Michael Phelps' Pal

In addition to winning all those gold medals in Beijing, could Michael Phelps also have gotten a case of yellow fever? Perhaps the sight of all those lovely ceremony girls finally got to him since some are speculating that his recent love interest could be this sexy Asian Las Vegas cocktail waitress. If so, we salute you (again) Michael Phelps.

Heroes at the Oberoi and Taj

Watching the tragedy unfold in Mumbai this past week brought out feelings of sadness for the victims and anger at those cowards who would perpetrate such a heinous crime. What reminds us of the humanity that still exists are the various stories of heroism that is slowly starting to come out. In addition to the bravery and sacrifice of the Indian military and police force that battled the terrorists for over sixty hours, there are numerous accounts of hotel personnel including chefs, maintenance personnel and wait staff who went well above and beyond their duties to not only protect their guests but unbelievably continue to provide food and drinks when possible. Below are excerpts from a recent Reuters report describing some of the incredible tales of heroism:

"He looked young and did not speak to us. He just fired. We were in sort of a single file," Mangeshikar, a 52-year-old gynecologist, told Reuters. "The man in front of my wife shielded us. He was a maintenance section staff. He took the bullets." Within seconds after Mangeshikar's family was saved from the bullets, the guests made a dash for the hotel rooms to hide. Mangeshikar and a few others dragged the wounded hotel employee identified only as "Mr. Rajan" into one of the rooms. "His intestine was a lump hanging from a gaping hole in his abdomen," he said. "The bullet had entered him from close to the spine." For the next 12 hours, Mangeshikar and other guests surrounded the wounded man trying to push back his intestines with bedsheets and stop the bleeding. He was finally evacuated, but it was not known if he survived. "The hotel staff has been very, very brave," Mangeshikar said. "Hats off to them."

Many evacuees from the hotel hailed the bravery of the staff. "Just imagine, they even served us food the first few hours," said a hotel guest, who did not wish to be named. "Only when the kitchens became out of bounds did they express regret for not being able to serve us food." One person recounted how Taj staff stopped panicky guests from rushing into the lobby where militants could have shot them. "They were brilliant," Bhisham Mansukhani told the Mail Today. "If they hadn't kept their cool, many more lives would have been lost." The wife and children of the Taj's general manager who lived on the hotel premises were killed in the attacks. Witnesses said many trainee chefs had been killed in the kitchen of the Taj. Mangeshikar said that, but for the courage of Mr. Rajan, his wife and daughter could have been dead. "I'm going out today to the hospital to find out what happened to him," he said. "I owe it to that brave man."

Ultimately, no one will know what would drive a bunch of men in their prime to take so many innocent lives. But truthfully, fuck them. What is more important is to grieve the dead, honor the heroes, and support the city of Mumbai and make sure those extremists realize that they, and all their terrorist cohorts will forever be relegated to the darkest corners of this world and the next.

Support Mumbai and book a stay at The Oberai or The Taj in 2009.

Harry Winston Online

Gentlemen, there is bling, and then there is bling from Harry Winston. If you're looking for something special for that lovely lady in your life this holiday season, whether it be your baby's mama or in Crew Member Tandori's case, whatever luscious eye candy got wind of his net worth, consider getting her some jewelry from Harry Winston. The renowned jeweler has recently started to offer jewelry from their impressive collection online. Here you'll find beautiful and expensive diamond-crusted pieces including this necklace from their sunflower collection which is covered in almost 26 carats of diamonds and is available for a mere $135,000. Tandori: if you decide to by the necklace, we hope she's worth the price of a Maserati Gran Turismo S.

via luxist.com

Business Class to Europe from $999

If you're looking to head over to Europe in style, check out this great Thanksgiving sale by British Airways that we found on concierge.com. Travel to London and other European cities on BA's Club World Business Class starting at $999 each way or First Class at $1998 each way. You need to book by December 1, 2008 and travel between December 2, 2008 and March 22, 2009. Go to britishairways.com to book your flight.

BOSS Orange Jester Jacket

You’ve got to love these holiday sales. I’ve been eyeing this Boss Orange Jester jacket for a while and I just found it on sale at bloomingdales.com for $416.50, a 40 percent savings off its original $595 price. In addition, you get a $50 gift card for spending over $250. I think I know what I’ll be getting myself for an early Christmas present.

Luxe Deals From Travel & Leisure

Hyatts at 21 percent off
A few weeks back, Hyatt Hotels had a special sale offering 21 percent off the best available rate for bookings made by November 5. Now Hyatt has revived that promotion; in North America, the 21%-off deal applies for bookings made from December 1 to December 12, good for stays through February 1. For the U.S., Caribbean and Canada, it’s valid at Hyatt brands including Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place, and Hyatt Summerfield Suites - but not Park Hyatts (except the one in Beaver Creek, Colo.). Elsewhere in the world, it’s good at Park Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, and Grand Hyatt hotels with a seven-day advance booking, also for stays through February 1. The deal requires full, non-refundable prepayment at the time of booking.

