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Los Angeles: The Girls’ Weekend

By

Bryce Longton

Los Angeles: The Girls’ Weekend Friday
Stay: Hollywood Roosevelt. It's luxe. It's glam. There's all-night pool parties. It's the perfect setting for a weekend away with the ladies.
3 p.m.: Tropicana at the Roosevelt Hotel. Stretch your legs in the sun and have a cocktail (or three).
4 p.m.: Nothing to wear? Head on down to vintage clothing store Jet Rag. Dig through hipster heaven and you might come away with a pair of 70's Frye boots, or a sweet fur shrug. Either way, it's good times.

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Las Vegas: The Retro Weekend

By

Lissa Townsend Rodgers

Las Vegas: The Retro Weekend Friday
Stay: Golden Nugget. Check in. Inside the hotel, there’s a Bond villain-worthy pool complex and newly renovated bars and restaurants. Outside the hotel, historic downtown Las Vegas.
3 p.m.: Brass Lounge. Enjoy a “Hello Vegas!” cocktail with a view.
4 p.m.: Nothing in your luggage glamorous enough? For ladies, try the Bettie Page store. Gentlemen can pick up slick threads from days gone by at Valentino’s Zoot Suit Connection.

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Montreal: One-Day Shopping Expedition

By

Michelle Fritzi Adelman

Montreal: One-Day Shopping Expedition Montreal is a city where fashion, food, and culture are on equal display, not to mention the Dionysian after-dusk pursuits. Although female-retail-centric, both BFFs and BFs won't mind on this tour de ville.

Stay: Casa Bianca . Technically a B&B , this boutique hotel was converted from a turn-of-the-century mansion into a luxe-yet-quirky place to rest your head. Within walking of famous bagel shops, and around the corner from cultural hot-bed St. Laurent Boulevard, Casa Bianca is an ultra-chic standout within the trendy Plateau area. The Plateau neighborhood has transformed in the last decade from a predominantly Jewish enclave (think Mordecai Richler) to one inhabited by university students, aspiring artists, musicians, perpetual layabouts, and newlyweds with Smart cars.

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One Night in Hollywood

By

Bryce Longton

imageDo it up in LA, Hollywood style.

Cocktails
The Three Clubs - Sign-less spot to find a tattooed Ryan Adams clone to support while his band records that long-awaited demo.

Dine
Osteria Mozza - A premier place, for scene and celebrity and food. Only the best of everything.

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One Night in Chicago’s Near North

By

Bryce Longton

imageJust one night? Alright then. Here's what you do in the Near North Side

Cocktails
Martini Park - They're bringing the after-work scene back with a live-music focus and extensive martini menu.

Dine
Topolobampo/Frontera Grill - Topolobampo for when you want the food of the gods; Frontera Grill when you want a chance of being seated without the patience of one.

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Las Vegas: The “Hey Ladies” Weekend

By

Lissa Townsend Rodgers

Las Vegas: The “Hey Ladies” Weekend Friday
2 p.m.: The Venetian. Check in. Large, velvet-upholstered rooms make one feel like an imperial mistress.
3:30 p.m.: Lunch at Mon Ami Gabi. Sit on the patio, watch the Bellagio fountains, and plan the weekend’s attack.
5 p.m.: Sephora. Someone forgot their cleanser/lipgloss/eyeshadow brush. Or whatever excuse you want to make.

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Eat Your Way Through San Francisco: One-Day Extravaganza

By

Bryce Longton

Eat Your Way Through San Francisco: One-Day Extravaganza San Francisco's got great views, sure. Golden Gate Bridge. Twin Peaks. Ghirardelli Square. Coit Tower. Alcatraz. And San Francisco's got great culture, yep. The Haight. SFMOMA. The Castro. But really, what good is a gorgeous view you can't put in your mouth? Fortunately, there are many succulent varieties of (perfectly innocent!) face-stuffing available in this town. Let's make a day of it, shall we?

9 a.m.: Let's get this party started at Ella's (Pacific Heights). Fanatical citywide breakfast obsession where hour-long waits for crisped chicken hash are the norm.

10:30 a.m.: Take a walk; you're gonna need the exercise. Head to the Marina. Check out Lombard Street. Mosey around Ghirardelli Square.

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New York: Two-Hour Soho Speed Shopping

By

Bryce Longton

New York: Two-Hour Soho Speed Shopping If you've got two hours and room left on your plastic, we've got your personal shopapocalypse. These seven Soho streets will help you enjoy wonderful, personal economic collapse in record time.

START: West Broadway (between Houston and Broome)
Max Mara - Newly accessorized office couture for the career-minded urbanite.
Swiss Army Soho - High-quality accessories don't just includes knives.
Reiss - Britain's answer to Barney's.

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Your ‘Fear and Loathing’ Las Vegas Weekend

By

Lissa Townsend Rodgers

Your ‘Fear and Loathing’ Las Vegas Weekend Go ahead, ball out of control. This is Vegas after all.

Friday
Stay. TheHotel. You need a place that’s isolated, where they won’t ask questions. A place with two exits.

3:30 p.m. Big Elvis at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and Saloon. A 500-lb. hunka hunka burnin’ love pays tribute to the King.

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One-Day Tour: Intro to Venice, CA

By

Bryce Longton

imageIf you watch The Hills or read any gossip rag, LA comes off like a celebutante-super-chic-hipster on a weekend coke bender, stopping only to pose (pantyless) for the paps. While this may be true if you hang in Weho or Hollywood, there's plenty to scope out on the more mellow west side of town. Things like, say, the beach. Here's our guide to having fun in Venice, CA.

Stay: You might as well get as close to the ocean as possible and stay at Shutters on the Beach. Your backdoor (or your front, depending on the suite) is sand, and beyond, water. The hotel maintains a private stretch of beach for guests, and service is quick and reliable. The brunches are legendary.

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