[caption id="attachment_1836" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Integration Attempt by Alyssa Dennis"][/caption] On September 8th, Baltimore-based artist Alyssa Dennis will be opening her first New York solo exhibition, Amalgamation.  Amalgamation is a collection meticulous drawings that explores bricolage and "anti-fixed" space,  revealing Dennis's interest in architecture modularity and the built environment.   September 8th for the opening of Amalgamation, the first New York solo exhibition for Baltimore-based artist Alyssa Dennis. In a collection of meticulously constructed drawings that echo her interest in the modularity of architecture and the built environment, Dennis explores avenues of bricolage and “anti-fixed” space. According to Gallery Director, Christina Ray, "Alyssa Dennis is assisting Swoon on large-scale public and museum projects, and it was she who pointed Dennis out to us as a young artist with a great deal of promise in her practice." The exhibition includes a color catalogue with an interview between Swoon and Dennis. Swoon: It's funny that you mention wondering what you would do ...

  Satirical comedy Ab Fab is back. But if the characters once looked absurd, in 2011 they are absurdly recognizable.  Some might say the show wasn't prescient, instead reflective.    This article titled "Why Absolutely Fabulous now looks absolutely prescient" was written by Paul Flynn, for The Guardian on Monday 29th August 2011 20.30 UTC When the Pulitzer prize-winning author Jennifer Egan was interviewed recently, she noted: "When you try to write satire in America the reality catches up with you and takes over. By the time the book comes out it's already naturalism." The same could be applied in Britain to the reprisal of that tour de force comedy and searing satire on the rise of the 90s media elite, Absolutely Fabulous. News that Jennifer Saunders is reviving the show for three episodes to mark its 20th anniversary next year could not be timelier. Two decades later, could the series seem any more prophetic? Edina, the hard-boiled, label-hungry PR ...

The man known in the UK as 'Thor' runs an empire as opulent, and opaque, as ever,  three years after the failure of the savings bank that swallowed up £5bn of UK savers' money This article titled "Icelandic tycoon still living the high life in London after the collapse of Icesave" was written by Simon Bowers and Sigrún Davídsdóttir, for The Observer on Saturday 27th August 2011 23.05 UTC One of the world's most extravagant superyachts, which recently became the most expensive item ever put up for sale at Harrods, was designed as a floating palace for a controversial Icelandic billionaire who, together with his father, controlled the bank behind Icesave. The 90-metre luxury cruiser, projected to cost more than £100m, was to be the ultimate testimony to the vast fortune built up by London-based investment tycoon and amateur bodybuilder Björgólfur Thor Björgólfsson, known in the UK simply as "Thor". His lavish private spending plans, while unconnected ...

  Today Rigby & Peller has seven stores and recorded sales of £10.1m last year. Its bras sell for between £50 and £100, although a bespoke version costs up to £200. Last week the Kentons sold an 87% stake to Belgian bra-maker Van de Velde for £8m.   This article titled "From corsets for comedians to bespoke bras: Rigby & Peller has seen it all" was written by Zoe Wood, for The Observer on Saturday 20th August 2011 23.07 UTC The small brass plaque reads B Rigby and G Peller, corsetières. The discreet sign once hung on a nondescript doorway in London's South Molton Street and marked the threshold to a secret world of ribbons, lace and stays that was for women's eyes only. The nameplate, now in storage, is also a small piece of history, a reminder of one Jewish woman's flight from the horror of the second world war. Last week Rigby & Peller, the now-famous lingerie ...

[caption id="attachment_1713" align="aligncenter" width="589" caption="HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco with Michael Saylor"][/caption] During the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix, movers and shakers enjoyed My Yacht Monaco, a 3 day yacht hospitality venture created by Nicholas Frankl.  Hope Gainer of Hope International enhanced this luxury event with fine wines, champagne and art. This year Artist, Fareen Butt was invited to create a mountainscape painting to donate to HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco’s foundation.  Guests sipped on Chateau d’Esclans with the finest rose wines from Cote d’Provence, 24 karat gold infused Luxor Brut and Icelandic Glacial water. The weekend kicked off with a Friday night soiree attended by Prince Albert and numerous high profile guests from around the world aboard the 44 meter award-winning Feadship, owned by Michael Saylor. Fisker & Spyker displayed vehicles at the entrance.  Saturday and Sunday a more intimate group of VIPS boarded Snowbird megayacht to view the Formula 1 races while enjoying a ...

Last weekend I had a wonderful escape to Vero Beach, a seaside town on Central Florida’s Treasure Coast.  The place is perfect for relaxation in the sand and surf. It was a reunion of sorts to rendezvous with an old college beau. We stayed at Vero Beach Hotel & Spa, a  Kimpton Hotel in a lovely suite.  After some R&R on the beach, we ventured to the best restaurant in town, The Tides.  Here we enjoyed a culinary treat of fresh local fish and organically grown veggies topped off with homemade sweets for dessert.  The place was cozy and the servers congenial and attentive.  Afterwards, we tried out all the local hotspots including the karaoke bar to the Riverfront Lounge…all a bit honky tonk compared to sexy South Beach, but a fun change of scenery. Sunday, we checked out the other hot hotel along the beach, Costa d’Este, owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan.  I ...