Nissan's much-anticipated GT-R supercar isn't even out yet in these United States, but the brand is already planning a souped-up version of the already souped-up coupe. Dubbed the Spec-V—for Victory Specification, of course—the car will sport a lighter curb weight and (naturally) even more power, courtesy of a more finely tuned engine. It's allegedly going to be unveiled at this year's Paris Auto Show, before coming stateside in 2010.

[Motor Authority via Autoblog]

The smartest political commentator in broadcasting (and accidental icon) has died today of a heart attack. He was 58. Here, a clip of him breaking out his trademark white-board for one of the last times.

Canon just released a mouse that unfolds to reveal a numerical keypad and calculator. (Even though, you know, most computers already have those functions.) We kid, but seriously: This is billed as the "industry's first," and we suspect it will be the industry's last.

[Gizmodo]

It seems that all those marble prints in the fall collection were no passing fancy: The floors of Jil Sander's statement-making new Manhattan boutique are covered in several quarry-loads of smooth stone. The space on the corner of Howard and Crosby streets is the first in any country to represent the full vision of creative director Raf Simons, and it's probably no surprise that it's as spare and precise as the suits he has been making for the label the last three years—so spare, in fact, that there aren't even any sales racks on the ground floor. (The business of trying on the merch and forking over your hard-earned cash takes place on the second floor, with its wraparound-mirrored changing rooms.) Unlike the rather dowdier digs Jil Sander has been occupying uptown, this is a fitting home for a brand that's always had more of a downtown feel. Welcome to the neighborhood, Mr. Simons.
Jil Sander, 30 Howard St., New York, NY, (212) 925-2345, jilsander.com

Croatia's known for many things—a brutal war for independence and, most recently, a decent shot at the Euro Cup—but menswear isn't one of them. It wasn't always that way: The central European republic is the birthplace of the tie. (Yeah, we had no idea either.) Croata, one of the country's leading neckwear boutiques, is looking to get the word out by issuing a limited-edition series of designs called the "Croata 4," pictured at left. The retailer's version only resembles the original in spirit: The accessory was brought to the West by Croatian soldiers who arrived in France to help fight in the 30 Years War (1618-1648); they wore kerchiefs knotted on by their loved ones as a mark of fidelity. The French not only accepted their aid on the battlefield, they flipped for the "cravat" and adopted it as their own. The Croata 4 (so called because only four of each type are made) are, of course, slimmer, crafted from silk in traditional patterns. The designs include a braiding motif found in ancient monuments, and Glagolitic script, the original alphabet of Slavic languages. At the very least, it's an interesting gift option for Father's Day: Dad will never be able to read the writing on his tie, but he'll appreciate its authenticity.
$599, croata.hr

Two reasons why the new Icon A5 is the must-own light sport airplane of the week: One, it comes with an enormous parachute to assist with landings. Second, the wings fold up, much like those of Vader's shuttle in Empire Strikes Back. (Hey, garage space is at a premium, right?) Of course, it doesn't come cheap: The deposit alone is five grand.

[Popular Mechanics via Gizmodo]

Here's one we missed from the Milan Furniture Fair: a lounge chair prototype from Singapore firm Crisp Design, modeled after the shape of the human body reclining on the floor. The chair's from a series titled "In Conversation," and its silhouette is meant to evoke the shape of someone in deep discussion—someone whose parents never told them to sit up straight, apparently.

[Kanye University]

RAF fighter pilot Chris Ball, who is currently serving on exchange with the U.S. Air Force in Afghanistan, has gotten clearance to keep his distinctive handlebar mustache. The BBC reports that Ball cited the Queen's Regulations, which state that the mustache should not go below the edge of the mouth, but is otherwise allowable. You might say that was a close shave.

NASA just ordered its next round of spacesuits. They're made by a group called Oceaneering International and will take flight in 2015. (Those guys really plan ahead, huh?) The rendering above, though, looked familiar—we swore we'd seen it somewhere before. Then we remembered where we had...

