Here today, gone tomorrow. Chef John Fraser’s pop-up restaurant is slated to open for just nine months, giving diners a short-lived gastronomic experience.
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Monthly Archives: February 2011
NY’s storied Chelsea Hotel hits market
New York‘s storied Chelsea Hotel, the classic haunt of artists and hell-raising performers, is for sale and, perhaps, so is its soul.
The 12-floor building with the neon sign “Hotel Chelsea” is a landmark in Manhattan thanks to its long list of famous residents.
Playwright Arthur Miller and singers Janis Joplin and Patti Smith were among those living there. Poet Dylan Thomas died there, as did Nancy, the girlfriend of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious.
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Japan’s young generation closes ‘luxury wallet’
According to a Women’s Wear Daily report, young Japanese shoppers are less impressed by designer brands and more value-driven than their parents.
The consulting firm McKinsey & Co. already reported last July that “almost 30 percent of shoppers under 30 in Japan named price as the most important factor they consider when shopping, compared to just 21 percent for those over age 50″.
As a result of its economic collapse, Japan’s per-head spending has radically declined — a trend that will continue — with the luxury market being particularly affected, having shrunk by 23 percent between 2006 and 2010.
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China biggest luxury goods market by 2020
China will be the world’s biggest luxury goods market by 2020 as its economy booms and an emerging middle class spends a growing chunk of their cash on high-end items.
Over the next decade, Chinese consumers — including a surging number of billionaires — will account for 44 percent of global spending on goods such as bags, vehicles, watches, shoes and clothes, the report by brokerage CLSA said.
The nation’s luxury goods sector was worth $25 billion in 2009, or about 10% of the world market, including purchases by consumers in HK, Macau and Taiwan.
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Dmitry Medvedev Buys $42 Million Megayacht
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has purchased a 53m superyacht valued at approximately $42 million as a venue to host world leaders in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
The Kremlin bought the boat last year, the Guardian reports. The explorer type superyacht, which is presently called Leo Fun, will be renamed as yacht Sirius.
The yacht was built by Proteksan-Turquoise and Turquoise Yacht Construction for an Italian businessman and launched back in 2009.
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Smart ForTwo chocolate for Valentine’s Day
Mercedes Benz on Wednesday unveiled a chocolate-themed version of its Smart car in Tokyo, just a couple of weeks before Valentine’s Day.
In Japan, there’s a tradition which says that women have to buy chocolate for men on this occasion.
Designed by designer Tadaaki Wakamutsu of Japanese luxury jeweler/chocolatier Q-Pot, the unique Smart city car features a special chocolate-themed paint scheme.
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In Dubai, the state of The World is in dispute
A cluster of 300 artificial islands off Dubai‘s coast in the shape of a global map is stable, its developer Nakheel insists, despite a court claim alleging that “The World” was neglected and eroding away.
“There is no issue with the stability of The World islands that are approximately 70 percent sold and handed over,” a Nakheel spokesman said.
“The island purchasers (have) the responsibility to proceed with their developments in due course,” he added.
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Pershing Launches New 115’ Powered by Rolls-Royce
Italian superyacht builder Pershing has launched a new hull in its flagship 115’ range with all the bells and whistles plus a gut-busting engine upgrade.
Fitted with twin diesel MTUs delivering a total of 7,400 hp together with the applied thrust of the two Kamewa Rolls-Royce water-jet propellers, the standard model has an impressive maximum velocity of about 38 knots.
The new 115’ features an additional Vericor TF50 gas turbine, typically used in the aeronautical sector, with a central water-jet propeller producing an additional 5,100 hp, for a total top speed of 52 knots.
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Hong Kong airport lounge tops world’s best
The Wing airport lounge at Hong Kong International Airport has been chosen as the best in the world by guidebook publisher Frommers.
In a guide compiled for USA Today, Frommer’s picked the world’s top ten executive lounges, putting Cathay Pacific‘s 4,500 square meter facility in first place.
Reserved for Cathay’s first and business class passengers, the lounge offers individual bath and shower rooms with their own minibars.
