Filed under: Estates, Water

This home on 1.94 acres right on Long Island Sound offers more than a room with a view — how about a whole house with a view? Located in Riverside, Conn. (part of tony Greenwich, where Kathie Lee Gifford and hubby Frank live) and built in 1956, this estate is offered for $12,900,000.

Sited in the gated Harbor Point Association, a peninsula of more than 500 feet of shoreline, this Contemporary Colonial offers the next owner the chance to build under current zoning for a new 11,000-plus square foot custom waterfront estate or live in the existing home, which is light-filled and recently updated with a cook’s kitchen, built-in bookshelves, five tiled baths, new systems and new landscaping by a professional designer. There are two family rooms and two master suites among six bedrooms on both first and second floors. Three fireplaces and an artist’s studio complete the picture.

Walk or jog to Elias Point, a sandy beach. A spectacularly landscaped enclave, historic Harbor Point is situated on the sweeping grounds of the former 49-acre Frederick T. Bonham estate, “Walhall,” a legendary LI Sound private property with some of Southern Connecticut’s best water views. The association’s other amenities include a boat dock, boat mooring, picnicking and fishing privileges.

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Continue reading Riverside, Conn., with Water Views, Estate of the Day

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Madonna has been fined $270,000 by London's Wembley Stadium. The "Material Girl" hitmaker incurred the hefty fee after running over the stadium's strict 10.30 pm curfew by 40 minutes on September 11 - $100,000 for every 15 minutes she was late.

A source says, "The concert was meant to start at 8.30 pm but Madonna didn't come on stage until 9.10 pm. The gig ended at 11.10 pm so she was quite a bit over. Her people knew about the possible implications for going over the curfew but this is a pretty hefty fine, even for Madonna."

Madonna is not the first pop star to fall foul of Wembley`s curfew. British singer George Michael was fined $260,000 when his concert also ran over time last year.

The "Sweet&Sticky" tour will finish in Brazil on December 21.

Catamarans suddenly have become the coolest things to own and we have been hearing a lot about luxurious catamarans lately. If you were wondering which is the latest and the talk of the town, it has to be the Audi R8 inspired catamaran designed by Bo…

Filed under: Gadgets, Services

It used to be that having a mobile phone was a fairly expensive treat but oh how things have changed. In a strange twist it now seems that owning a landline has become the true luxury.

A recent Nielsen survey found that not only have 17% of homes already gone landline-less but that number is predicted to jump to a full 1/5 of the population (20%) by the end of the year.

So what’s causing this trend? Finances, for most. It’s a cold hard fact that for most people cell phones are cheaper to own and operate than landlines, all factors considered, and in today’s ever-tightening economy luxuries like home phone service are getting cut out. Who would have thought, expensive and fancy as cell phones are getting these days, that the real status symbol would become the clunky home phone?

Via psfk

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Sometimes, a high-tech LCD monitor is just not enough to please decadent souls like ours, and hence it calls for more luxury and bling. Alphascan has launched the Prestige Haute, an LCD monitor adorned with Swarovski crystals. The LCD monitor…

Filed under: Handbags

With all the fall colors coming to the forefront it is a breath of fresh air to see this bag in a classically beautiful rose petal color. The Miu Miu Nappa Patch Leather Bag brings together narrow slices of sweet pink leather and a twisted leather shoulder strap in one fabulous package. Complete with a zip fastening along the top edge, a small logo discreetly set, and a satin lining this functional day bag will give your ensemble a pop of great color and a little bounce in your step for $1,445. I really like the variety in the shades of pink between the strips.
(19″ x 15″ x 6″ with 8″ handle drop)

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Motor fans would definitely have heard about the mystery that surrounds The Stig. And if you have been wanting to know more about the mysterious and often elusive Stig, you may be curious to know that his number plate went on auction recently. The…

Filed under: Art, Lux Tips

Know what? Your local art gallery wants you to come look at the art. It’s not all about money. You don’t have to be a prospective buyer. Most art is made to be seen and digested by the public.

