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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Hot Air Balloon's Emergency Water Landing Caught on Tape


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Our friends at Urlesque pointed us to this unusual video of a hot air balloon making an emergency landing in Australia today. The pilot of the balloon was attempting to land on a beach, but wind gusts pushed the craft several kilometers out over the waters of Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne. In order to bring the 10 passengers to safety, the balloon was lowered to the water where water police had arrived.

Luckily, the rescue effort went smoothly and nobody was injured -- but the incident made for some very dramatic footage. Those aboard the balloon were able to put on lifejackets and easily reach the shore.

"We knew we could jump ship," one cheerful passenger commented after getting back on dry land. "We just wanted to save our snaps from the holiday, and we didn't want to go swimming. That's all."

Photo of the day - Lunch in Serbia


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One of the best parts of traveling is indulging in a few vices. The "hey, I'm on vacation!" attitude enables you to order dessert, have a glass of wine with lunch, and not worry about the calories you're taking in, especially as you figure you'll burn them off walking around museums or hiking the countryside. This photo by Flickr user eolone in Serbia shows some of the best travel food groups: the sausage group, the fried group, even the "hey, I'm in Europe!" tobacco group. Just switch out the water for a beer and you'd have the perfect guilt-free (for now) vacation meal.

Daily Pampering: Ritz-Carlton New Orleans teams up with Harry Connick, Jr. for Mardi Gras


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Hold on to your women, men. The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans is offering a Mardi Gras package that will make women swoon.

The soulful jazz singer and New Orleans' favorite son teamed up with the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans to offer the "Lundi Gras Ride of a Lifetime" package. Purchasers of this daily pampering prize will ride with Connick Jr. in his Krewe of Orpheus during the parade held the day before Mardi Gras: Monday, Feb. 23.

Here's how it goes down:

You'll get decked out in your best Mardi Gras digs, complete with beads and accessories, and a videographer will document the 12-hour excursion. When you're not on the ride of your life with the New Orleans native, you'll have access to a private limo (which eases any and all concerns about getting lost in the crowd at Mardi Gras).

The package includes a two-night stay in the Ritz-Carlton Suite, one of the most luxurious suites in town overlooking the French Quarter and Canal Street (please adjust your expectations: It's unlikely Harry Connick, Jr. will be staying in the same suite).

The price? A cool $59,500 for two people. We'd bet that for that dough, he might even sing you a little song...

Beatles infest cruise ship, give back


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But this is a good thing.

Beatles Tribute Cruise 2011 is on sale now and for fans of the fab four it doesn't get any better than this. "8 days a week" is exactly how long fans will sail on Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas along with pretty much anybody who's anybody in the world of Beatlemania.

Sailing from Miami with tribute-band The British Are Coming! and other special guests, fans will visit St Maarten, St Thomas, San Juan and Royal Caribbean's private destination of Labadee in Haiti where Royal Caribbean is still helping, a year after a devastating earthquake rocked the island nation with donations of supplies each week.

Along for the ride is two-time Grammy award winning guitarist Laurence Juber, Beatles artist Shannon, TV and radio personality Tony Perkins, Beatles historian Tony Bramwell and Joe Johnson, the host & creator of the nationally syndicated radio show "BeatleBrunch".

An annual event, this year's cruise will be a fundraiser for Thrive/Survive Los Angeles to support young adult cancer survivors. On-board, a raffle will be held with close to 100 Beatles-related items to be given away during the sailing including a special Ultimate Weekend Tickets To Ride package for Abbey Road on the River along with autographed DVD's from assorted post-Beatles artists.

For donation or ticket information contact Woody Lofton or register online.

Woman claims Greyhound denied her travel because of burqa


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Jacqueline Pasha attempted to travel by Greyhound to Arkansas in December, but she didn't succeed. And Greyhound acknowledges this. The story becomes fuzzy, however, in the details.

Pasha was wearing her burqa when she tried to board the bus. According to Pasha, a staff member at the terminal said she looked scary. Pasha then proceeded to request that she be checked in a room separate from the main area, but the employee (the one who allegedly used the word 'scary' to describe her appearance) wouldn't do it, citing security concerns.

Although Greyhound denies any form of discrimination in this case, Pasha is steadfastly seeking justice. She's lodged a complaint with the Department of Human Rights by the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"I am shocked that this happened in Chicago," Pasha said. "I am not the only Muslim woman wearing a burqa out here."

I realize that this kind of discrimation is much more widespread than I'd like to believe, but Chicago? Greyhound? Come on! Lets hope this one was a giant miscommunication rather than yet another reason to believe we're not as openminded, as a whole, as we advertise.

United Airlines launches Three Perfect Days contest -- win a free vacation!


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Good with a video camera and a Final Cut Pro? United Airlines might have the perfect opportunity for you to win your dream vacation.

Yesterday they launched a new promotion on Facebook soliciting video entries for their "Three Perfect Days" contest. All that you have to do to enter is make a short video explaining what you would do with three perfect days of vacation and post it to their site. The submission that gets the most "likes" wins two free round trip tickets, a digital camera and a $2,500 Visa debit card (you could use it to pay off the taxes!) at its complete disposal. You've got until March 1st to come up with the most "likeable" video on the web.

Having sumbitted a few entries and reviewed a few more ourselves at Gadling Labs, permit us to give you a tip before inking the celluloid: people who vote in these contests dig two things:

   1. The best cinematogrphy ever known to man
   2. Hotties

Aim to have one of the two concepts in your entry and you're guaranteed a shot. Have both and you'll take home the gold.

Frankie Muniz Re-Lists His Hollywood Hills Home


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When actor Frankie Muniz was still a teen television star he bought and sold quite a bit of property around Los Angeles. That all slowed down with the end of his television show "Malcolm in the Middle." In 2005 he bought this home for $3.499 million and in 2007 he put it on the market for $3.875 million.

The LA Times reports that the home is back on the market. Muniz has been renting it out in recent years and new listing pictures show that it's missing the artwork and young-star-glam look it had back in 2007. Muniz meanwhile has turned his attention for acting to race car driving and playing drums with the band You Hang Up.

The traditional-style 1941 home and has five bedrooms total including a master bedroom that has skylights, walk-in closets and a bath with an infinity tub. The home is on a small plot of land but has a pool, spa, outdoor dining area and a charming outdoor fireplace. The home is now listed at $3.195 million.
Gallery: Frankie Muniz in the Hills

Food Network Chefs Take Part In James Beard Event


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Food Network star chefs Michael Symon and Anne Burrell are taking part in a special event in Southern California. The James Beard House is hosting its Friends of James Beard Benefit at Zov's Bistro in Tustin on January 29. Longtime Beard Foundation supporter and restaurant owner Zov Karamardian will be the host chef with Symon and Burrell as special guests.

Tickets for the dinner are $500 ($400 for James Beard Foundation members). The seven-course dinner begins with zucchini fritters with Scottish smoked salmon and crème fraîche, soujouk popovers, and pork tenderloin and tapenade crostini hors d'oeuvres with glasses of Champagne Gosset Brut ExCellence NV. The main dinner includes spicy Greek cured beef with shaved truffles paired with the Bergerie L'Hortus Rosé de Saignée 2009; herb-crusted Cypress haloumi cheese paired with the Boutari Moschofilero 2009; branzino with vegetables and jasmine rice confetti paired with Faiveley Bourgogne Chardonnay 2005 and Niman Ranch roasted rack of lamb with the Chateau Ksara Red 2002. For dessert a brandied apple parfait with Tahitian vanilla ice cream and caramel Sauce is paired with the R.L. Buller & Son Premium Fine Muscat NV and a selection of mignardises.

A second event on January 30 which costs $250 ($200 for James Beard Foundation members) includes cooking demonstrations by Symon and Burrell. Visit the James Beard House website for more details.

[via LA Weekly]

Master Distiller Richard Paterson Takes A Nose To Shackleton's Whisky


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When you want to recreate a whisky from over a hundred years ago you want to have one of the best noses in the business doing the testing. Master Distiller Richard Paterson, the man behind some of the world's most exclusive whiskies including some of the pricey Dalmore blends we've covered in the past, is analyzing some of the whisky found in a crate in the Antarctic hut of renowned explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.

The whisky was first discovered in 2006 but some of it was removed last year and carefully thawed at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island. The bottles of Mackinlay's Scotch whisky had been wrapped in paper and straw to protect them. The whisky is believed to date back to 1896 or 1897.

According to BBC News, three of the bottles were returned to the Scottish Highlands on Whyte and Mackay's billionaire owner, Vijay Mallya private jet for analysis. Whyte and Mackay bought Mackinlay years ago and is considering creating a new whisky to honor the Shackleton find. Paterson has said that the whisky has a beautiful rich golden color and that his "initial reaction is very, very interesting but I must wait and see."

Stars Gather In Geneva For Watch Events


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It may be awards season in Hollywood but that hasn't kept stars from convening in Geneva. The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva, also known as the International Fair of Fine Luxury Watchmaking, has brought international stars from movies, television, sports and more to Switzerland.

