OHLALA Mag

HOLIDAY LIGHTS! NEW YORK - PARIS

A couple of photos from two of our favorite cities in the world, New York and Paris. The empire State Building is just stunning with the special holiday lights [source] and Paris will always be Paris when it comes to the visual appeal.



I certainly don't miss living in Paris but I do miss taking photos of Paris! I am really excited about traveling to France in a couple of weeks and even if I will be in Paris just for one day I will try to venture out to take some photos, if it is not raining or too cold (well ... at least not raining).

For more amazing photos from Paris check out our special categories Paris 2008 and Paris 2007.

LISTENING TO PIANO NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD

Let's go back to our weekend in Palm Springs for a minute. I know it may seem like a weird combination, Joan Collins and Ryan Barry but after all in Hollywoodland (that extends all the way to the desert) everythin is possible ;-)



So as you know by now, last week we photographed the mega hot Ryan Barry in Palm Springs, the location was a fabulous, a mid century home with great views, and among the cool things in the house was Joan Collins' grand piano.
[Escape 2 Palm Springs]



Ryan who on top of being, nice and extremely good looking, is also talented and can play piano. The scenery was a real delight, I haven't seen many pianists in my life but let me tell you that a pianist shirtless only wearing a low rise jeans is also a delight for the eyes. That moment felt very gay but after all it's Joan Colllins' piano right ;-)



It was a really nice weekend, and on top of the photoshoot we had a great time. So long the desert, so long the windmills, so long Palm Springs ...



+ OhLaLa An Early Extended Weekend in the Desert
+ Palm Springs Day 2
+ Ryan Barry Fitness
+ Steele Travel

PALM SPRINGS DAY 2

So yesterday was one really fun-working-relaxing day for us in Palm Springs. We have started with a breakfast at The Parker (they have the most amazing specialities) and the the outdoor space is just as cool as the rest of the hotel.



Around 10 am we met up with Ryan and then went to the location he found for the shoot, and what a location ... this is one of the most amazing homes in the city. A mid century jewel perched high above the city. You can rent the house for a weekend a week or even more ... and honestly I would love to spend an entire week there! You have to read about the history of the house, it's pretty cool ;-) [Escape 2 Palm Springs]



We were so excited and happy to photograph our friend Ryan (up right) that having an extra model (Johnny) to assist us through the day, was like the cherry on the cake! We have spent about about 5 hours at the house, it was a really fun and productive shoot. We can't wait to share all that with you soon.



Before going out for diner, we drove back to the hotel and relaxed for a couple of hours by the pool.



I am glad we took some time to relax because the rest of the night was pretty wild. Below a 'selection' of photos. We have spent the night with Ryan, and two of his friends Edward and Nic. We have even got to meet with some Ohlala readers, like Eric and Shila on the picture below. It was a great day and as you can see life in California can be pretty nice !!!!



+ Ryan Fitness + Steele Travel Official Site
+ The Parker Palm Springs
+ Escape 2 Palm Springs



+ OhLaLa! An Early Extended Weekend In The Desert

OHLALA! AN EARLY EXTENDED WEEKEND IN THE DESERT

So this morning we have left gloomy Los Angeles to start an early extended weekend in sunny Palm Springs. After a rather quick and uneventful drive with our new baby, we have made it to the stunning Parker hotel right on time to enjoy a nice lunch by the Pool.





Our room is lost somewhere in this amazing oasis. The Parker is so peaceful that it makes you want to lounge and take a nap wherever you are. But instead of taking a nap we have met up with our friend Ryan Barry that we are going to photograph tomorrow ... I know we have like one of the hardest jobs ever, right !? ;-)





The room is just like the rest of the hotel, it has this funky old Hollywood style feel. We love it!





Just before we go off, to enjoy our super comfy bed, here is a picture I have just snapped from our room overlooking one of the two pools and the Palm Springs landscape, palm trees and mountain ...



As always when we travel now, we ask the guys at Steel Travel to take care of all the details and they are doing an amazing job. They are the ones responsable for our fantastic Roman-tic escapade in Italy this summer. If you guys are planning a trip and feel like being treated as a King or a Queen (it depends of the mood) check out Steele Travel.



