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Most endangered plants in the US

A rose by any other name may smell just as sweet, but what about a blackspore spillwort? Or cabbage on a stick? Do you even know what cabbage on a stick is supposed to smell like? A lot better than you think, most likely, but the problem is you’ll likely never get to smell either of those because they are gravely endangered.

In pursuing NetCredit’s research on the most endangered plants in every state, you’ll not only notice the plant names are absolutely fantastic, you’ll also see how human impact has changed the habitats of plants that have existed for centuries — and why we should consider local flora when making decisions, lest we live in a world without blowout beardtongue.

Alabama: Canebrake pitcher plant

Photo: NetCredit

One of the nastier endangered species on the list, this cylindrical plant emits nectar near the opening of its tube to attract insects, then proceeds to drug them with said nectar so they fall into the tube, never to be seen again. The carnivorous pitcher plants are only found in about 11 spots in two counties in central Alabama and have been on the endangered list for over 40 years.

Alaska: Aleutian holly fern

Photo: NetCredit

If you’re the sort of person who likes to travel to unreasonably remote places to find exceptionally rare life forms, Adak Island in the far Aleutian Islands should definitely be on your list. It’s home to the 150-or-so remaining Aleutian holly ferns, a six-inch plant whose biggest threat is trampling by non-native caribou. How very Alaska. Fortunately for the fern, human destruction isn’t too much of a danger as it sits in the Alaska Maritime Wildlife Refuge where people — if not caribou — are barred from harming its habitat.

Arizona: Nichol’s echinocactus

Photo: NetCredit

Also known as Nichol’s Turk’s Head cactus for its resemblance to a turban, you can spot Nichol’s echinocactus during the daytime by its bright red flowers, which bloom from noon until sundown. Interestingly, this plant is found only in South Central Arizona, as well as one small patch in the Sonoran Desert in Mexico. It’s been hypothesized that the cactus once stretched across the whole desert, but habitat destruction and other factors split the populations up.

Arkansa: Southern spicebush

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A member of the robust spicebush family, this particular variety — also known as pondberry — is found almost exclusively in northeast Arkansas. Its name comes from its tendency to live in wet areas like sand ponds and bottomland forests, and wetland destruction in the region has led to its endangered status. Its plump, red berries aren’t poisonous and are said to taste a little bit like a cinnamon grape.

California: Ventura marsh milkvetch

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In America’s most populous state, only one small population of this herbaceous perennial is known to exist, on a coastal back dune near Oxnard. The few remaining plants all live within about 2,800 square feet on a plot of land that was once used for dumping petroleum waste. Scientists don’t know much about what the plant needs to survive, but it’s thought to be wetland-native, a habitat that’s degraded 80-90 percent in California. So much so the plant was thought to be extinct until 1997.

Colorado: Clay-loving buckwheat

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This high-altitude desert flower is one of the few plants that can survive in the harsh clay hills of southwestern Colorado. Found mostly in two counties, Delta and Montrose, the pink flowers have become crucial to the over 50 species of insects in the area as a rare form of vegetation. The plants live 20-50 years, but only about 278,000 were found to exist in the last survey, done in 2009.

Connecticut: Sandplain false foxglove

Photo: NetCredit

One of the heartier plants you’ll ever find, this hemiparasitic plant thrives in desolate places, a poetic sign of colorful life in burnt-out landscapes and overworked fields. Though it needs some other life form — like grass or shrubs — to grow from, it blooms a brilliant pink flower to contrast its surroundings. The flower lasts for only a day, however, so you’ll have to be quick if you want to see it.

Delaware: Canby’s cowbane

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Though this plant has over 50 populations, spread mostly over the southeast and Chesapeake Bay regions, its Delaware population has been driven near the point of extinction by agricultural activity and fire suppression. The tall, flowery plant can grow up to five feet in wetland areas and develops a massive network of underground roots to support entire populations.

