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So go ahead and check this unique interactive site by clicking here and have some fun.
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1 year ago
10/13/10
Giorgio Armani unveils interactive Frames of Life website
So go ahead and check this unique interactive site by clicking here and have some fun.
Vertu Constellation Quest is groomed with a QWERTY keypad
Peter Jamieson creates bullet-proof bathroom tiles
With a wall made of this unbreakable glass you can definitely spend hours in the bathroom without getting anxious over your safety. So go ahead and install these tiles in your bathroom if you think the whole world is out to get you.
Leica M9 Neiman Marcus Edition camera to capture the holiday spirit
The body of the camera and the Summicron-M 35mm f2.0 ASPH lens is finished in classic chrome. The body of the high-end camera is clad in luxurious brown ostrich leather trim with a matching ostrich leather strap. The 2.5 inch LCD screen is protected by sapphire crystal glass.
The special edition Leica M9 camera is limited to only 50 pieces, with the lens and body of each piece being individually numbered. You can also go for the customization option which allows you to have your camera personalized with an engraved signature. Complete with a three year warranty, this Leica M9 Neiman Marcus Edition camera is priced at $17,500.
Limited edition Chivas Regal 18 Year Old by Christian Lacroix to debut in November
Only 3,000 bottles of the Lacroix 18yo will be available, with around one-third allocated to the duty free market at a retail price of $495. The limited edition offering from Chivas Regal is all set for a November debut at Aelia’s stores in terminals 2C and 2E of Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport. After its Paris debut, the limited edition offering will be launched at various World Duty Free’s stores at key airports across the globe.
Toyota's new iQ Disco car is a mini discotheque on the wheels
Besides the high-tech sound system, the sparkling car dazzles you with its new set of 18" alloy wheels and scissors doors. Powered by a 1.33-liter Dual VVT-i petrol engine that churns out 98 HP, the iQ disco promises to be a showstopper when it makes its debut at the upcoming, the "Cologne Rocks" event in Köln, Germany. Although I am no fan of bling cars, this is one time I don’t mind making an exception.
Foco range of stove from Sideros: Heating solutions for winter
So go for the compact Foco 135 stove with a large window or the sleek Foco 120 stove which features one of the largest windows in the market today, you are sure to not be disappointed. The slender Foco 110 will fit anywhere in your home while the Foco 185G screams for attention with its full 360 degree rotational feature. The ceramic Foco 75 wood burning stove is also a beauty.
All these wood burning stoves are available in a variety of colors and many models are also available in soapstone. So go ahead and get ready to curl up this winter in front of any one of these amazing wood burning stoves from Sideros.
Dogs can bask in luxury as Caesars Palace, Imperial Palace launch the "PetStay Las Vegas" Program
The in room amenities include a mat, food and water dishes, disposable waste bags and dog treats. However your pooch needs to pass a few tests before entering the luxury resorts. It must weigh 50 pounds or less and be present at the time of check-in. while on walks, they should be accompanied by their owner and leased. You can opt for crated for dogs left along in guest rooms. Prices for these pooch-friendly rooms are $25 per night upgrade for pet-friendly accommodations at Augustus Tower, Caesars Palace; and $20 per night upgrade at Imperial Palace and Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.
New Mercedes Benz SLK will drive out with a Magic Sky Control roof
The $100,000 “Earth, Platinum Edition” is not recognized as world’s largest book by Guinness World Records
However, if the publishers wish they can claim the record for publishing the world’s largest atlas. The Earth, platinum Edition will be a limited edition restricted to just 31 copies which will retail for a cool $100,000 each. But will the publishers stake a claim for the title of the world’s largest atlas, we will have to wait and watch.
Moet & Chandon Bar Boy for Grand Vintage: A luxe mobile bar
A Grand Vintage 2002 bottle
A Grand Vintage Collection 1992 bottle
A Grand Vintage Collection 1982 bottle
The three bottles have a 75cl capacity each. Complete with four flutes specially designed by Riedel, this stylish bar is all you need to enjoy your wine this holiday season. This luxury mobile bar retails for 3567.30 € ($4,940).
The Design Of Community: The New La Vie Dimension at the Millennium Towers in San Francisco
La Vie is a unique collection of opportunities and activities, designed to enhance greater community for the residents living at Millennium Tower, the 60-story, ultra-luxury residential tower (see above) located at 301 Mission Street in San Francisco. It is a monthly events program designed to deepen the Millennium Tower resident lifestyle and showcase the amenities available at Millennium Tower's 20,000-square-foot Club Level. La Vie offers residents a calendars of intriguing offerings, from film screenings in the Club Level's screening room to engaging fireside chats with local and national celebrities, on- and off-site winemaker events, market-to-table cooking experiences, musical performances, and more.
"La Vie is more than just a collection of fun activities and events for our residents to enjoy; it's a way for them to connect and re-connect, building a sense of community through shared collective experiences," said Richard G. Baumert, Managing Director of Millennium Partners.
