http://www.conwayconfidential.com Your travel gateway to secret spots and hidden gems...with membership perks and presents Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:08:34 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en By J.P. Hoornstra The Nostalgic California Vacation 101 is an introductory travel course, with a required reading list authored by literary giants. Henry Miller’s Big Sur is still as beautiful as ever. So are John Steinbeck’s Monterey and Robert Louis Stevenson’s Napa Valley. Miss the basics, and you’re missing some the best respites from urban life [...]]]> http://www.conwayconfidential.com/features/baseball-history-and-baseball-history-meet-in-the-california-league/ Smack-dab in the middle of the sports book and a poker room, the Skybox Sports Bar and Grill at Aria provides the perfect setting for a little game of friendly competition. Enter the Firecracker Burger, which comes with this disclaimer: “India’s Bhut Jolokia chili pepper rated the world’s hottest chili pepper in 2007. Approach with [...]]]> http://www.conwayconfidential.com/lasvegas-dish/chili-challenge/ As a club scene within the club scene, Aria may not have a monopoly on Vegas nightlife, but it does have one big advantage: guest-list access to one of its five in-house clubs — Haze, Gold Lounge, The Deuce, Liquid, and Eve (which is only open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). Plus, it’s as easy as [...]]]> http://www.conwayconfidential.com/lasvegas-funstuff/clubbing-made-easy/ There’s something strangely suggestive about Nancy Rubins’ Big Edge sculpture, which resembles nothing less than a veritable orgy of canoes – right there, in the driveway outside the Vdara Hotel. Big Edge is but one work in CityCenter’s fine art collection of 15 paintings and sculptures, each conceived by world-renowned artists. Some blend subtly into [...]]]> http://www.conwayconfidential.com/lasvegas-funstuff/get-a-gallery/ Handsome Murano restaurant, named for the world-renowned glass (which is also on beautiful display), blends the inspirational genius of food star Gordon Ramsay with the honored homespun cuisine of chef Angela Hartnett. The result is a soothing blend of sultry flavors, such as halibut with lemon marmalade, olives, capers, and grilled courgettes. A long carte [...]]]> http://www.conwayconfidential.com/london-dish/italian-taste/ As most Hong Kong expats can attest, finding authentic Cantonese cuisine in London is no easy task. Have no fear. Head for China Tang at the Dorchester, entrepreneur Sir David Tang’s legacy offering a carte that will take you right back to Asia. No fooling around with MSG here. Just a Peking duck prepared like [...]]]> http://www.conwayconfidential.com/london-dish/upscale-chinese/ You might not know Vdara, but the new hotel at CityCenter knows you. Every deluxe suite contains an MP3 hookup in the ceiling-high TV console, plainly labeled “iPod/iPhone” — because Vdara is aware you prefer touching a small screen when it comes to placing a phone call or choosing a song. The TV console is [...]]]> http://www.conwayconfidential.com/lasvegas-bed/mutual-affection/ Because high tea is a tradition at the Dorch, one shouldn’t miss the opportunity to enjoy it, even when a spa visit is on the schedule. Enter The Spatisserie at The Dorchester Spa, a chance to have your cake and treatment, too. Start with the Caviar Facial (a great appetizer), then head in the direction [...]]]> http://www.conwayconfidential.com/london-bliss/a-spot-of-tea/ Forget the legendary reputation of tasteless English food, or even trying to play it safe with pub grub. For more than three decades, Porters English Restaurant in Covent Garden has served delicious traditional fare — steak and kidney pudding is a mainstay, as is shepherd’s pie. Something lighter? Ask for the 28-day hung Scotch beef [...]]]> http://www.conwayconfidential.com/london-dish/great-britain-greats/ A six-time NFL Pro Bowler sits at one table. At another table, the second in command (behind only the commissioner) of another league is sipping a martini. An entire NHL team has reserved still another table, but a horde of women is leaving room for only two players to sit down. Welcome to the Playboy [...]]]> http://www.conwayconfidential.com/lasvegas-funstuff/jockeying-for-position/