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MLB Pitcher Derek Lowe Selling Atlanta House

wanda — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:13:55 +0000

As Major League Baseball pitcher Derek Lowe is departing the Atlantic Braves, he’s selling his $3,495,000 Atlanta mansion. Not your typical sprawling mega-mansion in the ‘burbs, Lowe bought this new construction French country-style place in the heart of Buckhead, designed by Stan Dixon that won the prestigious Shutze award. The home features a cigar room, pool room, wine cellar and multi-screen media room are complimented by the other living spaces’ generous dimensions, light (white) color palette and eclectic lighting and decor accents. There’s also 5 bedrooms, 5 full baths, 2 half baths, a pool with cabana and 2 laundry rooms.

Tesla Model X

wanda — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:13:14 +0000

Tesla Motors has unveiled a newly envisioned CUV, the Model X. Designed to give you the best of an suv with the storage benefits of a minivan, this prototype offers Telsa’s inventive electric powertrain system performing with extreme efficiency. Going from 0-60 mph in less than five seconds, this CUV features two trunks as there is no engine need, futuristic falcon doors, seating for seven and a large intuitive touchscreen dash. Telsa will be taking reservations for the Model X today at 12 p.m. PST, as production begins late 2013 with shipment scheduled for early 2014.

Tsumori Chisato for Ladurée

wanda — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:46:56 +0000

Tsumori Chisato has teamed up with French macaron boutique Ladurée, art-directing a special cherry-blossom-themed set for the brand’s 150th anniversary. The Paris-based tea salon, which has outlets across Europe, Asia and the US selling its coveted pastel-colored macarons, decided to honor its landmark birthday by partnering with Japanese creator Chisato.

The designer’s trademark colorful style is seen in the packaging she designed for the cherry-blossom-themed set, scheduled to go on sale March 1.

WWD reports February 8 that the designer worked alongside French chef Vincent Lemains on the conception of the pink cherry-blossom-flavored macarons, while a candle inspired by the flower has also been created to accompany the set.

Marc Jacobs Camo Lounge Shorts

wanda — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:34:05 +0000

Get ready for summer with Camo Lounge Shorts and Stinky Rat Polos from Marc Jacobs for Men:

Jay-Z Designing Luxury Suites at Barclays Center

wanda — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:58:41 +0000

Via the WSJ:

The Nets are set to begin marketing 11 luxury suites that will be known as “The Vault at Barclays Center,” a small, high-end space on the event level of the arena. Yes, Jay-Z chose the forks—in addition to offering his input on the Champagne ($300 bottles of Armand de Brignac), the layout (asymmetrical) and much of the décor (lots of black and shimmering metallics).

For the Nets, this is all by design. Jay-Z has the sort of cachet as a cultural icon that makes him uniquely marketable, said Tony Ponturo, the CEO of Ponturo Management Group, a sports consulting firm—particularly for a franchise that’s new to the neighborhood. “If you have someone who’s a bit of a taste maker as part of your ownership, I think you find a way to bring that element into your overall process,” Ponturo said.

The suites themselves, which are still under construction, will be unabashedly bold—and that includes the price tag: $550,000 per year, with a minimum three-year term. That works out to $45,833 per month, instantly making them some of the most expensive rental properties in the city. That’s just slightly less than the $50,000-per-month asking rent on the townhouse in TriBeCa where Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the beleaguered former director of the International Monetary Fund, recently resided.

The tenants of each suite will receive eight tickets in the first 10 rows to all Barclays Center events, including Nets games, other sporting events, concerts and family shows. Yormark said he hopes to book 220 events per year. So here’s some rough math: If each event averages five hours, that means tenants will be paying $500 per hour—or about $8.33 per minute—for access to The Vault. “It enables us to appeal to a different demographic,” Yormark said.

Yormark said Jay-Z actually approached him with a rough concept several years ago, shortly after he acquired a piece of the team. Jay-Z used the word “premium,” Yormark said, and told him that he wanted the new arena to feature a small area where the “who’s who of New York” would congregate. Not just luxury suites, Jay-Z told him, which were essential to any new stadium construction. No, he wanted something more than that.

Last spring, when Sharples and his team first met with Jay-Z, they had him watch an animation that revealed some of the details of the building’s ongoing construction. Sharples recalled that Jay-Z got up from behind his desk, leaned toward the screen and, when it was over, sat quietly for several moments before he shared his vision for the suites—the ambience, the color, the experience.

Indeed, while Barclays Center will feature 100 suites in different parts of the arena (average annual lease: $267,000), The Vault was conceived as a collection of uber-suites, part club scene and part Kasbah, replete with a VIP entrance framed by a 15-foot sheer curtain. The first tenant? Jay-Z himself.

