Four Seasons is Tops

I've always complained that it's difficult to even BUY luxury service here in the US. First Class flights simply mean slightly bigger seats and slightly better food but the same bitchy stewardesses. 5-Star hotels will get you a nice room and amenities but ask for a late checkout and it's like you asked for a free upgrade to the Presidential Suite.

The sole exception in the sea of luxury mediocrity has always been Four Seasons so we were glad to see that JD Power recently named Four Seasons the top hotel chain in the country. And to help give us faith that the country isn't turning into a bunch of frugal K-Mart shoppers who couldn't give a rat's ass about quality, the JD Power survey found that although the average amount spent at a Four Seasons room is 10% higher than average, the satisfaction with the cost among its guest was dramatically higher.

via travel.latimes.com

Springbank 40 Year Old Whisky

If you're a single malt Whisky fan like Crew Member Drewsky, you'll want to get your hands on the new and extremely limited bottles of Springbank 40 Year Old which was distilled way back in 1968. Only 398 bottles of this natural strength, natural color unchill-filtered whisky will be produced, and each will come in a gorgeous silver leater-lined, piano finished, solid oak box. In addition to getting some fine-ass whisky, your $1,300 will also get you a certificate of authenticity scroll personally signed by the company's Rare Malt Manager.

via justluxe.com

Ferrari 458 Italia

Forget the California folks, if you're planning to make a Ferrari purchase this year, get on the waiting list for the recently revealed Ferrari 458 which is the mid-engine V8 replacement for the Ferrari F430. This new gorgeous Italian stallion features a 4.5 litter V8 which will generate an impressive 562 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque, powering the Italia from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph. Incredibly, even with all this power, the Ferrari 458 will still get a reasonable 17.1 mpg. There are also rumors flying around that Ferrari will incorporate the KERS system found on its Formula One cars (think turbo button). That would be sweet. The Italia is set to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September so start booking your plane tickets to Germany now.

via autoblog.com

Limited Edition Habanos

If you insist on only smoking Cubans, you'll be glad to know that Habanos is unveiling a few limited edition smokes in the second half of the year. The Edición Limitada is composed of a selection of brands and sizes which are not part of the brands' typical line. The new smokes include:

• Romeo y Julieta Duke (Girth 54 x 140mm in length) – This new size is available in labelled boxes with 10 sticks in one layer.

• Bolívar Petit Belicosos (Girth 52 x 125mm in length) – Presented in the Edición Limitada for the first time, this is one of the most full-bodied Habanos brands and one sought-after by experienced smokers. Cigars are packaged in labelled boxes comprising 25 units.

• H. Upmann Magnum 48 (Girth 48 x 110 mm in length) – A light to medium-flavoured smoke, this cigar has a smooth flavour and delicate aroma. Cigars are presented in SLB boxes containing 25 units.

via moodiereport.com

Charles Schumann American Bar

Charles Schumann's ultimate reference guide on mixed drinks is now available in a sexy leather bound version. This 400 page classic includes information and recipes on over 500 cocktails. This leather version is exclusively available at Barney's for $65.

Formula One Simulator

Now you can be like Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton - sans hot girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger - with this F1 Showcar Motion Simulator. Constructed on a pneumatic motion platform, the Formula One replica is able to support a 90 kg driver. The chassis is made of a fiberglass composite body and comes with racing seats and F1 tires. And at only $45K, it's a helluva lot less than a real F1 ride.

via ubergizmo.com

Omega Aqua Terra Co-Axial GMT Chronograph

If the Omega Moon Watch is just a bit too "historic" for you, then check out the latest Seamaster Aqua Terra Co-Axial Chronograph also by Omega. The 46mm size watch features an automatic Co-Axial escapement caliber 3603 movement with a column wheel chronograph, GMT complications, and a cool vertical line pattern on the dial that is suppose to make it look like the deck of a boat. The watch comes in either stainless steel or 18k red gold and is water resistant down to 150 meters (I never understood the need for resistance to such depths since your body would probably burst well before). If you want one, the price is still TBD but expect to pay north of $5,000 for the steel version and well above that for the gold version.

via uncrate.com

Get CARS

Looking to trade in that old beater for something a little less embarrassing? Take advantage of the CARS program, better known as “Cash for Clunkers”, and get up to $4,500 in credit towards a new car for trashing your old powder blue Nissan Stanza mini-van (my actual first car). Although the rules prevent you from applying the credit towards any car with a suggested retail price above $45,000 – so no, you can’t get a discount on that 911 – there are a few nice cars that are eligible including the following: Acura TSX, Audi A4, Audi TT, BMW 328, Lexus ES 350, Lexus IS 250, and Volvo S60.

