The World's Most Famous Car?

This iconic beast of a car would fetch a handsome purse as-is, but this particular model has several “features” that you just can’t find at a dealership. Fully equipped with Bond’s machine guns, a bullet-proof shield, revolving number plates,a removable roof panel, and smoke screens, this DB5 is designed for both attracting women, and escaping from them.


So you can go out and buy a brand new Aston Martin, and  be the boss until the next model comes out- or you can buy a classic car like this, and be the boss forever.


Start counting your pennies because October is rolling around soon.


BUY IT James Bond’s 1964 Aston Martin DB5 $5,000,000

[Via Uncrate]

First Date Fiasco

Chances are you have probably been doing the dinner and a movie date for a while.

Or the dinner date.

Or the movie date.

These places are terrible for building attraction, they don’t highlight your personality, and they don’t foster affection. All key for securing a second date.

Here’s why they don’t work to your advantage.

If you are on a three-hour date, and the movie is 2 and a half-hours long, that is not a good way to get to know each other.

I understand the appeal of the movie- it eliminates awkward pauses in conversations.

I hate to break it to you, but if you’re on a first date, and you’re already having awkward pauses, chances are it wasn’t meant for the two of you to be together.

If you’re that worried about holding a conversation, at least take her to a comedy club so you’re not responsible for making her laugh (which you should anyway-constantly), and it gives you something to talk about after.

So do a little research, investigate some cafe’s in your area. Go to some dive bars. Ideally ones with bench seating so you can sit next to each other. Find a cool spot that you can take her to grab a drink, maybe some dessert and just talk and flirt.

You’ll end up spending less money if you don’t share chemistry, and you have more oppurtunities to play footsies if everything works out.

Regardless of the location, the goal of the date should be to get the kiss. And you can’t kiss without touching, and its very difficult to touch when you’re sitting across from her on a table eating who knows what.

You’ll probably be able to have more first dates now with less time, effort, and money, and eliminate a month of dating and hundreds of dollars only to realize it wasn’t meant to be.

Your wallet and your ego will thank you for it.

Good Luck and Happy Hunting.

-The Haute Spot

Here at BravadoLiving, we will explain the difference between parties that flourish, and those that flop. More importantly we will show you the way to stay in the former camp and develop a reputation for throwing the best parties known to man.

Crowd surfing: A good indicator that your party is a success

1.) Location

The number one rule in real estate applies to parties as well. Parking must be plentiful. Make sure that it’s not too far from your guests or they may be discouraged by the long drive. And if they do come, they may not drink for fear of driving under the influence.

Visit your neighbors.

Inform them that you are having a party for a special occasion. Give them your cell phone number and tell them to call you personally incase the party gets too loud – you can even extend a friendly invitation. This insures no one calls the cops and gets your party shut down.

Make sure you have plenty of room for a dance floor. Don’t leave anything valuable in a public place that can be broken or stolen.

2.) Reason and Theme

Now we’re not suggesting that you need a reason to throw a party, but it helps with the planning if you have one. A reason helps you to determine a theme (which we find to be crucial for any legendary party). The theme doesn’t need to be as exaggerated as a 70′s party, but even simple colors can help bring cohesion to an otherwise unorganized mess.Themes will turn a random house party something your guests talk about tomorrow, to a party they text about tonight.

"Get over here now! This party is awesome!

Sometimes finding a theme will be easy like Halloween or New Years (the most overrated night of partying of all time), or it may be a little more obscure- a surprise party for a friend.

If you don’t have a reason for throwing the party then feel free to pick from any one of the themes below:

1.) Any combination of colors (black, white, red, black and white, back and gold, black and silver, white and red, etc.)

These parties are great and usually very classy. Let guests know the dress code early and make it mandatory- even going as far as stating you will not be admitted if you are not dressed in theme. There’s nothing like having that one asshole who decided to wear a purple graphic shirt to your white party.

A Beach White Party

2.) Decade party (20′s,60′s, 70′s, 80′s, 90′s)

Hint: 80′s parties are irresistible to girls

3.) Heaven, Hell, Heaven and Hell

4.)Pirate theme

5.) ABC party- Anything But Clothes (garbage bags, duct tape, cardboard boxes etc.)

6.) School girl and Sexy Teachers Party

7.) G.I. Joe and Barbie Theme

8.) Superhero party

9.) Cowboys and Indians party

10.) Sports theme

11.) Wine or Champagne Tasting Party

-Everyone brings a bottle of wine. You cover each bottle by bag or paper and number them randomly. Everyone gets a sample of each bottle and rates them. Tally the scores and reveal the winners. The person who brought the best tasting wine wins a bottle to take home.

12.) Hawaiian Luau

13.) Mafia Party

14.) Lingerie/Playboy party

Now some of these themes may be a little too elementary for you, and some may be too high-brow, but it will give you a good launching point to help develop a successful party theme. Get the pulse of your female friends- they usually have a good sense of what the girls you know will get excited about going to.

Themes are important whether it's a house party or elegant Soiree

In fact get one of your hot female friends to help throw the party- both guys and girls tend to assume a party will be more fun when it’s thrown by a hot girl.

3.) Guest List

The guest list is vital. It will decide how successful the party will be. You want to aim for a 60/40 mix of women to men. Any more women and the party will be too catty. Any more men and it will look like a sword fight.

You should probably give guest list duties to someone else next time

Also be mindful of different social groups. A party is less fun when everyone knows each other. You want some guests to be strangers to each other at a party (this stimulates a fun chemistry), but you don’t want your hippy musician friends socializing with your boss from work. Be cognizant and recognize the social group of all your guests and try to invite like minded people.

Also be mindful that certain people won’t attend, so feel free to invite a few more people then you actually want attending. It’s always better to have a party that is too packed, then a party that is too empty.

4.) Invitations

Always start by developing a buzz via word of mouth. You want people to know that you are throwing a party soon. Use your hot friend to help accomplish this.

This can help develop an air of tension and anticipation for your party- especially if you have a reputation for throwing great parties (which you will after following our advice).

Once everything is set, and you have the date, time, and place decided, you can begin to invite people. You want to aim for at least 10 days before the party starts but never more then 3 weeks. This gives people enough time to prepare, girls enough time to go shopping for outfits, but it’s not so far ahead that people forget.

5.) Drinks

Probably the most vital thing at a party. Sure you can have fun without alcohol. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they’ve invented the lighter?

As a cardinal rule: The drunker the people at your party get, the more fun they will have.

The key is to have plenty of alcohol. Have it chilled and ready to drink before the party starts. Make all your mixed drinks and punches beforehand so you can play a good host rather than bartender.

Read our article on building an effective home bar so you’re always ready for an impromptu get together.

An Inviting Party Bar

But for the simple essentials just take this grocery list:

1.) A Keg: The most basic of party essentials. It will service a large amount of people for very cheap.

As a general guideline you don’t want to buy more expensive beer kegs. More expensive brands achieve a higher level of flavor by adding more hops- which although make the beer more flavorful, are also very filling (remember the cardinal rule).

For kegs, you actually want to spring for a cheaper beer- Bud Light or Miller Lite. These brands use rice as a substitution to more hops to help make the beer less filling and easier to drink. In fact “Light” beers were originally invented not for the health conscious but rather the heavy drinker.

Personally, we recommend Miller Lite for your Keg purchases. It may have the stigma as being a “girly” beer, however it has less carbonation and it is easier to drink than Bud Light which girls will appreciate. And guys will drink anything anyway.

2.) A Punch: If there is one thing you need for a party, it’s a bowl of punch.

Most girls don’t like beer- at least they don’t like it enough to drink it heavily. Which is why you should always have an alternative for your guests. We recommend this recipe from DrinksRecipe for Jungle Juice.

