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The W Los Angeles Will Once Again Be CHILL-ing on Friday

Where: 930 Hilgard Avenue [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

Like it or not, the holiday season has officially begun. So while you're drawing up your Christmas wish lists or plotting out the best strategy for door-busting on Black Friday, don't forget to plan out your hotel stay. From now through New Year's Eve, we'll be pulling out the holiday hotel news, deals and events we think are the best (or the worst.) Got a question about booking a hotel over the holidays or what to do when staying in a hotel over the holidays? Let us know!

We love this time of the year not just for the Mariah Carey Christmas album, the Ginger Spice lattes from Starbucks or the ugly holiday sweater parties we can attend but it's also when hotels attempt the impossible--ice-skating rinks in warm weather.

For instance this Friday, The W Los Angeles--Westwood will once again open their signature hybrid ice rink which in true W fashion is given the one-word moniker, CHILL.

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You Can Pay to Be a VIP at the W Los Angeles-Westwood

Where: 930 Hilgard Ave. [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

If you've ever envied the perks that guests received when at a W hotel, you can now get the W treatment at the W Los Angeles-Westwood without spending the night.

The hotel just started offering WIP—W Important People—Platinum membership that gives members year-round access to the hotel's popular amenities, like its pool and fitness center. Plus, it will try to get you to stay the night by offering 25 percent off of hotel rates and free room upgrades and WiFi.

But not just anyone can join—the program sounds almost like a hotel country club. To become a WIP, it'll cost you $1,800 and you will have to apply. A committee will meet to go over the applications and select new members one a year.

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Dance for Your Drinks at W Los Angeles' Game Nights

Where: 930 Hilgard Ave. [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

If you can rock dance games like Just Dance 2 and Michael Jackson: The Experience for Wii harder than J.Lo, bring your moves and your own background dancers to the W Los Angeles Westwood. The L.A. hotel will start WTF?!—which stands for "Whiskey Tech Fun"—game night this Wednesday with prizes including games from Ubisoft and a gift certificate for bottle service.

Even better, you get to drink for free just for participating in the competition. Teams of four will get a cocktail ticket each; teams of five to nine will receive a cocktail pitcher (which could hold anything from margaritas to mojitos); teams of 10 or more will get a bottle of premium alcohol. That would make us dance for joy.

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Plug Panels, Coppola Wine, Pajamas and More at The Hotel Palomar Westwood

Where: 10740 Wilshire Blvd [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

It turns out the Hotel Palomar Westwood really doesn't need that reality TV show package to lure in new guests. That's because we found all the entertainment we could want inside the rooms.

We popped in the Wilshire Corridor hotel yesterday to see how it's been holding up after opening two years ago. And we think the rooms and amenities have actually improved since we did our first sneak peek in 2008.

Ok, so the desk's awesome plug panel and the room's ginormous flat-screen TV have always been there, same with the free WiFi for Kimpton InTouch members.

But the Palomar has really upped the goodie factor from Francis Ford Coppola's wine and tons of treats in the minibar to the animal-print pajamas in the closet, jogging maps for the LA/Westwood area on the desk, an easy-to-read in-room dining menu from the restaurant, BLVD 16 and the "Forgot It? We've Got It Program", we don't think we'd want for anything staying here.

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The W Los Angeles is Pretty Sexy for a 10-Year-Old

Where: 930 Hilgard Avenue [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

Last night we attended the 10th birthday party for the original W Hotel in Los Angeles--The W Los Angeles-Westwood. Yes, this fine property is 10 years old and to celebrate, the hotel threw a fun poolside bash in its new Escape Lounge (which is essentially a new name for the pool area and its cabanas.)

As guests flitted about drinking, socializing and tasting (there was a cabana devoted to serving Asian chicken salad), a bubble machine was spewing bubbles around the pool area. It was cute and fun and apparently, addictive as we heard one not-so-young man say, "I have this problem, I am addicted to bubbles!" and then he promptly went off to pop some bubbles.

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The Hotel Palomar Westwood Now Catering to Reality TV Addicts

Where: 10740 Wilshire Blvd [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

We're not big fans of hotel appearances on reality TV shows simply because the trashy cast often starring in these train wrecks never make the hotel look good. Seriously, the only way a hotel could be shown in a positive light on a reality TV show is if the show involved Betty White, Justin Bieber, President Obama and Oprah hotel-hopping and staying in the finest suites. But that's just our opinion.

Nevertheless, there are people out there obsessed with reality shows and this is where TV-addicts often get their vacation ideas. Which is probably why the Hotel Palomar Westwood in Los Angeles has created their "It's Reality" reality TV package where guests can shop, dine and visit the hot spots featured on today's top reality shows.

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Hotel Palomar Westwood's BLVD 16 Will Buy You Lunch

Where: 10740 Wilshire Blvd. [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

If you're bored of eating your usual PBJ sandwich for lunch, hightail it to the Hotel Palomar Los Angeles - Westwood. The hotel's BLVD 16 will give out free grab-and-go lunches on May 20 to the first 100 people who visit the restaurant.

