SOHO— Mark your calendars: The blog Fashion Binge has actual dates for the long-awaited opening of Topshop's first New York store. They're predicting either October 16, 17, or 18, so expect lots of girls in fedoras dressed as Kate Moss for Halloween. [Fashion Binge]
MEPA— America's bees are disappearing. It sounds like something out of an M. Night Shyamalan film, but it's a serious ecological problem, and Earnest Sewn is trying to do something about it. Their installation A New Hive (which we described last week) opens this Thursday at their flagship store. Along with bee-related art, it'll showcase limited-edition accessories; proceeds go to bee research. [men.style.com]
LITTLE ITALY— Come September, the famous line at DiPalo's Dairy might be a thing of the past: The cheese shop is doubling in size. Even better, in August DiPalo's Wine Shop is opening next door. [NYMag]
Random sample sale signage outside 151 Hudson Street in Tribeca
WEST VILLAGE—According to a tipster, an angel of death has dragged his scythe all along the block of Eighth Avenue below 14th Street, murdering a number of stores. Well, the letter was a bit less dramatic than that: "Have you heard anything about what is happening on Eighth Ave on SW side of the street below 14th? The Steven Alan store, Sergio Davila, new fragrance/soap shop (can't remember name) and a little bakery have all closed for what initially looked like renovations but now it looks like maybe something new is going in there...I walk by these stores everyday and am very curious as to what is going on. Please let me know if you have any details." [RackedWire Inbox]
WEST VILLAGE—The Bleecker Street Alexis Bittar boutique we've been obsessingover for months will be opening soon—very soon!—according to a commenter who writes, "Opening next week!" Prepare yourselves for the Lucite onslaught. [Racked Comments]
HELL'S KITCHEN & BEYOND—With their Ninth Avenue store now a month old, American Apparel is looking to expand further north and west. Via the company's website, we've discovered that Dov and his merry batch of headband-wearing associates are planning to open stores in Harlem (250 W 125th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves) and on the UWS (2103 Broadway at 73rd St). And of course there's also the pending F.I.T. location at 347 Seventh Ave. Give in, they've won. [RackedWire]
TRIBECA—It's almost time for Tribeca Whole Foods'opening-day extravaganza. A tipster writes, "At yesterdays green fair in Battery Park Whole Foods were handing out leaflets announcing that they would be opening on Wednesday, July 9th at 8am. Opening hours will be 8am to 10pm, 7 days per week." Whee. [RackedWire Inbox]
RED HOOK—A Red Hook resident sends word that not only are neighborhood locals pissed about the new Ikea, some are going as far as throwing their old Ikea purchases out in...protest? The report: "On the eve of the Ikea store opening we found it ironic that someone in our building was throwing out their Ikea furniture in Red Hook." Will community furniture burnings be far off? [RackedWire Inbox]
GREENWICH VILLAGE—A random note from a reader: "I just found this really nice boutique called Helianthus on La Guardia Place near the NYU campus. They have dresses, tops and jewelry by up and coming NY designers. Sweet!" Interesting PR tactic here. [RackedWire Inbox]
BOERUM HILL—If this anonymous commenter is to be believed, Steven Alan is tiptoeing into, rather than storming, the Brooklyn retail scene. His or her two cents on the soon-to-open Alan store on Atlantic Ave: "It is going to be a small pop-up shop that will only be carrying the Steven Alan men's and women's collections. Maybe a few accessories like bags, but no other collections. Think it is great! Some of the best basics around." [Racked Comments]
