The Novacento View

The Novacento View. Milan, Italy. November 2015.

This room in the Museo del Novacento is my favorite view overlooking Piazza del Duomo. Museo del Novacento has a fantastic collection of 20th century Italian art, however I would often visit just for this view (and the bar that also overlooks the piazza). Pictured here is my friend Kata, a statuesque beauty that I worked with at Expo. When we visited Novacento together, we had just wrapped up a phenomenal Expo experience and were candidly a bit nostalgic and aimless. We had a large void to fill now that Expo had run its course and we were both plagued with the nagging "what next?" question. Kata and I decided to take a few hours to get out of our heads and enjoy our newly acquired free time by going to Novacento to take in this view. We had been so busy working that we hardly ever saw the Duomo or piazza during the day. This was a healthy change of pace and the best part of it was that we were able to go during off-peak hours and have the whole view to ourselves. 

Beam Me Up

Beam Me Up. Milan, Italy. April 2016.

Similiar to my prior post about the Citizen Watch Fuori Salone installation, Sou Fujimoto's design for COS during Salone del Mobile was a favorite of mine well. Fujimoto designed a "Forest of Light" for the brand using spotlights and mirrors. The space they used for the collaboration was an old theatre, so it was very fitting that we were surrounded in darkness and spotlights were  the only light sources. Fujimoto's lights formed cone beams that pierced through the darkness and they turned on and off in response to the movements of visitors, a very new age forest. I particularly enjoyed this installation because Fujimoto's minimalist approach of only using light also reflected the clean lines and simplicity of COS itself. 

Like Diamonds in the Sky

Like Diamonds in the Sky. Milan, Italy. April 2016.

My favorite time of the year in Milan is during Milan Design Week commonly referred to as "Salone del Mobile." It is the largest international design/furniture fair and draws and an incredible amount of attention and talent to the city. It happens every April, perfectly timed for when the weather finally turns. While there is plenty to see at the actual fairground where Salone del Mobile is held, the best part is that exhibitions permeate throughout the entire city. Designers and brands show outside of the fairground and those installations are known as Fuorisalone (outside Salone).

For Fuori Salone 2016, Citizen created this amazing installation, "time is TIME," in Superstudio Più. Under the creative direction of Tsuyoshi Tane, Citizen created a galaxy where the silver stars are 120,000 main plates suspended in the air with wire. It was 800 square feet of breathtaking bling. The idea behind this design was that visitors would witness time standing still where. This was one of my favorite installations, it was inspired and beautiful both when inspected closely or taken in in its entirety. The experience stuck with me long after we visited and obviously still does.

Authentically Agnès

Authentically Agnès. Bologna, Italy. August 2015. 

I made some good friends living in Milan and Agnès is one of them. A talented linguist and writer, Agnès and I were colleagues at the USA Pavilion during Expo. She studied in Bologna and wanted to show me the city she once called home. We went on ferragosto so it was quiet as most people vacate cities for the seaside during this time. This moment highlights just how quiet the city was. These streets would typically be bustling with students and residents, however since it was a slow day in August, I was able to spot Agnès resting yards away and get a quick candid of her. 

Little House on the Ocean

Little House on the Ocean. February 2015. San Diego, CA, U.S.A.

I am back home in San Diego for the holidays and one stop I like to make is at the historic Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach. These Cape Cod style cottages sit on the pier for visitors to rent for a stay above the Pacific. Crystal Pier was built in the 1920s, followed by these cottages in the 1930s. They are particularly unique because these accomodations are the only one of its kind along the California coast line. 

Lovely Lyon

Lovely Lyon. Lyon, France. December 2016. 

This is my first time in Lyon and I have fallen in amour....Granted it is love at first sight so we are still in the honeymoon phase.

Lyon is a lovely city known for its vibrant culinary culture. It has been regularly pegged as the gastronomic capital of the world and home to the "Pope of French Cuisine" Paul Bocuse, Daniel Boulud and many many others. Lyon has (at a minimum) 1,500 restaurants with 13 of them awarded Michelin Stars. I read that Lyon has the highest number of restaurants per inhabitant in France, which is truly incredible. The spectrum of restaurants is impressive as well, ranging from century old brasseries and bouchons to more experimental nouvelle cuisine.

