By Kelle Profita

Need to shake up your winter blues with some getaways? Try these once-in-a-lifetime adventures to cure you of your cabin fever.

The undisputed king of summer Sundays, polo reigns supreme in the Caribbean winter as well.  Polo dates back to 1884 on the island of Barbados, and was recently the site of a charity polo match featuring Prince Harry and his Sentebale team. The Barbados Polo Club in St. James offers beginner’s polo instruction with Vice-Captain Jeff Evelyn, starting from the basics of horsemanship leading up to a four-on-four match at the practice fields. If you feel like you’ve conquered the sport of kings, you’ll be just in time for the Barbados Polo Open in March.

Dive The Great Wall

The majestic walk along China’s Great Wall is a lifelong goal for many travelers: how about going a step further and diving the Great Wall? Urbane Nomads, a luxury travel company dedicated to the extreme, unbelievable and unique travel, offers a diving excursion to the submerged portions of the relic. Explore the Ming-era tunnels set beneath a lake, tour the Forbidden City with a specialized conservationist, and stay in style in Beijing.

If you think Lost sounds like a great vacation premise, don’t miss a cruise on the Aranui III, one of the last passenger freighter vessels in the world.  The only ship that journeys to the Marquesas island chain in French Polynesia, it is the last remaining link to the outside world for the islanders. Although it is a working freighter, the Aranui III offers all the comforts of a luxury cruise ship; outdoor swimming pool, gym, library and an on-board lecturer on Marquesan history and archeology. During your island hopping, you can watch pearl farmers harvest rare black pearls from giant oysters, visit Paul Gauguin’s grave site and see some of his final works, and retrace author Herman Melville’s 1842 escape from his whaling ship, chronicled in his work Tybee.  While at sea, feel the freedom of the open water, literally: the Aranui III is the only ship to sail between Tahiti and the islands.  Departures for the 14 day cruise are scheduled once a month, leaving from Papeete.

By Kelle Profita

Starting with construction-paper cards and candy hearts, Valentine’s Day has made romantics out of all of us.  This year, why not celebrate with some special gifts that last a little longer than a Godiva truffle?

Judith Leiber's Heart N' Soul

Judith Leiber bags are not only a staple for red carpet celebrities, but also well loved for the sense of whimsy they bring the owner.  From disco balls to Buddhas, pandas to Pekingese, Leiber’s evening bags always carry a sparkly sense of humor infused with style. The Heart N’ Soul Minaudiere is perfect present for a woman who enjoys the cheekier side of love.

Available at Saks, Neiman Marcus and online at www.judithleiber.com

Valentine’s Day presents for men often seem trickier than sending flowers and chocolate; not to worry, Steiner Memorabilia has the ultimate gift for for a sports-mad Cupid. The Steiner Memorabilia Yankee Stadium Seats represent a bygone era in baseball’s history, when they occupied part of the Bronx stadium that has seen baseball’s greats. Since the move to the new stadium, fans eager to keep a part of baseball’s cathedral alive can snatch up a pair of seats from Steiner, along with a signed Yankees collectible and a certificate of authenticity.

Steiner Memorabilia Yankee Stadium Seats

To set the mood for a romantic dinner in, try a delicious Vie Luxe candle. Founded by socialite Marjorie Gubelmann in 2004, the luxury home fragrance brand bases its scents on her travel experiences. Ranging from the beachy citrus of Capri to the lush richness of Istanbul, Vie Luxe’s products are developed with the world’s top fragrance houses to ensure their superior quality.  The sophisticated brushed-nickel glass holder and gorgeous packaging makes a Vie Luxe product a statement gift-even if you give one only to yourself.

Available at Bergdorf Goodman and www.vieluxenyc.com

For the ultimate in romance, Trump International Hotels and Tower Chicago features the Once in a Lifetime proposal package to help make the holiday unforgettable.  Whisked away by limousine to the 89th floor of the Trump Tower Chicago, you can get down on one knee surrounded by candles, flowers, music and the breathtaking view of the city.  Pop the question with a 1.26ct diamond from the Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry Collection, and celebrate with an in-room four-course dinner à deux prepared by Sixteen’s Executive Chef Frank Brunnacci. Toast to your love with Dom Perignon and Vosges Exotic Truffles surrounded by dozens of roses.  Continue your celebration the next morning with an American breakfast for two and a morning of couples treatments at the Spa at Trump.  This offer guarantees not only wonderful memories but a perfect way to set the tone of the future to come.

