The Real Estalker Mama already ably skewered this one but let's take a look at the pictures for the home owned by Nascar driver Denny Hamlin. Hamin, a young driver on the circuit, has a rather large bachelor pad on Lake Norman in Cornelius, North Carolina. Hamlin bought the five-bedroom mansion in 2006 for $3.4 million and is said to have spent another $1 million decorating it to its current gaudy standard. The home includes lots of single guy-friendly features like a large home gym , bar area, and a dramatic red and black billiards room as well as huge plasma televisions mounted improbably high above fireplaces. It is clear that a lot of money was spent here on touches like the shiny golden home theater room, gourmet kitchen with adjoining domed breakfast room and the master bed and bath which looks a bit like a suite at the Bellagio. The property includes a pool/spa area, outdoor fireplace, basketball court, boat house and a long dock with a boat lift. This home is listed at $4.9 million. Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.
In the buildup to London's hosting duties of the 2012 Olympics, the city's planners have created a "Cultural Olympiad" to generate buzz, highbrow British style. Twelve new public works of art are slated to open, the Royal Shakespeare Co. will produce a Shakespearean festival, a film competition will inspire the next wave of British filmmakers and Windsor Castle will be illuminated by a dazzling light show. The city plans to invest around $70 million in the project.
Lord Sebastian Coe, the chair of London's organizing committee for the 2012 Games, will even participate in Martin Creed's conceptual piece of moving sculpture currently on exhibit at the Tate, a piece featuring a runner sprinting across the museum galleries every 30 seconds, followed by an equivalent pause. The museum is calling it the "purest expression of human vitality."
The hope, organizers say, is to connect sports and the arts and provide a major injection of culture that will inspire young artists the way Michael Phelps makes you want to don a Speedo.
We've got a new candidate competitor in the rather selective race to create the world's most expensive golf ball marker. This new marker is from Shano, who I've covered for their flashy golf accessories before. Their platinum and diamond golf ball marker uses 1/2 of a carat of white VS Diamonds and measures 1" in diameter and 1/10" in thickness. It retails for $10,200 which still puts it a bit behind the TriMark marker which sells for $10,500. Personally I'd rather spend the money on a new driver or greens fees but the dimpled design is rather attractive.
The sparkling racket, created by jeweler Michael E. Minden, featured her first name initial in 0.50 carats of diamonds on the handle. How much to get one of your own? Well you have to supply your own racket (or other sports equipment) and then it's just $1,750 for one initial or $3,400 for both.
One of the world's most famous luxury hotel brands is getting into the polo game in a big way this summer with the first annual St. Regis International Cup. England and Italy will compete for the prestigious trophy in the inaugural match, taking place this Sunday (the 31st) at the historic Cowdray Park Polo Club in West Sussex, surrounded by the ruins of Cowdray Castle.
Of course, St. Regis isn't about to slack off when it comes to hospitality either. They've partnered with Asprey, Veuve Clicquot and Audi to create the ultimate VIP tent at Cowdray, where a crack regiment of St. Regis butlers brought in from the hotels will cater to the toffs' every need. Even the general public will be able to avail themselves of a bar serving the signature St. Regis Bloody Mary. Damned democratic of them, no?
Most people, when they get an Olympic gold medal hang onto it for dear life. Jason Kidd, who played on the Olympic basketball team however is giving his away. And to whom? No other than Elaine Wynn, wife of casino mogul Steve Wynn. It turns out that Kidd met Mrs. Wynn last year while he and the rest of the U.S. team were staying at the Wynn while training in Las Vegas. They got to talking over a banquet and Kidd promised that if the team won the gold he would give her his medal. No, he's not in debt to the house, Kidd says it's just a thank you because "the way they treated us at the Wynn, it was the least I could do." I'm hoping the Wynns display the medal at one of their hotels.
Tennis season's not over yet! Why not help the economy and get yourself a fresh, new bag for the fall? Bally's bright pearl orange Arkel bag is made of patent calf with a patent leather-trimmed twill lining. It measures 15.5" H x 18" W x 4.5" D and has a 6.75" shoulder drop. The top is open for ease of putting in and taking out your tennis wear and accessories, and the zippered exterior pocket holds your tennis racket. Made in Italy, dust bag included: $1,095. (But you can get it at Endless for just $492.75, with free overnight shipping.)
TaylorMade has revealed the design of their limited-edition Patriot Golf Day driver, which is a customized version of their popular r7 line featuring Movable Weight Technology. The special limited-edition design features the Patriot Golf Day logo on the toe of the club, an F-16 on the sole, a red, white and blue headcover, and a commemorative Patriot Golf Day box for display.
The clubs will be sold via silent auction at participating golf courses around the country (locations found here) running from Aug 29th to Sept 5th, with proceeds going to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation.
