When I talk about loving the Dutch design aesthetic, what I mean is a spectrum that includes the crazy modern stuff like the kind Droog creates. I actually have a set of these bikes straps to use in your house. I have no idea what I’ll use them for, mind you, but I just love the idea of taking something so practical and making it a design element on the wall. Plus, hello novelty!
Entries Tagged as 'Amsterdam'
Obsessed with Dutch Design
October 11th, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Good design, Novelty, Obsessed with the Dutch
Shop Talk: The Otherist
October 1st, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Good design, Novelty, Shop talk
I love the Otherist.
I’ve loved this shop since it was named Egg Merchantile a few years ago. I asked the owners–Americans, although the shop is in the tourist heart of Amsterdam–why they changed the name. People thought it was a literal egg merchantile, ignoring the beautiful displays of jewelry and oddities. That funny story just makes it better, to me.
Reviewing the Citizen M: Yes, the Hotel with the Toilet in the Middle of the Room
August 11th, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Good design, Novelty, Obsessed with the Dutch
If you read my previous post (How Zen Is Citizen M?), you probably want to know the answer to the following question:
OK, how was it staying in a hotel room with a toilet in the middle of the room?
But hold on a second–there’s more to the story of the Citizen M.
When I checked in to the Amsterdam branch of the hotel, it wasn’t a good first start. I had made a reservation for the previous week, but had to cancel it. Unfortunately, they canceled BOTH reservations, and had no record of me in their system when I showed up for second reservation. Things were shaping up to be a fail.
The Other Amsterdam
August 2nd, 2010 · 1 Comment · Blog posts by Lia, Dutch bikes, Obsessed with the Dutch, Transportation bliss
When I used to travel for a living, updating travel guidebooks, I would often think to myself: Why isn’t this making me happier? After all, for lots of people who don’t know better, being a travel writer is a dream job…in theory.
I realized that when you’re being paid to do something, it’s work. Period. It might not be anything as difficult as working in a coal mine, but it still is work. When I was in the Netherlands, rocketing from place to place, I would sit on the train, noticing the neat bicycle lanes that ran out across the flat fields into infinity. Where were people biking to on those paths?
Tags:Amsterdam·Holland·Netherlands
Cycling and Smooching
June 17th, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Dutch bikes, Quick Post, Transportation bliss
We’ve had an unseasonably gray and dour June in Seattle, which is why I’m in love with this photo series from Amsterdamize called “Love Is Bike.” This one is a favorite, of two people catching a quick smooch, probably at a stop light: I’m also fond of this photo, which shows a dad clearly gleeful [...]
How Zen Is Citizen M?
June 16th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Blog posts by Lia, Novelty, Obsessed with the Dutch
Let’s talk a bit about Dutch design. I’m pro. I love their stylish, stylish travel magazines, like Liv’, which I enthused about before. I like Droog, and their crazy collection of drawers that re-imagines the bureau. And readers of this blog know that I’m a big booster of Seattle Cycle Chic by way of my [...]
Seattle Cycle Chic
May 8th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Blog posts by Lia, Dutch bikes, Euro-style cycle chic, The point of travel, Transportation bliss
Yesterday was truly the first beautiful day of spring in Seattle. I dusted off my Dutch bike to ride into work, and loved how this dark purple tulip looked next to its Dutchie kin. Readers of this blog know that I’m obsessed with the Dutch, and with Dutch biking in particular as the ultimate, elegant solution [...]
Next Stop: Dutch Fluency!
April 27th, 2010 · 7 Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Dutch language school, Novelty, Obsessed with the Dutch
Hooray! My tax refund came yesterday, which means I’ll be booking my time at Dutch Princess School soon! It’s probably worth explaining why on earth I’m going to spend thousands of dollars to get to fluency in Dutch. And most importantly–why Dutch? Literally every time I mention that I’m trying to learn Dutch, the person [...]
Tags:Amsterdam·cultural exchange·Dutch·languages·Netherlands·Regina Coeli Language Institute·travel writing
Friday Fail: Reconstituted Brochure-Wear Edition
February 19th, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Fail 'o' the Day
I swear, I won’t make the Friday Fail about Carol Pucci every week (as I did with this previous post). But she’s making it hard to ignore her.
When I think of the position of travel writer for a major metropolitan newspaper, to me, it should involve research, reporting, and/or opinions. Possibly even insight
When Mad Men Met Hard Days Night…By Bike
February 14th, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Dutch bikes, Obsessed with the Dutch
I love this incredible video of Dutch cyclists. The men completely remind me of Paul’s grandfather, from one of my favorite movies. Via Amsterdamized.
