Gap is getting cool again!

Not only did the Gap get me to run around town chasing hard-to-find t-shirts the other month, it's now announced a link up with uber-chic Parisian store, Colette, to open a temporary store in NYC.

Did you know that the Gap had a rotating concept store next to its New York flagship store (at 54th and 5th Avenue)? Nope. So, of course I didn't know that Colette was collaborating with Gap to bring Colette gear Stateside! Nice. The press release boasts, "similar to the Parisian store, colette x Gap store will offer a mix of hard-to-fi nd products from around the world and cater to an ever-evolving mix of genres and tastes alike".

If you're in NYC it'll be an offense not to swing by, hell, camp outside the store to get a look-see. If you're in gay Paris then the Colette x Gap gear will be available in colette’s newly renovated store (at 213 rue Saint-Honoré 75001 Paris).

Visit the website for more info and then head over to 54th Street @ 5th Avenue Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm; Sunday 11am-7pm. Linda's already reported back to say that the lines are a lil' crazy!

Dance like no one's watching, Part I

So my sister is off to (gay) Paris this month. Yes, I've been up checking out Colette, but instead of a shopping list (after all, the Fafi Coachella t-shirt was sold out) I found the "Dance Series" of videos. They are just fabulous! Remember, Colette brought the Thriller dance lesson to LA last year?

I found a few vids on YouTube for your viewing pleasure. Bon appetit! Show no shame! Dance like no one's watching!

Ooh La La!

Folks, I was saving this French smoking ban story so I could link it with my trip to Paris...except my trip to Paris didn't happen 'cause the boss vetoed it as he considered it excessive travel for a 2-hour meeting. Now, I tried my best to overcome his objections...I even got the France office manager to pay for my airfare and the hotel, but in the end I gave up even though I could've made it happen as the boss would've scowled. Little did he know my plans for a visit to Colette dept. store and a club or two! Hence my persistence... ;)

So I "took one for the team" and will now get up at 2am tomorrow (11am Paris time) to take part in the meeting on the phone. Bah humbug! But, the show must go on so here's the "A Smoke-Free France" story.

"On a gray January morning in Paris, Sebastien Jauny huddles against the door of a café in the rain, shivering in his long black overcoat, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. The ban on smoking in restaurants and bars has been in effect only one day, but Jauny, himself a manager of a bar a few doors down on chic Boulevard Saint-Germain, is already fed up—and freezing.

"It violates human liberty," Jauny exclaims, not to mention the timing could have been better. England, for instance, chose to put its new antismoking law into effect in sunny July. "But it's a good thing. Normally, I smoke three packs a day. Yesterday, I smoked only 10 [cigarettes]".

Mobile phone ban In California, there'll be a ban of another sort in the summer, but just as traumatizing! Hands-free mobile phones in cars?! Gasp - yes, how will LA drivers manage with time away from the phone during the long commute?

Paper magazine is coming to LA!

PAPER Magazine is throwing parties next week. For the 3rd-year running, PAPER Magazine is coming to LA from NYC and organizing a series of art events, concerts, dance parties and dinners to celebrate Los Angeles life. Its also opening its temporary, 24-hour LA Project store filled with various brands.

That's cool, but the amazing news is that Colette, the uber-chic Parisian store, and Jeremy Scott, the mullet-coiffured fashion-designer, will host the 'Colette Dance Party' in Hollywood. And it's open to the 'public'. The LA Project store will be open for 24-hours only (from 6pm 11/10 to 6pm 11/11) and will have stuff from Colette, Levi's, Supreme, Cobra Snake, etc.

Seen hits Paris

I am excited and sad at the same time. Seen is launching a book covering his legendary portfolio of work as part of the United Artists, a leading graffiti crew in New York City. Seencity will be at the uber-chic Colette store in Paris Sept 14-30th, 2007.

That's gonna be the bomb, but I'm far, far away. And the Parisians are...pah! However, I am dreaming of traveling ~ it's once in a lifetime. Here's a pic of Seen in Long Island in 2004 when I met him. Ol' skool, babay!

Seen, NYC x Colette, Paris

But why the Gwen McCrae tune in the background mix?