Katie Kime’s Grand Tour of the Coolest Spots in Austin
The North Carolina native takes over the Live Music Capital of the World. That is, Austin, Texas.
The sweet-as-pie furniture and accessories designer Katie Kime lists “doing Austin” as one of her main interests. Here she gives us a run-down of the city’s six best spots. —olivia seely
“The Austin City Limits music festival has always done tapings of artists and bands in Austin at a place called ACL Live. Recently, when the W Hotel was built in downtown Austin, they built an extension, which is the ACL Live Moody Theater. So literally, where I’m sitting in this photo next to the Willie Nelson statue is where they hold unbelievable tapings and performances.”
“Clark’s is an oyster bar. Down to the smallest details, they’ve done the most amazing job of giving it this Southern, prepster flair. Everything from the busboys in rugby shirts to the waiters in boat shoes with handkerchiefs coming out of their back pockets is an ode to where I grew up in North Carolina.”
“Hijo is there newest venture from the people behind a really cool store in Austin is called JM Dry Goods. It’s built in a greenhouse, and the owners are a married couple with amazing taste. The guy makes hand-made leather bags stamped with anchors—an icon I love so much I have one tattooed on my wrist—that are to die for. They curate amazing collections, and I’m always inspired in any of their spaces.”
“So basically every cool thing in Austin has hotelier Liz Lambert’s signature on it. Jo’s is where I go to do work about three days a week just to get out of my office.”
“Hotel San Jose is my go-to place for drinks and my first recommendation for where to stay if you’re an out-of-towner. This is also one of Liz Lambert’s many gifts to Austin. There’s nothing she does that I’m not crazy about. She’s a bit of a legend in my mind, and I have more than a bit of a crush on her.”
“I love Moscow Mules, and the best one in Austin is at Contigo. It’s also the best outdoor-eating space you can find!”
Photographs by Kelsey Shaw.
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Weather Vain: Detroit, Michigan - 72 and Partly Cloudy
There’s some coolness happening in Detroit right now, and a downright lovely day like this one is the perfect time to explore it. Here’s what to wear to get down with The D. —erica
Clockwise from top left:
+ An M.Patmos silk tee cool enough for Corktown.
+ A warm-hued Annie Costello Brown cuff that will look appropriate next to a scotch Crimson Dynamo cocktail at Sugar House.
+ The sort of jumbo Steven Alan tote ready for a camera and some time at the Motown Museum.
+ Elizabeth and James flats—kick ‘em off and tuck into bed at the way-cool inn Honor & Folly.
+ Tiny studded Tom Binns hoops that feel very Rock City.
+ A Haute Hippie blazer that dresses things right up for dinner at John D.
+ White MiH jeans—because the weather’s totally asking for ‘em.
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Hortense Bonneau’s All-Time Fave Spots in Paris
Where to get a good éclair…and some really spectacular baby clothes.
Although Hortense Bonneau of Hortense Jewelry is a seasoned West Coaster—she hopscotched from San Fran to Santa Monica before finally settling in L.A.—she spent the first three decades of her life in the City of Light. Here, take a tour of the Parisian places Hortense makes a point to visit when she goes back home. —alisha prakash
Dalloyau
“The first thing I have to eat when I go back is a good éclair au café and a religieuse au café—both with coffee inside, not chocolate. I like to buy them at Dalloyau founded in 1682 near the garden Le Luxembourg. I buy my favorite pastries and go to the garden. French pastries are just a dream.”
(2 Place Edmond Rostand)
Bonton
“Bonton is a gorgeous store for kids. It’s quite expensive, but the clothes and toys are so amazing that, just for the inspiration, it feels good to visit.”
(Multiple locations)
Mariage Frères
“Here, you can find wonderful teas. The place is so old and magical. There’s a store downstairs where I buy my teas, and upstairs, there’s a Salon de Thé, where you can sit and enjoy tea with the most amazing pastries.”
(30 Rue du Bourg Tibourg)
K. Jacques
“They have amazing sandals in the Marais area. You can often find a mini selection of K. Jacques sandals in L.A.—but only the flat ones, and K. Jacques offers heels as well!”
(16 Rue Pavée)
Le Bon Marché
“I like to go to Le Bon Marché because you can find a lot of the famous brands in one store. It’s like the equivalent of Barneys.”
(24 Rue de Sèvres)
Diptyque
“I also love going to the candle store Diptyque. The one in Paris is the oldest one—I think it’s the first one that opened. The store is so authentic and beautiful.”
(34 Boulevard Saint Germain)
Le Café de Flore
“Summer in Paris is just the best, especially in August when everybody is gone for vacation. I like to sit outside and have a drink around 7 p.m. I like all the cafes in Le Marais or Saint Germain, like Le Café de Flore. It’s kind of cliché, but it’s an old café where all the writers and singers in Paris used to—and still—go.”
(172 Boulevard Saint-Germain)
Le Petit Cambodge
“The Asian restaurant Le Petit Cambodge—my husband and I used to live right next to it, so we were there all the time. On weekends, they have a line on the street that’s crazy.”
(20 Rue Alibert)
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The 3 Very (Very!) Best Places in Portland, According to Caesy Oney
Try not to be jelly that they’re all crazy-convenient for the Draught Dry Goods designer.
If you happen to be skulking around Northeast Portland, you just might catch a glimpse of the Draught Dry Goods main man, Caesy Oney. All his favorite haunts happen to be within walking distance of both his studio and his apartment—but they’re all worth a trip if you aren’t quite as lucky. —jackie varriano
Nong’s Khao Man Gai
“This is hands-down my favorite lunch in Portland. There’s a food cart downtown proper, but I generally visit the spot in lower SE, as I can walk there from the workshop. Their Khao Man Gai, commonly known as ‘paper chicken,’ is a really simple dish of broiled chicken and rice, and their house-made sauce is a garlic-ginger-chili combo that is mind-blowing.”
(609 SE Ankeny St., Suite B, khaomangai.com)
Club 21
“This is my neighborhood dive—standard bar fare and stiff drinks. Lots of shit on the walls. Great neon sign out back that is from a long-forgotten steak house.”
(2035 NE Glisan St.)
See See Motor Coffee Co.
“This is the coffee-slash-motorcycle shop that is run by my friends. It has delicious coffee and snacks—and of course tons of motorcycles and motorcycle things. They are also really active in the community and have events and parties often. A true Portland treasure.”
(1642 NE Sandy Blvd.; seeseemotorcycles.com)
Caesy’s made-in-OR edition is here! You don’t want to miss his made-by-hand iPhone wallet.
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Weather Vain: Barcelona, Spain - 63 With a Chance of Rain
Right about now, NYC weather is making us wish for more temperate climes…and, ok, papas bravas. Here’s what we’d love to be rockin’ in Barcelona today. —erica
Clockwise from top left:
+ An easy, no-nonsense M. Patmos dress that can handle too many tapas at Quimet y Quimet.
+ The sort of Jérôme Dreyfuss bag that Gaudí would be allll about.
+ An Iro jacket fancy enough for some shopping in Eixample.
+ The sort of Acne boots that would fit right in at the bar Hook—as in, the movie (and, ok, lots of other places, too).
+ Fortune Favors the Brave studs—the sort of easy-to-pack jewelry that you can wear every damn day.
+ A Nettie Kent necklace that feels as polished-but-quirky as the city itself.
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Monica Ruzansky’s Rockin’ Guide to Mexico City
A half dozen places you just gotta hit.
