The Car
The Lamborghini Murcielago (LP640) Roadster purrs in at $455K, with custom-made everything and the world’s most perfect handling. Any ostentatious, in-your-face color is recommended for this see-and-be-seen-in vehicle— purple, lime green, orange with green interior and orange stitching— you’re not buying this car to be sedate. Ferragamo leather seats (the same used in the Italian Parliament) make you want to order the matching luggage. Try hard not to zoom down I-83 at 217 mph.
The Alternative: A pre-owned 2006 Murcielago for $440K, or a pre-owned 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo, for $257K.
Get It: Maserati of Baltimore, 1628 York Road, Timonium, 410-321-8071; playingintraffic.wordpress.com
The yacht
The Hatteras 105 Motoryacht costs just a smidge over $10.5 million and features: twin 2400 hp MTU diesels; 5,000-gallon fuel capacity; displacement weight of over 275,000 pounds; $200K navigational system; sunken wet bar; full-beam master stateroom with an oversized king bed and his/her bathrooms (and a connected office); whirlpool tub; four staterooms; and two crew staterooms (with separate eat-in galley). Hello, Waterworld.
The Alternative: A dealer demo yacht is the ticket. Example: a 47-foot Grand Banks that normally lists for $1.3 million has been reduced to $999K. Or splurge on a day trip on a sportfishing yacht— generally between $1,500 to $2,000.
Get It: Jarrett Bay Yacht Sales, 2736 Lighthouse Point East, Baltimore, 410-213-0051; http://www.jarrettbayyachtsales.com
The fur
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. spells a $150K natural Russian Sable full-length fur coat with a jacquard silk lining, as in the same coat that Aretha Franklin so famously sports. “Natural Russian Sable” defines the word luxury, with its chestnut brown color and silvery highlights throughout. The coat is the warmest, most lightweight you’ll ever put on. Fittings take up to two months in high season. The first place you’ll wear it? Coming out of the dressing room closet of your house with the mirror in front of you. Need we say more?
The Alternative: On the less expensive end, $1,500 will buy a beautiful fur-trimmed (fox, beaver or rex) nylon jacket made in Milan.
Get It: Mano Swartz Furs, 10801 Falls Road, Lutherville, 410-825-9000; http://www.manoswartz.com
The jet
At $49.3 million for just the jet itself, no maintenance included, the Bombardier Global Express XRS has everything and then some, including a Rockwell Collins cabin electronic system with environmental controls; a global office with high-speed connectivity (e-mail, Internet access); a wireless LAN server/printer/fax/scanner; a telephone (ground based and satellite); an on-demand information package (news, weather, sports); and a Standard Bombardier Enhanced Vision System that reportedly gives a more perfect visual than what you can see out the window with your own eyes.
The Alternative: If it’s good enough for Warren Buffett, who serves on the board of directors, it’s good enough for you— Net Jets. Buy into a fractional ownership (starting at $425K) for a private business jet (netjets.com).
Get It: 900 Bestgate Road, Annapolis, 410-573-1515; http://www.avprojets.com
The spa
About Faces Day Spa & Salon offers a “call-in to ask” exclusive Ultimate Luxury package, which indulges with $955 of you’re-worth-it treatments. Start with an aromatic hydrotherapy bath, followed by the Lomi Lomi Polynesian Massage and a Green Coffee Body Wrap. Then a Cell cosmetic facial treatment, a manicure and pedicure with paraffin added, a multi-level highlights and design cut for your hair, lash extensions, a makeup lesson (where you can help mix your own cosmetics with Giella products) and a complimentary lunch with a bottle of champagne tops it all off for a new you.
The Alternative: Go for the Grand Escape ($530), which (minus the hair work, lash extensions, makeup and lunch) makes a grand nod to the Ultimate Luxury package.
Get It: About Faces Day Spa & Salon, 1501 S. Clinton St., Suite 300, Canton, 410-657-0099; http://www.aboutfacesdayspa.com
The art
$5.5 million will buy a signed and dated Claude Monet oil painting, “À Grainval près de Fecamp,” recently shown in the Sotheby’s catalog. Renaissance Fine Arts also sells works by Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Pissarro, Hockney, Degas, Matisse and other classic painters; and they can build a custom, hand-carved, 23 karat, gold leaf frame, for $25,000 (they’re one of the top five frame makers in the world— right here in Charm City).
The Alternative: Alice Pritchard, like Monet, paints local landscapes of the time, impressionistic but in a slightly more contemporary style. $750 and up.
Recommended: a reproduction frame for a few hundred dollars.
Get It: Renaissance Fine Arts, 1809 Reisters-town Road, Pikesville, 410-484-8900
The bag
Michelle Pfeiffer, Diane Lane, Faith Hill and Portia de Rossi are just a few of the celebrities who’ve plunked down $18K for spring’s
trendiest arm fashion— the Lambertson Truex “Princess” Gallo Hobo in a soft-glazed crocodile. The hottest color is the not-for-the-shy coral.
The Alternative: The Lambertson Truex Riviera Genevieve smooth calfskin tote with silvertone hardware and double shoulder straps, $1,500.
Get It: Handbags in the City, 840 Aliceanna St., 410-528-1443; http://www.handbagsinthecity.com
The skybox
The top-of-the-line skybox at M&T Bank Stadium comes in a five-to-seven year lease starting at $300K, giving access to the best 20 seats in the house in your own private living room, with 14 covered seats right outside, and up to 10 extra passes. Multiple plasma TVs are in each suite, with plenty of leather loungers spread about, and an open bar. Your own personal attendant is on hand, of course.
The Alternative: $110K gets a smaller, more bare-bones version, but you’ll be paying too much attention to the Ravens to miss the extras.
Get It: M&T Bank Stadium, 1101 Russell St., Baltimore, 410-547-8100
The penthouse
A $4.5 million, 5,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-story, all-glass panoramic Silo Point penthouse allows you to watch the sun rise and set from the same seat anywhere in this opulent home. Also comes with access to the exclusive STYLE Sky lounge; a 24-hour wellness center; a 24-hour concierge with AMX monitors in units to order room service and dry cleaning pickup, etc.
The Alternative: $264K for a one-bedroom, with 1,125 square feet, a water view and access to the same amenities as the penthouse, but without the million-dollar price.
Get It: Silo Point, 1700 Beason St., Locust Point, 410-539-SILO; http://www.silopoint.com
The sound system
If the $168K McIntosh high-performance audio reference system were a car, it would be an Enzo Ferrari. A CD player, an amplifier and two speakers might sound simple enough, but the cost and quality is in the experience. The appearance is Ferrari sleek— face plates with back-lit crystal glass, and a piano-black finish on the 7-foot-tall speakers (pumping out 2,000 amplified watts, each)— adds to the appeal.
The Alternative: An $18K McIntosh with an integrated amp, a CD player and set of floor standing speakers. Why? It’s still a McIntosh, baby!
Get It: Gramophone, 4 W. Aylesbury Road, Timonium, 410-308-1650; http://www.gramophone.com
