Here’s one thing I promise you won’t hear during the media blitz surrounding this week’s PGA Championship:

How you can play the host site, Kiawah Island Resort’s Ocean Course, at a 49 percent discount.

No, you don’t have to play in oppressive heat and humidity — you can score this discount during prime seasons.

You don’t even need to be a resort guest.

You just have to take advantage of a little-known policy change regarding replay rounds.

Previously, you were unable to schedule replay rounds on the resort’s marquee Ocean Course – you could only make a same-day request, with no guarantee you’d get it.

Now, even non-resort guests can book Ocean Course replays in advance – and a “replay” of Kiawah golf can take place on any of its courses; you’re not locked in to the one you just played.

This means you can play another of the resort’s four courses first, then “replay” the Ocean Course for $175 as opposed to the non-guest rate of $343, a savings of 49 percent.

Not bad, especially considering golf package guests must pay a $120 surcharge to play the Ocean Course and/or $175 to replay it.

If you’re planning on heading down there, keep in mind the course will be closed for aerification on August 20th and again for overseeding between October 29-November 2.

This post originally appeared at Golf Vacation Insider.

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Managers at Edinburgh airport appear to have been learning the intricacies of public relations at the feet of Argyll and Bute council, quickly if belatedly reading the chapter marked: The Lessons of Martha Payne.

With all the deftness of a fully-laden Boeing 747, the airport today executed a sharp u-turn on their decision on Tuesday to cover up and then ban a poster carrying a widely-celebrated nude by Picasso from their international arrivals lounge.

This morning, courtesy of the Times, it emerged that the airport's new owners Global Infrastructure Partners had reacted very hastily to a handful of complaints about a large advert for a new Edinburgh festivals exhibition featuring Picasso's Nude Woman in a Red Armchair, which went up there last week.

Apparently, the nude's bare breasts – the poster was deliberately positioned in prime site near the arrivals gate - were regarded by at least one woman passenger (and others) as not the kind of welcome she expected in Scotland. So the airport placed a white vinyl cover over the offending area, as a temporary measure before it was removed.

Buying that site was the biggest single item of marketing expenditure by National Galleries of Scotland for their new exhibition Picasso and Modern British Art which opened on 4 August at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in time for this month's Edinburgh festivals.

John Leighton, director general of the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS), which runs the gallery, said the airport had also asked for it to be removed, and replaced with something less controversial. He was nonplussed by the controversy. Speaking before the airport relented, he said:

It is obviously bizarre that all kinds of images of women in various states of dress and undress can be used in contemporary advertising without comment, but somehow a painted nude by one of the world's most famous artists is found to be disturbing and has to be removed.

I hope that the public will come and see the real thing, which is a joyous and affectionate portrait of one of Picasso's favourite models, an image that has been shown around the world.

There were several reasons why Leighton was taken aback. The image had been used heavily and without complaint on the London underground for the same show at Tate Britain earlier this year. And it was given prior approval by the airport's managers and their advertising company JC Decaux.

Happily for the National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh airport has learnt the lessons which Argyll and Bute council did back in June when they banned the now world-famous and celebrated Neverseconds blog on school dinners by their pupil Martha Payne, and then lifted the ban in less than 24 hours.

The National Galleries of Scotland had been now wrestling with what to do next: the advert took up a large chunk of the advertising budget for the Picasso and Modern British Art exhibition, and there is little time and money left to get approval from the Picasso estate to find a suitably strong new Picasso to replace it. A spokeswoman explained:

The problem is that the Picasso estate has control over the majority of images in the show, and it would be quite a lengthy period of time to get that approval. We'd only just got that ad placed at the airport for the month so it's quite frustrating for that reason.

Apparently it was all down to "confusion" at the airport.

In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, an airport spokeswoman said:

We have now reviewed our original decision and reinstated the image. The initial decision was a reaction to passenger feedback, which we do always take seriously. However on reflection we are more than happy to display the image in the terminal and we'd like to apologise - particularly to the exhibition organisers - for the confusion.

As well as returning the image to its original display we also hope that the interest assists in further promoting the Picasso and Modern British Art exhibition at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art to the many visitors in Edinburgh at the moment.

Leighton has had one wish granted. He said before the ban was lifted he hoped the public "will come and see the real thing, which is a joyous and affectionate portrait of one of Picasso's favourite models". Thanks to the airport, word of the exhibition is, metaphorically at least, now flying around the world. But then Martha could've told anyone that. Her site has now had more than 7.6 million hits.

This article originally appeared on guardian.co.uk

Now meet the 10 biggest art collectors of 2012 >

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The world's biggest youngest billionaire is Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, but who else is young and flush with cash?

Bankrate took a look at published reports and compiled the top nine, other than "Zuck," who are younger than 35 and at billionaire status.

While some inherited their fortunes, most continue to work hard for their money in various fields.

Mark Zuckerberg

Age: 28

Net worth: $17 billion

It's common knowledge that the world's richest young billionaire is Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg.  At 28, his net worth is around $17 billion, landing him at No. 35 of Forbes' list of billionaries.

That's just shy of what Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page are worth ($18.7 billion each), who at 38 and 39, respectively, are still considered young by most people's standards.

Bankrate.com

Fahd Hariri

Age: 31

Net worth: $1.3 billion

He is the son of late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and, along with the inheritance left from his father, earns his money though construction, real estate and investments.

Bankrate.com

Ayman Hariri

Age: 34 

Net worth: $1.3 billion

Like his brother, Fahd Hariri, Ayman Hariri received a sizable amoung of his late father's wealth (along with his three other siblings).  

He oversees the construction division as a board member of Saudi Orger, a construction, telecom, and real estate conglomerate.

Bankrate.com

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With interior photographs by Jonathan Becker, tour the inside of ultra-exclusive London nightspot Loulou’s at 5 Hertford Street, London. For any expat traversing the London nightlife scene, Loulou’s may be the equivalent of walking Downing Street and believing that you can somehow talk your way inside. Loulou’s is located inside Robin Birley’s 5 Hertford Street membership club — within a rougey maisonette along Mayfair’s Shepherd’s Market. Interiors were done-up in a modern day Mad Ludwig’s townhouse with node sof African Queen and Truman Capote lent by designer Rifat Ozbek who orchestrates a series of lounges, drawing room, Loulou’s nightclub and signature restaurant that’s currently London it-club to be.

With 5 Hertford Street in Mayfair Robin Birley has updated the classic London club for a new generation. This brand new London members’ club opened on the 11th of July 2012 in Shepherd Market in an amazing Bordeaux-coloured 23,000 sqft 18th century townhouse.

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Miranda Kerr, Orlando Bloom’s wife, gets naked except for boots in the September edition of Harper’s Bazaar US, lensed by photographer Terry Richardson. These boots are made for walking, and that’s just what they’ll do one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you…

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PARIS (Reuters) - If, like French fashion house Balmain, you can sell a ripped cotton tee-shirt for more than 1,000 euros, you might wonder if there's any price your well-heeled customers won't pay.

It's a question the luxury industry has been posing for years as it skipped through the financial crisis in diamond slingbacks - House of Borgezie, 120,000 euros ($148,000).

"There is a tendency among the most high-end buyers to forget about cost. They want the best. They want what they want," said Michel Chevalier, author of Luxury Brand Management.

It is the most expensive brands, dubbed "absolute" luxury - among them Hermes, Van Cleef & Arpels and Bottega Veneta - that are growing the fastest of all, thanks to emerging market demand, particularly from China.

According to Bain research, the "absolute" segment has grown 6 percent a year, outperforming the general luxury market, since 2000. It now accounts for 40 billion euros of the 191 billion euro luxury market and is expected to grow faster than other segments through 2014.

"There is limited supply of these products," said Citigroup luxury analyst Thomas Chauvet of prestige and vintage cognacs and champagnes, which come from just a small region of France. "This is a fantastic opportunity to increase prices."

Analysts say prices in the luxury industry have surged from 2001 to 2011 and will keep rising faster than broader prices. Thomas Mesmin at Cheuvreux estimates that prices for fashion and leather goods rose 62 percent in that period, while watches and jewelry have risen 78 percent. Euro zone inflation has totaled just 26 percent over the 11 years.

Much of the rise in luxury prices occurred before the 2008 crisis, but prices have been rising again since the second half of 2010. In 2011 Cheuvreux estimates that luxury prices rose 7 percent across the board.

Prices for champagne, leather goods, jewelry and the like have been particularly buoyant for the past two years.

A Hermes Cape Cod watch that sold for 1,300 euros in 2009 now sells for 2,200. A bottle of Moët & Chandon Imperial Rosé that sold for $60 in 2010 in the United States now fetches $75.99.

LVMH, the world's largest luxury brand, has been especially assertive, raising prices in its Louis Vuitton and high-prestige champagne lines by up to 15 percent in 2011. Chauvet says systematic price increases at LVMH account for a third of its revenue growth.

POWER PRICING

One analyst noted that LVMH frets over the entry price for Louis Vuitton bags every year, knowing that too high would alienate some customers, but too low would cheapen the brand.

"The entry price point at Louis Vuitton is agonized over," said the analyst. "I am told it is the single most important decision they make all year."

This pricing strategy contrasts sharply with lower-end fashion, where brands such as Gap are offering big discounts to attract bargain hunters and keep revenues up.

"Top luxury will cost more, while mid-priced fashion will cost less," cashmere specialist Brunello Cucinelli, who floated his eponymous company in June, told Reuters.

These prices could go up even more if leather and crocodile prices rise in 2012 due to the drought now affecting the U.S. Midwest, as they did in 2011 when harsh weather in Australia helped push up skin prices.

In truth, the rise in commodity prices is likely to be only a small contributor to price rises. The best brands, including Louis Vuitton, many champagne houses, Hermes and Chanel fragrances, have operating margins of 40-50 percent and gross margins well over 60 percent, so they could comfortably absorb cost rises if they were minded to.

Margins will instead get wider as more luxury houses pull their products from department stores and set up their own flagship outlets, taking with them retail margins that can be 2.5 times the wholesale price. They can also then shield their brands from the dirty business of regular discount sales.

"No one wants to buy something rare and expensive and find out three months later it's selling for half off," said Fflur Roberts, head of luxury at Euromonitor. "This doesn't engender respect for a brand. And luxury is about perception."

The question that many luxury retailers now face is how quickly to increase prices, especially in emerging markets like China, where prices are already 50 percent higher than in Europe because of taxes and import duties.

That gap is not sustainable and could inhibit luxury market growth in China if Chinese customers, who also account for roughly a third of sales in French stores, begin to feel they are being ripped off in their own markets.

The answer, it seems, is not to cap prices overseas but to let rip at home.

Thus LVMH is likely to raise prices in Europe 10 percent this autumn, says Chauvet, to rebalance the China premium.

($1 = 0.8124 euros)

(Additional reporting by Antonella Ciancio; Editing by Will Waterman)

DON'T MISS: 16 Hotels That Are Worth Checking Into For Their Restaurants Alone >

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How do you like this commentary so far? Is it exceeding your expectations?

Granted, it might be a bit soon to say. But judging from my email inbox, the question isn’t unusual.

In the past few weeks, I’ve received: an invitation to complete a guest satisfaction survey about a recent hotel stay; a request to take a survey from the board of directors at my condo, asking about amenities and services there; both a request for feedback and a reminder about the request for feedback from GEICO, regarding a recent claim; and, though not a survey, a welcome to the Toys R Us “family,” which we were required to join when sending a present to a friend who registered at Babies R Us. (I guess that means we now are obligated to RSVP whenever we get a survey, or maybe, instead of inviting us to a special sale, they’re going to invite us to a family reunion.)

I remember when a hotel would simply offer an unobtrusive feedback card, which guests could fill out and leave behind if they chose. Now hotels, airlines, rental car agencies and coffee shops all want you to fill out online surveys, letting them know how well you liked your experience. I recently used OpenTable to make a dinner reservation for my wedding anniversary. Not only did the restaurant want my feedback, but OpenTable wanted to know how the restaurant was, too.

Amy Laburda, who books travel for our firm, also gets an array of feedback surveys. These usually entail at least one follow-up, often asking if the first email was received and if the traveler has had time yet to answer a few questions about their delayed flight or their upgraded rental car.

All this reminds me of Ed Koch. The former New York City mayor was famous for going around the city, asking anyone and everyone: “How am I doing?” To my knowledge, he did not stalk those who declined to answer.

I do appreciate the focus on customer service. When I was younger, I often heard lamentations that customer service was dying or dead. Now, however, we have over-compensated. And it’s important to remember that customer service is not precisely the same as customer satisfaction.

I question whether the statistics gathered by these customer satisfaction surveys are sound. The people who take these surveys will generally be the people who are angry about something and the people who enjoy taking surveys. Besides, customers who do feel a burning desire to share their reactions to a product or service have more choice than ever in doing so. They can leave reviews on vendor websites like Amazon or review-centric websites like TripAdvisor or Yelp. They can call or email the establishment. They can leave Facebook comments. They can write blog posts. They can tweet.

But companies want know what we think more than most of us want to spend time telling them. Customer opinions matter. On services like Hulu, you can instantly say whether or not a commercial is relevant to you by clicking yes or no. You aren’t even required to have experienced what is being advertised.

Though an occasional experience, good or (more likely) bad, will get average customers roused enough to voice their opinion, many of us just want to get on with our travel, our meal or our purchase.

Even given the limited pool of survey participants, the data-gathering serves a purpose. It is helpful to managers, who want to know every time there is a problem so that it can be corrected quickly. But all this survey-taking could leave some customers, who had been perfectly satisfied, retroactively disgruntled by multiple emails asking for their time and attention.

Some companies offer something in exchange for completing their surveys, such as a discount code, coupon, or entry in a drawing. But more and more, feedback surveys are becoming an expectation rather than an occasional occurrence.

As a business owner, I want to know how I’m doing too, and I’m happy to hear from anyone who feels moved to tell me. That’s one reason, among others, for the “Contact Us” form on our website. But I’m not going to track you down after you visit our offices, and I won’t just keep asking.

I’m too busy ducking “How am I doing?” as it comes at me from every side.

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College professors have long been told that they must publish or perish. The universities that print their books are facing a different ultimatum: stop wasting money on ancillary activities, like publishing, or perish.

While universities around the world operate presses devoted to scholarly work, only the University of Chicago, Oxford and Cambridge University presses are generally believed to be profitable. The rest rely upon their university to fund them through the tuition, endowments, and, in some cases, state subsidies that finance general campus operations.

This practice is beginning to fade. Facing rising costs, about half a dozen schools have closed or suspended their presses within the past three years. The University of Missouri is the most recent example of school officials confronting their problematic press. The school’s new president, Timothy M. Wolfe, has announced that the university will no longer continue to shelter its unprofitable publishing arm. The University of Missouri Press now must operate without the $400,000 annual subsidy it previously received. To make ends meet, some paid employees will be replaced with students.

Predictably, professors are horrified. Without amply funded university presses, many fear that the dissemination of knowledge will cease and academia will fall into a Dark Age. Arguing that a university is intended to both educate students and provide faculty an opportunity to engage in important intellectual discourse, college professors claim that this sort of intellectual discourse cannot be sustained by an unsubsidized or commercial publishing house.

