I Went Back to Cali - La Cienega Design Quarter - Legends 2015

Finally, my jet lag is over.  It was much worse in Los Angeles and ended shortly before my return flight to Rome.  How wonderful!The LCDQ Legends interior designer conference is one of the most popular events in the industry. I've heard designers call it the Coachaella or the Oscars of interior design.  There were more than ten thousand RSVPs for the three-day event, with designers from over twenty-four states, and one hundred and fifty designers traveling to Los Angeles from overseas.This was my first year attending. It was fantastic. There were Interesting and informative panel discussions, fun parties, and over sixty-seven inspiring window displays.Not only did I enjoy visiting some of my favorite (and new) showrooms, I appreciated the style of my fellow decorators. Folks were not playing. It does make sense that many interior designers/decorators have a great sense of style.  I forgot how super casual Los Angeles is until I saw someone walk into Urth Cafe in Beverly Hills wearing pajamas bottoms.  I'm talking about the sloppy, comfortable ones you sleep in, not the dressy ones you would wear to a party.I also had Hollywood film/TV meetings but since this is not a screenwriting blog, all I will say is that everyone is talking about EMPIRE.  We'll see how this hit show changes the landscape.There were many highlights and I left feeling very energized (and determined to move to a new neighborhood).Opening night gala.  My friend Corrina (an interior design junkie) came with me.  It was packed.  The food was delicious.  I felt drunk despite not drinking at all.  The jet lag struggle was real that night. The official kick off.  The Bloggers Breakfast.  I met Erinn Valencich from American Dream Builders. So nice. Perhaps my experience is not the norm, but I'm constantly surprised by how friendly and helpful people are in this industry.  At the conference I met some serious A-listers and they couldn't be more down to earth. It's shocking!There were many famous design bloggers attending the breakfast but the room was so crowed it was impossible to move around. I found out who was at the event after seeing their Instagram feeds.Yes, I took a photo of this Italian shower head. I love that other people were also taking photos of faucets and shower heads. I could spend hours discussing such things. I've written about Peter Dunham before. His showroom, Hollywood at Home, has moved to a new location. Beautiful. I ordered some fabric samples for my Anguilla beach house project. You know how I feel about Peonies. Peter's famous Fig Leaf print. How gorgeous is this dark blue club chair at Mecox? This table? Perfect for a bedroom, entryway, or a small office. Everyone was so cheerful.  It really unnerved me. Ha!This photo was taken at the ELLE DECOR Power Luncheon.  Very pretty and again, great food. Lulu Powers making Aperol Spritz before the "Entertaining - The Home As A Social Stage" panel, with Susan McFadden, Kathryn M. Ireland, Russ Diamond, and Lulu.The take away?  Dining rooms are not obsolete, despite what developers of McMansions say. They're being used differently, less formal.  I agree and wish I had one. I read Windsor Smith's new book once I returned to Rome.  I highly recommend adding it to your library.  It was great to meet Windsor and to spend time in the Arteriors' showroom. I love that Arteriors was serving cocktails at 2:30 p.m. on a Friday afternoon.  Unfortunately, I was driving non-stop in Los Angeles.  Still, I enjoyed the festive atmosphere. One of the most popular events is the Moore and Giles cocktail party, co-chaired by Harbinger LA and the Hearst shelter magazines (Veranda, Elle Decor, and House Beautiful) in the Harbinger backyard.More Aperol Spritz.  The Italian inspired menu was catered by Lulu Powers and was delicious. My incredible experience ended with an intimate party at Kathryn M. Ireland's beautiful home.  I forgot my phone (the HORROR!).Paloma Contreras of La Dolce Vita blog wrote a post about it.Ireland has moved her West Hollywood showroom next door to her textile printing shop on Washington street. Outside, it looks like any other nondescript industrial space. Inside, is a completely different story.I cannot believe it's been almost three years since I attended her Interior Design Boot Camp.  It was one of the best investments I've made in my career.  It was also a lot of fun.  Work in progress.  Hand printed textiles.Photos: My and my iPhone.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

I cannot believe it's Christmas 2014 already. Where did this year go?In a sea filled with awful news (I really need to ease up on how much I watch and read everyday), it's good to be reminded of joyous things.Last Friday my friend, Gina, invited me to meet her, Rachel, and Elizabeth at their friend Alice's holiday pop-up bakery.  Alice Is a food stylist and cook.  Her gingerbread cookies were delicious.  I wonder if it's possible to order some during the off season.  I must investigate.I loved the simple decorations, the Prosecco, and most importantly, sharing them with friends old and new.It's not easy to be far away from my family during the holidays, but I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by an incredible group of friends.Merry Christmas!! 