Suite upgrade for $25 or 25 percent discount at Omni Hotels
Need a weekend getaway for some holiday shopping? Omni Hotels, which has 43 upscale properties around North America, will give you a 25% discount off its usual leisure rates, or an upgrade to a suite for $25 a night, if you stay at least two nights over a weekend from now through January 4. Rates vary based on hotel selection and dates of stay, but they start at $139 a night, double; the offer requires non-refundable prepayment. Ask for the “Sugar and Spice” special. (For New Year’s Eve, Omni properties have a “French Kiss” plan starting at $339 that includes an overnight stay, dinner for two, a bottle of champagne, breakfast in bed, and late checkout.)

Transcontinental first-class seats from $656
United Airlines is having a late-year sale on first- and business-class travel for coast-to-coast flights. The fares require a 10-day advance purchase, a two-night or Saturday night minimum stay, and they are non-refundable and can’t be changed. They’re not good for travel December 2-16, and all travel must be finished by January 2. The fares are for business class travel between JFK and Los Angeles or San Francisco, or Washington Dulles and LAX or SFO, and for first class in other markets. Sample one-way fares include $656 between Baltimore and Los Angeles, $719 between Newark and Los Angeles, $769 from Washington, D.C. to LAX, and $769 between Washington, D.C. and Seattle.

Billionaire's Wife

So what do you do if you're a Russian tycoon and just married yourself a former supermodel? Well if you're Sergei Rodionov, you ask your not-so-blushing bride Olga to do an erotic photo shoot with acclaimed French photographer Bettina Rheims. While the naughty pics were initially meant for his own personal enjoyment, Comrade Rodinionov thought so highly of the resulting spread that he decided to put the pictures in a special edition book to share with the rest of the world. If you want to catch more of Mrs. Rodionov in all her delicious glory, go to taschen.com or you can save 10 bucks off the $500 retail price and pick yourself a lovely gift for the holidays at amazon.com.

While the concept of pimping out your nude wife for the world to see may seem a bit...ummm...sleazy, I have to admit I'd probably do the same thing if my future ex-wife would oblige.

Mondrian Miami

Last week, we reported on Morgans Hotel Group's big 'ol FUCK YOU to recession. Well help the screwage by taking advantage this great deal on the Mondrian Miami that we found on travelzoo.com. The newly opened hotel is offering Studio rooms for $195 with complimentary upgrades to a Deluxe Studio. This is $300 cheaper than comparable rooms in South Beach during this time of the year. Book through travelzoo.com by December 3.

California Configurator

We spent this past Sunday at the Los Angeles Auto Show making our wish list of cars to buy for when this craptastic economy rebounds. One of the stars of the show is the Ferrari California, which in real life looks just as stunning as in the pictures. While we were jealous of the shady looking teenager and his impossibly hot girlfriend who were inspecting the California and other Ferraris up close and personal - a privilege only given to "current clients" - we were dreaming of how our own future California would look. Mine would probably be the drop-top version in black on black with 19-inch "diamond" rims. Crew Member Tandori would probably choose gold or something tacky like that. Lucky for us, we can see how the car will look before we place our deposit with Ferrari's cool online configurator where we can change colors, trim and wheels on a virtual California. And since the waiting list for a California goes out to 2011, we'll have plenty of time to choose that perfect color combination.

via autoblog.com

Nude Investment

With the stock market dropping like a big fat turd everyday, you must be scratching your head trying to figure out where to invest your hard earned dollars. Well instead of ETF's or mutual funds, may we suggest another more arousing investment option: nude art. Luxist.com reports that Christie's will be holding a photo sale on November 26 in London where you can bid on great photos including this semi-nude photo of Kate Moss by photographer Tesh (single name) which is expected to go for between $1,500-$2,000. That's a pretty good bargain and will probably out perform that worthless company stock you own. Other photos to go on sale include those of Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.

Tundra Ducati Desmosedici Transporter

This Trackday Transporter is something for Crewmember Drewsky who is the proud owner of two track-ready Ducatis. Based on the Toyota Tundra CrewMax, the transporter features a stretched 6.5-foot bed with storage options for track day support. The truck's color scheme is tied thematically to the Ducati Desmosedici RR, which is the only street legal MotoGP on the market today. Go to ducatiusa.com to learn more.

Five Diamond Winners

Earning a AAA Five Diamond designation is a real big deal. Only 103 hotels and 59 restaurants have what it takes to garner the award, representing the top 0.28 percent of all rated hotels and restaurants in the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. AAA recently announced their 2009 winners which includes six new hotel additions: The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows (Beverly Hills, CA), Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village (Westlake Village, CA), The Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach (Manalapan, Florida), InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta (Atlanta, Georgia), and Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis (St. Louis, Missouri).

via aluxurytravelblog.com

Sexiest Woman Alive?