Check out the full rules at Cars.gov.

via yahoo.com

Ferrari California Test Drive

Those lucky bastards at Cool Hunting got invited to test drive the new Ferrari California in my backyard of San Diego. Hey Ferrari, I'm available for a test drive as well!

Laker Girls

I'm the World's biggest Laker-hater, but I love them Laker Girls!!!

Omega 40th Anniversary Speedmaster Moon Watch

One of mankind’s greatest accomplishments of the last one hundred years, and quite possibly the last millennium, is the moon landing of Apollo 11. To think of the engineering, the bravery, and the moxie required to slingshot a man through the seemingly endless miles of space to the moon, and get him back safely, one still gets chills even 40 years after Neil Armstrong first set foot on lunar soil.

To celebrate this epic accomplishment, Omega has released its Limited Edition 40th Anniversary Speedmaster Professional Moon Watch. Omega can lay claim to being the first watch on the moon since Buzz Aldrin sported one of their timepieces on his wrist during the moon landing. The latest moon watch features a caliber 1861 movement, stainless steel case, small seconds counter sub-dial which replicates the Apollo 11 mission patch, and a red imprint of “02:56 GMT” which marks the exact moment that Neil Armstrong made his momentous step.

The stainless steel version will set you back about $5,000 and will be limited to 7,969 pieces. The watch is also available in a platinum version which is limited to 69 pieces.

$1 Million Wine Book

What do you get the oenophile that has everything? How about a million dollar wine book? Before you choke on that glass of Cab, consider that the 66 lbs extravaganza which highlights the top 100 wineries in the world will also come with a six-bottle case of wine from each of the wineries listed as well as visits to a few of them. Only 100 copies of the book will be produced with 25 already pre-sold. Once again we ask: “What recession?”.

via decanter.com

Room 23

Looking to add a little sexiness to your living room? Pre-order Room 23, a coffee-table book filled with seductive images of sexy celebs shot in the penthouse suite of the Peninsula Beverly Hills. Some of the guests shot by photographer Deborah Anderson include: Ashanti, James Blunt, George Clooney, Rachel Hunter, Kid Rock, Heidi Klum, and Sharon Stone.

A Good Cup of Coffee

There's always a good, healthy debate among the G Luxe Crew on the best way to drink a cup of coffee. Drewsky thinks he's a commando so he opts for straight black, no cream or sugar. Shadinsky doesn't mind a little sugar but refuses any cream. Tandori, well, he'll drink anything put in front of him.

Regardless of how you drink your coffee, there are some basics on how to tell whether you're drinking a good cup of coffee to begin with. Michaele Weissman, author of God in a Cup has put together her 10 Ways to Judge a Good Cup of Coffee. She also throws in a good little tip:

"Knowing where your coffee comes from can help you pick one that will taste great to you. Latin American coffees tend to be chocolaty and mild. Coffees from east Africa tend to have a wake-up-your-mouth kind of perkiness that coffee pros call brightness. Coffees from Indonesia tend to be earthy, dark, and more intense."

Rizk Auto

As a classic car lover, Crew Member Drewsky is going to love the Rizk Auto RA that we found on Uncrate. Getting its inspiration from the Aston Martin DBR2, the stunning Rizk is a classic-styled convertible that happens to come with a lot of modern goodies including aircraft-spec carbon composites, Aeron seats, and NASA Aerogel Insulation. You can also pick between a Jaguar E-Type engine or a LS3 Corvette V8. All this modern-retro-sexiness doesn't come cheap at $180,000.

Travel & Leisure 2009 World's Best Awards

If you're a travel snob like us, you only want to stay at the best. And the best is what you'll find in Travel & Leisure's 2009 World's Best Awards. Find the top hotels and resorts in the world according the T&L's loyal readers. And what was voted the #1 hotel in America? The Inn at Palmetto Bluff located 20 minutes north of Savannah, South Carolina. Seriously, South Carolina.

