With its white-columned neoclassical facade, the Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, has been a stately—if slightly imposing—retreat in scenic Nob Hill since opening in 1991. But the hotel’s century-old skin, which formerly housed the West Coast headquarters of a life insurance company, belies fresh new interiors that reflect the modern momentum of the City by the Bay. Completed in March, the Ritz-Carlton’s three-year renovation has transformed each of the 336 rooms and suites into sleek urban escapes featuring state…

Fifteen years since the launch of the original Aero 8, Morgan is introducing the fifth generation of its iconic sports car. The new design, influenced by classic open cars from the 1960s, stays true to the company’s styling—with low-slung seating and a dramatic clamshell trunk that contains the double-lined mohair soft top. The car is also available with an optional hard top. The interior styling has been updated with new dashboard arrangements, real-wood accents, leather trim, and textured box-woven carpets.
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Couples seeking the perfect place for a wedding ceremony will surely find it against a backdrop of bursting Fourth of July fireworks on their own private-island resort at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa. The resort in the Lower Florida Keys sits on a 5.5-acre, palm-fringed island, accessible only by boat or seaplane. The We Saw Stars island-buyout package ($215,000) provides exclusive access to the property and is available for the weekend of July 3 through 5, 2015, with food and accommodations for up to 6…

Chef Thomas Keller’s three-Michelin-star restaurant the French Laundry—Napa Valley’s most notable name in fine dining, known for nine-course tasting menus that change daily—is now changing its kitchen. For the French Laundry kitchen renovation, the main kitchen will be expanded in size by 25 percent and will feature a custom vaulted ceiling—with skylights and sound-dampening panels—that evokes a linen tablecloth unfurling in flight. Ranges by Hestan Commercial, two Molteni suites by Electrolux, NRG solar panel…

The Geneva Suite at the Grand Hotel Kempinski in Geneva is not only the largest continuous hotel suite in Europe, it also proves there is safety in numbers. The 11,625-square-foot residence takes up the hotel’s top two floors and features bulletproof bay windows, a dedicated security room armed with closed-circuit television, and a security guard to ensure high-profile guests—such as prior hotel guests Natalie Portman, Clive Owen, and Gwyneth Paltrow—have peace of mind during their stay. The palatial playgroun…

More immersive than your standard food festival, Chef Fest, held annually in the fall, will again be one of the year’s most hotly anticipated events at Four Seasons Hual?lai at Historic Ka‘?p?lehu. The resort’s five-night Taste of Chef Fest package—priced from $970 per night for an ocean-view room—includes a $750 resort credit that can be applied toward the event’s à la carte activities, classes, and dinners.

On Halloween weekend, October 28 through 31, Chef Fest kick offs with a large group event where gue…

The airplanes we take for granted today seemed impossible not that long ago. Aeronautical technology has progressed by leaps and bounds over the years—and designers, engineers, and scientists continue working tirelessly to envision the aircraft of tomorrow. These projects are not just idle daydreams, but an important step in discovering what is possible and integrating that knowledge into future designs.

Even Old King Cole needs a refreshment every once in a while. After watching patrons partake at his namesake bar at the St. Regis New York for the better part of 70 years, the king and his subjects in the establishment’s 30-by-8-foot mural were taken down in 2013 for a cleaning and restoration. The whimsical artwork reclaimed its prominent perch that fall, when the bar reopened as part of a property-wide renovation that has returned the St. Regis to the top of New York’s hotel hierarchy. The midtown landmark, …

For those looking for the ultimate escape, Netherlands-based Waterproof Expeditions and U-Boat Worx—the latter manufactured the newly released HP Sports Sub 2—have teamed up to offer a series of submarine pilot courses off the Mediterranean island of Malta for the month of August. The excursions take place aboard an air-conditioned, electrically propelled U-Boat Worx C-Explorer 3, capable of an underwater speed of 3 knots and a diving depth of 3,280 feet. The two-day introductory course gives participants an e…

Unveiled at this year’s New York International Auto Show, the Lincoln Continental concept is a reboot of the fabled model that exudes old-school American luxury. The design is a radical departure for Lincoln, forgoing the double-wing grille found on its other current vehicles for a more traditional, elegant face. But not all reviews have been glowing: Bentley’s chief designer Luc Donckerwolke reportedly accused Lincoln designers of copying the Bentley Flying Spur. And while the two sedans share similar proport…