Modern Lovers
Tweet a picture of you and your sweetie to @urbanoutfitters, and you could win a gift certificate. Isn't that lovely?
The 2010 Tournament of Books: The Contenders
Today, The Morning News announced their 16 contenders in the 2010 Tournament of Books, along with their list of judges, which includes our own Molly Young. To get the scoop on the ToB, we asked The Morning News founders Rosecrans Baldwin and Andrew Womack what's up.
Baldwin (left), Womack.
So, what's up? Was the Tournament of Books really conceived in a bar?
Baldwin: Yup, in the back room of a bar in Brooklyn, in Carroll Gardens. We decided that though we could appreciate literary awards, we found them absurd and pompous. We figured there should be an award for new books that was as meaningful (or meaningless) as the Pulitzer or the National Book Award, but was decided in a forum that was more fun and transparent. And we also love college basketball. Thus the Tournament of Books was born.
What does the Rooster logo have to do with anything?
Womack: After it looked like this thing was really going to happen, we decided we needed a name for the award we'd bestow on the winning book—like an Oscar or a Grammy or what have you. So, naturally, we met at a bar to discuss it and for some reason David Sedaris came up, and we've always loved that story he wrote about his brother, "You Can't Kill the Rooster." From there it was a short hop to naming the award the Rooster. About five seconds later we decided we'd try and send the winning author a live rooster. But rather than try to figure out a way around any laws that may restrict the shipping of live poultry, and unsure how many authors would know how to care for a chicken, we decided we'd make a donation to Heifer International—which provides chickens to families in developing nations—in the winner's name instead. As for the logo itself, we've had it since the second year of the Tournament, and it was designed by our friend Susan Everett.
How do you pick the top 16 books?
Baldwin: It's a balancing game. We want books that got a lot of hype and books that got little. Books that won other prizes and books that were ignored. Big publishers, little publishers, foreign favorites, populist favorites, and so on. Throughout the year, we keep track of reviews, critics' picks, blog attention, emails from readers and publishers and so forth, and that becomes the longlist of about 60 titles. Then it's a committee decision to reach the final 16 and it takes about a month to figure out.
Have you both read all the books? How many books do you read a year?
Womack: Going into the Tournament, I haven't read any of this year's books. My annual reading varies. In the first half of the 2000s I'd hover around 25 a year. Last year I read four books and became a father. This year I've read one book. So maybe I'm on an upswing.
Baldwin: I read about two a week, but I've only read three of this year's titles so far.
How can someone participate in the ToB even if they haven't read all the books?
Womack: It's a spectator sport, so for anyone who's following along, reading any or all of the books is entirely optional; the judges do a good job of explaining what the books are about, and why one is perhaps better than another. For the judges, because the matches are bracketed out and a single judge decides each match, each Tournament judge only needs to read the two books in their round plus the two books that end up in the finals (which are decided by votes from all judges).
"Everybody" always talks about how "no one" reads anymore. Agree or disagree.
Womack: People are reading, they're just not reading where they used to read. It was upon readers that newspaper and magazine empires were built. When readers switched to the internet for their reading material, those empires crumbled. To do that kind of damage, it must take a lot of readers.
The Morning News Tournament of Books
As we're a bunch of closet book nerds over here, we're excited to be involved with The Morning News' annual Tournament of Books. They just released their long list of contenders, to be narrowed down to a sweet 16 come January. That means you've got about three weeks to get your read on. More to come...
Levi's Go Forth Fortune
After a spate of some of the coolest, most spine-tingling advertising we've seen in a long time, Levi's is launching a nationwide treasure hunt that includes listening to clues online and then embarking on a real-world search for more. The prize? $100,000. Holy holy...that's a lot more than a free bottle of Sprite (like 99,999 more, to be exact).
Simplefly Presents Amanda Blank
For Red Bull's Public Assembly, they challenged two local party promoters to throw the best party they could, and the winner gets the go-ahead to throw a no-holds-barred event in NYC. How does this affect you? As part of the contest, Simplefly is giving away 600 free tickets to an Amanda Blank show next Tuesday at Woody's.
