Charismatic shutterbug Caroline Torem Craig, taking shots of notables in LES, NYC

If you’re anywhere around the “in scenes” of New York, you’ve met photographer Caroline Torem Craig. She’s been snapping lots of fun photos for Paper Magazine for at least the last decade. She’s one strong rock n’roll dame, and I’ve always admired her stamina.

What I didn’t know was that Caroline hand sews a line called “Freedom From Design,” what I’ll describe as art satchels with images taken from some of her favorite visual or musical artists. See in the slide show below, the depiction of a nurse — Richard Prince!– and another that resembles guitarist Jimi Hendrix. She pulls from what she loves and she’ll be showing her art at Opening Ceremony this fall. But before you pull out the wallet, note that they are not for sale!  Caroline has been doing these remarkable pieces for about eighteen years for the sheer joy of it, although I’ve seen a few talented designers, including pal Victoria Bartlett ignite upon seeing them as hot accessories. Maybe one day, but for now we can only look an covet.

Steffan-18, Marc-22

Tash-22

Joseph-21

Good and Lonely Luminous Structure No. 2 by Miles Mendenhall

The Half Gallery in LES usually brings out some cool kids and downtown luminaries like the ThreeAsFour designers, photographers like Mark Borthwick, the curator Neville Wakefield, smatterings of Vogue editors, and Purple Magazine editor Olivier Zahm at his sweaty best. But last week, perhaps, an impostor entered the works: Miles Mendenhall, a 23 year old artist and a competitor on Bravo Television’s “Work of Art.” Mendenhall, who has made some nifty curved wooden chairs in the past and likes to paint gruesome takes on Salvador Dali paintings, concentrated this time on printmaking. Most of the black and white checked or circled images on the wall seemed blurred, purposely. A friend indicated that they looked like something that you’d find in a yuppie furniture store.

Apparently, Mendenhall was selected for the show since one of the gallery owners, Bill Powers, appeared as a judge on “Work of Art.” So the kid did get some props from mainstream television. Personally, I like the checked scarf print that really collided in the best way with my pal, artist Megan Marrin’s shirt. (See below.) Marrin also crafted the jewels around her neck, the fab red and white circle and the doll’s leg, which she procured from a doll cemetery in Germany. Wow. Suddenly, Mendenhall really pales in comparison.

Miles Mendenhall, August 24th- September 14th, Half Gallery, 208 Forsyth Street.

Megan Marrin unknowingly came coordinated to the show; great neck ornaments, made by her.

Spotted in Austin wearing the Collin double button skinny in Love Lane.

Scene at the beach in front of the Crow’s Nest Hotel on Saturday (photo: Steve Eichner)

What does Chanel have in common with lobster rolls, french fries, and American volleyball? Basically nothing, until you consider  surfer Laird Hamilton, the brand muse behind the new Chanel J12 marine watch. To fete the very Yankee association, a Chanel-themed beach party enlisted Hamilton, his wife volleyball champ Gabrielle Reece, and a good smattering of movie stars including Angelica Houston, Richard Gere, and Rachel Weisz at the Crow’s Nest Hotel in Montauk. With socialites, artist filmmaker Julian Schnabel, Jimmy “Margaritaville” Buffet, and several guys in checkered shirts mixed in, if it weren’t for the Chanel surfboards — that were quite cool — you’d swear that Ralph Lauren had presided here instead of the French luxe house.

By twilight, the celebration became a cocktail swilling benefit dinner for the Surfrider Foundation, which preserves the ecosystem of beaches; and the fare turned from fries and seafood salads to steamed clams and grilled peaches. If only they gave away those black and white Chanel surfboards, it would have been a perfect day! I could totally ride one of those babies in a pair of Hudson denim shorts!

Movie stars chow down on beach food in Montauk (photo: Billy Farrell)

Ines-22-Model

Julia-21-Shop Assistant @ Green Man Festival

Lucy-26-Property Consultant

Seen in New York wearing the Collection cut waistband skinny in Grey Ash.