beverly hills

Beverly Hills Sends Its Ambassador Packing

Gregg Donovan, has been dressed up in a a top hat, red coat and tie, standing on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California and offering a broad smile and friendly face to tourists and locals alike for years. But Donovan, whose website proclaims him as the "world famous Ambassador Of Beverly Hills" is out of a job. He was asked to turn in his red ambassador jacket by the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau which has said it can no longer afford to pay him. Donovan has served as the unoffical face of the city, posing with stars and visitors alike, and featured on maps and souvenirs.

The Associated Press reports that Donovan was asked surrender the rights to any photos, videos or other materials representing him as the city's ambassador. So far Donovan has refused to do so and he's asking the public for help in getting him his job back. Like any other unemployed person, he's been hanging out, seeing movies, going to the gym and looking for work. He has indicated that he'd take a similar job, perhaps in nearby Hollywood but it's clear that his heart is in Beverly Hills.

Tags: beverly hills, gregg donovan

Panerai Limited Edition Watches For Beverly Hills & New York

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

As a nod to dedicated brand lovers in the US, Panerai releases four limited edition watches for the cities it feels have the highest concentration of US watch collectors. There will be two watches for each city - each with a specially engraved caseback. The Beverly Hills models have an engraving of Beverly Blvd, complete with palm trees, while the New York models will have a section of the Statue of Liberty on the back of the case.

Panerai fans have proven to gobble up limited edition pieces such as this, so I anticipate a healthy reaction. Beverly Hills gets the Panerai PAM 406 and the PAM 416. The 406 is a my favorite one, being a Luminor 1950 10 Days GMT watch. This watch will retail for $17,900, being the most expensive of the bunch (looks like I have ritzy taste). There will also the more simple PAM 416, which is a much more basic Luminor Marina model with the time a subsidiary seconds dial. This one will go for $5,100.

New York gets the PAM 407, which is a Radiomir 8 Days with a price of $12,500. it also gets the PAM 417, which is the same as the PAM 416, but with the New York style caseback engraving. All of the watches are in steel with brown leather straps. Al are 44mm wide, save for the Radiomir which is 45mm wide. The 406 and 407 will be limited to just 20 pieces, but the 416 and 417 will be limited to 150 pieces each. The watches will be available only at Panerai boutique stores in their respective cities.

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

Gallery: Panerai PAM 416/417

Tags: beverly hills, limited edition, new york, Panerai, watch

Cipriani Family to Launch Luxe New "Mr. C" Hotel Brand in Beverly Hills

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Ignazio and Maggio Cipriani, fourth generation of the famed Cipriani family internationally renowned for its restaurants, landmarked banquet spaces, clubs, and residences, have announced the debut of Mr. C, a chic new signature hotel brand opening its first property in Beverly Hlls this April. Mr. C is designed to be "a modern version of old-world simplicity and stylish European glamour, providing today's traveler with a comfortable, elegant and effortless experience blending contemporary amenities with discreet, personalized service." The 138-room property will feature 12 Signature Suites and Classic Suites, alongside spacious guest rooms ranging from 365–800 square feet, each with a private balcony and many with panoramic views of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. The interior design aims to be "rich and welcoming" with dark hardwood floors, burgundy and gray color palettes, and crisp white accents. Vintage black and white photographs from films like La Dolce Vita bring iconic and historic cultural moments to life on the walls, and well-appointed bathrooms feature teak flooring, marble accents, and luxe amenities.

Additionally, the property will feature five multi-level, residential-sized bungalows averaging approximately 3,000 square feet, each with a private garden, gourmet kitchen, plunge pool and views of Beverly Hills. Renowned Californian architect Ray Kappe designed the bungalows, which will feature all the Mr. C amenities including spa treatments, housekeeping, and room service from the signature Mr. C restaurant. The restaurant will welcome guests and Angelenos alike with a menu featuring classics from Cipriani's famed kitchens alongside grilled specialties and pizzas from morning to night. The restaurant will offer indoor and outdoor seating, a separate entrance for non-hotel guests, and two private rooms for more intimate occasions. The hotel will also feature an outdoor swimming pool for hotel guests only and an indoor/outdoor private event space boasting 360-degree panoramic city views from the 12th floor of the hotel, with a private exterior glass elevator. Rates will run from $429 for a Deluxe City View room to $2,009 for a Specialty Suite.

