Maybe it's the rain, maybe it's the hangover from a raucous night of black-light partyin', but we really can't take the bait n' switch routine anymore. Hard to know whether to laugh or cry when an "exhibit" consists of nothing more than a badly designed chair in the window of a fancy boutique. We did a bit of re-con today and found a couple of the best more-than-disappointing events the Meatpacking District has to offer:

In the gallery category

Invite reads:

Much Assembly Required Cocktails: May 18, 3-5 pm ADAM, 678 Hudson St Introducing the "ego" lamp collection by Viktor Jondal, a Swedish, New York-based product designer.

Reality is:

Three lego-towers-cum-lamps (yup - Lego towers) are jammed into the corner of ADAM, a high-end clothing boutique filled with more fashionistas than designers and more Balenciagas than Birkenstocks. With nothing other than throngs of ladies-that-lunch and their small dogs on site, 'Much Assembly Required' is enough to make you run the other way. Or break out your Lego set from kindergarten.

Sound bite:

"What's this all about?" "I dunno...."

In the exhibit category

Invite reads:

The High Line Viewing Station May 18, noon-5 pm Hospitality Suite, Caledonia Design Center 450 West 17th St Get a glimpse of the High Line from the exclusive Caledonia Design Center thanks to Related and Architects Newspaper.

Reality is:

The view IS pretty amazing, but the "Hospitality Suite"? Nothing more than a cramped, overfurnished 10x20ft model-apartment for the sales office of the Caledonia, offering "luxury loft living" at a - ahem - ridiculous cost. A stealth marketing move that ended up duping half of Design Week attendees into strolling through a sales pitch while munching on stale cookies.

Sound bite:

"I'm confused. Isn't a loft an industrial space with high ceilings, big windows and tons of open space?" "Well, this is a 'luxury' loft."

Sigh.

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