Luxist http://www.luxist.com Luxist. http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.luxist.com/media/feedlogo.gif Luxist http://www.luxist.com prods@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Producers) support@weblogsinc.com (Weblogs, Inc. Web Support) en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. View our terms of service here: http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/ Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Nantucket Island's Christmas Stroll ]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=0aafd45c0d81155f2a89c900c8237a6b http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/nantucket-islands-christmas-stroll/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/nantucket-islands-christmas-stroll/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/nantucket-islands-christmas-stroll/#comments
One of the best kept holiday secrets on the East coast is the annual Christmas Stroll on Nantucket Island. The island located off the coast of Massachusetts, has long been famous as a summer destination for the wealthy and occasional celebrity or well known politician. It is also renown for maintaining its charm and old fashioned feel, accomplished through strict development and zoning laws that regulate what can be built.

The holiday season begins the first Friday after Thanksgiving when the Chamber of Commerce sponsors an Annual Tree Lighting and Community Caroling event. Nothing could be more picturesque that the antique cobblestone filled town illuminated by over 150 Christmas trees while sounds of the carolers fill the air. The 36th annual Christmas Stroll is held over the weekend of December 4th-6th as part of the month long Nantucket Noel Celebration.

Some of the highlights include a Main Street parade featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus, who arrive by Coast Guard vessel rather than sleigh and ride up Main Street in a horse drawn carriage accompanied by the town crier, carolers in Victorian costumes and a Magical Talking Tree to entertain the little ones. The shops and restaurants are all open and feature holiday themed window decorations and often offer hot toddies and cookies to visitors. A charming way to experience a little bit of an old-fashioned Christmas as well as get some early shopping accomplished.

There are many lodging options available for the special weekend. The Chatfield-Taylor Real Estate company has set up a special website for homes to rent for the Christmas stroll weekend. Many are quite conveniently located either in town or with in a short walking distance of the festivities and come in all sizes in case you'd like to bring the extended family or just want a romantic couples retreat. There are numerous Inns and Bed & Breakfast in town as well as the famous The Wauwinet a Relais & Chateau property located on the beach.

Gallery: Nantucket Stroll

Town CrierBell Ringers

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Nantucket Island's Christmas Stroll originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Christmas for dogs christmas shopping ChristmasForDogs ChristmasShopping holiday shopping HolidayShopping nantucket RelaisChateaux wauwinet Deb West Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA['62 Ferrari Stars in New Monaco Auto Auction]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=cafd9f3059cd4815a72b5aebc9273554 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/62-ferrari-stars-in-new-monaco-auto-auction/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/62-ferrari-stars-in-new-monaco-auto-auction/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/62-ferrari-stars-in-new-monaco-auto-auction/#comments
On May 1st RM Auctions will inaugurate a new annual sale in Monaco headlined by a rare Ferrari expected to fetch up to $3.5 million. The Sporting Classics of Monaco event will be held at the Grimaldi Forum during the same weekend as the 7th Grand Prix Historique de Monaco. 80 of the world's finest motor cars will be on offer, headlined by a stunning 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina (above). One of only six short wheelbase examples bodied by Pininfarina, the Ferrari, chassis no. 3309SA was the last example built, and displayed as a factory show car at the Geneva and New York Auto Shows in 1962. The car, which recently underwent a no-expense spared, nut and bolt restoration by top tier marque specialists, won an award at this year's famed Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Widely regarded as more exclusive, powerful and luxurious than the SWB California Spider, its offering is set to garner significant attention from collectors around the world.

[via JustLuxe]

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'62 Ferrari Stars in New Monaco Auto Auction originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> classic cars ClassicCars Ferrari Monaco Pininfarina RM Auctions RmAuctions Jared Paul Stern Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Art Market Confidence Is Up, Sales Come Next]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=78a078f6c4a2f650806bbc4cd4c2de44 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/art-market-confidence-is-up-sales-come-next/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/art-market-confidence-is-up-sales-come-next/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/art-market-confidence-is-up-sales-come-next/#comments The hint of a recovery we got in the first half of 2009 has fallen off a bit,according to Art Price's Art Market Confidence Index. The latest report suggests that art prices have dropped 37 percent since January 1, 2008, when the art market first showed signs of weakness. But, there are some indications that it's headed in the right direction over all. Art Price does state that the third quarter is almost always weak. Only 12 percent of auction lots sold during all third quarters over the past decade, and low sales volumes tend to mean low prices.

The art market appears to have hit its worst point in the first quarter of this year, when art prices were down 38 percent over the previous 15 months. Values plunged to 2004 levels, and spectators figured that conditions would only get worse. Prices edged up 1.2 percent after the first quarter, but a slow summer didn't yield any real progress.

Art Price sees the November results as promising, with seasonally adjusted growth for the Post-War period up 2.1 percent since March and the Old Masters picking up 4.5 percent. And, for the past two quarters, only 38 percent of lots failed to sell, and it looks like October and November will stay consistent with that result.

More than anything else, the numbers suggest that confidence is increasing -- which is the first step in a recovery.

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Art Market Confidence Is Up, Sales Come Next originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> art art auction art auctions art market art sales ArtAuction ArtAuctions ArtMarket ArtSales artwork contemporary art ContemporaryArt Old Masters OldMasters PostwarArt Tom Johansmeyer Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[BMW Launches All-New 5 Series Luxury Sedan]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=05ef44e6c9405833066e71a3a8691782 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/bmw-launches-all-new-5-series-luxury-sedan/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/bmw-launches-all-new-5-series-luxury-sedan/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/bmw-launches-all-new-5-series-luxury-sedan/#comments

BMW has finally taken the wraps off its brand-new 5 Series sedan, culminating months of anticipation for the Bavarian automaker's mid-range luxury saloon. The styling takes its cues from the new 7 Series and the recently launched 5 Series Gran Turismo, ending years of controversial styling ad replacing it with a more dynamic shape.

The new 5 is being offered in the North American market with a choice of two turbocharged engines: an all-new 300-horsepower twin-scroll 3.5-liter inline six for the 535i, and a 400hp twin-turbo direct-injection V8 in the 550i. Both are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and benefit from F1-derived regenerative braking for improved economy and optional four-wheel active steering. Additional engines - including diesels and more compact gasoline engines - are also available in overseas markets, with more powertrain options expected to join in the future, including hybrids and a new M5 performance model.

It's a pivotal product for BMW, and features a state-of-the-art cabin with all the luxury amenities you could expect from a luxury sedan. Browse through our high-resolution gallery below for a closer look, or follow the link to our sister-site Autoblog for a more in-depth analysis.

Gallery: 2011 BMW 5 Series

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BMW Launches All-New 5 Series Luxury Sedan originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 5 series 5-series 5Series bmw bmw 5 series bmw 5-series bmw 535i bmw 550i Bmw5-series Bmw535i Bmw550i Bmw5Series Noah Joseph Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Big Diamonds Bring Big Prices at Christie's]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=02fdc502a0671354ea8f20fd20f6600c http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/big-diamonds-bring-big-prices-at-christies/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/big-diamonds-bring-big-prices-at-christies/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/big-diamonds-bring-big-prices-at-christies/#comments More big diamonds and big prices were seen at the Christie's Geneva auction on November 18. A 62.30-carat, D flawless diamond sold for $8.051 million amid a sale which sold 82 percent by lot and 93 percent by value. Aleks Paul of Essex Global Trading in New York paid $130,000 per carat for the 62.3-carat, Type IIa flawless diamond. Paul was on a buying spree, he also submitted the top bids for two natural color diamonds, bidding $2.68 million for a diamond ring by Wolfers that paired a 3.30-carat, rectangular-cut, fancy intense blue diamond with a 3.90-carat E, VS2 diamond estimated at $580,000 to $740,000. He also spent nearly another $2.68 million on a fancy vivid, fancy intense and fancy blue diamond clasp, circa 1950, which had been estimated at $500,000 to $650,000. He has a history of buying or trying to buy important stones. Last year he was the underbidder against Laurence Graff for the Wittelsbach diamond.

