November/December 2005

Features: The Choco Luxe Guide
The ultimate report on high-end chocolates—from sesame nougat bonbons to burnt-caramel ganaches to spiced hot cocoa.; White Nights - Monn of the Hour
New York Event Planner David E. Monn throws the fête of the season.

All That Glitters: A Is For Alexandrite...
The unofficial glossary of exotic gems

Culture Watch: First Impressions
A rediscovered trove of prints reveals a master's unknown side.; Keeping It Reel
Serving up the totally unexpected, microcinemas make going to the movies fun again.; The Modern House
From Prairie School to International Style, important 20th-century homes are being snapped up by collectors.

Dress Code: Local Heroes
A growing rank of visionary shop owners is bringing high design to some unlikely places. William Middleton reports on fashion's changing landscape.; Shades of Peggy, Jackie, and Audrey, Too
For collectors of vintage sunglasses, all eyes are on London.; Southern Comforts
Billy Reid is creating a menswear empire—from a small town in Alabama.; The Secret World of Petite Couture
Cupcakes, cashmere, and catfights, oh my! A look inside the children's trunk-show circuit, where playing dress-up is serious business.; The Velvet Revolution
A manifesto on this winter's smooth operators.; The Wrist Factor
Lance's yellow band may have started the trend, but the manly bracelet didn't stop there.

Food: The White Strawberries of Purén and Nine Other Discoveries of an Obsessive Gourmet
It's true what they say about familiarity. Even the most coveted delicacies—Iranian saffron, black truffles from Périgord—can lose their appeal over time. When that happens, Oliver Schwaner-Albright sets out in search of the new.

Golf: Custom Golf Shoes
Balls sail farther, clothes fit better: New materials and technology have undoubtedly improved the game. But when it comes to footwear, argues Gary Fisketjon, golfers should take a step back.

Home Front: Machine Made
Seven beauties to grind, dose, tamp, and brew your way to a better espresso.; Maison du Wow!
Hervé Van der Straeten's Paris atelier brings luster, magic, modernity into the living room.; See Me, Hear Me
Emerging technology for home electronics has led to speakers with near-perfect acoustics and the best high-definition TVs yet.

Travel: Travels with Spencer
And you thought you knew London and Paris! Going there with a six-year-old, writes columnist-cum-godmother Liz Smith, is an entirely different adventure.

Trend: The Trend Report 2005
From the first Michelin guide NYC to siamese fighting fish, all the right stuff.

Wine & Spirits: Champagne's Quiet Monarch
By refusing to depart from traditional methods, a French winemaker has relegated itself to comparative obscurity. Martin Filler raises a glass to keeping a low profile.

Worldly Goods: Crystal Persuasion
In 1767 Louis XV deemed Saint-Louis the royal glassworks of France. The company continues in the same grand tradition today.; The Gucci Loafers Made Him Do It....And Other Confessions of eBay Shoppers
Well-heeled bidders sit mesmerized before a computer screen late into the night. Who knew? eBay is the secret password to the world of rarefied and unattainable objets.

Black Book: Cult Shopping
Paris; Divine Decor
New York; Dutch Treats
Maastricht; Going For the Gold
Athens; The Isle of Style
St. Barths; The New Wave
Buenos Aires

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