Swedish fashion blog Manolo.se contains a wealth of well-curated, thoughtful articles on manlig stil—albeit ones that we are woefully unable to read. Never content to let our own ignorance stand in the way of your sartorial experience, we present the site's "tips för Höstpreppy", a helpful meditation on J. Crew and J.Press that we're convinced is blisteringly intelligent. Don't believe us? Consider some of the words of wisdom, below (original text followed by our [very] approximate distillation):

- Det är lätt att preppystilen blir lite för slätstruket gullig, något som effektivt vägs upp av grov tweed. [Tweed: not just for Finns.]
- Byxor med hög midja och rak siluett är att föredra till denna stil då detta ger ett något elegantare intryck. [Khakis, yeah, cool. Did you catch Seinfeldt last night?]
- För inspiration spana in Wes Andersons klassiska Rushmore. [Big in Sweden: the Criterion Collection.]

Check out the site for the full article, which is drawing raves from its Swedish readers. ("Grymt!" enthuses one commenter.) Know more than we do about the Nordic tongue? Comment below.

Spoiler alert: Michael Bastian's Spring '09 collection (showing at the upcoming NYC Fashion Week) will have a sweater that matches this garbage bin. (If you squint, you can make out the sweater in the photo.) The designer created the trophy-inspired receptacle with Danish brand Vipp for a September charity auction on behalf of the Food Bank for NYC and Chernobyl Children's Project International. (Also participating: Bono, Michael Stipe, and Simon Doonan, among others.) Bidding starts at $500—presumably cheaper than the sweater, if also considerably less wearable.
VIP Charity Auction for Helena Christensen benefiting The Food Bank for NYC and Chernobyl Children's Project International, Sept. 18; Public viewing and bidding Sept. 4-17, The Conran Shop, 407 E. 59th St., NYC, (212) 755-9079, conranusa.com

Most camera phones are still more phone than camera, but every once in a while comes a welcome exception like LG's new KC910. The touch-screen device (unveiled today on Phone Arena) has features that wouldn't be out of place on a top-tier point-and-shoot: face detection and image stabilization, xenon flash, a Schneider-Kreuznach lens, and even 120 fps video capabilities. But the real rarity is manual focus, something you wouldn't find (or need) on your standard phone's two-megapixel afterthought. Look for it in October, price TBD.

[via Gizmodo]

What Adam Kimmel did for dockworkers, Daiki Suzuki may do for train conductors. Engineered Garments' shawl-collared vest, now available at Nomad, looks more locomotive than some of the other recent takes on classic American workwear (admittedly, in a Paddington Station sort of way). Next up: Japanese selvage Amtrak uniforms?
$215, available at Nomad, 431 Richmond St. W., Toronto, (416) 682-1107, nomadshop.net

On the premiere of Project Earth, a maverick team of glaciologists proposes a new solution to counter global warming: by literally blanketing the Earth. In the experiment, scientists weave together 10,000 square yards of polypropylene to shelter the mile-thick ice of Greenland's glaciers (that old trick). Future installments of the series seem equally far-fetched, with projects like erecting a sun-shield in outer space and re-seeding the rain forests via helicopter. Guess we know what Al Gore's DVR'ing tonight.
9 p.m., Discovery

The Wi-Fi iPod dock isn't a new idea, but Sony's new S-Airplay is one of the handsomest we've seen yet. The device sends your playlists wirelessly throughout the house to speakers up to 164 feet away. (Two such speakers are included, but the system will support up to ten.) As a nice bonus, it also receives AM/FM radio signals, which you can then listen to on one speaker while the other is still tuned to your iPod. (Yep, this dock goes both ways.) Look for it this September.
$400, sony.com

It really is the future: Vizio's new 26-inch computer monitor comes equipped with HD resolution, two HDMI inputs, and sharp, 2001:1 contrast that rivals a number of televisions on the market. What that means: The screen's ready for the next generation of high-def Web content and games. Couple that with its relatively low price tag, and you've got an ultraclear way to return e-mails—or play Guitar Hero, if you're so inclined.
$450, available at vizio.com

