More images from last week’s trip to Hawaii to come. Pseudo-Tsunamis, sandy beaches, clear water, Islamic art at Doris Duke’s Estate, and scads of food and design inspiration.
Honu in Hawaii
February 3, 2010
A few shots from October. Check back for some fun free downloads with a french twist, and an on the road Parisienne style recipe!
Categories: on the road.
February 2, 2010
from http://primastrada.blogspot.com/
Pizzeria Prima Strada is opening a new location on Bridge Street! They’re describing this new location as a “warm urban environment with lots and lots of amazing reclaimed wood. Family style tables will accommodate up to 16 people-perfect for you and your lunch pals. Hungry on your way home from work? Call in for a take-out pizza to grab on your way home.”
Pizzeria Prima Strada practices the traditional techniques of the masters by using Caputo 00 flour, Italian plum tomatoes and local ingredients, including Mozzarella di Bufala from Canada’s only Water Buffalo herd.
Lighting at the Cook Street location was surely not an afterthought, same goes for this new restaurant. Check out those cool rectangular fixtures!
If you haven’t tried their pizzas (salads are good too), get in there and enjoy a tumbler of wine along with a slice.
Keep posted on their blog or sign up for the newsletter for info and deals on their main site.
Categories: locals only.
January 29, 2010
It’s a great time of year to catch a hotel deal in Seattle. The Canadian dollar is strong, the wine is cheap and Nordstrom, Anthroplogie and J.Crew offer refuge in inclement weather.
Kenmore Air is the way to go this time of year when the Clipper times are unhelpful and there’s no time for ferries and I-5. There is a new spiffy streetcar that takes you from Union Bay right up Westlake Ave (past Whole Foods), a $2.25 pass lasts a couple hours.
Check out the unbeatable sandwiches and apple fritters at Pike Place Market’s Three Girls Bakery, the chowder at the seafood joint across from Three Girls and the coconut buns at Mee Sum Pastries.
Chosen for it’s tasting menu, Purple Cafe and Wine Bar on 4th was a pleasant surprise. It was packed so we sat at the bar and ordered one item at a time from the tasting menu. Each small plate is offered with an optional 3oz. wine pairing. Along with a full dinner menu and massive wine list, they have the most extensive collection of champagne cocktails I’ve ever seen – 16 in total.
Hotel Max has daily deals at the sushi bar and interesting decor. The dj in the lobby at the W Hotel is an entertaining stop after an evening at Purple. Stop in at Cafe Campagne for a croque madame and glass of bordeaux.
Watson Kennedy is full of goodies for the home, many of which I’ve read about or seen online but haven’t seen in Canada. Everything is sorted by vignette, based on colour or theme. Designer-dreamy.
The topic of last week’s contest was the Downtown Public Library on 4th. Near the SAM (Seattle Art Museum) if you want to have a peek. We have Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and former Seattleite Joshua Ramus to thank as principal designers on the project. An amazing 362,987 square feet, capacity for 1.45 million books and materials and a high-tech book-handling system that you can see in operation when you walk in. There are 400 computers and lots of GREEN. Too bad.
Categories: on the road.
December 28, 2009
Harbour at Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Saint-Jean-de-Luz is a fishing port on the Basque coast. Known for its architecture, sandy bay, amazing quality of light and the incredible cuisine. The streets are meant for strolling, packed with boutiques and cafes. I would imagine that Christmas in this town would be pretty spectacular.
Categories: on the road.
December 14, 2009
Biarritz and nearby town Espelette in the south west of France in the Pyrenees Atlantiques region known as Pays Basque (Basque country) are both worth a visit. Espelette is famous for its chilli peppers, those grown in this region even have an ‘appellation controlee’ to vouch for their authenticity. Visiting in October ensures that you will see the strings of bright red chilli peppers (or “pimente”), hanging from the traditionally red and white buildings. Completely charming and quite a contrast to the nearby coastal town of Biarritz where the principle architecture is not typically Basque, but rather a blend of 19th century city residences, large and expansive, made of local stone bricks. Here you’ll find steets lined with gourmet delights and swanky shops, all served up with a mix sandy beaches and world class surf. I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying some time here.
Biarritz and nearby town Espelette in the south west of France in the Pyrenees Atlantiques region known as Pays Basque (Basque country) are both worth a visit. Espelette is famous for its chilli peppers, those grown in this region even have an ‘appellation controlee’ to vouch for their authenticity. Visiting in October ensures that you will see the strings of bright red chilli peppers (or “pimente”), hanging from the traditionally red and white buildings. Completely charming and quite a contrast to the nearby coastal town of Biarritz where the principle architecture is not typically Basque, but rather a blend of 19th century city residences, large and expansive, made of local stone bricks. Here you’ll find steets lined with gourmet delights and swanky shops, all served up with a mix sandy beaches and world class surf. I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying some time here.
