The timeless parisian style : Emilie Marcelle.

February is definitely the most glamourous month of all thanks to Valentine’s day !

That’s why I would like to share with you one of my favorite fashion houses addresses you’ll definitly adore too : it’s Emilie Marcelle , created by french fashion designer Lisa Mimoun, who has been inspired by the elegance of the women in her family, especially her grand mother.

From Paris to NY going through Monaco and Ibiza, her feminine style, so elegant, very couture and timeless has already seduced the most demanding clients !

Specializing first in the cult little back dress, a true must have when you live in the french capital, she developed her line with gorgeous evening gowns, cool cocktails dresses, lovely summer outfits, without forgetting sumptuous wedding dresses.

She’s also able to answer to private request if you’re dreaming about a unique bespoke creation.

I will be happy to organize for you a private and exclusive meeting in her show room located on left bank, the opportunity to meet Lisa, discover her creative universe and try all her marvels !

For more informations contact me : annemuraro@gmail.com

Copyright Emilie Marcelle

G U E S T S B O O K

I’ve realized I had 13 pages of warm and lovely acknowledgments received from my wonderful clients since 2013 and  I’ve never published  them…so I’ve decided to share with you the ones I’ve received last year. In my file PAGES (see on right) I will post all of them, starting with the most recent, going back to 2012.

Year 2019

• December : 

Mr and Mrs L. – From Hickory North Carolina / GLH clients

Anne, thank you so VERY much for the wonderful tour.  We were so lucky to have secured you.  You were wonderful.  We will retrieve.
Thanks again and have a great day.

Gene P. from Forth Worth Texas, asking ideas about Brussels :

You always have such fantastic ideas !

My best to you

 

•   October   : 

Beth W. from Washington:

Thank you so much Anne.  We are so grateful that you were there to show them around our favorite city!  I’m sure they told you but neither of them had ever traveled to Paris so having you as their guide was a real treat.

Hopefully David and I will find a time to visit this year and we will definitely reach out to you for another tour.

All the best, Beth

David G from Washington : 

Anne – you are the best. I’m just a little bitter we couldn’t be along as well!

( David and Beth offered a tour to a friend 😉

• September : 

Leslie  Kramer LC designtravel- Philadelphia 

Dear Anne,
Carol & I want to thank you for a wonderful tour today.

Lee Dufour from NY

Hello Anne !

I am finally back in Antibes and settled down and I wanted to tell you how much our team was delighted and charmed by our two tours and all of the time we spent with you😊

Personally, I adored spending time with you and you helped to make our trip a first-class experience…..a real partnership.

Let’s do keep in touch and I wish you a lovely rest of the month,

Warmest

Lee Dufour

VP of Marketing & Communications Yves Delorme

• June  : 

Amy W. from Baltimore : 

Hello Anne! I hope you are well. A few years ago my husband and I had the pleasure of spending a day in Paris with you –– the morning was bakeries, cheese and desserts, and the afternoon was a wonderful art tour. To job your memory, I was in Paris lecturing at SciencePo, and my husband is an amateur baker who fell in love with all the bakeries you brought us to. It remains the highlight of our travels to France.

It’s great to hear back from you! We will change our plans so that we can spend an entire day with you – The agenda sounds terrific, and we are very much looking forward to seeing you again!

• May :

Richard N. from Michigan

Anne,

Thank you for all of your assistance with our trip. It was a pleasure to meet you and to learn as much as you can share in 3 days.

This was a memorable visit for our family.
Richard

(Again, thank you for a wonderful tour of Paris. It will be very memorable for all of us. Richard)

 

• Avril

Mo Mozuch- newsweek journalist from NY

We loved our tour and gained such a wonderful perspective on this beautiful city.

Best,

Mo and Lauren

 

• March

Tatiana P. from Russia

Dear Anne,
Thank you very much for an interesting tour and experience of Paris. We now can appreciate it even more. Everything you spoke about sparked our interest of the city. Thank you for being so professional and patient with us! We had a great time, and thank you again.
Many best wishes,
Tatiana + Family

 

Erin B. from New-York 

it was a pleasure spending the day w you. Hope to see you on our next trip.