Gallery: Mr C, Beverly Hills

Tags: Beverly Hills, bungalow, California, Cipriani, hotel, hotels, interior design, Los Angeles, luxury hotel, Mr. C, restaurants

Agent Provocateur to Open in Beverly Hills

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Shopping

Luxe British lingerie brand Agent Provocateur is opening a new boutique on Beverly Hills' famed Rodeo Drive this spring. The new location will be considered a West Coast flagship store for the company, known for steamy ads featuring the likes of Kate Moss, Helena Christensen and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, the Beverly Hills Courier reports. The upmarket label, which saw profits soar 45 percent in the past quarter, plans to expand its lineup to include sunglasses, cosmetics and bedding. The London-headquartered chain also plans on growing online sales and opening up a flagship East Coast store in New York next month. It currently has 51 stores in the U.K., Europe, Russia, South Korea, Hong Kong, the Middle East and the U.S., with plans for branches in Russia and Japan in the works as well.

Tags: Agent Provocateur, Beverly Hills, boutiques, Helena Christensen, Kate Moss, lingerie, London, luxury shopping, Rodeo Drive, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, UK

A Red Carpet Makeover Experience

by Ann Brenoff (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Ever wish you could look as fabulous as those Hollywood stars walking down the red carpet in their stunning gowns, hair perfectly coiffed, decked out in expensive bling? Just in time for the upcoming awards season -- not to mention trying to buy a gift for someone who lacks nothing -- The Peninsula Beverly Hills has launched a promotion called "The Red Carpet-Ready Experience" for its guests.

Tags: beverly hills, peninsula hotel beverly hills, red carpet experience

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Make the Right Champagne and Cigar Choice for New Year's Eve [EXCLUSIVE]

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

What will you cut and light when you pop the cork on New Year's Eve? People may agonize over champagne choices, but cigars don't always get commensurate attention. Fortunately, Vin lee, CEO of the Beverly Hills Cigar Club, was on hand to provide his recommendations for the biggest party night of the year. Below are his top five cigar and champagne pairings, designed to make your first sip and puff of 2011 ideal.

Lee is particularly excited about the new year. "Now is the time for the world to celebrate its recovery and success," he said. "For the New Year, from Dubai to Paris and from New York to Beverly Hills, it is time for the world to rejoice in what we have and who we are. Coming together with a glass of bubbly and a fine cigar, let's welcome 2011."

Let's take a look on what's on the Beverly Hills Cigar Club's list:

Tags: arturo fuente, beverly hills, Celebration, champagne, cigar, cigar club, cigar lounge, cigars, davidoff, Macanudo, new years eve, Veuve Clicquot, zino, zino davidoff

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First American Richard Mille Boutique Store Opens In Beverly Hills

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The last year has seen a venerable onslaught of dedicated high-end watch boutique stores - opening all over the world. These stores are direct competition to the increasingly less popular independent jewelry or watch stores. Brands, in order to promote their high-class image, and fend-off inventory going to the gray market, are building boutiques dedicated to selling products from their brands alone. The next few years will see more and more interesting changes to the landscape as the old and new ways of the watch industry reconcile with one another.

One of the best performing luxury watch brands of the last few years, Richard Mille has opened up its very first US boutique in Beverly Hills. Interestingly enough more and more watch stores are populating Rodeo Drive, as well as the surrounding area. Open across the Westime - likely the most well-known high-end watch store in Los Angeles - the Richard Mille boutique will serve as a new destination for fans of the brands often over-the-top complicated sport watch offerings. The store will also be one of the best placed to go to get the brand's exclusive for US product offerings. There will be no competition with Westime that until now carried Richard Mille watches. That is because Westime's owner is also the US distributor of Richard Mille. Now open, the Richard Mille boutique is located at 222 Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA.

