Matador Network's Blog, page 1001
October 2, 2019
Best street art in Toronto
Toronto’s cultural repertoire is marked by notable museums and art galleries; however, there’s culture to be had in the Ontario capital beyond traditional art institutions. Toronto’s neighborhoods are saturated with impressive murals and public art from both local and international artists. A walk through the city’s core is a surefire way to get a healthy dose of contemporary creation for free while getting some fresh air. Guiding you by neighborhood, here’s a deep dive into Toronto’s street and public art scene, be it bold street murals, vibrant graffiti, or whimsical statues.
1. Kensington Market
Photo: mikecphoto/Shutterstock
Starting at Augusta Avenue and College Street, venturing south into this edgy neighborhood will lead you to the iconic Kensington Market Garden Car — a funky spray-painted vehicle with plants and small trees sprouting out of its hood. This neat piece came to life with just a $200 scrap car that was completely transformed by city local Yvonne Bambrick and a team of passionate artists. It was recognized by the city as public art for the neighborhood and has gone through several eye-catching designs over the years. While the car does require hibernation from the harsh winter season, you can find this bright vehicle parked right by Oxford Street from May to early November.
Photo: GTS Productions/Shutterstock
Augusta Avenue is lined with an assortment of eclectic boutiques and busy cafes worth checking out. Just a few minutes away is Wanda’s Pie in the Sky, where you can stop by for a fresh slice of pie, or try Jumbo Empanadas if you’re craving a savory treat instead. Keep an eye out for the animated paintings and graffiti that glaze the walls of nearby shops, then stroll about 100 feet past Bellevue Square Park toward a small alley. The entrance is marked by a painting by local artist Uber5000, starring various dogs at a roundtable playing poker. Further into the alley, you’ll be able to spot other local graffiti works and fun murals that change regularly.
2. Financial District
Photo: GTS Productions/Shutterstock
The heart of Toronto’s Financial District is along King Street West by University Avenue. Head east along King Street for less than 10 minutes until you reach Commerce Court on Bay Street. The architecture in this part of Toronto is extremely modern and vertical. Venture toward the hidden courtyard located directly behind Commerce Court where you’ll find “Tembo, Mother of Elephants.” This massive sculpture depicts a mother elephant followed closely by her two babies. Designed by sculptor Derrick S. Hudson, this mother elephant stands 10 feet tall and is one of the largest elephant statues in the world.
Photo: Kiev.Victor/Shutterstock
Next, exit south toward Wellington Street. After strolling a quarter of a mile east along Wellington Street, you’ll spot a green space in the heart of the city. Designed by Canadian architect Claude Cormier, Berczy Park was revitalized in 2007, complete with a dramatic centerpiece known as the “Dog Fountain.” This artistic and adorable waterwork features 27 cast-iron dog statues spouting water and a single cat enjoying the show. Have a seat and admire this whimsical artwork along with a view of the historic Flatiron building.
3. Distillery District
Photo: Marc Bruxelle/Shutterstock
Marked by a bright red heart-shaped frame, start your afternoon at this district’s most inviting entrance by Gristmill Lane and Parliament Street. Venture down Gristmill Lane, which will bring you further into the depths of this trendy area of Toronto. Upon reaching Trinity Street, located right in the center square is a unique sculpture by American artist Dennis Oppenheim. Titled “Still Dancing,” this impressive 50-foot-tall steel creation has become a Toronto landmark. Directly across from this neat artwork is Balzac’s Coffee Roasters, where you can stop to enjoy a cup of coffee in a historic pump house with a rustic interior and exposed brick walls.
Photo: Julen Arabaolaza/Shutterstock
As a pedestrian-only district, you can comfortably navigate through the cobbled lanes and check out the many art galleries, artisan shops, restaurants, and art installations that give this area its cool vibe. Next, head north on Trinity Street for 200 feet until you reach Tank House Lane, then turn right to check out the popular Love Locks installation by Studio Rosenblatt. Perhaps one of the most photographed artworks here, this 30-foot long installation is set against brickwork. With five elements, consisting of a heart followed by the letters spelling “love,” visitors have taken over by attaching their own colorful locks to this steel creation.
4. Harbourfront
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Those who love Banksy will be happy to know that Toronto houses one of the artist’s pieces. To see it, head south to the city’s waterfront. Making your way to the second floor of the One York Street building by Harbour Street, you’ll find “Guard with Balloon Dog.” This piece features a uniformed man carrying a leash with a pink balloon dog. Originally created in an underpass by the waterfront, the concrete slab containing the artwork was salvaged when the area was later demolished to make way for residential and commercial buildings. The piece is now protected by a glass box and on display to the public. When you’re done, walk south on York Street toward Queens Quay. With a marked path for pedestrians and cyclists, this stretch is popular for catching scenic views of Lake Ontario.
Photo: Reimar/Shutterstock
A 10-minute walk west along the waterfront trail will lead you toward the sandy HTO Park where you can take a break on the colorful Muskoka chairs that look out toward the harbor. Then, wander 10 minutes further west along Queens Quay until you reach Canoe Landing Park. Here you’ll discover the bold centerpiece of this green space — the oversized canoe sculpture known as “Tom Thomson’s Canoe.” With enough room for at least 10 people, hop inside and see views of the CN Tower, residential skyscrapers, and the busy Gardiner Expressway in the most Canadian way there is. Various other fun art pieces are dispersed throughout the park, including colorful fishing bobbers and a decorative beaver dam.5. Queen West
Photo: Laura Reilly
If you’re especially short on time, Graffiti Alley is the top destination to catch a glimpse of Toronto’s urban art scene. Entering at Spadina Avenue, make your way through this back alley stretch, where you’ll find entire walls and garage doors coated in graffiti. When you reach Augusta Avenue, look out for a massive Toronto-themed mural by local artist Uber5000. This wintry piece depicts bundled-up baby chicks ice skating at Nathan Phillips Square, a fun portrayal of a magical winter day at the popular downtown rink. Once you reach the other side of the alley, you’ll end up by Portland and Queen streets. A 10-minute walk west along Queen Street will have you walk by the neat shops and creative restaurants that encompass this trendy neighborhood.
Photo: Laura Reilly
Before heading to the next art piece, make a pit stop at Nadège Patisserie, a popular spot known for colorful French macarons and croissant sandwiches. Then, only two minutes away is Claremont Avenue, where you’ll discover a vivid mural spanning the sides of three whole buildings. This bold creation is based on Japanese elements, including a montage of koi fish, blooming cherry blossoms, a hearty bowl of ramen, anthropomorphic sushi, and robotic characters. Bringing a pop of color and Japanese culture to the block, this piece was created in 2014 by artists Ken Galloway, Timothy Fukakusa, Mitsuo Kimura, Takashi Iwasaki, Darcy Obokata, and Shogo Okada. 
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Prettiest palaces in Genoa, Italy
Best known as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and pesto, Genoa is a city mostly overlooked by visitors to Italy. Yet, it has a lot going for it; its location between the Mediterranean Sea and the Apennine Mountains make it a wonderfully scenic spot, and its historical center is impressively intact.
