Los Angeles Spas: Bliss has been taking the spa scene by storm since it set up residence in New York's SOHO district in 1996. Now with 22 spas worldwide, the blissful empire recently took up residence in the heart of Hollywood at the new W Hotel on Hollywood and Vine.... Read More
Los Angeles Arts & Culture: John Baldessari is a busy man, with work currently being featured in more than five shows in the greater Los Angeles area, including the stellar prints he collaborated on with Gemini G.E.L., and the Sediments show at Margo Leavin.... Read More
News & Trends: On September 28th Christie's in London will offer an incredible collection of vintage Louis Vuitton luggage during its Interiors: Style & Spirit sale. Over 20 original pieces from the famed French luxury goods house dating from the late 19th century to the 1940s will go on the block, including perfectly patinated suitcases, cabin trunks, small trunks, hat boxes and vanity cases. Each timelessly luxurious item tells a different story, with many still sporting vintage travel labels from trips with their original owners on steamships and to exotic locales, while others feature hand-painted monograms and colorful custom st... Read More
Restaurants in LA: When in West Hollywood, there are endless top-shelf dining options. Restaurants of every sort abound, especially on the Sunset Strip where diners' expectations decidedly higher.... Read More
Restaurants in LA:
Bacon lovers rejoice! I had heard about Grub restaurant's so-called "crack" bacon, which purportedly keeps patrons jonesin' for more until their next fix. So I stopped into the West Hollywood eatery to give it a try. I'm now a bona fide addict of this Sweet and Sassy slice of Heaven.... Read More
Hotel Review: Enter into a lobby saturated with elegance through rich Zebrano wood and Italian travertine flooring paralleled with a 16-foot fireplace highlighting the class and sophistication of the St. Regis San Francisco.... Read More
Dining Review: When considering where to go in San Diego for a fine cut of beef cooked to utter perfection, put the nationally acclaimed Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar...... Read More
Hotel Review: As of late many boutique hotels have been opened in Las Vegas, many as separate towers or extensions of existing hotels on the Strip. Mandalay Bay has THEhotel, MGM offers Skylofts and just recently Monte Carlo opened HOTEL 32.
One of the first things that I noticed upon approaching the Monte Carlo is its proximity to the new City Center, as well as its general location on the Strip. Location is very important to me when I stay in Sin City.... Read More
INside SD Report: As an ever-appreciative San Diego resident and a good life connoisseur indelibly on the hunt for the best of the best, it's incumbent on me to experience and inform you, dear Reader, about notable San Diego-area "happenings"...... Read More
Wineries in California: In 1900, as Napa Valley legend has it, when Fernande de Latour first laid eyes on the land that would become her and her husband Georges’ first vineyard, she exclaimed, “Quel beau lieu!” (What a beautiful place), and Beaulieu Vineyard was born.... Read More
Best Bars in London: Whether your drink of choice is a martini, a mojito or a negroni, here are Bon Vivant's suggestions for the best cocktail bars in London. Let us know if you agree or if you have your own favourites to add.... Read More
Restaurants in Scottsdale: Located inside the Camelback Inn with a breathtaking view of Camelback Mountain, BLT Steak quickly became a hit when it opened and after a visit, it's no wonder why this steakhouse has now been elevated to one of the best...... Read More
Wineries in California: The legacy of Napa Valley winemaking stretches back many generations at Ballentine Vineyards. Betty and Van Ballentine, who met when they were kids, both grew up in grape-farming families.... Read More
Wineries in California: When Richard Arrowood and his wife and business partner Alis opened Arrowood Vineyards & Winery in 1987, Richard wasn’t ready to quit his day job. After all, he was working as wine master at Château St. Jean Winery...... Read More
Boston Restaurants: Woodward at Ames has just unveiled Woodward Park, the city's hottest outdoor venue for eating and drinking. Designed by Morgans in-house design team, Woodward Park's Executive Chef Mark Goldberg recently...... Read More
Philadelphia City Guide: A short drive south of Center City Philadelphia, in Kennett Square, sits one of the premier botanical gardens in the country. Longwood Gardens offers 1,050 acres of color, beauty and tranquility, with 20 indoor and 20 outdoor gardens.... Read More
Philadelphia Restaurants: Located inside the world-famous Rittenhouse Hotel, Lacroix at the Rittenhouse has become a luxury destination in its own right. Upon its premiere in 2003, Esquire magazine named it the "Best New Restaurant in the United States." Gourmet Magazine has numbered it among the...... Read More
Arts & Culture: Discover the mystery and opulence of Ancient Egypt with Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt. Philadelphia's Franklin Institute is the first stop for this exhibit, which was organized by National Geographic and Arts and Exhibitions International, with cooperation from the Egyptian...... Read More
City Guides: Aussie beauty brand Napoleon Perdis is expanding its stores to the United States, including the Napoleon Perdis concept flagship store on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.... Read More
City Guides: Just when you thought dining with Chef Jody Adams couldn't get any better, she goes and opens a stylish patio at her famed Rialto restaurant located in Harvard Square. Located in the Charles Hotel, the 32-seat patio was designed in the spirit of Italian al fresco dining. The beautiful, new outdoor space overlooking Charles Square courtyard, housed under a giant pumpkin-colored awning and lighted overhead trellis, is located adjacent to the Rialto lounge and serves both the main dining room and bar menus.... Read More
Nightlife: One would expect a dark downtown alley or a discreet entrance that required a code, special knock or secret handshake to gain entrance in the new supper club in downtown LA. Au contraire! After a few missed spins around the block, we finally parked it on the corner of, you guessed it, First & Hope and found ourselves in a small mini strip mall in downtown LA.
