the weather outside is frightful

In just over two months I will be here - sunny Key Largo, Florida- where I will spend the days sipping some tropical drink with an umbrella. This is all that is getting me through this miserable coldness. I HATE cold. I had to wear gloves for the first time in 3 years this winter and I am not happy. The resort also has a gaming boat 3 miles offshore with a water shuttle everyday.... not gonna lie, I sort of miss the sound of slot machines... 

life's a dream at lorien

There's a new hotel in town. OK, not IN town, but pretty close. Lorien Hotel & Spa has just opened in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia - just across the Potomac River from DC. The hotel will be managed by Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and features three dining outlets by celebrated chef Robert Wiedmaier sure to suit traveling epicurean palates. World class designer Vicente Wolf was enlisted to create "Kimpton's crown jewel of the Washington, DC metropolitan region." Lorien artfully blends contemporary chicness with the air of traditionalism - appropriate for such a historic setting. Trellis style headboards crawl up the robins egg blue walls [probably giving housekeepers migraines] while a claw foot bathtub stands guard in the elegant gray slate bathroom. An iHome and 42" flat screen provide modern conveniences while wing backed chairs provide a historical punch to the rooms. 

I am really looking forward to visiting Lorien [hopefully while they are still running their grand opening promotional sales for a couple reasons. The first, the amateur graphic designer in me really enjoys the logo. It embodies the blend of old and new so prevalent throughout the hotel itself. And most importantly, I love the rooms. They [almost] remind me of softer, slightly more traditional versions of the rooms at Red Rock. The color palette of  blue, gray and white creates an inviting and calming sanctuary. Plus, they have a full service spa!! 

Every Kimpton hotel tells a story, and at Lorien, it's a dream! Seriously, it's all about cultivating the perfect dream experience. 

Other highlights include: 

* 24 hour in-room dining [important for night owls like me]

* Complimentary use of bicycles for touring Old Town - plus chef Wiedmaier will pack you a picnic to take with you - I can already see myself sitting by the river snacking on gastronomical delights!

* Pet friendly! 

* Their Forgot it? We've got it! service provides more than the substandard emergency toothbrush - should you find yourself in need of an extension cord they're there for you! 

you can sleep here.

Architectural Digest has a slideshow of Hotels Around the World and it includes this beautiful little floating paradise hotel. Designed by Christina Ong, this 23 room hotel is located on Cocoa Island in the Maldives. Imagine waking up and diving straight into the beautiful blue water...ahh heaven. 

this is how i roll

Packing light is simply not in my vocabulary. I accepted long ago that I would always have to pay the fee for my bags weighing more than 50 lbs on airlines. Now that you have to pay for a second bag life is really going to be expensive. However, the new Oceano Travel Trunk by Poltrona Frau  would allow me to pack all that I wanted AND stay super organized. Just check out all the different compartments and drawers for accessories! Okay, it might be a little expensive to fly with, but perhaps when I go on my Mediterranean cruise I have planned in my head. Inspired by the travel trunks that people used to take on cruises long ago, the trunk is made of multilayer birch and coated with textured, non-scratch paint. Perhaps jetBlue should hand these out to help launch their "jetting" lifestyle? 

the blues for jetBlue

When the airline jetBlue first flew onto the scene not long ago, their logo and design were fresh, their seats were comfortable and spacious, and they were affordable. But most of all, they understood their demographic. They communicated to their people, and never lost sight of who their public was.

Fast-forward to 2007 and there's the jetBlue meltdown that grounded passengers in airports all over the country. Mix in the fact that their tickets no longer seem so affordable to the average traveler, and jetBlue was in the midst of a major public relations crisis. What does any respectable company do in such a dire pr predicament? Turn back to their people-focused roots that got them recognized in the first place? NO. Spend way too much money on an advertising campaign that won't (pardon my pun) fly in today's economy? DING DING DING. 

jetBlue recently kicked off its "Happy Jetting" campaign. The campaign strives to return to the glamorous days of air travel when being a stewardess for airlines such as Pan Am was nearly as alluring as walking the runways in Europe...ok maybe not THAT glamorous, but still pretty good. But most of all, when being a jet setter meant something special; it also meant dressing up for flights, not rolling into the airport wearing sweatpants and bed head.

The new campaign features a special website with games, trivia, and other pointless dribble. By adapting the term "jetting" and attempting to establish a clear cut difference between jetting and flying, jetBlue is hoping to rid itself of the negative connotations associated with flying such as long lines, cramped seats, delays etc. Which is understandable.

