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| The front entrance at the Omni William Penn Hotel in the heart of Pittsburgh. Photo courtesy of the Omni William Penn Hotel. |
This week I am zipping about the country—aka Domesticana—and have the soundtrack cranked up, from “California Gurls” by our former cover girl Katy Perry and Señor Snoop, to La Roux’s “Bulletproof.” So it may not quite be Cali, but I am humming “Sun-kissed skin so hot” as I pop into Pittsburgh’s fabulously retro Omni William Penn Hotel, perfectly perched in the center of the Steel City’s downtown.
The history! The glamour! Ooh-la-la!
Built by industrialist Henry Clay Frick in 1916, the Penn is a brick-clad throwback that boasts monumental public spaces, including sky-reaching ballrooms such as the Art Deco-styled Urban Room, designed by renowned set designer Joseph Urban (the room’s fountain-like chandelier is incredible!). And do check out Lawrence Welk’s original bubble machine, perched on a memorabilia shelf in the lobby. The hotel’s vintage light fixtures are amazing (remember I am also an interior designer!) as are the carved ceilings and the murals scattered about. It’s enough to melt a popsicle, if you get my drift.
Pittsburgh, wow! I am impressed.
Then it was back to New York and then on to Chicago, where I am currently ensconced at the Palmer House Hilton and where I just had a glorious dinner (wow, wow, wow!) at the hostelry’s splendid Lockwood restaurant.
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| The Omni William Penn's glorious Urban Room, designed by famed set designer Joseph Urban. Photo courtesy of the Omni William Penn Hotel. |
But, first, back to Hilton-land in the Big Apple where I had a pre-Chicago massage at the Spa Merge at West 57th by Hilton Club. Spa Merge is a terrific urban escape where you can sample such signature spa services as bathing rituals, scalp treatments (who doesn’t love a kicking scalp massage, n’est-ce pas?) and decadent body treatments such as the lemongrass mimosa (and don’t forget the facials such as the stellar triple threat).
And tomorrow I am on to Minneapolis.
Whew!
Hello, America, here I come! Let’s make it unforgettable.