Most notably, the city’s elaborate collection of over 150 palaces is a sight to see. Forty-two of these palaces became UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2006, and although most are privately owned, several of the glorious edifices are open to the public year-round. The following seven palaces are all within a mile of each other, so take a walking tour through the winding, dark, and slightly treacherous narrow streets that make up the old town to explore the maze that is Genoa and find its most beautiful palaces.
1. Palazzo Ducale
Photo: faber1893/Shutterstock
The best place to start your tour of Genoa’s palaces is Palazzo Ducale, or Doge’s Palace. Located in Genoa’s most iconic square, with Piazza de Ferrari on one side and Piazza Matteotti on the other, the palace’s open-air ground floor is used as a public space with a cafe. The upper floors of the massive structure are largely dedicated to temporary art exhibits, concerts, and other cultural events. For approximately $5.50, you can tour some of the main salons, as well as a tower once used as a prison. Constructed in the 13th century, the ancient palace has been through a great deal, including a fire in 1777 and Europe’s largest restoration project ever in 1992. While Palazzo Ducale may not be the most extravagant palace on this list, its sheer size and position as a cultural hub make it worth checking out.
Where: Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, 9
2. Palazzo Rosso
Photo: trabantos/Shutterstock
Just as you’re starting to feel a bit claustrophobic navigating through Genoa’s caruggi, the narrow alleyways open up to Via Garibaldi — an expansive street lined with opulent palaces. Also known as Le Strade Nuove (new streets), the design of this 16th-century upper-class neighborhood is attributed to architect Galeazzo Alessi.
The Strada Nuova Museums ticket costs approximately $9.90 and grants you access to three of the most immaculately preserved palaces in the city — Palazzo Rosso, Palazzo Bianco, and Palazzo Doria-Tursi. Palazzo Rosso, or Red Palace. is named after its red exterior. Inside, the walls are lined with beautiful paintings and the rooms are full of original furnishings. One of the most impressive rooms is a bedchamber adorned with gold finishings and beautifully frescoed walls. The palace layout is defined by loggias, essentially two separate wings connected by covered exterior corridors and an inner courtyard.
Where: Via Garibaldi, 18
3. Palazzo Bianco
Photo: Boryana Manzurova/Shutterstock
Right across the street is Palazzo Bianco, or White Palace, built for the Grimaldis, one of the most important families in Genoa’s history. The Grimaldis secured their fortune and power as shipowners and bankers thriving off Genoa’s port economy. This palace’s exterior is a light peach color and not actually white, as the name would suggest, and was named after all the white stone used in its construction. Visitors enter upon a sweeping marble staircase, a typical feature of Genoese palaces. Palazzo Bianco is home to the Civic Textiles Collections, an impressive display of 18th to 20th century Italian fashion. Palazzo Bianco’s magnificent courtyard, which is paved with black and white checkered marble and patterned pebble mosaics called risseu, is typical of the Liguria region. The courtyard is connected to Palazzo Doria-Tursi and offers wonderful views of Palazzo Rosso across the street.
Where: Via Garibaldi, 11
4. Palazzo Doria-Tursi
Photo: lauradibi/Shutterstock
The final of the three Strada Nuova Museum palaces, you can enter Palazzo Doria-Tursi from Palazzo Bianco without even going outside. Originally built for Niccolo Grimaldi, nicknamed “The Monarch” due to his exorbitant wealth, the palace was purchased by the Doria family in 1597. These days, Palazzo Doria-Tursi is used mostly for city administration but you can still walk through parts of the building and admire its architectural splendor. There are art collections to browse on the lower level, including coins and pottery. The palace’s is Sala Paganini, a room dedicated to the famous composer and displaying his violin, worth millions of dollars. With grand proportions and another impressive staircase, Palazzo Doria-Tursi’s inner courtyard is a superb finale to the palaces of Via Garibaldi.
Where: Via Garibaldi, 9
5. Palazzo Spinola
Photo: Visit Genoa
From Via Garibaldi, head back into the caruggi to Palazzo Spinola, which is also called the National Gallery. A little more difficult to find, you may have to ask for directions since almost every building in the historic center looks like it was once a palace. Built in 1593 by yet another Grimaldi, Palazzo Spinola was immediately added to the Rolli list’s top tier. (Genoa’s palaces are known collectively as Rolli palaces because of the long rolls of paper used to list the households and categorize them by size and splendor.) The palace still houses a good amount of furnishings but the main reason to visit is the art collection. The top two floors, destroyed by a bomb during World War II, have been transformed into an art museum, the National Gallery of Liguria. The Hall of Mirrors makes for a good photo op, a 1734 addition that was very much in fashion at the time. Entrance to Palazzo Spinola generally costs about $6.60, though it’s $2.20 for visitors 25 and under.
Where: Piazza di Pellicceria, 1
6. Palazzo Reale
Photo: trabantos/Shutterstock
The Royal Palace of Genoa, Palazzo Reale, is easily the most extravagant palace you can visit in the city. Overlooking the sea, this palace was not originally built for royalty but rather the Balbi family who made their fortune as textile and silk merchants. The rooms are the most intact of all the palaces with impressive chandeliers, painted ceilings, and lavish furnishings throughout. The gold-gilded Hall of Mirrors here is far larger than the one at Palazzo Spinola and lined with marble statues. The Throne Room is another impressive sight with decadent red and gold details. You’ll end your tour on the rooftop terrace, which has one of the best views of the city. Entrance to Palazzo Reale is approximately $11.
Where: Via Balbi, 10
7. Palazzo San Giorgio
Photo: Andrej Privizer/Shutterstock
Palazzo San Giorgio, or Palace of St. George, is located right along the water in the heart of Porto Antico, the thriving port neighborhood of Genoa. Surrounded by modern constructions, the palace stands out like a fish out of water. Best known for its brightly frescoed exterior depicting St. George slaying a dragon, this palace was the first built in 1290. Palazzo San Giorgio once held Marco Polo prisoner and was constructed using materials from the demolished Venetian embassy in Constantinople. The building is now home to the offices of the Port Authority of Genoa and only open to public tours on occasional dates. After admiring the palace from the outside, though, you are welcome to walk into the lobby to see the grand staircase.
Where: Palazzo San Giorgio, 2
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America’s first cannabis cafe opens
America’s first legal cannabis cafe is now open in Los Angeles. It has the straightforward name of Lowell Farms: A Cannabis Cafe, and is run by the marijuana brand Lowell Herb Co.
The cafe is the first to capitalize on West Hollywood’s eight cannabis consumption licenses given in December 2018. Chef Andrea Drummer, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate who has cooked marijuana-infused cuisine for celebrities through her cooperative Elevation VIP, created the menu. The focus is on farm-to-table, seasonal California ingredients, which is reflective of the organic and natural-focused mindset of Lowell Farms’ cannabis.
Lowell Cafe is 5,900 square feet with a smoking and non-smoking outdoor section, while inside is a 100-percent smoking area. A “flower host” is available to discuss strains for sale much like a sommelier does for wine. Edibles are also an option, though the dishes can’t be infused with THC because of regulations on edibles, and the cafe also can’t sell alcohol because of a law prohibiting alcohol and cannabis sales at the same location.
