Luxist

Confederate Shows its Dark Side With P120 Black Flag

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) — Jun 24th 2010 9:01PM

Confederate Motorcycles P120 Black Flag – Click above for high-res image gallery

Never let it be said that Confederate Motors lacks persistence. Despite facing a number of seemingly insurmountable hurdles, including the destruction of its operations in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and a subsequent move to Alabama, the American purveyors of highly desirable motorcycles is back at it again with a new dark take on its own P120 Fighter.

The new P120 Black Flag uses the same fuel-carrying frame as the standard Fighter, along with the standard double-wishbone front ford assembly. Also in use is the carry-over 120-cubic-inch V-twin engine with 160 horsepower and 135 pound-feet of torque... not that any more power is necessary.

Confederate plans to build just 50 examples of the P120 Black Flag for an unknown sum. Whatever that asking price may be, buyers are sure to appreciate the bike's exclusivity and detailing. See for yourself in our gallery below.

Gallery: Confederate P120 Black Flag

[Source: Confederate Motorcycles]

Tags: confederate, confederate black flag, confederate fighter, Confederate Motorcycles, confederate p120 black flag, Confederate P120 Fighter Combat, p120 black flag, P120 Fighter Combat

CharityBuzz Auctions Italian Lots For Charity

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Jun 24th 2010 8:01PM

Italian style in all its fabulousness forms the focus of Charitybuzz's first international charity auction. The auction is a debut for the launched charitybuzzEurope platform and benefits the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation of Europe. The auction runs until July 8 and includes uniquely Italian experiences like the chance to meet Andrea Bocelli backstage after you see him perform in Tuscany, Italy; lunch with Ferruccio Ferragamo, chairman of Ferragamo; a day with Franca Sozzani, Vogue Italia Editor in Chief; a papal mass with Pope Benedict XVI and tour of the Vatican; a weekend of wine tasting at the Ferrari Estate in Trent and a day on the set of Giovanni Veronesi's upcoming movie, "Manuale d'Amore 3" plus two tickets to the premiere in Rome, Italy.

"By bidding on these incredible experiences, people will be supporting cutting-edge human rights defenders from around the world, including those fighting for the right to water and reconstruction in Haiti, the victims of the BP oil disaster, citizens of Darfur working for the peace process, and more," said Kerry Kennedy, honorary president of RFK Europe. "And, donors will help the next generation, including 180,000 Italian high school students now enrolled in the Speak Truth to Power human rights education curriculum, learning how to make change for a more just and peaceful world."

Tags: andrea bocelli, charity auction, charitybuzz, ferruccio ferragamo, franca sozzani, Pope Benedict, Pope Benedict XVI, rfk foundation, robert f kennedy

Jaguar Celebrates 75 Years with Limited Edition XKR 75

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) — Jun 24th 2010 7:02PM

Jaguar XKR 75 – Click above to enlarge

Jaguar is celebrating its 75th birthday this year with a special limited edition of its stunningly beautiful XKR coupe, called, fittingly enough, the XKR 75. What sporting Jaguar would be complete without a compelling drivetrain? No worries in that department, as the British marque has managed to squeeze 20 more horsepower from its 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine.

The total of 530 horsepower and 483 pound-feet can push the luxury coupe to 60 miles per hour in just 4.4 seconds (.2 seconds quicker than the standard XKR) and on to a governed top speed of 174 mph. Of course, the upgrades extend past the powertrain.

A new Stratus Grey finish is used on the XKR 75, along with red brake calipers that contrast the 20-inch gloss Vortex forged lightweight alloy wheels. Finally, there is an optional body graphic that runs from the front bumper to the rear haunches rounds out the package.

Inside, the XKR 75 gets charcoal leather with ivory stitching, a dash and center console finished in gloss piano black and a Jet suedecloth. Just 75 of these special edition models will be built. The car will debut at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed and will be made available to order from July 2010 in the UK priced from £85,500.

[Source: Jaguar]

Tags: jaguar, jaguar xkr, jaguar xkr 75, Jaguar XKR Special Edition, xkr, xkr 75

Wine Pouches Are Picnic Ready

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Jun 24th 2010 6:01PM

Wine packaging continues to evolve. We've seen more and more wines in boxes and cartons but Glenora Wine Cellars in Dundee, New York is debuting a wine in the AstraPouch pouch. The Trestle Creek Riesling is available in 1.5 liter AstraPouches. Like the wines, the pouches are made in New York. The pouches provide similar advantages to the bag-in-box but without the box. A one-way spigot keeps oxygen out. The pouches have a modest transportation footprint and chill faster. The light weight also makes them a good option for picnics. The wine itself has apricot and peach aromas and pairs with chicken, fish or other light fare and can be served as an apertif.

The pouches contain around 10 glasses and cost $17.99.

[via Wines & Vines]

Tags: astrapouches, box wine, glenora wine, wine pouches

Alexander Wang Amber Spiral Notebook Clutch, Handbag of the Day

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) — Jun 24th 2010 5:02PM

The Alexander Wang Amber Spiral Notebook Clutch is an adorable conversation piece -- and you can put your money in it.

Rather than making the hardware look like a spiral, they went ahead and made it a spiral. This embossed, lustrous black cowhide clutch opens just like a notebook to reveal three layered inside pockets in smooth, softer leather.

The bag is 11"W X 7"H X 1"D and goes with virtually anything, as, at first glance, no one will realize it's your purse. Pair it with cute croc heels and a monochrome dress to achieve a sexy, saucy secretarial look.

