Rox On Tour
That Rox sures gets around! Even though she’s a cute little chick, she’s also a social butterfly, who enjoys all sorts of adventures, concerts, parties, festivals, charity events, ballet, theater, and more. And being the free little bird that she is, she loves to travel, learn about other cultures and regions, and meet new people along the way. Consider “Rox on Tour” your resource for the perfect Concert Chick experiences. Everything posted here has been Rox tried-and-true tested and has been stamped with her seal of approval. To travel and party with Rox, click on the area that interests you and start making your very own plans. Visit this section often to find out where Rox is rockin’ & rollin’ these days. It’s time to spread your wings and soar!
- Tour du jour
- Concerts & Other Live Entertainment
- Charity Events
- Destination Spas
- Los Angeles
- New York
- Las Vegas
- France
- South Beach
- The Midwest
- Other Exciting Destinations & Adventures
- Travel Links
Tour du jour
Coming Soon: The most up-to-date scoop on Rox’s whereabouts!
Concerts
For starters, let’s talk about who Rox can’t wait to see in concert: Nickelback and Seal. Here’s a photo of Rox with Chad. Unfortunately, she is just hanging out with an image of Chad that appeared in a magazine. One day she will be in the front row, watching Chad do his thing in all his glory. In the meantime, she’ll keep tabs onhis whereabouts through the Nickelback website. HOT FLASH!!! Nickelback will be performing at Cruzan Amphitheatre on April 25, 2009!! Buy your tickets now!! Rox already has hers and is counting down the seconds until it’s Chad time. As for Seal, well that’s a long story and following the rule that if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all, she won’t go there. She’ll just hang onto the working pass that someone gave her and hope to get her very own one day soon. Seal‘s website is pretty cool, too. Rox did get to see Madonna (see photos in the Las Vegas section below). And she really enjoyed the Cheech & Chong show. At least she thinks she did. Ah yes, she was there, proof below! By the way, our Dream Team members from Iron Forge Press designed the show poster. Talented guys, they are!
As for other live entertainment experiences, you have to check out Sunfest…where music meets the waterfront!! This 5-day festival of fun, sun, tunes, and art takes place in West Palm Beach on Flagler Drive during the first weekend of May every year. There are all sorts of ticket options to fit the experience you desire, including the very popular ultimate VIP backstage pass and Club Sunfest. Buy tix now!
Destination Spas
Coming soon!
Los Angeles
Rox loves, loves, loves L.A. and is seriously considering moving there if she doesn’t find the perfect chateau in the South of France. Maison 140, a charming hotel conveniently located near Rodeo Drive, served as headquarters during her most recent trip to tinsel town. Rox spent a long weekend in L.A./Beverly Hills sipping wine at Chateau Marmont (some unknown though very hot actor was studying a script at the table next to hers), champagne in the Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel (no stars in sight other than Aunt Kelley), a Bloody Mary at The Peninsula (the most amazing rooftop view of the city), and a martini at the L.A. Beauty Bar (imagine a Cosmo, a manicure, and a henna tattoo!).
Sufficiently hydrated, Rox enjoyed a banana cupcake with dark chocolate icing (antioxidants!) at Sprinkles (notice the decoration matches her feathers and eyes), a delicious chopped salad at The Ivy (the paparazzi would not leave her alone!), a teeny-tiny square of fine dark chocolate (okay, okay, about six squares–but remember–it’s all about eliminating those free radicals, and they are truly very small) from Madame-Chocolat, a fantastic seafood salad at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica (the parking was impossible, but Rox finally convinced a nice valet to take her car), a grilled cheese sandwich at Campanile (home of the famous Grilled Cheese Night which features over a dozen combinations…Rox prefers the classic but added some stone-ground mustard just to be daring and fancy), and yes, because you just have to, an In-N-Out burger (no meat, of course…the fries were sorta lame, but with the grilled cheese the night before, it’s just as well that Rox only tasted one).
Here are some pics of Rox ready to dive into her cupcake and meatless burger, and one of Rox coming sooooooo close to starring in a feature film but for her manicure which she just got at the L.A. Beauty Bar. She couldn’t make it to the set without smudging her nails. There will be a next time!
