HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the French-themed Grand Anniversary celebration, which featured a “walking street” displaying works by Ong Kongphat Sakdapitakm, a book station by hiso bookworm Ploy Jariyavech, and an international food station with cooking showcases from hotel chefs. Celebrities, artists, models and designers like Dr. Catherine Kijothan, M.L. Treenuch Siriwattanapakdee, and M.L. Natthakorn Thewakul mingled in the crowd, and everyone was regaled with a singing performance from Tu – Nanthida, Bodin Boonwisit and Thailand’s best singer from KPN, Bee -Tassapak Chee and Rose Elizabeth Sitthicharoenyos.
[Photos: Flickr/Johan Larsson]
If you’re like us (or Conan O’Brien), you can’t get enough of Angry Birds. But Renaissance is taking it off your iPhone and blowing it up on the big screen: this summer, head to Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel to challenge other guests on the 7.5′x10′ screen for prizes like hotel stays, dinner at SOCCi or an iPad. Even if you’re not at the top of the scoreboard, treat yourself to a not-too-shabby consolation prize: Angry Birds-inspired cocktails, like the Mighty Eagle, the Rio and the Golden Egg, will be served at the bar, along with Blue Ribbon small bites.
The tournament is free to enter; players must be at least 21.
For more information or bookings, please visit www.renarlington.com or phone (703) 413-1300.
How has performing small shows at Renaissance Hotels been for someone who routinely plays for larger crowds?
Playing in general is always a fun experience, and being able to go from playing a larger show where it’s super high energy with masses of people but a little less personal to something smaller and much more intimate is a unique way of maintaining an authenticity to your performance. Sometimes it can be challenging moving from a big stage with big lights and sound to something smaller… but I think if you enjoy it no matter what, it really doesn’t matter how many people are enjoying the experience with you.
How’s the Sony and Renaissance partnership experience been for you?
It’s been wonderful getting to know a lot of the staff at the different hotels, and being able to stay in different cities at these types of properties has been great, too. I think the partnership will just continue to grow over time and the shows will yield larger crowds and potentially become a very unique series for a unique hotel.
What’s your songwriting process — how do the ideas come about?
It’s always different… sometimes the chords come first, or the melody, other times I hear a beat, or some sort of groove that I can picture a song coming in to. And other times it’s lyrics that surface first. At any rate, once the initial idea is there, it’s a bit like a puzzle putting together all the pieces until the song is crafted.
Any recent memorable shows?
Opening for The Script in L.A. was pretty amazing. It was sold out in a few days with almost 3000 people. The crowd was fantastic, The Script is fantastic, and we just had an incredible time.
All-time favorite song?
I was once asked if I could have written any one song from the past, what would it be, and I think it’s ‘Say It Ain’t So’ by Weezer. To me, it’s a near perfectly crafted song. There’s tons out there I love from Bob Marley to John Mayer, but that one song still sticks with me.
[Photos: Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com]
Some things were just meant to be together: Fred and Ginger, strawberries and champagne, and now one more:
Last week Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach and ELLE , the world’s largest fashion magazine, opened the doors to the hotel’s newest gem, the ELLE Spa. Plenty of celebs were on-hand to celebrate the opening of the 22,000-square foot pampering Mecca — actress Jamie King, actress/model Joy Bryant, Friday Night Lights‘ Aimee Teegarden, Old Spice Guy Isaiah Mustafa and Community’s Gillian Jacobs all mingled on the outdoor lawn, sipping champagne and snacking on bite-size mahi mahi tacos, lamb kebabs and chocolate lollipops as a DJ spun tunes.
The spa is now open, so if you’re looking to treat yourself to ELLE-inspired treatments like “Doctor’s Orders” and “Forever 25,” have a personalized facial from celebrity esthetician Tammy Fender, or get a mani-pedi with specially developed Essie nail polish colors “Eden” (a neon pink) or “Roc” (a can’t-miss-it coral, both sold only at ELLE Spa), think about booking an appointment sooner rather than later.
So we’re very excited to offer our Facebook fans a FREE download of their song “When the War Ends,” off their album American Ghetto. If you weren’t able to catch them at SXSW, Bonnaroo, or Renaissance, this is the next best thing:
ABC’s reality show The Bachelorette is heading to Thailand! This week, Ashley Hebert, this season’s lucky lady, will embark on a romantic getaway with the 12 remaining men to Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa. Nestled on Mai Khao Beach in Thailand, the hotel is the ultimate place to fall in love, with 10 miles of unspoiled white sand.
