Matador Network's Blog, page 815

New flying helicopter taxis

The aviation industry is in flux right now, so plane manufacturers are getting creative with ideas for keeping air travel alive. Airbus is known for its commercial jetliners, but the company just revealed a new flying taxi called CityAirbus, which aims to revolutionize transportation.

Photo: Airbus

The CityAirbus is being developed by Airbus’ helicopter division as a way to advance urban air mobility. It took its first independent flight in December, but last week the flying taxi carried its first prestigious passenger — Bavarian Premier Markus Söder. The July 20 flight was the first time the helicopter had taken to the skies in front of public officials and the media.

Photo: Airbus

The design consists of four ducted propulsion units, eight motors, and eight propellers, powering the helicopter to travel at around 75 miles per hour. The eventual hope is for the aircraft to fly completely autonomously, but initial models will be remotely piloted.

Airbus first began developing the helicopter in 2016 with the goal of creating a fleet of air taxis that can fly above traffic. The helicopters are only capable of short-haul flights within cities, so they won’t exactly be replacing transportation between different regions. The CityAirbus can only fly for around 15 minutes within a range of approximately 60 miles.

More like thisBeaches + IslandsTaking an open-door helicopter ride above Maui is the most epic way to experience the island

The post Airbus’ new air taxi will revolutionize city transportation appeared first on Matador Network.

How airport lounges changed

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended nearly everything about the travel experience. Airport lounges have certainly not been spared — most in the United States closed in March or April, though some are beginning to reopen. Even with restricted services and hours, airport lounges can still provide a comfortable respite from a hectic travel day. That said, check in prior in order to avoid showing up to a closed door. Many airport lounges have yet to reopen due to local restrictions or lack of demand. Here’s a rundown of what’s open across the United States and what to expect.

What lounges are open and where

Photo: Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock

In general, lounges in highly-trafficked airports and airline hubs are beginning to reopen, albeit with restrictions and social distancing. Here’s the rundown heading into August.

Alaska: Alaska reopened its lounge in Seattle (SEA) Concourse D but all other locations are closed. The airline plans to open in additional lounges in Seattle, Los Angeles (LAX), Portland (PDX), and Anchorage on Aug. 1, according to its website. Check current status before visiting.

American: Several Admirals Clubs are open, including at least one at Charlotte (CLT), Chicago-O’Hare (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York City (JFK), New York City-LaGuardia (LGA), Phoenix (PHX), Philadelphia (PHL), and Washington, DC-Reagan (DCA). All Flagship Lounges are closed. Follow updates on American’s website.

Delta: At least one Delta Sky Club has reopened at Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Denver (DEN), Detroit (DTW), Los Angeles (LAX), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), New York City (JFK), New York City-LaGuardia (LGA), Orlando (MCO), Phoenix (PHX), Salt Lake City (SLC), Seattle (SEA), and Washington, DC-Reagan (DCA). Follow updates on Delta’s website.

United Club: United has opened at least one club lounge in Chicago-O’Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN), Houston-Intercontinental (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington, DC-Dulles (IAD). All Polaris Lounges remain closed. Check for current status updates on United’s website.

American Express Centurion Lounges: All Centurion Lounges remain closed, with no set reopening date. Check the Centurion website for updates.

Priority Pass: Many of the lounges in Priority Pass’ network of lounges are open, albeit with limited hours and services. Others remain closed due to local restrictions, lack of traffic in the airport, or other localized factors. Check the Priority Pass app to see what’s open in the airports you will travel through.

What if you bought a lounge membership or pass and haven’t been able to use it?

Travelers who purchased an annual membership or a one-time pass to a specific lounge should consult that lounge or airline directly. That said, some companies are being more straightforward about extending the validity of memberships and passes for travelers unable to use their purchases. American Airlines’ Admirals Club advises on its website:

“Admirals Club® memberships and One-Day Passes bought directly from American (including redeemed through mileage or Business Extra Points) will be automatically extended for 6 months beyond their expiration date.”

United has done something similar for its Club Lounges, extending memberships by six months and electronic certificates (one-time passes) for 24 months.

