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 Cold Play
You’ve just kicked off your snowshoes. A fire blazes in a pit surrounded by freshly fallen snow, as you take shelter nearby in an elegantly outfitted lean-to overlooking the frozen lake. Later that evening you make your way down a path to the Great Hall for a seven-course gourmet dinner. A rustic retreat built for the William Avery Rockefellers in the heart of the Adirondacks, The Point is a throwback to the days of Edith Wharton-style country luxury, and today this former Adirondack Great Camp is every bit the unhurried respite from hectic city life that it was in the day. (800) 255-3530, www.thepointresort.com — NICOLE ALPER
| | South Beach Style
By far the most breathlessly awaited Miami opening this season is the Gansevoort South Hotel, Spa, and Residences, which promises to draw the beautiful people as its older sibling in Manhattan’s hot Meatpacking District does. It spans an entire city block, boasts a massive rooftop pool, a David Barton Gym and Spa, and a restaurant by Philippe Chow. Set on the north end of Collins Avenue, the next epicenter of South Beach, the dreamy destination is no small endeavor: It encompasses the 334-room Gansevoort South Hotel and 259 luxury condominiums called The Residences at Gansevoort South. Architect Stephen B. Jacobs and interior designer Andi Pepper, the team behind the flagship Gansevoort property in New York, have infused Gansevoort South with the same stylish sophistication. (305) 604-6700, www.gansevoortsouth.com
— LAURA VOGEL | Blissful Save
With the Bliss new HOMME IMPROVEMENT line,
even the guys can get in on the spa skin trend. The grooming line includes thermal shaving cream ($18), a coriander-scented cream that warms upon contact with the skin and contains essential oils that stimulate beta-endorphins, making for a soothing shave. Their post-shave
repair lotion ($18) soothes just-shaved skin and helps minimize your five o’clock shadow. (888) 243-8825, www.blissworld.com
— LORI STACY
| A Golfer's Paradise
Only four devotees a year will be lucky enough to take part in the 30-day PINEHURST GOLF SABBATICAL, but for those with a month and $29,500 to spare, the total immersion pilgrimage sounds like a bargain as well as a rapturous dream. Virtually unlimited play on the North Carolina resort’s eight courses and a 30-day supply of Titleists might be enough. But the offerings just pile on from there: one-on-one lessons and game analysis, including analysis with a sports psychologist; lessons on how to read greens; equipment tips; and club fitting. And that’s just on the course. Along with deluxe accommodations, the run of the resort
includes spa treatments, meals, laundry service, use of an Acura, a personal service planner, a week’s companion pass, and more than a few golf-laden extras. (910) 235-8544, www.pinehurstsabbatical.com — THOMAS BEDELL
| Comfort From the Cold
’Tis the season for dry skin. Harsh winter weather can wreak havoc on your outer layer, but a good skincare product can be your body’s best defense. Luckily, we’ve found a few to combat the cold.
■ Espa’s WINTER RESCUE COLLECTION contains four products that will add moisture and protection to lackluster skin. The $90 kit comes with Botanical Rescue, Botanical Lip Balm, White Clay Hand Cream, and Replenishing Face Treatment Oil.
(877) 377-2872, www.espaonline.com
■ Lily Garfield, owner of THE COS BAR, was inspired to open her line of beauty boutiques after moving to Aspen, Colorado, and giving her skin a taste of the dry mountain air. The boutiques are now scattered among hotspots such as Vail, Santa Fe, Wailea, Atlantic City, and, of course,
Aspen. A Cos Bar pick for combating the cold: Confort Extreme from Sisley Paris, a protective and nutritive cream for dry or sensitive skin. $180. (800) 722-8982, www.cosbar.comwww.cosbar.com
■PREVIOUS REBALANCING FORMULA from Beauty by
Clinica Ivo Pitanguy was designed to restore moisture to dry and very dry skin. The cream’s botanical extracts help boost cell activity, detoxify, and revitalize. $275.
