Matador Network's Blog, page 1202

Human heart found aboard Southwest

This is the definition of a heart-stopping flight. When the crew of a Southwest Airlines flight on Sunday discovered a cargo shipment containing a human heart, the flight was forced to turn around. The plane had been en route to Dallas from Seattle when the organ was discovered. It had been left on the plane from a previous flight from Sacramento and was supposed to be offloaded and delivered to a hospital in Seattle before takeoff. Thanks to a baggage mix-up, this never happened. In order to make sure the heart reached the hospital — and ultimately, the intended patient — in time, the pilot made the difficult decision to turn the plane around mid-flight.

Given the life-or-death consequences of the situation, it would be difficult for passengers to get too angry about the course change. Hearts are only usable for transplants within a small window of a few hours, so turning the plane around was an absolute necessity. When the plane landed back in Seattle, however, mechanical issues caused it to be taken out of service, requiring even further delays. At last, after a five-hour total delay, a separate plane was brought in to complete the trip to Dallas.

Southwest Airlines apologized to passengers in a statement. “We sincerely regret the inconvenience to the customers impacted by the delay,” said a spokesperson for the airline, “and we are following up with them with a gesture of goodwill to apologize for the disruption to their travel. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers and the safe delivery of the precious cargo we transport every day.”

H/T: BuzzFeed News

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What is Crashed Ice?

It might not be an Olympic year, but you can still get your fix of crazy winter sports. Downhill ice cross might be the most extreme winter sport you’ve never heard of. It’s basically snowboard cross except with ice skates on a track of ice. Decked out in protective hockey gear, athletes race up to 50 mph down a precipitous course filled with hairpin turns, hills, and vertical drops.

Crashed Ice, the sport’s biggest world tour, is created and managed by Red Bull, and it debuted in the United States in 2012 in St. Paul, Minnesota. St. Paul has long been the event’s home with Crashed Ice regularly drawing over 120,000 fans, but though a sensation in Minnesota, it’s relatively unknown throughout the rest of the country. That won’t last long. This February, the East Coast will get a crash course in Crashed Ice when the sport debuts in Boston.

Photo: Armin Walcher/Red Bull Content Pool

Photo: Armin Walcher/Red Bull Content Pool

As you’d expect from any sport associated with Red Bull, Crashed Ice is pretty insane. The race begins with four skaters standing atop a 72-foot drop then hurling themselves down the steep ramp at astonishing speeds. Todd Walker, who frequently covered the sport for FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, describes it as “a thrilling event like nothing you have seen before. Athletes approach the course maneuvering hairpin turns while taking air over insane vertical drops. Ice cross downhill brings together some of the top men and women skaters in the world.”

Photo: Armin Walcher/Red Bull Content Pool

Photo: Armin Walcher/Red Bull Content Pool

Photo: Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool

For Cameron Naasz, Crashed Ice World Champion in 2016 and 2017, the “size of the courses, large crowds, and high speeds make the sport what it is.” Indeed, the adrenaline factor is one of the main reasons fans and athletes alike fell in love with the sport. “The closest comparison,” Naasz tells Matador Network, “is the feeling you get when you’re skiing and go straight down the hill as fast as you can, and you think you may fall at any moment.”

Last week, Crashed Ice made its Asian debut in Yokohama, Japan, drawing a huge crowd of curious onlookers. Tasheki Yasutoko, a vert skating X-games veteran turned Crashed Ice competitor, told the Japan Times, “The first time I saw it, it looked crazy. I felt like it was really intense and physical because of the speed. But once I got involved, I saw there were a lot of intricate details.”

Photo: Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool

Photo: Jason Halayko/Red Bull Content Pool

While the sport’s US popularity has been mostly contained to Minnesota, Crashed Ice is poised to have a huge 2019 with its move to Boston — a city known for its grittier, more physical approach to athletics. Naasz laments the departure from St. Paul, saying Minnesota families have even reached out to him “via social media to let me know how bummed they are, and how they had come to make it an annual event for the family.” He is, however, excited and optimistic about the prospects of a Boston expansion. “I think the move to an amazing venue like Fenway Park is a huge step in the right direction for the sport.”

Photo: Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool

Crashed Ice will make its Boston debut on February 8-9 in Fenway Park. To catch the action yourself, you can book tickets here.


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Island in the Falklands is for sale

Penguins might be your favorite animal, but visiting them in their natural habitat is unfortunately pretty tough. Now, however, you can actually own one of those natural habitats, as long as you have a proclivity for farming and don’t mind shelling out some serious cash. Pebble Island, one of the Falkland Islands, is home to five species of penguins — as well as 42 species of birds and sea lions, 6,000 sheep, and 125 cattle — and its owners are putting it on the market. No one has lived there permanently since the 1950s, and the Dean family has decided to sell the island after 150 years of ownership. “It’s an amazing place,” said Sam Harris, the great-great-grandson of the original buyer. “Unfortunately, it’s just become too hard to manage.”

Photo: Steve Allen/Shutterstock

The island — the third largest offshore island in the Falklands — is 20 miles long and four miles wide with a small mountain range, lakes, cliffs, and a pebble beach. In addition to the penguin population, it’s also home to a sheep farm, several lodges which accommodate tourists, and a wind turbine and solar panels for power generation. It’s also the site of the first land-based action of the 1982 Falklands War.

