Matador Network's Blog, page 2143

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 Even nowadays, when a lot of these singular places have been replaced by minimarts, there’s always the quick and easy option of getting whatever you need just by walking a few steps from home.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.

Normal friend vs. a friend in love

Photo: THOR

Hacé clic para leer este artículo en español. Tambien podés darnos un “me gusta” en Facebook!
1.

A normal friend believes people have faults and virtues.

A friend in love experiences selective blindness toward the loved one’s faults.

2.

When talking with a normal friend, he or she enjoys discussing several issues they feel passionate about.

With a friend in love, the topic of conversation is one.

3.

A normal friend mocks PDA.

A friend in love is the first one to display PDA…in your face.

4.

While traveling, a normal friend buys some last-minute souvenirs on the last day of the trip: something for their coworkers and friends, a little memento for the family.

A friend in love spends every single day of the trip looking for cute presents for his or her “honey-bunny.”

5.

A normal friend has a relatively well-defined musical taste.

A friend in love slowly gives in to the musical preferences of the loved one, and ends up with insanely eclectic playlists. Then there’s that horrible obsession with dedicating songs to each other.

6.

A normal friend criticizes Valentine’s Day as a marketing strategy.

A friend in love is one other piece in the pink-heart mass production chain, resembling good Chaplin in Modern Times.

7.

A normal friend might call you for your b-day, when in need of help, or simply when he or she is bored and “wants to do something.”

A friend in love calls you…never.

8.

A normal friend complains about people using couples’ photos as profile pictures.

A friend in love spends hours figuring out which pic better portrays their mutual love for all the world to see.

9.

A normal friend won’t remember your phone number even after 15 years of friendship.

A friend in love not only memorizes the phone number of their better half in two days, but also the office number, the parent’s address, the day and time of birth.

10.

For a normal friend, even slightly corny things are already disgusting.

A friend in love speaks in such a weird mellow way you start believing he or she needs a speech therapist. Sentences are suddenly full of cute nicknames, including animals, food, foreign language diminutives, and combinations of all of the above.

11.

A normal friend rationalizes romantic relationships as the result of coincidences, odds, personality match, common interests, amongst many other things we don’t begin to understand.

A friend in love is certain “it was meant to be.”

12.

A normal friend pays attention when you talk.

A friend in love tries really hard to do so, but fails: he or she is unable to focus on any conversation that doesn’t involve their object of desire.

13.

A normal friend might loose their patience with you when you become the mono-thematic “friend in love.”

A friend in love will not only let us talk for hours about our desired object — even if they’re incapable of really listening… A friend in love is the best adviser for dealing with this addiction called “being in love.”

Weird global names for lover

Photo: Ed Yourdon

Have you ever wanted to woo a lover with your prowess in languages? What better way than by giving them a very special name from another part of the world.

Around the world and across languages, people express their love in different, imaginative and sometimes — to our English speaking minds — strange ways.

You may be surprised to learn that some terms of endearment in English like “honey” or “sweetie-pie” don’t translate well into other languages, or that some languages use creative terms than outshine our own in romance (at least in their own way).

Since it’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and now I have someone special to celebrate it with, I thought I’d share some terms of endearment and pet names to call your loved one, from many different languages and cultures around the world.

Irish: My pulse, mo chuisle — and other body part endearments

In Irish we say mo chuisle, which means “my pulse.” This phrase was famously used in the movie Million Dollar Baby, and is the shortened form of chuisle mo chroí or “pulse of my heart.” You can’t get more romantic than telling your significant other that they’re the life force keeping you on this earth.

You can also use mo chroí (my heart), which is popular in other languages, like mi corazón in Spanish, and there are many other “lovely” body parts that people use to express their feelings. In English we might say sweet cheeks, angel eyes, or baby face. Angel eyes — ojos de Ángel — is also used in Spanish.

