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"Le Smoking," Yves Saint Laurent's female tuxedo, unveiled in 1966, is considered one of the twentieth century's most iconic pieces of fashion design. A true work of fine art in the eyes of many, the sleek, sexy piece of couture that bristles with a perfect combination of both masculinity and femininity, joins nearly 150 outfits at Montreal's Musee des Beaux-Arts, through September 28. Culled from the temperature-controlled archive of Fondation Pierre Berge Yves Saint Laurent, the exhibition includes sixty, never before exhibited pieces, as well as drawings, photographs, and videos.

Forty years of the revolutionary Algerian designer's career are presented in four different sections - "Masterful Pencil Strokes," "The Yves Saint Laurent Revolution," "The Palette," and "Lyrical Sources." Together, they trace the evolution of the designer's oeuvre, from the early sketches, to the merging of masculine and feminine elements, to the exploration of color, to the influence of history and literature. Pieces like the Mondrian cocktail dress from 1965, illustrate Saint Laurent's relationship with popular artists of the time, while evening gowns from the 1970s and 1980s show the degree of power with which he endowed his glamorous clientele. Since the designer's death this past June, this dazzling retrospective has become all the more relevant, and surely makes an imperative visit for those staying at the exquisitely fashionable Le Meridien Versailles, just two miles up the road from the Musee des Beaux-Arts.

Prepare for the exhibition by watching this fascinating footage from one of Saint Laurent's first fashion shows, in 1962.

Independence Day is one of the biggest holidays of the year for Mexicans, with millions of people turning out in town squares across the country to celebrate El Grito de Independencia. The holiday dates back to 1810, when a priest in the village of Dolores named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla inspired the indigenous residents to rise up against their Spanish rulers, whose tyrannical rule had left them on the lowest socioeconomic level. Hidalgo's legendary rallying cry, "Mexicanos, Viva Mexico!" is repeated all over the country every year at precisely 11:00 p.m. on September 16, when a government official enters the zócalo and calls out to a crowd that answers back in kind. Naturally, the event calls for a big celebration, with mariachi music, lots of antojitos (finger foods) and plenty of refreshing guava punch. Guests at the W Mexico City or any of Starwood's Mexico City properties are just a short jaunt from the main square, where the president himself delivers the grito.

[image via vivasancarlos.com]

Fans of alternative cinema will find plenty of kindred spirits in Austin, Texas this fall when the Fantastic Fest rolls into town. The festival, which begins September 18, features the best new films in the science fiction, fantasy, animation, horror, and Asian categories, with a week of screenings, discussions, and parties. Animation enthusiasts will want to check out a bizarre little short called Fantaisie in Bubble Wrap, which follows the trials and tribulations of several little bubbles in a roll of bubble wrap. Those partial to the documentary genre, meanwhile, might enjoy Not Quite Hollywood, the story of the Aussie film renaissance of the 1970's and 1980's. All screenings will take place at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, which combines a cutting-edge movie theater with a full-service restaurant and bar. No need to get up on the middle of a movie for a snack run. The festival is just minutes from the the Sheraton Austin Hotel.

[image via Fantastic Fest]

China is well known for its rich artistic tradition, but to Westerners it can often seem as though China's art is frozen in an era of golden dragons and lacquerware. Not so, as two major shows in Shanghai will demonstrate this September — both within easy distance from the Sheraton Shanghai Hongqiao Hotel.

The Shanghai Art Museum, housed in a former horse-racing club on the People's Square, hosts the Shanghai Biennale from Sept. 8 through Nov. 16, organized on the theme "Translocalmotion." The show will spill out of the museum and into the square itself, interacting with the buildings, street and other environmental details. And on Sept. 10-13 at the Shanghai Exhibition Center, ShContemporary 2008 showcases more than 100 galleries in over 20 countries around the Asia Pacific region as well as Europe, with the aim of creating a "dialogue between the Occident and the Orient."

If the two shows don't fill your brain to capacity, head to the nearby MoCA Shanghai where even more of the cutting edge of China's art scene is on display.

There's nothing like enjoying a lovingly-brewed beer with friends, and there will be plenty of that going on in Seattle this September 19-21. The Fremont Oktoberfest 2008 brings a variety of fun outdoor activities to one of Seattle's most dynamic neighborhoods, and, believe it or not, they don't all involve beer. For example, there's the Brew-Ha-Ha 5K run, a scavenger hunt, a pumpkin-carving contest, live music, a canine beauty contest, and a root beer tasting for kids or adults like me who enjoy a good root beer. But when it's time to sample some real beer, you won't be disappointed. The Stranger Microbrew Garden brings together 35 breweries pouring over 70 different kinds of beers, and beer enthusiasts can chat with the brewers and taste their finest brews in a miniature tasting mug. When it's time to kick back with a proper pint, make your way to the Buxom Beer Garden, where you can take a seat and reflect on a beery world of hops, barley, and malt. Fremont Oktoberfest 2008 is convenient to several Starwood hotels, including the stylish W Seattle.

