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Popeyes emotional support chicken

Anyone who’s ever binge-eaten their way through a breakup knows that fried chicken can be used for emotional support. And anyone who’s been on a plane — or read the news — in the past couple years knows that using emotional instability as an excuse to get an animal on the plane for free isn’t exactly novel either. But combining both to allow a three-piece order of chicken to bring some spicy, greasy zen to the frantic and terrifying holiday travel season? Absolute brilliance.

So hats off to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, a fast-food chicken chain known to anyone who’s passed one in an Uber at 3:00 AM. This week, Popeyes introduced its new Emotional Support Fried Chicken to passengers at Philadelphia International Airport. A city — if you saw any post-Super Bowl videos — in desperate need of emotional support.

The new Emotional Support Chicken meal consists of three chicken tenders — soft and warm unlike harsh, bone-filled chicken — served in a paper carton that looks suspiciously like a real chicken.

Photo: Popeyes

In a press release, Popeyes said:

“Emotional support animals provide comfort and companionship, especially during a highly stressful time like air travel, but…some travelers are pushing the envelope with…peacocks, squirrels, and tarantulas. After seeing this, Popeyes decided to offer…Emotional Support Chicken — a gesture designed to bring holiday travelers some needed humor to what is one of the most stressful places to be during the holidays — the airport.”

They added that airlines, as of yet, have no restrictions on Emotional Support Chicken.

The meals will be available only at PHL’s Terminal C, and Popeyes didn’t specify if it had plans to make the rest of the country feel good too.

Though this move isn’t expected to deter anyone from claiming their Chihuahua as an emotional support animal this Christmas so they can bring it home for free, at least it’ll make deciding what to eat if you’re stressed out in Philadelphia a little easier. And maybe even make those post-holiday breakups a little easier to stomach.


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The post Popeyes is selling ‘Emotional Support Chicken’ for stressed holiday travelers appeared first on Matador Network.

How Epiphany is celebrated

For many places, such as Italy or Spain, the holiday period extends until the 7th of January. This is because these countries, along with many others around the world, celebrate Epiphany on the 6th of January. In Western Christianity, this commemorates the arrival of the Three Wise Men who followed the star to baby Jesus. In the Orthodox Church, Epiphany celebrates the Baptism of Christ, and so on this day, priests bless water through various rituals. The Orthodox festivities usually take place on the 19th of January, following the Julian calendar. Across the continents, Epiphany is celebrated in various ways such as processions of the Magi, the Three Wise Men, gift giving, a present-delivering witch, jumping into freezing water, and cakes with a hidden secret. Here’s how Epiphany is celebrated around the world.

1. Malaga, Spain

Photo: Q77photo/Shutterstock

In Spain, children generally receive presents from the Three Wise Men, rather than Santa Claus, and they leave shoes outside the door on the night of the 5th to be filled with gifts. Malaga is one of the many Spanish cities that hosts a parade, too, with the Magi on elaborate thrones and performers on floats tossing sweets to children in the crowd.

2. Warsaw, Poland

As in Spain and many other European countries, the 6th of January in Poland sees hundreds of Epiphany parades taking place through the streets of towns and cities across the country. Along with the Three Kings, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, the parades include figures of devils, angels, and the like. Warsaw sees the Kings on camels, a few llamas, and even a Chinese dragon as part of its procession.

3. Venice, Italy

Photo: Salvatore Chiariello/Shutterstock

Across Italy, it’s the good broomstick-riding witch Befana who visits children on Epiphany, bringing sweets and presents. But only in Venice can you watch several suspiciously masculine-looking Befana witches rowing down its most famous canal. This gondola regatta sees several ex-gondoliers dressed up in witch-like clothing and racing each other down Venice’s Grand Canal.

4. Lima, Peru

Much of Latin America also celebrates Epiphany, or Día de los Reyes, and it’s often given greater importance than Christmas. As in Spain, presents for the children arrive via the Magi, rather than Santa Claus, and children leave grass and water outside the door for the camels. On the 6th, there are big processions, such as the one in Lima, where the highlight is three policemen dressed as the Three Wise Men who ride on horseback through the streets.

