12.9.09

PRINCE HARRY TO BECOME MULTI-MILLIONAIRE ON HIS 25th BIRTHDAY


PRINCE HARRY WILL BECOME A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE WHEN HE INHERITS AN ESTIMATED £9 MILLION SHARE OF HIS MOTHER'S FORTUNE ON HIS 25th BIRTHDAY. THE PRINCE TURNS 25 ON TUESDAY, 15.SEPTEMBER. ALTHOUGH HE WILL INHERIT THE MULTI-MILLION POUND FORTUNE, HE, LIKE HIS BROTHER WILLIAM, PRINCE OF WALES, 27, WILL BE PREVENTED FROM SPENDING THE MONEY UNTIL HE TURNS 30. THE PRINCES WERE LEFT ABOUT £6.5 MILLION EACH WHEN THEIR MOTHER, DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, DIED 12 YEARS AGO. THE SUM HAS BEEN INVESTED AND SINCE GATHERED SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST. BUT PRINCE HARRY WILL STILL GAIN AROUND £300,000 A YEAR FROM THE INCOME GENERATED BY HIS PORTION OF THE ESTATE, MONEY WHICH WILL GO STRAIGHT INTO HIS BANK ACCOUNT UPON HIS BIRTHDAY. A SOURCE TOLD THE SUN THAT THE PRINCE, A LIEUTENANT IN THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY, WOULD NOT CELEBRATE BECAUSE HE WILL BE BUSY ON HIS HELICOPTER FLYING COURSE. THE SOURCE TOLD THE NEWSPAPER: "IT'S UNLIKELY HE WILL EVEN BE ALLOWED A DRINK"

TWO LEGENDARY NEW YORK RESTAURANTS FILE CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY

A GRIM DARK DAY FOR NEW YORK RESTAURANTS, AND THOSE WHO ENJOY FINE DINING. 9.SEPTEMBER WILL BE REMEMBERED AS A DAY OF SADNESS FOR LOSS OF TWO LEGENDARY LANDMARK RESTAURANTS. INDEED, THAT DAY 'TAVERN ON THE GREEN' AND 'CAFE DES ARTISTES' BOTH FILLED FOR BANKRUPTCY IN US BANKRUPTCY COURT, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK.

THE CHAPTER 11 FILING IS JUST ANOTHER TRAGIC NAIL IN THE COFFIN FOR TAVERN ON THE GREEN. THE RESTAURANT WAS ALREADY SCHEDULED TO CLOSE ON 31.DECEMBER, BECAUSE A NEW 20-YEAR LICENSE WAS SOLD TO THE OPERATOR CENTRAL PARK BOATHOUSE, WHICH HAD OTHER DESIGNS FOR THE PROPERTY. THE RESTAURANT WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND ACCEPT RESERVATIONS THROUGH 31.DECEMBER. TAVERN ON THE GREEN HAS LONG BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF A STUNNING NEW YORK LANDMARK. CELEBRITIES AND TOURISTS ALIKE HAVE CELEBRATED COUNTLESS SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND EVENTS WITHIN THE FANTASY-LIKE DESIGNED DINING ROOMS AND PATIO. THE RESTAURANT HAS APPEARED IN NUMEROUS FILMS AND TELEVISION SHOWS OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING 'ARTHUR', 'WALL STREET', 'STELLA' AND 'NEW YORK STORIES'. TAKEN OVER BY WARNER LEROY MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO, IT WAS ONCE ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS AND SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANTS IN THE COUNTRY WITH A $40 MILLION DOLLAR OPERATION, A STAFF OF 525 AND NEARLY 500,000 PATRONS ANNUALLY.

