Check Out 28 SummerStage Shows That Aren't Sold Out

June 8, 2012, 11:50 am

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Although a few of the big-ticket Central Park SummerStage shows are already sold out (including Foster the People, Beach House, M83 and Childish Gambino), there are still a slew of concerts open to the public around the five boroughs, most of which are free. Check out our picks for all of the non-sold out performances below (and go here for a complete list of SummerStage acts).


6/7 -- Bobby Womack / Willis Earl Beal (Re-scheduled): Legendary soul musician Bobby Womack plays a show with fellow soulman Willis Earl Beal.  Due to an illness, the concert has been rescheduled but date is still TBA. Central Park. FREE




6/10 -- Talib Kweli and Screening of Brooklyn Boheme: A performance by hip-hop wordsmith Talib Kweli and a live band will be followed by a screening of Brooklyn Boheme, a new documentary that looks at the vibrant artist community that flourished during the 80s and 90s in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. (Read more about the film here.)  Herbert Von King Park, Brooklyn. FREE

 

6/12 -- The New York Pops with Ozomatli ft. special guest Harlem School of the Arts: NYC's pops orchestra plays a show with L.A.'s Ozomatli, a group known for their indiscriminate mixing of hip-hop and salsa, dancehall and funk, samba and merengue, R&B and reggae. (You might also know them from their cameo in the Drew Barrymore basic cable classic, Never Been Kissed.) The Harlem School of the Arts jazz band and jazz combo will also perform as special guests. Central Park. FREE


6/15 -- Joey Arias: The legendary New York City cabaret and performance artist will perform renditions of classic Bob Dylan, Cream, Klaus Nomi and Billie Holiday songs, accompanied by composer Ben Allison and his band. Central Park. FREE
 





6/16 -- Dawes / Kurt Vile and the Violators: Bring out your picnic blankets for California-based rock band Dawes, who channel the acoustic folk rock popularized by Laurel Canyon greats Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Joni Mitchell (among others). They'll play alongside lo-fi indie rock singer/songwriter Kurt Vile and his band. Central Park. FREE 



6/17 -- Groove Theory / Soulive / Riq & Rah with Strings (Black Thought and Rahzel with Strings) / DJ ?uestlove: This R&B/soul night will feature the reunited Groove Theory (musician/producer Bryce Wilson and singer Amel Larrieux), accompanied by soul/groove/jam trio Soulive (brothers Alan and Neal Evans and Eric Krasno).  Rounding out the show will be Roots drummer ?uestlove on the ones and twos along with bandmates Riq & Rah. Central Park. FREE

6/19 -- Das Racist / Action Bronson / Trouble Andrew: Brooklyn-based joke rappers-turned-bona fide MCs Das Racist will headline a bill that also includes fellow New York rappers Action Bronson and Trouble Andrew. Red Hook Park, Brooklyn. FREE





6/20 -- The Daily Show's Rory Albanese / Wyatt Cenac / Adam Lowitt / Al Madrigal / John Oliver / Kristen Schaal, hosted by John Hodgman: John Hodgman will host a night of stand-up from Daily Show correspondents Wyatt Cenac, Al Madrigal and John Oliver, contributor Kristen Schaal, executive producer Rory Albanese and co-executive producer Adam Lowitt. Central Park. FREE

6/21 -- Deertick / Jonny Corndawg: Grungy, country-tinged rock band by way of Providence, RI head to Red Hook Park along with country crooner Jonny Corndawg. Red Hook Park, Brooklyn.  FREE

6/24 -- Alabama Shakes / Diamond Rugs / Robert Ellis: The Athens, Alabama quartet are bringing their hard-hitting blues-rock to NYC with Diamond Rugs, a rock band formed by members of Deer Tick, The Black Lips, Los Lobos, Dead Confederate and Six Finger Satellite, as support.  Country rock singer Robert Ellis will open. Central Park. FREE



6/24 -- Hannibal Buress / Kevin Barnett / Josh Rabinowitz: Comedy Central hosts this night of funnymen, headlined by Chicago-native Hannibal Buress (who's written for 30 Rock and SNL) and featuring comics Kevin Barnett and Josh Rabinowitz.  Fingers crossed Buress does his "apple juice" bit. Red Hook Park, Brooklyn. FREE

 

6/26 -- The Klezmatics / Socalled / Daniel Kahn and the Painted Bird / Joshua Nelson / NYT-Folksbiene's "Soul to Soul" / Yiddish Princess: As part of Yiddishfest 2012,you can expect both traditional (eclectic klezmer band The Klezmatics) and modern (klezmer-meets-folk-meets hip-hop artist Socalled and "Soul to Soul," a performance that looks at intersections between African-American and Yiddish folk music). Central Park. FREE
   

6/30 +7/1 -- Limón Dance Company with Special Musical Guest Paquito D'Rivera: Founded by Mexican choreographer, José Limón, the dance company celebrates their 65th anniversary with two premiere performances of Come With Me, a "specially commissioned dance piece set to live music by world-renowned Grammy Award-winning Cuban composer, Paquito D'Rivera." Central Park. FREE



7/3 -- Norah Jones / Jim Campilongo Trio: Norah Jones is back with a new album, Little Broken Hearts, and departs somewhat from her usual jazz style with new pop/rock inflections, courtesy, in part, to production assistance from Danger Mouse (DJ/producer and one-half of Gnarls Barkley).  Acclaimed guitarist Jim Campilongo opens. Central Park. $49.50
  




7/7 -- CBGB Festival with Guided By Voices / The Pains of Being Pure at Heart / Cloud Nothings / & More: The much buzzed-about CBGB Festival features the original indie rockers, Guided By Voices, along with shoegaze-y noise pop act, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and lo-fi rock act Cloud Nothings.  More acts TBA. Central Park. FREE


 
7/11 -- Mala Rodríguez / Ximena Sariñana / Profetas / The Sconek-T: Along with the Latin Alternative Music Conference, SummerStage brings Latin Grammy-winning Spanish rapper Mala Rodríguez, Mexican songstress Ximena Sariñana -- whose 2008 solo debut was likened to Norah Jones -- hip-hop duo Profetas and The Sconek-T, a Mexican band known for blending classical music with rock, Latin music and electro. Central Park. FREE.
 


