Charlie Sheen is an idiot.

A well cared for room at The Plaza

 We all know he isn't the greatest husband, dad, actor, person, fill in the blank. But to add  "hotel room trasher" to his list of accomplishments is just more bad frosting on a nasty cake.  The fact that he wrecked a room at The Plaza....well, it's just so very wrong.  TMZ, of course, has photos of the aftermath:  http://www.tmz.com/2010/10/26/charlie-sheen-hotel-room-gallery-photos-pictures-trashed/.  Although the photos are blurry and probably taken with someone's camera phone on the sly, you can clearly see that the jerk broke a chair, ripped down some curtains, and apparently had a few heaters in the process.  All totaled - about $7,000 worth of stupidity.  C'mon, Charlie.

When it opened in 1907, The Plaza was the most prestigious address in New York.  The nightly rate then was $2.50. Back then it was called home by the Vanderbilts and the Hemmingways  of the world.  Today, it has achieved landmark status in New York and books have been written about it's magnificent history, and that nightly rate has climbed a bit... to $995. The Plaza IS the epitome of class and not just because of it's price tag. Unfortunately, there's no dirt ball filter for the Sheens of the world. 

For the rest of us, who only dream of staying there, we sneak in on a lovely Saturday afternoon just to take pictures of the lobby.

But I'm not bitter....much.

http://www.theplaza.com/

I need a holiday...in Rome.

Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck

Inspiration.  It comes out of the blue.  Whether it's a scene from a movie, a lyric in a song, or maybe a photo in a magazine.  Sometimes it's something as silly and small as an address mentioned in a 57 year old movie that generates a little spark...and off we go.....

"Via Margutta 51" - a line uttered by Gregory Peck (as reporter Joe Bradley) to a cab driver and later to Audrey Hepburn in a scene from Roman Holiday. Was it real?  Does it still exist?  Yes and yes. 

Via Margutta

Although the interior of Joe Bradley's apartment was a studio set, the exterior scenes were shot on the real "Via Margutta".  It turns out that this street has an remarkable history.  Famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Stravinsky and Puccini lived and worked in apartments and workshops on this very street. (Ok, art is not my thing and the only name I'm familiar with is the first one, but it's still pretty cool.)  Some of these buildings, which have been around since the 1800's, have been converted into hotels -see the link to Rome Luxury Suites below. The hotels (or suites) are owned and operated by the great grandson of the Marquis Francesco Patrizi who built these studios for the likes of Fredrico Fellini and others to live and work in originally.  There are three properties, one on Via Margutta a few doors down from Gregory Peck's apartment (pictured) and two on neighboring streets.  These buildings are protected by Italian Ministry of Culture and have been painstakingly remodeled for today's traveler.

Luxury Suites

Up and coming artists - no doubt looking for a little of that famous inspiration - used to call Via Margutta home, although, due to increased tourism to the street (largely because of this movie) it's become a wee bit expensive for the average starving artist. The street is now known more as a place to buy expensive art rather than create it.  Via Margutta, however, does hold festivals every year to celebrate new artists and perhaps discover the next Pablo.  The festival 100 Pittori in via Margutta (100 painters on via Margutta) takes place every April and November.

Hand-crafted bags

Today, Via Margutta is filled with high end art galleries, antique shops, cafes, and "small" designer stores; one owned by relatives of Bulgari (jewelers) and even a small Valentino store around the corner.  There's also a shop called Saddlers Union that makes and sells hand crafted leather goods, read: handbags.  Imagine getting a custom made, Italian bag personalized with your name or initials.  Let's see....a handbag from Rome or a t-shirt from Rome...hmm..what will it be?

Via Margutta is near other very popular tourist sites in Rome.  The Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain are within walking distance. So, if you're looking for a good, centralized place to stay while in Rome, this could just be the place for you.  It was good enough for Mr. Peck - I mean Joe Bradley.

Now

Then

Then

Now

The Spanish Steps

(sigh)

Some time ago, I came across an article written by a woman who visited several historical locations from Roman Holiday.  She offers some good tips on how to see it all.  Here is a link to that article: http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/rome/vs_roman_holiday.htm.

