Tag Archive for hotel

Hot Town, Summer in New York City

May 16, 2013 / / No comments

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New York City has a way of making everything more magical—even summer itself. From theatrical performances in the park to rooftop cocktails with Hudson River views, NYC offers summertime activities for everyone. And a stay at The Blakely New York (just a few blocks from Central Park) puts you in the center of all the action. If you’re still debating a Big Apple getaway, here are 3 free summer 2013 events (one for each month!) that will definitely convince you to book a city stay.

Photos courtesy of Bite Sized, Bloomberg and NYCxplorer

June: If good food and good music are your thing, head to Madison Square Park for the 11th annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party (June 8-9). In addition to top-notch BBQ dished out by pit-masters from across the country, you’ll find free, live blues and rock performances and cooking demonstrations. Better get your bib ready.

July: In addition to the city’s famed Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, the city celebrates independence (this time, French) with a festive Bastille Day street fair (July 14). The fête is fun for the whole family, with crêpes, cheeses and baked goods for sale, live music, cultural dances, face painting and more!

August: On 3 consecutive Saturdays each summer (exact dates to be announced), nearly 7 miles of NYC streets are closed down to vehicles—creating the pedestrian-friendly Summer Streets celebration. The event comprises food, entertainment (think a zip-line and a climbing wall) and eye-catching outdoor art installations.

Category: In Season / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sometimes “All That Glitters” is Actually Neon

May 15, 2013 / / No comments

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Las Vegas is famous for many things: The casinos, obviously, plus Elvis, the Rat Pack, and all-you-can-eat buffets.

But the city is also famous for its neon. Whether it’s the nostalgic, campy signage of days gone by or the multimedia light shows of modern day, Vegas has always been big on the bright and bold.

The famous Golden Nugget is a perfect example. Located adjacent to the Fremont Street experience, itself a dazzling display of light and sound, the hotel welcomes guests with glittering lights galore.

We thought it would be fun to dig up some classic neon (and otherwise) signage from across the country. Here are a few highlights worth checking out!

All photos courtesy of Shutterstock

Clockwise from top left:

  • Pepsi-Cola sign, Queens, NY
  • Radio City Music Hall, New York City, NY
  • The Chicago Theater, Chicago, IL
  • Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA
  • Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA
  • Citgo sign, Boston, MA
  • South Beach, Miami Beach, FL
Category: Around Town / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Say Happy Mother’s Day With One-of-a-Kind Getaways!

May 10, 2013 / / No comments

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Ah, Mother’s Day. The time of year when we try just a little bit harder  to show how grateful we are for all the times she held our hand when we were sick, protected us from the monsters under our bed, turned simple pancakes into an iconic mouse, or magically made everything better with a kiss. Cards are wonderful (who doesn’t love letters?) and flowers are lovely, but is there really any better way to say thank you than with a memorable getaway you both will cherish for years to come. We think not.

With this in mind, we give you four escapes tailored to different styles that are sure to show your favorite lady just how much you care.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Spa Escape: Treat you mom to a relaxing and rejuvenating getaway—you know she deserves one. The Body Holiday LeSPORT in St. Lucia offers a tropical, all-inclusive stay that even comes with a 50-minute body treatment.

Wine & Dine: Toast to motherhood with a wine getaway. The Riverbend Inn and Vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, boasts a cozy escape in the heart of wine country. The inn also produces and serves its own varietals, so you don’t even have to leave the property to sample the local wines.

Adventure: Take mom for the adventure of a lifetime. The Parador Resort & Spa in Costa Rica sits on a 12-acre rainforest near the Manuel Antonio National Park and white-sand beaches like Playa Biesanz, making it a luxurious home base for exploring the countryside.

Cultural Getaway: Talk history, art and politics with your mom during a trip to the nation’s capital. The George, a Kimpton Hotel, provides an eclectic and artistic escape, with a prime Capitol Hill location ideal for seeing city sights.

Category: Noteworthy / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cork Crafts for Wine-Lovers!

May 9, 2013 / / No comments

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If you’re anything like us, the word “cork” evokes images of champagne fizzing, glasses clinking and Jay Gatsby overseeing a fabulous garden party (OK, OK, we’re just a little excited to see our favorite Long Islanders in theaters this weekend). But while writing about Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s Cork Factory Hotel (housed in a former cork factory, of course!), we were inspired to dig a little deeper into the world of our favorite bouncy bark. Turns out corks can be reimagined as all sorts of fun décor! Here are 3 D.I.Y. cork projects that are simple and sweet (and totally warrant drinking a bit more wine than usual…).

Photos courtesy of Two Twenty One, Martha Stewart and Addicted 2 Decorating

{From left}

Wine Cork Candle Holder: This one couldn’t be easier: Just place a small glass candle holder inside a larger glass candle holder and fill the space between the holders with corks. A lit candle placed in the smaller holder makes for a casual-yet-classy display.

Read full instructions here.

Wine Cork Stamp: Simply draw your desired shape on the top of the cork, cut straight down around the shape’s edges and then carefully cut pieces off the sides until your shape is well-defined. Then just dip in paint and stamp away!

Read full instructions here.

Wine Cork Letter: All you need to make this monogrammed masterpiece are corks, a glue gun, an X-Acto knife and a large wooden letter (found at most craft stores). Just glue the corks to the letter, use cut cork as filler for any gaps and voilà!

Read full instructions here.

Category: Noteworthy / Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

The Sea in Cinema: A Brief Overview

May 8, 2013 / / Comments Off

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Looking at the picturesque, even cinematic ocean views from The Mansion at Ocean Edge on Cape Cod got us thinking: What are some of the most classic beach scenes in modern cinema?

There are tons to choose from, of course, so we tried to pick a few you may not think of right away … and one you definitely would think of–each and every time you set foot in the ocean.

All images courtesy of imdb.com

Quirky: The Life Aquatic – Wes Anderson’s films are the embodiment of “offbeat,” perhaps none more so than this tale of a washed-up undersea explorer searching for the shark that ate his friend. A forlorn, bearded Bill Murray steals the show as the movie’s protagonist, Steve Zissou.

Inspiring: The Karate Kid – This 1984 classic has lots of memorable moments–Wax on/wax off, “Sweep the leg!” and that ridiculous shower stall Halloween costume–but the image of young Daniel-san practicing and perfecting his crane technique on the beach remains the most iconic.

Romantic: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – There are lots of easy choices for this spot–From Here to Eternity is an obvious one. But we like Eternal Sunshine for its unique look at love and heartbreak, and memorable scenes set on the sand in wintry Montauk.

Scary: Jaws – OK, so maybe this is obvious, but come on–each one of us probably knows at least one person who no longer swims in the ocean after seeing Jaws. Set in the fictional beach town of Amity, but filmed all over Martha’s Vineyard, this movie still has teeth almost 40 years after it was released.

Category: The Big Screen / Tags: , , , , , , ,
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