The Lobby from SPG

Starwood Insider - Peter Foreman - Taipei's National Palace Museum

2008-11-21T20:12:38Z

Peter Foreman is the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Sheraton Haikou Resort in China and thelobby.com's expert on the region.

A great excursion in Taipei is the National Palace Museum (NPM) www.npm.gov.tw, is a short taxi ride away from The Westin Taipei or the recently renovated Sheraton Taipei Hotel. It is said that the NPM is one of the four best museums in the world, equal to the Louvre, Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.

The NPM was originally founded in 1925 in the Forbidden City, Peking (now Beijing), P.R. China. In 1931, the collection was moved into the hinterland of China to avoid the ravages of the impending Sino-Japanese war. In 1949, with the civil war between the Nationalist and the Communist forces the government shipped 600,000 treasured objects to Taiwan and temporarily stored them in Taoyuan and Taichung. In 1965 the collection was moved to their present home in the Wai-Shuang-Hsi area of Shih-Lin, Taipei.

With over 650,000 pieces, this is the world's largest collection of Chinese artifacts. Some of the oldest artifacts are pieces of prehistoric pottery over 5,000 years old. The majority of the items on display are from the private collections of China's emperors. The museum is open daily, and admission is NT$160, around $5 US.

Book by November 24 for Big Savings on Winter Getaways

2008-11-21T14:48:05Z

Here's some great news for people who haven't planned their winter vacations yet: Starwood's Winter Getaways offer has been extended. Just book by November 24 and save up to 50% off stays at participating Starwood hotels and resorts through March 9, 2009. No matter where on this beautiful blue planet you feel like visiting, you'll enjoy big savings on your winter break. Fancy a trip to Asia? A few days at the luxurious Sheraton Suzhou Hotel & Towers (pictured) might be just what the doctor ordered. Rates start at CNY 680 per night for this unique destination that combines ancient Chinese grandeur with exquisite Suzhou garden features. Located just an hour from Shanghai, this ancient city combines the best of old and new China, with ancient gardens, modern skyscrapers, and some of the best shopping in the region. But whatever destination you choose, you'll enjoy it that much more knowing you're getting a great deal, so book your trip now and start packing those bags.

Budweiser Clydesdales and Barefoot Hawaiians at Chicago's Thanksgiving Parade

2008-11-21T14:35:46Z

I'll admit it: I love Thanksgiving. I love the food, I love spending time with family and friends, and I love a good parade too. And when it comes to Thanksgiving parades, the Windy City has one of the best. The McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade will be held on Thanksgiving morning, November 27, 2008, with marchers of all stripes parading down State Street to the delight of nearly half a million onlookers. Naturally there will be plenty of marching bands, local politicians, Santa Claus, and a flying Elmo, but this year marks the 75th anniversary of the parade, so be on the lookout for a few special guests as well. The mega-sized horses known as the Budweiser Clydesdales, for example, will clip-clop along the pavement towing a draft wagon, while Barefoot Hawaiian will bring their unique brand of Polynesian entertainment - ranging from hula dancers to musical ensembles - to the streets of Chicago. Here's hoping the Hawaiians get to go first, because I'd hate to have to walk barefoot behind a bunch of big horses. Starwood has more than a dozen properties in and around Chicago, including the nearby Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers.

Walk Among the Dinosaurs at Colorado's Swetsville Zoo

2008-11-21T14:09:01Z

When was the last time you saw dinosaurs in a zoo? If it's been a few million years, it's high time for a visit to Swetsville Zoo in Timnath, Colorado. Granted, it's not a zoo in the traditional sense, but rather a sculpture park filled with the crazy creations of Bill Swets. The former dairy farmer and volunteer firefighter began crafting his whimsical creations in 1985, using discarded car parts and industrial junk of all kinds. The result has been an outdoor "zoo" filled with welded metal dinosaurs, bugs, animals, and creatures that defy description that draws upwards of 20,000 visitors a year. Although he has no formal artistic training, it's impossible to look at his three-piece alligator band - complete with drum and banjo - and not smile at the creative genius of this humble man. Swetsville Zoo is less than an hour's drive from the Westin Westminster.

[image via Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce]

Savvy Dining in New York

2008-11-21T14:03:28Z

Headed to the Big Apple but don't have the budget to go all out? Don't worry, the best of New York can be had on the cheap if you play your cards right. Start by staying at the Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea — it's cheaper than Times Square but still convenient to most of Manhattan.

Skip dinner at Momofuku Ssam Bar and instead go there for lunch. The prix fixe is $25 for three filling courses including dessert, or just order the heavenly steamed pork buns. If SoHo's more your speed, stop in at Once Upon a Tart for a cozy nosh.

