The Playboy Club is Looking for Some New Bunnies

It was a pretty ingenious idea to put the Playboy Club inside The Palms because any time Playboy comes in town they immediately head to The Palms.

But we're guessing infrequent visits from Hugh Hefner and his "Girls Next Door" and former playmates like Jenny McCarthy aren't enough for the Playboy Club.

This Sunday, the club is continuing its Playboy Club Calendar Search by selecting its Miss September. Girls who want to join the rest of the pin-ups for the 2009 calendar can enter online or in-person the night of the event. Girls chosen for the calendar will also win a chance to be seen inside the actual pages of a Playboy magazine.

As for the party 411, all ladies can sip on some free bubbly from 10pm until midnight but we don't know if that will help or hurt your chances of winning. by juliana - VegasChatter

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Ritz Carlton Highlands in Lake Tahoe Opening December 9th, 2009

It was under construction when I visited last winter, but I have it on good authority that the Ritz Carlton Highlands in North Lake Tahoe will open on December 9th, and what's more -- there's still availability over Christmas week. (Yes, I know we've not yet celebrated Columbus Day, but, for that peak week, Dan Sherman spokesperson of Ski.com has told me repeatedly that it's never too soon to secure your accommodations.)

The hotel, which is a series of linked pavilions, will have 170 guest rooms, 16 suites, each room with a gas fireplace. A gondola connects you to the bustling and lively Northstar village. The hotel's design, handled by Hornberger + Worstell, is meant to be a contemporary take on traditional great mountain lodges, like Oregon's Timberline Lodge. It was also designed to blend into the hillside, and to that end, the site was not clear-cut --- landmark trees were tagged, and worked around. by Alison Wellner - Luxist

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Hotel Derek in Houston Unveils Its 'Lady Pink' Rooms

The pink hotel craze continues but the latest hotel to use pink in its rooms is doing it for a good cause. The Hotel Derek in Houston has created five guest rooms designed for the female traveler (uh oh, paging gender neutralists) and 10 percent of the room rate will go towards the Houston chapter of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Pink décor complements each of the guest rooms and includes luxurious bedding, bathroom accessories, as well as a cozy robe and slippers. A unique feature of the Lady Pink rooms is the wellness bar and soothing spa music atop each nightstand.

Room rates start at $289 a night during hte week and goes down on the weekends to $169. by juliana - HotelChatter

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British-American Boutique Hotels - Firmdale Opens the Crosby Street Hotel in NYC

Firmdale Hotels will open its first location outside of London, England with the introduction of the Crosby Street Hotel in downtown Manhattan. The Crosby Street Hotel opens its 86 rooms at the end of September.

Craig Markham, Marketing and PR Director for Firmdale Hotels, said that the boutique hotel chainlet didn’t want to do a London hotel in New York. What does that mean? Apparently, an understated entrance on a quiet cobblestone street, a private garden, a green roof and 40 different room designs ranging from folksy floral to contemporary minimalism sets the Crosby Street Hotel apart from its siblings in London.

The Crosby Street Hotel does contain a little bit of English whimsy. A different felt animal is appliquéd on the back of every dining room chair, and a huge primitive wooden bird hangs above the bar. Even the hotel’s logo, a dog on a leash next to its owner’s high-heeled boots, can be seen as a miniature print of the staff ties. If this isn’t enough to love, the Crosby Street Hotel is one of the first hotels in New York to boast a LEED’s certification. Via: Marrisa Liu - Trendhunter

References: firmdale, themoment.blogs.nytimes

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Renaissance Chicago Launches Soft Opening for Swanky Bar Novo

Where: 1 W. Wacker Drive [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60601

It looks like theWit's hot Roof bar has some competition. As part of the Renaissance Hotel's rebranding effort, the Renaissance Chicago Hotel had a soft opening for its new upscale Bar Novo on Sept. 17 and the lounge will post an official "open" sign on Oct. 1. And like any good business these days, the Bar even has its own Twitter page.

Formerly a stodgy cigar bar—hello, the Chicago smoking ban made cigar bars so 2007—the new space is warm and inviting with reds and deep wood. But the pièce de résistance of the decor is an open chef's station that's the hub of the bar. The station uses an special induction style cook-top that eliminates the use of open flames and bulky hood systems so that you can watch the chef, who has traded in his tired toque for a sleek fedora.

