Holidays

Hot Holiday Cocktails from Hornitos Tequila

You may not think of tequila as a traditional holiday tipple, but in fact more of it is consumed over the holidays than at any other time of the year. It certainly fits the bill when you're looking for a party crowd-pleaser, for one thing. Hornitos Premium Tequila, the 100% puro agave tequila from Beam Global Spirits & Wine, named after the small agave ovens which played a central part in the great Don Francisco Javier Sauza's revolution of the tequila industry 50 years ago, has created some unexpected holiday drinks designed to "instigate a night of endless celebratory possibilities" using their acclaimed Plata, Reposado and Anejo expressions. They've also come up with an extra-special concoction for New Year's Eve which will be served at the Official Times Square New Year's Eve Party at the Hard Rock Cafe, while debuting a cool new commercial (above) set to run from December 27th – January 2 tied to the occasion. Read on for recipes and bottoms up.

Hornitos Holiday Smash

1 ½ parts Hornitos™ Añejo Tequila
2 slices fresh pear
1 wedge of fresh lemon
1 half moon slice of orange
½ part simple syrup
3 whole cloves

In a sturdy double Old Fashioned glass muddle the cloves. Add to the glass the orange, lemon, and pear and muddle with simple syrup. Fill glass with ice, add Hornitos and stir. Serves One. [cont'd]

Tags: cocktail, cocktail recipe, cocktails, Holiday 2010, holidays, Hornitos, New Years Eve, Sauza, spirits, tequila

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Dempsey & Carroll's Holiday Cards Collection

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Holiday Guides

Dempsey & Carroll's Holiday Cards Collection

If you have yet to order your personalized holiday cards, it's time to get cracking! But when your friends and family receive a card from Dempsey & Carroll's beautiful and classy holiday collection, you will be forgiven for being a bit behind schedule. Luckily, D&C offers rush service (15 days from day of order) for $100.

The stationer's collection of 65 designs range in price from about $500 - $3,900 for boxes of 50 - 500 cards and envelopes, although some styles start at a minimum of 100 cards and envelopes. Select a greeting (or write your own), ink, and typestyle. You can have D&C make you an engraving plate for an additional charge, or send along your own.

You also can get non-personalized holiday cards. These are ready to ship right now; prices range from $50 - $75 for a set of 10 cards and 10 envelopes.

View the gallery for a few of the customizable options.

Gallery: Dempsey & Carroll's Holidays Cards Collection - Customizable

Tags: Christmas, Christmas cards, Dempsey Carroll, greeting cards, holiday, holiday cards, holidays, personalized

NYC Street Vendor Hawks $900 Christmas Trees

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Holiday Guides

NYC Street Vendor Hawks $900 Christmas Trees

The Daily News reported that a lot in the heart of SoHo is selling jumbo-sized Christmas trees at prices to match. Scott Lechner, 53, charges as much as $900 for trees he ships from the Blue Mountains in North Carolina to his temporary business on Sixth Avenue and Spring Street. "A regular tree is beautiful, but one of our jumbos is majestic," Lechner says in the News. "It's not just a tree, it's an experience. And it's worth every penny."

Not all the trees are as much as $900. A 12-foot Fraser fir retails for about $400; it's a 17-footer that goes for $900. Lechner claims his clients have been celebrities, a Facebook executive, and SoHo residents. He notes that his prices are high because the trees come to his lot within 96 hours of being cut. But the News reports -- fueling the fire in the battle of the boroughs -- that the same types of trees can be found at a fraction of the price in Brooklyn.

The question that still nags at me is this: Who in New York has space for a 17-foot tree? I mean, obviously not counting the celebs, execs, and SoHo folks. I guess they all own two-floor apartments where the lower-level apartment ceiling has been removed, or the elusive brownstone.

Tags: Christmas, Christmas tree, Christmas trees, holiday, holidays, New York, New York City, SoHo

The Classicist: Bergdorf Goodman Unveils High-Tech Holiday Windows [video]

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels, The Classicist, Video, Architecture & Design, Luxury Shopping

Legendary luxe New York department store Bergdorf Goodman, founded in 1901, is famous for its amazing, elaborate holiday windows which dazzle shoppers and passersby alike. This year is no exception, with the added attraction of some high-tech features debuting for the very first time. The 2010 windows, entitled "Wish You Were Here," take their inspiration from fantasy travel to far-flung places involving some rather unusual ways of getting there. The displays feature an array of "wild mash-ups of unexpected arrivals and departures", each with visual influences as diverse as Roman mythology, 1940s Hollywood musicals, the city's original Penn Station, and the very first science fiction film.

