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It's Summer Somewhere
From Hawaii to Haiti to countless points in-between, it's summer somewhere, Here are a few shots of Blenders living in forward motion!
1. @ALOHABRADDAH | WAIKIKI, HAWAII
Maika being zen af here in what has to rank as a “Top 10” of summer poses.
Shades: Natty Ice Lime
2. @MATT_BROOMALL_1 | MARGATE, NEW JERSEY
The lenses of the 'Natty McNasty’ sunnies perfectly capture the hue of the ocean’s waves. Strong choice, Matt!
Shades: Natty McNasty
3. @GRACE_MCLAUGHLIN | TORREY PINES STATE NATURAL RESERVE, SAN DIEGO, CA
Blenders’ own Grace McLaughlin with a lil flower power and some seriously cutting-edge shades.
Shades: Wild Delilah
4. @EIJIPHOTO | LA JOLLA TIDE POOLS, CA
Eiji checks in this summer with an absolutely jaw-dropping self-portrait shot thanks to an assist from @enchantingpixels. A little post-production magic—there was a 2x6 board spanning the rocks that was later edited out. Very cool!
Shades: Tipsy Goat Polarized
5. @IAMJAMESANTHONY | HAITI, HISPANIOLA
Jumping off boats into azure Haitian waters, all while rocking a sick, zero-curvature mirrored look? Just a day in the life for James.
Shades: Blue Phoenix
6. @J_K_YOUMANS | SUPER GIRL SURF PRO, OCEANSIDE, CA
Sun, surf, and a cold brew—Jordan hit upon a tough-to-beat combo while drinking in the fierce competition at last month’s Super Girl Surf Pro in nearby Oceanside. Peep our recap of the event!
Shade: Rolling Dice
7. @STEPHIEPAIGE | CANCUN, MEXICO
Stephanie looking radiant in ‘Autumn Fire’courtesy of @stephenplopper.
Shades: Autumn Fire
5 of the best skate vids of all time
Not many of the great skate flicks are mainstream, plot-driven movies. While some popular films use skateboarding as a theme tied to an overarching drama/comedy (say, 1986’s Thrashin’ with Josh Brolin) or are focused affairs that follow a customary documentary format (2001’s Dogtown and Z Boys), other skateboarding culture pieces operate a bit differently.
Today, we’re diving deep with a list of five genre classics that prove you don’t need an established plot or a strictly defined structure in order to make an impact...
1. BLIND SKATEBOARD’S VIDEO DAYS | 1991
We’ll kick off with a piece that’s widely considered one of the most influential of all time. The first video ever directed by the uber-talented Spike Jonze ( Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and, more recently, Her), Video Daysfocuses on a series of scenes of pros performing tricks, tied together by a fantastic soundtrack (Jonze would go on to direct a barrage of 90s music videos for Sonic Youth, The Beastie Boys, Daft Punk, etc.) and, in this case, the recurring appearance of a Blue Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency.
Video Days features the likes of Guy Mariano, Jordan Richter, Mark Gonzales, and then-pro-skateboarder, Jason Lee ( Mallrats, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Clerks II, My Name is Earl) .In fact, it would be this cult classic that’d eventually catch the attention of director Kevin Smith, leading to Lee’s placement in Mallrats.
2. PLAN B SKATEBOARD’S VIRTUAL REALITY | 1993
A product of Costa Mesa, California’s Plan B Skateboards (founded 1991), Virtual Reality premiered at the La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Arts on June 11, 1993 and followed the largely disconnected but inspired format of Video Days. At the time, the Plan B team was comprised of Danny Way, Rick Howard, Rodney Mullen, Colin McKay, Matt Hensley, Ryan Fabry, Pat Duffy, Mike Carroll, Sean Sheffey, Sal Barbier, Aaron Artis, and Tony Ferguson, although Carroll did not make an appearance in Virtual Reality.
3. GIRL SKATEBOARD’S MOUSE | 1996
Director Spike Jonze returned in ’96 to leave his indelible imprint on Girl Skateboard’s Mouse. Yet again, the soundtrack was a revelation to many— if you were, say, only listening to punk rock at the time, your mind got cracked open and filled with fresh wonder. However, it was the assembled talent that makes this one so enduring in skating culture: Mike Carroll, Rick Howard, Gino Iannuchi, Guy Mariano, Tim Gavin, Mike York, Chico Brenes, Daniel Castillo, Rudy Johnson, Eric Koston, and many more.
Speaking of Koston, feel free to peep our career retrospective!
4. SHORTY'S SKATEBOARD’S FULFILL THE DREAM | 1998
Shorty’s would grow into one of the more prominent brands of the 1990s… but not before things hit critical mass with the drop of Fulfill the Dream in ’98. While this brand popularity would tail away near the start of the new millennium, Fulfill the Dreamstands strong to this day thanks to the contributions of the likes of Chad Muska, Peter Smolik, Steve Olson, Toan Nguyen, Aaron Snyder, Jesse Silvey, Brandon Turner, and Sammy Baptista.
P.S., here are some Shorty’s throwback photos from that era.
5. ALIEN WORKSHOP’S PHOTOSYNTHESIS | 2000
Alien Workshop, the independent skate company formed by Mike Hill, Chris Carter, and Neil Blender in 1990, felt a little extra ambitious around the turn of the millennium. In 2000, they teamed with Joe Castrucci to birth Photosynthesis, a skate flick in the vein of the aforementioned on this list—we’re talking a raw, real and gritty style with a scintillating soundtrack that helped shape the taste of music for many turn-of-the-century viewers.
Photosynthesisfeatures the considerable talents of Anthony Van Engelen, Anthony Pappalardo, Pat Corcoran, Jason Dill, Rob Dyrdek, Josh Kalis, Kerrry Getz, Mark Appleyard, Fred Gall, Danny Garcia, Tim O’Connor, Danny Way, and more. Fun fact: Dill claimed in 2014 that during his stint filming Photosynthesis, he consumed “a lot” of crack cocaine. Alrighty, then!
RECAP: VANS U.S. OPEN OF SURFING 2018
Three hundred world-class athletes—including the planet’s top surfers—took over Huntington Beach over the past nine days for a celebration of surfing and surf culture. There were outdoor movie showings, athlete meet-and-greets, concerts, and art installations.
Oh, and a lot of badass surfing.
It was the biggest surf event in North America this year and, now that it’s over, we wanted to hit you with results and highlights for anyone not fortunate enough to be in the area.
“Spoiler” alert: It was a special time for homegrown talent.
THE WOMEN’S SURF COMPETITION
The Sunday finals of the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing saw two women left standing: current World #1 (and 6x world champion!), Stephanie Gilmore, versus Huntington Beach’s own Courtney Conlogue.
Spicing up this storyline is the fact that Conlogue was returning from injury. Despite this, she never pressed or appeared anxious. Instead, she wisely sat back and let Gilmore come out of the gate with fervor, the latter catching waves almost immediately but posting only decent scores. Conversely, Conlogue leveraged her knowledge of the area and wave behavior, grabbing and slicing the hell out of one of the best waves the final heat had to offer.
Ultimately, it led to a thrilling comeback victory for Conlogue.
"It's so great performing in front of my hometown," said Conlogue following the big win. "We spend so much time traveling during the season, and when you get your hometown vibe, there's nothing like it. You just absorb all that energy and use it as fuel for your fire."
"The win in 2009 was quite amazing for that time in my life, and now this one has its own special meaning for me. Coming back from injury, it's the first event I've felt 100 percent. Both of these wins here have been amazing and unforgettable.”
While Gilmore had to settle for runner-up, she managed to increase her lead in the 2018 World Title race.
THE MEN’S SURF COMPETITION
It was a huge weekend for hometown heroes.
Like the women’s competition, the top of the podium on the men’s side was represented by Huntington Beach local, Kanoa Igarashi. He defeated Griffin Colapinto in an enthralling final, becoming the first back-to-back men’s U.S. Open winner since fellow Huntington Beach native, Brett Simpson.
The men’s final was a truly wild back-and-forth affair that opened with Colapinto scoring an impressive 8.00. The heat was on, and Igarashi’s initial 7.60 left him at a disadvantage. But he seized a chance in the waning minutes of the competition, stomping a reverse and laying claim to an 8.17 score in the final heat.
