Benjamin Dukhan, The Burger Girl

Fog and Light

VAR @ Wierd Night, Home Sweet Home.

WHITE RING @ Saint Vitus Bar.

Knife to floor

Nara boots. Try and mess with the knife heels.

Check them out:

Gio Diev // Giodiev.com

THESE STREETS WILL NEVER LOOK THE SAME

Rest in Power, Adam "MCA" Yauch.

I didn't expect his death to hit me like a ton of bricks, but that's what I felt. I assumed he was getting better/overcoming it until I found out he was m.i.a. at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inaguration, in which Adrock and Mike D accepted the honor for not only themselves, but on his absence and behalf. Cancer's a bummer. We lost a voice for human rights, peace, non-conformity of the craft and culture that merged the world of hip-hop and punk and still manage to garner immense success, and a true MC.

"A difference between something making a loaf of bread, or going to the boulangerie. That's the difference between a rapper and a MC." -- Yauch in a 2009 French interview.

Image sources: Life, unknown via Tumblr, MTV, WENN.com,

The [MAGA]Zine Pile: Raf in 'Fantastic Man' #14

I took me two months to finally buy this issue, but really it should have taken me half a second. Every time I walk home from the Bedford L, I pass by a particular bodega that sells every fashion magazine imaginable: from some obscure, expensive, small-scale European publication to Men's Health (there's some fashion and style in there, right?) next to a stack of Doritos and Head and Shoulders. Yet behold, within a plastic display of "featured" magazines outside of the store, the Fantastic Man issue with Raf Simons as its cover man. The former goth Catholic schoolboy who I may love a little TOO much sitting on his Pierre Jeanneret chair, gave my eyes that glare seldom seen except for the portrait used in Cathy Horyn's NYT story and literally four other photos. When asked about his refusal to be photographed, Raf told Horyn that he just finds portraits to be "embarrassing" (aww), so I knew something special was waiting for me in this issue.

I was tickled by the peculiarity and playfulness of his spread in the autumn/winter 2011 issue. Raf willingly models a mixture of archived pieces from his early, more destructive youth influenced collections and his own designs under the Jil Sander house. He's sprawled sideways along his stairs and reverse planks before an art piece by U.S. artist Mike Kelley. In the accompanied profile, Gert Jonkers highlights that Raf apologized for putting The XX's debut album on constant repeat for the two hours in his home and that the avid art collector and personal buyer was once rejected by the artist himself for a painting because he didn't schedule an appointment ahead of time. Juicy in everything you want to know from Raf's brilliant noggin, the profile is a pleasant read and subtly hints at Raf's future after Jil Sander. This issue is a must-have if you're a Raf-head like me.

1_22. Free Spirit @ The Acheron, NYC

Made a stealth trip to the Acheron tonight to check out Boston bred Free Spirit's set. Super fun show with the dudes (no ladies this time) up front swinging and kicking, but people these days would go hard to anything repped by the Lockin' Out label. Can't say I blame them, the label's bands (Cold World, Righteous Jams, The Rival Mob, Razzle Dazzle) produce some catchy hooks.

Taken from the sideline of the pit, the video above is the first four songs of the band's set. Enjoi.

photoAday_ Jan 22

DAY 22, YOUR SHOES: Docs, Y-3, Campbells, Theyskens', Vans, et des chausurres mignons. Part of the whole. What can I say? I love shoes.

Bushwick's Heaven Street Grand Opening; New Favorite Record Shop

fatigued and out of work with Marco and Laura

Thank HEAVEN STREET I decided to come out of my hermit coma for once or else I would not have stumbled upon my new favorite record store. Located just skips away from the Morgan Avenue stop on the L, Heaven Street record shop just had its grand opening tonight and everyone from musicians to writers and designers salivated over the free PBR and impressive inventory. "New York's only counter cultural record store!" proclaims the Facebook event page. The shop is curated by Cult of Youth's Sean Ragon and is often run under the friendly hands of my buddy and former Hospital Production shopman, Jim Siegel. Whatever you can trace in the two's musical paths is what you will find in the shelves of this store. It's no surprise that a store that's run by total angels (though I know OF Sean through mutual friends but I'm sure he's a sweetie too) makes DETAILED labels on almost every release in stock. Now that's service! Believe me, it was very hard to keep my wallet shut tonight, and when I found out they accepted Paypal payments upon purchasing Chronic Sick's "Cutest Band in Hardcore" e.p., I willingly kept my account open on the shop's laptop.

The store is open seven days a week (I believe) and is currently cash only - and Paypal, if you're nice and ask. It's located on 184 Noll Street, opens from 12-8 p.m., and all you have to do is walk left on Flushing and see a big ass window with a red wall and records behind it. They really like pizza. Jim loves waffles, pretzels, and cats. You will probably see me frequent the shop on the reg.