By Eric Benderoff

Even though Nokia foresaw a huge market for GPS services on mobile phones when it bought Chicago digital mapmaker Navteq in late 2007 for $8.1 billion, I’m pretty confident it didn’t plan on offering free turn-by-turn driving directions on Nokia phones. At least not so soon.

Nokia offers free turn-by-turn directions on its smartphones

But that’s exactly what Nokia announced Thursday, saying 10 of its smartphones can now operate a GPS-based mapping service at no charge. Predictably, the stock prices for Garmin and TomTom — the top makers of stand-alone, dashboard-mounted GPS units — fell sharply.Those stock prices dropped hard in Oct. 2009 as well, when Google grievously wounded the stand-alone GPS market with the launch of the Motorola Droid, which runs on Google’s Android software platform and is sold by Verizon Wireless. The service is called Google Maps Navigation, and the Droid was the first phone to offer its free turn-by-turn driving directions. By the end of 2010, I would guess at least 20 mobile phones and perhaps 50 or more, will offer such a service — for free.

Whether or not Nokia’s move to offer free mapping on its smartphones — the product is called Ovi Maps — will help Nokia stop its share slide (can you say iPhone?) remains to be seen. But it’s undeniable that this trend will continue, and reach more and more smartphones.

“By adding cameras at no extra cost to our phones, we quickly became the biggest camera maker in the world,” Anssi Vanjoki, a Nokia executive, told the New York Times. “The aim of the new new Ovi Maps is to enable us to do the same for navigation.”

You can download paid apps for your iPhone, too, but that will probably migrate to free eventually. TomTom even sells an iPhone app for $79 (it launched 3 months ago for $99).

There is a key problem with using a phone-based GPS system in your car: it will suck the battery dry within 3 hours. Therefore, you will likely need accessories to keep the phone charged will you drive. But that costs $20, not the $200 it typically costs for a stand-alone GPS unit.

Finally, it didn’t take a genius to see this coming, even before Nokia bought Navteq. Yet despite the advances in mobile software Google displayed in October and Nokia now offers, there’s another critical reason mapping is moving rapidly to the phone: government regulations.

Here’s an excerpt from a Chicago Tribune Tech Buzz column I wrote in Feb. 2007:

Last week, as I read about a parade of mobile phone-based navigation debuts at a European trade show, that thought turned into pessimism for Garmin, TomTom, Chicago’s Cobra Electronics and other makers of stand-alone global positioning systems.

In the short term, you will see healthy market gains, such as Garmin’s fourth-quarter performance, released last week, showing earnings more than doubled. Sales of stand-alone units from all makers are expected to double this year.

But long term, the momentum will swing to the mobile phone-makers, thanks, in part, to an unlikely marketing partner: the federal government.

Due to the recently enacted e-911 rules that say mobile-phone users must be able to be located by police or fire departments in case of an emergency, there are millions of phones in the United States that contain GPS chips.

Even though few of those phones take advantage of their devices’ GPS DNA so far, that’s rapidly changing.

As people shop for new phones when service contracts expire, they will see phones with bigger and brighter screens, ideal for GPS.

As we near Feb. 2010, that momentum has arrived.

Affluence.org, a private social network for the wealthy, and The Society of Leisure Enthusiasts, a luxury vacation home and villa rental listing service, have teamed up to offer luxury rental villa listings to Affluence.org’s members.

Downers Grove, Il., January 12, 2010 – Affluence.org has partnered with The Society of Leisure Enthusiasts to offer luxury home and villa rentals worldwide to members of Affluence.org’s exclusive social network site.

Listings will be part of Affluence.org’s new travel channel, which will also include content from other screened partners in complementary areas such as hotels, restaurants and vacation opportunities.

“This partnership is perfect for us, said Doug Stukel, CEO of Affluence, “part of our mission statement is to provide added value for our members and the outstanding portfolio of luxury villa listings offered by The Society allows us to provide our membership with the finest in luxury travel opportunities. This type of strategic alliance is what differentiates Affluence from other social networks that just facilitate member discussions.  Travel is one of the topics of greatest interest among our membership, so providing strong content and services in this area is one of our highest priorities.”

Since membership in Affluence.org requires a verifiable net worth of $2 million or a household income of $200,000, members have the means to afford the luxury villas the Society specializes in. The diversity of international listings will provide a wide range of options for Affluence.org’s global member base.

The travel channel is one of several key moves Affluence.org will be making to strengthen its offerings for members. Other key areas of development will include investments, money management, fine arts and personal technology.

“The Society looks forward to working with Affluence.org,” says Michael McFadden, The Society’s Co-Founder adding. “During the past three years we have set out to procure and market the finest luxury villa and vacation rental opportunities throughout the world. The members of Affluence.org are perfectly matched to our target demographics and we expect that this partnership will generate both new listings opportunities for vacation homeowners and new vacation rental villa clients all whom expect and deserve the pinnacle of service.”

Affluence.org, which is under new management as of last year, has been in the process of re-launching the site, adding new features and unique content aligned with the needs of its ultra-wealthy membership. Strategic partnerships have been a large part of this re-launch effort.

About Affluence.org

Affluence.org, owned by Affluence Corp., is the leading social network for high net worth individuals. Its world-wide membership base consists of high net worth individuals and influential people including millionaires, billionaires, entrepreneurs, entertainers, athletes and other people of wealth. Affluence.org, based in Downers Grove, Ill., enables its membership base to interact with people of similar socioeconomic backgrounds and interests in a private network where they can share experiences, gain insights and communicate. To learn more visit http://www.affluence.org

About The Society

The Society.com connects luxury seeking travelers to qualified luxury vacation rental managers, home owners, and travel agents. Every property listed on TheSociety.com is reviewed and screened giving inquiring travelers only the best vacation rentals and travel experiences in the world. The Global Bundle, the premier offering of TheSociety.com, provides affiliates the most complete online marketing solution targeting the affluent demographic distributing property advertisements and messaging to RobbReportCollection.com, LuxuryRealEstate.com, duPontRegistry.com, HomeAway.com, Wall Street Journal Vacation Rental Section and other premier exclusive web sites. To learn more visit http://thesociety.com/
Contacts

For Affluence.org

Jason Abbate

jason@affluencecorp.org

312-263-2240

For The Society

Joseph Sobin

joseph@thesociety.com

866.789-8222

Michael McFadden

mike@thesociety.com

866.789-8222

By Eric Benderoff

I’m as interested as anyone in seeing the tablet-type product Apple is expected to introduce on Jan. 27. But there is one thing I am especially curious to find out: Will people feel they really need an Apple tablet?

Apple will not be the first computer maker to introduce a tablet. Indeed, the iPod was not the first digital music player and the iPhone was not the first smartphone. Yet both products were game changers, and that is the issue I keep thinking about in regards to an Apple tablet: Will it change an industry?

I’m dubious, but I reserve the right to enthusiastically lust after one — whatever it may look like.

Artist's Rendering of Apple's New Tablet

An Apple Tablet, as reported by news outlets ranging from the Wall Street Journal to the Apple Insider, is expected to be a multimedia powerhouse that plays TV shows and movies; functions as an e-reader for magazines, books and newspapers; and will operate via touch in a manner familiar to iPhone owners (although there’s buzz a learning curve may be needed, unusual for Apple).

Also, it is expected to capture content in new ways, such as offer videos with author commentaries to accompany an e-book purchase. A virtual keyboard will be built-in — perhaps with a technology that will make the keys feel raised — and the screen will be 10 or 11 inches, measured diagonally. Like the iPhone and iPod touch, it is expected to be an app powerhouse, making it a bigger and bolder platform for a trend that is changing how people design and use software.

The price? Estimates range from $700 to $1,000.

All of that is pretty interesting but will we really need an Apple Tablet? Sure, lust will be a huge factor as it often is with Apple products and the iHype for a Tablet has been breathtaking. That obviously speaks to the brilliance of Steve Jobs as a pitchman and Apple’s reputation as a maker of desirable gadgets.

But really, will Apple’s Tablet compel you to watch TV on a screen the same size as your laptop’s and not that 42-inch high-def beauty hanging from your living room wall? Perhaps if you’re a road warrior but will you want to schlep it in your briefcase along with a laptop?

Will it be better for reading e-books — and as easy to buy content — than the very fine Kindle? And if the Tablet is an app machine like the iPhone and iPod touch, will Apple allow book-reading apps to play? The Kindle iPhone app is an excellent companion to the Kindle and it would certainly be optimized to take advantage of the Tablet’s new capabilities. If Apple is positioning the Tablet as an alternative to the Kindle (plus Barnes & Noble’s new Nook, Sony’s Reader line-up and a bunch of others), how will it treat the competing book-reading apps it already allows for the iPhone?

Amazon isn’t waiting to find out, as the Kindle has been opened to third-party developers.

Again, I’m quite excited to see this new Apple product. But based on what we know right now — or at least what we think we know — I don’t see it as a game changer. I think it will be ultimately viewed as laptop alternative Mac fans will adore.

On the other hand, an Apple Tablet may become the sexy status symbol its heritage suggests, proving that whether we need one or not, we all will want one.

By Kelle Profita

Superbowl 44 in Miami

With the championship games set, fans from all four teams are nervously waiting for the the outcomes that determine who will face off in Superbowl XLIV. As the NFL.com Countdown Clock ticks down towards February 7th, you may think that you’ve run out of time to get your tickets for the epic showdown. However, several travel companies have put together luxury packages that guarantee not only a great game experience, but some fun off the field as well.

Fine Things has a range of Superbowl experiences, ranging from the $15,000 Ultimate to the more affordable $4,350 Classic package. The $6,995 VIP Package includes roundtrip airfare, a five-day/four-night stay at the Four Seasons Miami, a Corporate Lower Level ticket, official NFL hospitality, luxury transportation and personal concierge.  Custom ticket upgrades are also available for all Superbowl packages.

Ritz Carlton Miami

The Big Game Rooms has a Ritz Carlton Miami experience for $4,999 featuring a four night stay, game ticket, luxury transportation, Superbowl souvenirs and a ticket holder with lanyard. The Ritz Carlton is located in Miami’s Art Deco district, a beautifully restored Morris Lapidus-designed building.  The Ritz also features its signature spa and restaurant, with all the amenities to make your pre-game stay a relaxing one.

Finally, The Advantaged Yacht Charters offers the Superbowl Champions package, which includes a Miami mansion and luxury yacht at your disposal, four game tickets and luxury transportation.  The Advantaged can also arrange excursions like helicopter tours, sunset dinners on the Florida Keys or any watersports in the days before or after the game.

No matter what colors you wear or your team loyalty, any of these packages will guarantee a great vacation in the Miami sunshine, good seats on game day and plenty of activities to either help you celebrate a victory or sooth the pain of defeat.

By Kelle Profita

While the economy has not been kind to any couture, the more established design houses have fared better than the Vogue darlings with only a few seasons under their belt.  However, these three immensely talented artists have persevered and come into the bright national spotlight for their creativity and passion, infusing the fashion world with their vivaciousness on a daily basis.

Thanks in part to Sex and the City, high end shoe brands like Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo are now de rigeur footwear for the fashionably conscious. Alexandre Birman, flying under the radar of major red carpets, has a well edited collection and an eye for design that should quickly propel his name up there with Monsieur Blahnik.

Signature Skin and Style

The Brazilian designer only recently debuted in the American markets for Spring 2008, but was quickly recognized as one to watch. Honored last year with the Vivian Infantino Emerging Talent Award, Mr. Birman’s work has quickly found a loyal celebrity following and a slice of the shoe department at Bergdorf Goodman.

Birman is known for his use of textiles and exotic skins in cohesive designs that transition from day to evening well. His first collection infused South American flare into classic shapes and caused a rush of editorials and photo shoots to feature the shoes. Plans for 2010 include a flagship store in Rio de Janeiro, as well as international expansion.  Currently, his collections are available at Bergdorf Goodman, Printemps in Paris and Harvey Nichols in Hong Kong.

The well-traveled and truly international Prabal Gurung brings his far-flung experiences into a sleek Spring 2010 collection designed with the modern woman in mind. Born in Singapore, raised in Kathmandu, schooled in New Delhi and New York, Gurung most recently was the design director at Bill Blass.   He launched his eponymous collection at New York Fashion Week Spring 2009,  and was instantly applauded for his attention to tailoring and timeless design. His outfits have graced everyone from Demi Moore and Drew Barrymore to Oprah Winfrey, and his latest collection only serves to reinforce the hype surrounding him.

Style and Substance with Prabal Gurung

Gurung’s ready-to-wear is available at Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and select boutiques, including Michelle Obama’s favorite, Ikram in Chicago.  You can also find his clothing on www.shopbop.com.

Albertus Swanepoel, the South African born milliner, had already found success in his native country, winning the Coty Award for top designer under his Quartus Manna label.  Moving to New York City in 1989, his critical acclaim did not follow him to his newly-adopted city, and his label floundered. Swanepoel designed headwear for Broadway shows such as Kiss Me Kate and Mamma Mia, and in 2000, briefly acted as Style Editor for Martha Stewart Weddings.

In 2004, Swanepoel became the milliner to seek out for the fashion world, working with diverse designers like Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg and Carolina Herrera. Honored in 2008 as the runner up for the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund award and in 2009 for the Swarovski CFDA Accessory Award, Swanepoel’s hats sell exclusively to Barney’s nationwide.

Swanepoel in his workshop

Featured in Vogue as well as a lengthy New York Times article, Swanepoel has found a second act in fashion a decade after his first triumphs.  His whimsical website showcases his sense of humor and creativity in a field mostly associated with trucker hats and knit caps.  Swanepoel has taken his unique experience as a clothier and refined his perspective to translate into fashion that perches jauntily atop the head.

By Kelle Profita

Although we are firmly rooted in the new year, the range of products debuting project a futuristic outlook that far surpasses 2010. From screamingly fast technology to a decidedly modern return to form and functionism, the vast assortment is enough to make anyone feel like they’ve dropped into the Jetsons.

LightTouch, the product to make a mockery of all touch screens as we know it, projects a keyboard onto any surface, redefining what constitutes a touch screen. LightTouch isn’t limited to merely a keyboard however; the multimedia jumps off the small screen into a 10” touch-responsive powerhouse of content. The user interacts with LightTouch exactly like any touch-screen mobile device, except without the limitations of tiny screens.

Using Holographic Laser Projection, LightTouch projects high-quality images suitable for video, photos, games and more.  The manufacturers believe that LightTouch will revolutionize how technology interacts with static environments, and LightTouch was a recent CES Innovations Honoree in both the Personal Electronics and Media categories.

LightTouch is unavailable for retail purchases, but can be made available to select consumers and businesses. For more information or to view other Light Blue Optics products, visit www.lightblueoptics.com

B&B Italia has debuted new pieces on www.hivemodern.com, including designer Chris Howker’s Dip and Double-Dip benches. Made from stainless steel, these benches are achingly hip in material and astonishingly beautiful in design.

B&B Italia's Double-Dip Bench

Howker’s pieces convey a surprising amount of softness and a cheeky sense of playfulness rooted in minimalism. Perfect for both indoor and outdoor use, these benches may be gallery-worthy but also fit nicely into everyday use.

Available at Hive Modern, allow 8-12 weeks for shipping.

Unveiled at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes Benz’s 2011 E-Class Cabriolet is scheduled to arrive at American dealerships in May.  While that may seem like a more appropriate month for its soft top cover, Mercedes has pushed the envelope of its E-Class series with this latest entry.

Mercedes Benz 2011 E-Class Cabriolet

While a convertible, Mercedes has taken pains to keep the car usable year-round, incorporating technologies like AirScarf, which is already available in the SLK and SL roadsters, helping to draw warm air up towards the neck and head of the passengers. Exclusive to the E-Class is AirCap, designed to redirect the flow of air away from the faces of the rear-seat passengers.

The sleek lines and stealthy performance of the car guarantees a great ride, top up or down. If the interest at this week’s Auto Show is any indication, there won’t be many of these left at the dealers once they drop stateside.

by James S. Zigras - www.jameszigras.com

It seems every year there is a new scam in the gem industry which aims at fooling the general public.  The latest one would make J.P. Morgan roll over in his grave!

JP Morgan

The latest hot gemstone to buy is the “pink emerald.”  Is there such a thing as a pink emerald?  Technically, no.  A pink emerald is just a fancy name for “Morganite.” 

Emeralds by definition have to be a vivid green or have a certain amount of chromium/vanadium in their chemical makeup.  Emerald is part of the “beryl” family which includes aquamarine (blue beryl), morganite (pink beryl), heliodor (yellow beryl), red beryl and goshenite (colorless beryl).

Anyone in the gem industry would sell their pink beryls as Morganites, not pink emeralds.

The term “Morganite” was named for J.P. Morgan over 100 years ago. 

Morganite’s typically sell in the $50-500 per carat range, depending on the shade of pink, and of course, the clarity. Stones weighing over 100 carats are actually, not that rare.

Don’t be taken by the lure of the rarity of the pink emerald. It is nothing more, than a pink hallucination!