"That was the best heat I've ever had," exclaimed Igarashi. "On that last wave, I don't know, I felt like something just took over me and whatever I was going to do on that wave I was going to land it. When I stood up on that wave I knew I already had the score.”
"The whole contest I was just thinking about this final heat. I paced myself the whole time and let it all out at the end. It was a really hard heat, the waves were slow, but I just believed that Huntington was going to give me the waves and it did.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Next week, the WSL Championship Tour reconvenes in beautiful Teahupoʻo, Tahiti in French Polynesia for the men’s Tahiti Pro starting this Sat, August 10!
INTRODUCING TOM SCHAAR
Tom Schaar is the same as any other 18-year-old. Well, the same as any other 18-year-old that gets up in the morning, travels the globe for skateboarding competitions, and performs 1080s at the drop of a hat.Yeah… see, that right there is the epitome of living in forward motion. Tom may have only barely graduated high school but the dude is so ahead of the curve it’s ridiculous. He landed the 1080—basically the holy-dang-grail of skateboarding tricks—at the tender age of 12, making him the first skateboarder to ever do so (he repeated the feat in competition in Tehachapi, Calif in March of 2012). That’s just delightfully absurd. And so, once we had the pleasure of meeting the young man who is now ranked 5th overall in the world, we knew we had to work with him more closely.
Today, we’re stoked to officially announce our sponsorship of Tom Schaar and the kickoff of the #BlendLikeTom campaign.
WHY TOM?
Tom’s the youngest X Games gold medalist in history—an eight-timer now, to be exact. He’s the youngest Dew Tour champion. The youngest Vans Pool Party champion.The youngest Austin X Games “Big Air” gold medalist.
Have we mentioned that he’s young?
In all seriousness though, we knew that our youth as a sunglasses company and Tom’s bright-eyed and optimistic outlook was the perfect fit. And it didn’t hurt that we’re both products of San Diego County, too. Hence, Blenders x Tom Schaar has become a thing—and we couldn’t be happier to grow together.
#BLENDLIKETOM
As part of the celebration of this partnership and ahead of Tom’s big appearance at X Games Minneapolis 2018 on July 22nd, we’re also launching the #BlendLikeTom campaign.
#BlendLikeTom gives you insight into the mind of the phenom—a peek at what he’s into and how he styles himself. Today, we’re revealing the savvy skateboarder’s three favorite pairs of Blenders shades:
1. NOCTURNAL Q
Cheers to the future. Frames are forgotten on these revolutionary, progressive sunglasses. Instead, the matte-black Superflash lenses flow unimpeded to each edge. The absence of frames doesn’t mean a void of detailing, either—gunmetal accents appear on the interior and flow along the temples, capping off one of our finest designs to date.
2. NATTY MCNASTY
These bad boys are ice cold. Crystal clear frames meet azure mirrored lenses for an aesthetic that turns heads and quickens pulses. You’re going to make a splash rocking the ‘Natty McNasty’sunnies—we guarantee it.
3. TIPSY GOAT POLARIZED
If you thought we would never name a pair of sunglasses after an inebriated farm animal, well, you don’t really know us at all, do you? But funny names and shenanigans aside, there’s good reason that Tom digs these shades so much—they look damn good. The polarized smoke lenses and citrus gray semi-transparent frames are a killer tandem.
Now, we can’t promise that rocking any of these three sunglasses will have you landing a 1080 any time soon, but we are positive you’ll be looking your best and ready to seize the day in any of Tom’s picks.
Stay Blended, friends, and remember to follow along as Tom competes at the highest level on July 22 in Minneapolis!
ROUNDUP: THE BEST FROM AROUND THE WEB, JANUARY
We’re gonna guess that most of you missed at least a few of the below articles and, well, you probably shouldn’t have.
After all, we’re certainly not the only ones posting good content on the web. From The Red Bulletin to Barstool, here is some of the best this month had to offer across sports, campus culture, and entrepreneurship.
1. “ACTOR TERRY CREWS TALKS ABOUT THE EXHILARATING TERROR OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP”
Terry Crews is an everyman that does everything. A former NFL player turned TV and commercial star ( Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Old Spice), he’s also an author and a furniture designer, too. (Yes, really!)
Bonus: If you didn’t have a healthy enough appreciation of Terry Crews before, watch his Hot Ones interview here and just try not to love the man.
