dreaming of summer and pool houses part 2

While Brooklyn is, yet again, covered in snow, I'm dreaming of owning this pool house. My long-standing affinity for swimming pools started early in life. I can only think of my aunt's kidney shaped pool with the cantilevered wrap-around veranda around it. I wanted to live there. I would do anything to escape the wintery weather right now...

Check out my previous pool house post too.

Photos and Winton Pool House Design by Hariri and Hariri on Flickr

inspired beats : quadron

My sister turned me on to this new Danish band called Quadron. I cannot get enough of their fresh and sexy new sound. They describe it as electronic soul. There's definitely an influence of jazz and electronica in there. It's somewhat in the same vein as bands like Little Dragon (also love them). However it's best described, I love it.

Here are three great tracks. Check them out on myspace.

how to find the new york panorama in queens

My first visit to the Queens Museum sometime last year. I was flipping through some (blurry) images I took of the New York Panorama Exhibit recently and decided to find better images of it to share. The Panorama of The City of New York was originally built for the 1964 World's Fair. I was pretty amazed at this massive architectural model of virtually every detail of the city. Additions have been added over the years (including a model of Citifield in 2009). It's an exhibit that's easily forgotten when living here in New York. But it really is a sight to se if you haven't already.

Photos from the Queens Museum website.

the secret of division street : bacaro

Last weekend a friend suggested dinner at Bacaro. It is tucked away on Division St. where the Lower East Side meets Chinatown. In a part of town you would never expect it to be. I became instantly in love with the decor – especially the chandelier. I loved the dark woods with marble table tops and old world charm. It felt as though everyone there was in on the big secret about this hidden gem. It's very intimate and very romantic. The downstairs was even more intriguing. Instead of a wide open space, it was a maze of smaller nooks, semi-private rooms, some with a different chandelier hanging in it surrounded by all brick walls. I managed to snoop around and snap these photos without being noticed.

We dined on small plates of very thoughtfully prepared Italian food. Everything was delicious. It was a lovely evening. I definitely want to go back.

fashion goes 3D : burberry prorsum womenswear live from london

I am very excited to be invited to the live 3D screening here in New York of Burberry Prorsum Womenswear show from London Fashion Week. It's happening today at 11am. I hear James Cameron is attending the actual London show. The show will also be streaming live online (in normal 2D, of course) if you'd like to watch. I can't wait! Here's a video of the Chief Creative Officer talking about the event.

**UPDATE**

I'm back from the show and it went off without a hitch. The screening took place at the Skylight SoHo which was spacious, everything was white except for the attractive staff working the event who were wearing all black. The packaged 3D glasses were handed out upon arrival along with mimosas and hors d'oeurves. Everything was very organized and in it's place. The screening started on schedule. The glasses took a few minutes to get used to and we found the 3D effect most apparent when looking at footage of the crowd before and after the runway show. It wasn't so apparent when looking at the models themselves.

The clothing was incredible. My jaws were on the floor. It was my ultimate color palettes: khakis, neutrals and blacks with splashes of jewel tones. The outerwear (which is available for pre-order already) was the best part. Gorgeous funnel neck shearlings with lots of beautiful leather detailing and buckles... all very classic aviator. The boots were either lined with shearling with buckles along the outside or sky high thigh highs. All very sexy and all very beautiful.

What a treat it was to see this show!

Bottom three images from Burberry.com

chinatown brasserie

The craving for good Chinese food started last week, the Lunar New Year. I had not been to Chinatown Brasserie in a little while and my cousin's birthday became another excellent excuse to go. Our lunch menu consisted of: Shanghai Soup Dumplings, Shrimp and Snow Pea Leaf Dumplings, Szechuan Chicken and Shrimp with Spicy Hoisin Sauce and half Peking Duck to top it all off. What a great meal. Even the chocolate fortune cookies were good. It was the best Peking Duck I believe I've ever had. Highly recommend it.

Then we walked down to Tai Pan Bakery for some Taro Milk Tea and cakes. Perfect ending.

