Audi Centennial

To celebrate their 100 year anniversary, Audi has teamed up with watchmaker Chronoswiss to create a good-looking, limited-edition chronograph watch called the Tachoscope. A couple unique things about this watch are that the hour hand is located in the upper inset dial while the large hands are the second hand and chronograph. The watch also features a glass back so you can see all the mechanical goodies in action. Only 100 of the watches will be made and they're available in white gold ($19,800) or platinum ($33,000) versions.

via autoblog.com

Organic Lounge Pants

I really wish our neighbors south of the border would stop shooting and kidnapping each other so that we can head back down to Cabo for a little R&R. I can picture myself at the ME Cabo on one of their large day beds, sipping a cold Corona, enjoying the lovely eye candy, all in a pair of these comfy organic lounge pants by American Apparel. They're available for $85 at Nordstrom.

Padma Loves a Burger

Cook and author Padma Lakshmi is one of the most stunning and most impressive women on the planet. Her recent Carl's Jr. commercial for their Western Bacon Thickburger also proves that she is one cool chick. Gawd I need a woman like her.

Glashutte Square

If you want to read about the technical specs of the Glashütte Original Senator Sixties Square, check out the post by our friends at Perpetuelle. All we know is that this is one good-looking watch.

Donuts on Crack

The next time the G Luxe Crew is in the Bay Area, we'll make sure to stop by Psycho Donuts. How can you not love a joint that serves donuts topped with Coco Marbles and one called Massive Head Trauma?

via seriouseats.com

Ageless Rene

Is it just me or are some of the sexiest stars today those that are in their 30's and 40's? Take the fifty-something Rene Russo for instance. She still looks stunning in this recent photo shoot for BlackBook. If you want to see more of Rene in all her ageless glory, check her out on The Thomas Crown Affair.

First Hand: Rhumbar

Last Friday, I was in Las Vegas for a quick 24-hour layover. After losing a few hands of blackjack and grubbing on a big Chinese lunch at the Noodle Shop, I headed over to the newly opened Rhumbar at the Mirage Hotel. As we reported a few weeks ago, Rhumbar is a new joint opened up by the same folks who run Casa Fuente, and while they also offer a selection of cigars, their specialty are tasty rum-based drinks.

Rhumbar is located in the side entrance of the Mirage, a short walk from the the Forum Shops at Caeser's. As you get on the automatic walkway, a row of shrubbery hides the outdoor patio on the right. But you'll know that you're close as you start smelling the sweet aroma of cigar smoke and hearing the laid back beats from the outdoor stereo system. Once you enter the hotel, make your first right and you have reached a little bit of Vegas heaven.

The first thing you'll notice about Rhumbar is that it has a very contemporary look. There's a lot of white in the place (the decor, not the people) and the flat screens and the modular furniture give it a very modern feel. I was there during the day time so the space felt very open and bright. I can imagine it taking a more intimate and sexy place during the night time (I'll make sure to do an evening visit when I'm back in Vegas next month).

As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a gentleman who may have been one of the owners. He showed me their relatively small humidor which contained a decent selection of cigars. I selected an Ashton VSG which was priced definitely well above market. No matter. I was there to enjoy a nice cigar and some tasty drinks. After he clipped and lit my cigar, he escorted me to the outdoor patio where I made myself comfortable in one of their chairs. The patio isn't particularly large and probably has enough space to seat 20 people. Unlike Casa Fuente, the crowd at Rhumbar wasn't mostly male. In fact, during my two hours there, I noticed more ladies hanging out than guys. And that is definitely a good thing.

Another good thing about Rhumbar are the drinks. In particular, you must try their strawberry caipirinha. Deelish. Halfway through my cigar, I ordered up a mojito which was also quite nice.

If you love cigars and you love good tropical drinks, you need to make it over to Rhumbar next time you're in Vegas. My only real complaint is that they didn't bring along Casa Fuente's ridiculously sexy girls. While my thirty something Latina waitress dressed in all black was easy enough on the eyes, I was hoping to find the Casa Fuente goddesses and their sheer sarongs that barely hide those delectable thong underwear. Goodness are they hot.

