my flight

By duked | Published: August 31, 2010

@wren-soulaine

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Camden & Covent Garden – Stunning Vacation Flat

By duked | Published: August 18, 2010

The stunning DOUBLE STUDIO FLAT, newly redecorated to a very high standard, creates a blend of excellent décor and comfort. Located in the heart of the fashionable WEST HAMPSTEAD, the property is just few minutes away from all the shops and amenities. The property is located just few minutes walk from West Hampstead tube station (jubilee line) with direct access to Central London and The City. The Thames link and Silver Link over ground with direct access to Heathrow and Stanstead are just few minutes away.

The main facilities of the property are fully equipped kitchenette where you can cook yuor own br4eakfast or even dinner. the kitchenette is equipped with hob and microwave, fridge, toaster and kettle, LCD TVs, air conditioning, bathroom with shower, tea/coffee facilities, complimentary WI-FI, in room safe, iron/ironing board, hair-dryer, and daily cleaning services. The reception is opened between 10am and 12am 7 days a week.

Camden & Covent Garden vacation apartment rental – Stunning double studio flat.

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London Apartment Rentals

By duked | Published: August 17, 2010

http://www.lovinglondonapartments.com/

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Dukes Hotel, London

By duked | Published: August 17, 2010
Ideally located in St James’s, Dukes is a discreet London classic which has been welcoming guests for over 100 years. Following a complete renovation, the hotel has a fresh look which is entirely English in spirit with warm, charming service. The 90 bedrooms and suites are enhanced with up-to-date technology, flat screen televisions, Wi-Fi and 100% pure and natural bath products. The Penthouse enjoys views over neighboring Green Park. A great restaurant and buzzing bar.

Dukes is a CampbellGray Hotel – a small collection of exquisite, individual hotels including One Aldwych in London, Carlisle Bay in Antigua and Le Gray in Beirut.
Dining In
The attractive Dining Room offers a menu of timeless British favorites using the best seasonal ingredients. A great wine list includes a special Reserve selection with predominantly Old World reds.
The legendary Dukes Bar is “the discreet home of the perfect martini” (The New York Times). The Bar has a cozy, clubby charm enhanced by the original marble fireplace, mahogany bar and walls hung with portraits and prints from the Dukes collection.
The Drawing Room and Conservatory overlook a peaceful courtyard garden, the perfect spot for morning coffee, light lunches and traditional afternoon tea.
Recreation and Health
The Health Club features a well equipped modern gym, an Italian marble steam room, a beauty treatment room and changing facilities. From personal training to beauty therapy, the Health Club specialists will help you to meet your fitness goals or simply relax and rejuvenate. A fabulous range of treatments include classic massage, bespoke facials and essential grooming.

The Gym is complimentary to all hotel guests and is open 24 hours. After exercising, guests can unwind in the marble steam room and follow with an invigorating hydro-shower to emerge feeling relaxed and energized.

Treatment Room and Steam Room: open Monday – Friday 08:00 to 20:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 17:00. The Gym is open 24 hours.
For those who prefer to be outdoors, you can run in nearby Green Park and St. James’s Park.
Features
Three smart private rooms for meetings, dining and receptions for up to 120 people. The hotel is licensed for weddings and civil partnerships. Flowers and chocolates in every bedroom. Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. 24 hour room service. Business centre services. The Dukes art collection which can be found throughout the hotel includes an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional oils and watercolors.

Dukes Hotel, London – Dukes – London – Official Website.

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Hermitage Reborn

By duked | Published: August 17, 2010
On the way to celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2014, the  Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg (formerly the  Winter Palace of the Russian czars) hired legendary architect  Rem Koolhaas to modernize the art museum experience for visitors in a way that both respects the storied history of the Hermitage and also positions the museum as a leader of 21st century innovation. As part of the reconsideration of the museum’s structure and function, Koolhaas is operating under a very rigid ground rule: no new structure will be put up, nor will any part of the existing architecture be modified.


In many ways, this task is no different than the one faced by managers and executives at businesses around the world as they attempt to innovate under rigid organizational guidelines. So what can we learn from Koolhaas and the Hermitage? In an interview with Tim Griffin of Artforum, Koolhaas outlines several rules to follow in the design of a truly innovative experience:

(1) Understand how customers really use your products – not how they “say” they use your products. Prior to recommending changes to the layout of the Hermitage, Koolhaas carefully mapped out the typical visitor experiences to the Hermitage. He followed the “Russian visitors tour,” the “Asian visitors tour,” and the “European visitors tour” through the museum, understanding how different groups of tourists wanted to see the Hermitage. In addition, he studied the film  Russian Ark by legendary Russian director Aleksandr Sokurov – which was basically a 90-minute single tracking shot through 33 rooms of the museum – for insights about what artistic objects and rooms visitors would likely see and remember after visiting the Hermitage.