Florida: Avon park rattlebox

Photo: NetCredit

By plant standards, the Avon park rattlebox is relatively young, as it was only discovered in the 1980s. This plant is only known to exist in three sites in Central Florida, one of which is not protected and therefore extremely susceptible to extinction. Despite its colorful leaves, its lack of flower and fruit production make it “reproductively challenged.” Fortunately, Florida researchers have found ways of transplanting seeds to protected areas, and hope to see the population improve.

Georgia: Blockspore spillwort

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It would be easy to overlook these short, grassy plants that grow only a few inches tall in flat-bottom pools in eroded granite. That’s probably why their biggest threat is people, vehicles, and horses trampling over them. Though 13 populations exist along the Georgia-South Carolina piedmont, only four are in protected areas. And five have been previously destroyed by quarrying activity.

Hawaii: Cabbage on a stick

Photo: NetCredit

Though the name sounds a little like a hipster street food, Hawaii’s most endangered plant looks a little more like a miniature palm tree than anything you’d eat. Its population became especially emperiled when its main pollinator, the hawkmoth, went extinct in Hawaii. Now it only exists on remote cliffs of Kauai, where a botanist does the pollination for them. Should you be lucky enough to find cabbage on a stick, you’ll also be treated to fragrant yellow flowers that perpetually smell like Hawaii.

Idaho: Hermit milkvetch

Photo: NetCredit

This perennial is found mostly in Utah and Colorado, with small pockets in Eastern Oregon and even fewer in Idaho. The plant has been endangered since 1987, under constant threat from urban development and mining. Not surprising since it’s found mostly in areas rich in purple clay at high elevations.

Illinois: Running buffalo clover

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Some plants depend on tiny insects for pollination. Others depend on massive herds of buffalo. This tiny perennial with stems only a few inches long thrived in ground perpetually re-tilled by thundering buffalo, bringing up fertile soil from the bottom and distributing its seeds. As that population grew near extinction, so did this plant. And though it has strangely survived thanks to trucks and jeeps now turning over soil, it’s still highly endangered.

Indiana: Short’s goldenrod

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Botanist Charles Short, for whom the plant is named, first discovered this plant along the falls of the Ohio River in Louisville in 1840, a population that no longer exists due to dam construction. Only two known populations are still around — one in Kentucky and the other in the Harrison-Crawford State Forest in Indiana. Though the exact location is under wraps, the plant grows best near rocky slopes and river banks. So follow the Blue River through the forest and you just might get lucky.

Iowa: Blue giant hyssop

Photo: NetCredit

Though “giant” might be a bit of a stretch, these upright wildflowers grow two to four feet tall and one to three feet wide, with large blue flowers. The plant tastes like anise or licorice if you eat it off the vine but has traditionally been used in salads or dried in potpourri. It was also used by Native Americans in the plains states to treat coughs and fevers, and though it’s rare in Iowa, it can be found readily in Minnesota and other nearby states.

Kansas: Mead’s milkweed

Photo: NetCredit

One would think a plant that thrives in tallgrass prairies would do just fine in Kansas, but hay mowing and commercial and residential development have destroyed a lot of its habitat. What’s worse, that destruction has led to what’s known as habitat fragmentation, where small islands of this foot-tall plant are left with little genetic diversity and therefore smaller chances of long-term survival. Mead’s milkweed is listed as threatened, not endangered, which means there is still some hope. Re-introductions in Wisconsin, Indiana, and Illinois have yielded promising results.

Kentucky: Filmy angelica

Photo: NetCredit

Most commonly found in higher elevations in Appalachia, this plant is only endangered in two states: Kentucky and Maryland. It boasts a bright white umbel, made of smaller umblettes, giving the plant a complex, cauliflower-like look. Though bees are its main pollinator, the flower seems to intoxicate them, indicating a possible level of poison.

Louisiana: Louisiana quillwort

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This small, fern-like grass thrives near tannin-colored streams in riparian forests, able to survive while submerged in over 20 inches of water. That said, only three populations are known to exist in Louisiana — one each along Thigpen and Clearwater creeks, with a small population of four plants along Mill Creek. Its largest threats have been water pollution and deforestation affecting the tree canopy above, which destroyed a fourth population years ago.

