Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 28 Aug 2008 | 10:01 pm

Radiohead to Hand Election to McCain

In an apparent show of solidarity with John McCain, Sheryl Crow, and the GOP, uppity British space-rock combo Radiohead have just announced on their blog plans to Webcast their concert in Santa Barbara tonight. The last show on their North American tour begins this evening at 10 p.m. EDT, and will likely distract millions of young, progressive voters from Barack Obama's acceptance speech for the Democratic presidential nomination, scheduled for the exact same time, thereby clinching a Republican victory this November. The band is expected to play hits like "Paranoid Android" and "The Bends" and call for the expansion of offshore oil drilling.

Santa Barbara [Radiohead via Stereogum]

Earlier: Sheryl Crow to Single-handedly Hand Election to McCain

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 10:00 pm

Brooklynites Are Really Getting Salty About the Waterfalls

Brooklyn Heights: Judy Stanton, imperious grand dame of all things quality-of-life in the BH, demands that two of the Eliasson waterfalls be turned off within days because they're killing the trees around here with their salty spray. And what's worse, they're spraying the cars! And what's worse, Brooklyn residents don't even have the fabulous view of the waterfalls that they were promised! [Brooklyn Paper]

East Harlem: Who will be the lucky developer for East 125th Street's $1.7-million-square-foot retail-housing megacomplex that the City Planning Commish just okayed a rezoning for? Vornado? Thor? Isis? God? [NYS]

Harlem: Though the white population here has risen from 0.6 percent in 1980 to 6.6 percent in 2006, "Harlem will not lose its black majority or its high concentrations of poverty anytime soon." Sometimes you can have good and bad news all in one sentence. [Gotham Gazette via Uptown Flavor]

Kew Gardens: Have you ever stepped out of your comfort zone and visited this pretty, historic Queens hood, which has no landmarks protection? Well, if you had, you'd understand why locals want it to avoid going the overdeveloped way of nearby also-pretty hood Richmond Hill. [amNY via Queens Crap]

Red Hook: It looks like one of those massive BJ's Wholesale Clubs will be opening in the site of the former Revere Sugar factory, which Ikea is currently leasing as a parking lot. BJ's at wholesale prices? Bring the whole family! [Brooklyn Paper via Brownstoner]

Williamsburg: 'Burgers say that Con Ed's demolition of an old waterfront power plant is sending "Desert Storm"–like "clouds" of asbestos-tainted dust toward their parks and children. Meanwhile, Long Island City is loving on Con Ed because its new training center there has a hood-friendly "green roof." [Curbed]

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 28 Aug 2008 | 10:00 pm

Bidens Tap Bobbi Brown; Sarah Larson Wants Implants?

MAKEUP
• Democratic National Convention delegate Bobbi Brown has been asked to do the makeup for the women in the Biden family. Politics and beauty — like cheese and crackers. [WWD]

• Shiseido Maquillage tapped Christopher Kane for its new Mode Mix fall collection featuring five distinct looks — stylish, modern, active, romantic, and lovely. Agyness Deyn and Japanese celebs Anne Watanabe, Chiaki Kuriyama, Misaki Ito, and Yuri Ebihara illustrate the five looks in the campaign, all of which are entirely wearable. [Makeup for Life]

FRAGRANCE
• YSL Beauté plans to launch B, a woody floral fragrance for the Boucheron brand created by Ursula Wandel of Givaudan. [Cosmetic News]

PLASTIC SURGERY
Sarah Larson and George Clooney supposedly broke up in part "because Larson insisted on getting breast implants." If that's true, homegirl needs to get out of L.A. [NYP]

SKIN
• Dr. Robert "90210" Rey came out with a new skin-care line called Sensual Solutions, and now it's a mainstay at the E! studios in Los Angeles. Which makes sense because he works for E!. [NYDN]

• Some interesting gadgets came out of the seventh annual Diet and Beauty Fair in Tokyo this week. The Sparkle 1000 is a face mask soaked in carbonated water to improve blood circulation, and the Eclat Shower is a misting machine that promotes sweating and boosts metabolism. Sounds like junk to us. [BellaSugar]

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 9:40 pm

Filmmaker Kentucker Audley Says There’s Gonna Be No Dancing

Kentucker Audley’s amiably deadpan slacker romance Team Picture hits DVD this week. It’s a generous, surprisingly engaging look at an aimless young Memphis musician whose listless life is rocked when he meets a new girl. It’s also about a million miles removed from Audley’s early short And He Just Comes Around and Dances With You, an intense, despairing look at obsession and the twisted nature of attraction. Each film is beautiful in its own way, but it kind of boggles our minds that the same filmmaker was responsible for both. (Ignore the different credits on the short — Audley directed this film.) We’re particularly impressed with the elliptical nature of the short; it unfolds in such a way that we’re never quite sure as to the exact nature of the film’s central relationship. Which, of course, makes the whole thing that much more despairing and depressing.