WEST VILLAGE—Here's some info on Nolita indie shopping spot The Market's recently-opened West Village outpost, from a tipster: "Every Saturday is the new young designer's market, some great clothes, jewelry, vintage, new dresses, etc. located in the Public School auditorium on Hudson Street between Grove and Christopher on the East side of the street. Opens at 12 noon to 7pm. About 50 vendors every Saturday!" You've been informed. [RackedWire Inbox]
NOHO—More on the Crunch Soho/Noho(?) closing tragedy, from a tipster: "Crunch on 623 Broadway in Soho is definitely closing. Just got a notice from Crunch yesterday saying they 'were not able to come to mutually agreeable terms in extending [their] lease with the building and will be turning off the last treadmill at 11 pm on June 30, 2008.' Not all is lost for us Soho Crunchites. They are offering a reduced monthly rate of $10 off current agreement AND complimentary upgrade to all All Crunch membership (access to all Crunch locations)." [RackedWire]
HARLEM—An addendum to that post about Baby Phat closing their Soho flagship. A commenter writes, "They are opening a new store on 125th street later this year." That will be one interesting opening party. Invite, please. [Racked Comments]
GRAMERCY—We've got no clue as to what a "hotel-inspired experience" means in regards to showering (mini bottles of product?), but in pursuit of that the showers at Equinox on Broadway and 19th Street will be turned off intermittently in June. So find somewhere else to cruise for a few days, won't you? [RackedWire]
UNION SQUARE—It's common knowledge that Forever 21 turns a profit by ripping off designers, but have they taken to stealing ideas from indie artists as well? Blog Outtakes notes that their current window display bears a resemblance to "'How to be Fashionable or Consume Like Me,' the 2003 pamphlet by Andrew Coulter Enright." Obscure. Click over there to compare the two. [Outtakes]
We're powering the blog down for the holiday weekend. See you around these parts on Tuesday.
WEST VILLAGE—You knew that Bleecker Street menswear boutique l'Uomo would be replaced by a Ralph Lauren store, but it seems certain now that it won't be any ordinary Ralph Lauren store. Writes a Racked commenter, "In case you don't already know, the old L'Uomo space will be transformed into an exclusive Purple Label shop." Fancy. [Racked Comments]
NEW YORK CITY—One of those sketchy over-the-counter aphrodisiacs you often see near the cash register at corner delis just killed a local man. Be on the lookout for a "product sold at sex shops and neighborhood stores under names including Piedra, Love Stone, Jamaican Stone, Black Stone and Chinese Rock. It is banned by the Food and Drug Administration, but shipments from overseas suppliers still occasionally slip past customs." Apparently, the man ingested a brand made with toad venom. [NY Post]
LOGO-COVERED BAGLAND—Remember Monogramoflauge, the new monogram + camouflage print from Louis Vuitton? That's a rhetorical question; of course you remember. Well, one intrepid reader came through with some of the first images of the Monogramoflauge bags and accessories. The note: "To think I was actually going to wait in line (on my birthday) for the Brooklyn Museum release of this hideous bag! Maybe I can see some camouflage fans liking this, but Maharishi makes better prints than this for a fraction of the cost. Hopefully some of your readers will appreciate the advance look at the line. This just shows me that LV thinks Brooklyn is too gritty to be fashionable, while LA has fun with fashion (see the moca designed bag)." [RackedWire Inbox]
NATIONAL—Surfer Laird Hamilton's clothing line Wonderwall ("a huge collection of cool and comfortable graphic tees, board shorts, cargo shorts, polo shirts, woven shirts and more for men and teens") for Steve & Barry's now has its own website. On it, you can see video of the man riding some serious waves, running around on the beach in his bathing suit, and...oh, what was the topic again? Steve & Barry's? The clothes are in stores now. [Wonderwall]
