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Plymouth Rock vandalized

As the historic town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, gets ready to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the pilgrims arriving on the Mayflower, vandals tagged Plymouth Rock and other town landmarks on Sunday night. The vandals not only covered the famed rock and its “1620” inscription with red spray paint but also defaced the Pilgrim Maiden statue, the National Monument to the Forefathers, and a seashell-shaped sign erected to celebrate the anniversary.

Photo: Selectman, Betty Cavacco/Facebook

Photo: Selectman, Betty Cavacco/Facebook

Photo: Selectman, Betty Cavacco/Facebook

The rock was cleaned up by late Monday morning, but the town of Plymouth certainly isn’t taking the incident lightly and has launched a police investigation. Melissa Arrighi, the Town Manager, tweeted, “We are saddened and sickened by the recent vandalism in our historic town.”

We are saddened and sickened by the recent vandalism in our historic town. This is just one of our historic monuments that was hit. We will begin clean up as soon as possible and the police are investigating. pic.twitter.com/kQeTxO7sor

— Melissa Arrighi (@MelissaArrighi) February 17, 2020

Lea Filson, the executive director of the See Plymouth tourism organization, echoed the town manager’s sentiment, expressing her disappointment in the vandals but also showing some optimism in the way the community has come together. “Seeing this type of disrespect or the historic reminders of the Mayflower story is both sad and unsettling,” she said. “The outpouring of concern and anger over the incident has been a positive ending to a thoughtless gesture.”

Despite the vandalism, the Plymouth anniversary celebration will go ahead as planned in late April.


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How to prepare for avalanches

In January of this year, a 34-year-old skier was killed inbounds at Lake Tahoe’s Squaw Alpine Resort, skiing a piste off of Alpine Meadows’s Scott Chair. That followed another avalanche that trapped eight skiers at Idaho’s Silver Mountain Ski Resort. Tragically, three of those skiers died.

We already know that even more skiers and snowboarders are hitting up the backcountry — a reported 1.4 million two seasons ago, with continued exponential growth since then — and that they are putting themselves at risk of avalanche-related deaths and injuries. What seems somehow more shocking is when these tragedies happen inside ski area boundaries.

Ski patrols the world over employ professional avalanche training, hazard evaluation, and mitigation techniques to keep slopes safe — and are generally successful. But nature can’t be completely controlled, and accidents do occur. Last year, two skiers died on Taos’ Kachina Peak last year after a slide swept them up on an open shoot.

What this means is that “hitting the good stuff” comes with inherent avalanche risk, even inbounds. The takeaway is that a responsible big-mountain skier is always prepared for the worst, no matter how unlikely that may be. Here’s how to be one of those responsible skiers.

Avalanches are still a threat, even at major ski resorts.

Photo: Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock

Despite all efforts to mitigate them, avalanches are a threat anywhere with “avalanche terrain,” including within ski resorts. The odds of being killed by an inbounds avalanche are extremely low. You’re more likely to hit a tree or fatally crash into someone. But there’s still a risk.

“The ability to self-arrest is an important component of skiing in steep and/or exposed terrain,” said Mike Spayd, assistant snow safety director at Aspen Highlands in Colorado. “It is a good idea to ski with a partner and have a meeting place in the event of separation. While more of an issue in deeper maritime snow climates, it is still important to be aware of the dangers of tree wells and the possibility of snow immersion suffocation.”

That said, there’s effectively no avalanche risk on low-angle groomed trails. The continued packing of the snow breaks the “layers” formed by each subsequent storm, making it next to impossible for a top layer to break the layer beneath it and cause a slide. You’re also generally safe when skiing on maintained slopes at less than a 30-degree angle — nearly all green and some blue runs fall into this category — as avalanches are most common on slopes between 30 and 45 degrees.

Tougher blue runs may be steeper than 30 degrees, and most challenging resort runs fall in the category of “avalanche terrain.” Off-piste skiing, such as terrain above treeline or off of a groomed trail, is where you need to be particularly aware as you’re in “lift-accessed backcountry.” In these cases, you should use the same precautions as you would in the backcountry.

Climate change is increasing risk.

Photo: Alessandro Zappalorto/Shutterstock

Climate change is actively playing a role in the increased threat, both inbounds and out. With warming winters, the total snowpack varies from year to year at a higher level than it has in the past. This is known as “interannual variability.” Rising temperatures increase the triggering of avalanches for a number of reasons. First, rapidly rising temperatures after a snowstorm generally make the snowpack less stable. Warmed ground and air temperatures cause the layers of snow to weaken, making already weak layers more likely to collapse.

The greater disparity in predictable weather patterns also impacts the snowpack. Early season snow, followed by an extended period without snow, can create a dangerous layer of very weak snow called “depth hoar” that, as layers build on top of it throughout the season, is increasingly likely to succumb to the pressure and collapse. For example, while skiers in Colorado — the deadliest US state for avalanches — tend to celebrate big October dumps, this can actually set the stage for a heightened avalanche season if it doesn’t snow again until mid-November. Warmer ground and air temperatures also mean that the snowpack is increasingly destabilized across larger areas, leading to bigger and potentially more hazardous avalanches.

A study on the impact of climate change on avalanches, published in the journal Science Daily, found that, “Snow is now also falling earlier in the season, and is being destabilised before spring, at a time when it is thicker, leading to an increase in the number and intensity of avalanches. Since the snow is wet, avalanches are descending slowly but over greater distances than in the past.”

This makes the job of ski patrol even tougher, as spring snowstorms can cause a sudden spike in avalanche risk.

Check avalanche conditions in the region where you are skiing.

Photo: MWiklik/Shutterstock

This all sounds rather dire. While the threat of an inbounds avalanche should be taken seriously, remember that there are professionals in red coats actively working to mitigate the risk at your local ski area. There are two major things you can do to help:

Check conditions. If you plan to ski high-altitude or challenging terrain, be aware of the avalanche conditions in the area even if you don’t plan to head out the backcountry gate. Use a site like Avalanche.org to monitor conditions. Should hazardous conditions exist, employ the same tactics as you would in the backcountry. Avoid terrain traps, carry avalanche gear, ski with a partner, and generally maintain an awareness of your surroundings.
Obey the signs. When a resort opens terrain for the first time in a given season, it is at higher risk because the snow hasn’t been continually packed down by skiers. This is often why a particular run remains closed longer than others or is closed off mid-season, even though it appears to have plenty of snow; ski patrol isn’t done mitigating the risk just yet. Ducking ropes only worsens the risk, for you and first responders.

Follow backcountry protocol.

Photo: Olena Rublenko/Shutterstock

Many ski areas with high-altitude extreme terrain actively encourage skiers and riders to wear a beacon at all times. These transceiving devices are used by rescuers and backcountry skiers to locate someone buried in an avalanche and hopefully get them out alive. Backcountry Access, or BCA, has multiple options. On that same note, you should always ski with a partner in challenging terrain, lest an accident should befall you and you’re stuck in a tree well or below a cliff with no one to help you.

“While we operate in a very conservative manner, the risk is never entirely eliminated,” said Spayd. “In the event of an inbounds avalanche Ski Patrol will always perform a beacon search prior to any other search techniques. If the buried subject is wearing a transceiver, a beacon search is hands down the most effective way to locate the individual.”

If you’re chasing powder and find yourself at a resort that has been pounded by snow for three days straight, all terrain above a blue should be considered “lift-accessed backcountry” and approached with caution. Avoid hazards such as convex and concave rolls, commonly known as “rollers,” where terrain suddenly steepens or drops briefly before flattening into a duct, valley, or low-angle slope. Stay in heavily gladed areas whenever possible, as the trees act as anchors that keep snowpack more stable than it is in chutes and couloirs. But avoid single anchors, as they can act as an easy trigger because the snow immediately around them is likely to be at a different temperature than the general snowpack.

Last but not least, know when to call it a day. Even with all considerations taken, the only surefire way to avoid an inbounds avalanche is to stay away from tougher terrain when hazardous conditions exist.

“While it is important to be aware of the hazards it is also important to recognize the risk-vs-reward model,” said Spayd. After all, you don’t need to schuss down the riskiest terrain to have a great day on the mountain.


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The post Avalanche risks are growing for inbound skiers. Here’s how to stay safe. appeared first on Matador Network.

Modern veggie burger, ancient roots

Amanda Cohen’s veggie burger at her latest venture, Lekka, is, as she puts it, “sort of a secret.” The coy restaurateur, known for her vegan tasting menu restaurant Dirt Candy, will only divulge to me that a collaboration between Cohen and a historian, during which she prepared 900-year-old Chinese dishes, inspired the recipe. A little research, however, reveals that Cohen’s veggie burger is based on yuguanfei, a vegetarian, mock-meat likely invented during the Song Dynasty. “Rice cultured with the edible mold,” according to historian Robban Toleno, gives yuguanfei the appearance of red meat. Fried dough imitates the look of fatty marbling. Portobello mushrooms and cannellini beans make the burger’s foundation while the milk-bread buns, based on a Japanese recipe, are made in house.

Cohen’s decision to draw from the past for her veggie burger recipe heralds a return to a more traditional way of eating by turning to ingredients that were more commonplace on the plates of our ancestors. Fibrous, protein-rich ingredients like quinoa, sweet potatoes, and black beans often form the foundation of the veggie burger patty. These ingredients have also been at the core of human nutrition for thousands of years — especially for indigenous groups from South America to Polynesia. In this way, the modern veggie burger is at the heart of a movement to embrace foodways that have existed since humans began cooking.

Veggie burgers are far from new. They’ve been around since at least the mid-1970s when iconic vegan outpost Moosewood Restaurant began serving a tofu version. The inventor of the first commercially sold veggie burger, Gregory Sams, launched his so-called VegeBurger in 1982. For most of its life-span, the veggie burger has been the realm of staunch vegans who are most committed to eschewing the environmentally toxic meat industry. In 2011, that paradigm began to shift.

That year, the Impossible Burger, made mostly from soy and wheat protein, entered the market. By 2017, the Impossible Burger was available at just eight restaurants (mostly fine-dining) in the United States. Today, it can be found on 15,000 menus across the US, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore — including chains like Burger King, White Castle, The Cheesecake Factory, and The Hard Rock Cafe. That astonishing degree of growth is in step with food trends of the past several years: A Nielsen study in 2018 found that nearly 40 percent of Americans “are actively trying to eat more plant-based foods.”

The Impossible Burger seemed to be a win when it came to sustainability, too. According to the company’s impact report, it uses “87 percent less water, 96 percent less land, and 89 percent less fossil fuel emissions than a quarter pound of regular ground beef.” In the era of pervasive, inescapable climate change, the mission to replace carbon-spewing beef with a more sustainable alternative is undeniably admirable.

Today, a similar company, Beyond Meat, can be found at most grocery stores. Meanwhile, the Impossible Burger poses such a huge threat to the beef industry that the Center for Consumer Freedom made a Super Bowl advertisement attacking one of its ingredients, methylcellulose (which is, by the way, not harmful to humans).

“This huge discussion we’re having about meat and veggie burgers and what they mean, and how we incorporate eating more vegetables into our diet, it’s definitely because of the [meatless burger] industry,” Cohen says. “I don’t think we would be having this discussion if [Beyond and Impossible] didn’t exist.”

Photo: Heidi’s Bridge

Part of the reason that soy-free vegetable burgers got sidelined in the past is that they’ve had, until recently, a marketing problem: Most don’t attempt to replicate the texture or taste of beef whereas that is the explicit purpose of the Impossible Burger. At first, that seemed to add to Impossible’s appeal. Followers of any diet, or no diet at all, could get their burger fix without the guilt of hurting animals or the environment.

Yet, as recently as fall of last year, controversy began to catch up with Beyond and Impossible Burgers as the products became more mainstream. Critics warned that in the current era of juice cleanses to plant-based dieting, giving up beef burgers for Impossible — high in sodium, saturated fat, and ingredients derived from plants but no actual plants — might not actually be the healthier choice. This was the opening the veggie burger had been waiting for — because when it comes to nutrition, veggie burgers have an edge.

A 2018 report by the Label Insight and the Food Marketing Institute found that increasingly health-conscious consumers are drawn to transparent “ingredients lists and nutritional information.” Few recipes are more transparent than those for veggie burgers, which consist of a list of grains and vegetables.

“From what I can tell, the main driver for people turning to plant-based diet or veganism is health reason,” says Erin Hahn, the chef behind the Fort Worth, Texas-based vegan food truck Zonk Burger.

The veggie burger at Zonk is made of chickpea, millet, onions, carrots, and mushrooms. Hahn explains that while a beef burger is a more “uniform bite,” her burger is crispier on the outside and softer toward the middle. Carrots and caramelized onions add a touch of sweetness while savory, umami flavors come from the mushrooms.

Hahn worked at a vegan restaurant that focused mostly on creating fake meat products. However, creating a more classic, satisfying dish like the burger, but made exclusively with plants, appealed much more to her. So in March of 2019, she opened Zonk.

Photo: Zonk Burger

“The veggie burger occupies an interesting cultural space to me. The burger is so central to American culture. The veggie burger has that Americana thing going on but it’s also associated with hippie-dom and the Moosewood cookbook,” says Hahn. “And now with the Beyond and Impossible Burger, it’s become a tech product. Different iterations of the veggie burger are strangely dominant in our culture right now.”

The modern veggie burger has also earned its place in the pantheon of American cuisine because it requires so much invention. Chefs must cobble together global ingredients like quinoa, brown rice, mushrooms, and tofu to create a burger that tastes good enough to attract skeptical Americans who prefer beef. In America, plant-based chefs traffic in the idea that vegetables can be, believe it or not, just as satisfying, filling, and delicious as meat.

Cohen has called burgers “something that everybody eats, and when you transition into veganism or if you’ve been a vegan for a while, I think it is something you miss.” She told me that a veggie burger can be gateway food for people dabbling in vegan eating, “an easy entry food into the plant-based world.” Those two elements combined — that burgers are both the archetypal dish of American cuisine and familiar enough to lure in people from all dietary backgrounds — is perhaps why burgers have become the face of the push to eat more plant-based foods.

“I thought it would be a more accessible business model for larger groups of people than just vegans,” says Hahn of her food truck. “Fort Worth is known as Cow Town. I expected a lot more hostility going into it from meat-eaters, but folks have been very open-minded.”

Part of the relatively new, at least in American culture, embrace of plant-based food might come from the fact that meatless burgers like Impossible and Beyond are stigmatized as a tech product rather than a food product. Hahn has spoken with friends and family who are attracted to vegetable-forward burgers simply because it’s easier to explain what’s in them.

“If you can say [a veggie patty] is made from carrots and mushrooms, they can understand that,” she adds. “It’s real food, unlike the Impossible Burger, which is unknown to them.”

Veggie burgers seemed to have nailed the branding question, and they’re swelling in popularity: The vegan and vegetarian equivalent of Yelp, called Happy Cow, reports that there are at least 24,000 “veg-friendly” restaurants in the United States to date. Now veggie burger chefs face another problem: How to produce them on a large enough scale to replace meat. For small scale outposts like Lekka and Zonk (Hahn is currently working on plans to open a brick-and-mortar venue) it’s just not possible. That’s where the Impossible Burger can find its true calling.

“The Whopper seems like the appropriate application for [Impossible and Beyond burgers],” says Hahn. “I can hand make vegetable and bean patties, and I don’t know if that’s possible on a larger scale.” But that’s not a bad thing. “If we can get people off beef burgers with the Impossible or Beyond,” she continues, “maybe it opens them up to thinking about plant-based eating in a more traditional or old school way.”

More to the point, however, is that the plant-based burger wars do not have to be a fight to the death. Meatless burgers like Impossible and Beyond, and the more vegetable-forward options like those served at Lekka and Zonk, can co-exist, each doing their part to create a future in which plant-based burgers supplant their beef counterparts.

“Those lab or factory-made burgers are being made for all the right reasons. They’ve introduced a whole new population to the idea that you don’t have to eat meat to have a really satisfying burger,” Cohen says. “The world has opened up. They see that you have an Impossible or Beyond burger, or even something homemade, that’s just as delicious. There are so many other options out there, which is good for everybody. The more the merrier.”


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The post For the future of plant-based burgers, chefs are looking to ancient history appeared first on Matador Network.

Essential tapas bars in Madrid

Madrid’s food scene is as vibrant as they come. Like most capital cities, it has a long list of restaurants from fine dining to fast food. But to fully immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine of Madrid, it’s essential to try at least one famed tapas bar.

Tapas are small snacks traditionally served with drinks. The choices available depend on which region of Spain you’re eating in. Madrid’s tapas scene is vast, ranging from spots run by famous chefs to lively markets and old-school establishments. Some bars include tapas in the price of your drink, usually a pre-set assortment, while others let you choose, and pay, a la carte. To get the full experience, hop around to a few different places on a tapas crawl to start your evening, or do as the Madrileños do and spend a Sunday afternoon wandering from bar to bar.

1. Mercado San Miguel

Photo: Aniczkania/Shutterstock

Although it’s not a traditional tapas bar, Mercado San Miguel is not to be missed on any tapas crawl. The historic, glass-walled market is as pleasing to the eyes as it is to the stomach. If you aren’t sure what you’re in the mood for, or you want to dip your toes into the sometimes overwhelming world of tapas, then perusing hundreds of tapas, snacks, and drinks is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. With over 20 stalls, the market has all the essentials: oysters, cheeses, croquetas, seafood, and of course jamón, all available to be paired with a glass of Sangria or an ice-cold beer. The market, just steps from Plaza Mayor, can get very busy, especially on weekends, so be prepared to stand at the bar while savoring your tortilla.

