• Luck Happens
• The World's Best Getaway Hotels
• New/Worthy: Night+Day's Latest Recommendations
• Pulse Guides' Gold Medals: The Urbie Awards
• Alan's View
  • ASD Picks: Three Favorite Credit/Charge Card Rewards Programs
  • On the Road: London, Paris, and Monte Carlo
  • Last Word: Feeling Old Before It’s Time

Luck Happens

The Right Place (Beijing). The Right Time (Now). It Matters.
The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (en.beijing2008.cn) began with
the most spectacular opening ceremonies in history on 8.8.08 at 8:08pm.

In Chinese culture, this timing couldn't be luckier. That's because the number 8 is pronounced "ba" in Chinese, reminiscent of "fa," the word for prosperity (and the closest I will likely ever get to a Chinese pun). It's also symmetrical, the top and bottom halves mirroring each other, a highly valued aesthetic quality. Are you lucky enough to be at this weekend's closing ceremonies? They should prove to be historic as well.

If you are reading this from Beijing, or plan to go there sometime soon, check out our Lucky 8, our top eight restaurant and nightlife picks for this fascinating city. We've also made our top eight recommendations for Shanghai and Hong Kong. This gives you a chance to scoop our pre-release research for the forthcoming Night + Day Shanghai (and Beijing).

We are lucky to have an amazing team of writers, all of whom live in the cities they cover for us. This month they add to our website, nightanddayguides.com, a love letter to you. They track down headline events and let you know their own whereabouts in August. (They're not bad people to draft off of.) Just go to our Cool Cities page, select your favorite destination, and find out what they're saying.

I'm enjoying my new role as senior editor of Pulse Guides' Night+Day series. I hope you'll join me as we continue to discover the most exciting hotels, restaurants, events, and attractions in the world's coolest cities.

Happy travels,

Kim Westerman
Senior Editor
Night+Day, the Cool Cities series from Pulse Guides

THE WORLD'S BEST GETAWAY HOTELS

Even the most devout urbanista needs some downtime. Here are our top picks for weekend getaway hotels—all destinations in themselves, and within 100 miles or so of the world's greatest cities:

LONDON • CHEWTON GLEN

The Draw: With numerous votes for the UK's best hotel, this classic English country house is hard to beat for its location and across-the-board luxury.
The Scene: Walking distance from both the beach and New Forest National Park, Chewton Glen is surrounded by 130 acres of countryside, offering stunning beauty and endless possibilities for outdoor pursuits. Those after a little more pampering will not be disappointed by the luxury of the hotel itself. The individually decorated rooms marry classic English style with plush modern comforts, some with private balconies. The spa offers the latest in indulgent treatments, and the gym, tennis courts, swimming pools, and golf course cater to sportier whims. The cuisine on offer is as compelling as the hotel—the chef makes use of local organic produce, and the sommelier finds the best bottles from France, as well as emerging regions such as Slovenia.
Hot tip: You may have missed the sailing frenzy of Cowes until next year, but a ferry to the Isle of Wight is still well worth the trip.

See all 3 of the best weekend getaway hotels from LONDON

SAN FRANCISCO • THE CARNEROS INN

The Draw: A private, peaceful retreat amid the some of the world's most beautiful and bountiful vineyards.
The Scene: Once you've imbibed a few glasses from the local wineries, you'll want a soft place to lay your slightly spinning head. One of the best overnights among the many choices in Wine Country, The Carneros Inn sits smack between the Napa and Sonoma valleys in the appellation of Carneros, known mostly for chardonnay and pinot noir. The inn's freestanding cottages—California country on the outside, understated luxury on the inside—are perfect for lovebirds; think alfresco shower, followed by a slight drying-off in front of your wood-burning fireplace. The crisp little villas are hard to leave, but it would be a shame not to enjoy the hot tub up on the hill and the renowned spa, a guest-only oasis. Its menu of services is categorized by the natural elements of the region used in its treatments, such as The Harvests (apricots, olives), The Farms (goat milk), and, of course, The Cellars (grape seed oil).
Hot Tip: The resort's infinity-edge Hilltop Pool and hot tub boasts killer views, as well as complete food and beverage service. Even better, it's for adults only. Paradise.