Stylish Simplicity - The Tiffany T Bracelet

There has been great deal of press about the new Design Director of Tiffany & Co., Francesca Amfitheatrof.  She is the first woman to have this position at the storied American jewelry company.  The job had been vacant for five years. Ms. Amfitheatrof had some big shoes to fill.Ms. Amfitheatrof, who trained with a master silversmith in Padua after college, has created pieces for Chanel, Alessi, and Fendi.  She was born in Japan to an Italian mother and a Russian-American father, who was a TIME bureau chief, and grew up in New York, Rome, London, and Moscow.I love her new collection for Tiffany.  This bracelet is so simple and so chic.

18 karat rose gold bracelet

Narrow Wire 18 karat white gold bracelet

18 Karat gold braclet

I have read some comments claiming that this collection is not all that.  It's TOO simple, "Hello it's just a T. My kid could do that."   I cringe when I hear people make those kind of statements about any kind of creative endeavor.The simpler something is, the easier it is to mess it up.  Look at Cacio e Pepe, not many ingredients but a difficult dish to execute well.  There are no bells and whistles to hide imperfections.  Every single ingredient has to be of excellent quality.It's is the same thing with these bracelets (yes, I just compared high-end jewelry to a simple Roman pasta dish).You can wear these bracelet with many different styles of clothing.  I think they are destined to become classics like some of Elsa Peretti's pieces.   The Tiffany T bracelet is the very definition of Stylish Simplicity.Photos: Tiffany

Io Adoro - Anguilla, British West Indies

Anguilla is quite the A-list celebrity/VIP destination these days.  However, the small island has managed to retain it's relaxed, quiet charm.My most recent piece for FATHOM Magazine went live today. ANGUILLA – I wish I could say I have always appreciated this beautiful island. That would be untrue.When my family moved from New York City to the leafy suburbs of Verona, New Jersey, I knew I had to become a true American teenager. I was hampered by my parents' insistence on raising their children as if we were a family living in the Caribbean.My parents are from St. Martin (totally different from the Dutch side, St. Maarten) and both my grandmothers were Anguillian. Whenever we went to St. Martin to stay with my paternal grandparents, we ferried over to Anguilla to visit family and friends. When I was a child it, was fun to hang out with my cousins, go the beaches, and stuff ourselves on Johnnycakes, rice and peas, and salt fish cakes. But as for the stunning white beaches of the island, they were lost on me when I was older. I mean, I was a teenager. Visiting relative after relative while sitting on their verandas for hours drinking Ting was boring.The final anti-island straw happened one night when I was walking back to my aunt's house and a mongoose ran across my foot. I was done. I thought, "I could be chilling at the Short Hills Mall with my friends instead of being stuck on this tiny island."It wasn't until my parents moved to back to St. Martin after retirement and I moved to Rome that I began to understand why those trips back home were so important.To read the rest and see more pictures, click HERE.

The beach at Cap Juluca with the island of St. Martin/St. Maarten in the background.

Photo: Me and my iPHone

Weekend Inspiration - Spain via Sicily by Dolce & Gabbana

Dolce & Gabbana have been knocking it out of the park.I did read one review from a UK fashion critic who complained that D&G were tapping the Sicilian well too often.  She was RELIEVED to see that their S/S 2015 was influenced by Spain.Hello, Spain ruled Sicily from 1516-1713.  This is still a Sicilian inspired collection.There were a lot of bold red dresses and fitted black ones, but this black and white dress is one of my favorites.  Of course, I could never wear it as I'm too short and my breasts are too big.  But I love it.The trim is beautiful.  I could see using something like it in home décor as well.

