While many hotels offer a gym and spa services, Berlin’s new Apria Hotel is the exact opposite — it’s a state-of-the-art gym and spa with a hotel. Found in a former industrial space, this is one of the German capital’s top fitness destinations, and now in addition to the exclusive gym, spa, and roof terrace, it offers elegantly designed rooms and apartments for the most active and body-conscious travelers. Guests are free to use all of the fitness and wellness treatments, can enjoy a swim in the 25-meter indoor pool, practice some yoga or Pilates, go for a massage, and relax in the sauna or jacuzzi. Meals are served at the rooftop lounge, and you can always go for just one more workout before you check out.
More hotel and booking information here: Aspria Hotel

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The hottest new table in Miami comes via Paris. Opened last summer, it officially became a hotspot as a popular dinner destination following the Art Basel Miami fair last December. Hip crowds continue to show up at lunch, or for an excellent brunch menu served between 11:30AM and 4PM.
The first “Caviar Kaspia” restaurant is a Paris gastronomic landmark dating from 1927, and this is the first one across the Atlantic. Located inside the fashionable Webster concept store in Miami Beach, Kaspia Miami offers the same sophistication and refined menu of the French capital, with the specialty being caviar of the highest quality from the Caspian Sea, together with duck Foie Gras and vodka as the drink of choice.
The dining area has a rather classic/Art Deco look, with seats upholstered in silky stripes of brown, gold, and silver.

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Here’s another dose of culture and good taste in Las Vegas to combat the city’s tacky image. After its wave of world-class star-chef restaurant openings, there are also new shops catering to those looking for something besides kitsch and nouveau riche bling. Found among the elite retailers of the Crystals shopping mall of CityCenter Las Vegas, the new Assouline store presents over 25,000 of its well-illustrated art and culture books in a space designed by Mr. Prosper Assouline himself. Created to have a contemporary home library feel, the store also includes a library design studio and offers special services such as bookbinding and handwriting. You’ll also find rare vintage books and an exclusive line of gift items going for anywhere from 50 to thousands of dollars.

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Milan has long been known as a fashion capital, so it’s a fitting home for an exhibition of the work of one of the world’s top fashion photographers. Born in England, Tim Walker has been a regular photographer for Vogue magazine (the British, American, and Italian editions), and has his works on display in the permanent collections of London’s National Portrait Gallery and Victoria and Albert Museum. Now, this current exhibition in Milan’s Galleria Carla Sozzani shows the artist’s most famous works together with those previously unseen.
His work is often described as evoking a high sense of drama and beauty in stunning sets. He is also described as a “fantasist,” capturing dream-like images. You can see many of them in his book titled “Pictures” published in 2008, just around the time of his first major exhibition in the Design Museum in London.
Now you can get up close to some of his best work at the design mecca of Milan until March 7th.

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Valentine’s Day may be over but that doesn’t mean the gift of chocolate to someone you love or to yourself should have to wait another year. In London you can have a sweet day every day at the new William Curley patisserie in the Belgravia neighborhood. Curley is an award-winning chocolatier and this is his second shop offering his signature chocolates, cakes, and biscuits. There is also space for a “dessert bar” where you can watch the contemporary desserts be made in front of you.
But before you start thinking this is just a place for after a meal or an afternoon off your diet, note that it also serves mouth-watering breakfasts complete with pancakes and — what else?! — hot chocolate.
Where: 198 Ebury Street, London
Phone: (+44) 20 7730 5522

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The largest collection of Frida Kahlo’s work is naturally found in her native country in the Museo Dolores Olmedo. Now thanks to a special festival celebrating Mexican culture in Brussels, you can see many of the artist’s most important works in Europe. The European Union capital’s Bozar Centre for Fine Arts is showing the exhibition “Frida Kahlo y Su Mundo” (“The World of Frida Kahlo”) now until April 18, consisting of 19 paintings, six drawings, an etching, and several photographs lent by the Dolores Olmedo Museum. These works reflect the artist’s Mexican culture but also her life after a tragic bus accident and a turbulent marriage, in a style that can be described as a mixture of surrealism and symbolism. This combination was in part what attracted the attention of the Louvre Museum which in 1939 made Kahlo the first Mexican artist of the 20th century to have her work purchased by the museum.

