Robots can clean your floor and entertain you, now they can also help you shop. Uniqlo's Soho store will debut Wakamaru, the first robot to be used in a retail store int the U.S. to greet customers, during the second week of September in their SoHo store. Fashion Week Daily reports that the bright yellow robot takes its name from a famous 12th century warrior and was designed by Toshiyuki Kita and developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. The friendly robot will recognize people, let customers know of special promotions, make eye contact and even lead store staff in motivational morning exercises.
Last month, Newsweek had an interesting piece on household robots, highlighting Wakamuru and Roomba. While the Roomba has been a huge seller, Wakamaru with its $15,000 price tag was not so successful. It was expected to be a popular household helper robot when it first rolled off the assembly line in 2005 but was not been a hot seller.The large robot was pulled off the market and units have been rented out for greeting gigs like the one at Uniqulo.
I wondered back in 2006, when I first saw today's estate listed, if it was a bit overpriced. It turns out I may have been right, it has gone through a major price reduction since then. Luxist reader Ryan reminded me of Edge Wood in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It is a large six bedroom home which was built in 2002 and sits on the waterfront. It has two docks, three boat lifts and a sandy beach. The compound is over three acres and has more than 21,000 total square feet of space including a large guest house. The home includes details such as a billiards room with a bar, a large art studio and a master suite with a wet bar. It is listed at $16 million, which is less than two-thirds the price it was two years ago when it was listed at $24.5 million. Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.
Fans of the hot stuff rejoice. Heaven Hill Distilleries is now making Tabasco brand Spicy Tequila. The new brand launches this month in five markets and sells for $21.99. The product website includes recipes for margaritas, versions of a Sea Breeze and a Tequila Sunrise and even a mojito with the spicy liquor. It would probably be great in a Bloody Maria and maybe a fun shot but I'm not so sure about mixing the Tabasco and the fruit juices behind the bar.
It looks like New Zealand yacht company Sensation Yachts is in some serious financial trouble. TVNZ reports that the Auckland-based company has to pay Russian investors more than $32 million over a deal gone bad. A $90 million contract was signed three years ago with the promise of five boats. The Russian investors paid $25 million in deposits but no boats were completed.
TVNZ goes on to reveal that Sensation's Australian boatyard in Newcastle is also floundering because they cannot afford to pay rent and keep workers. Both the Australian and New Zealand boatyards are facing increased pressure from creditors. Owner Ivan Erceg has been able to stave off creditors thus far paying just enough to keep the business afloat. Having to pay off the Russian contract could spell doom for this company which has produced some beautiful yachts including the 148-foot Maria Cha III shown above.
In the buildup to London's hosting duties of the 2012 Olympics, the city's planners have created a "Cultural Olympiad" to generate buzz, highbrow British style. Twelve new public works of art are slated to open, the Royal Shakespeare Co. will produce a Shakespearean festival, a film competition will inspire the next wave of British filmmakers and Windsor Castle will be illuminated by a dazzling light show. The city plans to invest around $70 million in the project.
Lord Sebastian Coe, the chair of London's organizing committee for the 2012 Games, will even participate in Martin Creed's conceptual piece of moving sculpture currently on exhibit at the Tate, a piece featuring a runner sprinting across the museum galleries every 30 seconds, followed by an equivalent pause. The museum is calling it the "purest expression of human vitality."
The hope, organizers say, is to connect sports and the arts and provide a major injection of culture that will inspire young artists the way Michael Phelps makes you want to don a Speedo.
This week Kwiat brought some more sparkle to Madison Avenue with the opening of their 1,000-square-foot boutique at 725 Madison near other high-end diamond jewelry brands including Graff and Leviev. The flagship store celebrated their grand opening with a party hosted by Jennifer Hudson who tried on Kwiat designs for the press. Actress Eva Amurri and editors from various consumer fashion magazines were also in attendance. The company is dipping their toes into the retail business and is looking at shopping spots known for big spenders such as Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Russia.
Sheraton is getting into the apartment business in Spain. The hotel company has announced that their first ever apartment 'Residences' will be available to purchase at the Med Group's Bonmont golf and residential community on the Costa Daurada, south of Barcelona. There will be seven buildings, each with four two-bedroom Residences next to the 136-room, five-star Sheraton Bonmont Golf Resort & Spa. The Bonmont residential community is built around an 18-hole golf courses and facilities include a golf academy, gym and restaurant as well as three swimming pools and tennis courts.
All apartments will be fully furnished in the same style as the hotel and will be priced from 600,000 euros. The Residences can be divided into two units so owners can live in one half and rent the second out, or rent all of it either as two one-bedrooms or one two-bedroom. Rentals will be managed by the Sheraton hotel in Bonmont. The hotel and apartments are now being built and set to open at the beginning of 2009.
Posted Sep 5th 2008 6:02PM by Tracy Chait Filed under: Art
Steve McQueen is the art world's new King of Cool. The British filmmaker whose recent project Hunger won the prestigious Caméra d'Or award at Cannes, adds another prominent award to his collection: Gucci Group's annual recognition of an international artist who makes a significant contribution to film. And this year's group of nominees -- Julian Schnabel, Isaac Julien and Adam Yauch -- provided staunch competition indeed.
