What’s Shaking This Week In Center City?

…well, what is?

Let’s have a little Center City-specific news roundup, shall we?

Hey there, Center City. (Flickr CC: Jamesy Pena)

Washington Life is reporting that Radisson Blu, née The Warwick, is every bit as posh as it was hyped to be. Per pictures, the historic hotel is now sporting a very name-appropriate, very polished blue ( plus chrome/glass/white) lobby, fully-renovated guestrooms, and a self-serve bar on the business-class level. Can you say “staycation?”

Speaking of rather fluffy hotel news: Hotel Palomar, one of the Philly Kimpton properties, is holding a slightly-baffling contest involving couples photos, hashtags, a pop-up hotel room, and Twitter democracy. It’s probably best if you just go read about it. As the prize, one pair of lucky lovebirds will get the chance to steam things up in the Palomar’s Presidential Suite for a night.

Earlier this month, Lacquer Lounge opened its second Philly location, over at 20th and Walnut. Hilariously described by a Racked.com writer as “[g]ermaphobic Barbie’s nail salon of choice,” the LL’s claim to fame is superior sanitation. [Hopefully they are more scrupulous about hygiene than Web health, as their site was DDoS’ed as of when I checked last night.]  Still, the early reviews are positive, and everyone knows ladies don’t mince words when it comes to subpar beauty providers. All signs are good!

Okay, not specific to CC, but… a bike share is happening! I mean, next year… but still. Who can’t wait for the opening salvos of the seasonal “bikers versus pedestrians” turf war? Just me?

Two more very lowercase-n “news” bytes from Philly in general: Slate exhaustively dissects the Philly and Pittsburgh accents, and Reddit’s r/philly asks, “What was your most memorable SEPTA experience?” [Full disclosure: there’s some blue language and gross stories at that second link… but that was a safe assumption, right?]

How are you doing, Center City? Loving this spring weather? Venting strong feelings about Mayor Nutter’s new, not-at-all-polarizing public smoking ban? Preparing to carb-load for the Broad Street Run? Whatever you’re up to, do it with a smile… Friday is right around the corner!