28 September 2005

Swinging Is All the Rage: Booze Island


Boris, our swinging W4 correspondent reported months ago that Paris is a city full of people with late night frisky desires. Now that trend has crossed the channel and landed on the southern coast of Britain as seen here yesterday in Brighton. No word yet on whether Plato's Retreat is set to reopen in New York by Christmas.
+W4: Boris: Paris: Swinging is All the Rage.
+W4: Bejewelled: London: Eight Over Eight.
+W4: El Capitan: Bangkok: Bandito in Toyland.
+Plato's Retreat. Wikipedia.
+Track: R. Kelly, "Ignition (Remix)." Lyrics.
+Data: List of actors whose first name is Val. IMDB.

24 September 2005

Container Ship Karokee: Booze Island: Blackpool


If you find that hell has frozen or your plane has made an emergency landing on the Northwest British coast we suggest heading to Blackpool for a night. Imagine a run down Coney Island meets Las Vegas' poor cousin. That being said as with anything on Booze Island, the more you drink, the better it gets and Blackpool is a worthy adversary for even the most tolerant livers. If you do find yourself on the Pleasure Beach, the name which gives it far more credit than it deserves, be sure and check out the strange looking shipping containers located next to the Casino. As dusk falls on the British Empire's former beach playground the three neon shipping containers open up to reveal a kitchy karokee lounge and two sleek Playstation video game rooms. Sponsored by Sony, these containers are open nightly for free and you can slur your way through such tunes as Hungry like the Wolf, Don't Go Breaking My Heart, and Solid as a Rock. If you can imagine singing Take Me Out with some white track suit wearing British teenage thugs on backing vocals well that's basically what can and did happen. Apparently, the Karokee Container can unite class, nationalites and even styles. This followed by a few rounds of Bingo next door make for a very hipstery Lower East Side / Shoreditch kind of night which can always be an enjoyable in moderation.
+We First Spotted Shipping Containers being used for neat things at: Art Basel Miami 2005.
+Economist: Blackpool: Unpleasurable 22 September.
+Eurotrash Tune of the week: Max Graham v. Coldplay 'Talk'. [listen].
+NY Magazine:
The Incredibly Bold, Audaciously Cheesy, Jaw-Droppingly Vegasified, Billion-Dollar Glam-Rock Makeover of Coney Island.

23 September 2005

Modern Gentleman's Guide: Mingling


Mingling: Mingling is a huge waste of time. The concept of making small talk with people with whom you have nothing in common, and have nothing to offer is ridiculous. What's the point? Worse still is when you are forced to mingle in an quasi-business semi-social setting. We suggest avoiding mingling at all costs unless the situation may provide the potential of pleasure (see above photo of W4 contributor forced to mingle while on field trip with school bus full of IMG models). Sipping a Laphroaig 40 and watching late night bad Cinemax porn at home by oneself is much more enjoyable than schmoozing with schmucks.
+Laphroaig.
+Cinemax Tonight: Call Girl Wives.
+
How to Mingle.

16 September 2005

Booze Island: Rocky Times At Pleasure Beach


Not content with sticking solely to saturated, emaciated, and over enunciated urban centers, W4 is sending its minions to the far reaches of the globe, which may as well be the far reaches of Booze Island (England). We are packing them off like misbehaving boarding school children and shipping them to the British seaside in balmy, tropical September. St. Tropez, very much two months ago. Southampton/East Hampton, an August detour. Blackpool and Brighton, early autumn distraction.

Over the course of the next three weeks W4 correspondents will be flopping around Booze Island's rocky beach blankets to places with dubious / kitchy names such as Pleasure Beach and Devil's Dyke to test the North Atlantic waters. Fearful of sending our correspondents to the 180 proof seaside alone we are surrounding them with the likes of Tony Blair and the British political establishment in a sad attempt to excavate some vaguely academic and possibly even thoughtful discourse from them. But who are we kidding – we've headed over to Ladbrokes and wagering that they will end up at some lager chugging, champagne swilling, fondue spinning, pill popping, after hours rave at Fatboy Slim's house in Brighton. The outcome should hopefully be worth reporting. Keep refreshing.
+W4: Fuckin' Summer 2005: Plage: St. Tropez.
+W4:
Southampton, En Vacances.
+
Labour Party Annual Conference, Brighton, 25th to 29th September.
+
Ladbrokes, tax free online betting.
+Brighton Resident:
Fatboy Slim, wikipedia.
+Germans Hate Rocky Beaches Too:
Rocky Beach Club.

