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At the Top: The Year of the Rabbit(s)
 On Chinese New Year, February 3, we began the Year of the Rabbit. A Reuters article quotes feng shui master Raymond Lo: “The Rabbit… represents youth, motion and activity and so it will be an energetic year with… more young people demanding changes and reform in politics.” He added, “it is also known for romance… As such… it will be a year of more sexual affairs.”
There you have it! How appropriate for our February issue, the month that celebrates Valentine’s Day and we publish our list of the world’s BEST SINGLE SCENES. Whether you’re in love or looking for it, you are going to need to get in touch with your inner rabbit.
Our most recent Urbie Award goes to Amsterdam’s Mariss Jansons, one of the most sought after musical conductors in the world and the longtime leader of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (one of the most highly regarded venues in the world). He is one of the cultural highlights of the city that puts it on the cool cities destination map.
Publisher Alan Davis goes (went) to Vietnam and provides you with his cheat sheet—a baseline guide to make planning your trip a whole lot easier. It brings to mind an earlier Year of the Rabbit when young people also demanded changes—1963.
Enjoy this month of love and, as always, travel. |
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Book Restaurant Reservations Now!
NightandDayGuides.com has just added its latest exciting feature—restaurant reservations! Now, for each of the restaurants we’ve selected as Best of the Best, you can make reservations instantly through OpenTable® or the restaurant’s web site.
Nobody reviews restaurants like Night+Day. And nobody drills down to the absolute Best of the Best in dozens of categories so that you don’t have to spend hours sifting through hype. Now you have carefully selected restaurant choices, expert reviews, insider tips, and a reservation link.
All in the same place!
And with Night+Day’s unique one-click design, you can get to that reservation in a nano-second (what our Big Apple readers might call a New York minute).
Night+Day: Right Place. Right Time. It Matters. |
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THE WORLD’S BEST Singles Scenes
Single in the season of love? Our writers name the best Singles Scenes (with couples cordially invited) in the world’s coolest cities—think of it as romance with a buzz, on Valentine’s Day or any day.
D.C. • MARVIN
 The Draw: In this lounge upstairs from its popular Belgian restaurant, DJs play a danceable mix of Motown, R&B, funk, and ska nightly. It’s one of those places that’s always jammed because it’s always jammed. Hard to say which is more fun: letting loose on the dance floor or standing back to watch.
The Scene: Sexily dressed 20-to-30–somethings wait not so patiently to make the scene, in a line that extends from the sidewalk, through the door, up the stairs, to the lounge. It’s a question of space, not velvet-rope permission. The vibe here is about being effortlessly hip rather than radically chic, and such a scene unfolds throughout the beer garden (year-round and heated in winter) and the two lounges comfortably furnished with banquettes and bistro tables.
Hot Tip: Those who meet their match might try for a seat right next door at The Gibson, a speakeasy hidden behind an unmarked entrance. The intimate spot is quieter, romantic, and renowned for the most inventive cocktails in town.
LOS ANGELES • DRAI’S HOLLYWOOD
 The Draw: What happens in Vegas doesn’t stay there anymore, thanks to Victor Drai and the Waits Twins, who’ve exported their over-the-top brand of Sin City bacchanalia to the W Hotel in Hollywood.
The Scene: You don’t have to go to the dirty desert for stripper pole dancing, poolside hookups, and $3,000 bar tabs. This $15 million rooftop clubstaurant is open for random rendezvous day and night. The summertime pool parties aren’t at Vegas levels, but the talent and tattoos are much better, so let’s call it a draw.
Hot Tip: Dim Mak Cannonball Sunday is the brainchild of hipster high priest Steve Aoki, who brings in some of the hottest turntable talent in the game (Diplo, Basement Jaxx, and Aoki himself). Best yet, it’s free if you get there before midnight. Just sign up on the guest list (sundays@dimmak.com).
MEXICO CITY • BAR CIBELES
 The Draw: Located in the Plaza Cibeles (which has been trying hard to gussy itself up with mixed success), this self-styled kitsch/retro bar is a good place for a drink and a light snack—pizzas are great—if you’re in the mood for an LA-like experience and a little “ambiente cool.”
The Scene: The large space is done in comfortable, mismatched, “mid-century modern” seating and features a long bar for standing and chatting. The crowd ranges from arty to yuppie, 30s to 40s.
Hot Tip: Bar Cibeles gets quite busy on weekends, so reservations are suggested.
