"SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE" CONTESTANTS BRING IT

I try to keep my reality show viewing to a minimum. You can become used to watching other people achieve their dreams and live in their glory instead of going after your own. But "So You Think You Can Dance" is a show I like to watch from time to time. The dancers are really talented and constantly forced to try (and excel at) new genres of dance...with only five hours of training. The two couples in the video clips below knocked it out of the park with their routines.

First there's Chelsie and Mark, who danced to Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" in a Lyrical Hip Hop routine. Some dances that try to interpret lyrics can be uber-cheesy, but this one was so full of emotion and managed to be cool at the same time. Seriously, it looked like Chelsie was going to start crying at the end. Give her an award!!!

The second routine is Joshua and Katee, who danced the "Hot" Samba (to some song called "Baila Baila" which I actually like a lot). Katie, who doesn't think she is sexy at all, wowed everyone with her sultry moves, while Joshua moved his hips like he was going to break them (in true Latino style.) See, the key to dancing almost every Latino dance is in the hips...not that flailing arm thing I've seen ballroom dancers do. These two brought the hotness!!!

It's worth it to tune in to "So You Think You Can Dance" to see more dance routines from these couples, as well as the others. It can only get better from here and I'm sure Chelsie and Mark and Katee and Joshua will be at the top.

THE ALEXTHEARTISTE JAM OF THE WEEK: "LOVE IS A LOSING GAME"

AMY WINEHOUSE "LOVE IS A LOSING GAME"

I came across this video on YouTube, while I was looking for the next jam of the week to post. With all the craziness that has plagued her life, it's easy to overlook Amy Winehouse's immense, natural talent. Compared with her other songs, where she belts out the lyrics, backed by loud horns and danceable beats, this one is very raw and delicate and shows how effortless yet amazing her voice really is. I hope Amy Winehouse gets everything back on track (instead of "Back to Black"), because she is truly one of the best singers out there.

DEAL OF THE DAY: OLD NAVY WRAP DRESS

Wrap dresses are amazing. They nip the waist and show off curves without being skin tight. They are also the perfect day to night choice; wear it with a tank to the office, and dress it up with accessories (and lose the tank) for an after work night out. I was thrilled to find this wrap dress from Old Navy (who's been hitting it out of the park lately with their feminine and stylish dresses) for--brace yourself--$9.99!!! Seriously.

TOLD YOU SO--COLDPLAY TOPS CHARTS, TYRA WINS EMMY

I like to fill people in on what I believe to be the next big thing and am very hardcore in my pop culture knowledge and appreciation. (My friends and family call upon me to answer all their pop culture questions.)  I feel that I have a good eye and ear and know what I'm talking about. So I was thrilled (yet none too surprised) to get some validation recently. After giving major kudos in previous posts to Coldplay for their new song "Viva la Vida" and Tyra Banks for her TV show, I have learned that the album (by the same name) is dominating the charts and Miss Banks just won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show/Informative. Damn, I'm good.

THE ALEXTHEARTISTE JAM OF THE WEEK: "VIVA LA VIDA"

COLDPLAY "VIVA LA VIDA" (LIVE AT THE VMAS)

OK maybe I'm on a bit of a Coldplay hype. Can you blame me??? When I first heard "Viva la Vida" on an iTunes commercial, I was instantly all over it. With a strong drum beat and Chris Martin's cool voice, you can't help but move to it. (I'm still trying to put my finger on it, but I think what makes his voice so great is that it's gentle, soft, fragile and soothing to the ear.) After some research, I also found that "Viva la Vida" has become Coldplay's most successful single; I guess I'm not the only one on the hype.

CONGRATS KEVIN GARNETT!!!

Congratulations to Kevin Garnett for FINALLY getting his championship ring!!! He broke down with emotion after the Celtics beat the crap out of the Lakers in game six of the NBA Championships to win it all. Garnett's one of the few players that play with heart, and according to what everyone has said, has deserved this ring for a long time.

I WANT, I WANT, I WANT!!! FRED & FRIENDS 500XL DESKTOP EARBUD SPEAKERS

Just like the "ALEXTHEARTISTE JAM OF THE DAY," "I WANT I WANT I WANT!!!" will be a regular post featuring awesome things that I want to buy (trust me, there will be many) and think you should buy too. I get a rush from finding a great item (especially if it's original/out of the box/cute/badass) and an even bigger rush in telling someone about it. So here goes...the first "I WANT I WANT I WANT!!!"