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 9:15 pm

Ratings dip on DNC's night 3

Front Page: CNN only cabler to improve from Tuesday -- A hard-hitting speech by VP nominee Joe Biden was not enough to prevent a ratings slip on night three of the Democratic National Convention.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 28 Aug 2008 | 9:15 pm

‘Gossip Girl’ Tragically Disrespected by Website

Sometimes we really hate the Internet. We don't know how we would ever find directions or where we know that guy-who-plays-that-guy from without it, but often it just feels like the source of all spoil and ruin and badness. Such as today, when Gawker's Big Gay Richard put up scans from a purloined copy of the script for an upcoming Gossip Girl episode. It was like having a flasher run up and expose himself to you. A big gay flasher. A hairy one.

We have some episodes from the upcoming season on DVD, and you know what? We're not looking at them yet. Why? RESPECT. Gossip Girl is an experience in which wardrobe and pithy dialogue and music from bands you have just heard of and acting from some of the world's finest young thespians all come together to form, yes, a work of art, and as in a gallery or a museum, the order of that art is a part of the experience. You wouldn't just go into the Met and start rearranging the paintings. You wouldn't just open The Idiot and start reading, would you? Would you, Big Gay Richard? No, because there is clearly a trajectory that needs to be followed. Distilling the greatness of Gossip Girl into black-and-white pellets of colorless dialogue or watching episodes out of turn is nothing short of criminal. Well, maybe slightly short. The point is, we're not looking at it. Not even the part where Serena and Blair are in a fight again. So there. But here's a link if anyone else wants to:

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 28 Aug 2008 | 9:15 pm

Dear ‘Daily News’: The Wichcraft Coffee Guy Is Not One of ‘Fashion's Most Powerful’

New York's media outlets are keenly aware that Fashion Week starts — egad! — one week from tomorrow. They're also aware publishing something to hype it is probably a good idea. The Daily News, for example, published a list of "Fashion's 50 Most Powerful." Now, we understand that churning out a daily newspaper is grueling and time-consuming and that getting a handle on Fashion Week while the Democratic National Convention is going on is a lot to manage. But still, the paper could have put just a touch more time and thought into this list, which is so glaringly off. We can't argue with putting Anna Wintour at No. 1. And though he's helping to change Gap's image, we're not sure we'd put Patrick Robinson before Marc Jacobs. After the jump we list the people on the list we take the most issue with.

3. Marc Jacobs — The crown prince of fashion comes in at No. 3 — and yet, every girl we know owns, wears, and covets something by Marc. We'd inch him a little higher.
14. Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta — Granted both designers have a similar clientele, but lumping them together at a randomly low rank is just puzzling. Not to mention their pull within the industry and their great charitable deeds. Did you do your homework, Daily News?
16. Mary Giuliani —She's the "caterer du jour for the style world (at least when it eats)." And she comes in above…
22. Patricia Field — The woman created the look of Sex and the City, which seriously influenced the way a lot of people view fashion. Strange that she's below a caterer.
30. Michael Oliver —The store manager of Wichcraft in Bryant Park served 10,000 shots of espresso last Fashion Week. He is the 30th most powerful force in the fashion industry. Seriously.
37. Tory Burch — She just won a CFDA for accessories, and she's below the Wichcraft barista.
41. Tim Gunn, Michael Kors, and the Project Runway team — Heidi Klum is probably seething she was left off, but Tim Gunn and Michael Kors not only should have separate entries, but clearly should be higher up. Every time Tim says something about how anyone dresses it becomes a major headline and we all know Michael's sales are through the roof.
44. Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, and Francisco Costa — Wow. These are three of the most-lauded American designers of our time. And they're tied at No. 44? Really?!

Fashion's 50 most powerful [Daily News]

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 9:00 pm

Five films enter Labor Day fray

Front Page: Summer box office set to end on high note -- There are five new wide releases playing over the long Labor Day weekend -- more than ever before for the holiday -- in a fitting end to a summer that's been full of surprises.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 28 Aug 2008 | 8:51 pm

Lindsay Lohan Loses Her Grandfather (E! Online)

E! Online - The Lohan family has suffered a loss.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 28 Aug 2008 | 8:44 pm

Photographer Matt Hoyle Joins the Polar Bear Club

Matt Hoyle’s subject is often water and the people who swim in it. He hasn’t exactly followed the lead of Martin Munkácsi, the Hungarian master whose able-bodied vacationers glistened on the beach, often lounging under glamorous striped accessories or jumping into petite waves. Hoyle’s people are more of the Olympic persuasion, not letting the aesthetic interfere with their performance. Here, it seems Hoyle has infiltrated this tubby polar bear’s dreams. After the jump, see Penelope, a cracked-lip swimmer, up close and personal. Hoyle's work is on view in a group show until Saturday at Point of View Gallery.

