(February 2009)
Wheels
2009 BMW 7 Series
Photograph courtesy of BMW Like most auto manufacturers, BMW unveils its big technological advances on its flagship cars. Here's the best of the brand-new gadgetry you'll find on the fifth-generation 7 Series, the 750i, which starts at $84,000 and makes its debut this month. Ian Daly Active Blind-Spot Detection: The steering wheel vibrates if your blinker's on but it's not safe to change lanes. Black Panel Instrument Display: When the engine is off, the gauges are hidden so that only the needles, scale markings, and chrome rings are visible. Driving Dynamics Control: You can choose among four ride settings
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60 SECONDS WITH TYSON BECKFORD
Photograph by Jason Kibbler/Bravo Photo Got a minute? Tyson Beckford opens up about being the first male supermodel, the lack of "chocolate skin" on the runway, and homophobia on the second season of Make Me a Supermodel (Wednesdays at 10 P.M. on Bravo starting March 4). Q: Would you have gone on Make Me a Supermodel when you were starting out? A: Probably not. At the time, it was unheard of, doing something like this. You had to go the original route. But I did it a little bit edgier, where I came in with a wife-beater and baggy
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LET'S GET VISIBLE
Photographs courtesy of Ermenegildo Zegna One of the cool things from last summer's shows in Milan was this innovative "Freeway Jacket" from Zegna Sport. It was designed to improve safety in urban outdoor situations like biking or running. Integrated into the collar of the jacket is an LED safety system for maximum nighttime visibility, so you won't get run over by a semi or another zealous exerciser. It's made of a water-repellent fabric with breathable finishing, to keep you dry while allowing perspiration to escape. It's available now in select Ermenegildo Zegna stores for $845. Matthew Marden READ MORE:
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Food + Drinks
CRAWFISH
Photograph by Anthony Cotsifas This time of year, bayou dwellers gather around giant pots for a cherished springtime ritual: the crawfish boil. But while the traditional preparations—the favorite being étouffée—focus on spice, butter, and more butter, chefs far from the Gulf are repurposing the Louisiana staple, pairing the sweet meat with Thai green curry, stewing the shells to make rich soups, and even smoking the things whole. Anyone put off by the freshwater crustaceans just needs perspective: Sure, they resemble giant bugs, but they taste like lobster. JJ Goode WHERE TO EAT: 1. Dovetail (New York City) John Fraser
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Books
SEAN DOOLITTLE, SAFER
Photograph by Brad Bridgers His first four novels didn't garner Sean Doolittle much mainstream attention, but they did earn him a devoted cult following, comparisons to Elmore Leonard, and the admiration of Dennis Lehane and George Pelecanos. His latest, Safer (Delacorte, $24), chronicles the nightmarish ordeal of Paul, the new guy in an Iowa suburb who is falsely accused of molesting a 13-year-old neighbor girl, and his confrontation with the retired cop across the street. Here, Doolittle talks about his hardcover debut, crime fiction, and why he's drawn to heroes who are a lot like him. Timothy Hodler Q:
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FAST FASHION
Photographs courtesy of Uniqlo Following last year's exciting menswear collaborations with Tim Hamilton and Loden Dager, Uniqlo continues its "Designers Invitation" this spring. The project pairs up-and-coming designer labels with the fast-fashion capabilities of Uniqlo's international business. Beginning March 19, Uniqlo will bring in a collection by hip retailer turned coveted-clothing label Opening Ceremony. The line includes cropped navy blazers, plaid shirts in Easter-egg hues, and lightweight zip-up cardigans. The second installment, this one by denim favorite Gilded Age, hits Uniqlo stores on May 7. Khaki cotton bomber jackets and two-button blazers can be purchased to throw over the
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Music
THE PRODIGY, INVADERS MUST DIE
Photograph by Paul Dugdale The Prodigy, Invaders Must Die [Take Me to the Hospital/Cooking Vinyl] Our rating: 4 out of a possible 5 Though the album is billed as a reunion of the group's mid-nineties-heyday lineup, it's really a chance for studio wizard Liam Howlett to steal the limelight once again. On "Warrior's Dance" and the title cut, he dominates, serving up a thrill ride of break-beat techno and crushing metal guitar. Matt Hendrickson The music video for the title track READ MORE: Morrissey channels the Southern California vibes M. Ward's latest disappoints
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Food + Drinks
OLD-SCHOOL GINS
Photograph by Nigel Cox Gin is rediscovering its roots, and it's about time. Three forgotten species—sloe gin, genever, and Old Tom—have returned to compete with those tricked-out boutique inventions, not to mention your standard Beefeater and Tanqueray. Are these old-timers worth getting to know? If you've ever downed a Tom Collins or martini, consider yourself indebted: Those classics are the grandchildren of this long-lost stuff. Just promise never to mix a sloe-gin martini. Rob Willey PLYMOUTH SLOE GIN ($35) What It Is: Long coveted by bartenders in the know, this sweet, gin-based English liqueur—unchanged since 1883—gets its intense color
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60 SECONDS WITH LAURENT GRAS
Photograph by Shimon and Tammar Got a minute? Chef Laurent Gras, of Chicago's L2O, opens up about his new restaurant and explains why a recession can be the best time to eat out. Q: This is the first restaurant you've co-owned. Have there been any surprises since opening last May? A: It's going pretty well, besides the fact that the economy is hard. We're not doing well enough, but nobody is. Business is very hard all over the country. Q: How do high-end restaurants like yours survive during a recession? A: It's hard for us to cut back prices.
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Books
JEDEDIAH BERRY, THE MANUAL OF DETECTION
The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry [Penguin Press, $26] Echoes of Borges and Terry Gilliam abound in Jedediah Berry's brilliant debut, a literary detective thriller set in a city where the rain never stops; criminals invade dreams; and secret subway lines, underworld carnivals, and ancient mummies are strictly routine. Edward Gorey fans will slit their wrists with glee. Timothy Hodler READ MORE: Travel writers gone wild T.C. Boyle takes on Frank Lloyd Wright's love life
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