We are suckers for a room with a killer view.  We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.

We've already sent kudos the way of the Radisson SAS Edinburgh because they're doing a bunch of nice green stuff.

The 2008 Edinburgh Military Tattoo is in full swing, with more than 200,000 people in town to watch military bands and display teams from the British Isles and around the world perform against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. This year's tattoo held a special honor for one resident of the Edinburgh Zoo, as a three-foot-tall penguin named Nils Olav received a knighthood from the Norwegian King's Guard.

Sir Olav, as he is now known, is actually the third in a distinguished line of penguins who have served as honorary members of the King's Guard. The unit has a long-held tradition of visiting the zoo while in town for the Tattoo, and couldn't help but be charmed by a tuxedoed young waterfowl who considered himself a kindred spirit to the uniformed soldiers. Olav I, who was named after Norway's then-king Olav, was first made an honorary member of the guard in 1972, and he and his replacements have garnered awards and accolades ever since.

As part of his knighthood ceremony, which was held on Friday at the zoo, Sir Olav reviewed the troops and waddled around to the sound of bagpipe music. And while he's a big deal in knightly circles, it doesn't take much to get an audience. Just drop by the Edinburgh Zoo's world-renowned penguin exhibit, which first started breeding these adorable birds in 1914. The Tattoo runs through August 23.

Related Stories:
· King Penguin Receives Norwegian Knighthood [msnbc]
· Edinburgh Zoo [Official Site]
· Edinburgh Military Tattoo [Official Site]
· Animal Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: mirror.co.uk]

Oh, Harry Potter fans. We smiled when we passed by the bookstore the night you were all camping out for the midnight release of book 7, costumes and all. And we like to think we were very understanding when you retreated to a quiet spot to read the book for the next 20 hours. And then we tolerated our Google newsfeeds with a good attitude as they were flooded by the news that a certain characters' sexual preference was revealed.

But even we, as supporters of crazy Harry Potter fanpeople worldwide (even though some of us at HotelChatter haven't read a single one of the books), think this is a little much.

See, room 552 at the

We probably couldn't come up with a cornier name for a Valentine's Day package if we tried, so we'll just cut straight to the chase: the Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh is offering a Valentine's season special called Dare to Bare.

Yes, it is as odd as it sounds, because this package includes a professional photo shoot of naked or semi-naked pictures (of you), which will be turned into a 12-page glossy book exclusively for your loved one. The Scotsman has roped in multi-award-winning photographer Trevor Yerbury to take your pics, and hair and make-up done by pros is also included in the deal.

If this sounds like your kind of thing, you'll need to fork out £1,249 (over

Being shortlisted for an industry green award doesn't necessarily make a hotel green, but the environmentally friendly actions of the Radisson SAS Edinburgh in Scotland are fairly admirable.

To begin with, they hired a full-time "green guru" in charge of eco-friendly measures at the hotel. Her first action was to install energy-efficient light bulbs which immediately saw a 26% drop in energy use for the same month of the previous year. Pretty impressive.

But it doesn't stop at lighting. We're quite impressed with the "e-cube device" they use in fridges at the Edinburgh Radisson. These clever gadgets measure the temperature of the food rather than of the (often empty) fridge space and don't overcool the air: another

On Mondays, Debriefer presents city picks from by the previous Friday's interview. Here's a range of Edinburgh favorites from chef Gerry Goldwyre.

-- Brittany Bellgardt

[Photo: Ediniburgh Evening News]

O, my luve's like a red, red rose... With the advent of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival a week from Sunday, a flood of foreigners will be crowding the streets of Scotland's biggest city to see new and cutting-edge live works. But just because you're on the Fringe doesn't mean you can't find someone to take to the shows. Exercise those plus-ones for once after you visit these hot spots:

The Secret Garden -- Eating in this dark, candle-lit spot is a "indulgent and decorative experience" from the wine waiters to the baked-goat-cheese tarts.
Castlehill, The Royal Mile

The Bongo Club -- Cafe by day, jazz/soul/techno club by night, so the bongos need never stop playing. 37 Holyrood Road