It won't officially open until the end of the month, but ABH (Above Beverly Hills), the rooftop bar at the Thompson Beverly Hills, is set to premiere tomorrow night. The space features a pool (it is Beverly Hills, after all), plenty of teak, and infinity glass with 360-degree views of the city—in other words, exactly what you'd expect from a Thompson hotel. Gate-crashers, however, should be advised: When ABH throws open its doors, it will be for hotel guests only.
9360 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, (310) 273-1400, thompsonbeverlyhills.com

[WWD]

As you might have heard, there's some sort of holiday on Sunday: Los Angeles celebrates with Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance, an annual luxury auto festival with rare and vintage models on display (last year's highlight: a 1937 Talbo-Lago T150-C-SS, pictured above). It's a spectacle your father's sure to enjoy, whether or not any of the cars are in his price range. Sunday, June 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. between the 300 and 400 blocks on Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles, rodeodrive-bh.com

Werner Herzog's Encounters at the End of the World opens tomorrow, and finds the peripatetic director at Antarctica's McMurdo Station. Its residents—scientists, adventurers, and the like—are an off-kilter bunch, but Herzog finds a kind of contented joy in their home at the farthest periphery of civilization. (Surprise, surprise.) Nature on film hasn't looked this strange since Jean Painlevé. Check out the preview below:

Also out tomorrow: Baghead, a comedy-cum-horror film from mumblecore duo Mark and Jay Duplass about four twentysomethings, relationships, and an assailant with a bag over his head. In other words, just like every other mumblecore film—but now with a guy with a bag on his head.

Five things worth knowing today

- Denis Johnson 's new novel, Nobody Move, begins its serialization in the July issue of Playboy, on sale today. (Kind of makes you wish the criminally overrated Tree of Smoke had come with pics of naked women, too.)
- In case you hadn't noticed, it's Friday the 13th. Good luck out there.
- Especially because it's also National Pigeon Day.
- Today in 1970, "The Long and Winding Road" became the Beatles' last #1 hit.
- And also in 1970, Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo was born.

Sometimes gentrification comes with an authentic twist: Architects DSDHA have won permission from the Westminster City Council to tile a building facade on London's Beak Street in ceramic silver—a nod to the street's 18th-century name, Silver Street. The glitzy design feels more L.A. than London Town, but a little livening up of the area was perhaps in order: DSDHA's was one of the first designs to be granted approval in Soho since the late nineties.

[Dezeen]

Boat designer Erik Sifrer has just introduced Project Green Jet, a fully automated 57-foot concept yacht. Rather than use an entire crew, you control everything from the sails to the lighting via touch screen. Of course, why you would want to sail such a thing all alone—or what you do if it runs out of power—is something of a question mark. As is whether it will be produced: Sifrer estimates it will take three to six years (and $70 million) to build.

[Gizmag via Gizmodo]

Jocks and nerds haven't proverbially been the best of friends, and Sang Hoon-Lee's adjustable-weight barbells may force them farther apart. To wit: The barbells become "heavier" when you rotate a dial on the side, which sets tiny balls inside spinning, creating resistance and making your workout more intense. Sound suspect? It certainly does to the engineer commenters at Yanko Design's blog, who are sniping madly about how impossible that is. Easy, guyswe're sure you're right, but there's got to be a better way to relieve all that stress. Might we suggest a workout?

[Yanko Design via Complex]

The design enthusiasts at MoCo Loco just posted a gallery of lighting from Italian brand Flos. Cool stuff, particularly the examples from BarberOsgerby and Jasper Morrison, as well as the so-called Nebula lamp (pictured) by Joris Laarman. Turns out the Dutchman is having a bit of a moment: Earlier this year he took home a young designer award at Elle Décor's Edida 2008.

Another great Flickr find: Last Floor Project, by São Paulo photographer Felipe Morozini, who has been taking voyeuristic pictures of his neighbors as they tan, do their laundry, and, uh, admire themselves while topless (pictured). Check out the full gallery here.