How Much for that License Plate?

We're all for indulgent behavior, but spending more than half-a-million dollars on a license plate is just plain stupid. We hope somebody jacks the plate from the asshole's Bentley. In fact, if you're in the UK and would like to do the honors, just look for the prick with the "1D" license plate. Actually, the license plate is quite fitting as it must stand for "One Dumbass".

via autoblog.com

The French Love Kate

At the ripe 'ol age of 35, and despite battling her addiction to nose candy, Kate Moss still manages to look absolutely stunning. Check out her black-and-white spread for French Daily Liberation.

via stylcrave.com

Gucci Sneakers

We apologize in advance to Crew Member Drewsky's lovely wife Aisha: yes, your husband will be dropping more than four bills for a pair of these Gucci sneakers. Hey, you knew what you were getting when you married a fashionista LOL!!!

Mercedes F-CELL Roadster

Ok, this is one strange looking ride. Trainees at Daimler designed and built this unique F-CELL Roadster that is powered by an emission-free fuel cell system that powers the vehicle to a screaming 25 km/h and provides an operating range of up to 350 km. Obviously the roadster won't be heading to production anytime soon, but it's still a cool retro toy which demonstrates those Germans do know how to have some quirky fun.

Nice Work Valerie

Gentlemen, tomorrow you should go and pick up the April 6 issue of People magazine. Why? Because 48-year old Valerie Bertinelli is on the cover rocking her new sexy bod in a teeny green bikini. Seriously, you have to give any woman approaching her 50's much props for looking so good in a swimsuit. Eddie, eat your heart out.

Black Diamond Cuff Links by David Yurman

Gentlemen, if you're looking to add a bit of bling to your wardrobe, check out these Pavé Shield Cuff Links by David Yurman. Made of sterling silver and inlaid with black diamonds (0.66 tcw), these cufflinks are both pimpy and classy. They're also pricey at $2,800 a pair.

Mrs. Beckham for Armani

We really can't stand Victoria Beckham's pixie hairdo, but we have nothing but admiration for the rest of her physique. The stunning mother-of-three is semi-naked once again as she shows off her goodies for a new Armani ad campaign. The photo reminds us why David is willing to put up with her high-maintenance lunacy.

via dailymail.co.uk

Store Your Wine and/or Bodies

Crew Member Shadinksy recently found this cool firm called Spiral Cellars that specializes in designing and constructing underground spiral-staircase wine cellars. Sure you could simply buy that boring old wine locker from Costco but that's so ho-hum. Instead, buy yourself a spiral cellar and you'll also have a perfect place to store any illegal porn, drugs, and/or firearms (if you're into that kinda thing). The cellars are not only aesthetically appealing but they're designed to be functional as well. The cellars are insulated and cool air is piped in while warm air is piped out. Get more info at spiralcellars.com.

via dornob.com

Kim Kardashian's Bush

As a die-hard UCLA Bruin, I have a natural inclination to dislike anything Trojan (despite the fact that some of my closest friends including Crew Member Drewsky don the ugly red and gold). However, I have to give props to Reggie Bush for landing the sultry Kim Kardashian who reminds me of a modern day Cleopatra. Check out the steamy video of the sexy couple as they pose for their recent GQ shoot.

A Little Gallows Humor

After months of refusing to check my 401(k) balance, I decided to take a look this past weekend. Wow. Let's just say you guys better start clicking those Google ads or else I'm never going to retire (just kidding Google, please don't ban our AdSense account). Truthfully, all you can do is just laugh. At the end of the day its only money and surely it will comeback after a year or two (or twenty). If you also enjoy a bit of gallows humor, check out this linen hanky that is embroidered with the Dow Jones performance from 2004 to 2009. You can purchase one for $28 or get a customized version with a chart of your stock portfolio for $95.

