PLATFORM TRAVEL::OFF TO THAILAND

It's the night before my big excursion to Thailand! I'm overwhelmed with emotions of excitement and anxiousness. I will officially arrive on Tuesday the 2nd. So once I get "set up", I'll let the picture frenzy begin and post as soon as I can.

Sawatdee! That's goodbye in Thai!

BEAUTY::DESIGNER BLACK LIP GLOSS, YAY OR NAY?

Ever since YSL premiered Pur black lip gloss at their Fall fashion show last year, more designer companies are jumping on the bandwagon in hopes that fashionista's everywhere will obligingly buy the gothish product. But could this item really be as wearable as designers claim it to be? Or could it be their sneaky way of suggesting consumers will eat up anything pricey and brand name? Possibly. Either way, if you decide to go black & bold, then you might as well go YSL. Not too fast though, the product is a limited edition and currently out of stock on the main website and has been for the past month!

HAVE NO FEAR, KNOCKOFFS ARE HERE::
BLACK LIPSTICK::HOT TOPIC (BARE WITH ME, K?) $3.99
M.A.C GLOSS::PUT A LITTLE THIS OVER IT...LIPGLASS $14
AND THE REAL DEAL::YSL BACKORDER, ADD TO WISHLIST $28

MV::SIMON HENWOOD DIRECTS ROSIN MURPHY "MOVIE STAR"

PLATFORM

Simon Henwood of HSI (UK) Productions reunites with unstoppable cult icon, Roisin Murphy in this John Water's inspired video featuring larger than life drag queens with outfits to match.

ARTIST::ROISIN MURPHY
TRACK::MOVIE STAR
DIRECTOR::SIMON HENWOOD
PROD.CO::HSI

PLATFORM SITE FIND::SELECTISM.COM

If I were a boy, I would be obsessed with Selectism.com. Who am I kidding? I’m not a boy and I’m still obsessed with this site! This is THE site for man-boys with an appreciation for fashion, design, music, and all things associated with a high level of style, hence the name.

VISIT::SELECTISM.COM

PLATFORM CITY TO CITY ESCAPE::THAILAND

After planning my trip to Thailand for more than a few months, I can't believe it is now less than a week away. I'm overwhelmed with excitement as I prepare for another Platform City to City Escape. And after careful planning, I'm content with my jam packed itinerary, which includes dining on the water, a visit to Grand Palace as well as Thailand's oldest Buddhist temples to date, and an elephant trek through the wilderness. If I'm this excited before my trip, I can only imagine my enthusiasm post Thailand. I will officially be in Thailand on September 2nd and from that point on, I will update with images and videos - internet connection permitting.

MUSIC::THE MAGNETIC FIELDS IN CONCERT, JERSEY CITY, OCT. 23RD

The Magnetic Fields will play at Loews Theatre in Jersey City on October 23rd, and surprisingly tickets are still available! The Magnetics Fields ranks in my top 5 (or top 10) all time favorite bands that resonate an irreplaceable nostalgia linked to my increasingly distant youth. Okay, maybe an exaggeration, but still one of my favorite bands to listen to on road trips.

OFFICIAL SITE::THE MAGNETIC FIELDS
BUY::TICKETMASTER, THE MAGNETIC FIELDS $35

SONG OF THE WEEK::CHROMATICS "RUNNING UP THAT HILL"

If you didn't think Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" could get any better, think again. Chromatics covered this song quite some time ago, but every time I hear it, it sends me into an ecstatic frenzy that renews my love for this sultry cover.

MYSPACE::CHROMATICS

PLATFORM'S PICKS::MUSIC/VIDEOS

As the main contributor and creator of Platform, I will admit that today is a special day for me. I will completely indulge in birthday glory and post my all-time favorite songs and videos (or at least songs that are going through my head right now). I'm sure there are so many more I'll think of later, but this is what I have for now. Enjoy!