NATIONAL—The remnants of Gap's Design Editions have gone on sale. A tipster writes, "I don't think I've seen this on Racked but those fancy white shirts that the Gap was selling (the Philip Lim, etc. ones) are now marked down, from $54.99-$69.99." [RackedWire Inbox]
MIDTOWN WEST—More reports are trickling in about the Alain Mikli eyewear sale. Per a commenter: "The selection for this sale has been pretty slim. Most of the stock were brought in from many many previous sales that were never sold. It's disappointing that they never replenish stock. Basically, whatever they have now is all that they will have till the end of the sale. Sigh." [Racked Comments]
MIDTOWN WEST—Just weeks after a blowout John Varvatos sample sale, another is taking place. According to The Shophound, both have been worthy. "This time around, however, the sale is held in a somewhat less luxurious retail space in the garment district, and from what we can gather, the leftovers from the first sale have been taken over by an outfit called Underground NYC, who is now running its own sale. Typically, this would result in a dreary array of picked over, shopworn, out of season goods...The good news is: This isn't like that at all, at least not yet." [The Shophound]
THE HAMPTONS—Taking after some downtown Manhattan shops, a few retailers in the Hamptons have begun accepting euros. "A sign in the window of Loaves & Fishes cook shop in Bridgehampton, as first reported by Plum Hamptons TV, shows how far the mighty dollar has declined. It reads, 'We now accept euros. Bills only. Change given in U.S. dollars.'" [TRD]
MIDTOWN EAST—A dedicated shopper sends word of one Gap to avoid if you're looking to purchase the retailer's new Whitney Biennial t-shirt collection. "Gap at 42nd/3rd has a pathetic selection. They only have 5 of the 13 styles at this store. The Chuck Close one is nice though; it's velvety instead of screenprinted." The shirts are also available online. [RackedWire]
PARK SLOPE—Babeland, one of the city's finest sex shops, will be opening the doors to their Slope outpost very, very soon. From a top-level informant: "Babeland Brooklyn is opening June 3rd at 462 Bergen Street between Flatbush and 5th avenue in Park Slope." Stock up on batteries now. [RackedWire]
CARROLL GARDENS—New Smith Street boutique Epauletopened just a few weeks ago with a Walter pop-up, but they'll be switching to a new designer within the month. The store's next guest will be Christopher Deane, whose clothes will be available from June 13th through July 13th. [RackedWire]
EAST VILLAGE—According to a few of the commenters on this super-crazy Curbed thread, a new pet store (called Furry Pets? it's unclear) is opening on 12th Street and Avenue A. Apparently, they've been taking their sweet time: "The furry pet shop is annoying because it's taking them FOREVAH to open. Trying to be neighborly, I stopped by last week to buy some kitten chow and even though the shelves are stocked and the door's wide open the owner dood said to me "next week." WTH, I'm cute and nice and I pay cash, just sell me a damn bag of Nutro. And it still ain't open!" [Curbed Comments]
GREENPOINT—For the reality show fanatics out there: Hip boutique Alter is now carrying former Project Runway contestant Alison Kelly's Dahl collection. They've also begun stocking the her collaboration with Dane Risch of Salt & Samovar, called Dahl & Dane. Pictured at right is one of their skeleton key keychains ($28). [Alter]
NEW YORK CITY—TONY reports that up-and-coming streetwear brand Pegleg will be coming out with a women's line this fall. The collection will be 'small and concise, composed predominantly of leggings, denim and oversize tops.'” [TONY]
Let's end the day with a bit of Rackedwire, our roundup of gossip, rumors, events and other random pieces of ephemera. If you've got some 'Wire to share, well then, please do so.
