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Four PAPER Favorites Tell Us How to Be Ready to...

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PAPER and Canon have teamed up to wrangle four of our favorite creatives, equipping them with Canon PowerShot cameras for the brand's "BE READY" campaign. 



L.A.-based celebrity stylist Johnny Wujek, whose clients include Katy Perry, Kate Mara and Amber Heard, tells us how to BE READY to go out in New York using the Canon PowerShot N.



Superstar street style photographer Scott Schuman (aka The Sartorialist) explains how to BE READY to get the perfect shot using the Canon PowerShot S120.



New York fashion designer and tireless traveler Chris Benz tells us how to BE READY to live in a hotel using the Canon PowerShot SX280 HS.



Comedy writer and Twitter doyenne Jenny Johnson shows us how to BE READY to eat (without ever turning on the stove) using the Canon PowerShot N.



Check back on papermag.com to see all four BE READY moments.


We Want/Need This Bill Murray Christmas Card

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tumblr_muqdu7QU7o1qlimfjo1_500.jpgAll other Christmas cards can go to hell. [via Pleated Jeans]

Screen shot 2013-12-04 at 10.16.30 PM.pngNew favorite time waster alert: Kanye vs Creative Director, a game where you try to guess if a douche-tastic quote was said by Yeezus or your 50-something boss who wears a lot of Paul Smith and just bought his first pair of Warby Parker glasses. [via Kanye vs Creative]

Screen Shot 2013-12-04 at 5.46.59 PM.pngHere's Michelle Obama wrangling Sunny after the pooch got too frisky and knocked over a young visitor to the White House. Sunny is definitely sorry/not sorry. [via Hypervocal/AP Photo/Charles Dharapak]


ICYMI: Ron Burgundy continued his Tour of Ubiquity by going on SportsCenter and interviewing Peyton Manning. For what it's worth, Manning seems about as interesting a conversationalist as a baked potato.  [via ESPN]

Screen shot 2013-12-05 at 8.37.16 AM.pngKeira Knightley recycled her wedding dress, wearing it to an event the other night. Damn girl, you're one more wear out of that dress before you get your own TLC show right between Say Yes to the Dress and Coupon Queens. [via HuffPo/Image via Getty]

tumblr_mxahstDL7V1qzmowao1_1280.pngA.K.A. South America according to our dumb-ass prejudices and little-to-know geographical knowledge. In other news, nailed it. [via F Yeah Dementia]

Screen Shot 2013-12-04 at 6.12.13 PM.pngPlease interrupt whatever you're doing and behold Joe Manganiello's junior high basketball photo. Rat tail alert! [via Dlisted]

Screen shot 2013-12-05 at 8.44.25 AM.pngBehold, Bill Clinton's doodles from while he was still president, hacked by an organization named Guccifer. [via Gawker]



Improv Everywhere recreated the classic "tongue stuck on a pole scene" from A Christmas Story on a New York City subway. In case you're curious, yes, thank the effin' OCD lord that the kid's tongue is a prosthetic. [via HuffPo]


Benedict Cumberbatch went on Jimmy Kimmel last night and recited the lyrics to R. Kelly's Black Panties track, "Genius." It'll give you chills. [via Gawker]

tumblr_mx5vkkxmrf1t55niwo1_500.jpg"Douchebag Plants." [via Coin Farts]



Jaimie Warren and Lee Heinemann Turn Some of Our Favorite Brooklyn Art Freaks Into Food

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IMG_1672.JPGMykki Blanco as "Mykki BlanCorn on the Cob"

Paper Beautiful Person Jaimie Warren has a new photos series out that's got us tickled -- and, oddly, a little hungry. The artist and photographer known for her Cindy Sherman-meets-DIY Internet punk aesthetic first caught our eye with her series of self-portraits posing as celebrities and their off-beat look-alikes (such as Lil Kim and a female gremlin) found on web sites like TotallyLooksLike.com. In her latest batch of "Celebrities as Food Series," which she created in collaboration with artist Lee Heinemann, she tapped Brooklyn-based artists and friends like stylist, Friend of Paper and Beautiful Person alum Ms. Fitz, artist Raul de Nieves, rapper Mykki Blanco and TV/Web personality (and, yes, former Beautiful Person) Thu Tran to transform into sushi platters, corn cobs, margaritas and more. Check out Mykki Blanco and Ms. Fitz above and below and keep an eye out for the rest, which will appear in Bullett.

P.S. If you're down in Miami for Art Basel, be sure to check out Warren in Dust, a film by Adam Dugas and Casey Spooner that's screening tonight at the Mondrian South Beach and then, later in the week, she'll be performing in "Bushwick Gone Basel" at Cucu's Nest on Sunday, December 8th.

IMG_2194.JPGMs. Fitz as "Ms. Fitz-strawberry Fondue"

Try to Keep Up With Lauryn Hill's Lyric Video For 'Consumerism'

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On the eve of her prison release in October, Lauryn Hill released 'Consumerism,' a quick-fire track in which she spits all her frustrations with the world. Today she released a lyric video of the song co-directed with Jon Casey, which helps, sorta. Drawing you into the devastating state of reality with hypnotic visual layers of stock imagery and 'ism' graphic, the video makes you feel a little crazy -- not unlike the frustration Hill's words represent. We're still trying to catch our breath.

Keeping Detroit Weird with Theatre Bizarre.

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Painting from The Expatriate Parade.

In 2010, the city of Detroit shut down John Dunivant's annual Halloween festival, Theatre Bizarre. For 10 years, the party had drawn crowds in the thousands to a bombed-out section of the city, where Dunivant and his crew had a roller coaster and a full-size Ferris wheel installed, and burnt-down houses were an eerie backdrop for flame-throwing performers. Live music ranged from hardcore punk to folk. "It was probably the most fun I've ever had," says Dunivant, a native Detroiter. "I got to paint and sculpt and design this environment and build a dream I never imagined being able to actually build." Needless to say, none of it was sanctioned.

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Diorama of Theatre Bizarre's original grounds by Dante Wilgren and Dunivant, 2013

Fortunately, the festival found a fitting new home the following year in Detroit's Masonic Temple. A trained painter, Dunivant, 42, incorporates imagery from the Freemasons and other secret societies, plus his grandmother's Catholic ephemera, the roadside wax museums of his childhood, Grand Guignol stagecraft and Dr. Seuss illustrations into Theatre Bizarre's costumes and sets -- as well as the works on paper he recently exhibited at The Lodge Gallery on Manhattan's Lower East Side. The solo show, The Expatriate Parade, reflects the stress of relocating Theatre Bizarre: masked minions bear the weight of an enormous mustachioed head; white snakes desperately swallow each other's tails. Some of these characters appeared at this year's festival along with the widow of Zombo, who, according to Dunivant, was "killed off when they kicked us out of the grounds." She rode Zombo's coffin in a New Orleans-style procession that Dunivant describes as a "combination of celebration and mourning."

Since the loss of Theatre Bizarre's original grounds, two major grants allowed Dunivant to quit his job as an illustrator and focus on the festival. He still envisions making a permanent theme park, but for now has to work to adapt the needs of his prebuilt environment to the constraints of the 1920s-era temple. "There's no real freight elevator," Dunviant says. "Everything has to be designed modularly. I have to map out the path that every board goes through to get to the room that it ends up in."

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(l to r): Statue from The Expatriate Parade; Theatre Bizarre 


We caught up with Dunivant again when he was back in Detroit, and with one week to go before the party, his team has found the temple's old barbershop "in beautiful shape." So naturally, Dunivant says, "we'll have dudes doing straight razor shaves, because we thought it'd be fun to do that in a masquerade costume."

Still, the artist looks forward to exhibiting more of his two-dimensional work: "I was always building these things that didn't translate into any sort of gallery, or in hiding, because the stuff was illegal. The party has its own restraints, there's not always freedom to express myself in whatever way," Dunivant explains. "What it still comes down to is, I gotta paint."

Works from The Expatriate Parade and the above diorama will be at Art Basel Miami Beach, 2013.