And while we love a place with a cool vibe, we're more interested in sampling the menu. Among the gourmet bar eats, we will go all carnivore and gobble down the "truffalo" wings served with ranch dip; the smoked prime rib nachos doused with Gloucester cheddar and heirloom tomato salsa; and the grilled Kobe beef sliders with miso onions and wasabi cheddar on a sesame brioche bun. For some variety, we'll end the meal with the housemade s'mores fondue.

If we have to have some fruit and veggies, we'll take them in our cocktails. Okay, that's stretching it, but it gives us an excuse to have three helpings in drink form: the cucumber pepper margarita with Milagro tequila, cucumber, bell pepper, lime, agave and jalapeño; the watermelon caiparoska with Finlandia grapefruit, watermelon, lime and sugar; and the basil tangerine gimlet with Finlandia tangerine, basil and lime. With that much alcohol, we might not be able to stumble our way to Roof for the after-party.

Bar Novo is open Monday through Friday from 4pm to 2am and Saturdays from 11am to 3am. Sundays are open from 11am to midnight. by Jennifer Kester - HotelChatter

[Photo: Urban Daddy]

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Caribbean Airlines Hires Hotties To Build Their Brand

When we think of heading down to the islands of the Caribbean, we usually look for cheap airfare on a low cost carrier or one of the country’s big boy airlines. For whatever reason, Caribbean Airlines never seems to be an option, nor do we even give the airline a second thought. Maybe that’s why the marketing gurus at the airline got together to give their company a fighting chance against all the competition.

The airline launched a contest to find 30 people to show off the spirit of the airline, the islands, and all things paradise. Apparently, they want you to feel on vacation as soon as you step aboard the plane—doubtful. These new brand ambassadors are made up of 20 good looking ladies and 10 handsome fellas, and will be out and about promoting the company that signs their paychecks. The Faces of Caribbean Airlines will make their first debut at Miami Carnival on October 10—probably in skimpy clothing.

We’re not totally sure if this will really get people aboard their airline, but anything to build brand awareness is probably a good thing. It’s not clear how much the new team members are getting paid, but it’s certainly not the best job in the world. For now we’ll keep our eyes out on the new cheer squad, and if you want to check them out online, there’s plenty of pictures to ogle over on their website. by kjb - Jaunted

Related Links: Caribbean 411, Vacation Packages, Hot Caribbean Cruises

Bold Faced Names Welcome Standard’s Boom Boom Room

Where: 848 Washington St [map], New York, NY , United States, 10014

There’s no word of it on The Standard’s website yet, but naturally the celebrities are already all over it. Madonna (and Jesus), Jude Law, Jon Bon Jovi, Josh Harnett, Rachel Zoe, Lindsay Lohan, Courtney Love—and did we mention Madonna?—were just some of the guests on hand to help Andre Balazs celebrate the opening of the Standard’s new penthouse bar, the Boom Boom Room, on Saturday night.

Scrolling through slideshows of the party snaps like this one at the Huffington Post give us a good look at the mustachioed bartender, hostesses in Jetsons-like dresses and headpieces, and Courtney Love giving the finger—but the pictures show little of the space itself other than the nighttime view through the floor-to-ceiling windows. (Also, they don’t answer our burning question: was Paul Lekakis in the house?)

But today the dudes at UrbanDaddy have the first look inside the Boom Boom Room, and we’ve got to admit, the place looks like a mighty fine place to party. Or as UrbanDaddy puts it:

“The whole place has the feel of a party lounge Donald Trump would have built on his yacht in 1979, only 18 floors above the Meatpacking District and filled with the likes of Bar Refaeli and Karolina Kurkova.”

The gold-lined main room, with its buttery cream banquettes and chandeliers, and the smaller black-tiled room housing a hot tub open for private parties and to those members of the public with the good looks, connections, our straight-out chutzpah to get in, later this week.

Don't forget: if you get past the doorman, please do stop back here to tell us all.

For more photos, see the slideshow at UrbanDaddy.