I am not arguing that research unsuited to commercial publishing has no value, nor am I arguing that professors should slavishly grade papers into the night without a spare minute to advance their specialized fields of knowledge. I have one simple objection to the current system: It is unconscionable for universities to subsidize their faculty’s publications while students are racking up ever-higher debt to pay skyrocketing tuition.

Professors would likely argue that students benefit indirectly from the money they involuntarily contribute to university presses, with better-informed and better-known faculty to teach them. In reality, however, the professors who spend the most time on research and publishing are often the ones who spend the least time teaching undergraduates. Those undergrads help fund the tenured faculty’s research while being taught by graduate assistants and non-tenure-track adjuncts.

Fortunately, there are many ways professors can share their knowledge without financially burdening their students. One way is to rely on private and government grants to finance the publication of scholarly works.

Alternatively, professors might consider making their work more accessible to a larger audience in order to attract commercial publishers. Clear, understandable writing can make even a technical topic interesting to a non-technical reader. And as self-publishing becomes easier, academics themselves could pay for the cost of publishing. They can then recoup their investment if their books sell. At the very least, such self-publication should count for tenure or promotion.

Also, if what truly matters is academic exchange, not nicely printed book jackets with flattering author photos, professors can find cheaper ways to communicate. Progress does not require printed books. Electronic publishing is cheaper, though not always cheap enough. Rice University replaced its traditional press with a digital-only one, but was forced to shutter its virtual doors after four years due to costs that were still too high.

Regardless of how professors publish their work, it should not be done at students’ expense. The University of Missouri administration has wisely taken away its press’ subsidy. That this is such a rare and newsworthy event says a lot about what’s wrong with the way American universities are managed.

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Meet The Birdcage Aquarium Duplex — an aquarium slash cage featuring an “improbable encounter between a bird and a fish” by Constance Guisset. Via here.

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American Girl has unveiled a new doll, Caroline Abbott. The historical character doll is based on the charter of a 9-year-old living in Sackets Harbor, New York, during the War of 1812. The new American Girl Caroline doll (costing $105), books and accessories will be available on September 4, 2012, through American Girl’s catalogue, at americangirl.com, and at American Girl retail locations.

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Lensed by Karl Lagerfeld, Dior Homme has released its new Fall/Winter 2012 advertising campaign. Styled by Jacob K, the Dior Homme campaign features Daisuke Ueda, Hao Yun Xiang and Nan Fulong. What do you think of the new styles — comment below?

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Maison Kitsuné has opened at NoMad, New York. A true French shopping experience in the heart of Manhattan, at the ground floor of the new Hotel NoMad. Curated by Maison Kitsuné founders Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki, the store includes the entire Maison Kitsuné women & men’s collections, the new J.M. Weston x Maison Kitsuné collaboration and selected products from WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie, Monocle, Michel Vivien and Aesop.

Inspired by the Haussmann architecture of the 7ème arrondissement, the nouveau-classique grace of the store evokes the ambiance of an old Parisian apartment. The towering steel framed oval windows light up the classic custom made furnishings and craft a stark contrast between the silk carpets, polished marble, mosaic tiles and patterned wood flooring.

Maison Kitsuné
1170 Broadway
New York, NY 10001
United States

All pictures courtesy of Clément Pascal

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When Copenhagen’s venerated restaurant Noma announced its closure for renovation, René Redzepi, its star chef, had a plan. A Taste of Noma pop-up eatery opened at Claridge’s hotel in London, not so coincidentally coinciding with the summer Olympics, and tickets for the 3,400 available sittings sold out in just two and a half hours.

See which restaurants made the list >

In the last few years, pop-up retail shops, salons, art galleries and bakeries have taken over hotel lobbies, train stations and department stores. But none of them have had the zeitgeist-y appeal of pop-up restaurants. Equally loved by restaurateurs and diners—and especially embraced by bloggers and tweeters—they are having a moment.

Often, but not always, publicized by social media like Twitter (see the hashtag #popup), Foursquare and Instagram, they usually take over preexisting spaces like a park, a rooftop, a plaza or an existing restaurant or gallery. They rely on buzz. Occasionally they channel local cuisine, like the Secret Teacup Pop-Up in a Clapham, UK, farmhouse, or the fondue tram in Zurich, Switzerland, which leaves the scent of bubbling Gruyère in its wake.

Other times they aspire to give diners a theatrical sense of another place and time; Brighton in Manhattan’s Eventi hotel recreates a Brighton Beach boardwalk-inspired experience. Some, like the worldwide Dinner in the Sky franchise—which serves diners as they dangle 150 feet above a city—look silly but continue to attract big-name chefs like Yannick Alléno and Joël Robuchon.

Architect David Rockwell, whose New York restaurant-design projects include Maialino and Adour, came to the scene early in 2006, when his company, Rockwell Group, transformed the Hard Rock Café into the Bon Appétit Supper Club and Café. “My passion for creating temporary events lies in my love for theater and spectacle,” says Rockwell. “A short-lived experience, such as a pop-up, may have taken months or years of preparation, but the experience can create a powerful and lasting memory.”