Photo: Dolce & Gabbana

Buon weekend a tutti!

A Woman Who Lives in Rome Actually Loves Milan?

Yes, it's true.Even my Milanese friends who live here think it's odd.  I don't care. If loving Milan is wrong, I don't want to be right.Just in time for Milan Fashion Week, here is a short piece I wrote for FATHOM.  

Seven Days of Sicily - Day 7 - Art + Design

Why do I miss Sicily?   There are Sicilian restaurants in Rome.Perhaps this is only an infatuation.  My first trip to Sicily was just last year, which I wrote about in FATHOM.  Maybe the island will lose its hold on me after a few more trips, or years.  We'll see.Like the cuisine, the art and architecture of Sicily has been influenced by the diverse cultures of its various rulers.Every day I stopped by to see the Burial of Santa Lucia, painted by Caravaggio in 1608, located in the Santa Lucia alla Badia church. There is something very special about seeing art in the context that it was created for.In the early 2000's many architects and interior designers started to buy and renovate houses in the area.  I kept getting lost in little courtyards and side streets.  There was inspiration all around me and design elements that gave me some ideas for my Caribbean beach house project.Below are a few of my favorite things:How pretty is this packaging? I received a gift from this store on my birthday.  Erica's daughter picked it out.  That five year-old has excellent taste.

Photo: ortigiasicily.com

As someone who was raised Methodist, I'm still thrown by some of the more intense art in Catholic churches.  My childhood church had stained glass with images of things like Jesus chilling with some shepherds.

Here is the patron saint of Siracusa, Santa Lucia.

Clever use of a satellite dish.

Spiderman on the side of the Municipal Building representing the heroic spirit of the people. I'm trying to find out who the artist is and when the work was installed.

Cool planter outside a house that faces the sea.

Rome-based artist UNO and his latest installation.

Also from Rome, Alice Pasquini.  Erica and I went to see her and UNO work on their murals. This is a school in Siracusa.

The new and the old.

I saw these fishing baskets all over my neighborhood.

Love the door.

And this gate.

This alley showing a sliver of the sea was up the street.

I'm thinking about my next trip. Maybe I should go to Palermo or Cefalù, or both.

Photos, unless noted otherwise, are by me and my iPhone.

Seven Days of Sicily - Day 6 - The Sea

I appreciate the majesty of the Hudson River and the cool blues of a lake in Maine but I’m a sea/ocean person.It’s probably because I’ve spent the majority of my life living on the East and West Coasts of the United States and during the summer my family went to the Caribbean to see my grandparents. Even if I didn’t go to the ocean often, when I lived in Manhattan the beach was a summer situation only, I needed to know that it was close by.Once I moved to Los Angeles, I had a car again. On Sundays I would load up my LL Bean tote bag with scripts for the infamous weekend read and head to El Matador Beach in Malibu. Working on Sundays wasn't so bad with a view of the Pacific Ocean.Sicily, Italy’s largest region, has 992 miles of coastline surrounded by the Tyrrhenian, Mediterranean, and Ionian seas.Sunrise. Ortigia. The sea was a block away from my apartment. So were these rocks. Erica’s five year-old daughter asked me if I was going to jump in too. I told her I didn’t swim. She’s a great swimmer and was perplexed by my answer. Ortigia. Early morning swimmers. Siracusa. Three small trees on a cliff spotted during an early morning jog. Mt. Etna. View from the Monaci della Terra Nere boutique hotel on a cloudy morning. Salina. View of Stromboli. Salina. On the mountain near the village of Pollara. Salina. The San Lorenzo church in Malfa.