Priority Pass has not made a statement extending memberships or passes. For up-to-date information on lounge networks such as Priority Pass and rewards program lounges such as American Express Centurion Lounges, contact the lounges directly.

What to expect on a visit to an airport lounge

Photo: Hananeko_Studio/Shutterstock

Don’t expect much on the buffet

Premium lounges notwithstanding, airport lounge buffets were hit or miss even pre-pandemic. This is only amplified by the pandemic. In short, anything that could involve somebody else’s hand touching your food is out. Gone are the days of ladling your own soup or tonging a mini sandwich onto your plate. Hot buffet items have been nixed in favor of individually packaged grab-and-go options. Expect sliders and small sandwiches wrapped in single-serving portions and packages of trail mix and saltines instead of the proverbial cheese and cracker trays.

On the beverage side, complimentary beverages and bar services remain much the same, albeit adapted to local health restrictions and protocol. Don’t expect to fill up your travel mug with coffee on your own — communal serving setups are a no-go in most locations. Canned beer, spirits, and wine can be ordered and served where permitted.

Be ready for social distancing and restricted services

If your plan is to pop open the laptop at a table or in a comfy chair, you’re in luck. Those who use airport lounges as in-transit co-working spaces more so than social settings are less likely to be let down by the experience. Much like restaurants, airport lounges have implemented social distancing policies that begin at check-in. Be ready to sit a couple of chairs apart from others not in your party. Many lounges are opening with limited services that may not include conference rooms, showers, and sleeping spaces.

Hand sanitizing stations will be readily available. Lounges will operate at limited capacity with mandatory social distancing measures. And as always, be ready to follow local mask regulations. Guests over 12 and all staff will be expected to wear masks in Alaska’s lounges, for example, and the lounge can provide a mask if a customer doesn’t have one.

More like thisAirports + FlyingAirport lounges aren’t just for rich business travelers. Get in cheap with these tricks.

The post How airport lounges are evolving in the era of social distancing appeared first on Matador Network.

Delta Aquariids, Alpha Capricornids

Two meteor showers are reaching their peak this week and stargazers, both seasoned and aspiring, won’t want to miss it. The Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids meteor showers both peak this week and will allow you to see several meteors per hour.

The Delta Aquariids shower is an annual event that usually happens between mid-July and mid-August, that comes from Comet 96P Machholz. The shower got its name from the Aquarius constellation because their radiant, where the meteors originate, is near the Delta Aquarii star. The shower will take place this year from July 12 to August 23 and will peak Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with about 20 meteors visible per hour. It’s best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere, though it may be visible elsewhere as long as there’s low light pollution.

The Alpha Capricornids shower also usually occurs between early July and mid-August and is peaking this year from July 25 to July 30, with about three visible meteors per hour. It forms as a result of the dust from comet 169P/NEAT. This shower is visible from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and is known for its occasional fireballs (i.e. very bright meteors).

More like thisAstronomy12 stargazing events you don’t want to miss in 2020

The post Two meteor showers are hitting their peak this week appeared first on Matador Network.

Red Lobster gives away blue lobster

Red Lobster might have just discovered some accidental inspiration for a new spinoff chain — Blue Lobster. According to the Akron Zoo Facebook page, a Red Lobster employee found a rare blue lobster in a delivery to the chain’s Cuyahoga Falls location. The blue shell is the result of a genetic anomaly, and occurs in about one of every two million lobsters.

The Red Lobster staff grew somewhat attached to the rare lobster, affectionately naming it Clawde after the chain’s mascot. After its discovery, the restaurant contacted the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which then reached out to the Akron Zoo to secure a more permanent home for the lobster.

“Our animal care staff was able to quickly spring into action and prepare a new home for him,” said the zoo on Facebook. “Clawde is acclimating to his new home here at the Akron Zoo, in a special tank that has been dubbed ‘Clawde’s Man Cave’ by his care team.”

Photo: Akron Zoo/Facebook

Since adopting the lobster, the zoo staff realized Clawde was actually a female and changed the name to Clawdia. Her special place is now a “she-shed.”

More like thisNewsA giant panda gave birth to an adorable cub in South Korea, and it’s all on video

The post Red Lobster employee discovers rare blue lobster in its shipment and gives it to a zoo appeared first on Matador Network.

What is an e-bike

An EPA study found that air quality across the United States improved by about 20 percent after the March lockdown orders. People weren’t driving, and industry wasn’t spitting the same levels of toxic greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Fewer cars on the streets had its silver lining, as major US cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Denver took the opportunity to open urban roads to pedestrians, cyclists, and, as lockdowns eased, even restaurants.

“There’s huge momentum to keep this in place for the foreseeable future,” Jill Locantore, who heads the Denver Streets Partnership, told MatadorM in May. In a survey of Denver residents, the partnership found that almost 90 percent were in favor of a better bicycle transportation network, and were willing to sacrifice road space previously dedicated to cars in order to make it happen.

With reduced commutes and open schedules, Americans have taken to bicycles in droves, nearly draining the supply of low- and mid-range-priced bicycles at most bike shops across the country. Those who had an old bike in their garage dusted it off and began taking it for a spin, often to the liquor store. This resulted in a 21 percent increase in year-over-year bike use.

Whether this trend continues is a hot topic in those same cities. People have bikes, and their cities hope to remain bike-friendly even after the pandemic. But what happens as daily commutes and errand-running come into play? Enter the electric bike.

Post-pandemic pragmatism

Photo: Mark Taylor Cunningham/Shutterstock

As a resident (or as a visitor), the best way to support your city’s move towards post-pandemic pragmatism is to use the bicycle infrastructure more often. More people in bike lanes make drivers and pedestrians more accustomed to and aware of their presence and shows city leaders and voters that investment in bike infrastructure pays off. Whether you can commute to work, do quick errands, or just replace one SOV (single occupancy vehicle) outing per week, commuting by bike is a way to have a meaningful impact on cleaner air in your city.

Thing is, not everyone works close to home. Most workers don’t have time for a 90-minute commute each direction, let alone the conundrum of being short of breath and covered in sweat when they finally arrive.

The solution is the electric bike, or e-bike. As technology has improved in recent years, e-bikes aren’t just for recreation anymore. They have become a legitimate form of transportation. They are also the simplest way to make bike commuting an efficient and effective part of your daily routine. Some look funny — with smaller tires and an elevated seat — while others are barely distinguishable from traditional bicycles.

How an e-bike works

Photo: Spic/Shutterstock

An e-bike is a bike with a small motor attached to it. For this reason, you’ll sometimes hear them referred to as “pedal-assist” bikes, though e-bike has been widely adopted as the general name. They work like this: As you pedal, a motor is triggered to come on and amplify your pedaling. As you pedal up a hill, against the wind, or across a long straightaway, the motor provides momentum so that you don’t a) give up or b) struggle to keep balance and waddle back and forth until you eventually topple.

There are three main types of e-bikes. The first is a pedal-assist e-bike with a motor often located on the crank drive, near the bottom bracket and where the pedals attach to the bike. These are common because the motor is able to directly power the crank drive, helping it work in conjunction with the pedaling to provide assistance as needed. The pedal-assist motor works up until the rider reaches a speed of 20 mph. These are known as Class 1 e-bikes and are legal anywhere that a normal bike is legal unless otherwise posted. (Some designated trails and many mountain bike parks don’t allow e-bikes, for example.)

A Class 2 e-bike has a throttle-powered motor that the rider can use to their discretion. Class 2 motors also don’t exceed 20 mph but are more effective at propelling the bicycle up hills without much effort from the rider. Class 3 e-bikes have a pedal-assist motor that can reach 28 mph and have a speedometer. Class 3 e-bikes are generally not permitted on bike paths and trails.

Where to buy an e-bike

Photo: Nejron Photo/Shutterstock

E-bikes are increasingly easier to find. Most full-service bike shops have them or can order one for you. Visiting a bike shop is often the best way to go because the staff can help you identify the right e-bike for your size, ability, and needs. To give you an idea of what you’re looking at, popular models include the RadRover series from Rad Power Bikes, which runs $1,499; these are currently on backorder with the next batch scheduled to ship to consumers in September. Another popular, and cheaper, option is the Swift Electric Bike from GigaByke, which runs $999 and is in-stock at the time of publication.

