Carla will be rated on the below categories, five being the highest and 1 being the lowest.

What grade did Carla receive? Check out page two to find out.

Unlike other generations of actresses, none of these eight women are living in the margins of men. They’re creating complex characters that are often at the center of the film. Jennifer Lawrence headlines a generation of fearless, fiercely talented actresses who are putting the boys to shame.

September Issue of W magazine Covers:
Yaya DaCosta, Jennifer Lawrence, Greta Gerwig,
Kat Dennings, Jessica Chastain, Zoë Kravitz,Emma Roberts, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Kat Dennings
“My first audition was for a commercial for the lottery. I didn’t get it, so I hate the lottery.” Since that rejection, Dennings, 24, has become an indie favorite—the smart, seductive, prickly downtown darling in such movies as Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist and Charlie Bartlett. Her curves and her attitude—bemused but sweet, self-aware but curious—set her apart from other young actresses. As a kid growing up near Philadelphia, “I wanted to be Christopher Walken,” Dennings says. “I saw a film version of Puss in Boots, and he was Puss. He had a mouse tail hanging out of his mouth, and he said ‘Growl’ as only Chris Walken can. That performance made me want to be an actor.”

Emma Roberts
“I always wanted to be an actress, and my first audition, when I was nine, was for Blow, playing Johnny Depp’s daughter. I think everyone in my family was shocked because they sent me on the audition to kind of shut me up about the acting thing.” Roberts, 19, has been acting in movies from that point forward, playing everything from Nancy Drew to an orphan who runs a hotel for dogs to a troubled teenager in It’s Kind of a Funny Story, which is out September 24. Like her aunt Julia, Emma has an all-American sunniness mixed with an attraction to darker subjects. “I don’t know that I’d do a full-on nude scene, ever,” Roberts says. “I’ve never had a full-on sex scene…but we’ll see.”

Mary Elizabeth Winstead
“I would love to know what it’s like to be blond, but every time I mention the possibility of going blond, people act like the world’s going to come to an end. I will say that having pink hair was really fun.” Winstead went pink (and blue and green and red) in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, which was released in August. A veteran of television, she was cast by Quentin Tarantino as a snappy, sexy actress in 2007’s Death Proof. “It was never explained why my character was in a cheerleader’s uniform for the entire film,” Winstead says. “But the outfit made it easy to get into character.”

Zoë Kravitz
“When I was young, I wanted to be able to read minds. I would try to do that with my dogs. It didn’t work.” With a mysterious quality that seems at once innocent and worldly, Kravitz, the daughter of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet, has defied racial stereotypes. The script for The Brave One, in which Kravitz gave a startling performance, had called for a European-accented blond, but the actress’s audition demanded a total rethink. “I’m a pretty obnoxious person,” Kravitz says, “so I’ll make a sex scene as uncomfortable as I can just to break the ice.”

Greta Gerwig
“I grew up in Sacramento, and it seemed like movies were handed down from gods.” Gerwig, who earlier this year starred opposite Ben Stiller in Greenberg, began her acting career as the leading lady of Mumblecore. The movement was born when a group of filmmakers met at the South by Southwest film festival in Austin, Texas, and decided to make movies together. The budgets were minuscule and the films largely improvised, but the acting was fresh and realistic and vibrant in the style of John Cassavetes. “A lot of Mumblecore was about awkwardness, especially with sex,” Gerwig says. “I think a lot of sex is very awkward. Instances of awkward lovemaking probably outpace instances of beautiful, seamless lovemaking, at least in my experience.”

Jennifer Lawrence
“As a kid I wasn’t shy. I’m an extrovert who wants to be an introvert.” Lawrence’s lack of shyness has resulted in one of the boldest performances of 2010: her Ree Dolly in Winter’s Bone. Like many actresses of her generation, Lawrence started young—at 14, she left her home in Louisville, Kentucky, and moved to New York. “I don’t know if I was driven or stubborn or both,” she explains. “But I didn’t think I could fail.”

Yaya DaCosta
“I want to do a silent film, even though it’s out of fashion now.” DaCosta, who studied dance as a child, has an innate stillness and elegance that would be ideal for the cinematic intensity of images without words. In 2009’s The Messenger she played an army wife who has lost her husband, and her grief went beyond speech. Similarly, when Mark Ruffalo tells her character in The Kids Are All Right that he wants to end their relationship, the shock and pain are registered in her eyes. “I grew up watching a lot of old stuff,” DaCosta says. “The first movie I remember seeing was The Red Balloon, which is silent, and it made me feel things that I’d love to make other people feel.”

