Café Naïveté

The Watts Towers, Los Angeles

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 20:38:00 +0000

1921.
Watts, Los Angeles.

Simon Rodia, an italian emigrant, buys an odd shaped triangular lot and starts building his sculpture. A project which lasted for almost 35 years, leaving the man all but sleepless nights and no weekends. The collection of 17 structures are built out of steel pipes and rods, wrapped with wire and coated with mortar. The decoration is completely made out of recycled material: bed frames, bottles, ceramic tiles, scrap metal and sea shells. The structure was built without any plans or drawings and certainly no permits. Nails, bolts and drills, not to mention scaffolding, weren't used. Rumors have it Rodia got tired of the abuse received by his suspicious neighbours and left, never returning.
The structure is structurally incredibly sound, having survived several major earthquicks in the area.Rodia called the towers "Nuestro Pueblo", our own town in Spanish.
Quite of an achievement, it earned the man a place in the top row of the Beatles's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band cover.

More:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704050204576218503747540120.html?mod=WSJ_Leisure%26Arts_LEFTFeatures

FreshEst presents: The Estonian Ministry of Creative Arts

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 12:55:00 +0000

Kristian Steinberg
Kristina Viirpalu
Karl Annus
Kadri Kruus.

Helen Sirp

Indrek Arula.

Them. Let me present you one of the highlights of the International Fashion Showcase 2013 - Ladies and Gents, these names form the Estonian Ministry of Creative Arts. And from the 14th until the 19th February they'll take over one of the main London venues for alternative art happenings called

the Horse Hospital.

(they opened with a Vivienne Westwood retrospective in 1993)

The legendary Horse Hospital's space is transformed by Helen Sirp into a multidisciplinary design hub which aims to tell the visitor the mythical journey of these design objects and the creators behind them. The key part of this exploration process is a short movie ambiented in deep Estonian winter (- freakin' 20 degrees! ). "To celebrate Estonia's unique, mystical background, Helen Sirp, Creative Director of Estonian Showcase, has conjured a fairytale-esque film that captures the vision behind each designer's work via a series of mythical characters and their stories." The film, shot by fashion photographer Indrek Arula, is accompanied by a unique soundscape composed by drawing on visual film stills, translating the pixel sequences into electronic melodies. It will be screened on 15th of February on a private view. Looking forward to it!

Read about the International Fashion Showcase 2013 in London and find out other participating countries here.
http://cafenaivete.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/freshest-presents-estonian-ministry-of.html

Kristian Steinberg

creates sleek tailored Bauhaus inspired menswear.

http://www.kristiansteinberg.com

Karl Annus

designs edgy yet sustainable eyewear out of different types of wood.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Karl-puidust-prilliraamid/154684864551399

Kristina Viirpalu

is the woman behind the delicate and unique haute couture evening gowns realised by using traditional Estonian techniques.

http://www.kvcouture.eu/kv

Kadri Kruus

handcrafts one of a kind leather bags of simple yet sophisticated design.

http://www.kadrikruus.ee/

The Short-Movie:

"There is a land far up North where the sea hugs the shores of white sand and snow. Feel the breath of every tree and stne as the air draws circles around the morning mist amid the rising fog."

(information credit) SAINTIL COMMUNICATIONS

Pretty in Pink

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 11:55:00 +0000

The perfect tone.

I want this.

On sale from the 13th of February.

Via Hypebeast.

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:58:00 +0000

WHEN THE PLOTTERS WON'T PLOT

via ArchitortureSchool.

International Fashion Showcase during London Fashion Week 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:19:00 +0000

You see, this is exactly why I love London. Whether you are the son of a preacher's man or not, no one cares, you still get invited to the party!

From tomorrow most of the blogs on my reading list will start the restless blogging-marathon about FashionWeek in the 4 main capitals of the industry: New York - London - Milan - Paris. Always been quite curious about it but since not directly involved with the world I haven't really felt the urge of finding a way to participate in it in any way. Until now that London, the mecca of aspiring newbies, designers who's names are yet about to be blown up by the critics, has found another way for reinventing itself in the field. The British Fashion Council has teamed up with British Council to launch for the 2nd time the International Fashion Showcase, a platform for international emerging designers, aiming to "develop a new audience and market, focusing on fashion beyond the traditional hotspots, highlighting equally fertile new grounds."

Starting from now until next week 27 embassies will display the work of the talented local designers and on the 17th of February the best exhibition will be given the Emerging Talent Award 2013. Amongst them, also Estonia will be participating! RSVP is required to participate in most of the exhibitions. To find out more you need to download the booklet guide.