A sampling of the La Vie events includes a wine school seminar with renowned wine educator Karen MacNeil ( see image), an outing to watch a San Francisco Giants game from a private luxury box, and meeting Joe Montana in an informal setting ( see image), fitness discussions with an expert from Sports Club/LA, and monthly, themed "share your bottle" wine nights. Fireside chats have also been lined up with notables in the design world as well as with Millennium Tower resident and San Francisco 49ers legend Joe Montana. In addition, during the upcoming grape harvest, residents will have the opportunity to participate in an exclusive harvest experience at Napa Valley's acclaimed Round Pond Estate.
"Since the introduction of La Vie in July this year, we've seen great enthusiasm and turnout for the events," continued Baumert. "Our recent La Vie concert with local artist Eoin Harrington had the building abuzz -- 125 residents enjoyed the warm summer night and a memorable acoustic performance by Eoin on the Club Level terrace."
Millennium Tower, the first Millennium Partners project in San Francisco to bear the company's name, serves as a showcase for significant standards of design, services and amenities. Resident services include a private concierge and exclusive access to the 20,000-square-foot Club Level, featuring an owners' lounge, tasting room and cellar, private dining room (serviced by Chef Michael Mina's RN74 restaurant on the ground floor of the Millennium Towers,) a screening room, children's playroom, outdoor terrace, and a 5,500-square-foot fitness center operated by Sports Club/LA, complete with Pilates and yoga studios, massage therapy, locker rooms, Jacuzzi and steam rooms as well as a 75-foot, indoor, competition-length lap pool set beneath a skylight.
Designed by acclaimed architect Glenn Rescalvo of Handel Architects, the 645-foot, 60-story luxury residential tower and an adjacent 11-story mid-rise building comprise a total of 419 residences, including 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 2-bedroom + library, 3-bedroom and penthouse residences, ranging in size from approximately 750 square feet to 6,000 square feet. Each of the three residential components -- Residences at Millennium Tower, City Residences at Millennium Tower and Grand Residences at Millennium Tower -- has its own separate entry and lobby as well as its own dedicated staff.
Pricing ranges from $600,000 to $5.2million for these residences ranging from 660 to 3350 square feet. Leasing ranges from $4000 to $15,000 per month.
Start 2011 With the "Ultimate Healthy Beginning" at Canyon Ranch Miami
Priced at a cool $45,000, this package is limited to those with fairly deep pockets, but it does offer a comprehensive vacation and wellness experience. Plus, who wouldn't want to spend three weeks a year in Miami?
The package includes a a pre-arrival interview to assess the guest's overall health; completely stress free travel with luggage delivery service, private airport pickup, and more. A host of comprehensive diagnostic tests are conducted to establish the ideal course of action. Private session options with in-resort practitioners (think acupuncture, energy healing, life style management, exercise physiology, etc.) are aimed at leaving the guest with all the tools necessary to take home to improve their health.
Five pampering spa treatments per stay add a relaxation element. The spa menu is extensive - an entire book, to be exact. Not sure what to choose? We'd highly recommend at least one session of the ashiatsu massage, a unique modality in which the therapist hangs by bars above the treatment bed and massages you with her feet. It's the perfect "deep tissue" experience for those with serious stress issues. The all-inclusive program also features healthy meal options from The Canyon Ranch Grill (don't miss the artichoke "fries," a baked option that tastes far too good to be as healthy as it is). Full access to the hotel's gym with over 30 daily fitness classes completes the well-rounded package.
Completed over the course of a year, the package focuses on monitoring the individual progress, providing crucial check points to keep you on the road to optimal health.
Bookings for the Luxury of Wellness Package must be completed over the phone due to the custom nature of the experience. To reserve, call 866-276-2226.
Florence: Room with the Best View
One apartment in the palazzo called the "Duomo" has a terrace where you are practically eye-to-eye with Brunelleschi"s magnificent dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, the classic symbol of the city. This particular fifth-floor apartment is a large one-room studio, furnished with a white-leather couch, fur pilllows, a gas fireplace and a fully furnished kitchen. Mahogany book shelves are lined with stunning art books about the city's treasures.
The most striking functional element here is a rectangular glass-enclosed shower that divides the sleeping and dressing area from the living/dining/ terrace spaces. This is no ordinary shower. A honeymoon favorite, it has two shower heads so couples can shower at the same time. It also has special buttons for light therapy, aroma steam therapy, and Irish mist. Push a button in a console that controls just about everything in this deluxe suite and a curtain descends to hide the shower. The Duomo apartment is one of four in what is easily the best location in Florence --- on the Piazza della Repubblica 6, next to Gilli e Paszkowski, a best-loved city cafe, which also provides room service.
Paolo Ligresti, vice-president of Atahotels, the owner and manager of Platinhome Suites, says his goal is to transform precious buildings with high historic-artistic value into exclusive mansions. Renting an apartment in an unfamiliar city can be daunting unless you plan to settle in for an extended stay. At these new deluxe apartments when you stay for a night or two you don't have time to learn the ropes. And you don't have to as just about every service you can think of is looked after by various attendants. Currently Maarja Aro, a sort of whirl-wind concierge/personal assistant will greet you at the door, arrange for everything from an ensuite chef and personal shopper to a wine tasting at a legendary vineyard or a hot-air balloon ride above the city.