Also, keep a pen and paper inside if at all possible; someone might ask you to write something down.

The Alexander Wang Amber Spiral Notebook Clutch is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $625.00.

Tags: alexander wang, clutch, handbag, handbag of the day, purse

Walk Away Monet, London Art Sale Sets Record Yet Disappoints

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Jun 24th 2010 4:02PM

Usually Monet's waterlilies paintings are hot sellers but Claude Monet's 1906 painting "Nympheas" failed to sell during an auction of Impressionist and Modern Art at Christie's London on June 23, 2010. Monet's work was estimated at 30 million pounds to 40 million pounds ($44 million to $59 million) but bidding stalled out at 29 million pounds.

The sale brought in 153 million pounds ($227 million). The total set a new London auction record, beating a 147 million pound sale set by Soethby's in February, but fell short of estimates of 164-231 million pounds. The other top lot, a Blue Period portrait by Picasso put up for auction by Andrew Lloyd Webber's charity, sold for 34.8 million pounds. Although the sale wasn't as strong as hoped it still indicates that there is strength in the art market.

Tags: art market, christies, monet, money, picasso, sothebys

The Million Dollar Wine Cabinet

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Jun 24th 2010 3:01PM

The Antique Wine Company has announced the completion of the next four in its series of nine architectural cabinets featuring the most celebrated Châteaux in Bordeaux. The collectors' items were commissioned by The Antique Wine Company from LINLEY and feature Château d'Yquem, Château Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion and Château Petrus. This follows the Château Margaux architectural cabinet, the first of which was bought by the château itself.

The bespoke cabinets contain 18 bottles of wine, the finest vintages produced during the 20th and 21st centuries, with the Yquem model, shown above, accompanied by a complete vertical collection of Château d'Yquem spanning 141 consecutive vintages from 1868 to the latest current release. This ultimate collection also includes several letters and memorabilia retrieved from the Château archives during the Lur Saluces era and will be sold by The Antique Wine Company during September 2010 by private negotiation and expected to realize a value of over $1 million. The other châteaux are each priced at £149,000.

As Château Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion celebrate the 75th anniversary of the acquisition of Château Haut-Brion by Clarence Dillon, one of the Château Haut-Brion cabinets is being shown for the first time during Masterpiece London, which runs from through June 29. Others yet to be released by The Antique Wine Company in the series are: Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour and Château Cheval Blanc.

Tags: antique wine company, chateau dyquem, chateau haut-brion, chateaux margaux, wine, wine cabinet, wine cabinets

New Exhibit Explores Cleopatra's Lost Kingdom

by Bobbie Leigh (RSS feed) — Jun 24th 2010 2:01PM

"Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt," a new exhibition at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, is a crash-course on Egypt at the time of Cleopatra. More than just a show of artifacts and stunning statues, it is also a tribute to one of the most ambitious underwater expeditions ever taken. This highly dramatic show where you see statues being lifted from the sea on videos and then see them in front of you in amazingly pristine condition even after being buried for centuries in the murky waters of the Mediterranean is a winner. Your visit starts out with a brief film about the life of Cleopatra where you learn that she was one smart woman, highly educated, a linguist, a diplomat, and even a naval commander. In the galleries, an audioguide narrated by an actress portraying Cleopatra leads you through the various stages of her life (69-30BC) and death. Her suicide was probably brought on by fear of what the Romans would do to her after the death of Mark Antony (her lover after Julius Caesar was murdered) and their join defeat at the Battle of Actium.

Tags: Cleopatra, franck goddio, franklin institute, Hellenistic Egypt, museum, Philadelphia, underwater archaeology

Stone Ridge Farm, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Jun 24th 2010 1:02PM

Need a lot of room in Virginia but maybe not quite at the Albemarle level? Welcome to Stone Ridge Estate a property on over 2500 acres of land in Concord, Virginia. The main house is a six-bedroom Georgian Colonial Manor home with over 22,000 square feet of space. The home's many amenities include a 6,000 bottle wine cellar with room enough for a formal dining table, a multi-media room, billiards room, arcade, massage area and indoor pool. The property has six guest homes, with 21 bedrooms total. There is also a 20 stall barn with wash stall, feed room & tack room, indoor and outdoor tennis courts and swimming pools, a bowling alley, shooting gallery, softball field and a sports complex. The sports complex is designed for a crowd, it has a commercial kitchen and dining for 50 or more. It's listed currently as price on request but other spots on the internet show it at $17.5 million.

Gallery: Stone Ridge Farm

Tags: concord, estate of the day, stone ridge, virginia real estate

Nina Ricci N031 Ladies Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) — Jun 24th 2010 12:01PM

While I am not necessarily in love with the looks of this watch, I do like what went in to it. The new Nina Ricci N031 timepieces for ladies uses Milanese thin mesh metal which wraps around itself like a hard candy wrapper. A true combination between a bracelet and a watch, the N031 hugs the wrist as the "C" style bracelet can be adjusted for size. Thin mesh metal is quite hard to work with in many applications, so I truly like the creativity here. It is a piece that looks good with denim or a gown. The watch itself is 28mm wide and comes with a variety of dial choices as well as diamond decoration options. Inside the watch is a Swiss Ronda 751 quartz movement. Crystal is mineral, but with one of those sapphire coatings that make them a bit more scratch resistant. For the right outfit and women, this is an interesting piece.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: N031, Nina Ricci, watch

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