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I’ve got a zero tolerance policy for bad cruise campaigns, but last nights Royal Caribbean spot mid-superbowl was one of the best cruise advertisements ever. The reason why? The “Sea is Calling” was not only simple, elegant and beautiful, it was also super-smart. Smart by not showing the eye-sore of a cruise ship at all, in the entire commercial. Add to the #brilldotcom factor, today’s takeover of the 42nd Street subway shuttle into a bad-ass boat. The #RoyalShuttle… hells yeah. 

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There’s something romantic and timeless about a good old-fashioned hotel bar, a place where weary business travelers, twittering tourists, trysting couples and in-the-know locals can all feel at home, if only for an hour (or four). Belly up to any one of these classic hotel bars — some flashy, some understated — for a made-to-order cocktail and good conversation, both equal parts to a great happy hour. So grab a bar stool and sip it… 

Miami. Soho Beach House.
This beachfront refuge dazzles with its unique vintage furnishings and attractive crowd of bonafide artists and eccentrics. Currently one of the city’s most sought after hotels, no two rooms here are alike; each feels like a different showroom. The hopping pool and bar scene are a modern-day revival of old Hollywood glamour, but the perks — fresh truffle pizza, in-room bartender service, a Cowshed Spa — are the kind you won’t be able to stop tweeting about. 

Mexico City. Distrito Capital.
On the top four floors of an office building, Distrito Capital is a chic sky pad above the urban bustle. Despite its location in the upscale business district of Santa Fe, the black-and-white property is a destination for creative types who mingle amid mid-century modern furnishings: tulip tables by Eero Saarinen, angular chairs by Wim Rietveld and futuristic lamps by Verner Panton. At night, the sleek lobby and pool area go from low-key to high-voltage as Mexico City’s style-makers mix with high-profile hotel guests over mezcal.

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I love nothing more than dressing the part… especially when the part let’s me play a punk-rave princess. We’re no strangers to the bangers, but this year Electric Zoo is three days, four stages, three outfits. Let’s do this. 

What To Pack: Electric Zoo Festival in NYC by jetsetfarryn featuring patent leather sneakers

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I’m counting down for Electric Zoo with my must-have men….
For lunch today: Richie Hawtin
An electro-snack a day keeps the anticipation at bay….  

Richie Hawtin: artist, DJ, conceptualist and innovator. The one-man mogul behind Techno imprints Plus 8 & Minus sends signals out all over the world from his HQ in an old fire station in Windsor, Ontario – just across the border from Detroit, where he’s been channeling the electronic past. The signals are constantly evolving: his Plastikman persona gave Techno a unique face with a series of four minimal albums, while his  live sets at the Glastonbury festival and Tribal Gathering helped invent stadium techno. In 1995, Hawtin was invited to show his work in Canada, in an event for the new millenium, in which the sculptor Anish Kapoor was also showing work, and the rest is lucky for you. Today Richie Hawtin evolves and develops his music and performance skills by deploying new technology and bad ass art. 

But don’t expect to see Richie at the Zoo… say hello to his alter-ego (think Farryn VS. Jetsetfarryn) PLASTIKMAN. The Berlin-based artist will bring his one-hour live experience of audio and visual interactivity including live real-time generative visuals:

“I’m very excited to bring my PLASTIKMAN show to Electric Zoo,” states Hawtin.  “I am very energized by the incredible developments in the electronic scene in North America, and finally we’re seeing the underground movement that I represent with my label, artists, DJing and live shows being acknowledged by the big events and festivals. This is a great moment in American music history, and I am delighted to have a platform to present my take on where electronic music is today and my vision for its future.”

And to make me swoon more… there’s an app. So think on that. 

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Escape to New York had a lot on its plate… and I’m not just referring to the World’s Largest Festival Brunch, which was planned to kick off on Sunday. The first-year festival on the Shinnecock Reservation in Southampton billed itself as more than just a three-day music event — like its sister festival in the UK, Secret Garden Party, Escape to New York promised an interactive experience of art, music, food, camping and culture (and by culture, I mean hipster culture)

The festival catered to a fancier crowd (after all, this is Southampton), one that expected on-site glamping with suped-up teepees, private performances and catered food by Fat Radish; while festival-goers expected an indie-happy lineup headlined by Edward Sharpe and Patti Smith, an off-the-radar dance tent and the convenience of raging the day away, in the comfort of their Hamptons ‘hood.

Although the 3-day party was cut short due to bad weather on the reservation (yes, I woke up in a soggy teepee with a soaked cell phone), Saturday proved successful enough for Escape to New York to announce that they’ll be back next year…. 

Next year, already? A bit soon, no? Clearly, this British bunch has a hold on the teammates-in-tank-tops who raided the empty lot off Route 27 for 3 days (did I feel like I was crashing a private party? Yes, yes I did), but a star-studded campsite does not a festival make. So let’s backtrack and face some facts…. [My HuffPo review]

Plus. 
Thank goodness for Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros who brought in an enthusiastic crowd on Saturday night. The stage, equipped with a busted NYC Taxi, was enough to impress the most cynical of cynics who compared this first-ever fiesta to Coachella. A calypso-inspired, steel-drum rendition of “Home” brought the creative set to a close. This was exactly the type of act that Escape to New York needs. One to keep your indie mantras, but draw a large crowd too. (Did their private performance on Sunday at the Mondrian diminish the importance of said show? Yeah, a bit). 

