Requried viewing: Hoop Dreams, Steve James' '94 doc on the hopes and fates of Arthur Agee and William Gates, two Chicago teens with dreams of playing pro ball, and the realities—exploitation, competition, and isolation among them—that attend the journey from talented kid to superstar pro. What's new? The Academy Award-winner and acknowledged sports-movie classic is now free: Today Hulu CEO Jason Kilar posted it in its entirety, along with a lengthy tribute, on the site's blog. There goes your last excuse not to (re)watch.

[Hulu via IFC.com]

Given the vibe of Nikki Beach in Miami, the international brand's new Turks & Caicos location didn't seem all that alluring, despite the islands' other charms. But a visit last weekend to the recently opened resort proved us wrong—it's hard to argue with Bulgari bath products and beachfront opium beds (even if—ahem—opium wasn't on the menu). Other amenities included the usual: Think poolside DJs, VIP cabanas, and a limo stocked with Veuve to pick you up from the airport. Relaxing, sure, but still in keeping with the brand; unless you like your kids to freak out with the go-go dancers until 4 a.m., we'd recommend saving the family vacation for the Ritz Carlton (opening in 2009).
For more information, visit nikkibeachhotels.com

Our Olympic fever is slowly turning into an Olympic allergy, but there are some bright spots amid the buildup to 8.8.08. Case in point: Lesser Panda, English artist Sarah Morris' show at London's White Cube. Her abstract series 2028 [Rings] (pictured) is inspired by both the Games' logo and Beijing's famously congested traffic circles, resulting in a frenetic, dizzying panorama (not unlike the cityscape itself). Bored with the People's Republic? Try Morris' film 1972, a treatment of the Munich Games. Something tells us her take's a touch subtler than Spielberg's.
25-26 Mason's Yard, London, +44-020-7930-5373, whitecube.com

[DesignBoom]

Sanyo just updated its portable (and waterproof) HD camcorder line, Xacti, with the HD800. The camera still shoots in 720p, but now sports an 8-megapixel censor and a 5x optical zoom inside the same light, slickly designed package. It's out this fall—still beach weather in our global warming age—for about $460.

[Gizmodo]

M3 fans probably winced a little during last fall's Tokyo Auto Show when BMW re-introduced a sedan version of its famously speedy coupe. (The move was probably inevitable, given Merc, Lexus, and Audi were already making 400-hp four-doors.) Now Bimmer has given the M3 a face-lift—or more accurately, a rear lift, given that all of the minor upgrade is in the back. (Most noticeable are taillights borrowed from the 328i and 335i.) A step in the right direction, we suppose, but something tells us the purists still won't be satisfied.

[Autoblog]

Fresh from his recent show at Colette, designer/illustrator (and Shepard Fairey protégé) Eric Elms arrives tonight at Nike iD's former design space in NYC. Details on the Nike Sportswear-sponsored affair are scant—an homage to the locale's former incarnation as an appointment-only footwear speakeasy, perhaps. (Note that the invite's zipper motif cropped up at the Colette show, too.) That said, this wouldn't be a bad one to take on faith: Elms has had a hand in designing for and with Supreme, Panasonic, aNYthing, and Neckface. Not bad for an up-and-comer—but then again, even his college thesis wound up in the pages of I.D.
255 Elizabeth St., NYC

[KAWS via Freshness]

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, Haruki Murakami's memoir about competing in the NYC marathon, may be the best book on the topic since Diddy Runs the City: The Novelization, but there's tougher fare to be found in Ahead of the Curve. Philip Delves Broughton's account of his experiences at Harvard Business School, also out yesterday, explores the hidden machinations of modern finance and the sometimes foolish behavior of those who'd like to become Masters of the Universe. (Spoiler alert: Expect to read about a booze luge.) The journalist doesn't explain how to fix the housing market, but does make a convincing case for the positive qualities of ruthlessness. In other words, the perfect beach read.
$17.13, available at amazon.com; What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, $14.28, available at amazon.com

There's a new way for some to cool off at Coney Island this summer: torture (and no, we're not talking about the sideshow). As part of Creative Time's series of projects at America's scariest amusement park, artist Steve Powers (a.k.a. ESPO) unveiled his Waterboarding Thrill Ride last weekend, an animatronic installation where viewers can pay a buck and step up to watch a mannequin endure the time-tested torture technique. For those who'd rather see the real thing, later next month Powers and several lawyers (funny guy, that ESPO) will be waterboarded by a professional; video from the show will be available at creativetime.org. The crowd will no doubt be filled with media types, but presumably Christopher Hitchens won't attend—we suspect he's already had enough.

[The New York Times]

There are plenty of artistically pervy lensmen of our own right here at home (Richard Kern and Terry Richardson spring to mind), so why bother with Nobuyoshi Araki? Well, for one, he's more efficient: Over his 40-year career, he's released over 250 books. His latest is Araki Gold, a new volume of almost entirely unpublished work assembled for an Italian exhibition earlier this year. The tome's divided into chapters like "Ginza" (vintage street scenes); "Bondages" (naked chicks, all tied up); "Love Stories" (naked chicks, some tied up); "Tokyo Diary" (naked chicks, cats); "Flowers" (somehow equally lewd); and "Polaroid" (even more naked chicks). Dick and Terry had better get a move on.
Araki Gold, $34.65, available in September at amazon.com

The ancient French port city of Le Havre isn't a major tourist destination (yet). But all that may change in the course of the city's revitalization, which includes a little help from France's favorite son, Jean Nouvel: His Bains des Docks, a Roman bath-inspired aquatic center, is now open. What that actually means: a serene megacomplex in austere white, punctuated by a riotous wall of Lego-like color blocks, complete with saunas and Olympic-size pools. Mediterranean excess in an oasis of French calm? Guess that's the lusty Roman aspect.
Quai de la r…union, 76600 Le Havre, France, (011) 33-02-3279-2955, vert-marine.com

[The Coolhunter]

Five things worth knowing today

- Gen Art's Shop NYC sale comes to Manhattan, offering deep discounts on Hyden Yoo, Barking Irons, and T-County—just be prepared to fight through droves of ladies.
- Adventurous eaters can make their way to Montana's Testicle Festival, celebrating the gourmet preparation of...well, yeah.
- Less-adventurous eaters are advised to try the Maine Lobster Festival, also beginning today.
- Today in 1975, Teamster advocate Jimmy Hoffa disappeared.
- And today in 1950, Frank Stallone was born. Worst musician in pop history? Just maybe: