The Biker Baroness: Scooter Chauffeur: London

We have recently been made aware of the latest accessory for any well-scheduled power broker, a scooter chauffeur. Apparently there is an impeccably dressed high-powered baroness, heiress, or mistress (it remains unclear) who speeds around London on the back of her chauffeur driver scooter. Bypassing the soul crushing traffic of Central London, this fantastic creature zips through London with ease enroute to her latest kickboxing match, high calibre lunch, or to a discreet rendez-vous to stick her red soled Christian Louboutin in the face of her latest conquest. We are incredibly intrigued about this intel and if anyone has any information or photos of this goddess we will reward you handsomely if you put us in touch with her.

In related scooter chauffeur news, we have discovered that Virgin Limo bikes continues to operate is plane to champagne service from Heathrow into Central London. How you hang onto the scooter with Ambien induced jetlag as you criss-cross the A4 morning traffic we have no idea.
+Virgin LimoBike.

Cocaine Kate: London: Map

Bored with hungover dashes through immigration checkpoints, smokey afterhours orgies, and champagne showers -- all to find you the latest and greatest we discovered a very cool interactive map of Clerkenwell, East London from the trendy Zetter hotel. For those of you unfamiliar, the Clerkenwell-Smithfield Market area of London is a bit like the Meatpacking district in NYC 10 years ago but with more edgy crack addicts and less transexual hookers.
+Zetter, St John’s Square, 86-88 Clerkenwell Road, London. +44 (0)20 7324 4444.
+Former favoured haunt of : Kate Moss: W4: Cocaine Wife Swapping Orgies Back in Vanity.
+Fabric.
+Track: Retro: Hot Spot, Foxy Brown [itunes]
+Earlier on W4: Swinging London: Killing Kittens.
+Who, What, When, Where - We Don't ask Why. Read the latest from W4.

Booze Island Reports: Free Beer and Weeds

Only on Booze Island can you get a free beer while watching a show called Weeds. We can only imagine what freebies are on tap with Nip/Tuck and Sex and the City.
+Coors.
+Weeds, Sky One.
+Previous W4: Swinging London: Killing Kittens.

Wheels Up: GSM Roaming: Global

With the holiday travel season fast approaching you may be dealing with the tedious task of figuring out which plug adapters you need to take to French West Indies or maybe your trying to read the fine print on your digital camera to see if it is duel voltage. Most likely though you are concerned with sorting out if your mobile phone will work especially if you are going to the remote jungles of Cambodia or Bhutan because who knows when you may need to call for an airlift from the Tonle Sap when pirates descend on your boat. To find out where exactly your mobile will or will not work, the GSM association, the global consortium of GSM operators, have created a comprehensive website. The site details country by country which providers are operating, on what frequency bands, and with which companies they have roaming agreements, as well as maps of their coverage areas. Connected indeed.
+GSM World, Coverage Maps and Roaming Information.
+GSM World, GSM World Coverage Map [pdf].
+Classic Track: Stereo MCs, Connected [itunes]

The Bubbles of Parigi: Paris

Meanwhile across the pond in Paris, French luxury brand Hermes continues its quest for leather-bound world domination. Pierre Cynic reports:
"Uncontent with having its flagship store pillaged daily by throngs of label thirsty Japanese tourists, Hermes has embarked on a new marketing strategy to attract the now booming over indulged children's market. The company has installed three bubble machines high atop its amber lit window sill. Yes, bubble machines.
Every few minutes these bubble machines set off on their quest to fill the entire rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore with these magic bubbles. Children then proceed to run and jump through the streets begging their parents for the latest My Little Hermes Pony which is skillful placed in the store window. Over coiffed women seek refugee in the boutique lest the airborne designer froth tarnish their well painted faces. You have to hand it to the French they do have un peu d'imaginiation."
+Hermes, 24, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, Paris.
+Hipster Girls Pout: Le Baron, Avenue Marceau, Paris.
+Sexy Girls Dance: Neo, rue Ponthieu, Paris.
+Post 5am: Pink Paradise, rue Ponthieu, Paris.
+Tune: Rain Falls Down, Rolling Stones. Itunes.

Foodies Delight: Bellavitae: NYC

We here at W4 don't often get excited about restaurants for their food, but rather for the dancing girls, methusalems of Cristal, and hidden bathroom drug compartments. Well, Bellavitae is an exception to our rule. Tucked away on Minetta Lane, far enough away from pesky NYU students and yuppies on a budget lies this lovely Tuscan winebar. Simple decor, simple not attractive but non-offensive crowd (youngsters on dates and foodie types), and amazing wines and cuisine. All dishes are made to share, which usually we find irritating, but the Italian version of tapas is quite generous. Our menu consisted of fried risotto balls with gorgonzola and pistachio (which our waiter assured us was too small to even consider a real dish--liked his style), crostone with baked taleggio and mostarda di cremona, Sicilian-style cauliflower with pinoli and currants, a wood-oven baked mozzarella with erbe picanti, a plate of garganelli pasta with bolognese ragu, a sliced steak with salsa verde, and a vanilla gelato affogato for dessert. Truly an amazing meal and we haven't even discussed the wine. Bellavitae has an impressive book of some of the finest and rarest Italian wines we'd ever seen, especially for such an unassuming restaurant. We chose the 2001 Fonterutoli Siepi-a wine we've been searching far and wide for since it received a strong recommendation from the esteemed Commandatore Sapere di Bologna. The wine like the meal did not disappoint--thank you Commandatore! After this dinner, suprisingly we were so drunk on food and great wine that bad behavior seemed unnecessary, and we realized that that's okay too--just kidding!
+Bellavitae, 24 Minetta Lane, New York, +1 212 473 5121.

Sheiks on Skis: Dubai Hits the Slopes

Today marks the opening of the largest skidome in the world. In where else, Dubai. While you may have flown hours to sit on the sundrenched beaches of Dubai now you can swim and ski your way through this duty free emporium all in the same day. I wouldn't hold out for a rockin' apres ski though unless of course you can find the elusive ladies know as the 'Dubai Duo'..
+'Snow comes the the Deserts of Dubai', BBC News, 2 December.

Drink Finder: Mapping: Google Earth

You may be aware of the Google Earth program which maps the globe (or most of the desirable parts anyway) using satellite imagery. Besides helping you find your next real estate plot without having to charter some dodgy prop plane to do a fly over, the program also can be used as a helpful cocktail finder. If you click on the bars/clubs overlay for any U.S. city it will show you on the map where the nearest waterhole is. And if your efforts at the bar prove successful you will want to make sure and download the Earthbooker.com hotel overlay which has 80,000 hotels around the globe in its database. Map your way to a good night out.
+Google Earth, invading your privacy now.
+Earthbooker.com overlay file for Google Earth.

Trunks: Vilebrequin VIP Collection

Not that swimming should be a focal point in anyone's life, but you do need to look smart when doing so. For many years, Vilebrequin has been the swimwear of choice for the Euro jetset, but over time the token bankers and outer-boroughers got wind of these spiffy trunks and ruined the gig for the rest of us. How do you one-up the stooges in this fast-paced waterproof world? The Vilebrequin VIP Collection. This is a limited edition collection of suits equipped with sterling silver fittings and designed with unique patterns that the commoners cannot find. Each pattern is numbered of an output of 250 worldwide. Our favorites of the VIPs are the even harder-to-find prints with black backgrounds (Boris recently purchased orange giraffes, beige elephants, and palm trees on black). However, we must warn you that the silver toggles attract barracudas (we wish we were kidding) so no swimming in Florida with these puppies. Regardless, you can never look too chic when wet, whether you're swimming in the ocean in St. Trop or in a champagne bath in a Moscow brothel.
+Vilebrequin.
+Previous W4 Trunks: Hobbs the Only Name Worth Knowing.

Swinging London: Killing Kittens

W4 has been on top of the late night swinging scenes fast moving across the globe for months now. With our correspondent Boris reporting from Paris and New York we have kept you abreast of the latest late night champagne fueled friskiness.

Here at HQ we are excited to learn that swinging has reached the capital city of Booze Island, London. On December 8th, Killing Kittens, a female run, high society cabal are throwing their Christmas party at a secure top secret West End venue. Billed as all about 'exploration, experimentation, sensuality and pure hedonism' they prefer the term 'liberated' to the term swinging. And in order to ensure the highest quality of participants only couples and single women are allowed to apply - with prerequisite photo. The group is just starting to get some press attention from glossy magazines so we suggest getting to one of their parties sooner rather than later. Aparently London didn't just swing in the 60's.
+Killing Kittens, 8 December, London.
+Previous W4: Swinging is All the Rage: Booze Island.
+Previous W4: Boris: Paris: Swinging is All the Rage.

Radio Mockba Reports: Berlin: Hipster Eyes Bleed

Radio Mockba, formerly known as Stardust, and visually known as a hipster model/temptress, sends us this dispatch from Berlin:
"Check out clubs berghain, its the new place thats quite good. The high end crowd hangs out at Felix. It is best on weekends. Otherwise after party (starts 8 am) is in the hut in volkspark (east Berlin) good time - eyes bleed. For diversions be sure and hit up Dr. Pong for some ping pong on eberswalder strasse. White trash is always great (some guy stood up and drank his own piss last time I was there). To eat monsieur vong for good Vietnamese lunch on alte schonhauser (by hackescher markt) good there shopping too. A new hotel opened up called hotel Q it has a beach in the basement. Worth checking out. There or the Adlon but that's more where parental types stay."
+berghain, Berlin.
+Felix, Behrenstraße 72, Adlon Palais, Berlin.
+Volkspark, map.
+Dr. Pong, Eberswalder Strasse 21, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin.
+White Trash, Torstr, Berlin
+Monsieur Vong, Indochina Café, Alte Schönhauser Str, Berlin-Mitte. No reservations.
+Hotel Q!, Knesebeckstrasse 67, Berlin.
+Hotel Adlon, Unter den Linden 7710117 Berlin.

W4 Viewers Just Want Russian Women

Our I.T. Intelligence Unit reports that W4 readers come to our site for mainly two things:
1 - You are in Kazakhstan and looking for a 'russian whorehouse'.


2 - You are in New York City and looking for 'au bar prostitutes'


Which leads us to think - is everyone in the world just looking for a Russian whore?

We're happy we've been able to help all our badly behaved comrades.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-The W4 Team

+Au bar, 41 E 58th St, New York, +1 212 308 9455.
+Kazakhstan: Borat: Ali G [Borat Homepage].
+Thirsty: Drink: Russian Standard Vodka.

Black Thursday: Thanksgiving and Open Bar

Choose your poison. On Thursday, America celebrates Thanksgiving with turkey, stuffing, and a more than a few awkward moments between estranged family members suck around the dinner table. Across the pond on Booze Island, the world’s biggest bar keeps the party rolling by scraping decades old prohibition era drinking laws and allowing bars and clubs to stay open 24 hours a day.

Next week: British productivity drops dramatically and Mom develops a nasty martini and valium habit after grandpa tells her she never was his favourite and calls the doorman a darkie.
+UK: Kensington and Chelsea: Licensing Register Search.
+UK: Westminster: Licensing Register Search.
+NBC News: 24-Hour Pubs [video].

Snow Threads: Mountain: Paul Smith Mark XIII

Normally we think of Paul Smith threads with their bright colors as a bit too British dandy. We have been pleasantly surprised by their recent collaboration with snowboard maker Burton to create this durable one off pin striped snowboard suit, the Mark XIII. The suit brings classic Smith style backed with Burton’s off piste edge to the slopes. Match this with a ski bunny in a skin tight Bogner suit and head for the hills.
+Mark XIII, $1,500, available at Saks Fifth Avenue in the US and Paul Smith, Westbourne House, 122 Kensington Park Rd, London, +44 20 7727 3553.
+Bogner.
+Ski: Austria: Ischgl.

De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté: France: Movies

De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté (The Beat My Heart Skipped) is a fascinating, edgy movie that exposes a grittier side to Paris than our correspondents could tolerate. Complete with Russian mobsters, concert pianists, adultry, drugs, violence and even some immigrant evicting, the movie reveals a darker corner of the city of light. A brief synopsis from BBCi:

"The Beat That My Heart Skipped stars Romain Duris as Tom, a thuggish loner in thrall to a delinquent father but fast becoming his carer. He seems doomed to walk in his dad's footsteps until a figure from his past, the former manager of his concert pianist mother, offers Tom the chance to audition . . . But drifting away from the mean, brutal world he inhabits is not simple. Though he feels the pull of the piano, an instrument that rekindles a bond with his late mother and exposes a gentleness he'd forgotten he had, he cannot easily escape his reality. No sooner does he make a breakthrough with his attractive female piano tutor than he is drawn into his father's violent business feuds. "

As well, the soundtrack, which won an award at the Berlin Film Festival is one of the best in recent memory and is full of euro-electro tracks and vibrating guitar rifts.
+US Release: DVD: Beat My Heart Skipped [amazon].
+UK: London: Showtimes: The Beat My Heart Skipped.

Digi Shack: Wired Store: New York

Just in time for the holiday rush, Wired Magazine is opening a temporary Wired Store at 160 Wooster Street in New York from November 18th to December 24th. The store will feature all the latest electronic gizmos and will be stocked with silicon loving nerds eager to touch the latest buttons. A highlight of this temporary digi shack is its' Saturday and Sunday 'Wired Wheels' service. If you purchase anything from the store during the weekend you are offered complimentary shuttle service to your next destination courtesy of VW. But for those of you that cannot bear the thought of human interaction or drastic markups never fear they also have a website so you can remain locked in your room with your computer and your lonely self.
+The Wired Store, 18 November to 24 December, 160 Wooster Street, New York.
+Nerd Fantasy Movie: Weird Science.
+Revenge of the Nerds characters: Booger or Poindexter?
+Tech Biz: Book: The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture [amazon].

Nikki Reeks: Boris: New York: Nightlife

Boris sends us this dispatch from NYC:
"After I'd reconfirmed that fun downtown nightlife on the weekends is a sad joke, I spent the remainder of my Friday thru Sunday wandering Midtown and the Upper East and found plenty of of the action I was looking for. The nights consisted of (minus my more sordid activities): a delicious dinner at the horribly 80's Shun Lee Palace (across from which there is some sort of terrorist sleeper cell--I witnessed all sorts of strange goings on during a cigarette break), doing shots with the bartender and ladies and gents of the night at the bar at Fizz, Observing the strange Euro mating behavior in the back room at Frederick's, then ending up 10 sheets to the wind for an unnecessary nightcap at Bar & Books. On Sunday evening, with my body feeling terribly bruised and battered, I took a nap and continued on. My mission on Sunday night was to see what I thought of the new Nikki Beach in midtown. As Nikki Beach has expanded relatively successfully from its Miami origin to St. Tropez, Marbella, and I believe Sardinia, I thought an outpost in La Gran Manzana could be a good thing. How wrong I was! While the white bed/tiki bar decor is very similar to their other locales and they do have an intriguing booze skybox upstairs, the crowd is terrible. What crowd there was looked like a pool of Midwestern vomit--horrible cheap clothing, strange haircuts that all looked like toupees, and these sunken Lenny eyes. Anyway, whoever Nikki is he has no reason to be proud of this baby. I departed after one drink (decent pour) and resigned myself to Green Label on the rocks at B&B where the crew still smokes, drink like fish, and white Russians are everywhere (professionals not the bevis, don't insult me). Not a weekend for the weak in the stomach or liver--remember I'm invincible."

Boris Loves You

+Nikki Beach.
+Music: London Chill Out: Beatles Regrooved [itunes]
+Shun Lee Palace, 155 E 55th St, New York, +1 212 371 8844.
+Lexington Bar and Books, 1020 Lexington Ave, New York, +1 212 717 3902.
+Related W4: Fizz and Cips.
+Related W4: PR Girls Report: Our Cocktail of the Week.

Playlist: November: Booze Island Vol. 1

Night is Day: Winter Suggestions
Fischerspooner: Never Win
White Stripes: My Doorbell
Flatpack: Sweet Child of Mine (Mylo Remix)
Bloc Party: Banquet
One Block Radius: Black Mercedes
Rogue Wave: Love's Lost Guarantee

Booze Island (UK) Releases
Goldfrapp: Ooh La La
Goldfrapp: Number 1
Rachel Stevens: I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)
Cardigans: Super Extra Gravity

Back When..

SpaceHog: In the Meantime

Late Night Lovin'

The Turtles: You Showed Me

+Staff Photo: Location: Chateau Marmont, Hollywood.

Tablet Goes Super: Mapping: Global

Tablet Hotels, one of our favorite hotel agents for top tier unique hotels, has teamed up with previously mentioned Superfuture maps to create new map based navigation for their site. So far they have created guides for the following cities: New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris, and Tokyo. Besides giving you city map with all of the recommended hotels plotted on it, each city guide features suggested highlights broken down by Look, Taste, Listen, Touch, and Scent with amusing annotations such as 'Seedy Soho' and 'Upscale dog shampoo'. Bien Sur!
+Tablet Hotels.
+W4: Super Friday Future: Mapping: Global.

Paris Ablaze: Jaded Models Unaffected

While parts of Paris and France smolder after 11th straight nights of rioting, Barbarian at the Ritz reports from la coeur de la Republic, le 1ème, where little changes – models are still drinking champagne and partying:

"Check out Cantine. Unbelevably hip, all black, models (male and female) best kisses in every movie ever made screened on the wall, "in" food."

+Cantine Du Faubourg, 105 rue du fbg St-Honore 8 Paris, +33 1 4256 2222.
+Le Figaro: Plus de 1.400 véhicules incendiés et 395 personnes interpellées, 7 November 2005.
+NY Times: For Tourists, a Calmer Paris, 7 November 2005.
+Previous W4: Paris: Swinging is all the Rage.
+Previous W4: Hunter S. Texas: Putting on The Ritz.

Cocaine Wife-Swapping Orgies Back in Vanity

+Evening Standard: Comeback of Coaine Kate, 1 Nov 2005.
+Also: W Magazine: Kate Moss Cover, November 2005.

Greener Pastures: Salads

Sometimes a top flight meal at a Michelin rated restaurant isn't worth the hassle. Instead, a quick lunchtime on the go salad is what is needed. In search of greener pastures, we contacted our roving band of epicureans who were deep into some vintage decanted wine at the most out of the way place in the back streets of Puglia to find out where the top salads lie. Of course, their tastebuds couldn't resist tempting their wallets into some higher price brackets so here is blended mix of where to get your greens.

US
+Europa, make your own salad, 599 Lexington Avenue, +1 212 755 6622.
+Chop't, make your own salad, Downtown: 24 E 17th St, Midtown: 60 E 56th St, New York.
+BLT Prime, spinach salad with maytag blue cheese and bacon, 111 E. 22nd St, New York.
+Garden of Eden, Garden of Eden, 7 E 14th St.
+Ivy, 113 N Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles.
+RL, 115 East Chicago Ave, Chicago.
+Tilli's, 1932 North Halsted, Chicago.
+DiBruno Brothers, italian market with"take away" meals upstairs, Rittenhouse Square, 1730 Chestnut, Philadelphia.

Europe
+Pizza Express, Polo Chicken Salad, Canary Wharf and various locations, London and UK.
+Zizzi, Insalata di Pollo, Fuhlam Road and various locations, London and UK.
+Claridge's Hotel Room Service, Ceasar Salad, 51 Brook St, London.
+Neal's Yard Salad Bar, 2 Neal's Yard, London.
+Club 55, Pampelone Salad, St. Tropez.

Additional suggestions can be emailed to us at W4unlisted@gmail.com. Specifically we are searching for the top Frisee salad around.

Departures.com Takes Flight: AMEX

Fans of American Express' Departures magazine for Platinum and Centurion card holders take note - the monthly tome of high flying has gone online at Departures.com.
To access the site your card number is required but once inside the site features all of the familiar sections - Travel, The Epicurean, Black Book, Moneyed Interests and Worldly Goods. The smart folks at AMEX have also started a monthly email list called World Wise. While the site is a good first step, we can only hope they take it one step further in the future as most of their clientele hops time zones too fast to track down the paperback copy of the magazine.
+American Express: Departures.com, taking off now.

Suncrawler Reports: Rays from LA

Suncrawler shoots us some rays from LA:
Joan's on Third remains the best place to stop by for a quick lunch complete with magnolia bakery level cupcakes, a top of the line chicken with chipotle mayonnaise sandwich and always more than a few lanky model/actress/industry types.

Down the street, the French run Little Door is worth all of the ink it receives for its understated garden oasis. Fun for a date or with a group, the restaurant also has an extensive selection of wines by the glass. The international crowd is also a plus.

If you are hustled into stopping by the Brent Bolthouse Wednesday night party at LAX definitely don't go for the in flight music. The club's layout and design itself isn't bad. Modern, much bigger than you would hope with some decent tables inside (ask for the black ones towards the center of the room or better yet a hidden outside cabana where you can draw the curtains and really misbehave). The much hyped DJ AM needs to learn to start DJ-ing in the PM as he hasn't learned to play much more than top 40 hip hop and crap remixes of top 40 hip hop. PM to AM: Don't be afraid to throw in some 80's rock or Eurotrash, Ashley Olsen who was dancing there on a recent evening doesn't seem to care.

The burlesque dancers at Forty Deuce (the LA branch more than the Vegas outpost) continue to amaze. Great spot to stop off for a few or more drinks on your way out. And plus people there actually drink, dance and have fun - a rarity for schmooze-no-booze city. Note: last show in LA seems to be at 12:45a whereas in Vegas its 2:45a.

Avoid a place called The Cabanas at all cost. This place is nothing more than an outdoor parking lot they have turned into a crap bar with South Central Latino gangsters or the Hollywood wanna be gangster types who secretly have agents and a pedicurist. Although it should be noted that they have some decent staff who politely inform New Yorkers that the club closes at 2am - so are you sure you want another drink? Yes, naturally we replied. Unfortunately no matter how strong the drink the club was still a disaster.

For lodging, Chateau Marmont remains the gold standard. They will basically let you do just about anything you want and will even fold up your bathing suit the next morning when you have inadvertently left it by the pool the night before. Of course, they will also be quite gruff to you when asking for any type of service but we all like a little attitude here and there.

Idle Time: Drive up the PCH to Malibu. Stop off for a sandwich at the Malibu Kitchen & Gourmet Country Market on Cross Creek Road. Then head up off the PCH and into the hills. The Mulholland Highway is a great spot to take a drive. It takes you through the backside of Malibu hills and the down through the hippie commune of Topanga. On weekends the road is littered with of Easy Rider flashbacks.

Time can also be passed by renting a bike on the beach in Santa Monica and riding south down through Venice Beach. If that requires too much physical excursion stop by Shutters On The Beach for an Arnold Palmer.
+Joan's on Third, 8350 W 3rd St, Los Angeles +1 323 655 2285.
+Little Door, 8164 W 3rd St, Los Angeles +1 323 951 1210.
+LAX, 1714 N Las Palmas Ave, Los Angeles, +1 323 464-0171.
+Cabana Club, 1439 Ivar Ave, Hollywood, +1 323 463 0005.
+Forty Deuce, 5574 Melrose Ave, +1 323 465 4242.
+Chateau Marmont, 8221 West Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, +1 800 CHATEAU.
+Malibu Kitchen & Gourmet Country Market, 3900 Crossing Creek Road, +1 310 456 7845.
+Shutters On The Beach, One Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, +1 800 745 8883.
+Arnold Palmer [recipe].
+W4: Suncrawler Reports: Pace in LA.
+W4: Rok on RokBar LA?
+W4: Grazing With The Industry Cattle: LA: Buffalo Club.

