Latest articles on Lifestyle by The Cool Hunter - for more checkout www.thecoolhunter.net http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:19:19 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au Latest articles on Lifestyle by The Cool Hunter - for more checkout www.thecoolhunter.net http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1425&Itemid=7 If the first and second generations of social networking portals were about opening up the world, the third generation is about closing it again. Invitation only sites are popping up everywhere, creating exclusive, gated virtual communities that shut out the “masses.” bluechipexpert.com (https://www.bluechipexpert.com/login) and doostang.com (http://doostang.com/), where aspiring members must submit their resumes to be considered for acceptance. Other sites are blatantly and proudly parochial, such as aprivateclub.com, (http://www.aprivateclub.com/) which is only for New Yorkers in-the-know. If you were lucky enough to score an invitation to the Cannes Film Festival, you would also have gained access to the festival’s ‘private’ online portal, cannes2008.ning.com (http://cannes2008.ning.com/), created for attendees only. In Asia, well heeled society-types and business movers and shakers can network at dianefay.com (http://site.dianefay.com/index.php), a members only online club where one has to be invited to gain entry. In Europe decayenne.com (http://www.decayenne.com/) offers a similar exclusive club concept for invited members only. Wall Street types can commiserate the global financial meltdown with eachother in the privacy of cyberspace at bankersavenue.com, (http://www.bankersavenue.com/Index.aspx) a members-only portal for bankers who must be invited to join. Global expats can catch up on local knowledge and network at internations.org (http://www.internations.org/). The members-only site is for diplomats, members of IGOs and NGOs, foreign correspondents and other expatriates employed by multinational companies and their family members. If you don't bat for the "straight" team you can connect with other successful 'power' gays at cosmocircle.net (http://www.cosmocircle.cc/) .If bizarre beliefs are more your thing then you can try getting into the spacecollective.org (http://spacecollective.org/) invite-only community, where "forward thinking terrestrials exchange ideas and information about the state of the species, their planet and the universe." Sounds like a blast. Where do we sign up? American Express should jump into the fray here and create a network for people who use their “black” card. Are businesses missing out by not creating exclusive environments for their high end customers?- Laura DemasiDo you know of any other “private” networking portals like these? send us a tip (component/option,com_contact/Itemid,14/task,view/contact_id,1/) pics via cobrasnake (http://www.thecobrasnake.com/) Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:10:28 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1384&Itemid=7 Big boys who like toys head to I-Way, a luxe, mega venue dedicated to motor sports racing simulations. I-Way (http://www.i-way.fr/site/I-WAY.html) provides aspiring speed racers with an opportunity to experience the adrenalin rush that comes from being behind the wheel of a Formula 1, Endurance or Rally car. The high-tech simulators offer real "piloting" sensations, mounted into a real car, which is experienced through several screens which surround the driver's field of vision. The venue is pitched at corporate groups, who, presumably can bond over high speed racing sessions - and all without creasing their polo-necks. To enhance the experience created by the simulators drivers suit up in race outfits, helmets and gloves. I-Way's modern design hits its target market perfectly with wide open spaces, industrial finishes and futuristic reflective surfaces. It's boys playing with expense toys - luxe style. Located in Lyon, France, the venue also houses a bar, a shop (which sells cool motoring accessories) and bizarrely, a gym and spa. Anyone for a round of weights and a facial in between races?Have you seen any other glam big boys venues like I-Way? Send us a tip. Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:20:26 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1329&Itemid=7 Not so long ago, you didn’t even know the sex of your baby until the day of birth. Today, we’ll know just about everything there is to know -- especially now that expectant mommies and daddies can gaze upon their progeny with the help of Echographic images 4-D. Apparently, these are the best medical images available. Echographic imagery is not new, but it has not been widely used for this purpose. For the old-fashioned among us, who feel that emailing even ultrasound images of your baby to everyone is intrusive and somewhat disturbing, this is bad idea. And one might wonder if we shouldn’t be concerned about interfering with the baby’s scarce months of peace and quiet before he/she must face our noisy, over-lit world. Add to this our impulsive need to share every single moment of our rather uninteresting lives with the rest of the universe, this could become rather tiresome. However, once the Genie is out of the lamp, there’s no stuffing him back. So, expect to see images and video of unborn babies all over your desktop soon. By Tuija Seipell. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:20:21 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1327&Itemid=7 From Berlin Germany, Metrofarm Studio (http://www.metrofarm.net/djdescs/?image=3) has produced a number of stunning, custom built DJ Desks. Having released a concrete DJ table a couple of years back, the new desks, in folded stainless steel and wood painted black and neon orange demand attention. But they're not just for finely tuned vinyl slingers looking for the perfect ergonomic ratios to heighten their musical flow. They're for anybody with a musical mind and an eye for detail, looking to add spark to a lounge room, club or gallery. It's art for the DJ's sake. By Nick Christie Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:43:28 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1319&Itemid=7 Celebrate the winter solistice Sydney–style by taking a dawn yoga class on top of Sydney’s highest building, Sydney Tower. From Sydney Tower’s Observation Deck, (http://www.sydneytoweroztrek.com.au/obdeck.html) yoga devotees will see the sun rise over the glittering Harbour city. If you have an aversion to early mornings don’t panic – dawn on this shortest day of the year – which last for nine hours and 53 minutes - breaks at 7am. If sunsets are more your thing head to the Tower for the 4.54pm sunset and watch the shortest day of the year disappear before your very eyes. By Lisa Evans. Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:44:33 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1241&Itemid=7 We don’t go to the movies to admire the theatre, but would it kill theatre owners to build even one with an edge? Time and time again, we are disappointed in the new, mega multiplexes that are boring beyond belief in their sameness and recycled ideas. So, we must admit that there is not much to celebrate but are seeing little glimmers of hope and ingenuity once in a while. One example is the AMC Pacific Place Cinema in Hong Kong refurbished by Hong Kong-based James Law (http://www.jameslawcybertecture.com). The entrance areas to the six auditoriums seating 600 in 1.2-meter wide leather seats plus the a VIP theatre for 39 offer some unusual eye candy, but we are still wanting more. If you know of a truly cool movie theatre, please let us know via the contact page on the bottom of the site. By Tuija Seipell. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:02:44 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1233&Itemid=7 The little brand blurb that accompanies this new range of luxury motorcycle helmets from Ateliers Ruby (http://www.ateliersruby.com/) is “good looks…for everyday heroes and heroines”. Which is just too cute. So is the story behind them. Parisian designer Jerome Coste drew on Steve McQueen iconography, old-school racing cars and quite possibly the six separate head traumas he’s survived when he set about developing the Pavillion range of motorcycle accessories for Ruby. He also sold his own motorbike to finance the production of the full carbon fiber shells, the kind used in Formula One racing. The “inside garnish” (to quote Coste) is a soft lining of decadent burgundy nappa lambskin, chosen for its comfort and anti-bacterial properties. Henceforth providing a “reassuring cocoon”. Clearly a design pedant, Coste has given his helmets a unique signature quirk – a small crest that runs along the top, as inspired by the armoury worn by medieval knights. The Pavillion range is available in three colours Shibuya (peppermint, named after the Tokyo Shopping District), Concorde (black) and St Honore (white) and are accompanied by an equally sweet range of twill silk scarves in various retro racing car shades. Again to quote from the branding blurb: “Lady Ruby, your guardian angel wishes you a bon voyage”. Bless. By Sarah Wilson Thu, 13 Mar 2008 11:19:46 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1201&Itemid=7 Cool Spas are popping up everywhere as if they had just been invented, but in the Bavaria region of Germany — as in many parts of the world with healing, thermal or mineral springs — baths are part of ancient history. Bad Aibling, (http://www.therme-bad-aibling.de/2007/pages/index.php) located some 35 miles southeast of Munich, has held the official title of a Bad (German for bath, spa, springs) since 1895 but the thermal spas have bubbled up there much, much longer. It is particularly refreshing to see one of the older facilities, Thermal Bad Aibling, receive a complete overhaul and emerge as a viable competitor in the world of spoiled and pampered spa goers. The most striking new feature at Bad Aibling are the large white domes, placed seemingly randomly in the hilly landscape, letting the alpine scenery dictate their placement. Each dome is dedicated to its own treatment, temperature, ambiance and experience. In addition to the fairly standard fare, such as a wide selection of massages, beauty treatments, saunas and different-temperature baths and pools, Thermal Bad Aibling offers a beautifully lit Turkish haman plus something no other spa has — so far. It is an immersive film experience by LivingGlobe where the guests can enjoy a special 360-degree film projection and light show produced specifically for Thermal Bad Aibling. The main outdoor swimming pool areas will open in May 2008, but hot pools are functional, creating the atmosphere of time-tested pleasure of soaking in hot water in cold air and enjoying the view. By Tuija Seipell Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:21:41 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1202&Itemid=7 At TCH, we have always been interested in learning about illuminated furniture, housewares, gadgets and other items. Lighted bicycle tires (gadgets/LIGHT-THE-WAY/), rugs (house/LIGHT-CARPET/), night clubs (bars/SEXY-OUTDOOR-BAR/CLUB-EXPERIENCES/) and dance floors (bars/L.E.D-DANCE-FLOOOR/) ... have all been presented at one time or another on our pages. A new entry - a lighted sajjadah or prayer rug - comes from a Turkish designer, Soner Özenç (http://www.sonerozenc.com/). The Britain-based designer uses light as an integral element in his imaginative creations. This modern piece that he calls Sajjadah 1426 (1426 is the year 2005 in the Islamic calendar), combines technology and the Muslim culture. Sajjadah 1426 is a piece of art and a great example of the electroluminescent phosphor printing technology. It is also quite practical. It assists the person who performs the divine service of prayers, called namaz, not just by creating an amazing atmosphere, but by actually finding the right direction to pray towards. With the help of an imbedded compass module, the lighted motifs of the rug turn brighter the closer the rug is turned toward the direction of Mecca. This modern sajjadah introduces a brand new experience in the daily performance of namaz. By Yagmur Uslu via The Cool Hunter Turkey Tue, 19 Feb 2008 05:15:52 +0100 http://www.thecoolhunter.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1165&Itemid=7 We wish we could tell you the details about this thrill but we must remain mum (well, almost...). This dramatic, "dark ride"(as in not open-air) is an exhilarating waterslide illuminated with super-cool LED lighting. It is one of those experiences you hesitate to try but when you do, you cannot wait to do it again. As lightheaded and dizzy as you may feel, do not close your eyes or you'll miss the best part - the after-effect of the LED lights you just zoomed through. Wait for the Coolhunter TV, launching later this year, to see this in action. By Tuija Seipell Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:00:31 +0100