Naughty Ashton

Mr. Demi Moore recently "twitted" this candid photo of his still-sexy-forty-something wife bent over in a pair of white undies. At least for his sake we hope that's Demi's ass he's sharing with the world.

via grrlplanet.com

Cuban Seal

For those of you who insist on smoking Cuban cigars, you now have a new way of making sure that those pricey smokes aren't a bunch of counterfeits made in a Tijuana back-alley factory. Habanos S.A., the official distributor of Cuban cigars, have started to include two new security features on their cigar boxes: on the right of the warranty seal, you'll find a holographic label and on the left a bar code which when scanned will provide specific information about the box. The seal is designed to break apart if removed so that it will be next to impossible for some huckster to reuse the seal.

via cigaraficionado.com

Pour the Perfect Pint of Guinness

There are some things that every man should learn to do properly: cut and light a cigar, uncork a wine bottle, tie a half-Windsor knot, and of course, pour the perfect pint of Guinness. If that last one still escapes you, no worries. The folks at Complex offer this video that will have you soon be confused for an Irish bartender.

Gossip Girls Get the Stones Rolling

It's been a while since I've opened a Rolling Stones magazine and I've never checked out an episode of Gossip Girl. However, after seeing this latest cover, I may start doing both.

Recession My Arse

After spending a hard week in McLean, Virginia with a bunch of Federal-type stiffs, I was looking forward to my 24 hour layover in Las Vegas before returning home to San Diego. A little sushi, a few cigars, a couple hands of blackjack...nothing beats a quick Vegas bender to get the carnal juices flowing again. What I was actually looking forward to was a nice massage at the Spa Mandalay Bay followed by some quality time lounging in the hot tub.

But it was not meant to be. I called for an hour session and the only opening they had on Saturday was at 7pm in the evening. I had them check their sister spa, The Bathhouse, and same deal. And these aren't your bargain basement massages either. What happened to the recession? I thought everyone is broke? Who are these arseholes booking $135-an-hour body treatments?

I suspect that while there are obviously people truly hurting during this economic downturn, things aren't necessarily that bad for everyone. In fact, there are still plenty of people out there with discretionary incomes and thankfully they're willing to spend some of that cash which hopefully will get us out of this economic funk. I hate to sound like one of those pricks who blame everything on the media, but I would bet that if the media would stop reporting on how bad things were, more people who are financially solid would stop hunkering down like its the godamn financial nuclear winter. As we pontificated earlier, fixing the economy is easy: people with cash need to start spending their money. Those who overextended themselves and racked up ungodly credit card bills and have a mortgage they barely can afford even with a side gig giving handies, you all need to sit down, eat some ramen, and stop fucking buying crap.

Flu Sucks

Sorry friends, I've been hit with an evil flu bug. I hope to be back soon.

The Future Soapbox Derby Racer

If the G Luxe Crew ever got our hands on this skateboard-slash-gokart, I can see us at the bottom of some big hill in a pile of metal, plastic and human flesh. Of course the carnage would have been instigated by Crew Member Drewsky and his complete disregard for his or anyone's personal safety. This vehicle is currently in the prototype phase but we hope it becomes market-ready soon.

via tuvie.com

Porsche Design Sports Bag

Just because you're heading to the gym doesn't mean you shouldn't still keep things stylish. Take that ratty gym bag of yours for example. It's ugly. It probably smells something horrific. It's time to put it out of it's misery. Donate it to Goodwill and replace it with this sexy yet functional sports bag by Porsche Design. Made of 100 percent nylon, it has plenty of space and pockets for all your workout gear. Most importantly, it looks good which means that sexy cougar MILF may give you a second look next time you roll into the gym.

The Mother of All Vending Machines

Forget candy bars, soda, condoms, or in the case of our friends in the Land of the Rising Sun, dirty used underwear, this swanky vending machine that currently resides in the Mondrian South Beach Hotel features some fairly swanky goodies. Just insert your credit card into the machine and choose between a pair of 24-karat gold handcuffs, a Bentley (to rent, not buy), and classic Atari video games. We'd opt for the handcuffs.

via youngandbrilliant.net

Become a Hot Spot

"Hey baby, would you like to share my Wi-Fi?" probably won't work as a pick up line, but you never know. Well if you want to give it a shot, make sure to pick up this Cradlepoint Mobile Broadband Router. Just plug in your mobile device (cell phone) and you'll turn yourself into a roving hot spot for up to 16 users. The device offers 802.11 b/g (not n unfortunately) connectivity as well as an Ethernet port, and retails for an affordable $200.

