In another sign the good life is under siege, sales of Cuban cigars fell by 3 percent in 2008 with sales of $390 million. Cuba's cigar arm Habanos blames slower sales on a decline in global travel and an increase in anti-smoking legislation (damn fascists). While I personally prefer non-Cuban cigars, I say light up whatever you've got and lets smoke our way out of this economic funk.
Vassalboro, Maine is the last place we would expect to find a topless cafe, but the small Northeastern town is exactly where The Grand View Topless Coffee Shop recently opened. As the name implies, you'll be able to get a tasty cup of Joe served to you by topless servers - both females and males since they are an equal opportunity employer after all. However, we suspect that most of the indignation coming from local residents are with regards to the bare-breasted ladies. While you won't be able to get a lap-dance with your espresso, we have to give The Grand View kudos for taking the whole sexy coffee concept to a whole new, erotic level. photo via Huffington Post
A new cigar and rum bar in Las Vegas...WHAT? The G Luxe Crew partakes in our fair share of fine smokes and rum drinks, and are always on the look out for places to enjoy both. That's why we were thrilled to read that starting in March, we'll be able to get our mojitos and stogies on at Rhumbar, a new joint opening at Mirage. The 2,000 square foot bar features both indoor and outdoor space, and will open daily at 10AM and will remain open late into the night. That means you can start your day off bright and early (by Vegas standards of course) with a strong cup of coffee and a cigar, enjoy a tasty mojito and cigar in the afternoon, and fiesta the night away even more drinks and cigars. That sounds like one helluva way to spend a day in Las Vegas.
Rhumbar is co-owned by Michael Frey, who is also the proprietor of Casa Fuente Cigars (our current favorite Las Vegas cigar bar) and Montecristo Rum. With that type of pedigree, you know Rhumbar is going to stock nothing but the best rums and cigars. Drinks that will be served at Rhumbar include a 1944 Mai Tai, Samba Swizzle and their take on the Monkey's Tail. We're hoping they also borrow Casa Fuente's winning recipe of having gorgeous Latina women in sheer sarongs work as waitresses. Man, we can't wait until the place opens.
If this isn't a gimmick, I don't know what is. I can't imagine that a scorpion would in anyway enhance the taste of a vodka but according to the maker of Skorppio Vodka, the little critter actually imparts a woody flavor to the spirit. They also claim that the scorpions are all farm-raised and all its toxins have been broken down during a special process. OK. Well, at least they have bikini-clad girls on their site.
You know that this credit card holder by Roland Iten isn't your run-of-the-mill holder since it features a sorting lever that's actually patent-pending. Made of aluminum and gold, this case holds up to four cards and is both lightweight and sexy. Only 100 will be made so hurry up and pick one up at your nearest retailer.
Why should you be in line today to watch Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li? Two words: Kristin Kreuk. In my humble opinion, she is in top three of most beautiful women on Earth. Seriously, just look at that perfect face. I really don't care if the movie sucks, which I'm pretty sure it will, since I get to spend two hours ogling the lovely Ms. Kreuk. Click here to check out the movie trailer.
As proof that not all is doom and gloom in the economy, the first 2010 Audi R8 V-8 headed for the States was auctioned off last weekend at the Boca Raton Concours d' Elegance for an astonishing half-million dollars. That's more than three times the MSRP of $150,000. The final sale price was so impressive that Audi decided to auction off a second R8. Of course, part of the auction was to raise funds for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Howard County so all that excess spending was for a good cause.
If you're part of the rapidly thinning banker set, and would like to distinguish yourself from the Omegas, Rollies, and Tag's worn by your fellow pitchbook-makers, consider this distinguished watch by Glashütte. The Senator Perpetual Calendar will officially debut at BaselWorld and features a large 44mm case, blue-accented hands, and a dial that keeps track of leap years. That last feature may seem completely unnecessary, but if you're going to drop $21,000, you better get complex, if not frivolous things...like a dial that keeps track of leap years.
