This weekend, the first part of the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival took place in Indio, California. Thousands of music fans gathered to hear performances by artists at six main stages, including Wu-Tang Clan, Dead Can Dance, Grimes, Rodriguez, Major Lazer, Sigur Ros, and The Lumineers. A sandstorm that hit late on the final day did little to dampen the crowd's enthusiasm, as the Red Hot Chili Peppers played through their headline performance. The festival wraps up next weekend, April 19 through 21. [40 photos total]

Here we are again at the end of another week, number 13 already, of 2013. Have a happy Easter or any other religious holiday and see you all in week 14. Unless North Korea has blown us all up. [82 photos total]

These are this week’s prize photos when it comes to coolness or news value. have a smashing weekend. [71 photos total]

For some, fashion is a corporate industry. For others, it's an artistic expression. And for still others, it's an embrace of cultural traditions. Fashion is a shallow pursuit in the eyes of many, and a deep embodiment of identity for others. Definitions of what is fashionable are myriad and contradictory, but the annual spectacle of the presentation and the scramble of the preparations endure long after this year's look is forgotten. Venues vary from a junkyard in Sao Paulo to the Royal Albert Hall in London. Creations from the absurd to the avant-garde by turns entertain, inspire, or pay homage. Gathered here are images from fall and winter shows both famous and obscure. [38 photos total]

Pre-Lenten celebrations around the globe, including Carnival and Mardi Gras, wrapped up yesterday before the marking of Ash Wednesday today. Historians say the tradition dates back to Roman times, when the newly converted Christians retained vestiges of their pagan festival, "Lupercalia," as a period of celebration before the penance during the 40 days of Lent. [46 photos total]

The celebration of the Lunar New Year is a phenomenon as global as various diaspora allows. Perhaps most well-known in the West as a Chinese celebration, the lunisolar calendar is observed in many more places than just that nation. That said, the Chinese observation is unique in that the holiday transforms the nation into a river of humanity, with a 40-day travel season that sees hundreds of millions of people board trains for home. Gathered here are images of preparations and celebrations in many parts of the world. [42 photos total]

The opening ceremonies for this year's Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in Heilongjiang province in northeastern China were held earlier this week. The event, held since 1963, can last more than a month, depending on the weather, and attracts visitors from around the world who come to see the elaborate ice and snow sculptures. [20 photos total]

Sometimes it is really tough calling the images you see on this site as totally cool. Week 50 was going rather well until some lunatic with an assault rifle walked into an elementary school in Newtown Connecticut and shot dead 20 6 and 7-year-old children and 6 teachers. May they all rest in peace and may the US gun lobby finally see sense and positively work towards gun control which works for all parties. [72 photos total]

No change from week 47. The world is still burning in Congo, Egypt and Syria. Let’s hope things change soon. [72 photos total]

Here’s something slightly different from the US Presidential election, hurricane Sandy and other world events. It’s world famous models showing off a world famous lingerie brand in New York City. [32 photos total]