Maine: Furbish’s lousewort

Photo: NetCredit

Furbish’s lousewort lives right along the Maine-New Brunswick border, clinging to the northern bank of the St. John River and disappearing completely from some areas before mysteriously popping up in another. It was thought to be extinct in 1975 before showing up again in 1976 and depends on the volatile river to spread its seeds. Interestingly, it was also the first plant ever named after a female botanist when Kate Furbish discovered it in 1880.

Maryland: Barbedbristle bulrush

Photo: NetCredit

Only about a hundred of these tall, slender plants with bristled exteriors exist in Maryland, on private land just outside a state wildlife management area in Frederick County. Outside the state, only a dozen other populations exist, with nine of those containing fewer than 70 plants. Most also sit on private land, so if you want to see one your best bet is hiking through the George Washington National Forest in Virginia.

Massachusetts: Adam and Eve

Photo: NetCredit

Also known as the putty-root orchid, this plant is the only member of its genus and boasts a single leaf all winter that dies in the spring, replaced by green and purple flowers. Though endangered in Massachusetts, this twin-formed plant grows over much of the eastern United States and Canada.

Michigan: Michigan monkeyflower

Photo: NetCredit

The Michigan monkeyflower is quite particular about where it will grow, only existing along silty shorelines near the great lakes. Because it depends on both the muck soil and a constant flow of freshwater, erosion, development, and other changes to the shore can wipe it out quickly. As of now, only 15 locations exist of these bright yellow flowers, all along the Upper Traverse and Straits of Mackinac.

Minnesota: Minnesota fawnlily

Photo: NetCredit

Finding this flower is nearly impossible, not only because it’s endemic to only three counties in southern Minnesota — and nowhere else in the world — but also because the flowers are barely a quarter-inch long. That’s likely why it’s also known as the dwarf trout lily and rarely spotted in nature.

Mississippi: False rosemary

Photo: NetCredit

Given this plant is mostly endemic to Florida and has the word “false” in the title, you might think it was some sort of emblem for identity theft. But rather it’s a quite beautiful plant that grows along the Gulf Coast from Florida into Mississippi, giving off smells of soft lavender and boasting soft needles like rosemary. Though it’s found in three states, it’s still listed as federally endangered.

Missouri: Virginia sneezeweed

Photo: NetCredit

Until 2000, it was assumed this plant only existed on the western slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, with about 30 sites in the region. But at the beginning of this century, the plant was found in eight counties in southern Missouri. There’s not much explanation as to why or how the plant skipped over Tennessee completely, but it’s listed as endangered in both states and threatened federally.

Montana: Streambank wild hollyhock

Photo: NetCredit

These high-altitude, sun-loving plants are colorful giants, growing up to 80 inches tall with robust, purple flowers. It’s one of the first things to thrive after a wildfire, and the reduced tree cover gives it ample sun and room to grow. That’s probably why it’s so popular among elk, deer, and other animals in fire zones, as they feast on it following a blaze. That said, fire suppression is a big reason why it’s become endangered, as it does not do well in the shade.

Nebraska: Blowout beardtongue

Photo: NetCredit

In the vast sand dunes of Nebraska and Wyoming, the howling winds deposit sand from the windward side of the dunes to the leeward side, creating small depressions that fill with sparse vegetation. The plants inside are known as blowouts, and the rarest among them is the blowout beardtongue, with its soft purple flowers. Though one might think a species born in harsh conditions to be hearty, any change to the dune environment can ruin its habitat, so things like off-road vehicles and dune reconstruction have led to its endangered status.

Nevada: Amargosa niterwort

Photo: NetCredit

If you’re going to live alone in the middle of the Nevada desert, you’re gonna have to be pretty hardcore. And the Amargosa niterwort is tough as they come, living in high-salinity clay soil in areas no other plant can survive. Nearly all the plants are found in the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, but mining and urban development projects in other parts of the state have pushed it into Nevada’s southwest corner.

New Hampshire: Jesup’s milk vetch

Photo: NetCredit

Though this fern-like plant is incredibly durable, surviving both the long, dry summer and long- icy winter in New Hampshire, climate change and soil erosion along the Connecticut River had dwindled its numbers to about 1,100 in two sites by 1987. Since then, botanists in both New Hampshire and Vermont have worked tirelessly to replant seedlings along the high water mark on the river banks with some success, upping the numbers to just over 2,000 by 2011.

New Jersey: Chaffseed

Photo: NetCredit

Once upon a time, the bold American Chaffseed spread from New England down to Louisiana and all points in between, one of the most prolific plants in the nation. But as fire suppression grew, the chaffseed — who depends on wildfires to weed out competing vegetation — thinned out and can now only be found in a handful of states along the Atlantic coast. With over half of its range destroyed, it was placed on the endangered species list in 1992.

New Mexico: Holy Ghost ipomopsis

Photo: NetCredit

The world’s entire population of these purple-petaled plants sits in a two-mile stretch of the Holy Ghost Canyon in north-central New Mexico. When forest fires threatened to wipe out the species, the US Forest Service took control, planting over 1,000 seedlings in 2006 with an 80 percent survival rate. The service also had inmate work crews clear the area of small trees and brush, so the endangered plant had more access to nutrients and sunlight.

New York: Arnica

Photo: NetCredit

Though most arnicas are found in the western United States and Canada, this particular variety, known as the lancelead arnica, has about 70 occurrences in and around upstate New York. It’s a member of the sunflower family, and its groupings are so small that even the slightest habitat disturbance could wipe out an entire population.

North Carolina: Jones pitcher plant

Photo: NetCredit

Like a siren of the Appalachian seepage bogs, these pretty green tubes with brightly colored flowers lure insects in with a sweet smell, only to have them slip on their waxy surface and fall deep into their digestive system. Development — particularly agricultural development whose runoff seeps into the bogs — has wreaked havoc on this plant that only exists in a small sliver of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Today, nearly 62 percent of the population has been destroyed.

North Dakota: Great Plains white fringed orchid

Photo: NetCredit

The starburst of white coming from this orchid looks almost like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Unfortunately, that’s not so much the case for this threatened species, as its habitat in tall grassland prairies has largely been turned into farmland. Its main pollinator is the hawkmoth, which has also seen its numbers decline due to extensive use of pesticides.

Ohio: American globeflower

Photo: NetCredit

This member of the buttercup family is not a fan of warm weather, and while it blooms fairly well in the dreary Pacific Northwest, hotter, longer Ohio summers have not lent themselves to its survival. Nor has the drainage of many wetlands in the state, as those damp areas serve as the globeflower’s habitat.

Oklahoma: Prairie white fringed orchid

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Echoing the plight of orchids all over the American prairies, these Midwestern white flowers have found much of the grasslands, sand prairies, and thickets they call home turned over to cropland. Similarly, the hawkmoth that does most of the plant’s pollination has seen its numbers decline thanks to pesticides. And its unique appearance has made the flower highly collectible, further degrading the population.

Oregon: Gentner’s fritillary

Photo: NetCredit

Oregon’s rarest flower is named for then-18-year-old Laura Gentner, who recognized the rare flower in an arrangement in 1941. Today, Jacksonville, Oregon — the town where she made the discovery — still has an annual fritillary festival in late March and early April to commemorate the occasion. The festival coincides with the blooming season for this red flower, which only occurs on a small number of the usually vegetative plants. So even in full bloom, Gentner’s fritillary can be hard to spot.

Pennsylvania: Smooth purple coneflower

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Fewer than 40 populations of this tall perennial herb exist in America, the bulk of which are in the Carolinas and Georgia. The few that exist in Pennsylvania can be found in calcium-and-magnesium-rich open spaces, and sometimes under power lines. Like many endangered plants, it’s threatened most by the development of open land, which it needs to survive.

