i got myself a panda!

And what a cute creature it is!

Here’s an adorable addition to my Louis Vuitton collection, the limited edition Panda Porte Cles.

A character created by famed superflat artist Takashi Murakami, the Panda has figured in two Louis Vuitton commercials, a fiberglass installation, and across a line of leather goods produced for the French brand.

This key ring comes in full vachetta leather with shiny gold brass hardware. Over four years old already, it has developed a very nice patina and I’m planning to use it as a bag charm for my Monogram Keepall. It’s such a thrill finding or actively seeking for rare, limited edition items like this. Moreso when it comes at a price one can’t resist.

LVoe it! Happy long weekend everybody!

Update: Here’s the Panda hanging from my Keepall. Love all the vachetta leather going on around it.

put on your poker face: lady gaga goes to oslo

OMG! Our Lady Gaga dreams have come true! The blazing pop superstar is hitting the Spektrum Scene stage on July 30, the same night as Madonna’s and Metallica’s second concerts in Oslo. While tickets for the latter two are all sold out by now, The Fame Ball Tour tickets go on sale starting tomorrow.

I am so going! It’s a good thing I’m watching Madonna two days earlier.

Update 30/04 – 9.04 am: We’ve got tickets! :)

the norwegian opera and ballet wins the 2009 mies van der rohe award

Photo: Mark Carandang

It was announced today that the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies Van Der Rohe Award 2009 was awarded to The Norwegian Opera and Ballet, designed by the Snøhetta Architects.

Given by the European Commission and the Fundacio Mies Van Der Rohe, the prize is one of the most important and prestigious prizes for international architecture.  By supporting the prize, the European Commission underlines the role of architecture as a driver for creativity and innovation and draws attention to the important contribution of European professionals in the development of new ideas and technologies.

The Norwegian Opera and Ballet bested four other finalists, which were chosen from a pool of 340 project nominees from around the world.

News source.

some swedish saturday

Yesterday, Knut, two of our friends and I participated in a socio-economic phenomenon among Norwegians – driving into Sweden for cheaper consumer goods, wine and liquors. With an upcoming party, we took this chance to stock up and do some sightseeing as well in the city of Karlstad situated 107 miles southwest of Oslo.

Along the way, we rested at a camping site by a lake for some light lunch. We walked through some woods where trademark Swedish red cottages stood still, coming into a tranquil scenery where clear silent waters mirror mountains and trees. 

Karlstad is reputed to be one of the sunniest towns in Sweden and the city symbol is a happy sun. True enough, the entire Saturday was sun-kissed which was perfect for walking around town and enjoying some great food at an outdoor restaurant. There was some sort of festival going on in Karlstad this weekend. The main town square where the Peace Monument and Parliament could be found was brimming with booths selling wares from different countries. We bought three kinds of cheddar cheese and lemon curd from the British booth. Walking along one of the main avenues, I got flanked by these little girls in troll costumes. Boy they were dirty! Haha!

On our way back to Oslo, we took a detour and stopped by Sweden’s biggest lake called Vänern. They say that the lake is so big you can’t see the other end of it, and it apparently  measures around 10 times bigger than Norway’s biggest lake. We stumbled upon three guys having barbeque and beer and here’s a papparazzi shot – well they seem to have noticed me taking their picture. Hahaha!

That was a nice weekend trip, yes.

top five röyksopp

Before I even moved to Norway, I have been listening to Röyksopp and their electronic sounds. They are a duo based in Bergen, Norway composed of Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge. Here’s my top five Röyksopp.

ONE. Only This Moment

TWO. What Else Is There

THREE. Remind Me

FOUR. 49 Percent

FIVE. Sparks

The boys have recently collaborated with another favorite artist, Robyn, and here’s the result as performed on a Norwegian talk show and in the official video.

ON SENKVELD. The Girl and the Robot

THE VIDEO. The Girl and the Robot

 

good friday

Diesel’s Black Friday turned out good.

I found a new pair for summer.

Hope you had a good Friday, too. Weekend’s here guys!

easter at ekeberg

I’ve been on holiday since Monday and been spending the Easter break in the city, at home, doing nothing. Knut and I decided to walk up to the Ekeberg Restaurant this afternoon and settled for some coffee and pastries after taking in views of Oslo from above the city. 

Taken midway the winding uphill path, Oslo is a work in progress.

The Opera House and the city.

The inner eastern city district, my part of town.

Office building Havnelageret in the foreground, the City Hall’s twin blocks to the left and the Royal Palace in the background.

A ship cruising its way in to Oslo.

At the terrace of Ekeberg Restaurant, affording fantastic views of the city and the islands on the Oslo fjord.

Expensive coffee and pastries. Boo!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

the boys are back!

October of 2006, I first saw Norwegian artists Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes and Askil Holm collectively known as Gitarkameratene (The Guitar Buddies) live in concert together for their Hallelujah tour. My life in Norway has been significantly marked with their music and I’ve been an avid follower ever since. 

Two and a half years later, the boys are back with Hallelujah Live Vol. 2 and are set to tour around Norway and stage concerts beginning May. Since Knut has a prior engagement on the date they’re premiering at the concert hall Oslo Spektrum, we settled for the pre-premiere show at Sekkefabrikken Kulturhus in Asker on May 2.

Here’s a clip from the program Senkveld where they performed U2’s With or Without You, one of the songs they picked for the tour. Watch. 

This should be great, I can’t wait!

what’s in my bag 2

Here’s what’s inside my Tanger Sac Plat.

Starbucks Mints. Private and work phones. LV Huntington sunglasses. Rituals Ginkgo’s Secret hand balm. LV Monogram Pochette Cles. iPod Video. LV Damier Pocket Agenda. Pilot mini pen. LV Damier Graphite 6 keys holder. Reiser & Ferie travel magazine.

happy birthday knut!

Knut had his birthday last Sunday and for the party the night before, I made him this birthday cake (yes, even those chocolate marble thins) and wrapped this LVoely gift.

Gratulerer med dagen! Jeg ønsker deg mange lykkelige dager. :)