This year, for the first time, QR codes on several of the windows enable people to view an online Bergdorf Holiday Gift Finder and a video depicting the making of the holiday displays (above) simply by scanning the codes with their smartphone or handheld digital device. Produced entirely in-house by Bergdorf, the video features the song "Follow Me" by 17-year old emerging Sony artist Audrianna Cole. "We are in the surprise business," notes David Hoey, Bergdorf Goodman's Senior Director of Visual Presentation and Window Design. "This job is part architect and part cake decorator." Each of the landmark store's five main Fifth Avenue windows represents a different destination and a special method of conveyance:

Gallery: Bergdorf Goodman 2010 Holiday Windows

Tags: Bergdorf Goodman, Christmas shopping, department store, Fifth Avenue, holiday, Holiday 2010, holidays, Naeem Khan, New York, Oscar de la Renta, Polyvore.com, store, travel

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$10,000 Skull Cufflinks & More from Ralph Lauren for the Holidays

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches, Men's Style

Ralph Lauren is offering a number of exclusive, ultra-luxurious gifts this holiday season, starring an eye-popping pair of skull cufflinks for $10,995. The luxe links, with a skull in a top hat motif, are finished in white gold with diamond eyes. The designer's new Holiday Collection encompasses chic decorative accents, entertaining accoutrements and luxurious travel accessories. Iconic tartans, a signature palette of cashmere cable-knits and rich velvets have a classic appeal, while items like the cufflinks and crystal barware appeal to a more modern sense of sophistication.

The skull motif also appears on a velvet throw pillow for $195 and even a cashmere dog sweater at $115. Other items of note include tartan leather bags and accessories for both men and women, including a men's Cooper Bag at $3,995; a women's Tiffin Bag in black alligator for $16,995; retro style sunglasses finished in red tartan for $375; and exclusive timepieces priced from $17,500 – $32,000. In addition, RalphLauren.com will be offering multiple programs under the RL Custom Boutique for the ultimate in personalization, while the designer's Gift Vault site features a collection of rare and one-of-a-kind pieces ranging from $650 - $55,000.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: Ralph Lauren Holiday 2010

Tags: cashmere, cufflinks, diamond, gifts, gold, Holiday 2010, holiday gifts, holiday shopping, holidays, mens style, Ralph Lauren, sunglasses, timepieces

Remy Martin Unveils VSOP Hot Holiday Bottle

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

The famed French cognac house of Rémy Martin, founded back in 1724, has been part of countless holiday celebrations over the centuries. This season the venerable fine champagne cognac's VSOP expression, the best-selling VSOP cognac in the United States, is getting a glowing makeover for the holidays. The new limited edition Rémy Martin VSOP Hot Holiday bottle (above) is appropriately dressed in red for the festivities. The colorful cladding also recalls the fact that Rémy Martin VSOP has been a symbol of style and sophistication since its introduction in the exuberant Paris cabaret scene in 1927. The cognac itself is amber in color with rich flavor and a refined aroma. Smooth and easy-to-drink with appealing notes of vanilla, violet, apricot, peach and licorice, it's silky and warm on the palate with a well-balanced taste and long finish. Perfect on its own or over ice, we also enjoy it with soda and lemon or in a Sidecar.

Tags: brandy, cocktails, cognac, France, holiday 2010, holidays, Remy Martin, spirits

Harry & David Launches Pop-Up "Orchards"

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Harry & David is a gift-giving tradition around the holidays. This year the company famous for its fruit and other mail-order delectables is opening up "pop-up orchards" in neighborhoods around the country. The stores were inspired by Harry & David's home in Oregon's Rogue River Valley and feature Harry & David's new customizable options, such as the "Create Your Own" Bento Box, in addition to Harry & David favorites including new flavors of Moose Munch snacks. The holiday collections will feature exclusive wines, artisanal cheeses, baked goods and of course, fresh fruit. Harry & David is also offering special pricing at the rate of $19.34 on select holiday items to commemorate their anniversary year.

"We're absolutely thrilled to launch our Pop-Up Orchard concept just in time for the holiday season," says Steve Heyer, who has the title of Chief Happiness Officer. "It's a unique platform for us to share our rich brand heritage and showcase our farm-to-table expertise while engaging with consumers across the country's most bustling cities for the first time."