While the cafe is new, Lowell Herb Co. already has a strong following for its much-loved cannabis. The brand is named after William “Bull” Lowell, a farmer who grew what he called “Indian Hemp” on his farm on the central coast of California in 1909. He was thrown in jail for keeping his plants after the 1913 Poison Act outlawed marijuana. The current Lowell Farms is clear on the connection with the website for the cafe stating front and center, “The end of prohibition is here.”
Photo: Wonho Frank Lee
West Hollywood is the first city to set up an answer to the question that’s been plaguing states since Colorado and Washington first legalized recreational cannabis in 2012: Now that people have access to all this weed, where can they consume it? Public use is illegal even in recreational states, while private properties are able to ban use as well. It’s a problem for locals, but is particularly a problem for tourists, forcing them to consume legal weed in illegal locations.
Other cannabis-friendly cities have already solved this. Amsterdam, where marijuana is illegal but decriminalized, is famous for its coffeeshops. It’s also illegal but tolerated in Barcelona, where locals and tourists have been able to smoke in designated cannabis clubs since the early 2000s.
Photo: Wonho Frank Lee
Consumption laws have been slower to catch on in the US. Denver has a few cannabis clubs where smoking is allowed, but West Hollywood is the only city to officially license businesses, and Lowell Cafe is the first to have a fully legal cannabis consumption license. Still, while Lowell Cafe is the first, loosening cannabis laws suggest it will be far from the last.
Lowell Farms: A Cannabis Cafe is located at 1201 N La Brea Avenue, and is open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM every day. Reservations are suggested, and you’ll need to bring cash to purchase any cannabis.
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Britain expresses regret for Cook
Apologies are usually better immediately after the crime, rather than nearly 300 years later, but better late than never. In 1769, British Captain James Cook arrived on the east side of the Turanganui River, near modern Gisborne in New Zealand, and killed a group of at least eight local Maori people. Now, the British government has officially expressed its regret for the killings, with a private statement issued to local tribes by Laura Clarke, the British high commissioner.
The statement aligned with a government-funded commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Cook’s landing in New Zealand, which included a replica of his ship and a flotilla of other vessels — a celebration that, for some, may cause the “apology” to ring false.
The meeting between Clarke and local Maori groups nevertheless represents a landmark shift in the relationship between the British government and Maori people.
“What we did today,” said Clarke, “really acknowledged, perhaps properly for the first time, that nine people and nine ancestors were killed in those first meetings between Captain Cook and New Zealand Maori, and that is not how any of us would have wanted those first encounters to have happened.” She added that it was important to “acknowledge that the pain doesn’t diminish over time, and if you do that, if you look back to address the wrongs of the past, it equips you better I think to look to the future and build a partnership.”
Translation: “Credit to us for semi-apologizing 300 years later.”
The British government has a record of not addressing its controversial actions during the colonial period, so this statement does amount to a degree of progress. Clarke, who is in the process of learning the Maori language herself, has expressed her desire to repair the British-Maori relationship and right past wrongs. This “expression of regret” about Cook is, at least, a start.
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Glowing human sculptures in LA
If you’re walking around downtown LA next month and see massive, glowing human-like figures appearing everywhere — don’t worry, it’s not an extraterrestrial invasion. A massive light installation is being planned in DTLA’s FIGat7th shopping plaza from October 30 through November 10. Part of “Fantastic Planet,” a public art installation by Australian artist Amanda Parer, the illuminated humanoids (illuminoids?) will be scattered throughout the plaza, provoking thought and, of course, providing the crowds with plenty of good photo ops.
Photo: Arts Brookfield
According to the description of “Fantastic Planet,” the “giants from afar are quiet and gentle, yet curious about our fantastic planet and its inhabitants…Australian artist Amanda Parer’s edgy and ephemeral artworks explore the natural world, its fragility and our role within it.”
Photo: Arts Brookfield
The sculptures are based on a 1973 Czech-French film called La Planète Sauvage. It’s set in a distant future full of massive humanoids, where human beings are considered a feral race, and there are several such humanesque figures that served as the installation’s inspiration.
Photo: Arts Brookfield
Note that while you are allowed to touch the sculptures, you’re kindly asked not to kick, punch, lie down on them, or bring dogs near them.
The installation is free to visit, and accessible during FIGat7th’s opening hours, from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily.
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What is Dutch salty black licorice?
When I was around elementary school-age, my dad and I took walks up and down the Seattle waterfront. On the way back to the car, we’d frequently stop at a now-closed candy shop by the water. I’d get a little plastic bag full of jelly orange slices crusted with crystals of sugar, and he’d fill another bag with rounds of black licorice. He popped these nickel-sized circles into his mouth as he would any other treat, his face never betraying the flavor. One day, I asked to try one, and he handed the bag over without a word of caution. Turns out, those innocent looking pieces of licorice taste like licking the inside of a salt shaker.
The candy’s cough drop-like flavor combined with its leathery texture made for an unpleasant eating experience. Yet every time we went to the candy store, I would sneak one piece of his licorice, intrigued and disgusted by the savory, salty flavor.
My father’s strange candy of choice is a popular Dutch treat called Zoute Drop, also known as Dutch Drop, widespread throughout Scandinavia and the Netherlands. Finland has a version called salmiakki, while in Sweden it’s called saltlakrits. The salty flavor comes from ammonium chloride, a chemical used in cough medicine, not sodium chloride, the main ingredient in table salt.
Zoute Drop has none of the cheer of a rainbow swirl lollipop, nor the elegance of a Ritter Sport chocolate bar. It lacks the playfulness of a transparent blue gummy shark. Dutch licorice is austere, unfussy, and deceptively simple. The pieces are tough and inflexible; chewing it is a workout for your jaw.
Photo: Bjoern Wylezich/Shutterstock
After immigrating from Jakarta, my dad, Benjamin, spent part of his childhood in Leiden, a town in Holland known for its tulip fields. This is undoubtedly where he picked up his love of salty licorice.
“When I was a young boy, I would always buy a couple of rolls and share them with my friends after school was dismissed,” he recalls. “This was in Leiden, a university city where my late uncle taught art history. I remember being tailed by some of my companions who expected to be given several pieces of the licorice I bought,” Benjamin recalls. “I never met anyone who wasn’t Dutch who liked salty licorice.”
Americans think of candy as the apex of pleasure. We use it to relieve stress, to conjure up child-like joy, to escape reality and enter a paradise of cotton candy clouds and gum drop rainbows. Zoute Drop contradicts all of that, from how physically taxing it is to consume to its gloomy color. And that’s to say nothing of its odd flavor, which seems to flummox the taste buds of foreigners. It’s easier to think of Zoute Drop as a treat closer to a savory biscuit rather than a candy; a midday snack that you might find accompanying a cup of coffee or tea.
There is some mischievous trickery at work here. Zoute Drop looks so utterly unremarkable, so ordinary, that its intense flavor comes as a complete shock. It’s not just salty, although that’s the sharpest flavor. Zoute Drop is bitter-like cough syrup from the ammonium chloride, chased with the spice of black pepper. There’s sourness, too, somewhere in there — not a citrus sour, but pickled cabbage. The flavor is, no matter how you describe it, pungent; it lingers on your tongue and the back of your teeth.
