What you didn't know about the longest running oyster festival and more

This week, the Spice wrap explores the luxury world of bespoke, whether it's couture for limited edition porcelain dolls or luxury pens that honour the legacy of icons. For a dash of travel thrill, we dive straight into a seafood fiesta at the world's longest running oyster festival on the world's longest defined coastal touring route in Ireland. If an oyster-shucking competition doesn't seem sport enough, sample bespoke experiences that involve private jet travel and Michelin-star dining with English Premier League players. And that's not all.

Collectibles

Fashion

Dolce & Gabbana Luxury Porcelain Dolls

If Stella McCartney, Dior and other fashion houses dreamed up couture for kids, Dolce & Gabbana have gone a step further and crafted couture for dolls with a luxury line of porcelain dolls that literally live out the 'Toys are Us' tagline.

As seen on the S/S '15 runways, D&G's limited-edition collectible (300 pieces each), features three dolls named Immacolata, Addolorata and Concetta. Each doll is 29 cm tall and dressed in the latest Dolce & Gabbana fashion. Much like the models, these dolls sport quirky fashion accessories, such as gold metallic earrings, a tiny Sicily bag and an engraved metal plate that features a name. These Sicilian-inspired dolls are encased in Majolica tile-inspired boxes and come with a princely price tag of £1,350. It is now available for pre-order on the Dolce and Gabbana website, but will only be shipped to the United Kingdom. Writing instruments

Montegrappa

If you're a collectibles junkie, this one is for you, especially if you're an admirer of the Lebanese poet-philosopher Kahlil Gibran. To honour the year of his birth (1883), Montegrappa has collaborated closely with the Gibran National Committee to produce a limited edition of 1883 examples each of fountain pens, roller balls and ball point pens.

Each series of pens will be numbered 1/1883 to 1883/1883. The pens are made of resin in a colour reminiscent of the blue, black and grey prominent in Gibran's paintings. This rich, dark hue is accented with a palladium-plated trim, while the fountain pen nib is available in two tones of 18K solid gold and bears the famous face believed by many to be Gibran's ultimate self-portrait. All the pens feature a pocket clip in the form of a hand with a solitary Sapphire set as the eye on the open palm, named the Divine World by Gibran himself. The face adorning the nib and the palm moulded into the clip are some of the most recognised visual references of Gibran's art. The base of the cap is inscribed with the writer's signature, and the top of the cap bears the emblem of a 'K' overlaid on a 'G'; a symbol found in the corner of many of Gibran's paintings.

Price Ball Point Rs 78,995; Roller Ball Rs 98,995; Fountain Pen Rs 1.16 lakh

Availability Montegrappa Boutiques at Palladium (Mumbai), DLF Emporio (New Delhi)

Travel

New York City

If music be the food of your love, head to New York City, where music lovers can enjoy the diverse and elite concerts, performances and festivals taking place throughout the city this summer. From children's music and Broadway tunes to EDM and jazz, the music scene is simply buzzing, resonating the Big Apple's vibe. Little else compares to listening to your favorite artists perform at locations like the lawn at Bryant Park or at Williamsburg Music Hall. Among the music highlights, consider the largest free performing arts festival SummerStage; back to celebrate its 30th season with more than 20 free shows in Central Park and free shows in 16 neighbourhood parks across the five boroughs. Early risers can enjoy Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series every Friday through September 4 at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park.

Some of this year's performers include Mika, Walk the Moon, Nicki Minaj, Hozier, Luke Bryan, 5 Seconds of Summer and Florida Georgia Line. The Today show is also hosting its Summer Concert Series at Rockefeller Plaza every Friday through September 4, featuring Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, Carly Rae Jepsen among many others. For Jazz lovers, the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival honours the legendary saxophonist from August 21-23. This year's performers include Oliver Lake Big Band, Dr Lonnie Smith and Joe Lovano at Marcus Garvey Park and Tompkins Square Park. Get your EDM fix at Electric Zoo on Randall's Island from September 4-6. This year's lineup includes world-renowned DJs such as David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren and Kaskade. Of course, the Metropolitan Opera's 2015 Summer HD Festival will offer 10 free screenings of Met performances on Lincoln Center Plaza from August 29 through to September 7.

Food

Ireland Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival

If music is not enough to sate your soul, head to Galway city in Ireland instead each year on the last weekend of September, the city celebrates the Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival.

It is the most internationally recognised Irish festival after St Patrick's Day and gourmands can feed their passion over four days from September 24-27. The world's longest running oyster festival on the world's longest defined coastal touring route implies a full immersion in seafood trails, foodie talks and tasting events in the city's best restaurants, pubs and bars, as well as a feast of music, culture, cooking demonstrations and more.

Expect noise, colour and excitement as 'shuckers' from 16 countries vie for the world title. The lively Galway Oyster Festival Parade will then weave its way through the narrow medieval streets to the home of the city's seafood trade, the Spanish Arch. The unique Masquerade Mardi Gras will stretch the party long into the wee hours as fine fare and fabulous finery meld together in a carnival of masked revellers and lively bands.

Deal

Sport

For sports fans, no luxury is greater than meeting their sporting heroes or enjoying a live match sitting in the players' corner. Premier Explore, (a UL-based five-star travel & lifestyle company offering bespoke hospitality experiences) offers VIP experiences of the English Premier League (EPL) to Indian football fans.

The exclusive match day experiences include exclusive access to world-renowned stadiums, five-star hospitality and the opportunity to meet superstar players, apart from luxury accommodation, private chauffeuring, evening entertainment and excursions. Some of the services include the following: Exclusive visit to the four football clubs: Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in the UK.

Meet and greet session with English Premier League players; signed merchandise by EPL players; a private jet to visit other cities outside the capital such as Manchester, Liverpool or Newcastle; dining at Michelin star restaurants such as Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester or The Savoy Grill by Gordon Ramsay; theatre at London's West-End theatre; self-drive vintage car experiences or a private helicopter sightseeing tour.

Cost: Entry level luxury package starts at £3200per person.

Mandarin Oriental, Prague

Movies may just be an escape from the cruelties of reality, but being able to live your matinee fantasy is an alternate universe altogether.

One that Mandarin Oriental, Prague is offering with its new movie-themed accommodation package that gives guests an opportunity to experience Prague-the top international film location. Apart from offering an exciting insight into Hollywood filmmaking and providing celebrity-like treats, the hotel's Movielicious Getaway package, launched to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, is a treat for film fans.

Guests start their Prague cinematic adventure by checking-in under the name of their favourite film character before enjoying a special movie-themed welcome drink at the bar. They can then take a guided Prague Movielicious Tour of their choice to see where scenes were shot. Also, Barrandov Film Studios will open its gates exclusively for Mandarin Oriental guests to enjoy a backstage tour before offering them an optional extra of having a Movie Star Makeover with professional costume fitters, hair stylists and make-up artists, followed by a photo shoot. Now that's what defines an unforgettable moment.

Cost: Package rates start from EUR 1,665 based on double occupancy for a minimum of three nights stay. Optional extras for more Hollywood-style indulgences include Movie Star Makeover at Barrandov Film Studios is priced at an extra EUR 801.