Photo: Gillian Santink/Shutterstock

While the Harris family doesn’t live on the island permanently, they do visit occasionally. “My wife, Lowri, and I went there in 2011,” said Harris, “and we had a close affinity with it. We talked about living there and taking over the hospitality side of the island.” Ultimately, however, the Harris family decided they’re ready to pass the island along to the next steward. They would like it to be owned by someone with a farming background since, according to Harris, “We want it to be developed and go to someone who will really care for it.”

Because the Harris family has owned the island for so long, no valuation estimate is possible, but they are open to offers.

H/T: BBC News

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Best breweries in Chicago for winter

Winter in Chicago can be long and dreary. Luckily, there’s beer to wash those winter blues away. Even luckier, the city is full of great breweries so you can enjoy your beer at its absolute freshest. Best of all, when you’re ready to head home and crawl under a blanket, you can grab a growler to go and enjoy that beer with your Netflix. From brewpubs with haute cuisine created to pair perfectly with the beer to simple tap rooms that let you bring in your own food, here are the 12 best Chicago breweries to hide out in this winter.

1. Half Acre Beer Company

Photo: Half Acre Beer Company/Facebook

Half Acre Beer Company is an OG of the Chicago craft brewing scene. A recent expansion means it now has two locations, one in North Center and another in Andersonville. Both have full kitchens doing solid food, and both have all their regular brews, plus lots of special releases and collaborations. It’s great being able to try all the limited release beers, but it can be hard to resist just ordering the classic Daisy Cutter Pale Ale.

2. Piece Brewery and Pizzeria

Photo: Piece Pizzeria & Brewery/Facebook

Piece in Wicker Park has been doing the same thing to near perfection since 2001. There’s not much better in the dead of winter than great beer and great pizza served in a warm and welcoming environment. Piece’s beers have been so solid for so long that people sometimes overlook them in favor of the shiny new beers on the Chicago scene. Don’t make that mistake. Piece has fantastic brews that have won plenty of prestigious awards.

3. Dovetail Brewery

Photo: Dovetail Brewery/Facebook

Beer drinkers who don’t go for the hoppy American styles will find a winter home at Dovetail Brewery in Ravenswood. Dovetail does well-crafted continental European styles with an emphasis on German and Central European brews. It doesn’t have a kitchen, but there are cheese plates, excellent German-style pretzels, and delicious landjäger — a dry German sausage — from the legendary Paulina Meat Market. You can also order in your own food.

4. DryHop Brewers

Photo: Dryhop Brewers/Facebook

People in the Lakeview neighborhood have been lucky enough to have the excellent DryHop Brewers as their local for over five years now. This small brewpub doesn’t distribute its beers, so the only way to try them is to go there for a pint. The kitchen does solid takes on classic bar food with appropriate amounts of creativity thrown in. Bitter beer lovers will swoon over the Shark Meets Hipster wheat IPA.

5. Revolution Brewing

Photo: Revolution Brewing/Facebook

Revolution Brewing is probably Chicago’s best-known microbrewery, and for good reason: It cranks out a lineup of beers that is consistently delicious, and its brewpub in Logan Square can always be counted on to serve up great food. It also always has a number of experimental beers for when the winter cabin fever has you feeling like trying something a little different. If you’re looking for something to warm you up, the Eugene Porter is a great winter beer.

6. Marz Community Brewing Co.

Photo: Marz Community Brewing/Facebook

For something totally different, check out Marz Community Brewing, a collective of different brewers who came together to brew for their community. Located west of Sox Park in Bridgeport on the Southside, this industrial space full of art, beer geeks, and great food is a perfect place to spend a cold winter day.

7. Temperance Beer Co.

Photo: Temperance Beer Co./Facebook

The anti-alcohol Temperance Movement that led to Prohibition began in the Chicago suburb of Evanston. How ironic that the name now belongs to an excellent craft brewery there. Temperance Beer Co. can always be counted on to serve up some of Chicago’s best beer. It serves light snacks and allows you to bring your own food in, and food trucks often make an appearance. The huge outdoor space hosts concerts and festivals in the summer, but the indoor area is pretty snug in the winter.

8. Band of Bohemia

Photo: Band of Bohemia/Facebook

If you’re feeling fancy and ready to splurge on a meal this winter, check out Band of Bohemia, the world’s first Michelin-starred brewpub. This place is a true gastropub with exquisite cuisine matched perfectly with exceptional beer. This is the next logical step in the craft brew revolution, and Band of Bohemia is the place to find it this winter.

9. Old Irving Brewing Co.

Photo: Old Irving Brewing Co./Facebook

If you love beer gardens (and who doesn’t?), winter can leave you longing. There are still options, though. Old Irving Brewing Co. on the Northwest side has an indoor beer garden. If you try really hard and drink enough, you can almost imagine it’s summer.

10. The Hopewell Brewing Co.

Photo: Hopewell Brewing Company/Facebook

Hopewell Brewing is a new brewpub in Logan Square that’s light and airy and a great place to spend a wintry day. The beer is great here, and while it doesn’t serve food, you can bring it in from outside. So, you can choose the food from any of Logan Square’s delicious restaurants, pair it with great beer, and enjoy it all in a perfect setting surrounded by other people happily pretending it’s not freezing and miserable outside.