Price: $-$$$

Where: Plaza de San Miguel, S/N, 28005 Madrid, Spain

2. El Tigre Sidra Bar

Popular with young Spaniards and students because of its extremely affordable prices, El Tigre exudes a lively, energetic, and boisterous atmosphere that’s both fun and rowdy. While you won’t find particularly creative tapas here, what you will find are no-frills plates of patatas bravas, croquetas, and the like, all included in the price of your drink. The more drinks you order, the more food will show up at your table and the more you are likely to make friends with your neighbors. El Tigre is a great place to let loose while not blowing through your budget.

Price: $

Where: Calle de las Infantas, 23, 28004 Madrid, Spain

3. Casa Gonzales

Photo: Casa González/Facebook

Another timeless institution, Casa Gonzales is the ultimate Spanish wine bar. Part retail store and part tapas bar, Casa Gonzales is unpretentious and hospitable. The jamón Ibérico and manchego cheese are often served by the owner, whose grandfather founded the place in 1931, along with a variety of conservas (canned meats and seafood). After sipping on just one of the 40 different wines by the glass (all under four euros) you’ll feel right at home.

Price: $$

Where: Calle del León, 12, 28014 Madrid, Spain

4. Bodega de la Ardosa

Bodega de la Ardosa is a classic. Founded in 1892, the 128-year-old bar transports guests back in time. The vintage interior has walls filled with wine and liquor bottles; historic photographs and handwritten boards displaying the menu; and a cozy, inviting atmosphere. It’s almost always busy. The bar is known for serving perfectly chilled Pilzens (the family was instrumental in importing Czech beer to Spain), gold-medal-winning tortilla de patatas, and salmorejo (a cold tomato soup topped with a hard-boiled egg and ham). Bodega de la Ardosa’s history, charm, and excellent tapas make it a must-visit destination.

Price: $$

Where: Calle de Colón, 13, 28004 Madrid, Spain

5. Vi Cool

Photo: Vi Cool/Facebook

For a more creative take on tapas, head to Vi Cool in the Barrio de las Letras neighborhood. Run by Sergi Arola, one of Spain’s most famous chefs, Vi Cool is more affordable than its Michelin-starred sister restaurants but still offers an elevated dining experience. The innovative menu has dishes you won’t find on any other tapas menus in the city, like chicken wings in kimchi sauce and lamb durum, as well as a refreshed take on the classics. Make sure to try the coca pizzas, a Catalonian take on the Italian mainstay. Vi Cool’s modern perspective is a great contrast to some of the more traditional tapas bars in Madrid.

Price: $$

Where: Calle de las Huertas, 12, 28012 Madrid, Spain

6. Gourmet Experience at El Corte Ingles

The Gourmet Experience at El Corte Ingles is not a traditional tapas bar by any means, but it does have an incredible assortment of international snacks and drinks. Located on the top floor of Spain’s most famous department store, the rooftop terrace has one of the best views in Madrid and is a perfect place to sip Sangria. Part food hall, part gourmet grocery store, this spot has everything you could want, from Mexican dishes to pizza to burgers to a variety of Spanish tapas from around the country. The Gourmet Experience is also a wonderful place to pick up everything you need to make tapas at home.

Price: $$

Where: Centro Comercial El Corte Inglés, Plaza del Callao, 2, 28013 Madrid, Spain


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NGO sending on birthright trip

Ta-Nehisi Coates mused, in his 2015 book, Between the World and Me, about the nature of the relationship between black Americans and travel. “It had never occurred to me to leave America — not even temporarily,” he says, elaborating that a friend of his “once said that he used to think of traveling as a pointless luxury, like blowing the rent check on a pink suit.”

Black Americans still struggle to find access to the same avenues and institutions available to other Americans. We have been barred from homeownership, denied education, relegated to only certain professions. And when we do manage to gain access, we are frequently forced to submit to a disparate culture that reviles and polices our own.

An unfortunate side effect of this is that we tend to internalize this notion that our contributions to the world are somehow less-than. After years of being told that your voice is unworthy, your hair unkempt, your speech unprofessional — it becomes easier to believe the narrative that your gifts are worthless. For many, our dreams begin to follow this same path.

Enter: Birthright AFRICA, a nonprofit that seeks to break this cycle by giving young, black Americans a free birthright trip to Ghana. Founded on the principle of eventually “providing a free educational trip to Africa for every youth and young adult of African descent ages 13-30 in the United States,” it currently stands three years into its mission, and the results, so far, have been remarkable.

Photo: Birthright AFRICA

“This looks great. This isn’t like…a scam?” recalls Shanell Wrice-Naylor about first visiting the website in hopes of applying. “But no,” she continues, “it’s not. This is the real deal.”

The real deal indeed — and Wrice-Naylor would know: She participated in the program in 2019.

Established in 2015, by co-founders Walla Elsheikh and Diallo Shabazz, Birthright AFRICA intends to create a community where young black Americans can “draw pride, confidence, and creativity from their cultural roots and legacy of innovation in the US and Africa.”

“There’s just a lack of culturally relevant curriculum in our K-12 systems that really allows students of African descent to explore who they are,” said Elsheikh in a recent interview, “and that lack of exposure can really leave you feeling a sense of doubt; a lack of confidence in how you pursue your career and educational goals.”

To address these concerns, Elsheikh has created Birthright AFRICA to be much more than just a simple vacation. Its program for Scholars is exceedingly comprehensive, and the results are swift.

Wrice-Naylor, less than a year after her trip, has already taken those lessons to heart. She is actively planning a trip to Costa Rica to visit one of her fellow Scholars and has already secured a new job that more closely aligns with her personal goals and ethical responsibilities. “I’m an HR assistant for the JCCA,” she tells me. The JCCA is an organization that offers comprehensive care to children and families in New York. “Now when I go to work, I know I’m helping black and brown children find safe homes.”

Photo: Birthright AFRICA/Facebook

Long before any of the Scholars touch down in Ghana, there are weeks of meetings, excursions, and events that Elsheikh has dubbed the US Exploration Program.

The entire breadth of the initiative spanned from May until August of last year for Wrice-Naylor. “We also went around to cultural sites in New York City, and we went to Howard University and spent a weekend [in Washington, DC,” she explains, “where we went to the African American Museum of History and Culture.”

The holistic agenda of the US Exploration Program not only serves as a forum for fellow Scholars to become acquainted with each other before their trip, but also as a way for them to liaise with pillars of black America. Guest speakers are invited to participate in the Scholars’ growth to help create a genuinely multidisciplinary opportunity. Some of these featured speakers had even been to Ghana before and were generous enough to share their personal experiences.

“It really helped to solidify that sense of community,” Wrice-Naylor says of these engagements, “at these networking events we would get to speak to black people from all different fields, they would talk about their experiences traveling and how their mindsets completely shifted and expanded, how it was life-changing for them. The way they described it…I was nearly in tears after every session.”

Wrice-Naylor would soon board a plane at JFK to land in Ghana for her own revelatory experience, one to which Birthright AFRICA believes she is entitled.

On the ground, in Ghana, their itinerary included many opportunities that the average traveler may not be privy to, all meticulously organized for Scholars in advance of their arrival.

“They visit cultural sites and museums,” says founder, Elsheikh of the Ghanaian portion of the program, “they hear from leaders and entrepreneurs of African descent — even visiting them in their workspaces. And they really get a sense of all that greatness: both historically and present day.”

In 2019, scholars were also able to attend a speaking event heralded by storied Ghanaian statesperson and scholar, the Honorable Dr. Samia Nkrumah, daughter of the first president of independent Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Once exiled from Ghana herself after a military coup in 1966, she had a particularly poignant note for the scholars, declaring: “Every one of us — particularly the returnees, like myself — the onus is on us individually to reconnect and learn about our families, to reconnect and learn about our African heritage.”

Wrice-Naylor managed to secure a spot in the birthright program in a particularly auspicious year. The Ghanaian government proclaimed 2019 the Year of Return to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the beginning of the Atlantic slave trade, and to celebrate the incredible resiliency of the Africans forced to endure that unjustifiable torture.

Photo: Michael Agbenyegah/Shutterstock

“We went to Accra and Kumasi,” she tells me, “and we went down to Cape Coast.”

She pauses. Not for too long, but long enough that before she does, I already think I know what she’s going to say next.

The beat is just long enough for her to have had a brief but visceral memory of what it was like to step inside those damp, lightless rooms in the belly of Cape Coast Castle. The same ones where as many as 1,500 Africans were imprisoned at a time, awaiting their journey across the middle passage only to arrive in the Americas enslaved. Like her, my ancestors endured the same fate, and we share this pause, for we both know that we are the dreams of those ancestors, personified.

“We saw the slave dungeons,” she finishes, and I am overcome with the exact feeling that she had just recounted to me: Though I currently live in Africa, I have never been to Ghana nor set foot inside those dungeons myself, and I am overwhelmed, nearly to tears, at the retelling of a fellow black American’s return.

