The Lobby from SPG

Fast Bites in Paris

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:00:18 -0500

When you're in another country, it's often hard to figure out where to go for just a simple, reliable meal. In this edition of Fast Bites, we point out some of the better fast food options in Paris.

The Westin Paris is very close to The Louvre. Nearby Cojean is a favorite of office workers for their health-conscious lunch deals — they can be busy around lunchtime, but it's excellent for a quick meal to go. Locations dot downtown.

• Pomme de Pain is a chain featuring extremely affordable, quick take-it-with-you sandwiches and other baked goods.

• Flunch is a family-friendly, cafeteria-style chain with several locations around Paris, including one near Forum des Halles, the city's largest fresh market.

Take a Stroll Through the 19th Century West at Dallas Heritage Village

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0500

The city of Dallas was founded back in 1841, but most of the buildings you see today are a product of the 20th century. Fortunately, there are still places where you can see what life was like when Dallas was little more than a collection of farms, small businesses, and a few hundred head of cattle. The Dallas Heritage Center, located just south of downtown in Old City Park, is a recreation of a northern Texas town from 1840-1910, with 38 historic structures and a working Civil War-era farm. An afternoon exploring this wooded 13-acre indoor/outdoor museum is like a trip back in time, with a variety of interactive exhibits designed to give visitors a vivid picture of real life in the Old West. The Blum Brothers General Store (pictured), for example, dates back to 1892, when Simon Blum moved from Galveston to expand his family business. Today, it serves as the village's grocery, dry goods, hardware, and notions outlet. Then there's the Clementine Freight and Delivery Service, a livery shop that still sends out wagon teams to ferry people and freight around town. Chances are you'll find me in the Alamo Saloon, where today's visitors can do much as locals did 150 years ago: enjoy a beer and some conversation with friends. With five locally-produced microbrews on offer, however, I think today's beers are going to taste a lot better. Progress is good, sometimes. Starwood has properties throughout the Dallas area, including The Joule, Dallas, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.

Starwood Insider - Jaime Gottlieb - Declare Yourself and Be Heard This Fall

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:57:29 -0500

Jaime Gottlieb is the Manager of Online Communications for the Luxury Brands Group and thelobby.com's expert on everything W.

If you haven't already registered to vote: one) what are you waiting for, and two) W Hotels is going to make it super easy for you. With its exclusive hotel partnership with Declare Yourself, guests and whotels.com visitors can now get set to vote through a special voter registration tool.

As part of this exciting partnership with the national nonpartisan, nonprofit campaign, W Hotels nationwide will be offering exclusive "Declare Yourself RED" or "Declare Yourself BLUE" packages with a portion of all proceeds going right back to the organization. W Hotels will also be hosting special W Happenings, and W The Store locations will be adding the Declare Yourself book by the organization's founder, Norman Lear, to its shelves with all proceeds benefiting the nonprofit.

Voting, though, is just one part of the election year. It's really, and literally, about declaring yourself, and about letting your voice be heard. So why not check in, get registered and voice your vote? Ah, freedom.

Austin's Artistic Side in Bloom at the Old Pecan Street Festival

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:55:39 -0500

Austin is a year-round capital of art, music, and theater, but the city pulls out all the creative stops every September when it hosts the Old Pecan Street Festival. On the weekend of September 20-21, 2008, artists and performers from Texas and across the country will descend on venues on Sixth Street (formerly Pecan Street) and throughout downtown Austin to put on one of the wildest shows in the west. Musicians such as Les and the Funk Mob and rock 'n' roll pioneer Roky Erickson will grace the six different stages set up throughout the event, while artists specializing in woodwork, metalwork, oil painting, sculpture, and other media display their wares in the largest art show in central Texas. Not to be left out, a veritable army of poets will be on hand to share their work and (verbally) duke it out in Austin's most highly-charged poetry slam. And for pure, unadulterated fun, take a spin on one of many carnival rides, including a trampoline where you can bounce your way to artistic inspiration. Guests at the nearby Sheraton Austin Hotel might appreciate the high, low, and weird culture of this funky Texas celebration.

