Nuit Blanche 2010

Every year I eagerly look forward to the first Saturday in October which sets the stage for Nuit Blanche. On this "white night" the city doesn't sleep, and art installations take over the town. While the city provides you with more information than you could ever need HERE, I've finally learned to cut any expectations and just go with the flow, pack a bottle of wine (and bottle opener of course) and see where the night takes me. This year zones are broken down into "east," "west," "central," and "nomadic" with maps online, and also a trusty iPhone app to help plan your itinerary. This Saturday there's also the added twist of a transit strike (we've had our fair share of strikes already this fall, but I feel so much more French these days being affected by them).
{click maps to enlarge or download from the official site}

OpenIDEO

IDEO has long been one of my favorite companies to watch for their innovative design solutions. One of the most striking aspects of their work is that they don't try to hide their work, but rather share it and make it public, in hopes of making life better. Herein lies the concept for their latest platform OpenIDEO which invites anyone to join the site, share a design challenge and collaborate and develop ideas with other people who think like you (or maybe help you think differently). Check out the video and click HERE for more information, or vote for it here on the Cooper Hewitt's People's Design Awards.

Paris Poster Love

One of my favorite things about living in Paris is that it's a city that people will always visit. Last year I was lucky enough to meet Nichole Robertson (better known as Little Brown Pen and seen here on Boarding Pass) and her husband Evan. This talented couple has turned their frequent Paris travels into a successful side business and Etsy shop. I'm completely in love with Evan's new travel poster series of Paris. I may just have to get my own copy of that top poster, as I not only live a couple blocks from Rue des Martyrs, but it also matches my chocolate bedspread perfectly. You can pick up a poster of your own here. {via Apartment Therapy}

La Cocotte

The longer I live in Paris, the more it surprises me that I'm constantly discovering awesome new places. Last weekend - thanks to my friend Rachel Khoo's book event - I was introduced to the cutest bookstore in all of France, La Cocotte (5 Rue Paul Bert, 11eme). Devoted primarily to food/cook books, the shop is a delightful spot for great design finds as well. Rachel's new book - Pates a Tartiner, all about spreads - fit in perfectly in the atmosphere. I also love that the book styling is by my friend Elodie Rambaud, and I was lucky enough to meet up with the photographer, Keiko Oikawa, as she passed through Paris this month. Rachel's book Barres de céréales : Muesli & granola, is just as cute - so I picked up a copy of both while I was there last week.Tomorrow (Sat, Sept 25), David Lebovitz will have his own book signing at La Cocotte from 3-5pm. (In case you missed my video with David this summer, check it HERE!). And if David isn't enough to entice you, there will be wine and treats, and the chance to win a gift certificate for a walking tour with Context Travel. Trust me, food related book events are the best!

Boarding Pass - Kali Vermes

I first met Kali Vermes about a year ago, although I've been friends with her parents for nearly a decade now (their garden was site of my interview with David Lebovitz). We instantly hit it off as we talked about her passions as a photographer and for plants, and her plans to start a new project creating terrariums. Less than a year later, it's been so fun seeing her vision come into fruition. That's why I loved seeing her responses on today's Boarding Pass, to visually see the way in which plants play a major role in how she beautifully documents the world/her travels through her photography. Thanks, Kali!
last trip taken:
I left in December for a month long ride through the rural Southern tip of India (Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu). A trip I had always dreamed of taking.
next trip on deck:
No planned destinations as of yet. If I'm lucky maybe somewhere warm like Naples or Istanbul end of September…
One place you would go back to again and again:
New York City because of its shear energy, variety of people, food, and activities. I'm always discovering something new even in the most common places.
place you'd most likely recommend a friend go visit:
New York City for the same reasons as above and because you are always surprised.
preferred method of transportation:
I like using a bike for the energy rush and walking for the meditative moments that it conjures at every old and new corners of the city I find myself in. I also get into a special kind of mood when I am on a train, I find it soothing to see the landscape unfold beside me at different speeds.
place you've never been but dying to go:
Dreaming of Japan for an immersion in their textile, ceramics and culinary history.
place you'd never go back:
Kassel, Germany. Except for the very large and well thought out art fair, Kassel is a city without charm and I found it difficult to eat properly. Every 10 years all of the big art fairs in Europe take place on the same summer so on this rare occasion back in 2007, I skipped from the Venice Biennale to Art Basel, then to the outdoor sculpture show in Munster, and finally to the Documenta in Kassel. I will carefully plan my stay if I ever go back for the next "grand tour".
most memorable trip in 2 sentences or less:
An enchanting evening in Hampi (Kernataka, South India). Sitting by a river at sun set watching birds flock to their night time sanctuary. An array of birds flew over us, the highlight was the sight of a majestic peacock flying onto it's resting branch.
how do you prepare for a trip?
I try to get in touch with friends in the country I'm heading to or friends of friends who were recommended to me so I can meet with them once I arrive. I like to get an insiders point of view right from the start, hear their stories and get suggestions on what to do and where to eat.
how do you record your travels when you're traveling?
I always try to carry a camera with me and a little note book to write down names and collect samples of plants and scraps of paper.
what is your favorite thing to photograph in a new place?
I try to find those moments that suspend time, those places and instances where a quiet harmony creates an instance of grace.
on an average, how many pictures to you take on a trip?
At least 2 rolls a day.
what's in your "designer travel kit" ?
I take too many cameras with me and end up having to lug around a big heavy bag. I've been slow at shifting from film to digital. I use a Canon G9 now but for the past 10 years I have mainly been using my beloved Yashica T4, a simple point and shoot with which I've shot some of my favorite pictures. I also use a Leica M7 awarded to me by the fashion house Hermès for a picture I took in 2004. This camera brings memory to life with incredible sharpness.
what do you do after a trip? how long after a trip does this happen?
Life takes over and everything stops at the end of a trip and my pictures stay in the dark for weeks. Then one day I decide to pick everything up again and I start working on the editing. This process gives me a fresh eye and a renewed pleasure to sort out my photos.
favorite souvenir/thing to bring back?
Every day small functional objects that have character, like a woven shopping bag, or a basket, or colorful combs and sandals. I also like to bring back food items like spices, teas...
links:
growlittle.blogspot.com (terrariums)
kalivermes.blogspot.com (photography)

