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Architecturally historical buildings from the 19th century are few and far between in Southern California due to constant redevelopment, but there are still places to experience the Golden State of yesteryear, if you know where to look. San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, for example, dates back to 1850, and it stands today as a testament to the dreams of two San Franciscans who envisioned the shimmering city by the waterfront that took form over the next 150 years. Today, the Gaslamp Quarter is the shopping, dining, and entertainment heart of San Diego, and a stroll through this historic district is like a trip back in time. If you've never had the chance to check out this fascinating neighborhood, here's a great opportunity: the Westin Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego 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. So indulge in an impulsive weekend and take in a show at the historic Spreckels Theatre, go for a tour of the USS Midway Museum, or learn about the animal kingdom at the San Diego Zoo. You'll go away with a new appreciation of this diverse and exciting city. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so check the list for the latest deals.
Recently in San Diego Category
Starpick the Westin Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego
Wednesday September 17, 2008
MoreSan Diego's Comic-Con
Friday July 25, 2008
If you're in San Diego this weekend and you're even a tiny bit interested in comic books and science fiction, you've got to make your way to the San Diego Convention Center, because Comic-Con 2008 is taking the city by storm. Laugh if you will, but comics and their related pursuits are big business, and the San Diego comic convention is the largest of its kind in the world, welcoming 125,000 attendees during its four-day run. Founded in 1970 as a venue for comic collectors to swap books and make connections, today Comic-Con has booths and exhibits related to animation, Japanese anime and manga, video games, toys, collectibles and even some daily monsters (see video). Seminars and workshops featuring comic artists and graphic designers will be held throughout the long weekend, along with film screenings, awards ceremonies, and the Masquerade costume contest. This year's roster of speakers include Max Brooks, renowned zombie expert and son of entertainer Mel Brooks. With words of wisdom from the author of the Zombie Survival Guide, it's sure to be an unforgettable event. Comic-Con is just minutes from several Starwood properties, including the Westin Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego, the W San Diego, and the U.S. Grant, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.
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, 2008
Frothy 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.
Starwood Insider - Jaime Gottlieb - W Hotels and Dave Lieberman Cook Up Your Cravings
Wednesday May 14, 2008
Jaime Gottlieb is the Manager of Online Communications for the Luxury Brands Group and thelobby.com's source on all happenings at W Hotels.
The days of heading across the street from your hotel to the Waffle House or downstairs to the lobby for a less than exciting bite from the buffet are long gone. Well, at least for some. In the case of W Hotels' recent partnership with the Food Network's young, up-and-coming Dave Lieberman, those days are a DeLorean ride into the wild west.
This delicious duo will be coming together to offer guests and exclusive menu created by Dave himself. Starting on June 1, 2008, select W Hotels in North America will debut Dave's tWists on the classics, giving guests access to exclusive creations to nibble at W destination bars, Living Rooms and through in-room dining. What's on the menu? Sample the warm balsamic asparagus, pea shoot, & baby arugula salad with shaved pecorino; or Bubby's chicken dumpling soup; or even Moroccan chicken kebabs, harissa ketchup and cucumber yogurt sauce. He'll even be coming by to change things up each season, basing the new menu items on one of W's upcoming global destinations to keep you guessing.
Want to meet the man himself? W will host Dave at three exclusive W Happenings events in May at W San Diego, W Chicago City Center and W New York-The Court.
Heavenly Beaches and Natural History in San Diego
Wednesday April 9, 2008
San Diego is a city with a lot to offer the traveler, from amazing natural beauty to some of the finest cultural institutions in the country. Outdoorsy types will fall in love with Torrey Pines State Reserve, with more than eight miles of meandering trails that wind through 2,000 acres of chaparral land overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Beach lovers, meanwhile, will find their blissful moments on beaches like Del Mar, La Jolla, and Mission Beach, which offer tasty waves, perfect picnicking, and spectacular sunsets. But if you've got a curious mind for art and culture, San Diego's got you covered as well. Make tracks to the excellent San Diego Natural History Museum, which is currently showing an exhibit entitled A Day in Pompeii, with interactive displays, artifacts, and artistic recreations of what life was like in "ancient Rome's favorite vacation resort." Visiting San Diego is now easier than ever for AAA members, as Starwood is offering several exclusive offers for Southern California and Nevada this spring and summer. Book now for stays through September 1, 2008 at properties like the Westin Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego, the US Grant, the Sheraton La Jolla Hotel, and the W San Diego. San Diego is a place you can never tire of, so book a visit now to rediscover just how good it can get in this sexy city by the sea.
