Full speed ahead [Photo: Wikipedia/Khalidshou]
July 1st is a big day in China. Not only does it mark the 90th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party, but also the first full day of service of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail. What a wild party them comrades will be having. And you should be excited too. Air travel between those two cities (or anywhere from China, for that matter) can be excruciatingly tedious, as anyone who’s sat on the tarmac for hours at any number of China’s airports can attest. But with the new high-speed train, the Middle Kingdom shows off its world domination plans and civil engineering prowess both by breaking records with the CRH380A train (exceeding 480/kmh during test runs!), and launching the service early as well. Toot, toot!
Dear hearts, no doubt you’ve heard about our fabulous new guides to Stockholm and Amsterdam. Well, so have our lovely friends at Condé Nast Traveller, who’ve asked our Publishing Editor Grant Thatcher to share a few insider tips about Stockholm. And after having flown in, researched and written the Stockholm guide, he sure has a few – from the place to stay to where to find single cow cheese, it’s all here.
For more in-the-know places to stay, shop and eat in Stockholm, check out our LUXE Stockholm guide and juicy Stockholm posts here on LUXEtasy.
Farm chic
Thanks to the Venice Biennale, from now until November, La Serenissima is crammed with even more crowds, as cool creative types jostle with the usual coachload legions. It seems everyone, from the beautiful to the less so, are scrambling for a taste of Mara’s seafood at 1-Michelin-starred Da Fiore, and the VVIPs can’t get enough of the special white-gloved service they receive at Harry’s Bar, while you get ignored. It doesn’t have to be that way however, as those in-the-know slip away by boat to nearby foodie getaways like Venissa and Locanda Cipriani, for sumptuous meals, wine and idyllic lagoon living.
Hello poppets, ever wondered how Mr. Grant Thatcher, founder and Publishing Editor of LUXE City Guides, came up with the brilliant idea of bringing fun and fabulosity back into travel, and stripping it down to its stylish core? Well, you’re in luck. This week in Reuters’ Business Traveller section, Grant talks about his “lightbulb moment”, and how a “piece of folded card” came to rock the steady boat of travel publishing.
Hello, Gorgeous: Interview – LUXE Amsterdam’s Resident Editor, Valerie van der Meer
BY The LUXE EditorsLUXElife Q&A
Valerie, your guide to all things fab in Amsterdam
Last week, we lifted the veil on LUXE Stockholm’s resident editor, now meet Valerie van der Meer, LUXE Amsterdam’s resident editor and the go-to gal for all things fabulous in the city. A former advertising and TV production creative, Valerie made the switch to freelancing 3 years ago and hasn’t looked back since, keeping busy with copywriting, interior styling, photo shoots and graphic design as well as being a super mum to 2 little boys, phew! She’s also recently co-launched 9straatjesonline.com, putting the stylish Nine Streets retail nirvana online so stylistas across the world can shop for independent Dutch brands, jewellery, lifestyle and more, 24/7, come rain or shine. Ace! With her finger on the pulse of what’s hot, Valerie floats from shop to restaurant to bar to party, so you know that she’s in the know. In this interview, Valerie shares her personal picks for Amsterdam, her essential addresses, and her opinions on what the city’s most famous for…
On the cusp of 9 sweet streets
We’re going to let you in on a secret – Amsterdam is simply fabulous for shopping! Unlike so many other cities in the grip of chain store-itis, Amsterdam is full of wonderful independent boutiques and what’s more, because the stores are concentrated and the city is so flat, compact and easy to get around on foot, you can spend less time commuting, and more time on the most important thing in life – retail. Bring your spare suitcase.
People in glass houses eat very well indeed
Have you heard the joke about Dutch cuisine? Unfortunately, there are too many, but things are a-changing. Once upon a time, a farmer didn’t eat what he didn’t know, but the days of ‘Wat de boer niet kent, vreet hij niet’ are fast disappearing and the city’s savvy denizens embrace Amsterdam’s fab multicultural melting pot of flavours. French, Euro and ethnic cuisines rule, especially Turskish and Senegalese, and if you know where to look, there’s plenty of toothsome dining to be had. If you want delicious Dutch food however (no, it’s not an oxymoron), no need to befriend a farmer, simply take yourself off to…
On yer bike - pretty Keizersgracht canal
Alrighty, sweet peas, in case you missed it in The Independent, the brand spanking new LUXE Amsterdam guide is out, hurrah! As you’ve come to know and expect, the guide is packed with the best places to sleep, dine, drink, spa, visit, shop and shop some more. And because we love to share with our dear readers, this week we’ll be giving you a sneak peek at our picks of the city’s top hotels, restaurants, bars and, of course, shops! OK, pluk de dag.
The LUXElife Q&A
LUXE Stockholm's Leggy Lovely in Chief
You know how essential LUXE’s hyper-opinionated resident editors are in putting together our city guides, but who are they, and what does it take to be one? Well, dear hearts, to celebrate the launch of our new LUXE Stockholm guide, we’re finally shining the spotlight on them. First up, meet Celia Ingesson, the driving authority on where to sleep, eat and shop and what to do in Stockholm. After 16 years as buyer and designer for mega retailer H&M, this Leggy Lovely now writes about fashion and trends, as well as running Scandinavian Press Room, an independent PR agency repping hot brands like Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, Vanessa Bruno, and a host of homegrown Swedish names. Ever the jetsetter, Celia’s work frequently takes her to major fashion cities like Paris, London and NYC, so you know you can trust her opinion on what smart travellers like yourselves look for. In this interview, Celia shares her own personal picks for Stockholm, her essential addresses, and some surprising discoveries while researching for the guide.
Moddy good looks
Well, if your bag is Scandi design, you of course just hit the jackpot. The town is stacked with cutting edge furny and interior shops that’ll have your nest glittering with signature and iconic pieces from Jacksons to Modernity, and from Asplund to granddaddy Svenskt Tenn. In fact there’s so much we devoted a whole page in LUXE Stockholm to Standout Design alone. Oh yes, we did.
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