If Alex Abramovich's Russian bathhouse review in this month's issue sparked an urge to schvitz, but perhaps in milder form, I was recently happy to find the spa at Miami's Standard hotel offers just that. Think of it as the banya for beginners. Carrying on the communal tradition, the central room, called a "Hamam", features heated marble and bellystone to raise the body's temperature, circled by four individual soaking tubs. You choose the water temperature for either a cold dip, or warm hydrotherapy. But the best way to achieve the hot/cold jolt in circulation is to alternate between the "Cedar Sauna," the "Aroma Steam Room" -- where the soothing aroma of eucalyptus wafts through the fog -- and the "Cold Rain Shower." Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any vodka flowing, or meat kabobs roasting on the grill. And after experiencing the real Russian deal, this experience, though relaxing, seemed a bit lite -- like reading the cliff notes to War and Peace. Though it certainly offers a pristine place to start. --TASHA GREEN

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I was enjoying a fine three-course dinner at the Italian restaurant Fiamma a couple weeks ago (the New York Times just gave it three stars) when I mentioned to the sommelier that I had to go to Vegas that weekend. I wasn't complaining, since I actually like Vegas, just explaining that I'd never had a really good meal there. She told me there was another Fiamma there, which was welcome news, but that one of her Vegas places was Lotus of Siam, a tiny place rumored to draw the likes of Anthony Bourdain and David Burke when they're in town tending to their mega-restaurants entombed within the casinos.

Lotus of Siam is not only off the strip (at 953 E. Sahara Ave., which is about a 10 minute cab ride), it's in a strip mall flanked by Korean BBQ joints and even a massage parlor. It is Vegas, after all. Inside, the walls are lined with autographed photos of D-list celebs--Pat Sajak, John Ratzenberger, Ronnie Fabre (?)--enjoying the fare. This is not a fancy place. There are chintzy chandeliers and a stainless steel buffet table in the center of the dining room, and a few Asian screen blinds for good measure.

Drunken Noodles Sea bass

I went on a Friday night and it was filled with locals and a very friendly wait staff. When I ordered the fried wantons, my waitress, a sweet older woman, corrected me and pointed to others. "No, the fried chicken dumplings is good, this is good..."

She was right. The bacon wrapped prawns were incredible. The Thai ice tea is so rich it looked like a root beer float. The entrees were very generous, and the northern Thai house specials were excellent--rich intense flavors, no excess grease, and spicy punches that linger seductively. It's the best Thai food I've ever had, and I'd finally found a bit of epicurean luck in Vegas. --MICHAEL MRAZ

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