June Ambrose's Amazing Seven-Year-Old Daughter + Hedi Slimane's First Saint Laurent Paris Ad in Today's Style Scraps

September 10, 2012, 11:00 am

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Oh my god, we can't get enough of June Ambrose's seven-year-old daughter, Summer, who's been seen bopping around with her mom during NYFW. Check out that headpiece! [via Fashionista]

And, in related news, we also can't get enough of Alexander Wang's niece. [via High Snobette]

Whoa. Check out this crazy cray braid seen on models at the Emerson S/S '13 show. [via Fashionologie]

Zac Posen wins the award (so far) for booking the most "supers" -- both old and new.  Here's Naomi Campbell, Coco Rocha, Crystal Renn and Alek Wek walking in his show over the weekend. [via Styleite]

And...here's Hedi Slimane's first ad for YSL Saint Laurent Paris featuring a shirtless (male) model and a back tattoo.  No clothing designs in sight. [via The Cut]

New cool-yet-sort-of-scares-us trend alert: car paint on your nails instead of nail polish. [via Refinery 29]

Love this delicate, wallpaper-esque bird print seen on the runways at Thakoon. [via Style.com]

Now you can scope out Anna Dello Russo's entire boonanas H&M accessories collection. [via Racked]

You Should Check Out ... Photographer Brian W. Ferry

September 10, 2012, 11:50 am

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Welcome to You Should Check Out..., a new weekly blog in which Chris Black of Words For Young Men and Done to Death Projects tells you about something or someone he really likes and that he thinks you'll like too. Follow him on Twitter at @donetodeath.

Brian W. Ferry is a Brooklyn-based lawyer turned self-taught photographer. His work captures common moments in a beautiful and authentic way. Focusing on the outdoors, food and drink, interiors and objects, the images inspire the viewer to take in everyday settings differently. His first book, Quality Of Life, is a collection of photos taken in London, UK that was published in 2011 by Lawson's Books and quickly sold out. Luckily his very popular blog "The Blue Hour" is updated often and never fails to disappoint.

On Twitter: @bferry
On Instagram: @brianwferry





Photos by Brian W. Ferry

A Day in the Life of Street Photographer William Yan During NYFW

September 10, 2012, 1:30 pm

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Ever wonder what Fashion Week is like for a street-style photographer? To put it mildly, it's insane. Here, street photographer William Yan shows us what a day of running around shooting eye-catching NYFW attendees on the street, celebrities and fashion shoes looks like and fills us in on the style's he's seeing around town. Check out this Crashin/ Fashion Week segment with Mr. Mickey above.

Miss Lily's Launches Exhibit/Book Of Jamaican Dancehall Signs

September 12, 2012, 12:15 pm

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Now that Serge Becker's West Village Jamaican diner Miss Lily's has pretty much got all things jerk-flavored down pat, they're branching out into the publishing world. Their first book, available today, features a collection of classic Jamaican dancehall signs amassed by filmmaker Maxine Walters over a 12-year-period. The signs, which are illegal in Jamaica and usually nailed to poles and trees on the sly, promote local reggae parties and their vibrant lettering will appeal to any fan of sign painting. Check out a few images from the book below and stop by the corresponding exhibition of Walters' collection at Miss Lily's Variety, up today through October 24th.

Wynter Gordon's Fashion Week Diary, Part I: DJing at the Empire Hotel & Hanging Out with Dee and Ricky

September 12, 2012, 12:49 pm

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For the latter part of Fashion Week, dance-pop phenom Wynter Gordon (who has written pop songs for the likes of Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez and David Guetta, lent her vocals to Major Lazer and Steve Aoki tracks and is currently releasing a series of four EPs, called "The Human Condition"), will be sending her reports and photos from the front lines. Here, she DJs a party and eats shows up late to a Dee and Ricky party.

On Monday, I flew in from a show in Vegas and went straight  to work, DJing The Daily Style Sessions show on the rooftop of the Empire Hotel. I saw a lot of really great looks from up in the booth, but the two girls (pictured below) were my favorite.