If you live in a major city or somewhere with a strong bicycling culture, there is likely a dedicated e-bike retailer in town that will have a diverse collection of models in stock and the expertise to go along with each. Large outdoor retailers like REI carry them and have an extensive catalog available online.

Plan to pay at least $1,000 for a new e-bike. If buying a used model, take it for a spin to be sure the motor works as it should and request warrant registration information from the owner. Most e-bike models are designed for street and gravel riding, but electric mountain bikes are a rising trend as well.

Tips for making an e-bike a part of your daily routine

Photo: Melting Spot/Shutterstock

The best resource we’ve found for incorporating bicycle use into daily life is the blog Mr. Money Mustache, run by Pete Adeney. Among other things, Adeney puts into clear perspective the devastation to both the natural environment and the human psyche caused by a car-obsessed culture and offers tips on how to extract yourself from the problem. Use this blog as a source of motivation whenever the urge kicks in to hop in the car for a simple run up the street.

Use an app such as Strava or Google Maps to route your commute in advance. Both are equipped with GPS maps that direct your route via bike-friendly streets and paths. Allow 30-40 minutes for every 10 miles. Get a good helmet, and if you have a penchant for crazy antics, consider wrist or elbow pads. Be sure to lock your e-bike any time you park it in a public place — replacing it is an expensive proposition.

Finally, try to recognize how good you feel during and immediately after your ride. Commuting by bike, even with a motor, may take longer than driving but it also helps you to see your commute and city in a new light. You may notice things you didn’t before and, particularly when heading home, can use the time to clear your head of the day’s work. The honking cars honk, and frustrated bouts of road rage no longer concern you as you pedal right by in the bike lane. You may even inspire coworkers or friends to do the same. As you pull into your garage or apartment complex, smile with a smug satisfaction because you’ve done some good for the planet and dropped the term “gridlock” from your vocabulary.

More like thisCyclingElectric mountain bikes: cop-out or eco-ride?

The post With an e-bike, you can help keep city air clean after the pandemic appeared first on Matador Network.

Bulgarian folk dress

Balkan temperament, a culture based around community, and a fierce love for the native land binds Bulgarians together tightly. When times are bad, the nation unites and remembers that family, a central pillar, will be an endless source of support. When times are good, Bulgarians throw on the neatly pressed folk dress known as nosiya, join hands in the wonderfully dynamic line dance that is horo, and celebrate in a lavish display of togetherness, often accompanied by copious amounts of cheese, sausage, brandy, and music.

Photo: GEORGID/Shutterstock

Bulgarians pride themselves on being from a nation that has withstood slavery, bloody wars, hunger, and economic hardship, and as such, they have an immense reverence for their culture and always wear their nosiya with a great sense of pride. The folk dress serves as the key to one’s personal history. Its intricate sleeve patterns show whether a woman is married or available, and the shoes of a man’s nosiya are a tell-tale sign of whether he is a farmer or a warrior.

While the nosiya is no longer daily attire, Bulgarians have come up with dozens of annual festivals where they can throw one on, such as the first day of spring, the fall harvest, or New Year’s Day.

Whenever a celebration involves folk dress, you can fully expect a bagpipe orchestra to gather for a live performance of Byala Roza and Boryano, Boryanke. What follows is a long line of dancers, hands firmly joined, performing a horo that sometimes winds around an entire block. Anyone is welcome to join, regardless of age, and the steps are often easy to follow as long as you pay attention to your neighbors on either side. Luckily, the leather shoes that go with each nosiya are comfortable and allow you to dance the night away pain-free.

Bulgaria’s folk dress patterns vary by region and are closely tied to nature.

Photo: GEORGID/Shutterstock

Although it is a small country that can be crossed in fewer than five hours, Bulgaria has seven distinct folklore districts. Northern Bulgaria, Trakia, Shopluk, Dobrudhza, Macedonia, Strandzha, and the Rhodope have their own traditional song and dance, and corresponding folk dress. Each article of folk dress consists of a few main components. For women, that is a head accessory decorated either with roses or gold coins and a dress (nosiya) that most often goes below the knee. The female nosiya has two embroidered aprons — one in the back and one in the front, symbolizing the woman’s role as the homemaker and a hard worker who runs the entire household. The aprons are fastened by a belt that is made of silver, bronze, or fabric such as silk and linen.