(2) Create as many opportunities as possible for interaction between the customer and your product. In the interview, Koolhaas actually responded emotionally when asked about the film  Russian Ark — he told Art Forum that he would never want visitors to experience one of the world’s greatest artistic treasures in a 90-minute, never-ending blitz tour that failed to give some sort of quiet contemplative space to think about and interact with the art:
“Commentary on the film invariably said that it was this amazing confrontation with the richness of Russian culture, the nuances of historical events, and so on, and then acknowledged Sokurov’s claim to fame, which was that the film was shot in a single take. But analyzing these reviews carefully, you realize that everyone was describing a very generic impression—that is, a confrontation with Russian culture within which not a single detail stood out, only a blur of art and architecture and history. And the single take was not really an achievement. It was, to some extent, just a further erasure of difference and ultimately a simulation of the degraded experience of the visitor who keeps to the prescribed pathway. So it was in fact precisely the enthusiasm for the movie that enabled us to identify what was wrong within the Hermitage.”

Based on his experiences at museums in London and New York, Koolhaas is looking for ways to segment the Hermitage between “fast” spaces and “slow” spaces. The idea is to use the unique spatial arrangement of the Hermitage to its advantage; for example, using smaller, outlier buildings (the Small Hermitage built by Catherine the Great, the New Hermitage, the Hermitage Theatre, the General Staff Building) for “slow”, contemplative space and finding ways to control the experience as visitors approach especially challenging art works. “At some point,” remarks Koolhaas, “the visitor numbers begin to interfere with everything a museum is supposed to do.” In response, brand stewards (i.e. the museum curators) must do everything possible to “diminish the obligations of a directed path.”

(3) Implement best-in-class practices from around the world. What’s fascinating is that Koolhaas has taken on design commissions across the world – including the famous CCTV [China Central Television] Tower in Beijing — and is bringing to bear a deep knowledge of best-in-class practices from museums such as the Tate Modern in London and the Whitney and MoMA in New York. It’s at this point in the interview that Koolhaas makes a truly insightful remark — what’s considered “best-in-class” in America and Europe may not be the same as what’s considered “best-in-class” in China, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. While American curators think that “the museum is in crisis” as the result of globalization, there’s exactly the opposite feeling in China. As a result, there’s a dichotomy emerging: “Part of the world can be pessimistic and stuck, and another part can be optimistic, perhaps even silly at times, but still thrusting forward in an interesting way.”

The choices facing the Hermitage as it solidifies its position as one of the most innovative museums in the world are the same that face world-class organizations sounding the clarion call for innovation and change. With almost four years still to go, Koolhaas is studying the historical archives of the Hermitage, familiarizing himself with the artistic holdings of the museum, and re-conceptualizing how to create a greater awareness of the history of each of the museum’s 2,000 rooms.

So how will Rem Koolhaas conceptualize a truly innovative experience at the Hermitage? The Hermitage is not aiming for something radically new and foreign, but it does not want to be tethered to the past. It is looking for more than an incrementally improved experience — it is in search of a truly innovative experience that will be appreciated and cherished by anyone who loves art. One might even say that Koolhaas is looking to create a revolutionary type of experience for the former Winter Palace of the Russian czars.


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Latest Luggage to Love

By duked | Published: July 24, 2010

Every summer, there is the big question of what is going to wear, and what it will take for our various travels. But we must not forget another equally important question: how to transport all our small business? For those who have not yet chosen their bag of summer, here is our selection of leather goods, luxury for a summer where every detail counts.

This season, Hermes offers us new models from the collection Orion which is after this particular bag in leather and aluminum. Very refined and in the style of the house, a bag ideal for both business trips and for moments of leisure.

More discreet, if we can opt for a suitcase on wheels Giorgio Armani. Black (Armani forces), this model allows you to be both chic and sober. The best: support the suitcase of a traveling bag Emporio Armani.

More essential, the famous bag Louis Vuitton. Already seen? Yes … But it remains a subject still very elegant and rêverions we all have with us in our travels … Little new this year: you can now customize your travel bag Vuitton, adding your initials or color bands. Not to mention the Louis Vuitton passport holder. The ultimate of chic. Check out the site of Louis Vuitton …

And if you want to stay in the trendy “trunk”, do not forget the mark Goyard, trunk maker ultra-luxury and a direct competitor of Louis Vuitton. Useful if you want to take his life with you.

