Keeping up with what’s new and trendy as well as checking in with old favorites is the balancing act that is the job of a hotel concierge—after all, the buzziest restaurant in town may mean a long wait and lousy service, which translates to unhappy customers who would have been happier with a tried-and-true standby that still offers them a taste of the city. We went bicoastal find out what the pros at the Thompson Hotel Group are recommending these days. This is what Kelsey Wilson, a lead concierge at the Thompson Beverly Hills in LA, and Paul Salvatore Petersen, head concierge at 60 Thompson in NYC, had to say:

At first impression, City Hall is the kinda joint Chicago and New York must've been chock-a-block with back in the first half of the 20th century. In fact you half expect to see some Ward politicians or Tammany Hall operatives making deals in one of its back booths. Sure the design is primarily Deco, but it's more evocative of the Chicago Board of Trade or the Chrysler Building than it is the candy-colored hues of South Beach. In other words, the place feels as if it's already been around a good while, and that it'll be around a good while still.

Los Angeles Restaurant Week starts again today, running through Friday and then again from October 11-16. Meaning you can get the special menus every day but Saturday. Over 250 restaurants have signed up, so there are plenty of deals to be had at some of the hottest restaurants around. Participating restaurants offer three course meals for lunch and dinner at a fixed price ranging from $16 to $44. Drinks, taxes and gratuity are not included. Go ahead and browse the hot list of who's in and what's for dinner here. Highlights include Asian spiced pork ribs and Mexican donuts at Asia de Cuba, chile rubbed mahi mahi and goat milk cajeta flan at Ciudad, and sirloin steak with honey poached Seckel pears at Nick & Stef's.

Strange thing about L.A. That very New York phenomenon known as "Summer Fridays" doesn't really exist here. Perhaps that's because we don't have to race out of our offices to get to paradise, because well, we already live there. (I'd add neener, neener, neener, but that seems a bit cruel.) Still, Asia de Cuba has a Friday-night special that tips its hat to the same concept: "Out of Office Fridays." From 1-4 pm, the fancy schmancy restaurant in the Mondrian is offering a $5 food menu, with $5 cocktails and $5 valet. This is a deal at any bar -- even more so at a place where the average appetizer is $28, and the entrees run as high as $76. Perhaps the temporary special is a tacit admission that even rich people are hurting from this recession too, poor dears.

JetBlue has launched a great contest for all the foodies out there. Basically they're going to pay for your dinner, but it's a whole lot sexier than that since they're teaming up with Restaurant Week in New York and sending you out for a night on the town.

Usually when summer rolls around, I find myself eating less as tiny string bikinis and Hampton-thin bodies dance in my head. But last night at the Taste of Summer -- a benefit for the Central Park Conservatory -- I had a taste of what my summer will be, and this summer will be delicious. Roughly a thousand foodies and Central Park enthusiasts banded together at the Naumburg Bandshell to kick off summer in the New York, a city that takes pride in her beautiful, distinctive park and the significant culture that talented chefs and colorful restaurants bring to her table. There was no actual table -- I'm using a metaphor unless you were a VIP ticket holder and had the pleasure of sitting in the cafe area hosted by Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality group -- but there was food, glorious food. The event was held al fresco in a tent that happily shielded party goers, the silent auction goodies, and over 40 renowned chefs from the drizzly evening weather. I could name-drop the UES socials caught fork-in-mouth, but the star of the event was without a doubt the food. Here, my own top five picks of the evening's pleasurable nibbles from places I wouldn't normally think to venture to.

The owner of the flagship Pacha in New York on international clientele, the rough lifestyle required for nightlife connoisseurs, and flushing out the phonies.

Inside the night life of Rick's Cabaret's best & brightest

We tried for a top 10, but settled for 5. After all, we are in recession, people. If Cup O' Noodle and sparkling cider is on your New Year’s Eve menu, may we suggest rolling out a blanket on Ocean Drive and 8th Street for some free-of-charge fireworks viewing. If, however you wanna be a baller, consider the following. 1. The Mondrian Miami hotel is teaming up with Tommy Pooch and Alan Roth to ring in "Recessison," a.k.a. NYE 2009. Two hundred bucks will buy you an entry into the Sunset Lounge, where a 20-piece orchestra will mix with tunes spun by DJ Tavin. Resident eatery Asia de Cuba offers a range of packages depending on your wallet and/or appetite. 2. If you're a reality TV junky, head on up to the Shore Club, where Kristin Cavallari is set to make an appearance. Organized by Skybar and New York’s Tenjune, live performances will include Busta Rhymes, Ron Brownz, and Pras. Mos Def spins while you pay -- $275 to be exact.

● Mondrian Miami (South Beach) - Glamorous, debauched dwelling where you least expect it. ● Asia de Cuba (South Beach) - Sexy Latin-Asian deliciousness definitely not on a budget.