The male folk dress consists of a tall hat made of fur, a white shirt to convey decency of character, sturdy pants called poturi, an embroidered vest, and a wide red belt. The belt is reminiscent of the Bulgarian freedom fighters of the 18th century when it was used to carry weapons such as daggers and knives.

Photo: GEORGID/Shutterstock

Both the male and female folk dress have distinct shoes. Women wear leather slippers named tsarvuli, which are suitable for muddy, uneven terrain. Sometimes, men can be seen wearing tsarvili, too as the shoes are genderless and versatile, but they also wear tall boots that can endure long days of pilgrimage, trekking, or even a battle. The boots symbolize a man’s role as a protector and a soldier while the leather tsarvuli signify that he does agricultural work close to home. Festivities aside, if you visit an agricultural region of the country today, such as the northern part closest to the Danube river, you’ll see locals sport tsarvuli as everyday footwear as they tend to their livestock.

Photo: GEORGID/Shutterstock

You can always tell where a Bulgarian is from based on their nosiya. Residents of Trakiya put a big emphasis on the embroidery of the women’s frontal apron and shirt sleeves. If a woman is from the Danube region, her belt would be tied around her waist multiple times and the emphasis of pattern would be on the back apron. In the south and southwestern regions of Bulgaria, the female nosiya’s front apron is single-color — either red or black. In the Rhodope region, women have only one apron instead of two. Rhodope women tend to opt for pale colors, such as a yellow-orange hue or grass green to demonstrate their connection to nature.

Photo: GEORGID/Shutterstock

Not only that, but you can always tell a woman’s marital status by her dress. If the woven pattern is simple and in the shape of squares, then she is single. Triangles on a lady’s apron convey that she’s engaged. If the woman is married, her nosiya will display a pattern of four triangles. The main difference is that a single woman would have a simple dress with fewer patterns and often wear a flower behind her ear that she would gift to her beloved. A married woman would be much more lavishly adorned symbolizing her higher status in society.

Photo: Polina MB/Shutterstock

For men, there are only two types of folk dress — a white and a black variety. When it comes to the male nosiya, the difference in style and color is not really based on geography; this ensemble has two stages of evolution so it rather reflects a time period. The white variety of male nosiya came first. It includes long, tight pants, a white linen shirt, and a wide red belt. Later on, during the second half of the period known as the “Bulgarian rebirth,” in the 18th century, a new style of male folk dress came along — the black variety. The pants here have a lower, looser crotch seam signifying that their owner is wealthy.

Bulgarians used to believe that their folk dress had magical powers.

In the 1800s, folklore dress was thought to be an item that held magical powers. The nosiya was the connection between human and nature, which was of immense importance in this agricultural society. Bulgarians truly believed that the better you cared for your nosiya and the more adorned it was, the more powerful and fortunate you would be. Some even believed that one’s folk dress was the window to their soul, and you could tell what kind of character they possessed by the embroidery on their apron or vest.

Today, we don’t believe in supernatural influences nearly as much, but it’s still common for mothers to remind their daughters once a month to check on their nosiya and make sure it’s stored properly should they need to whip it out on a short notice and dazzle the neighbors with a public performance of ruchenica, or have it ready in case Slavka Kalcheva passes through town for an impromptu concert.

Photo: Elkhophoto/Shutterstock

In the last two centuries, each folk dress was handmade and the timing of the sewing was not at all random. It was considered auspicious to sew together a nosiya on Mondays and Thursdays before sunrise. When a white shirt was made for a newborn, the mother had to use a single thread and never let it break, otherwise her lack of patience would symbolize the child’s death. Knowing this fact, some of us are no longer surprised when our grandmothers ask us to go run an errand for them reminding how they labored over our nosiya for days on end without letting the thread break and how we owe them to go pick up some kashkaval from the store for supper.

Even though Bulgaria is a modern European country that has embraced the widespread international fashion trends today, traditional folk dress continues to carry great sentimental and cultural values. Nosiyas can be seen at the Rose Festival in Karlovo, on the first day of spring celebration in Kyustendil during which a dozen young women compete for the title of “Miss Spring,” as well as on March 3 — Bulgaria’s Independence Day. An ensemble made with love according to tradition, our folk dress continues to stand the test of time and unite us.

