Close proximity to the water allows for white water views of crashing waves right in front of one of Orange County’s most renowned surfing spots. Huge, enclosed oceanfront patio. Updated kitchen, dark hardwood flooring and high end video and audio equipment. Unusual combination of an oversized 2 car garage and at least two additional parking spaces.

Offered @ $4,950,000

Contact Rob Norquist @ 949.554.1222 or rnorquist@homgroup.com. Or visit www.homgroup.com.

This real deal, old school CORNER 3BR Condo Loft has been renovated for the 21st century, yet maintains ALL of its prewar grandeur and soul. The 2,800-square-foot three-bedroom, two-bathroom corner residence includes a renovated kitchen and an open floor plan ideal for cocktail parties or spending time with the family. This light-infused home provides a grand scale entertaining space with 10 windows and double exposures, as well as an eat-in kitchen, hardwood floors, marble whirlpool baths, central air and a washer and dryer. The sprawling dream loft at 43 Clarkson St. offers the convenience of a live-in super and an elevator.

Offered @ $3,249,000

Contact Darren Sukenik @ 212.727.6111 or dsukenik@elliman.com. Or visit www.darrensukenik.com.

Despite expense cut backs for many industries, the business of flying the skies in true luxurious style isn’t going anywhere. Phew. Private and business jets are breathing a huge sigh of relief when it comes to their continued high demand from passengers wanting to travel in nothing short of haute style.

Recent reports from China indicate that the executive skies are still extremely passenger friendly and the Airbus ACJ family, who include the above pictured Airbus A318 elite planes in their fleet of luxury aircrafts, have recorded at least 12 recent sales to Chinese customers. To this end, an unnamed Chinese commercial bank has allegedly bought an impressive nine Gulfstream aircrafts to add to their business’s flying high repertoire.

Airbus is a subsidiary company of the successful aerospace conglomerate EADS and it has registered more than 25 sales in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East to date. The Airbus A318 Elite jet has represented approximately one quarter of the Airbus ACJ family’s 100+ sales, and it has just announced a personal milestone with the delivery of its 10th A318 Elite jet, no more than four years since its spectacular launch.

As an evolution of the smallest member of the Airbus fleet, and with an optimized cabin produced in co-operation with Germany’s Lufthansa Technik, the A318 Elite combines exclusive affordability with unrivaled comfort. Airbus Chief Operating Officer, John Leahy says, “Our A318 Elite is the new space-ship of corporate jet travel, because of the leap in comfort and space that brings to a broad market.”

Via: Luxury Insider

The news that the City approved an extension for the Rincon Hill project at 333 Fremont did not surprise many, considering the slow progress the San Francisco development has experienced since its original inception nine years ago.

City-Core Development has long desired to provide upscale residents with 88 luxury units, but construction has yet to begin. When the first expiration date came to pass in the summer of 2008, the only visible sign of forward movement was in demolition activity. Earlier this month City-Core was granted additional time to consider and execute completion, all the way through summer 2010.

It has been a tough block to hoe for would-be developers, as there are two other disturbingly empty projects that dot the area, including the Block 8 redevelopment and The Californian on Rincon Hill.

Via: Curbed

On October 22, 2009, Animal Care and Control, New York City’s largest adoption, rescue, and shelter agency, held their second annual fundraising gala co-hosted by the popular network Animal Planet. The event was held at Pacha on West 46th St. and 12th Avenue in NYC. Opening remarks were made by popular Today Show correspondent, author, and pet lover Jill Rappaport.

The evening’s main events included a canine fashion show where dogs accessorized with professional models, watch a variety of happily-adopted animals strutting their stuff as they compete for the “best in show” on the runway. There was also an auction in which attendees were able to bid on exclusive pet prizes such as a custom-designed dog house, created by Animal Planet’s canine carpenter David Leon.

This event preceded the largest dog walk in Central Park, Dog Day Walk, which also featured live music, special guest entertainment, on-site animal adoption, and celebrity handlers. According to Animal Care, since 1995 it has assisted in the rescue of an average of 43,000 animals annually, servicing all five New York City boroughs.

Via: Guest of a Guest

WHAT: Full Moon Halloween Party

WHEN: Saturday, October 31 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach

WHY: Calling all Halloween Lovers…Outfit yourself in your favorite Transformer costume and prepare to howl at the moon when The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach hosts the 1stannual Halloween-themed Full Moon Costume Party at DiLido Beach Club, the only oceanfront restaurant and lounge on South Beach. No “Tricks,” You are invited to “Treat” yourself to $7 Luna cocktails while enjoying crystal-clear views of the moon, gazing through high-tech telescopes. Dine on a delicious menu of Mediterranean light bites prepared by Celebrity Top Cheftestant Jeff McInnis, while DJ Edwin Adams spins world lounge music. It’s a perfect way to unmask the fun Halloween night.

