Some of the best hotels are not those with the most modern architecture or high-tech amenities—they are the properties with a history and a story to tell. But London’s new boutique hotel, The Wellesley combines the best of both with a historic venue and tech-savvy updates. Originally a 1920's townhouse, the property was turned into a jazz club before finally becoming a hotel.... Read More
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, including millions of lost and discarded hotel key cards. Caesars Entertainment is now offering a slick new solution that takes advantage of mobile phone technology. All 188 guest rooms at The Cromwell, The Strip’s newest boutique hotel, can now eschew the traditional room key altogether by entering their hotel rooms through eKey, a newly-introduced electronic key app. ... Read More
Soon Washington D.C. will have a new luxury waterfront hotel. Earlier this week, Carr City Centers announced their partnership with InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Clark Enterprises, Hoffman-Madison Waterfront and The Wharf to build a new 278-room resort along the Washington Channel.... Read More
Famed DJ Calvin Harris has become the latest music star to sign an extended residency deal in Las Vegas. Earlier in the week global hospitality company Hakkasan Group announced a new three-year partnership with the award-winning artist that will involve many of their brands. Not only a DJ, Harris is also a writer and producer, meaning that his talents could be utilized in countless ways over the next three years.... Read More
You can find sand, surf and sun anywhere in Miami, but W South Beach is where well-healed travelers come to experience impeccable service in unique style while indulging in all three. More than just a hotel, W South Beach is a place to see and be seen. The property effortlessly combines the very best in style, music, and design all with picturesque ocean views.... Read More
Located only a short walk to the famous French Quarter, the newly reimagined Le Méridien New Orleans is just the place to kick off your exploration of the Big Easy’s legendary culture and cuisine. A $29 million redesign concluding early 2015 seamlessly blends the brand’s European roots with the vibrancy of the property’s new home in downtown. And while this swanky Southern hotel easily brings all the action within reach, it’s removed enough to offer a peaceful respite after a long day of sightseeing or night on the town.... Read More
The impromptu master class in mixology, courtesy of award-winning mixologist Salvatore Maggio, proved to be one of the highlights of my stay at the glamorous and quintessentially-Italian Baglioni Hotel London opposite Kensington Palace and Gardens. Located near the Royal Albert Hall, this five-star property celebrates La Dolce Vita with black and white photographs honoring the stars of art, cinema and fashion such as Sophia Loren adorning a panel in the lobby, as well as on bedroom walls.... Read More
As the most south-westerly city in the United States, Imperial Beach is the one of the last stops in San Diego before hitting the San Ysidro Border going into Mexico. Not well known as a tourist spot, the area is mostly residential and fairly sleepy; a typical California beach town. And while the oceanfront does have a bit of a main “drag,” with beach bars and the new Pier South Resort, IB is really about the more natural elements: the quiet, sand, waves and nearby nature reserves. ... Read More
Perched cliff-side, 650 feet above the Palm Springs desert floor, the Edge Steakhouse at The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage is definitely on our must-try list. Encased in glass, the restaurant makes for a pretty dramatic dining atmosphere and promises cuisine to match, like foraged mushrooms with house-milled rice and braised lamb shank.... Read More
After the California ban on foie gras was lifted earlier this month, many restaurants have been wasting no time getting the delicacy back to their tables. Farm-to-table restaurant Kitchen 4140 will be hosting a special event to celebrate the reinstatement of the French dish called the Welcome Back Foie Gras Dinner. The evening will showcase the culinary talent of eleven local chefs during a six-course meal on February 2.... Read More
Since the 1920s Nob Hill's Huntington Hotel has stood across from the imposing Pacific–Union Club, a second home for jet-setters, celebrities, society types and railroad barons. In 2011 it was acquired by Singapore-based hospitality group Grace International, and following a brief closure and $15 million in renovations, it re-opened last summer as The Scarlet Huntington.... Read More
Those looking to join in Patina’s often sold-out cooking classes may have just had a stroke of luck. A new class, Wine After Work, will begin in March with Patina’s award-winning Sommelier, Silvestre Fernandes.... Read More
When I travel to New York City, I seek out those venues where I can be “one with the locals,” and immerse myself in the culture to get a true sense of an area. More often than not I find these opportunities off the beaten path, in mom-and-pop eateries or neighborhood watering holes where authentic atmosphere and Provincial fare reigns supreme, but nary a tourist can be found. ... Read More
The Michelin-starred Sketch in London is a triple threat. It has food and tea time, is a destination hot-spot, and acts as a cultural mainstay for art lovers. Started by French chef Pierre Gagnaire and restaurateur Mourad Mazouz, Sketch spans two floors of an 18th-century historic townhouse on Conduit Street, Mayfair and has been one of the city's coolest spots since it opened back in 2002—though it's recently been renovated. ... Read More