There are many varieties: The diamond-shaped Zoute Drop and the coin design my father favored are mildly, though still palpably, salty. But it’s Dubbel Zout (double salt) rounds stamped with the capital DZ initials that are the most infamous variety. The hallmark of Dubbel Zout is that it makes your mouth pucker and turn to sandpaper. A salty firework bursts on your tongue, lingering only a few moments. Once the initial shock of salt wears off, Dubbel Zout becomes just a regular piece of Dutch licorice — yet most non-Dutch people don’t get past that first minute or two without a serious struggle.
For all its strangeness, Zoute Drop remains one of the Netherlands’ culinary treasures. The average Dutch person eats four pounds of it per year, making them the largest consumers of salty licorice in the world. It’s so beloved throughout Scandinavia and the Netherlands that it’s been affectionately nicknamed “black gold.”
Photo: Amy K. Mitchell/Shutterstock
How licorice ended up in the Netherlands remains a mystery, but according to the Los Angeles Times, early Dutch traders probably brought it home with them after business trips to the Mediterranean. It’s been popular in the country since at least the 13th century, when it appears — alongside other spices and medicinal herbs — in a poem called “The Flower of Nature.”
Historian Jukka Annala posits that salty licorice originated in pharmacies, where Finnish chemists sold salmiakki — black licorice flavored with ammonium chloride, more potent even than Zoute Drop — as a cough medicine. This wasn’t entirely a scam; ammonium chloride is an expectorant. In fact, some Dutch people still contend that salty Zoute Drop can help clear nasal passages and soothe a sore throat or cough.
By the 1930s, salty licorice had become a staple all over Scandinavia and the Netherlands, according to the BBC. Today, it’s available everywhere, from pharmacies to grocery stores to specialty candy shops like Het Oud-Hollandsch Snoepwinkeltje.
One explanation of the Netherlands’ (and Scandinavia’s) enduring love of this odd little candy is that the flavors simply taste like home. In the 15th century, the Dutch took control of the nutmeg and clove trade in Indonesia, introducing the Netherlands to the bitter, spicy flavors prominent in salty licorice. Brined and pickled dishes are also staples of the regional cuisine: The Dutch adore brined herring and pickled vegetables, and in Sweden and Norway, cured fish, known as gravlax, is a delicacy. Salty licorice fits right in with the saltwater-washed appetites of people from this part of the world.
Photo: Gigra/Shutterstock
I recently ordered some Zoute Drop for my dad and I — a mild variety made by Venco, stamped with the coin design. I mailed two bags to my dad in Seattle, and kept two for myself. Cautiously, I ripped one of the bags open and popped a couple of coins into my mouth. I tasted the familiar saltiness, and I thought, “What am I going to do with all this salty licorice? I don’t even like it!” I stashed the remaining bags in a cupboard and went about my day. But then something strange happened: I began to crave it.
The more Zoute Drop I snack on, the more I understand its appeal. The savory licorice isn’t as cloying as sugary candy, but it’s just as satisfying — less harsh on the stomach and therefore easier to indulge throughout the day. Yet I found it appealing for another reason. Zoute Drop doesn’t resemble candy Americans are accustomed to in any way except one: It’s strongest flavor is nostalgia.
The moment the Zoute Drop coin hit my tongue, memories of my dad and I sitting his Ford Explorer on the waterfront, eating candy, came flooding back to me. I remember being giddy with excitement when we entered the candy store after our walks in the park, and the neon candied oranges in my plastic bag. I felt fascination and pride when I discovered his candy preferences made our family special, and that memory comes back with renewed force every time I eat Zoute Drop.
If the broadest definition of candy is that it can revive lost memories and transport us back to the innocent, less complicated days of childhood, then for the people who grew up eating it, Zoute Drop fits the bill — even though it’s more salt and spice than “everything nice.”
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Where to have a Japanese sand bath
Sand bathing is a centuries-old wellness practice that hails from the geothermal beaches of southern Japan. In recent years, this therapy has gained popularity for its ailment-relieving effects (improved circulation, joint pain relief, and reducing inflammation) and the extraordinarily unique experience of being buried in volcanic sand.
To experience an authentic Japanese sand bath, travelers need not flock to the shores of Ibusuki but instead to Edgewater, New Jersey, a quiet New York City-facing locale that hides the tri-state area’s best-kept wellness secret: SoJo Spa Club.
Editor’s Note: Please consult a doctor before partaking in spa treatments if you have pre-existing medical conditions.
The spa
Photo: SoJo Spa Club
SoJo Spa Club is a seven-floor wellness facility with pretty spectacular views of the New York City skyline. Roughly longitudinal with 130th Street, the spa’s many levels provide a lesser-seen perspective of Manhattan; people are more accustomed to seeing eastside views of the skyline from Brooklyn, not the westward view afforded by Edgewater.
In the vein of the Korean bathhouse culture to which the compound subscribes, SoJo Spa Club follows a no-shoes, robe-only ethos. Upon entering, you’ll be asked to store your footwear in a locker that, once closed, will disconnect a bracelet that becomes your ID badge for the rest of the day.
Pools and saunas
Photo: SoJo Spa Club
There are seven outdoor pools, each designed with a specific purpose and to yield specific benefits — every treatment option at SoJo Spa Club is labeled with corresponding health perks. There’s a silk bath, filled with ionized water to nourish body tissue and leave your skin feeling smooth and sleek; a carbon-rich bath, creating a feeling akin to swimming in a can of LaCroix; a Hinoki bath, exuding a subtle lemony fragrance from the foundational cedarwood, which is antibacterial in nature; and a rooftop infinity pool, with fewer intrinsic benefits but perfect for the requisite Instagram moments (though technically, phones aren’t allowed in this specific pool). There are also baths scattered throughout the men’s and women’s locker rooms, from icy plunge pools to secluded hot tubs, hidden from view by foliage-filled dividers.
SoJo maintains a collection of healing saunas and “therapy rooms” — a far-infrared sauna provides the positives of natural sunlight without causing UV damage; the charcoal sauna works to eliminate heavy metals and toxins from the body; and the Ganbanyoku room, where visitors lay on heated tiles to recreate Japanese hot stone therapy. The Himalayan salt sauna, like the lamp, is a golden-pink room constructed of salt bricks (naturally purifying the air) that is set to a lower temperature than the other saunas, with the goal of detoxifying the body by discharging waste in the capillary vessels and, simultaneously, ground visitors spiritually. And on a hot summer day, or following five consecutive sauna visits, the ice room is a cool refrigerator-esque refuge.
Japanese sand bathing
Photo: SoJo Spa Club
The true pièce de résistance of SoJo Spa Club aside from the above-listed amenities is the Japanese sand bathing. The spa is the only place in the US to offer this treatment authentically — over 120 tons of volcanic sand were imported to Edgewater from Ibusuki.
Ibusuki is an onsen (hot spring) town encompassing the southern portion of the Satsuma Peninsula, one of Japan’s southernmost points. The tradition of sand bathing is believed to have originated over 300 years ago in this region, which is a hotbed of geothermal activity — its popularity transformed the volcanic shoreline into a pilgrimage for medical relief-seekers. Many of Ibusuki’s hotels offer this treatment — including Hakusuikan, SoJo’s partner hotel.
