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Big revamp for San Jose “carousel” shopping center would create new village No matter where you are, local is hot. We’re seeing it in airport terminals, boutique hotels and at swanky hotel chains, too. From Hyatt to the Ritz-Carlton, hotels increasingly boast decor by local artisans and guest activities aimed at local experiences — although we’re not sure how many Whistler residents actually go to such mountain-climbing lengths for their own cocktails.

A recent re-do of the Oakland Marriott City Center has filled the guest rooms with Oakland-made design elements, including artwork inspired by that city’s signature shipping cranes. Now they’re adding “curated suites” to their hotels, starting with a collaboration with Oaklandish, the public art project-turned-apparel brand. We are digging the Oakland pillows, the black-and-white cityscape and — oh hey, is that a copy of Elazar Sontag’s “Flavors of Oakland” sitting on that coffee table? Color us charmed. (We hear some of the decor is available at the Oaklandish shop at 1444 Broadway, too.)

We Bay Area-ites don’t stay in Bay Area hotels very often — that’s what home is for, after all — but if you do stay here, 10 percent of the “curated suite” tab goes to the cradle-to-college Oakland Promise project. Think of it as pillow-top philanthropy.

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