Part of the aesthetic, Sharples said, was based on the metal bottles of Armand de Brignac, which is sponsoring a communal 2,400-square-foot bar at the center of the space. Jay-Z is a big fan. “I think he treats it the way I treat Diet Coke,” said a spokeswoman for the winemaker.

Jack Sparrow $466,000 Gold Statue

wanda — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:56:09 +0000

“Captain Jack Sparrow of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series stands up in gold for 36,000,000 yen (about $466,000). Played by Johnny Depp, this fictional character is offered by Japan based Kurotani Corporation in a limited number of three only. The other-wise scruffy looking character for once gets an opulent treatment. Jack Sparrow in pure 24K gold is 26 cm tall and weighs 1,800 grams.” via Luxury Launches

Interactive animation of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night

wanda — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:39:31 +0000

By Petros Vrellis, an interactive animation of Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Brilliant. The artist states: “A try to visualize the flow of the famous painting “Starry Night” of Vincent Van Gogh. The user can interact with the animation. Also, the sound responds to the flow. Made with openframeworks.”

Win a Valentine’s Dinner on the Concorde

wanda — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:29:12 +0000

British Airways have announced a charity auction that will allow a pair of high-flying romantics to enjoy the ultimate Valentines dinner date.

The airline is inviting couples to bid in the auction for the chance to be wined and dined on board the world’s most iconic aircraft – without even leaving the ground. The highest bidder will win a romantic dinner for two on board the British Airways flagship Concorde G-BOAC at Manchester Airport’s Runway Visitor Park on February 14.

The lucky couple will receive red carpet treatment from the steps of Concorde to their exclusive table for two in the main cabin, where they will be served a three-course dinner – created by a top chef – with a bottle of champagne to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

All proceeds from the auction will go to Flying Start, British Airways’ global charity partnership with Comic Relief whose aim is to raise money to help children living incredibly tough lives in the UK and around the world.

The auction was launched this week by Cheshire toastmaster Ian Parrott, who actually flew to New York on Concorde twice during a previous career.

He said: “Concorde has always offered the ultimate in romance, you don’t have to fly anywhere to appreciate the very intimate and luxurious surroundings of this beautiful aircraft. To have it all to yourself for one evening is possibly the most romantic gesture you can make.”

Anyone is welcome to bid for the ultimate Valentine dinner on Concorde in the company’s e-mail auction, all they have to do is send an e-mail to valentines.concorde@ba.com stating how much they would be prepared to pay for the prize and give their name and contact details. The prize will be awarded to the highest bidder and there is a reserve price of £500. The auction closes on Sunday, February 12 at midnight and the winner will be notified on Monday, February 13.

Win a Valentine’s Dinner on the Concorde

wanda — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:29:12 +0000

British Airways have announced a charity auction that will allow a pair of high-flying romantics to enjoy the ultimate Valentines dinner date.

The auction was launched this week by Cheshire toastmaster Ian Parrott, who actually flew to New York on Concorde twice during a previous career.

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona Reviewed

wanda — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:25:59 +0000

There may not be a more stylish city in all of Europe than Barcelona, and if you don’t believe any hotel could possibly match the mood, the style and the attitude of Spain’s second largest city, then you haven’t experienced the Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona.

Located on the city’s famous Passeig de Gracia, in a mid 20th century building that was a bank in a previous life, the light and airy minimalist décor, with Asian influence, is the perfect home base from which to experience all that Barcelona has to offer. Fashion, dining, nightlife and a myriad of cultural venues, including the famous Gaudi Houses, Casa Batllo and Le Pedrera, are walking distance from the hotel. And it is only a short ride in a taxi to Gaudi’s masterpiece, the spectacular Sagrada Familia church.

Inside the Mandarin Oriental, spacious rooms boast balconies and views of either the Passeig de Gracia or the stunningly landscaped interior garden, while a highly attentive staff is there to meet your every need. With five restaurants to choose from on the property, you can choose based upon your culinary mood from among the Mimosa Garden for seasonal tapas or the funky, all-white, chic Blanc restaurant serving Mediterranean dishes that also boasts an Epicurean Table for breakfast offering Spanish cheeses, meats and breads. For a more formal experience, don’t miss the innovative cuisine by a Michelin star rated chef at the hotel’s Moments restaurant.

Once you’ve experienced the outstanding cuisine, work it all off with a few miles in the lap pool or fitness and wellness center. Or, you can skip the gym and instead head straight to the stunning spa to experience the herbal steam room or any of the holistic treatments in private rooms, or for a uniquely romantic experience, try the couples treatment rooms for luxurious quality time with your significant other.

With an ideal location, unbeatable selection of fine dining and amazingly attentive staff, the Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona is the perfect hotel, in the perfect city, for the most perfectly sophisticated of vacations.