11. 5 Rabbit Cerveceria

Photo: 5 Rabbit Cervecería/Facebook

5 Rabbit Cerveceria in Bedford Park southwest of the city is a Latin American-inspired brewery, and it does some great beers. Go on a Thursday when Angel, the taco guy, shows up to serve some banging tacos. Pair these with some of the unique beers, featuring flavors such as coffee, passionfruit, cafe con leche, and unrefined cane sugar. You’ll be so blissed out that you’ll forget you’re in Chicago winter.

12. Forbidden Root

Photo: Forbidden Root/Facebook

Forbidden Root is a restaurant that brews some very fine beers. By reaching back to the old traditions of using herbs, spices, and other botanicals in the brewing process, it can evoke unique flavors and emotions from its beer. It also springboards off those flavors into some unique and wonderful food pairing combinations. For a great pairing dinner, this is a very solid bet.


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Distilleries off the Bourbon Trail

Visiting the Kentucky bourbon distilleries is big business. Over the past couple of years, more than one million people have trekked to the Bluegrass State to drink bourbon from the source at the distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. And while there are plenty of solid distilleries on the official trail, you’re missing out if you don’t get off the beaten path. There are distilleries both large and small throughout the state that make some of the most sought-after whiskey in Kentucky. Veer off course and visit these seven non-trail distilleries, which make some of the best bourbons in all of Kentucky.

1. Buffalo Trace in Frankfort

Photo: Irina Mos/Shutterstock

If there’s one gleaming omission from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, it’s the venerable Buffalo Trace. It’s the oldest continuously operating distillery in Kentucky, and most whiskey connoisseurs are deeply familiar with the brand. During Prohibition, the distillery stayed open by brewing medicinal whiskey, which, like marijuana today, was legal in most places if prescribed. The sprawling campus at Buffalo Trace looks like it could have been lifted from rural Ireland, with old brick buildings set against rolling hills and steam pouring from chimneys. When you visit, take the Landmarks Tour. It takes you to places in the distillery that show why it was designated a national historic landmark and, of course, ends with a whiskey tasting.

2. Castle and Key in Frankfort

Photo: Castle & Key/Facebook

Right down the road from Buffalo Trace near Frankfort, you’ll find the coolest new distillery in the state at Castle and Key. As the name implies, the distillery is in a castle, which was developed by Buffalo Trace’s E.H. Taylor to be his grand showplace in 1887. The stunning, 113-acre estate changed hands over the years, and it sat dormant for decades up until it was purchased and rehabbed to its current glory in 2013. Though its whiskeys are still ageing, you can try Castle and Key’s gin and gin cocktails here.

3. James E. Pepper in Lexington

Photo: James E. Pepper Distillery/Facebook

To get a feel for the bustling, modern college town of Lexington, spend a night in its lively Distillery District. Once upon a time, Lexington was the hub for all bourbon distribution in the state, and the Distillery District was like the Wall Street of whiskey. After Prohibition, it never reclaimed that title, but it’s now a shopping and entertainment district that’s become the city’s center of young energy.

The James E. Pepper distillery is the best one to visit in the district. It was originally founded by the family behind Woodford Reserve, but the Lexington distillery shut down in the 1950s when the thirst for bourbon was at a low point. In 2008, it reopened and started selling whiskey that was originally distilled in Indiana under the name 1776. In December of 2017, the James E. Pepper brand started distilling its own whiskey in the Lexington distillery. Try the selection of 1776 whiskeys then, once your appetite is up, step next door to Middle Fork Kitchen and Bar for the best dinner in the city.

4. Barton 1792 in Bardstown

Photo: Barton 1792 Distillery/Facebook

Owned by the Sazerac Company, the same one that owns Buffalo Trace, Barton 1792 is set on 196 acres of Kentucky countryside near Bardstown. The year in the name is a tribute to when Kentucky joined the Union, and the distillery opened in 1879. The setting is best known for its Tom Moore Spring where the water for Barton 1792 whiskey is sourced. You can visit said spring on the 1792 Estate Tour, during which you’ll motor through the entire distilling process in the most comprehensive operations tour in the state. It also includes a stop at the self-recognized World’s Largest Whiskey Barrel and includes a free tasting at the end. This tour, as well as the Barton Tradition and Bushel to Bottle tours, are always free, and reservations for small groups or individuals aren’t even necessary.

5. Rabbit Hole in Louisville

Photo: Rabbit Hole Distillery/Facebook

There’s no shortage of urban distilleries in Louisville, but this massive (for a city, anyway) facility in the bustling NuLu district is a stellar example of how the city has progressed. Where distilleries across the state are steeped in Kentucky tradition and serve their bourbons straight up, this progressive urban space was founded by Chicago transplant Kaveh Zamanian and will ultimately offer inventive craft whiskey cocktails from the team behind New York City’s award-winning cocktail den Death & Company. The distillery offers daily tours with tastings held in a spacious events room called Overlook, which has panoramic views of the surrounding neighborhood.

6. Boundary Oak in Radcliffe

Photo: Boundary Oak Distillery, LLC/Facebook

Deep in the hills of Central Kentucky, you’ll find this distillery set right next to a calming waterfall. It gets its name from a 100-year-old oak tree that towers over the facility, marking the spot where an underground spring supplies the water for everything Boundary Oak produces. The tours here are short, simple, self-guided affairs that start with a movie and end with a tasting. At $8, it’s one of the best distillery values in the state, and the Kentucky Amber is a must try. Sip slowly on the brand’s jarred moonshines, though, because they have a kick that’ll stay with you long after you leave.

