Currently in “the other Portland” for the wedding of my friend Emily, with whom I worked at my first job after college, in the long ago days before magazine assistantships in New York were something you won on a reality show. We’re staying at the Ace Hotel, a 79-room mecca of all things salvaged, repurposed, and reworked, located in a part of town once called “Vaseline Alley” for its concentration of gay bars. Vaseline Alley is now part of the hipstery Pearl District, a descriptor supported by the fact that within a single block, you can do all of the following: catch an indie film, pay $18 for a glass of wine, buy a pound of t-shirts for $5, and eat a knish. (more…)

Last week, Bostonista was invited to attend the opening party for Logan’s new Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. Always up for an airport trip—pick ups, drop offs, whatever, it’s all wonderfully Love Actually to us—we hopped in the car and headed to East Boston.

By now, most avid travelers are familiar with the Virgin brand, epitomized by its swashbuckling mogul Richard Branson, clubby mentality, and cool gimmicks (in-flight IM, anyone?). The airline’s Heathrow flagship lounge is near-legendary for its modern design, Bumble and Bumble salon, jacuzzi, and limitless champagne. Needless to say, we were eager to check out the Boston branch.

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For years, glitz-loving New Englanders—the kind whose idea of fun is more blackjack than backpacking—had two choices: Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun. But starting in May, before Massachusetts even gets its own gambling going, they’ll have two new area places to play and stay.

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Scrolling through hundreds of travel PR pitches (hot Cabo nights now $199! say “I do” in Russian luxury! save 40% in St. Moritz!) can be carpal tunnel-inducing business, which is why we get a little too excited when something truly fresh—and entirely bizarre—enters our inbox.

This week’s winner—thank you, Elliot Gillies—is Zorbing. The art of careening down a hillside in a Zorb, a giant clear inflatable platic ball, the extreme sport is a succint mix of imagination, physics, and insanity.

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In case you haven’t noticed, it’s nearly 70 degrees out and, according to our typically (in)accurate weatherpeople, the rest of the week calls for more mild temps. This, readers, is the perfect time to practice your 2008 resolutions. You know, the ones about exercising and getting to know your city better.

Take a tip from Bostonista and start by downloading a Boston Audissey tour. Not to be confused with that other Homeric voyager, the local company makes audio walking guides for iPods and MP3 players. Now, we know what you’re thinking (audio tour = snoozefest, right?), but you’re wrong.

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The weekend’s finally here…along with a crushing wave of “how the hell did it become mid-December?” panic (and, likely, a hacking cough lovingly passed along by your co-worker). Don’t worry: The marketing people at area hotels know you’re a huge mess, and they’re here to take care of you. Here’s a sampling of their stress-and sickness-obliterating packages.

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