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

Tags: beverly hills, boutique, california, Richard Mille, store, watch

Jewelry Designer Stephen Webster Opening Rodeo Drive Store

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

British jewelry designer, Stephen Webster is taking his rock-and-roll style to Rodeo Drive. His new store is set to open on December 6 in Beverly Hills and also includes a art gallery, a private dining space for special events and a bar. The designer often uses nature as an inspiration creating rings and bracelets and necklaces featuring some under represented animals including manta rays, lobsters and even mosquitoes.

Webster told the LA Times that he plans to eventually open a store in New York City but that he choose the store in Beverly Hills because of the two-story storefront. Webster, an avid art collector, will showcase work from artists he likes. British artist Tracey Emin has created a neon piece for the store that reads, "I promise to love you." The store's huge glass windows will feature window displays created by Los-Angeles-based stylists. Webster joins a street packed with jewelers including Tiffany & Co., Harry Winston, David Yurman, Cartier and others.

Tags: beverly hills, jewelry designers, rodeo drive, stephen webster

Private Palace in Paris Listed for Sale at $140 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Clocking in at just behind the $150 Spelling Manor in Beverly Hills and snagging the title of the second most expensive estate in the world is this private palace in Paris just listed by an affiliate of Christie's Great Estates for about $140 million. Located on the city's famed Avenue Foch, one of the world's most expensive and prestigious addresses, home to many mansions including those of the Onassis and Rothschild families, the ultra-exclusive estate was built in 1912 for the Duchesse de Montmorency. The nearly 28,000 sq. ft. interior houses 12 bedrooms and 12 baths along with four staff apartments. Many elements of its incredibly rich décor come from older mansions and are of historical importance including 18th century wood paneling, dozens of marble fireplaces and a museum-quality ceiling in the enormous dining room by the great French Post-Impressionist painter Henri Rousseau. The lavish interior also boasts massive crystal chandeliers, huge Corinthian columns, gilded moldings and marble floors.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: $140 Million on Avenue Foch

Tags: Beverly Hills, Christies Great Estates, estate, mansion, Paris, Spelling Manor

The Classicist: Los Angeles' Finest Classic Estates

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Books, The Classicist, Architecture & Design

With asking prices running to the tens of millions on the rare occasions when such treasures hit the market, owning one of the classic estates of Los Angeles remains but a dream for many. Meanwhile Douglas Woods offers the next best thing in his new stunning new book Classic Homes of Los Angeles from Rizzoli, an exclusive look into some of the finest period revival residences and gardens to be found in and around the area's legendary neighborhoods. The volume's 240 full-color photographs by Melba Levick depict a panorama of richly detailed architectural styles popular in Southern California during its "Golden Age of Expansion" from 1899 to 1938, from Craftsman, Tudor, Georgian and Victorian to Spanish Colonial and Tuscan Revival. Famous landmarks are included as well as many never-before-seen gems.

The cover of the book (above) shows the Prindle House in Pasadena built by architect George Washington Smith in 1926, a pristine example of Spanish Colonial Revival style. Also included are the 1899 Doheny Mansion with its incredible glass-domed Pompeian Room, now part of Mount Saint Mary's College; the stately Huntington Mansion with its palatial great hall, now the Huntington Library museum; the estate of the great Hollywood producer and director Cecil B. DeMille which was recently listed for sale at $18 million; the elegant 1932 Fudger House in Beverly Hills where Danny Kaye lived and entertained for many years; and Frank Lloyd Wright's famed Millard House, aka La Miniatura, from 1923 in Pasadena which was our Estate of the Day in February 2009.