In the same sale a 65.20-carat fancy intense yellow, cushion-shaped diamond pendant sold for nearly $1.04 million and a 4.42-carat fancy intense, square-cut green diamond ring sold for $783,000. The largest recorded fancy grayish-yellowish-green "chameleon" diamond in the world, cut into a 19.13 carat briolette and mounted as a pendant, sold for $987,000, setting a new world record price for a chameleon diamond.

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Big Diamonds Bring Big Prices at Christie's originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> auction christies diamond diamonds geneva jewels Deidre Woollard Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[BMW Reportedly Defrauded in Formula One Sale]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=ef18735e4ad66d07eb2c0bab0a781fce http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/bmw-reportedly-defrauded-in-formula-one-sale/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/bmw-reportedly-defrauded-in-formula-one-sale/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/bmw-reportedly-defrauded-in-formula-one-sale/#comments

Back in 2005, BMW shocked the Formula One racing world by announcing it would leave its longtime partner Williams F1 in order to acquire its rival Sauber. But after four years of racing, the economy tanked and the coffers ran dry. BMW announced it would withdraw from the sport, leaving Sauber to look for a new investor.

A new investor was found, but reports now indicate that the deal could have been an elaborate fraud. The buyer was identified as Qadbak Investments, a mysterious Swiss firm that had recently acquired a football club in England and which was supposedly backed by wealthy Middle Eastern investors who preferred to keep a low profile. After an exhaustive chase of paper trails and dummy companies, it now appears that Qadbak is nothing but a front for one Russell King, a British national based in Dubai previously convicted of fraud.

According to the report, King was planning on using Sauber as a means to tap into the revenue sharing scheme in Formula One, worth tens of millions of euros.

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BMW Reportedly Defrauded in Formula One Sale originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bmw bmw sauber BmwSauber f1 formula 1 formula one Formula1 FormulaOne qadbak qadbak investments QadbakInvestments russell king RussellKing sauber Noah Joseph Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Rolls-Royce and Bentley Reportedly Preparing New Luxury Crossovers]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=db2c634c87c4f195431746bf88a86f0d http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/rolls-royce-and-bentley-reportedly-preparing-new-luxury-crossove/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/rolls-royce-and-bentley-reportedly-preparing-new-luxury-crossove/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/25/rolls-royce-and-bentley-reportedly-preparing-new-luxury-crossove/#comments

With a shrinking economy and rising environmental conscience worldwide, the era of Bigger is Better in automobiles is coming to an end. In its place, customers are demanding more compact automobiles, even in the upper echelons of the market, and it now appears that both Bentley and Rolls-Royce are preparing to meet demand with smaller, more versatile products.

Bentley's plans are coming into focus with reports of a new range to be positioned below the existing Continental and Mulsanne. Sources suggest that the project tentatively known as the New Compact Bentley (NCB) could breed a three-door "shooting brake" (think a sportier take on the estate wagon) and a crossover. Both would sell in the $110-130k range, powered by a 4.5-liter twin-turbo V8 driving 550 horsepower to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Rolls-Royce's plans are a little less clear at this point. The most esteemed of luxury marques recently went down-market with the new Ghost, and is tipped to begin outfitting luxury Minis, but is also said to be working on a new compact crossover of its own. Code-named SHRIMP (for Short High Rugged International Metropolitan Project), the new Rolls would be positioned below its current offerings and take the brand into new territory.

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Rolls-Royce and Bentley Reportedly Preparing New Luxury Crossovers originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bentley ncb new compact bentley NewCompactBentley rolls-royce rolls-royce shrimp Rolls-royceShrimp short rugged international metropolitan project ShortRuggedInternationalMetropolitanProject shrimp Noah Joseph Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz Acquires World Champion Brawn GP Team]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=0f462bd976b4746b7528a82cc8692d8f http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/mercedes-benz-acquires-world-champion-brawn-gp-team/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/mercedes-benz-acquires-world-champion-brawn-gp-team/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/mercedes-benz-acquires-world-champion-brawn-gp-team/#comments

Mercedes-Benz has a long history in grand prix racing. In the inter-war period, it competed with the famous Silver Arrows. After the war, the German automaker returned briefly, only to withdraw again after just one year. It wouldn't be until decades later that they'd come back to the scene, supplying engines first to the Sauber team (later acquired by arch-rival BMW) and then to McLaren, the championship team with which Mercedes has been tied - including a part-ownership and collaboration on the SLR McLaren supercar - since 1995. McLaren and Mercedes won several world championships throughout their fourteen-year history together, but now the two companies have gone their own separate ways. McLaren is building their own supercar - the MP4-12C - and Mercedes the SLS AMG, and now the two have announced a separation on the race track as well.

Although Mercedes will continue to provide McLaren with engines, the automaker has sold its stake back to the racing team. In its place, Benz has acquired a 75% stake in the Brawn GP team - which was previously Honda's, which in turn took over from British American Racing and Tyrrell before that. In its inaugural season, Brawn won both the constructors' title and the drivers' title, and will now be rebranded as Mercedes Grand Prix for the upcoming season. Eager to demonstrate German talent, the new Mercedes team has already signed Nico Rosberg - one of the youngest and most promising talents on the grid - and is preparing to announce its second driver shortly before returning for the 2010 championship in an effort to repeat this year's success.

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Mercedes-Benz Acquires World Champion Brawn GP Team originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> f1 formula 1 formula one Formula1 FormulaOne mclaren mercedes mercedes grand prix mercedes-benz MercedesGrandPrix silver arrows SilverArrows Noah Joseph Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Shaquille O'Neal, Art Curator]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=f1cbb166055d6fa0c741da4dbbba1860 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/shaquille-oneal-art-curator/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/shaquille-oneal-art-curator/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/shaquille-oneal-art-curator/#comments shaquille o'nealBasketball player Shaquille O'Neal likes to wear a lot of hats. Actor, musician, sheriff, Twitter star and now art curator? O'Neal is curating a gallery show for New York's Flag Art Foundation titled "Size DOES Matter." The exhibit ponders the question of idea of scale in contemporary art and features some big names in the art world including Chuck Close, Jeff Koons, Andreas Gursky, Kehinde Wiley and many more. The show is scheduled to open in February at the Flag Art Foundation's exhibition space in the Chelsea neighborhood.

O'Neal told Bloomberg News that his turn as curator was "a little harder than I thought it would be." The exhibition will feature 52 artworks, five are special commissions, many others are loans from private collections and museums. The choice of Shaquille O'Neal as curator should attract additional attention for the show. Writer James Frey, famous and also infamous for his bestselling book "A Million Little Pieces" is writing an essay for the exhibition catalog.

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Shaquille O'Neal, Art Curator originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> art exhibit ArtExhibit flag art foundation FlagArtFoundation shaquille oneal ShaquilleOneal Deidre Woollard Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[BMW Marches on Hollywood with Propaganda GEM]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=c357ef111d9d1ac17edd85f1819438ea http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/bmw-marches-on-hollywood-with-propaganda-gem/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/bmw-marches-on-hollywood-with-propaganda-gem/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/bmw-marches-on-hollywood-with-propaganda-gem/#comments


Expect to see a lot more BMWs, Rolls-Royces and Minis in Hollywood as the German automaker has signed a new deal with one of the world's leading product placement agencies. The firm, Propaganda GEM, represents such brands as Panasonic, Bang & Olufsen and Nokia, to name just a few, but is ending its 13-year tie-in with Audi - which placed its vehicles in such hit films as Iron Man and I, Robot - in favor of a new one with the BMW Group.

BMW is certainly no stranger to product placement, having launched both the Z3 and Z8 roadsters in the Piece Brosnan-era 007 films. The Bavarian automaker also launched a highly successful short-film series called The Hire in 2001 that attracted several guest directors and starred Clive Owen. But now that BMW has pulled out of Formula One, Propaganda plans on using some of the newly-available marketing funds to place BMW products - including the cars and motorcycles as well as Minis and Rolls-Royces - in more films, TV shows, music videos and video games, in addition to sponsoring events like the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games in London.