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 8:30 pm

Matt Lauer on MSNBC: ‘Maybe a Unified Network Would Be Nice’

We spotted Matt Lauer and exec producer of Today Jim Bell waiting for a car at the Ritz to take them back to New York tonight, causing them to miss the Obama speech. What gives? "I'd love to be standing there watching it, but that way I wouldn't get back to the show tomorrow," Lauer explained. We then asked him if he has been steering clear of the madness at his sister channel, MSNBC:

Lauer: [With laughter] What madness are you talking about?

Bell: Is that Bravo, Telemundo, or CNBC?

Lauer: SciFi network? No, we try to keep a healthy distance from madness, but I'm not sure what's going on and I'll let it play out among all the parties involved. We have enough drama on our own show that we can keep ourselves busy…

New York: Maybe after the convention you'll be unified!

Lauer: Yeah, I think since people are looking for a unified country, maybe a unified network would be nice.

Bell: Yes! We! Can!

Lauer: Change we can believe in.

Earlier: How Is Hippie MSNBC President Phil Griffin Dealing With All the Rage on His Network? [NYM]

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 28 Aug 2008 | 8:30 pm

From A to Z, New Book From Nina Garcia Names Must-Haves (Fashion Wire Daily)

Fashion Wire Daily - Editor Nina Garcia, who takes her fashion eye to Marie Claire starting in September, is well-known as one of the judges for "Project Runway," where she dispenses thoughtful, and sometimes scathing, critiques of the designers' projects each week.

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment News | 28 Aug 2008 | 8:27 pm

From A to Z, New Book From Nina Garcia Names Must-Haves (Fashion Wire Daily)

Fashion Wire Daily - Editor Nina Garcia, who takes her fashion eye to Marie Claire starting in September, is well-known as one of the judges for "Project Runway," where she dispenses thoughtful, and sometimes scathing, critiques of the designers' projects each week.

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 28 Aug 2008 | 8:27 pm

Fight for Obama, ‘Vanity Fair’ Tickets Consumes DNC

The only activity left at the DNC is jockeying for tickets to Obama's big speech and the big Google/Vanity Fair party that will serve as the last, and greatest, party of the week. Tickets to Invesco were distributed via an online sign-up, mostly to campaign volunteers; the only way to snag one now is to play off political connections.

The Vanity Fair party, naturally, is less democratic. There are currently huge lines on the second floor of the Ritz-Carlton to pick up tickets; we saw new Washington Post executive editor Marcus Brauchli sprinting up the stairs to retrieve his.

The line is no doubt prompted by the e-mail that went out last night at 12:14 a.m., explaining that anyone who had not already received a confirmation e-mail with instructions on ticket retrieval — invitees were supposed to grab their precious pass on Tuesday — would not be getting in. No exceptions!

We happened to glance at the guest list yesterday and saw it was covered in Sharpie marks, with virtually every guest's wife crossed off. So last night's e-mail was akin to a surprise dis-invitation. No apologies. No explanation. Just the crushing and infuriating realization, as one person who'd been with several dis-invitees when the e-mail came through said, that someone, somewhere, had decided that "you're not cool enough to make the cut."

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 28 Aug 2008 | 8:10 pm

Musicians, Record Labels Shunning iTunes, Money

The Wall Street Journal reports today on the bizarre growing phenomenon of artists and record companies refusing to do business with Apple's iTunes based on the theory that making single songs available for download hurts the more profitable business of selling complete albums. The dubious evidence? Kid Rock's 2007 record Rock N Roll Jesus, which was never released on iTunes, has sold 1.7 million physical copies. Utterly convinced by this obviously perfect correlation, Atlantic Records last week pulled Estelle's album Shine from the store, just as her awesome single "American Boy" was entering the iTunes Top 10.

With the easy availability of both of these albums (and pretty much every other album that's ever been recorded) on blogs and BitTorrent sites, the chasm between consumers deciding to pay $0.99 for a single track on the Internet and $10 for an album at a store (whatever that is) is huge and growing. Isn't pulling an album from iTunes just a great way to push people to piracy and forfeit a bunch of perfectly good free money? It would certainly seem that way to us, but we guess that's why we're not record executives.

More Artists Steer Clear of iTunes [WSJ]

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 8:00 pm

What It’s Like to Make Out With Chace Crawford

People had a slumber party with Madchen Amick, the actress who is playing Mary Kay LeTourneau to Nate Archibald's Fualaau in the upcoming season of Gossip Girl, and she told them a little bit about their make-out scene. Daily Intel's official stance is that Nate is dumb but hot, and thus we were intrigued.

“He’s a very good kisser,” Amick, 37, says. “If anyone gets the opportunity to kiss him, he will not disappoint.”

Wait. That's it? "Good"? Couldn't she be a little more descriptive, like, "His touch was firm but tender as he pulled me towards him, wrapping his short yet muscular arms around me and pressing his adolescent flesh to my … older flesh. He smelled of flannel, Sebastian hair-care products, and — faintly — of merlot. His lips were succulent and sweet, like … um … ripe figs. I gasped with pleasure as his man-bangs caressed my cheek." There. That's better.