You finally convince that sexy 23-year old accountant to drop her deadbeat boyfriend and go out with you for a dinner and movie. Things are going well and somehow she agrees to head up to your loft for a nightcap. After a few drinks, some Jodeci playing in the background (adorably she asks if they're a new group), things start getting a bit steamy. Your mind starts to race on how you're going to explain this to your buddy, her boss, but quickly dismiss it as a problem for another day. She slowly gyrates and begins to slip off her skirt, and then...the horror: she's wearing granny underwear.
Unfortunately dear readers, this is becoming a more realistic scenario as the shitty economy has taken a real financial and psychological toll on people. The Washington Times reported that Victoria's Secret has seen their business drop leading to significant losses in the latest quarter while Hanes, freaking Hanes, the maker of your Mom's Playtex brand underwear is gaining market share.
As it is our mission to keep up the good fight in protecting all that is luxurious and sexy, we implore you to help this great country of ours from turning into a nation of frugal, grandma underwear-wearing, uggos. Please, go out and buy some lacy thongs or maybe a pair of boy shorts. And no, you can't buy them from Wal Mart.
Thompson Cigar claims that their Emperador cigar is not a gag gift but actually a "damn good smoke". Measuring 15 inches with a 70 gauge ring size, the Emperador features a mild-medium blend Piloto Cubano long filler tobacco witha monster Sumatran wrapper. If you plan on smoking one of these bad boys, make sure to set aside a few hours and definitely eat something first. The G Luxe Crew will try some during our next get-together and will let you all know how it smokes. You can purchase your own at Thompson Cigar for $11.
I'm usually not a big fan of fusion cuisine but I have to admit my mouth was salivating last night when I saw this recipe for a Kimchi Pork Belly Pizza. I love all three - kimchi, pork belly, and pizza - so they must be great together, right? Since I can't cook worth shit, I'll wait for Crew Member Drewsky to try out the recipe.
"To be confused at 17 is natural. To be in wonderment of the choices in front of you at 21 is blissful. To be open to new experiences at 25 is refreshing. To not know what you want at 30 is just fucking immature."
The Barnard is a supercar born and bred in South Africa by its namesake, Chris Barnard, a man who dreamed of building a Le Mans style race car. With a chassis made from high-tech steel and a body that is composed mostly of composite material, the Barnard definitely has the structure of a race car. Couple that with a 617 hp Porsche V8 engine, and you have a car capable of going 0-100 km/h in under four seconds and topping out at over 300 km/h (we were to lazy to convert those stats to mph...needless to say the car is quick). Also following in the race car tradition, the Barnard doesn't have power steering, anti-lock brakes or electronic windows. In our opinion, the best part of this car is the expected $110,000 price tag which puts it in the same price range as a well equipped Porsche 911S. via motorauthority.com
Don't ever say we don't ever provide you with anything educational here at G Luxe. Today, we present the video below by MyCigarFriends.com which features Aria Giovanni of Playboy and Penthouse fame showing us how to properly cut a cigar. We're waiting anxiously for the next video in the series in which she shows us how to properly suck...I mean smoke a cigar.
So why should you try some Chocolove? Besides being made from the finest Belgian and French chocolates in small batches, the bars are sold in pretty cool looking wrappers. And as they point out on their site, they don't use any milk products from China so imminent death or illness won't be a risk you'll have to deal with. You can purchase some at Whole Foods for $3 a bar.
As we pointed out before, not everyone is hurting in the current global recession, including apparently a few of those big spending investment bankers. Want proof? Check out this bar bill that a banker and a few of his cohorts racked up during a recent binge-fest at London's Maya nightclub. In an evening of alcoholic indulgence, the group spent over $60,000 on 16 bottles including multiple orders of Dom Perignon and Crystal champagne, as well as an $8,000 tip for some lucky waitress named Anna. This is a tab that would put even Diddy to shame. Of course, this could have simply been one last hurrah before our banker friend heads off to the unemployment line.
