barack obama

Tumi Launches 'Accent Your Alpha' Customization Program

Tumi Launches 'Accent Your Alfa' Customization Program

When President Obama selected a black leather Tumi laptop bag as his briefcase of choice, it merely confirmed that the brand has become the leader in premium business and travel accessories, a fact long known by serious sojourners. The company, which recently celebrated its 35th anniversary, has launched a personalization program for its flagship Alpha line of luggage in super-tough ballistic nylon, so your case really stands out in a crowd. The new "Accent Your Alpha" service lets road warriors and holiday travelers alike personalize their classic carriers by adding striking pops of color to monogram patches, luggage tags, zipper pulls, and more. The chic palette not only adds a dose of style but sets the personalized cases apart from the many Tumi imitators.

Tags: Barack Obama, briefcase, luggage, nylon luggage, Obama style, President Obama, suitcase, Tumi, Tumi Alpha

Celebrate Valentine's Day in Luxe Style at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

The desire to do something extraordinary for Valentine's Day often clashes with the cold reality of no time to travel somewhere truly exotic. We've found the U.S. Virgin Islands to be an ideal escape without having to cross borders (and all that entails) to get somewhere special. The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas manages to be a magical oasis despite its relative proximity to the area's only major airport – a big plus when time is of the essence. The resort's secluded setting on 30 acres fronting an intimate white-sand beach and the gracious elegance of its main building, the Italianate Palazzo (above), set the scene for really romantic getaways. In front of the Palazzo are landscaped gardens leading to a stunning infinity pool overlooking the beach and turquoise waters of a sheltered bay.

For those seeking the ultimate in luxury, The signature Ritz-Carlton Club Level at the property has 55 Deluxe rooms featuring standing rain showers and soaking tubs and unobstructed ocean views from private balconies. The Club Level accommodations in St. Thomas also include one-bedroom Executive suites, a top-floor Ritz-Carlton Club Suite and three stunning 1,850-square-foot Presidential suites boasting a dining and living area and fitness room with treadmill, where Barack Obama and family have stayed in the past. All Club Level rooms and suites include access to the elegant Club Lounge with a spacious outdoor terrace, offering elaborate culinary presentations throughout the day and evening, chic cocktails and a dedicated Club Concierge.

Once ensconced in your luxe accommodations there are several options for making your getaway even more magical. A particular favorite for celebrating Valentine's Day is a champagne sunset sail aboard the Lady Lynsey, the resort's luxurious 53 ft. catamaran. You can take a cruise to Honeymoon Beach across the bay on St. John featuring some of the finest snorkeling in the Virgin Islands, and then hop back on board for a leisurely lunch for two complete with a champagne toast. Stay out on the water to watch the sunset and then finish the day with a starlit dinner in a private gazebo on the beach with a chocolate and wine tasting, or enjoy a private dinner for two at Bleuwater restaurant, one of four distinctive oceanfront-dining options as unique and colorful as the Caribbean scenery that surrounds them. [cont'd]

Gallery: The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas

Tags: Barack Obama, beach, Caribbean, catamaran, champagne, dining, hotel suites, luxury hotel, ocean, Prada, Prada Beauty, Ritz-Carlton, sailing, spa, St. Thomas, The Ritz-Carlton, U.S. Virgin Islands, Valentines Day, Virgin Island

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The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel's Presidential Suite Revealed

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Last week, President Obama was the first guest in the newly renovated 13 room presidential suite at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai and the hotel has released an image of the suite. The visit was part of the President's Asian tour. The Presidential suite had been damaged in the terrorist attacks two years ago on November 26. Since those events much of the hotel had been under repair and renovation. The 15,000-square-foot-suite includes the dramatic domed living room shown above which has a gold stenciled ceiling and a dramatic crystal chandelier. The suite also has a gym, a business center and a 10-seat dining room.

In the hotel guest book, the President wrote that the United States "stands in solidarity with all of Mumbai and all of India in working to eradicate the scourge of terrorism, and we affirm our lasting friendship with the Indian people."

The hotel has 560 rooms including 44 suites. The hotel first opened in 1903 and has been host to royalty, celebrities and heads of state. The hotel combines Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles and offers views of the Arabian Sea. The decor melds Indian influences with luxurious touches including alabaster ceilings, onyx columns, silk carpets, crystal chandeliers and a multi-cultural art collection.

