Dream Whiskey Tasting at the Flatiron Room in NYC

This is not your ordinary whiskey tasting. This is “Dream Whiskey Tasting” at the Flatiron Room in Manhattan – an evening of some of the finest and rarest whiskies you’ll ever have a chance to sample.

Dream Whiskey Tasting is led by Heather Greene, New York’s first official whiskey Sommelier and Director of Whiskey Education. She is one of the world’s only female whiskey experts and was recently featured in the NY Post as “New York’s Dame of Drinks.”

This tasting features six drams of pure liquid gold – some of the best whiskey the world has to offer. The offerings include:

Glenfiddich 30 year
Balvenie 30 year
Glenfiddich 40 year
Balvenie 40 year
Glenrothes 42 year
Glenmorangie Pride 1981

As you can imagine, the price is not cheap – $1,400. But the line up is a whiskey lovers dream.

The event is held upstairs in the Flatiron’s tasting room, which has been designed specifically for the classes. There’s a long 16 foot black walnut tasting table, moderator podium, projection screen, sound-proofed curtains and a separate PA system.

Check out the Flatiron Room website for details.

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National Geographic launches first explorer-curated collection, ‘Shop the Road Less Traveled’ online boutique

National Geographic has launched ‘Shop the Road Less Traveled‘, an online shopping destination featuring a collection of handcrafted jewelry, accessories, textiles and home decor inspired by the travels of anthropologist, filmmaker and National Geographic explorer Elizabeth Kapu’uwailani Lindsey.

Shop the Road Less Traveled is a limited-edition collection that reflects the rich cultures, traditions, colors and landscapes that Lindsey encountered on her recent visits to India, Thailand and Bali, and represents National Geographic’s first ever explorer-curated collection.

Shop the Road Less Traveled line offers colorful goods crafted by artisans using traditional techniques and featuring modern touches. Items purchased from the boutique help support these local artisans as well as National Geographic’s work of exploration, research, conservation and cultural preservation.

The collection centers on three themes: Jewel Tones, which features handcrafted items in shades from teal to indigo; Neutral Luxe, which showcases texture, with a selection of handcrafted items in wood, leather, wool and stone; and Royal Accents, which emphasizes scarves, pillows and bedding in vibrant color.

Elizabeth Kapu’uwailani Lindsey was the National Geographic Society’s first female Fellow. A Polynesian explorer and a descendant of Hawaiian chiefs, English seafarers and Chinese merchants, Lindsey has dedicated her life to conserving the vanishing cultures of indigenous people, their knowledge and traditions. She is an award-winning filmmaker and anthropologist and is based in Hawaii and San Francisco.

Below are some select pieces – or see the entire collection here.

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Gold Jay Z fragrance to debut on Black Friday

Music mogul Jay Z will debut his new fragrance, Gold Jay Z, on November 29. Jay Z (born Shawn Carter) collaborated with Firmenich perfumer Ilias Ermenidis to create the scent.

Gold Jay Z is described as being “perfected through a layered blend of yellow ginger, white cardamom and grapefruit with a hint of blueberry” with a “refined infusion of violet leaf, cypress, lavender and luxurious vetiver with a thread of pink pepper.”

The new fragrance will be available in major department stores across the U.S. A 3.0 ounce bottle will cost you $70, while a 1.7 ounce and 1.0 ounce will retail for $55 and $39, respectively.

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See inside Kings of Leon bassist Jared Followill’s Nashville mansion

Kings of Leon bassist Jared Followill has put his Tennessee mansion on the market for $3.5 million. The gated, hillside residence rests on one acre of land in Nashville. It sports five bedrooms and seven baths and more than 8,000 square feet of living space. There’s also a fitness room, a home theater, and a temperature controlled walk-in wine cellar and tasting room. Outside there’s a pool and spa.

Followill bought the house in 2009 for $1,825,000.

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Daily Dream Home: St. Pancras Penthouse

Spreading over three floors in a building in London, this amazing penthouse apartment was designed for one of Thomas Griem‘s clients in London. This St. Pancras Penthouse apartment occupies the top three floors of the building. The interiors look like they’re cascading down to the social space, from a high-up private level to the open entertaining spaces below.

With the master bedroom located on the top floor, the luxurious penthouse apartment displays a unique openness. Glass railings construct a seamless connection to the rest of the spaces, but it’s easy to get privacy by simply operating the curtains. This allows the owner to visually disconnect from the triple-height ceiling space, creating a modern comfort zone. The new oak staircase with sleek glass railings leads  from the entertaining areas on the lower floors to the master bedroom upstairs. It “consists of a bridge that connects to a library which is cantilevering the main part of the staircase. This library unit is the feature of the staircase and also forms the balustrade to one side. It offers storage for books, statues and other artifacts.” Two more bedrooms are located on the lowest level, sharing the floor plan with the kitchen, dining area and TV area. In the middle of these two floors, a sitting area complete with the owner’s beloved pool table shines under natural light.

After a visual tour, you will surely notice the stunning bathrooms: “The two en suite bathrooms are located in two gothic towers of the building which gives them great views of the surrounding area and a triple ceiling height. They have been finished in Arrabascato marble and each feature a low hanging chandelier to play with the unusual ceiling height.”

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Photography Masterclass at Paris’ InterContinental Hotel

Over the weekend of November 2 and 3, guests at the InterContinental Hotel Paris Le Grand will have the chance to attend a master class with world-renowned photographer Craig Easton. A specialist in travel photography, Easton will help students take unforgettable snapshots of their trip to paris.

Guests who reserve a Weekend Escapes package in the hotel, which is located near the famous Opéra Garnier in Paris, will be eligible for a class with Easton and the opportunity to shoot photos in the city with his tips and feedback.

For visitors who are just learning their way around the French capital the hotel’s concierge is ready to provide custom itineraries off the beaten path, including the highly photogenic Village Saint-Paul in the Marais, the market at Place d’Aligre, or even the vineyards of Montmartre.

Travel photographers who miss out on this Parisian session can consider a stay in the InterContinental in Düsseldorf, Germany on November 30 to December 1, where Easton will provide the same course.

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