1 The “O.C.” bait shop
This rocking little hotspot has become to “The O.C.” what the good old Peach Pit was to “Beverly Hills, 90210” – except with a twist; it’s got bands like the Killers and Interpol instead of Eric Benet and Color Me Badd.
2 Fat George Clooney
Puffy, badly dressed, almost fully obscured by facial hair for his new movie – and still hot.
3 Rufus Wainwright’s “Want Two”
Arguably the best singer/songwriter of his generation offers long-awaited companion to his gorgeous “Want One” with the sadder, weirder and more melancholy “Want Two.”
4 Vice magazine’s 10th anniversary issue
Head to the newsstand and flip through Vice magazine – engineered by the Canadians-by-way-of-Williamsburg – for what is without a doubt the most vicious – and funniest – issue yet. Articles included: “Dave Navarro Swims Nude with Dolphins.”
5 Veiled Conceit
An acidic, hilarious translation of the traditional New York Times wedding announcements – as interpreted by a straight man on his blog at nytimesweddings.blogspot.com.
6 Jon Stewart’s “Naked Pictures of Famous People”
This overlooked-yet-absolutely-hysterical first book gets reissue; standout pieces include, yes, Larry King’s sycophantic interview with Hitler.
7 “The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death” (by Corrine May Botz; Monacelli Press, $35)
Fascinating picture book of dollhouse death scenes created by eccentric heiress/criminologist Frances Glessner Lee.
8 Gwen Stefani’s Japanese teen-girl entourage
They’re suddenly everywhere, mysteriously silent and outrageously stylish. The question is, are they merely kooky or kind of racist?
9/10 “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”/”Dazed and Confused” DVD release
A stoner’s ideal double date, with “Fast Times” commentary from screenwriter Cameron Crowe.