ONLY ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM THE TAVERN ON THE GREEN, IS THE HISTORIC CAFE DES ARTISTES.
CAFE DES ARTISTES, ONE OF NEW YORK'S FABLED RESTAURANTS, LOCATED AT 1 WEST 67th STREET, JUST OFF CENTRAL PARK WEST, WAS ONCE REGARDED AS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER AND HIGHLY RATED EXCLUSIVE RESTAURANTS IN MANHATTAN. OWNER GEORGE LANG CLOSED THE RESTAURANT IN AUGUST FOR RENOVATIONS WITH A PLANNED GRAND GALA RE-OPENING IN MID-SEPTEMBER. SADLY, IT APPEARS THIS IS NEVER TO HAPPEN AND THE RESTAURANT'S DOORS HAVE BEEN SHUTTERED FOR GOOD. THE BANKRUPTCY PETITION LISTS ASSETS OF $84,500 AND LIABILITIES OF NEARLY $500,000 OWED TO CREDITORS.

11.9.09

PRINCE CHARLES AND CAMILLA VISIT WAITROSE AFTER FIRM RESCUES PRINCE'S DUCHY ORIGINALS


PRINCE CHARLES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL TOURED THEIR LOCAL WAITROSE THIS MORNING IN A UNIQUELY BIZARRE PHOTO-CALL AFTER IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE SUPERMARKET CHAIN WAS BAILING OUT HIS STRUGGLING DUCHY ORIGINALS CHARITY BUSINESS VENTURE. THE ROYAL COUPLE MARKED THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE UP-MARKET RETAILER WILL EXCLUSIVELY SELL GOODS PRODUCED BY THE FIRM WITH A SHOPPING TRIP TO THE BELGRAVIA STORE. SIR MICHAEL PEAT, CHARLES' PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, INSISTED THE JOINT VENTURE WAS NOT A CASE OF THE RETAILER 'SAVING' THE PRINCE'S BUSINESS. HE SAID: 'THIS IS ALL TO DO WITH MOVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL. YOU KNOW WAITROSE AREN'T IN SOME WAY BAILING OUT OR RESCUING DUCHY ORIGINALS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT STAYING AS WE ARE, WE'RE FINE AS WE ARE, THEY ARE HELPING US TO MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.' WAITROSE'S MANAGING DIRECTOR MARK PRICE SAID MILLIONS WILL BE INVESTED INTO DEVELOPING THE DUCHY BRAND. HE SAID: 'DUCHY ORIGINALS' PRODUCTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FIRM FAVORITES WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AND WE NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THE RANGE INTO THE DEFINITIVE PREMIUM, SUSTAINABLE BRITISH FOOD BRAND.' THE BUSINESS' PROFITS, WHICH ARE DONATED TO THE PRINCE'S CHARITIES FOUNDATION, HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IN RECENT YEARS DURING THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. RECESSION-HIT CONSUMERS HAVE BEEN PUT OFF BY PRICES SUCH AS £6.89 FOR A PACKET OF DUCHY ORIGINALS SHORTBREAD AND £3.49 FOR A JAR OF DUCHY ORIGINALS STRAWBERRY JAM. ANDREW BAKER, DUCHY'S CEO, SAID THAT THE COMPANY HAS NOT MADE A PROFIT IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR.
AT THE BELGRAVIA WAITROSE STORE, CLOSE TO THE ROYAL COUPLE'S CLARENCE HOUSE HOME IN CENTRAL LONDON, PRINCE CHARLES AND CAMILLA WERE SHOWN PRODUCE FROM VIRTUALLY ALL THE STORE'S DEPARTMENTS, FROM THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES TO MEAT, FISH AND BAKED GOODS. THE PRINCE ADDRESSED SENIOR STAFF FROM WAITROSE DURING THE HOUR LONG TOUR, TELLING THEM HE WAS ENORMOUSLY GRATEFUL THAT THEIR COMPANY "HAVE TAKEN THIS DECISION TO INVOLVE AND INCLUDE DUCHY ORIGINALS IN THIS WAY." HE SAID IT WAS "A REALLY PROUD MOMENT BECAUSE WAITROSE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST BRITISH STORES." THE DUCHESS TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A SELECTION OF GOODS, WHICH SHE WAS PLANNING TO TAKE TO A COMMUNITY PROJECT IN SOUTH LONDON. CAMILLA'S PRIVATE SECRETARY GATHERED UP A NUMBER OF DUCHY ORIGINALS GOODS, FROM ORGANIC CHOCOLATE GINGER BISCUITS TO STRAWBERRY PRESERVE, WHICH WILL BE USED TO MAKE AN AFTERNOON TEA FOR CHILDREN SHE WILL MEET. THE ROYAL DID NOT CARRY HER SHOPPING BASKET HERSELF BUT DID PAY FOR THE FOOD AT CHECK-OUT TILL, PASSING THE GOODS TO WORKER STELLA AMADASUN WHO CHATTED WITH THE COUPLE. AT ONE POINT CHARLES JOKED ABOUT THE ITEMS PRODUCED BY HIS COMPANY SAYING: 'IT'S LIKE COALS TO NEWCASTLE.'


