The last time I was in Moscow, I was there for a soccer tournament. We arrived one day before the coup d’etat against Gorbachev and left one day after the coup collapsed and Yeltsin became a household name. For the time we were there, communication home was shut down, there was little news about what was going on, and we were nervous about our own ability to leave the torn city, country and region. But, we still had soccer. The tournament continued and for the ninety minutes we were on the field everything was normal – even with tanks lining the streets.

There’s something magical about soccer, and there’s something even more magical about the global community’s love for the game. No matter what’s going on, once that whistle blows, the focus is the soccer pitch, the players and the game. On May 21, Manchester United plays Chelsea for the Champions League final in Moscow. The world will be watching and it’s reported that more than 50,000 fans will descend upon the city. If you’re one of the lucky travelers who will be attending the game, The Guardian recently put together a nice travel guide of six things to do while in the city. Be sure to check out the article here.

As we move from city to city we enjoy visiting the local Apple stores. When we visited the Ginza store in Tokyo we thought that was huge. At the time it was one of their largest retail posts. Then we visited the Manhattan stores – massive. So based on their sizing trend, we weren’t surprised to hear that the upcoming Apple Store in Boston would be the largest to date. Designed as a gigantic glass cube, the four floor structure will surely become a must see destination among visitors and locals alike.

While reading about the Boston store we came across this interesting statistic posted by Gizmodo. “According to a store employee, it’s a good thing Boylston Street is so big: Apple estimates 1,500-2000 customers per hour will visit, which is more than 10 times the 160 per hour that the average store gets.” We’ve rarely seen an empty Apple store. In fact they’re usually packed with enthusiasts. So imagine what 1500 – 2000 customers per hour will look like… The Boston store is opening later this month. Be sure to check it out.

Alife jumps the pond and opens a new flagship store in Tokyo. Located within the fashion district of Harajuku, it adds to the long list of Tokyo’s distinctive retail destinations. In a short 10 years Alife built a strong brand. Their clean lines, great use of color and timeless creative direction anchored them among the rapidly changing landscape of fashion and streetwear. This recent expansion demonstrates the increasing growth and influence of the Alife brand.

Their minimal sensibilities have translated well within the new retail space. Opting for substance over flash, the store’s clean aesthetic points the consumer to the products with very little distraction. We’re excited for the store’s opening and look forward to the continuing expansion of the brand. Visit Alife next time you’re in Tokyo. Click Read More for additional information and photos.

There are several approaches to architectural design. Some say good design starts with inspiration. Others say it starts with a question. Well known architect, Norman Foster and his team used a little of both when they began working on the Reichstag.

According to Foster, they sought to answer four questions: What is the significance of the Bundestag as a democratic forum? How do we demonstrate Reichstag’s commitment to public accessibility? How do we incorporate a sensitivity to history? And, how do we include a rigorous environmental agenda? One look at the dome and it appears Foster answered these issues by integrating a progressive ethos within the design of the Reichstag. Click Read More for additional information and photos.

This weekend provides a great opportunity to visit Jeff Koons’ exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He currently has three pieces on display at the Met’s Cantor Rooftop Garden. The outdoor exhibit is enjoyable during this spring season. New York City’s sky-scape provides a wonderful backdrop for the works displayed.

Jeff Koons’ art has been displayed at the Moma, Whitney, Guggenheim, Tokyo Met and many others. Noted for his simple, yet thoughtful work, many have analyzed his pieces. Recently the New York Times suggested that there were perverse undertones wrapped in Koons’ simplicity. While others suggest that his works represents a nod to simpler youthful times. Either way, his pieces are interesting and merit visiting. Be sure to check them out – the exhibit runs until October 26, 2008. Click Read More for additional information and details.

Culture + Travel is a hit here at the office. This new publication takes a refreshing look at how we move and experience life. They bill themselves as the magazine for people who love the arts and travel with a passion. One read through and you’ll quickly see how dedicated they are to this manifesto. From the clean layout and design to the editorial direction, they’ve carved out a neat and artful conversation despite the overwhelming din echoed from thousands of travel publications.

Next time you visit your local bookstore be sure to look for them. You won’t be disappointed. Their lastest issue is on newstands now. It’s entitled, “Japan: A Voyage to Art.” Click Read More for additional information.

International design and furniture collide at this year’s Salone del Mobile trade show. Salone 2008 started earlier this week and runs until April 21. Billed as the world’s largest design trade show, you don’t want to miss this if you’re in the area. It’s a great place to view innovative and upcoming designs within the realm of furniture and accessories.

The show opens up to the general public this Sunday (April 20) and Wallpaper has a great podcast covering the event. It includes information and tips for getting around town. These tips shouldn’t be taken lightly. The popularity of the show draws an enormous amount of tourists to Milan each year. It’s been recorded that an extra 270,000 tourists come to the area during the event, which means crowded streets, hotels and cabs. So go prepared. Click Read More for additional information, photos and links.

There are many city guides out there, but finding one that best suits your needs can be tricky. For years, one of our favorite online guides has been SuperFuture. Their editorial direction and community-reviews provide great information for those quick trips. And now joining the ranks is unlike – a collective of creatives who’ve pulled together the best of the best for the urban modernist on the go.