Tags: Barack Obama, mumbai, president obama, taj hotel, taj hotels, taj mahal, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Taj Mahal Palace Tower

Taj Mahal Palace Hotel's Luxe Liquor Cabinet for Obama

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

If President Obama wants to drown out the sorrow of the mid-term elections this week during his visit to India, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel where the President is staying is ready for the U.S. Commander-In-Chief.

Despite the fact that Obama is known to only rarely imbibe alcohol (just beer in public) , the hotel, according to media reports in India, is stocking the following to offer the President. With a selection like this, Obama might be tempted to tipple to take the edge off the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives.

Glenfiddich 40-Year Old Rare Collection Single-Malt Scotch, part of a very limited release of just 600 bottles.--Price is between $2,000-$2,500 per bottle.

Balvenie Rare 30-year whiskey. A marriage of whiskey aged in traditional second-fill American oak and whisky aged in European oak casks: Priced between $425.00 and $500.

1998 Dom Perignon Rose Champagne from France. A balance of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, skillfully tuned by the Chef de Cave, transforming the wine into a style that is exclusive only to Dom Pérignon: $300-$350 per bottle.

Chateau Petrus wine. The Bordeaux estate is widely considered the best winery in the appellation. Chateau Petras is made almost entirely from Merlot, and sometimes Cabernet Franc. 2009 Price: $3400 per bottle.

Louis XIII Black Pearl Cognac. Blended from 1200 eaux-de-vie, some more than a century in age, then it is aged in tiercons, oak barrels that are several hundred years old. Price: $1,800-$2,500.

Gallery: Obama's Liquor Cabinet in India

Tags: Barack Obama, Barack Obama India, Dom Perignon, Glenfiddich, louis xiii cognac, petrus, petrus wine, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, The Balvenie

President Obama's New Book Already Selling Well

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Books

President Obama may not have a high approval rating lately but people are still interested in his books. His new children's book, "Of Thee I Sing" is a tribute to Obama's tribute to 13 prominent Americans including George Washington, Jackie Robinson and painter Georgia O' Keeffe. It is already rising to the top on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. It sells for $17.99 and goes on sale November 16.

The book was written before Obama took office. President Obama's proceeds will be used to create a scholarship for the children of deceased and disabled American soldiers. The 40-page picture book will be released by Random House's Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on November 16th with an initial print run of 500,000 copies. His previous books "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," were both million sellers. Although the book was inspired by President Obama's daughters and features an illustration of them on the cover with their dog, an AP story says that they will not be involved in marketing the book.

Politics Daily reports that a children's book was part of a three-book deal that Obama signed in 2004. His $1.9 million advance helped pay for the Obama's Chicago home. He was originally supposed to complete the book in 2006 and it the original concept involved his childhood and growing up as a "skinny young kid with big ears and funny name."

Tags: barack obama, obama childrens book, Of Thee I Sing, Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters

The Classicist: Celebrating Tumi's 35 Years of Luxe Luggage

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, The Classicist

When President Obama selected a black leather Tumi laptop bag as his briefcase of choice, it was just the latest confirmation that the chic brand has become the leader in premium business and travel accessories. The company is celebrating its 35th anniversary this fall with with several new collections reflecting its heritage and authenticity. Limited edition collections, including Tumi Originals, a special line of 35 iconic city leather luggage tags and a collection of Boston bags, honors both the brand's past and the future. The origins of Tumi can be traced back to 1975. While stationed in South America, ex-Peace Corps member Charlie Clifford became captivated by the authentic raw leathers produced in Colombia. Motivated by the desire to introduce fine leather bags for business, he set about importing them to America.

Today the brand has an established reputation for its ballistic nylon, but in the beginning, leather was the material of choice. Tumi Originals, launching holiday 2010, is a modern day reinterpretation of some of the first styles from Tumi, as seen in the company's first ad campaign above. With classic silhouettes and detailing, the collection pays tribute to the "firsts" from the brand. The five-style collection will include silhouettes such as the first tri-fold garment bag, soft satchel and tote. The pieces are crafted from washed Malaga leather with antique brass hardware and unlined leather front pockets, both which are direct references to the styling details of the "first" collection. Available in black and sienna brown, Tumi Originals incorporate styling details and elements first used by the brand 35 years ago but with an innovative approach.