ERASURE "CHAINS OF LOVE"


THE SMITHS "STOP ME"


JOY DIVISION "SHE'S LOST CONTROL" (gorgeous Ian...)


JOY DIVISION "LOVE WILL TEAR US APART"


TALKING HEADS (YES, AGAIN) "THIS MUST BE THE PLACE


ASOBI SEKSU "THURSDAY"


PULP "COMMON PEOPLE"


THE KNIFE "PASS THIS ON"


LYKKE LI "I'M GOOD I'M GONE"


KATE BUSH "RUNNING UP THAT HILL"


ROYKSOPP "WHAT ELSE IS THERE"


FLEETWOOD MAC "DREAMS"


BJORK "VENUS AS A BOY"

SONG OF THE WEEK::GRIZZLY BEAR "WHILE YOU WAIT FOR OTHERS"

I'm still on a Grizzly Bear high after their awe-infusing show last Saturday at Music Hall of Williamsburg. They played all their best songs: "Knife", "Colorado", and played a few news ones, including "While You Wait For The Others", which lived up to every expectation a GB fan could have. And if it were up to me, Grizzly Bear would sing me to sleep every night.

OFFICIAL SITE::GRIZZLY BEAR
PLATFORM'S VIDEO PICK::"KNIFE" LIVE ON THE STREETS OF PARIS, DIRECTED BY LA BLOGOTHEQUE

READ::BJORK INTERVIEW IN THE REYKJAVIK GRAPEVINE

Two of Europe’s most important and influential musical entities, Björk and Sigur Rós, joined forces for the Nattura concert back in June. The Reykjavik Grapevine recently published an interview with Björk, in which she explains the purpose behind the concert.

READ::THE MACHINE IS DEAF VIA NATTURA
RELATED::THE REYKJAVIK GRAPEVINE

SONG OF THE WEEK 8.8.8::TALKING HEADS "THIS MUST BE THE PLACE"

For me, Talking Heads song "This Must Be The Place" is the quintessential Summer tune. Lazy days BBQ'ing while listening to the vintage track, make Summer heat just a little more bearable.

ALBUM LISTTALKING HEADS

***CITY TO CITY ESCAPE::NEW YORK TO MIAMI UPDATE***

Being that I did not post regularly during my time in Miami, I must assure you that time spent offline was beneficiary to Platform's newest City Escape addition. Please, hear me out! Yes, I will admit a large portion of that time was spent getting sunburned like a basted pig on Miami's glistening beaches, which came after the slathering application of cooking oil disguised in a tanning cream bottle, but I'll also admit that I did in fact frequent a few "in" places that contribute to Miami's booming nightlife scene. And to my surprise, New York has some hefty competition with the scenesters that keep the scene up to par with the hottest cities in the world.

READ::CITY TO CITY::MIAMI

SHOP/EVENTS::OPENING CEREMONY IN NEW YORK CELEBRATES THE "OTHER" OPENING CEREMONY

Not that one! This one...


New York (and LA) retail shop, Opening Ceremony, will bask in delight while their store will be repeatedly name dropped at none other than tomorrow’s 2008 Opening Ceremony, at the Olympics in Beijing. In celebration, they will have an extravaganza of parties starting Friday and continuing thru the weekend.

SCHEDULE::
FRIDAY 08/08/08
7-10pm
Launch Event for Opening Ceremony 08/08/08 (Private Event)

SATURDAY 08/09/08
10-2am
Opening Ceremony friends and family dance party
Music provided by Opening Ceremony and friends including Andrew Kuo

2-4am
Hercules and Love Affair - Special Performance
Late night snacks provided by Insomnia Cookies

4-6am
Movie screenings with sports themes

6-9am
Scrabble Tournament hosted by Suchin Pak

9-11am
Olympic manicures
Olympic tattoos provided by Scott Campell of Saved Tattoo

11-8pm
Normal store hours
Food provided by Calexico Carne Asada
Ice cream provided by Good Humor

