Places beginning with 'V'

PLACES BEGINNING WITH 'V'

Smooth like its name, Velvet Lounge is a tranquil hideaway, ready to be discovered by Shanghai’s more sophisticated lounging people. With black and beige velvet curtains and dim candlelight, it creates a heavenly atmosphere.

Ven-Ice

Venexia

Opened: Mar 24.

What: A new upscale Italian restaurant to complement the owner’s other popular pasta and sauce spot, La Gondola.

Look: Purple and blue walls, a ceiling painted silver, and a few large chandeliers that announce its slightly awkward dual intention: we’re a fancy, old-time Italian restaurant, but we’re stylish. Or something.

Venice Restaurant

Veranda

Vervia

What: The first retail outlet in Shanghai for Verve Design, featuring eclectic home furnishings, glassware, apparel, jewelry, and knick knacks.

Look: “To be classy, but not classic” is one of the stated missions of Vervia. The store reflects Verve Design’s funky melange of tastes, including both Italian and Asian influences. Brightly colored pink and orang patterned lamps and cushions accent the room, with over sized stylized portraits of the Buddha casting a knowing eye on customers below. The ideal store for finding that one-of-a-kind gift for your friends and relatives... or to treat yourself. A bar sits in the corner of the shop, offering coffee and beer for shoppers in need of a pick me up (or calm me down) refreshment.

Buy: Products range from chairs to tzotskies, so you’re bound to find something that strikes your fancy. We liked their stainless steel cocktail shakers (¥258) as well as a mini stainless steel domino set (¥98), one of their most popular items. Their T-shirts sport a cute, quirky character named Joe Phat (¥228) who finds himself in funny, simply drawn scenarios that fit nicely on the black and white tees. We also liked the timepieces with silk bands – the green and pink floral printed one (¥168) seemed a perfect gift for a friend with style.

People: Taikang Lu strollers looking to spruce up their digs with something out of the ordinary.

Victorian Home

Victorinox

Vienna Cafe (Shaoxing Lu)

Vietnam Airlines

Villa Oro

Village Girl’s Embroidery (Anfu Lu)

We don’t usually go big on kids’ clothes, but how could we resist these cuties? They’re from Village Girl’s Embroidery, the clothing store that specializes in minority clothing from Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. There are lots of colors available, and the beautiful embroidered patterns make for a very pretty pair of feet.

Price: ¥60

Village Girl’s Embroidery (Anfu Lu)

A splendid display of embroidery is waiting to be discovered within this humble-looking, cozy outlet, and two key words set it above the rest: minority and vintage. Owner Li Wenyan collected all the items from remote villages in the Yunnan and Guizhou Provinces, where the Miao women have been embroidering by hand for generations.

Dating back at least 40 years, you’ll find charming pleated skirts (¥400-600) with drawstring waists in an array of colors and patterns. Once on, they make elegant swirls around your calves at each turn. Fitted jackets (¥800-1,800) come in shades of black and blue, heavily adorned with colorful, detailed embroidery. Aprons boast bolder colors of fuschia pink and lime green, which make for fetching wall hangings. A collection of slip on shoes are also available covered with pretty floral stitching. Expect a new line to arrive during the May holiday as Li is preparing for another trip to Yunnan and Guizhou.

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