Thanks and take care,

Erin

 

Amy A. from NY :

Anne,
Thank you for an unforgettable tour of the louvre!  😘♥️🙏🏻
Warm regards,
Amy

Today was amazing!!!!  ❌⭕️

 

Nimi Ponnudurai from Amsterdam : 

I have already sung your praises to many people as I have to be quite honest I usually don’t like guided tours in museums as they bore me. Yours was fun and interesting even though we had very limited time.

 

• January :

Mariann di N. from NY
Thank you so much for sending along information. You have such an interesting and impressive background. I looked at your Instagram and you’re also a great photographer.

( that was before the tour and after  below )

Anne,

Thank you for your time and expertise today! We so enjoyed our tour today and enjoyed every minute. Please let me know when you’re in NYC and I will connect with you when I’m back in Paris. Thank you,

Mariann

 

Erin B.  from NY :

Hi Anne- quite an impressive background and offering you provide. I’m waiting to discuss with my husband tonight and will get back to you ASAP.

Thanks! Erin

( before the tour)

 

Abe H. from NY

Hi Anne
Thank you so much for your great insight and touring. We had a great time.
We loved he restaurant yesterday for lunch and the girls asked me to ask you for a fun a lot for dinner tonight.
Thanks

 

YEAR   2018

• Sept 2018

– Sarah F. from New Canaan,  Connecticut

Hi Anne

I want to thank you again for making our trip to Paris so memorable, educational and special! We enjoyed our tours very very much.

Best

Sarah

 

– Gene P. and Stephen C. from Forth Worth, Texas

It was an exceptional day we shared. Your expertise is always much appreciated. We shall return.

All my best until then,

Gene

 

– Amy F. from California

Hello Anne,

Before we leave back to the States, I wanted to circle around with you and thank you for your time with us.  As you noted, none of us are educated in art and you did an excellent job of educating beginners such as us and maximizing our time together in the most efficient, enjoyable and practical of ways.  We look forward to seeing you in a future trip.

All the best,

Amy

PS Luke is still in awe that he actually saw the real Mona Lisa!

Marcia B.  from USA :

– Dear Ms. Muraro, congratulations on your very wonderful write up in Departures Magazine! According to Frank and Dana M. you are a wonderful and special guide!

Thank you for trying to include me in your schedule. It doesn’t quite work for me. I promise I will plan further in advance with you for my next trip to Paris.

Until then, all the best.

Warm regards,

Marcia B.

 

– Carolyn H.,  from Carpinteria, California

Dear Anne,

They had the most wonderful day with you. Thank you so much for making Georgia’s first trip to Paris so very special.

Kindest regards, Carolyn

 

– Scott N. , from Washington DC

Anne, MaryAnn and I have not stopped talking on how much we learned from you yesterday and most important also enjoying being with you. We look forward in seeing you on our next visit to Paris. We will also refer you to friends to have the same enrichment we have gained from you. Our best. Scott and MaryAnn N.

 

• August :

 

-Katie K. from USA

After I’ve sent to may client  restaurants suggestions for her trip : 

You’re the best, thank you so much!! I’m hungry already 😉

 

• July :

 

– Hayden H – from Boston

This client offered a tour to friends : 

Ann,  once again, you are the best!!  R and S sent me such a nice note about the AWESOME tour you provided.

We are coming back soon – maybe Le Hotel and lots of shopping.  Will call you.

Makes me so happy.

Cheers,

-HH

 

–Jeremy S.from Deerfield, Ill :

Thank you so very much! Our pleasure you were wonderful to have with us and we got so very much out of our time together.

Alissa his wife  :

Wonderful meeting you and had a great time touring and learning with you.

 

–Jim Gauthier , travel agent from Virtuoso agence in Dallas owned by Strong family, writing  to a virtuso travel agent from Decouvertes :

with this email I refer you to my friend and art expert, Anne Muraro, who lives in Paris, was trained at the Louvre, serves as a guide and consultant for many VIP guests, including American Movie Stars, and is very well connected in the art community in Paris… Anne is the best and I always seek her out for my most discerning clients or those who have an interest in art but need a good teacher to accompany them.

 

• June :

–Adrienne  Harris , senior travel designer from Travel Essentialist, Spain

Hi Anne,

I hope you are having an amazing day!

I just spoke to David and he gave us the most amazing feedback about you. Thank you so much for your efforts and I really look forward to working with you in future.

Kindest regards,

Adrienne

 

-Melinda D.  from USA

Dear Anne.  It is we who thank you.  What a wonderful day you out together for us.  We loved it!!!

