Years ago, Chef Madelyn in Big Bear Lake offered a $99 peanut butter and jelly sandwich picnic–paired with a bottle of Dom Perignon. It was a relative bargain, considering cost of the wine. It also caused more than a few chuckles among pilots who flew in and out of the little Big Bear Airport, where her restaurant was located. In London, though, BBC TV chef Martin Blunos has crafted a…
How About a Free MIT Education?
by Roberta Murphy Sometimes we stumble across unexpected treasures, including articles written a couple of years ago. This one is too rich not to share again: A Free MIT Education. Thanks to a web-based electronic publishing initiative, this incredible opportunity from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is being generously funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and MIT with support of the Ab Initio…
Wine Barrel Flooring: The Luxury of Recycling
by Roberta Murphy Most of us appreciate the earthy luxury of a true wine cellar and also see the value of repurposed materials emerging as elements in our homes. But how about a slice from the best of both worlds and have rich wood flooring crafted from old California wine barrels? I’ve seen serving trays and other novelties emerge from wine barrel tops, but hardwood flooring from the actual wine…
Adieu to McMansions?
by Roberta Murphy A couple of years ago we were buzzing about the possibility of Slumburbias–where Baby Boomers were abandoning cul de sacs, suburbs and the McMansions battled for a decade ago. Instead, they wanted something smaller, something in a walkable neighborhood, something that didn’t require 100 square feet devoted to lawn mowers, clippers and tools. They still long for the freedom to lock and go, the freedom to travel,…
Seeking New Orleans Bed and Breakfast or Inn
by Roberta Murphy We are making reservations now to attend the National Association of Realtors NAR NARDIGRAS, which will logically be held in New Orleans, November 4 through November 8. We are arriving a couple of days early to attend a two day Cyberprofessional meeting and will spend the balance of our time in unspecified meetings–but will additionally be taking photos and reviewing lodging, restaurants and local “catches.” Time will…
The Luxury of….Schools in Afghanistan
Luxury properties and lifestyles are of interest for many of us, but there are times when necessities are the greatest and most compelling luxury of all. And the kids in Afghanistan desperately need our help. Many schools throughout the country have been destroyed and teachers have been executed–resulting in a literacy rate that is one of the lowest in the world. Some American soldiers, cooperating with locals, are assisting in…
Most Expensive Cities in the World
by Roberta Murphy It’s interesting to study living costs in the most expensive cities in the world–at least as tabulated for 2009. According to Mercers, who tabulate these statistics for expatriate living, the 10 most expensive cities (based on housing, food, entertainment, clothing and transportation) are: 1. Tokyo 2. Osaka 3. Moscow 4. Geneva 5. Hong Kong 6. Zurich 7. Copenhagen 8. New York 9. Beijing 10. Singapore Mercer’s, in…
The Luxury of Speculation
The luxury of speculation is that it allows us to wonder and gossip about Wall Street and tech world takeovers–and covet the fortunes being made.
Louis Vuitton Tops Luxury Brands–Followed by Hermes, Gucci
Bloomberg reports that Louis Vuitton, with its monogrammed bags and luggage, handily outranks its luxury brand competitors for the fifth straight year. With a reported value of $19.8 billion, Vuitton ranks 29th worldwide for all industries–and more than twice the combined value of Hermes and Gucci combined. Even though the luxury sector of the market has experienced an overall decline of 3 percent in value, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Gucci and…
Sometimes a Luxury Home Just…Isn’t
Oh Dear… Yesterday, good friend and Sacramento real estate broker Gena Riede declined to take a $2 million listing in Whitney Oaks–located in Rocklin, just outside Sacramento. The home has magnificent views, is in a fine golf course neighborhood, and offers over 7000 square feet of potential living area. This was a listing appointment that Gena had prepared for in detail. She had reserved space here for an article about…
