Found this in one of my automotive pubs…. scary, but kinda’ true! “We want to make Google the third half of your brain.” Sergey Brin, Google’s Co-founder The other part of my brain is in other places..

I recently visited Paris –hosted by Michelin– to learn about the updates on their Green Guides and websites. Now, you probably know Michelin for its tires. There’s lots more. Even though tire-related operations represent around 99% of the Michelin Group’s business, the remaining 1% is generated by maps and guides, ViaMichelin.com and products by Michelin [...]

Part one of two posts I recently test-drove the Rolls-Royce Ghost in California. At the dinner the night before driving,  I sat next to Ian Cameron, Chief Designer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. At one point during the conversation he noted, “Design is like music, if the parts don’t fit together you have noise and not [...]

Joe Farcus, the talented architect who has been designing ship interiors for Carnival Cruise Lines for over 30 years, talked to me about his latest work, the Carnival Dream, the lines largest ship to date. Dream Spa So, your inventiveness always astounds me,  I wonder how your home is decorated? (Farcus and his wife/design partner [...]

(part 2 of 3) My conversations with Joe Farcus, the interior designer for the Dream, Carnival’s largest ship to date. photos by Andy Newman: the Lanai deck Where did you get the idea to construct the Dream’s Lanai deck? (The Lanai, a half mile, open air space encircling Deck 5 has seating areas and four [...]

photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Lines: The Atrium Part one of three “My inspiration comes from living,” revealed Joe Farcus, the incredibly creative and prolific architect who has been designing ships for Carnival Cruise Lines for over 30 years. Joe has designed the interiors of all 22 ships in the Carnival fleet, along with six [...]

2010 Range Rover Sport (part one) “The challenge is keeping the brand unique while keeping it relevant. It has to be unmistakably a Land Rover,” noted Gerry McGovern, Design Director for Land Rover at the recent launch of the 2010 LR4, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover. To note: McGovern was also the designer for [...]

Next morning, organic cereal and fruit from the frig in our flat and back in our MINIs bound for Shrewsbury. This time we were driving a MINI diesel. Something about diesel—it seems to drive smoother and accelerate quicker. I was getting the hang of it—didn’t go over one curb, stayed on my side of the [...]

Same day… Yes, we were still on the move and I hadn’t slept yet! Next stop; Camden Town. A brief history: Camden Town stands on the land which was once the manor of Cantelowes. Sir Charles Pratt (later 1st Earl of Camden) inherited the manor in marriage. In 1791 he granted leases for 1400 houses [...]

Backing up to last week. My first chance to blog about it! Day One: Wednesday, May 20 Didn’t sleep except for a brief nod on the way over from NYC to Heathrow, London. Never mind. We were picked up by a chauffeur from the May Fair Hotel. Brilliant! The May Fair, first opened by King [...]