On my way home that evening I stopped off to get some home cooking (I was HUUUUUNGRY) at Dee and Ricky's Restaurant in Bed Stuy. All I could think about was the jerk chicken and waffles (that's the Jamaican in me). Dee and Ricky were throwing their own Fashion Week event... and it was full on packed out with stylish people playing video games like Street Fighter, drinking, eating and dancing. I even saw someone outside buying porn from a random bootleg DVD man. And somehow everybody was wearing black. In sum, it was a good night because I got to see my friends but I ended up eating Chinese food because the kitchen closed before I could place my order. #Imalwayslate

Our New Favorite New York Fashion Week Coverage: FASHGIF

September 12, 2012, 1:00 pm

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With only one and a half more days of NYFW to go, we'd like to call your attention to our new favorite Tumblr -- and possibly our favorite fashion week coverage thus far: FASHGIF. This little blog has fun GIFs made from runway looks and, even with our highly-sophisticated photoshop skillz, we're still trying to figure out how they make them (makeagif.com, this is not).  Check out six of our fave GIFs below and head over to FASHGIF for the rest.

Boop. Just a sleeve keeping it cool and casual at Lacoste S/S 2013.

Karlie's Kookies as seen at Rag & Bone S/S 2013. Nom nom nom.

Ahoy Matey! Band of Outsiders S/S 2013.

If only Marc Jacobs designed TSA scanners...you know they probably have that shit in Dubai! Marc Jacobs S/S 2013.

Blink twice if that outfit is chafing. Rodarte S/S 2013. 

And, finally, Ryan Lochte (pronounced this way) made an appearance at Tommy Hilfiger S/S 2013.

Hey, Ezra Miller Is a Really Good Dancer!

September 12, 2012, 2:45 pm

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Apparently when we profiled actor/singer/artist and Perks of Being a Wallflower star Ezra Miller for our September issue, we forgot to include "really, really good at dancing to Come on Eileen" in his list of many talents. In these Perks B-roll clips from SlashFilm, we see Miller working some serious moves during a prom scene with co-star Emma Watson. (The third clip, added for good measure, features Paul Rudd as a dreamy English teacher. Nobody doesn't want to see Paul Rudd being a dreamy English teacher.) See more footage over at Vulture.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is out September 21.

Russian Prime Minister Thinks Pussy Riot Should Be Released + Heathers TV Show Could Be Coming to Bravo = Eight Items Or Less

September 12, 2012, 4:00 pm

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1. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has voiced his opinion to release the imprisoned members of Pussy Riot, saying "the time they have already served is, in essence, more than enough to make them think about what happened." [via WSJ]

2. DOWNTON ABBEY SPOILER ALERT! In a new interview, Michelle Dockery (a.k.a. Lady Mary) tells us that "Downton comes into trouble financially and Matthew discovers that he could inherit money from Lavinia's father and he's too proud to take the money because she passed away. Mary's saying, well, you can save Downton if you go through with this. There's a lot of disagreement between them. Whether they get married or not, I'm not going to give that away."  [via The Daily Beast]

3. The Mondrian SoHo has commissioned a new art project by renowned artist Marilyn Minter.  Titled Kicksilver, the piece comes in the form of wallpaper wrapping around the hotel's lobby. Go check it out! [via press release]

4. NYC's Big Gay Ice Cream Truck is opening a 'pop up truck' in L.A. from October 23-27. [via Eater]

5. No, no, no, no, no: Bravo is "developing a TV version of Heathers." [via Vulture]

6. A French editor who slapped a PR exec at the Zac Posen show is now being sued by said exec for $1 million in a lawsuit that cites "assault, battery, emotional distress, slander and/or libel." At least it wasn't Naomi. [via Observer]

7. Yikes: a court has ordered a Minnesota woman to pay $222,000 to the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) after downloading 24 songs on Kazaa six years ago! [via Pitchfork]

Tips For Today: Aziz Ansari in L.A. + The Jesus and Mary Chain in NYC + Iron and Wine in Chicago + Carnaby Style Night in London

September 13, 2012, 7:00 am

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New York:

Reunited Scottish shoegazers The Jesus and Mary Chain play tonight at Irving Plaza. Psychic Paramount and The Vandelles open. [via Irving Plaza]

Mental Floss Presents the Golden Lobes Extravaganza at Openhouse Gallery: Trivia and pop science mag, Mental Floss, hosts their first-ever awards show celebrating "the best, brightest and quirkiest" members of society, which includes a fashion designer who makes garments for chickens. There'll be art on display and free booze but you must RSVP to attend HERE. [via Flavorpill]

