Reinventing Loewe

I'm literally kicking myself for not knowing Loewe had recently started to produce men's clothes. Apparently Loewe hired Jonathan Anderson not too long ago to revamp the brand.  Loewe is a Spanish brand rooted in Madrid.  They are known for their leather goods.  I believe this is the first time for them producing men's clothes.  I saw his clothes for the first time few weeks ago at Barney's New York on Madison Avenue after spending few weeks in Spain (and didn't bother to stop in one of their stores while I was there... uhh...).  Given the difference in Euro and Dollar, I could have gotten very good prices.  I'm so kicking myself!!!  His clothes feels very new; proportions are very interesting, craftsmanship is very high, and they are a bit androgynous at the same time.   

Casa Batllo by Gaudi

I had the pleasure to visit Casa Batllo recently.  I have to say it was as magical as I thought it would be.  I'm sure it was weird to the nth degree when it was first done back in 1904.  Today, it just looks like something out of Disneyland.... but of course we know Casa Batllo came before Disney!

This Art Nouveau building is actually a remodel and not a ground up structure by Gaudi.  This house represents Saint George's lance and slaying of the Dragon.  The end of the lance is represented by the cross on the roof and the roof tiles is reminiscent of scale of a dragon.

As anyone who have been to Casa Batllo can tell you, it is packed with people!  The tour starts at 9:00AM and ends at 9:00PM.  The building is open 365 days a year which is amazing!  There is a fast pass at 5 euro which allows you to skip the long line.  I think it really depends on what time you get there.  If you get there 10 minutes before 9AM, it doesn't make much sense to pay that extra 5 euro as there is also a line for the fast pass too!!!

In fact, I was in that fast pass line at 8:45 AM.  The good thing about the fast pass line is that you are the first few to get into the building which allows you to take pictures without zillions of people in it.  I think I was 7th or 8th person in line and I was able to run upstairs and click away without anyone in the photo!  After I took all the pictures I want, I went back down to the tour and listened to the audio guide.  But by that time, there were people everywhere and I was glad that I had the opportunity to take a lot of pictures when there were no one around.  They also give you a video guide which looks like one of those Samsung phone.  It's pretty cool as you can look through the screen and it would show what the place would have looked like back in Art Nouveau time.

The price of 26.50 euro was definitely not cheap to just walk through the house by yourself for maybe an hour at most but it's probably one of the most unique house in Spain that was built in early 20th century so I definitely think it is worthwhile.        

Fantastic meal at #6 restaurant in the world!

I really did not know what to expect when I booked Mugaritz at San Sebastian.  It is rated number 6 on "The World's 50 Best Restaurants" by S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna.  It is only rated as 2 Michelin stars which made me think something is wrong with this rating as how can this restaurant be top 10 in the world and yet only rated with 2 Michelin Stars?  But from past experiences I also know that I don't always agree with Michelin Star ratings.  Case and point, I had dinner at a well known restaurant in Las Vegas couple years ago.  While food was fantastic, service was not even close to other 1 Michelin Star restaurants I've been to.  How in the world they got 3 Michelin Stars with such poor service was mind boggling.  But I digress.... back to Mugaritz.

Mugaritz is actually outside of San Sebastian...but not too far.  It essentially look like a farm house in the countryside.  There are few structures on the property and the decoration for main dining room was minimal and tastefully done.  It was modern and understated.

The service was outstanding.  Maitre D' Joserra Calvo was gracious and friendly.  He made me feel at home instantly when I walked into the restaurant.  The atmosphere is casual and easy; it's not a formal restaurant at all and if I live around there, I would have no problem of going there once a month (vs restaurants like French Laundry that feels more like a special event/ once a year type of thing).