Gran Patron Burdeos Tequila

There's tequila, then there's Gran Patron Burdeos Tequila. At $740 per bottle, this is the kind of spirit that you break out and share with only your dearest of friends. The premium dark tequila is distilled from some of the best blue agave and allowed to age for at least 12 months in American and French oak barrels. We're hoping Crew Member Tandori will pick up a bottle to share with his dear friends when he comes back to the States in a couple of weeks.

via uncrate.com

Have Sex, It's Good For You

Those randy bastards at WebMD have come up with their list of 10 Surprising Health Benefits of Sex. So lube up, grab a Jimmy Hat, and start making some sweet love.

1. Sex Relieves Stress: A good reason for company's to allow office-place coitus. We'd have more relaxed and productive employees.

2. Sex Boosts Immunity: Next time you feel that tickle in your nose, forget Vitamin C. Just get your shag on.

3. Sex Burns Calories: The irony of course is that fat people have a hard time getting laid.

4. Sex Improves Cardiovascular Health: Ditch the treadmill and find yourself a nice little skank.

5. Sex Boosts Self-Esteem: This explains my low self-esteem.

6. Sex Improves Intimacy: Unless it's with your wife. Just kidding.

7. Sex Reduces Pain: Two words: S and M.

8. Sex Reduces Prostate Cancer Risk: Wondering if anal sex also provides this same benefit.

9. Sex Strengthens Pelvic Floor Muscles: Ditto with #8.

10. Sex Helps You Sleep Better: Unless you didn't wear that Jimmy Hat which will cause a sleepless night of "Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap."

Hermes Pendulette Travel Clock

Do you need a Hermes Pendulette Clipper Travel Clock? Of course not. Should you want one? Definitely. It's the perfect, and oh so stylish travel accessory when you're off jet-setting around the world. You can pick one up at the Hermes site for $975.

via acquiremag.com

Porsche Panamera on Top Gear

We've always been on the fence about the new Porsche Panamera 4-door "saloon". From some of the photos, it sorta looks like a weird, elongated 911. From other angles, it looks just right. After seeing the Panamera in all its full motion glory on Top Gear below, we're thinking about heading up to the local Porsche dealer for a test drive.





via autoblog.com

Schiesser in Hong Kong

We'd like to tell you that German lingerie-maker Schiesser has opened its first Hong Kong boutique at Queensway Plaza. We'd also like to admit that the only reason we're telling you about this is to provide a reason to post pictures of gorgeous Asian models in lingerie. See more grand opening pics at Luxury Insider.

Capella Pedregal

We had a lovely dinner with one of our cigar girls from Cabo Smoke this weekend and she promises that all the craziness (you know, those silly little things like the swine flu, the gang wars, etc.) are way overblown by the media. She wants the Crew to head down to Cabo this Fall for more good times, and since we can never say "No" to a sexy senorita, we're probably going to do so.

After partying it up at our usual stomping ground, we may want to check out the latest luxury resort to open up in Cabo: the Capella Pedregal. With only 66 luxury rooms and suites, the Capella promises to be a more relaxing and intimate experience than your usual Cabo Spring Break hotel. In addition, each any every room comes with ocean views, a personal assistant, and our favorite: a private plunge pool. Rooms start at $525 but maybe you can negotiate a better rate considering all of Mexico is hurting for tourist dollars. The one thing that makes us pause a bit is the fact that the resort is also a timeshare. Nothing pisses us off more than paying pricey hotel rates only to find ourselves sharing the place with a bunch of cheap aholes who are "renting" their rooms from their In-Laws who are trying to recoup their annual fees.

via hotelchatter.com

Rich and Single?

Then according to CNNMoney.com, you should get your swanky arse up to Huntington Beach, California. The beach-side city was named the #1 locale to find a rich and single up-and-comers. Check out the rest of the list to find other cities with plenty of bachelors (and bachelorettes) with plenty of disposable income.

Bugatti Sedan?

Could this be a teaser for a new Bugatti sedan? Inquiring minds at autoblog.com want to know. This single blurry shot is claimed to be an invitation to a party celebrating Buatti's 100th anniversary and has fans speculating that a four-door uber-sedan will be announced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Size 18 Not Big Enough???