Lyon is the third largest city in France, but you don't feel rushed or lost in a sea of people when you are here. There is space to breathe, walk, eat, and take in UNESCO sites sprinkled throughout the city. Architectural powerhouses Calatrava and Renzo Piano have created buildings in/near Lyon, however my favorite in this context is still the beaux arts style found in the old town; this particular façade is in Place Saint Jean.

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.

Cool House

Cool House. Milan, Italy. May 2015.  

One is the Loneliest Number. Milan, Italy. May 2015.

Rem Koolhaas was the lead architect behind Fondazione Prada in Milan, and it is incredibly fitting because it is indeed one very "Cool House." Koolhaas and his firm OMA were tasked with transforming this former distillery south of city center into a mega complex for the Prada family's extensive collection. OMA is a favorite of Prada; they collaborate on catwalks and shopfronts for the brand. In my opinion, Fondazione Prada is the best testament to their collaborative relationship. 

OMA converted seven standing buildings and created three news ones that matched the industrial style of the distillery. The Fondazione Prada was established in the 90s to be a cultural hub of cinema and art and the design of the complex honors that. It is minimal, spacious, and sleek, allowing the art and exhibitions to take center stage. However, with this being said, one of the most beautiful aspects of the foundation is part of the building itself; its 24-karat gold leaf covered tower. You can see a glimpse of the gold base in the top photo. 

Fondazione Prada has brought new life to a largely ignored neighborhood of Milan and I look forward to the day I get to visit it again and see the changes it brings to the surrounding area. 

Stop Wars You Will

Stop Wars You Will. Miami, Florida, U.S.A. December 2016.

Over the weekend I traveled to Miami to attend Art Basel and its surrounding art shows for a dose of creative inspiration. The city is always colorful, alive, edgy, and during Art Basel it is even more so. I took this photo in the Wynwood District, Miami's artistic beating heart. Wynwood is renowned for Wynwood Walls, however the entire neighborhood is an urban graffiti park. 

Artists from around the world have left their mark in Wynwood including Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra who painted this mural during Art Basel last year. Kobra is known for his colorful, kaleidoscope wall murals. If you were in New York last year, you may have caught his large tribute to Alfred Eisenstaedt's "V-J Day, The Kiss" off of 25th St. and 10th Ave near the Highline (it has since been painted over). Similar to "The Kiss" mural, this one also addresses the topic of war, this time featuring the all-knowing, powerful Jedi Yoda. Murals in Wynwood get painted over so if you are in Miami, make it a point to catch this one and Kobra's entire wrap around this building while you can. 

San Diego, Winter Wonderland

San Diego, Winter Wonderland. February 2015. San Diego, CA, U.S.A.

I never knew what a "real" winter felt like until I moved to the east coast. Growing up in San Diego was a dream. The days average about 70F/21C and, being a desert city, the evenings can dip pretty low, but never ever below 32F/0C. San Diego has an average of nearly 3000 hours of sunshine per year so even when it is cold and crisp, the sun is typically shining.

I took this photo during a visit in February. While the east coast is bracing for snow storms, this southwest corner oasis looks like this. In fact, the chilliest part of of San Diego may be the Pacific Ocean*.

Pictured here is a pier on Scripps Beach that is located next to the UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography campus in north La Jolla. The pier is closed to the public, but the beach is not. Scripps Beach is quieter than its southern sister La Jolla Shores so if you are looking for a beach that is more peaceful and one that locals retreat to, Scripps is a good place to go. 

*In fact, let's hope it stays this way. Donald Trump, climate change is not a hoax. 

Gateway to Enlightenment

Gateway to Enlightenment. Kyoto, Japan. December 2014. 

On a father-daughter excursion to Japan, my father and I visited Kyoto and made it a priority to hike Fushimi Inari Shrine together. Dating back to the 8th century, it is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice and sake. We visited on a cold December day, but the air felt very refreshing especially after hours of hiking up stairs and inclines. The torri gates were endless and distractingly beautiful—we just had to chase that orange lined path. The calligraphy you see on the gate is the name of the individual, family, or organization that purchased and sponsors the torii. 

During the uphill climb, my father and I thought we had reached the summit a few times before actually reaching it. The hike up to the top takes about 2-3 hours and while the view from the summit is remarkable, it was the journey through the thousands of torii that made this shrine a beautiful experience. 

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.