Jungle Juice Recipe

1 L Everclear® alcohol
5.25 L (3 1.75L bottles) vodka
1 bottle peach schnapps
1 pint Bacardi® 151 rum
1 bottle 99 Apples® apple schnapps
10 L Sprite® soda
1 L Sunny Delight® orange juice
1 L triple sec
1.75 L bottle gin
1 bottle DeKuyper® Sour Apple Pucker schnapps
4 bottles Boone’s Farm® Strawberry Hill wine
8 L Hawaiian Punch®
2 containers orange juice concentrate
fruit (as much as desired)

Mix all the ingredients in a Coach’s Cooler or similar apparatus. Add the fruit and let it soak overnight. Use dry ice in a ziplock bag to help keep it cold and prevent the dry ice from melting into the recipe. Add regular ice before you serve, and add water to taste, but honestly, you can barely taste the alcohol as it is, making this a very dangerous party starter.

One cup has about 15% alcohol or the equivalent of 3 beers. After 2 or 3 cups, you can imagine how fun your party will be. The concoction is expensive to make- approximately $200 per batch depending on your location so feel free to remove some of the ingredients as you see fit- if the punch tastes like juice to begin with, removing any of the alcohol wont’t hurt.

Feel free to put some punch in a serving bowl and ladle added with fruit so your guests can serve themselves. The fruit will have a lot of alcohol naturally soaked into it, so biting into it will just provide your juice with an added punch (no pun intended).

3.) The Basics: Any party can have a keg and a bowl of punch. The best parties have a slew of alcohol to choose from displayed broadly as if saying- money is no object.

1.) A great sipping whisky (Macallan’s 18, Highland Park 21, Blue Label)

2.) A great mixing whiskey (Dewer’s 12, Crown Royal, Maker’s Mark, Black Label)

3.) A premium bottle of vodka (Belvedere or Grey Goose, and Ketel One)

4.) A great Reposado or Blanco Tequila (4 Copas, Gran Patron Silver, 1921- great for shots to help get the party started)

5.) A great selection of beers (Lagers, Dunkels, anything for the discerning beer drinker)

6.) Champagne (It’s a celebration)

7.) Amaretto (For making amaretto sours- only for girls that don’t like the taste of alcohol)

8.) Respectable selection of wines (Red, Whites, Chardonnay, Sovereign Blanc, Zinfandel, etc)

9.) Extra’s: Ice! (Get As many bags as you think you need, then get 5 more), Quality glasses, Large Heavy Duty Shaker (don’t put anything carbonated in it- rookie mistake), Towels

10.) Mixers: Soda’s, Sour mix, Juices, etc.

11.) Garnishes: Lemon and Lime Wedges, Olives, Toothpicks, and Precut lemon and lime twists (Nothing makes a drink fancier than a twist- for girls only)

12.) Something impressive to put it all in (Go dark wood, with darker leather)

4.) The unsung heroes: Cups and Ice

I have seen many great parties go downhill because people ran out of the simplest things. No one wants to wait while someone goes on a quick run to grab more cups or ice.

Even worse is running out of alcohol. It’s as if the music stops the second the last beer is cracked open. Trust us- it’s not pretty.

Also a true gentleman doesn’t throw a BYOB party. At least if you’re over 27.

5.) Food: No

Unless it’s a dinner party we would shy away from foods. People come to parties to have a good time, not get fed.

Food sobers you up, makes your breath smell, and is generally unattractive. There’s nothing sexy about typical party foods- chips, salsa, pizza etc.

If you insist, keep the food items clean- fruits, hors’dourves, steaks. Shy away from spaghetti, fish, or anything greasy.

And leave out a plate of dinner mints to help bring the party back to it’s original glory.

6.) Sense of Arrival: The most important decorations of your party

When people pull into your party and see the venue in the distance, whether it’s your house or a banquet hall you want them to get excited. You want to decorate the outside of the venue with a sense of importance.

This subtle distinction will make the difference between “Showing up” and “You’ve arrived.”

You want to create a “Sense of Arrival.”

You can do this in many ways.

A.) Balloon Arch: A balloon arch is great for indoor events. It is very labor intensive but if you have a couple girls helping you then you have a very classy and cheap way to build an entrance.