7/15 -- Guthrie Family Reunion Celebrating Woody's 100th: In honor of what would have been Woody Guthrie's 100th birthday, son Arlo will be joined with various family members in a tribute concert for the legendary folk singer. Central Park. FREE





7/17: The Upright Citizen's Brigade Presents the All Stars of Improv: Performers from the legendary improv company that launched the careers of many a familiar face on NBC (The Office, Parks & Recreation, SNL) will take to SummerStage for two acts of improvised comedy. Central Park. FREE




7/18 -- Big Daddy Kane / Marley Marl: Hip-hop legend Big Daddy Kane, who first exploded onto the rap scene in the late 80s, will join producer Marley Marl for a show in Queensbridge Park.  Queensbridge Park, Queens. FREE





7/21 -- Bebel Gilberto / Criolo / Flávio Renegado / Béco Dranoff: Presented in association with Brasil Summerfest, this show brings together some of Brazil's hottest musical acts.  Internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Bebel Gilberto mixes electro with bossa nova while hip-hop artists Criolo and Flávio Renegado mix rap with samba, funk, reggae and other genres as diverse as their native country itself.  They'll be joined by acclaimed producer Béco Dranoff. Central Park. FREE 
 
7/25 -- The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recital Series: The kick-off performance will feature soprano Danielle de Niese, who recently sang the part of Ariel in the Met's The Enchanted Island, tenor Dimitri Pittas, who appeared at the Met this season in La Boheme and Macbeth, and bass-baritone John Del Carlo, who played Bartolo in the Met's production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia.  They will be accompanied by pianist Dan Saunders.  Central Park. FREE

7/28 -- Gary Clark Jr. / GIVERS: Buzzy acts Gary Clark Jr. and GIVERS will share the stage for a show featuring Clark's bluesy rock and GIVERS' sweetly melodic indie pop. Central Park. FREE






8/1 -- Camille A. Brown & Dancers w/ Special Musical Guest Imani Uzuri / Malcolm Low Formal Structure / Special Guest: Dancin' Downtown at the Joyce Contest Winner: Camille A Brown & Dancers will perform a piece incorporating music from vocalist/composer Imani Uzuri's recent album, The Gypsy Diaries.  They'll be joined by dance troupes Malcolm Low Formal Structure and the winner of the Dancin' Downtown at the Joyce contest. Central Park. FREE


8/1 -- Rob Base: The hip-hop MC known for his classic "It Takes Two," brings his mix of rap and house music beats to Tappen Park.  Tappen Park, Staten Island. FREE







8/4 -- Amadou & Mariam / Theophilus London / Just a Band: Blind Malian singers Amadou & Mariam bring their contemporary world music to SummerStage along with It-Boy rapper Theophilus London and Kenyan electro/art collective Just a Band. Central Park. FREE




 

8/6 -- Old Crow Medicine Show / The Lumineers / The Milk Carton Kids: Folk/bluegrass rockers Old Crow Medicine Show are joined by country folk-rock trio The Lumineers and pop-rockers The Milk Carton Kids. Central Park. $35.00







8/9 -- The Metropolitan Opera Summer Recial Series: This installment features up-and-coming Met artists like soprano Deanna Breiwick (who covered the role of Ariel in The Enchanted Island), tenor Alexander Lewis (who will make his Met debut in Manon) and baritone Edward Parks (who recently played Fiorello in Il Barbiere di Siviglia).  Socrates Sculpture Park, Queens. FREE





8/11 -- Carolina Chocolate Drops / Buckwheat Zydeco / Abigail Washburn: Get ready for a night of Southern music courtesy of Carolina Chocolate Drops, a group that started as a tribute to legendary fiddler Joe Thompson; Louisiana zydeco master Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural Jr. and his Buckwheat Zydeco group; and singer/songwriter/banjo player Abigail Washburn. Central Park. FREE 












 
 

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14 Photos of David Bowie Looking Like a Robot

June 8, 2012, 1:00 pm

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When we recently read that Ridley Scott loosely modeled Prometheus' robot character David (played by Michael Fassbender) off of David Bowie, we started poking around for more images of Bowie looking particularly bot-ish. Surprisingly, this was harder than we thought! Does someone automatically look like a robot in a photo just because they have one permanently-dilated pupil, are possibly on a lot of drugs and staring off into space? And does it count if that person is simultaneously trying to look like an androgynous alien rock star? That's different than a robot. What about when that person simply looks like Tilda Swinton? In the end, we settled on the images below as being most truly bot-like. So in honor of Prometheus' release today (are you seeing it tonight? We are, we are!), here are 14 photos of David Bowie looking like springs and smoke might shoot out of his ears if you spilled a glass of water on him.

Via.



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Via.

