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Get paid to travel and smoke weed

While a passion for adventure and smoking weed might not qualify you for a job in the corporate world, it might actually give you a leg up on the competition for this unique position. Heavy Hitters, a Southern California vape company, is looking to hire 20 national ambassadors. These “Heavy Hitters Originals” ambassadors will be responsible for promoting their vape cartridges at a variety of events and on social media. You don’t have to be an internet celebrity, but if you have some basic social media chops and a passion for cannabis, this position might be for you.

The job description’s tagline reads, “Travel. Smoke Weed. Get Paid.” And it truly looks as simple a job as that. Each ambassador will be generously compensated, earning $1,200 each month in cash, plus a $500 credit for Heavy Hitters products. They’ll also enjoy all-expenses-paid travel to cannabis events, be among the first to try new strains and products from Heavy Hitters, and work closely with prominent dispensaries.

To be considered, upload a one-minute YouTube video of yourself, in which you explain why you love Heavy Hitters, what makes you original, and speak to any special skills or talents you may have. Then, upload the video to Instagram with the @heavy tag.

H/T: Thrillist

More like this: 5 cannabis tours you’ll love even if you don’t like smoking pot

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Cheap Airbnbs in ski destinations

Not that a vigorous ski vacation ever feels like a ripoff, but holy Alberto Tomba has the sport gotten expensive. Lift tickets are regularly over $125, condos can go for $2,500 a week or more, and drinks at après ski bars are often pricier than they are in Vegas nightclubs. Skiing was never a budget sport, but now it’s approaching equestrian and skydiving as a “take out a loan” sport.

While we can’t do much about the price of drinks or lift tickets, we can help you control your cost of accommodations. We put our heads together with Airbnb, who dished on the 10 hottest North American ski destinations this winter, based on increased booking demand. In each spot, we found the coolest Airbnb you can rent for under $100 a night, with a tolerable proximity to the mountain.

1. Ski in/out townhome with onsite golf — Big Sky, Montana

Photo: Airbnb

Not that you’ll necessarily hit the fairways before your big day on the Big Sky slopes, but if you just absolutely fall in love with Montana, you’ve now got a place to stay in the summer, too. This three-bedroom house has vaulted ceilings, a spacious deck for your own private après ski, a barbecue, and cable TV. Plus you can walk to all the bars, restaurants, and general ski-resort excitement of Big Sky Mountain Village. The house costs $91 per night and sleeps up to eight people, so if you’re down with being a little cozy, you can have your ski lodging covered for just over $10 per night.

2. Mountain Lakeshore Condo — Bozeman, Montana

Photo: Airbnb

On a clear winter day the view here will trick all your internet friends into thinking you’re staying at some luxe ski getaway, rather than paying just $72 a night. This 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom condo has a covered deck situated right on a lake, with mountain views right behind. It’s about 25 miles from Bridger Bowl and 45 miles to Big Sky, so you’ll still have a bit of a drive to the slopes. But your distance from skiing is more than made up for with your proximity to the breweries and bars of this mountain college town, also one of our Coolest Towns for 2018.

3. Dog-friendly chalet with hot tub & sauna — Girdwood, Alaska

Photo: Airbnb

Long flights be damned, the Alyeska Resort near Anchorage has seen an 83-percent uptick in demand this year. Fortunately, that hasn’t driven prices up yet, and you can get this two-story, two-bedroom chalet with vaulted ceilings and glacial views for $90 per night, less than the price of a mid-range hotel. The chalet also has a private hot tub on the deck, a wood burning stove, and a pullout sofa bed if you want to fit six people inside. And it’s only a few minutes from the slopes, meaning you won’t be driving all over sprawling Anchorage to get to your skiing.

4. Three bedroom modern condo at the village — Blue Mountain, Ontario, Canada

Photo: Airbnb

Though Ontario has never been top of mind for many Americans as a big ski destination, Airbnb saw a 142-percent increase in demand for Blue Mountain this year. For $76 per night, this condo puts you right in the heart of the ski village, with three bedrooms spread over two stories and 1,700 square feet. The main living area has floor-to-ceiling windows that allow maximum light in to start your morning, and the master bedroom features an oversized bathtub to soak in after a long day on the mountain.

5. The 36th Street Urban Yurts — Boise, Idaho

Photo: Airbnb

Many are calling Boise the new Portland, and while that might not necessarily be a title the city wants, opening up stuff like urban yurts definitely makes a strong case. These exquisitely-designed colorful yurts have electricity, wood floors, gas stoves, and a skylight. Yes, the bathrooms are shared in a shop across the yard, as are hair dryers, microwaves, and other amenities you might find in a hotel. But for quirky yurt glamping, at $58 per night, this is the most unique property in Boise. And it sits on a .36-acre of meticulously landscaped garden, perfect for relaxing at the end of the evening.

6. Downtown old Colorado City with panoramic views — Colorado Springs, Colorado

Photo: Airbnb

Aspen? Vail? Telluride? Great spots. All also painfully expensive. This is probably why less-traveled Colorado Springs has seen a 138-percent increase in demand this year. This second-floor apartment in a four-story house, available for $91 per night, has panoramic views of Cheyenne Mountain and Garden of the Gods, with heated floors and clean, white decor. The kitchen has a dishwasher, but no range. But you’re only a short walk from trendy Colorado Avenue, where you’ll find no shortage of places to eat, drink, and do whatever else one does in Colorado.

7. The Good Life Mountain Retreat — Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada

Photo: Airbnb

Revelstoke has become a big destination for adventurous skiers, and as one of Canada’s top regions for backcountry skiing, it’s seen a 123-percent increase in Airbnb demand. And after hours of shredding powder nobody else has touched, having a private Jacuzzi is a must. This two-bedroom condo for $88 per night has one right on its private deck, along with an open kitchen, satellite TV, and a basement where you can dry your wet clothes. It’s also got an Xbox, if you want to turn your mind off at the end of the day, and an outdoor barbecue for summer outings.

8. Golf course-front home with shared hot tub, easy ski access — Mt. Hood, Oregon

Photo: Airbnb

This 1,596-square-foot house sits right along the fairway at the Three Nines Golf Course, which dates all the way back to 1928. If you’re hearty, winter might not keep you off the greens, but if it does, the house is also only 12 miles from Mt. Hood Skibowl, 19 miles from Timberline Lodge, and 24 miles from Mt. Hood Meadows. The house is part of the Mt. Hood Oregon Resort, and staying here also gives you access to the resort’s sports courts, spa, playground, and other amenities. It’s $95 per night.

9. 2-bedroom condo near Mountain Rd. — Stowe, Vermont

Photo: Airbnb

Stowe is underrated younger brother to blown-out Killington, a quiet little town with a challenging mountain and a world-class ski resort. Lodging, however, is limited — so a big, modern condo four miles from the mountain is quite a find. This $99 a night, two-bedroom spot has a wood-burning fireplace and is only a couple of miles from quaint downtown Stowe. You’d be well advised to hit the restaurants at the Stowe Mountain Lodge, as well as its underground speakeasy at Linehouse.

10. Black Box Studio — Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

Photo: Airbnb

Who would have thought Kamloops was a hotbed of chic, sustainable architecture? These cool container homes sit right between the Shuswap Mountains and the South Thompson River, providing sweeping views out over the hoodoo desert landscape. The 710-square-foot home and the 384-square-foot studio are connected by a communal breezeway, both showcasing sleek, modern decor with big windows and gorgeous sunrises. Though you’ll have to drive about 45 minutes to the Sun Peaks ski resort, there’s a winery within walking distance, and two more just a few minutes’ drive away — and it’s all just $76 per night.


More like this: 5 mistakes everyone makes on their first ski trip

The post The best Airbnbs in North America’s hottest ski destinations for under $100 appeared first on Matador Network.

Whisky vending machine in London

Vending machines filled with overpriced candy bars or fizzy drinks are nice and all, but we could all use something a little stronger. Well, this machine in London, with its selection of whiskies, is offering us just that. Installed on November 1st in front of the Napoleon Hotel by Liverpool Street station, the vending machine will dispense pouches of whisky until the end of December.

The vending machine will contain a variety of single-malt whiskies. The flavors have been chosen to represent the diversity of single malts, including whiskies from distilleries like Macallan, Royal Lochnagar, and Aberfeldy. To use the machine, you’ll have to purchase $11 tokens from the hotel bar, which is open from 5:00 PM onward, and tokens can be used in the machine any time between 10:00 AM and 2:00 AM.

Photo: Whiskey Me/Facebook

The vending machine was installed to celebrate the first anniversary of Whisky-Me, a subscription service that ships whiskies from all over the world to members’ doors in the UK. The machine is part of the company’s broader effort to help whisky shed its stuffy, serious personality, and lend it a more fun attitude.

H/T: Lonely Planet

More like this: The 5 most epic whisky experiences in Scotland

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Icelandair to buy WOW Air

Iceland’s recent tourism boom has been largely due to budget carrier WOW Air and its insanely cheap flights, often as low as $99 from the US. But Icelandair and WOW Air, together responsible for 80 percent of travel to and from Iceland, will soon be one and will change the way people travel to Iceland. Yesterday, Icelandair announced that it will be purchasing WOW Air for around $18 million, effectively merging the two competitors. While the two will remain separate brands, Icelandair will be firmly at the helm, and fans of WOW Air may find the airline drastically changed.

Since many cheap flights to Iceland resulted from competition between the two airlines, it’s possible that the $99 WOW Air deals might disappear. Flight paths will also likely change as the airlines merge, and extra routes may be eliminated. On the bright side, WOW Air’s famously low-budget service will likely improve; in-flight food, drinks, entertainment, and customer service can be expected to undergo major upgrades.

The merger will also make Icelandair a more prominent player on the world stage, with funds dedicated to global expansion. Icelandair said in a press release that the “acquisition creates opportunity for both companies to become even better prepared to provide international carriers with strong competition in the international airline market.”

Skúli Mogensen, founder of WOW Air, echoes a similarly optimistic sentiment in an email to employees. He says the merger is best for “our team, our passengers, the future of WOW Air as a low-cost airline, and not least for the travel industry in Iceland.”

H/T: Condé Nast Traveler

More like this: 10 things tourists do in Iceland that drive the locals crazy

The post Icelandair will acquire WOW Air, changing the way we travel to Iceland appeared first on Matador Network.

Chicago outdoor winter activities

Winter in Chicago can be brutal, and it’s easy to give in to the temptation to just stay inside where it’s warm and cozy, and pray for spring. But the city has so many beautiful outdoor areas and none of them close for the winter. With the right clothing and boots, a thermos full of a hot drink, and a little determination, you can see a whole new side of the city. Here are our picks for the best outdoor activities for winter in Chicago.

1. Ice skating

Photo: adrenalinerushdiaries/Shutterstock

Ice skating outdoors is a classic winter activity and there are some great places to do it in Chicago. The most iconic rink is the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park where you can skate between the famous Cloud Gate sculpture (aka the Bean) and the skyline over Michigan Avenue. Just a block from there is Skating Ribbon in Maggie Daley Park, where you can ditch the rink format for a track. Either option offers free admission but charges $13-$15 for skate rentals if you don’t have your own. For something outside of the downtown area, check out the Winterland at Gallagher Way just outside of Wrigley Field.

2. Sledding

Photo: Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock

Chicago is just about as flat as a city can get so there aren’t too many places for epic sledding runs, but there are a few spots if you know where to go. The city’s biggest hill is located off the southeast corner of Soldier Field. It was created with the extra dirt from the remodel of the stadium. Its location and great views of the city make it a perfect place for sledding in Chicago, but it can get crowded.

Maybe the best hill in the city is way out northwest in the Cook County Forest Preserve area of Caldwell Woods. This is a great spot since it has bathrooms and a warming shelter with a fire pit, where you can roast your own marshmallows if you bring some along. There are also some small but fun hills in a few different parks around the city including Humboldt Park, Warren Park, and Cricket Hill at Montrose Beach.

3. Walking the Chicago Lakefront Trail

Photo: kozer/Shutterstock

The Chicago Lakefront Trail is a biking, walking, and jogging path that runs 18 miles north to south through the city. It passes right through downtown and connects the four major lakefront parks. It’s one of the most beautiful parts of Chicago, and there’s absolutely no reason that you can’t enjoy it during the winter. The path is usually cleared of snow, and while only the most hardcore people are out there biking, a run or a walk through the snow-covered city on a winter’s day can be a great time if you’re dressed for it. Bring a thermos full of something warm, and enjoy being immersed in nature without ever leaving the city. You can also walk the Chicago Riverwalk or 606 Bike Trail for a more urban walking experience.

4. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing

Photo: Peter Istvan/Shutterstock

There are a lot of places that groom trails and rent equipment for skiing and snow trekking in the far suburbs, but for anyone wanting to try it out without leaving the city, there’s the park at Northerly Island. On select dates throughout the winter and when there is enough snow, the Park District rents cross-country skis and snowshoes for just $5 for two hours. The views over the lake and across the Museum Campus toward downtown are stunning. Check the website above for dates, and make sure to call the number listed to confirm there’s enough snow. If two hours in the cold isn’t enough for you, Northerly Island is a short walk from the sledding hill at Soldier Field so you can combine the two for a snow-filled day of fun.

5. Visiting the beach

Photo: David Prahl/Shutterstock

This probably sounds insane, but hear us out. As the shore of Lake Michigan ices over in the winter, it is continually pounded by waves which build up into mounds of ice that form epic sculptures. They are often stunningly beautiful and are a favorite for photographers especially. You need to be really careful if you’re venturing out past the shore; the safest way to explore is to stay on the piers that jut out from most beaches. However, these tend to be quite slippery so you still need to be careful. As a bonus, the rails, lighthouses, and other structures on these piers get the same wave treatment and often transform into sculptures themselves. It will almost certainly be cold out there, and probably pretty windy as well, so bundle up.


More like this: 9 restaurants with the best views in Chicago

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New Istanbul Airport

On the Republic of Turkey’s 95th anniversary this past Monday, Turkish President Erdoğan officially opened Istanbul’s new airport. Although still in its initial stages of opening, the airport will be massive in size and capacity when construction is fully complete, with the ability to handle around 200 million passengers annually — double the number of the current busiest airport in the world, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The $11.7 billion airport will have four terminals, six runways, 16 taxiways, 165 net bridges, and span 29.5 square miles, making it larger than the island of Manhattan.

Photo: İGA İstanbul Havalimanı/Facebook

The aptly named Istanbul New Airport was built to alleviate the congestion in Ataturk International Airport. With Turkish Airlines operating flights to over 302 destinations in 102 countries, and many of them passing through Ataturk, the airport has simply become too busy to function efficiently. In its first stage of construction, the new airport aims to comfortably accommodate 90 million passengers, which is already 41 percent higher than Ataturk’s current capacity. The fourth and final stage is not set to be finished until 2030. Although it officially opened last week, the airport currently only flies to four locations: Ankara and Izmir in Turkey, Baku in Azerbaijan, and Ercan in Cyprus.

Photo: İGA İstanbul Havalimanı/Facebook

Designed to reflect Istanbul’s traditional architecture, the terminals will resemble the city’s domed mosques and baths, with the air traffic control tower shaped like a tulip. A 451-room hotel, with pod-like rooms, is also slated to be built inside the main terminal later this year.

The project hasn’t been without criticism, however. According to The New York Times, many consider the airport to be a reckless expenditure for a country with economic woes, and Erdoğan has been accused of displacing villagers to make room for the construction. Of course, he himself paints a positive and grandiose image of the airport’s initial opening. “We did not build the Istanbul Airport for our country,” he said at the opening ceremony. “It is a great service we are offering to the world.”

H/T: Airline Geeks

More like this: The 10 best airports in Europe to travel through

The post Istanbul’s new airport will be the size of Manhattan appeared first on Matador Network.

Why bartenders annoy their friends

We all annoy our friends from time to time. Whether it’s your friend in finance who’s always going on about credit card points or your teacher buddy who loves to over-explain, our professions mold our personalities. Bartending is no different. Here are seven things that bartenders do that piss off their non-bartender friends.

1. We always overtip.

I’m not sure why friends get so offended by this one, but I’ve gotten in more fights about overtipping than almost any other topic. Bartenders usually tip at least 20 percent when they go out. We can’t help it. We believe in the tipping golden rule: Tip onto others as you would like to be tipped. We don’t mind throwing in a few extra bucks, but for some reason, it makes our friends feel like cheapskates.

2. We might just judge your drink order.

People should order whatever they want. But when our friends make a lame drink order, i.e. a muddled cocktail at a dive bar or a vodka soda with three limes, we can’t help but judge a little. We love you, but you’re doing it wrong.

3. We know everyone.

When you work in the food and drink industry, you get to know a lot of people. So, when you go out for dinner or drinks, odds are you will run into someone you know. This can be annoying for our friends because they either get forced into awkward small talk with strangers or get to stare at their phones as we catch up with regulars.

4. We can never commit to plans.

This annoys us about bartending, too. When you work weekends, it can be hard to negotiate coverage every time there’s a baby shower or a bachelor party to attend. As for our days off, we want to go out to dinner and see our friends and get to be people, but sometimes we’re so socially exhausted from talking all week that we just need to stay in and recharge. And last-minute shift changes tend to wreck our plans.

5. We also suck at texting back.

If you text us while we’re at work, we’ll probably read your text, but usually, before we can respond, we get distracted by doing our jobs. Then we get home late, we’re tired, and we forget to respond until two weeks later. It’s probably really annoying, but it’s not intentional.

6. We’re way behind on internet memes.

When you don’t spend the day staring at a computer screen, you miss out on the internet memes sweeping the nation. It’s not so much annoying as perplexing to our non-bartender friends. I saw my friend doing the floss once and just thought that was how she danced.

7. We love taking shots.

Free shots are the bartender’s handshake. When you’re in college, shots are about getting drunk as quickly as possible. When you’re a bartender, shots are about camaraderie. You could be doing shots of water; it’s not about the alcohol. But the problem is that you’re not doing shots of water. So when you hang with friends who aren’t accustomed to drinking as much, they end up with killer hangovers the next day and point the finger at us — rightly so.


More like this: 9 things a bartender would never be caught dead doing in a bar

The post 7 things bartenders do that piss off their non-bartender friends appeared first on Matador Network.

Reasons to visit Asheville in winter

You know you’re having fun when you can smile with mud splattering your face.

I was staring up from my overturned Outrider bike at a spinning rubber wheel as it dripped cold, wet mud in front of the silver Carolina sky. The wind was knocked out of me, but as far as I could tell, I had no noticeable injuries, just a big childlike smile.

“You ok?” Hunter, my guide, yelled from somewhere closer to the Biltmore estate.

“Hell yeah!” I yelled as a sprung to my feet and wiped my face on my “waterproof” jacket. “Little mud never killed anybody.”

In fact, mud probably has killed a lot of people, but it didn’t do a whole lot to spoil the good time I was having at Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina. I had just taken a muddy, slippery off-road turn a little too fast and toppled one of the attraction’s new Outriders, a three-wheeled motorized recumbent bicycle designed for off-roading. It’s a little like an electric mountain bike for those who don’t want to pedal.

Photo: Outrider USA/Facebook

I spent the cold, rainy afternoon speeding alongside Biltmore’s slippery hills, fording small streams and tearing through otherwise unreachable terrain. On a sunny summer day, we’d have been contending with tens of other machines and not had the mud-filled fun we did that afternoon.

This is the kind of experience you get in Asheville in the winter when the hordes of beer-chugging bachelor parties and musical pilgrims have gone home for the winter, and the city returns to the hands of the locals.

“Asheville was never meant to be a tourist town,” says Meherwan Irani as we enjoy a lunch of Indian street food at Chai Pani, his Asheville outpost that has become one of the most sought-after tables in the city. “It was meant to be a local community. So, yeah, come in the winter, and you’ll experience it as it really is.”

Determining what a city “is” is a relative term. An existential crisis, if you think too much. But what Irani means is the hippie, artsy mountain town America fell in love with over the past decade or so changes when it’s full of visitors. And winter is when you’ll find the authenticity that made it so popular in the first place.

Photo: Chai Pani/Facebook

At Chai Pani, the Monday afternoon crowd is pretty light. Irani takes the time to explain why his menu is devoid of the curries and vindaloos we’re accustomed to in American Indian restaurants, and why I should try his pav bhaji, a mixed vegetable hash with chillies and cilantro on buttered buns.

“This is what people eat in India,” he tells me excitedly. “Street food. Indian families drive hours here because this is stuff they can’t get anywhere else.”

Normally he wouldn’t have time to even greet a table, much less explain the cuisine.

“In the summer, forget it,” he said. “We don’t see locals, they don’t wanna wait.”

A short walk through downtown and underground, and I’m at One World Brewing where service-industry types chat with the beertender, who tells me I’m the first out-of-towner he’s seen all day. He didn’t seem particularly busy, and actually had time to explain to me intricacies of his Hempin’ Ain’t Easy hemp ale, a pilsner made from hemp seed. The crowd was the young, college-aged, grizzly, tattooed types who were all too happy to suggest places I should see around Asheville. They also said they were usually too busy working during the summer to give recommendations like that to visitors.

A cozy mountain escape with campfires and comfortable recreation.

Photo: LA Patterson Photography/Shutterstock

The cold makes Asheville feel a little cozier in the winter as the snow covers the Blue Ridge Mountains, and you can watch the sunset at rooftop bars with glowing fire pits. You can take a tour of these bars if you’d like, but if you want to self-guide, start out at the AC Hotel’s Capella on 9 where you’ll have a stunning shot of the Art Deco downtown as you enjoy a fireside Glamper’s Smores — Laird’s applejack, allspice cacao mezcal dram, lemon, creamy egg whites, and charred marshmallow.

Wicked Weed trades its five-deep lines during summer for front yard fireplaces where you can enjoy its famous Freak of Nature double IPA in the brisk mountain air. Even venerable Sierra Nevada gets into the winter firepit act with patio fireplaces on the French Broad River that on a cool, clear day make for a refreshing day trip out of town.

Asheville is known as much for its outdoor adventures as it is for its beer, and though you won’t get a tan while hiking in the winter, the experience will be easier. While hiking through the changing leaves up the three-hour trail along the ruins of Rattlesnake Lodge, I felt the cool air bringing my body temperature down as my guide from Blue Ridge Hiking Company led a vigorous pace uphill.

“In the summer, I have people DYING on this thing,” she exaggerated. Hopefully. She told the story of one woman who hiked with her to a fire tower with a spectacular view on a particularly hot summer day and refused to hike back.

“Heat got to her,” she said, reminding me hydration is the key to any good hike. “You won’t worry about that in winter.”

What’s more, she added, in the winter the leaves have fallen from the trees, and the views of the valley below were even more spectacular.

Farther out of town, the Lover’s Leap Loop Trail boasts a short, accessible journey from downtown Hot Springs, North Carolina, to a natural hot spring where you can warm up in a natural mineral bath. The spring’s steam warms the chilly mountain air as your muscles recover from a day of strenuous activity.

The city’s famous mountain bike and treetop adventure courses are also open in the winter, without the usual glut of summer camp and corporate retreat groups that clog the wires at the Adventure Center of Asheville. The treetop ropes course here is unlike any you’ve ever seen, where you’ll scale a climbing wall, slide down a fire pole, ride a snowboard, and zip line between all of them nearly 20 feet above the ground.

James Beard restaurants, minus the waits.

Photo: Sovereign Remedies/Facebook

Asheville’s food scene has begun to eclipse beer and adrenaline as Asheville’s biggest draw, boasting James Beard nominations for Katie Button of Curate and Nightbell, Leah Wong Ashburn of Highland Brewing Co., and David Bauer of Farm & Sparrow this year. The problem, of course, is once those nominations come in, so do packs of tourists. In the summer, anyway. Once the weather gets cold, anyone can get a table at spots like Button’s Curate or Posana, even locals.

“We do most of our cool events in the winter,” says Chai Pani’s Irani. “That’s when locals can get back in the restaurants again and connect with the chefs and workers.”

The homey, fresh country farm cuisine feels more welcoming when it’s cold, too. Walking in the front door of Sovereign Remedies on a misty Thursday night, I’m met with an immediate blast of warmth, followed by a wave of garlic, carrots, and stewing meats. It was a little like walking into my mom’s house after a long November Sunday of football in the park, warming up with the smells of home cooking.

The menu is full of stuff like bone marrow tater tots and bavette steak with green tomato and banana pepper. And though many locals only know the place as a cocktail bar, it’s one of the most comforting places to get a winter meal in America.

Beyond the Beard nominees, Asheville has cool, hidden spots like AUX Bar. Here, formerly homeless chef Steven Goff not only offers King Cobra bottle service (“Lived off that shit when I was on the streets,” Goff said as he poured a 40oz bottle for me), but he also has an entire menu full of creations like the sweet potato buffalo sauce duck wings and the braised pork cheek with heirloom green and pickles.

At the Isis Music Hall, about 10 minutes from downtown, chef Jeffrey Potter plans winter menus to complement whatever style of music the restored old deco theater has playing that night. December will host an Italian string group one night, for example, accompanied by a menu of classic Italian food and cocktails, with some Italian cinema to end the evening.

The city was made famous for its beer, and you spend the evening bouncing from brewery to brewery, from the macabre Burial Beer to the massively popular Catawba, sours at Funkatorium, and ciders at Urban Orchard. End the night with a soothing cocktail at Antidote, an offshoot of South Slope’s first distillery Chemist, or at locally popular Little Jumbo. During a Tuesday happy hour at the latter, owner Chall Grey seems to know everyone at the bar by name and is greeted by each patron who walks in.

Photo: Little Jumbo/Facebook

“I wanted to be a little ways from downtown,” he said. “So [visitors] have to know about this place to find it, but locals have a cocktail bar they can come to and not fight for a drink.”

Still, I felt completely welcomed at Little Jumbo as a visitor. Even after the wave of tourists flocking to Asheville, the city still abides by the code of southern hospitality.

The balancing act of a booming tourism economy and maintaining local authenticity is a tough one. But Asheville, at least in the winter, seems to have it down. While going to a mountain city with no real skiing in the winter might seem counterintuitive, it’s actually the best time to come here. It’s a chance to see the Asheville you heard about years ago — the hippie, funky city that was the cool antithesis of what some pictured in Appalachia. Just make sure to go slow on the turns if you take an Outrider tour.


More like this: Louisville is the South’s rising star. Here’s proof.

The post Why Asheville is the best getaway you can take this winter appeared first on Matador Network.