Gossip Girl Countdown: Chace Is a "Very Good Kisser" [People]

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 28 Aug 2008 | 7:50 pm

When a columnist was a criminal

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 28 Aug 2008 | 7:40 pm

Why Michael Kors’s Business Is Booming

In three years, Michael Kors's sales are expected to reach $1 billion in the U.S. alone, predicts John Idol, chief executive of the Kors company. And that's not just because of his design skills or Project Runway, which pulls in about 5 percent of the company's gross. In her profile of the designer in today's Times, Ruth La Ferla notes that Kors gets to know merchants and sales associates in stores that carry his clothes, like Bergdorf Goodman, and makes personal appearances at trunk shows to rub elbows with clients. Just a few reasons his sales have increased an impressive 50 percent and then some at Bergdorf alone in the last three years. But what we wish La Ferla's piece highlighted more is that Michael Kors's strategy is so effective because of his personality! He's just as delightful off camera as he is on camera. (See for yourselves.) And how many famous people can you say that about these days? Certainly not, say, Tyra Banks.

But Kors also persevered when times were tough. In the nineties, when the world turned to grunge (us included), one of his big investors left and Kors had to file for Chapter 11. And later, critics panned his fall 2000 collection. But none of this stopped Michael from making or selling clothes. So we can certainly understand why he looked so frustrated when Keith complained about his chicken metaphor on Project Runway last night.

Michael Kors (but You Knew That) [NYT]
Earlier: ‘Runway’ Recap: In Which Keith Loses It
Video: Studio Visit With Michael Kors

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 7:30 pm

Anna Faris Wanted ‘The House Bunny’ to Be Waaaaaaaay Darker

Today's L.A. Times profile of Anna Faris starts out rather predictably, if you've been reading Vulture recently: "The weeks before Labor Day at movie theaters tend to be a dumping ground for critical duds." We said that! "Although reviews of the movie were mixed overall, critics singled out Faris' turn as a bubble-headed Playboy bunny, praising her as a worthy heir to such dizzy dames as Carole Lombard and Judy Holliday." That too! Then suddenly there's a … twist:

Faris brought the character to writers Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, whose "Legally Blonde" catapulted Reese Witherspoon into the top rank of Hollywood actresses. Her original conception of Shelley was, she admits, "much darker": a hardened drug addict returning home to her conservative small town, perhaps to her abusive father. The reaction, fortunately, was skeptical. "When I told the writers, they were like, 'Hmmm. Or she could become a house mom!' " Faris says.

Emphasis ours, because … whoa. The House Bunny could have been less Legally Blonde and more Sherrybaby. Dark Knight, consider yourself lucky: You could have had some real competition.

'House Bunny' may open doors for Anna Faris [LAT]

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 7:15 pm

How Is Hippie MSNBC President Phil Griffin Dealing With All the Rage on His Network?

For a long time, MSNBC head honcho Phil Griffin only had to worry about managing a verbal war with competitor Fox News. Then Tim Russert died. Russert was a man who, even in death, could make rainbows appear out of thin air. But now that he's gone, Griffin is left with Joe Scarborough, Chris Matthews, David Shuster, and Keith Olbermann — all of whom seem to actually loathe one another. Openly. On camera. It's enough bad karma to make MSNBC broadcast in black-and-white.

After a week of Gawker and the Huffington Post covering the scuffles, print media finally picked up on the story. The Wall Street Journal chronicled the mess and superbly quoted former MSNBC'er Connie Chung as saying, "'Grow up!' They have to just grow up." Politico also took on the story and tied it to the network's growing pains as it shifts more firmly to the left.

So why can't Phil Griffin, the love guru, control all of these guys? Apparently because he doesn't want to. "Look, I want honest, authentic people on our air. I don't want phonies. So if the price of that is every once in a while one of these bubbles up, I'm not concerned," he told the Journal. But it's so much tension! Surely that can't be good for your Anahata chakra.

And yet Griffin does have his own way of dealing with this. "Like any good manager, I give and I take and I massage and I deal with it," he said. Massage? Dude, we're clearly at the point where that won't be enough. You may have to yoga that shit out.

MSNBC prez defends convention team [Politico]
MSNBC Anchors' Fights Go Live [WSJ]
Earlier: MSNBC’s Phil Griffin Is Filled With Flowers, Light
With Appointment of Rachel Maddow to Prime-Time Host, Keith Olbermann Appears to Officially Run MSNBC

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 28 Aug 2008 | 7:09 pm

Music mogul Suge Knight released from jail

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 28 Aug 2008 | 7:08 pm

Reviewed: `Raising the Bar,' 'Sons,' 'True Blood' (AP)

AP - The fall season is afoot, with these three shows among the first to hit the air: TNT's courtroom drama "Raising the Bar"; FX's series about an outlaw motorcycle club, "Sons of Anarchy"; and HBO's vampires-are-just-folks horror-comedy-romance, "True Blood."