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February is the month of romance and whether you have a special someone on Valentine’s Day or are looking for one, there will be a special event for you in or around the 14th of the month all over the world. With the northern hemisphere still feeling the cold of winter, it’s tempting to go somewhere warm still feeling the heat of summer. For gay travelers the choice should be Rio de Janeiro, which is throwing major gay parties in mid-February. On the 13th it will be the “R:evolution Party” at 11PM in , while on the 16th it’s the Original Brazilian Pool Party at 4PM at Clube Internacional de Regatas. You can get complete party details through the website (www.revolutionparty.com.br), which includes ticket information.
A recommended hotel for this time of the year is Rio 180, gay-friendly accommodation with stunning views of the city. It includes a romantic pool area, although Ipanema beach is just a short ride away. Get complete hotel information here: Rio 180.

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Where to take all your shopping bags after browsing through the Paris shops in the last post? To Paris’ new design hotel. Recommended for travelers who look for unique spaces that feel like a home away from home, Hotel Recamier is located in the Saint Germain des Près district and offers two dozen rooms designed by Jean-Louis Deniot. Each floor has a special color theme, where a personal concierge can attend to your needs.
The décor is more classy-elegant-contemporary rather than edgy, even showing some eclectic touches inspired by 20th century trends. As expected in the more intimate Parisian hotels, the rooms are not huge, but are true Paris elegance. Get complete hotel information here: Hotel Recamier

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FRANCIS KURKDJIAN
One of the world’s best perfume creators has opened his first store in Paris. It’s just steps from the chic Rue Saint Honoré and the famous Colette store, and presents Francis Kurkdjian’s signature fragrances while offering an exclusive service — you can have him create a unique, personal scent to match your skin and taste! Get it on Rue d’Alger, 5.
www.franciskurkdjian.com

LA PÂTISSERIE DES RÂVES
Renowned chef Philippe Conticini creates dreamy pastries and presents them gallery-style, under temperate-controlled glass bells. Only fifteen of them are displayed at a time, but those are always fifteen difficult choices. Whether you feel you should have just one or try them all, whatever you choose comes straight from the kitchen, freshly prepared. Anyone with a sweet tooth will want to put this shop on their Paris gourmet itinerary (look for it on Rue du Bac, 93).
www.lapatisseriedesreves.com

LEICA STORE
Professional or amateur, anyone who photographs will want to check out Paris’ first Leica boutique. It’s the brand’s fifth in the world, after stores in Berlin, London, Moscow, and Tokyo, and presents the brand’s entire line of cameras and accessories. In Paris be sure to take a look at the luxurious leather-bound Hermès camera. It’s found on Rue de la Pompe, 150.
fr.leica-camera.com

MONTBLANC – RUE DE LA PAIX
The Montblac brand is now found in practically every major shopping avenue, airport, or upscale mall, but its new flagship store in Paris is a whole new experience. Located on number 7 of Rue de la Paix, it joins that glamorous street’s famous jewelry shops in presenting a fine jewelry collection. So in addition to the luxurious pens and fine leather goods, you can now look for a precious gift, and there’s also space to admire contemporary art from the brand’s impressive collection. It all fits in the 500m2-space which is Europe’s largest for Montblanc.
www.montblanc.fr

STEIGER BOTTIER
You’ll find over 30 Walter Steiger stores around the world, but the new one in Paris is the first one exclusively dedicated to the shoe designer’s creations and where you can get some made just for you. You can present your own personal tastes and requirements, and have a “sculpture” created exclusively for your feet. You’ll then have to wait between one and two months to get it, but time is just part of the price of having such an exclusive item. You can request it on Avenue Matignon, 33.

UNIQLO
Opened during Paris’ lastest fashion week, the Japanese discount fashion brand is already a success story in the French capital. This flagship store was designed by Tokyo-based Masamichi Katayama, and incorporates LED messages circulating around much of the space. It’s a an eye-catching feature in a place where it’s easy to be distracted by all the exclusive collections at reasonable (even low) prices. Check it out on Rue Scribe, 15-17.
www.uniqlo.com

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