When you already do well with handbags, ipod cases and luggage might as well try your hand at creating a top-of-the-line golf bag for the most elite of the sport. When golfers are already shelling out big bucks for their Big Berthas, premier balls and posh outfits they may just drop over $8,000 on the fancy, Damier Geante bag from Louis Vuitton! It is trimmed in cowhide, wrapped in luxurious canvas and features many pockets, tees, a wheeled travel cover and even an umbrella. Make a fashion statement on the course with this bag -- just be sure you can afford the greens fee and friendly bets on top of the bag before you venture out.
If you've ever thought you might want to do the stereotypical baseball stadium proposal, here's your chance to do it without having to spring for the rock, provided that you are a Yankees fan. Jewelry retailer Michael C. Fina, Hearts On Fire diamonds and N.Y. Yankees All-Star pitcher Mariano Rivera are offering a contest called The Final Engagement. Fans who write a short essay (250 words or less) describing why they should be chosen will be entered into the contest to win a 1.5-carat Hearts On Fire diamond engagement ring valued up to $40,000, plus four tickets to the Sept. 18 game and to propose live via the Diamond Vision screen. Winners will be chosen based on love of the Yankees as well as a creative and persuasive essay. For each entry, Michael C. Fina and Hearts On Fire will donate $1 to the Mariano Rivera Foundation, a nonprofit that benefits underprivileged children. The contest ends August 31.
Chad Pennington and Vinny Testaverde share more than just their NFL quarterback careers in common, they also have the same real estate agency to help them sell their New York homes. We saw Pennington's home on Sunday today Testaverde's mansion. Testaverde's home is also a brick Colonial but on a more lavish scale than Pennington's. Testaverde's Oyster Bay Cove home is a six-bedroom on over four acres. The home includes a master suite with private balcony,sitting room, steam shower and Jacuzzi. It's a little more recognizable as a sports home than Pennington's was especially since Testaverde's got his footballs and jerseys on display in the theater room. Of course the home also has a huge fitness area with a suana and steam room and there is also a video game room, billiards room and a trophy room, fabulous kitchen and a nice wine nook. The property includes a Gunite pool with a waterfall, kiddie pool, Jacuzzi and a basketball court. It is listed at $6.495 million.
Laura Mann of Newsday reported last month that Jets quarterback Chad Pennington had put his house on Long Island on the market but I think recent news makes today a fine chance to discuss this one. The quarterback, who just lost his job to the man who can't retire, Brett Favre, has a home in Muttontown, New York that he is eager to sell.
I would not have guessed that this six bedroom brick Colonial belonged to a celebrity and certainly not a sports celeb until I saw the huge fitness area. Pennington's pad is a 7,000 square foot home on over two acres that include a Gunite pool and a four-car garage. It's a rather bland but certainly expensive family home with details like a billiards room, master suite with a fireplace and what looks to be a coffee bar. Overall it looks freshly outfitted from a high end furniture store right down to the window treatments. Pennington bought the house in 2005 for $3.595 million. It first hit the market for $4.095 million a month ago but is now down to $3.995 million as Pennington clearly wants to get out of town.
So you do yoga, and love it. But your mat is, well, a big bore. And sharing mats at the gym ... um, no thanks. Go upscale and green with a Mindful Mat from Plank Designs($85). These cool-looking mats feature high-quality photos in four themes, Cobra (main photo; get it? snake in the grass?), Pill, Plank and Shag (gallery), and are made with eco-conscious materials. They're constructed of EcoLite, an eco-composite synthetic rubber, and EcoCell, a recycled polyurethane foam, and are biodegradable and recyclable. They do not contain rubber, later or PVC and don't use a lot of energy to produce. You'll have a clear conscience, to go along with your clear head, when you leave class.
P.S. Also offered are three text design mats ($65, gallery), "Bling," "Me," and "Chocolate," though I'm not sure whether these meet the eco-standards of the photo mats.
Ralph Lauren's 2008 Olympics Collection from his Polo line, to be worn by American athletes at the summer games in Beijing next month, is now available in stores. Lauren designed the official Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony parade outfits as well as an assortment of Olympic "village wear" pieces for the U.S. Teams, which anyone may now purchase. The Summer Olympics in Beijing run from Aug. 8 - 24th. Lauren's patriotic, logo-festooned red, white and blue designs are "inspired by the rich past of the Olympic Games and in keeping with the time-honored tradition of this historic event." Visit Lauren's site here for more and check out the gallery to see athletes modeling the collection.
Ladies' golf glove and pouch maker Fairway Skins Co. introduced its new line of butterfly-design gloves, made from the finest cabretta leather ($36). In keeping with the company's signature floral designs, each of the six new species rests on a colorful botanical, creating gloves that seems almost too nice to use on the course. Six classic floral designs also are available. Fairway Skins won a "Best New Product" award at the 2007 PGA Fall Expo and last year the company was awarded the GolfTest USA "Seal of Excellence" for the superior quality, value and performance of its products. See the gallery for a few of the new designs as well as classic styles and pouches.
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