A – They think that they actually good at it. You are good only if you can beat this 12 year-old girl, who is on-track to make more money than Lebron James
B – They need something to spend abnormal amounts of money on and to complain about before and after for the next month
C – Golf is a great excuse for day drinking, as beer is proven to be a natural performance enhancer. Co-incidentally, this can also exponentially increase the fun of parallel activities such as golf carts, heckling your buddies, reshaping nonperforming clubs, and maintaining your balance.
Anyway - regardless of why you are playing to win, playing to play, or playing to drink, you will need a set of clubs. And why not honor your long-standing tradition of missing putts, bogeying par 3s, and slicing the ball at every opportunity by getting some engraved golf club links from Red Envelope for your clubs.
Let’s face it. Those clubs you spent your last month’s paycheck on are probably not going to help you as much as promised – if any. So if you’re trying to get a stand-out set, why not opt for the other end of the club and go with these.
At least they won’t get lost – unless you pack like you drive.
Update 2/25/09:Below is the commercial for the Fisker Karma that aired this past Sunday during the Oscar's.
I was once a fat bastard. Topping out at over 250 lbs, I was finally shamed into shedding weight after seeing pictures of myself at my 29th burlesque-themed birthday party. It was quite shameful to see all these beautiful ladies around me while I looked like a bloated beluga whale. I joined a cardio-boxing gym and started working out 5 days a week. But as a food lover, I knew that I could never stick with any silly diets or deprive myself of all the good stuff that I love to eat (think chicken wings, carne asada burritos, etc.). So I promised myself to simply stick to my workouts and eat essentially whatever I want. Two years later, I've dropped 50 lbs, and more importantly, kept my weight off.
So what the hell does any of this have to do with today's Luxe of the Day, the eco-friendly Fisker Karma? Well, it describes our philosophy on the whole "green" thing: use common sense and make reasonable accomodations (i.e. recycle, don't start drilling for oil in the middle of a freaking arctic reserve, etc.) but don't sacrifice the things in life that make you happy. That's why we're torn about showcasing this hybrid supercar by Fisker Automotive: We love cars...especially sports cars...especially fast sports car that run on good 'ol fashion gas engines. When we step on the gas pedal, we want to hear the roar of the engine, not the quiet purr of a glorified golf cart. Despite our reservations, the sexy aesthetics of the Karma eventually won us over and led us to give it a thumbs up.
Fisker Automotive is a relatively new green car company dedicated to designing and building eco-friendly luxury cars. Henrik Fisker, the CEO of this venture, had his hand in the development of the BMW Z9 Roadster and also served as design director for Aston Martin. Not bad credentials. The Karma is the company's first production model with approximately 15,000 cars expected to be built, with delivery starting in 2010. Fisker claims that the Q Drive hybrid engine is able to power this four-door green chariot from 0 to 60 in under six seconds and can reach a top speed of 125 mph. The overall curves remind us of a blend between an Aston Martin and a Pontiac Solstice, which is a good thing.
So if you're a well-to-do car lover with a tree-hugging girlfriend/wife who would never stop hounding you if you purchased a 911 or Corvette, consider going to FiskerAutomotive.com and getting yourself on the wait-list with a $1,000 deposit. The remaining $79,000 will be due at delivery. For us, we'd rather drop the cash on a Porsche Cayman S and just recycle more. If you enjoyed this post, please vote for it on BlogEngage.