Our 11 Favorite Tony-Awards Moments

June 8, 2012, 2:50 pm

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The Tony-Awards is upon us, with the promise of "more performances than ever" at this Sunday's ceremony on CBS (hosted by the pride of Broadway: Neil Patrick Harris). We hear The Book of Mormon boys will be opening the telecast, which should hopefully go more smoothly than this. There's been a debate in the last few years as to whether or not the Tony Awards should remain on a major national network because ratings are never very high for the celebration of all things Broadway, but to a girl who grew up in Ohio with little access to great stage performances, the Tony Awards were a window into a world I desperately wanted to be a part of. Now with the magic of YouTube, I can procrastinate by watching amazing Tony Award recordings of yore. Here are some of my favorite performances that keep me tuning in every year to see the best and the brightest of the Broadway stage. Enjoy!

Bernadette Peters' performance as Mama Rose in Stephen Sondheim's Gypsy gives me goosebumps each time I watch it. She was robbed of a nomination this year for her role as Sally Durant in the hauntingly beautiful revival of another Sondheim classic, Follies.




For some reason this song from 2001's Urinetown really turns a day around for us. How cute is Hunter Foster? Can someone write another role for him on Broadway please? And the role of Little Sally happens to be this year's Tony-nominee for Best Featured Actress in a Play, Spencer Kayden!

Rent is one of the first Tony Awards performances that I really changed my high school life. Here's Nathan Lane's hammy introduction at the awards in 1996.




This is my favorite song, "Be Italian," from the original 1982 production of Nine. We love these amazing '80s gowns and the boys are so pre-prep school. Those knee pads are adorable!




I love this vintage 1968 Tony Awards performance which combines three musicals in one slapdash number. Fiddler on the Roof (starring Bette Midler!), Cabaret and Man of La Mancha. The special effects are hilarious. The stage actually rises up in a triangle and then comes back down. So cute.




Speaking of Fiddler on the Roof,  I can watch a performance of "Tradition," anytime, anywhere. Here's Alfred Molina in the 2004 revival. They even throw in the bottle dance! I need to go lay down. I'm way too excited.



This 1971 Andrew Lloyd Webber rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar was given, in my humble opinion, an embarrassing revival this year. The only nomination it received was for actor Josh Young who plays Judas. Watching this clip from the original makes us sad we missed the freaky treat that it could be.



This is Neil Patrick Harris's Tony rap-up he did at the closing of the 2009 show. It was a masterpiece that he and Lin-Manuel Miranda mastered during the actual ceremony. That's showbiz kids! He did another one last year but his first holds a special place in our hearts.

 


We love Cats. Sorry, but we do. Plus, we're deep into the John Belushi biography Wired by Bob Woodward right now in which Betty Buckley plays a big role! She actually pushed Belushi against a wall and threatened him once after seeing him giving a lackluster  performance in the off-Broadway production of Lemmings. That is cray-cray and I love it!




This one is a Mr. Mickey request. He played us this magical duet between the daughters of Judy Garland, Lorna Luft and Liza Minnelli, that they performed at the 1993 Tony's and it was instantly a favorite of mine too. This is Broadway at its craziest and best!




And last, but certainly not least, we have Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon performing Chicago tunes at the 1976 Tony Awards. Unfortunately, Chicago lost the Best Musical award that year to Chorus Line. I definitely prefer Chicago.

NPR Covers Carly Rae Jepsen + Lena Dunham's Dog's Erection = Eight Items or Less

June 8, 2012, 4:00 pm

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1. Listen to a gaggle of our favorite NPR personalities (including former PAPER Beautiful Person Ari Shapiro) do a very NPR-y cover of Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe."



2. In other CRJ news, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots joined Ms. Jepsen on yet another (but delightful) rendition of the ubiquitous tune. [via Gawker]

3. Lena Dunham gets Andrew Goldman-ed in this weekend's New York Times Magazine. Here is a funny bit: "I did come home from a long day recently, and I laid down on the couch next to my dog, and I was so happy to be with a companion that's not expecting me to do anything. He's licking my face, and I looked down, and he had the biggest erection. I just punched him. I was like, "I just can't with you right now." Everyone needs something from me."

4. Apologies for all the apostrophes, but Williamsburg's Lady Jay's is teaming up with Mable's Smokehouse on an outdoor summer concert series. [via Eater]

5. The New York Public Library just posted 1,000 long lost Great Depression-era photos online taken by the likes of Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans. [via Laughing Squid]

6. Could a casino be coming to Manhattan? [via Gothamist]

7. The late Gianni Versace's Miami mansion (outside of which he was tragically shot in 1992) is for sale for $125 million. [via The Cut]

8. Audrey Hepburn on the set of Breakfast at Tiffany's, 1960. [via Vacuidad]

May We Introduce You to the Lisa Frank iPhone App?

June 14, 2012, 2:00 pm

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That is all.

UPDATE: Get the app HERE.

Azealia Banks Is a Haute Cowgirl In Brand New Rankin-Directed Video for "Liquorice"

June 14, 2012, 3:15 pm

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Though it's a mighty big task to match the simple wonderfulness of Azealia Banks' video for "212," her new Rankin-directed production for "Liquorice" comes pretty damn close.  Whereas Banks came onto our radars late last year like a naughty schoolgirl rapping about c*nts in pigtail braids and a Mickey Mouse sweater, "Liquorice" shows a more grown-up side to the MC.  Alternately sporting leather ensembles and 70's era Americana cut-offs, Banks looks right out of a Rankin editorial for Dazed & Confused or The Hunger as much as she does a girl in a music video.  The whole thing has a cowgirl motif running through (and even includes an Azealia v. Azealia showdown) and, for what it's worth, makes us want to run to our nearest Western store and get a pair of chaps.  Enjoy.

