Pop, Pop!

Pop, Pop! Milan, Italy. February 2016. 

The Pasticceria Marchesi on Via Montenapoleone is probably one of my favorite "treat yo'self" places in Milan. It is not pocketbook friendly at all, but the service is top notch and the Roberto Baciocchi designed space is a beautiful, whimsical place to visit. Pasticceria Marchesi is one of the oldest and most notable pastry brands in Milan. Recently bought by the Prada group, they decided to put a new spin on an old name. The original Pasticceria Marchesi is off of Corso Magenta and this renovated version has elements of that classic location blended with modern elements. The cherry wood, curved glass displays, glass jars, and mirror cabinets are throwbacks to the old, with the pops of color, jacquard silk wallpaper, velvet interior, and sleek lighting make it feel more modern like something out of a film set. 

Everything here is made fresh daily and here you can see all sorts of other forms of sugar sold by the kilo. It's hard to get this photo without photobombing it because you are fighting the crowds, the mirrored wall, and waiting for a pause in the foot traffic to get one still frame. Pardon the cameo, but now you can see that I really don't travel anywhere without my camera.

Love Actually Season

Love Actually Season. London, England. February 2016.

We are quickly approaching the holiday season which also means we are quickly approaching 'Love Actually' season. 'Love Actually' made 27 St. Luke's Mews one of the most famous addresses in Notting Hill (next to Hugh Grant's bookstore featured in 'Notting Hill') and whether you like the film or not, if you have seen it once, you will likely recognize this charming home from the film. Notecards, Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, a profession of love, is it coming back?

St. Luke's Mews is a nice, short detour off of Portobello Road; a quiet street with plenty of green to complement the colorful façades. Tourists make this home a destination, so applause to the owners for keeping it photo ready because it is 'Love Actually' season here all year long. 

Sugar Rush

Sugar Rush. London, England. March 2016. 

I saw Sugarhouse Studios featured on a few Instagram feeds I follow and was taken by the hand painted tiles on the exterior. I took mental note and when I visited London in March, I was excited to have the chance to see this in person. Sugarhouse is an artist's space tucked in East London near Stratford and the Olympic Stadium, a long trek by tube and double decker from city center, but worth every step. The working space was closed the day I visited so I did not get a chance to see Sugarhouse in action, however I did get an up close view of this beautiful pastel patchwork. It's impressive both in scale and craftsmanship; springtime on a façade.