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We Got A Look Inside One Of The Most Exclusive Hotel Suites In San Francisco

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Located just steps from San Francisco's Union Square, the 36-story high Grand Hyatt offers fantastic views of the city and the greater Bay Area.

But there's one room that literally towers above all the others in every way, from its spectacular views of the city in all directions to its gigantic 2,200 square feet of space.

It's the Presidential Suite located on the 35th floor, and it's so exclusive you can't even reserve it.

The suite is typically booked on a case-by-case basis for "high profile" executives and VIPs, we're told. It's also not cheap. While the rate can fluctuate, one night will cost at least several thousand dollars.

The Grand Hyatt is located at 345 Stockton St. right next to Union Square, a popular spot for tourists with plenty of shops, restaurants, and other attractions close by.



After a quick elevator ride to the 35th floor, we find the front door to the suite.



The first thing you notice once you open the door is a long hallway, which features wood floors and nice artwork along the walls.



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12 Dalai Lama Quotes That Will Change The Way You Think About Happiness

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practice

The 14th Dalai Lama was born as Lhamo Dondrub in a village in Tibet in 1935. 

He fled his home during the Chinese occupation of Tibet and soon set up a government in exile in India. 

The monk has been the spiritual leader of his people and his religion since he was 15 years old. He's also one of the foremost authors and philosophers within Tibetan Buddhism, having authored books like "The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living,""How To Practice: The Way To A Meaningful Life," and "Beyond Religion: Ethics for the Whole World." 

In 1989 he won the Nobel Peace prize, and he continues to travel the world giving talks on compassion, the nature of truth, and happiness. 

On responsibility



On impact



On necessity



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THE TWILIGHT OF TANGIER: What It's Like To Live On A Disappearing Island

Pro Teams Hire This Sports Psychologist To Help Players Manage Aggression Off The Field

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In the wake of the NFL's current domestic violence scandal, many teams are scrambling to prevent similar situations.

We talked to Dr. Jonathan Fader, a New York-based sports psychologist who works with players to overcome mental adversity that could negatively impact their on-field performance.

Dr. Fader said that although professional athletes are paid to display violent aggression on the field, there is no excuse for that behavior off-the-field. He reveals three specific steps that athletes and non-athletes alike can take to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation.


Produced by Graham Flanagan.

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The 19 Most Impressive Students At Harvard

John Travolta's House Is A Functional Airport With 2 Runways For His Private Planes

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john travolta house

John Travolta is a certified private pilot who owns five aircraft, so it's only fitting that the 60-year-old actor's Florida home has two runways that lead directly to his front door.

"We designed the house for the jets and to have at our access the world at a moment’s notice, and we succeeded at that," a bearded Travolta said during an interview Thursday on Australia's "Today." "For the last 11 years, we’ve been able to globe-trot for Qantas and movies … I’ve been really able to operate out of this house for business and personal reasons.

Travolta has been a Qantas "ambassador-at-large" since 2002 and keeps his personal Qantas Boeing 707 in the yard of his Florida home, just a 10-minute flight from Orlando.

john travolta planes Travolta also keeps a Challenger jet parked in his backyard:

john travolta planes"Now I've made a profession out of flying in addition to acting, and at my age I'm glad I did, because it's something to do when you're not working," Travolta told "Today."

But the actor also flies his own planes for work. He flew the Challenger to the Toronto Film Festival to promote his new movie, "The Forger."

Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, previously gave a tour of their unique aviation-inspired home to Architectural Digest.

"It was always John’s dream to have planes in his front yard — to practically be able to pull up to the house — so that when you wanted to go to dinner, all you’d have to do was step out the door, get on the plane and whisk off,” Kelly told the magazine.

Travolta added: "You can be the ultimate eccentric, like I am, and bring in a 707, but you can also bring in any corporate jet or airliner."

Although the property came equipped with a 7,500-foot runway, Travolta extended the taxiway to reach the house.

Check out a few of Architectural Digest's pictures below:

john travolta house airplanesjohn travolta house airplanes More Architectural Digest photos here.

Check out an awesome aerial shot of the home here.

Travolta's property, located in the Jumbolair Aviation Estates in Ocala, Florida, is situated on Greystone Airport. The actor was reportedly the first resident of the 550-acre community that caters to people who want fly-in, fly-out access.