P.S. As previously mentioned, Banks has a new mixtape, Fantasea, coming out and includes a recently-released track, "Aquababe," as well as the psych-tropicalia jam "Jumanji."

Related:
New Azealia Banks Song Alert: Listen to "Aquababe"

Giraffes Taking a Dip + "F*ck Off" Shoes = Eight Items Or Less

June 14, 2012, 5:00 pm

≫ Next: Tips for Today: Q-Tip's New Party in NYC + The Jesus and Mary Chain in L.A. + Aziz Ansari in Chicago + the Lovebox Festival in London

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1. Now you can wear your favorite celebrity crushes on your manicure, thanks to these nail decals.  Does anyone know if they make one of Henry Cavill? [via Buzzfeed]

2. Jay-Z/Hova/Shawn Carter/Blue Ivy's dad has been named Director of the new Barclay's Arena, which will soon be home to the Brooklyn Nets, of which Jay is a minority investor. [via NY Post]

3. Who needs red soles when you can have shoes from Mark McNairy's "F*ck Off" collection? [via Laughing Squid]

4. A British food delivery company now brings over dirty pots and pans along with the food (upon a customer's request) so that hosts and hostesses can fool guests into thinking they cooked. Uhhh...we assume the company picks up/cleans/disposes of those dirty pans too? [via Death + Taxes]

5. This couple knew Ray Clay, the former Chicago Bulls PA who announced all six of their championship seasons, and had him announce the bridal party at their wedding reception.  Remind us to book this guy when we get married. [The Daily What via Deadspin]

6. Check out this stunning photo of eight U.S. cargo aircraft flying in formation near Mt. Fuji, Japan.  IT'S REAL, PEOPLE! [via Gizmodo]

7. It's a freakin' giraffe in a swimming pool!  Speaking of which, this reminds us of the Lonely Island's way-underappreciated digital short, "GIRAFFES!" (Its predecessor, "Sloths!", is also a work of genius.) [via Boing Boing]

8. After going on last night's maiden voyage for the Smorgasboat party cruise, we are SO hoping this becomes a regular thing. It was so fun, all the proceeds went to City Harvest, and vendors aboard included Asia Dog, BK Salas, Pig & Egg, Sunday Gravy, Brooklyn Bridge Wine Bar and Brooklyn Brewery. More Smorgasboat cruises, please!!

Tips for Today: Q-Tip's New Party in NYC + The Jesus and Mary Chain in L.A. + Aziz Ansari in Chicago + the Lovebox Festival in London

June 15, 2012, 6:45 am

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New York

Turn off your cellphones and for goodness sake stop tweeting, as New York hip-hop legend Q-Tip launches his new monthly party tonight at Irving Plaza, Offline. If there is one thing we know about Mr. Tip, is that he throws one heckofa party. [via Brooklyn Vegan]

Time for a good night out: head over to The Goodwin, a new restaurant opening today in the West Village that will bring some tavern-like farm grub (i.e. "Pigs in a Blanket") to the neighborhood all while exuding a comfy bar atmosphere featuring a beer/wine/sake program from the folks at The Lion. [Thrillist]

Rag & Bone, or as we like to call it, "the rich man's Steven Alan," is having a big ol' sale at the Chelsea Market, with men's and women's wear up to 60% off -- that means jeans in the $100 department, shoes in the $200 range and dresses for about $125. [via Racked]

Have some chill times tonight at Marissa Nadler's show at Union Hall. The Boston-based chanteuse will be singing tunes off her pared down, lovelorn, recently-released record The Sister. [Oh My Rockness]

Amidst all the concerts and film screenings at the Northside Festival, there's an opportunity to learn practical information that may help you build a business. The Northside Entrepreneurship Festival converts a 40,000 square foot factory in Williamsburg into a conference hall that boasts 40 panels on innovation, design and software development. Today's "The Business of Brooklyn" panel, featuring Charlie O'Donnell of Brooklyn Bridge Ventures and Jason Goodman of 3rd Ward, focuses on those who have successfully started their own companies in the city's biggest growing borough. [Brooklyn Based]

Los Angeles


It's a blast from the '90s shoegaze past. The Jesus and Mary Chain -- well William and Jim Reid and supporting players -- will be performing tonight outdoors at the Betfair Hollywood Park. [Oh My Rockness]

Spend the night with Bond, James Bond, as you watch a triple feature of the classic films at the Egyptian Theatre. You can't go wrong with a triple dose of Sean Connery in The Man With the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. [Flavorpill]

Chicago

Aziz Ansari, who graced PAPER's "Beautiful People" cover in 2011, will be bringing his hilariousness to the Chicago Theatre tonight. His stand-up tends to focus on what is going on in the busy man's life and given how fast his fame has skyrocketed, we're sure he has plenty of amusing stories to share. [Oh My Rockness] 

Get in touch with your inner artist at tonight's Prints and Pints event at the Hyde Park Art Center. Artist Elke Claus will teach you how to screen-print your own T-shirts -- or any other fabrics for that matter. Post-printing, sip on drinks from the cash bar and browse the artwork in the galleries as you jam to tunes from the DJ. [Flavorpill]

London



The three-day Lovebox festival (founded by DJ Groove Armada) turns 10 this year, and kicks things off tonight in Victoria Park. The primarily dance-music-focused fest features dozens and dozens of bands and DJs, and Hot Chip, Crystal Castles, Madeon, Devlin, and many more play tonight. [via Lovebox] 

