Los Angeles

TUCK HOTEL

While the international hotel circuit has shifted their gaze to Downtown LA, a crop of new hotels in Los Angeles seemed to be missing one key element in their strategy: a sense of neighborhood. Although Ace and No Mad boasts a roster of big-names and national brand recognition, for the downtown LA local, it often feels that these openings are geared for optics rather than a real connection to the surrounding community.

So when Tuck Hotel opened up on Spring Street by downtown local and restaurant Chef Juan Pablo Torre, he created a boutique hotel designed for the downtown and the discerning traveler in mind. Tuck Hotel is located on the intersection of the Historic Core and Fashion District in Downtown Los Angeles, a perfectly-positioned outpost on a quiet end of Spring Street situated among some of the neighborhood’s most frequented local haunts.

The Argentinian chef created an outpost where food is a focal point of the stay. The menu intersects the culinary flavors of Spanish savor with a South American zest, with dishes ranging from tiradito and croquettes served along side cavas and tempranillos.

First bite into the dish.

Crispy croquet's

Fresh truffle and paperdelle pasta

A Spanish gin & tonic.

 Tuck Hotel is located on 820 S Spring St, Los Angeles.

HONG KONG LAYOVER

On my recent travels from Stockholm to Bali, I decided to make a pit stop in Hong Kong. It’s a city that has been on my perpetual to-see list, one that I continuously shelved hoping that a project would anchor me to visit this dynamic and exotic destination. My patience for the perfect opportunity must have waned thin, that when I received an invitation to attend a wedding in Asia, I seized it as an opportunity to stop in Hong Kong.

One thing is undeniable, and that is that Hong Kong has no shortage of great views. The city is surrounded by a body of water, which provides an element of calm in the colorful, chaotic streets that you experience on land. Here is a highlight of my favorite moments below.

                     

    A scenic view from my bedroom at EAST, Hong Kong

Catching the morning light from my suite at The Upper House Hong Kong.

After hours at Sai Ying Pun, Ping Pong 129, a hipster bar housed in a former ping pong hall inside one of Hong Kong’s trendy neighborhood outposts.

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MARRAKECH

Marrakech is a destination that has always felt like a far-flung, exotic getaway. Living in Los Angeles, this North African trade town has always felt worlds away, that is, until a friend revealed that my dream destination was only a 3 hour flight from Paris Charles De Gaulle. When I realized I had two weeks off after Fashion Week, I seized the chance to escape the last leg of European winter for a few days of sun.

I spent a total of 9 days in Morocco, 5 in the Medina and another 4 in the countryside. You can get a strong feel for the city in a 4-day trip. If I had to re-do it all again, I would spend only 2 days in the village outskirts. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know below.

LANGUAGE:
Arabic and French. Most of the vendors are fluent in English.

CURRENCY:
Moroccan DIRHAM
100 MAD = 10 USD

BEST TIME TO GO:
In spring or fall, when the desert temperatures are mild.

HOTELS:
There are two ways to approach hospitality in Marrakech. There are palatial grounds like La Mamounia and Royal Mansour Marrakech, both former palaces that offer service fit for a king.  Then there is the Riad-converted boutique hotel, which provide a more intimate setting. Riads are traditional homes in Morocco containing an inner courtyard and garden.

DRESS CODE:
The first rule to dressing in Morocco is respecting the cultural emphasis on modesty. While Marrakech is dominantly Muslim, the heavy influx of tourism does permit for a more open-minded dress code. It is polite to leave your club clothing behind, but you are not completely restricted to maxi dresses and kaftans. You’ll find that most travelers get by wearing shorts and mid-length dresses.

A PERFECT DAY IN MARRAKECH:

Start with a breakfast at the hotel or riad, followed by a morning of shopping the souks. Lunch is best served on a sunny terrace at Places des Epices overlooking the square. In high afternoon, schedule a service at a local hammam. After a refresh, the afternoon is best spent cooling off with a cold beverage inside a jardin. Evenings are the perfect opportunity to absorb the romantic atmospheres of dinner venues like Ksar Essaoussan or Dar Cherifa. If you’re looking for energy with a bit of atmosphere afterwards, you can find a good night cap at Le Bar Churchhill at La Mamounia.

SOUKS:

When it comes to the souks, I would recommend doing a walk through before initiating transaction driven from sheer sensory overload. Once you get a feel for the different shops and merchandise, you start to notice that many of the stalls carry identical inventory, especially when it comes to babouches, Turkish towels, and Moroccan argan oil.