Red, White and Blue, Germany's Got Something New?

There may now be a reason to go to Germany. The recently opened Allianz Arena in Munich is a sight to be seen. Designed by Tate Modern creaters, Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, the 66,000 seat stadium will host the Munich football teams as well as concerts and the upcoming 2006 World Cup. The shell of the stadium changes color depending on who is playing.
+Allianz Arena, Munich.
+W4: PrivatAir - P.S. Forget Paying Our Staff - Let's Party!

Weekend: Celebrate Excess or Poverty

USA: July 4th Weekend. Celebrate the fact that most of the world hates or could be jealous of Paris Hilton, USA. With the cancellation of fireworks shows in dividend inhabited towns such as East Hampton (to protect a few birds in the dunes) it is recommended that you string up some Christmas lights and taking hallucinogens for a similar effect.
+The Great Thompson hunt.
+Boaters Against Drunk Driving.
+Liberty Helicopters, NYC.

London, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome: The Live 8 concert for Africa takes place in Hyde Park with satellite shows around the globe. Does Mariah Carey know where Africa is? (note: P. Diddy's house is not Africa)
+Live 8, 2 July.
+World Bank: Poverty in Africa.
+G8: Glendales Homepage.
+Golf, Visit Scotland.

Henley-on-Thames: The Henley Royal Regatta comes to a close. Watch women in big hats, unconcerned with Africa, drink pimms and fall into the river.
+Henley Royal Regatta, Henley-on-Thames, on now through 3 July.
+Pimms cup recipe.
+Flick: Oxford Blues.
+Mulberry Bag.

Cinque Terre, Italy: If you have been enduring the Italian heat wave, we suggest heading to the coast north of Pisa to the five towns of Cinque Terre (above) which are built into the clifts. The rustic seaside towns are a throwback to simpler times. Sadly (or happily) more than a few backpacking American college girls have found it. Suggested destination town: Vernazza.
+Cinque Terre, Italy.

Random: Soho House / Babington House: If you are like us and cannot plan even a day in advance, the last minute room availability pages for Babington House in Somerset, England and its cousin, the Soho House in NYC are the way to go. Occasionally, you can snag a good deal.
+Babington House Last Minute, Babington near Frome, Somerset +44 1373 812266.
+Soho House Last Minute, Soho House New York, 29-35 9th Avenue NYC.

Paris Hilton, USA Quote of the Week:
"This whole store is very New York, Los Angeles, let's all get along," Ms. Sykes said, fingering a silk chiffon shirt in safety orange with a sequined collar.
+"Outfitting the Hamptons, Apres Puffy," 30 June, NY Times.

Dr Obvious Report: Young Girls Like Hiro

We know what we are talking about. As we previously reported Hiro can be fun on the off night.

This clipping from the files of Dr. Obvious or this weeks NY Magazine:

Man-Hunting With the High School Dream Girls - Teenagers On the Prowl for Older Men: "As far as the girls go, here's how it works, says Richard Sung, a.k.a. D.J. Crooked, perched in the D.J. booth at a vaguely Japanese-themed club called Hiro, one of the girls favorite spots to dance. It's a typical Thursday night, packed and palpitating; a woman wearing spandex lingerie swings gracefully from the ceiling. A regular at such places, Sung has developed a philosophy about the subtext of New York nightlife: The more upscale the club, the younger the girls and older the guys. Look around. The girls out there, they're anywhere between 18 and, maximum, 23. The guys are 23 to, like, 50. It's why it works, you know? It's fucked up, but whatever."
+W4: Hiro Rolls on.

Lavochkin Escape Pod

Bored of work, tired of your date, trapped in a burning building? The Economist reports that there is an answer for your mid-week blues: the Lavochkin escape pod. Created by Russian scientists (so it will only work about 1/3 of the time) the pod allows you to jump out of a high rise and float safely to the ground. The pod has inflatable edges to protect you should you bounce into other buildings or objects on your descent. W4 researchers been walking through Hoboken with a prototype and sadly they found that it does not work while you are on the ground or trapped in midst of a crowd of bad accents. The social escape pod is apparently still in development.
+"Burning ambitions," 23 June, Economist.

London: Clockwork Orange

Skip the queue. Just in time for the 4th of July and the summer rush, the UK has launched the new IRIS immigration service. Frequent UK travelers can now register for free at Heathrow terminals 2 and 4. The system will be rolled out at all UK airports soon. After having your retinas scanned upon entry into the UK, "enrolled passengers will be able to enter . . . through a special automated immigration control barrier incorporating an iris recognition camera. The barrier will be located in the Immigration Arrivals Hall and will form part of Immigration and Passport Control."
+IRIS, Home Office, Heathrow Terminal 2 and 4.
+'UK Eyes up IRIS recognition system," Jane's Intelligence.
+DVD: Clockwork Orange.

No Fly Zone: Meridiana Airlines

If you are planning on flying from London to Florence the only non-stop flights are operated by an Italian airline named Meridiana which proclaims itself as "Low Cost, High Quality". W4 urges you to never to fly on this airline - ever. On four recent flights between London and Florence over the course of a month delays occurred on all segments ranging anywhere from 1.5 hours to 3 hours with few apologies or even a free drink to pass the delays. They also made one of our team check their standard issue Tumi carry-on suitcases because it was 2KG over the 8KG limit. W4 ranks this airline as one of the worst in Europe and suggest that they update their slogan to "Low class, One Way Ticket to Hell". To make matters worse, Meridiana operates out of London's charter airline cesspool, Gatwick's South Terminal, which is full of the worst of Britain - tracksuit wearing, drunken chav bastards who smoke, drink and puke their way to package tour holiday hell in Cofu. The airline uses a contract company, ServicAir, for check-in and ground operations, who are useless in providing any information. Our team witnessed the sole Meridiana employee on the ground in London threaten to sic the police on a man who was expressing his frustration to her in a civil manner. We suggest taking either British Airways or Ryanair to Pisa, a one hours drive or train to Florence or into nearby Bologna.
+SkyTrax: Merdiana Customer Comments.
+British Airways flies to Pisa and Bologna Daily.
+RyanAir flies to Pisa.
+EasyJet flies to Bologna.

