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Every Guy Should Invest In A Decent Pair Of Shoe Trees — Here's Why

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shoes, crockett and jones, skyfall, shoemaking

Quality dress shoes are expensive, but they can last for decades, especially if they are cared for properly.

That's where shoe trees come in. Some men look at the wooden shoe inserts as an unnecessary purchase, but shoe trees are crucial to keeping shoes in amazing shape as they age.

WHY DO I NEED SHOE TREES?

Our feet sweat throughout the day, and the leather and lining of our shoes absorb all that moisture. This can cause the lining to rot, your shoes to stink, and the leather to crack over time, thereby ruining expensive footwear.

A shoe tree holds a shoe in its proper shape so it dries out correctly, and keeps the leather from cracking by wicking away moisture. The absorbent wood also helps dry out the lining of shoes so that they don't rot from the inside out.

Long story short: Shoe trees are a whole lot cheaper than a new pair of nice shoes, and will keep your current pair in excellent condition for years.

SHOULD I SPLURGE ON SHOE TREES?

Not all shoe trees are created equal. There are three tiers of shoe trees, as well as travel shoe trees.

Cheap Shoe Trees ($15-$30)

shoe tree cedarThese are the bare minimum for those who want a shoe tree but don't want to spend too much money. If your shoes cost less than $200, this is a fine option.

Cheaper shoe trees generally don’t have full wooden heels. Instead, a nob or a piece of thin wood helps stretch out the shoe. These will help with odor and leather cracking, but they won’t hold the shoe shape quite as nicely as more expensive options.

Also, don’t buy a varnished shoe tree. They look nice, but they don't properly draw moisture and sweat from the leather and lining, which is the point of the product. A rough cedar version should work well.

(Pro tip: When the smell of the cedar starts to fade, you can lightly sand the shoe tree to bring it back.)

Quality Shoe Trees ($25-$50)

jos. a. bank cedar shoe treeShell out for nicer trees if your shoes cost more than $200. Quality shoe trees will have ventilation slots at the toe to help dissipate moisture, a longer, crafted heel, and contain more wood for better drying and odor control. They will also ensure the closest possible fit between the shoe and tree.

As with the cheaper versions, top marks go to unfinished cedar models and those with knobs or handles for maintaining your shoes' shape during polishing.

Lasted Shoe Trees (bespoke, costs will vary)

lasted shoe tree pradaIf your shoes cost more than $700, chances are they will come with their own lasted (specially crafted) shoe trees. Brands like Prada and Gucci sometimes sell their own with high-end shoes, or they come as a perk for splurging on fine footwear.

These are the best of the best when it comes to shoe trees, because they are essentially an entire cedar foot that draws out moisture and maintains the natural shape of the shoe.

Travel Shoe Trees ($10-$20)

hard plastic travel shoe treePerfect for business travelers or jetsetters, travel shoe trees are typically plastic (although there are cedar versions) that are lightweight and great for keeping your shoes’ shape in a suitcase without them getting smooshed.

DO I NEED A SHOE TREE IN EVERY PAIR OF SHOES?

This is the most common question about shoe trees, and something shoe bloggers and experts find controversial.

It would be ideal to have a shoe tree in every nice pair of shoes you own — no, you don’t need them in your sneakers — but it's not absolutely necessary, as long as you rotate your shoes and shoe trees throughout the week.

Shoes need a full 24 hours to dry before the next wearing, and the best way to properly dry them is to insert a shoe tree. If you have a few pairs of nice shoes that you rotate, ostensibly you need only one or two shoes trees to keep in your most recently worn pair of shoes.

The vital time for using shoe trees is the hour or two after you’ve removed your shoes from your feet to best draw out moisture and help the shoe return to its natural shape. After that, the shoe trees merely retain shape and help with odor control.

But if you’re a huge fan of all your shoes and have a vast collection of expensive footwear, then buy a shoe tree for every pair. Some shoe collectors swear by them. But most men can get away with using a single set of shoe trees on their most recently worn shoes.

SEE ALSO: A Visual Guide To Matching Suits And Dress Shoes

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Guys, This Is How You Should Shop For Spring

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danny agnew inside hook

It seems like the long Siberia-like hellscape that was this winter will soon be over, so it's time to pull off the layers and show some style.

There are two ways a man can do this, the right way and the wrong way.

A man can go shopping (in a store, online) picking up the random stuff he likes...

"These orange cuffed pants look cool. I like this blue seersucker blazer. I'll take these gray wash jeans. A vintage Mr. T, tee. And a baseball hat."