2. “ MEET 'BAYWATCH' ACTRESS AND ACTIVIST ILFENESH HADERA”
The 31-year-old actress whom The Rock calls “tougher than new rope” is cool as hell, not afraid to drop a timely “f-bomb,” and redefining what it means to be a “Baywatch babe.”
3. “SOME GUY ACCIDENTALLY SWIPED LEFT ON A GIRL ON TINDER SO HE DID THE NORMAL THING AND EMAILED EVERY “CLAUDIA” AT MISSOURI STATE LOOKING FOR HER”
Shout out to Barstool for writing a headline that also doubles as the synopsis—makes our job easier. But yeah, 50/50 whether this is cute or way overkill, but in his email (attached below) the dude seems pretty normal, so we’ll give the benefit of the doubt. And yes, he did find his Tinderella. Talk about shooting your shot!
4. “MAMA DON’T LET YOUR SURFERS GROW UP TO BE BABIES”
The son of Willie Nelson, Lukas Nelson, opens up on spending much of his formative years in Maui, traveling with Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings in his youth, his love of surfing, and his burgeoning golf game.
5. “HOW TO HIKE THE HIMALAYAS WITHOUT PRIOR TRAINING”
You don’t have to be a pro to get close to Everest. Three Nepalese trekking guides spoke with The Red Bulletin to plan a thrilling four-day, three-night itinerary.
6. “PARTY WHERE EVERY GUEST GIVES A DRUNKEN POWERPOINT PRESENTATION IS AN AMAZING IDEA”
“Drink Talk Learn (DTL)” sweeps the nation, with topics including “Hidden Meanings in Classical Music — Acid Trips, Soviet Defiance, and Jaws,” “An Exploration of Shadow the Hedgehog’s True Moral Compass,” and our personal favorite, “Dogs with Jobs — Occupations for the Canine Individual.” Plan for your next party accordingly!
BLENDERS TOP PICKS: DOPEST CHRISTMAS FILMS OF ALL TIME
There are a ton of Christmas films out there. And we dig most of them. Sadly, we work with a word count here, and there’s no way we can cover every gem in the available catalogue.
With that in mind, we’re gonna keep it pretty modern here. No cheesy-but-classic-and-lovable It’s a Wonderful Life selections, and while we love stuff like The Nightmare Before Christmas, that’s sorta a hybrid (is it a Halloween or a Christmas movie?), so consider that an honorable mention for now. Instead, below we’re picking some obvious choices and a couple of curve balls, keeping it heavy on the comedy because that’s totally our speed.
Remember: This list is far from comprehensive but any of these are a great choice alongside some spiked egg nog this holiday season!
1. ELF | 2003
You know this one, so you hardly need the background. But it’s a modern classic starring SNL-alum Will Ferrell as “Buddy” the Elf, an adult man with a hilarious identity crisis. It’s wickedly quotable and meme-able, too. Make sure you whip yourself up a nice meal of candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup (the four main food groups, after all), and sit down to revisit this one this holiday season.
2. BLACK SANTA | 2003
Penned by the folks behind Crazy Stupid Love and sprinkled with some Coen Brothers magic, this may not seem like an obvious choice at first blush but it’s so unique in many ways that we had to include it. Billy Bob Thornton’s “Santa” character is so hilariously profane (most f-bombs in a holiday movie ever?) that it would seem a shame to leave it off this list due to its wickedly edgy style alone.
3. NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION | 1989
You saw this pick coming a mile away, but who can argue with it? The first Vacation flick is a superlative entry into the “road trip” pantheon of films—it’s effectively at the head of that genre—and Christmas Vacation had a similar effect on holiday films. Chevy Chase has never been better, Cousin Eddie’s always a damn hoot, and there’s just nothing not to like about this classic.
4. HOME ALONE | 1990
C’mon. You knew we weren’t leaving Home Alone off this list. It’s so baked into the public consciousness that its exclusion would have been a sin. And after all, watching Harry and Marv go through a repeating loop of total anguish never gets old:
5. TRADING PLACES | 1983
A bit of a surprise pick here and, for some of you, a “deep cut” from the early 1980s.