Ummm...sorry E! Television, but we respectfully disagree. Yes, model Karolina Kurkova is lovely but the world's sexiest woman? We don't think so. In fact, we sorta disagree with the rest of your list:

1. Karolina Kurkova
2. Bar Rafaeli - Pretty hot, but #2???
3. Angelina Jolie - For some reason she seems like she would have B.O.
4. Gisele Bundchen - Overrated
5. Scarlett Johansson - Should be closer to #10
6. Adriana Lima - HOT
7. Heidi Klum - Past her prime
8. Penelope Cruz - She was with Tom Cruise...nuff said
9. Manuela Arcuri - We had to Google her...ok, she's pretty hot
10. Shakira - Can you say Butherface?

Women who we thing should have been on the list: Brooke Burke, Maggie Q, Megan Fox, Olga Kurylenko...the list goes on and on. Let us know what you think.

via yahoo.com

Make Your Girl Happy, Save Some Kids

Update 11/23: While we love watching Rihanna in all her loveliness in the promotional video below promoting the special-edition bag for UNICEF, we really dig the chill guitar soundtrack in the video. Thanks luxuo.com.

For the fourth year in a row, Gucci has created a special-edition bag as part of its support for UNICEF. This year's bag is a special white version of its Tattoo Heart Collection. Gucci's creative director Frida Giannini says:

"I love the idea of a heart being tattooed onto the handbags, it's a permanent mark that you can wear with pride that stays with you. I think that represents very well what we are doing here. This is not a one-off programme, but rather an ongoing commitment to the incredible work that UNICEF is able to achieve. It's really our chance to give back."

25 percent of sales between now and January 31, 2009 will go to UNICEF. Go to gucci.com to learn more.

via vogue.co.uk

Luxe Travel Deals from Perfect Escapes

Sofitel St James, London - From £140 per night
Take up residence at this capital landmark and enjoy a special rate with room upgrades and other posh perks.

Rancho Bernardo Inn, San Diego - From $249 per night
Escape to sun-drenched California with a $50 daily resort credit, full breakfast, valet parking, and more.

The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, Wailea - From $450 per night
Book your escape to this all-suites resort and get a room upgrade, late check-out, and other exclusive perks.

Las Ventanas al Paraiso, San Jose del Cabo - From $500 per night
Escape to this 5-star Rosewood Resort and enjoy a luxurious room, daily breakfast, and margaritas.

F*ck the Recession

Fuck the Recession. Fuck it hard, call it an ugly whore, then kick it out of bed. That's what we think of the current global malaise that is turning everyone into cheap, frugal bastards and that is why we were thrilled to see the latest guerrilla marketing campaign by Morgans Hotel Group. If you're not familiar with MHG, you surely know about their luxe hotel properties including the Mondrian in Los Angeles and the Delano in Miami. In addition to operating some of the sexiest destinations in the world, or maybe because of it, MHG is leading the defense of the good life in the face of shrinking balance sheets and calls for moderation. It is a battle that we think is well worth fighting.

Unfortunately for MHG, all the major media outlets found their F-bomb campaign to be a bit inappropriate so you won't be seeing their "Fuck the Recession" ads or this clever open letter to Recession in any of your favorite rages. Fortunately, we don't answer to a bunch of pussies so we're happy to publish MHG's ad in all its offensive glory. "Whatever to defiance?", asks MHG. Well, we're happy to report that it's alive and kicking here at G Luxe.

Go to recessison.com to see the rest of their campaign.

Tonino Lamborghini Horn Pendant

Are you a fan of Lambos but haven't accumulated enough scratch to buy your very own Murcielago? Baby steps my friend. Why not start with this gorgeous horn pendant by Tonino Lamborghini made of polished and etched sterling silver featuring a subtle signature. You can purchase at forzieri.com for $223.

Vegas Penthouse

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, which we read religiously, Penthouse is looking to expand their erotica empire by buying some property in Las Vegas. And why not. With real estate values plummeting, it's likely that they'll find themselves some good values. And with the oasis in the desert slowly returning to its Sin City roots, what better place for an adult-themed hotel than Las Vegas. According to Penthouse CEO Marc Bell, who has possibly one of the coolest executive jobs on the planet, the company plans on keeping the name of whichever hotel they end up buying while having a Penthouse themed casino and pool area. Penthouse Pet dealers and pool girls...how cool would that be? Our only suggestion to Mr. Bell is that they keep the luxe level high and NOT, we repeat NOT try to imitate the crap ass Hooters Hotel.

Blackberry Storm

Update 11/20: Check out the video review of the Storm below from the folks at gearlog.com.

There are lots of Blackberry haters out there. I'm not one of them. I have both a Palm Centro for personal shadiness and a Blackberry Curve that I use for work. While it's bulkier than many PDA's out there, I find it perfect for sending out scathing emails on the fly. Crew Member Tandori hates his "Crackberry" since it constantly reminds him of the...gasp...work he has to do once in a while to fund all his five-star vacations. The worst haters out there are all the Apple fanatics who swear by the iPhone's touchscreen design.

