Material Interest will be on hiatus until January 2, 2008. Need something to get you through the holidays?  Perhaps our Champagne, Scotch, and tequila hotlists can help.

Key West's historic Casa Marina, originally built in 1920 by railway magnate Henry Flagler, has gotten a $43-million makeover by its new owners, the hotel group LXR. Reopening Christmas week, the 300-plus-room property sprawls across three separate buildings. The vibe's the same in each—airy and loftlike, with dark woods and ceramic-tile floors that give more than a whiff of Flagler's Golden Era Florida. Our recommendation: Ask for a room in the original structure, as they feature both idiosyncratic layouts and gaping balconies.
Officially reopens Christmas week, 1500 Reynolds St., Key West, (305) 296-3535, rooms from $249, casamarinaresort.com

Earlier this year, I found myself at a press appointment talking footwear and philanthropy—two of my favorite topics, actually—with Toms Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie. As you may know, Toms gives away a pair of shoes to a kid in need for every pair you buy, and Blake said he was organizing a "shoe drop" in South Africa for the fall. Over the ensuing months, a general expression of interest on my part turned into a specific commitment to go along, which then turned into one of the more unforgettable experiences of my life. Trust me when I say that malaria-pill-induced dreams are not the kind of thing one easily forgets. Okay, the ten-day trip itself was pretty memorable too. In addition to the aforementioned pharmaceuticals, I took along an HD video camera and a Canon PowerShot G9. Turns out I'm not much of a videographer, though I did come back with a few shots of the experience that I'm not too embarrassed by.

Click for slideshow >

To find out more about Toms or to pick up a pair, head to tomsshoes.com

Here's a last-minute gift idea for the graphic-novel enthusiast-slash-horndog in your life: R. Crumb's Sex Obsessions, a new $450 coffee-table book from the lascivious lads at Taschen. The compilation collects 16 years worth of the artist's eros-driven comics, and each of the 1,000 copies is signed by Crumb himself. Tawdry? Maybe a little. But it's still classier than Neil Strauss' latest cash-in.

Sure, it's got the requisite drool-inducing aerials, vintage footage of Glen Plake in all his neon-and-mohawk splendor, and multiple-angle shots of avalanche-defying heli runs in Alaska and Chamonix. But the real highlights of Mark Obenhaus' big-mountain skiing doc Steep (in select theaters today) may well be the quiet moments—specifically, in the harrowing interviews with legendary skiers, at least one of whom (Doug Coombs, who died in a skiing accident) won't be making the premiere.

Also out: Walk Hard—look, we're just happy to see John C. Reilly gettin' paid—and the latest Johnny Depp-Tim Burton joint, Sweeney Todd.

Earnest Sewn has just announced that starting next month the gallery space in its Meatpacking District store will be dedicated to showcasing John Whitledge's Trovata collection. Per E.S., the in-store setup will reference the "houseboat" theme of Trovata's recently opened shop in Newport Beach. We'll post a photo as soon as one's available.
Earnest Sewn, 821 Washington St., NYC, (212) 675-0553

At last, somewhere to stay in TriBeCa that doesn't feel like an eighties-era Holiday Inn or a bolt-hole for leave-the-wife-at-home conventioneers. The 45 rooms are hardly revolutionary in terms of decor—bathrooms done in slate and chrome, luxurious white linens, and moody abstract art call to mind the apartment of a mid-century mod-loving art director—but these days in New York, understatement is always welcome. And, while the bizarre in-room floral arrangements smell only of trying too hard, we can't take issue with free chocolates from Brooklyn-based confectioner Jacques Torres.
  Duane Street Hotel, opening late December, rooms from $300, 130 Duane St., New York, (212) 964-4600, duanestreethotel.com

Frida Giannini has just unveiled Gucci's 8-8-2008 Limited Edition line of accessories, pegged to the Summer Olympics in Beijing. (The games start on the lucky date of August 8, in case you didn't catch that.) WWD declares the special edition of the $1,415 I-Gucci digital watch to be the "collection's icing," though we're more partial to the sneakers. You'll be able to pick up the timepiece worldwide starting next month, though the rest of the collection will be available only in Asia.

Sad but true, guys—we read it in The New York Times. Plus this quote: "I'm also finding bamboo really boring now."

"Flash in the Can: Designs Soon Forgotten"

Sure, the owners of Costa Rica's new Recreo villas are doing some good (namely, contributing funds to area community-development programs), but frankly we didn't need the extra incentive: Each of its 25 villas includes an alfresco dining salon, a private pool, and even personal chefs and housekeepers—amenities that make the included Wi-Fi, flat-panel TVs, and iPod docks seem almost quaint. Located on the country's Guanacaste Peninsula, the resort is set to open next month on 70 acres of Pacific-front tropical forests. You may want to consider booking soon—the region's next new opening is the Cacique resort from AOL founder Steve Case.
Recreo Costa Rica, three-bedroom villas from $6,900, (631) 298-0414, recreocostarica.com