The aviation community allows homeowners to land their planes, including Travolta's Boeing 707 airliner, and taxi up to their homes. travolta airport

There is a private control center:travolta airport

And a bed-and-breakfast where pilots and prospective homeowners can stay overnight:travolta airport

Watch Travolta's full interview about his airport-home with Australia's "Today" below:

Travolta waves from the cockpit of an Airbus A380 in 2005 in Brisbane, Australia:

John Travolta planeThe Qantas Airlines Global Goodwill Ambassador poses near two Qantas planes during a press conference in 2006 at San Francisco International Airport. Travolta was on hand to welcome the first direct Qantas flight from Sydney, Australia.

john travolta qantas airplane

SEE ALSO: NBC Is Paying For Matt Lauer's Helicopter Rides To Work From The Hamptons

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The 32 Most Trendsetting Looks Of The Year

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It's only September, but there have already been tons of memorable style moments this year.

Now that the biggest award shows and fashion shows have whizzed by, we took a moment to collect the most buzzworthy and breathtaking fashion looks we've seen so far. 

From Pharrell's hat seen round the world to Lupita Nyongo's fairytale Oscar gown, these are the looks that set the trends for the rest of us.

While murmurs of divorce have swirled around the couple as of late, Jay-Z and Beyonce continue to hold a special place in American hearts by dominating the red carpet, like at the Met Gala this year.



Cara Delevingne is one of the world's most in-demand models, and her personal style and silly persona is what makes her so likable. This Chanel look was a Cannes Film Festival favorite.



Dutch designer Iris Van Herpen was one of the first to use 3D printing techniques in fashion, and in January 2013, she debuted this intricate, lace-like dress that was created with a laser printing technique by Belgian company Materialise.

 



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These Photoshopped Portraits Of A Biracial Woman Show How Beauty Is Defined Around The Globe


The New 49ers Stadium Is Revolutionizing The Way People Eat At Football Games

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Inside Levis Stadium

The newly built, $1.3 billion, Levi's Stadium of the San Francisco 49ers offers a dining experience unlike any other NFL team

While the new stadium comes with higher ticket prices, once fans are there, they can enjoy top-notch dining choices, spearheaded by Michelin-star chef Michael Mina's upscale restaurant Bourbon Steak. Mina, who owns restaurants in Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Seattle, Atlantic City, and all over California, has been a 49ers season-ticket holder since 1991 and has made Levi's Stadium an elite place to eat.

Mina's restaurant Bourbon Steak is a 3,500 square-foot gourmet eatery in the stadium that offers filet mignon for $58, 10 oz. skirt steak for $74, or seafood like Alaskan Halibut or Pacific Salmon. It can all be washed down with a $75 Deus Belgian Strong Ale or $30 tableside flight of bourbon.

The stadium has also unveiled the Levi's Stadium App, which provides online tickets, parking passes, and perhaps best of all, mobile food orders. Fans can either order food to be picked up at concession stands or get it delivered right to their seats for an extra $5.

The app isn't completley perfect yet. Some fans complained about the wifi crashing and never getting their food delivered. But as the season gets underway, these are problems that can be easily fixed.

Another dining option within the stadium is Mina's Bourbon Steak Pub, which offers more affordable dishes like nachos, duck spring rolls, pulled pork sandwiches, and a wide variety of burgers. It still isn't cheap, but for quality food from a top chef, it's not too bad.

Mina and company are also revolutionizing tailgating. Fans can pay $5,000 for 10 tailgates, held inside the stadium at another one of Mina's restaurants.

Mina told CBSSports:

"So I said, I've got a crazy idea: We can turn the whole thing into a 1,000 person tailgate on gamedays and do something that no one's ever seen before."

At the start of the season, there were 500 open spots available for tailgate membership and more than 400 have been sold already.

Mina will also cater the menu based on the visiting team. When the Chicago Bears come to town, Mina is cooking deep dish Chicago Pizza, Chicago hot dogs, lobster rolls, and three different types of steak house salads. 

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The 4 Most Persuasive Words In The English Language

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No matter how unselfish you are, you probably still find yourself trying to influence people to do the things you want them to do. So why fight it? Here are the four most impactful words you can use to achieve your goals.

Produced By Matt Johnston.
 
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Coca-Cola Is Bringing Back Surge After A Decade Of Extinction

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Coca-Cola is bringing back Surge more than a decade after it was discontinued. 

The company will start selling 12-packs of Surge on Amazon today, writes Sapna Maheshwari at Buzzfeed

Surge was launched in the 90s to compete with Mountain Dew. 

But the drink failed to sell and was discontinued 12 years ago. 

In a statement, Coca-Cola says that it is launching Surge in a response to an online campaign. 

A Facebook group called "SURGE Movement" has more than 100,000 fans on Facebook.

surge soda cans

The page was founded by Evan Carr of California in 2012.

"Surge was more of a lifestyle for me and I always had a can when I was growing up in the '90's," Carr told Business Insider last year. "I just wanted to see if other people out there missed it as much as I have."  

The group has raised nearly $4,000 to buy a billboard near the Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta. 

