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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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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Explore the Lower East Side With Szeki Chan and Kuna the Dog
The best places for treats—for people and puppies—in the ‘hood.
Szeki Chan may have some Lower East Side cred—she lives in the nabe and has a rad shop there, too—but Kuna, her three-year-old Shiba Inu is a local celebrity who has ins with cupcake bakers and burly bouncers alike. These are the places where the designer behind the elegantly unfussy apparel line 7115 and her pal head when they make their LES rounds. —carly pifer
“I always stop into the boutique Honey in the Rough. It has an unique point of view and such a wide and well-edited selection of designers from around the world. The owner Ashley is the most helpful person, which makes popping in such a treat—for me, not necessarily for Kuna.”
“Kuna and I pick up flowers weekly at Union Market. I love the way that they have them set up—just so pleasing to the eyes, and always so fresh! Each bouquet has its own name card and description. For a person who doesn’t have much knowledge about flowers—like myself—it’s quite nice to know what I am buying.”
“My favorite cafe, Caffe Vita, hails from Seattle but earns its place in the Lower East Side. My usual is a cappuccino, and I enjoy watching them roast the beans—so I always know it’s fresh.”
Szeki’s shop, at 157 Rivington Street in NYC!
“Minca Ramen is my go-to dining spot near home. I adore the spicy miso ramen but will eat anything here. Everyone who works there has been there forever, and they always have on the biggest smiles.”
“Kuna makes friends anywhere he goes. He loves to drag us to places that give him treats, like the bakery Sugar Sweet Sunshine and the Hotel Rivington and Rockwood Music Hall—both great nightlife destinations.”
Szeki’s edition is a total wardrobe-changer. Get this dress, and hit the LES.
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Noah Guy Shares the Best Places to Bike to in All of San Fran
The spots you’ve gotta hit on a pair of wheels.
For Noah Guy, traveling through the streets of San Fransisco on his custom eighties bicycle—American-made, just like his bags for Joshu+Vela—is oh-so-much better than driving his truck. And that’s only partially because of his bike’s rad graphics. For Noah, an ideal trip starts out in the Mission and ends up at the coast—with the stops below on the way. —carrie neill
Adobe Bookshop
“I’d start out at Adobe Books at the corner of 16th and Valencia. It’s an independent bookstore, a sort of San Fran institution, and it’s struggling to stay alive. It shows a more relaxed side of the city—they have punk concerts, poetry readings, and art shows in the back. It’s kind of a relic of the pre-money age.”
(3166 16th St.)
The Wiggle to the Conservatory of Flowers
“Then I’d take the Wiggle—SF’s mile-long, zigzagging bike route—into Golden Gate Park, and check out the Conservatory of Flowers. They’ve recently painted bike lines and bike symbols on the roads. It seems like there are more bikers in San Francisco per capita than anywhere else.”
(Conservatory: 100 John F. Kennedy Dr.; conservatoryofflowers.org)
Happy Bakery to de Young Museum
“At Happy Bakery, just south of the park at 24th and Irving, you can get the best vegetarian steamed rice buns. I’d grab a couple of those and then head to the de Young museum, which is a really interesting building. I saw the Vivienne Westwood exhibit there a few years ago. It was cool to look at the things she was doing right out of art school, when she was just making things with her buddies, and to think that years later, those pieces ended up in a museum.”
(Bakery: 2253 Irving St.; Museum: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr.; deyoung.famsf.org)
Trouble Coffee Company to Ocean Beach
“After that, I’d head out to Ocean Beach, stopping for some cinnamon toast from Trouble Coffee. The surf at the beach is a bit rough, so the surfers there are really good. It’s a very relaxing place—a real stress-reliever.”
(Coffee: 4033 Judah St.; troublecoffee.com)
Score Noah’s adventure-ready edition: A sturdy, so-cool denim weekender.
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Grace Lee’s Tasty, Rowdy, Relaxing Guide to L.A.’s Koreatown
Four spots that seriously can’t be missed.
Los Angeles is just a big ol’ sprawl of magical nooks and crannies—if you know where to look. It helps to have a knowledgeable, and generous, friend willing to share the wisdom, and Grace Lee, a lifelong Angeleno and a killer jewelry designer, is down to give us the inside scoop on one of her favorite ‘hoods: Koreatown. —dana covit
Kang Hodong Baekjeong: “This is the hottest Korean BBQ restaurant in Koreatown right now and also my personal go-to. It’s the quality of the meat and the variety of banchan—side dishes—that make the inevitably long wait completely worth it. We usually go right at 4 P.M. when they open to avoid the crowd.” (3465 W. 6th St., Suite 20)
Caffé Concerto: “I discovered Caffe Concerto before the infamous PSY visited last September. Caffe Concerto is a two-story cafe that kind of feels and looks like a friend’s awesome home. I like to visit in the evenings with friends and share a bottle of wine, some tapas, and then finish off with tea and macarons. Not bad in my book.” (610 S. Serrano Ave.)