7. Michter’s in Louisville

Photo: Michter’s Distillery/Facebook

Bourbon tends to be a bit of a boys club. Pam Heilmann at Michter’s broke that mold as the first woman to be a master distiller at a Kentucky Distillers Association distillery since Prohibition. Michter’s doesn’t play this up, though, instead choosing to focus on its limited-production bourbons that are some of the most sought-after whiskeys around. The main facility in the Shively section of Louisville is not open to the public, unfortunately, but early in 2019, Michter’s will open a downtown distillery across from the Louisville Slugger Museum that’ll be available for tours and tastings. So if you’re planning a trip to Kentucky next year, it should be ready for you.


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The post The 7 best distilleries in Kentucky not on the Bourbon Trail appeared first on Matador Network.

GoT exhibit to open

The final season of Game of Thrones won’t be released until April, but when it is, it will be accompanied by an exhibit in Northern Ireland — the real-world backdrop of Westeros. Game of Thrones: The Touring Exhibition, is the largest Game of Thrones public exhibition in the world, and it’s slated to run in Belfast from April 11th to September 1st, 2019. The exhibition will feature immersive sets from the show, including the Kingsroad, Castle Black, the House of Black and White, the Throne Room, Meereen, and the frozen wasteland beyond the Wall. Visitors will also be able to see the authentic costumes and props used in the show up-close.

Photo: Game of Thrones: The Touring Exhibition

While the exhibition has previously toured elsewhere in Europe (it’s currently in Germany), this is the first time it will debut in the UK. Judith Owens, chief executive for TBL International — the studio’s management company — describes why Northern Ireland is the most fitting home for the exhibition. “There is no better place for the exhibition,” she said, “that celebrates the artistry and craftsmanship behind the Emmy award-winning series than Northern Ireland, the principle filming location, both in natural settings and within Titanic Studios.”

Photo: Game of Thrones: The Touring Exhibition

“People are already familiar with the world of Westeros,” said Robin Stapley of GES Events, which is responsible for the tour, “but this exhibition takes fans to the next level.”

Photo: Game of Thrones/Facebook

While the Belfast exhibition won’t last forever, HBO has confirmed that a permanent attraction in Northern Ireland will be built in 2019 to house the show’s famous sets.

The exhibition at TEC Belfast will cost between $19 and $22, with tickets available here.

H/T: Lonely Planet

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Amsterdam Light Festival happening

Paris might be dubbed “The City of Lights,” but until January 20th, 2019, Amsterdam will be giving it a run for its money with some pretty impressive luminous displays.

As part of the seventh annual Amsterdam Light Festival, which officially began last month, a variety of eye-catching light installations will be on display across the city. The festival’s theme this year is “The Medium is the Message” and the festival is featuring 30 displays in total, created by artists from around the world.

Photo: Amsterdam Light Festival/Facebook

Photo: Amsterdam Light Festival/Facebook

Some notable exhibits include the Two Lamps exhibition, designed by Jeroen Henneman, as well as Absorbed by Light by Gali May Lucas, a British artist. In a sharp commentary on technology dependence, Absorbed by Light features three figures sitting on a bench, heads bent down, their faces lit by smartphone screens. Visitors can even place themselves in the display, by sitting beside the figures. In Shadow Scapes by Marcus Neustetter, a South African artist, various objects from the Scheepvaartmuseum are recreated on the museum’s facade as flat, projected silhouettes.

Photo: Amsterdam Light Festival/Facebook

Sabrina Beek, head of digital marketing for the Amsterdam Light Festival, told Lonely Planet, “The reaction from the public has been great and extremely positive…there was even a message from a couple that got engaged underneath Starry Night, which we were overjoyed about. How many festivals can say they’ve played a tiny role in a couple’s happily ever after?”

Photo: Amsterdam Light Festival/Facebook

The diverse range of installations will be accessible via foot, bike, or boat, and for the first time in the festival’s history, visitors can vote on their favorite artwork to receive an award. For more information on the displays, or to book a guided tour, see the official website.

H/T: Lonely Planet

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The post This magical lights festival is illuminating Amsterdam appeared first on Matador Network.

Best natural beauty products

Long-haul flights and trekking through city streets is no excuse not to look your best. Though some prefer to rough it while they travel, others like to use their trips around the globe as an excuse to look their very best. After all, you never know who you’ll meet. We searched high and low for the very best natural beauty essentials for travelers. From non-liquid toiletries to travel-sized nap kits to eye creams that will make you feel brand new, these products will be your new favorite travel companions.

Wash the day away with cleansers for face, hair, and body.

Photo: Feather & Bone/Facebook

If you’re looking for the simplest facial cleanser out there — and the one that takes up the least amount of room in your luggage — check out Face Gems by Feather and Bone. They’re fingernail-sized face wash tablets made with just three all-natural ingredients: sandalwood, fuller’s earth clay, and cornstarch. Just “pop, drop, and wash it,” and then your face will be cleansed, exfoliated, and moisturized in one quick go. The Jet-Setter Pack — designed for travelers — is $9 for 10 tablets, but you can also try a pack of three for free.

