If thoughts of precarious Venice slowly sinking into the Mediterranean threaten to ruin your next gondola ride, the Hotel Cipriani has the perfect distraction: onboard massages. While lying face-down in a boat may not seem like a guarantee for relaxation, the hotel promises a custom-made mat to keep you away from any water. What else do you get for around $590? A 40-minute massage focusing on the neck, shoulders, and head with a special sunscreen-infused oil to prevent that American-tourist-with-heatstroke look, plus a foot massage and iced tea to, er, finish you off. If pride, and not price, is a deterrent, keep in mind it all goes down in a private corner of the Venetian lagoon. The hotel -- founded by the same Ciprianis that run the namesake restaurant -- is celebrating its 50th anniversary, which means you should stop by post-massage for gold-drenched drinks, food, and even spa treatments. If it all seems a little decadent in light of the anemic dollar, remember: enjoying Venice is a limited-time offer. --WYATT JANSEN

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(Nadal's shows off his "traditional" new look)

In case you didn't know, there's been a lot of talk in the last few months about Rafael Nadal overhauling his image, at least as it comes to fashion on the court. He and Nike want to move away from the muscle shirt and Capri pants -- a "hunky rebel" look -- to that of a more traditional tennis player: polos and shorts.

Nike and Nadal debuted this new look at a press conference last Thursday (which involved Don King -- that's a post for later) showcasing a bright orange polo with a wide checked pattern and cuffed sleeves. Perhaps to compensate for the loss of bicep exposure, they hiked up the hemline of the Capris closer to the vicinity of his knees.

We got another glimpse of these new threads at Nike's shop on the U.S. Open grounds. The polo fits snug against the torso (we were asked to go up a size larger than usual) -- a well-executed stylistic nod to Rafa's European fashion roots -- and a refreshing change from Nike's usually blousey performance tops.

But when Rafa stepped into Arthur Ashe stadium yesterday to warm up against qualifier Bjorn Phau for their first-round match, the Spaniard wore the same blue sleeveless Nike tank and white Capris that he'd been wearing all summer. What happened?

According to an e-mail statement from Nike, Rafa didn't have enough time to fully transition into the new silhouette ("fundamentally different" from his old uniform) because of the tight schedule between the Olympics and the Open.

Too bad, we were really hoping for him to shake up this year's tournament with his new uniform. But understandable, because he's going into this major with some major titles under his belt: Toronto, Beijing, and of course Wimbledon -- all while wearing his tank and pirate pants. If it ain't broke...

Scoreline: Rafa beat Phau in straight sets, but needed two tiebreaks to do so. 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4). --ERWIN ONG

(Photo: Getty)

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Soba, the buckwheat noodle from Japan, is mild and subtle -- a veritable model of discretion. But that doesn't mean the thin noodle doesn't have ardent supporters.  Too often soba is an afterthought on Japanese menus, shunted off to the side. But the understated glory of the noodle deserves a starring role.

Like any classic staple, soba goes well with everything, from tempura to sea urchin, or on its own with a dipping sauce.  For a high-end introduction, head to Matsugen, the Tribeca outpost of Jean-Georges's ever expanding empire.  They take soba seriously: there's a special mill to grind the buckwheat kernels into flour for the three types of soba noodles -- those coarsely flecked with dark buckwheat husk (Inaka), those with some husk (Seiro), and those with none, a smooth, satisfying monastic pale brown (Rin).  Your mission is to choose which type of noodle you want, decide whether you want them hot or cold, then select one of the suggested accompaniments.  You've got a lot of work to do.