Photos: Me and my iPhone

Seven Day of Sicily - Day 5 - Ceramics

Sicily is known for its hand painted pottery.Like the cuisine, each region has it's own style.   I have to ask Erica where she bought her octopus plate.  I think it was somewhere near Cefalù.As I have stated before, I have no more room in my apartment, so I was only able to buy a few small bowls.I used one of the them in the photos that Gina took of the terrace project I worked on. The larger blue and white bowl and the little eggshell one (for salt or jam) were bought at a small workshop located right on my street.  Ceramiche Artiginali DoLù, Via Larga, 7 Ortigia  +39 0931 449451 The other bowls were bought at a tiny store on the island of Salina.  It was located on the main street in Malfa.  The owners told me Dolce & Gabbana bought quite a few pieces from them.  You can see the influence in their S/S 2013 collection.   Speaking of that collection, please note my fellow Americans that the black versions of these kings and queens are not the same thing as Mammy imagery from America.  Context is important when looking through our very specific American lens of a different culture, history, and country.  I was annoyed that their runaway (like most) had no diversity.I say this as someone who gave Gladys Knight the side-eye when she became a spokeswoman for Aunt Jemina back in the day.  I didn't care that AJ's handkerchief was replaced with a relaxer.   I knew that context of that brand. Taken from the terrace of the Metropole Hotel, Taormina, Sicily.Photos Dolce and Gabbana:  Fashionista Other photos. Me and my iPhone   

Seven Days of Sicily - Day 3 - Noto

I took a little day trip to Noto on my birthday.  After a quick thirty minute ride on the shortest train I've even seen, I arrived in a small town considered to be the height of Baroque urban planning.The Duomo is a show stopper.  The old town was completely destroyed in the 1693 earthquake.   The way it's laid out is very organized thanks to Giovanni Battista Landolina.  Working with three architects, Rosario Gagliardi, Vincenzo Sinatra, and Paolo Labisi, Landolina designed three main streets, running parallel.  At the top were the aristocracy (with the best views), the clergy in the middle, and everyone else at the bottom.I had a great time in gorgeous Noto. Caffe Sicilia on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 125, is fantastic.  I had one of the best lemon granitas of my LIFE there.My return to Ortigia had a classic Italian moment.  I bought a round-trip ticket.  After a long walk, downhill, to the train station I noticed everything was closed.  Ten minutes later, an announcement is made over the loud speaker in rapid-fire Italian saying my train had been canceled.  Thank God I understand Italian because at a pocket-sized station why would there have been an explanation also in English?  I went to a gym across the street to ask where the heck the bus stop was as there were no signs with that information.There were four men at the front desk chatting and they looked like Dolce & Gabbana models but with athletic builds.  The men were very dark and handsome with those striking green/grey eyes you see all over Sicily.  My brain froze.  I literally could not speak Italian (or English really).  One dude said, "are you okay?"   I blamed the heat and they were kind enough to give me specific directions.The street was silent, expect for my cursing, as I climbed back up the ridiculously long and steep hill, in the blazing hot Sicilian sun (there were NO cabs around). At the bus stop I was told that the bus service between these small towns is a lot more reliable than the train.  Thanks Trenitalia!The Duomo.A view of the Duomo from one of the terraces of the Santa Chiara church.Love the detailing above the chandelier.I ate a delicious Pasta alla Norma and the service was great.  The reviews of this restaurant are all over the map.  Two foodie friends thought the food was overrated and others go to Noto just to eat here. While am I more of a Biggie person, I can appreciate this graffiti. Interior of the Montevergine church. Three bells. Shot from another terrace of the Santa Chiara church.Sea view.  In the distance.