Though he's never quite developed a following in America, in his native Britain, Steve Coogan has been ubiquitous for over a decade, where his outlandish characters—overstuffed television host Alan Partridge, man-eater Pauline Calf, and Portuguese recording artist Tony Ferrino—are celebrities in their own right. In Hamlet 2, opening on these shores today, Coogan plays a failed actor-turned-drama teacher who stages a high-school musical adaptation—thankfully sans Efron—of the Bard's play. (The centerpiece: a musical number entitled "Rock Me, Sexy Jesus.") He decided to play the role fully red-white-and-blue, fighting director Andrew Fleming's urge to make the character English. As Fleming told the NYT: "He explained that this kind of unbridled enthusiasm without any intelligence behind it just doesn't exist in England." A few minutes with Pauline Calf may make you disagree. For a taste of the overseas Coogan, check out the clips below:

Coogan's Alan Partridge discovers the meaning of a common phrase.

Next week's little gathering in Denver will no doubt draw its share of pundits and protesters, but the artists are getting there first: Opening on Sunday (and organized with the help of street artist Shepard Fairey, of course), the Manifest Hope Gallery will feature Obama-inspired works from the likes of Date Farmers, Chris Pastras, and Frank Chimero (above), among many others. Stop by Wednesday night for Unconventional '08, a music fest outside the space hosted by San Fran Mayor Gavin Newsom (Joanna's distant cousin, which gives him a hint of cred). Performers include Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Cold War Kids, and Z-Trip. Nice to know that those pundits will be able take in some culture between TV spots.
Aug. 24-28, performances Aug. 27, at Andenken Gallery, 2990 Larimer St., Denver, manifesthope.com

Five things worth knowing today

- The U.S. hoops team takes on Argentina in the Olympic semifinals this morning at 10:15 a.m. EST; stream it live at NBCOlympics.com (until your boss notices).
- A small army of rockers—including Radiohead, Beck, Wilco, and Broken Social Scene—descend on San Francisco's Golden Gate Park for the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, including the locale's first-ever night concert (an honor reserved for Thom and the gang).
- The season finale of Meerkat Manor airs tonight on Animal Planet. Guess you'll have to get your rodent social-drama fix elsewhere.
- The Milwaukee Wine Festival sets out to prove that the great state of Wisconsin can make more than beer and cheese. We say: Why?
- Today in 1902, Teddy Roosevelt became the first U.S. president to ride in a car.
- And today in 1973, SNL actress Kristen Wiig was born. She's the show's best recent acquisition—just kidding? (See below. But actually, no, not kidding.)

You might have read something about Michael Hebb (nee Hebberoy)—the Pacific Northwest's foodie bad boy, who, following the demise of his Portland restaurants, relocated to Seattle and founded a series of underground dining experiences called One Pot. His latest project? Songs for Eating and Drinking, an offshoot of One Pot, for which he and photographer Chris Jarvis gather musicians to enjoy food and entertain one another in song. (If that sounds like a failed Food Network pilot to you, you're not alone.) The last installment took place in Seattle earlier this month, where the diners included Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard, who covered Hank Williams' "Cool Water" (see below). Pretty cool stuff—even better if you can wrangle yourself an invite.
For more information, visit songsforeatinganddrinking.com

Brussels-based designer Nathalie Bouhana has designed men's knits for the likes of Hermès, Ferragamo, and Dunhill, so we're understandably excited about her own line, Chauncey, which she founded with photographer David Sidka earlier this year. Made from fine Italian yarns, her pieces are elegant (and whimsical) almost to a fault: The cardigan vest, pictured, is not only covered with pockets, but it also includes a special pocket expressly for tea. Sound precious? It's not meant to be: The designers explain that they're influenced by "hardworkers such as carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, and dockworkers." Guess we'll take their word for it.
Pricing and availability TBD; for more information, visit chauncey.be

[JC Report]

Remember the one-off, Pininfarina-designed Rolls-Royce Hyperion we told you about a few months back? Well, it just went official (see it below), and the announcement included an interesting tidbit: It comes with a special Vintage 1945 Tourbillon by Swiss watchmaker Girard-Perregaux. The watch comes with a detachable face, which then attaches to the car's dash. (Beats your standard digital clock, we guess.) With all that bling on a $412,000 car, here's hoping we don't see this thing on Jacked anytime soon.