That said, there are some terms of endearment based on body parts, which, when you think about them, can seem a little odd, even in English. For instance, is baby face ​really appropriate for a gorgeous grown-up woman?

In Greek they say atakia mou for “my little eyes.” This makes sense from an English perspective, since eyes are said to be the windows to the soul. Perhaps the most unusual body part pet name of all, to English speakers, is the Swedish sötnos, meaning “sweet nose.”

Russian: My little dove, moya golubshka — because animals make great ‘pet’ names

Humans (and their body parts) aren’t the only ones who get attention in international terms of endearment. Animals also feature strongly.

Doves are a symbol of peace, so it makes sense that in Russian lovers call each other golubchik (masc) or golubushka (fem). You’ll also find عيون غزال (ywn ghzal) for “eyes of a gazelle” in Arabic, since their eyes are said to be so hypnotic.

In Brazil a gato or gata (cat) is slang for a handsome or pretty person. Germans also use animals with their lovers (we are talking pet names after all!). In German you’ll find häschen (little hare), bärchen (little bear), mäuschen (little mouse), rehlein (little deer), and spätzchen (little sparrow). My personal favourite is the hybrid mausbär (mousebear) which combines the cuteness of both a mouse and a bear for exponential snuggle-factor!

While it may seem weird to call a human a bird, hare, or mouse, the reasoning is of course that each of these are cute little things. A cute little bear is cuddly. You’ll notice that the diminutive term “little” crops up a lot in terms of endearment (as -lein or -chen in German, and more to come in other languages).

The closest we have to this in English would probably be in British English, where long established partners — or family members — use my duck, duckie, or hen ​​as terms of endearment. And of course there’s hunny bunny.

The French outdo everyone though by calling their special one ma puce or “my flea.” Similarly, in Hungarian you have bogárkám or “my little bug.” You can’t get much littler than that!

Persian: May a mouse eat you, moosh bokhoradet — plus more weird and wonderful names for your lover

Along the lines of very little things, in Persian you can be so cute that you’re smaller than a mouse. So small that you can lovingly say moosh bokhoradet or “may a mouse eat you.”

And the Italians, always ready to one-up the French, will go even tinier than fleas and lovingly say microbino mio, “my little microbe.”

Somewhat more vague is the Flemish Mijn Bolleke, “my little round thing.” I’m sure it’s romantic in its own way. There are other countries that emphasize roundness in their affections, like in Ecuador where you would call your girlfriend gorda “fat girl” and boyfriend gordo “fat boy.”

But can you imagine the meaning behind mijn poepie, a quirky Dutch term meaning “my little poop”? Or the (hopefully ironic) Polish brzydalu “ugly one”? Or even better, in Tibetan you can be nyingdu-la or “most honoured poison of my heart!”

In Thai, men over 40 may call their wives แม่ยอดชู้ (mae-yod-choo), which literally means “mother with the most paramours,” or แม่เนื้ออุ่น (mae-nua-oun), “mother with warm meat.” Um…thanks hubby, I guess…

For me, the cultural aspect of language is always fascinating, which is why I like that in Japanese, men call the woman they love tamago gata no kao or an “egg with eyes.” While this may not sound appealing, it’s a great compliment, since in Japan having an oval, egg-shaped face is seen as very attractive.

In Spain, a media naranja is your “other half,” but is more literally a half an orange! The Chinese can be much less romantic on the surface, with women calling their men a 笨蛋 (bèndàn) or “dumb egg.” It’s said like an insult, but everyone knows that it’s in jest.

Chinese: Diving fish, swooping geese, 沉鱼落雁 — a name with an ancient story

Historically, the Chinese have an absolutely lovely expression that merits an explanation:

沉鱼落雁 (chényú luòyàn), which literally means “diving fish, swooping geese” may sound nonsensical, but it’s based on a story about the most beautiful woman in Chinese history, Xi Shi. According to legend, when she looked at fish in a pond, they were so dazzled by her beauty that they forgot to swim and gradually dived to the bottom. A different historical beauty, Wang Zhaojun was responsible for geese forgetting to flap their wings when they saw her, from being struck by her beauty. They would instead clumsily swoop to the ground.

Combining the two makes the object of your affection as beautiful as the two prettiest ladies in Chinese history. That’s quite a feat!

So maybe try calling your loved one diving fish, swooping geese. Then you can explain the sweet context over something sweet.

English: Sweet Pea — and more names from the kitchen and garden

In English, we say sweet pea, peaches, pumpkin, muffin, cupcake, sugar, and of course sweetie-pie, cutie-pie, honey-pie, pookie-pie…what is it with English-speaking Romeos and their pies?

The food theme makes sense to me. Food is sustenance; it nourishes you and you can’t live without it. Keeping this in mind makes the French pet name, mon petit chou or “my little cabbage” seem almost romantic. Indonesians say buah hatiku “fruit of my heart,” while Italians can be a fragolina (little strawberry), and Brazilians say chuchuzinho which is actually a rather bland “chayote squash” (but sounds similar to the French word for cabbage, so they rolled with it).

In Polish, you can be a kruszynko or “breadcrumb” and in Taiwan you may hear lovers calling one another 小蜜糖 (xiǎo mì táng) — “little honey” or 小甜心 (xiǎo tiánxīn) — “little sugar.” Awww, it’s all so sweet…literally!

Spanish: My little heaven, mi cielito — inspirations from the natural world

The wonders of the world around us are another big inspiration for the stuff love poems are made of. You’ll hear mi cielito in Spanish, for “my little sky” or “my little heaven”, as well as mi sol (my sun). In Danish, they have min guldklump, meaning “my gold nugget.” Meanwhile, “treasure” is skat in Danish and tesoro in Spanish. In English, we have my sunshine, my star, my flower, and my petal — although the last one is used mainly in the UK and Ireland.

German: Cute-sweet, schnuckiputzi — now we’re getting nauseating!

The amusing-sounding German Schnuckiputzi is related to the adjectives “schnuckelig” and “putzig,” which both mean “cute” and “sweet.” Cariad is Welsh for “sweetheart” or “love,” and คนดี (kon-dee) is a heartfelt “good person” in Thai.

Spanish, known for it’s intense latin lovin’, has a whole host of cutesy love-terms, like mi vida “my life”, mi rey (my king), cariño (darling, or literally “affection”), amorcito (my little love), princesita (my little princess), dulzura (my sweet thing), querido (loved one), sirenita (little mermaid), and corazoncito little heart).

There’s no shortage of ways, so get to work on expressing your affection for your own drágám (Hungarian for “precious”) in the many languages of the world.

This article originally appeared on Fluent in 3 Months and is republished here with permission.

This blogger confronted her cruelest

Photo by Stian Eikeland

WRITING ON THE INTERNET is the modern day equivalent of crossing a bridge in a haunted forest: do it long enough, and eventually you’re going to meet a troll. I’ve been blogging and writing for a few years now, and there’s virtually always someone who’s ready to jump down my throat, call me a moron, or tell me I’m worthless. And I typically write about travel: one of the least controversial, most beloved things on the planet.

So my trolls show up relatively infrequently, to the point where I can dismiss them as mentally unstable or, you know, just as assholes. But my female colleagues don’t have quite as easy a time as me. Internet trolls are particularly creepy about women writers, particularly when the women are writing about women’s issues like feminism, rape culture, misogyny, or sexism. Women who write about these topics get routinely harassed and threatened by the douchebags who like to hide behind internet anonymity.

It’s not something you get used to, necessarily, but feminist bloggers rightly recognize that their silence means the trolls win. And you never want a cowardly misogynist creep to get the best of you.

