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Mira Boykin is Queen of the Vibe at the Aloft Chesapeake.

At the Aloft Chesapeake, I'm a nerd for a party with a purpose. I mean it, give me a cause and I will find a cure. I'm all about fun for a serious sake. That being said, one of my current missions is to support the local artists, talent and small businesses and, importantly, its natural resources. So, when I discovered that Chesapeake hadn't yet begun celebrating "Green Drinks"- a sort of happy hour for the eco-sophisticate- I was like, "Duh. We're so gonna make this happen." Interestingly and conveniently, every green activist in the area has found a way to be between 1 and 3 degrees of separation from me, and they are all TOTALLY acting as my posse- extraordinaire. Everyone wants to help. So many superstars want to be involved. My lunches for, seriously, the next month, are completely booked. The drums are thumping...the beat goes on.

Last month, we succeeded in launching our first "Meet the Artist" event, and many of our new contingent were found from that fray. It's fabulous because, having attended that event, they already realize we're purpose-driven. The people we care about are beginning to really care about us. I feel like someone weeded the garden in front of the fence in my front yard and they're interested to step through and see what's going on inside. Green Drinks Chesapeake launched officially for real, on Thursday, June 4th at 5:30 p.m.

Now, every Thursday, we have organic wine to drink, the backyard patio open for awaiting sunbathers and, of course, a lot of environmentally-invested peeps who love all the colors of the rainbow, but especially love green. We're Virginia Green certified and I've got our e-newsletter ready to roll and our invite list is growing! The word is circulating! We've got people ready to speak and teach and play and drink and laugh and connect and do all the things we love, and do it for the sake of caring about our shared, physical space. It actually, really is easy being green. So join us every Thursday, if you can make it at the Aloft Chesapeake. See what it looks like to, once again, turn a pretty thought into a very real meeting of great minds. In this case, green, great minds...

Mira Boykin is Queen of the Vibe at the aloft Chesapeake.

Here's the way I plan my day: I rise, knock back copious amounts of coffee and hit re:charge for a little sweat-fest, jammin' it up to Girl Talk on my Ipod. Afterward, I take myself out to breakfast at re:fresh, grab an apple, some yogurt, maybe a little oatmeal, perhaps a bowl of cheerios, it varies. Then, I race off to a hot shower and get bedazzled for my day. I take a few quiet moments to reflect on the day before, the morning workout, or even the tastiness of the snack I just savored. It's the little things that rev the Queen of the Vibe, truly.

Once I hit the floor and I'm headed into my vibe bubble for the day's tasks, I generally feel re:freshed and re:vived. Sometimes, I'm slim pickins', so I grab a hot chocolate for a little pick me up, or maybe a latte, if I need an extra kick it up. No matter what, I always basically get groovy by being able to get my hands on whatever I need, without leaving the front doors. It's work that works for me. And I love it. All day, I watch people making great use of space and relishing in the freedom, the flow and the sweet tunes that we keep on constant rotation, throughout. Yesterday, I came out for a midday snack and found only one oatmeal raisin cookie remaining, amidst the chocolate chip and the macadamia nut stash. My co-worker had a similar hankering for the dried grape and quaker combination, so we lovingly chose to halve it up and share. It's really peaceful, being me. But that's only because I haven't mentioned anything past the 5 o'clock hour.

Flip the switch and dangle the disco ball, W xyz me! Our swanky, eco-sophisticated, dynamic space (pictured) is just right for a cocktail, a glass of organic wine or, better yet, a signature cocktail made by one of our sassy bartenders. I tend to like to wind down, beginning promptly at 6 pm, and I find w xyz to be the perfect ride for my end-of-day vibe. After a few of my favorite cocktails-du-jour, I like to whip out for a light bite and get home to do some work. There, I watch a little tube on my flat-screen, or just mellow out to some music and maybe grab a nightcap before I tuck into my tender sheets and find my very favorite, vibey zzz's. It's all in a day. It's all in aloft.

The Hampton Roads area of southeastern Virginia has something to please just about every traveler. From great shopping at Chesapeake's Greenbrier Mall to the many waterside attractions of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, visitors to this dynamic part of the country will never run out of places to see and things to do. Now, Hampton Roads has a hotel that meets the needs of today's business and leisure travelers like never before in the brand new aloft Chesapeake. This exciting new destination features a loft-inspired design that keeps the energy flowing when you want it, and provides the ultimate in relaxation when you need it. And with amenities such as the Splash indoor pool, re:charge gym, and hotel-wide internet access, you'll be able to mix work and play and still come out ahead. As an added incentive to explore Starwood's eighth brand, members have the opportunity to earn eight Starpoints for every eligible dollar spent. With a deal like that, you'll earn your way to free rooms and once-in-a-lifetime experiences in no time. To see other special offers and make a reservation, visit aloft Chesapeake's website today.