If you’re unfamiliar, Trading Places is a take on Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper theme, wherein two guys from separate sides of the track have their lives flipped. Dan Aykroyd goes from top broker to hopeless destitute, while Eddie Murphy ascends from homeless man to commodities kingpin. The film centers around the nature vs. nurture argument but it’s also a holiday flick. Not only does it take place during Christmastime, but the themes have some religious trappings, as well.
Most importantly, Trading Places is a blast and features incredible talent, including Jim Belushi, Jamie Lee Curtis, and the aforementioned Aykroyd and Murphy. A must-watch flick.
6. THE SANTA CLAUSE | 1994
We’ve always had a soft spot for Tim Allen and this one was likely a fixture of your childhood. While Allen never really made it as a silver screen leading man after leaving Home Improvement, The Santa Clausemade you think it was possible for a hot second. It’s humorous without being tasteless, heartfelt without coming across as smarmy. In short, it’s pretty great.
7. DIE HARD | 1988
In the eternal argument that continues to rage—“Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?”—let us here at Blenders unequivocally answer: Yes, it is. It doesn’t matter that it’s a film about killing terrorists—we see Christmas trees and lights during it all and, by golly, that’s good enough for us. No matter what time of the year, watching it makes us think of the holidays. It’s a treasure.
And because you’ve all seen the movie by now… here’s the famous end scene. " Yippee ki-yay."
5 MOVIE & TV STARS YOU NEED TO FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM
OK, look, you don’t “need” to follow any of these peeps, but sometimes you just want some cool ass stuff to pop up on your feed, and if you’re lacking that these days, we feel confident adding any of the below movie and television stars will spice up your Insta experience.
1. CHRIS PRATT | @PRATTPRATTPRATT
Chris Pratt just keeps it real. He isn’t afraid to post stunningly brief captions or long, rambling, stream-of-thought paragraphs. He’s just as likely to talk about Jurassic World as he is collecting baseball cards as a kid or gazing at beautiful sheep (really). He’s pretty unfiltered, always polite, and often funny—after all, who can forget the #WHATSMYSNACK series?
2. JAMIE FOXX | @IAMJAMIEFOXX
How cool is Jamie Foxx? (His real name is Eric Marlon Bishop, btw.) An Oscar winner who’s done comedy, drama, the big screen, the small screen, and even music, the dude has been killing the game for a long time now. Follow his Insta for celeb cameos (Ice Cube, Dave Chapelle, Denzel, et al), sick rides, and heartfelt, rather personal video messages for his fans.
3. REBEL WILSON | @REBELWILSON
If you’re a Pitch Perfect fan, love Aussies, or simply need an extra dose of IG humor in your life (maybe @mytherapistsays, @fuckjerry and @dogsbeingbasic just aren’t enough for ya), Rebel Wilson’s a stellar celeb to turn to. Like Foxx, she loves addressing her fans via video, although she often puts a decidedly goofier take on it all. Just take this example of her, a “princess room,” and an “Anne Hathaway wax model.”
4. NORMAN REEDUS | @BIGBALDHEAD
You’d think Norman would be pretty pre-occupied with all that The Walking Dead stuff, but nah, he seems to have plenty of time to curate one of the most prolific Instagram accounts around. Tons of art, selfies, and, of course, zombies await! Oh, and Dave Chapelle, again, because he seems to pop up everywhere.
5. JOE KEERY | @UNCLE_JEZZY
OK, so “Steve” from Stranger Things doesn’t post super duper often, but when he does he’s got some gems. Like this treasure of a pic above of him and co-star Finn Wolfhard (“Mike”). Or the time “Billy” got the better of him yet again.
6 CHRISTMAS GIFTS THAT’LL MAKE YOU LOL
Need a gift idea this holiday season? You could do worse than the ideas below
Actually, that’s probably a lie. Each of the below are likely to be among the funniest—and in some cases, worst—gift ideas you’re going to find. Every one is either currently available for purchase or was a real gift someone put together for a loved one. Well, “loved one,” in this case.
Let’s dive right into this holiday hilarity.
1. NETFLIX AND CHILL CANDLE | $16.99
Know someone struggling in the realm of romance? Netflix itself not enough to set the mood and their generously applied Axe body spray isn’t doing the trick? Gift them this $17 aromatic candle. And yes, this is real, and you can order it here.
