I don't know much about the city of Marrakech, but after looking at this Marrakech luxury home, I think I want to learn more.  The property is designated as a "riad," which is defined as "a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden"...see, I'm already learning. 

The palace-like estate features interior courtyards and an amazing indoor pool that harmonize with the traditional Moroccan stylings.  What I also find interesting are the contemporary touches, including a fully automated theater and an elevator, which add modern convenience but don't take away from the amazing home's conventional charms.  The magnificent home is listed by WETAG Consulting.

Now I'm off to read up on Marrakech...or should I say the "Red City"?

I recently purchased a new cell phone.  Before doing so, I conducted a bit of research on a few different devices.  Unfortunately, I think I left out a significant group - luxury, designer cell phones.

Prada - the infamous luxury fashion house - joined forces with LG to create the Prada Phone by LG.  This sleek phone is less than a half inch thick - that's thinner than a credit card!  Mobiado's Camo is crafted with actual aircraft aluminum, and the brilliant color design is hand painted onto each phone.  As a result, each Camo manufactured is unique.  Bang & Olufsen launched the Serene.  It's no surprise that this phone is a creation of B&O, with its innovatively edgy appearance and a built-in motor that allows for effortless opening and closing.

The merging of designers and technology definitely caught my attention so I did a little investigating.  My findings:  this trend is without question on the rise.  Christian Dior and Tag Huer are scheduled to launch luxury cell phones later this year.  I suppose, for the time being, my Blackberry Pearl will have to do.

Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner and I can almost smell the sizzling burgers, steaks and sausages.  I've wheeled my grill from the garage to the patio in hopes of firing it up over the holiday for the first time this year.  If the rain forecasted for Chicago on Sunday and Monday holds off, I'm looking forward to a three-day bender of deliciously grilled provisions.

On item that certainly, and sadly, won't be present at my days of backyard barbecue bliss is the 56" Solaire Grill.  The gorgeous machine boasts a large grilling space, rotisserie burner and two side burners, affording the freedom to create your entire meal right at the grill.  The powerful Solaire is also available with InfraVection technology, for efficient heat distribution and a wide range of temperature options.

This high-end grill won't be at my Memorial Day cookout, but maybe my group can finally settle the debate regarding the superiority of the bratwurst, chorizo, Italian and Polish sausages.  I'm an Italian sausage guy myself - spicy, of course.

Recently, we posted information about an historic Coral Gables estate that came with its own private island.  Those of us without an island retreat of our own have several opportunities to rent a private island getaway for an amazing vacation.  There are island options for many travel budgets, including of course, the unlimited budget of the super-affluent voyager.  Virgin Airlines owner Sir Richard Branson's famous Necker Island, a 74 acre paradise in the British Virgin Islands, can be rented for $47,000 a night for up to 28 guests.  If that sounds a little steep, there are certain times when you can rent rooms in one of the island's six guest houses starting at $23,500 a week (still more than a little steep for me). 

Amenities on the island include two freshwater pools and Jacuzzi, tennis courts, water sports, fishing, spa and everything that can be expected on the ultimate idyllic island paradise.

A luxury accessory doesn't necessarily have to astronomically expensive to be considered luxurious.  Sometimes, it can just be fabulous.  A perfect example of this is the 1 GB Swarovski crystal-encrusted portable memory drive. At first glance, it simply looks like a jewel adorned lock, but it's actually the perfect solution for the busy professional on the go.  Whether you're working from home, on a plane or by the pool, this stylish gadget allows you to have immediate access to important documents, photographs and even music.  With the hectic nature of the successful working professional, you will never again have to frantically call a colleague to request a spreadsheet be faxed to you.  This functional, in vogue portable memory drive allows you to have any file you might need at your disposal – anywhere at anytime.