Many thanks for your help. And thanks again for a comprehensive and interesting Paris tour!

Best…Melinda.

 

–Carolyn Barry, from Indagare Travel NY

Dear Anne,

How are you? I hope you’re doing well!

I had a phone call with Jonathan B. a few days ago. I wanted to let you know that he had nothing but great things to say about you! The family had a fantastic time in Paris, and said you were “extremely detailed, knowledgable, thorough, and best of all you were attentive with the girls.”

Thank you, again, for all of your help!

Caroline Barry –

 

• April :

– Caroline Barry,  trip designer from Indagare Travel NY

Anne, it has been such a pleasure working with you and I have nothing but good things to say about your services, your organization, and your professionalism / attention to detail, so I look forward to passing along your contact information to my colleagues. I do hope we work together on another Paris trip soon!

All the best,

Caroline

 

• March :

–Robin  S. from NY

Thank you for the great tour of the Louvre we really enjoyed it.

Thank you again for creating such an amazing experience for us…..

Max is asking where you recommend for the Best ham sandwich i promised i would take him today!!!!!

Hope you had a great evening

Best Always, Robin

 

– Caryn B. from NY

Hi Anne –

Thanks for an amazing few days. We all really enjoyed it and are sad to leave Paris! Hopefully we will be back soon.

Best,

Caryn

 

• February :

– Rony Berlin from USA

Thank you Anne for a wonderful tour.  Rae especially loved Montmartre and Effiel Tower plus the walking tours and of course the breads and sweets!! Lunch was perfect.

Merci beaucoup!!

 

– Leslie K. from NY

I hope you are doing well.  It was so nice spending the day with you under blue, glorious skies!!!  Thank you!!

Enjoy the day!  We look forward to our next visit!!

 

• january :

-Pipa Gore from USA

Wow! Your background is fascinating. What incredible experiences you have had! Thank you so much for sending this!

 

– Christie’s  Paris  for their vip client  Benny C. :

Thank you again, Anne. This was really a life saver for us here in Paris.

Thank you Anne, they’ve enjoyed the tour very

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ritzy Therapy, the best remedy for blue monday in January !

How to avoid this usual january blues, especially  after fabulous december’s holidays and great new year’s eve party, looking like a vague memory today…;-)

Ritzy Therapy is my prescription ! How about to start with a massage in Coco Chanel spa, the most refined and stylish spa in the capital ? Among the many sophisticated details you’ll enjoy during your session , please note Colin Field-the legendary Hemingway Bar’s MC- had developed some magic healthy mix just for you, according to the cares you will receive.  Spices, essential oils, plants infusion…will prepare your body deeply meanwhile you will listening to jazz or classic. Heaven on earth !!

Then a nap by the gorgeous swimming pool where you can also lunch or sip delicious smoothies :

When hotels guests will arrive around 5 pm, it’s the perfect moment to leave this enchanted place for a lovely and delicious high tea in salon Proust …Just memorable…

Then it ‘s already  7.30 pm, time to move to mythic Hemingway Bar. Let the charm and …cocktails act !

   

With this Rizty prescription, you will simply love january and its blue monday ! 😉

 

4 memorable days in Montecarlo, Monaco !

We just come back from Montecarlo and that was a memorable and  delicious stay ! We went there for the new Art Fair called ArtMontecarlo that took place in Grimaldi forum, very well located. 39 galleries participated,  the major part were french, belgium, german, italian, among the best ones like Galleria Continua, Almine Rech Gallery, Tornabuoni, Laurent Godin, Eva Meyer, Nathalie Seroussi,  In Situ…The selection was excellent, I invite you to see more pics on my Insta account : parisedeluxearty.

Dalinienne Empire – 1965

When I booked the hotel I didn’t hesitate : Hotel Metropole was my first and unique choice and I was so right ! The best atmosphere in Monaco thanks to Jacques Garcia signature : cosy, elegant, refined, stylish, arty without being too trendy, with an excellent good taste that unifies the ensemble. Actually you feel like living in a marvelous private mansion with a soul. A kind of  best kept secret in Monaco ! I loved the warm library-bar for a drink with friends. The spa is very pleasant, relaxing, and the pool side a dream, moreover  the lunch there was great with the best Pissaladiere I ever had ( french mediterranean specialty, kind of tart with glazed and roasted onions), without speaking of the  xxl tiramisu to share for dessert (see pic below) !