RED HOOK—NewYorkology has a few more details about the Ikea Water Taxi service that's going to rock our world come June. "The Water Taxi will run seven days a week, every 40 minutes during store hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m." Most crucially, "The boat has a capacity of 74 passengers, but only 25 will be allowed on the outdoor top deck at any time." (Emphasis ours.) Right now, the store's only planning to offer the service over the summer, but may be persuaded to keep it going on the weekends in fall. [NewYorkology]
NOLITA—In case you didn't know, tomorrow is International Fluevog Day. That's shoe store John Fluevog for the unfamiliar. Drop in to their NYC outpost at 250 Mulberry Street at 5:15 tomorrow for free cupcakes and 15% off the brand's quirky footwear. The store will be open late ('til 9pm) for the occasion. [RackedWire]
SOHO—Modern furniture destination Kartell on Greene Street is closed for renovations. The store's slated to reopen this Saturday, May 17th, just in time for the beginning of ICFF. [RackedWire]
EAST VILLAGE—This just in, from a reader: "There is a new wine shop in Alphabet City called Alphabet City Wine Co.Kick ass, knowledgeable staff that care about the wine. Great prices too. Worth checking out." [RackedWire Inbox]
FINANCIAL DISTRICT—A tipster writes: "Wild Edibles, the crazy place that makes floral arrangements out of cantaloupe slices, is moving into a corner storefront at Nassau and Beekman. And yet there are still people who say FiDi is dead." That Wild Edibles has nothing to do with this Wild Edibles, does it? [RackedWire Inbox]
A CELL PHONE NEAR YOU—Are sample sale companies resorting to telemarketing to get bodies in the door? A Racked informant writes: "Just got a phone call from [redacted number]. It's a message recorded by some woman with a horrendous Jersey accent telling the listener about the latest 'sample' sale that is about to start @ 37 west 57th...Not sure how they got my phone number, especially since it's on the Federal 'do not call' list. But eating up my mobile minutes for sample sale spam is enough for me to vow off what ever company is having the sale." [RackedWire Inbox]
A tipster sends along this image of a sign on the door of the old Chocolate Bar space at 48 Eighth Avenue for 'Chico's Bail Bonds'. As you may recall, the reason given for Chocolate Bar having to move out of the storefront was that the landlord wanted the ground floor back for private reasons; and we doubt those had anything to do with a bail bonds service. Someone's got to be joking here, right? [RackedWire Inbox]
LOWER EAST SIDE—Long-plywooded grocer E&S Wholesome Foods has finally opened on the LES. A tipster writes: "Northeast corner of Stanton and Essex. Just a typical, slightly downscale whole foods market. Excitement level on a scale of 1 to 10: 3." [RackedWire]
SOHO—H&M's new billboard on Houston Street has been fully revealed, and just as suspected, it's an image of model Daria Werbowy. Instead of wearing a bikini, though, she's pretty covered up in an artfully draped scarf, a white tank and shorts. It can't be easy translating a photo to a gigantic painted wall mural, but boy, does she look a lot better in the retailer's catalog. [Racked Flickr Pool]
BOWERY—The Rogan store going in to the old Bouwerie Lane Theater at 330 Bowery is thisclose to opening. Reports a reader: "Rogan sign up at new store. Very subtle, it is the original Bowery Lane Theater sign, but the 'R's on the sign are now the signature Rogan shape 'R'." [RackedWire Inbox]
HUDSON SQUARE—Fancy-pants boutique Aloha Rag is finally getting around to throwing a grand opening party. The event is scheduled for tomorrow night from 6 to 9pm; drop by for "drinks, music and fun!" [Aloha Rag Staff Blog]
CHELSEA—The planned cleansing of the mom n' pops from Ninth Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets roused about 200 members of the community to a protest this past Saturday, reports Vanishing NY. Continuing today's theme, one participant opined, "A neighborhood is not a neighborhood if it's overrun by high-end boutiques, banks, and chain stores." Click through for more pix and reax. [Vanishing NY]
UPPER EAST SIDE—While putting your finishing touches on your outfit for tonight's Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala, this bit of intel just across the wire from the Prada public relations team might come in handy: "This is to inform you that Tilda Swinton and Elizabeth Banks will be wearing Prada tonight to the 2008 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit. Tilda will wear a gold Guipure lace dress with hand-sewn floral applique from the Fall/Winter 2008 Collection. Elizabeth will wear a grey silk bustier dress with a ruffled skirt and belted bow detail from the Fall/Winter 2008 Collection, with black satin clutch and black peep-toe heels." [RackedWire]
