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Hugh Hefner in Holmby Hills, Estate of the Day

hugh hefnerIt's not the Playboy mansion but if you've ever wanted to live next door to the girls next door this is your chance. Hugh Hefner and wife Kimberley (yep, he's still technically married but they have been separated for ten years) have listed the home next door to the mansion. This is where Kimberley has raised their two children who are now in their late teens.

The seven-bedroom home is on a two-acre walled property that is also adjacent to the Los Angeles Country Club. The estate was built in 1929 and has expansive lawns and a pool. The listing doesn't offer a single interior picture (it's rather a stalker's view of the home) but the listing says there is a two-story entry, paneled study, family room and a master bedroom suite with a marble bath and a separate dressing room.

The Real Estalker reports
that the Hefners bought the home in 1996 for around $6.7 million from the estate of TV Guide heiress turned philanthropist Lita Annenberg. The question of why the Hefners are selling is up for debate. The party line per the LA Times Hot Property column is that the young Hefner boys are going off to college and the house is too big. But with all the stories of trouble in the Playboy empire and rumors of a potential sale it's likely Hefner has been told to lighten his financial load. The question is whether or not at $27.995 million there is anyone willing to snap up the ivy-covered mansion.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Continue reading Hugh Hefner in Holmby Hills, Estate of the Day

Patek Philippe And Art Deco Clocks And Watches At Patrizzi & Co Auction


Now that the season's big Antiquorum auction is over, Patrizzi & Co. are ready to offer a few more interesting lots in their auction on April 17 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Geneva Switzerland. The auction event titled "Watchmaking Masterpieces" will offer a modest volume of not so modest timepieces. Items include clocks, pocket watches, and wrist watches. Most of the offerings are rare Patek Philippe watches, while the entire collection seems to have an art deco theme.

Pictured above is a Boucheron art deco table clock from about 1921. The clock is in gold and black enamel on mostly rock crystal (very hard to cut). This piece is estimated to go for 80,000 - 100,000 Swiss Francs at auction. Other notable lots include a yellow gold Patek Philippe Ref. 5024 minute repeater from 1997 (estimated to go for 250,000 - 300,000 Swiss Francs), and a yellow gold Patek Philippe Ref. 2438-1 from 1953 (also estimated to go for 250,000 - 300,000 Swiss Francs). The auction results will be testament to the current strength of the watch collector market.

See the Patrizzi & Co Auction Press Release here.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Alfa Romeo Pumps up the MiTo with the GTA concept in Geneva



When Alfa Romeo launched the MiTo, it was clear the Italian automaker was serious about taking on the premium hatchback market in Europe, a realm until now dominated by BMW's Mini. But while the MiTo borrowed styling cues from its big brother, the 8C Competizione supercar, the small hatch lacked the performance to back up its looks. With the new MiTo GTA, Alfa looks poised to rectify the situation. Resurrecting the company's performance badge, the GTA packs a 230-horsepower turbocharged engine, packed into a compact aluminum and carbon-fiber body with attitude to spare. Although the car shown in Geneva was, strictly speaking, a concept car, Alfa says it will be putting it into production before the end of the year. In the meantime, why not have a look at the images in the gallery below.

Cigar Expo 2009 Tickets on Sale

famous smoke shop cigar expo

Tickets for Cigar Expo 2009 are now on sale. The event takes place on Saturday, June 27 – starting at 2 PM. If you pony up for a VIP ticket, you'll also get to attend a dinner with the cigar manufacturers the night before. So, if you're in Easton, PA and have $150 to burn ($225 for the VIP level), this is an event to check out.

Famous Smoke Shop, the operation behind the festivities, will celebrate its 70th anniversary this year – as guests are likely to notice. "We're going to give this year's attendees the royal treatment," said Famous Smoke Shop Retail Store manager, Tim Carr ... and he gives some pretty compelling examples. "Not only will every guest receive at least 50 cigars, but we'll have plenty of entertainment, waitress service, a cigar menu, fantastic food, and some amazing raffle prizes."