There was more to the trip than food and drink. Rox explored Rodeo Drive and Robertson Boulevard where she shopped Louis Vuitton, Kitson, Lisa Kline, and Chanel. Mainly window browsing, but she did pick up a special limited edition bottle of Chanel nail polish called L.A. Sunrise (a vibrant yellow to match her feathers). And she quickly determined that Kitson and Lisa Kline were the perfect retail outlets for her Concert Chick tees. Rox better get right on that! A stroll down the boardwalk in Venice Beach was also on the agenda, as was scary movie night at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (no joke–every Saturday evening during the summer the gates to the cemetery are open and hundreds of people descend on the tombstone-spotted lawn with coolers, chaise lounges, blankets, anything and everything to make themselves comfortable as they view the big screen, which happens to be the side of a mausoleum–it’s a hoot and a must-do!).
New York
Ahhhhh, the Big Apple! Whether it’s a trip to officially mark the holiday season (there’s nothing like the tree at Rockefeller Center , the Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular, and lunch or dinner at the beautifully decorated Tavern on the Green to put one in the holiday spirit), all business, or just fun, no other place in the world comes close to the opportunities for excitement that NYC offers. Rox’s favorite place to say when she’s in Manhattan is the Hotel Elysee, which is a charming feels-as-if-we’re-in-France kind of place. Hotel Elysee offers striking accommodations and includes a fabulous breakfast and happy hour in its daily rate. Perfect! Other great picks include The Hudson near Central Park and Dream Hotel which is home to Chopra Center & Spa (you must try the Udi Room–think: paint yourself, steam, rain shower, exfoliate, rinse, hydrate–repeat often!).
Always on the look-out for fun escapes, Rox put the Trump Hotel & Tower’s Ultimate Shoe Lover Experience package on her list. Six chicks enjoy an overnight stay at the hotel, a private champagne reception in Bergdorf Goodman’s shoe salon complete with a shoe concierge and a gift card to apply to the purchase of shoes, a book signed by Manolo Blahnik, and more. On the subject of shoes, a trip to the city wouldn’t be the same without dropping by Beverly Feldman’s. Beverly’s shoes are sold in many places, but shoes bought at her boutique seem to put some extra oomph into your step. Beverly is definitely a Concert Chick! Rox dreams of the day when Beverly presents her with a pair of black stilettos made just for her–some serious rock ‘n’ roll pumps. (Did you notice Rox’s shoes?)
We started with the toes and now we are moving up to the head. Rox’s one vice is getting her feathers blown out regularly. She goes from rough to fluff in 30 minutes at home thanks to Donetta, the blow dry wizard who owns and operates Mucci Salon & Spa in West Palm Beach. Let’s face it, not only do we want rockin’ shoes, we want red carpet hair, too. But what to do when you’re having a bad hair day in NYC? You make an appointment at Blow Dry Bar. This salon’s signature service is blow outs, having been voted best with the dryer by Vogue, Allure, and InStyle.
Show off your fabulous hair at any one or all of New York’s bountiful eating establishments–too many to list here. On Rox’s last trip, she focused on French bistros, and thoroughly enjoyed Montparnasse, an authentic French Bistro in the heart of Manhattan, serving classic and contemporary French cuisine. This is the sister restaurant to Metronome, one of Rox’s favorite places for bubbles and nibbles when she’s home in Florida. Another new discovery was Maison, a bustling brasserie on the corner of 53rd and 7th. The grilled brie with pear and honey drizzle sandwich with pomme frites served in a tiny tin bucket were magnifique! Rox loves trying new things.
Being the cupcake chick that she is, Rox tries to stop by the Magnolia Bakery when she’s in town. Yes, this is the very same one made famous by the Sex & the Citychicks, but, seriously, the deliciousness of these cupcakes isn’t hype. They are YUMMY, and well worth the wait. There’s even a cupcake bouncer to keep the line moving…true story. Magnolia opened a bakery at the Rockefeller Center, so you no longer have to travel downtown to Bleecker Street to get your super-sugar fix. Rox’s favorite is the Hummingbird Special–cream cheese icing with toasted pecan sprinkles, and nary a piece of hummingbird, much to Rox’s relief.
Okay, just a few more tidbits to mention for now. If you’re in the theatre district, drop by Haru, located a block from Times Square, for some excellent sushi and atmosphere. It’s the perfect pre-post show place. And for the bubbliest nook on the planet outside the Champagne Region in France, you must visit Flûte, New York’s premier Champagne lounge and bar, with two locations in Manhattan and a new location in Paris, France. Flûte offers an extensive list of Champagnes and sparkling wines as well as a full bar and sweet and savory nibbles. Flûte was founded by Hervé Rousseau, a native Parisian, who brought to the United States this French attitudetowards Champagne: No one waits for a special occasion to open a bottle of bubbly! Exactly! Cheers to everyone, everyday! That’s the Concert Chick way (Note: we are not advocating drinking alcoholic beverages every day, but rather, the adoption of the mindset that the ordinary is in fact extraordinary and cause for celebration simply through gratitude and a happy attitude).
All that eating, drinking, shopping, spa’ing, and otherwise exploring and enjoying different places can really scatter a chick (in a good way, but it can still be overstimulating). So, Rox is in the habit of centering herself while on the road by visiting a local church. Yes, a church. Not necessarily to attend mass, but simply to walk away from the noise of the outside world, sit in a pew, say a pray or two, light a candle, and thank God that she is alive, well, and able to travel. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is her usual “center” in NYC. But on her last trip, she discovered St. Bartholomew’s. Now, this isn’t just one of your run-of-the-mill magnificent churches. Nope. Sure, there’s stained glass, pews, a crucifix, an altar, and, of course, a confessional. But there’s also an outdoor bar/dining area called Inside Park, The Cafe Terrace. It’s located on the grounds of St. Bart’s at Park Avenue and 50th Street, offering casual lunch, dinner and bar menus. Gotta love the use of church space. Certainly ups the daily collections!
Las Vegas
The Vegas tradition starts with checking into the Palms. It’s a favorite because it’s off the beaten path and isn’t enormous like the hotels on the strip. It’s the perfect home-base. It’s the kind of place that includes everything you need for an awesome Vegas experience…room, restaurants, casino, spa, Hart & Huntington Tattoo (home to Inked, the reality show on A&E), the only Playboy Club in the world, a fantastic Italian Restaurant called Nove Italiano where you can relax on comfy sofas whilst sipping a Pinot Noir and noshing on yummy pizza. And the Little Buddha is a must. Grab a seat at the bar and let the sushi roll in. If you get a chance, check out the MTV Real World Suite. Rox entered the inner sanctum when she attended the Rock Star Poker Championship held at the Palms. Come to think of it, it was during this very same trip that she saw Nickelback live. She also attended Gene Simmons’s 60th birthday party. Yep, we all just wanna be big rock stars!
After settling into our room, next stop is The Strip. this is always done on the first day no matter what. Head to the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace and grab a seat at The Palm’s bar. Enjoy a glass of wine, and then walk next door to Shooz, home of the most sparkly, cool shoes ever (besides Beverly Feldman’s in NYC–but Shoozdoes carry BF shoes). After satisfying your shoe craving, find a ringside seat at Spago where the chopped salad, shrimp po’ boy sandwich, and bread is to die for (but don’t, there’s still much to do). The last two segments of this Vegas tradition involve Juicy Couture (love the charms!) and Vosges Haut-Chocolat for some caramels (featured in Rox’s Faves section). Make sure you stop at the Forum’s Visitor’s Center to pick up a book full of valuable coupons, including 10% off at Shooz!
The most recent Vegas adventure was a fly-out to see Madonna in action. Wow! Her 50 is the new 25. She rocked the stage and then some at MGM . Her performance was over the top! Rox camped out at the Mandalay Bay, her favorite hotel on The Strip. Whatever you do, make sure to treat yourself to the Gospel Brunch held on certain Sundays at the House of Blues, located in Mandalay Bay. The outstanding gospel music will move you out of your seat whether you want to stand up or not, and you’ll be praising the good Lord all day for guiding you to this holy hall of music, manna, and holy water poured from the open bar. One warning about the food. We were told by the nice lady taking our ticket order that a “traditional” breakfast buffet is served, so we were thinking pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage links. We were wrong, wrong, wrong. Sure, you’ll find those fine foods on the line, but you’ll also feast your eyes and tummies on shrimp, feta salad, artfully prepared pasta and side dishes that complement the carving, omelette, and waffle stations, and so much more. We won’t even mention the desserts! Please go see, taste, and hear for yourself. If you don’t want to be surprised, check out the menu. And make sure to get in line early…there are many folks who are planning to spend their Sunday morning with you. Amen!