The stores will be open through January 2011. A store locator is available on the Harry & David website. Locations include the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia; at the Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta, Georgia; at Beachwood Place in Cleveland, Ohio; at Cherry Creek Mall in Denver, Colorado and on Greenwich Ave in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Tags: christmas gifts, harry and david, harry david, holidash, holiday gifts, holidays

Tongabezi Lodge in Zambia for the Holidays, Dr. Livingstone?

by Ann Brenoff (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

"Dr. Livingstone, I presume?" The man to whom Sir Henry Morton Stanley posed that now-famous question was Scottish missionary David Livingstone, who had been out of contact with the world for several years when Stanley found him. Livingstone explored these parts of Zambia and today, his legacy lives on with much named in his honor.

The banks of the Zambezi River is where the 5-star Tongabezi Lodge is located. The lodge was founded in 1990 and consists of small cottages, each assigned its own valet to care for his guests and act as a private concierge. Game drives, bush walks and boating rips are all included in the price. Nearby Victoria Falls can be seen either by boat or helicopter and the best views may be from Livingstone Island, where one can also take a swim in the Devil's Pool, a unique falls experience where conflicting water currents allow for (semi-)safe swimming described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The lodge is the first river lodge at Victoria Falls in Zambia, and it's offering a three-night holiday package that combines celebration with Zambian traditions at Christmas and New Year's. The all-inclusive costs for each three-night stay is $1,350, which includes accommodations, meals, bar drinks, one spa treatment and all entertainment.

Gallery: Zambia TongabeziHoliday Package

Tags: africa, african travel, holidays, zambia

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Knob Creek Warms Up for the Holidays

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits

Knob Creek, the super premium small batch bourbon that's aged for nine years in charred American white oak barrels and bottled at a robust 100 proof, is gearing up for the cooler weather with some recipes for giving both food and drink a Kentucky-style kick in the pants this holiday season. Knob Creek, with its smooth, sweet and rich flavor and signature maple sugar aroma, makes a great accompaniment to many festivities on its own but also works well as an ingredient in everything from hors d'oeuvres to Thanksgiving turkey. Read on for some key recipes:

Knob Creek Bourbon Egg Nog

½ cup Knob Creek Bourbon
6 large egg yolks
¾ cup sugar
2 ½ cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Beat egg yolks and sugar in medium saucepan. Slowly beat in 2 cups of milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring
frequently, until thermometer registers 150°F or mixture coats the back of the metal spoon. Remove from heat.
Strain into pitcher. Stir in remaining milk, Knob Creek Bourbon, vanilla and nutmeg. Cover and chill at least 8 hours.
Sprinkle with additional nutmeg.
Makes 6-8 servings.

Knob Creek Holiday Punch

3 parts Knob Creek Bourbon
3 parts cranberry juice
4 parts lemon-lime soda
1 part fresh lemon or lime juice
dash bitters
6 parts champagne
ice block
orange and lemon slices

Pre-chill ingredients. Pour into a punch bowl over a large piece of ice, adding champagne last.
Decorate with slices of lemon and orange. [continued]

Tags: bourbon, cocktail recipes, cocktails, holiday 2010, holidays, Kentucky, Knob Creek, mixology, spirits, Thanksgiving, whiskey, whisky

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Gizmobies Protect Your PDA in Style

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Services

Whenever I get a new cell phone, I obsess over protecting it from every scratch, but after fruitless shopping for a case that's not too bulky or too expensive or too blah, I usually just give in to the basic black leather case. Yawn. Now that I'm finally ready to join the modern era and get myself a BlackBerry, I started noticing all the cases for those and discovered ... Gizmobies. Forgive my excitement, but now NYC area residents can buy these at the Gizmobies store in Midtown or via its online store (more below).

Made of a thin yet durable gel-like material, Gizmobies provide superior padded protection, come in tons of colors and patterns, and are thin enough that your phone or PDA slips in and out of your pocket or purse easily, yet provide a great grip so that your device won't fall off a table or your lap. You can easily change skins without any trouble at all -- they peel right off, and don't leave any residue.

I recently chatted with Andrea Balkin, who owns the New York area Gizmobies franchise, and here's what I learned: Gizmobies were started about three years ago by a successful technology start-up team with the goal of inventing a product that allowed iPod and cell phone owners to customize and protect their device but keep it pocketable and enhance its aesthetics without adding bulk or weight.