While an invitation to, say, the Louvre’s special exhibition opening party might be hard to procure, your local art gallery is probably advertising their next opening in your newspaper or event magazine, and it is probably free!

Art openings often include free wine and free hors d’oeuvres, and always include mingling with interesting arty people and, best of all, the ART.

So, go to art gallery openings.

It’s just another easy way to make life more lux for cheap or free.

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Filed under: Jewelry

With rubies from Myanmar/Burma being banned by many Western countries, the hunt has been on for rubies that come from a less politically sensitive area. In the last few years, there has been increasing exploration for rubies in Greenland. Just as Canadian diamonds are sometimes seen as an easy way around the potential harmful associations with some African diamonds, Greenland’s rubies seem like a no-conflict solution, one that could benefit both the companies investing and Greenland’s people.

But as Marc Choyt over at Fair Jewelry points out, that may not be the case. He has written a series of posts that go into great depth on this complex issue. To summarize: for years, Greenland’s Inuit people have come across rubies and picked them up on their travels and sometimes sold them but now with big companies such as True North Gems exploring the area for ruby deposits, some Greenlanders feel they are being pushed away from the ruby business. They assert that the rough ruby shown at right, valued at half a million dollars was confiscated from its Inuit owner and that it is just part of a campaign to keep the Greenland people out of the potentially lucrative mining business.

The story of what’s happening in Greenland is complicated and Marc’s done a very thorough job of looking at both sides. He traces the journey of Neils Madsen, a Greenlander who found himself caught up in the ruby battle simply because he wished to dig for rubies in an area where exploration was taking place. A conflict with people working for True North Gems and the government led to him forming the August 16th Union (the confrontation took place on August 16, 2007), a group whose objective was to secure the rights of all Greenlanders to artisanally mine and sell rubies. Right now Greenlanders are now allowed only to sell semiprecious gems, not precious gems. Madsen has circulated a petition on behalf of the August 16th Union, demanding the rights to have small scale mining and selling of rubies as guaranteed under Article 32. This petition has gathered 2600 signatures, which is four and a half percent of the entire nation of 57,000.

He also interviewed Andrew Lee Smith, Founder and CEO of True North Gems who says he and his company support of small scale mining and selling of rubies by Native Greenlanders as long as it is done within the parameters of the law (and as long as his company has the right to explore and potentially mine rubies in compliance with the laws of Greenland.) He believes that the August 16 Union’s main issue is not with True North Gems but with the existing laws of Greenland and that the union is a loud, radical minority.

True North does keep a chain of custody and assurance of source on the stones so that the Greenland rubies aren’t mixed with rubies from other places which is what happened initially with Canadian diamonds. Right now the company isn’t selling materials since they need the consent of the Greenland government and a mining license (currently they are still in the exploration phase). They are hoping to establish a commercial ruby operation in Greenland and sell the stones as Greenland branded material.

Over at Fair Jewelry you can sign the petition to support the rights of native Greenlanders to mine the stones from their own land.

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Very rarely do we come across exclusive golfing gear specially crafted for women. However, times are changing and since more and more women are taking up the game with passion, Adams Golf is out to woo all female golfers with the Limited Edition…

Aicon Group has opened a new head office in Miami Beach in September. The Aicon yachts are now moored at the Sunset Harbor Yacht Club.

The transfer of the Aicon Yachts Americas headquarters from Fort Lauderdale to the more centrally located Miami Beach will allow for better management of U.S. sales as well as those of Central and South America.

Aicon Yachts is active in the design, construction and marketing of luxury motor boats and yachts. The Aicon range is composed by Flybridge and Open boats from 54 to 85 feet. Aicon won twice the "World Yacht Trophy" at the Festival International de la Plaisance in Cannes.