NBA player Marko Jaric proves that you simply have to be rich and famous (he's not even that famous...Jaric isn't exactly Kobe, or even Vlade Divac for that matter) to date and/or marry a supermodel. Cause obviously looks isn't a criteria. Honestly, not to be a hater, but is this one weird-looking motherfucker or what? Adriana my dear, you definitely settled girl. via yahoo.com
There's the Black Card, then there's THE Black Card. What's the difference? Well, it's like asking what the difference is between a BMW 3 Series and a Ferrari F430. One is truly exclusive, whose ownership is limited to the top point one percent of the population, and the other one is driven by every mortgage-broker assistant in the country. OK, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but what is not an exaggeration is the exclusivity of an American Express Centurion Card (the original Black Card) membership. One of the requirements to even be considered for a Centurion Card is that you have to spend $250,000 annually on an AMEX Platinum Card. Rumors are that the charges have to be related to lifestyle purchases, in other words charging your monthly water bill on your card won't get you any closer to a Black Card. But if you are selected and given the honor of forking over the $2,500 annual membership fee, you'll have access to a whole host of privileges that us mere mortals can only dream about (yes, sadly, the G Luxe Crew does not own a Black Card although we are crossing our fingers and toes that Tandori will get one in the not too distant future).
While not having the same cache or level of access and service as the Centurion Card, the Visa Black Card also some goodies that come with the $495 annual fee. And while not quite as exclusive as the AMEX version, they still claim that only one percent of the population would qualify for their card. The best reason to sign up for the Visa card? We get paid baby...at least if you apply through G Luxe. Think you've got a shot at getting approved for either card? Check out this site for a detailed side-by-side comparison between the two Black Cards.
Gents, when the sun starts breaking through the winter gloom, look sharp with these new Oval Aviators by Prada. The sunglasses are made of a glossy black and sleek metal frame and features wide contoured arms. Purchase a pair for $310.
Think you're a baller now that you've built that chipping and putting green in your backyard? That ain't nothing my friend, at least not when compared to what this guy in Florida did with his driveway. As revealed in an aerial photo capture by Google Earth, the owner of a posh water-side home has built a race track in his drive way complete with FIA curbs at every corner. It's anyone's guess what he's racing but even if it's souped-up riding mowers, we are terribly jealous.
While resident wine guru Shadinsky probably knows what a wine wand is, I sure as hell didn't. After reading on Luxury Insider about the Philip Stein Wine Wand, I learned that such a device helps with the aeration process of wine which allows its flavors to peak in only a few minutes. How does it do this you may ask? According to the Philip Stein website, the wine wand works by "replicating the natural frequencies of air and oxygen, and infusing them into the wine." Hmmm....sounds pseudo-sciencey to me. Well at least this $325 wand is pretty stylish and is sure to be a conversation starter when you pull one out during your next fancy dinner.
Crew Member and Ducati aficionado Drewsky just added to his stable of watches with the purchase of the Ducati-inspired Motocorsa watch by EPMsrtin. If his lovely wife will let him, perhaps he'll drop another $2,500 on the new Ducati One watch which the bike-maker is releasing as part of its Spring 2009 collection. The Swiss-made watch features a sapphire glass, black diamonds on the bezel, and a crocodile strap. In addition, it's guaranteed to be waterproof up to 10 atmospheres. Purchase one at ducati.com.
If Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class Cabin is a bit too "hip and happening" for you, perhaps you should consider booking that next trans-Atlantic flight on Swiss Air which, starting this Spring, is rolling out it's new modern-looking First Class Cabin as part of a fleet-wide renewal program. Featuring a helluva lot less purple than VA's Upper Class, Swiss Air's prime cabin has a much more subdued appearance but nevertheless appears to be spacious and comfortable. Swiss Air's Chief Marketing Officer calls the new cabin their "suite above the clouds". Catchy, but we'll probably stick with VA's first class offering. via wallpaper.com
Growing up, my Pops used to tell me and and my brother that we didn't ever need to buy him any gifts. Not for birthdays, or Christmas, or Father's Day. All he asked was that during his lifetime, we would get him what he called the Three R's: a Rolex and a Rolls Royce. Well so far we've covered the first R but we still have a bit to go on the last two R's. It's too bad, as I'm sure our Dad would love the latest Phantom which has been updated with some minor changes including a new grill, LED illumination on the door handles, upgraded entertainment system, and adjustable reading lamps (obviously you won't actually be driving your own Rolls, instead you'll be comfortably reading the Wall Street Journal in the comfy back seat). Maybe next year Dad. via autoblog.com
The best part of working on G Luxe is that I get to learn something new about living the good life almost everyday. Take today for instance where I learned about a type of wine called Pinotage which was developed by a South African professor in 1925, and is a blend of Pinot Noir and Cinsault. What makes Pinotage unique are its strong flavors which according to Serious Eats is perfect "if you absolutely adore coffee-thick, black, dark roasted," and "it's the red wine for coffee addicts who can't go for more than a few hours without a taste of their favorite bitter brew." That sounds like the entire G Luxe Crew.
