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Parmigiani Kalpa XL and Grande Watches For The Montreaux Jazz Festival

Filed under: Timepieces

parmigiani kalpa xl
Each year there is a special music festival in Switzerland known as the Montreaux Jazz Festival. While the music is mostly jazz, it is brimming with contemporary artists in what is most always an impressive event - we just don't ever get to hear about it in the US. Watch company Parmigiani Fleurier is one of the sponsors and also creates limited edition timepieces for the festival - that this year took place in July. The festival has literally hundreds of artists that perform most of them being free to watch - while tickets are required for the bigger names. This year top performers where lucky to received one of these Parmigiani limited edition watches based on the Kalpa XL or Kalpa Grande watches. Notable recipients were such names as Alice Cooper, the Black Eyed Peas, Wyclef Jean, and B.B. King.

Two versions of the limited edition watch are available - for either men or women. The dial has been modeled after the event poster with the whimsical winding piano keys. In blue with a watching blue alligator strap is the men's model in the Kalpa XL, while a pink dialed model with a while python strap for the ladies comes in the Kalpa Grande watch case. Both versions come with a steel case and automatic Swiss movements. A nice collector's item for the musically inclined or jazz music enthusiast.

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

Festivals Feel The Economic Pinch

Filed under: Events

wine festival
The latest fallout from the economy may be annual festivals. From food and wine to music and poetry, festivals bring tourism dollars to towns across the country. But as both individuals and companies spend less, festivals are struggling to survive. Reuters reports that the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation's biennial poetry festival has already been cancelled for 2010 and South Florida's Langerado Music Festival was canceled due to poor ticket sales.

Corporations are also limiting their sponsorships both to save money and appear less frivolous, a situation which also doomed the Moscow World Art Fair this year. Some budget-crunched cities may also not be able to offer festivals and parades discounted services. Festivals which cater to larger crowds are particularly difficult to manage. Just as some museums are finding they have more visitors but less money from donors, larger festivals may have plenty of local attendees but less financial backing. Some high-end wine festivals are still doing well. The South Beach wine and food festival still found enough takers for a $1,000-a-plate banquet celebrating Spanish food and wine.

Luxury Package To The Tobago Jazz Festival

Filed under: Journeys, Events


One couple, one week, one luxurious trip. Red Diamond Events is offering an all Inclusive package deal to the Tobago Jazz Festival, April 25 to April 29. This year's festival includes Elton John, LL Cool J, Mary J Blige, Diana Ross, Al Green and many other performers. The package includes private jet travel from Miami to Barbados, a stay at the Crane in Barbados, flights over to Tobago for the festival and tickets for the three-day event, day cruises, spa services and all meals and drinks. The trip costs $22,950 per couple and 25 packages remain.

Hamptons Food and Wine Festival

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Events

Next weekend is time for the 2nd Annual Hamptons Wine & Food Festival. This weekend of parties, wine and food tastings, will include cooking demonstrations from Food Network stars Sandra Lee and Dave Lieberman. Other special events held during the weekend include an exclusive VIP party at an oceanfront estate on Friday night, a festive, multi-bar VIP Tent and Terrace with live music and dancing, a Sunday champagne tasting brunch at the popular Della Femina Restaurant in East Hampton. Other events held during the weekend include an exclusive VIP party at an oceanfront estate on Friday night and a Sunday champagne tasting brunch at the Della Femina Restaurant in East Hampton. Like last year, the festival benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation and a platinum pass sells for $500.

Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Events

The first Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival will take place on August 26 and 27 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The event will feature Iron Chef Cat Cora, cookbook author David Lawrence, wine expert Amy Reiley and a whole host of exhibitors. Special features include a Chocolate Corner with tastings and a cigar rolling demonstration.The Festival is open from 2 to 7 p.m. and costs $65 per day. On Aug. 25, there will also be a Reserve Tasting at the Los Angeles Marriott which costs $125 for the open tasting and $225 for the prime tasting. The LA Convention Center isn't the most scenic place for a wine and food festival but I still might have to check this out.

Jumeirah Festival of Taste

Filed under: Dining, Journeys, Wine, Events

Food and wine festivals are always happily decadent events but when an event is hosted by the Jumeirah hotel group, luxury takes on a whole new level. Th  first annual Jumeirah Festival of Taste takes place May 21-26, 2006 in Dubai and features perhaps the most over-the-top dining event I have ever heard of. It is called the Ultimate Dinner Party and will take four people on an unparalleled dining experience. It starts with a cocktail reception at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers where they can mingle with the celebrity chefs participating in A Festival of Taste, then they are taken by helicopter to the  Burj Al Arab for a first and second course. A luxury car then takes them to the Villa Beach Restaurant at Jumeirah Beach Hotel for a hot entrée. Then a limo takes them to the Pisces in Souk Madinat Jumeirah for the main course, followed by a short walk to Napa for dessert, coffee, cigars and digestifs. The evening ends with an overnight stay in a suite at Burj Al Arab and a morning breakfast as well as a receive a gift from Jumeirah to commemorate the night. The party costs AED 100,000 for four (around $27,230). Other more traditional events that are part of the festival include cooking demonstrations, wine tastings and book signings.  The festival kicks off with the ‘1001 Nights Meet the Stars Opening Event’ which includes a champagne reception,wine tasting, live cooking stations featuring renowned chefs and live entertainment.


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