All work and no Luxe is no good...

Please pardon our absence we have been very busy enjoying ourselves. And to be honest every minute of it cant be blogged or tweeted. It could be but it wont. Sometimes you just have to be there. If your not there you can catch what is thrown on LuxeKultur.com or on Twitter. OK? Listen faster.

Much respect to http://twitter.com/RWSPENCE who hit Miami Super Bowl weekend and partied with Jermaine Dupri and naked NFL painted Models. We at Luxe Kultur love MIA. Follow RWSPENCE the World Traveler on twitter.


Also another favorite tweeter is the cigar smoking artist onemanbandman Swizz Beats. Always reppin correctly. Not just posing with stale unlabeled cigars for image.

Follow Swizz Beats on twitter http://twitpic.com/THEREALSWIZZZ

PF Flyers are Fly

Its almost time to put the Timbs and ACG's away. Well if your in NJ/NY most of you never put them away just give them a break. As I mentioned before I am not a nike fan and I wear boots less than the average New Jerseyian. I have a thing for canvas and leather casual sneakers. So every spring I need to be on the lookout for something besides a crispy pair of Air Force 1's. Last summer it was Pro-Ked and I all the way from the Jersey Shore to Miami. Great response from the public.






For 2010 I'm feeling the PF Flyer. PF stands for "Posture Foundation" and has been in the shoe game since 1933. What goes around comes around. PF still has classic design but a little more risky than Pro-Ked. You can find PF Flyers amongst the other great designers at Neiman Marcus.

Of course these are the obvious other designer casual sneakers choices like Gucci,L.V. & Ferragamo. As I have stated before if your going to sport a $400+ logo splashed sneakers you should have the belt! As for True Religion sneakers they're cool, but to be worn with True Religion denim only. True Religion and Express jeans is like oil and milk. Try not to over kill with True sneakers,hat,shirt & jeans.

It doesn't matter what you wear its how you walk and your attitude that make it Luxe. Labels cant make up for what anyone lacks. You disagree? Leave a comment and let me know.

Valentines Day Wines: Sweet Lovin'

So Valentines day is coming up, & since this'll be the few minutes I spend thinking about it (boo hoo :'( ) I'll drop some knowledge:

For a lovely lady, something more intimate than a night out and the ubiquitous rose bouquet is needed. After a nice evening, settle down to enjoy each other's company in a warm, candle-lit setting.

For a holiday centered around sweets (& sweethearts), Champagne won't do. You'll definately want to pair those gourmet chocolates with a complementary libation.

One option, especially perfect for white "chocolate", is a sweet lambic-style beer. These fruit infused versions offer a delicate sweetness that plays off of unctuously sweet white "chocolate". A readily available producer, Lindemans crafts various sweet lambics, with prettied, romantic labels. For this occasion, I recommend the Lindemans Framboise (their elegant, Raspberry infused lambic). (<$10).

For milk chocolates, go with a deep crimson, dark-fruited Port-styled wine. From Portugal, the Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Porto's are perfect for the occasion. They present a rich sweetness that will sing harmoniously with milk chocolate, or <80% dark chocolate. This classic pairing is also a great value, as you get the richness of a Vintage Porto, at a fraction of the price. Seek out a 2003 LBV, being from a great vintage it certainly wont disappoint. I highly recommend the Quinta do Noval LBV 2003 Porto.(<$25*).

For seriously dark chocolate with a touch of bitterness, seek out a Tawny Port-styled wine. The intentionally oxidized style presents a sweet wine with a bit of earthy, nutty flavor... a perfect foil to the delicious bitterness of the dark chocolate. Since worthwhile Tawnies from Portugal can get pricey, I recommend an Australian Port (notice the lack of the "o" at the end of "Port", denoting the wines origin as outside of Portugal). The Chateau Reynella Old Cave Tawny Port is an amazing Tawny, sure to please with its subtle raisin and carmelized pecan notes. (<$20**).

If these sweet libations aren't enough for the Mademoiselle's sweet-tooth... well, that's where you, & your Luxe, come in.

Happy Valentine's Day!

(P.s. Ladies: For the meaningful gentleman in your lives, a nice char-grilled rib-eye, Single Malt Scotch (Speyside), Dark Chocolate, and a foot rub = the perfect Valentine's Day.)