AUSTRIA

http://www.acflondon.org/exhibitions/international-fashion-showcase-another-austria/

ARGENTINA

http://www.argentine-embassy-uk.org/ifs/talleres.pdf

BOLIVIA

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/932/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Bolivia_Showroom_

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

http://www.britishfashioncouncil.com/events_detail.aspx?id=953

ESTONIA

http://disainikeskus.ee/en/news/255-freshest-showroom-during-london-fashion-week

JAMAICA

http://www.windrush-style-block.com/jamaican-fashion-showcase/

LUXEMBOURG

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/935/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Luxembourg_Showroom_

NETHERLANDS

http://www.britishfashioncouncil.com/event/954/events_list.aspx?y=2011&m=0

NEW ZELAND

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/936/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_New_Zealand_Showroom_

NIGERIA

http://www.britishfashioncouncil.com/event/694/International-Fashion-Showcase-2012-Nigeria-Showroom

PAKISTAN

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/938/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Pakistan_Showroom_

PANAMA

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/939/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Panama_Showroom_

PHILIPPINES

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/940/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Philippines_Showroom_

PORTUGAL

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/940/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Philippines_Showroom_

ROMANIA

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/942/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Romania_Showroom_

SCANDINAVIA

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/943/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Scandinavia_Showroom_

SERBIA

http://stillinbelgrade.com/international-fashion-showcase-2013-serbia-2/

SLOVAKIA

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/945/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Slovakia_Showroom_

SLOVENIA

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/946/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Slovenia_Showroom_

SRI LANKA

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/947/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Sri_Lanka_Showroom_

SWITZERLAND

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/948/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Switzerland_Showroom_

TANZANIA

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/949/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Tanzania_Showroom_

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/950/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Trinidad_and_Tobago_Showroom_

URUGUAY

http://www.britishfashioncouncil.com/event/951/International-Fashion-Showcase-2013-Uruguay-Showroom

VIETNAM

http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/event/952/International_Fashion_Showcase_2013_Vietnam_Showroom_

Just one more thing.

(win a prize!)

They've also come up with a fun way of involving more people with the event by offering the chance to win a VIP day at Vodaphone London Fashion Weekend, including a £250 voucher to spend on over 100 British designers. To enter into the prize draw you just need to collect at least six stamps of the different countries which exhibition you've visited.

SCHEDULE

MAP

*

"The International Fashion Showcase reinforces the UK's status as a creative international hub; connecting everywhere, reflecting both itself and the world."

http://www.britishfashioncouncil.co.uk/content/1876/International-Fashion-Showcase

(Restaurant review) Hand me over that cleaver, baby, it's bloody Sunday!

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:32:00 +0000

Okay, so just inbetween all the trillion other things that need to be done (actually started), I'll squeeze just a tiny bit of extra time and write to you about another gastro-enterprise I've had here in this freezing cold'n'wet London.

This time it was slightly more spontaneous. Sunday, right, inbetween huge piles of books my nose kept on getting distracted with all sort of other things and eventually ended up dragging me out of the house for food hunt. A nice pub nearby (in Queen's Park) seemed like a reasonable option. The atmospehere was nice yet the feeling wasn't right and as soon as I had mentioned something about an amazing steak house I had heard about the other half of this gourmet-duo had already rushed out of the door, leaving me with all practical questions to resolve. Should we try to call and book a table quick before jumping on the tube? Are we actually stupid to expect to get a table on this cold Sunday afternoon (when probably all the other londoners had have the same original idea)? Is it affordable for us? Wwwwhere exactly was it again?! Luckily all these questions are rather irrelevant if Destiny is your friend. Blink. 25 minutes later , hungry like hyenas we arrive to the spot. We walk in, we're greeted, we get seated, we get served pop corn and 3 minutes after we're already done with the ordering. Easy! For our luck the place doesn't take reservations (Daaa!). And shortly after, the steak arrived! Very appealing serving, with a tiny cleaver as a knife, I'd have to give it 10 plus! Honestly speaking, it was the juiciest steak I've ever had in UK. I could only compared it to the one I had this summer in Frascati, a small mountain town near Rome. The portion was the right size for my small tummy although my some hungry beasts might need to order another one). And then the bill arrived. Ridiculously friendly for a student wallet. To sum it up: a lovely experience! If we really feel like being difficult well then one minus was the fact that we weren't served by one waiter only. I just like the idea of creating a relationship with a waiter, makes it more homey. But I'm definitely going back!

Straight to the business: the menu. It couldn't be easier. It is attached on the wall and this bad-ass resto serves is just:

1 main

the steak, (a regular or a daily special)

6 sides

(warmly suggest the creamy spinach)

4 sauces

* * *

Atmosphere: intimate yet lively
Service: extremely friendly
Crowd: 20's - 40's
Dresscode: casual
Price range: about 15£ per person
Best occasion: a date or crave for some quality meat (ladies, do not get frightened, the portion was perfect)
Avoid: if you are vegetarian, with children

* * *

This image above was taken by James Morris, found on Flat Iron's facebook page. Check out his dining experience on flickr here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwmoz/sets/72157630759424744/

All the rest of the images belong to Flat Iron and you can find them on their facebook page as well.