[image via Seattlest]

Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and also one of the most unusual. Instead of being criss-crossed by streets and avenues, it has a series of canals that connect its various neighborhoods, necessitating a fleet of taxi boats, water buses, and gondolas to help people get around. On the first Sunday of every September, the Venice Historical Regatta pays tribute to the city's rich maritime heritage with events that celebrate the boats and sailors who have plied the waters for a thousand years. The regatta begins with a colorful parade of boats from the various Venetian rowing clubs led by the bucintoro, a large, two-decked luxury craft originally built for the duke that uses up to 40 rowers. After everybody's had a look at these grand boats floating down the Grand Canal, it's time for the races, starting with the swift, two-oared pupparini, which are piloted by young Venetian men, followed by the women in their mascarete. The six-oared caorline race next, giving fans a glimpse of a style of transport vessel that's all but extinct today. The grand finale is the race of two-oared gondolini, and its winners are treated like Venetian royalty until the next year's races. Starwood has five Venice properties, including the luxurious Hotel Gritti Palace, Venice, which is located right on the Grand Canal with great views of the action.

[image via venicexplorer.net]

An ocean, a mountain range, and half a continent may separate Colorado from the British Isles, but from September 4-7, Stanley Fairgrounds in Estes Park will become a little outpost of Scotland and Ireland in North America. The Long's Peak Scottish-Irish Highlands Festival brings the best of Scottish and Irish culture to this scenic park near Denver, which boasts sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains and Roosevelt National Forest. The festival features some amazing feats of bravery and strength, from a rousting jousting contest to the famous caber toss, in which big, burly guys take a 15- to 20-foot-long log and attempt to toss it end over end. My back hurts just thinking about it. But it's not all rough-and-tumble excitement. Expect plenty of Highland dance, pipe bands, drum corps, and every type of Irish and Scottish food and drink, from soda bread and shepherd's pie to the ever-present Guinness Stout and Glenfiddich whisky. Estes Park is 50 miles from the Westin Westminster Hotel and 80 miles from the Sheraton Denver West Hotel.

Are you having a laugh? If the answer is no, consider making your way to Boston for the the annual Boston Comedy Festival, which will be held September 14 - 20th, 2008 at the Hard Rock Cafe and the Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College. One of the best-known comedy festivals on the east coast, the Boston Comedy Festival features veteran and up-and-coming comics alike, many of whom try out fresh new material here before taking it on the road. Past performers have included the likes of Jackie Mason, Joan Rivers, and the late George Carlin, who no doubt riled up the audience with his observations on life in the modern era. In addition to stand up, there's also improv and sketch comedy that'll leave audiences in stitches. And at the contest finals, when the winning comic is crowned, a special lifetime achievement award will be given to the Smothers Brothers, who have entertained audiences with their folk songs and family arguments for nearly fifty years. The festival venues are just minutes from several Starwood properties, including the Westin Copley Place, Boston.

On Labor Day weekend, Aug. 29 to Sept. 1, Slow Food Nation comes to San Francisco. Not familiar with Slow Food? It's a movement away from mass-produced foods and a return to regional, seasonal and artisanal meats, cheeses, wines and produce.

The festival is bringing together thousands of slow food devotees — as well as people who just like to eat — to two locations in SF, Fort Mason near the Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf Hotel and the Civic Center area near the Westin St. Francis, where dozens of events will cover the breadth of the movement. Graze your way across the nation in the huge tasting pavilion, buy the makings of a great picnic at the farmers market and street food stalls, listen to talks by such luminaries as author Eric Schlosser and Chef Alice Waters, or take a workshop on how to set up your own home garden. In the evening, you can one of dozens of slow food dinners at area restaurants; check the website for details. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Families traveling with children will find plenty to do in Frankfurt, which boasts a variety of innovative parks and playgrounds and one of the finest zoos in Europe. But if you've only got time for one big attraction, make it the Senckenberg Natural History Museum. This award-winning museum covers everything from the Big Bang to the origin of species, and it does it in a fun, educational way that captivates children and adults alike. Over 6,000 square meters of exhibition space includes an extensive dinosaur exhibit (complete with a stegosaurus skeleton) as well as sections dedicated to whales and elephants, amphibians and reptiles, birds, fish, and more. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions as well, and is currently presenting the photography of Arthur von Weinberg, and this fall, Geology for Mankind will attempt to make sense of the earth itself. That's a tall order indeed. The museum is convenient to several Starwood properties, including the luxurious Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt.

[image via Senckenberg Museum]