CITY MOUSE

MY DAILY BREAD

2010-02-03T07:09:00.000-08:00

I LOVE MADRID...THE LIFESTYLE IS JUST SO IDEAL

LUNCH...IS...LONG...AND IT FORCES YOU TO SIT BACK AND RELAX FOR A BIT!

CALLE DE VELAZQUEZ -- MY FAVOURITE STREET IN MADRID

MY FRIEND AND I DID PAIN QUOTIDIEN ON CALLE VELAZQUEZ TODAY FOR LUNCH...IT WAS SUCH A NICE SUNNY DAY...WE DID IT AL FRESCO

"IT LITERALLY MEANS 'DAILY BREAD'"

OKAY, OKAY, IT IS NOT EXACTLY THE MOST EXOTIC OF PLACES TO EAT...ITS AN ORGANIC BAKERY..WITH SO MANY DELECTABLE DISHES...WANT A NICE, HEALTHY MEAL? PAIN QUOTIDIEN...

FOR ME...ENSALADA DE BUFALA CON TOMATE Y RUCULA

(DRIZZLED WITH THEIR ORGANIC OLIVE OIL AND SOME PARM SHAVINGS..UFFF)

I HAD A LITTLE GLASS OF WHITE WINE WITH IT...THE BEST

FOR MY FRIEND..QUICHE LORRAINE

FOR DESSERT...MY CAFE CORTADO AND...

RASPBERRY AND BLUEBERRY TART...YES...ORGANIC AND UTTERLY DELISH

THE BEST THING ABOUT PAIN IS THAT YOU CAN FIND IT ALL OVER THE WORLD!! IF YOU ARE IN ANY OF THESE PLACES AND YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A GOOD PLACE TO GO...

...AUSTRALIA, BAHRAIN, BELGIUM, CANADA, FRANCE, GERMANY, KUWAIT, MEXICO, NETHERLANDS, QATAR, RUSSIA, SPAIN, SWITZERLAND, TURKEY, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES...

I TOLD YOU! NOT EXOTIC...BUT ALWAYS GOOD!

I'M LEAVING TO GO SKIING TOMORROW..GUESS WHERE! SWITZERLAND! I AM TOO EXCITED...TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT WHEN I GET BACK

SUNNY DAYS AND TRUFFLE BIKINIS

2010-01-30T07:43:00.000-08:00

IT WAS SUCH A SUNNY DAY IN BARCELONA!

RAMBLA CATALUNYA

THE PLAN WAS TO GO STROLL AROUND AND HAVE LUNCH AT THE BOQUERIA ON LAS RAMBLAS BUT WE DECIDED AGAINST IT...THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE OVERWHELMING FOR THOSE OF US THAT WERE HUNGOVER...FROM DRINKING COFFEE ALL NIGHT...

INSTEAD WE WENT FOR LUNCH AT TAPAS24 TO HAVE THE GREATEST THING ON EARTH..TRUFFLE BIKINIS...

WHAT IS A BIKINI YOU ASK?

OHH LALA... IT'S A HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH...

BUT A (JAMON DE JABUGO) AND MOZZARELLA SANDWICH...ITS DIFFERENT...SPANISH HAM ROCKS MY WORLD...

...AND THIS ONE HAS GOT GRATED BLACK TRUFFLES AND THE CRUST CUT OFF...OHH LALA..

ON THE CORNER OF STREETS PASSEIG DE GRACIA AND DIPUTACIO, THIS PLACE IS ALWAYS FULL...AND I MEAN PACKED...BUT SO WORTH IT...

THEY AREN'T ENTERING, THEY ARE WAITING

VIEW OF THE KITCHEN

PATATAS BRAVAS

ORDER THE ALCACHOFAS FRITAS (FRIED ARTICHOKES) TOO...SO GOOD

MY WALK BACK--CARRERA DE ROSELLO

TE QUIERO BARCELONA

2010-01-30T02:09:00.000-08:00

BUENOS DIAS FROM ROOM MATE EMMA IN BARCELONA!

