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Pretty in Pink for the Holidays at Betsey Johnson's Plaza Pop-Up Shop

Where: 5th Avenue and 59th Street [map], New York, NY, United States, 10019

Love pink stuff? Love New York City's The Plaza Hotel? Hate the high prices ($75 headbands!) of the pink-perfect Eloise shop at The Plaza? We're with you all the way. There's some relief however, as The Plaza has just opened a Betsey Johnson holiday pop-up shop in the lower-level Shops arcade at the hotel.

We just went and roamed around it ourselves, and though it's itsy-bitsy, it definitely packs the pinkest punch. The store associates told us that Betsey wanted the shop chock-full of accessories, and that it is; her sparkly jewelry, funky watches, quilted clutches and even winter hats are everywhere. Rest assured they've got Betsey's signature clothing line as well, in all its crinolined, punky princess glory. The only thing is—when we expressed interest in a particularly stunning necklace but in a larger size—we were told that items are already beginning to sell out. Thankfully if you're that hard-up for something sparkly to wear to your holiday shindig, there are other Betsey shop locations around the city.

If you go, the Betsey Johnson pop-up is only open until January 9.

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What It's Like Working With W

Where: 10 Wardour Street, London, United Kingdom, W1D 6QF

Everyone from Oprah to Hudson Valley farmers is getting on board with hotel shops, those eclectic mini malls conveniently located right inside the lobby.

This week, we take a look at a new indie jewelry collection that has recently popped up inside the W Leicester Square. PDB Jewelry (it stands for 'Pure Dead Brilliant') is a Bali-based company whose cuffs, earrings, rings and necklaces tend to have cute, weird little sayings emblazoned straight into the metal. Which, somehow, makes them a perfect fit for the often-blunt hotel idioms of W.

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Apparently, Oprah Has a Thing For The Montage Beverly Hills

Where: 225 North Canon Drive [map], Beverly Hills, CA, United States, 90210

It was during a routine Twitter browsing session that we came across an excited fan's 88-character message about spotting the big "O" at none other than the Montage Beverly Hills. Now, this hotel has been known as a haven for celebrities for some time now—Mariah and Nick threw their baby shower there, for crissakes. The swanky hotel also accommodated a newly-homeless Maria Shriver when she needed a place to stay.

It was yesterday afternoon when @ttcrebekah's Oprah sighting took place—in the gift store, no less. We'd imagine, after the crazy giveaways her old show was known for, she's probably got the extra cash to pick up a few "nice things" for the house.

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Andaz Wall Street Gets Eco With A Farmers Market

Where: 75 Wall Street [map], New York, NY, United States, 10005

There are two places we never expected to see an artsy fartsy, eco-er than thou farmers market: 1) In the heart of the concrete jungle and 2) in a hotel back yard. But seeing as Andaz always likes to do things a little differently (and usually in a way we like), when we were in New York last week, we timed our trip Downtown to coincide with the market at Andaz Wall Street.

The market is the brainchild of the lush Maximo Lopez May, chef at Wall & Water (the hotel’s restaurant), and Joel Patraker, food sourcer for the hotel who just so handily happens to have a background in farmers markets. It takes place every Wednesday and Saturday and, according to the hotel blurb, promises

Items from local Hudson Valley farms and markets including fruits and vegetables from Migliorelli Farm, poultry and game from Quattro’s, jams and chutneys from Beth’s Farm Kitchen, cheese and other dairy products from Farm Catskills, artisanal soaps from Ash Hopper and artisan breads from Orwasher Bakery.

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Retail Therapy Just Got a Whole Lot Easier for Guests of the W South Beach

Where: 2201 Collins Ave [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139

One of our favorite trends in hotel land over recent years has been the introduction of the well-curated hotel shop. No, not the dinky little gift shop where you can buy the newspaper and a $17 tube of sunblock--and not W The Store, either. Although this new little slice of retail therapy does reside at a W, in fact: the W South Beach.

Therapy, an exclusive collaboration with Warren-Tricomi, opened its doors in late January and already has the fashion pack in Miami excited with its super-feminine decor and "come and play/stay awhile!" mentality.

The store-and-salon-in-one is not about wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am shopping, you see. It's designed to lure you in with its gleaming white marble and flowing drapes, and ensnare you (and your credit card) with buzzy brands such as Chrome Hearts sunglasses, Earnest Sewn jeans, dresses from Australian line Camilla, and cases of jewelry with price tags from $100 to $10,000.

