Alone or not, Kimpton brings deals to NYC for Valentine’s Day

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Kimpton’s offering you two ways to spend Valentine’s Day in Manhattan this year: one if you’re inclined to recognize the holiday, the other if you’re flying solo. Let’s face it; Valentine’s day isn’t designed to appeal to everyone, and the single folks shouldn’t get screwed just because the only way they could get a “date” that night involves several appearances by Benjamin Franklin.

If you’re interested in a more traditional Valentine’s Day getaway, take a look at the “Sweet Savings” deal at Kimpton’s 70 park avenue hotel. For rates starting at a mere $179, you’ll get not only a great room in Manhattan, you’ll pick up a complimentary dessert for you and your guest at silver leaf tavern.

Now, this doesn’t do much for you if you’re alone, unless you really like two desserts. Fortunately, there’s the “Cupid Is Stupid” deal at Kimpton’s The Muse New York. For a rate of $239, you’ll get two free cocktails at NIOS restaurant and a complimentary in-room movie.

So, how do you make this work? Use one of those cocktails to chat up a lonely hottie — she’s hanging out in a hotel bar, it shouldn’t take much more than this. Then, invite her up to your room to enjoy the free movie with you. Choose your movie wisely.

Both deals are open for the entire month of February. The booking code for “Cupid Is Stupid” is PCPL, and the code for “Sweet Savings” is PSSP.

Retro cocktails and old-school ambiance at speakeasies around the U.S.

by Katie Hammel on

One of my favorite bars in Chicago, the Violet Hour, can be a bit difficult for first-timers to find. There’s no sign, no address, no windows, and upon first glance, no bar there at all. But if you look more closely at the boarded up storefront, you’ll see there is a door. And once inside it, you’ll be transported to another world – one where cell phones are not allowed, where plush curtains absorb the sound of patrons engaged in quiet conversation and candles provide the only light, where it’s “sitting room only” and capacity is strictly controlled, and where inventive cocktails are expertly handcrafted using ingredients like egg whites, rosewater, and homemade bitters.

The Violet Hour is a speakeasy style lounge. The old-timey uniforms of the staff and the novelty of the mystery location provide a gimmick that gets people in the door (once they find it anyway), but what keeps them coming back are the quality cocktails, quiet, relaxed atmosphere and extremely talented staff. Costing $12 each and taking around 10 minutes to make, the cocktails aren’t for those looking for a quick buzz. But for intimate evenings with friends, a romantic date, or just a darn good drink, the Violet Hour is worth searching for.

Along with the Violet Hour, Budget Travel also recommends several other speakeasy lounges around the United States. From Los Angeles to New York and Cleveland to New Orleans, these hip haunts serve up retro cocktails in glamorous throwback settings. You can “party like it’s 1929”, without that pesky Prohibition law.

Virgin Atlantic rolls out the red carpet for its 25th Anniversary

by Jeremy Kressmann on

As both Grant and Scott have mentioned recently, Virgin Atlantic is celebrating its 25th year in operation. As we’ve come to realize here at Gadling, the team at Virgin Atlantic is never one to turn down an opportunity to party. This past Monday in New York City, the Virgin crew once again made good on this reputation for star-studded celebration, inviting friends and family together for a raucous soiree at the Tribeca Rooftop event space in celebration of more than 25 years in service.

On hand was a roster of celebrity attendees including airline founder Sir Richard himself as well as Samuel L. Jackson and some surprise musical acts (more on that shortly). Upon arrival, guests were invited to land a virtual Virgin Atlantic plane on the party’s flight simulator, play free old-school 1980’s arcade games, and plop themselves down in models of Virgin’s comfy business class seating arrangements. Upstairs was an open-air roofdeck with panoramic views of downtown Manhattan and the Hudson River. As the evening ramped up, attendees were treated to a surprise private concert by 80’s pop star Deniece Williams as well as some bombastic DJ moves by Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim.

In service of our dear readers and knowing what’s best in travel, the writers at Gadling forced themselves to stop by this fun little event to see what was up. Rest assured, we’ll invite you guys along for the fun next time. In the meantime, you can take a voyeuristic peek at the good times in our gallery below.

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The best cocktails in the world

by Annie Scott on

According to Genevieve Swart of The Sydney Morning Herald, the term sundowner, meaning sunset cocktail, originated in Africa, where they have some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

Swart has taken special pains (and pleasures) in finding the most beautiful places on the planet for sundowners. Her list includes hotel and restaurant locations in Cape Town, Santorini, Zanzibar, Norway, Brazil, Cambodia, and Florida — yes, Florida. She even found the best drinks! Would I like a Veligandu Secret in the Maldives? Yes, I would!

Unfortunately, I’m stuck in New York for the moment – but I bet I can find a patio on the Hudson River where they’d be willing to bring me a drink and tell me I’m in Asia. This “sundowner” idea is great!

[via The Sydney Morning Herald]

Drink for charity, starting now

by Annie Scott on

Kimpton, that hotel and restaurant group that’s paying your baggage fees, has released their holiday beverages, calling them “Cocktails for a Cure.” You can now donate to HIV and AIDS charities by getting sauced at Kimpton hotels and restaurants all across the U.S. and Canada.

The beverages, created by their master mixologist Jacques Bezuidenhout, are:

  • Rouge on the Rocks – Milagro Blanco Tequila, Grand Marnier, raspberries and mint
  • Scarlet Night – Bacardi Rum, Campari and white peach puree
  • Ruby Sparkle – Grey Goose Vodka, Grand Marnier, pomegranate juice and sparkling wine

Each costs $12, and every time you purchase one, $1 will be donated to one of the featured charities (listed after the jump). $1 doesn’t sound like a lot to you? Better have five cocktails. Don’t be stingy.

Kimpton’s “Cocktails for a Cure” promotion is part of an annual Red Ribbon campaign. For more than two decades, Kimpton has assisted HIV and AIDS service organizations across North America through employee volunteerism, educational campaigns, corporate donations, and raising funds through special events.
The Cocktails for a Cure event will continue through the end of December, and may benefit a charity near you:
AIDSCare (Chicago); AIDS Housing Corporation (Boston); AIDS Project (Los Angeles); Bailey House Inc. (New York City); Cascade AIDS Project (Portland); Colorado AIDS Project; Design Industries Foundation fighting AIDS (Dallas); Lifelong AIDS Alliance (Seattle); Mama’s Kitchen (San Diego); Phoenix Children’s Hospital; The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation (San Francisco); Utah AIDS Foundation; Vancouver Friends for Life Society; and Whitman-Walker Clinic (Washington DC).

Click here to find out where to go drink for a cure.