In addition to the Palazzo Levi, seven more Platinhome apartments have opened on via Ricasoli. Some are large enough for a family with kids and others have a sleeping loft and master bedroom suitable for two couples. As expected, all the apartments have shiny new espresso machines as well as other appliances and a service for eight. Room rates range from roughly 460-480 euro per night. You can make reservations online at booking@platinhome.it.
Citroen Survolt Art Car by Francoise Nielly
French automaker Citroën has brought pop artist Francoise Nielly to reinterpret the color scheme of its Survolt, a diminutive electric concept sports car unveiled earlier this year in Geneva. The result is the multicolored show car you see here, which will be displayed at C42, Citroen's Champs-Elysées flagship showroom in Paris.
Grand Seiko 50th Anniversary Collection Watch In Platinum
For the 50th Anniversary model collections, the watches each have a similar style but come with three different movements and different sizes. At the top of the heap is this limited edition Grand Seiko Spring Drive in solid platinum (Ref. SBGA065). It has 40.2mm wide case with crocodile strap (with platinum buckle). Inside the watch is a Caliber 9R15 Spring Drive movement. Price is a whopping 2,100,000 yen (just over $25,000) and it is limited to just 30 pieces. The Spring Drive 50th Anniversary watch also comes in a 41mm version in steel with metal bracelet that is about $7,000 limited to 300 pieces (the pieces in the collection are generally limited to either 300 or 500 pieces).
In addition to the Spring Drive models, the Grand Seiko 50th Anniversary collection is offered in a pure automatic mechanical version as well as a quartz movement version. These are in steel and range from 37-40mm wide. Prices start at about $3,800.
India's Amrut Readying Ultra-Premium Rum
Amrut makes most of its revenue, in fact, from selling rum and brandy inside India--Old Port Rum and Silver Cup Brandy. The company's chairman says Amrut blenders have been working on a luxury-priced rum that would be a blend of Caribbean and Indian rums. No release date is set yet.
Amrut's whiskey for which it has become so well-known in the last year or so, is created from using Scottish malted barley and grain from Punjab. The whiskey is distilled and aged in India where climate requires that it only be aged 3.5-4 years, which is the same age as young Bourbon coming from U.S. places such as Kentucky and Tennessee.
Amrut's whiskies, however, taste much older. Amrut Fusion, for example, could be mistaken for whisky aged 18-25 years. In the Bangalore climate, Amrut sees about 10% loss a year from evaporation (the angel's share). More recently, the company has released two additional whisky expressions: Amrut Intermediate Sherry Single-Malt ($134.99) and Kadhambam single-malt, which is a limited edition distributed in Europe only so far.
Amrut expects to sell about 7,000 cases of its whiskey outside of India in the current fiscal year, but the distillery expects to double that output within two to three years.
Globally, single malts – whisky from a single distillery – constitute a small percentage of total whiskey sales which is dominated by blended whiskey. In India, retail sales of the niche whiskey category would be less than 5,000 cases dominated by brands such as Glenfiddich and The Glenlivet.
King Farouk's Almost $1 Million Bedroom Set Furniture For Sal
Rau Antiques in New Orleans has acquired a King Farouk bedroom set. The several piece set is from the mid 19th century and right up King Farouk's alley in terms of taste and poise. The seven piece set is Parisian and done in mostly mahogany wood. Lots of gilded bronze accents and decor inspired by mythology and fantasy creatures. Probably one of his favorites. Price for the set is $985,000 - you can see more here at Rau online.
Mt. Vernon Adds Peach Brandy To Rye. Sells Rye for $25K at Auction
At a reconstructed distillery [pictured] at Washington's estate, Mt. Vernon, now a National Park Service museum in Northern Va., there has been an effort to recreate both the rye and peach brandy that Washington made, sold, consumed, served and gifted to common folk as well as luminaries of his day.
Last summer, Mt. Vernon sold a limited edition of 470 bottles of the recreated rye whiskey. The bottles sold out in two hours at $85 each. And earlier this month, bottles #1 and #2 sold as a pair at auction for $25,000 to, ironically, an anonymous U.K. buyer.
But this month saw industry craftsman and leaders gather at Mt. Vernon to see if they could recreate a peach brandy that was as close to Washington's own recipe as they think possible. There is no written recipe for Washington's brandy, but the hope is that by distilling it in a still that is a close replica of the first President's and from juice from the local peaches Washington would have used, the "spirit" of the brandy will be close to what it was 240 years ago.
The crew at Mt. Vernon used the same process that would have been used in Washington's day: keeping fires going to heat the liquid and transferring it by buckets instead of modern pumps. They began with 300 gallons of peach juice on Tuesday Oct. 5 and finished the next day with about 60 gallons of peach brandy that they will age in oak barrels. Selling the relatively small amount of brandy is still uncertain, but some of it will likely hit the auction block to benefit the museum.