Respected Chicago-based indie record label Thrill Jockey celebrates its 20th Anniversary with two nights of parties.  Kicking off tonight at Williamsburg's Death By Audio, you can catch sets by White Hills, Guardian Alien, Man Forever and more. [via nymag/Brown Paper Tickets]

Field Report, a new band from Justin Vernon's former DeYarmond Edison bandmate, Chris Porterfield, bring their lyrical, folk-tinged rock to Union Pool on the heels of their eponymous debut, which came out on Tuesday. [via Union Pool]

Trey Speegle, an artist "known for recontextualizing vintage paint-by-number paintings and combining them with words and phrases" will have an opening tonight for his second solo show at Benrimon Contemporary. [via Art Slant]

Los Angeles

Aziz Ansari brings his comedy game (and, hopefully, Randy) to the Orpheum Theater tonight. [via L.A. Weekly]

Alt band Silversun Pickups (who, for the record, do not like Romney playing their music) play a home show tonight at the Santa Monica Civic Center with indie rockers School of Seven Bells and dreamy, chillwave Aussies Atlas Genius (who performed in the PAPER kitchen!) sharing the bill. [via Oh My Rockness]

Chicago

Bliss out over Goose Island 312s as you listen to mellow folkster Iron and Wine (a.k.a. Samuel Beam) at an intimate show tonight at The Hideout. [via Oh My Rockness]

Head to the Voice of the City tonight for some original poetry courtesy of the folks at the Poetry Project Incubator.  You'll get a first look at their forthcoming still-in-progress show, Unnatural Spaces, which premieres in October. [via Time Out]

Debonair Social Club's Death Disco party tonight supplies exactly what its name implies: metal-tinged dance music courtesy of DJs like Andrew Vonn and SWGGRBCK. Supposedly, there will also be fire-breathing burlesque and go-go dancers, too. [via Time Out]

London

On the eve of the start of London Fashion Week, head to the historically hip Carnaby area for Carnaby Style Night, when the mod neighborhood's streets will be filled with shopping discounts, live music and free libations. There'll even be complimentary clothing alterations courtesy of a  Savile Row tailor and an in-store barber for men at Ben Sherman. Basically, a more contained (and, we hope, less hectic) version of Fashion's Night Out. [via Time Out]

Punk-rock demigoddess, Patti Smith, heads to the The Troxy tonight with her full band. [via Time Out]

The Morning Funnies: The Standard Hotel's Amazing New Ad + Coloring For Grown-Ups

September 13, 2012, 7:50 am

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Further proof that the folks at The Standard Hotel are geniuses = this new ad. [via BuzzFeed]


Our new favorite band, Black Simon and Garfunkel, sing One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful." [via Top5Funniest]

Al and Bill with McDonald's sodas, pasty thighs. [via Pizzza Time]

Have you seen this burrito unicorn? [via Laughter Key]

Clearly some of the teachers on strike in Chicago have visited the Internet... [via Butty Holly]

Not Andrew Garfield's best angle... [via Paris Hilton Sex Slave]

Fun new single-purpose-Tumblr alert! Coloring for Grown-Ups. [via HuffPo]

Fun new single-purpose Twitter alert! Your Away Message. [via Dose Of Words]

Run, guy, run. [via Victory Boat]


Levi Johnston named his new daughter, Breeze Beretta, after a gun. [via E!]

Alison Pill accidentally tweeted a topless photo of herself. We have two things to say about this: 1) She looks hot, and 2) Um, plot-twist for Maggie on season 2 of The Newsoom? [via VH1]

Fun with name tags. [via Knusprig Titten Hitler]

This tomato looks like a butt. [via dar3ialist]

Why yes, yes it is. [via Marianne is Totally Awesome]

Hospitality's "Eighth Avenue" Is Our Music Video of the Day

September 13, 2012, 9:30 am

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Brooklyn indie pop group Hospitality have a new video for "Eighth Avenue," a track from the band's eponymous debut LP. In the clip, we watch as a race car driver discovers the magical ingredient his ride needs to win on the track -- his teammate-cum-girlfriend's tears. Singer Amber Papini's melodic voice and the pleasing guitar thrums on the song make for a funny contrast with the over-the-top expressions seen on the actors' faces (after the tears discovery  ends up raising both the professional and emotional stakes) but the quirky premise makes for a fun video. Watch the whole thing above.