via uncrate.com

Michael's Resignation

Do you: 1) hate the credit crunch, 2) dream of someday becoming a movie producer, and 3) still have some spare cash despite said credit crunch? Well then, you should help out Alex Cameron as he seeks to raise £50,000 for a "dark Tarantino-esque psychological thriller" he plans on making called Michael's Resignation. The story is based on an ex-soldier who goes on a rampage after being laid-off and finding out that his girlfriend has been cheating on him. Sounds interesting enough, but the real cool thing is how Cameron plans on raising the money to make the movie. He is selling 50,000 shares for £1 to the general public with a minimum investment of only £10. Now of course investing in a movie is generally a financially risky proposition, but considering the state of the markets today, it's probably just as safe as that BofA CD of yours.



via wealth-bulletin.com

Here is a Fashion Trend We Can Get Behind

Yes, that was a cheesy pun but we honestly hope the bare butt look takes hold this season. Russian model Tatyana Usova sported this daring piece by Christian Dior during a recent Paris show. I'm hoping my date where's something comparable to the next company party.

via nymag.com

Infiniti Essence

G Luxe friend Steve C. will love the recently announced Infinity Essence Concept car because it looks absolutely sweet. His girlfriend Linda W. will love it because it comes equipped with Louis Vuitton bags. That's a win-win proposition right there.

via jalopnik.com

Newest UFC Octagon Girl

There's nothing more manly, more likely to get a group of guys grunting like a bunch of crazed cavemen, than a mixed-martial arts fight, especially if it features the premier fighters of the UFC. This weekend, while I was watching the weigh-ins prior to UFC 96, I noticed a new UFC Octagon girl. If you're like me and love exotic-looking brunettes, you'll love the UFC girls as they're all stunning dark-haired lovelies. Logan Stanton is no exception. Standing a statuesque 5'10" and a trip 115 lbs, the Niceville-born beauty loves chocolate and a man with a "nice smile, confidence, intelligence, and a good sense of humor". Basically yours truly. Read more about her at ufc.com.

Killspencer Bags

Crew Member Drewsky, who fashions himself as a commando, would probably dig the new bags by LA-based Killspencer. Their specialty are military-styled bags that are made with tarps that have actually seen combat - unlike our friend Drewsky. Most of their bags are in the $400 to $600 range.

via acquiremag.com

The Experience Shades

Our dear Green Crusader friend Callie always gets peeved at us if we don't post something environmentally friendly every once in a while. That's why were telling you about these cool pair of glasses called The Experience E.C.O. by pro surfer Rob Machado that we recently found on Acquire. Not only are they stylish, but they're also eco-friendly since the frame is built from renewable materials and comes with Forest Stewardship Council certified packaging and an organic cotton bag. It's so green that you could probably eat it if you got marooned on a deserted island. A pair will set you back about $100.

Largest Louis Vuitton Store in Indonesia

I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if my parents didn't immigrate to the States. As part of the hoity toity upper-class, I'd probably be at the recent grand opening of the latest Louis Vuitton store in Indonesia, which happens to be the largest LV store in the country. Life would probably be good as I'd have one of those sexy Indonesia models shown here by my side. Yes, life would be good. That is until the natives get all restless and start rioting against the rich at which point I'd be on some boat trying to paddle why way to America.

Toys for Ballers

Looking to buy a gift for a guy that has just about everything? Check out the new online store by the folks at BallerToys. Here you'll find cool (and expensive) toys for the big boys such as a custom foosball table ($9,700), warthog tusk wine opener ($2,000), and cabinet humidor ($6,295). Luckily, you'll get free shipping for orders over $99.

Drink Whiskey Hangover-Free

Can you really drink Naked Scot Whiskey without getting a nasty hang-over in the morning? Who knows. Maybe. We really don't care. The only reason we're telling you about it is because we like the cool ad shown here. The company behind Naked Scot claims the whiskey is able to keep you on the right side of the bed in the morning because it doesn't contain any pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. The Scotch Whiskey Association - yes there is such a thing - thinks the assertion is bogus:

“The claim is misleading because the science of distillation means there is no question of ‘residual herbicides, pesticides and fungicides’ being in any bottle of Scotch whisky.”

