george clooney

Cruise Like P. Diddy in the 'RM Elegant' Superyacht

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Celebrity Shopping, Wealth

Before he coughed up for the new iPad-controlled Solemates superyacht, Sean "Diddy" Combs cruised around in style on the RM Elegant (above) a striking 236-ft. craft with fluid lines built by Greece's Lamda Shipyard in 2005. Diddy isn't the only celeb to have partied aboard the aptly-named yacht, which offers luxe accommodation for up to 30 guests in 15 cabins along with 30 crew; her vast deck space includes a 12-person Jacuzzzi surrounded by an huge sunbathing and entertaining area, which played host to producer Jerry Weintraub's party for Ocean's 13 at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007 where the likes of George Clooney, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt made the scene onboard.

Now the yacht has been listed for sale with Edmiston at an undisclosed eight-figure price. Elegant's sun deck is accessed by a lift from all the guest decks and provides a double-sided bar as well as shower rooms. The yacht's gracious saloons offer quiet unassuming elegance with a grand piano in the main entrance and home entertainment facilities in the second reception room. The Master Suite occupies the full width of the Bridge Deck with a large private saloon and spa bath. Other onboard amenities include a business center, home theatre, fully equipped gymnasium, beauty salon, sauna and massage room. The twin 2,260 hp CATs are good for a cruising speed of 15 knots and a maximum speed of 18 knots.

[via JamesList]

Gallery: RM Elegant

Tags: Brad Pitt, Cannes Film Festival, celebrity, Diddy, Edmiston, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Solemates, superyacht, yacht

Paris Celeb Haunt Le Bristol to Unveil One of World's Most Expensive Suites

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Paris' luxurious Hotel Le Bristol (above), opened in 1925 on the famed rue de Faubourg Saint Honoré, is a favorite of celebs including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio and Natalia Vodianova. Now, the elegant property is getting ready to to unveil a $33 million revamp that includes an ultra-luxe penthouse suite occupying the top floor, poised to become one of the most expensive hotel suites in the world. The 2,583-square-foot, two bedroom suite encompassing the entire eighth story will feature incredible views of the rue de Faubourg Saint Honoré and the Le Bristol's famed private gardens – the largest of any Parisian hotel. In May, the French-style Le Bristol Spa will double in size to include ten treatment rooms as well as a separate fitness center, while the property's signature Michelin three-star Gastronomic Restaurant will move into a new space featuring expansive views of the hotel's garden, a chef's table and fireplace.

[via JustLuxe]

Gallery: Hotel Le Bristol

Tags: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, France, George Clooney, hotel, Hotel Le Bristol, hotel suites, Le Bristol, Leonardo DiCaprio, luxury hotels, Natalia Vodianova, Paris, penthouse, rue de Faubourg Saint Honoré, Spa, worlds most expensive

$41,000 Chevy Volt Draws Controversy for Engineering Claims

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Green

The Chevy Volt extended range electric sedan is critical to the new General Motors that has emerged from bankruptcy last year, and is about to try and sell its initial-public-offering to investors. But as it unveils the car to the media this week, some critics are blasting the automaker for over-stating the car's fuel efficiency and innovation.

GM has long called the Volt an 'extended age electric vehicle." That made it decidedly different from the Toyota Prius and Toyota's and Honda's other full-hybrids. The key difference, GM has said for three years, is that the gas-fed motor in the Volt never directly drives the wheels of the car. The motor in the Volt, GM has said, powers the battery after its charge runs down, eliminating the risk of the driver running out of power before reaching their destination or a recharging station.

But GM executives confirmed this week that the Volt can use the internal combustion motor under its hood to power the wheels. This fact was first reported by MotorTrend.com, which was allowed to test the car for three long drives. The magazine discovered "...when going above 70 mph in 'charge sustaining mode,' and the generator gets coupled to the drive-train, the gas engine participates in the motive force. GM says the engine never drives the wheels all by itself, but will participate in this particular situation in the name of efficiency, which is improved by 10 to 15 percent."

It may not seem like much, but this does fly in the face of what GM officials have been saying for the last three years as it has hyped the Volt as being an industry leading innovation. The fact that the gas-powered motor can directly power the wheels of the Volt makes it much closer to traditional hybrids already on the market.

Gallery: Chevy Volt Launches and Stirs Controversy

Tags: Brad Pitt, Chevy Volt, Electric Vehicles, extended range electric vehicle, fuel economy, General Motors, George Clooney, Nissan Leaf

Continue reading “$41,000 Chevy Volt Draws Controversy for Engineering Claims”

RSVIP: 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards Party Report

by Jeffrey Slonim (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events

With a weekend of starry fetes second only to those of Oscar week in Los Angeles, the parties of the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards lost little ground this season against news of a still flagging U.S. economy.