Aside from the sand’s genuine Japanese origins, SoJo’s approach to sand bathing is on an echelon above other US spas providing these therapies — SoJo’s experience is one in which guests are bathed in a group, as is tradition, instead of in single tables. These communal sand baths are located on SoJo’s sixth floor in a 1,200-square-foot wooden sand bath. Prior to bathing, you’ll discard your snowy-white SoJo garments and don a traditional Japanese yukata, a salmon-pink robe embroidered with brown tree patterns and Japenese characters, complete with a towel wrapped around your neck for protection from the hot sand.
To start the treatment, you’ll lay down in the volcanic sand and place your head on a wooden block — as the volcanic descriptor implies, the sand is hot, heated to 130 degrees, and is not the tan-white variety found at many American beaches but instead is coarse, charcoal-gray.
Photo: SoJo Spa Club
An attendant will then begin to bury you with this ovenlike sand, covering your entire body up to the neck. You’ll begin to feel the heat immediately, quickly breaking a sweat as the detoxifying process begins. Sand’s low thermal conductivity implies that it gradually warms up on the body, instead of immediately baking. For some (including this writer) it can feel a bit anxiety-inducing to be covered with hot sand; for others it’s relaxing, imbuing the permeating zen of SoJo.
Time’s up after 15 minutes — you don’t need any more than that — and slowly you will break out of the volcanic molding and go rinse off the sand, which has a habit of finding its way into unwanted places despite the protective robes and towel.
Volcanic sand bathing’s perks are incredible and often expeditious. “The benefits of sand bathing are a result of the unique natural properties of volcanic sand. Volcanic sand’s high mineral content makes the sand alkaline, or higher in pH level. Laying in this alkaline environment can have a number of benefits from promoting a deep detox through your pores, reducing inflammation, and even improving certain skin conditions,” says Esther Cha, marketing manager of SoJo Spa Club. “The heat and weight of the sand also work together to help loosen stiff joints and muscles. Fans of gravity blankets may also appreciate the anxiety-reducing effect.”
These numerous effects lend to the practice’s emerging popularity outside of Ibusuki. SoJo might be the first in the US to recreate Japanese sand bathing, but it probably won’t be the last.
Things to know
After a day of lounging around SoJo, you’ll likely leave feeling resplendent and refreshed — a sentiment important to retain as the chaos of New York City soon engulfs you again.
The fall rates for SoJo Spa Club are $50 during the week and $65 during the weekend; the Japanese sand bath is an additional $20. The entry price might seem steep, but you can spend an entire day pool-floating and sauna-hopping, so it quickly becomes worthwhile. There is also a free shuttle to transport guests to and from Times Square, bypassing the many tolls that driving from the city would incur. Just make sure to register ahead of time as the shuttle fills up quickly.
If your dream trip is to Japan but the flights are a bit out of budget, give Edgewater, New Jersey, a try for an authentic replication of these coveted sand baths, lifted straight from the shores of Ibusuki.
More like this: The best places in America to try forest bathing
The post How to experience an authentic Japanese sand bath without leaving the US appeared first on Matador Network.
5 ways to experience the Big Island
5 incredible ways to experience the island of Hawaii NOW
By: Chantae Reden
The Culture
The Outdoors
The Ocean
The Art & Museums
The Food
Photo: Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau/Paul Zizka
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There’s never been a better time to visit the island of Hawaii.
One of the most ecologically diverse places on Earth, its landscape can change in a matter of minutes, from white to black sand beaches, to acres of rolling hills and pastureland, to rainforest serenaded by the sounds of native birds. Manicured organic farms back up against the untamed wilderness, the island refusing to be defined by any single term.
And just like the island’s terrain, no two journeys here are quite alike. Whether you travel with a swimsuit or a flashlight and hiking pole, the island of Hawaii is here to surprise you.
This post is proudly produced in partnership with The Hawaiian Islands.
The Culture
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
The island of Hawaii has a history as rich as its landscapes. Preserved through dance, museums, and cultural sites, its complex story is still being crafted today.
Seeking refuge at Puuhonua o Honaunau
This was once a place of refuge for those who broke society’s rules...
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Seeking refuge at Puuhonua o Honaunau
Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park was once a place of refuge for those who broke kapu, historical Hawaii’s rules and laws, a crime often punishable by death. That is, unless you could escape to a refuge that offered protection, where your wrongdoings would be forgiven. This park—a sanctuary, really—is just that.
At Puuhonua o Honaunau, tread lightly around the grounds that symbolize peace and forgiveness. For the most solitude, visit the historic agricultural sites only accessible via backcountry trek.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Heather Goodman
Hula dancers use their movements to tell a story...
Interpreting the art of hula
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Interpreting the art of hula
Hula dancers use their movements to tell a story or honor a deity. In modern hula, hand motions might show love, trees swaying, or waves rolling, while the hips and feet move rhythmically to the beat. Traditional hula, meanwhile, is a physical manifestation of oli, the chant that accompanies the dance.
Next time you’re at a performance or festival that includes the art of the hula, pay attention. What can you ascertain from the dance?
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
This was once an important temple for King Kamehameha I...
Navigating Puukohola Heiau
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Navigating Puukohola Heiau
Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site was once an important temple for King Kamehameha I, who followed a prophecy that building a heiau, or temple, and sacrificing his rival at the heiau would lead to military success and the unification of the Hawaiian Islands. (Spoiler: It worked.)
The site also hosts the homestead of John Young, a British sailor who was stranded in Hawaii and became a trusted adviser to King Kamehameha I. An audio tour guides you through the ruins, and the connecting Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail leads you to the sea.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
If you explore Historic Kailua Village, you’ll get a glimpse into what the island was like under Hawaiian royalty...
Wandering Historic Kailua Village
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Wandering Historic Kailua Village
If you explore Historic Kailua Village, you’ll come across multiple sites that provide a glimpse into what the island was like under the alii, or Hawaiian royalty. Hulihee Palace was home to royals, and the modern-day museum now exhibits Victorian artwork and koa wood furniture from the days of King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani.
Nearby Ahuena Heiau, another royal seaside residence, is also worth admiring from the shoreline. This entire area—just 15 minutes from the Kona airport—makes for an ideal post volcano or waterfall hike.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
The Lyman Mission House is the oldest wooden building on the island...
Going back in time at Lyman Mission House
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Going back in time at Lyman Mission House
The Lyman Mission House, part of the Lyman Museum, was constructed in 1839 by two missionaries, David and Sarah Lyman. Their home, the longest-standing wooden building on the island, once hosted alii (Hawaiian royalty) as well as influential figures like Mark Twain.
Its attached museum, the Smithsonian-affiliated Lyman Museum, has cultural and geological exhibits that provide in-depth lessons on the island’s unique topography and volcanic history.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
The Outdoors
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Anna Pacheco
The island of Hawaii is the youngest in the archipelago, a sprightly 500,000 or so years old. In this time, the island has managed to sprout into desert shrubland, lava fields, lush forests, and multicolored beaches. Grab your hat and water bottle — it’s time for an adventure.
Hiking among lava flows
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is where you can witness the island’s ever-changing topography...
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Hiking among lava flows
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is where you go to witness the island’s ever-changing topography. Deep craters, lava tubes, steam vents, and dramatic ridgelines reveal the raw power of Earth’s fiery interior.