Chicago Comes to New York?

A delirious Highball sends this report. We are skeptical as to whether a midwestern fish can swim in the big city but you never know:
"Sounds like Chicago's sleekest hot spot is headed for New York. Japonais, one of the best restaurants and night scenes in the Windy City (and of course already recommended to you by W4), is looking to open its doors next year in Union Square. 18th and Park Avenue South is to be the spot. Although hushed by the restaurant as "just talk", a well-placed source speaks of it as fact. Japonais already turns 600 dinners a night and would no doubt be popular at its future East Coast sister location. No word on set up, but the Chicago locale has a dining area, sushi bar, lounge, outdoor terrace and incredible staff. Keep your eyes peeled and be sure to order the tuna salmon when you go."

Boris: Suckled in Manhattan

This report just in from our boozehound Boris who apparently has been investigating the bar business:

"Sunday at noon in New York,

While the mortals were out in the Hamptons and the Pride Parade was clogging up 5th Avenue, I ventured out with the trusted Shamus Macallan, a great friend and a titan in the pub industry, to the 2005 Bar Show at the Javits Center (a place no one should enter more than once, maybe never).

I went for research purposes (as I do I have a P.H.D. in alcohol consumption) and Shamus went for business. The event was quite a sight--a convention of booze distributors showing off their wares to the people in the industry. There were all sorts of dodgy people in attendance: mullet sporting chaps, women who looked like men, Norm from Cheers, some hard-ridden “Coyote Ugly” girls doing the Texas two-step in some sort of dance-off, small children, and all other sorts of unattractive and badly-dressed degenerates. Shamus and I wandered around the Show sampling cocktails, eating hot dogs, and viewing various bar accoutrements. After many shots of scotch, vodka, a revolting digestif, and a couple of Spring Break mixings, I came upon the Hooter Shooter booth.

The Hooter Shooter is a pair of synthetic breasts connected by tubing to hip holstered bottles, the bottles are filled with spirits and the booze is then dispensed to the consumer through the nipple of the breast. This is a fantastic contraption! I want to corner the market on Hooter Shooters! Who could dislike the combination of breast-feeding and alcohol? I tried to convince Shamus that he needed to purchase at least 100 of these for his bar, but he refused on the grounds that none of his male tavern tenders would be willing to strap on a pair of cocktail boobs.

After a long discussion on this, Shamus and I departed the Show happily drunk and filled with fabulous ideas of all sorts. We recuperated at JG Melon with beers and hamburgers, then went our separate ways to nap. I hope this report finds you well. I’m off to suckle myself some more Blue Label."

+The 6th International Bar Show
+Hooter Shooters
+JG Melon, 1291 3rd Avenue, New York +1 212 650 1310

Vanity Fair is the New Spitzer

W4: Shady men in baseball caps who mack opportunistic women.

Here at W4 we don't usually traffic in banking rumors and gossip. However we're certainly not above it. Our man in a glass enclosed office high above the street (with a skyline view) sent us this interesting bit regarding the news that ex-CSFB boss John Mack is in the running to head Morgan Scandal. Lawyers, Venture Capitalists, pounce! Send all cease and desist letters and/or seed money to our Zurich bureau:
"it all is great opera!! heard that the reason Purcell is leaving is an upcoming article in Vanity Fair that says he had two affairs with MS employees. appartently, an advance copy was circulated to the Bd [board] and that was the tipping point for them."
+"Mack's Back," 23 June, Newsweek.
+"Return of the Mack," Mark Morrison, lyrics.

Sienna Blond Jem, Uma Can Do Better

Jolly Green reports from the floor of his bathroom:
"Listen I’m gonna level with you because I’m still drunk from dancing late into last night in the depths of London with assorted LA types, 16 year old ballerinas, Bejewelled, and crazy Greek ‘shipping’ people (aka arms dealers or something evil I’m sure). Go to Glastonbury. Now. Whatever it takes. I mean if Kate Moss didn’t do it for you and all those incredible bands that’s ok. Maybe you are an older, more sophisticated type. Or maybe your just one of those mid-twenties Upper East Side or Chelsea [London] girls who fashion themselves as such. We’ll that’s ok. You shouldn’t go –because you suck. Sienna Millers of the world unite and meet me by the bar you blond jems! Viva Booze Island!"
+w4: Muddy Models.
+Alcholics Anonymous.

Hotel QT: Uma can do better!
In unrelated news, Bed renter Andre Balzas' Hotel QT in New York is reported as a cheap parlor trick. Apparently it is no more than, "Fake TaTas that look good from afar but bad to the touch. Pony up the money and for once make a hotel that's not as shoddy as Ikea furniture and give your guests some towels not Plato's Retreat orgy bunk beds. Uma can do better."!
+Hotel QT.

Boris and Highball: Marooned at Some Beach

Summer is here and the clothes are coming off. Boris sends us a dispatch to rant about the band Maroon 5 and Highball reports, admittedly still drunk, in what is hopefully her last post from Chicago about some beach you'll never visit unless your G-V runs out of gas on the transcon:

Regarding one of those 'celebrity' sighting:
"Saw Adam Levine of Maroon 5 fame driving behind me on Sunset Blvd. by Crescent Heights. He was wearing aviator sunglasses and driving a tan muscle car. Kinda a piece of cheese."

Boris writes:
"Two points:
Maroon is my least favorite color, second only to taupe.
The words muscle and car should never be uttered in the same breath except for the muscle in the third leg being flexed during intercourse in a chauffeur-driven car.

-Boris loves you"

Highball's beach blanket dispatch:
"When not enjoying the glorious summer weather of Chicago, the well heeled head north to Lake Geneva, WI to enjoy their weekend waterfront homes.This summer playground only has a few reasonable establishments to entertain you but the primary dive bar to head to is Chucks, the famous local hotspot where you will no doubt encounter everyone on a Saturday night. Chuck's is only acceptable after sufficient cocktailing at theprivate club so you are good and sauced, ready to handle Chuck's tilefloors, wooden barstools, and greasy food served out of plastic baskets.(There is a formal dining area upstairs but thats for old couples). Although union member locals may be present, the Lily sporting clienteletake over the lakeside seating area and get as drunk as possible before determining whose home to invade afterward. Crappy bands and inflated pricing for import driving patrons are the staple. Be prepared for a special on Schlitz and an evil look when you order wine or anything premium."
+352 Lake St, Fontana, WI, +1 262 275 3222, Ample parking, dock available for boats, smoking encouraged.
+FBO: Dacy Airport, Harvard, IL, 9 miles away, does not look like it can take a G-V but five hours is a long time to fly cross-country without seeing a bikini clad woman this time of year.
+W4: Bikini: W4 Miami Guide: Part Two: Shops.
+W4: Bikini: Thomas Maier is a Genius.
+"The Heat is On," Glenn Frey, Beverly Hills Cop Soundtrack.

UES and Beehives: Don't Call It A Comeback

W4: June: Paris: The Beehive is back!

The Upper East Side is apparently making a comeback. Sadly it is the dirty hipsters who are moving in. And we know what W4 thinks of them. But leave it to Frederick Lesort owner of Frederick's (the W4 PR Girls favorite) to put it into perspective. From today's NY Post:

"I've lived in New York City for 24 years, the bulk of it downtown, and I just moved uptown yesterday," says Frederick Lesort, owner of the eponymous uptown private club and a newly opened restaurant on Madison Avenue.

"I love the luxury of living next to Central Park," he rhapsodizes. "I love the style, the elegance, the architecture. People uptown make more of an effort to get dressed up; uptown is a bit more civilized on the weekends. I would never go out downtown from Thursday night through the weekend - someone described it as Six Flags Great Adventure."

Lesort - who also moved to be closer to his two establishments - also believes it's easier to cultivate and keep a clientele uptown, because people care less about the ephemeral heat of a place than how they're treated and the quality of service.

"Uptown may not be the trendiest crowd, but it's a much better clientele," he says. "It's more faithful. You don't have to be the hottest, trendiest restaurant. You just have to take care of people. The social aspect of it is not so crucial. But downtown, a place has to be trendy - and even if it is, within three months that's over, and it has to close."

In related news, the NY Times is calling the South Bronx 'trendy'. We'll if a bunch of writers think bullet hole in your Bentley and a crack dealer on the corner is trendy they are morons.
+"Down With Uptown," 23 June, NY Post.
+"Goodbye South Bronx Blight, Hello Trendy SoBro," 24 June, NY Times.
+"Mama Said Knock You Out," LL Cool J.

W4 Viewers: Religious Zealots with $250,000 Rims

W4 back office (we hired a part-time college kid who is hopped up on Addarell) reports that recently one of our faithful viewers from Denver was looking to Google for help 'Renouncing your w4.' Instead, he clicked right back into bed with us. The W4 PR Girls would like to issue this statement for the site:

"W4, www.wfour.com, or any of its dubious affiliates, are not and have never been involved in cult-like manipulation or mind control.* W4 aims to entertain its' readers with the latest shady antics from our global network of 'unique' personalities through the use of self-indulgent and otherwise meaningless data. You should not take the site's word as the gospel. It's a website, not a Scientology meeting. But hey, if you do love and worship us send money fast for our Hotel Byblos / St. Tropez weekend fund."

*we do however reserve the right in the future to engage in such behavior but only with beautiful women and after many, many cocktails.

W4 - Inspiring dedication daily.
+Addarell,
+Free Katie.
+IRS 2005 W-4 Form.
+Hotel Byblos, St. Tropez.

Austin, Texas: Part Texas bravado part effortless cool, Austin is literally one of the hottest cities in America right now (present temperature at 4:31am is 72 degrees). To protect themselves from the sweltering heat Austinites head to Town Lake or the nearest air-conditioned margarita joint to cool off during the summer months. Yet surrounding Austin some of the country's best BBQ can be found at The Salt Lick restaurant. Located in the town of Driftwood in the cooler Hill Country that surrounds Austin (aka the BBQ ring), the Salt Lick is quick 30 minute drive from town. Named by the ownerbecausee, "[the] Salt Lick is something where all the animals congregate. There is something good, something essential about it," the restaurant is located in a dry country so make sure to pack up a cooler of ice cold beers or margaritas before you go. Upon arrival at the Lick you will be greeted by a lively indoor/outdoor family style restaurant with wood picnic tables and a live band. Sit below the trees and under the strung up lights and while away an evening with BBQ falls of the bones and the cornbread should not be missed. This is not the place to girlfriend with her macrobiotic tofu diet. In fact, leave her back on the coasts and trade her in for a rocking, energetic, athletic, bleach blond Texan.
+EAT: Salt Lick, 18001 FM 1826, Driftwood, Texas +1 512-858-4959.
+SWIM: Town Lake, Austin [Texas outside].
+STAY: Hotel San Jose, 1316 South Congress, Austin +1 800 574 8897.
+FUN TEXANS: Angie Harmon, Jessica Simpson, Beyonce Knowles, The Butterscotch Stallion, Farrah Fawcett, Steve Martin, ZZ Top, and nut-a-rexic/oddly sexy Renee Zellweger.

