Blood On The Dancefloor: NYC's Stereo Nightclub Closed Down.

I was just reading in the Gothamist that NYC nightclub, Stereo has been shut down by the NYPD. I had been hoping to check it out one day since it has had a variety of old friend’s names attached to it. From DJ/producer Angel Moraes who designed the sound system to Mark Ronson’s kid sister, fashion designer Samantha Ronson who had a hand in designing the interior, to Matteo and Jus Ske who frequently manned the decks. According to news reports there was a shooting death there two days ago and that was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

There were the obvious drug violations (duh, New York City, nightclub…), you’ve heard it all before - busted coke dealers, owed taxes, violated ordinances, quality of life, blah, blah, blah. Same old song and dance. I want to cue up Mark’s Smith’s cover, “Stop Me (if You Think that you’ve Heard This One Before)”. It’s like a Peter Gatien/Twilo/Sound Factory/Studio 54 merry-go-round. That is the one constant in New York Nightlife; old clubs close, new ones open. However, it’s quite the buzz kill when they close prematurely like this. There are only two things people ever notice in nightclubs, when the record skips a beat or when someone dies. Same cycle in all aspects of life. The only difference is this one has a soundtrack.

It’s a shame, though. It always is when someone loses their life, and when it happens in a world that tries to cut itself off from all of life’s harsh realities, it can be particularly stunning. Clubland is where people go to lose themselves and disconnect from pain and sorrow and the harsh reality that this could be their last night on earth. When that facade is pulled away and the illusion shattered, just as it was when club promotor Michael Alig murdered Angel, a nice kid who got involved with drug dealing, back in 1996. Unfortunately, when the shock fades away and the disturbance becomes a faded memory, everyone just slips back into their trance. Lessons go unlearned and history repeats itself. Another one of life’s little cycles.

Stereo.

Source: The Gothamist.

Chloë Sevigny For Opening Ceremony.

Every time I see Chloë Sevigny on TV, the big screen or at an awards show I’m like “wow, this girl used to be my personal assistant”. Back in the 90s, when I was still throwing parties, if you spoke to a girl on the phone about the guestlist for one of my events, you were probably talking to the future Oscar® nominee. Last time our paths crossed, about 5 years ago, I was really happy to see the really sweet, super-cool girl I knew was still there under that glamorous exterior.

Word dropped that she was putting out a clothing line designed with Opening Ceremony last summer and she had a show last fall during New York Fashion Week. I was surprise by the negative reaction to her line. I thought it was practical and interesting and fit casual urbanites like Chloë. Check out Chloë discussing the line with Style.com last fall by hitting the first link and see pics of the spring collection by hitting the second. All you cool, interesting girls out there would do well to add some of these pieces to your spring wardrobe. When we head up to New York in March, I will definitely be picking something up for the missus.

It’s great to see positive people succeeding in life.

Chloë Sevigny Interview with Style.com.

Papermag.

Maroon 5 Tokyo Dates.

Get ready, Tokyo… the always dapper, ever soulful pop pinup Adam Levine and his Maroon 5 band mates are headed your way. They’ll have two shows in Tokyo that will be will coincide with spring break which means any M5 fans stateside can have a truly amazing spring break this year with flights at a reasonable $1,000 round trip from the east coast and even less from the west coast. Hey, if it works for any of you I know some really affordable places to stay there. It is definitely something I will be considering myself. The shows are March 10th & 11th at 7pm and will be at the historic Nippon Budokan in Kudanshita, central Tokyo. Tickets are a mere ¥8,000 and ¥7,000. For more info dial 03-3402-5999.

Maroon 5.

More Jarah Mariano.

Who needs a reason to post pictures of über-hottie, Jarah Mariano? Not I. I think the sequins are a nice touch. Sort of like sprinkles on a sundae.

Pierre et Gilles "Mercure".

Should I ever find myself in Paris, the one thing I will do just after I see the Eiffel Tower and right before hitting one of those legendary Parisian nightclubs is stop by the Galerie Jerome de Noirmont at 36-38 Avenue Matignon to seePierre et Gilles work on display, up close and personal. The artistic couple met at a Kenzo boutique opening and began collaborating artistically early in their relationship. Pierre shoots the work and Gilles paints over it. The results are striking and surreal. They have done some impressive work with Madonna, 80s punk Goddess, Nina Hagen and ad campaigns for designer Jean Paul Gaultier, to name but a few of their great accomplishments.

Pierre et. Gilles.
Galerie Jerome de Noirmont.

Excuse Me, What's A Vagina Doing In The Tom Ford for Men Ad?

Okay, let me just go on record as saying I’m as much a fan of vagina as the next heterosexual male. I think hey serve an incredibly valuable function in all societies. No, I won’t list them because I don’t think I have sell people on the value of the vagina (vaginae don’t exactly need any P.R.). I would definitely describe myself as pro-vagina, however, I don’t really understand what one is doing in the ads for Tom Ford’s men’s cologne.

Is that what the cologne smells like? An oily, or worse, sweaty vagina? I’m not really sure who’d wear it if that was the case. Did they pull the bottle out of that woman? I’m not underestimating the power of the punani or trying to keep it down in any way. I just never thought I’d see one pitching men’s cologne. It would would make one hell of a sample strip. You know those little paper strips they spray the cologne on for you to take a whiff, you know what I mean. Hmm… you know, they may actually sell more product that way. Never mind, I’m straying.

Anyway, this is not a diss on Tom Ford, whom I love. What fashion victim doesn’t? I think he’s truly one of the greatest designers the world has ever seen. There were quite a few times when I lived of off instant noodles for weeks at a time just so I could buy his designs for Gucci and YSL. I’m just wondering what he was thinking when he signed off on this ad. I don’t know. maybe I’m just getting old. Although, I do hope

no matter how old I get I don’t lose my love and admiration for that particular part of the female anatomy. In any case, the ad certainly did get my attention, which I suppose all ads strive to do. To see other female body parts doing their bit to hawk Tom Ford’s cologne, hit the link below.

Tom Ford.

Zi Lin Zhang: Eye Candy of The Day.

Zi Lin Zhang, Miss World 2007, is a 23 year old, 5 foot 9 inch, world-rocking stunner from Hei Bei province in China। Hei bei bei is right. Check out some shots of this classic beauty on Kineda.

Kineda.

LISA STANSFIELD "Around The World" (PV).

A Dedication to Christmas ghosts.

KENNA "Say Goodbye To Love" (PV).

Alicia Keys In the New Issue of Complex.

Hot is: the collection of photos of Alicia Keys in the current issue of Marc Ecko’s Complex magazine which arrived in the mail today. Lots of other seemingly good stories in this one. I say seemingly because I only glanced at stuff as I made my way to Alicia’s interview. If you want to peep more of Alicia’s coke bottle figure (when did that happen?), you can see her video for No One in the sidebar to your right.

I didn’t know she was close friends with Scarlett Johansson. That oughta be against the law. Those two are way too beautiful to be standing in close proximity. Imagine driving down the street and seeing the two of them together. That could be hazardous. Anyway, check out the issue at news stands everywhere or online if you’re a little tight (or too cheap).

Complex.