Another favorite in the cleansing game are Beauty Bars ($4) by Tom’s of Maine. Designed to maintain your skin’s natural moisture, the Beauty Bars — free from artificial preservatives and ingredients — work to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth through the use of organic botanicals like coconut oil, raw shea butter, and Moroccan argan oils.

Shea Terra Organics captures the rejuvenating spirit of a Moroccan spa in the form of the Argan & Ghassool Shampoo + Spa Body Bar ($8), a multifunctional soap bar that can be used to clean your hair and body. It’s 100 percent natural; argan oil moisturizes and softens skin and hair, and silicone-rich ghassoul — which flows deep inside Morocco’s Atlas mountains — purifies your skin while cleansing and strengthening your hair.

Stay hydrated from head to toe with moisturizers.

Photo: Nomad O Y Y L/Facebook

Those prone to flight-induced dryness should carry a bottle of pure argan oil onboard to avoid painful cracking. The KENZA Pure Argan Oil ($35) by KENZA International Beauty is a good option because it serves a multitude of purposes: You can use it as a daily moisturizer on your face and body (it’s great for soothing sunburns) or apply it on your hair as a conditioner and moisture booster. You can also use KENZA’s Pure Fusion Oil ($10) as a daily moisturizer (it comes in travel-size roll-on form) or the roll-on Prickly Pear Seed Oil ($17) as a night serum.

Made with travelers in mind, Nomad OYYL ($68) is a 100 percent organic, all-in-one product that will keep your skin and lips hydrated on long flights, tame your tresses, and even remove mascara smudges after a mid-flight siesta. Its spicy scent, stemming from cardamom, is another perk, not to mention the fact that the packaging is airline-approved and can go anywhere with you. Best of all, Nomad OYYL is a company both owned and run by women. The oil’s organic ingredients even come with their own papers of origin upon request.

If you’re desperate for a full-body moisturizing session, Dream Cream ($30) by Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics is a rich and soothing lotion, especially if you’ve been out in the sun all day. Its main ingredient is oat milk, so it works well to cool and calm the skin, and it also contains lavender, chamomile, olive oil, and cocoa butter. It’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive and troubled of skin.

Replenish your skin on the go with the 1.7-ounce Hydra-Nourish Moisturizer ($20) by Natura Brasil, a sustainable beauty brand from the Amazon. Enriched with the antioxidant and emollient properties of vitamin E, rice peptides, and cupuaçu butter, this daily moisturizer strengthens your skin’s barrier system to help prevent moisture loss. The company’s super-fine dry body oil mist — available in açaí or castanha ($24) — is another great way to replenish your dry skin while on the run.

Photo: Herbal Dynamics Beauty/Facebook

Herbal Dynamics Beauty has a range of products to keep your skin feeling fresh and nourished. The company “harnesses the synergy of nature and science” to create a botanically-inspired product line free of additives like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. The Prickly Pear & Vitamin C Daily Face Moisturizer ($24) promotes youthful, even skin tone and helps protect from environmental stressors. For a power-packed overnight dose of hydration, the Hyaluronic Acid & Oat Overnight Recovery Mask ($30) will make you feel brand new. Apply it to your face before you settle in and recline your airplane seat, then wake up hydrated and supple afterward.

If you just need a small refreshing pick-me-up, give your skin a drink of Amazon Mist Rainforest Atmospheric Water, an ultra-hydrating facial spray. According to Amazource, makers of the facial water, “Amazon Mist is naturally formed together with the pristine oxygen and organic potassium released by the richest flora on earth.” The 2.5-ounce size ($9) can fit in your purse and won’t push the TSA’s liquid carry-on limits.

Lastly, don’t forget that even your hair needs hydration. The Kérastase Paris Aura Botanica all-natural line will do the trick. Pack the Masque Fondamental Riche ($20) for a self-applied salon-worthy treatment, or if you’re in a climate that’s humid enough on its own, Kérastase’s Lait de Soie blow dry milk ($20) smooths, nourishes, and controls frizz for up to 96 hours, even in 90 percent humidity (plus it offers thermal protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit to protect your hair while styling).

Freshen up with a spritz of toner.

Photo: Lush Cosmetics North America/Facebook

Getting groggy from time zone differences or waking up from a train-induced nap can leave you disheveled and sleepy. Spritz on a Breath of Fresh Air ($11) by Lush — this soothing seawater toner spray will give your tired face a quick refresh. Plus, no one wants to look greasy and unkempt after a long haul, so you can also dab a bit of Lush’s Grease Lightning ($16) onto oily areas for a matte finish. It’s a treatment gel for troubled, acne-ridden skin, but with its key ingredients — a soothing infusion of tea tree, rosemary, lavender, and aloe vera — it makes an ideal ointment to dab on insect bites, too.

Get a peaceful start to your morning with the travel-sized Rosewater Facial Toner ($15) by Luana Naturals. This lightly scented floral water is made with 100 percent organic aloe vera and essential oils created from the steam distillation of freshly harvested flowers. The pure plant waters help to protect the skin from daily environmental factors, promote cell repair, and absorb excess oil. Free from alcohol, harmful preservatives, and synthetic fragrances, it’s gentle enough to be used throughout the day to refresh and balance the skin.

The Rose Water Calming Face Toner ($12) by Herbal Dynamics Beauty delivers another refreshing mist of rose-scented hydration. It contains rose, green tea, chamomile, and witch hazel to keep your skin feeling moisturized and balanced.

