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 Diva on the FjordThe dramatic marble and glass Oslo Opera House defies comparison. It's been likened to a glacier and a skateboarding park, as well as another famed waterfront venue, the Sydney Opera House. Even the story behind its inception is operatic. Norway's capital yearned for an opera house for more than a century before this one was financed in 1999 as part of a renewal project for Oslo's polluted east end. After nine years and $656 million — and the removal of 90,000 tons of contaminated sediment — the Oslo Opera House opened. Now, as the venue celebrates its first anniversary, passersby can stroll along the white marble ramp that slopes gently from the flat roof to the fjord below, which is clean enough for swimming. Inside, wood dyed with brandy (to give it that just-right amber hue) lines the acoustically perfect 1,364-seat main auditorium, where Carmen and Swan Lake command the stage this month, and vocalist Cecilia Bartoli performs on May 10. The current season runs through June. Make all the comparisons you want, but you'll find the Oslo Opera House is unmatched. 
Bettor BurgersThe opening of BLT Burger in Las Vegas last July heated up the discussion among local foodies and visitors over who makes Sin City's best gourmet burger. Here are three solid bets on the Strip: BLT Burgers Le Burger Brasserie Burger Bar — Adam Kleiner
Aruba
The Music of the IslandsThose looking for a little rock and roll in their island paradise will be pleased to hear the newly opened Hard Rock Café Aruba comes complete with palm trees. The indoor seating has a classic Hard Rock feel, with plenty of music and videos. But this one adds an island vibe, with jackets from sun-and-sand legends like Jimmy Buffett and the Beach Boys adorning the walls. The drink menu cannot be missed: ranging from the standard piña colada to the house-specialty hurricane, these tropical drinks are the perfect end to a rockin' good day — or the perfect start to a rollin' good night. hardrock.com/aruba — Sean Carty
 Let Them Eat Beef WellingtonIt is easy to understand why the Trianon Palace (15 miles outside Paris) was chosen as the location to draft the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I. As you gaze out the hotel's filigreed windows overlooking capacious green pastures and meticulous gardens, some of which are dotted with roving sheep, "peace" is the word that comes to mind. A recent $30 million refurbishment only serves to enhance the stately nature of this 199-room property, which now plays home to the first French out-post of British chef Gordon Ramsay. Long stretches of Italian marble line the floors of sun-drenched atriums above the Guerlain spa and the pool area. And in spring, when the flowers bloom, the hotel will create a tailor-made picnic for guests to enjoy on the newly restored grounds. Just for a moment, perhaps, you can relive the glory and grandeur of Marie Antoinette just before she was deposed. trianonpalace.com — Marisa Mazria-Katz
São Paulo
Elephants on ParadeSão Paulo's nightspot of the season is housed, fittingly, in a landmark skyscraper in the city's Jardim Europa district — the Brazilian Beverly Hills. Just like the flagship in New York's West Chelsea, the first South American Pink Elephant club has winding, multi-tiered pathways that wrap around a sunken dance floor and a NASA-engineered sound system. And when (or if) the Gucci- and Prada-clad young things tire of dancing, they can pop into the ladies room, with its floor-to-ceiling mirrors, where stylists are at the ready for a quick retouch, courtesy of Dior. Dom Pérignon sponsors the VIP lounge, and revelers glow in the multicolored light show designed by the pros behind the lighting of the Louvre. pinkelephantclub.com.br — Alexandra Forbes
 New York
Elevated EscapeIn New York, 21 stories above Fifth Avenue's busiest shopping stretch, there's a place quiet enough to forget your stresses — the new Peninsula Spa by ESPA. Visitors can soak up the earthiness in this tri-level retreat appointed with warm woods, hand-carved seating cut from salvaged acacia trees, and rich hues of amber, charcoal, and cinnabar. Clear your mental clutter in the Asian Tea Lounge, relax your muscles in the sauna and aromatherapy steam room, and indulge in remedies such as ESPA's new Super Active facials. Or soothe your body in the sauna. Afterward, crawl into a dreamy bed with a down comforter and Frette linens, put on some headphones and music, and nibble dried fruits. Then climb the circular staircase two floors to the glass-enclosed swimming pool for spa cuisine and a great view. peninsula.com — Gail Harrington
Photographs: Jiri Havran/Courtesy of Snohetta (Oslo); courtesy of the Mirage (BLT Burger); Mapresources (map); Vincent Lerouz/courtesy of Hilton (Trianon Palace); Mark Weiland Photography/courtesy of Peninsula Spa |
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