Press Sighting: New York Post

July 16, 2006

"NYC on 37G a Day: Refreshed, step into your $1,950-a-day rented Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder from Gotham Dream Cars to motor for breakfast..."

NYC ON 37G A DAY
Guide to the Apple's Most Expensive

By ELIZABETH WOLFF and MARINA VATAJ
Published: July 16, 2006

Here's one way to do Manhattan on a measly $37,710 a day.Awake to a panoramic view of Central Park as you slip out of the Filid-Oro Italian linens in your $14,000-a-night suite in the Mandarin Oriental - a high-end flop that comes highly recommended by a Web site listing the most expensive services and products in Gotham.Then indulge in $1,090 worth of VIP spa treatments from your very own therapist at the hotel.

Refreshed, step into your $1,950-a-day rented Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder from Gotham Dream Cars to motor for breakfast at Norma's Parker Meridien, where a cool grand gets you the "Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata" - six eggs, 10 ounces of sevruga caviar and a chopped-up whole lobster on a bed of potatoes.

Oops, you spill.

No worries - Madame Paulette's dry cleaners can take care of the mess for $22 (that'll be $25,000 for couture) as worker bees tailor to the Trumps and TV gab hostess Kelly Ripa - and treat your shirt like a vintage Chanel.

It's likely already time for lunch, and nothing says money-hungry better than DB Bistro Moderne, where the $120 hamburger has ex-con Martha Stewart's stamp of approval.

Or if you're just too rich to be bothered with remembering where you should drop your dough, check out pocketchangenyc.com.

The site is solely devoted to searching and reviewing the most costly items that New York City has to offer.

Each week, the site e-mails subscribers with the latest "most expensive" finding.

"Luxury is an Empire State of mind," said Pocket Change's editor in chief Richard Nouveau, who recommended the lap of lathered luxury at Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa, where Bruce Willis and Chris Noth prefer the $80 men's shave with a massage.

Or, for a certain sky-high price, get Labrecque-to-go, like new "The View" host Rosie O'Donnell does for her private cruises.

Since fake 'n' bake is a summertime essential, stop for a $150 session at the Peninsula Hotel, where they scrub off your dead skin and paint your body to perfection.

You spot a smudge on your rental?

Roll like Cam'ron and beckon Augusta Car Care, where professionals in tuxedos treat you to a bottle of Cristal while the hired help buff your car with three kinds of gold leaf wax - for $4,700.

Now, drive the vehicular perfection over to Masa, where you can dine front row to chef Masa; Nouveau suggests the $98 tuna roll and $500-per-person tasting menu.

For your after-dinner drink, upscale Duvet will whip up a "Platinum Passion" - the personal favorite of Paris Hilton and Pam Anderson. At $1,500 per cocktail, this most expensive pure liquid drink includes the best Ruinart champagne and hand-crushed brown sugar.

Afterward, head to Marquee and party with Lindsay Lohan and Christina Aguilera, while sipping Remy Martin at $3,500 a bottle; a two-bottle minimum per table is required.

When the party's over, the Hamptons are not.

Like actor Wilmer Valderrama, avoid the highway traffic and opt for helicopter transportation. Associated Aircraft Group offers a one-way, $6,000, 36-minute trip to hotspots like the Star Room.

And reflect on Nouveau's sage advice:

"The city gives us so much, spending money is the least we can do."