While there's nothing (yet) to compare to the real thing, Designboom's rundown of lady-robots throughout history makes a compelling case for the assorted charms of the man-made woman. Included: The Jetsons' robot maid, Rosie (of course); sunscreen spokeswoman DER-2; and, of course, Icelandic chanteuse Björk, who got the electronic treatment in the 2000 video for "All Is Full of Love." Turns out fembots are like sausages: You could lose your appetite watching either being made. See below (if you must).

First, there's the price (about 75,000 quid, or roughly $150,000), and the fact that the Trident Iceni is available only in Britain. That said, it's undeniably good-looking, and undeniably powerful: It tops out at more than 200 mph, and goes from 0 to 60 in under four seconds, all thanks to a 550-hp GM turbo diesel V-8 and an ultra-aerodynamic design. (That diesel engine is efficient, too; the company claims it gets 57 mpg.) Caveat emptor, of course: The car's independently produced, and no one has verified the brand's claims. But we really, really hope it's all true.

[Autoblog]

Let's face it: It's hard to get excited about a phone whose best features are standards like Bluetooth and GPS. But here's why you should reconsider: Sony Ericsson's new green (but not "green") TM506 is the first to use T-Mobile's speedy 3G HSDPA network, which means you can download music and video in record time. (The flip-phone's elegant form factor is a nice bit of icing, too.) Look for it early next month; price is TBA.

[Gizmodo]

Looks like the era of statement eyewear isn't over yet: Consider these models from Chronicles of Never, a collection of bulky (but nevertheless cool) unisex sunglasses. The set's part of the brand's spring collection, which debuted last month, and offers further evidence that CON founder Gareth Moody is more than just a jewelry designer. No word as yet on where they'll be available, but given their pedigree, we're pretty sure they'll be ubiquitous next summer.
$225 each, available in spring; for more information, visit chroniclesofnever.com

Aprix, the NYC-based sneaker company helmed by Supreme creative director Brendon Babenzien and his business partner Michael Power, has already left its stamp on canvas sneakers, so for its second collection, the line is branching out—into leather. Skin might ratchet up the footwear's casual shape to a more refined level, but those missing the brand's lower-key vibe can rest easy: Aprix is also offering its canvas styles in new colors for spring.
Available this spring at Nom de Guerre, 640 Broadway, NYC, (212) 253-2891, nomdeguerre.net; for more information and other retailers, visit aprixsport.com

[H(Y)R Collective]

Olympus just dropped the latest update to its top-tier Mju line of point-and-shoots: the 1060, which sports 10 megapixels, 7x optical zoom, and (best of all) a mode that auto-detects your five most commonly used "scenes" and adjusts your settings accordingly. (Handy, if only because "drunken blurry" is not a preset.) Naturally, a digicam this fully featured will cost you: Expect to pay about $485 when it's available in September.

[Gizmodo]

Jacked: Auto Theft Task Force isn't just another Cops retread: The show's focus on 24-esque gadgets and high-end stolen cars makes for compelling TV. The "Wolf Pack"—the nickname for the series' titular cops—hunts thieves in northern New Jersey using tricked-out SUVs, LoJacks, and helicopters with heat-seeking cameras. They don't scrimp on the action, either: The series premiere features a chopper chase, not to mention enough science to keep even CSI die-hards interested.
10 p.m., A&E