The year Washington died, in 1799, his estate produced some 11,000 gallons of Rye. The plantation account book also shows that, earlier the same year, he had 60 gallons of peach brandy and 67 gallons of apple brandy sent to his main house from the distillery.
Lexus Has Big Plans to Replace the Aging SC430
The model in question would be brought in, according to reports, to replacing the aging SC430, a model introduced back in 2001 and growing a little long in the tooth. To succeed the lack-luster SC with its 288-horsepower V8 will reportedly be a 500-horsepower, all-wheel drive hybrid super-coupe dubbed the LC600h. Based on the next-generation LS flagship sedan, the two-door model is expected to retain the best-of-both-worlds convertible hard-top, but isn't anticipated to arrive until after the sedan comes in 2014, so don't go calling your dealership with a trade-in inquiry just yet.
Singer Chris DeBurgh Selling His Wine Collection
Singer Chris DeBurgh, most famous for his song "Lady in Red," is also a wine collector who is ready to sell off some of his best vintages. He recently sat down with Decanter to confess that the reason he is gong to sell is not because he needs the cash but because he can't bear to drink some of the most expensive bottles. He has been collecting for years and has picked up many prized bottles including a case of Lafite 1945 and Latour 61, Mouton 82, Cheval Blanc 78, Margaux and La Mission Haut Brion 61. He also has a complete collection of Mouton vintages from 1945 that he updates with the latest vintage each year. The singer says that he will use the proceeds from the sale to add more wine to his collection, hopefully ones he can pop the cork on without as much angst. Chris de Burgh's latest album Moonfleet & Other Stories is being released next week.
Penn National Takes Over The M Resort
In a press release Peter M. Carlino, Chief Executive Officer of Penn National commented, "This transaction represents a great opportunity for Penn National, M Resort, its customers and employees as we address the financial uncertainty and debt burden which has created an overhang on M Resort's operations."
The resort has struggled to find its way since it opened last year but the acquisition gives Penn National, which considered taking on the unfinished Fontainebleau Las Vegas project last year, a Las Vegas foothold. Penn National owns several race track casinos in the east and owns casino properties in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The M resort has 390 rooms and more than 92,000 square feet of gambling space, smaller than most of the Las Vegas Strip behemoths. Rooms all have pillow-top beds, a Bose sound system and 42-inch flatscreen television and the bathrooms include an inlaid mirror television and separate bathtub and shower. On the property there are nine restaurants and five bars including the Studio B Show Kitchen Buffet, which incorporates a live action cooking studio and a wine tasting room called the Hostile Grape. The 100,000 square foot Villaggio Del Sole Pool and Entertainment Piazza is home to headline entertainment and there is more than 60,000 square feet of conference space.
Penn National hopes to use its existing database of 12 million regional gaming customers to drive customers to the resort. The M Resort's master plan includes the potential to develop up to one million square feet of retail and a multi-screen digital movie entertainment complex. The biggest battle facing the M is likely location. With all of Las Vegas struggling to capture tourist attention, most of the energy is centered on the Las Vegas Strip, the M resort is not far enough away to be separate from the city but not close enough to be part of the main action. The resort's original plan was to rely on local buzz and drive-in traffic to fill the resort.
To celebrate the resort's first anniversary they are offering a special package with rates starting at $75 per night for a minimum two night stay with $20 Off two entrees at Marinelli's, $25 off a treatment or service at Spa Mio, complimentary bottle of wine and more.
Large San Diego Condo Project Sold, Goes Rental
To generate income for the project, Pointe of View began renting units and buy the time it was sold Vantage Pointe, a little more than 20 percent of the building had been rented out. Rents for one- and two-bedroom apartments range from $1,600 to $3,400.
The transition of stalled condo projects back into rental units is one that seems to be happening across the country. It's the reverse of the condo craze that happened when real estate was reaching stratospheric heights and apartment buildings were going condo.
Yester House Gets Another Price Cut
The home is on around 500 acres and has 14 bedrooms. It has interiors by William and Robert Adam and includes a grand entrance hall and huge ballroom. The estate was commissioned by the 2nd Marquess of Tweeddale in the late 17th century and completed in the 18th century by William Adam and by his son Robert. The home also has huge canvases by William Delacour set in elaborate plasterwork. The property includes the ruins of the 13th century Yester Castle including the subterranean Goblin Hall, or Ha', written about by Sir Walter Scott in his epic poem Marmion.