CONTACT

Opening times: Mon-Sun 12pm-11pm

Address: 17 Beak St W1F 9RW LONDON

http://flatironsteak.co.uk/

NO RESERVATIONS

Follow on TWITTER and FACEBOOK

No bling for me, please.. unless it's tiny!

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:20:00 +0000

An image found on tumblr years ago

Gold became my best friend when I was 13. And I mean BOLD gold, the H&M kind of a gold. Big earrings, rings, nice and long necklaces.. Until the STOP sign came along. The "embellishments" made me feel like a tacky fake Christmas tree at a supermarket all of a sudden. Less is what I felt was more appropriate for me and I have been of that idea ever since. So in the rush for Christmas gifts have a peak on this selection of very cute and fine pieces of jewelry I've found on web. Just click on the image to go on the websites. My personal favourites are the skull rings!! What would you choose to get from your Santa!?

Restaurant review: Bistrotheque E2 9DR

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 20:31:00 +0000

It was Friday night and I was at home, as usual, continueing with the architecture routine. While hunting for some ideas for the current design project I'm working at I came across this really cool pop-up restaurant built back in 2010 (about which, I'll post you soon). One click lead to another and after I discovered myself dribbling like a dog on the menu of this curious looking restaurant, I decided to book a table for the next evening. 3 factors made the decision: the price, the interiors and the location.

It is not comfortable to get there, we got off at Hackney Central Overground station and had to walk all the way down until the Regent's Canal. It was freezing!! Right after the canal we turned left and walked into a secluded and dark street with no sign of life at all. The place hides itself from strangers. After walking around an old factory building, all painted in black, we found the entrance on a small dead-end alleyway. No signs. You can only assume the place is THERE by the contrasting white-painted corridor which inavoidably pop-ups from the rest of the surroundings. Sherlock! Truth is, if it wasn't for the three young boldly dressed women smoking outside of it, we would have continued our walk around the building. Now once IN the corridor, we didn't get any smarter. It was bright, it still felt cold and it seemed silent. Although we finally felt the presence of the fuss we were looking for, somewhere behind the walls. After exploring straight and checking right we got up and et voilà! A huge room divided in two: on the left side the dining space, on the right side the bar. Obnoxiously full. And extremely loud. Just like a proper canteen.

This is what we had (marked in blue) all of it was DElICIOUS, especially the Roast duck breast, foie gras, chanterelles, A MUST TRY!:

I would say Bistrotheque is a right mix of old and new, and I'm not talking about the interiors. Everything from the cutlery on the table to the waiter's manner is in good old school style - impeccable. And yet it wasn't just that, it was also extremely vibrant and at the same time informal. And a big merit for that goes to the open-kitchen, the key-element of the place. I loved it and I'm definitely looking forward to go back there !

* * *

Atmosphere: vibrant
Service: excellent, 'Client is the King'- kind of a way
Crowd: 30's & 40's
Dresscode: casual smart
Price range: about 45 per person
Best occasion: nigh out with friends, informal business treat
Avoid: if you are looking for intimacy (I date) or you are with elder people (your grandfather might miss half of the conversation).

* * *

All the pictures above (except the first 2) belong to Bistrotheque

CONTACT

Address: 23-27 Wadeson Street London E2 9DR

Contact number: 020 8983 7900

http://www.bistrotheque.com/

email: reception@bistrotheque.com

Book online on toptable: http://www.toptable.co.uk/bistrotheque

Follow on TWITTER and FACEBOOK

Simple things in life: isn't this what we used to do?

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 03:24:00 +0000

So this is a late night tale n.1: how a semi-crazy action can lead to deep reflections. Hopefully there will be more of these. Enjoy!

I must be going mad, but then again, what is the joy of being sane? I just came from outside and I SHOULD be going to bed so I could wake up in the morning, finally, as I haven't seen it for a week now and NOT because of any fun reasons but because of my miserable architecture-student routine. Cannot even call it a life, it's a never-ending non-sense routine. My evenings have become days, nights have become evenings and mornings have become my nights. Does this make any sense to you? Because it doesn't to me but whatever, who cares. So, today at 01:13, miraculously early (let's say it equals with 9 o'clock), this student was happily about to jump into the bed... until... she noticed the moon outside. She had neve seen something like that!! And right, she obviously thought it would be a great idea to go outside, freeze to death and photograph the moon. And then come back and stay up for another hour to share her mini-epiphany moment...

