They are found in more than two-thirds of Japanese households and visitors to the country have marvelled at their heated seats, posterior shower jets and odour-masking function.

But for the company that has sold over 30 million high-tech toilets, commonly known as Washlets, global lavatory domination remains elusive, especially among shy US consumers.

"It's because of the cultural taboo over talking about toilets," said Hiromichi Tabata, head of the international division at Washlet-maker TOTO, a company that also makes bath tubs, kitchen taps, basins and plumbing fixtures.

"Americans avoid talking about those kinds of things so we can't expect success from word-of-mouth, even if they recognise our products are excellent.

"Many celebrities say they love the Washlet when they visit Japan, but the fervour is temporary," he added.

Pop diva Madonna gushed about Japanese culture during a 2005 visit and pointed to the Washlet as a key draw, saying "I've missed the heated toilet seats" -- the kind of free marketing most companies dream about.

For a nation that claims globally recognised brand names such as Sony and Toyota, the Washlet's relative lack of overseas presence comes as a surprise to many foreign visitors, even if they're initially baffled by its dizzying array of functions and Japanese signage.

In technology and hygiene-obsessed Japan, where restaurants provide a steaming hot towel for customers' hands, they're found in public toilets, office lavatories and over 70 percent of Japanese households.

"We thought that Japanese people, who are clean freaks, would like the idea of the Washlet," said spokeswoman Atsuko Kuno.

But when it hit the market in the booming 1980s, the high-tech toilet wasn't an immediate success in conservative Japan either.

Some viewers were irate over a 1982 television commercial for the newly-released Washlet which featured a girl trying to wipe black paint off her hand with paper, making a mess in the process.

"Paper won't fully clean it," she told viewers. "It's the same with your bottom."

But the provocative marketing eventually paid off by putting the unique toilets into the minds of consumers.

TOTO designed its Washlet by asking hundreds of its employees to test a toilet and mark, using a string stretched across the bowl and a piece of paper, their preferred location for the water jet target area.

The Washlet's functions, laid out on a computerised control panel with pictograms, include water jets with pressure and temperature controls, hot-air bottom dryers and ambient background music.

Another function produces a flushing sound to mask bodily noises -- a hit among the easily-embarrassed -- while some models have a lid that automatically swings open when users enter the restroom.

Others feature seats and lids that glide back into horizontal position, possibly solving gender battles over flipped-up toilet seats in the home.

Business continues to be robust for the toilet maker, whose rivals in the key domestic market include Lixil Group.

In the full-year to March 2012, TOTO posted a net profit of 9.27 billion yen ($114 million) on global sales of 452.7 billion yen, up 4.4 percent from a year earlier.

But only about 14 percent of that revenue figure was from overseas sales.

Despite the challenges in reaching foreign consumers, tapping the hotel market has met with some success, executives say, while China and other East Asian nations have seen growing demand "because they have cultures similar to Japan", Tabata said.

Localising products is also key.

Washlets sold in tropical markets such as Indonesia don't come with heated seats and blast lukewarm water into users' nether regions instead of the hot spray offered in chillier climes.

Despite the Washlet's relatively expensive price tag -- the cheapest sells for about $900 -- TOTO executives figure that liberal Europeans are a hugely promising bet, especially now that a Swiss rival is selling a similar product.

"We expect Europe will eventually get used to the idea of a heated toilet seat with warm water," Tabata predicted.

Monday is World Toilet Day, a day designed to raise awareness of the plight of people around the world without access to adequate sanitation. www.worldtoiletday.org

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Wat Pho is most famous for the huge Reclining Buddha statue it houses. Covering 20 acres, it is the largest Wat in Bangkok. It is technically the oldest too, as it was built around 200 years before Bangkok became Thailand’s capital. It holds the dual honors of having both Thailand’s largest reclining Buddha image and the largest number of Buddha images in Thailand.

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Last month, Lufthansa opened the brand-spanking-new A-Plus Concourse at Germany's Frankfurt International Airport. Why's it so special?

Well, among other things, it's directly designed for the biggest, baddest airplanes out there. We're talking A340s, 747s, 747-8is, and the almighty A380. This week, we'll take you inside and all around this place through which some 6 million travelers will journey each year.

Click here to jump to photos of the concourse >

0500 hours.

The seatbelt sign is on and tray tables are up and locked. The LufthansaAirbus A380 named "Tokio" is on final approach to Frankfurt International and we're inside.

Seat 15K.

It's a window, upper deck, right over the hulking wing of this superjumbo. Looking out, the airport on the horizon glows with the fluorescence of its millions of lights, pre-dawn. Usually we're not super anxious to leave a plane to experience the airport, but Frankfurt is an exception.

Wheels down.

Turning off onto the taxiway, we can already spot the many Lufthansa crane logos that adorn each Star Alliance gate. It's pretty obvious who rules this coop.

Rounding a corner, the A380 aims for its new home on the ground—a long, sleek concourse with gates and facilities designed for its massive dimensions. Whereas the plane squeezes itself into other airports, like buttoning pants two sizes too small, here it finds Frankfurt's just-opened A-Plus Concourse is tailor-made with breathing room. Once we've parked, three jet bridges stretch out to welcome over 500 passengers into these fresh digs.

Yeah, we're pretty excited. New airport smell is second only to new airplane smell. And there is a smell—like a freshly produced toy just unboxed. Our passport is stamped beneath an unfinished ceiling. The exuberance we feel is not unlike that of a person typing "FIRST!" in a blog post comments section.

Willkommen.

Right now, the A-Plus Pier at FRA is the only thing like it in the entire world. That is, a concourse dedicated to the jumbo-est of jumbos. Come early 2013, Emirates will open a 20-gate A380 terminal, but FRA beat 'em to the punch. Lufthansa is so proud of the place that they just launched a full virtual online tour.

A-Plus, with its seven gates and floor space roughly equaling 25 football fields, has two big goals: cut down average passenger transfer time from 60 minutes to 45 minutes and serve as home base for A340s, B747-400s, B747-800is and A380s from Lufthansa and 26 other Star Alliance carriers.

Now consider that each Lufthansa A380 seats 526 passengers, all of whom are milling about this new terminal for a couple pre-flight hours looking for food to eat, duty-free caviar to buy, or a comfy chair to sneak a few winks. Now multiply that passenger number by every new A380/B747/A340 planeload that's also awaiting departure. It could be a crazy place but it's totally not, thanks to good design and forethought.

For them (and you), the A-Plus Concourse has 60 new shops and restaurants, like Hermès, Porsche Design, and what we think of as a duty-free wonderland. There's a Japanese restaurant, patisseries with pretzels, a McDonald's (of course), and five—count 'em—five new lounges. The only things there's not: free WiFi and an abundance of power outlets. You'll have to gain access to a lounge for all that.

Fun Fact: Frankfurt International Airport is the largest employment complex at a single location in all of Germany.

Another Fun Fact: If you'd like to check in to the A-Plus Concourse on Foursquare, it's listed under its German name: "Pier/Flugsteig A."

Disclosure: We traveled as guests of Lufthansa, but rest assured that all photos and opinions are completely our own.

A mobile with an A380 model dangles in the atrium.

You'll know you're in the A-Plus Concourse after passing through this atrium-like area.