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Top 5 of America's Most Entertaining Cities

Looking to get some entertainment in your life? Well check out the Top 5 Cities and wait no more - it's time for a getaway! Happy Travels =)

1. New York, N.Y.
Restaurants: 35,421
Bars: 3,844
Nightclubs: 400
Museums: 734
Live Theater Venues: 710
Sports Venues: 57
Sports Teams: 7
Forbes' Best Cities For The Outdoors Ranking: No. 21

2. Chicago, Ill.
Restaurants: 15,692
Bars: 2,493
Nightclubs: 219
Museums: 275
Live Theater Venues: 261
Sports Venues: 24
Sports Teams: 6
Forbes' Best Cities For The Outdoors Ranking: No. 25

3. Los Angeles, Calif.
Restaurants: 23,209
Bars: 983
Nightclubs: 283
Museums: 306
Live Theater Venues: 192
Sports Venues: 26
Sports Teams: 7
Forbes' Best Cities For The Outdoors Ranking: No. 32

4. Miami, Fla. (tie)
Restaurants: 9,689
Bars: 734
Nightclubs: 208
Museums: 133
Live Theater Venues: 91
Sports Venues: 18
Sports Teams: 3
Forbes' Best Cities For The Outdoors Ranking: No. 16

4. Washington, D.C. (tie)
Restaurants: 7,814
Bars: 477
Nightclubs: 146
Museums: 211
Live Theater Venues: 112
Sports Venues: 15
Sports Teams: 5
Forbes' Best Cities For The Outdoors Ranking: No. 9

Source: Yahoo, Forbes.com

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Click here for the full list of America's Most Entertaining Cities

Vegas Nightclubs May Have to Ban Public Stripper Poles

If the Clark County commissioners have their way, patron-accessible stripper poles in Las Vegas nightclubs soon might be a thing of the past.

According to a Digital Journal article, a ban on tourists using stripper poles in Las Vegas nightclubs was discussed at a commissioners meeting on Aug. 18 and could be ratified by the end of the fall.

The move, apparently designed to keep visitors from exposing themselves at nightclubs, could result in employee-only restrictions for the poles, allowing only go-go dancers employed by the clubs to be the ones to straddle them.

Though no particular nightclub has come under fire, reports have surfaced that commissioner discussion revolved around Prive inside Planet Hollywood. The club was fined and shut down for violations of a liquor license (and other offenses) earlier this summer. It has since reopened.

Commissioners apparently also mentioned the new Sapphire Pool at The Rio, which also was shut down for the season after eight women and one man were arrested for prostitution. Yes, the stripper pole at The Rio is now closed.

What do all of these changes mean for the average Vegas visitor? Not much—at least not yet. But be warned; (undercover) Las Vegas Police and local sheriff’s departments say they are cracking down on lewd behavior at nightclubs. Much like Big Brother in Aldous Huxley’s famous book, “Brave New World,” they’ll be watching. In the meantime, ladies, if you need your stripper pole fix you could always try Stripper 101 at PH's V Theater. by Whalehead - VegasChatter

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Holiday Travel Rush Already On

Ready to play chicken with fluctuating airfares? It's already time to start thinking about your holiday plans -- and I don't mean the upcoming weekend. I mean Thanksgiving and the Christmas/Chanukah extravaganza. There's a good chance that the cheap seats that exist right this minute will not exist a few weeks from now. Fall is traditionally the weakest season for the travel industry, and the airlines are worried about sales.

‘’I think that definitely we saw this year an earlier than usual push for fall and winter travel,’’ Travelzoo Senior Editor Gabe Saglie tells the New York Times. ‘’Before we were even talking about winter, airlines were talking about late December travel deals.’’ Overall prices are down about 20 percent from last year, and many airlines launched big sales this week to entice travelers to get in the skies. However, the airlines aren’t completely over a barrel for the holidays. They know that people will still be traveling, and as the season wanes, they’ll have a much better grasp on how many people will be going home for the holidays, and will plan accordingly. This means that all the last-minute Annie’s will be stuck at best with a middle seat, but more likely, with no flight at all. Hello Greyhound! ‘’Waiting until the last minute (to buy a ticket) in the recent past has allowed for greater availability,’’ Saglie said. ‘’The holidays are when things will start to turn around.’’ Basically: start looking now, and if you see a deal, grab it.

By: Bryce Longston - BlackBookMag

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