my walk to paris

The children's book, Henri's Walk to Paris {illustrated by designer Saul Bass and written by Leonore Klein / published in 1962 by Young Scott Books} is the story of young boy from Reboul, France, who, after reading a book about Paris, decides to pack up a lunch and head for the city:

Like many of us Henri wants to see Paris.

In Paris, there are thousands of buses. In Reboul, where Henri lives, there is only one bus.

In Paris there are many parks and rows and rows of trees. The Park in Reboul has only five trees. In Paris there are many zoos full of animals for the people to see.

And off I go to Paris for a few days!...how thankful I am. Happy Thanksgiving to all - may it be a wonderful weekend for you and your family~

More amazing photos of this vintage book...

idlewild books

My sister and her husband are traveling to East Africa to climb Kilimanjaro and explore the safari out there. How amazing is that? So over the weekend we went to a new bookstore called Idlewild Books, close to Union Square. My eyes were opened up to this bright, beautiful space specializing in travel books, international literature, and maps. The fully-shelved walls are organized by country/region {above, you see the very appropriate East Africa section} and then you can thumb through their guidebooks {lonely planet, blue guide, michelin, time out, etc.} as well as a carefully curated collection of literature {fiction and non-fiction} that takes place in that region. So, while you research what sites to check out in Cuba, you can also read about Che Guevara's socialist revolution...or while you look up where to stay in Tokyo, you can also pick up Snow Country, a novel by the Nobel Prize-winning Japanese author Yasunari Kawabata or read traditional Japanese ghost stories...or while you look up where to explore in NYC, you can also do a comparative read on the history of The Five Points by Tyler Anbinder and The Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury. The concept of this store makes so much sense and I love the idea that you can go here anticipating a real travel trip or an imaginary literary one.

Idlewild Books {12 W 19th St. bet 5th and 6th Aves}

last days of summer

It's the last days of August, last days of summer 08...so enjoy the last summer Friday and the nice long weekend that comes with it. Whether you travel or stay local (I actually love quiet holiday weekends in the city), take the opportunity and do, feel, see, experience something you can't usually do...Happy Labor Day Weekend all~

up to vermont

Last week, I went up to the mountains in the Vermont Stowe area and had some R+R time away from the city. As I looked into vast skies with enormous clouds, biked through expansive fields of green, walked by flowering gardens and cornfields...I got to breathe in that air of nature that is a "bit" harder to find in the city. It's little escapes like this that allows one to appreciate minutes and hours that usually just whiz by in the normal everyday. Photos above are some shots I got to capture during the days that I was up there. If you haven't already, may you enjoy the end of summer and fit in some relaxation time that can recharge your energy and rejuvenate your mind, as you do things at a pace a little different from your ordinary...

travel art

San Francisco design group, Publique Living, has created an art series named GRAFIK180: CITYART. Inspired by the distinctive architectural element from buildings around the world, each piece calls out a pattern or shape that is iconic to that specific building in that specific city. The chosen cities are identified by their 3-letter airport code stamped in the center, creating another layer of graphic distinction. The codes also seem to emphasize the notion of travel and destination - the airport being the entry and exit point to these cities - and let me daydream of visiting or re-visiting some of these cities in hopes to identify the architectural elements that these designers chose. Each "city" is so interesting but I think this composition of all of them grouped together creates a treat to the eye.
Whether it's a local or distant weekend, have a good one~!

back from the mother country

I know! I've been gone from this for some bit - but I had a good excuse =). I was away in Japan for a few weeks. There were lots of things going on there, but I got to see the beautiful spring time of Tokyo, Kyoto, and the Gunma Prefecture. Cherry blossoms galore - small blossoms, palest of pinks, bubblegum pinks, trees at their peak blooming...everything. With that comes, of course the wonderful foods that spring time bring. I got to enjoy fresh bamboo shoots, the first pickings of wild mountain root vegetables, baby squid, the sweetest strawberries, and more.


Eventhough all of my family lives in Japan, I myself learn something new everytime I go there. And this time it was learning how Japanese people are so aware of the idea of seasonality and how ingrained in the culture it is. Everyone (and I mean EVERYONE, including families, elders, college kids, businessmen, etc) goes to see the cherry blossoms because it is a way to welcome the fresh spring, the wonderful weather, and the start of a new year (schools and workplaces start their year in April). And people just know what foods are in season - what is good right now, how to prepare it best, and how to enjoy it. The embracing of the season was so wonderful and I couldn't help but try to absorb it all as much as possible too.


Another highlight was the inspiration of new art in Tokyo. I went to the 21_21 Design Sight, a art space designed by Tadao Ando and conceptualized by designers Issey Miyake, Taku Satoh, and Naoto Fukasawa, and Noriko Kawakami. With 2 shows per year, I got to see the current exhibit, "XXIst Century Man," directed by Issey Miyake. It is a show that places hope to our future and explores what today's "man" has in store for that future. Although there were a number of artists featured, my favorite piece was by Issey Miyake himself who deconstructed Dyson vaccuum cleaners and molded them back together to create new forms to inspire a clothing collection. It's so innovative but real, forward-thinking but possible. 21_21 Design Sight is located in the garden area of Tokyo Midtown. And if you go, go see the other galleries in the area, as well as The National Art Center, Tokyo (5 minute walk away).

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