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Disney comes to Palm Beach

2009-02-26 15:39:14

Nestled in the heart of Palm Beach, The Chesterfield Hotel is the ideal place for a special getaway and the Music to My Ears package is the perfect instrument.

In conjunction with The Norton Museum of Art exhibition, "The Music Behind the Magic: Disney, 1928 -Today," which runs from June 9 through September 9, 2009, the Music to My Ears package is available from June 6 through September 6, 2009, and includes:

Three days, two nights in a deluxe King Room
Complimentary Continental Breakfast for two each morning
Two tickets to the Norton's "Music Behind the Magic" exhibit
Meeting the General Manager of Saks Fifth Avenue on Worth Avenue and a receive 15% discount on all purchases made on the day of your visit
Romantic four course dinner for two with a bottle of wine in the hotel's famous Leopard Room

The Music to My Ears package is $585 based on double occupancy, exclusive of tax and gratuities, and subject to availability.

A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Chesterfield is just steps from world-famous Worth Avenue and the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel boasts 52 uniquely themed and decorated guest rooms and suites that feature rich décor and lavish amenities. Guests enjoy the renowned Leopard Lounge and Restaurant, tropical pool area, and the intimate Library. Complimentary valet service is always available.

The hotel is a member of Red Carnation Hotels, a collection of luxury boutique properties. The four-star London jewels are The Montague on the Gardens in Bloomsbury, the Rubens at the Palace, and The Chesterfield Hotel, Mayfair. The Acorn Inn is located in Evershot, Dorset and The Old Government House Hotel and Spa is located in Guernsey, Channel Islands.

For more information or reservations, call the hotel directly at 561-659-5800; toll free from USA/Canada 1-877-955-1515. In Europe dial 00-800-1698-8740. Visit www.redcarnation.com or email bookchpb@rchmail.com.

Lounge Lizards: Chill Lounges in Hot Hotels

2009-01-02 09:01:07

Lounge lizards know that the ideal place to hang out has to incorporate certain qualities: it must have a distinct style, be intimate, and a little sexy.
In short, the vibe should feel almost like home-without mom, dad and Great Aunt Suzy feasting on leftover Christmas ham-and equipped with a fabulous bar, hors d'oeuvres, music and ambiance.

From hotspots catering to young Hollywood to throwbacks to a different era, check out some of these lounges that are tucked inside hotels, so even out-of-towners can join the party.

Mbar
InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa
Paradise Valley, AZ
Even when Arizona's winter temperature drops under 60 degrees, the vibe inside Mbar is warm and sultry. Besides the requisite plush couches and candlelight, this lounge is also one of the best spots to watch the sun set over nearby Camelback Mountain while listening to the sounds of Spanish guitar music.
Nestled inside Prado, the signature restaurant of the new InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley (part of metropolitan Phoenix) Mbar opened in November 2008, and is already a see-and-be-seen spot for locals.
And for good reason. Mbar is chic (caramel-colored leather bar stools, carved wood-accent tables and eye-catching art), and, in true Southwest style, boasts a wide selection of agave tequilas. Among the signature cocktails: the "Fountain of Youth" which blends the potent liquor with au currant acai, pomegranate and citrus juices.
Meanwhile, a menu features high-end tapas, including New Caledonian prawns, eggplant tapenade and hand-sliced Serrano ham. If you have a bigger appetite, the M Burger is served with brioche, Manchego cheese, aioli and hand-cut French fries. Out-of-towners are also discovering the 34-acre resort, set in the desert and inspired by the Andalusia region of Southern Spain, complete with Spanish-inspired courtyards, gurgling fountains and lemon trees.
4949 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, Arizona; 480-627-3200,

Skybar
Mondrian Hotel
Los Angeles
There are plenty of trendy accommodations in L.A., but the Mondrian, a boutique hotel along Sunset Boulevard, is a standout. For one thing, if you want to break through the velvet rope of Skybar-a longtime gathering space for celebrities and beautiful people-all you need is a guest-room key. One night at the Mondrian and you'll be rubbing shoulders with Hollywood's elite.