 Designer David Sassoon, who has outfitted the likes of Princess Diana, Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn, lectures tonight at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He will discuss his relationship with high culture couturier Bellville Sassoon. [Zing]

Crassy-brassy comedian (and Katy Perry's ex-hub) Russell Brand hosts A Night of Spontaneous Comedy at Lyric Hammersmith tonight. [Zing]

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The Morning Funnies: Ye Olde Brad Pitt & Jason Priestley + Hot Winston Churchill

June 15, 2012, 7:30 am

≫ Next: Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" Is Our Music Video of the Day

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Here's Brad Pitt watching the Super Bowl at Jason Priestley's house in 1990. A lot of  pointing happening in this photo. [Celebuzz via Tall Whitney]


Winston Churchill looking foyn in his officer's uniform as a young man. [My Daguerreotype Boyfriend via Laughter Key]

Here's a fascinating 1984 clip of a marvelously nerdy kid named Paul reviewing his McDonald's breakfast. Where is Paul now? What else did he review? As Gizmodo wonders, who was he making this eerily Internet-y clip for two decades before YouTube's existence? (Probably for Paul.) If we can learn anything from this video, though, it's that McDonald's hash browns are wondrous, super-delicious things of beauty. Update: Paul is "Weird" Paul Petroskey of WeirdPaul.com and a prolific DIY musician in Pittsburgh. So there you have it.

Are you more of a Glenn Catzig person?

Or a ....
Nicolas Ca(t)-ge person? [IHaveSeenTheWholeoftheInternet; FlyingScotsman]

Speaking of Nicolas Cage, for a cool $12 Etsy user JazzBerryBlue will turn any photo that you send him of yourself or a loved one "into Nicolas Cage within 2 hours." Last-second Father's Day present? [PaulScheer via RatsOff]

Alligator > Croc. [Gawker]


Color codes on the Tom Hanks sitings map:

Red = Not verified. If your update is the only one, and we don't see or hear anything from any one else to back it up., we can't verify it.

Yellow = Not fully verified. If you and a couple of friends say it happened but there is no third-party verification, we can't fully verify it.

Green = Fully verified. We have an official statement from a representative of Mr. Hanks, the film or someone with more access to the situation than a bystander.

(T.Hanks for posting this, I'mWithKanye!)

Poor unipug hates being a unipug! [Bunnyfood]
 

We completely forgot that Tuesday was National Jerky Day. Let's celebrate belatedly with this Sasquatch jerky portrait. He's so happy! [ThatsNerdalicious]

Flava Flav needs this boat in his life. [TheWhatever]

A two-month trip to Asia in one minute. [TheDailyWhat]

Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" Is Our Music Video of the Day

June 15, 2012, 8:26 am

≫ Next: This Summer's Beachside Essentials

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In honor of Rock of Ages coming out today (read our comparison of Tom Cruise v. Broadway's Jeremy Woodard HERE), we've decided to make Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" our Music Video of the Day for Oldie-But-Goodie Friday.  Even before the 1987 song became synonymous with car commercials, this classic hair metal anthem quickly became associated with dancing gyrating on car hoods thanks to frontman David Coverdale's then-girlfriend Tawny Kitaen -- her cartwheels across two Jaguars will be forever etched in most 80s adolescents' memories.  We don't recommend trying them at home.

This Summer's Beachside Essentials

June 15, 2012, 9:50 am

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Even though the weather here has been quite finicky, the heat is going to pick up soon. Very soon. Whether you're planning on heading to the Rockaways this weekend or preparing for the McCarren Park Pool's epic re-opening on June 28, might we suggest some summertime beach/pool accessories....

iPhone fan, $16, available at Urban Outfitters.

Turquoise Trail Spa Towel, $48, available at Pendleton.

ASOS sunglasses, $24.86, available at ASOS.






Portable FM Stereo Boombox for iPhone/iPod, $199.99, available at iHome.



Swansea Beach Radio, $39, available at Anthropologie.



Emery beach tote, $35, available at Etsy.





Zebra beach towel, $225, available at Opening Ceremony.

Fruit Punch Bikini, $84 for top and bottom, available at Nasty Gal.




Juicy Couture beach cooler, $84, available at Neiman Marcus.




Balmy Origami Beach Umbrella, $239, available at Basil Bangs.

Patagonia swim trunks, $49.95, available at Patagonia.


Mara Hoffman Techno Animal printed swimsuit, $255, available at net-a-porter.


Rag & Bone Bristol Straw Fedora, $275, available at My Theresa.



Brighton Rock beach chair, £37.50, available at ArtMeetsMatter.





Peter Miller "Bond Babes" Swim Shorts, $79.50, available at Nordstrom.





SunSplash 48" Beach Ball, $13.99, available at Wayfair.

Beer O'Clock beach towel, $85, available at Third Drawer Down.



Nagat dress / cover-up, $136.50, available at Les Nouvelles.




After Sun Cooling Gel, $14, available at Mario Badescu.





Donut Pool Float, $18, available at Urban Outfitters.

Cord beach shorts, $75, available at Chanceco.com.


Nomadic Thread Society sarong, $92, available at Nomadic Thread Society.



Melissa Women's Harmonic Sandal, $49.95, available at endless.com.