VIEW OF CARRER ROSSELLO FROM MY 3RD FLOOR HOTEL ROOM

THIS HOTEL IS SO CUTE MY HEAD IS EXPLODING...I EXAGGERATE...

MY ROOM

ROOM MATE EMMA IS THE NEW ADDITION TO THE ROOM MATE CHAIN, AND I MUST SAY THAT I AM QUITE IMPRESSED....I AM A BIG FAN OF SMALL BOUTIQUE HOTELS...

BIG HOTELS ARE BULLIES

OKAY, OKAY, THERE IS NO SIGN OF ROOM SERVICE THAT I CAN SEE...I AM BUMMED ABOUT THAT...BUT IF GOD CLOSES A DOOR, HE OPENS A WINDOW...

THEY SERVE BREAKFAST 'TILL NOON AND FREE WIFI! FINALLY!! A HOTEL THAT CATERS TO THE HUNGOVER! ...FROM DRINKING COFFEE ALL NIGHT OF COURSE! ;)

GREAT LATE DAY BREAKFAST BUFFET...BRIE, TORTILLA, AND FRESH TOMATO FOR PAN AMB TOMAQUET (HOW I LOOOVE TOMAQUET)

SO HERE I AM...11:30AM...ON MY COMPUTER, POST BREAKFAST WITH BBC NEWS IN THE BACKGROUND TELLING ME SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF J.D. SALINGER HAVING BEEN THE INVENTOR OF TEEN ANGST...

I AM SOO LOOKING FORWARD TO FOOD TRIPPING IN THE BOQUERIA FOR LUNCH...

BARCELONA-ING

2010-01-28T15:04:00.000-08:00

JANUARY 29, 2010

BARCELONA FOR THE WEEKEND!!

PAIR IN PARK GUELL -- BARCELONA, MAY 2009

HOLIDAYS IN VANCOUVER

2010-01-28T10:09:00.000-08:00

WHEN I MOVED AWAY FROM VANCOUVER, I HAD NO IDEA I WOULD MISS IT SO MUCH, PLUS...MY COUSIN/SISTER I NEVER HAD (SHE HAS A GREAT BLOG BTW) LIVES THERE AND IT WAS SO GREAT TO BE BACK!

SO I AM PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE BACK FOR A WHILE TO REPLENISH MY PHOTO REPERTOIRE, I'LL JUST PUT UP SPORADIC POSTS ON STUFF I DID DURING MY TRIP THERE! ...SOUND GOOD? :)

GRANVILLE ST., VANCOUVER -- DECEMBER 2009

...OF COURSE, UNLESS YOU LIVE UNDER A ROCK, VANCOUVER IS HOSTING THE WINTER OLYMPICS THIS FEBRUARY AND THERE WAS SO MUCH EXCITEMENT IN THE AIR THIS YEAR!

GASTOWN

I LOVE GASTOWN. IT IS VANCOUVER'S SOHO...EVERYONE VISITING MUST, MUST, MUST TAKE A STROLL DOWN ITS COBBLESTONE STREETS...

HAVING BEEN THE LOCATION OF "INDUSTRIAL VANCOUVER," GASTOWN'S OLD FACTORIES HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO TRENDY STORES AND AMAZING LOFTS...IT IS THE HOME OF VANCOUVER'S MOST INTERESTING CROWDS--TO SAY THE LEAST!!

IF YOU GO TO GASTOWN WHEN THE SUN COMES DOWN (THAT RHYMES)...DON'T BE TAKEN ABACK BY FOLKS ASKING FOR MONEY OR DRAGS OF YOUR CIGARETTE...JUST...SAY..NO...

THINGS TO DO:

STEAM CLOCK --

It's a Steam clock that chimes every four minutes or so...kind of cool

SALT TASTING ROOM --

My favourite restaurant in the whole wide world...I already wrote about it..check it out

LAMPLIGHTER --

Love this bar...catch a Canucks hockey game here..turns into a nightclub on weekends..get there early

THE BLACK FROG --

Awesome bar...those who are late for Lamplighter go here!