Again, we don't care. We just like the ad.

Toilet Paper a Luxury Good?

Apparently extra soft toilet paper has been found to be more harmful to the environment than those gawd-awful Hummers. 98 percent of the TP that we use in the States come from virgin forests, which means that every time you wipe your rear end with that pillow-soft two-ply, you're destroying some poor owl's home. Compare that with the Euros who use toilet paper that is made from 40 percent recycled material. I'm all for saving the environment, but the day that good TP becomes a luxury and I'm forced to walk around with a rash on my arse because I'm using recycled leaves to clean up is the day that I say "Fuck You" to nature.

Golf, then Massage

I always feel like a wuss whenever I start tiring on the 9th hole of a golf outing. My arms start hurting, the back starts tightening up and my feet feels like they belong to a pregnant woman. I mean it's golf for freaking sakes. It's a sport that is often played by old, out-of-shape dudes in funny pants. Too bad not all golf courses offer the same spa services that you can find at the luxury Fairplay Golf Hotel & Spa located in Spain. After a hard day on the links shooting well over 100, you'll be able to relieve all the soreness with massages and body treatments that are especially designed for men. Now only if they were all provided by hot Spanish women...

via fivestaralliance.com

Netbook or Tablet...How About Both

I really love my HP Mini which I take everywhere to either work on G Luxe or just to do some good 'ol fashion porn surfing. It's light at just over 2 lbs, has plenty of horsepower especially for a netbook, and is quite affordable at $450 for a fully loaded model. However, perhaps I should have waited a little bit longer before I purchased my beloved Mini as Always Innovating will soon release its Touch Book, a netbook that comes with a detachable keyboard that enables the touchscreen to transition to a tablet.

The device is powered by a Texas Instrument ARM processor which the company claims delivers desktop power at a fraction of the energy. In fact the Touch Book will run up to 15 hours on a single charge, which is quite amazing considering my Mini craps out after just a couple hours of use. Other features include a 1024 x 600 8.9 inch screen, 8 GB of storage via a micro SD card, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth capability, and six USB ports. Possibly the best part: the Touch Book will cost only $300. That's so damn cheap I might have to buy a second notebook, you know, for when I'm on the toilet or something.

via uncrate.com

Hooker Art

Like hookers? Then you'll enjoy the work of SoCal-based artist Natalia Fabia who has a fascination with ladies of the night. Most of her paintings revolve around call girls in various fantasy settings, including collections called Hooker Dreamscape, Hooker Safari, and Hooker Manor. If you enjoy her work, you can check out her other paintings as well as purchase prints on her website.

via trendhunter.com

Psycho Bunny Tie

Sure, twenty years from now your kids will be wondering what drugs you were taking to wear this plaid tie by Psycho Bunny. But today you'd just be stylishly edgy. Buy it for $115 and impress/shock your coworkers at the next staff meeting.

Lohan's Pad

We can't stand Lindsay Lohan but we actually dig her little NYC pad that she's putting up for sale. It looks like it has plenty of windows providing lovely city views and hardwood floors. And with an asking price of only $1.2 million, it's actually quite affordable for Manhattan standards. Of course, since it does belong to Lohan, you'll probably have to Lysol the shit out of the place before you move in.

Skip and Steve Goes Under

Most of you have probably heard those obnoxious radio ads featuring brothers Skip and Steve hawking their bling for Robbins Brothers. Well it looks like Skip and Steve may have over-stretched a bit during the past few years as they worked on becoming "The World's Biggest Engagement Ring Store" and are now looking for Chapter 11 protection. We can only hope that as part of the restructuring plan they are banned from being on air ever again.

Are You a Cigar Poser?

As a veteran smoker of over 10,000 cigars, there's nothing that pisses me off more than some poser telling me that all he smokes are Cubans. The bluster is always the same:

"Oh, I don't smoke anything but Cubans, everything else is garbage."

"I have this great connection who smuggles in Cubans from Mexico. And they're all authentic!"