More like thisFashionGreenland’s national costume is a work of art

The post Bulgaria’s folk dress is more than a beautiful garment. It displays personal history. appeared first on Matador Network.

Concert held to study COVID-19

If you’re going to conduct a large research study, you might as well attend a concert while doing it. German scientists from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg are hosting a concert to determine whether it’s possible to hold large indoor events without spreading COVID-19.

Stefan Moritz, who is organizing the concert, told The Guardian, “We are trying to find out if there could be a middle way between the old and the new normal that would allow organizers to fit enough people into a concert venue to not make a loss.”

The scientists are looking for 4,000 people between the ages of 18 and 50 to attend the concert featuring German pop singer Tim Bendzko. It’s being held at an indoor stadium in Leipzig on August 22.

According to the university’s website, banning large crowds has become a huge detriment to the careers of professionals across a variety of industries. The harsh limitations are described as “an existential threat for many athletes and artists, who depend on their audience for income.”

The participants will be expected to attend three separate concerts. In the first scenario, the 4,000 participants will attend the concert just like they would have done pre-pandemic; in scenario two, 4000 people will enter but social distancing will be implemented; in the second scenario, only 2,000 people will attend and remain at a distance of 3.5 feet from each other.

With the use of wearable contact-tracing devices, attendees will transmit data every five seconds, which will help scientists learn more about the spread of the virus in large indoor gatherings. Fluorescent hand sanitizer will be utilized to see which surfaces have been touched, and even the fog machine will be put to scientific use, to help visualize the virus’ potential spread via aerosols.

All participants will need to test negative for COVID-19 48 hours prior to the concert and all will have to wear a face mask with an exhalation valve.

By July 20, 775 volunteers had signed up for the event.

More like thisTravel SafetyCan we trust negative COVID-19 tests as a green light for travel? We asked a travel doctor.

The post German scientists will host a concert for 4,000 people to study the spread of COVID-19 appeared first on Matador Network.

France bans outdoors heaters

For most restaurants, offering outdoor dining has now become a necessity in the COVID-19 era if they want to stay in business. But for the sake of French cafes and restaurant owners, we hope the coronavirus wanes fast because it’s about to get much more difficult to eat outside in France. France’s Environment Minister Barbara Pompili said outdoor heaters are an “ecological aberration,” and wants to ban them from terraces throughout the nation.

The ban would take effect next year, after the winter season so restaurants can get through COVID-19 and have time to adapt. It would ban the use of terrace heaters, as well as force all heated or air-conditioned buildings to keep their doors closed to avoid wasting energy.

Since more than 75 percent of restaurants and cafes in Paris have a heated terrace, this would impact a vast majority of the city’s restaurants. Reuters reported that environmental NGOs estimate that there are at least 12,500 heated terraces in France.

According to energy conservation group NegaWatt, a gas heater functioning on a 810-square-foot terrace from November to March emits as much carbon emission as a car going around the earth three times.

The new measures were proposed by the 150 members of the Citizens’ Convention on Climate, which was set up by President Emmanuel Macron last year.

More like thisDessert7 mouth-watering pastry shops you must check out in Paris

The post France to ban outdoor heaters from cafes and restaurant terraces appeared first on Matador Network.

Best summer books for 2020

We all need to take a break from the bleak news cycle from time to time, and there’s no better way to do just that than with a pile of light-hearted books that won’t push your brain into overdrive. The following six novels aren’t necessarily what someone might expect beach reads to be like (they aren’t all romance novels) but they fit the bill in many other ways: They won’t require you to have a degree in English literature to enjoy them; they’ll captivate you so much you won’t want to put them down; and their storylines will lift you up rather than send you spiralling into despair. And despite the name of the genre, you can take this type of literature anywhere you’d like — not just to the beach but to the park, a camping spot, your balcony, your bed, even your bathroom. As long as these books allow you to leave the real world for a little while, that’s what matters.