Kim Kardashian Takes Part In New Luxury Bowling Lanes Opening
The boutique bowling complex is a 35,000-square-foot venue with two full-service bars, 20 bowling lanes including six VIP lanes, four professional billiard tables, a two-level lounge with a piano and 50-seat marble bar and three private rooms. It stays open until 1 a.m. (2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday) and has a capacity of 1,000 people. The lounge has a nostalgic Vegas vibe with custom-tailored furniture, dark wood floors, oversized chandeliers, flocked wallpaper, and classic large-format Las Vegas photography. One highlight on the drink menu is a $500 Martini called "The High Roller Experience." It's a giant classic French martini topped with Dom Perignon. Bowling starts at $5 per game per person and goes up to $9 per game per person Friday-Saturday, 5p.m.-2a.m. - $9 per game/perso
Maison Martin Margiela Shirt Goes Japanese For World AIDS Day
A percentage of the sales is donated to 'AIDES', a French organization dedicated to fight the HIV virus and take care of patients living with HIV/AIDS. Over the years, 170,000 T-shirts have been sold and brought a contribution of over 700,000 euros to 'AIDES'. In addition to the seasonal English version, the Maison has decided to have a yearly edition every time in a different language for the World AIDS day, starting with Japanese. Created in Paris, sold around the world, worn touching the heart, this limited edition charity AIDS T-shirt will be exclusively available in all Maison Martin Margiela stores. World AIDS Day is December 1.
Demi Moore Brings Two Paintings To Auction
"I find Bouguereau to be particularly engaging for me personally and have chosen to hold on to a smaller piece to carry with me throughout the years," said Demi Moore in a press release. "I love his combination of mythological themes, classical subjects and his photo realistic style. There is a gentleness, a serenity, particularly in his depiction of women, combined with incredible strength that has inspired me. I have owned these paintings, both the Bouguereau and Stevens, for 15 years and although I adore them, with the renovation and new direction our home is taking, it is time for a change. I am excited for a new owner to be able to share in the joy these paintings have brought us."
The November 4 auction offers 82 works with an overall pre-sale estimate of $20/30 million. The sale is timed to coincide with Sotheby's auction of Impressionist & Modern Art. Other highlights of the auction include The Finding of Moses, which stands as one of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema's greatest masterpieces (estimated at $3/5 million), two excellent portraits by leading Italian Impressionist Giovanni Boldini, and important works by influential Orientalist, Sporting, French, Spanish and Polish artists. The works will be on exhibition in New York beginning October 29 in advance of the sale.
Dorothy Hamill Introduces New Breast Cancer Awareness Jewelry Line
Lenny Kravitz Lists New Orleans Cottage
Kravitz's cottage measures a modest 1,725 square feet and has a single bedroom. The Real Estalker reports that he picked up the 220-year-old French Quarter cottage way back in 1994 for $360,000. Kravitz created a dramatic main living space with gleaming hardwood floors, a Lucite grand piano that once belonged to Ingrid Bergman, silvered wallpaper and a massive portrait of Billie Holiday. There is a small sleeping loft for guests and a modest patio out back. This home is listed at $775,000 with French Quarter Realty.
Ellen Barkin's JAR Earrings Head Back To The Auction Block
Fans of JAR can also pick up a pink sapphire ring violet ring at the same auction. The piece, designed as a circular-cut pink sapphire violet blossom and set with a circular-cut yellow diamond pistil is estimated at $40,000 to $60,000.
Whisky Bible Awards Ballantine's and Buffalo Trace Top Three 2011 Honors
Second place went to Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye (129 proof), and third place went to William Larue Weller (134.8 proof)-both from the same Kentucky distillery: Buffalo Trace.
Speaking at the publication of the Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2011, Jim Murray said, "Blends are seen by many as the poor relations to single malts. Ballantine's 17 proves, quite spectacularly, what many of us have known for a great many years: it isn't. A blender has the chance to create something unique and quite beautiful by putting together many whisky styles. With Ballantine's 17, the blender has done his job in glorious, quite majestic fashion." The average price for Ballantine's 17 has been $86.00, but that is likely to climb now.
Murray is hardly a new fan of Ballantine's 17, naming it Best Scotch Blend in his 2010 Whisky Bible. Giving the blend 97.5 points out of 100 this year, Jim Murray describes the whisky as "one of the most beautiful, complex and stunningly structured whiskies ever created."
Sainsbury's Dún Léire Aged 8 Years Single Malt, won Irish Whiskey of the Year, the first time a supermarket brand has gained top country honors in The Whisky Bible. Produced by the Cooley Distillery for Sainsbury's Jim Murray said, "This is Cooley at its best and a very astute and masterful piece of whiskey buying".
Last year, the World Whisky Award went to Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Rye. No. 2 went to Ardbeg Supernova single-malt, and the no. 3 honor was bestowed, to the shock of many, to Indian Whisky Amrut Fusion.
Conducted over a four month period, while writing the 2011 Whisky Bible, Jim Murray tasted in excess of 1000 whiskies to reach his final decisions.
10/12/10
Pagani Zonda 750
With few details revealed with the trio of images, speculations circulating is that the 750 denotes the horsepower figure on the Mercedes AMG-built 7.3-liter V12, which would certainly push the Zonda's already unworldly performance into the next dimension. And of course there's no telling how much the customer paid for the privilege of owning a bespoke supercar tailored to his exact specifications, but as the old adage goes, if you have to ask....
Aston Martin Cygnet heads into Production
Shown until now in concept form, the Cygnet has now been approved for production, which is set to begin next year. The car is based on the spritely Toyota iQ, but more luxuriously finished, by hand, at Aston's factory in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England, and made to order. Further details – including pricing and specifications – are expected to follow later this year.