5. New Orleans, Louisiana

Photo: Anne Power/Shutterstock

In New Orleans, as well as across the southeastern region of the US, Epiphany is celebrated with the baking and eating of cakes. These round King Cakes decorated with colored sugar are part of King Cake parties that take place from 6th of January to Mardi Gras. The cakes also contain a little figurine or token, and whoever finds it in their slice of cake is responsible for making the King Cake the next year or throwing the next Mardi Gras party.

6. Guatemala City, Guatemala

Guatemala City’s processions feature giant ornate statues of the Three Wise Men and the Virgin Mary which are paraded through the streets to the sound of sacred music. The streets of one of Guatemala’s oldest neighborhoods, Guardia Vieja, are filled with people and the sound of fireworks being set off. People also decorate the outside of their houses with images of Mary.

7. Istanbul, Turkey

Photo: Turkey Photo/Shutterstock

The Orthodox version of Epiphany celebrations, in contrast, involves stripping down to swimming trunks and diving into the icy water, such as the Golden Horn in Istanbul. Participants aim to retrieve a wooden crucifix that has been thrown in by the priest. It’s believed that catching the cross will bring health and prosperity, and hopefully protect from pneumonia.

8. Prague, Czech Republic

Swimming in cold water is a recurring theme when it comes to Epiphany celebrations. In Prague, participants in the Three Kings Swim dive into the Vltava River alongside the Charles Bridge. Many arrive in just their swimming trunks (and crowns for the Three Kings) and wait in the snow to be taken by boat out onto the river. If you participate, you receive a certificate and tons of hot spiced rum cider afterward.

9. Kalofer, Bulgaria

Photo: GEORGID/Shutterstock

In Bulgaria, the icy water dip goes one step further. Before the priest throws the cross into the water, a band of pipers and drummers jump in and begin to play. People also dance around in big circles in the water. Because the water is so cold, participation in the band is naturally considered to be a great display of strength and honor.

10. Russia

Cold water is also a vital part of Russian Epiphany celebrations. It’s thought that on this day the water becomes holy and is imparted with certain powers. Across the country, people cut crucifix-shaped holes in frozen lakes. The water is blessed and then the participants take a dip, traditionally three times to signify the Holy Trinity. The custom has become so popular that some lakes have lifeguards on duty.

11. Mexico

Photo: Playa del Carmen/Shutterstock

If jumping into icy water doesn’t sound appealing, then eating cake in Mexico might. Here, a sweet bread decorated with candied fruit called rosca de reyes is prepared. It’s shaped in a ring to resemble a crown, and inside there’s a little figure of baby Jesus. He’s hidden in the cake to represent the hiding of baby Jesus from King Herod.


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The post A guide to the most fascinating Epiphany celebrations around the world appeared first on Matador Network.

JetBlue two-day sale

Sometimes, the holidays can exhaust you before they’ve even arrived, and you may already be looking forward to 2019. JetBlue is helping you start the new year off strong by offering some insane flight deals. Valid for travel from January 8th through March 27th, one-way fares go as low as $34. Deals are available to cities all across the country, but also to sunny destinations perfect for a winter vacay, like the Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. Here are a few of the best values.

Long Beach, CA to San Jose, CA for $34
Orlando, FL to Atlanta, GA for $44
Las Vegas, NV to Long Beach, CA for $54
New York, NY to Boston, MA for $64
Fort Lauderdale, FL to Havana, Cuba for $99
Washington, DC to Nassau, Bahamas for $169

There are tons of destinations on JetBlue’s official sale site, so make sure you look through all the options to find your ideal winter getaway. To take advantage of these deals, you’ll have to move fast. The sale ends tonight at 11:59 PM ET.

H/T: Thrillist

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Traveling to Elista

On my journey from Murmansk, Russia, to Kerman, Iran, Kalmykia’s capital city of Elista wasn’t a destination I had planned on visiting, but merely a stop that appeared convenient on the map as I tried to reach the Georgian border before my visa expired.

The Republic of Kalmykia is a region surrounded by barren flatlands and located between the southern provinces, where ethnic tensions have caused decades of armed conflict, the Caspian Sea, and the rest of Russia. Descendants of the Oirats, the westernmost group of nomadic Mongols, Kalmyk people traveled across the Volga River in search of pasture lands in the early part of the 17th century, ultimately settling in this region after Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich allowed the formation of an autonomous government in exchange for protection against enemies coming from the east. Kalmykia became the home to the largest Buddhist community in Europe, with about 150,000 followers considering the Dalai Lama as their leader.

