Ebel Classic Sport Chrono Khaki Green Watch
Filed under: Timepieces / Watches
Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.
green
Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.
Kurt Geiger Emerald Green Heels
Filed under: Shoes
We lust over killer high heels. As much as we would rejoice in wearing them daily, we have to get back to reality and wear shoes that are, well, wearable. Shoes that will not send us to a podiatrist in 5 years for corrective surgery. Luckily, it doesn't mean we have to forgo style for comfort.Geiger's Emerald Green Kitten Heels ($248) are desirable for that very reason. Comfort and style are merged to create a simple yet elegant pair of shoes. With a basic foundation to work from, the addition of a cone kitten heel housed in vibrant emerald green suede makes all the difference in separating Geiger's Kitten Heels from the typical and plain.
Marvin Malton 160 Cushion Khaki Watch
Filed under: Timepieces / Watches
Unless you really can't see yourself wearing green, this is a very handsome timepiece that I think will appeal to both men and women (even if the size is too large for many women's wrists). A nice standout piece from an already highly competent collection. Inside is a Swiss Sellita SW200 automatic movement and price is gonna be in the $1,000 - $1,500 range.
Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.
Laila Ali Launches Skincare, Haircare, Fragrances Line
Filed under: Cosmetics and Fragrance, Green, Celebrity Design
Boxing beauty, famous daughter, and singer Laila Ali now has a full line of beauty products -- skincare (Global Complexion), haircare (Global Texture), and fragrances for women (Laila), and men (KO). The line is affordable and strives to be eco-friendly, two things that don't always go hand in hand.Both the skincare and haircare lines are made with a blend of sulfate- and paraben-free ingredients combined with exclusive Derm Essential moisturizers. Plant derivatives, plant-based compounds, and sea kelp extracts are used for the line's essential oils instead of oils derived from animal products. Organic, hypoallergenic, wrapped in recyclable packaging, and designed for daily use. All products in both lines are $13 each.
Fragrances are $40 for women and $47 for men. Both are a 3.4 oz. EDT spray.
Leona Helmsley's Dunnellen Hall Sells For $35 Million
Filed under: Estates
In August we learned that Leona Helmsley's former home, Dunnellen Hall in Greenwich, Connecticut might finally be sold. Now the Greenwich Time gives us a sold price and it's even lower than had been anticipated. This home hit the market in 2008 for $125 million. Price cut after price cut followed until it hit $60 million. The Greenwich Time says that the home has been sold for $35 million, a full $90 million discount. The buyer is listed as a trustee, Cynthia L. Smith of the Greenwich law firm Whitman, Breed, Abbott & Morgan LLP. Jane Basham of David Ogilvy & Associates was the selling agent.
The traditional brick mansion is approximately 23,0000 square feet with seven upstairs bedroom suites, a glass-walled music room, a wood- paneled library with a 15th century fireplace mantel, formal dining room, family room with a bar and much more. The back wing is home to the staff area which has six bedrooms. The indoor pool has four exposures and includes areas for sitting and changing. There is also a 75-foot outdoor pool with a terrace and a cabana with a kitchen. There are also brick cottages with an additional six bedrooms total. The Helmsleys bought Dunnellen Hall in 1983 for $9 million (paying an extra $2 million for the furniture) and later picked up another 14 acres bringing the total to 40 acres. We've heard from those who have visited the home that it is in a state of disrepair and will cost millions to fix. The sale will be a boon for the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, which supports health care and medical research.
The home is just the latest in Greenwich in a year that has seen Tommy Hilfiger pick up a new home for $31.375 million and Mel Gibson's Old Mill Farm sell for almost $24 million. The top of the market is now the Point of View estate listed at $42 million.
Donna Distefano's Fair Trade, Eco-Friendly Custom Jewelry
Donna Distefano's eponymous jewelry line features gorgeous gems that you can wear with a clear conscience. They are created without unnecessary environmental destruction and without human rights violations. The Fair Trade-certified pieces are custom-made and hand-wrought in Distefano's NYC store and use eco-friendly refining, substance purification, and recycled metals. The extensive line features a variety of beautiful pieces: diamond and colored gemstone engagement rings, wedding bands, cocktail rings, chandelier earrings, jeweled necklaces, and pendants. The "Silva" pendant at right is $12,250, but the line varies in price. See the gallery for a few more examples of Distefano's work, and if you're in NYC, stop by her store at 20 W. 20th St.