The Moroccan Rose Toner ($15) and Orange Blossom Neroli Toner ($12) by KENZA International Beauty, both just 2 ounces, help to calm your skin. These products work overtime: They can also be used to remove makeup, cool off on a sweltering day, hydrate your hair, perfume your body, and even scent your room or fabrics with a rejuvenating scent.

Protect your skin with sunscreen.

Photo: Goddess Garden Organics/Facebook

Goddess Garden Organics, the leading reef-safe sunscreen brand for sensitive skin, offers a range of products with SPF to protect you from getting burned, and they’re free from chemicals like oxybenzone, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. Face the Day Daily SPF 30 Moisturizer & Firming Primer ($19) is a powerhouse that protects, repairs, and readies your skin for the day, all in one easy-to-use product that helps prevent sunburns (and the wrinkles that result from overexposure to sun). Another standout, the Facial Natural Sunscreen Lotion ($15), is perfect to pack for any sun-soaked beach getaway because it’s sheer and non-greasy.

If it’s already too late for even the best SPF, the non-sticky Aloe Vera After-Sun Gel Spray ($11) by Goddess Garden Organics makes the perfect post-burn soothing treatment, especially since the fine mist means you don’t need to rub it into your sore and scorched skin. It contains tea tree and lavender essential oils, so it begins cooling your skin on contact.

Bali Body, a natural Aussie skincare brand that’s all about glow, makes a natural, vegan SPF 15 BB Cream ($30) that hydrates while protecting, correcting, and perfecting your skin. It provides instant natural coverage — available in four different shades — while giving your skin a healthy, dewy glow. Swipe on a layer of the SPF 15 Coconut Lip Balm ($20) to protect your delicate lips from getting burned, too.

Love Sun Body creates 100 percent natural-origin, broad-spectrum mineral sunscreens for face and body. They’re reef-safe and vegan, and are the first and only sunscreens in the US to be certified by Cosmos Natural; not to mention they’re hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and won’t sting delicate eyes. They’re available in lightly scented and fragrance-free varieties and come in conveniently packable 3.38-ounce bottles ($21).

Photo: This Works/Facebook

When you travel, visiting places with a harsh climate or heavy pollution can leave your skin screaming for help.

Natura Brasil’s Daily Revitalizing Oil ($52) restores vitality and radiance to dull, stressed skin that’s caused by daily aggressions such as excess sun and pollution.

To defend against pollution (and the resulting look of premature aging), check out the Skin Warrior Anti-Pollution Repair Cream ($46) by Naturally Serious. It’s a powerful daily cream that builds up the moisture barrier of the skin and can help with dryness, redness, and uneven skin tone. Plus, it’s cleanly made, ethically developed, and clinically tested.

The in transit pollution shield ($40) by ThisWorks is a spray-on skin barrier that combats pollution and helps protect and hydrate the skin. You can mist it onto clean skin or spray it on after applying makeup (and throughout the day) to put a physical barrier against atmospheric pollution in place.

Reduce the effect long-haul flights have on your eyes with eye cream.

Photo: BRZLNSKIN/Facebook

Dark circles and puffy eyes seem to come hand in hand with long travel days. The Zero Baggage Anti-Dark Circle Eye Cream ($44) by Naturally Serious is an advanced eye cream that reduces the look of fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness while protecting the eye area from pollutants that would serve to age it. One rub with your finger along the orbital bone around your eyes will immediately start to perk up your peepers.

The Pure Eye Serum ($47) by KENZA International Beauty is another option for minimizing the signs of jet lag. It will keep your eye area moisturized during a long flight. It contains argan oil, prickly pear seed oil, green coffee bean oil, and lavender essential oils, all known to help brighten skin and ward off the signs of aging.

Caffeine isn’t just served in cups. After a particularly exhausting travel situation, dab a dot of the Revitalizing Eye Cream with Caffeine ($22) by Swanson Health and you’ll see what that means. Your eyes begin to look more awake and you feel ready to face the day, no jitters needed. The 1-ounce paraben-free formula supports healthy, smooth, and youthful-looking skin.

If you want a serious upgrade to your look — more along the lines of an instant facelift — use the BratoxInsta ($60) by Brazilian Skin on your face, including around your eye area. It will smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in 60 seconds or less. Brazilian Skin’s entire line of products is under 3 ounces, and it uses naturally-derived and scientifically-proven ingredients sourced from the Amazon Rainforest.

Avoid chapped lips with chapstick and lip balm.

Photo: Moroccan Magic/Facebook

Few things feel worse than split lips in freezing cold climates. Fight off the risk of cracked, chapped lips by carrying an ample supply of chapsticks or lip balms, and make sure to put one in every bag so you never have to go without.

Maple Holistics Therapeutic Lip Balm provides a great way to do this because its lip balms — made with beeswax, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, castor seed oil, cocoa butter, and shea butter — are sold in a pack of four ($7.45), each differently scented and perfect for spreading across your luggage while you travel.

Another option is the Moroccan Magic lip balm line. The balms are infused with pure argan and essential oils that lock in the perfect amount of moisture for any climate. Plus, Moroccan Magic is the only woman- and minority-owned, cruelty-free, USDA organic small brand on shelves. Wear the rose flavor ($14 for three) under your lipstick for longer wear, or swipe on the peppermint eucalyptus ($12 for three) for an instant pick-me-up.

