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Neighborhood Watch: Park City, Utah

Friday March 12, 2010

A quintessential Old West mining town, Park City, Utah is delightfully picturesque. Each winter, a wondrous blanket of fluffy snow piles up on the city's rooftops and covers the long boughs of tall evergreens with sparkly white. It's a paradise for skiers and snowboarders, who are easily spotted gliding down nearby slopes, or riding up on the lifts that pass right over the roadways. And during those brief breaks between downhill runs, Park City offers all sorts of distinctive shops and delicious restaurants to explore.

With its bevy of enticing storefronts, Main Street is the obvious first stop on your Park City shopping adventure. Crosby Collection (No. 419) is a jewel box of Native American treasures. You'll find Navajo weavings, Pueblo pottery, and loads of turquoise. For cute clothes (ladies and babies only), stop in at Mary Jane's (No. 613), then satisfy your inner cowboy at Burns Saddlery (No. 363). For lunch, head off the beaten path to Park Avenue. This quaint, quiet road that runs parallel to Main Street is lined with adorable miner's homes that date back to the 1880s. At No. 703, the High West Distillery and Saloon is the perfect place to warm up with a hearty burger and a highball. The brand new restaurant, housed in a hundred-year-old garage, is the first whisky distillery to open in Utah since the 1870s. After lunch, satisfy your sweet tooth a few doors down at Sugar Buzz (No. 651). Just be sure to stock up on enough jelly beans to last through the rest of your stay at the luxurious St. Regis Deer Crest Resort. It's going to be hard luring you out again from this cozy retreat nestled among the high peaks of Utah's majestic Wasatch range. Although a glance out the window is all the incentive you'll need to get back out onto those impeccable Deer Valley slopes.

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Saatchi Gallery.jpgIf you're looking for cutting edge art in the city of London - and you've already visited the Tate Modern - set aside an hour or two for a tour of the Saatchi Gallery. A gift to the city of London from collector Charles Saatchi (the founder, with his brother, of the ad agency that bears his name), it has 70,000 square feet of floor space dedicated to the very best contemporary art. Located on King's Road in Chelsea, the gallery boasts high ceilings, plenty of natural light, and a collection that runs the gamut from traditional portraiture to works that cause a stir around the world, such as Damien Hirst's The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, in which a shark is suspended in a formaldehyde solution. It's currently showing an exhibition entitled The Empire Strikes Back: Indian Art Today, which features colorful neon, tumbleweed, and aluminum sculptures by Shezad Dawood; mind-bending comic panels from Chitra Ganesh, and selected works by Yamini Nayar that blend sculpture, photography, and architecture in ways that defy categorization. Drop by this dynamic art space and see what you can make of it all. Starwood has hotels throughout London, including The Lanesborough, a St. Regis Hotel.

[image via Saatchi Gallery]

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glazeddonuts.jpgPlanning a meeting while you're on the road? Don't forget to order coffee and donuts — or maybe some bagels — to keep the attendees alert and on-task. Here's a list of some of the better options to supply each around the country.

In New York, the clear leader is Doughnut Plant. Made from scratch (even the jelly fillings) fresh daily in decadent flavors such as dulce de leche and crème brulée, a second location will be opening this spring a couple blocks from the Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea. If bagels are more your thing, Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company has you covered.

San Francisco's Dynamo Donuts has flavors that'll really help groggy colleagues wake up: varieties include a chocolate donut dredged in chipotle sugar and a lemon-filled dusted with Sichuan spices. Ask the concierge at the St. Regis San Francisco to send someone to pick up from this Mission storefront. Closer to the hotel, Blue Bottle's French press coffee service will help make sure the jolt from the spicy donuts sticks.

Keep their eyes from glazing over in Chicago with an order of Glazed Donuts, available by catering or subscription(!) only. The flavors change weekly, and range from classic apple cider to bing cherry balsamic and maple-bacon-chocolate (pictured). Pair them with coffee from the Intelligentsia near Millennium Park, and you'll be the hippest meeting runner the Westin Michigan Avenue has ever seen.

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The Newseum is one of Washington D.C.'s most exciting new museums, and a special offer from the St. Regis Washington D.C. makes it a pleasure to check out 500 years of headlines. The Newseum Package features overnight accommodations in either a Superior Room or Metropolitan Suite, overnight valet parking, a Parisian breakfast for four (two adults and two children) served in Adour restaurant, four tickets to the Newseum, and one complimentary in-house movie. If you're a news buff, you'll love the Newseum, which boasts 14 galleries, 15 theaters, and dozens of interactive activities like G-Men and Journalists, Manhunt: Chasing Lincoln's Killer, and the NBC News Interactive Newsroom, where you can sit in the hot seat and try to report breaking news before your competitors. When you've seen all there is to see, return to the hotel - an icon of elegance in the nation's capital - and enjoy amenities like a fitness center, kids club, and the most comfortable rooms in town. Toast your adventure into the ink-stained life of a Washington reporter with a drink at the St. Regis Bar and vow to follow this story to the end. Visit here for more information or to book your stay.

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St. Regis Washington D.C. Exterior Night.jpgSpringtime getaways are perfect for getting an early taste of the travel season, but sometimes you want more than just a taste. You want an extra day to really relax and get to know your destination. Thanks to Starwood's Better Tomorrows offer, that's exactly what you'll get this spring, when you can save 50% off a second night for every night you pay a regular rate at participating Starwood hotels in the Washington, D.C. area. There are more than 30 great properties to choose from, including the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel - just steps from Baltimore's fabulously revitalized Inner Harbor - and the Westin Alexandria, a sophisticated new destination in the Carlyle section of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. And if you really want to savor your extra day in impeccable style, check into the St. Regis Washington, D.C. (pictured), an icon of restored elegance just two blocks from the White House. At this prestigious address, every visit becomes a special occasion. The offer is good from March 1 to June 15, 2010, and guests receive a packet of seeds to start your own spring garden. Start planning your Better Tomorrows getaway today.

