CONTESSANALLY FEATURED IN ELLE

Contessanally featured in Elle. The Contessanally blog is featured in the September issue of Elle Italia. In a story inspired by my jewelry blog of last year, the story is entitled Natural Born Chic. Luca Lanzoni writes about young aristocratic ladies of style and heiresses who design elegant and cosmopolitan collections. Two of the jewelry designers featured in my blog, Isabella del Bono and

VENICE: Valentino: The Last emperor - Film and Party

La Fenice: The World Premiere of the Movie “Valentino: The Last Emperor.” A standing ovation for Valentino Garavani after the showing of the film Valentino: The Last Emperor, at La Fenice, opera house, during the 65th Venice Film Festival. Matt Tyrnauer, who directed the movie, followed around Valentino for two years. The movie is a realistic and often amusing insight into the world of

Paris in August - Musee du Quai Branly

Musee du Quai Branly. The Musee du Quai Branly was recently built on one of the last available sites in the heart of Paris on the Quai Branly, at the feet of the Eiffel Tower by the 2008 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate, Jean Nouvel. The building resembles a long bridge, partly covered in wood, with suspended “boxes” which stretch into the trees. It is protected from the noise of the quays

Paris in August - houseboats on the River Seine

Houseboats on the River Seine – the rental. For a holiday with a difference you can rent luxurious houseboats in the center of Paris moored on the River Seine with views of the Eiffel Tower. A tree-lined entrance to the cobble stone quai gives easy access to the barge and the neighborhood with its variety of shops, boutiques, bistros and restaurants. In the evenings you can enjoy a cocktail

Paris in August - Poilane

Poilane – pain decore. Every month, Poilane creates a theme loaf, which can also be made to order. This seashell inspired loaf-representing August and vacation time is particularly attractive. The Poilane boulangerie is the most famous in Paris. On the site of a seventeenth centenary monastery, in a vaulted cellar, below the store in the Latin Quarter of Saint Germain des Pres, six bakers work 24

Paris in August - La Maison du Chocolat

La Maison du Chocolat. La Maison du Chocolat, was the only chocolate “boutique” open during the first part of August in Paris. It was probably open because it’s a global brand with boutiques all over the world. Established in 1997, world famous, maitre chocolatier, Robert Linxe, was the first to open an all-chocolate store. I was attracted to the window by this colorful display of sorbet and

Paris in August - La Grande Epicerie de Paris

La Grande Epicerie de Paris - pastries. La Grande Epicerie de Paris is situated inside the department store Le Bon Marche on the rive gauche. As a gourmet food hall it comes second only to Harrods in London, though somehow I prefer the atmosphere here. It is one of my very favorite stores in Paris and I often go there just to wander around and make my mouth water. Especially appealing are all

Paris in August - La Grande Epicerie de Paris

MOVIE: La Grande Epicerie de Paris – cheese counter. Admire and let you mouth water as you look at this selection of French cheese.

Paris in August - Marche Raspail Bio

Street Market: Marche Raspail Bio – the documentary. While I was there they were filming a documentary for the Nuits Blanches de Paris, scheduled from October 4th through the night to the morning of the 5th. The Golden Retriever in the foreground is the mascot of the film crew. Though it was August a good thirty of the hundred vendors came out on the tree-lined divider of Boulevard Raspail.

Paris in August - Jardin du Luxembourg

Jardin du Luxembourg – the gates. Let’s enter into the largest public park in Paris situated in the 6th arrondissement of the rive gauche, The Luxembourg Garden. It was doubly exciting to visit this beautiful twenty-five hectares park, to see the natural and well kept landscape gardening, flowers, fountains and antique statues, as well as, the contemporary art exhibition, ArteSenat, which

Paris in August - Dog & Design

Dog & Design – Stephane Moisset. Stephane Moisset opened Dog & Design just a couple of months ago. After studies in History of Art, Journalism and a stint as a political PR, he decided that what he really wanted to do is work with his dog, Archibald. His dog accessories boutique on the chic rive gauche on the rue du Cherche-Midi stocks only the most refined products that you can’t find in any

Paris in August - The Search for the Perfect Club Sandwich

Why the search for the perfect club sandwich. My friend, Ivana de Marchi Zanon wants to add a really good club sandwich to the menu in the bar restaurant of her Relais & Chateaux Villa Abbazia Hotel in Follina, Veneto. And, as it was raining and cold in Paris, and most of the shops and good restaurants were closed for vacation, I thought I could do some research for her. This is what I found.The

Paris in August -Musee de l'Orangerie - Jardin des Tuileries

Place de la Concorde and the Musee de L’Orangerie. One of the eight statues representing one of the eight major cities of France, Marseille stands near the Quai des Tuileries on the Place de la Concorde. Behind it you can see the glass roof of the Musee de L’Orangerie. The Fosse Jaunes: The Orangerie has recently been reopened after renovation, it was originally built in the second half of the

TUSCANY - Lucchesia: A garden in Lucca

Villa Massei – the gate and the cypress viale. This is the short “story” of an enchanting garden near Lucca. This gate leads you into the magical world of Paul Gervais de Bedee and Gil Cohen and the garden they created. They planted the cypress viale only ten years ago and it already looks historic. In the spring, pink Pimberton roses peek out through the trees.Villa Massei – the aperitivo and

TUSCANY - Lucchesia: custom-made purses

The purse-maker - Giusi Vanini. This attractive lady, Giusi Vanini started making cloth purses five years ago when a girlfriend showed her a cloth bag she had bought in Paris. Giusi took on a challenge and copied it better. From then, nothing will stop her when she is inspired. On these days, she might get up at 6 am and work right through till 9 pm, even forgetting to eat. Giusi also enjoys

TUSCANY - Lucchesia: A Restaurant

Tambellini – Mescita Lotti restaurant. In the small garden of the Mescita Lotti is the place to be for lunch during the summer months. It is the most understated chic and simply delicious restaurant in Lucchesia. It’s home cooking at it’s very best. It is here one bumps into ones friends who lunch at a near by table. The Tambellini family has been running this wine bar, restaurant, and

TUSCANY - Lucchesia: a painter and an art photographer

Tuscany: the farmhouse. This charming farmhouse, high up in the hills near Lucca is where the artists, Alyssia Lazin and Pavel Kapic spend the summer months of the year. They have been coming to Lucchesia from New York City for the past twenty-five years. Alyssia explains, “Both Pavel and I have a common passion for Italy. When the plane lands in Italy we know we have come “home”. We feel very