1. Beach Read by Emily Henry

Photo: Penguin Random House

Emily Henry’s latest novel is a stereotypical beach book — it is titled Beach Read after all — but it has a twist. Yes, it’s a romance novel about two beautiful and sexy people who fall in love; it’s narrated by a sensitive woman who loves a romantic gesture; and it does have a happy ending. But what makes it different from others in the genre is that it’s about the struggles of writing and appreciating a romance novel. Beach Read is specifically meant to prove wrong the disillusioned and those who obnoxiously think that rom-coms are a waste of paper — it defends the genre so fiercely and has such a compelling and suspenseful storyline that you’ll be hooked. The characters are modern and fresh, and the sex scenes are steamy and take into account female pleasure, which is always a bonus.

2. Mostly Dead Things by Kristen Arnett

Photo: Penguin Random House

Kristen Arnett’s tale of a hard drinking lesbian named Jessa Morton who’s still stuck on her first love doesn’t necessarily sound like a light summer read, but Arnett’s irreverent, snarky sense of humor makes Mostly Dead Things an easy, pleasurable beach-side read. You’ll likely devour this book in one or two sessions by the pool or on the sand. It’s sexy, funny, and strange — not your average romance novel. Did we mention that Jessa is a taxidermist? Her profession, which is wrapped up in her complicated relationship with her brother and mom, adds a delightfully dark twist to this tale of a long overdue family reckoning and love story that all hinges on one very disastrous art show.

3. How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior

Photo: Penguin Random House

Set in Antarctica — arguably as far away from the concept of beach bumming as possible — How the Penguins Saved Veronica is nevertheless a brilliant summer read. It’s the heart-warming story of how lonely 85-year-old Veronica, hardened and embittered by all the suffering she endured throughout her long life, finally begins to open up to others after she decides on a whim to set sail to Antarctica to help a trio of scientists protect the Adélie penguins. While she may be disenchanted, Veronica is also determined, smart as a whip, and unknowingly hilarious, and those who surround her must learn quickly how to keep up with her. It’s funny, perceptive, and emotional in all the good ways, making it a perfect book to escape your not-so-amusing reality.

4. Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Photo: Macmillan

This list would simply never be complete without Casey McQuiston’s glamorous, hilarious, ingenious rom-com Red, White, and Royal Blue. Without giving too much away, the story involves a romance between the president of the United States’ son, Alex Claremont-Diaz, and Prince Henry Windsor of the British Royal Family. It takes place in an alternate universe where Donald Trump and Meghan Markle never happened, and it’s a wild ride. By the end, you’ll wish you could be best friends with Alex, or at least follow him on Instagram. One of the most charming, heartfelt, and inclusive romance novels in years, you’ll be bringing it on trips to the beach for years to come.

5. Hurry Home by Roz Nay

Photo: Simon and Schuster

Roz Nay has a knack for short but completely enthralling thrillers and disturbing characters. Hurry Home is the tale of two estranged sisters, Alex and Ruth, who share a dark secret. But when troubled Ruth shows up in Alex’s life after years of absence, it becomes difficult to keep the past under wraps. It’s short, with under 300 pages, but utterly mesmerizing; there’s a good chance that you’ll finish it in one sitting, so pick a cozy spot and crack this one open with a free schedule ahead of you — Alex and Ruth’s story won’t let you go easily.

6. American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Photo: Harper Collins

American Gods is the sort of book you’ll devour, an incredibly satisfying mix of adventure, fantasy, and mythology. The story follows Shadow, an ex-con who finds himself partnering up with Odin, the Norse ruler of the mythical world of Valhalla, who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. The pair travel across America, where they encounter the so-called Old Gods — from Anansi of Ghanian folklore to the Egyptian cat goddess Bastet, and many others from Irish, Welsh, Salvic, Germanic, and Native American mythology — whose powers have waned as their worshippers dwindle in the modern world. Gaiman masterfully blends the stories of our ancestors with the gods we worship today, creating a mesmerizing page-turner accessible enough to bring to the beach.

More like thisBooks20 books we can’t wait to read in 2020

The post Page-turning beach reads that’ll keep you entertained this summer appeared first on Matador Network.