Rich Hippies Make Better Sandwiches

Suncrawler dispatches from the Rockies:
Sometimes when you find yourself up at 8,750 feet above sea level deep in heart of the Rockies and two mind bending Cadillac margaritas into it you crave a bit of grub. Thankfully the rich hippies of Telluride can provide you with some of the best sandwiches you're gonna find in this former mining town turned G-V digging winter ski resort. Located down a side alley off of main street the so stoned they don't even have the music on trustafarians of the Brown Bag make up custom gourmet sandwiches and salads with a goofy smile. Charcoal grilled chicken, some smoke-dried tomatoes, a bit of avocado and some finely cooked bacon and your ready to go. Or you can enjoy the any of the custom salads and sushi they have on offer. Needless to say whatever you cravings they Brown Bag holds a good stash.
+Brown Bag Telluride, 126 W Colorado Ave, Telluride +1 970 728 5556.
+Rich Hippies Also Kick Bread At: Johnny McGuire's Deli, 730 East Cooper Ave, Aspen, CO +1 970 920 9255.
+Fun Airport Landing: Telluride Airport.

Birds Fly South: Highball Heads to Palm Beach

Highball heads south:

"October is the month of dropping temperatures and the annual Palm Beach migration. As our cashmere sweaters and sheared furs come out of storage for us east coast residents, its time to pack our forward calendars full of warm weather escapes and our obligatory Palm Beach retreats to see friends and family. Whether you winter or weekend in Palm Beach, here are a couple choice spots this season to grab a cocktail after a laborious day on your yacht:

Cucina Dell’Arte, trendy italian spot to late night people watch.
+257 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach +1561 655 0770.


Leopard Lounge, located in the Chesterfield Hotel, good spot for dancing if you don’t mind mingling the occasional jetset of yester year under a disco ball
+363 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach +1 561 659 5800.

E.R. Bradley's Saloon, laid back waterfront watering hole perfect for happy hour and getting the booze flowing for your evening out.
+104 Clematis St. West Palm Beach +1 561 833 3520.

+Highball enjoys staying at: The Breakers, 1 S. County Rd., Palm Beach +1 561 655 6611.
+Cheap and Easy: Hotel Biba, 320 Belvedere Rd, West Palm Beach, +1 561 832 0094.

Speed Demon: Money Ain't A Thang: Ferrari

Speed: a term that conjures up various thoughts in our minds. Forgoing Kate Moss and a kilo of cocaine in a supersonic jet with some farm animals, let's turn our focus to cars: specifically Ferraris. Crockett and Tubbs had the black Daytona and then the Testosteroni, then 50 Cent had the Ferrari of all Ferraris in his "Candy Shop" video: the Enzo. We here at W4 are not usually big on super-sizing things and certainly not cars, but the Enzo is a different story. We're obviously not going to write about the Enzo--that's sooo three years ago, but rather we'd like to introduce you to the FXX: the Super Enzo. The FXX is a 250mph 800hp Enzo-based monster like none other. The company is only planning to produce 20 of these puppies for next year. Lucky buyers will have to pony up $1.8 Million and will be required to attend the Ferrari driving school in Fiorano to prove their motoring stamina. So listen, kick Ms. Moss off the plane, get rid of the nose candy and learn how to drive your goddamn car!
+Ferrari

Return of the Jet Set: Concorde Rebirth

We can all agree that commercial air travel is completely unacceptable. For private planes, the G-IV and then the G-V became the benchmarks, and for the big dogs the BBJ2 is considered the transport of choice. But now, the Aerion Corporation is developing the ultimate in private air travel: the Aerion Supersonic Business Jet. That's right, for an estimated $80,000,000 you will be able to fly around in your own personal Concorde. Cruising at Mach 1.6, up to 10 travelers can be transported from New York to Paris in roughly 4 hours. The only thing to remember when you buy your private rocket ship is to make sure and have the mini Sevruga and creme fraiche to complete the Concorde experience.
+Aerion.
+Jet Set: Speed: Cocaine: Kate Moss Video [watch].

Diamonds In Da Shower Yo: Ondine

You've got your Phantom on dubs, the full Versace collection (including the footwear), the all-diamond Jacob watch, a McMansion in Short Hills, and the stripper wife. So what's missing ye vulgar ones might ask: a blinged-out showerhead of course. That's right, for $15,000 Ondine will make you your very own polished gold showerhead covered in Swarovski crystals. You like this idea don't you Jersey boys and girls? Well, in addition to the bling, the showerhead contains adjustable colored lights so you can get the full Flashdance meets Cash Money Millionaires experience. Hopefully this makes someone's ostentatious existence just a little bit brighter.

Stay Clean.
+Ondine
+Happy Song of the Week: Love Generation, Bob Sinclair. [listen].
+Jacob & Co.
+DVD: Flashdance [amazon].
+Flashdance of a different sort: NYC.

Suncrawler Reports: Burbank Blue with Flames

Suncrawler reports from LA:
If you are going to be flying cattle class from LA to JFK the best flights are the Jet Blue flights out of Burbank. Due to the airports small runway, the planes are required to fly less than full giving you more than ample room to stretch out.

Of course, all of this is great just beware the possibility of watching your plane live on your seatback TV as it attempts a flame shooting of the tires emergency landing.
+Jet Blue
+CNN: Jet Makes Emergency Landing 21 September 2005.
+Suncrawler Drink At: Wednesday: Brent Bolthouse: LAX.

Swinging Is All the Rage: Booze Island

Boris, our swinging W4 correspondent reported months ago that Paris is a city full of people with late night frisky desires. Now that trend has crossed the channel and landed on the southern coast of Britain as seen here yesterday in Brighton. No word yet on whether Plato's Retreat is set to reopen in New York by Christmas.
+W4: Boris: Paris: Swinging is All the Rage.
+W4: Bejewelled: London: Eight Over Eight.
+W4: El Capitan: Bangkok: Bandito in Toyland.
+Plato's Retreat. Wikipedia.
+Track: R. Kelly, "Ignition (Remix)." Lyrics.
+Data: List of actors whose first name is Val. IMDB.