Well it looks like the fine folks at RIM have fired their first real shot in anger at the iPhone with their upcoming Blackberry Storm. Measuring 4.4 x 2.4 x 0.55 inches, the Storm will be about the same size as an iPhone and will be fully loaded with dual-mode CDMA and GSM, 3G capability, GPS, Bluetooth, and a 3.2 megapixel camera. The phone's showcase feature will be its 3.25 inch glass touchscreen display that will feature "Clickthrough" that lets users "distinctively feel the screen being pressed and released with a gentle click". That sounds like freaking genius to us.

The Storm is expected to be an exclusive offering of Verizon Wireless with a rumored price of $199 with a two-year agreement. Go to blackberry.com to read more.

Freida Pinto

There are some women that are so desperately beautiful that they turn the normally sane man into a driveling pseudo-stalker. Such is the case with up-and-coming Indian starlet Freida Pinto. This week her online buzz shot through the roof as hot-blooded males worldwide got wind of this beauty's terrific performance in an acclaimed Indie flick called Slumdog Millionaire. We vaguely know that the movie is a love story about some guy and the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, but honestly the only reason we're going to add this flick to our Blockbuster queue is because of Ms. Pinto.

Message to Crewmember Tandori: Stop putzing around and find yourself a girl like Freida Pinto.

XIKAR Xi Ultra Slim Cigar Cutter

As cigar smokers, we can't have too many cigar cutters. Just like with ashtrays, I personally try to have cutters spread around my pad so that I don't need to take more than a few steps before I can find one. I think my my collection will grow by one after seeing this Xi Ultra Slim cigar cutter by XIKAR. Featuring the company's iconic teardrop shape, the cutter is also extremely thin measuring only 3.5mm thick which is the thickness of credit cards. You can purchase at onthefly.com for $50.

via acquiremag.com

Travel & Leisure Luxe Deals

Here are a few luxury travel deals from Travel & Leisure:

Five-star Barcelona hotel from $219
Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I in Barcelona is a five-star property and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World that presents itself as sort of an urban resort, surrounded by well-tended gardens—although it’s in the heart of the city. And this winter, it has a three-for-two offer, with a third night free when you pay regular rates for two. It’s good for stays from December 4 through January 20. With the discount, the average nightly cost over three nights starts at 175 euros, or abut $219.

$300 credit at brand new Scottsdale resort and spa
The giant InterContinental Hotels & Resorts group has just opened its newest U.S. property—the 34-acre InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona’s Paradise Valley. Accommodations range from guest rooms to suites to single-family detached villas, and every room has niceties like flat-screen TVs, WiFi, stocked minibars, feather beds and dual showerheads. Rates start at $295 a night, double, but through January, the hotel is offering a credit of $300 to guests who stay three or more nights. The credit can be applied to charges at the resort’s Joya Spa, its six restaurants, or anywhere else on the property.

25 percent off everything at Palm Springs boutique hotel
Time for a desert getaway? Southern California’s Viceroy Palm Springs hotel has just the ticket: Its “Breathe Easy” package, available from now until June, lets you save 25 percent—not just off the best available room rate, but also off spa services and food and beverage purchases (except the minibar in your room) when you stay midweek (Sunday-Thursday). You’ll also have access to free wellness programs, bicycles, and Internet access. The rate requires full prepayment, and it’s non-refundable. Rates start as low as $149 with the promotion.

IWC Auction

It's always good to do a little good while getting your luxe on. We found out on superluxuryblog.com that Swiss watchmaker IWC is holding a special auction on its website from December 8-14 where they'll be offering two special items for sale. The first is a platinum version of the Pilot's Watch UTC Edition Antoine de Saint Exupery and the second is a signed copy of Saint Exupery's Wind, Sand, and Stars. The proceeds from the sale will benefit the Sipar Association which is a non-profit dedicated to wiping out illiteracy in Cambodia. Bids will start at $39,000.

Sexiest Video of the Year

Here's why we love Jimmyjane: they make "adult" toys but package the entire experience in such a sexy way that only the most demure of girlfriends or wives would not enjoy receiving one of their playthings.

Jimmyjane has recently collaborated with Dave Stewart, who co-founded the 75 million album-selling band Eurythmics with Annie Lennox, to create a promotional music video for the company's Little Something vibrators. These special edition toys are adorned with the handwritten chorus from the video's song, "Let's Do It Again". Not only is the song pretty good, but we think the video is one of the sexiest of the year. Check out the short version below or the full, uncensored version at jimmyjane.com to see if you agree.

