You might remember that earlier this year I saw Takashi Murakami's "©Murakami" show at the MOCA in Los Angeles. Well now the Japanese artist is bringing his show to the Brooklyn Museum, along with his Louis Vuitton pop-up shop. Handbags aside (which cost between $800-$900), the show itself is something to behold. Murakami infuses his cute, anime-inspired pieces with an underlying darkness, creating a strangely unsettling experience. The show's name points to the way Murakami controversially mixes art and commerce, collaborating with Louis Vuitton and creating a plethora of products with his company KaiKai Kiki.

The Brooklyn Museum's free "Target First Saturdays" series kicks off April this Saturday from 5pm-11pm, featuring a slew of special events including: an anime costume contest to win the "©Murakami" catalogue; Hayao Miyazaki's "Kiki's Delivery Service" playing at 6pm; Brooklyn-based Japanese bands Love Etc. and Sakura Madams; and Japanese DJ Muro aka King of Diggin'.

I was recently in Los Angeles enjoying 70-degree weather, the newly reopened Griffith Observatory and the fantastic Takashi Murakami retrospective at the MOCA in Little Tokyo.

The Japanese artist is best known for creating the Superflat style of art, which finds influences in otaku (the "stay-at-home" culture of manga, anime and sci-fi), and kawaii, the Japanese culture of cute.

Aside from the stunning collection of more than 90 works from throughout Murakami's career, there is also a small Louis Vuitton pop-up shop filled with the label's Murakami handbag collaborations. For handbag junkies, this is really a unique opportunity: A limited-edition collaboration between Marc Jacobs and Takashi Murakami, sold only at the LA pop-up shop. Most bags sell between $800-900, and orders can't be shipped.

So if sunshine and intriguing art exhibits aren't enough to get you across the country, surely these bags will do the trick. You better buy your plane ticket soon though, because the retrospective closes its doors on February 11th.

Below: MJ talks up Murakami.

Is it surprising that a museum such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art has caught on to the trend of fashion blogging? The latest exhibition by the Costume Institute, blog.mode: addressing fashion opens today, providing for the first time in the MET's history an open discourse between fashion, museum curators and the public.

The exhibit features recent acquisitions from the department since 2000, supplying the usual dosage of Worth, Schiaparelli, Chanel, YSL, Westwood, Dior, McQueen and Yamamoto but also presenting new designers, such as Rodarte and Olivier Theyskens. At the center of the exhibit is a blog bar of eight computers, encouraging gallery viewers and fashion bloggers from home to input their two cents on fashion, design, trends and museology.

The blog will focus on a new ensemble or object from the exhibition a day and bloggers from yesterday's press previews are already discussing the exhibition's highlights and down falls.

One viewer writes, "it's entirely validating to see a world that has long been accused of elitism and antiquity wholeheartedly embrace the democracy of the blog. Fashion is in fact a truly subjective art, and regardless of a designer’s intended message, each wearer (or in this case, viewer) forms their own intimate connection with a garment. What a brilliant way to open a discourse and allow the public's opinion to be heard …"

Get to blogging and check out the show on view today till April 13!

Most of us love fashion yet hate the trampede of shopping bags and credit cards during the holiday season. Aside from dropping your dough on incorrect sizes, fits and colors at online retail shops, may I suggest fashion books as a safe and educational alternative? Thanks to the internet gods, it's easier and sometimes cheaper to buy books online than face the threat of elbows and "sold-out" signs. Here is a list of my favorite fashion books this season:

For the trendy, wardrobe-flipping best friend who seems to always be on top of the fashion world, get her a subscription to Fashion Trends - The Forecast Book, $385.

For the wanna-be do-it-yourself co-worker who needs a lesson in sewing, pick up Built by Wendy's Sew U, $17.15.

For the Facehunter and the Sartorialist stalker who longs to emulate  street fashion, pick up The New York Look Book: A Gallery of Street Fashion, $16.47.

For the arty, avant-garde fashionista who has it all, an issue of Visionaire, which is more like an art object, may be a wonderful treat.

For the budding fashion historian and collector of encyclopedias, pick up The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Costume and Fashion History: From 1066 to Present Day, $16.47.

1. I don't mean to get all macaroni-glued-to-construction-paper on you, but I just can't help it--'Tis the season for craft fairs! For an entry fee of $1 you can hit up Bust Magazine's Craftacular and a get chance to meet Amy Sedaris.

2. For a less crowded, non-commercial feel, roll out to Bushwick, the struggling artists paradise, for the Handmade Holiday Craft Fair at 3rd Ward.