Container Ship Karokee: Booze Island: Blackpool

If you find that hell has frozen or your plane has made an emergency landing on the Northwest British coast we suggest heading to Blackpool for a night. Imagine a run down Coney Island meets Las Vegas' poor cousin. That being said as with anything on Booze Island, the more you drink, the better it gets and Blackpool is a worthy adversary for even the most tolerant livers. If you do find yourself on the Pleasure Beach, the name which gives it far more credit than it deserves, be sure and check out the strange looking shipping containers located next to the Casino. As dusk falls on the British Empire's former beach playground the three neon shipping containers open up to reveal a kitchy karokee lounge and two sleek Playstation video game rooms. Sponsored by Sony, these containers are open nightly for free and you can slur your way through such tunes as Hungry like the Wolf, Don't Go Breaking My Heart, and Solid as a Rock. If you can imagine singing Take Me Out with some white track suit wearing British teenage thugs on backing vocals well that's basically what can and did happen. Apparently, the Karokee Container can unite class, nationalites and even styles. This followed by a few rounds of Bingo next door make for a very hipstery Lower East Side / Shoreditch kind of night which can always be an enjoyable in moderation.
+We First Spotted Shipping Containers being used for neat things at: Art Basel Miami 2005.
+Economist: Blackpool: Unpleasurable 22 September.
+Eurotrash Tune of the week: Max Graham v. Coldplay 'Talk'. [listen].
+NY Magazine: The Incredibly Bold, Audaciously Cheesy, Jaw-Droppingly Vegasified, Billion-Dollar Glam-Rock Makeover of Coney Island.

Modern Gentleman's Guide: Mingling

Mingling: Mingling is a huge waste of time. The concept of making small talk with people with whom you have nothing in common, and have nothing to offer is ridiculous. What's the point? Worse still is when you are forced to mingle in an quasi-business semi-social setting. We suggest avoiding mingling at all costs unless the situation may provide the potential of pleasure (see above photo of W4 contributor forced to mingle while on field trip with school bus full of IMG models). Sipping a Laphroaig 40 and watching late night bad Cinemax porn at home by oneself is much more enjoyable than schmoozing with schmucks.
+Laphroaig.
+Cinemax Tonight: Call Girl Wives.
+How to Mingle.

Booze Island: Rocky Times At Pleasure Beach

Not content with sticking solely to saturated, emaciated, and over enunciated urban centers, W4 is sending its minions to the far reaches of the globe, which may as well be the far reaches of Booze Island (England). We are packing them off like misbehaving boarding school children and shipping them to the British seaside in balmy, tropical September. St. Tropez, very much two months ago. Southampton/East Hampton, an August detour. Blackpool and Brighton, early autumn distraction.

Over the course of the next three weeks W4 correspondents will be flopping around Booze Island's rocky beach blankets to places with dubious / kitchy names such as Pleasure Beach and Devil's Dyke to test the North Atlantic waters. Fearful of sending our correspondents to the 180 proof seaside alone we are surrounding them with the likes of Tony Blair and the British political establishment in a sad attempt to excavate some vaguely academic and possibly even thoughtful discourse from them. But who are we kidding – we've headed over to Ladbrokes and wagering that they will end up at some lager chugging, champagne swilling, fondue spinning, pill popping, after hours rave at Fatboy Slim's house in Brighton. The outcome should hopefully be worth reporting. Keep refreshing.
+W4: Fuckin' Summer 2005: Plage: St. Tropez.
+W4: Southampton, En Vacances.
+Labour Party Annual Conference, Brighton, 25th to 29th September.
+Ladbrokes, tax free online betting.
+Brighton Resident: Fatboy Slim, wikipedia.
+Germans Hate Rocky Beaches Too: Rocky Beach Club.

Modern Gentlemen's Guide: Smoking

Smoking: If every human being lit up at least one cigarette a day, the world would be a much less stressful place. Smoking is honestly what keeps people sane, or at least somewhat sane. Granted, intake of a huge amount of cigarettes is probably not the best idea, but hey if it works, it works. A generally suitable brand to smoke is Marlboro Lights, not harsh on the throat and available virtually everywhere on the globe. However, the chicest cigarettes are the silver wrapped Treasurers which are only available at Harrod's and are extremely expensive but worth a try.
+Harrods, Knightsbridge, London.
+Hookah Haven: Momo, 25-27 Heddon Street, London +44 871 075 1654.
+Land of Enchantment: New Mexico: Santa Fe.

500 B&B's for T&A from T+L: Guide: Globe

Sometimes all one wants in life is a little R&R. Thankfully the people at Travel & Leisure US have launched a handy new addition to their website has a complete list of their annual T&L 500 Best Hotels and Resorts. Searchable by continent, rating and a number of other factors, the list canvases a decent selection of global flophouses. Although we have never really been a fan of the US edition of T&L (the UK version seems far more upmarket, no package cruise ads - or at least less of them), the site is perfect for brainstorming upcoming travel escapes. So whether you are looking for a dirty weekend of T&A or a romantic B&B check out the new T&L 500 ASAP.
+Travel and Leisure 500.
+Indy 500, Indianapolis, 28 May 2006.
+Fun with Numbers, Hula Hoops and Margaritas: Tortilla Flats, 767 Washington Street, NYC +1 212 243 1053.

Cold Never Looked So Hot: London: Ice Bar

On certain nights out in London, New York or LA you might think that hell has already frozen over all of the from bad attitudes, icy stares and botoxed bodies that seem to pervade the more happening drinking dens. And you may well be right. Sometimes you might just want to cocoon yourself in an igloo to get away from it all and drink yourself into a stooper. Thankfully, some crazy Swedes from Lapland who love Abba and hate frigid women agree. And they have brought their meat locker to London. From the makers of the Ice Hotel comes the Absolute Ice Bar in London's Heddon Street. Set to go icemaker on October 1st the bar will allow you book 45 minute timeslots where you will give you parkas (and we would hope J. Medel for the ladies) and send you into the cooler. We have a feeling that arctic temperatures alone will dissuade all but the most vivacious, lively and fit arctic women to attend the party. Cold never looked so hot. +Absolut Icebar London, 29-33 Heddon Street, freezes on 1st October.
+Ice Hotel, Sweden.
+J. Mendel.
+Hot Nordic Thing: World Sauna Championships, Finland.
+Cold Guilty Pleasure: Ice Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice [lyrics].
+Hybrid Thing We Envision: Sauna Hip Hop Karaoke, NYC.