Available at
Neiman Marcus. www.neiman
marcus.com — L.S.
| In the Swing
Like its California counterpart, The Kingdom at Reynolds Plantation in Georgia is where TaylorMade tour pros go to refit their games. Now any player (for $9,000) can plunge into the total game-enhance-
ment TAYLORMADE TOUR EXPERIENCE. Players will receive personal instruction and a custom fitting for a complete set of TaylorMade sticks on day one. On day two, players wield the very clubs, built on-site overnight, and play a round with a tour pro such as David Toms, Joe Ogilvie, Scott Verplank, or Hale Irwin playing alongside. (866) 499-5366, www.reynoldsplantation.com
— T.B.
Techo Chic
Gillette has well-established credentials as a pioneering force in men’s shaving technology, having created the Mach III razor (among other safety devices) to reduce facial irritation by using fewer strokes. Now the century-old brand is at it again, this time partnering with The Art of Shaving, purveyors of fine men’s grooming products and accessories, on a high- style shave line called the FUSION CHROME COLLECTION. The focal piece of the chrome-plated collection is a $150 power razor with five PowerGlide blades spaced closer together for an even smoother shave and a built-in LED spotlight to see fine whiskers other razors miss. Fusion also includes a manual razor, a badger-haired shave brush, and assorted stands starting from $75. (800) 493-2212, www.theartofshaving.com
— WILLIAM KISSEL
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| Winter Wear
When the temperature dips, rely on outerwear designed with technically advanced wind- and water-wicking
capabilities. And don’t forget to stock up on a few cold weather accessory essentials: scarves, hats, gloves, and footwear made from exotic hides or trimmed with shearling and fur to
fashionably keep Jack Frost at bay.
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Clockwise from top left:
Scott Barber’s wool/
cashmere boucle zip-
neck pullover knit,
$245, (800) 360-2360, www.scottbarber.com; Polo Ralph Lauren down-filled wool tweed shooting vest, $995, and wool/cashmere/alpaca shawl-collared
Fair Isle sweater, $395, (888) 475-7674, www.polo.com; Bally’s calf and shearling “Berjo” boot, $870, (212) 446-3930,
www.bally.com; Lochcarron of Scotland
merino wool/angora cable knit scarf,
$155, (800) 451-3985,
www.lochcarron.com;
Martin Dingman cashmere-lined
alligator gloves, $1,295,
(800) 955-2358,
www.martindingman.com |
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|  | Comfort and Joy
You won’t be left out in the cold this season if you’re wrapped in texturally rich knitwear made from superfine wool or cashmere.
Clockwise from top left: Eric Javits’ fox fur head ring, $195, (800) 374-4287, www.ericjavits.com; Loro Piana reversible cashmere-to-mink scarf, $12,400, (212) 980-7961, www.loropiana.com; Escada silk-lined leather gloves, $390, and winter white wool/silk jacquard cape jacket, $3,150, (800) 869-8424, www.escada.com; Beretta cotton/wool/angora/acrylic belted funnel-neck sweater, $400, (800) 636-3420, www.shopberetta.com; Catherine Malandrino’s silk organza and wool cardigan,
$950, (800) 801-7065,
www. catherine
malandrino.com — W.K. |
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Grand Nights
When considering The Greenbrier — the stately getaway in West Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains — chic nightlife is not the first thing that comes to mind. No matter, the hotel’s new lounge, 38°80, is aiming to change those preconceptions. 38°80 — as you may have guessed, it’s named after the county’s latitude and longitude — features plenty of cozy, red-velvet banquettes in a sexy, low-lit room. Handcrafted cocktails (and drink flights), as well as world music, are the lounge’s signatures. This grand old hotel may have some surprises in store after all. (800) 453-4858, www.greenbrier.com — L.V. |
| COCKTAILS,
WYNN-STYLE
With a bird’s-eye view of the main casino floor, the newly opened Blush nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas is sure to draw the party elite. It features infused vodkas, signature cocktails, and a huge selection of wines by the glass. Blush is open for drinks and appetizers daily, and it is transformed into a nightclub on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 10 p.m., with some of the top DJs in town spinning. (702) 770-3633, www.wynnlasvegas.com — L.V.
