ART BABBLE: "My Winnipeg" - La Maison Rouge

Put on by Paris' Maison Rouge Gallery, "My Winnipeg" is the first in a series of exhibitions exposing undiscovered art scenes in smaller towns and cities around the world. This particular show, featuring 250 works from 70 Winnipeg creators, highlights noteworthy artists inhabiting the world's coldest city in Manitoba, Canada. Painting, video, installation, photography, performance art, film and music: all media reflecting the similarities between each unique Winnipeg artist and the influence of Winnipeg history, geography and climate within their works.

Running through September, check out more here.

FOOD BABBLE: Intercontinental Pop-Up Dining

The Cube by Electrolux, designed by Park Associati of Milan, takes fine dining to new levels-- literally! Over the course of 2011, Electrolux is traveling across countries of Europe and Russia where two high level restaurants will pop up on a series of Europe's most legendary landmarks offering 18 guests per seating once-in-a-lifetime experiences. For three months at a time, the 140 square meter portable all-white structures will be seen atop renowned buildings, monuments, and water platforms in Belgium, Italy, Russia, Switzerland and Sweden. Each country will carefully select a resident chef at each Cube with menu's featuring locally sourced ingredients all prepared on state-of-the-art Electrolux appliances. Currently, the Cube sits atop the Parc du Cinquantenaire arch in Brussels. So innovative-- can't wait to see where they crop up next!

FASHION BABBLE: NO DI$COUNT, Melbourne

Melbourne duo NO DI$COUNT put together this exhibit in April. Crazily AMAZINGLY!

TRAVEL BABBLE: Wanderlust Hotel - Singapore

Heading to Singapore anytime soon? Check into their new (affordable) contemporary boutique hotel Wanderlust. Each room, all designed differently (no two rooms the same) with rocketships, overgrown typewriters, and bright pantone shades (complete with Kiehl's toiletries!) will evoke the inner child need for discovery. A handy book-like itinerary, in the form of a boarding pass, is given to all of the guests. The booklet includes useful information about the hotel, a helpful city guide including modes of transportation, restaurant recommendations, and maps. The rest of the pages are left blank for your own notes, serving as a personalized keepsake for later. CUTE! Don't forget to mozy on down to the lobby restaurant Cocotte for some french cuisine and communal dining.

Check it: www.wanderlusthotel.com

ART BABBLE: Theresa Himmer - Denmark

Theresa Himmer, a young Danish/Czech artist and architect, born in Denmark and living in Iceland, has added a sparkling new spin on street art. Using thousands and thousands of mirrored plates, essentially large sequins (the same kind used for apparel), each lightly pinned individually onto buildings around Reykjavik, Iceland, she has turned this booming artist city into a magical, man-made landscape. Challenging the notion of man-made versus nature, The Glacier, The Waterfall and The Volcano are three installations constituting the Mountain Series, a loving tribute to Iceland.

Next stop on our list? Reykjavik!

FASHION BABBLE: Iris van Herpen - Netherlands

"Escapism Couture"

Last week, during the Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture F/W 2011/2012 show, 27-year old Iris van Herpen debuted her futuristic, over the top designs. She employs unusual fine handwork techniques and equipment for her work with materials such as smoked leather, rubber, plastic, metal, and polyamidic powder. Deemed the highlight of Paris fashion week, her works reflect that of Alexander McQueen, seemingly defying gravity with nebulous shapes and unearthly composition.

TRAVEL BABBLE: Tulum, Mexico

After hitting the beach in Tulum, head to Hartwood, located on the jungle side of Tulum Beach Road for a bite and appreciate the fresh local seasonal cuisine. Former Peasant Chef Eric Werner is behind the magic freshly prepared at Hartwood, not to mention Eric being easy on the eye is surely a bonus. The menu changes daily, depending on the catch and the markets for the day... take us away!