Weekend Forecast: Muddy Models

Glastonbury, England: Friday kicks off the weekend long Glastonbury festival. W4 postergirl and our suggested lifestyle icon Kate Moss will be there watching her boyfriend's band Babyshamblesperformm as well as every single band you ever wanted to see and more: The White Stripes, Killers, Doves, Elvis Costello, Fatboy Slim, M.I.A., Coldplay, Chemical Brothers, New Order, Kaiser Chiefs, Interpol, Basement Jaxx, Van Morrison, Rufus Wainwright, The Bravery, Ryan Adams, LCD Soundsystem, Jem, The Kills, Tori Amos, Two many DJs , Mylo and too man more to list. For an island referred to by this month's Vanity Fair as, "the least sexiest place on the planet," there is no hotter place to be this weekend. Sell your sister into servitude to attend and bring a rain slicker as it always gets muddy.
+Glastonbury Festival, 24 to 26th June.
+BBC Glastonbury Coverage, full site.
+Human Life Valued at $7m: enough to get you ticket to show.

Sky Dive: Urban Beach Opens: NYC

Goldeluxe, one of our New York based blond bombshells sends word that there is a new club opening up atop the Sky Studios on July 2nd. Diesel is converting the space to the 'Dive Inn' club with pool, bar and all the other summertime necessities. We're not really a fan of pretending to be at the beach while stuck in the concrete jungle of a city but this sounds pretty good to us. In London, the Berkeley Hotel's roof-top pool is also a suitable replacement for sandy shores.
+Diesel Dive Inn, Sky Studios, 704 Broadway, New York, membership required.
+Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place, London.
+Grand Hyatt, Tokyo.
+Penninsula Hotel, Hong Kong.

Girls on Film

CVS, not normally the home of innovation, is now offering the first-ever disposable video camera. The camera is perfectly designed for taping late night trysts, drunken bouts, or your most recent paragliding adventure over the hills of Rio. The camcorder weighs under 5 ounces and holds 20 minutes of digital video and sound. It has a 1.4 inch color playback screen and even has a delete function. They retail for $29.95 and then an additional $12.95 to burn it onto a DVD. Start your own trashy video empire today. For regular snaps we recommend the Yashica/Kyocera T4 Zoom with the Carl Zeiss T* lens. Can't be beat.
+CVS.
+Yashica/Kyocera T4 Zoom.

Tia Maria! Sneaker Freaker Hits Center Court

When Maria Sharapova hits center court at Wimbledon this week she will be wearing a new pair of golden kicks:

The Championships, Wimbledon 2005 - Grand Slam Tennis: "Maria Sharapova will deploy a dazzling new weapon in her defense of the Ladies' Singles title at this year's Wimbledon Championships - tennis shoes encrusted with 18 carat gold specks. 'It shines unbelievably. Hopefully it will distract my opponents a little bit,' she joked at the traditional Champions' pre-tournament press conference."

We are distracted by Maria but not by her $700 shoes. Our style mavens, the PR Girls report that they have been wearing Hogan's golden Olympia shoes for nearly a year now but Maria's new shoes (even though they are made by Nike) will without question put them to shame. Game. Set. Match.
+Hogan 'Olympia' Shoes.
+Nu Shooz, 'I Can't Wait' Lyrics.

BLT Prime Report: Kobe Cows and the Man Who Loves Them

Dear friends and other badly-behaved people I have yet to meet,

I recently visited the newly opened BLT Prime and was extremely impressed. Being a food lover attempting to convert others, I thought I’d share my dining menu for the evening at this latest Laurent Tourondel venture:

Before our appetizers, my comrades and I were treated to a delicious chicken liver pate on toast, a charceuterie platter, and a basket of scrumptious garlic butter biscuits

For an appetizer, I consumed a spinach salad mixed with blue cheese, bacon, and hard-boiled egg (and you thought I was getting all healthy on you). On the side, we consumed slabs of their house bacon—cooked at 1200 degrees and truly amazing.

Continuing on energetically to the entrée, I shared a Kobe ribeye and a porterhouse with two of my dinnermates. The Kobe, although not a traditional Japanese sake-fed and beer-massaged fellow (due to some American legal nonsense), was one of the best pieces of meat I’ve ever had—and trust me I’ve had more than my share. The meat was wonderfully tender and juicy while properly aged and smoked. There were sauces ordered but the only one I had any use for was the béarnaise for the filet section of the porterhouse (the Kobe is not to be touched by anything but the herb butter with which it is served).

We also ordered side dishes of BBQ onions (essentially onions sautéed in barbecue sauce and superb) and grilled asparagus (I generally hate greenery in my diet, but these babies weren’t too shabby).

The wine accompanying the meal was a very important component, as always. A bottle of ’96 Gruaud Larose and a ’99 Lynch-Bages chosen by Fred, my dear friend and Imperial Booze Commander of the BLT Empire, complimented the meal perfectly.

And just when you thought, my God how can these bastards eat any more?! We did. The dinner was topped off with a phenomenal Reese’s style chocolate and peanut butter tart.

After this meal, I must admit that even I, a 200+ pound Russian lunatic, was thoroughly stuffed. The only antedote was the obvious—intake of copious amounts of scotch and a debauched evening out on the town.

I hope this leaves you well-informed and well-fed.

All my love,
Boris
+BLT Prime, 111 East 22nd Street, New York +1 212 995 8500.
+Zantac 75.
+Longhorn Cows & Bulls.

Thursday Cocktail: Potocki Wodka

Its Thursday and Highball is thirsty for a drink. She sends us this report via Blackberry from her bar stool:
"Potocki Wodka, a premium vodka that puts Kettle and Grey Goose to shame, recently returned to the United States. Mostly available in Europe, this smooth vodka can now be found select locations in New York, Chicago, L.A. and San Francisco. For you vodka aficionados, Potocki is distilled twice from rye and left unfiltered. Although the brand was founded in 1816, the family lost their biz to the Nazis and after a 60 year hiatus, relaunched the label in 2002. Potocki is currently marketing with Christofle, who is peddling their new crystal barware line. Although the Christofle design is homely, this vodka is fabulous and makes a killer martini. One bottle: about $40."
+Potocki Wodka.

Bandito in Toyland: El Capitan Reports

El Capitan, our globetrotting South American sofisticó, sent us this dispatch from Bangkok where he was suveying the talent at the Miss Universe pagent:

"For a high spirited and energetic men who are seeking exotic adventures of an evening in Southeast Asia, look no further than CUPIDY, a romantic, devil-may-care nightspot that has all the imagined fantasy and drama without any danger or inconviences. WARNING: Gentlemen with pacemakers or very high colesterol counts should not visit this wonderful Bangkok institution!"
+Cupidy, Ground Floor, Plaza Entertainment Building, Petchburi Road, Makkasan Junction, Bangkok.
+Miss Universe.
+Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Venice: Disappearing Act

The Hotel Cipriani in Venice has magic powers. Not only can they make boats disappear but as one of our art correspondents reports they are also good at making personal belongings vanish as well :

"We certainly didn't ask the hotel to move a yacht for us -- although that is a nice touch -- but once again prior to checking out we noticed that we had belongings missing. The Hotel Cipriani is very good at making valuable things disappear. This is the second time we have had this problem at the hotel. Shame on us. We have since talked to others who have encountered a similar problem at Ciprianis. So lock up your valuables if you choose to stay here. Besides being fleeced or 'misplacing our belongings', we did enjoy the hotels old world style and might even consider going back if we can find some cheap track suits to wear."

New York Post Online Edition:: "June 14, 2005 -- PAUL Allen needs to learn yacht etiquette. The billionaire cruised over to Bill and Donna Acquavella's party for the opening of the Lucian Freud exhibition at the Correr Museum in Venice earlier last week, but didn't pay attention to where he parked his huge vessel, the MV Octopus. A dinner guest said Allen was unexpectedly 'called away from the dinner table by the Venetian harbor master because his yacht had to be moved immediately. Apparently, it was blocking the view of the guests of the Hotel Cipriani where rooms start at $1,000 a night.' "
+Hidden Travel Wallet.
+Vinatage 80s Track Suits (Vintage Pimp).

Boris and the Bunnies

With rumors abound that Heidi Fleiss plans to open a high-end brothel in Nevada, W4 correspondent Boris sent us this commentary on this developing and disrobing situation:

"I'm glad these two (Fleiss and Hof) have found each other, although I worry about Hof corrupting Fleiss' good idea. I think her concept to open a super high-end brothel in Nevada (or frankly anywhere) is fantastic. This Hof fellow seems to think he's hot stuff in the shag business, but there is no room in that trade for anything but high-end. As stated previously, the low to medium end of the pay-to-play business is frequented by poor, greasy, badly dressed white guys--off yourselves at once, you've made your point now get off this Earth! We need more beautiful (or at least wealthy) people shagging beautiful people. Pierre Petrus--currently in Capri trying to figure out the proper amount of Sassicaia to feed a calf to produce the perfect veal--needs to be dispatched to Nevada to have a conference with Fleiss immediately!

As a wise man once said, we do it because we can, not because we need to."

+"Heidi said to like Ranch (un)dressing ," 13 June, NY Daily News.
+Azzura Premiere Companion Agency

Weekend: U2 Sails With Drunken Disco Horses

Venice Benelli: Disco Can Be Dangerous

Only W4 helps you plan your weekend on a Monday. If this weekend you find yourself in..

London: U2 play Twickenham's stadium. Will the boys from Dublin give the UK the finger or will Bono's ego break the stage? Who cares. Promises to be another incredible show.
+U2.

Marion, MA / Bermuda: Friday marks the start of the Marion, Mass. to Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race. We suggest cruising so that your onboard cocktails don't spill. Although it may be worth racing to get to the isle of Goslings, Catherine Zeta Jones and Dark 'n' Stormys. We suggest getting out your Vineyard Vines ties if you hope to pull off the disheaveled preppy banker/sailor look.
+Marion to Bermuda Cruising Yacht Race.
+Dark 'n' Stormy recipie.
+Vineyard Vines.
+Ebay: Mount Gay Rum Hats.

York, England: Royal Ascot runs all week long at its' temporary home in York. Get on your most ridiculous hat out and watch the horses run.
+Royal Ascot, 14 to 18 June, York.

Barcelona: Europe's largest electronic and dance music fest kicks off seaside. Promises to be chic-er than the Cancun isle, Ibiza.
+SONAR Festival, 16 to 18 June, Barcelona.

W4 Viewers: Smart People Who Like To Swing

Other sites like to thank their sponsors. We don't have any and certainly cannot be bothered to find any for this depraved venture. Instead, we would like to thank our viewers from the past week. Our back office reports that our viewers included intelligencia (and secretaries) from the following companies/locations:

• Paramount Pictures
• Goldman Sachs
• ABN Amro
• Ogilvy & Mather
• Tudor Investments
• MTV UK
• Columbia University
• Some talent agency in LA
• A guy in Trinidad and Tobago looking for Asanti $250,000 rims
• A guy in Hoboken looking for information on Fredrick's in NYC (run for your lives)
• and too many people searching for "knickerless" in Google only to be disappointed we're sure!

You look at us, we look at you -- hey, we're all voyeurs here.

Thanks again for making us feel special.

W4 - We Don't Ask Why

Cocktail Napkin: Travel, Tan, Tunes, LA

Travel
Nota Bene, the exclusive destination guide book of the hottest locales on the globe has recently set up a new feature on its site for members/subscribers. The "Request Advice" part of the members' section allows users to email travels questions to the writers and receive a personalized guide to fit their needs.
+www.nbreview.com

Tunes: Coldplay Decoded
Want to know what that image on the front of Coldplay's new album really means? Probably not but check it out anyway.

Tan
The New York Times reports that Upper East Side women are illegally importing sun tan lotion that helps to preserve their botoxed skin. Perhaps they should try staying inside. As for us, we prefer to fry with the Bain De Soleil, oily, Orange Gele.
+Psst! This Stuff Keeps You Young, but It's Illegal, 9 Jun 2005, NY Times.
+Bain De Soleil Orange Gele.

LA: People may still go to these places but they make us yawn..
+Roof Bar at the Standard Downtown, 550 S. Flower St, Los Angeles, + 1 213892 8080.
+Lounge at the Standard Hotel, 8300 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, + 1 323 6509090.
+SkyBar, 8440 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood + 1 323 848 6025.

but we still like..
+Hotel Bel Air.
+Bar Marmont, 8171 W. Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood +1 323 650 0575.
+Coffee Bean, multiple locations, Los Angeles.
+Swingers, 8020 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles +1 323 653 5858.
+Malibu Kitchen & Gourmet Country Market, 3900 Cross Creek Rd, Malibu +1 310 456 7845.

Grazing With The Industry Cattle: LA: Buffalo Club

Highball faxed us this report from her LA bungalow:
"The Buffalo Club is a great spot to check out but you definitely need to bring a gaggle of pals to buffer out the crowd. From the street the place looks like some sort of shady brothel and there is an aging relic of Studio 54 bouncing the unmarked door. Inside is a darker yet sleek bar where banker types dock to net the passing ladies. The party, however, is in the back on the crowded outdoor terrace. After the dinner hour, the tables were cleared and a cheesy, yet sinfully entertaining, 70s cover band rocked out til close. As for the crowd, the women were standard LA issues with gold digging young assistants impressed with their new Manolos they saved up months to buy. The men were mostly young professionals who were too self absorbed and unfriendly for any respectable lady with her papers to enjoy. And somehow this void of brainpower contained a plethora of disappointed vodka snobs who struggled to determine the right blend with which to mix cranberry juice when they learned Kettle is not served. Its too bad there wasn't a keg in the corner to anchor the way too drunk patrons away from the bar. Get a good group of friends together, grab a table outside, and leave the crowd to stumble about on its own. Live music every other Friday, DJs rest of time."
+Buffalo Club, 1520 Olympic, Santa Monica + 1 310 450 8600.

Fizz and Cips

Borris reports on the closing of Cipriani's:

"With the closing of the Cipriani, where do the high-end hookers and old men who love them go?

It was Bruno's but only very briefly, and now with the food shotty at best and no-smoking in full effect, the crowd has gone to nil.

Now, the spot for the Park Avenue level call-girls and their shriveled-up sugar daddies is Fizz. The dining room entertains the most wonderfully shady of crowds (granted the food is overpriced garbage - the food at Chippers was much better). You will find hookers, philandering old world Latin American moguls, wannabe Mafiosos, cellphone chatting Lebanese dealmakers, and of course a smathering of Versace and Bulgari clad Russians for good measure. After dinner, the downstairs members club is where things get even crazier once this crowd starts popping bottles and truly causing a ruckus. Wednesday and Thursdays are for the true afficionados, weekends attract too many blazered (male and non paid-to-play) youngsters."

+Bruno Jamais, 24 E 81st, New York +1 212 396 3444.
+Fizz, 137 East 55th Street, New York +1 212 755 7055.
+For more Borris see W4: Swinging in Paris is All The Rage.
+To see the latest on W4 click here.

Bejewelled Reports: London: Eight Over Eight

Bejewelled reports from Booze Island:
"In the heart of Chelsea lies a very hip, and LOUD, restaurant/bar that draws the likes of Ali Landry (known for her whipped cream bikini in Varsity Blues) on any given Tuesday. If this uber-American actress can be overheard to be renouncing her native country for Britain after tasting the duck and watermelon salad, you know that it's worth a try."
+Varsity Blues, Amazon.
+Eight Over Eight, 392 Kings Rd, London +44 20 7349 9934.

MusicBoxx: Verve Remixed, Vol. 3

Bejewelled reviews the latest Verve Remixed by the Postal Service:
"Let's say, just as a hypothetical, that you've slept only 3 hours after a wild night in London and you've managed to hobble onto the Eurostar in order to arrive in time for a ball in paris, and you need some soothing tunes to ease the pain of the journey. This is when you put on your hotness Bose earphones that erase all noise from the outside world and put on Verve Remix 3 that features remixes by artists like Postal Service of great jazz songs. Featured amongst others are Sarah Vaughn and Nina Simone. And if you're not cultured enough to admire these legendary jazz singers please never log onto W4 again."
+Bose QuietComfort Headphones.
+Verve Remixed Vol. 3, Amazon.

P.S: Forget Paying Our Staff, Let's Party!