One of the feminist blogosphere’s most outspoken voices is Lindy West, who has written for Jezebel, the Guardian, and a ton of other publications. Back in 2013, she was at the center of a debate about rape jokes in comedy, which naturally made her the target of an absolute shitload of internet trolls. West is a pro, so she followed the old internet maxim of “don’t feed the trolls.” At least, she did until someone opened a fake Twitter account with her dad’s name and picture.

West’s father, Paul West, had died a year and a half earlier after a long battle with prostate cancer. The fake Twitter account, called @PawWestDonezo, had a bio that read, “Embarrassed father of an idiot. Other two kids are fine, though.” West does have two siblings, and the picture was an actual picture of her father. The troll had done his research.

Instead of not feeding the trolls, West wrote about it. And the next day, her troll e-mailed her and apologized.

This does not happen. Like, ever. It’s hard enough for a thoughtful person to change their mind on the internet, let alone a frothing-at-the-mouth troll. But West’s nastiest troll did what the nastiest troll’s never do: he realized he was an asshole.

Her troll (who she generously decided to keep anonymous) wrote:

“I can’t say sorry enough.

It was the lowest thing I had ever done. When you included it in your latest Jezebel article it finally hit me. There is a living, breathing human being who is reading this shit. I am attacking someone who never harmed me in any way. And for no reason whatsoever.

I’m done being a troll.

Again I apologize.

I made donation in memory to your dad.

I wish you the best.”

West eventually got back in touch with her troll and talked to him over the phone. You can hear that discussion on this incredible episode of This American Life. In short, the troll admitted that he hated her because he, like West, was overweight, but unlike West, he hated himself for it. He hadn’t thought of her as an actual human being until she wrote about how much his fake Twitter account had hurt him.

He apologized. And West forgave him.

The interaction changed West’s approach to trolls as well: “It’s hard to feel hurt or frightened when you’re flooded with pity,” she wrote in the Guardian. She’s still a badass when it comes to dealing with them, though.

While it would be nice to think of this as a feel-good story, there are still countless women on the internet being harassed and threatened by anonymous troglodytes who either hate themselves or hate women or just hate everything, and it’s worth noting that this is the only apology West has received from a troll. Most feminist writers on the internet don’t have the luxury that I, a white dude who writes about travel, have in being able to dismiss trolls as crazy or dumb.

The internet is a community, like any other, and we who spend time in it get to choose how we treat people in it, and we get to choose how we allow others in our community to be treated. Trolls, like the writers they harass, are people too. Just because they operate behind anonymous screen names doesn’t mean we shouldn’t hold them to the same standard that we hold every other human being to: you must treat others with dignity. Always.

Chinese cars have fresh air filters

NEED a breath of fresh air in smog-plagued China? Go for a drive.

Automakers like Volvo, Nissan and PSA Peugeot Citroen are adding internal air purifiers to their new models to give Chinese drivers better air in their cars than they would breathe if they were walking outside.

So, instead of this:

Photo: @yakobusan Jakob Montrasio 孟亚柯

You can shut out the world (and reality) and feel like you’re driving in this:

Photo: James Wheeler

It sounds like another sad chapter in China’s losing battle with air pollution. But consumers at a recent auto show in Beijing sounded excited about the new technology.

“It is definitely an important index for people who are looking to buy a car,” visitor Wang Jiran told Agence France-Presse. “For the sake of family members’ health.”

Nissan, for example, offers a “Forest AC” system in its Infiniti models that not only filters the air, but also emits a fresh, leafy odor to keep drivers calm and alert and make them feel “closer to nature.”

French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen’s filter system (seen below) is so advanced it only turns on in polluted environments.

Photo: PSA Peugeot Citroen

Drivers can also add a layer of porous charcoal to capture toxic gases as well as particles, according to Patrick Andre, chief of PSA’s air filtration research team.

Perhaps the Chinese government could add this advancement in technology to its list of reasons why pollution is actually good for us.