That is wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

"More than anything it's more like, you don't need to go buying everything under the sun," said Danny Agnew, New York editor at men's lifestyle daily InsideHook. "Dudes need to think of each item as one piece of a greater whole. You can take 8 key pieces and incorporate them into your wardrobe."

That is the concept behind InsideHook's new Spring Style Issue. It's got everything. Clothes, attractive ladies wearing 1 (really, just one) item of those clothes, and most importantly 8 pieces you can get right now and how you should wear them with everything else you already have.

You see gentlemen, when you shop you should be thinking about how to use new pieces from this season to compliment who you've been every season. The pieces should go with your overall sense of self.

You can even go out there a little — maybe pairing some brightly colored sneakers with a suit. You just have to wear everything with confidence.

Take Agnew's favorite look from the Style Issue for example (pictured below). It's a grown up version of the baseball jacket from Gant. Obviously you can wear your baseball jacket with a t-shirt when it's a little chilly, but since it's made of suede, you can also pair it with something a little classier for an evening out.

"If you do it wrong, it's all wrong, if you do it right it's alllllriiighhhttt," said Agnew.

Alright?

Here's the jacket, straight from Inside Hook's Style Issue.

gant baseball jacket inside hook

 

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Here's What Vertical Water, A Drink From Maple Trees That Hopes To Compete With Coconut Water, Tastes Like

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Maple Sap Water

A new health drink is in town and it's looking to pick a fight with coconut water.

The drink, called "Vertical Water," is water straight from the inside of a maple tree.

The drink boasts only 3 grams of sugar and 15 calories in a 240 mL serving. It is also local sourced compared to its coconut competitor.

This water is what you get from the tree before it's boiled down to make maple syrup. In fact, it's actually sap. While most people think of sap as the sticky stuff from pine trees, many saps are actually clear and thin.

Maple sap contains water and nutrients that the tree pulls up from the soil through its roots.

"Everything that's good for the tree is great for us as well," Vertical Water CEO Valentina Cugnasca said at a Cornell University event last week.

Cugnasca was kind enough to bring along samples.

The drink is clear with a very slight yellow tinge. It actually tastes more or less like water, but is slightly thicker and with hint of sweetness. In the words of a fellow maple water taste-tester: "All it needs is vodka."

Raw Maple SapBut that's not the only reason to drink it.

The drink makers hope to save local New England forests, where the product is produced, by encouraging local forest owners to "tap" their trees instead of selling them for lumber unsustainably.

Milking the sap takes about 5% of the tree's sugar reserves and slows its growth about the same amount, said Michael Ferrell, the Director of the Uihlein Forest, Cornell's Sugar Maple Research & Extension Field Station. However, the trees live just as long. "Tapping is a minor intrusion on the tree," he said at the event, but it may be the best way to save them.

Maple Tap

The trees must be at least 10 inches in diameter for tapping which usually takes about 25 years. This ensures that tapping foresters would keep the trees at least this long. Plus, the tapping process makes for "beautiful wood," said Ferrell, so it is not incompatible with the lumber industry if an ecologically sustainable balance is struck.

While Vertical Water is not the first maple water to North American markets, they have figured out how to extend the shelf life to 18 months, "and counting!" Cugnasca said. This will enable them to sell the product year round rather than only within the spring months when the water flows.

The product is also drunk in other countries. Even Native Americans and early settlers drank sap. "Drinking sap used to be part of out culture," Ferrell said. "People just forgot about it."

Vertical Water will duke it out with coconut water starting in early April when it hits Sprouts stores across the nation.

SEE ALSO: 38 Nutrition Experts Reveal Their Favorite Things To Eat For Breakfast

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Mountain Guide's Helmet-Camera Captures One Of 'The Craziest Ice Climbing Falls Ever Recorded'

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Canadian ice climber John Freeman is lucky to be alive after the ice pillar he was scaling in Canada’s Banff National Park broke off and sent him tumbling hundreds of feet down the cliff face.

The fall, which happened two years ago during the springtime, was captured by Freeman's helmet-cam. He recently shared the footage with sports website Epic TV, which called the ice climbing fall one of the craziest ever recorded.

Here's the free-hanging piece of ice Freeman was climbing. "We got a good sense that it was a healthy piece of ice," Freeman said in the video, "and we wanted to climb."

ice 5After safely navigating a portion of thin ice, everything seemed to be going well. "It was fun," said Freeman.

