The Blog

It’s been weeks, maybe years since you started your new WFH lifestyle. Well, more like work from home, eat from home, yoga from home, procrastinate from home. You get it. Or you’re out there on the front lines being the kind of hero that we are all so grateful for right now. In any case, someone answers your check-in text with the phrase “strange times" at least once a day and we’re all looking for something refreshing to brighten up this new normal. Here’s yet another reminder that life is still sweet!   1. A Round of Applause   Whether you’re the kind of person who claps when the plane lands or not (hey, no judgement here) cities across the globe are synchronizing like 80s aerobics to show their gratitude for healthcare workers each and every night with a round of applause.    Watch here: CNN: See people around the world cheer for health care workers 2. Repurposing with Purpose Maybe you’re a diehard baseball fan clued into every home-dunk-touchdown or maybe you don’t know what all the fuss is about but Major League Baseball is doing some stuff we can all root for these days. Instead of letting uniforms collect dust while the season is cancelled, MLB will be donating jerseys to be made into protective masks for healthcare workers in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. And who doesn’t like a flattering pinstripe? Read more here: NY Post: MLB jerseys to be made into masks for medical workers fighting coronavirus 3. Works of Art   They say boredom breeds creativity so let’s just say we’re reaching da Vinci levels right about now. The Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California is encouraging people to put that pent-up artistic energy to good use by challenging art lovers everywhere to recreate famous paintings using only household items. You know, it’s funny how a few rolls of toilet paper and some oranges suddenly look unmistakably like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night" or a carved potato seamlessly transforms into “The Scream" by Edvard Munch. And all it took was just a few weeks of total home isolation!     Watch here: Today: People nail challenge to re-create famous paintings   Looking for a little more inspiration? Indonesian-based artist and friend-of-JSC, Kelly Garrett Rathbone is keeping busy during quaran-times with her own re-imagining of classic paintings. Check it out.                    4. An Open Book As if things weren’t stressful enough, many parents are now home with the kids 24/7; playing the part of chef, activities instructor, and even teacher. Mary Poppins, where are you? The New York Public Library might be the next best thing. To help preserve our sanity, NYPL is now offering free online student support including things like one-on-one remote tutoring and lots of online videos and things to do. Read more here: NYPL Connect: Introducing Free Online Tutoring for Students, Digital Research Books, and More 5. It's Lit Could there be anything more spectacular than the Eiffel Tower in Paris? Larger than life than Rio’s Christ the Redeemer? More mind blowing than Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza? Let us shed a little light on it. Landmarks from around the world have illuminated the night with messages of encouragement for the public and appreciation for health workers. Displays range from the pulsing red light atop New York City’s Empire State Building to symbolize the heartbeat of the nation to massive projections of “#hope” and “stay home" atop the snowy peak of Switzerland’s Matterhorn. Read more here: People: Famous Landmarks Around the World Are Lighting Up with Messages of Hope and Thanks Amid Coronavirus   EXPLORE

When it comes to celebrating Easter in Italy, there’s no such thing as “too much.” The island of Sicily, sitting right off the tip of the boot, is no exception. Here, Settimana Santa, or Holy Week, traditions go back centuries and take months of planning, coordination, and rehearsal for the big event each year.      Perhaps one of the most beautiful and ancient festivities can be found in Enna, the so-called navel of Sicily. Cries of “Buona Pasqua" (Happy Easter) echo through the streets like rounds of song the whole week through and it feels like every one of its 27,000 residents is involved in some way. Visitors flock from around the world for this most extravagant of displays and it’s truly worth the trip.        A week of elaborate ceremonies commences on Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter), lasting each day from dawn to dusk. Scheduled proceedings include a live reenactment of Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem, various parades between the 16 churches in town, decorating altars, foot washing rites, and, of course, music. The jam-packed itinerary is organized and carried out by Enna’s collection of confraternities or brotherhoods. These are no small clubs either with membership reaching over 2,500.    The real apex of Holy Week hits on Good Friday and it is a sight to behold. With thousands of incappucciati, or hooded members of the confraternities, flooding the streets of Enna the day is solemn, profound, and even a little creepy!      The ornate Duomo di Enna serves as a centerpiece of the day; the beginning and endpoint of the famed processione.      Enna’s streets are lined with eager onlookers who arrive to claim their seats well before things get underway. If you get there early enough, you might have time to grab a hearty arancini (fried risotto ball) from one of the many hole-in-the-wall cafés.     