B.) Tiki Torches: This is our favorite way to create the impression of a truly great party. A few strategically placed Tiki Torches creating a pathway leading towards the entrance will transform a “get-together” to a “Soiree.”

Tiki Torches Always Create A "Sense of Arrival"

C.) Ice Sculpture: If you have the money, there is really no better way to wow your guests. Places strategically in the lobby or hallway of your party, a well made Ice Sculpture will shock your guests, make a perfect backdrop for pictures, and truly leave a lasting memory for all your guests.

Epic Ice Sculpture

7.) Decorations

Cut a check. Give it to the girls. Let them go crazy. Trust us.

8.) Music

If alcohol is the lighter, then music is the gasoline. Hiring a DJ should definitely be part of your budget. Don’t take recommendations, make sure you have personally seen the DJ spin.

You want a DJ that can easily transition from one song to the next, but more importantly a DJ that can effectively read a crowd and know exactly what song to play next. Anyone can play a pre-recorded podcast from a famous DJ, but it takes real skill to play the perfect song for that particular crowd.

A Solid Dj is Important

A good DJ will start out with mild lounge music as people are mingling and developing their buzz. He won’t waste good songs when no one is dancing.

He will know exactly when to start playing the hits to coax the crowd onto the dance floor. And he will know exactly what songs to play to keep them glued there.

Feel free to give the DJ a few songs that you would like to be played throughout the night, but if he’s a professional- mostly just let him do his job.

If a DJ isn’t in your budget, make sure to make a playlist of songs designed well in advance of the party.

Ideally you will make two playlists: one of mellow techno, jazz, and Sinatra as people are entering the party.

Then a second full of the greatest dance hits once the party gets popping.

A Good Dj will coax people to the dance floor

Having a preset playlist will ensure that you don’t have a crowd of “experts” crowding around the Ipod trying to decide what to play next.

9.) Dancing

If the drinks are cold, the crowd is right, and the music is good, dancing is inevitable.

There are a few things you can do to help grease the system. Make sure you have a dance floor that is in front of the DJ.

There’s something about a solid piece of concrete, wood, or tile in front of a DJ system that makes people want to dance. People just don’t like dancing on grass or uneven surfaces, for obvious reasons.

Dancing is essential for any great party

Make sure the area is well air-conditioned or cool. If the party is too hot, you invited too many people for your venue which is bad planning on your part.

Don’t throw an outdoor party if you live in a humid location. People will avoid dancing because they don’t want to sweat, which is bad planning on your part.

The most important thing you can do to ensure people start dancing is keep the lights low. Your whole party should have a level of ambiance similar to a candlelit dinner (without the candles, those are dangerous and will start a fire).

Everyone looks better in a dim light, and are more inclined to dance if they feel they can hide in the shadows and the crowd. So turn off a few lights, install a dimmer, or shade a few lightbulbs, and let the organic flow of your party develop.

Low light doesn't hide everyone's dancing, though

If people are still shying away from the dance floor you can always tell the DJ that if anyone requests to play a song, he makes it mandatory that they dance to it. No one wants to be the first person on the dance floor. You can wait for someone to get drunk (brave) enough to try, or you can force it yourself.

10.) Being a Good Host

Take care of all the other rules well before the party starts because you will need to devote your time and energy to rule number ten.

This is the most important rule of throwing a great party.

Greet every guest at the door, whether they are a stranger or close friend. Welcome them to your party. Grab a drink for them and tell them to help themselves for another round. Then cordially pass them off to someone they know so they can feel comfortable.

Never stay with one group for too long. Be sure to introduce guests to each other. You must be a director of fun at your party and ensure that everyone is enjoying their time.

If you feel the party needs a spark you can always play one of my favorite drinking games- Flip Cup

Flip cup requires a long table, a pitcher of beer or punch and several plastic cups.

Teams of three or more will line up on opposite sides of the table with cups, half full of drink.