Screen Shot 2014 03 27 at 5.04.47 PMThat is, until Freeman hit this segment of ice. On the fifth swing of his axe, he said, "things changed dramatically."

ice pickFreeman could hear the sound of the ice breaking and knew at that point that whole ice pillar was moving. Tons of ice came crashing down on him as he tumbled a few hundred feet down the slope beneath the hanging ice.

iceAmazingly, Freeman made it out alive without any serious injuries. His nerves weren't shaken either. In the video, he said he went climbing the next day.

rescueWatch the full video and interview with Freeman below, the helmet-cam shots come in around 2:30 minutes:

SEE ALSO: THE SUMMIT: The Story Of The Deadliest Day On The World's Most Dangerous Mountain

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This Jaw-Droppingly Luxurious Yacht Rents For $1.65 Million A Week

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Kismet II RenderingThe Kismet II, a brand new 308-foot megayacht complete with elevator, helipad, and spa is set to launch in September of this year.

The yacht, currently under construction at Lurssen Shipyard in Bremen, Germany, will have a relaxing top speed of 17 knots. She will feature 6 cabins, a crew of 28 and a maximum of 12 guests.

While photographs are not yet available, these official renderings give us a good idea of the kind opulence in store of those who will be fortunate enough to charter her. 

According to the Kismet II's broker, Moran Yacht & Ship, she will be available for charter immediately upon launch to cruise the Caribbean and the Mediterranean for a cool $1.65 million per week. 

The Kismet II's exterior is the latest in a long line of gorgeous works by famed designer Espen Oeino.



The Kismet II's plush interior is the work of Reymond Langton.



Take a moment to enjoy the opulence of the foyer.



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This $20 Million Silicon Valley Mansion Is Perfect For A Young Tech Tycoon

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woodside house

Another insanely expensive home has hit the Silicon Valley real estate market, according to Curbed

This beautiful six-bedroom house is located in ritzy Woodside, Calif., where Larry Ellison's Japanese estate and Steve Jobs' historic mansion can also be found.

The house, which currently belongs to mutual funder Harry Hagey, was designed in the 1980s-era California contemporary style by noted San Francisco architect Sandy Walker. There's a huge pool, tennis courts, and a separate greenhouse. 

The house has some amazing features, but be forewarned: It's listed for a cool $19.95 million. 

The home sits on 6.05 acres of land in Woodside, Calif.



It's a beautifully contemporary home, with floor-to-ceiling windows that make it seem even more spacious.



Trees surround the property, making for a secluded space that would be perfect for someone trying to escape the public eye.



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These Diagrams Reveal How To Negotiate With People Around The World

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So you've got a meeting in France. Knowing how to speak French will be helpful, but it's also valuable to understand the French communication patterns that will define your meeting.

British linguist Richard D. Lewis charted communication patterns as well as leadership styles and cultural identities in his book, "When Cultures Collide," now in a 2005 third edition. His organization offers classes in cross-cultural communication for big clients ranging from Unilever to BMW.

In support of cross-cultural studies, he writes: "By focusing on the cultural roots of national behavior, both in society and business, we can foresee and calculate with a surprising degree of accuracy how others will react to our plans for them, and we can make certain assumptions as to how they will approach us. A working knowledge of the basic traits of other cultures (as well as our own) will minimize unpleasant surprises (culture shock), give us insights in advance, and enable us to interact successfully with nationalities with whom we previously had difficulty."

Although cultural generalizations can be overly reductive, Lewis, who speaks ten languages, insists it can be done fairly, writing: "Determining national characteristics is treading a minefield of inaccurate assessment and surprising exception. There is, however, such a thing as a national norm."

When meeting with French, you should be prepared for a vigorous logical debate, according to Lewis.

When meeting with Americans, you should be prepared for them to get right down to business, get upset when there's a disagreement, and expect one or both sides to make concessions.

We'll go over the rest in brief after a selection of communication charts taken with permission from "When Cultures Collide." In the charts, conversational range is shown with increasing width, obstacles are marked in gray, and cultural traits are noted as well.

communication styles around the world

As you may surmise, "When Cultures Collide" spends relatively little time on today's emerging markets, which is unfortunate but not surprising since it was originally published in 1996. The book does offer some commentary on Africa, South America, and other places not mentioned here, however, as well as much further commentary on these 25 countries — and we advise anyone interested in international communication to check it out.

Let's go over the other diagrams in brief,  paraphrasing and quoting from Lewis:

Canadians, compared to Americans, tend to be more low-key and inclined to seek harmony, though they are similarly direct.

English tend to avoid confrontation in an understated, mannered, and humorous style that can be powerful or inefficient.