Source: Yahoo! News: Entertainment Reviews | 28 Aug 2008 | 6:56 pm

Meet the New Guy: Matt Gordon

Alberta native and face of Tommy Hilfiger Matt Gordon got his big break last year when he signed a two-season contract with Gucci alongside Natasha Poly. When that expired this spring, he booked work with just about everyone. This summer he appeared on the runways of Versace and Hermès. Karl Lagerfeld couldn't resist Gordon and his come-hither eyes either and specially requested him for a sexy Numéro Homme spread he shot with Claudia Schiffer. Naturally, photographer Steven Meisel wanted a piece of him also and shot the model for Pringle of Scotland's simple and elegant fall ad campaign.

Model Profile: Matt Gordon

For more runway gods and goddesses, check out our Model Manual, your complete guide to the pretty people.

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 6:45 pm

Will We Hate the New ‘90210’ As Much As Jennie and Shannen Do?

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty talk about their appearances on the new 90210. Their interview — and the fact that it's them on the cover of EW promoting 90210, not any of the young and hot cast members playing teens — makes us wonder if 90210 doesn't have a real marketing problem.

There are two possible audiences for this show: current teens who want to watch a show about hot teens, and former teens who want to watch Shannen and Jennie and (eventually, right?) Jason and Luke.

Current teens are seeing article after article and promo after promo that focuses on Garth and Doherty and the old 90210 — actors and a show they don't care about at all. Former teens are being pulled in by this marketing, but once they watch the series , will they like it? Will it remind them of their old favorite? Doherty and Garth seem not to think so. In fact, they seem to have a real problem with the show they're ostensibly promoting:

GARTH: When [producers] told me some of the things they were doing, I was like, ''Whoa. That is not 90210, people.'' They were trying to educate me [about] how teens are in high school today. It was so shocking to me that I thought I should bring a positive spin somehow. Of course, I have yet to guide or counsel anyone.
DOHERTY: I think they must have told you the same things they told me.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What kinds of things?
DOHERTY: All I know is there's a girl giving a guy a blow job in the first episode.
GARTH: When they told me that, I thought, Aaron Spelling is rolling over in his grave right now.

So viewers our age aren't going to like the show because it's trashy and "not 90210." Teenage viewers aren't even going to watch the show because for all they know its stars are a 36-year-old guidance counselor and a 37-year-old drama teacher. Are we wrong to think that maybe 90210 is in serious trouble?

'90210''s Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth: The EW Reunion [EW]
Related: It Was Only a Matter of Time... [NYM]

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 6:30 pm

Meredith Vieira Officially More Powerful Than Katie Couric

MEDIA
• Katie Couric made Forbes' annual list of most powerful women in the world, but, at number 63, she's ranked one spot behind her Today show replacement, Meredith Vieira. The CBS anchorwoman did, however, beat out Good Morning America host Diane Sawyer. [NYP]
• What are 15,000 journalists doing at the Democratic National Convention? Journalist Justin Peters wonders the exact same thing. [CJR]
• Rolling Stone is getting a new publisher just as the retooled magazine hits newsstands. [NYP]

FINANCE
• Infrastructure seems to be a buzzword of the week in the finance world, as Wall Street investment firms look to privatize infrastructure initiatives. The latest: Morgan Stanley hopes to invest up to a quarter of its $4 billion global-infrastructure fund in emerging economies. [DealBook/NYT]
• Blackstone's Kailix hedge fund saw sharp losses at the beginning of the month, but is now experiencing a rebound. "I would say the first 10 trading days of August were very difficult, but we have experienced a bounce-back over the last 10 days or so," said one hedge-fund official. Some analysts think this could be an industry-wide trend. [NYP]
• Lehman Brothers apologizes for plagiarizing parts of a Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. stock-research report. [WSJ]

LAW
• Two New York lawyers who were improperly listed for over twenty years as school-district employees must return "every dime" of the close to $700,000 in excess pension funds they owe the state. [Law.com]
• Law firms are starting to realize that they hire more lawyers than they need. So what is Big Law going to do to fix the system? [WSJ]
• Should the legal community draft a Digital Bill of Rights? [Legal Blog Watch]

REAL ESTATE
• Heath Ledger's Soho loft is listed for rent at $26,000 per month. [Corcoran]
• New York has few green roofs — defined by a layer of vegetation and rock that absorbs and insulates buildings, which works to reduce greenhouse gases, rainwater runoff, and electricity demand. The Con Edison training center in Long Island City, which is lined with a green and purple sedum, is one such roof. [NYT]
• With the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey seeking significant savings in the budget and the timetable of the Trade Center reconstruction, another key element of Mr. Calatrava's design — a vast underground mezzanine free of columns — may be in jeopardy. [NYT]

Source: Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine | 28 Aug 2008 | 6:15 pm

Step Right Up for Your Free Eating-Disorder Brochure at Fashion Week

The CFDA shall not relent in its quest for an effective way to ensure fashion models stay healthy. Not only did they hold a panel discussion on model health in June and send out letters to designers and casting agents urging them to follow the CFDA's model-health guidelines this Fashion Week, but they'll also set up special "health initiative booths" in the tents at Bryant Park. In the lobby and backstage. The Renfrew Center, an eating-disorder treatment facility, will help with the booths, which will offer information on the CFDA's guidelines and "an informational brochure on eating disorders, the signs and symptoms." That's brochure, singular.