Try Dolce and Gabbana's first London menswear shop, set to open this Saturday. The two-floor space is mostly dark and mostly shiny—think noir glass walls and black-varnished furnishings. (There are hints of walnut here and there, too; the duo describe wood as a "masculine material," as opposed to metal, which they deem "feminine." Fair enough.) The store will carry the brand's full collection, with sportswear, denim, and accessories on the ground floor, and the rest below that. So why do this now? "Men are becoming very demanding and know what a boutique should carry in order to please them," Domenico Dolce says. Toward that end, more men's-only shops are planned for Paris and Milan, and one opened last December in NYC.
6 Sloane St., London, +44-207-201-0140, dolcegabbana.com

Five things worth knowing today

- BoingBoing scribe Cory Doctorow chats with DJ Spooky in NYC—possibly the coolest fund-raiser ever thrown for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
- Toronto's Studio Gallery hosts a show of Tim Barber's TV Books, featuring works by Barber, Surface2Air's Gordon Hull, and others.
- London's Frightfest brings horror enthusiasts together for films like I Know How Many Runs You Scored Last Summer and Bubba's Chili Parlor. You'll be hearing those titles again around BAFTA season, no doubt.
- Today in 1858, the Lincoln-Douglas debates began.
- And today in 1906, famed Warner Bros. animator Isadore "Friz" Freleng was born. In his honor, check out Bugs below (and, as a bonus, appreciate the sartorial foresight of Elmer Fudd, who seems to be wearing Givenchy's Spring '09 collection around 65 years early):

Pictured above: Guilty, a 115-foot yacht designed by Jeff Koons and commissioned by Greek billionaire Dakis Joannou. Koons based his design on a WWI camouflage pattern, complemented by architect Ivana Porfiri's jagged shapes. So how does one accessorize such a vessel? In Joannou's case, with a painting by British artist Sarah Morris called Guilty (bought after the yacht was named). You're clearly living the good life, Dakis, but, uh, something on your mind?

[Monaco Eye via High Snobiety]

Sad to say that Buenos Aires isn't currently on our travel itineraries, especially now that we've found the Argentine-based boutique and menswear line The Beautiful Ones. At her BA shop, Augustina Rodríguez, a Vans design alum, draws on pop music to inform her rumpled classics line. (Think trenches, vests, button-downs, and slouchy pants for a sort of sixties Stones-on-tour vibe.) Her fall looks are on her site now, and it sounds as if she had a fun summer: The heart of the previous collection, she told Japan's Shift magazine, was a series of tees inspired by "elegant sadomasochism"—or, in musical terms, the Velvet Underground.
The Beautiful Ones, 4737 Costa Rica St., Palermo Soho, Buenos Aires, thebeautifulones.com.ar

[Fisher-Preyes]

...Charlie Rose is not afraid to ask. Back when the talk show host still had his MacBook-Air-induced black eye, he interviewed a who's who of auto designers—including Hyundai's Joel Piaskowski, GM's Edward T. Welburn, Jr., and Tesla's Franz von Holzhausen. (Cool nickname alert: "Zoom Zoom.") The episode is part of this week's ongoing series on the state of the automobile, which is (we promise) far more interesting than that sounds. (Particularly when the guys nerd out over their all-time favorite cars—hope someone at Lambo's taking notes.) See below.

PLUS: More cars you can ogle from the class of 2009.

[unBeige]

The genius of Nike's athletic gear is that it looks just as good off the court as on. (When's the last time you saw someone actually dunk while wearing Dunks?) Still, the brand wanted to differentiate its sports gear from its regular wear, which is why it's introduced Nike Sportswear, a new sub-line centered around both the brand's classics and innovative new pieces, like the LunaRacer, currently seen on the track in Beijing. The complete collection will be available at the new store opening this Friday in Manhattan, alongside seasonal exclusives (think sneaks). And, as an added bonus, the store's offering a bespoke program: appointment-only footwear design, launching in September with the Air Force 1.
Nike Sportswear, 21 Mercer St., NYC, no phone at press time, nikesportswear.com

