CV Lounge presents the American edition of Argentine artist De La Plata's conceptual live nude art series, Statue Garden beginning Thursday night, August 19th at 11pm. This MoMa inspired interactive exhibit features live figure nude art models serving as its centerpiece to test people's comfort level in this uncommon surrounding.

CV Lounge is located at 105 Rivington Street.

For more information visitwww.statuegarden.eventbrite.com.

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Found in a South African mine last September, the Cullinan Heritage stone was recorded as the 19^th largest gem every found. Petra Diamonds, who discovered the rock, announced that Hong Kong's Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Company bought the diamond for $35.3 million its raw state possibly becoming one of the most important gems in the world.

 The rough edged diamond is 507.5 carats and is said to be about the size of a chicken's egg. It set the record for being the most expensive rough gem ever sold. The price was said to reflect the stones amazing rarity, size and clarity.  Chow Tai Fook has not yet said what its plans are for the rare stone.

As for the largest diamond ever found on record, it was discovered in the same mine back in 1905. Eventually that stone was cut to for the Great Star of Africa and the Lesser Star of Africa, which are set in Britain's Crown Jewels. Recently, in May of 09 Petra received $9.48 million for the sale of a polished 7.03-carat blue gem, also found in those same South African Mines.

Diamond prices have soared as of late. In the first 11 months of 2009, prices rose about 48%, especially with such high demand in China, which overtook Japan as the second highest gem market in the world.  This sale could not have come at a better time for Petra. Last years numbers show that it totaled losses of around $88 million, while this year’s first half profits are already at $37.9 million.

If we had to assume the fate of this diamond, considering the history of others, it will be cut up and sold separately to assure more profits. Think of it as a car, where the sum of its parts is worth more than it would be as a whole, a really expensive car, a $35.3 million one. 

Source

By Adam Z

30-year old Mbarek Lafrem of Norwood Pa has been arrested and charged with the brutal beating and attempted rape of a woman in a mid-town bar. Police say co-workers turned in Lafrem in after recognizing him from surveillance video released on Thursday.

The victim was allegedly followed into the ladies room after refusing to dance with the accused. She was discovered unconscious on the ladies room floor having suffered a broken eye socket, shattered jaw and other injuries.

Video footage showed the man leaving Social, a three-story bar known for drawing large crowds, shaking his right hand as though it had been injured just moments after the assault.  He is then shown entering a bodega where he took a can of beer and left without paying.

Police say Lafrem made incriminating statements while in custody.  The victim remains in the hospital and is in stable condition.

By Cassidy Catanzaro