   

The chef of the 2 hotel stared- restaurants is the famous and celebrated french big boss of  haute cuisine : Joel Robuchon . His family name himself looks like a recipe or a french cheese 😉

We tried his amazing japanese restaurant called Yoshi , the first truly  japanese restaurant launched by a french chef. Actually we were very lucky to have a table as this is not huge and always over booked, and I do understand why : this was just beyond ! many people in travel and  luxury business are talking about experience but really, I can tell the difference between a promise and the reality and … you won’t be disappointed by the promise : this place is a true space and time capsule ! Everything was absolutely divine  : the sushis (see 3rd pic below) were perfect, the king crab california rolls were the best I’ve ever had , the lacquered chicken was great…The decor is just breathtaking, totally mingei ( japonese minimalist, very aesthetic and functional) with an amazing chandelier floating above the table ( second pic below) overlooking a contemporary japonese garden (cf just below) . You’re just eating in an artwork !

The first evening after the opening of the Art Fair we had a dinner with art dealers and curators at Nobu in Fairmont hotel that I do recommend also. The flavors , the textures are another tasty experience. Great place for happy dinner with friends. sorry I don’ t have pics…

Among the mythical place to party the Jimmy’s is on the top list and we went there ! The famous auctioneer Simon de Pury,  warmed up the house with his 80’s mix. 

Many people think Monaco is artificial, superficial, all centered on real estate, cars, casino and diamonds…nobody thinks immediately about …museums or contemporary art centers and that’s a big mistake ! I tell you : The Rock- as we say in France- is becoming a place of interest for art lovers, thanks to the great personality of Marie-Claude Beaud,  director of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco ( NMNM), i.e the New National Museum of Monaco, including  Villa Sauber (pic 1 below) – a magnificent villa from Belle Epoque time- showing a global artistic project by Italian artist Francesco Vezzoli called Villa Marlene, tribute to the divine Marlene Dietrich (2nd pic) , meanwhile Villa Paloma from 1013, located on the heights and offering a breathtaking view on the sea, houses  hyper-realist sculptures by Duane Hanson- very freaky ones !- and Thomas Demand tricky images (4th pic). Do not miss also the video by Oscar Murillo called Meet me Mr Superman presented there.

   

 

   

So, no need to be a billionaire with a huge Yacht to enjoy Monaco as you can see.  Art lovers will be more than satisfied by their stay 😉 and I already want to come back in this very Deluxe&Arty place !

 

How to follow Paris ART WEEK until April 3rd ?

Just visit and like my Insta account : parisdeluxearty   😉

https://www.instagram.com/parisdeluxearty

You will find my personal selection for :

• Salon du dessin ( Old Master Drawing Fair) in Bourse (Stock Exchange building)
• Drawing Now (Contemporary Drawing Fair) in Carreau du Temple in Le Marais
• Art Paris Art Fair  in Grand Palais
• PAD (design and decorative art fair) in Tuileries gardens

See you on Insta !

Let’s set Art in life and life in Art …

Parisian Portraits #1- A guy with style…

Thierry, historian of fashion and dress.

I met Thierry 16 years ago , he was designing and making himself, all by hand, wedding dresses and stage costumes ! It was such an incredible work, I found him very gifted and I immediatly noticed his unique style : inspired by past but very contemporary, trendy without being a fashion victime, refusing the dictatorship of brands and magazines.

 

When I asked him recently where his taste for style– even more than fashion- came from, he remembered since he was a very young boy he was both attracted  by ancient portraits showing elegant and stylish people, as well as History. In the meantime he developed a skill for manual work, and loved to customize outfits. Still today he’s able to transform a basic anonymous jacket into a must have for a fashion dressing !

