Bernardino Borri

MY FAVORITE BUILDING IN NEW YORK CITY ♥

Not the Empire State Building, not the Chrysler Building, not One World Trade Center
The Flatiron Building, since 1902

There are thousands of buildings in New York City, but for me, none has quite the same personality

More than 120 years later, it remains one of the most recognizable and beautiful buildings in the world
But what makes it extraordinary isn't just its famous triangular silhouette
It's the intelligence behind its design
Look at the floor plan, an almost impossible piece of land, squeezed between Broadway and Fifth Avenue, transformed into something extraordinary
A limitation became an opportunity
An unusual shape became an identity
And a commercial office building became a work of art
After so many years living in New York, I've always felt a special connection to this corner of the city
Every time I pass by, I still look up
And every time, I find something new to appreciate

That's what I love about great architecture, great design, and ultimately, great businesses
They don't necessarily need to be bigger, louder, more expensive, or more complicated
They need to make sense
They need character
They need a soul
And they need the courage to be different
The Flatiron was unconventional in 1902, it is unconventional today, and I believe it will still be extraordinary a hundred years from now

Great design doesn't need to follow trends, it simply outlives them
For me, this is not simply a beautiful building
It's a lesson in creativity, vision, proportions, and the extraordinary things that happen when constraints are turned into possibilities

124 years later, still my favorite building in New York City ♥
What's yours?

VENEZIA AND AROUND

By Bernardino Borri • October 20, 2026
VENICE — A CITY TO WALK, DISCOVER, AND TASTE 🇮🇹 I was in #Venice this summer And I have to admit, visiting Venice in August, with the heat, might not have been the smartest decision But Venice is Venice A city unlike any other, where getting lost is part of the experience, where every bridge leads to another discovery, and where history, architecture, art, and everyday life exist together in an extraordinary way It was also my daughter's first time in Venice, and seeing the city through her eyes made the experience even more special The narrow calli, the unexpected campielli, the boats, the islands, the endless bridges, and that incredible feeling of being in a city floating between water, history, and imagination And of course, for me, Venice is also about food Beyond the monuments, the museums, and the Biennale, there is another Venice worth discovering: the one hidden inside small bacari, traditional trattorias, historic restaurants, wine bars, and neighborhood institutions These are the places on my Venice food list, whether for a proper meal, a few cicchetti, or simply a good ombra di vino 📍 #VENEZIA CoVino Antiche Carampane Al Covo Harry’s Bar All’Arco Cantine del Vino già Schiavi Aciugheta Cantina Do Mori Antica Drogheria Mascari Enoiteca Mascareta Ca’ d’Oro Alla Vedova Osteria alle Testiere Corte Sconta Osteria Al Cantinon 📍 #MURANO La Fornace Murano 📍 #BURANO Al Gatto Nero 📍 #TORCELLO Locanda Cipriani 📍 #MAZZORBO Osteria Contemporanea di Venissa What I find particularly fascinating is the culinary identity of the smaller islands Each has its own history, traditions, ingredients, and relationship with the lagoon Venice is not just one city, and its food culture is certainly not limited to Piazza San Marco or the Grand Canal There is always another corner to explore, another table to discover, and another reason to return Of course, trying every restaurant on this list in one trip would be quite an ambitious undertaking But I have always believed that a good food itinerary should be longer than the time you have available It gives you a reason to come back What would you add to this list? Which places should never be missed in Venice and its islands?