I had Interestingly the first few dishes I had, there were no utensils.  I ate all my food using my fingers.  I like the concept except couple times the dishes were slightly hot to handle (I didn't burn myself if you were wondering).  Each dish was meticulously done and very thoughtful.  There were tons of food that I never had before such as tiger nuts, horse cheeks, hake, etc.  I had the best teardrop shaped peas ever!  It was sweet, crisp, fresh, and everything you want in a pea and then some.  My mouth is watering just thinking about those peas.  One of the dessert anis waffle was just glorious.  The crunchy shell that held yuzu cream turned out to be fish skin that was deep fried.  I love salty and sweet desserts!  Oh and halfway through the dinner, they invited the guests at each table to see their kitchen in action.  Apparently they have chefs from all over the world and the chef that came out and talked to me used to live in NYC.  She was lovely and explained that why half of the dishes I had were different from all the other guests at other tables around me.... I was told each night they come up with 120+ dishes and they sprinkle dishes randomly throughout the dining room.  Thus it's rare that the food you are having are the same ones that your neighbors are having!!  I can't imagine the prep work going into that kind of menu but more power to them!  Lastly the petite fours had a nice wit to it.  It came in a form of 7 wooden compartment.  Each compartment corresponds to a sin.  The pictured one (above) correspond to Envy.... because there are two of us and only one gets the chocolate.

In short, I have no problem of recommending this restaurant to any foodies in the world.  It is absolutely a destination restaurant and when I go back to San Sebastian, I am definitely going back to Mugaritz. 

New SF restaurant that has one Michelin star written all over it!

This new restaurant is Mourad.  The gorgeous interior was done by Lundberg Design who did Larry Ellison's house on Billionaires row on Broadway in San Francisco.  The owner of Mourad also owns Aziza restaurant here in SF which has one Michelin star so I knew Mourad will be minimally as good as Aziza if not better.  Let's just say I will not be surprised to see Mourad get two Michelin stars soon.  The food is Californian/ French/ Moroccan fusion cuisine.  The result was delectable.  Couscous was especially fluffy and yummy.  I can eat that all day long!  Short rib melts in your mouth.  Don't bother to chew. Caviar on brioche with maple syrup was just divine; right amount of sweetness and saltiness!  The only things I had reservation of is the rose desert.  But that's a minor quip compared to everything I had.  I will be back!      

Lilly Pulitzer for Target

One of the favorite brand of ladies who do lunch crowd at Palm Beach has decided to go mass market... for a limited time anyway.  Lilly Pulitzer is known for fun tropical prints with lots of gold accents and this target collaboration does not disappoint; lots of prints and lots of gold accents!  Unfortunately there is nothing for guys so I'm safe there.  However, LP for T does have a home collection which I'm excited about.  I love the glass carafe with a tinge of fuchsia on the bottom.  I think it'll look very good at night.  Those gold plated swizzle sticks and charms are perfect for parties so I'll picking those up.  White ceramic garden stools are great for outdoors and can easily keep clean.  Love that!  The hammock can be cool although I'm not so sure about the busy pattern and the fringes.  If I get that, I'll chop off those fringes for sure.  I like the Boom Boom teak beach chair but those pompoms will be lopped off for sure.  Lastly those cocktail glasses are so perfect for dinner parties.  They are a fun must haves. 

Traditional venetian cup done in a new way

I love it when artists/ designers taking something old and address it in a new way.  That's what artist Fujiko Enami did.  She basically takes the traditional venetian millefiori technique but patterned it in a mid century style.  And voila!  A brand new way of producing traditional glass in a modern way.  Get yours at Sara Japanese Pottery.

The must have shoes this season!

Probably the cutest shoes ever made for adult male, these Fendi monster slip-on is selling out everywhere quick.  Unless you have a pair of large feet, I don't think it's possible for you to find another pair of these slip-on anywhere in US or perhaps in the world... 

