Planning a trip to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. this February? If you're quick you might still be able to snag one of the 96 rooms at the Opus Vancouver, the city's top luxury boutique hotel. Located in historic and fashionable Yaletown steps away from the inner harbor, the Opus has played host to a long list of A-listers including Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, Zac Efron, Janet Jackson, R.E.M., and The Pussycat Dolls, to name a few. The lavish rooms boast five different décor schemes to suit every taste, ranging from modern and minimalist to artful and eclectic, with comfort and style as the unifying elements. In addition to standard amenities, luxuries for guests include Frette bathrobes, L'Occitane bath products, an in-room oxygen dispenser and complimentary transportation within the downtown area via the hotel's luxe 7-Series BMWs. The penthouse suites feature wrap-around balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and double-sided fireplaces; all suites have a wet bar, while the hotel also features a fine French bistro, Elixir, as well as the Opus Bar, voted "Vancouver's Most Popular Nightspot" by the Zagat Survey.

Canada's most expensive residential sale so far this year occurred last month. Falkridge, a luxury retreat in the Calgary region, sold for $13.1 million after being on the market just a few weeks. It was listed for $12.9 million and sold for $13.1 million to an unnamed Calgary oil and gas entrepreneur. It was owned by U. S.-based Haworth Inc., a manufacturing company but was originally built by the Smed family of Calgary. The compound is 27,000 square feet and has a main residence, guest house, gazebo and water tower. The main residence is 15,000 square feet and has seven guest suites, an industrial chef kitchen, dining room, lounge and a media room that accommodates more than 20 people.The 12,000-square-foot guest house has six separate suites,a lounge with fireplace, and a training and conference area.

Cigar enthusiasts will find everything they could need at La Casa del Habano, Montreal's upscale smoking lounge. Located on la rue Sherbrooke Ouest, it is easily accessible from the city's downtown hotels and provides a relaxing destination for tourists who crave a Cohiba and business travelers who need to unwind following a marathon of meetings.

As the store's name implies, you'll only find Cuban cigars in its walk-in humidor. Be sure to see an attendant before trying to enter (the humidor, that is), as the door is kept locked. The employee will also help you with your selection, introducing you to the latest releases – which can be important, given their unavailability in the United States. As you peruse the shelves, prepare yourself for a bit of sticker-shock, as Canadian taxes do hike up the prices. But, for the cigar that will make the next hour magical, it's worth the sting.

Though you may want to pick up a few sticks for the road, make some time to smoke at least one in La Casa del Habano's large, comfortable cigar lounge. It seats close to 20, with large leather chairs and couches throughout the room and four seats at the full bar. The lounge offers coffee, espresso and a variety of cocktails, completing the experience you'd expect to have in the top shop in Montreal.

On our way back from a summer sojourn to Nova Scotia a few weeks ago we had to seek refuge from Hurricane Bill, and wound up at a luxurious, historic seaside resort in New Brunswick that turned out to be the highlight of the trip. Built in the 1880s, the Tudor-style Fairmont Algonquin, in picturesque St. Andrews overlooking the Passamaquoddy Bay, is a veritable castle by the sea. A Canadian Maritime tradition in its second century of impeccable hospitality, the hotel has played host to many notable personages over the years including the first Prime Minister of Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald, President Theodore Roosevelt and Diana, the Princess of Wales.

The hotel was originally the enterprise of the St. Andrews Land Company, established in 1883 by wealthy American businessmen who found the town to be the ideal vacation spot; a 1902 brochure described it as '"an incomparable resting-place and retreat from the cares of business and the heat and dust and bustle of the city." During this period most guests arrived by train and so it was only fitting that the Canadian Pacific Railway Company took over ownership in 1903. The hotel was sold to local interests in 1970 and the Province of New Brunswick leased the property in 1973. The Province eventually purchased The Fairmont Algonquin along with two golf courses and a private beach in 1984, and it is now run by the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts luxury group.

The hotel now has 234 impeccably-appointed guest rooms and suites retaining the resort's classic style, updated with modern amenities. Many rooms have ocean views and look over the lush gardens, swimming pool and tennis courts. The public spaces are elegant and inviting, with fireplaces for cooler weather and plenty of spots to relax indoors and out, while the charming town of St. Andrews is only a few minutes walk. The nearby Bay of Fundy lays claim to the highest tides in the world with rising and falling water levels nearing 55 ft. in some areas twice daily. That provides the scenic backdrop for the award-winning seaside Algonquin Golf Course and Academy, home to two of the top ten golf tees in Canada, while others may choose to go on whale-watching excursions or explore the scenic surroundings.