On a recent excursion to Napa Valley in the brand new, sporty, luxurious and super-stylish BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé, we headed to The Bardessono, the boutique eco-luxe retreat in the heart of wine country. Located in Yountville just a few steps away from the legendary French Laundry and surrounded by vineyards, Bardessono immediately impresses with the quality and integrity of the materials used.... Read More
Upon entering the East Village's Double Standard Kitchenetta & Craft Bar, you may notice that nothing seems to necessarily match, yet at the same time it all perfectly syncs together. To the left, floor-to-ceiling windows take up two walls and a vintage-industrial style decorates the space with exposed beams and bricks (a décor that many eateries are using these days). ... Read More
Well there go our New Year’s resolutions to lose a few pounds. DineL.A.’s Winter Restaurant Week is here and the two-week, bi-annual foodie event features special menu items at more than 300 Los Angeles area restaurants. Occurring January 19 through February 1, attendees can ventures through 14 days of prix fixe lunch and dinner menus prepared by hundreds of acclaimed LA chefs. ... Read More
We've been waiting for quite awhile to finally get in bed with Sir Richard Branson and now it can finally happen. The aviation mogul's very first Virgin Hotel opened yesterday in Chicago and shocker, it's pretty darn amazing. Looking less like a hotel and more like the super cool home of Christian Grey, it's everything we've come to expect from Branson—meaning it fills us with a joy generally reserved for Charlie Bucket as he enters the chocolate factory for the first time.... Read More
London's restaurants are at the top of their game at the moment and they don’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. Here’s a list of seven of the best new London restaurants opening in 2015.... Read More
Porsche Cars North America and Keira Knightley shared the red carpet at the 20th Annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards in Los Angeles on January 15, where the legendary sports car marque shared the stage with the stars. The gorgeous new Porsche 911 Targa 4S made its red carpet debut at the A&E televised event hosted by Michael Strahan at the historic Hollywood Palladium. In addition to Knightley, A-List attendees included Ben Kingsley, Eddie Redmayne and Kevin Costner.... Read More
The ultra-luxurious New York Palace hotel is a rare combination of beautifully-preserved Gilded Age architecture and dramatic modern design, pairing an 1882 mansion with a soaring glass tower in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Over 100-years ago prominent financier Henry Villard commissioned Stanford White to build a cluster of opulent Renaissance-style residences on Madison Ave. between 50th and 51st Streets. Later on the Villard Mansions became the foundation of the New York Palace in 1980 when the contemporary addition was constructed.... Read More
A new, two-story Burberry store opened up in the heart of the Miami Design District last week. Built under the creative design of Chief Creative and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Bailey, the store was made with a slew of new features and updated technology including direct access to the British brand’s headquarters in London through video screens and interactive capabilities.... Read More
Manolo Blahnik’s first men’s shoe collection went on display Monday in Sir John Soane’s Museum in London. The designer chose to show his first presentation in the British museum among Grecian and Roman antiquities, citing the pieces collected there as an inspiration to his collections over the years.... Read More
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has collected over 75 important pieces of artwork from African American artists that explore a wide range of themes, mediums, and societal commentary for their new Represent: 200 Years of African American Art exhibition. According to the museum, their collection of African American art has been growing steadily ever since they acquired Henry Ossawa Tanner's The Annunciation in 1899, enabling them to finally open this showcase, which will run until April 5.... Read More
Boston’s chic Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square just unveiled the first phase of a $50-million revamp, and the crowning jewel is a new luxurious Loft Suite that’s bound to attract plenty of discerning travelers. Re-imagining the concept of the presidential suite into something a little more hip, staying in the Loft Suite is akin to having your own multimillion-dollar Boston pied-à-terre.... Read More
If you own property in Singapore, you may have noticed that several of your neighbors sold their luxury homes last year, while taking some pretty hefty losses compared to what they paid originally. ... Read More
The French Laundry has been closed for renovations since December (which unfortunately began with a Christmas Day break-in), but Bay Area foodies will still be able to get their fill of the esteemed restaurant’s fare. The Thomas Keller Restaurant Group will be opening a pop-up restaurant nearby at the Silverado Resort and Spa. ... Read More