Following the eruptions of 2018, most of the park has reopened. Consider an easy hike along the Sulphur Banks Trail, where clouds of steam rise from the warm earth, or trek the Kilauea Iki Trail at dawn, finding yourself on a Martian-esque lava field as the sun rises and the fog lifts.
Even if you’ve been to the park before, you’ll want to go again and see the dramatic changes of Halemaumau Crater.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
A dramatic landscape of steep drops and bright foliage, Pololu Valley...
Gazing over Pololu Valley
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Gazing over Pololu Valley
A dramatic landscape of steep drops and bright foliage, Pololu Valley is one of the best views on the island. The drive up Highway 270 leads to the lookout point, where the panorama spans to the valleys carving into the seaside slope of the old Kohala Volcano.
You can hike down to the sparkling black sand beach below—it takes about half an hour to complete the steep, rocky trek. Bring good shoes (swimming not recommended)!
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
Venture around the island on two wheels with Big Island Bike Tours...
Taking in the island by bike
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Taking in the island by bike
Four wheels can be restrictive—two has fewer limits. But you have to know where to go, and for that (and the wheels), look to Big Island Bike Tours. You can take day trips, multi-day tours, or just customize your own ride past waterfalls, along black sand beaches, and to historic sites.
Recommended: Experience Anna Ranch in Waimea on an exclusive mountain bike tour of nearly 100 acres behind the historic home of the late Anna Lindsey Perry-Fiske, the "First Lady of Ranching."
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
A 442-foot waterfall highlights Akaka Falls State Park, a verdant forest...
Getting misted by Akaka Falls
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Getting misted by Akaka Falls
A 442-foot waterfall highlights Akaka Falls State Park, surrounded by verdant forest full of bamboo and orchids less than 30 minutes from downtown Hilo. If there’s one waterfall to see on the island, this is it.
An easy .4-mile boardwalk loop reveals Akaka Falls from a few different vantage points, as well as offering a peek at its neighboring cascade, 100-foot Kahuna Falls.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Heather Goodman
You’ll overcome your fear of heights (or maybe accrue one)...
Ziplining past waterfalls
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Ziplining past waterfalls
You’ll overcome your fear of heights (or maybe accrue one) while flying over waterfalls on a zipline tour with Umauma Experience. Check it: The 9-line zipline passes 14 waterfalls across nearly two miles. Fourteen!
But since flying above isn’t nearly close enough, you’ll then rappel down a waterfall that splashes into the Umauma Stream, a small river spilling into the Pacific Ocean.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Heather Goodman
The Ocean
Photo: Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau/Tyler Schmitt
Surf, swim, paddle, or just admire. With a coastline that’s ever expanding thanks to volcanic activity, the island of Hawaii is a constantly evolving playground of ocean adventures. That is, if playgrounds had lava flows, manta rays, and sea turtles.
Scuba diving with manta rays
Elegant and ethereal, manta rays are the embodiment of majestic...
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Scuba diving with manta rays
Elegant and ethereal, manta rays are the embodiment of majestic. At night, they glide through the water, often found hovering just over the reef to be cleaned by the aptly named Hawaiian cleaner wrasse.
You’ll see them—and loads of other creatures—for yourself on a scuba diving or snorkeling tour with Jack’s Diving Locker. And to be clear: They have no tail stingers and no sharp teeth!
Photo: Shutterstock/Rich Carey
Friendly waves roll through Kahaluu Beach, a spot where trusted surf instructors...
Learning to surf at Kahaluu Beach
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Learning to surf at Kahaluu Beach
Friendly waves roll through Kahaluu Beach, a spot where the trusted surf instructors at Kahaluu Bay Surf and Sea will teach you how to paddle into and stand on your first waves.
If you want to give it a go on your own, stand-up paddleboards, snorkeling gear, body boards, and surfboards are also available for rent.
Photo: Island of Hawaii Visitoris Bureau/Kirk Lee Aeder
The calm waters of Kailua Bay make for a prime spot to SUP...
Stand-up paddleboarding at Kailua Bay
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Stand-up paddleboarding at Kailua Bay
The calm waters of Kailua Bay make for a prime spot to SUP. From your board, you might spot sea turtles taking a breather or schools of fish swimming underneath you. Yep, the water’s pretty clear—and the views above water aren’t so bad either.
Board rentals—along with kayaks and canoes—are available from Kona Boys. They offer tours and lessons, too.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Heather Goodman
Polynesians traditionally traveled from island to island in an outrigger canoe...
Paddling an outrigger canoe at Keauhou Bay
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Paddling an outrigger canoe at Keauhou Bay
Polynesians traditionally traveled from island to island in outrigger canoes, the type where a small attached beam floats alongside the main craft to prevent tipping in the ocean waves.
With Anelakai Adventures, you can learn proper form, technique, and the importance of teamwork on an outrigger canoe tour of Keauhou Bay.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Heather Goodman
For a black-sand beach and a good snorkel spot close to Hilo...
Snorkeling at Richardsons Ocean Park
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Snorkeling at Richardsons Ocean Park
For a black-sand beach and a good snorkel spot close to Hilo, head to Richardson’s. It’s great for an off-beach but still calm-current snorkel.
Strap on your goggles and fins, wade into the shallow water, and admire the marine life as it swims around you. The spring water can be a bit chilly—the ocean water is much warmer.
Photo: Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau/Tyler Schmitt
The Art & Museums
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Daeja Fallas
You’ve seen some of the island’s stunning natural landscapes for yourself. Now it’s time to learn a bit more about them and how the land, sky, and sea have served as muses for many creative people of Hawaii.
Hunting stars right from the beach
With little light pollution to taint the skies, the island of Hawaii...
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Hunting stars right from the beach
With little light pollution to taint the skies, the island of Hawaii—specifically the Kohala Coast—provides stunningly clear views for stargazers. With Star Gaze Hawaii, you’ll admire the twinkling lights of the night skies through a powerful telescope right on the beach.
To stay starry-eyed during the day, visit the Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii and catch one of their excellent planetarium shows.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Dana Edmunds
The Mokupapapa Discovery Center shares information about Hawaii’s remote isles...
Learning about the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
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Learning about the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands
The Mokupapapa Discovery Center, in Hilo, shares information about Hawaii’s remote isles—the tiny, much older Northwestern Hawaiian Islands—and coral reefs through interactive exhibits, life-size models of animals, and saltwater aquariums, one of which holds 3,500 gallons of water and marine life like you’ve never seen.
These islands have very different natural environments than those we typically think of as comprising Hawaii, many protected for the wildlife they harbor. And slowly but surely, they’re all eroding into the sea.
Photo: Mokupapapa Discovery Center
With the island as inspiration...
Getting inspired at the Volcano Art Center
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Getting inspired at the Volcano Art Center
With the island as inspiration, there’s no shortage of incredible artwork here. Visit the Volcano Art Center to admire the work of over 200 local artists—and participate in an art workshop yourself.
Much more than an art gallery, the center runs programs that will deeply immerse you in local culture, including hula performances, guided walks through the Niaulani Rainforest, and cultural and language-learning workshop. These will definitely graduate you from standard tourist level!
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Dana Edmunds
The Hawaiian Islands unfortunately are no strangers to tsunamis...