Seven Days of Sicily - Day 2 - Food and Wine

You can see and taste the Greek, Spanish, and North African influences in Sicilian cuisine.The rich agricultural diversity of the island (the interior landscape is completely different from the coast) has also played a role in making this cuisine so unique (and delicious).A separate post will be written about the Ortigia Farmers Market.Some of my favorite Sicilian foods/dishes are:Arancini - Rice balls fried with either a ragu sauce inside or eggplant (and sometimes both).Capers - Picked by hand, these small flowers buds can be quite pricey outside of Italy.Caponata - An eggplant dish usually served as an antipasta.  Every region of the island has their own way of making it.  I heard it takes a long time to cook.  Maybe I can convince my friend Gina to make it in Rome.Couscous al pesce - Couscous with fish.Fish -  It's usually prepared simply.  No need for extravagant sauces and spices when the food is so fresh.  Anchovies, Vongole, Sea Urchins, Swordfish, Amberjack, Grouper,  Tuna, Sardines, and Sea Bream are some of the local fish you will find in Sicily.Granita -  Nobody does it better than Sicily.  Nobody.Pasta alla Norma - Originally from the city of Catania, this pasta dish is made with lightly fried eggplant, grated ricotta salata, and basil.  I've never made this dish.  I think it's time to try it.Pasta con Sarde - Pasta with sardines. Usually has pine nuts, fennel, and raisins.Sicilian Bread - Yes, it is different from the bread on the mainland.  It has a golden color thanks to the durum semolina flour used from locally grown wheat.Sfincione -  A pizza type dish.  The dough is thicker and airier.Wine - There is a lot of excitement about Sicilian wines and their talented producers.  I usually drink Piemontese, French, (and a few Lazio ones when making Roman dishes) wines at home but I'm learning more about this region thanks to my knowledgeable friends.  I really enjoy wines from the Mt. Etna area.I know this sounds outrageous but I'm not a big cannoli fan.  Meanwhile my partner on this series, Erica, was on a mission to try every single cannolo and cassatina in the neighborhood. Pasta alla Norma.  So good. Little cassata cakes.  AKA cassatiini. I never had a Rosé from Mt. Etna before.   The waitress at Clandestino recommended it.  It was very good. Pasta with swordfish, vongole, and cherry tomatoes. Sigh. A white wine from Agrigento.  The owner of a little shop on Via Savoia (n. 2) recommended it after I told him I was invited to a lunch featuring risotto with shrimp.  It was a big hit.  I went back to buy another bottle.  I hope there's a shop in Rome that sells it. One of my favorite things about late spring and summer is drinking homemade iced tea with lemon granita (tè fatto in casa con limone granita).  It's like an Italian Arnold Palmer.

Photos: Me and my iPhone

 Of course now I'm starving.  What are some of your favorites?

Seven Days of Sicily - Day One - The Duomo

During my trip to Ortigia, I saw many beautiful things and ate many dishes that were so delicious I wanted to Tweet/IG/FB about them immediately.However, one of my goals during my vacation was to slow down.  I wanted to focus on what I was seeing, doing, eating at that moment.  I did occasionally post a picture on social media but cut way back.My friend, Erica, is also a Sicily fan and we decided to highlight a few things we love about this incredible island for seven days.  You can following Erica on Instagram HERE.First up is the Duomo.I arrived in Ortigia during the early afternoon. After unpacking, and picking up some essential groceries, I walked over to the Duomo.I was not ready.Many friends have described the Duomo and its piazza as one of their favorites in all of Italy. Yet, I was still floored by her beauty, color, and presence.   It is truly one of the most magnificent buildings I have ever seen.As with other regions of Italy, the layers of history in Sicily run deep.   Siracusa was one of greatest and important cities in the Greek empire. This dramatic cathedral was built in and around a 5^th Century BC Doric Temple to Athena.   Doric columns are visible inside and outside the church.In the 800s it was converted into a mosque by the Arabs who conquered Sicily.  Then the Byzantines returned to power, only to be defeated by the Arabs again.  They ruled until the Normans defeated them in 1085.The Baroque facade was added after the devastating earthquake of 1693.  Somehow this very ornate style sits in perfect harmony with the Greek lines and aesthetics of the earlier structure.I made it a point to see this building every single day.

Photos: Me with my iPhone

This piazza is a perfect place to relax as the sun goes down and the locals start their passeggiata. 

Stylish Simplicity - Como Glasses - Paola Navone for Crate & Barrel

I've written before regarding how much I adore the collection Italian architect/furniture and interior designer Paola Navone has created exclusively for the American store Crate & Barrel.Her new collection is out.  My siblings were kind enough to give me a gift certificate to Crate & Barrel and I had to get these glasses.Now they are sitting at my sister's house.   One day they'll make it to Rome.I love the color of the rim and the lines of the glass.  Very simple and very stylish.