8-10pm
Astrological readings by Susan Miller

9-1am
Karaoke Karaoke

SUNDAY 08/10/08
1-4am
Ping Pong Tourney hosted by Philip Crangi
Late night snacks provided by Dumpling Man

4-7am
Movie screenings with sports themes

7-10am
Yoga hosted by the 2008 Yoga Champion of the World
Breakfast for Champions provided by H&H Bagels

10-12pm
Double Dutch performance and lessons

12-7pm
Normal store hours
Food provided by Calexico Carne Asada
Ice cream provided by Good Humor

MV::SKINNY DIRECTS DEVENDRA BANHART "CARMENSITA"

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PLATFORMMAG

Rumored couple Natalie Portman and “Venezuelano” singer Devendra Banhart take part in this Bollywood parody, directed by Skinny. Aside from the video being a visual treat, the song is good too! Best of all is Natalie Portman’s Bollywood breakdown – you know, as in dance breakdown.

ARTIST::DEVENDRA BANHART
TRACK::CARMENSITA
DIRECTOR::SKINNY
PROD.CO::N/A

AD::LEVI'S "SECRET AND LIES"

All the lies you make up just to get into someone’s…well…Levis.

BOOKS::MICHEL GONDRY WRITES FIRST COMING BOOK "WE LOST THE WAR BUT NOT THE BATTLE"

Director Michel Gondry can conquer almost any medium successfully without having to sacrifice his style, most recently in his 32-page mini-comic called We Lost the War But Not the Battle. The comic book is an outlandish story of four friends called into service to defend France against "beautiful muscular and sexy communist girls." Gondry the way we like it.

MORE INFO/BUY::PICTURE BOX BOOKS. WE LOST THE WAR BUT NOT THE BATTLE $5.99

**PLATFORM UPDATE::POST TO COME**

You can hold me to it, tonight I will post plentiful of updates!

MV::SARAH CHATFIELD DIRECTS LYKKE LI'S "BREAKING IT UP"

Sarah Chatfield may be making a name for herself as the stylish director with a keen eye for creating fashionable videos (ala YSL promos). Her newest video for Swedish songstress, Lykke Li’s single “Breaking It Up” might have something to do with that too. Li shimmies around the cool toned, lofty space while singing the danceable track. Mostly it’s a lot of close-ups of Li hiding her face with her petite hands, but who cares? The wardrobe is completely enviable and the video confirms the notion that Swedes are pretty darn attractive.

ARTIST::DEVENDRA BANHART
TRACK::BREAKING IT UP
DIRECTOR::SARAH CHATFIELD
PROD.CO::COLONEL BLIMP

FOR PREVIOUS PLATFORM LYKKE LI REVIEW::CLICK HERE

**PLATFORM UPDATE::SONG OF THE WEEK BEIRUT "RHINELAND"**

Yes, I’ve jumped on the Beirut bandwagon. I was resistant for a very long time, as I usually shy away from music that tends to be “of the moment” and too trendy (with the exception of MGMT, of course!). But I can’t help it, they are in fact hard to resist with their enchanting gypsy sounds and eclectic vocals. Therefore, they are Platform’s Song of the Week. Enjoy!

**Song of the Week will now change every Friday**

OFFICIAL SITE::BEIRUT

BOOKS:::LATIN AMERICAN GRAPHIC DESIGN RELEASE BY TASCHEN BOOKS

The Latin American community of graphic designers is quite savvy when it comes to shelling out compelling design work. So its no surprise that Taschen publications releases this newest book titled, Latin American Graphic Design, in which they cover the various aspects of the design work these Central and South American countries produce and what really sets them apart from Westernized work.

“Latin America has been producing a very unique form of graphic expression for decades and this historical publication brings together the best examples from the 20th century as well as today.”

BUY::TASCHEN, LATIN AMERICAN GRAPHIC DESIGN $39.99