“On her thirtieth birthday, she took a trip to Paris,” again, Ta-Nehisi Coates recalls to his then 15-year-old son of his wife, Kenyatta, “I am not sure that you remember, you were only six.”

Already a titan of journalism, a staff writer for The Atlantic, and with one book, The Beautiful Struggle, under his belt, Coates would be 37 years old before he applied for and received his very first United States passport. He credits his wife with the inspiration, noting that her energy when she returned home was infectious. That when she returned from Paris, “her eyes were dancing with all the possibilities out there, not just for her, but for you and me.”

Led by her example, Coates traveled to Paris himself. Before too long, he and Kenyatta had moved there together, their young son in tow, where Coates would finish the final edits on a letter he wrote to him, a novel-length one that would become a cultural phenomenon in the US and the world, the one that we call Between the World and Me.

Coates cites among his heroes James Baldwin and Richard Wright — men whose books he read growing up as a young man in Baltimore — men who pursued their creative and professional pursuits abroad. Many cite cost as the principal factor in their ability to travel or not. But when you can see the luminaries that have benefitted from travel, and when those benefits have been proven to help people succeed by organizations like Birthright AFRICA, it seems irresponsible to continue to keep our travel goals an individual pursuit. Maybe we are learning that this struggle is one we should be tackling together, and though it may be arduous, perhaps united we can remove the stain of slavery. Maybe together we can and turn that struggle into a beautiful one.

Though it partners with universities for a portion of it funding, Birthright AFRICA relies heavily on donations to provide this life-changing experience for its Scholars. If you would like to contribute a donation, you can do so here.

If you would like to apply to become a Scholar with Birthright AFRICA, you can start the process here.


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The post This NGO is giving black Americans a free birthright trip to Ghana appeared first on Matador Network.

Jeff Bezos donates $10 billion

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is the world’s richest man, with an estimated net worth of $130 billion. From his heavy piggy bank, he’s decided to commit a whopping $10 billion to fighting climate change. On Monday, he announced the creation of the Bezos Earth Fund, which will be dedicated to fighting the climate emergency. The announcement came in the form of an Instagram post, in which Bezos pledged to “work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share.”

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A post shared by Jeff Bezos (@jeffbezos) on Feb 17, 2020 at 10:00am PST

The move is certainly generous, but it comes after a massive pressure campaign by Amazon employees, thousands of whom signed a letter last May asking how the company would address climate change. Just before a company-wide walkout in September, Amazon announced a pledge to go carbon neutral by 2040, and vowed to deploy 100,000 electric delivery vans by 2024.

Bezos’ $10 billion donation is being met with widespread acclaim, but some are still critical of Amazon’s questionable environmental practices — particularly its partnership with oil and gas companies — and argue that the donation isn’t enough.

Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, the group that staged the walkout, said, “We applaud Jeff Bezos’ philanthropy, but one hand cannot give what the other is taking away. Will Jeff Bezos show us true leadership or will he continue to be complicit in the acceleration of the climate crisis, while supposedly trying to help?”


More like this: The Climate Win: flatlining emissions and an all-inclusive farewell to single-use plastics

The post Jeff Bezos will donate $10 billion to the fight against climate change appeared first on Matador Network.

Australia working visa extended

Following the heavy rainfalls that put out many of the remaining wildfires that have been devastating large areas of Australia since September, it’s time for the fire-damaged community to rebuild. And it needs all the help it can get.

On February 17, 2020, Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge implemented changes to working holiday visas rules for those ready to help with bushfire recovery efforts.

Working holiday visa holders helping fire-affected Australians will now be able to work for the same employer for 12 months instead of the previous six.

“These hard-working Australians have been hit by the recent bushfires, but from today they can employ backpackers for six months longer, helping them at a critical time in the recovery effort. It means working holiday makers can help rebuild homes, fences and farms, they can get onto properties and help with demolition, land clearing, and repairing dams, roads and railways,” explained Tudge.

The new rules will also loosen the criteria for backpackers who want to extend their visa, and stay an extra year or two in Australia. Paid and volunteer work, including construction work, toward bushfire recovery will count as “specified work.”

The presence of foreign workers in fire-damaged communities will also help with their economic recovery. “Every extra working holiday maker that we can get into these communities is one extra visitor to help protect local jobs and keep local businesses alive,” MP Simon Birmingham said. “We know tourism businesses in fire-affected communities are doing it tough, and the more tourism dollars that these working holiday makers can inject into these economies, the quicker these businesses can get back on their feet.”


More like this: How you can help the people and animals affected by the fires in Australia

The post Working holiday visa holders in Australia can stay longer — if they help with bushfire recovery efforts appeared first on Matador Network.

How to keep your dog healthy in vans

Van life has given many the chance to break free from traditional patterns, hit the road, and live freely and adventurously. For many, nothing could enhance this lifestyle more than bringing man’s best friend along for the ride. But if you are ready to introduce your dog to the open road, you’ll want to be sure you’re well prepared.

Committing to a longterm van life starts with a well-thought out plan and adequate preparation. Adding a dog into the mix means an extra level of ingenuity in order to keep your pet safe along the way. If you’ve got the basics down but want to be prepared for anything on your journey, check out the following recommendations on how to keep your dog healthy while living van life.

1. Keep vet records together.

Photo: View Apart/Shutterstock

First off, be sure to collect all of your vet records together and keep them in a safe place. It’s also a great idea to save a digital copy of these records in case something happens. Here, it’s helpful to have not only vaccination records, but also records on microchip tracking, pet insurance, or any reviews of your dog’s demeanor by their veterinarian or boarding facilities. All of this information is useful when the time comes to find a pet sitter.

2. Keep a dog-specific first-aid kit.

One rule of the road, expect the unexpected. Accidents happen, and whether your pet has a small cut or sore paws, you’ll want to be sure you’re prepared.

You can always combine your usual first aid supplies with those of your pet, but be sure to keep some specific items handy. Different sized gauze, for example, can be used to stop bleeding, brace fractures, or be used as a makeshift muzzle if needed. Self-clinging bandages that won’t stick to pet fur are ideal. Hydrogen peroxide can be used for more than just minor cuts and scrapes. If your pet ingests something toxic, having hydrogen peroxide on hand to induce vomiting can save your dog’s life if you are far from a proper vet.

Don’t forget to include extra medications for the road. Having an extra supply of prescriptions, flea and tick medicine, antacids, or approved sedatives for traveling will allow you to keep your dog healthy and happy.

3. Use veterinarian clinics.

For longterm travelers, your yearly vet visit could pose a logistics problem. Home is on the road, and you never know where you’ll be when it’s time for your pet’s vaccinations. Luckily, nearly every major city hosts vet clinics.

Clinics, small operations that run on a limited schedule, offer an affordable and convenient way to vaccinate your pet. With the popularity of clinics such as PetVet Clinic or PetCo Veterinary Services, you will be able to get your dog up to date wherever you may be, at a low cost and usually without an appointment. If you find yourself in a small town without these major names, call around to local vets and ask them about clinics — often you will even find free vaccination clinics held a few times a month.

4. Make sure they get lots of exercise.

Photo: Sam Wordley/Shutterstock

Although obvious, your dog’s health depends greatly on the amount of exercise they get in a day, and it can be easy to get into the habit of short potty breaks for your pooch. Van life is not just beautiful sunsets and wide-open spaces, often you have a destination you’d like to see which takes hours of driving. Traditional runs can be good for you and your pet alike and are an easy way to stay active while on the road. Hiking, long walks, and fetch are other great ways to keep your pup young and fit.

Dog parks and pet-friendly beaches offer great options for your dog to run freely. Even better is that while national and state parks have strict pet enforcement restrictions, national and state forests, as well as Bureau of Land Management recreation areas, offer multi-use land where not only can you get a good night’s rest, but your pup can get in some open-air exercise. Always be aware of local leash laws, respect local wildlife, and clean up after your pet.

5. Take advantage of pet bathing stations.

Keeping your pet clean is imperative to a healthy van life experience. In such a confined space, dog hair, dander, mud, and dirt are enemies of the longterm modern nomad. While it’s smart to keep towels, wet wipes, and brushes at hand, it’s not always possible to keep extra water or enough to supplies to properly bathe your pet.

A great alternative to storing all these extra materials is to take advantage of DIY pet bathing stations. For a small fee, you can wash, dry, and groom your pet on your own, with all materials provided. Shops provide specialized tubs suited for any pup, shampoos, soaps, brushes, dryers, and even nail stations sometimes. This option is amazing for travelers with limited storage space or water availability. Not only do you get a chance to groom your pet, but you keep the mess of bath time away from your home on wheels, and you give your dog a great opportunity to socialize in a new environment.