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Mercedes relaunches premium Maybach in India
German carmaker Mercedes Benz reintroduced its hyper-luxury Maybach car in India on Tuesday, pitching it at the country’s growing number of super-rich.
The car, which can touch speeds of 275 kilometres (170 miles) an hour, will be priced at up to 51 million rupees ($1.1 million).
“There are customers out there who can afford the unparalleled luxury of this car,” said Mercedes Benz India chief executive Peter Honegg at the launch, saying the company was aiming its cars at those who can afford private jets.
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Art du Temps Clock [video]
Burberry Spring Summer 2011 Ad Campaign
Updated – Here’s the Burberry Spring/Summer 2011 ad campaign, shot on Brighton beach by famed fashion photographer Mario Testino.
This is the first ever evolving campaign for Burberry, new cast members will be revealed every month. the first pair are models Cara Delevingne and Jacob Young.
Besides Burberry Prorsum new ads also feature Burberry London, Burberry Brit and Burberry accessories.
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Virgin Hotels ‘at least two years away’
Sir Richard Branson has said that his much-anticipated new hotel brand Virgin Hotels is still two years away from launching.
He told the American Lodging and Investment Summit that finding sites for the new hotel chain wasn’t proving easy, although he did confirm a few places where travelers will be able to enjoy Virgin’s almost-legendary hospitality.
San Diego and Washington DC are likely candidates, and Branson also announced that one of the the first sites will be in New Mexico, overlooking the spaceport which will send his Virgin Galactic tourist flights into space.
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Burberry Childrenswear S/S 2011 Campaign
The Burberry Childrenswear campaign for Spring Summer 2011. Updated.
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Moët & Chandon – Rosé Impérial Graffiti Gift Set
Moët & Chandon’s Message On A Bottle gift set is perfect for Valentine’s Day or to celebrate special occasions.
This premium champagne set comes with two flutes, a rosé Impérial bottle with special-edition rose pink sleeve and a gold marker to personalise your present with a message – all beautifully displayed in an elegant, rose-tinted gift box.
The suggested retail price of this Valentine Day Graffiti Kit is $120. It will be available for purchase at wines & spirits shops throughout New York City until Feb 14th.
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Dolce & Gabbana Men’s Spring 2011 Ad Campaign
Models Sam Webb, Tony Ward, Adam Senn, Noah Mills and David Gandy star in Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring / Summer 2011 ad campaign. Shot by Steven Klein.
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Audi Carbon Ski by Audi Concept Design Munich
The Audi Concept Design Munich designed and developed the Audi Carbon Ski concept that combines technology from the motorsports and winter sports industries.
The Audi Carbon Ski has wooden core plus layers of aluminum and titanium, all covered in a carbon case.
At 1,550 grams (with a ski length of 170 cm), the ski will be about 200 grams lighter than comparable models.
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Sweet hotel deals for this Valentine’s Day
A roundup of some Valentine’s Day deals available for those looking to book a short break around February 14.
Hotels.com is offering deals with romantic perks such as complimentary champagne, wine and roses, along with up to 30 percent on rooms for travellers who book by February 14 for travel between February 10 – 21.
North American chain Omni Hotels will launch a year-long romance offer February 10, which offers rates from $199 and includes a bottle of sparking wine and truffles.
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Chinese boost prices in world’s auction houses
A Chinese face or two in the crowd at the world’s auction houses often means one thing: the gavel will fall on a price far beyond the seller’s wildest dreams.
Fierce bidding by Chinese buyers for a vase at a small London auctioneer in November, for example, drove the price up nearly 40 times beyond its estimate, from around $1.9 million to $70 million.
It was the highest price ever paid for a Chinese artwork sold at auction and equivalent to a huge lottery win for the sellers, who found the 18th Century Qianlong Emperor-era piece while clearing out a house after a relative died.
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Dunhill Biometroc Wallet
The most secure wallet ever, the Dunhill Biometroc Wallet. This wallet is secured with a biometric fingerprint reader, ensuring that only you can open it
It can be linked via Bluetooth to the owner’s mobile phone – sounding an alarm if the two are separated by more than 5 metres!
This provides a brilliant warning if either the phone or wallet is stolen or misplaced.
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