The Vice Guide To Travel

When VICE decided to produce a travel guide, you had to have a slight hunch it wasn’t going to have the same content you’d expect in your typical Fodor’s or Lonely Planet. Known for its controversial content, VICE often provides an ironic pose on today’s world and society. So instead of visiting Disneyland or Rome, VICE decided to visit the most fucked up locations on this planet. Places you don’t hear about. The idea turned into The VICE Guide To Travel, which features 7 short documentaries of the best places NOT to visit.

Kiyoshi Kuroda – DISCOLOR Exhibition

PingMag has a new piece on the DISCOLOR exhibition held by Kiyoshi Kuroda who is known for the use of combining analogue and digital techniques in his works. His exhibition will be held from December 2nd to the 29th at Nanzuka Underground in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Shanghai Creative Bazaar

Zendai MOMA will launch a new bi-monthly ‘Creative Bazaar’ in Shanghai starting on November 18th, 2006. Their mission looks to support creative people living and working in Shanghai with a program that provides an organic platform for expression and small-scale commerce with both a local and international flair. Creative individuals ranging from artists, designers, craftspeople and innovators will be present. Check it out if you happen to be in Shanghai. Directions and info on the event at SmartShanghai.

-phil

Puma’s 96 Hours

96 Hours is the end result of the collaboration from German sportwear company Puma and designer Neil Barrett. The collection is urban, smart and targeted towards the style conscious on-the-go traveler. In my opinion, the philosophy behind the brand strikes a strong similarity to Puma’s native rival Adidas and their collaboration project with Yohji Yamamoto, Y-3. 

Although it seems Adidas has already reached this particular market, it’s nice to Puma stepping out of their element and trying to branch out to other elements such as higher end street fashion. The collection to me seems very casual and minimal, which ranges from zip jackets and hoodies to footwear and travel accessories that include a line of luggage and messenger bags.

96 Hours men’s and women’s collections are available now in selected cities. However, if you happen to live in a largely populated city or a big commercial market, you probably won’t have trouble finding for it. (It’s a shame it’s not available for us, Canadians) For the list of retail shops carrying Puma’s 96 Hours brand or a view of the current collection, go and head on to 96 Hours.

– Jon

New Gucci Store – Ginza, Tokyo

This fall, Gucci opens their new flagship store in Ginza, Tokyo. What’s special about this new location is that it is the first ever Gucci flagship to be housed in its own building. The 8 story tower is constructed with two layers of hanging glass panels that are clear and bronze. The result is an illuminated glow effect that radiates with a light installation in the nighttime.

Inside the first three stories of the shop, you will see men’s and women’s collections of handbags, luggage, accessories, and other staple Gucci goods. As well, the Gucci Cafe, located on the 4th floor, will allow shoppers can take a break from shopping and enjoy a view of the Ginza cityscape. The 6th floor is reserved for future gallery space. If that’s not enough, Gucci is introducing their “Made to Order” program where special custom orders will be taken for handbags to be handmade at Gucci’s Italian Workshop, while you are allowed to choose the most precious materials Gucci has to offer. This perk will be exclusive at the Ginza store. See more at the Gucci site.

-phil

Berlin’s Propeller Island City Lodge

Here’s a crazy/fun hotel to visit and perhaps stay in if you are ever in Berlin. The Properller Island City Lodge is a 30+room hotel but resembles a carnival funhouse more. The hotel has eccentric theme rooms such as a ‘mirror room’, where as the name hints, a room made up of many mirrors. Another room houses a circular bed which can be set in motion by a pedal. Pretty crazy if you ask me, but definately a place I’d stay a couple of nights if I had the chance. Check out more photots of their rooms at their site.

-phil

Tashen Architecture Series

Taschen brings a unique perspective to world architecture, displaying architectural trends by nation. Each book offers 15 to 20 architects with the focus on how they contributed to recent buildings in their nation. Entries include short biographies as well as terrific photography of the architects’ most significant recent projects. The France, United States and Japan editions are available this month while previous editions for the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Switzerland are available now. At $25 USD, you can’t really have an excuse not to own any of these essential reads.

– Jon

Philippe Starck and MC Yan to design Volar Shanghai

Just came across this on Urbanlook.com via Hypebeast. French design guru Philippe Starck and Hong Kong graffiti artist/designer/rapper MC Yan will work together to design the new Volar Club opening in Shanghai. I believe that it will be located Fuxing Park, in the same vicinity as Park 97 and Guandi. Like the Volar of Hong Kong, the club will attract Shanghai’s most prominent clientele as it will require membership.

-phil

Elite Bar – Shanghai

While in Shanghai over the summer, I came across a new bar that was to open in the New Factories area called Elite Bar. The New Factories district is a new and upcoming development where trendy bars and restaurants will be built. The establishment of Elite Bar has been commissioned by none other than the renouned Elite Model Management, which has helped build the names of icons such as Cindy Crawford, Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks.

Panoramicity

Incredible panoramic photos (not panoramas) from Michele Lugaresi. A portfolio of several cities such as Tokyo, Paris and Barcelona.

[Panoramicity]

agnés b – le pain grillé

This was still under construction while I was in Hong Kong so I never got a chance to try it, but the agnés b French cuisine restaurant, le pain grillé, recently opened on October 1^st.

Circa Nightclub – One of a Kind…

Aug -11 2007 : New Updated Information on CiRCA. (CLICK HERE)
Here’s a sneak peek of the much anticipated CiRCA. Check out the updated pictures and video of the inside.

The hype over this venue has been ridculious and there is a certain amount of buzz over a new nightclub that hasn’t existed in the city of Toronto. The nightclubs located around “Richmond (St.)”, or otherwise known as “clubland”, have been very generic and boring. The spoiled suburban kids who exile to this clubbing district every weekend don’t seem to mind. But nightclub pioneer Peter Gatien (who owned several hip nightclubs in New York City such as Tunnel, The Limelight and the Palladium, only to be deported back to his native land due to a tax felony) looks to change the face of Toronto clubbing by opening a very unique venue called Circa. Gatien is planing to convert a 53,000- square-foot, four-floor mega-complex in the heart of Toronto’s Entertainment District which was once Lucid nightclub which had little success after taking the space from Playdium, an interactive arcade.

What is so unique about Circa is the fact that Gatien has been working with several artists, designers and architects to make sure Circa does not fail at any account and become the talk of the town.

Here’s a summary of what you can expect from Circa: