the social

V A G A B O N D I N G : L A F I L M F E S T I V A L

whether it's a several hour drive or a several hour flight away, why not skip town and head to la?

sold already? rad! need a little more of a reason to just up and leave? from the seventeenth to the twenty-seventh, the los angeles film festival will be blowing up in downtown la. with premieres of films such as animal kingdom, cyrus, mahler on the couch, revolucion and waiting for superman, this festival  features hundreds of feature films, documentaries, shorts and music videos. 

lights, camera, los action.

photo: rricks

V A G A B O N D I N G : H O T E L V A L L E Y H O

sometimes, the best things in life are surrounded by douchebags. and, the hotel valley ho, in scottsdale, arizona, in absolutely no exception. however, the ambiance, history and scenery scream hipster way more than ed hardy, paris hilton wannabes, hummer limos and trendy clubs, which drives most of the douchebaggery away. 

in the past, the hotel valley ho was frequented by the likes of bing crosby, marilyn monroe and natalie wood. however, for twenty-eight years it had to endure being known as a <shudder>ramada inn</shudder>. upon it's release, the insides were gutted, remodeled and refashioned in modern decor and the shell still remains the same, giving the hotel a vintage-modern feel. also found at the hotel are trader vic's (featuring asian and island fusion fare), cafe zuzu (featuring chef charles wiley of national acclaim) and the vh spa. 

if you're looking for a palm springs alternative or just want to escape to the heat, the hotel valley ho offers the perfect retreat.

photo: new york magazine

V A G A B O N D I N G : C H A M B E R S

 
maybe it's because i grew up there, but minneapolis is a pretty rad place. a hidden gem amongst middle america, it offers a unique, contemporary art scene with trendy, yet humble attractions. 

however, there are several exceptions. case and point is chambers, an intimate luxury art hotel seemingly straight out of beverly hills, that was named one of the nation's sexiest hotels by forbes traveler. hosting an eclectic mix of more than 200 pieces of contemporary art from renowned artists across the globe, including mixed media pieces lining the corridors, the hotel is one of the many reasons why minneapolis is becoming an arts powerhouse.

but, we can't all be starving artists, can we? we need good food, libations and a place to rest our heads, and chambers more than delivers. home to d'amico kitchen, chambers offers contemporary italian fare and a global wine list. topping off the boutique hotel is the upscale, rooftop bar known as none other than red, white and fucking blue, which made playboy's a-list of america's best rooftop bars. and, as i'm sure you're aware, minnesota can get pretty fucking cold, so there is an indoor section with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, still providing a 360-degree view of the skyline. but if you like the fucking cold, check out ice chamber, where you can sip a martini at a bar made entirely out of, well, ice. more frequently than not, reporters and past visitors alike have been quoted saying that the chambers' beds are the most comfortable they've ever slept on. and with due reason, all rooms feature platform beds with custom feather-top mattresses.

but hey, i'd highly recommend you see for yourself and reserve your chambers now.

V A G A B O N D I N G : R O G E R S M I T H H O T E L

there are certain people and certain places that are only meant to be known in passing. whether they exude such an eccentricity or opulent sophistication. these people and things are only meant for small doses.

roger smith hotel is no exception. while living there for life would be divine (and undoubtably amazing for ceo, james knowles' pockets), the je ne sais qui that this charming hotel holds would loose all meaning. oozing class and sophistication coupled with phenomenal art, culture and location, the roger smith hotel is a hidden gem in midtown new york city.

culture vultures should be sure to check out the lab gallery, listening room and penthouse salon for work from national and international artists, the very best in acoustic and modern jazz, play readings and guest-chef dinners. other bonuses (that are slightly shocking for new york city) include extremely friendly and helpful staff, lots of living space in suites, immaculately clean rooms and a location that leaves very little to be desired - it's close to everything you could ever want to see in nyc.

next time you're vagabounding to new york, in passing, be sure to meet roger smith.

