Buenos Aires: the best spots to dance the Milonga.

Posted on August 28, 2013 by nontouristytourist

Hello NTTs,
I just came back from Buenos Aires and I discovered the places where real portenos go to dance the Milonga which is a kind of faster tango. I totally felt in love with that music.

Here some great places:[
La Viruta (Armenia 1366)
Sunderland Club (Lugones 3161)
Centro Cultural Torcuato Tasso (Defensa 1575)
Club Villa Malcom (Avenida Córdoba 5064)
Club Fulgor de Villa Crespo (Loyola 868, Barrio de Villa Crespo)
La Glorieta (Plaza de Barrancas de Belgrano) La Milonguita (two locations) Sala Siranush (Armenia 1353) and Club Montañez (J Newbery 2818)
The best one? No doubt , it ‘s La Confiteria Ideal (Suipacha 394)

CHEESELOVER? Every two years Bra, Italy is hosting a spectacular cheese festival. September 20-23. Check my 2011 edition review from GourmeT USA

Posted on August 24, 2013 by nontouristytourist

… I lost my luggage! What shall I wear on the red carpet tonight?

Posted on August 22, 2013 by nontouristytourist

by Cesare Zucca for ONE, the pleasure of the luxury http://www.behance.net/gallery/ONE-Il-piacere-del-lusso/10222663

THE GLAMOROUS MARK HOTEL Here you are in New York but at the baggage claim you discover that your suitcases are lost somewhere and in a few hours you have an important appointment that you can’t miss! All the “lost luggage person” will be happy with the new collaboration between the Mark Hotel themarkhotel. com, one of the most exclusive hotels in Manhattan and the store Bergdorf Goodman bergdorfgoodman.com one of the most prestigious clothing stores on Fifth Avenue. Actually the Mark offers its guests private access to the shop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So do not panic! On the phone, or mobile phone, you can solve the problem at any time of the day or night, all remaining in the comfort of your own room, wi- thout even leaving, the concierge Mark hotel has supplied a private line with Bergdorf Goodman and his personal shopping department, a service that has a list of professional experts in super fashion shopping. The hotel offer the service free of charge. The personal Shopper, deliveries and the whims of the host… are included in the room rate!

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EVERY 2 YEARS WORLD GOES…………. “CHEESE!” Where: Little town of Bra, Piedmont, Italy

Posted on August 22, 2013 by nontouristytourist

September 20-23, 2013 Try some amazing cheeses. wines and traditional dishes. http://cheese.slowfood.it Cheese is a FREE event held in the streets and squares of Bra’s historic center, where you will find the Market, thematic spaces (Slow Food stand, the Literary Café and the Biodiversity House) and other entertainment and education activities. There is a cost for the following: tastings in the Great Hall of Cheese and Enoteca, Taste Workshops, Dinner Dates and Master of Food courses. Limited places are available for the Dinner Dates, Taste Workshops and Master of Food courses at Cheese, so it is essential to book in advance, here or by writing to prenotazioni@slowfood.it.

VENICE:DO YOU BEAD?

Posted on August 19, 2013 by nontouristytourist

Let me introduce the charming “signora veneziana” Gloria Beggiato, owner of the magnificent Hotel Metropole and creator of the 2013 Fashion Design Made In Venice a five months event dedicated to strictly Venetian designers whose products favour refined and precious materials

Once a year, the windows of the Metropole’s Oriental Bar become a luxurious display of Venetian excellence and help rediscover objects combining art, technique and fashion.
www.hotelmetropole.com

Among this year artists, Marisa Convento presented Venetian Dreams, an amazing collection of necklaces, earrings, bags and corals created from the most beautiful Venetian glass beads as a tribute to the traditional crafts of Venice, once entrusted to the patient and creative hand of the “impiraresse” (bead workers).

Despite hours of work Marisa aims to keep prices under control. For example, a stunning glass bauble on a cord costs about $75 and this elegant handmade bag is less than $250.

Coming right from the sea…This spectacular necklace looks like a coral tree, but is actually made from minuscule red beads. It took two weeks of work!

Marisa is also an enthusiastic supporter of DO YOU BEAD? www.doyoubead.com , a project that aims to popularize the culture and tradition of glass beads produced in Venice and Murano, increasingly threatened by the marketing of no value products  and no historical repertory.

In an age of fakes and degradation of genuine products, what is common to all designers and companies involved in DYB? is a great passion for these little wonders that are traditional Venetian beads

The glass beads are in fact part of the fundamental enormous artistic heritage that the city of Venice has produced over the centuries.

