The Vancouver room boom just moved up another notch. Herewith, the cool things that have us considering long-term hotel living at the Fairmont Pacific Rim:

1. Stunning installation by UK artist Liam Gillick that spans 17 floors of the building’s exterior with the phrase “The clouds looked no nearer than when I was lying on the street.”

2. Marble-clad lobby lounge that serves up afternoon tea, cocktails and raw seafood.

3. Live entertainment  on a $225,000 hand-crafted white Fazioli piano with 18 carat hinges.

4. Astonishing 180-foot origami light sculpture by Vancouver’s Joseph Wu that extends the length of Oru, the hotel’s Pan-Asian bistro.

5. Granville Island Florist outpost located within that means never going without fresh roses.

6. Discovery Theatre, a private movie theatre with 18 plush leather seats you can book for slumber parties. Just don’t watch The Shining.

7. Expansive Willow Stream spa with women’s steam room and lounge, and an ocean-view terrace with and forthcoming Jacuzzis and meditation pods.

8. State-of-the-art 4,000 square foot gym with a studio for yoga and Pilates.

9. Serene, spacious rooms—many with balconies—that feature espresso makers and 100 square foot spa bathrooms with embedded mirror televisions.

10. A sixth floor rooftop pool, inspired by the Bel Air in Los Angeles, ready in time for spring.

For more information visit www.fairmont.com/pacificrim

Wonder what the Burton snowboarders are up to this week? Why they’re practicing their swan dives in the rooftop pool at The Keefer, a high-end residence hotel just opened in Chinatown.

Each of the four floors comprises its own super-suite, with views over the classical Chinese gardens to the south and mountains to the north.

Rounding out the fun is the glass bottomed pool in the penthouse, specially commissioned art by Douglas Coupland, plus a sexy “Apothecary Bar” at street level serving up drinks made with Chinese medicinal herbs and tinctures.

We’ll take a dose of that.

The Keefer, 133 Keefer St., Vancouver, 604-688-1983, www.thekeefer.com

The greenest city in the U.S. is a perfect mix of laid-back cool and thrilling buzz. An ideal weekend getaway, here are our picks for the City of Roses.

sleep
The Nines is a chic space with an impressive modern art collection.You may find yourself sharing the elevator with one of the L.A. Lakers at this downtown hotel that’s popular among the It crowd. From $159 per night. The Nines, 525 SW Morrison, Portland, 1-877-229-9995, www.thenines.com

shop
A graduate of the Parsons School of Design, Portland-based Modi Soondarotok worked for Peter Som, Donna Karan and Armani before launching Idom, her line of colourful, vintage-inspired pieces. We swooned over every dress at her charming boutique.  Idom, 827 NW 23rd Ave. Portland, 503-477-6818, www.idomdesigns.com

eat
Named as one of the “Top 10 Best New Restaurants in America” by GQ, Ping lives up to the hype. Its menu is packed with mouth-watering “multi-Asian” fare. Start with a selection of the skewers (from $2) and you'll be dreaming about the laksa nonya coconut noodle soup ($12) long after the last bite. Ping, 102 NW Fourth Ave., Portland, 503-229-7464, www.pingpdx.com

sip
Portland is known for its coffee fanaticism and Stumptown Coffee Roasters indeed serves one of the best cups we’ve ever had. Stumptown Coffee Roasters, www.stumptowncoffee.com

swirl
When it’s time for a stronger bevy, head to the Doug Fir Lounge where you’ll find hipsters of all ages listening to live acts like Sloan or St. Vincent while enjoying local brews. Doug Fir Lounge, 830 East Burnside, Portland, 503-231-9663, www.dougfirlounge.com

If our Facebook news feed over the holidays was any indication, it’s going to be a banner year for summer weddings. For those soon to be betrothed, we have a few recommendations to help plan the big day.

Photos
James Moes is a young shutterbug with talent in spades. Not restricted to one style, we’ve seen him produce both modern and retro shots from the same shoot, and the stealthy way he captures the after party is unparalleled. www.holyholymatrimony.com

Rings
If your “something old” happens to be an heirloom ring handed down to you that just doesn’t suit your style, consider having Jessie Turner modernize it. She’ll take your old jewels and melt down bygone gold to craft a new ring you love. www.jessieturner.ca

Flowers
The new Get Fresh Flowers shop on Davie Street may be small, but packs a powerful punch with beautiful bouquets and vases. Bring in your ideas and they’ll work with you to create something fragrant and fashionable. www.getfreshflowers.ca

Dessert
Have your cake look good and eat it too with The Uncommon Cake. Or get creative and give guests custom-made cookies instead. Whether you’re going for elegant or whimsical, baker and decorator Jill Shumka is a whiz with confections. www.theuncommoncake.com

For more wedding “shop talk” head to the Forum.

You know we’re fond of free online magazines, and we’ve got another to add to your bookmark bar that’ll have you dreaming of new home décor.

Lonny, a hybrid of London and New York, is the product of two staffers from the dearly departed Domino magazine. Bringing interior design inspiration to the digital masses, it functions like a paper mag with pages that flip, but unlike tactile tomes you can click an item and you’re taken straight to the seller.