You will be surprised to discover his  favorite motto : I hate shopping ! And that’s right, he doesn’t like to spend – he would say waste– time in shops, he definitly prefers to explore museums, exhibitions, and also jumble sales in Paris flourishing in spring, true treasure chest sometimes ! He always finds the perfect scarf, the right accessory for him and even what he calls learning tool for his students, i.e old outfits in perfect shape from 19th or early 20th century as this gorgeous late 19th century beaded bodice (see pic below showing the backside) to illustrate his courses on fashion history he’s giving in renowned schools like Instituto Marangoni, Marist College, Paris College or Art…

Thierry was first graduate in art history then he decided to transform his passion  into knowledge he would transmit through lectures and courses and now he’s very successful ! His students (european, american, french)  are very fond of his lectures and like to follow him in parisian museums to observe the evolution of fashion in front of art works like in Carnavalet museum which is is the museum of the history of Paris, located in le Marais area, and the ideal place, according to Thierry, to understand parisian style and renowned elegance, through portraits and urban scenes !

Of course the reopening of Galliera museum offers also a great opportunity to study costumes with outstanding temporary exhibitions devoted to a specific fashion designer or  major fashion collections, like the show on display now devoted to Greffulhe countess dressing (she inspired Marcel Proust for his memorable character Guermantes Duchess in famous novel A la recherche du Temps perdu), without forgetting the museum of Fashion and Decorative Art, on Rivoli street, located in the Louvre building, another fabulous place to see splendid exhibitions about costumes and designers.

And to round off this first parisian portrait,  you can see on this pic below, showing a tea time in his own apartment, Thierry is also gifted to create a cosy and refined interior atmosphere in company of selected Dandies 😉

A romantic week-end in Bruges (Belgium)

Last week  we went to Bruges 2 days. That was our 4th stay there but I never had the time to write about it and we enjoyed it so much I thought I should do something about the Venice-of-the-north as people nicknamed it. This city is enchanting, filled with infinite charm that’s why I recommend a hotel the same level : Tuilerieen Hotel, a 4 star charm- hotel , very well located , facing a canal and not far from the historical Grand Place (Great square). We had such a lovely and romantic bed chamber , very cosy, overlooking the canal, offering a great view on mediaeval architecture, with an amazing atmosphere by night :

   

The Spa was just refurbished and we enjoyed the pool after a cold day outside  :

We loved so much the buffet-breakfast with its chocolate fountain 😉

As this is our 4th stay we are used to do a kind of pilgrimage to see the only sculpture by Michel-Angelo in Belgium : it’s the Madonna of Our-Lady church (Notre-Dame), early 16th century, which left Italy from the lifetime of the artist, acquired by wealthy fabric merchants.

We like to stroll in the rooms of Groeningemuseum to admire the splendid flemish primitive artists like Memling or Van Eyck who challenged the imitation of reality with amazing minute details that the use of oil painting allowed.

We always have a lot of fun to rediscover the impressive and extravagant details of Hieronymus Bosch’s Last Judgment :

Bruges is not only a city turned towards the past, you have also contemporary artists exhibited in museums like this month ,and until february 21st, Robert De Vriendt‘s fabulous hyper realist small scale paintings evoking fragmented pieces of tv drama -or web voyeurism- with very seductive colors and appealing manner.

detail of The wood of Love and horror- oil/ canvas- 2011

Food is also an arty contemporary topic today sometimes ! You won’ t be disappointed in Bruges then, from top gastronomic to friendly neo-bistrot or cosy traditional flemish style restaurants, you’ll find what will fit your taste bud and eyes. Here is my top list :

1. De Reften  : top level Bistrot revisiting traditional belgium classic in a contemporary neo70’s like decor. Excellent lunches, always !

2. Poule-Moule : among the best mussels in Bruges, very friendly place, simple and                                    rustic decor

3. Breydel de Conync : The best lobster ! Mussels are very good too. Friendly atmosphere.

4. Lizzie waffles : Simply The best waffles in town !

5. Marcolini chocolates : My favorite high-end chocolate maker ever in Belgium (and also in Paris, in my top 5) !! The best quality , don’t hesitate on more second 😉

Bonus : Aux Merveilleux. Would you like to experience Heaven under you palate ?  A miracle of vaporous cream and aerial meringue, this little dome of pleasure is called Merveilleux, with french/ flemish origins… My favorite is the white one called Incroyable (Uncredible !), tribute to french youngsters who after the Revolution, as a sign of reaction against dark Terror period,  used to parade around Palais Royal area. They wanted to introduce extravagant taste in fashion and original lifestyle, they were nicknamed Incroyables et Merveilleuses and refused to pronounced r letters !

The Boutique is a fairy tale !

Bruges is the perfect trip for lovers, so why not going there for february 14th, Valentine’s day ?! But prepare well your stay as the city is small, the hotels and restaurants will be quickly full booked.

