$50 Off The Sexy Workout Gear That Actually Makes You Look Slimmer

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Art & Culture
May 23, 2012 11:30 AM
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Smash! Bang! Kapow! It’s The Great Gatsby Trailer…

And away we go! Seems Director/ rapacious human/ Four Loko can Baz Luhrmann is doing exactly what he did to William Shakespeare to F. Scott Fitzgerald. Right away, the rich detail, glam, and glitz of the trailer for his The Great Gatsby punches you square in the jaw with an opera-gloved hand. Scored to a Kanye song and featuring the spires of Manhattan rising in CGI glory, the beautiful Carey Mulligan, and Leo DiCaprio's impressive forehead, it looks at least twice as explosive, awesome, and wonderfully over-the-top as anything Luhrmann’s done since Romeo + Juliet. Of course, anyone who’s actually read The Great Gatsby (i.e. 90% of America) might note that the novel isn’t itself explosive or wonderfully over-the-top. It’s a restrained, sad, slow burn — a heartbreaker under glass. This trailer is all silk dresses and digital fireworks. Whatever — faithful in spirit or not, we’re still watching the hell out this blinged-out, manic interpretation of the great American novel come Christmas.



Video: Via Youtube

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Art & Culture
May 23, 2012 6:00 AM
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NYC Comedy Map: Where To LOLOL For Real

It wasn’t too long ago that comedy in the Big Apple was relegated to just a handful of Manhattan clubs. These days, though, you can get your laughs on (and catch SNL stars off duty) almost anywhere. From traditional venues to alt havens, the New York comedy scene is booming like never before.

To get in on the hype, we turned to comic guru Aaron Eisenberg (you’ll find him in Barnstormer at The PIT) to put together a comprehensive guide to getting the good kind of bellyache. Thanks to his tips, we found that during any night of the week, there's a variety of shows at your fingertips — and you might not even have to get your wallet out to see 'em. As for the "where," well, we've made a map to make finding your LOLs easy. Without further ado, we present Refinery29’s cheat sheet to ROFL in New York City.

WestSide

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Art & Culture
May 22, 2012 4:20 PM
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Watch Our Exclusive Clip From The J.Crew Doc (Before It Airs!)

On Thursday night, CNBC will premiere a new behind-the-scenes documentary called J.Crew and the Man Who Dressed America, detailing how J.Crew has become, well, the retailer that does in fact dress a large part of our nation. From preppy suburbanites to NYC editors — and everyone in between — we're all rocking their disctint styles. Yes, the brand has come into consciousness as one of the U.S.'s major go-tos, and the CNBC television effort seeks to know why (in a bit of The September Issue type of way). The doc seems to credit (at least in part) CEO Mickey Drexler's "obsessive attention to detail," and Executive Creative Director Jenna Lyons' relentless work ethic and inventive eye for style. Just check out the exclusive clip below, which shows Jenna as she pieces together one of their "Style Guides" (note, we did not say catalogues) with its head editor, punning all the way. Then tune in on Thursday night to follow the J.Crew uh, crew, from Italy to NYC to CNBC and see why we constantly crush on the brand (and why their revenue is up nearly 170%).



Want more? Click through for more awesome clips.

Video: Courtesy of CNBC

J.Crew and the Man Who Dressed America premieres on CNBC, this Thursday, May 24, at 10 p.m. EST

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Art & Culture
May 22, 2012 10:30 AM
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Raving For Your Health, The New Hangover Alternative?

Ever dreamt of getting down without the next day come-down? Or a way to socialize during your work week without loosing sleep? How about you try going out sans alcohol and drugs. Sounds intimidating, we know, but the recent "yoga rave" thrown by Pacha last week should boost your confidence.

Just five years ago, Rodo Bustos and Nicco Pucci, also known as the So What Project!, came up with the idea of a “yoga rave.” The theory goes like this" although drinking can be enjoyable, our bodies and minds are capable of creating the same euphoria on its own. Through group meditation, physical awareness, and different yoga techniques, it seems like the yogis have found a cure and we all may be approaching a healthier way to party.

