Click through to view my picks

Good super early Morning America Concert Series

Either stay out all night and rage through the morning, or set your alarm for 4:00 AM for the kickass lineup GMA has in store.

Who: Beyonce, Goo Goo Dolls, Florence and the Machine, Nicki Minaj, Selena Gomez, Brad Paisley and more!

When: 7:00-9:00 A.M. every Friday, June - September

Where: Rumsey Playfield in Central Park

The Today Show Concert Series

Friday Friday, the News shows love it. Here’s another early bird special that will score you the big acts free.

Who: Maroon 5, Cee-Lo Green, Kenny Chesney, The Script, Bruno Mars, Train and The Backstreet Boys with New Kids on the Block (NKOBSB is tomorrow, Friday June 3rd!), and so many more.

When: Every Friday, be there at 6:00 A.M. June – September

Where: Rockefeller Center

Kanye West

Always with a flair for the dramatics, Kanye is planning a surprise free show, somewhere on this island.

When: Thursday, June 9th, 6-10 P.M.

Where: Pier 36, 299 South Street, New York, NY

Black Eyed Peas

Fergie, will.i.am and those other two guys are giving away 54,000 tickets to see them play in Central Park for the charity Robin Hood, fighting poverty in NYC. Win (or buy $500 VIP tickets) tickets here. But will you even try? They’re right opposite Kanye!

When: Thursday, June 9th, 7:30 P.M.

Where: Central Park Great Lawn

Hillstock Festival **THIS WEEKEND**

This Brooklyn weekend-long festival is astoundingly free all day Saturday, and chock full of indie artists you should know. Full lineup here.

Who: Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt (pictured above), Ava Luna, Sports Bar, Gunfight, Porches, The Honey Dos, Swear and Shake, Seascapes, Twitchers, Quiet Loudly, EULA, Team Genius, Marra Barra, Kidstreet, Julian and the Lopez, Young & Old, Noisy Crane, and more.

When: FREE Saturday, June 4th, starts 10:00 A.M. ($8 Friday, $7 Sunday)

Where: 106 Emerson Place, Brooklyn (285 Kent Avenue, Brooklyn, Friday. 402½ Park Avenue, Brooklyn, Sunday)

Coheed and Cambria

Have a hankering for some seriously hard rock? Take a taste for free.

When: Saturday, June 11th, 5:30 P.M.

Where: The Williamsburg Waterfront

Jadakiss

For some politically charged spittin’, Why not check him out fo’ free?

When: Tuesday, June 14th, 7:00 P.M.

Where: Apple Store in SoHo (103 Prince St)

Mya

For her new electronic dance tune Fabulous Life and everything else she’s been up to since Ghetto Superstar, see her gratis.

When: Tuesday, June 21st, 6:00 P.M.

Where: 1 Union Square (corner of 14th street and 4th avenue).

Northside Festival

The whole weekend of live music in Brooklyn will run you about $60, but the DJ sets from noon on on Sunday are free!

Who: Brahms (DJ Set), Project Jenny / Project Jan (pictured above), Infernal Devices, Friend Factory

When: Sunday, June 19th, 12 noon

Where: 184-6 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn

Wanda Jackson and Imelda May

For your rockabilly, Elvis nostalgia needs, see the legend and new inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Wanda Jackson and acclaimed Irish songstress Imelda May duet it out.

When: Wednesday, July 27th, 7:00 P.M.

Where: The Central Park SummerStage.

Friendly Fires

Do you miss LCD Soundsystem as badly as we do? Well, Friendly Fires can ease that pain a bit, because they’re electronically sonically awesome.

When: Sunday, August 7th, 3:00 P.M.

Where: The Central Park Summer Stage

Funkmaster Flex

Get your hip hop funk on.

Who: Rakim + EPMD + Funkmaster Flex

When: Sunday, August 21st, 3:00 P.M.

Where: The Central Park SummerStage.

AFro-Punk Festival

Who: Cee-Lo Green, Santigold, Janelle Monae (pictured above), Jay Electronica, Toro Y Moi, and more.

When: Saturday and Sunday, August 27th and 28th

Where: Commodore Barry Park (266 Nassau Street, Brooklyn).

And enjoy the free jams.