+ Steele Travel Official Site
+ The Parker Palm Springs

CARNET DE VOYAGE: PARIS LOS ANGELES

Yesterday was one exhausting day, physically and emotionally! Not only we could not sleep the night before leaving Paris but we were so excited that even the comfy business seats on Air France did not help us take some rest.



So after 2 meals, 2 movies and starring at the clouds on the live video ... we have landed home. After a fantastic diner prepared by our dear friends Francis and Donald we collapsed on our bed at home.



To make the flight even more pleasant ... sitting behind Alek and I Jason Gedrick who played Rick in Desperate Housewives, very handsome man!



Today we have to get our social security number, driving license and more 'exciting' stuff ... so things should go back to normal on OhLaLa monday, once we relax and get back to our routine! :-)



I just want to say THANK YOU to all of you who have sent us welcome messages by emails, I will try to get back to all of you personally and for now my little pumpkins we wish you the best Halloween ever ....
XOXO
Alek & Steph

TODAY IS OUR LAST DAY IN PARIS ... AS PARISIANS!

Alek and I have moved to Paris 11 years ago. Yes I was only 12! Time goes by so quickly ;-) Tomorrow we are flying back home in Los Angeles, this will be our official move since we have now sold everything in Paris.

I don't want to look back and feel nostalgic about this period of our lives. We had a blast living in Paris, I had no plans for staying that long in fact but Alek came along with an all new adventure. We went through so many stressful situations 'immigration wise' in France with Alek who is originally from Serbia that getting our papers for the US was like asking for a croissant in Paris ;-)

Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives and we are so excited ...

CARNET DE VOYAGE: PARIS! THE SIMPSONS, THE SMURFS & ANDY RODDICK

This afternoon around the Louvre we saw this funny painting, I could not resist to share. The Simpsons and the Smurfs or 'Les Stroumphs' as we call them over here together, I think it was a cool idea!

Talking about cool things, while walking rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore we had the pleasure to see Andy Roddick and his girlfriend Brooklyn Decker! They are both extremely sexy but that we knew already, what I didn't know is how tall Andy was. Yesterday he lost against Robin Soderling at the Lyon Grand Prix quarterfinals, so I guess they have decided to do a last minute romantic weekend in Paris.

CARNET DE VOYAGE: THE ARTSY TULIERIES GARDEN

Almost every single day I or we (Alek and I) like to spend some time at the Tulieries garden, no matter the season, the time of the day, or the weather, this remains one of my favorite spots. Right now the garden host part of the 'Foire Internationale d'Art Contemporain' [FIAC] so one more reason to go to the Tuileries garden if you are in Paris.

But today besides the great scenery, the art, and the sunshine, there was something else not to be missed, two gymnast-break-dancers doing their stretching and training :-)



For them, there are no better spot than the comfortable grass in front of the Louvre overlooking the Eiffel Tower, that's much better than a simple indoor gymnast!









Those guys were amazing, talented and sexy (not negligible) I should have recorded a short video to share with you, but we let them do their thing and kept on walking to enjoy this gorgeous day.



I am always fascinated by those street dancers, mostly because I am just incapable of doing a single move they are doing ;-) If you remember this summer there was two guys who were performing Place de l'Hotel de ville [Street Dancers in Paris].

CARNET DE VOYAGE: A ROMAN-WAR-TIC WALK IN PARIS

Today Alek and I have enjoyed another great fall day in Paris by taking a long walk along the river. If in Los Angeles you have helicopters flying around almost 24/7, in Paris it is a rare thing and expect on the 14th of July pigeons are pretty much the only things flying above your head and eventually if you are lucky enough, defecating on you.



I have to say that it was a bit weird to have those huge army helicopters all over the place.



But after their military demonstration it all went back to the quiet and romantic atmosphere we like so much.

CARNET DE VOYAGE: FALLING FOR PARIS

Today was another gorgeous fall day, nothing like the summer feeling we experienced a couple of days ago but it was nice and crisp, well, sunny and cold ;-) So We took our camera and just walk around.



Even if I dream of an endless summer, I have to say that I really enjoy the change of seasons. It is like an all new scenery even to the most familiar places.