The history and origins of frog legs

In the vast landscape of French cuisine, there is one dish that stands out as uniquely, quintessentially French in the minds of many. I am not referring to baguettes, or Beaujolais, or even brie cheese. I’m referring to frog legs. French people are notorious for their predilection for cuisses de grenouille (as frog legs are known in France). “Frogs” has even been wielded as a derogatory nickname for the French since at least the 18th century. In popular culture, France and eating frog legs are inseparable.

It’s not just a stereotype: This delicacy, often grilled or deep fried and seasoned with ginger, garlic, onion, and pepper, is still popular in France. According to The Local, the French eat around 80 million frogs every year. The dish is especially popular in the Dombes region, where the frog legs are fried in garlic and butter and topped with a spritz of lemon juice.

There are a couple of wrinkles in at least the Western association with France and amphibians: First of all, the frog legs consumed there haven’t even come from France for at least the past 40 years. In 1980, France banned commercial frog hunting in order to protect the depleted frog populations. Today, the majority of frog legs eaten in France are imported frozen from Indonesia. But there’s an even more important reason why France doesn’t deserve all the recognition when it comes to frog leg consumption: history.

Exactly where cooked frog legs originated is more complicated than you might imagine. In 2013, archeologists discovered 10,000-year-old amphibian bone fragments that had “obviously been cooked in some manner” in Wiltshire, England (near Stonehenge), according to National Geographic.

But Europe doesn’t have the monopoly when it comes to eating frog legs: People in China were probably eating frog legs as early as the first century AD. Frog legs are still ubiquitous in Chinese food today, particularly Cantonese cuisine, where the amphibians are sometimes stir-fried or added to congee. In fact, frog legs are popular all over Asia, especially in the southeastern countries of Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Thailand. For instance, in Indonesia, a popular soup called kodok oh involves cooking frog legs in fermented soybean sauce. In Vietnam, ech chien bo, frog legs fried in butter sauce, is a popular late-night drinking snack served at sidewalk cafes. Even the Aztecs ate frogs — often paired with maize or incorporated into tamales — before the French.

David Jacques, who led the excavation project in England that discovered amphibian bone fragments, told the publication that the first evidence of the French eating frog legs didn’t appear until the 12th century, “in the annals of Catholic Church.” According to legend, authorities within the church ordered French monks who they felt had become too fat to adopt a meatless diet. But the hungry monks were clever: They found a loophole which would allow amphibians like frogs to be counted as fish, and their feasting continued. Soon, the local peasants, who were poor but also wanted to follow religious protocol, followed the monks’ lead and added frogs to their regular diet. In a brief history of the dish for The Guardian, Jon Henley wrote that, by the 1600s, frog legs were one of the most fashionable meals in the country and served at restaurants all over Paris.

However, if frogs legs did originate in ancient Britain, no one in the modern UK eats them anymore. In fact, they’re reviled: The Larousse Gastronomique, often referred to as the “world’s greatest encyclopedia” of French food, stipulates that “they have usually filled the British with disgust.”

Meanwhile, in the United States, frog legs aren’t a widely consumed snack outside of the South, where a tradition called frog gigging still holds strong in states like Virginia and South Carolina: Hunters row out onto fresh water ponds in the dead of night and use a bright flashlight to stun the frogs, which they then spear with a long pole. The frogs are then marinated in buttermilk, dredged in flour or bread crumbs, and deep fried.

Jacques, the archaeologist who spoke with National Geographic, makes one important point amidst all this debate about where frog legs really come from: At the time that those early Britons were feasting on frog legs, the region was still connected to mainland Europe (the continent didn’t separate until around 5500-6000 BCE). In fact, the people who settled in the Britain of 10,000 years ago probably originally migrated there from the region now known as France.

So no, the French can’t fairly call themselves the first culture to notice that pond-dwelling amphibians might make a tasty addition to the dinner table. Since the very first emergence of civilization on planet Earth, people have been feasting on freshly caught frogs. However, there can be no doubt that it was the French who turned these croaking creatures into a certified delicacy. Only these masters of the culinary arts could transform a dish originally meant to feed monks into one of the most famous foods in the world.

More like thisFood + DrinkWhy Germany, not France, is the bread capital of Europe

The post Actually, frog legs aren’t (originally) French appeared first on Matador Network.