Restaurant investors from Tokyo to Houston are increasingly embracing the pop-up idea because low rents, minimum staffing and short “seasons” have led to much bigger profit margins. Kick-starting a new restaurant in New York or the Bay Area can cost half a million dollars, while operating a pop-up usually runs just $2,000 to $5,000 a week. The business model is so popular, event companies specializing in pop-up restaurant management and dedicated pop-up spaces—like San Francisco’s FoodLab—have emerged. And perhaps no city has embraced the trend more than London, which has seen dozens of pop-ups open in places like the London Eye, the National Theatre and Royal Festival Hall.

The results are as delicious as they are profitable. The food tends to be less constricted and edgier. The chefs are younger, the stakes are bigger and there’s more money to play with. Diners ultimately reap the rewards, and the only challenge is booking a table before they all sell out.

See which restaurants made the list >

Related posts:

Crux, Various Locations

Chicago’s self-taught chef Brandon Baltzley, formerly of Grant Achatz’s Alinea, started his pop-up concept in the Windy City and took it on the road to take it to the next level. Crux is a twice-weekly pop-up dinner publicized on Twitter and Facebook, but its location is revealed only to confirmed diners. (Coming off a stint in Portland, Maine, its next stop is Pittsburgh; New York isn't far behind.) In addition to the highly well-liked pop-up, known for its inventive combinations (tomato and pine; chicken foot, blue cheese and celery), the conceptual “culinary collective” also features a micro-restaurant and does larger-scale charity events. cruxrestaurant.com.

Fondue Tram, Zurich, Switzerland

Hop aboard Zurich’s steamy fondue tram, a seasonal pop-up stübli that runs from October to March along the city’s actual tram routes, whizzing past Christmas markets, Lake Zurich and the city’s charming altstadt (old city), leaving a lingering waft of Gruyère in its wake. Two trams operate, and each seats up to 42 guests. While diners design their chosen route, the trams’ interiors have been designed to resemble a cozy fonduestübli, with plaid curtains, linen-covered tables and wooden booths.41-0848/801-880; fonduetram.ch.

FoodLab, San Francisco, California

Part of the Kor Group’s take on a pop-up concept called ATO (A Temporary Offering), this dedicated pop-up complex in the historic Renoir Hotel includes a separate pop-up bar, denim shop, bookstore and coffee roastery. FoodLab, the restaurant section, offers a rotating roster of pop-up ideas, which have included everything from a chicken-and-waffles restaurant to a Farewell to Foie Gras dinner to commemorate California’s ban on the delicacy. The chefs range from the well-known to the emerging. Check its Twitter feed for schedules, pricing and the current menu. 1106 Market St.; 415-834-5348;sffoodlab.com.

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No longer is it enough for engaged couples to commission awkward, contrivedly posed engagement photos and force them on friends and family.

A new trend in wedding photos has arrived, says Michelle Ruiz at The Daily: The boudoir photography session. Brides-to-be are stripping down either partially or completely and paying to have soft-porn photos taken of themselves as a gift for their grooms.

Some critics cringe at the prospect of future generations looking back at these supposedly treasured photos of their parents, but boudoir photography specialists say it's an empowering form of body art. A look inside the divisive new trend:

What is boudoir photography exactly?

The word boudoir dates back to the Victorian era when it referred to a lady's private rooms, which she used for dressing or bathing. By extension, boudoir photography describes shots that capture a woman simulating such private activities. The photos show women in lingerie, or without lingerie, posing coyly or provocatively. Brides, who represent the bulk of boudoir clients, "often bring veils, garters, and wedding night lingerie, but their future spouses' favorite sports jerseys or work shirts are also popular," says Ruiz at The Daily. In the past several years, and especially with the recent explosion of daily deal sites like Groupon and Living Social, boudoir photography has become increasingly popular.

Is it just straight, childless brides who commission boudoir photos?

Not at all, says Brooklyn photographer Amber Marlow at her blog. Marlow, who specializes in boudoir photography, says she has "done boudoir shoots for lesbians, for gentlemen, and for ladies who are glowing and bursting at the seams with a soon-to-be-born baby." The assumption that boudoir sessions are just for "hetero ladies" is dead wrong. Marlow also takes offense at comparisons between boudoir and porn, adding that the steamy pics are "a celebration of beauty, sexiness, and sexuality, and [they're] a whole lot of fun." Sure, boudoir can "take some of its cues—even a lot of its cues—from a hardcore porn shoot, but the purpose is not the same."

So this isn't porn?

No, Boston wedding photographer Amy Haberland has said in defense of the practice. "Boudoir is about art." It's not about getting undressed, but rather "you're getting ready to show your best self." Although many boudoir clients give these photos as gifts to their partners, "you don’t do a boudoir shoot for someone, you do it for you," adds Marlow. The person posing has taken a bold action that's "made them look and feel amazing." Tell that to the people who may unwittingly find the photos in the future, says Doug Barry at Jezebel. "A whole generation of middle-age adults" will be tasked one day "with sorting through their recently deceased parents' secret box of stuff," which could include "a flipbook of mom in various stages of undress and pleasant drunkenness."

How much do the sessions cost?