STEAM CLOCK ON WATER ST.

OUR GREAT DINNER AT SALT...THOSE GLASSES WERE ALL OURS

UP THE STREET -- "ALIFE IS BEAU TIFUL"

UNTIL NEXT TIME! HAVE TO PACK FOR MY WEEKEND IN BARCELONA! STAY TUNED...

HAPPY 2010

2010-01-27T10:53:00.000-08:00

Wow, major hiatus from blogging...Christmas Holidays you know! :)

last night I realized that I have all these random blog entries from random places with random things and I think an introduction and blog overhaul is in order!

A little background info...I am a city mouse at heart...grew up in the Philippines, moved to the wonderful city of Vancouver to finish University...first 20 something years of my life

Ever since I remember, I have always loved to travel...cities especially...there is something about the air, the restaurants, the way of life...

...six months ago, my life took a major turn for the lucky and I got the opportunity to go and live in Madrid, Spain for about a year...and that's what I did.. :)

So here I am in Spain with the countries of Europe in the palm of my hand, and it is amazing...

This blog is really to share my travels and discoveries with you! Hotels, restaurants, stores and everything else the city can offer you...Hey, maybe you can find some of this stuff useful when you city hop yourself! Enjoy!

OH! And pictures...lots of pictures!

My first trip to Paris in Summer 2009...you will see a few Paris entries here

...haven't been back yet but I intend to very soon..

FORTY CARROTS --NEW YORK CITY

2009-12-18T06:41:00.000-08:00

PEOPLE! ANOTHER REASON TO GO TO BLOOMINGDALES

fortyCARROTS frozenYOGURT

BLOOMINGDALES ON 59TH AND LEX

BURIED INSIDE THE BLOOMINGDALE'S 7TH FLOOR BEDDING DEPARTMENT, THIS TREASURE OF A RESTAURANT IS A BIT OF A PAIN IN THE ASS TO FIND, BUT ONCE YOU DO...THE MECCA OF ALL THINGS FROZEN YOGURT...YES, BETTER THAN PINK BERRY...

SO I ASKED MY NEW YORKER FRIEND IF HE KNEW ABOUT THIS PLACE..HE SAID..."I DON'T GO TO BLOOMINGDALES.." WHHAAAT?

THE GREATEST/WEIRDEST THING ABOUT FORTY CARROTS IS THAT WHEN I LOOK AROUND, EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN THEIR OWN...NO SHARING HERE.. CHUNKY PEOPLE, SKINNY PEOPLE, YOU NAME IT..AND SOMEONE SHARES THE SAME OBSERVATION!

dailyFLAVORS

SUNDAY: BLUEBERRY

MONDAY: MANGO

TUESDAY: BANANA

WEDNESDAY: STRAWBERRY

THURSDAY: PEANUT BUTTER

FRIDAY: RASPBERRY

SATURDAY: BUTTER PECAN

PERSONALLY, I LIKE THE PLAIN FLAVOR MYSELF

MISSION: TRY GETTING FOUR FLAVORS IN ONE CUP

PLAIN, TANGY FRO-YO TOPPED WITH HONEY, WHEAT GERM AND STRAWBERRIES

THE DESIGN OF THE PLACE IS NOT TOO SHABBY EITHER

JAPAWIENERS IN VANCOUVER

2009-12-04T03:13:00.000-08:00

NOT SO LONG AGO, I WAS A STUDENT IN VANCOUVER..DORMING OF COURSE..AND I LONGED TO LIVE DOWNTOWN. I'M A CITY MOUSE. MY BROTHER HAD A LITTLE PLACE ON BURRARD STREET (one of the main streets in Downtown Vancouver) AND I WOULD GO STAY THERE AS OFTEN AS I COULD.

...I LOVELOVELOVE BURRARD STREET...

...THE UPTOWN OF DOWNTOWN...

PERFECT LOCATION....STARBUCKS...SCOTIABANK THEATRE...IGA...SUTTON PLACE WINE MERCHANT

AND

japaDOG

AWW, PLEASE READ THEIR SLOGAN?