See all 3 of the best weekend getaway hotels from SAN FRANCISCO

AMSTERDAM • KRUISHERENHOTEL

The Draw: This renovated 15th-century monastery marries a striking Gothic exterior to a contemporary décor that incorporates today’s hottest design elements.
The Scene: Deep-pocketed, gorgeous Europeans treat the Kruisheren like their own personal chateau away from chateau. The library, boutique, and coffee bar help the Euro-chic feel at home, whether they’ve come to shop for art at TEFAF—the annual arts fair that sees the likes of Breughel, Bacon, and Mondriaan for sale—or dine at the myriad outstanding restaurants that have solidified Maastricht’s position as the Netherlands’ dining destination of choice—including the Michelin-starred trio of Tout a Fait, Cuisinier Toine Hermse, and Beluga. Guest rooms toe the stylish line between the Medieval Age and the age of the Jetsons, and each includes creature comforts such as flat-screen TVs, walk-in closets, and separate showers and tubs.
Hot Tip: Book a garden-view room to revel in the peaceful air of monastic tranquility, or ask for a stained-glass-window room to enjoy the best of the hotel’s fabulous architecture.

See all 3 of the best weekend getaway hotels from AMSTERDAM

Discover the best weekend getaway hotels in other Night+Day cities

INS and OUTS:
NIGHT+DAY'S LATEST RECOMMENDATIONS

Night+Day's Top 5 New Openings

CHICAGO • Affinia Chicago
affinia.com
Formerly the Fitzpatrick Hotel, this property, located steps from Michigan Avenue, was recently reborn as the Affinia Chicago, and it’s one of the most exciting hotels to open this year in the Windy City. What sets the Affinia apart? For one thing, C-House, Marcus Samuelsson's happening seafood restaurant, and C-View, a stunning rooftop lounge, also Samuelsson’s (and where you’ll find one of the best views in the city). The hotel itself has style to spare. A small lobby that opens up off Superior Street seems inauspicious at first, but the white floors, cool wall colors, comfy couches well-placed for private conversation, potted palms, and a contemporary-impressionist mural of the city skyline behind the front desk immediately ease you into a feeling of urban escape. The 215 guest rooms and suites are done up in a combo of crisp white linens and warm earth tones, and all are spacious. SPAffinia has the usual massage therapies, nail treatments, and facials; more interesting are the special treatments for your feet (good if you’ve over-shopped). $$
166 E. Superior St. (St. Clair St.), 312-787-6000 / 866-246-2203

Click here to download Night+Day updates for CHICAGO

LAS VEGAS • Ago
The third outpost of the Los Angeles hotspot by Agostino Sciandri and Robert DeNiro is all about the scene—and its location, directly across from Nobu at the Hard Rock, means this place is almost always packed with an attractive crowd. So keep your eyes peeled for the latest Hollywood starlet while you peruse the mostly Tuscan menu. Sciandri has a way of making Italian classics accessible without dumbing them down. A dreamy appetizer of pan-roasted quail is served with lentils and the ingredient du jour, lardo; while the ancient grain farro is brought into the 21st century by its incorporation into panzanella (bread salad). The chef’s lamb chops—"scottadito," which means “burn the fingers, so called because you are intended to eat them with your hands—with grilled radicchio are legendary. Order a bottle of the 2004 Valdisanti Tenuta San Giovanni, a Bordeaux-style Super Tuscan that may be the best deal on the menu.
Mon–Thu 5–11pm, Fri–Sun 5–11:30pm. $$$
4455 Paradise Rd. (E. Harmon Ave.), 702-693-4440
hardrockhotel.com

