Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, as well as the country’s commercial and cultural center.  It is certainly not surprising that this bustling metropolis of 9 million people, which dates back more than two hundred years, maintains the biggest food, produce and flower markets in the country.  One market in particular that simply couldn’t be missed was Pak Khlong Talat, the famous wholesale flower market. 

Pak Khlong Talat is one of THE places in the world to buy a wide range of colorful tropical and cold-weather flowers - exotic orchids in rich, saturated colors as well as lotus, amaranthus, heliconia and more.  Contrary to our custom, where flowers are generally purchased in the early morning hours, the best time to shop the Night Market is in the evening between 6:00pm and midnight when the flowers are delivered and are at their freshest.  The unbelievable fragrance hits you first, then the sheer overwhelming quantities of vibrant blooms takes your breath away!

Production Designer, Tim Capone, an avid world traveler, recently journeyed to the small island of Vieques, Puerto Rico.  The island provides serenity, privacy and some of the most beautiful and undiscovered beaches on the Caribbean.  Located about eight miles to the east of the Puerto Rican mainland, and a short flight from San Juan, much of the island remains off limits while the U.S. Navy continues to clean up areas used for military training.  The military vacated the island in 2003.   Today the former Navy land is a national wildlife refuge, with numerous beaches that still retain the names given by the Navy, including Red Beach, Blue Beach, Green Beach and others.  The beaches are commonly listed among the top beaches in the Caribbean for their azure-colored waters and white sands.  In fact, in 2008 Vieques was crowned the Best Island in the Caribbean by Travel & Leisure Magazine.

Vieques, like the rest of Puerto Rico, retains strong Spanish influences from 400 years of Spanish ownership.  You feel it in the architecture, cuisine and language.  On the Caribbean side of the island, near the charming village of Esperanza, is the stylish hilltop Casa de Crystal or, as the locals call it, the Glass House.   An unbelievable villa to share with friends on a Winter holiday.

From every angle, the house offers incredible ocean views, stunning modern design and a private spa-like environment.   

In addition to the private pool and viewing terraces, the Glass House has a full fitness gym (located beneath the pool deck) complete with an underwater viewing window.    

Vieques is a small island, and the developed portion is even smaller, so it’s fairly easy to get your bearings and not at all easy to get lost for too long.  But if you plan to be there for longer than two days, car rental is essential.  From the Glass House it’s a short ride in many directions to several beautiful beaches.  Sun Beach proved perfect for collecting beach glass, running off the tequila and long walks at the end of the day.  Media Luna provided calm and shallow waters for quiet, relaxing hours of doing absolutely nothing.  Navio Beach had ideal conditions for everything from body surfing, snorkeling to cave exploration.   A long horseback ride through the village of Esperanza, along the beach, and through hillside pastures overlooking the ocean made for an amazing adventure.

Speaking of horses, there are semi-free wild horses roaming freely all over the island.  They keep to themselves for the most part, but can make for some hazardous driving conditions if you’re not careful.  They also don’t hesitate to poke their noses into open windows!

But one of the most intriguing “must see” attractions on the island is the Bioluminescent Bay or Puerto Mosquito.  It’s thought to be the brightest in the world with over 750,000 tiny dinoflagellates per gallon of water that light up when touched!  Imagine swimming in a lake full of sparkling lights!   Truly a magical and indescribable experience.  Puerto Mosquito has been listed on the top 50 most romantic places in the world.

There aren’t any large grand hotel properties on the island as they continue to keep development very tightly regulated.  That said, Starwood Hotels is opening a W Retreat & Spa this month and it looks to be the first of many smaller resorts sure to bring more travelers.  http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3170

For more information on the island please go to www.viequestravelguide.com

A Winter vacation to escape the piles of snow can be just the cure for the February blues.  For those of us in the design world, it is practically mandatory and necessary to keep the creative juices flowing!  Costa Rica is a favorite winter [and summer] stop for Owner and Creative Director, Brian Kappra.  Here, the view from the small plane heading from the San Jose airport to Manuel Antonio and to the vacation house. 

The house is built onto the side of the hill and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. One day, a beautiful four-masted sailing ship appeared just after breakfast.  This is the view enjoyed from the private pool. 

The open-air dining table with incredible views provides a beautiful setting for dinner as the sun sets. 

The house is constantly filled with stunning tropical cut flower arrangements. The design in one bedroom, standing on the floor, reached a height of 9′ in it’s tall glass vase!   Inspirational and magnificent!

The infinity pool and cabana are tucked into the lush tropical foliage which is maintained on a daily basis by Julian.  Costa Rica is an amazing country with beautiful people, wonderful food and awe-inspiring natural beauty.  We can’t wait to go back…….perhaps April??