ON BURRARD AND SMITHE

JAPADOG IS AN ASIAN TWIST TO AN AMERICAN CLASSIC...A MULTITUDE OF JAPANESE CONDIMENTS OF YOUR CHOICE ARE ADDED TO THE WIENIE...TURNING IT INTO AN INCREDIBLY WEIRD, YET UTTERLY TASTY STREET MEAL

THE MOST POPULAR HOTDOG THEY HAVE IS THE TERIMAYO...BUT MY PERSONAL FAVOURITE IS DEFINITELY THE OROSHI...BUT SEE FOR YOURSELF..

HERE WE HAVE THE OROSHI, THE TERIMAYO AND SOME CONCOCTION WITH WATERCRESS...BEATS ME...

AFTER YOU BUY YOURSELF A TERIMAYO AND A SOFTDRINK...WALK DOWN ONE BLOCK AND RIGHT ON ROBSON STREET

theVAGsteps

VERY MUCH THE LITTLE MET..YES, NEW YORK..WE HAVE ONE TOO

VANCOUVER ART GALLERY, ROBSON STREET

WE ALL KNOW THAT HOT DOG STANDS ARE STAPLES OF CITY LIVING...THERE IS NOTHING LIKE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND GRABBING A HOTDOG ON THE GO...FOR SOME REASON, IT DOESN'T SEEM AS FATTENING WHEN YOU EAT IT ON THE STEPS OF THE VAG VIS-A-VIS VANCOUVER'S "ARTEEESTS," STUDENT'S, STREET VENDORS AND ROBSON STREET SHOPPERS...

...ENJOY YOUR WIENER...HA

GOODNIGHTFRIENDS!

BILL CUNNINGHAM--NEW YORK

2009-12-02T13:27:00.000-08:00

...I LOVE BILL CUNNINGHAM. HE IS THE ORIGINAL NEW YORK MOUSE...

BILL CUNNINGHAM: ON THE STREET

VESTED

VIDEO BELOW: PLAY WHILE READING

"HELLO, THIS IS BILL CUNNINGHAM, ON THE STREET IN NEW YORK...AND IT'S A VERY EXCITING TIME OF YEAR WHEN AUTUMN REALLY HITS....AND IN THE FASHION WORLD, THE SWEEPING STATEMENT BY MANY WOMEN WAS THE SLEEVELESS VEST, OR SWEATER, OR FUR OR SOMETHING THAT IS TRANSITIONAL, OR TAKES THEM OUT OF THE WARMER WEATHER BUT ISN'T INTO WINTER COATS YET..AND IT LOOKED LIKE A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU GO TO BUSINESS, IT'S QUITE COOL. BUT BY THE TIME THE SAME WOMEN GO OUT TO LUNCH, IT'S WARMED UP, YOU SEE...SO IT HAS THE SPIRIT OF NEW YORK AT THIS TIME, THE WEATHER, THE CHANGE, DOING DIFFERENT THINGS, DRESSING DIFFERENTLY...AND IT'S SOMETHING THE WOMEN HAVE SOLVED THEMSELVES."

THAT'S THE FASCINATION OF THIS...IT'S NOTHING REALLY THAT COMES FROM A FASHION HOUSE, AND TO ME THAT IS VERY...VERY MODERN..

...I THINK ITS SIMPLY MARVELOUS, YOU KNOW, TO SEE IT..

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT, AND AS THE FASHION WORLD DESIGNERS 15 YEARS AGO SAID,

"DO YOUR OWN THING.."

