“The bookstore is a house of books, a home for authors, and a cosmos for the written word.”

- Kenny Leck, co-founder of BooksActually.

Of the many things that have drawn my attention to my local bookstore BooksActually is its hand-painted facade of a silhouetted tree sheltering the entrance door. It alludes to a sense of escapism and offers a charming playfulness that is welcome in the fast growing city of Singapore.

BooksActually is tucked away in the special neighbourhood of Tiong Bahru. Architecturally distinct from the rest of the island with its 1930’s low-rise Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, Tiong Bahru comprises an interesting community of locals, expats and a handful of creatives. Though the area is now a popular destination, Kenny Leck, BooksActually’s co-founder, admits that moving here was a bit of a gamble. “When we first considered relocating to Tiong Bahru two years ago, even taxi drivers would get lost driving around this neighbourhood.”

The store currently draws customers from all over the city and beyond, but its story has not always been so picture perfect. When they first opened their brick and mortar shop back in 2005, Kenny recalls, ”There were days when we would be operating at a loss.” But Kenny and his business partner Karen remained faithful to their dreams, and worked without respite to make their venture a successful one. And indeed they have; BooksActually is an inspired bookstore recognised not only for its diverse merchandise but also for its interesting collaborations – they recently hosted the Monocle Pop Up store.

They specialise in fictional literature, but you’ll also have access to a meticulous selection of non fiction titles, quality magazines, handmade stationery developed under their label Birds & Co, as well as a wonderful library of books published under Math Paper Press – BooksActually’s very own imprint.

And a few steps past the reading materials will lead you into an unexpected backroom brimming with curios. It’s a space to complement the bookstore, and is filled with local vintage artefacts acquired over the years by Karang Guni – Singapore’s modern version of rag and bone men. Here, you’ll discover the likes of old Chinese enamel plates, Pez dispensers, antiques chairs and stools, and a variety of glassware.

Despite the breadth of merchandise in store, there isn’t a single item that would take Kenny more than a few moments to find. He navigates the shop with effortless expertise and understands and believes in every product he sells. “Whatever we do, we want to do it to the best of our abilities.” Whether it’s discussing literature, advising on upcoming writers, or commanding an excellent flair for collectibles, BooksActually is in a league of its own.

booksactually.com

Words & Photos: Elodie Bellegarde

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We’ve also included several of our other favourite images submitted by the following creative readers (listed from top to bottom): Shu Juang, Daiana Fernandez, Nataša Vučković, Poe Chang and Lavinia.

A big thank you to everyone who participated in our Falcon giveaway!

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A family-run retreat in Canada’s Whiteshell Provincial Park – just two hours east of Winnipeg – Falcon Trails Resort has been hosting its patrons amidst the beauty of the Boreal Forest and Precambrian Shield for almost two decades.

Comprised of 13 cabins overlooking Falcon Lake’s southern shores, the accommodations are a perfect marriage of wilderness and rustic comforts. This is the kind of place you often fantasise of escaping to whilst daydreaming at the office. With a private cabin to call your own, you can enjoy a good read in front of the roaring fireplace, or indulge in any of the following activities: canoeing, hiking, biking and skiing.

And if privacy is what you’re after, there are the High Lake cabins which offer the kind of solitude that Henry David Thoreau would have approved of. We suggest taking a copy of Walden with you.

Words: Rosa Park | Photos: Pauline Boldt

falcontrails.mb.ca

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We’ve paired with iconic British enamelware brand Falcon to give away a set of four Falcon plates in pigeon grey.

To enter, take a photo of ’round food’ on a plate (see below for some inspiration!) and email your image to submit@readcereal.com with the subject: ‘Falcon giveaway’. Be creative! Our favourite photo will win the set of plates and receive a mention on our blog. Competition will close at 4pm GMT on Friday, 7 June.

falconenamelware.com

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Clockwise from top left: @prigpimpiga, @dazfong, @srosenborg, @marveydarvey

Clockwise from top left: @abowlofmush, @eliarose89, @thetrottergirl, @reddott

Clockwise from top left: @fawnandafeather, @tiempodecerezas, @marina_martmari, @danielavelasco

Clockwise from top left: @mrpaddingtonbear, @z4ti3, @lavinnnnia, @nonihana5

Clockwise from top left: @sammygoh, @rachelfilipinas, @romana21s, @dazfong

Clockwise from top left: @adriancanolo, @actcreative, @lastguest_hh, @rosa_gutierrezClockwise from top left: @pontussamuel, @suzimarshall, @johnniexu, @themeowingbird

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Still House is a wonderfully curated contemporary design shop in New York. The space is dedicated to showcasing beautiful quality jewelry, ceramics, and other homewares from local designers as well as makers from Japan, Scandinavia, Portugal and Canada.