Where the Wild Things Are Sweepstakes
Enter to win a trip for two to the New York premiere of Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are. The grand-prize winner will get air fare and accommodation, two tickets to the premiere, and a $500 Urban Outfitters gift card. Let the Wild Rumpus start!
Win Tickets to See Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth roll through town on July 2nd for a show at the Electric Factory in support of their new album The Eternal, and we're giving you a chance to see them. For free! Enter to win tickets to the show at UO's two Philadelphia locations (110 South 36th St and 1627 Walnut St.). And don't say we never gave ya nuthin'.
Boone's Farm and the US Air Guitar Championship
If you previously thought Boone's Farm was only for those with learner's permits, think again: It's now for air guitarists, too. Boone's Farm is now the official beverage sponsor of the US Air Guitar Championships, and is even debuting a new flavor, Sunshine Pink, with the event. Hopefully, this sets a precedent for future such partnerships: New York Fashion Week Brought to you by Colt 45, maybe?
Days of Thunder
Days of Thunder is a mountain bike competition now in its second year, and it features some of the most bad-ass riders from Europe and around the world. What goes up must come down...sometimes painfully.
Your Band Here Winner: Wake Up Lucid
The votes are in, and the winner of Your Band Here—UO’s own battle of the bands—has been chosen: Wake Up Lucid. The LA-based trio has won a spot on a future LSTN download and a slot playing our 2010 Austin showcase. Wake Up Lucid just played their first gig just last December, and their path to victory was no doubt paved in part by the fact that they were hyped by a lil music magazine called Rolling Stone. Congrats to Wake Up Lucid—we look forward to working with ya.
Your Band Here
We believe in democracy. That's why we're leaving it up to you to decide which of the five finalists wins our Your Band Here contest, garnering a spot on a future LSTN and a slot at our 2010 showcase in Austin. Now go and exercise your rights!
Kanye West "Welcome to Heartbreak"
The video Kanye released on February 17, 'cause he got all nervous, which is probably a really good thing for Chairlift.
This Is For You Contest
Rob Ryan's intricate paper designs are as sweet as those little candy hearts (the ones that say "Be Mine;" not the ones that say "Let's Talk"), which is why we're giving away an exclusive signed Rob Ryan print (from a limited-edition of 49) and five copies of his new book, This is For You, published by Chronicle Books. Enter now through February 11. If you win, give it to a loved one—or just keep it for yourself.
Win an Xbox 360 and Lips
Really, getting wasted at a bar and belting out some Rihanna songs in front of a crowd of strangers is nothing compared to doing it in the comfort of your own home for a bunch of friends and family. Trust us: Now through January 4, you can enter to win an Xbox 360 and Lips, a party-singing game full of tracks from the likes of Coldplay, Peter Bjorn and John, The Ramones and, yes, Miss Umbrella-ella-ella herself.
M83 Contest
M83 is currently making their way across the U.S., and we've paired up with Mute Records to give away a pair of tickets and a gift-card for each stop on the M83 tour. We can't all be winners, but we can all occasionally win stuff.
Creative 30
The Creative 30, a project that highlights 30 of the U.K.'s most exciting young talents, commences today. The 30 nominees include fine artists, photographers, dancers, designers, musicians and even tattooists, and you can vote as many times as you want between now and November 16th to help your favorite win some career-launching support. (Via We Heart Stuff.)
Urban Nomad - The Winner!
Our Urban Nomad Lomography contest wrapped up last month and we have a winner: Christine Zona, who took this ice cream-hued shot of an amusement park ride.
TVOTR Listening Party and Contest!
TV On The Radio's new CD, Dear Science, is coming out next Tuesday, 9/23. To celebrate this fact, and to show you just how much we love you, we're having a pre-release listening party of Dear Science at ALL OUR STORES across the country this Saturday, 9/20, from 12-5pm. So please stop on by....if you mention TVOTR when you're there you'll get a free poster (while supplies last). And because we can't stop there, we are also giving away a trip to see TVOTR in LA and you can sign up here.
Urban Nomad - Week One Winners!
The Urban Nomad contest we're running with The Lomographic Society is going strong. Week One winners have been chosen and you can check them all out here. Remember: The contest runs until September 14. Check out the rules, themes and prize info here. Now hit the road!
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