Winter Special at One & Only Palmilla

We really enjoyed our stay at the ME Cabo this past October when we partied it up for Cabo Smoke and the Pimp N Ho Costume Ball down in Cabo San Lucas. However, if you're in the mood for something more serene, consider staying at the exclusive One & Only Palmilla in San Jose del Cabo. Unlike some of the other "wannabes", the Palmilla is legit when it comes to luxury accommodations. While rooms are definitely pricey, we found this grate promotion at hotelchatter.com where you can save 30 percent off their regular rates. Considering rooms typically go for $650 and above, that's a pretty good discount.

Gucci Loafers

I need a new pair of black loafers and I'm thinking about picking up a pair of these from Gucci. Made of fine Italian leather and featuring a double "G" ornament, these loafers would be perfect for that slim two-button suit. You can pre-order a pair at saksfifthavenue.com for $495.

Portable Wine

Wine in aluminum bottles? Our resident wine guy Shadinsky would be appalled. Or maybe not. The concept make sense: why not bottle up some good bordeaux in portable, recyclable containers that you can take with you to concerts, picnics, and sporting events? Started by four friends who met while living in France, Volute Wine offers three variations of bordeaux - a red, white, and rose - all contained in a 6.3oz, shatter-proof and eco-friendly aluminum bottle that's ideal for a little sippy sippy on the go. You can pick some up at Bay Area retailers, or you can order them directly from volutewine.com for 4 bucks a bottle.

Bond's Shades

After months of waiting, I finally saw Quantum of Solace with a couple friends this past weekend. While we were split on what we thought of the movie - I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially every scene with the lovely Olga Kurylenko while my buddies thought there wasn't enough of a story - we all agreed that the shades Bond was sporting were pretty pimp. It turns out that Tom Ford, who provided Jame's suave suits, was also the purveyor of his eye wear. If you want to grab a pair of your own, you can buy these limited-edition aviator style glasses for $349 at eyegoodies.com.

via luxist.com

Hottest CEO?

At the ripe old age of 25, Christina Garcia is the Co-Founder and CEO of iCHOOZ.tv, an online destination where aspiring performers showcase their skills for fans and industry types. Now, of course in today's Internet age, almost anyone can call themselves a CEO - hell, I guess I'm the CEO of G Luxe - but iCHOOZ.com appears to a real on-going concern with prime-time corporate partners. What really makes this Filipina something special is that in addition to being an entrepreneur, she's damn sexy. She's also a bit of an Internet sensation with a couple of high profile Q&A's on askmen.com and asylum.com, What we find particularly amusing is that our 43 year-old Filipino friend Jesuel has been saying how he wanted to start an online talent site, kinda like American Idol on the Web. Yet, while he did nothing but jibber-jabber about what he wanted to do, Ms. Garcia went out and actually did it. Kudos to you Christina.

Personalize your Louis V

Alright Louis Vuitton fans, now you can customize that favorite LV bag of yours with their complimentary personalization service. Bring your item to a participating Louis Vuitton store and they will emboss your initials with their hot stamping service. Go to louisvuitton.com to see which items are available for personalization. Hmmm...I wonder if they'll emboss J.A.B.A.

Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85

We’re pretty excited about the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show that will be taking place at the LA Convention Center from November 21-30. We’re most excited about the introduction of Spyker’s latest exotic offering, the C8 Laviolette LM85, which was inspired by Spyker’s GT2 class racing cars. The LM85 is a mid-engine, two-seat monster that features an all aluminum body and an Audi 4.2 Liter V8 engine that produces 400 brake horsepower. The aesthetics of the car is admittedly unique – you’ll either love it or hate it – but we think the funky burnt almond orange paintjob and black powder coated allow wheels will look good speeding through downtown LA. If you’re one of the lucky 24 who will have the opportunity (and the balance sheet) to purchase an LM85, you’ll also receive a gorgeous special edition Spyker Chronoswiss 24H Pilot Watch and an invitation to a VIP Hospitality weekend at the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans. Go to spykercars.com to learn more.

Cheap People Piss Us Off

Here is a real email I had to send to a (still employed) Wall Street friend of ours who despite making half-a-mil a year, wouldn’t pull the trigger on a $200 Xbox 360 purchase because of the cost. Instead, we had to ask a bunch of middle-class working stiffs who make a whole lot less than $500K to pitch in a couple of bucks so that we can buy this Rockefeller his own Xbox. And you wonder why we’re in a mother-f’ing recession.

Dear Sunny,

We know in these tough economic times, life is hard for a young Wall Street wheeler and dealer like yourself. Bonuses are probably only 1-2x salary. Rolexes might have to be downgraded to Omegas. Instead of buying those Zegna suits at Sak’s, a decent Brooks Brothers two-button might have to do. The horror…

Your friends at [XXXX] understand. That is why we have all pitched in to buy you that Xbox 360 that you’ve always wanted. We know that the $217 price tag of the Xbox (including tax) would have put a significant dent into your steakhouse budget. And while all of us at [XXXX] make a fraction of what you make, we all live like paupers so we can afford such charitable activities.