Robert Polet, Gucci's CEO and President, presented the award to McQueen during the 65th Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. The committee included some of the world's greatest arbiters of style, Italian Vogue's Franco Sozzani, the artist Jeff Koons, actress Isabelle Huppert, Yves Saint Laurent's creative director Stefano Pilati and the artistic director of the Venice Film Festival, Marco Muller.
I'm not crazy about the triangular shape of this crocodile pelham shopper bag from Gucci but otherwise it's a standard, versatile shoulder bag that's sure to be useful as well as fashionable. Featuring crocodile in dark green with silver hardware and two braided straps, the bag also has horsebit accents, tab-snap closure, protective feet on the bottom, and an inside zip pocket. Measuring 19.3" x 5.1" x 11" it's an attractive and generously sized bag but I must admit I'm not sure what exactly warrants the sky high (even for Gucci) price of $22,900.
We first covered this Glam Rock Miami Beach Automatic timepiece last fall and now we're on to this pretty member of the Miami Collection -- the Python, in brown. Glam Rock gets an animalistic update from a multi-toned python strap, shown here in brown but also available in blue. Of course it features the expected "Glam Rock" logo in the face center and the buckle, plus luminescent black hands and diamond trim totaling 0.30 carats. This Miami Collection member is definitely one of the more neutral and versatile, without giving up any bling. $2,095
Turning high fashion glamour into high-end living environments is the unique talent of the men behind Los Angeles furniture store Mogul. Designers Thomas Piscitello and Neal Wagner were inspired by fashion designer Tom Ford to create rooms that are both luxurious and sexy with rich colors and tactile materials such as fur, leather and exotic skins, highlighted by Swarovski crystal chandeliers and gleaming chrome, acrylic and lacquer details. Neal Wagner also sells his own abstract art pieces which blend seamlessly into the decor.
The company sells furnishings and accessories as well as offering design services and staging. And like Tom Ford, they know that you can't go wrong with a little flesh. The intro for the mogul website features rock music and a parade of semi-nude models reclining on the furniture.
Bibigi has many unique jewelry designs but their Fashion Collection rings are my absolute favorite because I love gardening, flowers, and the outdoors. Featuring an obvious floral theme, the collection is bright with colorful leaves, petals, and the occasional dragonfly or butterfly. Featuring white gold and yellow gold with diamonds, black diamonds, and enamel accents, the collection has a definite whimsical vibe. One of my favorites is this Van Gogh ring, of which there are four designs including a coordinating necklace and earrings.
We are getting great reader tips lately. This one comes from Luxist reader Ben and is a beautiful modern home in West Vancouver, BC. The home is gated and located inside the Canterbury Estates community. It is up on a hill giving it flawless city, harbor and ocean views. The four bedroom home has more than 7,400 sq. ft of modern space with an an open floor plan. The foyer features an indoor/outdoor Koi pond and waterfall. The copper-leafed custom gourmet kitchen has professional grade appliances and custom edge grain Cherry cabinetry and adjoins a family room with a fireplace. The main rooms open out to the south for the best views.
The upper level is given over to the bedrooms and includes the master suite with a bathroom that includes a tub overlooking the city and a custom-built dressing room with limestone topped island. The lower level has a large games/pool room. media room, exercise gym and private office all opening out to the patio with the swimming pool, hot tub and barbecue center. This home is listed at $6.8 million. Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.
Watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre has created their first fine jewelry creations in their 175 year history. The four-piece set called Parure Extraordinaire Le Lierre includes a cuff watch, a necklace, earrings and a ring. The floral design is similar in style to two Jaeger-LeCoultre watches we previously covered called The Rose and The Tulip.. The first jewelry produced in Jaeger-LeCoultre's 175-year history was unveiled Sunday night during a dinner at the Venice film Festival attended by actress and Jaeger-LeCoultre ambassador Diane Kruger who modeled the set which features a total of 12,000 precious stones totaling over 160 carats and two large yellow diamonds. It is valued at approximately $4.3 million.
The Atlantis Chandelier from Hudson Furniture is an elegant design from Barlas Baylar. The chandelier is a graceful cascade of nickel chain with a gloss nickel finish. The hanging down strands add just the right touch of modern chaos. The chandelier takes eight bulbs and is 42 inches tall. It is available by custom order and sells for $29,880.
Robots can clean your floor and entertain you, now they can also help you shop. Uniqlo's Soho store will debut Wakamaru, the first robot to be used in a retail store int the U.S. to greet customers, during the second week of September in their SoHo store. Fashion Week Daily reports that the bright yellow robot takes its name from a famous 12th century warrior and was designed by Toshiyuki Kita and developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. The friendly robot will recognize people, let customers know of special promotions, make eye contact and even lead store staff in motivational morning exercises.
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Bibigi has many unique jewelry designs but their 