Gallery: Tumi 35th Anniversay

Carry More leather and ballistic nylon bags

Tags: bags, Barack Obama, briefcase, garment bag, leather, luggage, travel, Tumi

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The Obamas "Winter White House" Sold

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Although the President has been spending time on Martha's Vineyard recently he prefers another island in the winter. While Barack Obama loves his Hawaiian vacations, he might need a new place to stay this winter. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that the home on Kailua Beach where the Obama family stayed in December 2008 and 2009 has been sold. The home was bought by a Maryland company managed by a nephew of Hawaii real estate baron Harry Weinberg. The five-bedroom home was built in 2006 and was listed for $7.95 million. The listing agent Joel Cavasso, who is with Century 21 Kailua Beach Realty told the Star-Advertiser that the property sold for around $6.9 million. The buyers have never met the President and sales documents list the buyer as Paradise Point Estates LLC. Cassavo said that although the house has been sold the new owners are hoping that the President will still come visit.

Gallery: Kailuana Place

Tags: barack obama, hawaii, hawaii real estate, kailua beach, obamas

The Ongoing Selling of The Ernest Hemingway Brand

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Want to drink like Hemingway? Now you can have Hemingway branded barware. Sorella Home has announced it has partnered with Hemingway, Ltd. and Fashion Licensing of America, Inc. to license the "Ernest Hemingway" brand for a collection of tableware, barware and home decor. According to Home Accents Today, the new collection is created from materials that recall the late author's favorite places and sources of inspiration. The line will include hand painted ceramics, oven-to-table stoneware, pewter and barware that reflect Hemingway's style.

Although Hemingway died 50 years ago, his influence as both a writer and a charismatic figure lingers on. This isn't the first Hemingway tie-in, the Ernest Hemingway collection website gathers together the many officially licensed products and shows which categories are still open to offers. There is a line of Ernest Hemingway furniture with Thomasville, wicker furniture by Laneventure, fans through Hunter Fans, throw pillows from Corona Decor, home accents from Accessories Abroad, rugs from Loloi Rugs and silk plants from TreeMasters. A restaurant, Hemingway's Island Grill, has two locations in Florida.

Tags: Barack Obama, Ernest Hemingway, TableWare

Sunday Real Estate Round-Up, 06/13/10

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

From the Real Estalker:
--Teresa and Joe Giudice from "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" have said that their home in Towaco, New Jersey is not for sale for $3,999,999 despite popping up in real estate listings. The pair filed for bankruptcy in October 2009.
-Mike and Irena Medavoy are selling their latest Beverly Hills home for $7.495 million. It's already listed as looking for backup.
--Mischa Barton has raised the price on her eight-bedroom Beverly Hills, California home to $8.695 million.
--Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie have picked up a five-bedroom home in Beverly Hills for $3.85 million.
--Canadian singer Celine Dion's newly completed home in Jupiter Island, Florida includes three swimming pools complete with water slides and a lazy river.

From the LA Times Hot Properties:
--Romance and thriller writer Tami Hoag has listed her Pacific Palisades house at $2.995 million with Luzette Vidal, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Westlake Village. She bought the house for $3.25 million in 2006.

From the Wall Street Journal's Private Properties:
--Estancia Alicura, a 180,000-acre ranch in the Patagonia region of Argentina has gone on the market for $30 million. The ranch is owned by Ward Lay, the son of Herman Lay, the co-founder of Frito-Lay Co. and the former chairman of PepsiCo. The listing is with Hall & Hall.
--An estate once owned by Beatles drummer Ringo Starr has hit the market. The home in the gated community of St. George's Hill, in Weybridge is listed for £5.95 million with Savills.

From the NY Times Real Estate:
--President Obama's New York City rental from when he was a student in New York City, No. 3E at 142 West 109th Street, is available for rent. It is listed with Dalila Bella of CitiHabitats for $1,900 a month.
--Philippe de Montebello, the former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, has bought a two-bedroom condominium in a high-rise at Madison Avenue and 94th Street for $1.75 million.
--Ken Mehlman, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee bought a two-bedroom condominium on the 17th floor of the Chelsea Mercantile at 252 Seventh Avenue at 24th Street for $3.775 million.

From the NY Observer:
--Designer Alexander Wang has bought a $2 million Tribeca one-bedroom from former New York Times Style editor Holly Brubach.
--The six-story townhouse at 63 East 82nd Street that belonged to Lawrence B. Salander, former director of the once-prestigious Salander-O'Reilly Galleries has sold at "very close" to the $14.25 million asking price.It was once listed as high as $25 million.

