Miu Miu Opens New London Flagship

Miu Miu Opens New London Flagship: "December 12, 2010 - London, UK – Reported by Elite Traveler, the Private Jet Lifestyle Magazine

The opening of Miu Miu’s latest flagship—which kicked off on December 3rd with a festive cocktail party and private dinner—attracted a star-studded crowd.

Actresses Jessica Alba and Abbie Cornish stopped by the new two-story space on 150 New Bond Street, which was designed to transport revelers back in time to the 1920s. Grand window displays and cozy areas for lounging evoked the feel of an elegant hotel lobby. Post-soiree, a private dinner was held at Lancaster House, with notables from London’s thriving art, fashion and music scenes in attendance."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

Hackney Christmas Markets – From quirky to traditional | Hackney Hive

Hackney Christmas Markets – From quirky to traditional Hackney Hive: "Ridley Road Market, London, E8. Over 165 stalls offering a range of quality goods at very competitive prices. Choose various goods and foods from Asia, Africa, Caribbean, United Kingdom and the Mediterranean including the latest ladies and men’s fashion and accessories, lingerie, footwear, toiletries, electrical, electronics, household goods and of course traditional and exotic fruit and vegetables. The usual trading days and times are: Monday to Thursday 6am to 6pm. Friday and Saturday 6am to 7pm.
Broadway Market, E8. Just off Lansdowne Drive, London Fields. A farmer’s style market with good quality fashion, foods and arts. It is at its busiest on Saturdays between 7.30am to 6.00pm. As 25 December falls on a Saturday, the market will open on Friday 24 December from 9am to 3pm.
Hoxton Market, N1. Located in Shoreditch, just off Old Street. Selling food, ladies and men’s fashion, footwear, household goods and toiletries. The usual trading days and times are: Monday to Saturday from 7.30am to 6pm. Please note, the busiest day is Saturday.
Kingsland Waste Market, E8 on the A10 between Middleton Road and Richmond Road. You can pick up tools, car and bike accessories, various small secondhand goods, fruit and vegetables. This is a Saturday only market from 7am to 3pm.
Well Street Market, E9. Just between Morning Lane and Kenton Road.You can pick up various items including toiletries, clothing and footwear. This market opens daily from 9am to 4pm. It is at its busiest on Saturdays.
Chatsworth Market, E5 is a trial market which will open for business on Sunday 12 December 2010 only from 11am to 3pm"

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

The Alexander McQueen I knew, by Vogue journalist Harriet Quick | From the Observer | The Observer

The Alexander McQueen I knew, by Vogue journalist Harriet Quick From the Observer The Observer: "McQueen was part of my growing up in fashion. We were of a similar age as we made our first forays into the business, and his wildly imaginative collections and unconventional approach made me appreciate that there could be so much more to fashion than empty branding and recycled trends. I first came across him in a suite at the Ritz hotel during London fashion week in 1993. While the dominant feel in fashion at that time was for minimalism led by Helmut Lang, Lee's collection appeared like ancient treasure. There were capelets made of black crow feathers, tiny corseted jackets embellished with Victorian jet embroidery and brutal yet immaculate tailoring. Lee, an intimidating oikish figure, shuffled around the tiny hotel room, protective of his work. There was no perfumed designer 'sell'. His pieces were hung on a mish-mash of hangers including, incongruously, a plastic one from Dorothy Perkins. Lee loved bathos.
His shows became a biannual pilgrimage that took me to the Hawksmoor church in Spitalfields to witness skeleton bone decoration, tightly moulded corsets and mouth jewellery; to the Royal Horticultural Halls to see model Devon Aoki splosh through a water catwalk in divine dragon-embroidered pastel silks – the water later turned black halfway through the show (so beautiful, tears ran down my face). His shows were frequently accompanied by freak weather – rainstorms, snow, gales. When McQueen showed in New York (2000), friends and I hired a 4x4 to hurtle uptown to Pier 59 in a hurricane to witness models flying through the air on ropes. You could not miss a McQueen show."

DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

US embassy cables: Moroccan businessman reveals royal corruption, claims US cable | World news | The Guardian

US embassy cables: Moroccan businessman reveals royal corruption, claims US cable World news The Guardian: "Leading entrepreneur tells how institutions and processes of the Moroccan state are used by the royal palace to coerce and solicit bribes in the country's real estate sector. Contrary to popular belief, corruption in this area during the reign of King Mohammed VI is becoming more pervasive."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

Morocco has a new tax-free trade zone near Tangier

One More Reason to Visit Morocco Timeshare, Go Timeshare: "Morocco has a new tax-free trade zone near Tangier, a dynamic, young King who is modernising the country’s infrastructure, communications and tourist offerings and its most famous city Marrakech is already a sought-after second home destination for the sports stars and celebrities who have been snapping up the luxury riad-style properties that are part of many brand new five star hotel and golf resorts.
Despite its proximity to Europe, flights to Morocco can be pricey. That may change, however, now that yet another airline will start to service the London to Marrakech route. BA has just announced its new service from London Gatwick to Marrakech which starts next year. It will fly from Gatwick to Marrakech three times a week, returning on the same departure days.
BA will compete with EasyJet and Ryanair who also fly to Marrakech, as well as the Moroccan national airline, Air Maroc which flies from both Heathrow and Gatwick to Marrakech. EasyJet already services the Gatwick – Marrakech route, while Ryanair flies from London Luton.
Two of Morocco’s most famous fans were Sir Winston Churchill and Yves St. Laurent. For Churchill it was a place of peace where he loved to paint the Atlas mountains and Yves St. Laurent was so captivated by Marrakech that he bought one of its most beautiful riads with its own exotic gardens which were opened to the public.
Geographically and culturally Morocco is a modern day gateway between North Africa and Europe. Tangier is only about fourteen miles from southern Spain which makes it a surprisingly accessible destination for anyone visiting Malaga or Gibraltar, thanks to a forty minute hydrofoil ride from Tarifa, in Spain, to Tangier."

Read More

MRI boss Darragh MacAnthony may face Commons probe

MRI boss Darragh MacAnthony may face Commons probe Olive Press Newspaper News Spain: "HUNDREDS of people are due to take to the streets in London to protest against fraudulent property mogul Darragh MacAnthony and his beleaguered Costa Del Sol company MRI.
The Misled Realty Investors Support Group (MRISG) whose 1,200 members claim they were scammed by MRI, will march to Downing Street to demand action.
The group, many of whom invested money in property and furniture packs in Spain that never materialised, are backed by MP for East Antrim Sammy Wilson.
Wilson, who has attacked the firm for defrauding hundreds of people, is to raise an Early Day Motion in parliament against the firm.
He is demanding a change in the law that would ensure that companies like MRI are unable to get away with such promises.
The protest will start near Chancery Lane and head all the way to Downing Street where they will hand in their petition demanding action against MRI.
A spokesman for the group said: “We have all been misled, lied to, even threatened and intimidated by MRI so this is our time to fight back.”
MRI’s head office shut in Marbella last year and sources told the Olive Press that MacAnthony – who once had huge billboards up and down the Costa del Sol – was planning to relocate to the US.
“He has been selling a lot of his cars and property in preparation for a big move,” one said. “In fact I think he may have already flown the nest.”"

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

Jet2 opens new route to Edinburgh from Málaga

Jet2 opens new route to Edinburgh from Málaga: "British low cost airline, Jet2, has announced a new route from Málaga to Edinburgh.

The service of two flights a week will start on April 2. Director Ian Doubtfire said that the route connects two marvellous cities and underline’s the company’s commitment to Málaga and Spain.

It will be the fifth route from Málaga for Jet2, and their 49th in Spain. It flies already from the Costa del Sol to Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Blackpool."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

Ronda-San Pedro road threatens over 100 rare bird species | Olive Press Newspaper | News Spain

Ronda-San Pedro road threatens over 100 rare bird species Olive Press Newspaper News Spain: "OVER one hundred rare bird species are threatened by the new planned Ronda-Marbella motorway.
The controversial road would pummel right through Sierra Bermeja’s conservation zone, said Spain’s main bird conservation society, SEO.
The habitat of the gravely threatened Bonelli’s Eagle is among the areas earmarked for the road.
The eagle has practically died out in northern Spain. Stable colonies now only exist only in Andalucia and Extremadura.
SEO was one of the many environmental groups to lodge their objections to the new road link between Malaga’s coast and mountainous interior.
The public consolation period for the project ended in late November.
But the new motorway appears to have fallen off the government’s list of priorities amid widespread opposition and tightening public spending.
The 350 million euros required for the road is yet to be included in the Junta’s public works budget.
Sierra Bermeja is home to around 150 different birds: 25 of them are protected by EU laws and 117 by national or regional Spanish legislation."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