Categories: on the road.
November 27, 2009
All in a day’s work. Hit the pavement in London at the crack of 4am with luggage in tow, catch a slightly delayed train to Gatwick, wait on the tarmack for a good hour or so, land in Bordeaux airport, met with my parents’ outstretched arms, pass out in the car, take in the amazing views in Socoa, sangria on a sunny patio in Hendaye, little ferry ride to Portua, Spain (you know, because going to Spain for the afternoon is just one of those things I like to do on occasion), dinner out in Saint-Jean-de-Luz at Zoko Moko, to bed in a 14th century home. Not a bad day overall.
All in a day’s work. Hit the pavement in London at the crack of 4am with luggage in tow, catch a slightly delayed train to Gatwick, wait on the tarmack for a good hour or so, land in Bordeaux airport, met with my parents’ outstretched arms, pass out in the car, take in the amazing views in Socoa, sangria on a sunny patio in Hendaye, little ferry ride to Portua, Spain (you know, because going to Spain for the afternoon is just one of those things I like to do on occasion), dinner out in Saint-Jean-de-Luz at Zoko Moko, to bed in a 14th century home. Not a bad day overall.
Categories: on the road.
November 4, 2009
Let’s hear it for the Queen, pies, beer and accidentally climbing 160 steps with luggage in the Underground after a red-eye.
London sites in a day
Categories: on the road.
November 3, 2009
They collected the thoughts of 30 of the world’s most inspired creative professionals. Architects, designers, authors and leaders of iconic brands.
Then they asked them two questions: “What single example of design inspires you most?” and “What problem should design solve next?”
I appreciated Edwin Chan’s response. These points struck a chord with me:
- Find real inspiration by looking beyond the latest gadgets to something more timeless and spiritual
- The act of creation by visualization followed by concretetization resonates with the most transient and rootless nature of our existence
- Not new age
- As designers we should address the problem of how to reconcile our own survival on the planet with the quality of life we are accustomed to
- Green design as a fad
- Energy conscious trend is a rehash of what has been good design all along
- Begin by thinking about the little things
- Reduce waste
- Live in a smaller house
- Stop commuting
- Stop buying things you don’t need with money you don’t have
- Stop depleting resources to satisfy your need for things
- Re-orientate to focus on what is essential
- Find the essence of who you are and what you need in order to be
- Simple but not simplistic
View the full conversation here.
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Categories: bits & bytes.
October 30, 2009
We stopped in at Kro for lunch. Kro translates to “Danish Village Pub”. It was kind of like eating in an IKEA living room. Not a bad thing. We happened upon The Living Room, which I recalled reading about before we left. It became apparent that it was a hot spot for the well-dressed working set to share a drink on a Friday afternoon. We squeezed our way in avec practical shoes and rain coats anyway. I loved their brand, menu design and the combination of slick white leather booths with a traditional, dark wood bar.
On a day trip to Manchester from Stockport, we wandered the chilly streets looking at the shops and eating our way along. If you walk directly out of the train station, you’ll run into a massive pedestrian street full of designer boutiques and department stores.
Manchester
KRO Manchester
We stopped in at Kro for lunch. Kro translates to “Danish Village Pub”. It was kind of like eating in an IKEA living room. Not a bad thing. We happened upon The Living Room, which I recalled reading about before we left. It became apparent that it was a hot spot for the well-dressed working set to share a drink on a Friday afternoon. We squeezed our way in avec practical shoes and rain coats anyway. I loved their brand, menu design and the combination of slick white leather booths with a traditional, dark wood bar.
Categories: on the road.
October 1, 2009
The interior was not quite as plush.
Found some cool spots in your travels? Email your photos to me and I’ll post them. Do I smell a contest???
Desire to Inspire images by Bernard Touillon for Côté Sud
I spotted this image over at Desire to Inspire and got a little deja vu. A few years ago I stayed at Solscape, an amazing spot in Raglan, New Zealand. I scored a sweet caboose for $20 a night.
Caboose at Solscape
The interior was not quite as plush.
from http://desiretoinspire.blogspot.com/
from http://desiretoinspire.blogspot.com/
Found some cool spots in your travels? Email your photos to me and I’ll post them. Do I smell a contest???
Desire to Inspire images by Bernard Touillon for Côté Sud
Categories: on the road.
September 9, 2009
Let the outside in. More window, less wall. Is there anyone who wouldn’t want to live this way? Click on the images to flip through.
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- Widjedal Racki Bergerhoff
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- Marc Gerritsen
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- Belinda George
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- Widjedal Racki Bergerhoff
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- Widjedal Racki Bergerhoff
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- Belinda George
Widjedal Racki Bergerhoff (Sweden)
Marc Gerritsen (Taipei)
Belinda George (New Zealand)
Categories: in the house.