The Met's Doing a Punk Fashion Exhibit + Lady Gaga Shaves Her Head in Today's Style Scraps

September 13, 2012, 11:45 am

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The next Met Costume Institute exhibit is going to be dedicated to punk rock. "Punk to Couture" will focus on punk music's fashion influence in New York and London. Designers featured include the founding mother of punk-couture, Vivienne Westwood, as well as Boudicca, Marc Jacobs, Rei Kawakubo, Alexander McQueen, Rodarte, and Alexander Wang among others. Please, please let Johnny Rotten do something terrible at the Met Ball. [WWD]

Here's a behind-the-scenes video recorded through the eyes of models wearing Google's crazy new glasses in Diane Von Furstenberg's NYFW show. (It also includes footage recorded by DVF herself.) [StyleFile]

How does Azealia Banks' get her hair to be such an alluring shade of purple-y purple? Her hairstylist gives the scoop to the Style and Beauty Doctor. [via FashionBombDaily.]


Gucci creative director Frida Giannini is designing the gowns for Florence Welch's upcoming tour with Florence and the Machine. [GraziaDaily]

Fashion PR guru Lynn Tesoro is suing the French fashion editor who slapped her at Zac Posen's show earlier this week for a cool $1 million. And that's why you never F with a fashion PR person. [WWD]

Whoa, whoa, whoa: Designer Liz Salcedo has created a purse that charges your iPhone. And we thought texting gloves were the ultimate game-changer. [Refinery29]

Lady Gaga has shaved the back of her head to commemorate Terry Richardson's mother, who passed away this week. She tweeted the above photo and added, "I did it for u Terry. I'm sorry about ure mommy. She has princess die, but were all princess high." [JustJared]

Shift has an roundup of adorable children spotted at Fashion Week, including stylist June Ambrose's daughter, Summer.

Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima had a baby girl yesterday. Her name is Sienna. [TheCut]

P'Trique Shows Us How to Get Noticed By Street Style Photographers

September 13, 2012, 1:30 pm

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We're closing out our Crashin' Fashion Week video series with an awesome, platinum-blond bang: P'Trique! For those of you not familiar with the style guru and FOT (Friend of Tyra), P'Trique is a hilarious character created by bushy-bearded Patrick Pope, who, with a long blond wig on, perfectly sends up the absurdity and fabulousness of "The Fashion World" all through a super-hilarious and loving lens. Watch above as Crashin' Fashion Week correspondent Va$htie gets some hot tips from P'Trique about how to get noticed by street-style photographers. Neon zap!

Inside Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe's Trippy New "Stray Light Grey" Installation

September 13, 2012, 2:30 pm

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Here's a sneak-peek at the incredible new installation, "Stray Light Grey," by Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe opening tonight at Marlborough Chelsea (545 West 25th Street).  The bi-coastal artists have constructed a mind-boggling series of connected rooms representing different social groups and historical time periods that wind through different levels of the now almost unrecognizable gallery. Rooms include an Art Deco museum, an Off Track Betting parlor, an art gallery, an archive/library of an eccentric aristocrat and a "retail environment" which includes a cake shop and a plastic surgery clinic. By the time you hit the end, you may have forgotten where you began. Expect big lines, as only 30 people will be admitted at a time.  The show's install alone took almost six weeks and the art-duo are also busy finishing up another project opening in NYC later this year.  Don't miss this show.  It's the perfect launch to the Fall gallery season in NYC.


The Art Deco Museum

Gary in the library.

Bathroom under construction. Hi Gary!

OTB

Plastic surgery clinic.

The "pirate radio brain room," which is covered in electronics that have been encrusted in salt.

Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe in one of the show's several retail environments. 

Watch Beth Ditto, Rachel Dratch Guest Judge On RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race!

