A prognosticating peek at travel's new world order

Urban: Heat Seeking
Where will travel's cool kids be heading next? Read on

Manhattanites fleeing the steep rents downtown have been rehabbing Harlem's gritty reputation. New developments are reaching critical mass, cementing the neighborhood's status as the one to check out. Ginger, an organic Chinese restaurant from the owner of the East Village spot Butter, is just unveiling in Harlem's first "green" building (1400 Fifth Ave.; 212-423-1111; entrées, $8–$19). Carol's Daughter, a bath and beauty emporium, launched in late 2005, with an opening that attracted Jay Z and Jada Pinkett Smith (24 W. 125th St.; 212-828-6757). Hotels are coming too: A Courtyard Marriott debuts in late 2006, and Starwood is said to be looking near the Apollo Theater for a W Hotel site.

Brighton was once a choice British seaside resort, but as cheap airfares lured the English to warmer climes, the city fell on hard times. It's bouncing back, though, with celebs (Paul McCartney, Fatboy Slim) setting up house in the area and London creative types popping down for getaways. The latest lodging of note is the waterfront Lansdowne Place, with an E'Spa as well as a restaurant by chef Michael Savva, formerly of London's Hempel hotel (44-1273-736-266; www.lansdowneplace.co.uk; doubles, $273–$326). Nothing better exemplifies Brighton's changing fortunes than the upcoming project by Frank Gehry. Using a design that evokes crumpled Victorian dresses, Gehry will transform an existing 1930s building into a sports complex and two residential towers—with an assist from architectural intern Brad Pitt, who is also said to be eyeing one of the penthouses.

Spain's low-key beach, Valencia has long been a backpacker haven; pilgrims to Gehry's Guggenheim Bilbao make side-trips here to see hometown architect Santiago Calatrava's cultural complex, the City of Arts and Sciences. With the completion last fall of the project's final stage, the opera house, the time is nigh to see Calatrava's creation—and the hotels and restaurants that have been opening along with it, such as the luxe Palau de la Mar hotel (34-96-316-2884; www.designhotels.com; doubles, $177) and the Café Sant Jaume, in a renovated pharmacy (51 Calle Caballeros; 34-96-391-2401).

Beijing may be the capital of the world's most populous nation, but it is also an underground favorite and a must-stop for the young and the art-collecting. The latest entry in the city's burgeoning arts scene is an annex of the CourtYard Gallery in the Cao Chang Di area, a nexus of up-and-coming artists (86-10-652-68882; www.courtyard-gallery.com). Now's the time to sample the city's insider vibe: Beijing is building a Herzog & de Meuron stadium as it preps to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, and Norman Foster's airport expansion will finish first, in 2007.
–Ondine Cohane