Jessica Chastain
“I was the girl who never thought I’d be anything but an actor, so what I’ve really had to struggle with is having patience.” Born in Northern California and a graduate of Juilliard, Chastain was cast by reclusive director Terrence Malick to star opposite Brad Pitt and Sean Penn in The Tree of Life, in theaters this fall. He may have seen her performance in Salome, opposite Al Pacino, where she did the Dance of the Seven Veils. “My character’s goal was to give herself away,” Chastain says. “To be completely naked. So I went to some strip clubs in L.A. just to be, like, Okay, this is normal. There’s nothing taboo about it.”

source

LINK LOVE:Refreshing Hollywood Starlets

Lounging on a beaten-up leather couch tucked away in an industrial loft in downtown Brooklyn, Wiz Khalifa asks, “Did you see my new tatt?” turning to reveal a freshly inked mega mass sprawling across his spine. Covered head-to-toe in body art, it’s hard not to notice the lanky Pittsburgh emcee’s impressive display of ink.

This is our second time chopping it up with Khalifa, and although only 6 months have passed, it’s clear that new ink isn’t the only thing that has changed. The last time we spoke, it was just Wiz in the back room of Honey’s downtown office space. Quiet, intimate, and very cloudy. Fast forward a few months, fresh off a win for MTV’s “Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010,” secured by Khalifa’s cult-like followers dubbed “The Taylor Gang,” it suddenly feels like the calm before the storm.

Suits, from his label, buzz about, making sure Khalifa stays on track, doesn’t talk too much about his newly inked deal (recently signed to Atlantic Records), and generally doting on the 22-year-old. But Khalifa stays unfazed, moving only to welcome a special delivery, roll-up, and check out his ‘fits for the day (he loved the “Pulp Fiction” selection of sharp, tailored suits).

Khalifa’s last album title, Deal or No Deal, is particularly fitting. In 2009, he parted ways with Warner Brothers and churned out a slew of successful mixtapes – most notably Kush and Orange Juice, with over a million downloads. Now, deal intact, gearing up for a massive North American tour slated to kick off on September 16th in Philadelphia, Khalifa is about to be thrown into a whirlwind of press while finishing up his latest untitled project. Welcome to the eye of the storm. But before his flight takes off, he dishes about weed, women, and the pressures of being “next.”

- Nicole LoPresti

Check out Honey’s August 2010 cover shoot and part one of a two-part interview with Wiz Khalifa…

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EAT

If there ever was a restaurant to prove how much Philly is over cheesesteaks it would be fancy fance Buddakan. The Asian-fusion food is so delicious you could lick it off your fingers. And let’s not get started on the chocolate bento box. Strapped for cash? Try Beau Monde. The creperie offers an array of savory buckwheat crepes filled with all kinds of deliciousness from herbed flavored butters, French sausage, cheeses, grilled veggies, scallops and even coq au vin. Bar Ferdinand is perfs if you’re in the mood for some tapas. But don’t be fooled, these tapas are filling. Be prepared to bust open your pants. If you find yourself in a drunken late night stupor and need to eat or if you want a yummy breakfast Silk City Diner is a must. The sweet potatoes fries will make you scream!

DRINK

If you secretly wish you were a headbanger or a member of the Hells Angels  Tattooed Mom is the place to go. Just make sure you bring some hand sanitizer with you. Bob and Barbara is a dive bar institution. You’ll meet the town drunks, rockers, trust fund kids, and it’s probably the only non-gay bar that hosts a drag show. Even if you’re not a fan of jazz, Wanna meet a cute hipster in skinny jeans? 700 Club has them in spades. Downstairs is a bar, upstairs looks like dance party in your grandma’s attic. DJs spin indie rock and old school tunes that will bring you back to junior high. Or elementary school depending on how old you are. The Khyber is where you can throw back a cold one and catch a new band. There’s usually a cover but if you want to rock out with your cock out the Khyber is it.

SHOP

Third Street is home to some of the cuter shops in Philly and spitting distance from all things historic. Get your vintage on at Forbidden Planet. Multitudes of Studio 54 clutches, stacks of gold bracelets hanging from the ceiling, coke whore heels, Dynasty dresses, and 60′s Mod shifts, are crammed into this tiny basement shop. I have a sweet tooth for cute dresses so I love Sugarcube. The minimalist store design serves as a perfect backdrop for the vintage and eclectic contemporary brands such as Clione, Laura Seymour, Eskell, and Raasta. For some local flavor, check out Vagabond. This fun boutique also stocks the owners’ own lines City of Brotherly Love and Stellapop along with vintage and other local designers. Now who’s the fairest of them all? It might just be Third Street Habit. This all around fantastic stores sells a well edited selection of designers including 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent, Generra, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, Foley & Corinna, and Larok to name a few. This is the place to go when you want to look fresh, polished and modern.