We’re not quite sure what this smells like, but we’ll leave you with the official description:
“Turn off the lights and light up NETFLIX & CHILL as the soft aroma crafts that desperate atmosphere that can only come with a $7.99 internet subscription. Let’s hope your date lasts longer than the loading screen.”
2. JUSTIN BIEBER CD CLOCK | $11.95
’Tis the season to declare your undying love for the Biebs. And what better way to do that than with a CD clock comprised of brass hands and a printed teenage photo of Justin that acts as the dial face?
Yes, again, this is real life, we assure you. This “quartz accurate” CD clock ships with a clear plastic easel display piece and is the perfect gift for any Belieber. Actually, scratch that—it’s the perfect prank gift for anyone you know that despises the Biebs. Order away!
3. HOVERBOARD TWO-WHEEL SELF BALANCING ELECTRIC SCOOTER | $168.00
Hoverboards of questionable quality have already made a name for themselves after exploding into flames, but why not revisit last year’s big trend with an electric scooter that obnoxiously features a speaker system?
That’s right. If there’s a special d-bag in your life, you can really up their douchiness by gifting them this. Imagine your friend or family member awkwardly scooting into a party on this thing while blasting a choice Nickelback song from the Bluetooth speakers. As a bonus, keep in mind this contraption is also clad in gaudy chrome and features flashing LED lights on the front, top, and around the wheels. Perfect. Order now!
4. MEME BOX | A COUPLE HOURS OF YOUR TIME
Source: Bored Panda
If you know your memes and have some time on your hands, you can easily recreate this “gift” to infuriate anyone in your life you feel deserves it. Scroll down through the image to see the progression of this epic troll job.
5. LINGERIE GIFT CARD FROM GRANDMA… DELIVERED BY LITTLE BROTHER | PRICELESS?
Source: Reddit
This one isn’t so much the gift itself s it is the context. The above, taken from a Reddit thread on most embarrassing Christmas gifts ever received, is comedic gold.
6. SNAKES ON A PLANE STARTER PACK | ‘BOUT 8 BUCKS
Source: Reddit
What do you get someone that has no affinity whatsoever for the Snakes on a Plane movie? Why, back-to-back years of Snakes on a Plane holiday gifts, of course, including the soundtrack. Bonus points if the soundtrack doesn’t even play.
6 OF THE MOST REMOTE LOCATIONS ON EARTH
Sure, when you think “remote,” you probably often think of your grandparent’s place in the country where the WiFi really sucks and you can’t get a decent cell signal. And while that may feel like it’s waaaay out in the boondocks because of our reliance on modern technology, let us tell you—that ain’t nothin.The remote locations on this list are truly removed from the rest of civilization—volcanic islands with incredibly low populations, cold as hell destinations that dwell in darkness for most of the day, and more. Let’s jump right into the full list!
1. TRISTAN DA CUNHA, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
Imagine if your city’s population only had a total of nine different last names.
Well, that’s a reality on the volcanic island of Tristan da Cunha, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic. Considered the most remote archipelago on planet Earth, you’ll have to catch one of only nine boat rides to the island that make it there each year. Oh, and bear in mind that you’re in for a 1,732-mile journey.
2. CAPE YORK PENINSULA, AUSTRALIA
Cape York peninsula marks Australia’s northernmost point. You’re going to have to have some kind of all-terrain vehicle to access it, and to give you a representation of its remoteness, it’s a friggin’ 28-hour drive from Cairns.
3. OYMYAKON, RUSSIA
From warm, volcanic locales straight to freeze-your-ass off Russian towns. Oymyakon is home to only 500 residents that have to dwell in darkness for 21 out of 24 hours each day. The average temperature is -58 degrees (yeah, NEGATIVE 58), and many call this the “coldest inhabited place in the world.” In fact, it’s so cold that its population can’t grow crops. Oh, and bonus: The road to the town is called “The Road of Bones.” Charming.
4. PITCAIRN ISLAND, BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
Source: ZSL.org
We’re hitting a population low with this one—there are only fifty people that live on Pitcairn Island. Fun fact: The spot, which is over 3,000 miles from New Zealand, was first settled by European mutineers of the ship “Bounty,” and no plane has ever landed there.