Since we all love you/want to mock you in varying degrees, here are all who donated and our contribution amounts:

Joel - $10
Gian - $5
Karla - $10
Shad - $30
Doug - $2
Ed - $5 (yes, feel free to mock him back)
Donna - $3
Cage - $10
Rayford - $10 (didn’t you give him work, I think he should add a zero to his donation amount)
Chuck - $10
Tandori - $5
Norlynn - $5
Jaba – The balance (95% mockery, 5% love)

Admittedly there were others who are either a) too cheap, or b) really don’t like you, who refused to even give a freaking buck. Im hoping they get Project Aligned real soon.

The Xbox should arrive at your office next week. Once you get it, we better see you online. And if you complain about the $50 Xbox live subscription, we’re going to start sending you more illicit items to your office place. I dare you to call my bluff.

Love,
Jaba

Samsonite Black Label Trunk Original

Looking to take that long, globe-trekking adventure? Well make sure to do it in style, and stylish you will be when you pack your travel accessories in this Samsonite Black Label “Trunk Original” that is a re-issue of their original trunk from the twenties. The luggage is available in either black or white and is exclusively available at French retailer Colette for about $640.

via selectism.com

Third Night Free at Four Seasons

In our humble opinion, Four Seasons Hotels are the only places in America where you can consistently get top-notch service. Seriously. Think about the last high-end hotel you stayed at or the first-class upgrade you got on the last flight. You can't honestly tell us the service was anything to write home about. Fortunately for you, we're in a recession and what does a recession mean? Great deals on four and five-star hotels including The Four Seasons, which is offering a third night free at select hotels from now through March 2009. Read more at travelandleisure.com.

Macallan Fine Oak 21 Limited Edition Bottle

For those of you scratching your heads trying to figure out what to get Dear 'Ol Dad this Christmas, consider getting him one of twenty-one limited edition bottles of Macallan Fine Oak 21 Year Old Scotch Whiskey commissioned by the fine folks at For Scotch Lovers. Not much needs to be said about the liquor itself, but what makes this gift worth the $2500 price tag is the bottle which is engraved with an image of a bald eagle by glass artists Carol Iselin and Dave Sugar of Inner Light Crystal Studios. Other bottles created by ILC have commanded top-dollar at auctions including the Napa Valley Wine Auction and the Wine Spectator Auction. With your purchase, you'll also get a pair of CelticMalts Spirits Glasses and a certificate of authenticity signed by the artists. Go to forscotchlovers.com to order Pop's his very own bottle.

Flip Mino HD

Fellas, the next time your little lady agrees to pull a Paris Hilton or Kim Kardashian by letting you film her in all her natural goodness, make sure to capture the magical moments in high-definition (it is almost 2009 for goodness sakes). The new Flip Mino HD would be a great camera for all of those Point of View shots since it weighs only a mere 3.3 ounces, making it the world's smallest HD camcorder. The Mino holds 60 minutes of HD-quality video on 4 GB of built-in memory and like all Flip cameras, the Mino features a convenient flip-out USB arm that plugs directly into your comuputer. The built-in FlipShare software enables you to easily organize, edit, customize, and upload your videos. Best of all, you can plug the Mino directly into your HDTV and playback at HD 720p (1280 x 720 resolution at 30 frames per second; 16:9 widescreen) video. Pick one up for $235.

via uncrate.com

Luxe for Less in San Diego

If you plan on visiting yours truly here in beautiful San Diego, check out these two great deals we found on a couple 4-star properties.

Manchester Grand Hyatt - $99 per night
TravelZoo.com is offering this great rate for stays between Nov. 23 to Dec. 30 (blackout dates are Dec 3-4), which is 45% off regular rates. I've stayed at this hotel a couple of times and I can tell you 99 bucks is an incredible rate. When booking your stay, make sure to use code: TVL213. Book by November 21.

Omni San Diego - $159 per night
The four-star Omni San Diego, located in the city’s lively and historic Gaslamp Quarter, has come out with a "Half-Price for the Holidays" package with savings of 50 percent, good for stays from November 20 through January 4. With a starting rate of $159 a night, double, it includes accommodations, valet parking, Starbucks coffee for two, and discount coupons at stores and restaurants within walking distance of the hotel. Go to travelandleisure.com for more information.

Mega Watches

I always love to tell people that the fact that I have big feet and big hands is proof that God has a sense of humor (let it sink in...get it?). If you've also got big 'ol paws like mine, you need to make sure that your watch is sufficiently large or else it may appear that you're wearing a ladies' timepiece - which wouldn't be a problem if you were actually a large woman. Regardless of your sex, if you're a high-roller in the market for a luxury watch, chances are you're looking for a Mega Watch, which is a term coined by duPont Registry publisher Tom duPont to describe limited-production oversized watches (44-47mm for men and 37-40mm for women) that retail for more than $60,000.