Some of the world's top sporting and entertainment stars came together at a special event to celebrate the launch of luxury watch brand IWC Schaffhausen's new generation of its Portofino watch family. The 'A Night in Portofino' event brought Cate Blanchett, Kevin Spacey, Matthew Fox, tennis legend Boris Becker and Elle Macpherson among others.

Around 900 guests where at the Italian style evening that included an exhibition by photographer Peter Lindbergh, whose shoot in the picturesque harbor town of Portofino featured a selection of international friends of the brands including party attendees Cate Blanchett, Kevin Spacey and Elle Macpherson.

The 21st Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie is held from January 17th to 21st 2011 in Palexpo, Geneva. The private

Boston Wine Expo Celebrates 20th Year


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Boston-area wine lovers are eagerly anticipating the 20th Anniversary Boston Wine Expo coming up this weekend, January 22-23, 2011 at the Seaport World Trade Center. This year's event includes the "Founding Chef" culinary series with celebrity chefs and local favorites Ming Tsai of Blue Ginger; Todd English of Olives, Figs and Kingfish; Jasper White of Jasper White's Summer Shack; Gordon Hamersley of Hamersley's Bistro; Michael Schlow of Radius, Via Matta and Alta Strada; Marc Orfaly of Pigalle and more.

The Boston Wine Expo also features keynote speaker Ray Isle, Executive Wine Editor of Food & Wine. The main event is the Grand Tasting showcasing over 300 international and domestic wineries pouring over 1,500 different wines. There is also an exclusive Grand Cru Wine Lounge, featuring high-end vintages; and a Seminar Series designed for all levels of wine enthusiasts. Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $110 each after that date and two-day tickets are $145. Grand Cru Wine Lounge ticket prices are $175. Seminar and other events are priced separately. For more information on chef demonstrations, seminars, participating wineries and to purchase tickets, go to www.WineExpoBoston.com.

Luxury Miami Project Goes Back To Lender


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A luxury condo building in Miami Beach has gone back to its lenders. The Miami Herald reports that South of Fifth, a $73 million luxury condominium building has gone back to its lender, after a foreclosure auction. The project at 135 Ocean Drive, first went into foreclosure back in 2009 as the original developer struggled to pay back a $73 million loan to iStar Financial. The project was yet another South Florida victim of bad timing, it opened in 2009 just as interest and prices were tumbling in the area.

The Herald article describes the transaction as a friendly foreclosure: the lender obtained a final judgment of $90.8 million against defaulting developer BR Villa Luisa in December and took back ownership of the property Tuesday. Now it falls to iStar to sell the 29 available condos at the 32-unit property. Listings on the Kleer Team website say that they have been instructed by project lenders to sell at reduced prices to qualified buyers. Prices listed range from $400,000 to $6.8 million. Amenities in the building include valet parking; full-time concierge; a pool facing the ocean and whirlpool spa; fitness center; private lounge and more. Some residences have wrap-around balconies and penthouses have their own, 4,000-square-foot rooftop terraces with private pools and summer kitchens. Although this isn't great news, it seems like this foreclosure has been in the works for a while. Overall much of the real estate news we've seen coming out of Miami is pointing at a slow recovery in the sales of luxury condos.

Chinese Man Orders a €500,000 Fiat 500


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You remember Fenice Milano, don't you? The Italian car modifier is the outfit behind the La Dolce Vita edition Fiat 500. And now someone's ordered one for a reported €500,000. That's easily twenty times what the base car costs, so what did the anonymous Chinese buyer get for his money?

For starters, this vehicle didn't start life as the base Fiat 500. It's an Abarth 500C, the performance model with the convertible roof. Romeo Ferraris was brought in to tune the engine up to 200 horsepower and install a custom suspension and Brembo brakes. Then Fenice Milano gave it a 24-karat gold paint job, decked the interior out in teak and installed a diamond-studded iPod "supreme edition" from Stuart Hughes. Have a closer look in the gallery below and the video after the jump.

Alexander Olch Designs for Colette


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American movie director and fashion designer Alexander Olch has been dressing Harvard alum and various high-class nightclub goers for years and now he's created a collection of men's accessories for Colette including neckties, bow ties, and handkerchiefs all in a very spunky and brand-friendly pattern of blue-on-white or white-on-blue. The line is made of 100% printed English cotton and comes with fun (although seemingly de-masculating) names like The Little Guy Pocket Round and (shown here) The Little Guy Necktie. The line will be available at Colette through January 29th. €60 - €185

Via Acquire