Matador Network's Blog, page 2134

10 simple steps to crisper photos

1. Aperture

When we get a lens that allows for shallow aperture, we get really excited about creating all that delicious bokeh and blur in the out-of-focus background, isolating our subjects and feeling a heightened sense of creativity. However, many of us in this situation live around f/2.8 (or even f/1.4) and then wonder why the images aren’t super sharp. This is because the depth of field is too narrow and you can easily miss your focal mark — for example, if you’re taking a portrait and you misfocus on the eyes, you might get a nose or ear sharp instead. If this happens to you a lot, but you still want some background blur, try working at f/4 or f/5.6 to pull more of your subject into focus. The background might remain blurred but a bit less so (this would depend on how much zoom you are using, among a few other factors). Regardless, your subject should retain more overall sharpness and really pop from the rest of the scene. If you’re shooting a landscape, do what you can to be around f/8 up to f/13 or even f/22, with f/11 being a prime aperture on many lenses for optimum front-to-back sharpness (the image is sharp from the foreground all the way through to the background), contrast, and overall “pop.”

Mountain goat, Olympic National Park, Washington

1/400 sec, f/4, ISO 160, 24-135mm lens at 70mm

Hand-held, image stabilization

Climber on overhanging cliff face, Banff, Alberta

1/80 sec, f/5, ISO 100, 24-105mm lens at 105mm

Hand-held, image stabilization, camera braced on knees in seated position, fill flash

2. Shutter speed

A general rule of thumb to start with when shooting specifically hand-held (no tripod) is to use a shutter speed that is the inverse of your lens focal length. When shooting with a 200mm lens, for example, use a shutter speed of 1/200 second or faster, minimum, for a sharper shot. This is called the “1/mm rule,” and explains why you can shoot a wide angle lens at a much slower shutter speed than a telephoto lens and still get crisp photos. As you add length to the lens, the natural (and unavoidable) movement in our hands (and feet, and whole body) become more and more pronounced, especially if with that length comes weight.

Ming dynasty style door knocker, Temple of Heaven Park, Beijing, China

1/30 sec, f/4, ISO 100, 24-105mm lens at 24mm

Hand-held, on knees, elbows braced at sides, image stabilization

Decapitated tulip head laying in muddy water, Skagit Valley farm, Washington

1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

Hand-held, image stabilization

3. Control Your Focus

For better control over you focusing, you may need to change your camera’s focusing mode to only use one focusing point. This allows you to choose exactly where you want the main focal point to fall in the frame. Without doing this, you really can’t control what your camera is focusing on — it’s pretty much just guessing.

For example, when taking a portrait, be sure to focus on the eyes — especially at wide apertures. Sometimes these wide apertures can be so shallow that you can’t even get both of your subject’s eyes in focus, especially if one is farther back than the other (at an angle). You could ask your subject to directly face the camera so that both eyes can be in focus, but that isn’t always the most flattering pose.

If only one eye can be in focus, make it the more dominant eye closest to the camera. Another example being landscapes, you want to focus on something in your foreground, at a high aperture, sending the focus from that point all the way to the back of the frame. Focusing on those pretty mountains far away won’t do too many favours for everything in front of them.

Portrait of teenage girl leaning against brick wall, Everett, Washington

1/100 sec, f/4, ISO 200, 24-105mm lens at 67mm

Hand-held, image stabilization, fill flash shot through diffuser umbrella

Kowloon street at night, Kowloon, Hong Kong

1/30 sec, f/5, ISO 400, 16-35mm lens at 35mm

Hand-held, image stabilization

4. Light

If you’re making sharper images by using fast shutter speeds and narrower apertures, that’s great! But it can mean you are blocking out a lot of light. One good way to handle this — aside from landscapes — is to place your subject in bright shade, or right next to a window that doesn’t have direct sunlight streaming in. Light can then reflect in from many directions to bath your subject in soft bright light.

For landscapes, a method is to shoot at brighter times of day (but this can lead to harsh shadows, so aim for early morning or late afternoon). If you are shooting at golden hour or morning hour (sunset or sunrise) times then you might lose light quickly and thus need to brace, rapid fire, or break out a tripod, allowing you to lower your shutter speed (letting in more light). Read on for each method.

Girl in window light

1/400 sec, f/1.8, ISO 100, 50mm lens

Hand-held, image stabilization

The sun rises over karst mountains and a man paddling bamboo raft down Lijiang River, Yangshuo, Guanxi, China

1/80 sec, f/8, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 70mm

Hand-held, image stabilization, braced on bridge railing

5. Bracing

If you cannot break out a tripod (either you don’t have it, or you don’t have time) then proper bracing will also help you to hold your camera very steady. Here are some suggestions: first, stand with your feet straight and steady; cradle your left hand under the camera body with fingertips under the lens and put your right hand on the side of the camera ready to push the shutter release; bring both elbows in tight against your body and hold the camera lightly up against your face. Next, take in a deep breath, let it back out about half way, hold it and relax. Slowly and lightly press the shutter release button. Even better than standing is to find something to lean, sit or lay against. Sometimes I’ll even brace the camera itself against a tree, on top of my bag or jacket, or directly on the ground.

Red fox (black phase), Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, 420mm lens

Hand-held, image stabilization, camera resting on edge of partially-opened car window

Yellow tulip and blue sky, Skagit Valley farm, Washington

1/100 sec, f/11, ISO 200, 24-105mm lens at 24mm

Hand-held camera braced on ground, image stabilization

6. Rapid fire

Aside from lens length and slow shutter speeds, another way we introduce camera shake is by pressing and releasing the shutter release button — obviously something critical to photography. One of my favorite tricks for getting sharper hand-held photos is to set my camera up for continuous shooting mode and holding the shutter release button down for a series of three or more photos. Often the middle exposures will be sharper than the first and last shots because your finger is stationary on the button during these middle shots, rather than actively pressing or releasing the button during the first and last shots.

7. Tripod

With many of my landscape, cityscape or nature photos shot in early morning or late evening light, and often using narrow apertures for great depth of field, shutter speeds can easily run from 1/4 to 30 seconds or longer. A tripod then becomes essential for sharpness. I like to use a tripod with a ball head and quick release plate that lets me quickly attach the camera and frame up the scene. Tripods come in all sizes, including some that collapse down for easier packing. Choose one you can carry easily and practice setting it up at home so you’re comfortable with. Even in nice light, a tripod is a great tool to ensure your images are absolutely tack sharp. Remember — parts of the image can be “blurry” or smooth, especially shooting in full seconds. You could have people moving around, rivers, ocean, clouds, cars, all moving — but with a tripod, your focal point should still remain nice and sharp.

Travertine terraces, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

1/3 sec, f/22, ISO 100, 24-105mm lens at 35mm

Tripod, cable release, mirror lockup

Oneonta Creek, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Oregon

1.3 sec, f/16, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 150mm

Tripod, cable release, mirror lockup

8. Shutter release cable or timer

Even with your camera firmly mounted to a tripod, pushing the shutter release button with your finger can still jostle the camera during exposure (especially a long one). You can easily avoid this by either using a shutter release cable or by using your camera’s built-in timer to trigger the shot instead of your finger. I often use my camera’s two-second timer, but I’ll haul out the shutter release cable if timing the picture to some fleeting moment in the scene is important.

Daffodils blooming on Skagit Valley farm, Washington

1/8 sec, f/18, ISO 100, 17mm tilt-shift lens

Tripod, cable release, mirror lockup

Point Wilson Lighthouse and Mount Baker, Port Townsend, Washington

1/15 sec, f/8, ISO 100, 70-200mm lens at 200mm

Tripod, 2 second timer, mirror lockup

9. Mirror Slap

If you own an SLR, the first thing your SLR camera does after you press the shutter release button is swing the viewfinder mirror up and out of the way of the shutter. That clicking noise you hear when you press the shutter release is the mirror slapping up against the view finder. This motion causes the camera to vibrate a little, which can cause image blur at a slow or long shutter speed. This is especially noticeable when you are using a long telephoto lens, like a 200mm, which magnifies any camera motion. Check to see if your camera has a “mirror lock” feature. With this feature turned on, you will need to press the shutter release button twice: once to swing the mirror and again to release the shutter and take the photo. The pause between these two presses give time for these mirror slap vibrations to settle out. The viewfinder will go dark between these button presses, so used this technique with a tripod.

Purple irises blooming on Skagit Valley farm, Washington

1/4 sec, f/22, ISO 100, 17mm tilt-shift lens

Tripod, cable release, mirror lockup

9. Image stabilization

Many lenses and some cameras have some form of image stabilization, vibration reduction or “SteadyShot.” Sensors within the lens or camera detect camera motion and automatically nudge the image or the sensor in the opposite direction to compensate. This bit of electronic magic lets you hand-hold your camera with shutter speeds 4 to 10 times longer than the “1/mm rule” mentioned above. Image stabilization works particularly great when you are shooting with shutter speeds down to about 1/4 second. If you want really sharp photos all the time, these lenses might be worth investing in.

Snow Geese in flight, Skagit Valley, Washington

1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100, 420mm lens

Hand-held, image stabilization

10. Bringing it all together

All of these techniques can be combined to make photos with super sharpness — even if part of the image is moving in a long exposure. When shooting hand-held, you can consider the “1/mm” rule, find good light, brace your camera, use breath control, lean up against something solid, use ISO, use image stabilization, and/or fire off a burst of several or more shots. For really long exposures, find good light, shoot from a tripod, use a shutter release cable or timer, and engage that mirror lock feature. All the time be considering your aperture (especially if wide), and be in control of your focal point(s). Now go shoot!

Point Wilson Lighthouse under starry skies, Port Townsend, Washington

30 sec, f/4, ISO 1600, 24-105mm lens at 28mm

Tripod, cable release, mirror lockup

Note: Lighthouse is illuminated by moonlight

Shiprock Rock, New Mexico

15 sec at f/16, ISO 100, 24-105mm lens at 35mm

Tripod, cable release, mirror lockup

Signs you learned to drink in Wales

Photo: Steve Watkins

1. You had your 10th birthday party, your first drink, first dance, first kiss, possibly first shag (out the back behind the bins?), your wedding, your baby’s christening, and will have your funeral at your local social club.

For the uninitiated, a social club is an ugly grey building built in the 1920s and designed to be the social centre of small or inner-city communities. They can take the form of the rugby, football or snooker club; the Labour, Conservative or Lib Dem club; the ex-serviceman’s or railway club, and so on. They host fitness classes for your mom and show rugby on a big screen every weekend. Most importantly, the beer and room hire are dirt cheap and there appears to be no adherence to drinking, gambling, or performance laws. Most people there are quite old and have been boxers at one point in time.

2. You know what “aaaaarf a daaark” means, not that you’d ever want one.

3. You walk down Wine Street in Swansea on a Saturday night and think everything you see around you is normal.

4. You can’t sing the national anthem without holding a plastic glass full of Brains. Kept cold by drinking it outside, in February, in a red t-shirt, also holding an inflatable daffodil.

5. On the anthem, you’re only really sure about the lyrics to the one-word chorus: “GWALD, GWALD!” Which you scream with the passion of Zeus in the direction of the nearest Englishman/woman.

6. You once had an out-of-body experience trying to watch the rugby sober. Never again.

7. You eat chips with curry sauce before, during, and after a night out.

8. “I’m not being funny but…” is the only thing you can say or hear after midnight. And servers in kebab shops understand, correctly, as a request for chips and curry sauce.

9. You order wine on the assumption it represents the highest alcohol-to-price ratio. It always tastes awful, so you put lemonade in it and genuinely think this is being posh.

10. There are only six alcoholic drinks and three of these are different colours of beer — cider, vodka, and wine round out the bunch. You’ve attempted all the possible mixes, but the only one that worked was banned from pubs. Oh Snakebite, how I miss those luminous stains outside my student house. *Shudder*.

11. You know that every time an old man walks into a pub, no matter how far from his hometown, he will know at least one person there.

12. When in London, you refuse to believe £5 for a single glass of wine is reality. So you square up to the barman and say “I’m not being funny…but I go out with a fiver back home and get wasted, chips and curry sauce, AND a taxi. You’re taking the piss London.”

How many basic words do you know?

Featured photo by Chris JL

12 side effects of living in Chile

Photo: Felipe Skroski

1. You learn what a real sandwich looks like.

Gone are the days of two slices of bread, a few sad pieces of turkey, some lettuce and tomato. Chileans have a whole different idea of what constitutes a sandwich. Imagine a fresh, toasted hamburger bun heaping with hefty slabs of lomo (pork tenderloin), covered in melted cheese, doused in mashed avocado, piled on with mayonnaise, and then wipe the drool from your chin.

2. You start watching puppet shows to become a more informed citizen.

31 Minutos is a widely popular Chilean satirical news show which features puppets performing comically crass political commentary, impersonations of public figures, and enough double entendre to keep the parents entertained while kids remain obliviously engaged.

3. You start referring to everything as an animal.

Chileans love slang, especially animal-related slang. When you’re “pasandolo chancho,” it doesn’t mean you’re passing a pig, it mean’s you’re having a great time. When you’re “echando la yegua,” it doesn’t mean your horse laid down, it means you’re ready to relax after a tiring activity (like eating a lot). Popcorn is called cabritas (little goats) or palomitas (little doves); a sapo (frog) is a tattletale; a vaca (cow) is an idiot. After a while in Chile, you’ll find your daily language sounding more and more like a rendition of “Old Macdonald Had a Farm.”

4. You find a second home in Jumbo.

With its abundant, gleaming white aisles filled to the brim with a huge variety of everything you could ever imagine, from electronic goods, to home goods, to food, cosmetics and even clothing, you will inevitably draw comparisons between Jumbo and Target (if you’re from a country that’s blessed with Target). You will find yourself wandering around the aisles whenever you miss home (or more likely curled up on a sofa in the home furnishings section, cradling a jar of Nutella). If you can’t find a Jumbo, find solace in a Lider, which is actually owned by Walmart.

5. You discover that there is never a bad time to eat a Super 8.

Super 8 is an amazingly popular candy bar that Chileans eat all the livelong day. It’s a light, chocolatey wafer concoction that doesn’t make you feel terrible about yourself even though it’s candy. You can find Super 8 pretty much everywhere you look. Vendors even walk through traffic on the highways to sell them!

6. You feel oddly connected to Germany.

Due to a large wave of German immigrants that arrived to Chile during the latter half of the 19th century, traces of German culture have seeped their way into Chilean identity. The prevalence of sausages and sandwiches in Chilean cuisine, beer brewing techniques, names of streets, and even architecture in certain southern parts of Chile are all indicative of a history of German colonialism. In fact, a chain of Chilean diners is called La Fuente Alemana, the German Soda Fountain.

7. You eat, drink, and breathe corn.

Chileans have mastered many diverse ways of preparing choclo (Chilean for corn): Pastel de choclo, a savory corn pie with meat and veggies cooked into a corn bread; Humitas, corn mashed with onion and hot chili, wrapped in corn husks and baked or boiled; Mote con huesillo, a sweet peach refreshment containing softened corn kernels (a variation contains husked wheat instead of corn); maíz frito aka fried corn kernels, a salty picoteo (snack, usually eaten while imbibing), they even put corn on pizza!

8. The street becomes your food court.

Sopaipillas, sandwiches, fruit juices, Super Ochos, maní confitado, completos, empanadas — if it exists in Chile, you can buy it on the street. You’ll be enchanted by the plentiful options and giddily hop from stand to stand, making a normal stroll down the Alameda a one-stop, one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience.

9. You drop “po” left and right.

Few things are more Chilean than the abundant — at times even excessive — use of “po,” an abbreviation of “pues” which means “well,” but is used primarily as a meaningless filler. Dropping your first “po” after you move to Chile is something of a rite of passage. You’ll never expect it but once it happens, you’re officially culturally Chilean. Before you drop your first “po” you might say your first “cachai?” This should warn you that “po” is near.

10. You start sprinkling merken on everything.

Like avocados, merkén (smoked chili pepper) is an ingredient that Chileans love to incorporate whenever possible. It won’t be long after you move to Chile that you find yourself sprinkling merkén on cheese, eggs, and definitely on pebre (Chile’s even more delicious variation of salsa).

11. You start teasing your friends to their faces and complimenting them behind their backs.

Chileans are a humorous bunch, and they get a kick out of teasing their loved ones. There’s a running joke amongst young Chileans that men speak disparagingly to one another’s faces and praise each other behind their backs, and that the opposite is true for women. Whatever the case, as a gringo you will be an easy target for some teasing and rather than get defensive, it’s best to join in!

12. You make friends for life, and become a better friend yourself.

Chileans are thoroughly caring, generous people. They’ll offer you a shoulder to cry on, a ride home, to accompany you to the doctor’s office, even the last empanada. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better people in the world, and being surrounded by your kind Chilean friends all the time will make you a better person.

Why Nordic countries are better

Photo: Trond Kristiansen

1. Surreal natural beauty

Let’s start with the most in-your-face: Aurora Borealis (see above!). Norway’s fjords. That mouthful of a volcano, Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull. Nordic countries are the place to go for a jaw-dropping experience of the sublime.

2. People eat really well and often

Photo: Stephen Coles

The Nordic countries pretty much win the food Olympics for healthiness, affordability, quality and quantity of food available to folks who live there. Oxfam International’s “Good Enough to Eat” Index ranks Sweden and Denmark especially high, as GlobalPost’s Sarah Dougherty noted.

3. Women rock parliament

Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland all have high levels of female representation in their parliaments. The regional average of the Nordic countries is 40 percent. To put that in perspective, the next highest is the Americas with 25 percent.

How did the Nordic countries come so far? Researchers point to secularization, the strength of social democratic parties and the development of an extended welfare state, women’s entrance into the labor market in large numbers in the 1960s, the educational boom in the 1960s and the electoral system.

4. Not so much corruption

Denmark is tied for first in Transparency International’s corruption index (first is good), and the rest of the Nordic countries aren’t far behind. Finland and Sweden are tied for third, and Norway is tied for fifth. Iceland is tied for 12th, but that’s still way better than the United States at 19th.

5. Daddies get parental leave, too

Photo: Solis Invicti

Nordic countries have some of the most progressive parental leave policies out there. Notice that said “parental leave,” not just “maternal leave.” Yeah, that’s how Nordic countries see it. They all boast generous parental leave schemes with high compensation rates and affordable public daycare.

Norway introduced shared parental leave in 1977 and was the first to establish a quota for fathers in 1993. Today, parental leave in Norway totals 47 weeks with a minimum of 14 weeks for the father.

In Finland, women are entitled to four months leave starting from, at the latest, one month before the birth. Men are entitled to 54 days leave and six months can be divided between the parents. And in Sweden, parents have a total of 480 days with a minimum of 60 days for each parent. Parents can use the leave until their child turns 8.

6. Finnish baby boxes

Photo: hugovk

In Finland (putting aside the “Finland isn’t part of Scandinavia” debate), expectant mothers are given a box for their baby to sleep in that is filled with some essentials. Sort of like everything your baby needs to survive.

“It’s a tradition that dates back to the 1930s and it’s designed to give all children in Finland, no matter what background they’re from, an equal start in life,” according to the BBC.

What’s in the box? Diapers and onesies, a sleeping bag, outdoor gear, bathing products, bedding and a small mattress.

7. Really good education

Since it was reformed 40 years ago, and until last year, Finland’s education system was frequently held up as one of the best in the world. In 2012, Finland topped a Pearson index that graded countries based on international test results and data such as graduation rates between 2006 and 2010.

In Sweden, a Stockholm preschool decided to avoid using gender pronouns as well as abstaining from teaching male/female stereotypes in its curriculum. Girls are encouraged to play with Legos as much as boys are, and everyone gets to play with dolls.

8. Journalists rarely wind up in jail

All five Nordic countries are among Reporters Without Borders top 10 countries in terms of press freedom. According to their 2013 report: “The models of respect for media freedom are in northern Europe. Finland, Norway and Netherlands have led the index for years. Their success rests on solid constitutional and legal foundations, which in turn are based on a real culture of individual freedoms.” Nice.

9. The first gay marriage

In 1989, Denmark became the first country to legalize homosexual unions. Six homosexual couples were legally joined in “registered partnerships” on Oct. 2, 1989, the day the law became active, reported the New York Times.

The law gave homosexual couples most of the rights of married heterosexuals, but not the right to adopt or obtain joint custody of a child.

10. Eurovision

View image | gettyimages.com

Nordic countries have always put on a strong show at Eurovision — the international song competition that’s been running since 1956 — as hosts and competitors. Sweden hosted in 2013, a year that became famous for Finland’s Krista Siegfrids kissing one of her female dancers live on stage in front of 60 million viewers.

11. Eurovision and mass gay weddings. Together. Forever.

Denmark is hosting Eurovision this year. They will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of their first ever gay marriage by hosting a series of mass weddings. As Gay Star News reports: “Leading up to the grand final in May, the city of Copenhagen will be offering foreign gay and straight couples to marry.”

12. ABBA

View image | gettyimages.com

They’re Swedish.

13. Bjork

View image | gettyimages.com

She’s so cool. Also Icelandic.

14. Thriving heavy metal scene

Photo: Petri Damstén

This map shows metal fans per capita around the world. You’ll see that Sweden and Finland have a fairly massive lead over everyone else. Norway, Iceland and Denmark each outshine the US and the UK by a considerable margin. Why is it so? Who knows. Some have suggested it has to do with long, depressing winters. Others say music preferences have to do with personality (metal being linked to aggressive, rebellious types). Others blame Lordi, from Finland, the first metal band to win Eurovision in 2006.

15. They’re happy. It’s official.

Photo: Lilim

Denmark and Norway are No. 1 and 2, respectively. Sweden is No. 5 and Finland is No. 7. Iceland ensures all Nordic countries made it into the Top 10 of the World Happiness Report 2013, by coming in at No. 9. The index takes into account such things as life expectancy, freedom to make life choices and social support.

16. Santa lives there.

View image | gettyimages.com

OK, but reindeer do.

17. They’re religious about recycling.

Scandinavians love to recycle. Seriously. Recycling has become such an obsession in Sweden, for instance, that even The Daily Show poked fun at it (starting at 4:00 minute mark).

Sweden’s waste recycling program is so successful that they’ve been importing — yes, importing — about 800,000 tons of trash a year from the rest of Europe.

18. No permits no problems.

Photo: gato-gato-gato

Norway calls it “allemannsrett.” Sweden, Iceland, and Norway have variations of it too. The concept is that the public has a legal right to roam any “uncultivated” land even if it’s commercially owned (though specific rules vary by country).

You can hike through forests, camp in the mountains, and pick wildflowers, as long as you are doing it responsibly.

By Emily Lodish, GlobalPost

This article is syndicated from GlobalPost.

Mexican habits I lost in the US

Photo: Ben Seidelman

1. I stopped cooking at home.

I like to treat myself to a restaurant meal whenever possible, but the truth is we Mexicans enjoy homemade food way better. Especially if it has that family seasoning only our moms and grandmas can get. The sad thing about living in the States is that eating homemade is more like a luxury. As my life became more “dynamic” I stopped making the effort to cook at home and started grabbing a to-go lunch everyday from the hundreds of fast-food options. Going grocery shopping didn’t really help either — most of what they sell is precooked or microwave ready anyway.

2. I stopped dressing properly every time I went out.

I don’t know what the thing is with Americans not giving a hell about what people think of their looks, but I love it! The USA is the place where, almost always, whatever you are wearing right now is perfectly appropriate for whatever you have to do next. And that’s how I ended up wearing sweatpants to grocery stores, flip-flops to night clubs, pajamas to friends’ apartments, and my Disney cast-member uniform to restaurants.

3. I stopped buying groceries down the street.

There are few things as Mexican as la tiendita de la esquina. Even nowadays, when a lot of these singular places have been replaced by minimarts, there’s always the quick and easy option of getting whatever you need just by walking a few steps from home.

Americans don’t have these kinds of benefits because in the USA, outdoor spaces seem to be huge! If you run out of milk for your cereal, you’re probably going to have to walk or drive miles to get it. Eventually I learned that my weekly trip to Wal-Mart was the only chance to get everything I needed.

4. I stopped having one-course meals.

When Mexicans want tacos, they eat tacos. When they want enchiladas, they eat enchiladas. There’s no need to supplement those dishes with appetizers or dessert.

After I moved to the States, I started to change my orders in restaurants. I surprised myself asking for a salad to start, a steak as an entree, and a slice of cheesecake for dessert. I now believe American menus are strategically designed to make you feel as if you need to enjoy everything at the same time.

5. I stopped driving as if every traffic law was just a suggestion.

Mexico is one of the countries where not being an entirely responsible driver is not going to backfire with any consequences. I used to think that it’s not so bad running a red light if I had previously made sure no one was coming the other way, or parking in a prohibited place if it was only for five minutes, or changing lanes without turning my blinker on. But nobody seems to do this stuff in the States, and it actually makes driving a lot more enjoyable and stress-free.

6. I stopped lingering at restaurants after I had finished my meal.

This is not going to shock you: For Mexicans, food is a BIG deal. But getting together for lunch or dinner is much more about sharing and dedicating time to the people you’re with. All of my life, it’s been completely normal for me to take it easy at a restaurant. I’m used to a lot of chatting, gossiping, and laughing before, during, and after my meal. Not a single Mexican server would ever feel upset about it.

The dining out experience in the States is completely different. Americans are kings and queens of rushed lives. Especially servers, who want you to leave as soon as possible, so they can receive another guest and get another tip. They’re always ready for you the second you take your seat. They bring your meal in a matter of minutes, and grab your check as soon as you finish. Before you notice it, you’ll be out of the place 40 minutes later.

7. I became a serious online shopper.

Online shopping in Mexico is not very common, and therefore, there’s a lot of ignorance surrounding it. I used to think it was risky to share my personal or credit-card information on websites, but living in America has opened my eyes to the wonderful world of online shopping. It’s definitely the easiest, cheapest, and fastest way to shop.

8. I stopped thinking 1 dollar is worth 10 Mexican pesos.

The dollar’s worth has changed a lot in the past several years. Not so long ago, one dollar was equal to 10 Mexican pesos, which was convenient and easy to translate. So we Mexicans have stuck to it, even though the value has kept changing. As a result, I’ve experienced some seriously discouraging currency misunderstandings. If something costs five dollars, I assume it’s 50 pesos. But in reality, it might actually be 65 MXN, plus taxes. Auch!

London's Ghost Tube [pics]

Dubbed the ‘ghost Tube‘ by Atlas Obscura, the London Post Office Railway, aka the Mail Rail, was conceived as a subterranean solution to quickly transporting mail and postal employees beneath the city’s traffic-clogged streets.

And it worked, starting service in 1927. In its heyday, the miniature 4-foot-tall Mail Rail ferried 12 million postal items every day on 23 miles of track from East End’s Whitechapel to west London’s Paddington. Amazingly, it remained operational until 2003, when maintenance costs finally became too prohibitive. All of London’s mail now goes by lorry — boringly, I might add — above ground.

But good news for postal and underground enthusiasts — plans are in the works to bring the Mail Rail back on line as a tourist attraction, part of a larger postal museum. But don’t hold your breath — opening is tentatively set for 2020.

Hat tip: Atlas Obscura & BBC

All photos by Matt Brown.

1

Into the void

London's Mail Rail sits vacant 70 feet below the city streets.

2

Flood barrier

When things got, um, wet, the Mail Rail could cordon off flooded sections with flood barriers like this one.

3

Left or right?

23 miles of track kept the 220 maintenance workers quite busy.

Intermission


185
12 differences between a normal friend and a Spanish friend
by Ana Bulnes




16 images of otherworldly Antarctica
by Tom Richardson



14
5 little-known museums to check out in London’s West End
by Rebecca Kinsella













4

Stalactites

Stalactites are now forming in the tunnels after almost 12 years of sitting idle.

5

Trains in miniature

The 29-foot-long trains used by the Mail Rail were only about 4-feet tall in order to fit through the 7-foot-tall tunnels (normal Tube tunnels are 12 feet in diameter). Mail trains traveled up to 40mph.

6

All aboard

In addition to mail, the rail also transported postal workers in tiny passenger coaches like these. A ride on the mail rail was not for the claustrophobic. During Christmas season, workers created a "Santa's Grotto" in the underground and let kids from a nearby orphanage ride the train.

7

Safety first

Forlorn safety signs dangle from the ceiling.

8

Get the lead out

Lead cables packed with copper wire sit unused.

9

Hungry?

Either bored (and hungry) employees or underground explorers created this pantry mural.

The best restaurant in every US state

Photo: Mo Riza

This article was originally published on Business Insider by Emmie Martin.

Good food is everywhere, but some restaurants truly stand out as great.

To find the best restaurant each state has to offer, we sifted through our list of the Best Restaurants in America, The Daily Meal’s 101 Best Restaurants in America list, James Beard award nominations, expert reviews, and local recommendations, paying particular attention to fine-dining establishments.

Did we get your state right? Let us know in the comments.

ALABAMA: Highlands Bar and Grill

Photo: Ralph Daily

Location: Birmingham
Chef: Frank and Pardis Stitt

Though they use French techniques, chefs Frank and Pardis Stitt still infuse southern comfort into every meal at Highlands Bar and Grill. The menu changes daily to incorporate seasonal ingredients, and the restaurant was a James Beard Outstanding Restaurants semifinalist as well as one of OpenTable’s top 100 restaurants for 2013.

ALASKA: Jens’ Restaurant

Photo: Jens’ Restaurant

Location: Anchorage
Chef: Jens Hansen

Consistently rated the top spot for seafood in Anchorage, Jens’ Restaurant was named best overall, best ambiance, and best food, among others, by OpenTable. Not only are the ingredients fresh from the sea, but the menu is too — Chef Hansen updates the selection seasonally to incorporate regional specialties from his most recent travels.

For a lower-key experience, guests can stop by the adjacent wine bar, which features a full menu and more than 40 varieties of wine.

ARIZONA: Kai

Photo: Wild Horse Pass Resort

Location: Chandler
Chef: Conor Favre

Kai — which means “seed” in the Pima language — serves up a winning combination of modern techniques and traditional Native American flavors. Two tasting menus are available for guests who want to try it all: “Short Story” for $135 and “Journey” for $225.

Kai took the No. 8 spot on OpenTable’s Best Restaurants of America list for 2014 and is a AAA Five Diamond Award recipient. The restaurant also has near perfect scores on both Zagat (87/90) and OpenTable (4.9/5).

ARKANSAS: South on Main

Photo: South on Main

Location: Little Rock
Chef: Matthew Bell

A local favorite, South on Main was voted best new restaurant and runner up for best overall in the Arkansas Times 2014 readers’ choice awards. Stop in for creative dishes with southern flair, such as the BBQ oysters or the pan-seared catfish with crispy fried grits, but stay for the show — the space doubles as a concert venue, often showcasing local talent.

CALIFORNIA: The French Laundry

Photo: Luigi Anzivino

Location: Yountville
Chef: Thomas Keller

With three Michelin stars and a slew of awards, including the No. 44 spot on The World’s 100 Best Restaurants list and the No. 3 spot on our list of the best restaurants in America, the $295 price tag is well worth it at The French Laundry.

Diners can choose between one of Chef Keller’s two prix fixe menus — the chef’s tasting menu or the vegetable tasting menu — which change daily and don’t repeat a single ingredient throughout.

COLORADO: Frasca Food & Wine

Photo: Frasca Food & Wine

Location: Boulder
Chef: Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson

Claiming the No. 40 spot on the Daily Meal’s list, Frasca Food & Wine is also highly rated on Zagat and took home the 2013 James Beard Award for outstanding wine program. In addition to quality food, the Italian eatery has an extensive wine list, featuring over 200 bottles, with knowledgeable servers to help you select the perfect complement to your meal.

CONNECTICUT: Le Petit Cafe
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Photo: La petit café

Location: Branford
Chef: Roy Ip

Named No. 1 in the state by Zagat, the French-inspired Le Petit Café focuses on simple, fresh flavors — Chef Ip believes in letting the food speak for itself. With the $55.50 prix fixe menu, guests choose from a host of carefully curated appetizers and entrees, including duck leg confit, miso-glazed Chilean sea bass, or “Provençal Style” rack of lamb, all prepared by Chef Ip.

DELAWARE: Moro

Photo: Moro

Location: Wilmington
Chef: Michael DiBianca

Chef DiBianca believes in serving “just good food” at Moro, where he aims to give classic dishes a modern spin. DiBianca cooks up offerings such as veal-ricotta meatballs and lump crab mac & cheese, and the place maintains a “come as you are” atmosphere.

Moro was awarded best service in Delaware by OpenTable, and its food received a high 25/30 rating from Zagat.

FLORIDA: Bern’s Steak House

Photo: Bern’s Steak House

Location: Tampa
Chef: Habteab Hamde

Every element at Bern’s Steak House, from its perfectly aged steaks to its elaborate wine list to its impeccable desserts, comes together to turn a normal night out into a meal you’ll never forget. A James Beard Outstanding Restaurant semifinalist and No. 10 on our list of the best restaurants in America, Bern’s knows fine dining.

GEORGIA: Bacchanalia

Photo: We Dream in Colour

Location: Atlanta
Chef: David A. Carson

Named the No. 1 restaurant in Atlanta by Zagat and the No. 26 restaurant in America by Business Insider, Bacchanalia serves contemporary American dishes, such as celery root ravioli and shrimp bisque with mussels. Freshness is a priority here, and the restaurant uses all organic ingredients, with many sourced from the chefs’ personal farm.

HAWAII: MW

Photo: MW

Location: Honolulu
Chef: Wade Ueoka

For food as beautiful as the surrounding landscape, Honolulu’s MW is just the ticket. The restaurant serves up a variety of local flavors, from mochi-crusted opakapaka to tropical fruit creamsicle brulée. Experience the five-course tasting menu for $65, or order a la carte.

MW was also a 2014 James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalist for best new restaurant.

IDAHO: State & Lemp

Photo: State & Lemp

Location: Boise
Chef: Kris Komori

Idaho isn’t just about potatoes — State & Lemp‘s contemporary American cuisine shines with the creative, locally sourced dishes on its five-course prix fixe menu, such as pork gyoza with seaweed salad and celery-root soup. It is also the highest-rated restaurant in the state on OpenTable, claiming 14 best-in-state awards, including best overall in Idaho and best food in Idaho.

ILLINOIS: Alinea

Photo: Sandor Weisz

Location: Chicago
Chef: Grant Achatz

At Alinea, guests can always expect something modern and exquisite. The only Chicago restaurant to boast three Michelin stars, Alinea also has four James Beard awards under its belt and came in at No. 7 on our list of the best restaurants in America. Depending on the day of the week, tickets for the tasting menu vary between $210 and $265.

INDIANA: Restaurant Tallent

Photo: Restaurant Tallent

Location: Bloomington
Chef: David Tallent

Helmed by eight-time James Beard semifinalist David Tallent — who was most recently nominated for best chef, Great Lakes, in 2014 — Restaurant Tallent brings creative Italian dishes to Bloomington such as semolina-gnocchi bolognese or smoking goose mortadella scarpinocc. Whenever possible, Tallent strives to use organically raised meat and produce from local farms. A five-course tasting menu is available for $65 per person, or items may be ordered a la carte.

IOWA: Centro

Photo: CentroDSM

Location: Des Moines
Chef: George Formaro

Whether you’re feeling adventurous or craving simple comfort foods, Centro‘s eclectic urban Italian menu, featuring everything from specialty pizzas to seared sea scallops to homemade pasta, is sure to please.

The restaurant was named best overall, best ambiance, and best food in Iowa on OpenTable and named best first-date spot by the local magazine Cityview, who also called Chef Formaro the best in Des Moines.

KANSAS: Harry’s Restaurant

Photo: Jd S.

Location: Manhattan
Chef: Cadell Bynum

Located in the historic Wareham Hotel, Harry’s Restaurant serves classic, upscale dishes that match the glamour of the location. The Manhattan mainstay has been featured on Midwest Living’s “Best of the Midwest” and Travel + Leisure’s “United States of Deliciousness” lists, and was named one of the best overall restaurants near Kansas City by OpenTable.

KENTUCKY: MilkWood

Photo: MilkWood

Location: Louisville
Chef: Kevin Ashworth and Edward Lee

A 2014 James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalist for best new restaurant and named as one of the best new restaurants in the Midwest by Condé Nast Traveler, MilkWood gives typical southern flavors an Asian twist. From octopus bacon to miso smothered chicken to sorghum and grits ice cream, Chef Lee aspires to push the limits of what southern cooking can be.

LOUISIANA: Commander’s Palace

Photo: NathalieMaynor

Location: New Orleans
Chef: Tory McPhail

Claiming the No. 11 spot on the Daily Meal’s list and No. 33 on ours, Commader’s Palace has served elegant meals in New Orleans’ Garden District since 1880. The historic building is a landmark itself, complemented by Chef McPhail’s take on classic Creole cuisine, including crab boil vichyssoise, cast-iron-seared gulf fish, and strawberry beignets.

MAINE: Fore Street

Photo: Fore Street

Location: Portland
Chef: Sam Hayward

Though on the expensive side (typically over $50 per person), food is sure to be fresh at Fore Street — in fact, Chef Hayward sources all his ingredients from local farmers, fishermen, and cheese makers, and he designs a new menu daily using whatever is available.

In 2014, the restaurant was a James Beard Outstanding Restaurants semifinalist.

MARYLAND: Charleston

Photo: Charleston

Location: Baltimore
Chef: Cindy Wolf

Nabbing the No. 5 spot on OpenTable‘s list of the Best 100 restaurants for 2013, Charleston combines French traditions with the low country flavors of South Carolina, the state in which the restaurant’s eponym resides. Guests can choose from three courses all the way up to six, with prices ranging from $79 to $114. Chef Wolf, a three-time finalist for best chef, Mid-Atlantic, by the James Beard Foundation, tweaks the menu daily to integrate only the freshest ingredients.

MASSACHUSETTS: O Ya

Photo: Jan Mark Holzer

Location: Boston
Chef: Tim Cushman

Rated highly by Zagat and OpenTable and taking the No. 32 spot on our list of the best restaurants in America, O Ya is a Boston destination. Helmed by Chef Cushman — named best chef, Northeast, by the James Beard Foundation in 2012 — the restaurant offers modern takes on classic sushi dishes, including Scottish salmon belly with cilantro and ginger or Wagyu beef strip loin with bone marrow chawan mushi, a steamed egg custard. A chef’s tasting menu is also available, though prices aren’t listed online.

MICHIGAN: Grove

Photo: Grove

Location: Grand Rapids
Chef: Pat Wise

At Grove, high-quality ingredients are the basis of every dish. The farm-to-table restaurant strives to bring diners fresh, locally sourced meals through its extensive menu, which features dishes like olive-oil-poached arctic char and poached shrimp nicoise.

It has been named Restaurant of the Year two years running by , and it was voted best overall, best food, and best service in Western Michigan by OpenTable.

MINNESOTA: Lucia’s

Photo: Lucia’s restaurant

Location: Minneapolis
Chef: Lucia Watson

For over three decades, Lucia‘s has offered a small, handcrafted menu featuring local favorites and seasonal ingredients. And with the options changing weekly, frequent patrons can always experience something new.

Lucia’s appeared on Mpls.St.Paul Magazine‘s list of the 50 best restaurants in the Twin Cities and was named one of the most romantic restaurants in the country by Travel + Leisure. It was also named one of the best overall restaurants in Minneapolis by OpenTable.

MISSISSIPPI: City Grocery

Photo: City Grocery

Location: Oxford
Chef: John Currence

Winner of OpenTable’s best overall and best food awards for Mississippi, this Oxford landmark serves up southern comforts, such as shrimp and grits or pan roasted gulf grouper, that are both elegant and unpretentious. Now a mainstay in the Mississippi food scene, City Grocery pushes itself to experiment with new flavors and techniques, which are reflected in the menu’s changes every six weeks. City Grocery also came in at No. 79 on the Daily Meal’s list.

MISSOURI: Annie Gunn’s

Photo: stephanie E.

Location: Chesterfield
Chef: Lou Rook III

Named one of St. Louis Magazine‘s top special occasion spots for 2014 and best overall in St. Louis by OpenTable, Annie Gunn‘s provides more than just your run-of-the-mill smokehouse fare. Striving to bring family and friends together, Annie Gunn’s elevated comfort food — from lobster mac and cheese to grilled lamb loin chops — provides the perfect backdrop for sharing bites and stories alike.

MONTANA: Lucca’s

Photo: Lucca’s

Location: Helena
Chef: Mike Hyyppa

Lucca‘s cozy dining room — which seats a mere 15 tables — creates an intimate environment for guests to enjoy Chef Hyyppa’s carefully crafted dishes. Lucca’s authentic Italian cuisine, including baked manicotti and veal scallopini, earned it a near-perfect 4.5/5 star rating on TripAdvisor, as well as a Certificate of Excellence 2014 from the site.

NEBRASKA: V. Mertz

Photo: V. Mertz

Location: Omaha
Chef: Jon Seymour

In Omaha’s Old Market District lies the luxury bistro V. Mertz, where diners are treated to opulent flavors in a homey, unpretentious environment. Guests are sure to find the perfect glass of wine to complement their Wagyu bavette or seed-crusted salmon, as the restaurant has an extensive wine list and was a James Beard semifinalist for outstanding wine service in 2010. The restaurant also claims 15 of OpenTable’s Diners’ Choice awards, including best overall in Nebraska.

NEVADA: Joël Robuchon

Photo: feministjulie

Location: Las Vegas
Chef: Joël Robuchon

Located in the luxurious MGM Grand, Joël Robuchon, the namesake of its French chef, is the only Vegas restaurant with three Michelin stars; it also has Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond awards.

Prix fixe tasting menus of Chef Robuchon’s signature dishes, including truffled langoustine ravioli and salad with foie gras, start at $127 and run all the way up to $435.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Bedford Village Inn

Photo: Bedford Village Inn

Location: Bedford
Chef: Benjamin Knack

Located in picturesque New England, the Bedford Village Inn serves up contemporary cuisine chock full of local and regional flavor, from orange-vanilla-salt-crusted sea scallops to prosciutto-wrapped pork chops. It has been a AAA Four Diamond recipient for 18 years, was named best fine dining and most romantic by New Hampshire magazine in 2014, and is home to the largest wine cellar in the state with over 8,000 bottles.

NEW JERSEY: Nicholas

Photo: Restaurant Nicholas

Location: Middletown
Chef: Nicholas Harary

Zagat named Nicholas the No. 1 restaurant in New Jersey, for both its outstanding food and flawless service. This New American eatery is also a New York Times four-star winner and is listed in Gayot‘s top 40 restaurants in America for 2014.

The restaurant currently offers three tasting menus — the basic three-course menu for $70, the chef’s tasting menu for $90, and the black-truffle tasting menu for $135.

NEW MEXICO: Geronimo

Photo: Geronimo

Location: Santa Fe
Chef: Eric DiStefano

Noted for its impeccable service and complex dishes, Geronimo was named best overall, best ambiance, and best food in New Mexico by OpenTable, among other honors. It is also the only New Mexico restaurant to win a AAA Four Diamond award, as well as a Forbes Four Star award.

NEW YORK: Le Bernardin

Photo: Kok Chih & Sarah Gan

Location: New York City
Chef: Eric Ripert

Amid tough competition from New York’s bustling food scene, we named Le Bernadin No. 1 on our list of the best restaurants in America, as did the Daily Meal.

The upscale seafood restaurant offers a chef’s tasting menu for $198 and a Le Bernardin-branded tasting menu for $155, each featuring signature seafood dishes, such as the lobster “lasagna” with truffle butter or the king crab medley with warm matsutake custard.

NORTH CAROLINA: The Fearrington House Restaurant

Photo: The Fearrington House Restaurant

Location: Pittsboro
Chef: Colin Bedford

A 2014 James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant, 15-time Forbes Five-Star winner, and North Carolina’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant, The Fearrington House Restaurant serves contemporary American cuisine in an ornate setting, overlooking the Inn’s scenic grounds.

The restaurant offers two tasting menus — chef’s choice and vegetarian — for $150 and $125, respectively, or guests can create their own combinations with the mix-and-match three-course or four-course options.

NORTH DAKOTA: Mezzaluna

Photo: Mezzaluna

Location: Fargo
Chef: Eric Watson

Located in historic downtown Fargo, Mezzaluna combines the glamour of an upscale restaurant with the coziness of a small town. Its menu features dressed-up comfort foods, such as mac and cheese, as well as more elaborate options, including pistachio-encrusted rack of lamb and crab-stuffed walleye. It was named one of the best places to eat in Fargo by Condé Nast Traveler and was voted the No. 1 restaurant in North Dakota by OpenTable.

OHIO: Boca

Photo: Boca Restaurant

Location: Cincinnati
Chef: David Falk

At Boca, diners feast on flavorful French Italian fare, from gnocchi fonduta to braised Duroc pork shank. It appeared on OpenTable‘s list of the best 100 restaurants of 2013 and recieved several of its Diners’ Choice awards, including best food in Cincinnati.

OKLAHOMA: Cheever’s Cafe

Photo: Cheever’s cafe

Location: Oklahoma City
Chef: Quinn Carol

A local favorite in Oklahoma City, Cheever’s Cafe was voted best fine dining by the Oklahoma Gazette and named best Southwestern food by Local Eats. Serving up contemporary comfort food, from tequila-lime shrimp linguine to roasted chicken enchiladas, the restaurant is also highly rated on OpenTable, taking home several diners’ choice awards, including Neighborhood Gem and Most Booked in Oklahoma City.

OREGON: Le Pigeon

Photo: Le Pigeon

Location: Portland
Chef: Gabriel Rucker

Guests at Le Pigeon can indulge in the many eclectic flavors James Beard Award-winning Chef Rucker has to offer with either the five- or seven-course tasting menu, priced at $75 and $95, respectively. The namesake dish can also be ordered a la carte, currently complete with brown rice, hazelnut, green apple, and pork heart.

Chef Rucker published his first cookbook last September, and it includes several of the recipes that made him famous.

PENNSYLVANIA: Fork

Photo: Fork

Location: Philadelphia
Chef: Eli Kulp

In Philadelphia’s Old City, Chef Kulp — one of Food and Wine‘s best new chefs of 2014 — experiments with modern techniques and bold flavors at Fork, a 2014 James Beard semifinalist for outstanding restaurant. Guests can indulge in unique dishes, such as dandelion gnudi and smoked trout caviar, at this Zagat top-rated venue.

RHODE ISLAND: Al Forno

Photo: Al Forno

Location: Providence
Chef: Johanne Killeen and George Germon

For over 30 years, Al Forno has offered creative takes on classic Italian dishes, such as its grilled pizza or selection of baked pastas. The Providence staple has been featured on the Daily Meal‘s list of the best restaurants in the Northeast and GrubStreet‘s “101 of America’s Most Delicious Noodle Dishes.”

SOUTH CAROLINA: Husk

Photo: Husk

Location: Charleston
Chef: Sean Brock

Led by James Beard Award-winning Chef Brock, the Charleston branch of Husk (there is also one in Nashville, Tennessee) aims to elevate standard low-country dishes and rediscover heirloom ingredients. The menu updates daily, incorporating the area’s rich history into its offerings.

Husk came in at No. 12 on the Daily Meal’s list and was one of the most booked restaurants in South Carolina by OpenTable.

SOUTH DAKOTA: Dakotah Steakhouse

Photo: Dakota Steakhouse

Location: Rapid City
Chef: Paul Henniger

Named the best steakhouse in Rapid City by Local Eats, Dakotah Steakhouse aims to create an environment that is both upscale yet relaxed. It is one of the most booked restaurants in South Dakota on OpenTable, where it has earned a near-perfect rating of 4.7 stars out of five.

TENNESSEE: Etch Restaurant

Photo: Etch

Location: Nashville
Chef: Deb Paquette

Named as one of the top 20 restaurants in the country by Zagat, Etch offers contemporary American dishes such as mushroom-dusted pork tenderloin and octopus and shrimp bruschetta. No stranger to accolades, Etch was featured on Nashville Lifestyles‘ list of the best business lunches and was nominated for Eater‘s Nashville Restaurant of the Year award in 2013.

TEXAS: Uchi

Photo: Uchi

Location: Austin
Chef: Tyson Cole

No, the top restaurant in Texas is not a barbeque joint — it is Uchi, a contemporary Japanese restaurant that combines fresh seafood from around the world with local ingredients. We named it No. 20 on our list of the best restaurants in America, it took the No. 49 spot on the Daily Meal’s list. Chef Cole holds a 2011 James Beard award for best chef, Southwest.

UTAH: Pago

Photo: Pago

Location: Salt Lake City
Chef: Phelix Gardner

The menu at this eclectic American restaurant changes frequently to incorporate the freshest available ingredients, locally sourced if possible.

