Steps away from the bustling shopping boulevard of Passeig De Gracia,  elegantly situated on Calle Valencia sits  Cornelia and Co. A charming space in the Eixample, which bills itself as “The Daily Picnic Store”.

With a formula that makes it both a gem for locals and visitors alike, the success of  Cornelia & Co.  is its ability to evolve from uptown Lunch hotspot to a romantic desert haven without missing a beat.

An effortlessly chic eatery that is more NYC than BCN – this tastefully decorated cafe houses a great dessert counter, delicatessen shop,  gourmet cheese stand & fantastic lunch/dinner menus.

The staff while both friendly yet professional, reflect a off-the-cuff charm, that is usually hard to come by especially in Barcelona.  From the comfortable loft like open dinning space to the intimate sidewalk terrace; this is the place to stop by when craving a delicious cappuccino and homemade carrot cake.

CORNELIA and CO.

Barcelona Turns into Buenos Aires

The one thing about Barcelona that never ceases to amaze me is, its ability to hide the greatest treasures in plain sight. On a busy street, in the Raval, behind a tin door is the entrance to Barcelona’s most forward thinking design shop AMATO SOLE.

While most designers have felt the pinch and have not been able to produce their own pieces, AMATO SOLE is changing the way furniture is designed, produced and consumed with a back to basis approach which is both stylish and budget conscious.

While the thought of recycled design usually congers up images of Design School end-of-term projects.  However the design team  of Annamaria Amato (Archiect & Refurbisher) & Ramón Solé (Industrial Designer)  have taken over an entire warehouse and have converted the space into their Showroom/Home.

With an entire range of  flea-market finds, they put an emphasis on handmade designs which are both practical yet stylish. Their showroom covers all aspects of home designs from Ramon’s amazing designer lamps, to Anna’s recyled windows that get a second chance thanks to the AMATO SOLE touch.

At their recent monthly event which showcases up and coming artists, I got the load-down on their upcoming projects  from  vintage desks to original iron chairs exclusively designed in-house.

Their unique dining tables and benches are among the pieces which stand out. In times where home design is is limited to Swedish mass produced furniture, Amato Sole give buyers a chance to purchase their unique designs for a fraction of what most industrial designers charge for similar pieces.

Their love for materials textures and finishes comes through loud and clear with the amount of passion they put into every handmade piece.  Fall into the world of Amato Sole  and your home or office will never be the same.

Amato Sole - Furniture & Design
C/ Lleialtat, 6 local int
08001 Barcelona
info@amatosole.com
www.amatosole.com

One of the most amazing photo exhibits  I have seen this year has to be the exhibition at the CCCB  “Brangulí Barcelona 1909-1945” currently in its final week.  Make sure to stop by this weekend in order to witness the connection between Past and Present day Barcelona in an exhibit specifically designed for Barcelona lovers.

TIP: The CCCB is FREE on Sundays From 3PM- 8pm

The show which is devoted to the work of Barcelona-born Josep Brangulí, a  photojournalist whose keen eye was able to capture  some of the best images reflecting the major social, urban and industrial transformations to affect Barcelona between 1909 and 1945. The show is the first retrospective of Brangulí’s work which consists some 300 photographs and original printed material of the time.

The exhibition, curated by the photographers Valentín Vallhonrat and Rafael Levenfeld,  reflects the diversity and the thematic approach of the photographer’s work, centering on topics such as The Tragic Week, Life Before The Republic, The Royal Family at the 1929 Universal Exhibition,  The Fira de Barcelona Trade Fair & The  Post-War years. The one thing that is striking is the way history repeats itself; one can’t help to notice the similarities between the disgruntled workers back at the turn of the century to the modern-day “Indignados” which have Occupied Plaza Catalunya this year.

Josep Brangulí was the first in a line of photographers, in which he was joined by his sons, Joaquim and Xavier, the three of them working together under a single name. The archive was purchased from the Brangulí family by the Generalitat in 1992 and deposited in the Arxiu Nacional de Catalunya. The Archive contains almost a million negatives signed by the name Brangulí, of which approximately half a million can be attributed to Josep. It also contains miscellaneous publications and materials of the time.

If you are in Barcelona make sure not to miss this exhibit which contains a look into Barcelona’s turbulent pass and creates a better understanding of the city and its character.

CCCB – Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona – Montalegre, 5 – 08001 Barcelona – Tel. 93 306 41 00 – Fax 93 306 41 01 – global@cccb.org

This Thursday October 20th, The Barcelona Metro kicks off the short film film festival: SUBTRAVELLING. A unique collection of both animated and short films. The vestibule of the metro station turns into a small theater for one week and allows you to catch a glimpse of the most originals award winning shorts, as well as some of the newest talented filmmakers in this genre all for the price of a metro ticket (1.40). So if you are unemployed or have some time to kill between line changes, check out the complete program HERE

The Barcelona Design Festival is a major event that seeks to place Barcelona as an international design capital. This festival includes two epicentres of activity: the FADfest as the starting point, and the Barcelona Design Week as the closing event.