Beer Belly: “There’s nothing really traditionally Korean about Beer Belly except that its owner is Korean-American, but their wide range of on-tap craft beers plus a daily menu of ‘crafty’ food offerings is so amazing. My go-to is their chipotle-and-beer-braised short rib, which is to die for—seriously.” (532 S. Western Ave.)
Wi Spa: “Wi Spa is the ultimate Korean spa experience. It is open 24 hours a day and is four stories. They have five signature sauna rooms, and I like to frequent late at night with a girlfriend and catch up while sitting in one of them.” (2700 Wilshire Blvd.)
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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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The Man Behind Otaat Goes on an L.A. Food Binge
What’s eating Albert Chu.
Albert Chu of the super-slick leather label Otaat tends to have mad cravings. For him, it’s about the impulse, the indulgence, and the absolute ridiculousness of it all. Curious where he goes to get a food fix? Check out his eight favorite destinations around Los Angeles—but, unless you’re Kobayashi, space this stuff out. —jackie varriano
Before you fall into a food coma, score Albert’s delicious (looking!) leather cardholder.
La Brea Bakery
“This may be the one healthy craving I typically have: the marinated artichoke heart sandwich from La Brea Bakery’s original location. Black olive bread is spread with a touch of pesto, then stocked with soft ricotta cheese, topped with marinated artichoke hearts, and sprinkled with a bit of arugula for that slight crunch and bitterness. It’s so great.”
El Chato
“When working late nights, I always get at least two chorizo tacos as a starter and one burrito al pastor as the main. It’s the perfect meal for saturating your taste buds and for stocking up on salts and electrolytes for exercise. Ha!”
Café Gratitude
“I love mint chocolate chip ice cream, so what’s better than having it in liquid form? The vegan smoothie has Vitamineral—I don’t really know what that is, but it sounds healthy. Plus, the drink is called ‘I Am Cool,’ so it’s a funny little ego-boost.”
M Café
“The fries from M Café are drool-worthy. When I’m in the mood for a quick snack of salted, nori-tinged, starchy goodness, this is what I get—and that’s more often than I care to confess.”
Clementine
“These are probably my favorite chocolate chip cookies in Los Angeles. The texture is simultaneously crunchy and chewy—I always get at least two. They remind me of my mom’s chocolate chip cookies from childhood.”
Half and Half Tea House
“I refer to the drinks at Half and Half as ‘boba crack’—sweet, milky, and caffeinated jitter-inducers. I always get the iced milk drink with grass jelly.”
Proof Bakery
“One body part that I always want to protect is the tuft of gum behind my front two teeth, so baguette sandwiches are usually seen a dangerous threat. Not so with the ones from Proof. Their sandwiches—I love the ones with beets and goat cheese—are made with their trademark thin, just-the-right-crunch baguettes sprinkled with sea salt, and they are texturally fantastic!”
Crow Burger
“Sure, their duck-fat fries are craving-worth, but really, what gets me to drive across county lines is their chocolate milkshake (pistachios optional). It’s got a throwback flavor—to a time when milkshakes were made with chocolate ice cream, instead of chocolate syrup. So what if a waitress said that they are 1,000 calories? It’s both a snack and a meal!”
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Cardigan’s Time-Tested Tour of Williamsburg
A half dozen spots that have won over this 10-year resident.
Lynne Hiriak is big on nostalgia—the sweaters she designed for Of a Kind were inspired by her old gym uniform. And the powerhouse behind the knitwear line Cardigan is equally sentimental about her nabe, Williamsburg, where she’s happily resided since 2001. “There used to be one coffee shop—Verb,” Lynne says. “I still get my coffee there.” These are favorite finds over the last decade. —carly pifer
Ready to see these so-adorbs, button-accented sweaters? Well, get to it! Color options await, guys.
“I eat brunch, lunch, and dinner at Walter Foods. I love the oysters (East Coast, please!), the bubbly, and the relaxed mood.”
“Still getting my morning kick-start at Verb Café—no longer the only coffee shop around but still my favorite.”
“The ‘Burg waterfront is where I go with my iced coffee to meditate. Looking at Manhattan is a great way to start the day!”
“I pass by the Radegast Hall & Biergarten every single day. It’s hard to pass up a grilled sausage and sauerkraut! We round out every photo shoot with a beer here, too.”
“One of my favorite new cocktail joints in the ‘hood is the Ides Bar at the Wythe Hotel, which has the most beautiful lighting.”
“Hunting for polka-dot glasses at the Brooklyn Flea—love it.”