Elista, a city of white stupas, saffron-colored prayer wheels, and golden Buddha statues, is poorly connected to the rest of Russia. There are few trains that travel here and minivans come and go, leaving a cloud of dust behind. I arrived in the station north of town much later than anticipated, and found myself in a silent expanse of concrete populated only by sleepy taxi drivers parked around a very quiet kvass stall. Not much seemed to happen here, a conclusion reinforced by the fact that I was the only guest in the hotel I had booked, a yellow structure built of metal panels attached to a petrol station. While walking down one of the main roads, I found little more than empty convenience stores. At a roundabout devoid of traffic, a shrine peeked out among hundreds of prayer flags, a fading rainbow of fabric squares quivering in the wind. A larger temple emerged down the road, a mile away or so, reflecting the sun rays that had intruded from behind rain-swollen clouds.

The resplendent rooftop of the Golden Abode of the Buddha Shakyamuni is visible from a distance and helps people orient themselves in the city. Elista’s centerpiece was built in 2005 where a factory once stood and opened its doors to Buddhist followers a year after receiving the blessing of the 14th Dalai Lama in 2004.

The Tibetan temple, a 207-foot tall structure, contains the largest Buddha statue in Europe. Other than being the main attraction in Elista, the Golden Abode of the Buddha Shakyamuni also represents a small victory for Kalmyk people, a group that suffered from persecution because of their beliefs. During the opening ceremony, on December 27th, 2005, President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov dedicated the temple to the victims of Soviet oppression. The date was not coincidental, as it corresponded to the beginning of Kalmyk New Year, but also to the anniversary of the 1943 Kalmyk mass deportations.

Following a decade-long, anti-religious campaign on the part of the USSR, almost 100,000 Kalmyks, as well as Russians married to Kalmyks, were deported to Siberia over the course of four days in December 1943 during “Operation Ulusy.” Despite the fact that a large number of Kalmyks were fighting in the Red Army, Stalin had accused them of helping the Nazis during the invasion of Kalmykia in 1942. Nearly a fifth of the Kalmyks deported died in labor camps. Those who survived were allowed to return to their land only 13 years later, after Khrushchev rose to power in 1955 and denounced Stalin’s actions.

Despite its status as the largest Buddhist community in Europe, Elista’s small claim to fame is mostly due to its odd status as the world capital of chess. The Chess City building, a glass-domed, grandiose structure created to host the 33rd Olympiad and subsequent championships, was President Ilyumzhinov’s idea, a famous chess player himself, who decided to turn one of Europe’s most isolated and underdeveloped regions into a landmark for chess enthusiasts worldwide.

Formerly a land attractive to herdsmen for its fertility, the Kalmyk Steppe has become a region dry and extremely poor in natural resources due to intensive agricultural activity. Livestock raising, however, is still what a large amount of the population relies on to survive and the investment of millions of dollars in the president’s hobbies has not been without controversy.

On the square that bears his name, Vladimir Lenin salutes, almost hidden behind the grand pagoda and its prayer wheel. At night, red neon lights illuminate the Buddhist structure, while the former leader almost disappears completely. The Kalmyks are slowly taking back their autonomy, although their land has little left to offer.


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The post Visiting the beautiful city of Elista, Russia, the largest Buddhist community in Europe appeared first on Matador Network.

Winter trip to Tofino, Canada photos

1

We arrive on Canada’s Vancouver Island by ferry, and the drive to Tofino does not disappoint. The sun begins to dip below the tree line as we cruise along Highway 4, stopping at small roadside pull-offs to take in the ever-changing view.

2

We do some research and find the Crystal Cove Beach Resort, the perfect beachside campground. We arrive just after sunset and wander along the ocean’s edge, exploring the rugged shoreline.

3

The following day, after a breakfast of oatmeal with granola at our campground, we make our way down to the beach. An early morning cloud bank begins to give way to blue skies, and we stroll barefoot in the crisp air along the crashing waves.

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4

Sandy beaches and a lack of such dangers as reefs or sharks make Tofino an ideal place to learn to surf. As an adult female who had never surfed, I’d felt intimidated. After some research, I’d found Surf Sister, a female-led company that teaches both men and women not just technique but also explains swells and wave formation. They make us feel more comfortable and ensure we have a blast, teaching us that the ocean brings us gifts, and we just need to work for them.