September 13, 2012, 3:15 pm

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Get More: Watch RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race Full Episodes, Logo TV

With all of the big networks premiering their fall lineups over the next few weeks, there's quite a bit of TV we're feeling pretty pumped about. We doubt, however, that any of these shows will be as cuckoo crazy nor produce as many GIFs as RuPaul's All Stars Drag Race! They've put the fiercest personalities from season's past under one roof, including Raven, Jujubee, Mimi Imfurst, and Latrice Royale; to boot, the celebrity guest judges look to be amazing -- between former-PAPER cover gal Beth Ditto and the all-around hilarious Rachel Dratch, we're raring to see who else will appear to give their two cents. You. Better. Werq. Check out the trailer above. It will leave you galvanized, focused and ready to take the crown.

Cocktail of the Week: Point Blank at Saxon + Parole

September 13, 2012, 3:30 pm

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Betwixt the frosty mint juleps of summer and fall's robust Manhattans, there's the Point Blank, an aromatic Scotch cocktail elegantly acclimating you to the shifting temperature, served at Saxon + Parole.

Currently, it's the drink of the month on offer for those sophisticated sippers who partake in beverage director Naren Young's Cocktail Cabinet program. Much like yogis buying advance asanas, they fork over $75 to drink eight cocktails at their leisure throughout September from a personalized bottle under lock and key (read more about the program HERE). But if the Point Blank strikes your fancy à la carte, the barmen will be happy to whip you up a one-off, easy-to-drink tipple that marries subtly spicy Chivas Regal 12-year-old with dry vermouth, not-too-sweet St-Germain elderflower liqueur and bright lemon bitters.

"Point Blank is a perfect cocktail to enjoy with the season change upon us," says bar manager Dan Wyllie. "Dry vermouth and elderflower notes give this aperitif a lightness and fragrance that's balanced by depth from the whisky. A lovely summer-to-fall transitional libation indeed." Indeed.

The Top 6 Trends Of New York Fashion Week

September 13, 2012, 3:50 pm

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Tonight marks the official end to New York Fashion Week and, as we brace ourselves for the near-certain breakdown of our immune systems this weekend, here's a look at the Top 6 Trends we spotted this week -- on and off the runways.

Photos via Style.com

Grommets
Whether scattered on dresses at Michael Kors (far left), all over pants at Rodarte (far right), or speckled on the end of a print skirt at Proenza Schouler (center), grommets were used by designers "where someone with rather less ingenuity might settle for studs," as Lynn Yaeger aptly put it. As for us, all these grommets have left us thinking of all the useful items we could put through them; how convenient would it be to carry pens, hair ties and bobby pins through your dress?

Photo of Ryan Lochte via Neil Rasmus/BFAnyc.com; Photo of Paris Hilton via Angela Pham/BFAnyc.com

The ubiquitousness of Ryan Lochte...and Paris Hilton

While we understand the constant presence of the former -- several Olympic athletes were squired around town this week from shows to dinners to parties to after-after parties -- the latter was a bit of a head-scratcher. We'd heard nary a word from Paris lately (aside from her much-maligned DJ debut) and figure that her presence at cool-kid fashion events like the Jeremy Scott show, the Blonds show and the Opening Ceremony Party was to rectify that.    

Vera Wang photo courtesy of Style.com; Parke & Ronen photo courtesy of GQ; Marchesa photo courtesy of Style.com

Indian Inspiration
We half wonder if designers happened upon the March issue of PAPER and perused our "Cowboys and Indians" editorial spread because there were several collections inspired this season by traditional Indian clothing and textiles, featuring updated versions of looks that you might have found at palaces of the maharaja. Vera Wang, menswear designers Parke & Ronen and Marchesa all cited the sub-continent as a primary influence for their Spring/Summer 2013 collections. 

Photos by Rebecca Smeyne

90s Musicians Performing at Parties
Yes, a slew of au courant artists made the party rounds like Frank Ocean (J. Mendel), Die Antwoord (Alexander Wang) and Azealia Banks (Spin x Refinery 29) and, yes, they were awesome BUT literally nothing compares to seeing fashionistas like Jenna Lyons and Hamish Bowles getting down (and getting unbuttoned) to Busta Rhyme's "Woo Hah" or Lil' Kim's "Magic Stick" at the Alexander Wang and Opening Ceremony parties, respectively. Nothing. (And, P.S., the Backstreet Boys are possibly, maybe stopping by the big Cole Haan party at Don Hill's tonight! We want it that way.)