Groundswell Author Katie Lee Gives Us Her Top 10 Beach Reads

June 15, 2012, 10:15 am

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Cook book author Katie Lee, who first came into the public eye when she married (and later divorced) Billy Joel, has recently made a foray into novel writing. Her debut work, Groundswell, came out last year (and is now available in paperback) and centers on a young woman who "meets the biggest movie star in the world and has a storybook romance until it all falls apart," Lee said. "The woman takes off for Mexico to escape New York and the paparazzi and she goes to this sleepy little beach town and starts to surf. She finds herself and she finds a little love again with a hot surf instructor." When discussing the book, we couldn't help but ask Lee how much art imitated life. The author admitted that her inspiration came after "I started surfing when I was getting divorced and going through a really hard time...about three lessons into it, I had the idea for this story."  And as for the hot surf instructor?  Well, Lee played it coy. 

That aside, whether you're in Montauk or Malibu or on your couch near a window air conditioning unit (we'll be doing much of the latter this summer), who doesn't want to trade in their New York Review of Books-recommended reading in favor of some escapist novels? Below, Lee shares 10 of her beach read recommendations. 


One Day, by David Nicholls

"The book version was better than the movie as usual.  I mean, I read this in like two days. I cried so much.  It was a wonderful, wonderful love story.  I just thought it was so well written and so much feeling and you got obsessed with the characters.  I really like a book like that where you start caring so much about the characters that you're thinking about them long after and wondering what they're doing." 






Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts

"This would not fall into the light beach read category but it's fascinating. I went to India in November and this really gets in to the underbelly of Bombay so I thought this was really cool."











Maine, by J. Courtney Sullivan

"This book is about the women in a family that has this summerhouse in Maine and it goes back-and-forth between who's narrating the story and you find out what's really going on. And a lot of times things look one way and it's really something very different that's going on beneath the surface so I really liked it.  It was also very well-written."







Stories I Only Tell My Friends, by Rob Lowe

"I think that Rob Lowe's autobiography is a great beach read.  He did such a good job of telling stories and talking about people without dogging anybody and without telling anything that would really offend someone. It really had just the right balance for a celebrity memoir."








Eating Animals, by Jonathan Safran Foer

"Though this definitely isn't a typical "light beach read," it definitely makes you think. It's about eating animals and questioning why we do what we do and talking about the way we raise animals and all of that.  When it comes to food, I like to read things that aren't just about eating something and enjoying it but thinking about where it comes from.  Anything that can make me a more conscious eater, I want to read that."







Cleopatra: A Life, by Stacy Schiff

"This book, on-the-other-hand, is perfect for a day at the beach.  I would definitely recommend it.  Cleopatra's this woman who had such mystery surrounding her -- she was this beautiful, seductive woman and you think of Elizabeth Taylor in the movie Cleopatra and this just kind of dives a little deeper to understand more who she actually was."








Juliet Naked, by Nick Hornby

"This one's set in the U.K. and is about a couple that comes to America because the guy is obsessed with this rockstar who quit performing and no one has heard from him in  20 years or something.  So the guy is obsessed with finding the guy and the girlfriend's tagging along and, well I can't say what happens to the rockstar because then I'll ruin the story, but it's really good and it's about that idea of when you idolize somebody, they're not always what you imagined in your head. And I really liked it because it reminded me of my ex-husband [Billy Joel] -- his fans are so crazy for him and people feel like they know him. So I got a kick out of that."



Snowflower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See

"Simply, this one is such a sweet story about having a best friend."












The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain
 
"I like anything set in Paris, basically. But this one is also really good -- it's about Hemingway's wife, Hadley.   So many books have been written about Hemingway but thinking more about his wife and what her story was like was really interesting and although it's fiction, it's another way of getting to know Hemingway and also to think about how people around someone great might be influenced and how he impacted her and her story."






A Thousand Days in Venice, by Marlena De Blasi

"This is a great travel memoir and at the end of every chapter there's a recipe of what the author was cooking while she was in Venice."

Photo credit: Miki Duisterhof

Broadway Actors Take Over The Newsroom

June 15, 2012, 10:45 am

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If you didn't overdose on Broadway stars after this past Sunday's Tony Awards, and the season finale of Smash, then you're in luck. HBO is continuing its habit of plucking Broadway actresses and actors right out of their dressing rooms and into the casts of shows -- like Lena Dunham's Girls (see Dunham's ex-gay-boyfriend on the show, Book of Mormon star Andrew Rannells). And Aaron Sorkin's new drama The Newsroom is no exception. The show is about a tortured Howard Beale-esque talking head (Jeff Daniels, a noted theater actor), and it premieres Sunday, June 24th. For a sneak peek at scenes featuring prolific New York theater actors, Alison Pill, John Gallagher Jr. and Thomas Sadowski visit Broadway.com! And in the meantime, here's the trailer to get your heart pumping. Our deadlines here at Paper seem like two weeks on a Disney cruise ship compared to this!

Foster The People Throw (Designer) Shade For L.G.R.

June 15, 2012, 11:30 am

≫ Next: The Man Repeller Wore Bejeweled Platform Sneakers at Her Wedding + Lady Gaga's Black-Colored Perfume in Today's Style Scraps

≪ Previous: Broadway Actors Take Over The Newsroom

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One can never have too many sunglasses and my latest shade obsession is L.G.R., a fave of the style elite like Mario Testino, Pucci designer Peter Dundas (who used the label in the Pucci show) and countless Italian celebs including DJ Marco Carola. Chicissimo! The latest cool cat to sport their popular "Tripoli frame" is Foster the People's Mark Pontius. And if that wasn't fancy enough, L.G.R. also just released a collab with the king of minimal French fashion, APC. L.G.R. designer Luca Gnecchi Ruscone (say that name three times fast with a perfect Italian accent, please) explains the Tripoli's allure: "That frame is a statement sunglass and is usually selected by people who are very bold and style conscious. The silhouette is cool yet simple, making it stand out from other overly designed frames." And that's exactly why I'm typing this blog while sporting a pair of Tripolis. You can find store locations and buy your own pair here.