Germans rely on logic but "tend to amass more evidence and labor their points more than either the British or the French."

Spanish and Italians "regard their languages as instruments of eloquence and they will go up and down the scale at will, pulling out every stop if need be to achieve greater expressiveness."

Scandinavians often have entrenched opinions that they have formulated "in the long dark nights," though they are reasonable conversationalists. Swedes often have the most wide-ranging discussions, Finns tend to value concision, and most Norwegians fall somewhere in between.

Swiss tend to be straightforward and unaggressive negotiators, who obtain concessions by expressing confidence in the quality and value of their goods and services.

Hungarians value eloquence over logic and are unafraid to talk over each other.

Bulgarians may take a circuitous approach to negotiations before seeking a mutually beneficial resolution, which will often be screwed up by bureaucracy.

Poles often have a communication style that is "enigmatic, ranging from a matter-of-fact pragmatic style to a wordy, sentimental, romantic approach to any given subject."

The Dutch are focused on facts and figures but "are also great talkers and rarely make final decisions without a long 'Dutch' debate, sometimes approaching the danger zone of overanalysis."

Chinese tend to be more direct than the Japanese and some other East Asians; however, meetings are principally for information gathering, with the real decisions made elsewhere. Hong Kongers negotiate much more briskly to achieve quick results.

Indian English "excels in ambiguity, and such things as truth and appearances are often subject to negotiation."

Australians tend to have a loose and frank conversational style.

Singaporeans generally take time to build a relationship, after which they can be shrewd negotiators.

Koreans tend to be energetic conversationalists who seek to close deals quickly, occasionally stretching the truth.

Indonesians tend to be very deferential conversationalists, sometimes to the point of ambiguity.

Israelis tend to proceed logically on most issues but emotionally on some.

And that's how one respected, well-traveled, and highly multilingual linguist sees the world.

SEE ALSO: 24 charts of leadership styles around the world

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The 10 Best Airports In North America

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Denver International Airport

As Vice President Joe Biden recently pointed out, it has become painfully evident that airports in North America have struggled to keep up with international competition.

Aging infrastructure coupled with booming demand for air travel have put a sometimes unbearable strain on facilities.

While it's no secret that North American airports often lack the amenities and architectural flair of their international counterparts, there are, however, a few that can hold their own.

Leading aviation reviewer Skytrax just released the results of its annual World Airport Awards, which includes a list of the best airports in North America. The Skytrax awards are based on 39 parameters including ease of access, airport comfort, cleanliness, and wait times at check-in and security screenings. Nearly 13 million travelers from 110 different countries participated in this year's survey.

10. New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

Yearly passengers: 49 Million

2013 rank: 10

Why it's great:  For many, JFK Airport is synonymous with the glory years of aviation. For others, JFK is no more than a crumbling relic of a bygone era.

In reality, the JFK of today is neither. Gone are the dated 1960s era terminal buildings and their dilapidated facilities. In their place are modern terminal facilities that are either newly constructed or recently renovated. JFK customers cite the airport's new terminals and shorter security lines as key points of interest. 

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figures are final rankings for 2012 provided by Airports Council International. 



9. Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport (DFW)

Yearly passengers: 59 million

2013 rank: 7

Why it's great: DFW is the fourth-busiest airport in North America and the eighth-busiest in the world. The airport serves as the main hub for American Airlines as well as the gateway to Latin and South America for many others. Customer reviewers liked the airport's open circular design and convenient intra-airport transportation.

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figures are final rankings for 2012 provided by Airports Council International.



8. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Yearly passengers: 33 million

2013 rank: 9

Why it's great: SeaTac is the busiest airport in the Pacific Northwest. It serves as the main hub for Alaska Airlines, and is one of Delta's gateways to the far east. Skytrax customers noted the airport for its cleanliness, wide variety of dining options, and efficient baggage system.  

Source: Skytrax World Airport Awards. Yearly passenger figures are final rankings for 2012 provided by Airports Council International.



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The Business Traveler's Guide To Houston

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galleria

When it comes to cities in Texas, Houston is sometimes overshadowed by metropolitan Dallas or hipster Austin.

But as home to 5,000 energy-related firms and nearly two dozen Fortune 500 companies, it's also a major destination for business travelers. In 2012, some 4.2 million people  31% of all visitors to the city  came for work.

Fortunately for those business travelers, Houston offers much more than chain restaurants and hotel bars. We scoped out some great attractions to check out during your next visit to "Space City."

Houston has some fantastic and diverse cuisine. A great pre-meeting breakfast can be found at The Breakfast Klub in midtown, which has a simple, Southern-inspired morning menu consisting of dishes like "katfish and grits" and "wings and waffle."