10.9.09

SOTHEBY'S TO OFFER PROPERTY FROM ROBERT ISABELL COLLECTION


ON 17.DECEMBER.2009, SOTHEBY'S, NEW YORK, WILL BE OFFERING PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF NOTED EVENT PLANNER, ROBERT ISABELL (1952-2009). FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS ISABELL WAS AT THE HELM OF NEARLY EVERY MAJOR EVENT HOSTED BY THE UPPER ECHELON OF SOCIETY; LENDING HIS SPECTACULAR TASTE AND CREATIVITY TO CHARITY GALAS, CLUB OPENINGS, MAGAZINE LAUNCHES, WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMASES AND SOCIETY WEDDINGS, BIRTHDAYS AND FUNERALS. HIS IMAGINATIVE STYLE ALWAYS STRUCK THE RIGHT CORD, WHETHER THE EVENT WAS LAVISH OR UNDERSTATED, AND IT WAS THAT SAME LEVEL OF REFINEMENT AND CARE THAT HE CREATED A UNIQUE RETREAT FOR HIMSELF IN GREENWICH VILLAGE, NEW YORK. IN IT, HE METICULOUSLY JUXTAPOSED IMPORTANT PIECES BY AMERICAN STUDIO DESIGNERS HARRY BERTOIA, PAUL EVENS, AND PHIL POWELL, WITH PRIME EXAMPLES BY THE FRENCH MASTERS OF THE MID-CENTURY; JEAN PROUVE, CHARLOTTE PERRIAND AND SERGE MOUILLE. HE PUNCTUATED THE SPACE WITH LUSH GREENERY AND PLAYFUL POP AND CONTEMPORARY LIGHTING FROM VERNOR PANTON TO TOKUNJIN YOSHIODA. TOGETHER, THE OFFERING OF APPROXIMATELY 130 LOTS IS ESTIMATED TO SELL FOR $1.5 MILLION AND PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE GERALD B LAMBERT MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, INC FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING THE OAK SPRING GARDEN LIBRARY AND GREENHOUSES IN UPPERVILLE, VA. PRIOR TO THE AUCTION, THE COLLECTION WILL BE EXHIBITED IN SOTHEBY'S 10th FLOOR GALLERIES FROM 12-16.DECEMBER.2009.