Wish you to fall in love very soon with the Venice of the north 😉

 

Magical Rome !

Buongiorno a tutti !
We just come back from an enchanting 10 days trip to Roma, the Eternal City and I would like to share with you our wonderfull experience.
Rome can be an overwhelming city and I could write many lyrical pages about but I choose today the practical way to introduce the city with a top 3/4/5 list for hotels, restaurant, museums, places.
A kind of speed dating with bellissima Roma 😉
First, I would like to reassure you : according to me the top Luxury way of visiting the city of 400 churches and 300 fountains, is to wander hours and hours with no goals, to stop in cafés on lovely piazza and enjoy Dolce vita. Don’t feel guilty if you don’ t visit ALL the monuments from Roman Times and ALL the churches listed in guides books , what is incredible in Rome is that even seen from outside during your walk everything is splendid, gorgeous and amazing : la Grande Bellezza everywhere !
By the way I do recommend to see the eponymous movie ( La Grande Bellezza by Paolo Sorrentino before your trip).

( Sunset et Villa Medici- French Academy in Rome)

Lets’s start with hotels, here is my top 3 list :
1) Aldrovandi hotel Villa Borghese
If you ‘re travelling in hot season and are looking for a nice pool in a relaxing garden, the place is for you !
This 5 star Luxury retreat is just next to Borghese garden and the Museum of Modern Art, away from the hustle and bustle of roman center.
Ask for Pauline Charles, deputy manager if you need anything there, she’s very professional and charming and will do everything to make your stay memorable.
The buffet by the pool is exquisite, with the best italian seasonal products , all prepared by the team of 2 star Michelin guide chef at home Oliver Glowig. Instill remember the fabulous black truffled peccorino !!
I LOVED also the Spa, very relaxing and the fitness room is great.
My tip : if you don’t stay at the hotel you can nevertheless come and use the pool ( not in high season of course). Please call the hotel before for availability and fees.

2) Hotel de Russie
Sometimes people know just 1 hotel name in Rome and this is it !
Located just next to Santa Maria deĺ Popolo piazza and close to Piazza di Spagna, the Rocco Forte gem is still a great choice with excellent service and refined atmosphere. A perfect balance between tradition and modernity.
I love their garden with the outdoor restaurant, so refreshing to come on sunday for brunches. All the waiters are very friendly and very professional.

3) JK Place
If you like Design and contemporary art in a top Luxury and trendy atmosphere and want to stay in the center, don’t look further more and book here immediatly ! As you may know I’ m an art historian and collector and that ‘s the first time I was really impressed by the decor and amenities. I’m a fan ! more over the selection of art works is just perfect.
The service is so charming and very attentive !
I’m looking forward to discovering next year the roof top terrace.

Top 5 restaurants :
1) a gastronomic experience with 2 starred chef Oliver Glowig at Aldrovandi Villa Borghese.
The chef is german but great expert in italian products with a high Technical level ! a real work of art in your plate and a delight for your palate.
His reference is french chef Pierre Gagnaire and we can say he’s reaching the Master.
My tip : at the end of the meal, if you can’t take any more , don’t be shy to ask for a box for your macarons and chocolates ! I can tell you you’ll be happy the day after !

2) In institution : Pierluigi , especially for fishes.Great choice ! Actually you choose yourself the one you want , on display inside.Elena, the hostess is adorable and very efficient. You need to book as this  is a must in Rome ! When we had dinner there, Alex Baldwin was also in the place. Many beautiful people from fashion, media business, mixed with local big wheels … In summer, having the diner outside is a lovely experience, the facade around are so theatrical !

3) Trendy and (very) young : Bar del Fico . Outside : Amazing cool crowd  for a drink by night ! Inside : funky salvage decor , open kitchen, delicious pasta with truffles ! Parisian will understand :  it’s a kind of Oberkampf style. Don’t mind their website with this impossible video of a woman running naked over the table …still try to understand myself !

4) Casual, unformal, kind of old school, but delicious : Corallo. The best scaloppine with truffles ! My friends love also the pizzas very much.

5) A fooding experience in Trastevere in the new Sotto-Sopra ( via di Ponte Sisto 67). Very friendly welcome and service. Original and italian in the same time, very tasty and creative. Nice contemporary design, not cold at all, food-manufacture style.