[via Josh Spear]

Hyundai (yeah, the guys who make your dentist's sedan) just announced a new 3-D-equipped monitor. The 22-inch W220S (amusingly dubbed "TriDef") includes several custom apps, most notably Google Earth 3D, which will let you see the world the way it looks, say, out your window. But be ready to embrace your inner Bono, as some—shall we say—creative eyewear is required for use. The W220S goes on sale tomorrow for about 900 bucks, and for now it's only available in Japan.

[Engadget]

The Japanese denim trend hasn't exactly gone underreported, but that doesn't mean Diesel's latest jeans aren't worth a mention. The Okayama Project is a foray into selvage for Diesel Denim Gallery—hand-crafted and dyed 14-ounce denim from the town in Japan best described as obsessed with indigo. (Just ask this guy.) Bonus: They're missing Diesel's usual, uh, flair. Pricing and availability are still TBA, but don't expect them to come cheap.

For the discerning bachelor pad: an electronic cooler that has 33 settings to chill different types of wine—though, admittedly, $135 is a high price to pay to ensure that your Pinot Grigio never gets as cold as your Champagne. Too fussy? Not to worry: Summer beers seem to do okay in the regular old fridge.

[Drinkstuff via Ballerhouse]

SMK's "new concept remote control unit" looks futuristic, but how it works isn't exactly clear. This much we can tell you: The egg-shaped model (pictured) is operated by shaking it, talismanlike, at an electronic device. The design is whimsical, but this egg isn't built for fun. Shaking for too long without issuing a command will prompt a huffy reprimand: "Don't play. Battery will run out."

[SMK via Dvice]

You need lights, you need speakers, so why not combine the two? That, at least, is the logic behind Yamaha's new YST001 sound system, which comes with built-in halogen lamps. (You can control both audio and light levels via remote.) Gimmicky? Absolutely, but the 47-inch speakers should sound (and, of course, look) solid—and you can always leave the lights off. They'll cost around $1,250, but no word on when (or if) they'll be out stateside.

[Gizmodo]

Barolo seems an unlikely finish for a peaty Scotch—especially for those who like their whisky to taste like, uh, whisky—but Longrow Gaja Barolo makes a strong case for it. The seven-year-old single malt from Springbank, one of Scotland's most renowned distilling dynasties, is matured in bourbon casks for five years and then finished for a year and a half in Barolo wine casks from Angelo Gaja's famed vineyard in Piedmont. The result? A symphonic confluence of flavors, with smoke from the Scotch creeping up over the fruit and harmonizing perfectly with the oak. Caveat emptor: It's a cask-strength 111.6-proof, and—unlike a Barolo—is best served with a splash of water.
About $80, springbankdistillers.com

Less so for Blackberry Curve fans: The brave techies at CNET just posted a list of both the ten highest-radiation cellphones and the ten lowest-radiation models. Frightening (if fascinating) stuff—and impossible not to click.

[New York Times]

File this one under reunions we never saw coming: Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, Lydia Lunch's acerbic postpunk band, plays a one-off in Manhattan tomorrow for—what else?—a gallery exhibit called No Wave 1976-1980. Curated by Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and music journalist Byron Coley, the show features art and photos from New York's late-seventies No Wave scene, where avant-gardists like Lunch, Glenn Branca, and Suicide's Alan Vega (pictured) transformed the dregs of punk into something far artier (and far less listenable). Fear for your hearing? The show's also been collected in book form—No Wave: Post-Punk. Underground. New York. 1976-1980, out now.
Through July 2 at KS Art, 73 Leonard St., New York, NY, (212) 219-9918, kerryschuss.com; No Wave, $16.47, amazon.com

Five things worth knowing today

- The U.S. Open begins in San Diego, CA.
- John McCain stops by Nashua, NH, for a town hall meeting (presumably without musical accompaniment).
- Bravo's A-List Awards are announced tonight. Kathy Griffin's the host, so winning one basically means you're B-list or worse.
- Today in 1964, Nelson Mandela was sentenced to life in prison. (He was released in 1990.)
- And today in 1981, Adriana Lima (pictured) was born. You remember her, right? Thought so.

