Mall closes. Man cannot shop. Man goes apesh*t.

Man completely loses his sh*t because his mall is closed. I completely lost my sh*t at my desk watching his tirade.

Only in Toronto. Only in Toronto.



[via Racked]

The signs are telling you to Love Me.

It looks like artist Curtis Kulig made it to LA. Good. This city needs love. Tell the people, Curtis. Tell 'em.

[As seen this morning around the corner from the SLS Hotel.]

Currently Listening to: Sia's Electric Bird

From her witty dialogue with the audience to her magical, magical voice, Sia is pure perfection. There are other videos that show more of her quirky side (dancing included) at other shows, but I liked this one for its quality.

Enjoy.

Hello Summer, my very old friend.

As of yesterday, it's Summer. I'm not talking about--oh, it's warm and the birds are singing outside my window and I'm breaking out my short shorts--it's Summer. I'm talking about--Solstice and the sun's at an extreme point in the sky and the day was super long--official Summer sh+t.

So, let's talk about Summer. And let's, while we're at it, talk about my favorite Summer things and activities and some Summer rules and regulations I think we'll all be better off for if we can follow this season.

1. I mentioned short shorts earlier. Short shorts are cute. They are, however, not cute on everyone. Let's all say that together now. Short shorts are not cute on everyone. Take a look at yourself in the mirror. You'll know what the right thing to do is. So, do it this Summer 2010.

2. I love ice cream. And ice cream is best consumed during summer months. Preferably purchased from a man who will take your ice cream out of a cart he pushes around with a bell in the park.

3. Speaking of parks. Let's hear it for public parks. Not to be confused with public pools which are most often germ infested and certainly have too many small people (aka children) running around them for safety or enjoyment. I vote for Griffith Park in LA and Central Park in NY. You can vote for your own park if you like. In fact, please do. My favorite parks are too crowded as is.

4. Young, hot love is best consumed in Summer months. What's better than walking around the city (any city) with a new beau or beaudette, holding hands, getting sweaty, picking up ice cream and eating it in a park (look how we can combine our favorite things during Summer!) as the sun sets. This said, before things get too sweaty, please take your young, hot love and enjoy it in the privacy of your own home.

5. Every summer, the radios start overplaying a good pop song. Next thing we know, we think this pop song is great. And next thing we know right after that, we hate that pop song. We want to tear the radio right out of our cars every time it comes on but we can't cause we just got a manicure and we don't really have the money to go replacing radios left and right. I predict that this Summer's first greatest hit, soon to be mega hit, soon thereafter to be the song that drives me crazy is Jay Z's Young Forever. So please, play with caution.

Happy Summer everyone. Play by the rules, don't forget your SPF, and let's enjoy the next three months together.

[Image Credit: Jessie B. R. in the bestest park LA has to offer, Griffith, on the day before Summer began. So shoot me.]

Looking at people looking at art. EuroTrash at the Lazarides Gallery.

Before I departed to NY, I attended the opening of EuroTrash at the Lazarides Gallery in Beverly Hills. The group show features work by JR, Alexandre Farto (aka Vhils), Conor Harrington, and Antony Micallef. And though the opening is long past and my posting of pictures belated to say the least, the show's still up (through June 27th). And you should still go.

Lazarides
320 North Beverly Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Monday - Sunday 12 pm - 8pm

Gary Baseman’s “Giggle and Pop!” at LACMA.

If anyone could make dancing creatures and ladies in retro style-dress work, that would be Gary Baseman. His beloved ChouChou character will be coming to life tomorrow at LACMA's ArtWalk 2010 in a one day series of performances, 'Giggle and Pop!' And because I couldn't possibly describe this bizarre event taking over Mid-Wilshire, I'll paste the press release below for your reference.

Do go say hello to my dear friend Gary and his dear inventions, the ChouChous and the Tar Pit Girls, dancing all day tomorrow for your enjoyment!

