In this Aug. 7, 2008 file photo, actor Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves attend the Muxo Private Launch Party in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Shea Walsh, file)

AP - Matthew McConaughey says the birth of his son will help bring a little joy to others in the world someday. The actor kept the placenta from the July birth of his son and plans to plant it in an orchard, he tells CNN's "House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta" in interview scheduled to air in two parts Aug. 9 and Aug 16.

'American Idol' crooner Clay Aiken becomes a father (AP)

In this Jan. 10, 2008, file photo, Clay Aiken is shown in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, file)

AP - Former "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken is a father. The 29-year-old crooner from Raleigh announced the birth of Parker Foster Aiken on his Web site's blog Friday. "No hyphens. One first name," he wrote. "One middle name. One last name."

Chuck Berry's house rocks

Miley Cyrus To Face Off Against Tokio Hotel For Best New Artist At VMAs

Why Did Diddy Go After James Montgomery On 'FNMTV'?

IFC expands music programming with Pitchfork pact (Reuters)

Matthew, Matthew, How Does Your Garden Grow?

Angie Everhart's Boyfriend Busted for Battery

Radiohead Dazzles At All Points West Opener

Maggie Gyllenhaal, Liv Tyler, Emmy Rossum and Mena Suvari Stepped Out for a Glamorous Evening with Piaget

That’s … Funny?

The FBI, weary of being called comically inept, insisted that government scientist Bruce Ivins was the perpetrator behind the 2001 anthrax attacks. (He was also apparently guilty of obsessing over Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority girls.) Prosecutors indicted John Gotti Jr. on charges of ordering three mob hits and trafficking cocaine. Pistol-packin’ Rebekah Johnson was found not guilty of shooting her former Ganas commune leader on Staten Island. Two window washers at the World Financial Center died when their cherry picker tipped over. Nostalgic teen rebels slam-danced to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Tompkins Square riots. The NYPD invited concerned citizens to text-message their local precincts. Transit officials declared war on subway gropers.

Thirteen goats chewed their way into the high-security perimeter around the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The “Montauk Monster” animal/alien carcass mysteriously vanished. Mary-Kate Olsen was cleared of involvement in Heath Ledger’s death, for now. A Queens woman was found beaten to death after Lil’ Kim’s birthday party at midtown’s Spotlight Live. Tribeca’s 10013 was named the most overpriced Zip Code in America, while Loews chairman Jonathan Tisch broke the co-op price record, dropping $48 million for fourteen rooms at 2 East 67th. Andrew Hamingson was named executive director at the Public Theater. Yankees starter Joba Chamberlain hit the disabled list with an ominous-sounding rotator-cuff injury. And the 3-week-old Jolie-Pitt twins finally surfaced, in photos that may have shown them chuckling at their $14 million payday. —Mark Adams

Rockin' the Rock Corps Event Backstage With Video

Additional Update: Los Angeles Premiere of DreamWorks' 'Tropic Thunder'

Fashion Week Just Got a Little Less Posh

Muslim-American Marine Helps Break Down Cultural, Language Barriers

Week in Review: Who Else Is All Wrong to Play Spider-Man?

We took some heat from aspiring actor Josh Bednarsky's family, fans, and nine roommates when we declared him completely wrong for the role of Spider-Man in Julie Taymor's new musical. And we feel bad! He's been so nice, asking on his Website for someone to send us a fruit basket and all. We're not going back on our previous assertion — Peter Parker has brown hair, people — but we're happy to share some other people who proved this week that they, too, are not qualified to play the singing web-slinger of Queens.

"Jane Doe" on Ledger Coke Video Tries to Keep Privacy Suit Alive

Sheryl Crow and Criss Angel Launch Clothing Lines; Fashion Groans

Angel's new line is called MF13 (sounds like a movie rating, doesn't it?). He partnered with Dussault Apparel to create the line of clothing and accessories to be sold at the Criss Angel Mindfreak store at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. Judging from his style, we're expecting lots of leather, skulls on printed tees, pewter rings, and awful patterned fedoras. As for Crow, her line of jeans, vests, and T-shirts called the Bootheel Trading Co. debuted in Dillard's stores this week. What to expect: denim, denim, and more denim. Sheryl loves denim.

We're really trying to maintain our composure over here and congratulate already successful magicians and musicians on expanding their niches. But it's just so hard. What's next, Bret Michaels doing a bandanna line? (Oh, please say no.) —Sharon Clott

Jennifer Aniston Is a Bag Lady

Sugarland Founder Not Feeling Love on the Inside

Friday-Night To-Do: Olympic Fireworks and John Edwards' Affair

Sonia Rykiel Launches New Makeup Line; Shiseido Has a New Bronzer

• Sonia Rykiel is launching her fall 2008 makeup collection in Japan on August 22. So, you know, if you're going there, pick some up for us. [Beauty Anonymous]

• Shiseido created a multi-shade bronzer that has five shades to create your right shade of bronze. Even though summer's almost over, bronzer still matters. [Carissa's Beauty Blog]

• The new lip gloss in Lancôme's Juicy Tube collection is called Rose. It's a limited-edition color that's inspired by Paris. Oui oui. [Makeup Divas]

HAIR
• Frédéric Fekkai thinks the middle part will be making a strong comeback. So get your your combs. [WWD]

• Rodney Cutler, founder of Cutler Salon, suggests Redken for Men Outplay Texture Putty is something men can use without it making hair sticky or slicked or weird-looking. Okay, guys? [Daily Obsession]

The Game: ‘The Black Liberace’?

2. Hope Sandoval, "Wild Roses"
We're not sure which is more unbelievable: that Hope Sandoval (of Mazzy Star) is 42 years old, or that she's decided to debut her first new song in nearly a decade on a compilation record put out by a French airline. [Brooklyn Vegan]

3. Late of the Pier, "Heartbeat" (Hot Chip Remix)
HC add more cowbell to this song from Late of the Pier's much-anticipated new record. [VoulesRandom]

4. Passenger, "Umbrella" (Rihanna cover)
In the absence of a consensus Song of the Summer, Passenger prove that last year's still has hooks for days. [Welikeit.indie]

5. T.I. feat. the Dream, "Like I Do"
T.I./T.I.P. now has a third personality to add to the list, as he seems as obsessed with threesomes in this new song as Woody Allen's publicist. [Ants in My Trance] —Ehren Gresehover

Now Brooklyn Heights Is Climbing Aboard the Ikea Whine Wagon

Bedford-Stuyvesant: According to this graffiti mural, Laurence Fishburne wants you to "Think! Before you buy!!" from FreshDirect or Duane Reade, instead of that humble little mom-and-pop store that really needs your dollars. Oh, wait. What? That's Malcolm X? Oh. Well, Laurence Fishburne would probably agree with him. [Bed-Stuy Banana]
Brooklyn Heights: The hood's been joined by Park Slope and Gowanus in complaining that the free Ikea buses that wind through these areas en route to the Red Hook store are idling and hogging the streets. And Ikea said this wouldn't happen! Just like they said assembling their stuff was easy! You can't trust those Swedes. There's probably trans fats and MSG in the meatballs, too. [Brooklyn Paper]
Coney Island: The Wonder Wheel turns 88 today! Everybody sing: "Because maybe / You're gonna be the one who saves me / And after all / You're my Wonder Wheel." What? Yeah, we know it doesn't rhyme. Loosen up. Goddamned rhyming Nazis. [Gowanus Lounge]

