If we start making a list of excellent career choices, Eva Ziegler may have to play role model right at the top. The Austrian-born marketing mastermind is the "Global Brand Leader" for W Hotels and head of the global launch for Le Méridien Hotels as part of parent company Starwood Hotels & Resorts. From her home base in New York, Ziegler spends her 9 to 5 working on strategic planning (establishing the Starwood brand, scope, marketing strategies, implementing design) for hotels across the globe. Arguably, the biggest perk is that her job also includes traveling to all of these hotels (from Istanbul to Bali). In a smooth Austrian accent, the charming power player makes it all look and sound effortless, in between jet-setting to exotic locations to conduct business, of course.

Andrew Carmellini, head chef at Tribeca’s Locanda Verde and co-author (with wife Gwen Hyman) of home cooking-savvy cookbook, Urban Italian: Simple Recipes and True Stories from a Life in Food, has cooked at some of the finest eateries around the world but remains modest about his culinary experiences. In New York, he’s gone from the kitchen of Le Cirque to Café Boulud to A Voce, and rumors of "all you can eat' pasta night" at Locanda have been turning heads recently. We've been told that dinners such as these are not planned to start until January ... we'll see.

The weather is starting to scare even the hardiest New Yorkers into hibernation. But before we exchange the booze-heavy fall social calendar for weekends and evenings on the couch, hot cocoa, DVR'd television, and being woefully boyfriended/girlfriended, it’s high time to have an adventurous day in the city -- whether it’s solely for the purposes of getting action (in which case, you will undoubtedly succeed) or to throw a curve ball to your “friends who brunch.” With the right attitude (and full pocket flasks for the ride), recruiting an adventure partner/team should be easy. Some of the destinations are ambitious, some easily manageable; all require a bit of a trip from downtown Manhattan, or wherever you happen to wake up after weekend benders. Take your pick, get outside, and Twitter away for your followers who'd rather nurse hangovers from the comfort of their homes.

Jean-Luc Naret, director of the world-famous Michelin Guides, released the fifth edition of the New York Michelin guide Monday, and yesterday, the books hit stands around the city. As with any upper echelon foodie-endeavor, this one was met with some criticism from food-lovers with differing opinions. Nonetheless, to talk about the long road before the list is finalized and printed, we sat down with Naret to get the backstory of the Michelin Guides and what it takes to secure a much-coveted three stars.

City Wize [Free] Network TV’s hippest channel takes the hotspots from hit shows like Gossip Girl, 90210 and Melrose Place, and puts them right in the palm of your hand. Want to know where Serena van der Woodsen gets her truffled grilled-cheese sandwich? Where the Beverly Hills kids bowl? Where Auggie from Melrose buys wine? Look no further than this app from the CW, which helps users locate the bars, restaurants, hotels and shops featured in the most addictive shows on primetime. GPS location technology means that whether you’re in L.A. or New York City you’ll always be at the center of the world. “Spotted: You, living like S. and B. You know you love it.”

On their third studio album, Crossing The Rubicon, the Sounds have, at last, evolved theirs, building upon and honing—at times even discarding—their lip-glossy punk-pop, flirting with beat-driven synth-dance.

Releasing his grip on Sweden’s soulless fascination with electro-pop monotony, multi-instrumentalist Andreas Kleerup leans instead on house beats, heavy string accompaniment and a gaggle of female Scandinavian compatriots (Robyn and Lykke Li, among others).

A few years ago, a little restaurant called Momofuku Noodle Bar tucked itself into an East Village storefront. There was buzz over noodles, pork buns, a consistent gaggle of wait-listed patrons out front, and an of-the-minute, Pitchfork-grade music selection. The proprietor? This David Chang guy, this chef who couldn't complete an interview without being self-depreciating to a fault, or throwing in an expletive or nine. Cut to present: Chang's interview style hasn't changed. His business has.

Tiffany Gong and Christina Rodriguez are fashion freelancers and jewelry designers for their line, Triskaidekaphobia (which means fear of the number 13) by day and the Six Six Sick girls by night. After hosting a Tuesday night party at New York’s Happy Ending bar, the girls started a following full of fashion panache and eccentric party-goers. Their current gigs include heading up private events and weekly parties at the Tribeca Grand and Webster Hall, BEast . They'll be throwing a Chictopia fashion week event at BEast this evening, and will have a night at Butter starting Friday, September 25th.

Daniel Boulud is one of a handful of people who can claim ownership of four stars from the New York Times' restaurant critic. His modest roots in Lyon, France, instilled his understanding for local produce, and anyone who has visited one of his restaurants (Daniel, Bar Boulud, DB Bistro Moderne, DBGB) understands his love for a decadent burger. The New York-based chef will also be sharing his culinary mastery with supporters of the Le Fooding d'Amour event on September 26-27.