On a recent visit, the cold Inaka had a firm woodsy taste and stood up well to the pitch-perfect sweetness of a sesame sauce.  If you want more of a production, order the Matsugen soba, where the noodles are hidden beneath a heap of okra, nori, bonito flakes, some scallions, and a raw egg for good measure.  Pour in a little soy-based sauce, mix it together and it manages to be indulgent without being heavy.  As any monk can tell you, virtue is well and good, but it tastes better with a raw egg. --DAVID COGGINS

Matsugen
jean-georges.com
212.925.0202
241 Church St.
New York, NY 10013

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(Photo of Jay Fielden, James Blake, and Marc Berger:  Joe Schildhorn/PatrickMcMullan.com)

Men's Vogue hosted a cocktail party on Thursday night for tennis player James Blake in honor of the recently established Thomas Blake Sr. Memorial Research Fund. James' father, after whom the fund is named, succumbed to cancer at an early age. Blake, dressed in Hugo Boss, expressed gratitude for Men's Vogue's help with setting up an online auction at charityfolks.com. Prizes include a chance to hang out with Blake at a 2009 tournament in Miami, a trip to the Evian Resort in France, a Maurice Lacroix watch, and a Niketown shopping experience. "All this support get me closer to my goal of raising $1 million by next year," Blake said.

The American No. 2 will go into this year's U.S. Open with some momentum on his side. Even though he lost the bronze medal match in Beijing Olympics last week to Serbian Novak Djokovic, James notched a huge win over Roger Federer. "Beating Federer in Beijing was enormous for his confidence," said his brother Thomas, Jr, a former tennis pro. And did he have any pearls of wisdom for his younger brother for next week's tournament? "He always gets fired up for the U.S. Open. There's not much you need to tell him."

Along with establishing this fund, based out of New York City's Sloan-Kettering Hospital, James recently put his name on a facial mister spray with Evian. Thomas Jr. flashed a mischievous smile when we told him that James helped design the bottle. "He's going to get a lot of flack for that." James is still paying for his Evian bathtub ad from 2006. "We still have those pictures of James in a bathtub tacked up around [the house]." I'm sure they're not the only ones. --ERWIN ONG

Related: Photos from the event

(Photo of Blake with childhood friend John Mayer: Joe Schildhorn/PatrickMcMullan.com)

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The fashion world often ignites many an unlikely trend...like a certain Carrie Bradshaw inspiring desperate hordes of starved fashionistas to line up for hours in search of sugar at a small West Village bakery.  SJP and her disciples might need to rethink their allegiance to the cupcake when she hears this certain endorsement.

During the recent menswear shows in Paris, the early morning Lanvin show featured Dunkin Donuts-style treats served by elegant waiters wearing white gloves to the very weary fashion troops in attendance.

At first the crowd appeared skeptical and only the devil-may-care photographers and film crews could be tempted...but one by one, fashion writers and editors threw off their inhibitions and tasted of the forbidden fruit. Diets be damned -- the crowd jumped in. Sprinkles, frosting, fruit filling, jelly, every caloric sin was indulged. The crowd went from haughty to Homer in seconds. As a bonus, after every last sugary morsel was consumed, frozen sweetened frappucinos and mochaccinos were served to wash them down.

Now that Lanvin designer Lucas Ossendrijver and mentor Alber Albaz have anointed the donut as "chic." Can we expect a Krispy Kreme 'shop in shop' at a Barneys near you? --STEPHEN WATSON

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(Anita O'Day)

In 1958 photographer Bert Stern descended upon Newport, Rhode Island to make a documentary about the music of the Newport Jazz Festival. Surprisingly, the jazz is not the real reason to own the resulting film Jazz on a Summer's Day. The movie should be kept as a time capsule of sorts for the sartorially obsessed. A day in the life of actual Don and Betty Drapers drinking beer out of Dixie cups, dripping in the casual elegance of the era.

Jazz on a Summer's Day is a flashback to one of the most optimistic times in American history. The documentary features moving performances by jazz greats like Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson and the deeply troubled singer Anita O'Day. A particular shot of O'Day, dressed in a beautiful hat and white gloves as she serenades the bird-caged microphone, has resonated with audiences for decades. In her autobiography years later, O'Day, a longtime drug addict and subject of a recent documentary, amazingly reveled that she was high on heroin during that famed performance. This revelation, while shocking considering it was 1958 and not 1988, does little to diminish the beauty and timelessness of the film.