Want to taste famed Chef Alain Ducasse's top-rated French, but can't afford a full meal? Sit at the bar at Benoit instead and order a beer and a $1 "egg mayo," probably the best deviled egg you'll ever have. Add onion soup for $9 or a charcuterie plate for $18.

For dessert, Kee's Chocolates gets high marks for its exotic truffles and macaroons; choose carefully and you won't break the bank. Or you could always have a doughnut.

Sweeping Vistas of the Forbidden City from Beijing's Jingshan Park

2008-11-21T14:00:43Z

Beijing is a big, bustling metropolis, and if you're new to the city, it can be easy to lose your bearings. That's why it's a good idea to pay a visit to Jinghsan Park to get some perspective on the place. Set atop the highest point in the city, the park affords sweeping views of the Forbidden City below, as well as a 360-degree panorama of Beijing itself, which might help you get your bearings the next time you're turned around. The 230,000-square meter green space is located on Jingshan Hill in central Beijing, and each of the hill's five summits boasts a pavilion that dates back to 1751. The Wanchun (Ten Thousand Spring) Pavilion occupies the highest elevation, and is a perfect spot to pull out the camera and capture the city in all its glory. The Qiwang Pavilion, meanwhile, began as a place for emperors to worship the memorial tablet of Confucious, and now serves to impress visitors with its golden-glazed roof and white marble balustrades. But what makes this park truly distinctive is the people that use it, often as a place for dance, (see video) exercise and performance. Guests at the Westin Beijing Chaoyang or any of Starwood's Beijing properties might enjoy the views and the history of this picturesque urban oasis.

Getting 'Cued Up in Houston

2008-11-20T14:16:46Z

In the pantheon of regional barbecue styles, Texas is in a league of its own. That low and slow, dry rubbed smoked brisket ...man, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Fortunately, if you're staying at the Sheraton Houston Brookhollow, there are several top-notch barbecue joints nearby.

Demeris Barbecue has three locations, the closest to the hotel being on Hempstead Road, just on the other side of Delmar Stadium . With melt-in-your-mouth brisket and an excellent baked potato loaded with chopped brisket and barbecue sauce, it's a good bet for a good meal. Just up the Northwest Freeway a bit, there's the local outpost of Big Daddy's BBQ — call ahead and they'll have your order ready for you so you can just drive through.

But really, if you're willing to drive a bit further, you've got to try Pierson & Company or Burns Bar BQ. Just declared the best barbecue in the city by the Houston Press, Pierson's brisket and pulled pork hit the mark with a mesquite-smoked tenderness. Burns is a bit harder to find (and in a somewhat dodgy neighborhood), but if you've got ribs in mind, it's the better option. Be sure to get a side of baked beans, and be sure to get there early — they're only open till 7 or when the food runs out.

[Image: Houston Press]

Starwood Insider - Peter Foreman - Wow Over Hong Kong!

2008-11-19T14:26:12Z

Peter Foreman is the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Sheraton Haikou Resort in China and thelobby.com's expert on Asia.

Wow! W Hong Kong is open and it is so easy to step from reality to Wonderland. The hotel is located right on top of Kowloon MTR station; just two stops from Hong Kong International Airport and one stop from Hong Kong Island station.

Elements shopping mall is sandwiched between the lower levels of the train station and the hotel lobby with great designer boutique shopping, movie cinema and ice skating rink. Upstairs, the first Bliss spa in Asia is located on the top floors of the hotel. I sat back and took in the views of Hong Kong while enjoying 'foot patrol' - the ultimate power-pedi, giving your feet the major overhaul they need after a day of shopping in Hong Kong. Of course, the lemon+sage bathroom amenities which are found in your room are available in take home size packs from the Bliss store.

Whether you are a W fan or a first timer to W - take a step into the wonderful world of W at W Hong Kong .. I know you will love it!

]]> My insider tips:

1. Simply enjoy the Whatever/Whenever service, whatever you want, whenever you want it!

2. Drag yourself out of your W signature bed - if you can - to enjoy breakfast at Kitchen, with their take on muesli - prepared on the 'cold rock.'

3. And don't forget to try the brownie & home made lemonade buffet at Bliss...

A Vision of the Future at the Centre Pompidou in Paris

2008-11-19T14:19:11Z

Most visitors to Paris expect classic French elegance in both architecture and art, but the Centre Pompidou is something else altogether. The free-flowing architecture of this breathtaking modern building is entirely free of constraint, making a bold statement to visitors before they even enter. The Renzo Piano-designed building caused quite a scandal upon opening in 1977 and continues to stimulate strong opinions today. The center houses a public library as well as the Musée National d'Art Moderne, with more than 1,300 works by artists as varied as French Cubist sculptor Henri Laurens and French Fauvist painter Georges Henri Rouault. In a museum such as this, nothing looks the same twice, and everything makes you want to do a double-take. The Centre Pompidou is convenient to several Starwood properties, including Le Méridien Montparnasse.