Modern Gentlemen's Guide: Smoking


Smoking: If every human being lit up at least one cigarette a day, the world would be a much less stressful place. Smoking is honestly what keeps people sane, or at least somewhat sane. Granted, intake of a huge amount of cigarettes is probably not the best idea, but hey if it works, it works. A generally suitable brand to smoke is Marlboro Lights, not harsh on the throat and available virtually everywhere on the globe. However, the chicest cigarettes are the silver wrapped Treasurers which are only available at Harrod's and are extremely expensive but worth a try.
+Harrods, Knightsbridge, London.
+Hookah Haven: Momo, 25-27 Heddon Street, London +44 871 075 1654.

+Land of Enchantment: New Mexico: Santa Fe.

14 September 2005

500 B&B's for T&A from T+L: Guide: Globe


Sometimes all one wants in life is a little R&R. Thankfully the people at Travel & Leisure US have launched a handy new addition to their website has a complete list of their annual T&L 500 Best Hotels and Resorts. Searchable by continent, rating and a number of other factors, the list canvases a decent selection of global flophouses. Although we have never really been a fan of the US edition of T&L (the UK version seems far more upmarket, no package cruise ads - or at least less of them), the site is perfect for brainstorming upcoming travel escapes. So whether you are looking for a dirty weekend of T&A or a romantic B&B check out the new T&L 500 ASAP.
+Travel and Leisure 500.
+Indy 500, Indianapolis, 28 May 2006.

+Fun with Numbers, Hula Hoops and Margaritas: Tortilla Flats, 767 Washington Street, NYC +1 212 243 1053.

13 September 2005

Cold Never Looked So Hot: London: Ice Bar


On certain nights out in London, New York or LA you might think that hell has already frozen over all of the from bad attitudes, icy stares and botoxed bodies that seem to pervade the more happening drinking dens. And you may well be right. Sometimes you might just want to cocoon yourself in an igloo to get away from it all and drink yourself into a stooper. Thankfully, some crazy Swedes from Lapland who love Abba and hate frigid women agree. And they have brought their meat locker to London. From the makers of the Ice Hotel comes the Absolute Ice Bar in London's Heddon Street. Set to go icemaker on October 1st the bar will allow you book 45 minute timeslots where you will give you parkas (and we would hope J. Medel for the ladies) and send you into the cooler. We have a feeling that arctic temperatures alone will dissuade all but the most vivacious, lively and fit arctic women to attend the party. Cold never looked so hot. +Absolut Icebar London, 29-33 Heddon Street, freezes on 1st October.
+Ice Hotel, Sweden.
+J. Mendel.
+Hot Nordic Thing: World Sauna Championships, Finland.
+Cold Guilty Pleasure: Ice Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice [lyrics].
+Hybrid Thing We Envision: Sauna Hip Hop Karaoke, NYC.

12 September 2005

New York: Sunday Samba: Baraonda


For those of us who are still longing for ways to get into trouble on a Sunday night on the Upper East Side:
"Many people stay home on Sunday nights reading, watching TV, doing the laundry but why? Sunday night is the optimal evening to go out. Whether it was partying hard with the real Russians at Au Bar, playing bingo at Bungalow, playing Baccarat at the 78th Street spot, doing karaoke at Moomba, or having a lewd evening at Madame Paulino's 60th Street den of sin, Sundays were always fun. One of the few Sunday night haunts that is still going strong is Baraonda: the Upper East Side's wildest Italian joint. After roughly a year of not attending their interesting Sunday night of madness, I returned last night and found that it was still definitely up to par. I dined with my Puerto Rican connection at a table outside consuming a plate of truffled gnocchi with a bottle of Black Label to wash it down. We witnessed all sorts of wild individuals and beautiful damsels coming in and out of the establishment. There was drinking, dancing, and nervy illegal parking of overpriced cars. Still intact are the bouncer who has one of the strangest tipping policies I've ever encountered, the never-ending line for the bathroom, and the Brazilian hostess who may be a bitch or a darling but you have to love her nonetheless. Granted, a good deal of the crowd is a bit of the too-tanned and too blinged-out Euro and Fugazy crew but who cares, it's Sunday night and who goes to work on Monday anyway?"
+Baraonda, 1439 2nd Ave, New York +1212 288 8555.
+Same owner: Bella Blu, 967 Lexington Ave, New York +212 988 4624.
+Which is not as good as adjacent: Sette Mezzo, 969 Lexington Ave, New York +1 212 472 0400.
+Baraonda London Equivalent: The old location of Pucci Pizza, 205 King’s Road, London SW3.
+NYT: "Settling for the Upper East Side" 14 August 2005.