For Luxist, ice began clinking in the cocktail glasses of Emmy-bound celebs at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 27, at the Judith Leiber store on North Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Maria Bello and Patricia Arquette were co-hosting a "Don't Forget Haiti" benefit. Yes, Hollywood has a heart. And scores of Emmy hopefuls zipped by on their way to full-fledged Emmy events.

Bello wore a top by Michael Kors and a Leiber "Don't Forget Haiti" pendant as she greeted guests at the door. How did Arquette and Bello team up for the Emmy weekend benefit? "I saw her a couple of weeks after the earthquake in Haiti," Bello told Luxist.

Arquette then mentioned that she is currently "working on a project to help refurbish shipping containers as homes in Haiti." She was wearing a vintage Chanel suit. "Anything past last year is vintage," she quipped. "So I'm vintage."

Guests included Rosario Dawson, Malin Akerman, Katharine McPhee, and Autumn Reeser, of "Entourage," who told Luxist that she would be hosting a baby shower during the Emmy Awards. "I didn't realize it was Emmy weekend," she admitted.

Reeser's "Entourage" co-star Emmanuelle Chriqui mentioned that, over the weekend, she would be supporting her real-life manager Emily Gerson Saines (also present), "nominated because she produced the HBO film 'Temple Grandin.'" Saines and her project would win big on Sunday.

Entertainment Weekly also hosted a pre-Emmy party for "Women in Film" on Friday at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in West Hollywood. The pool area of the hotel was converted into an impromptu red carpet. Fueled by mini burgers and new flavors of Vitaminwater, lemonade, and pomegranate, the party raged on in a trellised back courtyard of the restaurant until 1:00 a.m. Elisabeth Moss from "Mad Men," above, innocently butchered the name of the late French designer she was wearing, Herve Leger (pronounced Er-vay Lay-jay) as if he had been an all American: "Harvey Legger."

"This is my third Emmy Awards," admitted the young actress. "But it's always scary."

Tags: anna paquin, claire danes, Elisabetta Canalis, emmy awards, Emmy Awards 2010, george clooney, john krasinski, Katrina Bowden, nelson ellis, ricky gervais, rita wilson, stephen moyer, tom hanks

Continue reading “RSVIP: 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards Party Report”

Boating Like a Celebrity on Lake Como

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Yachts & Sailing

Want to jetset like the stars? Head to Clooney's favorite vacation spot, and you can. Lake Como has long been a paradise for Italian glitterati and celebrities alike, but due to the expense, it can often be prohibitive as a vacation destination. Now, thanks to the services of the Matteri Yacht Club, you can live the life of the stars - at least for a few hours - at a reasonable rate. Headed by a team of experienced yacht restorers with centuries of combined knowledge and experience, these waterman will accompany select clients on guided lake tours in vintage Riva motor yachts or Aquarama sport boats.

Sip prosecco on the padded leather seats while the drivers regale you with a historical tour of the area, from downtown Como all the way to towns like Bellagio. En route, you'll pass homes like the famed Villa Versace and Villa Oleandra, the holiday home of George Clooney. You'll also pass residences used in movies like Star Wars and the private home of Virgin executive Sir Richard Branson, as well as several for sale and recently acquired villas that can be purchased for only 70 million euro or so. A person can dream, right?

Charter information available at http://www.matteri.com/

The writer's visit was sponsored by CastaDiva Resort, but her opinions are entirely her own.

Tags: george clooney, italy, lake como, riva motor yachts

CastaDiva Resort: Paradise on Lake Como

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

CastaDiva Resort, the motto is simple: "the answer is never no, and yes can always be had ... for a price." But priceless beauty and impeccable service is what you'll get at this 75-room ulra-luxe resort, the first of its kind to open on the lake in nearly 100 years.

It's not everyday one gets the chance to travel to Lake Como, and it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stay at the former villa of famed opera singer Guiditta Pasta, now a luxury resort. Needless to say, we jumped at the opportunity. An eight-hour overnight from New York to Milan landed us at Malpensa International Airport, just 45 minutes from the hotel proper. A uniformed driver and the resort's private Mercedes shuttle were waiting to take us to our destination, procuring coffee and water along the way. Luca, the driver, energetically pointed out the sights and sounds along the way, waxing poetic about the beauty we were soon to see at CastaDiva.

Tags: castadiva, george clooney, italy, ItalyVilla, Lake Como, Lake Como villa in Italy, lugano

Continue reading “CastaDiva Resort: Paradise on Lake Como”

George Clooney Not Selling His Italian Villa

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

We can't resist a good real estate rumor and this is a hot one. The Telegraph is just one of the sources reporting that George Clooney is putting Villa Oleander, his home on Lake Como in Italy on the market and that soccer star David Beckham is battling Russian vodka billionaire Roustam Tariko to buy the home. The home is supposedly quietly on the market for around 30 million euros. Clooney bought the home in 2001 for around 7 million euros. After Clooney bought the home, real estate in the prestigious vacation area spiked, the so-called Clooney effect.