Rox could never leave Vegas without hanging out with her favorite wine guys, Chris and Sonny, owners of Rock ‘n’ Roll Wine. Details about these wine and music aficionados can be found on our All-Star Team page. Details about any Vegas fun is top secret. You know how it is…what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Seriously, we always have a great time with these positive-energy guys. Our last get together was held at the House of Blue’s Foundation Room, a sweet spot to meet, sip, and catch up on the good life. Rox’s favorite pic of the wine guys is the big chair photo shoot….Kings Sonny and Chris on the royal red zebra throne. A toast to the kings of rock ‘n’ roll and wine!
And we all could use some spa action wherever we are and Vegas is no exception. Forget Sin City! Vegas could easily be called Spa City. Rox enjoys the Palms Spa & Amp Salon, and the Palms just opened Palms Place which is supposed to have an amazing spa, called Drift. Rox hopes to find out soon just how fabulous it is. A quick peek at its website suggests that it’s beyond amazing. Check out the Hammam, too. Wow. Not sure how long the holiday specials will continue, but they’re still posted and they all involve Veuve Clicquot Champagne…Sugar & Spice, Bash for Your Body, Toast for Two, and Champagne manicures and pedicures. Can you say the perfect of-age Concert Chick spa experience? Oui, oui!
Which leads us right into Qua, as in the Qua Baths & Spa at Caesar’s Palace. Whatever you do, you must experience the Arctic Ice Room. This room is part of the steam and sauna line-up, only in this space, the floors and benches are heated to prevent you from freezing in the 55° temp as “falling snow relieves your stress.” Not sure that it did that, but am positive the experience was incredible. Real snowflakes, dearies! Another superb spa can be found at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay called The Bathhouse. The amenities are superb. especially the spa pool area.
The most exciting news in the spa world, especially in Vegas, is the grand opening of Eleven Spa Vegas which should be happening any day now. Eleven is the newest venture for our very own All-Star Team member, Nikki Oden. Rox can’t wait to visit this sure to be stunning spa. In the meantime, she’ll continue to thoroughly enjoy Eleven Spa in Palm Beach County.
France
Some “ooh-lah-lah” coming soon!
South Beach
Rox has been spending a lot of time at her favorite concert venue, The Fillmore, 
lately. It is by far the most elegant, yet hip, rock and roll theater around. And it happens to be located in one of the coolest areas, South Beach. SoBe is such a glorious melting pot. There’s much diversity, culture, action…an anything goes aura. Primo hotels include The Delano (the Agua Spa is divine–treat yourself to the Milk & Honey), The National and The Raleigh (both have sensational pool areas for day and night activities), The Catalina Hotel & Beach Club (The Fillmore’s host site), and Hotel Victor (the Spa V pedicure “beds” are worth the visit!).
While in SoBe, try to catch a performance by the Miami Ballet. The dancers are unreal, their costumes breathtaking. Makes Rox want to put on her toe shoes. At least a tutu and a tiara! Don’t miss Brownes & Co. for your salon, spa, yoga, and apothecary needs. It’s located on the trendy Lincoln Road, right across the plaza from the Van Dyke Cafe, the best people watching spot–and delicious–place around. If Rox is in town on a Thursday night and is need of some feather grooming, she books an appointment for some “Bubbles & Blowouts” at the Ritz-Carlton Spa where she can indulge in Champagne, fresh fruit, imported cheeses and crackers while a Carita Paris-trained stylist washes and professionally blow dries and styles her feathers to perfection. If you’ll be in SoBe in February, make plans to attend the famous South Beach Wine & Food Festival. There are parties galore (the Perrier-Jouët Bubble Q is a Rox favorite) and a huge tasting tent right on the beach where you can spend the entire day sampling sips and snacks. Not that we would know.