Strand Craft Yacht & Supercar for Sale at $27.5 Million
The retro-futuristic Art Deco interior features four large, bedrooms, reception and leather-upholstered salon areas alongside comfortable crew cabins. Elliptical bulletproof windows that stretch halfway across the hull and enough Greek marble to recreate Athens round out the fancy finishes. The specially handcrafted carbon fiber supercar that comes with it is a completely one-off design closely resembling the genetic form and fashion of the mothership. With a rear mounted, 880hp twin-turbo V12 engine it has an estimated 375 km/h top speed and a 0-60 mph time of 3.2 seconds. A hydraulic garage door raises upwards and deploys a retractable ramp to become a dockside driveway.
Artya Halloween Spider Watch
In addition to this Halloween Spider watch, the brand also has a few other piece uniques for the Halloween holiday includes some with dials featuring scary skulls, and screaming faces. Prices are in the 7,000 Swiss Franc range I believe.
The Launch of Cunard's New Queen Elizabeth Ship
She will be nearly full with her maximum 2,094 passengers. The sailing sold out some 18 months ago in 29 minutes and 29 seconds.
Much has changed since the QE2, which went out of service two years ago and was ignominiously sent to Dubai to function as a hotel. Gone are the ripple-effect ceilings and bachelor-pad brass fittings that made the previous ship the latest in 1970s sophistication.
This iteration, technically the QE3 but called simply the QE like the first in the line, hews closely to Cunard's current design ethic, and in both ethic and size, is largely similar to the Queen Victoria, launched in 2007. Extensive wood paneling, art deco touches, and swooping shapes in the ceiling and balustrades mark the interior.
The centerpiece of the ship is an 18 1/2-foot-tall wood art installation that presides over the Grand Lobby. The marquetry panel depicting the original QE -- a liner turned World War service ship turned liner -- was hand-made by Queen Elizabeth's only nephew, David Linley, who is the son of the late Princess Margaret and photographer Lord Snowden. Even without its nepotistic origins, the subtle woods, with knot placement subtly placed to accentuate perspective, is impressive.
Also in the Grand Lobby, facing the marquetry, is an official portrait of the queen, by the youngest female artist to paint the monarch, Isobel Peachey. The Queen sat three times for Peachey, who, lacking a studio, finished the work in her mother's attic.
As a ship that borrows heavily from an oceangoing tradition going back 170 years, Cunard's ships aren't packed with the latest bells and whistles -- although in the QE's case, there is one very large bell, which once stood on the QE2's deck, on display in the Commodore's Club. Instead, designers appear more concerned about providing plenty of places to lounge with a glass of champagne.
Celebrity chef Todd English, who has presences on Cunard's other ships, the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Victoria, does not oversee a kitchen on the new QE. Instead, Chef Jean-Marie Zimmermann, shown above, who will sail with the vessel rather than just oversee cuisine, runs The Verandah, an extra-charge fine French restaurant located on off the Grand Lobby.
Other Cunard dining standards cater to passengers according to their booking class -- Britannia for third class, Princess Grill for second class, and the Queens Grill for first class. In fact, most of the ship is given over to Cunard standards, including the two-level Queens Room, shown above, for dancing with live music, the Royal Arcade for shopping and the Golden Lion evoking a traditional British pub.
One feature being revived from the original QE is the Garden Lounge, a conservatory-style space with a vaulted glass ceiling on the top of the ship. By day, it's a bar and lounge serving the pool areas, and by night, it can serve as a "supper club" for entertainment and dancing with outdoor deck access.
In keeping with Cunard's upscale and well-educated clientele, there's a resident theatre company that performs both musicals and plays. In another sign of whom it expects to host, the kids' area is a mere modest gesture. On Cunard, families are unusual.
Staterooms are nothing special for the cruise industry, although closet space is more ample than the norm, given the line imperative that at least one or two nights of a cruise require black-tie dress. The most lavish suite, the Grand, is notably restrained.
There's no grand piano as in the Norwegian Epic's highest class of cabin. Instead, there's plenty of open space uncluttered by much furniture, a mosaic above the bathtub, a walk-in closet, and a wraparound balcony. Just 162 of the 1,046 staterooms are inside cabins. While the QE2 had no balcony cabins, the new QE has 572 in standard Britannia class alone.
It's a sign of how much the cruise industry has shifted in 30 years. Cunard's new QE may be stocked with some pleasant features that gently recall the past, but it's most a modern cruise ship cut from tasteful cloth, more evocative than truly traditional.
DUO by Quintess: The New Destination Club, A New Option for Ultimate Escapes Members And Others
But for many of these UE members, being in such convoluted place is not their first time. To understand the importance of the options created by Quintess and others, it is crucial to understand the unusual context in which the Ultimate Escapes members find themselves.