East Village: Well, they've stopped the bag searches before movie night in Tompkins Square Park, but now those pugnacious postriot locals are bitching that they only show Hollywood classics, not local indies, and that the free water bottles come from a Coca-Cola company. Jeez, will you guys ever be happy? [Villager]
Lower East Side: City planning-commission head Amanda Burden walks around the hood and says she likes it just how it is, small-scale and dense. We presume that's the angle she'll take next week at meetings about tightening up zoning to stop more way-high condos like the Rivington and the Blue. [NYDN via EV Grieve]
Roosevelt Island: In the longest post ever written in the short history of blogging, this blogger goes off on councilwoman Jessica Lappin because, amid tough economic times, she secured $4 million in city funds for a long-planned FDR memorial that many say will ruin views at the island's southern tip. And we have to admit that the thing, which Louis Kahn designed before his 1974 death, does look kind of blocky and outdated. [Roosevelt Islander]
Washington Heights: When a rabbi and his wife decided to move up here, they tried to get 30 of their friends to move up here, too. Because why gentrify a fairly cheap hood one household at a time when you can do it en masse? And their Realtor's last name is Bizzarro. [NYS]

Former "Idol" star Clay Aiken welcomes a son

Child Support Is More Than Simply Money, Says Filmmaker, Angelo Lobo

Why a Tiny New Production Company Might Be Taking Up Carrie Bradshaw’s Mantle

The films will be broadcast on SHOWstudio.com between August 18 and September 9, along with a Q&A with each designer involved. And if you find yourself across the pond during London Fashion Week, pop by (that's what they do over there, right? Pop by?) the Diesel store on Bond Street where they'll be showing the films as well. —Noelle Hancock

SHOWstudio's new fashion film project [British Elle]

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 8 Aug 2008 | 9:40 pm

Dina Matos to Receive No Alimony From Jim McGreevey

Photo: Getty Images

In a New Jersey divorce-court ruling unsealed today, it was revealed that former governor Jim McGreevey will be obligated to shell out only a lump sum of $109,295 to his ex-wife Dina Matos, and $1,075 a month in child support for their daughter, Jacqueline, 6. The larger figure represents half of the couple's shared investment accounts. Matos will also get a payout from McGreevey's pension plan, but she'll have to give him a portion of her own 401K.

After an incredibly public, ugly, and drawn-out divorce battle, both of them will be responsible for their own legal fees — estimated by the Post to be about $500,000 each. That's by far the largest sum floating around in this whole mess. Matos asked for nearly $1 million, but since McGreevey argued that he only makes $48,000 per year while he is in seminary, the judge ruled him "underemployed." Judge Karen Cassidy reamed out the pair in her written ruling:

"Especially, in a matter as high profile as this, the court was disappointed that much of the testimony, particularly as it related to public figures within the State of New Jersey, and the dirty laundry associated therewith, needed to be aired in the public and in the press … The McGreeveys clearly had agendas. As previously addressed, their anger seemed to override any ability to testify credibly or to be reasonable."

Those harsh words, and the sting of the small payout McGreevey has to shell out, will probably linger. Until he gets home to the comfort of his super-wealthy financier's boyfriend's seventeen-room mansion, at least. After that we're guessing it will fade.

JUDGE: NO ALIMONY FOR NJ GOVERNOR MCGREEVEY'S EX-WIFE [NYP]
Gay Ex-Gov Off the Hook for Alimony [New York Lawyer via Radar]

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 8 Aug 2008 | 9:30 pm

The Black Keys Mellow Out, Sign Autographs for Policemen

Photo: Getty Images

After four months on the road in support of this year's Attack and Release, it's completely reasonable that the Black Keys might feel the need to chill out a bit. As such, the duo downed water last night at McCarren Park Pool and seemed to be pacing themselves carefully. They played with their usual precision, but we would liked to have seen a little more wildness. The first few songs were subdued, with drummer Dan Auerbach warbling through the opener, “Girl Is on My Mind” (also the first song at their Terminal 5 show in May). “Thickfreakness” chugged along like a train with a broken — or maybe just wacky — axle.

But things started to pick up for “10 AM Automatic,” which had almost a hip-hop beat and an apocalyptic ending, and “Same Old Thing,” during which our friend noted, “It’s getting heavier.” By “Stack Shot Billy,” in which Auerbach mysteriously changed keys, then changed back again — or did we imagine that? — the spell was cast. It helped that there were about 0.9 joints per capita. “What the fuck is that, a helicopter?” someone commented mid-song, apropos of nothing. Things were strange indeed, and wonderful: During “Everywhere I Go,” played as a holy, flaming march, we thought, What’s that sound? A steam shovel, a herd of elk? Meanwhile, Auerbach’s hair, close-pressed to his head at the show’s start, was unfurling.

But things were, in the end, mellow. “Breaks,” a great tune from their no-nonsense first album, The Big Come Up, settled into a funk beat before turning into a leisurely slow jam. The last song of their set, “I Got Mine,” was restrained, and we couldn’t help but think of all the songs we long to hear at a Black Keys show and never do. (Would it have been too heavy-handed for them to have played “Brooklyn Bound”?) When they came on for their encore, Auerbach confided that a cop had approached him next to the stage. “He wanted my autograph,” he said. “The world must be ending.” Dan, we miss when you were running from the law. —Kathleen Reeves

(Reuters) Reuters - It's been nearly 50 years since the Soul Queen of New Orleans' first recording session, and during that time Irma Thomas has earned the nickname many times over. At 67, she still has a voice that's a rare blend of smooth

As you may have read here, here, here, and everywhere else, Tom Cruise — previously though to be a batshit, couch-hopping, past-his-prime albatross who was single-handedly sullying the United Artists name — is resuscitating his career! Not with his eye-patch-wearing lead in Valkyrie, but with an uncredited (but endlessly hyped) bit part in Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder, as balding, foul-mouthed film exec Les Grossman. Everybody who's seen it says he’s going to be a star again! "For two hours," sighs Fox's Roger Friedman, "all that other stuff associated with him floats away, and you just get to enjoy that kid we met such a long time ago."

Or not. Not to get all spoilery (which apparently is okay with studios when you praise their product), but Cruise just isn’t that funny in Tropic Thunder. Sure, he wears a fat suit and spoofs a Sumner Redstone–ish blowhard who likes to yell. But a cussing Tom Cruise is not really a shock — after all, nobody thinks Tom Cruise is exactly level-headed. We’ve all seen him beady-eyed and angry on the Today show, attacking anyone who’s ever taken psychiatric meds. It's not like you never thought he had it in him.

But then there's the dancing! As has been teased endlessly in the movie's positive hype, Cruise’s main comedy stunt is to dance to hip-hop, bumping, grinding, and air-spanking — yet another middle-aged actor milking yuks out of how white guys don’t know how to shake their flabby white rumps. It's not exactly the freshest gag; Steve Martin finished off the trope in Bringing Down the House. It gets less fresh the longer it's onscreen — and it's onscreen forever. It makes him seem older and even more out of touch, and it's just not funny anymore to see a stiff white dude dancing like a black guy. (In fact, now that we think about it, could Tom Cruise's racial ventriloquism actually be more offensive than Downey's blackface? At least the blackface makes sense.)