Perhaps best of all, an evening at Skybar offers a classically "L.A." kind of night. Think balmy weather, lounging al fresco, and panoramic views of the city.
8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, California; 323-650-8999,

ArtBar Lounge
The Liaison Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C.
In the nation's capital, where lawmakers, lobbyists and power brokers mix and mingle at work and play, happy hours can sometimes feel like one big networking-fest.

Nothing wrong with that, but for those who prefer to end the day someplace with a mellower feel, enter the ArtBar Lounge inside The Liaison Capitol Hill.
The lounge is part of the hotel's recently launched destination restaurant, Art and Soul-the latest offering of Chef Art Smith. (The James Beard Award-winning chef and cookbook author is probably best-known as being Oprah's former personal chef.)
The hotel's lobby flows into the restaurant, lounge, and bar areas, and it's certainly thought-provoking. Iconic six-foot paintings of world leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr., and Gandhi, line the walls. There are white leathery seats (built-in conversation nooks), Space Age-style lighting, 16-foot glass walls, shiny red chairs, a pinstripe couch, and floral arrangements (including congratulatory bouquet from Lady O, herself). And, of course, there is the (obligatory) amazing view of the district's distinctive skyline.

The restaurant serves up Southern and Chesapeake Bay fare, so bar appetizers include distinctively regional dishes like Rappahannock River oysters with pimento corn mignonette and spice-rubbed ahi tuna with fried green tomatoes and sour pickle relish.
415 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC; 202-638-1616,

The Leopard Lounge
The Chesterfield Hotel
Palm Beach, FL

The Chesterfield Hotel is a place where English tea is served daily alongside plates of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. It's not difficult to win over fans with that kind of service.

But step into The Leopard Lounge and it's a whole other world. On one evening, a pianist was plucking out Frank Sinatra tunes, while ladies and gents (yes, gents) dressed for the evening (no jeans allowed here), swayed on the dance floor. All around are touches of the signature red and leopard trimmed décor that gives this famed lounge its reputation.

From highballs to martinis, bartenders at The Leopard Lounge know how to make a mean drink. Stop by on the right night and you may even spot celebrity frequenters like Whitney Houston and Rod Stewart. This lounge is purr-fect.
363 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach; 561-659 5800, www.chesterfieldpb.com

The Colony Hotel
Royal Room Cabaret
Palm Beach, FL
Not far from the Leopard Lounge is the Royal Room Cabaret inside the Colony Hotel. This upscale and elegant boutique hotel has so many dining and other options onsite, guests need not venture beyond the palm trees or swimming pool.
Yet as the name suggests, the establishment has made a name for itself as a venue where one can lounge while watching cabaret. Top performers such as Broadway baby Ben Vereen show up regularly, and season tickets are highly coveted. Drinks flow and service is superb.

And don't think of this as your grandmother's night out. Loungers of all ages are hanging out on a typical weekend, patrons dance into the wee hours to live entertainment (a band that performs Motown standards performs regularly) and a lively spirit permeates throughout. A royal experience, indeed.

155 Hammon Avenue, Palm Beach; 800-521-5525,
By Donna M. Owens for PeterGreenberg.com.

World's best places for cocktail hour

2008-12-12 07:59:01

To share this happy tradition with the world, I asked about 50 people I've met over the years, well-travelled folk, to suggest spots. Ideas poured in. For some people, a sundowner was best enjoyed at a beach bar while watching the sun sink into the sea. For others, it was about working up a thirst, trekking as far away from civilisation as possible. For everyone, sundowners recalled a special holiday moment, a warm, contented feeling echoed by the rosy colour of the sky.
The result? Great places to say cheers.