Bonus : it looks like a tourist trap but not at all ! Try absolutely  the Tartufo at the Tre Scalini on Piazza Novanona , it’s a real chocolate  bomb !! Just WAOW !

 

Top 3 museums : 

I know there are many more worthy to visit, but if you had only time for 3 museums here is the ones I would recommend :

1) The Vatican Museum for its amazing and gorgeous collection of Antiques first, a great source of inspiration for Art since they were exhibited, second reason to be mixed with the huge touristy crowd  :   Michel Angelo’s sistine chapel ceiling ! No need to add more ! You absolutely need to book online to avoid endless queue. And better to visit St Peter later  in the afternoon. More than a tour it’s an experience to be inside.

2) Borghese Gallery for the lovely, exquisite and splendid Berninis ! My favorite is Apollo and Daphne . For paintings : the Caravaggios of course are a must see ( the Boy with fruit basket – the Madonna of the groom…)

3) The Museum of Modern Art : located  near the famous Borghese gardens, a rich collection of modern masters you wouldn’t expect to see in Rome. Actually the biggest collection in Italy of Modern Art, but it looks like few people know it only. A kind of best kept secret 😉 With gems like Kandinsky, Albers, Klimt, de Nittis, italian futurist, Manzoni (see pic), Fontana, Cruz-Diez…

Venice 2013 for the 55th Biennale of Art : my favorite rendez-vous !

What I like first with the Biennale in Italy is that I know I will always travel to my prefered city each 2 years at the minimum !

So here we are back to Paris after a fantastic trip, 12 days of artistic discoveries and marvellous meetings…

We started with La Punta della Dogana (Pinault Collection) where we liked the amazing installation by Ryan Trecartin and I especially loved James Lee Byars installation that looked like a self-portrait :

The day after we went to the Palazzo Grassi to admire Rudolf Stingel total art work. I really enjoy his abstract/figurative artworks , reflexion on creation based on reproduced/printed artwork after photographs and tension between decorative/ abstract/ firgurative.  I liked also the dimension of unease and grostesque introduced in his figurative artworks.

If you want to sip one og the best Bellini in town, take advantage after your tour in Palazzo Grassi to stop at this new hotel (opened 2 years ago) next door called “Palazzina Grassi” designed by french famous designer Starck. Sounds like  a mix of Royal Monceau and Le Meurice on a reduced scale. ! A very good bar and restaurant for rainy day more than a summer spot but the peaches in our cocktail were so tasty, heaven !

       

My favorite pavilion  this year was Denmark with videos and installation by Jesper Just : “The project will consist of five films played simultaneously on a loop that examine “architectural pastiche and cultural dislocation,” no need to say more, I was mesmerized !

I was impressed also by the belgium pavillion with Berlinde de Bruykhere : amazing sculpture , a dramatic mix of  nature and organic that haunts the place

In the american pavilion  Sarah Sze  organizes and arranges obsessionnally and in an extraordinary way, like  in small universes,  the chaos of little ordinary things that surrounds us.

The french pavilion -of course !-with Henri Sala and his Ravel-Unravel, because of Ravel for sure!  I just would say :  no Rival for Ravel !

Speaking about music I did enjoy very much the performance of DJ in Israelian pavilion.

You’ve got my top 5 for Giardini !

In the central pavilion there was another exquisite James Lee Byars work and I liked also Melvin Motti video very much.

     

The most impressive room was the works of  Serra matching prefectly with Thierry de Cordier dark seascapes. Very dramatic (sorry I don’t have the Serras on pic ! ).

I liked very much the Arsenale this year which is rare ! The place is such a big challenge usually, for many reason, first of all its  raw beauty trapping the gaze, not easy to hang works…then the number of work generally displayed ! but this year the curator (Massimiliano Gioni) made really an effort to offer an exhibition with a hanging “readable”,  clearer, and accessible,  despite a (too much) ambitious title :  “Il palazzo enciclopedico” !

Among the outstanding works we highly appreciated the video by french artist Camille Henrot “Grosse Fatigue’ , the artist was rewarded a silver lion and I discovered also the radiant work of Eugene Von Bruechenhein :

Don’ t miss room N°10 in the Arsenale, curated by Cindy Sherman ! a strange family air is floating around..