5. SOCOTRA ISLAND, YEMEN
Home to the Dragon Blood Tree, this spot has considerably more inhabitants than the others on our list—-40,000 in this case—but it’s 400 miles from the Yemen capital and the island only built its first road in 2011. More incredibly, however, is the fact that it has 800 ridiculously rare plant species—in fact, a third of all its flora can’t be found anywhere else on Earth.
6. LA RINCONADA, PERU
Down for visiting Peru? If you want to experience La Rinconada, you’re in for a whopping six-hour trip from the nearest city, and all of it via unpaved roads. We hope you’re used to high altitudes, too, because the town is three miles up in the mountainous air—giving it the distinction of the “world’s highest city.” Literally, not figuratively, you guys.
One more note: There’s no running water. So, you’re probably gonna wanna keep that in mind before you pack any bags!
6 OF THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE AF HOMES
As we all know full well, a favorite internet pastime is to waste our days away staring at houses, cars, and consumer goods we know we can never afford. It’s the delightful masochist in all of us! And today, we here at Blenders are going to make your hobby a little easier.
Below, we’ve assembled six of the world’s most expensive af homes based upon today’s selling prices. You’ve got 164-seat theaters, $30 million car collections, and more included as the wild amenities in these stupidly outrageous mansions and villas. Note that we included only private residences and did not incorporate apartments onto this list (sorry, Fifth Avenue fans).
Let’s jump in!
1. THE MANOR | $200 MILLION
Also known as the Spelling Manor, this dope Bel Air pad was built by the late and wildly successful television producer, Aaron Spelling. Its appeal? 14 bedrooms, 27 baths, 30-foot tall ceilings, and amenities that include a wine cellar, gym, beauty salon, and a friggin’ night club. Bet you didn’t know Aaron Spelling rolled like that, huh?
2. FAIR FIELD | $248 MILLION
One of the most expansive private homes in America at 110,000-square-feet, “Fair Field” in Sagaponack, New York doesn’t f*** around. There are an insane 29 bedrooms and 39 bathrooms. (Seriously, how many people did they figure would need to poop at the same time??) The decadence continues throughout the main home and the separate “playhouse,” with ridiculousness that includes a 100-car garage, 164-seat theater, a $150,000 hot tub, and two bowling alleys, because only poor people are limited to one.
3. BEL AIR SPEC MANOR | $250 MILLION
Image Credit: BAM Luxury Development
At $250 million and only barely edging out NY’s Fair Field (for now), you can think of this Cali crib as representing a sort of East Coast/West Coast rivalry with the NY estate—the real estate version of Pac vs. Biggie. The most expensive U.S. home for sale by a hair, this 38,000-square-foot destination sports three kitchens, 12 bedrooms, 21 bathrooms, and includes a $30 million car collection that spans the entire bottom floor of this four-story behemoth. Details on the incredible collection of vehicles included and more here.
4. BUBBLE PALACE | $390 MILLION
Image Credit: Architectural Digest
Okay! Let’s play the word/phrase association game. When you think of “French Riviera,” what’s the first thing that pops into your head?
….
It was “prehistoric human cave dwellings,” wasn’t it? Be honest. What’s that? No, it wasn’t? Odd, because that’s what apparently popped into the head of architect Antti Lovag when he built this thing in the 70s and 80s. He constructed the mansion as a callback to such caves—and included 10 bedroom suites and a 500-person outdoor amphitheater, because why not? More pics here.
5. VILLA LEOPOLDA | $1.1 BILLION
Also nestled along the French Riviera, this luxurious spot once belonged to King Leopold II of Belgium. The 50-acre property features 11 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, an Olympic-sized pool, and 20 greenhouses with roughly 15,000 plants. It also costs a kingly $1.1 billion. No biggie.
6. ANTILIA | APPROX. $2 BILLION
You would think that Villa Leopolda would take the top spot on this list, but nope. The reality of this world is too crazy to fit that assumption. Instead, there’s a pad out there TWICE as expensive—Antilia in South Mumbai, India.
The world’s most expensive residential property, it’s a towering multi-story, 400,000-square-foot monstrosity that boasts guest suites, a ballroom, various gardens, a 168-car garage, three helipads, and a temple. You would think that during the design of this place the owner may have stopped and thought, “You know, maybe this is a bit excessive?” but nope, this guy had no chill.
