Jen Brill

While you were out celebrating the New Year, resident New Yorker, Fred & Associates director, and sometime-host Jen Brill was hard at work reflecting upon her favorite nights in 2008. What is her resolution? Like last year, she's going to quit smoking, and put in more hours at the office. Some things never change, so let the fun remain.

1. Tom Sachs opening at Lever House (05/08)
What's better than multiple Hello Kitties fifteen-times my size shooting water out of their eyes and mouths? A DJ set by Malcolm McLaren? High five, Sachs!

2. X concert at Irving Plaza (05/24)
I've only seen VHS tapes of X shows during the 80s and every single time I've watched one I've threatened to bleach my hair and start a band, even though I can't sing a note.  Bassist John Doe looked exactly like he did in 1980, and Exene Cervenka sang like an angel. I almost cried when they played "Nausea." In a misguided attempt to fit in among the old punkers I wore my Christopher Kane steel-toe boots. I don't think anyone was fooled.

3. Aurel Schmidt opening at Deitch Projects (10/04)
One of my favorite young artists, Aurel Schmidt, had her debut solo show in New York. Deitch  was wall-to-wall in every girl's dream: double-headed penises, beer cans, cigarettes, donuts and tampons.

4. Proenza Schouler PS1 dinner at Il Buco (11/06)
Praise the lord: My two favorite boys finally made purses, and in python! Barneys hosted a dinner at Il Buco to celebrate the launch of Lazaro and Jack's very first handbags. All the girls were dressed in head-to-toe Proenza, and Julie Gilhart gave the sweetest speech professing her love for the designers as Dan Colen shouted "Obama!" in the background. Thanks to him, I proudly received first prize for having the best and most obnoxious date!

5. Rx Art Party at Milk Gallery (11/18)
Incredible non-profit Rx Art hosted its annual benefit at the Milk Gallery. It was by far the most successful yet ! Lazaro and Jack make a second appearance on my list : They hosted the party with Larry Gagosian and Sonnabend's Antonio Homen in honor of Jeff Koons. Works by Richard Prince, Ed Ruscha, Delia Brown, Rob Pruitt, Nate Lowman, Adam McEwen, Terence Koh, and Rita Ackerman all hit the block. It gets better: Everyone walked out with a Dan Colen bubble gum puzzle, made especially for RX Art. It's titled "Rock! Paper! Scissors! Sh...", "No! No! No!, Scissors! Rock! Paper! Shoot!" I love mine so much I put it in its own pair of pajamas every night and kiss it before I go to sleep.

6. Edon Manor One-Year Anniversary Party (12/10)
Vanessa Traina and I hosted the party for the one-year anniversary of our favorite shoe store in New York, at the boutique. Mr. Chow's chicken skewers and Alaia shoes galore ! Sophomore's Chrissie Miller and Dear Diary author Lesley Arfin DJ'd while Erin Wasson danced with her earphones plugged in her ears. Word on the street is that she was listening to Wu Tang.

7. Lissy Trullie and The Virgins at Bowery Ballroom (12/12)
In case you don't know, the Virgins are the biggest babes in New York City. They sing songs about rich girls, murder, astrology, and getting laid. Lissy, who is an even more gorgeous Sissy Spacek, dedicated half of a song to me and the other half to my derriere. I blushed all the way through her set. Bowery Ballroom was sold out and the kids sang along to every song. I can't wait until they get together to tour the US at the end of this month.