Leopard Bar & Lounge, Cape Town
The west-facing Cape Town suburb of Camps Bay is one of the world's top spots for sunsets over the sea. Bars on the main boulevard are uber-trendy and often crowded but at the Twelve Apostles Hotel's Leopard Bar a white balcony, white awnings and blue-and-white striped cushions make for a calm, classy setting, evocative of summer holidays. The bar stocks 72 varieties of martini (love their Vanilla Chocatini), as well as cognacs and ports. Tea by the Sea is another afternoon delight: a tiered stand of sweet sensations, including cream scones, cucumber sandwiches and mini chocolate gateaux. Wow factor Majestic. It's the sunset equivalent of "surf and turf", with the Atlantic crashing below and the Twelve Apostles mountains standing sentinel above. Accessibility About 15 minutes' drive from the city centre, the hotel is on Victoria Road, between Camps Bay and Llandudno. The Leopard Bar isn't limited to guests; all sundowner-seekers are welcome.

Click here to read the full article

Home For The Holidays At The Fabulous Chesterfield

2008-09-09 08:56:25

The island of Palm Beach is the ideal place for those special winter holidays and The Chesterfield Hotel, with its fine, traditional hospitality, is the ideal place to be. Combine the two and you have the fabulous Home for the Holidays package.

Treat yourself to the breathtakingly beautiful surroundings of Palm Beach. Walk to the ocean – a short stroll away. Shop on world-famous Worth Avenue. Dine in the Chesterfield’s gourmet Leopard Room Restaurant; relax in the Chesterfield’s Leopard Room Lounge.

The Home for the Holidays package includes:

Four days/Three nights accommodation in a Superior Queen Room
Full American Breakfast for two each morning
One Traditional English Afternoon Tea for Two
Holiday Surprise Gift
One Complimentary cocktail in The Leopard Lounge and Restaurant for two

The Home for the Holidays package is available from December 15, 2008, through January 15, 2009, for a three-night stay, based on double occupancy and subject to availability. It is from $899 exclusive of taxes and gratuities.

For more information and reservations, contact The Chesterfield Hotel directly at 1-800-243-7871. Call Red Carnation Hotels toll free from Europe: 00 800 1698 8740. Email bookchpb@rchmail.com and visit www.chesterfieldpb.com or www.redcarnationhotels.com.

Red Carnation Hotels is a collection of luxury family-run properties. The Four-Star London properties are The Chesterfield Mayfair in the heart of exclusive Mayfair; The Montague on The Gardens, adjacent to The British Museum; and The Rubens At The Palace, opposite Buckingham Palace.

*****

2007: AA Hospitality named Red Carnation Hotels ‘Small Hotel Group of the Year’
Registered Historical Landmark with the Palm Beach Preservation Foundation
Member of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Brides Magazine: "It shines like the crown jewels"

Chesterfield Hotel: English Countryside Meets Florida Sunshine

2008-09-24 15:35:31

Worth Avenue represents the essence of Palm Beach
There is no place like Florida's Palm Beach, a city with an abnormally high number of eccentric people, with eccentric defined as a bit crazy and very, very rich. Everyone should visit at least once in a lifetime

Click here to read the full article

Celebrate Mother's Day

2008-05-02 13:41:28

The Chesterfield Palm Beach invites you to celebrate Mother's Day with three special treats. Come and have tea, but not just any tea - our lovely Mother and Daughter Tea, served on Saturday, May 10th. And continue your celebration on Sunday with our beautiful Mother's Day Brunch. Or, if you choose, enjoy Like Mother, Like Daughter - a luxurious two-day/one-night package with lots of pampering.

The Mother and Daughter Tea, Saturday, May 10th, will be served at 3:00 p.m. Your Mom feel will feel like royalty with this extra special treat featuring dainty sandwiches, assorted pastries and scones served warm from the oven. Each participant will receive a special gift. $26 per person (inclusive of tax and gratuity). Reservations required: please call 659.5800 ext 153.

The Chesterfield's Mother's Day Brunch, Sunday, May 11th, will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Show your Mom how much you care and bring her to The Leopard Room for a sumptuous Brunch Buffet. $45 for Adults; $18 for Children under 12 (exclusive of tax and gratuity). Reservations required: please call 659.5800 ext 153.

