If there’s one thing we can all agree on during these stinking times, it’s this: the Tokyo food scene still slaps. One of the forces driving it forward is mr. Chihiro Maruyama, who – judging by his cv – apparently is bestowed with more hours in a day than the usual twenty-four. Based in Yoyogi-Uehara and trained in France, Chihiro runs a couple of bistros, a combined tableware gallery and restaurant in one, and an izakaya.

In this latest installment of the Life With series, we talk to Yuji Chung, the octopus of Japanese clothing brand Ernie Palo. (Although, personally, she identifies more as a cat). Think everything outside of designing – that’s basically what Yuji does, and she does it well. When she’s not working, Yuji likes to grab a bottle of wine and head to her favorite park. And just hang. We also talk peak 1980s Japanese fashion and some warning words from her mother, who used to work in fashion, too.

Imagine this: Instead of vacant buildings in the city (you know them, they’re in every city) being just that – vacant, and therefore: useless – you have a group of wildly talented people filling them with meaning and life, creating new value in what’s otherwise just nothing? Now get this: They exist, and they’re called SKWAT. Here, we chat to Keisuke Nakamura, Tokyo-based co-founder and owner of SKWAT, whose own design studio, DAIKEI MILLS

Camille Machet is the co-founder of Early June, one of Paris's most talked-about natural wine bars and restaurants. The space is centered around community, serving up some of the world’s freshest natural wines while welcoming a rotating roster of chefs from around the globe to bring fresh culinary perspectives to each dinner. 

Niccolò Debole is an artist and designer based in New York City. We sat down with him to learn how the story of his parents' meeting shaped his artistic journey, how an apprenticeship provided him with an authentic glimpse into the art world, and how he knows when a piece of art is truly complete.

How do one manage to stand out as something genuinely cool and original in the vast ocean of things and people that is New York City? Frankly, we have no clue. But Tal Silberstein and Eldar Hadad do. They run Colbo, which is … well, it’s a bit hard to pin down. In the words of Tal, it’s a “multi-disciplinary space/store with its own brand.” In the store, located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, you’ll find two turntables, a stack of neatly selected records, good coffee and lots of great clothes.

What started as a personal endeavor quickly became one of Copenhagen's best spots for laid-back gatherings. Pernille Rosenbæk and Henry Stevens opened Auren's Deli in 2022 in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen. It is a neighborhood grocery shop, delicatessen, and bar. Everything it serves is made with well-chosen ingredients and high-quality produce from mainly local farms. 

We do not know who authored the first Martini. But by the early 1900s, iterations that would be familiar to the modern drinker — a large volume of gin paired with a much smaller volume of dry vermouth gained popularity.

Deon Hinton is a model and photographer based in New York. As a multidisciplinary artist, he crafts visual stories through images, words, and creative direction. We caught up with him to learn how his first camera laid the foundation for his current work, why his family remains a constant muse, and the significance of morning stillness.

Joey Scalabrino simply loves to cook. Since graduating high school, he has found a great lust for gathering friends and people he loves around a table and cook for them. The owner of pizza restaurant Leo and Apollo Bagels, both in Manhattan, New York City, talks about what has shaped him as a chef and his cooking philosophy.

Meet Alexandra and Alex, both writers and artists. We first met the two during our pop-up at Colbo in October, where Alex was spinning his rare vinyls. For our latest editorial, we asked them a few questions about their daily routines and how they like to spend their weekends. 

Esben Piper, the founder of La Cabra that took shape 13 years ago in his hometown of Aarhus, has skillfully brought it to the beating heart of the ultimate metropolis—New York City. With two hot spots already stirring the buzz, New Yorkers are lapping it up, and you better believe there’s more to come.