it’s all in the detail
a stretch of colorful graffiti along Forsythe, near Rivington

…and date
Johnny Knoxville and Usher hit last night’s gala at the Met with beautiful women on their arms, identified as “and date” in various photos. can anyone help identify their “dates”? (the woman with Usher has some cool tats!)…

Update: much THANKS to Cassie, SuperCath and TigerLilly for identifying Usher’s date – Eishia Brightwell. Cassie sent this article with the full scoop. and TigerLilly emailed this link to another shot of Usher and Eishia with Jay Z and Beyonce, the comments are great!

fashion passion at the MET
celebrities turned it out in NYC last night for the MET Costume Institute Gala – from Style.com… “The Metropolitan Museum of Art was awash in camellias and couture Monday night as the Costume Institute celebrated its latest exhibit, an homage to the house of Chanel. The event, co-chaired by Nicole Kidman, Karl Lagerfeld, and Vogue’s Anna Wintour, attracted a who’s who of global glitterati.”

- great photos from Style.com
- Artistic and Fashionable Go on View in a Met Gala from the NY Times
- Coco meets Karl
- A Fabulous Fashion Frenzy
- the MET throws its so-called “party of the year
- Joan Rivers Was Not Working This Red Carpet
- MET’s Costume Institute Gala Honoring Chanel
- and more photos from around the web.

the art of awkward kissing by Tom Cruise

whatever the goal was behind the public kissing sessions, it backfired…
Roman Ha-Ha-Day
Tom And Katie Publicly, Uncomfortably Osculate
Tom Cruise looking very comfortable
Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes “Dating” In Italy
Tom showing all he’s flipped for Katie

and this little tidbit in The Post found via A Socialite’s Life is insane!… from Tom: “I’m a helper. For instance, I myself have helped hundreds of people get off drugs. In Scientology, we have the only successful drug rehabilitation program in the world. It’s called Narconon.”

Buddy parts

NY manholes
manhole covers are one of those things that we get sentimental about. after a life spent in the city, we’ve stepped on thousands. their bold, gritty, and historic presence are an imagery that screams NYC! call us crazy, but we love those big metal circles. and so does Forgotten NY. their great article on NY Manholes and Coal Shute Covers is packed with excellent photos and fascinating info!

in tribute to Forgotten NY’s great article we decided to snap some manhole cover photos. a testimony to the amazing variety and abundance of NY manholes out there, all 9 manhole covers above are from the intersection of Chrystie and Rivington in the LES (each with a different pattern!)

Manhole Tattoo and Exploding Manholes from the Gothamist

Serena needs an intervention
what the fuck is going on with Serena Williams’ fashions? last week she was slammed in MSN’s round-up of Celebrities Undressed. and then on Thursday she shows up for her book signing in a see-through floral muu-muu, with her big white granny bra showing, and wearing jeans underneath the dress

but she still dresses better than Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas

Handy
Words escape us…

Paris Hilton’s Man Hands