For those of you who wish to make this special day a total escape, we offer the Like Mother, Like Daughter package, which includes continental breakfast, dinner for two in the Leopard Lounge, a free in-room movie, traditional English afternoon tea, a $50 Gift Certificate to use in The Leopard Lounge or Hotel Gift Shop, and a facial designed for you at Salon Margrit. This package is $620 for two days and one night in an Executive or Junior Suite, based on double occupancy. The Like Mother, Like Daughter package is subject to availability and offered through May 31st, 2008.

The Chesterfield Palm Beach, a small luxury boutique hotel and historical landmark, is located on the elite island of Palm Beach, Florida and is a member of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

For more information or reservations, call the hotel directly at 1-800-243-7871, email bookchpb@rchmail.com, or visit www.chesterfieldpb.com/offers-and-gifts/details/like-mother-like-daughter

Sweethearts' Package

2008-09-24 15:37:25

Everyday is a romantic day at The Chesterfield Palm Beach. This jewel of a hotel is delighted to offer the Sweethearts' package. Treat yourself and your loved one to the breathtaking and intimate surroundings of Palm Beach. Nestled in the heart of Palm Beach, The Chesterfield Hotel is just steps from world-famous Worth Avenue and the Atlantic Ocean. It features 52 luxurious guest rooms and suites, the renowned Leopard Lounge and Restaurant, a tropical pool area, and intimate Library.

This package includes:

2 days/1 night in our romantic Junior Suite
Welcome Gift from The Chesterfield
Complimentary Continental Breakfast in your room
A list of the "12 Most Romantic Places to Kiss in Palm Beach"
A Romantic Interlude Dinner in our Leopard Lounge and Restaurant
Champagne, fruit, and chocolate covered strawberries at turndown

Pamper yourselves with the Sweethearts' package, priced from $680 through 15th December, 2008. Sweethearts' package is based on double occupancy, exclusive of taxes and gratuities, and subject to availability.

For more information or reservations, call the hotel directly at 1-800-243-787, email bookchpb@rchmail.com or visit www.chesterfieldpb.com.

The Place to be receives Wine Enthusiast Magazine Award of Distinction, 2007

2008-09-24 15:38:23

If Palm Beach is Jazz Age razzmatazz coupled with Emily Post breeding and good manners, the LEOPARD ROOM at the Chesterfield Hotel encapsulates the best of both worlds. Now this restaurant of long-standing, very much a Palm Beach institution, has been honored to receive Wine Enthusiast Magazine's Award of Distinction for 2007.

What does this mean? It means the LEOPARD ROOM's tradition of excellence, the highest quality food complemented by a world class wine list, has been recognised by one of North America's most prestigious specialist wine magazines.

The wine list at the LEOPARD ROOM is as eclectic as it is comprehensive. Fabulous Cabs, magnificent Merlots, spicy Shirazes and zingy Zins vie for attention with the very best South African sauvignons and classic Bordeaux and Burgundies. The list is as long as it is relevant, capturing the zeitgeist of what is happening in the world of wine. It's considered and contemporary and it's what discerning wine lovers want to drink right now.

In the LEOPARD ROOM, wines are stored at optimum temperature and served with the respect they demand. Old stock is turned over and replaced in an intelligent list, which continues to expand, imaginatively and intelligently as well as exponentially.

Out of thousands of applicants, The LEOPARD ROOM is one of only a handful of restaurants in North America to be honored with this level of recognition. It represents dedication in delivering the most wine-friendly experience to patrons, wine served with know-how and expertise, with verve and enthusiasm but never pretension. Now who wouldn't drink to that!

THE LEOPARD ROOM is open for lunch and dinner daily.

The Chesterfield Hotel is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and boasts 52 uniquely themed and decorated guest rooms and suites that feature rich décor and lavish amenities. Complimentary valet service awaits you. A member of Red Carnation Hotels, the Chesterfield Hotel is located at 363 Cocoanut Row. The other luxury boutique RCH properties are located in London, Dorset, Geneva and Cape Town.