Weekend Inspiration - Graphic Design - World Cup Posters

What a great tournament it has been so far (except for a certain jackass who has an issue with biting people).We're now at the knockout stage.  Brazil, Argentina, and Germany are the favorites to win it all but you never know.  Look what happened to Spain.I was checking out old FIFA World Cup posters and below are five of my favorites.ITALY 1934FRANCE 1938ARGENTINA 1978UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1994SOUTH AFRICA 2010I'm curious to see what will happen with Qatar and the scandal.  It's great that FIFA wants to have the World Cup in different regions of the world, but Qatar in the summer?   Sponsors are not happy about the bribery scandal.  This is a huge mess any way you slice it.   Moving the tournament to the winter will create even more problems, especially with broadcasters.It's a shame.  I hope FIFA can get it together.There are going to be some serious nail-biting (no pun) games during the next two weeks.  Cannot wait.Buon Weekend!

Life in Rome - Doria Pamphilj Galleria

I chuckle when I read articles telling tourists they can see Rome in a day.I have lived here for six years and visited regularly for three years prior and I still haven't seen everything this city has to offer.One of the places on my list was the Galleria Doria Pamphilj .      Note:  Sometimes the name is spelled with a "i".I have been to the café several times but never to the museum.  Last week I finally went.Bellissimo.  It's the largest palazzo in Rome that is still owned by the family.  There are free audio guides (subject to availability).  Prince Jonathan Pamphilj's narration is fantastic.  He really makes the rooms come alive and it's very interesting to hear his stories about growing up in the palazzo.  Jonathan and his family live in one of the apartments on the upper level of the palazzo, as does his sister Gesine and her family.There are over 550 works of art.   The Doria Pamphilj family has one of the biggest private art collections in Rome.   Fortunately for art lovers, the collection is opened to the public.For me the highlights were the Caravaggios, the ballroom, and the Velázquez.

Photos: Doria Pamphilj

DETAILSOpen every day from 9.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.Last entry 6.00 p.m.Closed: 25th December, 1st January, Easter.We inform our visitors that the Palazzo Doria Pamphili is open to the public November 1st, April 25th, May 1st.TICKETSFull price: €11,00 (audio guide included – subject to availability)Concessions or Groups, children and young adults between 6 and 26 years old: €7.50Schools/ University: 5,00 €Concessions for school groups with prior reservation by fax or e-mail : info@dopart.it ; biglietteria@dopart.itAll cards are accepted except Am.Ex & DinersCONTACTSEntrance: Via del Corso, 305 – RomeTel: +39 06 / 6797323Fax: +39 06 / 6780939E-mail: info@dopart.itWebsite: www.dopart.it

Io Adoro - The Face

When certain people get on their high horse and say they never watch reality TV because everything sucks, in my head, I'm rolling my eyes.  That's similar to saying they don't read novels because FIFTY SHADES OF GREY was terrible.As with any form of entertainment, there are great reality shows and then the ones that are pure garbage.  Regarding the latter I'm not talking about the ones that are so bad they're good, but are truly awful.  They're either boring or showcase the worst stereotypes of the protagonists.I tend to watch shows where people are making something or doing something, like TOP CHEF, PROJECT RUNWAY, CAKE BOSS, MASTERCHEF ITALIA,  ONE BRYK AT A TIME, CERCO CASA DISPERATAMENTE,  (hmm lots of cooking and decorating shows), etc.Since SKY Cable dropped the E! channel, my reality show intake has dropped.  That channel used to air most of the Bravo shows.  Tears.THE FACE, the USA version, started airing in Italy a few months ago on Sky Uno.  I missed the first few episodes.  During one rainy (basta!) Sunday afternoon I happened to catch two episodes and I was hooked.[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ_NQ2rXuF4&w=560&h=315]The format of this show is brilliant.  The wanna-be models are broken up into three teams with one of the supermodels coaching them.Of course, nobody would watch a show that was all about rainbows and unicorns, so yes there is drama.  Naomi played to win and Coco and Karolina sometimes seemed like they didn't know what hit them.The UK version, which is currently on the air, is a little different.  Erin and Caroline give Naomi a run for her money.[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksj21gNypzs&w=560&h=315]I don't understand why Tyra fired noted photographer™  Nigel Barker and Miss J.  I was so glad to see Nigel on the USA version of THE FACE.Could someone please hook up Miss J. with a show?   