Audrey with her Oscar for Roman Holiday

There is also another great site that lists all of the locations from the film and a description of each:

http://www.gpsmycity.com/tours/roman-holiday-tour-5090.html 

Below are some Rome hotel sites, hotel reviews and suggestions for things to do and see while you're there.
Ciao, Bella!

http://www.romeluxurysuites.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/12/travel/12checkin.html?_r=1&scp=4&sq=via%20margutta&st=tcse 

http://www.hotelsinrome.net/

http://www.hotelart.it/

http://www.saddlersunion.com/ 

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2786178-via_margutta_rome-i 

http://www.top10inrome.com/category/events

Just in case you happen to score tickets...

The World Series is upon us. I don't necessarily favor one team over the other - my Twins aren't in it so...whatever.  I do love Josh HamiIton of the Texas Rangers (what a fantastic, life-affirming story, that guy) and I absolutely adore the city of San Francisco. There's something about the city by the bay; the air, the trolley cars, Fisherman's Warf, the sea lions (that somehow know they're posing for pictures and work it) and the great people-watching and the FOOD. I love North Beach - San Fran's version of Little Italy. I could sit at a sidewalk table at an Italian restaurant all afternoon.....and I actually did once.  It was wonderful...and so was Mario. Oh, that sounds bad.  Seriously, he was just my waiter. He was very polite.  Really.

Me... after a whole lotta pizza.

Anyway, my favorite hotel in San Francisco is the Hotel Monaco.  It's colorful and lively and just...well, fun!  You can't help but be in a good mood when you walk in this place.

Lobby

Restaurant

Guestroom

Fantastic service, a wonderful location, affordable - it's perfect. Some reviewers of the hotel complain that the rooms are a bit small, but we didn't find that to be true at all. It's right in the heart of the city, close to fabulous restaurants, shopping etc. - Hotel Monaco is a safe bet.  Tonight's game? we'll wait and see....



The Poser

 http://www.monaco-sf.com/

Eeeewwww......

I've been avoiding this issue as long as I can, but I guess there's no getting away from it.  Read the article below:

"As bedbugs creep out NYC, tourists crawl away"  
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39829901/ns/travel-news/

Here's what it looks like.  Poor Guy.

The disturbing new trend is that the bugs are being spotted not only in hotels but at public places as well - even at the Empire State Bldg.  These little demons know how to catch a ride and they can go a year without feeding so they're difficult to eradicate.   Be on the look out and good luck.

You can check with the bed bug registry to see if your hotel has had any recent bed bug issues.

www.bedbugregistry.com

Searching for my lost shaker of salt....

Sure it's all pretty and fall-y right now and the colors on the trees are beautiful blah, blah, blah...but don't get caught with your snow pants down.  It's coming.... and if winter wasn't bad enough, there's the ever-present whining and complaining as though we didn't sign on for any of this when we moved here.  I've found that it's so much easier to endure if you know that when February comes around you'll be lying on a beach somewhere sipping something out of a coconut. So get to it because as soon as that first snow fall hits, travel agents' phones will be ringing off the hook and the price of your much needed getaway will sky rocket.

There are good reasons to high tail it to Mexico; it's affordable and the flight is fairly quick. From my house in the upper Midwest, for example, I can get to Cancun in 3 short hours. You can book a 4 day trip and still feel like you've spent more time in the sun than in the airport.

Now, where to go. There are so many choices, you really need to think about what you want out of your vacation.  Relaxation? Romance? Family time?  friend getaway?  The Gulf Coast of Mexico - Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel etc. has that unbelievable ocean water that is a million shades of blue, white sandy beaches and a gazillion resorts to pick from.  The Pacific Coast - Puerto Vallarta, Rivera Nayarit, Ixtapa features beautiful beaches as well as the Sierra Madre Mountains. Both coasts offer a multitude of excellent spas & golf as well as historical sites, eco & water parks, high-end shopping & good eats.  

If you're worried about safety issues there are sites you can check to see if there are travel warnings for your area.  Most of Mexico's current drug crime problem is occurring near the border.  "Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime reported in the border region and in areas along major drug trafficking routes."  see the link below.

Below are a few sites to get your started.  I've included a couple of Mexico tourism sites, a good place for destination and hotel reviews, as well as two reasonably priced, beautiful hotels on either coast.

  

Keep an eye on the weather and pick your destination before you have to pick up a shovel.

http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/north-america/mexico/where-to-go.html
http://www.visitmexico.com/wb/Visitmexico/Visi_Home?show=regions 
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pvrmx-casamagna-marriott-puerto-vallarta-resort-and-spa/ 
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/cunmx-casamagna-marriott-cancun-resort/
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html#safety%20
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ 
http://www.expedia.com/ 

http://www.travelocity.com/ 

I was naked at The Waldorf

I'll get to that in a minute....

I don't know if it's an obsession or a hobby, but I organize and research vacations just hoping that someday I may actually take them.  Some may call that pathetic, I prefer to call it "prepared".  Should the opportunity to flee arise, I'm totally ready.  So, you can imagine that when I actually, seriously, for real, get to go somewhere, I go a bit overboard. 

Me at the Waldorf

My husband, Bill, and I had been planning a 5 day, 4 night getaway to New York for about 6 months.  Too much time for me to look at too many hotels.  I couldn't decide.  So he, being the brilliant guy he is, said, "let's stay at all of them".  I narrowed it down to three.  Yes, 4 nights in three different hotels in three different parts of the city.  That was the plan, anyway.  After all, the best way to see New York is on foot, so why not just plop yourself somewhere and start walkin'?  We started in the middle of New York at the famously wonderful and historic Waldorf Astoria ...and now...the nakedness.



Bill & the famous Waldorf clock

The hotel is fabulous and everything we could have hoped for.  The rate was a reasonable $300 - it was so worth it. To say the service is impeccable is an understatement.  We ordered a couple of bottles of Evian from room service as we were getting ready to go to a show.  They brought two tall glass bottles elegantly presented on a silver tray.  Lovely.... and also $40.  Yikes.  I came out of the shower after my shell-shocked husband had forked over the cash. He said, "this water better taste a lot like a martini".  It was then I noticed that the waiter forgot a bottle opener.  Bill called room service again and I returned to the bathroom to dry my hair.  It was warm, the dryer was loud, I had the door open, Bill didn't realize that and that's when it happened.  Minutes later, I noticed in the mirror that there was movement behind me through the open door.  Thinking I was going to see Bill's face, I instead saw a very surprised Asian man with a bottle opener in one hand and a bottle in the other and boy did he see me!  I squealed and kicked the door shut but it was too late.  Bill said that the poor guy literally leaped for the door, saying "I'll come back later!"  oy.

On The Ave.

The next day we (sheepishly) checked out and moved to the Upper West side to a boutique hotel called On The Ave.  Nice hotel at a nice price, but the best part was it's location.  Brownstone lined streets, corner cafes & pizza joints, a great little grocery, the Shake Shack (which has a line out the door and down the street EVERY day) and best of all, we were 3 blocks from Central Park.  We roamed the streets like locals, found an art fair that I browsed forever, got my nails done, went for a run in the park and had a pint in an old Irish Pub complete with actual Irishmen.

Upper West Side brownstone

The next morning, we were off again.  After a great breakfast at the Manhattan Diner across the street, we checked out and headed to Greenwich Village.  The Bowery Hotel was such a treat. Please see my post from August 30th. It is so unique and filled with character - truly one of a kind.  We walked all over the Village, shopped, found Carrie Bradshaw's (Sex And The City) front stoop, and happened upon a restaurant we discovered on our first trip to New York 4 years prior.  Even though we enjoyed ourselves and loved the hotel, we longed to be back on the Upper West side.  So, a quick change in reservations and the next day we were back at On The Ave. and back in our favorite neighborhood.

Granted, this kind of traveling isn't for everyone.  The trick is to never get totally unpacked! Checking your baggage at the hotel can be a little risky - make sure they keep it in a locked room and not sitting on a cart somewhere.  Usually our room was ready around noon but one day it wasn't ready until almost 4pm - that was a bit of a drag. But the thought of waking up to a new adventure every day made it so worth it.  We lucked out with beautiful walking weather our whole trip, in case of rain, a museum visit would have been a perfect way to spend the day.  We'll save that for next time.  

The Bowery Hotel guestroom



So, I guess the moral is that there's so much more to New York than Times Square.  Get out of your comfort zone and you'll discover so many wonderful things and experience New York in a totally unique and memorable way.  

I wouldn't do anything differently next time, except maybe bring a bathrobe.


http://www.waldorfastoria.com/
http://www.ontheave-nyc.com/
http://www.theboweryhotel.com/

"Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town" - what the heck does that mean?!

Renaissance Blackstone Lobby

I had pizza last night. Good pizza.  It got me thinking about the best pizza I've ever had -  Chicago?  New York?  Both are fantastic, and I haven't visited Chicago in awhile soooooo....