Also discover the Best Singles Scenes in CHI LV MIA NO NY SF TOR |
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. |
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INS and OUTS (NIGHT+DAY’S Latest Recommendations)
Top 5 New Openings
CHICAGO • COZY NOODLES AND RICE • Thai Restaurant
cozychicago.com
If the literal coziness of the small location don’t instantly warm the diner’s heart, the orange walls, adorably friendly staff, and shelves and shelves (and more shelves) of vintage toys will do the job. The little tables are intimate enough for a date, while the larger tables (many made of old sewing machines with glass tabletops) will entice crowds to commune and share some of the best Thai dishes offered in the city. full review $$ 3456 N. Sheffield Ave. (Cornelia Ave.), 773-327-1000.
LAS VEGAS • LA CAVE • Mediterranean Restaurant
wynnlasvegas.com
Modeled after a European enoteca, La Cave is an innovative food and wine hideaway located within steps of Wynn’s casino floor. You can call it a wine bar if you want, but don’t say it within earshot of owner Michael Morton, who detests the phrase’s snobby connotations. full review $$ Wynn Las Vegas, 3121 Las Vegas Blvd. S. (Harmon Ave.), 702-770-7375.
NEW YORK • BAR BASQUE • International Restaurant
chinagrillmgt.com
Jeffrey Chodorow’s Bar Basque (which sits atop his gleaming FoodParc) reveals plenty of the celebrity restaurateur’s well-known flashiness: a massive, sparkling glass roof that showers light; a red-walled, sultry lounge; and even a large screen filled with Spanish-themed slide shows. full review $$ 839 Sixth Ave. (30th St.), 646-600-7150.
SAN FRANCISCO • BENU • Californian Restaurant
benusf.com
Benu is San Francisco’s answer to The French Laundry. You have two dining options: an à la carte menu, and a prix fixe menu. Opt for the latter to experience the impressive range of James Beard Award–winning chef Corey Lee, who elevates the concept of small plates to art. full review $$$$ 22 Hawthorne St. (Howard St.), 415-685-4860.
TORONTO • HOTEL LE GERMAIN MAPLE LEAF SQUARE • Trendy Hotel
germainmapleleafsquare.com
The second boutique hotel opened by hotelier Christiane Germain in Toronto is a sleek and contemporary spot, perfect for guests who need access to the business district or the convention center but desire fashionable surroundings. Germain’s sense of style is manifest in the sleek neon lighting that illuminates the lobby, as well as the harmonious modern mix of concrete tile and glass. full review $$ 75 Bremner Blvd. (Bay St.), 416-649-7575 / 888-940-7575. |
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NIGHT+DAY 1st Edition Guides
$9.95 (retail $19.95) |
No other guidebooks capture the urbanista experience like Night+Day, and they include regularly updated recommendations on our website. When it comes to navigating the world’s coolest cities, look no
further than Night+Day.
“It’s unlikely that you’ll find another guidebook as detailed as this.”
- The Times of London
“Well-researched, well-organized and original” - USA Today
“The best of the trend-setting lot.”
- San Francisco Chronicle
For more information or to order,
click here. |
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THE URBIE AWARD
Movers and Shakers who shape the urbanista experience |
Amsterdam 2011/12
Marris Jansons (Conductor, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra)
 Marris Jansons conducted the final pages of La Boheme after suffering a heart attack on the podium during a 1996 performance. It’s a rare dedication he now brings to his role as chief conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO) of Amsterdam.
The son of conductor Arvid Jansons, he was born in Riga, Latvia, as his Jewish mother, singer Iraida Jansons, hid from the Nazis. He studied violin with his father, later entering the Leningrad Conservatory and training in Vienna and Salzburg. He served as associate conductor of the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra, music director of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (a post he reportedly resigned due to jet lag) and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra before becoming chief conductor of RCO in 2002.
Jansons is widely considered one of the most distinguished musicians of his generation and has served a guest conductor for many of the world’s major orchestras. Famous for conducting great 20th century symphonic classics, Jansons is known by audiences around the world through his recordings, performances and tours.
He has brought his love of music and warm style back to RCO, which occasionally doubles as the orchestra for De Nederlandse Opera. Jansons led Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk” in 2006, which a leading Dutch critic called “the greatest success the Netherlands Opera had in the past 10 years or longer.”
Perhaps most remarkable of all is that he has brought a somewhat esoteric vocation to the center of the cultural life of one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities. Attending a performance at the Concertgebouw is a destination event for visitors and a ritual for Dutch citizens of all ages. He has single-handedly transformed how music is approached throughout northern Europe.
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 As executive editor of the Night+Day series, and as someone who has spent a lifetime in travel, I certainly influence our selections and recommendations. 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). As always, I very much welcome your comments.