Or toast the day with an Aperol Spritz--the rich orange-colored cocktail topped with a signature Sicilian blood orange.  While the scene is packed, the crowd remains relatively silent as the mournful melody of the band resounds and the brothers begin their miles-long procession. In pointed hoods and colorful robes representing their different affiliations, the brothers sway under the weight of the massive statues of Addolorata (Holy Mary) and the Misteri (Passion of Christ) that they carry through the historic squares. Somehow, it feels both like a party and a funeral with excitement and sorrow simultaneously filling the air.       Day fades to night and the procession continues by torchlight. Lit torches suddenly line the streets and appear clutched in the hands of the marching participants. Ghostly and enchanting, the statues seem to float above their devoted handlers, gradually making their way back to the Duomo. As the mounted torches flicker and wane, the city empties as quickly as it filled up. But there’s no reason to clear out just yet. Not without a meal. Enna is also home to its fair share of delicious dining experiences boasting long legacies. There’s a theme here. Ristorante Centrale is located in the heart of the city and has been since the early 1900’s. This modest venue is the go-to for homemade dishes and long standing local culinary traditions. And what says “Buona Pasqua" better than a full plate of pasta? EXPLORE

By this point, it’s likely you’ve baked enough bread to seriously consider a career change. You’ve named all of your plants, joined more Zoom game nights than you can count, and have suddenly become a power user on Tik Tok. You’re missing friends and family and even that misty memory of wearing real pants. But we’re alone (and potentially losing our minds) together. As the weeks go on, we continue to unite over the small things that remind us that life is still sweet!    1. Smells Sweet   Remember when Beanie Babies were the hot ticket? Cabbage Patch Kids? Tickle Me Elmo? Well, if you haven’t noticed, these days it’s masks, gloves, and a little accessory called hand sanitizer. Infinitely less cuddly but all too important for our safety. French luxury goods conglomerate, LVMH, is known for producing perfume (remember when we cared about smelling good? Good! Neither do we...) but now they’re switching gears and pumping out massive quantities of that liquid gold. Hand sanitizer made at the Dior, Givenchy, and Guerlain factories will be distributed to French health agencies, free of charge.    Read more here: Vice: Louis Vuitton Conglomerate Is Now Making Hand Sanitizer in Its Perfume Factories 2. Furry Friends By the time you finish Netflix (we imagine that was about a week ago) you might be wondering how best to pass the time and find fulfillment in the world. Cut to: dogs. Or cats or guinea pigs. Whatever your pre-furr-ed pet, shelters and adoption agencies are in need of foster homes for their animals before they shut down shop. And it’s not such a bad gig. Welcoming a furry friend into your home during quarantine provides us humans with much-needed comfort and companionship, not to mention love. Win-win! Read more here: Today: Why fostering a shelter animal during the coronavirus pandemic is a win-win 3. Creative Dance Sweating it out after a hard day of work or school or just dealing with public transit was a ritual for many of us. Doing old Tae Bo DVDs in your living room just doesn’t quite cut it somehow. But a little creativity, a megaphone, and some Rihanna at full blast helped a community in Utah organize a neighborhood-wide cardio dance class.    Watch here: Now This: Utah Community Organizes Social Distancing Zumba Class 4. Global Support Italy needs a little love right now (don’t we all...), and Cuba stepped. It. Up. Despite the risks and mortal danger and the whole being on a plane for 12 hours part, 150 Cuban doctors trekked to the region of Lombardy in Northern Italy to support medical teams there. And if that wasn’t enough, Cuban healthcare providers have been making rounds in Nicaragua, Venezuela, Jamaica, and Suriname, too. Read more here: MPN News: Images of Cuban Doctors Helping Italy Go Viral, Burst Media Narrative 5. Love is Always in the Air Yes, it’s love in the time of Coronavirus. Reilly Jennings and Amanda Wheeler heard the news that the NYC marriage bureau would be shutting down until further notice and had to act fast to tie the knot. The couple opted for an extremely intimate and...inventive ceremony. Just two lovebirds, a city sidewalk, and a minister hanging out of a 4th story window. The stuff of modern fairytales! Watch here: ABC: Social Distance Wedding Ceremony in New York City Despite Coronavirus EXPLORE