The remarkably pure photographic quality of the Jazz on a Summer's Day -- shot in a sort of Kodachrome-meets-high-definition -- magnifies the style and charisma of the time. With the memorable musical sets, peppered with shots of the well-heeled crowd and the picturesque yachts of the America's Cup trials off the coast of Newport, this film creates a setting of unmatched American sophistication. --MICHAEL WILLIAMS

Go see: Anita O'Day: Life of a Jazz Singer

Buy: Jazz on a Summer's Day

(Louis Armstrong)

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With the Democratic convention less than one week away, will the Edwards distraction be the large, finely coiffed, elephant in the middle of the room? Democratic insiders are concerned that the scandal of John Edwards's extramarital affair with campaign documentarian Rielle Hunter and possible illegitimate child, while certainly not the most appalling we've heard of this year (read: Eliot Spitzer), are affecting the reputation of the party, overshadowing Obama's upcoming veep news as well as the struggle for unity between Obama and Clinton supporters.  According to political pollster and Democratic party guru Doug Schoen, "the Edwards scandal is a distraction the Democrats must move beyond if they are to defeat John McCain."

In the humble opinion of this blogger, a distraction ought to be embraced, rather that swept under the rug.  Imagine, for example, a whole night of the convention devoted to the party's testament to testosterone... It could be an all-star adulterers lineup with Gary Hart, John Edwards, and Bill Clinton. Falling short of that, however, the Edwards distraction could cause serious repercussions, not the least of which are explained below.

First, with Bill Clinton set to speak during primetime on Wednesday evening, it's inevitable that viewers will take a walk down memory lane.  From Gary Hart's indignant challenge to the press to tail him in order to disprove adultery rumors to Bill Clinton's redefinition of the word "is", Edwards's statement that being 99% honest is no longer enough will be a glaring reminder that the Democratic party has had its problems with honesty over the last three decades. It will be hard for the Democrats to avoid the familiar label as the party without family values. Schoen warns that "unless the Democrats can move past the Edwards scandal and articulate a pro-family agenda at the convention that emphasizes traditional values, victory will be that much more difficult in November." Don't expect a Barack-Michelle convention kiss, a la Al and Tipper Gore, but don't be surprised if you see a little more of Obama's family and marital life than you bargained for.

The second, and perhaps more catastrophic, effect is that Edwards is now the second man to screw over Hillary Clinton with his adulterous ways -- a fact that Hillary supporters will have a hard time forgetting.  As former Clinton aide Howard Wolfson is contending, Hillary would have won the nomination had the mainstream media reported on the Edwards rumors sooner.  Wolfson complained to ABC that "Our voters and Edwards' voters were the same people. They were older, pro-union."  It's impossible to say whether Edwards's backers would have flocked to Hillary in Iowa, but it's fairly safe to say that embittered Hillary supporters will be energized and contentious, making party unity a challenge. Hillary's a pro, so her speech on Tuesday evening of the convention will undoubtedly reaffirm her support of Obama, but since it's scheduled to coincide with the anniversary of women's suffrage, you can expect her to hit hard on the women's empowerment message, thus further riling up her supporters.

The Democrats have to hope that this Edwards scandal gets better before it gets worse. With imminent VP announcements, a war in Georgia, and Michael Phelps's speedo clogging up airtime, they could still pull off avoiding that dandily-groomed elephant in the room.  If Clinton's supporters allow it, that is. --CHLOE KAMARCK

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As the season gives way to Indian Summer in Montauk, the Citiots' weekend shares expire, the Paskowitz family comes to town, and September swells rise with the warm waters off the Atlantic as if to say: "Will the real surfer boys please stand up?" And the group behind the town's new hip -- but not too hip -- Surf Lodge is hoping to be among them. Known for raising CAIN in Southampton (SHHH!) and the equally raucous Gold Bar in Manhattan, partners Jaime Mulholland, Jayma Cardoso, and Robert McKinley have left their velvet rope past behind with this 30-room weekend retreat overlooking serene Fort Pond.