Click here to download Night+Day updates for LAS VEGAS

LOS ANGELES • Anisette Brasserie
Chef Alain Giraud (of Bastide fame) transports Paris to the Third Street Promenade with his delightfully authentic brasserie. The Parisian-born Giraud’s long-awaited eatery in the historic Clocktower Building could double as a François Truffaut film set: open staircase, distressed mirrors, ceiling fans, red banquettes, mosaic-tiled floors, aged wood fixtures, and a zinc bar (shipped from France). Upstairs there are more compact tables and an open kitchen and bakery, where you can see rows of hanging copper pots and the marble counters of the patisserie station. The upscale-casual crowd bustling for tables is part accidental promenade tourists and part locals in the know. The breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus utilize Santa Monica farmers market ingredients to create classic French fare: steak tartare, entrecôte frites, duck confit, roast chicken, and French onion soup. Dinner reservations can be hard to come by, but you can always stop by during the morning hours to soak up the scene over a French-press coffee and crisp-soft croissant au beurre.
Daily 7:30am–midnight. $$$
225 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica (2nd St.), 310-395-3200
anisettebrasserie.com

Click here to download Night+Day updates for LOS ANGELES

NEW YORK • Santos Party House
Clubbers have been waiting for more than three years, but Santos Party House has finally pumped up the volume and set its disco balls twirling. The space is fast becoming known for its stellar sound system. Musician Andrew W.K. and partners converted a former art gallery into this bi-level, black-walled dance palace, with a rotation of hottie DJs, including co-partner Spencer Sweeney and DJ Spun. The New York dance club scene skews young, and this spot is no different, with lots of noisy groups of 20-something gal pals in tight skirts and guys in tight T's—though nights when live concerts are scheduled draw in the 30s–40s set.  A note to remember: This is a dance club, people, with nary a spot to sit or lounge, so come ready to groove. In case you should lose sight of why you’re here, helpful signs are posted throughout, including, “All dancing allowed! Thank you,” and “You look amazing!” The door—for now, at least—is refreshingly lenient; you just need to call ahead, and leave your name and number.
Daily 10pm–4am.
100 Lafayette St. (Walker St.), 212-714-4646
santospartyhouse.com

Click here to download Night+Day updates for NEW YORK

PARIS • ETC
The hype that was prelude to Christian Le Squer's new eatery is justified. ETC (which stands for Epicure Traditionelle Cuisine) is a contemporary bistro that puts a new spin on the genre. The food is startlingly innovative—dare we say, off the wall—where pairings such as boudin noir (French blood sausage) and passion fruit are a surprising success. Combining everything from seafood to game with the blink of an eye, the dishes are both skillfully executed and artistically presented. The décor—with its business-like, masculine shades of anthracite and rich-hued wood—suits midday's power-lunch crowd. In the evenings, low lights soften the room, as couples wearing Christian Lacroix and Yves Saint Laurent arrive to enjoy four-hour dinners.
Mon–Fri noon-2pm, 7–10pm; Sat 7–11pm. €€€
12 rue la Pérouse (M° Boissière), 01.49.52.10.10

Click here to download Night+Day updates for PARIS

The Night+Day Promise
Night+Day writers and editors use the same high standards in selecting and researching venues to be included in our Ins and Outs updates as we do for our books. Our local correspondents determine which new hot spots are the real deal and which are simply hype—just as you'd expect from Night+Day—to provide the kind of reliable information you need to make the best possible choices.

PULSE GUIDES' GOLD MEDALS:
THE URBIE AWARDS

The urbanista experience couldn't exist but for the creativity and talents of many people and organizations who inspire us and provide the goods that are the city mosaic. In honor of all who have played a role in making each Night+Day city one of the world's coolest, Pulse Guides gives recognition in the form of its Urbie Award to one individual in each city whose contribution is exemplary. Congratulations to the two most recent recipients:

San Francisco: Chip Conley. In 1987, 26-year-old visionary Chip Conley opened the grunge-meets-glam Phoenix, today one of San Francisco’s most iconic hotels, in the heart of the seedy Tenderloin. With next to no experience and a driving wish to individualize the travel industry, Conley created a home away from home for a who’s who of international celebrities. Even then, no one could know that the Phoenix would someday rise to the top of a hotel empire—now Joie de Vivre Hospitality, California’s largest boutique hotelier. Read more.