RITZ CARLTON ATLANTA CELEBRATES 25th ANNIVERSARY WITH REDESIGN




RITZ CARLTON ATLANTA HAS MARKED ITS 25th ANNIVERSARY WITH A COMPLETE REDESIGN OF THE ENTRANCE FOYERS, LOBBY AND LOBBY LOUNGE, NOW NAMED LUMEN, WHICH OFFERS A NEW TWIST ON TRADITIONAL COCKTAILS WITH SOPHISTICATED GELATINS. GUESTS CAN NOW INDULGE IN MELON CITRUS TWIST, MANGO MARGARITAS, GEORGIA PEACH OR DEATH BY CHOCOLATE, ALONG WITH A EVER CHANGING MENU OF SEASONAL DELIGHTS. THE STUNNING NEW INTERIORS FEATURE WELL-KNOWN, TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS TRANSPOSED IN AN UPDATED WAYS, SUCH AS CHIPPENDALE MAHOGANY SIDEBOARD REFINISHED IN A HAND-APPLIED GILDED PLATINUM FINISH; SHEER SHROUDS WRAPPED AROUND THE HOTEL'S CRISTAL CHANDELIERS; AND ACCENT CHAIRS GRACED WITH DAMASK PATTERNS IN OVER-SIZED FORMATS.
LUMEN UNDERWENT THE GREATEST CHANGE. THE LOUNGE, SO NAMED FOR ITS MANY LIGHT EFFECTS, NOW GREETS GUESTS WITH CRISTAL CHANDELIERS THAT GLOW RED AT NIGHT; SEVEN FOOT TALL CUSTOM SETTEES COVERED IN MIDNIGHT BLUE MOHAIR, COMPLETE WITH BEADED SCONES; A BAR CABINET THAT GLOWS BLUE IN THE EVENING; MIRROR-POLISHED, HANDSPUN METAL TABLES CUSTOM DESIGNED BY BRAD OLDHAM (BROTHER TO TODD); BEADED CORKSCREW FLOOR LAMPS; AND A CUSTOM DESIGNED, UNDER-LIT ONYX-TOPPED COMMUNAL-STYLED TABLE AREA SEATING UP TO EIGHT GUESTS.
RITZ CARLTON ATLANTA IS TRULY THE PREMIER ADDRESS FOR A LUXURIOUS, AWE-INSPIRING OASIS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY.

9.9.09

AQUASCUTUM BACK IN BRITISH HANDS


AQUASCUTUM, THE VENERABLE LUXURY BRITISH CLOTHING COMPANY, IS FINALLY RETURNING TO BRITISH OWNERSHIP AFTER BEING BOUGHT BY FASHION ENTREPRENEUR HAROLD TILLMAN. THE DEAL, THE TERMS OF WHICH WERE NOT DISCLOSED, WILL SEE THE COMPANY, MOST FAMOUS FOR ITS AMAZING OUTERWEAR AND USE OF BRITISH FABRICS AND CLASSIC DESIGNS, UNITED WITH ANOTHER VENERABLE BRITISH FASHION HOUSE, JAEGER, WHICH TILLMAN ACQUIRED IN 2003. TILLMAN, WHO WORKED WITH BELINDA EARL, THE JAEGER CHIEF EXECUTIVE, TO SECURE AQUASCUTUM, ESTIMATES THE GLOBAL BRAND SALES OF THE TWO COMPANIES WILL TOTAL MORE THAN £300 MILLION. RENOWN, THE JAPANESE GROUP WHICH BOUGHT AQUASCUTUM FOR £77 MILLION IN 1990, LAUNCHED A REVIEW OF THE COMPANY EARLIER THIS YEAR, DUE MOSTLY TO THE PRESENT ECONOMIC RECESSION WHICH CAUSED THE GROUP TO EXPERIENCE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.
AQUASCUTUM'S BRITISH HERITAGE DATES BACK 158 YEARS. IN 1853, THE DESIGN HOUSE PRODUCED THE FIRST WATERPROOF WOOL WHICH WAS USED TO SUPPLY COATS FOR BRITISH ARMY OFFICERS SERVING IN THE CRIMEAN WAR. FAMOUS CUSTOMERS HAVE INCLUDED THE QUEEN MOTHER, BARONESS THATCHER, SOPHIA LOREN, HUMPHREY BOGART AND CARY GRANT. TILLMAN SAID: "WE ARE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO RETURN THIS GLOBAL LUXURY HERITAGE FASHION BRAND TO BRITISH OWNERSHIP. THE AQUASCUTUM BRAND HAS A STRONG POSITIONING IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA AND HAS SEEN SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN THE RECENT YEARS."