*Half-Bottles (12.25oz.) of LBV Porto's are available & are more than enought for two at 20% ABV.

**The delicate, worthwhile 20+ year-old Tawny Portos of Portugal, are amazing pairings for Dark Chocolate as well. ($45-$70)

Brick City Boxing!

Saturday Feb. 6th at 7pm Tomasz Adamek vs. Jason Estrada will take place at The Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Adamek(37-1, 27 KO) is a 33 year old resident of Jersey City who recently beat former heavyweight champ Andrew Golota by knockout in the fifth round. Estrada (16-2, 4KO's) is 29 and from Providence, R.I. These guys are former Olympians and belt holders. Tickets are $39-$253 ringside. http://www.prucenter.com/





Ok I know this isn't exactly Mayweather vs. Mosely, but the night is what you make it. A night in Newark at the Prudential Center a.k.a. "The Rock" has always been eventful for me. The Prudential Center restaurant has room for 350 guests and arena view seats so you eat & drink comfortably while you watch your event. Don't think about sipping water in an arena view seat. These seats are for minimum spending of at least $75(not bad at all). Buy the cheapest ticket and sit here. The menu is a la carte and the custom built wine cabinet boasts over 500 bottles. Expect normal major sporting & concert event prices such as $7 beer & $9 burgers.




A major plus is the Rock is cigar friendly. If for some reason you leave home without at least one smoke stop by the Jimenez Tobacco booth. Just look for the enticing young ladies luring you in with cigars in hand. Here skilled rollers roll fresh Jimenez only quality blends right in front of you. I prefer to be prepared and have my own Rocky Patel's or Barrister "Closing Arguments" but this will do in emergencies.





No smoking inside the Rock, but the outside smoking area is a nice gathering place. Located main floor level so no need to go back down escalators. Cigar smokers flock to one area & cigarette smokers to their corners. Its funny to me every time. Best in the spring, summer or fall being that it is outdoors. Well lit security guarded area a few stories above street level. There are a few flat screens on the wall which I have never actually seen turned on. Enjoy your smoke,your friends and a great view of what Downtown Newark has become. Luxe should be where ever "you" are.

Pics from the Rock outdoor smoking area during intermission at an Alicia Keys concert I attended...






Mayweather vs. Mosley Vegas May 1st.....Luxe

Lifestyle: Step away from the cigar!

Disclaimer: U may disagree with what I'm about to say... if you're on the "wrong" side of things.

On a recent trip with friends to Azucar Cuban Restaurant in Jersey City, NJ. I began to notice differences amongst the crowd of its upstairs cigar lounge. These differences got me to thinking about what it is to be passionate about cigars vs. simply smoking them. I've concluded that there are many types of cigar smokers, but only one type of cigar aficionado. Which are you?

The Good, the Bad, The Ugly:

The Good = THE AFICIONADO

A cigar aficionado is one who savors ALL facets of cigar smoking; from the selection & cut, to the pre-light aroma and taste, to the lighting and smoking of the cigar. For them, the process is intellectual, a learning experience always... requiring a pre-knowledge gained from literature, other aficionados, or, most importantly, experience. Their primary concern is NOT the price of the smoke (whether high or low enough), but the relaxing pleasure to be gained from the taste and aroma of it... its Luxe.

For the aficionado a cigar is NEVER a prop. It is not smoked to denote stature... social, economic, or otherwise. An aficionado will never say "I only smoke [insert brand/appellation here]."

Finally, the cigar aficionado is NOT wholly defined by his relationship with cigars. He/she appreciates a good smoke and the finer points of tobacconalia, but NEVER needs a smoke. Addiction is CERTAINLY NOT a characteristic of the cigar aficionado.

The Bad = THE SMOKERS**** -

A cigar smoker, on the other hand, gains pleasure from the mere act of smoking. There is no delaying this pleasure, so he selects, cuts, lights, & even smokes with haste. He does not contemplate each puff, but simply chases one with another.

A mere cigar smoker will rarely, if ever, explore. This concerns other price ranges or types/producers. This type of smoker might never venture higher or lower than their usual price range, for them the expense defines the experience. Similarly, the "smoker" might only smoke one brand/type of cigar. (Wake up! Nothing happens in a vacuum!)