The interiors of Chinatown Brasserie are also gorgeous. It's the other reason I dine there. It reminds me of one of my favourite films, In the Mood for Love. No surprises that their website uses it's famous soundtrack. Below is a little iPhone photo essay to give you a little taste of everything.

All photos taken by myturtleneck

inspired to spa : verana

This promotional video for the Verana Spa in Yelapa, Mexico speaks for itself. It reminds me SO much of the Philippines. It is so gorgeous on so many levels. My ideal living space — airy, tropical modern that is still earthy and rustic on a similar geographical location. If only...I wish I could get away this weekend. Watch the Day Spa video too.

the ever enduring shirt dress

I wake up each morning hoping for more spring-like weather. I couldn't help but prematurely look around for my spring staple, the enduring shirt dress. I've blogged about my love for the shirt dress before. For years it's been an integral part of my wardrobe – worn with flats or high-heeled sandals – depending on the occasion. They are very versatile and always looks put-together. Below are a few of my favourites. I cannot wait!

1) Alexander Wang Safari Double Breasted Dress with wrap belt – *TOP PICK*: LOVE the unique, flattering, modern cut! ( Shopbop or La Garconne

2) Day Birger Et Mikkelsen Sunshine shirt dress: it's all about the ruffles (Net-A-Porter)

3) Lucky Jeans Denim Shirt Dress: defines effortless. Love it. (Lucky Brand)

4) Vivienne Westwood Striped Shirt Dress: I love the collar on this sexy, uniform-like dress (Zappos Couture)

5) Boden Cotton Shirt Dress: Beautiful fabric and looks just so effortless. (Boden USA)

missing vancouver

Since the start of the Winter Olympics, Vancouver has been all over the media. It's actually made me miss it a lot. It's been nice being reminded, once again, of what a beautiful place it is. I lived there for 10 years prior to my (now) 11 years in New York. My family moved there from California before I went to college. It was a beautiful place to go to school. I'm far from being a snow sport type of person, but living in a city that was flanked by both the ocean and the mountains was pretty sweet. What the Winter Olympic opening ceremonies completely failed to highlight is the very rich Asian culture that exists in Vancouver. Virtually half of the population is Asian. Needless to say, the food in Vancouver is incredible. I've told people on many occasions that when I lived in Vancouver, I ate sushi two to three times a week (as did everyone else). It's amazing and could be considered a staple. I've been lucky to have lived in cities with such amazing food!

Oh, that's right, I am Canadian :)

Dubbed as the "City of Glass", Vancouver is a city with very modern architecture on very picturesque landscape. Not visible in the first photo (behind the clouds) are the mountains where most of the Olympic events are being held – just behind downtown.

I was in Vancouver in August of 2008 for a friend's wedding and wanted to share my own images of Vancouver with you. I wish I had taken more photos.

A partial view of downtown Vancouver and Granville Street Bridge from Granville Island and Burrard Inlet.

This is English Bay, the west side neighbourhood of downtown Vancouver (city beaches are nice!)

Stone art from the (12 mile) seawall walk around Stanley Park (located near downtown Vancouver)

More of English Bay

The Aqua Bus takes you from downtown Vancouver across the inlet to Granville Island.

My alma mater: Emily Carr University of Art & Design (located on Granville Island under the Granville Street Bridge – the Vancouver equivalent to New York's Dumbo neighbourhood)

The ECUAD design building – where I spent my college days

A view of the adorable house boats that line Granville Island

Interior of the ECUAD design building. That's me with my friend Kevin who I graduated with. He has lived in London for more than 12 years and we met on Granville Island one day to reminisce about our college days. I hadn't been in the building since I graduated!

A view of downtown buildings from a rooftop garden of The Fairmont Hotel.

The Olympic Pavilion (still under construction in 2008 when I took this photo)

Stanley Park cedar trees... so beautiful.

This driftwood looked like a fish to me (taken along the Stanley Park seawall walk)