CasinoRoyale

Steve Wynn Fights For Philly Casino Project

When Steve Wynn decided to take over the Foxwoods Philadelphia casino project he was hoping it would be a simple matter of a nod and a wave to get the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to let him proceed with the plans. But it looks like its going to be a bit of an involved process. While the gaming board decided not to pull the license from the project they aren't willing to hand it over to Wynn just yet.

Philly.com reports on Wynn's appearance before the board where he tried to convince them that he had the money and ability to complete the $600 million casino in South Philadelphia. What he mostly provided where pretty words rather than concrete plans and so the board has decided that Wynn must provide detailed financing information, architectural drawings and a construction timetable within the next two months. On April 29 the board will take another look at the proposal. Meanwhile the board continues to fine the Foxwoods group $2,000 a day until a successful project plan has been agreed upon. Local sentiment on the project is mixed, some hope the project will bring jobs to the region while others are protesting the idea of having a casino in the area.

Tags: CasinoRoyale, foxwoods, pennsylvania casino, PennsylvaniaCasino, philadelphia casino, PhiladelphiaCasino, steve wynn, SteveWynn

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James Bond Items on Offer in Pop Culture Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Auctions, Men's Style

Daniel Craig's aviator sunglasses designed by Tom Ford for last year's Quantum of Solace (above) are among a collection of James Bond items in Christie's London's Vintage Film Posters and Entertainment Memorabilia auction on Nov. 24. The shades, estimated at £1,000 - £1,500, are among the more modern 007 mementos in the sale, along with a poker table chair and barstool graced by Mr. Craig's derriere in 2006's Casino Royale, estimated at £1,000 - £1,500. On the vintage front there are some key items from 1974's The Man With the Golden Gun, such as a two-piece black silk evening suit made for Roger Moore for the film, offered at £3,000 - £5,000. Also from that film are the arch villain Scaramanga's custom triggers for the golden gun itself, made in the form of cufflinks which he used to assemble the lethal weapon, estimated at £2,000 - £3,000. On offer as well are a pair of black leather of Salvatore Ferragamo dress shoes worn by Moore in 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me, signed on the inside in gold ink along with a jocular note from the actor, for £800 - £1,200.

[via Duncan Quinn]

Tags: 007, Casino Royale, CasinoRoyale, Christies, cufflinks, Daniel Craig, DanielCraig, David Niven, DavidNiven, James Bond, JamesBond, Quantum of Solace, QuantumOfSolace, Roger Moore, RogerMoore, Salvatore Ferragamo, SalvatoreFerragamo, sunglasses, Tom Ford, TomFord

Quantum of Solace Trailer Unveiled

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

You've read about the Aston Martin mishaps and the Tom Ford tailoring; now Sony has released the trailer for Quantum of Solace, the new James Bond flick premiering this fall. Daniel Craig stylishly reprises his role as 007 in what looks to be an action-packed installment of the classic series, with Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton doing the Bond Girl honors.

In the flick based on a 1959 Ian Fleming short story, Bond sets out to seek revenge for the death of Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) from Casino Royale. Craig has said filming Quantum was much more physically demanding that Casino, and he has suffered some injuries along the way. See the trailer here and check out the gallery for production pix.

Gallery: Quantum of Solace

Craig and Gemma Arterton (Agent Fields).

Tags: 007, Aston Martin, AstonMartin, Casino Royale, CasinoRoyale, Daniel Craig, DanielCraig, Ian Fleming, IanFleming, James Bond, JamesBond, Quantum of Solace, QuantumOfSolace, Tom Ford, TomFord

The World's Most Luxurious Private Landscapes

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Garden, Books

The lush oases pictured in Luxury Private Gardens, the newest title in teNeues' brilliant Luxury Books series, veer between the pleasantly inspirational and oppressively beautiful. In other words, while looking at it made us want to rush outside and start planting things, it also made us despair of ever creating anything one tenth as attractive as the private paradises portrayed between its covers. Much better, we feel, to simply sit back, mix a drink, read the damned book and let someone else do the digging, pruning, weeding and whatnot. But we digress.

Even the most lavish gardens in these pages displaying "the highest standards of horticultural excellence" are founded on simplicity, the book assures us: "Stripped down to their bare essentials, they are like a well-cut couturier's gown - nothing but an utterly simple response to the unadorned landscape or the naked human body they are designed to fit." The incredible Villa d'Este in Lake Como, Italy (where part of Casino Royale was filmed) pictured on the cover, with its elegant, elaborate parterres doesn't exactly scream simplicity to us, but we could stare at it all day. See the gallery for a luxe garden tour.

Gallery: Luxury Private Gardens