Unless you snag a deal, clients could pay anywhere from $500 to $1000 a session, depending on the length of the shoot and the number of outfit changes. Higher-end photographers can cost more: Dallas photographer Lynn Michelle tells The Daily that she does 60 to 80 boudoir shoots a year, starting at $1000 each, and they can take place in the client's own bedroom or at a studio designed to make photo subjects feel comfortable.

What if the photos end up in the wrong hands?

The job of boudoir photographers is to be "very discreet," says Haberland. They aren't supposed to show your photos to anyone without your permission, and reputable photographers will "offer you a contract stating such." Be sure to get that in writing.

Sources: The Daily, The Huffington Post, Jezebel, Amber Marlow blog

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Friends. My biggest monetary pet peeve lately. Nowadays it is not easy to be a good friend. Nor it is cheap anymore.

I have a complicated relationship with most of my friends. We all have different hobbies, views and goals. Somehow we all manage to stay friends.

Let’s see. I like staying home. I hate exercise. I love reading and writing. Most of my friends like to go out clubbing. They are fitness obsessed and big camping lovers. Me? Not so much. I love hotels, fluffy pillows and hot showers. We are quite different indeed.

Then we have birthday party disagreements. All the time. Most of my friends like big, lavish birthday celebrations. This not just seems odd to me, it seems unfitting at age of 43 to party like you are a 22 year old. Some of us, apparently, never surpassed that tender age when we wanted to announce to the world that we were of a legal age, we were allowed to drink.

The older my friends get, the louder they get in their birthday festivities. Their monetary expectations of friends rise exponentially. They choose venues for their parties that require an entrance fee. Not a $5 fee, but rather a $30 fee. They also expect you to pay for your own dinner, and maybe even theirs. They want a thoughtful gift as an acknowledgment of their importance as your friend. They want your love, respect, and they want your money.

Last year there was a somewhat reasonable expectation of a gift of designer sunglasses. Luckily for everyone in the group, I knew a place where we could buy affordable sunglasses (click here to find affordable designer sunglasses that you can purchase online.) Dinner was not extravagant, the venue was fun.

This year, however, we moved on to an exclusive place of high prices. A proof of our friendship importance was a $2000 painting.

Things that upset me the most:

• No one asked if we could afford or even wanted to shed a $30 entrance fee into a venue, $40 dinner per person, and $150 for the gift (the share of our contribution towards the desired painting.) To sum it all up, to prove our endless love and respect, Beaker and I had to put down over $300. I found it outrageous, and I blatantly refused.

• The attitude of entitlement. Should we get online loans or personal loans to be able to “afford” to be a good friend? Should I dip into our savings to celebrate your birthday? Can I just take you out for lunch or dinner and not be considered too cheap?

• Emotional and time investment in our friendship is not enough anymore. A monetary investment became the main requirement. Why time spent on listening to endless bitching about your boyfriends, girlfriends, business plans, vacation ideas and grocery shopping lists is not good enough?

• There is no easy opt out option. My behavior will be discussed. My absence will be addressed, and not in a very nice way.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not a birthday hater. I view these occasions as an opportunity to spend time with friends. A birthday celebration is not an ego-centric, attention craving event. It is a chance for all of us to get together and honor our friendship. All I want is to be reasonable about it.

I would never put a price tag on a friendship. Nevertheless, I really want to shout out to my friends:

“Money can buy you company, not friends."

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The summer is beginning to wane, the days are starting to get shorter, and all you want is to squeeze in a few more shorts-and-sandals moments before it officially ends.

And there’s nowhere better to soak up that slowly setting sun than on a patio at your favorite local watering holes. Every city’s got them, and below is a list of some of the best bar patios across the U.S.

This story was originally published by Party Earth.

The Churchill, Los Angeles

There might not be a city more conducive to patio dwelling than Los Angeles. It’s no myth. Los Angeles is generally sunny everyday with warm weather perfect for sipping cocktails, munching on sliders, and getting drunk with good friends. There’s no better place to do this than at The Churchill, a newer spot with a street-side patio that’s already super popular with twenty-somethings, the Hollywood scene, and the hip kids making a living in the area. The rustic, casual, outdoor space itself isn’t too large, but it’s very cozy and great for people-watching on bustling 3rd Street. Happy hours offer a pretty good deal on house wine, surprisingly upscale beers, and their regular portioned appetizers.

Zeitgeist, San Francisco

Formerly biker central, Zeitgeist remains an edgy alternative for those seeking good beer and a creative spirit. The graffiti splattered punk beer garden is the real draw with hipsters in hoodies, all walks of creative life, metal heads, and old school biker gangs. The patio boasts a bunch of picnic tables that are usually occupied, even on the foggiest of Nor Cal days. A classic bar menu is accompanied by everything from craft beer specials to good old-fashioned PBRs.

Castaways Bar And Grill, Chicago

There is no better view for a patio bar than the splendor of Lake Michigan, and Castaways Bar and Grill provides just that, attracting the perfectly tanned and buff glitterati fresh off the volleyball sand, or a long bike ride. Some super fit bar-goers spend all day pounding beers on the sun bathed decks and rooftop patio, while others come out later for DJs, dancing, and wild nights. Day or night, this is the best patio to enjoy Chicago’s short lived warm weather.

