We all have our own ideas of how best to pursue la dolce vita. For Longines, the Swiss watchmaker, the sentiment is epitomized in a watch, the DolceVita that debuted in 1997. Over the last two-plus decades, the DolceVita has expanded into a vast timepiece collection, offering an array of materials, sizes, dials, bracelets, and colours while retaining its signature art deco-style rectangular case. It continues to be one of the brand’s bestsellers. Enter the Mini DolceVita, a smaller sibling that was added to the range last year featuring, as the name implies, a smaller case measuring 21.50 mil ..read more

Paris, Tokyo, Sydney, Vancouver, Los Angeles—wherever you are in the world, a glass of champagne is just the thing to celebrate good weather with better company. And with the arrival of spring in the northern hemisphere, it’s time for Canadians to get bottle-popping. Chances are, if you’re in the mood to celebrate under the sun, Veuve Clicquot brut with its iconic yellow label is one of the front-runners when you’re shopping for champagne. But this year, the iconic French champagne maison is pointing Canadian revellers in another direction—to its brut rosé. From May 8 to June 2, LCBO Summer H ..read more

Somewhere along the way, the modern Porsche vehicle has become less attainable, more exclusive, and, to be fair, more special. When the Porsche Boxster was introduced in 1996, the roadster was intended to be the entry point for the brand. It was a fun little mid-engine sports car that borrowed parts from the iconic Porsche 911 but was offered at a much lower price point. These days, the same pecking order stands, more or less: the base 911 is more expensive than the corresponding Boxster. But over the years, the Boxster’s performance has been boosted, and you can’t really consider it the entr ..read more

On the edge of Paris’s Japanese quartier in the 2nd arrondissement, Hotel Hana is the latest addition to the area’s burgeoning hotel collection. The arrondissement has previously been best known for its food scene—on the nearby Rue de Nil, the Michelin-starred Frenchie bistro rubs shoulders with gourmet greengrocers Terroirs d’Avenir, whilst just around the corner, market street Rue Montorgueil is lined with some of Paris’s most famous bakeries and chocolate shops. Closer to home, home being Hotel Hana, Rue Sainte-Anne is the go-to destination for Parisians craving Japanese cuisine in what En ..read more

Think of the French Riviera, and images of bronzed bodies, glamorous beach clubs, and yachts floating in azure waters spring to mind. True, that sun-drenched vision is a significant part of its allure, but scratch the surface, and you’ll discover the Côte d’Azur is equally endowed with a rich artistic heritage that continues to inspire contemporary creators. The French Riviera’s luminous light and vivid colours have long captivated artists from Renoir to Matisse, Chagall, and Picasso. Their enduring legacy fuels the region’s thriving galleries, thought-provoking installations, and world-class ..read more

After a 20-year tenure on Toronto’s Queen West Street, jewelry boutique Anne Sportun has debuted a fresh redesign for the flagship, thanks to the creative imaginings of local design and architecture firm Superkül. Now co-owned by her daughter, Haley Woodbury, the eponymous Toronto-based brand was founded 35 years ago by Anne Sportun, who began making jewelry as a teenager and says she is “excited to welcome our customers into this beautiful new experiential environment.” Superkül used the jewelry brand’s signature style—jewelry that features organic shapes, timeless silhouettes, and asymmetri ..read more

Drive east of Quebec City, and within minutes you’re deep in boreal forest. Just north of lofty Montmorency Falls and bucolic Île d’Orléans in the St. Lawrence River, the Jacques-Cartier Valley is redolent with flora that’s making it onto the plates of the city’s finest and most forward-thinking restaurants. On a warm spring day, Alexis Lemay, the forager/bartender/chef at the multi-award-winning Tanière restaurant, points out a colossal chunk of chaga mushroom that can be infused into an antioxidant-rich tea. Lemay’s dad and granddad drink it every day. At Tanière, this infusion might make i ..read more

As the weather turns, many of us might be looking for a lighter main meal. Chef Tommy Shorthouse from Fanny Bay Oyster Bar in Vancouver has developed a home-cook-friendly recipe for blackened snapper, with a blend of seasonings to add depth and a little spice.   Blackened Snapper Ingredients Neutral cooking oil 2 large fillets fresh snapper (boned and skin removed) 1 tablespoon Cajun/blackening spice 1 tablespoon unsalted butter   Method Preheat a pan on medium-high heat with a neutral cooking oil. As the pan preheats, cover the fillets (on 1 side) with Cajun/ blackening spice. Care ..read more

A good gathering isn’t without a table setting for sipping or snacking and encouraging others to connect. Setting the tone for a memorable occasion starts with the table covering, according to Lune 1860. Paying homage to the art of table dressing, the Ontario-based brand believes the tablecloth is more than a covering, it is the canvas for an impressive tablescape, whether draped, touching the floor, or trailing off the table—punctuated by floral arrangements and dinnerware. Whether for a grand celebration or an intimate social setting, pieces from the Lune Tableau Collection—and their coquet ..read more

In Costa Nova, a beachfront town in northern Portugal, the houses have flair. The front façades of the wood-framed pitched-roof structures along Avenida José Estevão feature colourful stripes and elaborate trim. The accents aren’t subtle variations of hues; they are bold bands and patterns of primary colours.       Espaco Objecto, a Portuguese architecture firm, has reimagined one of these houses, expanding a modest hunter-green checkerboard-tiled cottage to make it a contemporary family home.             The lot is narrow, with h ..read more