En Route to Prada!

Yesterday, Marjan and I decided to take a walk in our home city of Prague, Czech Republic. Of course there was a very meek destination plan of hitting the sale at Prada, Pařížská 16. We each had our invitation sent to members of the mailing list in beautiful heavy count embossed envelopes in our pockets enclosed with a lack-luster invitation to the Prada Seasonal Sale. Nonetheless, it communicated on the "invitation" that they were having a sale starting on the 19th of June and we thought, what the hell? We'll go see what's on offer at Prada...who wouldn't? Louis, our Pražský Krysařík, came with us as we made our way down to the centre, a brief ten minute walk from our apartment. We walked along Wenceslas Square and stopped in for a coffee on the go at Starbucks. Now with my venti non-fat chai tea latte I could continue passing Ben and Jerry's, Benetton, Mango, and some other, I'm sure, very historical landmarks along Na Příkopě, not that we ever do anything remotely historical or cultural...EVAH! I'll plug one of them because it's fantastic and totally up my alley in terms of design, location, and feeling, The Grand Cafe Orient. It is located at The House of the Black Madonna, Ovocný trh 19. This impeccably designed cubist cafe is located on the first floor of the building created by the renowned architecht Josef Gočár. I recommend the place highly if you want to enjoy a cup of tea or a coffee engulfed by Czech Cubist Design.  At any rate, this blog is so not about things of interest to normal tourists and so We stopped in at Zara and made a few purchases before making our way over to our original destination...Prada. High Streets don't get much prettier than that of Pařížská in Prague. The tree lined street begins just off of the old town square and opens up with none other than "THE" jewlery retailer, Cartier followed by Dior, Boss, Hermes, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Gucci. Before reaching Prada, Marjan was distracted by Gucci and we made a Bee Line for the door, opened by a monstrous man dressed in all black as usual. WELCOME TO GUCCI! I have had my eye on the Gucci Cruiser for quite a long time and noticed they had it in the window towards the new collection of women's wear. I checked it out for its sleek and unbelievably "cool" appeal. Having curtailed my expendable allowances lately, I refrained and was just happy to observe the bicycle for it's design excellence. Marjan continued looking at belts and shoes and chose a chic black belt with a black leather buckle and the designer's insignia offset to the right in silver. Later, a customer asked us if we could recommend a gift item for a friend of their's who was having a birthday. I said, "Sure. Does he have everything?" They nodded and I told the sales gentleman to open the case containing the new version of their blackberry holder. They bought one and so did I...even when I'm selling, I'm shopping...it's a transformation that overcomes me. After our purchases were wrapped at the counter in the new eco- packaging introduced last week by Frida Giannini, their chief designer, we headed across the street to Prada. It was black and boring as usual and they didn't have the shoes Marjan wanted in his size so we left and went to Simple. At Simple they carry everything from Wallpaper Magazine to Balenciaga. I had bought the newest Wallpaper magazine when in on Friday at lunchtime, and Marjan left on this visit with the Hotel Costes' home line's candle simply called "costes."Don't miss Simple at Pařížská 20 when in Prague  

Heaven's Gone Bankrupt!

For several years now when people ask me, "What's your idea of Heaven?" My immediate answer is, and will always be Takashimaya at 693 5th Avenue, NY, NY. What didn't Takashimaya offer? Actually Takashimaya New York was where most of my "happy place" answers referenced. The mere thought that this remarkable man
made paradise on Earth would actually shut its doors is enough to make me want to spend the next two weeks in bed! Its almost as if the death of Takashimaya is exactly as quoted on their website as "The End of an Era." Before the new merchandise set up on the ground floor was introduced a few years back, under the red canopy and through the doors one walked into a very large fantastically arranged flower bouquet, otherwise known as the florist shop, this evoked immediately the notion of walking into a sanctuary, a feeling that probably exists only at the Hempel Hotelat 31-35 , Craven Hill Gardens W2 3EA, London. After walking through the most amazingly scented foyers you could possibly enter you had options, choices, or freedom as I like to call it. You could press the elevator button signaling for up or down. I actually usually went down, easing into my shopping experience. Going down. Doors open and as you look ahead you've now arrived in a full blown Japanese tea house. I mean hell, you might as well have been laserbeamed to Kyoto. This was always a great place to buy small gifts for moments when you need a host or hostess gift, or a birthday gift on the go, you get the drift....your gift stock. At any rate, it's gone now so if you weren't there you won't get to see it. Tea's now purchased and perfectly packaged, you go back to the elevator which is at your beck and call and just random press for all I'm concerned. This ride ain't taking you any place other than a world of retail therapy seen none other than at this Empire of Retail. On every floor, buyers took amazing attention to
detail and finding the best fit for their clients whether it be closet sachets, fine crystal, beautifully hand sewn lingerie or men's ties. Every single floor was worth strolling, Every single thing was interesting, Every single arrangement was interesting and merchandised to sell and be touched and once you touched it, YOU MY FRIEND, WERE IN LOVE and despite the cost, you paid it and walked out happily with your new found LOVE in a pale pink geometrically shaped bag or bags with tattered tassle cording and whether you walked out from under that canopy on a blistering cold or extremely hot New York City Day...Life was Good!

shopping for your pets

I'm really all about my dog. His name is Louis and of course he needs to be kitted out in all the latest fashions just as I do. Funnily enough, most people know this about me and therefore they give me tips from time to time. In the Summer of 2009, I walked in my office to find my good friend and business colleague, Karen Hartley had left this now infamous picture of Paris Hilton on my desk ripped out from her Grazia Magazine. I immediately had to have it and although Paris was shopping on Robertson in Los Angeles I couldn't find it anywhere around that area when doing initial searches and then found it at www.puppychicboutique.com They shipped immediately and bed was delivered to my New York address within a matter of days for pick up when I arrived in August for our Summer holiday. The service and friendliness from most online pet boutiques and stores is unrivaled by any other industry that I've been in contact with as of yet....and we all know that I have no boundaries when it comes to shopping and or "hunting" as I sometimes like to call it!
The Chewy Vuitton bed is great because not only is it UBER-FAB, its also easy to carry and clean(for those ocd peops like me!)

I have so many pet ideas to cover that I don't think they can fit into one blog, so we may have to revisit. However, I do not want to leave out the newest and most friendly pet boutique in Prague to date. They carry such brands as Bellomania, Louis Dog, Fab Dog, PetFlys, Kwigy Bo, Gino the Dog, Black Hunter, and of course Puppia. The owner, Tanja Labat, is there on most days and is very knowledgeable about all of the stores offerings. She dealt with me in the most amazing of manners and I'm a demanding dog accessory maniac so when she didn't have the tiffany blue collar by Bellomania in Louis' size she immediately told me that she could have it for me by tomorrow. She followed through and therefore the store will constantly be mentioned to friends and other fellow shoppers. Don't miss out on Baron Brewski & Friends when visiting Prague and if you live here you should be making at least bi-weekly visits at Vlašská 15 in Prague 1.