[image via Daily Texan Online]

Ancient Treasures of an Island Paradise at the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:48:59 -0500

People generally don't need too many travel tips for the Greek island of Mykonos. Watching the sunset is often reason enough. Wherever you go on the island, you'll find something exciting, interesting, and fun, from the flawless beaches on the southern coast to some fantastic restaurants, bars, and clubs in and around the town of Hora. But even though it's impossible to have a bad time in Mykonos, it's worth looking out for the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos, because it helps put in perspective the beautiful yet ancient island you're walking on. It houses the archaeological finds from Mykonos and nearby Reneia, and features several centuries of fine art and sculpture. A large ceramic vase known as a pithon from the Seventh Century B.C., for example, has an elaborately carved relief depicting the fall of Troy on its surface. A collection of Rhenian gravestones, meanwhile, feature intricate stonework detailing the lives of the people they commemorate. A display of ceramic and glass dolls and rings shows that artists of the time had a whimsical side as well. The museum is located just minutes from the Santa Marina Resort & Villas, Mykonos, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.

[image via Archaeological Museum of Mykonos]

Cruise Your Way to Art on the Tate Boat in London

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:35:26 -0500

London's Tate museums are some of the city's most beloved attractions, drawing thousands of visitors every year, and they're linked by one of the most creative forms of transportation you've ever seen. Art aficionados in London who don't mind feeling the motion of the ocean should make their way to the Tate Boat. This 220-seat catamaran with interior and exterior designs by Damien Hirst, but don't worry, no dead sharks or taxidermy were involved, just a whole lot of polka dots. The Tate Boat plies the waters of the Thames river between Tate Britain and Tate Modern every forty minutes during operating hours. It even makes a stop at the London Eye for those who desire a heightened view in the city between museum hopping. Starwood has several London properties, including the Sheraton Belgravia Hotel, London.

Island Dining In Phuket

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:02:23 -0500

The food at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket is incredible — even the locals think so. But there's so much to explore elsewhere on the island, it'd be a shame to only mention Chao Lay or the Tea Room. Your exploration can begin just outside the resort, at Lotus, a favorite of the expat community for its fresh Thai seafood and beachfront view.

Another standout is Tatonka. Its chef, Harold Schwarz, mixes Southwest American flavors with European and Thai influences for a "globetrotting" menu and unusual decor. With expertly mixed drinks and a spectacular view, 360° Bar lives up to its name. For a quick snack while you're off the resort, look for a hawker stall selling pa tong go, an x-shaped fried doughnut-like pastry. Cheap and tasty, they're best when fried fresh and eaten hot. Or, if you're in the mood for a taste of home, The Black Cat can set you up with a hot dog... or masaman curry.

Starwood Insider - Jaime Gottlieb - W Style Lounging at Fashion Week in New York

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:45:27 -0500

Jaime Gottlieb is the Manager of Online Communications for the Luxury Brands Group and thelobby.com's expert on everything W.

New York's Fashion Week is upon us and W Hotels, as always, will be hosting its VIP backstage lounge for this season's main event. From September 5-12, Bryant Park will be buzzing with music and glittering with the flashes of paparazzi while W's VIPs will be sitting pretty among the coolest crowd and the most happening atmosphere under the tents.

This year, those with premier access behind the scenes will be fully immersed into the pulse of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week as a living part of the W Fashion Week Lounge kaleidoscope. They'll get to step through the sparkling entrance reflecting images of the hottest new W Hotels worldwide, from the sweet Chilean hotspot, W Santiago to the panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf at W Doha. From reflective mirrors to sparkling lights to the global energy and style of this exclusive space, W Hotels has got insider access to backstage global glam. The W Fashion Week Lounge is the place to sip cool cocktails, mix and mingle among the world's fashion elite at the reflective bar or chilling out by the live DJ booth. And to give you the inside scoop all during the week, W will once again be featuring its Backstage Blog and offering fast-clicking Fashion Weekers its always popular Catwalk Package, benefiting the not for profit, Dress for Success. Check out W Hotels' Fashion Week hub for all things fab.

Destination Spotlight - Montreal - Yves Saint Laurent at Musee des Beaux-Arts

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:41:48 -0500

"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.

Destination Spotlight - Montreal

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:08:19 -0500

Montreal

Old and new blend seamlessly to define a city that is at once hip and contemporary yet quaintly charming. Book your trip now!

