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Starwood's latest foray into Los Angeles raises the city's already lofty standards of service and luxury even higher. The SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills will open its doors on October 28, 2008, welcoming guests into a sophisticated hospitality experience unlike any the City of Angels has ever seen. Located in the heart of the city, the hotel's Philippe Starck-designed décor creates a chic and sensuous atmosphere of pleasure, comfort, and discovery. Each of the hotel's 297 guest rooms features plush bedding, 40" flat-screen television, and a host of personalized amenities - from iPod docking stations to rain forest showers - that make being away from home a sheer pleasure. An aerial pool and roof deck with panoramic views of LA provides a perfect place to take advantage of the Southern California sunshine, while a 24-hour fitness facility can help you maintain a healthy physique and so you can indulge in the hotel's other delights, such as its five exquisite eateries. Naturally, this Luxury Collection property features cuisine fit for Hollywood royalty, so whether you fancy some light fare in the poolside ambiance of Altitude or Spanish-style tapas at the casually sophisticated Roja y Blanca, you'll find a painstaking dedicated to the freshest ingredients and skilled preparation that yields some of the most flavorful food in the country. Yes, while the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills is close to the city's greatest attractions, you might not ever want to leave.
Recently in Los Angeles Category
Sophisticated Luxury Arrives Next Month at the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills
Monday September 29, 2008
The Battle of the Cupcakes in California
Friday July 4, 2008
Cupcakes are even more coveted than frozen yogurt in Southern California right now, and there are gourmet bakeries vying for supremacy all over the region. In Pasadena, the battle comes down to two, both of which are in easy reach of the Westin Pasadena. In one corner, you've got Violet's Cakes. The shop is a favorite of Martha Stewart, who loves their "cherry pie" cupcake — filled with cherry pie filling, topped with vanilla buttercream and a chocolate-covered cherry. Other highlights include "french toast," "PB&J" and luscious red velvet. In the other corner is Dot's Cupcakes. The cupcakes at this sleek storefront are a bit more fancily decorated than Violet's, in flavors ranging from lemon drop and Boston cream pie to carrot cake and Kona coffee. Who's better? Hard to say, but Chowhounders sure love Violet's — and it's hard to ignore that Martha endorsement. I say you do a taste test of your own!
SPG Member Corner - Robin Andrea Kohl
Saturday June 7, 2008
This year, I spent my birthday locally at the Sheraton Universal...just a short hop from my first job at Universal Studios!
The Sheraton staff and accommodations were excellent...we stayed in the old Lanai wing overlooking the pool. It was rather charming. They tell us the 'old' Sheraton is getting a new face..as renovations have already begun!!
The staff was very sweet...and they sent over birthday cake, balloons, and candles, etc. They made me feel so special and comfortable. Late into the night, the fire torches over the pool area and made for a very nice tropical balcony view from our room!! ( In fact, perhaps we were the last occupants of the Lanai area...as reservations are no longer being booked for those rooms due to noisy construction!)
Personally, I have many memories of the old Sheraton...there were local high school proms and events held there over the years...a sentimental journey, however, I can't wait to see the new hotel upon completion!!
Lastly, my husband and I have friends coming in for New Years...and we will have another stay with them at the Sheraton Universal Hotel...so in fact we WILL have one last peek at the 'old school' Sheraton....Funny enough, it seems we are not the only ones who want a sentimental last look around!!
Better hurry up...and see you at the pool!!
Jaime Gottlieb is the Manager of Online Communications for the Luxury Brands Group and thelobby.com's source on all happenings at W Hotels.
Remember hearing about that pretty in pink Veuve Clicquot Loveseat by Karim Rashid? That design rock star, arm tats and all, has certainly been busy creating everything curvy, bright and groovy in every angle from furniture to fashion to funky spaces. Every magazine has written about him, and everyone has worked with him... even Dirt Devil.
Keeping things fresh is something he excels in, so it's no surprise he's teamed up again with Veuve Clicquot -- and this time with W Hotels -- to create a design item that not only shines but also keeps your bottle of Veuve Clicquot Rosé super cool.
Rashid's Globalight, a limited-edition piece that's a modern remix on the traditional French chandelier, creates a soft pink halo of LED light and a dream like atmosphere wherever it goes. Globalight is also an isotherm bottle carrier, so your bottle of Veuve Clicquot Rosé will keep its cool up to 4 hours.
It's Off to the Races with the Southern California Summer Credit
Wednesday May 28, 2008
It just got a little bit easier to relax in Southern California this summer. With the Southern California Summer Credit, you can create the getaway of your dreams and receive a $25, $50, or $100 credit toward your two-night stay. It's a great opportunity to enjoy amenities like a spa treatment, a round of golf, or breakfast for two while soaking up the warm California sunshine. To take advantage of this offer, just book and stay by September 1, 2008 at some of the Golden State's finest hotels and resorts, like the chic W Los Angeles - Westwood, which is in the middle of all the action, or the elegant Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa, which is set on 360 acres within the Rancho Mirage community. Horse racing fans might want to be on hand for the opening of Del Mar Race Track on July 16. See the thoroughbred action at the track made famous in 1938 when Seabiscuit defeated Ligaroti by a nose and enjoy a credit toward a stay at the nearby Sheraton La Jolla Hotel. There are many properties to choose from, so search by city or interest and find your summer getaway today.
It's Tiki Time!
Thursday May 22, 2008Frothy drinks with funny names. Fancy glasses and kitschy decor. Spring is the best time to hit a tiki bar. Why? Because it'll help remind you of the hot summer weather ahead. Here's my shortlist of the best tiki lounges in the Continental US.
• LA's tiny Tiki-Ti has more than 80 drinks on the menu and a heritage that stretches back to the beginnings of the Polynesian craze. Stop in for a Ray's Mistake while staying at W Los Angeles - Westwood.
• The Westin O'Hare is just minutes away from Chicago's top tiki spot, Hala Kahiki. Awful website aside, it's one of the best in the nation.
• In New York, make your way to Otto's Shrunken Head, a "neo-tiki lounge" a few blocks uptown from the Four Points by Sheraton Chelsea. Get the Pang's Punch.
• To really enjoy the season, book a weekend at the in San Diego and make a pilgrimage to Bali Hai, which is one man-made island over from the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. One of the oldest Polynesian restaurants and lounges in existence, it's a mecca for tiki fans.
Destination Spotlight - Los Angeles - Celebrate Culver City
Friday May 2, 2008
May has arrived, which in Los Angeles, marks the beginning of summer. The sunny days make the streets come alive with bikers and skaters, while the oceans are busy with surfers; sidewalk tables are rammed and already daily sunblock is a necessity. Everyone is predicting what's hot for the season. One thing I know is certain: the summer of 2008 is going to have Culver City written all over it. In the past decade, a number of daring bars, restaurants and art galleries opened in this once sleepy neighborhood nestled between Downtown LA and Santa Monica, previously known as a suburban enclave and home of the original MGM Studios, now Sony Pictures. A traveler's trip to downtown Culver City often meant either a pilgrimage to the Museum of Jurassic Technology, the legendary ephemera museum, or a quick jaunt to admire the facade used for Tara in Gone with the Wind. One thing was guaranteed. Parking was never a problem. But something clicked with the revitalization of Culver Boulevard's small promenade a few years back and the remodeling of the nearby Helms Bakery. As time has gone on, more and more restaurants, stores and galleries have opened and they have become conceptually the most daring in the city. Culver City's downtown area, just a short drive from the Four Points by Sheraton Westside, is an essential destination.
Since the beginning of the year, the neighborhood has experienced two major additions: the opening of the green gourmet restaurant Akasha and the concept shop/gallery/future eaterie Royal T, both outstanding contributions to a neighborhood buzzing with the hot restaurant of the year, Jason and MIho Travi's Fraiche. Akasha is the first bakery/bar/restaurant of chef Akasha Richmond and is a lovely take on local, organic comfort food in a painstaking environmentally conscious atmosphere. Every detail in the restaurant has taken being green in mind, from the reconstruction of the old space to the waiter's uniforms. While tables may be getting difficult to come by, the generously sized bar makes for a sophisticated setting with large lamps keeping the space unusually private. Their humorously named house cocktails all seem to possess some anti-oxidant ingredients, but while tasty, it's the food, including a La Quercia prosciutto pizza with arugula, dark figs and blue cheese that is most worth adopting. One must also appreciate the subtle addition of a screen above the bar looping the film, The Wizard of Oz, shot just up the road long ago.
Destination Spotlight - Los Angeles - The Goin & Lentz Food Tour
Friday May 2, 2008
Suzanne Goin and her husband David Lentz are LA restaurant royalty. Between the two of them, the couple is involved in three of the city's top restaurants: Lucques, A.O.C. and The Hungry Cat. And when the SLS at Beverly Hills opens later this summer, you'll be well situated to try all three.
At Lucques you'll find a laid-back luxury that earned it Best Restaurant honors from Los Angeles Magazine. You'll find French and Mediterranean dishes that delight, in a setting that accommodates both celebs and special occasion diners. And just because it's chic doesn't mean it's unaffordable: the Sunday Supper prix fixe is only $40 per person, and all but guaranteed to fill you up.
A.O.C. also made LA Mag's list at #28. It takes two trends — the wine bar and the tapas bar — and merges them beautifully, with phenomenal small plates and a wine list to match.
Last but not least, The Hungry Cat is a hotspot for seafood, with a focus on fresh and seasonal catches (this is one of the few places on the West Coast where you'll find stone crab claws fresh from Florida). The stylish, casual space includes a long raw bar offering up several varieties of fresh oysters, as well as a cocktail bar that knows how to mix a proper drink. Their list of specialties changes with the seasons just like the fish, I suggest you check out the blood orange negroni, while our editor Carly simply swears by their greyhound proper with candied grapefruit.
Destination Spotlight - Los Angeles - Fun and Fitness on the South Bay Bicycle Trail
Thursday May 1, 2008
Plenty of people see the beach as a place to relax, kick back on a blanket, and take in the sun. Not me. I get restless if I sit around for too long, which is why I find Los Angeles to be such a perfect beach destination. Of LA's many excellent beaches, Santa Monica stands out as a favorite for active types thanks to its wonderful bike path. The South Bay Bicycle trail is the perfect way to enjoy the very best of the beach, stretching 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach in the north to Torrance County Beach in the south. The trail is perhaps best approached from Santa Monica State Beach, which has bike rental shops where you can pick up a mountain bike, beach cruiser, or even a cushy recumbent bike, which allows you to sit back and enjoy the scenery as you cruise along the seashore.
Then, where you go depends on what you're into. Head up to Malibu to see the natural beauty of the California coastline and some of the more expensive homes in the country, or roll on down to Venice Beach, the eclectic inspiration for everyone from Tony Alva of Dogtown and Z-Boys fame to the Big Lebowski to scores of magicians, mimes, singers, dancers, jugglers and our editor, Carly. Stop for a snack at the many outdoor cafes (ed. note, the lemonade at Hot Dog on a Stick next to the Santa Monica Pier is worth the stop) or continue chugging along all the way to Marina del Rey. Wherever you wind up, you'll be getting a great workout, taking in some California sunshine (don't forget the sunblock), and experiencing the entire range of beach eye candy. The Sheraton Delfina Santa Monica Hotel is located four blocks above the Santa Monica shoreline, just steps from your two-wheeled California adventure.
Destination Spotlight - Los Angeles - A Day at the Getty Villa
Thursday May 1, 2008
In 79 AD, the Villa dei Papiri, a superb residence bursting with exquisite frescoes and lush gardens, overlooking the Bay of Naples, was buried by the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. In the 1960s, the oil investor J. Paul Getty, decided to construct a replica of the abode, not to live in, but to provide the perfect museum for his vast collection of art and antiquities. Getty died in 1976, and never saw the finished product, but today, the magnificent structure rising from a narrow canyon on the Pacific Coastal Highway in Malibu, is the only museum devoted to Greek, Roman, and Etrurian art and antiquities in the nation.
The Getty Villa is a wonderful place to spend a day roaming the marble laden galleries and gardens and feel like a Roman aristocrat. Organized by theme, the 1,200 artifacts that can be displayed within the 48,000 square feet of gallery space at any one time, are arranged into sections like "Stories of the Trojan War," "Gods and Goddesses," and "Dionysos and the Theater." Visitors, who enjoy free admission, but must secure a timed ticket in advance, traverse easily between indoor and outdoor areas, making their way eventually to the villa's lovely cafe, one of the many education programs that occur throughout the year, or even to the villa's outdoor theater where they can take in a Greek play. When the day of ancient exploration comes to an end, find your way back to the conveniences of modern civilization at the W Los Angeles - Westwood, an urban sanctuary, just ten miles away.
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