European Video Kills the Music Star: Ipod U Later

While everyone stateside pees their pants about the new Ipod phones, Europe is once again hopscotching the rest of the globe (ex-Japan) with the release of its 3G services. Networks such as Vodafone UK have already released mobiles including the Sony Ericson V600i (pictured here) that allow you to make video calls.

Tested in a loud nightspots this past weekend we have to say it is quite impressive and has a crystal clear display. And with live TV, news and sport available now or by Christmas, a new revolution in phone sex cannot be far behind. And if that wasn't enough incentive to switch, many of the networks are giving heavy discounts to new customers to switch over to their 3G. This will however make it near impossible for you to ever lie to anyone again about your whereabouts. Damn technology.
+Apple: Itunes Mobile Phone.
+SonyEricsson: V600i.
+Vodafone UK: 3G.
+Brand Republic Says: Apple and Motorola's iTunes phone leaves US underwhelmed.
+Tech News: "
Ebay set to seal Skype deal for over $2.6bn," Financial Times, 12 September 2005.

Carlsbad Cravings: Burgers: California


Park to the Pacific reports on where to satisfy your burger cravings if you are washed ashore somewhere between LA and San Diego:

"Of note in Carlsbad, where I am currently is Angelo's Burgers-not a bad fallback plan if there are no In-N-Out's nearby. Same style of burger with requisite special sauce, but needed salt and some extra sauce. Also a good locale for a greasy breakfast burrito if that's your thing which it should be"

Also of S. California note: Suncrawler reports that Pace now has a new chef and the food ain't that great -- best only for a drink. Too bad. Was one of our personal favorites.
+W4: Suncrawler reports: Pace in LA.
+Angelo's Burgers, 2035 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA +1 760 967 9911.
+In-N-Out Burger, various locations Western US.
+Gear:
In-and-Out Burger Flip Flops.
+Stroke: Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla, CA +1 800 985 4653 .
+Data Point: Rancho Santa Fe, CA, "It is the highest income community in the United States with at least 1,000 households" [Wikipedia].
+Nearby: Miramar, CNN: "If It's Top Gun, it must be... Nevada".
+Video: Top Gun [amazon].

Needle: Lyn Launches


After all of our negativity about the fashion world and its inhabitants, our W4 correspondants have found a designer truly worth praising: Lyn. Having her debut show at her Soho studio last week, we were truly impressed with the beauty and innovation of her designs for her Lyn Devon made-to-order womenswear. To an amazing up-and-coming designer to look out for, all the best.

-The W4 Team

+Lyn Devon, 463 Broome Street, 1B New York, New York +1 212 431 3777.
+Patrick McMullan:
Lyn Devon Debut Collection and Launch, 7 September 2005.
+W4: NYC: Olympic Fashion Week: Twiggy Loons.

09 September 2005

Beat Street: Austin, London and Europe Report


The latest music recommendations from our global sound center correspondents:

Austin Says:
+The New Doves Album.
+The Upcoming Silver Jews album.
+Grizzy Bear.

London Suggests:
+Supergrass, Road to Rouen [amazon UK].
+'Rough Justice,' Rolling Stones [amazon].

Eurotrash Partakes In:
+For deep bass: Moby, Raining Again (Steve Angello's Vocal Mix).
+Somebody Told Me, The Killers (Mylo Remix)
+I Like the Way You Move, Bodyrockers
+Fading like a Flower (remix), Eric Prydz.
+Last Song: 77 Strings (club mix), Kurtis Mantronik.
+Late Night Loving: Unfinished Sympathy, Massive Attack.

Super Friday Future: Mapping: Global

Superfuture has come up with some great city maps which highlight hotels you'd actually want to stay at, trendy shops, art, music, food and the always necessary liquor stations and dance dens. Tokyo, New York, Sydney, San Fran, Amsterdam, Paris, London, LA and Shanghai and are already online. Perfect for navigating your way though Shibuya or the 7eme at all hours.
+Superfuture.
+Super Size Me.
+Drink: Track: Bran Van 3000: Drinking in LA.
+Maps: Historical: Royal Geographic Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London.
+Eurotrash Song for Friday: Michael Gray, The Weekend [amazon].
+Gridskipper can't Cliff Note all of our content - Check out whats new on www.wfour.com!