Highball sends us this dispatch from the skies:
"If your G-V is otherwise occupied, here's an acceptable commercial alternative for coast-to-coast travel. In the days where domestic US First Class is increasingly pedestrian, United launched "p.s." last fall, a premium flight service between JFK and L.A. and recently started service to San Francisco. There are 7 transcontinental flights daily in the smaller but quicker to turn around 757 aircraft. These p.s. flights offer lie flat seats in First and oversized leather seating in Business and have the same amentities of international flight that we are otherwise denied while crossing the heartland. Thank you to United for spending its last bits of capital to service the high end traveler instead of paying its staff! Although it could never match the best international flights of its competitors, at least this is a start."

For international travel to Germany, W4 suggest Lufthansa's new 48 seat all-business class PrivatAir service. Eos, a new venture to offer all business JFK to London Stansted service in 757 aircrafts could also prove to be a welcome addition as well but for now we're sticking with British Airways.
+United P.S., JFK to LAX and SFO daily, +1 800 241 6522.
+PrivatAir, Newark and Chicago to Munich and Dusseldorf.
+"The Frill is Gone", 9 June, NY Times.
+Eos Airlines.
+"New era dawns for the business-class only airline", 9 June, London Independent.

Champange Hangovers Are the Worst

Highball, our booze swilling, stiletto wearing, correspondent reports from Napa Valley:
Colgin Cellars was the top lot at the Auction Napa Valley 25 last Saturday night. This crafter of 5 premium reds in St. Helena, CA put a quartet of double magnums from its 2001 vintage on the block for charity. These bottles included the only double magnum produced of the Jubilation Merlotas well as a Tychson Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon numbered 1. Lot also included a private dinner for 8 at the winery. Cost to the lucky winelover? $650,000.
+Colgin Cellars, Post Office Box 254, Saint Helena, California +1 707 963 0999.

Underwater Champagne Serving Trains

Paris: With Europe drawing up ambitions plans for new high speed rail links between the capitals, the recent proposal out of Paris for an undersea train from Paris to New York which would take 8 hours seems to be the most ridiculous. But after a recent survey of the wine and champagne selections on the Eurostar we here at W4 think traveling by rail is far more relaxing and chic than boarding a flying bus. We agree with the French, non to Europe, oui to underwater champagne serving trains to the world's captial!
+TransAtlantys proposal.
+Eurostar.

London: Opening soon: David LaChapelle the man behind numerous outlandish yet refreshingly creative photos and videos has a retrospective. See if you can match which drugs inspired which photos.
+David LaChapelle Retrospective, 20 to 25 June, The Gallery in Cork Street, London +44 207 287 8408.

London: Opening soon: Nobu London outpost #3. The no reservations Nobu Berkeley will open only 5 blocks from the original Nobu. Start queuing with your Black cards now.
15 July Update: Location will now open in early August they say - which means September.
+Nobu Berkeley, 15 Berkeley Street, London +44 207 290 9222.

New York: Opening soon: The BLT empire continues its' New York expansion with the addition of BLT Prime. Laurent Tourondel's newest will open tomorrow.
+BLT Prime, opens 9 June, 111 East 23rd Street, New York +1 212 995 8500.

Sag Harbor: Sushi: The best fish in Eastern Long Island can be found in Sag Harbor at the perpetually packed Sen. As reservations are not taken, your best bet is to get a mobile pager from them and head next door for a cocktail at the American Hotel while you wait for a table to open up.
+Sen, 23 Main St, Sag Harbor +1 631 725-1774.
+American Hotel, Main Street, Sag Harbor +1 631 725-3535.

+Read the latest dispatches from W4 here: www.wfour.com.

Le Week-End: Venice

Venezia: Head to the opening of La Biennale. With nearly a third of this years artists female you may even find youself a moody creative girlfriend at the fair. Personally we suggest canvasing the pool at the Cipriani for an appropriate masterpiece folllowed by a late afternoon cocktail at Harry's. Ciao.
+La Biennale, opens June 10th.
+Venice Bienalle: Girl Power, The Economist.
+Hotel Cipriani, Giudecca 1030133 Venice, +39 041 520 7744.
+Harry's Bar, San Marco 132330124 Venezia, +39 041 5285777.

Too Rich Not To Complain

The NYTimes continues it's rant on wealth and class in America. Some choice quotes from old school crusties vs. new school flashies in Nantucket:

Old Nantucket Warily Meets the New - New York Times: "'What has happened in America is that achievement is so important that everyone wants everyone else to know what they have done,' she continued. 'And in case you don't know, they want to tell you with a lethal combination of houses, cars and diamonds . . . Class has a certain grace," Ms. Briard said. "Just because you can go to Chanel and buy a dress does not mean you have class. A person who just pays their bills on time can have class.'"
+Chanel.
+Murray's Toggery Shop, home of Nantucket Reds.
+Linaer Air, scheduled charters between Teterboro - Nantucket / MV.

Nouveau Peasant Trash

For the true nouveau peasant trash:

Simmons Jewelry Company has come out with a case for the Sony PSP mini video game system made of gold, covered in black and yellow diamonds, and has an alligator backing. If you have purchased one of these vulgarities, kill yourself--the world can no longer tolerate you. If you are of the intelligent group that doesn't own a jeweled video game case, go to JAR and call me in the morning.
+JAR, 7, Place Vendome +33 1 42 96 3366.
+"Kimora Lee Simmons, the New Queen of Conspicuous Consumption," NY Magazine.

Wheels Up: Becker JetVan

With Friday upon us and your wheels up time fast approaching we received this dispatch from our man on tarmac, who is most likely in the Signature Flight Support lounge having a cocktail:

The Becker JetVan
Looks like a hotel shuttle van from the outside, but it is actually something far stranger and superior (especially from the looks of the greasy fellow in this photo entertaining his prostitute onboard). It is a mobile suite/office on the inside with all sorts of contraptions, including: a 30" flat-screen for the front-facing big dogs, a 15" monitor for the rear-facing peasants, a full oak liquor cabinet with requisite wetbar (you need to be hammered when riding around in a custom-made shuttle bus), a hidden toilet (necessary if too many cocktails are consumed), wireless internet, a built-in computer system, and of course it's armored.
+Becker JetVan, $275,000.
+Signature Flight Support.

