Back in New York, I will miss the opening of one of my favorite Brooklyn-based artists, Derek Buckner, at the George Billis Gallery. I love Buckner's humorous but slightly disturbing work; this time his subject matter is marshmallows. Admittedly a very unusual artist's model, the marshmallows become beautiful, multi-textured pieces with Buckner's colors, shading, and scale. (I also love the image of his entire studio covered in these little white puffs while he was working.)

New York's Columbus Circle has become a burgeoning destination in the last couple of years--think of the Time Warner Center and the Six Columbus hotel among its new tenants--and now cultural attraction can be added to its star billing. This month the transplanted Museum of Art and Design debuts with 54,000 square feet of gallery space. To mark the museum's new home, the inaugural exhibit "Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary" showcases the ultimate in recycling. Dog tags, hypodermic needles, and eyeglasses are among the items repurposed as works of art by contemporary design talents.

Last but not least, one of my favorite bands, Kings of Leon, just released its new single. I would rather listen to it sitting at an Italian beach club than at my desk, but I must accept that fall is now on my doorstep.