Less flashy, it may opt for a suitcase on wheels Givenchy brown leather. Discreet, elegant, practical perfect for summer!

If you are traveling with family, Diane Von Furstenberg offers a travel set that includes four luggage. Something to be ready for the summer.

And to stay “in” all summer, luggage designed by Viktor & Rolf for Samsonite are the perfect accessory!

Finally, if you want to travel light, we recommend you go for a stroll at Lancel. Our advice: involve a toilet bag with a bag of the brand for a whole trip in simplicity and consistency.

Once your suitcase ready, do not forget the little accessory for a holiday of a dream: travel guide. Again, stay luxury, opt for the Louis Vuitton City Guide. Whether London, Paris, New York, Rome and Tokyo, these booklets will help you discover different cities, without forgetting where you come …

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Great Tour of Great Wall

By duked | Published: July 23, 2010

The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups such as the Xiongnu from the north and rebuilt and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century.

The most comprehensive archaeological survey, using advanced technologies, has recently concluded that the entire Great Wall, with all of its branches, stretches for 8,851.8 km (5,500.3 mi). This is made up of 6,259.6 km (3,889.5 mi) of sections of actual wall, 359.7 km (223.5 mi) of trenches and 2,232.5 km (1,387.2 mi) of natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers.

via China Inspiration: Great Wall – Zeemp Blog.

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Galapagos Island Wildlife

By duked | Published: July 21, 2010

Galapagos | Design You Trust.

Galapagos from Darek Sepiolo on Vimeo.

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Vineyard Vacations – Champagne Accommodation

By duked | Published: June 29, 2010

Champagne, France
“I drink champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it – unless I’m thirsty.” ~ Madame Lilly Bollinger
The Champagne region of France is magnificent.  The scenery is superb, the history is compelling and above all, the wine is divine. This is the region where Dom Perignon perfected putting the bubbles into champagne, where conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte would stop to drink with the Moët family.  This is the epicentre of a centuries-old love affair with a remarkable French wine.

The Champagne region is 1 ½ hours east of Paris, and you really need at least 3 days to discover the delightful villages around Epernay and Reims that conjure up the world’s favourite drink of celebration.

The Champagne region is where you’ll delight in finding the grand houses of Dom Perignon, Moët et Chandon, Bollinger, Krug, Mumm, Veuve Cliquot, Taittinger, Laurent-Perrier…the list goes on and on.   The Champagne region is where you’ll find gorgeous chateaux with gourmet food designed around the champagne you’ll be drinking.
The luxurious Chateau les Crayeres in Reims is a must on any visit here, with a classic Michelin-starred restaurant and a chef taught by Alain Ducasse who is a gastronomic genius named Didier Elena.  More on that later.

When in Champagne, the best way to get a feeling for the grandeur and history of the region is by going straight to Moët et Chandon’s cellars in Epernay on the aptly-named Avenue de Champagne.  Outside the entry, you’ll find a statue of the fascinating French monk Dom Perignon, who didn’t quite invent champagne in the 1600s as widely believed, but certainly refined and promoted it.

The Moët et Chandon and Dom Perignon houses are now owned by the giant Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton group who have put big money into this slick operation. It’s expanding so much that 40 new villages have just been included in the exclusive Champagne zone, or “appellation”.
If you’ve ever wondered what “Grand Cru” means, it refers to the top Champagne vineyards in the region, followed in quality by “Premier Cru”, then “Best Cru”. The powerful Moët et Chandon controls 15 of the 17 “Grand Cru” in the Champagne region.   As such Moët et Chandon is the dominant producer in the Champagne region, thanks to the efforts of patriarch Claude Moët who founded the company in 1743.

Moët’s wine caves where the champagne matures run for 28 kilometres under the main streets of Epernay and are fascinating to explore in a two hour tour.  Even in the middle of summer, it’s remarkable how cool these caves are as you descend just a few metres under the main road.

The tour costs 13 Euros including a flute of Moët Brut Imperial, and it offers interesting sights as well as insights.  The sights include a grand cask with 1,333 litres of port presented to Napoleon by Jean-Remy Moët in 1810.  The insights include “riddling” or turning of the maturing champagne – placed neck-down in the racks.   Moët’s skilful riddlers can turn 50,000 bottles a day by hand.