07 September 2005

A Frictionless Match


Some of our staff dined at the relatively new Paris Match in New York earlier this week. It created no sparks. They reported a very mediocre dinner consisting of some sushi roll called "The Park Avenue" which was a mix and match of every type of fish they probably couldn't sell, followed by a so-so lobster club sandwich with a bottle of Chassagne Montrachet as a chaser. While the restaurant is incredibly lackluster, we do have high hopes that if they leave the outdoor tables out overnight as there is potential for a late-night cocktail party of St. Ide's and Cohibas with the next door stoop of Michael Dawkins making for a fine urinal.
+Paris Match, 29 East 65th St, New York +1 212 737 4400.
+Michael Dawkins, 33 East 65th Street, New York +1 212 639 1540
+St. Ides [Pabst].
+Nearby Hideaway: Lowell Hotel, 28 E 63rd St, +1 212 838 1400.
+Trendy Paris Hotel: Murano Urban Resort, 13, Boulevard du Temple.
+Favorite Paris strip club that turns into a disco post-5am: Pink's.
+W4: Paris: Swinging is all the Rage .
+W4: Le Disco n'est pas Fermée: Shady Paris Update .
+W4: Paris: Hobbs the Only Name Worth Knowing.

06 September 2005

NYC: Olympus Fashion Week: Twiggy Loons


With New York's Fashion Week fast approaching W4 brings you a brief synopsis of the fashion world.

Fashion: The fashion world is a strange beast, here is a simplified breakdown of the key components.

Models: Drug-addicted but attractive petite young things, often wearing a “deer in the headlights” look. This look is very appropriate as models tend to be painfully stupid. They often serve as arm candy for fat hideous old men, but it’s not the models’ fault, they don’t know any better and these sugar daddies pay them well.

Designers: Similarly drug-addicted but unattractive loons (with occasional exceptions) with some artistic talent and great PR. These creatures are excellent bullshit artists, as they are able to convince editors and clients that their designs are fabulous even though quite frequently the clothes are awful. The more innovative their designs, the heavier the designer’s narcotic intake.

Fashion Shows: Generally a fairly boring gig filled with fashion editors (who need to be there), celebrities and socialites (who think they need to be there), and unseated random hangers-on who are usually aspiring models or designers, and are a fairly sad bunch. One exception to the monotony of the fashion shows in recent memory was an 8AM show held in Peter Beard’s Studio in Manhattan. The scene was champagne and caviar, Ducati motorcycles strewn about the studio, and scantily clad models exhibiting overpriced blue jeans although very few were actually wearing said jeans. This exception may not be applicable as it was unclear whether it was the jeans or the models that were up for sale, and the “designer” is currently on the run from what’s left of Escobar’s Medellin Cartel.

In terms of personal fashion, some say everyone has their own style and that should be accepted. The truth is that most people have no style and this is unacceptable. Find an Italian (fresh-off-the boat Napolitan not the fugazi contractor from the Jersey shore) and have him or her consult you on your apparel purchases, as these characters generally have superb style.
+New York Olympus Fashion Week, Location: Bryant Park.
+Where models stare at food: Koi, 40 West 40th Street, +1 212 921 3330.
+Peter Beard Studio, NYC.
+Suggested motorcycles for naked models:
Ducati.
+Evidence: Crazy Fashion People: Heatherette.
+Ideal for treadmill viewing: Fashion TV.
+Track: Fashion, David Bowie.

Eurostar Upgrades With Grace

It may have taken Grace Jones backhanding a conductor but Eurostar has now revamped its service and pricing scheme. They have introduced two new services called Business Premier and Leisure Select (formerly the Premium and First cabins) and reduced the check in time for the Standard class down to 30 minutes. And now you don’t need to fight your way up to Premier class like Grace to join their frequent traveller scheme. Most fares can now earn points. Sadly, she earns no points in our book bizzare headwear unless she comes bearing mild sedatives and asks us to follow her into the UFO mothership.
+Eurostar.
+This Is London:
Grace Jones in Eurostar attack, 6 April 2005.
+Grace Jones Prefers:
Philip Treacy.

Muji Over Baby


If the late summer has made you consider fleeing the country to remote lands rather than return to your asbestos ventalated office cubicle we can relate. But if you can't bring yourself to pack a suitcase and hop a plane to Tokyo Station we suggest immediately downing a couple Ambian throwing in Lost in Translation or Akira and drifting off to the best sleep a doctors pad can perscribe.