No offense to the new class of designers, but Ralph Lauren has been doing preppy since most of them were in diapers—and he's not falling behind the kids in the tech department, either. The brand has revamped and relaunched the Web site for its collegiate-themed Rugby line to include e-commerce. The collection's feel is more weekend wear than office gear, but its basics—like the Anglophilic St. George-crested tie—are worthy additions to your postcollegiate wardrobe. Even better, now you won't have to use precious weekend time going to the store to get them.
University St. George's tie, $68, available at rugby.com

We've seen variations on the "Internet media tablet" before—hello, iPod Touch—but Archos' new models have some impressive specs (not the least of which is a storage capacity as high as 320 gigs). The handheld devices incorporate e-mail, Wi-Fi Internet-browsing, audio, and high-def video with 720p resolution—like on the Archos 7 (pictured), which features a touch screen and, with an add-on, can access free digital TV broadcasts. Not bad for a portable player, although HD or no HD, it's still just a seven-inch screen.
$450 for 160GB, $550 for 320GB, available in October at archos.com

Le Corbusier's influence has, of course, been well-documented: The master architect—and, as seen here, snappy dresser—inspired generations of designers, urban planners, and artists with his work. Phaidon's Le Corbusier: Le Grand offers a fittingly monumental tribute to the man, including 2,000 images, letters, and other archival material, much of it previously unpublished. You don't have to be versed in architecture to appreciate it, nor do you have to speak French; the publishers have included a folio of English translations gratis. You might, however, need to hit the gym: The tome weighs 20 pounds.
About $185, available at phaidon.com

With the resurgent popularity of eighties-style eyewear, it was only a matter of time before Vuarnet returned, too: Manhattan's Silver Lining Opticians just introduced two styles from the French sunglass manufacturer. Whether they see as much McCarren Park Pool time as the recently ubiquitous Ray-Bans remains to be seen, but still, they've got us wondering: What's next? The return of Huey Lewis?
$250, available at Silver Lining Opticians, 100 Thompson St., NYC, (212) 274-9191, silverliningopticians.com

This morning, the folks at Palm (remember them?) introduced the Treo Pro, the long-awaited update to the brand's signature smartphone line. The new phone is (dare we say) elegant, with both a slimmer form factor and a bigger keypad than the wonky Treos of old. It also sports standards like Wi-Fi and GPS, and even comes unlocked, though you're stuck with Windows Mobile 6.1. Look for it later this year—and if you want to know more about how this particular steak was cooked, check out the New York Times' glowing profile of Palm engineer Jon Rubinstein.
$550, palm.com

Okay, we admit it: Watching a doc about about the post-Katrina rebuild effort wasn't part of our Wednesday night plans either. But the Sundance Channel's Architecture School offers intriguing fare: The six-episode docu-mini-series follows Tulane students who compete to design—and then build—low-cost housing in New Orleans. It flirts with an overdose of warm-and-fuzzy (see: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition), but the series is hardly sentimental when real-world pressures get to the kids, including a construction accident, a murder across the street from their project, and, of course, their highly competitive classmates. Click here for a preview.
9 p.m., Sundance Channel

On trend: J.Crew, whose latest Manhattan store, the brand's first men's shop, pays tribute to classic American workwear. The 935-square-foot outpost is housed in the former digs of Liquor Store Bar, and retains the feel (if not the drunken good times) of its previous incarnation; the bar and bathrooms are intact, and whiskey bottles adorn its dark wood walls. On offer are specialty pieces from J.Crew's men's collection, Thomas Mason shirts, Globe-Trotter luggage, and a selection of vintage items that round out the space's quirky aesthetic (think tie-bars, first-edition books, and vinyl LPs). Thank Jack Spade cofounder Andy Spade for the look—J.Crew consulted with him to help curate the goods and, apparently, the lifestyle that goes along with them: The new store's sponsoring a series of workshops based on Spade and business partner Anthony Sperduti's forthcoming book, What a Man Should Know (available there on September 1). So what should you know? Chess, wine, and figure-drawing, among other things. It's never too late to learn.
Open tomorrow, J. Crew Tribeca Men's Shop, 235 W. Broadway, NYC, (212) 226-5476,jcrew.com