Happy PARK(ing) Day

Parkingday.org declares PARK(ing) Day as "an annual, worldwide event that inspires city dwellers everywhere to transform metered parking spots into temporary parks for the public good." Everyone is invited to participate and the map below encourages people to add their own parks, so click here to find one near you! You can see lots more examples on the official website, and check out what GOOD has to say here. In Paris, I'll be heading over to Ekobo Home at 4 Rue Herold in the 1st arrondisement, where the eco-friendly shop will be participating today and tomorrow.{official poster above [downloadable here] by Maki Kawaguchi by Re Bar Group}

Boarding Pass: Susan of Fleurishing

I must thank Susan Hutchinson of Fleurishing for all her patience. After my unexpected absence from the world of internet for 2 months, I'm excited to be back with a fresh round of Boarding Pass, exploring how people travel. Susan was also kind enough to feature me on her blog this summer, which you can check out here. {thanks, Susan!}.
last trip taken:
My husband and I had a beautiful vacation in Vermont last fall. There is nothing like New England in the fall. We happened to catch peak foliage time, and it was just gorgeous. We took day trips, picked apples, and listened to 40’s music the entire time. It was dreamy.
next trip on deck:
Lake Winnipesaukee NH, where I spent much time as a child-it is dear to my heart. Then Germany & France in October…going to trace my roots in western Germany and Alsace, drive the route de vin, visit family, then 5 days in Paris, the perfect ending.
one place you would go back to again and again:
Paris, or anywhere in France…
place you'd most likely recommend a friend go visit:
Internationally, the Loire Valley. My brother lives there and it is absolutely my favorite region of France. Stateside, New Orleans. I love it there-the music, food, culture…and of course the francophile factor...it’s an incredible city.
preferred method of transportation:
Flying, even though it gives me major anxiety. After takeoff (and ok, maybe a few drinks), the clouds part and I’m in awe. I have always wanted to travel by train though, the old fashioned way, like the Orient Express. When in a city, I walk or take a taxi. I have a mild phobia of underground metros/subways, plus I enjoy conversing with the drivers.
place you've never been but dying to go:
Too many! Italy, Austria, Ireland, Argentina, Portugal, Napa Valley…I could go on and on!
place you'd never go back:
I really enjoyed the Bahamas, but not the Atlantis resort. I am not one for touristy, Vegas-like, huge hotels or places. I prefer quieter, more unique places. I sought that out and found some lovely places in Nassau…you just have to get off the beaten path.

most memorable trip in 2 sentences or less:
My first trip to France-meeting my (half) brother and niece after so many years of corresponding was one of the happiest days of my life. Not to mention finally getting to see Paris!
how do you prepare for a trip?
Meticulously. Obsessively. I do extensive research. I love to plan and make itineraries, although I plan for blank space too…for getting lost and having an authentic experience. I check the weather constantly so I have the right gear with me, and I get the suitcase out about 2 weeks prior in excitement!
how do you record your travels when you're traveling?
I keep a travel journal, a new one for each trip. I take time to journal my experiences as they are happening. And of course, photography-photos so often say much more than words can.
what is your favorite thing to photograph in a new place?
History, interiors, architecture…small and large, famous and unknown.
on an average, how many pictures to you take on a trip?
Based on my iphoto albums…anywhere from 600-1000.
what's in your "designer travel kit" ?
Nikon D5000 (new-can’t wait to capture Europe with it!) and a Charing Cross journal.

what do you do after a trip? how long after a trip does this happen?
Now that I am a blogger, I will be doing that right away! I manage my iphoto albums meticulously, and eventually I scrapbook-but not in the way you might think when you hear that word. ;)
favorite souvenir/thing to bring back?
Ephemera, food when possible, hotel extras…(we all take them, right?)

links:
blog fleurishingblog.com
twitter @fleurishing