NOW, WHAT CAN WE DO FOR AUSTIN?  After talking to Austin it was clear that he wanted to share quality TIME with his family and friends over many days, not just for a few hours at a party.  Who would have thought he’d come up with a five day CRUISE the week before Christmas?   That Austin, he’s a clever one.   One of his favorite TV shows is “LOST” and he’s invited 100 of his friends and family to “Get Lost with Austin” for a week in the Western Caribbean.  The cruise ship, the Navigator of the Seas, is an unbelievable vessel that includes a  rock-climbing wall, a basketball court, an ice-skating rink and an in-line skating track. Dare we say there’s more? What about a five-story theatre, a casino, a miniature golf course and a spectacular three-story dining room?  The 138,000-ton nautical wonder has it all and will sail to Jamaica, Haiti and Miami.  Austin’s guests will enjoy family-style dinners, private cocktail parties, basketball tournaments, a private disco club as well sandy beaches, rain forests, waterfalls and fun-filled days in the surf.  Bring on the SUNSCREEN!

Take a look at the fantastic Save the Date below that includes a wooden box burned with his custom logo, a message-in-a-bottle containing a detailed map of the cruise and a “passport” containing all the relevant travel information.

There are countless surprises, favors and thematic “Get Lost” mysteries planned for the trip!  Shhhhhhh.  When we get back, we’ll make sure to share more info and photos on the celebration!

A wonderously cool place to escape to in the steamy summer months, London is perfect for long walks through charming historic streets, reflective interludes in hidden gardens and interesting shared meals in modern restaurants.

With each visit to London, Event Planner, Melissa Paul looks for new, exciting sections of the city to spend time in; if only to better explore the realities of everyday London life away from the touristy areas.  This time, she chose to stay in the trendy and hip (without being embarassingly so) neighborhood of Clerkenwell [pronounced "Clark-uhn-well"].  Long a non-conformist’s haven, the Village dates back to the Middle Ages.  This is where Lenin printed his paper; where Blake, Defoe and Wesley are buried; and where Oliver Twist learned to pick pockets. Today it’s an eclectic mix of architectural firms, graphic designers, publishers and other media types.  As with all of Central London, there is a diverse mix of landmarks you might recognize such as St. Bartholomew, seen in films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Shakespeare in Love, The Other Boleyn Girl, and many others; the famous Smithfield Meat Market, where one can observe chefs from all over the city checking out whole pigs and choice cuts; the Marx Memorial Library on Clerkenwell Green; and London’s first gastropub, The Eagle, which opened in 1991.  In addition, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tate Modern, and the Millenium Bridge are just a few streets away, and on the MUST-NOT-MISS list of favorite stops.

What intrigued Melissa about Clerkenwell is its reputation for harboring some of the best restaurants in London.  Without exception, no matter where she went, the eateries were PACKED and nigh impossible to grab a table in without serious bribery.  Located on rather quiet St. John’s Place, The Larder blew her away with its elegant, understated interiors, friendly staff and sophisticated menu.  Going back for a second visit was a must if only to enjoy an evening snack of fabulous homemade breads, excellent English cheeses and a tasting of wines from all over the world.

Hix Oyster and Chop House offered an interactive and energetic experience with its big tables full of boisterous guests enjoying “feasts” of fresh oysters, crayfish, roast chicken, minted peas and mash. Clearly, people trek from all over London to eat at Hix.  Of course, it helps to have a celebrity chef (Mark Hix) behind the stove and thoroughly hilarious waiters to entertain.  They consumed our own mini-feast of crayfish, anchovies, and porterhouse for two.

The Zetter (see photo below) is yet another example of stylish happy decor, charming staff and amazing food.  Melissa can still taste the watermelon, beetroot, feta cheese and toasted pumpkin seed salad.  De-lish!   Followed by grilled red mullet and lemon sole.

Sunday brunch, sitting at the community table of The Modern Pantry, convinced them that they could easily live on St. John’s Square, making the contemporary all-white minimalist-style bistro a part of our usual weekend routine.

One of the most memorable dining experiences enjoyed was at St. JOHN, a traditional English restaurant known for its use of everything from nose to tail – NO KIDDING .  Who knew you had to reserve a table AND a portion of the roast bone marrow and parsley at least a month out?   (photos below)

Then there was Moro, a to-die-for family-owned Spanish restaurant with the most sensational tapas menu they had ever seen. The grilled squid was unlike anything they have ever had. You know it’s good when the ingredients are few, but fresh and purposeful.

Seriously, if you ever feel like walking the non-touristy parts of London in search of fantastically good food, take a look at Clerkenwell, Central London.