For the jewelry designer Monica Ruzansky, there’s no place like home. And though she finds New York plenty appealing, the exuberance of her native Mexico City has no rival. “The energy, the food, the nightlife—it’s addictive,” explains the mastermind behind AILI’s pared-down gems. So book a trip, visit six of Monica’s fave spots, and don’t be surprised if you never want to leave. —mattie kahn
Contramar
“This delicious place is on the fancy side but still casual. Every time I go back to Mexico, I have to visit it. Make sure to get the soft-shell crab taquitos, tuna sashimi, and the zihuatanejo tiritas—fish cured in lime. They also make their own fluffy and tasty tortillas. And all of this is best when you accompany it with a clamato-michelada.” (Durango 200, Roma, Cuauhtémoc)
La Ostra
“This is a more casual restaurant. I love this place for the aguachile de camarón, which is raw shrimp cured in lime and chili powder. I could easily eat an order for myself and not share.” (Nuvo Leon 109, Cuauhtémoc)
La Lagunilla Market
“La Lagunilla is a really great flea market, where you’ll find all kinds of Mexican vintage objects, old movie props, furniture, toys, clothing… I also go there to visit one of the regulars who sells stones and has an amazing selection of minerals.” (Rayón and Allende)
Mercado de Sonora
“This market is fascinating! It’s divided into different sections. On one side, there are traditional Mexican toys and piñatas. And on the other, there are all sorts things for white and black magic. You can find anything from soaps to attract love, amulets or herbs for any kind of medical condition…I highly recommend it.” (Fray Servando Teresa de Mier 419, Merced Balbuena)
Parque de Chapultepec
“The one place not to be missed is the Parque de Chapultepec. It is the biggest national park in Mexico. Have some flour chicharrones with valentine—a spicy sauce—as a snack while you go for a stroll around the lake, and then go up the hill to the castle for a magnificent view of the city. The castle is now a museum that was once the home of Maximiliano, the ill-fated emperor of Mexico.” (Periodista, Miguel Hidalgo)
Covadonga
“One place where I like to hang out with my friends is an old Spanish restaurant and cantina called Covadonga. You can still find men playing dominos. It is a simple but authentic bar—there is no music, but between the conversations of the crowd, you can hear the domino pieces falling, like a soundtrack to the night.” (Puebla 115, Roma Norte, Cuauhtémoc)
Monica’s edition travels well. Get her ruby triangle necklace while you can.
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Hare+Hart Knows Buenos Aires
And now you do, too.
As we imagine it, Jennie Engelhardt and Emily Harrison of Hare+Hart spend all of their time eating medium-rare steaks, cracking open bottles of Argentine red, and tangoing until sunrise. But when the design duo is in Buenos Aires—they both also do time in NYC—they have to get work done, too, as they produce all of their line’s elegantly simple leather goods just outside the capital city. Here, the nine places you’ll find them when they’re not hanging out at factories. —lydia woolever
The bar at Milion.
Milion
Emily: “It’s a bar in a huge, old, three-story mansion in this chichi neighborhood—like the Upper East Side—called Recoleta. Argentines aren’t huge drinkers—so it’s not like the New York cocktail scene—but they make these amazing basil cocktails here. And there’s this beer called Quilmes, which is definitely cheaper to drink than water.” (Paraná 1048)
La Cabrera
Jennie: “This is a special-occasion parrilla, or grill. Emily gets their bife de lomo (tenderloin), and I like their ojo de bife (rib eye). We usually share an order of mollejas (sweetbreads) and provoleta (grilled provolone). We’re definitely not vegetarians.” (José Antonio Cabrera 5099)
Domani
Jennie: “Medialunas, or ‘half-moons,’ are the Argentine version of a croissant. They’re smaller and sweet—they have a little bit of honey on top. They’re everywhere, but the best are at Domani. It’s a block from Emily’s apartment, so we go there and do work a lot. It’s like a weird sort of IHOP or American diner.” (Salguero 3006)
Bosques de Palermo
Emily: “Bosques de Palermo is this big park with grassy areas and paths and lakes not far from my apartment. Jennie goes running there; I walk my dog.”
Jennie: “People are always having maté with each other in the park. It’s like tea-slash-marijuana. You drink out of the same straw and pass it around like you pass a joint. If people invite you to share maté, it means they like you. It has more significance than just sharing a drink.”
Kansas
Jennie: “This place is hilarious. It’s trying to be really fancy, but it’s also trying to be very American. It’s like a nicer Chili’s. They have nachos and french fries, but my personal favorite is the fingers de pollo—the chicken fingers. We go for happy hour a lot. The Argentines love it so much—from fancy, older people to these trendy, mulleted hipster kids, all hanging out at this suburban American chain restaurant in Argentina.” (Del Libertador, Av. 4625)
Palermo Soho
Emily: “We both just love shoes. Palermo Soho is a neighborhood near my place that has great boutiques Jennie’s been in Buenos Aires less than 24 hours, and she’s already been to Mishka, our favorite spot.”