Rodarte photo (L) by Greg Scaffidi 

Crazy Ear Wraps for Earrings
Mythical, warrior princess-like ear wraps turned up at shows and presentations like Rodarte (left) and Katie Gallagher (right). Though the pieces can look a bit fungal, we really like them.


People Being Awful
Milk Studios founder/creative director (and former Paper Beautiful Person) Mazdack Rassi supposedly got punched at the Alexander Wang after party for accidentally stepping on someone's foot. Later in the week, a French editor clocked Fashion PR guru Lynn Tesoro over a seating issue at Zac Posen's show, which resulted in the PR exec returning with a  slap of her own -- a $1 million lawsuit. Badow.

And there you have it: Grommets, Ryan Lochte, Paris Hilton, India, '90s music stars, ear wraps and people acting like wild animals. What a great Fashion Week!

Bon Iver's "Fitness Guru" + Google's 'Bacon Number' Search Feature = Eight Items Or Less

September 13, 2012, 5:00 pm

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1. Bon Iver's "fitness guru" -- wait, wait, wait Bon Iver's fitness guru? -- is hosting two free events where participants can try out Justin Vernon's "workout of choice," the On the Road fitness series developed by said guru, Jeff Rogers. These free classes will take place on 9/21 and 9/22 at Urban Plaza at Trump in Hudson Square (246 Spring St.) from 2-3pm. You should go and tell us how it was. [via press release]

2. Beloved Oakland-based (and Williamsburg mainstay) Blue Bottle Coffee has a new book coming out on October 9th and you can take a first look over at Eater.

3. Here are some fascinating facts about Queen Elizabeth from a new book, reviewed on The Daily Beast: she doesn't like fizzy drinks, her bath has to be at precisely 72 degrees Fahrenheit and she recycles old beads and sequins from evening gowns onto new dresses. 

4. Whoa cool: Google has a new search tool called the 'Bacon Number,' that is exactly what  pop culture-addled brains (and not food-obsessed ones) might think it is: it calculates the degrees of separation anyone is from Kevin Bacon. Damn. For the record, Obama is two degrees away from KB. [nymag via The Next Web]

5. You go, grandma! Meet Johanna Quaas, an 86-year-old dubbed the "World's Oldest Gymnast." [via The Daily Mail]

6. Movie theaters in Britain have started enlisting "cinema ninjas" -- people clad in black body suits that we assume are "morphsuits" to shush noisy moviegoers. Frankly, we're glad they don't have these in the U.S. yet because we'd be terrified. [Death and Taxes via The Daily What]

7. The Met's Arms and Armor collection turns 100 this year and Gallerist has the deets on a new, commemorative exhibit, which opens on October 2.

8. "This is not how we thank who helped us when we needed help the most."  Here are some poignant photos of Libyans "peacefully protesting" against the recent spate of violence in the country -- following the release of clips from an incendiary film purportedly about Islam -- and apologizing for the deaths of four Americans killed at the Benghazi consulate, included U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens. [via Buzzfeed]

Like Crazy

September 15, 2012, 3:31 pm

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Michael Shannon isn't known for playing the funny guy, the romantic guy or the guy who saves the planet. He's known for playing ... a different type of guy. Of his most memorable characters, there's Peter Evans, the paranoid loner in Bug; John Givings, the embittered schizophrenic in Revolutionary Road; Richard Kuklinski, the cold-blooded contract killer in the upcoming biopic, The Iceman; and at the top of no one's guest list is Nelson Van Alden, the super-religious and possessed Prohibition agent in Boardwalk Empire. But when the Oscar-nominated actor inhabits his characters -- his face twitching with repressed sadness, his piercing, protrusive blue eyes begging to be understood -- he makes a strong case for spending at least two hours getting to know these troubled souls.


 
"People always ask me, 'Why do you always play crazy people?'" says Shannon at the loft he shares with his wife, actress Kate Arrington, and their four-year-old daughter Sylvia, in the isolated Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook. Today, the only noise is the trickling of his cat's running-water fountain dish, which he casually explains is because still water in the wild can be poisonous. (Noted.) "I don't always play crazy people but drama is based on conflict," he continues. "There has to be some sort of irritation or else there's no story. No one wants to see a play or a movie about someone eating a sandwich and thinking about how it's a really good sandwich and then they have a cupcake and that's the end."