From the NY Post:
-Baseball legend Darryl Strawberry has signed a one-year lease for a high-floor two-bedroom apartment at the Ohm building on 11th Avenue and 30th Street. Two-bedrooms start around $3,600 per month in the building.
--Chef Mario Batali has been checking out some TriBeCa real estate, visiting the $14.95 million penthouse duplex at 33 Vestry St. and also looking at a TriBeCa townhouse in a similar price range.
--Loren and JR Ridinger, co-founders of Internet marketing and product-brokerage firm Market America, have put their Battery Park City penthouse duplex on the market for $7.9 million.

Tags: alexander wang, Barack Obama, celebrity real estate, celine dion, Hilary Duff, mario batali, Mike Comrie, mike medavoy, ringo starr, tami hoag, Teresa Giudice, ward lay

Continue reading “Sunday Real Estate Round-Up, 06/13/10”

Rothko, Diebenkorn and Degas join Obama in the White House

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art, Celebrity Design

The world's latest Nobel Peace Prize winner also has excellent taste in art. President Barack Obama has skipped the staid portraits that are usually pulled to adorn White House walls and instead opted for three dozen pieces with a bit more of an edge. Works have been pulled from the National Gallery of Art, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Smithsonian American Art Museum to decorate the building the symbolizes executive authority in the United States.

The Obama family is definitely leaning modern, with Rothko, Degas and Diebenkorn among the artists represented. They've also included a word painting by Ed Ruscha. Not wanting to deprive the public of the opportunity to view works on display, the Obamas limited their choices to artwork in museum storage.

There's now a lot of money hanging from those White House walls. "Red Band" by Rothko, "Berkeley No. 52" by Diebenkorn and "White Line" by Sam Francis together are estimated to be worth between $20 million and $30 million. Throw a piece by Jasper Johns into the mix – specifically "Numerals, 0 through 9" – and you get a sense of the collection the Obamas have assembled.

Even with access to a collection of that caliber, though, I'd still never take Obama's job. And, there aren't enough Rothkos out there to change my mind.

Source

Tags: art, art collecting, art collection, art museum, art museums, ArtCollecting, ArtCollection, artist, artists, ArtMuseum, ArtMuseums, artwork, barack obama, BarackObama, degas, ed ruscha, EdRuscha, hirshhorn-sculpture-garden, jasper johns, JasperJohns, mark rothko, MarkRothko, michelle obama, MichelleObama, museum, museums, national gallery of art, NationalGalleryOfArt, nobel peace prize, NobelPeacePrize, obama, president, president barack obama, president obama, PresidentBarackObama, PresidentObama, rothko, smithsonian, smithsonian american art museum, SmithsonianAmericanArtMuseum, white house, WhiteHouse

What Oprah & Obama Will Be Watching This Weekend

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Charity, Children, Big Givers

No, not the latest bloated-budget Hollywood thriller, but something much closer to home: The Providence Effect, an award-winning documentary about Providence-St. Mel, a small school in Chicago's gritty East Garfield Park that has achieved an incredible 100% college acceptance rate against all odds.

Oprah deserves at least some of the credit; she gave the school $1 million to help fund the educational juggernaut that has been called the future of education. Obama meanwhile visited the school in 1998 and gave an incredible inspirational speech that showed he was destined for the highest office in the land.

The movie centers on the equally inspiring journey of the school's principal Paul J. Adams III, who has challenged the Chicago school system for 30 years with his revolutionary approaches to teaching, and also founded the Providence Englewood Charter School. Of course the Obamas and Oprah have been sent copies to view in their personal screening rooms, but the film opens in select theaters nationwide this Friday.

Tags: Barack Obama, BarackObama, Chicago, education, Obama, Oprah, Oprah Winfrey, OprahWinfrey, school

The Fashion Statement: Why is How People Dress Such a Big Deal?

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

The chatter about Michelle Obama's shorts last week was deafening. Google the subject and 9 million entries pop up. Well, make that 9 million and one, including this post. It blew away President Obama's mom jeans episode last month documented by only 1 million entries.

People care deeply about the way people dress. But it's a mystery why. Why the hell do we care? I mean, it's kind of embarrassing that we paid so much attention to a lousy pair of shorts. And modest ones at that.

Something in our primitive dinosaur brains kicked in when we saw Michelle Obama step off Air Force One. We weren't sure if it was okay. Eventually, the media asked us to weigh in and, after thinking about it with our evolved brains, 80 percent of us said it was fine.

Catch Madonna in a pair of shorts and even our dinosaur brains would be nonplussed. Style and cut would be debated, sure, but impropriety would never come up.