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A British Designer Very Publicly Backed Scotland In Her London Fashion Week Runway Show

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vivienne westwood scotland fashion showOn the London runways this weekend, fashion met politics.

Acclaimed designer Vivienne Westwood made it clear that she supports Scottish independence during her Red Label 2015 show at London Fashion Week on Sunday. The designer, who is British,  said she was ''very unpatriotic about England because it is being completely ruined," the BBC reported.

In addition to putting "Yes" pins on many of her models, in reference to this week's referendum for Scotland to secede from the UK, Westwood also left notes explaining her stance on seats at the runway show venue, according to Time.

Some snapshots from the runway, below.

vivienne westwood scotland

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And a video of Westwood explaining why she says "yes":

SEE ALSO: The 32 Most Trendsetting Looks Of The Year

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The Official Business Insider Guide To Conquering Air Travel

49 Beautiful Old New York Buildings That No Longer Exist

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Cornelius vanderbilt houseNew York City is constantly being rebuilt.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, dozens of beautiful old buildings were demolished to make way for new development. It wasn't until 1966, with the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act, that historic buildings could be protected by federal law.

Click through to see some of these vanished buildings, which include iconic hotels, businesses, and private homes. 

Max Rosenberg contributed to this post.

The Hippodrome stood on 6th Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets from 1905 to 1939. It was one of the largest theaters of its time, with a seating capacity of 5,200.

Source: NYC Architecture



The Old Metropolitan Opera House was built in 1883 near Times Square. It was the first home of the Metropolitan Opera Company, but was demolished in 1967 and performances were moved to Lincoln Center.

Source: Wikipedia



An early incarnation of Madison Square Garden was located between Fifth and Madison Avenues, and 26th and 27th Streets. The arena was demolished in 1926.

Source: NYC Architecture



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This $6 Million Brooklyn Apartment Comes With Parking Spot — And A Tesla

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709 sackett streetA new two-unit townhouse building in Park Slope, Brooklyn has an abundance of eco-friendly features, from Energy-star appliances and insulated windows to radiant floor heating.

But what really caught our eye about this property was the bonus that comes with the purchase of the four-bedroom, 3,222-square-foot Residence 1. 

The triplex unit, which is listed for $6 million, comes with a private garage and its very own Tesla Model S.

"I decided to include a Tesla because the unit has a parking space, a unique amenity in Brooklyn," Greenstone founder Eitan Baron said to Business Insider. "My original plan was to install an electric car charger to encourage the buyer to purchase an electric car. I realized I could take this one step further and promote the use of an electric car by making it part of the unit."

We've seen houses that come with Tesla charging stations, but this is the first listing we've seen to go so far as to include the car itself. 

The Tesla will only go to the lucky buyer of Residence 1, but both units at 709 Sackett Street are gorgeous — and expensive. The 1,771-square-foot Residence 2 is slightly cheaper, listed for $2.995 million.

A wide-open courtyard has a staircase that leads to a roof terrace.

709 sackettThe living room in Residence 2 has plenty of space.

709 sackett street

And the kitchen is equipped with energy-efficient appliances.

709 sackett streetPorcelain tiles in the bathrooms were imported from Italy. 

709 SackettAnd there are some amazing views of Manhattan to be enjoyed from the residence's roof terrace.

709 Sackett

SEE ALSO: The 18 Most Expensive Mansions For Sale In Silicon Valley Right Now

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Playboy Magazine Names UPenn Top Party School In The Country

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penn hey day

The University of Pennsylvania is the top party school in the country, according to a new ranking released by Playboy Magazine.

The Ivy League school tops Playboy's ninth annual list of party schools, its first appearance in the ranking. Last year's number one school, West Virginia University, fell to number three on Playboy's list.

"Smarties can party too, and UPenn puts other Ivies to shame with its union of brains, brewskies and bros," Playboy writes. "Boasting a notorious underground frat scene that school officials have deemed a nuisance, these renegades pony up thousands of dollars’ worth of liquor for their parties—and competition among the houses means a balls-out war of debauchery." 

College party video website I'm Shmacked took a trip to Philadelphia for UPenn's Spring Fling in 2012. The annual event is a huge party, with musical guests including Lupe Fiasco, Girl Talk, and Ludacris.

You can watch video of the event below:

"This year's list was determined by Playboy's editors who considered a variety of factors in their selection process, including access to nightlife and musical events, and creativity when planning social gatherings. Information from the National Center for Education Statistics, the NCAA, and the US Economic Census was also considered," according to a press release.

