Having already earned three Michelin stars, and four stars from the New York Times, Eleven Madison Park (EMP) was declared the best restaurant in the world in spring 2017 by the international restaurant industry experts who vote for the “World’s 50 Best Restaurants.” EMP’s response? The restaurant promptly closed.
Rodeo Drive. The very words make the heartbeat of any devoted luxury shopper of a certain age accelerate. Long before Net-a-Porter there was Rodeo Drive: a magical boulevard with a median strip lined with palm trees and flagship boutiques for every designer and fine jewelry brand worth knowing about. Birthplace of so many iconic movie scenes about shopping: Clueless, Pretty Woman, Sex and the City – The Movie. The stuff of dreams. Fast forward to today, when retail is “dead,” everyone shops online, and direct-to-consumer is the way to get rich quick if you’re a purveyor of luxury goods. Is Rodeo Drive still relevant? Is it still fun? Or has the party moved on?
If you haven’t already, it’s time to start your holiday shopping. What’s that, you say? Not feeling it this year? We’ve got just the remedy for those who need to find wonderful holiday gifts but have no desire to hit the mall, the avenue or the Internet. Why not do your holiday shopping in Italy this year? In case you think starting your holiday shopping in October is a nutty idea, let’s look at some facts. According to the National Retail Federation, in 2016 U.S. consumers reported that they began shopping for the holiday season at the following times: 41.4% during the month of November; 12.2% before September, 6.5% in September and 21.9% in October. See? Some people may already be done!
The Dandelion Chandelier Luminary Lounge is a place to hang out, pour yourself something to drink, and listen in on a series of personal interviews with fascinating people who are stellar achievers in their chosen field of endeavor. Our Luminaries are sharing stories, life philosophies, secret songs, guilty pleasures and hidden talents that will help all of us see luxury in a new light. COOL HUNTING was founded in 2003 by Josh Rubin and Evan Orensten. The online publication informs the global creative community about creativity and innovation in culture, people, places and things, often through the lens of design. In addition to its online publication and video series, COOL HUNTING provides brands with consulting services, offers hosted travel experiences, and offers its exclusive Omakase gifting service. We stopped by the Chelsea offices of COOL HUNTING on a drizzly late-September New York afternoon to chat with Evan and Josh. They were joined intermittently by Logan, their 14 ½ -year old Sealyham terrier, and by the new puppy in their office, Eero, who is 3 months …
