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Hotel Crush

Hotel Crush: a vehement, furious, downright pathological appreciation for hotel design and culture

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Home / The Beat

The Beat

Hotel Crush Style

October 18, 2011 The Beat

As we prep for our Miami trip with a wish list ten hotels strong, we’re reminded of our preferred approach to travel. We’ve been on tours with frighteningly fast-paced schedules, 8am bus call times, and agendas more ambitious than the UN General Assembly. But at the end of the day (and years later) we remember one, maybe two stunning stops from that day. The Coliseum in Rome, the Gallery of the Uffizi, the delicious risotto at La Giostra. And thus all of the rushing, the photo stops, the picturesque drives, the 4th and 5th Basilicas – these all have evaporated.

When we travel, we edit. We’re not about quantity, we’re not about exhaustion. Whether we have three days in a city or two weeks, our approach is the same. Marinate as deeply as we can in the things that excite us the most. We’ve sunk afternoons sipping lemonade poolside or on city rooftops, we’ve slept all day and slipped from lounge to lounge all night. We indulge our interests unapologetically (“You went to Florence and you didn’t see David!” Answer: “Saw it ten years ago. Done.”) and nod to culture when it suits our taste (We can’t go to London without a stop at the Tate Modern).

It’s this self-editing, this absorption of the routine along with the irreverant, that makes us excited about travel. We’re as voraciously addicted to design as they come, and nothing makes our heart race like consuming a new hotel, a new poolside lounge, a new gallery, or turn at chocolate ice cream. We’re in it for the culture and city beat, the throbbing center of inspiration for all the Davids and Michaelangelos we haven’t seen.

HotelCrush Does Arcona

October 8, 2011 Spaaah, The Beat

Our skincare needs are simple. We like products that work. We also like products that smell good, feel good, and aren’t crazy expensive. But overall, we’re content with anything that does what it says it’s going to do, and smitten with anything that does more. So when our friend P started raving about Arcona products, we were curious but cautious. "Organic" can mean potent, nutritious, and nourishing, but it also has the connotation of being wussy, hokey, and second-rate. Our experience at Arcona was revitalizing in itself, but we were more invested in how the products we were given improved our skin in the long-term. With all of the other products on our shelf for a month and a half, we gamely took the Arcona challenge. And we’re THRILLED with the results.

Arcona Cranberry Gommage

photo of arcona cranberry gommageA good face exfoliator is hard to find. It can’t be too rough (small, evenly shaped particles work best) and it must be dense enough in particles to excavate properly. Our discovery of Arcona’s Cranberry Gommage was everything we wanted – a thick, viscous paste that dislodges blackheads and a comforting cranberry scent that reassures our skin we’re not too harsh.

Arcona White Tea Purifying Cleanser

photo of arcona white tea purifying cleanserThis cleanser is by far the best we’ve tested this year, easing even our favorite Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash off the shelf. We love the gentle fragrance and smooth lather, which can only be described as medicinal in its healing properties. Our face feels cleaner, softer, and more revived with every use.

Arcona Gentle Solution

photo of arcona gentle solutionOily skin and heavy creams don’t mix, but even oily skin needs a boost of nutrients. Rich with antioxidants and as natural as a leaf, this serum hydrates without overpowering or congesting pores. The wonderful scent tinged with coconut reminds us of Hawaiian vacations and warm ocean breezes.

Arcona Night Breeze

photo of arcona night breezeIt seems every skincare line has their requisite oxygen cream, and it’s no wonder given the benefits of oxygen in promoting cell turnover and skin hydration. Like many oxygen products, this one has a slight laboratory smell, that we don’t mind, given the improvement in our skin’s overall tone over the course of a month.

Arcona AM Acne Lotion

arcona am acne lotionOily skin and heavy creams don’t mix, but even oily skin needs a boost of nutrients. Rich with antioxidants and as natural as a leaf, this serum hydrates without overpowering or congesting pores. The wonderful scent tinged with coconut reminds us of Hawaiian vacations and warm ocean breezes.