The list of vendors participating this year is long and distinguished, including Altadis, Avo, CAO, Camacho, Davidoff, Joya De Nicaragua, Rocky Patel and General Cigar – along with many others. There's a good chance you'll find something you'll like.

The New $8 Million Emivest SJ30 Jet

emivst
Emivest Aerospace is now taking orders for the SJ30 (above), billed the world's fastest, longest range and highest flying light jet. The $8 million SJ30 recently set a new world speed record from London to Dubai, doing the trip in just 7hr 7 min including a fuel stop in Istanbul. Emivest was founded late last year when the Emirates Investment and Development Company acquired an 80% interest in US-based Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation, named for aviation pioneer Ed Swearingen. The luxurious single-pilot certified six-seater can retain sea level cabin pressure at 41,000 ft., reducing jet lag, and can fly more than 2,800 miles nonstop at speeds of up to 630 mph.

Free Getaways For The Unemployed From Rabbit Hill Inn

rabbit hill inn
A bed and breakfast inn in Vermont is offering a little relief for the unemployed. Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford, Vermont will give away six getaways to unemployed workers; one each month from April through July and again in November and December. If you or a spouse has been unemployed for more than six months, you can send a letter or email to Rabbit Hill Inn by June 1and six winners will be chosen to win two nights lodging (Sunday through Thursday only), a gourmet dinner for two, candlelit breakfast each morning afternoon tea and a even a rabbit's foot for good luck.

Rabbit Hill Inn is a 19-room country inn with a double AAA Four Diamond rating for lodging and dining. ForbesTraveler.com has deemed it one of the ten most romantic inns in the country.

Paris To Get Tall Twin Towers

paris towers
I've mentioned the ambitious plans for the Paris skyline before. Now Foster + Partners is showing plans for a dramatic new addition. Two new towers, which will be part of a mixed-use development called Hermitage Plaza, are set to go up in the center La Defense area of Paris (thanks, Mike). They will be Western Europe's tallest mixed-use towers and will contain a luxury hotel, spa, apartments, offices and retail space. Construction won't start until next year and is expected to be finished in 2014.

The NY Times Corporate Jet Is For Sale

ny times building
The NY Times Co.'s annual proxy revealed an interesting detail, the company is selling its private jet. Cityfile shows that the company has been trying to sell the 1997 Dassault Falcon for close to two months. It costs $9.5 million and listing pics reveal a cozy cabin with gleaming wood and soft gray padded seats.

Bulgari to Cut Jobs & Close Stores as Profits Plummet


Famed Italian jeweler and luxury goods firm Bulgari plans to cut jobs, close stores and pare down its collections in the wake of a disastrous 45% drop in profits. The company, which was founded in 1884, has seen its watch business suffer badly in the economic downturn, with sales plunging 10.6%, Vogue UK reports. Accessories dropped 1.5% and jewelery, the company's core business, dropped 2.5%. On the plus side, perfume sales have increased by 12%, perhaps an indication that consumers see fragrance as a relatively affordable luxury. Sales in America and Europe were particularly poor, though the Middle East was up by 9%.

The company, a red carpet favorite of stars like Halle Berry, Keira Knightley and Kate Hudson, describes its jewelry as "pure luxury obtained by means of daring combinations, precious materials, purity of design and meticulous attention to detail." "[This year] will be a very difficult year," states Bulgari CEO Francesco Trapani, adding that future earnings are impossible to predict. "We don't feel able to give a number of any meaning because the situation is so very complicated." He is no doubt feeling somewhat overextended on the retail side with over 230 locations worldwide.

