Staycation at Kurhotel Skodsborg

In collaboration with Kurhotel Skodsborg

 

den gode gave

Sidste weekend i November var dedikeret til at fejre min Kenneth. Han er ikke typen der går så meget op i fødselsdag modsat jeg selv. Og i min bog så er fødselsdage vidunderlige og det er hammer vigtigt at fejre eksistensen af ens elskede.

Når det så er sagt så kan det hurtigt blive svært at finde den gode gave eller arrangere noget når man ingen ledetråde får. Kenneth er typen der aldrig ønsker sig noget. En problematik som jeg tror de fleste kan genkende her omkring juletid med familiemedlemmer der aldrig har nogle konkrete ønsker. Sødt, men også mega besværligt. Min strategi ved Kenneths fødselsdag er derfor at tænke i små pakker, der kan pakkes op ved det morgenbordet, og ellers fokusere på mere specielle oplevelser vi ikke når i hverdagen eller økonomien ikke rækker til i tide og utide. I år bestod det af godt selskab, ekstra lækker mad og spa-ophold.

På dagen bildte jeg ham ind at vi skulle på kurophold på Skodsborg. Vi pakkede bilen og han glædede sig til afslapning. Men et par minutter inden forventet afgang lavede en gruppe af hans nære venner en surprise entré. Forvirringen var stor og glæden lige så da det gik op for ham at han var indlagt til at bruge aftenen i venners lag og i stedet skulle mod Skodsborg dagen derpå. Fuldkommen perfekt at have 110% afslapning på programmet en træt søndag efter festivitas.

 

the good gift

The last weekend of November was dedicated to celebrating my Kenneth. He is not the type that gets exited about his birthday as opposed to myself. In my book, birthdays are wonderful and it is super important to celebrate the existence of loved ones.

That being said, it can easily be difficult to find the good gift or arrange something when you get no clues or pointers in terms of wishes. Kenneth is the kind of person who never has a specific wish. A problem that I think most people can recognize especially during these christmas days with family members with no whishes. I think it's sweet, but also makes it a bit more complicated. My strategy at Kenneth's birthday is therefore to think in small packages that can be opened at the morning breakfast table, and otherwise focus on special experiences. This year it included good company, extra delicious food and a spa stay.

I told him were going to the Spa Hotel Skodsborg. We packed our bags and he was looking forward to a night of relaxation. But a few minutes before the expected departure, a group of his closest friends made a surprise entrance at our flat. The confusion and the joy was big when it darned on him that he was going to spend the evening in the company of friends' and instead to go to Skodsborg the following day. Which showed to be absolute perfect to have planned for110% relaxation on a slow Sunday after festivitas.

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

lys, vand og saunagus

Skodsborgs smukke faciliteter og badetraditioner tager sit udgangspunkt i 'det sunde liv', med fokus på elementerne lys, luft, vand, kost, motion og hvile. Et fokus jeg personligt synes gennemsyrer den fysiske ramme, men også stemningen blandt ansatte og gæster. Og jeg fyldes af en langsomhed og velvære i sådan en grad, at jeg faktisk vil sige, at dette sted er mit absolutte favorit spa i Danmark.

Vi var så heldige at opleve den specielle finske saunagus, som inkluderer en æterisk tjæreolie, samt 'piskning' med birkeris. Det lyder umiddelbart ikke så rart, men i virkeligheden var det en autentisk, rensende og super fed oplevelse. Jeg har lidt et had/kærlighedsforhold til saunagus, fordi det på en og samme tid er hårdt og vidunderligt, men jeg vidste hvad vi gik ind til. Kenneth var på ingen måde tiltrukket af tanken forinden, men efter at have vekselvirket mellem at være inde i den 80-100 grader varme sauna, chokolade scrub og et dyb i det iskolde havvand fra den private badebro, så var selv Kenneth fan af saunagus og helt høj på endorfiner. 

Light, water and sauna gus

Skodsborg's beautiful spa facilities and traditions are based on 'the healthy life', focusing on the elements of light, air, water, healthy diet, exercising and resting. A focus I personally think pervades the physical setting, but also the ambiance of employees and guests. And I am filled with a well-being to such an extent that I will actually say that this is my favorite spa in Denmark. We were lucky to experience the special Finnish sauna gus, which includes an essential tar oil, and 'whipping' with a bundle of birch branches with leaves. By the sound of it this doesn't sound like anything you would ever want to try. But in reality it was an authentic, cleansing and therapeutic experience. I've always had a hate/love relationship with sauna gus because it's exhausting and wonderful at the same time. Kenneth was not at all drawn to the idea, but after having been in the 80-100 degree hot sauna, chocolate scrub and jumped into the ice-cold sea just next to Skodsborg, even Kenneth's loved it and was completely high on endorphins.