Gibraltar.com is for Sale! $560,000 USD | PR Carbon

Gibraltar.com is for Sale! $560,000 USD PR Carbon: "Everybody knows that domain ownership can be very lucrative. As the web fills up with thousands of new websites each and every day, people are scrambling to grab the very best domain names they can get their hands on because a whole of money is available if you own a great domain that guarantees tons of internet traffic. Well, heads up to all domain name hunters out there because Gibraltar.com is on sale for the price of $560,000. That’s right, you can be the proud owner of this ‘country-domain’ now if you act quickly."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

Caprice wears Glam lace maxi to Marbella awards ceremony | Very Blog | Very.co.uk

Caprice wears Glam lace maxi to Marbella awards ceremony Very Blog Very.co.uk: "The Marbella Awards 2010. Caprice hosted the huge ceremony, which is a key highlight in Marbella’s full-to-the-brim social calendar, and helped to raise money for a very worthwhile charity."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

Spain Reopens Airspace - WSJ.com

Spain Reopens Airspace - WSJ.com: "Spanish airports and airlines were operating at full capacity on Sunday after the government reopened the country's airspace and forced striking air-traffic controllers to return to work.
Several hundred passengers waited at check-in counters at Madrid-Barajas international airport early Sunday.The government decreed a state of alarm on Saturday, taking emergency measures after controllers throughout the country walked off the job Friday afternoon, forcing authorities to close Spain's airspace for 18 hours and stranding thousands of travelers at the country´s airports.
Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero ordered the Defense Ministry to take over air-traffic control Friday night. He then issued a decree Saturday morning requiring controllers to return to their workplaces or face legal action, measures not seen since the times of the dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

Marbella shopfronts must be painted white or terracotta | Olive Press Newspaper | News Spain

Marbella shopfronts must be painted white or terracotta Olive Press Newspaper News Spain: "MARBELLA is finally cleaning up its act.
The town hall has given business owners in the old town three years to paint their shopfronts white or terracotta.
The move aims to put an end to the spread of fuchsia and pistachio-coloured shops and bars in the historic quarter.
“We have chosen these two colours to maintain a typical image of an Andalucian village,” said councillor Santos Pedrazuela."

DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

Spain's cultural heritage under threat amid economic crisis | World news | The Guardian

Spain's cultural heritage under threat amid economic crisis World news The Guardian: "solid, 16th-century Basque farmhouse known as Caserío Zabalaga sits among green fields and ancient oaks on farmland between the towns of Hernani and Lasarte, a tranquil refuge from the busy industrial fringe of Spain's northern Guipuzcoa province.
Chillida-Leku, as the farm is now called, houses the museum of one of Spain's most famous and beloved 20th-century artists – the sculptor Eduardo Chillida, a man whose place in art resembles that of Britain's Henry Moore.
Next month, however, it will close, proof that the economic crisis sweeping southern Europe is taking with it not just the cultural riches of antiquity but also some contemporary jewels. On 1 January the Chillida-Leku museum near San Sebastian will send its 23 employees home. It has run out of money.
The Chillida family promises to conserve the 50 huge outdoor sculptures, many made in Chillida's tell-tale materials of iron and granite, and the smaller works displayed in the main building, but they need public funds to maintain his legacy in the form that the artist had planned.
'We are mostly self-funding, but we need some support. Otherwise this is unsustainable,' his son Luis Chillida said yesterday."

:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

Diamond Jeweler Tiffany & Co. Opens in Barcelona, Spain | www.DiamondNe.ws

Diamond Jeweler Tiffany & Co. Opens in Barcelona, Spain www.DiamondNe.ws: "Tiffany & Co. today announced the opening of a 360-square-meter (3,900-square-foot) store in Barcelona’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel, located at Paseo de Gracia 38-40, in the city’s premier shopping area.
The new store represents Tiffany’s second in Spain, and follows the fall 2008 opening of a store in Madrid. “Tiffany is achieving strong growth throughout Europe, and there is substantial long-term expansion potential,” said Melvyn Kirtley, group vice president, Tiffany & Co. Europe. “We are very optimistic about our prospects in Barcelona. Opening in this prominent location provides us with the ideal environment for introducing everyone in this elegant and cosmopolitan city to Tiffany’s heritage of design, craftsmanship and outstanding service.”
Constructed on multiple levels that overlook the hotel’s gracious courtyard, the store features custom furnishings, leather panels and cerused oak in various shades of blue. Other details include brushed stainless steel showcases and vitrines and glass and mirrors carved with an Art Deco-inspired fluting motif, an architectural detail borrowed from Tiffany’s New York flagship store."