As many B-list starlets would doubtless tell Tom Cruise, booty-shaking probably won't resuscitate his career. Cruise's big problem is that he seems stuck in the mold of an eighties stud, and hasn't found a way to connect in a generation of leading men like Will Ferrell and Seth Rogen. Cruise is floundering. And this cameo just makes him look a little lost and almost pathetic — shucking and jiving, trying to appeal to the younger moviegoers who are abandoning him.

But here's hoping that he wears the eye patch well. —Logan Hill

Earlier: The Summer of Brownface

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 8 Aug 2008 | 9:00 pm

It’s the Olympics and Fashion People Care!

The Benetton ad.Photo: Courtesy of Benetton.com

We're not sure if you know or not, but the Olympics start today. It's 8-8-08! And sure, we may not know how to throw a shot put in track and field, but we sure do love looking at a well-dressed athlete (Sean Avery, are you listening?). So in honor of the summer Olympic Games, we took a deeper look into what fashion news made headlines:

• United Colors of Benetton is under fire for a double-page ad campaign which was released today in leading news dailies to coincide with the opening ceremony. The image shows a Tibetan monk and a Chinese soldier praying face-to-face under the word "Victims." Benetton's Website says the ad "attempts to make a small contribution to dialogue and engagement between Tibetan and Chinese people." [WWD]

• Giorgio Armani will dress Charlene Wittstock, South African swimmer and girlfriend of Prince Albert of Monaco, when she's off swimming duty. [WWD]

• Beijing Municipal Government's Capital Ethic Development Office (longest-name ever) issued 4.3 million copies of a 36-page etiquette booklet outlining rules on good manners and foreign customs regarding what not to wear. Among the list of fashion no-no's: white socks with black shoes, pajamas in public, and older women should wear low heels, not high. [WSJ]

• Hogan's Olympia sneaker, originally created for the games in 2004, has been revamped for 2008. The new sneaker is limited-edition and quantity; only 888 pairs will be made. [Passmenterie]

• Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, co-founders of downtown boutique Opening Ceremony, handpicked designers that they think should redesign sports uniforms. Rodarte for boxing? We like the sound of that. [Moment/NYT]

• Speaking of Opening Ceremony, the store will be open for 72 hours straight in honor of the games. On the agenda: Saturday morning is a Scrabble tournament hosted by Suchin Pak (6 a.m.–9 a.m.) and Olympic manicures and tattoos (9 a.m.–11 a.m.). On Sunday, try your hand at a Ping-Pong tournament hosted by Philip Crangi (1 a.m.–4 a.m.) followed by a breakfast for champions courtesy of H&H Bagels (7 a.m.–10 a.m.). Free breakfast! We're in. [We Are the Market]

For the second time this week, Los Angeles' MGM Tower, a professional complex...

Source: E! Online - Top Stories | 8 Aug 2008 | 9:00 pm

Sightings: Richie, Hudson and Dunst

FRIENDS FOREVER: Nicole Richie, helping Samantha Ronson celebrate her birthday over dinner with a gaggle of pals at Matsuhisa in West Hollywood. SQUEEZE IN: Kate Hudson and her brother,...

(Playbill) Playbill - Stratford Shakespeare Festival's commitment to new work, in tandem with its longtime mission of producing classic titles, continues Aug. 8-Sept. 21 with the world premiere of Joanna McClelland Glass' Palmer Park.
Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 8 Aug 2008 | 8:41 pm

Upside-Down Photographer Robin Rohde Plays Billiards on Ceiling

Robin Rohde's Untitled (2008).Courtesy of Perry Rubenstein Gallery

If you were to stroll the concrete hoods of some of the poorer sections of South Africa, you'd probably find a few people crouching, poking a big stick at a table full of small red balls. Billiards are apparently the unofficial national pastime of South Africa, played not only in smoky pubs but in the streets, the way scrappy boys play stellar soccer in the favelas of Brazil. They don't play it upside down, however, as Robin Rohde might have us believe in her animated and photographic exhibit on show at Perry Rubenstein Gallery for one more day. —Emma Pearse

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 8 Aug 2008 | 8:30 pm

Edwards Admits to Affair

Photo: Getty Images

In the face of mounting pressure from the National Enquirer, John Edwards has finally admitted that he did in fact have an affair with 44-year-old campaign videographer Rielle Hunter. Bob Woodruff will interview Edwards tonight on Nightline, and he will deny that he is the father of her baby girl, although he has not taken a paternity test. Edwards says that "his affair ended too soon for him to have been the father," reports ABC News; the baby was born February 27, 2008. Also, he's not in love with Hunter, so that's alright, then. This has taken longer to unfold than we predicted back when the affair rumors first appeared in October 2007, but unfold it finally has.

Update 1: Marc Ambinder over at The Atlantic reports that, "according to people close to the Edwardses, Elizabeth Edwards has secured a primetime speaking role at the Democratic National Convention; John Edwards, as of this point, does not." Ambinder supposes that he will not show up at the convention at all. Even so, combined with all of the Clinton participation, this makes for a convention straight out of Days of Our Lives.
Update 2: For those of you who haven't seen the National Enquirer photos purporting to catch Edwards with the baby, they can be found here. It also should be noted that Edwards will emphasize tonight to ABC's Woodruff that his wife Elizabeth's cancer was in remission at the time he started the affair.
Update 3: The National Review noticed something awkward about the timing of all this: ABC reports that Elizabeth Edwards and their children found out about the affair in 2006. But a Newsweek story that came out in the last week of December of that year reported that Hunter was still under contract with the campaign. So she was working for the Edwards family even after they found out she was sleeping with John? Yuck.

Below, some just-released words from Edwards himself:

STATEMENT OF SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS

August 8, 2008

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

In 2006, I made a serious error in judgment and conducted myself in a way that was disloyal to my family and to my core beliefs. I recognized my mistake and I told my wife that I had a liaison with another woman, and I asked for her forgiveness. Although I was honest in every painful detail with my family, I did not tell the public. When a supermarket tabloid told a version of the story, I used the fact that the story contained many falsities to deny it. But being 99% honest is no longer enough.

I was and am ashamed of my conduct and choices, and I had hoped that it would never become public. With my family, I took responsibility for my actions in 2006 and today I take full responsibility publicly. But that misconduct took place for a short period in 2006. It ended then. I am and have been willing to take any test necessary to establish the fact that I am not the father of any baby, and I am truly hopeful that a test will be done so this fact can be definitively established. I only know that the apparent father has said publicly that he is the father of the baby. I also have not been engaged in any activity of any description that requested, agreed to or supported payments of any kind to the woman or to the apparent father of the baby.

It is inadequate to say to the people who believed in me that I am sorry, as it is inadequate to say to the people who love me that I am sorry. In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. If you want to beat me up – feel free. You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself. I have been stripped bare and will now work with everything I have to help my family and others who need my help.

I have given a complete interview on this matter and having done so, will have nothing more to say.