Approximately seven years ago, in 2003, the first destination club, Private Retreats, launched in Telluride, Colorado. Two years later, Private Retreats changed its name to Abercrombie & Kent Destination Club. The A&K name was leased by Private Retreats. Eventually, A&K ended their licensing agreement with Private Retreats, and the destination club was renamed Tanner & Haley.
Tanner & Haley went bankrupt in 2006-- the first destination club to do so. Then, Ultimate Resort, a small destination club founded in 2005, gathered up the Tanner & Haley members, offered them a way to continue their travel club membership by purchasing the T&H homes. About a year later, Ultimate then instigated a complicated merger with another club operator called Private Escapes. More members were picked up there. And, Ultimate Resort's name change to Ultimate Escapes. So if you're following the bouncing ball, some of the present members of Ultimate Escapes, were actually refugees from Tanner & Haley, and also Private Escapes. So, it is easy to surmise that these members have -- also! -- been bounced around from club to club.
After the financial market collapse in 2008 many destination clubs went out of business. To survive the downturn, in January 2009, Ultimate Escapes levied a one time monetary assessment on the members, with the intent of keeping the club afloat. Those who paid it could stay in the club, those who didn't, couldn't. Then, a few months later, Ultimate became a publicly traded company, trying to raise even more capital. Despite all of these efforts in September of this year, Ultimate Escapes declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In all of this sturm und drang, the Ultimate members did take nice vacations, and had planned for more, which made the bankruptcy all the painful to accept, espcially with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays coming.
From this dramatic context, it can be seen that members have paid a high price -- and not ONLY for travel, but for uncertainty. Not knowing about the stability of the club is a major imbalance, and rectifying this imbalance is one of the reasons why the two major destination clubs --Quintess and Exclusive Resorts -- and others, to my knowledge, The Discovery Club, Demeure, Villazzo and Private Trade Winds, have come forth with offers that attempt to re-balance the Ultimate Escapes member mindsets, as well as their travel plans.
This is the context where the Quintess option will be explored, one that involves the creation of its new sister club, DUO by Quintess.
Ben Addoms is a co-Founder, member of Quintess, and also it's CMO. He has helped guide Quintess from the beginning, and like others in this industry, knows the history and the consequences in which the Ultimate members have found themselves. He and his colleagues were also busy creating DUO this Summer, and now, DUO is being offered initially to UE members and will later this year be available to others.
Hunt with Eagles on Dunhill's Luxury Adventure Tour
The concept of discovery and exploration has been a hallmark of the Dunhill brand since 1893, as reflected in its most recent collections. The luxury packages are priced from about $4,500 and include destinations such as Paris, Moscow, Mongolia and Japan. Experiences include a private tour of the Louvre in Paris while the museum is closed, a flight in a Russian fighter jet above Moscow, learning eagle hunting in Mongolia (above) and bathing in Japan's oldest mineral hot springs. Guests can also opt to recreate Court's entire journey, including 10 days in a private cabin on the Golden Eagle Trans Siberian railway, starting at about $44,000.
'Watches: The Ultimate Guide', New Edition
Bodhi High-tech bags: Time to Switch
Luxury Condos Up For Auction In Annapolis
Another big condo event is scheduled for Maryland. As many as 30 units at the GrandView at Annapolis Towne Centre will be auctioned off on November 14. Units that were priced from $415,000 to $995,000 will be sold at 60 to 70 percent off recent asking prices. A condo last priced at $995,000 has a minimum bid of $308,00 while a condo last priced at $415,000 will have a low minimum bid of $148,500. Condo fees range from approximately $275 to $600 per month. Auctioneer Sheldon Good & Co. says the builder and its lenders will sell at least 10 units if they get bids at least as high as the minimum. According to a post in the Baltimore Sun, two-thirds of the 150-unit building is empty.The auctioneers will take sealed bids on three of the 10 penthouse units with current asking prices of just under $1.2 million to just over $1.7 million.
$41,000 Chevy Volt Draws Controversy for Engineering Claims
GM has long called the Volt an 'extended age electric vehicle." That made it decidedly different from the Toyota Prius and Toyota's and Honda's other full-hybrids. The key difference, GM has said for three years, is that the gas-fed motor in the Volt never directly drives the wheels of the car. The motor in the Volt, GM has said, powers the battery after its charge runs down, eliminating the risk of the driver running out of power before reaching their destination or a recharging station.
But GM executives confirmed this week that the Volt can use the internal combustion motor under its hood to power the wheels. This fact was first reported by MotorTrend.com, which was allowed to test the car for three long drives. The magazine discovered "...when going above 70 mph in 'charge sustaining mode,' and the generator gets coupled to the drive-train, the gas engine participates in the motive force. GM says the engine never drives the wheels all by itself, but will participate in this particular situation in the name of efficiency, which is improved by 10 to 15 percent."
It may not seem like much, but this does fly in the face of what GM officials have been saying for the last three years as it has hyped the Volt as being an industry leading innovation. The fact that the gas-powered motor can directly power the wheels of the Volt makes it much closer to traditional hybrids already on the market.