When daydreaming of a getaway to the Dominican Republic, sun, surf, and rum-based cocktails first come to mind. And you’re not wrong. But the island-nation’s capital city of Santo Domingo is also brimming with history, culture, and natural wonders well worth visiting. So, why not make a weekend of it?      SEE With most major cities offering nonstop flights to Las Américas International Airport, a dose of some much needed R&R against a rich and vibrant backdrop is just a hop, skip, and a jump away.      A mere 30 minutes from your arrival gate you’ll find the UNESCO World Heritage site and must-see (and stay) area of Zona Colonial. A peek into the past, “La Zona,” as it’s known, is the first European Colonial district in the New World and hasn’t changed much. Stroll along the cobblestone streets where you’ll undoubtedly stumble upon massive squares, stone churches, statue-packed parks, and fortresses dating back to the 1500’s.    STROLL Start your jaunt at the top of Calle El Conde, or Street of the Count, at Parque Independencia, accessed through La Puerta del Conde (The Count's Gate) which once served as the entrance to this fortified city.  Along with the occasional stone sentry box, busts of national heroes line the grand walkway and hide amongst the lush greenery and rotating art exhibits on the grounds. Larger than life statues of the Fathers of the Dominican Republic (Juan Pablo Duarte, Matías Ramón Mella, and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez) reside in the impressive marble mausoleum, Altar de la Patria, where visitors come to pay their respects.   Calle El Conde itself is a colorful, bustling scene rife with shops, restaurants, music, street dogs, performers, and talented artisans. Grab a coffee at an open air cafe, browse beautiful original canvases often featuring the beauty of the adjacent Ozama River, or try your hand in a chess tournament against a regular at one of the many outdoor tables. DRINK   At the end of this 1 KM stretch you’ll reach Parque Colón or Columbus Park.  Without surprise, a statue of Christopher Columbus stands dead center; pointing towards his next conquest and constantly covered in pigeons. Galleries, government buildings, and arch-adorned cathedrals surround the plaza as well as laid back cafes and bars offering outdoor seating and thirst-quenching drinks. And amazing location for people watching, dog watching, and taking it easy. Be sure to order a traditional Dominican drink, the Morir Soñando. Essentially frothy milk and orange juice, the name means “to die while dreaming" and is apparently acceptable to sip on morning, noon, and night!  DAY TRIP   If you’re in the mood for a little escape from the hustle and bustle, Los Tres Ojos, or the three eyes, is just 15 minutes away. The three eyes stand for the three lakes  located within the limestone caves of the Mirador del Este park. With bright turquoise water and stalactites abound, the caves look like something out of the prehistoric era, and they are! Scenes from the third Jurassic Park movie (as well as Tarzan) were shot here and it’s easy to see why! A few pesos gets you a trip across the turtle-filled waters of the second eye, La Nevera, on a small ferry boat operated by ropes. This descent deeper into the cave proves completely breathtaking and a little eerie. EAT It wouldn’t be a trip to the Caribbean without a little beach time. Playa Boca Chica is close, clear, and calm. Despite soaring temperatures, fried food is the delicacy of choice on the sand. You can order everything from fried fish to fried yuca and Yaniqueques (Johnny Cakes) amongst the myriad of bright wooden stands lining the road en route to the beach.     Prices here are more favorable and the food is often prepared on the spot under the charming hand painted signs. If you want front row seats to the Caribbean Sea, you can pay a little more to sit under an umbrella at one of the restaurants that plunge over the shoreline and offer larger seafood platters and giant bottles of Presidente that really hit the spot.   NIGHTLIFE   Back in Zona Colonial, the perfect end to a stint in Santo Domingo is at the perfect rave. The ruins of the Monasterio de San Francisco is home to a Sunday night Dance Party featuring bright lights, ample drinks, and live music for all generations. It’s a balanced blend of old and new; breathing new life into the first monastery of the new world and making for an unforgettable finish to a fabulous weekend in the sun.   EXPLORE

Hello from our living room, wearing a similar outfit to yesterday's, wavering between feelings of worry, hope and overwhelm.  We saw a post the other day that says it all "For those who lost track, today is Blursday, the fortyteenth of Maprilay."  Uncertain of the future, we distract ourselves with the thing we know best - travel, and more specifically "armchair travel." Delighting in uplifting stories and pictures from all over the world. Each week we'll be sharing the ones that remind us that Life Is Still Sweet.     1. SOUND OF MUSICItalians in quarantine take to roofs and balconies to join Italians in quarantine take to roofs and balconies to join in song.Read more here: The New York Times: Italians Find ‘a Moment of Joy in This Moment of Anxiety’Watch here: The Guardian: Quarantined Italians sing from balconies to lift spirits 2. GOOD NEIGHBORS Good neighbors in Brooklyn, NY use nextdoor app to help out senior citizens hunkering down at home. Read more here: New York Post: NYC good Samaritans run errands for seniors confined by the coronavirus3. FURRY FRIENDS With more people exercising “WFH,” we’re all spending more time with our furry friends (with entertaining results).Read more here: The Guardian: Dogs working from home during coronavirus crisis? There's an Instagram account for that 4. COMMUNITY SUPPORTPerformers, personal trainers, bar tenders, small business owners, and more feel the love with support from the community. Read more here: CBS News: These workers are going without pay during the coronavirus crisis. Here's how to help.5. HOLIDAY LIGHTSHoliday lights are going back up to spread cheer (not germs) during lockdown.Read more here: Good Morning America: People put Christmas lights up to spread cheer amid coronavirus pandemic6. VIRTUAL TOURSThrough the power of virtual tours, you can still visit beautiful museums and attractions all around the world.Read more here: The Washington Post: 12 Historic Sites you can Virtually Tour from the Couch during your Quarantine   MORE TO EXPLORE