5

Tofino is known for marine wildlife, so we decide on sea kayaking as an early afternoon fog moves in. We pick up paddles and head into the Clayoquot Sound with a guide from Tofino Sea Kayaking who knew every bird flying overhead, fish swimming below, and mountain in the distance. In a place filled with adventure companies, we were excited to find a local company that offered not only fun but also the chance to learn more in-depth about the place we were exploring.

6

With 200 days of rain a year, Tofino and the surrounding landscape are covered in both edible and poisonous mushrooms. We’ve never gone mushroom picking, so when the opportunity comes up we head into the wilderness. We learn the right way to harvest them and search for chanterelles, edible fungi that are a golden yellow and look like something from another world.

7

Tofino has no short supply of breathtaking places to watch an ocean sunset. We head to Long Beach with a packed picnic basket and munch on cheese and fruit as the sun dips below the horizon, taking the warmth of day with it.

8

We decide to splurge on an oceanside hotel and find the Long Beach Lodge, which we quickly realize is the ultimate cold water surf spot. With beachside rooms, we can put on wetsuits next to a fireplace in our room and walk out our back door less than 50 feet to Cox Bay, one of Tofino’s popular surf spots. Mid-session we warm up by a fire on their porch. I realize our research paid off with great pre- and post-surf comfort, something I definitely need while learning to surf in the not-so-tropical waters of Canada.

9

A surfer, board under his arm, looks at the waves. They waves directly out front look a little disorganized, but there are some better rollers to surf to his left.

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10

After surfing all morning, we eat lunch and decide to explore one of the many trails Tofino has to offer. We head to the Tonquin Trail, which meanders along the coast and through sweet smelling pine forests, taking in the island on our last day in Tofino.

11

Tofino has a rich cultural heritage dating back thousands of years. At the Kwisitis Visitor Centre, we explore some of the shops selling traditional artwork and sculptures. There are also culture walks with First Nationals interpretation, paddle trips in a First Nations dugout canoe, and other ways to immerse yourself in the rich history of this area.

12

As a fishing village, Tofino has wonderful seafood. Tucked into a beautiful marina and sitting on large stilts over the water we discovered 1909 Kitchen, a hidden gem with views of the surrounding mountains juxtaposed by the incredible calm of the water reflecting the evening light. We sipped wine and ate freshly caught seafood as we watched fisherman through porthole windows. We couldn’t imagine a better way to spend our last night in Tofino.

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The post How to have the perfect winter trip in Tofino, Canada appeared first on Matador Network.

Best ice skating rinks outside NYC

Much like with great pizza and bad taxi drivers, Christmastime ice skating isn’t limited to New York City. Sure, many of us grew up watching images of people gleefully gliding by in the background of The Today Show and thought, “Man, if only I was willing to pay three-quarters of my paycheck in rent, I, too, could have a scenic outdoor place to ice skate!” But you don’t have to — cities around the country have gotten into the urban skating game, as have national parks and even some beachfront hotels. Here are a dozen rinks around the country that are right up there with Rockefeller Center, and sometimes even better.

Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval — Roseville, Minnesota

Photo: Explore Minnesota

Not that it’s exactly an item on many people’s bucket list, but if you go to the Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval, you’ll have the honor of putting your blades on the largest artificial skating surface in North America. This 111,000-square-foot concrete slab stays frozen even when temperatures reach the 50s thanks to 84 miles of underground piping (take THAT, global warming). This time of year, the trees surrounding it are decked out in their Christmas finest, creating a brightly lit winter wonderland you would hardly believe existed if you came in the summer for inline hockey.

Alex and Ani City Center — Providence, Rhode Island

Photo: Alex and Ani City Center

The ice arena at the Alex and Ani City Center juts into the middle of the Providence skyline, and it’s probably best known for its ice bumper cars, a winter tradition that’s become the holiday signature of Rhode Island’s largest city. But even if you can’t score a bumper car, this picturesque rink is worth a few spins on the skates. The ice is set right in the shadow of the city’s two most iconic buildings: the Industrial National Bank Building and the Biltmore Hotel.

Siskiyou Ice Rink — Redding, California

Photo: Siskiyou Ice Rink

When you have some of the most majestic natural scenery in America, you don’t need a big city skyline for a stunning skate setting. The Siskiyou Ice Rink is a little municipal spot that sits under the watchful eye of Mount Shasta, a couple of hours up Interstate 5 from Sacramento, California. The rink is regulation NHL size and offers skate camps, daily lessons, and even adult hockey leagues during the winter.