Funkmaster Flex - 07.24.08 - CiRCA Toronto This image is copyright © 2008 Jess Baumung. All rights reserved. This photo may not be used under ANY circumstances without written consent. Please contact jess@jessbaumung.com for useage rights.

Technical difficulties — including inappropriate music cues, microphones cutting out, an errant and uninterested audience, empty awards envelopes and even a full-on blackout after generators blew — were the biggest problems of the night.

That is, if you discount some of the winners acceptance speeches.

MJB won two awards for her My Life by Mary J. Blige fragrance, including Fragrance Sales Breakthrough of the Year, and naturally thanked god, with whom “we can do anything.” Like schill perfume on HSN. Praise him.

Josh Duhamel apparently lied to wife Fergie — of Black Eyed Peas not royal wedding snub fame — telling her he was going on a golfing trip. But surprise! There he was presenting her with the totally legitimate-sounding New Fragrance Celebrity of the Year award for Outspoken.

Fergie, always the picture of class, began her speech with “You fuckers” then thanked the 6.5 million Avon ladies around the world.  Sounds like someone missed out on a perfectly good 18 holes.

Elizabeth Taylor, whose White Diamonds is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, was inducted posthumously into the Fragrance Hall of Fame — because that exists — just in time for fellow Oscar winner Halle Berry to pick up the newly named  Elizabeth Taylor Fragrance Celebrity of the Year award.

Halle, an old pro at this speech thing, left the tears and sincerity at home: “Fragrance is a new love for me. I never thought I’d be here four years later. And I’m inspired by Mary J. Blige and Fergie — let’s keep lifting women up.” Lifting women up, turning them upside down and shaking them till their loose change falls out.

All in all, it was a successful night…I mean, we’re actually talking about the FiFi’s. Aim low and never be disappointed, I always say. [WWD]

Link Love: The Luxury Spot

*The Queen, it should be noted, is a huge SATC fan, though. She’s a total Samantha.

- Flavor Flav, he always said he wanted to wear Big Ben as a necklace

- Michelle Obama, at least one of us will be wearing McQueen

- Cher, I really want to gay this wedding up and Elton John‘s been slacking lately

- Sean Penn, I have a thing for Madonna‘s exes

- Muammar Gaddafi, too soon?

- Lady Gaga, only so she can see what it feels like not being the center of attention

- Naomi Campbell, I already added blood diamonds to the bridal registry

- The girls of Sex and the City, I wonder if they can write me into the third movie

- Fergie, the one from the Black Eyed Peas

- And since I was a wee Kate, I’ve wanted The Spice Girls at my wedding!  Except Posh, I never really cared for her…

Lady GaGa oustide BBC Radio 1 Studios with her purple china teacup that she has been carrying around with her since her arrival in Great Britain London, Engalnd - 20.04.09 Mandatory Credit: WENN.com

Flavor Flav Fox Reality Presents "The Reality Remix Really Awards" - Arrivals Les Deux Hollywood, California United States October 24, 2006 Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic.com To license this image (11064695), contact FilmMagic: U.S. +1-212-812-4100 / U.K. +44-207-659-2813 / Australia +61-2-9006-1785 / Japan: +81-3-5464-7020 +1 212-202-7732 (fax) sales@filmmagic.com (e-mail) www.filmmagic.com (web site)

- Joining La Jolie on the Do-Good Express is great-caped crusader André Leon Talley who describes his efforts thusly: “I do make trips to the Dumpster. And I am proud of that because it’s far from my house. But I make a special effort to go to the Dumpster and put the cardboard with the cardboard, and plastic with the plastics.” Mother Teresa who? [The Cut]

- Supermodels just can’t keep it in their pants these days. And by it I mean their nuptials. Anja Rubik will be the next catwalker to jump the broom and, in typical model fashion, will wear Pucci when she marries longtime boyfriend Sasha Knezevic in July. [Fashionologie]

- The Black Eyed Peas have finally realized what I’ve been saying for years: “My Humps” is a god awful song. [The Boombox]

- Libyan president and noted fashion plate Muammar Gadaffi apparently wants his own exhibit at the Met’s Costume Institute. Muammar Gaddafi: Savage Beauty? [Styleite]

- Dior will debut a few dresses from its upcoming couture and/or Spring 2012 collections at the Cannes Film Festival when French actress Melanie Laurent wears the iconic label to the fest’s opening and closing ceremonies. [Elle]