Happy Jetting Website

One slight problem, in today's economy where gas exceeds $4 per gallon, people can barely afford to fill up their cars let alone go "jetting." For a company that has always connected so well with their customers, they completely missed the mark on this one. Rather than establishing jetBlue as something only for the elite (which will only alienate their key demographic even more) they should have been positioning themselves as the people's airline, relating to people and offering compassion during this tumultuous economic downturn. 

it's a beauti-faux world

Karl Lagerfeld has been tapped to design 80 luxury residences on Dubai's Isla Moda - Fashion Island (left). Lagerfeld is the first of five designers Dubai Infinity Holdings plans to snag in its bid to create the most fashionable, haute address in the world. Upon completion, Isla Moda will be a fashion and design mecca cand aims to attract only the highest calibre of patrons. 

Lagerfeld, who is also a photographer, is perhaps best known for heading the international fashion house, Chanel. In an interview with Brown Book, Lagerfeld said that he believes that this project is about much more than interior design, but more about a lifestyle. The first phase of residences is expected to be completed in 2012, but don't start packing just yet- they are for sale by invitation only. 

Isla Moda is part of  "The World"( below) - a collection of man made  islands off of Dubai's coast. According to its website, The World "is a collection of private and commercial islands that form a singular expression of exclusivity." 

[the faux world] 

There are so many naturally beautiful, elegant and exotic places in this world, why do we need to create "exclusive" faux paradise destinations? 

Beijing Taxi Cards

Beijing Taxi Cards saw a void and they are filling it. As thousands descend upon Beijing for the Olympics this summer, few will be equipped to navigate the Chinese language. Enter taxi cards. These cards are small enough to carry around, and they feature pictures as well as phonetic pronounciation guides to help tourists navigate through the Olympics. Oh, and they come in a whole bunch of different languages. 

gone fishing.

While canoeing with this new transparent canoe, you'll be able to see all the fish and other creatures that may be lurking underneath you while you're paddling along. Could be really cool...could be really scary... All for a bargain $1475...plus $175 for shipping. 

[via toxel]

Bellagio Fountains 2.0

The world-famous fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas are set to be one-upped by Emaar Properties' Burj Dubai Lake Fountain Project (exact name has yet to be determined). While the concept is the same as the fountains at Bellagio, the Dubai fountains will be 25% larger - spanning the distance of two football fields and shooting water as high as a 50 story building. The fountains will also feature more than 6,000 lights and 50 color projectors. 

Semiramis Hotel Athens

The Semiramis Hotel Athens is a fusion of style, art, technology and design - all combined in a vibrant package. Designed by Karim Rashid (think design classic and MoMa exhibited Umbra trash cans), this boutique hotel even features scrolling LED screens on doors to request privacy or maid service. This hotel looks so trendy and cool that even the meeting room set ups look a little fun. Rashid designed everything from the artwork in the rooms, to the stationary and toiletries.

Planes all day long.

Ok I have a serious serious fascination with watching airplanes take off and land....I'm very similar to a small child. Perhaps its because the airport in my hometown is sooo slow that you rarely see planes taking off and landing, who 

knows. Anyways, I love them. I also LOVE hotels. 

So combine the two and you get... citizen M hotel in Amsterdam. Their motto is affordable luxury for the people, or for citizen mobile. The planes are landing literally right beside your bed. I MUST GO. (however, the glassed in toilet area doesn't seem like so much fun if you're sharing the room with someone else!)

Gas too expensive?

We've all seen the Segway Personal Transporter which caused overweight mall and college campus security personnel everywhere to rejoice because they no longer had to rely on their own physical fitness. Now, they could grab that extra donut, jump on their George Jetson contraption, and zip off to catch the bad guy.

Well, what if you wanted something a little bit more secure...something enclosed perhaps... well I would like to introduce you to the Personal Electric Vehicle(PEV). No more $4.00+/gallon gas for you! Just grab your extension cord and you are off...zipping down the highway at 70mph! They are considered motorcycles in the U.S. and you can actually drive the thing on the highway...if you're not concerned about your life. 

But wait, there's more! Unlike the Segway, the PEV offers a spacious(?) trunk for all of your parcels. All that AND the supercool bubble look that all your friends will be envious of- what more could a girl ask for?!