The Jolly Judge -- Yes, it's around the corner from a court of law, but why should that stop you from sampling one of its 30-plus malt whiskies while you battle some smarties on Monday's quiz night? 493 Lawnmarket

Related Stories:
· Edinburgh Hotels [HotelChatter]
· Edinburgh Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: attator]

Scotland may not be known worldwide for much more than haggis in the culinary world, but Edinburgh offers a slew of options for the foodie palate. From excellent locally made cheeses to classic teas and fresh seafood, Edinburgh has a small but consistently excellent selection of restaurants and specialty stores. You can certainly tuck into some serious haggis, but fans of food other than sheep guts need not go hungry. Scallops, pork fried rice, and -- all right, fine -- haggis, after the jump.

Black Bo's: Vegetarian flair with a creative twist. It's a great place for vegetarians tired of eating the same old meatless dishes and for carnivores who never knew they could like vegetables and tofu so much. Black Bo's is a little pricier than other veggie options in the city, but the originality is well worth the splurge.

Chinese Home Cooking: One of the oldest and most beloved Chinese restaurants in the city, Chinese Home Cooking serves surprisingly good food. It's a huge hit with students but also has a sizable following with other locals. You can usually get away with spending under £10 for a huge meal, with seafood costing a little more.

Doric Bar: If it's local cuisine you're after, the legendary Doric Tavern has been around since 1860 and serves excellent traditional haggis. They also have more upscale dishes prepared by a master chef.

I. J. Mellis Cheesemonger: This isn't a restaurant, but it's one of the greatest places in the country to get cheese. They have five locations in Edinburgh and Glasgow and focus on local products.

Mosque Kitchen: Often seen as an afterthought, this kitchen attached to Edinburgh's Central Mosque actually serves excellent and reasonably priced curries. Everything is basic -- just curry, rice, and naan -- but hardly anything costs over £3.

The Mussel Inn: This award-winning seafood place deserves the hype. They serve excellent fresh scallops and mussels and have a beautiful outdoor patio. It's a major favorite with both locals and tourists.

Number One Restaurant: Set in the Balmoral Hotel, Number One has two Michelin stars and is consequently always packed. The opulent menu focuses on local ingredients and traditional Scottish fare. The bill is of course higher than any of the other places on this list, but Number One is also the most prestigious.

Valvona & Crolla: Locals rave about Valvona & Crolla for its high-quality Italian meats, and it's considered one of the best Italian delis in the UK. Though it started out as a specialty shop, it's grown into a full fledged restaurant and wine bar.

The Witchery Restaurant by the Castle: We personally view this place as rather ridiculous, but there's no denying its popularity. As part of the medieval chic Witchery hotel, the restaurant is a major hotspot for Scottish politicians and visiting dignitaries. The food tends toward simply prepared but savory and enormous cuts of meat and fish, plus slight updates on Scottish dishes.

-- Amanda Kludt

[Photo: keep your fork, there's pie!]

We've heard of hotels recycling in an effort to go green, but the Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor is placing a funky twist on the idea of new uses for old things.

In an effort to boldly launch a 1.2 million pound refurbishment and draw a goodly amount of publicity, the hotel recently announced it will be auctioning off all 66 of its beds as part of a charity drive, beginning April 29.

That's right - for a mere 20 pounds, you can have a mattress that Boy George slept on. Or maybe Billy Connelly? Or perhaps other "big names from the world of sport and stage?" The imagination boggles.

Proceeds will go to the Hilton in

Edinburgh's Tigerlily is a small boutique hotel -- only 33 rooms and suites. But it's far from a twee inn, as its interiors tend toward racy modernism with occasional Georgian remnants here and there. A particular surprise for such a small hotel is that rooms and bathrooms are pleasantly sizable, not to mention loaded with luxury and technology amenities. There's a high-end onsite restaurant favoring seafood and big meats, plus a hotel bar and the extremely popular basement lounge-club, Lulu. One of hotel guests' most precious perks is the ability to skip the Lulu line, which can be prodigious. Rates begin at £175 per night.

Tigerlily [via Tablet Hotels]

-- Chris Mohney