Swarovski Star Shines Atop The 2013 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

 

The iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree for 2013 spells Christmas in a grand way in New York. With everything and everybody around gearing up for the festive season, this large Christmas tree placed annually in Rockefeller Center in mid-town Manhattan is also set to be crowned with the Swarovski Star.

Commemorating Swarovski’s decade long association with the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, this dazzling star will be raised atop the 76-foot high, 47-foot wide Norway Spruce. Spreading out to 9 ½ feet in diameter, this gigantic ornament is made of 25,000 crystals, with 1,000,000 facets. Weighing 550 pounds, it is composed of six outer and six smaller inner rays made of point-mounted shatter-proof glass. Strategically placed to enchace luminosity, the star will light up with 720 energy-efficient LED bulbs.

Those who want a closer look at the star can take a look at a replica of the Swarovski Star which will also be on display at the complex to get a closer view of the detailing and craftsmanship.

The 12-ton Christmas tree topped with this astoundingly illuminated star will tower above the ice rink for the 81st Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 4. The green tree with greener lights will remain lit until 11pm on January 7th, 2014. It will glow from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on all days except on Christmas and New Year’s Eve. On 25th December, the tree will remain illuminated for 24 hours and on New Year’s Eve the lights will be turned off at 9:00 p.m to focus attention on Times Square celebration. It will be viewed by thousands in person and millions on media channels across the globe. Tis the season… and like every year around this time residents and visitors will not fail to notice the brilliant ‘star’ at the Rockefeller Center.

Wayne Page, senior vice president of Swarovski North America Limited’s Consumer Goods Business expressed joy, “For the past 10 years the craftsmanship of the Swarovski Star has exemplified our traditions of design, innovation and inspiration. It is an honor to celebrate a decade of being a part of the holiday season at Rockefeller Center.”

Originally created for the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2004, the Star was updated in 2009 to feature its dynamic light movement. Over the past ten years the Star has been unveiled by celebrities including Olivia Wilde, Blake Lively, Fergie,Christie Brinkley, Maria Menounos and Nadja Swarovski.  Also Swarovski will offer a selection of holiday jewelry and ornaments for purchase at the Swarovski holiday kiosk at Rockefeller Center, at Swarovski boutiques nationwide and online at Swarovski.com. The collection includes stylish star-themed crystal jewelry and an Annual Edition Ornament inspired by the design of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree Star.

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Shangri Lounge at the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris

Take a look inside the Shangri Lounge at the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris. Every Wednesday night, in a chic and festive atmosphere, Parisians can enjoy the beautiful redesigned lounges of Shangri-La Hotel, Paris.

According to the hotel: In a setting specifically tailor-made by well-known French agency “Your Tailor Is a Punk!!!,” light projections on the walls and ceilings, bamboo, orchids and even elegant mirror balls create an offbeat lounge atmosphere.

Each Wednesday, Shangri Lounge features a DJ, Champagne Bar, and the special ‘Shangri Lounge’ cocktails. Head Barman, Christophe Léger, has created a special Belvedere cocktail list exclusively for these evenings. Moët & Chandon Impérial and Grand Vintage Champagne are also available starting at €20.

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Tory Burch Holiday 2013 Campaign With Zuzanna Bijoch, Tilda Lindstam And Laura Kampman

In the video below, filmmaker Robert Nethery captures effortless glamour in the Tory Burch Holiday 2013 video, as models Zuzanna Bijoch, Tilda Lindstam and Laura Kampman wander the verdant grounds of Long Island’s Old Westbury Gardens.

Photographed by Norman Jean Roy, take a look at the beautiful Tory Burch Holiday 2013 Campaign and get into the Christmas spirit.

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Swarovski ring tops $500 milkshake at the new Powder Room in Hollywood

Milkshakes have always been an indulgence. But the new Powder Room in Hollywood is taking that idea to to new level with their Velvet Goldmine milkshake – a $500 concoction created by mixologist Adrianne Bigg.

The milkshake features premium spirits, edible gold, Belgian chocolate and is topped with a Swarovski crystal ring (which you get to take with you) valued at $190.

The $500 Velvet Goldmine milkshake will make its debut on November 22 when the Powder Room opens for business. Mixologist Biggs is still working out the final recipe of The Velvet Goldmine, but she says it will be “real lush and over-the-top” and will contain premium spirits, top-of-the-line Belgian chocolate and edible gold. Delicious.

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Traditional Charm Blended With Modern Luxury: Almyra Villa in Paros, Greece

As you step inside, you will discover stylish interiors decorated in a minimalist manner. But the real magic happens outdoors: “The swimming pool terrace is beautifully appointed with sun beds, a dining table with chairs and a cozy lounge area under a shaded pergola where guests can escape the sun after a refreshing swim into the crystalline waters of the pool. The endless views to the sapphire waters of the sea and the sprawling green fields create an atmosphere of serenity and purity”. Sleeping here for a night translates into reducing your holiday budget with  $741 – $1,145/night, depending on the season.

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Fluid Geometric Design in Mumbai: Auriga Restaurant and Nightclub

Turning an old factory warehouse into a restaurant and nightclub was a challenge for Sanjay Puri Architects. Auriga Restaurant and Nightclub adorns the streets of Mumbai, India in a successful effort of proving that sculptural design can help re-imagine unused buildings.

Stripping off external walls in order to expose the interiors to natural light, architects imagined a “web of aluminum fins that are folded in angular planes”  dressing up the exterior. The first floor shelters the nightclub opening into an outdoor patio, while the restaurant occupies the upper floor from where there is a better view of the surrounding vegetation.

Abstract elements shape the walls, columns, ceiling, kitchen counter and bar, while dark grey granite floors compose a visual connection within the space. The restaurant is dominated by the use if wood, while the nightclub flaunts steel elements. Contrasting in terms of materials but closely tied together by design, the Auriga Restaurant and Nightclub plays with our perception of space and tickles our creativity. 

Quote: Love, like a chicken salad or restaurant hash, must be taken with blind faith or it loses its flavor. - H.Rowland

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Friendly Ski Retreat in the Swiss Alps: Chalet Ibron

There is something so incredibly welcoming about the Chalet Ibron in the Swiss Alps, and we “blame” this appeal on the fascinating landscapes it neighbors, as well as on its friendly architecture. The villa’s exterior evokes a sense of privacy and serenity due to the traditional style and materials (wood, stone) employed. Boasting four bedrooms and three bathrooms, the place is large enough to accommodate a large group of friends, but is particularly alluring for adventurous couples.

Located in a dreamy setting, it is no wonder that the indoor-outdoor relationship was maximized: “Side by side, tucked against a beautiful hillside, the numerous balconies and large terraces give you bird’s eye views of the village and the surrounding mountains, encompassing all three of Zermatt’s ski areas. The chalet has all the latest technology with flat-screen TVs, more than a hundred satellite channels, a rotating fireplace and geothermal heating to reduce the chalet’s carbon foot-print as much as possible”. The cost for a stay here ranges from $488 to $2,821 per night, depending on the season.

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