MORAL OF THE STORY:
While I was walking up the stairs back to the flat and feeling my cheeks going on fire because of the incredible temperature difference, just like when I was a kid, after a long winter-play-day outisde. I thought about how good it felt. I imagined my warm living room waiting for me. I thought I would like some hot hot tea; And then Christmas came into my mind. And then I imagined how I would fall asleep like a baby, finally. And suddenly nostalgia took over me. Isn't this what we used to do? Before the Internet, before the TV... We used to go for walks. In the dark, in the cold, late at night. It didn't matter. Because fresh air is good, it helps you to clear your mind after a long stressful day. But we've stopped doing things as simple as that. The thought of how alienated we have become in certain aspects of life is actually frightening. We've taken away from ourselves the possibility of seeing or feeling the magic in SOOO many simple yet enjoyable things in life. At least this is what I realised today. I used to see things differently and do and create more just before I got the chance to chill on internet unlimitlessly.

Anyways.. I felt like sharing this with you. And some of the experimental photographs.

Can you think of any other mind-refreshing things or activities you used to do just before all the technology invaded your life?

Note: these pictures are not re-touched.

STREET FEAST at Hackney Downs Studios

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 17:29:00 +0000

Loads of nice food, cozy atmosphere, live music and friendly people, especially the salesmen!, that's what's happening every Friday evening from 5pm until 11pm at Hackney Downs Studios. The Streat Feast has taken the food market concept to a whole new level.

The Traders:

(LOOK THEM UP ON THE WEBSITE HERE)

MAMA'S JERK STATION

SWEET TOOTH FACTORY

BIG APPLE HOT DOGS

KIMCHI CULT

POP UP BARBADOS

PIZZA PILGRIMS

SORBITIUM

THE RUSSET

YUM JUNGLE

BUEN PROVECHO

WILD GAME CO.

VANDUKE

HORN OK PLEASE

STREET FEAST AT HACKNEY DOWNS STUDIO

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 16:51:00 +0000

* T O N I G H T *

http://www.streetfeastlondon.com/#!home/mainPage

Calling all designers and creative people out there: win a trip to Italy to develop your ideas, prototype them and shoot your video

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 02:05:00 +0000

Hey all the creative crowd out there, here's something for you! If you are a fashion designer, videomaker or a product designer you should read the following carefully because the prize is MUCH promising. Here’s how it works. There are three categories:

Fashion Design

Product Design

Video Making

3 semi-finalists in each category will get flown from anywhere in the world for 5 days in Tuscany where they’ll meet with producers, fashion houses and more, learning, making professional contacts, and developing prototypes.

One winner in each category will then get 2500 euros.

The participants have to work with world's ever first certified ‘zero emissions’ textile product: the Cardato regenerated co2 neutral, which is made with recycled wool from the Prato District and has limited impact on the environment.

Candidates in the both design categories propose a product, either a clothing item or a furniture piece, as the video applicants have to make a storyboard about how to communicate this product to the public visually.

This opportunity is being promoted by the local Chamber of Commerce and has no commercial scope, other than to help the world wear Cardato, and thus use a fabric that has almost no environmental impact.

The contest is open to designers worldwide aged 18-35 and the deadline is October 31, 2012.

For any information just go on the website:

http://www.cardato.it/contest/

or contact me on:

iamthrilling@gmail.com

GOOD LUCK!

Highlights of the LDF 2012: 48 minutes left to bid on the Fritz Hansen iconic chair re-designed by your favourite designer!

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 22:11:00 +0000

Now looking back at the LDF 2012, Fritz Hansen was probably one of the highlights of the festival! They were proudly presenting not only one but two very significant projects for the 2012 London Design Festival, both involving the iconic chairs of the design house. But just because the clock is ticking, and that is literally, I'm gonna talk about the ANT chair. This chair-classic was created by the famous danish designer Arne Jacobsen back in 1952. And for its 60th birthday the ANT chair got to play a little dress-up game: the three-legged canteen chair was re-created by some of the most significant contemporary names in the creative field.

To mark the 10th anniversary of Fifteen restaurant, the social enterprise set up to mentor disenfranchised young people and train them to become chefs, Jamie Oliver’s charity, the Better Food Foundation, has launched The BIG Chair Project. The Republic of Fritz Hansen who has been a long-standing supporter of Fifteen, decided to donate for this occasion twenty iconic ANT chairs for the artists to impose a personal, food-inspired design upon. The auction will be held on the 11th of October by the Christie's Auction house at the Fritz Hansen London boutique. Do not miss the chance to see these funky chairs with your own eyes in the Republic of Fritz Hansen as you could even have one for your own. For that you just need to buy a lottery ticket at www.thebigchairproject.org to support the initiative. And for that you have only a few hours left!!! Just click on this website:

http://www.jamieoliver.com/thebigchairproject/big-bid/jamie-oliver/fruit-souffle.php

Names:

Barnaby Purdy

Cath Kidston

Christopher Bailey, Chief Creative Officer, Burberry

David Loftus

Emma Tissier

INSA

Jamie Oliver

Jay Jay Burridge

Jonathan Yeo

Julian McDonald

Liberty

Matthew Williamson

Nunzio Citro (former Fifteen apprentice)

Paul Smith

Quentin Blake

Ricardo Cinalli

Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

Superdry

Jo Sampson Collection for Waterford Crystal

Tracey Emin

Commenting on his chair, Paul Smith said: “I’ve been a bit naughty, because on the front side of the chair it is full of cakes and all those delicious things that are bad for you! Then on the back of the chair it’s full of healthy stuff – lots of fruit, vegetables and lettuce! – it’s both sides of the coin really, the bad side and the good side. It’s not really the chair, it’s not really the fact its Paul Smith, it’s the fact that it’s for a good cause so if you can support us with a generous bid that would be brilliant!”

Lovely summertime in London Fields: Barbecue

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:21:00 +0000

With all the rain and cold... please.. let me scroll back to Summer. Indeed my first ever summertime in London was surprisingly lovely. Once back in August I moved even further on to East. Most certainly it's not the a practical place to live if you work and study elsewhere. But its vibrance and energy are unique, the kind you hardly can substitute with any other place in London.

Let's cut all that hipster-antipaty-fuzz. East London is something more. True, there's a lot of show going on there. But isn't there also in other parts of the city? Substantially it is all the same, either we are talking about Chelsea, Mayfair or Dalston. It just depends from the taste.

There is loads going on constantly and usually you won't even know about the stuff as most of the events are either kept quite low-profile or just adressed for the specific crowd. But the nice thing is if you ever randomly happen to be around, you won't experience the embarrassment of an outsider. Because it has the most relaxing, chilled and open-minded atmosphere. And that's what I love about it.

Here's a bunch of un-published photos which I discovered from this summer. I took these photos on a sunny Sunday, at the London Fields Park, on Julian's birthday. We had a lovely barbecue, just like a couple of dozen other people that day.

Funk up your kitchen!

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 12:27:00 +0000

Now that I have moved into a big lovely new home I have been checking out various things for this cool flat we are sharing with my friends. Buying stuff for home is so much fun and as I'm especially keen on cooking and the kitchen area I don't seem to think having wicked design is ever enough!! Here is a selection of my favourites things I've come across the web. But I can't seem to find a proper web based design shop which has a wide selection of these kind of clever designs. Can anyone of you suggest maybe one?

 http://www.cb2.com/meat-and-potatoes-plate/s480188

http://www.cb2.com/set-of-4-whos-wine-glasses/s345768

http://www.mzube.co.uk/products/fred-friends-half-pint-unusual-milk-jug#.UGDsJsXCauI

http://www.bernardaud.fr/index.php?id=uk25&createur=_219631af2e4f8c5efe97ba39891441e1

http://thirddrawerdown.com/shop/product/RPOLHC-heroin-cocaine/

http://www.easyliving.co.uk/homes/furnishings/classic-kitchen-accessories/alessi-apostrophe-orange-peeler

http://www.madeindesign.co.uk/prod-naked-girls-teapot-by-pols-potten-ref230-400-136.html

http://www.johnlewis.com/183600/Product.aspx

http://www.johnlewis.com/183636/Product.aspx

http://www.madeindesign.co.uk/prod-cup-h-6-cm-by-rob-brandt-pop-corn-refrob01.html

http://www.johnlewis.com/231403176/Product.aspx

http://www.madeindesign.co.uk/prod-dropp-basket-menu-ref4754639.html

http://www.madeindesign.co.uk/prod-Jug-Sentou-Edition-ref3543010106.html

http://www.easyliving.co.uk/homes/furnishings/classic-kitchen-accessories/eva-solo-garlic-press

http://www.madeindesign.co.uk/prod-Sacco-Waste-bin-O-30-cm-Skitsch-refdts-15653.html

http://www.easyliving.co.uk/homes/furnishings/classic-kitchen-accessories/alessi-citrus-squeezer?next#ViewImage

http://blog.quarkr.com/white-coffee-tea-cup-mug-with-crystal-ring-of-platinum-or-gold/

Breakbot album debut!

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 18:41:00 +0000

In this very special occasion a blog
post has to be written! This french guy makes me adopt these super
hyper ecstatic, slightly embarrassing, behavioural
characteristics only teenagers up to age 15 are aloud to have. I have
been in love with him since the February of 2010 when I first heard his music at an event organized by 

L-Ektrika.

He played the
sweetest disco beat I had ever heard!
It was immediate love! Since then I promised myself I wouldn't miss
any of the parties he would play at. It has been weeks now that I have been waiting for this Friday, when Breakbot will celebrate its first album release at XOYO. It should be a great party as it was in that same venue a year ago where, in my
personal opinion, he played the best out of all six times I had seen him. Make sure you get your ticket online as the queues are expected to be loooong.  

