Courtyard at The Setai; Miami, FL
- A $230,000 brand new 2012 McLaren MP4-12C sports car was airlifted into the middle of The Setai’s courtyard pool as a surprise gift for Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade’s 30th birthday. It was given to him for free by the owner of a local luxury car dealership. Jealous? We are. [TMZ]
- A 34-year-old man has been charged with criminal sex act, sexual abuse, forcible touching and unlawful imprisonment after he allegedly assaulted a woman at Le Bain, The Standard New York’s rooftop bar. The 23-year-old said he molested her in a restroom and forced her to perform oral sex. [New York Post]
- Music fans, take note. Fairmont Hotels guests will be offered studio time at Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles recorded most of their songs. Selected Fairmont’s President’s Club loyalty program members will be allocated a producer and session musicians, and will “get a CD of their recording as a souvenir”. [Hotel Chatter]
- Starting in 2014 you won’t have to go all the way to Japan to experience sleeping in a capsule hotel — you’ll only have to jet to London. With a pull-out table, a tiny bathroom, and a single, low-ceiling bed, the 107-square-feet niches will be more spacious and… errr… luxurious? than those in Tokyo. But, don’t expect windows or room to walk around. [The Economist]
- Country singer Dolly Parton announced plans to open a new theme park in Nashville as soon as summer 2014. It would be a water-snow park, and is expected to attract 500,000 visitors in its first full season. [Huffington Post]
- The local forestry authority in Poland’s remote northeaster woodlands is looking for an investor to turn the site where Hitler and other top Nazi officials hid during airstrikes into a tourist attraction. The fortress, now partially destroyed, would be restored and would feature a museum. [USA Today]
by Jane on January 10, 2012
Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/startraksphoto.com
Well, we can start considering January 7th a national holiday because from now on because it marks the date of one of the most anticipated births in hip-hop history. If you haven’t checked your Twitter account or listened to the news in the past couple of days, then we’ll be the ones to tell you: Music power couple Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z welcomed their own pint-sized diva, Blue Ivy Carter, this past Saturday night. Sorry, Suri, your relevance just plummeted…because shortly after baby Blue’s birth in New York City at Lenox Hill Hospital (where Jay-Z reportedly rented out an entire floor to ensure his growing family’s privacy), the Twittersphere exploded with congratulations from the couple’s famous friends, all wishing them and little Blue the best. And we bet some of those friends will soon be making trips to the Big Apple to visit the bouncing bundle of joy. But where are these celebs to stay? Don’t worry, Kanye, we found the perfect hotel for you. And you too, Gwyneth. We scoured the city and found hotels suited to each of the couple’s besties, no matter his or her style.
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by Jane on January 4, 2012
Some people are so focused during their workout that they hardly notice where they are, let alone which famous faces may be passing by them. And we applaud those people who dedicate the utmost concentration to their fitness regimen. But some of us may have a wandering eye while working on our fitness (hey, it doesn’t hurt to see the toned bods of fellow exercisers). For that extra bit of motivation, we’ve come up with a list of the best workout spots for star sightings – and which hotels to stay in to be close to the fitness hotspots. Check ‘em out below or head over to Shape.com.
Credit: Mark Savage/startraksphoto.com
Runyon Canyon Park
It seems like tabloids feature photos of celebs running, hiking or walking their dogs in Runyon Canyon Park every week. At 160 acres, this park offers hiking trails of various difficulties, so it’s no surprise that stars of every age and fitness level are spotted here (and the no-leash policy means it’s also a popular spot for bringing pooches on a stroll). The three main trails are Runyon Canyon Road, Star Trail, and Hero Trail. Named for the celebrities who grace it, Star Trail is a moderate hike while Hero Trail is the most challenging thanks to its super steep inclines. Josh Duhamel and his wife, Fergie, are often spotted jogging together, and Khloe Kardashian Odom was recently spotted alongside her hubby Lamar Odom and her brother, Rob. When Scarlett Johansson was getting hot and heavy with Sean Penn (remember those five minutes?), she and her then-boyfriend got hot and sweaty on a jog with pal Owen Wilson.
WHERE TO STAY: Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, L.A., Calif.
The 300-room Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, an L.A. landmark, is a luxe, hip hotel that’s just a 10-minute walk from one of the park’s entrances. The hotel combines the shimmer of silver-screen history with a cutting-edge party scene, centered around a massive pool (perfect for a post-workout dip) and a bar, plus a casual restaurant open 24 hours. Service is surprisingly good (lacking the snobbery of some upscale L.A. hotels) but the rooms, though well designed, are smaller than average.
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by Kelsey on December 20, 2011
Hangin’ ’round the mistletoe may have been a fine pastime in holiday seasons of yore, but these days, a dark bar with dark corners or a trendy nightspot makes a much more exciting locale for a stolen kiss. Celebrities have been spotted canoodling at hot hotel establishments all over the country, so those looking for a hip, modern locale to engage in a little good old-fashioned necking, take note.
Cameron and Diddy were spotted making out at the trendy PH-D nightclub this December. PHOTO by: Erik Jordan/startraksphoto.com (left). PHOTO by: KYLE ROVER/startraksphoto.com (right).
PH-D at the Dream Downtown, New York City
Cameron Diaz and Diddy were spotted making out this December at Dream Downtown’s rooftop lounge PH-D. It’s not the first time these two have been spotted locking lips, but it’s the first time they’ve been spotted here. The amazing city views and rockin’ sound system must have helped set the mood. Read More »
The ice rink at The Standard New York just opened for the season
- FLOOD
Please don’t stop the music, but please do stop the bath taps. Singer Rihanna forgot to turn off the faucets in her tub and flooded her $3,000-a-night suite at The Savoy in London. The room was damaged, but reparable, an inside source said. [Hotel Chatter]
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The Standard New York
- SPOT
Beyonce and her pregnant belly were spotted at the Standard in New York shooting photos in the rain. Of course, the 5-month pregnant star makes everything chic — umbrella, baby bump, and all. [Hotel Chatter]
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The Standard Grill
Two hotels stand at the epicenter of the once gritty now glam Meatpacking District: Hotel Gansevoort and The Standard New York, one of the latest editions to the city’s hotel circuit. Here we highlight a few eating options in the area, be it a special dinner out or just a quick bite.
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Lemon Fennel Doughnuts at Perilla
[Flickr / roboppy]
With the sixth season of Top Chef one episode away from crowning a new champ, we decided to take a look at where New York diners can find meals from the show’s former chef-testants. Of course, the not-so-secret problem behind the show’s premise is that the $100,000 Bravo gives winners to open the restaurant of their dreams is actually a pretty measly amount to anyone who has ever tried to open an eatery in a prime New York location.
Very few Top Chef-ers have actually been able to drop the sous from their title and open their own kitchens, at least not in Manhattan. But there are a few:
Bar Pleiades at the Surrey Hotel
Swanky hotel bars are having a renaissance on the New York nightlife scene, perhaps due to the success of Gramercy Park Hotel’s Rose Bar as a destination for VIPs, or thanks to the resurgance in speakeasy-style cocktail settings. Here are six of New York’s newest hotel bars where you can get cozy with a sophisticated tipple or two:
Bar Pleiades at the Surrey Hotel: Brand new following a $60 million renovation, this Upper East Side gem features a black and white Coco Chanel-inspired bar adjacent to Daniel Boulud’s Cafe Boulud. Toast a “Beijing Mule” (roasted Asian pear-infused vodka, yuzu juice, saffron-infused simple syrup, and house-made ginger beer, $15) in a white-quilted private booth. 20 E. 76th St. Read More »