Despite the debacle going on in the financial markets, industry insiders like Corum President Michael Wunderman believe that Mega Watches are here to stay:

“Oversized watches are no longer only a trend or a gimmick,” says Wunderman. “It is what watches have become – bigger, stronger and more intricate in design. Less than 10 percent of people actually use the chronograph function on their watches, but complicated watches are dominating the mechanical watch market. Oversized designs allow for complex movements and robust construction with room for interesting design elements for the winding crowns and chronograph pushers using multiple materials and various surface finishing throughout.”

If you're in the market for a Mega Watch, keep an eye out for the second annual duPont Registry A Buyers Gallery of Fine Watches which features 44 pages of more than $1.5 million of rare watches, including:

IceLInk 6Timezone Snow - $290,000
Divided into six individual faces, the IceLInk 6Timezone Snow is separated into four dials displaying time zones, one the date and one full of floating diamonds set in a fluid called IceFuel, all of which are displayed within the 26-karat diamond-encrusted bezel that would make a breath-taking addition to any collectors’ watch box.

Franc Vila FVa No Cuatro - $265,000
Limited to only eight pieces, the intricate sapphire crystal features of the FVa No Cuatro timepiece blend beautifully into a skeleton watch that comes alive when the 18-karat gold “Esprit Unique” case begins to move.

Corum Golden Tourbillion Panoramique - $215,000
Innovative with cemented crystal walls and platinum casing, only five Corum Golden Tourbillion Panoramique units weighing a mere 120 grams will ever be produced.

Wempe Chonometerwerke - $110,500
Sleek and refined, the hand-made 152 components of this German timepiece were handmade by Thierry Albert and master watchmaker Daniel Malchert, and sure to dazzle with a mere 25 pieces ever to be produced worldwide.

Ulysse Nardin Sonata - $59,800
On a classic blue leather strap, the large faced Sonata displays not only a cathedral-type alarm, but also dual-time, big date and count down inside the 42mm, 18-karat white gold casing

Paul Smith Cuff Links

Just because you're now a high powered exec doesn't mean you can't add a little levity to your wardrobe. Next time you have that face-to-face M&A negotiation session, show off your inner-hippie by sporting these tie-dye cufflinks by Paul Smith. You'll trick the other side into thinking you're a pussy before you lay the hammer down. Pick up a pair at saksfifthavenue.com for $120.

Ferrari Scuderia Spider 16M

While Lewis Hamilton made history a couple of weeks ago and became the first non-white dude to win the F1 World Championship for McLaren, Ferrari still managed to win the highly-coveted Constructor's Championship over their arch-rival. To celebrate this victory, Ferrari has released this limited-edition Scuderia Spider 16M which provides the best features of both the 430 Scuderia and F430 Spider. Only 499 lucky bastards will have the opportunity to own this car. We hope Crewmember Tandori will be one of those lucky bastards.

via autoblog.com

The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

Between November 12-15, come visit me in lovely San Diego for The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival located at Marina Park near Seaport Village. The event will feature 150 of San Diego's best restaurants along with over 150 wineries showing off their best bottles. In addition, 15 top chefs will be offering cooking and wine classes. Tickets for the festival's finale, the Grand Tasting Event, cost $100 for pre-orders and $125 at the door. A couple of VIP packages are also available ranging from $340 to $700.

The W Hotel San Diego is offering their Yum Package where for $419 a night, you'll get:

- Two VIP tickets which includes early festival entry, VIP gift bag, and private VIP tent access
- Fruit and cheese plate, red wine, and basket of bread served in-room
- Priority dinner reservations in our signature restaurant Rice and a special amuse bouche by Executive Chef Vik

A two-night stay is required.

Sagatiba Pomegranate Mojito

Yes, we already miss summer. With those wonderful sunny days lounging by the pool sipping cool drinks behind us, all we can do is reminisce and hope we can fit in a tropical vacation sometime during the winter months. To get you through the cold winter days, we're providing you with the recipe to make yourself a Sagatiba Pomegranate Mojito. You'll need:

- 1.5 oz Sagatiba Pura
- half a fresh lime cut in 4 wedges
- 4 to 6 mint leaves
- 2 to 3 teaspoons of sugar
- 2 oz of pomegranate juice

Muddle the lime, mint and sugar. Add the Sagatiba, pomegranate juice and ice. Shake well and serve with a mint garnish. If this is too complicated for you, check out the instructional video below.

Favorite Bond Girl

Olga Kurylenko could well be our favorite Bond Girl of all time. Granted, we haven't actually seen her performance - gawd forbid we have a similar awful performance as Denise Richards as a nuclear scientist - but my goodness is Ms. Kurylenko hot. In the spirit of this amazing election season, you can now vote for your favorite Bond girl at men.style.com.

de Grisogono Lion Cufflinks

At G Luxe, we're always on the lookout for unique cufflinks, mostly because Crewmember Drewsky only wears French-cuffed shirts. We recently ran into this whimsical pair of lion cufflinks by de Grisogono. Made of 18K white gold with black diamond eyes, these cufflinks will provide a bit of boyish charm to your business wear. Pick up a pair at lussori.com for $6,400.