Campo del Fiori
Emily: “After steak, Argentina’s big food is fresh, homemade pasta. It’s a staple. We go to Campo del Fiori for this amazing pre-fixe lunch. You get a drink, appetizer, fresh pasta, and then a dessert, all for like 12 bucks.” (Venezuela 1401)
San Telmo Antique Market
Jennie: “Every Sunday in San Telmo, this neighborhood downtown, there’s a huge fair with all these arts and crafts and antique vendors—jewelry, furniture, clothing, trinkets, these amazing lights and chandeliers from all centuries. I got some really cool old glass apothecary bottles there. It’s hard to transport stuff back to the U.S., but it’s a great place to just walk through and look around.”
Shampoo
Emily: “This is a silly, fun club where we go dancing. Argentines aren’t big drinkers, but they’re big partiers. They’re really into techno. You don’t go out until 2 A.M., and everything’s open ‘til sunrise.”
Don’t miss out on Jennie and Emily’s made-in-B.A. edition: This black leather bucket bag is rockin’.
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Six Places on Lizz Wasserman’s Prague Hit List
These are the spots the Popomomo designer says you’ve got to Czech out.
Lizz and her husband Isaac on a visit to Prague in 2007.
It goes without saying that Prague is on most everyone’s bucket list. But for Lizz Wasserman, it’s also the very place where she met her husband and realized she was destined to be a designer. “It had a huge effect on me, knowing that I could take risks and chances and didn’t have to follow a prescribed set of steps to live my life. Which, in turn, allowed me to realize my dream was to be a fashion designer… that I could do it,” says the woman who now heads up the line Popomomo. Suffice to say, she has warm-fuzzy feelings for the place—and some of these off-the-beaten-path finds.
Get your travel-ready Popomomo tank now! It can handle the hottest days on the Charles Bridge.
Dům U Zlatého prstenu (House of the Golden Ring): “This small museum is right in the middle of the crazy tourist land that is Stare Mesto. It has a great collection of Czech 20th-century art. In the basement, there’s also a tight showing of Czech contemporary artists. The cafe is a good escape from that neighborhood, too.” (Týnská 630/6)
Bata: “Bata is an important company to Czech history, but instead of browsing the shoes, check out the building. It’s a great example of Functionalist/International architecture by Czech’s favorite modern architect, Jan Kotera. You can’t miss it on Václavské náměstí/Wenceslas Square.” (Václavské náměstí 774/6)
Parukarka: “Prague is all about the beer gardens—almost every park has one. This one is a well-kept secret and the least formal of all of them. You pay a small deposit and walk around a giant park, and there are kegs everywhere!” (tram to Olšanské náměstí)
TK
Traditionals: “Traditionals kicked off my own personal collection of wood textile-printing blocks—they have pieces from a textile factory from the end of the 19th century. They also have great modrotisk, which is beautiful blueprint fabric. (Haštalská 7)
Cajovna ve vezi: “The name of this place literally means Tea in a Tower. It’s a Buddhist tea house in a tower near Letenské náměstí, where I used to live. Take the steps—for what feels like forever—and enjoy tea and little sandwiches with an amazing view.” (Na výšinách 1)
Fraktal: “Near Tea in a Tower is Bar Fraktal. Isaac and I had our goodbye party here when we moved back to the U.S. in 2001, and we went back in 2008. The same cute couple still owns it, and now you can get salads and sandwiches and beer inside or on their sidewalk deck.” (Šmeralova 178/1)
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Kaelen’s Plugged-In Guide to Halifax
Just because she’s an NYC girl now doesn’t mean she’s forgotten her Canadian roots.
