AlgonquinHotel

Vintage Hollywood Menu at New York's Algonquin Hotel

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Charity, Books

Calling all fans of vintage Hollywood, classic Broadway and early 20th century literature: New York's Algonquin Hotel is in the midst of a special vintage menu that's actually well worth the price.

The Algonquin Hotel is best known for its place in 1920s literature -- it's where the "vicious circle", which included Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley used to meet to trade barbs and match wits. It's a terrific, if pricey, place for drinks in midtown when you want a literary vibe. The hotel has teamed up with publisher HarperCollins, which has just released a vintage cookbook called Specialties de la Maison, which gathered together recipes from celebs ranging from Tallulah Bankhead, Noel Coward, Christian Dior, Eleanor Roosevelt and others. The cookbook was a fundraiser for the now defunct group American Friends of France, an organization started by Anne Morgan (daughter of J.P.), a francophile who was horrified by the toll of war on France after World War I, and who used her extensive social connections to gather the recipes. The book jacket was designed by Clement Hurd, who illustrated the children's classic Goodnight Moon.

Tags: AlgonquinHotel, dorothy parker, fine dining, Hollywood, new york city, old hollywood, vicious circle

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The $10,000 Proposal Martini

by Deb West (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Spirits, Celebrity Design

One of the signs that Spring must be just around the corner is not just that the days start to get longer, but that wedding and proposal specials start to proliferate. Many men must feel a lot of pressure to not only pick the right diamond engagement ring but to propose in such a manner that their fiance will have a great story to tell all of her friends, not to mention her mother. Some people are just naturally creative and others need a little bit of help and inspiration.

The Algonquin Hotel in New York City is prepared to help the creatively impaired, offering what is possibly the most expensive martini ever. The Grey Goose $10,000 proposal cocktail comes with a one-of-a-kind diamond ring placed in the glass. This specialty cocktail is served by a white gloved waiter in a crystal glass on a silver platter in the hotel's famous Blue Bar. The hotel arranges for clients to work one on one with a private jeweler to customize the engagement ring picking carat size, number of stones and the setting. The hotel needs at least 72 hours notice to set up this arrangement.

The hotel opened in 1902 and has long been famous for being the center of the city's literary and theatrical circles. If your intended is a big reader she might get a kick out of being proposed to in the same room where literary geniuses such as William Faulkner, Sinclair Lewis, and Derek Walcott spent their time.

As an aside, should the love of your life be more into spending time at the mall than the local library, Ivanka Trump is serving up a different offer at her Bridal Bar. Any diamond engagement ring bought comes with the "New York Proposal" package featuring a free night at one of the Trump Hotel Collection properties in New York City. The package also comes with complimentary long stemmed roses, champagne, dinner at the famed Jean Georges restaurant as well as breakfast in bed the next morning.

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Neiman Marcus Unveils 2009 Christmas Book

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits, Luxury Cars & Autos, Wine, Wings

Neiman Marcus just unveiled the 2009 edition of the renowned Christmas Book, offering customers the ultimate in cutting-edge, dream-fulfilling gifts. First published in 1926 as a 16-page booklet, the Christmas Book was initially intended as a Christmas card to the store's best customers and evolved into a legendary source for alluring and mystical gifts. Among the highlights of this year's catalog:

His & Hers Gift Package, $250,000: An ICON A5 sport aircraft with custom trailer and sport pilot license training for two. The ICON A5 is from a world-class team of engineers and designers who helped create the groundbreaking Virgin Global Flyer, and features an amphibious hull and landing gear to take off and land just as easily on water as on land.

Algonquin Round Table Experience, $200,000: Exclusive dinner party at NYC's legendary Algonquin Hotel (above) with guests including Christopher Buckley, Roz Chast, Nora Ephron, Malcolm Gladwell, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Adam Gopnik, John Lithgow, Anna Deavere Smith and George Stephanopoulos. Proceeds to benefit First Book, the 2009 Christmas Book Charity.

2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition, $105,000: Limited to only 50 examples, the bespoke version of Jag's new flagship features a supercharged 5-liter V8 that delivering 470 hp, a custom interior of butter-soft navy and ivory leather and Zebrano matte wood accents, and includes a five-piece set of matching Jaguar luggage in navy blue leather.

HALL Artisan Wine and Art Experience, $20,000: Learn organic, artisan winemaking firsthand, tour the estates in Napa and the art collection, and have the opportunity to create your own personal vintage in a private blending session with HALL's Winemaker with a custom vintage bottled for you. Includes accommodations at Auberge and a private dinner party with Ambassador Kathryn Hall.

Maker's Mark Master Distiller Experience, $7,500: All-access, VIP experience with Maker's Mark Master Distiller, Kevin Smith. Spend a day making whiskey, step by step and take home two bottles of the rarest Maker's Mark – golden bottles etched with your likeness and dipped in gold wax with 24-kt gold flecks. Includes luxury accommodations in Louisville and a gourmet dinner hosted by Bill Samuels, the 7th generation of Maker's Mark.

Get In The Christmas Spirit With AOL Radio's 10 Best Christmas Songs.

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World's Pricest Cocktails

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

When dining out, having a few drinks with dinner can really impact the bottom line when the bill is presented. While the markup on alcohol is always fairly significant, a few shots of Johnny Walker Black don't come close to doing the kind of damage to the pocketbook that the world's priciest cocktails will.

Take the Dazzle cocktail for example. Served at the Second Floor Bar at Harvey Nichols in Manchester, UK, this little concoction will set you back $51,200. But if you order it, rest assured that you will walk away with more than a buzz. In addition to the the rose Champagne and strawberry and lychee liqueur, the cocktail is served with an 18-karat white-gold ring with pink tourmaline and diamond stones.

If the idea of a gem in your drink appeals, there are other establishments where you can drop a bundle on a beverage with a little extra sparkle. The Blue Bar at the Algonquin Hotel in New York offers a Martini-on-the-Rock for $10,000. With 72 hours advance notice, they will mix up a martini to your specification and drop in your choice of diamond cut and setting. The Piano Bar in the Sheraton Park Tower Hotel in London, will also let you customize your pricey gem drink. The Diamond/Ruby Cocktail starts with Charles Heidsieck champagne blended with Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac, angostura bitters and a sugar cube and is finished off with a gem of your choice. A .6 carat diamond will set you back a mere $4,350, but if you really want to impress your date, choose the 2.6 carat version for $19,000.

If you aren't in the market for a nice piece of jewelry, but still appreciate an expensive libation, try the Mai Tai at the Merchant Hotel in Belfast. With a rare shot of Wray & Nephew 17-year-old rum mixed in, this one will set you back $1,400. Or visit a Capital Grille at any one of their 27 locations and they will happily mix up a $1,000 martini for you. Depending on just where you visit, the drink will be paired with an appropriate piece of Lagos jewelry, from pearls in New York to diamonds in Las Vegas. And any guilt you might feel at ordering such a pricey drink will surely be drowned by the knowledge that for each cocktail sold, about $500 goes to Share our Strength, a charity that battles hunger around the globe.

But wait, there is more. Here you will find even more pricey cocktails to be had all over the world. Cheers!

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