Whoa, check out The Collective, a zany new restaurant in the Meatpacking District that looks like it was designed by Punky Brewster and a family of freegan dumpster divers. It's actually the work of design firm ICRAVE, which salvaged all the furnishings from from thrift shops, flea markets, Craigslist, and, yes, curbside trash. Once inside the main space, which seats 150, you'll find a ceiling composed of Styrofoam and turned into a light fixture, a couch reupholstered in designer denim, a wall made of used Legos and casino slot machines, a bar decorated with flying seagulls made from license plates, and a host stand made from the hub of a plane. Eat your heart out, T.G.I. Friday's. more ›

Not long after graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Kelly Overton got a big break when she was cast in the memorable Broadway stage adaptation of The Graduate, with Jason Biggs in the Dustin Hoffman role and Kathleen Turner famously baring all for her portrayal of Mrs. Robinson. Film and TV roles followed, including a part in The Ring Two. Overton has also been busy with a project of her own, a low-budget indie thriller called The Collective that she co-wrote and co-directed with husband Judson Pearce Morgan. In it, she plays a woman who rushes to New York City after getting a cryptic voice mail message from her sister, who has since disappeared. Her search points the way to a creepy, clandestine society that, judging by the film's trailer, loves getting freaky in old cathedrals. The Collective will premiere in New York on May 31st as part of the Brooklyn International Film Festival, with a second screening on June 5th. Details here. more ›