Five things worth knowing today

- Rainn Wilson tries for leading man status in The Rocker, opening today nationwide. (Odds: Not great.)
- Meanwhile, less-famous aspiring rockers-sans-talent will be in Finland for the Air Guitar World Championships.
- Liverpool celebrates its favorite sons with the commencement of Beatle Week, an annual event featuring tribute concerts, an auction, and "an imaginary 1972 Beatles album."
- Today in 1812, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture debuted in Moscow.
- And today in 1942, the late Isaac Hayes was born. Below, the sadly deceased soul man leading the band on the score from Shaft:

Not quite a candy bar, not quite a slider, Nokia's 8800 has long been one of the most elegant options on the market. It's seen a few subtle upgrades over the years—and sometimes not-so-subtle, in the case of the Aston Martin edition's etched logo—but the new Carbon Arte might be our favorite, thanks to its (you guessed it) carbon-fiber case. The phone's Europe-only, which is probably a good thing given it costs $1,600—steep to you, sure, but mere chump change on the Continent.

[Phone Arena via Gizmodo]

Labor Day's still a few weeks away, but that hasn't stopped our friends at Monument Snowboards from releasing their fall lineup. The set includes the latest updates to their Artist Collection (introduced last year), with decks by the likes of Todd Tourso (trippy), Owleyes (trippier), and Thom Lessner (not at all trippy). But our favorite is BlackBlack (pictured), a poplar board by Krink, a.k.a. Craig Costello, a.k.a. the guy who did this laptop case. Whether you ever match the two together, of course, is up to you.
$300-$500, monumentsnowboards.com

Keeping it (really, really) real: Bremont, whose stunning new pilot's watch is made from bits of real airplane. The British luxury brand's limited-edition EP120 (pictured), available in September, is milled from aluminum and dials reclaimed from a defunct 1942 Spitfire MK V, which was flown with deadly accuracy by the RAF during WWII. It ain't cheap, of course, but it's still more affordable than buying your own warhorse, not to mention less stressful than developing your own war stories.
About $12,600, for more information, visit bremont.com

Okay, so the world isn't exactly starved for another set of iPod speakers, but Boston Acoustics' Horizon i-DS2 brings a few handy features to the fore (in addition to a 60-watt amp). The one-piece cabinet can function as a media center, with a video composite output that allows you to view pics and videos from your iPod on your TV, and its grill can be removed and customized in a wide range of colors—among them olive, onyx, and, naturally, Spanish moss. The downside? No clock radio functionality. Those who were looking to tell time by their speakers are out of luck.
$180, available at bostonacoustics.com

The logo for Comme des Garçons' Play line—graphic designer Filip Pagowski's slightly cracked heart, with manic eyes and an off-kilter shape—is about as good a representation of CDG founder Rei Kawakubo's dreamily esoteric design philosophy as you're likely to get. If it's anything like a representation of your own heart, however, we'd recommend a cardiologist.
Polo, about $200, and more from collection now available at doverstreetmarket.com

James Perse is a Los Angeles staple, so it's little surprise that the designer's recently introduced bike takes its inspiration from a Southern Californian classic: the beach cruiser, a West Coast mainstay during the fifties and sixties. This limited-edition revamped version, available exclusively at Perse's New York and L.A. boutiques, features the same fat tires, wide-set handlebars, and coaster brakes of the earlier model. Of course, given L.A.'s car culture, it's probably just as suited for East Coast riding. Fitting, really, considering NYC's metro beaches haven't gotten much of a face-lift since the fifties either.
$2,200, for store info visit jamesperse.com

[LikeCool]

Just in time for lunch: this spoof ad for Caterer.com, a British hospitality industry job-search site, which envisions the childhood escapades of infamously irascible Hell's Kitchen chef Gordon Ramsay. (Yes, it's a viral video, but it's one we don't mind perpetuating.) Below, enjoy Little Gordon's violent eruption (and his parents' horror) over slow service while dining. Sure, watching a little kid swear is funny, but watching him order mussels in a greasy spoon is entertainment.