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Update: According to police reports, Kariem McFarlin was caught with stealing over $60,000 worth of computers and personal items from the home of the late Steve Jobs, who died last year at the age of 56. Reporting from the Mercury News, “Revealed that McFarlin was likely unaware of the home’s significance.”

Additionally, the Palo Alto home is currently being remodeled: “The residence was surrounded by a temporary construction barrier in July. Exterior stucco and trim are being replaced at the home, according to building permits filed with the city. The work, which also includes two new electrical panels, is expected to cost more than $31,000.”

Tucked away on a Palo Alto corner of Waverley Street, Steve Jobs enjoyed family life in his 1930s Tudor-style home. The late Apple CEO Steve Jobs bought the Palo Alto home in the mid-1990s, after his marriage with Laurene. The 5,768-sq ft modest house sits on over a half acre and includes 7 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. The house is very much of the “British country style,” fitting beautifully with the rest of this quiet neighborhood — and certainly didn’t stand out as the house of a high-tech mogul.

Lane Wallace wrote about Jobs, her neighbor, in the Atlantic. She talks about the “calming” nature of his home and the neighborhood: “The corner where Jobs lived, however, was my favorite corner and block in the entire neighborhood. If I was really upset or stressed, I might walk up and down the two blocks that framed his house multiple times, just because it was so beautiful, and somehow so calming that I’d always leave there feeling better…. And I like being able to remember him that way: quiet, calm, and anonymous, surrounded by simplicity and beauty that changed with the seasons, but were always, somehow, inspiring.”

There are not many photos of the inside of the home, expect for pictures of Jobs’ home office (below) taken for a Time Magazine article. The Time reporter added: “The Steve Jobs who is currently running two sophisticated companies lives in a turn-of-the-century English-style country house in Palo Alto with his wife Laurene. The house is run with a distinct 1960s flavor. Laurene has planted a garden of wildflowers, herbs and vegetables all around. The rooms are sparsely decorated, the only extravagances being Ansel Adams photographs.”

Here’s the photo gallery of Steve Jobs’ Home in Palo Alto

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Micro-subletting is a pretty good business in New York these days. As the New York Post recently reported, residents throughout the city are "bringing in tens of thousands of dollars" renting out their units or spare rooms for days or weeks at a time.

Carol Williams of the East Village made $18,000 in 10 months. Mikey Rox of Harlem pulled in $75,000 over three years. Seth Porges has made $60,000 over two years and published tips for how others can do the same.

The only problem with the scheme — at least in some cases — is that it's illegal. A 2010 state law, implemented in May 2011, prevents someone from occupying a Class A dwelling for fewer than 30 days. Though the primary targets of the law were illegal hotels run by building owners, the provision extends to people living in residential apartment units as well.

There are two major exceptions to the 30-day restriction. One says that residents are free to sublet a room of an apartment so long as they continue to live in it with the guests. Another says that guests may sublet a whole unit for fewer than 30 days "provided that there is no monetary compensation paid to the permanent occupants." Neither seems very attractive to prospective micro-subletters. The former makes for some potentially uncomfortable encounters; the latter, a pretty poor business model.

Which may be why some micro-subletters aren't paying the 2010 law much mind. The New York Times recently reported that a proliferation of short-term renters has become a point of contention in Stuyvesant Town, a private residential community in the East Village. While younger residents enjoy the extra income, older residents see an abundance of negative consequences: from bed bugs to security risks to noise problems.

A general lack of enforcement by the city has made the feud more intense. A few long-time Stuy Town residents have turned into "amateur sleuths" who patrol short-term rental sites, such as Airbnb, in attempt to catch micro-subletters before they strike deals, according to theTimes. Management also claims to be monitoring the problem, saying they've sent "cease-and-desist letters to 50 tenants" since last summer.

Getting the attention of city authorities may be especially difficult if it turns out they're among the offenders. The neighborhood blog EV Grieve found a short-term rental listing at 18th St and 1st Avenue, right in the Stuy Town vicinity, posted by a self-described "Police Officer from New York."

"If it is in fact true a member of the NYPD is listing his apartment as a short-term rental, this will only fuel the Airbnb controversy," writes Grieve. (It's not clear whether the lister is renting just a room, which wouldn't violate the 2010 law if he stays there too, or his entire unit.)

That's not to say the city's doing nothing. As of April it had issued roughly 1,900 violations of the new law, according to another recent Times piece. Still sites like Airbnb (as well as small bed-and-breakfasts throughout the city) feel they're the unintended victims of legislation primarily meant to prevent residential buildings from becoming illegal hotels. An Airbnb spokesperson told Atlantic Cities that New York City residents who use the site to "help make ends meet" shouldn't be the focus of the law:

Our hosts have used the additional income they earn through Airbnb to help pay their rent, make their mortgage payments, and avoid foreclosure and bankruptcy. Airbnb not only helps New York City residents afford to live in one of the most expensive cities in the world, travel facilitated by Airbnb also spurs economic development in New York City's local neighborhoods. Airbnb travelers spend money at local businesses throughout the five boroughs, providing many neighborhoods with access to the city's strongest economic driver — tourism.