Heidi Klum Would Make the Perfect Girlfriend

Seal is one lucky bastard. Imagine having a supermodel girlfriend, who is fun, successful, and plays video games. Lucky bastard. Check out her sexy commercial for Guitar Hero below:

Bentley Humidor

If you're looking for the ultimate gift for the cigar aficionado that has everything, consider getting him this gorgeous humidor by Bentley. Made of fine walnut wood and measuring a spacious 15 x 9 x 7 inches, this elegant humidor also comes with a Credo humidifier to keep those cigars perfectly moistened. Just with everything made by Bentley, this future heirloom doesn't come cheap at $7,853. Purchase one at forzieri.com.

Double Cross Vodka

Purity is key when it comes to good vodka and the makers of the new Double Cross Luxury Vodka think they've got the ultimate filtration process with their diamond dust filtration system. Made in a small village of the Tatra Mountain Range in Slovakia (exotic locale is apparently another prerequisite for good vodka), Double Cross uses 100 percent organic winter wheat and mountain spring water that comes from aquifers 200 feet underground. According to luxist.com, the resulting product is "a clean, crisp vodka with hints of white pepper and lemon zest". And it comes in a really cool bottle. Go to doublecrossvodka.com to find your own bottle.

Juicy Couture Cuff Links

Show some juevos and sport a pair of these Juicy Couture cuff links at your next business meeting. Made of sterling silver and a mother-of-pearl inlay, the cufflinks feature a skull king on one and an ace of spades on the other. Purchase them at nordstrom.com for $95.

Red Butler

We used to have a friend, let's call him The Pod, who was the cheapest bastard on the planet. We finally booted him out of the group since we got sick of dealing with his frugal antics which included never bringing his wallet whenever we went out (so we would cover his portion and he would conveniently forget to pay us back), and breaking out coupons wherever we would go.

The one upside about having an uber-cheapo around is that we could use him as cheap labor. Need some food? Just promise The Pod that he could order the $1.99 special and he'll run and get food in the middle of the night. It was great to have our own personal bitch. Well now that The Pod is no longer around, we need someone else to handle our menial tasks.

Enter Red Butler. While they aren't available to go pick up Chinese food at midnight, they do provide a number of concierge and personal assistant services such as making reservations at that restaurant hot spot or booking a last minute flight to Hawaii. Unlike other services that charge by the hour, Red Butler has a flat monthly rate that entitles you to a set number of "requests". Every time you make a requests by phone, text, or email, a request credit gets deducted from your account. Service is available 24/7 by US-based individuals so you won't have someone from Bangalore accidentally booking you a flight to Tokyo when all you wanted was reservations for Nobu. Basic memberships costs $36.95 per month for 15 requests and VIP memberships will set you back $165.95 per month which gets you 100 requests. Along with your membership, you also get discounts to selected restaurants, bars, and stores simply by showing your personal Red Butler card.

So if you don't have your own Pod, get yourself some service at redbutler.com.

via thrillist.com

Burberry Crackled Sheepskin Coat

If you want to look like a Russian mobster, or simply Vin Diesel playing an undercover criminal infiltrating a Russian criminal organization (yes, that was a XXX reference), you'll need to get this crackled sheepskin coat by Burberry. Made in Italy of pure sheepskin, this coat will make you look like a G'd out badass. Of course, at almost $5,400, you may need to be either a Russian mobster or Vin Diesel to afford one.

Ecco Ultra Lounge

Proof that the Green Movement has gone a bit nutty, comes what may be the World's first Green night club: Ecco Ultra Lounge in Hollywood. So what makes a club Green? Well, they offer free valet for anyone driving a hybrid, all the drinks and food are likely organic and/or free-range, and much of the interior is made of recycled or eco-friendly materials.

Now we're all for being Green, but honestly, isn't there something a bit pretentious about a bunch of Hollywood clubber-types pulling up in their Priuses thinking they're somehow doing the World a favor by chowing down on some Dolphin-safe Tune croquettes and downing drinks made of organic gin? I'm sure all the hot air emanating from the club will somehow contribute to global warming.

via urbandaddy.com

Sorta Pimp Quote of the Day

“This is worse than a divorce. I’ve lost half my net worth and still have my wife.”

- Submitted by Cheepassbastard

Fendi Scarf

It must be global warming or something but it's been hot as hell out here in SoCal. With only a couple of days until November, the mid-day temperature is still in the mid-eighties. OK, in all honesty, we're more bragging than complaining. However, the downside of this abnormally warm weather is that we don't get to dress up in our sexy fall/winter gear.

If you live in the part of the country where the weather has turned a bit more nipply, you should check out this wool long scarf by Fendi. Covered in the famous Fendi logo, the scarf comes in either black and brown or black and gray. You can purchase one at forzieri.com for $189.