New York: Keith McNally. What’s the secret to longevity in
a city that changes with every New York minute? Ask prolific restaurateur and Urbie recipient Keith McNally, whose restaurants aren’t just stylish, but also have serious staying power. Spend a weekend in New York, and chances are you’ll dine and drink (and flirt) at least once, if not several times, in one of McNally’s perennially popular hangouts. And, like most New Yorkers, you’ll return again and again. Although he claims not to have any formula for his success, he says, "I just build places that I'd like to go to—simple as that. But I hate snobbery and everything that’s connected to it in the restaurant world." Read more.

Click here to see all Urbie Award winners

ALAN'S VIEW, August 2008

As publisher and executive editor of the Night+Day series, I certainly influence our selections and recommendations. I’ve spent a lifetime in travel, and I check out every city we write about. But our guidebooks reflect a collaborative effort involving local writers and experienced editors. So I welcome this opportunity to share my very personal views and experiences. I sincerely hope you find them somewhere between interesting and extremely helpful (life-altering is probably too much to ask for). And needless to say, I very much welcome your comments.
Click here to send me an email

ASD Picks: Three Favorite Credit/Charge Card Rewards Programs

While I can't claim to have researched and/or tried each and every credit card and its reward program, I can definitely recommend these three programs to anyone who travels frequently:
American Express Platinum ($450): This has to be the best $450 travel investment I've made—and I don't even use the complimentary companion-ticket benefit when booking first- and business-class international flights. My payback comes from using the Fine Hotels and Resorts (FHR) benefit…
Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Credit Card from American Express ($45):
I frequent Starwood more than any other hotel chain; I'm a big fan of the W, Westin, and St. Regis brands. Using this card gets me two points for each dollar spent at a Starwood hotel, even before the real benefit kicks in…
United Mileage Plus Platinum Class Visa Signature Card ($140): This has to be one of the best-kept secrets in the credit-card business. Don't even try to find it on the Chase website. Of course, you should have a credit card tied to the airline you most frequently use. But with this card, in addition to the typical 20K-mile signing bonus, one mile per dollar spent, and double miles when purchasing United airline tickets, you earn Elite miles…
Read more about these sites

On the Road: London, Paris, and Monte Carlo

I thought I was prepared for the cost of traveling to Europe this summer. Then I saw four-star hotel rooms at $500, daily Internet in the room for $40, first courses at $25, taxi fares that effectively started at $10—even the underground/metro was $8! It hurt. But now, reflecting on our time spent there, I could argue that if the price of a Rolex can be justified, the price of the London/Paris experience certainly can be, as well. These remain two of the world’s most beautiful and vibrant cities.

London: Tim and Kit Kemp (Firmdale Hotels), behind one of my top three London hotels, The Soho Hotel (the other two being the Mandarin Oriental and One Aldwych), have scored again. Their new Haymarket Hotel bumps the MO off the list… Read more

Paris: You’d have to be a stay-at-home (and not read Night+Day), to miss the fact that we’re experiencing Global Cooling, a phenomenon in which high design transforms spaces to provide unique, and often sophisticated, sensual experiences. One of the best examples of this transformation is hotel Le Meurice. Read more

I spent a few weeks in the south of France (somebody has to do a good guidebook for the French Riviera!) which I'll discuss in more detail in a forthcoming newsletter, but for now some brief remarks on...

Monte Carlo: When people with too much money want to go incognito, they go to Monte Carlo. We looked out our Fairmont Monte Carlo bedroom window to what we thought was the Mediterranean Sea dotted with islands—only the islands were yachts! I can only imagine how humbling it is to have a hundred-footer and be the smallest kid on the block. Read more

Last Word: Feeling Old Before It's Time

If I seem preoccupied with aging (my June column was about turning 60), it is genetic. My father, who passed away a few years ago, was the co-founder of AARP, and while it seems as though this happened not too many years ago—I can remember sitting in a hotel room in Ojai, California while my father and Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus put the finishing touches on the first issue of Modern Maturity—AARP is celebrating its 50th birthday next month. Read More