The grab-and-go giveaway starts at 11:30 a.m., so take that lunch break a little early to claim your PBJ alternative. As part of the complimentary meal, you'll get a gourmet sandwich, chips and a beverage. The chef will choose the sammie, though there will be a meat option and a vegetarian one.

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Kathy Griffin Goes Ahead With Poolside Stunt at Hotel Palomar

Where: 10740 Wilshire Blvd [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

We have to hand it to Kathy Griffin. She announced she would be getting a pap smear poolside at the Hotel Palomar Westwood on Friday and she actually went through with it, wearing a bikini and heels no less!

Kathy's public pap smear was conducted by a legit medical physician and beneath the chair was a giant sign that said, "Tell Cancer to Suck It." Griffin went public with a private check-up to educate women around the world about health and cancer awareness.

"I started talking to girlfriends of mine, my age and younger, and I just can't believe how many women are afraid to get a Pap smear or they forget or they've gone 10 years without doing one," she said. "The message is, if you see me doing something so outrageous-some may say repulsive-that should make it easier for you to pick up the phone and call your doctor and go get one in the privacy of your own doctor's office."

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We Have No Words for Kathy Griffin's Latest Hotel Stunt

Where: 10740 Wilshire Blvd [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

The pool at the Hotel Palomar will never be the same.

We have to remind ourselves that she's doing this for a good cause but Kathy Griffin's latest hotel stunt has us cringing...a lot.

The comedian and red carpet pundit is going to get a pap smear for an episode of her reality show, "My Life on the D-List." That's not so bad. After all, it's for women's health awareness. But what is bad is that Kathy is planning to do it poolside at the Hotel Palomar in Los Angeles. Poolside! She's also planning on bedazzling her lady friend a la Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Now, we seriously hope that she closes down the pool area so that guests don't have to see this stunt. No one should be subjected to that. We just don't understand why she couldn't do it up in one of the hotel suites. Or why the hotel is allowing this to even go on? Why are you allowing it to go on, Hotel Palomar?

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Food Frenzy At Los Angeles Hotels This Month

Where: 10740 Wilshire Blvd. [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

Foodies in Los Angeles are all abuzz lately about some big turnover in hotel restaurants around town—both on the menu and in the kitchen. Plus, now that there’s an end in sight to beach weather, it’s time to put the bikini away and start thinking about packing on the pounds for winter. Here are four of the stories and specials we’ve been following lately.

Last week, we stopped in for a dinner at the new restaurant in Beverly Hills’ Avalon Hotel, oliverio. To complement the 1960’s Italian-style redecoration (pictured above), new chef Mirko Paderno (formerly of Cecconi’s in West Hollywood), has created an Italian-inspired menu that is equal parts familiar and fanciful, with dishes like an octopus carpaccio with wild arugula, lemon and olive oil ($14); a panna cotta-like cauliflower soufflé with parmigiano sauce ($11); truffled pizza with spongy potato-based dough ($16); al dente tortelli stuffed with braised lamb in a light tomato-olive sauce ($17); and an enormous breaded veal chop with roasted potatoes ($34).

Believe it or not, even with pairings from the manageable and affordable Italian wine list, we still had room for desserts like semifreddo with cranberries and pistachio, and a citrus budino with bruléed lemon crème.

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Hotel Palomar Westwood Gets a Visit from The Jonas Brothers

Where: 10740 Wilshire Blvd. at Selby Avenue [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

And here we thought the Hotel Palomar Westwood was only for business travelers and proud parents of nearby UCLA students! But that's obviously not the case as tipster Paul points out that the Jonas Brothers were spotted boarding their tour bus in front of the hotel, looking "extremely exhausted."

Hmm...perhaps the boys made good use of the in-room spa services? We're sure the boys and their entourage would have plenty of room for those inside presidential suite which is a 750-square-foot suite that connects to guestrooms on either side to become a two-bedroom suite. There's also a separate living area and a deluxe bathroom, plus unobstructed views of Los Angeles.

However, Jonas Brothers fans will just have to settle for a 350-square-foot deluxe room which are currently going for $174 a night.

[Photo: Sprinkle Pop Online]

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The Palomar Westwood Provides Tax Relief…And Candy!

Where: 10740 Wilshire Blvd. [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90024

Has tax time got you stressed out this year? The April deadline to get your check to the IRS fast approaches, but no matter what size the chunk Uncle Sam is taking out of your salary, you can find some “sweet” relief at the Hotel Palomar in Westwood.

Available for travel throughout the month of April, Kimpton’s Sweet Tax Relief package means that the hotel will pay your room tax for you when you book a room overnight. Not only that, but the staff will be sure to sweeten the deal by strewing a few financial-themed candy bars like Payday and 100 Grand around your room.

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