Archive for category Santa Monica
Run to the Coast – Asics LA Marathon
Posted by theluxurylife in California, Santa Monica on February 19, 2013
Doing L.A. by foot can be a fun and enriching experience — from the shopping to the restaurants and nightclubs to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, there’s no shortage of things to see and do. Doing 26.2 miles of L.A. by foot, however, can be a life-changing experience.
The 2013 ASICS L.A. Marathon on Sunday, March 17th is one of the country’s premiere running events of its kind. Beginning at the legendary Dodger Stadium and passing through Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Brentwood and more, the race finishes at the picturesque Santa Monica Pier.
Reward yourself with some pasta post-race at one of L.A.’s critically acclaimed Italian restaurants, or search out what you’re craving at one of the city’s thousands of eateries. If you’re still feeling mobile, burn off what energy you have left dancing the night away at one of the city’s nightclubs.
If you are interested in running the ASICS L.A. Marathon, act now — less than 1,000 spots remain and hotel reservations are filling up fast.
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Oscar’s Party Los Angeles
Posted by theluxurylife in Beverly Hills, California, Hollywood, Santa Monica on February 5, 2013
The best of the silver screen will assemble in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 24th for the 85th Annual Academy Awards. Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre plays host to this year’s events, with Seth MacFarlane hosting the star-studded event. This year’s collection of movies is particularly strong, with no clear favorite set to run away with all the hardware.
Sure, you might not be able to get into the Oscars themselves, but don’t worry — there’s much more to the Academy Awards than just the one televised event. Oscar Week features a number of award ceremonies, parties and other shindigs that celebrate everything Oscar producers can’t cram into the main ceremonies. It always draws a cool cross-section of stars, producers and much more.
You can bet L.A.’s dining and club scenes will be buzzing over the course of Oscar Week. It’s a great time to check out some of the city’s diverse culinary options — from mainstream to quaint hole-in-the-walls. After dinner, hit one of L.A.’s legendary nightclubs, where the chances are good you’ll be rubbing elbows with Oscar royalty.
Our Los Angeles Luxury Hotel Experts Recommend
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THE LA FILM FESTIVAL
Posted by theluxurylife in Beverly Hills, California, Destination Events, Hollywood, Santa Monica on April 30, 2012
June 14-24, 2012
In a city with more film festivals than you can count on two hands, the actual Los Angeles Film Festival has been preeminent, showcasing the world’s best independent features. Which is not to say the occasional smash-hit hasn’t come its way. The Devil Wears Prada made a splash here before setting the world on fire. The LA Film Festival endeavours to connect the movie-lovers to acclaimed filmmakers, film industry pros, and emerging talent in the heart of the entertainment capital of the world—Los Angeles.
Among the 2012 LA Film Festival’s lineup of sensational films, the much-anticipated Steve Carell apocalypse comedy Seeking a Friend for the End of the World will enjoy its world premiere during this year’s gala screenings. The Benh Zeitlin-directed Beasts of the Southern Wild and Ava DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere will also run during the gala screenings.
Seeking for a Friend for the End of the World stars comic genius Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Adam Brody and others in what’s been described as “a humorous, moving and intimate journey against an epic backdrop of Earth’s final days.” The film is written and directed by screenwriter Lorene Scafaria, making her directorial debut.
Beasts of the Southern Wild, tells the story of a six-year-old girl on the brink of orphanhood in a utopian bayou community. Directed and co-written by Behn Zeitlin, the film, starring Quvenzhané Wallis and Dwight Henry, won the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Middle of Nowhere, presents a portrait of a woman in search of herself, torn between two lovers and two worlds. The movie won writer/director Ava DuVernay a Best Director Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
The Festival features signature programs including the Filmmaker Retreat, Ford Amphitheater Outdoor Screenings, Poolside Chats, and more. The Festival also screens short films by high school students and has a section devoted to music videos.
Los Angeles Film Festival Film Independent 9911 W. Pico Boulevard. Los Angeles, CA 90035 Box Office & Information: 1-866-345-6337.
