From RVA Magazine: “The Strokes’ fourth full-length studio release finds the band in rare form. Forgoing the Julian Casablancas-helmed writing and composition formula that had been the mainstay of the band’s illustrious and enigmatic career, the album finds the roles reversed, with the band composing and Casablancas’s vocals existing supplementally to the main body of the music.”

At the end of this month, the Hat Factory is going to get really, really packed. Richmond’s own Audio Ammo teams up with Steve Aoki on March 30th. May we suggest getting in line now?

This Friday, our good friend Emerald Grippa will be showing new work atQuirk Gallery on Broad Street as part of First Friday’s monthly art walk.

Extension is a series of 12 delicate portraits that portray a world where adornment is everything and nothing is meant to last. Created using watercolor and graphite these figures seem almost ghostlike and calls to mind ideas of fragility and femininity.

Emi remains one of Richmond’s hardest working illustrators, consistently putting out new work and experimenting with new techniques. Her trademark illustrations are not to miss. Join us this Friday at Quirk.

So, as you have probably seen, we have new Na Nin Vintage in stock, which I have to say, we are all pretty excited about! And, if you haven’t heard already, Kate Jennings is one of our new favorite friends. She went around her neighborhood last weekend, and took some snap shots (beauteous, by the way) of a few of her new items. Of course, Sam, Emi, and Andrew were all too willing to help show the pieces off (thanks guys!). We hope you enjoy these as much as we  do!

The other night we kicked off the Na Nin shop as we celebrated Need Supply’s 15th year. Our buddy Cameron took a few pics that night.

Last night at Balliceaux we couldn’t help but instantly pick up a love for this little upbeat party track, especially about 1:25 in when the electronic steel drums kick in. The track is by Denmark’s Tensnake, a DJ that has quickly gotten a following throughout Europe. “Coma Cat” is sampled from Anthony & The Champ’s “what I Like.” Thanks to Weird Sailboat for the find.

Tensnake – Coma Cat (mp3)

If you’re one of our Richmond readers, then you’ll really appreciate this. If you’re not, then it will make you appreciate Richmond even more than you probably already do. Satan Since 2003 is the latest film/documentary project of Emmy Award-winning documentarian Carlos Puga (True Life, MTV).

It follows the fumes of Hell’s Satans riders Pat, Hippy and the rest of their crew as Richmond’s most notorious moped gang. However if you know these guys, then this mockumentary won’t be one you want to miss. Click for the trailer.

When it comes to male grooming, washing my hair is something that I stay far, far away from. I’ve never once found a shampoo that gives me a desired end result. I prefer to keep the natural oils in my head and find that most shampoos, both cheap and expensive, just remove them. Of course, I know this is the point of shampoo, but on a personal note it’s just not for me. Then I found  J.R. Liggett’s Old-Fashioned Bar Shampoo.

If you live in the Richmond area, we’d love to meet you over at Kim Frost Studio on Saturday, February 5th. Click on for the details.

Need Supply Co. is getting old. On Thursday, our doors in Richmond will have been open for 15 years. Please join us in celebration of our 15th birthday with an in-store only special of an extra 30% off sale items.

A few of our friends went to Tulum, Mexico recently with no agenda except to live it up. Their trip was wonderfully documented over at Dine Alone.

We just found this yummy snow ice cream recipe on Ellwood Thompson’s site that’s got us all wishing for snow. And by the looks of the upcoming weather, we’re going to get it.

When it comes down to the true superheroes of Richmond, there is one true individual who stands for justice, parties, good books, bike repair and handsomeness. That person my friends is none other than Ward Tefft of Chop Suey Books in Carytown.

The third installment of the RVA Quarterly dropped last week full of interviews including The Clipse, Jeff Staple, Ryan McLennan, GWAR and more. Click here to view the online issue.

Our friend Matthew is a Richmond staple and has been doing great design work for as long as we can remember. He’s also really great with a camera, and has an eye for taking amazing pictures during his everyday life. Check out his blog, Dine Alone, for some really cool shots around Richmond and other travels.

Available online next week will be Maxx & Unicorn leather wallets, hand-crafted in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Made from a single sheet of leather, this sturdy wallet is surprisingly thin, constructed of leather that’s specially made for Maxx & Unicorn and no stitches to bust.

In their latest issue, GQ Magazine calls the wallet one of the best things for men in 2010.

Made in the USA (Brooklyn, NY) – Coming Soon!

One of our partners in crime, Mauricio Vargas of the Blaaahg has just started a little photo documentation of life in NYC, VA and beyond. For some eye candy, click for the continuation.