New York: Sunday Samba: Baraonda

For those of us who are still longing for ways to get into trouble on a Sunday night on the Upper East Side:
"Many people stay home on Sunday nights reading, watching TV, doing the laundry but why? Sunday night is the optimal evening to go out. Whether it was partying hard with the real Russians at Au Bar, playing bingo at Bungalow, playing Baccarat at the 78th Street spot, doing karaoke at Moomba, or having a lewd evening at Madame Paulino's 60th Street den of sin, Sundays were always fun. One of the few Sunday night haunts that is still going strong is Baraonda: the Upper East Side's wildest Italian joint. After roughly a year of not attending their interesting Sunday night of madness, I returned last night and found that it was still definitely up to par. I dined with my Puerto Rican connection at a table outside consuming a plate of truffled gnocchi with a bottle of Black Label to wash it down. We witnessed all sorts of wild individuals and beautiful damsels coming in and out of the establishment. There was drinking, dancing, and nervy illegal parking of overpriced cars. Still intact are the bouncer who has one of the strangest tipping policies I've ever encountered, the never-ending line for the bathroom, and the Brazilian hostess who may be a bitch or a darling but you have to love her nonetheless. Granted, a good deal of the crowd is a bit of the too-tanned and too blinged-out Euro and Fugazy crew but who cares, it's Sunday night and who goes to work on Monday anyway?"
+Baraonda, 1439 2nd Ave, New York +1212 288 8555.
+Same owner: Bella Blu, 967 Lexington Ave, New York +212 988 4624.
+Which is not as good as adjacent: Sette Mezzo, 969 Lexington Ave, New York +1 212 472 0400.
+Baraonda London Equivalent: The old location of Pucci Pizza, 205 King’s Road, London SW3.
+NYT: "Settling for the Upper East Side" 14 August 2005.

European Video Kills the Music Star: Ipod U Later

While everyone stateside pees their pants about the new Ipod phones, Europe is once again hopscotching the rest of the globe (ex-Japan) with the release of its 3G services. Networks such as Vodafone UK have already released mobiles including the Sony Ericson V600i (pictured here) that allow you to make video calls.

Tested in a loud nightspots this past weekend we have to say it is quite impressive and has a crystal clear display. And with live TV, news and sport available now or by Christmas, a new revolution in phone sex cannot be far behind. And if that wasn't enough incentive to switch, many of the networks are giving heavy discounts to new customers to switch over to their 3G. This will however make it near impossible for you to ever lie to anyone again about your whereabouts. Damn technology.
+Apple: Itunes Mobile Phone.
+SonyEricsson: V600i.
+Vodafone UK: 3G.
+Brand Republic Says: Apple and Motorola's iTunes phone leaves US underwhelmed.
+Tech News: "Ebay set to seal Skype deal for over $2.6bn," Financial Times, 12 September 2005.

Carlsbad Cravings: Burgers: California

Park to the Pacific reports on where to satisfy your burger cravings if you are washed ashore somewhere between LA and San Diego:

"Of note in Carlsbad, where I am currently is Angelo's Burgers-not a bad fallback plan if there are no In-N-Out's nearby. Same style of burger with requisite special sauce, but needed salt and some extra sauce. Also a good locale for a greasy breakfast burrito if that's your thing which it should be"

Also of S. California note: Suncrawler reports that Pace now has a new chef and the food ain't that great -- best only for a drink. Too bad. Was one of our personal favorites.
+W4: Suncrawler reports: Pace in LA.
+Angelo's Burgers, 2035 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA +1 760 967 9911.
+In-N-Out Burger, various locations Western US.
+Gear: In-and-Out Burger Flip Flops.
+Stroke: Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla, CA +1 800 985 4653 .
+Data Point: Rancho Santa Fe, CA, "It is the highest income community in the United States with at least 1,000 households" [Wikipedia].
+Nearby: Miramar, CNN: "If It's Top Gun, it must be... Nevada".
+Video: Top Gun [amazon].

Needle: Lyn Launches

After all of our negativity about the fashion world and its inhabitants, our W4 correspondants have found a designer truly worth praising: Lyn. Having her debut show at her Soho studio last week, we were truly impressed with the beauty and innovation of her designs for her Lyn Devon made-to-order womenswear. To an amazing up-and-coming designer to look out for, all the best.

-The W4 Team

+Lyn Devon, 463 Broome Street, 1B New York, New York +1 212 431 3777.
+Patrick McMullan: Lyn Devon Debut Collection and Launch, 7 September 2005.
+W4: NYC: Olympic Fashion Week: Twiggy Loons.

Beat Street: Austin, London and Europe Report

The latest music recommendations from our global sound center correspondents:

Austin Says:
+The New Doves Album.
+The Upcoming Silver Jews album.
+Grizzy Bear.

London Suggests:
+Supergrass, Road to Rouen [amazon UK].
+'Rough Justice,' Rolling Stones [amazon].

Eurotrash Partakes In:
+For deep bass: Moby, Raining Again (Steve Angello's Vocal Mix).
+Somebody Told Me, The Killers (Mylo Remix)
+I Like the Way You Move, Bodyrockers
+Fading like a Flower (remix), Eric Prydz.
+Last Song: 77 Strings (club mix), Kurtis Mantronik.
+Late Night Loving: Unfinished Sympathy, Massive Attack.

Super Friday Future: Mapping: Global

Superfuture has come up with some great city maps which highlight hotels you'd actually want to stay at, trendy shops, art, music, food and the always necessary liquor stations and dance dens. Tokyo, New York, Sydney, San Fran, Amsterdam, Paris, London, LA and Shanghai and are already online. Perfect for navigating your way though Shibuya or the 7eme at all hours.
+Superfuture.
+Super Size Me.
+Drink: Track: Bran Van 3000: Drinking in LA.
+Maps: Historical: Royal Geographic Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London.
+Eurotrash Song for Friday: Michael Gray, The Weekend [amazon].
+Gridskipper can't Cliff Note all of our content - Check out whats new on www.wfour.com!