We Recommend Staying At,
After closing for two years for a thoughtful restoration to revive this iconic gem, 5 star Hotel Bel-Air‘s redesign now, more than ever, celebrates the surrounding landscape by seamlessly blending the indoor and outdoor experience. Nestled in the Bel-Air Estates neighborhood of Los Angeles, the Hotel Bel-Air is a sprawling oasis, only minutes from Century City, Beverly Hills and Westwood. Enjoy complimentary breakfast for two during your stay on us!
Ultra-chic and supremely unique, Mr. C Hotel Beverly Hills, a Cipriani Hotel, is a luxury boutique in the heart of beautiful Beverly Hills. Inspired by European traditions, the exquisitely landscaped courtyard garden features Californian citrus fruits, tropical foliage and fragrant English roses, all lending itself to the ambience of reminiscent of an Italian seaside villa. Enjoy a complimentary upgrade when you book with us!
At the iconic intersection of Hollywood and Vine lies The Redbury, the newest addition to the award-winning sbe Hotel Collection. Curated by Creative Director and renowned photographer, Matthew Rolston in collaboration with sbe Founder and CEO, Sam Nazarian, The Redbury Hotel offers an escape into a colorful and enchanting world of luxury. With a focus on creative, business, and leisure travelers with an admiration for the arts, music, fashion and entertainment, each guest flat offers a playful retro touches creating an inviting and welcoming atmosphere.
SEE GLITZ AND GLAMOR AT THE SANTA MONICA GEM & JEWELRY SHOW
Posted by theluxurylife in Destination Events, Santa Monica on March 29, 2012
March 30-April 1, 2012
During the Golden Age of Hollywood, when starlets glittered and “matinee idol” meant true smolder, the redoubtable Mae West declared, “I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.”
Mae West certainly had a way with words. Carrots may be healthy for you but what child of Aphrodite is indifferent to diamonds? “Big girls need big diamonds,” Elizabeth Taylor once quipped, evoking Rubenesques weighted down in brilliants. Jean Harlow, Lana Turner, Marilyn Monroe all famously wore diamonds. But small girls like diamonds, too. Even men are being drawn to their sparkle. And despite modern synthetics and changing tastes and fashions, diamonds maintain their magical allure. Don’t they last forever? Aren’t they a girl’s best friend?
Hollywood stars today still show off their favorite designer diamond rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Diamonds and other precious stones still warm the eye. If you’re on the look for THE ROCK, or are just passing through, The International Gem & Jewelry Show at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium will give you an excellent opportunity to shop for your dream. With prices ranging from $5.00 to $500,000, no one should go away empty-handed.
The International Gem & Jewelry Show is one of the largest exhibitions of gems, minerals and jewelry in the world. Over 250 exhibitors offer convenience, selection and value, all in one place. For brides-to-be the show also features a fantastic array of engagement rings, wedding bands & sets and loose GIA certified diamonds.
HOURS: Fri. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. | Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
TICKETS: One ticket price good for all three days [$8.00] or purchase advance discounted tickets [$6.00] at http://www.ticketderby.com
SANTA MONICA CIVIC AUDITORIUM
1855 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
WHERE TO STAY
Transcending the ordinary iconic Los Angeles hotel, The Huntley Santa Monica Beach welcomes its guests into a lobby that is truly something special. A dramatic design statement, a wall of piranhas, is lacquered white and lit by spotlights, and beckons guests of all ages to extend their arms and touch them. Book with us for a complimentary upgrade.
Aptly named, Shutters on the Beach is situated directly on the sands of Santa Monica Beach. Guests are instantly welcomed with the warm, coastal feeling of a summer home at this stunning beachfront property. For an unforgettable dining experience, guests need not look any further than the award-winning One Pico Restaurant. A culinary adventure for all the senses, One Pic offers a modern American menu, a soothing fireplace and breathtaking ocean views. Enjoy great rates during the Spring season.