By: Sarah Wolfe, GlobalPost

This article is syndicated from GlobalPost.

Cuenca's street art is unreal

In Ecuador, the urban art movement is absolutely massive. Check out some examples — absolutely exploding with color and layers of meaning — in the 17 images below.




1

People who climb the 439 steps to reach Viewpoint Turi are rewarded by panoramic views of a city crossed by four rivers, houses with red gabled roofs, and tons of green space. You can play with binoculars and look for specific places — baroque balconies and churches that stand out because of their Gothic and Renaissance domes. In the distance, rays of sunlight sneak between the clouds and the mountains of El Cajas National Park.

2

A few blocks from the historical center — a World Heritage Site since 1999 — you'll start to see the city's murals. Every 100 meters, the walls become a canvas and the city turns into an open museum.

3

From portraits of elderly people with leathery skin to graffiti that cries out, "I prefer the fat woman’s sandwiches; McDonalds, go away!" all kinds of themes and techniques co-exist. There are also political messages scrawled across the walls, like "Say no to Monsanto," "Unclog the memory," and "What are we teaching to our children?"

Intermission


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



3
30 street artists that are blowing people’s minds around the world
by Rulo Luna



3
Lessons learned from 200 hours teaching English abroad
by Flora Baker













4

Paul Desmond’s sprays box is also his support chair to reach the top of the wall. While he outlines his design, tourists watch from afar. Paul is one of the artists participating in a collective intervention to decorate the walls of Hermano Miguel La Salle School. Desmond says, “I started making tags when I was 17 years old. From that moment on, my life changed. If I hadn't started to make graffiti, I don’t think I would have studied at university at all.” Today he is a designer, and when he speaks, you can feel his passion and desire to share his art. He continues, “When you are painting on the walls, you feel that your art is not only for you, but for everyone to enjoy. Everyone, no matter the social class, can see it.”

5

Street art was traditionally painted undercover, at night. Even today, it is seen as vandalism in most European cities. However, in other places like Valparaiso, Bogotá, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires, street art is becoming increasingly acceptable. In Ecuador, the urban art movement is huge, but it takes on different characteristics in different cities. Cuenca is particularly special — it's the only city in the country with a municipal ordinance that regulates street art.

6

The municipal ordinance emphasises providing job opportunities to young artists instead of punishing them. Paul Desmond says that the cuencanos (people from Cuenca) usually look kindly on murals. They come, talk to the artists, take pictures, and then they might even give permission to the street artists to paint the facades of their own homes. For some people, street art has become a great job opportunity.
“I have friends who studied art at university, and they're much better off painting outdoors than selling their works to museums and galleries”, says Desmond.

7

Many artists painting in Cuenca today are art students, designers, and even university professors. According to the interviewees, graffiti painters who make tags are generally teenagers, while those who paint artistic murals are grown-ups and professionals. This is not a coincidence: the University of Cuenca — the third oldest in Ecuador — is one of the best places to study in the country and it offers many art degrees.

8

In Cuenca, little by little, empty spaces on cement walls get filled with colors.

9

The artists are not only creating works of art; they're using empty spaces as a platform for freedom of expression.

Intermission


135
The 22 craziest party hostels around the world
by Matt Kepnes



362
What bartenders actually think of your drink order
by Lisa Millar-Jones




This is what’s beneath the most beautiful ice rink in the world [pics]
by Morgane Croissant













10

The streets are filled with interesting details.

11

This mural says, “Passerby with eyes wide-open: the reforestation starts in the walls.”

12

This one says, “Unclog the memory.”

13

To see this art, you don't need to spend a single penny. You just need to walk down the streets and discover what the walls have to say.

14

Every piece tells a story.

15

This piece says, "Cuenca loves conscious tourism."

16

Political, social, and aesthetic messages are splashed across the city walls.

17

Often, these expressions represent the local culture and act as a thermometer of what it is currently happening in the city.