John Edwards' statement [Politico.com]
Edwards Admits Sexual Affair; Lied as Presidential Candidate [ABC News]

For more on this story, read these earlier posts:
John Edwards's Docudrama: The Anatomy of Innuendo
‘National Enquirer’ Still Chasing John Edwards–Affair Story; Claim to Have Caught Him in Hotel Tryst
Allow Bret Easton Ellis to Introduce You to Alison Poole, A.K.A. Rielle Hunter

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 8 Aug 2008 | 8:20 pm

Diddy Wants to Anoint You With Fragrant Oils

Do you feel kingly yet?Photo: Courtesy of Sean John

We know we're not alone when we say this, but we completely heart Diddy. His brazen love of self, propensity for speaking in the third person, how much he enjoys being rich. Some have called him "arrogant," and his grand displays of nouveau riche wealth "vulgar" but, to paraphrase Diana Vreeland, better to be vulgar than boring. And Diddy is definitely not boring (case in point: his recent YouTube dispatch warning that levels of global "bitchassness" are reaching record highs).

So we weren't surprised to hear that he was naming his new fragrance I Am King. (Though we were surprised to hear it's expected to make more than $100 million globally in its first year alone. For reals? Damn!) WWD reports that the new cologne will launch exclusively at Macy's in December before going global in February, to be followed by an I Am Queen perfume for all the lay days in 2009.

What's in a name? "I believe in positive affirmations," Diddy says. "If I say, 'I am not going to succeed, I'm a loser,' then that's what I am going to be. If we say we're kings and we say we're queens, that's what we're going to be. It has nothing to do with being arrogant."

The print and TV campaign for I Am King portray Combs as a mogul in a suit, cavorting around Monaco and Saint-Tropez with models Bar Refaeli and Ana Paula, on jet skis around the French Riviera, lounging aboard his palatial yacht and playing the tables inside the Casino de Paris in Monte Carlo. So, you know, his everyday life. According to Diana Espino, vice-president and general manager of Sean John Fragrances, "This is a story that needs to be told." Like the story of Jesus! Who was, coincidentally, also a king, and we bet would've totally dominated at the craps table as well. He would've passed on the jet skis, though: "No thanks, Diddy, I'll walk." —Noelle Hancock

Combs Crowns New Men's Scent [WWD]

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 8 Aug 2008 | 8:15 pm

'American Idol' crooner Clay Aiken becomes a father (AP)

AP - Former "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken is a father.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 8 Aug 2008 | 8:14 pm

Wiki Site Reveals Parallel Universe of Fake Movies

Spencer Green has too much time on his hands. A good thing, considering his scarily extensive Parallel Universe Film Guide, a satiric Wikipedia ripoff cataloging movies that do. not. exist. Almost any random click on the PUFG will yield a juicy nugget, but here are some of our favorites: the 1946 noir classic Kill My Husband and I’ll Be Your Best Friend; 1981’s lighthearted WWII chronicle I Love U-Boat This Much!; and 1982’s revisionist Gandhi tale Hot Hot Mahatma.

Parallel Universe Film Guide

parallelfilmguide.com

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 8 Aug 2008 | 8:14 pm

Hollywood power player Brillstein dies

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 8 Aug 2008 | 8:12 pm

Clay Aiken is a father

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 8 Aug 2008 | 8:08 pm

Ryan Seacrest taking over 'Rockin' Eve'

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 8 Aug 2008 | 7:59 pm

Press-Box Confidential: Favre Madness, Sports Journos Loose in Beijing, Manning’s Star Power

What have I gotten myself into?Photo: Getty Images

The big sports story this week was the shocking (and somewhat bewildering) trade of Brett Favre to the New York Jets. Annoyingly, the news broke just past midnight Thursday morning, which wasn’t too late for the Daily News to roll Mike Lupica out of bed — you just know he has the delicate linen, with a thread count that looks like a Social Security number — to remind everyone that the Jets matter now because Mike Lupica is writing about them and Mike Lupica doesn’t just write about anybody, you know. He did let loose a zinger: “Somehow, and against the odds, because these are the Jets, it worked out this way Wednesday night: He's 4 New York.” It was totally worth saving that line all these weeks, Mike! Jets fans had less than an hour to enjoy the Times’ Toni Monkovic — he’s the blogger they don’t let in the paper, probably because he’s good — telling everyone that Pennington would have been better than Favre. Because there’s nothing lazier than quoting blog commenters as some sort of person-on-the-street reaction, let’s play! How does guy have a job? He must be reviewing broadway plays and not sports … Chad better then Favre … hahahahahahaha I almost choked on laughter.

China Man. Because he’s the only member of the Daily News sports staff who has a passport, Filip Bondy is filing his always amusing, not-bloggy-at-all dispatches from Beijing. Today’s news: “Noodle salad was down to 75 cents.” Thanks, Filip!

If Only They Could Figure Out a Way to Take Out Papelbon’s Dad. Cheers to the unfortunately anonymous reporter who asked Joe Girardi before a game last weekend whether he was glad not to have to face Torii Hunter, who was at his grandmother’s funeral. Thanks for your conveniently timed death, Mama Hunter! God must be a Yankees fan!

Eli Manning Is a Star of Stars. Fun bit from Tuesday’s “Mike and the Mad Dog.” Mike Francesa mentioned that he’d heard a story — that’s the attribution spirit! Go sports radio! — about some hotel that had one opening and three celebrities looking to stay there: Eli Manning, Robert Downey Jr., and David Schwimmer. And the room went to Eli. Poor Schwimmer never had a chance.

Murray Chass Lives! It’s official: Murray Chass is a real blogger, not a fake one. Thank God for that: We were beginning to wonder if Chass was in fact an invention himself, a mythic beast created by a bored and ornery Roger Angell back in 1951. It wouldn’t have surprised us, and we suspect it wouldn’t have surprised you either. —Will Leitch and Joe DeLessio

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 8 Aug 2008 | 7:55 pm

Angie Everhart's Boyfriend Busted for Battery (E! Online)

E! Online - Angie Everhart's beau has been accused of some mighty bad behavior

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 8 Aug 2008 | 7:32 pm

Join Our Flock!

Photo-illustration: Everett Bogue; photo: Getty Images

Are you a pop-culture obsessive? Do you love all aspects of the arts, from the Booker Prize to the Razzies, from Mad Men to Cavemen? Vulture co-editor Dan Kois will be leaving at the end of August for an exciting new job at Media by Numbers, Inc. — at which he will serve as an apprentice to Paul Dergarabedian, learning to compare things to other things from the master himself — and so we are looking to hire a full-time writer. No formal blogging experience is necessary, but sharp writing, a broad base of culture knowledge, and an ability to talk about pop as if it's art (and vice versa) are. Sure, we have a hunch someone's already got the position locked up, but it can't hurt to apply! If you're interested, e-mail Jessica Coen at jessica (dot) coen (at) nymag (dot) com with your résumé, a link to your Website (if you've got one), and a couple paragraphs about yourself and why you'd be a good fit.

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 8 Aug 2008 | 7:30 pm

Hey Model Wannabes: MTV’s Lookin’ for You!