A Frictionless Match

Some of our staff dined at the relatively new Paris Match in New York earlier this week. It created no sparks. They reported a very mediocre dinner consisting of some sushi roll called "The Park Avenue" which was a mix and match of every type of fish they probably couldn't sell, followed by a so-so lobster club sandwich with a bottle of Chassagne Montrachet as a chaser. While the restaurant is incredibly lackluster, we do have high hopes that if they leave the outdoor tables out overnight as there is potential for a late-night cocktail party of St. Ide's and Cohibas with the next door stoop of Michael Dawkins making for a fine urinal.
+Paris Match, 29 East 65th St, New York +1 212 737 4400.
+Michael Dawkins, 33 East 65th Street, New York +1 212 639 1540
+St. Ides [Pabst].
+Nearby Hideaway: Lowell Hotel, 28 E 63rd St, +1 212 838 1400.
+Trendy Paris Hotel: Murano Urban Resort, 13, Boulevard du Temple.
+Favorite Paris strip club that turns into a disco post-5am: Pink's.
+W4: Paris: Swinging is all the Rage .
+W4: Le Disco n'est pas Fermée: Shady Paris Update .
+W4: Paris: Hobbs the Only Name Worth Knowing.

NYC: Olympus Fashion Week: Twiggy Loons

With New York's Fashion Week fast approaching W4 brings you a brief synopsis of the fashion world.

Fashion: The fashion world is a strange beast, here is a simplified breakdown of the key components.

Models: Drug-addicted but attractive petite young things, often wearing a “deer in the headlights” look. This look is very appropriate as models tend to be painfully stupid. They often serve as arm candy for fat hideous old men, but it’s not the models’ fault, they don’t know any better and these sugar daddies pay them well.

Designers: Similarly drug-addicted but unattractive loons (with occasional exceptions) with some artistic talent and great PR. These creatures are excellent bullshit artists, as they are able to convince editors and clients that their designs are fabulous even though quite frequently the clothes are awful. The more innovative their designs, the heavier the designer’s narcotic intake.

Fashion Shows: Generally a fairly boring gig filled with fashion editors (who need to be there), celebrities and socialites (who think they need to be there), and unseated random hangers-on who are usually aspiring models or designers, and are a fairly sad bunch. One exception to the monotony of the fashion shows in recent memory was an 8AM show held in Peter Beard’s Studio in Manhattan. The scene was champagne and caviar, Ducati motorcycles strewn about the studio, and scantily clad models exhibiting overpriced blue jeans although very few were actually wearing said jeans. This exception may not be applicable as it was unclear whether it was the jeans or the models that were up for sale, and the “designer” is currently on the run from what’s left of Escobar’s Medellin Cartel.

In terms of personal fashion, some say everyone has their own style and that should be accepted. The truth is that most people have no style and this is unacceptable. Find an Italian (fresh-off-the boat Napolitan not the fugazi contractor from the Jersey shore) and have him or her consult you on your apparel purchases, as these characters generally have superb style.
+New York Olympus Fashion Week, Location: Bryant Park.
+Where models stare at food: Koi, 40 West 40th Street, +1 212 921 3330.
+Peter Beard Studio, NYC.
+Suggested motorcycles for naked models: Ducati.
+Evidence: Crazy Fashion People: Heatherette.
+Ideal for treadmill viewing: Fashion TV.
+Track: Fashion, David Bowie.

Eurostar Upgrades With Grace

It may have taken Grace Jones backhanding a conductor but Eurostar has now revamped its service and pricing scheme. They have introduced two new services called Business Premier and Leisure Select (formerly the Premium and First cabins) and reduced the check in time for the Standard class down to 30 minutes. And now you don’t need to fight your way up to Premier class like Grace to join their frequent traveller scheme. Most fares can now earn points. Sadly, she earns no points in our book bizzare headwear unless she comes bearing mild sedatives and asks us to follow her into the UFO mothership.
+Eurostar.
+This Is London: Grace Jones in Eurostar attack, 6 April 2005.
+Grace Jones Prefers: Philip Treacy.

Muji Over Baby

If the late summer has made you consider fleeing the country to remote lands rather than return to your asbestos ventalated office cubicle we can relate. But if you can't bring yourself to pack a suitcase and hop a plane to Tokyo Station we suggest immediately downing a couple Ambian throwing in Lost in Translation or Akira and drifting off to the best sleep a doctors pad can perscribe.

When you wake up we'd like to inform you that sadly no you still here, far from Tokyo. But Muji, the Japanese home and deskware company is expanding. Formerly only with locations in the Far East and the EU, the company has been testing the waters recently in the US with its' outpost downstairs in the Moma Design Store, Soho. Now there is word that they will be opening a stand alone 10,000 sq ft. store in Manhattan in the near future.
+Muji, MoMA Design Store, 81 Spring Street, New York +1 646 613 1367.
+Get Funky: Japanamation: Gorillaz: Video: Dare.
+Park Hyatt Tokyo.
+Anime: Akira.
+DVD: Lost in Translation.

Modern Gentlemen's Guide: Tipping

Tipping: One should tip heavily whenever possible. People in service industries rely heavily on tipping to subsidize their low salaries, as such be generous. In addition, everything becomes either easier or at least possible through a little palm-greasing. A real tip begins at $50 regardless of whom you're dealing with. Anything lower gets you a smile but no action. Tip big the first time and you won't have to do so too often thereafter. Never tip the owner of an establishment. If you're not sure if a specific character is the owner, refrain from tipping altogether. If people tell you that you generally don't tip enough, here's a good rule to follow: think of a tip amount that you think is appropriate, then double it. Tip discretely. It's terribly vulgar to hand an unfolded bill to someone as a tip, so much so that it may actually be refused because of the presentation. Fold the bill or bills thrice and place into the palm of your hand, and proceed to make the exchange during a handshake.
+Money Origami.
+Global Nomad: Tipping Guide by Country: Fodors.
+10021 / 90210 Girls: Kayne West: Golddiger Video.
+Sharon Stone Tips Best: Movies: Casino [amazon].