Theatre bizarre photo by Brett Carson/John Dunivant.

Lana Del Rey Goes Biblical In Her New Short Film, Tropico

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Taking the biblical story of Adam and Eve into modern day Los Angeles, Lana Del Rey's new short film Tropico plays with sin and redemption, good vs. evil...beauty for money (ah, the plight of a pop star). Conceptually and visually it kinda reminds us of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet.

Starting in the Garden of Eden, the three-part tale moves into a fluorescent-lit convenient store, grimy strip club, Hollywood Hills mansion and finally the California countryside. Set to chant-like dialogue and three songs off Del Rey's album Born To Die -- The Paradise Edition, including 'Body Electric,' 'Gods and Monsters,' and 'Bel Air,' the 30-minute film is a gritty pop take on innocence lost. The film is written by Del Rey, directed by Anthony Mandler (also of Del Rey's 'National Anthem' and 'Ride' video) and stars model Shaun Ross alongside Del Rey.

Stylist Johnny Wujek On the 10 Differences Between Going Out in NYC Vs. LA

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Celebrity stylist Johnny Wujek -- whose clients include Katy Perry, Kate Mara and Amber Heard -- is an LA guy through-and-through. But as an in-demand stylist with jet-setting clients, Wujek often finds himself flying to New York for events, meetings or fabulous parties where he has to get his Big Apple game on. Here Wujek sums up the ten biggest differences between partying in the City That Never Sleeps and the City of Angels. And, on a recent night out in Manhattan, PAPER and Canon equipped him with a new Canon PowerShot N camera so that the stylist could show us how an LA dude gets ready to go out in New York. 


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"LA is all about being in loose-fitting, comfy and casual clothes. In New York, I like to jazz it up, and even though I'm a color guy, there are times when I'll go to the dark side. And because there's a lot of walking around and people see your feet, I always wear nicer shoes."


1. GETTING DRESSED: WHEN IN DOUBT, WEAR BLACK
LA:
It's more of a laid back, relaxed life -- you'll see a millionaire wearing sweatpants and girls in UGGs and little daisy dukes and tank tops. When I go out, I'll always wear a hat. It's become a thing -- I have too many hats. In LA I don't ever get turned away for having a hat on or wearing sneakers, whereas when I come to New York, they're like, "You need to take your hat off" and I'm like, "No, I'm not going to take my hat off." We end up getting into it and finally I just leave.
NYC:
I like to dress up more here and I get excited to wear all of my coats and jackets. I'm from Michigan, so I have a lumberjack-ness in me.


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"Every time I go to an event, I make a new hat. I made this one for the Victoria's Secret fashion show."

2. PRE-GOING OUT MEAL: PIZZA IS THE ELIXIR OF LIFE
LA:
Sometimes I'll just have a protein shake. Or maybe a chicken-quinoa moment.
NYC:
I'll get a slice.


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"Since people go out later in New York, there's always extra time for a #selfie pit stop where you can snap a look with the Canon PowerShot N."

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"The Creative Shot mode gives you cool filters that other photo apps don't have. It also gives you a different take on a selfie and it's so easy to use."

3. GETTING THE PARTY STARTED
LA: Things definitely start earlier and they're done earlier. You'll go out at 10:30 p.m. and be back home by 2 a.m. or 2:30, after a stop at Carl's Jr.
NYC: I go out at 11:30 p.m. or midnight and sometimes I'm out until 4 a.m. There have been times when I've done Good Morning America with Katy [Perry] and I've literally shown up to the set at 6 a.m. having been out all night.

4. HOT WHEELS
LA:
I always take Uber cars when I go out if I'm not driving.
NYC:
I take cabs or black cars. In L.A. you can't walk out on the street and put your arm out. I tried that when I first moved there. I was walking down Wilshire and I was trying to get a cab and they wouldn't stop. You have to call and arrange it.


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"The Victoria's Secret show was a lot of fun -- you go to other fashion shows and they're super serious but the VS shows get the crowd riled up."

5. UP IN DA CLUB
LA:
There are these clubs like Concorde that are next to a really random apartment building and a strip mall with a Laundromat and a 7-Eleven. And they don't ever really find new venues -- they just redo them and put a new name on the front.
NYC:
You can find cool clubs in old churches or warehouses.

6. ENCOUNTERING THE FASHION DISASTERS
LA:
The girls are more tragic in LA, they will be wearing awful makeup, a shoe that doesn't fit -- like a huge platform -- and be freezing their balls off outside, but the guys are more tragic in New York.
NYC:
I'll see guys wearing a reflective, polyester or plastic shirt, thinking they're fashion-forward and then they'll be in bootcut jeans.

7. AFTER THE PARTY, IT'S THE AFTER PARTY
LA:
It's usually a one or two party moment and then it's "Fail. Go home." It's like, "I'm tired of driving or I'm getting drunk and I can't drive." There are a lot more after-hours places though. There's always a house party up in the hills that everybody goes to after.
NYC:
In New York, I've been to about three after parties in houses, ever. On the other hand, it's easy to go from one club to the next -- you're just like, "This sucks, we're out of here."


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"The good thing about New York is that I take cabs or black cars or I walk everywhere so when I see cool street style, I can snap pics with my Canon PowerShot N and share them on social media right away. It's a lot safer than trying to do that while I'm driving in LA."

8. PARTY PEOPLE WATCHING
LA:
You can always go to the Chateau Marmont to see some good style or Hollywood Blvd. for some interesting goth punk looks. I love the east side kids in Silverlake, too. In West Hollywood you get the same old thing year-round: tight jeans, T-shirts, freezing queens on the street. I've seen some tragic looks at LA Fashion Week. I saw this one woman who was wearing what looked like a snowsuit, but not. She had on these reflective, shiny neoprene pants and a huge fur coat -- all the same color -- with a crazy boot. She was like this big, blue blob.
NYC:
You constantly see different styles all in one place. I love seeing the punk-rock kids hanging out in the East Village, but then some preppies will walk by.

9. DRINK COUNT
LA:
I'll have a drink or two -- maybe wine to keep it mellow.
NYC:
I'll drink a lot more and end up dozing in a cab on my way home.


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"Who can beat a $1 slice? It's a nice late-night snack during my walk home."

10. LATE-NIGHT CHOW SESSION
LA:
I'll go to Carl's Jr. or In-N-Out Burger. The bummer about In-N-Out is that it closes on the early side but some Carl's Jr. locations are open 24-hours.
NYC:
It's always about an easy slice -- I don't mind eating pizza five times a day. It's so good.

Check back on papermag.com to see more BE READY moments with The Sartorialist, Chris Benz and Jenny Johnson!

Jimmy Kimmel Gives Two Feuding Brothers a Fake Lie Detector Test and It's Amazing

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Jimmy Kimmel hooked two feuding brothers up to a fake lie detector to see who should go on Santa's naughty list and who should go on the nice list and the whole thing was pretty adorable. Team Sammy.


Mark Ruffalo was on the Graham Norton Show and told an amazing story about accidentally smoking a joint on stage while he was doing a play. So good. [Gawker]



miafarrowSOML.pngMia Farrow wins best celebrity tweet during the hellscape that was last night's "Sound of Music Live."

tumblr_mxd4r4oEJa1qz4cuyo1_1280.jpgA Breaking Bad snow globe with blue meth snowflakes! Just found everyone's holiday gift for this year. [LaughingSquid]

goatssweaters.pngThis is the real shit. [TastefullyOffensive]

Bad Dad vine compilation part 5! tumblr_mxce30XbDa1qewacoo1_500.jpg
Merry Christmas, kids! [TastefullyOffensive]

tumblr_mxcrgiSwjl1rqr9fgo1_1280.jpgUm, tune in *immediately* to Christmascatstv.com, a live feed of cats playing in wrapping paper and hanging out in Christmas sweaters. Our world is rocked. [H/T LaughterKey.]



Your Guide to Art Basel Miami Beach: Friday + the Weekend

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Party people! Check in daily this week for our comprehensive guide of everything that's happening at Art Basel Miami Beach.


.Friday, December 6th

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PAPER and the crazy kids at Andre Saraiva's Chez Andre Miami are throwing a live rock 'n' roll karaoke party at Rec Room (1690 Collins Ave. at 17th St.) hosted by fabulous frenchman Nicolas Ullmann.


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  • Lots of big events happening again this year at the Standard Spa, Miami (40 Island Avenue, Miami Beach):
  1. The Portland Institute of Contemporary Art and dis magazine are throwing a big bash at Friday night from 8 p.m.-11 p.m., with films by Jennifer West, dance by Trajal Harrell and Thibault Lac and sounds by Telfar Clemens. 
  2. On December 6th, The Newsstand has a book release for Glenn O'Brien's Penance from 5 to 7 p.m. and a "Win Lose or Draw" book launch for Ryan McGinness from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
  3. Custom t-shirts by artist Todd James will be available in the hotel's gift shop and will be worn by the pool staff.
  4. Creative Time hosts a brunch with Krug Champagne on Friday, December 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  5. Jose Parla and ALLDAYEVERYDAY are throwing a Champagne Problems bash from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with DJ DZA spinning funk, soul and Cuban music.
  6. End your week at the annual Basel wrap-up "Lazy Sunday BBQ" on Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m. and check out the "paper boat" by Miami designer Luis Pons.  

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  • Two days left of our party extravaganza with Tiki Disco at the Gale Hotel. We'll be joined by TD DJs Eli Escobar, Lloydski and Andy Pry as well as Rory Phillips, Justin Miller and mooooore. Open bar from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. from Absolut Tune and Pavan Liqueur. You'll find asleep with a sunburn by the pool, face down in a plate of Jamaican BBQ. Stop by and say hi!
  • The Wolfsonian-FIU Museum (1001 Washington Avenue, South Beach) celebrates their current exhibition "The Birth of Rome," with a party called "Rebirth of Rome" on Friday, December 6th from 8 to 11 p.m. featuring an installation by Gideon Barnett and a performance by Albert et son Orchestre.  The exhibition is up until May 18, 2014.
  • The leading gallery app provider, ArtBinder, is launching a new app called The Viewer in 2014 and they're hosting a party with Christie's and Make: magazine on Friday, December 6, at Mango's Tropical Cafe (900 Ocean Drive, South Beach).  Co-hosts include Jemima Kirke, Peter McGough and Annabelle Dexter-Jones.  Plus they've enlisted a very unique group of DJs including Hannah Bronfman, Todd Eberle & Justin Lowe and Jonah Freeman.

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  • Tommy Saleh, Travis Bass and the Misshapes are hosting an I Art NY bash tonight at the Castle Beach Club, featuring from all your favorite NYC cuties.
  • The official Art Basel Miami Beach film program will include the American premiere of Nan Goldin: I Remember Your Face, directed by Sabine Lidi at the Colony Theatre (1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach) on Friday, December 6th, at 8:30pm. Admission is free, but seating is limited. This year's film and video program was curated by David Gryn and This Brunner and it includes films by Dara Birnbaum, Martin Creed, Rineke Dijkstra, Joan Jonas and Kehinde Wiley.
  • We mentioned last week that the Scope fair is moving back to South Beach into a new pavilion on the beach at 1000 Ocean Drive near 10th Street. This week they've announced that Tegan & Sara will headline their big "RSVP only" party with VH1 on December 6, 8 to midnight. Plus DJ Cassidy will be spinning.
  • The annual Jack Shainman Gallery (cocktail party is on Friday, December 6, at the South Seas Hotel (1751 Collins Avenue, South Beach).  Invite only.
  • Kenny Scharf  designed a new "garden" called Tony's Oasis (2219 NW Second Avenue, Miami) that will be dedicated on December 6 and Martha Cooper is the "curatorial advisor" for a new gallery exhibition inside the Wynwood Walls complex.

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  • Boy George is performing at MANA Wynwood ( 218 NW 23rd Street, Miami) on December 6th as part of their massive performance artist series. MANA has also also added several other artists to the roster, including Vanessa Beecroft, Rob Montgomery and a "live mural painting" by Ron English.  All the details, times and tickets (when available) are HERE.  
  • TrendSeeder and NoBe67 Pret-aPorter launch their two-day, womenswear designer fair on December 6th at the Deauville Beach Resort (6701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach).  The new fair will feature emerging designers including Pitusa UK, Laquan Smith, Jeux De Vie Designs, Monica Ocejo and Casa Del Rio.  DJ Jilly Hendrix spins at the opening.
  • Mansion Nightclub (1235 Washinton Avenue, South Beach) has two big Basel nights with Mark Ronson DJing on Friday, December 6th, and Boy George spinning on Saturday.  Tickets are HERE.
  • Miami artist Alexander Mijares opens a show of new works called "Random Acts of Art" on Friday, December 6, 7 to 11 p.m. at 10 NE 27th Street, Miami.  One of the works on view will be a mural that will eventually wind-up in the Brioni boutique in Bal Harbour.  The opening is hosted by DETAILS Magazine.
  • Visionaire and Gap host a private "Tees & Tea" brunch on Friday to celebrate the launch of a t-shirt collab that will eventually include 45 designs. They are only making a limited edition of 300 of each shirt, and the first five are by Yoko Ono, Inez & Vinoodh, Maurizio Cattelan & Pierpaolo Ferrari, Craig McDean and Salvo Sundsbo.  Pick one up at The Webster (1220 Collins Avenue, South Beach).
  • The Look Alive Fest on December 6 & 7 features tons of underground music -- including Wolf Eyes and Indian Jewelry -- plus art, at various locations. All the details are HERE.
  • Chloe Norgaard and Nur Khan host a cocktail party for Poplipps and Vs. magazine on Friday night at the Townhouse Hotel. RSVP only.

Saturday, December 7th

  • Serious artsy-party goers alway look forward to the annual Basel Castle, and this year's version on December 7 looks like a good one. They'll be moving over to Grand Central Park (721 NW 1st Avenue, Miami) downtown and, so far, they've announced a great list of musical guests including SBTRKT, Chance the Rapper, Travis $cott, Been Trill, Heroes + Villains and Mystery Skulls, with more to be announced later. The visual artists already on-board include Greg Mike, Nychos, Meggs, Nosego, Skinner, MADSTEEZ and art installations from Jeremyville, Chris Parks and Wolfdog. This party starts late and is always off-the-hook. Don't miss it. Tickets and a video are HERE.
  • Cool sunset vibes guaranteed with a party for Guy Gerber's Supplement Facts label at the Delano on Saturday.  DJ's on the night include Gerber, Ryan Crosson, Mathew Dear, Bill Patrick and Mao Fonnegra.


Sunday, December 8th


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  • Ms.Fitz and Angelina Dreem throw their big Bushwick Gone Basel party tonight, feautring performances by Jaimie Warren and Gage of the Boon and more, art by artists including Travis Edgedy, Genevieve Belleveau and Greem Jellyfish and DJ sets by SSION, Witches of Bushwick, Bossa Nova Civic Club, Juliana Huxtable and Lauren Devine. 2805 Collins Ave. Art show at 8 p.m.; party at 10.
  • End your week at the Standard Hotel's annual Basel wrap-up "Lazy Sunday BBQ" on Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m. and check out the "paper boat" by Miami designer Luis Pons
  • Bushwick is in the house, yo!  Over 25 artists representing the Bushwick underground  -- including musicians, visual artists, performers and personalities -- are chartering a magic bus and heading to Miami.  They'll be "crashing parties" all week and then you can crash theirs:  December 8th at Cucu's Nest (2805 Collins, South Beach) with an exhibition at 7 p.m. and music starting around 10 p.m. 
  • A-Trak, Dave 1 and Nick Catchdubs will be performing in the afternoon on the 8th as part of the massive performance art series hosted by MANA Wynwood ( 218 NW 23rd Street, Miami) . MANA has also also added several other artists, including Vanessa Beecroft, Rob Montgomery and a "live mural painting" by Ron English.  All the details, times and tickets (when available) are HERE.     

