ON THE ROAD
BMW introduces the “ultimate entertainment package,” featuring Sirius Satellite Radio, HD Radio, and a fully integrated BMW iPod adapter. Yes, total tune control, but you still don’t want to get stuck in traffic. www.bmwusa.com
ON THE ROAD, AGAIN
Van Horssen Group combines the concepts of fractional ownership, a private club experience, and luxury auto-motoring to create a car country club. The membership-based program provides access to a variety of luxurious automobiles (such as Aston Martin, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Ferrari) anywhere in the world. Year-end goal: fleet of 160 autos and facilities in 10 of the largest metropolitan areas. www.vanhorssengroup.com
LAST PARADISE
The newly renovated nine-suite Capella Lodge brings a touch of luxury to Australia’s Lord Howe Island, where visitors are limited along with the speed limit. The transformation of the lodge includes a new premium suite with a plunge spa, contemporary Pacific cuisine, and the Capella Spa. Lord Howe, located about a two-hour flight from Sydney or Brisbane, has World Heritage listing for its rare collection of plants, birds, marine life, and exceptional beauty. www.lordhoweisland.info
FASHION & FIBER
Moseau, which touts that its bamboo fiber clothing is an alternative to synthetic performance wear, has expanded from basic polos to fancy polos, mock shirts, button-down polos, and socks. Bamboo fiber is silky soft, cool, breathable, antibacterial, hypoallergenic, biodegradable, and has natural UV protection. www.moseau.com
AT HOME
The new Maison collection by Ethan Allen is inspired by the French provincial designs that were created during the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI. The generous lines and ornate carvings of this rococo style have been tempered by silhouettes that are both beautiful and functional, such as this Bombé chest. www.ethanallen.com
LIFESTYLE UPDATE
• The PGA Tour now has its own wine labels. The PGA Tour wine program includes three flights: Players Cellars, Champions Select, and Commissioner’s Private Reserve. Working with small to medium-sized California wineries, the collection ultimately will include 16 wines at various price points. www.tourwines.com
• The Web site www.Yogi2Go.com offers professionally recorded yoga classes that can be downloaded to an iPod, computer, MP3 player, or mobile phone.
• Perdomo and a division of Perry Ellis are jointly marketing “Cubanesque” shirts known as guayaberas. The loose-fitting, pleated shirts — iconic symbols of Cuban culture — are available at select U.S. tobacconists. www.perdomocigars.com
CRUISING FOR THE CONNOISSEUR
To experience France’s tranquil canals and rivers, step aboard Afloat in France’s péniche-hôtel and discover the landscapes celebrated by Cezanne and Van Gogh as you travel through the Rhone Valley, Saône, and Provence. Part of the travel family of Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises. www.orient-express.com/web/taif/taif_a2a_home.jsp
HEAVYWEIGHT
The Heavy Putter from Boccieri Golf features an innovative weight technology that combines an increased head mass and a 250-gram weight installed in the grip end of the putter to produce a balance point. The new Matte Series head is finished in dark gray and is combined with a satin-colored shaft and Winn midsize grip. www.heavyputter.com
PRETTY IN PINK
Brighton Accessories unveils a new pink collection of luggage especially for women. Each piece is accented with fine Italian croco-embossed leather trim. The signature piece in the collection is the Wheeled Carry-on, which has two detachable fabric pouches that can hold travel essentials or double as a handbag. www.brighton.com
RETAIL THERAPY
Designed exclusively for Boulder, Colorado, “Twenty Ninth Street” is slated to be a signature outdoor retail development when it opens this fall. The 62-acre, lifestyle district will have a collection of retail, entertainment, and dining offerings in a beautiful, open-air environment. www.twentyninth.com
TRAVEL NOTES
• Check out www.visitlondon.com/luxury, an online luxury city guide for London.
• The city of Madrid introduces the “Madrid Card for Kids” to enhance family visits in the Spanish capital. www.spain.info
• The Fairbanks 2006 Official Visitors Guide, a 92-page, full-color brochure, is available for free to introduce travelers to Alaskan adventures. Order at www.explorefairbanks.com.
• Access America Classic provides travel insurance for lost, damaged, and delayed baggage, as well as other protection. www.accessamerica.com
• The Web site www.seatscorecard.com locates the best and worst seats on your next flight.
CARRY ON
West Coast Trends introduces the Piggy Back II airline carry-on as a companion to its popular Club Glove golf travel bag. The piece has a section that converts to a day/backpack and comes in 12 colors. Custom embroidery is available. www.clubglove.com
RETURN TO ROMANCE
Just past its one-year anniversary, the Britt Scripps Inn in San Diego has designed a “romance package” to sweep couples off their feet. Available through Nov. 30, the package includes a host of amenities in keeping with the nine-room Inn’s focus on personalized experiences. The Old Globe Theatre and Balboa Park are nearby. www.brittscripps.com
BOOKSHELF
• The Paris Shopping Companion: A Personal Guide to Shopping in Paris for Every Pocketbook by Susan Swire Winkler with Caroline Lesieur. Here’s all you need to hit the streets of one of the world’s most popular shopping destinations. This fourth edition is a major revision with an easy-to-follow organization.
• Play Golf Forever: Treating Low Back Pain & Improving Your Golf Swing Through Fitness by Michael Jaffe, D.O., with Brian Tarcy and Ron Brizzie, D.O. Jaffe says that most people who quit golf because of lower back pain could keep playing if they “understood the power they possess to strengthen their own back.”
• The Gourmet Potluck by Beth Hensperger. The author, a food writer and caterer, offers creative choices for easy-to-prepare, homemade dishes that have wide appeal, can transport well, and serve anywhere from eight to 36 people.