~STAVROS NIARCHOS & VLADIMIR RESTOIN ROITFELD in Chelsea nightclub BEAT-DOWN . . .

talk about . . . ‘David approaching Young Adulthood’ (post below) . . . and everything going black-out electric, badly.

just in case you have been living in your studio 24/7 or are like JOSH HARRIS, down in Vegas playing poker 24/7 . . . the art world in general was shocked and saddened to learn via the NEW YORK POST early today that 2 young men integral to a very hip and chic – but very happening part of the art scene here, and internationally, and with definite bonafide street cred to their names, were caught up in a vicious Chelsea nightclub ‘brawl’ that left them hurt, and in the news in a way – that couldn’t have made anybody happy.

STAVROS NIARCHOS III, only 26, son of the Greek shipping magnate of the same name, and a player on the hi-end art scene, along with his pal, the gifted curator and ‘pop-up’ gallerist, VLADIMR RESTOIN ROTFELD, 27, son of the former editor of FRENCH VOGUE, CARINE ROITFELD were hurt in a wild and out-of-control ‘Meatpacking melee’ – that sent their friend to the hospital. and not just any friend, but Monaco’s young Prince PIERRE CASIRAGH, 24, grandson to GRACE KELLY, and son to Princess Caroline of Monaco. so the club explosion was, in ultra current art speak, ocean sized, as well. as in . . . it was sure to make tabloid waves, if not international headlines.

accused of assaulting the ‘four jet-setters’ – was former NYC night club owner ADAM HOCK, a hefty 47.

the attack took place at trendy nightclub Double Seven, and according to the post article, “Pierre’s face looked broken, with deep cuts and blood everywhere. He looked like he needed plastic surgery.”

apparently the young prince was cold cocked, some call that sucker punched – and sent flying, across the room, landing “badly” on a table. Members of Hock’s group, which included catwalk models Natasha Poly, Valentina Zalyaeva and Anja Rubik, said the prince and his entourage strolled over to their table, “and were being completely obnoxious” – “insulting the models and swigging from a $500 bottle of vodka on Hock’s table”.

“Hock then allegedly punched out Niarchos, 26, and quickly landed blows on downtown hipsters Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld, 27, and Diego Marroquin, 33 – as the flustered models frantically tried to break it up. Casiraghi was taken to New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical center and released later Saturday, sources said. Hock – the former owner of the Hawaiian Tropic Zone in Times Square – was charged with four counts of third-degree assault . . . Friends of Casiraghi claimed Hock was the instigator. ‘The prince walked up to the table, and Adam just slammed him for no reason’, one witness said. ‘Stavros jumped in to help Pierre, and then he got slammed in the face’ . . . whereas for his part, Hock’s “power lawyer, Salvatore Strazzullo, said, ‘My client was having a nice time with a married couple and a lady friend and a group of very beautiful women, and these individuals were jealous, and they resorted to elementary-school tactics.
My client is not Bruce Lee . . . These four guys are trust-fund babies who think the world is owed to them. They are like spoiled brats”.

of the group VLADIMIR RESTOIN ROITFELD has the most street cred in the art world – he is probably most notorious for resurrecting the career of skuzzy hardcore early 80s NYC street artist – RICHARD HAMBLETON – aka the shadow. But his real claim to fame comes from the pop-up show he did here, in fashion week Feb 2011, in the super hip Chelsea meatpacking district (!!) for LA street artist RETNA, whose career really took off and went ballistic after that outing, which was not just chic – but super-produced right down to the dramatic lighting and cutting edge fonts on the ‘title’ cards. a bonafide art event – in the truest sense.

Only 27, RESTOIN ROITFELD seems to have a great flair for putting on shows which not only enliven the indie scene, but exhibit great style, and flexibility. he seems to have a very gifted curatorial eye, and in a few short years he has made a definite mark. ok. maybe he has trust fund roots, but he sure knows how to ‘rock’ them. it’s hard to believe he deserved a beat down, but you just can’t fool around, or take things for granted in New York City . . . this ain’t called the gritty city – for naught.
things can blow-up bad – out of nowhere.

read: PRINCE GETS POUNDED, NEW YORK POST


young, and very gifted curator/producer VLADIMIR RESTOIN ROITFELD, here with fashion designer STACEY BENDET at the opening of his almost one year to the day old, but already a street-legend-on-its-own, super hot ‘street’ art show:
‘ANDY VALMORBIDA and VLADIMIR RESTOIN ROITFELD PRESENT: RETNA – THE HALLELUJAH WORLD TOUR’, which ran FEB 10 – FEB 21, 2011, in a pop-up venue in the hip southwestern-most fringes of Chelsea, often called the meatpackign district, after its lowly origins.


STAVROS NIARCHOS – was also at the opening.


LA street artist, RETNA at the opening. although well-known in certain circles and esp in LA, from whence he sprung, RETNA’s career just went ballistic after this beautifully produced, dynamic blow-out of a show, his first real outing in New York City.

see: more ‘RETNA: HALLELUJAH WORLD TOUR’, FEB 2011 NYC – opening pix !!

ARCHIVAL PHOTOS OF RESTOIN ROTFELD, NIARCHOS & RETNA: NANCY SMITH, NYC. FEB 11, 2011.