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London's Burgeoning Coffee Scene

Monday February 15, 2010

disloyaltycard.jpgIs it worth crossing town for a good cup of coffee — especially in a tea-mad town like London? Maybe, if you're heading to see Gwilym Davies, the current World Barista Champion. Interestingly, he doesn't work in an espresso shop. His Prufrock is a coffee counter inside the clothing boutique Present, and he has coffee carts at Whitecross Street Market and the Columbia Road Flower Market.

As good as his espresso is, Davies doesn't want to hog the limelight. He's actually come up with a disloyalty card. Pick up a card at Prufrock, then take a tour of eight cafes (mostly in East London) to try their coffee. When you come back, he'll make you a cup for free. No catch. Good deal, and worth the trek from The Lanesborough in Knightsbridge.

The closest are Nude Espresso and Taste of Bitter Love. The former is a bustling cafe with a friendly, passionate staff that makes a beautiful cappuccino. The latter is tiny and as a result almost always packed. But squeeze in and you'll be rewarded with excellent java and tasty pastries.

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str193re.66582.jpgEvery visit to the St. Regis Washington, D.C. feels like a special occasion, but romantic holidays take on added significance when celebrated in this historic icon of elegance. Impress that special someone at the hotel's Adour restaurant, a perfect destination for a romantic meal for any day. Named after the river in southwest France near where Alain Ducasse was born, Adour features elegant cuisine using only the freshest ingredients, served in a distinctive dining room designed by renowned architect David Rockwell. It's the talk of the town, with recent accolades from Washingtonian Magazine, which lauded its "perfectly sauteed soufflés" and "textbook macarons" in its February 2010 "Great Dates" issue, as well as D.C. Magazine, which featured a quote from Chef Ducasse in its Best of the City section on his penchant for American beef. Raise a glass of fine champagne and make a toast to true love, then sit back and savor the taste of the good life. Adour is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it's a good idea to make reservations several days in advance.

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vallarta botanical gardens.jpgThe next time you're in Puerto Vallarta, take a day away from the beach and head to the hills instead. Nestled within the Sierra Madre mountains just 12 miles south of the city, you'll find one of the most beautiful natural areas in all of Mexico, with lush vegetation and gorgeous views of soaring mountains. The Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens occupy 20 acres of tropical dry forest ecosystem at 1,300 feet above sea level, with a unique mix of trees, flowers, and wildlife that you won't see anywhere else. There's a lot to experience, from the Palm Gardens, with its towering tropical trees, to the Orchid House, which cultivates these rare and beautiful flowers. There are dozens of species of Mexican wildflowers, and even a a few carnivorous plants, so keep an eye on your sandwich when you walk past those guys. Those looking for a bit of a workout can go for a nature walk along winding jungle trails, and even enjoy a refreshing dip in the crystal clear Rio Los Horcones. After a morning of adventure, settle down for a gourmet lunch at the Hacienda de Oro Restaurant, which serves salads, wood-oven baked pizza, and a full menu of Mexican and Italian dishes. Share a bottle of wine with friends and family and toast the stunning beauty of this gorgeous city on the Bahía de Banderas. Starwood has three properties in Puerto Vallarta: the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center, the Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta, and the St. Regis Punta Mita Resort.

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Starpick the St. Regis Monarch Beach

Wednesday February 3, 2010

St. Regis Monarch Beach Pool View.jpgThe town of Dana Point is a jewel on the California coastline, with gorgeous weather, a picturesque harbor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. It's also home to the only California resort crowned with the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star, Five-Diamond Award, the St. Regis Monarch Beach, which happens to be one of this week's participating Starpicks properties. That means last-minute rates are at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next eight weeks. So why not enjoy a few sunsets in this perfect retreat? This Tuscan-style resort is situated along the ocean, and its world-class luxury and stellar setting dazzle from the moment you lay eyes on it. With an exclusive private beach club, three swimming pools (including one with private cabanas), a championship golf course, the award-winning spa Gaucin, and six ocean-view restaurants, you'll find everything you need to relax and feel great. Spend your day swimming in the ocean, relaxing by the pool, or playing tennis on one of eight lighted hard courts. When evening comes, indulge in a meal at Stonehill Tavern, where Chef Michael Mina serves American cuisine in an atmosphere of elegance and refinement. As the sun sets over the ocean, have a toast to another perfect day in California. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so check the list for the latest deals.

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St. Regis Bahia Beach.jpgConstruction is humming along at the new St. Regis Bahía Beach Resort & Residences in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, and there's no end to the excitement surrounding its grand opening in October, 2010. This singular destination will change the face of island travel, with incomparable luxury and service in one of the most beautiful sites in the Caribbean. Situated on 25 acres of beachfront property, the St. Regis Bahía Beach Resort is the first five-star resort in Puerto Rico, with 139 suites, a Remède Spa, a beachfront pool, Jean-Georges Signature Restaurant, and every conceivable amenity. Whether you spend your time playing golf on the Robert Trent Jones, Jr. golf course, indulging in a spa treatment, or just lying on the beach, you'll appreciate the attention to every detail of your experience. The St. Regis Residences, Las Estancias, meanwhile, are comprised of 25 majestic estate homes on a private island within Bahía. Each 6,000 to 9,000 square foot residence is designed in a tropical plantation architectural style, with floor plans offering large verandas, three-car garages, infinity pools, and separate maid's quarters. Located on spacious lots, these luxurious residences offer breathtaking views of the ocean the El Yunque rain forest and easy access to the golf course and all the amenities of the finest resort. Visit here for more information on this exciting new destination.

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