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BMW Marches on Hollywood with Propaganda GEM originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bmw product placement ProductPlacement propaganda propaganda gem PropagandaGem Noah Joseph Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Will Carl Icahn Rescue The Fontainebleau?]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=ef51f099d18df7b1b9afaf29fc176677 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/will-carl-icahn-rescue-the-fontainebleau/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/will-carl-icahn-rescue-the-fontainebleau/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/will-carl-icahn-rescue-the-fontainebleau/#comments
I've been following the fate of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas casino resort for a while now. It looks like the stalled project may have a new savior in the form of billionaire investor Carl Icahn. Icahn's Icahn Nevada Gaming LLC will be the opening or 'stalking horse' bidder in an auction of the resort after Penn National Gaming Inc. dropped out. Bloomberg News reports on the bidding war in court which led to Icahn offering $105 million, plus $51.5 million in debtor-in-possession financing besting Penn's offer of a total of $145 million. This means that the Icahn bid will be the one to beat.

The planned complex on the Las Vegas Strip is about 70 percent complete. It filed for bankruptcy in June and may cost around $1.5 billion to finish. Fontainebleau's sellers have asked U.S. Bankruptcy Judge A. Jay Cristol in Miami to auction the casino on January 21. Penn National Gaming had planned to finish Fontainebleau with an unidentified partner and to use the company's database of casino customers to help fill the casino with consumers. Icahn has a history of buying bankrupt casinos (including the Stratosphere in Las Vegas) and selling them for big profits. His entry into the fray may increase interest in the January auction and help ensure that someone eventually buys the casino and finishes the project.

Will Carl Icahn Rescue The Fontainebleau? originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> carl icahn CarlIcahn casino fontainebleau las vegas las vegas strip LasVegas LasVegasStrip Deidre Woollard Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[New Zealand Yachts In Receivership]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=0b3492ab7a0a9cd91bfde7b8bcd57662 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/new-zealand-yachts-in-receivership/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/new-zealand-yachts-in-receivership/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/new-zealand-yachts-in-receivership/#comments
Hard times continue to hit the yacht industry. New Zealand Yachts located in Whangarei, New Zealand recently went into receivership. The yacht company came to Whangarei in 2001 and promised to create 1000 jobs. The company did a lot of refits on existing yachts but hadn't ramped up into much production of new yachts. The New Zealand Yachts website includes renderings of many planned yachts including the Wavepiercer shown above.

New Zealand businessman Allen Jones, who had built a large car-washing business in the United States, founded the company, but later returned to the US. HIs son, Damon Jones, was the company's marketing and sales manager. The receiver said the company still operates a first-class refit yard and has the potential to attract yacht work from around the world.

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New Zealand Yachts In Receivership originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> new zealand new zealand yachts NewZealand NewZealandYachts receivership whangarei Deidre Woollard Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:04:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Is There a $100,000 Book on Your Shelf?]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=1871421b95b7f6b784124c345f2e2bb6 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/is-there-a-100-000-book-on-your-shelf/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/is-there-a-100-000-book-on-your-shelf/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/is-there-a-100-000-book-on-your-shelf/#comments One lucky British family happened to see a photo of the spine of a first edition of "On the Origin of Species" by Charles Darwin. Don't we have that at home?, they thought.

They did. According to Reuters, the book was purchased for "a few shillings" in the 60s or 70s and has been sitting on the shelf, undiscovered, until now. Tuesday marks the edition's 150 year anniversary, and it will be auctioned off at Christie's. It is estimated that the book is worth £40,000 - £60,000 ($66,000 - $100,000).

If you've got a first edition or a very old book on your shelf, if might be worth searching it on abebooks.com and alibris.com to see if it's commanding a high price. The price of your book will be affected by the rarity of the edition, condition, and things like typos or signatures. Empty Mirror Books offers more insight here.

**Update 9:20 PM, 11/24/2009**
Guess what it fetched at London's Christie's? Including the buyer's premium, it sold for £103,250 -- about $172,000 -- almost twice the maximum estimated price. The AP reports that the shelf it was sitting on was a "toilet bookshelf." If you've got Darwin in your collection, you might want to note that British authorities are reportedly "searching for a leather-bound notebook Charles Darwin used in developing his theory of natural selection."

[via Reuters]

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Is There a $100,000 Book on Your Shelf? originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> book Charles Darwin CharlesDarwin first edition FirstEdition Annie Scott Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[BeaValdes for CoutureLab Horus Crystal Clutch, Handbag of the Day]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=d71be36ba8f04b4423d3893a898be404 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/beavaldes-for-couturelab-horus-crystal-clutch-handbag-of-the-da/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/beavaldes-for-couturelab-horus-crystal-clutch-handbag-of-the-da/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/beavaldes-for-couturelab-horus-crystal-clutch-handbag-of-the-da/#comments The BeaValdes for CoutureLab Horus Crystal Clutch is something you don't see every day.

This astonishing creation combines expert beading, big, green crystals and layers of feathers and dark crystals at the base. The unusual shape is sensual and unexpected, and with the tuck-away-able delicate chain, this can even be worn on your shoulder. That half-hexagonal shape at the top is a flap; this satin-lined masterpiece has a simple, well-concealed magnetic closure.

It's a decadent, elaborate vintage look with a futuristic twist, and the overall effect is absolutely dazzling. We'd put this on a shelf as a work of art when not carrying it.

The BeaValdes for CoutureLab Horus Crystal Clutch is available from CoutureLab.com; price available upon request.

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BeaValdes for CoutureLab Horus Crystal Clutch, Handbag of the Day originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Bea Valdes BeaValdes clutch CoutureLab handbag of the day HandbagOfTheDay purse Annie Scott Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Tod's for Ferrari Driving Mocassins]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=8b8da8a3ebc9f02551e96ee074f84432 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/tods-for-ferrari-driving-mocassins/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/tods-for-ferrari-driving-mocassins/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/tods-for-ferrari-driving-mocassins/#comments

See that polo-sporting playboy climbing out of the Ferrari convertible? Look at his shoes. They're probably made by Tod's. The Italian shoemaker has become synonymous with the exotic automaker, and not just because the chairman of the latter sits on the board of the former. Now the two kindred spirits have come together for a special line of driving mocs made by one for the other.

The Tod's for Ferrari line consists of three models - the Leccetto (with laces), the Laccetto Tubi GT (with tassels) and the Mascherina Griglia (with a special emblem styled after the grille of the iconic 250 GTO). The latter two are available in black and brown suede, with the former also available in red and blue (in true Elvis style). Each feature insoles ribbed like the seats of a Ferrari sportscar, and are made in the same time-honored tradition that makes any pair of Tod's loafers indispensable for the playboy lifestyle. They sell for 290 to 320 euros, and are available directly from Ferrari's online store.

Gallery: Tod's for Ferrari

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Tod's for Ferrari Driving Mocassins originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> driving loafers driving mocassins driving mocs driving shoes DrivingLoafers DrivingMocassins DrivingMocs DrivingShoes ferrari mocassins mocs tods tods for ferrari TodsForFerrari Noah Joseph Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Gangster Chic Ties from Duncan Quinn]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=71376b2ec670f407e660e284b7ca6f6b http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/gangster-chic-ties-from-duncan-quinn/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/gangster-chic-ties-from-duncan-quinn/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/gangster-chic-ties-from-duncan-quinn/#comments
Duncan Quinn, the London-born, New York-based menswear designer whose Savile Row-with-a-twist togs are favored by the likes of Sean Combs, Entourage star Adrien Grenier, LeBron James and alt-rockers Green Day among others, has come out with a new line of silk ties sporting gangster chic motifs to complement his killer new fall collection we previewed here. The designs (above) are partially inspired by Russian prison tattoos - think Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises - and are made of 100% silk handwoven in England, cut, stitched and finished by hand in New York City. A lot of Quinn's inspiration comes from the "long and well-recorded history of members of the criminal fraternity frequenting Savile Row for their sharp suits and other attire," the designer notes - the ones played by Michael Caine at least.