Known for its leather-trimmed, fitted outerwear, Canadian coat designer Mackage on September 1 opened its first stand-alone store, and chose NYC's hip Meatpacking District. I stopped by the store to check it out. The full Fall/Winter 2009 lines for men and women were on display in the small but classy store. Mirrors here and there make it easy (and tempting) to slip on a leather coat, puffy jacket, trench, or packable anorak. I commented to the rep helping me that the line looked familiar -- she said that certain styles were in Bloomingdale's and other high-end stores, but never the whole line, which is why Mackage decided to open its own store.

The coats are beautiful -- from wools to leathers to styles with fur trim, all are designed to be warm and fashionable, a rare combo. Even the packable anoraks are upscale. Rather than try to describe all here, check out the gallery for a few representative styles.

The store is a pop-up boutique, aka a limited-run, just for September, so Mackage can gauge interest and see if it wants to continue in this retail venue. So don't hesitate if you want to see the new line. There even will be special promotions this month with the chance to win a free coat or a free blow-out. Or ...

To see Mackage's Fall 2009 line, stop by the store (829 Washington St, NYC, 212-255-3807) on Thursday, September 10, as part of Fashion's Night Out, a worldwide event that coincides with Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Fashion authority Phillip Bloch will be on hand offering free tips and consultations from 7 - 9 p.m., Serge Normant at John Frieda Salon will be doing blowouts from 6 - 9 pm, and model Irina Lazareanu will DJ from 9 - 11 pm.

A year ago I wrote about the fracas regarding Canada's Glen Breton whisky. The Scotch Whisky Association was up in arms about the whisky's name saying that the word Glen could mislead consumers into thinking that the product is from Scotland. But the Association has lost the fight to keep the Nova Scotia distillery from using the name Glen Breton for its single malt. The Canadian Press reports that the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear an appeal of a lower court ruling that allowed the label to stand. The association has said that it will still oppose the use of the label outside Canada.

Europe – the same corner of Europe, actually – claims the first three spots in Mercer Consulting's annual Quality of Living Survey. Vienna, Austria and Zurich and Geneva in Switzerland lead the list, followed by Vancouver, Canada and Auckland, New Zealand in a tie for fourth.

Little has changed for the top half of the top 10. Last year, Zurich nabbed the top spot, and Vienna and Geneva shared the #2 spot. Vancouver is unchanged year-over-year, and Auckland's #5 finish last year is roughly the same as its tie for fourth in 2009.

Not only are the top places to live ostensibly enjoyable, you're more likely to be there for a while. Life expectancies in these cities start at 79 years. It's better than living a nice long life in a dump, I guess.

The United States doesn't appear until the bottom of the top 30, with Honolulu and San Francisco. From Asia, only Singapore picks up a spot in the world's 30 best places to live. South America and Africa are not represented at all. It's strange, I half-expected to see Mogadishu on this list.

Of the 215 places listed, Baghdad has the distinction of finishing last. Sometimes, common sense prevails.

The town of Ucluelet in British Columbia is home to a dramatic new hotel on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The Black Rock Oceanfront Resort was designed by architect Ron Lea and is perched on the side of a hill for beautiful ocean views from four-story high glass windows. The hotels uses rock from the site combined with glass, steel, wood and an open floor plan for harmony with the surroundings. There is a main lodge with 71 guest suites and 62 beach suites. The studio, one and two-bedroom suites all have views of the ocean or surrounding old growth forest. Each room has a spa-inspired bathroom with a soaking tub and shower, gas fireplace, balcony with outdoor table and a kitchen or kitchenette.

The hotel has three hot pools overlooking the ocean and natural black rock cliffs. The Fetch restaurant offers fine dining with an ocean view and the Float Lounge has floor to ceiling windows overlooking the open ocean. The Wine Cellar is dramatically place in an active surge channel with exploding waves and surrounding coastal features. The Drift Spa which will use certified organic seaweed products made on Vancouver Island opens in the spring. Rates start at $135 a night.

Great Canadian Heli-Skiing in British Columbia is now offering a Platinum Heli-Skiing Season Pass for CDN $100,000, or about $80,000 US, making it quite literally the world's most expensive lift ticket. The Platinum Pass from GCH offers unlimited "vertical access" to the world's best deep powder skiing in the heart of British Columbia's Purcell and Selkirk mountain ranges.

The pass absolutely guarantees the holder a seat on one of GCH's A-Star B2 helicopters - forget about ski lifts or gondolas in this extreme terrain - every single day of the heli-skiing season, from December 26 to March 28, overriding all other bookings. The $80,000 also gets you a personal "powder concierge" to keep you up to date on conditions and forecasts and advise you on getting the ultimate heli-skiing experience.