Destination Spotlight - Montreal - Exercise, Gorgeous Views, and Tam Tams at Parc du Mont-Royal

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:50:21 -0500

We're fans of sprawling urban parks. There's nothing like having a beautiful swath of green space close to all the conveniences of the city to provide the yin and yang of a balanced life. That's why Mount Royal Park (Parc du Mont-Royal) is one of our favorite Montreal attractions. Designed by legendary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, who famously created New York's Central Park, Mont Royal has it all, with miles of hiking trails, a scenic lake perfect for paddle-boating, a sculpture garden, and not one but two belvederes - structures located on a high terrace designed to give visitors commanding views of Montreal and the St. Lawrence River. If you happen to visit on a Sunday between May and September, check out the Tam Tam Jam, a group of amateur drummers who play hand drums (tam-tams) on the east slope of the mountain. Dancing is encouraged, and you just might witness a mock battle between medieval-style fighters that use foam weapons. Yeah, you might say there's a counter-culture vibe. Starwood has eight Montreal properties, including the stylish W Montréal.

The Venetian Pool in Coral Gables

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:35:44 -0500

You just might forget you're in South Florida when you see the Coral Gables Venetian Pool. This 820,000-gallon natural pool was carved out of a spring-fed rock quarry in 1923, incorporating Venetian design elements such as vine-covered loggias, shady porticos, three-story observation towers, and cascading waterfalls that spill into a lagoon complete with a palm-lined island and coral rock caves. Sounds pretty nice, huh? The pool was the brainchild of Dade county commissioner and "back country" land promoter George Merrick. In contrast to what he saw as the uncontrolled chaos emerging in Miami, Merrick wanted the burgeoning Coral Gables community to be an elegant, Mediterranean-style city complete with fountains, esplanades, plazas, and gorgeous homes and buildings. The pool was the crown jewel of the community, and during its heyday, gondolas plied its waters and Esther Williams and Johnny Weissmuller (of the early Tarzan films) swam its impressive length. But you needn't be a depression-era bathing beauty to enjoy this amazing creation, because the Venetian Pool is open to the public, year-round. Guests at the nearby Westin Colonnade, Coral Gables might want to don a bathing suit and make tracks to one of the only swimming pools to be listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Starpick the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:36:53 -0500

As autumn descends on the northern hemisphere, the action starts heating up in the Bahamas, with a brand new season of sand, surf, sunshine, and shopping. Why not get a jump start on the fun this fall with a visit to the Bahamian Island of Nassau? It won't take much, thanks to Starpicks. That's because the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort 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 six weeks. If your body is truly craving the ultimate island experience, this is the place to go. One of the newest resorts in the Bahamas, the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort has it all. First and foremost, there's the beach, a thousand feet of some of the softest sand and clearest water you'll find anywhere. Whether you're into snorkeling, sailing, or just catching some rays, it's an ideal place to indulge. Then there are the three freshwater pools with flowing waterfalls, oversized whirlpools, and a swim-up bar. When evening rolls around, try your luck at the nearby casino, or savor some of the finest food in the islands at one of the resort's six restaurants. Amici, A Trattoria, for example, specializes in Italian cuisine, with a menu of classic dishes and a wine list impressive enough to fool you into thinking you're in the old country. And as the moon rises over the ocean, sip a drink and groove to live music at the Telegraph Bar, named after the first telegraph cable that gave Cable Beach its name. Of course, the Sheraton Nassau is just one of many participating Starpicks properties this week, so check the list for the destination that's right for you.

Viva México! Independence Day Celebrations Abound

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:34:00 -0500

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]

Destination Spotlight - Montreal - The Poutine Trail

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:13:11 -0500

Chicago has deep-dish pizza, Philadelphia has cheesesteak — and Montreal has poutine. Not familiar with this local delicacy? It's french fries topped with fresh cheese curds, gravy and occasionally other stuff. And after a night of partying, it's an ideal late-night snack on the way back to the W Montreal.

Poutine is served all over the place, but one of the best places to try it is La Banquise, a 24/7 shop where the menu boasts 25 variations on the dish, from the classic to the T-Rex, which features minced meat, pepperoni, bacon and smoked sausages in addition to the usual cheese and gravy. Delicious artery-clogging goodness. At Maamm Bolduc, a cozy neighborhood joint, there's also plenty of variation. I'd recommend the poutine Bourguignonne, an homage to the classic French dish.

The most luxurious poutine is to be found at Au Pied de Cochon, where it's topped with seared foie gras and smothered in foie gras gravy. It's also the most expensive you'll find, at $23 Canadian, although Restaurant Fusion le 940 occasionally give them a run for that money with poutines on its specials list.