FRESH STUFF!

GROOVY  

party! party! party!

sweet chill

 ...and finally to end  here's some 30 minutes of heaven

Breakbot

Ed Banger Records

"By Your Side" 

debut album release party at

XOYO

London Design Festival: let's head to East: launching party of BLACK + WHITE + COLOUR

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 13:42:00 +0000

East is good because it's chilled and people-friendly, and that's why we like it there. I was invited to visit the EAST LONDON DESIGN SHOW, for the launching of the London Fields Design District, at the Emigre Studios on Thursday night but on my way (actually on the door-steps of it) I was stopped by this lovely buzz around these two black containers: an opening party to launch the pop-up shop and studio of the new design collective called

BLACK + WHITE + COLOUR

"WHO believe in bold, contemporary design with a playful spirit. They love clean lines, messy processes and bright sparks. They love the contrast between an inky line drawing and a splash of neon." (-London Design Festival Guide)

The nice display of the brand's designs and the vivid atmosphere were accompanied by amazingly tasteful drinks, fingerfood and sweets. You could choose inbetween a hot sangria-kind of a drink or a sweetly chilled ice-cream and alcohol cocktail, both deeeelicious! From the extremely excuisite fingerfood I remember especially this perfect combination of different textures and flavours: beetroot crisp - goat cheese - mint snack, which I'll definitely try at home. This taste magic was brought to us by Fingers. And the jelly-treats were by the Bompass and Parr jelly-monsters.

Fingers

Bompass and Parr

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Black + White + Colour Pop Up Shop

The Shipping Containers, 

Emigre Studios

      274 Richmond Road, London E8 3QW

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London Design Festival: V&A museum, Le Comptoir Libanaise, The Roca gallery and Jaguar Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 13:15:00 +0000

Long day told short: V&A museum, Le Comptoir Libanaise, the FLOCK TALK at the London Roca Gallery, the Shoreditch Triangle and a glass of wine at the Jaguar Shoes to finish the day.

One thing that I would like to note: honestly talking my expectations for the projects at the V&A museum were much higher. The Light Tunnel was a bit boring because it was so short (picture above), the MIMICRY Chairs lacked a little of character and the Sound Drop project was nothing else than just a small aquarium with slightly unclear water and some coloured drops. But the Sackler centre was pretty good, that's where most of the talks and seminars are taking place so far.

The FLOCK TALK at the London Roca Gallery, on the other hand, was very interesting and inspiring. 4 different women designers from different backgrounds and professional path shared their projects and the development behind them.

After we head off to Shoreditch triangle which supposedly was going to be buzzing and over-crowded, with shops and galleries open till late.. But nothing was really going on.. Slightly disappointed!

London Design Festival: Monday all-day reportage

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 23:53:00 +0000

Perfection is an idealized conception and mostly unreachable for common mortals. Unfortunately I am one of them. Therefore I cannot promise you, my dear readers, extremely articulated and long blogsposts about London Design Festival DURING the London Design Festival. The days are long, too long, and the nights are getting shorter and shorter, my calendar is overbooked and agenda incomprehensible. And just to add a few more things - I haven't got a stable internet access and I'm also in the middle of moving. Did I miss anything? Oh yeah, something called "social life" if I remember correctly.. Never mind! Anyways.. Since the opening of the festival and after my intense attention (purely virtual) on the talks at the V&A museum I have now officially started volunteering. My job is to go to different galleries and do reportage. Check if everything is running smoothly, chat with the staff and organizators, ask a few questions, take photographs and later give feedback. Today I went to the following places:

FRITZ HANSEN

DWELL

HEAL's

NATUZZI

All of the four shops are located in the FRITZOVIA NOW Design District which will officially celebrate the LDF on Wednesday. Shops will be open till late and if you're lucky you might get a free drink or even attend a talk.

For more information check the FITROVIA NOW Design District webpage:

http://fitzrovianow.com/

Fritz Hansen was probably the most interesting out of all. The brand coordinator was extremely helpful and friendly and explained me exactly what was going on. Basically the brand decided to collaborate with Jamie Oliver in the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his BETTER FOOD foundation. 20 ANT chairs, an icon creation of the design house, were re-created by famous and known designers like Sarah Burton and Paul Smith. All of which will be auctioned by the Christie's Auction House.

After a brief lunch at the Soho Square I was already heading towards the Tottenham Court Road where three other shops anxiously awaited reportage. The trendy Dwell shop of contemporary home furniture was unfortunately too busy and short of staff so I'll be returning there some other day. I went to Heal's instead which was huge and where I almost got lost forever in the sea of sales (70% off on most designs for home!!!). When I finally managed to reach the Melin Tregwynt collection I found a kind expert to tell me all about it. Those truely British creations of very nostalgic atmosphere evoked in me some sort of an illusion of being somewhere else, in the middle of the mountains and woods.. It was odd how these designs of a traditional touch seemed so unreal after all those contemporary objects.

