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While New York's Oak Room Closes, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Starts A Music Festival In Vegas

Where: 59 W 44th St [map], New York, NY, United States, 10036

Two main players in the hotel music world are really getting the shake-up this month, and all we can do for now is sit back and watch (or, you know, listen) as the changes come to pass.

For starters, let's face the awful truth that The Algonquin is saying bye-bye forever to the Oak Room, its famed piano lounge that has hosted cabaret legends from Barbara Carroll to Julie Wilson to Steve Ross. According to the NY Times, audiences there have been "declining."

But it's not all doom and gloom! Head west—about 2,200 miles west—and witness a positively burgeoning indie music scene when Sports Illustrated Swimsuit hosts its first-ever music festival at The Cosmopolitan (where else?). The two-day lineup will feature indie acts like The Black Lips (above), Delta Spirit, and Elan Atias among others, and will hopefully do for the Strip what SI's Swimsuit issue has traditionally done for non-sports fans—make everyone sit up and pay attention.

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Next Time You're Looking For Peace and Quiet, Try Not To Check Into the Same Hotel As Woody Allen

If being woken up at midnight by a screeching clarinet isn't your cup of tea, then you might want to avoid staying in the same hotel as Woody Allen. The famous director—and part-time jazz musician—opened up to the LA Times in a recent interview about his unconventional clarinet practice routines.

When Woody isn't commandeering whole churches in Europe, or having his driver find a secluded street where he can then lock the doors and play undisturbed, he often relies on midnight practice sessions right in his hotel room. And when you're Woody Allen flying all over the world to shoot movies and attend premieres, finding time (and space) to practice can be difficult. Interestingly, Woody's never really considered himself that great of a musician. Which does wonders for his ego. But maybe isn't so great for his next-door hotel room neighbors...

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Twitpic of the Week: A Children's Choir Always Livens Up The Lobby

Where: 116 King St W , HAMILTON, ON, Canada, L8P4V3

In the ever-expanding universe of Twitter, there is one particular trend @HotelChatter happens to quite enjoy: candid hotel photos. These Twitpics range from stunning views to anti-views to celebrity tomfoolery and everything in between. And we can't get enough of 'em! Every Monday, we will feature one "Twitpic of the Week" to commemorate our favorite hotel-themed snapshot. Got a favorite of your own? Want to show off your sweet suite? Send it in!

How adorable is this photo, tweeted by @SheratonYHM, located in Ontario, on Thursday. Shown gathered around the hotel's gold-and-pink themed Christmas tree is the local St. Joseph's elementary choir, who sang carols in the lobby, accompanied by a violin.

Unlike some other bands we've seen recently, these guys didn't take up an entire suite just to perform a song.

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Are Hotels Becoming The Next Rock 'n Roll Venues?

Where: 515 15th St Nw [map], WASHINGTON, D.C., United States, 20004

Yesterday, the widely-read indie music blog Stereogum published a second installment of their new "Stereogum x W Hotel Suite Session" video series, which features up-and-coming bands performing at a W Hotel of their choice. No fans, no stage, not even any fancy lighting or effects. Just a regular old rock band taking over a regular old hotel room—and making you wish you could be snuggled up in bed for a front row seat.

But this isn't the first time we've seen this. Back in April, Aloft hotels were running a near identical partnership with Pitchfork called the Video Surveillance Series, where the "footage" was made to look as though it "caught" the bands in action. Same idea, different effect.

And while the trend is certainly proving a success, we have to ask: what's going on here? Is this the next generation of live music? Will bands eventually give up on the traditional venues and just embark on national chain hotel tours?

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Jazz Up Your NYC Stay At These Three Hotel Bars

New York's hotel nightlife is in the midst of a transformation. On the one hand, you have indie artists like Emily Wells and Atlas Sound coming to play lobby shows at the Ace; or the all-night ragers happening over at The Standard's Le Bain every Tuesday—one of the hottest weeknight parties in town.

Still other places go for a more traditional lounge-y vibe, part of which we covered in our list of un-missable lounge acts. But for the jazz enthusiasts out there, here is a list for you. Order a glass bottle of red, dim the lights, and tap your toes along to the syncopated rhythm of these three NYC hotel jazz nights.

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Open Call For Artists At The Flatiron Hotel Toshi

Where: 1141 Broadway [map], New York, NY, United States, 10010

The Flatiron Hotel Toshi has come a long way since last year. Seemingly left between owners for quite some time, these days the hotel has actual guests and a flashy new lobby (though the IKEA furniture is questionable). And now they're ready to hire some local talent.