In his introduction to the book, author and architecture expert D.J. Waldie poses the question, "What makes a classic home of Los Angeles?" The answer, he writes, is one that "sympathetically embraces the fundamentals of life here: light, air, landscape and romance." To achieve these qualities, "architects and their clients in the first half of the twentieth century turned to various pasts that were not their own," he notes, "but without turning away from the future they thought Los Angeles represented." For the most part, Waldie writes, "they declined to engage in the culture wars of Modernism (although many great Modernist homes are part of the city's architectural heritage). Some Angeleños thought houses had other, more consoling work to do. A house that can dream for and with its owners, that can dream of both escape and shelter, makes it a classic of Los Angeles." Check out the gallery for a preview.

Gallery: Classic Homes of Los Angeles

Petitfils-Boos House, Hancock Park, 1921

Tags: architecture, Beverly Hills, books, California, Cecil B. DeMille, celebrity real estate, coffee table books, Doheny Mansion, estates, Frank Lloyd Wright, gardens, historic houses, Huntington Library, Los Angeles, movies, Pasadena, real estate, Rizzoli, Southern California, The Classicist

Thanksgiving Dinner, Beverly Hills Style

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Prefer to lay by the pool rather than slave over a hot stove? In Los Angeles, you can have your Thanksgiving catered by The Beverly Hill Hotel's Polo Lounge. This Thanksgiving, the iconic pink retreat is offering their traditional "Holiday-To-Go," a complete elegant meal prepared by the master chefs in the Polo Lounge for enjoyment at home. The dinner serves from 6-8 people and includes a 20-pound roasted free range organic turkey with all the trimmings which include giblet sage gravy; poached pear, red endive and watercress salad with Poire William vinaigrette; chestnut, pine nut and brioche bread stuffing; candied yams; whipped Yukon Gold potato puree; buttered baby carrots and fine green beans; glazed Brussels sprouts with toasted almonds; wild flower honey and ginger infused cranberry sauce; classic pumpkin pie with Chantilly cream and rolls and butter. The whole package costs $440 and needs to be ordered no less than 24 hours in advance. It can be picked up or get it delivered within five miles of the hotel for $75.

While you are stopping by the hotel to pick up dinner you might want to sample some of The Polo Lounge's season cocktails including the Fig Sidecar, made with fresh fig-infused Remi Martin Cognac or the seasonal eggnogs at Bar Nineteen12 which include pumpkin, raspberry, hazelnut, cappuccino, banana and mint chocolate flavors.

Tags: beverly hills, beverly hills hotel, holiday cocktails, los angeles, polo lounge, seasonal cocktails, thanksgiving, thanksgiving dinner, thanksgiving food, thanksgiving recipes, the polo lounge

Sally Hershberger Lists Her Beverly Hills Home

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

Celebrity hairstylist Sally Hershberger, the master of the shag hair cut, has once again listed her Beverly Hills home. The Real Estalker reports that in addition to her New York home, Hershberger also owns a modern home in Beverly Hills that is a sexy as her tousled hairstyles. The upgraded 1960s modern was on the market briefly in 2007 for $6.5 million but it's back on the MLS for $5.5 million. She picked up the three-bedroom home in 2004 for $2.4 million.

The home is a single story with a gated motor court and has a courtyard with a small pool. The main area of the home is wide open contemporary space with a minimalist fireplace and modern furniture. According to the listing the designer pad had its moment in the spotlight in House & Garden magazine. The listing also points out the sweeping city views and mentions that there are currently tenants in residence on the property.

Gallery: Sally Hershberger in Beverly Hills

Tags: beverly hills, california real estate, celebrity real estate, los angeles real estate, sally hershberger

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Beverly Hills to Launch Official City Fragrances

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance

Beverly Hills has long stood out as a city all about beauty and glamour and now it's planning to take that reputation and bottle it up in physical form by launching its own line of fragrances. The official City of Beverly Hills fragrance line includes three scents that are meant to "evoke what life is like for the Beverly Hills woman." "Must Have" represents spontaneity, energy, and sunshine, "Rodeo" evokes the glamor of red carpet events, and "Iconic" is inspired by the sexy, soft, playful vibe of Beverly Hills nights.