Masdar, Abu Dhabi's Green City Prepares For First Residents
Filed under: Green, Real Estate Developments
Masdar, a green city in Abu Dhabi designed by the British architecture firm Foster + Partners planned to be the world's first zero-carbon and zero-waste city in the world is nearing first stage completion after a three year journey. This car-free zone is being driven by Abu Dhabi's Future Energy Company and will be home to the company's headquarters and a new university. The project was unveiled at the Cityscape conference in Abu Dhabi back in 2007.
The land around the city will be home to wind and photovoltaic farms as well as research fields and plantations so that the city is completely self-sustaining but skepticism about Masdar's ability to succeed have trailed the project. The Masdar Institute is due to welcome its first residents this September but it has been no easy road. The project is currently facing its first review. The project was rebranded from "zero carbon" to "carbon neutral" and the parent company recently cut its work force. A piece on Greentech chronicles some of the difficulties which have included sandstorms that limited the solar capacity.
The $22 billion carbon neutral Masdar City project is still planned to provide seven percent of the United Arab Emirates' power with renewable energy sources by 2020 even though the project is behind schedule. In a statement Lord Forster of Foster + Partners said that "Masdar has far reaching significance as a test-bed and an integrated urban research project of unprecedented scale and ambition." Whatever happens with the project is a learning experience not just for Abu Dhabi but for a world trying to go green. It has captured global attention, above, German chancellor Angela Merkel checks out the model of the project.
Linde Werdelin 3-Timer Watch Now In Lucky Green
Filed under: Timepieces / Watches
Green is the newest dial color for the 3-Timer watch, but will still be highly limited in production to just 22 pieces. Making them almost as rare as a four-leaf clover. The case in steel, is matched to a black calfskin strap. For more on the 3-Timer watch itself, you can consult my review here. Price for this limited edition green dialed version is 4,920 euros.
Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch reviews site aBlogtoRead.com.
Photo Tour: Scenes From Dwell On Design
Filed under: Decor
If you are remodeling, building a new house or just in need of a change, Dwell on Design's show this weekend in Los Angeles provides ready inspiration. The focus is on green, eco-friendly and sustainable which led to a certain sameness of design. There was plenty of plant life on display, the garden and outdoor living sections were some of the most interesting and well-attended parts of the show. Inside the Los Angeles Convention Center flowers bloom, trees stretch upward and lounge chairs and hammocks offer places to relax. Only the brutally cold air conditioning and the industrial ceiling bring you back to the reality of being inside a convention hall.
The show runs through June 27 and this weekend includes Ed Begley Jr. speaking on green issues on Sunday. Sunday is also Good Food Sunday with talks on sustainable food, craft beer, cheese and the growing trend of food trucks.
Check out a photo tour of some of my favorite spots at Dwell on Design after the jump.
Bon Christiani Dog Collars
Dog collars that are beautiful, durable, and sustainable are what bon Christiani is all about . The creative force behind the company, Jennifer Christiano, says she was initially inspired by two things: her background working with ancient Nubian jewelry at The Oriental Institute and a lack of beautiful but sturdy collar options for her German Shepherd, Padma. "There was nothing really interesting on the market for him. So, I took it upon myself to reach back in time and cultures, to create a unique piece for him."
When it comes to business bon Christiani operates on a model based in the Buddhist philosophy of "doing right by doing well." All the collars are equestrian grade and cruelty-free (5% of profits go towards sheltering animal survivors of biomedical research), made by hand by local master artisans, and created from start to finish with sustainability and the environment in mind. The collar shown here is called "Gainne" and features leather, your choice of bronze or sterling silver hardware, pretty Celtic 3-sided knots cast in pewter, and your choice of gemstone. Check out other designs (as well as some shots of the artisans in action) in the gallery below. $300-$400
Marni Rubber Necklace, Jewelry From Recycled Tires
I came across Marni's Necklace and was drawn to its simple beauty. The colorful bows and feathers against a deep black backdrop together create an eye catching piece. I especially liked the mix of texture and shapes that were used. Upon seeing it, I initially thought it was made from beads but was pleasantly surprised to discover that it's made from recycled tires. If I had the ability I would definitely try to make a necklace that is "inspired by" Marni's Rubber Necklace ($445). It's such a treat to find items that have used recycled material to create something new. Who knew you could make neckties out of cassette tapes? That is pretty amazing. And even though this has been going on for quite some time and we are exposed to a wide array of items that we can use in practically all facets of our lives, I am still amazed by the ingenious minds that are behind instilling new life into materials that may initially appear useless.