Why? Because clothes are inextricably linked to identity. Rationally, how can we whine that Michelle Obama wears shorts when most of us wear shorts? But, deep down, we don't want her to be like us. We want to see an aspirational image of the First Lady descending from the most exclusive airplane in the world. We want Jackie O. Or at least a business-like version...which Michelle Obama is most of the time.

Maybe not in a skinny pair True Religions, but we'd kinda like to see President Obama in a slimmer pair of jeans, say from Lucky Brand Jeans. That dovetails with our image of him as a hip, modern guy. Mom jeans don't fit, both figuratively and literally.

Tags: Barack Obama, BarackObama, Duckie Brown, DuckieBrown, Gen Buy, GenBuy, Jayne ODonnell, JayneOdonnell, Kit Yarrow, KitYarrow, Madonna, Michelle Obama, MichelleObama, Trade-Off by Kevin Maney, Trade-offByKevinManey

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Barack Obama's Vulcain Cricket Anniversary Heart Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

I reported that Swiss watch maker Vulcain was going to present President Obama with a Vulcain watch, and here is finally what the specific watch looks like. We know that Barack Obama typically wears his Jorg Gray 6500 watch most of the time, but he does have other timepieces. Vulcain has been giving out watches to US Presidents since the 1950s and the latest timepiece they've sent to the oval office is quite stunning. President Obama received a stainless steel Vulcain Cricket Anniversary Heart watch. The watch is part of the classic Cricket watches named as such for their loud alarms. The mechanical Vulcain Cricket V-18 movement is one of the loudest (if not the loudest) mechanical watch alarms on the market. The alarm complication is easy to set via the upper crown on the right side of the watch using the central ring on the dial. The watch also features a beautiful partially skeletonized dial - now popular on many luxury timepieces. The case is 42mm wide and water resistant to 50 meters.

The sides of the watch case feature a larger coined edge, while the overall styling is classic with the modern touches being reserved for the dial. The watch is easy to read and a good mix between formal and sporty in style. I happened to actually think the style suits President Obama quite well. Funny enough the black and steel tones of this timepiece match those of his Jorg Gray 6500 watch - creating similar looks. Let's hope he wears the watch on nice occasions. The retail price of the stainless steel version of the Vulcain Anniversary Heart watch is about $6,500. It is unclear whether versions such as the pictured one with the message to Barack Obama will be available at all to the public, as it is likely a one-off version reserved for the President himself. The Vulcain Anniversary Heart watches come in various tones as well as in 18k gold.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Vulcain Anniversary Heart watch for Obama

Tags: anniversary heat, AnniversaryHeat, barack obama, BarackObama, cricket, President, vulcain, watch

The Obamas Enjoy Date Night At Blue Hill New York

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Diners in New York City's Greenwich Village got a surprise Saturday night when the President and First Lady joined them for dinner. The First Couple ate at the Blue Hill restaurant before seeing a Broadway show "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" at the Belasco Theater. The NY Daily News reports that when the couple left the restaurant the other diners stood up and applauded them. Diners were searched before going into the restaurant and the entire block was closed off.

The menu at Blue Hill New York focuses on local food sourced mostly from Blue Hill Farm in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture. Guests can choose from the regular menu or opt for the "Farmer's Feast," a five-course tasting menu. Entrees including Hudson Valley chicken pot au feu and Berkshire pig stew are in the $30-$40 range. The President and First Lady have expressed an interest in gardening, farming and healthy food options so this restaurant, which showcases fresh fruit and vegetables and simple preparations was a natural choice.

Source

Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, blue hill, blue hill restaurant, BlueHill, BlueHillRestaurant, michelle obama, MichelleObama, restaurant

The President's Tax Return Reveals Large Charity Donations

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Wealth

Like everyone else, President Obama has to pay his taxes. The Washington Post reported that the Obamas paid around $855,000 in federal taxes. They could have received a $26,000 refund but opted to have that amount applied to their 2009 income taxes. The President's first tax return while in office showed that he earned $2.6 million from sales of his nonfiction books, "The Audacity of Hope" and "Dreams From My Father" making him one of the most successful nonfiction writers in terms of income. The first couple also reported wages of around $200,000 and like most of us this year, a small amount of investment income. The first family donated $172,050 to charities which represents 6.5 percent of their income. They donated to a total of 37 charities including $25,000 donations to CARE and the United Negro College Funds.

Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill reported an income of about $270,000 and paid about $47,000 in federal taxes and donated just $1,885 to charity. Biden has a nonfiction book too, an autobiography "Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics" but only earned around $9,500 in audio book royalties.

Source

Tags: barack obama, BarackObama, tax returns, TaxReturns

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