Could this be you backstage?Photo: Imaxtree

Watch out, Tyra! There's another model-wannabe show on the horizon. Models.com reports that MTV is creating a competition reality show called Model Makers, in which ten contestants compete for twelve weeks "of intensive physical fitness training to help them get down to their ideal size" to become a high-fashion model. Hmm, sounds more like a Biggest Loser and America's Next Top Model hybrid, but we guess we'll just have to wait and see. The winner gets a contract with a modeling agency (which one, seriously?), and contestants are judged by industry experts, physical-fitness trainers, photographers, a model authority, and a nutritionist. A model authority? Way to come up with that new term, MTV. Think this could be your big break? Check out the full release after the jump. —Sharon Clott

ARE YOU FIT TO BE A MODEL? Do you dream of becoming a model but some extra pounds are holding you back? Have you always struggled with your weight or did you just overindulge this summer? If so, MTV is looking for you to join the cast of its new reality television show, MODEL MAKERS. Join the competition and turn your dream into reality!
Michael Flutie and Chris Abrego with MTV Networks will offer 10 women the opportunity to work with a panel of industry experts, physical fitness trainers, photographers, a model authority and a nutritionist. Under the watchful eyes of these experts, models will endure twelve weeks of intensive physical fitness training to help them get down to their ideal size. Models will also compete in various high fashion challenges to determine who has star quality. With weekly eliminations looming, models must put their best foot forward at all times while staying focused on losing weight. Get in shape, develop your modeling skills and polish your “look” to achieve your ultimate goal of becoming a high fashion model.

If you are a determined, outgoing, high fashion model type (ages 17-24, height 5′9″- 6′) with the discipline and courage to do what it takes to make your dream a reality, then we are looking for you! If you succeed in the pursuit of your dream, you will be rewarded with not only healthy weight loss, but with the MTV prize package, which includes:

-$100,000
-A contract with a modeling agency.
-The chance to walk the runway for a celebrity designer.
If you are interested in pursuing this chance of a lifetime, email recent photos/snapshots (head shots and body shots in a bathing suit) by Friday 8/8,to mtvmodel@madwood.tv along with your
- Name
- Mailing Address
- Home and Cell Telephone numbers
- E-mail Address
- Birth Date
- Height
- Weight
- Bust-Waist-Hip Measurements
- Dress Size
- Occupation

MTV Model Search [Models.com]

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 8 Aug 2008 | 7:30 pm

Tom Arnold’s Advice to Brett Favre: Be Derek Jeter

We have no idea what is going on in this picture.Photo: Getty Images

Last night at the Xbox twentieth-anniversary party for Madden Football in Los Angeles, comedian and sports commentator Tom Arnold was thinking of New York. He told us that he's thrilled that Bret Favre ended up on the Jets lineup. "For a guy to play 254 straight games and then want to still play, and then not be able to, that’s just not right," he said, referring to Green Bay's forced retirement of Favre. "That’s not American, it’s not even French." We asked Arnold if he had any advice for the country boy moving to the big city, and he had some wise words:

• "If you live in New York, you have to have thick skin. Myself, I’ve got thick skin because I only read bad things about myself, and if there is something good, I will not read it, uh, because I don’t believe it."
• "When they love you, when they 'Derek Jeter' you, there must be no better feeling in the whole world, I can only imagine. To be loved by the whole city of New York like I love Derek Jeter, personally, like, I am in love with that guy, he is the nicest human being, you cannot, say a bad thing about him, if you’ve ever met him, or whatever, you’d love to, and he’s also really good-looking."
• "That’s why A-Rod has trouble. A-Rod’s like the second-best ever, but he’s playing on a team with the best ever and the best-looking and the nicest guy, who does not make a mistake."

And most important:

• "Scores is not like it was in the early nineties. So if you try any of that crap there, you’ll get beat up and thrown out."

Thanks, Tom! We're sure Brett will take that to heart. —Soo Youn

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 8 Aug 2008 | 7:15 pm

Burning Q's: Why Is Freaky Friday So Freakin' Freaky? (E! Online)

E! Online - It is interesting that as kids both Jodie Foster and Lindsay Lohan starred in Freaky Friday and they both might be gay. Is there a connection?

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 8 Aug 2008 | 7:15 pm

Soaking Wet Hippies, Audience Dance Together at ‘Hair’ Premiere

Photo: Michal Daniel

It's a bold move, staging an outdoor production of a musical that ends with the song "Let the Sunshine In," when summer thunderstorms are a constant threat. At last night's opening of Hair at the Delacorte — in a moment that seemed too poetic not to have been planned — the deluge came just as the chorus began. Inspired by watching two-plus hours of hippie dancing and groping, the soaking wet audience poured down from the seats and joined the party onstage, perhaps hoping everyone would get naked as they do at the end of the first act. Harvey Fierstein, though, was unimpressed. "Oh, honey. Been there, done that," he said when we asked him how he felt about staged nudity. "In 1972 I was in a show called Satyricon at La MaMa and we were all naked. I bent over with a jewel in my anus — that's back when we were young and had muscle control. We had a big orgy scene where we wore glow-in-the-dark penises and vaginas, but what we did was we took them off and held them up in the air while we actually had sex onstage. I don't know how you can get more naked than that." —Jada Yuan

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 8 Aug 2008 | 7:00 pm

Bebe Brings Hervé Léger to the Masses

From left, Hervé Léger; Bebe.Photo: Hervé Léger, Bebe

We have to admit that we have this strange fascination with Bebe. We'll come across super-cute blazers or a really solid pair of high-waisted sailor pants and swear Bebe's our new BFF. We'll start pawing through the rest of the store, emboldened by our new finds, thinking, Oooh, maybe they're taking the line in a new direction? Then we come across things like this and wonder, Are we pushing them too hard?

We know we can be difficult. But then we saw these Hervé Léger–inspired dresses, which have all the bandages of the originals and not much of the high-fashion polish. As the Division Street blog points out, "It was only a matter of time Bebe [before] would fall in love with the body conscious Hervé Léger masterpieces and replicate them for their sluttier fan base." Ouch. The original dresses are hard enough to pull off, but we dare say a cheaper version wouldn't be nearly as flattering (and not just because of the price tag). —Noelle Hancock

Band of Imitators: Bebe [Division Street via Racked]

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 8 Aug 2008 | 6:50 pm

Suri’s Just Cruising Around Town

Photo: WireImage

There are all these solitary pictures of Suri Cruise in New York yesterday on Getty Images, and they're all matter-of-factly captioned, "Suri Cruise is seen on the streets of Manhattan," like she was just, you know, hanging out on her own. How weird: At 2 years old, Suri is already a Personality. Before even growing her first teeth, she has become so famous that no one needs to explain that she is the daughter of two famous people. Oh, and in other obvious news: She's super cute. That is all.

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 8 Aug 2008 | 6:30 pm

Jack Black Discusses the Inspiration for His Farting, Fat ‘Tropic Thunder’ Character

Photo: Getty Images

"I have done lots of farting in movies. And I've been fat in almost all of my movies. So it's very close to home." —Jack Black [EW]

"The real triumph of this tour is that we haven't strangled each other. That's not to say it hasn't crossed my mind, or Stewart's, or Andy's." —Sting closes out the Police's final tour [Reuters via Yahoo]

"Karmically, we deserve the right guy. It's a tough thing, man. We make a pretty big noise." —Bassist Duff McKagan on Velvet Revolver's elusive quest for a front man with the right karmic fit [Billboard]

"It's a new-age, young, hip-hop [version of] Heat. These are young, cool, well-dressed, articulate bank robbers. [Chris Brown] be the little homey." —T.I. on The Heist — but we're not sure if Robert De Niro or Al Pacino was the "little homey" [MTV]

"Contractions have their own rhythm, right, so, we had to find our own rhythm to be a little bit above or on top of the contractions' rhythm. We had a good groove going."
—Matthew McConaughey describes labor in perfect Matthew McConaughey language [CNN]

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 8 Aug 2008 | 6:15 pm

Is a New Model Trinity in the Works?

