Looking for a unique children’s toy with a cool edge, but want to avoid the usual suspects like FAO Schwarz and Toys R Us? Then check out the new Kidrobot flagship store in Soho, which opened earlier this month. Kidrobot sells limited edition art toys, apparel, and accessories. The two-storey, 2,200 square foot space has a custom toy gallery, a four-foot Dunny (painted by Tara McPherson), a six-foot cyan-blue Munny and will also feature a twenty-five foot tall mural by French graffiti legend Tilt. So what makes Kidrobot's products different?

The hit American TV show Gossip Girl has just made it to London, and I have to confess I’m hooked. It’s like Sex and the City crossed with Beverly Hills 90210 but infinitely cooler and bitchier. Instead of hanging out at The Peach Pit slurping milkshakes and having burgers, the Gossip Girl crew is chilling at Campbell Apartment and shopping at Henri Bendel. To celebrate the show, New York’s The Franklin Hotel is offering a Gossip Girl package which includes two nights in an Executive King Guestroom, a $100 Gift Certificate to Henri Bendel, $100 gift certificate for dinner and drinks at The Mansfield's M Bar, admission for two at the Metropolitan Museum,  a Gossip Girl Guide to NYC  and luxury car service for one hour.

Since most hotels these days seem to be designed in an Asian, minimalist style, it’s refreshing to see a place embracing lots of eye-popping colour. One place that is getting rave reviews (and not only for its bright design) is Oceana in Santa Monica. The look is bright beachy fun, with suites painted in sunny yellow, and some rooms are decorated with hot pink and green accessories. Colour wise, it reminds us of the Todd Oldham-designed The Hotel in Miami.

When I was in Napa Valley last autumn, my favourite stop in St. Helena was the retro-fab and very gourmet Taylor’s Automatic Refresher, where I tucked into a freshly grilled turkey burger, sweet potato fries and a green tea milkshake (I know that's a lot of food but I was starving). The next time I find myself in wine country, I’ll try to do a lot more shopping than eating. One place that is getting a lot of buzz in St. Helena is Martin. This design emporium actually has a sense of humour about itself; the website has categories call ‘New Shite’ for the latest products and ‘Blah Blah Blah’ for the press section.

Here’s one store to bookmark for the next time you find yourself in Beantown- Vessel. Located near South Station on the border of Chinatown, Vessel is a design studio as well as a retail space. The store is divided into different areas for the bedroom, bathroom and garden, and the prices are actually pretty reasonable. There’s a Real Good red chair that looks like a piece of origami for $99 by Blu Dot, and we also like the look of the Bendant Lamp, $165, which has a leaf-like shade- and comes in a flat pack. Or for a jolt of colour in your study, try the bright red, lacquered Desk 51, for $699. Vessel, 125 Kingston Street, Boston. Phone: (877) 805-1801. Closed Monday.

While one part of us still has skiing on the brain, it’s also time to think about a summer getaway. It must be the New Englander in me, but Nantucket is also on the brain. Check out the newly renovated Veranda House, housed in a building that dates back to 1684. The boutique hotel has added two new guest rooms, bringing the total to 18, and rooms have a fresh, crisp New England look without any country cliches. The renovations also added a new patio, lounge and freshly landscaped gardens. The guest bedrooms have Frette sheets and feather beds as well as a selection of pillows, and are decorated with Simon Pearce lamps and plenty of fresh flowers. Rates start at $289. The Veranda House, 3 Step Street, Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554. Phone: (508) 228- 0695.

The 2008 ski season is nearly over, but if you want to squeeze in one more trip- done in style- consider the new Arrabelle hotel in Vail. A member of Rock Resorts, this hotel is Vail’s first new luxury hotel in 25 years. It is located smack in the middle of Vail Square and has 36 rooms and 66 condos. The plaza also has an ice skating rink and oodles of shops. Of course skiing at Vail and Beaver Creek are the big draws, but guests can also try their hand at snow-shoeing and dog sledding, or take an evening sleigh ride to a gourmet dinner. And for making yourself feel human again after a day on the slopes, the Arrabelle has a 10,000 square foot spa along with a roof top pool. The Arrabelle at Vail Square, 675 Lionshead Place, Vail, CO 81657. Phone: (866) 662-ROCK.

It’s a bold hotel that tries to be the coolest kid in town in a city that created the coolest music in the world but nine years ago International House set out to out-hip everyone by turning an old Beaux-Arts style building in the Central Business District into an $11 million reflection of the great city of New Orleans through a thoroughly modern prism. A recent top to bottom spiffing-up courtesy of LM Pagano, designer of choice for Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp, has ­only increased the cool quotient.

Ninety minutes north of New York City, in a little town called Milton, NY, there is an exceptionally green sanctuary for stressed out city folk. It’s called Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa. Its environs contain scenes from any other B&B in Ulster County - you might find muffins in a gingham-lined basket, cozy rooms with antique canopy beds, or a pond filled with ducks.

As the ski season starts to wind down on the East Coast, I often find myself daydreaming about how or where I might scheme in just one more snow day. When I learned last month that the Heavenly Resort in South Lake Tahoe extended its season until May 4th due to record snowfall in January, I planned a trip out west immediately. The gigantic mountain resort, which typically shuts down in late April, is extending its season with some enticing deals.