Luxist

The Hollywood and Highland Center in Los Angeles doesn't exactly inspire thoughts of blissed-out spa moments but ascend from the parking lot and up to Level 5 of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel and the world falls away a bit. Spa Luce is a beautiful and tranquil place to grab a little peace in the middle of a bustling area. The decor is modern and spare and the treatments are designed to be holistic and recharge body and mind.

Spa Luce features skincare and body care products and treatments by Red Flower, Sonya Dakar and Somme Institute as well as a signature scent created for Spa Luce by Dr. Sharon, an aromatherapist, acupuncturist, chiropractor and masseuse. One of the most extensive experiences offered by the spa is the hammam ritual. The multi-step massage ritual includes a cleansing with Moroccan mint tea and silt, a vigorous scrub with coffee, olive stones and fresh lemons, and a wrap in rhassoul clay. Finally after all that preparation you surrender to a Turkish massage with essences of cardamom, jasmine, bergamot, amber and clove. The 80-minute experience costs $180.

You can extend your Spa Luce experience by taking ample time to enjoy the facilities. Treatments include access to the eucalyptus-infused steam rooms and rooftop pool. Spa lunches can also be ordered up and eaten in the relaxation area or next to the pool. And you can also buy products to take home. Dr. Sharon's Am I Dreaming aromatherapy kit, shown above, includes an aromatherapy oil, an aromatherapy candle, the Aromatin fragrance dispenser, and an instruction booklet. It sells for $48.

You've probably seen the first picture of new twins that Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick recently brought home. The gorgeous twins and their family are also posed on some pretty beautiful sheets. The couple picked up the D. Porthault taupe jete de fleurs linens (and matching terry) at the D. Porthault New York boutique on Park and 58th in preparation of the twins' homecoming a few months ago. The queen-sized set costs $1150.

Even in this slowing economy, Zondas have been trading well over list, some even doubling their value as wealthy customers scramble to get their hands on one. So you can hardly blame Pagani, the Italian exotic automaker responsible for these imminently desirable supercars, for wanting to get in on the action. In fact we're thankful for it, as Pagani has released another very exclusive edition of the Zonda.

Following on the heels of the fixed-roof Zonda Cinque, which went so fast that one customer commissioned his own when he couldn't get one, the Zonda Cinque Roadster offers the same extreme performance and super-exclusive stature with the added bonus of wind in your hair. Because the Zonda's carbon fiber body is already so rigid, Pagani didn't have to add much extra reinforcement, leaving the Zonda Cinque Roadster capable of reaching a follicle-tingling 217 miles per hour, passing 60 on the way in just 3.4 seconds. Nice work if you can get it, but with only five examples on offer and a £1.1 million ($1.8M) asking price, you'll have to act fast to get one. Like, Zonda fast.

The Lake of the Ozarks area is a popular place for second homes but some of the most luxurious homes in the region will be going up for auction soon. On July 18, Cates Auction and Realty is holding an auction of vacation homes that have original prices ranging from $1.2 – 3.7 million. As a story in the Kansas City Star reports that some of these homes were on on the market for a while.

In fact around 100 houses valued at $1 million or more in the Lake of the Ozarks area are for sale which is a very high number given the current economy. Some were spec houses created for buyers that never arrived, other homes were built for those planning retirement who have now opted to stay in the work force and some are owned by people who just no longer want to carry the burden of more than one mortgage.

The minimum prices for the properties haven't been listed but you can check out the offerings on the Cates Auction and Realty website. The most lavish home is the four-story waterfront property shown above which has an elevator, pool and five bedroom suites.

It's official, Ruth Madoff has been evicted from the Manhattan penthouse she shared with her husband, Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff. Bernard Madoff spent most of this year in the home under house arrest but now that he's been shipped off for 150 years of hard time, Mrs. Madoff needs to find a new home. Federal marshals formally evicted Mrs. Madoff on Wednesday amid a flurry of press. The NY Daily News reports that Ruth Madoff was home when about the marshals showed up at at 133 E. 64th Street to change the looks. She was not allowed to take anything from the co-op she had purchased in 1979. Even the sheets were left behind. The marshals are inventorying the Madoff possessions right down to the last bibelot in preparation for a future auction to raise funds to benefit those who lost their money in Bernie Madoff's scheme. Mrs. Madoff plans to live with relatives in the New York City area.