6. Keep them on a healthy diet.

Choosing what to feed your dog is hard enough, but maintaining your dog’s nutritional health while on the road is even harder. A dog’s diet can be highly differentiated depending on what pet-parenting style you have, but we all want our pets to live long healthy lives, and their diet is a main contributor. Avoid feeding your dog what you eat, stick to their vet recommended diet, and keep to a specific schedule. Often, van life promotes a lifestyle outside of traditional schedules, and so feeding time might become dependent on which activities you have planned each day. Establishing a feeding schedule builds trust with your pet, and reduces their anxiety about where their next meal will come from.

Keep healthy snacks on hand for when you want to spoil them. Instead of sharing your French fries, have treats prepared just for them to be sure you’re only giving them foods that support their well-being. That way, you don’t have to feel guilty about eating in front of them when it’s not their mealtime, you can simply treat them to a healthy snack. It’s important to first know what treats your dog prefers, but some healthy options that work for most dogs include nonfat cottage cheese, sweet potato, baby carrots, apples, green beans, eggs, yogurt, and of course — peanut butter.

7. Maintain a comfortable temperature for your pup.

Photo: Trotskaya Nastassia/Shutterstock

In any van build, insulation is key. While converting your vehicle can be a longterm project, even simple builds should include an insulation system. Using reflective insulation in your windows is a simple way to maintain a stable temperature inside, while also adding privacy to your converted home.

Winter can be a cozy time for a van lifer, especially with a pet. Insulation, blankets, and long snuggle sessions can keep your family warm and comfortable throughout the season. Be sure to keep extra towels and blankets for the cold, as well as pet jackets and booties if you are traveling in snowy environments. Hot water bottles also come in handy for extra warmth.

Summer, on the other hand, can pose a huge challenge while living out of a vehicle. To beat the heat, install a vent fan to keep air circulating. Solar-powered vent fans are perfect for sunny summer weather, as these can be run without using your car’s battery or fuel. In addition, cooling towels and ice packs offer a direct way to cool off your pup when the weather is extreme.

8. Plan your routes with your dog’s comfort in mind.

Wherever the call of van life may take you, be sure to keep your dog’s comfort in mind as you plan your next trip. Keep an eye on the weather around you to be sure you won’t drive into any unwanted difficulties.

In the summertime, be wary of rising temperatures, heat waves, and dry spells. If possible, stick to destinations with dog-friendly bodies of water to keep your pup refreshed. In the winter, keep an eye on big storms, and be sure to clean your dog’s paws after jaunts in the snow. If you plan your trip according to the weather, you have control of what sort of environment you expose your dog too, taking care to keep them in areas suitable for their health.

9. Use pet sitting.

It is never a good idea to leave your pet in the car alone. Mild temperatures outside your vehicle can translate into deadly circumstances inside, and many states prohibit leaving a pet inside an unattended vehicle regardless. No matter where you are, there is always the chance a concerned citizen will break your windows just to free a trapped animal, so avoid leaving your beloved friend behind at all costs. For short stints, we recommend bringing your dog along. This will take a little extra planning, but many restaurants, shops, and public areas are pet-friendly. Provided you have phone reception, call ahead at restaurants and do online research to confirm pet-friendliness for your destinations.

For any long, pet prohibitive trip, such as sightseeing in national parks, don’t hesitate to take advantage of pet sitting. Many pet-sitting options are available outside of traditional boarding, and you can enjoy your excursions at peace, knowing your dog is in the care of a screened caretaker in their home.

10. Train your dog.

Photo: Yolya Ilyasova/Shutterstock

A key way to keep your dog healthy and happy on the road is to keep them well trained. Interacting with your pet in a formal way gives them a pathway to communicate with you, to understand your needs and to tell you theirs. For instance, a trained dog who knows how to indicate that they need to use the toilet will never have an accident in your vehicle, reducing stress and anxiety for both of you. Training your dog in basic commands is imperative if you wish to take them into towns, shops, and public areas.

The most efficient way to train your pet is with a clicker. A small device that makes a clicking noise is sounded, and immediately after you give your pet a treat. Over time, your pet will associate the sound with a reward, and slowly you can introduce commands into the mix. Eventually, replace the sound of the clicker with the command for the desired response, and watch as your pup performs, ready for their treat at the end. As you train your pooch, you will eventually limit the use of treats, but always keep them on hand to keep your dog motivated to learn and obey.


More like this: How to go backpacking with a dog, according to an expert

The post How to maintain your dog’s health while living the van life appeared first on Matador Network.

US LGBTQ and Pride events in 2020

Let’s get one thing straight — LGBTQ people know how to throw one hell of a party, and in the United States, there’s no shortage of creativity when it comes to curating a queer shindig. From ski-slope soirees to fetish-themed festivals, the only thing more difficult than choosing which events to attend in 2020 is choosing who to vote for in the Democratic primary. Luckily, choosing from this list of epic LGBTQ gatherings is a win-win situation.

Editor’s note: Queer culture doesn’t begin and end with Pride month, and while a zillion epic Pride events take place in the United States throughout the year, this list focuses exclusively on non-Pride related parties that appeal to all kinds of interests.

February

Photo: Elevation Gay Ski Week/Facebook

Elevation Utah — This February, Park City’s powder slopes are getting a little more fabulous for Elevation’s gay ski week. In addition to hitting world-class ski courses with the rest of the homos, attendees can choose from a series of apres-ski events, dinners, and dance parties offered all weekend long. The event caters to a predominantly male crowd and prides itself on being a laid-back event that’s great for making new friends.

Where: Park City, Utah

When: February 26-March 1

March

Photo: Winter Party Festival/Facebook

Winter Party — Miami’s six-day music festival is the perfect excuse to ditch America’s cold weather climes, don your most daring speedo, and dance until dawn all week long. Don’t worry — this iconic circuit party, going strong since 1994, isn’t only about hips gyrating to house music — a portion of the proceeds goes to the National LGBTQ task force, which supports 80 nonprofit organizations in South Florida. The Roundup, a multi-day conference for LGBTQ individuals in a 12-step recovery program, is happening in Miami simultaneously this year.

Where: Miami, Florida

When: March 4-10

Elevation: Mammoth — Located a scenic 45-minute drive from Yosemite National Park, Elevation’s gay ski week at California’s Mammoth Lakes is a picturesque place to get sweaty on both the ski slopes and the dance floor. This unpretentious gathering, now in its 18th year, regularly attracts 2,500 skiers for five days of outdoor adventures and indoor shindigs.

Where: Mammoth Lakes, California

When: March 18-22

April

Photo: CLUB SKIRTS DINAH SHORE WEEKEND/Facebook

Dinah Shore Weekend — Every spring, thousands of women gather in the desert to celebrate all things female for five days filled with pool parties and all-night dance ragers. Now in its 30th year, Dinah’s long-term success is undoubtedly due to its spirit of inclusivity. You’ll find lesbians of all ages, races, and identities among the diverse crowd. Fun Fact: Dinah Shore, the entertainer after whom the party is named, was not a lesbian herself — she just happened to throw popular golf tournaments in the 1970s that were infamous for attracting gay women. The legacy lives on!

Where: Palm Springs, California

When: April 1-6

Spring Diversity Weekend — This unassuming enclave nestled in the Ozarks is an LGBTQ haven, and several times throughout the year, the town hosts a Diversity Weekend featuring drag shows, pool parties, and family-friendly entertainment to celebrate their queer community. The April festivities are an ideal time to visit — the steep hillside town comes alive with the first signs of spring.

Where: Eureka Spring, Arkansas

When: April 3-5

Photo: Saint At Large/Facebook

The Black Party — New York’s hedonistic fetish fete is a springtime celebration of sex and debauchery. Wear your favorite harness and dance until you drop (to your knees). Be warned: This dance party is heavily boy-flavored, and if others plan to attend, they should possess an unflappable sense of sexual adventure.

Where: New York City

When: April 4-5

Cherry Weekend — Cherry trees aren’t the only thing in full bloom during this annual springtime DC dance party — the local gays emerge from hibernation just in time for this shirtless-boy soiree, too. The Cherry Fund, which organizes the party, is the country’s longest-running non-profit queer dance festival; since its inception, they’ve raised $1.3 million in support of mental health and HIV/AIDS service organizations. This year marks the event’s 25th anniversary.

Where: Washington, DC

When: April 16-20

White Party — With over 30,000 people in attendance every year, this Palm Springs music festival is one of the largest LGBTQ circuit parties in the United States. The line-up always makes it worth shipping yourself out to the desert for at least one packed pool party and a pop star sighting — past performers include the likes of JLo, Mary J. Blige, and Kesha.

Where: Palm Springs, California

When: April 24-27

May

Photo: RuPaul’s DragCon/Facebook

RuPaul’s DragCon — If you know that Alaska is way more than a state and Aquaria isn’t just the plural of”aquarium,” you’ll have a hoot meeting the fishiest and funniest queens in RuPaul’s Drag Race herstory. On top of getting some one-on-one time with America’s drag superstars, visitors can attend talkbacks, watch live performances, and spend three full days gagging on all the eleganza.