If your lips are really suffering, give yourself a mini spa treatment with the lip scrub and mask duo ($38) by Herbal Dynamics Beauty. Start with dry lips in need of major TLC and emerge in 10 minutes’ time with plump, soft lips. The fun pink color and bubblegum-like flavor make this easy treatment feel all the more pampering.

Of course, great lips are of little use if you don’t have fresh breath. Tom’s of Maine makes the perfect toothpaste for travel; it’s great-tasting, whitens teeth with naturally-sourced silicas, helps fight cavities with naturally-derived fluoride, and freshens breath with pure peppermint leaf oil. It comes in a 3-ounce TSA-approved travel size and pairs well with the Naturally Clean Toothbrush.

All-in-one, on-the-go travel beauty kits are life savers.

Photo: milk + honey/Facebook

If you want to skip the headache of figuring out all the different individual items you need to bring, buy an all-in-one kit with all the products you need to get your toiletry situation figured out in one purchase.

The Travel Set Gift Bundle ($50) by milk + honey is the perfect place to start. TSA-friendly and all-natural, the bundle comes with aluminum-free No. 9 Deodorant, a travel-size Body Cream No. 16 to keep your skin hydrated, Lip Butter No. 40 to ensure your lips are supple and soft, Hand Purifier so you can ward off germs, and a travel-size Everything Oil (a multi-tasking secret beauty weapon capable of moisturizing skin, removing makeup, nourishing cuticles, and even conditioning dry hair).

Another great option is the Rejuvenating Kit ($125) by Elina Organics. Featuring completely organic, cruelty-free, and handmade products, this travel skincare set was created for people who are looking to keep their skin hydrated, brightened, and firmed while on the go.

And don’t miss the Mini Kit ($48) by Kari Gran, an all-natural skincare line. The kit includes travel-sized portions of Kari Gran’s Cleansing Oil, Hydrating Tonic, Essential Serum, and Three Sixty Five SPF 28, combining to create a three-part skincare system that tops things off with SPF to keep the skin protected and to ward off aging.

Made fresh in small batches, Kimberly Sayer of London products are gentle, non-GMO, and chemical-free. These steam-distilled organic ingredients come straight from the earth and sea to deliver visible results. They are also certified organic, cruelty-free, made in the USA, and housed in recyclable packaging. The Travel Pack for normal to oily skin ($54) comes with 1-ounce containers of the Kimberly Sayer Light Cleansing Lotion, Botanical Astringent, Ultra Light Facial Moisturizer-SPF 30, and Tangerine and Calendula Healing Light Night Cream — everything you need to keep your skin looking its best, even while you travel.


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The post The best natural beauty essentials you’ll ever need on your travels appeared first on Matador Network.

Museum of Black Civilizations open

A new museum has just opened in Dakar, Senegal, which hopes to be the premier African art and history museum in the entirety of Africa. The Museum of Black Civilizations (also known as MCN or Musée des Civilisations Noires, in French) opened on December 6th and was the brainchild of Léopold Sédar Senghor, the country’s first president following its independence from France in 1960. At the grand opening, Senegal’s culture minister, Abdou Latif Coulibaly, said that the museum was “a dream that the black world has been waiting for so long.”

Photo: Musée Des Civilisations Noires Officiel/Facebook

The museum includes exhibits on the African diaspora in the United States, the African origins of humankind, and Africa’s contributions to science and technology. The circular shape of the museum itself was inspired by traditional Senegalese huts, and though there is over 150,000 square feet of space, many galleries are still empty. This is because Senegal plans to file formal reparation claims to France about stolen artifacts, which the country hopes will soon return to their rightful home, and fill the museum. For now, however, contemporary art from African and Caribbean artists is slated to fill the galleries.

Photo: Musée Des Civilisations Noires Officiel/Facebook

According to Reuters, about 90 percent of Senegal’s cultural artifacts are estimated to currently reside in museums in Europe or in private collections — a statistic Senegal hopes to change, now that it finally has a home for them. French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to reach a compromise regarding African artifact reparations, though no tangible steps have been taken yet.

H/T: Lonely Planet

More like this: European museums considering returning stolen colonial artifacts

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Why you need to see Idaho in winter

Idaho is one of those places that conjures up very specific images. Mostly just potatoes. But to limit your perception of the Gem State to a starchy root vegetable is about as accurate as calling Mt. Everest a foothill. Idaho is a mountain lover’s paradise sprinkled with just enough urban action to satisfy the avid culture hound, and it’s best experienced in the winter. Here’s why you should brave the cold to go and how to take it all in.

You can visit the site of America’s first chairlift.

Photo: Rusya007/Shutterstock

Sun Valley Resort, Idaho’s claim to fame in the ski world and still the state’s most iconic ski resort, revolutionized uphill transportation with the opening of the Ruud Mountain Chairlift in 1936. The original lift is long gone — in its serviceable form anyway, which is just fine because the idea of trusting one of the swaying wooden single chairs to safely escort you up the hill is scary enough to send you screaming your way back into the lodge. While it’s no longer carting skiers up for freshies, the legendary chairlift now sits comfortably on the National Register of Historic Places and makes for a great photo opp, even if you don’t jump on any of the ultra-modern detachable quad chairs that now service the ski area.