Filed under: Handbags

In its latest design collaboration, mass-retailer Target has teamed with handbag designer Anya Hindmarch, famous most recently for her cheeky and impossible-to-get “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” tote. This group of faux patent bags is a bit more styled and features options ranging from an oversized clutch to a chic yet roomy tote. Though the collection won’t hit stores until October 12, shoppers will be able to purchase online at Anya Hindmarch’s site from October 8 through October 12. Mouses, on your marks.

[via Racked LA]

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Filed under: Art, Big Givers

anThe Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) has been the recipient of some big gifts lately by people eager to get their name on the door. First we had the Eli Broad’s new building now comes the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion. The Resnicks, who own both the Fiji Water and Pom Wonderful brands will give $45 million for new LACMA pavilion designed by architect Renzo Piano. They will also give about $10 million more in artwork. The LA Times notes that Lynda Resnick has a long history with the museum, she has served on LACMA’s board of trustees since 1992 and is chair of the museum’s acquisitions committee. The new pavilion is expected to open in mid-2010.

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A game of chess requires immense concentration and smart gray cells. But of what use are these qualities if the players aren’t motivated to play? The usual plastic, glass or wooden chess games are found in every kid’s toy chest. If you are…

Yesterday’s desks and tables have transformed into today’s workstations. With changing times, the function and the name have changed to suit the lifestyle. However, the fundamental role of existing as a platform to carry out everyday jobs remains…

Filed under: Auctions, Art

Banksy, the British graffiti artist who remains semi-anonymous, had five of his works at a Lyon and Turnbull auction in London over the weekend. None of them sold.

Part of the problem stemmed from Banksy’s refusal to claim the work as his own. Banksy has a history of stating that street art should remain in its places of origin, and this group of pieces had been moved. In the past the controversial artist’s work has earned double the expected auction price.

[via The New York Times]

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Jennifer Lopez launches her new fragrance “Deseo For Men” at Macy`s Herald Square in New York City on Monday.

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

I know I said in a recent post that some days I’m celebbed-out, but darn it, they just keep making news! Case in point: Hot couple David and Victoria Beckham have teamed up for another commercial venture. On September 26, the duo launched their new Beckham Signature Fragrance Collection at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City. Let’s hope it doesn’t go the way of her clothing collection.

Anyway … about 2,000 fans showed up in the rain to see the dynamic duo release their fragrances — Signature for Her and Signature for Him. “It’s great for me to be able to create a fragrance for him, but he is much more involved than he gives himself credit for,” gushed Victoria. “David has such amazing taste!”

“The new venture reportedly represents a foray into more prestige branding and is meant to reflect their new image since their establishment in California,” mimifroufrou.com reported. “It is not entirely clear what this means, but it seems to be an allusion to a more ostentatious, glamorous Californian lifestyle and maybe something to do with the myth of the American dream.”

Signature for Her, a fruity floriental, was developed by Beckham with Sylvie Fischer from Takasago. It opens with anise flower and candy apple; has a heart of orchid, heliotrope, and vanilla; and a drydown of patchouli, amber, and musk. “I love white orchids, and I wanted something light,” said Beckham. “I can’t bear it when you can smell someone before you see them.”

Signature for Him, a fresh woody oriental concocted by Beckham and Beatrice Piquet of International Flavors & Fragrances, opens with mandarin, watermelon, and marine notes; has a heart of fresh living lantana, cypress, and spicy juniper berry, and a drydown of moss, sensual white amber and patchouli.

The Eaux de Toilette will retail for $52 and $62 for her, and $50 and $60 for him.

Of note: Most of the comments I saw on this news focused on what the two were wearing (David: Tom Ford suit, Victoria: Antonio Berardi outfit and heel-less boots).

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Watching movies is all about luxury and technology, right at home, and that’s when it becomes something worth talking about. If you have always dreamed about a customized home theater which is ultra-high-tech and cool, you may have finally reached…

If you think you can be the next big thing in the Hollywood, here is something for you. For bloated egos and snotty noses, the launching of a platinum infused moisturizer must do the trick. La prairie has launched the Cellular Cream Platinum Rare,…