A social cigar smoker is one who wouldn't know his elbow from his knee, so to speak, when it came to cigars. For them, smoking a cigar is solely a social act done with disinterest for the cigar smoked; their concern is fitting-in and/or looking cool.

Then there are cigar dependants. For this type of smoker, cigars are an escape from some misery. Smoking passes time and numbs their minds... like watching a washing machine. (Hey, sometimes we all need to get away, but don't bring your misery to the cigar lounge... go fix it.)

****If any/all of these characterisations define your cigar lifestyle, STEP AWAY FROM THE CIGAR!!!

The Ugly =

From Left to Right: SeriousBok, Carlton, A.S.R - Undeniably Cigar Aficionados.

:)

[full stop]

Lets Catch a Movie...The Luxe Way

Going to movies will never go out of style. I don't care how big your flat screen is its not bigger than AMC's. Your Bose surround sound cant compare to the IMAX. Being in a room with 100 strangers who all had the same idea on the same night at the same time is always interesting. Normally for that first date the movies was the way to go. But lately Ive been hearing from people ,"I don't wanna take her to a movie everybody does that" or "We cant even talk in the theater". My response is if everyone is doing it then do it better. I'm going to share some simple tips on how to make an average movie night into a great first impression. The Luxe way.





First of all going out begins before you get to your location. Whether it be the movies, restaurant or lounge get gas before you pick her up. She doesn't want to see you get $10 regular. Make sure you have at least a half tank. You never know where you'll end up. As a matter of fact the woman should never be subject to pulling into a gas station. They will notice your tank always full, believe me I know.




Next,most of the time going to the movies is premeditated. You know what your going to see and what time. So go early and get the tickets ahead of time. Later when you enter the theater and proceed past those long ticket lines she'll ask,"Aren't you gonna get the tickets?" Explain you got them already and head to the concession stand. Now here its up to you and your pockets. Some people go to the movies and get cheeseburgers & chicken strips. Do what you do.




The major perk to getting to the movie early is getting the seat you want. And also to get your talk time in. Normally you can get into the theaters 15 minutes before previews start and talking low is still cool during previews. Going to the movies may seem like a quiet evening but your actions speak & make a great impression. This is a timeless pastime that only get repetitive if you do. Be a gentleman,open doors, go the extra yards & be Luxe.




These may seem like miniscule tidbits to some. But the truth is some of you women are satisfied with Applebess, a free movie and some damn popcorn. That's whats offered so you take it and complain. And do it again. Step your standards up!






Speaking of Luxe Movies, Thursday Jan. 28th @7pm at the Blue Door Cigar Lounge its movie night! 90 inch screen surround sound. BYOB,bring your own food & buy a cigar. Come laugh, talk and have a cigar while watching the movie. Next weeks feature presentation will be.....Black Dynamite! Hope to see you.

Bronald Oil & Gas LLC

The first bbm I get this morning is from a friend telling me to checkout this new company, Bronald Oil & Gas. So after my morning red tea I click the link. First I notice the words, "focused" and "long term strategy". Put together usually mean start up and not profitable (yet.) Ok ok why am I reading all this? Now I just want to know the ticker symbol so I can see share price & what matters.



I look to see the Board of Directors and read the names Ronald Williams & Bryan Williams. I click B.O.D. bios and sure enough Bryan "Birdman" Williams of Cash Money Records has begun the beginning faze of his own oil drilling company. Bryan and his brother Roland whose names combined to form Bronald want to explore and develop oil in Oklahoma,Texas,Louisiana & Florida.

This is really a big deal. Its a great vision and really outside the box from music,clothing,cologne & energy drinks. But I'm not to excited yet. I googled Bronald for press releases but nothing from Reuters or AP. Only press from hip hop news sites appeared. Nothing wrong with that but investors don't do research on Miss Info website. Also I would like to ask the Birdman why not go green? Solar panels,wind farms or compost fertilizers? He would probably tell me what I already know,"Oil is where the money at whodie!" These guys have an excellent track record of success & I am certain they have a powerhouse partner and will be profitable.

Stay thinking outside the box people. Anything is possible. Luxe

**My friend learned of this first at http://www.missinfo.tv/ **