Lake Como: Italy’s Everything

                      

      Historic but refined, developed yet quaint, Lake Como, Italy, will satiate your deepest travel wishes.  It’s not an overstatement to say when it comes to luxury travel Lake Como is the Jack-of-all-Trades.

     It you wish to spend time outdoors, take a stroll along the 146 square kilometers of deep blue lake. If you wish to admire the breathtaking tree clad mountains, lounge in a jacuzzi on the private deck at one of the abundant villas you can rent around the lake.

     No matter where you choose to lodge, you can readily absorb the history and beauty of this world-renowned lake, often known as The Looking Glass of Venus. Located in the province of Como in northern Italy, between Milan and the Swiss border, and known for its pleasant weather, man has been appreciating Lake Como’s breathtaking surroundings for ages, some say, since the Roman Times.

     Although we cannot ignore Lake Como as a popular tourist destination today, both its natural beauty and its sophistication have been carefully preserved, maintaining a certain sense of privacy for all its guests.

     During the winter, enjoy the magnificence of the snowy covered alps right at your fingertips. Rent some skis and head to one of the nearby valleys for a day of alpine skiing. In the summer, take a ride in a helicopter or float plane, spend the day shopping in Milan or Switzerland, people watch at a lake-side Italian cafe, venture through hiking trails, or enjoy the lake on a speedboat. Ferries link the major towns and villages of the lake, but there is also a bus system available and cars to rent.

     Be sure to take in the area’s history; spend some time at Como’s silk museum, dating back to 1900, where you can watch the entire silk-making process. Then make your way to one of the nearby silk factories and purchase some Italian silk. 

     And don’t miss out on visiting Bellaggio, known as the pearl of the lake, where three branches of the lake come together.

    Lake Como also hosts various festivals throughout the year. The Sagra di San Giovanni is celebrated at the end of June with fireworks, folk art and a boat race, and in September is both the historical re-enactment of The Palio del Baradello and Palio del Lario, a traditional rowing regatta.

     Whether your stay at Lake Como keeps you busy by windsurfing and paragliding, or you lay low at a luxurious villa or on a boat cruise around the lake, Lake Como, with its comfortable Mediterranean weather, lush beauty, and snow-peaked alpine mountains, will please your deepest desires. Your options truly are limitless.

Namrata Joshipura – Following an international vision

Namrata Joshipura’s vision of a global aesthetic is on the rise. Her unique designs transcend geography and demographics; they can be appreciated by anyone, anywhere.
Joshipura’s clothing and accessories are a fusion of different styles, a blend of nature with colour and intricate detail, an integration of the contemporary with the modern.

Namrata has been a big star in her home country of India for a while now. She launched her clothing line in India in 1996 under the Namrata Joshipura label, and since then she’s been on the up and up. Known for her wearable clothing, Namrata’s merchandise is currently sold at two different stores in India, the Crescent and D7.

At Elle, India’s 2009 Style Awards, Namrata was given the name ‘Queen of Pret.’ Her work regularly sees the light of day in India’s prominent fashion magazines, publications like Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue.

Recently, the world outside of India has also started to take notice of this bright star. Her clothes are now sold in Paris, Los Angeles, Dubai, Tokyo, and Egypt, to name a few, making her somewhat of an international sensation.

http://www.joshipura.com/

Ryan Liebrecht – Stretching out his culinary talents

Food always tastes better when someone else cooks it, especially if Ryan Liebrecht adds his culinary touch.

Liebrecht, a seasoned chef, who has worked all over the world – from Whistler to London to Bermuda - is embarking on a new mission.

After having been a restaurant owner for the past five years in Whistler, British Columbia, where he catered meals for the likes of Hally Barry, Peter Gabriel and Richard Branson, Liebrecht’s newest pursuit is to hit the road as an independent personal chef, essentially becoming an on-call chef for you.

Ryan’s credentials speak for themselves. After working at the Canadian Pacific Chateau Whistler (now called Fairmont Chateau Whistler), he earned the Fairmont Hotels Apprentice of the Year award. Once he completely his apprenticeship, he took off to Bermuda, where he worked as a saucier at another Fairmont hotel, the Waterlot Restaurant. Then, in 2004, Ryan and his wife moved to Cheshire, England, where he immediately began using his cooking talents at a boutique hotel called the Bridge. It didn’t take long for him to make his mark with the Brits. After just three months at the Bridge Restaurant, Ryan was head hunted by an agency and offered a job as a sous chef at the Swettenham Arms.