Andrea noted, "I purchased a Gizmobie for my iPhone 1G at the beginning of 2009 and fell in love with the fact that my phone, my most used possession, now felt great in my hand, looked really cool, and had excellent protection! No more ugly bright pink rubber case, which got stuck in my pocket, collected dirt in it, and looked so very pedestrian.

"I loved my Gizmobie so much that I wanted to get another one, but found that there was no place on the East Coast to purchase them. A budding entrepreneur myself, I knew that Gizmobies would be an instant hit out east -- especially in the iPhone Apple mecca of Manhattan!" And so ...

If you're in the NYC metro area, you should stop by Andrea's kiosk in the Manhattan Mall, on 6th Avenue at West 33rd Street. It features more than 130 designs, with new ones arriving regularly, for most BlackBerry phones, Nintendo DSi and Lite gaming systems, Nokia N97 mobile phone, and the Apple suite of devices; iPhone, iTouch, iPod, and Nano ($20-$25). Gizmobies for laptops are due out before the Christmas holidays.

Gizmobies offer a lifetime guarantee that allows the customer to mail the product back to the company's headquarters in Las Vegas if anything should happen to the product. Gizmobies are made in the USA.

Check out the gallery for examples of the array of patterns available, and how Gizmobies look on some popular devices.

Gallery: Gizmobies Protect Your PDA in Style

Tags: BlackBerry, cell phone, cell phones, CellPhone, CellPhones, gift, gift ideas, GiftIdeas, gifts, Gizmobies, holidays, iPod, laptop, Nintendo, PDA, phone, phones

This Year's Holiday Shopping Lesson: Lux Goes Online

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

The web isn't just for bargains. Some of the top luxury lifestyle brands in the world are turning to the internet to beef up their sales -- a must in a market where brick-and-mortar is lagging in the all-important holiday season. Giorgio Armani and Valentino Fashion Group, which have generally steered clear of the prolies shopping online, are changing their attitudes, as they have had to cope with the most severe recession in seventy years. Roberto Cavalli and Salvatore Ferragamo have joined the fray, too, both opening online stores in the past month.

In addition to younger buyers who are more comfortable skipping the store, a sense of "luxury shame" is causing many to turn to the web. The anonymity, once reserved for porn purchases, allows customers to indulge in big-ticket buys without having to endure looks of envy (or worse). If you need proof that luxury spending is going digital, take a look at Italy. This year, online sales of Italian luxury products are expected to surge 42 percent to $500 million, according to a study by Politecnico. Last year, it fell six percent for the luxury goods industry as a whole. In Italy, around 14 percent of holiday shopping will occur ont eh web, according to Deloitte's 2009 Christmas Survey.

The luxury industry's online endeavors are not limited to traditional stores, though Stefano Sassi, Valentino's CEO, notes that the startup costs are lower and that "There's a very interesting margin on e-commerce" as a result. Armani has launched applications for smartphones, including the iPhone and Blackberry and has launched a Christmas website.

Source

Tags: armani, BlackBerry, Christmas, christmas shopping, ChristmasShopping, Giorgio Armani, GiorgioArmani, holiday, Holiday season, holiday shopping, holidays, HolidaySeason, HolidayShopping, iphone, luxury, online retail, online retailers, online retailing, OnlineRetail, OnlineRetailers, OnlineRetailing, roberto cavalli, RobertoCavalli, salvatore ferragamo, SalvatoreFerragamo, Valentino

Queen Elizabeth Plans Frugal Holiday Season

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

No Christmas gifts for the Queen of England? CBS News says that in an effort to show solidarity with the recession-stricken people of her land, Queen Elizabeth II has let it known that she and her husband Prince Philip do not require gifts this year. The Queen has had some financial struggles of her own this year, forced to cut costs and ask for additional money from the British government for the upkeep of the royal castles. According to Forbes, the monarch has a fortune of $450 million which sounds like a lot but that number is down $200 million from recent years.

The royal family generally spends Christmas at Sandringham Estate, the Queen's country manor in Norfolk, England, a few days before Christmas. The Royals generally don't splash out on fancy gifts anyway but the Queen is taking extra precautions requesting that any potential gifts be donated to local charities and hospitals instead. The Queen has also been reusing more of her wardrobe and has instructed family members to cut back.