Where: Los Angeles, California

When: May 1-3

Purple Party — Thousands of people flock to Dallas every spring for this circuit-queen mainstay, which bills itself as the largest non-profit, volunteer-run dance party in the country. The Purple Party is one of several events thrown by the Purple Foundation, which raises money for those affected by HIV/AIDS and in support of the local LGBTQ community.

Where: Dallas, Texas

When: May 7-11

Photo: International Mr. Leather, Inc./Facebook

International Mr. Leather — IML is basically the Miss America competition, only the pageant queens are burly dudes decked out in fetish gear, and the title for which they’re competing is International Mister Leather. Chicago’s premier leather event features myriad fetish-forward dance parties and meet-ups where contestants mix and mingle with attendees throughout the week.

Where: Chicago, Illinois

When: May 21-25

Sizzle — Memorial Day Weekend in Miami is for men of melanin. Sizzle, a circuit festival catering to gay black men since 2002, serves up five days of late-night raves, all-day pool parties, and at least one well-attended takeover of the naturist section at Haulover Beach.

Where: Miami, Florida

When: May 21-25

AIDS/LifeCycle — AIDS/Lifecycle, the seven-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, may sound like a real banana-seat in the ass, but for many who participate, it’s a joyful, life-changing experience. Since the event began in 1993, participants have raised over $200 million to help fund services related to HIV/AIDS, and the friendships formed along the bike route last long after the ride ends.

Where: San Francisco to Los Angeles, California

When: May 31-June 6

June

Photo: LOVELOUD/Facebook

LoveLoud Festival — Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds founded Salt Lake City’s LoveLoud Festival in 2017 to raise awareness and understanding for the LGBTQ community. Benefits from the concert — which feature the top names in EDM, pop, rock, and hip-hop — benefit LGBTQ organizations around the nation.

Where: Salt Lake City, Utah

When: Dates in June TBD. Check the website for more info.

One Magical Weekend — This annual trip to the House of Mouse is half circuit party, half fairytale fantasia. Put them together, and what’ve you got? One Magical Weekend! A portion of the proceeds goes to KindRED Pride Foundation, a non-profit that promotes diversity, equality, and inclusion. Girls in Wonderland, a non-affiliated Orlanda-based circuit party for lesbians, happens to take place at the same weekend, and for a good reason. On the first Saturday in June, LGBTQ individuals are encouraged to wear red shirts within Disney World to promote awareness and acceptance for queer folks.

Where: Orlando, Florida

When: June 4-8

Trans March — The Friday before San Francisco’s epic Pride celebrations, the Bay Area’s trans community has a march of its own. Since the inaugural parade in 2004, this volunteer-run event has grown into one of the largest trans-focused gatherings in the world. A series of speakers and performers takes to the stage post-parade, followed by a handful of afterparties catering to the trans community.

Where: San Francisco, California

When: June 26

LadyLand — For the past two years, Ladyfag (the queen of NYC’s nightlife scene behind bashes like Battle Hymn and Holy Mountain) has thrown one of the most prized events during Pride weekend: a two-day queer music festival featuring a seriously dope lineup of LGBTQ artists. Hosted in the open-air Brooklyn Mirage, the immersive event space is reason enough to check out the festivities; everything else is rainbow-colored icing on the cake.

Where: Brooklyn, New York

When: Dates in June TBD. Check the website for more info.

July
Events on Fire Island

Photo: Pines Party/Facebook

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, this car-free sandbar on the Long Island Sound becomes one of the country’s go-to gay getaways. While there’s most likely a wild party to attend every weekend, these two events are the island’s most popular:

Invasion of the Pines — After a wig-wearing lad was denied entry at a Fire Island Pines restaurant in 1976, a gaggle of drag queens hopped on a boat in nearby Cherry Grove and stormed the Pines Harbor in protest. The invasion was so popular that queens revive the happening every July 4 for thousands of onlookers. Like an ultra-campy passion play, this is the perfect way to kick off celebrations honoring the red, white, and blue… and every other color in the rainbow.

Where: Fire Island Pines, New York

When: July 4

Pines Party — Fire Island’s most hyped event is the Pines Party — a weekend-long circuit festival where mostly naked men dance under the stars until the sun comes up. There’s a new theme every year, and revelers always come dressed to impress. Local lodging fills up quickly for this weekend, and those looking to attend should start planning their trip ASAP.

Where: Fire Island Pines, New York

When: July 24-26

Events in Provincetown

Photo: Provincetown For Women/Facebook

In summer, the population of this quaint Cape Cod village swells from 3,000 to 60,000. Although the events for LGBTQ folks are seemingly endless and all-inclusive, certain weekends cater to specific crowds. Choose your weekend wisely.

Bear Weekend — The bears go wild during this week dedicated to furry men and their admirers. Don’t worry — there’s no need for bear spray. These burly boys are a welcoming bunch.

Where: Provincetown, Massachusetts

When: July 11-18

Girl Splash — Lesbians and those who love them dominate the streets of P-town for this week filled with shows, dance parties, and meet-ups geared toward women.

Where: Provincetown, Massachusetts

When: July 23-27

Photo: Gay Wine Weekend

Gay Wine Weekend — This LGBTQ gathering in Sonoma County’s wine country is a week-long palate pleaser. With tours and tastings at local wineries, food and wine pairings created by the area’s best chefs, and a Twilight T-Dance in Northern California’s rolling hillside to cap it all off, this laid-back weekend is an ideal way to unwind with chosen family.

Where: Sonoma, California

When: July 16-22

OutFest — With screenings of over 200 movies, LA’s 11-day queer film festival is a must-do for LGBTQ folks in and around Hollywood.

Where: Los Angeles, California

When: July 16-26

August

Photo: Alexey Kamenskiy/Shutterstock

Rendezvous — LGBTQ nature enthusiasts have been pitching tents together since 1992 at Rendezvous, the largest LGBTQ Pride camping event in the Rocky Mountain region. Located in Medicine Bow National Forest between Laramie and Cheyenne, this five-day outing is open to people with all levels of outdoor experience. If you’re having trouble pitching that tent, don’t fret — one of the 500+ attendees is bound to give you a helping hand.

Where: Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming

When: August 5-9

Market Days — Chicago’s 39th annual Northalsted Market Days is a two-day outdoor festival with five stages of live performances and nearly 100,000 annual attendees. A half-mile stretch of Halstead Street, which runs through the heart of historic Boystown, shuts down so the party can take over. The largest queer street festival in the Midwest, this popular summer party attracts diverse crowds from around the country.

Where: Chicago, Illinois

When: August 8-9

Carnival — Nearly 90,000 visitors flock to Provincetown for this week filled with art fairs, costume balls, and Bacchanalian bashes. It all leads up to the Carnival Parade, which will take place on Thursday, August 20. This year’s theme is “holidays” — don’t forget to bring your sexy Santa outfit.

Where: Provincetown, Massachusetts

When: August 15-22

Transmission — Located in Upper Lake, California, Transmission is a four-day wilderness retreat for trans, non-binary, and genderqueer people featuring workshops and activities where guests can reconnect with nature and build community all at the same time.

Where: Upper Lake, California

When: Dates in August TBD. Check the website for more info.

September

Southern Decadence — The corner of Bourbon Street and Ann Street is always the center of queer life in New Orleans, but from the Wednesday before Labor Day until the Tuesday following, it feels like the center of the universe. Nicknamed “gay Mardi Gras,” this carnal carnival celebrating summer’s end turns the city’s historic French Quarter into an adult Disneyland for the entire LGBTQ community.

Where: New Orleans, Louisiana

When: September 3-7

Photo: Folsom Street Events

Folsom Street Fair — Folsom ain’t your grandma’s street fair — unless, of course, your grandma owns a leather harness, a puppy mask, and is into some serious nipple play. Either way, around 400,000 people ranging from fetish-curious first-timers to BDSM connoisseurs fill the streets of SoMa for San Francisco’s annual leather event. Although this festival isn’t nearly as hardcore as it used to be (Up Your Alley now scratches that itch), perusing the many booths selling sex toys and giving live performances is still a delightful window into the BDSM lifestyle.

Where: San Francisco, California

When: September 27

October

Photo: Aqua Girl/Facebook

Aqua Girl — At this time of year, no one is wearing swimsuits in the north, but the girls in Miami are still getting wet at Aqua Girl — a Miami Beach party geared toward the lesbian community. Billed as the country’s largest gay women’s charity event, a portion of the proceeds go to the Aqua Foundation for Women, a Florida-based LGBTQ non-profit.

Where: Miami, Florida

When: Dates will be announced once an event space is booked. Check the website for more info.

