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Cupcakes Forever!

Friday March 12, 2010

cc_sunday_mimosa_large.jpgA Slate.com business columnist thinks the rise of cupcakes is a bubble heading for a crash. I say who cares when we all profit from the irrational exuberance! Here's a round-up of tasty cupcake options near Starwood hotels around the country.

Your first order of business in LA, after checking into the Westin Los Angeles Airport, should be to head to Cupcakes Couture in Manhattan Beach. The shop creates some of the fanciest cupcakes I've seen, including such treats as the "Sunday Mimosa," (pictured) a champagne sponge cake filled with orange curd and topped with citrus frosting and blood orange "caviar," and the "Little Miss Sunshine," a strawberry cake with strawberry jam, vanilla frosting and topped with a vanilla macaroon.

Sweet Revenge, a few blocks north of the Four Points by Sheraton SoHo-Village, knows its customers aren't kids: it offers wine and beer pairing suggestions for its cupcakes. Try pairing the decadent "Dirty" with a Peroni or another pale lager.

Up in Seattle, you can order online from Cupcake Royale and have a dozen delivered to the W Seattle, or have them waiting for you when you swing by the Capitol Hill location. Sadly, it's too late to get the "Deathcake Royale," but the chocolate mint gets high marks and is available all year 'round.

[image via Cupcakes Couture]

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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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Look out the window as you come in for a landing at New York's Kennedy Airport. You'll spot a tall clock tower rising among the brownstones of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. Dating from 1927, the historic Williamsburgh Bank building is one of the borough's most iconic landmarks, and since January, it's been home to the Brooklyn Flea.

A paradise of antique treasures (old vinyl, silver plate flatware, vintage clothing, and mid-century furniture) and handmade crafts (hand printed stationery, organic soaps, knit hats, and all sorts of jewelry), the Brooklyn Flea takes place every weekend. About one hundred vendors set up their wares in three of the bank building's architecturally stunning floors. Beyond the iron grates of original bank teller windows, Polaroid cameras line up alongside Halston shoes. Swedish clogs point toward embroidered pillowcases. And milk glass lamps illuminate Pucci scarves. Tantalizing aromas drift from the bank vault, a destination in itself where dozens of food vendors cook up their lobster rolls, tacos, papusas, chocolate chip brownies, and red velvet cupcakes. Even Martha Stewart says, "it's a fantastic way to get a taste of everything that the borough has to offer."

Half a mile from the soon-to-open Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel, the Brooklyn Flea is at 1 Hanson Place, its winter location, through the end of March. Starting the first week in April, all those fabulous finds move outside. The Fort Greene outdoor market sets up every Saturday at the Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School's sprawling parking lot on Lafayette Ave., still just a short walk from the hotel. And on Sundays, it's under the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo.

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Starpick the W New York - The Court

Wednesday March 3, 2010

W New York  the Court Typewriter Detail.jpgNew York City. No matter how many times you visit, you can always find something surprising. If it's been a while since you've felt the energy of Manhattan, consider an impulsive late-winter getaway. The W New York - The Court is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next two weekends. This stylish hotel is located in the Murray Hill district of 1920's brownstones, walking distance from the United Nations, New York Public Library, and a few thousand other great Gotham attractions. Spend your day shopping on Fifth Avenue, browsing the innovative art at the New Museum on the Bowery, or sampling the world's best knishes at Yonah Schimmel on the Lower East Side. Back at the hotel, kick off your night on the town with a drink at WETBAR, the hotel's signature lounge, where expertly-prepared cocktails are served in an atmosphere of warmth and sophistication. Then, make your way out into the city, with its endless possibilities - or just settle back with your martini, savoring a relaxing end to a perfect day. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so check the list for the latest deals.

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If it were in any city other than New York, the Brooklyn Museum would be the most popular museum in town by far. After all, it boasts no less than 1.5 million works of art and antiquity, from Pablo Picasso's 1942 classic Woman in Gray (Femme en gris) to one of the most spectacular collections of ancient Egyptian art on the planet. But this being New York, it's overshadowed by (admittedly spectacular) institutions like the Met, the MoMA, the Guggenheim, and the American Museum of Natural History. But don't let that stop you from visiting, because a short trip on the subway (or an even shorter taxi ride) will reward you with the rarest of experiences: a world-class museum with plenty of breathing room. Browse the permanent collection without being elbowed and jostled, or check out temporary exhibits (see video) like To Live Forever: Art and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt, which explores the Egyptians' belief about life, death, and the afterlife. A host of compelling exhibits are planned for this year, including American High Style: Fashioning a National Collection (with works by designers such as Elizabeth Hawes and Christian Dior) and Andy Warhol: The Last Decade, with nearly 50 paintings, photos, and sculptures from 1977 - 1987. Nothing second-rate about that. Starwood has hotels throughout the New York City area, including the soon-to-open Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel.

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DSCF0862_opt.jpgGood food is everywhere in Brooklyn, a reflection of the fact that it is home to citizens from all over the world. For affordable and fun outdoor eating from spring through late fall, one of the most impressive and veteran gatherings of food trucks appears from the Red Hook Food Vendors at the Red Hook soccer field on Saturdays in the Red Hook neighborhood (accessible via the F train on the subway). It feeds hordes of hungry young players and savvy food adventurers with a sampling of the best meals and snacks from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and El Salvador. Among many standout items, look for some of the best and freshest ceviche and pupusas from friendly, hard-working, family-owned businesses, Also on the weekends, Brooklyn Flea (indoor/outdoor location varies seasonally; check the Web site) is not only a great site for shopping, but an incredible gathering of many local artisan food producers, a group so impressive that Martha Stewart even dedicated a whole episode of her television program to its edible delights.

Your stay at the soon-to-open Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel will put you at the perfect perch from which to access the many international culinary delights not only in surrounding Brooklyn Heights and all over the sprawling borough, but also all of Manhattan. Whether you eat inside or outside, it's a case of having too much to choose from, which is really always a thrilling prospect for a visitor. As is complimentary breakfast and evening hors d'oeuvres, both of which await you in The Club Lounge.

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publicassemblynyc.jpgAs the Beastie Boys famously said, "No sleep till Brooklyn." And while you should have little trouble sleeping in your room at the Sheraton Brooklyn New York, the hip neighborhoods of Brooklyn will give you plenty of reasons to stay up late.

For sheer variety, it's hard to beat Southpaw, a venue for everyone from old-school rapper KRS-One to folkie Dar Williams to Spanish rockers The Right Ons. Pete's Candy Store brings an eclectic selection to its intimate stage, too, including a regular spelling bee. Public Assembly is a great place to dance to a proper DJ set.

On the other end of the musical spectrum, the Brooklyn-Queens Conservatory of Music's series of jazz, orchestral and choral concerts are extremely popular for their quality and affordability. BAM showcases up-and-coming acts of all sorts in its BAMcafé in addition to its full schedule of indie and international film. And if your visiting Brooklyn this summer, keep your eye on BKLYN Yard and the Williamsburg Waterfront shows page for some great outdoor concerts.

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Lenaspretzels.jpgPretzels are a ubiquitous sight on the streets of midtown Manhattan, but Sigmund Pretzelshop (29 Avenue B) is breathing new life into old dough over in the East Village. Lina Kulchinsky, a lawyer by trade, opened up shop late last year to raves from the New York Times on down for her imaginative ideas. Yes, Virginia, you can get plain, salted soft pretzels, but why would you when you can have flavors like sesame, poppy, caraway, caramel pecan, cinnamon raisin, seven chili and dunk them in free dips such as nutella, beet-horseradish mayo, and herb goat cheese?

If the mood for more than a snack strikes, well, a pretzel sandwich might be in order; Sigmund will set you up with choices including roast turkey with gouda and apple, roast beef with horseradish and red onion, smoked salmon with cream cheese, and mozzarella with tomato and pesto. There's also sweets, Boylan's sodas, Mighty Leaf tea and La Colombe coffee. Walk or take a short ride from Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan SoHo Village to explore this twisty goodness. Have you ever had a truly memorable pretzel? If not, this might be your first.

[Image via Sigmund Pretzelshop]

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peter_coffin_sculptures.jpgMichaelangelo's "David" poses among the pine trees and park benches of New York's City Hall Park. But this David is devoid of the chiselled limbs, gentle curls, and all those other little details that make the work of art such a masterpiece. This David is a one-inch thick, 10 foot tall silhouette of powder coated aluminum. He joins a dozen other iconic sculptures from throughout history in artist Peter Coffin's exhibition Untitled (Sculpture Silhouettes)."

Stroll among Rodin's "Thinker," Sol LeWitt's "Incomplete Open Cube," Picasso's "She Goat," and other masterworks of international art that as a group "take the viewer on a journey through the history of sculpture in space and time." Part of In the Public Realm, a Public Art Fund program that supports emerging artists based in New York, "Untitled (Sculpture Silhouettes)" is on view at City Hall Park through May. A mile from the Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan SoHo Village, the outdoor sculpture exhibition offers a moment of quiet contemplation after an invigorating stroll through the bustling neighborhoods of SoHo and Chinatown.
It's always fun to discover art in public spaces. Which open-air artworks have you seen lately?

[image via Public Art Fund]

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New York is Still Burger Crazy

Friday January 8, 2010

Besides food trucks, the biggest food trend in New York still seems to be hamburgers. They're popping up on posh menus all over town, while classics — like Minetta Tavern's Black Label Burger — are described with reverence and the exalted Shake Shack continues to expand (coming soon to the Theater District and Upper East Side!)

To experience the cutting edge of the trend, check out DBGB Daniel Boulud's latest, where the burger reigns supreme. Choose from three versions based around flavor profiles, or bring a couple friends and opt for all three.

Le Parker Meridien actually has one of the city's best in its slightly hidden Burger Joint, tucked behind curtains off of the lobby. The Burger Joint is very well respected among the burger cogniscenti, as unpretentious as it gets, and a solid burger purveyor at that.

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