If you're looking to try some Pinotage, Serious Eats recommends bottles by Fort Ross Winery and if you're just interested in learning more about the blend, check out the Pinotage Association. Resident Wine Guru Shadinsky will be sampling some Pinotage and he'll be providing his own recommendations soon. photo via pinotage.co.za
Even if you don't have a potential soul-mate in your life, you may still want to take advantage of the decline in diamond prices and purchase a ring for a fiance to be named later. Bloomberg recently reported that demand for gems have declined by half causing the largest diamond company DeBeer's to take out a $500 million loan to weather the current global downturn. In the same article, a diamond analyst was quoted as saying that diamond prices have also declined by half in recent months. So gentlemen, instead of that measly 2 carat diamond, you'll be afford a 4 carat ring that will surely impress your lady and hopefully earn you some pre-marital brownie points.
Gentlemen, with Spring and Summer just around the corner, we present to you video clips of 2009 Spring/Summer fashion shows from some of our favorite designers.
American Airlines has introduced a new amenity kit for first and business class passengers on its international flights. The goodie bag will inclde things like Burt's Bees body lotion and lip balm, tooth paste, toothbrush, socks, eyeshades, and earplugs. Will it be enough to fly American Airlines? We think not.
Surprisingly, I'm not the only one pissed at bailing out a bunch of aholes who over-leveraged themselves on over-priced track homes they can't afford. Check out this on-air rant by CNBC's Rick Santelli, where he even gets the floor traders all riled up:
This summer, the G Luxe Crew will be heading out to Europe for some serious grubbing, partying and shopping (and perhaps a little bit of culture). While the exact itinerary is still up in the air - my only requests are that we hit one F1 race, one topless beach, and one meal with foie gras in France - our mode of air transportation has already been decided upon. We will be avoiding the dreadful grandmas of United (or most other U.S. based airlines) and will instead be jet-setting in style on Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class.
So what's so special about Upper Class? Well, the VIP treatment starts even before you get on the plane as you'll get picked up in a chauffeured sedan at your home, and if you happen to be flying out of Heathrow, Gatwick or Johannesburg, you'll go through a drive-through check-in before being dropped off at VA's swanky Clubhouse. Once on the plane, you'll be shown to your seat...and oh what a glorious seat it is. Larger than most seats you'll find on most first-class flights, it also converts to a flat bed with the touch of a button. Once airborne, you'll have the normal set of entertainment options including movies on your personal television screen. Hungry? No problem. Order what you like, when you like off their Freedom Menu. And if you start getting fidgety even while traveling in the lap of luxury, head over to the Upper Class's signature amenity: the on-board bar where you can mingle with your fellow jet-setters.
International travel in Business or First Class is never cheap but Upper Class tickets are comparable to other premium fares. And the best part of flying Virgin Atlantic? You don't have to deal with the grandmas of United.
Lets see, so far we've posted on vodkas infused with or created from flowers, acai, and pineapples. Today we bring you Van Gogh Double Espresso Vodka, a vodka flavored with espresso and which according to their website, is the only FDA-approved vodka on the market today. We're still not sure why an FDA approval would be sought, but hey, if it helps with marketing more power to you Van Gogh Vodka. At G Luxe, we're fans of both coffee and vodka so we've got high hopes for this drink. Unfortunately, we haven't had time to pick up a bottle so we're going to rely on the folks at liqurious.com who found it delicious.
