New York designer Tanya Taylor’s Spring/Summer collection accentuates the feminine form through original flower prints and a bold use of color. Left to right: the Rhett dress in Moroccan silk ($495), topped with the Raquel skirt in army cotton poplin ($350); and the silk Virginia dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves ($595); tanyataylor.com
When her father declined to lend her his yacht, French designer Marion Excoffon began working on her own sailboat. Two years and five prototypes later, Tiwal 3 was launched. The inflatable vessel stows away in two bags and can be assembled in 20 minutes, allowing users to hit the water without the constraints of transportation and storage. With a patented, rigid hull and easy maneuver-ability, Tiwal 3 is available through the MoMA Design Store; $6,195. tiwal.com; store.moma.org
SOUTHEAST ASIA MEETS SOUTHWEST DC
Chef Cathal Armstrong and his wife, Meshelle Armstrong, are now celebrating the bold flavors of Thailand, Korea and Meshelle’s native Philippines at their new hot spot, Kaliwa, located in District Wharf. Meshelle designed the restaurant interior in conjunction with Patrick's Design House.The dining room sports a riot of coco-shell chandeliers from the Philippines, while a photograph of a tattooed female figure dominates the bar. The cocktail menu tempts with libations such as the Frozen Mai Tai and the Phuket Sunburn, laced with Thai chilis. 751 Wharf Street, SW; 202-516-4739.
MIDDLE EASTERN MEZZE
Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj (Rasika, Bibiana) has opened an Israeli eatery, Sababa, in the Cleveland Park location of the former Ardeo+Bardeo. Sababa, which means “cool and carefree” in Hebrew, is headed by chef Ryan Moore; the cuisine focuses on salads, hummus, mezze, kebabs and a wide array of vegetarian options. Martin Vahtra of Projects Design Associates dreamed up the interiors, which include a bar clad in antique tile. 3311 Connecticut Avenue, NW; 202-244-6750. sababauptown.com
Housed in an 18th-century building between the Louvre and the Paris Opera, the Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal pampers guests in 68 rooms and suites—some with their own balcony (pictured above).grandhoteldupalaisroyal.com
The Romance in Paris package includes flowers upon arrival, Champagne and breakfast for two from $590;