Yigal Azrouël
Don’t be a chump who pays full price. Instead, head to this Israeli designer’s sale, where you can score up to 70 percent off current in-store merchandise. Women’s belted knit cardigans are marked down from $795 to $215, jersey cowl-neck dresses are $230 (were $760), and men’s Fair Isle alpaca cardigans are $130 (instead of $430). 225 W 39th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, seventh floor (212-302-1194). Subway: N, Q, R, W, 42nd St S, 1, 2, 3, 7 to 42nd St–Times Sq. Thu 19 8am–7pm.

Tracy Reese
No need to blow your budget on a festive outfit for your office holiday party (if you’re actually having one) thanks to the abundance of chic loot from this flirty label. Impress your coworkers in a strapless ruffled frock, lowered from $300 to $120; a floral-print number for $120 (normally $260); or a patchwork-print minidress, sliced from $525 to $190. 260 W 39th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, fifth floor (646-438-6928). Subway: A, C, E to 42nd St–Port Authority; N, Q, R, W, 42nd St S, 1, 2, 3, 7 to 42nd St–Times Sq. Thu 19, Fri 20 9am–7pm.

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Steven Alan
Line up for scads of stylish garb and accessories at this hip chainlet’s legendary bargainfest. Get there early if you want to score Steven Alan’s cotton button-downs, now $55 to $65 (instead of $148 to $168). Also up for grabs are discounted threads from Sophomore, Demylee, Spring and Clifton and Relwen. 87 Franklin St between Broadway and Church St (212-219-3305). Subway: 1 to Franklin St. Thu 19, Fri 20 8:30am–8pm; Sat 21 noon–7pm; Sun 22 noon–5pm.

Inhabit
Winter is more bearable when you’re wrapped in cozy cashmere. Women can keep warm in cashmere hoodies, slashed from $644 to $80, and men can stock up on classic cashmere crews for $80 (usually $368). 1441 Broadway between 40th and 41st Sts, 24th floor (inhabitny.com). Subway: A, C, E to 42nd St–Port Authority; N, Q, R, W, 42nd St S, 1, 2, 3, 7 to 42nd St–Times Sq. Thu 19 10am–6pm.

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From left: Sammy Buck, Alan Kistler, Chelsea Doyle, Andi Teran (Photograph: Cloe Seldman/Michael Priest Photography)

You would think that prior to a mini–vampire convention, the straitlaced Paley Center would be bustling with at least a dozen adolescents wearing lacy, Stevie Nicks–gone-supergoth outfits and holding frenetic conversations about what sort of Twilight tribute tattoo they were getting to commemorate the premiere of New Moon. It was not so. We looked for them everywhere, but the only people we saw smoking outside, holding programs (not proposed skin-ink sketches), were a couple of middle-aged ladies who looked like our mom. This was typical: The appeal of vampires, and most specifically, the vampires in Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series, transcends age, gender and embarrassment.

It is perfectly acceptable to be old and harbor an intense lit crush on the Twilight version of the ideal, heroic male, Mr. Sexy Vampire the First, esquire (a.k.a. Edward Cullen), because we are—as this past Saturday’s Dark Shadows at Twilight: A Paley Center Vampire Weekend event proved—in the midst of an explosion in the popularity of vampires in pop culture. A panel of six journalists and editors, corralled by moderator and Entertainment Weekly editor-at-large Ken Tucker, were prepared to defend their vampires of choice and debate exactly how important each of them is. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the vampire,” Tucker intoned in his introduction. He forgot to say that if toddlers thought Twilight’s heroine, Bella Swan, was as cool as Aladdin’s Princess Jasmine, Disney would have to rush a High School Musical: Vampires in College OMG edition into production. And they’d have to like it, because Zac Efron would be wearing fake fangs. (And stop tanning so much.)