What to See in Champagne

What is there to see and do in the Champagne region of France?  The biggest town is Reims (pronounced “Rance”) which was bombed thoroughly in World War I.   The magnificent Reims cathedral built at the end of the 12th Century has seen centuries of coronations of French Kings.  The beautiful rose window is a sight to behold, as is the Mars Gate nearby, built by the Romans in the 3rd or 4th Century.  For a good meal, head to the many restaurants near Rue Gambetta.   If you want something seriously luxurious that you’ll remember for a long time, go to the famous Chateau les Crayeres.
It’s such a feeling of freedom to experience champagne tasting at those labels you’ve looked at longingly in liquor stores.  In Reims, try the wine houses of Mumm, Pommery and Veuve Cliquot for starters.  Henriot is another beautiful champagne, based in Reims.
Then move on down the “Route Touristique du Champagne” to Epernay for champagne tasting at Moët et Chandon (and Dom Perignon), Perrier-Jouet and Pol Roger.  Head north out of Epernay on  a pretty vineyard-rich drive to Hautvillers,  where you’ll find Dom Perignon’s grave.  The Bollinger champagne house is nearby too in the quaint village of Ay, near another pretty town, Champillon.  Keep driving east though the aptly-named Champagne villages of Dizy and Bouzy, and you’ll feel at peace with the world.

And that’s what’s wonderful about the Champagne region – there are so many good small producers of champagne to discover which will absolutely delight you with taste, quality and especially price.  You can buy very good  champagne everywhere in the Champagne region for as little as 20 Euros, often with a festival atmosphere at the cellar doors. These include J.M. Gobillard champagne just outside Hautvillers and Barnault Champagne in Bouzy.

You’re likely to feel boozy by the time you leave.
Chateau les Crayeres
The luxurious Chateau les Crayeres has been at the centre of society life in Reims since 1904.  It was the Pommery champagne house estate until 1979, when current owner Xavier Gardinier bought the property and transformed it into a classy hotel that became the gastronomic venue for the champagne houses.
Even today you can see where Madame Pommery opened up the trees to allow a view through to the magnificent Reims Cathedral.   Today, you can luxuriate at this much-awarded chateau for as little as 300 Euros or as much as 575 Euros for one of the beautiful suites, including the one named after Princess Diana.   The classic French furnishings in Chateau les Crayeres are certainly worth seeing before a stroll through the beautifully manicured gardens of this private 17 acre estate.

But it’s the gastronomic delights of Chateau les Crayeres’ stylish restaurant that make a visit here an absolute must.  Don’t worry about the cost – once you taste the cuisine of Michelin-starred chef Didier Elena you’ll understand that it’s worth every Euro. There’s a set menu Monday to Friday for 65 Euros or an a la carte menu with main courses ranging from 60 to 80 Euros.

If you want an experience you will remember for a long time, try the remarkable Menu Tradition de Champagne at 305 Euros, including fine champagne such as Henriot Blanc Souverain.  This comes with great service from beautifully dressed sommeliers and waiters who are formal yet very friendly, thanks to the expert guidance of the very kind restaurant manager Patrice Willems.

Master chef Didier Elena learned his craft from the legendary Alain Ducasse, who himself still travels to Chateau les Crayeres to enjoy Didier’s creations with fresh produce such as black truffles.  Didier Elena’s bottom line is that the cuisine taste is paramount.  His presentation is pretty well perfect too.   Here’s a brief description of some of Didier Elena’s creations that are just remarkable.

One of France’s favourite foods is the langoustine, half way between a lobster and a prawn.  At Chateau les Crayeres, try the four langoustine variations together, paired perfectly with the right champagne. First, the grilled langoustine with a light red pepper oil.  Second, the delicately fried langoustine with a saffron-perfumed mayonnaise. Then, the langoustine tartar marinated with avocado, apples, green mango and light peppers.  And finally, the langoustine mouselline served with a textured ball with champagne inside that explodes in your mouth when you bite it.  This emulsion is a sensational climax created by the chef, thoroughly French and fantastic.  The Mumm de Cramant champagne with the langoustine is heavenly.

There’s also the Langouste-Coquillages – multi-coloured fresh pasta similar to lasagne covered with rock lobster, oysters, clams, fresh broccoli and almonds drizzled in lemon.