Rocky Mountain High
Aspen’s fabulous The Little Nell hotel has another feather in its (very heavy) cap: It has just bought and reopened The Tavern
(formerly Ajax Tavern), a cause for luncheon and après-ski
celebration in the luxe resort town. The menu, created by
executive chef Ryan Hardy (of The Little Nell’s fine-dining restaurant), includes handcrafted cheeses and signature dishes like Colorado lamb bolognese and pan-roasted river trout; and did we mention the truffle fries? Peerless sommelier Richard Betts contributed to The Tavern’s exhaustive wine and cocktail menu. You may not want to wait until after your schussing is done. (888) 843-6355, www.thelittlenell.com — L.V.
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 | WHAT'S NEW
The city’s premier boutique hotel, INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, has just received a major redesign by LM Pagano
(interior designer to the likes of Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp). Rich red Italian fabrics, candlelight, and crystal now set Loa, the hotel bar, aglow, and guests can check into one of two new luxury penthouse suites. (800) 633-5770, www.ihhotel.com
Owned by film producer Susan Hoffman, CAFE AMELIE has one of the city’s best courtyards. Sit outside and feast on Louisiana jumbo crab cakes as you listen to the musical trickle of the oldest fountain in the French Quarter. (504) 412-8965, www.princessofmonaco.com
With more than 80 wines stored in a cutting-edge Italian serving system made by Enomatic, W.I.N.O. (Wine Institute of New Orleans) offers tastings of 80 wines, as well as classes and a retail store with more than 300 labels. (504) 324-8000, www.winoschool.com — N.A.
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A New Vision For New Orleans
New Orleans native and real estate developer SEAN CUMMINGS (pictured), owner of the city’s top boutique hotels International House and Loft 523, sat down with Nicole Alper to discuss his latest venture: a $1 billion, 4.5-mile riverfront project destined to reinvent the city’s iconic crescent.
Q. What do you love about New Orleans?
A. New Orleans is a sensual city with a signature sense of place. It has a palpable spiritual essence in its food, its music, and its people.
Q. Tell me about the new waterfront project.
A. We are transforming 178 acres of traditional maritime-cargo wharves into 150 acres of linear park space, crafted chiefly by the preeminent landscape architect George Hargreaves.
Q. What will be its signature elements?
A. A redeveloped World Trade Center — the most sustainable building design in the South — including 250 residences and 130 hotel rooms, a world-class performance venue/amphitheatre, a new cruise ship terminal, plus miles of green space, including parks and jogging paths.
Q. What do you anticipate will be the project’s impact on the city?
A. It will certainly increase tax revenue and create new jobs. But most of all it will reconnect New Orleans to its iconic Mississippi River, and transform what is a maritime cargo operation into something truly reflective of the joyful spirit of New Orleans.
Q. What do you say to those who suggest the project may not be in keeping with the historic feel of New Orleans?
A. At many points in New Orleans’ history, new things were built that were controversial at the time. Those buildings have become inextricably woven into the soul of the city. This is no different. We want to put forth timelessly beautiful design, whether landscape or buildings, so New Orleans can be as proud in the 21st century of what we create as we are of the exquisite endowment of architecture that we received during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Q. Where do you see New Orleans in 10 years?
A. I would like to think that in 2018, when the city celebrates its 300th birthday, people look to New Orleans as America’s quintessential boutique city. I think we have a legitimate shot at that.
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 | | From top: Lychee martini from the Monkey Bar; interior of BLT Market; Fig & Olive’s grilled lamb skewers. |
The Big Apple is ripe with new and renewed restaurants. Here’s what’s on NYC’s plate this winter.
