All posts by admin

Edward Fickett–Designed Beach Home in Malibu Goes on Sale for $8 Million

With the ocean just off its backyard and its stone steps leading down to the water, 24142 Malibu Road in Malibu, Calif., is well suited for surfers, swimmers, and beach dwellers. The home, designed by California Modernism architectural pioneer Edward Fickett, is coming to the market for the very first time for a cool $8 million. Built in 1973, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom home features sweeping high ceilings, an open floor plan, and an abundance of natural lighting.

The 3,946-square-foot home’s backyar…

A Special Lamborghini for a Special Cause

Saturday, August 15, Jay Leno will present a car at the Gooding & Company Monterey sale that held a special place for its owner and the people who knew him. Frederic Paroutaud owned his 1967 Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 for 30 years, until his suicide at age 58 on June 28, 2012.

Fred’s passing shocked everyone who knew him. Even Susan, his wife of 25 years, had no inkling that he suffered from bipolar disorder; and only in the aftermath did she and friends piece together the tiniest clues. No one knew Fred’s …

Quesada’s Private Reserve Cigar Offers a Smooth and Mild Smoke

The holographic Quesada Cigars tobacco-leaf logo on the band is the first indication that this is no ordinary cigar. Likewise, the depth of coloring on the medium tan wrapper and the spicy-sweet aroma of the tobaccos in the filler portend a luxuriously mild smoke. All of this comes to fruition upon lighting the new, limited-edition Quesada Reserva Privada, providing a rounded, medium flavor reminiscent of soft white bread that never varies from start to finish.

One would expect no less from an 18-year-old E…

A Scarce Jewelry Collection from Assael Focuses on Wildlife Conservation

The nearly 100-year-old pearl house Assael, known for its exquisite rare pearls, is turning its attention to wildlife preservation with the Endangered Species Collection by Julie Parker for Assael, a line of jewelry created in collaboration with the London designer Julie Parker. Each piece in the collection—featuring large-pendant necklaces as well as cuff links and a bracelet—depicts an animal known to be at risk of extinction, from a Siberian tiger to a polar bear. The 18-karat, white- or yellow-gold sculptu…

Airbus Reveals Plans for Its New Twin-Engine X6 Helicopter

Following some of the recent interest generated by the Airbus EC145 Mercedes-Benz Style Helicopter and Airbus H160 medium-sized helicopter—the French aircraft manufacturer plans to spend two years consulting with customers and developing the details of the all-new, next-generation Airbus X6 heavy helicopter. It is designed to be robust enough for hardworking missions like serving oil rigs, while versatile enough to satisfy VIP fliers. The company says the twin-engine X6 will set new standards in the industry f…

A Caribbean Resort Debuts Three New Private Villas with Direct Beach Access

Grace Bay Club, a Grace Bay Resort, a high-end tropical getaway in Turks and Caicos on Providenciales Island, recently debuted three private beachfront villas that are now available for booking. Located on a long stretch of powdery white beach, the Grace Bay Resorts Residences villas each feature five bedrooms, 18-foot ceilings, and Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. With 6,400-square-feet of interior elegance and plenty of outdoor space, the villas are well suited for families and large groups.

Two of the villa…

I.W. Harper Bourbon Makes Its Stateside Return

The elegantly retro, diamond-faceted decanter of I.W. Harper 15 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon looks as if it has just been beamed into the 21st century from the 1920s, and with good reason: It marks the return of one of America’s most iconic Kentucky bourbons from the pre- and post-Prohibition eras. I.W. Harper was created in 1879 by brothers Isaac Wolfe (hence the “I.W.”) and Bernard Bernheim and won its first gold medal in 1885. By the early part of the 20th century it had become a top-tier brand, but a…

New dCS Rossini Line Beautifully Simplifies the Digital Audiophile Experience

With the variety of digital audio sources now available—from personal collections to disruptive, high-end, Internet music-streaming services—ensuring easy access to everything on a personal audio system can be a challenge. Data Conversion Systems (dCS) has stepped in to resolve this problem with the new dCS Rossini line, which offers an array of features without compromising audio purity.

The Rossini DAC (about $23,340) includes many digital audio inputs for connecting to CD players, computers, or other Uni…

Sneak Peek: The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath, England

Chaucer aside, this spa-focused hotel will rejuvenate the wife’s affinity for the bath.

Why Go: True enough to its name, England’s UNESCO-recognized city of Bath is in fact sitting on natural hot springs. In 2006, the city announced plans to recover three derelict buildings to create a 99-room luxury hotel that offers one exceptional amenity: access to the thermal waters that run beneath the city and the hotel property. Opened in July, the Gainsborough Bath Spa includes the two-story Spa Village Bath, a new…

The Ferrari 488 Spider Convertible Revealed [BREAKING NEWS & VIDEO]

Ferrari unveils the new 488 Spider, starting at $275,000.
The convertible can reach 62 mph in 3 seconds and 124 mph in 8.7 seconds.
It is powered by the same 3.9-liter, turbocharged V-8 found in the Ferrari 488 GTB
Its aluminum roof can be retracted in 14 seconds.
The 488 Spider will start from $275,000.

[brightcove:4387505069001]

Ferrari just took the wraps off of the Ferrari 488 Spider, the latest masterpiece by the legendary Italian marque. Touted as the most powerful mid-rear-engine-moun…