TO VIEW A BETTER QUALITY VIDEO GOT TO THE NY TIMES ARCHIVE

MAMA SHELTER-PARIS

2009-12-01T02:24:00.000-08:00

LE MARAIS, PARIS, 2009

" A DESIRE. A CITY. PARIS. THE WORLD CAPITAL OF TOURISM. PARIS. A PLACE OF REFUGE. EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

THE 20TH ARRONDISEMENT IS NOT ONE OF PARIS' BEST LOVED CORNERS AND YET IT IS THE HOME OF ONE OF IT'S HIPPEST SPOTS.

mamaSHELTER

paris

A FORMER CARPARK THAT HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO A STYLISH AND INNOVATIVE NEW HOTEL, RESTAURANT AND BAR

109 rue de bagnolet

PARIS, 75020

theNEIGHBORHOOD

SAINT BLAISE; 2Oth arrondisement

"...REBEL CHARACTER AND CITY LIFE AT A COUNTRY PACE...MAMA SHELTER:THE KEY TO A CITY. MAMA, YOUR MAMA, OUR MAMA, EVERYONE'S MAMA. THIS IS YOUR SHELTER, OUR

SHELTER. A SHELTER FOR EVERYONE.."

THE ENTIRE GROUND FLOOR IS GIVEN OVER TO THE WINING AND DINING SIDE OF THE OPERATION. THERE IS A LARGE ISLAND BAR SURROUNDED BY SOFAS

DJ DECKS ARE TUCKED IN THE CORNER (which come into play later in the night) AND THERE IS A MORE FORMAL DINING AREA WITH PREDICTABLE QUIRKY AND COLORFUL CHAIRS.

AND HOW MUCH DO WE LOVE THE CHALKBOARD FLOORS, WALLS, AND CEILINGS?

...VERY MUCH...

WHILE THE DESIGN IS VERY MUCH AT THE HEART OF THE SET UP, THE FOOD AND DRINK DON'T LAG FAR BEHIND. THE MENU IS SIMPLER THAN THE MORE CUTTING EDGE ELEMENTS ELSEWHERE WOULD SUGGEST. BUT THIS IS NO COMPLAINT AS EVERYTHING IS DONE SIMPLY BUT VERY WELL INDEED. THERE IS ALSO AN EXCITING WINELIST AND CHEESE PLATE IS PARTICULARLY EXCELLENT (well this is Paris after all). THE BARTENDERS ARE ALSO HIGHLY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CAN MIX A KILLER COCKTAIL.

BONNUITMESAMIS!

SALT TASTING ROOM--VANCOUVER

2009-11-30T08:41:00.000-08:00

LET'S FACE IT, VANCOUVER HAS YET TO BE COMMENDED FOR ITS FOOD TRIP POTENTIAL

CALLING FOODIES AROUND THE WORLD. DISCOVER VANCOUVER. IT'S NEXT TO SEATTLE.

saltTASTINGroom

45 BLOOD ALLEY, GASTOWN

VANCOUVER BC, CANADA

THIS IS MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IN ALL OF VANCOUVER. THE FIRST PLACE I TAKE FRIENDS WHO VISIT.

THE LOCATION IS NOT WHAT US VANCOUVERITES CALL WELCOMING. LOCATED IN BLOOD ALLEY, A TINY, OFF BEAT STREET IN GASTOWN (Vancouver's Soho). THE SALT TASTING ROOM IS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE ALL TOGETHER.

THE MENU IS SIMPLE.

GUESTS ASSEMBLE A TASTING PLATE FROM THE CHALKBOARD'S SELECTION OF

10 CHEESES

10 MEATS

10 CONDIMENTS

THE SELECTIONS CHANGE CONSTANTLY, MAKING IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE THE SAME SALT EXPERIENCE TWICE.

WHAT I DO, HOWEVER, SINCE I KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT PAIRING WINE, CHEESE, AND MEAT AS I DO ABOUT ASTROPHYSICS...I SUBMIT MYSELF TO THE OH SO TALENTED WAITSTAFF.

AND BOY DO THEY KNOW THEIR STUFF.

MENU GOOD FOR TWO

THAT THEY CHOOSE FOR YOU

BUTCHER PLATE ($15)

(3 meats + 3 condiments)

CHEESE MONGER PLATE ($15)

( 3 cheeses + 3 condiments)

WINE FLIGHT ($15)

(three 2 oz. tasters)

...or if you are visiting British Columbia for the first time...

