Sunday Adventures w/ MUFFIN CUPCAKE

Yesterday the Muffin Cupcake team attended a little cupcake event at Partners & Spade(literally, they were selling cupcakes), a shop and marketing/branding team, located on Great Jones Street in Manhattan. The shop, which opens to the public on the weekends, is a curiosity that I advise all to experience. The shop is home to all sorts of artwork, rare books, and objects created by Partners & Spade and random companies they have partnered with. Antique microphone stands decorated the center tables, colorful parasols sat in the corner, and books ranging from photography of icons like Marilyn Monroe to fictional fantasies lined the shelves. All of these oddities may sound like they make no sense, but everything falls together quite perfectly in its own way. As we moved to the back of the store, women in cupcake headbands and tiaras sold freshly baked cupcakes and desserts that made the whole room smell like a giant birthday cake. Mmmmm yum!

After being very impressed by Partners & Spade, we chose to venture across the Bowery because there seemed to be a great deal of activity going on outside of a building between 3^rd and 4^th streets, the Bowery Bazaar. As we got closer we saw that the building housed a marketplace of about 30 vendors, CLAIMING to be local artists. At first glance(from the outside) the event appeared to be promising, and actually prompted me to say “I am going to LOVES this place!”….I was clearly mistaken and disappointed to see that the tables and alcoves housed products and artwork that were underwhelming at best. I’m sorry, but I would rather not wear jewelery made from snake vertebrates, especially if I felt that I may need to wash my self with bleach afterwards. The clothes were extremely amateur, and one should note that covering boots in tassels and dress pillow accessories is not fashion. The other clothes shown at the event were so maternal and dated that my 90 year old grandmother would be bored by them. The painting and photography looked mass produced, and I might suggest that the artists should take a great deal of time, maybe 100 years, to refine their skill…or just quit. The only reason I can see someone going out f their way to go to this marketplace, is possibly for the chocolates at the front, which did look tasty, but in the end don’t go out of your way, and buy a milky way and call it a day. Altogether the most artistic item I saw the whole time was the red recyclable tote handed out to everyone at the entrance, which I plan to use proudly on my frequent shopping trips to Whole Foods.

To end on a positive note, I need to tell you all about a fabulous store the Muffin Cupcake team visited yesterday on in the meatpacking district. Yoya Mart located on Gansevoort street, is a great store for any parent looking to dress their child with serious style. The coats for girls were amazing, my favorites being a blue and green wool plaid coat, and an orange one with a fur-trimmed collar. The pint-sized Moon Boots and colorful Nike kicks would make any child one of the best dressed kids in school. It should also be mentioned that they have a great selection of cool toys and gadgets that I, a man in my 20's, could not help but marvel at.

They even have a Karl Lagerfeld doll....This Mean Queen is LIVING!

Mewzack by DJ Vito Fun

One of NYC's flyest dj's (my personal favorite), DJ Vito Fun has made some endorsements for what is hot and NOT in music right now...Vito would never lead you down the wrong road. Here are some of his yays and nays.

Vito Says YES

In rock, Julian Casablancas (The Stroke's lead singer) finally stopped drinking and doing drugs and put out an album about…drinking and doing drugs. Finally some new music for people who only seem to like rock when The Strokes are playing. The Kings of Leon are still topping the charts with their single 'Use Somebody,' although their album was released 14 months ago. Apparently, their brand of country rock can only appreciated if some form of country pop (Miley Cyrus) is in the US top 10 alongside them. The current number one song in the US is 'Fireflies' by Owl City, even though the lead singer of this 'rock band' proclaims 'I'd get a thousand hugs from 10,000 ladybugs.' The Drums put out an AMAZING new album that simply everyone is listening to. Also sounding good to my ears are Xx, Florence + The Machine & The Horrors.

In pop, Lady Gaga seems to not be losing any momentum at all, in fact, she seems to get only more popular with age, like cheese. I know, that's cheesy - hi yo! She still holds two of the top 20 slots on the US charts. Simply everyone is talking about her new single and video, she's succeeded in bringing transexual culture to the general public. Ke$ha has hot new single 'Tik Tok,' too bad she stole her ENTIRE musical style from independent artist Uffie. If Michael Moore has taught us anything, it's that the rich constantly steal from the poor, this is no exception. Agnes still has a number one song in 10 countries, too bad after seeing her recently, we've concluded she is a lifeless fish on stage. Miley Cyrus is gaining more momentum in the post-Disney market, she better thank a gaggle of New York gays who made a viral YouTube video of her, propelling her to instant fame. There's also some new music out from Britney Spears, Rihanna, Shakira, Dragonette and Whitney Houston, blah blah blah.