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Doughnut Plant Moves into the Chelsea Hotel

Where: 222 W 23rd St. [map], New York, NY, United States, 10011

The arrival of bougie sweets shop Doughnut Plant may put the final gentrification nail in the coffin of the neighborhood named for the famed Chelsea Hotel—at least until the hotel itself gets torn down or converted into an Andre Balazs playpen.

Only the second-ever location of the cult-favorite Lower East Side dessert skunk works, this outpost will feature its own unique flavors that you won't find at Dunkin': chocolate chip, salty peanuts, and oatmeal are all on the menu, reports the New York Times.

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Sweet! Dylan's Candy Bar Comes to Palm Desert

Where: 9003 Shadow Ridge Road [map], Palm Desert, CA, United States, 92211

Many's the celeb that comes to the Californian desert in search of laid back hotels, Betty Ford rehab or Coachella, but now it's a famous brand that's making its entrance: the Marriott Vacation Club Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert has just opened a Dylan's Candy Bar.

The cavity-causing Marriott shop is the first on the West Coast. The brand, whose flagship store is the New York City emporium, comes from Dylan Lauren, daughter of famous fashion designer Ralph Lauren.

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When It's Cold Outside, Sip On Some Chocolat Chaud at The Plaza

Where: 5th Ave at 59th St [map], New York, NY, United States, 10019

Chocolate lovers, you now have a really good reason for popping into The Plaza.The Francois Chocolate Bar recently took over from Demel Bakery, the Viennese cafe that lasted just two years in the hotel's downstairs retail space.

Though originally billed as a pop-up store, FCB's rapid success at the hotel has led to more permanent residency.

"When we started last month, we didn't know," explained co-owner (and wife of the pastry genius) Fernanda Capobiano, "But the chocolate bar seems to have worked really well." Compared to its predecessor, the design at FCB feels brighter and more open, though its function is essentially the same: a quiet, refined snack spot tucked away inside one of the city's most luxurious hotel shopping malls.

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Asellina Opens At Gansevoort Park Ave On Saturday

Where: 420 Park Avenue South [map], New York, NY, United States, 10016

It's a little chilly to be hanging out by the pool at Plunge now, so it's a good thing that Gansevoort Park Avenue is adding the final touches to its Italian restaurant Asellina. The sleek but cozy looking space opens at the hotel this Saturday.

According to Zagat Buzz, the menu will include dishes like chestnut flower tagliatelle with sausage ragu and wild fennel. But ever since we learned that the restaurant was named after a madame from Pompeii, we've been craving a big plate of Spaghetti alla puttanesca, and really hope the Asellina people (those also behind STK and The Collective), and chef Marco Porceddu, will come through for us on this.

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Andaz Wall Street: Where the Stock Market Meets ... A Farmer's Market?

Where: 75 Wall Street [map], New York, NY, United States, 10005

'Farm to table' are big buzz words in New York restaurants at the moment, but one hotel is upping the ante and launching a farm-to-table—but also to you kind of thing. And surprisingly, the hotel launching this concept—a Farmer's Market—is nestled in the not-obviously-weekendy Financial District.

Yep, Andaz Wall Street kicks off its very own farmers market—the only one created by a hotel in NYC, it boasts—on Saturday, July 10th.

And the produce you can browse, sample, and buy? It's all from the suppliers who stock the hotel's Wall & Water restaurant with farm-fresh goodness. These include Quattro’s Poultry & Game Farm, which keeps Wall & Water in duck and pheasant eggs; Beth’s Farm Kitchen, which turns out pickled veggies and loads of jams and chutneys; and the Hudson Valley's Migliorelli Farm—they raise hogs and make apple cider.

We can't say we've ever had Wall Street high on our weekend 'to do' list but this lineup of ingredients may just get us on the subway and down to the Andaz Wall Street Park Plaza. (The market will be at the south end, near Wall and—why, yes!—Water streets.)

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Three Ways to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at the Hotel Del

Where: 1500 Orange Ave. [map], Coronado, CA, United States, 92118

The Hotel del Coronado may be known for its picturesque beachfront location, but we were too busy getting a sugar high all over the restaurant to notice. Whether you crave candy, ice cream or cake, the Hotel Del will hit the spot.

Find out three ways to get sugar shock at the hotel after the jump.

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The Tablet Shop is So-So But TabletStyle is Fierce

These days, it seems every hotel has to have an online shop. Heck, you don't even have to be a hotel to have an online shop. You can even be a luxury and design hotel booking site like Tablet Hotels to have an online shop.

Browsing through the Tablet Shop, initially, we were underwhelmed. There were some rather predictable items for sale--European spa products, way too expensive luggage, luggage tags, sleep masks and the like. We were only mildly interested in the hotel brochures (created by Tablet) that were free for download.

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