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Gangster Chic Ties from Duncan Quinn originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> bespoke Duncan Quinn DuncanQuinn Savile Row SavileRow suits tattoo ties UK Viggo Mortensen ViggoMortensen Jared Paul Stern Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Wells Fargo takes over Sea Island Residential Development]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=88e0827e82a5cde2aafa98cbda2ab8e1 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/wells-fargo-takes-over-sea-island-residential-development/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/wells-fargo-takes-over-sea-island-residential-development/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/wells-fargo-takes-over-sea-island-residential-development/#comments
A residential development that was part of the same company that owns Sea Island Resorts off southeastern Georgia's Atlantic coast, has been taken over by a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Co.

Wachovia Bank (now part of Wells Fargo) took over the deed from the Sea Island Company for the Frederica development, a 3,000 acre residential community with home sites ranging from two to five acres, in mid-November. The loan for the property had been made by Wachovia, which merged with Wells Fargo in December, 2008. The transfer of the deed was a private transaction and not a foreclosure. The other assets owned by the Sea Island Co. are not impacted by the transaction.

"As the lender to the Frederica development, Wells Fargo has been working closely with the Sea Island Company to explore options for the property that would serve the needs of both parties and the community," says Wells Fargo spokesperson, Elise Wilkinson. "As a result, Sea Island has transferred ownership of Frederica, including the club property, to affiliates of Wachovia Bank, a Wells Fargo Company."

"We don't anticipate any changes in the short term," adds Wilkinson. "Ultimately, Wells Fargo will seek to sell the property to a new owner that is equipped to recognize the long-term potential of Frederica."

During the transition, the Sea Island Co. will continue to provide professional on-site management. "Wells Fargo will ensure the Frederica property is operated in a professional manner," says Wilkinson. "This is something that is very important to us." Wilkinson added that she doesn't anticipate any changes in the short term that would impact members or homeowners at Frederica.

The Frederica development is located on St. Simons Island and includes a Tom Fazio-designed golf course, deep water river frontage, a 400-acre fresh water lake, salt marsh and wooded views.Property sites currently on the market include a two acre undeveloped home site with expansive lake views for $1.7 million. A 5,600 square feet home (still under construction) on 2.4 acres with 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms is currently on the market for just under $5 million.

The Frederica development is a few miles from the world-renowned Cloisters resort, also owned by the Sea Island Co. The Cloister was the site selected by President George Bush to host the G-8 Summit of world leaders in 2004. Sea Island Resorts stretches along five miles of private beach and has served as an unrivaled Georgia luxury resort destination since 1928.

Sea Island Resorts consistently ranks high on lists of best spas, resorts and golf destinations published by such leading publications as Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler and Mobil Five-Star. In addition to the Cloister at Sea Island, the development includes the Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club and the Sea Island Golf Club which has two 18-hole championship golf courses.

The Sea Island Co. has been owned by the Jones family since its inception in 1928. Alfred W. "Bill" Jones, III currently serves as its chief executive officer and chairman of the board. Jones is the fourth generation of his family to lead the company.

Merry Tipton, spokesperson for Sea Island Co., had no comment.

The Frederica development is the latest victim to troubled economic times. Earlier this month, Amelia Island Plantation, the 1,350-acre luxury enclave overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in northeast Florida filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.


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Wells Fargo takes over Sea Island Residential Development originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> cloisters Frederica sea island SeaIsland wachovia wells fargo WellsFargo Carrie Coolidge Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Willow Road, Estate of the Day ]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=05d13015bd505b1cee96e1d5b5c179d5 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/willow-road-estate-of-the-day/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/willow-road-estate-of-the-day/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/willow-road-estate-of-the-day/#comments
Today's home is one of the most expensive listings in Massachusetts. This home is in the pricey Boston suburb of Weston. The Arts & Crafts-inspired home was built in 2003 and designed by renowned architect Jeremiah Eck. This huge home spans over 33,000 square feet and has a slate roof, belltower-like chimneys, and a stone and mahogany facade. The six-bedroom home is on 13.5 acres that are adjacent to the Weston Country Club. The rooms are huge but the home manages to maintain a certain cozy feel through the use of dark wood, simplified lines and plenty of windows. Many of the rooms on the main floor are double-height with very high ceilings. The lower level seems to include wine storage and a hot tub room. This home is listed at $24.5 million.

[Thanks, Dan!]

Gallery: Willow Road

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Willow Road, Estate of the Day originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> estate of the day EstateOfTheDay massachusetts massachusetts real estate MassachusettsRealEstate weston Deidre Woollard Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[BRM V12-T-44 Abarth Chronograph]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=8396ce1b4a2fff17dd08fd019e6e672f http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/brm-v12-t-44-abarth-chronograph/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/brm-v12-t-44-abarth-chronograph/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/brm-v12-t-44-abarth-chronograph/#comments

Any performance automaker worth its logo has got to have a wristwatch to match. And while a carmaker's choice of wristwatch - think Panerai and Ferrari, Breitling and Bentley, Parmigiani and Bugatti - is meant to reflect the company's image, in some cases (like this PVD titanium one) it's more a reflection of the brand's aspirations. Because Abarth has always been about punching above its weight and taking on vehicles twice its size and ten times its price. So it should stand to reason that, even though its performance hatchbacks sell for relatively modest sums, the Abarth chronograph goes for more than €4,900, or the equivalent of some $7,300.

The timepiece is crafted by none other than Bernard Richards Manufacturer, a watchmaking atelier already known in motor racing circles for their inspiration from automobiles. To top the racing-themed design of the stock V12-T-44 chronograph, BRM has further differentiated the Abarth special edition with such custom touches as chrome hands and red stitching on the Nomex wrist-strap. Only 49 examples will be made available exclusively from BRM's website, making this timepiece considerably more exclusive than the cars its made to accompany.

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BRM V12-T-44 Abarth Chronograph originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> abarth bernard richards manufacture BernardRichardsManufacture brm brm abarth BrmAbarth chronograph fiat abarth FiatAbarth timepiece watch wristwatch Noah Joseph Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[The Ultimate Resource for Vintage Hermes Scarves ]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=e9cd4da74186dc3910a8197cdc76f98d http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/the-ultimate-resource-for-vintage-hermes-scarves/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/the-ultimate-resource-for-vintage-hermes-scarves/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/the-ultimate-resource-for-vintage-hermes-scarves/#comments
While the economic slump may still be in full bloom, and some people are rushing to invest in gold, others are buying tangible assets of a different kind. Artcurial, a French based auction house and the only one to dedicate two sales annually to the Hermes label, recently pulled in over 1 million dollars during their latest sale held on November 10, 2009. Some items, including a Birkin bag sold for above the estimate and even the original retail price.

If you don't want to have to wait until spring and the next auction, Luxury-scarves.com has the most comprehensive collection of vintage Hermes scarves on the market. The site is the brain child of an antiques dealer, who began collecting the "carres" while scouring markets and secondhand shops for his other business. What began as a personal collection over ten years ago really has developed into an incredible resource for collectors and fashionistas alike.

There are plenty of dealers who collect and sell Hermes items. What makes this site so unique is not only the size and scope of the collection but the manner in which it is organized. One can search for a scarf based on name, color, size, condition, material or designer. Once a chosen item is located five different views of the scarf are shown along with its name, who designed it, when the scarf was first produced, subsequent reissues and available colorways and materials. The condition and any other point of reference, for example if the item has an "S" stamp is also noted. The price of the scarf is listed in both euros and dollars. There is in fact an on-line database of over 1,000 scarves with photos to be used for research and non-commercial purposes.

Should you desperately want a vintage Hermes bag to complement your scarf feel free to browse the sister site Luxury-shops.com which features all types of vintage designer items including several new and used Birkin bags ranging in price from $10,000 to over $50,000 for one made of matte alligator.