Monday, December 9th

  • If you're sticking around Miami until December 9th, there's an "Art Chat" with two Miami notables, Robert Chambers and Robert Wennett, at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort (9703 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach).  Chambers is probably best know for his large public sculptures, but he's also a fountain of knowledge on numerous topics including meteorites.  Wennett is a local developer who transformed Lincoln Road by hiring the Swiss starchitects Herzog & de Meuron to design his parking garage and he's also involved in the plans for the new Miami Beach Convention Center.
  • A big international traveling exhibition from Spain called "TAPAS: Design For Food" will be on view all week in the Moore Building (4040 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami) in Miami's Design District. There will be over 200 exhibits and installations by Spanish chefs, designers, architects, wineries and restaurants in three themed areas: the kitchen, the table and the meal. If you happen to be down in Miami on November 9th, stop by the Moore Building for "Eat You -- Eat Me," a special installation of interactive "edible performance art" by Spanish artist Miralda.



Inside Dustin Yellin's Creative Utopia In Red Hook, Brooklyn

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pioneerworks1.jpgPioneer Works

It's hard to say just what Pioneer Works is. It's an exhibition space. It's an educational center. But it's also an observatory, an incubator, a screening room -- and a science lab. It also acts as a pop-up party venue for galas, art openings and concert series. Everyone from celebrities and artists to broke young cool kids have visited the warehouse in the remote waterfront community of Red Hook, Brooklyn. So maybe it's best to let its founder and director, artist Dustin Yellin, explain. "It's like a big Beuysian social sculpture! There's so much going on, you can't keep track of it. It's a village."

Yellin got to work on the space in 2011, and it officially opened in June, 2012. Previously a storage facility for the Time Moving Company, the space now acts as a playground for some of today's greatest minds, as well as the growing Red Hook community that it surrounds. "It's kind of always open because there are so many people here. It's all about exposing process, so people can come in here and not just see an exhibition of objects. They can see how a metal shop works, how a wood shop works, how a chemistry lab works. They can walk into the inner workings of process and discovery." The space was originally going to be called The Intercourse, matching the name of the arts and culture magazine Dustin edits with resident artist Joey Frank, but Yellin decided to instead embrace the history of the building; Pioneer Iron Works was the original tenant in 1886.

pioneerworks2.jpgDustin Yellin

With three massive floors, the space seems never-ending. The artist residencies are packed with supplies, knickknacks (an Alfred Hitchcock wax head?), multimedia, artwork, furniture and so on. It has the feel of a wonderful children's novel; all doors appear unlocked, begging for a peek inside. Past exhibitions include works by Ernesto Caivano, Adam Green and Frank who built "a series of trains on like 250-feet of train track that went through these sort of pyramid-shaped 3D paintings. There were cameras on them and they made movies as they were going through the pyramids and flatted space," explains Yellin. "It was incredible. It was born and made here."

Though Yellin claims his idea of a good time is staying home at night with a book, he recognizes the importance of play in the building. "It's about experience. Play as experience," he says. "When you walk through these doors it sort of tears open the brain in a way, and breaks open any boundaries and predetermined conceptions of what a place can be. That's the play for me. It doesn't feel like you're in New York City anymore. It transports you into another world."

pioneerworks3.jpgScenes from "Nightlight," Recess' fall benefit for emerging artists at Pioneer Works.
 
As Yellin says this, we're surrounded by a flurry of people getting to work on the Mexican Summer music festival for the approaching weekend, and nearby, there's a physicist at work. "It's a symphony. In 27 months this went from nothing to this crazy organism with a life of its own."



Josh and Benny Safdie on Their New Documentary, Lenny Cooke

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Screen-Shot-2013-04-24-at-6.23.52-PM-640x565.png(L-R): Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie and Lenny Cooke.

Lenny Cooke, a new documentary about the rise and fall of a top-ranked high school basketball player, essentially has two lead characters: there's the cocky, charming kid from Bushwick who lopes through recruiting camps with LeBron James, and then there's the sad-eyed, heavyset man who suddenly appears an hour into the film. It takes a minute to realize that they're the same person. The rift that created these two Lennys? The 2002 NBA draft, which, for reasons no one fully understands, passed Cooke by in spite of all his talent, potential, and hype.

The documentary was directed by Queens-bred brothers Josh and Benny Safdie. (Producer Adam Shopkorn shot the early footage, and executive producer Joakim Noah appears in the film in his Chicago Bulls uniform.) Like their subject, the Safdies tasted success early: their first two features, The Pleasure of Being Robbed and Daddy Longlegs, premiered at Cannes; both brothers are still in their twenties. We caught up with them earlier this week, and after some passionate words about the new YouTube star known as Trumpet Man -- "I definitely want to have him in a movie somewhere," Benny said -- the brothers discussed their unorthodox approach to documentary filmmaking and shared their thoughts on how to stay in the game.

 
For starters, tell me about how the two halves of this movie came together.

Benny: Adam [Shopkorn] was following Lenny around with a couple of cinematographers in 2001, when Lenny was the greatest. He set out to make a film about a high school player jumping from high school to the NBA. And as he was following him, things started falling apart: Lenny didn't answer Adam's phone calls and started drifting away, and then he didn't get drafted and he kind of disappeared. Fast-forward to 2008, and Adam's at a screening of ours for Daddy Longlegs, and he came up to us and said, "Look, I have all these tapes, I want to finish this movie. Will you guys help me out?"

Josh: When Adam was making the film and we were in high school, we wanted nothing more than to work on the film; we just were too young. Film and basketball were our two greatest passions. Back in 2000, 2001, it was a side project for Adam. And 30% of the footage he had was interviews with people. It was very much like an article he was essentially writing. When Lenny drifted out of touch with Adam and then he didn't get drafted, I think Adam moved onto another profession. He went into the art world and still is in that to this day. But he, like us, doesn't like to leave anything unfinished. I think he had seen Daddy Longlegs and The Pleasure of Being Robbed and some of our shorts and realized, OK, here are people who are interested in reality -- our films are always very tied to realism, hinting at reality from another source, and they're character studies. And we said from the beginning, We're not writing an article here. We wanted to do an investigative portrait. We said, By doing a micro-portrait of Lenny, we're going to be doing a macro-portrait of America and basketball and the state of the American Dream. So we decided to go in, go in, go in.

Benny: Normally, with a film like this, the first thing you would see is Lenny today, talking about what it was like being the greatest. But the moment you see him today, you can't go back. It's almost like a fiction film, that earlier stuff. You can't cut back and forth between the two because it's just so shocking. To preserve that feeling like of like, OK, I need to understand what happened here, we needed to do the film in two parts. The film needed to exist in present tense and follow his journey chronologically, because you needed to understand from Lenny's perspective. At first, Lenny thought we were going to try and make a comeback story about him, so he would rent fancy cars, but Josh would follow him to the dealership. Eventually Lenny realized we weren't stopping, and we were trying to make another movie -- we were trying to understand him. It was going to be a human story. Once Josh explained that to him, he kind of opened up a lot more and really let it all out, and it's pretty powerful.

Were there other documentaries that inspired you to approach material that way?

Josh: Hoop Dreams was an enormous influence, in the way that it treated the sport as a human subject. And also a lot of filmmakers from the 60s: the Maysles brothers, Frederick Wiseman, Ross McElwee, Shirley Clarke, all these people who looked at documentary as a tool that you could learn a greater truth through the manipulation of reality. Those films really did inspire us as far as how to take our narrative background and apply it to documentaries. [Ross McElwee's 1986 film] Sherman's March had such a personal point of view. You're always taught that documentaries are supposed to be objective, and that was the most subjective you could possibly be. The guy making the film is talking, filming, observing. That subjectivity was something we really were interested in.

You guys and Lenny grew up in New York around the same time. And like Lenny, you've done a lot in not too many years. Do you see personal parallels in your stories?