A piece of Herzog & de Meuron

Unless you are top 0.01% earner, you can't possibly afford to have a piece of Herzog & de Meuron.... until now.  The 2001 Pritzker Prize winners are doing an extension for Tate Modern in London.  The Starchitcts were known for their sublime architecture including the remodeling of a factory in 2000 that became Tate Modern.  Now 15 years later, they are building a new addition to Tate Modern in London.  Tate shop is selling limited edition brick sculptures that are shape of Tate Modern to collectors for 1450 pounds each.  While the sculptures are far cry from being affordable for everyone but they are certainly a lot cheaper than commissioning Herzog & de Meuron to design privately for one's personal projects.  There are only 250 of these sculptures available.  Get your while you can.

Jewel tone bowls for your entertaining needs

I'm always on a constant lookout for bowls and plates for my tableware needs.  So when I laid my eyes on these bowls, I thought they would be perfect for ice cream or gazpacho.  I know it's not even spring yet but hey, it's never too early to prepare for a festive dinner party!  Vitreluxe crystal bowls come in two sizes: 4" diameter at $78 each or 7" diameter at $285.  They are available in 6 different jewel tones: Amber, Aqua, Berry, Sea Green, Topaz, Violet.

Walk all over Damien Hirst

These boots are made for walking and they are made for walking all over Damien Hirst's Beautiful saucy spit roast it'll all end in tears rug!!  Never mind about the art's long title....  But this limited editioned (7) rug will cost you a hefty $45,000 if you want to walk all over it.  While this is not a cheap rug by any means, but when was the last time one can purchase a Damien Hirst art work that is 6'6" wide and cost less than a million dollars?

Eat off a Calder!

Nope, you cannot eat off a Calder mobile or stabile.  That's why Calder foundation teamed up with Bernardaud to come up with limited edition porcelain plates to celebrate Calder.  These 3000 editioned plates comes in a pack of six and are priced at $550 per pack which is about $92 a plate.  I'm not sure if these will ever go up in value as Calder himself did not personally collaborate with Bernardaud.... But these plates do look beautiful and I think they look much better as wall decorations or as dinner service chargers than something you would eat off.  The designs on the plates will clash with any food you put on them so I don't recommend using them as dinner plates.  

Missoni for Target Australia final sale

Remember the crazy 2011 Missoni for Target sale that crash Target's own website and caused fashionistas days of anguishment?  Well, certainly not at the down and under Target.  Probably because of the frenzy ensued at American Target few years ago, Australian Target apparently made plenty of stock to go around and then some.  But because they stocked so much merchandise, they are now having a fire sale to get rid of the remaining stock!  I'm going to highlight few pieces that I think are tremendous deal so get ready to beg your relatives/ friends in Australia to send these to you.  Oh, and by the way, American dollar have shot up in value lately so when you see something that's $10 AUS, it's actually about $8 USD.  Score!

These wedge sandals have classic Missoni pattern but at $10 AUS price tag (yes, you read that right...  that's like $8 USD) and all sizes available, you just simply can't beat the price and style even after adding shipping cost from Australia to US.  The original price tag was $69 AUS.

These see through pouches are perfect for your traveling needs or toss them in your purse if you need some compartmentalization.  They are perfect organizers and at $10 AUS (marked down from $30), you just simply cannot go wrong with them.  Plus they are super light to ship.

Need a tote bag that is stylish yet if you lose it, you won't be crying for days?  Well, Missoni for Target Australia has you covered.  This Geo Tote is perfect for your summer outing to supermarket or beach and at $15 AUS (originally $59 AUS), it's about the same price as any reusable grocery bags you get at any US supermarket.  

And don't forget to check out kid's, men's and home section.  There is plenty left over in those categories as well.


 

Follow me!

Remember when you were younger, you probably had a pull toy that you pull to everywhere with you.  Well, one of my favorite artist Yoshitomo Nara designed a pull toy for your toddler to play with.  It's an adorable dog!  This dog is made of hardwood and is painted with none-toxic finish.  This 2 pound puppy is made in France and is friendly to everyone!  ;)

Who doesn't like a cashmere teddy bear?

