4th of July Weekend Smash Off

Tonight at 10pm Lola is kicking off the weekend with an invite only soirée atop The Rivington Hotel, but I bet you already knew that.

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Beats and BBQ

Head to Billyburg to soak up some soulful dance music and pre-Fourth bbq 3pm to 10pm Friday. It’s free and a lot more fun than being stuck on the Jitney all day.

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Celebrate Independence Day

Greenhouse might not have the best view of the Hudson but there will be plenty of eye candy on display and if you ask nicely, I hear you can get sparklers with your champagne.

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Only One Place to Watch the Fireworks

Hudson Terrace’s birds eye view of the river and open air cabanas will be put to good use by those looking for the best perch in the city to watch the fireworks. The pre-fixe open bar and buffet guarantee that patriotic Americans will be indulging in our national pass times of beer and bbq.

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Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks on the Hudson

If you’re really feeling adventurous, the ultimate spot to watch is aboard the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. Getting in might be a trick, but NBC will be broadcasting live with host Tiki Barber and performances by such 90’s gems as Rob Thomas and Jewel. Technically the area is closed to the viewing public so it might be a good idea to start calling in favors.

If you’re headed out east, check out the Hampton team’s post on where to be and who to stalk.

He also convinced everyone else in the office to leave with him under the auspices of worker’s rights.  As a result, the GofG virtual press has grounded to a halt. There won’t be anymore posts until Monday.  In the meantime, you can stay up-to-date with our NYC and Hamptons July 4thParty Guides.

David Hasselhoff has been spotted rowing at Henley!  In the past when we’ve seen the bouffanted TV star around water he has been saving lives a la Baywatch.  But while filming in England, he decided to take a different water approach and row with the Upper Thames Rowing Club. He even sported a shirt that said “Don’t Hassel the Hoff”.  Amazing!

Henley of course is the site of the Henley Royal Regatta, a highlight of the British social calendar (along with Ascot and Wimbeldon) that started on Wednesday and ends Sunday.  So for those of you who can’t celebrate the fourth in the US and are in the motherland, head over to Henley for a pint of Pim’s.  Women make sure to bring your fancy headgear, men bring your blazers with pipping.  And keep the Pim’s and Champagne away from the Hoff!

[Photos via row2k.com]

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Last night, Malcolm Harris (left) unveiled the fruit of his and women all over the world’s labors to the public at the One-Dress Rehearsal held at the beautiful Mal Sirrah showroom in Soho.  And what a rewarding night!  The One-Dress project, curated by Mal Sirrah’s creative director Malcolm Harris, has already garnered interest from celebrities, including Angelina Jolie. In addition to doing good for your wardrobe, One-Dress has a noble philanthropic side too (how very Angelina of them): A portion of the proceeds from sales of the One-Dress benefit Womankind Worldwide and Kiva.org, charities dedicated to improving the lives of women in developing countries. The dress is available for $225 from the www.one-dress.com.

More story and photos below…

After seeing how amazing the dress looked on the real-life models (among them, our very own editor, Rachelle Hruska, donning one in black), guests showed no hesitation in marching into the boudoir and trying on dresses for themselves.  This dress is truly magical.  Another model, Denise Woods (she in the blue and of the criminally sexy legs), shared her story of how the dress allowed her to reclaim a sense of femininty after surviving breast cancer and reconstructive surgery.  The dress served as an ideal icebreaker as guests complimented each other and admired the various wrapping methods employed by wearers.

The air was festive and summery while guests mingled with glasses of Macari Summer 2007 Rosé in hand.  At the heart of it all, Harris emphasized the importance of the One-Dress effect on Womankind, the charity dedicated to empowering women in developing countries which proceeds from dress sales will benefit.  Without a doubt, this is only the beginning in what is sure to be a powerful and lasting journey in taking over the world…One-Dress at a time.

Malcolm with the GofG team

Rachelle Hruska, Malcolm Harris, Rachel Sterne

Matthew W. Robinson, Jordan Vazquez

• American Apparel finally makes something people actually want to pay for: Naked girls! Er, sheets. [Racked]

• Love, Ponzi-style: Ruth Madoff evicted from her penthouse [NY Post]

• The summer’s torrential rains are washing away New Yorkers’ murderous impulses! So stop complaining about your hair already. [NY Times]

• Proud to be an American? Proud enough to sing about it? [BuzzFeed]

Held on Monday atop the Gramercy, we hear it wasn’t the most crowded party but that Rihanna was in attendance.Art Unites supplies some 1,400 underserved children (500 in the America-based Starlight Foundation and 900 in Jet Li’s China-based One Foundation) with art supplies and canvases. The children then draw pictures to their heart’s content, each of which is turned into a canvas tote bag to be sold at Versace boutiques worldwide and on e-tailer Gilt Groupe for around $200. Yesterday’s part of their world tour saw Versace and the museum’s director, Adam Weinberg, asking the kids of the NYC chapter of Starlight to draw “friendship”-themed pictures. Weinberg and a panel of judges will select two winning designs to be shown on the runway at Versace’s fall show.

Adam Weinberg, Ellen Harvey, Donatella Versace, Liz Swig

To know an event by L’Altruist is to know the distinct combination of two feelings - the elation of having a blast and the fulfillment of doing it for a good cause. Their party last Friday at Citrine, stayed true to that dual goal. Photos tell the story of the ‘blast’ while the money raised to benefit the Georges Malaika Foundation for girls’ education in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo tell the story of the ‘good cause’.

The attendee list included models Noëlla Coursaris and Gelila Bekele, a host of other East and West African designers, stylists and bankers and a contingent of American and European artists, photographers, writers and do-gooders. While DJ mOma provided rump shaking global dance tracks and Vado Diomande performed West African drum and dance, a raffle and silent auction kept the revelers engaged in the cause. In the end, the night will be remembered, both by the attendees and the Congolese girls who are now closer to having their own schoolhouse.

Click HERE for more photos by SUNNY NORTON and TAG YOURSELF and YOUR FRIENDS!

Fans of fashion celebrated their independence early this year at Samantha Thavasa , where Q Magazine and Tinsley Mortimer hosted a cocktail party in celebration of the holiday. Congregating amidst the Mortimer-designed purses were David Patrick Columbia, Susan Shin, Kristian Laliberte, Luigi Tadini, and Euan Rellie.