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City Guides: For the past three years, Chicago Gourmet has been showcasing the best and brightest culinary and wine masters that the Windy City has to offer. This year, the special event is adding some new features and keeping old favorites.
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City Guides: The Pee-wee Herman Show is heading to Broadway, after a successful limited engagement at Club Nokia @ L.A. LIVE.
Creator-writer-actor Paul Reubens will again play the laughing man-child, and he is bringing his old friends and some new ones, according to production notes, "reunites the one-and-only Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) with many of the original Playhouse cast of characters including Miss Yvonne, Cowboy Curtis, Pterri the Pterodactyl, Jambi the Genie, and Chairry for an all new celebration of sophisticated silliness. An eye-popping 90 minutes of subversive humor and childlike wonder, The Pee-wee Herman Show charts a day in the life of our bow-tied hero, one of the most inspired comic personas of our time."
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Los Angeles Events: You're invited to enjoy a red-carpet treatment with an exclusive Red Carpet Summer Hotel Package that includes free breakfast each morning plus a $50 gift card to the Westfield Shopping Center (Century City, Culver City...... Read More
Hotel Review: Perfect for departures to destinations near and far the Wyndham Miami Hotel at the airport is perfect when you’re readying to take a cruise. Definitely check into a hotel at your embarkation destination several days in advance, to make sure that you’re there well in advance, with time to unwind from the commute. The Wyndham Miami Hotel at the Airport does a booming business with cruisers – and it’s easy to see why. “We do a lot of pre- and post bookings,” said Bob LePore, General Manager. There’s a special Bon Voyage package, which charges about $189 per night for your accommodations, full breakfast, complimentary airport transfers, and complimentary one-way to the cruise port. “We wor... Read More
City Guides: In 1882, pastor, lawyer, and orator Russell Conwell came to Philadelphia to lead the Grace Baptist Church. One of his congregants was a young man who didn't have the time or money to seek an education. Conwell agreed to tutor him at night, in the church basement, and soon other young men began showing up for classes. Such were the humble beginnings of Temple University. In 1891, construction on The Baptist Temple was completed, and the building became home to both the church and the fledgling Temple College. In the mid-20th century, such luminaries as Martin Luther King, Jr., President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Helen Keller and General Eisenhower spoke at the Temple. The building was certifie... Read More
City Guides: Tucked in the heart of the picturesque Little Italy neighborhood, Be Beauty boutique and spa offers much more than meets the eye. With an ethos to beautify from the head to the toe with top of the line products, services, and apparel, Be Beauty aims to transcend the norm in not only fun fashion for all ages but with a focus on cutting edge spa techniques and original pieces from the area’s most vibrant designers. From classic lines featuring soft contemporary casuals to vibrant dresses for every occasion, Be Beauty ... Read More
Food & Spirits: Standing 1,500 feet above sea level in California’s Gabilan Mountains, the terrain of Michaud Vineyard
brings an exceptional quality to its wine. The Pinnacles National Monument stands just three miles east of the vineyard. Its rocky crags and peaks serve as a visual reminder of what the earth in this part of the world is made of: a combination of decomposed granite and limestone. This soil composition was so unique it prompted the formation of the Chalone appellation just over 25 years ago. ... Read More
City Guides: Summer is finally here. So if you’re looking for top entertainment to wile away the, hopefully, balmy evenings in London, look no further. Here's our guide to hot ways to keep cool.