Here's a double gate for quick boarding of one superjumbo or two smaller aircraft.

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Earlier this year, the New York Post alerted readers to "the city's first million-dollar parking space" and put the cost of the hot spot at 66 E. 11th St. into proper perspective: Purchasing it would be equivalent to paying a $115 ticket for illegal parking every day for 24 years.

So you're not a celebrity or camera-shy business mogul?

You might not be paying a cool million, but parking elsewhere can be pretty steep, too.

And the cost is only getting higher.

The cost of daily downtown parking in 56 prime central business districts across North America increased — with hourly parking rates growing by 3.7%, according to the Colliers International 2012 Parking Rate Survey, which included covered or underground parking garages.

These price increases are attributed to garage owners and operators using the growing demand for parking as an opportunity to impose modest rate increases.

The survey also found one city's astounding hourly parking rate at as high as $40, while the average monthly U.S. median unreserved parking rate is $166.26.

Million-dollar spaces aside, it's no surprise that it's back to the Big Apple for some of the priciest monthly, daily and hourly parking rates in the country, according to the survey.

(Note: All of these numbers reflect the median parking rate in these cities, unless otherwise noted.)

Top U.S. Monthly Unreserved Parking Rates
The customer is guaranteed a space upon entry.

1. New York City (Midtown): $562
2. New York City (Downtown): $533
3. Boston: $405
4. San Francisco: $375
5. Philadelphia: $313

Least expensive among the U.S. cities surveyed: Bakersfield, Calif., and Phoenix, both at $55.

Most surprisingly high priced North American city? Calgary, Alberta in Canada. The average monthly parking rate there is $439 (in U.S. dollars). That's the third highest price in North America, much higher than super-expensive U.S. cities such as Boston and San Francisco.

[InvestingAnswers Feature: 10 of the Most Extravagant Homes in the World]

Top U.S. Daily Parking Rates
The customer is permitted to park for a full day and is not affected by early-bird restrictions. 

1. Honolulu: $42
2. New York City (Midtown): $38
3. Chicago: $35
4. Boston: $33
5. San Francisco: $29 

Remember, those are the median rates; on the high end, parking spaces in Honolulu and Midtown Manhattan go up to $75 per day. The least expensive U.S. city in the survey? Greenville, S.C., at just $6 per day.

Top U.S. Hourly Metered Parking Rates

1. New York City (Downtown): $20
2 (Tie). New York City (Midtown): $19
2 (Tie). Chicago: $19
4. Philadelphia: $13
5. Los Angeles: $12.50

Those with money to burn can spend as much as $40 per hour in Midtown Manhattan. The cheapest? Again, Greenville, S.C., where the median hourly rate is just 75 cents. Two Florida cities — Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach — were next cheapest, at just $1 per hour.

[InvestingAnswers Feature: 12 Luxuries Only Billionaires Can Afford]

Top NFL Parking Rates

Beyond regular parking rates, prices tend to spike at popular events. Not part of the Colliers International survey — but football fans would say of equal importance — is which NFL team has the priciest pigskin parking. Here are the top five, according to the 2012 marketing team report from fancostexperience.com. (We won't even get into what a cold beer and a hot dog will run you.)

1. Dallas Cowboys: $75
2. Chicago Bears: $49
3 (tie). New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks: $40

The NFL average cost for parking is $27.35.

The cheapest? Parking for an Arizona Cardinals home page will only run you $10. The Detroit Lions are next at $11, while the St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota Vikings charge $15 to park.

You Have To Find A Spot First

While the price to park steadily increases, it seems like the odds of finding city street parking are decreasing. According to a New York Times story, San Francisco is attempting to reduce frustrating circling time by employing new technology and the good old law of supply and demand. The program raises the price to park on its most crowded streets while lowering it on its more desolate ones. The results have been positive.

Never mind the price, it's having to parallel park at all, you say? There's nothing like a narrow space and a line of impatient cars in the rearview mirror to add to the task.

Well, if you know your car's turning radius, the distance between the front and the rear wheels, the distance of your front wheel to the corner of the front bumper and the width of the car you want to park behind, you're in luck: A multistep geometry equation can tell you whether your car will fit. Easy as that. This comes from an NPR report, "The Formula for Perfect Parallel Parking," which profiled University of London mathematician Simon Blackburn's "The Geometry of Perfect Parking."

No time for crunching variables? Then repeated practice it is. May China's Han Yue, the world record holder for tightest parallel parking job, be your inspiration.

SEE ALSO: The 10 most dangerous states for drivers >

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One summer’s day 28 years ago, Alain Ducasse—the man dubbed the “godfather” of French cuisine—was rescued half-paralysed from a mountainside in the Alps, sole survivor of a light plane crash.

It was another three years before the chef could walk unaided: “I had to imagine and write down recipes, and have others execute them for me,” the 56-year-old told Le Monde newspaper in a recent interview.

“The accident changed my way of doing the job.”

This month Ducasse fetes a quarter century at his first three-star eatery, the Louis XV in Monaco, by hosting a November 16-18 pow-wow for 240 chefs in the principality—of which he became a citizen in 2008.

Today at the helm of a global empire with 21 Michelin stars to his name, Ducasse pioneered a radical new culinary business model, sharing his secrets with an army of disciples of the Ducasse school of haute cuisine.

The scale of the Monaco event, devoted to the Mediterranean-inspired cuisine he long championed, is a sign of his clout on planet food.

The chef has fingers in dozens of pies from space flights to the Eiffel Tower, luxury hotels, publishing and training programmes, under the umbrella of Alain Ducasse Entreprise (ADE), which turned over €68 million (RM265 million) last year.

Ducasse is not alone at the top table of French cuisine—the profession already has an “emperor” in the person of Paul Bocuse, 86, and a “chef of the century”, Ducasse’s longtime rival Joel Robuchon, 67.

But his Louis XV has trained hundreds of chefs in the Ducasse style, acting like an incubator to create what France’s top food critic Francois Simon dubs “an extraordinary network”.

“There is no space left on the world map to put our guys,” jokes Franck Cerutti, Ducasse’s longtime ally and the chef of the Louix XV.

“Jet chef” is another of Ducasse’s nicknames, from the time he spends travelling the planet inspecting his two dozen eateries, from Paris to Tokyo or Las Vegas, with Qatar to follow next year.

Born to a family of farmers in the southwestern Landes region, Ducasse talks of being strongly influenced by his grandmother’s home cooking.

Impatient by nature, he quit catering school “because it wasn’t going fast enough,” says Cerutti, learning his trade in the kitchens of nouvelle cuisine pioneer Michel Guerard, as well as Gaston Lenotre, Roger Verge and Alain Chapel.

“Better to have turbot without inspiration, than inspiration but no turbot,” runs his motto.

His style? Though Mediterranean at its roots, he adapts to each venue with a “glocal” approach — both global and local — turning out camel pastilla in Doha, and classic Parisian for the Eiffel Tower’s eatery, the Jules Verne.

Many who know him say his plane crash — the year of his second Michelin star — was decisive in shaping his insatiable character. Cerutti disagrees: “He was like that before.”

In 1987, he arrived in Monaco, earning three stars in 1990. He arrived in Paris in 1996, and clinched three stars there too the following year.

In 2005 he became the first to hold three stars in three different places by adding New York, a triumph all the sweeter since the restaurant had been panned by critics when it opened five years earlier.

Ducasse makes no secret of the fact he is no longer personally in the kitchen of his numerous eateries — whose creations he tastes and rubber-stamps, or not. How could he be with an empire to run?

“He’s like the Steve Jobs of gastronomy,” jokes one colleague.

His skill, according to Marc Haeberlin, chef of the three-star Auberge de l’Ill in France’s eastern Alsace region: “The ability to spot talent, and to duplicate the secrets of his cuisine.”

The critic Simon is more measured: for him, Ducasse’s strategy has brought a kind of “coldness to a cuisine that has to be imitable, therefore less demanding in terms of research.”

SEE ALSO: Meet The Chefs Who Work For The World's Most Powerful People

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As reported previously, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel were married last month in Puglia, Italy. Here’s a look inside the Italian luxury resort, Borgo Egnazia.

The fairy tale village resort blends traditional aesthetics with contemporary luxury and hosts four restaurants with an extensive choice of delicious cuisine, tennis courts, 18-hole golf course, three outdoor swimming pools and a beautiful spa. Guest rooms offer comfort with all the modern conveniences and are elegantly decorated in cream. The purpose built village hosts 28 three bedroom villas with their own private swimming pools for that extra luxury retreat and are still in close proximity to the hotels facilities.

Nestled among ancient olive trees on Italy’s Adriatic Coast, Borgo Egnazia opened in 2010 as a year-round luxury property. The unique resort, influenced by the the rich history and culture of the region of Puglia, is built entirely of indigenous materials traditional to local architecture. The “Borgo” or village consists of a 63-room hotel, as well as private villas and townhouses, ideal for romantic getaways or family retreats. Inspired by the rich cultural traditions of its coastal surrounding yet thoroughly contemporary in style, Borgo Egnazia is a masterpiece of luxury, architecture and design.

Guests to the 5 star resort have access to play on the stunning 18 hole championship San Domenico Golf Course, relax in the 19,000 square foot VAIR spa, whose treatments incorporate ancient Apulian traditions and remedies, or relax poolside in one of the hotel’s three outdoor swimming pools. Guests can also take private cooking classes, enjoy local Apulian cuisine, play tennis, visit the private beach or take day trips to nearby picturesque towns such as Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Justin and Jessica’s wedding and the days spent running up to it were enjoyed with the high-end facilities, luxury service and amazing views at the hotel. A day that has been described as magical in the surrounding of this stunning retreat nestled amongst live groves is one that they will never forget.

“The celebrations began earlier this week, with an evening bash at the beachfront resort of Riva Dei Ginepri. During the soiree, partygoers — which included guests like Saturday Night Live alum Andy Samberg and Biel’s former 7th Heaven co-star, Beverly Mitchell — soon took in the majestic Southern Italy scenery, traditional Neapolitan music and a dazzling 10-minute fireworks display,” reported Celebuzz.

E! Online first reported that the wedding set the couple back $6.5 million. The cost factors in if Timberlake and Biel rented out the entire hotel, paid for their guests’ flights, and hired security staff, not to mention helicopter tours for their guests to take in the Italian surroundings.

See photos of Borgo Egnazia in Puglia, Italy – The Resort Where Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel Were Married.

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If I had a magical wardrobe, its door would be in Parma. Yes, Parma, the land of mythical maialini raised on the whey of hand-molded parmigiano to make prosciutto perfection.

No, my wardrobe would not transport me to the heady rooms of a prosciuttificio nor hallowed halls of a parmigiano factory. My Narnia is a land known as Gazzabuglio, a tiny shop in the sides streets of Parma's centro storico.

Gazzabuglio is a play on the word "guazzabuglio," Italian for disordered mess. This guazzabuglio, however, is very calculated. Part made-to-measure dress atelier, part fantasy closet, Gazzabuglio is packed ceiling-to-floor with an ever-evolving parade of vintage dresses, handbags, shoes, hats, and scarves carefully chosen by Letizia Sabini, a woman so elegant and chic that I don't know if I should curtsy or applaud.

The designer names are (almost) overwhelming: Chanel, Roberta di Camerino, Cavalli, Carven, Balenciaga, Gucci, Louis Vuitton. But my yearly pilgrimage brings me here for only one: Hermès.

Since Letizia opened her boutique in 1977, she has been one of Italy's top purveyors of vintage Hermès bags and scarves, representing every era. Nevermind the shop's haphazard charm. Collectors quickly understand that Gazzabuglio is for the very serious. Bags and scarves are well researched and in mint condition, and Letizia will discuss every detail of the bag and where it came from.  For the novice like myself, every visit to Gazzabuglio is a lesson in lore and fact. Stitching, numbering, signatures — Letizia unfurls Hermès knowledge as she does each scarf. I am mesmerized.

Most of the time, I do not know if it is Letizia who is bewitching me or if my head is spinning from the colors of the scarves. The solution is easy: I pick out my scarf and walk across via Giuseppe Mazzini into Borgo San Giacomo, the tiny two-street area filled with clothing and furniture shops, for the only afternoon repose in Parma: prosciutto and melon from one of the many foodie spots along Strada Farini. Narnia has never tasted so good. Gazzabuglio; Borgo XX Marzo, 13, Parma, Italy; +39-0521-283-379.

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SEE ALSO: The Most Expensive Shopping Streets In The World

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This week the Board of Supervisors of San Francisco will consider amending the city's building code to let micro-apartments become even more micro.

At present, dwelling units must be a minimum of 220 square feet of living space plus bathroom, kitchen, and closet — roughly 290 square feet in all.

The amendment [PDF] would reduce that minimum to 150 square feet of livable space, for a total area of 220.

If you could trade stock in real estate terms, now would be the time to buy cozy.

The proposal has stirred some debate in recent months. Developers say it's the natural response to soaring rents and a growing single population.

The average studio in San Francisco now rents for more than $2,100, and roughly two in five city residents live alone. Tenant advocates fear the new rule might displace affordable housing and set a dangerously cramped new living standard.

Like it or not, tiny seems here to stay. Several California cities — including San Jose and Santa Barbara — already permit 150-square-foot minimums.

Seattle has tested out micro-apartments, and earlier this year New York announced a pilot project for a micro-unit rental building. Cities outside the United States, like Tokyo and Paris, went snug long ago. A new micro-loft development in Vancouver, with some units as small as 226 square feet, rented out within a month.

Bay Area developer Patrick Kennedy of Panoramic Interests believes tiny dwellings will "get huge" for a number of social, economic, and planning reasons. Cities benefit from the expanded tax base, neighborhoods benefit from the infusion of people, residents benefit from the social dynamics of density. At a time when public budgets are crunched, says Kennedy, micro-unit buildings are also "a way of civilizing an area without using city or state or federal funds."

Micro-apartments feature prominently in a number of Panoramic projects. SMARTSPACE SoMa is a 23-unit building at 28 Harriet Street in San Francisco, with most apartments around 300 square feet, that has ample bike storage but no car parking. SMARTSPACE Mission is a larger micro-unit building at 9th and Mission, right across from Twitter, that Kennedy hopes will be done in 2014. If the city approves the new 150-square-foot minimum, he'll build micro-micro units too.