Gay Days Anaheim — A sea of red shirts swarms California’s Disneyland every October for Gay Days Anaheim — a three-day festival celebrating the LGBTQ community in the Happiest Place on Earth. Over 30,000 people participate in the family-friendly event every year. Disneyland doesn’t officially sponsor the bash, so it’s best to check the Gay Days Anaheim website for details.

Where: Anaheim, California

When: October 2-4

Events in Provincetown

In case you missed out on Provincetown’s summer activities, two autumn weekends attract large groups of LGBTQ folks, making the trip to Cape Cod worthwhile.

Photo: Womens Week Provincetown

Women’s Week: Last year, P-town hosted over 350 events during this celebration, including whale watching, wine tastings, live shows, and dance parties. The plans for 2020 are equally ambitious. If you’re reticent to visit a New England beach town in October, don’t be — you’ll beat the summer heat and get to enjoy some seasonal leaf-peeping during your stay.

Where: Provincetown, Massachusetts

When: October 12-18

Spooky Bear Weekend: What better place to celebrate gay Christmas than in the country’s most gay-friendly resort town? Provincetown turns into a perpetual costume party in honor of the homo-riffic High Holy Day with plenty of tricks and treats to be had throughout the week. Accommodations fill up fast — plan well in advance if you’d like to attend.

Where: Provincetown, Massachusetts

When: October 29-November 1

November

Photo: San Francisco Transgender Film Festival/Facebook

San Francisco Transgender Film Festival — In 1997, San Francisco became the first city in North America to host a transgender film festival. Today, the festival’s mission remains the same: provide opportunities for trans and gender-nonconforming artists to share their voices on the big screen, and engage audiences in creating a dialogue that reaches out long after the festival ends.

Where: San Francisco, California

When: Dates in November still TBD; film submissions are open from May 1-August 21. Check the website for more info.

More like this: The Broadway shows you need to see in NYC: LGBTQ edition

The post Every single LGBTQ event in the US you need to go to in 2020 appeared first on Matador Network.

The most remote train journeys

Train travel has a fresh spotlight on the tourism stage thanks to movements in slow and sustainable travel. One of our greenest choices, trains make us nomads back on the ground level. It’s a strange, meditative speed with ample time to process and daydream. Trains also allow us to roam where roads don’t go and gaze on things planes don’t see. These epic train adventures epitomize this spirit, giving us the best of both journey and destination.

1. Trans-Siberian Railway — Russia, Mongolia, and China

Photo: Yannik Photography/Shutterstock

This is the king of long, historic rail journeys. Crossing almost 5,000 miles and three countries, the Trans-Siberian offers the only way to see remote stretches of Russia’s Siberia and Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. It’s also the master class in slow travel, limiting our gadget use, and forcing us to see what we’re made of in real-time connection.

The train

Technically, there are three possible lines: the Trans-Siberian, the Trans-Mongolian, and the Trans-Manchurian. The Siberian crosses the entirety of Russia, Moscow to Vladivostok with ferries to Japan and South Korea. The Mongolian runs between Moscow and Beijing with a dip across Mongolia. The Manchurian travels entirely around Mongolia, taking in the northern Chinese city of Harbin before Beijing. The latter two routes use Chinese train lines, and although all of these six-day journeys have comfortable sleeping berths, the Russian trains have the top reputation.

Interestingly, the restaurant cars on each train change in each new country. Not just the food and beverage menu but the entire car, with national decor and changes at the borders. When you get tired of restaurants, kiosks and vendors at stations sell food, but be quick: The stops aren’t long. And boiled water is unlimited, so bring your dry noodle mixes, instant coffee, and hot chocolate.

What to expect

If you’re spending six days on a train, then you are at least partly interested in life on a train. Bring several books, a route handbook to identify sights, and, if you want WiFi, a VPN. Drink some vodka, play games, talk to people, and have your camera ready.

The Trans-Mongolian route is widely considered the most scenic. It crosses Russia through the birch forests and heavy industry of Siberia. It then skirts Lake Baikal, the deepest freshwater lake in the world, before leaving Russia. The grassy steppes of Mongolia start quickly, blending down into the Gobi Desert before climbing through the northern mountains of China.

Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, makes a festive stopover in mid-July. The country’s Naadam holiday celebrates Mongolia’s history of formidable displays with contests in traditional wrestling, archery, and horse racing. After taking in the festival, hop on a horse of your own and join a steppe tour out to the land of yurts. While established tours explore national parks and settlements across the country, others are still pioneering new routes with intrepid visitors.

Pro tips

Navigating this journey’s visas and plans is the toughest task in this entire list. There are several high-priced packages, but this is a popular planner for less. For complete DIY, check out train guru Seat61 and Lonely Planet’s guide.
Train tickets are not open or hop-on, hop-off. You need a ticket for each segment between stopovers.
The Trans-Siberian lines not only have national travelers but also many Western tourists, particularly on the Mongolian line. Russian (or Mongolian or Chinese) is not necessary to communicate, but knowing station names in the Cyrillic alphabet is very helpful.

2. The Ghan — Australia

Photo: Benny Marty/Shutterstock

Epic and remote, this train crosses the “Red Center” of Australia’s remote interior, a powerful and complicated piece of the country’s heritage and identity. Even the name pays homage to the Afghan camel drivers who eventually made the crossing possible. From Adelaide’s wine region through to the tropics of Darwin, this is the easiest way to get a sense of this heart of Australia. And no, you won’t see an ocean in the middle of Australia as Europeans once suspected, just modern-day cattle stations the size of Belgium.

The train

Long gone are the confusing days when different Australian states each had their own passenger rails, complete with varying sizes in the tracks themselves, making it necessary to change trains at borders. Now Great Southern Rail runs the show and has packaged the legendary journey for travelers’ ease. The Ghan has private rooms, regionally inspired menus, local wines, and other beverages all included in the three-day, two-night trek.

What to expect

Since this is a packaged journey, stops are built in with included excursions available at each. The “capital of the Outback,” Alice Springs, is a regional must. As an essential way station in an inhospitable environment, you can visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service that covers the barren expanses or tour the Telegraph Station that once seemed to be at the end of the world. Other options include a desert park, a reptile station, or a day trip trek in the nearby cliffs.

Katherine, in the north’s tropical wilderness and just one train day away, is an entirely different world. Much like the Outback’s red stretches, this part of the Northern Territory houses the iconic scenes we imagine when we think about wild Australia. Travelers can cruise the Nitmiluk Gorge, learn about the indigenous people and their art, and scan for the country’s famous crocs.

Great Southern Rail allows for travelers to add on days and expand trips with broader packages. A several-day stop at the sacred indigenous site of Uluru (five hours from Alice Springs) is a bucket list Australia experience.

Pro tips

Going north from Adelaide, you have a sunrise outback breakfast before arriving at Alice Springs. Heading south from Darwin, you instead do a late-night stargazing reception in the outback.
May-September is the best time to avoid blazing Outback heat (remember that it is fall and winter in Australia) and to catch the dry season in the tropical north. Just keep in mind June to August are the busiest months.
Pack layers. Adelaide and Darwin are over 1,600 miles apart, and you’ll have stops in several climates.
If you’d rather head east to west across the country, Great Southern Rail also offers the classic Indian Pacific route.
3. Copper Canyon — Mexico

Photo: Svetlana Bykova/Shutterstock

Far from border towns, beach resorts, and busy capital lies an entirely different look at Mexico. The northwest’s Barrancas del Cobre (Copper Canyon) is the largest canyon network in North America, sheltering a pristinely wild country and the indigenous culture of the Tarahumara. These canyons are just as grand but without the crowds.

The train

Chepe offers two rail routes: the Express and the Regional. The nine-hour Express has only two stops between Los Mochis and Creel, and you’re allowed to overnight (one or more nights) at each stop as part of your ticket. Known as the tourist train, the Express has first-class passenger and bar cars, floor-to-ceiling windows that open in a lounge car, and a restaurant serving the region’s seasonal dishes. For those wanting to see the canyon in luxury and visit the most easily accessible destinations of this remote area, this is your train.

The more budget-friendly 16-hour Regional takes you from Los Mochis, past Creel, and on to Chihuahua (or reverse) with six stations. It’s a comfortable but no-frills train, best for those who are looking to make more stops and wanting to stay in more remote villages. The Chepe Regional allows for three overnight stops along the route with four extra options not included on the Express.

What to expect

The main canyon hubs of Divisadero and Creel deliver adventure and culture. Divisadero provides unfettered views of three canyon systems converging, and you can take your pick of adrenaline jolts from aerial trams, ziplining, mountain biking, horseback riding, or hiking to remote villages. Creel serves as the gateway to the Tarahumara people, the famed ultra-marathon runners and peaceful farmers of these canyons. Spend two nights to take in both the popular community tours as well as a day trip out to Recowata, the 11th tallest waterfall in the world.

Pro tips

Reserve your ticket segments early for your overnight stops.
If your starting point is Los Mochis, you want a seat on the right side for prime viewing; heading west from Chihuahua, make sure to snag a place on the left.
While the train is busier in the summer months, the post-rainy season (mid-October to December) has clear views, less humidity, and gushing waterfalls.