 
 

Overnatning

Vi havde fornøjelsen af at overnatte i en luksuriøs spa suite der bød på den blødeste king size bed og et kæmpe badeværelse med fritstående badekar.

Lige siden mit første besøg på kurhotellet for et par år tilbage har jeg drømt om at vende tilbage og inkludere en overnatning. Det føltes som den perfekte fødselsdagsfejring ikke at skulle ud i kulden og køre tilbage til byens larm, men i stedet kunne trisse gennem hotellets gange i badekåbe og synke ned i den store seng efter timevis i spaen. Vi lå der for en kort stund inden vores dinner reservation i The Brasserie, da blev vi enige om at dette måtte være noget nær det ultimative og at livet var en taknemmelig størrelse. 

Staying the night

We had the pleasure of staying in a luxurious spa suite that offered the softest king size bed and a huge bathroom with free standing bathtub.

Ever since my first visit to Skodsborg a few years back I have dreamt of an overnight stay. It felt like the perfect birthday celebration not having to get out in the cold and drive back to the city noise, but instead tiptoe through the hotel's hallways in bathrobes and sink into the bed after several hours in the spa. We layed there for a short while before our dinner reservation at The Brasserie and agreed that our life was something to be very grateful of.

Alona Vibe Photography Skodsborg Kurhotel Spa retreat
 
Alona Vibe Photography Skodsborg Kurhotel Spa retreat breakfast in bed

Morgenmad på sengen

Om morgenen havde vi mest af alt lyst til at blive i tosomheden og den store seng så vi bestilte morgenmad til vores værelse, hvilket jeg vil anbefale alle der bliver natten over. Croissants, kanelrolls, palæobrød, avokado, æg, kaffe og juice i rigelig mængder. Det var så fint og indbydende, at vi blev nødt til at lave lidt billeder af det, inden vi smagte på sagerne (se BTS i K's vlog). Jeg elsker morgenmad på sengen og tror simpelthen at det er noget af det hyggeligste jeg ved, hvilket minder mig om at det ville være en god julegave idé ønske mig en bakke til formålet.

 

Breakfast in bed

In the morning we wanted to enjoying be just the two of us so we ordered breakfast to our room, which I would recommend everyone to do. Croissants, cinnamon rolls, avocado, eggs, coffee and juice. It was just so nice that we couldn't resist taking some pictures of it before we tasted the goods (see BTS in K's vlog). I love breakfast in bed and it really does say downtime more than anything else which reminds me that a tray for that occasion might be a perfect Christmas wish.

 

 

Alona Vibe Photography
 
 

En autentisk oplevelse

De ansatte havde opsnappet at vi fejrede Kenneths fødselsdag og overraskede os ved at servere den mest overdådige og chokoladerige konditorkage med tre forskellige lag af mousse. Vi fandt senere ud af at de har eget konditori og sælger både skårne stykker og hele kager i The Lobby. Det var umuligt at klemme mere ned end et enkelt stykke og kagen kom derfor med os hjem til Nørrebro i den fineste konditoræske.

I denne forbindelse må jeg give stor cadeau til teamet hos Skodsborg, som gjorde en dyd ud af at lave et autentisk samarbejde med høj opmærksomhed og nærværende service, der havde vores private situation in mente. Som skrevet tidligere, var vi inviteret af Skodsborg-teamet. Derudover skød jeg billeder til det engelske printmagasin Condé Naste Traveller som udgives i foråret 2018.

Det er vigtigt at sige at denne post, samt Kenneths vlog fra vores ophold er lavet på eget initiativ uden aftale herom. Fordi vi ikke kunne lade vær og fordi vi elskede oplevelsen og oprigtigt vil anbefale enhver et sådan ophold. Hvis du elsker spa, har brug for et pusterum eller står og mangler en god idé til at luksuriøs oplevelsesgave, som jeg selv. Et lille tip er at overnatte fra søndag til mandag hvor der er en anden ro end eks. fredag-lørdag.

 

An authentic experience


The staff had found out that we celebrated Kenneth's birthday and surprised us by serving the most lavish and chocolate cake with three different layers of mousse. We later found out that they have their own confetionery and sells both slices and whole cakes in The Lobby. It was impossible to squeeze down more than a single piece why the cake came with us home to Nørrebro in a cute pastry box.

In this regard, I have applause the team at Skodsborg, who made it such an authentic collaboration with much attention and concious service suited our personal situation. As previously stated, we were invited by the Skodsborg team. In addition, I shot pictures for the English magazine Condé Naste Traveler, which will be published in Spring 2018.

