Compared to last year when the country was in the early throes of the recession, Art Basel tamed its typical partying ways for a more subtle approach to the annual event. This year, however, the party’s were back in full swing with art collectors, dealers, celebrities, and guests jumping through social event hoops left and right.

The fourth-quarter sales volume at the Mercedes-Benz passenger car division is expected to rise considerably as weak year-earlier figures helped to promote growth rates through November.

Fragrance and make-up mogul Serge Lutens has selected Barney’s New York as the exclusive vendor of his new mascara comb that is priced at $60.

The Porsche Boxster Spyder made its official debut at the 2009 Los Angeles Autoshow last week as the lighter weight, greater powered version of the standard Porsche Boxster.

More than 800 letters written by Vincent van Gogh are putting a voice to the infamous artist, many of which he wrote to his younger brother Theo. They are being displayed in their entirety for the first time with the publication of “Vincent van Gogh—The Letters.”

This weekend, he opened a new 7,700 square-foot palace of all things Mr. Ford in Las Vegas, at the new Crystals CityCenter. Other designers with space in the Crystals CityCenter include Louis Vuitton, Ermenegildo Zegna, Cartier, and Versace – the usual suspects, really, so Tom Ford is in good company.

LA Live is an ever-evolving destination for all the best in entertainment, sports, and dining, and as an extremely welcome revenue magnet for the city of Los Angeles, LA Live will be welcoming a new revenue-attracting property in 2010: The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriot all in one.

There’s no question about it: New York City is one of the hautest places to be no matter what you’re in the market for.

Actor and comedian, Bob Schneider, is selling his Normandy-style estate in San Marino California for $3.6 million.