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Photographs: Eric Harvey Brown and Laura Yan

You might imagine a more somber attitude at last night’s Fourth Annual Carnivorous Nights Taxidermy Contest at the Bell House, considering that it is a competition for the most marvelous preserved dead creature, real or imagined, but the packed venue and enthusiastic crowd (ranging from hipsters and curious nerds to morbid taxidermists) made the mood anything but depressing. Entries included a bedazzled synthetic-diamond dog head, a delicate Victorian automaton bird that chirped and moved,  and deformed mermaid and lobster babies created from a taxidermist’s own skin. Some taxidermy practitioners might frown upon modern interpretations of this ancient art, but few can argue against the beauty of a dazzling chandelier that incorporates goat skulls. And the contestants were characters themselves, with anecdotes and back stories that turned each piece into something even more compelling. It’s enough to make any audience member want to start trying her hand at skinning, stuffing and mounting her first doe. Maybe.—Laura Yan

Photographs by the Drunken Photographer

The term fashionably late was not taken lightly at Saturday’s House of Xtravaganza’s Moda: La Envidia Xtravaganza at Irving Plaza—the ball got rolling four hours after the doors opened, but even the downtime had a certain flair. There was more than enough atmosphere to soak up: a tidal wave of glitter over everything, homemade signs, a profusion of feather headdresses, high heels and beautiful, double-jointed voguers. The main thrust of the event was a long list of runway competitions, with prizes ranging from thousands of dollars to Wendy’s gift certificates and coyote skins, but Xtravaganza honored both the iconic (Tracy Africa received an honorary award) and the anonymous (ready-and-willing spectators plucked from the audience could flaunt like the pros). We were sincerely touched by the overwhelming camaraderie of the crowd. “A ball scene is about coming together like a family. Every house is really like a family, it’s about having fun,” said Mink, a longtime House member. Jennifer, another House member echoed the sentiment, “This ball is all about tolerance. Everyone here is so gracious.”

Photos by: Jolie Ruben

The Upper West Side just became home to Apple’s fourth shop in the five boroughs. The retailer has taken over the space previously occupied by Victoria’s Secret, and it’s architecturally unique in that it’s the only stand-alone building in the area. The sleek space resembles a modern museum with 45-foot-tall stone walls and a roof made entirely of glass. (How cool to watch it rain from the ground floor!) The basement level houses the Genius Bar and hosts workshops and one-on-one training sessions ($99), and the first floor is so huge, you could fit 11 of the Fifth Avenue store cubes inside it. Line up at 10am this Saturday and you may score one of 2,000 free adult-sized Apple T-shirts, and be among the first New Yorkers to try the shop’s new checkout system. All employees will be equipped with iPod touches that you pay on, so no more waiting in line. If you prefer to pay in cash (how passé), no problem: They’ve got cash drawers hidden beneath the computer tables. This holiday season, Apple is also offering online product reservations with no deposit, plus gift wrapping ($5) with each purchase. Stumped on what to give? Try the new Magic Mouse ($69), or a video-recording Nano ($149). 1981 Broadway at 67th St (212-209-3400, apple.com)—Corinne Mohr

Twinkle by Wenlan
Designer Wenlan Chia is unloading her cheerful fall collection and jewelry for up to 75 percent off during this biannual blowout. Wool coats are lowered from $484 to $165, knitted accessories are snipped from $120 to $40 and printed silk frocks are $160 (were $471). 545 Eighth Ave between 37th and 38th Sts, 17th floor (212-625-8710). Subway: A, C, E, 1, 2, 3 to 34th St–Penn Station. Wed 18, Nov 19 10am-7pm.

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Rebecca Minkoff + Nicholas K
Celebrities are obsessed with Rebecca Minkoff’s chic leather carryalls, but anyone can pull off a piece from the trendy line. Her famous Morning After Bag, marked $350 (instead of $635), can help you avoid the walk of shame. Other styles will soon become your everyday staples, like the Nikki, a slouchy hobo bag with gold hardware, chopped from $595 to $350; or the Devote, a studded leather tote for $435 (as opposed to $695). After picking up a purse, check out Nicholas K’s edgy ensembles, including women’s cropped leather bombers for $325 (usually $740) and men’s two-tone wool sweaters for $250 (were $499). 17 W 17th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-677-7829). Subway: 1 to 18th St. Wed 18–Nov 22 10am-8pm.