ATTIRE: Costumes preferred, but not required

VALET PARKING: Available for just $5

For more information

For pictures from past from Full Moon Parties

The weather wasn’t the only thing that made the summer of 2009 one of the hot ones. The battles between the luxury hotel restaurants on Collins Avenue certainly had the whole town talking with just as much fervor.

Now that it is October, the winner has clearly been declared as Mr. Chow Miami. The Chows opened the doors of their Bel Air home for Haute Living readers in the August/September issue and we were immediately enthralled by their all-American success story. But just because Mr. Chow Miami won the summer restaurant race by miles (and months) doesn’t mean that we have taken our eyes off of the other contenders. Right down the road, the Gansevoort South presented their summertime frontrunner STK. But recently images surfaced on the Internet depicting a restaurant that hasn’t even completed its warm-up stretches. Promises were made of an August opening of STK that would offer South Beach scenesters $20 burgers and a DJ lounge with a catwalk across the back bar. But web updates indicate that STK will now be crossing the finish line sometime this December, although one of Haute Living’s editors passes in front of the venue every morning on the way into David Barton, and reports that the space appears no where near to being finished.

Via: Hotel Chatter

It can be a challenge to discover new spots in LA.  Driving along, changing the song on your iPod, and looking for a parking spot, you see from the corner of your eye a cute little boutique – how likely is it that there’s parking just out front and that you have quarters to spare for the meter?  Inago, on W 3rd St. in West Hollywood may just be one of those shops.  A few doors down from Joan’s on 3rd, Inago, meaning “grasshopper” in Japanese, stocks an amazing collection of pieces you’ll definitely not see in Barneys.

Their original space houses racks of color coordinated items that make you wish you had somewhere to wear them – new Vera Wang bib necklaces next to Jeffrey Campbell shoes and dresses by Tibi, Tocca, and Mara Hoffman.  Recently, they took over the adjacent space to house a just as impressive collection of menswear – think Filippa K, Paper Denim jeans, and trousers by Tomer.

Both spaces have a warehouse feel with cement floors and floor-to-ceiling mirrors that double as sliding doors for the dressing rooms.  The girls working in the shop couldn’t be more helpful and often encourage impromptu fashion shows.  Just make sure you put enough money in the meter…

One more tip for you: if you happen to find yourself running errands in Little Tokyo, the recently opened No. A boutique stocks unknown labels imported from as far as Japan and as close as Scandinavia.  We suggest making a “lunch and shopping” day of it – unless you really do run errands in Little Tokyo.

Looking out to the islands of Montserrat and Guadeloupe, Eric Clapton’s “Standfast Point” sits atop a hilly area of Antigua. The beautiful 10,000-square-foot winter home cost about $14 million back in 2000 when it was built.

Known for his luxurious lifestyle, the rocker is now renting his 45-acre island estate for $50,000 a week — and that includes  a full staff. The complex sleeps 14 and has magnificent ocean views from expansive decks and equally stunning interior décor with vaulted ceilings. The property also has covered terraces, outdoor dining areas, and two pools.

Many of his travel mementos and items from his art collection decorate the buildings. Unfortunately, the agent working on the Antigua listing, Carlbrep Villas Antigua’s Barbara Japal, said no renters will be able to see the property’s music room.

Via: Luxury Launches

Yacht owners and luxury holiday-takers take note! An opportunity you won’t want to pass up has surfaced. Luxury marina village Porto Cupecoy is set to open in December 2009 and has an amazing one-time offer in celebration of its launch.

This resort-style marina catering to megayachts on the Caribbean island of St. Martin is offering a free residence with the purchase of a megayacht slip. Only a select few of the units will be available for consumers who purchase one of the marina’s 11 megayacht slips. The slips can accommodate vessels up to 300 feet in length and vary from $1.5 to $3 million in price. The offer is only valid on purchases made between October 1, 2009 and January 29, 2010.

The convenience of this luxurious resort is facilitated when the resorts management brilliantly offered to take care of the rental of unoccupied slips on behalf on yacht owners while they’re away sailing or on holiday elsewhere. This allows slip owners to earn residual revenue from the rental process while they’re out at sea.

Only a direct flight away from most major East Coast hubs, the harbor-side village with a European-Mediterranean ambiance is made up of 182 one- to four-bedroom residences. It has 54 slips on the protected western end of Simpson Bay Lagoon. Patrons also have access to all village shops, grocery, and dining facilities, including yacht provisioning and grocery stocking, VIP vessel concierge assistance, and other marine activities.

If you’re a luxury lover and you find yourself in the Caribbean, Porto Cupecoy is where you should be.

Via: SuperYacht Times