3711 Travis St, Houston, TX. thebreakfastklub.com



If you're in town over the weekend, be sure to stop for brunch at Hugo's, an upscale TexMex restaurant in Houston's Montrose neighborhood, which has live music on Sunday mornings.

1600 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX. hugosrestaurant.net



Escape Houston's high temperatures with a trip to The Galleria, a super-sized mall in Uptown Houston that — in addition to hundreds of stores — contains hotels, offices, a running track, and a 20,000-square foot ice-skating facility.

5085 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX. simon.com.



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Why People Are Unfaithful

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Esther Perel, a couples therapist and the international best selling author of "Mating in Captivity," reveals her provocative perspective on the subject of infidelity.

Aiming to spark a new conversation about this taboo topic, Perel reverses the lens by proposing that affairs are not a symptom of a problem in one's relationship, but are instead an expression of a deeper longing to experience something different.

NOW WATCH: How To Keep The Spark In A Long-Term Relationship

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Consumer Reports Reveals The 10 Best Supermarkets In America

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Americans spend a lot of time and money grocery shopping. The average shopper visits the store about 88 times a year, spending upwards of $6,000. 

Consumer Reports recently surveyed 27,208 readers to rank 55 supermarket chains around the U.S.

The top three stores — Wegmans, an East Coast chain, Trader Joe's, a Southern California-based specialty food chain, and Publix, a Southern chain — all had high marks for service and cleanliness. 

Wal-Mart had a bad reputation among customers, ranking dead last. Customers complained about slow checkout speeds and subpar food quality. 

Here are the top 10 supermarkets, according to Consumer Reports:

1. Wegmans (83 stores in the mid-Atlantic region, in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Virginia)wegman's

Consumer Reports Reader score: 88. Best service, Best perishables, Good prices, Best cleanliness

2. Trader Joe's (408 stores in 30 states)Trader Joe's two buck chuck wine

Consumer Reports Reader score: 87. Best service, Good perishables, Best prices, Best cleanliness

3. Publix (1,080 stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee)Publix Zephyrhills

Consumer Reports Reader score: 85. Best service, Best perishables, Okay prices, Best cleanliness

4. Costco (648 stores worldwide)Costco

Consumer Reports Reader score: 84. Okay service, Best perishables, Best prices, Good cleanliness

5. Sprouts Farmers Market (150 locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Utah, Kansas and Georgia)Sprouts_Farmers_Market,_Westwood_Blvd,_Los_Angeles,_CA

Consumer reports Reader score: 84. Good Service, Best perishables, Good prices, Good cleanliness

6. Market Basket (71 supermarkets in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine)market basket

Consumer Reports Reader score: 83. Good service, Good perishables, Best prices, Good cleanliness

7. Raley's (85 stores in California and Nevada)raley's

Consumer Reports Reader score: 83. Good service, Best perishables, Bad prices, Best cleanliness 

8. Fairway Stores (14 stores in the tri-state area)fairway market redhook

Consumer Reports Reader score: 83. Best service, Good perishables, Best prices, Good cleanliness

9. Stater Bros. (167 stores in California)stater bros

Consumer Reports Reader score: 82. Good service, Good perishables, Best prices, Good cleanliness

10. WinCo Foods (93 stores in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Texas)winco

Consumer Reports Reader score: 81. Okay service, Okay perishables, Best prices, Okay cleanliness

And the bottom five on Consumer Reports' ranking:

51: Pick 'n Save: Reader score: 72
52. Acme: Reader score: 70
53. Pathmark: Reader score: 70
54. Shaw's: Reader score: 69
55. Wal-Mart Supercenter: Reader score: 67

See the ful report at Consumer Reports.

SEE ALSO: 9 Incredible Facts About Retail Giant Wal-Mart

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HOUSE OF THE DAY: Inside The $65 Million Bel-Air Estate Once Owned By Kenny Rogers

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kenny rogers house of the day

A gorgeous Bel-Air estate formerly owned by country singer Kenny Rogers is on sale for $65 million.

The hillside mansion is technically still under construction after being enlarged from 9,359 square feet to a whopping 24,000 square feet, listing agent Mia Trudeau of Hilton & Hyland told the Wall Street Journal. The home is virtually complete, save for the new guest wing, which will add another two bedrooms and three bathrooms to the home.

Currently, the mansion has nine bedrooms and 14 bathrooms with a ballroom, a saltwater pool, a 12-seat home theater, and even a refrigerated wine room. With two acres of property, the estate also has a tennis court, gym with a sauna, and an outdoor glass elevator next to the pool.