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When you think of Baileys, you probably think of bottles and bars, but don’t dismiss this pop-up shop as just another boozy gimmick. This temporary boutique is shilling high-end, brand-name shoes by the likes of Sergio Rossi, Farylrobin, Vanessa Noel, L.A.M.B., Barbara Bui, Claudio Merazzi and much more—all marked down to $75 a pair. Even better, Baileys is donating the proceeds to the nonprofit Clothes Off Our Back. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the unbeatable deals.

421 West Broadway between Prince and Spring Sts (no phone). Wed 11—Fri 13 11am–7pm.

Seems like everybody’s got Twilight fever these days. But while other folks go gaga over Robert and Kristen, we here at Time Out Kids start to pant every time we see Cullen patriarch Peter Facinelli. (We would say he’s a total DILF, only that seems slightly tacky.) The actor and his wife, 90210 star Jennie Garth, have three daughters (totally hot!) and a happy Hollywood marriage (sexy and rare!). We chatted with the native New Yorker about how he keeps the romance going, fatherhood, growing up in Ozone Park and, of course, what it’s like to be part of the Twilight phenomenon.

Read the interview

Photographs by Anna King

We were at Fontana’s bar on the LES this weekend, celebrating the raunchy launch of the 2010 NYC Sex Bloggers’ Calendar. This is the calendar’s second year; organizers Tess and Diva created it to bring together “a sex-positive community,” a heady mix of writers, photographers, bloggers, sociologists, doctors, and sex workers. Profits from calendar sales go directly to Sex Work Awareness, a public education project that advocates for sex workers’ rights. Burlesque performer N—the calendar girl for March—was there too, shouting a sales pitch you couldn’t refuse: “Buy the calendar, see my nipples.”

New Yorkers were dropping $20 for the calendar (click here to buy it online), and as an added bonus, getting their pictures snapped with Ms. January (Mia Martina), Ms. February (Abiola Abrams), Ms. June (Lucy Vonne), and others.”Can you just photograph me from the neck down?” asked one partygoer. Yes, ma’am.

Click here to see a slide show of saucy, sexy outtakes from the 2010 calendar.

Butter, Tibi, Something Bleu and Bettye Muller
Ladies, walk this way to score major discounts from this gathering of hip shoe lines. Among the selection are Butter suede boots, cut from $475 to $200; Something Bleu metallic heels for $100 (were $260); Bettye Muller suede pumps, nicked from $355 to $100; and Tibi point-toe pumps with braided detailing for $100 (instead of $352). 307 Seventh Ave between 27th and 28th Sts, suite 2307 (212-366-1822). Subway: 1 to 28th St. Mon 9–Nov 12 10am–7pm.

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Emanuel Ungaro
Lindsay Lohan’s new role as artistic adviser for this iconic brand has resulted in a lot of bad press and an unfortunate runway show in Paris (it involved pasties). Luckily, you can snag some of the high-end garb that Lohan didn’t have a hand in creating. Suede sandals are $130 (normally $650), colorful one-shoulder taffeta dresses are tagged $760 (instead of $3,800), and men’s overcoats are reduced from $2,500 to $500. 409 W 39th St between Ninth and Tenth Aves (212-249-4090). Subway: A, C, E to 42nd St–Port Authority. Thu 5 1–7pm; Fri 6, Sat 7 9am–6pm.

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We’re calling it the horror film of the year—and by “we’re,” I mean me. But seriously: If you love suspense-driven, Val Lewton-esque thrillers, yet don’t make it out to see The House of the Devil, then you’re either lying or had a damn good reason, like being trapped in a cellar with Kathy Bates. Here’s my interview with the film’s 29-year-old wunderkind director, Ti West; also check out Keith’s glowing review. Halloween is upon us. I was putting together a list of movies that function like ghost stories but don’t actually feature ghosts—stuff like Jimmy Stewart’s quest for the mysterious Madeleine in Vertigo; or the eerie dance across a span of grey sky in last year’s subtly elegiac Man on Wire. Then, a new nonghost ghost story dropped right into my lap: Michael Jackson’s This Is It. You can read my review right here; suffice it to say, we were happily surprised. Anyway, enjoy the weekend. Boo!