"He's a brilliant actor who makes the most fascinating (aka crazypants) choices in roles and steals every scene he's in."
-- Kelly Stitzel, contributing editor of popdose.com

Thanks to these conflicted characters, Shannon has a reputation of being pretty serious, but assures us that he has his own off-kilter sense of humor, confirmed by his friend, playwright and frequent collaborator Craig Wright. "I thought he was very funny," says Wright of the first time he met Shannon. "I told him I thought Sigur Rós was one of the best bands of the past 20 years. He said, 'I like Sigur Rós too, Craig. I like to listen to them when I try on my prom dress. And then I twirl around in front of the mirror.'" Still, Wright's very dark comedy Grace, about a fundamentalist couple torn apart by a disturbed neighbor (Shannon, of course), debuting on Broadway this month, isn't everyone's idea of a fun way to spend a Saturday night. "It seems to be that some people enjoy what I do," mulls Shannon, "but not like billions of people -- so yeah maybe it's a cult thing." Next summer, he is likely to amass some new fans (maybe not in the billions, but certainly they'll be up a few zeros) when he plays Superman's nemesis General Zod in Man of Steel. "A lot of people are excited about that film," says Shannon in his understated style. "People have General Zod pictures that they want me to sign, but I'll just keep taking the subway and walking down the street and when people say things, I'll be like 'thank you,' and I'll just go about my business." Wright argues that Shannon's fans are a little more intense than that. "Try having a conversation with him in public sometime," he says. "You have to push through the autograph hounds and the swooners. Michael is going to be able to have every problem of fame he wants to have. Don't worry about Michael Shannon." We won't. 

BACK TO THE NEW CULTS WORTH FOLLOWING

Tips for Today: Deerhoof in NYC + Lavender Diamond in LA + David Byrne in Chicago + Rita Ackermann in London

September 17, 2012, 7:00 am

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New York

Catch Deerhoof along with duo Buke and Gase at Music Hall of Williamsburg for a night of some seriously weird rock music.  [Oh My Rockness]

In a time when most mainstream publications aren't devoting as much space to literary coverage, BookCourt is appropriately hosting "Who Gives a Sh*t About Literary Magazines?" -- a discussion about the importance of independent lit magazines. The discussion will feature a panel that includes Lorin Stein of The Paris Review, Rob Stillman of Tin House and more. [Flavorpill]

Acclaimed author Michael Chabon (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Klay, The Yiddish Policemen's Union) will be presenting his latest work, Telegraph Avenue, at Fort Greene's Greenlight Bookstore. The book details two friends and record-store owners who struggle to prevent a big-box retailer from moving in down the block. Given the title, could this book be inspired by Berkeley (and San Francisco's) famous Amoeba Records? Guess we'll have to read the book! [via Time Out]

Trippy, self-titled "witch house" artist, Pictureplane (a.k.a. Travis Egedy), heads to 285 Kent tonight. [via Oh My Rockness]

Los Angeles

The romantic folk quartet Lavender Diamond is playing a show tonight at The Echo along with Tom Brousseau and Power Mallets. [Oh My Rockness]

English electro-pop group Hot Chip will play a free DJ set tonight at Bardot! [Zing]

Chicago

He may be getting a lot of buzz lately for his recent duet with St. Vincent but tonight David Byrne will be discussing his new book, How Music Works, at the Music Box. He'll also be joined by Chicago Tribune music critic Greg Kot and Thrill Jockey Records co-founder Bettina Richards and, to celebrate Byrne's visit, the theater will also be screening Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense, the famous Johnathon Demme-directed documentary of the band's concert at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre. [Music Box Theater]

Essay Fiesta returns to Book Cellar this month with first person non-fiction essays read by writers like WNEP Theater Founding Director Don Hall, actress/writer Thea Lux and food blogger Monte LaMonte. [via Chicago Reader]

London

Rita Ackermann's exhibit Fire by Days opens today at Hauser & Wirth gallery. The exhibit features a new collection of paintings and works on paper that include a series of false-mirror diptychs that mimic the human form. [Zing]

Watch a screening of Vertigo at BFI. This Hitchcock-directed masterpiece recently topped a BFI survery as the "Greatest Movie of All Time." [BFI]

The London Design Festival kicks off today across the city with a showcase of hundreds of installations, panel discussions, and more, all covering different aspects of design. [Time Out]