Gallery: Vintage Hermes Scarves

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The Ultimate Resource for Vintage Hermes Scarves originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> artcurial auction birkin BirkinBag hermes hermes-birkin scarf scarves vintage Deb West Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Mavizen Electric Motorbike, a "Laptop on Wheels"]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=928548397ed0cd061e2d0b1e5b537844 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/mavizen-electric-motorbike-a-laptop-on-wheels/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/mavizen-electric-motorbike-a-laptop-on-wheels/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/mavizen-electric-motorbike-a-laptop-on-wheels/#comments
An electric motorcycle that does 130 mph and looks as good as this seems an impressive enough feat in and of itself, but Mavizen has gone even further with its new TTX02 model, just unveiled at SEMA. Billed as a "laptop on wheels" it features a dedicated IP address, on-board web server, WiFi and Linux. Born of Team Agni's TTXGP race-winning electric motorcycle team, the bike is slated for a limited production of only 50 units, with a price of about $42,000 and a delivery date in early 2010, aimed at race teams who wish to compete in the upcoming eGrand-Prix series. "We are living in a click culture and connectivity is the key, across the board," notes TTXGP founder Azhar Hussain. "Our approach was to find how we could make a laptop go racing."

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Mavizen Electric Motorbike, a "Laptop on Wheels" originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> electric motorcycle ElectricMotorcycle Mavizen motorcycle SEMA Jared Paul Stern Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Readers' Choice for Best in Food: Vote Now!]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=c53eb7bd6293aba793aae42467a1c3a4 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/readers-choice-for-best-in-food-vote-now/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/readers-choice-for-best-in-food-vote-now/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/readers-choice-for-best-in-food-vote-now/#comments
Nominations have been received and vetted for the best-of-breed in gourmet grocers, online gourmet food, caviar, cheese and bread. The Luxist Readers' Choice Food Awards will be awarded based on your voting.

Each of finalists for the Readers' Choice for the Best Gourmet Grocer/Food Hall is a leader in the industry. One started out with a small store in Texas and today, it has more than 270 stores in North America and the United Kingdom. An Ohio-based nominee is family-owned and operated that is recognized for its great food and service. Two nominees are New York institutions offering gourmet foods from around the world. Last, but not least, there's an opulent Food Hall in London that is known worldwide for the sheer volume and selection of its international goods all presented in breathtaking displays.

The Readers' Choice for the Best Online Gourmet Food nominees include a New York institution with a staff that travel the world in search of great artisan-produced foods. A Seattle-based nominee was launched by a group of passionate food-lovers committed to the best artisan-produced, sustainable foods while another nominee is a family-owned operation that originated from three generations of cheese importers. A Michigan-based nominee is a collection of local businesses, each with its own food specialty. Finally, the Philadelphia-based nominee celebrates the European roots of its two founders with a wide array of gourmet meats, cheeses, oils, and other goods from around the world.

The Readers' Choice for the Best Caviar Retailer for a Luxist Award include award-winning brands from Europe and the United States with each offering the highest of quality. Several offer some of the finest Russian caviar to be found, while one is a proponent of sustainably harvested roe with its own tank-farming system.

Nominees for Readers' Choice for Best Bread Bakery include companies that have been producing bread for decades. One opened more than 70 years ago and is now an institution in Paris, while another was launched in Belgium before expanding around the world. A Los Angeles-based nominee has developed more than 100 varieties of award-winning breads. The Philadelphia-based nominee features artisanal breads and the baked goods of the Ann Arbor-based nominee are known throughout the Midwest.

Readers' Choice nominees for Best Cheese Shop include some of the most respected shops in the world. These cheese shops, offer a full range of both international and domestic artisanal cheeses. They are the destinations for serious cheese lovers and chefs who are in search of the best.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of these categories. Readers' Choice Awards for Food will be announced on November 30th.

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Readers' Choice for Best in Food: Vote Now! originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> awards-main food-awards luxist-awards Carrie Coolidge Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Win A Balsam Hill Christmas Tree!]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=66e6c824a4eefc3ff3b91a3210c5b7b0 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/win-a-balsam-hill-christmas-tree/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/win-a-balsam-hill-christmas-tree/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/24/win-a-balsam-hill-christmas-tree/#comments balsam hill treeThe holiday season is upon us and it's time to trim the tree. To help one lucky reader get in the holiday spirit, Luxist is giving away a BH Noble Fir tree from Balsam HIll. The 56-inch tree has sturdy branches which have been crafted to mimic the look of real branches. The gray-green color match the look of natural trees and the branches are designed to support the weight of ornaments. The tree comes complete with Candlelight[TM] LED clear lights. Unlike traditional LEDs, the Candlelight LEDs provide a warm soft glow just like traditional lights while offering energy savings. The tree has a classic teardrop profile with open, slightly downward-sloping branches for the perfect symmetrical Christmas silhouette. Nothing to water, no need to worry about needles dropping everywhere and no bare patches to turn toward the wall. To win tell us why you need a little extra holiday magic this year.

Some other important details:
* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.
* The comment must be left and confirmed before Tuesday December 1, 2009 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
* You may only enter once.
* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
* One winner will receive the Balsam Hill Noble Fir, valued at $829.
* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.

See complete rules here.

Win A Balsam Hill Christmas Tree! originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> balsam hill BalsamHill christmas tree ChristmasTree giveaway luxist giveaway LuxistGiveaway Deidre Woollard Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Root Liquor, A Taste of the Past Re-Imagined]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=5c7b4968c7044e2acb39dfc1e45afb34 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/root-liquor/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/root-liquor/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/root-liquor/#comments root liquor
The trend for cocktails in the past few years have moved in two directions, super futuristic featuring molecular mixology and decidedly retro with bitters and elderflower liqueur. Root is a liqueur from Philadephia-based collective Art in the Age that traces its heritage all the way back to the 1700s when colonists were first introduced to root tea brewed with sassafras, sarsaparilla, wintergreen birch bark, and other roots and herbs. This later formed the origins of root beer. Root is not a strictly root-beer-flavored vodka. Instead it is a multifaceted mix of a variety of herbs and essences to create a unique spirit that harkens back to the past. Tomorrow night, 11/24, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the Pittsburgh Cocktail Competition will be held from 8-11pm at Bossa Nova with $5 Root Cocktails.

You can pick up your own bottle for $39. Visit the Art in the Age website for links to online locations. Some quick recipes for enjoying Root are here.

[via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

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Root Liquor, A Taste of the Past Re-Imagined originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> art in the age ArtInTheAge liqueur liquor root liquor RootLiquor spirits Deidre Woollard Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[How to Care for Pearls]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=5de063b389bbc7b7d570de8bc21842d9 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/how-to-care-for-pearls/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/how-to-care-for-pearls/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/how-to-care-for-pearls/#comments
Fine cultured pearls should last for many years, even generations---but only if they are properly cared for.

Cultured pearls should be kept free of perfumes, cosmetics, perspiration and dirt, advises Tiffany & Co. Acid and akali substances can be harmful to pearls, including chemicals found in perfumes, skincare products, hair products and even perspiration due to the salt content. On the other hand, the body's natural oils (apart from heavy perspiration) are actually beneficial for pearls and keeps them from drying out. The issues are the same for colored pearls. A cultured South Sea, Tahitian and golden pearl necklace with a diamond clasp by Tiffany & Co. is seen above.

Tiffany & Co. advises pearl owners to follow the old adage "pearls should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off". Avoid getting your pearls wet and don't wear them when bathing.

If your pearls are soiled, clean them by gently wiping the pearls with a slightly damp cloth. Do not use a chemical-based cleaner on them, as they can become damaged.

Do not store your pearls with other pieces of jewelry, as they can be easily scratched. Separate the pearls from other items by keeping them in a soft bag or wrap them in a cloth before storing them.

Tiffany & Co. cultured pearls are strung on pure silk with knots between each cultured pearl. Over time, the silk will stretch, weaken and become soiled. If you wear your cultured pearls regularly, Tiffany's advises having the pearls professionally cleaned and restrung annually. This will prevent the strand from breaking.

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]]> accessories-pedia luxist-awards main-pedia pearls Tiffany Co. TiffanyCo. Carrie Coolidge Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Madoff's Debts Still Snowballing - Enter the Legal Fees]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=20ca458e0beb7461463435a02839d6ed http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/madoffs-debts-still-snowballing-enter-the-legal-fees/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/madoffs-debts-still-snowballing-enter-the-legal-fees/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/madoffs-debts-still-snowballing-enter-the-legal-fees/#comments
According to Reuters, today, "Bernard Madoff's bankruptcy trustee and the law firm employing him submitted a $22.1 million legal bill covering five months of work."

