Touring the Coast In My 1954 Hudson Italia

Today I find myself touring the coast in my 1954 Hudson Italia. Many people don’t know this car’s slightly Bohemian connection or history (which I share here). But first, just take a look at this baby! I love the sporty egg-crate grille. I love the distinctive triangle-peaked front bumper. I love the and fender-top air intakes! You...

PLACES, Retro Chic, Traveling in Style

October 13, 2015

Shopping for Czech Foods in the USA

We’ve compiled this list for people who love to cook but have difficulty shopping for Czech foods in the USA. Recipes call for using the most authentic Czech ingredients and sometimes, being so far from home, those ingredients are hard to find. It’s our hope that this list of awesome substitutions will help make your Czech...

LIFESTYLE, Shopping

Bohemian-Beer-History-Pilsen-Czech-Republic-Photo-18

October 12, 2015

Bohemian Beer Back in the Day

Bohemian beer back in the day was based on craftsmanship, skill, hard labor and teamwork. In the town of Plzen in 1842, Josef Groll was the brewmaster who made the first ever batch of what became known as Pilsner Urquell. In their 172+ years of brewing, there have been a total of 16 brewmasters working in Plzen to date....

Beer, Bohemians, LIFESTYLE

Ladislav-Sutnar-Street-Fair-for-Build-the-Town-3

October 11, 2015

Building the Town Street Fair for Ladislav Sutnar

Last week I posted Building the Town with Ladislav Sutnar and later I discovered that his home town of Plzen, Czech Republic actually recreated the toys in larger size and arranged them for a street fair to re-introduce Czechs to this amazing designer. Pretty cool idea, right? The popular set of building blocks entitled “Build a...

Art and Design, CULTURE

October 11, 2015

The World’s Easiest Strawberry Dumplings

Today, at the request of a friend at one of my favorite Facebook groups to hang out, Pečení v US, I posted a photo of these dumplings to share and I was asked to post the recipe, so here it is – the world’s easiest strawberry dumplings. When you are in a rush and don’t feel...

LIFESTYLE, Recipes

October 10, 2015

Hotel Yasmin in Prague

It’s the kind of day that I sit and daydream about all of the new places I will go to in Prague next time I am there. Today as I was browsing hotel rooms, I stumbled across the lovely Hotel Yasmin. Perhaps the world’s first high-fashion funhouse, the Hotel Yasmin supposedly has a far-out foyer feature...

Hotels, PLACES

October 9, 2015

The Rugged Men of Falconry

Last week we shared a post about the art of falconry in the Bohemian lands called Falconry in the Czech Republic and a few of you spied some handsome Czech men and asked us to post more images of them. How about a post entirely dedicated to the sexy, rugged men of falconry? Yes, we like...

Bohemians, Men, PEOPLE

Havel-and-Clinton-Czech-Pub-Drinking-Beer

October 8, 2015

Presidents, Politics & Pubs

Václav Havel, former president of the Czech Republic, liked to take visiting politicians to Prague pubs. This is for the obvious reason that a known Prague specialty is without a doubt the local pubs, taverns, taprooms and beer-drinking establishments of all kinds. Of course, there is no better place for the meeting of presidents, politics &...

Beer, Bohemians, LIFESTYLE

Miroslav Sasek - This Is Books-Book-Series-Tres-Bohemes

October 7, 2015

This is the World in 19 Design Classics

A vacation in Paris inspired Bohemian Miroslav Sasek to create children’s travel guides to big cities around the world. The guides are large, colorful books done in his fantastic watercolor style and are an awesome historical record of the attitudes and perceptions of the 60s. These lovely 19 design classics feature illustration at its best. Miroslav Šašek (this is...

Childrens Books, ENTERTAINMENT

October 6, 2015

Alphonse Mucha Canvas Prints

Famous for his luxurious Art Nouveau posters and dreamy, romantic style, Czech artist Alphonse Mucha created a collection of unforgettable illustrations throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This slim panel depicting a demure young woman surrounded by primroses adds ethereal allure to any room. “La Primavere” by Alphonse Mucha This next one is...

Art and Design, CULTURE

Beer-in-Barrels-Coopers-Pitching-Beer-Image-1

October 5, 2015

The Lost Art of Pitching the Beer Barrels

Twice a year the coopers at Pilsner Urquell undertake the job of re-pitching and rolling the large lagering barrels which are still used to mature beer in the brewery cellars. It’s an amazing process taking a lot of skill and hard work. But first we thought you may be interested in watching a short video on...

Beer, LIFESTYLE

Build-the-Town-Building-Block-Set-Ladislav-Sutnar

October 4, 2015

Building the Town with Ladislav Sutnar

The colors were primary – painted red, yellow and blue. The shapes were simple, geometric bodies – cylinders, blocks and pyramids. The style could be called Modernism, the Constructivists, Bauhaus, Avantgarde… this was a time of new things, completely different from what we’ve seen before. Today’s he is recognized as the pioneer of information design and...

Art and Design, CULTURE

October 4, 2015

The Sunflower Fields of the Czech Republic

Sometimes I am browsing through photographs, and a picture will capture my eye and inspire a post. In this case, it was a series of photographs of the sunflower fields of the Czech Republic that caught my eye, and before I knew it, this post was born. It seems fitting, though, because there is something...

Czech Republic, PLACES

October 2, 2015

Airbnb Gets Cooler Listings Every Day

Aspiring jetsetters, take note because if you just can’t get enough of air travel, then this is your kind of home away from home. One thing is certain, Airbnb gets cooler listings every day. Like this one. Welcome to my airplane home… Above and beyond first class – this entire jet airplane has been completed gutted and turned...

PLACES, Wanderlust

October 2, 2015

Czech Style Fudgy Chocolate Cake

Beets are a popular crop in the Czech Republic and they are used in both sweet and savory dishes, in both cooked and their raw state. Today we made čokoládový dort z červené řepy which literally translates to chocolate cake from red beets. I know, I know… it sounds strange. But I promise you that you...

Food, LIFESTYLE, Recipes

1954-American-Form-Design-Exhibit-Dishes

October 2, 2015

What Ikea May Have Looked Like In 1954

When we think of shopping, especially when we are thinking of furnishing a dorm room or our first apartment, stereotypes (and advertising execs) have taught us to think of walking through the maze at super-sized Ikea. But today, I stumbled upon some images of over 60 years ago that show Scandinavian (or Nordic) style and design...

Art and Design, CULTURE