Sure.  It's a controversial color: chartreuse!  But it's snugly and best of all, it's marked down from $165 to $66.  Now that's a price I can snuggle against!  This color is actually a perfect for your modern interior be it children's room or on your vanity table.  It'll bring a nice pop of color to a gray or blue color scheme room.  This bear is designed by Armand Diradourian and made by hand.

Quiet please!!!

Do you want a room to be somewhat sound proof?  Or maybe you have a large living room that echos too much because you just put in that sleek concrete flooring recently?  Abstracta to the rescue.  Stitch Room Divider is a soft screen that not only divide up a large space but can absorb excess unwanted noise.  I love the appearance of the screen: soft and cuddly... which isn't exactly the type of adjectives one would use when one think of a room divider.  This is perfect for restaurants, baby's room, or a large living room that echos too much.

Cindy Sherman, the ever changing lady

Cindy Sherman is indeed the master of disguise.  This film director and photographer never seize to amaze me what she will come up with next.  She's a consummate solo artist who does everything herself; from doing her own makeup and hair to taking pictures.  What brought her fame is the Untitled Film Stills series she did in 1977-80.  This series consists of 69 black and white photographs of her in different roles and different settings. These photographs are reminiscent of American film noir in the 1940s-60s.  In 1995, MOMA purchased the whole lot in one swoop.  Today, you can have a slice of the Untitled Film Stills by going to Sundance Institute.  Cindy Sherman is releasing a limited edition (500) porcelain tray for an affordable ($150).  Her photographs from this series usually sell for $200,000 to over $2,000,000.  Buy it while you can because I predict this will sell out fast!  

Spinning plates to give you a splash of color on your dining table

Ever want to add bold colors to your dining table when you have dinner guests over but afraid it might be a bit too much?  Well, Damien Hirst to the rescue.  He is now selling a set of six plates for an affordable 120 pounds.  These plates, based on his artwork: Beautiful, amore, gasp, eyes going into the top of the head and fluttering painting, will definitely bring lots of colors to your table and stir some nice conversations.  If the colors are a bit too much on your table, you can always hang them on your wall.  This is a much cheaper alternative than his multi-million dollar paintings at Christie's or Sotheby's. 

After Christmas Sale

Dying for that new jacket or shoes for your New Year's Eve party?  Luckily for those of us waited for that After Christmas Sale, our wishes were answered.  Here's what's left for the picking!

For those of you who love Givenchy, here's a hoodie that will make Zuckerberg green with envy at the deal you got....marked down from $1545 to $464.

Can Diane Von Furstenberg ever be wrong?  Not in many people's eyes.  She picked Public School as the up and coming men's designer last year and here's a cropped leather biker jacket that will make you ultra cool should you accept the challenge.  Price dropped from $1950 to $585 will make you look smarter too!

Flexible is always better right?  You can expand this Lanvin tote bag by unzipping its sides.  Now you can buy more stuff with the newly expanded bag.... how convenient!  Marked down from $950 to $379. 

Now that Euro is at a low against US dollar, it's the best time to shop on European websites to arbitrage your shopping need.  Here's a dope Saint Laurent Paris raglan bomber jacket.  Retailed for $1745 here in US but I found one in Europe for $653.  You are welcome!

balancing a ball

This table lamp is perfect to go with that Minotti sofa that you just purchased! I just love the simplicity of the design.  This IC lights by Michael Anastassiades for Flos comes with table lamp, ceiling light, sconce, or floor version.  The design was inspired by jugglers throwing balancing balls in the air.  Now that's the type of whimsy I can live with.  A table lamp will set you back $625 which is on par with anything you will find at DWR.... not cheap but not super pricy.

Happy Holiday giveaway winner!!!

Cindy M.  C'mon down.  You are the winner of a Missoni key chain.  Please send me your mailing address and your key chain will be promptly send to you.  Congrats again and thank you everyone for entering.  Have a great holiday season and a successful healthy 2015!!!