Exploring the Pacific Tsunami Museum
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Exploring the Pacific Tsunami Museum
The Hawaiian Islands—and Hilo in particular—are no strangers to tsunamis. These natural disasters, with waves sometimes hitting speeds of 500mph, have caused widespread damage and claimed hundreds of lives in the past.
At the Pacific Tsunami Museum, you can pay your respects to Mother Nature. Learn all about how tsunamis are formed and how they’re connected to other events across the planet, and visit several tsunami sites on the 90-minute walking tour.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
The Food
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Heather Goodman
The island of Hawaii’s abundance of farms and skilled chefs makes it easy to explore with your taste buds as guide. Coffee, beer, and fresh seafood: three effortless and highly rewarding ways to experience Hawaii.
Catching sunset dinner and drinks at Magics Beach Grill
Sit back and enjoy the view from this beachside restaurant...
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Catching sunset dinner and drinks at Magics Beach Grill
Sit back and enjoy the view of the Kona Coast from Magics Beach Grill, a new beachside restaurant that serves up delicious island bites in a historic oceanfront building that dates back to 1965.
Word of advice: Come hungry. You’ll need room for fried ulu wedges, fish served with pineapple slaw, pork chops accompanied by root vegetables, and sweet potato pie baked with macadamia butter. Not to mention the drinks!
Photo: Magics Beach Grill
The island of Hawaii doesn’t shy away from the brewery scene...
Sipping on locally brewed beer
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Sipping on locally brewed beer
The island of Hawaii doesn’t shy away from the brewery scene, and nowhere is that more apparent than at Kona Brewing Company. They're the largest on the island, and they're expanding. You might've had one of their brews on the mainland—or even as far away as Japan—but there’s nothing like tasting it fresh from the source.
Ola Brew is another top operation, where you’re bound to have a good time knocking back a classic IPA or their full-bodied porter made with kiawe and vanilla.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Heather Goodman
Drink a cup here and it might ruin all other coffee for you forever...
Touring a coffee farm
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Touring a coffee farm
The danger of drinking 100% Kona or Kau coffee on the island of Hawaii is that your java back home might taste pretty lackluster in comparison. In the States, Hawaii is one of two places with soil fit for producing coffee beans, meaning it’s hard to get fresher coffee than right here.
Coffee plantations and makers like UCC Hawaii, Greenwell Farms, and Kau Coffee Mill all offer farm tours and tastings. You drink it every day—time to learn how it’s made. Or if tea is more your thing, be sure to visit one of several tea farms on the island, too!
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Heather Goodman
Poke is a Hawaiian dish made from diced and marinated fresh fish...
Lunching at Da Poke Shack
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Lunching at Da Poke Shack
Poke is a Hawaiian dish made from diced and marinated fresh fish. You’ve probably had it at your local seafood shack, and that’s great—because once here, you’ll taste the difference.
At Da Poke Shack, the fish is just-caught and can be served with a side of salad, kimchi, edamame, or rice. Sauces range from sweet to savory to tangy to spicy. The combinations are virtually endless, each one consistently super fresh.
Photo: Hawaii Tourism Authority/Heather Goodman
Merriman’s takes pride in using local ingredients...
Dining in style at Merriman’s
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Dining in style at Merriman’s
Merriman’s takes pride in working with local farmers and fisherman to provide the freshest ingredients. About 90% of their menu is grown, raised, or caught regionally. All this has made Chef Peter Merriman kind of a big deal.
Reservations are essential if you want to enjoy their menu. You’ll sit down to fresh ginger poke, heaped salads, macadamia-nut-crusted kampachi, and steak served with garlic, rosemary, and cauliflower.
Photo courtesy of Merriman's Hawaii
This post is proudly produced in partnership with The Hawaiian Islands.
The post 5 incredible ways to experience the island of Hawaii NOW appeared first on Matador Network.
October 1, 2019
Best cheap hostels under $30 a night
Aspirational travel can be more like reality than you think. Sure, that 19-star safari lodge and the private island in the Maldives might be a little out of your price range right now, but the experiences those luxury accommodations facilitate can be had for a much lower price. We consulted with Hostelworld to find everything from a Swiss adventure chalet to a shack on the beach in Zanzibar that can all be had for under $30 a night.
1. African Bush Backpackers
Marloth Park, South Africa
Price: from $13.42 per night
Photo: African Bush Backpackers/Facebook
Right on the border of fabled Kruger National Park, you’ll find 7,500-acre Marloth Park, a smaller yet still spectacular setting and home to the African Bush Backpackers hostel. In stark contrast to the luxe glamping lodges inside Kruger, this modest accommodation provides clean, comfortable rooms set in straw huts with easy access to wild animals. That doesn’t mean you’ll have giraffes walking right up to you in the middle of the night, but it does mean you’ve got an affordable jumping-off point to guided safaris in the park, making your dream of seeing the big five a lot closer.
2. New Teddy’s Place
Paje Beach, Zanzibar
Price: from $22 per night
Photo: New Teddys Hostel/Facebook
Sleeping in a palm-leaf hut with a sand floor on a Zanzibar beach sounds like the furthest thing from stressful one could imagine. This complete escape in the beach town of Paje is yours for just over $20 a night, where each room also comes with mosquito netting and fans since A/C and bug spray aren’t included in the package. Teddy’s also has a bar and restaurant, since laying on a beach in Zanzibar is kinda pointless if you can’t post a drink picture. It also has a second location in the even-more-secluded beach town of Jambiani if you want complete privacy.
3. Greg & Tom Hostel
Krakow, Poland
Price: from $16.48 per night
Photo: Greg & Tom Hostel/Facebook
You’re not finding a better location for the price in Krakow than you will at Greg & Tom, a scant 10 minutes by foot from Market Square and St. Florian’s Gate, and a pretty easy walk to the rest of Krakow’s main sights, too. Not satisfied to just open the doors and tell you to go explore, this hostel also offers pub crawls and bike tours through the city, as well as live music and its own bar so the nightlife can come to you. Just be forewarned: While the party here is fantastic, it’s a communal experience. Greg & Tom offers dorm-style accommodation and rents by the bed and not the room.
4. Athens Backpackers
Athens, Greece
Price: From $19.82 per night
Photo: Athens Studios & Backpackers/Facebook
You may get no better pictures of the Acropolis at night than from the rooftop of this hostel, whose elevated sports bar offers soccer and rugby to one side and ancient ruins to the other. The Athens Backpackers hostel sits smack between the Acropolis and the Temple of Olympian Zeus, offering easy access and phenomenal views of both, as well as day trips out to Delphi, Sounio, Nafplio, and other historic sites. You’ll also find ice-cold A/C — never a guarantee in Athens — and a private laundry. All just a short walk from the Acropolis metro stop.
5. Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof
Interlaken, Switzerland
Price: from $29.99 per night
Photo: Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof/Facebook
Thirty dollars a night for a hostel might seem a little steep to experienced hostelers, until you remember that this is Switzerland, and lunch at KFC can cost more. Still, this snowbound chalet in the gateway to the Jungfrau would be worth that price anywhere with stunning mountain views off the private balconies and clean wooden furnishings throughout. The Villa also partners with a number of local restaurants to offer prix-fixe menus for guests, which will save you on food if you’re not using the communal kitchen. It can also hook you up with any number of Jungfrau adventures, from paragliding to bungee jumping to jet-boating through Lake Brienz.