A rare copy of the Declaration of Independence has been found in England. The AP reports that British researchers discovered the "Dunlap print," named after a printer, in the National Archives several months ago but was only announced after it was cataloged (and just in time for July 4th).

There are only around 200 original copies and finding a new one in good condition is extremely rare, only around 26 Dunlap prints are believed to still exist. Officials aren't sure how the document ended up in the archives but it may have been on a ship that was intercepted by the British navy. It was discovered by an American bookseller doing research at the archives in Richmond, Surrey. The last Dunlap print found was sold at an auction for $8.14 million in 2000. The National Archives have no plan to sell this document.

New from the impossibly versatile Gwen Stefani, the L.A.M.B. Hawke Ceylon Satchel is bright and bold with an unusual color pairing: beigey-gold and fire engine red.

L.A.M.B. is actually becoming known for odd-and-off-color choices, as well as expertly made, sturdy bags with great lines. We love the sporty double stripe down the middle, and the way the piping on the sides curves like the heel of a tennis shoe. It's rare to see a bag this bold that would dress down so perfectly.

To dress this bag up, we recommend removing the shoulder strap (it looks better without it anyway) and pairing this with an outfit that incorporates neither color -- preferably white or a neutral shade (it would look a little Hot Topic with black). Got patent red shoes? This is the bag with which to wear them, and don't skimp on the red lipstick, either.

The L.A.M.B. Hawke Ceylon Satchel is available from Neiman Marcus for $495.00.

Hopefully you aren't at your desk right now but if you are and are n New York City over the Fourth of July weekend Spice Market would like to suggest their outdoor patio in the Meatpacking district of NYC as a place to grab a bit of weekend enjoyment. Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has added new dishes including Peeky Toe Crab Dumplings and Steamed Red Snapper with Shiitake Mushrooms exude the types of bold spices and flavors he is famous for. For dessert the Thai Jewels with Crushed Coconut Ice offer that a refreshing and sweet treat for a hot summer night. This weekend Spice Market NYC is debuting carafes of the signature Ginger Margarita or Sangria cocktails. They also serve non-alcoholic drinks including the new Ginger-Lime Soda, Jasmine Lemonade and Cherry Yuzu Soda. Spice Market's Tasting Menu is $48 per person and includes samplings of 10 flavors in five courses.

The new Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350i (above) is an updated, luxury version of a turboprop plane that's been a big seller since 1964. The economic crisis has caused many corporations to consider swapping expensive jets for more efficient and less costly turboprops like the classic King Air. Beechcraft has added in luxury features and finishes found on much more expensive Hawker business jets to make the $6.6 million King Air 350i a competitive choice. It's billed as is the most luxurious, most comfortable and most capable turbine aircraft ever offered in its class, period. The company compares it to a Range Rover - very refined with rugged underpinnings and exemplary safety features. With the most flexible and technologically advanced cabin ever introduced in a twin turboprop, the plane can ferry 9 passengers in the morning and then be reconfigured into an ultra-luxe VIP shuttle for 2 that same afternoon.

Pebble Beach will always reign supreme among California resorts, and deservedly so, but at $500 for a round of golf its rates aren't exactly recession-friendly. If you're looking for a more affordable golf getaway on the Pacific Coast, consider this: The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, an award-winning clifftop retreat 45 minutes south of San Francisco, is offering an unlimited stay-and-play package through year's end.

For a nightly rate of $399 for one player or $519 for two--a savings of $250–$500 per day--guests can play as many holes as they choose on the resort's two 18-hole courses. The Old Course, co-designed by Arnold Palmer, is an American parkland-style layout that finishes in dramatic fashion, with a par four that skirts the edge of a bluff. The newer Ocean Course, featuring more seaside holes and open expanses, draws its inspiration from the great windswept Scottish links; as testament to its character, it hosted a local qualifier for this year's U.S. Open.

In addition to golf, the special offer also includes complimentary valet parking and access to the hotel's spa, known for its co-ed Roman mineral bath.