Music picks

Juliette Commagere: After several years singing lead vocals and playing the keytar for indie rock band Hello Stranger, Juliette Commagere has released a debut solo album that we can't quite get enough of. The raven haired, LA-based musician penned the 13 songs featured on Queens Die Proudly while dealing with a bout of depression that eventually - like the title of one of our favorite tracks on the album - she was able to "Overcome." With enchanting lyrics, multidimensional sounds and electronic melodies that defy traditional rhythm, Commagere has certainly come into her own on this album. The artist, who's been known to assemble orchestras via Craigslist on the fly for live shows blending jazz, folk, and electronic beats, is set to perform at SXSW in Austin, TX next month. 

Songs to download: "Everything I Love", "Overcome"

Emily Wells: The Symphonies: Dreams, Memories & Parties album features a small orchestral-like arrangement of instruments - including the violin, banjo, guitar, organ, drum machine and xylophone - all of which are played, looped, sampled, harmonized, vocalized and produced by a one-woman music machine named Emily Wells. Wells, who grew up in Indiana and learned to sing and play multiple instruments at a young age, loves (according to her MySpace bio) "rap music and Vivaldi... Nina Simone and Biggie Smalls." Not only does it show, but it works surprisingly well: Wells' folk/classical/hip-hop hybrid tunes are the embodiment of modern Mix Mash culture. Wells will also hit the stage at SXSW next month.

Songs to download: "Symphony 6: Fair Thee Well & The Requiem Mix," "Symphony 3: The Story (featuring Count Bass D.)

Modelinia

Modelinia - For those wanting fashion coverage beyond the clothes, this new site gives visitors unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the lives of supermodels. Beauty and fashion tips, straight from the backstage of the runway world, as well as original video series, such as Spiked Heel starring Heidi Klum, give an all access pass to the world's most famous catwalkers.

Food Blog

Eat Me Daily -

This food blog approaches the culinary world with a equal doses of good-spirited cynicism and intelligent criticism. Posts range from commentary on food news articles to musings on the food community, both high- and lowbrow. Nothing in the kitchen is off limits here, and it's easy to read up on chef-inspired fashion shows, new cuisine-related health laws, Top Chef recaps, and video content for gourmands and fast food junkies alike. 

Watching the wealthy

The Wealth Report -  A fascinating look at the lives and culture of the wealthy

Robb Report - Has a list of Robb Recommendations for a variety of categories – the best cars, electronics, etc – as seen from the ultra-luxury standpoint.

Pop-Up Retail Trend Hits Restaurants Business

Is it a secret restaurant? An underground foodie gathering? A chance to branch out from the menu? Or maybe a perfect place for an up-and-coming chef to test out his/her skills? The latest trend to hit restaurant kitchens in our neck of the woods touches on all of these.

One-night-only restaurants, offering their grub during very limited times, have been sprouting all around Manhattan and Brooklyn. In Williamsburg, kitchens are being taken over to reveal entirely new cuisines and chefs: Korean BBQ spot Dokebi changes over at midnight on Fridays to Bonjin, a ramen spot, while on Monday nights, Simple Cafe goes Vietnamese with Bep. In the city, chefs are stepping outside of the menu box in their own restaurants, offering up something unique while simultaneously garnering a little extra revenue, buzz, and new patrons. Top Chef's Tom Colicchio targets both the spenders and the savers with two separate one-night-only spots: Inhabiting the space next to his well known eatery Craft are Tom, where every other week a Tuesday Dinner boasts a fancy $150.00 prix fixe menu, and Damon, where executive chef Damon Wise's Frugal Friday dinners offer diners a recession-friendly night out with small plates and small prices.

For those in search of a unique new dining experience, and maybe even some wallet relief, these pop-up dining spots are the perfect find. And during a period when launching a new dining spot is not the best of ideas, we expect this kitchen borrowing trend to extend to other cities around the country, so keep an eye out for a one-night-only restaurant to pop up in a neighborhood near you! 

http://www.trendcentral.com/WebApps/App/SnapShots/Article.aspx?ArticleId=7552

Book on Digital Flirting

Flirtexting by Debra Goldstein and Olivia Baniuszewicz

Following the success of He's Just Not That Into You comes Flirtexting, a dating how-to for women of the digital age.  Using texting as a means of flirting, the book offers a fun twist on standard dating guides.  Apparently one should never respond immediately to a text message from a crush.  And for those that are less than literate in texting shorthand, a "flirtexting dictionary" uncovers the meaning of acronyms such as NBD (no big deal), or the right itme to use "perf."

More fashion

Iqons - a fashion community highlighting creative talent.  Pop culture through the eyes of fashion.

Who What Wear - Celebrity style and fashion

All Women Stalk- Fashion, beauty, relationships, celebrities

Sports blogs

with a humorous twist:

With leather - humorous blog following athletes and the hot chicks who date them

Deadspin 

Kissing Suzy Kolber 

Music Artists to Watch

self taught / classically trained

Lissy Trullie

A big player in the downtown NYC scene for years as a modle, style icon, and DJ, now getting kudos for her music, proving there is substance to her Warhol Factory-like persona.  New Wave-influenced pop/rock jams reveal a unique singing voice that's drawing in fans beyond the fashion crowd.

