A different kind of Thanksgiving without the annoying relatives

Looking for a different kind of Thanksgiving? Still waiting to see who in the family is going to offer their humble abode to celebrate the day? Dreading the thought of fighting the local supermarket for the last can of candied yams? The Ritz-Carlton in Fort Lauderdale has a better idea. Forget all that, leave the annoying relatives at home and come see them instead.

Guests at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale wake up Thanksgiving morning to a Ritz-Carlton “Macy’s Day” parade with pilgrims, turkeys, and other harvest-favorite floats taking center stage on the oceanfront, 7th floor tropical pool deck. A New York-style breakfast is served, including bagels and lox, sweet and savory pastries, yogurt and parfaits, the freshest seasonal fruits, rich coffees and fine teas, all the while the New York Macy’s Day parade plays overhead. That’s Thursday, November 24 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and only for hotel guests.

Want to sleep in a while? Enjoy traditional Thanksgiving and Sunday Brunch favorites from imported cheeses and charcuteries, caviar, fresh seafood on ice, create-your-own omelet station, prepared-to-order pasta to roasted turkey, ham and slow roasted prime rib carving stations. Free-flowing Champagne and a lavish dessert enclave make this a Thanksgiving feast not to be missed. We doubt there will be a reheated green bean casserole here.

The price? $95 per guest, includes champagne, $35 per child with ages 12 and under $1 per year old.
The day after, shopping begins with an exclusive, complimentary Black Friday Shopping Shuttle escorting guests of The Ritz-Carlton to Florida’s largest outlet shopping destination, with more than 350 stores including luxury designers such as Barney’s New York, David Yurman, Burberry, Giorgio Armani, Prada, Valentino and more, featured at The Colonnade promenade. A shopping survival kit is provided including bottled water, energizing snacks, and exclusive offers leaving guests to shop ’til they drop. That’s Friday, November 25 from shop-till-you-drop 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Ritz-Carlton has other events as well including Wine Journeys with somelier Don Derocher where guests tour the hotel’s award-winning 5,000-bottle Wine Vault and enjoy a personalized wine tasting of three reds or whites of preference.
They do this on November 25 & 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. $30

An Ultimate SpaScape lets guests treat their skin with a restorative facial that stimulates, regenerates and restores. A full body massage using antioxidant-rich oils infused with grape varietals eases muscle tension and stress.

While the fam back home listens to those same old stories that get told every year, you’ll be enjoying a complimentary glass of Sauvignon Blanc post treatment… for 50 minutes anyway.
$130

Photo courtesy Ritz-Carlton Hotels/Roberto Santos



W Hotels team up with Barneys for Fashion Week

Part of the hooplah of Fashion’s Night Out included the unveiling of some fabulous Fashion Week-themed displays at the W Hotel in Union Square.

This was not only to celebrate Fashion Week, but a collaboration between W Hotels and Barneys stores. Through October, W guests in cities where there are Barneys locations will receive exclusive perks like complimentary bellinis and discounts when they shop at Barneys New York and Barneys Co Op stores.

Simon Doonan, Creative Director of Barneys New York and Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader W Hotels Worldwide (pictured together, above) were on hand to provide commentary.

I asked Doonan about why Barneys wanted to team up with W. “Well, this is a very happy collaboration because Barneys and the W Hotels are very compatible in their outlook — because they believe in style, they believe in humor, they believe in a little bit of hedonism,” he replied. “We both like to take that “New York sizzle’ and take it on the road.”

Zielger later added that W wanted to “show the outside world our passion for fashion.”

Check out the festivities below — including celeb appearances and Doonan’s tips for having a great Fashion Week!
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