Pop, Pop!

December 11, 2016 in Architecture, Photography

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.

Wes Anderson's Vision

November 26, 2016 in Art, Fashion, Photography

Zissou Zissou. Milan, Italy. January 2016.

Stepping into Bar Luce at the Fondazione Prada in Milan is stepping foot into the mind of Wes Anderson. Bar Luce could easily be a set from one of his films, a pastel palette, color-blocking, retro details, and symmetry, signatures of his whimsical films. The café, a throwback to Milanese cafés of the 50s and 60s, is just one of several collaborations between Prada and Wes Anderson. Anderson also directed a series of short films worth watching for the designer, Castello Cavalcanti and PRADA Candy series. Together they are a perfect collaboration and no visit to Milan is complete without experiencing it.

Sleep with the Fishes

May 17, 2015 in Travel, Fashion, Art, Architecture

Yesterday I spent the afternoon at the newly opened Fondazione Prada in the Lodi neighborhood of Milan. So much hype and publicity surrounded this new space before the May 9th opening that I had to make it my first gallery stop in Milan. The foundation site is comprised of several large industrial buildings repurposed to house a collection of classical and contemporary art and film. My expectations were quite high and although I did not love all the contemporary art inside, it was an afternoon well spent. The gallery is a beautifully curated space and a very unique experience. Every space looked photo ready and the long cavernous halls of the buildings facilitated an easy flow through the exhibits. One of my favorite installations is this aquarium housed in the cistern of an old distillery along with two other pieces. To me, it is both disturbing and soothing at the same time. It is called "Love Lost" by Damien Hirst (2000), but I'll informally refer to it as "Sleep with the Fishes".

For more on the Prada Foundation: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/26/arts/design/the-prada-foundations-new-arts-complex-in-milan.html