Check Marisa Convento web www.venetiandreams.altervista.org

Ballet, Fashion & Creativity shine through young Hungarian designers

Posted on June 24, 2013 by nontouristytourist

The Pentatonicism Fashiow Show was the magical closing night for the Milan June 2013 fashion week, held in the superb “cortile” of Palazzo Isimbardi. In a warm summer night more than sixty different garments created by twentyfour young designers of the Association of Hungarian Figurative Art, walked the runway. Instead of traditional models, the outfits were worn by the dancers of the Opera in Budapest, performing ballets inspired by the Hungarian music on the pentatonic scale typical of folk melodies, well researched by great musician such as Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály. The event was attended by the President of the Chamber of Fashion Mario Boselli, the charming Mrs Enikő Győri, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary and the lively Mrs Helga Gal, official sommelier of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU and the evening wine&food official adviser.

Poland: discovering the “bar mleczny” (if any left…)

Posted on November 13, 2012 by nontouristytourist

For a snack or just a quick meal venture yourself into one of the bars mleczny (also called milk bar). Here, in addition to excellent homemade food, you can enjoy the atmosphere of the past comunist era. Upon entering you will find yourself queuing between students, older guys and tourists.The menu is written on the board and it ‘s all in polish, so when is your turn to order, you may need a little of imagination. Food is good and prices are unbelievably cheap. I found this non-touristy Południowy (11 Rynek Podgórski Street) where the locals go. I had the classic zurek soup (rye, potatoes, sausage, egg and laurel and a great bigos (meat and cabbage) All for 12 zlotzy ( less than 4 dollars). This place closes at 5pm. Get there early because best dishes are quickly sold out.

Milan, the brunch gets “royal”

Posted on November 11, 2012 by nontouristytourist

Talking of an hidden gem…
Milano. Every Sunday Giacomo Caffè hosts an exclusive brunch called Colazione Mediterranea, boasting two rich buffets of appetizers and desserts and a menu inspired to the traditional Italian cuisine. The seated meal offers three choices of entrees, salads and a variety of egg dishes.I tried the uova affogate in cocotte con caprino e salsa tartufata (eggs with truffle sauce and caprino cheese), it was delicious! The price is from 25 to 35 Euro including coffe and a glass of prosecco wine. This prestigious venue is located in the heart of the center of Milan, at the magnificent Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) Museum, whose great exhibits are worth a visit. At the first floor You will find a library room with a great selection of art books. You can say that gastronomy meets art at Giacomo Caffè piazza Duomo 12, (Ph) 02 89096698. giacomocaffe.com

A trip to Italy? Add TRIESTE to your list!

Posted on September 30, 2012 by nontouristytourist

Trieste is often forgotten as tourists head.
Well… not to a non-touristy-tourist like me !

This marvelous North-Easter Friuli Venezia Giulia Italian city has a lot to offer and a lot to be discovered. Once a very influential and powerful center of politics, literature, music, art and culture under Austrian-Hungarian dominion, today, Trieste is a very charming city, with a quiet and lovely almost Eastern European atmosphere, several pubs and cafes, some stunning architecture and a beautiful sea view. It was also, for a while, the residence of famous Irish writer James Joyce.

Not to be missed!
Città Vecchia, The Austrian Quarter, Museo Revoltella, Museo di Storia, Arte e Orto., The Synagogue, The Miramare Castle and San Giusto, where a walk on the Castle ramparts and bastions will give you a complete panorama of the city of Trieste, its hills and the sea.Then take the legendary tram #2 from Piazza Oberdan to Opicina.

I discovered a hidden jewel!

The Carlo Schmidl Theatre Museum in Palazzo Gopcevic that documents the life of theatre and music in Trieste from the 18th century to the present day.
You will find posters, costumes and jewellery; paintings, prints, drawings and photographs; marionettes and puppets; musical instruments, medals, archives and manuscripts; a large library, a media library and an extraordinary musical collection.

And more…
Barcola Paved waterfront walk stretches from a little north of the city nearly to the castle at Miramare. It is the beach where the Triestini spend their summers.
Annual Events:
Trieste Film Festival international film festival held in January, Bavisela Maratona d’Europa, marathon every May, Trieste Science+Fiction annual film festival, usually held in November, Barcolana an annual sailing race held in the Gulf of Trieste the second Sunday of October.

Let’s eat!
Jota a soup prepared with pork, potatoes, cabbage, and finely-ground beans, Gnocchi in the style of Austrian dumplings, made with everything from ham to stuffed with plums, Brodetto Fish soup, Risotto Creamy rice dish, Sardoni in savor flavored pilchards and…
“Buon appetito!”…with “bollito” Traditional dish of boiled pork at Caldaia

Historical Coffee Houses

Caffè San Marco, Caffè degli Specchi, Chocolat, Caffè Pasticceria Pirona, one of the few remaining petesserias to have retained its Viennese charm. One of its most devoted customers was none other than James Joyce.Trieste is waiting for you!
More info at http://www.turismofvg.it/Locality/Trieste