On Dec 27, 2010, in the middle of a blizzard that shut down much of the Northeast, the Aloft Harlem quietly made history with the simple act of opening its doors to guests.

Aloft Harlem, New York

The 12-story building on the corner of Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 124th Street near the 125th St subway station has the hotel on the first six floors with 124 loft-style rooms, with the six floors above devoted to 44 residencies.

What’s historic is that Harlem now has its first major hotel since the Theresa shut down in 1967. This famous neighborhood in Harlem where the Apollo Theater alone attracts over 2.5 million annual visitors hasn’t had a hotel for 43 years.

A new hotel in New York City may not be a big deal now, but back in the days when the Theresa was open, it was the only good Harlem hotel open to some people because downtown hotels wouldn’t let them  stay.

As times changed, the Theresa was no longer the only option, but it was still a powerful symbol and a call for visitors to come stay in Harlem. After it closed down, tourists and visitors would come to enjoy the Apollo Theater and Harlem’s jazz clubs and soul food, but they couldn’t stay here. The Aloft changes all that and Harlem now has its own hotel again.

Daniel Fevre, General Manager of Aloft Harlem, says that “Harlem has long been a highly visited destination in Manhattan and we look forward to providing a unique lodging alternative in the area.”

History and symbolic statements aside, it’s also a pretty trendy and tech savvy place to stay in. There are flat-screen television sets in each room which are ‘plug & play’ enabled – meaning guests can hook up PDAs, cell phones, mp3 players and laptops.

Guest room, Aloft Harlem

Each room also has individual climate control and video checkout.  Smart check-in with a special RFID-powered keycard allows guests to skip the front desk and head straight to the room on arrival.

Standard amenities include the Signature bed for a good night’s sleep, and a work desk with an ergonomic chair and a coffee maker for those who don’t want to sleep and would instead prefer to use the in-room wi-fi or wired high speed internet.

Being an Aloft, the hotel also has a re:mix lounge, a re:charge fitness center, 24/7 re:fuel for a quick bite to eat, and the w xyz bar for mingling with drinks.

From now until March 31, 2011, guests who book in at the Aloft Harlem will earn double SPG points for every stay, and a $20 voucher for food & drinks at the hotel’s w xyz bar or at re:fuel.

Photo credits – Apex Condominiums, SPG (The Lobby).

Info: 2296 Frederick Douglass Boulevard New York NY 10027; (212) 749-4000; website

Related Posts:-

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Uncover Artistic Treasures at Artcrawl Harlem

Las Villas Akumal

Want to take the family on vacation for fun in the sun, a little education and a lot of family bonding? Head south of the border to Mexico’s Riviera Maya and Las Villas Akumal. Perched right on the beach, it’s ideal for families looking for an escape.

The property has 26 spacious villas with one, two or three bedrooms. Each villa has an ocean or garden view and a fully equipped kitchen, a living room and terrace. All villas have air conditioning, satellite TV, telephone, safety deposit box, towels and linens, beach towels and daily maid service. Rates start at $158 per night, and vary based on time of year, number or rooms and view.

Spend family time in a quiet villa

Play in the on-site swimming pool, or use kayaks and snorkel equipment to discover the Caribbean Sea, just steps away from your villa. A rooftop restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner—or walk down the beach to the town of Akumal to dine in local restaurants.

While in Akumal, take the kids to visit the Akumal Ecological Center, which operates volunteer projects on sea turtle and coral reef monitoring. Located in the heart of town, right near the beach, it’s easy to stop in and check out the various displays used to educate people about why the area’s natural attractions are so special and worth preserving.

Las Villas Akumal, 866-589-4311
Cancún-Tulum Highway, Km. 104, Akumal, Mexico

Photos courtesy of Las Villas Akumal

More Mexico-related information:
Green Is Gorgeous at Hacienda Tres Ríos in Riviera Maya

Being homeless is a bitter, painful experience but sometimes a little window opens and a ray of light shines in. For 500 homeless men and women in Dallas, this window just opened because they’ll be spending their Christmas in the warmth and comfort of the Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel, courtesy the Soupman.

This is the 6th straight year that the Soupman and a volunteer army are doing this at the Dallas Hyatt Regency. This year, they’ve taken over the hotel’s entire skyline tower – all 14 floors.

At 6 am on Dec 24, six buses start cruising the streets of Dallas, picking up needy people off the streets who will eat and sleep in the hotel overnight, take warm showers, and get new clothes and gifts on Christmas morning.

As the buses roll into the hotel entrance, 1000 cheering volunteers await them with a red carpet welcome and a high school band playing the theme song from Rocky. At 1 pm, there’ll be a huge banquet in the landmark ballroom of the Hyatt Regency with 50 tables of guests being served by volunteers including Tom Leppert, the Mayor of Dallas.

The founder of Soupmobile is David Timothy, and they’ve been at this since 2003. All year round, Soupmobile serves 600 hot meals every single week day to the homeless in South Dallas. The difference is that they deliver the meals to the homeless, unlike other soup kitchens.

As for the 1,120 room Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel, they’re paid by 14 different sponsors, each of whom is sponsoring one floor each. The hotel is an AAA four diamond hotel, with rates starting from around $179. So that makes at least around $90,000 for the 500 rooms. There’s also the banquet and other arrangements, so the total tab should be well over $100k, even with discounts.

More info:- http://www.soupmobile.org/

Related posts:-
Hyatt Regency Dallas Makes Christmas Dreams Come True
Dickens of a Christmas in McKinney, Texas

The historic Cass House Inn

Who says you have to give up luxury when you stay in a historic inn? Pack your bags and get away to Cayucos, a sweet Central California beach town. Right within view of the old town pier is the Cass House Inn and Restaurant, which once belonged to the founder of Cayucos, Captain James Cass. The home was built between 1867 and 1875, and the restoration took 14 years before the inn opened in 2007.

The five-room inn is decorated in beautiful antique furnishings, and rooms include luxe bed and bath linens, Molton Brown bath products, and HD flat-screen TVs. Some rooms have large soaking tubs, antique fireplaces, ocean views or private terraces. Free Wi-Fi and a full gourmet breakfast are included in your stay. Rates start at $165.

Take advantage of the winter special: 30 percent off any room on Sunday and Monday in December and January. Call 805-995-3669 for reservations, or enter the code WINTER when booking online at www.casshouseinn.com.

If you’re staying Thursday through Monday, a reservation at the restaurant is a must. The menu changes daily and includes the best seasonal ingredients from local farmers and foragers. My recent stay coincided with a special Harvest Dinner, one of many types of dinners held throughout the year—whether focused on a specific cuisine or season. From the restaurant’s garden came wild fennel, tomatoes, opal basil, squash, sage, French onions, scallions, leek tops, tomatillos and additional herbs. Chef Jensen Lorenzen even made smoked sea salt from nearby ocean water. The list of local food—from honey to abalone—all came from within 30 miles of the inn. Wine and ales were expertly paired with each course from the lengthy and inspirational wine list.

Morning coffee is served below an old photo of the Cass House

After dinner, take some time to relax by the fireplace in the lobby before you return to your room. Peruse a photo album of the history of the building and look around—it may be more modern, but the 19th-century feeling is still there.

Cass House Inn and Restaurant, 805-995-3669
222 N. Ocean Avenue, Cayucos, CA 93430

Photos courtesy of Jill K. Robinson

I was a guest of the Cass House Inn and Restaurant during my stay in Cayucos.

Related post: El Morro Masterpiece Motel in Morro Bay