What do you get when naughty midtown monkeys (they’re featured in the iconic bar mural) cross paths with renowned chef Patricia Yeo? A delicious new Asian-inspired Monkey Bar. Don’t miss the lychee martini. (212) 838-2600, theglaziergroup.com
Adjacent to hotelier Vikram Chatwal’s Dream Hotel in midtown, the stunning 8,000-square-foot, Baroque-inspired Amalia looks like something out of a sexy dream. Think black Murano glass chandelier, backlit mosaic tile “floating staircase,” and ceiling-mounted artwork. (212) 245-1234, www.amalia-nyc.com
A partnership between acclaimed chef/restaurateur Laurent Tourondel and The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, BLT Market feels much more country than big city. Old tools, such as a centrally situated plow, hint at BLT’s focus: delicious seasonal ingredients straight from the farmers market. (212) 521-6125, www.bltmarket.com
Legendary Chef Alain Ducasse brings his culinary cunning to the flagship St. Regis Hotel in New York this November with the new restaurant Adour. A cutting-edge redesign by David Rockwell features a four-person interactive wine bar. www.alain-ducasse.com
Luscious fresh figs and smooth rich olive oil are at the heart of the delectable trio of Fig & Olive restaurants. At the new midtown location, tired Fifth Avenue shoppers looking for a pick-me-up can pop into the first level’s 40-foot marble bar for raw oysters and tapas. (212) 924-1200, www.figandolive.com — N.A.
Do Some ’Cue
Indulge in some “fancy” wood-grilled meat in a hip setting at Lamberts Downtown Barbecue in Austin, Texas. Opened by Austin native Lou Lambert (locally famous for his previous catering and pie-making ventures), this is authentic, down-home food that Texans can be proud of, and visitors will adore. A bonus? Top-notch live music is also on the menu. (512) 494-1500, www.fancybarbecue.com — L.V.
Spa Report
We’ve scoured the globe for the top new places to get scrubbed, massaged, and beautified. If extreme pampering is on your wish list, visit one of these five new luxury spas.
PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA Talk about going to the ends of the earth for an incredible spa experience — the spectacular new HAMMAM & HERBAL SPA (pictured) at the Correntoso Hotel in Patagonia is about as far as you could travel for top-notch pampering. Set atop the mouth of the Correntoso River where it enters Nahuel Huapi Lake, at the foot of the Andes, the setting for this gem of a hotel could not be more spectacular. The spa is the height of luxury in one of the most unspoiled places on earth, though it’s only a two-hour flight from Buenos Aires. 011-54-114-803-0030, www.correntoso.com
PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA DESERT SPRINGS RESORT & SPA (a four-star destination already) has just made a great leap forward: They now have a decadent new 38,000-square-foot spa. Indigenous dry-skin-quenching treatments? Yes. Ornate Turkish hammams? Yes. Peerless views of the Ted Robinson-designed golf course … from the sauna? Indeed. There’s also a 600-square-foot private “Spa Sanctuary” designed to cater to Hollywood elite and other VIPs (like you). You get your own personal butler, an indoor tub, and a two-person hydrotherapy tub in a private courtyard. (888) 538-9459, www.desertspringsresort.com
MAZATLAN, MEXICO The January 2008 opening of the spa at PUEBLO BONITO EMERALD BAY RESORT will thrill every sense. The luxurious, 15,000-square-foot space is described by spa director Mizraim Corpus Espinoza as “a luxuriant, fragrant, and relaxing sanctuary where the body, mind, and soul will be nurtured.” The nurturing will include aromatherapy (calming lavender oil in the lobby and citrus in the shower area) and, in the relaxation rooms, chromatherapy (also known as “light therapy,” wherein different colors and light intensities are said to calm and rejuvenate the mind). If it all sounds a bit too New Age for you, no worries: The well-trained therapists and the exclusive Natura Bisse products will definitely win you over. (800) 990-8250, www.pueblobonito.com
SEDONA, ARIZONA The minimalist-but-elegant rooms at the AAA Four-Diamond AMARA RESORT & SPA boast peerless views of the red-rock canyons, and the new spa completely lives up to the setting. The elegant and modern 4,000-square-foot spa is one of only five spas in the U.S. to use the exclusive London-based Elemis product line. With a strong aromatherapy focus, Elemis facials and body treatments (including the certainly unique Moorish Ceremony of Dreams) are beloved by celebs. (866) 455-6610, www.amararesort.com
AUSTIN, TEXAS The FOUR SEASONS HOTEL AUSTIN has just unveiled its new multimillion-dollar spa, the first full-service hotel spa in Texas’ cool music capital. The spa’s design — featuring lots of wood, stone, and water — was inspired by the beauty of the nearby Texas Hill Country. The tranquil, 5,500-square-foot haven is filled with works by local artists. Unique offerings, such as the Warm River Rock Massage, Signature Yellow Rose of Texas Body Wrap, and Hill Country Wine Grapeseed Scrub, are offered alongside favorites such as the Deep Tissue Massage and Moisture Balancing Facial. (512) 478-4500, www.fourseasons.com/austin — L.V.
