Sweat, Tears or the Sea
October is here (?!), drinking at the third best bar in the world, and creative inspo
How on earth is it October? 🍂
September came and went and it’s beginning to feel like fall here in Barcelona (writes the man who visited the beach on Saturday, including a stop at a chiringuito for a piña colada). As I look out the window though, the skies are grey and overcast while the sun is doing it’s best to peak through. There is a part of me that is excited for the change, slacks and jeans being worn more often, the layering of light coats, and boots making a rebound. Sartorial explorations unfold.
Last Friday, after a busy week of work, and finishing up our unpacking, I was craving a nice cocktail. In our new part of Eixample we’re spoiled for options. Spots like Dry Martini and Ideal are classic bars that always do it right. Around the corner from this iconic duo is Sips Drinkery House, which was named the 3rd best cocktail in the world last year. Barcelona is spoiled with good cocktail bars, as it also hosts the best bar in the world, Paradiso, and the 7th best bar, Two Schmucks.
For being the third best bar in the world, I waited maybe 8 minutes for a table, and were promptly sat at nice table in the middle of the bar. The vibe was great, so many people from all over the world, everyone smiling and laughing, and the bartenders and staff all sharing in the positive energy.
The drink menu (feel free to peruse here) is a wide variety of classics and off-the-wall creations that definitely defy the typical cocktail experience. For example, the Krypta comes in a vessel that envelopes your face as you drink it, and the Promordial is served in a large bowl that looks like a pair of hands cupped together. The cocktails we had were delicious and unusual. I had the Compressed, which tasted how I imagined gummiberry juice from the late-80’s classic cartoon, Adventures of the Gummi Bears might taste like. Not too sweet, and having a dry, intensely strawberry flavor that was unreal. Overall, it was such a great experience and I can’t wait to visit again in the near future.
💙 — Explore the Saturated and Raw Photography of Thais Varela
Madrid-based photographer Thais Varela was a joy to stumble upon. She focuses on still-life and portraits and she’s giving some 90’s editorial energy that I’m totally loving.
🐟 — Tel Aviv Fishmonger Yama Displays Fish Like Precious Gems
Owning a store and being proud of what you sell is important, so why not sell fish like they’re diamond rings? That’s the inspo for Yama, a fishmonger in Tel Aviv that has a shop inspired by jewelry stores.
🐍 — Eartheater Charts a Brutally Beautiful Path with Her New Album, ‘Powders’
There have been so many good albums coming out lately and Eartheater’s newest Powders is absolutely one my favorites of the year. Slightly trip hop, kinda pop-y, and I’m constantly singing her songs while I walk around town.
— Christopher Doyle & Co. Crafts an Intimate and Unexpected Brand for Troye Sivan’s Tsu Lange Yor
Troye Sivan is having such a moment right now and this includes how new range of scents for your home and body called Tsu Lange Yor. The design work from Christopher Doyle & Co. is absolutely spot on.
📸 — Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari Photograph Thom Browne for The New Yorker
For me, there are few photographers who are doing over-the-top work like Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari, and this shoot documenting the world of Thom Browne is simply brillaint.
🔈 — Daisuke Motogi Hacks the Iconic Stool 60 in 100 Different Ways
Japanese designer Daisuke Motogi is a brilliant industrial designer and I’m so obsessed with this record player/sound system he crafted from a pair of a Artek stools. I want these so badly.