Apparently not for the svelte air stewardesses of NWA. The union representing them is whining about the new signature red dress uniform designed by Richard Tyler who admirably wanted to create a dress that "look sexy and great". The complaint? That the dresses "only" go up to a size 18 rather than the size 28 that they're asking for. Have you seen a size 28 woman? That is one large mamma. Political correctness and legality aside, why the hell would someone requiring a size 28 dress want to spend her work days (and evenings) in the cramped confines of a plane aisle anyways? I bet you Singapore Airlines would never have to deal with this issue.

Buy Audrina's Gold Bikini

If you'd like to purchase your lady the gold bikini worn by Audrina Patridge in that eyeball sweat-inducing Carl's Jr. commercial, you can do so at Joey Tierney. The limited edition bikini is available in small, medium, and large sizes for $350. If your girl wears anything other than a small, you really shouldn't be spending $350 on a bikini for her.

The Mother of all Pho Bowls

If you're like us and love the Vietnamese noodle dish Pho, you'll be intrigued by this monster bowl available at Pho Garden in San Francisco. If you can finish the $22 monstrosity of Pho goodness in under an hour, it's on the house. I plan on taking down this bad boy next time I'm in the Bay Area.

(Thanks Angela)

Dunhill Surfboard

I suspect that you would get your ass thoroughly beaten if you showed up at your local surf spot with a Dunhill surfboard. Yes it actually looks good, and it's made by European surfboard maker Pukas in conjunction with surfing legend Jed Noll, but it's still a $3,000 board branded by a company best known for gentleman's accessories.

via justluxe.com

United Gets Bashed With a Guitar

How many times have you been subjected to the craptacular service at United and wished that you could do something about it? Sure, you could complain to United's customer service department - and I use "customer service" loosely - but honestly, what good has that ever done except get you some boiler plate response which may or may not include an apology.

It seems the only way to get United's attention is to write a funny-ass song about your poor experience and post it on YouTube for the world to see, kinda like what singer and song writer Dave Carroll did. In fact, the talented Mr. Carrol was so upset about the $1,200 in damages to his precious guitar as a result of some less-than-attentive United bag handlers, as well his experience with a certain customer service rep named Ms. Irlweg who rejected his claim citing his failure to "complain in the right place or the right time", that he went beyond writing one song but rather three along with accompanying music videos (the first one being the hilarious video below).

Read Carrol's account of his frustrating ordeal on his website. Fuck United.



via travel.latimes.com

Hugo by Hugo Boss Spring/Summer 2010

I love Hugo Boss gear but some of the stuff being strutted on the catwalk may be a bit fashion forward for my taste.

via selectism.com

Panama Hat by Marc Jacobs and Still Life

Crew Member Drewsky is always on the lookout for pimpish new hats. He'll probably dig these classic-yet-modern Panamas which are a collabo between Still Life and Marc Jacobs. They're available at your local Marc Jacobs retailer in very limited quantities.

via limitedhype.com

Alec Bradley Select Cabinet Reserve

I'm smoking an Alec Bradley Tempus cigar which I've had in the humidor for a few weeks, when I read about the upcoming release of his Select Cabinet Reserve cigars. If the new cigars are anything like the Tempus or the Maxx which I also enjoy, then cigar smokers should be in for a real treat.

The Select Cabinet Reserve is made with Honduran Trojes wrappers which company President Alan Rubin described:

"We talked about the natural sweetness of the wrapper and the chance to develop a blend around its unique flavor profile," Rubin says. "When we got back to the factory, we went to where we store all the wrapper tobacco and opened a few bales for inspection. I grabbed a hand of tobacco containing 25 leaves, plucked two of them, de-stemmed them, and rolled a sample. These caramel colored leaves were glorious to the touch and looked fantastic. Even better, they smoked every bit as good as I expected."

Sounds like something that's right up my taste bud's alley. The cigars should be available later this month and will come in boxes of 20.

Leeann Tweeden Hates Autism

Autism sucks. Leeann Tweeden does not (well...you know). Check out this Public Service Announcement the lovely Ms. Tweeden did for RethinkingAutism.com.

