Thetimes they have changed, bigtime. YouTube is the new MTV, while PAPER's ownJulia Frakes, Tavi, and others of their ilk are giving Anna a run forher money. ICrave, the designers behind Meatpacking's newest hotspot,the Collective, have caught on with lightning speed, looking to artistson Etsy and Craigslist to realize their Frankendesign aesthetic.Headrests are fashioned out of teddy bears while blinking street signsform a chair (and a toasty warm one at that). Everywhere you lookinside the new barstaurant is something that looks like it belongs onthe Island of Misfit Toys, and everything deserves a closer look. Yes,those twist ties were painstakingly twisted and tied onto a column, andyes, that is a flock of license plate origami birds. The idea couldhave easily gone "funky cafe" wrong, but it'll sooner delight thandisgust. Besides, you'll be too mind-boggled to judge, and did Imention the teddy bear headrests? The $14 cocktail menu gives a nod toanother kind of mutant with the Credible Hulk (gin, lime, basil, andserrano chile), while the food offerings are a hodgepodge of variousNYC-neighborhood-themed treats like the Chicken-n-Waffle combo (Harlem)and the short-rib stroganoff (Brighton Beach). We're guessing thatthose who aren't into the typical MePa thing are breathing a collectivesigh of relief.

The Collective
1 Little West 12th St.
Meatpacking
(212) 255-9717

photos courtesy of a212.com