After this I went to Natuzzi, an Italian luxury furniture brand, more prezisely from Puglia, where I had a lovely chat with Nico who kindly showed me around the showroom. After I finished with photos I was invited to have an espresso at the bar. I couldn't believe my eyes - they had an actual italian bar! (Bar in Italy equals a cafe').

Tomorrow I will spend the day at the V&A and in the evening I will attend the FLOCK TALK at the London Roca Gallery, and if I'll manage, I will go to Shoreditch. Stay tooned!

Vivienne Westwood says: get a life and become a climate warrior!

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:56:00 +0000

On Saturday my friend Kate dragged me to a Conference held by the Friends of the Earth at the Imperial College. Besides Caroline Lucas, the MP for Brighton Pavilion and leader of the Green Party of England & Walesother, Lidy Nacpil, Regional Coordinator of Jubilee South Asia/Pacific Movement on Debt and Development (JS APMMD), also Vivienne Westwood was invited to give a speech. Although I have to admit I am not an "active green person" all speeches were extremely inspiring. I will definitely look forward on going more on these kind of events. Also, Caroline Lucas's talk was so strong andpositively convincing that if I ever were to be involved in politics I would definitely join the Green Party. One of the really good thoughts she pointed out was that it is all about the attitude and positive thinkig as it is only so that you can involve more people in your fight. Complaints and threats of the possible horrible future awaiting surely make us, not-so-green-people, feel guilty but also does not make us want to switch off the lights or recycle plastic bottles.

One of the best parts of the Conference was obviously Vivienne Westwood's speech. She was just amazingly funny and spontaneous. And it was so nice to see how passionate she was about the cause, as some point she even managed to drop the microphone because of her vivid way of talking! Watch the video to listen the story of her dress and the hidden message for the Paralympics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7-ABjZTTZA&feature=youtu.be

I think it is as clear as Vivienne stated:
there are only 2 types of people left in this world: climate warriors and idiots.
And I'm sure none of us wants to be part of the last ones!

Vivienne also keeps a blog about her doings and her project, she just writes the stories in her diary as she is unable to upload it herself, she has some of her colleaguse to help her out with it. The blog's called GET A LIFE:

http://www.activeresistance.co.uk/ar/

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 14:40:00 +0000

Madly happy over my T-shirt.

http://www.londondesignfestival.com/

London Design Festival 2012 is officially here!

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:11:00 +0000

Finally!! Everybody, attention please because London Design Festival has officially kicked off since today! And you all better be ready because this event is honestlly HUGE. Although my plan to study the programme accurately has hilariously failed as I was away in Estonia on a relatives versus friends visiting/marathon "vacation". No worries although as I've still managed to put together a post to explain how the festival will look like. During the next 10 days all London will be overtaken by hundreds of design events and happenings and you really do not want to miss what you're most interested in. And trust me, there is something for everyone! LDF programme can be broken into a following scheme, hopefully you will find this post helpful!

V&A, the Headquarter

Design Districts

Design Destinations

Landmark Projects

Design Districts
5 different areas of London will turn into vibrant design districts.

Brompton Design District
The biggest and the most important district is situated right on the doorsteps of to the festival’s headquarters in west.

http://www.bromptondesigndistrict.com/

Covent Garden and Fitzrovia Now

http://fitzrovianow.com/

Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell road has been for centuries the artisan district; so it’s fitting that today some of the world’s greatest furniture manufacturers have moved into the area’s showrooms and workshop spaces.

http://www.creativeclerkenwell.com/

Shoreditch Triangle
The East has always been where London has reinvented itself. It’s there that today you’ll find a lot of the original design shows.

http://www.facebook.com/ShoreditchDesignTriangle

East
For more alternative and less commercial design, this is where you can find the most intrigueing and avant-garde projects.

http://www.londondesignfestival.com/news/london-fields-design-district-debut-2012-london-design-festival

Design Destinations

Each destination could be a day out in itself. These destinations are key hubs for conducting business during the Festival, providing a focal point for international buyers, specifiers and the media. They are where new products are discovered, bespoke projects commissioned and face-to-face relationships formed and revived.