Saving a tree and sourcing a sustainable new chaise in one fell swoop—we like the sound of that.

www.lonnymag.com

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is India's smooth and sultry gateway city. Herewith, our insider's guide to the bustling metropolis.

spa
At Tahaa Spa, a jewel-like space near the well-shaded, old money neighbourhood of Malabar Hills, therapists trained from the famed Banyen Tree spa in Thailand work out your kinks. Expect your bliss state to survive the city's chaos (well, at least for an afternoon). 69/A, Manisha Building, Napeansea Road, Mumbai, 022 23681001.

shop
Head straight to the flagship Bungalow 8, an eclectic gallery-shop where Indian design and intricate craftsmanship flaunt a contemporary global twist.  Find Ikat print dresses by Parisian designer Mathieu Leguillon (formerly at Lanvin), jewellery by the owner's mother, artist Jamini Ahluwalia, and accoutrements and furniture that you will want to ship home immediately. www.bungaloweight.com

eat
Old favourite Indigo, where the Clintons dine on their visits to India, is the opposite of stuffy. Waltz into the chic space in an old Colaba bungalow and sip a glass of surprisingly tasty Indian vino at the long bar, then dine on local oysters and whatever happens to be on the daily specials menu. The food is sublime and the people watching essential. www.foodindigo.com

drink
Hit up Blue Frog, a space-age-esque lounge, bar and restaurant in the city's revitalized Mill District, which features some of the best acoustics in the city. Perfect for listening to a new Indo-jazz band or some indie music. After a mango martini, you'll be humming along. www.bluefrog.co.in

The next time your BFF comes into town on business, tell her to tack on a weekend and pack lighter.

It sounds backwards, but not if she stays at the Georgian Court Hotel, which in its recent renovations added the Orchid Floor suited solely to the needs of female travelers. For no additional charge the 18 rooms include a flat iron, curling iron, ample-sized Aveda toiletries and a ladies-only emergency kit stocked with neutral nylons, sewing kit, hair spray, nail polish remover and all important products for that time of the month.

There are even style magazines and a yoga mat, so she can multitask picking her Proenza Schouler Spring 2010 with posing in Sun Salutation.

From $127 per night, Georgian Court Hotel, 773 Beatty St., Vancouver, 1-800-663-1155, www.georgiancourt.com

Sometimes charm trumps square footage. Herewith, our favourite boutique hotels.

With gold-leaf mahogany beds, French tapestries and Louis XV-glam, it’s impossible not to get the lovey doveys at Auberge Pierre du Calvet. Built in 1725, celeb fans include Aidan Quinn and Benjamin Franklin. From $295, www.pierreducalvet.ca
Marianne Wisenthal, Montreal editor

The perfect hotel for party people and culture vultures, Toronto’s Drake Hotel hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. In fact, it’s hipper than ever with ‘What’s in the Box,’ a Boxing Week music festival that celebrates the best of 2009. Five bands, five nights, five bucks. From $189, www.thedrakehotel.ca
Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor

The 15-room Hotel Deseo in Playa Del Carmen is beachy minimalism at its best. And it’s the little touches that make it magical, like classic Mexican movies projected on the exterior wall and the phrase ‘away from you’ that reflects up from the bottom of the pool. From US$178, www.hoteldeseo.com
Joy Pecknold, Vancouver editor

For understated luxury check into the Hotel Raya on Italy’s Aeolian Islands. Playing briscola and sipping Campari on a whitewashed terrace at sunset is pure bliss. From $450, www.hotelraya.it
Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor

For its warm ambiance and fine design, Le Petite Hotel is an ideal spot to hide away and forget about the world with your man. From $140, www.petithotelmontreal.com
Elsa Vecchi, Montreal editor

In preparation for a new year of globetrotting, we’ll be watching Up in The Air (Clooney giving us travel tips? Yes, please) and investing in new luggage from the Claire Newell collection.

The travel expert regularly seen on Global TV, Newell has poured her years of packing and frequent flying into a slick collection of premium bags, suitcases and accessories that’s made of leather from the same factory where Prada gets its goods. We love the travel wallet ($99) designed with all the right compartments for all your documents that doubles as a great going-out clutch. And the tote bag ($399), which comes with a pen, business card holder and key chain, works equally well as a carry-on, weekend overnighter or everyday laptop bag.

Looking this good is liable to get you bumped up to business class.

At www.cntravelcollection.com

Now that the Richmond Olympic Oval is closed to public skating, we have to find somewhere else to show-off our triple salchow. Good thing the Robson Square rink has reopened.

After nine years without ice, it’s back in business and better than ever. There’s a third more space to skate and a stage at one end for live performances leading up to the games. It’s free for those who bring their own blades, or borrow a pair at the rental shop for $3. For your next date, we’d suggest an hour and a half of ice-time followed by a hot toddy to warm your body.

Robson Square rink (at Howe St.) open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

Check out our spins, spills and toe pics on the Editors’ Diary.