Hellooooooo Hong Kong! (Which I really enjoy calling HK.)
We took a quick jaunt to visit friends who have relocated on this unique island. HK, the home to millions, was full of wallet busting meals, bustling crowds, history and lots of dichotomy. But what I couldn't get enough of was the density of the city. Sure New York is dense, Tokyo is dense, but for some reason I really felt the presence of the population represented not just by the crowds but also in the densely packed housing. Infinitely photogenic, I couldn't get enough of it and marvelled at all the laundry precariously hanging outside of windows over a busy city below.
I was quite concerned for laundry everywhere I looked.
Meandering some of the little streets and alleyways of Sheung Wan. As we wound our way we found stairways, graffiti and a hidden barbershop.
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Okay, what about that dichotomy I was talking about? Financial disparity of the population aside, a really awesome duality of HK is its urbanism and easy access to the outdoors. While the Off-White store in Causeway Bay displayed some lovely greenery, HK spoiled us with tons of hikes, beaches, islands and other assorted outdoorsy-ness all while being nestled in a busy city.
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Above:
1. walking up to Victoria Peak, viewing the city below
Bloc Shop delivered an early Christmas gift to eager climbers last week by completing a new extension ahead of schedule.
Originally slated to open in the new year, Bloc Shop's now 20 000 square foot facility can boast to being the largest bouldering gym in Canada, welcoming hundreds of climbers-from newbies to seasoned pros-every day.
I popped by a couple of weeks back to document the in-progress action.
Kyle (right) from Flashed and Yan (left) get some crash mat making done.
Nathan Leblanc-Limoges' second addition to Bloc Shop's walls is a painstaking effort with a ballpoint pen inspired by art historical imagery.
Artist buddy Kevin Ledo recreates his Wynwood, Miami portrait of his grandmother "Vavo, the Montreal OG"
Yoris gets the first climb
Two out of the four Bloc Shop partners Cloé and Fred kindly pause for a picture amidst their race to completion.
I stopped in again for a quick session after the new section had opened and the place was packed and bumping. Good times were had as I tackled some problems over and over and over and over again!
After a hiatus last year, the Smart Design Mart is back in a smaller pop-up version of its former self. Merchandised in a more boutique feel, the multiple brains behind the operation mixed up many of the local designers and artisans on displays of vintage pieces of furniture (also for sale!)
On a rainy Montreal evening, designers Anne-Marie Laflamme and Catherine Métivier rolled out the new identity for their ethical women and menswear label atelier b.
Design and identity work was by Nouvelle Administration with photographs by LM Chabot.
Merriment, wine and design equals good times.
Oh the breathtaking Dia:Beacon!
Although my art romp through the Hudson Valley was a month or two back, I could not not share some images from this magical wonder of contemporary art. I had major love goggles on as I took in the art sprawled over the 300 000 square foot former factory building. The gallery space itself-gah! I am without words-stunning? Inspiring? Deep sighs of joy worthy?
H&M's sister brand COS (Collection of Style) is set to open their second Canadian outpost in our fair city of Montreal after opening in Toronto in September. As you can glean from a couple of the images from the FW15 lookbok, the brand is less trend based favouring architectural shapes and featuring more natural fabrics. Does that big white scarf come in black?
Men, women (and maybe your children?) can get their nordic vibe on this Friday October 9th at 1310 St-Catherine O.
I've been wearing my beloved Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf ever since its inception. I'd deviate every now and again to try something new, but always came back to Flowerbomb. The chemistry of me and this perfume has invoked so many reactions, many of familiarity (how it's become "my smell") and several people have nuzzled their faces into my neck emitting a variety of exclamations. But somehow I feel like my relationship with Flowerbomb should come to an end or at least take a pause.
Back in 2006, while in Paris, my mom offered to buy me my first bottle, which attracted me because I thought the design was cool. I kid you not, that's how calculated my perfume decisions were: "I like Viktor & Rolf" + good bottle design = winning combination. I knew nothing about perfume, I tried some here and there but I was far from making an educated choice on what would work on me. But hey! My math worked! And I have been wearing it since. For many christmases my Flowerbomb stash would be replenished by my mother who thought it would be an easy and practical gift for her not-easy-to shop-for-daughter. Last christmas was my first one without my mother and my signature scent was dwindling. I took it as a sign. Time to move on.
I've been feeling a bit multiple personality since starting the tests. Hopefully I'll be able to strike perfume gold twice.
Speaking of twice here's the sonic version of perfume:
(a phone photo of Alan Wyffels and Mike Hadreas)
Last weekend I attended the Basilica Hudson's Basilica SoundScape, an "antifestival" of music and art and awesomeness in the Hudson Valley. From improv jazz drumming, performance art, noise bands, and droning electronic music, the night I spent at the Basilica had filled up my senses and The Haxan Cloak's subwoofers rearranged my insides. (Peep this great roundup article for more.) A more low-key moment in the evening introduced me to Perfume Genius who managed to seduce the audience into a dreamy eyed state. The set included a version of this charming piano duet, which has been looping in my playlist since I got home. Enjoy.
Last look: an enlightened telephone booth buddha at Basilica Hudson.