In dance music, The Black Eyed Peas made a successful transition from 'hip hop your grandmother likes' to 'dance music your mother likes' with a little help from producer David Guetta. That David Guetta is so hot right now. He's dominating every chart in every country. In the last month, the dance charts have seen new singles from veterans The Crookers, Armand Van Helden, A-Trak, Starkillers, Steve Angello, Laidback Luke, Deadmau5 and Wolfgang Gartner. The dance genre has been gaining momentum at unbelievable rates. Pop stars are forcing to up their BPMs and are leaving hip hop fans in the dust. Expect rappers to quicken their tongues to keep up with the likes of Pitbull and Carlprit (rapper from Cascada's 'Evacuate The Dancefloor'). New York City has seen a new radio station and two major stations switch formats, scrambling to keep up with the trend. Leading the pack is Ultra records. Their roster includes such current successes as Basement Jaxx, Tiesto, Basshunter, Paul Oakenfold, Benny Benassi, Armin Van Buuren, David Guetta, Deadmau5, Fedde Le Grand, Enur and Sharam. The market is seeing constant sales and new releases from La Roux, Calvin Harris, Vinyl Life, Passion Pit and Miike Snow.


Vito Says NO

Hip hop is so OUT right now. If you're wondering why, just think auto-tune. Has any musical introduction alienated fans more in history? Jay-Z who also has two out of the top 20 US singles recently declared a cessation of the dreaded plug-in with his track 'D.O.A. - Death of Auto-Tune.' Rappers, please, listen to jigga, he knows what he's talking about. Drake, Kid Cudi, 50 Cent and Jay-Z are some of the only charting artists in the last months, probably because none of them use auto-tune.

Expect to hear the BPMs rise even higher in the future. The radio is going to be filled with songs in the 120-131 BPM range. The electro sound is permeating the mainstream and will continue to drive itself further. Look for a lot more dance music on the radio, the kids are just eating it up!

FASHION FORWARD

STYLE….

Pour Les Hommes….

All about ankles. Cuffed or cropped pants with a low sneaker or loafer. Leave the ankles bare

You can really cuff or roll any pant; whether you're wearing a drawstring pant, chinos, or even a casual pants. Now you can actually find many pants that come tailored above the ankle.

If you’re more daring add a patterned sock to the look.

I personally believe that a smart pair of frames, whether they be spectacles or sunglasses are the best accessory to any outfit. Going along with the theme of vintage frames, which have begun to resurface, these wooden frames by Urban Spectacles , a store based out of Chicago, evoke an antique feel with a modern twist.

The look of tomorrow is definitely a return to the more polished man. Not your metrosexual, ultra-fitted bright colored shirts and bootcut jeans that categorized much of the 2000’s, but the lace-up wingtips, blazers, and chinos of the 1950’s white-collared gentleman. Of course the modern edge lies in the tailoring, as a slim fitting blazer and pant are key. Below are two photos from Philip Lim's Spring 2010 male collection, which I think is a great example.

I am living for these shoes right now. Going along with the 1950's theme, these shoes added to any casual look really bring an awesom finishing touch. Throw them on with some cuffed denim or chinos, and t-shirt and you are ready to walk out the door, and sure to get many compliments. They can be found at many vintage stores throughout Manhattan. Love, Love, LOVES!

Pour les Femmes…

Androgyny is sexy. A cuffed chino or jean with a tank, blouse, or fitted t-shirt make a great outfit. It’s important to juxtapose the menswear with a couple feminine pieces to create an appropriate balance. Add a nice heel and/or a great necklace.

School-boy inspired shoes. A nice suede wingtip goes great with a cropped pant, jeans, or skirt. Warning: don’t go over board with a kilt or plaid skirt and and oxford because you may look like you are trying too hard ( aka Britney Spears “Baby, One More Time”).

Work those shoulders! No, don’t worry, I’m not talking about those shoulder pads seen on the likes of Delta Burke circa “Designing Women”, but ultra stylized shoulders with a haute flair. These can be seen on dresses or blouses. They make a bold statement and can make any girl look like she walked out of the latest issue of Vogue. We trust Anna Wintour would approve.