The online portion of unlike is really well done. The design is clean. The writing is concise and informative. And, there are tons of pictures. But the site’s true beauty lies in the portability of their information. You can access locations, guides and events via their exclusive mobile version for your cellphone, pda or ipod touch. Be sure to check them out. We’ve dug through the first guide – berlin.unlike – and found quite a few favorites already.

Are you looking for comfort during your morning commute? If you happen to live in Kobe, Japan you’re in luck. On April 14 Ikea is opening a new store on Port Island. In celebration of the store’s opening, they’ve completely outfitted the Kobe Portliner Monorail with their design ethos and furniture. As PT reports, “The redecorated train, which features a colorful exterior, bright upholstery and fancy curtains, will carry passengers in style until May 6.” Click Read More for additional photos and information.

Cincinnati’s Contemporary Arts Center is one of our favorite destinations in the Midwest. The building’s hyper-modern aesthetic stands out among the city’s more conservative landscape. For more than 65 years, the center has served as a forum for progressive art installations.

Historically, the center paved the way for a long list of edgy and daring art centers. In 1940 it was one of the first American Institutions to exhibit Picasso’s Guernica and since then the center has housed hundreds of works from artists like Warhol, Jasper Johns, Nam June Paik and others. Also, its current architectural redesign was directed by one of our favorites, Zaha Hadid – a london architect known for her innovative structures. As they describe it, “From the street, the CAC’s jutting concrete reliefs trace the outlines of the galleries inside. Once inside, visitors can’t get lost: The floor is slightly tilted, and following its enforced flow around the lobby leads you to a floating stairway to the mezzanine.” CAC is a must see. If you visit Cincinnati be sure to stop by. Click Read More for additional information and photos.

Last weekend marked the beginning of Washington DC’s Cherry Blossom Festival. This time of year tourists descend upon the city to take in its natural beauty. The annual tradition celebrates Tokyo’s gift of 3000 cherry trees to the US back in 1926. Ever since then, the cherry tree has become an iconic part of DC’s character.

If you’re in the DC area this week, take some time to swing pass the Tidal Basin. They say the blossoms’ peak period should last until Thursday. But, if the crowds are too thick, you can always view the beauty from alternate locations…

If you’re looking for stunning places to visit, Conde Nast has seven suggestions. April’s issue of Conde Nast Traveler features their latest picks for the seven architectural wonders of the world. These places include Red Ribbon in Qinhuangdao, China, London’s new Wembley Stadium, and New York’s New Museum.

Globally, there are many examples of exciting and innovative architecture. It’s a feat in itself to narrow it down to seven. Where do you begin? But, overall we’d have to agree with Conde Nast’s selection. All seven are beautiful, and they independently suggest a wonderment that great architecture should produce…

*Updated [March 29] Serero tells NY Times that there’s no redesign. It was simply a spontaneous design.

The Eiffel Tower is one of Paris’ most popular sites. Each year approximately 6.5 million people wait in line for an hour to travel to the top and take in the Parisian view. For the tower’s 120th birthday (next year) the french are building a temporary observation deck that will increase the quality of access for its many visitors.

Serero – the acclaimed architecture firm that won the competition to design the observation deck – explains the basis of their concept. Per their website, “The project will extend the top floor plate of the tower by grafting a high performance carbon Kevlar structure on it. The structure will be temporarily bolted to the slab without requiring any modification of the existing structure. It will [double the surface area of the viewing platform].” We’re looking forward to the project’s completion. The clever design defies physics. The expanded access will hopefully shrink the waiting lines and add to the experience many look forward to when they visit France’s beautiful city. Click Read More for addition information and photos of the Eiffel Tower Observation Deck.

Starbucks steps up their WiFi offerings. With their recent switch from T-mobile to AT&T, all Starbucks gift-card holders will receive two hours of free WiFi access daily – no purchase is necessary.

As Upgrade and WiFi Net point out, this is a pretty sweet deal: “Walk in, buy a $5 gift card, activate it and you’re on for two hours a day from then forward. You can also use multiple devices with a single account, within reason.” Perhaps Starbucks is feeling pressure from the many independent coffee shops offering free WiFi. Between Starbucks and Cybercafes, you should be able to score some internet access while you’re on the road.

One of our favorite artists, José Parlá, is opening an exhibit entitled Memory Documents in Galleria Il Trifoglio Nero located in Genoa, Italy. When we first saw Parla’s work, his striking color balance and effortless motion drew us in. We’ve been a fan ever since.

As Manon Slome from New York’s Chelsea Art Museum writes, “Parlá is fascinated with how the city constructs itself and functions as a palimpsest, upon which the experiences of those who pass through are materially inscribed on decaying walls. He sees the city as a vertical grid, from the bridges, to the streets, down to the subterranean warrens of train tunnels, pipes and wires connecting to people living life inside apartments. The construction of the city and the passing of time find their equivalent in the way he attacks a painting, how he sees the need to layer his surfaces the way the city itself is layered.” Parlá named this installation Memory Documents because his works become fragments of places he’s been. Click Read More for additional information about the exhibit.