The Buzz

We know what you're thinking. You've read the ad and thought, Golly gee, that's a really neat Treetent. I bet it would be fun to have sex in it and make it swing rhythmically back and forth simultaneous with all the humping and pumping. It's implied in the copy with a naughty semantic wink. Oh, boy! Can we try it right now, before supper?

Absolutely nyet.

And although there is something futuristic to it, and has Habitat 67 elements to it (see how many can hang from the same pine), what this green, seed-like structure really is is a personal hive. And this makes me very, very excited. It's wildly overpriced, but you are the Queen Bee, are you not? I am. It's a $50,000. hive for a very badly behaved insect and we love to sting.

Dré Wapenaar Treetent

It Takes Two Hands to Handle a Whopper

Of course we're not through (re-) reading our favorite piece of holiday literature, the Neiman Marcus Christmas book. And you thought Style Snatcher was strictly intellectual. Indeed, we have our moments with trendy topical fiction, but some things just give us a long pause for reflection elsewhere.

The first scholarly thought that came to mind upon seeing NM's Swami Conversational Robot was...Burger King. The next thought was, Whuh? Aside from the obvious familial relation to the dancing fast-food icon, we're relieved to see that artificial intelligence is being used intelligently. Because it could have been used for launching guided missile systems and other non-festive robotic Christmas gifts, and that would be a bit redundant, wouldn't it? Style Snatcher applauds Neiman Marcus for proving that there is still reason to rejoice in your fellow man.

We're thinking that at $75,000. this isn't quite a stocking stuffer, and certainly a disembodied talking head might make the wee ones pee their Pampers, but Style Snatcher applauds the sheer audacity. Always keep one step ahead of the game.

King me.

Swami Conversational Robot

Pray for Rain

The Neiman Marcus Christmas book is a Style Snatcher favorite, simply because it always, always manages to top itself. No matter how outré, how outrageous, it was the year before, there is always something--or more than one thing-- so fabulously outlandish that it makes you cry abundant tears of joy and thanksgiving.

Sears Wishbook this isn't, my spendy little elves.

Try tying this one up for size and sticking it under the tree. It's a dragon topiary designed by Matthew Larkin, topiary designer extraordinaire. (We think it looks more like the Loch Ness Monster, but who's asking?) This living, breathing yard beast is a whopping 100 feet long. And here's the really swanky part: They build it on site, using indigenous plants. That's right, they whip it up out of your local hedges, so Bar Harbor's dragon will look different from the dragon of Bel Air. Who said it ain't easy being green?

Do people even have this much land any more? We thought that went out with McMansions, so it's nice to see that some people have come to their senses.

If this isn't the ultimate $35,000.00 holiday happening, I don't know what is. It has left even the Style Snatcher speechless, a rare and disturbing occurrence. Your lawn man will demand a hefty raise and extra worker's comp, the neighbors will say your dragon is blocking their view, and we haven't even gotten to the gold-leaf horns, claws, teeth, and fins. The only thing that could possibly spoil the unimpeachable beauty of this creature is...drought.

Pray for rain.

You know you want to.