This weekend I attended a book signing and panel discussion with Sally Mann at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts that accompanied the opening of her exhibition, The Flesh and The Spirit. The VMFA, along with curator John Ravenal and Aperature Magazine, also published a coinciding book with the same title. Sally Mann is a native to Lexington, Virginia, and skyrocketed to fame in the early nineties with “Immediate Family”. Some of her early family photos that she is most well known for are on view in the exhibition, as well as new work featuring her husband and herself as the subject, and much of the work in between. It is the largest-ever showing of Mann’s work, and is a must-see. The Flesh and The Spirit runs through January 23- more info here

Eric Marth is a photographer who lives and works in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Documenting the life of rural and suburban Virginia around him, he composes an array of timeless portraits of a State that has plenty of history lingering in every corner. Growing up in VA, and now living in NY, these images literally hit close to home for me, expressing a mundane peacefullness that makes one miss living in Virginia at times. Check out more of our favorites by Eric Marth Below. -Mauricio Vargas

Click for more.

With so much more product coming in and the need for more room, we had no choice but to relocate to a space with more room. Knowing that we would never want to leave Carytown, we just went one block up the street, to 3100 West Cary Street. We’re now located on the corner of Belmont Ave. and Cary Street. Click to see the new space.

Our friend Mau has been drawing his family and friends- and the occasional movie character- for years. Some of them are on our apartment walls and make us giggle every day with how accurately they capture the person depicted. Mau is more interested in individual personality and emotion showing through in his work, rather than photorealism, and it shows. You can check out his blog to see more work, or better yet, come by Steady Sounds on Broad St. for his December First Friday opening!

Wake up early tomorrow morning and go vote. Do it and take it off your to-do list. It’s simple and it’s your right. If you live in Virginia and are not sure where to vote or who/what you’re voting on, click here to find out.

Our friend Cameron has been toting his camera around Richmond for as long as I can remember, and chances are, if you know him you just may be in a photo or two. On top of his various local photography gigs, he shoots his friends, family, and the occasional party- in which his work invariably becomes every attendee’s profile picture by Monday. Click to see some of his fun portraits, and be sure to check out his portfolio website here, and his flickr photostream for all the outtakes too.

If you live in Richmond, VA and have an interest towards modeling for our store, we’d love to meet with you. Both guys and girls are welcome to stop by our table at Crossroads Cafe, 26 N. Morris Street in the Fan this coming Friday (10/15) at 5:00pm or on Sunday (10/17) at 3:00pm. Please have your weekly availability ready.

Introducing “Thirty Thursdays” – Your chance to receive 30% off an entire online purchase by answering one simple question. One winner each week – follow us on Facebook and Twitter to say ahead.

Our friend Chino from Richmond just had a showing at NYC’s Like The Space Gallery. We were there armed with cell phones as usual, check out the event.

My friend and former classmate, Dena Sussman, has just launched her new website. She is the winner of a 2010 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship for undergraduate photography and you can see her work here. Also take a look at her blog to keep up with her research and inspiration. Photos via denasussman.com

The first set of mug shots from Friday’s Fantastic Planet are up in The Hamper if you’d like to take a peek.

Our great friends over at Sticky Rice have just opened their third location in Baltimore, Maryland. If you like unique and innovative sushi, gongs and sake as much as we do, they’re definitely worth checking out.

Sticky Rice Baltimore

This Friday marks the monthly First Friday Artwalk in Richmond, and one show you don’t want to miss is at an unlikely spot. Make sure you get to Cous Cous for drinks and new paintings by Jonathan Hirsch. If you can’t make it to the opening on October 1st, the show will be up all month long!

This coming Saturday, the Fantastic Planet crew will take their business to the penthouse suite at 534 N. Harrison to jump off with the biggest Planet Party yet. If you’re in Richmond or even surrounding states, it’s definitely worth the drive.

Our good friend Sway from Interview recently sat down to talk to another good friend of ours, Nathan Brown, star of Gaspar Noe’s Enter the Void, in which he plays a young drug dealer named Oscar who, after his death, watches over his sister (Paz de la Huerta) in a psychedelic vision of Tokyo. With both friends having spent a good amount of time in Richmond, now living in NYC, the interview paired nicely.

The role marks his debut as an actor and, as we learned, it was truly a baptism by fire. Below, Brown talks to us about working with the notorious Noe, his resemblance to his co-star, and why this film will make you want to give up partying. Click here to read the interview.