To situation this recommendation this post, as well as Kenneth's vlog from our stay was made on our own initiative. Because we could keep ourselves from doing it and because we loved the experience and sincerely would recommend such a stay to anyone. If you love getting spa treatments, need a space to breath in slowlu or is in need of an idea for a luxury experience to give as a present, like my case.

 

 

 
Happy birthday my love

Happy birthday my love


Se Kenneths uhøjtidelige vlog hvis I har lyst til at se lidt bagom og se os te os i badekåber.

 
7 days in New York
 

This post is not a comprehensive guide but a collection of my visual memories and personal favorites (expect food, shopping and sights) from my first trip to New York City. A trip I've dreamed about and anticipated for years. It finally happened: 7 days of much needed vacation with my love. 

 

STAY 

Initially we thought about dividing the week by staying in two different locations for me to get familiar with more areas of the city. In the end we decided to stay all 7 days in the same place to make it less complicated. We stayed in an airbnb in prime Williamsburg located at N 5th st right next to Bedford avenue and Berry st. Two streets full of coffee shops, grocery options, great restaurants and even good shopping. We fell completely in love with the area and when the week was over we kinda agreed that we would never want to stay elsewhere. It just had this home-ish feeling.

A few hotel suggestions: Ludlow, Soho Grand or 1 Hotel in Brooklyn

Alona vibe Photography New York
 
 

5 BREAKFAST SPOTS

Breakfast is crucial for me. I get both (h)angry and fatique without it. And then I just love everything that belongs to the breakfast category. Both the healthy and the sweet stuff. If you can relate I warn you that it can get quite stressful with the amount of promising breakfast spots in NYC. In our case we agreed very quickly that we wanted to just take it easy and do what we felt like despite an intense research phase prior to the trip. This resulting in us having the first meal of the day in Williamsburg all 7 days. Some spots noted in advance, but mostly random.

 
Alona Vibe Photography Gotan NYC

 

WILLIAMSBURG

1. Gotan (Williamsburg)
# the healthy

Simple, colorful and seasonal breakfast / lunch menu with a green focus. The avocado toast with feta is really good, as well as their chia porridge with fresh fruit and coffee in bright red cups. They offer milk alternatives oat/soy/almond which is a big plus in my book!

 
 
Alona Vibe Photography New york guide
 

2. Okonomi (Williamsburg)
# the special

One morning we decided to change up our normal morning routines and visit Okonomi, a Japanese restaurant tucked inside a tiny black clapboard house in Williamsburg. We already had our eyes on this place, but when their traditional ichiju sansai set breakfast was recommended by our friend Nana (who has impeccable taste) we knew we had to go. 

Okonomi only has a few seats. Two window-seat tables and a few along the counter that separates the dining area with the open kitchen. It felt very intimate and a bit like a time warp or a two-hour travel to Japan.

The meal consists of 5 small servings, a bowl of multi grain rice, hot miso soup, pickled rainbow colored vegetables, a choice of grilled fish, an optional (but essential) onsen egg  and two sides. A cube of omelet, creamy with soy milk, dashi, white soy and a fillip of sugar, baked until bronzed on top and bottom, and a small stack of green beans. 

Grilled fish is not exactly what I normally appreciate in the morning, why Kenneth doubled-checked 'are you sure you're ready for grilled fish in the morning?'. But it may be one of the best experiences we had during the week. 

 

 
 
 

3. 5 leaves (Green point)
# the popular

5 leaves is located on a corner that devides 3-4 different neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Due to great popularity the weekend usually means a long queue around brunch time. We went there on a weekday, a little earlier than the rest of the people, and we had no waiting time. I noted 5 leaves from WEAREMAD's wonderful NYC guide (Katrine makes killer travel guides!). Later it was recommended by Frede and a few others of my girlfriends (looking  at you Anso & Kristine). I chose the ricotta pancakes with fresh fruit and cinnamon / honeycumb butter. It was possibly the most delicious stack of pancakes I've ever had. The hype is understandable. To close the loop it's worth mentioning that Munchies has made a "how to: make brunch"-video so we can all learn how to make those legendary pancakes!

 
 
 
Alona Vibe Photography NYC Williamsburg

4. Sweet Chick (Williamsburg & LES)
# the hyped + comfort

Sweet Chick is a modern American diner that serves 'comfort food'. Come here for the best and most hyped duble-coated fried chicken and the perfect airy/fluffy waffles with syrup and three different flavors of whipped butter. Sweet chick was one of the few places Kenneth insisted on showing me and I have to admit that it surprised me a lot and I regret we only went there once. Watch the small video reportage of the place by Hypebeast.

