Dreaded by many neighbors because of its out-of-scale height (25 stories) but anxiously-awaited by insatiable luxury-hotel fans, the glimmering glass Mondrian Soho tower opened to the public Tuesday, and I popped in yesterday to see how it measured up both to downtown fears and to other fanciful properties of the Morgans Hotel Group, otherwise known as the original chic-boutique hoteliers.

FORBES: Mondrian Soho Opens

The airport opened a new control tower in June, incorporating the latest technology, which managers hoped would help it attract airlines.

BBC: Birmingham Airport runway extension work starts

In the newly-opened Marwa Tower mall, a gleaming structure of glass and steel skyscraper next to the Grand Mosque, you may find Puma trainers, Chanel fragrances, gold jewelry, mobile phones and dozens of other gadgets -- alongside religious books and traditional calligraphic art.

CNN: Preparing to cover The Hajj