Hemming, not the most exciting thing in the world, yet a basic skill that anyone who desires to work a thread and needle (or in this case a sewing machine) should know. But when that expensive pair of jeans you just bought is too long for you, the simple solution of hemming them is like hot cocoa on a winter morning. Click for the continuation.

Our good friends from Richmond, Virginia have entered their absolutely amazing house located in Richmond’s northside in the The Selby & CB2 contest. They only need to be in the top 15 to make it into the  next round and we’d really appreciate if you gave them your vote. You can do so here. Thanks! Make sure to check out the full set of pictures from their house by clicking here.

Jeff Staple of Staple Design, stopped by VCU’s Brandcenter today for a very informative and inspiring talk. Click for the continuation.

As much as we look forward to fall, summer is always too short, period. Here’s a short collection of summer disposables from Virginia to New York, hope you enjoy looking at them as much as we had creating them.

The Traditional Way blog recently had the chance to interview on of our favorite Richmond tattooists,Matt Brotka of Salvation Tattoo. I’ve gotten to know Matt better over the years, he’s done two of my largest pieces which just so happen to be two of my favorites. Click for the continuation.

Jeff Staple will be doing a guest lecture at VCU’s Brand Center on September 13th. The event is open to all VCU students and was organized by the VCU SHHO. Click for more information.

This Saturday night, Richmond’s notorious Brain Drain returns to the Hat Factory. Word of advice, get there early unless you like waiting in line. More on the event here.

Our good friend Chewy was there on the spot, camera in his hand, to capture some amazing images from this years Best Friends Day 9 at Hadad’s Lake. Click for the continuation.

The cameras were ready at this year’s 9th annual Best Friends Day at Hadad’s Lake in Richmond. And with summer comes heat and with Best Friends Day comes skin and summer swim suits. Click here to see what you missed at Hadad’s lake.

Do we even need to tell you how stoked we are for this weekend? With the festivities starting tonight, we’ll try and keep you posted on the happenings, photos and fashion (if people even have clothes on) all weekend long. For more information, visit BestFriendsDay.net

VCUarts professor Siemon Allen has put his 10-year collection of South African records, stamps, newspaper clippings and cultural objects on display at VCU’s Anderson Gallery. He calls it: South Africa: Collection Project. Click for the continuation.

Our friends from Philly are coming down to Richmond this Thursday night to play at Capital Ale house and we’d love it if you came. If you’ve never heard of East Hundred, check out their MySpace or click for the video.

East Hundred at Capital Ale House / 623 East Main Street / Richmond, VA / Thursday Aug. 12 / Doors open at 9:00pm / Show starts at 10 /

If you’re in Richmond this Sunday and want to escape the stickiness of the Watermelon Festival, then head down to Hull Street for the 13th annual Gwar-B-Que. What is a Gwar-B-Que you might ask? Just what it sounds like. BBQ, tattoos, gurlz, skating, shredding, karaoke, spew olympics and you guessed it, GWAR! Click for the continuation.

Need Supply Co. just won first place in Richmond Magazine’s category for Best Designer Denim Selection. “In 14 years of business, Need Supply Co. has won the allegiance of shoppers from Richmond to the Ukraine (no joke) with more than 200 denim varieties for both men and women. Owner Chris Bossola says the women always go for the dark skinny jeans while the men grab the raw APC denim. Why? Versatility of course, Bossola says.”

Click here to shop our men’s denim. Click here to shop women’s denim.

Richmond, Virginia’s own Born Ugly is coming to LA this week for two art shows and the premiere of Issue #7! If you’re in the Southern California area then come out and see these assholes and show some love. Click for the continuation.

Take the time to shine a little bit. New offerings from Garnett Jewelry allow you to do just that, click to take a peek at what we just got in.

If you’re marking dates in your calendar, make sure to mark down Saturday, August 7th for the Jonny Z festival! It will be taking place on the 200 block of Shields in between Joe’s Inn and Shields Market. It’s a block party featuring the Bizzare Market, raffle drawings, WRIR DJ’s, children’s activities including printmaking by Studio 23.LIVE MUSIC by Josh Small, The Catnip Dreams, Ghostdog & Cinnamon, Photosynthesizers and the Girtles.

The newly opened Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is now showing Chuck Close: People Who Matter To Me. The exhibition is on view in Focus Gallery 3 until October 17, 2010 and presents works by the artist spanning from 1974 to the present.

Chuck Close is an American painter and photographer known for his massive portraits. I’ve had the honor of meeting the artist on a few occasions at previous Art Basel events and I greatly admire his work. This one is a must see! Visit the VMFA websitefor schedule and hours.