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Jay-Z is Not Entirely “Big Pimpin’ Up in NYC”

As the song lyrics go, "I got 99 problems but a b**** ain’t one" and it’s still true. Hip hop mogul Jay-Z is still married and crazy in love with pop star Beyonce Knowles but his hotel dreams seem done for now. About a year ago Jay-Z told the World he would be opening his own branded J Hotel on New York’s West side. Many things, though, have changed in a year and as economic woes continue, the J Hotel is no longer. The NY Times reported that developer Charles Blaichman, behind the famed Soho House, cannot raise enough money for a new hotel. Blaichman who has built two dozen projects in Manhattan over the last two decades needed $370 million for his new hotel venture with Jay-Z. Blaichman struggling to get that money said, "Even the banks who want to give us money canâ€™t." He is now trying to rent out the former Time Warner Cable warehouse where he was to build. As for Jay-Z we figure he isn’t hurting too bad, still "Big Pimpin up in NYC." He has the money, the girl and other successful real estate ventures in New York. In better times someday, somewhere, we are sure a J Hotel or two will pop-up.

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Specifically for the Scarlett Johansson Obsessed

This is semi-nauseating but we will still tell you what we found this week on eBay. You can always find bazaar celebrity crap on eBay but this might take the cake. This week you can find Scarlett Johansson’s used tissue. She was just on NBC’s "Tonight" show promoting her new movie but no one really paid attention to that but, rather, the cold she caught from movie co-star Samual L. Jackson was a point of interest. Johansson was sniffling so Jay Leno handed her a tissue and voile its on eBay now. At least the money is going to a good cause, the actress publicly pledged to put all the money towards the hunger relief charity USA Harvest. Last time we took a look the snotty tissue had some 70 bids and was up to about $35K. The auction ends on Monday so if you’re seriously obsessed you better get to it. We know Johansson probably has some psycho stalkers out there who would encase and cherish the tissue forever, go figure. […]

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Functional Art Caught Our Eye

Art in all its forms has been the theme of the week. Whether film, sculpture, light installation, music or fashion, art is art and finding that piece that makes you say "oh wow," is pretty cool. We have come across a relatively new fashion designer that is worth mentioning because, well, we thought "oh wow." Barbara Ã Gongini turns her inspirations into art and functional fashion pieces.Â The Danish designer has gone avant-garde with black wedding dresses and knits that seem so simple yet brilliant. Like a bug attracted to the light, it is hard to look away from the collection.

Barbara is fascinated with graphic forms and primitive silhouettes, but she is forward thinking. The nouveau designer uses eco-friendly jersey and has a strong belief in helping the environment through sustainable products. Barbara is not in the business of mass production but rather a high level of quality and innovation. She divides her collection into two extreme pointsof view. I-rEguLar is the inventive side, where Barbara plays around with sundry themes of art and design. REguLar is the more basic side of I-rEguLar, both ahering to Barbara’s personal expression on form.

Her take on fashion, and life is elitist, bold, daring and eloquent. Barbara Ã Gongini should make no apologies but rather continue to design because this is what high society is all about. Stylists, keep Barbara i Gongini’s line in mind for the next Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. If you are unclear as to what the Gala at the MET is then we don’t know who you are, but you’re probably nobody. The Costume Institute Gala is only the most elite fashion gathering, in New York City, of A-list celebrities and designers on the globe. Celebrities wear avant-garde and futuristic fashions ever pushing the artistic envelope and we respect it all. Barbara i Gongini is looking to expand her collection into high end bags, jewelry and shoes, you go girl!
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In the Beginning: Art Basel Day 1

Art Basel Miami Beach kicks off this Thursday, December 4th but in a fitting fashion, there is, of course the pre-pre-openings, pre-parties, and pre-events. Last night was Tuesday, December 2nd and the unofficial beginning of Art Basel this year. It was also the coldest night in Miami yet, it wasn’t pleasant. Aside from the weather, all in all it was a fantastic kick-off.