Weekend Inspiration - Roses - Rome, Italy

One of my favorite spots in Rome is finally opened.If you plan to be in Rome before June 15th, I highly recommend a visit.  It's opened from 8:30 - 19:30. Entrance is free.Buon weekend! 

It's All About Sicily In Fathom Magazine

The award-winning Fathom Magazine is celebrating Sicily this week.  I'm trilled that I get to join in the festivities.My article is about Sicily and the solo traveler.When I booked my trip, I didn't think it was a big deal that I was traveling alone.   Then once everyone and their mother kept saying, "Wow, you're going to Sicily by yourself?!", I started to get nervous.You can read about my Sicilian adventures HERE.The entire series is fantastic.  I want to book a trip now. 

Stromae - The Greatest News Out Of Belgium Since Jean-Claude Van Damme, Waffles, and Fries

Please forgive my geek out over Stromae (aka Paul Van Haver).Last week I was in St. Martin to see my family and in Anguilla for work.  All week my sister, brother-in-law, and I, kept hearing this killer French song... in the car, at beach bars, etc.  The first time I heard it I was hooked.  It was so different from anything else out there in pop.This morning I woke up to an email from my sister saying she Shazamed it but the clip didn't show up until she returned to DC.I went to iTunes because I had to buy the single. While I was there I noticed there was another single that was number one. I clicked on it and "discovered" it was  a song I've been hearing a lot in Italy lately.  I've been trying for weeks to track down it down.Stromae was born in Belgium to a Belgium mother and a Rwandan father.  You can hear the influences of Euro dance music, African music, Caribbean music, and American hip hop in his work.I am OBSESSED with his album Racine Carrée.   Obsessed.   It has been a monster hit in Europe, including the non French speaking countries.  I wonder if he will have a hit in the States.  I cannot remember the last French song to do so.  It also reached the top ten in Canada.I will always associate this song with being in Caribbean.  It's only March but it's in the running to be my summer of 2014 jam.  The drums are giving me life.  Seriously.[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEucb8qtBmA&w=560&h=315] Stromae studied music and film in school.  This video moved me.  His father was killed during the Rwandan genocide in 1994.[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiKj0Z_Xnjc&w=560&h=315] And the song that is currently a huge hit in Italy.  Stromae showing both sides of a relationship.[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAMWdvo71ls&w=560&h=315]Despite studying French for seven years in school, I speak at most ten words.  I looked up the translations to Stromae music.   His lyrics address a variety of issues, most of them pretty heavy.  There is substance to go with the beats.  I get why he has received both critical and commercial success.I haven't been this excited about a new (to me) artist since the first time I heard Amy Winehouse.  

Io Adoro - Portrait Firenze - A New Hotel in Florence, Italy

Before my first trip to Italy, nine years ago, I had to cut my vacation short.  The production company I worked for decided to shut down, permanently, two weeks before Christmas.  Happy Holidays everyone!I was going to scrap the entire trip but my family was very worried about my mental state and insisted I go.I decided to travel to only one city for just one week.  I narrowed down my choices to Rome or Florence.  One of my good friends in L.A. is a hardcore Italophile.  She proclaimed that I was a Rome person and should save Florence for another trip.I've been to Florence twice. The art is stupendous and the city is beautiful.  Yet each time I felt anxious and couldn't wait to return to Rome.  It's not as if Rome is a laid back place.  However, Florence is a much smaller city and cannot handle the hordes of tourists and study aboard students.Well, I need to get over it because I must see the new Portrait Firenze.  The architect/interior designer is Michele Bonan.  I've written about how much I LOVE his work, especially, the newish J.K. Place in Rome.The hotel is owned by the Ferragamo family (the Lungarno Collection) and is located in the heart of the Historic Center. It has only thirty-six rooms and killer views of the Ponte Vecchio. It's scheduled to open this spring.Look at that view.  Love the soft relaxing colors.  Those green lamps?  Must track down.Sigh. No words.I need to be here with my man, enjoying the Franciacorta.Pocket doors. Dark wood.  Look at that ceiling.

Photos: Lungarno Collection