s collection of shoes, bags and accessories.
“We adore Jimmy Choo’s shoes and bags. They are glamorous and sexy, and they add instant style to the simplest of outfits. I like the way we have worked with clothes to accessorize the shoes and bags rather than the other way around. This collaboration is particularly exciting because it’s our first shoe designer collection. It’s a joy to be able to offer top end designer shoes and bags of excellent quality to our customers,” shares Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor, H&M.
Tamara Mellon, Founder and President, Jimmy Choo adds: “We are privileged to be among the fashion greats who have been affiliated with H&M so far, and to be designing a collection appealing to fashion savvy, street smart women, and to be including some great pieces for men, too. Jimmy Choo will bring to H&M a sophisticated, fashion forward, accessible and glamorous collection – the perfect party pieces to buy now and then wear out that night!”
Since its launch in 1996, Jimmy Choo has been such a phenomenal success that the brand name has become part of popular culture–say the words “Jimmy Choo”, and you know you mean shoes. With their tall heels and strappy designs, Jimmy Choo shoes epitomize red-carpet glamour In Hollywood, Jimmy Choo shoes have become a red-carpet essential from the Oscars to the MTV Video Music Awards. Everyone has a pair and now you can own more than just your hand-me-down (I love my hot pink stilettos from 2001, thanks sis!) or secondhand purchase ( Go to Tokyo Joe on 11th Street in NYC). So step on it people as soon as it hits stores or step off.
Coming next month to the lower-east side, a cheap alternative to the little Vegas Wedding Chapels complete with ordained Universal Life Church ministers. Ceremonies are completely customizable. You can have live internet-streaming of your special day to friends and family who can’t make it, if you have no one special in your life and are sad and alone but have always wanted to get married you can even rent a bride or groom. For those of you too afraid of commitment or too sober you can have a mock-ceremony, no strings attached. Las Vegas quickie weddings just got a lot classier.
Wedding Chapel will open on Friday July 10th and run until Sunday
July 26th, but dates can be extended if enough interest exists.
Put the pork rinds down. Contemplate a life of actually doing something.
New York
“Francis Bacon: A Centenary Retrospective”. This is not your run of the mill rich British gay kid turned cross dressing ex-pat turned interior designer turned influential 20th century painter. Bacon’s art is grotesque and heartbreaking. With the screaming popes and the male on male eroticism, the show borders on the homoerotic, the hysterical, and the totally horrifying. Think Picasso stuck in Nightmare on Elm Street. And the imagery is completely visceral - most likely you will either hate it or love it (like anything worth looking at twice) . “Francis Bacon: A Centenary Retrospective” is showing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art through Aug 16.
Chicago
I will be honest. Sometimes art can be too artsy for me. Too lofty, if you will. “Take Your Time”, the Olafur Eliasson exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art is on this level. I have no idea about what any of it means, only that the shit is off the wall, super cool, light orgasm, spectacular. Everything is sensory - your eyes, your ears, your nose - everything on your body is basically drowning in A.R.T (capital letters, of course). But there is no loftiness with Eliasson, mainly because his works are too expansive for much pretension. Bring some shades. And a hot dog.
London
Camden People’s Theatre is celebrating the world’s oldest profession. No. Not prostitution (get your head out of the gutter), I’m talking about acting!!!! OK, fine, maybe it’s not exactly the oldest profession, but it is old. Pretty, pretty, old. And the 12th annual Sprint Festival is not your Homer’s theatre extravaganza. The event is all about new work: visionary young writers, daring actors, experimental theatre companies, and hopefully lots of profanity and nudity (finger’s crossed).
Now put your pants on!!!!
Isabel Toledo: Fashion from the Inside Out
June 17 through September 26, 2009
Cuban born fashion designer Isabel Toledo, will be exhibiting her designs this summer at FIT. Isabel is labeled as ” a designers designer” but is most commonly known for creating the yellow wool lace shift dress with overcoat Mrs. Michelle Obama wore for the inauguration of her husband.
These are the some of the ads for the show, by Nordstrom. Shot by Ruven Afanador,Typography by Ruben Toledo (Isabel’s husband who frequently works with Nordtrom on their ads) and all designs by Isabel Toledo (that’s her on the top photo.)
For you New Yorkers, this weekend ( June 6th and 7th) is the annual Jazz-Age Lawn Party on Governor’s Island. So get decked out in your best Gatsby-era 1920’s outfits and pack a picnic to enjoy under the shady trees. Micheal Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra will be providing the swinging sounds and there will be croquet games as well as dancing lessons, old fashioned cars and a pie eating contest. The ferry to Governor’s Island is free and you can find more information on http://www.govisland.com
pictures from last years lawn party by the sartorialist
Are you tired of talking about the cultural significance of Perez Hilton? Sick of trying to figure out the difference between a Taco and a Chalupa? Gained 20 pounds this Winter? If you checked yes to any one of these questions, it’s time to get up off the futon and get in touch with your inner cultural ho!
NYC
If you haven’t been to the Big Bright Box that is The New Museum, head down to check out “The Generational: Younger Than Jesus” exhibit. Besides having a pretty great name, the exhibition includes artists from around the world all under the age of 33. Though the artwork may not be as spectacular as turning water into wine (Jesus: 1 New Museum: 0), it does give a glimpse of some pretty phenomenal young artists. And a pretty good glimpse at their mediocre peers as well. Don’t feel like spending your hard earned / unemployment check cash? Head over to the Brooklyn Public Library for the MoMA Lecture series. Catch “Introduction to Contemporary Art” at the Central Library (Saturday 6 at 4:30pm), and “Art in NY: Jackson Pollock to Andy Warhol” (June 18 at 4:30pm) at the Saratoga branch. It’s a good way to impress rich people who can afford actual art classes. The lectures are not only free but you get a free ticket to the MoMA as well. Save the cash for binge drinking.
LA
If pics of Rita Hayworth and Bette Davis still give you a boner, go the distance to the California Heritage Museum in Santa Monica and view the work of famed Hollywood photographer George Hurrell. You probably couldn’t count on both hands how many of these starlettes Hurrell tried to bang, but it might be worth it to try. Also, see if you can spot a hot, half naked, Governor Schwarzenegger! Too old school for you? Then check out the new Annenberg Space for Photography and its inaugural exhibition “L8S ANG3LES” - featuring 11 of Los Angeles finest photogs.
Paris
I say fuck Andy Warhol. The Musée Maillol is paying homage to the late, great Belgian pop artist of the 20th century Guy Peellaert. The iconic illustrator was the brains behind great album covers like David Bowie’s “Diamond Dogs” and the film posters for “Taxi Driver” and “Short Cuts”. Soup cans? Give me Tina Turner making love to a microphone over cans of soup any day. The exhibit ends September 28 so don’t miss it. Want something a little more real? The Galerie Basia Embiricos is showcasing the work of Xavier Martin entitled “You said paparazzi?” (”Vous avez dit paparazzi ?”) Try not to get too jealous when you see the intimate pictures of the ultra rich and famous. And beautiful. And did I mention rich? The retrospective is open from June 9 to the 30th.
Now get off the laptop. Make some love. Do some shit.