L.A. men's emporium Alpha made what seems like an odd choice for its first-ever in-house product line: cashmere. Oh well, it's really nice stuff, and it should come in quite handy for those chilly nights when the mercury drops below 60.
Cashmere scarf, $70, and sweaters, $195 each, available at
Alpha, 8625 Melrose Ave., L.A., (310) 855-1775, alpha-man.com

Following on the, er, heels of the brand's Fall 2007 oxford wingtips, Opening Ceremony's new desert boots, due for spring, are a case study in how to alter a classic shape without ruining it in the process. The trend is spreading: Expect similarly soled examples next season from Gucci (loafers), Margiela (ditto), and Prada (sneakers).
Opening Ceremony suede desert boot, $315, available in early 2008 at Opening Ceremony New York, (212) 219-2688, openingceremony.us

Thom Yorke recently sat down with David Byrne to discuss the band's recent underpublicized album release, and it's probably the coolest (and only) article on music distribution you'll ever read. (Also, the Radiohead frontman: closet Walk the Line fan?) Check out the rest (with audio clips) here.

[Wired via BoingBoing]

Here's the most logical thing we've heard all week: Jerry Bruckheimer has just inked a deal to develop video games for MTV, with the first one due in 2009. Let our video game Hotlist tide you over till then.

[NYT]

Sean MacPherson and Eric Goode have reportedly settled on their next hotel project: A renovation of the Hotel Riverview in the West Village. Hotel Chatter describes the current residents as mostly "homeless, drug addicts, and drunks." Sounds like the duo's Bowery experience should come in handy.

With two new luxury hotels scheduled to open by the end of this year, Mexico's southern Yucatán peninsula may soon host more cooking classes than keg parties. (We think that's a good thing....) First up: the Rosewood Mayakoba, home of the aforementioned courses, and whose 128 suites are spread around a lagoon. Each includes a private boat dock, but no need to BYOB—the hotel will ferry you around as needed. There's also the unfortunately named Sense spa, which you'll need after hitting the 18-hole golf course, designed by the Shark himself, Greg Norman.

Down the road, the Mandarin Oriental (above) is the Asian chain's first Latin American destination. Oddly, it also has exactly 128 rooms, set within a series of villas spread across 36 jungly acres next to a calming freshwater lake. There is, of course, a spa—a mere 25,000-square-feet small—to go with seven restaurants and bars. Also: snorkeling excursions to both the world's second-largest coral reef and nearby underground river caves known as cenotes. Too upscale? Party capital Playa del Carmen is just a short drive away.
Rosewood Mayakoba, rooms from $490, (888) ROSEWOOD, rosewoodmayakoba.com; Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya, rooms from $700, 011-52-984-877-3888, mandarinoriental.com

Gucci just announced that its new flagship store—located in the Trump Tower at 725 Fifth Avenue, NYC—has an opening date: Feb. 5, 2008. That should give you plenty of time to save up for some penny loafers.

Backed by the guys behind Lotus and Butter, the new lounge 1 OAK (meaning "one-of-a-kind") is designed to be an alternative to, well, the kind of place these guys usually open. "We are trying to have a diverse crowd, and that means a lot of people who don't have money," co-owner Jeffrey Jah says. "We're getting away from the Wall Street industry crowd." Instead, he envisions a place "where Harvey Weinstein can come in, see a new actor, and hire him." Well, the $3 million lounge, replete with ostrich-leathered walls and gold faucets, will certainly be a step up from most casting rooms. But if Manhattan's starving thespians do drop in, they better find Harvey fast—cocktails cost $12 to $16 at the bar. And bottle service costs a lot more.
1 OAK, soft-launched now and officially opening next month, 453 W. 17th St., NYC

Sure, the question "Are you a Fay man?" isn't likely to get many answers in the affirmative, but the label of that name deserves a deeper look. And happily, now's a perfect time: The Italian outerwear brand is headed stateside after two decades of Europe-only distribution. The spring collection includes racing jackets, blazers, and trench coats (like the one above, $1,125), as well as its first line of travel bags, all of which will be carried exclusively at Barneys. And those still concerned about their masculinity, take heart: Fay's reported fans include George Clooney, Sam Jackson, and Dirty Harry himself, Clint Eastwood.

Fay, from $950-$1,400, available at Barneys, 660 Madison Ave., NYC,
(212) 826-8900, barneys.com

But there are a couple of gems, including Def Jam Sessions, Vol. 1, which rounds up unreleased tracks from Rihanna and Nas, and Alone, a collection of unreleased home recordings by Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo. But the best bet is Chris Rock's Cheese and Crackers, a greatest-hits compilation that includes his classic riff on gun control, below. (You might want to turn down the sound if your workplace doesn't like the word "fuck.")

First up: California Dreaming, a new monograph from photographer Henry Diltz, who basically spent the sixties hanging out in Laurel Canyon with (among others) Joni Mitchell and Pete Townshend (not to mention Crosby, Stills, and even Nash). Such were the era's pleasures that it only took him four decades to publish the resulting pictures.