First I'll need a place to rest my pizza eatin' belly (hmm...pretty).  Sometimes chic & sleek hotels get a little cold and boring....I like something warm and homey.  ok....so by "homey" I mean "mansion-like homey" - I found the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

Smoke Filled Room Suite - I'm serious.  That's what it's called.

The fact that anyone has the nerve to name anything "smoke filled" today makes me giddy. The suite pictured above was the site of Warren G. Harding's 1920 Republican nomination for Presidency. The hotel says, "Restored and refurbished to its original elegance, our Vice Presidential Suite is accommodating for the most elite of guests".  Read "expensive", but interesting anyway.  Rates for a regular guestroom average around $250.

Guestroom

I always knew that a hotel concierge was kind of a rock star, but the concierge at the Renaissance has his own web site.  It's called  "Renaissance Navigator Travel Guide" and currently your lead navigator is Jeremy Meerstra. The photo makes him look like an angry Calvin Klein model, but apparently he's a native of Chicago and knows everything there is to know about anything.


Find Jeremy at:
http://renaissancenavigator.com/hotels/navigator/CHIRH

Hotel Monaco Suite

 If you're looking for digs that are a little more casual, I found the Hotel Monaco Chicago.  How cute is this place?  A great location in the heart of everything too. I've stayed at a Hotel Monaco in San Francisco - excellent service and an immaculate hotel. 

http://www.monaco-chicago.com/

Hotel Monaco Guestroom

Now to the important part: the pizza.  A little more than a mile away from the Renaissance (you'll need to walk it off, anyway) is Gino's East on Superior St.  Beware. That's all I'm sayin'. You'll be so hooked that when you get home you'll be calling Fed Ex trying to get them to ship you one.  The good news is:  they will!!! check the website for details.

http://www.ginoseast.com/

Gino's East

Of course, you really can't go to Chicago and not hit a seedy blues club.  Try B.L.U.E.S. 2519 N. Halstad.  Get there early because a line usually forms out the door.

Blues guy - Preston Shannon

Nearby is Chicago's oldest blues club - Kingston Mines. This is serious blues.

http://www.kingstonmines.com/

The Magnificent Mile is also a must. So much more than shopping. Outdoor concerts in the summer, fireworks, kid's events etc.   http://www.themagnificentmile.com/

Have fun and save me a slice. 

The Pearl NYC Grand Opening

The Pearl Hotel

Check out this sleek, new boutique hotel opening on Monday, October 25th in New York City.  Located at 233 West 49th Street, The Pearl is smack dab in the center of Broadway and the theater district. It boasts a fairly wide variety of rooms for a smaller boutique hotel and looks like a great choice for a weekend in New York. Enter the promo code "opening" for 10% off.  

Interested in a bigger hotel a little further away from all the buzz?  Try the Pearl's big sister, The Empire Hotel. It's located between Central Park & Lincoln Center.

The Empire Hotel

http://www.pearlhotelnyc.com/

http://www.empirehotelnyc.com/

I've died and here is heaven....

I don't want diamonds and I don't want furs (I'm told they're inappropriate anyway) and I don't need a Mercedes (although one would be appreciated).  If my husband wants to get me a lavish gift for an anniversary or my birthday or simply because he's a nice guy & we've just won the lottery - here's a big fat hint: take me to the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara....and then teach me how to pronounce it.  

San Ysidro Ranch reception area - check out the view

Built In the 1930s by Hollywood actor Ronald Colman (who?) and hotelier and former Senator Alvin Carl Weingand (again, who?) it started as a citrus ranch and was transformed into a haven for the rich and famous.  The elite clientele over the years ranged from Audrey Hepburn (my fave), Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby and Groucho Marx to Winston Churchill, and Sinclair Lewis. Scarlett O'Hara herself - Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were married in the garden, and cooler still - John and Jacqueline Kennedy honeymooned there. Plus, John Huston completed the script for African Queen during a three-month stay at the ranch.  Wow. Wonder what that tab looked like.

The Kennedys

Today, San Ysidro Ranch remains a popular destination for romance for the well-healed as well as common folk with deep pockets.  It was recently named #1 in Travel + Leisure’s list of top resorts in the U.S. and Canada. 