Close to the Jewelry Show, relax and rejuvenate at a stunning luxury hotel overlooking Santa Monica Bay, Loews Santa Monica. Exceptional service, contemporary elegance and a prime beachside location make Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel one of the most sought after hotels on the West Coast. Guests enjoy step-out balconies or a full patio, 300 thread count linens and unique extras including Keurig coffee makers and a10 inch LCD TV in the bathroom.
ZOLTAR AT THE CASA DEL MAR
Posted by theluxurylife in Cool Hunters, Santa Monica on March 2, 2012
Remember the movie Big, when Tom Hanks enlists the magic of Zoltar, the animatronic fortune teller, to realize his dreams? Well, perhaps you have no desire to leapfrog a generation, but still wonder what the future augurs. In which case, if you happen pass through the lobby of Santa Monica’s hotel by the sea, Casa Del Mar, enlist their vintage Zoltar to tell your fortune. Yup, he’s the real item, with the gold earrings and gold turban, so take a shot. But as valuable and esoteric as that experience may be, it’s not the only reason to visit the fabulous Casa Del Mar.
Once called “the grandest beach club of them all,” for decades Casa del Mar fell short of that title. First, the drug rehab
cult Synanon moved in. Then, during the 1980s, diet guru Nathan Pritikin called it home. But after a $50 million rehabilitation in 1999, recreated the look and feel of the 1920s with its blend of Mediterranean and California Mission details. Boasting the best hotel beachfront in Los Angeles, with no boardwalk or roadway separating guests and sand, sixty of the Casa’s 129 airy rooms have full or partial beach views.
Santa Monica Bay’s sheltered waters draw every stripe of surfer, and the beach still attracts its bizarre mix of bodybuilders and strongmen—vestiges of Santa Monica’s once popular Muscle Beach. But steps away Santa Monica Pier offers great fishing, a Ferris wheel, video game arcade, and carnival-style amusements. A 20-minute stroll brings you to the shops and restaurants of the Third Street Promenade.
You’ll need wheels to visit Venice Beach’s skateboarders, surfers, and hip eateries, but it’s only a 10-15 minute drive away, as are Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills. Ditto with Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, Hollywood Boulevard, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, and LA International.
Along with Zoltar the Fortune Teller, the lobby has an arcade photo booth for a few old timey chuckles. And on Mondays a mixologist with a little cocktail trolley peddles yummy gluten-free drinks. The gluten-free theme continues at the hotel’s fine restaurant, Catch. Chef Jason Bowlin dazzles patrons with fare like swordfish and prawn spiedini.
Pets are welcome, so long as they behave.
Casa Del Mar •1910 Ocean WaySanta Monica,CA 90405/ 1-888-897-2807
SANTA MONICA ON MY MIND
Posted by theluxurylife in Cool Hunters, For the Family, Santa Monica on February 28, 2012
The mention of Santa Monica conjures images of languid movie stars, oceanfront estates, kitschy theme parks, and freakish natural beauty. Santa Monica Beach, a silky stretch of white sand just off the bluff of Ocean Boulevard, beckons surfers and sun-worshippers. Miles of soft sand and mild waves soothe the hectic mind. But Santa Monica isn’t just a Lotus Land of sun and sand peppered with tanned celebrities. People aren’t just lying around like lizards on the beach (though many are). Make no mistake: this is, despite the apparent languor, a body-conscious, body-friendly zone, a place of muscular activity, where physical exertion, fitness, and beauty form its core principles.
Which is to say, not everyone tools around Santa Monica in Kodachrome Ferraris. Many locals and visitors alike rollerblade, wind-skate, jog, walk, and bike everywhere, for pleasure or lifestyle choice. Miles of bike paths circle and crisscross the city. Palisades Park, a 25-acre sprawl of palm trees overlooking the Pacific Ocean, is a Mecca for bikers, hikers, walkers, yogis and voyeurs taking in the Muscle Beach exhibition.