Photo: Courtesy of Lord & Taylor

The all-American trifecta of Ali Michael from Dallas, Chanel Iman from Atlanta, and Karlie Kloss from Chicago seems to be rising to the very top. In February, Teen Vogue featured the trio on the cover looking super young and fresh, shot by Patrick Demarchelier. Since then, Ali's become the face of Lanvin's fragrance, Chanel's mugging it for DKNY, and Karlie's an editorial superstar. This season, Lord & Taylor got in on the action requesting all three girls to star together in their fall ad campaign, which has previously featured Carolyn Murphy and Jacquetta Wheeler. So we had to wonder, could this finally be the makings of a new trinity? It’s Christy (Ali), Naomi (Chanel), and Linda (Karlie) 2.0. Hey, we can hope! —James Lim

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 8 Aug 2008 | 6:15 pm

Obama, McCain and the tall tales of politicians

When Americans go to the polls this November, there will be many factors that influence where they eventually decide to cast their vote:

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 8 Aug 2008 | 6:08 pm

Reality Check: Joshua Allen Wins 'Dance'

It was a 'So You Think You Can Dance' season of excitement, suspense and even heartache, but in the end America got it right. Joshua Allen has been crowned 'America's favorite dancer' and it's not hard to see why.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Aug 2008 | 5:51 pm

Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts Expand Their Real-Estate Horizons

REAL ESTATE
• Twenty-five Brooklyn hotel projects are in the pipeline, but more than half of those will likely never see the light of day. "Unfortunately the capital market treats the hotel industry very reciprocally, and it seems like our run of good fortune has come to a halt and that it'll probably be a while before we see a new project funded and moving forward again," says one hotel consulting executive. [NYP]
• Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts are changing plans — they've relisted their two apartments at the unfinished One Madison Park and instead will be moving into a $10 million four-bedroom palace in the complex's annex. [WSJ]
• A multi-million-dollar Bridgehampton house designed by Peter Cook, Christy Brinkley's ex, has been sitting on the market for two years. The price has dropped from $27 million to $20 million. [NYP]

FINANCE
• After Citigroup announced yesterday morning that it was going to buy back $7.3 billion of auction-rate securities, Merrill Lynch, UBS, and Morgan Stanley followed suit. But that might not be all. Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, JPMorgan Chase, and Wachovia are all under scrutiny by regulators, meaning they might have to pony up as well. [DealBook/NYT]
• Fannie Mae lost $2.3 billion in the last quarter, which was $2.54 per share. That's a lot worse than the 72 cent per share loss that analysts were expecting. [Bloomberg]
• Merrill Lynch head honcho John Thain is beefing up his management team: He poached Chris Augustin from Citigroup's ranks and named him chief investment officer. [Deal]

MEDIA
• NBC is airing 3,600 hours of Olympic coverage, which the Peacock Network chief Jeff Zucker calls "the most ambitious broadcasting event ever attempted." But the Games will be more than just an assumed ratings boost for NBC — it will also be an experiment with online content distribution, as thousands of hours of footage will be streamed live on the Internet. [CNBC]
• Magazine newsstand sales are on a decline (surprise, surprise!). Whether the change has to do with the economy or consumer behavior depends on whom you ask, but editors and publishers would rather it be the former. "I don't think newsstand softness is systemic to magazines, but rather systemic to the economy," said O publisher Jill Seelig. [WWD]
• Marvel Comics won an $80 million settlement from Ron Perelman. Nobody beats Wolverine, Ron. Nobody. [WSJ]

LAW
• Jeffrey Schmidt, the antitrust chief at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, is leaving to join New York's Linklaters law firm. It was "the right time for me to return to private practice," he said in a statement. [NYT]
• A study of civil lawsuits finds that plaintiffs who settle end up getting more of a payout than if they go to trial. [NYT]
• Speaking of payouts, now everyone's being paid like a New York lawyer. As New York law-firm salaries remained mostly flat this year, healthy pay increases happened elsewhere. [Law.com]

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 8 Aug 2008 | 5:45 pm

Clay Aiken Becomes a Father

Clay Aiken is the father of a baby boy, his mother Faye told WRAL in Raleigh on Friday.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Aug 2008 | 5:43 pm

FOX411: Tom Cruise: Disliked More Than Madonna?

Madonna has millions of fanatic fans, but not so many that want to know about her dirty laundry.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Aug 2008 | 5:35 pm

Here’s One Marc Jacobs Item We Bet You Don’t Have

You know you want it.Photo: eBay

We’ve been accused of being a wee bit prone to wearing anything with labels. Hey, it’s not our fault! Blame our job. On any given day we can count two or three designers from head-to-toe-to-bag. Pretty awful, we know. But even we have to draw the line at some things, though they may come with a Marc Jacobs label. Yes, we’re talking about an MJ condom. Available on eBay, it’s blue, made of rubber, and “100% authentic!” Well, we should hope there isn’t a market for counterfeit designer condoms, but you never can tell. And should your willy need to be decked out in such a high-end fashion, it’ll only cost you $1.99. Plus, it comes with a very special message from our favorite man himself: "REMEMBER, SAFETY FIRST! XXOO, MARC JACOBS.” The auction ends on August 11., so get those bids in! Though if you win it, you may be accused of being a label whore (not that we're judging). —Amina Akhtar

100% Authentic Marc Jacobs Condom Limited Edition Rare [eBay via Celebrityfashion]

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 8 Aug 2008 | 5:30 pm

The Aiken Baby Is Here! The Aiken Baby Is Here!

Photo: Getty Images

This morning at 8:08 a.m., the spawn of Clay Aiken burst through the body of his producer Jaymes Foster and entered a world eagerly anticipating its debut. Parker Foster Aiken, as the baby will be known, weighed six pounds, two ounces, and was nineteen inches long. Despite the fact that Parker is only half-famous (his mother is a producer who is Aiken's "best friend"), the birth was announced nearly immediately by People. This is likely because Clay Aiken is such a huge celebrity that the commonality of the womb of origin is practically canceled out. Also, it has been intimated that Foster was merely a vessel; Clay did not actually have sex with her, and though they will "raise the child together," according to reports, rumor has it that Clay is already working on a twangy country version of Will Smith's "Just the Two of Us."

Clay Aiken Welcomes a Son [People]
Earlier: Clay Aiken Got a Girl Pregnant

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 8 Aug 2008 | 5:00 pm

rachel comey's peru diary

I go to Peru several times a year not only to work on my knitwear, shoe, and belt collections, but to eat amazing food, see the vibrant and charming city of Lima, and visit with many fantastic people. This is a short trip for me. It is usually several weeks, but as we are nearing fashion week, I had to come down to try and do some face-to-face persuading and encouraging.

August 5

I arrive in the early a.m. and go straight to my friend Caroline's apartment in Barranco, which is a gorgeous old neighborhood on the seaside. When the main part of Lima was 30 miles or so inland, Barranco was the resort destination for well-off Peruvians, so there are many gorgeous old buildings overlooking the high cliffs onto the Pacific. On display in Caroline's apartment are amazing embroideries from the Peruvian mountains that are used in ceremonial dances. You can see the incredible handwork capabilities and traditions of Peru represented in these few items.