Kaelen Haworth is no one-town gal. Before attending Parsons and launching her appealingly challenging apparel line in NYC, Kaelen earned a degree in English lit from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia’s coastal capital. And while she has no intention of leaving her adopted hometown, there are a few spots she can’t help but miss. Here’s how to have a top-notch Halifax weekend with Kaelen as your tour guide. —jackie varriano
“The Press Gang was always my parent restaurant because it’s a classy joint. It’s got a really cozy, beautiful ambiance with millions of candles—which is nice if it’s the dead of winter in Halifax—and the best seafood. We always had oysters and whatever fish was the special that day. If you want to impress or be impressed, this is a gem.” (thepressgang.net)
“The Palace is the only ‘club’ open until 4 A.M. in Halifax. It doesn’t matter if you got split up from people earlier—you know if you want to find them at 3 A.M.: on the sweaty, drunken mess of a dance floor. Ahhh, youth.” (thenewpalace.com)
“Foreign Affair was my go-to store in the downtown area. They have Current/Elliott, Dannijo, Helmut Lang, Derek Lam—the list goes on. It was my happy place I went to when I was supposed to be studying. Given where I am now, I think it did further my education!” (foreignaffair.ca)
“The Lower Deck on the waterfront is a great place to get a beer (or 12) and listen to some good local music. It gets packed and pretty rowdy, but hey, it’s Halifax. Loosen up!” (thelowerdeck.ca)
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A Ten-Stop Savannah Tour with Elizabeth Knight
The designer did time in the city and knows the most remarkable spots.
Elizabeth taking Savannah by bike.
Though Elizabeth Thompson is a relatively new designer, she has an enthusiasm for all that’s old. That passion came in awfully handy when she lived in the historic, mysterious, Southern town of Savannah, Georgia, where she spent her early twenties studying jewelry design at SCAD—and where, she says, “time really moves more slowly.” Here, Elizabeth helps us navigate the cobblestone streets, showing off her 10 fave stops. —lydia woolever
Oh-so-enticing Tybee Island.
Tybee Island
“My friends and I would drive out to this beach almost every weekend and on hot summer nights for midnight swims. What I remember the most about our trips was the 20 minute drive—windows rolled down and music turned up, the Gorillaz playing.” (tybeevisit.com)
Zia Boutique
“Zia, the namesake owner and designer, actually taught me how to run my own business. I worked there when it first opened, and he made everything look effortless. I smile looking back on that now, because there’s a serious amount of work that I didn’t know about going on behind-the-scenes.” (ziaboutique.com)
River Street
“Like you’d imagine, it’s right along the Savannah River and has lots of fun bars and restaurants. In Savannah, there’s no open container law, so in the evening you can grab a drink from one of these spots and walk along the water.” (riverstreetsavannah.com)
The no-nonsense Clary’s signage.
Clary’s Café
“This spot is amazing—the best brunch in town—and is just down the block from my old apartment on Abercorn Street. It’s a diner setting, open since 1903, with almost anything you could think of on the menu. Definitely get a milkshake. (claryscafe.com)
Pinkies Master’s
“Pinkies is a dive bar that smells like beer, and what I love about it is that it never changes—which is something I love about Savannah in general. The students keep the town fresh, but she always stays true to her nature.”
ShopSCAD
“SCAD—Savannah College of Art and Design—makes up a huge part of the town. In the middle of downtown, they have this big gift store that carries art by their students and alumni. My jewelry has been carried there for about three years now.” (shopscad.com)
The Jepson Center at The Telfair Academy
“It’s this new, modern building, full of paintings, sculptures, and works from local artists. It has a grand staircase and bright, white walls and these huge panes of glass that look out over a park. My friends got married there last year—it was one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever been to.” (telfair.org)
Forsyth Park’s fountain, built in 1858.
Forsyth Park
“This is a great, open place in the heart of downtown, with a beautiful, old fountain and dramatic Spanish moss everywhere. Bring your dogs. Play bocce. Sometimes I’d bring a sketchpad with me to work on new designs.”
Satchel Boutique and Studio
“The designer—her name is Elizabeth, too—has been working on Satchel for about as long as I have on Elizabeth Knight. It’s an adorable boutique with a beautiful workshop in the back that I’m jealous of.” (shopsatchel.com)
Elizabeth on 37th
“They’re known for having a one-of-a-kind Southern menu—pan-seared sea scallops with tuna tartare and almond-crusted coastal grouper. It’s in a gorgeous, historic Georgia mansion. The triple chocolate cake…” (elizabethon37.com)
Savannah photos courtesy of Jamie Beck.