Christmas spirit in New England

Whether it’s Maine’s foliage in autumn or vacations on Cape Cod in the summer, New England is the ideal place to really immerse yourself in the seasons. This is especially true when it comes to winter. Yeah, New England winters are cold. But they’re also filled with perfect snowball snow, Christmas cookies, festive lights, and traditional holiday cheer unlike anywhere else in the country. Nothing exudes Christmas spirit like settling into an 18th-century inn by the fireplace, attending a traditional town tree lighting, or watching as Santa sails into town on a lobster boat. From the White Mountains to Nantucket, these small New England towns take Christmas to the next level.

1. Freeport, Maine

Photo: Visit Freeport/Facebook

Freeport is known throughout New England for its wide array of outlet stores and for being the home of LL Bean’s flagship store. But it’s also one of the most festive towns in the area come Christmas time. The annual Sparkle Weekend will be held this year from December 7 to December 9. It features a range of events that will really get you in the Christmas spirit, like the Talking Christmas Tree, old-fashioned horse-drawn wagon rides, and a vintage arts and crafts market. At the workshop at Wilbur’s of Maine chocolate factory, the whole family can learn how to make a chocolate house. There’s also a holiday decorating contest, LL Bean’s Discovery Forest — featuring over 600 light-covered trees — and, of course, the Annual Worldwide Tuba Concert.

2. Nantucket, Massachusetts

Photo: Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce/Facebook

When you think of Nantucket, it’s probably all summer cottages and beaches, but this island is more than just a warm-weather destination. On the annual Noel and Christmas Stroll weekend, the island’s cobbled streets come alive with craft shows, concerts, a Christmas marketplace, and community caroling. The centerpiece of the weekend, however, is when Santa Claus arrives triumphantly on a Coast Guard ship and joins Santa’s parade as it marches up Main Street. This year’s stroll is themed “A Beautiful Stroll in the Neighborhood” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the TV debut of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood.” The Stroll will take place from November 30 to December 2, with Santa arriving on Saturday, December 1.

3. Kennebunkport, Maine

Photo: Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude/Facebook

If you want the perfect coastal Christmas experience but don’t want to trek all the way down to Nantucket, Kennebunkport puts the perfect New England twist on the holiday. From lobster bakes to trolley rides and chocolate bars, the Christmas Prelude has all the Christmas spirit you can handle. Like in Nantucket, Santa will arrive by sea, riding on a lobster boat that will dock at the Boathouse Waterfront Hotel on Ocean Avenue. Accompanied by his Lobster Elves, he will make his way to the Community House on Temple Street for photos. And in case you haven’t done your Christmas shopping yet, stores will be open late and offering free holiday treats.

4. Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Photo: Stockbridge Christmas/Facebook

Art connoisseurs may recognize Stockbridge from the famous Norman Rockwell painting, “Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas.” The painting is meant to epitomize a cozy small-town Christmas atmosphere, and fittingly, the town itself doesn’t disappoint. From November 30 to December 2, the town offers holiday readings, historic house tours, caroling, and a holiday concert. To cap off the weekend, Stockbridge really embraces its Normal Rockwell association by recreating the exact scene from the famous painting. Vintage cars are parked in the spots seen in the picture, invoking a fond sense of nostalgia, and reminding visitors that Stockbridge is indeed the perfect New England Christmas town. The full schedule of events can be found here.

5. Woodstock, Vermont

Photo: Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce‎/Facebook

Woodstock’s Wassail Weekend, named after an English medieval drinking ritual, might be one of the most unique Christmas celebrations in New England. Wassail Weekend features classic light displays, decorated historic homes, a breakfast with Santa event, and even a traditional 19th-century farm-style Christmas at the local Billings Farm. But the most memorable part of the weekend is undoubtedly the parade, which features over 50 horses and riders in period holiday costumes from the 1800s. Wassail Weekend takes place from December 7 to December 9, with the parade happening on Saturday at 2:00 PM. If you’re lucky, you could even win a free trip to Wassail Weekend, courtesy of the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce. It would include two nights at the Woodstock Inn & Resort, two dinners, free sleigh-ride admission at the Billings Farm, and a host of other gifts.

6. Sturbridge Village, Massachusetts

Photo: Old Sturbridge Village/Facebook

For some old school yuletide charm, take a trip through history at Old Sturbridge Village. This 18th-century reenactment village hosts its Christmas by Candlelight events every weekend in December. Events include a nightly tree lighting, a gingerbread-house contest, sleigh rides, and the reading of classic stories, all set against the backdrop of an authentic 1700s village. Eat a festive feast at one of the local taverns or even stay the night in a lodge. One-day tickets are $28 for adults and $14 for children.

7. White Mountains, New Hampshire

Photo: Country Inns in the White Mountains

If you’d rather not stay in one place all weekend but still want a healthy (or maybe unhealthy) dose of Christmas charm, atmosphere, and treats, you should probably check out the Inn to Inn Holiday Cookie Tour in the White Mountains. From 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on December 8 and 9, a self-guided tour allows you to journey through the White Mountains — the perfect Christmas setting — and visit several participating inns, each of which features traditional holiday cookies, candies, and Christmas decorations. And when you go home, you’ll actually be able to take home recipes so you can make the treats yourself.

There are 11 inns participating this year: the Darby Field Inn in Albany; the Inn at Crystal Lake and Pub in Eaton; the Snowvillage Inn in Snowville; the Inn at Ellis River in Jackson; the 1785 Inn in Intervale; the Admiral Peary Inn B&B in Fryeburg, Maine; and the Eastman Inn, Old Red Inn & Cottages, Cranmore Inn, White Birch Inn, and the Samuel O’Reilly House in North Conway.

For the full experience, you’ll want to take advantage of the Cookie Tour package offered by each inn. The package includes accommodation for two nights, breakfast, a cookbook, a custom-made ornament, and other keepsakes. Packages can be browsed here.


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The post 7 small towns in New England that go all out for Christmas appeared first on Matador Network.

How to eat healthy while traveling

Eating right while traveling can be tough. Your schedule is thrown out of whack, and there’s a good chance that the food options at most airports or hotels are more in line with Guy Fieri than Antoni Porowski. Sometimes, it can feel like the only option is to abandon your healthy eating goals or go hungry. But you don’t have to let a flight, long hotel stay, or road trip push you into a spiral of fast food and snacks.

We reached out to nutritionists to gather the best tips for healthy eating while traveling. Stay fit out there.

Balance your plate.

Increase the volume of your meal with fruits and vegetables to make sure you get enough fiber and nutrients while keeping your overall calories lower.

“You’ll likely be eating out for most meals, so items are going to be made with more fat and salt than you would ever use at home,” says Kelsey Peoples, a registered dietitian and the owner of The Peoples Plate. “Try making your plate 25 percent lean protein, 25 percent starch or grains, and 50 percent fruits and vegetables.”

Getting that ratio on your plate can be hard when you’re facing down options that only span from McDonald’s to Taco Bell. Bringing your own veggies is one way to meet the ratio when ordering food on the go (a snack bag of snap peas goes a long way). Bowls allow you to visually see the way your meal is broken down if the option is on the menu. Take your basic McDonald’s salad bowl, for example. Southwest Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Salad has a corner of protein, starchy beans, and a lot of lettuce.

Pack your own flight snacks.

Food options at airports are better than ever (especially in Phoenix), but nothing beats packing easy and satisfying snacks. And no, it doesn’t have to be all what you consider “health food.”

For long haul flights, Christina Tsiripidou, a wellness expert in the UK, suggests “having a mix of nuts and dark chocolate as well as a mix of fruits such as berries and grapes.” The snacks have the dual purpose of being snacks in between meals as well as balancing out the in-flight meals given on the plane, which we all know aren’t exactly five star.

Supplement your diet.

Sometimes getting all of the nutrients your body needs through food alone is difficult. Deanna Minich, the CEO of Food & Spirit, suggests supplementing the food you eat before, during, and after traveling.

“What works best for me is to do a pre-, during, and post-supplementation regimen that lasts seven days before and seven days after traveling,” Minich says. “I take supplements such as Vitamin D, probiotics, fish oil, and a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement, along with spirulina.”

Steer clear of the breakfast buffet.

As tempting as the free breakfast at the hotel can be, avoid it like your healthy eating habits depend on it. Because they do.

“Avoid the endless breakfast buffets and start with a high-quality meal with protein (try egg whites, eggs, low fat cheese, plain yogurt) with some healthy carbs (like fruits, veggies, or whole grains),” Peoples says. “While the delicacies like croissants, French toast, and Belgian waffles are tempting, you’ll overload on fast-burning carbs and crash mid-morning.”

Hydrate, and then hydrate some more.

Airplane humidity is kept around 10 to 20 percent. For perspective, the Sahara Desert has around 25 percent humidity. In short, you’re going to get dehydrated, and fast. To combat this, the Aerospace Medical Association recommends drinking eight ounces of water for every hour up in the air.

“During the trip itself, I make sure to take my own water bottle, as most airports have purified water stations these days,” Minich says. “It’s less expensive to get your own water and most likely more pure, too.”


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The post How to eat healthy while traveling, according to three nutritionists appeared first on Matador Network.