Frightened Rabbit

Having been selling out shows as of late, 2009 may be a bog year for them.  The Scottish band plays sensitive indie rock that could ultimately find a more mainstream audience.  Look out for an appearance by the band on the upcoming Josh-Schwartz-created web series for the WB.com, Rockville, CA. 

Andrew Bird

This Chicago-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist's just released Noble Beast is already a hot contender for "Album of the Year."  The record is a showcase of Bird's classical training, composed of complex orchestral arrangements funneled through folk melodies.  In the era of Auto-Tune, this is one artist you can count on keeping it real. 

Cover it in cheese

Mac & Cheese of the month club- 12 really delicious sounding dishes

"Fabulous" traveling & full-time travelers

Glamping (glamorous camping)

Flashpacking (flashy backpacking)

Uncornered Market - website of a couple who has been traveling full time since 2006

Travel Trends 2009

Less flying, driving; More buses trains

2009 Travel trends

New York Times travel section

The four belts you must own

Skinny belts - Skinny belts can make layers look polished and can bring some serious drama to an evening dress.  Whether you belt your jeans or wrap your waist, a skinny belt is a closet's best friend.

Wide belts- The ultimate in power statements, a wide belt adds gravity to a dress or brings a level of chic to even the most oversized top.  Accentuating your waist with a wide belt will give you a figure worth a second look.

Patent leather belts- Patent leather is a fabric that is truly a gift to women.  It looks expensive, adds a dash of shine to any outfit and is ridiculously easy to maintain.  Very versatile.

Patterned belts- Patterns are a fast and easy way to add some pizzazz to any look and used sparingly, can draw the eye to a tiny waist or emphasize the cut of a great outfit.

My Secret Playlist link

My Secret Playlist is a music discovery website (and weekly email publication).  They invite their favorite bands and musicians to share their eight  favorite songs right now.  This site catalogs their words on the music that inspires them.

An Exploration in College Basketball

Searching for Billy Edelin

General (and specific) ranting on basketball.

Fashion sites

Looking for inspiration?  Head to:

Fashion trendsetter

Style notes, color trends, fashion trends by season, fashion shows, accessories, fashion events

Pink memo

Luxury fashion.  Dallas & NYC versions

Pantone

The hot colors of the current season as well as a peek into the future.

Fabulous on a budget

The name says it.

Ebay vintage

An eBay store selling quality vintage pieces

Look Book

Fashion inspiration from real people from around the world.

The Sartorialist

One of the original style bloggers

Refinery 29

Up-to-the-minute fashion, trends, style, and shopping in New York and beyond. 

The Budget Fashionista

Best websites for global street style

1. copenhagen 

2. tokyo

3. london

4. berlin

5. paris

6. tel aviv

7. buenos aries

8. sao paulo

9. manila

10. everywhere

Seen on the Streets

Heritagewear: The low prices, fleeting trends, and poor quality of the fast fashion boom have left some consumers in search of the exact opposite. A renewed interest in quality, comfort, and dependability has led many to the "functional" brands of the past. Items such as Hunter Wellington boots (aka "Wellies)", Sperry Topsiders, L.L. Bean duck boots, Filson tin cloth garments, and even Hanes white t-shirts and Levi's 501s represent an authenticity and durability missing in many of today's closets. Reflective of the trend, Opening Ceremony will be releasing a collaboration with Pendleton (whose blanket coats, and those inspired by, are hot among hipsters this winter) in August, while Barbour is issuing a limited edition collection of redesigned classics this fall and Woolrich Woolen Mills' modernized outerwear is being scooped up by shoppers at Barneys and Steven Alan. In a time when flashy, over-the-top looks and luxury labels are almost frowned upon, we expect to see old school brands known for quality and comfort to acquire a new generation of fans.

Figure Skater Chic: From shiny streetwear to new hairstyles, it seems that everyone wants to join the Ice Capades lately. While the look has certainly been popularized by American Apparel, in particular the iridescent legwear and circle skirts, stylesetters are seeking out the real thing in the form of glittery velvet minidresses from online specialty shops and eBay. And not necessarily worn with the full look, longhaired ladies are trading in ponies for tightly knotted buns high upon the head, while those with short hair on the cutting edge are passing over the hot-in-Hollywood bob for Dorothy Hamill style bowl cuts.

Aprons: From cook-offs and farmers markets to The Food Network and foodie blogs, all things culinary are cool at the moment, with the latest entry being kitchen fashion: One of our trend reporters recently picked up on a new hipster movement of aprons being worn over dresses. American Apparel strikes again, now selling solid-colored ones, while those of the more retro variety can be picked up at stores like Anthropologie or vintage boutiques.


Discovered by Lauren McGehee

Top Technology Breakthroughs of 2008 - Wired.com

Team: 

Follow this link to see what Wired considers the best of the best in 2008.

Discovered by Lauren McGehee