Otarian Carbon-Friendly Vegetarian Dining
The words vegetarian, eco-friendly, and fast food have not gone together until now, under the name Otarian. Founded by Radhika Oswal, a woman who described herself as a "hungry vegetarian" and pitched the idea to her husband 3 years ago after being frustrated at not being able to find anything but "pizza and french fries" while traveling. And so Otarian was born, a fast food chain that not only serves "global vegetarian cuisine" but does so in an eco-conscious and sustainable way. "This isn't a chain of vegetarian restaurants, but a chain of sustainable restaurants," Oswal says. Everything from the as-local-as-possible food to the way the buildings are constructed to the packaging and production practices of the stores is geared towards being ecologically responsible. They even label each sandwich and combo meal with its carbon number and the carbon number of a similar meat dish, so you can see how much you've offset by choosing vegetarian.
Currently there's an Otarian located on Bleeker Street in NYC, with another planned to open in the city this Friday (the 23rd) near Columbus Circle at 8th Ave and 56th St and two more planned to launch soon in London. Stop by and grab a Portobello Mushroom Burger (shown here) for lunch and do your part for the planet.
Champagne Gets a Green Makeover
You won't necessarily notice it, but your Champagne is about to get greener. Champagne producers have recently standardized a new lighter-weight bottle designed to reduce carbon emissions generated during transport by 8,000 metric tons annually - the equivalent of taking 4,000 cars off the road.
Sure, you say, another group of producers jumping on the green bandwagon. But this was no easy feat. Each bottle of bubbly contains 6 Gs of force -- for the non-rocket scientists among us, that's about 60 pounds of pressure per square inch, similar to the pressure found in a tire on an 18-wheeler. So the bottles are thick and heavy for a reason. However, working with local glass designers, the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), the region's trade group, was able to shave about 2 ounces from the glass bottle without compromising safety. The lighter weight allows producers to pack more bottles per truckload or container, cutting down on the number of shipments.
The move is part of a broader initiative by Champagne makers to cut carbon emissions by 25% by 2020, and a whopping 75% by 2050.
Bacardi Goes Green for Earth Day
Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Green
Two new tourist attractions opened in Puerto Rico for Earth Day. Bacardi Rum unveiled the first ever industrial scale wind project on the island, two wind turbines which can be seen from miles away. The turbines are expected to generate enough electricity to power tourism related activities at the Casa Bacardi Visitor Center at their distillery outside of San Juan. Now the quarter of a million visitors who come to the Center each year can truly learn about and enjoy rum guilt-free.
Bacardi is no stranger to corporate responsibility and environmental leadership. "Here in Puerto Rico, Bacardi pioneered and patented the anaerobic treatment of distillery wastewater now used by other companies around the world," said Jon Grey, vice president of global operations for Bacardi. "We use this anaerobic digester technology to treat wastewater which derives energy. In that process, micro-organisms naturally degrade waste materials, creating biogas, or methane, in the process." These natural biogas are fed into boilers which help power the distillery. The process saves roughly half of the energy required to run them, reducing the need for imported gas or oil.
Bees In Business at The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte
Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Green
The Ritz Carlton, Charlotte in NC opened last October as the first LEED-built hotel in the area and now this summer they're taking their eco-conscious efforts even further by adding honeybees to the mix. The Ritz already has a rooftop garden, put in place to both insulate the building and provide organic herbs for the kitchen, and this summer that garden will become home to as many as 60,000 honeybees in two fully-contained hives. "Honeybees love herbs, and we're hoping they will especially enjoy the fresh lavender growing within our rooftop garden," explained Jon Farace, executive chef for The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. "Because honey is considered the flavor of the land, it is likely that the bees' rooftop habitat and pollination of our herb garden will lend a wonderful, unique flavor to their honey." The hives will also benefit the surrounding city as the bees fly to nearby trees and hanging flowers.
The hives, once they mature later this summer, are expected to produce up to 70 lbs of honey that will be used by the hotel restaurant in special honey-based menu items.
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