Baker & Hostetler LLP wants $21.28 million, and court-appointed trustee Irving Picard, the partner at Baker & Hostetler who is overseeing the liquidation of Madoff's professional and personal assets (that includes the auctions), wants $835,605 separately. Picard has "recovered $1.4 billion of assets, just 7 percent of the $21.2 billion of investor losses he had found."

When lawyers want their clients to get paid, that's one thing. When lawyers their own paycheck, it's another entirely. What do you think? Should they only get 7 percent of their bills paid? Perhaps that would reinvigorate their desire to find out, while liquidating, where the money really went.

[via Reuters]

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Madoff's Debts Still Snowballing - Enter the Legal Fees originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> baker hostetler BakerHostetler bernard madoff BernardMadoff irving picard IrvingPicard madoff Annie Scott Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Jasmine Sloane Leather Bag, Handbag of the Day]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=318dfa60e3f8dc2a9857cd428c7434bc http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/jasmine-sloane-leather-bag-handbag-of-the-day/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/jasmine-sloane-leather-bag-handbag-of-the-day/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/jasmine-sloane-leather-bag-handbag-of-the-day/#comments Jasmine Sloane Handbag by Vivienne Westwood
Metallics are all the rage this season, and the Jasmine Sloane Leather bag does up the trend in a big way with scale-effect metallic leather in silver, double leather handles in metallic bronze, and an oversized signature Vivienne Westwood orb in bright goldtone. It has a slouchy, pouchy shape that's a little bit casual and a little bit evening sophisticate. All together it strikes me as a mini disco ball with handles and a zipper. Lined in beige gabardine cotton with an interior zip pocket it also features a logo-embossed leather luxury tag/zipper pull. £799

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Jasmine Sloane Leather Bag, Handbag of the Day originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> handbag handbag of the day HandbagOfTheDay handbags sloane vivienne westwood VivienneWestwood Rigel Celeste Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Agent Provocateur's "Heloise" Corset, Not for the Delicate]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=ce681e628cefb1e269a9e1525a808e15 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/agent-provocateurs-heloise-corset-not-for-the-delicate/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/agent-provocateurs-heloise-corset-not-for-the-delicate/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/agent-provocateurs-heloise-corset-not-for-the-delicate/#comments Agent Provocateur's The "Heloise" underwire halter neck corset is part of Agent Provocateur's kinky new lingerie collection, Soirée. It's made of black ribbed duchess satin and lined in soft black leather, with a deep plunge neckline and hand-embellished biker studs. À la Scarlett O'Hara, this corset really will pull in the waist. The hips are "emphasized" (I'll say) with 2-inch metal spikes -- back view below. Not for the fainthearted or shy, or one who wishes to snuggle. $4,900

Gallery: Agent Provocateur's "Heloise" Corset

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Agent Provocateur's "Heloise" Corset, Not for the Delicate originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Agent Provocateur AgentProvocateur biker chic BikerChic corset leather lingerie Lisa Palladino Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Kendall-Jackson Offers Customized Wine Service]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=bafdcd03f05bd09a42c410c0fde5a362 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/kendall-jackson-offers-customized-wine-service/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/kendall-jackson-offers-customized-wine-service/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/kendall-jackson-offers-customized-wine-service/#comments
For the wine lover who has everything popular California winery Kendall-Jackson has a new service that is a step above their usual offerings. For $30,000 Kendall-Jackson winemaster Randy Ullom will spend three days with a wine lover, doing extensive wine tastings with them, learning their preferences and creating an ideal customized blend based on their tastes and personality. The purchaser will later receive a case of 12 bottles of the wine with a personalized label. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to charity. Those interested in the program should email for more information at customWine@kjmail.com.

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Kendall-Jackson Offers Customized Wine Service originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> customized wine CustomizedWine kendall-jackson wine winery Deidre Woollard Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Heidi Klum Goes To Pieces In Artsy Puzzle]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=482dbe0b06b17cdd736b1b44bf18d457 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/heidi-klum-goes-to-pieces-in-artsy-puzzle/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/heidi-klum-goes-to-pieces-in-artsy-puzzle/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/heidi-klum-goes-to-pieces-in-artsy-puzzle/#comments
This season you can spend your holiday family time putting Heidi Klum together. Editions Ricordi has created a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle in the image of a fashion photograph by Ruven Afanador. The image called Couture Banquet appeared in Vogue Spain and shows Heidi Klum displayed against an extravagant feast. The puzzle is a limited edition of 1000 and each is numbered and signed by Ruven Afanador. The puzzle comes in a silk bag packed in a hand-made wooden box with a red velvet interior. The completed puzzle measures 24x36 inches and pieces are printed on high-quality art paper with a velvet back side with golden glitter. It sells for 350 euros.

[via Art Daily]

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Heidi Klum Goes To Pieces In Artsy Puzzle originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> heidi klum HeidiKlum jigsaw puzzle JigsawPuzzle puzzle ruven afandor RuvenAfandor Deidre Woollard Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Jerry Rice in Atherton, Estate of the Day ]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=3dd87368d6586550a15fbc73e541ce15 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/jerry-rice-in-atherton-estate-of-the-day/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/jerry-rice-in-atherton-estate-of-the-day/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/jerry-rice-in-atherton-estate-of-the-day/#comments Joe Montana recently put his northern California home on the market but his companion in San Francisco 49er glory, wide receiver Jerry Rice also has a home on the market in Atherton, California. The legendary athlete's estate is notable even in a town known for expensive homes. It was built in 2001 and extends over 16,000 square feet with six bedrooms. There are three levels with an elevator. The home has a family room with a wet bar and a lower level game room with a full bar. Other recreational areas include a wine room, crafts room and a full gym with its own bathroom.

The listing states that the home contains over $2 million in electronics that include a comprehensive security system, smart home features and a large home theater. The grounds extend over 1.2 acres with a a pool and spa and an underground seven-car garage. This home was marketed at $22 million in 2007 but is now for sale at $14.75 million.


This home is being offered by Pierre Buljan of Cashin Company and featured by Sean Spanek of SportStar Relocation. SportStar Relocation. More pictures are available at the SportStar Relocation MLS site and a virtual tour is available at Pierre Buljan.



Gallery: Jerry Rice in Atherton

Continue reading Jerry Rice in Atherton, Estate of the Day

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]]> atherton celebrity real estate CelebrityRealEstate estate of the day EstateOfTheDay jerry rice JerryRice Deidre Woollard Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Bulova Accutron Kirkwood Watch]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=6c95c4e4bd85fb33522326f13e32d20e http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/bulova-accutron-kirkwood-watch/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/bulova-accutron-kirkwood-watch/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/bulova-accutron-kirkwood-watch/#comments
It used to be that for the most part, even though Accutron was owned by Bulova, it was a separate watch brand. Under Japanese ownership by Citizen, you are seeing "Bulova Accutron" on watch dials now - which is a bit confusing in my opinion. Can't they just choose one name? In Japan, they seem to have a custom of branding, and then sub-branding. This is exhibited on many of their products, but to Americans, the redundant nomenclature is a bit confusing. Aside from that we are presented with a handsome watch that won't break the bank. This is the new Kirkwood dive style watch (not to be confused with "Kirkland," which would make it a Costco watch!).

The watch continues the new trend of porthole open dials for Bulova. You can see this at 12 o'clock, where you see a decorated view of the Swiss automatic Sellita SW 200 movement (same at ETA 2824-2). The case is in steel (with rose gold ion plating treatment) and is 44mm wide. There is also a normal steel version available with a blue, black or silver colored dial (as opposed to the pictured brown). It has a handsomely made rotating diver's bezel and 100 meters of water resistance. I like the large lume filled applied hour markers and the wave patterned dial.