How cute are these speakers???!!! The 500XL Desktop Earbud Speakers by Fred & Friends are made to look like iPod earbuds on steroids (500 times the size of the original). It's a great way to get big sound and a fun look as well. I think they drop kick the regular iPod docking station and keep the whole Apple look going, for only $50!!! (They also connect to your CD player or PC and run on batteries or plug into the wall.) I think my boyfriend and I are signing up for this one!!!

FRIDA KAHLO EXHIBIT: REVIEW

I always have to be at an opening, if it's something I really care about. I went to the first game of the season for the 49ers and the Warriors, as well as the first night game of the season for the Giants. I guess it's like the first day of school--there's a certain excitement, everything is fresh and new, and you don't know what to expect. When it comes to season openers and art openings, you have a sense that the people there want to be the first to share in that excitement, and more often than not, are hardcore fans. The opening day of the Frida Kahlo exhibition, at the SFMOMA, felt no different (in my excitement, I even did my hair and makeup like Frida and wore my Frida Kahlo t-shirt). The line of people wound down the stairs, and tickets had to be purchased according to time slots because it was so packed. There were several rooms that led from one into the other, each representing a time period in Frida's life and artistic career. The art itself was stunning and heart-wrenching. Just like people wear their heart on their sleeve, she wore her heart in her paintings. A wonderful added bonus is an entire room with photographs of Kahlo, husband and painter Diego Rivera, and their friends and family. Open until September 28, it is absolutely an exhibit worth seeing.

SF'S OWN SUPREME SOUL ON AMERICA'S BEST DANCE CREW

Today, I caught the audition episode for season two of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew and was proud to see an incredible dance crew that hails from San Francisco!!! Supreme Soul, made up of 7 dancers, wowed me (and more importantly, the judges) with their smooth moves and tons of confidence (that's how we roll in the City). Below are videos of their performance as well as the kick-ass crew that won last season, JabbaWockeeZ.

Make sure to vote for Supreme Soul--if they wow they way they have from the get go, it shouldn't be a hard vote.

SUPREME SOUL- LIVE AUDITION EPISODE

JabbaWockeeZ DANCE COMPILATIONS (Parts 1 & 2)

VIVA FRIDA! FRIDA KAHLO EXHIBIT AT SFMOMA

I am a huge fan of Frida Kahlo. She turned her suffering into beautiful art (I believe that if you can create something beautiful out of pain, it gives the pain some purpose), held her own against Diego Rivera, and liked to push boundaries and buttons. I also love the fact that she married Rivera in San Francisco (my city) and reportedly had a Hungarian father (as do I). Starting this Saturday and running until September 28, the SFMOMA will hold an exhibition of Frida Kahlo's art and photography, and I couldn't be more excited. Cool (and intellectual) get-together idea: watch the movie Frida (a great film starring Salma Hayek), which will give you more insight to her experiences and life and how they translate to her work (while maybe enjoying some yummy Mexican appetizers), and then go to see the exhibit. I'm sure you'll become a Frida fan too. Que viva Frida!

*Here is SFMOMA's description of the exhibit:

"Mexican artist Frida Kahlo began painting in 1926, while recovering from a near-fatal bus accident, and soon became captivated by the medium's expressive possibilities. Kahlo's folkloric style, influenced by Mexican popular art, and her fantastical imagery earned her recognition among the Surrealists, but her intriguing persona and unmistakable originality propelled her beyond the confines of a specific movement to become a leading figure in modern art. This exhibition, commemorating the centennial of the artist's birth, brings together paintings that span her career, along with a selection of her own collection of photographs, most of which have never been on public display."

THE ALEXTHEARTISTE JAM OF THE WEEK: "ANGEL"

MADONNA "ANGEL"

OMG I LOVE THIS SONG. I had forgotten about it for a while (it's a super old-school Madonna jam) and rediscovered it while I was searching for new Madge songs to put on the iPod. It's one of my favorites and this video highlights Madonna in all her 80s glory, reminding me exactly why I wanted to look like her as a kid.

FIVE SHOWS TO WATCH

With the slew of crappy shows on T.V., most which make you feel that you've wasted an hour of your life, I've decided to share my list of five can't-miss shows.