When you wake up we'd like to inform you that sadly no you still here, far from Tokyo. But Muji, the Japanese home and deskware company is expanding. Formerly only with locations in the Far East and the EU, the company has been testing the waters recently in the US with its' outpost downstairs in the Moma Design Store, Soho. Now there is word that they will be opening a stand alone 10,000 sq ft. store in Manhattan in the near future.
+Muji, MoMA Design Store, 81 Spring Street, New York +1 646 613 1367.
+Get Funky: Japanamation: Gorillaz: Video: Dare.
+Park Hyatt Tokyo.
+Anime: Akira.
+DVD: Lost in Translation.

05 September 2005

Modern Gentlemen's Guide: Tipping


Tipping: One should tip heavily whenever possible. People in service industries rely heavily on tipping to subsidize their low salaries, as such be generous. In addition, everything becomes either easier or at least possible through a little palm-greasing. A real tip begins at $50 regardless of whom you're dealing with. Anything lower gets you a smile but no action. Tip big the first time and you won't have to do so too often thereafter. Never tip the owner of an establishment. If you're not sure if a specific character is the owner, refrain from tipping altogether. If people tell you that you generally don't tip enough, here's a good rule to follow: think of a tip amount that you think is appropriate, then double it. Tip discretely. It's terribly vulgar to hand an unfolded bill to someone as a tip, so much so that it may actually be refused because of the presentation. Fold the bill or bills thrice and place into the palm of your hand, and proceed to make the exchange during a handshake.
+Money Origami.
+Global Nomad: Tipping Guide by Country: Fodors.
+10021 / 90210 Girls: Kayne West: Golddiger Video.
+Sharon Stone Tips Best: Movies: Casino [amazon].

Aman Takes the Caicos


Singapore based, Amanresorts continues its ultra high end world domination with the announcement of its newest resort to open in Turks and Cacios. From Amanresorts:

"On the island of Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos Islands, Amanresorts will open its first resort in the Caribbean, Amanyara ('peaceful place'). Nestled on the tip of a 2,025ha nature and wildlife reserve, the resort also provides immediate access to the pristine reefs of the Northwest Point Marine Park just offshore. Embracing a landscape of ponds and ocean, Amanyara is comprised of freestanding, contemporary ocean, beach and pond pavilions and two, three-bedroom villas, all of which feature shaded areas on three terraces with large sliding glass doors."

No word if they will have reciprocal privlidges with the "Titties Out Spring Break 2000" Club Med Turks & Caicos but somehow we doubt it.

Photo: Southampton, New York 26 August 2005

+Amanyara, opens 2006, reservations taken starting 1 March 2006.
+Club Med Turkoise, Turks and Caicos, Cougars on the prowl for your beads now.
+Club Med Women: W4: Cats on the Prowl: Urbancougar.com.

Boozing with Boris: Cisco


Boris reports on his latest attempt at self-medication:

We here at W4 feel that cocktailing is a key component to maintaining sanity. As such, we are always looking for new beverages to help numb the pain and fuel the bad behavior. Ignoring the martini as the drink of the yuppy ad exec, I moved on to straight vodka, then Dark & Stormy's, then to old faithful Black Label, then on to the evil Absenthe and Slingshots, and then I panicked that I'd hit a wall. Then it hit me: instead of looking forward for the ideal bevi, I needed to look to the past.

Many moons ago as a young teenager, I found myself asleep on a bench in Carl Schultz Park having slept the night there (a little dirty but still impeccably dressed). What had caused me to choose a park bench instead of the bed in my Park Avenue apartment? The true devil of all beverages: Cisco.

Cisco is a fruit flavored bum wine mixed with some strange chemicals designed to make you hallucinate and subsequently lose your mind. It's generally referred to as "liquid crack" giving the consumer an initial feeling of euphoria, then a sense of extreme power, followed by complete madness best likened to the actions of an insane naked homeless man.

I strongly recommend Cisco for those of you, like myself, who have hit the alcoholic wall and broken right throught it. Which reminds me, I'm far too sober!

You're welcome,
Boris

+Canandaigua Wines, Various Liquor Stores above East 97th Street in Manhattan.
+Dark and Stormy, Goslings.
+W4: PR Girls Report: Our Cocktail of the Week.
+Meditation Bench with Rounded Bottom For Comfort: Yoga.com.