And now you can have a similar fairy tale experience with our Renaissance Rose & Romance package. Over 3 days and two nights, you’ll stay in the same “Pool Villa” as seen on the show, and indulge in a signature spa treatment and private dinner on the beach or in the pool villa. You’ll also have your very own James Bond Island Trip, where a private speedboat will jet you to an island for an exclusivepicnic lunch. The kicker? Have your trip planned by the same navigator Ashley used to create her unforgettable dates.
[Photo: LeadershipMusic.org]
Host of the annual CMA Music Festival and home to the Grand Ole Opry and countless honky tonk bars, Nashville is pretty much synonymous with country music. It’s fitting, then, that this year’s Leadership Music’s Dale Franklin Award, given to “music trailblazers who exemplify the highest quality of leadership and leading by example,” was presented to the CMA at Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
Hosted by five-time CMA winner Martina McBride, the gala showcased all the big names in country: Loretta Lynn, the first CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, performing “Coal Miner’s Daughter”; Ronnie Milsap; Little Big Town; Keith Urban; and Brad Paisley. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Dr. Jesse Register also made speeches on the CMA’s impact on the city and residents. And at the end of the night, cowboy boots suitably scuffed, McBride, Paisley and Little Big Town sang an A-list rendition of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” in a salute to Music City.
For over a year, I have been inundating my Facebook friends with endless posts and links about this new singer I loved—the one and only Bruno Mars. Like a teenage girl, I have trolled the internet downloading every recording I could find, watching every video and reading every article, and then re-posting the link for all to enjoy. A few of my friends have jumped on the bandwagon too, but my family thinks I’ve gone a little loco! Just the same, they have loved the songs and listened to the DooWops & Hooligans CD with me, so now we all know the words and we all sing along.
When I discovered that Bruno Mars was coming to South Beach, I looked into tickets, but as life got busy I missed the boat, and before I knew it he was sold out. Then a lovely little link appeared on the side of my Facebook page: a contest put on by Renaissance Hotels to win tickets to the Miami concert. I immediately clicked and entered, and somewhere in my brain I heard a teensy voice that said, “You are going to win the tickets!” I just assumed it was my inner teenage girl again, whose undying love for Bruno generates some pretty out-there ideas.
But as fate would have it, I won those precious tickets for a concert on the eve of my son Jake’s 13th birthday. So on May 11th, Jake and I had our first ever Mommy and son date, and ventured down to South Beach from our sleepy town of Jupiter where we almost never leave.
Step aside, New York and Milan — the up-and-comer in high fashion is Puerto Rico, known for its chic Latin-infused looks. This year’s Puerto Rico High Fashion Week was held at La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort, where 14 designers (including Jaer Caban) showcased their runway looks over two days.
Arlington, Virginia, may often be considered the redheaded stepsister to high-profile Washington D.C., but last week traffic was headed to Crystal City for the Grand Opening party of the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel.
Guests were greeted with special Renaissance pilot wing pins, handed out by retro-themed ambassadors dressed in sleeveless stewardess orange mini-shift dresses and white gloves, side chingons peeking out from underneath their flight attendant hats. Stepping into the building, another flight attendant stood ready with a beverage cart bearing white wine, raspberry mojitos and apple orange spritzers as DJ Adrian Loving’s spun tunes from an elevated RLife LIVE stage.
The night was something District dwellers would remember: David Marriott and Virginia Congressman Jim Moran milling about the crowds; a custom Renaissance passport photobooth; upscale Middle Eastern, British and Chinese hors d’oeuvre stations that took guests on a ’round-the-world culinary tour to Renaissance’s new or upcoming locations in Qatar, London and Sanya; and a Chocolate Wonderland (yeah, you read that right) with cakes, fondues, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and chocolate and dessert wine pairings.
The 14th floor Sky Lounge was also open to guests, where Swarovski crystal-studded binoculars lended a view of the skyline and the Bromberg brothers served Blue Ribbon’s northern fried chicken, mini grilled cheese, and white bean toast on their signature oversized cherry wood boards.
However, the place to be at the end of the night was on the dance floor when DJ Mia Moretti and electric violinist Caitlin Moe took over the RLife LIVE stage, putting their unique twist on hits and getting the crowd on the dance floor with MGMT’s “Kids” and Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro.”
You need to see it to believe it: For more information or bookings, check out www.renarlington.com or call (703) 413-1300.
R Life is about your life. It's about bold style. Authentic experience. Real travel (even if it's right near your home). And inspired discussion, peppered with wit and joie de vivre. It's about looking to see what's around the corner, and savoring what's new and different once you're there. Learn More
[Photos: Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com]
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