The Man Repeller Wore Bejeweled Platform Sneakers at Her Wedding + Lady Gaga's Black-Colored Perfume in Today's Style Scraps

June 15, 2012, 12:00 pm

≫ Next: The Bad Guys: See It While You Can!

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Back in May we posted about Kim Kardashian's first Vogue cover -- Italy's L'Uomo Vogue, that is -- and now you can see the cover for yourself.  Check out her Kris Jenner hair! [via The Fash Pack]

Two fashionista age outliers -- Tavi Gevinson (age 16) and Iris Apfel (age 90) -- discuss good taste vs. bad taste this Sunday at The Met. [via Byrne Notice/The Met]

Did you know that each time you buy something at Gilt Groupe, Yale's endowment grows?  Well...sorta.  Apparently Gilt Groupe CEO Kevin Ryan has been hitting up Yale alums for donations, promising to match their contributions dollar-for-dollar.

Check out these cuckoo crazy (but amazing!) rhinestone platform sneakers that The Man Repeller's Leandra Medine wore last night at her wedding. [via Fashionista/Instagram]

After an editor leaked a photo of Lady Gaga's soon-to-be-released perfume on Twitter, the singer was forced to share details of her new scent, Lady Gaga Fame.  The most striking thing we learned was that the fragrance liquid is black! (Though it will become colorless when it hits the air.) [via WWD]

David Koma x Alain Quilicy Blue Greyhound Wedges [High Snobette via TheBagHagDiaries]

In case you were wondering, here's what Michelle Obama wore to last night's dinner hosted by Anna Wintour and Sarah Jessica Parker. [via The Cut]

Take a look at Creatures of the Wind's new mini-collection for J. Crew, available in stores now. [via Fashionologie]

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The Bad Guys: See It While You Can!

June 15, 2012, 12:24 pm

≫ Next: Rockabus' Sam Morrill Chats With Us About His New Williamsburg-to-Rockaway Bus Line

≪ Previous: The Man Repeller Wore Bejeweled Platform Sneakers at Her Wedding + Lady Gaga's Black-Colored Perfume in Today's Style Scraps

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If you have the chance this weekend, we strongly urge you to catch the last remaining performances of The Bad Guys, our dear friend Alena Smith's play, which is up through Sunday at Second Stage's uptown theater. The Bad Guys, composed of all-male actors, follows a group of childhood friends who convene for a reunion-sh event in upstate New York, and grapple with childhood tensions surrounding a friend who maybe committed a murder when he was 16. There are hot guys, lots of snappy dialogue, some timely political rants and a Lady Gaga dance! We think Ms. Smith summed it up best when she wrote, "The Bad Guys asks whether one person should be able to use the details of someone else's life to create his own art. Another question the play asks is: Which is worse? To make art about somebody, or to murder them?"

See. It.

Tickets are available here.

P.S. Alena happens to be the genius mind behind Tween Hobo!

Rockabus' Sam Morrill Chats With Us About His New Williamsburg-to-Rockaway Bus Line

June 15, 2012, 12:45 pm

≫ Next: Trailer Trash: Pitch Perfect

≪ Previous: The Bad Guys: See It While You Can!

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Unless you have a car (or deep pockets that can cover frequent Zipcar rentals), making the hour-plus A-train trip all the way to the Rockaways can be pretty un-fun. (It's always, always worse on the way back.) Sam Morrill and his partner Ryan Hefner, however, are looking to change that with their new Williamsburg-to-Rockaway weekend bus service Rockabus, which picks up riders at Union and Meeker near the Lorimer L-train stop and drops them off at Beach 86th St. in about half an hour. (One-way tickets are $10, round-trip is $18, and buses run from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Tomorrow marks Rockabus' inaugural weekend, and, in celebration, fares are free this Saturday and Sunday. Below, Morrill chats with us about Rockabus in an email Q&A.

What inspired you to create Rockabus? Have you had any particularly bad experiences schlepping to the Rockaways on the train?

Perhaps not surprisingly, I was inspired to create the Rockabus during one of many excursions out to Rockaway on the A-train. I live in downtown Brooklyn, so there's a considerable amount of time spent underground when taking the train to Rockaway, and it seemed like sacrilege to be spending that much time in a dark tunnel while the sun was shining outside. Alternatively, I've also hired taxis and rented Zipcars, but both of those options always wound up being more expensive than I had anticipated. With Rockabus, I wanted to provide an option that would be more fun and more convenient than the train, and at the same time would be more affordable than renting a car of hiring a taxi.

How many buses are in your fleet? How many people can fit on a bus?

For our opening weekend, we will have three buses in operation. Our buses are classic yellow school buses, so they hold a lot of passengers.

Will the buses have air-conditioning?

The buses have air-conditioning, but unless it's swelteringly hot, we'll probably just keep the windows down.

Given that traffic is reasonable, how long do you estimate bus rides will take?

We're aiming to make each leg of the trip 35-40 minutes, which is roughly 30 minutes faster than taking the train from Williamsburg. You can expect to spend an extra hour on the beach by taking the Rockabus.

Will there be racks or storage space for surfboards and Boogie Boards?

We're looking into ways to accommodate surfboards and Boogie Boards. Expect to hear more from us about that in the near future.

Will there be music on the bus?