*************************

Saturday, June 12, 2010
Performances 12pm, 1pm, and 3pm
(with vignettes in between and until 4pm)

LACMA MUSE, in conjunction with ArtWalk 2010: The Los Angeles Arts & Music Festival, will feature a special performance created by Gary Baseman. Presented in the artist’s favorite childhood haunt of the La Brea Tar Pits, “Giggle and Pop!” will feature Baseman’s ChouChous and the Tar Pit Girls. The 24 characters will engage the crowds at the park and museum, spreading festive vibes and artful amusement.

Choreographed by Sarah Elgart, and featuring a song by Carina Round, this dynamic experience will create new and alternative memories of one of LA’s major landmark areas. Creating an atmosphere of whimsy and wonder, attendees who join the jollity by dancing or playing will receive limited-edition sashes with original art by Gary Baseman.

“Giggle and Pop!” references Baseman’s paintings from “I Melt in Your Presence” (2007), “Hide and Seek in the Forest of ChouChou” (2007), and “La Noche de la Fusíon” (2009). The original tale takes place during a time when evil demons dominated the Forest of ChouChou where the Wild Girls lived. Chaos and misery, fires and ugliness were so abundant and powerful that the Girls could not easily love. The ChouChous, however, were mysterious heroic creatures who appeared then took away and absorbed the negative energy and hate from the Girls, oozing creamy gooey love from their belly buttons. For the LACMA event, the Wild Girls are Tar Pit Girls, positively altered with the love of ChouChou.

New York.

I'm however many miles above the ground Virgin America takes you these days. An hour into flight. Online. Wired in 21st century air-style. I'm returning to New York. Get ready.

The Reformation opens tonight. You should be there, shopping.

You'd be remiss to miss this tonight. So don't. RSVP now and see you at LA's newest boutique on West 3rd!

OPENING NIGHT PARTY
with StyleSectionLA
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2010, 6pm - 9pm
WITH 25 % OFF ALL CLOTHING

RSVP TO: RSVP@DKLPR.COM

The Reformation
8117 West Third Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048

........................................

The Reformation's Summer Shopping Event | Thru the WeekendThursday, June 10, 2010 - Sunday, June 13, 2010
11:00am - 7:00pm (Regular Store Hours)
15% Off All Apparel

Culver City ArtWalk. I came, I saw, I took pictures.

What's cheaper than art I can't afford? Taking pictures of my favorite pieces that I can't afford and posting those pics here for posterity. Almost like having them on my walls. But much, much smaller and only visible on my Mac Book. As opposed to, ya know my walls.

N.B. There is a picture of a small boy in here. He is NOT an example of something I'd like to have on my wall. Do not get the wrong idea. But he did play nicely with my god-doggie.

N.Very.B. Galleries repped below include Carmichael Gallery, LeBasse Projects, Corey Helford Gallery, and Thinkspace, amongst others. Stop by and support all of them! The Culver City arts community is incredible and deserves the city's attention.

I won art. For a good cause. [Photo Gallery]

And when I say 'won,' I mean that I bought it of course. I simply bought it for a higher amount than someone else did. Which maybe I shouldn't have done. But it was for Stoked, the amazing non-profit which mentors kids through action sports. And they deserve my uninhibited, impulse buying. So this art's for you kids. Below, some pics from the Stoked private preview which happened last night to kick off today's Culver City ArtWalk. More pics from that awesomeness later...

Cool art by a cool artist...

Suitcase by Aaron Rose (director of Beautiful Losers)

These kids were big spenders. I'm pretty sure they bid on some big ticket items.

Gary Baseman and his pal. Gary, incidentally, is having a sick event during the LACMA Art Walk next Saturday. You should go. More on that later too...

I usually cry when I want to. Like when it's my party.

More cool art by another gent who'll be at LACMA next week.

This is me after bidding. I had this picture taken in case I didn't win. I won. You can visit this piece above my bed any time. That sounded suggestive. It wasn't meant to come out that way.