BEST OF BC PLATE ($15)

(mix of 3 locally produced items = 3 condiments)

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE MENU

MY FAVOURITE PAIRINGS:

Ash Camembert w/ Quince (aka. Membrillo)

Blue Cheese w/ Honey Comb

RESERVATIONS

IMAGES TAKEN FROM www.salttastingroom.com

GOODNIGHTFRIENDS!

DANZIGER PROJECTS --NEW YORK

2009-11-30T07:05:00.000-08:00

danzigerPROJECTS

COOLEST PHOTO GALLERY IN THE CITY

534 West 24th Street

IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO GO, IT IS REALLY WORTH IT

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS:

"GREATNESS"

ANDY WARHOL POLAROIDS OF SPORTS CHAMPIONS

October 31 - December 12 (2009)

KAREEM ABDUL JABAR, 1977

PELE, 1977

DOROTHY HAMIL, 1977

MUHAMMAD ALI, 1977

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS:

ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH

December 3 - December 6 (2009)

MILTON ROGOVIN

In Celebration of his 100th Birthday

December 17 - January 16 (2009)

LUXE CITY GUIDE --MADRID

2009-11-27T13:46:00.000-08:00

GRAN VIA, MADRID, NOVEMBER 2009

I LOVE TO TRAVEL...AND FINDING THE PERFECT TRAVEL GUIDE CAN BE A CHORE. THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY TOO MANY.

...FOR ALL THE CITY MICE OUT THERE...

LUXEcityGUIDES

I WAS GIVEN THREE MEMBERS OF THIS MARVELOUS LITTLE COLLECTION AS A GIFT WHEN I MOVED TO SPAIN.

"IT IS SUCCINCT, SHARP AND CRAMMED WITH PRICELESS INFORMATION...STYLISH, BRUTALLY FRANK, AND SOMETIMES FRANKLY BRUTAL."

MY LUXE CITY GUIDE

madrid

THESE PORTABLE LITTLE BOOKLETS ARE GREAT GIFT IDEA. CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE FOR THE AVAILABLE BOX SETS

LUXE CATERS TO ALOT OF OTHER CITY MICE

BARCELONA

BERLIN

DUBAI

FLORENCE

ISTANBUL

LONDON

MADRID

MILAN

PARIS

ROME

VENICE

CHICAGO

LOS ANGELES

MIAMI

NEW YORK

MELBOURNE

SYDNEY

BALI

BANGKOK

BEIJING

CAMBODIA

CHIANG MAI

HANOI

HO CHI MINH

HONG KONG

PHUKET

SEOUL

SHANGHAI

SINGAPORE

SRI LANKA

TOKYO

BUENASNOCHESAMORES!

ART OF THE TRENCH

2009-11-27T01:40:00.000-08:00

AUTUMN IN REGENT STREET, LONDON, OCTOBER 2009

HAPPY AUTUMN!

I JUST LOVE LIVING IN A PLACE THAT GIVES US ALL SEASONS OF THE YEAR. I DO ENVY THE TROPICS (boy do I envy the tropics), BUT OH THE FOUR SEASONS...DON'T WE LOVE THEM?

theARTofTHEtrench

BURBERRY

BURBERRY JUST CAME OUT WITH A PRETTY, CLEVER, AND PRETTY CLEVER CAMPAIGN CALLED "THE ART OF THE TRENCH" . ITS A COMPILATION OF STREET PHOTOS TAKEN BY THE AMAZING SCOTT SCHUMAN (aka the sartorialist)...PHOTOS OF BURBERRY TRENCHES SPORTING THEIR PEOPLE.

THE CAMPAIGN IS A BIT YOUNG, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE GREATNESS COMING AT YOU FROM A MILE AWAY ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PHOTOGRAPHER REPERTOIRE BUILDS UP.

PERSONALLY, I LIKED BURBERRY, BUT NEVER LOVED IT. I ALWAYS SAW IT AS A BRAND THAT SCREAMED ITS OWN NAME.

BUT THAT HAS CHANGED

CHEERIODARLINGS!