4. Churchill — Canada

Photo: Thomas Barrat/Shutterstock

No paved roads can take you to this isolated town in Manitoba, but at least 8,000 visitors a year come for close encounters with the Great North’s polar bear kings. If your wallet is bulky and your time is short, just fly in, take a tundra buggy tour, and jet back out. But that bucket list grab-and-go takes from the spirit of this journey to the seeming edge of the world. Instead, save some money and do like the locals by grabbing the train.

The train

At a third of the cost of a flight, VIA Rail Canada takes you from Winnipeg to Churchill in just under 48 hours. There is room to roam and stretch in the economy car, but if spending two nights in a semi-reclined position doesn’t sound appealing, go for the Sleeper Plus cars. The extra fee gets you a private bed and washroom, a shared shower, and inclusive dining car meals. When the panoramic dome car is in season, only Sleeper Plus passengers get those views.

What to expect

Riding this route gives you a sense of place as you pass through the boreal forests and remote lakes on your way to where the tundra takes over. It also gives you a sense of how crucial the rail line is for the people and economy of Churchill. When flooding washed the rail line out in May of 2017, the area suffered for 18 months in isolation. After long-held fear that the rail line would close permanently, the relief of the region at the train’s first run was palpable.

But people come first for the wildlife, the other travelers to the area. The area depends on tourism and offers a slew of creative and sustainable outdoor experiences to show off their natural treasures. Most polar bear safaris are day trips from town in enclosed tundra vehicles that the occasional curious polar bear will try to climb. Others offer walking tours of bear areas for those that want to feel the wind in their face and a dose of fear. Snorkeling with the belugas is no longer allowed, but kayaking tours will still get you close to the thousands that migrate to Churchill.

Pro tips

The northern lights might come out to dance from February to March. The beluga whales stop by in July and August. And the town’s icon, the magnificent polar bears, are strolling along in full force in October and November.
Everything books quickly in this town of just 1,000 people. Plan far in advance with your lodging and tours.
If you’d like to add on to your Canadian adventure, the Winnipeg line connects with Vancouver to the west and Toronto to the east on a great transcontinental journey.

5. Tren Crucero — Ecuador

Photo: Michael Muller Cardenas/Shutterstock

This scenic journey has the highlights: coastal sugarcane and tropical plantations, the Ecuadorian Andes, and the highest capital in the world. But while a series of bus trips could get you to these sights, one of the world’s scariest sections of railroad is what makes this luxury line’s journey epic.

The train

The inclusive, luxe Tren Crucero has been voted South America’s Leading Luxury Train since 2014. For the train buffs, this route mixes restored steam locomotives and modern diesel-electric engines to climb from the ocean to the peak altitudes. For those less interested in the power up front, the train itself only carries 50 guests at a time, letting you relax in lounges, terraces, bars, and boutique cars that have more in common with colonial homes than commuter trains. You don’t sleep on this train; the package includes hotels every night and many meals on the tours. But even though you’re not an overnight guest, the staff is ready to justify all the awards they’ve won. Small plates, snacks, the full range of beverages, and route guides are available at all times.

What to expect

Like the Ghan, the Tren Crucero is a package deal with outings built into the schedule. Cultural experiences are the primary focus with tours of Andean cowboy haciendas, traditional markets, and the Quichua village of La Moya. Nature lovers also have the chance to roam the Andes with the llamas at Cotopaxi National Park.

The Devil’s Nose is what pulls the entire train line together. The engineering marvel of its century, this treacherous pass is also the most popular in South America. Cut through sheer cliff walls with an almost vertical drop, the tracks create switchbacks through the nearly vertical elevation change. Your train will climb and descend, swinging back and forth, often in reverse, giving you an eerie free-fall sensation. It is such a wild ride that the regional service used to allow daredevils to ride on the roofs, a practice cut short after a passenger death in 2006. Whether it’s genuinely cursed as legend says, the Devil’s Nose remains one of the greatest railroad feats in the world.

Pro tips

Not interested in the price tag or the guided tours on the Tren Crucero but would love to ride the engineering feat of the Devil’s Nose? Tren Ecuador runs a round trip regional service through this edge-defying stretch of the Andes for a fraction of the price. But you’ll need to catch a five-hour bus to Alausi from Quito for this train’s day trip.
If you’re descending from Quito, the best seats through most passes are on the right side of the train. If you’re heading up from Guayaquil, the left side showcases the exposed drops.
Locals and train experts make sure to point out that while most trains in Ecuador don’t run on time, both the Tren Crucero and the Devil’s Nose day train are prompt.

6. TAZARA — Tanzania and Zambia

Photo: Wanangwe Muchika/Shutterstock

There is one overwhelming consensus when it comes to traveling on the TAZARA: It’s the most authentic way to see this part of south-central Africa as long as you can handle limitless delays. While the schedule notes this is a two-day journey, no one talks about the timeline since it often becomes irrelevant. Part cheap safari, part living like a local, and part overland market, the TAZARA embodies its setting, including delays, fully for an immersive experience.

The train

The Tanzania & Zambia Rail Authority (TAZARA) runs the Express and “Ordinary” train down this 1,155-mile route. Express may be a bit misleading; it’s not about speed but rather the reduced number of stops. In contrast, the original line stops at “every serviceable station” across the two countries. Since this train is a trade lifeline for a thousand miles, that’s a lot of stops.

Each train offers four classes: first-class sleepers with four beds, second-class sleepers with six beds, second-class seats, and the crowded third-class seats. Genders don’t mix in sleeping cars, so if you want your whole family or group to share, you must book the entire compartment and specify this ahead of time.

Chicken, veggies, and manioc are standard fare in the dining car. If you’re looking for more variety, station vendors along the route are happy to oblige, and traders throughout the train offer fruits and snacks. The bar is the prime gathering spot and armed train guards keep the crowd from getting too boisterous.

What to expect

Ideally, one of the best experiences of the TAZARA is the bonus safari from the windows. It passes through Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to elephants, rhinos, hippos, cheetahs, giraffes, and baboons. Occasionally a pride of lions even has to be urged off the track. With the notorious delays, there is no telling if you’ll pass Selous during day or nighttime viewing. For a better chance, July to October gives you the best crowds of wildlife gathered before the droughts. Your best shot is to stop at Selous, or Kasanka National Park in Zambia, and stay awhile.

Day or night, stops or not, the TAZARA provides a chance to see local life in these two countries. This train is vital for those living along the route, providing the only access to goods for those without electricity, medications, or other trade opportunities. Your fellow travelers are merchants and farmers heading to other markets, children heading back to boarding school after home visits, workers going to their jobs in mines and coffee plantations, and, every once in a while, another traveler.

Pro tips

As of this writing, you cannot book online. Call either of the terminal stations, make a reservation, and then collect and pay in person or buy at the station that day.
The train can run out of potable water between stations. Bring extra just in case.
For those that want more indulgence and less planning, the luxury line Rovos uses this route from Cape Town on its way to Dar es Salaam.

7. The Jungle Railway — Malaysia

Photo: May_Lana/Shutterstock

This sleepy little train ride’s top tier appeal is less obvious than the others on this list. Even in its own country, it’s the clunky, rural leftover compared to the west coast’s modern, high-speed line. Malaysia itself is a lesser-known tourist spot when compared with the giants of Singapore and Thailand that sandwich it. An often overlooked journey in an often overlooked country. And that disconnect is the draw of the Jungle Rail, especially when the jungle presses against the train and you start losing your sense of place.

The train

Not long ago, the East Coast Rail had open windows and wooden benches. But Malaysia’s KTM has replaced those with air-conditioned cars and reasonably comfortable seats. There is no dining car, but vendors are selling the national rice-based dish of nasi lemak, guava, and quail’s eggs at many stations with enough time to hop off and grab something. On some trains, an entrepreneurial trolley will sell cold drinks and snacks. The 12-hour ride has plenty of stops as it not only delivers you but also produce and mail.

What to expect

Sections of this line only showcase rubber estates and housing, with neither jungle nor a coast in sight. But towards the middle of the line, the jungle finally closes in, giving you bursts of a broader view only when you’re crossing wide, latte rivers or pulling up at stations.

In the heart of the jungle stretch is Gua Mustang, a small station town dwarfed by the nearby limestone cliffs. There are lodging options here so you have plenty of time to explore extensive cave networks, temples, and botany parks. River cruises and canopy treks are available at nearby Dabong and Taman Negara National Park. Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive tigers.

Pro tips

If you have a specific itinerary in mind book your tickets online with KTM. Otherwise, this rail line is not usually busy so you can buy tickets on the day at the station.
Many stations are rural with few amenities. Bring what you’d need for an unexpected wait.
The cold air is cranking high, particularly at the ends of the cars. If you tend to get chilly, try to go for middle seats.



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