I catch a quick nap and then spend the day picking out yarn colors and meeting with different knitters, both machine and handknitters. They're proud of their work, but hurry up guys, we need them finished so we can ship, Barneys is waiting!

1_2

That evening, we go to an art opening at a lovely neighborhood gallery called Lucia de la Puente and then later to Juanito for a few Chilcanos (Pisco and ginger ale). Juanitos is an ancient bar in the main square of Barranco. The grandpa proprietor sits at the bar while his sons race around serving drinks and ham sandwiches to the loyal customers, the artistic and literary communities of Lima.

August 6
Caroline is an amazing hostess and major connoisseur of the exotic fruits and vegetables available in the markets. Her morning fruit smoothies rival any I've had. From her roof terrace, where we eat our morning fruit, you can see giant bougainvillea, which are everywhere along the rooftops of Lima.

After an hour ride into the desert, we arrive at one of my shoe factories, where we check on production, pick leather colors, and hand over additional Spring designs. We spend most of the day there, reviewing details and capabilities and putting orders in for the runway sandals.

August 7
Since we have the knitters and shoemakers working on new designs, we give them a day to make advances and head down to the beach (called El Silencio) for the afternoon. Our excuse is that the light is better for looking at yarn colors.

Source: The Style File | 8 Aug 2008 | 4:48 pm

Pop Tarts: Dita Von Teese Turns Fashion Shoot to Nude Shoot

Dita Von Teese stars as the cover girl of the fall issue of boutique magazine Genlux (which hits selected stands next week), and those present at her recent photo shoot got a little more body than they bargained for.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Aug 2008 | 4:28 pm

rosa cha hits new york

Bikini

Brazilian bikinis are still my favorites, especially now that the big trend there is the larger bottom (I must say, I was never a fan of the tiny ones.) Shopping for them in New York, however, has always been a challenge—I've even resorted to having them shipped to me. Rosa Chá is at the top of my list and every time I go home, I always stop in to see what designer Amir Slama is doing. Luckily, I won't have to have them sent from Brazil anymore, because he opened his first NYC store last weekend. Rosa Chá, 460 Broadway, NYC, (212) 777-0117.

—Marina Larroude

Photo: Nicola Kast

Source: The Style File | 8 Aug 2008 | 4:20 pm

Director of 'The Kingdom' Sued Over Death of Propmaster

The parents of an assistant propmaster killed in an accident during the filming of "The Kingdom" have sued director Peter Berg, seeking reimbursement of funeral expenses and other damages.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Aug 2008 | 4:06 pm

live from copenhagen

Romney Leader reports from Copenhagen fashion week.

Designersremix

You'd think that back-to-back shows from morning to night would leave little chance to do touristy things in a new city, but yesterday afternoon had me crisscrossing the Sortedams Sø to experience a number of landmarks (in the name of fashion, of course). Charlotte Eskildsen's Designers Remix Collection—so popular here that she has a boutique in the Copenhagen Airport—was held at the old elephant house in the city zoo. Attendees took in the sights (and smells) behind metal barriers while models Lisa Cant and Emma Karlsson took their first spins in Copenhagen down the well-worn cement catwalk.

On the other side of town, Bruuns Bazaar (Denmark's answer to Banana Republic) staged their show at the National Art Museum. It made for a beautiful setting but a logistical nightmare, as guests were trapped in a 45 minute queue to get to their seats. The clean silhouettes, hailed by the Dansk Daily as a return to Scandinavian minimalism, may have been better represented in a more modern venue.

Daybirgeretmikkelsen

A fitting end to the evening was Day Birger et Mikkelsen's massive tenth anniversary show in an outdoor arena erected in the heart of downtown. 1,500 of their closest fans paid respects to Keld Mikkelsen, who bowed to his screaming fans like a rock god. A massive thunderstorm did little to quell the post-show fever as guests poured onto the runway for an impromptu party. It's a good thing that the Champagne is always in full supply here.

Zarahvoight

There is much to like about Copenhagen, but one of its best features is how the shopping is all concentrated in the same pedestrian area. While walking around this morning I was drawn into jeweler Zarah Voight's boutique by an enticing window display that paired her candy-colored pieces with popsicles and cupcakes. Voight mostly works in laser-cuthard plastic that she juxtaposes with delicate gold chains. The designs are playful—I spotted a bracelet with a string of hot-pink Barbie stilettos, and earrings shaped like house keys. I may go back to buy the pendant necklace with a silhouetted black cocker spaniel. (I have a real one waiting for me at home).

Whyred

A new addition to the retail scene here is the Swedish boutique Whyred, which opened this summer (it's the label's fourth location; the other three are in Stockholm). The brand was launched in 1999 as a denim label by three colleagues from H&M. Their collection has evolved into an enticing blend of basics with an edge. My favorite piece was a color-blocked body-con dress. The shoes are also strong; I had to tear myself away from a chunky leather heel with attached spat. Soon to be a big hit globally, you can check it out in New York City at Castor & Pollux.

Photo: Romney Leader

Source: The Style File | 8 Aug 2008 | 4:01 pm

Bernie Mac Recovering Steadily From Pneumonia

A spokeswoman for Bernie Mac says the actor is responding well to treatment for pneumonia and hopes to be released in the next few weeks.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Aug 2008 | 3:58 pm

Sugarland Founder Files $1.5M Suit Against Current Members

A founder of the country band Sugarland is suing the two current members of the popular group for $1.5 million.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Aug 2008 | 3:58 pm

oh, baby

Alexisbryan

There's an epidemic in the fashion industry, one that threatens the very nature of sample sales and show coverage: pregnancy (who wants to think about pencil skirts with a child in utero?) This reproductive craze was most vivid at a baby shower that Kathryn Neale Shaffer and Ashley Bryan hosted for Vanity Fair's Alexis Bryan-Morgan at the NYC home of Anna Wintour yesterday evening, where there were no fewer than four expectant mothers: Bryan and Neale Shaffer are both enceinte, as is Theory's Melissa Weiss and Alice + Olivia's Stacey Bendet. And there are more: The Chanel press office has had two recent pregnancies, and in the mother office (so to speak) there will be three Style.com babies by the end of the year. This isn't the first time in history that the number of pregnancies have gone up in a recession; explained one (non-pregnant) party guest, "Everything is just too expensive right now. Sex is free." A blunt explanation, certainly, which another person added to: "And the kids will help keep the economy moving." That reminds me: Anybody want to go in on a baby line? I know quite a lot of people who will be shopping for onesies real soon.

—Derek Blasberg

Photo: RD/Leon/Retna Digital

Source: The Style File | 8 Aug 2008 | 3:44 pm

McConaughey details son's birth, life as dad

Given that Matthew McConaughey's personal motto is "just keep living," perhaps it's no surprise that he says the birth of his 1-month-old son Levi Alves McConaughey has not totally stopped the way he does that.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 8 Aug 2008 | 3:37 pm

Here kitty, kitty at the fashion show

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 8 Aug 2008 | 3:29 pm

Katie Holmes Sports Pixie Cut

Katie Holmes has apparently chopped her hair even shorter ... again.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Aug 2008 | 3:18 pm

Toby Keith Hits Back at Accusation Song Is Pro-Lynching

Toby Keith hit back at a recent blog post that derided his 2003 song 'Beer for My Horses' as a pro-lynching anthem.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Aug 2008 | 3:15 pm

r u going to this?

