1 | The Week's Best Destination
Grand Opening of Sanqingshan Resort
If you're planning a trip to China, you're in luck! Late last week, Hilton announced the opening of their Sanqingshan Resort in China's Mount Sanqing National Park. The stunning new property in the heart of the Jiangxi Province is the first and only internationally-branded resort in Shangrao, offering 372 guest rooms with panoramic views of the Chinese National AAAAA-rated tourist region. Amenities include 42-55 inch LCD televisions and complimentary standard Wi-Fi access in every room, and oversized French windows to take in the breathtaking views. There's also a full-service spa and four restaurants on site. What's more? Hilton HHonors members will earn 1,000 Bonus Points per night on the best available rate through stays completed between December 15, 2016 and June 14, 2017, along with instant benefits, including an exclusive member discount that cannot be found anywhere else. To book a room, click here.
2 | The Week's Best Restaurant
A Michelin Star Eatery: In New York City
Is there anything better than Michelin star food without the hefty price tag? As of last Friday, the United States now has its very own Tim Ho Wan. The Hong Kong-based dim sum chain rose to fame for being the lowest priced restaurant in the world to get a Michelin star, and their 60-seat NYC outpost does not disappoint. The menu includes some of the award winning chain's mouthwatering staples—we're talking mindblowing char siu bao (a barbecue pork bun), delicious luo buo gao (a turnip cake), and life changing nuo mi ji (sticky rice in a lotus leaf.) The New York City location even has two of its own unique dishes: A veggie spring roll, and a sweet, eggy French toast filled with custard. The upside is that none of the delectable dishes we just described cost more than $5.50, but the downside is you'll likely have to wait on line because Tim Ho Wan doesn't take reservations. For more details, click here.
3 | The Week's Best Theater
The Present
Run, don't walk, to see Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and acclaimed Australian actor Richard Roxburgh in The Present. The play is based on Anton Chekhov's Platonov, with the action transposed to the 1990s, and promises "gunshots, sex, and vodka," according to Vogue. The Guardian says this is "a night of theater you can't afford to miss," and calls Blanchett and Roxburgh's chemistry "electrifying." Previews began on December 17 with opening night scheduled for January, 8, 2017. The play is expected to end its limited 13-week run on March 19. 2017. For tickets, click here.
4 | The Week's Best Film
Fences
There are plenty of big blockbusters opening the week before Christmas, but if you're looking for something that will come in handy when playing in your office Oscar pool, we recommend seeing Fences, the film adaptation of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. Academy Award winner Denzel Washington stars as a former baseball star-turned-sanitation worker who squashes his son's dream of playing college football, and Academy Award nominee Viola Davis plays his sympathetic wife. The film, which opens Christmas Day and scored several Golden Globe nods last week, is generating plenty of Oscar buzz. You can pre-order tickets, here.
5 | The Week's Best Exhibit
Diamonds: Rare Brilliance Opens in Los Angeles
If you need some last minute inspiration for a holiday gift, look no further than The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The Museum's newest exhibit—Diamonds: Rare Brilliance—promises a closer look at some of the world's most stunning gems. Now through March 19, 2017, you can ogle "four of nature's rarest colorful diamond masterpieces" in the NHM's Gem and Mineral Vault. Pieces on display include The Juliet Pink—an extremely rare 30-carat pink diamond with unparalleled clarity—and The Argyle Violet, the largest violet diamond unearthed from the Argyle diamond mine with its own unique hue. For tickets, click here.