[via JustLuxe]

Those skiing in Whistler this winter will have a new to ski both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. The Peak 2 Peak gondola will offer an eleven-minute trip that spans the two mountains. The gondola will link 8,171 acres of terrain into one continuous lift system so that skiers and riders can move across the valley to the best snow and weather in each area.Each gondola cabin can hold 28 people and can transport 4,100 people per hour. Two of the 28 gondolas will have glass bottoms allowing a birds eye view of the Fitzsimmons Valley below. The gondola will also be open during the summer months. Whistler Blackcomb's Unlimited Adult Seasons Pass is available for $1879. The Peak 2 Peak gondola opens on December 12.

More interesting real estate news out of Vancouver, the Hotel Georgia, a Vancouver landmark that first opened in 1927, is now home to luxury residences and an updated hotel. The main hotel will be renovated and the Private Residences at Hotel Georgia will be a 48-floor tower with 156 condo units. It will be th third tallest building in Vancouver when completed. The 160-room boutique hotel is going to be completed in 2010 and the team is trying to get it done before the Vancouver Winter Olympics in February of that year.

Condo owners will share the hotel's amenities including a restaurant from David Hawksworth, one of Vancouver's most acclaimed chefs, a roof garden, a spa and fitness center, wine cellar and a round-the-clock concierge service. The condo tower will also have eight floors of office space that will include a theater room and meeting room for residents.

Given that we recently saw construction stop on Vancouver's Ritz-Carlton residences we have to ask how this one is selling. The Calgary Herald article says 55 percent of the condos are sold -- including all of the one-bedroom units that started at $650,000 and the penthouse has also been purchased for $18.5 million. Remaining units start at $1.39 million for 1,178 square feet, up to a four bedroom plus den with 4.5 bathrooms and 3,489 square feet for $8.37 million.

To celebrate its 150th anniversary, Canadian Club has released a special limited edition 30 Year Reserve whisky, that boasts a "luscious oak character and a velvety texture with unsurpassed natural smoothness."

Having sampled it, we second that description. The company is releasing 3,000 bottles at $200 apiece, the first Canadian distiller to offer a product of this age and refinement.

Canadian Club obviously sounds very Canadian, but it actually got its start in Detroit, founded by grocer-turned-distiller Hiram Walker, who dubbed his whisky Walker's Club. When Prohibition reared its ugly head, Walker relocated his operation across the Detroit River to Ontario, where he soon established his own community, Walkerville.

Canadian Club has recently experienced something of resurgence thanks to the hit show Mad Men, wherein it's everyone's favorite character Don Draper's drink of choice.

A new Canadian company, SwiftJet is planning affordable, executive chartered travel for Canada. The company plans to acquire up to 15 Diamond D-Jets, from Diamond Aircraft. With the purchase of all 15 aircrafts, SwiftJet will become the largest operator of D-Jets in Canada and the first executive charter launch customer in Canada to take delivery of the aircraft. Commercial pilot Bassam Al-Sarraj is the President of SwiftJet and says the D-Jets will offer small to mid-sized businesses a way to expand their markets outside the traditional airline air corridors. Initial deliveries to SwiftJet are planned for 2010. SwiftJet currently flies the Falcon 20. The company offers the SwiftJet Jet card which can be purchased in blocks of 25, 50 and 100 hours.

A new private residence club has chosen a vineyard in the Okanagan valley region of British Columbia as their first offering. Bellstar Hotels & Resorts and Olympus Resorts are creating The Reserve Collection, a club that will offer fractional ownership opportunities in vineyard locations around the world. The Calgary Herald reports that the exact spot hasn't been chosen yet but that the company is looking for a place in the south part of the valley, especially wineries in Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Penticton, Naramata, the Similkameen Valley and Osoyoos.

Other potential vineyard destinations for the club may include Argentina, New Zealand, Europe, California, Oregon and Washington. Owners will also become members of the Vintners Club which will include access to wine and food-related events such as winemakers dinners, members-only barrel tastings, viticulture, activities and culinary programs. They can participate in the winemaking process, assisting the vineyard crew in tending, pruning, picking and crushing. Cost of membership ranges from $200,000 to $1 million, plus annual homeowner association fees of $5,000 to $15,000.

The historic Oak Bay Beach Hotel in Victoria, Canada is becoming the first combined luxury hotel and private residence in Victoria. The 100-room hotel will have 20 full-ownership suites that will open in the fall of 2010, just in time for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Walker Hospitality opened registration to buyers who may be interested. The Walkers plan to restore the hotel's luxury by including the lobby fireplace, Tudor facade and even the original Snug Pub beer mug. The development also calls for modern interior updates and a touch of green, the project is aiming for LEED Gold certification. The residential suites are penthouse and sub-penthouse units with views of the Pacific and the San Juan Islands. They range in size from 857 sq. ft. to 2,285 sq. ft. and prices start at $1 million.