If you really need more evidence that Tom Brady is one lucky SOB, check out this spread of his supermodel girlfriend-slash-rumored-fiance in DT Magazine. Oh, and he has those Super Bowl rings and millions in the bank. Lucky bastard.
If, like the G Luxe Crew, you're planning an Entourage Weekend in Las Vegas sometime soon and you're trying to decide on which pimp pad to call your home base for those few days of debauchery, check out Hotel Chatter's side-by-side comparison of the five-star properties Tower Suites at Wynn Las Vegas and the SkyLofts at the MGM Grand. While you probably can't go wrong with either, it looks like the SkyLofts win out due to an edge on the "Wow" factor. Although we haven't stayed in the SkyLofts, we'd probably choose them as well after our late checkout fiasco at the Wynn.
We apologize in advance to our female readers. Balla Powder is a talcum powder especially designed to keep the boys down below dry and smelling great. Actually, you ladies may want to get your men a bottle or two. Select among three formulas including one called "Tingle". Freshness doesn't come cheap however as each 3.5 oz container will set you back $15. On those humid summer days, it may be money well spent.
To continue with my recent tirade on the homeowner bailout...
I'm going to start randomly going to bailout recipients’ houses and just walk in, grab some cookies out of their cupboard, help myself to some beer from their fridge…when they protest, I’ll tell them “Hey [BLEEP], that’s my [BLEEPING] tax dollars paying for this [BLEEP]. You’re lucky you don’t have a hot daughter or else I’d help me to some of that as well”.
Who doesn't like supermodels? We sure do. And if you've ever been curious about the behind-the-scenes lives of the uber-women that walk the runways and grace your favorite fashion rag, you'll need to check out Modelinia, the new web destination that is "dedicated to the life of the Supermodel, beyond the pages of fashion magazines and far off the catwalks of New York, Paris and Milan." The site is quite content-rich with plenty of photos and videos of all your favorite supermodels as well as beauty tips and articles on the fashion industry. We mostly like the photos and videos. The part that we're most impressed by is that the site is backed by an actual venture capital firm. We hope the savvy deal team at Polaris Ventures will also take a look at pumping some capital into a little (yet growing) site called G Luxe.
Why bother buying a home, even with the deals to be found in the current real estate debacle, when you can buy yourself an entire town for the bargain basement price of only $883,000. Sure Albert, Texas is basically a ghost town located 20 miles east of Fredericksburg (we have no freaking idea where Fredericksburg is) but for less than a million bucks, you can pick yourself up 13 acres of land complete with a dance hall (think Little House on the Prairie and not Nikki Beach), a beer garden (we're assuming you'll have to bring your own beer), a creek, a shoolhouse that was actually attended by President Lyndon B. Johnson, and a three-bedroom house. There also may or may not be 4 residents living in Albert so presumably they would be part of the purchase price as well.
We're thinking of putting in an offer and turning the sleepy little town into our own gentlemen's playground. And we use the term "gentlemen" very loosely.
Here is something that's going to get Crew Member Drewsky all hot and bothered. This customized Ducati 999S is made of carbon fiber and titanium giving it an even more crazy power to weight ratio than a normal Ducati. The bike's 170 hp engine rockets the 143 kg bike from 0-60 mph (and you to the after-life) in under 3 seconds. Drewsky better start bumping up those rents if he wants to buy one as it's listed on JamesList for about $160,000.
The "Five Star" designation is thrown around quite often when describing hotels and resorts. However, the official list comes from the folks at Mobil Travel Guide and they have recently released their list of Five Star hotels (along with restaurants and spas). There are 44 US hotels that made the distinguished list this year including a good number of Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton properties. We noticed that the Tower Suites at the Wynn Las Vegas is also on the list. We sure do hope that their check-out policy is less asinine than the "regular" Wynn. via perfectescapes.com
Update 2/19/09:...and this response is Why We Hate PETA (before you get your panties in a tangle, we love animals, just not vegans).