Rogers purchased the home in the ‘70s, according to the WSJ. He added two lion statues to the main gate and renamed the property “Liongate.”

The current sellers of the home are a mystery, but Trudeau told the WSJ that “they are European and purchased the home for personal use,” adding that they put the mansion up for sale because they hadn’t spent enough time in Los Angeles.

The property is currently listed with Hilton & Hyland.

This is Liongate Estate, the 24,000-square-foot property that is currently on sale for $65 million. The home has a tennis court, saltwater swimming pool, and outdoor glass elevator.

Source: Hilton & Hyland



The home sits on two acres of property, and both of its Bel-Air entrances are gated. Rogers was the owner to add those lions to the gate (he's a Leo).

Source: Hilton & Hyland



Let's go inside the mansion, shall we?

Source: Hilton & Hyland



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Tory Burch Is Launching A Lululemon Killer

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tory burch

Lululemon has a new threat to its activewear empire. 

Leather goods designer Tory Burch is launching a line of apparel and accessories for yoga, running, golf, and tennis, Burch revealed in an interview with Women's Wear Daily

Burch said the line, set to debut in spring 2015, will be tailored for use both inside and outside the gym.

"I find a lot of women wear what they wear to go to the gym all day long," she told Women's Wear Daily in an interview. 

Lululemon launched a similar concept last week with its new line, &Go

&Go targets women who are "out the door at daybreak and moving until midnight," Lululemon said on its website. "You don't have time for a wardrobe that keeps forcing you to change. You're busy living. We get it."

Burch also revealed in the WWD interview that she is planning to launch a line of men's accessories. The men's line will include small leather goods, tech accessories, belts, and possibly footwear, according to Fashionista

SEE ALSO: 35 Companies Changing The Way We Shop And Eat

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The 10 Best Craft Breweries In New York State

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Ithaca Beer Company Glass

While California and Colorado are well-known as great craft beer destinations, New York is proving itself a noteworthy home to some awesome breweries.

Sarah and Giancarlo Annese, authors of "Beer Lover's New York," visited nearly 100 breweries all over New York State scoping out the bright stars among the craft beer scene. They shared their picks for the 10 best breweries from Niagara to the North Fork.

The Anneses operate under the Brewers Association's definition of craft brewery — a brewery with an annual production of fewer than 6 million barrels of beer — but they mainly support drinking any fresh, local beer closest to where you live.

Barrier Brewing Company

Oceanside, NY

Founded: 2009

Evan Klein and Craig Frymark had just expanded to a 30-barrel brewhouse when it was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. The New York beer community rallied around them, with Simon Thorpe, CEO of Brewery Ommegang, inviting them to brew at his facility. The resulting beer, Barrier Relief, raised money to rebuild.

Blue Point Brewery invited Barrier to join other Long Island breweries on a collaborative brew, Surge Protector IPA, which brought in $29,000 for Barrier, and another $29,000 for Sandy relief.



Bridge and Tunnel Brewery

Maspeth, NY

Founded: 2012

Bridge and Tunnel is a one-man, Queens-based nanobrewery started by Rich Castagna, a lifelong New Yorker who has been homebrewing for over 10 years. Each of his beers is named for a neighborhood story. For example, his flagship beer, Angry Amel Dunkelweizen, recalls a neighbor he had growing up who would threaten to cut the ears off the children playing in the street.



Brewery Ommegang

Cooperstown, NY

Founded: 1997

Ommegang started out with only one beer, Ommegang Ale — now called Abbey Ale — a rich, brown Belgian-style Dubbel with notes of dark fruit. Now they offer a long lineup of other styles, and are experimenting with sour beers. The brewery recently partnered with HBO to produce a line of "Game of Thrones"-inspired beers, including a "Take the Black" Stout, an "Iron Throne" Blonde Ale, and their newest "Fire and Blood" Red Ale.



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8 Pictures That Tourists Love Taking With The Eiffel Tower

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It's the 125th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower's construction. To celebrate, we've compiled pictures of perhaps the most iconic tourist snapshot in Paris: people "holding" the Eiffel Tower in their hands. It seems that this classic pose is such a must that even celebrities like Beyonce do it. 