"It's not about bottles of Crystal. It's not about jumping on tables listening to house music," says Mulholland. "It's about the real things of being healthy and getting out in the water." In other words, it's more Walt Whitman than Walt Disney. Don't let the hair salon, the Tracy Feith boutique, or the restaurant run by Top Chef's Sam Talbot fool you. The vibe actually is laid back, i.e. it's okay to use the word vibe. A recent visit revealed a sun streaked blonde in the open-aired reception area, appropriately named Summer, and an eclectic crowd that included Bruce Weber, at least one pony-tailed dad, a few full-fledged families, one leggy brunette and one tattooed bad-ass, all spread across the back porch. They were doing something dangerously close to lounging and listening to a reggae band while real wave riders showed their chops on a projector screen in the lobby. So the Surf Lodge set may not be the most hard-core Ditch Plains-devotees, but the surfing day was done and the balance required to keep locals happy while catering to the likes of Jerry Seinfeld and Ralph Lauren has to count for something. --LIZ McDANIEL

I recently learned for myself what I have been hearing for ages: a good shoe is always worth the price, and with proper care they will last a lifetime.  When I wore my favorite JM Westons into the ground a few months ago, I returned them to the store and they came back to me refurbished far superior than when they were new, better than fresh out of the box. They look absolutely perfect; with shades of their former life looking now part vintage, part new, and all fantastic.  It's a great lesson to learn in the value of owning a great pair of shoes.

This is a lesson that Steven Taffel totally believes in -- as he's opened the most amazing shrine to men's footwear in New York City in the form of a small treasure chest of a store curated with a small collection of incredible men's shoes. 

On an unassuming corner of the radically changing Christopher Street (think newly stylish Bleecker Street)  an edited collection of beautiful men's shoes line the edge of a single large table with about 20 pair per side. Shoes brought in from Corthay in Paris, Edward Green in London, Aubercy, Churchs, and even my beloved Weston -- only five styles from each company. These are mostly shoe brands that are virtually impossible to find anywhere in the US and styles that are normally special order elsewhere.  The footwear here is to be thought of as investments, as the life of these shoes will far outweigh any costs that might initially set you back.

This is a very special place -- a shoe lover's nirvana, a store that represents classic style, sophistication, and above all is curated with with a great eye.  Steven even blogs about his shoes. It's a new men's store not to be missed. --STEPHEN WATSON

Leffot
10 Christopher Street
New York, NY 10014
212 989 4577
leffot.com
blog.leffot.com

(Sloe Gin Fizz, Old Fashioned, and East Side Fizz)

Every woman will tell you, when it comes to rocks, size and shape absolutely matter.

Any good bartender will, too.

"It's all about surface area," says Joseph Schwartz, managing partner of Little Branch, the West Village, Manhattan, cocktail institution. "You want the largest volume to keep the drink as cold as possible, but the smallest surface area to minimize dilution."

At Little Branch, that means muscle. For sipping drinks such as an Old Fashioned (bourbon, sugar cube, citrus zest, bitters), they use a four-tined ice pick to carve out one gigantic cube from a larger block.

Chiseling out a single cube to fit into a Collins glass proved problematic, so they've developed a mold for those long, rectangular shapes. The Collins glass cube cools the "slightly shaken" cocktails like a Sloe Gin Fizz (Plymouth sloe gin -- it's the only kind available in the U.S. made from real sloe berries, gin, simple syrup, egg white, bitters, club soda) or the East Side Fizz (gin, lime, sugar, mint, cucumber, club soda).

Pour heavily shaken drinks like a Caipirinha or the Gordon's Cup (gin, fresh lime, cucumber, simple syrup, sea salt) over cracked ice (large, jagged chunks), he says. Save the crushed ice for juleps and drinks with minimal mixing, where dilution actually helps.

The average at-home mixologist may be at an ice advantage over barmen at most big joints. Those little ice disks and hollowed out cubes most restaurants and bars use are meant to melt fast. You'll be way ahead with a good old ice cube tray, Schwartz says.

So, next time you order up a Hudson Manhattan Rye and want it to last, be sure to ask for it, "On the rock."

In other New York cocktail news: Schwartz also reports that his Little Branch partner, Sasha Petraske (Milk & Honey, East Side Company Bar, Mercury Dime), plans to open a sipping spirits joint on Essex Street, tentatively named "White Star" and Petraske and Little Branch bartender Richie Boccato are bringing the upscale cocktail scene to Long Island City with "Dutch Kills." --HOLLISTER HOVEY (PHOTOS: PORTER HOVEY)

(A Collins glass with the long, rectangular ice cube)

(Old Fashioned)

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