Orange Living Room. My favorite movie is on! "Roman Holiday"

The ranch has several levels of accommodations.  There are 3 types of "ranch rooms" ranging from a studio to a one bedroom, "cottage rooms" with king beds, hot tubs and an outdoor rain shower, and "cottages" which are free-standing, private and secluded. The Kennedy Cottage where the famous couple stayed oddly has 2 master suites, 2 bathrooms and 3 fireplaces.  It's been renovated since they left, so perhaps changes were made after the honeymoon.  The Warner Residence, with it's private drive and private entrance is the largest and probably perfect for the aging Hollywood star who's just had a "little work done" and needs some down time.

Private pool at the Warner Residence

Rates range from (an average) $650 per night for a ranch room to the Warner Residence sporting a hefty $5,000 per night price tag.  See what I mean about winning the lottery?  Oh well, a girl can dream....

http://www.sanysidroranch.com/ 

I flew home with a strange man in my lap...

Seriously.  Everyone at one time or another has had to sit behind the guy on a plane who tilts his seat so far back he's staring up your nose.  It's no surprise then when the aircraft comes to a complete stop, he's the first one up, flicking people with his coat sleeves as he rushes to get his coat on and dropping his over-packed carry-on on your foot, apparently he's in a real hurry.  Hey buddy, we're in row 23.  It's gonna be awhile.  Chill.

A gazillion articles have been written about how bad air travel has gotten these days.

Flight Attendants circa 1960

Passenger behavior is boorish enough (love that word) but somehow we went from glamorous gals ("gals" is retro, so I said it) to a flight attendant so fed up with his job he grabs a beer, launches the slide and flips the bird at the passengers on his way down.  While I love a good exit as well as the next guy, I long for the days I've only heard about.....because I'm far too young to have experienced them ;)

You can't change people, but you can still carry a cute bag.  (Ok...that's lame, but whatever).  Pan Am still sells the retro luggage and bags that were synonymous with the airline's most successful era.

Chic and cool but a little pricey. Hey, anything that will get you to your destination with a smile on your face is worth it.  Oh, and if you're a man and a woman drops this bag right in front of you - pick it up for her.  Nothing restores my faith in humanity like good, old-fashioned chivalry.

http://www.panambrands.com/

History with a twist

My husband and I are convinced that we were born a couple of decades too late. Come to dinner at our house and begin the eye rolling because the background music will feature not only Frank, Dino & Sammy, but Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. Yes, I'm serious. If we had to pick just one decade, however, our favorite would probably be the 40's. We love the fashion, architecture, movies, & most of all the music. During that era, Bill's mom lived in San Francisco and met a handsome Navy pilot (Bill's dad) at a little joint called the "Pink Rat".  60-some years later, while on our honeymoon, we tried to find it but sadly....it's now a parking lot (maybe it was the name.)

There are places with that kind of nostalgia that still exist if you know where to look.  We found this place the last time we were in San Fransisco.  It's called Top of the Mark on the 19th floor of the Intercontinental Hotel.  It's more than a bar, but to call it a cocktail lounge sounds...well, it sounds retro and I like that.

Top of The Mark 1941

It's history is the stuff of old movies.  In 1939, when the hotel was called the Mark Hopkins Hotel, owner George D. Smith decided to convert the 19^th-floor penthouse apartment into a cocktail lounge. He wasn’t sure how to get people to take an elevator 19 floors to have a drink and look at the view, so he added a dance floor and a band. Not long after, crowds lined the streets to get in.  I loved this tidbit from the web site: "During World War II, servicemen would buy and leave a bottle in the care of the bartender so that the next soldier from their squadron could enjoy a free drink, the only requirement being that whoever had the last sip would buy the next bottle. The soldiers gathered before shipping out for one last toast to the Golden Gate Bridge, believing that the bridge was good luck and would bring them home. As they sailed off under the Golden Gate, wives and sweethearts would draw together in the lounge’s northwest corner, where they would tearfully gaze out the windows. This corner became known as the “Weepers’ Corner.”"

Today, there are still plenty of romantic dinners, cocktail hours, afternoon teas and music at the Top of The Mark.  Click the link below and hear samples from some of San Francisco's jazz greats who frequently perform at the legendary spot.  

So stop by, take that elevator up 19 floors and not only can you enjoy unbelievable views of the city by the bay and sample something from the 100 martini's menu, you can hearken back to a more innocent time when the only thing that was swingin' was the music. 

Top of the Mark today

Great view

http://www.intercontinentalmarkhopkins.com/top_of_the_mark/

http://www.intercontinentalmarkhopkins.com/top_of_the_mark/entertainers/