These two events will be linked together over time by a multitude of activities, exhibitions and tours to enjoy design in the city. Exhibitions, prizes, debates, congress, ideas and parties create a programme with more than 60 activities.
For More Information : BCN DESIGN FESTIVAL

 In a city where everyone is either an Artist, a DJ, a Social Media Director or all of the above. It is not enough to have talent, one must have  something special  in order to stand out from the crowd. Christian’s solution: TEXTURE-and lots of it…. it takes a closer look in order to appreciate his work and see an artist who is creating art in the 21 st century.

Christian Tartarini, is quickly become a favorite among  art critics, Interior designers and private collectors in Barcelona. His understated work done in a monochromatic color palate have raised eyebrows across the city. The subtle beauty of his technique and his strict attention to detail  have made his pieces a  must have in Barcelona’s ever evolving art scene.

The Belgium born artist originally set out to become an architect  however, along the way he found himself gravitating toward a more ethereal medium; allowing him to express himself through his textured pieces and signature brush strokes.

Not only is his work  hanging in the dining rooms of Barcelona’s most elegant homes, Christian, was also recently commissioned by  Barcelona legendary retail king LA COMERCIAL  to create a site specific piece in their latest showroom in the Borne.

Bringing together  an urban color tone to the canvas, his work transmits a sophisticated edge reflecting a city constantly in change.  His latest work can currently be seen in the cutting edge  design studio/showroom of AMATO SOLE in the Raval.

For more information on Christian Tartarini’s work please visit his website at

CHRISTIANTARTARINI.com

*Images By : David Naveira

Torre Agbar"Photo By David Naveira

On my way home this week I was biking up diagonal and came across the Torre Agbar.

For more information on the building click HERE

In an age where every brand competes for the attention of the consumers dollars with lack luster facebook competitions and an invasion of self-serving promotions; it is refreshing to see a brand like CAMPER  get it right time and time again.

With a strict attention to design  and a clear  brand identity, they have managed to expand their shoe brand to also include Casa Camper Hotels in two of Europe’s most culturally hyperactive cities:  Barcelona and Berlin.

While their hotels have become a favorite among the “GLAMPACKERS” ( think back packers armed with iPads and 4G phones) Casa Camper is also popular among creative types; which is why Camper have unleashed it’s latest  effort into the blogosphere. A  complex project simply titled: HOTEL.

Produced by the  award-winning Barcelona based studio BOOLAB, Casa Camper hand-picked 6 young directors and gave them AN ALL ACCESS PASS to use the hotel as their own personal movie studio. The Rules were simple: 6 directors /24 hours/ ZERO budget.

The result is an amazing look at the imagination and creativity that comes about when a brand backs a project with  universal appeal and showcases the work of  six amazing directors. Participating in this years project were Erika Lust, Sofa Experience, Roger Gual & Steve Green, Danny Ilario, Celia Galan  and Nico Casavecchia.

Shot entirely in one day, the SHORT FILM’S Project MICROSITE features a great behind the scenes look at the making of the project, exclusive interviews by each director and the full length film complied of  the 6 short films.

Exploring themes such as fantasy, love, loss and lust. The project keeps the viewer entertained and  takes you an a trip through the halls and deep in to the heart of  Casa Camper- Barcelona’s most creative hotel.

HOTELCASACAMPER.TV

Right around the corner from Rambla Catalunya, Barcelona’s tree-lined cafe promenade; sits a new concept which is revolutionizing the way people look at  fast food.

FASTVÍNIC, is a new space that puts the soul back in to light fare meals with an ecoconcious heart. Designed as a  LIGHT a place where locals can go to grab a quick bite with friends or hang out. The  menu  places a strong emphasis on homegrown Catalan  products as well as  brining attention to the importance of purchasing home-grown ingredients; In fact their menu has gone as far as featuring Black and White portraits of their local suppliers

Chef Sergi de Meià and his team  have decided to elevate the everyday sandwich to become an icon representing the gastronomic essence of Catalonia. From breakfast to dinner Fastvinic, features everything needed for a first-class breakfast a healthy lunch or a healthy alternative to greasy tapas.

From the people who brought you MONVINIC,  it is  their attention to detail that makes this place a pleasant surprise in a neighborhood where every street has hundreds of  dining options.

Every day FASTVINIC presents more than twenty Catalan wines available through a  state of the art wine vending machine, so that every one of the denominacions d’origen are generously represented. The wines are chosen by the same team of sommeliers as Monvínic in order to provide a perfect pairing with the gourmet sandwiches and side dishes FASTVINIC has rapidly become famous for.

Not only satisfied with changing the way the city grabs a quick bite, the team of  Fastvínic not only places a special interest in cultivating their organic menu, but takes their commitment to healthier way of living to the next level by chosing  with an eco-friendly design approach to their space which has secured FASTVINIC a LEED certification, becoming the first restaurant to be given this recognition in Catalonia.

FASTVINIC-Diputació, 251
08007 Barcelona
934 873 241