Here's the full top 10 party school list from Playboy:

  1. University of Pennsylvania
  2. University of Wisconsin
  3. West Virginia University
  4. University of Arizona
  5. University of Iowa
  6. University of California, Santa Cruz
  7. University of Miami
  8. Colorado State University
  9. University of Texas
  10. Syracuse University

NOW WATCH: 12 Things Every College Student Should Do Before Graduation

 

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NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's Gorgeous Hawaii Home Is On The Market For $6 Million

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NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar listed his extravagant mansion, in Kauai, Hawaii for $5.9 million, according to Forbes.

The 5,912 square-foot house is custom-built for Jabbar's 7'2" frame and sits on a three-acre property with private trail access to Secret Beach.

Jabbar's mansion features high doorways and ceilings, lava-rock fireplaces, exotic wood detailing, a mini waterfall on the pool, all with stunning views.

The custom house, built in 1986, is also close to the National Wildlife Refuge and Kilauea Lighthouse. 

The property is gated, and the main house is nicely tucked behind some lovely foliage.



There is also a carriage house and a pool pavilion situated next to the 50-foot custom pool.



A bird's eye view of Jabbar's backyard.



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The Incredible Toys Of Billionaire Richard Branson

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virgin oceanic

From spaceships to hot air balloons, billionaire entrepreneur and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson is always playing with some new toy. 

He's set world records with kite boards, planes, and even rockets through endeavors with Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Oceanic, and Virgin Galactic. He even has two islands in the Caribbean dedicated to parties and adventures.

We've rounded up some of his most outrageous toys here. 

Perhaps Branson's most famous toy, Necker Island is a 74-acre Caribbean resort that's played host to plenty of celebrity-packed parties since the 1970s. Though it took him five years and $10 million to construct the island resort, he estimated that the island is worth at least $60 million, as of 2006.

Source: Virgin blog



Guests staying at Branson's resort can use this zip line to get down from the main house to the beach.

Source: Virgin blog



When his guests get tired of lounging by the pool or beach, they can hang out on his 105-yacht, the Necker Belle. He put the yacht up for sale in March, though he has yet to find a buyer.

Source: Yacht Charter Fleet

 



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These Haunting Paintings Are Based On Redacted War On Terror Documents

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Conceptual artist Jenny Holzer offers a reminder of the violence that came after 9/11 in an exhibition opening last week on Sept. 11 in New York.

"Dust Paintings" at Cheim & Read features carefully recreated and then distorted government documents, including almost wholly redacted pages made to resemble abstract expressionist art, prisoner testimony from the investigation into the death of Afghan prisoner Jamal Naseer that appears in weird shades of gray, and a version of at least one leaked image from Edward Snowden.

"After 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq, I wanted to understand what happened and why," Holzer told The Art Newspaper. “Many news outlets were cautious or consistently positive at the time, and it occurred to me that formerly secret documents could offer more complete and unmediated information.”

The exhibition runs through October 25. Here are a few highlights:

jenny holzer X CONCLUSION

jenny holzer Terrorist Groupjenny holzer CONCLUSIONjenny holzer PRESENTLY IN THE UNITED STATESjenny holzer cold waterjenny holzer I was arrestedjenny holzer neck was tied up to

And here's Holzer's only slightly modified version of the infamous smiley face image leaked by Snowden:jenny holzer google cloud

SEE ALSO: This Wall Street bank has one of the largest art collections in the world

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Living Up To Its Reputation, Olive Garden Made Us Wait 20 Minutes To Sit In A Half-Empty Restaurant

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olive garden interior

Italian restaurant chain Olive Garden is fighting back against a wave of criticism from a brutal 294-page investor presentation that dropped last week.

When several Business Insider employees recently got lunch at a New York City Olive Garden, we noticed many of the reported problems.

To start, we were given an estimated wait time of five to 10 minutes for a table but actually had to wait 20 minutes — all while the restaurant was only half-empty. There were other parties waiting in the lobby as well.

Not only was this annoying but also it correlated with long wait times and "false waits" mentioned in the presentation. False waits are the practice of making customers wait longer than necessary to encourage them to buy drinks at the bar and make the restaurant seem busier than it is.

All told, our lunch visit to Olive Garden took about an hour and 20 minutes, which is a long time for a work lunch. If Olive Garden hopes to attract businesspeople for lunch, having long wait times could hurt their business.

Olive Garden sent us this statement in response to our questions about wait times and description of our lunch experience on Monday:

I’m sorry to hear about your experience today. That’s certainly not typical of the guest experience we aim to provide and it’s not consistent with our actions underway. ... Since we began our focus on this issue over the past year, our false waits are now at historic lows and guest complaints regarding false waits are the lowest they have ever been.

Olive Garden issued a response to the massive investor takedown on Monday, defending itself against some of the criticisms.Olive Garden redesign

SEE ALSO: We Went To Olive Garden And Saw A Lot Of The Problems That Are Dragging Down The Brand

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