1. Chelsea Lately- I have a certain level of respect for smart-asses (myself included ;) and Chelsea Handler is no exception. She is blunt, not politically correct, says what's on her mind, and like anyone who makes fun of other people should, makes fun of herself. It's hilarious and refreshing and I randomly miss an episode. The great thing about E! is that they repeat their shows 20,000 times, so if you can't watch it weeknights at 11:30/10:30c, you can catch up the next day. Watch it if you want a hysterical take on pop culture.

2. Greek- Since I was in a sorority, I wanted to watch this show when it first came out to see if it's accurate in its portrayal of Greek life. I may have caught an episode but never got into it or even remembered what channel it was on. OMG (as many sorority girls would say), what an incredible show. ABC Family featured a Greek all-day marathon ending with the season finale. I'm officially hooked. This show should be the next big thing (and yes, it's pretty accurate). Watch it (Mondays 8/7c). Love it. Thank me later.

3. Daily 10- OK, by now you may have surmised (big word of the day!!!) that I am a fan of E! Television. Can't help it. Since I'm such a huge fan of anything pop-culture, I automatically turn to E! and VH1 to see what's on. Daily 10 (weeknights 7:30/6:30c and midnight/11c), though it pretty much gives you the same top pop culture stories that E! News (which is shown right before it) does, it has it's own fun, stylish flavor. With segments on fashion, music, movies and beauty (each with an expert giving their latest tips and opinions), and it's young, beautiful and hip hosts (Debbie Matenopoulos, Catt Sadler and Sal Masekela), it's the pop culture show to watch. For all the fashionistas, I'd recommend watching just for the awesome fashion.

4. The Tyra Banks Show- OK, Tyra Banks, from what I've heard, can be a little egocentric and annoying. She's also endearing, sweet, funny, honest, and doesn't mind making a crack at herself. I find myself gravitating to her show for the wide range of topics (from fashion to relationship help to self-image issues) and her willingness to put herself on the line to prove her point. She dressed up in a fat suit to feel the emotions a plus size woman feels, displayed her weight on a bathing suit she wore along with her audience, and shares her experience on every topic that is brought up on the show. Watch to learn something, be entertained or just to watch Tyra be silly.

5. Denise Richards- It's Complicated- You can't help but watch this show (although you don't feel as bad as you do after watching anything with Flavor Flav in it). After so much gossip, we finally get to hear what Denise Richards has to say in her defense about the whole Charlie Sheen/Richie Sambora/Heather Locklear drama. After that, you will be surprised to see that she is just a mom and a daughter and a sister, who happens to have a huge potty mouth and wants to breed her pig Charlotte. It's not the most exciting show and I can't say that I can't live without it, but for some reason, I keep tuning in to see what's going to happen next, and you probably will too. Check it out on E! (big shocker) Sundays at 10/9c.

THERE WILL ONLY BE ONE YVES SAINT LAURENT

It took me so long to write about death of Yves Saint Laurent, my sadness and sense of loss (that I'm sure everyone in the fashion community feels), because one doesn't know where to start regarding his innovations and contributions to the world of fashion. Regardless of what I felt I knew or didn't know, I couldn't not mention his influence on fashion and call myself a fashionista. I found some great videos that show some of the designer's great gifts and wonderful quotes. Working for the Yves Saint Laurent boutique in Neiman Marcus, I was able to see what women were loyally clamoring after: strong, sleek elegance; power; sexiness; worldliness. It hurts when we lose a legend, but are thankful that they leave us something to cherish them by. Merci beaucoup, Monsieur Saint Laurent.

THE ALEXTHEARTISTE JAM OF THE WEEK: "HOMECOMING"

I started the whole "jam of the week" thing (by posting a music video in a bulletin) when I was on Myspace, and people responded well to it. I think music is a gift to share, and I love it when people introduce me to new music. I'm bringing the concept here, and will post a jam every week. Be warned: I do tend to get random with my music.

KANYE WEST FT. CHRIS MARTIN "HOMECOMING"

This song is so incredibly full of soul it's not even funny; I seriously want to learn to play it on the piano. It is proof that Chris Martin is an exceptional artist and Kanye West knows who to work with. (As for Kanye, he can rap the ABCs on a track and it'll be a hit) There is debate as to whether the piano part is a sample from another song, since it seems to sound like something we've all heard before, but that's the beauty of it.