* Met that beautiful couple at Sweet Chick.

 

5. Pies'n'Thighs (Williamsburg)
# the greasy

Greasy soul + slow food w. a focus on American dishes. Don't get their buckwheat waffles (Sweet Chick does it better) but instead order the biscuits, donuts or pies which the place receives a lot of praise for. I still dream of the delicious crunchy+ buttery biscuits with honey curd. Pies'n'thighs are also worth experiencing for the authentic and local atmosphere with southern interior design and soul on the playlist. Got to love places that serve you Sam Cooke and Erykah Badu tunes for breakfast.

 

 

 

LUNCH/ DINNER

Manhattan

Tacombi
# Mexican

One night we craved Mexican food and went to Tacombi on Elisabeth St. where corn tacos are served from a vintage VW combi truck in a former garage space. The garage is decorated with light bulbs, colorful handpainted wall signs and potted plants evoking tropical feelings. Despite it being a bit pricey we enjoyed every bite and left very satisfied. The chicken quesadilla is a must!

Katz delicatessen
# Meat

Also known as Katz's of New York founded in 1888. A quick disclaimer is that this is an iconic kosher deli for hardcore meat lovers. The pastrami sandwich is a cult-favorite, but even if you're not a fan of meat sandwiches, the busy space is interest to see nevertheless.

 
Tacombi Nolita via

Tacombi Nolita via

 

Williamsburg

Pokebab (Williamsburg)
# Fresh + Fast

I lost track on the amount of Pokebowls we had during our 7 days.  If you haven't heard about this hawaiian/japanese food concept you should check it out. Pokebab quickly became our local to-go lunch/dinner spot as it is an easy and quick way to get healthy food consisting of good carbs, greens and fish.

 

The Four Horsemen (Williamsburg)
# Neigbourhood gourmet

"A neigbourhood restaurant" that serves natural wines and delicious food in Japanese-Scandinavian surroundings. We spend our last night in NYC with a perfect dinner at the Four Horsemen together with two danish friends. My homegirl Polina lives in NYC and works for LCD Soundsystem's frontman James Murphy and wife Christina Topsøe who together opened the bar and restaurant. For good reasons the restaurant has become Polina's second home and was able to guide us through the menu. But honestly I feel pretty content of saying that every dish served here is a safe choice. It was balanced, interesting and beautiful food. Every little bite. It would be my first choice for a dinner date with friends or a loved one. The prices are high, the crowd is cool, it feels homey and evokes exactly the feeling of a neigborhood restaurant where you want to hang out every night during the week. The spot is featured in the Netflix series Master of None and Vice's Munchies!

SAD THAT I MISSED OUT.....

... out on these spots. 

Milk Bar (Sweets) 

De Maria (breakfast + lunch)

Paulie gee (Pizza)

Roberta's Pizza (Pizza)

Má Pêche Momofuku (Asian Fusion)

Aburiya Kinnosuke (Authentic Japanese izakaya)

 

 

 

SHOPPING

Lower Manhattan/SOHO

In my humble oppinion I think SoHo is New York City’s prime shopping district. SoHo (an acronym for South of Houston Street) features galleries, luxury boutiques and independent-designer outposts. Besides good shopping there are plenty of photo opportunities and great food and coffee in this area. Too many to name them all, so here's a few highlighted stores.

 
kith

kith

 

 

Kith

KITH, founded by sneaker designer, Ronnie Fieg in 2010, recently opened up to a three floors flagship store on Lafayette Street. The store caters multibrand streetwear to both men and women. I loved the conceptual and well designed store even tho I didn't bring anything with me home. Check it out if you're into limited edition sneakers, streetwear, or want to be cool with the cool kids and fancy an Insta worthy treat.

 

Stadium Goods & Flight Club

Two classics if you're into sneaker re-selling or searching limited releases. There are severals in NYC but these are a must.

Stadium Goods

Stadium Goods

 

K-town

For the K-beauty geeks this is a must. My favorite shops were Clio and The Face Shop. Both had a lot of great deals and gave a lot of samples with a purchase. Tho I would recommend doing some research on which brands and products that you're interested in before heading to these shops as you can easily get overwhelmed by the endless amount of options - which are all written in korean to make it more complicated haha.

A few others I enjoyed..

 
 
 
glossier

glossier

THREE SHOPS TO CHECK OUT IF....

... you're interested in online branding and business development anno 2017.