The folks at Flatiron Hotel Toshi tipped us off to an ambitious arts program they're planning, which aims to bring together all sorts of local performers: musicians, actors, dancers, poets. They've ordered a piano, and are even planning a stage to be built in the southeast corner of the lobby. Think you've got something to offer? Read below for details!

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Palm Springs is Hot, Hot, Hot with New Hotel Happenings

Now that our favorite airline, Virgin America, has just started to fly to Palm Springs we thought it was worth checking in on the hotel scene to see what's new.

A Classic, Revisited
For starters, a brand new hotel has opened--Hotel Lautner. Well it's kind of brand new. The old Desert Hot Springs Motel has been "reimagined" as a four suite boutique resort named after the motel's original architect, John Lautner.

The hotel now features vintage modern furniture, luxurious baths, contemporary kitchens, private gardens, a spa pool and outdoor lounge areas. Plus free WiFi! Room start at $200 during the week and $250 weekend. But hurry, those special introductory rates won't last long.

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Millesime At The Carlton Launches A New Music Series Tonight

Where: 88 Madison Avenue [map], New York, NY, United States, 10016

Yesterday, we showed you a Brussels hotel room channeling New York through some questionable turquoise carpeting. Today, here's a hotel actually located in New York that's paying homage to its Tin Pan Alley roots through a new weekly live music program. Can you guess which one we have higher hopes for?

The series, which runs Wednesday through Sunday every week, blends DJs with live jazz, is supposed to be a "modern interpretation of music from nearby Tin Pan Alley, infused with jazz and French Cabaret." And the whole thing starts today!

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Have a Slumber Party, and a Sound Bath, In The Mojave Desert

Where: 2477 Belfield Boulevard [map], Landers, CA, United States, 92285

An hour away from Palm Springs sits a 38-foot high, 55-foot diameter, dome-shaped "sound chamber" known as The Integratron. Built by an inventor (and UFO enthusiast) named George Van Tessel in the 1970s, his design was based on a combination of Moses' Tabernacle, the writings of Nikola Tesla, and telepathic communications with extraterrestrials.

Anthony Bourdain visited the site earlier this year. Billy Corgan, from the Smashing Pumpkins, is a fan. Thousands of people flock here to hear the mystical sounds and be "rejuvenated." Oh, and if you want, you can rent out the whole place for an overnight visit.

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How Many Pianos Does The St. Regis Need?

Where: 2 East 55th Street, at Fifth Avenue [map], New York, NY, United States, 10022

What do businessmen and businesswomen look for in a conference room? Good coffee, a strong wi-fi signal, and probably some comfy chairs. What about an antique Steinway piano? We're guessing not.

Back in July, we happened upon this neglected beauty in the mezzanine level of The Algonquin, where one hotel staffer admitted the piano had sat unattended for the past three years. Now, we know large, unwieldy pianos have a way of becoming part of the furniture—but surely there's got to be a better place for a lonely Steinway than next to the fire exit?

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Hotel Williamsburg Makes Us Wait Just A Little Longer

Where: 160 North 12 St [map], Brooklyn , NY, United States, 11211

Heading to Brooklyn for Labor Day weekend? Here's one place you definitely should not count on staying at. The long-awaited Hotel Williamsburg, once scheduled for a June opening, was pushed back to August, and then September. Now, the official date is sometime in October. Do we believe them?

Though we've known details about the building for quite some time (pool cabanas, custom-made uniforms, tacos), construction progress seems to have held up the show. Which is a shame, because—we've said it before—but Williamsburg is an open playing field for boutique hotels. When it comes to competition, there basically is none.

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The Mondrian Soho to Get Loud This Sunday Night

Where: 9 Crosby St [map], New York, NY, United States, 10013-3102

Home is wherever...the Mondrian is. Which leaves quite a few options, between Miami, LA, and New York. But this weekend, it's the Mondrian Soho that will be drawing guests up to its rooftop space for the hotel's first-ever penthouse concert.

Who's the performer? We've already given you one hint. And it was a bit of an obvious one. But ok, we'll throw out another. Though this date isn't exactly listed on their tour website, the band swings by Southampton, NY, on Saturday, and plays a show in Edmonton tonight. Oh, and they're a very captivating bunch—some might even call them magnetic.

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