Even though not technically in South Beach, we have to mention the Mandarin Oriental in Miami, home of the Kundalini Journey, a 120-minute trip taken in the peace of the hotel’s spa. This journey is a unique treatment which combines advanced massage techniques with aromatherapy, color and gemstone therapy as well as sound therapy to achieve the highest level of physical and mental relaxation. You are gifted with a gemstone necklace selected just for you as a memento of your trip. Rox’s was onyx with a little garnet bead, said to collectively bring protection and balance while keeping away negativity. Perfect! The Standard is another gem. Escape to its spa and pool area where communal, shared rituals of traditional bathhouses with The Standard’s “Do-It-Yourself” menu of hydrotherapy is encouraged. Here you can explore the curative effects of water, steam or mud in its hammam, aroma Steam Room, Cedar Sauna, Sound Pool, Roman Waterfall Hot Tub and Mud Lounge. The outdoor mud tub, shown here, is decadent fun! A new spa find is in the InterContinental Miami. My Spa is quite impressive…the ambiance is ideal and the treatments surreal.
The Midwest
Cincinnati is Joe’s hometown and Denise was born in Chicago. We try to “go home” whenever we can, which usually means Christmas-time in Ohio and whatever special events such as milestone birthdays and weddings are taking place in Chicago. It always feels good to be home. The Westin in downtown Cincinnati is our headquarters during the holidays. Throw open your drapes and see the ice skaters twirling and guiding in the park across the street. Take the Sky Walk to the adjoining shopping center that has the perfect balance of shopping ops–there’s a TJ Maxx and a Saks! Bistro JeanRo is theplace for a leisurely meal. Creative specials and a charming–are we in France?–atmosphere puts this downtown eatery conveniently located across the street from the Westin on our itinerary, always. For feather fluffing, drop by Paragon Salon, which is located in the array of shops next to the Westin.
Our favorite hotel in Chicago is The Drake. Denise’s great uncle on her father’s (that’s her dad, Mel Distel, with Rox on Father’s Day) side, Uncle John Distel, was an elevator operator for The Drake when he was 15 years old. He worked his way up to the front desk, and then found himself in charge of everything, or so the family story goes. All we know is that when we visit this grand hotel, many fond memories of Uncle Johnnie are relayed to us by hotel staff. Make sure to stop by the Cape Cod Room for its Classic Bookbinder Soup. Usually travel to the Windy City is a quick in-and-out for a family event so there isn’t much time to do exploring, but when there is, we like to stroll around the Navy Pier, check out Water Tower Place, window shop Michigan Avenue, say “hello” to the animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo, chill out at the House of Blues, or learn something new at the Museum of Science and Industry. Basically, reliving fond childhood memories. Oh yeah, and if the Windy City is tousling your feathers, the stylists at Mario Tricoci on Michigan Avenue can take care of that! And if you need additional pampering, Channing’s Day Spa on Oak Street rocks. Try the Tangerine Ice Pedicure and the Chocolate Truffle Body Wrap…a truly delicious combo!
Other Exciting Destinations & Adventures
When in Singer Island, Florida, make sure to stop by (or stay at) at The Resort. This amazing Starwood property houses a hotel, condos, the fabulous SiSpa, and Solu, an Asian-infused Caribbean grill (tantalize your tastebuds with the black truffle and fontina cheese flatbread). The spa has one of the most calming atmospheres…shades of browns and blues and honey-hued wood–you get what you come to a spa for–first-rate services and pampering relaxation Try the Bohai–Ancient Tibetan Treat. “Treat” is an understatement. We’re talking a body ritual that involves Tibetan singing bowls that will align your chakras, an aromatherapy massage, and a warm herbal poultice therapy. Ask for Amanda…she really knows what she’s doing! And Diane will glam your toes and fingers with a Solar Mani/Pedi…sweet almond and sea salts, hand and foot massage, and a perfect polish application. Essie’s “Rock Star Skinny” really rocks!
If you’re visiting Palm Beach, Florida during Halloween, don your most outrageous costume and head to Café L’Europe for Veuve Clicquot’s annual Yelloween bash. Rox would’ve taken first prize, but when it was discovered that she didn’t have a costume on–that she was naturally so adorable and feathery fluffy–she was disqualified, with the top honors going to Father Joe and the Vikings. Not really, but should have been the case. In any event, Sheryl and Scott the Vikings, Denise the Bee, and Father Joe happily scared each other with flutes throughout the frighteningly fun evening. Rox’s date got a little carried away. He thought the flute of VC was a little duck pond and, well, the rest is history. At least he had a bubbly ending.
Travel Links
Universal Packing List (generates a packing list for any trip you take, anywhere in the world).