FRENCHVILLE—The first of Agent Provocateur's new stylishly porn-y video ads featuring Kate Mossdebuted today. The set of six ads, collectively titled 'White Wedding' will premiere online over the next six days. Hiding behind the guise of their French name, somehow AP can say this with a straight face: "White Wedding' is a groundbreaking exploration in extending a narrative advertising campaign to also create an experimental film series. Responding to a six-part script treatment written by Agent Provocateur founder Joe Corré, Nick Knight and a stellar cast including Kate Moss and artists Jake and Dinos Chapman have created six striking campaign stills that storyboard "the demise of a bride's 'big day' and serialise the unravelling of the religious organisation behind it...The result is an intriguing set of stylish shorts depicting Kate Moss running the gamut from demure virgin bride to dangerous, Lynchian siren that suggests new applications and creative potential for fashion film in advertising." Uh huh. Shorter story: Kate Moss is in her undies. [RackedWire]
The lookbook for Geren Ford's Urban Outfitters line, hitting stores in May, via Chic Report
CARROLL GARDENS—The identity of the new tropical-seeming boutique at 231 Smith has been revealed: it is to be called Epaulet. The men's and women's clothing store is coming strong out of the gate with a Walter pop-up shop starting May 8th and running through June 12th. The 8th is also the date of the shop's grand opening party (from 7:30 to 10pm). Expect more pop-ups from the boutique in the future. [RackedWire]
NEW YORK CITY—Shoe chain Naturalizer will be accepting gently-used shoes from May 3rd through the 11th. According to Daily Dose, "they will donate them and a pair of brand new Naturalizer shoes to the charity, Dress for Success, as well as offer a 20% discount on a pair for yourself." That's nice of them. [Daily Dose]
SOHO—Uniqlo is having another go at a sample sale. It will run Friday, May 2nd through May 11th and items all over the store will be discounted (but the deep markdowns are to be found in the basement). They are promising $20 cashmere and merino sweaters for men and women; let's hope they deliver this time. [RackedWire]
BAY RIDGE—A Key Food is closing in Bay Ridge, and the Brooklyn Paperis there to get the 411. Well, kind of: no one from the store, or the company that owns Key Food would talk to BP editor Gersh Kuntzman. But the locals will, and predictably, they're not pleased. This will leave them with just a Food Town! Horrible! [Brooklyn Paper]
UPPER WEST SIDE—Apartment furnishing is about to get a little easier for UWS residents. A Racked informant writes: "Looks like the UWS is getting their own West Elm. The picture was taken today (April 26). The location of the store is above the Best Buy store on Broadway in the 15 Central Park West building." If/when the shop opens, it will be the company's third NYC store after Chelsea and Dumbo. [RackedWire Inbox]
UNION SQUARE—A new bookstore is going head-to-head (sort of) with Barnes & Noble in Union Square. According to their help wanted post on Craigslist, travel and international literature shop Idlewild Books, a "bookstore organized by place rather than genre," will open at 12 W 19th Street in early May with "more than 5,000 carefully selected titles from more than 100 countries and all 50 states." And they're looking for staff, obviously. [Craigslist]
UWS—Bad news for uptowners eager for the UWS Scoop outpost to open: There's absolutely nothing going on at the storefront on 67th and Columbus (pictured in its current papered-up state above). A Racked correspondent, who dropped by the space today, reports: "No signs of life whatsoever. And the guy who peddles his wares out front from some card table—no help at all. He said he doesn't see a lot of action there." Sorry. [RackedWire]
LES—Dedicated shopping blogger Eep! Ramblings spotted new Gossip Girl castmember Michelle Trachtenberg at the Dolce Vitashoe sale on Ludlow Street. The report: "She has AH-mazing skin. It's porcelain white, and she was wearing a little blush for color. She must wear spf 1,000 and have an incredible beauty regimen." Also, she "spent $105 on three or four pairs of shoes and one pair of boots." [Eep! Ramblings]