Pursuit of Sex Should be Tax Deductible

Men's Health recently came out with their 25 Simple Steps to a More Perfect World. Our favorite is #6:

"All of the following would be tax deductible: TV sports packages; alcoholic beverages; mechanical timepieces; shoe shines; and all costs related to the pursuit of sex, up to an including Porsches"

Torino Lamborghini Chess Set

Crew Member Drewsky has been getting his chess on lately. He should consider putting away his crappy Trojan chess board and upgrade to this gorgeous set by Torino Lamborghini which features polished and matte finished pieces and a mirrored board. The whole thing comes encased in an elegant wooden case. Purchase at Forzieri for $395.

via coolmaterial.com

Summer Storm Cap

I don't bike and my head is usually too big to wear a hat, but I still dig this Summer Storm Cap by Outlier. It's made of high quality Zegna wool and is designed too keep your noggin dry if, for some odd reason, you're biking in the rain. During summer. The cap sells for $80.

via uncrate.com

1800 Tequila Offers Up a Man Cave

It appears that man caves are all the rage. Perhaps you can blame it on The Goose, but wherever we turn, someone is offering up a man cave as part of a sweepstake. And you know what, we think it's a good thing. The latest comes from the fine folks behind 1800 Tequila who are offering $10,000 to one lucky winner in towards the constructions of the ultimate man cave. Simply register by August 15th.

Jarah Mariano Kiss Kiss Kiss

We're in no way fans of the song, but we are huge fans of the girl in the video. The lovely Jarah Mariano does her best Milli Vanilli which makes watching it quite bearable.



via kineda.com

World's Best Hotel: Villa d'Este

Forbes Traveler recently polled some of the world's top travelers to name the best hotels on Earth. Topping the list is the Villa d'Este located 30 miles north of Milan which features stunning lake views in a Mediterranean-like climate. This gorgeous property beat out powerhouses like Bangkok's Peninsula, Hong Kong's Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Paris' Four Seasons Hotel George V, and Dubai's Burj al Arab.

Porsche Panamera Luggage

If you're planning on being one of the first to purchase the four-door Porsche Panamera this September, make sure to also pick up some matching luggage from Porsche Design. The stylish "AlluFrame" luggage is made of an aluminum frame and polycarbonate case and fits perfectly in the Panamera's "boot". The luggage comes in original Porsche exterior colors. In addition to luggage, Porsche Design will be offering Panamera-themed apparel and watches.

via autoblog.com

Bar Refaeli in Black and White (and Nothing Else)

What exactly did guys do for entertainment before YouTube?

Funny United Twit

Yes, flying on United can suck big, hairy balls sometimes, but as we found out on BlackBook they occasionally have a sense of humor. Here is a funny Twitter interchange between Peter Sagal of NPR and United:

@petersagal: Another day, another Red Carpet Club, another shocking number of bananas stuffed into my bag.
@UnitedAirlines: @petersagal Busted: Put the bananas down and step away from the Red Carpet Club. We have been on to you for weeks. Does NPR not feed you?
@petersagal: @UnitedAirlines They don’t… all of us have to go out and hunt/gather food for the NPR commissary. Lst wk, Totenberg killed a deer w/ pen.

Tag Heuer Monaco LS

To mark the 40th anniversary of the legendary Tag Heuer Monaco Chronograph watch, the company is releasing the stunningly gorgeous Monaco LS Chronograph Calibre 12 featuring its iconic square face. The latest incarnation of the Monaco features a linearly displayed second indicator, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and caseback, anti-reflective double-sided treatment and is water resistant down to 100 meters. You can purchase the watch with either a black alligator strap or stainless steel bracelet for an estimated retail price of $6,000.

As part of the watch's marketing campaign, the company has release this cool video below called The Duel featuring Steve McQueen (the original OG who made the Monaco watch famous) racing against current Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton. It's a pretty cool video.

Piaggio Scooter

I heard a great line a while back: "Riding a scooter is like having sex with a fat girl: it can be fun as hell but you don't want your friends catch you doing it."

Well, that may be true for an ordinary moped but you may not have anything to hide if you're riding the Piaggio MP3 Scooter which features things you won't find on a Vespa, like a three-wheel design, a 493cc engine that can power the super scooter up to 89 mph, and aggressive styling.

Now only if we can give that fat girlfriend of yours a similar makeover.

via uncrate.com

Louis Vuitton Bags for the Guys

Gents, don’t let your lady have the monopoly on Louis Vuitton gear. Check out LV ’s men’s collection for Autumn 2009 and consider getting yourself a good-looking weekender or tote bag. A couple of the styles have a unique soccer ball dimple design…kinda cool. Be warned though: there’s a good chance your girl is going to get jealous of your purchase and will be pestering you for another LV bag.

via selectism.com