Then during every round you start at one end of the table, chugging your cup and then placing the cup on the edge of the table and “flipping” it until the cup lands top side down. The next person doesn’t begin chugging until the person before them has finished successfully ”flipping” his cup.

First team to finish flipping all of the cups wins.

Flip cup to help get the party started

Before every round make sure that both teams start by clapping and making noise, and then the first two opponents tap cups and then chug. This creates a lot of commosion and makes the party look a lot more fun and lively than it actually is.

This works especially well for parties that are just beginning. It is a lot better to see a small group of people cheering and playing this game, then sitting around waiting for the party to start.

Execution

If you keep up with these rules, you should immediately develop a reputation for throwing magnificent parties. Don’t skimp on any of the details. It only takes one great party to be crowned the “Diddy” of your friends, but it only takes one bad party to completely shatter that repuation.

Hope you have a great time throwing your next party.

Wilder things have happened

Good Luck and Happy Hunting.

-Bravado Living

Also, make sure to keep an eye on your guests and don’t let anyone drive home intoxicated.

It is ALWAYS ok to approach women.

You will date 0% of the women you never approach.

Here’s how you do it without looking like a douche:

1.)Change your attitude
First you need to get rid of that strong, silent attitude most guys in the gym have. It seems like every guy in the gym has a look on his face that screams

“I wish I was taller.”

Don’t be that guy.

Instead get to know everyone. Guys and girls. Know them by name. Get your workout in, but don’t neglect being social. That way you get noticed as a naturally social butterfly and it won’t seem creepy when you approach strangers.

2.) Approach her

If she’s wearing headphones and in the zone- leave her be.

If not, or better yet if she makes eye contact with you, you have a green light.

-Ask her if you can work in on her machine
Very simple and innocent. Ask her how many sets she has left and if you can work in with her. Be sure to towel off between sets so she doesn’t get grossed out.

-Ask her for a spot
A little more bold, and a little too obvious. Why would you ask her for a spot when there are tons of capable guys around.

But it can be done. I would put on an embarrassingly low amount of weight and pretend to struggle-who knows, you may get a laugh, and it won’t look like you’re trying to impress her.

-Ask her about a particular machine
Woman love using machines that guys would never touch. The leg abductor, the tricep kickback machine, the laying leg curl, you get the picture. Machines you know men shouldn’t be using.
It’s still a great opportunity to strike up a conversation. Ask her if it works, how to do it, does she get sore, etc.

3.) Ask for her name
This is very important because unless you look like Brad Pitt, you probably won’t be taking her home the same day.

And here is where the magic happens…

You leave.

That’s right! You excuse yourself. Thank her for the spot/laugh/tip and you don’t talk to her again.

You see, most girls that you meet at the gym are members. This means they will probably be back, and usually at the same times.

Therefore, you WILL probably see her again.

And when you do, you will say hello to her.

By name.

Do you see what happened? You went from the guy hitting on her at the gym, to the cool, funny, nice guy at the gym.

Completely innocent- and totally in.

4.)Small talk and getting her to laugh

Make sure to smile.

Say hi every time you see her in the gym. Tell her that calf exercise she told you about made you really sore :p (yeah, right).

Tease her for not seeing her enough, tell her she’s been slacking on her workout. That she’s been staying home and reading too many Twilight books and not taking her workout seriously. Anything to make her laugh.

If she defends her workout: Ask her to flex her bicep for you. When she flexes it hard, give it a gentle squeeze- then tell her

“Ok, now flex.” with your coy cocky smile.

She’ll instantly laugh and say “I AM flexing”

Tell her that you stopped working out so much because you started getting too big and were scaring little children.

Anything to make her laugh.

5.) Ask her out

You’re in. It’s time to go in for the kill.

Congratulations, you are no longer the douche that approached her at the gym.

You’re the awesome guy taking her out for her drinks this weekend.

-Good Luck and Happy Hunting

Bravado Living

Tickets are nasty. Not only are you paying a fine, but they give you points which increase your insurance. But if you drive like a red-blooded man, chances are you’re gonna get one. So here’s what you do according to our cop.