Saying that you'll only smoke a cigar from one country is as idiotic as saying that you only drink wine from France, or will only eat beef from Omaha. Saying such nonsense, rather than demonstrating your sophisticated palate, instead shows how much of an insecure dimwit you are. The G Luxe Crew use to have an acquaintance who said that he would only drink Patron Silver tequila. We could have put some rubbing alcohol in a Patron bottle and served it to this ignoramus, and he wouldn't have been able to tell the difference.

Now granted, there are some fine Cuban cigars out in the market today and in the years past, Cuban cigars truly were the benchmark by which all smokes were judged against. However today, there are some incredible cigars made from tobacco outside of Cuba including the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, and even Brazil. In fact, I personally enjoy a Padron 5000 Maduro or an Ashton VSG over most if not all Cuban counterparts. Unless you've smoked your fair share of cigars, many Cubans tend to be stronger and will probably cause you to turn green.

Worst yet are the prices charged for the beloved Havanas. Even in countries that can legally sell them, Cuban cigars are a pricey proposition, usually selling for over $15 a stick even for average smokes. For that price, you can purchase essentially any of the non-Cubans on Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 of 2008. Hell, their cigar of the year is priced at just over $5 each.

And don't forget that most "authentic" Cubans sold in Mexico are fakes. Unless you or "your connection" bought the cigars from an authorized Habanos dealer, you're probably getting cigars made of left-over scrap tobacco from a Tijuana factory.

So here is my recommendation on how to deal with these poser idiots: Stock up on some crappy, strong, dollar-a-stick seconds, take off the bands, and if any ignorant jackarse tells you that he will only smoke Cubans, give him one of those while telling him a tale of how you get the "Cubans" directly from Shaq's personal cigar contact. Then watch him turn green as he tries to hold back the vomit.

The Twitter Doctrine

I hate meetings. I hate teleconferences. I hate long arse work emails by corporate monkeys pontificating about a bunch of nonsense. That is why I am implementing the Twitter Doctrine in my department. No emails, whether inbound or outbound, can be more than 140 characters long. If you need more than that to get your point across, you need to learn to summarize. No meetings or telecons will last longer than 140 seconds. Most meetings are spent jibber-jabbering about everything but the topic at hand (how was your weekend, no I didn't catch American Idol last night, blah, blah, blah) and often times people will take the opportunity to get on their soapbox and blather on and on. With only 140 seconds, people will be forced to get to the point. Worst case, you can always send around a follow-up email if you missed anything during the meeting. Just make sure to keep it under 140 characters.

Port Primer

One of my favorite drinks to have with a tasty cigar is a nice glass of port. Unfortunately, just as with other types of wine, I know very little about the sweet dessert wine from Portugal. I usually go with a bottle of Fonseca Bin 27 simply because that's the drink that a fellow cigar smoker introduced me to a while back. If you're also as ignorant as I am about ports, check out Port for Beginners on Forbes that provides a good intro on the wine as well 10 great port picks in wide range of prices.

Weekender Bags via GQ

Gentlemen, looking for some ideas for a new weekender bag? Check out the six bags profiled on GQ UK. Our favorite is the Maxi Mabel bag shown here by Mulberry which retails for about $1500.

via selectism.com

Sasha From Behind (The Scenes)

If you enjoyed Sasha Grey's recent Black Magazine photo shoot, you'll really love the behind the scenes video below.

Wholesome Vegas Fun at Vdara

I'm not sure why anyone would ever go to Vegas if they weren't planning on partaking in some good 'ol fashion vices like gambling and smoking. I mean its called Sin City for a reason. For the wholesome traveler who wants a luxe Vegas experience without having to soil their souls at the casino or get cancer from all that second-hand smoke, they can book their stay at the Vdara Hotel, a condo-hotel which is scheduled to open in October. Developed by the MGM Mirage, the Vdara is located in CityCenter located between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts, and is an all-suite hotel featuring 1,495 suites ranging from 500 to 1,650 square feet over 57 floors. Despite missing a casino, the hotel will have the pre-requisite pool, spa and premium restaurant. And if you start getting that gambling itch, the hotel will be physically connected to Bellagio so you can head over there after all your wet-blanket friends fall asleep. Rates will range from $159 to $2,000 and you can start making reservations at vdara.com.