Kennedy believes tiny apartments are particularly well-suited for the active, car-free, single Millennials already coming to American cities. SMARTSPACE Mission will include spacious common areas that encourage residential camaraderie and balance out the spartan quarters themselves. Elaborate lobbies, a café, and a lounge area — kind of like micro-apartments meet the Ace Hotel, he says.

"You can have a lot of people in a space, but the impacts are all on the plus side of a ledger: you don't have any traffic, you just have people taking transit, riding bikes or walking, and spending money in a new neighborhood," says Kennedy. "I also think a higher concentration in one spot creates an interesting social dynamic that enhances the lives of the people there."

Kennedy sees four main challenges in designing an attractive micro-apartment. The first is where to put the television, which Panoramic resolves by including a flatscreen with every unit.

The next two are where to put the bed and dining room table. Panoramic address both problems by installing a modernized, Queen-sized Murphy bed that doubles as a daytime table. The fourth problem is storage. Panoramic units have high ceilings — some nearly 10 feet — which creates plenty of room for loft storage above the closet.

Panoramic also invests a great deal of money and effort into sound-proofing its units, says Kennedy. Thicker walls, acoustical mats, additional sheet rock, specially made electrical outlets. He likes to think a person can have a Primal Screaming therapy session without waking their next-door neighbor.

"High-density places need high-density sound-proofing," Kennedy says. "A small place can be quite pleasant provided you don't have to listen to your neighbors."

Still Kennedy recognizes there are natural limits to human confinement. He says the micro-apartment "sweet spot" is probably about 220 square feet, and that 160 is getting close to the minimum endurable standard. The biggest factor in tenant responses to micros is the type of lifestyle that's lived outside the apartment. "One-sixty is not a good size for a shut-in," he says.

SEE ALSO: 10 Sleek Space Savers That Are Perfect For A Tiny Apartment

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The New York social season is already in full swing, but it's never too late to join one of the Young Members circles.

Besides being able to fill up your social calendar with annual bashes like last week's Apollo Circle Benefit, the main reason young aspiring socialites and arts patrons join these societies is to mingle with the city's most well-heeled bachelors.

Whether you're into the art aficionados or bow-tie clad socialites, we've got you covered. We've rounded up a list of top organizations you can join to find the right type of guy for you this winter!

This post originally appeared on Guest of a Guest.

Met Young Members

Ages: 21-35

Membership fee: $70/year and up

Boys: The MET young members circle is your best bet for finding the largest selection of boys. The membership fees range from $70 to $20,000, so you'll have plenty of boys from all different tax brackets. As it is one of the more inclusive junior philanthropy circles in the city, you should expect to find down-to-earth members with full-time jobs.

The perks of this membership (and the reason many members choose to join), is the Young Members Party. This annual bash is known for being one of the rowdiest parties, where members come together for a night of drunken debauchery. Most boys will show up in after-work attire (some even in jeans), and it's a great way to meet single boys and get a good feel of the art patron world.

Go here to join.

Met Apollo Circle

Ages: 21-39

Membership fee: $1,000/year

Boy: As one of the more prestigious committees in the Young Members circles, you're going to find the NYC bachelors who are considered the cream of the crop in the Apollo Circle. This one tops our list as their giant fete is tonight and well, why not?

In addition to a number of invitations to private collection viewings, gallery talks, evening receptions, and curatorial tours, you get discounted tickets to the Apollo Circle Benefit Dance and reservations in the exclusive Trustees Dining Room. If you're looking to attend some of the most important events on every junior social's calendar, this is the circle for you. Often referred to as the Upper East Side matchmaking club, expect to see bow tie clad boys being dropped off in a fleet of black Escalades and town cars.

Go here to join.

The Whitney Contemporaries

Ages: 21-40

Membership fee: $500/year

Boys: Forget the opening cocktail receptions or gallery walks around the city, this membership guarantees you an invite to one of the best parties of the season. Their annual art party brings together artists, fashion designers, and other celebs in support of the museum's Independent Art Programs.

Past guests included Bradley Cooper, Emma Roberts, Mariah Carey, Kate Bosworth, and Olivier Theyskens. The Whitney Contemporaries crowd is definitely one of the circles with the most clout, which should give you an idea of how trendy the boys will be.

Go here to join.

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Thanksgiving is a cherished American holiday, when families from sea to shining sea gather to celebrate and give thanks over a bountiful meal.

For the travel-minded, Thanksgiving weekend also provides the perfect opportunity to get out of town, where manic Black Friday disasters are but a faint memory.

See the 11 best locations to celebrate Thanksgiving abroad >

Fortunately, traveling outside the United States doesn’t mean those who love a traditional meal need go without. While not necessarily acknowledging the cultural importance of the holiday, an increasing number of restaurants abroad are preparing special menus and dinners to accommodate those who crave them.

Chef Laurent Manrique, of the New York restaurant Millesime, will be spending the holiday in Paris, where he has been invited by chef Flora Mikula to cook a traditional Thanksgiving meal at her hotel restaurant Auberge Flora. The pair will offer a special menu, including roasted turkey and a scallop and cheddar fondue appetizer. “I am excited to bring to Paris a taste of Thanksgiving and allow those visiting Americans or adventurous diners to celebrate with us abroad,” says Manrique.

Though most restaurants participating in the trend stick primarily to the culinary framework of turkey, stuffing and pie, there are those who fuse the American foundations of the dishes with local techniques and spice. For the third consecutive year, Marrakech’s La Maison Arabe, where Americans make up 40 percent of the clientele, won’t just be serving a Thanksgiving meal at its Trois Saveurs dining room — its cooking-class program will teach guests how to make it (complete with a turkey cooked in a tagine). Even Etihad Airways will offer Thanksgiving-inspired options in addition to regular in-flight menus on the big day. We’ll say thank you to that.

More articles from Departures:

• Top Special-Occasion Restaurants
• World's Top Foodie Getaways
• Last-Minute Winter Vacations
• Top How-To Vacations
• Top Winter Travel Escapes

Aqua Expeditions, Peru

Trade in Thanksgiving football for a visit to the Amazon. Luxury river-cruise outfit Aqua Expeditions will arrange an unforgettable South American outing aboard one of its tricked-out water vessels before wining and dining guests with a Peruvian-inspired Thanksgiving meal.

Spend the day photographing some of the area’s unique wildlife or meeting with fishermen of the Ucayali River and then sit down to a dinner of baked turkey stuffed with breadfruit, a starfruit chutney and cocona side dish and sweet humitas for dessert.

Three-night itinerary (including meals and tours), from $2,700

866-603-3687

aquaexpeditions.com

Auberge Flora, Paris

Chef Flora Mikula is starting a new trend at the restaurant in the Auberge Flora hotel by inviting some of her favorite culinary masters to cook a meal in its kitchen.

The first of these partnerships will take place on Thanksgiving Day, when Laurent Manrique, chef at the Carlton Hotel’s Millesime restaurant in New York, will be on hand to serve guests and locals alike a time-honored American culinary experience. Mikula and Manrique’s menu will feature turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce as well as less traditional fare like a celery-and-pear soup.

Rooms, from $178; dinner, from $60

44 Bd. Richard Lenoir

33-1/47-00-52-77

aubergeflora.fr

CUT, 45 Park Lane, London

At Wolfgang Puck’s first European restaurant, the world-renowned chef will celebrate Thanksgiving with a variety of additions to its steakhouse menu, which is particularly popular with London’s robust American population.

Dinner on the day will feature a traditional meal of turkey with all the trimmings, plus quirky pie sliders (from pumpkin to pecan) and the 1863 cocktail (whiskey, port, lemongrass, ginger). “We wanted to create a special menu so our guests who are spending time in London on Thanksgiving could get a taste of home or an opportunity to experience an all-American tradition,” Puck explains. The pie sliders and cocktail will be available at Bar 45 from November 19 to 25.

Rooms, from $610; dinner (excluding drinks), from $133

45 Park Lane; 44-20/7493-4545

45parklane.com

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Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc gives his guide to the best restaurants in the world.

It takes an ensemble of things to make a good restaurant, food alone is not enough. For me a good restaurant should have a good ambience, it should have warmth, a true food and people culture, staff who care and food that makes you dream. It should offer a full experience and you need all the scenery and all the culture around the food to make the restaurant very special.

Service is important of course. Once there was a tremendous amount of interference when dining out, whereas now the modern guest doesn’t want to be disturbed. He wants to sit in a chair like he would sit in a lemon soufflé and just let go. For him intelligence in the restaurant’s design is more important than something showy – he wants to enter a space where you feel well. I hate gold taps, thick carpets, pompous sommeliers and pretentious, ‘fashionable’ surroundings. Fashion only lasts a few seconds and then it disappears. When you go in a space and it’s quietly modern and you feel well that’s what it’s about.

I’ve been in a restaurant where I was interrupted what felt like 72 times and I wanted to kill everyone around me. I don’t want constant interruptions or to have to choose from 25,000 courses – I just want to choose what I want to choose and I don’t want to be told what to eat. Now, the modern guest feels luxury is claiming back his own time and his own space and not being told what to do or what food goes with what wine. In my restaurants we ask if you want to be disturbed or not. If you don’t, we put the menu on your table and you can see what you’re eating; if you do, we can tell you everything you want to know. We give options and to me that’s true luxury.

Bras - Michel et Sébastien; Laguiole, France
The greatest dining experience I had was at Michel Bras, in Laguiole in the Pyrenees. All of Michel’s food comes from local surroundings: he’s got the best cattle, the best of everything. His food is refined, modern, intelligent, rich and deep. When you eat there the dishes have layers after layers of flavours and I really love it. The restaurant is slightly rustic, with lots of wood and lots of warmth. It’s not an environment that’s trying to make some fashion statement. You feel well there. It’s one of the precursors of modern cuisine, definitely. I’ve eaten some extraordinary meals there.

elBulli; Roses en Cala Montjol, Spain

Ferran Adrià, the Spanish chef behind elBulli. Image: Alamy

I know it’s closed now but I have to mention elBulli because one of the greatest dining experiences I ever had was there. Ferran Adrià is a great philosopher and a great cook; he cares about where food comes from, about local issues and seasonality; he’s a multifaceted talent. I think he’s creating the techniques and the gastronomy of tomorrow. He’s got such a huge intelligence and daring. I remember when I was there I had 42 dishes and, believe me, I could have had 72. (That’s why I’m called the hungry Frenchman.) It was fascinating. Was it the best food I ever had? No. Was it the most extraordinary dining experience I ever had? Yes.

Le Louis XV - Alain Ducasse; Monaco

Image: T.Dhellemmes

Le Louis XV, the Alain Ducasse restaurant in the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, is an extremely luxurious space. It’s a highly convoluted environment and the restaurant is like Versailles – I’ve never seen so much gold in my life - but he’s managed to make it really warm and modern. The first time you go it’s quite impressive in a negative way because you ask yourself how you can eat in such an incredibly gold-plated environment. But when you actually sit down the service is wonderful and the human side takes over. I love the restaurant. Ducasse cooks Mediterranean food extremely well; he has a deep, deep understanding of cuisine. In fact, he’s probably the chef with the greatest understanding of Mediterranean food at the highest level - I’m talking about haute cuisine here – and his delivery is extremely modern but still retains a degree of classicism because he comes from a classic school. The food is absolutely brilliant and I always have amazing meals there.

Noma; Copenhagen, Denmark

Image: Niels Quist / Alamy

I haven’t been yet but I have to compliment Noma in Copenhagen. Noma represents a new trend: a new trend of going back to the past; going back to purity; going back to simplicity. But it can be highly complicated to achieve simplicity. All of the messing around with the look of a plate is gone and you’re at the heart of food. You are steeped within it. I love [head chef] René Redzepi’s philosophy. It’s definitely my next destination.

The Fat Duck; Bray, England

Snail porridge at The Fat Duck. Image: Dominic Davies

I think Heston Blumenthal has been very instrumental in redefining a certain aspect of gastronomy and The Fat Duck in Bray is a wonderful restaurant. Heston is a lovely young man, completely focused with a good philosophy and a good approach to food and he’s a highly creative person with a great sense of humour. I always have wonderful meals at The Fat Duck although sometimes there are certain things I don’t need, like earphones playing the sound of the ocean when I’m eating seafood. I don’t want to be imposed upon – I have my own imagination. But he’s done a brilliant job and he’s shown a new leadership in terms of gastronomy. His is a form of gastronomy which reconnects with its own heritage and which cares about people – which trains and nurtures young talent rather than breaks them in front of television cameras.

Born in Besancon in France, Raymond Blanc began his career in England as a waiter before opening the restaurant Les Quat' Saisons in Oxford in 1977. Most recently Raymond Blanc was made culinary director for Eurostar . The role has seen the chef design a new menu for Business Premier passengers, which focuses on sustainable, seasonal and responsibly sourced ingredients.

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Tequila has firm roots in British drinking culture, typically served in a shot glass with a smattering of salt followed by amnesia and a wince. But it's taken a while for mescal, its stronger and tastier forefather, to emerge from the Mexican countryside. In fact, it's only just become popular in metropolitan Mexico itself.

Mescal is the original agave spirit of which tequila is just one version, and genuinely "artisan" in that the vast majority is still made in dusty-floored family distilleries no larger than a double decker bus. It's made by slowly roasting the agave heart in underground pit ovens (which gives the finished product a smoky flavour), then mashing them to extract the juice which is fermented and distilled. Nothing else is added, the only extra being naturally-occurring yeasts that float in from the outback. Its simplicity means the people who make it think of mescal as more like wine than a spirit, despite it having an average ABV of 50%.

In the southern Mexican countryside they actually call mescal "vino" as it's drunk in wine glasses before, during and after dinner as it has been for centuries. They must have a riot in the wilderness, as this nectar creates a funky buzz - it's uplifting while most alcoholic drinks are depressants. After a while it's even stimulating. The taste is unparalleled – briny, musty and peaty like some scotch - but the warmth it creates is the main charm.

With all that it's got going for it, it seems strange that it's been the preserve of pastoral old-timers for so long, but the majority of urban Mexicans are aspirational souls who prefer newness to tradition. However, in the last 15 years this mindset has changed and a new generation has embraced its home-grown culture and started shouting about it.

While visitors to Mexico have long known of and enjoyed mescal, about five years ago word hit San Francisco, New York, and then Berlin. Now the drink has come to the UK and a couple of dedicated "mezcalerias" have now opened in London (Qui Qui Ri Qui in Hackney and Wahaca's new Charlotte Street mezcalaria). You can also find it in good Mexican restaurants, although it's by no means spreading like wildfire - importing it requires dealing directly with tiny distilleries, many of whom can't afford the trademark and branding required to actually export.

If you do find yourself heading to a mezcalaria, arrive replete. Always sip it (if you ask for a slammer you're likely to be barred) with a side of chilli-sprinkled orange slices, although roasted grasshoppers or fried larvae are more popular back in Oaxaca. Lengthen the experience with cold Mexican lager and plenty of water. Have no preconceptions when it comes to flavour (Qui Qui Ri Qui's idiosyncratic tasting notes include phrases such as "lighter fuel and barbecue sauce") but you're likely to get smoke and chilli notes.

You can test a mescal's quality by rubbing a bit on the back of your hand - if it goes sticky it contains unnatural sugars. A pure, craft mescal shouldn't even give you a hangover (I can verify this, kind of), and ask to have a good look at the bottle you're drinking from - it will usually be hand signed and plastered with colourful, abstract Zapotec graphics.

Also, get in there quick. UK mescalheads (their term, not mine) are already worried the spirit will go the same way as tequila - watered down and industrialised. Large investment groups are already building huge factories to produce up to 100,000 litres a day – your average family distillery churns out around 3,000 annually. For an experience that's more Oaxaca coastline than first year frat party, try it very soon.

This article originally appeared on guardian.co.uk

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The cost of Thanksgiving dinner has gone up over the years. It averaged $34.56 in 2002 and now is nearly $50. But depending on where you live and where you shop, your family could spend less than $35 for turkey and all the trimmings this year — or nearly than two and a half times that amount.

The American Farm Bureau Federation identified the 12 basic grocery items used to make a standard Thanksgiving meal for ten. Based on cost-of-living data calculated by the Council for Community and Economic Research, 24/7 Wall St. determined how much this meal would cost at an inexpensive supermarket in the most inexpensive city in America, and what it would cost at an expensive supermarket in the most expensive city.

According to C2ER, the urban area with the lowest overall cost of living is Harlingen, Texas, where prices for all goods are roughly 80% of the national average. Located a few miles from the border with Mexico, Harlingen has a generally low-income or poor population. As of 2011, more than one in three residents were living below the poverty line. The median household income was just $32,714, compared to the national median household income of $50,502.

Harlingen, Tex.
> Store: Walmart
> Total price: $33.13 (33% lower*)
> Turkey price: $14.08 (37% lower)
> Sweet potatoes price: $0.60 (81% lower) 

We asked a Harlingen reporter to see how much a standard Thanksgiving dinner would cost at the local Walmart. Walmart is widely regarded as one of the least expensive places to buy groceries nationwide. While a local grocery store may have lower prices, Walmart fairly represents prices at their lowest nationwide.

According to the AFBF, a basic Thanksgiving dinner for ten includes a 16-pound turkey, 12 rolls, a 1-pound relish tray of celery and carrots, a half-pint of whipping cream, 14 ounces of cubed stuffing, three pounds of sweet potatoes, one gallon of milk, 12 ounces of fresh cranberries, one pound of green peas, one 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix, and two pie shells. Also needed are small amounts of miscellaneous ingredients, the average national cost of which is $3.18.

At the Harlingen Walmart, these goods could be purchased for just $33.83, which represents a savings of $15.65, or 32%, compared to the AFBF’s national average. A Harlingen resident shopping at Walmart would save the most on the $14.08 Riverside brand 16-pound turkey. The national average price of a 16-pound turkey is $22.23. While the national average price for three pounds of sweet potatoes is $3.15, the Harlingen resident paid just 60 cents for Louisiana sweet potatoes, an 80% discount.

Manhattan, NY
> Store: Whole Foods
> Total price: $80.48 (60% higher*)
> Turkey price: $40.21 (81% higher)
> Sweet potatoes price: $4.47 (41% higher)

On the other end of the spectrum, C2ER identified New York City’s borough of Manhattan as the most expensive urban area in the country. The cost of all goods and services there is an estimated 230% of the national average. Median income in the borough is more than double that of Harlingen, Texas. Because 24/7 Wall St. offices are located in New York, we were able to survey prices at a nearby Whole Foods — one of the higher-priced national supermarket chains — to see how much that same Thanksgiving dinner would cost a Manhattan resident.

While we did not always find the identical portion sizes, even the smaller portions of items listed by AFBF were more expensive than the national average. Without adjusting for size, the total cost before sales tax was $80.48. A 14-ounce tray of carrots and celery cost $4.99, while the national average price for a 16-ounce tray is 76 cents. Three pounds of sweet potatoes cost $4.47 — $1.32 more than the national average, and more than seven times the price in Harlingen. A 16.15-pound Whole Foods free range turkey cost $40.21, well more than the entire meal at the Harlingen Walmart.

Menu Items By Price and Location

*Included in the AFBF’s calculation are small amounts of miscellaneous ingredients used to make a Thanksgiving meal, including coffee, onions, eggs, sugar, flour, evaporated milk and butter. Due to the small size, we were unable to calculate them. As a result, the difference between the national average and the prices for the two locations does not take them into account.

SEE ALSO: Two That Are Foods Making Thanksgiving More Expensive

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As amusing as it was to watch William Shatner’s dramatic tale of a fried turkey gone wrong for State Farm this month, we thought it might be useful to provide some grounded tips this Thanksgiving.

Deep-frying a turkey can yield incredible results: a glistening bird with golden-brown skin that’s cooked perfectly in minutes. But anyone who’s watched a YouTube video in which a deep-fried turkey goes up in flames should understand that the technique is no joke.

Done right, you could be filling your plate in an hour. Done wrong, you could be eating Jell-O at the ER. Here, Food & Wine’s deep-fried turkey tips (use at your own risk!) 
 
1. Test to see how much oil you really need. Do not fill the pot with oil yet. Using cold water, measure how much liquid should be put in the pot to cover the turkey without overflowing onto the burner.
 
2. Go outside. Turkey frying should only be done outdoors, on a flat and level surface—not in an enclosed area (like a kitchen or garage) or on a wooden structure (like a deck)! Also, remember that oil is also hard to clean off of concrete. Make sure to clear the area of children, pets and intoxicated relatives.
 
3. Use a fresh bird, or fully thaw a frozen one. The minute any moisture from the turkey hits hot oil, the oil will start to splatter and can cause a spillover effect, starting a fire.
 
4. Skip the stuffing. You’ll have to keep the stuffing on the side when frying a turkey. Michael Symon’s stuffing muffins with lemony mushrooms and pine nuts, or butternut squash with corn bread, are fantastic. Also, remember to remove the giblets from the bird’s cavity before frying.
 
5. Lower the bird slowly into the oil. Do not drop the turkey into the deep-fryer.
 
6. Do not move the pot. Are you Homer Simpson? Adjusting a vat of hot oil is incredibly dangerous.
 
7. Stick around. Never leave the turkey unattended. It can only take a moment for something to go wrong.
 
8. Don’t start drinking until after the oil has cooled. Better to be alert until this bird is cooked. 
 
9. Wait to carve. Let the cooked turkey rest for at least 30 minutes, in order to retain the hot juices.
 
10. Keep heavy blankets nearby for emergencies. Water will not extinguish an oil fire, it will only spread the ignited oil. A wool blanket will help put out flare-ups.