Josh: Socio-economically, we come from different places. Lenny was a black kid growing up in tough Bushwick, Brooklyn; we were white Jewish kids growing up in Queens. We're predestined to have different lives. But I knew what I wanted to do very early on. So did Benny. We started making films at a very early age. I was 23 years old with my first feature film. You just have to remember to stay humble and stay hungry, because if you're not hungry you're full, and if you're full you just want to sit back and do nothing. The difference between us and Lenny is we're not going to get full easily. We want to keep doing what we want to do, how we want to do it. We've had the opportunity to go and do a genre film for Hollywood for $12 million, but we both know that that's not how we want to express ourselves. The end goal is satiating our soul, and it doesn't come with money.

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Joakim Noah, your executive producer, makes a few appearances in the film. When did he sign on?

Benny: He came on after he saw the film. He facilitated a lot of stuff during the filming, but it wasn't till after he saw the film that he realized that it could be a powerful story to the next generation of kids. Just recently in Chicago, when the film opened there last weekend, he brought 45 kids from his Noah's Arc Foundation because he really believed that they could learn something. The top-ranked high school kid in the country, who's going to Duke next year, said the film changed his life, that it's going to really affect the way he looks at success and what it takes to get there. I think that's why [Noah] signed on, because he knows the importance of hard work.

Can you tell me about your next project?

Benny: Yeah, that would be Uncut Gems. It's sort of a thriller/comedy that takes place in the Diamond District, and it's a complete mad world and a place that's disappearing. We're working on a couple of projects, but that's kind our big pie-in-the-sky project that we've been developing for a year-and-a-half now.

Josh: There is an element of basketball in there as well.

Benny: Yeah. It's funny because there was a strong overlap with players that we were talking to during the making of the film.

Wow. Basketball and diamonds.

Benny: Yeah. That bling-bling.

Josh: Our dad was actually was a runner for the Diamond District when we were kids, up until when we were eight years old.

Benny: He would tell us stories that would make you...

Josh: And you'd be surprised at the amount of celebrity, and the basketball players. Whenever they come through town, they're always going to 47th Street, making sure they get their $4-5 thousand chain. There are scenes in the movie that are straight out of that world. And Lenny's going to have a cameo in it.

Lenny will be acting?

Benny: Well, he acts in this documentary. He knew that he was being filmed and he allowed it to happen. And that's one of the most difficult parts of performance. So he's a natural performer.



Lenny Cooke screens at the Film Society of Lincoln Center through December 12th. More screening info at lennycookemovie.com.


Cocktail of the Week: The Golden Cadillac at Golden Cadillac

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goldencadallic.jpgPhoto by Daniel Krieger

Despite its glimmering disco sheen, the 1970s were bleak years for imbibing. Yet in between downing Buttery Nipples and wine spritzers, there was the Golden Cadillac. This after-dinner tipple, which stands in for dessert with its rich, triple smack of heavy cream, crème de cacao and Galliano liqueur, is back in the spotlight at the new East Village bar and restaurant of the same name.

Greg Boehm, Golden Cadillac owner, drinks historian and Cocktail Kingdom barware guru, says the retro cocktail is "notoriously sweet and heavy, while also being delicious." We agree. But his bar's version, which embraces coconut cream, is a sophisticated overhaul of the velvety digestif that allows the Galliano's warm vanilla notes to pop.

"The name of the drink--and the drink itself--evoke the faux elegance of the seventies," says Boehm.

Sipping the Golden Cadillac immediately calls to mind the faded glamour of the Hustle era, but amid the swirl of holiday soirées, it also makes a mighty fine alternative to ubiquitous spiked eggnog.


Recipe:

Equal parts Galliano, coconut cream and crème de cacao.
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake well.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Top 10 Foxiest Folk Singers

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The Coen Brothers' new flick about the early-'60s Greenwich Village folk scene, Inside Llewyn Davis, is out today and in a somewhat-rare move for the directors, the cast is super hot! (Sorry Jeff Bridges and William H. Macy.) While stars Justin Timberlake and Oscar Isaacs look mighty foyne in beards and sweaters, let's not forget that their real-life '60s folk singer counterparts gave great face, too. Below, we round-up (in no particular order) the ten foxiest folkies -- and, no, Bob Dylan didn't make the cut.

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1. Arlo Guthrie
Arlo's sweet, sweet 'fro looks like it'd be super soft to touch but we'd also be a little scared about what we might find in there. We want him to serenade us wearing nothing but that sax. Sorry/not sorry.

Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 3.41.00 PM.png2. Joan Baez
Joan Baez? More like Joan BABEz.

Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 3.41.46 PM.png3. Richie Havens
We have a soft spot for men who can pull off a well-accessorized turtleneck and blazer look.

Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 3.44.59 PM.png4. Buffy Sainte-Marie
Big ups for making an Amish-y shawl look sexy, Buffy.

Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 3.43.00 PM.png5. The Kingston Trio
In the words of PAPER's Bizzy T, "The Kingston Trio are such dorks but have that fuckable farm boy quality." Well said.

Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 3.46.19 PM.png6. Karen Dalton
We will never be as cool as Dalton is smoking what looks like a giant doobie on her album cover.

Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 3.49.09 PM.png7. Pete Seeger
Young Pete Seeger is kinda giving us some A.P.C. male model vibes.

Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 3.51.26 PM.png8. Mary Travers from Peter, Paul and Mary
Mary's bangs should have their own Facebook fan page.


Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 3.55.06 PM.png9. Harry Belafonte
Who doesn't swoon for a man that can rock a "Deep V" long sleeve shirt and still manage to avoid looking like he's in line to hear Kaskade DJ at Pacha?

Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 3.58.28 PM.png10. Phil Ochs
If Phil Ochs were still alive today and looked like that, he'd probably be making a cameo on Girls. Adam who?

The Best, Worst and Weirdest of the Week

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Screen Shot 2013-12-06 at 5.26.55 PM.pngOur Favorite New Game of the Week: "Who Said It? Kanye or Your Creative Director?" So, so good. And hard! -- Abby Schreiber

Best Quote from Jessica Seinfeld's "Grub Street Diet": This quote about her husband: "[Jerry] likes overcooked and stale things." Who knew? [via nymag] -- A.S.

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Best Re-dressed: Keira Knightly re-wore her Chanel Haute Couture wedding dress to this week's SeriousFun Children's Network Gala in London. -- Maggie Dolan

Most Disappointing Brooklyn News of the Week: That Rough Trade would be suspending its concerts due to noise complaints from asshole North Williamsburg neighbors. Fuckin' yuppies! [via Gothamist] -- A.S.

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Best Celebrity Tweet During Last Night's Horrendous, But Enjoyable, Sound of Music Live: This one. Courtesy of Cameron Diaz. -- E.T.


Best Poorly-Behaved Dog: Sunny Obama, who knocked down a 2-year-old at a White House Christmas Party! Every family needs a bad dog, and Michelle handled the whole thing aces. --E.T.

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Best Holiday Time-Waster: Christmascats.tv, which shows a live feed of adoptable cats in Christmas sweaters playing in wrapping paper from Long Island's North Shore Animal League shelter. It also features a drunk "saucy grandma" and a cute elf who engage in a lot of odd,  mildly flirtatious banter. It's so weird but so good. -- E.T.

Person-11A_PRF.jpgBest Meditation on the Art in Velvet Paintings: Collector Weekly's "Velvet Underdogs: In Praise of the Paintings the Art World Loves to Hate." -- E.T.


Nelson Mandela's Musical Influence

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Hesta Prynn A.jpgIn this weekly column, MC/DJ Hesta Prynn pairs pop culture stories with an original playlist.












To celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela, who died earlier this week at the age of 95, this week's Five n Five highlights just a few of his many words of wisdom and pairs them with songs inspired by the man himself. If you want to enjoy a great half hour of South African music this playlist is for you. Rest in peace, Madiba. 

1. Quote:


"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite." (1995)
Song: "Asimbonanga (Mandela)" by Johnny Clegg

This quote is from Mandela's book Long Walk to Freedom. The title of this song translates to "we have not seen him" and addresses Mandela's 26 years as a political prisoner.  legg had musicians of different races perform this protest hit together, creating controversy in Apartheid South Africa. 

