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Most European cities in the US

Europe plays host to some of the most coveted destinations on the planet. Countless honeymooners flock to romantic locales like Paris and Rome each year, and hoards of tourists flood major cities from Amsterdam to Barcelona every summer. But trips across the Atlantic require time and effort to plan, and they aren’t exactly easy on the wallet. Fortunately, there are several cities and towns right here in the US that feel so European they’ll have you doing double takes. If you’re in the mood to jet set but don’t want to dust off your passport, consider visiting these continental-inspired must-sees in your own backyard instead.

1. Leavenworth, Washington

Photo: Checubus/Shutterstock

Beer lovers need not travel all the way to Bavaria for a German brew when they can just as easily head to Leavenworth, Washington. Once the headquarters of the Great Northern Railway, this small town roughly 120 miles east of Seattle transformed its city center into a mini Bavaria to boost the local economy in 1962. Today, visitors go crazy for the Alpine-style architecture dominating Front Street; the resident glockenspiel clock, which sounds every 15 minutes; and, of course, the endless supply of brats and wursts. Vegetarians can even enjoy meatless sausages with spicy German mustard at the München Haus beer garden.

2. Solvang, California

Photo: fox_lei/Shutterstock

If you’re craving a Danish getaway but don’t want to go bankrupt in expensive Copenhagen, set your sights on Solvang, a little slice of Denmark in the Santa Ynez Valley instead. Fill up on Danish culture between trips to the Elverhøj and Hans Christian Andersen Museums, then take in the sights on the horse-drawn Honen trolley. To make the most of your faux Danish vacation, visit during the Solvang Danish Days heritage festival in September to enjoy treats like the Æbleskiver (pancake puff) breakfast, Viking Beer and Wine Garden, and Old World Artisans Marketplace.

3. St. Augustine, Florida

Photo: Nataliya Hora/Shutterstock

Forget what you heard about Jamestown, Virginia. St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the US, and it wasn’t founded by the British. In 1565, Spanish explorers set up camp on the shores of Matanzas Bay, Florida, where traditional customs still thrive. Do your stomach a solid and gobble down authentic Spanish cuisine like paella and tapas before walking it off in the Colonial Quarter to learn about the city’s Spanish-colonial heritage firsthand. Before you leave, be sure to swing by the 17th-century Castillo de San Marcos, a historic fortress overlooking the bay, and get your very own photo on the drawbridge.

4. Holland, Michigan

Photo: Craig Sterken/Shutterstock

It goes without saying that Holland, Michigan, was founded by Dutch Americans, but there’s more to the city’s European influence than just its name. Tulip beds decorate the city, and every May, there’s a Tulip Time festival filled not only with flowers but also performances by Dutch dancers and musicians, as well as parades led by Dutch-costumed locals. The top attractions in town include the Windmill Island Gardens, where even more flowers surround a still-operational Dutch windmill, and the Holland Museum. There, you’ll find everything from 20th-century Dutch paintings to Delftware, the blue-and-white pottery for which the Netherlands is known.

5. Frankenmuth, Michigan

Photo: Kenneth Sponsler/Shutterstock

More than three million visitors flock to this city in Saginaw County annually, many of whom come to revel in the Christmas spirit that permeates Frankenmuth throughout the calendar year. The city plays host to the largest Christmas store in the world, Bronner’s, where you’ll find goodies like tree ornaments, advent calendars, and nativity scenes year-round. Beyond trinkets that might as well have been made by Santa’s elves, Frankenmuth has a Silent Night Chapel worth visiting and the Old Christmas Station restaurant, which specializes in continental fare.

6. Tarpon Springs, Florida

Photo: littlenySTOCK/Shutterstock

Nowhere in the US is there a larger concentration of Greek Americans than Tarpon Springs, Florida. Stroll along the waterfront near Sponge Docks, and you’ll notice countless shops selling Greek souvenirs, be it traditional garb like the Amalia dress and tsarouchi shoe or Disney movies dubbed in Greek for the kids. If indulgent delicacies are more your thing, try authentic treats like souvlaki and baklava at Hellas Bakery & Restaurant. For a more cultural bent, check out the Neo-Byzantine architecture of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral or come during Epiphany, an all-day affair highlighted by a competition among male youth to retrieve a wooden cross that has been tossed into Spring Bayou by the cathedral’s archbishop.

7. Pella, Iowa

Photo: Laurens Hoddenbagh/Shutterstock

You might not think there’s much to see in Iowa, but it just so happens to host one of the most authentic Dutch heritage centers in the US. Roughly 40 miles southeast of Des Moines, Pella was founded by Dutch immigrants in the 1800s, and residents can still be seen sporting traditional Dutch dress, complete with wooden clogs, during the annual Tulip Time festival held the first week of every May. Work up an appetite taking in the 124-foot Vermeer Windmill, Pella Historical Village, and Scholte House Museum and Gardens in town, then head 15 minutes southeast of the city to sample proper Dutch Gouda at the Frisian Farms Cheese House.

8. New Glarus, Wisconsin

Photo: New Glarus Chamber of Commerce/Facebook

Named after the canton of Glarus in Switzerland, New Glarus is a Swiss-heritage village that’s the perfect place to get your fill of cheese, chocolate, yodeling, and charming chalets without setting foot outside of the US. It was founded in 1845 by Swiss settlers suffering financial hardship after years of bad crops, and they brought with them a traditional way of life that’s alive and well in Wisconsin to this day. Check out the Swiss Historical Village to see how settlers lived over a century ago, touring all 14 sites, which include a replica blacksmith cabin, church, and school. End the day with a hearty plate of wiener schnitzel or a pot of gooey fondue, and top off any meal with a Spotted Cow ale (only available in Wisconsin) from the beloved New Glarus Brewery.
9. Lindsborg, Kansas

A post shared by Lulu (@lulusartshack) on Aug 18, 2018 at 11:49am PDT

Scandinavia is notoriously pricey, so visiting Swedish-inspired Lindsborg is an excellent alternative to booking a flight to Stockholm. The biggest draw to the city is the biannual Svensk Hyllningsfest, held every odd-numbered year since 1941. Plan to visit in October to join in the festivities, which include folk music and dance performances, arts and crafts fairs featuring everything from woodworking to pottery, and the epic Smörgåsbord feast where you’ll find delicacies like Swedish meatballs, pickled herring, and ostaka, i.e. Swedish cheesecake.


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Airlines extending flight times

If it seems like flight times have been getting longer and longer, it might not just be your imagination. To avoid compensating passengers for delays, airlines have been “padding” their schedules by listing longer flight times to give the impression that flyers are reaching their destinations on time. A study conducted by Which? Travel found that many flight routes today are longer than they were 10 years ago, even though aviation technology has vastly improved.

By comparing 125 flight routes from 2009 with the same routes in 2017, researchers found that 76 routes (61 percent) now take longer — or at least, are scheduled to take longer. British Airways in particular was found to be slower, with 87 percent of their flights now listing longer travel times than they did 10 years ago. British Airways flights from Heathrow to Bangkok, New York, and Singapore were all extended by 20 minutes, while a Virgin Atlantic flight from Heathrow to Newark now takes an average of 35 minutes longer than it did in 2009.

While airlines may claim that adding 10 or 20 minutes to a scheduled flight will help improve punctuality and on-time arrival, Which? Travel editor Rory Boland disagrees. “Longer scheduled flight times are likely to mean passengers spend more time sitting around at the gate or on the plane itself,” he told The Guardian, “just so the airline can pat itself on the back for being ‘on time.’” And, of course, to avoid those delay compensation fees.

However, the practice hasn’t actually translated into punctuality. According to Which?, British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair all saw a 10 percent decline in their punctuality last year when compared to 2009. And the reason for the slower service might not come as a surprise — planes are flying at slower speeds to reduce fuel consumption, which enables them to offer cheaper fares.

H/T: The Guardian

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Learn Arctic survival skills

Even if you fancy yourself a rugged outdoors enthusiast, with some hiking trips and camping excursions under your belt, you’re likely unprepared to brave some of the harshest wilderness this planet has to offer — the Arctic. So, if you’re planning an epic foray into the frozen north, you’ll need to master some essential wilderness skills first. By equipping you with all the necessary know-how, this new tour, organized by Off The Map Travel, is designed to turn you into a seasoned Arctic explorer.

The tour will bring you to Sweden’s Luleå Archipelago to learn survival skills in the heart of the Arctic, under the Northern Lights. As a guest, you’ll be staying in a log cabin surrounded by trees, and accompanied by a local guide who will equip you with wilderness skills like building a fire, setting up camp, identifying and following animal tracks, and finding food sources. From the ingredients you gather in the wild, you’ll prepare your own traditional Arctic cuisine — usually heavy in berries and fish. The tour also includes some time in a traditional Sami tent and a wildlife safari around the archipelago’s coast.

You can sign up for the ultimate wilderness experience starting November 2018. For more information, check out the tour’s official website.

H/T: Lonely Planet

More like this: Everything you need to know about planning an epic Arctic trip to Svalbard

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Fall foliage drives in the US

Aside from the abundance of Patriots fans, there may be no better place in the fall than New England. The deciduous trees covering the vast woodlands in the Northeast make for stunning bright colors stretching on for miles, and some of the most spectacular drives in America. The region is stocked with roadways just begging for a fall road trip, spending a few days traversing the mountains of Vermont, New Hampshire, and other nearby states. While you really can’t go wrong anywhere in the region, here are the absolute best of the best scenic fall drives in New England.

1. Route 95 — Rhode Island

A post shared by BlackstoneValleyTourism (@tourblackstone) on Oct 23, 2017 at 12:36pm PDT

Though driving through the smallest state in America won’t take you long, this road through Blackstone Valley — the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution — packs more history and bright colors into its slice of I-95 than most American interstates. The top attraction along the route is the Slater Mill, the first successful cotton spinning factory in America. After, you can hit up the Roger William Park and Zoo and stroll through its 435 acres of foliage and animals.

If you want to see the colors from somewhere other than your car, hop aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer Riverboat or the Blackstone Valley fall foliage train tour from Woonsocket to Putnam, Connecticut. Or if you really want to get out onto the water, you can book an entire boat via Airbnb at the Samuel Slater canal boat set along the Blackstone canal.

2. Route 30 — Vermont

Photo: SNEHIT/Shutterstock

Start out in historic Battleboro, driving through bright rolling hills covered in farmland, past — which this time of year could just as easily be called Orange, Red, and Purple Mountain National Forest. The vibrant trees pass in the distance as you get to the West Dummerston Covered Bridge, then you can stop in Newfane to do some antiquing at Jack Winner Antiques. Continue on to Grafton and Jamaica State Park, where, weather permitting, you can get out and stretch your legs with a walk along the West River.

Stay the night in Manchester, where after a visit to the former home of Abraham Lincoln’s son at Hildene, you can sleep at the Kimpton Taconic with sprawling views of the Taconic and Green Mountains. In the morning, head up the Stone Valley Byway to Lake St. Catherine State Park and see all those spectacular fall colors reflect off the water. An appropriate final stop on your journey is the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail in Ripton, where you’ll arrive armed with a newfound understanding of why he loved this region so much.

3. Route 112 — New Hampshire

Photo: John Bilous/Shutterstock

The Kancamagus Highway — or The Kanc, colloquially — runs through New Hampshire’s White Mountains and is the best driven during October to get the full effect of the famous fall colors. Begin the drive in Lincoln and roll 37 miles through the mountains, stopping at the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour to zipline through some of the best of the autumn foliage. Continue into Franconia Notch State Park, where a much less heart-stopping aerial tramway takes you above all the orange and red. Be sure to leave time to hike through the covered bridges and epic waterfalls at Flume Gorge.

If you can, take some time to stop at Kimball Farm, where ice cream and apples will fuel you up for the drive. Then end your drive in North Conway, where the White Mountain Hotel and Resort will offer the best lodging with views of the mountains and cliffs in the distance. Enjoy a seafood feast there, or take the Conway Scenic Railway so you can enjoy speeding by the fall colors without having to pay attention to the road.

4. Route 2 — Massachusetts

Photo: Albert Pego/Shutterstock

Known informally as the Mohawk Trail, this drive is the best way to catch the legendary fall colors in the Berkshires, traveling between the Hudson and Connecticut River valleys. Begin the drive in North Adams, a town known mostly as home to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. It also holds an annual Fall Foliage Festival toward the beginning of October, complete with a parade. From there, head to Greenfield where a three-story lookout tower will provide the best photo-ops of the drive.

Continue into Mohawk Trail State Forest, where old-growth forest filled with maple, ash, beech, and birch trees surround your car in a blanket of bright hues. Beyond that, a couple of ziplines await at Zoar and Berkshire East in Charlemont, which is the perfect way to get some time outside the car. Or you can stretch your legs along the nature trails at High Ledges wildlife sanctuary in Shelburne. Then, cross Deerfield River in Shelburne Falls, where the water meanders through towering bright colors for the most scenic cityscape of the drive.

5. Route 7 — Vermont

Photo: gary yim/Shutterstock

Though U.S. 7 stretches through Connecticut and Massachusetts too, the most scenic stretches are found in the Green Mountain State. Start the route in quirky, funky, Burlington and take in the foliage on a bicycle during a Bike and Brew Tour of the city. Then begin your drive along Lake Champlain, stopping frequently to snap envy-inducing pictures of the trees surrounding the lake. Continue on to Mt. Philo State Park, where a short drive to the top of the mountain provides the most dramatic views of the drive, looking out over the lake and valley below.

Head into Middlebury, where the Otter River snakes through town flanked by brightly colored trees. Pass by the Shoreham Covered Railroad Bridge on your way to Brandon, a small town with 243 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Enjoy its charm before driving to Wilson Castle in Rutland, an awe-inspiring home that includes the Norman Rockwell Museum. Then pass through the Green Mountain National Forest before finishing in Bennington, a city with five covered bridges all surrounded by thick forest.

6. Route 7 — Connecticut

Photo: Richard Cavalleri/Shutterstock

The Litchfield Hills region of Northwest Connecticut is the peak spot in the state for fall colors. Start out around Ridgefield and hit the Keeler Tavern Museum, where you’ll learn about life during colonial times and see this majestic white building contrast with the stunning trees. From there, dip into Danbury, another historic district filled with houses that date back to the 1780s.

Next is the scenic highlight of the drive at Kent Falls State Park, where you’ll hike to one of the biggest waterfalls in the state along a colorful path. Take a short detour off Route 7 to Route 128 into West Cornwall and traverse the city’s famous red-covered bridge, then take in views of autumn over the Housatonic River. If you’re feeling strong, take another detour off Route 7 onto Route 126, and you can hike a stretch of the Appalachian Trail to get the blood moving. Or make a stop in Woodbury, considered by some to be the antiques capital of New England.

7. Acadia National Park — Maine

Photo: f11photo/Shutterstock

Though you’ll probably be sharing it with every leaf-peeping tourist north of the Mason-Dixon Line, this 27-mile loop thfough one of America’s most striking national parks is still worth the traffic. The park is at its peak this time of year, when the imposing figure of Cadillac Mountain seems a little more friendly when covered in reds and yellows, so try to visit on a weekday to avoid the majority of the crowds. Stand among the boulders in one of Acadia’s famous beaches for a striking contrast between the blue ocean and the bright trees on the shore. Or take a bicycle through some of the park’s less-traveled roads.

The best time to catch the colors is around the middle of October, both because it’s peak foliage time and also because the weather is the best for hiking. Assuming that Mother Nature cooperates, you can hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain and see the colors spread out over the park, with sweeping views of the Porcupine Islands in the distance.


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Movie stunts you can do in real life

From rocking an Indiana Jones costume as a kid to ordering a martini shaken, not stirred, we’ve all fantasized about being our favorite action stars. The dream usually only lasts a moment, though, considering the physical feats these protagonists pull off. But there’s hope for wannabe movie heroes yet. Many of the most iconic action sequences ever filmed were shot in equally unforgettable destinations around the world, some of which actually offer visitors the chance to recreate their favorite on-screen moments. To experience thrills you thought were only movie magic, put these totally doable film stunts at the top of your bucket list.

1. Be like Bond and do the GoldenEye Bungee Jump.

Photo: GoldenEye + Mor65_Mauro Piccardi/Shutterstock

In what is widely considered one of the most epic stunts of all time, Pierce Brosnan’s Bond dives off the Contra Dam in Ticino, Switzerland, plummeting more than 700 feet toward the rocky basin below. The tallest commercial bungee jump when it opened (it has since been surpassed by the Macau Tower jump), this roughly eight-second free fall is possible to do anytime between April and October. You’ll need to make reservations well in advance, giving you plenty of time to rewatch GoldenEye and psych yourself up for the famous swan dive.

2. Skydive Point Break style.

Photo: Point Break + Mauricio Graiki/Shutterstock

Fans of the 1991 cult classic will be thrilled to learn that they can recreate the iconic skydiving scenes, which helped launch the extreme sport into previously unseen levels of popularity. While the ever-quotable “speed star” scene was shot over Lake Powell, Utah, much of the footage was captured in Southern California. Patrick Swayze himself trained at Skydive Perris not far from LA, where you can have your very own Point Break moment. You’d need quite a few jumps under your belt to attempt the actual five-person formation with your own gang of adrenaline junkies, but Skydive Perris offers first-time tandem jumps (and packages for experienced jumpers) where you’ll fall from 12,500 feet.

3. Whitewater raft down the Kawarau River like the Lord of the Rings crew.

Photo: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring + Naruedom Yaempongsa/Shutterstock

Middle Earth got a whole lot closer after Peter Jackson adapted Tolkien’s trilogy for the big screen. For a real-life adventure on the fictional River Anduin, all you have to do is pack your bags for Queenstown, New Zealand. Queenstown Rafting hosts epic whitewater rafting tours on the Kawarau River, which LOTR buffs will recognize as the site where Frodo and friends paddled towards the Gates of Argonath and Pillars of the Earth. Thrill seekers will be tickled to find formidable class three and four rapids here, and just about everyone can enjoy the fantastically beautiful scenery.

4. Channel your inner Ethan Hunt by rock climbing in Canyonlands.

Photo: Mission: Impossible II + Robert Crum/Shutterstock

Mission: Impossible II opens with Tom Cruise maneuvering up a rock face at Dead Horse Point, Utah, in ways that seem to challenge physics itself. While his exact mission is, in fact, impossible as rock climbing is prohibited at Dead Horse Point, you can have a nearly identical adventure in neighboring Canyonlands National Park. Summit the towering sandstone peaks at Island in the Sky, and you’ll immediately recognize your surroundings from the intense opening scene. Plan your visit during spring or fall for the best weather conditions, but be careful: The routes can be dangerous, ranging from 5.5 to 5.12 in difficulty, making them fit for only the most experienced amateur action stars.

5. 4WD across the Sossusvlei like in Mad Max: Fury Road.

Photo: Mad Max: Fury Road + Wandel Guides/Shutterstock

Although the original Mad Max trilogy was shot in Australia, location scouts brought the newest addition to the franchise all the way to Namibia. The fiery dunes and bone-dry salt and clay pans of the Sossusvlei were an obvious choice for the post-apocalyptic flick. To get in on the action, rent a 4WD vehicle and let your imagination run wild in otherworldly Namib-Naukluft National Park. You won’t find souped-up vehicles outfitted with flame-throwers like you saw in the film, but you’ll feel just as badass after circling the 550-foot Dune 45 past the park entrance at Sesriem.

6. Swing from the vines like Indiana Jones.

Photo: Raiders of the Lost Ark + Kipu Ranch Adventures/Facebook

In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harrison Ford makes his debut as the fedora-wearing, whip-wielding professor of archaeology we all know and love. In one memorable sequence, Indy is seen being chased through the jungle by its indigenous inhabitants, ultimately making a daring exit by swinging from a vine into a river where his getaway plane awaits. The scene was shot at the Huleia River in Kauai, Hawaii, where the rope swing remains to this day. Book an action-packed island tour with Kipu Ranch Adventures, and you’ll get the chance to do as Indy does and launch yourself from the riverbank on one of your epic stops. Getaway plane not included.

7. Trek to the monastery from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Photo: Star Wars: The Force Awakens + Kanuman/Shutterstock

Not only is the monastery on Skellig Michael, located west of County Kerry in Ireland, a Jedi sanctuary from Episode VII of the Star Wars saga, but it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Getting there might not sound like much of an adventure, but navigating the craggy isle is not for the faint of heart. Make sure both you and your hiking boots are in good shape before following in Rey and Luke’s footsteps by climbing the more than 600 rock-carved steps to the 6th-century monastery. Tours operate from mid-May to late-September, and you’ll need to plan ahead as no more than 180 people are allowed to set foot on cinematic Skellig Michael per day.

8. Stage an underwater fight scene with a friend (or foe) at Thunderball Grotto.

Photo: Thunderball + Patrick Horton/Shutterstock

Scenes from not one but two Bond films were shot at Thunderball Grotto in the Bahamas: Never Say Never Again and the eponymous Thunderball. Located between the Big Major and Staniel Cays, this idyllic yet easy-to-miss grotto is teeming with aquatic wildlife, making it an excellent place to swim with the fishes — literally, of course. Come at low tide for an easy, snorkel-in entrance or to make a daring descent from the roughly 20-foot opening at the top. If you come at high tide, be sure to bring dive gear as you’ll need to enter underwater. Note that the current can get quite strong at Thunderball Grotto, so while you don’t need to be 007 levels of athletic to visit, you’ll need to be a strong swimmer.


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Why Burning Man 2018 will be intense

Since its beginning over three decades ago, countercultural rave camping party Burning Man has stormed through the lives of the people who go to it — and through news and social media articles. These articles light up every August with pictures of unbelievable art: flaming octopuses; enormous zoetrope sculptures of Hell’s boatman Charon; and a life-sized, dilapidated country chapel called the Church Trap.

This stretch of Nevada desert is known as Black Rock City to its temporary residents, the 80,000 attendees who hail from all over the world. The event is built from the ground up every year, and no permanent structures remain on the land once the event is over. Even debris pieces as small as a sparkle of glitter are picked up and removed since the Black Rock Desert is preserved federal land and must be left as environmentally pristine as possible.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Burning Man may seem like just another dance party popular with wealthy tech workers like Elon Musk, who plans to attend again this year. But for many, it has become a focal point in their personal, spiritual, and social engagements. People make connections at Black Rock City that affect the rest of their lives. (I, for one, met my husband there.)

As profound as Burning Man can be for many people, this year’s Burn promises to be more intense than ever. Here’s why.

Larry Harvey (1948-2018)

A post shared by Burning Man (@burningman) on Apr 28, 2018 at 1:26pm PDT

In April of 2018, one of Burning Man’s founders, Larry Harvey, died. In 1986, Larry and some friends in the San Francisco Cacophony Society burned the very first Man (a small effigy) on San Francisco’s Baker Beach. Since then, Larry — who was known for his iconic Stetson and a wide, easy grin — became the voice and face of the growing “Burning Man Movement,” as he eventually called it.

In 2004, Larry developed the Ten Principles of Burning Man, which includes ideas like radical self-expression, community involvement, decommodification, and leaving no trace. Larry has been quoted in the press, spoken at TED conferences, and attended the gala opening of the Smithsonian’s Burning Man exhibit at the Renwick Gallery in Washington, on view through January 2019. A Larry stand-in even shows up in the iconic Malcolm In The Middle episode in which Malcolm runs away to Burning Man.

After his death, Larry inspired a “Global Day of Gratitude” last June. People around the world whose lives had been touched by Burning Man were encouraged to personally memorialize the man who made the magic happen. At Burning Man itself, Larry’s death will be memorialized in a few ways.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

The Temple Burn will be insane.

The highlight of Burning Man usually takes place on the second Saturday of the 10-day event, when a massive statue of a man is set aflame. This year, the festival’s most important moment may well be the next day when the Temple burns.

Every Sunday, after the majority of Burners have left, a beautifully crafted wooden temple is set aflame. The first Temple was designed and built by sculptor David Best in 2000. It was an immense and graceful structure constructed entirely of wood scraps from children’s toys. David Best dedicated that Temple to a friend who had recently died in a motorcycle accident and to anyone impacted by suicide.

Since then, the Temple has become a mainstay of Black Rock City. People come to the Temple to remember those who left us in the previous year. It’s hard not to be moved by the homemade memorials sketched and nailed on the bones of its structure and the quiet contemplation of those who visit it.

This year, more people than ever will stay for the Temple Burn. The Temple itself — designed this year by 35-year-old French architect Arthur Mamou-Mani — was ironically chosen by Larry Harvey himself. Many more people will wind their way home one day later this year, having even less time to recover from the lack of sleep and harsh conditions of the desert.

Photo: Scott Sporleder

Artwork and events will be dedicated to Larry Harvey.

Whether they have personally met Larry Harvey or not, many Burners owe a debt of gratitude to his hard work over the years. Multiple unofficial memorials will be scattered all over the playa, as the dusty center of Black Rock City is called. Two officially “placed” artworks — meaning they’re listed in the art map for Black Rock City — memorializing Larry Harvey are planned, as well.

“Passage Home” by Kate Raudenbush is a series of pentagonal doorways receding into the eastern-facing horizon, ending with a silhouette of Larry Harvey walking into the sunrise. Renowned bronze sculptor Mischell Phoenix Riley will be bringing a large bust of Larry with a space at the bottom for participants to sit and contemplate the event. Previous sculptures Riley brought to Burning Man included a model of Leonardo da Vinci’s head that you could walk inside and a stunning bust of poet Maya Angelou.

Seattle camp System Reboot is organizing a moment of silence. This will be hard for a population of 80,000, but the effect of sudden silence in the unending bustle that is Black Rock City will be intense. Other planned events range from a parade of Larry enthusiasts across the main drag at sunset to a Larry Harvey Happy Hour, where you can wear your own Stetson hat and cowboy boots.

While you can never quite expect what other antics will come from this year’s Burning Man, what is certain is that the passion that people bring to the playa, in combination with the heightened emotions due to the passing of the famous founder, will lead to a Burning Man unlike any other — and one you won’t want to miss.


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Overhead bag theft on Asian airlines

While it might not exactly be an epidemic, a man was filmed allegedly stealing bags from a business-class overhead compartment on a Malaysia Airlines flight.

Faiz Mokhtar was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Ho Chi Minh City when one of his colleagues noticed a man taking Mokhtar’s laptop bag from the overhead locker. Mokhtar caught the man rummaging through his bag, about to pocket euros and US dollars, when he confronted him.

“I did a thorough checking of my bag,” said Mokhtar, “because my biggest concerns were my traveling documents (passport etc.) and whether he had implanted any illegal items in an attempt to use me as his transporter (read: drug-mule syndicate).” The cabin crew was alerted to the situation and immediately called security and the police, which removed the man from the flight and filled in a report with Mokhtar.

Mokhtar was later informed by the cabin crew that “there is a syndicate that has been conducting this modus operandi on China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam flights.” According to an article in The Economist, Hong Kong police have reported a 25% increase in cabin-baggage robberies in 2015, up to 60 incidents total.

The Economist reports a dramatic incident when a Turkish businessman had $260,000 in cash and goods stolen from his overhead luggage in 2016 while he was traveling to Hong Kong.

Following the incident, Mokhtar warned flyers to “please be careful of your belongings, and use extra safety tools, i.e. bag locks, and do travel in groups when possible.”

H/T: AirlineRatings

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The world's first beer hotel is open

Here’s one hotel that’s definitely not suitable for children. In March 2017, Scottish beer company BrewDog launched a crowdfunding campaign for the “world’s first crowdfunded craft beer hotel” with taps in all the rooms, mini-fridges stocked with beer, and a spa using beer-infused products. Now, the 32-room hotel is open for business. Starting on August 27, beer lovers can enjoy the wide range of unique amenities at The DogHouse in Columbus, Ohio.

Guests will enjoy in-room taps filled with seasonal BrewDog beer, mini-fridges in every room fully stocked with beer, and vitamin B-rich malted barley beverages at the spa. Some rooms will even have a wet bar with views of BrewDog’s sour-beer facility. And yes, true to its name, you can book dog-friendly rooms, as well. Upon entering the hotel, guests will immediately be greeted by a lobby bartender who will hand them their first complimentary drink. The lobby will also offer activities like beer pong and has a connecting interactive beer museum.

James Watt, co-founder and CEO of BrewDog, said in a statement, “From welcome pints of Punk IPA and malt massages to brewery views and shower beers, this will be the world’s first and only fully immersive craft-beer experience from check-in to check-out.”

Standard rooms start at $162 a night, but true beer enthusiasts would probably prefer the BrewMaster Suite at $284.

H/T: Travel & Leisure

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Best breakfast spots in NYC

While people who live in New York City may seem like they’re always on the go, we do make time for a morning meal — it’s the most important meal of the day, after all, and we need a lot of energy to get through our busy days. There’s a growing number of breakfast restaurants that offer new takes on a morning menu and aren’t just open for Sunday brunch. Start off your day in the Big Apple the right way with a bite from one of these awesome breakfast spots in New York City.

1. Absolute Bagels

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There’s nothing like a NYC bagel. While there are disagreements on butter vs. cream cheese and toasted vs. not toasted, there’s a consensus among us all that the bagel is king of breakfast foods. Absolute Bagels is a cash-only Upper West Side venue, and it’s beloved by all. Freshly made on the day, every type of bagel is available, from cinnamon raisin to egg to pumpernickel. What spread to get is the probably the hardest decision you’ll have to make, with over ten different kinds, ranging from the tried-and-true plain cream cheese to sundried-tomato cream cheese. Prices start at $1.45 and go as high as $3.95. Vegetarians and vegans can also go wild here, with nine tofutti spreads to choose from.

Where: 2788 Broadway, New York, NY 10025

2. Hi-Collar

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Reminiscent of compact restaurants in Japan that seat only a few people at a time, Hi-Collar is a Japanese restaurant in Manhattan that’s a coffeehouse by day and a sake bar by night. Inside the narrow space, you’ll find 13 stools underneath a long golden table facing shoji screens and shelved glasses, teas, and liquor. The daytime food menu consists of six entrees, but you’ll want to try the omurice — rice with tomato sauce that’s covered by a fluffy omelet. The western-influenced omurice is a popular breakfast food in Japan though it can be eaten at any time. You can get different sauces like the original, cream, or demi-glace, as well as toppings like cheese and sausages. It’s pretty popular on weekends, though, so show up a little before opening or go on a weekday.

Where: 214 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003

3. The Flame Diner

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The Flame is a typical American diner with no frills or fuss. It’s a local favorite for both the college students that surround the area and the local community. The Greek-owned and -operated establishment is open 24 hours, rain or shine, so you can satisfy a craving at any point. The breakfast menu is extensive, but we recommend ordering the Oreo-cookie pancakes. You only get three pancakes per serving, but you’ll be lucky if you can finish. If you’re feeling optimistic about the depths of your stomach, add a scoop of ice cream for an additional $4.

Where: 893 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

4. Dominique Ansel Bakery

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Probably best known as the creator of the cronut, a croissant-doughnut hybrid, Dominique Ansel opened up his first bakery in Soho in 2011. Since then, locations have spawned in other parts of NYC, as well as Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo. It’s so famous that sometimes, while opening isn’t officially until 8:00 AM, a line forms at least an hour earlier. The bakery has had to limit purchases to two cronuts per person (at $6 a pop). Weekends tend to be busier, so arriving on a weekday morning before you officially start the day may be your best bet. If waiting doesn’t appeal to you, DAB also serves up egg sandwiches and other pastries that you can grab on the go for a quick breakfast.

Where: 189 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

5. Egg Shop

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The original Soho location of the Egg Shop is worth the wait, but if you can, try to get a reservation. Created by wife and husband duo Sarah Schneider and Demetri Makoulis in conjunction with chef Nick Korbee, the Egg Shop turns a simple egg into so much more, showing off its versatility. Once you make it past the door, what awaits you is a myriad of egg-centric dishes, so you’d better be an egghead. New Yorkers love their “baconeggandcheese” sandwiches — we say it so fast, it sounds like one word — so you can’t go wrong with Egg Shop’s B.E.C or El Camino, which is a poached egg, avocado, pulled-pork carnitas, homemade black-bean salsa, shaved red cabbage, and cilantro, all on a fried tortilla.

Where: 151 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012

6. Moss Café

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Moss Café is a Kosher, farm-to-table cafe, restaurant, and espresso bar. By using locally sourced ingredients, it aims to provide customers with fresh, high-quality food. Hearty and healthy is the method to the madness here. We recommend the farmer’s-market-scramble dish, which consists of three scrambled eggs with roasted asparagus, maitake mushrooms, chives, and freshly made polenta bread or the shakshuka, a Moroccan spiced stew with roasted tomatoes, dried lime, cubanelle peppers, two eggs, feta, and sourdough toast. Even simple avocado toast is done up and presented in a new, creative way, so you can’t go wrong with anything you pick.

Where: 3260 Johnson Ave, Bronx, NY 10463

7. Jimmy’s Grand Cafe

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For typical American food with a Latin twist, visit Jimmy’s Grand Cafe. The outside may deceive onlookers who might mistake it for a restaurant-nightclub hybrid. While that may be true of Jimmy’s on weekend nights, during the daytime it’s where you can get French toast dipped in coquito (an alcoholic Puerto Rican drink similar to eggnog) or a Dominican breakfast of mangu (mashed plantains), eggs, fried salami, and tostones (fried plantains).

Where: 1001 Castle Hill Ave, Bronx, NY 10472

8. Pies ‘n’ Thighs

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If you’re hankering for homestyle Southern comfort food, look no further than Pies ‘n’ Thighs in Williamsburg. Everything here is mouth-wateringly delicious, but the buttermilk biscuits take the cake. Warm, fresh, and fluffy, the biscuits are filling on their own, but you can also get them with a side of cream cheese and jam or gravy, or as a sandwich base with chicken, egg, and cheese, or sausage cozied up in the middle.

Where: 166 S 4th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

9. Okonomi

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There’s no set menu at Okonomi, a Japanese-style eatery in Brooklyn. Meals are served as ichiju sansai, which literally translates to “one soup, three dishes” and is meant to promote the importance of a balanced diet. Many prefer to begin their day with ichiju sansai so as to have a healthy and productive start to the day. Rice is served with miso soup, roasted fish, vegetables, and an egg, with all food being cooked in hot water or roasted without any oil and butter. Everyone gets the same food with the only difference being in how the fish is cooked. You can choose from one of four ways: shio yaki (salt-roasted), saikyo miso (sweet miso), sake kasu (sake lees), and kombu jime (dry kelp cured).

Where: 150 Ainslie St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

10. Delaware and Hudson

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You no longer need to wait to happen upon a street festival or head over to an amusement park if you want sweet street food because Delaware and Hudson’s has you covered. Typical breakfast foods, like omelets and pancakes, are served here, but an unusual food usually reserved for fairs really shines. For $15, customers can get pillowy, deep-fried funnel cake topped with powdered sugar, maple syrup, and breakfast sausage. It’ll make you rethink sweets for breakfast entirely.

Where: 135 North 5th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249

11. Everything Goes Book Cafe

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Doubling as a cafe and used bookstore where visitors can peruse old vinyl records and local art, everything really does go at Everything Goes Book Cafe. While reading about the adventures of the Great Detective, you could chow down on a Hum-dinger sandwich, a bagel with hummus and cream cheese, or a Monkey Pie. For vegans, or if you’re feeling particularly health-conscious, try an Itiji bowl with brown rice, scallions, carrots, kale, and cabbage.

Where: 208 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY 10301

12. J’s on the Bay

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Sure, you could get chicken and waffles anywhere, but you should get them at J’s on the Bay. Here, you’ll get the dish with a twist — like drunken chicken parmesan waffles with cherry tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, garlic chips, crispy chicken, and vodka sauce or J’s chicken and waffles with cheddar cheese, fried chicken, caramelized bacon-onion jam, and chipotle aioli. Other hearty dishes include French batter croissants covered with Nutella mascarpone or a chocolate-peanut-butter waffle. Make sure to come hungry because you’re going to want to have every last bite.

Where: 1189 Bay St, Staten Island, NY 10305

13. Bayou

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Bayou is Cajun-style through and through, from the name itself to the decor to the food on the menu. It serves typical Southern fare, but you’ll want to try the savory crepes and egg platters. There’s the Voodoo Crepe filled with parmesan cheese, baby spinach, garbanzo, and scrambled eggs, as well as the Streetcar Crepe with bacon and fried eggs and cheddar and jack cheeses. But if you’re looking for something sweet, there’s the Bourbon Street French Toast, topped with strawberries, pecans, and Creme Fraiche. For some entertainment, visit during the weekends when there’s live music playing from opening to the end of brunch.

Where: 1072 Bay St, Staten Island, NY 10305

14. Vibes

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A soul food haven — maybe even heaven — Vibes’ motto is “come and feel the vibes.” The food is reasonably priced and appetizing, and the staff is happy and helpful. For breakfast, bring a bit of surf to your coop with shrimp omelets or go for the fried lobster chicken and waffles.

Where: 143-06 Liberty Ave, Jamaica, NY 11435

15. The Panorama of My Silence-Heart

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Also known as Panorama Café, Panorama of My Silence-Heart is an artsy cafe full of positive energy. The venue is inspired by the philosophy of Sri Chinmoy, a spiritual teacher, poet, and composer, and it’s actually run by some of his students. You don’t have to feel guilty about indulging here as the menu is chock-full of healthy options. Healthy and tasty, choices like the acai-piña-colada bowl, quinoa-black-bean burger sandwich, Thai iced tea, and goji-cacao balls surely won’t disappoint.

Where: 84-73 Parsons Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11432

16. Queens Comfort

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The nostalgic venue of Queen’s Comfort draws in customers via its inner child. The decor will instantly bring up childhood memories, from the bust of Ronald McDonald to Batman figurines in original costume. The menu boasts over 50 items, and many of them will give you a sugar rush or the best stomachache of your life. Think Cinnamon Toast Crunch-crusted French toast, Cap’n Crunch-crusted chicken (or tofu) sandwiches, and deep-fried mac and cheese. Get comfortable, bring cash, and enjoy your blast from the past.

Where: 3618 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103


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Why you shouldn't fear Ebola

The Ebola virus is back again. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is rushing to prevent the latest outbreak from spreading beyond its borders. But the West African epidemic from 2014 to 2016 — which touched nine countries and killed over 11,000 people — is still fresh in many minds. With flights connecting every corner of the world, many fear that this deadly virus could wreak havoc on international airports, leading to a worldwide panic, again. But travelers should absolutely not be afraid. Here’s why.

Emily Scott is a Registered Nurse of eight years with a Diploma in Tropical Nursing from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. She deployed to Sierra Leone in 2015 to help contain West Africa’s Ebola epidemic. Emily works as a labor and delivery nurse in Washington state and travels abroad frequently for humanitarian medical service.

1. Ebola isn’t new.

Outbreaks of the hemorrhagic fever have been occurring in Africa since 1976. They just didn’t make major headlines until 2014, when the West African epidemic got out of control. Dedicated and knowledgeable health workers have been stopping the virus in its tracks for decades. Despite the unusual set of circumstances that led to its spread in West Africa, Ebola’s history is largely one of brief flare-ups followed by successful containment.

2. It’s farther away than you think.

Even if you’re planning to travel to Africa, it’s unlikely you’ll be anywhere near the danger zone. The current outbreak is centered in a remote, conflict-ridden area of DRC — no one is going there on vacation. Africa is a gigantic continent (big enough to fit the United States three times), and most visitors will be hundreds, if not thousands, of miles from the nearest Ebola patient. Would you cancel a trip to Disneyland if there was a measles outbreak in New York City?

3. Ebola is hard to catch.

Despite how it may appear on the news, Ebola is not the world’s most contagious disease. It is spread by physical contact with bodily fluids. So to catch it, you would have to touch the blood, saliva, or other fluids of a person who is ill. Ebola is not airborne. Even if someone sick with the virus somehow ended up on a plane, it would not circulate via the air. That means the average traveler has next to no chance of catching the disease. The vast majority of Ebola cases have been among caregivers, whether health professionals or family members, who took care of Ebola patients themselves. Unless you make a habit of touching sick people or spending time in Congolese hospitals, you’re not at risk. No tourist has ever contracted Ebola.

4. Travelers come from places with strong health systems.

The virus moves quickly in some parts of Africa because they lack the infrastructure to contain it. Resources as simple as running water for hand washing or infection-prevention training for healthcare workers can be the deciding factor in whether or not the disease will be contained. International travel is dominated by tourists from countries with good sanitation and hygiene, coming to places with reliable infrastructure. That’s why West Africa saw over 28,000 Ebola cases, but the disease was only transmitted to two people on American soil.

5. The response is better this time.

The global health community’s sluggish response to West Africa’s outbreak added fuel to the fire. It doesn’t want to make the same mistake again. Major international health organizations are already on the ground in DRC to contain the virus. A strategy called “ring vaccination” — administering the new Ebola vaccine to everyone who has had physical contact with those who fall ill — is already underway, and experimental treatments are being given to patients.

6. Prevention measures are in place.

Travelers coming from Ebola-affected areas are thoroughly screened and monitored. In the United States, for example, returning health workers submit to an in-depth interview at customs and are required to contact public health authorities every day for three weeks. If they experience any symptoms, they will report to the nearest designated hospital with a team trained to manage suspected Ebola patients. It is extremely unlikely that a traveler from DRC would slip through the cracks in this system.

7. Fear will only make the outbreak worse.

The quickest way to stop Ebola in its tracks is to send teams of experts to do what they do best. These experts will leave their families and jobs to risk their own health in order to protect others. During the West African outbreak, these people were stigmatized by those who didn’t understand the facts of the disease. Isolating and stigmatizing Ebola responders makes health workers less likely to volunteer to help, which only prolongs the outbreak. And hysteria in the news makes travelers from Ebola-affected areas ashamed and more likely to hide symptoms, putting others at risk. Facts, not fear, are the public’s most effective defense against Ebola.


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