During the press preview, Volt engineers acknowledged that when the Volt's lithium-ion battery pack runs down and at speeds near or above 70 mph the Volt's gasoline engine will directly drive the front wheels along with the electric motors.
This fact may not mean much to would-be buyers of the Volt, but it has automotive media in a lather. And despite the fact that Volt will be advertised during this month's World Series, consumers are going to turn to car magazines and websites for information and endorsement about the car before plunking down $41,000 (before government tax credits).
Edmunds.com's Inside Line section, which reports on the industry used an uncharacteristically harsh headline for the Volt this week: "GM Lied to the World." GM officials say their previous comments and statements about the Volt were not lies.
Controversy aside, how does the car ride and perform? It depends on whom you ask or read.
The Detroit Free Press got 46.2 miles on a battery charge driving around suburban Detroit. That exceeds the 40 mile range GM has talked about. At the end of the day, the Free Press driver had covered about 60 miles and probably used just a quart or two of gasoline. GM estimates Volt owners who get most of their power by plugging into the electric grid will pay around $1.50 a day to use the car. That is based on average daily driving statistics.
Popular Mechanics got 37.7 miles per gallon in city driving using both the electric charge and gasoline. That's quite a bit below the 51 mpg city rating for the Toyota Prius. Car and Driver reported it used up the battery charge after just 26 miles commuting around 80 mph. On a separate driven the magazine says it got into the upper 30s when it modulated its speed around 60 mph.
GM has said that, between the battery and the generator, the Volt has a cruising range of about 350 miles.
Last year, GM said in a high profile press conference that the Volt would get 230 miles per gallon. The trigonometry to reach that figure is pretty ambitious. It would involve driving several days recharging the battery, and only dipping ever so slightly into the gasoline that would power the motor.
What is the bottom line on the Chevy Volt? It is neither a straight hybrid like the Prius, nor a straight electric vehicle like the new Nissan Leaf. The problem with the Leaf, and any straight electric vehicle, is range anxiety; the anxiety people feel about driving an EV and worrying that they will run out of juice and be stranded. The issue with the Prius and other full hybrids is that while fuel economy can run high, it is mostly powered by an internal combustion engine.
Where does the Volt fit in? One thing GM has long said is absolutely true. This car is ideal for a driver whose daily driving needs are under 50 miles. If that is 90% of your daily driving, as it is for a majority of Americans, then you can drive very cheaply by recharging the car at home, especially overnight when rates are lowest.
But how much will you save? And what is the payback? The Volt ill retail for $41,000, but the true price is $33,500 after $7,500 tax credit is factored in. GM will push leases as low as $350 per month with $2,500 due at signing. Many auto reviewers have compared the Volt to a Hyundai Sonata in terms of size and interior appointments. At $33,500 the Volt is $9,000 more than the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, which gets 37 mpg city/39 mph highway. One would have to figure that you'd save at least that $9,000 over the ownership life of the Volt to make it worthwhile.
However, there is an undeniable cool factor for early buyers of the Volt. It is an innovation, and the first of its kind on the market--a car that will go 25-45 miles on an electric charge depending how the driver handles the car with no fear of range anxiety.
In California, a key market here GM hoped to make a splash with celebrity green-car enthusiasts like George Clooney and Brad Pitt, the state denied the Volt its $5,000 state tax credit, as well as open access to the HOV lanes. That would have brought the car's price down below $30,000 to Californians. The Nissan Leaf EV qualified for both benefits.
Inn At Oyster Point Offer Luxury San Francisco Airport-Area Lodgings
The hotel offers waterfront accommodation with a beach, and, if you arrive by bay, you can take advantage of a slip in the marina out front to park your boat. The rooms at the inn offer views of the bay and marina from a bay window, fireplace, an versized work desk and separate, comfortable seating area, complimentary continental room-service breakfast, a large bathroom with spa robes and eco-friendly PAYA amenities, iHome unit with iPod docking station and the all-important free Wi-Fi. The Inn's SouthHarbor Waterfront Restaurant & Bar is open for lunch and dinner weekdays, dinner on Saturdays and brunch on Sundays. An inexpensive happy hour runs weekdays 2:30 to 6:00 pm with amazing prices: Beers from $1.75, cocktails from $2.50. The inn has its own airport shuttle. Winter/Spring rates are as low as $165. Discounts of up to $35 off are available on most Fridays & Saturday and Holiday Rates are as low as $99. Get a $30 discount for an advance payment booking via the hotel's website. For stays longer than four nights, extended stay rates start at $149. Check out more images of the redesign on the hotel's Facebook page.
Shery Shabani's Pricey Breast Cancer Jewelry
Alligator iPad case by Domenico Vacca
Lee Kun-hee, the head of Samsung Electronics is the richest person in South Korea
Just being known as the Chairman and CEO of Samsung Electronics was not enough for Lee Kun-hee. He has build up a swelling fortune that has earned him the title of richest person in South Korea. It is reported that Lee Kun-hee has an estimated personal wealth from listed and unlisted companies of 8.73 trillion won or $ 8 billion. This man is the third son of the founder of Samsung Group.
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