Did you think T-shirt designers couldn't possibly come up with another Barack-inspired graphic? Yes, they can—as evidenced by this replica tee from Barry O's 1996 state senate campaign. (Spoiler alert: He wins.) Whether this signals Obama's strong support in the all-important hipster demographic or just the end of the vintage tee is up to you. (We should point out that a portion of sales go to the anti-poverty organization CARE.) Meanwhile, McCain's original 1804 senate campaign shirt has yet to surface.
$32, homageclothing.com

[Josh Spear]

Anything designed by the brothers Bray over at Billykirk Leathers is fine by us (case in point, their on-trend for fall laptop flight bag), but their handmade belts seem especially welcome just about now. Could be that with all the talk of economic belt-tightening, we're glad somebody's still looking out for our pants.
Billykirk No. 177 Double Collar Button Belt, $156, available at Blackbird, 5410 22nd Ave. NW, Seattle, (206) 547-2524, helloitsblackbird.blogspot.com

Yamazaki Single Malt, from Japanese distiller Suntory, is one of the world's finest whiskies, so it should come as no surprise that the company's found a better way to drink it: spheres of ice, two inches in diameter. The cubes don't melt as fast as our inferior American versions, so they keep the drink at an optimum temperature longer without watering it down (as much). In Japan, apprentice bartenders in high-end joints must learn to carve them by hand, but MoMA's making it easier for stateside mixologists. The store just got in a shipment of plastic molds, available for the first time in the U.S., which make a pretty good facsimile. You need a bottle of Yamazaki to appreciate the full effect, though. Trust us, we practiced. A lot.
Ice mold, $8, available at momastore.org; Yamazaki 12 Year Old, $38, and 18 Year Old, $110, available at parkaveliquor.com

Lykke Li's a saucy Swedish pop singer whose debut, Youth Novels, sees its official U.S. release today. Naturally, she straddles the line between Mamma Mia-ish bombast and Nordic melancholia (the record was produced by Björn Yttling of Peter, Björn and John, the men responsible for bringing the whistle back to North American nightlife). Perhaps pop's just edgier in Sweden: In the first single, "Little Bit" (see below), Li sings, "And for you I keep my legs apart/and forget about my tainted heart." Uh, your move, Beyoncé.

Also out today: The Fiery Furnaces' epic live album, Remember, featuring 51 twee favorites like "Vietnamese Telephone Ministry" and "Chief Inspector Blancheflower." For those who've considered investigating the band's oeuvre, here's a good place to start.

It's been a busy year for John Varvatos: The designer's already opened two new stores (including, you might have heard, one in CBGB), and today he debuts a custom-designed "shop-in-shop" at Fred Segal Man in Santa Monica (busy place these days). The 400-square-foot space will pack in the main line, footwear, and the John Varvatos USA Collection. And yes, it's a little bit rock 'n' roll—think black automotive-painted walls covered with vintage concert posters, washed-purple-velvet curtains, and an installation featuring 100 high-grade speakers. (Sadly, they won't be put to use.) Rotating seasonal collections will feature signature leather and shearlings, cashmere sweaters, soft knit tees, and tuxedo jackets for dressier L.A. nights. Next up? Varvatos hits the beach with a Malibu outpost expected in October.
Fred Segal Santa Monica, 420 Broadway, Los Angeles, (310) 451-9002, johnvarvatos.com

Five things worth knowing today

- The Peterborough Beer Festival brings 40,000 Englishmen together to celebrate the craft of the sudsy isle.
  - Over in Denmark, the 23rd annual Odense Film Festival  begins, surely the only event to have honored both Jim Henson and Lars von Trier.
    - Recovered crack addict David Carr reads from and signs his recent memoir Night of the Gun at L.A.'s Vroman's Bookstore.
- Today in 1813, Louis Daguerre presented his new photographic process—daguerreotyping—to the French Academy of Sciences.
- And today in 1946, would-be First Gentleman Bill Clinton was born. That seems as good a reason as any for an Arsenio-sponsored sax solo (below):