We first were driven downtown to the Galerie Bertin-Toublanc, 2534 North Miami Avenue. The Parisian gallery has come to light in Miami triumphantly. The Galeri Bertin-Toublanc was a perfect first glimpse into Art Basel, classy, hip and sophisticated. Moneyed suits and fashionable woman wandered throughout the gallery rooms sipping on Champagne. There were photographers and film crew to capture the contemporary scene. Artists from around the world were in attendance to show off their avant-garde works. Plus, newcomer, Miami scene-local Alexis Mincolla debuted a few intriguing pieces. Our presence was felt and we slipped out quietly to move on.

Our driver took us a few minutes away to the next gallery, Our House West of Wynwood. O.H.W.O.W had an expansive collections of artists, musicians and weirdos brought by gallery owners Aaron Bondaroff and Al Moran. What the gallery calls "It Aint’s Fair," will feature Deitch Projects, peres Projects, Nueva Galeria De La Barra, A.S.S Gallery, AMP, Picturebox and TV Books curators Tim Barber, Kathy Grayson, Terence Koh, Andreas Melas and others this week. "It Ain’t Fair" had a very downtown New York vibe with a special musical performance by A.R.E Weapons. Open bar was stocked by Campari and Grolsch and although it was a wood table in the middle of a parking lot outside of the gallery, it was entertaining. In fact, it was a totally different seen than the first gallery, O.H.W.O.W was ultra-layed back, featuring art for arts sake. Waiting on the bathroom line for 30 minutes, wet paint and graffitied walls brought us back to our keg stand, college frat partying days. With that we left downtown to head back to Miami Beach.

We went straight for the Florida Room which is the best Tuesday night pre-party, the Big Bounce was performing and sensational. The DJ started spinning at midnight and it was Miami Beach with Art Basel energy, pretty fantastic. Around 1 a.m we headed to Mokai as is our usual Tuesday night tradition. The music was blase but the real problem was that the door guy let the whole world in. Mokai was sweaty, way overcrowded to the point of nausea and smelled funny in a bad way. We stuck around for a few horrible minutes and then peaced to Bella Rose. The little rock bar that could was taken over by bohemian New Yorkers and the lower East side came back to us. Around 3 a.m little Mary-Kate Olsen walked in with boyfriend and bodyguard in tote. She was wearing what looked like crocs or flat clogs so she was three heads shorter than anyone in the bar. She had on an oversized, black monstrosity and a huge black hat with a white feather pulled down over her face. We know she is all about being fashion forward but that was tragic, you wouldn’t have been able to pick her out on a street of bums. She was very sweet ,though, and we spoke about her new fashion book "Influence" with twin sister Ashley. The book would look great on a coffee table and for the fashion darlings out there, it is a must buy. Bella Rose began to die down around 5 a.m, we could believe how another night had just flown by. Most of us went home to bed to get prepared for Art Basel day 2. Â
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Get Your Head Straight: The Wonderment of Art Basel is Here

This week some 50,000 plus people will show up for the sixth annual Art Basel event in Miami. If you’re not sure which hotels to frequent, parties to hit up or people to see, let us guide you towards your scene.

For the next-generation art amassers and John Currins of the world, hole-up downtown at the Four Seasons Hotel. You will be in good art collecting company with the likes of Jerry Speyer, Asher Edelman, Michael Lynne, Eli Broad, Beth Rudin De Woody, Steve Cohen, and Peter Brant. Go to the New Art Dealers Alliance fair, which opens this Friday through the weekend. The NADA fair will have stellar exhibits from hot young galleries like New Yorkâ€™s Rivington Arms and Daniel Reich. The fair will host a mega-benefit for the New Museum on New Yorkâ€™s Bowery, which will include a performance by San Fran- rockers Deerhoof. Art collector’s should be seen at the after-party for the private screening of the Lou Reed film Berlin, directed by Julian Schnabel.

