Philippe Matthews Show Guru Advice, Author Reviews, Tech Reviews, Entertainment News

Long hailed as the genius behind the best naturopathic facials in New York, with a client roster that includes Julianne Moore, Rachel Weiss, and numerous beauty editors around town, Joanna Vargas is the secret weapon of VIPs, celebrities, and professionals in New York City. Style.com calls her “the queen of the naturopathic facial” while Vogue, Allure, and endless magazines and blogs have praised the nearly magical touch she brings to the craft.What a thrill it was, then, when I got a call to help the skin care diva rebrand her already successful salon. Jump forward 18 months, and we were then in the next phase of growing the brand: developing a world-class luxury brand for her own skincare line.

Good ideas that work aren't always as "nice" as we'd like.

Not long ago New York, Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C., were poster children for urban decay. But these cities came roaring back: they tapped deep wells of experience in finance, communications and technology to flourish in a globalized world. They illustrate perfectly the power and resilience of the city as brain trust.

What made the difference?

Two hundred years ago it was enough to rely on natural advantages to build a great city. Cities were built on the intersections of rivers or along gentle bays that launched commerce and trade on mighty oceans. Those days are long gone.

Because there isn't enough snow in Arizona to support a ski range, the Snowbowl Resort is making its own snow. But the only water available is wastewater. Some people are not pleased.

Think the annual arts fest in the Nevada desert is nothing more than a week-long bacchanal? Think again. It's a a master class in how to create awesomeness

Norms next big move: opening a hotel in North Dakota I thought I'd take a break from answering questions this month to tell you about my new business. It's called Black Gold Suites, and there's a story behind it. My wife and I spend part of every year in Telluride, Colorado, where we have a home and where I've gotten into residential construction.

Readers respond to our story about the constant feeling of crisis that is entrepreneurship in Argentina, and others. Risky Business Our story about doing business in Argentina [" A Constant Feeling of Crisis ," June] garnered a mixed reaction from readers on Hacker News and Inc.com, many of whom are U.S. expats running businesses in South America

Oil money has conjured up a pricey experiment in sustainability in a patch of desert between downtown Abu Dhabi and its airport. There, the city of Masdar ("the source") is rising. It is meant to signal a shift away from fossil fuels by hosting a variety of ecofriendly approaches, such as a system of subterranean electric cars--Personalized Rapid Transit--that whisk visitors and residents from point to point.

Special Issue: Cities The city is a solution to the problems of our age, and this week, we present it in the true urban spirit: best ideas forward

Agencies: if you really want to emulate a tech startup, create utility, put skin in the game and ask, What Would Edison Do? The “Why ad agencies should act more like tech startups” meme has been making the rounds for some time in the form of provocative tweets, panel discussions and blog posts . The conversation tends to focus on social media strategy and incorporating tech talent into creative teams.

By Carey Gillam KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - The heavy use of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide appears to be causing harmful changes in soil and potentially hindering yields of the genetically modified crops that farmers are cultivating, a government scientist said on Friday. [More]

Using one of the city's many stalled construction sites as a home, the farm of New York's Riverpark restaurant supplies the kitchen with fresh produce, without having a permanent home. Savvy urban restaurateurs from New York to California have recently discovered that growing their own produce, whether on a rooftop farm or a neighboring site, is easier than trekking to local farmer's markets or buying from local suppliers--and it provides lots of publicity. When Sisha Ortuzar and Jeffrey Zurofsky, partners at the popular 'wichcraft chain, decided to open up a new restaurant, they too sought out their own farm space.

Don't think you'd drink water recycled from pee? Well, you may not have a choice