Farmers Daughters Report: Is It Worth It, Let Me Work It

The Midwestern lasses of our W4 Chicago bureau are on the move. They sent us this final dispatch before they leave the Windy City in search of a bottle of Cristal:
"Chicago's Gold Coast is polishing up its collection of Ferraris (yes, Chicagoans do own Ferraris) for this weekend's 3rd Annual "Ferraris on Oak Street" event. Coming out of storage and off blocks are over 100 rare andvintage autos dating from 1938 to the present. A red carpeted and Ferrari drenched Oak Street is always an enjoyable event but beware of the attending gold diggers from the environs entranced by these glimmering stallions and their owners. Be sure to take refuge at nearby Barney's should you feel overwhelmed."
+"Ferraris on Oak Street," Sunday, June 5th. 11am-3pm. Chicago.
+Barney's, 25 East Oak Street, +1 312-587-1700.

London Reports: You Can Eat Well Here. No B&S.

Previously W4 reported on the culinary delights of Eli Zabar’s E.A.T. in NYC and Joan’s on Third in LA. With London hitting its stride at the start of the ‘season’ or the trifecta of Ascot, Henley and Wimbledon, our culinary division, namely a portly British aristocratic layabout - best for these sorts of things - has suggested the restaurant and gourmand pitstop Baker & Spice. With three locations in central London - Belgravia, Chelsea and Queen’s Park - Baker & Spice are the perfect rustic spot for either a quick bite or to pickup some food for an last minute dinner party. There is no B&S to be found in the food - freshly baked bread from their centuries old ovens at the Walton Street location, pastries, croissants as well as a large selection flavourful salads and entrees. The chocolate chip cookies as well as the ladies who frequent the B&S resturants are not to be missed.
+Baker & Spice, multiple locations, 47 Denyer Street, Chelsea, London +44 20 7589 4734.
+Time Out Review of Baker & Spice.

Modern Gentlemen’s Guide: Travel

Travel

Air: Always travel first-class, sitting in a cramped coach-class seat is uncomfortable and unnecessary. Airlines I enjoy flying with are:Air France, Continental, Virgin Upper Class, and British Airways. British Airways' First is by far the best way to travel to London or Europe, and Cathay Pacific is best for Asia/Hong Kong. Travelling domestically in the States is an equally torturous affair no matter the air carrier or class of service. Private air travel is definitely tops, but the luxury of it is, in my opinion, not always (I repeat not always) worth the cost.

Car: I'm a big fan of hiring a car and driver. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that I am a terribly unsafe driver. The service I most often use is Mirage Limousine Service in New York, Tristar in London and Serge my driver in Paris who also knows all of the nightclub and restaurant owners. The drivers are always well-dressed, intelligent, and prompt; and their towncars and limousines are always clean. I also use Mirage to be driven out to Long Island sometimes.

Bus: The only time I ride in a bus is when I go out to Long Island and can't get a car and driver to take me. When doing so, I always take the Hampton Luxury Liner. It's comfortable and inexpensive. The only drawback is that the service only runs about 4-5 departure times a day.

Train: Eurostar First/Premium or TGV 1ère classe.

Hotel Rooms: Always stay in the best room your hotel has to offer. I findit very important to be comfortable in my accommodations when away from home. The key to getting the best room is to make the reservation yourself and not through a secretary or travel agent. Do not let expense cloud your judgment of your accommodations. Expect to spend in the realm of $1,500-$3,000 a night for a great hotel room in the states, and closer to the $3,000-$4,000 range for a beautiful room overseas.

Travel Dining: Always go to the best restaurants when you're onvacation (and frankly, even when you're not on vacation). The key is to go to places you've heard about from reliable sources. Do not take the advice of the hotel concierge as they will more likely than not steer you to somewhere mediocre and filled with tourists.

Travel Nightlife: When at a loss as to where to go after dinner, generally it is a good idea to take a suggestion from the hotelconcierge. They usually lead you to more upscale spots and can help you avoid a hassle getting in. They also tend to have a wealth of information on shady and after-hours spots.
+Mirage Limosuine, NYC +1 212 996 0500.
+Tristar Worldwide, London +44 (0) 1895 432000.
+Hampton Luxury Liner.
+Eurostar First/Premium.
+TGV.

Hate it or Love It

We here at W4 central were intrigued to hear from our back office earlier today that someone at French Ministere De L'economie Et Des Finances was reading our sites briefing on shady and not so shady Paris. Borris, our correspondent of all things debauched, has let us know that if requested he will happily be an honorary ambassador-at-large for the city of lights. France: You may say Non to Europe but we say Oui to Paris at night!
+The Game, Hate It or Love It, music video.
+Rockwell, "Somebody's Watching Me"
+W4: Swinging is all the Rage.
+W4: Ahead of Our Time Again.
+W4: Le Disco N'est Pas Ferme.

La Revolución Literaria del Pingüino

In honor of the 70th anniversery of Penguin's paperback revolution, the company has released a series of short books from 70 of their famous stable of authors. Perfect for your ADD brain. Coming in at reasonable 64 pages, each book in the set has a trademark Penguin cover -- classic, punchy and distinct – making them the perfect companion for a afternoon break or a beach read. And with arthors ranging from Hunter S. Thompson to Roald Dahl, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, Capote, Eggers and Orwell there is no shortage of enjoyment to be had.
+Penguin's 70th Website, Approx £1.50 each or £70 for the set.
+Amazon UK, £63 for the set.