The world-renowned club recently threw a pretty luxe party organized by the Art of Living Foundation, where a crowd of 20-to-30-something New Yorkers came together on a Thursday night to knock back a few non-alcoholic beverages, chomp down on some Indian grub, and let their vinyasas flow. Not only did attendees appear to have a kick-ass time, but also had the option of being home before midnight. If you ask us, it sounds like a much better option than trying to get to work in the morning after partying until dawn. Plus, who can say that they've worked on toning their abs while at the bar? (New York Times)

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Everywhere
Art & Culture
May 21, 2012 3:20 PM
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Farewell, Kristen Wiig! These 5 SNL Moments Remind Us Why We Love Her

After seven years, Kristen Wiig bid a bittersweet farewell to the SNL stage this past Saturday night. Dressed in a nude peplum dress (so classy and sleek, and so very Kristen), Wiig made us reach for the tissues as she danced with and embraced her cast members and Lorne Michaels while The Rolling Stones' "She's A Rainbow" and "Ruby Tuesday" played in the background, for her tearful final scene.

While we don't suspect we'll never see her "live from New York" ever again (fingers crossed), part of the sadness in seeing Kristen go is realizing how much we'll miss the unsurpassed talent that she brought to the table, episode after episode, year after year. From the most imaginative characters to her spot-on impressions, we're honoring one of our favorite comedians and all-around awesome ladies (Kristen, let's be friends!) with five side-splitting Kristen Wiig SNL moments that will never get old.



Dooneese On The Lawrence Welk Show — Oh, Dooneese. You have more lovable charm in your tiny hands than some people have in their entire bodies. While the character's sense of amusement was pretty sick and twisted, Wiig made Dooneese a crowd favorite, even among her singing, winking sisters.

Photo: Via Saturday Night Live

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Art & Culture
May 21, 2012 2:30 PM
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This Only-In-NYC Breakup Story Brought A Tear To Our Eyes

huffpoembedWhen Huffington Post's women's editor, Margaret Wheeler Johnson, ended her three-year relationship with her girlfriend, she told everyone immediately, as a means of therapeutic cleansing. Everyone, that is, except for her corner bodega bff, Mo.

If you live in NYC, you most likely have your go-to deli, where they know your order (and a thing or two about your personal life). This was true for Margaret and over the course of her time spent with her live-in girlfriend, the pair formed a relationship with Mo as they went in to pick up snacks, make small talk, and sometimes even "flirt" casually, as customers tend to do with the main (sandwich) man in their lives.

And so, when Margaret's breakup became a reality, Mo was the only guy she couldn't seem to break the news to. Instead, she started doubling her order, continuing to pick up her ex's favorite snacks as a means of keeping the relationship alive, at least in the corner bodega. We were particularly taken with this poignant story of New York City love (and heartbreak), as it exists in a space we're all so familiar with. Click through to read the brief yet touching essay and tell us who's the one person you have the toughest time coming clean to, when it comes to life changes and disappointments. (Huffington Post)

Photo: Courtesy of Margaret Wheeler Johnson

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Art & Culture
May 21, 2012 10:30 AM
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Why Was This NYC Artist Arrested For Planting False Bombs?

Artist Takeshi Miyakawa decided to celebrate NY Design Week with an ode to the I ♥ NY bag, but instead of being greeted with praise, he was awarded with an arrest and a mental-health evaluation. See, when one person saw the bag, they thought it could possibly be a bomb instead of an LED-lit art installation. And now that he's being held and reviewed for mental instability, with two charges of placing false bombs and reckless endangerment, his fans and supporters alike are concerned.