I’m very lucky to say that I spend about three weeks a year in Paris for work. The Food! The style! The lights…what’s not to love about Paris?! Yes, much has been written about Paris but there is a reason for that… as we all know, Paris never gets old!    My strategy is to live like a chic local while still taking in the hits of Paris and if you stay where we stay, you are setting yourself up to have the most picture-perfect long weekend in Paris. I’m convinced we stay in the absolute best place in all of Paris. We stay at a beautiful studio apartment in the Palais Royale. It’s beautifully decorated and the owners are absolutely wonderful hosts. Sophie has created a giant binder of Paris recommendations is worth it alone. If you’re lucky (like us) and get to know her over time, she may even let you rent out her main apartment when she’s at her second home in Grasse but the studio is fabulous too.  THURSDAY 1. Angelina for lunch on Rue de Rivoli. Dessert is an absolute must here so definitely save room.2. Pop into Faure Le Page on Rue Cambon (think Goyard but with a history of leather goods made for gun-toting….a little cooler and not as played out IMO)3. Louis Vuitton Foundation4. Food shopping for breakfast and snacks (and maybe a picnic) at LeBonMarche (the food hall is directly next to the department store which is very much worth a visit too…I also usually pop into the Conran Shop which is catty-corner to LBP since the one in NYC is no longer)5. Early dinner at Bistrot Vivienne  FRIDAY 1. Musee de Beaux Arts at the Petit Palais2. Musee Rodin (Great place to picnic when the weather is nice….take a morning snack of café au lait and some fresh fruit and dine among the outdoor sculptures. Afterwards, stroll the museum, which is small and shouldn’t take too long)3. Deyrolle (the famed taxidermy store, long an inspiration of Wes Anderson)4. Stroll down Rue de Bac….eat a light lunch (or skip entirely) followed by something sweet (sweet shops line this entire street and they are as much a feast for the eyes as they are for the belly)5. Stop in to Popelini for an out of this world cream puff and to take a selfie in front of their “I Got Puffed in Paris” sign 6. Assouline on Rue Bonaparte (Note: You will be near Le Bon Marche so if you didn’t get to go the day before, go now.)­7. NapImage via Paramount Pictures8. Dinner at Le Grand Colbert. I love the smoked salmon with blinis to start, the roast chicken or a steak for my main and the baked Alaska for dessert. 9. Ice Cream at Une Glace à ParisImage via  Une Glace à Paris SATURDAY 1. Pack a picnic lunch if it’s nice out Musee des Arts Decoratifs (walk there from the Studio)  2. Picnic in the Jardin de Tuilleries (just a couple of blocks further on Rue de Rivoli…pick up some postcards en route and do your postcard-writing at the same time) Photo by Marco Verch 3. Start the evening with a cocktail at Le Meurice (during Fashion Week this is the best place for people watching)4. Dinner back at the Musee Des Artes Decoratifs at Lou Lou (make sure to book…I like doing the museum the same day but that’s just me) SUNDAY 1. Musee D’Orsay (I like the walk if it’s nice out). The impressionists and decorative arts collection are not to be missed. Take a selfie in front of the giant clock.2. Stroll along Boulevard St. Germain3. Musee YSL If you’re ambitious and have another museum in you, go to the Musee Picasso, one of my favorites (although a cab ride away)4. Dinner at Freddy’s or Semilla. Freddy’s is Semilla’s more casual little brother of a restaurant next door. It serves up small plates tapas style and a huge selection of great wines by the glass. Both are amazing experiences and are adjoined so you can’t go wrong (you’ll definitely need a reservation at Semilla). WHY Because I spend about three weeks a year in Paris for work and I’m convinced we stay in the best place in all of Paris! I’LL DO ANYTHING FOR Paris window shopping and French Cheeses I’LL DO ANYTHING TO AVOID The crowds in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre…. WHEN I go for Fashion Week (end of Sept/Early Oct. and March) which is an exciting time in Paris (at least if you’re into fashion) but April, May, June, and September are all fantastic months. I dramatically prefer Paris when it’s warmer. FAVORITE MEAL   Le Grand Colbert: Smoked Salmon and Blinis at / Steak or Chateaubriand / Crème brûlée or Baked Alaska (sure this place has gotten a little touristy since Diane Keaton raved about it in “Something’s Gotta Give” but the room is an atmospheric slice of heaven, the food is very French and doesn’t disappoint, and plenty of locals still eat here…This is about a 90-second walk from Le Palais Royale Bistrot Vivienne: Beef Tartar, Baked Camembert (not always available but if it is, get it!), / their incredible chicken and I rarely order chicken (I think it’s the Coquelet) / Chocolate Mousse is an absolute must and This is also about a 90-second walk from Le Palais Royale) I BRING HOME Goodies from Le Bon Marche, books from Deyrolle & quirky souvenirs from Colette RELATED PRODUCTS