Here come the Black Eyed Peas. will. i. am. leads it off, passes it to Fergie. FUMBLE in the first play, mic down. Tonight’s gonna be a good night brings a change of regime: hundreds leave the field, replaced by greed LED arrows. Gotta get that. BEP passes back to will. i. am. Back to Fergie. Arrows move across field. Taboo gets the mic for the first time, pulling the digital space ship, a tricky play. Apl.del.ap. receives the pass. A little shaky, this is a huge game, no room for error here. He brings it down, passes it off to Fergie. Good move, if you wanna get down. will. i. am. drop the beat now. What? Slash moves in! Steals the spotlight from BEP, runs with it goes long. Fergie tries to keep up but Slash is moving too quick. SCORE! BEP bounce back, pumping it louder. They turn it up. They’ve moved it up the field, up tempo, they Get It Started. Oh My God. Usher grabs stage, drops in on a chain. Stage is officially Usher’s. Dances it down, so many ways to love you. OH OH OH OH OH touchdown Usher!!! Black Eyed Peas regain possession. This is an old one! Where is the Love? At a big game like this, it makes sense to break out your trusted plays, but wait, what’s this? New moves, didn’t see this coming, will. i. am. brings in new lyrics. Obama, jobs, America. Swift move. Touchdown BEP!!! Extra field goal points with swaying LED hearts. Back on the line, play starts – one of their newer plays – The Patrick Swayze. It’s moving slow, but the Running Man works it back up! Mass LED wave. Party Every Day. Tonight’s gonna be a good good night. TOUCHDOWN!!!! AND THE BLACK EYED PEAS TAKE THE SUPERBOWL!!!!!!

Luckily this crushed can of Pabst Blue Ribbon was there to help him up:

Oh, PBR. Always there to lend a helping hand.

Right after kicking your legs from under you then forcing you to throw up in the back of a pizzeria.

LINK LOVE: Daily Mail

…d Peas that is!  Vladimir Doronin booked the Black Eyed Peas and Grace Jones to perform at her 40th bday party, spending a reported cost of $1 million. Wonder if he’ll spend that much covering up her diamond scandal?

Naomi wore a simple boatneck dress with gladiator sandals to the celebration.

LINK LOVE: NY Mag via Page Six/NYP

11:15pm  I love/miss/adore/admire Eminem!

10:00pm Prince and Paris Jackson on stage!

10:00pm Why weren’t we warned about this 3D action?

9:57pm Usher is HOT!!!

9:48pm Tribute to Micheal Jackson features a bunch of random famous singers…like Celion Dion!

9:46pm Taylor Swift sings…with Stevie Nixx

9:45pm Ryan Seacrest again?

9:34pm Why is Chris O’donnell still important?

9:32pm Best rock album goes to Green Day ’21st Century Breakdown’

9:20pm Robert Downey Jr announces Jamie Foxx ‘Blame it on the…

9:18pm Record of the year goes to Kings of Leon ‘Use Somebody’

9:10pm Best comedy album (whatever that means) goes to Steven Colbert

8:58pm Is there a cue that says ‘STAND and CLAP’?

8:56pm Up now Black Eyed Peas…it’s gonna be a good night!

8:55pm Once again hate Miley Cyrus!

8:45pm Best new artist goes to The Zac Brown Band…who are these hicks?

8:42pm Pink has taken up aerial acrobatics, was dipped in water, currently dripping onto the crowd.

8:40pm Seal announces Pink!

8:25pm Beyonce sings Alanis Morissett’s You Otta Know…Amazing!

8:18pm Lamest performance EVER!

8:14pm Who the hell are these people?

8:13pm What is J.Lo wearing?

8:11pm Single Ladies!

8:09pm Song of the year goes to: wait for it…Steve pulls out an ipad!

8:07pm Our host Steven Colbert!

8:06pm That was it? Boring!

Giorgio Armani Prive

8:00pm Lady Gag opens! Long platinum blond locks, very revealing green glitter bathing suit, giant bruise on right thigh! Double piano with Elton John.

7:51pm Rihanna looks WOW!!! Some form of white big bird big neck gown thing, apparently it’s Elie Saab!

7:44pm Ciara wore a lace Givenchy pant suit, pulls a Lady Gaga with her visible underwear.