No gambling and no smoking: it's a safe bet that you will NOT find the G Luxe Crew at Vdara.


via ftnnews.com

The Ultimate Foosball Table

In our humble opinion, no guy pad is complete without either a proper pool or foosball table. There's nothing that get's the manly competitive juices flowing like an intense game with money and bragging rights on the line. If you've got a spare 18 grand lying around, you should consider cranking up the swanky factor of your abode with this Lux Minimalist Foosball Table. In addition to being sexy as hell, the table features stainless steel construction and an ESG unbreakable glass so you know it will survive any violent tantrums from the loser. The figures are customizable twelve different ways and you can even add a team logo.

via bornrich.org

Another Reason Not to Travel Blue Light Special Style Part Tres

If being publicly ridiculed by company employees or the prospect of having to pay to pee haven't convince you NOT to fly discount airline Ryanair, the Dublin-based carrier has just become the first European carrier to offer in-flight cell phone service. Our view is that cell phone service should never, ever be allowed on flights. EVER! Think about the horror of being stuck on a long flight sitting next to a chatterbox jabbering away about how she got jilted by her boyfriend or some jackarse bragging on the phone about some deal he's working on (if you have to resort to flying Ryanair, I couldn't imagine what "deal" you could possibly be working on - maybe you're buying a lemonade stand?).

photo via gadling.com

Sushi at Masa only $400

As the "cup is half full" type of people, we tend to look at the positive side of things, including the current economic mess we're all in. For those who still have good jobs, didn't blow their entire wad on a million dollar track home, or avoided handing over their entire net worth to some guy name Madoff, there are great deals to be had on luxury stuff.

Take for example the three Michelin star Japanese restaurant Masa located in New York city, which is famous not only for their outstanding sushi, but also the eye-popping cost of their dinners. Well it seems with the legions of bankers now collecting unemployment checks, even an institution like Masa also needs to make certain concessions in this economic environment. They have just recently reduced the price of their omakase dinners from $450 to a bargain basement price of $400. What a deal. Masa's business manager claims the drop in price reflects the cheaper cost of flying the fresh fish in from Japan, and not the recession. Whatever. Even at the lower price, expect to still spend about a grand for dinner for two.

via bloomberg.com

Champagne Saber

If you didn't have the right equipment this past new years to properly break open that bottle of bubbly, check out this Champagne Sabre by Laguiole. Made of a stainless steel blade and a rosewood handle, you'll be able to de-cork your next bottle as well as ward of any potential home invasion robberies. Purchase your saber at On The Fly for $200.

via uncrate.com

Get Daily Love, Help the Kids

There are two things we really love at G Luxe: Our dear readers and helping out needy kids. That's why for the rest of March, we're going to be donating $2 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital for every new subscriber to our daily updates. Just sign up and activate your subscription, and you'll be helping out a great hospital that provides critical care for kids and helps find cures for childhood diseases. Also feel free to donate directly at stjudes.org.

La Suite in Rio

Crew Member Shadinsky and his lovely wife visited Brazil late last year and simply fell in love with the country. The food, the culture, the sexiness...if there was ever a country that embodied the G Luxe spirit, it would probably be Brazil. I do plan on traveling down there someday, once I can get over my issue with being in an airplane for longer than six hours. I guess I could hop-scotch my way down to Brazil, making stops along the way, but I figure that would take me a week before I get to enjoy the thongs on the beaches of Rio.

If I ever do make it down there, I've already scoped out the hotel I'll be staying at. There are probably more luxe accommodations in Rio, but La Suite is a boutique hotel that offers many of the amenities found in a luxury hotel but with the charm and hospitality of a private residence. The folks at Cool Hunting recently stayed at the hotel during Brazil's Fashion Week and they really enjoyed the experience. They gave kudos for the great service, freshly made breakfast served anytime of the day, sweeping views of Rio, soft towels, spacious bathrooms, and ideal location.

Read what other guests had to say about this charming hotel and book your own stay at Trip Advisor. Make sure to pack your thong.