2. Quote:

"Difficulties break some men but make others." (1975)

Song: "Free Nelson Mandela" by The Special A.K.A.

This quote is from a letter Mandela wrote to his wife from prison. The song was written in 1984 -- the 21st year of Mandela's imprisonment -- performed by The Special A.K.A., an offshoot of the Specials, and produced by Elvis Costello.  Largely unbeknown to Mandela, his continued imprisonment led to world wide pressure for his release and many countries began implementing sanctions on Apartheid Africa in the mid-80s.


3. Quote:

"Social equality is the only basis of human happiness."  (1970)

Song: Bring Him Back Home (Nelson Mandela) by Hugh Masekela

This quote is also from a letter Mandela wrote.  These simple, timeless words are often used to highlight similar struggles across the world today -- including the fight for marriage equality and LGBT rights in America. 
 
4. Quote:

"It always seems impossible until it's done."

Song: "Black President" by Brenda Fassie

Written at the tipping-point, one year before Mandela's release from prison, this song celebrates the future of South Africa.  I always wished Jay-Z sampled this one for "My President is Black" -- it's itching for a re-release.

5. Quote:

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." (1995)

Song: "Gimme Hope Jo'anna" by Eddy Grant

Another great quote from Long Walk to Freedom. Guyanese singer Eddy Grant, most famous for the 80s hit "Electric Avenue," says that this song was the "anthem of the Apartheid movement." Jo'anna is a reference to Johannesburg. 

John Waters On His One-Man Christmas Show and The Horrors of Living Nativity Scenes

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Screen Shot 2013-12-09 at 3.12.43 PM.pngWho would have thought that during his long, legendary career, cinematic sicko John Waters would become synonymous with something as wholesome as yuletide cheer? With the director's 2004 Christmas album and his annual touring one-man holiday show -- which he'll perform in New York on Friday, December 13th and Saturday, December 14th at Stage 48 -- Waters has become as Christmasy as eggnog and fruit cake. We caught up with Waters on the phone recently to chat about his show, his disdain for inflatable Christmas decorations and his dream Christmas TV specials.

This a return to New York City for you. You skipped us last year and performed upstate.
And I'm in a nightclub! I love playing in a nightclub. I feel like a real working performer. I feel like Arnold Stang -- look up his picture, you'll get it.  

Last year when we chatted, it was at the beginning of your Christmas show tour. You mentioned that someone had given you a packer, or a limp dildo, as a gift after one of your shows. Has anyone topped that gift since?
Well, it's hard because I can't really take any of the gifts with me. I have fans send the gifts to Atomic Books, which is where I pick up my mail. Atomic Books, by the way, was recently a clue on Jeopardy. The clue was, "Where does John Waters pick up his fan mail?" They were thrilled. Anyway, people know I collect novelizations of movies so I get a lot of those. Or a lot of times they give me Christmas decorations or they'll give me compilation CDs of obscure Christmas music they've made.

Do you get stressed about gift-giving? Finding the perfect thing for people?

There is some stress, yes. I have to buy like 100 gifts for people. And it' s not about money, it's how much time you spend to get the perfect present. As a matter of fact, if it costs too much it looks like you're lazy.

Do you have a fool-proof gift you like to give?
Books. Like I said, it's not about the money or how much you spend on someone, it's about finding some really weird, special bookshop. And those are everywhere.

What is your policy on re-gifting?
I try to never re-gift -- it's way too obvious. People absolutely know when you're re-gifting and you look like a cheapskate.

Your Christmas show has always been about finding the comedy in the insanity of the holidays. What do you think is the funniest thing about Christmas?
I think one of the funniest things about Christmas is a living crèche or a living nativity scene. They're frightening. I find them scarier than any Diane Arbus photo. I go to them like people go to haunted houses at Halloween, but I scrunch down in the crowd because I don't want people to see me. Then I'd feel as perverted as they are.

I also find inflatable Christmas decorations, like the kind people put in their yards here in Baltimore, to be funny. I really hate them. In Baltimore they're deflated during the day. They look so defeated and pathetic. The first time I saw one during the day, I thought some vandals had popped it and my assistant said, "No, people turn them off to save on the electric bill." They look terrible, laying there on someone's lawn in the Baltimore slush. But  you know, bad taste in Christmas decorations can change. When I was younger I hated white Christmas trees with all-blue bulbs on them, they were so L.A., but now I don't mind them.

Do you think you'll eventually come around on inflatable lawn decorations?
Bad taste can turn good, but I don't think inflated Christmas decorations, especially ones that have been deflated to save on the electric bill, will ever be classy. They're not even campy! There not anything.

Does seeing Christmas decorations out early in stores irk you?
It makes me laugh. They're earlier and earlier every year. What's more amazing is how Halloween has gotten terrible. I loved Halloween as a kid because it was a holiday for vandalism, and you never hear about that kind of thing anymore. I think we should introduce vandalism to the Christmas holiday, since it's not happening on Halloween. Halloween has turned into New Year's Eve. It's amateur hour, part two.

How do you envision vandalism being incorporated into Christmas?
We could have Devil's Night two nights before Christmas. Or, what if the day after Christmas everyone burned the presents that they didn't like? That would be good.

Do you have any favorite Christmas TV specials?
Well, my favorite one always is The Judy Garland Christmas Show, when Liza would come over and Judy would say, "Liza, there are three more gay men here to be your date!" And they would all sing Christmas carols together. I talk about the TV special that I'd like to do in my show -- my special would be with Justin Bieber, Kevin Federline and Levi Johnston. All three of them together, singing with me. I'd really love to have a TV Christmas special.

I think a lot of people would really love for you to have one.
It would be great. There aren't that many Christmas specials on anymore. And I'm talking true Christmas specials -- the ones that are variety shows. Do you see them? I don't think so.

Did Little Richard ever have a Christmas special or album? I know he's a hero of yours.
No! And he should have. I thought Mrs. Miller should have. Ol' Dirty Bastard should have. There's a lot of them who needed to have Christmas albums. I always wanted Ike and Tina Turner to have a Christmas special. Think of how amazing it would be to hear Tina Turner sing "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem!" Tina could come out and do it kind of rough like "Proud Mary." [Singing as Tina Turner] "Oh litt-le towwn of Beth-le-haaam!"  

Have you ever taken your Christmas show or one of your one-man shows to a city and been told not to come back?
Not anymore. I almost never make people angry anymore. My sister came to one of my shows last year and was like, "How do you get away with saying this shit?" But, really, no one gets mad. They just laugh. Once in Antwerp -- this was almost 40 years ago -- I showed Pink Flamingos at a film festival and the mayor of the city didn't know what it was and welcomed me on the stage before the screening. He even gave me a book on Antwerp. Then he saw the film, seized it and had it destroyed. I had to leave town hidden on the floor of a car. So that was a version of being run out of town. And Pink Flamingos is illegal in Hicksville, New York. We had to sign something -- me and New Line Cinema-- that said if we ever show it there again we'll go to prison. But I think it maybe has been shown there again, despite that. So I have to be careful never to ever go to Hicksville.

I'm not comparing myself to this person at all because he's one of my idols, but Lenny Bruce went to jail for saying fuck and doing a show like I do. And, really, that wasn't that long ago. Times are amazingly different now. It's incredible, the freedom that we have today.

In past interviews about your Christmas show you've mentioned the Christmas movie you want to make with Johnny Knoxville called Fruit Cake. Has there been any progress with that?
Yeah, it never happened. No one wants to pay for it. It could happen if I made it on my cell phone for a thousand dollars or something. But I can't do that. I have employees. I can't be a faux underground filmmaker at 68. Wait, no -- I'm 66. Or am I 67? I was born in '46, so I'm 67. I'm older than Santa Claus!

You're famous for your annual Christmas card.
Yes I am. It's a good one this year, too.

Has anyone ever complained about your Christmas card?
No, but I'm sure not everyone has enjoyed every single card. I have very different types of contacts on my Christmas card list who would maybe not have the same sense of humor that I do. I know my mom hated the one of me holding the baby Jesus.


