24 days and counting

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Christmas is around the corner, and although there are no snow to be seen anywhere around me there are other ways to enhance the Christmas spirit - like listening to great vintage holiday songs. For those of you who have missed out on my praised Retro Christmas compilation, you should stop what you are doing right now and download it right away. It goes well with any beverage, but is especially snug to the traditional Swedish holiday beverage Glögg (mulled wine), which I am sure can be obtained from any major IKEA store around the world.

Photo via HGTV

More photos from Vala Centrum

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I found some more photos of my favorite shopping mall in southern Sweden - Väla Centrum. It was built in 1974 outside of Helsingborg and took its inspiration from American shopping malls at the time - meaning that it didn't look very Scandinavian or traditional, which I really love. It even had a birdcage with live canaries up until the mid 1980s. For more information and photos of the shopping center, see my earlier post about it.

Gamine

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Although based in London, pianist and composer Ian Williams and singer Claudia Barton outputs music that instantly transports you to a smoky, noir jazz club in 1960's Paris. One of those clubs with a sole spotlight focusing on the elegant and voluptuous female singer. Gamine's music is not something you would listen to on a sunny and warm day - if you would, everything that is Gamine would be out of context. The music rather craves for a moody, rainy day with a cocktail or two, starch contrasts and film noir shadows to be fully appreciated. Ian's floating dramatic piano chords and arpeggios with Claudia's incredibly sensual voice makes even the most hard heartened and unromantic person to melt into a mixed puddle of french perfume and wine. I feel like I am in a movie where I have just met the femme fatale. I am in love.

External links
Official website
Gamine at Myspace

Skyline New York

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Join Trans World Airlines and Ultra Swank for a flight to the city that never sleeps, New York city! We will depart from Los Angeles and set down at New York, Idlewild airport (soon to be known as JFK airport). Our flying time is estimated at around 8 hours. Fasten your seat belts and enjoy the scenery. If you have any questions, our delightful stewardess will take care of all your needs.

Footage taken in 1954 and made available through the lovely people at The Travel Film Archive.