DISCLAIMER:Text may be subject to copyright.This blog does not claim copyright to any such text. Copyright remains with the original copyright holder.

Read More

WHO BUYS IN TANGIERS luxury homes prices have fallen 10 to 20 percent.

The financial crisis has had a relatively minor effect on Tangier’s property market; the lower end has in fact remained robust, said Robert Shaw, marketing director of Elite Moroccan Properties, based in England. He attributed this to Morocco’s growing middle class and the government’s efforts to improve infrastructure within the city.

As for luxury homes, he said, prices have fallen 10 to 20 percent.

In addition, there are fewer foreign buyers today than a few years ago, said Reinald Beck,director of the New Real Estate agency in Tangier. Over all, housing prices vary widely according to location and condition, Mr. Beck said. Within the medina, prices range from $60 to $70 a square foot, for homes in need of renovation, to $95 to $112 a square foot for restored homes. This house has an asking price of around $167 a square foot, above average because of its central location. But price negotiation is a common practice here, Mr. Beck said.

In newer parts of town, apartments designed for Westerners cost anywhere from $109 to $218 a square foot. Newly built luxury apartments and villas — a small portion of the market — sell for $185 to $205 a square foot, down from $240 a square foot before the financial downturn.

Traditionally, the majority of foreign buyers in Tangier are from France and Spain, Mr. Beck said; there are also buyers from Asia, Britain, Europe and America.

Foreign buyers in Tangier tend to be “more adventurous” than those who seek properties in Marrakesh, which has more development, Mr. Shaw said. “A buyer has to see beyond the city as it is at the moment,” he said. “It’s actively being transformed from a poorer, less visually stimulating city into a city that will be a serious reference point on the entrance to the Mediterranean in 10 years’ time.”

BUYING BASICS

There are no restrictions on foreign buyers of residential properties in Morocco, said Loic Raboteau, the joint head of the French and North Africa Law Department at the International Property Law Center in Britain. But foreigners are prohibited from buying agricultural land.

Purchase-side costs are 7 to 8 percent. This includes notary fees, which run 0.5 to 1 percent; a 1 percent land registry tax; a 3 percent stamp duty; and a 0.5 percent transfer tax. Real estate agent fees are 6 percent and are typically split between buyer and seller, though this fee is often negotiated, Mr. Beck said.

The use of a lawyer is recommended; fees are approximately 1 percent of the purchase price, Mr. Raboteau said.

Most buyers pay in cash, Mr. Beck said, though financing of up to 50 percent is available to foreigners. Interest rates are about 5.2 percent.

Read More

PremiAir, one of the UK's leading private aviation charter companies, is making its debut at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in Cannes

PremiAir, one of the UK's leading private aviation charter companies, is making its debut at the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) in Cannes during 7-10 December. Reinforcing its presence, PremiAir Group Managing Director, David McRobert will participate as a panelist in the prestigious annual travel industry leaders' forum which takes place on 6 December, the first day of the event.

Moderated by Graham Boynton, Ultra Travel's editor, this year's forum is entitled "Global Trends in Luxury Travel." David will take the opportunity to highlight his views on future executive charter trends, and discuss how the luxury travel business can find and retain high value customers, speaking from a business jet and executive helicopter operator's perspective. PremiAir also manages London's only CAA-licensed heliport, the newly redeveloped London Heliport in Battersea, set to be a popular destination for 2012 Olympics visitors and a likely discussion point for visitors at this year's event. PremiAir is sharing a stand with sister company, luxury hotel group von Essen (Stand No 0171).

Read More

Westminster hotels offer an array of luxury hotel in London,

Westminster hotels offer an array of luxury hotel in London, which will be a great choice with the tourists looking for a leisurely vacation in London.

Westminster is a hub of luxury accommodations, with a number of five star and four star London hotels available in this part of the city. Tourists get to choose from its amazing collection of hotels capable of bringing a class of leisure and comfort. It is not only the opulence of the place that attracts the travellers in great numbers, it is also the richness of the accommodation that can get it the most amazing number of travelling tourists here. You can pick up one of its spectacular possessions that can be a thrill for your vacation.

