How to Make It in America, HBO's hip, snappy dramedy, could easily be re-titled How to Make It in New York. Given that its two lead characters, best friends Cam and Ben, are hustling to get their clothing label off the ground, the show couldn't really be set anywhere else other than this fashion-happy, hard-scrabble town. To show off the series' downtown New York-ness ahead of Season Two's October 2 premiere, HBO has released a mini-documentary about three New Yorkers who actually did make it in America. Check it out after the jump.

It’s been almost two years since I sat down in front of my computer to interview filmmaker Lars von Trier about his gods-and-genitals film Antichrist. We were going to “try something new” and talk over a Skype video connection. In preparation for the chat, I downloaded a program that would allow me to record the conversation and dump an MP3 file directly into iTunes—except that it didn’t work.

Eater's's recent post, "The 12 New York Restaurants With the Hottest Clientele," was pretty spot on. I, too, have noticed the overflow of pretties as I patiently tried to nurse my hangover at Peels; I've checked out the front table at The Smile; and I've unsuccessfully tried to keep my date's attention at La Esquina. (Which is crazy, because who can even see in that dark cavern?) In any case, there are reasons—good, plausible reasons, I tell ya!—why gorgeous cats congregate at these locales. Check it.

Even if our climates are drastically different, that doesn’t mean we won’t appropriate LA-based Alex Israel’s shades as our own. Inspired by and named after various highways in LA, the collection features unisex oversized vintage-inspired sunglasses, in a variety of black and white frames with the option of reflective lenses. In the sea of high-priced designer frames, the appropriately titled Freeway line is a refreshing $100 per pair. Getting to California might be somewhat more expensive, though.

“I’m a city girl and my brand is for city girls..."

You may recognize Matt Costa’s voice from buoyant tunes like the version of “Mr. Pitiful" featured in the Paul Rudd/Jason Segel dick-joke vehicle, I Love You, Man. Or from iPhone 3GS ads. If you were anywhere in the general vicinity of a radio in ’06, you’ll recognize his crooning on the song “Sunshine” from his debut album, Songs We Sing. And if those references don’t rustle up any fond memories, then you’ll just have to start from scratch: the California native’s just-released third album, Mobile Chateau, is out on Brushfire Records this week. We had the opportunity to chat with the songwriter about touring and his bigger-than-life romance at The Smile last week.

While you're bopping about town on Fashion's Night Out, stimulating the economy and whatnot with your cab fares and fancy purchases, designers and friends including ROGAN, OAK, The Smile, and Archetype Showroom will be trying to lure you to their neck of the woods. Together with other local favorites, the group's pooling their talents to present the first annual Black Carnival on Fashion’s Night Out from 6PM-11PM. Bond Street between Bowery & Lafayette will be roped off in street-fair fashion—funnel cakes replaced by luxe sushi, street meat by high fashion—to celebrate the dark (and humorous) side of fashion with black tents, live music, local cocktails, and unchecked revelry. No man is an island, and neither are retail brands, which is why these Noho favorites have joined forces. Our favorite destinations in the nabe after the jump.

Fashion and interiors photographer Todd Selby never dreamed he'd spend his days behind a lens, much less shooting inside the homes of creative icons like Karl Lagerfeld and Christian Louboutin. He grew up in the suburbs and worked a bevy of eclectic jobs—Tijuana tour guide, exotic flower wholesaler, and Japanese clothing designer to name a few—never having considered or even heard of a career as a photographer. All that change when Selby moved to New York and began working at Details in 2001. Selby began taking photos of his friends and their homes, developing his own portfolio in his spare time. These pictures—intimate glimpses into the lust-worthy (and often cluttered) spaces of artistic personalities—soon became the buzz of the design community by way of Selby's photoblog, The Selby.com. We sat down with fashion's favorite voyeur to talk Selby beginnings, dream subjects, and his new book, The Selby in Your Place. Details after the jump.

When you think of your classic New York filmmakers, the names Scorsese, Allen, and Lumet pop up. Think a little harder, and you might come up with Ed Burns. Ever since his first feature The Brothers McMullen wowed audiences and won the Grand Jury prize at Sundance ’95, Burns has been telling stories of urban malaise and modern relationships with budgets most Hollywood films spend on catering. A veteran at the Tribeca Film Festival, Burns is back with the premiere of Nice Guy Johnny, a likeable comedy set in the Hamptons. We caught up with Burns at the Apple Store SoHo, where they are hosting the "Meet the Filmmaker" series––sit-downs with leading writers, directors and actors, in conjunction with the festival. Here he is discussing his new film, the current state of independent cinema, and his Quentin Tarantino man-crush

Steven Rojas is usually so put together, people assume he's gay. He explained his appeal when he was named one of New York's Mr. Rights "Some girls see guys dressed in Thom Browne or some sort of amazing suit, and they're like, 'Wow, what's that dude's deal? Is he gay?'" Often described as a 'Man About Town," Rojas balances the late nights of a full social calendar with a demanding career as a fashion director at Archetype Showroom, always appearing dapper, fresh and awake. Here is how he does it (it's a surprisingly simple routine).