The Cazal 902, pictured above, is a limited-edition sunglasses collaboration between eyewear companies Cazal and Dita—just the sort of design fit to impress both Russian oligarchs and monied young Hollywood (and those who want to give the impression that they keep that kind of company). If you like them, get on it: They're only going to produce 1,500 pairs, and they're exclusively sold in Berlin.
$750, Mykita Shop Berlin, Rosa-Luxemburg-Strasse 6, Berlin, Germany, (011) 49-(0)30-67308715, mykita.com

Copenhagen's latest commission is surprising, even for design-crazy Scandinavians: a high-concept elephant house at the Copenhagen Zoo. Conceived by Foster + Partners, the domed enclosure looks more like a luxury condo than a traditional zoo pen. Still, it's got the pachyderms' best interests in mind, providing space for the animals to sleep in groups and importing elephant-endorsed dry riverbed into the landscape. Will the Swedes take note and introduce an Ikea zoo set to furnish it?

[Dezeen]

The cost of art at auction may be climbing steadily, but that doesn't mean you have to be a Lauder to cop a nice piece. Relief comes in the form of the Affordable Art Fair, opening today in Manhattan, where works from more than 70 galleries representing 10 countries will be shown—all priced between $100 and $10,000. You won't be taking home a Bacon or a Freud, but deals are everywhere, like Carol Bennett's oil Bracelet (pictured), going for a reasonable $6,000. Think of it as a baby step towards next year in Basel.
Through June 15 at the Altman Building and Metropolitan Pavilion, 135 W. 18th St., New York, NY, aafnyc.com

No, not a clunky Swedish car: the first hotel by Elie Saab, the Lebanese fashion designer best known for outfitting red- carpet-bound starlets. The 360,000-square-foot complex is set to open in September 2009, when it will become part of the Tiger Woods Dubai resort, which will also include the first course designed by the golfer himself. In other words, Dubai has out-Dubai-ed itself yet again.

[Luxist]

Photographer David Belisle has spent the last seven years with R.E.M., documenting every furrowed brow of the band's post-Reveal career (that's the one with "Imitation of Life," in case you forgot). The results are collected in R.E.M.: Hello, a new book that also includes portraits of colleagues like Bruce Springsteen, the Dixie Chicks, and, uh, Michael Moore (a reminder that the Vote for Change tour wasn't that long ago). Belisle's candid photos are complemented by captions from the band—which, despite his sometimes pretentious stage persona, illustrate that Michael Stipe's a pretty funny guy.
$19.77, amazon.com

If the rumors are true, Sony Ericsson's about to release the C905, a cell phone with a pretty kick-ass camera: 8.1 megapixels, face recognition, image stabilization, Xenon flash, and GPS for location-tagging your photos. All of which should make your drunken party snaps a lot clearer—whether that's good or bad is up to you. Still, take those specs with a grain of salt: They come by way of the Unofficial Sony Ericsson blog, which apparently exists.

[via Gizmodo]

Moog has entered the guitar business, just 44 years after inventing its pioneering synthesizers (which can be heard everywhere from "Here Comes to Sun" to Daft Punk records). As you'd expect, it isn't just a souped-up Les Paul—the Paul Vo edition (named after its engineer) includes something called "full sustain mode," which promises that any note struck can be held an "infinite" amount of time. Don't take our word for it—check out the video below, with Lou Reed playing the instrument. Let's just hope this doesn't inspire him to make Metal Machine Music II.
Moog Paul Vo Collector Edition guitar, $6,495, moogmusic.com

[Gizmodo]

Apparently, NASA's loosened up its definition of acceptable losses: The space agency has announced plans to send a probe to the sun—you know, the big fiery ball at the center of our universe—slated for launch as early as 2015. Amongst other mysteries, the Solar Probe Plus will study why the surface of the sun is a relatively cool 6,000 degrees Celsius compared to its outer atmosphere, which reaches temperatures in the millions. (Expected: fairly significant developments in heat-resistant technology.) Also headed to space? Google cofounder Sergey Brin, who will fly to the International Space Station in 2011. Bad news for aspiring moguls: He plans on returning.