Beyonce snapped the iconic pic when she visited recently:Beyonce holding the Eiffel TowerThis is perhaps the most iconic snapshot: Holding the Eiffel TowerAnd another variation:holding the eiffel tower in hand 

The tower really isn't that high — it's easy to "touch" the top of it:Tourist touching the Eiffel TowerThese two guys are trying to crush the tower: Tourists holding the eiffel towerWhile this little kid is patting it on its side: Kid touching Eiffel Tower

It looks like this guy is trying to lift the tower behind his back while howling at the moon: man lifting the Eiffel Tower

And this biker is jumping over the tower: biker at the Eiffel Tower

SEE ALSO: The 10 Best Free Things To Do In Paris

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Top Chef Explains How To Grill The Perfect Steak

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For Porter House New York chef and managing partner Michael Lomonaco, preparing steak is a blend of art and science. 

State-of-the-art cooking facilities at the restaurant's prime Manhattan location in the Time Warner Center include a broiler that can reach 1,800º F and a high-quality dry-aging locker for the meat.

Watch Chef Lomonaco explain the properties of different cuts of meat and how to choose them, the best way to get your meat ready, and some tips on how to grill them to perfection.

Originally produced in January 2013 by Daniel Goodman.

SEE ALSO: Here's Why People Will Love Taco Bell's New Breakfast

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'The Poor Man's NASCAR:' Inside The Weird World Of Lawn Mower Racing

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boomer 9

Head down to a county fair in Texas, and you may find helmeted men racing through dirt tracks at bristling speeds on, of all vehicles, lawn mowers.

The pastime is a strange motorsport that photographer Jennifer Boomer started documenting after moving to the Lone Star State. Indeed, lawn mower racing began as a joke, according to a July 2013 profile of the sport in the Wall Street Journal. It was meant to poke fun of the "slickness" of professional motorsports but eventually became a "mini-NASCAR" with its own trading cards and advertisers.

Found in many parts of the Midwest and South, lawn mower racing has a particularly strong following among old-timers in Texas.

"There was a bit of the 'good ol' boys' in [the racers]," Boomer told Business Insider. "They're very community-minded, but they're having a good time."

Lawn mower racing can be an expensive sport, with racers spending $10,000 on a mower alone, though local companies often sponsor the races or racers. Blades are removed from the mowers for safety.

We call it the poor man’s NASCAR,” Richard Lively, who has won the state championship in Texas multiple times, told the Longview News-Journal in 2011.

Boomer shared some of the photos with us here, but you can check out the rest of her work at her website. boomer 5boomer 16boomer 18boomer 12boomer 2boomer 8boomer 15boomer 14boomer 11boomer 4boomer 17boomer 7

SEE ALSO: Brutal photos of North Carolina's amateur wrestling circuit

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Here's What Top Chef Joël Robuchon Eats For Breakfast

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Joel robuchon Japan World Summit of Gastronomy

As a reporter who often writes about food and restaurants, I've long heard tales of "chef of the century" Robuchon.

The French chef made a name for himself at Paris' Jamin, regarded as one of the best restaurants in history. After retiring from Jamin in the '90s, Robuchon re-emerged with a series of restaurants bearing his name and helmed by his protégées.

With 22 locations around the world — from bakeries to fine dining establishments— Robuchon now has accumulated 28 Michelin stars, more than any other chef in the world.

I recently sat down with Robuchon at his Las Vegas Joël Robuchon location to talk about what he eats when he's not cooking for others, his dining pet peeves, and the possibility of opening cheaper restaurants.

(Note: All responses have been translated from French to English, and have been edited for clarity.)

BUSINESS INSIDER: You're regarded as one of the best chefs in the entire world. What is the most challenging part of cooking?

JOEL ROBUCHON:  The older I get, the more I realize the truth is the simpler the food, the more exceptional it can be. And it's extremely difficult, because to do something that's very sophisticated that utilizes these very high quality ingredients is very easy, but to do something simple that is exceptional — that is where the difficulty is, and it's the hardest thing to do in a kitchen. It really asks for a mastery of the ingredients and a mastery of taste.

I never try to marry more than three flavors in one dish. I like walking into a kitchen and knowing that the dishes are identifiable and the ingredients within them are easy to detect. My role as a chef is respecting the produce. Why should I change and mask the original flavors of the produce that I'm utilizing?

BI: What's your biggest dining pet peeve when you visit other restaurants?

JR: The worst thing for me is to not taste what I'm eating, to not know what I'm eating. It upsets me to no avail. And then seeing dishes that have so many additives. I don't support that at all. That upsets me quite a bit.

l'atelier joel robuchonBI: We've noticed celebrity chefs have been starting more casual, "cheap eats" restaurants in recent years. Do you have any plans to do something similar?