Luggage purveyor Tumi is opening a branch in FiDi. A Racked informant writes: "I live at the Crest on 63 Wall Street and it looks like Tumi is opening up. Saw the goods inside and a sign waiting to be displayed in the street. They’ve been working on the store front for awhile but it was hard to tell until now what was coming." Sure enough, the location (67 Wall) is listed on their website under "new store openings;" a call to the outpost reveals that they'll be open for business tomorrow morning. [RackedWire]
LES—Bowery Whole Foods is throwing a party for Lauren Bush and her rustic-looking Feed bags. WWD reports that the grocery chain has purchased 430,000 bags, and will sell the first 100 during a fête at their Bowery store on Wednesday, April 30th. [WWD, subscription req]
MIDTOWN WEST—A Racked commenter fills us in on her feelings towards the Plaza Toosample sale going on now in Midtown: "I went to this sale last year...unless you're a size 6, they had nada! Everything cute (and designer) was in smaller sizes, and there was just random junk you would find on a Macy's clearance rack." Ouch. [Racked Comments]
In a strange upset, a fast-food chain is closing to make way for a local business. The Real Deal reports that Cutler Hair Salon will be replacing a McDonald's at 45-47 West 57th Street. "The West 57th Street salon will have 50 chairs and will replace a 40-chair shop at 115 East 57th Street. The company is keeping the salon at 465 West Broadway." As for the McDonald's, well, "along with paying less than the landlord wanted to charge, the McDonald's had ventilation and rodent problems and did not draw the kind of clientele the landlord sought." [TRD]
WILLIAMSBURG—Berry Street vintage shop Adele-Twig has gone on to the great old-clothing pile in the sky. Their website is gone and their phone is disconnected, but this photo taken by Racked shooter Will Femia really confirms the shuttering. If a vintage boutique can't make it in Williamsburg... [RackedWire]
UPPER WEST SIDE—According to one Racked commenter, the Boc sample sale currently taking place on Columbus Avenue is a complete disappointment. "Went there Thursday around 6, no 'Vivienne Westwood, Alexander Wang, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Splendid and Sigerson Morrison' in sight. Three frazzled racks of lesser-brand clothing shoved into a pitiful alcove in the back, some jeans (mostly capri length), boxes of shoes, bins of underthings. Dresses $70, jeans/bottoms $50, tops and skirts $30. The Asian store people were kind of rude to sale shoppers. They didn't even allow you to use the dressing rooms for sale items! Conclusion: not worth the trek uptown." [Racked Comments]
Rackedwire's our roundup of gossip, rumors, events and other random pieces of ephemera. If you've got some 'Wire to share, well then, please do so.
CARROLL GARDENS—"I live in Carroll Gardens and there is a new storefront at 231 Smith Street with this cool beach scene covering the windows and a date on it. Do you know anything about this?" asks a puzzled Racked reader (tropical-themed signage pictured above). Neighborhood sources tell us that it will be a men's and women's clothing boutique named Epaulette (or Epellete, the exact name is still unclear) moving into the former Ohio Knitting Mills storefront. [RackedWire Inbox]
BED-STUY—FreshDirect has come down from its pedestal and deigned to deliver to Bed-Stuy residents (well, some of them). And the community rejoices! Urbanite reports that "Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz was present to usher in this new era of fresh foods in a box delivered to the doors of Bed-Stuy residents." The future is now. [Urbanite]
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SOHO— Mark your calendars: The blog Fashion Binge has actual dates for the long-awaited opening of Topshop's first New York store. They're predicting either October 16, 17, or 18, so expect lots of girls in fedoras dressed as Kate Moss for Halloween. [Fashion Binge]
HELL'S KITCHEN & BEYOND—With their Ninth Avenue 
BOERUM HILL—If 
NOHO—More on the Crunch Soho/Noho(?) 
MIDTOWN WEST—Just weeks after a blowout John Varvatos sample sale, another is taking place. 
GREENPOINT—For the reality show fanatics out there: Hip boutique Alter is now carrying former Project Runway contestant Alison Kelly's Dahl collection. They've also begun 
RED HOOK—NewYorkology 
A tipster sends along this image of a sign on the door of the 
BOWERY—The Rogan store 
LES—Bowery Whole Foods is throwing a party for Lauren Bush and her rustic-looking Feed bags. WWD 