Rhode Island: Dragon’s mouth

Photo: NetCredit

Though this bright pink flower is either endangered or threatened in the United States, worldwide its population is actually quite stable. That’s the good news. The bad news is this bog-dwelling orchid has lost numbers here due to literal-draining of the swamp in Rhode Island, and also from collection because of its fierce, dragon-like appearance.

South Carolina: Schweinitz’s sunflower

Photo: NetCredit

Proving that one plant’s trash is another plant’s treasure, the tall, yellow sunflowers named after father of American mycology Lewis David von Schweinitz live mostly in poor soils like thin clay. Even with little other competing vegetation, these sunflowers face massive threats from development, especially roadways, in the Carolina piedmont. It’s a shame, too, as how beautiful would a drive through the Carolinas be if the roads were lined with 16-foot sunflowers?

South Dakota: Great plains white fringed orchid

Photo: NetCredit

Tough times for orchids on the prairie, as three states in that region have some endangered variety of the famous flower. This one only differs from Oklahoma’s prairie white-fringed orchid by its larger leaves and stem. It’s federally endangered in South Dakota as well as in Manitoba, where only one site exists for all of Canada.

Tennessee: Limestone glade milkvetch

Photo: NetCredit

This purple plant’s alternate name, Pyne’s ground plum, might lead you to believe it’s some sort of fruit. Don’t get too excited — it’s actually a legume and not particularly tasty to eat. Even if you were inclined to try a bite, finding one would be tough; the entire population is limited to three sites in cedar glades within Rutherford County.

Texas: Navasota ladies’ tresses

Photo: NetCredit

This intricate flower is best-recognized by a spiral of white flowers that wraps around the top. It’s native to the rolling hills and oak lands of East Texas, and as the population of that area explodes, the Navasota ladies tresses’ population has shrunk. Though the plant is self-pollinating, it is still listed as endangered.

Utah: Attwood’s phacelia

Photo: NetCredit

Attwood’s phacelia is the odd plant named after someone other than the person credited with its discovery. In 1883, Marcus E. Jones first found the plant in Spanish Fork Canyon, but it would be 92 years before N.D. Attwood retraced Jones’s steps, finding one of the rarest plants in the world with a population of only nine. Since then, a second population was discovered, and its numbers were up to 200 by the early 1980s. Its only occurrence is on private land owned by a railroad company, so scientists are trying to establish colonies on protected land to help ensure its survival.

Vermont: Auricled twayblade

Photo: NetCredit

Only two counties in Vermont have populations of this green orchid, which is found mostly in bogs, marshes, and other wetlands. You can find it by stream banks in riparian forests, typically, and though its habitat is fairly stable for now, its general scarcity in the state still rates it endangered status.

Virginia: Steambank bittercress

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The world’s entire population of this mustard plant lives along tributaries to the Dan River in Virginia and North Carolina. Nearly all of its populations live on private property — much of which has been converted to pasture land — so tracking its exact numbers has proven difficult. Though of the 36 known populations, some are as small as 12 plants, some as large as 1,000.

Washington: Oregon checkerbloom

Photo: NetCredit

Though it’s called the Oregon Checkerbloom, this plant can actually be found from British Columbia down to California and as far east as Utah. It’s a tall plant, growing to about three feet, with pink flowers about an inch long. You’ll typically find it in freshwater marshes and other damp places.

West Virginia: Shale barren rockcress

Photo: NetCredit

The shale barren rockcress was placed on the endangered species list in 1989, and though the discovery of a new population in the George Washington National Forest elevated it to threatened status, its population may still be in peril. Its chief pollinator, the gypsy moth, has lost numbers due to pesticides. Combined with the construction of roads and the hearty appetite of local deer, sheep, and goats, its future is still not guaranteed.

Wisconsin: Leafy prairie clover

Photo: NetCredit

It should surprise absolutely no one that a plant needing sun and warm weather to survive isn’t doing so well in Wisconsin. Though only 14 sites remain of this plant, it’s not necessarily the weather that’s to blame. Moreso it’s the fire suppression that’s allowed shrubs and trees to take over the open spaces where the leafy prairie clover once got sun. Though the harsh winters don’t help.