Hate hippies? Try Thousand, a collection of, yes, 1,000 chilly Polaroids from art photographer Philip-Lorca diCorcia. The book is arranged not by theme or chronology, but according to a random, computer-generated sequence—which actually sounds like something Pete Townshend would try.
California Dreaming, $500 for limited edition, $1,200 for deluxe edition, available at the Morrison Hotel Gallery, 124 Prince St., NYC, (212) 941-8770, morrisonhotelgallery.com; Thousand, $95, dashwoodbooks.com

Parisian clothier Liste Rouge has been around since 1938, but the brand has finally stepped into the late 20th century with listerougeimagine.com, where you can customize your own shirts. Variables include button thread, monograms, and (for true compulsives) the fabric lining inside the collar and cuffs. And while the company can lead you to the well of good taste, it can't make you drink. Or as company rep Nicolas Santi-Weil puts it, "I never thought that one day we would see Liste Rouge shirts with skulls on the inside of the collars." Mon dieu.
Liste Rouge Imagine, regular shirt, $240; tuxedo shirt, $290; monogram for an extra $25, listerougeimagine.com

According to DNR, the former Dior Homme creative director may finally be about to get his own eponymous line—funded, ironically, by Dior owner LVMH. But don't jump back on that Lagerfeld diet just yet. The publication adds that "the likelihood of a deal could not immediately be learned." If the deal doesn't work out—and we certainly hope it does—Slimane may have another suitor in the wings. WWD reports that he's also had interest from Diesel founder—and Margiela-backer—Renzo Rosso.

The LG MS25—which resembles the Euro-only LG KS20 and, yes, the Prada—is coming here sometime next spring. Expect it to cost around $300 with a contract, which (with the weakened dollar and all) sounds like a bargain.

[The Unwired via CrunchGear]

Hey, Sir Ridley, ever hear the phrase "too much of a good thing"? We're guessing not. The new five-disc Blade Runner Ultimate Collector's Edition includes five different versions—that's right, five different versions—of Scott's dystopian epic: the theatrical release, an international version, a work-print version, the director's cut, and an all-new "final cut," featuring several newly shot scenes. And weirdly, in that last one, Greedo shoots first.

The Simpsons Movie is also out today, inviting (not always flattering) comparisons with the show.

For when you absolutely, positively must watch Funny or Die videos on a big screen—or when your DVR fucks up again—there's SanDisk's new TakeTV. Both cheaper and simpler than its most obvious rival, the Apple TV (from $100 to $150 vs. $299), it's also ridiculously easy to use and works with a wider range of formats than Apple's player. SanDisk's version of iTunes, called Fanfare, offers (mostly) free ad-driven shows, and the company's also just inked an exclusive content deal with NBC. Of course, until the strike's over, Funny or Die will have to do.
SanDisk TakeTV, available in 4GB ($100) and 8GB ($150) versions, sandisk.com

Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno have announced they'll be heading back to the airwaves on Jan. 2, writers' strike or no. Not that that means much for NBC shows you actually watch (though if you're jonesing for Jenna Fischer, you can always check out that Willie Wisely video she starred in a while back).

[NYT]

Tim Hamilton's first-ever resort collection has just shipped, and we've got an exclusive preview. The line includes cashmere knits, band-collar button-down shirts, brightly dyed Japanese denim, and a zipper-heavy calf-leather sport coat—not to mention a whole lot of blue. "I wanted an accessible, contemporary, regal sportswear approach," the designer says.
Tim Hamilton Resort collection, from $250 to $3,500, available at Bergdorf Goodman, 745 Fifth Ave., NYC, (212) 753-7300, bergdorfgoodman.com

See the full collection >

PREVIOUSLY: Hamilton's 10 Essentials

Even Al Qaeda is getting all Web 2.0 these days. In his latest online video, the organization's No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahiri (still not on Facebook—we checked), says he'll answer user-submitted queries in another video scheduled for next month. A tip before sending in your question: You might want to wear a disguise.

[news.com.au via TechCrunch]

Thankfully, no, but the just-leaked Jibe Audio Sound Machine was created by Robert Brunner, who headed up design for Apple when the ill-fated (but totally underrated, if you ask us) proto-PDA came out.

[Gizmos via Engadget]

How the place you buy your toothpaste and gym socks became an arbiter of fashion cred is a story best told elsewhere, but it's hard to dispute that the folks at Target have solid taste in designers. Their latest coup? Lining up Rogan Gregory to do a low-budget line. Details are still sketchy, but you'll know more as soon as we do.

[WWD]

We're still not sure how we feel about the Warhol Factory X Levi's X Damien Hirst jeans—which are pretty much exactly what they sound like—but they did result in a great coffee-table book. Due out in January, the book (which shares its title with the pants) includes an interview with the artist and an intro by Ingrid Sischy, as well as a denim cover (naturally) and a lot of photos of Vincent Gallo reading Philip Larkin and holding a baby (presumably not his own), all while making the Hirst-designed jeans look, well, kind of cool. Better yet, at $350, it's cheaper than a crystal skull.
Warhol Factory X Levi's X Damien Hirst, $350, available at Barneys New York, 660 Madison Ave., (212) 826-8900, barneys.com