No word yet on what scents each fragrance will actually be made up of but the line was created by Swiss perfumiers specifically for the city and pains were taken to ensure flowers local to the Beverly Hills area were used, including wild rose, sweet pea, honeysuckle, peony and red cedar. Set to debut in department stores in January the three fragrances are only the beginning of a full-on beauty line that will become available slowly over 2011. Watch for men's cologne, hydration treatments and eventually cosmetics, all of which will feature the city's trademarked shield logo as part of their bottle designs.

The official City of Beverly Hills fragrances will retail for $120 each.

Source

Tags: beverly hills, cologne, fragrance, perfume

Dr. Frank Ryan, Celebrity Plastic Surgeon, Dies In Malibu Car Crash

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Dr. Frank Ryan, a plastic surgeon to the stars who was in the news this year for the surgeries he did on The Hills star Heidi Montag, has died in a Malibu car accident. His Jeep crashed down a cliff off of California's Pacific Coast Highway on Monday and landed on its roof. The cause of death is listed at blunt force trauma. Radar Online reports that Ryan's dog, Jill, suffered an eye injury and a paw injury in the crash. He had tweeted a photograph of his dog on a hike with him minutes before the crash.

Celebrities including Janice Dickinson, Gene Simmons, Shauna Sand, Vince Neil and Adrianne Curry expressed their condolences. On her Twitter, Montag wrote tributes including " He was the most brilliant talented surgeon who will ever exist. Dr. Frank Ryan changed the world."

A candlelight vigil is planned for tonight at 7:30 PM at Zuma Beach on Pacific Coast Highway around 12 miles from where Dr. Ryan crashed. TMZ reports that Dr. Ryan's family and friends wanted the vigil in that area because it is close to his ranch. His nonprofit foundation, The Bony Pony Ranch, was created to help underprivileged and at-risk youth excel beyond their current situations. The Dr. Frank Ryan Foundation provided a minimum of ten leadership day camps and leadership weekend camps per year.

Tags: beverly hills, bony pony ranch, dr. frank ryan, plastic surgeon

$220 Million London Penthouse Now World's Most Expensive

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Real Estate Developments, Wealth

A six-bedroom penthouse at London's posh One Hyde Park development (above) has just sold for a record-breaking £140 million, or about $220 million, making it the most expensive piece of residential real estate in the world (in terms of current listings and sales). The massive deal eclipses the paltry $150 million asking price for The Manor, Candy Spelling's monstrous mansion in Holmby Hills, California, previous holder of the World's Most Expensive title. While the identity of the buyer remains a closely-guarded secret, speculation is centering on oligarchs and oil sheikhs, the London Telegraph reports. The palatial penthouse stretches across two floors and boasts bullet-proof windows, a panic room and stunning views across the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park.

The new owners will also have access to 24-hour room service from the neighboring Mandarin Oriental hotel, spas, squash courts a private wine-tasting facility and protection from security guards who are former members of the SAS, the UK's elite special forces unit. One Hyde Park, which boasts 86 properties starting at around £20 million, is comprised of four hexagonal tower blocks due to be completed by December. Back in 2008 when the project was in its infancy my colleague Deirdre Woollard reported that Sheikh Hamad, the foreign minister of Qatar, had agreed to purchase an apartment there for a rumored £100 million, or around $196 million. More recently we revealed that British supercar maker McLaren will open a luxe new showroom in the development as well. Take a look at the images after the jump.

Tags: Beverly Hills, Holmby Hills, Hyde Park, London, Mandarin Oriental, McLaren, One Hyde Park, penthouse, Qatar, real estate, The Manor, worlds most expensive

Continue reading “$220 Million London Penthouse Now World's Most Expensive”

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