If you don't have tits, then here's what you do..

1.) Turn off the car, turn on the interior lights, lower windows (back ones too if you have tints), and then keep your hands on the steering wheel

Cops have a stressful job. They don’t only deal with nice people like you and I, but the majority of their calls are to crazies. Help remove the tension from the situation by showing that you are not going to run, are a rational human being, and understand the severity of the circumstances.

2.) Submit

Every day cops deal with people that argue, fight, and question their authority. Don’t be that guy.

You ever see a submissive dog roll on it’s back to show it’s belly? Be that dog.

Swallow your pride and things will go much smoother for you. So be polite, do exactly what the officer says, and don’t plead your case until the officer gives you an opportunity to.

3.) Charm the Officer

When it boils down to it. Cops are human beings. They want the same things everyone else does. To be appreciated, respected and sympathized with. You show them all three, and you might just get a warning.

But we at The Haute Spot don’t work on “might,” we like sure things. So like we always do- we have given you a script on exactly what to say:

Officer: Do you know why I pulled you over today?

You: (Say this quickly, and don’t let the officer interrupt you until you finish) Yes I do officer, and I completely apologize. If you want to give me a ticket I completely understand, because you are just doing your job, and guys like you keep the bad guys off the street.

Someones heart just melted. Stonewall Jackson has become Little Bo Peep. You have just given the officer everything he could’ve asked for: appreciation, respect, and sympathy. Nine times out of ten, the officer will go back to his car check for warrants. If you’ve got a clean record, he will most likely let you get off with a warning.  Congratulations. No need to thank us.

Now what happens if he still gives you a ticket…

Chances are if he goes to his car before you can plead your case, he’s coming back with the ticket. So don’t let him leave without asking to speak to him. But sometimes, it’s just out of your control. While there’s technically no “quota,” they still get pressure to write a certain amount of tickets. Or the officer may just be having a bad day.

Regardless, you need to protect yourself.

Notice our wording. We never actually admitted to anything. We just admitted to doing something wrong, and apologized.

This is key because admission makes it very difficult to fight the ticket in court. If he hands you a ticket for speeding, act shocked.

YOU: Speeding? I thought this was for my broken taillight (assuming you DON’T have a broken taillight)

Then you can just go on following the advice from our friends at lifehacker

Just a few more things:

1.) Make your case, but continue to be nice. You want the officer to forget you so he’s less likely to show in court- which is an automatic dismissal of the case for you.

2.) Don’t hire a traffic lawyer. Show up yourself. Traffic lawyers are sweat shops. They have so many cases they rarely do anything more then file paperwork for you, and hardly get anything done that you can’t do yourself.

Plus it gives the impression that you don’t care about the ticket, and are probably guilty. Showing up yourself- in a suit- shows personal attention and a perceived innocence, because you care so much about the ticket.

3.) Lastly, don’t forget the dates. The pre-trial and the actual trial. I know it seems basic, but it’s happened before. Mark you calendar and show up on time. If you don’t show up, you’re automatically guilty, so you have to pay the fine and all the points and insurance increases that come with it.

Good Luck and Happy Hunting

This technique involves slipping a $20, $50, or $100 dollar bill  in the hands of a patron with the hopes of getting something in return. I have personally used this technique in three situations that have all worked phenomenally:

1.) Getting into a club where I didn’t know the doorman.

2.) Getting an upgraded hotel room from the concierge.

3.) Ensuring my luggage gets on a plane when I arrived 20 minutes before takeoff

There is a great thread talking about the success of slipping a $20 here.

A smile and a Jackson can soften anyone up

The trick with tipping in this manner is understanding the needs and wishes of the people you tip. You can’t just go around waving a Franklin and expecting better service. Often times they have a supervisor nearby, the establishment’s policy discourages tips, they may not feel comfortable accepting a tip in front of their coworkers. Understanding this you will need to be discrete. You need to help them help you.