Puddle Duck Pond — Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Photo: Strawbery Banke Museum/Facebook

Nothing says “pastoral winter in New England” like skating by 32 historic buildings under a narrow church steeple somewhere in rural New Hampshire. You’ll get that quintessential northern feel at the Strawbery Banke Museum, a 10-acre spot dedicated to preserving the history of the Portsmouth waterfront. Each winter, the museum sets up a rink on Puddle Duck Pond in the heart of its historic core, allowing skaters to feel as if they’re gliding through the colonial era.

Hotel Coronado — San Diego, California

Photo: Hotel del Coronado

Just because you choose to spend your Christmas vacation under palm trees draped in Christmas lights doesn’t mean you should miss out on the skating excitement. At least, not if you stay at the stately Hotel Coronado along the shores of San Diego. Here, you’ll find the annual Skating by the Sea event that brings a little piece of winter to Southern California. You can skate by the sunset, and when the weather gets “cold,” bundle up against those upper-50s wind chills next to your very own fire pit at Frostbite, the hotel’s rinkside lounge.

Beaver Creek Mountain Resort — Beaver Creek, Colorado

Photo: Beaver Creek Mountain/Facebook

Though Beaver Creek Mountain Resort isn’t the only ski resort in Colorado to put a rink in its village, the setting here is the most scenic. The village sits at the base of 1,800 acres of trails, where fireworks shows at night and couches around the rink during the day make it the picture of ski resort ice-skating fun. Did we mention it serves cookies at 3:00 PM every day too? It kind of makes the pretzel stands outside of Rockefeller Center look a little lacking, doesn’t it?

Eclipse Lagoon — Rockford, Illinois

Photo: Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

One might think December is the wrong month to visit botanical gardens in Illinois. But leave it to the people of Rockford, Illinois, to find a way to make the Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens a legitimate attraction during the winter. The frozen-over Eclipse Lagoon is surrounded by the lush vegetation of the garden, and though it doesn’t offer skate rentals, if you bring your own the rink is free to use for skating or, on the north part of the lagoon, ice hockey.

Half Dome Village Ice Rink — Yosemite National Park, California

Photo: Yosemite National Park/Facebook

You’d be hard pressed to beat the view from this rink, where winter skating has been a tradition since the 1920s. The Half Dome Village Ice Rink sits at the base of the famous Half Dome rock face, one of the most iconic scenes from our national parks. And it’s perhaps the country’s greatest natural landmark to have its own skating rink. It isn’t the easiest to get to, and during some seasons it can require an icy drive into the mountains, but you’re rewarded with not only skating under an incredible view but also rinkside fire pits.

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink — Washington, DC

Photo: Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock

No matter how divided things are, the holidays stand as a time to put aside differences and agree on the most important things in life — like laughing at people who can’t ice skate. And no matter one’s position in Washington, DC, we can all get together on the Sculpture Park Garden Ice Rink just outside the Roman pillars of the National Gallery of Art and enjoy a good laugh at the expense of an uncoordinated parent trying to spend quality time with their kids.

Boston Common Frog Pond — Boston, Massachusetts

Photo: The Boston Common Frog Pond/Facebook

Don’t think too hard about what happens to the poor frogs when the famous Boston Common Frog Pond freezes over in the winter and turns into a skating rink. Instead, enjoy the snow-covered trees of one of the nation’s best urban parks as you skate under the Boston skyline before grabbing a cup of cocoa in the Frog Lodge. We’d mention USA Today named it the best outdoor skating rink in the US last year, but there’ll be plenty of people at the rink wearing Patriots beanies who will be happy to tell you themselves.

Wells Fargo WinterSkate — St. Paul, Minnesota

Photo: Wells Fargo WinterSkate

Minnesota’s capital city often gets overlooked because of its location next to the Super Bowl-hosting twin in Minneapolis. But the Wells Fargo WinterSkate showcases St. Paul’s charm and architecture in a way that provides a whole new appreciation for the city. The colorful rink lights up the gothic Landmark Center all winter long. On the off chance you’re the one person in Minnesota who doesn’t know how to ice skate, the rink offers free lessons on Saturdays.