For more information or reservations, call the hotel at 1-800-659-5800. Email bookchpb@rchmail.com and visit www.chesterfieldpb.com or www.redcarnation.com.

Gold Coasting

2008-09-24 15:36:47

Never was a street so aptly named as WORTH Avenue, a tradition in shopping since the colorful inception of Palm Beach. This mecca for seekers of luxury goods spans less than a mile from ocean to Intracoastal (look for the idling Bentleys and Rolls-Royces), but pound for pound, it packs an incredibly elegant punch. The two hundred boutiques lining the avenue and side streets are a parade of sophisticated names, from Dior to Chanel and Armani. Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, the grandes dames of the street, anchor her east end while discreetly providing a buffer from blowing beach sand. True, Saks and Neiman have stores nationwide, but here they are uniquely Palm Beach. Saks (172 Worth Ave., 561-833-2551; saksfifthavenue.com) will open on Sundays or after hours by appointment for special customers. At Neiman (151 Worth Ave., 561-805-6150, neimanmarcus.com), an escalator ride is an ethereal two-story descent through dangling strings of white feather butterflies and mirrors.

Via Mizner is just one of a dozen courtyards tucked in behind bougainvillea-covered arches along the avenue. In Via Parigi find Stubbs & Wootton (4 Via Parigi, 561-655-6857 or 877-4-STUBBS), purveyor of exclusive velvet embroidered slippers (slippers, $225; slides, $450). The truly well-heeled request these Palm Beach must-haves with hand-stitched initials.

Palm Beach is balmy year-round, but shoppers prepare for cool evening breezes and blasts of air-conditioning at Au Cashmere (323 Worth Ave., 561-655-0203) in the Via De Mario Courtyard. The sublimely soft pieces are mostly Italian and Scottish even though the chic, friendly owner, Genevieve Poitout, hails from France. To find something French, check out the swimwear for men, direct from St. Tropez, at Vilebrequin (150 Worth Ave., 561-659-6569). The hot styles and quick-drying fabrics are a hit with Prince William, Pierce Brosnan, and George Clooney. Mister (313½ Worth Ave., 561-835-0777) is another must-stop shop for guys with an eye for style. The store’s ever-changing collection includes La Martina polo shirts ($100-$2,000) from actual English, Brazilian, Argentine, and American teams. Also very cool are Laguiole pocket knives in Day-Glo colors. Speaking of knives, Grande Armée Military Antiques (256 Worth Ave., 561-835-1958 or 800-278-8212, grandarmee.com) offers antique weaponry to die for — everything from hand-painted toy soldiers to armor from Austrian Dragoon Guards (circa 1890).

If diamond baguettes are more your bag, boutiques such as Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, and Tiffany are a bastion of bling — with premium prices. For a less costly but highly appealing alternative, try the costume jewelry at Mariko (329 Worth Ave., 561-655-5770). Although the boutique offers many pieces of real jewelry, such as the ivory, Lucite, and silver ethnic baubles from New York sculptor Patricia Von Musulin (black wood bracelet with inlaid onyx, $3,600), its specialty is “travel” jewelry — replicas of fine jewels or very sparkly alternatives. The imposters don’t come cheap, though (Fantasia three-strand cubic zirconium necklace: $6,000). Non-wearable art also abounds on the avenue. Find Tiffany glass and delicate art deco pieces at Spencer Antiques Gallery (240 Worth Ave., 561-833-9893) or stake your claim on modern masters from Magritte to Matisse at Gallery Biba (224A Worth Ave., 561-651-1371).

Off Worth
There's more to this seaside sanctuary than one super-posh street. Need somewhere to wear that barely there dress from Michael Kors' Palm Beach collection? Try the Leopard Lounge in the Chesterfield Hotel, a retro restaurant/nightspot featuring animal print decor and late-night happy hours.