JR: Joël Roubchon restaurants are certainly a high price point [Ed note: $425 a person for the dégustation menu at the Las Vegas restaurant], but at L'Atelier we have menus that are more accessible. We have lower price points in order to open the doors to a larger clientele. Right now, we are discussing other projects, but nothing is concrete as of yet.

BI: What do you think is really exciting about the fine dining world right now?

JR: I'm seeing this move towards healthier cuisine. I'm opening a restaurant in Mumbai, India because I like getting surprised by the quality of that cuisine. They use so many vegetables, and yet there are so many different flavors. For instance, a very simple dish made with lentils is extremely good. We're meeting more and more vegetarians everyday in our restaurants, and I'm also very interested in organic produce and utilizing the freshest products available. I may be wrong, but I definitely feel that that is the future — to be healthy.

BI: After retiring from Jamin, you did a series of cooking shows for 12 years. Do you watch cooking shows today?

JR: Not very much. There are different kinds of shows: shows that don't teach anything, and then there are some where you can really learn how to be a good cook. But the rise of these TV shows is also really increasing the visibility of cuisine worldwide. At one point in time when you looked at a chef or a cook, it was considered a job that not a lot of people wanted because it was very manual, and very hard to do. These TV shows are bringing value to these jobs now. They show that in order to be a good cook, one has to be very, very good with one's hands, but also have a strong mind.

BI: What do you cook for yourself when you're not at the restaurant?

JR: I'm a regular person like everyone else, so I do as simple as I can. Steak and french fries, nice and French. I really do love eggs as well. I make quite a lot of omelets, salads — I do enjoy a really good green salad with very good, high-quality tomatoes with a lot of flavor to them and some burrata cheese or mozzarella. Even a roasted chicken with some oven baked potatoes, that's something that everybody loves.

joel robuchon las vegasBI: You fly all around the world, splitting your time among Las Vegas, Paris, Hong Kong, and all your other restaurant locations. What is your morning routine like?

JR: Well, I begin everyday with a shower [laughs]. And then I always put a list together of what I'm going to do that day, because it's very important to set a schedule. As a general rule, I wake up at 7 a.m, to be ready by 8 a.m., and dive into work by 9 a.m. We finish very late. We usually get out of the restaurants around 12 a.m. Last night, we got out of here around 1 a.m.

BI: Who is your favorite guest of all time at your Las Vegas Joël Robuchon?

JR: There will always be customers that we particularly like and prefer. For Las Vegas, it would be Celine Dion because when we first opened, we had some very slow days. And [Celine Dion and her husband] were the first to come, and they started sending a lot of guests our way. They really helped to popularize the restaurant within Las Vegas.

DON'T MISS: Here's What It's Like To Dine At The Most Remarkable Restaurant In Las Vegas

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How To Drive A $300,000 Ferrari

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Business Insider's transportation reporter Alex Davies drove the 2014 Ferrari F12berlinetta.

With a maximum speed of 210 mph and a base price of $315,000, it goes without saying that the car is a blast to drive.

Before you hit the road, you might want to learn how to start it and get it into first gear. Davies shows you how to use the paddle shifts.

SEE ALSO: We Found A Real Life R2D2

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Here's What People Would Look Like If Their Faces Were Symmetrical

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Facial symmetry is often pointed to as one of the chief indicators of attractiveness in males and females. But how true is that hypothesis?

Fashion photographer Alex John Beck recently decided to test the symmetrical theory of attractiveness by photographing regular people and then making symmetrical versions of each person's face, by using first the left and then the right side. 

Beck's results are definitely odd and a little disconcerting. He shared a few with us below, but you can check out the rest of his work at his website:

Beck took a portrait of each person and then divided it into the left and right side of the face. Then he mirrored each to create symmetrical portraits from each side.

AJB10For people with more naturally symmetrical faces, the effect is far more subtle.ajb9For each portrait session, he made the symmetrical version immediately so that he could show his subjects.ajb8Those with more symmetrical faces were pleased with the results.ajb4

According to Beck, in most cases, subjects looked more like a long-lost sibling than a version of him or herself.ajb6People with less symmetrical faces were less enthusiastic, even if one of the portraits looked flattering.ajb7The effect was disturbing for some.ajb5Certain features get pronounced in each portrait. This man's face and neck looks thin from his left side, but far more thick and full on the right.ajb3Beck says that they tried to maintain the structural integrity of each face because they wanted each one to look realistic.ajb2Beck declined to include the original portrait of each person because then people would focus on finding the differences between the faces. Instead, he wanted viewers to look critically at each face by itself.AJB1


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