 | | Above left: Judith Leiber’s exclusive butterfly bag for Neiman Marcus’
100th anniversary; Bloomingdale’s ready-to-wear floor in South Coast
Plaza | Above top (left to right): Ty Warner Penthouse; St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach; Regent Bal Harbour’s Presidential Suite;
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In Store
Here’s your insider’s guide to some of the best, most
exclusive shopping options across the country.
Sure, Chicago boasts some of the country’s top retailers on their Magnificent Mile, but you can also find something truly unique at the buzzed-about independent boutiques with the help of URBAN SHOP GUIDE. The brainchild of Julie Cameron, a 16-year veteran of the fashion industry, the company’s Chi-town shopping tours offer an entrée into off-the-beaten-track boutiques and shops that carry one-of-a-kind as well as cult-designer items. And you can book a custom private tour for you and your friends, including luxury transportation, snacks and wine en route, and discounts. Group tours from $38 per person. (312) 533-1256, www.urbanshopguide.com
Happy 100th birthday to luxury retailer NEIMAN MARCUS. Luckily, we can all join the party: Neiman’s has commissioned unique, only-available-here designs (everything from apparel to home décor) from such top fashion names as Stella McCartney and Judith Leiber to Baccarat and Lalique. Cruise to www.neimanmarcus.com for a dose of some serious fabulousness.
Dallas’ exclusive Victory Park shopping center will soon boast a top-notch new boutique for those who prefer their fashion red hot. The new VOD (it stands for Valley of the Dolls, one of the owners’ cultural touchpoints) will stock hard-to-find items from designers such as Luella Bartley, Jane Mayle, and Alexander Wang as well as a selection of covetable vintage pieces. www.victorydallas.com
Orange County’s SOUTH COAST PLAZA in Costa Mesa, California, is celebrating the recent opening of a 292,000-square-foot Bloomingdale’s, outpost of chic boutiques Intermix, Michael Kors, and Versace, and — coming this spring — a Harry Winston boutique for all your bling. (800) 782-8888, www.southcoastplaza.com — L.V.
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THE SUITE LIFE: A LOOK AT LUXURIOUS, SPACIOUS — AND PRICEY — PENTHOUSE SUITES — L.V.| WHERE | SIZE | ARCHITECT | OVER-THE-TOP DETAILS | PRICE PER NIGHT
| TY WARNER PENTHOUSE
Four Seasons Hotel New York,
(212) 758-5700,
www.fourseasons.com/newyorkfs | 4,300 square feet
(it encompasses the
entire 52nd floor of
this luxurious hotel)
| I.M. Pei (he came out of retirement just to create the suite, owned by Beanie Baby magnate Warner, who is kind enough to rent it out when he’s not in town; the project cost a cool $50 million) | The suite includes a Bösendorfer piano as well as unlimited use of a chauffeured Rolls-Royce or
Maybach, a 24-hour-
a-day personal assistant, a personal trainer, and full spa treatments
| $30,000 | Presidential Suite
The Regent Bal Harbour, (800) 545-4000,
www.RegentHotels.com/BalHarbour
| 3,500 square feet
including four balconies that offer views of downtown Miami and the Atlantic
| CMMI, an Atlanta-based international
design firm
| A private screening room, butler, private chef, and — so Miami — an on-call stylist who can pull together an artful dinner table or a killer outfit for a night on the town
| $8,500 | Presidential Suite
St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach, California,
(949) 234-3200,
www.stregismb.com | 3,100 square feet plus an outdoor terrace with a massive fireplace and, naturally, a peerless view of the Pacific | Albuquerque’s
Holmes & Narver Inc.; interior design: Hirsch Bedner Associates, a Santa Monica-based firm | Your very own
Picasso! (Well, at least for a night.)
| $5,500 |
For more news on travel, dining, and lifestyle trends visit “furthermore.”
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