How To Tip Properly

We discourage blatantly saying you will tip the patron, flashing money, or dropping a $20 on a counter- this is rude, shocking, and crass. Instead state your request, and ask for their help. Then repeat these magic words:

“If you take care of me, I will take care of you.”

Pulling out your wallet or casually placing your wallet on the counter will help reinforce what “take care of” truly means to you. If they accept:

1.) Grab the bill or bills and fold it in your hand

Fold the bill in your hand and tip discretely

2.) Shake their hand

3.) Exchange the money

Here are a few conversations I have had in the past, the patrons objections, and what I have done to overcome them.

At a club:

Dealing with Bouncers

Bouncer: Are you on the list?

Me: No, I am not.

Bouncer: ::Looking at me and my party of 6:: Ok it’s going to be $20 each.

Me: Is there anyway you could hook us up?

Bouncer: Sorry, you’re all going to have to pay.

Me: Are you sure? If you take care of me, I will take care of you. ::Pulls out wallet::

Bouncer: ::Softening up:: No.. you still have to pay

Me: I’d much rather pay you, then her ::referring to cashier- while opening wallet::

Bouncer: ::Thinks for a second:: Ok, go ahead. ::Opens velvet rope, tells cashier that we’re all ok to go in::

Me: ::Slips the bouncer a $20, escort my group in, enjoy the rest of the night with a smirk on my face::

This was an actual conversation at a Miami club. It was as simple as that. My whole party was escorted in like we owned the place, we saved $100 between the 6 of us, I solidified my reputation amongst my friends for being able to get in anywhere, and we all had a great time.

At a Hotel:

Bellagio Front Desk

What a lot of people don’t realize is that concierges and booking agents have unbelievable power when it comes to giving away goodies- from room upgrades, meal comps, drink tickets, and club passes. Because of this power, this technique works even better at hotels.

First

Research the hotel you are staying at. Familiarize yourself with the different suite upgrades they have available. Then call the front desk ahead of time, ask a few questions, find out if the person you are speaking with will be working when you check in. If they will not be working, call back until you find someone who will. Then ask for their name.

Next

When you arrive for check in, go directly to the guy (keyword- guy) you spoke with on the phone. Remind him of the conversation you had on the phone. When he remembers you, make sure you keep using his name throughout the conversation (this develops a good repoire).

Ask him “Busy Day?”

Service industry people love this question, because it’s a refreshing change of pace to see someone care about their feelings rather than worrying about everyone else’s.

After you soften him up a little bit ask directly which suite upgrade you would like by name.

They will usually quote the standard upgrade price. This is what you will do next.

Here is an actual conversation I had with a concierge in Vegas.

At a Hotel:

Concierge: “Ok sir, if you would like to upgrade your room that will be an extra $165/night”

Me: Please, call me (my name). (Insert his name here) Is there anything else we can do to make this upgrade happen. “If you take care of me, I will take care of you.” ::places wallet on counter::

Concierge: ::looks at the wallet, then pretends to crunch a few numbers in his computer:: Ok (my name), you have just been upgraded to (Inset fancy name here) suite, complimentarily.

Me: Why thank you (insert name here). Do you mind helping me up to my room with my bags?

They always oblige (customer service is always number one in any decent hotel). I then use this time to further increase my relationship with the concierge, pick his brain for any great shows, clubs, attractions, that I must see. He tells me to come back down and he will get me some free passes to everything he can.

I never let him actually carry my luggage, I tell him “don’t worry about it, I just didn’t want to tip you in front of your boss, I know how it works- I used to work the front desk in (insert Miami hotel here).” I then slip him some decent bank roll.

Because of this I was able to stay in a penthouse suite for an entire weekend which would have cost me over a grand for less than $200 a night, including the tip.

You can skimp and get away with slipping a bouncer a $20, or even a $10 if you’re really bold, because by the time he accepts the cash, you and your crew are already half-way through the entrance. But, with a concierge, I would tip generously. They will remember you throughout the weekend and continue to give you great advice, comps, and service.

