Amidst the dead-til-friday strip of bars in Philadelphia’s Old City, one store front boosts its allure with searing pink. Smak Parlour is the brainchild of Abby and Katie, two Philly girls whose aptitude for design brought to life their vision of girliness. The duo claims they found inspiration from the old school Barbie wardrobe; not hard to believe when you walk into Smak Parlour. In a domain of pink, a pallet of gaudy flare is harnessed to create designs that embody the Abby and Katie’s expertise, self-professed as all things vintage-inspired, girly, fun and flirty. Smak Parlour is at 2nd and Market Streets in Philly.   

A quick glimpse at some photos from Jordan as I’m going through all my photos from the trip. The city pictures are from a refugee camp in East Amman, the desert shots are Petra. More soon, I promise. Enjoy!

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It’s an unexplainable feeling, really. No, that’s not me– but it certainly could have been me floating in the Dead Sea reading the newspaper. After all the YGL sessions today, I popped down to the lowest place on earth (1,385 feet below sea level) for a swim, or maybe better described as a float. With 33% salinity it’s as close to swimming on the moon as I have ever felt. You can totally just do barrel rolls on the surface, a total lack of gravity– but watch your eyes, this water stings brutally bad and tastes as foul and salty as you could ever imagine.

Environmentalists guess that due to lack of fresh water (duh) the Dead Sea will likely be entirely evaporated in another 50 or so years. I recommend a trip to Jordan or Israel pronto to experience it! No word on the healing powers, although my skin does feel a little bit softer now.

I thought everyone would enjoy a little bit of a travel update! Fresh back from Vancouver, I’m headed to the Middle East shortly for the Young Global Leaders Dead Sea Summit. Earlier this year I was nominated as a YGL (press release here) alongside some pretty impressive individuals from all sectors, geographies and walks of life. Humbling to say the least. Having been to Davos and some of the other WEF events, I think I have a pretty good idea of what to expect– but am looking forward to this opportunity to meet new people, have stimulating conversations and see another part of the world, big time.

So, what do you do in Amman, Jordan? Float on my back in the salty Dead Sea? Not so sure. I’ll be making a day trip to Petra but otherwise my plate is pretty full with the pre-arranged sessions and activities. Anything bloggable and on the record I’ll be sure to share. Neighbored by Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Israel, I’m naturally looking into a visit to some of the surrounding countries if time (and security) permit. What should I do?

Many a potential tourist lines up their very first UK visit with visions of Buckingham Palace, Stone Henge, and Big Ben dancing around in their heads, but Britain is much more than that. In addition to the fish and chips, all those limey bastards across the Atlantic have so much more to show you than royalty, a bunch of old rocks and the River Thames. You might not necessarily have seen it in your precious guide books, but that’s okay because the fine folks at Ogilvyone Worldwide Singapore have launched a site to show you “the other Britain,” the Britain of cultural innovation and much, much more. From fashion to music festivals to football, it’s all on glorious display at their alternate tourism URL that champions all things united under the Union Jack for aspiring anglophiles to eat up on their impending holiday. Enjoy, mate.

A dozen lifetimes’ worth of collecting all things kitsch lines the high walls of Scenarium, a three story samba club in Lapa, the epicenter of Rio de Janeiro’s nightlife scene. The club is the manifestation of owner Plínio Fróes’ pledge to keep alive the tradition of samba as well as choro, a musical stlye born on the streets of Rio more than 200 years ago.

Clubs in Rio embody a distinct warmth that can be attributed to the attitudes of clubgoers, void of the too-cool dancefloor politics found in the major venues of any American city. Image goes out the window once the band starts playing, and it no longer matters wether you know the dance moves or not. Scenarium enhances this atmosphere with a space unlike any other. Carved into three ancient houses, it’s filled with artifacts from tacky statues of Christ to twisted metal grills of old facades, each set of items grouped in a cluster on a part of the wall. The second floor bar is particularly attractive; an old apothecary shop complete with hundreds of age-old medicine bottles with moth-eaten labels.

Scenarium is the whole experience, lounge to dancefloor. A Wednesday night will leave you room to marvel at the wall treasures, while a Saturday crowd will bring treasures of its own.

Interesting things are happening in the sneaker/partnering news department this week. Run-DMC’s abandoned their Adidas loyalty to Nike by releasing a Nike+ running soundtrack. And on the heels of that is Vice Brazil’s launch with partner Converse in tow. Kicking off Tuesday is The Way We Run, a multi-track of events spanning art, music, fashion and skate in Sao Paulo, like a meet and greet with team skaters and DJ sets, all taking place at various high-profile places for six weeks. The event ends with a surprise show. I met Vice Brazil publisher Tony Cebrian a few months ago, who told me he has big plans for the Vice empire’s South American version of the free magazine, including featuring stories that will knock any generalizations of Brazil right out of the water. Look for a translated version of those stories to wind their way to your copy of Vice soon. I’m looking forward, just as you likely are, of seeing some Dos and Dont’s from below the Equator.

It’s time to get the hell out of dodge. Yeah yeah, we know, we’re in a recession. But, on the other hand…airfares and hotel rooms are the lowest they’ve been in ages. Still can’t swing it? Ok, well…what are your thoughts on a free trip to Tahiti?

Tahiti Tourism just launched the Invest In Your Love contest and the prize is free airfare, inter-island transport, and six nights of deluxe accommodations on two of Tahiti’s breathtakingly beautiful – and relatively secluded islands. To ener, fire up your video camera and create a convincing video of how a trip to the island nation could “help you invest in your love” and post it to YouTube via their site.

Six contests are being staged, but if you want to attempt to win the first, be sure to submit your entry by June 11th! We’re so there it’s not even funny.