The actual artists will headquarter at the Raleigh Hotel which is party central. Don’t look shocked if you see epic names of the art world like Damien Hirst, David LaChapelle, Jack Pierson, Aaron Young, Kehinde Wiley, Terence Koh, and Doug Aitken partying impromtu throughout the hotel. Paper Magazine is hosting the party at Raleigh Oasis on Decemeber 4th and the next night, Deitch Projects will kick off at the Raleigh with a concert by CoCo Rosie. The same night D.J Spooky will perform during the Rubell Family Collection dinner which commences the SCOPE fair film and lecture series. SCOPE celebrates the as-yet-uncelebrated and provocative artists, the fair has discounted exhibition space for new galleries in its â€˜Breedersâ€™ section. On December 6th, the Raleigh will hold the book launch party for Bob Colacello’s OUT. Then on the 7th,Tamara Mellon will host a dinner at the Raleigh Ballroom to toast the limited edition handbags designed by Jimmy Choo and artist Richard Phillips.

If you’re more into star gazing then gazing at art then join celebrities at the Setai Hotel, up the street from the Raleigh. Rumored to be in Miami this week is Dennis Hopper, David Byrne, Steve Martin, Lou Reed, maybe Keanu Reeves and Russell Simmons. We bumped into Russell Simmons and girlfriend/ model Porschia Coleman last Wednesday at Nobu. Russell told us he loves the Setai and is staying in town for his December 8th soiree with Allison Weiss Brady at Intermix. The party benefits Simmons’ charity Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. A tip to the paparazzi, be at the Sotheby’s dinner made by French chef Pierre Gagnaire which will honor contemporary Asian art.Â Celebrities will also hide away in Lenny Kravitz’s underground, speakeasy the Florida Room in the Delano Hotel.

The Fashionistas will takeover the Ritz-Carlton. Fashion people like Donna Karan, Laudomia Pucci, Vivienne Tam, Kenzo, Calvin Klein, Nadia Swarovski, and Tamara Mellon should be seen at the Cartier crystal Dome. The Cartier DÃ´me features the brand’s most celebrated jewelry collection and rarest time pieces. Sip champagne and gawk at the gems from Wednesday to Sunday, 2-8pm and Thursday, 2-4pm. Spot fashion people frequenting Prime One Twelve, South of Fifth Street and Blade restaurant in the Fontainebleau Hotel.

Members of the suits like UBSâ€™s Karl Schweizer; Citicorpâ€™s Mary Hoeveler; execs of Campari, Cartier, and BMW will be working over the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Biscayne. Look for these high profile people at the UBS banquet where there will be tons of free food and drinks ya’ll. You will be able to pick the suits out by the looks on their sad little facing saying, "can I afford this art and will I even be able to afford food next year?"

As for the locals, this is your domain so spread out and suck it in.Â Over 200 galleries will be here personifying the biggest names in contemporary art.Â The Art Positions section will features 20 art projects exhibited in shipping containers on the beach at Collins Park. Do not miss the Cartier Art Guest Lounge and Dome, designed by architecht Jean Nouvel. Definitely don’t miss the Visionaire SOUND lounge at the Raleigh Hotel Thursday night, it will be one of the biggest parties of the week. You will be able to listen to audio works done by David Byrne, Robert Wilson, Cat Power, Cindy Sherman, U2, and Courtney Love. If your head is spinning that sucks, but get it together because there is much more than this going on. Like we said it’s an epic week in Miami so we will say it again, get it together and get out there, explore the wonderment of Art Basel. Oh and drink up, liquor companies sponsor most events and it’s on the house.Â

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Kelly, Constance, and Birkin, Oh My: Why Hermes Bags Pay Off

Expensive handbags are essential, especially if they are Hermes. The preeminent art business and fine arts auction house Christie’s proves that handbags can be an investment worth making. On December 9th during the Jewels sale, Christie’sÂ will auction off 23 Hermes handbags at their South Kensington, London house.Â Included in the lot is the Hermes Mini Kelly bag in forest green and the Sac Malette bag in brown which once belonged to Charlie Chaplin’s wife. Plus, the recherche Haut a Courroies bag which was designed by Hermes circa 1900 and became a sought-after travel bag. There are only five Haut a Courroies, large crocodile bags made per year. The one in the Christie’s auction is estimated to go for $19,000-22,850.