Bonnaroo begins in Tennessee tomorrow, featuring a helter-skelter lineup of oddly matched artists (it's just plain strange to see a bill where M.I.A.'s name is parked next to Umphrey's McGee—a festival isn't the same as an iPod Shuffle, people). Adding to the weirdness? Wayne Coyne, whose experimental film, Christmas on Mars, will be screened for festival-goers Sunday night. As you probably guessed, the movie's about a Christmas pageant on the red planet, and, besides the Flaming Lips, stars Elijah Wood, Fred Armisen, and Adam Goldberg as a psychiatrist (now that's weird). It's only been completed recently, but it's been in the works for a while—note the date on the clip below.

What do you get when you mix vintage Hollywood style with the sartorial flair of a European playboy? One answer: Hart, the diffusion line from Brit tailor Nick Hart. Launching at Pitti Uomo later this month, the collection will offer a relaxed antidote to the bespoke duds at Spencer Hart, his Savile Row firm (or even the Thin White Duke-inspired designs he cranks out for Aquascutum). The tailor/designer has been perfecting a variety of white shirts, and unstructured, one-button "blue-black Miami forties-type blazers" to pair with trousers in slightly different but complimentary shades. "It's also about texture and fit," he says, adding with a laugh, "If it got more minimalist, it wouldn't exist. It's so laid-back, it's almost horizontal."
Blazers are $900-$,2000, available this fall at Liberty of London, Regent St., London, U.K., (0)20-7734-1234, liberty.co.uk

Opening later this month after almost a year of delays: the 12-room Hotel Montefiore, set in the heart of Tel Aviv's White City nabe (already home to some 2,000 original Bauhaus buildings). The meticulously renovated 1920s mansion has been updated with more contemporary indulgences, like a haute Southeast Asian eatery on the ground floor. Upstairs, rooms have private balconies and original period furnishings—think chairs, tables, and sofas by German designers Thonet—and art by the city's contemporary up-and-comers. The recently opened Bauhaus Center is just a short stroll away; as is its aesthetic opposite, the beach.
Hotel Montefiore, 36 Montefiore St., Tel Aviv, Israel, 011-972-3-5646100, rooms from about $500 (including breakfast); hotelmontefiore.co.il

More than meets the eye (at least in still photos): Meet BMW's new GINA, an acronym for "Geometry and Functions in N Adaptations," obviously. When motorized metal framing moves, changing the car's shape and function, its flexible fabric skin moves with it. (Quick: Someone tell Michael Bay.) And though it's fully functional, at the moment there are no plans for a production run—GINA's only on view at BMW's Munich museum. If you can't make it out there, she's also starring in a YouTube video. See below:

[Oh Gizmo]

Tim Walker isn't as well-known as some of his contemporaries, but Pictures, his new monograph, ought to go a long way toward fixing that. The fashion photographer—a former assistant of Richard Avedon—has a flair for elaborate, dreamlike tableaux (think beautiful women cavorting in ruined Baroque ballrooms and plowing Rolls-Royces into lampposts). As we already mentioned, an exhibit of Walker's work opened in London last month, but in case you missed it, his book is available now.
$125, amazon.com

Five things worth knowing today

- Barney Greengrass celebrates its centennial with a day of 1908 prices—likely the only 5¢ cup of coffee you're going to find in New York.
- Literary festivals take Europe: Le Marathon des Mots comes to Toulouse, while Tom Stoppard hits the Dublin Writers Festival.
- Meanwhile, out West, the Maui Film Festival bows today, as does the San Francisco Black Film Festival.
- Today in 1962, Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin successfully escaped from Alcatraz.
- And today in 1933, Gene Wilder was born. Below, Wilder's turn as a doctor—named, curiously enough, Doug Ross—who's bewitched by a sheep in Woody Allen's Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex.