On Sundays, a walk just two blocks away from Ipanema beach reveals a bustling bazaar, where independent crafts-people selling an array of clothes, jewelry, hand-made artifacts and original artwork assemble to form the Feira Hippie, or Hippy Fair. Every stall boasts a variation of Brazillian inspired artistry, from canvases depicting abstract renditions of patchwork favela neighborhoods to clothes hand printed with the traditional patterns of Brazil’s indigenous tribes, with their creators (many of them distinctly hippy) manning their posts with laid back smiles and a mood for bargaining. An American buck goes a long way here, and it effectively beats out any tourist shop found anywhere between Leme and Flamengo.

Living the jetsetting lifestyle means you spend a lot of time above the clouds wishing you had some of the creature comforts that can usually only be provided when your two feet are on terra firma. That doesn’t mean your wishful thinking should go unrewarded and AirTran Airways agrees. As part of a their new campaign, they’re taking your suggestions on how to make the skies a bit friendlier on every flight. No matter how absurd your request, whether you wish flight attendants would give you bunny slippers on each trip or you simply want your own personal in-flight chef, they want to hear it. Suggestions will be ranked and rated by visitors to the submission site. Ultimately, the entire suggestion derby will lead up to a big announcement on May 12th where the company will shout a brand new in-flight addition from the mountaintops. Who knows, maybe you’ll get seated next to your own personal masseuse on your next AirTran flight. A passenger can dream…or participate. Glad to see the airline industry opening their ears online like this.

Vancouver is a fantastic city to explore and discover new restaurants – especially if you like seafood as much as I do. The access to quality ingredients would make any food connoisseur drool. It certainly had me blissed the whole week I was there.

I didn't need to go far from my hotel for my first big dinner, and the experience at Yew Restaurant was certainly worth celebrating. After undergoing a massive renovation in the lobby of The Four Seasons ($4 million Canadian dollars for the restaurant alone, I'm told), a dramatic space was born, seating more than 128 guests. You're dazzled in this gorgeous space by its massive 40 foot ceilings, a floor to ceiling fireplace, and a communal table formed from a single piece of western maple.

The Executive Chef, Oliver Beckert launched a dinner menu he calls No Passport Required, a way to lead his guests on an enticing culinary journey to far away destinations — all without the need to leave their comfortable downtown Vancouver seats. April was “Japan” month (my favorite, of course) so I gave up the reins and went for it.

My Japanese adventure started with King Crab Soup, a Sake based broth with Daikon and Shiso. Very simple, light, and tasty. Large chunks of King Crab which tasted like they’d been lifted out of the sea a few hours earlier. Soup was followed by a Miso-Marinated Black Cod served with Asparagus, Edamame and a Kombu Broth — a classic. Dessert was a Pink Grapefruit Parfait with Ginger and Vanilla Consomme and Almond Milk Caviar.

My guest loved his dish from the daily menu– the fresh wild Salmon, miso-broiled with Chinese Broccoli, Baby Shiitake Mushrooms, Squash and a Plum Puree. If you're not up for food from the sea, they offer Wild Boar, Venison, or a pasta dish for the vegetarians.

There's also an impressive wine selection with more than 150 bottles available by the glass– (yes, one hundred and fifty) and they'll open nearly any selection you might want to sample.

Our Parfait was an ideal ending for us, but if you’re feeling especially brave, finish off with a selection of their Homemade Ice Cream and Sorbet's – Nutella, Carmel Honeycomb, S'more Ice Cream — and then call the cardiologist! Delicious.

Lost luggage is the worst. And it seems, no matter what trouble you go to to prevent yours from being misplaced – designer bags, vibrant tags, etc. – it doesn’t really make a difference to the airlines or that person who was convinced that they snagged the right bag. But now, maybe you can find your stuff, even if it was brought home by some random traveler. That is if the site, Is This Your Luggage kicks off a new, useful trend.

After an airport “loses” a bag, it tries to contact the owner. If they’re unsuccessful, they hang onto it for a while and then, auction it off. The owner of the site attends such auctions, purchases these bags, then snaps shots of everything in the bag in the hope they may connect the missing luggage with its rightful owner. Weird that some random stranger is touching your stuff – including your sexy nurse’s outfit – but at least you’ll be able to wear your treasured clothes once again.

I popped into GOODFOOT Vancouver while exploring Gas Town today. Very spiffy looking space with a nice selection of the usual goods. Living in NYC certainly makes me spoiled but I found the selection to be pretty tasteful here. Some quick-strike Nike’s, Visvim, as well as a few very good looking Ransom pieces. If you’re in town it’s certainly worth the visit.

36 Powell Street
Vancouver, BC
604-806-3613

I’m headed to Vancouver and then Whistler tomorrow for the week. I’m primarily out there to speak at a special industry session during the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival but I have ample time to explore Vancouver and hopefully catch more spring powder if this snow keeps up. I’m looking forward to it all.

I’ve never been to Vancouver, crazy right? So– where should I go? Shop? Eat? Explore? I’m told I should also hop over to Vancouver Island and see some whales or run with the bears or something too.

If you’ve got thoughts please leave a comment below, or drop me a note. Thanks!

Unlike — the top notch city guide website — has just released a killer iPhone app full of food, art, fashion, events and urban culture, as well as some other very useful features. Using the iPhone’s GPS, Unlike can pull up a map of attractions, making you an instant expert. Plan a tour, save all your info, and then go walk the city. Most of the locations are international, which usually means roaming charges or finding a wifi spot. But the Unlike app downloads all the necessary info, so no need for an Internet connection. Individual city guides include: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen and London (more cities coming soon). They’re $4.99 each, or you can the buy the whole enchilada in one app for $19.99. [iTunes Link]