Ryan’s culinary skills are sure to please the most sophisticated of palates. He focuses on using regionally grown produce, local game and seafood, all the while adding his own personal touch to every meal. And considering the variety of restaurants and regions of the world he has experienced, it’s safe to say that he has become an international inspiration.

http://www.mychefryan.com/

Worster's new gig

Villa guru Wolf Worster has extended his hand deeper into the luxury villa industry recently.

His company, Wolf Worster Associates, has a new division called Vacation Residence Development Services.

So far, their services include architecture, interior design, estate management, and short term and seasonal luxury rentals. With a never ending attention to detail, Worster’s crew describes their philosophy in three words: commit, collaborate and create.

So far, the team - a collaborative network of independent designers - have worked in more than 15 countries developing and managing ultra-luxury vacation residences.

Let’s meet the team members:

Architecture: Mr. Jasmit Rangr – Born in India and currently residing in New York, Rangr is an award-winning architect and a graduate from Yale University Graduate School of Architecture.

Interior Design: Ms. Maggie Austin – From contemporary, to modern to classical interiors, Austin has done it all. Paris, Milan, Lake Como, Los Angeles - Austin has offered her expertise in all corners of the globe. On top of interior designing, her portfolio also includes designing gardens, swimming pools, lakes, fountains and commissioning sculptures.

Estate Development and Management Services: Mr. Vikram Sood – A graduate from both the University of British Columbia and the University of Massachusetts, Sood, whose background is in hospitality management and development, has worked on several international projects.

http://www.wolfworster.com/villas/vrds

Christina O

If the popular TV show Extreme Makeover had an ultimate winner, Christina O might be in the running for the title.

The thing is Christina O isn't like other Extreme Makeover contestants, a show made up mostly women searching for a new look. Christina O is a yacht - a 325 foot yacht who went through a complete makeover a decade ago.

But Christina O's story begins long before this. This historical yacht hosted some of the world's big names, men and women such as Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra, Jackie Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor. Christina was the focus of many paparazzi shots, traveling through the seas modestly shaping history.

In 1998, Christina was purchased by a new owner, who changed her name from Christina to Christina O.  From 1999-2001, Christina was trusted in the hands of some of the world's leading experts to restore and improve her beauty. From her engine, piping, and wiring to her interior decor, not a single detail was forgotten. 

Today, Christina O's beauty is unmatched. Her spectacular winding staircase and her intricate moldings help maintain her historical character, but she boasts a modern sophistication as well, marked by a 1,500 square foot sun deck with a jacuzzi and a spacious sports lounge.

It almost feels like Christina O is the past meeting the future.

http://www.christina-o.com/

Wolf Worster's Luxury Niche

Wolf Worster is to luxury travel what Roger Federer is to tennis - a well-respected and experienced professional.

In journalism school, we were told that if we wanted to freelance write, we should find ourselves a niche market. When it comes to luxury travel, Worster has done exactly this. From beachfront villas in Santa Barbara to architectural gems in the Dominican Republic to extraordinary Cabo San Lucas, when you're planning your next destination, Worster is your 'go to' guy.

Worster has been involved in the travel industry for the last decade. Essentially, he acts as a consultant and a headhunter. He has established himself so prominently that he currently boasts a diverse portfolio, which includes more than 100 luxury estates all over the world, some of which are exclusive to him (i.e. you won't find them in the standard list of resorts that pop up in your search engine). One of Worster's exclusively advertised villas, for example, is the legendary Elrod Home in Palm Springs, a stunning architectural feat featured in the classic James Bond film, Diamonds are Forever.

Worster has also been featured in the mainstream. Forbes, the Vancouver Sun, Scene Sarasota, Smart Money, the UK Sunday Times and RTL German television have all done pieces about this man's thriving business.

It goes without saying that Worster's consulting crosses all the borders of the world. His most requested destinations include St. Barths, Careyes, Miami, Palm Springs, Malibu, Whistler, Courchevel, Sardinia, Mykonos and the South of France. "These are the brightest global hotspots at the moment," said Worster.

"I love what I do and feel very fortunate to deal with such beautiful homes and many wonderful, appreciative people," said Worster.

http://www.wolfworster.com/