At the start of a new year, people everywhere seem to be making promises of losing weight and getting more in shape. And in Los Angeles, the end holiday season also marks the start of award season. Suddenly, there is urgency for green juice and glow-inducing body scrubs. In anticipation, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles brought back its ultra-luxe Red Carpet-Ready package for those needing a full-body refresher.... Read More
The newest property to hit the South Bank is the Mondrian London at Sea Containers, a 359-room luxury property from the Morgans Hotel Group. Built in the historic Sea Containers building, British designer Tom Dixon captured the culture and history of the area, drawing on the “golden age of transatlantic travel” for inspiration. ... Read More
Iconic French chef Joël Robuchon—you know, the guy with 25 Michelin stars—is bringing his famed L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon to New York City. Having opened his first L'Atelier in Paris back in 2003, he has since expanded the restaurant to Las Vegas, London, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Singapore, with one in Bangkok still on its way. ... Read More
Those in the market for a luxury home in Miami will want to consider taking up residence in the chic new Fendi Château on the waterfront. For the first Fendi-branded residential complex, the Italian fashion company spared no expense, and is currently offering 58 condos ranging from 3,300 to over 7,000 square feet.... Read More
When it comes to getting wedding inspiration for photographers, designers, and planners, Pinterest is a pretty good source. But when you're ready to step it up and be the source, you should look into Moda e Arte, an all-inclusive luxury destination workshop that brings internationally-recognized talents to teach attendants the tricks of the trade.... Read More
Since its soft debut in late 2014, The Table By pop-up restaurant at URSO Hotel & Spa has been treating guests to a new kind of dining experience, one that features a new chef and different interiors each month. Celebrating some of Spain’s most renowned culinary talents, The Table By completely transforms itself at the arrival of each new chef, from its décor to the wine list.... Read More
Music, fashion and movie star T.I. is adding restaurateur to his list of ventures as he plans to open his own establishment in Atlanta this March. Rumored to open in the former Vibe space on Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., the new restaurant will offer upscale Southern cuisine, though no menu has been released yet.... Read More
I love Singapore. This tiny island city-state is something of an enigma with its lack of obvious natural resources or sheer land-mass, yet it has fashioned itself as a powerhouse economy of Asia and continues to grow from strength to visionary-strength. It is no surprise that the luxury hotel scene in Singapore is strong.... Read More
Sports fans may already know NFL player Jacob Bell who played for the Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams over eight seasons in the league, but San Diegans will soon know his name for reason: his juice bar. Sol Cal Café, the city’s first vegan market café and juicery with a built-in naturopathic doctor’s office, was opened in October by the former player and Food Network’s celebrity chef Anne Thornton.... Read More
There are two reasons people generally choose to eat well: better health or trimmer figures. Residents of LA are notorious for jumping on both bandwagons, perhaps in an effort to maintain both a strong physique, as well as a palatable one year-round. Juice cleansing, raw foodism, exercise fads. You name it, you can find it here in droves. ... Read More
Building upon an already impressive portfolio, the Trump Hotel Collection will be opening a D.C. location in 2016 along with a signature restaurant by José Andrés. ThinkFoodGroup announced late last month that the forthcoming eatery will debut in the new property.... Read More
Some of the best hair stylists in the world can be seen working backstage at Fashion Week, styling for magazines and commercials, or working with the biggest A-list stars. But where do they go when they aren’t teasing tresses behind-the-scenes?... Read More
As a nice send off to 2014, Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago announced their partnership with The Women's Board of the Lyric Opera of Chicago for the upcoming Wine Auction 2015, which will be held at the Ardis Krainik Theatre. ... Read More
Football fans, it’s finally January, which means it’s almost time for the conference Championship games and the Big Kahuna of football, the Super Bowl!... Read More
New shopping malls don't always make for interesting news, but the King of Prussia Mall in Philadelphia is already starting to gain some buzz as it goes through an estimated $150 million expansion in the next year and a half. The project will ultimately connect two disjointed courts and increase the current shopping space of 2.65-million-square-feet to 2.8 million.... Read More
The latest exhibition at The Dryansky Gallery is David Mitchell’s Boundaries, running from January 29 to March 12. For the British-born, Southeast Asia-based artist, this is the first solo exhibition on the West Coast.... Read More
If you haven't traveled to Milan yet, 2015 is your year, because the next World's Fair will be there. The Expo will carry the theme "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life," and is expecting to bring at least 29 million visitors during its May 1-October 31 run. ... Read More