3. Squeeze in some Native American art while you shop at the holiday market at the National Museum of the American Indian this weekend. The 36 Native American artists will be selling handmade art, apparel and jewelry.

4. Fashionistas who cringe at the thought of wearing the same thing as someone else should check out the Style Market at F.I.T. for one-of-kind threads, accessories and jewelry.

5. Tired of the old dinner and bar Friday routine? Go for some baked yumminess and tea at Alice's Tea Cup II before taking in a fashion discussion at the French Institute between Pamela Golbin, a Parisian fashion curator, and Olivier Theyskens of Nina Ricci.

(Photo Courtesy of Bust's Craftacular)

1. 'Tis the season of holiday markets! Buy some fudge, hit the Bryant Park ice rink or find a unique gift from one NYC's many crafty holiday market vendors.

2. Is there anything better than devoting your Wednesday evening to shopping at The Gen Art Fashion Sale, drinking cocktails and getting your hair and nails done? No, unless of course you're watching Project Runway.

3. Forgo Sunday mass this weekend and check out the art show by the politicking British graffiti artist Banksy at the Vanina Holasek Gallery.

4. Sunday boasts an armload of crafts and art shows. Hit up the Dirt Cheap One Day Art Fair at the Stain bar in Williamsburg or the Astoria Craft Collective Holiday Show at the Waltz Astoria.

5. Wanna have a chat with Bruno Frisoni, the brains behind the famous design house that created the stiletto heel? Hit up the Q&A with the Roger Vivier genius tonight at the French Institute.

You can't look at a Gustav Klimt painting without feeling mesmerized by the mythical women adorned in shimmery frocks and geometric prints. With the holiday party dress season approaching I needed a bit of fashion inspiration. Thankfully, the Neue Gallery's acquisition of the $135 million Adele Bloch-Bauer Portrait I (painting, top) has motivated an exhibition showcasing the Klimt collection owned by Ronald S. Lauder and Serge Sabarsky. The exhibit features eight paintings, the re-created interior of Klimt's art studio, and some of his personal belongings including his painting smock, photographs and more than 120 sketches.  You'll leave the exhibit longing for a gold-sequined number. For a great hoilday gift, pick up Christian Brandstatter's Klimt and Fashion book in the gift shop.

(Photos Courtesy of Neue Gallery)

1. If you're in town this weekend be sure to check out the food drive/art show at the New York Design Center. Canstruction features over 45 teams of NY architects and designers who have created sculptures out of canned goods. Last year over 250,000 lbs of food were donated to City Harvest.

2. Since you'll be saving so much on Black Friday, why not spend more at the Seventh on Sale event, hosted by Vogue and CFDA. The sale starts this weekend at the 69th Regiment Armory or online until December 6.

3. Crafting fiends should already be hitting up the Etsy Lab every week but just in case you missed the memo: There's an Etsy Fast Fiber Art Trunk Show tonight!

6. Fashion month continues at the French Institute on Tuesday, showcasing rare screenings of two iconic French fashion films, Breathless and Subway.

5. Take an extended lunch this afternoon and hit up the new MUJI store. Here's an incentive: The first 500 shoppers receive a free bag!

(Photo Courtesy of Canstruction)

When I saw that the Museum of Art and Design was doing a show called Pricked: Extreme Embroidery, I thought to myself, is Dan Cortez from MTV Sports (you know you remember that show) gonna host this gig? I quickly found out that the  "extreme" portion of the show dealt with the current state of the art world and their use of the embroidery medium.  The show tackled more than just the usual ABC sampler or cutesy  embroidered pillowcase; artists dealt with subculture, pop culture, society and politics. Art pieces include military jackets embroidered with personal history, embroidered art pieces (photo, left) embroidered tattooed arms (photo, right), an embroidered couch, and life-like figure drawings embroidered with chicken wire.

Big props to the M.A.D. for allowing crafters and fiber artists to shine! Check out the exhibit on view now until March and be sure to sign up for some of the accompanying events, such as the class on Embroidery 101 offered by the museum.

(Photo Courtesy of Nava Lubelski, Benji Whalen and MAD)

1. Rock your latest groupie attire to the CMJ Madness this weekend.

2. In between band sets, hike it up to Sotheby's for the fashion exhibit on Princess Grace Kelly.

3. Cure your indie rock hangover with a bacon bloody mary and the Brooklyn Fashion Weekend.

4. For art and music be sure to check out Bianca Casady of the eclectic band Coco Rosie (above photo) who will be performing with her sister at the closing of her art show at Deitch Projects tonight.

5. Crafters mark your calenders, there's a free workshop on beading and embroidery at F.I.T. Tuesday night (reservations required).

(Photo courtesy of Deitch Gallery)