More from Food & Wine: Terrific Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

More from Food & Wine: Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dishes

More from Food & Wine: Fast Thanksgiving Recipes

More from Food & Wine: Ultimate Thanksgiving Recipes

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Sony is not the first company to market with an ultra-high definition TV, but it will be the first to provide its owners with something to watch.

Samsung, Toshiba, Sony, LG and Sharp are all hoping that UHDTV will be the next big thing. Promising four times the resolution and detail of existing HDTVs, each of the companies is either currently working on or has already brought an 80-inch+ model to market. However, as with a number of emerging technologies (such as NFC payments via smartphones), there is very little support for them at the moment. With the exception of a YouTube channel, there is no suitably high-definition content available for all these UHD TVs (so called because they offer an 8.3 megapixel display of 3840×2160 pixels) although these TVs can convert existing HD content by multiplying the number of pixels by four to fill their gigantic screens.

Therefore, Sony’s Bravia XBR-84X900, already boasting an 84-inch screen, passive 3D and a number of apps including YouTube and Netflix, will also be the first to offer a UHD content delivery system pre-installed which, according to an unnamed company spokesperson who spoke to tech site the Verge, will include a number of full-length Hollywood films.

Like Samsung and LG, Sony’s first UHD TV is already available in selected retailers ahead of a global push as the holiday season continues. However, unlike its direct competitors, Sony also happens to be one of the world’s leading record labels and Hollywood film studios, giving it direct access to multimedia content that others can only dream of. Whether this will be enough of a differentiating factor for potential early adopters remains to be seen, as does Samsung’s and LG’s response.

The Sony Bravia XBR-84X900 is available now, priced at $25,000. The price includes free delivery and in-home set-up. Also, Sony provides in-home consultation prior to set-up to ensure personalized installation solution and personalized technical support.

Here’s reviews from the Internet:

“Of course, the downside of this new TV—apart from price—is that there is limited native 4K content that can take advantage of the TV’s higher resolution. Currently, Blu-ray doesn’t support 4K output, and neither does broadcast TV. For most of us, digital photos are probably the most widely available 4K content, although YouTube supports 4K video. Sony executives say they expect more 4K content to become available in the future.” – Consumer Reports

“The edge-lit panel wont’ be delivering full HD passive 3D entertainment to living rooms until later this fall, however. While orders can be placed less than 24 hours from now, shipments will have to wait until some undetermined day in November.” – from Engadget

“One hurdle for Sony to overcome: there’s barely any video available that’s shot in 4K, though there’s a 4K YouTube channel, some movies and movie theaters are making the shift, and Sony’s TV can upscale traditional 1,920×1080 HD video to 4K. Another hurdle: 4K resolution is too high to perceive unless you’re sitting very close to the screen, by some measurements. The XBR-84X900 is a passive 3D TV, meaning that watching 3D requires only polarized-light glasses that don’t require batteries or synchronization with the TV itself.” – from CNET

“We got a closer look at the TV at a small event in New York City, and there were definitely a few gasps when the first footage — of an orchestra, of all things — came on screen. We spent a few minutes watching the TV’s montage of 4K video, and nearly everything we saw looked fantastic (other than the weirdly low-res volume display, that is). It sounded good, too, thanks to a ten-speaker array on the TV.” – from The Verge

Press Release:

SONY ANNOUNCES PRICE AND AVAILABILITY OF THE XBR-84X900 – 4K TV

Sony Electronics’ first TV capable of displaying 4K images debuted at IFA on August 29 and made quite a splash. The questions on everyone’s minds have been, when we can get it, and what will it cost? Today, at CEDIA, Sony announced that the most innovative TV that the company has ever produced will retail for $24,999.99 and be available at select Sony Stores as well as specialty electronics retailers nationwide.

What: The new TV, model XBR-84X900, is equipped with a 4K (3840 x 2160) LCD panel that delivers an image four times the resolution of Full HD and coupled with its integrated speaker system, provides the most immersive picture and sound experience ever available for the home theater.

Key Features:
- 84-inch, 4K LCD Panel

- Dynamic edge lit, LED backlighting

- Three-chip, 4K X-Reality Pro picture engine

- 4K upscaling

- 10 Unit Live Speaker System

- Passive Full HD 3D Capable

- Network connectivity, including the full Sony Entertainment Network suite of services

When: Pre-order – September 6, 2012
In stores – November 2012

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There’s big news in the luxury fashion world — Jordi Constans has been named the new CEO of Louis Vuitton, replacing Yves Carcelle. Carcelle’s relationship with the brand is not set to end – as he is slated to become vice chairman of the forthcoming Foundation Louis Vuitton, a Frank Gehry-designed art museum slated to open next year in Paris. He’ll also continue to sit on the executive committee and undertake “strategic missions” alongside Bernard Arnault, according to WWD. Here’s Vogue with more:

Jordi Constans has officially replaced Yves Carcelle as CEO at Louis Vuitton. The Spanish businessman joined the French fashion house last year and was always slated to take over from his predecessor at the end of 2012, after spending 12 months familiarising himself with the brand. He is also set to become a member of LVMH’s executive committee. – from Vogue

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Is it safe to use Wi-Fi hot spots with my smart phone while traveling abroad?

Trip Doctor’s Answer

If you live in fear, as I do, of racking up exorbitant international roaming charges on your smart phone, it can be tempting to hop on to a hot spot to do your browsing and e-mailing.

But though most of us know to avoid doing our online banking, say, via the free Wi-Fi connection at a public park, it might come as a surprise to learn that paid, password-protected networks put us at risk, too — including those found at cafés, airports, and even hotels.

And although many of us exercise caution with our computers, we are often guilty of leaving our phones and tablets exposed — a phenomenon that James Lyne, director of technology strategy for the British security-software developer Sophos, calls the “smart-phone invulnerability complex.”

According to Marian Merritt, Internet safety advocate at Norton by Symantec (maker of Norton AntiVirus), the two main risks you face when using a hot spot are having someone track your online movements via the network you’re logged on to or trick you into using a “fake” hot spot, either by offering it up for free or mimicking the name of a legitimate one.

In both instances, a hacker can potentially see your passwords, e-mail, social networks, bank accounts, documents, and more. Here’s how to keep this sensitive information safe.

Set up your phone’s security.

Switch off the wireless connection when you’re not using it. Also, don’t forget that your device, especially if it’s an Android, is vulnerable to malicious software. Norton, ESET, and Sophos all offer good mobile security and antivirus apps for smart phones.

Use long and strong passwords.

Make your passwords difficult to hack — and unique, so if one is stolen it can’t be used to unlock other accounts. Use a digital password manager if you have trouble remembering them all; Lyne recommends 1Password and LastPass.

Make sure the network is legit and encrypted.

Don’t assume that a hot spot is real just because the name that pops up in your phone looks correct. If you’re at a hotel or café, ask a manager to confirm the name of its network — and that the network is encrypted (i.e., locked and password protected). While online, stay on encrypted channels by using the website prefix https (rather than http).

Use a VPN (virtual private network). 