There’s no line to get into the mountains.

Photo: CSNafzger/Shutterstock

Crowds and nature epitomize two things that shouldn’t go together. Idaho, far from the backlog of hill-bound traffic that plagues California or Colorado, firmly proves that there are still pristine places where you can escape. Head an hour outside of Boise and you’re immediately struck by the realization that there really isn’t anyone around. Idaho is home to over 20 million acres of national forest. Its pine-covered mountains beckon you not only to experience its trails and vistas but also to feel the all-encompassing effect of solitude.

Beyond Sun Valley, Idaho is home to nearly 20 ski areas where the closest thing you’ll find to a lift line is the ticket checker stopping you to scan your pass. Just outside the town of Albion, Pomerelle sees 500 inches of snow in an average winter — and even more in a good year. With the strong early season, this winter could certainly eclipse that and make for some unforgettable powder days. In the Bitterroot Mountains, Tamarack resort gets 300 inches of snow on its 1,000 acres, which when combined with 2,800 feet of vertical drop all but ensures some freshies.

In Boise, you can be in the thick of the action while still being away from it all.

Photo: Charles Knowles/Shutterstock

Boise, the state capital and largest city, is the most isolated metropolitan area in America. While it’s relatively easy for you to buy a ticket and fly right into Boise International Airport, it’s much tougher for cultural influences to bleed into the Treasure Valley. Thus, the city’s restaurant scene — hubbed on 8th street downtown and spreading outwards from there — is uniquely Idahoan, blending urban flavor with high country rusticness and using the bounty of the Snake River Valley. Because it’s Idaho, the first thing you should do is get yourself into Boise Fry Co and eat fried potatoes until you can’t. State & Lemp and Fork specialize in local takes on contemporary and pub classics, respectively. If you’re heading out on the town after dinner, Juniper is the spot to pregame over cocktails and dishes built almost entirely from Idaho ingredients.

If you’re into Basque cuisine and culture, Boise can save you a trip to Europe as it’s home to perhaps the most thriving Basque community in the US. Anchor your stay around the “Basque Block” along West Grove Street in the heart of the city and head straight for Bar Gernika (named after Boise’s Basque-based sister city) and The Basque Market, where you can dive into the city’s best pintxos, lamb, and solomo.

And step from the cold weather to a thriving artistic community.

Photo: txking/Shutterstock

Beyond the Basque influence, renowned museums across town like the Boise Art Museum and Idaho Historical Museum offer insights into the Idahoan values of virtue and creativity. Within Idaho’s art and music communities, artists draw inspiration from the state’s local influences and close access to the outdoors.

For a city of under 300,000, Boise also offers an impressive indie music scene. There’s a good chance you’ll know the bands playing at The Knitting Factory, but local bands take the stage almost nightly at Pengilly’s Saloon, Humpin’ Hannahs, and a handful of other clubs centered around the Main Street corridor. The corridor is also conveniently close to the Basque Block, meaning you don’t even need to hop in an Uber after dinner.

The lakes look even more beautiful surrounded by white.

Photo: Leslie McGinnis/Shutterstock

There’s something awe-inspiring about standing on the lakefront, bundled up tight with a scarf tucking into your neck, and gazing out onto a white, frosted abyss. Maybe that’s why life moves so slowly in Coeur d’Alene in winter: People just can’t keep themselves from gazing out over the lake bearing their town name. The migration of eagles over Lake Coeur d’Alene, which happens from November to February, only adds to the effect. You can get an even closer look by taking an actual eagle-watching cruise — after which your friends officially have nothing on you.

Wallace packs a ton of adventure into a tiny mountain town.

Photo: jfergusonphotos/Shutterstock

Coeur d’Alene is gorgeous. Sun Valley is rustic chic. But just south of the Coeur d’Alene National Forest, the tiny mountain town of Wallace, population 761, is straight-up mesmerizing. No town in Idaho fits the bill of “last great untouched…” quite like Wallace. This is surprising given that there are two ski areas within a half-hour drive and trails within a quick bike or walk of anywhere in town. If you’re looking for a place to break in that new fat bike, Wallace is your jam. The same goes if you’re just looking to find your footing in a simpler place where you can leave the house on foot or ski, get in a jaunt on the trail, and stop by the brewpub for a cold one, all without having to deal with a crowd, line, or even a stoplight.

There’s a bed and breakfast that’s actually shaped like a giant beagle.

Photo: Dog Bark Park Inn

The Dog Bark Park Inn is at the bottom of this list as a sort of “if this won’t convince you, nothing will” ode to the most mind-blowingly awesome place in the entire state, if not anywhere, ever. Part bed and breakfast, part art gallery, and wholly worth a jaunt to Cottonwood in the state’s northwest, this one-room B&B is literally shaped like a giant dog.

The owners, Dennis and Frances Conklin, are among the world’s foremost experts in wooden dog carvings. As it goes when one has such a righteous life path, the idea of breaking out the chainsaw to create the biggest-ever dog carving and then turning it into lodging for canine-enthusiasts the world over came naturally to the Conklins after their carvings developed a global following. But wait — it gets even better. They actually sell their wooden creations on site, including replicas of over 60 dog breeds, so you might even come home with a miniature replica of your best friend as a memento of your trip to glorious, natural Idaho.


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