Luxor continues to roll out their mostly mediocre renovations. They've now opened restaurant T&T and have the world famous BODIES exhibit on display. If you want to be grossed out you could stop by the reviled, hated Criss Angel "Believe" show or stop by the totally cool BODIES exhibit and see just how many muscles it takes to vomit.
Because vomiting is certainly what you'll be doing after T&T.
We're sorry, was that way harsh? Just listen to this, and tell us you don't agree:
T&T embodies traditional and modern elements of Mexican style intermixed with rock-n-roll flair.
Oh and by the way -- the T's stand for Tequila and Tacos.
What? Really, what? Where does the rock-n-roll come from? And why? What is wrong with just plain old delicious Mexican food? Luxor, seriously, stop trying to over do everything.
Whatever, we're worn out from hating on the Suxor. Let's talk about muscles again. Do you think there is a BODIES exhibit that show the effects of too much tequila? That would be cool.
Oh, and we were just kidding about the "Suxor" -- we just thought it made a funny headline. Kinda.
You know what is pretty entertaining? That hugely-popular trend of late to build scenester hotels and plop a few stories of multi-million dollar condos "with hotel amenities" on top. Sure, who wouldn't love to have their beds turned down nightly and the option of room service at all hours, but we're still fully aware of all the issues that can arise when you've got hundreds of transient guests doing what they will in a space where you also happen to live.
Before next summer we'll have even more condo/hotels to choose from, considering that the Smyth Tribeca and Trump Soho in New York and the Trump Tower in Chicago are polishing their door knobs. Chicago will even have an unexpected addition as early as Spring 2009, as the new Doubletree property The Wit opens complete with 238 hotel rooms and 48 condo apartments.
Loden Vancouver is Kor Hotels' first Canadian venture and
is set to make its grand debut on October 18th. A year late. Yeah, there's been some drama-dramz here. The hotel was originally supposed to open in Fall 2007, and it looked to be nearing completion but missed its opening date.
Then it was supposed to open in March 2008 and had rates listed on its website and everything -- but then no.
But now: rejoice! It's almost ready to go! And Voya Restaurant -- headed up by highly-acclaimed chef Marc-Andre
Choquette -- will be opening up as well.
Apparently, the owners of the ritzy (and soon to be ritzier) Miami hotel want to change that. According to the Miami Herald, the owners of the Fontainebleau have put money into a new political committee dedicated to bringing casino gambling to Miami.
The committee -- headed up by a pair of developers working on 25-acre Miami Worldcenter -- has hired lawyers to draft a proposed constitutional amendment allowing a casino initiative for possible placement on the 2010 ballot.
Ugh. Two hotels in Texas -- the Hotel Nacogdoches and a Super 8 west of Katy -- jacked up their rates during the Hurricane Ike evacuations.
Yes, for real: they tried to make a little extra cashola off of people fleeing from the storm. Ew.
Nacogdoches boosted its rate of $49.99 (the advertised rate on the marquee) to $109; the Super 8 jacked their $99 rate up to $125 (sidenote: Super 8's are $99 to begin with? Wow). Also, both hotels charged evacuees both state and local hotel and motel taxes even though Texas governor Rick Perry waived them during the storm.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is suing both hotels to ensure that any hotels never try to pull shizz like that during a declared disaster again -- which is, by the way, against the law.
Gordan Ramsay got into a bit of a %&*#ing spat (how unusual for him) with London's Connaught Hotel last year, which resulted in him closing his fairly successful restaurant on the property. And apparently it ain't over til it's over.
Yesterday's Page Six reported that his new restaurant concept York & Albany -- which will open on Monday and also feature 10 luxury hotel rooms (because running a restaurant kitchen and running a hotel can't be that different if you're a celebrity, right?) -- has a hot shout-out to the Connaught on its menu: he "tells the Times of London he'll serve a dish there called the 'Two Fingers to the Connaught.'"
We hope it's a flambéd dessert or something, because revenge is sweet and it's probably even sweeter if it's lit on fire. Or whatever.
Yet another "ultra premium" resort brand was just announced when Philly's own AMResorts, mastermind of all-inclusive chains Secrets, Dreams and Sunscape resorts, named its newest brainchild, Origins Wellness & Spa resorts. Despite the name, the new label is utterly unrelated to beauty brand Origins, part of Estee Lauder's cosmetic empire.
But like Leonard Lauder's Origins Natural Resources, Origins Wellness facilities are firmly hitched to the "green" brand-wagon, touting the resorts' conservation of natural resources, protection of the surrounding environment, giving back to the local community and educating guests on the area eco-system and sustainability efforts.
We may be getting sick of campaign overload, but we've been finding some political promos lately that have us re-enthused for the election cycle. In honor of tonight's highly-anticipated Vice Presidential Debates, here's where to go tonight right in the eye of the storm -- Washington, D.C. -- to enhance your Biden/Palin viewing experience. Especially if you may need elk burgers or Chicago cocktails (depending which way you lean, obvi) to get through it.
This list comes to us with a little help from metrocurean:
· Ritz-Carlton's Lobby Bar: Garnish the big veep showdown with something savory: either an elk burger for Sarah Palin (uh, you know, "moose meat") or mini chicken pot pies for Joe Biden. For viewers needing a little liquid strength, choose between Palin's Pit Bull (Bacardi Limon, cranberry juice, Red Bull) and Biden's Not-So-Average-Joe (Southern Comfort, Curacao, fresh lemon and lime, grenadine).
· The Mayflower Hotel: The Town & Country bar is doing some voter tallying of its own, with barman Sambonn Lek's presidential-themed cocktails. Place your vote for either the Arizona Sunset (tequila, prickly pear syrup, orange juice) or Chicago Cocktail (Remy Martin VSOP, bitters, triple sec), both running $11.95.
· The Madison: Let your taste buds do the decision-making here. The hotel's PostScript bar is running a popularity contest between McCain and Obama's favorite dishes to eat and prepare. It's shrimp (McCain) versus chili (Obama). (We just hope there's a veggie chili version for those liberal elitists.)
· JW Marriott: The JW's 1331 Bar is hosting debate night parties with red, white, and blue cocktails: Grand Old Potable (GOP), On the Fence, and Left of the Isle. Campaign chow includes Left Wings with spicy Asian dipping sauce, Right Wings with Texas honey bbq, and Undecide'r Sliders. Poll counts will be posted on Tuesdays through Nov. 4.
You know what is pretty entertaining? That hugely-popular trend of late to build scenester hotels and plop a few stories of multi-million dollar condos "with hotel amenities" on top. Sure, who wouldn't love to have their beds turned down nightly and the option of room service at all hours, but we're still fully aware of all the issues that can arise when you've got hundreds of transient guests doing what they will in a space where you also happen to live. 