The Design Destinations don’t all share the same dates during the Festival, so check their individual websites when planning your visit. It is advised to register in advance to attend.

http://www.decorex.com/

http://www.exporeg.co.uk/visit/sites/media10/100design/12/vis/split.asp

http://thedesignjunction.co.uk/

http://www.superbrandslondon.co.uk/

http://www.tentlondon.co.uk/

Landmark Projects

taken from the LDF guide:

"we had to find ways of talking to the world about what London could do for design - to attract attention to the great events our Partners were putting on. In 2007 we introduced the first series of our Landmark Projects, matching leading architects and designers to iconic spaces in London, teaming them up with partners to create eye-popping interventions in London spaces. Landmark Projects are about showing the brilliance of design and architecture's greatest names."

http://www.londondesignfestival.com/content/london-design-festival-landmark-projects

Stay tooned for more!

Café Naïveté at the London Design Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 09:43:00 +0000

Dear readers, take out your agendas and make space for London Design Festival which will kick off in less than a month! The major design event, which will take place from the 14th of September until the 23rd, is celebrating its 10th birthday and there will be more than 300 events happening all around London. And I am happy to announce that you will have the chance to get a view on the event directly from CN as I will be doing reportage and documentation for LDF as a volunteer. There are too many things going on and it is almost impossible to go on all of them. But the programme is already out so we all can start doing some homework in advance. In the next couple of weeks there will be posts about things which I personally think should not be missed!! Stay tuned ;)

London Design Festival 2012 events programme:
http://www.londondesignfestival.com/content/browse-category

London Design Festival 2012 homepage:
http://www.londondesignfestival.com/

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 21:36:00 +0000

I just wanted to let you know about my happyness as the money raising programme for the Birthplace project was a success and now the launching process can run as smoothly as possible! The team's feeling now must be amazing as only a few days ago there was still missing a relevant part of the amount needed.

Congratulations!!!

"We did it! Birthplace has reached its fundraising goal! We couldn't have done it without all of you. Your messages, emails, comments, tweets and support have enabled us to make this film, and for that you have our sincerest gratitude, respect and admiration. The campaign is still live and any additional contributions will go towards submitting the film to more festivals when it's finished as well as other post production costs. Thanks again to all of you and we'll be following up with more updates shortly. Get ready--Birthplace is on the way…"

Support Birthplace on FACEBOOK

Follow Francesco Paciocco, the director, on TWITTER & on VIMEO

Add a support for the project on KICKSTARTER here

To kill the boredom while waiting for Birthplace, watch The Waiter (2011)

BIRTHPLACE

noreply@blogger.com (Café Naïveté) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:57:00 +0000

“The past builds the future. If our ancestors and their stories didn’t exist, we wouldn’t be here right now. The past history of things and people will build and give us our future.”

Do you remember the enchanting video clip of Milan which I posted here some time ago? The clip was so beautifully filmed that it left us all craving for some more and more from this young and very talented film-maker. So good news, because Francesco Paciocco, maestro behind that masterpiece, is about to come out with his new much promising project, called the Birthplace.

I wouldn't want to make it long as the video talks for itself, but I believe that now, more than ever in this globalized world of social networks and cultural hybridization we should take a moment to remember from where we originally come from. We should stop craving to imitate other societies in which the grass seems always greener and the sky more blue. And instead learn to appreciate the world from which we are from. To understand its flaws, values and the reasons behind them. It is only then that we can become truelly rich inside. I haven't always been of this idea, actually, as it is only thanks to the years spent away from my birth country (Estonia), that I came to realise the importance of my roots (read about How Italy woke in me sense of patriotism for Estonia here). But even in case we cannot continue living in our birthplace, we should walk around the streets and spread around the positive messages and particular characteristics of our roots. Otherwise what a boring place the world would be?! Therefore we should all make our part to ensure that this vision will not get lost within years and generations.

I was contacted by the Birthplace production team to help them support the project. To make this project succesfully happen they are raising money on a website called KICKSTARTER ("Every project creator sets their project's funding goal and deadline. If the project succeeds in reaching its funding goal all backers' credit cards are charged when time expires. If the project falls short no one is charged.").

Birthplace's goal is to make 12 000$. They are missing at the moment about 5000$. Nonotheless poor incomes I also made a small contribution and I invite you, my dear readers, to participate and support this project, which in my opinion, is a hell of an investment!! All donators will have different small rewards. For a small help you'll have your name in the contribution section so the whole world will know that YOU in particular helped to make it happen. For a slightly bigger amounts you will get a digital HD download of the movie, or your name in the screening Special Thanks To... part. And if you happen to have a spare 200 dollar note, laying there bored to hell on your desk, you can donate it and get in reward a one night stay in a hotel in that very same town where Birthplace was filmed. You can read better about it, all about the project and the people behind it on Birthplace's Kickstarter page.

Oh, and I forgot - only SIX DAYS TO GO! Please come and join me in helping this project by sharing and suggesting the page to your friends on different social networks. Wouldn't it feel satisfying to see a project coming to life also thanks to you?

Here is the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/birthplacefilm

And here you find Francesco Paciocco's personal website: http://francescopaciocco.com/