Ever wonder why you're a fat bastard? There's a new photo blog that features over-the-top decadent foods that are putting the serious LBS on America's mid-sections. Check out the Double Bacon Hamburger Patty Melt shown here or perhaps you're in the mood for a French Fry Encased Hot Dog on a Stick. Ummm...cholesterol.
I understand politically why he needs to try to save “homeowners" (which, btw, if you have an interest-only loan, you're not owning anything, you're renting). I understand that if all these [bleeps] all foreclosed and went under our current economic crisis would last longer. But what a load of [bleeping] crock that $75 billion of our [bleeping] tax dollars is being used to bailout a bunch of [bleeps] who just a couple years ago were bragging about their Trump-like real-estate moves. Personally, I don’t give a rat’s [bleep] if all those people foreclosed and if the country remains in a recession for the next few years. Since I DID NOT figure it was a smart idea to lever up 20:1 on a [bleeping] million dollar track home, I actually have reserves to wait out the storm and would love to buy all these cheap assets at 10 cents on the dollar.
So it’s a foregone conclusion that all these [bleeping] monkeys will be bailed out. All I can hope for is that we include a BIG [BLEEPING] STICK to go along with the lifeline. For any [bleep] that takes advantage of the bailout, they should have to sign an agreement stating that they will never pull this kind of [bleep] again. Specifically, they should be prevented from purchasing another home within the next five years or before they retake high school to brush up on some remedial math and common sense. If they are to purchase another home, they are required to put 20 percent of the home value as a down payment, and none of these asinine second loan on the down payment nonsense. They will only be permitted to buy a home with a purchase price no greater than 3 times their annual income. This will prevent the Starbucks barista from buying a half million dollar house on a 10 dollar an hour salary. You make 10 bucks an hour, you rent [bleeper bleeper]. Lastly, if they end up selling their future home at a profit, they will get taxed on the gain at an 80 percent rate to pay back for the bailout they received earlier.
One of the most iconic watches of the past four decades is the Tag Heuer Monaco watch made famous by actor Steve McQueen. To commemorate the watch's 40th anniversary, the company is releasing a special edition blue-dial timepiece that will be limited to 1,000 pieces, each engraved with a tribute to McQueen and enclosed in an exclusive case signed by Jack Heuer. The price is TBD. I'm hoping that Crew Member Tandori considers this watch instead of snaking my Panerai. via acquiremag.com
So do you think in this economy, guys, even those of the well-heeled set, are willing and able to drop seven grand on an off-the-rack suit? Or how about twenty-one grand for a custom tailored suit? Well Saks Fifth Avenue is really hoping so as they've just opened a stunning 2,000 square foot Kiton boutique in their Manhattan store complete with marble floors and views of the ice skating rink in Rockefeller Center. Kiton is an luxury Italian brand that creates high-end, hand-made apparel, producing only a few thousand pieces total a year. I guess when you sell suits that cost as much as a car, you don't have to sell that many items.
So is Saks nervous about launching such an exclusive boutique in the current environment? Their President remains optimistic:
“A store like Saks needs to have the best product available. And I do think the man who wants to present himself in a certain way, he’s still out there.”
Kudos to you sir. We're happy to see that not everyone is capitulating in the fight keep the good life going. via nytimes.com
If you're in the market for a brand spanking new exotic car, like perhaps the very first V-10 Audi R8 or the Ferrari California to be sold state-side, make sure to head out to Florida next weekend for the 3rd Annual Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance. The three-day event will be located at the Boca Raton Resort & Club and will feature a celebrity golf tournament, black-tie dinner and auction (where you'll be able to bid on the aforementioned Audi and Ferrari) and the main concourse event on Sunday. Purchase tickets at bocaratonconcours.com.