PLAY

If you happen to be in Philly at the beginning of the month, First Friday is the shiz. From 5-9 the first Friday of every month, all of the galleries in the Olde City area are open and more importantly serving free wine. Space 1026 is an amazing art collective / gallery / art space / printing studio with a roster of artists who all share the space. Check out their events page to see what’s going on. The Trocadero, or “Troc” as the locals call it, is the venue to go to see all your fave indie bands on tour. Olde City Tattoo is by far the best tattoo shop in the city and if you’ve been thinking about getting one, now’s the time to do it! For those who haven’t grown up near the Amish, catching a glimpse of them is like see the ghost of Christmas past. At Reading Terminal Market, see the Amish in their full bonnet glory, harking Shoefly pie and various other treats that will give you sustenance after a long day of farming.

Addresses:

Buddakan. 325 Chestnut Street. 215.574.9440 www.buddakan.com

Beau Monde. 624 S. 4^th Street. 212.592.0656. www.creperie-beaumonde.com

Bar Ferdinand. 1030 N. 2^nd Street. 215.923.1313. www.barferdinand.com

Tattooed Moms. 530 South Street. 215.238.9980

Bob and Barbara. 1509 South Street. 215.545.4511

700 Club. 700 N. 2^nd Street. 215.413.3181

Forbidden Planet. 10 N. 3rd St. Tel: 215.923.7399

Vagabond. 37 N. 3rd St. Tel: 267.671.0737. www.vagabondboutique.com

Sugarcube. 124 N. 3rd St, Tel: 215.538.0825 www.sugarcube.us

Third Street Habit. 153 N. 3^rd St, Tel: 215.925.5455. www.thirdstreethabit.com

First Fridays. www.oldcityarts.org

Space 1026. 1026 Arch St, 2^nd Floor. 215.574.7630. www.space1026.com

Trocadero. 1003 Arch Street. 215.922.6888 www.thetroc.com

Olde City Tattoo. 44 S. 2^nd Street. 215.627.6271

Reading Terminal Market. 51 N. 12^th Street. 215.922.2317 www.readingterminalmarket.orgH

What originally started out in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia by DJ’s Skeme Richards and Cash Money as an all 45 party spinning rare and not so rare funk, soul, afrobeat, reggae, breaks and other funky gems to a crowd of people that enjoy nothing more than shaking their groove thangs and getting sweaty on the floor has now turned into a traveling movement with with parties happening in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and Switzerland. In 2010 Hot Peas and Butta see’s a change in the DJ roster with bringing DJ Amir of the legendary digging duo, Kon & Amir and pairing him up with Mr. Fantastic himself, Skeme Richards. Both DJ’s bring a certain uniqueness when spinning records from their extensive collection that keeps dancefloors packed to even the trendiest of music lovers.

Music is not all that Hot Peas and Butta is made up of, the amazing visuals shown on the projectors is what makes this sure shot something special. Various footage from Skeme Richards’ personal VHS collection of rare commercials, tv shows, movie trailers, 70’s cartoons, and concert footage is handpicked and put together for each party to add that extra flair which brings the complete Hot Peas package together.

It only makes sense Hot Peas and Butta are about to drop their first 45….7.27.2010 it goes into stores! Skeme Richards x Big Pimp Jones x Recordbreakin Records, filled with goodies by Elroy Jenkins..really? You need this in your life! NYC release party and special Born Day Event for Junior from Recordbreakin’ Sunday July 25th with special guest Supreme La Rock! Amala, put this in your diary when you move to NYC later this month!!! 

Hot Peas & Butta: Understanding the Process–Don’t Blink from Lance Pilgrim on Vimeo.

* If you got the funk make sure you don’t miss Skeme’s interview with Funkshone in Issue 2 Hell Yeah-out now!

LINK LOVE:Hot Peas and Butta release 45

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Hah! That was a cheap shot title and doh… no prizes for guessing what the subject matter of this post is. Whilst I've been sweating fluids to the equivalent of my body weight, sampling Williamsburg's finest food (courtesy of Phil Oh's supreme food knowledge…), my brain has been liquidated to the sort of level where I'm unable to actually err… post properly. I didn't even plan out any designer visits for the trip considering my work here only really took up a day…

Fortunately Brooklyn residents came to the rescue! The borough of course plays host to many a New York designer but I had the opportunity of checking out Samantha Pleet's studio and apartment. She is a designer that isn't about being FASH-Y (all in caps…I insist…). She has charmed her way across USA's indie boutiques with her sensibility for clothes that girls circa my age and a bit younger want to wear, wear and wear again. Samantha herself assets that her clothes are designer with first and foremost, herself in mind and then immediately after that, her circle of friends. So it started with the rompers and playsuits back in 2005-6 and that has burgeoned into a fully fledged label as well as regular collections for Urban Outfitters.