V A G A B O N D I N G : B R Y A N T P A R K H O T E L

bryant park hotel is everything that is quintessentially manhattan. enter the doors and you're greeted with red-padded walls in the lobby that lead to the cellar bar. the amenities are over the top as well, private terraces in the park-view suites, dry cleaning servic and personal sound machines in each room (that play sounds ranging from waterfalls to chirping birds) for those that can't sleep at night. 

maybe it's the guilt because of the high price tag. with rooms ranging from about $450/night to $625/night, it's not for those with bulimic wallets, but it's well worth the pennies you saved from your job grabbing lunch for your boss and making copies.

still feel like you'd have buyer's remorse? you won't get an experience like the bryant park hotel experience anywhere else thanks to their entertainment planners. they know the best of the best and the latest of the latest in new york, new york. the hotel also often has screening parties in their seventy-seat screening room and a loft that often hosts the hottest labels and bursts at the seams with the best sample sales in the city. the hotel is also home to koi, los angeles' asian-inspired eatery, that's a favorite of many visiting celebs.

if you really heart ny, show bryant park hotel some love.

V A G A B O N D I N G : H O T E L I C O N

it's official: don't mess with texas. since they do it big, it's no wonder that they're raising the bar on the indie scene.

the hotel icon, in houston, offers a charming historic hotel (it's a 1912 landmark listed on the national register of historic places) with all the modern amenities (including free wi-fi and flat screens in each room). all that traveling giving you the munchies? well, icon's got you covered with the super trendy and deliciously extravagant bank, ran by chef jean-georges vongerichten. craving even more charm? the icon has a london taxicab available to for traveling about the city. it's the small details the hotel offers that will truly make you feel like an icon. 

next time you're vagabounding, be iconic.

V A G A B O N D I N G : M A I S O N 1 4 0

you're stuck living at home with mom and dad while you continue your three month long job search...

why does it seem like every city besides yours is hiring?

well, it's time to escape reality and head to the land of dreams. yes, america... but more specifically beverly hills.

maison 140, was originally an apartment building owned by lillian gish, a famous silent film star, but now has been transformed into what los angeles times calls, "one of the best of la."

with only 43 rooms, they wanted each to have it's own story, so kwid's kelly wearstler created a distinct style for each room, all while blending french and far east design with 1920s style and 1970s modernism. sounds like that could just be all wrong, huh? well, the woman is a genius and the hotel is lavish, yet incredibly inviting.

book now and receive one free night when you book one weekend night, just enter BOGO when reserving the room.

find your home in the land of opportunity (as well as expensive cocktails) at maison 140.

V A G A B O N D I N G : A L O F T

 

so, you want to stay at the w, but you're budget suggests that, unless you want to starve, motel 6 is all you can get.

well, starwood hotels, the creators of the w, have noticed your thinning wallet and came up with a solution. aloft hotels are popping up all over the world -- from homewood, alabama to portland, oregon, from minneapolis, minnesota to montreal, from tempe, arizona to beijing. rooms mostly range from 100 to 200 bucks a night, of course depending on where you stay and when. 

and if you think that's a steal, they're currently running a promotion where if you book one night, you get the second night half off. just enter promo code ZBT when booking your reservation.

to live the high life on a low-life budget, visit aloft.

V A G A B O N D I N G : V I C E R O Y P A L M S P R I N G S

when you're booking be sure to ask for a room that justin bobby and audrina DID NOT stay in. eww.

if you push that aside, the viceroy in palm springs is the place to stay. if you're going to coachella, i'd highly advice skipping pitching a tent and staying at viceroy instead. while it might be two to three hundred more bones, if you spilt the room a few ways, it'd be well worth it... especially when you realize you can stay at the same places as reality tv stars. but there are no guarantees that they won't be trolling the premises.

just want to plan a quick getaway? well, they're offering a special throughout 2009 where if you book under the promotion code BRE25, you get twenty five percent off your stay - including meals, beverages and spa services. 

to check it out, visit viceroy on the world wide web.

viceroy palm springs | 415 south belardo road palm springs, california 92262 | R 1/800/670/6184 | T 760/320/4117