During the interiors sale in New York on December 18th and 19th, Christie’s will also be auctioning off a bright orange Hermes Kelly bag. The estimated auction price for the Kelly bag is $4,000-$6,000. Hermes bags like the Kelly Bag have been made popular by high-profile clientele who carried them around like Princess Grace Kelly. The Constance shoulder bag with a double strap and large H clasp was a Jacqueline Bouvier Onassis favorite. Today, the Kelly and Constance bag are still in such high demand that there is about a one year waiting list just to get one.Â

The other famous Hermes bag worth mentioning is the Birkin Bag which was named for actress Jane Birkin. The bag is still one of the most sought-after luxury items by Hermes and you could be on a waiting list for up to six years before you get yours, based on the type of leather requested. The Birkin Bag typically sells for around $6,000 but ranges up to $10,000 easily, sometimes reaching into the six digit realm. Yes, $100,000 for a Birkin but imagine how that might auction off at Christie’s someday.Â Hermes bags haven’t gone out of style in the last century so we are pretty sure the classic fashion will be fashionable for a few more decades, at least. Check out Hermes scarves too, they are probably more popular than the bags.

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Kim Kardashian is Hot & Charitable

Thanksgiving is a day of thanks and giving and Kim Karashian actually seems be doing both. The reality-tv buxom beauty, ex- Paris Hilton bff, Playboy girl and step sister of Brody Jenner, is auctioning off her stuff on eBay for charity.

Her charity of choice is the Dream foundation, which is an organization that grants wishes to terminally-ill adults, very similar to the Make A Wish Foundation for children. Kim volunteers for the organization and a portion of all her eBay proceeds will go to the charity.

Kim will be auctioning off her designer clothes, shoes, bags and even a Range Rover, Mercedes, and Maserati from her car collection. Plus, Kim’s convinced her two sisters Kourtney and Kloe, along with boyfriend Reggie Bush to auction off their belongings too. Kim Kardashian’s charity auctions are running on eBay now and will be up through Decemeber 3rd. So if you have a Kardashian obsession, want something pricey at discount or just like giving back too, go to eBay right now and bid. No matter how small the feat, every little piece helps so thank you Kim. It is kind of cool to see the famous and rich doing their part and giving back. Happy Thanksgiving ya’ll and Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year so help our economy out and go spend money!

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Girls Just Attract More Attention: The GQ Man of the Year Awards

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The Gentleman’s Quarterly Man of the Year Awards which honor the entertainment industryâ€™s hottest men. Last night GQ celebrated a list of hot industry men and, well, then there was Megan Fox. The Transformer blockbuster, break-out actress Megan Fox was named GQ’s Obsession of the Year and it’s not too hard to figure out why. Forget acting skills for a second, the girl showed up in a hot pink dress and no one cared about the men anymore, it was like the Megan Fox show. Fox is the epitome of hot and people were sure obsessed with her last night, so we say spot on GQ, spot on. Her older, ex-90210 series, boyfriend Brian Austin Green looked like a deer caught in the headlights, we wish him luck holding on. The moral of the story is this, donâ€™t go anywhere Megan Fox will be, because sheâ€™s way better looking than you.
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Even More Victoria’s Secret Pictures: Part 1.5 Continued

Scroll down for even more pictures from the Victoria’s Secret Runway Show…

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What Happened When Victoria’s Secret Came to Miami Beach: Part 1.5

Ok, ya’ll are probably more interested in looking at the sexy Victoria’s Secret models then reading about them. For now here are some pictures to obsess over from the runway show. If you still have no clue, the show was held last Saturday November 15th at the renovated Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.

The festive lingerie show had a full orchestra, a glitter-flooded runway, 35 supermodels and two performances by Usher. Victoria’s Secret senior Heidi Klum walked the runway just a few times, her mega-glam gift-bow wings were the ave dersane (goodbye). Basically you could put those girls in anything and they would still look good, case and point. The Rynway show turned out to be more of a costume show of girls prancing around in bra’s and wings but we don’t mind. We still have even more to fill you in on from Saturday night before, during and after the show, which is way before the December 3rd airing by CBS so stick around.