Some state lawmakers see their point. A clarification of the 2010 law, currently under consideration by Albany, would separate the "legitimate business model" of mirco-subletting from illegal hoteliers and the numerous maintenance, safety, and health-code problems they create. A memo for the amended bill, which is being sponsored by State Senator Martin Golden, says the new legislation "would help those individuals and small businesses that will no longer be able to operate because of this law."

Operate legally, that is.

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As our adventure in Thailand continues, the next stop up is the island of Koh Samui, just an hour’s plane ride from Bangkok. Koh Samui is Thailand’s third largest island — a true tropical paradise full of beaches, coral reefs and amazing views. Our destination — a sneak preview of the brand-new and ultra-luxurious Conrad Koh Samui.

Thailand is a fascinating country, home to an exotic culture and fabulous landscapes. In the recent years, the beaches of Thailand are very sought after by tourists all over the world. But the Conrad Koh Samui resort has nothing to do with tourist crowds. On the contrary, this is a place of meditation and rest, in an environment that is both comfortable and peaceful.

Comprising of 80 villas and 39 residential villas, the resort is located on a secluded hill, overlooking Aow Thai Beach at the South West tip of the island. Spread over 25 acres, the resort has panoramic views of the Gulf of Thailand, outlying islands and the surrounding landscape of coconut plantations. And the sunsets are amazing.

The resort and spa recently opened, so we couldn’t resist visiting. Conrad Koh Samui is authentically connected to the local Thai culture – and it resonates through the resort’s attention to detail, the architecture, the food and service. The resort was 7 years in the making, taking 4 years to build — and the quality in the construction is utterly apparent. The designer was Wilson and Associates, an American based design firm with an office in Singapore. Incredibly, the stone and wood features used throughout the resort are locally sourced from sustainable timber farms and local stone quarries. Additionally, the spa design and programs were developed in collaboration with Dr. Buathon, Thailand’s leading authority on holistic healing.

As a Conrad executive shared with us: “Conrads merge local cultural elements with contemporary touches. I think that is evident in the rooms to a degree and absolutely in the Spa. I think the most important thing about travel is to understand the feel for local culture and a lot of that is through the main resort touch point—the staff. With events such as the Thai dancing, the soap and buffalo skin carver to interest the guests, and the good nature of Thai hospitality I think our resort represents Thailand very well. We have also been arming the team with “stories” of probable guest questions (e.g., what are the five islands for) and they explain many of the cultural and local elements to the guests so that they can really have an insider feel while staying at the Conrad.”

The resort also includes numerous 5-star dining experiences with stellar chefs. Chef Konrad Inghelram (Quaglinos, Harrods) is the resort’s Executive Chef — and Chef Joe Diaz (El Bulli, French Laundry) is the Executive Sous Chef that operates the property’s three distinct dining outlets, destination bar and lounge, and private wine cellar.

Each Thai-styled villa is furnished with unique artwork, tropical hardwood floors and Thai silk, creating elegant accommodations. State-of-the-art, in-room technology includes a LCD flat-screen satellite television, CD/DVD player, iPod docking station, plus wired and wireless high-speed Internet connections. The villas are fitted with full-height glass panes allowing for mesmerising ocean views and majestic marble bathrooms fitted with spa-quality amenities, including an oversized bathtub and glass-walled rain shower.

A place where senses are triggered and then overwhelmed, the luxurious resort has a design that seems to communicate with the surrounding landscapes, while blurring the indoor/outdoor boundaries. This way, visitors get a taste of the opulent side of Thailand by taking a dive in the generous infinity pool or spending hours on the beautiful terraces facing the sea.

Pursuitist Photos:

Official Photos from Conrad:

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Here’s a look inside A-Rod’s extra-luxurious Miami mansion. The New York Yankees’ third basemen recently listed the waterfront property, which he’s owned since 2010. The high-priced waterfront bachelor pad has panoramic views of the water and the Miami skyline. Dubbed an “extraordinary new modern masterpiece,” the home sits on over an acre of lush grounds on one of the most prestigious streets in Miami Beach. Completely gated and walled for privacy, the 20,000 square feet mansion features an an expansive 275 feet of water frontage and 2 docks.

Listing details: Uninterrupted, panoramic views of the water & the Miami Skyline fill this extraordinary new Modern Masterpiece sitting on over an acre of lush grounds on prestigious N Bay Road in Miami Beach. Completely gated & walled in featuring 275 ft. of water frontage & 2 docks. Over 20,000 sq.ft. of chic & elegant spaces completely surrounded by 12′ walls of impact glass. Finely detailed with extensive use of Coral Rock, White Oak floors, Epe wood, Marble & exquisitely decorated by renowned Edward Briggs design. Zen like outdoor/indoor living spaces, Gourmet open kitchen, spectacular Home Theater, covered terraces, vanishing edge heated pool, outdoor… kitchen area and Guest House. Amazing separate gym with steam room overlooking the bay. 2,200 sq.ft. Master Suite with atrium, sitting area, his and hers baths and oversized closets. Rooftop Deck and 3,000 sq.ft. sports room. Commercial sized elevator, Full home Generator, Creston lighting, 16 security cameras and surround sound system throughout.

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