Still despite the “sweet” and “cute” sensibility of Samantha's clothes, the roots of inspiration quite often lies in darker or more magical/fantastical places even if the clothes are then translated and translated again into wearable formats. The films and lookbook images that Samantha has produced often reflect stories or tales behind the collection that aren't immediately detectable from the clothes. The illustration below alludes to her A/W 10 collection me thinks…

As a fellow fringed person (or banged?), it's a big yay for Pleet's drawn out femmes with fringes…

Some shapes that Pleet is thinking up… vintage style inflections of course infiltrate Pleet's work but with a little twist here and there as well as unexpected fabric choices, the designs are then elevated…

Taking a peek at Samantha's inspiration board for S/S 11, she stepped back in time and dug out home videos made in the 40s/50s featuring her very own grandparents… I'm quite jealous she has full colour footage of her grandparents and their friends…

… that period is really brought to life with colour…

Bustiers/elongated bra and crop tops galore…

This dusty chest on top of a cabinet is Samantha's childhood dressing up trunk full of fore-relation hand-me-downs… that surely needs to be in a more accessible place so that dress-up opps are more frequent?!?

From Samantha's collation of bits and bobs from the natural world, the butterfly case and other memorabilia of the great outdoors, nature also clearly influences her clothes. At the very least she intends for her clothes to be worn out and about…

A more literal manifestation of the natural influences are these paperbag waist shorts from her A/W 10-11 collection. They actually also feel like paper too as they're made out of this incredible mud-buried silk which gives it this wafer-like crispy texture…. hmmm…. crispy shorts….

A quick jaunt to her nearby apartment and her fondness of all things green also extends to a wee frog obsession… on the left you can see a teensy tiny frog residing on her balcony. Apparently it just appeared one day and doesn't seem to want to shift…

She's also got a bit of a mini garden going on with herbs, strawberries, tomatos growing… ah… the good life I never seem to be able to achieve. My box herbs died within a week. Samantha however handed me a plump strawberry freshly grown. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall would be proud of her…

She also wakes up this lush mural on her closet painted by her friend….

Apologies if this is all going a bit Selby-a-like for you…. I did get carried away with a whole House and Garden slant when I saw Samantha's apartment which is light, book and curios filled… all the components for inspiration aplenty…

Samantha Pleet's A/W 10-11 collection is one that tells a travelling tale to her grandmother's house outside Philadelphia featuring capes, parkas, tartan, practical shoes courtesy of her collab with Osborn Design (still… have… not…decided…which…ones…to…get) as well as a delightful onesie that has teenage sleepover written all over it…

With impeccable timing, I also managed to catch her showroom's sample sale yesterday where I picked up a Samantha Pleet Ikat-pattern bustier which actually fits my less-than-bustier-suited chest as well as some Alex and Eli fuschia trousers…

Hot and perhaps not so bothered about my bout of heat-induced laziness… you'll forgive and forget right?

(Photographs by Phil Oh of Streetpeeper)

LINK LOVE:Pleet Please

Last night’s Mystery Concert at at New York University’s Skirball Theater had students in awe and confusion over the night’s opening act. Pattern is Movement, hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania set the precedent for later act, the French Kicks and headliner, Broken Social Scene. So did they set the bar sky-high or embarrassingly low? Well, it depends on one’s taste in music as a whole.

The general description of Pattern is Movement as an American Indie rock band does not do this two-piece musical concoction justice. Exuding elements of Gregorian chant, early 90′s hip-hop, musical theater show tunes, funk and R&B drum beats, the set performed by band members Andrew Thiboldeaux (vocals, bass and mellotron) and Chris Ward (drums), was not for the closed minded. One shouldn’t dare trying to summarize the band’s style, because in actuality, they don’t even know.

Performing several numbers off of their 2008 album “All Together,” the band’s 50 minute set was like watching two grungy grizzly bears fight their way through music history. With anecdotes sporadically placed, audience vocal participation and the band’s liberty to perform shoe-less and talk about man boobs, the show was personal and intriguing for all audience members. 

But to answer the question of whether they killed it or spilled it, there is no definite answer. Some people walked out. Some people gave standing ovations. Some people sat with blank stares. Others danced. And there are those people, like myself, who woke up singing the chorus to “Right Away,” trying desperately to get it out of my head.