The Bresse chicken breast  (Pointrine de Volaille) is another masterpiece, stuffed with Spanish jabugo ham, old county cheese, topped with a fresh black truffle sauce and a cream of lettuce and pan-fried chanterelles. A cream of poultry perfumed with a dry white wine called “vin jaune” is added. The perfect champagne paired with this mouthwatering dish is the Laurent Perrier Cuvee Brut LP.
Another superb dish is the Epais Morceau de Cabillaud, a hearty fillet of pan fried cod with a puree of potato beneath and a broth of fresh ceps mushrooms on top perfumed with marjoram.  The perfect champagne with this creation is the Henriot Blanc Souverain.
And you MUST try the dessert, especially the delectable Chocolat Caraïbe: a chocolate bar composed of cream of dark chocolate, crispy chocolate and a ganache chocolate served with caramelised hazelnuts.
With dessert, the perfect pairing of sweet vin rouge
This desert is paired not with champagne, but a glass of sweet red Maury Mas Amiel Vintage Reserve 2005 wine served from a Magnum .
Accommodation near Reims and Epernay
If you can’t quite afford Chateau les Crayeres, still go there for lunch to see the gracious building surrounded by acres of parkland, making you feel far away from the city even though you’re right there on the edge of Reims.
For accommodation in Reims, try Hotel Azure which is basic but bright for 55 Euros a night andcentral to the attractions of this Champagne region town.

In Epernay, there’s a great little bed and breakfast called Parva Domus located right on the famous Avenue de Champagne and only 100 metres from the cellar door of Moët et Chandon.

The family Rimaire run this charming establishment and for 80 Euros a night you’ll stay in a cute room on top of the Parva Domus wine caves that run under the Avenue de Champagne as well.  They bottle their own delicious champagne in these caves which you can buy for just 15 Euros.  Their son who speaks good English often drops by to offer guests a glass of Parva Domus champagne.
At the other end of Avenue de Champagne is Villa Eugene, a well-run hotel with a pool and a price of 190 Euros a night.  Rooms are spacious, comfortable and classy and the hotel is right next to the Mercier champagne house.  A quick walk down Avenue de Champagne will take you past Pol Roger, the gorgeous Perrier-Jouet champagne house and up to the dreamy properties of Moët et Chandon.
Where to Eat in Champagne

In Epernay, try Les Berceaux near the train station for regional fare including steak with delicious champagne sauces, mains from 15 Euros. La Coquille at 5 Rue de Reims is well known for its local fare and has the heavenly Zabaglione of Champagne with strawberries, mains from 20 Euros. Just off Avenue de Champagne is La Table Kobus with classic French cuisine including canard, or duck, mains from 20 Euros. And Le Theatre is a classy restaurant  with ambience and delicious mains that are a touch pricier.
Famous names on Avenue de Champagne
In Reims, try La Table Anna, a cozy little café in an older building near the Cathedral that oozes charm, with main meals around 20 Euros. Restaurant L’Opera is centrally situated, with friendly owners, lovely ambience and very good local cuisine.  Fresh local ingredients are used, with main courses including Coq au Vin and seasonal dishes of boar. Mains around 20 Euros. Restaurant le Foch at 37 Boulevard Foch is another superb restaurant with mains such as shrimp ravioli or pike roasted with wild rice. Mains from 30 Euros.
Le Grand cafe is a cheaper place near the Cathedral and railway station, a traditional noisy brasserie specialising in seafood and pasta.  Mains from 8 Euros. Le Brasserie du Boulingrin is a good choice on Rue de Mars (near the Mars Gate) with a wide choice of dishes including tender lamb accompanied by a glass of Pommery champagne.  Friendly service and genuine owners, mains from 12 Euros.
Champagne Summary
The Champagne wine region of France is certainly the world’s best wine region because of the superior quality of its champagne, the beauty of the scenic little villages between Epernay and Reims and the grandeur of the powerful champagne houses dominated by Moët et Chandon.

The Champagne region is easily reached from Paris by car or the superswift TGV train which now has international train connections straight into and out of the Champagne region. As in much of France, the French cuisine here is “magnifique” and dining at the seriously luxurious Chateau les Crayeres in Reims with the perfect pairing of champagne is an unforgettable experience.

The Champagne region of France has it all, from the majesty of the Champagne chateaux to the smaller operators whose champagne quality is superb for just 20 Euros a bottle of champagne. It’s a drink of celebration that is offered freely in champagne tastings everywhere, making Champagne the ultimate in Best Wine Holidays.

Wine Holiday Accommodaiton Champagne Region France.

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Centre Pompidou – Metz – France

By duked | Published: June 4, 2010

http://www.centrepompidou-metz.fr/

Posted in EPONiMART, EPONiTOUR, LUXE + BOUTIQUE, LeHEXAGON | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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