The Beckhams borrowed the home last year but it really doesn't look like they'll be moving in. Clooney has released a statement denying the fact that the home is for sale and dashing the rumor that he planned to move to a small island in order to foil paparazzi. In his typical humor the statement says in part: "the story was made up, then picked up and now denied. End of another riveting day of false news."

Tags: david beckham, DavidBeckham, george clooney, GeorgeClooney, lake como, LakeComo, roustam tariko, RoustamTariko, villa oleander, VillaOleander

Clooney's Girlfriend Stars in New Cavalli Lingerie Ads

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

George Clooney's sexy Italian actress / model girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis, 31, has shot a hot new ad for designer Roberto Cavalli's luxe lingerie line. "I was inspired by a real woman, with appeal, charisma and sensuality," Cavalli says of the collection. "I was sure Elisabetta was just perfect for enhancing the spirit of this advertising campaign... and I was not wrong!" Shot by famed fashion photographers Mert & Marcus in a 19th-century mansion filled with gilded mirrors and baroque furniture, the campaign "pure Cavalli: sexy, decadent and feminine." Draped on a Louis XVI style velvet sofa, Elisabetta gives the camera a sultry stare sporting mussed-up hair, smudgy black eyes and a set of leopard print Cavalli lingerie. Check out the video for a peek behind the scenes.

[via Instyle UK]

Tags: ad campaign, AdCampaign, Elisabetta Canalis, ElisabettaCanalis, George Clooney, GeorgeClooney, Italian fashion, ItalianFashion, lingerie, Roberto Cavalli, RobertoCavalli

The Classicist: Celebrating Persol's Iconic Style

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Celebrity Shopping, Art, Men's Style, The Classicist

This week legendary Italian eyewear brand Persol, a bastion of Dolce Vita style, is debuting its iconic INCOGNITO design exhibition in the U.S. at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. The invitation-only opening night celebration will feature a performance by Lou Reed.

Running from June 24 - 28, INCOGNITO by Persol is an interactive exhibition that was designed to "bring to life the emotions and richness" of a heritage born nearly 90 years ago in Turin, Italy and which today remains an icon of Italian design and craftsmanship.

Persol made its big screen debut in 1961 worn by Marcello Mastroianni in Divorce Italian Style, and its U.S. film debut in 1968 worn by Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair (right). Two of the most stylish stars in the history of cinema, they catapulted the brand onto the international scene.

Other stars who have worn Persols over the years include Jack Nicholson, Richard Gere, Paul Newman, Roberto Rossellini, Cindy Crawford, Nicolas Cage, Pierce Brosnan, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Christian Slater, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Heath Ledger, Al Pacino, George Clooney, Adrien Brody and Daniel Craig, who sported two different styles in Casino Royale.

The tradition, quality, style and design that drive Persol's brand philosophy are embodied in the INCOGNITO exhibition, which involves all the senses. Along a path of images, sounds, colors, and technology, visitors can experience the world of Persol: the quality of the workmanship and materials, the uniqueness of design in the products and collections, the technological evolution and Persol's exclusive patents, as well as the magic and allure of the silver screen idols who made them famous.

Gallery: Persol Style

Tags: Daniel Craig, DanielCraig, Dolce Vita, DolceVita, exhibition, Fellini, George Clooney, GeorgeClooney, Italian fashion, ItalianFashion, Italy, James Bond, JamesBond, Lou Reed, LouReed, marcello mastroianni, MarcelloMastroianni, Persol, Steve McQueen, SteveMcqueen, sunglasses, whitney museum, WhitneyMuseum

Continue reading “The Classicist: Celebrating Persol's Iconic Style”

George Clooney Makes The Scene In St. Louis

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Celebrity Shopping

George Clooney has been in St. Louis, Missouri recently shooting of the feature film 'Up in the Air' and he delighted the locals by making an appearance at the vodka/sushi bar Sub Zero last weekend. Sub Zero Vodka bar offers nearly 260 vodkas and has a 28-foot ice bar as well as serving both burgers and sushi. The NY Daily News reports that Clooney may have been a "little overserved" at the bar. He was reportedly stumbling a bit on his way back to his hotel. Clooney has also been spotted at the Mandarin, a local nightclub.