MassMutual Ice Rink — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Photo: PPG Place/Facebook

Much like Pittsburgh’s skyline might be the most underrated in the country, so might its sprawling downtown ice rink, MassMutual Ice Rink. It’s one of the longest-running rinks in America — open from November 16 to March 6 – and sits under the castle-like spires of PPG place like an urban ice palace. There’s a Christmas tree right in the middle, and the rink is nearly 67 percent larger than the one at Rockefeller Center and offers 700 pairs of skates to rent. It even hosts a weekly Skate with Santa event all through December.


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The post The best American rinks to skate at this Christmas — that aren’t in New York appeared first on Matador Network.

Coziest bars in NYC during winter

Winter in New York City is no joke, and while you can have fun outside in the cold weather, you’re going to have to warm up sometime. NYC has myriad spaces where you can do exactly that, but there’s no better way to warm up than being indoors with a drink in hand. Unfortunately, that list is quite large and filled with places that are too open, too loud, and too commercialized. But lucky for you, there are also a ton of cozy places where you can have an intimate and relaxing experience. Here’s our list of the eight coziest bars for a winter drink.

1. DTUT Cafe

Photo: DTUT/Facebook

S’mores and beer are two universal likes, and combining the two is an act of genius. Located on the Upper East Side, DTUT is a cozy bar where you can make your own s’mores or indulge in some fondue. The craft beer menu is extensive, so we recommend trying something off that list, but there are cocktails and a number of wines, as well. DTUT even supports local and independent artists with all its mugs being handmade, using custom-made furniture, and displaying local art on the walls. If you want an unpretentious spot where you can kick back alone or with friends without being bothered, DTUT is for you.

Where: 1744 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10128

2. At The Wallace

The uptown area may not be where you’d want to go if you’re looking for a night of clubbing and bar hopping, but it’s definitely the place to be if you want to have a fun lowkey night and a few drinks. At The Wallace is quirky through and through, from the games (such as Trouble, Jenga, Operation, and Connect 4) to the decor (think lampshade over a fishnet-covered leg) to the drinks (like the Yoo Whiskey Hoo and alcoholic coffee slushie). It’s also known for its deliciously greasy eats, ranging from the Grilly Cheesesteak to the Wake N’ Bake hotdog.

Where: 3612 Broadway, New York, NY 10031

3. Lucky Dog

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Cheap drinks and dogs are two more additions on the list of things people like, and at this chill, dog-friendly dive, you get both. Lucky Dog is small, so seating may be hard to come by on a Friday or Saturday night, but you won’t feel crowded. While you may not be rubbing elbows with people, you’ll definitely feel a few furry friends run around your legs. Six dollar pints, $7 shot-and-beer combos, and $15 pitchers will ease the load on your wallet while you play with human’s best friend.

Where: 303 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

4. Union Hall

Whether you’re an avid reader, a fan of the written word, or not, Union Hall will make you feel right at home with its library-like decor and aesthetic. It spans two floors with a bar, restaurant, performance space, two indoor bocce courts, and an outdoor garden. You’ll feel most comfortable and cozy on the first floor where the library bar and fireplaces are. To be able to enjoy your drinks and avoid any possibility of crowds, try to visit during the daytime.

Where: 702 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

5. Molly’s

Photo: Molly’s Shebeen/Facebook

There’s nothing cozier than a pub. Molly’s is authentic and non-touristy without any gimmicks — there’s even sawdust on the floor. The space operated as a bar since 1895 until Prohibition, when it then was used as a grocery store. After Prohibition was repealed, it became the pub locals know and love today. It’s open for brunch, lunch, and dinner, and you can’t go wrong with the typical pub fare and Irish food on the menu. It’s the perfect place to take a load off with a pint or two, have conversations with friends, and maybe even make some new ones.

Where: 287 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010

6. Camp

Camp is a small bar in Brooklyn where you’ll feel like you’re inside of mix between a log cabin and ski lodge, with wooden and brick walls, a fireplace, and leather furniture. The menu includes standard beers and cocktails, as well as winter-themed tipples like mulled wine and chocolate-infused drinks. For just $16, you can get a large platter of s’mores supplies to roast your own marshmallows. Board games are available to patrons — but no hot tub, though.