Gary bid on art too. Fingers crossed...

Didn't make it to the event but want to find out more about helping Stoked? Visit their site and donate your time or your money...or both!

Ice Cream + Art + Gadgets = Blood is the New Black's Summer Fling

What happens when two beautiful people get together and [fill in the blank] and then invite a 3rd amazing partner to [fill in the blank more]? A beautiful love child is conceived, that's what.

Am I being too metaphorically obtuse for you? Allow me to be explicit. Two of my favorite brands, revolutionary tee-shirt meets art collection, Blood is the New Black, and magically delicious ice cream sandwich purveyors, Coolhaus, have joined forces and brought in handy-dandy gadget protectors, Case-Mate, to bring Summer Fling, A Mobile Pop Up Shop and Ice Cream Truck to Los Angeles this summer.

You'll be able to customize your own phone cases with incredible art courtesy of BITNB's roster of sick artists. You'll be able to indulge in ice cream flavors like pistachio with black truffles. And you'll be able to hang out with me. Cause I'll be hanging around them all summer.

The launch party for LA's awesomest new mobile retailer is this Saturday. Find the details below and find me at the party!

Saturday, June 5th
8 PM - 12 AM

Nomad Gallery
1993 Blake Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039

Live Performance by Dunes
DJ's Jacob Safari and Sara T
Live Screen-printing by Nomad Gallery
Open Bar available thanks to Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer

RSVP info@bloodisthenewblack.com requested but not required

Can't make it? Stay tuned to twitter.com/summerflingtruk and bloodisthenewblack.com/summerfling to find the truck near you this summer!

Fried Pastries & Liquor Day. Mmmmm.

Because Friday is National Doughnut Day [and because there's never a bad reason to drink], Grace Restaurant is offering bourbon and doughnut pairings.

I don't drink bourbon. Nor do I frequently indulge in doughnuts. But this concept sounds absolutely delightful all the same.

From the restaurant's website...

Friday June 4th is National Doughnut Day. In celebration Pastry Chef Mariah Swan and Wine Director Eduardo Porto Carreiro have created a flight of three doughnuts each paired with single barrel bourbons offered all week beginning - Tuesday June 1st through Sunday June 6th.

Salt and Pepper Caramel Glazed Doughnut
Blanton’s Single Barrel

Buttermilk Toasted Coconut Glazed Doughnut
Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel

Chocolate Hazelnut Glazed Doughnut
Woodford Reserve Single Barrel

doughnuts served with vanilla ice cream

$12 doughnuts only
$24 with bourbon pairings

Tuesday June 1, 2010 - Sunday June 6, 2010

Grace Restaurant
7360 Beverly Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA

Bon appetit and remember, kids, don't eat donuts and drive.

[via Daily Candy]

Tobias Wong. His awesome killer ring. & his passing.

In a year of seemingly endless celebrity deaths, it is always hardest to embrace those of great talents who pass too, too young. Tobias Wong, the Canadian-born, New York-based artist and designer, passed away on Sunday morning. Wong’s brief body of work was overwhelmed by creativity, innovative design, and twists on tradition.

Wong’s ‘Killer Diamond Engagement Ring’ (pictured left) is my favorite example of Wong’s subversive style. To take a romantic icon and turn it on its head–literally–to create a piece so much more interesting and inspiring than the original–genius.

I used to think this was the ring I'd want should some poor guy ever propose to me. He'd be poorer for having me cut him in his sleep though.

[This post originally appeared on Curated.]

Music for your Tuesday afternoon - Isaac Brock.

A little belated, but above is a snapshot of Isaac Brock (right) of Modest Mouse on stage at the secret private performance which followed the LA Premiere of '180 South' last week.

Below, the link to the MP3 of Brock's 'Wave Goodbye.' In case you didn't make the screening. Which you really, really should have.

Listen to 'Wave Goodbye.'