Founder and owner Urte Tylaite personally selects all of the talented artists whose work is on offer at Still House. She’s always after merchandise with a unique visual look and loves pieces that are modern and inspired by nature. She’s also keen on profiling antiques and bric-a-brac, lending the store a distinct curiosity cabinet vibe.

stillhousenyc.com

Words & Photos: Sharon Radisch

The post Still House appeared first on Cereal Magazine.

That’s why we’re such big fans of Jelito de Leon’s Instagram feed. He’s a prolific photographer on the subject of coffee of late, and we’ve been enthusiastically following his gallery updates. With his permission, we’ve gathered some of his coffee visuals to share on our blog. Our favourite is the coffee mug in a grid of circular stains.

instagram.com/jelitodeleon

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My parents called San Diego home during their 20’s and thus have a soft spot for the city. Though it’s been almost 40 years since they last resided in town, they navigate the roads without maps and look fondly out onto the coastal beaches, desert plains and palm-lined streets.

They told me one of their favourite weekend activities was to head to Old Town with friends for some Mexican and drinks. The area is admittedly a tourist trap in many ways – cue overpriced gift shops and over the top décor – but I personally revel in the kitschy aspects and would like to see more piñatas and mariachi bands.

And let’s not forget, Old Town is the birthplace of California, where the first Europeans settled, and for that alone I’d make the trek.

Words & Photos: Rosa Park

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If you don’t enjoy coffee, don’t bother visiting Melbourne. Of course I’m exaggerating to make a point, but quite frankly, good coffee is what the city seems to be fixated on these days. We’re living in a time where your average Joe Bloggs is spending a big chunk of his money more on haute drink pleasures than on things like say, apparel or gadgets; consequently, Melbournian café culture is thriving. On that note, here’s a list of four must-visit coffee locations in the city.

As the competition heats up for the 4.20AUD latte, it becomes all about the details. At St Ali North’s, Matt Perger says the process starts from the farm: “We don’t buy ‘regular’ coffee. We go to the farm [in Brazil]. We fly there and talk to the farmers, taste their product, and make sure that they’re getting a fair price for it”. Some of the more senior baristas at St. Ali North’s are able to join in on these trips to truly understand the coffee trade.

Then there are those who are obsessed with the quality control of the roast, and such is the way at Wide Open Road; they roast on site with Giesen small batch roasters, creating their own Bathysphere blend, consisting of Kenyan, Brazilian, Costa Rican and Ethiopian beans. A cupping session is carried out each morning and it can look like a bizarre coffee ritual to an outsider – the roasts numbered and systematically laid out on the table with a strict system for smelling, tasting and recording of details for every batch to ensure the customer is getting the finest roast.

At Brother Baba Budan, a branch of the Seven Seeds Family, they are focussed on the single origin bean for the espresso roast. Located in the CBD, this bustling little joint is harder to get into than most bars in the city, and the boys at the coffee machines are not dissimilar to hip DJs in their booth, with everyone vying for their attention.

If you head just around the corner you will find a tranquil spot to stretch out and enjoy your flat white. This lovely place is Manchester Press, a café that feels like your very own New York-loft. Predominantly white in colour scheme with distressed interior accents, this converted gallery space is a haven for the Melbourne coffee aficionado who wishes to escape down one of the cities’ infamous laneways.

Whether it’s drip coffee, latte, espresso, flat white, long black, pour-over, filter, single origin or the latest trend – a tea-like beverage called cascara – Melbourne has plenty to offer when it comes to quality, innovative coffee destinations. And the passionate and informed people of this community are what make it so special.

St Ali North | 815 Nicholson Street, Carlton North 3054 | stali.com.au | (03) 9380 5499

Wide Open Road | 274 Barkly Street, Brunswick 3056 | wideopenroad.com .au | (03) 9387 6079

Brother Baba Budan | 359 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne 3000| brotherbababudan.com.au | (03) 9606 0449

Manchester Press | 8 Rankins Lane,  Melbourne 3000 | (03) 9600 4054

Words: Lauren Dietze | Photos: Rahel Weiss 

The post Melbourne coffee appreciation appeared first on Cereal Magazine.

We are excited to announce that we’re working with Albam on some fantastic collaborations, the details of which we’ll share later this month. Watch this space…

albamclothing.com

Words: Rosa Park | Photos: Rich Stapleton & Rosa Park

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