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A John Waters Christmas is at Stage 48 on December 13th and 14th. Tickets here.

Amy Poehler Answers Whom Would You Rather Make Out With? Santa vs. Jesus

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Our December cover star, Amy Poehler, continues to prove just how wonderful she is IRL by answering the very deep, very important holiday question: Whom would you rather make out with -- Santa or Jesus? She has some real insight into the Clauses marriage, we'll tell ya that much. Video by Elizabeth Hummer.

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OMG Macaulay Culkin formed a pizza-themed Velvet Underground tribute band called The Pizza Underground. Their songs include "Take a Bite of the Wild Slice" and "Papa John Says." Listen to their jams, above. [via Gigwise]


Key and Peele went on Paul F. Tompkins' web series, Made Man, and attempted to break the world record for impressions -- doing 34 impressions in under one minute. The whole bit is awesome and made us think of two critical things 1) We really, really wanna have some chill out time with those two and 2) Key's impression of Michael Caine is super funny. [via Uproxx]

tumblr_mefm7nASlO1qehk2eo1_500.jpgFound our new snow slush boot, courtesy of Targé. [via Tall Whitney]



Here's a two-minute clip of a waiter totally trolling restaurant patrons by reading off a list of never-ending specials. It's kind of like Boiling Points but these poor people don't win money. [via College Humor]

Screen shot 2013-12-09 at 9.12.55 PM.pngICYMI: Walmart has been selling a "Destroy Capitalism" Banksy canvas print. So...yeah. [via Thought Catalog]

tumblr_mxek5hVrZD1rqd0kpo1_500.gifUs this week when all of our friends are like, "Ugh, I'm SO exhausted from Basel." STFU. [via Coin Farts]

tumblr_mxhhp6g9fG1rn7bzro1_1280.pngThe Bawse. [via Knusprig Titten Hitler]

tumblr_mx7j0r0YUv1qctlgko1_500.pngMust. Ask. Santa. For. These. AriZona. Iced. Tea. Sneaks. [via 100 Years of Lolitude]




Mega-babe Oscar Isaac went on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon yesterday to promote his new film, the Coen Brothers' Inside Llewyn Davis, and sang an awesome folk rendition of Katy Perry's "Roar." Swoon level 10. [via Jimmy Fallon]

The Sartorialist Tells Us How to Get the Perfect Shot

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We spent an afternoon with superstar street style photographer, Scott Schuman (a.k.a. The Sartorialist), as he took the Canon PowerShot S120 camera out for a day of shooting. Amidst filming, photographing and uploading photos to social media, we talked to Schuman about how to get the perfect shot.

afscottsocial_jac3.jpgScott Schuman a.k.a. The Sartorialist

On how to get a natural-looking shot:
"You try not to bring attention to the shooting. I also take a couple of minutes to talk to my subjects. I used to shoot people pretty close to the space where I found them. Now, because I've been doing this longer, I take a little while to walk with them and I'll ask them a couple of questions. It's through that conversation that I can shoot while we're still talking and they're relaxed."

canon_scottGIF5_w.gifScott shows us how to work our angles...

On getting the close-up shots:
"It just comes from practice and focusing on your instincts. Let your eyes lead you. Bruce Weber explained to me how important seduction and desire are to photography. You have to let yourself be seduced by the great qualities a person has. A lot of times you will see someone and think, "Oh, she's so beautiful and she's got great legs." But you can't walk up to someone and say, "Can I take a picture of your great legs?" Instead you can say, "Oh, I'd really like to take a picture of you," and then make sure that the legs are the strongest part of the photograph--that they are positioned in such a way that really highlights their shape."

scottsocial_camera2.jpg...Voilà! The result.

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Scott uses the Canon PowerShot S120's built-in Wi-Fi technology and the free Canon CameraWindow app to transfer photos to his smartphone for uploading on social media.

On when to post a photo on social media versus posting on his blog:
"The question I ask is "What do I want to share immediately?" If it's very "of-the-moment" content then I will take a photo to share on social media. I mainly shoot people for the blog and that can do well on social media like Instagram, but sometimes it doesn't because it's overly filtered. If it's an image that's more abstract or compositional with color patterns or textures like cobblestones, the filters can heighten the colors and the shadows and intensify the texture. Shooting with the Canon PowerShot S120 as opposed to a smartphone gives me more control because I can use typical camera functions like aperture or shutter speed. I can have a more shallow depth of field or a longer depth of field. There are more options to play with. The camera also lets you share the images more quickly without having to do other kinds of post-production."

On what happens when people try to get his attention on the street:
"I'm pretty sensitive to that stuff and I know when people recognize me. I feel very self-conscious when people do that."

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It's not always about finding the 'It Girls.'

On what he wears to shoot street style:
"I like to dress in a way that won't hinder what I'm doing -- comfortable and never too dressed up. I blend in a little bit. But, at the same time, I have to look reasonably cool. I noticed when I started going to fashion week; most of the photographers looked so horrible. When they'd shoot someone it was this natural divide. Now it's a whole different story. I knew in the very beginning that if I was going to shoot these editors in the way that I wanted, they had to understand that I was somewhere between one of them and a photographer. I could talk to them in their language."

On when to use video:
"Most people are not great videographers, but if they see an element with a small amount of movement, they can capture that and make an interesting-looking video. I love magazines and books and sometimes I'll do a little video as I'm flipping through a book at a bookstore to send to a friend as opposed to taking twenty pictures and texting all of those. If you don't have great lighting conditions you can get away with more on video than with a still image  -- you don't notice the light as much on one specific thing since the image is moving."

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With the Canon PowerShot S120's advanced DIGIC 6 Image Processor, Scott captures stunning 1080p/60p Full HD videos in stereo sound. Click HERE to see him leaf through a PAPER fashion story.


Scott shoots from the bottom up

On searching for new street style subjects:
"Whenever I go somewhere, I ask people if they know of any girls that would be good to meet and shoot. I was just in the Ukraine and, in this case, their heart was in the right place but they kept introducing me to these 'It Girls' that were totally over-dressed. A student or a barista at Starbucks who does her makeup in a particular way or has a particular kind of haircut is more interesting. Ultimately, you have to put in the time and go out and be surprised about who you find. I think my surprise and curiosity really helps me form the image."

On getting the shots no one else will have:
"I stay away from other photographers. I'm trying to find something different. I know a lot of people want to get a picture of Anna Della Russo or another well-known editor but I'm much more interested in finding the next Anna Della Russo. To me, the mystery is much more interesting than the trend. Also, the more you get to know someone, the harder it is to shoot them. It's a natural human thing that goes back to the idea of desire and seduction. It's like, "Who is that? Who's that mysterious girl over there? Who's that handsome guy?" I want my photographs to be people with the clothes just helping tell the story of who they are -- or who I imagine them to be."

af2IMG_0190.1.jpgNot only fashionable people grab Scott's attention. Wonky cobblestones are just as captivating.

On what never fails to catch his eye:
"High heels and girls with short hair. I think it's because both are not easy to do. It's not easy to have short hair as a girl. It's so much easier to have long, beautiful hair because girls think the guys will like it. I think it's a personality thing. If a girl is strong enough to have a really cute, short haircut, then they're usually strong enough to wear more interesting outfits. They might put more thought into how they dress and be a little more challenging with fashion. High heels are the same thing. If she's going to put up with the pain of wearing high heels, she's probably going to have some other interesting thing about her outfit."

canon_scottGIF3_w.gifScott gives a second glance.

Check back on papermag.com to see more BE READY moments with Chris Benz, Johnny Wujek and Jenny Johnson!

Priyanka Chopra Is the Biggest Star You've Never Heard Of.

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priyankafeature1.jpgJacket and shorts by Guess and ring by La Vie Bobo.