"[W]e will have a clinician on site who is going to be there to answer specific questions, provide referrals and basically perform overall outreach to any person who might be interested in treatment or may be worried about someone they are working with,” Steven Kolb, executive director of the CFDA, told WWD. And if you don't have an eating disorder or don't want to discuss your concerns about the person/people you know with eating disorders or just don't have room for that brochure in your purse with all those free trade papers, you can simply sign a paper saying you support the CFDA's health guidelines.

We bet these are going to get more foot traffic than the open bars or the booths with the free macaroons.

CFDA to Set Up Health Initiative Booths During Fashion Week [WWD]
Related: CFDA Panel on Skinny Models: Coco Rocha on Her Struggle

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 6:00 pm

A visitor walks past an untitled work created 1991 by Martin Kippenberger

A visitor walks past an untitled work created 1991 by Martin Kippenberger. The religious feelings of devout Italians are being hurt by the deceased German artist's representation of a crucified frog, Culture...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 28 Aug 2008 | 5:55 pm

Josh Schwartz Discovers Possible Flaw in NBC’s Marketing Plan for ‘Chuck’

"They say, 'Your promotion's in Sunday night football,' and I go, 'Yeah, but we're on against Monday Night Football.'" —Josh Schwartz on Chuck [What's Alan Watching?]

"You don't really have to have substantial breasts to twirl tassels. It's all about the bouncing motion." —Angie Pontani, star of This Is Burlesque [Gothamist]

"They work on that sort of scale; I wanted to get it out as soon as possible, because I'm an impatient pop star." —Rufus Wainwright on dropping his plans to compose a work for the Metropolitan Opera because they couldn't fit him in until 2014 [NYT]

"I was so passionate about that movie. I still am. It's such an unusual character for a woman to be able to play. It's the only role I've played so far that has no love interest. Well, I guess, weed." —Anna Faris on her role in Smiley Face [LAT]

“It's a 'Princess Bride'-'Romeo and Juliet'-type story with monsters and pirates with big beards. It's very Jellyfish and Jon Brion, Harry Nilsson's Popeye soundtrack. That type of music with a Michel Gondry look to it." —Drake Bell on the movie he’d like to make [LAT]

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 5:45 pm

Electra, Kardashian on fitness and comedy

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 28 Aug 2008 | 5:40 pm

Michael Lohan: Lindsay's 'Out of Control'

Lindsay's dad is lashing out at her, her mother and her BFF Samantha Ronson.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 28 Aug 2008 | 5:35 pm

‘Runway’ Recap: In Which Keith Loses It

All the designers looked weary and miserable on Project Runway last night, but Keith is the King of Sulk, utterly distraught from landing in the bottom two last week. He says he wants to change the way the world dresses — if only someone else wanted him to.

In this week's challenge, Heidi gives the designers a midtown address and tells them to go to the rooftop. Rooftop? Time to freak out! Blayne is scared and speculates they’re designing for someone famous, “exclusive, rooftop style.” Someone else floats the possibility of a party. Yes, a party that’s going on at 8 a.m. is totally Tim Gunn’s scene.

The address turns out to be a parking lot full of a bunch of Saturns. Just as sexy as that party they were expecting! Tim, wearing a festive bright-pink shirt, tells the designers they have to make dresses out of car parts — everyone freaks out. Again. How ever are they going to take the cars apart? Lest they deface a sponsor, the car parts are waiting for them inside the vehicles. So they rush to fill their grocery carts with seat belts, floor mats, carburetors, headlights, and the like. Everyone goes right for the seat belts to make their garments. Kenley sees this and smartly decides not to use them. Stella, who ought to rock out on a challenge that involves working with thick heavy materials and hammering, decides to make something “pretty.” Sigh.

Keith wants to please the “fucking judges” and is sick of their harsh critiques of his fabulous clothes. Blayne notes Keith has developed a major “’tude” and keeps slamming things down and cursing. Keith is acting scary weird and says he deserves to win more than anyone else. Obnoxious much? But it gets better: On elimination day he instructs his model not to sit down, but she has to in hair and makeup. He becomes livid when the seat-belt skirt splits, but that’s the least of his problems since the outfit was already hideous. “There’s so much more at stake for me than there is for her,” he says. Ugh. Then he tells her to “watch the breathing.” Double ugh.

Laura Bennett fills in for Nina Garcia this week and does a good job. Rachel Zoe is the guest judge, and she’s fine too. Jerell’s futuristic strapless minidress is cool, but we can’t stand the styling. The boots? The stiff too-high ponytail? The tar eye shadow? We like that he went for a total look, but we found the whole thing unbecoming. Leanne’s structured minidress with the jutting hips is original and works, but Stella’s seat-belt pencil skirt and mismatched top are on the ugly side of whatever. Blayne looks like he ran out of time on his mirror appliquéd dress, which has loose seat belts hanging to the floor that Michael Kors likens to a car wash. And Heidi chimes in: “You know that’s seven years no sex there. You break the mirror!” Um no, Heidi. But Zoe would “walk out the door” in Korto’s box coat. So why does Korto look so miserable à la Lauren Conrad when everyone’s inexplicably raving over her? Emote, honey. You’re on reality TV!

And then there’s sorry Keith. Laura smartly points out there’s no concept behind his outfit. “You should see my other stuff,” Keith says, adding it was hard to hear his dress looked like a dowdy chicken last week when he worked so hard on it. Wah.

It’s no surprise Leanne wins and Keith goes home. Did everyone notice the angry face Michael Kors made when Keith left? Our feelings exactly. Keith sobs like a child when he goes. He wants to get out of Utah and it’s just so hard and this was such a great opportunity. So move, friend! We hear Bushwick is still affordable.

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 5:16 pm

Is This Condo Truly Paparazzi-Proof?

Probably not: Celebrities will still be prey at the "paparazzi-proof" Carlyle.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 28 Aug 2008 | 5:03 pm

Are You Ready for ‘Happiness 2’?

On the long list of movies we never in a million years thought we'd ever see sequels to, Todd Solondz's Happiness was surely somewhere near the top — until today! Variety reports that new indie production company Werc Werk Works is financing Solondz's "part-sequel, part-companion piece" to the 1998 pedophile comedy. Like the original, Happiness 2 (our title) will be told through a "series of intersecting love stories" about a "group of individuals, struggling to find a place for themselves in an unpredictable and volatile world."

The movie has apparently been kicking around for years, and the cast is thought to include Emma Thompson, Demi Moore, and Paul Reubens (so we guess there will be more masturbating in this one). The original got an NC-17 rating for its scenes of implied child molestation, but following the success of The Dark Knight, we'd imagine Solondz will probably try to make the sequel dark.

Solondz off to Werc Werk Works [Variety]

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 5:00 pm

Telluride Film Festival unveils lineup

Front Page: U.S. filmmakers are missing in action from fest -- American pics are largely absent from the 35th Telluride Film Festival lineup, with films from only two U.S. filmmakers so far.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 28 Aug 2008 | 5:00 pm

Lindsay Lohan, Girlfriend Hit Back at Lohan's Father

Lindsay Lohan blasted her father on Thursday for calling girlfriend Samatha Ronson "a drug" and claiming Ronson planned to write a tell-all book about Lohan.
Source: FOXNews.com | 28 Aug 2008 | 4:55 pm

What Does That Crucified-Frog Sculpture Look Like, Anyway?

Sure, the Times wrote one of the greatest headlines in its storied history this morning for its "Arts, Briefly" story "Crucified-Frog Sculpture Troubles the Pope." ("I am troubled," we like to imagine him saying to an archbishop, stroking his papal chin.) But then the paper's editors commit their own mortal sin by not showing us a photo of Martin Kippenberger's sculpture, which so troubled the Pontiff! Is the frog smiling? How green is it? Does it really represent an artist "in a state of profound crisis," or does it look like Kermit? Why won't you show us the crucified frog, New York Times?

So we went and found it.

Wow, that's … something. Now we're troubled.

Crucified-Frog Sculpture Troubles the Pope [NYT]

Source: Vulture -- Entertainment, Music, Culture, Theater, Movies, Art -- New York Magazine Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 4:15 pm

Venice veterans jump ship

Front Page: Festival's industry crowds sparser than usual -- Early chatter on the Lido is centering around concerns that Venice fest topper Marco Mueller’s gamble in spotlighting lesser-known, if respected, filmmakers could backfire in terms of the fest’s media profile.

Source: Variety.com - Front Page | 28 Aug 2008 | 3:47 pm

Julia Roberts designs Armani T-shirt for AIDS fight (Reuters)

Reuters - Julia Roberts has returned to work with Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani to raise money for the fight against AIDS in Africa, designing a T-shirt to be sold under the "Red" label.

Source: Yahoo! News: Fashion News | 28 Aug 2008 | 3:46 pm

Orchestra bosses said the Sydney Symphony Orchestra mimed its entire performance

Members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform a concert in Sydney harbour in 2006. Eight years after it hosted an Olympics that were famously hailed as the "best Games ever," Sydney has confessed that...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 28 Aug 2008 | 3:44 pm

Indian devotees gather in front of The Sacred Heart Cathedral

Indian devotees gather in front of The Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi. At least 1,500 people have fled their homes for shelters in eastern India after days of violent clashes between Hindus and Christians...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 28 Aug 2008 | 3:44 pm

Indian nuns walk through the entrance to The Sacred Heart Cathedral

Indian nuns walk through the entrance to The Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi. At least 1,500 people have fled their homes for shelters in eastern India after days of violent clashes between Hindus...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 28 Aug 2008 | 3:44 pm

