Category Archives: Travel

Destination Hotels: “Janeiro” On The Sand In Trendy “Leblon” Section Of Rio (Podcast Review)

 

We head to Rio to explore the new Janeiro Hotel in the district of Monocle 24 The Urbanist podcastLeblon. Run by the owner of Brazilian fashion label Osklen, this home away from home in an old seafront building stays faithful to the brand with its chic tropical touches.

Brazil, Rio De Janeiro, Leblon beach, Bike leaning on palm tree Wall Art by Jane SweeneyUpscale Leblon is known for its beach, one of the city’s trendiest, most tranquil stretches of sand. Inland, leafy streets have restaurants ranging from cozy French bistros to lively steakhouses, plus mellow bars for beers and caipirinhas. Shopping options include designer fashion boutiques and Shopping Leblon, a modern mall. Teatro do Leblon is a grassroots venue with a packed, eclectic program.

Hotel Website

Podcast website

Top New Travel Videos: “The Beauty Of Guilin” In Southern China (2020)

Filmed and Edited by: Dennis Schmelz

It was a long dream of mine to visit this unique area around Guilin, Yangshou and Xingping in Asia. To be honest, it was on the very top of my bucket list. Now I finally made it to this picturesque landscape in the south of China and I should not be disappointed.

The Beauty of Guilin Southern China Travel Video Dennis Schmelz January 27 2020

The karst peaks of Southern China are one of my favorite landscapes. But also capturing the Kormorant fishing on Li river, as it used to be centuries ago, was a big highlight. It was an absolute pleasure to shoot with Mr. Huang Gao Hui, one of the famous fishermen in Xingping. I was able to document a tradition that is unfortunately dying out, like many others, due to the increase of tourism in our ever developing world. The fact is, this man now earns far more through tourism that he would have done catching and selling fish locally.

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Upcoming Travel Books: “Always Italy” By Frances Mayes (March 2020)

Frances Mayes Always Italy Book March 2020From the colorful coastline of Cinque Terre and the quiet ports of the Aeolian Islands to the Renaissance architecture of Florence and the best pizza in Rome, every section features insider secrets and off-the-beaten-path recommendations (for example, a little restaurant in Piedmont known for its tajarin, a pasta that is the perfect bed for the region’s celebrated truffles).

This lush guide, featuring more than 350 glorious photographs from National Geographic, showcases the best Italy has to offer from the perspective of two women who have spent their lives reveling in its unique joys. In these illuminating pages, Frances Mayes, the author of Under the Tuscan Sun and many other bestsellers, and New York Times travel writer Ondine Cohane reveal an Italy that only the locals know, filled with top destinations and unforgettable travel experiences in every region.

Here are the best places to stay, eat, and tour, paired with the rich history of each city, hillside town, and unique terrain. Along the way, you’ll make stops at the country’s hidden gems–art galleries, local restaurants, little-known hiking trails, spas, and premier spots for R&R. Inspiring and utterly unique, this vivid treasury is a must-have for anyone who wants to experience the best of Italy.

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Top New Travel Videos: “Be In Lisbon” By Alex Soloviev

Filmed and Edited by: Alex Soloviev

Be In Lisbon Travel Short Film Video by Alex Soloviev January 26 2020

Another chapter about charming and vibrant capital of Portugal. Relaxed vibe of Lisbon, which is something you may don’t get in many other capital cities, makes you back there. Walk around, take the tram and be ready to find beauty in every corner. This is Lisboa.

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New Exhibitions: Painter Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) – The Forum Gallery NYC

Photo of Andrew Wyeth by Peter Ralston In the Studio Courtesy of Ralston Gallery
Photo of Andrew Wyeth by Peter Ralston In the Studio Courtesy of Ralston Gallery

Forum Gallery, New York, presents an exhibition of works by Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), who set the standard for American figurative art in the second half of the Twentieth Century. Working in pencil, watercolor, egg tempera and his much-beloved personal medium of drybrush, Wyeth, throughout his life, was a resolute champion of the universal life force of each person he chose to paint, and of the unique, difficult, ever-changing rural American world in which he chose to live. His art was controversial as it was popular, and he remains one of very few living artists to be celebrated by important single-person exhibitions at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (1976) and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC (1987).

Firewood Study for Groundhog Day 1959 Andrew Wyeth
Firewood Study for Groundhog Day 1959 Andrew Wyeth (The Forum Gallery NYC)

“Andrew Wyeth: Five Decades” at Forum Gallery features paintings dated from 1940 through 1994, including landscapes that imply personal struggle and portray great beauty; and provocative figurative works, including examples from The Helga Pictures.

Forum Gallery NYC LogoWebsite

 

Italian Wines: Inside Ferragamo Fashion House-Owned “Castiglion Del Bosco” (Monocle 24)

Wines by Massimo Ferragamo: How Salvatore Ferragamo’s youngest son is succeeding in the wine industry.

24 January 2020: Episode 432 of “The Menu”  Monocle 24

“I arrived at Castiglion del Bosco one cool, sunny morning in 2001. I was so incredibly moved by the limitless views, by the Brunello vineyards as well as the scenery that can only be found in the Val d’Orcia: I had no idea that such a beautiful corner of Tuscany still existed. It was love at first sight.”

– Massimo Ferragamo

Castiglion Del Bosco Wine Estate in Tuscany Italy Massimo Ferragamo Wines

Tuscany is a region whose countryside never ceases to amaze for its captivating beauty. Castiglion del Bosco also knows how to charm. Nature’s voice is heard loud and clear here, while man’s hand has always respected its verdant spaces and fine balance. The name itself revelas its character: the bosco, (wood), surrounding the Castiglion (walled castle), is the domain of deer, boars and pheasants. And of Sangiovese.

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Video Profiles: 60-Year Old Paddy Renouf Is “The Flâneur” In London (2020)

Directed, shot & edited by Jack Durman

Featuring Paddy Renouf
Shot in Soho, London

If you want to understand what Paddy Renouf does, Google the word flâneur — we certainly had to before speaking to him. The creation of French author Charles Baudelaire, the flâneur, he wrote, was “a passionate spectator,” or a man who wanders the streets soaking in culture at every level.

In Renouf’s case, the streets are London, and the spectating is done on behalf of Sheikhs, celebrities and C-Suite executives from the top brands of the world. And here’s the best part about it: it’s his full-time job, one he began thinking about while in the midst of building a traditional career.

From a WeAreAgeist.com

Top New Camper Vans: “NOVA EB” From La Strada Is Luxury Spaciousness

The NOVA EB is a rolling space miracle offering every comfort. Driving or living is therefore no question at all, because the cockpit belongs to the living space and the standard SKA seats with 180° rotation provide 2 absolute favourite seats. Especially in bad weather you will love these prime seats of your NOVA. Precious materials underline the perfect travel feeling, because everything that has to work should also have a special value.

Nova EB from La Strada Sprinter Camper Van 2020 picture collage

The special highlight of the Nova EB is truly to be found in the rear. The floor plan with 2 single beds provides unhindered access to each bed and thus creates an unusually generous feeling of space. We have made every effort to ensure that you can enjoy a relaxing night’s sleep in the new NOVA EB. And thanks to the inviting and spacious bathroom of the new NOVA EB, the day can start in a refreshing and relaxed manner.

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