Thompson Lower East Side Sets a Date

At long last, the shiny black monolith rising high over the Lower East Side is ready to open its doors. Well, almost. After several years, the Thompson Lower East Side is finally accepting reservations starting July 15. A standard room will run you $399 a night while the King Studio Suite will only cost you $40 more. So what do you get for all that cheddar?

Our studio suites have been designed with an industrial loft-like feel and feature a King bed with 400 thread count custom SFERRA linens and a spacious living room. Light box headboards feature Lee Friedlander photography. Bathrooms feature oversized terry robes and amenities by Fresh. Entertainment options include flat screen TVs with movies on demand and i-Pod docking stations. Each room also offers complimentary WiFi and minibars stocked with Dean and Deluca and Elia Zabar gourmet snacks.

How LES! How New York! How Thompson. So set your calendars for mid July and hope that there are no final delays that push it back to August.

Gild Hall Comes Out Swinging

It was the place no one knew about. Well, except for us. But Gild Hall, the former Holiday Inn in the Financial District, is getting ready to make its debut. You can be there to experience it all. For a not so small fee of course. The Thompson Hotel group's newest location is taking reservations for December and the rates are far from introductory. For the weekend of December 14-16, a standard room at the Gild can be had for $429 a night, not including taxes. Hoochie mama! But if you are going for it, we suggest the King Suite for an even $800. Description below:

Bright 12 foot high ceiling corner suites with oversized living area and wet bar. The spacious living room has smoked glass pendant chandeliers. Elegant designed wooden furniture inspired by the French Fashion House Hermes. Suspended from the ceiling hangs an elegant, custom designed chandelier. The separate bedroom features a luxurious leather headboard, a king size bed. Suspended from the ceiling hangs an elegant, custom designed chandelier.

You had us at headboard. No word on when Todd English's restaurant will open, but you can get some lunch at Backyard Chicken. It's just around the corner. Don't forget a napkin - we wouldn't want you getting grease on the Hermes furniture.

Donovan Gets a House

Jason Pomeranc and his band of hotel building family members are in the midst of a major expansion. They just opened Six Columbus, the Gild is coming soon, and they are now pushing into other cities. Including Washington DC. That's where the name Donovan comes in. As in Donovan House. That's the name of the new hotel Sir Pomeranc will be opening on 14th Street in our nation's capital. Wonderful. The project, which is a converted Holiday Inn (sounds familiar), is partly financed by LaSalle Hotel Properties with the design work being done by Studio Gaia, the design force behind Tao Vegas and the now shuttered club Light. We are proud to present you with a first look at what the Donovan will look like. Think classic-post mod with a nod to the shagadelphic era of hotels past. You get what we're talking about. Expected opening is Spring of 2008, but with so many new projects coming on line at the same time, we think you can expect some delays.