I came across this Slim Aarons photo of the Hon Desmond Guinness and his children in Town & Country magazine some time ago and never forgot those striking sets of blue eyes. Originally printed in 1963 in Holiday magazine, the shot was snapped at Guinness’ then recently acquired estate, Ireland’s Leixlip Castle. Would you just look at that ikat jacket? Pure divinity! It may just be the most striking family photo of all time…
(Image from here)
I came across these musings about Paris in Maira Kalman’s New York Times archives and just had to share them with someone. They were posted in November 2006 and remain as charming as ever. To view the full post be sure to visit HERE. She went to some of the most magnificent places, don’t you think?
(All images by Maira Kalman courtesy of The New York Times)
In her “New Antiquarians” article (see today’s earlier post) New York Times writer Penelope Green made several mentions of The JANE hotel in New York. Curious as always, I headed over to the hotel’s website and just look what I found! The site itself is a collage of quirky, vintage inspired pieces and prints that together create a masterpiece. I can’t remember the last time I stumbled across such a feast for the eyes (their graphic designer is a genius). Renovated by Sean MacPherson and Eric Goode (the masterminds behind New York’s Bowery Hotel and the Waverly Inn restaurant), The Jane boasts 200 rooms in its waterfront location in the West Village. The best part? They begin at only $99 a night!
Targeting young travelers with “more dash than cash,” MacPherson and Goode wanted to create a hotel that reflected the idiosyncratic New York one might have still been able to find in the eighties, but is increasingly rare today. They captured this eccentric bohemia by creating cozy 50-square-foot rooms modeled after luxury train cabins complete with modern day conveniences such as free high-speed internet and flat screen TVs. Due to the small rooms, MacPherson and Goode hope their guests will socialize in the hallways, the communal-style European bathrooms, and the lobby which once housed the gritty Jane Street Theater and is being restored to its original grandeur. There are also plans to restore the basement’s hand-tiled swimming pool—doesn’t it sound magical? Having been a haven for sailors in the 1920′s, the building was first built in 1907 and its claim to Manhattan history is having sheltered survivors of the Titanic in 1912. Would somebody please book me a room?
(All images courtesy of www.thejanenyc.com)