Tags: george clooney, GeorgeClooney, st louis, StLouis

Beckhams Borrow Clooney's Lake Como Villa

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Sports

George Clooney is quite a pal. According to Hello magazine, the movie star just lent his lavish $6 million villa on Italy's famed Lake Como (above) to soccer superstar David Beckham and his wife Victoria. Beckham, whose taste for the finer things in life has been often noted here, is being fought over by two soccer teams, the LA Galaxy and Italy's AC Milan. The Beckhams will take some relaxing time out at the villa while waiting to see the if LA Galaxy will release him from his contract and allow a transfer to AC Milan, the magazine reports. "George has really taken David under his wing since the transfer trouble started," they note.

The luxurious villa, which has played host to many of Clooney's superstar pals, is just half an hour away from the Beckhams' base in Milan. Clooney, 47, and Beckham, 33, became friends after being introduced by Giorgio Armani, (whose underwear ads the Beckhams star in), at the Met Ball in New York last May. Luxe Lake Como, where scenes from the last two James Bond movies were shot, has long been a favorite retreat for Italy's rich and famous and the international jetset. As we mentioned last month, the contents of late designer Gianni Versace's villa there are being auctioned off by Sotheby's in March.

Tags: Celebrity, David Beckham, DavidBeckham, George Clooney, GeorgeClooney, Gianni Versace, GianniVersace, Giorgio Armani, GiorgioArmani, Italy, James Bond, JamesBond, Lake Como, LakeComo, Milan, Soccer, Victoria Beckham, VictoriaBeckham

Belstaff, Audi, Clooney & Pitt Team Up for Darfur

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Charity

Luxe British outerwear company Belstaff, founded in 1924 and known for their distinctive motorcycle jackets, is teaming up with Audi to produce a one-off SUV to benefit the charity founded by Ocean's Eleven co-stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The stars' charity, Not On Our Watch (NOOW), which my colleague Laura Malesich reported on earlier this year, raises awareness about humanitarian crises around the world. Belstaff and Audi are co-designing a special edition Q7 luxury SUV which will be sold to benefit NOOW's efforts in Darfur, Vogue UK reports. Earlier this week, Clooney and Pitt hosted a fundraiser for NOOW at the Venice Film Festival.

Tags: Audi, Audi Q7, AudiQ7, Belstaff, brad pitt, BradPitt, Darfur, george clooney, GeorgeClooney, NOOW, not on our watch, NotOnOurWatch, Oceans Eleven, OceansEleven, venice film festival, VeniceFilmFestival

Clooney Effect Hits Lake Maggiore

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping

For years, shots of George Clooney at play on the shores of Lake Como have sparked interest in the Italian vacation destination. Now the TImes Online reports that the Clooney effect has spread to nearby Lake Maggiore, which is the largest of the Italian lakes and is 20 minutes from Lake Como. Although Lake Como is the more prestigious address, villas there can be as much as 50 percent more, making Lake Maggiore seem like quite the deal for your Italian villa. Lake Maggiore has many beautiful homes, some built as summer houses by the French aristocracy.

Want in? For €1.5 million euros you can pick up a restored farmhouse with Lake Maggiore views. This home and other Lake Maggiore properties are listed through Knight Frank.

Source

Tags: george clooney, GeorgeClooney, italy, lake como, lake maggiore

Major Star Power For Darfur Relief

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping, Charity

This group of guys don't just sizzle on the screen together, they are putting their star-power towards a very deserving cause. As co-founders of Not On Our Watch (NOOW), a non-profit which focuses on bringing global attention and resources to stop and prevent mass atrocities, they recently gave $500,000 to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). In an effort to help stem hunger, the WFP uses helicopters to deliver support in manpower and food to the Sudan. These guys also donated $1 million to WFP in 2007. They make philanthropy look good -- really good.

[Thanks, Lana]

Source

Tags: brad pitt, BradPitt, darfur, don cheadle, DonCheadle, expire-images:2009-3-19, george clooney, GeorgeClooney, matt damon, MattDamon, not on our watch, NotOnOurWatch

International Rescue Committee, Charity of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity of the Day

For more than 70 years, the International Rescue Committee has focused on humanitarian relief.They work in regions torn apart by violence and deprivation and also provide a fresh start in the U.S. for refugees. They've recently been in the news for their relief efforts in Darfur and have gotten a big boost from George Clooney and Don Cheadle, who have raised money on behalf of the organization. The dire situation continues in the troubled region where it is estimated that nearly 300,000 people have died at the hands of armed mercenaries and over two million people have been displaced.

One way to support the work of the International Rescue Committee is by buying something from the Rescue Tea Collection. When you purchase a product from the Rescue Tea Collection, 50 percent of the item's purchase price will be donated to the IRC. The collection includes tea selections and candles with names like Comfort and Strength, which sell for $40.

Source

Tags: darfur, don cheadle, george clooney, international rescue committee, InternationalRescueCommittee, recue teas

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