6. Urban House Copenhagen by Meininger
Copenhagen, Denmark
Price: from $18.01 per night
Photo: Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER/Facebook
Walking past this historic white building in the bustling Verterbro section of Copenhagen, you’d likely think it to be a stately luxury hotel rather than a hostel with beds under $20 a night. But despite being a hostel, it really does have a boutique hotel feel, with a downstairs bar and private cinema that make it tough to pull yourself away and explore the city. The private rooms have classically arched windows and walls painted like urban murals. And you’ll also find a breakfast buffet, bike rental, and daily packed lunches for just a few dollars extra.
7. Emblem Hostel Nishiarai
Tokyo, Japan
Price: from $25 per night
Photo: Emblem Hostel Nishiarai/Facebook
Finding anything in Tokyo for $25 should be cause for celebration, but a bed to sleep in might be the most glorious. This sleek hostel in northeastern Tokyo doesn’t look the price either, with modern furnishings and clean, open spaces. Emblem also offers chances for guests to delve deeper into Japanese culture than they might at a traditional hotel, offering weekly meetups with locals, tea making and calligraphy classes, and experiences at cultural sites. It’s also situated in the residential neighborhood of Nishiarai, where you’ll see how the people of the city commute, grocery shop, and generally live in the largest city in the world.
8. The Hat Madrid
Madrid, Spain
Price: from $18.70 per night
Photo: The Hat Madrid/Facebook
Madrid’s first boutique hostel is situated in a grand mansion on the Plaza Mayor, a surprisingly opulent setting for a place with beds under $20 a night. But don’t be fooled by the historic exterior: The Hat is as high-tech as it gets with smart TVs, tablets, and uncomfortably fast dual WiFi connections. The Hat’s central location allows you to walk to other sites like the Puerta del Sol, Gran Via, and La Latina in just a few minutes, which you can explore on your own or take one of the hostel’s free city tours. That is if you’re able to rip yourself away from the tranquil rooftop bar.
9. Yeah! Hostel
Barcelona, Spain
Price: from $17.57 per night
Photo: Yeah Hostel Barcelona/Facebook
This colorful hostel not far from the Paseo de Gracia offers one of the best dinner deals in the city, where you’ll get three full courses plus three drinks for a small upcharge to your room. That alone would be enough to make it your Barcelona home-away-from-home, but the Yeah! also leads free nightly walking tours so you can get the lay of the land, plus pub crawls to introduce you to the city’s notorious nightlife. During hot Spanish summers, you can also cool off at the rooftop pool, or enjoy the air-conditioned hallways and their cartoon and pop culture murals.
10. Selina Cartagena
Cartagena, Colombia
Price: from $23 per night
Photo: Selina (Cartagena)/Facebook
The Getsemani neighborhood of Cartagena may be the perfect mixture of history, art, and location, just a few blocks from the walled old city and dotted with murals from local artists. The Selina sits right in the heart of it with two rooftop pools and a bar next to one that serves as the perfect place to begin a big night out. In addition to the regular slew of programming Selina also offers programs where guests can help with a park cleanup or work with local children playing sports or teaching English. It’s the odd party place that also lets you give back, though the private movie room and co-working spaces don’t hurt Selina’s cause either.
11. Lisbon Lounge Hostel
Lisbon, Portugal
Price: from $22 per night
Photo: Lisbon Lounge Hostel/Facebook
Going from artist to hostel owner actually doesn’t seem like that big of a leap, especially when you can adorn the rooms with your own work to give the place a distinct character. That’s exactly what the four owners of the Lisbon Lounge did, adding stuff from other local artists to the walls and creating a venerable sleep-over gallery. Beyond admiring their work, you can also take cocktail-making classes, join in on a pub crawl, or take a free walking tour. Or just rent a bike then ride to the maze of bars that is Barrio Alto and figure it all out on your own.
12. St Christopher’s Inn Gare du Nord
Paris, France
Price: from $26.24 per night
Photo: St Christopher’s Inn Paris/Facebook
The most popular hostel in Paris might not be in such high demand because of its pod beds with curtains and USB ports, but rather for Belushi’s, the downstairs bar where all guests get 25 percent off. Though its location is about 20 minutes from the Champs Elysees by metro, and half an hour from the Eiffel Tower, what it lacks in centrality it makes up for in opportunity for interaction as this ultra-popular spot is never lacking for guests. Many of whom will be happy to join you on one of St. Christopher’s nightly pub crawls.
More like this: The 10 most Instagrammable hostels in the world
The post The world’s best places to stay for under $30 a night appeared first on Matador Network.
David Chang calls out ethnic aisle
David Chang is a celebrity chef, TV host, and the proprietor of iconic restaurants like Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City. He’s also an outspoken advocate for cuisines that are underappreciated and misunderstood in America. His latest crusade is against the so-called “ethnic” aisle at the supermarket. On a recent episode of his podcast, The David Chang Show, he called it “the last bastion of racism that you can see in full daylight in retail America.”
Typically, the supermarket “ethnic” food aisle (sometimes more appropriately termed the “international” section) combines ingredients like Goya Sazon, soy sauce, and coconut milk in one place for shoppers making meals inspired by cultures other than American. Some shoppers might consider this lumping together of ingredients from disparate cultures a mere convenience. To people of color and immigrants, the feeling is much different.
As a recent story in the Washington Post points out, relegating ingredients like soy sauce to a different aisle than other sauces like barbecue, ketchup, and salad dressing only compounds the “outsider status” — a practice that can sometimes even feel like segregation.
Chang spoke in no uncertain terms about the practice on his podcast, quipping that it “has got to go.” He later elaborated on his thoughts, telling the Washington Post that there’s an “invisible ceiling” relegating supermarket sections. While Italian food once held outsider status, for instance, it’s now considered mainstream American cuisine. Meanwhile, Chinese, Japanese and Latin are still lumped together.
Chang says it doesn’t make sense to relegate ingredients like salsa, soy sauce, and tortillas to an “ethnic” aisle. Most of them are already widely used in American households of all kinds, by people of every background. They are the mainstream, just as much as pasta. Now that stir fry and tacos are on the dinner menu for just about every American family, it’s time supermarkets stopped treating Latin and Asian cuisine as an afterthought to “normal” American food.
Attitudes like this are more harmful than you might think. As a young kid, Chang recalls feeling like “we would never be accepted” by the American community his family had joined. The segregated grocery store aisles put the fact that he looked, and ate, differently than white America in his face.
Yet some contend that the international aisles aren’t meant to make minorities feel like outcasts in American culture. Instead, it’s intended to keep the store organized. Jay Rosengarten, the founder of Food Emporium, told The Washington Post that the international aisle merely makes it simpler for shoppers to find all the ingredients they need for dishes like stir fry or tacos.
Even if more efficient organization is the guiding principle of the “ethnic” food aisle at the grocery store, it’s clearly caused some hurt within minority and marginalized communities. That should be enough to consider integrating all ingredients, from every culture, into the grocery store’s main sections — even if it means your shopping trip takes a little extra time.
More like this: Attention fans of Ugly Delicious: David Chang is already launching a new show tomorrow
The post David Chang calls ethnic food aisle ‘bastion of racism’ appeared first on Matador Network.
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