Sure, the climate of the city makes us hyper aware of bags left unattended... but what about light-up bags hung around the city to applaud it instead of destroy it? As always, make art, not war, and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments below. (Gothamist)

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Parties
May 18, 2012 4:30 PM
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What Happens When R29 & Warby Parker Get Down For Internet Week

"Style, Specs, + Tech," are not just three Refinery29 obsessions, but also the name of the party we threw last night with Warby Parker. We needed to fete internet week right, which means in style, which means to gather a really chic crowd, a DJ, a venue, and some drinks. So, with our fave eyewear company, 150 dapper guests, and DJ Brendan Fallis (remember his kick-ass spring playlist?), we headed to Mondrian SoHo's Mister H to sip on Titos Vodka cocktails. The result was a raucous rager that tipped its hat to all things technology and fashion. And don't feel left out. We've got some of the cutest snaps of the night right here so you can relive it with us (and understand why we were maybe a few minutes late to work this morning).
Art & Culture
May 18, 2012 7:00 AM
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The 17 Weirdest NY Craigslist Posts Up Right Now

It's just about summer in NYC, which means many things: rooftop BBQs, outdoor margaritas, and…looking for apartments and roommates. And while the pains of moving are great, at least the hilarity of searching for them online brings a little levity to the situation.

Enter, our latest Craigslist search. What began as an innocent troll for sublets wound up leading to the Missed Connections section, the for-sale section, and the, errm, "I'll trade you a tattoo for a small pure-bred puppy section," natch. And because we thought you could use a giggle after a long week, we've rounded up the most bizarre, out-of-the-box posts for a little mindless T.G.I.F fun. If nothing else, these slightly quirky personals will make you realize how normal your roommate really is.

Click through for the best NYC Craigslist posts — they're so much weirder than you think.

Art & Culture
May 16, 2012 2:45 PM
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This New Exhibit Is Like An Anatomy Class On Crack

second-skin-mainWhen was the last time you brushed up on your human anatomy repertoire? No, not that kind of human anatomy, we're talkin' old-fashioned science. Second Skin, a new cutting-edge installation, combines forward-thinking art with the basics of the human body (think Bodies for the non-tourist set). Co-curators Victoria Bartlett and Renée Vara explore their fascination with muscular anatomy and human skin by inviting 15 prestigious artists to interpret the idea of the body in their own unique way. The result is a visually stimulating avant-garde exhibition that will certainly get you touching thinking.

Bartlett and Vara are complementing the opening of the exhibit with the release of INPUT #4: Second Skin, the latest edition of Vara's nonprofit art journal, which combines all of the artists' submissions into one cohesive body of work. The installation debuts at VPL in Soho this Friday and runs through the end of July, which means you have plenty of time to get up close and personal with the, ahem, anatomy.


VPL, 5 Mercer Street (between Canal and Grand Streets); 646-912-6141.

Photo: Courtesy Second Skin

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Art & Culture
May 16, 2012 10:45 AM
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Trailer Alert: This Sci-Fi Flick Stars A Bus Filled With Bronx Students

Michel Gondry's newest cinematic project sheds some light on the Bronx, but not necessarily "Jenny From The Block's" side of the story. This view is way less dance-y. Taking place on a public bus, the trailer for The We And The I might remind you of your commute home on the last day of school (or maybe anything you've witnessed while taking mass transit around 3 p.m.). But Gondry doesn't just go for the whole "fly on the wall" approach to looking at the lives of students in the outer boroughs — the indie-flick director's film actually falls within the science-fiction genre on IMDB.

While the preview only really hints at the things you may expect to see on a high schooler's bus ride — rambunctious kids, teenage PDA, and super cranky (and outright disrespectful) old ladies — what we don't see is anything that resembles extra terrestrials, evil talismans, or any sort of time travel, the last of which Gothamist suggests we might expect.

Okay, Gondry, you've got us. We're officially intrigued. The film will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival (which starts today), but feel free to peep the trailer below and try to spot when the UFO abducts the bus and all its adolescent passengers. (Kidding!) (Gothamist)

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Art & Culture
May 15, 2012 4:40 PM
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5 Cool Schiaparelli Facts To Know Before You Visit The Met

elsaembedWe're just getting over the Met Gala rush, and, as the dust settles and the lines continue to hover around the museum entrance, we thought it high time to bring you a little Elsa Schiaparelli FYI. Yes, she was a fashion innovator and yes, she was a strong female figurehead. But, when you finally take that tour around the Met's Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations exhibition, you want to be able to pepper your friends with facts and live up to your status as the ultimate industry insider. So, as always, we got your back. Here are five reasons why Elsa's awesome (and five new ways to impress your peeps).

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