Hong Kong’s Forgotten City of Darkness

It was the most densely populated place on Earth for most of the 20th century, where a room cost the equivalent of US$6 per month in high rise buildings that belonged to no country. In this urban enclave, “a historical accident”, law had no place. Drug dealers, pimps and prostitutes lived and worked alongside kindergartens,…

The Beverly Hills of Paris

I remember when I first saw it, Avenue Junot, the cobblestone road that winds up to Montmartre lined with some of the most delicious architecture in Paris. It’s art deco ironwork, those tall glass windows bathed in light for artists in residence, colorful cul de sacs peeking out from behind corners; here is the Paris…

American Girl in Italy: Behind the Iconic Photo

“It’s not a symbol of harassment. It’s a symbol of a woman having an absolutely wonderful time! I clutched my shawl to me because that sheaths the body. It was my protection, my shield. I was walking through a sea of men. I was enjoying every minute of it.” In fact, the American girl, Ninalee “Jinx” Allen…

The Last Bookshop

This short film imagines life in the future without independent shops and tells the story of a young schoolboy who stumbles upon the last remaining bookshop. Directors Richard Dadd and Dan Fryer are the duo behind the creative studio, The Bakery: We love bookshops. But we saw that many are going through tough times. We wanted to…

Let’s Snoop Around the Former French Riviera Home of Coco Chanel

Today I thought we could make a quick stop at Villa Pausa on the French Riviera, the former residence of none other than Coco Chanel, between 1929 to 1953. In recent years, it was on and off the market for upwards of $50 million and in 2015, it was bought by none other than the House of Chanel. I…

And now, The Great Gatsby Clothing Line

That pink suit! It is by far the most dapper suit I’ve ever seen on a man (Robert Redford helped a little too). And with the highly-anticipated remake about to hit our screens, some fashion people went and did some really clever marketing. Brooks Brothers has teamed up with the men’s costume designer of the…

The Lost Industry of Sign Painters

Sometimes I wonder about things like, who’s going to know how to make a piano in twenty years? Which skills will go extinct when the last generations of craftsmen and artisans can’t pass on the legacy of their trade? Forbes recently reported that despite a stubbornly high unemployment rate, skilled trades top the list of…

The Postman Who Built a Palace Made of Pebbles

This is the story of a French postman who spent thirty years of his life building his dream home– a palace made of pebbles and stones he found along his postal route…. Ferdinand Cheval allegedly first began building his “Palais Ideale” in 1879 when he tripped over an unusual stone. Inspired by its shape, he…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. XVII)

1. Paris Underwater In January 1910, Paris suffered through its worst flood in 250 years. The Seine climbed over 20 feet above normal levels and flowed through the city’s streets. Parisians survived by working together to overcome political and social divisions. via Paris en Images 2. Miniature Lantern String Lights Available to buy from The…

The Vault

Paris in the Springtime: How to Avoid Everyone

This is how I like my outdoor terraces: deserted, tourist-free and preferably childless (sorry parents but screaming kids are just not part of my vision for an al fresco paradise). But since we’re coming out of what seems like the longest winter yet, at the first hint of sun, you can bet everyone and their…

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