Want to win a trip for two to Santorini, staying five nights at the luxurious Tsitouras Collection Hotel and receiving a $2,000 J. Crew gift certificate? Sure it's a long shot, but you never know. Just enter here and make sure to bring us back something nice if you win. via hotelchatter.com
If you love chocolate and you love wine, chances are you'll love Brix Chocolate which claims to be the first line of chocolates especially crafted to be enjoyed with wine. What makes Brix a great pairing for that fine glass of Cabernet? It's made of the finest chocolate from Ghana and blended in such a way that the flavor of the chocolate "enhances those nuances found in great wines, without confusing the palate." The name of the chocolate is a play on words for "brix" which is roughly defined as the amount of sugar in a grape before it is harvested for wine. If you enjoy a Zinfandel or Syrah, go with the Medium Dark chocolate. If a full-bodied wine is more your thing, go with the Extra Dark chocolate.
How does it taste you may ask? We're not sure yet but we've asked Crew Members and wine aficionados Drewsky and Shadinsky to go get some and let us know. If you want to try some of your own, you can head over to Cost Plus World Market and buy an 8 oz bar for $9.
I don't know which I enjoyed more in the video below of gold medalist Nastia Liukin modeling for Max Azria's Spring 2009 line: Nastia's hypnotic movements or the sensual and sultry beats that play in the background. Regardless, the video is a great way to start a Tuesday morning.
The Fairmont Kea Lani is my favorite resort on the island of Maui. The staff is wonderful, the rooms are spacious, and there is a multi-level pool slide for Crew Member Tandori to live out his inner-child. However, every time I'm in Maui with my friends, they all make fun of me for insisting on staying at the Fairmont, ridiculing me for being an elitist snob. The mockery even comes from Crew Members Drewsky and Tandori who ironically would put Carlton Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air to shame with their own snobbery. Knowing full well that their ridicule is simply intended to piss me off, I've threatened to book our next stay at the 1.5 star Aston Maui Lu Resort instead.
The one person who probably wouldn't mind staying at the Maui Lu, and who also loves teasing me for being a Fairmont elitist is our Green Crusader friend Callie. Well now the lovely Callie can stay in five-star luxury guilt-free as Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced recently that they will extend their Green Cuisine program to include sustainable seafood choices to protect endangered marine species. As part of this initiative, Fairmont will no longer serve Chilean Sea Bass or Blue-Fin Tuna, both which have seen a dramatic decrease in their population due to over-fishing. This undoubtedly will make Crew Member Tandori NOT want to stay at the Fairmont as he not only enjoys Chilean Sea Bass and Blue-Fin Tuna, but gains a depraved sense of enjoyment from contributing to the extermination of a species.
Read more on Fairmont's environment policies at fairmont.com.
The 2010 Porsche Panamera is one of those cars that make you go hmmmm....
We're still not sure whether we like it or hate it. Sure it's a Porsche and unlike the base Cayenne and Cayenne S, we expect the Panamera to drive like a Porsche, i.e. like a grown-up go-kart on steroids. However, the exterior styling is a bit off. It basically looks like an extended 911, which doesn't really work for us. However, if you have your heart set on one, Porsche has just released their pricing for their four-door sedan (calling a Porsche a sedan is just so weird). Expect to drop down between $89,800 to $132,600 next October when the Panamera arrives in showrooms.
Richard Hammond on potentially launching into space for a future Top Gear episode:
"Because of the hard times everyone is facing, we need to go ridiculous on Top Gear. We need faster cars and bigger stunts. Nobody can afford to go out and buy a car, so there is no real point in us reviewing them. We might as well concentrate on escapism and fantasy."
2009 promises to be an exciting for watch lovers. I personally have my next timepiece already picked out (as long as I can keep Crew Member Tandori from getting his grubby hands on it first). We recently found another one to add to the consideration list on watch site hodinkee.com. Breitling is coming out with a 125th anniversary edition of its Navitimer watch. While the face is familiar Breitling, you'll notice that the bracelet is a bit different as it is their "Air Racer" bracelet. Only 2009 of these watches will be produced and no price has been released yet.