 

1. Supreme

You either love or hate this brand. But it's impossible not to be fancinated by the recent years succes, insane demand and hype about the brand with the red box logo. It is named the most reselled brand in the world. Therefore it is highly recommended to pay the store a visit to experience the brand culture everything from how you register online (to get a spot in a qeue), stand in multiple lines to get inside the store, the reselling culture (online and supreme pushers at street corners) and the whole vibe inside the store which feels like most kids' holy grail. Make sure to visit the recently opened store in Williamsburg. It's bigger than the one in SoHo and has a built-in skate bowl in the back (like the OG in L.A.). But be prepared for the qeues and bodyguards.

 

2. Glossier Showroom

Make sure to check out the girly universe at the Glossier showroom, which has, in the course of two years, gone from launch to being talked about as the beauty brand that possibly defines a whole generation. Another interesting space to visit if you are interesting in a brand that has huge succes with appealing to the digital generation. Again be prepared for the qeues.

 
 

 

3. Outdoor Voices

A beautiful light- wooden shop of the interesting workout and sportswearbrand that lives a succesful life online (+ offline). Outdoor Voices (OV) is another brand to watch in terms of succesfully understanding this generation and develop products that are great and appealing. OV wants to take out the aspect of competition and is higly based on a loyal community. Check out #doingthings on IG to get an idea.

 

Extra

* See this recent discussion and talk with founder of Glossier, Emily Weiss and founder of Outdoor Voices, Tyler Haney, at TechCrunch to know more about community and brand building, supply chain optimization, and expansion.

* See the Complex produced documentary about the reselling culture around Supreme

outdoor voices
 
 

SIGHTS

NYC is obviously full of sights. Why I have limited this post to only bringing my favorites from this visit. Expect no Statue of Liberty but a few other classics. 

 
Alona Vibe Photography New york guide
Alona Vibe Photography New york guide

THE ROCKERFELLER CENTER / TOP OF THE ROCK

For the perfect sunset view. My boyfriend thinks the Top of the Rock offers a better view of the city than Empire State Building. I haven't experienced the latter, but I loved the view from the Rock. Lower Manhattan on one side, Central Park on the other. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance (through website) to skip the line, and I recommend going an hour before sunset to catch both the daylight and the golden NYC light.

Alona vibe photography NYC guide Top of the rock
 

WALKING THE BRIDGES OF NYC

We didn't get to see Brooklyn Bridge which is highlighted in every decent NYC guide (saving up for a 2nd visit). But instead we crossed Manhattan Bridge which has a few good photo spots on its way (especially on the Manhattan side) and a cool overview of the city.

 
Alona Vibe photography NYC kenneth nguyen
Alona Vibe Photography New york guide
Alona Vibe Photography New york guide
 
 
Alona Vibe Photography New york guide
 
pitstop for 2$ pizza

pitstop for 2$ pizza

 

CHINA TOWN

China town is busy, noisy, interesting, colorful and full of photo opportunities. But be gentle and respectful as the asian culture is not too keen of being photographed.

 
 

 

THE HIGHLINE

Formerly a rail track, now an elevated park that spans around 15 blocks. I loved everything about this park. It's something really special to be able to pass through multiple neigbourhoods and watch it from a couple of meter height. An other very different perspective than the one you get from the street. The modern architecture is softened up with the wild greenery, and this combo makes for great pictures and plenty of spots to relax and take it all in. 

 
 

Central park

Another classic but a must see for a first timer like me. We took the time to walk around and see the different nooks and hooks of the park and stop at the incredible beautiful Bethesda Terrace and Arch in the heart of the park (pictured). 

Alona Vibe Photography
Alona Vibe Photography
Alona Vibe Photography New york guide
 
Blue bottle

Blue bottle

 

COFFEE

I drink a cup or two a day and I do so with great pleasure. So does my baby K. So of course we were on a daily coffee hunt. Here's three favorites we stumbled upon.
 

Blue Bottle 
Blue bottle has several shops around the city, with clean interior and product design and cool barista geeks. The brand is said to be somewhat of a cult-favorite and there is no doubt that they served us the best cup of coffee on the whole trip. Make sure to bring home a package of coffee beans!
 

Toby's Estate (Williamsburg)

Buzzing busy cafe/coffee shop in prime Williamsburg with a great cup of coffee. Safe and delicious. Suggested by a sweet native and follower of mine! 

 

Voyager espresso (Manhattan)

Named after the Voyager spacecraft, this shop goes for the sci-fi vibe and serves La Cabra coffee.

Alona Vibe Photography Blue Bottle Coffee

 

 

Alona vibe photography nyc
Alona Vibe Photography 7 days in Nyc guide
love

love

 

New York City , October 2017.