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December 9, 2010 Excursions Room Service + Ice Skates We don't know whether Skating with the Stars will become the newest television sensation, but one thing's for sure: Ice skating will always be hot, especially during the holidays. So much so that some hotels even offer it as an amenity. At The Charles Hotel in Boston’s prestigious Cambridge area, stomping grounds for Harvard and MIT, guests and area residents are eagerly anticipating the December 12 opening of The Rink at The Charles Hotel, one of the state’s best rinks. And, at The Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania, thanks to synthetic magic, guests can enjoy year-round ice skating. While it’s only natural for colder regions to embrace this winter pasttime, it’s not theirs exclusively. A few warm weather spots are bringing the thrill without the chill. Here are three that come highly recommended. Atlanta: St. Regis In tribute to the legendary St. Regis New York, where the Astor family regularly entertained in their ballroom ice skating rink, the St. Regis Atlanta has brought back its Astor Holiday Rink from now until January 3, 2011. Choose the “Indulge in Holiday Traditions” package and enjoy 60 minutes of complimentary ice skating for up to two adults and two children, beginning at $350 per night. 88 West Paces Ferry Rd., 404.563.7900 Los Angeles: W Los Angeles Westwood Those expecting to take a swim during a visit to this W will need to put those plans on ice, at least until January 2, 2011 while the pool is transformed into its own Rockefeller Center oasis. To make the deal even sweeter, go for the "Ice Skate, You Skate, We All Skate" special. You'll get a one-hour “Chill” ice-skating session for two, two cool cocktails, and a room starting at $259 per night. 930 Hilgard Ave., 310.208.8765 San Diego (Coronado): Hotel Del Coronado Hotel del Coronado guests have looked forward to “oceanfront ice skating” for the last six years now. An ornate, Victorian-style hotel built in 1888, The Del, as the hotel is affectionately known, is an ideal backdrop to mix the elements. Choose the "Skating by the Sea" package and enjoy four complimentary ice skating sessions, (which you can take while wearing t-shirt and shorts). Rooms begin at $215 per night, from now until January 1, 2011. 1500 Orange Ave., 800.468.3533 Savories Red Velvet - In Liquid Form Desserts are the best part of the holiday season and few are as in-demand as Red Velvet Cake. Who says this classic, which legend has was a choice dessert selection at the Waldorf-Astoria in the 1920s, has to always be eaten? Sometimes drinking it is just as fun. Below, we’ve rounded up some concoctions, spirit-less and spirit-filled, that will surely satisfy any sweet tooth. Essential Chocolate Desserts (Los Angeles, Ca.) Nothing rewards a hard day of shopping quite like the gratifyingly sweet sip of heaven found in the assortment of RV drinks at this L.A. fave. Enjoyed in latte, cocoa or mocha form, customers are as smitten with drinking in this dessert goodness as they are with eating it. 10868 Washington Boulevard, 310.287.0699 Club Red Velvet (New Orleans Metro Area [Harvey, La.]) Well, of course, that other LA beats to its own drum. Since imbibing is indeed a state-wide pasttime, there should be little surprise that one of the south’s most endearing desserts comes in the extremely spirited form known as The Red Velvet and Red Velvet Wine Candy at this hot spot. The ingredient list is a closely guarded secret so if you want to know what’s in these concoctions, an in-person taste test in required.  Be prepared to clink glasses with the Teflon Don and Big Scotty. Consider yourself warned. 3714 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, LA 70058 The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (Nationwide) Who would expect a SoCal based chain to roll out the Red Velvet goodies? Look no further than, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is as full of tasty surprises as it is famous caffeine addicts. Capturing all of the yummy goodness of RVC, the Red Velvet Hot Cocoa and Red Velvet Ice Blended have been holiday hits from California to Michigan. Inside UPTOWN Making A List Looking for some stocking stuffers?  You're in the right place.  Check the first two in our series of gift guides...     For the tech-savvy and even the tech amateurs on your list, UPTOWN has a roundup of cool gadgets to grab this season in The Techie Wishlist.   UPTOWN also has you covered on every beauty must-have this season with The Glam Gift Guide: 7 Beauty Must-Give Gifts.

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