The strap is not rubber, but fancy plastic (polyurethane). I'd have to check that out to see what it feels like. Lugs on the case look really long as well. In addition to the strap, there is a metal bracelet option available. Watch case crystal is sapphire. Not too sure about price - should be in the $1,000 - $1,300 range, and the full line should be available for the holiday season.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

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]]> accutron automatic bulova dive kirkwood watch Ariel Adams Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:04:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Italy's Fornasari Presents the New RR99]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=57c2b2f449f3d6d97076fdeb3fd9c6fa http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/italys-fornasari-presents-the-new-rr99/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/italys-fornasari-presents-the-new-rr99/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/italys-fornasari-presents-the-new-rr99/#comments

Used to be if you wanted an exotic Italian automobile, you were looking at a two-door sportscar. Maserati's Quattroporte and Lamborghini's LM002 proved the exceptions, but even the most expensive luxury sport-utility vehicles were boxy, slow-moving machines. Long before Porsche came along with their Cayenne, however, Fornasari was working on a formula for the best of both worlds. For years they produced the three-door RR450 and RR600, but now they've come out with their first five-door sport-ute, and the numbers are unbelievable.

Powered by a 6-liter V8 provided by GM driving 610 horsepower to all four wheels via 60/40 rear split limited-slip differential and six-speed gearbox, Fornasari claims their latest SUV can reach 62 miles per hour in just 3.8 seconds and hit 174 mph flat out. All this in a coachbuilt Italian body. Pricing and availability are not yet available, but with an item like this, if you have to ask....

Gallery: Fornasari RR99

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]]> fornasari fornasari rr99 FornasariRr99 rr99 sport-utility vehicle Sport-utilityVehicle suv Noah Joseph Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[What are the Next Hot-Spots in the Luxury Resort Scene?]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=5d8a4ed28a68b436c8be7365f7a743e2 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/what-are-the-next-hot-spots-in-the-luxury-resort-scene/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/what-are-the-next-hot-spots-in-the-luxury-resort-scene/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/what-are-the-next-hot-spots-in-the-luxury-resort-scene/#comments
Luxist Awards asked three of our Expert Panelists, all veterans of the travel industry, about the hot destinations of the future. Their answers may surprise you.

Adam Stewart the chief executive of Sandals Resorts International; Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts; and Ed Steiner, Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean, One&Only Resorts share their vision with Luxist.

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What are the Next Hot-Spots in the Luxury Resort Scene? originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> beaches buenos aires BuenosAires grace bat resorts grace bay club GraceBatResorts GraceBayClub great exuma GreatExuma kerznerinternational luxist-awards main-pedia montenegro ocean club OceanClub oneonly palmilla OneonlyPalmilla royal plantation collection RoyalPlantationCollection sandals resorts international SandalsResortsInternational south africa SouthAfrica summer-travel-pedia summertravel-pedia winter-travel-pedia Carrie Coolidge Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[The Classicist: Caesar Guerini, Fine Italian Shotguns for the American Sportsman]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=834ba69a560164421b44f82e8d50041b http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/the-classicist-caesar-guerini-fine-italian-shotguns-for-the-am/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/the-classicist-caesar-guerini-fine-italian-shotguns-for-the-am/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/the-classicist-caesar-guerini-fine-italian-shotguns-for-the-am/#comments
Building fine shotguns that blend beauty, performance and value is the key to gunmaker Caesar Guerini. Imported from Brescia, Italy, their over / under models combine craftsmanship, precision, and premium materials in a stylish package. The quality of the wood, the spot-on fit and finish and the intricate engraving are matched by the kind of perfect ergonomics and handling Italian gun makers are famous for the world over. Each Guerini gun is a work of art that is perfectly functional for sportsmen. The company now makes shotguns for legendary sporting outfitters Orvis, a testament to their worth.

Their newest and most stunning model, the Apex, put in an appearance in our recent Fall Sporting Style feature. It has distinctly British lines with a classic Prince of Wales grip on oiled Turkish Circassian walnut and a trim, rounded fore-end, with a revolutionary new full-length trigger guard. The action is embellished with full-coverage engraving that incorporates no fewer than four different techniques; the hand work and design are from the studios of the world renowned Italian engraving house Bottega Incisioni C. Giovanelli. And most importantly it shoots like a dream. Small wonder the gun was named Outdoor Life Magazine's Editors Choice. Not bad for a company started from the ground up in 2002.

Another much-lauded Guerini model is the Maxum, a true collector grade shotgun featuring deep relief floral scroll hand finished engraving on the receiver, side plates, and forearm assembly. An elegant coin finish complements the strikingly detailed classic style engraving. A deluxe grade of Turkish walnut, featuring precision cut, fines 26 lines-per-inch checkering and a natural oil finish, is hand rubbed to a stunning sheen. You can see both the Apex and Maxum in the gallery. The company also now has a custom shop in its Cambridge, Maryland, headquarters, offering services such as gun fittings and custom stock finishing.

Gallery: Caesar Guerini Shotguns

Target modelsApexApex in the fieldMaxum


We had the pleasure of meeting Wes Lang, president of Guerini U.S.A., at the recent Orvis Cup sporting event sponsored by Barbour at the Orvis Sandanona Shooting Grounds in Millbrook, New York. "We are like you, avid shooters and hunters," Wes says. "The passion for fine shotguns and the related activities influences many of our decisions. Our goal is to produce the very best shotguns possible at a price that makes your purchase a good investment. We constantly strive to manufacture shotguns that we enjoy shooting and we want to share the results of our passion for finely crafted and highly functional shotguns with all of our customers. Providing exemplary customer service to anyone who owns a Caesar Guerini is our mandate as well. When you own one of our shotguns you become part of a family - our family - and it's our goal to treat you that way."

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]]> Barbour Caesar Guerini CaesarGuerini gun Italy Orvis shotgun sporting Jared Paul Stern Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[The Luxist Awards for Best Accessories]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=c271ea8eb6b394737a07173052314515 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/the-luxist-awards-for-best-accessories/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/the-luxist-awards-for-best-accessories/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/the-luxist-awards-for-best-accessories/#comments
Do you know of a magnificent jewelry line with pieces that are to die for? Which is the finest watch line in the world? Which designer creates the the most exquisite leather goods line? Which department store or boutique is the premier destination for those in search of the highest of quality? Which clothing designer is fashion's finest? If you have opinions about who are the premier creators and carriers of the finest luxury goods there are to be had, we want to hear from you!

The Luxist Readers' Choice Awards for Best Accessories will be awarded based on your nominations and voting. We're currently seeking nominations for the best-of-breed in the following categories:

Best Jewelry Line
Best Watch Line
Best Leather Goods Line
Best Department Store or Boutique
Best Clothing Line

Submit your comments below about your favorite luxury goods and we will compile a list of those that are the most popular, along with related articles. One nomination per category, please. Submissions can be filed until December 15th, 2009.

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]]> accessories-award accessories-main awards-main luxist-awards Carrie Coolidge Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[How To Be Fabulous with Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=2c25c89328ce2c50cff1737c8478b116 http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/how-to-be-fabulous-with-jonathan-adler-and-simon-doonan/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/how-to-be-fabulous-with-jonathan-adler-and-simon-doonan/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/23/how-to-be-fabulous-with-jonathan-adler-and-simon-doonan/#comments At the recent Moth Ball this week the fabulous men-about-town Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan were on hand to present the annual $5000 MothShop scholarship. The recipient, New York City high school student Terrence Buckner, told a wise beyond his years story on his struggles with coming out in his rough Brooklyn neighborhood. Doonan shared his own story of pretending to be straight in front of an immigration officer in the 70s, for the purposes of obtaining a work visa.

The master designer and Barneys Creative Director have been longtime supporters of the Moth, a nonprofit dedicated to the art of storytelling. We caught up with the couple at the event to find out why they love the organization so much. Read on in our exclusive interview to find out their advice for having an unforgettable holiday, just how recession-proof is Barneys, and just what they'll never be caught dead leaving home without.

Ariston Anderson: Why are you such big supporters of the Moth?

Jonathan Adler: I love, love the organization. It is so creative and fun and interesting. I go to fancy-schmancy events and sort of like they all are just boring. And the Moth is quite the opposite. It's fascinating and fun. I love them. It's the only thing on my calendar that I'm not dreading. It's the one sort of shining star on my Blackberry.