When it comes to art, L.A. used to be seen as a watered-down, Siberian version of New York. But Walter Hopps and Irving Blum, stewards of Ferus Gallery from 1956 to 1966, helped to create a vibrant Left Coast scene (as previously reported, they basically brought art to L.A.). Morgan Neville's Cool School, premiering tonight on PBS, profiles the gallery where Andy Warhol's soup cans were first exhibited and where many West Coast artists, among them Ed Ruscha and Robert Irwin, had their first solo shows. "Even though we didn't have any evidence, we were completely confident that we were on the right track and everyone else was full of shit," Irwin says. Check out the preview below:

...there's Funny Games, Michael Haneke's shot-for-shot remake of his own 1997 movie. Although reviews were mixed—the film was derided for being an ineffectual (and late-coming) entry into the torture-porn category—it's worth noting for its strong performances and profoundly disturbing vision of violence. If, you know, you're into that stuff.

Also out: HBO's John Adams. The DVD includes a new documentary about two-time Pulitzer-winner David McCullough, author of the titular biography. It also offers viewers a pop-up fact-box option, presumably for those who like their history the same way they like VH1's music videos.

UC Berkeley's Art Museum won't open until 2013, but renderings were released today, and the building looks to be stunning. It marks the American debut of Japanese architect Toyo Ito (known for the Tower of Winds in Yokohama, among other projects). His No Cal structure will resemble a honeycomb, with flowing, ribbonlike interior walls. In other words, yes, it's just like a regular building, only wavier.

[San Francisco Chronicle]

Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo—the duo you might remember from Two Dudes Catering on the Food Network—open their first restaurant tomorrow in L.A. Called Animal, the eatery's menu currently includes flat-iron steak, pork ribs, and (of course) soft-shell crab—all prepared in the kinds of ways you'd expect from chefs paying attention to their local farmer's market. Their desserts, however, include at least one distinctly weird option: the bacon chocolate crunch bar ($7). Sounds, uh, crispy.
Opens June 11, 435 N. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 782-9225

[Eater L.A.]

In advance of Mad Men's second season—premiering July 27; set your DVR—Bloomingdale's has devoted its Third Avenue window displays to the show. (Think conservative suits, vintage-looking dresses, and plenty of barware.) If the items remind you to pick up something for Dad before Sunday, that's probably not a coincidence.

For the man who has everything: a 24k-gold-plated motorcycle courtesy of MV Augusta and Aurum, a Venetian precious-metal processing firm. Hey, gold's a good investment—or so you can tell your baffled accountant whenever the bike becomes available for sale.

[Born Rich via BallerRide]

New from Yoko Devereaux: Old Money, a collection of men's jewelry made from hand-cut coins. Who says pennies are useless now?
$88, available at supermarkethq.com

Good news for camera shoppers on a budget: Canon just introduced the EOS Digital Rebel XS, a beginner-friendly DSLR. Gizmodo expects it to cost about 200 bucks less than the acclaimed XSI, but the sacrifices involved are minimal: It's got a 10.1-megapixel sensor (rather than the XSI's 12.2); the LCD screen is a half inch smaller; and the autofocus sensor is a little less powerful. You get the same DIGIC III processor and Live View as the XSI, which means your pictures should be just as good (if a bit smaller). Expect it to cost about $600 for the body only, with availability TBA next month.

Hewlett-Packard announced roughly one gazillion (with a "g") new computers today. Among the highlights: the first update to its Pavilion laptop series in more than two years. The line is led by the d7, which includes a 17-inch-screen, a Blu-ray drive, and even a subwoofer. (Ideal for getting the party started in business class.) Nothing too spectacular, but at $950, it's a solid portable option.

HP has also updated the TouchSmart (pictured), an all-in-one device with a touch screen (hence the name). The screen is bigger and housed inside a slimmer case, but unfortunately there's no Blu-ray compatibility. It'll cost $1,500 when it's out next July. Something tells us you might want to wait for the next sequel.

[Gizmodo, Crave]