Indian nuns lead a devotees in worship at The Sacred Heart Cathedral

Indian nuns lead a devotees in worship at The Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi. At least 1,500 people have fled their homes for shelters in eastern India after days of violent clashes between Hindus...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 28 Aug 2008 | 3:44 pm

Jil Sander to Launch Beachwear; Tom Ford Fund-raises for Obama

• Jil Sander will launch innerwear in 2009 and beachwear in 2010. Joy! [WWD]

• Tom Ford is co-hosting a fund-raiser for Barack Obama in L.A. at which Michelle Obama will rub elbows with fashion- and entertainment-industry types. [WWD]

• Charles Nolan on Hillary Clinton: "She doesn’t care about the significance so many attach to her fashion style. Ultimately, in a pure society, we wouldn’t care either. It shouldn’t matter. She wants to tell the right story. Oscar de la Renta has done good by her and she was smart enough to understand that while she was in the White House, it was really important.” [WWD]

• A big gold statue of Kate Moss — the largest in the world since those made in ancient Egypt — is on display in the British Museum. Moss is posed in a provocative yoga position, cigarette not included. [British Vogue]

• Sheryl Crow is adding boots, belts, and bags to her fashion line, Bootheel Trading Co., as well as a children's line for next fall. Yes! Now we can complete our Sheryl Crow look, down to the shoes! [WWD]

• Nike was one of the most searched brands on the Internet in July. [WWD]

• Blue and Cream boutique owner Jeff Goldstein loves mother-daughter shopping teams: "It’s a mother and a daughter who are looking for something to spend time together on and it’s like, ‘Let’s go do a shop.’ It’s very nurturing because the mother wants the daughter to look good so that she can find a husband or look good at work.” Yes, it's all about spearing a man. [NYO]

• Mike Albo hearts Steven Alan but writes of shopping there: “A shiny Moncler quilted down jacket ($750) was frighteningly clubby and would make me look like a mean-faced cokehead from Milan if I wore it out of the store. The trendy Repetto dance shoe, here for $220, and a Generic Man sneaker in a pistachio-color punched leather for $159 would be all the footwear you need for a busy schedule juggling work as a cast member of 'A Chorus Line' and part-time clown.” [NYT]

• Giorgio Armani is helping design a series of villas in Egypt, which will include a beach resort, marina, golf course, and hotels. [British Vogue]

• Naomi Campbell's billionaire Russian boyfriend bought her an $18.5 million dollar penthouse apartment in Jardins, the "Upper East Side" of São Paolo, Brazil. Jewelry is so passé. [NYP]

Source: The Cut - New York Magazine's Fashion Blog | 28 Aug 2008 | 3:30 pm

'One Day at a Time' for Arrested Phillips

Actress Mackenzie Phillips, 48, arrested at L.A. airport for heroin, cocaine.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 28 Aug 2008 | 2:36 pm

Hilary Duff's Dad to Jail for 10 Days

Texas judge ordered Bob Duff who is divorcing Hilary's mom Susan in contempt.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 28 Aug 2008 | 2:22 pm

'Project Runway' Star: Miley Cyrus Looks 'Tarty'

“Project Runway" fashionista Tim Gunn says Miley Cyrus' style is "just a little too tarty."
Source: FOXNews.com | 28 Aug 2008 | 1:41 pm

Man Rams Vehicle Into Playboy Mansion Gates Twice

Los Angeles police say a man rammed his vehicle into the gates at Hugh Hefner's legendary home twice in the past week.
Source: FOXNews.com | 28 Aug 2008 | 1:41 pm

'Weeds' star drops pants on Broadway

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 28 Aug 2008 | 1:35 pm

Music mogul Suge Knight arrested

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 28 Aug 2008 | 1:34 pm

Kate Moss statue 'largest since ancient Egypt'

The British Museum plans to display a solid-gold statue of supermodel Kate Moss that it bills as the largest gold statue built since ancient Egypt.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 28 Aug 2008 | 1:24 pm

Hilary Duff's Father to Spend 10 Days in Jail

A judge in Texas has ordered the father of actress and singer Hilary Duff to spend 10 days in jail for contempt of court.
Source: FOXNews.com | 28 Aug 2008 | 1:23 pm

Olympian Phelps to present at VMAs

Read full story for latest details.

Source: CNN.com - Entertainment | 28 Aug 2008 | 1:06 pm

Blogger Bust: Leaked Guns N' Roses Songs

FBI arrests blogger suspected of posting songs from long-awaited album.
Source: ABC News: Entertainment | 28 Aug 2008 | 12:31 pm

Diana and Actaeon

Diana and Actaeon by Titian (Tiziano Vecellio), National Gallery of Scotland, lent by the Duke of Sutherland. Two British galleries are scrambling to find 50 million pounds in four months to keep a painting...
Source: Infocious RSS raw feed - channel BNImagesEnter | 28 Aug 2008 | 11:32 am