There are miraculous options that can be availed with the choicest of hotels serving you. Your search will bring you the five star Grange St Pauls hotel, The Goring and Grange Holborn and some amazing four star London lodgings like the Clarendon, Grange Rochester and Radisson Edwardian Leicester Square. There is a whole assortment of these luxury Westminster hotels serving different standards of luxuries. There are so many and amazing choices that tourists will need to pick something after going through the leisure they are being offered.

While you will get world class pleasures in this area, you will find yourself soothed back to the most stress free life once again through its features. Find an entirely new way of life by spending time at one of these plush luxury hotels.

About Westminster London Hotels:

The Westminster London Hotels is a very perfect place to find a suitable luxury hotel in Westminster for your stay. There are so many and amazing choices with accommodation in London, that your booking a hotel shall come as an indiscreet jump to into a vacation till you browse through its options. Go through the Westminster accommodations while planning for a vacation in London, which will help your decide for your accommodation destination in the city. There are several hotels near Westminster Underground promising you a stay in all opulence. Find them out.

Read More

allows guests to easily control lighting, room temperature, TVs, music, drapes and concierge services with a single remote.

Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control system, has signed 45 Park Lane to its customer roster, providing guests with the ultimate experience of luxury and comfort. Luxury hotel brand, Dorchester Collection, is set to open 45 Park Lane, in the heart of London's Mayfair in Summer 2011.

45 Park Lane will use Control4® Suite Systems' automation technology, a complete door-to-drapes operating system and platform for the modern hotel room that allows guests to easily control lighting, room temperature, TVs, music, drapes and concierge services with a single remote.

With a large penthouse and 45 luxurious rooms and suites, all with sweeping views of Hyde Park, 45 Park Lane will be the ninth hotel in Dorchester Collection's portfolio of iconic hotels. Only yards away from its sister hotel, The Dorchester, 45 Park Lane will be more contemporary in style with world-renowned architect and designer, Thierry Despont, creating a luxurious modern interior with an intimate club-like feel. The exterior will be equally stylish with a revamped facade incorporating specialist eco-friendly ‘fins' made from aluminium to utilize solar power within the hotel's heating and cooling processes.

Read more: http://www.benzinga.com/press-releases/10/11/b652364/control4-provides-hotel-guests-with-personalized-luxury-at-dorchester-c#ixzz16rEfqBFT

Read More

Prince Andrew attacks fraud inquiry ‘idiocy’

FT.com / UK / Business - Prince Andrew attacks fraud inquiry ‘idiocy’: "Prince Andrew, a UK government special trade representative, has lambasted the “idiocy” of British anti-corruption investigators and ridiculed the levels of bribery in France in an “astonishingly candid” meeting noted by a US diplomat.
In an alleged outburst that will raise a question mark over his future in the role, the Duke of York railed against journalists and the UK’s Serious Fraud Office in a discussion that “at times verged on the rude”.
Towards the end of a two-hour brunch with businesspeople in a Bishkek hotel, Prince Andrew criticised the investigation into BAE Systems over the al-Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia."

Read More

luxury residential and retail development claims to include Britain's most expensive flat, at £140m, and has attracted the interest of wealthy overseas tenants

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank is to pay a record rent for the final retail unit at One Hyde Park, the luxury Knightsbridge development managed by the Candy brothers in London.

The luxury residential and retail development claims to include Britain's most expensive flat, at £140m, and has attracted the interest of wealthy overseas tenants, particularly from the Gulf and Russia. It is thought that the Abu Dhabi group outbid other Middle Eastern banks as well as upmarket fashion retailers to bag the final 3,000sqft unit at street level – paying more than the area's current record of £550 per square foot.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, which was advised by agent CB Richard Ellis, joins luxury watch maker Rolex and McLaren's car showroom in the retail units, for which Nash Bond and Cushman & Wakefield are the leasing agents.

The Middle East has also invested heavily in upmarket Brompton Road, also in Knightsbridge, with a raft of top retailers and designer brands set to move in. It is thought that the US sports brand Nike is eyeing a shop currently occupied by fashion chain Monsoon, with bidders lining up to pay "key money" of around half a million pounds.

In the summer, Top Shop moved into the less-smart northern end of Brompton Road, and has acted as a magnet there for other fashion retailers, such as US-based Guess.

Read More