Leekan Designs
After 21 years in Soho, Leekan Designs has moved its shop to the Lower East Side. To celebrate, it’s offering 20 percent to 70 percent off storewide. The worldly shop sells ethnic jewelry, ceramics and furniture, which are directly imported from China, India, Thailand, Afghanistan, Morocco, Africa, Papua New Guinea and more. Among the discounted goods are Moroccan ceramic pots, sheared from $240 to $70; silk woven shawls from Laos, reduced from $160 to $60; and sterling silver cuffs from Thailand, halved to $140. 4 Rivington St between Bowery and Chrystie St (212-226-7226, leekan.com). Subway: J, M, Z to Bowery; 6 to Spring St. Mon–Sat 11am–6pm; Sun noon–5pm. Thu 29–Nov 15.

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AEFFE USA
It’s one-stop shopping at this multiline mega markdown fest: You’ll score up to 80 percent off brand names including Alberta Ferretti, Jean Paul Gaultier, Moschino, Pollini and more. Love Moschino double-breasted military coats are lowered from $955 to $320, Jean Paul Gaultier wool frocks are $150 (were $495), and Alberta Ferretti felt collarless coats are trimmed from $1,994 to $665. 30 W 56th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-632-9300). Subway: N, R, W to Fifth Ave–59th St. Wed 4–Nov 6 10am–6pm; Nov 7 11am–5pm.

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So you missed out on entering to win the Metropolis Art Prize? Well, you can still vote for the lucky recipient of the Audience Award. The winner receives $5,000 and a chance to exhibit their work in Times Square. For further details and look at the entries so far, go here. Make your voice heard!

As bedbugs threaten to conquer our city (collectively, they’re currently polling better than Bill Thompson), at least the creatures can provide some creative inspiration. Example: While riding the 1 train a few weeks ago, I was casting about for an idea for a new visual game for my live trivia show, The Big Quiz Thing. And one of the ubiquitous subway ads for plastic mattress covers stirred the gray-matter juices, which got me thinking deeply about vermin. And thus, a new puzzle, “Crawling with Real Live Insects,” was born. Name the type of insect depicted—and pop-culture-referenced—here:

Easy, right? They get harder, but they get no less funnier. And there’s lots more tonight at the latest edition of the BQT: trivia of all kinds, a Halloweenesque audio round about candy, Smart-Ass Points for wrong but funny answers and—hey, how about that?—$250 in cash prizes. At Crash Mansion (199 Bowery at Spring St), 7:30pm, $7.

Hickey Freeman + Bobby Jones

Still have a job? Lining up interviews? Either way, you’ll need a new suit to impress the boss man, so take advantage of the discounts from these two menswear lines. Hickey Freeman suits are $500–$600 (originally $1,300–$1,800), and ribbed sweaters are $70 (normally $210). Bobby Jones wool blazers are now $300 (as opposed to $795). Soiffer Haskin, 317 W 33rd St between Eighth and Ninth Aves (718-747-1656). Subway: A, C, E, 1, 2, 3 to 34th St–Penn Station. Sun 25 9am–6pm; Mon 26–Wed 28 9am–6:30pm; Oct 29 9am–5pm.

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Bindya New York
It’s been freaking cold outside, but it seems too early to pull out the winter coat just yet. Instead, wrap on a chic scarf. Scoop up these printed and solid styles—normally sold at Nordstrom and Anthropologie—during this three-day blowout. Tie-dye designs are lowered from $40 to $15, floral-print scarves are $25 (were $65), and stud-embellished patterns are sliced from $115 to $40. 49 W 38th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-730-8852). Subway: B, D, F, V to 42nd St–Bryant Park; 7 to Fifth Ave. Thu 22, Fri 23 10am–6pm.

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