Even if you’re on a password-protected network, there’s still the possibility that someone will intercept your transmissions. To ensure absolute privacy, use a VPN service, which basically creates a network-within-a-network just for you.

Boingo offers a VPN through its subscription plans (from $9.95 a month) that lets you access more than 500,000 global hot spots. The new Norton Hotspot Privacy service ($49.99 a year) will also route all your traffic through a private connection.

Buy a data plan.

As a general rule (unless News of the World had you in its sights), your cellular network is secure. Both AT&T and Verizon have recently introduced affordable global data roaming packages: AT&T gives you 120MB for $30 a month; Verizon offers 100MB for $25. So when in doubt, stick to your wireless carrier.

By the Numbers

Proportion of social-network users who reported their accounts hacked:

1 in 10 in 2011
1 in 6 in 2012

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Japanese artist Yoko Ono has collaborated with Opening Ceremony to design a menswear collection inspired by her late husband, John Lennon.

A collection of drawings created as a wedding present for Beatles singer John Lennon in 1969 entitled “Fashions for Men” has inspired Yoko Ono’s quirky foray into menswear design.

Concept store Opening Ceremony, which recently launched in London’s Covent Garden, will stock the 18-piece collection of from November 30. Highlights include suit trousers with a hand silhouette sewn over the crotch (approx £210), a jumper with eyelets cut out around the nipples and a battery-operated lightbulb bra which can be worn underneath said top (£160).

Liverpool-born Lennon and Ono collaborated together on an album just weeks before he was assassinated in 1980. “I was inspired to create ‘Fashions for Men’ amazed at how my man was looking so great. I felt it was a pity if we could not make clothes emphasizing his very sexy bod,” Yoko told WWD .

She rather un-modestly continues: “So, I made this whole series with love for his hot bod and gave it to him as a wedding present. You can imagine how he went wild and fell in love with me even more.”

Each piece from the collection, which also includes hoodies (around £50) and two styles of boots has a run of just 52 items. A softcover book comprised of Ono’s drawings accompanies the collection, as well as sweatshirts and posters decorated with her sketches.

“We loved the idea of sort of celebrating the holidays with Yoko with this collection” said Opening Ceremony co-founder Carol Lim, while fellow founder Humberto Leon explained: “I think she just fell in love with John’s body and wanted to show off all of the parts of his body that she loved. There’s something so beautiful about that sentiment. And we’ve realized these designs in pretty actual terms of how she drew them.”

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This post originally appeared on Zagat's Buzz Blog.

Give thanks this holiday season — to the chefs who are saving you from cooking for the family, that is.

Thankfully, the Big Apple is providing its residents dining options that will make you wish Thanksgiving were every day.

We've rounded up a list of hot spots where you can enjoy festive, seasonal dishes all day long after the parade. Just be sure to make those reservations now, as Turkey Day is traditionally one of the industry's busiest.

Back Forty

This East Village Thanksgiving prix fixe features a traditional bird along with options like roasted delicata squash and wild sockeye salmon. And don't forget to save room for dessert, because who can pass up heirloom apple pie? Seatings are available from 2-8PM, and it's $60 per person.

The Details:190 Avenue B # 1;212-388-1990

Del Frisco's

From noon to 9 PM this Midtown steakhouse will be serving up a special three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving menu. Eighty dollars will get you holiday favorites like butternut squash soup, apple sage stuffing and pumpkin cheesecake. And if you feel like tackling dinner at home, they're here to help — a selection of signature sides will be available for takeout so you can focus on not burning the bird.

The Details:1221 6th Ave.; 212-575-5129

Edi & the Wolf

Make your way over to this East Village Austrian restaurant to celebrate the holiday with chefs Eduard Frauneder and Wolfgang Ban's three-course prix fixe dinner. Enjoy dishes like roasted duck with sweet potato purée, spaetzle with wild mushrooms and Brussels sprouts and a sweet ending of pumpkin pie and champagne ice cream. Seatings are available from 3 PM-12 AM, and it's $45 per person.

The Details:102 Ave. C; 212-598-1040

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Sure, there are a number of things you've probably done to save money at hotels. Maybe you signed up for a loyalty program for the free WiFi and room upgrade ("when available"). Perhaps you booked at the respective hotel's web site to secure the "best guaranteed rate".

Meh.

You're probably thinking: Tell me something I don't already know. Well, as a travel writer for the past ten years (on a tight budget, for that matter), I'm divulging my best secrets. Some tips are common sense, some are things you might not have ever thought about.

Either way, the following advice is guaranteed to have you save $$$—without feeling ghetto about it.

Book a Sunday Night Stay
Easy math. If business travelers stay Monday to Friday, while leisure travelers occupy Friday and Saturday, leaving on Sunday, that means Sunday check-ins get very little love in the hotel world, thus lower rates prevail.

Thirsty? Head to the Gym
The last time I paid $6 for a bottle of water? Ten years ago. To save on those crazy prices, head to the fitness center, where complimentary bottles are usually offered. If it's a mid-range hotel, they'll likely have a water cooler, so bring an empty bottle and fill'er up.

Avoid Room Service
It seems obvi, but people order room service then wonder why their $20 hamburger from in-room dining suddenly costs $29! It's becoming more common for hotels to charge a service fee and/or flat delivery rate (if so, skip that "additional gratuity" line). And, depending on the hotel, service fees can range from 10 to 20 percent. So it's a good idea to just go to the hotel restaurant, lazy. (HC Ed Note: We let this one slide for budgetnistas, but we still totally love room service!)

Book Brand-New Properties
New hotels generally offer fantastic introductory rates. Before you book a hotel at your destination, see what hotel or resort has just opened. Some of these places won't be on sites like Hotels.com yet, so you'll have to do research. Also, you'll get better service at a new hotel as staff will be eager to please.

Book Through a Flash-Sale Site
For even deeper bargains on hotels, book with a flash-sale site. You have limited time to reserve (generally one week), yet the rates are often ludicrously unbeatable. For instance, my site Out Escapes offered rates at ME Cancun for $169 per night (including high season) and we threw in a $500 resort credit on top of that. Other sites like Jetsetter (while they're still with us) and SniqueAway are options as well.

Analyze the Amenities
Always, always check out the hotel web site for surprise benefits. For instance, free long-distance calls are becoming a trend at hotels in Mexico, Caribbean and Central America (like Palace Resorts in Mexico and Grace Bay Club in Turks & Caicos) but they're never really promoted. Some hotels and resorts also offer complimentary fitness classes, lobby lounge Happy Hour (yes, free booze, like Sheraton, Kimpton, and Andaz's Wine Hour) and check-outs later than noon. You can't assume the front desk will tell you all these things.

Pick Up the Phone
Call the hotel directly. Ask for a great rate. You'll be surprised how much wiggle room there is. In fact, I can't believe some people just pay the rack rates without calling for a better deal. There's a reservations manager on staff who basically expects you to ask for a discount. While you're at it, and if it's true, tell them you're celebrating a special occasion (like birthday or anniversary). This may get you an upgrade or bottle of wine. Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills sends a bottle of champers to your room at no charge!

Did you know that? Betcha didn't!

This post originally appeared on HotelChatter.

SEE ALSO: 15 Hotels For The Trip Of A Lifetime

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