Wyoming: Colorado butterfly plant

Photo: NetCredit

This big, beautiful plant with broad white leaves and bright pink flowers was actually removed from the federal endangered species list last year, thanks mostly to efforts by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to work with local landowners to protect its habitat. It can be found in its newfound abundance in northern Colorado and Laramie and Platt counties in Wyoming, as well as Kimball County, Nebraska.

Photo: NetCredit

More like this: 25 cultural sites to save in 2020, according to the World Monuments Fund

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Where to drink in LGBTQ London

London has an LGBTQ scene steeped in history, with queer pubs dating back as far as the 17th century. From glitzy cocktail lounges to dingy drag dens, London’s scene is one of the most vibrant and hedonistic on the planet. Beyond the world of cocktails, there are countless reasons why LGBTQ travelers are drawn to England’s capital. West End shows, avant-garde shopping opportunities, and historical sights galore being just a few of them.

Soho has the highest density of pubs and bars, but a wide range of watering holes can be found in neighborhoods throughout the city. With a rich history of drag and cabaret, Vauxhall follows Soho as the second-most-happening area, and it’s not short of a fetish club or two, either. Shoreditch, Islington, and Camden are other thriving queer hotspots, each of them with a unique vibe of its own. While the city is blessed with a huge number of LGBTQ bars compared to the average city, these are the nine best ones to hit up, from casual pubs to all-night discos.

1. Rupert Street

Photo: Rupert Street, Soho/Facebook

A pre-clubbing bar in the heart of Soho, Rupert Street has wraparound windows that are perfect for people-watching and al fresco seating for sunny days. With its industrial-style décor, it’s a something of a ‘90s throwback. The bar staff is cute and friendly, and there’s a happy hour that stretches all the way from midday to 8:00 PM every day. On Fridays, live music pulls in the punters, and on Saturdays it’s the turn of the drag queens. It’s a good spot for early evening cocktails, but note that the energy level picks up as night falls and the mood becomes increasingly cruisey.

Where: 50 Rupert Street, London

2. Royal Vauxhall Tavern

Photo: The Royal Vauxhall Tavern/Facebook

This Victorian Grade II listed pub, situated south of the river in Vauxhall, has been a magnet for the LGBTQ crowd since the Second World War. From Duckie, Amy Lame’s long-established night of pop and rock on a Saturday, to Monday’s legendary Bingo event, there is something happening every night of the week. The pub is known for being where Freddie Mercury smuggled Princess Diana in disguised as a man and also where Lily Savage (aka national treasure Paul O’Grady) got her start. The Spring Gardens behind the pub is a popular picnic spot for LGBTQ revelers during the summer months.

Where: 372 Kennington Ln, Lambeth

3. Ku Bar

Photo: KU BAR/Facebook

Attracting a young party-loving crowd, this sprawling corner bar is tucked between Chinatown and Leicester Square. With the bar spread over two floors and a club in the basement, the ambiance is lively and video screens play everything from Kylie to RuPaul’s Drag Race. Fun and friendly, the Ku Bar is one of London’s largest LGBTQ venues and has a capacity of 500. The clientele is mainly male, but women are welcome. DJs spin discs every night of the week, and the host, Stefanos, regularly makes the rounds to welcome as many customers as he can.

Where: 30 Lisle St

4. New Bloomsbury Set

Photo: New Bloomsbury Set/Facebook

A world away from the raucous joints of Soho, this intimate boho bar in Russell Square is a little difficult to locate but worth the effort. Situated just around the corner from London’s historic LGBTQ bookshop, Gay’s the Word, NBS pays homage to Virginia Woolf and pals. Sophisticated and congenial, the staff conjureS up delicious cocktails, and there are some great deals to be had during happy hour. With leather armchairs that you can sink into and a cozy cave basement split into two sections, it’s ideal if you are looking for a relaxed and refined atmosphere. Don’t forget to check out the restrooms, which are wallpapered with pages of Virginia Woolf’s literature.

