For Xmas, Buba?s Got a Brand New Bag

Vrooomm-Vrooomm Bling

For the ultimate in luxury off-roading, there’s the limited-production Mercedes-Benz 5-litre V8 G500 from Jones Motor Cars in Fayetteville. The sticker price is about $75,000.

Eddie Stockburger, M-B sales manager for Jones, said the tall, boxy vehicle was designed to allow German troops in full gear to pile in and roll out with ease. It has a curb weight of 5,450 pounds and can go from 0-60 mph in 8.9 seconds. It tops out at 290 horsepower and 336 foot-pounds of torque at 2,800 rpm. A high-performance model with a “hand-crafted engine” can do the same in about 7.2 seconds for about $20,000 more.

It’s no watered-down luxury soccer mommy SUV, either. The “G Wagon” with 6,400 spot-welds can still climb an 80 percent grade, Stockburger said, so it’s ready to traverse everything from rocky terrain to Interstate.

M&M Boys Baseball

Hollywood & Sports Memorabilia in Fayetteville’s Northwest Arkansas Mall has a wide variety of signed collectables from historic figures, like the baseball below signed by Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. The “M&M Boys” both played for the New York Yankees from 1960 through 1966. The ball sells for $695.

The store also has a baseball singed by Lou Gehrig, who played for the Yankees from 1925 to 1939. That ball, framed with a photo, sells for $3,300.

The store recently sold a baseball signed by Babe Ruth for $5,500.

The signatures are examined by “forensic experts” to make sure they’re authentic.

If you’re not a baseball buff, there’s a Fender Squire electric guitar in the window signed by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Framed, it’s selling for $1,200.

Plasma Potato

A nice TV always makes a good gift. The sweetest one we could find was the 63-inch High Definition Fujitsu Plasmavision Slimscreen from Don’s Home Theater and Computers in Rogers. The MSRP is $24,999, a bargain considering Don’s does new construction home theater installations that cost up to $250,000.

The HD Fujitsu has 1,366 x 768 pixel resolutions and a 3,000-to-1 contrast ratio. It’s a mere 4.8 inches thin and only weighs 159 pounds.

Derry Berrigan, technician for Don’s, said the system requires a television tuner, and most people opt for an HD tuner and satellite subscription when they go full bore into the 50 to 60-inch TV range.

Berrigan said Don’s could outfit a high-end plasma screen system with cabinetry and tuners for about $80,000.

Robotic Massage

Is your spouse always requesting a massage? Let Interactive Health’s HT-130 Robotic Massage Chair do all the work for you.

For $1,799, Kurt’s Furniture in Rogers can put you in hiney heaven with the HT-130.

The chairs have four different cycles (speeds and actions) and a built-in ottoman with foot and calf massage, said Kurt Bachert, owner of the store.

If that’s not enough, the whole thing is remote controllable.

When we called, Kurt’s had them on the showroom floor in cream, black and caramel colors.

Nice Ice

Looking for that perfect piece of jewelry that goes with everything?

Murphy’s Jewelers has got a $250,000 necklace for you.

The 33-carat, heart-shaped graduated diamond “Eternity” necklace features the hard-to-find F-color diamonds mounted in platinum. Murphy’s General Manager Luke Macken said it took the store three years to find the right match of diamonds to complete the necklace. Murphy’s also has a 10-carat round champagne diamond solitaire ring for $110,000 if you’re looking for an engagement bauble for that special someone. Or go “J-Lo” style with Murphy’s $140,000 pink diamond engagement ring.

Colored diamonds in the champagne, canary and pink varieties are very popular, Macken said. Only one-tenth of one percent of all diamonds in the world are pink, he said, and those can only be found in the Argyle Mine in Australia. Another rarity is a $65,000 Versace “millennium” 20-carat diamond watch. It’s one of four in the world. Look for the limited edition $5,000 Ferrari ink pens for the speed demon in your family.

Bag It

Pink Bamboo at Village on the Creeks in Rogers has a $1,100 designer handbag for that special someone. The Buba London-label white leather “Fairy” bag features a Georgette silk overlay with hand-sewn pearl and precious stone accents stitched into a wisteria tree theme.

Get furry with the Clara Kasavina designer handbags that start from $470 for a mink clutch to $800 for the larger fox fur versions.

Buba London is carried at fewer than five stores in the United States, said Bamboo owner Brandi Baxter, so you’re sure to be trend-setting, even on the streets of New York City.

Huntin’ It

For the hunter in your house, Outdoor America of Springdale has a couple of great options.

Aaron Weiss, president and owner of the store, recommends the Benelli Super Black Eagle for its superior balance and lack of complicated moving parts. It also expels gases from the barrel, which eliminates freezing up on cold morning hunts.

The SBE retails for $1,179 for the Advantage Timber camo finish and $1,079 for the synthetic black finish.

Outdoor has the primitive hunter covered too, as an exclusive dealer of Mathew Bows. Weiss said the 31.5-inch Outback bow is perhaps one of the most forgiving short bows on the market. The parallel limbs reduce the amount of “shock” that travels back into the string upon release. The Outback goes for a mere $600.