Contemporary. Sleek. Modern. Tech Savvy. What am I describing? No, not a new smartphone or tablet. Not a new luxury car or pc either. These are the adjectives I use when describing The Hotel Wilshire. The Hotel Wilshire was not at all what I expected – but in a good way. Upon arrival the narrow valet with entrance similar to a New York parking garage, I must say was daunting, but once inside the NY vibe disappeared. A modern, glass, crisp interior awaited. I may not be the typical traveler, then again, maybe I am as I travel with two mobile phones, a tablet, and at least two laptops (among oth ..read more

I will miss Mandarin Oriental.  The white gloved valet, Mandarin Bar, and MOZen Bistro are favorites of mine.  In case you missed it, I reviewed Mandarin Bar back in November of 2010 (read my review).   MOZen Bistro will become Zen Kitchen, a day restaurant with Asian dishes and a weekend brunch. Mandarin Bar will become SkyBar, however, we still don’t know the fate of Twist end of year.  It’s troubling Las Vegas has such trouble retaining and supporting these brands.  Not long ago the Ritz-Carlton closed, thereafter Lowe’s as well.  Rather than have o ..read more

I’ve heard myths and fairy tales of quiet restaurants only a few know of; speakeasies, private clubs, and hotels described as “Hidden Gems.” I actually found a hidden gem, and this gem is now my first choice when booking accommodations in or near Beverly Hills. Come for a walk with me through my memory… When I arrived at Mr. C Beverly Hills I was greeted immediately with a lush lawn and cobbled roundabout. Flags waving to the sky and the most hospitable of hosts. Before I could get my wits about me my rolling case was on a Bellman’s Cart and I had been informed of the hotel’s amenities, the Ho ..read more

Contemporary. Sleek. Modern. Tech Savvy. What am I describing? No, not a new smartphone or tablet. Not a new luxury car or pc either. These are the adjectives I use when describing The Hotel Wilshire. The Hotel Wilshire was not at all what I expected – but in a good way. Upon arrival the narrow valet with entrance similar to a New York parking garage, I must say was daunting, but once inside the NY vibe disappeared. A modern, glass, crisp interior awaited. I may not be the typical traveler, then again, maybe I am as I travel with two mobile phones, a tablet, and at least two laptops (among oth ..read more

The hotel, nestled in a residential neighborhood (the property was an apartment building in a former life) sneaks up on you and can easily be missed. The valet dressed in ivy and the entryway is flanked with gas burning lanterns, which made me feel very at home arriving at 2 am; a flickering glowing beacon. My suite, if one might call this a suite, I suspect was larger than many residences in the busy surrounding neighborhood and provided all the comforts of home. A step-down living room, fireplace, kitchen, well-appointed bath (who doesn’t like C.O. Bigelow?), and large screens and technolog ..read more

I must say upon entry, the Millennium Biltmore is beautiful; just plain beautiful. The restoration of this remarkable hotel is just that – remarkable. The ceilings, the walls, the columns, and the history is impressive. Regrettably, this seems to be where the major focus lied, and many small details left unaddressed. The grand entrance to the Millennium Biltmore Hotel I arrived the weekend of the LA Marathon and saying the property was swamped is an understatement. Amidst this hustle and bustle, the staff maintained poise and managed to move an army of people rather quickly. I would actually l ..read more

Acknowledged as one of the premier hotel locations at 160 Central Park South between Sixth and Seventh Avenues in New York City and home to A-List celebrities like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Jude Law, and Samuel L. Jackson, the JW Marriott Ess Essex House was a welcome surprise – in more ways than one. I chose the JW Marriott Essex House as a weekend excursion after reading many great reviews of the property. With stately chandeliers, elevators of yesteryear, and Art Deco accouterments the property is reminiscent of Carey Grant. I was impressed with the politeness and sheer efficiency of th ..read more

The first thing you notice is the casual elegance. After traveling at “warp speed” to the 23rd floor of the Waldorf-Astoria at City Center, one exits into a sexy corridor high in the sky. A gentle turn to the right walks one into SkyBar – note the unassuming entrance. However, upon entry taken aback would be the correct phrasing for the spectacular view of the Vegas skyline. Entering you can’t help but notice the bar, surrounded on three sides by floor-to-ceiling windows. It is impressive how, in such a rather open space, SkyBar is able to maintain discreet seating arrangements allowing priva ..read more

I must admit The London West Hollywood is the hotel I frequent most when in town. I never tire of arriving under and amidst the ivy in valet and the entry and foyer give an opulent feel. The rooms are both stately and well-appointed. With my numerous visits, I have yet to express a need for the fundamental product. Expect rooms with comfortable seating, gentle bedding and, for those of us that must be connected at all times, wireless that isn’t anemic. Room service is timely and polite, retrieval and cleanup fastidious. Rooftop entertainment at The London West Hollywood, photo by Mr. Glitterat ..read more

Does the thought of transforming your dusty attic into a functional space tickle your fancy? It sounds great to us too! But wait, you need to finish the attic first. And before finishing your attic, you need to know what you should do to prepare for the project. Evaluate Structural Integrity When was the last time you weighed your attic? We don’t mean with a literal scale. By evaluating its structure and load-bearings, you can check how much weight an attic can handle. You might need to consult a structural engineer to verify that it meets safety standards and codes. Also, check for any exist ..read more