Founder Freddie Fellowes’ creative vision was brilliant. The festival was in fact full of surprises, pop-up performances and secret stages. This Midsummer’s Night Dream was a delightful change from the standard three-stage triangle formation we are used to finding during festival season. I loved the bicycle-driven musical Toad who played some of the best music I heard all weekend and the dance-off ring (and by ring, I mean an actual wrestling ring aka wedding ring) hidden deep inside the foggy forest.

Xaphoon Jones (of Chiddy Bang) spun an electric set on Saturday night. There’s nothing better than an out-of-nowhere, out-of-this-world DJ set, especially when most of the festivals this seasons have been on a recycling binge. Heilbronn, Duvall and Alex English rocked out too. 

Teepees and safari tents are winners, in theory…. 

The Minus. 
When you say glamping, I expect glamping. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some mud, but when someone shouts “G” for glamorous, I leave my supplies at home. Sans the bed, mirror, lights, bug spray and amenities of our promised “package,” these were just teepee shaped tents. Good thing I’m always Amazing Race ready. 

Asia Dogs, Standard Hotels, Milk Studios, Soho House, Veuve Clicquot, Fat Radish, Urban Daddy — there were super sponsors everywhere. And yes, there were some great acts (The Vaccines, Au Revoire Simone, Edward Sharpe) but put your money where the cash is. If E2NY had put just one art installation or chic-boutique on hold, they could have brought in a big name; and a big name draws a big crowd, and a big crowd brings energy. And energy was the one thing this clan forgot to buy. On Friday, they expected 5,000 people and according to The Guardian, 1,000 attended at max. (Side note: I lived for the low-key, well mannered and easy-going staff. If their attitudes were a result of the small crowd, it was still a great result.)

Despite the cheap cigarettes, Shinnecock proved to be a poor location choice. We weren’t really wanted there, as evident by the quick cancellation of the event on Sunday, and by the odd placement of the campsite off of 27. Second, the standard Native American-inspired garb found at fests (I’m 100% guilty of it) suddenly seemed inappropriate. While there was major space to roam free in the art-filled forest, the late-night ride to the grounds felt a bit like the start of a scary movie — and not even a good one.

Oh, and did I mention there was no liquor? 

I’ll never turn my back on innovation, and in that department Escape to New York wins. Winkel & Balktick produced a forest full of fantasy from the Panda Pit to the robotic Gamelan Orchestra. But what E2NY really needs is to get out of their own way. We get it, you’re the cool kids (I mean, Alexander Skarsgård probably stayed in your teepee — we saw him roaming the campsite during a surprise set from Gary Clark Jr.), but cool kids won’t fill acres. We will. Fans like me who love to fest, be it with Best Coast or Boyz Noize, will fill your field with fire.
And some fire is exactly what you need.

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Sometimes, you just can’t help but act like a Star Wars geek who just got his hands on a light saber. And right now, is one of those moments. The majestic main branch of the New York Public Library is seeking 500 people to spend the night there on a scavenger hunt designed to tap into their inner creativity and potential as they explore its miles of rare treasures.

“Find the Future: The Game,” was created for the library’s centennial celebration by Jane McGonigal, renowned for designing games that tackle real-world problems.

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First the Mondrian took over L.A. and South Beach, creating buzzworthy scenes in cities that have seen it all. Now the brand is launching in downtown New York (Soho, to be specific), with a 253-room glass-and-steel masterpiece that has even the most jaded residents angling for a peek. With floor-to-ceiling windows, stellar views and a restaurant by Top Chef‘s Sam Talbot, the Mondrian Soho is making major waves in Manhattan. We got an exclusive sneak peek of the hotel; join us for its big premiere on Jetsetter.com today! 

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I hate waking up in the morning, but the Bronx Zoo has figured out a way to get me out of bed. The Zoo keepers just opened registration for an Overnight Safari package, which comes with a real, sea lion wake-up alarm in the morning. It’s BYOT (tent etc.), likely to sell-out (June dates booked) and around $150 bucks (worth it). If only that sea lion would make me breakfast in the morning. 

After the safari is the after-party and after the party…. 

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Last night I kicked off Fashion Week at SCOOP, and caught The National at Milk Studios. Today, you can watch a live stream of fashion week through the genius of Tumblr. I’m pretty stoked about it (tip off via markcoatney & joshuanguyen)

(Source: joshuanguyen)

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There’s a new hot shot in town. He’s super slick and plays hard to get. But don’t let his games dismay you. A little effort never hurt anybody…

Every so often a great new place comes to town (Ahhh Arena. Tada Tenjune). There’s the initial buzz, the paid-for-pr and the lines around the corner. The goal: for peeps to tweet their whereabouts into permanent social media status and stake the claim “I’ve been there.” But when you’re the super cool kids behind Tao (Marc Packer, Rich Wolf, Noah Tepperberg, Jason Strauss and nightlife lovechild Jonathan Schwartz) staying power is childs play (Marquee since 2004).

Inspired by the original LAVO Las Vegas, @LAVO New York is the new top-dog in town. With a Southern charm (no, not from the hospitable door guys) and burlesque inspired decor, it could easily double as the set of an upscale V bar. And in case you’re hungry - they serve dinner too. 

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