Simon Doonan: I love the Moth because I guess I'm just a Chatty Cathy and I love the idea of telling stories. It's just so well organized. It's always entertaining. Like when you go out in New York to a lot of events there's no content. But when you come to a Moth event you actually come away with a lot of thought provoking ideas and stories. And of course a lot of humor as well as serious stuff. So yeah, it puts some content into the New York scene, so I love that.

AA: How important is storytelling in design work?

JA: That's actually a great question. I am really focused on narrative in my work. Definitely in decorating I always try to start a creative narrative. The narrative usually involves trying to make my clients seem a little more eccentric, and a little more glamorous than they might actually be.

AA: Simon, have you had to alter any of window displays at Barneys because of the recession?

SD: At Barneys, I always made stuff out of found objects and I always recycle things. The windows at Barneys are always very crafty, and they were always about paper-mâché and finding things in the street. At Barneys, paradoxically, we have a very recession-proof point-of-view because it was never about sort of opulence or bling. It was always kind of subtle and sort of crafty.

AA: Last year, you were advocating the cape here. Are capes still in?

SD: Capes? Everything is in. That's the thing, nothing ever goes out of style anymore. All trends concurrently exist. In this room somebody is probably rocking every trend known to mankind.

AA: What tips do you have for having a fabulous holiday party this season?

SD: For an amazing holiday party, I think there's no such thing as being overdressed. You know, if you feel like wearing a full-length ballgown, just wear it. People worry too much about being event-appropriate. It's much better to be overdressed. As Andy Warhol said, it's much better to be the right thing in the wrong place. You always have fun if you do the right thing in the wrong place.

JA: I think that everyone should have Lee Press On Nails for every guest. It could turn a business meeting into a party.

AA: Have you ever worn them yourself?

JA: I have. (Laughs) But only in the context of a party. It's not an everyday thing.

SD: I think if you want to have a fabulous holiday this season, buy a feather boa. Nothing makes you feel bubbly and vivacious like a feather boa. It's very glam rock.

AA: What are some luxuries you can't live without?

SD: Well Johnny and I have a condo, down in Palm Beach. So we love to go down there and run on the beach and frolic during cold winter weekends. So that's a real self-indulgent luxury. Other than that, no drugs. You know, I'm on a natural high. I don't have an expensive drug habit. And I'm so small I would love to buy clothes all the time, but I can't find things that fit me because I'm a midget.

JA: You know what I can't live without is my pill keychain. My enamel pill keychain. It's in the shape of a pill, and it also functions as a little pillbox. So it holds three pills, just an emergency supply, so that's my most essential item.

AA: What's in your pillbox?

JA: Xanax, xanax, and xanax.

Continue reading How To Be Fabulous with Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan

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]]> barneys jonathan adler JonathanAdler moth ball MothBall simon doonan SimonDoonan Ariston Anderson Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:01:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[9ff Speed9 Takes the 911 Turbo to the Next Level]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=996a653e16c0a64694d9730db7366ecd http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/22/9ff-speed9-takes-the-911-turbo-to-the-next-level/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/22/9ff-speed9-takes-the-911-turbo-to-the-next-level/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/22/9ff-speed9-takes-the-911-turbo-to-the-next-level/#comments

A Porsche is special enough for most, but for those looking for a bit more, there is no shortage of German tuners that specialize in Zuffenhausen's finest who'll be glad to bring it to the next level. Arguably foremost among them is 9ff, the relatively new outfit that made its mark with the record-breaking GT9.

With the Essen aftermarket tuner show coming up next weekend, 9ff has prepared the new Speed9. Based on the latest 911 Turbo convertible, the Speed9 sacrifices its rear seats for a slick profile evocative of the iconic 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster, with enough ground effects to match. Naturally 9ff hasn't stopped at looks alone, boosting the twin-turbo engine up from 473 horsepower to a shocking 650. No official word on price or performance, but you can expect both to exceed expectations.

Gallery: 9ff Speed9

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9ff Speed9 Takes the 911 Turbo to the Next Level originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> 911 911 turbo 911Turbo 997 997 turbo 997Turbo 9ff 9ff porsche 9ff speed 9 9ffPorsche 9ffSpeed9 essen essen motor show EssenMotorShow porsche porsche 911 porsche 911 turbo porsche 997 turbo Porsche911 Porsche911Turbo Porsche997Turbo speed 9 Speed9 Noah Joseph Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:02:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[Gancio Esotico Shoulder Bag, Handbag of the Day]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=09bfa6c70e71696261b6c7cf5aab63bc http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/22/gancio-esotico-shoulder-bag-handbag-of-the-day/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/22/gancio-esotico-shoulder-bag-handbag-of-the-day/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/22/gancio-esotico-shoulder-bag-handbag-of-the-day/#comments
A mix of worn-out looking and brand new, this Gancio Esotico Shoulder Bag by Salvatore Ferragamo functions as both a unique eye-catching accessory and a fairly timeless staple. Waxed python leather makes for an interesting texture and pattern on the body of the bag with fondente brown leather trim adding a pulled-together and finished look. Goldtone hardware in all the usual places plus a large gold ring/Gancini bit detail on the front and smaller rings used to attach the shoulder straps. Overall a very cute yet sophisticated bag, $2,390.

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Gancio Esotico Shoulder Bag, Handbag of the Day originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> handbag handbag of the day HandbagOfTheDay handbags Salvatore Ferragamo SalvatoreFerragamo Rigel Celeste Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:03:00 EST Luxist <![CDATA[9½-Foot Swarovski Star To Adorn Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree]]> http://feeds.luxist.com/click.phdo?i=76834be48c6309696fa5edc5a865fb2f http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/22/9-foot-swarovski-star-to-adorn-rockefeller-center-christmas-tre/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/22/9-foot-swarovski-star-to-adorn-rockefeller-center-christmas-tre/ http://www.luxist.com/2009/11/22/9-foot-swarovski-star-to-adorn-rockefeller-center-christmas-tre/#comments 9½-Foot Swarovski Star To Adorn Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Too much Swarovski is never enough, especially during the holidays, when we all want sparkle. And during the holidays in New York City, the most popular sparkle can be found at Rockefeller Center, where each year gaggles of locals as well as tourists stop by to view the Christmas tree, which has been topped by a Swarovski star each year since 2004.

This year's star is 9&frac12; feet in diameter, 1&frac12; feet in depth, weighs a whopping 550 pounds, and comprises 25,000 crystals with 1,000,000 facets. The star is high-tech and low-cost (energy-wise): It has enhancements such as a new cutting-edge computerized lighting system and energy-efficient LED bulbs. The star's 12 rays are outfitted with 720 bulbs on 3,000 feet of wire to create a twinkling effect through customized light sequencing programmed by a complex computer system.

Rockefeller Center officially began the Tree Lighting Ceremony in 1933, when a Christmas tree was erected in front of the then-RCA Building and covered with 700 lights. This is the first year, however, that the Swarovski star will feature dynamic light movement. A team of nine artisans and engineers spent three months (1,200 hours) installing, programming, and testing the star to ensure the effects would withstand the challenging winter weather conditions 76 feet above Rockefeller Center.

A replica of the Swarovski Star will be on display in Rockefeller Center to allow visitors to get a closer view of the detailing and craftsmanship. Swarovski is even offering a selection of star-themed holiday jewelry and ornaments on sale at the Swarovski holiday kiosk at Rockefeller Center, at Swarovski boutiques nationwide, and online.

The 77th Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, December 2, from 7-9 p.m. The ceremony will be televised live, locally on WNBC-TV from 7-8 p.m. and nationally on NBC from 8-9 p.m. Spectators can view the lighted tree each day from 5:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.; all day (24 hours) on Christmas Day; and from 5:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. on New Year's Eve. The last day to view the tree is January 7, 2010.

Sources: LuxuryLaunches.com and PR Newswire

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9½-Foot Swarovski Star To Adorn Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> Christmas holiday New York New York City NewYork NewYorkCity NYC Swarovski swarovski crystals SwarovskiCrystals Lisa Palladino Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST Luxist