Click here to send me an email.
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ALAN’S VIEW February 2011
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On the Road: Vietnam Cheat Sheet
 For those of you who have paid extraordinarily close attention to my columns, i.e. those of you with too much time on your hands, you’ll know: a) I recently took a cruise that focused on Vietnam and was disappointed with the Silversea Silver Shadow experience; and b) although Southeast Asia was on my Top 10 list (at #10), Vietnam wasn’t mentioned. Some readers took this to mean that we didn’t enjoy our time there—not true. It was an overwhelming experience. However, I’m very aware that it might not be for everyone.
 A few weeks ago my wife and I were premiering a slideshow of our Southeast Asia trip to a group of family and friends, all of whom are younger than us. The first background song was, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” and one person said, “Hooray for the ‘60s!” (The song was recorded by the Kingston Trio in 1961.) A second person then chimed in with, “What does the ‘60s have to do with this?” For me, without the connection to the ‘60s, a visit to Vietnam doesn’t rise to overwhelming.
So with that as background, here are my top five suggestions in preparing for a trip to Vietnam:
1. Refresh your memory (or learn) about the history of the Vietnam War
(or as the Vietnamese call it, the American War). One way to do this is to view “Vietnam: A Television History.”
 2. Take a cruise. There are certain destinations that lend themselves to cruising, and Vietnam is one of them. All of the major destinations (north to south: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City, still also referred to as Saigon) are easily reachable from ports, and though you won’t get the in-depth experience of traversing the whole country by train or car, or two internal flights and one long day excursion, you will come away with a sense of knowing Vietnam.
3. Do not worry. Vietnam’s tourist destinations are safe, and for the most part, you don’t need a guide (Hue might be the exception), car, or driver. Taxis are unbelievably cheap, and signage is frequently in English.
4. Ha Long Bay is difficult to get to (unless you are on a cruise), but go. It is one of the wonders of the world, and a day out on a junk exploring this visual treat is a kick.
5. Do not, under any circumstances, skip Siem Reap, Cambodia (mostly known as the home of Angkor Wat). It is a hop, skip, and/or a short flight from the major Vietnam cities.
 Your trip will likely begin in either Hanoi or Saigon. The three impressions that you will get in either city, and that likely will be your strongest memories of the trip, are the contrast of modern development with traditional lifestyles; friendly people (somewhat astonishing given what Americans have done to the country and its people); and the extraordinary challenge of simply crossing the street.
Beyond that, here are some of the highlights you most certainly will (or should) experience. I’ll go out on a limb and, for each destination, list them in order, most impressive first.
 Hanoi: Fine Arts Museum; 36 Street Old Quarter: The bustling shopping center, bordered by the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake; dinner at Verticale, where you enjoy a five-course gourmet meal for less than $30; Temple of Literature; and Ba Dinh Square with Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and house. Two other recommended restaurants are Wild Rice and Wild Lotus. And the place to stay is the Metropole (now a Sofitel, which is fine). Overrated: The Water Puppet Show.
Ha Long Bay: Limestone and dolomite islands formed over millions of years, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enough said.
Hue: Imperial Citadel; Royal Martial Arts exhibition (especially if you enjoyed “The Karate Kid”); and Emperor Minh Mang’s tomb. Stay and eat at La Residence, Hue.
 Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): Reunification Hall, the former Presidential Palace; War Remnant Museum, a new and far better name than the former “House of Displaying War Crimes of American Imperialism and the Puppet Government” (referring to South Vietnam); Thien Hau Temple; Ben Thanh market, packed with unbelievable amounts of cheap stuff; and drinks at the Rex Hotel rooftop terrace. For history, stay at the Rex, for class the Park Hyatt Saigon. Temple Club borders on a trendy restaurant, Nam Phan for class.
The ancient city of Hoi An is also touted as a major destination, but while it has its attractions it would not be worth a detour except to stay at the nearby Nam Hai Hotel during warm weather. This beach resort there errs on the side of high design at the expense of functionality (the rooms are gorgeous, but getting out of the platform bed or making use of the desk can be challenging). And its spa must be one of the world’s most sensually lavish facilities.
A word about weather. We went to Vietnam in late October when the weather in the north was perfect, and while I thought Saigon was hot but acceptable, there was disagreement among fellow travelers about “acceptable.” Perhaps Robin Williams in the 1987 must-see film “Good Morning Vietnam” said it best: “What a country! Heat, humidity, terrorism. Still, it’s better than New York in the summertime.”
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