7:42pm Sheryl Crow has a two year old, wore Bottega Veneta.

7:40pm Ke$ha is an idiot! Likes buying tacos, describes her style as garbage can chic!

7:33pm Beyonce had glitter highlights added to her weave.

7:32pm Taylor Swift is sparkly head to toe, in a teal off the shoulder gown.

7:30pm Nicole Kidman towers over everyone around her, wore a black Prada halter gown.

7:28pm I hate Miley Cyrus!!!

7:26pm Jaime Fox has two grown daughters…how old is he?

7:24pm Carrie Underwood is super cute, wearing a white A line gown.

7:20pm Pink: platinum blond mohawk, another mermaid gown.

7:15pm Jennifer Hudson: looks like her head is shaved besides her bangs and high pony tail. If the dress looks familiar, that is cuz it’s Victoria Beckham!

7:12pm Trendspark: purposeful shirt half tuck, loving this look!

7:10pm Keri Hilson nominated for best new artist, looks gorgeous in a long nude mermaid gown by Dolce & Gabbana

7:09pm Seacrest talks to the Fray, they are currently working on a new album.

7:03pm Black Eyed Peas talk to Seacrest, Fergie looks glowy, Josh joins on stage. Boy is he Hot!

7:02pm Heidi Klum looks amazing post baby!

7:00pm. Oh god. Tony Braxton has a half shaved head.

The Black Eyed Peas decided it would be a good idea to place an ad for their new album E.N.D. in the September issue of Vogue. They may not have realized that single color ad would cost them $128,220. With Conde Nast failing, I guess they can’t let Fergie get this one on the house.

LINK LOVE: http://blogs.fashionweekdaily.com/?p=18186

It’s not that I think this is a complete WTF, I just don’t really care about it one way or the other, but definitely wouldn’t wear a shirt that had bald barbies all over it.

SOURCE: Fabunfunded

Just approaching their 4-year New York anniversary, Love Brigade was actually conceived in London while Alyssa completed her fashion design degree at London’s Istituto Marangoni. Jamie Rockaway, Love Brigade’s Vice President and co-founder, helped found the company, but sadly, we were unable to rendezvous. Tinypants studied digital arts and science at the University of Florida, and after his move to the Big Apple, he began designing t-shirts for Love Brigade, evolving his involvement in the company. Since their American debut, Love Brigade graduated from a Brooklyn loft to prime retail front in Williamsburg, a location that serves as both the Love Brigade and Friends store, as well as the Love Brigade studio office. 

Since it’s start, Love Brigade’s aesthetic has remained relatively consistent, with the exception of a replacement of the company’s high-end line with Ex-Oh, a recession ready diffusion line. The current Spring/Summer 2009 collection is the first of Love Brigade’s economic conscious diffusion line, providing some remarkable ready-to-wear garments. Love Brigade’s diffusion line will continue into the Fall 2009 collection (which looks pretty incredible I might add!) as the market for high-end fashion continues to digress. The Fall 2009 womenswear is inspired by the transition from a failing friendship to empowerment while the menswear collection themes the wandering man, both containing Love Brigade’s infamous collection story-line. 

Needless to say,  Love Brigade has had an exciting few years, but 2009 has perhaps been one of the best. From their customized Chuck Taylor high-tops, to their work with the Black Eyed Peas, White Tie Affair and Rob Roy, and their shop on Karmaloop,  Love Brigade’s success is honest, raw and real. Alyssa  bid us adieu with some fabulous advice for aspiring fashion designers: “Find the perfect balance between your art and business.”  Hmm, seems to be that the Brigade follows her advice, because as of July 2009, Love Brigade couldn’t look any more perfect! 

GALLERIES: 

Catching Up With Love Brigade 

RUNWAY RUNDOWN: Love Brigade Fall 2009 Collection 

Check out Love Brigade here!

Go behind the scenes of the The Black Eyed Peas upcoming video, “Boom Boom Pow.” This track will serve as the recently reunited band’s first single off of their upcoming LP, The E.N.D.

LINKAGE: Popcrunch

Wow?!?! Fergie officially looks OLD, like 65 years old, I mean she didn’t look so young before, but now… I get the ‘needing change’ but this is a bit drastic, did she consult anyone before making this mistake? Wonder how Josh feels…

LINKAGE: Just Jared