At Ca’ Pesaro, the museum of Modern Art famous for his gorgeous Klimt , “Judith or Salome”  don’t miss too the exhibition of ( a part of)  Sonnabend collection !

Illeana Sonnabend was one of the greatest art dealer and collector (1914-2007), she a been married to Leo Castelli. There is NO fault or mistake in this exhibition !

I loved  the room showing Larry bell ‘s cube next to Dan Flavin, Peter Halley, McCracken (not on pic) : just perfect !

    

Without speaking of majestuous Keith Sonnier :

Venice is not a just a city turned towards the past as you can see and Peggy Guggenheim knew it too , choosing Palazzo Venier dei Leoni as her residence and then Foundation. I did enjoy the exhibition of a recent donation : Hannelore and Rudolph B. Schulhof. Even the works on paper or small size works were very well selected like Ryman or Bridget Riley :

       

If you go to Venice this fall, I do recommend also “Glasstress” in front of Academia, based on use of glass in contemporary art, always surprising and seducing ! One of my favorite this year  : Mat Collishaw, “East of Eden”  and Paul Fryer , “Nebula” :

   

Prada Foundation proposes this year a very challenging exhibition, curated by Germano Celant : the exact replica of an artistic milestone, shown in Bern in 1969 : “When attitudes become forms” . Well, for the  generation born after this year,  is the opportunity is see gathered in one place the foundations stones of what some would call “contemporary art”. This is there that we learnt the death of Walter De Maria a week ago and we were so sad he couldn’t call us on the phone anymore, as he used to do from time to time (he did it for the opening). We would have loved to tell him we were great fans of his work and we did liked the installation in the last room of the Corderie in the Arsenale…

One of my dear friend working with Prada Foundation has also an uncle in Venice who opened recently a wine bar called All’Amarone, calle del Lughaner in San Polo, not far from Rialto market.  It was of course on my top list ! we went and loved the place : taditional wooden decor with a touch of crazy design (the bottles are refreshed in a glowing red bath tub!), excellent choices for italian wines of course and delicious cicchetti with tasty prosciutto, mozarella…the perfect vineria I now recommend.

In Venice you can change easily you perspective and point of view going to Giudecca island for example in Zitelle district, for a dinner at I Figli delle Strelle where you can enjoy a gorgeous view on the Palazzo Ducale. Trendy restaurant with 50’s touch inside and excellent sea food

      

And I ‘ve kept the best (kept secret)  for the end : the recent openig -last june- of Aman Palace in Venice after 2 years restoration with the best craftmen !  imagine a traditional venitian palazzo offering 24 high end luxury rooms : the perfect balance between contemporary design- so refined and elegant with an asian touch in the sophistication-  and the highest beauty of a typical venitain private mansion ! You just feel like beeing a guest of an aristocratic venitian family. Moreover you can have the privilege to enjoy a lovely dinner in a fabulous dinnig room overlooking Grand Canal, in an exquisite thai version or in original version with delicious venitian specialties revisited. We did appreciated the welcome, the service, the dinner, the decor…well it was absolutly Deluxe&Arty from the beginning to the end of our stay !  and that’s my favorite address now in Venice for sure I recommend to my clients. http://www.amanresorts.com/amancanalgrandevenice/theresort.aspx

        

Catherine d’Espiney’ s enchanting jewels : a love story between Brazil and France…

                   

I’ve met recently a princess of an enchanted world hidden not far from famous Avenue Montaigne. A  woman of great taste who studied Art History at prestigious Ecole du Louvre (like me) and artist herself : Catherine d’Espiney. Since her childhood she developped a passion for odd objects, “curiositas”, and jewellery, especially russian ones (surely her russian roots from her mother). Then she settled down in Brazil, studied gemology, collected brazilian precious stones and had the splendid idea to create unique jewel pieces,  echoing the french tradition, using only brazilian stones and realized thanks to the amazing skill of  local craftmen. All hand made only, all unique, like Haute Couture items , they like look powerful charms, magnifiying the woman who is wearing them.

Not for a shy lady for sure ! “I don’t like small things” she says !

These exceptional and exclusive pieces of jewellery with personality tell the admirer stories, like an artwork, and sparkle many coloured universes , they are so Deluxe&Arty !

I invite you to visit her website to see more !  http://www.magic.art.br/cathdespiney/entree.php?id=en