PR Ramblings

I travel to Los Angeles two to three times a year for work and I typically stay at the W Hollywood Hotel. I decided for my next five-night trip that it was mandatory that I stay somewhere else (the W Hollywood is unbearable after two nights). After some research and a reasonable rate negotiated by my employer’s travel agent, I decided on the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, a hotel of The Luxury Collection by Starwood. The SLS is located on La Cienega Boulevard, near the behemoth shopping center - the Beverly Center.

Upon arrival, I was warmly greeted by the valet attendants and quickly entered the outdoor lobby, which is quite striking (i.e. crystal-like deer heads). The lobby, although dark, is nicely appointed with animal sculptures that double as lighting fixtures. Don’t be alarmed when you get into the elevator. The well-dressed people staring at you when you get on the elevators are only pictures but will require a double take because of their life-sized appearance. I stayed on the fifth floor in a Premier King room facing La Cienega where I could hear the hum of cars whizzing by the hotel. The decorative room with its large windows, mirrored walls, and moody lighting made up for the noise.  

 The bathroom has two sliding doors: one that peeks into the living area and another one, which connects into the small hallway. The Ciel products in the bathroom were refreshing and I made sure to stock up upon checkout.  The gym, located on the 2^nd floor near Ciel Spa, has enough equipment to conduct a full workout. Altitude, or what I call it, a “Super Chic Pool Deck,” is abundantly staffed with affable waiters including a guy named Alex. What makes this hotel so amazing is its stellar approach to customer service.  Everyone from the valet guys to the front desk attendants exude niceness. The SLS or “See Life Sideways,” according to its marketing materials, isn’t cheap (I dinned on a $40 dollar breakfast consisting of a pressed croissant and juice) but its well worth the price. 

I’m starting to think I’ve been cursed in my quest to see a good Broadway show. The last couple of musicals I’ve seen have been horrible.  Jesus Christ Superstar was unbearable and Superman: Turn Off The Dark was chaotic. The American Theatre Wing has just announced the nominees for the 2012 Tony Awards and I can’t believe Nice Work If You Can Get It received 10 nods. The musical, which features music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, was probably the longest show I’ve ever seen! I was excited to see Matthew Broderick because I’m a fan of his work, (who doesn’t like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?) but his apathetic performance proved I should only watch him on the silver screen.

The plot of Nice Work centers on Jimmy Winter (Broderick), a wealthy playboy who is about to get married for the third time, but falls in love with tomboy bootlegger Billie Bendix. The set design was beautiful, the songs were okay, and the choreography was passable but I just didn’t connect with the characters. Kellie O’ Hara, the actress who played Billie, was wonderful and had a mellifluous voice. Matthew seemed a bit tired and lazy. The dance routines didn’t require him to do much but they seemed to really exhaust him. I’m no Fred Astaire and I hate to lament, but one of the requirements I need from a leading man in a musical is to at least act (key word) like he wants to be on stage entertaining the folks who paid good money to view a show lauded by the theatre community as a must -see.

I’ve got two best friends that I don’t get to see as much as I would like because they reside outside of New York. It’s hard when the two people you adore the most in the world are so far away. My job recently sent me to Massachusetts and Georgia and I had a chance to see both my amigos in one week. What I was really excited about was my two-day stay in Boston, which would allow me to meet my best friend Naisha’s 1-year-old baby girl Marli.

When you’ve known someone for so long without kids, you’re a bit nervous to see what they’ll be like with their offspring.  Will I still be able to curse around them? Can I still talk about sex? I was pleasantly surprised that I could still be myself (with a few edits) and that Naisha hadn’t lost her sassy, “I will smack you in the face” attitude. Motherhood hadn’t completely changed my BFF, but had bestowed her with qualities like patience and protectiveness. Two thumbs up for Naisha. Oh yeah, and the kid was cute too.