Where: 179 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

7. The Last Word

Photo: The Last Word/Facebook

Speakeasies are intimate and cozy affairs by their very reason of existence. Prohibition banned the consumption of alcohol, so many places had to operate covertly lest they be caught by the police and put out of business. There are several still-functioning speakeasies from that time, but they’ve become so popular that imitations — bars operating in a speakeasy-style — open up all the time.

The Last Word is an example of that, but it doesn’t try to lure you in under false pretences. While it did open in the back of a fake store, you can now walk along Ditmars Boulevard and spot the storefront and awning clearly displaying the bar’s name. The leather chairs and brick walls will give you that speakeasy vibe, and the weekly live jazz only adds to the experience. Its signature drink, The Last Word, is made up of London dry gin, green chartreuse, maraschino, and lime.

Where: 31-30 Ditmars Blvd, Queens, NY 11105

8. William Barnacle Tavern

William Barnacle Tavern has all the history but none of the excessive fuss and frills other speakeasies tend to deal with. The intimate St. Mark’s Place locale dates back to the 17th century and has gone from speakeasy to absinthe bar. While it deals mainly with different brands of the green fairy, there are beers available. We recommend trying an absinthe sour for $10 and watching as the bartender prepares your drink in the traditional way of placing a spoon with a sugar cube over the glass, lighting the cube on fire, and then pouring the liquid on top.

Feltman’s of Coney Island has partnered with WBT to serve its famous hot dogs, which you can order inside. On its right is Theatre 80, a performing arts venue where you can catch plays, stand-up comedy, musical acts, and even immersive shows.

Where: 80 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003


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The post New York City’s 8 coziest bars for a winter drink appeared first on Matador Network.

Where to eat in Australia’s Fleurieu

If you talk about foodie hotspots in Australia with anyone, you’ll likely hear the same recommendations repeated over and over again. In Victoria, Melbourne reigns supreme as the country’s culinary capital, while destinations like the Tasmanian capital of Hobart and the lush hills of the Byron Hinterlands are also attracting increasing numbers of food-loving visitors every year.

What you won’t hear people talk much about is South Australia. The region barely gets a look-in (with the obvious exception of the Adelaide Central Market). People don’t know what they’re missing out on, because it’s here that you’ll find one of Australia’s most underrated foodie destinations: the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Just a 45-minute drive south of Adelaide, the Fleurieu Peninsula is better known for surfing and wine than it is for food. The rugged coastline is pummeled by swell all year round, while the vineyards have attracted the wine world’s attention. Along with the better-known aspects, the Fleurieu has long functioned as the garden of South Australia. Here, you can grow far more than just grapes with the Mediterranean climate and sun-facing hills. Drive across the peninsula and you’ll see for yourself; olive and almond groves roll over the hillsides, cherry and apple trees line winding rural roads, and dairy cattle graze on sprawling pastures.

The abundance of everything local is at the heart of the food scene across the peninsula, which has been growing steadily since 2002, when the Fleurieu town of Willunga became the first in South Australia to host a farmers market. Fast-forward 16 years and the market now hosts 80 farmers and artisan food producers from across the region every week, while markets have also sprung up in the neighboring towns of Victor Harbor and Myponga.

Photo: Willunga Farmers Market/Facebook

It’s hard not to be inspired by all of the local food available. Over the past few years, a number of restaurants and cafes have taken that inspiration and run with it, adding regional and seasonal dishes to the menu. Against the backdrop of the region’s reputation for world-class wineries, a growing number of artisan breweries like Goodieson and distilleries like McLaren Vale Distillery are opening as well, creating beverages and spirits that embody the wide variety of flavors the Fleurieu Peninsula has to offer.

It’s conflicting to give away the secrets of an underrated food destination. So many places can lose their charm when swarmed by tourists, and it’s easy to feel like you should hide your favorite places rather than share the wealth of food knowledge. For the Fleurieu Peninsula, however, it’s about to be too late for secrets. A book called Faces and Food of the Fleurieu was published in 2018 that details 80 of the best restaurants and cafes in the area. It’s not getting the same attention as other Australian food destinations like Perth, but with food like the kind you can find on the Fleurieu Peninsula, it surely won’t be long before people take note.

Here are four foodie favorites from across the Fleurieu to visit before the rest of the Australia foodie crowd catches on.