Zurich's Clock and Watch Museum

2008-11-19T14:12:33Z

For nearly 500 years the Swiss have been known for their world famous watches and clocks, which are renowned for both their accuracy and beauty. And while it's great to have a Swiss watch on your wrist or a Swiss clock on your mantle, it's even better to travel to the source of these fabulous timepieces to see where they're made. Visitors to Zurich can do just that with a tour of the Clock and Watch Museum Beyer Zürich. This fascinating museum offers guests a look at more than 3,000 years of timekeeping devices, ranging from prehistoric sundials and shadow sticks to the cutting-edge quartz instruments in use today, such as a Patek Philippe watch that checks the time once every second through a wireless connection to an atomic clock in Neuchâtel and is accurate to within a millionth of a second. With a watch like that, there's no longer any excuse to be late to work. Housed in the Beyer Watch Store in the city's most prestigious shopping district, the museum is considered to have one of the most important horological collections anywhere in the world, with more than 500 pieces from all fields of chronology examined from both technical and artistic points of view. (And yes, I only just now learned that "horological" refers to timekeeping devices.) Guests at the Sheraton Neues Schloss Hotel - Zurich or the Four Points by Sheraton Sihlcity might enjoy a stroll through this temple of timekeeping.

"Reclaim" Seattle Through Art

2008-11-18T14:22:05Z

Seattle has long been a forward-thinking city when it comes to the environment, leading the country in recycling programs and wise stewardship of the land, but a major show in one of the city's most cutting-edge galleries is putting an artistic spin on the low-impact ethos. Reclaim, at Drop City Gallery, is a collection of sculptures made entirely of reclaimed materials from the South Lake Union neighborhood. Local artists John Fleming and W. Scott Trimble give unused and discarded materials new life, as they repurpose what was once a foundation for industry into an inspired vision of the city's artistic future. Wooden pallets, tiles, and other scraps are reborn as blocky towers, undulating waves, and serpentine paths. And in one of the highlights of the show, a collection of disused street signs is rearranged into a collection of colorful flags (pictured) in an amusing take on color and shape. It's one of the the most dynamic shows of contemporary art in Seattle, and it's convenient to several Starwood properties, including the nearby W Seattle. The show runs through November 29, 2008.

Extended LTO

2008-11-18T14:10:34Z

Special Supping in Stockholm

2008-11-18T14:06:58Z

Stockholm is one of Scandinavia's most interesting cities, and its restaurants are a great way to explore it. Start with lunch at Erik's Gondolen, a restaurant suspended about 30 feet above the locks on the Mälaren River, a kilometer and a half south of the Sheraton Stockholm. The food is mostly traditional Swedish with a little French and could be a tad overpriced — but what you're really paying for is the view, which is stupendous.

Leijontornet has one Michelin star and a rigorous commitment to local, seasonal ingredients: the chef strictly uses only what can be found fresh at the market or what he and his staff have canned, pickled or preserved themselves. But don't assume that to be limiting in any way. Leijontornet's menu displays some of the most culinary creativity in the city.

For a taste of the nightlife, head to Stureplan, where some of Stockholm's coolest clubs and bars reside. Sturecompagniet is a good place to start the evening, and has so much going on that it might even end up the place where you end it.

Destination Spotlight - Tokyo

2008-11-17T15:10:51Z

Tokyo

Explore this cutting edge and spectacular Asian metropolis. Book your trip now!

Dusseldorf's Neanderthal Museum

2008-11-17T14:51:07Z

Dusseldorf is an old city, but some of the residents at one of its finest museums predate it by a few thousand years. Located in the Neander Valley, where the original Neanderthal Man was discovered in 1856, the Neanderthal Museum is one of the only museums in the world dedicated exclusively to these early ancestors of modern humans, and its collection of fossils, artifacts, and the earliest forms of written communication is unsurpassed. With extensive exhibits detailing the lives, migration habits, and challenges facing neanderthals - who first appeared on earth 60,000 years ago - the museum gives visitors a good reminder of just how far back human history stretches. Guided tours of the museum are available, and there's even a Stone Age Workshop designed to teach 21st century humans what it was like to eke out a living in prehistoric Germany. You'll be making stone tools in no time. The Neanderthal Museum is convenient to several Starwood hotels, including the Four Points by Sheraton Central Dusseldorf.

[image via heise.de]