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A Day in Steamboat Springs With the Shipley & Halmos Guys
These New York City boys have a soft spot for the mountains.
Although Sam Shipley and Jeff Halmos, the dream team behind Shipley & Halmos, are currently based in NYC, the two have called a bunch of locales home. Together, they’ve spent time in Florida (where Jeff was born), Illinois (where Sam was born), California, Virginia, and Colorado—a place that holds an extra-special place in their hearts. “We met at the University of Colorado—I spent four years in Colorado, and Sam had lived there since he was 13. Sam and I and our college friends go every year for a ski and snowboarding trip,” says Jeff. Below, they talk us through their favorite places to visit, besides the runs. —alisha prakash
The view from Slopeside.
Slopeside Grill
Jeff: “Great après-ski spot at the base of the mountain. If it’s sunny and warm, they have a huge patio right on the snow.” (slopesidegrill.com)
Snowbowl
Sam:“It has an old-school bowling alley vibe, cheap drinks, and really nice owners. You might even get lucky and visit on a rock ‘n’ bowl night. If you’re like us, the competition gets intense, which often leads to arguments amongst our group of friends.” (snowbowl.net)
The Smokehouse
Jeff: “We’ve been doing this trip for the last 10 years, but it wasn’t till recently that we discovered the desert wings they have at The Smokehouse. Neither of us are big wing fans, but these are another story. They use this dry rub that’s off the charts! Plus, the tap beers are served in giant frosty glasses—always a plus.” (steamboatsmokehouse.com)
Crowds enjoying the hot springs.
Strawberry Park Hot Springs
Sam: “These natural hot springs are about a 30-minute drive outside downtown Steamboat. They have various natural rock pools that cascade down from the mountain. If it’s snowing, this place is gorgeous. You need a four-wheel-drive car to get there, by the way.” (strawberryhotsprings.com)
Rio Grande
Jeff: “This tradition started in our Boulder days—we’d visit the Rio as a pre-game spot to have a couple margaritas before going out. Warning: These are not normal margs. They each have something like four or five shots of Cuervo Gold in them. That’s why the restaurant has a policy to limit to three per guest. Pace yourselves, especially in the altitude!” (riograndemexican.com)
Howelsen Hill
Sam: “Steamboat is home to more U.S. Olympic athletes than any other mountain. The (crazy) people that fly off the giant ski jumps practice here, which is really amazing to watch. Plus, there’s a tubing course—on the snow—in the afternoon and evening that is super fun.”
To see what the guys made us—ideal for the crispier weather ahead—sign up for our email list.
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Creatures of Comfort Takes Hong Kong
Jade Lai does it like a local.
The thing Jade Lai misses most about Hong Kong—where she was born and raised—is her family. But for the Creatures of Comfort phenom, there are also a handful of have-to-visit places that she tries to hit every time she heads back—a few times a year, if she can. These are the six tried-and-true spots that should absolutely be on your HK itinerary, too. —olivia seely
Score Jade’s Of a Kind edition now! This custom-dyed tee would look as cool in HK as BK.
Lei Yue Mun Fish Market
“For those looking for authentic Cantonese seafood, I recommend going to Lei Yue Mun. I remember going there with my family a lot growing up. On the way to whatever restaurant you choose, you pick out live seafood along the strip. The food is delivered to the restaurant, and they cook it up right there for you. It’s super fresh, and the method of preparation is usually really simple. I’m hungry just thinking about it!”
Mak’s Noodles
“This is one of the best wonton noodle places in Hong Kong. There are about three locations now, but I go to the one in Central, which is the original location. The noodles come in tiny bowls, and I usually get the wonton soup noodles and a dry lo-mein.”
The Peak
“I love taking friends to The Peak. You take this really sketchy cable car from Central through Mid-levels, and when you get to the peak, you can take a little hike and see all of Hong Kong from there. It’s exquisite at night.”
Repulse Bay
“I love to go to the beaches in Repulse Bay and to have high tea at the Verandah. It’s amazing to see this vast beach alongside a hill covered with 50-story apartment buildings. It looks like one of those traditional Chinese water paintings, full of currents but serene at the same time. It’s pretty special.”
Wanchai off Ship Street
“There is a new area next to Pacific Place 1 in Admiralty that has some of the coolest shops in HK right now. It’s nestled within a quiet residential neighborhood. There are vintage and modern furniture stores, rare bookstores, a Visvim, a Monocle, and one of my favorite boutiques, Kapok. I want to open a Creatures of Comfort HK there!”
Sushi Kuu
“Sushi Kuu is great for the sushi and the people-watching! Chef Satoru San is famous for his innovative cooking and really fresh sushi! It is definitely on the trendy side. This is my go-to spot to meet friends for dinner in HK. It helps that I can always get a reservation since my little brother owns the joint.”