Last Minute Tips:

-Black guys tend to hook it up the most

-Asian ladies tend to hook it up the least

-Generally guys will hook it up more than women will

And that’s it. Feel free to use this technique at any number of places:

1.) Ticket collectors at sporting events

2.) Baggage handlers

3.) A host at your favorite restaurant

4.) Yacht rental clubs

5.) Rent-A-Car locations

The sky is the limit. You never know what you can get away. It doesn’t hurt to ask. Good luck, and happy hunting.

1.) It must be black and silver.

2.) It must have a leather band (leave the Rolex at home).

3.) It must be subtle.

I saw this beautiful Audemars Piguet Millenary Piano Forte, I was willing to break the third rule. This watch is anything but subtle. Like other Millenary Watches, the Piano Forte has an offset watch face adorned with a mother of pearl piano embellishment. This automatic masterpiece features an oval case modeled after the ancient Roman Colosseum, and a case size (40x45mm) that is much more modern.

Audemars Piguet Millenary Piano Forte

Unforunately, this white gold masterpiece was only released once in 2007, and limited to 500 models. Fortunately, one is going up for auction here. They come with a matching burl wood model piano case to help show off this work of art.

Piano Forte and Case

But after seeing how good this watch looks on the wrist, and how perfect it works for Black Tie affairs, I’m almost considering pulling the trigger and getting one.

The Perfect Dress Watch

Almost. [Hat Tip]

BUY IT Audemars Piguet Millenary Paino Forte $3,000-$5,000 Estimated

Relax. We’re pumped for wedding season too.

BUY IT Deauville Crest Cuff Links By Ralph Lauren $195.00

Highland Park Single Malt Whisky

Highland Park 21 Year Old Single Malt Whisky. 2009′s Best Whisky in the World (whisky for Scottish, Japanese, and Canadian- Whiskey for Irish and American). At least according to the World Whiskies Awards. Described with a fruitful nose, mouth-cooling palate, crystalline sugar taste, waxy mouthfeel, and underlying elements of mint, leather and vanilla- our mouth is watering just thinking about it. But don’t take our word for it- here are the experts:

An irresistible mix of dark grungey smoke and light sweet fruit. If you could barbecue a tin of Del Monte exotic fruits this is what it would taste like. Stunning
Dominic Roskrow

Cedar, forest floor. French toast accompanied by very tannic black tea. Reminds me of amber resin
Liza Weisstuch

The mouth bathes in a rich, chocolaty sweetness, then puckers up with the very drying tannic oak. A drop of water turns it into something delightful – juicy and nicely tingling with a long finish
Robin Laing

Big, fruity nose, dried fruits, dried herbs; waxy mouthfeel, sweet taste, crystalline sugar; mouth-cooling. A cracker!
Charles MacLean

Most whisky snobs would tell you to sip this from a brandy snifter at slightly above room temperature, but we’re big fans of refreshment. Pour it from your decanter, use a tumbler if you’d like, and I know it’s a crime, but throw in some ice and sip it slightly chilled. You’ll drink the next glass properly (right?).

It’s a little pricey at $256, but you can get it duty free for around $100. Just pull a favor from Your Travel Insider- he might give you one of his liquor exemptions next time he’s in the Caribbean.

And we wouldn’t mind a bottle thrown our way as well

BUY IT Highland Park 1984 Vintage Single Malt Whisky $256

The 289-ft. Maltese Falcon, the world’s largest, best designed, and most expensive sailing superyacht, has reportedly been sold for $100 million just a week after we reported the price had been slashed by $40 million. The incredible craft, which had at one point been listed as high as $165 million, was built by Perini Navi for venture capitalist Tom Perkins. The London Times reports Perkins has now found a buyer. “It has taken a while,” he conceded to the paper, noting his profit margin had shrunk somewhat. “It is not the best time in the world to sell it. I can’t tell you anything at all about the buyer. There is confidentiality.” With its three 20-story carbon fiber masts fully rigged the yacht can cross the Atlantic in 10 days. -Hat Tip