Swatch: plastic relic of the eighties or luxury accessory of the future? On Thursday, the Swatch Group re-launched its 6 billion dollar empire at its remodeled Flagship store in Time Square. DJ Mel Debarge provided the music for guests that included Michelle Trachtenberg and host Kelly Osbourne.

Just last night Sotheby’s Postwar and Contemporary Sale in New York brought in a total of $134,438,000 with only two lots left unsold. The sale easily surpassed Christie’s $74 million performance the night before and might signal a possible recovery for the art market. While 59% of works sold for prices above their pre-sale estimates, the gem of the evening was Andy Warhol’s 200 One Dollar Bills which sold for $43,762,500 over an estimate of $8-12 million way above the $67.9-97.7 million pre-sale estimate.

Life is so easy for the beautiful people, or so I’m led to believe. On this subject, I will not pretend to be speaking from personal experience. No, it’s simply something I have observed over the years from indulging in some ‘people watching’, everybody’s favorite pastime. Of course as we all know, aesthetically speaking, some people are much easier on the eays than others. So let the jealousy begin, as things have just become even easier for the more visually agreeable.

Back in the day, when convening in the drawing room was common practice, there was a social norm that has tapered off in recent times – that of the salon. We’re not referring to a loud room with mirrors that smells perpetually of aerosol, we mean the popular seventeenth century locales that held arts exhibits and were cultural hubs for their urban surrounds.

There’s a haute battle of the Joe’s heating up in San Francisco. Original Joe’s restaurant is all fired up because while they remain shuttered-up to the public, a new restaurant, Uptown Joe’s seems to be stealing more than just the show.

Here are a few Zagat restaurants suggestions in the area that are offering a HAUTE Thanksgiving menu. If slaving in the kitchen all-day and cleaning up all night is not your idea of a holiday meal, then try one of these restaurants and be thankful for restaurant chefs.

The holidays are a call for everyone to gather and celebrate, sharing meals and fine wines while making lasting memories with family and friends.

Olivia Hsu Decker takes us along to the Icons of Design in San Francisco, the Alzheimer’s Association Fundraiser in Monaco, the Ungaro Fashion Show in Paris and to a private dinner with Lang Lang in San Francisco.

As the president of The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, I find everything about global travel and the luxury service industry to be exhilarating and I am fortunate to have found a way to meld my passion into a rewarding career at one of the world’s most prestigious organizations.