Dreaming of deporting yourself to Paris until the election dust settles? You'd be wise to avoid the Hotel Concorde La Fayette--unless, of course, you actually enjoy the oh-so-passé satisfaction of an election being decided on the real, shall we say, meaty issues rather than superficial garnishes.
That's right, the Hotel Concorde La Fayette is following in the election-gimmick trend encroaching hotels stateside and has created a French version of presidential-themed burgers: the O-Burger and Elephant Burger at the La Fayette Bar. (Turns out even the City of Light can't outshine the glaring spotlight surrounding this year's wannabe leaders of the free world.)
You've got the campaign T-shirts, lapel pin, bumper sticker and the sign in your front yard, but have you downed an election cocktail at Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel?
Much like The Muse Hotel in New York City, The Borgata is offering up their own candidate-themed drinks at one of the casino-hotel's bars.
Now through November 4, belly up to the Gypsy Bar to cast your vote for one of three intoxicating candidates: Ciroc Obama (vodka, blue curacao, lime juice and sprite), McCainarita (tequila, grand marnier, lime and pomegrante juices) or Miss Independent (raspberry vodka, cointreau, cranberry and lime juices).
Playing by the real election's rules, this competition will be tallied and the winner announced after all votes are in on November 4, Election Day. Until then, the thirsty and restless can nailbite over updates on the Borgata's nightlife website.
Just remember- with one presidential debate left on October 15, you've still got to decide on where to drink through it, and this bipartisan deal at the Borgata sounds pretty promising.
New York's Tribeca Grand Hotel may have the debate parties, but The Muse and the W New York have got the cocktails to guzzle for when John McCain says things like "that one" and Barack Obama shows utter disregard for Tom Brokaw.
The Muse has concocted candidate-themed cocktails, such as the Cuppa Joe Biden (with vodka, Baileys, whiskey, coffee, crème and--suspiciously, or not?--a little brown sugar) and the McCandy Cane (peppermint Schnapps, white creme de cacao, grenadine, half-n-half and a candy-cane garnish).
There's also the Pom Pom Palin (vodka, Cointreau, Pom juice, champagne and a red sugar "lipstick" rim) and last but not least, the On the Baracks (citrus vodka, blue curacao, lime juice and Sprite, on the rocks, of course).
Though we can't stand to admit it, we think the Pom Pom Palin wins our vote.
How far would you go to win a free night? Would you dress up as a French maid and go to a party full of people dressed up as French maids swilling absinthe?
And if people are dressed up as French maids--opposed to actual French maids, which we aren't sure truly exist--then we know they're slutty French maids. Um. Awkward. A little bit like a high school movie. Or another kind of movie.
So this is the premise for Maison 140's "Spirits of Halloween" party and you're invited! If you can't resist a good contest, show up in your maid costume and be in the running for six prizes including an overnight stay for two, and wine and cheese tastings.
We all know that Kimpton Hotels love their daily wine and cheese-tasting hours in the lobby, but have you ever wanted something a little stronger, a little more fulfilling?
Well, if you're staying at the Hotel Palomar Westwood in Los Angeles, then you're in luck.
The hotel's excellent BLVD 16 restaurant just announced a Happy Hour from 4-7pm where diners can score select items from the bar menu at 50 percent off. Such items include Marinated Olives, Wild Mushroom Crostini, Crispy Local Calamari, Herb Kennebec Fries, Summertime Tempura, and Charcuterie.
The restaurant/bar is also serving new "Special-Teas" cocktails at $6 a piece.
And because of the tea-fusion cocktails, the restaurant is calling their Happy Hour "Tea Time." Ha! While we do love our high hotel teas, this one definitely beats Earl Grey and finger sandwiches.
Another reason why this happy hour is good for you? Everything sold inside BLVD 16 is locally produced. Word.
Maison 140's Bar Noir in Beverly Hills has recently introduced "L'Heure Verte" (The Green Hour), a $5-per-glass experience that puts you up close and personal with the Green Fairy, an absinthe concoction that will, well, git yer ass drunk.
If you're not familiar with the magical beverage, you need to know two things: absinthe usually runs about 45%-75% alcohol by volume (thanks Wikipedia!) and concocting a drinkable glass of the "Green Fairy" (five parts water, one-part absinthe) is kinda a production.
After our story the other day about the intriguing cocktails that were served at the Citizen M hotel in Amsterdam, like a Mobile Martini and a Vespa Martini, we decided we wanted more...more drink descriptions of course.
So we flagged down a hotel rep who sent over this complete list of the drinks. And it turns out the Vespa Martini is actually a Vesper Martini, a James Bond-inspired drink.
There's tons of hotel news flying around this week and we don't have time to give each and every story the love and attention it may deserve, so you will have to settle for some news briefs.
· They're All Gonna Spy on You!: Beware guests staying in foreign hotels in Beijing. The Chinese government will spy on you, so says a Republican senator. But the U.S. State Department backs him up saying hotel rooms will be monitored. Hmm...we don't want to go to the Olympics that badly. [AFP]
· More Honeymooner Sadness: The husband of a honeymooning couple in Antigua who was shot by robbers has been declared brain-dead. His wife died instantly when shot in the head. [Telegraph]
· Hotel History: Do you love the TV Show Mad Men? This blog is looking at all of the historical spots mentioned in the episodes. Check out the Savoy-Plaza Hotel. [AMC TV]
· W Dallas Lowers Its Drink Prices: A sure sign a recession is here? The W Hotel has lowered its cocktail prices in Dallas. Specialty cocktails are $9 from 4:59 to 6:59 p.m., and small plates are half off. [QuickDFW.com]
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by KatieK
How far would you go to win a free night? Would you dress up as a French maid and go to a party full of people dressed up as French maids swilling absinthe?