Test Drive Your GPS GoCar In San Diego
Friday February 1, 2008If you're staying at The US Grant, Westin Horton Plaza, or W San Diego, you'll probably see some little yellow cars whizzing by at a maximum speed of 35 miles an hour. Well, maybe whizzing's a bit strong... Irresistible nevertheless, with their black racing stripe and roofless, doorless exterior, you've just got to get yourself behind the wheel of one of those snazzy little numbers. No problem. What's your pleasure? An hour ($44), or a day ($150)? Just pop over to one of the GoCar Tours offices in Seaport Village or Old Town, don your helmet, and start your engine. The GPS-guided tour kicks in immediately, directing you through some of the city's most interesting routes. As you pass San Diego's historic and famous places like Petco Park, Fort Stockton, and Shelter Island, the recorded voice of a tour guide relays facts and figures.
The whole city's abuzz with the three-wheeled, two-seater locomotives calling them "fun," "unforgettable," and "the best way to get to know San Diego." Since you don't necessarily need to follow the standard tour route, you could cruise wherever you please, just not on the freeway, GoCars aren't allowed there. And be prepared to attract attention, as we hear locals love whooping and waving at the things. GoCars are also available in San Francisco, which from the look of the video seems like another great place for a test drive, and Miami.
San Diego Pride with a Twist
Wednesday July 18, 2007
Gay women want her. Gay men want to be her. She's Gloria Trevi, and she's Mexico's most sizzling and controversial superstar. And this month, she's playing the San Diego GLBT Pride Festival. A voraciously outspoken lyricist, Trevi topped the charts in the 1990s with hits like "Que Hago Aqui" (What Am I Doing Here), and "Pelo Suelto" (Loose Hair), but a dangerous liaison with manager/lover Sergio Andrade led to a swift decline and incarceration for a telenovela-like scandal. A decade later, the scintillating sex queen, once known for stripping male members of her audience, is taking the Latino and gay population by storm. She plays the festival's "Latin Stage" July 22. Other performers that day include Ecuadorian singer Diana Mera , the Ballet Folklorico Tapatio De San Diego, the "Kings of Cumbia Music", Sonora Dinamita con Vilma Diaz, and DJs from Club Papi," America's #1 Gay Latin Dance Party". July 21 features Italian dance artist Anamor, Latina singers Yolanda Ruiz, and Anayka, and the Latin Drag Kings.
Keep the Latin vibe pumping into the early morn at the official "Latin Stage Parties." The Pan Dulce party at Greek Renaissance style Bacchus House, named for the Greek god of "wine, revelry, and good times," kicks off the weekend July 20. Club Papi revs it up Saturday with an 18 and over party at the Tijuana club Extasis. And the fun comes to a finale Sunday night, when Club Papi takes over Numbers, in the gay neighborhood, Hillcrest. Sounds bananas! And it all coincides with W Hotel's Pride 365 event. Book a room at the and get a bonus package that includes free cocktails, sunscreen, a membership to Lambda Legal, an organization that supports civic rights of LBGT people, and more!
Little Italy in San Diego
Wednesday June 27, 2007
San Diego's Little Italy isn't as well known as its counterparts in New York or Chicago, but it's every bit as authentic. And a story in the San Jose Mercury News points out that the area has staged an impressive comeback from a downturn in the late 20th century, and now boasts shops and restaurants run by the descendents of the original Italian immigrants. San Diego's Little Italy was founded in the 1920's by Italian fishermen who came to work on tuna fishing boats. While the fishing industry has changed, visitors to the neighborhood can enjoy delicious seafood dishes at restaurants like Indigo Grill, where the pecan-crusted rainbow trout is served with roasted corn salsa, caramelized orange-pasilla buerre blanc, and oven roasted potatoes. The area is great for alfresco dining, with many restaurants offering sidewalk seating (pictured). Shoppers browse and buy at antique shops such as India Street Antiques, which specializes in oak furniture, and the colorful Fir Street Cottage Shops, which sell jewelry and apparel of all kinds. Another interesting feature of Little Italy? The area doesn't have park benches. Instead, every morning, metal chairs are put out on the sidewalk for anyone to sit in and move wherever they like, to chat with friends or just enjoy a spot of shade and a nice view. Starwood has several great properties in San Diego, including the historic US Grant, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.
[image via the Mercury News]
Best Beaches in the USA
Tuesday June 12, 2007
With beach season upon us once again, it's time to take a look at the best beaches in the USA, courtesy of Dr. Beach. The list, via Yahoo! News and the AP, offers up some great travel ideas. The Sheraton Sand Key Resort (pictured) in Clearwater Beach, Florida is conveniently located near Caladesi Island State Park, with its three-mile nature trail, 108-slip marina, and secluded location. The Princeville Resort on the Hawaiian island of Kauai is certainly located in a tropical paradise, with a fantastic beach of its own and less than 15 minutes from Hanalei Beach, with its turqouise waters, azure skies, and soft white sand. Coronado Beach in San Diego, California made the list as well, for its beautiful beach with palm trees swaying in the breeze, as well as its charming little town with shops and restaurants galore. Starwood has several great properties in San Diego, including the U.S. Grant, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection. And on the other side of the country, you'll find Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, convenient to the nearby Four Points by Sheraton Eastham Cape Cod. Check out the list and start planning your beach escape.
[image via AP/Yahoo! News]
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