Adammcewentextmessagehanna2

When most premature "obituaries" of Kate Moss (this was post-drug allegations, back when it looked like her career was in permanent nosedive) took the form of "Kate Blows" T-shirts, British-born artist Adam McEwen brilliantly skewered our mean-spirited fixation on watching stars fall from the limelight by writing a New York Times-style obituary of Moss for the 2006 Whitney Biennial. Now McEwen, who read English lit at Oxford, cues up feelings of schadenfreude over today's technology-induced epidemic of flagging language skills. At Glenn Horowitz Bookseller, which brings the spirit of the East Village to the Hamptons, McEwen presents a series of haiku messages, written like texts. Sparky, smart and sharp, these little missives might be missing punctuation and conventional spellings, but their gritty articulate observations and clever wording remind us that good writing, like Ms. Moss's eternal allure, will never die. "Adam McEwen: Chicken or Beef" opens tomorrow, August 8.

—Ana Finel Honigman

Photo: Adam McEwen, courtesy of Glenn Horowitz Bookseller

Source: The Style File | 8 Aug 2008 | 3:14 pm

Pam Shriver Files for Divorce From One-Time 007 Lazenby

Former tennis star Pam Shriver has filed for divorce from one-time James Bond actor George Lazenby.
Source: FOXNews.com | 8 Aug 2008 | 2:59 pm

Katie Holmes attracts attention with new 'do

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 8 Aug 2008 | 2:57 pm

Fat lady sings to end The Police tour

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 8 Aug 2008 | 2:55 pm

pass the bill

The Blasscapades continue: One of the all-American house's recent alums, who's reinvented himself before, is soon to announce a new, solo adventure.

Source: The Style File | 8 Aug 2008 | 2:53 pm

Spokeswoman: Bernie Mac responding well

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 8 Aug 2008 | 2:35 pm

spring 2009: the future looks bright

Wagner2

Though Fall clothes are just starting to arrive in stores, I'm already starting to think fashion forward, to Spring 2009. Accessories designer Alexa Wagner wasted no time getting her collection together, and showed beautiful, brightly colored summer shoes. On my wish list? The orange and gray sandal—a great color combination—with little bows, and the open-toe green suede bootie. For more information, see www.alexawagner.com.

—Marina Larroude

Source: The Style File | 8 Aug 2008 | 2:32 pm

Ex-Bush Aide: 'Swing Vote' Stolen from Him

Former aide suing Kelsey Grammer, says he gave him a script similar to "Vote."
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 8 Aug 2008 | 2:24 pm

James Lavelle

James Lavelle of the band Unkle performs in Las Vegas last year. Lavelle has set his sights on silver screen success with a cinematically inspired new album and a contribution to the X-Files film.
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 8 Aug 2008 | 2:17 pm

James Lavelle perfoms in Las Vegas

UNKLE mainman James Lavelle, seen here in Las Vegas last year, has set his sights on silver screen success with a cinematically inspired new album and a contribution to the X-Files film.
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 8 Aug 2008 | 2:17 pm

New TV season on the way. Does anyone care?

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 8 Aug 2008 | 2:10 pm

longchamp's seventies reissue

Longchamp3

Longchamp celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and naturally, the occasion has inspired some retrospection on the part of the brand. Though it wasn't exactly practical for Longchamp to revive the pipes and smoking accessories that launched the house, managing director Jean Cassegrain has seen fit to reissue the original Longchamp handbag, the LM. Designed by his father, Philippe, and originally made to be sold only in Japan, the logo-splashed LM was introduced in the early seventies and paved the way for Longchamp's iconic natural-grain-leather-and-nylon Pliage bags. "We wanted to come up with a project based on our history," Cassegrain explains, "but we also felt that the seventies design of the LM could be very contemporary and relevant, too." The reissued LMs arrive in Longchamp stores this month, and Cassegrain says he expects them to become a brand staple; new interpretations of the style are due next year.

—Maya Singer

Photo: Courtesy of Longchamp

Source: The Style File | 8 Aug 2008 | 1:25 pm

rock chic: julia restoin-roitfeld meets rock & republic

Julia

Rnr

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld likes to say that fashion was "always around" when she was growing up. This typical bit of understatement pretty much summarizes her iconoclastic approach to building a career in the fashion industry: Rather than assuming the role of heir apparent to, say, her mom—Carine Roitfeld, editor in chief of Paris Vogue—Restoin-Roitfeld has charted a path through the family business as peripatetic as that of any average Parsons grad. There was the internship at Visionaire, another one working with Craig McDean, some freelance gigs, a little modeling on the side. Normal-normal. Now, Restoin-Roitfeld is coming into her own, on her own. The up-and-coming art director conceived the new Rock & Republic ad campaign set to feature in September's fat fashion books, and more projects are underway. Here, she talks to Style.com about keeping fashion in the family.

How did you connect with Rock & Republic?

My friend Keegan Singh works with them as a consultant, and he introduced me. I pitched them my idea for a campaign, and here we are.

Singh styled the shoot, which stars your brother (and Malgosia Bela). Was it strange working with Vladimir? I mean, it's got to be a stretch to have to look at your brother in terms of those model-y qualities like, um, sex appeal.

Everything was very professional. And part of the reason we cast Vladimir, in fact, was that the campaign seemed to call for a real guy, and not a model. I mean, that was my pitch—the previous campaigns weren't embodying the strength of the brand's name, and its products, and I felt like it was important to express a rock "attitude," in an authentic way, rather than do something like, oh, here's a bunch of guys pretending to be a band and fake-playing the guitar. When I think "rock attitude," I think confidence, I think strength; the choice of model reflects that. You have to be yourself, not someone playing a role.

You've done some modeling yourself—the Black Orchid campaign for Tom Ford, for example, and you're in the new Gap ads, as well. Does that experience influence the way you think as an art director?

Well, seeing the business from a different perspective is always interesting and helpful. I'd say the same thing about working with Craig McDean—interning for him gave me another point of view.

And surely, there's another point of view that comes from watching your mom work. Were you ever wary about going into the family business, as it were?

I don't really think of myself as being involved in the "family business." I've done some graphic design and a bit of consulting, I've worked with people like Fabien Baron and done jobs for VMan and Zac Posen and Teen Vogue. I'd like to add packaging projects to my portfolio. This is my career. I always wanted to do something artistic; art direction, that came naturally.

—Maya Singer

Photo: Courtesy of Rock & Republic

Source: The Style File | 8 Aug 2008 | 1:21 pm

After a year, The Police end comeback tour in NYC (AP)

AP - The Police ended one of rock 'n' roll's most successful reunions in Madison Square Garden on Thursday with a tribute to other famous trios, an assist from some real cops and a not-particularly close shave.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 8 Aug 2008 | 11:42 am

Disclaimer | About

Blogs : Humor pages | Norkay's Blog | Kids Stories | Indian Recipes | Database Tech Blog

Sundries : World Video Clips | Songs Clips | Indian Video Clips |