Monaco Offers Lower-Priced Getaways To Tempt Tourists

monaco
Tourism just about everywhere from Dubai to Las Vegas is hurting and now some places that have never had to deign to ask for your tourist dollars are throwing out the welcome mat. Bloomberg reports that the ultra-pricey small country of Monaco is offering travel packages costing around $500 to attract new visitors. Monaco is traditionally a vacation spot for some of the world's wealthiest people. But hotel bookings dropped eight percent in January and with the worldwide economic crisis affecting many deep-pocketed globetrotters the country wants to let people know it is open to more than just the rich. A new five-year marketing plan from Monaco's tourism board will get the message out that all are welcome in Monaco. The country still hopes that the well-heeled, especially those coming in on luxury cruises and yachts, will visit but right now anyone with cash is welcome. As my colleague Jared Paul Stern reported last year, Monaco has already shelved plans for a multibillion dollar land expansion into the Mediterranean which would have created more space for shops and apartments.

More Forbes Billionaire Coverage


As my colleague Jared Paul Stern noted, Forbes released their updated list of the world's billionaires this week. If you can't get enough of the lifestyles of the still rich and sometimes famous Forbes has more for you.

How much does it take to live large in the world's top cities like New York City, London and Moscow? Forbes breaks down the cost of fine dining, culture, lodging and more.

You will probably be hearing a lot about them in the next year, consider this list of the top 50 billionaires a field guide to wealth.

Most billionaires lost money last year but some saw their fortunes increase. Forbes rounds up the lucky few.

And after the jump, the story of one billionaire, Cirque du Soleil's Guy Laliberte who believes that if you have it, you don't need to flaunt it.

Continue reading More Forbes Billionaire Coverage

Will Boston's Hancock Tower Be Sold At Auction?

hancock towerOne of Boston's most recognizable buildings, the John Hancock tower is in deep financial trouble. The 60-story glass tower is scheduled to be sold in a foreclosure auction on March 31. The Boston Herald reports that the current owner, Broadway Partners, may file bankruptcy before then. The company bought the tower in 2006 for $1.3 billion hoping that rents in the office tower would provide income. However the economy's quick descent and the erosion of rental prices in Boston are making that purchase look like a bad investment. It is now projected that the tower is worth just $800 million. A spokesman for Broadway Partners has only said the the company continues to negotiate and hopes that "something positive will take place before the auction."

Las Vegas Mogul Searches For The Most Boring City

sheldon adelson
Las Vegas Sands head Sheldon Adelson has a new mission, to find America's most boring city. His move is a response to President Obama's criticisms of companies getting bailouts spending money on activities including trips to Las Vegas. Adeslon has vowed to conduct a survey and provide a prize for people who will submit the name of the worst city in the country to go to, where people will enjoy it the least. As he sees it, that's the very opposite of Las Vegas, a place where everyone goes for a good time. Adelson might want to start his search with this list which gives top honors to Chula Vista, California.

Zooey Deschanel Glasses, for Oliver Peoples


Actress Zooey Deschanel joins the ranks of celebrity designers with a contribution to the Oliver Peoples line of eyewear. Available in five colors, as optical eyewear or a sunglass, the "Zooey" is hand-crafted of plastic in beveled contours and features a vintage-inspired, custom Oliver Peoples metal plaque with ridged detailing at the end pieces. The CR-39 lenses are equipped with a one-of-a-kind breath logo in the shape of Deschanel's kissing lips, an element also featured on the cocktail napkin-esque AR cloth included. Available for presale online through March 15 and expected to hit stores in April; $415.

Pashmy New Shopping Grande, Handbag of the Day

tods pashmy
A big bag for big shoppers, or at least those who like to carry a lot with them when they shop and run other errands. It's the Pashmy New Shopping Grande by Tod's. Neoprene in black or white makes for slick ruffles and structured pockets with zippers galore, and plenty of compartments for stashing all your goodies and necessities. Features include gold hardware, rolled leather handles and leather zipper pulls, and colorful logo charms (red on the white version and bright blue on the black). $1,325

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