Last week's Gen Art Film fest turned out to be amazing. I went to 3 out of 5 days and was never disappointed. The movies were magnificent. My fav was the dark comedy, The Last Word but mostly because the lead, Wes Bentley, is super hot. Bentley was the creepy-hot guy in American Beauty and in this movie he's even hotter AND creepier. Winona Ryder was okay, too. Seriously though, one of the best movies I have seen in a while

The other two features I saw, Bart Got A Room and The Living Wake, were amazing as well. I highly recommend trying to get your hands on any one of these movies.

And, just when I thought the movies were great, the after parties made the nights even better. Directors were there, as were most of the stars, including Bijou Phillips and Jesse Eisenberg.

If you missed the film fest, Gen Art screens movies every month. Their next screening is, August with Josh Hartnett on Wednesday, July 9th. For more details visit www.genart.org.
















Is is wrong that I liked Alia Shawkat's penguin backpack? I bet Fashionista would beg to differ with my opinion.




Sometimes over-matching can be good.








She made this dress and I love it!

I don't know about you, but I'm so sick of that neckerchief trend that people are stillll trying to pull off.

OK, fine, I won't lie, I still do it at least once a week, BUT that's only because it's been my thing since before it was a thing and I have like 300.

So, when I saw the boy below with the sort of rolled up scarf necklace, I instantly had to go over and see it for myself, he told me he took the idea from the runway. Now, I'm stealing it from him, and sharing it with you! I figured all you scarf-wearing-hipsters and [scarf] aficionados might appreciate it.

What do you think? New trend??? I hope so!

Wearing white pants in the middle of winter is risky, let alone in the middle of a blizzard but somehow, he pulls them off. The whole outfit is reminiscent of Pete Doherty, pre-heroin addiction...faux-bury scarf, holes, and all.

Even without the heroin, this outfit is totally chic.



UPDATE:

I just read all of the comments on this photo.

I met the boy below, William, at Flash Taco through a friend and I had no clue that he was in The Academy Is..., I just thought he was a cute boy in white pants...oops.

Sorry!

Note to TAI Fans: He was very nice!

When I was a young girl growing up in Bridgeport the streets ran rampid with "gang bangers" and "hillbillies" which, at the time, was just the way of life until my (then) best friend's brother was killed just blocks from my home. (That's when my parents decided that we would move it on up...)

Now that I've grown up, I realize that Bridgeport wasn't normal; it was a breeding ground for hatred and racism. I guess that's why it's a little hard for me to grasp how, not more than 12 years later, my sketchy little Irish/Italian neighborhood has become "The community of the Future".

The title is a tongue-in-cheek reference coined by the people over at indie arts and culture rag, Lumpen Magazine, who also house their headquarters/art space, "The Co-Prosperity Sphere", in up-and-coming hood.

Last week, the space hosted Snowball, a fundraiser for Version, their annual spring arts fest. The event had everything you could ever want: live music, 80's karaoke and a wild spaceship ride in the basement (...the ride alone was worth the 7 dollar entry fee).

While I'm sure the lifelong residents aren't really happy about the influx of coffee shops, condos and art kids, I think this is a really positive change for the neighborhood. I hope that other Chicagoans feel the same way or at least make an effort to see what a real "artsy" neighborhood should look like.

I will say that Bridgeport is probably the poor man's Wicker Park (now) but like the kids said, albeit jokingly, it is truly going to be THE community of the future.

Here's what you missed/have to look forward to...