Source

Tags: christmas, holidays, queen elizabeth, queen elizabeth 2, queen elizabeth ii, QueenElizabeth, QueenElizabeth2, QueenElizabethIi

The Fashion Statement: Top 5 Looks for Holiday Dressing

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

The packed social calendar around the holidays can confound even the most organized shopper. Dress codes can range from casual low-key family gatherings to business attire for company parties and all-out black-tie New Year's Eve soirees. It's enough to make the most seasoned glamazon reach for a glass of Veuve Clicquot. The bleak economy notwithstanding (or precisely because our spirits desperately need lifting), fashion designers have given us plenty of ways to ring in the new decade. Here are five hot looks for the holidays.

DRAPING: Draping has come a long way from the time of Madam Gres, the haute couturier who introduced the Grecian gown to French society in the 1930s. Today's pleats range from subtle to on-steroids. Donna Karan placed so many pleats in one of her evening gowns, it drenched the model liquid metal. Balenciaga's draped skirts have a strength and structure that bring to mind the Statue of Liberty. And Los Angeles designer Juan Carlos Obando's draped white gown is pure Hollywood screen siren.

ORIGAMI: The Japanese art of paper folding begins with a square that folds and creases into geometric patterns. In fashion, pleats and folds create texture on everything from bodices on Donna Karan gowns to stiff structure at the necklines on an emerald cocktail number by RM Rouland Mouret and kick up the waist of a Christian Dior frock. The look is sculptural and artistic.

WHITE: Perhaps inspired by Michelle Obama's wedding-white inauguration gown by Jason Wu, white gowns are everywhere for the holidays. Polo Ralph Lauren offered a one-shoulder white silk bombshell and ingeniously uses a boyfriend's blazer to tone down the white sugary froth of ruffles and frills (pictured above). Givenchy went a little bit Halston with a jersey gown tied at the waist.

VELVET: This was the year velvet came out of mothballs. As I reported earlier this year, Gianfranco Ferre, Lanvin and Elie Saab blew fashion watchers away with their long, black velvet gowns with structured cap sleeves a la the '40s. And Aquilano.Rimondi came out with a bright red velvet belted cocoon coat that Neiman Marcus The Christmas Book calls the stuff of fairy tales.

SHINE ON: Whether it's jeweled-colored beads on embroidery at Marchesa or a gold metallic Grecian dress at Tadashi Soji, shine always works for the holidays. If you don't want to go head-to-toe, do an accent or two. Gunmetal and copper sequined skirts and leggings will have you giving the Christmas tree a run for its money.

Tags: fashion, holiday dressing, HolidayDressing, holidays, the fashion statement, TheFashionStatement, winter style, WinterStyle

New Ralph Lauren Gift Site Features Vintage Pieces

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Jewelry, Men's Style

In time for the big holiday buildup, Ralph Lauren has launched an exclusive new online gift giving site, www.RalphLauren.com/GiftVault, offering rare and unique pieces sourced predominantly from the designer's extensive Vintage Collection.

The site is divided into three collections: Americana, Hollywood Glamour, and Estate. The Americana collection includes unique merchandise inspired by the Western Frontier from carved wood furniture to one-of-a-kind concho belts.

Hollywood Glamour epitomizes 1930's cinematic style with spectacular Art Deco home items reminiscent of old Hollywood including limited edition estate jewelry and sterling silver barware. And Estate is the ultimate in British-inspired sophistication including gold and gemstone jewelry, bronze statues and equestrian inspired accessories.

Examples of pieces on offer include a silver bullet shaped "artillery" cocktail shaker, a stunning antique mine-cut diamond pendant from the 1800s, a beautiful turquoise Navajo inspired cuff and this rare sterling silver and boar tusk flagon made in England in 1946.

Tags: gifts, holidays, Ralph Lauren, RalphLauren

Harrods' $7,500 Holiday Hamper

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Spirits, Wine

Famed deluxe London department store Harrods came out with the ultimate holiday hamper this season, described as the "very best money can buy." Only eight of the extravagant Chairman's Choice hampers were made available by special order at about $7,500 apiece. Presented in an exclusively designed, limited edition handmade basket with leather trim, the hamper's contents include fruit, flowers, farmed smoked salmon, a truffle ham, half a Stilton cheese, double cream brie, and of course heaps of Beluga caviar. Drinks-wise, there's 30-year-old Macallan single malt Scotch, Krug champagne, Hennessy cognac, and several bottles of wine including the famous Chateau d'Yquem.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: Caviar, Champagne, Harrods, Hennessy, Holidays, Krug, London, Macallan

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