A road trip without music is just wrong. So yeah, we'll be playing some jams.

Are there any rules for riding the Rockabus? Are small children allowed? Can you bring food aboard? What about alcohol?

Anyone and everyone is welcome on the Rockabus, including small children. You're also welcome to bring food. In terms of alcohol, we expect our riders to obey all applicable city, state and federal laws.

How long will service be offered? Will buses run past Labor Day?

The current plan is to run through Labor Day, but if the weather holds up and people are still going out to the beach later in September, we will be happy to accommodate those riders.

Rockbus fares will be sold on the Rockabus site soon. They'll also be available at the pick-up/drop-off locations. More info at rockabus.com

Trailer Trash: Pitch Perfect

June 15, 2012, 1:30 pm

≫ Next: Old Guys Like Girls + Frances Bean Cobain's Missing Cat = Eight Items or Less

≪ Previous: Rockabus' Sam Morrill Chats With Us About His New Williamsburg-to-Rockaway Bus Line

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Welcome to Trailer Trash, highlighting the best, worst and so-so in new movie trailers. 


Whoa. Pitch. Perfect. Looks. So. Good.  The comedy, in post-production and tantalizingly just "coming soon," is about an all-female collegiate a cappella group, and stars Anna Kendrick as a bad-ass-seeming college freshman who reluctantly joins the group when her roommates discover she has a secretly awesome voice. The screenplay was written by longtime 30 Rock writer Kay Cannon, and features a slew of on-the-up-and-up actors like Anna Camp (who played Don Draper's chaste girlfriend Bethany Van Nuys on a few Mad Men episodes as well as Mindy Kaling's best friend on her forthcoming sitcom The Mindy Project); Workaholics' Adam DeVine; and the more seasoned Brittany Snow, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Elizabeth Banks. The breakout star, however, seems to be one miss Rebel Wilson, she of Bridesmaids fame, and Paper's 2011 Beautiful People issue. Her character is named "Fat Amy," and when we interviewed her she said that the name was actually selling point: "I'm sure lots of actresses would have looked at that role and said, 'I'm not playing that!' But I thought, 'This is going to be funny. And why not?'" Watch the trailer above for some sweet "No Diggity" action, an awkward and hilarious shower scene involving Kendrick and Snow, and Wilson doing some "horizontal running."

Old Guys Like Girls + Frances Bean Cobain's Missing Cat = Eight Items or Less

June 15, 2012, 3:45 pm

≫ Next: The Morning Funnies: Andy Cohen Attacked by Bird + JWoww and Snooki Don't Know What Girls Is

≪ Previous: Trailer Trash: Pitch Perfect

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1. Apparently, HBO's Girls is very popular with the white guys over 50 set! [via Vulture]

2. While renovating the recently-shuttered Holiday Cocktail Lounge, new owner Barbara Sibley unearthed this awesome mural which she thinks hung in Holiday's predecessor, the Ali Baba Lounge. [via The East Village Local]

3. "Woman Bites Into Calamari, Gets Mouthful of Squid Sperm" <-- <-- Worst headline / concept ever!! [via Gawker]

4. Breaking news: Justin Bieber has a happy trail. [via BuzzFeed]


5. Watch comedian TJ Miller do something disgusting/amazing with two Italian beef sandwiches on Conan. [via Pop Culture Brain]

6. Token sucking... was apparently a thing. [via You Might Find Yourself]

7. ABC reported a few hours ago that Lindsay Lohan was rushed to the hospital after being found unconscious in her hotel room in Marina Del Ray, CA. Turns out, she was not rushed to the hospital, she was not unconscious and was simply just suffering from "exhaustion." [via Daily Intel]

8. Have you seen Frances Bean Cobain's cat, Zero? He's lost somewhere in West Hollywood! [via Daily Mail]

The Morning Funnies: Andy Cohen Attacked by Bird + JWoww and Snooki Don't Know What Girls Is

June 21, 2012, 7:41 am

≫ Next: King Khan & The Shrines' "Bite My Tongue" Is Our Music Video of the Day

≪ Previous: Old Guys Like Girls + Frances Bean Cobain's Missing Cat = Eight Items or Less

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Harry and Peter Brant get Thursday Styled:

"I'm interested in 18th-century furniture, late-19th-century art, the Arts and Crafts movement and history of the mid- to late-19th century," [Peter] said. "I bounce around a lot, but I usually stick with the same three centuries." Harry has similarly lofty passions. "I become obsessed with things like DNA or old Valentino shows or the Qing dynasty," he said. "I have a love of opulence."

MTV is launching a "retro" hour, and will air shows like Daria, Laguna Beach and The Hills. We have two things to say about that: 1. What about Undressed?? 2. The Hills = not retro. [via Vulture]

Lady Gaga with her boyfriend Taylor Kinney and an emu at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney. [via E!]
 Watch Andy Cohen get attacked by a bird on the set of the Real Housewives of Orange County reunion show. [via People]

It's gonna be a scorcher. [via Daily What]
 

WERK. Diane Keaton spotted looking badass in L.A. yesterday. [via Daily Mail]
 Love this bit from an interview with JWoww and Snooki.

One of the most talked-about new shows has been Girls. Do you watch that one?
Snooki: No.
Jenni: Never heard of it. [via Vulture]

Gelato for dogs in Italy is now a thing. [via Boston Globe]

Artist and designer Jason Freeny has created exposed, 18″ tall LEGO men, as part of his LEGO Men Dissections series. [via Laughing Squid]

Single purpose Tumblr of the day: Animals Dancing on Food. [via HuffPo