Back in 2009, I was whisked away to Mumbai to be a judge of the Femina Miss India Pageant held at a local soccer stadium. I was the only non-Bollywood bigwig on the panel. I would tell you who else was on the panel, but you've never heard of any of them. And at that time you'd also never heard of the pageant's featured performer, Priyanka Chopra. Imagine Angelina Jolie's fame when she stole Brad Pitt's heart, or J. Lo's after she wore that barely-there Versace dress to the Grammys. In India, Chopra was bigger. She won the Miss India contest in 2000 and went on to win Miss World before becoming a Bollywood megastar. And now she's poised to become just as famous in the U.S.

Chopra's currently serving Sophia Loren-style va-va-voom sexiness on the pages of every American fashion magazine, as the new "Guess girl." The iconic brand, which has made stars of models like Claudia Schiffer, Eva Herzigova and Anna Nicole Smith, chose Chopra to be the star of their holiday campaign photographed by ex-rockstar Bryan "Cuts Like a Knife" Adams. "I think it's the first time they've used a brand ambassador of ethnicity," says Chopra, "and I'm very excited about that." And like many of today's multi-hyphenates, Chopra can be seen shaking her shapely silhouette alongside "Mr. Worldwide" himself, hitmaker Pitbull in the video for her new single, "Exotic," which has over 18 million views on YouTube. "I'm a very Top 40 kind of girl," says Chopra. "I know it's cliché, but that's the kind of music I make -- I'm a mainstream actor and I want to be a mainstream musician."

Unlike in America, where the most famous beauty queens are either embarrassing YouTube anecdotes or Donald Trump sidekicks, in India pageants are the breeding grounds for superstars. Chopra has starred in hit Bollywood movies like Andaaz, Fashion and the Krrish superhero franchise, opposite a parade of her country's hottest hunks including Hrithik Roshan, Shahrukh Khan and John Abraham (South Asia's equivalent to Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio).

priyankafeature2.jpgCoat by Hache, vintage top by Chanel from PinkClouds, necklace by Lynn Ban and glasses by Agent Provocateur x Linda Farrow.

But Bollywood stars are like Kylie Minogue: huge everywhere in the world, except America. It's looking like Chopra, however, may be able to break that mold. She's the first Bollywood star to land an agent at CAA, and splits her time between Mumbai and L.A. to promote her career in the U.S. "It's not something I'm delusional about," she says. "I have an incredible body of work in the country that I live in, but I'm also relatively new to the American audience, and I see that. Sometimes it confuses me, it's almost like being a debutante all over again."

But this isn't the 31-year-old's first introduction to the States. "I went to high school in Queens, Boston and Indianapolis, so I understand both the East and the West," she says. "I want my music to be international pop. I sing in English, but I want it to have a vibe from India."

And like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna, she often takes to Twitter to give her fans a snapshot of her glamorous jet-set life -- even if it has its downsides. "There are people who just want attention and write crap. That's annoying, of course," Chopra says, "but then there's a beautiful button that Twitter has created, called 'block.' I only follow people I know, or people I want to know about." And what celebrity does she get tips on Twitter from? "I follow Oprah. Like I said, I'm a mainstream kind of girl."

Styled by Stephanie Singer

Hair by Michael Lollo at The Wall Group / Makeup by Joseph Carrillo / Stylist's Assistant: Ekaterina Razgonova


Photographed at at Go Studios

5 Observations From Last Night's Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

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We've asked Eli Yudin and Carey O'Donnell, authors of the very, very funny Twitter account @NotTildaSwinton, to share their thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams with us after watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills every week. Join us for a recap, won't you?

Screen-Shot-2013-12-10-at-5.06.04-PM.jpg1. Poor, poor Joyce! Our Lady of Puerto Rico has decided to spiritually wound herself by organizing a ladies trip to Palm Springs. Doesn't she know you CAN'T bring these women to the desert? Kim learned that last year, when she groggily put together a trip to Ojai. Joyce's German, big peened, Hollywood producer husband, Michael, rented out the place for his wife and the crow-people she's since been acquainted with for the weekend. She's so excited! Watching her try on outfits for the trip made you want to scream, "No, Joyce! No!" Every decision Joyce makes, including arriving at the main resort house first with Sisters Richards, and claiming three out of the four bedrooms, is a strike against her in the half-closed eyes of Brandi, as well as Grand High Witch Carlton, Charlatan Vanderpump and Milkmaid Yo-Yo. "I promise to give her another chance," Brandi tells Carlton on the ride up. We're not sure what exactly Joyce did that rubbed Brandi the wrong way, aside from being stunningly beautiful and naively kind and having a husband who loves her.

Screen-Shot-2013-12-10-at-5.03.19-PM.jpgScreen-Shot-2013-12-10-at-5.06.14-PM.jpg
2. Brandi reveals herself to be the true, leggy can of garbage water that she is in the first day/night of this soon-to-be disastrous trip. She begins drinking the minute she arrives. Down in the pool, Carlton and Brandi clank around, showing off their ribs. Brand shrieks over at the other women, especially Joyce, to come swim. She then "accidentally" calls Joyce "Jacqueline" from across the pool. Joyce sort of grits her teeth in a weird, forced smile, and says, "I'm Joyce, sweetie." After berating her to be a good host and come into the water, Brandi then changes her mind and tells Joyce/Jacqueline that she shouldn't go in the pool because she'll sink because she's black (Puerto Rican). Brandi, you dumb, terrible asshole. At dinner Brandi, four or more glasses of wine in, tells Joyce that she likes calling her Jacqueline more because Joyce sounds like a "fat, old lady" name. Lisa laughs from across the table, braying, "Don't SAYYYY that!" Then Brandi calls her "Hoy-see" in a bad Spanish accent. Joyce mentions how she was bullied in high school with that same nickname, and then Lisa and Yolanda scold Joyce for talking about being bullied, Carlton watching silently. Later, Joyce awkwardly brings up that she's going to be starring in a show called "Siberia", which, is about being in Siberia. No one listens. Kyle half-heartedly asks Joyce what her movie is about, but it's clear that she couldn't give a fuck. All this time, Kim was staring out the dining room window, watching two little girls pantomiming on the patio.
 Screen-Shot-2013-12-10-at-5.05.03-PM.jpgScreen-Shot-2013-12-10-at-5.05.16-PM.jpg3. Kyle and Carlton get to have their first one-on-one interaction since Carlton remembered they are both reincarnated enemies from warring witch covens. Kyle asks Carlton to meet her for some pre-Palm Springs shopping, and she arrives in her workout clothes, bewildered and barely saying hello to Paris Hilton's aunt. Then the sales associate who looks like a hipster Ricki Lake begins complimenting how small Kyle's rear-end looks, and how tiny she's gotten. The more praise hipster Ricki Lake gives Kyle, the farther Carlton retreats to the exit. It's like watching a hornet being repelled after a can of Raid took over a hot attic. Carlton then lists off all the things she felt Kyle said and did that wronged her, all of which were silly and mostly without malice. Kyle owns up to it though, and apologizes to Carlton to save face (and her soul). Their uneasy truce is immediately shattered later, when Carlton yells at Kyle after she jokingly says, "Quit peer pressuring Joyce to come in the pool!" to Brandi. 'Remember me, child, remember.' Carlton thinks as Kyle stares at her from the across the pool, she grins slightly. Kyle sees that same grin and remembers it from somewhere, some time, long ago.

Screen-Shot-2013-12-10-at-5.12.53-PM.jpgScreen-Shot-2013-12-10-at-5.21.02-PM.jpg4. Kim has been owning this season with her seemingly endless, semi-coherent interview confessional quips, even more so than previous seasons. The greatest thing she's said to date, even better than "I'm a marlin fisher" or "I'm an Arabian horse," is when she remarks on Carlton explaining her Wicca religion. We see Kim on her lounge chair, her eyes fluctuating between wide and droopy, listening to the charred witch in the pool. "I don't know about her Wicca," Kim says, raspy and suspicious in an interview. I don't know about her Wicca. I'm going to whisper that to a person sitting next to me on the subway this week.

Screen-Shot-2013-12-10-at-5.20.47-PM.jpg5. Can we all agree that this show would be infinitely better if each episode was only about Kim Richards shopping at a luggage store?










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