Arcona Magic White Ice

photo of arcona night breezeIt seems every skincare line has their requisite oxygen cream, and it’s no wonder given the benefits of oxygen in promoting cell turnover and skin hydration. Like many oxygen products, this one has a slight laboratory smell, that we don’t mind, given the improvement in our skin’s overall tone over the course of a month.

Bliss Hollywood, can we move in?

October 4, 2011 Bliss, Hollywood, Spaaah, The Beat

We’ve mentioned before that we are blisteringly DIY about some things (manicures, lemonade, VIP birthday cakes) but there is one thing we absolutely cannot do for ourself: a massage.

And for that we go to Moeul.

We discovered Moeul last spring on a day when the knots in our back and neck were so tight that it was reminiscent of a car accident injury, and, again having one of those weeks, we booked in for a reset. With the enthusiasm of an aesthetician performing extractions (“got one!”), Moeul defeated the knots between our shoulder blades with deep Shiatsu and Swedish massage, rewarding our muscles with an application of cooling peppermint oil.

We don’t get massages for relaxation, so the balance of our Blissage was active (and sometimes downright forceful). But the reward is a month knot-free, until the ravages of our punishing desk chair converge on that spot in the middle of our back…

The Sitting Room in the Ladies Locker Room at Bliss Spa Hollywood (those missing brownies were ours…):

photo of the waiting area in the ladies locker room at bliss spa hollywood

The Sitting Area and Lockers in the Ladies Locker Room at Bliss Spa Hollywood:

photo of the waiting area and locker changing room in the ladies locker room at bliss spa hollywood

The Sitting Area and Vanity/Sink Station:

photo of the sink area at bliss spa hollywoodbliss spa sink and mirrors

The Steam Showers (Left) Sauna Area (Right) and Locker Room Amenities at Bliss Spa Hollywood:

photo of the steam shower and sauna area at bliss spa hollywoodphoto of the ladies locker room amenities at bliss spa hollywood

Let’s Take This Outside

October 2, 2011 The Beat

As completion nears on the backyard of our Parker-inspired dreams we’re down to picking our lounge chair (future HotelCrush headquarters) and we’ve gotten a chance to muse on our favorite outdoor spaces. The gorgeous landscaping of the Parker Palm Springs breathes quietly against a backdrop of desert, that invisibility its great accomplishment.

So lovely:

the parker palm springs pool

the parker palm springs gene autry pool

the parker palm springs landscaping

the parker palm springs grounds

What to Eat, Where

October 1, 2011 The Beat, We Are LA, Yummy

Hotel cuisine has gotten a bad rap for being overpriced and dodgy, and while we admit the former, we’ll attempt to save you from the latter with a run-down of our tested favorites:

  • Andaz West Hollywood – RH: Seared Ahi with Tomato Onion Compote
  • Chateau Marmont: Croque Monsieur (one of the best we’ve had!)
  • The Clift SF – Room Service: Breakfast Pastries
  • The Huntley – Penthouse: Parmesan Potato Crisps (delicious hybrid between a french fry and a chip)
  • The Mondrian LA – Asia de Cuba: Tuna Tartare, Lobster Club, Calamari Salad, Lobster Mashed Potatoes
  • The Redbury – Cleo: Babaganoush, Crispy Brussel Sprouts
  • Shutters on the Beach – One Pico: Lobster Club Sandwich
  • SLS Hotel – Altitude (Tres): Chicken Sandwich
  • The Standard Downtown: Cobb Salad
  • The Standard Hollywood: Spaghetti and Meatballs, Hot Chocolate
  • W Washington D.C. – Room Service: Penne Pasta
  • W Hollywood – Delphine: Ceviche (available from 5-7pm during raw bar happy hour and all-night on Monday)
  • W Hollywood – Drai’s: Ceviche Tacos
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