The best food and drink on the Fleurieu Peninsula

Photo: Star of Greece/Facebook

Star of Greece in Port Willunga: You can’t get much closer to the beach than at Star of Greece. The fish is caught on boats you can see from the restaurant, and the food is complemented by an extensive wine selection. Star of Greece lets you be the judge on whether you want to have something simple and ingredient-focused, or a dish that’s been gussied up some. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

Thunderbird in Port Elliot: Just a few streets back from the postcard-pretty beach at Horseshoe Bay, this wine bar might be a relatively new addition to the quaint town of Port Elliot, but it’s already a big hit with locals. Alongside an impressive selection of regional, national, and international wines, the tapas-style menu celebrates the core flavors that characterize the peninsula. The calamari comes with squid ink mayo, and the mushroom and thyme croquettes are sprinkled with porcini dust. It’s on the higher end price-wise, but it’s simple food done remarkably well.

Photo: Pipi at Middleton/Facebook

Pipi in Middleton: Situated in the surfing town of Middleton, the atmosphere at this family-run cafe is as relaxed as its patrons. The vibe is a stark contrast to the ambitious menu, which features a veritable smorgasbord of the region’s best produce. Choose from a range of healthy homemade mueslis (oats mixed with fresh fruit), jazzed-up classic brunch staples (the bacon and egg burger with tomato chili jam is a local favorite), or the cafe’s namesake pipis (a type of clam). Wash your food down with either fresh juice or a cup of De Groot coffee that’s roasted just down the road. Be sure to buy a jar of its chili jam to spice up your bacon sarnies at home before you leave.

Fleurieu Distillery in Goolwa: Originally run as a brewery, the Fleurieu Distillery released its first whisky in November 2016. Earlier this year, Rivers’ End whisky won the award for Best International Whisky at the American Distilling Institute Awards — a pretty impressive achievement for a distillery based in a small town on the banks of the River Murray. It’s here that each cask is matured on the water’s edge for at least three and a half years, giving every bottle a subtle aroma of sea breeze to it, blended with hints of vanilla, maple, and black currant. Well worth a visit, and definitely worth a taste.


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Massive waves hammer California

It might sound like a surfer’s dream, but it could actually prove to be their nightmare. An unusual “high surf warning” was in effect from Sonoma County through Monterey County on Monday, due to massive waves breaking along the Central California coast. Some waves even reached heights of 30 to 40 feet. While the waves in Southern California aren’t quite so massive, they’re still expected to reach around 12 feet.

Current check on the buoys continues to show a long period swell impacting the waters. ⚠️ HIGH SURF WARNING ⚠️ goes through 9 PM along the coast. DO NOT APPROACH THE SHORELINE TODAY — breakers of 30-40 feet

World’s most sung-about cities

Anyone who listens to music regularly knows that songs are often inspired by specific places that are meaningful to the artist. These songs can become popular anthems for the cities themselves, and an expression of pride and community. There’s no doubt, however, that some cities lend themselves to the musical treatment more than others. Celebrity Cruises gathered data on all of the songs based on a real-life location, and used it to create an interactive map. The research analyzed the lyrics of top-charting singles since the 1960s, and organized the information by artist, genre, and decade, so users can easily see which locations, and which decades and genres, are the most popular.

To learn which cities have the most song mentions, Celebrity Cruises analyzed the lyrics of over 200,000 songs that have been in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Singles charts since 1960. It scanned lyrics for any mention of cities, towns, neighborhoods, and states. The result was over 2,000 songs by 897 different artists, with a total of 422 places mentioned around the world.

Photo: Celebrity Cruises

Dr. Job Steward, popular music expert and course leader at the British Institute of Modern Music Institute in Brighton, said in a statement, “Music is inevitably tied to location — who could imagine The Beach Boys without references to California? Without the geographical touchpoints found in Britpop, it simply wouldn’t make sense. And, how would the blues, country, and rock and roll genres be received if they were stripped of all connections to the geography and politics of the American deep south that inspired them?”

If you feel like songs about New York are getting a bit repetitive, you’re not alone. New York City is the most sung-about city in the world, as the subject of 161 songs. London comes in second, with 102 songs, followed by Los Angeles, Paris, and Miami, with 87, 52, and 46 songs respectively. You can also apply filters to the map to learn about whatever genres interest you, including rock, R&B, hip-hop, pop, electronic, country, jazz, reggae, and disco.

To see the full interactive map, and browse individual cities, check out Celebrity Cruises’ website.


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