Cinema Under The Stars
Sip champagne and watch your favorite films by moonlight at Cinema Under The Stars in the elegant Syon Park House gardens.
Choose from Dirty Dancing, Wolfman, Top Gun, Up or Pretty Woman from Wednesday 18 to Sunday 22 August 2010 at the stunning location in Brentford.
Gates open at 7.30pm so guests will have time to enjoy a picnic and wander around the London home of the Duke of Northumberland before the movie begins at 9pm.... Read More
City Guides: Given that it is only June and this is the UK, arriving at the Hampton Court Palace outdoor festival with neither an umbrella or rain jacket was hardly sensible. The gray clouds threatened to downpour as we wandered into the vast grounds of Hampton Court Palace.
In defiance – and in what appears to be a British stiff-upper-lip unity - guests carried on regardless of the drizzle and relaxed in deckchairs while picnicking under the row of mushroom-shaped English Yew Tress which align the entrance. ... Read More
City Guides: With all the celebrities that the LA area boasts, it has a frequently rotating cast of nightlife options, from late night dining and bars to clubs. These are the newest offerings from the widespread City of Angels .
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City Guides: Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia - a favorite among both business and leisure travelers because it is close to the financial and commercial districts, yet located in the heart of the city's finest shopping, dining and historical attractions. All rooms include twice-daily housekeeping, with evening turndown service, a DVD/CD player with access to DVD and CD libraries, an iPod docking station in all suites, L'Occitane bath amenities, even special amenities just for kids. All guests get complementary access to the hotel's fitness center, including free weights, bicycles, treadmills, elliptical cross-trainers, a whirlpool and a sauna, and an indoor 45-foot pool.... Read More
City Guides: Hottest Nightlife in Las Vegas
In Las Vegas, there's always something going and someplace bigger and better opening. On your next trip to Sin City, be sure to check out these desert hotspots:
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City News: The luxe of the luxe, and the best of the best, can be found at the exclusive West Hollywood’s SoHo House. And by exclusive, we mean you need to apply for a membership to this sanctuary in the sky above the > LA skyline ... Read More
San Diego Events & Nightlife: Last week, as a precursor the Bikini Week, we told you that San Diego was going to attempt to break the world record for the largest bikini parade, right here in the Gaslamp. Hundreds of bikini-clad women showed up to march themselves up and down 5th, to the delight (and in some cases surprise) of bystanders. Michelle “Bombshell” McGee and creator of Bikini Week, Michael Lee, led the group cheering the entire way during the mile-long walk. Another parade is already being planned for next year, so if you didn’t make it down this year, be sure to be there next summer. Check ou... Read More
INside SD Report: Although breast cancer is a difficult subject, it is an important topic that has become the impetus for many wonderful charitable organizations and fundraising efforts to help fight the insidious disease. One such organization of note here in San Diego is Forman's Foundation - a non-profit established to not only help fund research to find a cure for breast cancer, but also help current breast cancer victims find a way to have badly needed early detection tests done to identify metastasizing breast cancer before spreading to other parts of the body - as happened with the founder's wife Tracy who sadly lost her 5-year battle in 2008.... Read More
Food & Spirits: California Historic Landmark Number 893 in Sonoma County is also home to Hop Kiln Winery. Although hops are no longer processed here, the majestic old kilns now serve as Hop Kiln’s spectacular tasting room. The former ranch, dating from the 1850s, changed ownership in 2004 with the purpose of “upscaling and excellence,” according to CEO David Di Loreto. Currently there are estate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio vineyards with immediate plans for other site-specific plantings that flourish in this appellation.
The winery produces two brands: Hop Kiln and HK Generations.... Read More
New York Art Tour: Curated Art Travel company Pinacoteca NYC and Bespoke Luxury Concierge company Pure Entertainment Group have put together an amazing travel experience of unsurpassed authenticity and comfort.... Read More
Hotel Review: The Martini is synonymous with class. When we think of what is possibly the world’s most renowned alcoholic cocktail, we think of James Bond, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemmingway. It’s an elegant drink: sophisticated, debonair and timeless. So it’s quite fitting that Dukes hotel, which fits all the adjectives above, should choose to launch a Martini as its summer cocktail (in the very bar Ian Fleming was said to have come up with the line, ‘Shaken, not stirred’).... Read More
