Venice Architecture Biennale

Venice’s other Biennale will begin in just a few weeks.  No, not the art one. No, not the film one either. The architecture one.  With Venice’s cycle of Biennales it’s sometimes hard to keep track, but it also means that they’ve got putting together large-scale well organized events down pat.

The 12th Architecture Exhibition is directed by Kazuyo Sejima, the Japanese architect widely recognized for her talent, vision, and commitment, for which she was just awarded a Pritzker Prize.  As the first woman to ever be selected to direct the Architecture Biennale, it will be interesting to see if the event, titled “People Meet in Architecture” offers a different perspective from previous exhibitions.

We’re especially excited to check out the Irish Pavilion, which seeks to investigate Ireland’s cultural landscape through the work of de Blacam and Meagher (who designed White Line’s own Inis Meain Restaurant & Suites on the Aran Islands – pictured).  Curators Tom dePaor, Peter Maybury, Alice Casey and Cian Deegan have chosen the work of de Blacam and Meagher because it has permeated Ireland over the last 34 years through their design of houses, commercial, educational environments, and places of worship.

The Venice Architecture Biennale runs from 29th August – 21st November 2010.  If your planning a trip to Venice for the any of the Biennale, base yourself at the Art Deco inspired Ca’Pisani Hotel.

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Categories: Venice, Architecture, Events, Aran Islands

Contributing writer: Alicia Reuter

No Ball Games

Something’s going on this June. Oh yeah, that over-talked about World Cup thing.

Not all places are embracing the game because, believe it or not, it’s not everyone’s be all and end all. Life and travel does carry on around World Cup time for those who let it.

Want to escape it? Here’s how.

We’re offering you retreats and hideaways so you don’t have to put up with the bad behaviour, the tantrums, the tears, the injuries or the opinions.  Get on the ball and go and do something else, somewhere else.

The Greulich Hotel is setting the tone with their No-Goal dinners, while these other hotel gems have told us their places will be football free:

Aenea, Worthersee, Austria
Krafft Basel, Basel
Lesic Dimitri, Korcula, Croatia
Inis Meain, Arran Islands, Ireland
Hotel des Academies, Paris
Ca’pisani, Venice
Hotel J, Stockholm
Hotel Skeppsholmen, Stockholm
Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, London

The Greenwich, New York
New Majestic, Singapore
The Retreat, Tanzania

Go somewhere where football fever isn’t being forced fed to you.

Venice. The Real Thing

It’s hard to think about relaxing in Italy without envisioning the epicurean delights the country offers. If you’re not seasoned in the miniscule differences between the tourists joints and the real thing, it’s easy to walk away wondering what all the fuss is about and feeling like you just unloaded your wallet for a reheated pizza and discount grocery store wine.

In a city like Venice, which often feels like it’s surrendered itself to tourists, the real thing is can be even harder to find. Luckily we got the scoop from a Venetian about where to go for traditional eats at prices even the locals will pay. Read the rest of this entry »

Cabin Fever? Free yourselves this Easter.

Cabin fever finally driven you mad? You’ve been moaning, they’ve been moaning, You’re both lashing out at each other because you’ve not gone anywhere apart from Ikea and the supermarket and there’s stuff that needs doing round the house. It’s not their fault, their perfect. It’s not what you’ve wanted to achieve in 2010, you wanted to travel more and live life “to the full”. Take an Easter break before you kill each other.

The hotel room you choose is so important. So, which hotel we think you should stay in is a matter of what kind of couple you are.

If you’re a couple of media-lovers then Hotel Omm in Barcelona will be right up your modern street. Both equally as fashionable as you are well-travelled? Then the Lanchid 19 in Budapest will tick all your dapper boxes. Or, as we don’t all have our own summerhouses, try the warm and cosy lakeside Hotel J on Nacka Strand, Stockholm.

Diverse and hopelessly romantic? Then Krafft in Basel or the Hotel des Academies in Paris. However, what if you’re a new couple and you’re trying to avoid the obvious romance? Ca’Pisani Hotel in Venice might be appropriately placed for love but is so subtly seductive that it will put you completely at ease.

Enough of work, home, sleep, work.  Easter 2-5 April.

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Categories: Barcelona, Basel, Budapest, Nacka Strand – Stockholm, Paris, Venice, Destinations, SPECIALS – Easter

What is the deal with bunnies?

If like us you’ve survived the freakish winter, the new decade slog at work, the tedious post New Year chats, you’re probably starting to feel a bit like robots. Yes? Then, do something about it. We might not be able to offer you hot hot hot, but we can offer you a change of scenery. We know how sometimes you can’t pinpoint what you want so it blurts out as “sun, oh god the sun, I miss the sun”. It’s maybe not just the sun. We need a bit of variation as going to a different supermarket or taking a different route home is a start but it really isn’t as environment changing as we’d like.

We’re looking out for your needs, for your welfare and happiness. Think of us as something between a shoulder to cry on and fun fascists.

Go away for Easter – you have no idea how happy it will make you.

Check out these tips for couples and with friends.