Martino di Napoli Rampolla is the founder of Numeroventi, an arts and design residency housed in Palazzo Galli Tassi, a creative hub that connects Florence’s past to present.
Sheila Lam
Samovar Tea Lounge
FROM THE ARCHIVE: In San Francisco, a city where everyone is working on the next big thing, and with plenty of coffee houses to fuel those working minds, a tea shop on Valencia Street in the Mission district stands still amidst the buzz: the newest addition to the city’s Samovar Tea family.
Milktape
Remember when someone professed affection for another with a custom mixed tape? Creating one took effort and dedication, to carefully play the cassette while simultaneously recording on another.
Perfumer H: The Best Smells in London
Perfumer Lyn Harris first became aware of her fondness for scents during childhood visits to her grandparent’s home in the Scottish Highlands. “They grew berries, fruits, and flowers in their walled garden,” she remembers.
Danish Furniture by Gubi
There’s a concept in Denmark that roughly translates to the idea of being cozy. For many, a form of hygge is to spend time nesting somewhere pleasant. So it is no surprise that, in a nation of domestic dwellers and cold winter months, great industrial design is such a prominent feature inside the home.
Flair Firenze
Founded by husband-and-wife duo Alessandra Tabacchi and Franco Mariotti in 1998 after leaving their careers in fashion, the pair focused their efforts on sourcing beautiful vintage pieces—a unique interior design model at that time.
Easy Tiger Austin
On the quiet end of East 6th Street in Austin, Texas sits Easy Tiger: a bake shop, eatery, and beer garden. The multi-purpose establishment, cloaked in wild ivy and overlooking quaint Waller Creek, invites in those curious about its seemingly contradictory offerings and encourages them to relax, stay awhile.
Pathé Tuschinski
One of the main charms of central Amsterdam is its Renaissance architecture. Just northwest of Rembrandt Square—named after Dutch master painter Rembrandt van Rijn—sits a prime example, the Pathé Tuschinski theatre.
Club Monaco at Noma
Small fleeting establishments from enterprising individuals have been popping up for years: a temporary shop of artisan goods, a one-time dinner in the back of a gallery. So it is no surprise, as with most things that catch fire, that larger, recognized brands have begun to host their own editions too.
Torvehallerne in Copenhagen
Housed within two glass warehouse buildings designed by architect Hans Peter Hagens, Torvehallerne is Copenhagen’s most popular public market and the city’s first central food hall.
Faubourg Paris
When it comes to artisan craftsmanship, there are few things more universally warming than that of fresh baked bread, and at Faubourg Paris, the humble loaf is getting the respect it deserves.
Treasures from the Palace Museum
Amidst Beijing’s dense landscape lies the Forbidden City. For over 500 years, the halls of this royal residence remained a mystery to all but the emperor, his family, and those who served him.
Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship
If the art of plating a dish didn’t already have its own set of challenges, certainly performing under a ticking clock in a room full of observers adds to that pressure. This past weekend at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts on Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia, eight of the country’s brightest new talent did just that.
Livescribe Notebooks by Moleskine
In the first few pages of Ernest Hemingway’s memoir, A Moveable Feast, he describes his time at a Parisian café, noting his surroundings. The famed writer was an early adopter of Moleskine’s classic notebooks.
Kaufmann Mercantile Charcoal
When it comes to purifying water, the general process focuses on filtration and removal, so it’s peculiar to consider putting something in it instead—unless it’s Japanese water-purifying charcoal from online general store Kaufmann Mercantile.
Frescobol Carioca
While you may not have heard of Frescobol, the popular South American sport has been a prominent pastime on the beaches of Brazil since the 1940s. Not unlike other racquet sports, the objective between two players is to keep the ball in motion without it touching ground.
Aesop Mouthwash
For many of us, health and wellness are a top priority, if not the leading item on our resolution list. While we may succeed in reaching for our gym pass or quinoa salad, one area often overlooked is oral healthcare.
Tenue de Nîmes
Though the birthplace of jeans may be some distance from Amsterdam, the Dutch city is left wanting for nothing thanks in large part to a small group of passionate connoisseurs.
The Surf Club
While sailing on the turquoise waters near Miami, Florida in 1927, Harvey Firestone—founder of Firestone Tire—spotted a beachfront property that evoked a scene F. Scott Fitzgerald himself couldn’t have imagined better. A place for parties, social strata, and, when needed, repose.
The Dean Hotel
For Providence, Rhode Island, with its well-known art and design school, it seems that the Dean Hotel is a long-awaited addition to the city. Located in Providence’s historic Downcity district—the largest contiguous area of National Historic Society-designated buildings in the United States—this 52-room hotel is more than just a place of respite, designed as a reflection of the city’s cultural landscape.
La Mer’s Blue Heart
Covering more than 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface, our planet’s aquatic expanses are constant sources of inspiration, adventure, and most importantly, vitality. On June 8, we celebrate the largest of these ecosystems on World Oceans Day.
Printing Machine
When Steve Schell took a look at the consumer market for 3-D printers he identified three glaring issues: cost, usability, and user network. Now, Schell is out to break down those barriers.
Grid Vases by Jaime Hayon
Much like criss-crossing filigree, Spanish designer and artist Jamie Hayon’s Grid collection for interiors manufacturer Gaia&Gino intersects British medieval history with the artisanal know-how of Turkey.
Cirque du Soleil’s Totem
From amphibians to Neanderthals to primates to man, so goes the tale of the evolution of humankind and the overarching theme of Cirque du Soleil’s Totem. The production opens today in Vancouver, before travelling to New Zealand and Australia.
The Blue Standard
The annual Tiffany & Co. Blue Book Collection arrives in step with the spring season. Vibrant and rare gems provide a full palette of colours and capture the delicacy of flowers, reminiscent of a Georges Seurat painting.
Bulgari Celebrates 130
In 1884, Sotirio Boulgaris, then a budding jeweller, opened his first shop at Via Sistina 85 on the fashionable promenade leading to Piazza Trinità dei Monti at the top of the Spanish Steps.
Gucci Nouveau Bag
Gucci’s Artisan Corner event began in Naples in 2009 and has since travelled worldwide to Japan, the United States, and throughout Europe. The Canadian leg of the tour begins today at Holt Renfrew in Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto.
Native Shoes
As warm weather approaches, footwear company Native Shoes asks, “Have you gone outside lately?” The brand’s new spring/summer 2014 campaign revolves around the story of a quirky modern family on the heels of spring.