Behind Ocean Boulevard, parallel to the beach, lies the pedestrian-friendly Third Street Promenade, a two mile jaunt of shops and eateries where vehicles are prohibited and the exercise will justify a seaside feast. At the end of historic Route 66 looms the Santa Monica Pier and its Ferris wheel, roller coaster and merry-go-round. Acrobats and circus clowns will keep you on your toes, and live evening music will drive you to dance. All of this taking place some 30 feet above the lapping blue of the Pacific.
Just a short bike ride or power-walk south down the bike path brings you to mythical Muscle Beach, the Medina of the body beautiful, where young Arnold Schwarzenegger used to strut his rhomboids before branching off into other forms of posing, and Venice Boardwalk, that catwalk of beach culture, kitsch, trinkets, tasty grub and breezy bars.
WHERE TO STAY: The Hotel Oceana sits right on Ocean Avenue in a presitgious residential area, just steps from Santa Monica Beach, Palisades Park and Third Street Promenade. Stay with us for a complimentary upgrade and waived service feeds which includes use of pool, fitness center, beach cruiser bicycles, WiFi, newspaper and local calls.
Shutters on the Beach is one of only two hotels right on the sandy shores of Santa Monica. Enjoy a full gamut of amenities from an intimate outdoor pool deck with a heated pool, whirlpool spa, poolside cabanas, chaise lounges, offers the ideal place to lay back and relax while listening to the soothing sounds of the ocean waves lapping up on the shore.
The Hotel Casa Del Mar is the perfect spot to watch the sunset over the Pacific, a cozy retreat on a chilly evening, your first stop and your last. This 5 star boutique luxury hotel offers the ambience of a modern California beach club while paying homage to the original grandeur and Renaissance aesthetic that has made it a favorite for both Santa Monica elites and discerning travelers alike.
HOTELS FOR ART-LOVERS
Posted by theluxurylife in Chicago, Miami South Beach, New York City, Santa Monica on February 13, 2012
Art, in all its varied forms, can inspire, tranquilize, provoke, excite, or quietly move. More and more hotels understand this, embracing art and aesthetics into their overall design and decor, dropping the amateur sunsets and tepid watercolors of yore for more serious works of art. The results provide an impressive and eye-pleasing array of choices for art connoisseurs and hotel-lovers alike.
One can start with a sublime stay at New York’s Gramercy Park Hotel represents the creme of New York Art Hotels, with a lobby laden with 20th century masterpieces by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, Richard Prince, and Julian Schnabel. Gramercy offers patrons a chance to experience museum-quality art in an intimate, relaxed environment.
Gramercy Park Hotel |2 Lexington Avenue, New York NY 10010
The James Chicago has fostered local artistic talent since it opened, with works like the wall installation by Demarcus Purham in the lobby, and the installation “Room 28” by Joel Ross in the permanent collection. It also collaborates with the Monique Meloche Gallery and its artist-in-residence program finding work to rotate through the hotel’s other public spaces.
The James Chicago | 55 East Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Santa Monica’s Shutters On The Beach boasts an impressive collection of lithographs, objets d’art, and original works by masters such as Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein and David Hockney, as well as easy access to the beach and the pier, and an award-winning restaurant serving fresh California fare.
Shutters On The Beach | One Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica CA 90405
On the shores of Miami Beach, stands The National—a singular art deco masterpiece, designed by Roy France, one of the period’s foremost architects. Totally restored in 1997, art deco oozes from the National’s pores. The hotel’s restaurant ceiling, a intricate mosaic comprised of thousands of tiny tiles, was patterned after a painting by art deco artist Tamara de Lempicka.
The National |1677 Collins Ave Miami Beach, FL 33139
Relaunched by Morgans Hotel Group in 2003, Shore Club resort also graces Miami Beach. Designed by British architect David Chipperfield with landscaping inspired by the rich Matisse colours of the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, Shore Club looks and feels like art. Touches like tufted floor cushions, hand-woven tribal rugs and patterned throw pillows add a warm and textured gallery of textiles to the experience. Shore Club |1901 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139
The Life and Luxury 