Pago is no stranger to praise either — it was named best restaurant of 2014 by Salt Lake magazine, one of the 100 best restaurants in America by Wine Enthusiast Magazine in 2012, and it was selected for a 2014 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

VERMONT: Barnard Inn Restaurant

Photo: Barnard Inn

Location: Woodstock
Chef: Will Dodson

Located on spotless grounds in picturesque Vermont, Barnard Inn Restaurant serves up a three-course prix fixe menu for $65, featuring elegant entrees such as crispy half duck, filet mignon, and autumn vegetable strudel. For more casual nights, guests can opt for adjacent Max’s Tavern, which offers the same upscale food in a more relaxed atmosphere.

VIRGINIA: The Inn at Little Washington

Photo: The Inn at Little Washington

Location: Washington
Chef: Patrick O’Connell

The Inn at Little Washington took the No. 24 spot on the Daily Meal’s list and has been rated the No. 1 restaurant in Virginia by Washingtonian magazine for a few years running. Guests can choose from one of three different prix fixe tasting menus — including one featuring the spot’s most classic dishes — with prices ranging from $178 to $208, depending on the day.

WASHINGTON: Canlis

Photo: Canlis

Location: Seattle
Chef: Jason Franey

The family-run Canlis has been nominated for the James Beard Outstanding Service award four times, is the winner of 14 consecutive Wine Spectator Grand Awards, and was named one of the best overall restaurants in Seattle by OpenTable. Chef Franey defines Canlis’ food as “comfort geek,” and he aims to create dishes that are exquisite and modern yet easy to like. Order a three-course meal for $85 or include a fourth for $100.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Rasika — Penn Quarter

Photo: Rasika

Location: Washington, D.C.
Chef: Vikram Sunderam

Rasika — which means “flavors” in Sanskrit — lives up to its name with its modern take on Indian food. Guests can even watch as their food is prepared in the restaurant’s open kitchen, which features both a Tawa (griddle) and sigri (barbecue).

Rasika came in at No. 96 on the Daily Meal’s list and No. 31 on our list of the best restaurants in America, and it is highly ranked by both Zagat and OpenTable.

WEST VIRGINIA: The Chop House Charleston

Photo: Chop House Charleston

Location: Charleston
Chef: Larry Riddle

Though not quite vegetarian-friendly, the selection of prime meat and seafood choices at The Chop House Charleston can’t be beat. Whether the filet mignon, the char-grilled Berkshire pork chops, or the North Atlantic salmon, each piece is carefully prepared to lock in the most flavor possible.

Take it from previous diners — The Chop House Charleston was rated the No. 1 restaurant in West Virginia on OpenTable and was named one of OpenTable’s top 100 steakhouses in America, and it received an award of excellence from Wine Spectator.

WISCONSIN: Ardent

Photo: Ardent

Location: Milwaukee
Chef: Justin Carlisle

A James Beard semifinalist for Best New Restaurant and named one of the 15 best new restaurants in the Midwest by Condé Nast Traveler, Ardent brings simple yet ornate food to Milwaukee. The menu is not long, but it is packed with flavor — guests can indulge small plates such as salt roasted celeriac and squash soup, or larger dishes, like the smoked lentil ravioli.

WYOMING: Snake River Grill

Photo: Snake River Grill

Location: Jackson Hole
Chef: Kirt Martin

Snake River Grill is no stranger to fame — its Eskimo bars were featured on “Best Thing I Ever Ate” as one of Giada De Laurentis’ favorite dishes, and Travel + Leisure named it one of the best restaurants in Wyoming. The food stands up as well, offering guests fresh updates on fine dining classics such as its rabbit ravioli or herb-crusted rack of New Zealand lamb.

Having an affair? Don't use Whatsapp

Photo: Mario Mancuso

ROME, Italy — Call it “Divorce Italian Style” version 2.0.

In Pietro Germi’s Oscar-winning 1961 comedy of that name, the unfaithful protagonist, unable to divorce his smothering wife, plots to kill her. If it had been set in 2014, he could have just let her stumble upon his WhatsApp account.

The instant messaging service acquired by Facebook this year for $19 billion is cited in nearly half of all Italian divorce proceedings — more than any other source of information, whether amorous text messages or emails, late-night phone calls, handwritten notes, or even lipstick-stained collars — according to the Italian Association of Matrimonial Lawyers.

“No one is saying WhatsApp is the cause of the divorces,” says Gian Ettore Gassani, president of the Matrimonial Lawyers group. “The leading cause is infidelity, but WhatsApp is now the most common way for one partner to discover infidelity in the other.”

The WhatsApp program and other new forms of communication such as Facebook and Skype may enable illicit relationships because they make it easier to discreetly exchange messages and even risqué photos.

The most typical scenario, Gasani says, is an unfaithful partner leaving his or her mobile phone lying around while in the shower or out for a walk. A message arrives or the partner opens WhatsApp to snoop.

Men are more likely to be caught that way than women, although that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re unfaithful more often.

“Men are most likely to save messages or photos from lovers they can go back to,” Gassani says. “Women are more likely to take one look and then delete.”

Once caught, it’s not easy to divorce in Italy, thanks mostly to the influence of the Catholic Church.

When Germi made his film, divorce was completely illegal. That changed in 1970, despite a subsequent series of referenda that sought to repeal the country’s new law allowing divorce.

Even now, obtaining a divorce is a long and complicated process requiring a three-year separation that may include court-ordered couples therapy to foster reconciliation.

Although WhatsApp and other new technologies may be prompting more discoveries about infidelity in partners, they’re also playing into very old aspects of the Italian psyche.

“Italians love to receive and give attention,” says Laura Duranti, a Milan-based psychologist who specializes in the social impact of technology. “While the modern world and evolving social norms have acted to limit that in some ways, programs like WhatsApp can make it easier. It’s a modern technology tapping into some very old needs and desires.”

Some Italians say those caught out via WhatsApp are careless.

“No one should be looking at a partner’s phone or computer, it’s an invasion of privacy,” says Mario Lince, a 30-year-old pastry shop worker who’s engaged to be married. “It should be a question of trust.

“But just to be safe,” he adds, “everyone should use a secret password to block access.”

Maria Teresa Benedetta agrees.

“I don’t think most couples want to know if a partner has been unfaithful,” the unattached 22-year-old university student says. “But if they find out of course there’s going to be trouble.”

Despite the impact of instant messaging and other new forms of communication, it could be much greater, says Gassani, the attorney. Many people use passwords and delete messages, and snooping on someone’s phone privately is usually difficult.

“If WhatsApp messages could be intercepted by wiretaps like phone calls,” he says, “the divorce rate in Italy might be 100 times higher.”

By: Eric J. Lyman, GlobalPost

This article is syndicated from GlobalPost.

Couple says "I love you" first time

MAIA HAS BEEN IN a happy, healthy relationship with her boyfriend Alex for 8 years. But early on, she decided that, since she initiated everything else in their relationship, she would make Alex say “I love you” first.

It resulted in 8 years of “I love you” chicken, with neither of them saying it, but with both of them creatively working their way around those words by saying other sweet things and by simply being kind to each other. But Maia feels like she has waited long enough to say it, so she contacted This American Life and they helped her put together this video where she finally gets to say, for the first time, “I love you” to Alex.

This American Life has also released a video of Maia and Alex watching the video, with his reaction.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone. Tell the people you love how you feel about them.