Where: 76a Marchmont St, Saint Pancras

5. She Soho

Photo: She Soho/Facebook

Despite many pubs and bars hosting “women’s nights,” there is a severe lack of venues that cater solely to women with the exception of She Soho. A stylish basement bar situated in Old Compton Street and run by the same team responsible for the Ku Bar, She Soho attracts a wide range of women of all ages, nationalities, and backgrounds. Transforming itself from an early evening chill-out space to a buzzing night club, it provides a full entertainment program, including DJs, comedy, and karaoke. A monthly drag king talent contest, Boi Box, is hosted by Adam All and Apple. With its slick bunker-style interior, it also has a courtyard out back for when the dancefloor becomes too hot to handle.

Where: 23a Old Compton St, Soho

6. The Apple Tree

Photo: The Apple Tree London/Facebook

The Apple Tree is a vibrant neighborhood community pub in Clerkenwell that hosts a regular range of events from open mic nights to cabaret and drag. It’s a quirky hangout with funky and colorful décor. Customers are provided with pens and encouraged to get creative on the restroom walls, and a Queer Clothes Swap takes place monthly. Being inclusive, dogs are also welcome. And refreshingly, the menu is vegan- and vegetarian-leading, although there are a few options for carnivores. For something a little different, it’s worth heading to this convivial East London pub to shoot the breeze with the locals.

Where: 45 Mount Pleasant

7. Admiral Duncan

Photo: Admiral Duncan/Facebook

Established in the 1830s, this traditional boozer was tragically the victim of a nail bomb blast back in 1999. Orchestrated by a neo-Nazi, three people died and 70 were injured. The pub proudly rose from the ashes and today is more popular than ever, particularly amongst gay men. Due to its limited space, customers often spill out onto the street. Naval memorabilia adorn the walls, and there is a memorial chandelier hanging from the ceiling to commemorate those who died in the bombing. Cookie Monstar and Sum Ting Tong are two of the resident performers and drag takes place nightly.

Where: 54 Old Compton St, Soho

8. The Glory

Photo: The Glory/Facebook

Owned by the Queens of East End drag, Jonny Woo and John Zizzle, this compact pub in Shoreditch thrives with energy and pretty much anything goes. There’s a small stage where Jonny himself often performs. Much of the entertainment is free before 10:00 PM. The crowd is mixed, the vibe inclusive, and drinks are cheap by London standards. Monthly variety shows include Non-Binary Cabaret and musical comedy troupe Sex Shells. The Glory’s weekend discos are legendary and can’t be beaten if you’re in the mood to party.

Where: 281 Kingsland Rd, Haggerston

9. Freedom

Photo: Freedom Bar Soho/Facebook

Sleek and swanky, this Wardour Street cocktail lounge is a great place to kick off a night out in Soho. The opulent bar is all spectacular chandeliers, mirrored walls, and disco balls. It’s not unusual to spot a celeb at Freedom, and although much of the crowd tends to look as slick as the surroundings, the bar is not exclusive, and nobody looks out of place. Now defining itself as a metrosexual bar, it’s an all-encompassing space. There’s a nightclub in the basement featuring two dance floors. An ideal venue for people of all persuasions who like a taste of West End glamour.

Where: 60-66 Wardour St, Soho


More like this: The best LGBTQ museums and archives around the world

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Oldest companies in the world

Amazon, Google, and Apple may be the biggest names in business right now, but they are only a few decades old, and have not proven that they can stand the test of time. Some companies, however, have been around for over 1,000 years, as shown on this map of the oldest (currently operational) company in almost every country in the world.

Photo: BusinessFinancing.co.uk

St. Peter Stiftskulinarium is the oldest company in Europe. Opened in 803 in Salzburg, Austria, the restaurant is the oldest in the world that you can still actually eat in. Nearby Germany has a winery established in 862, called Staffelter Hof Winery, so it’d be pretty easy to do an Old World culinary tour of Europe.

In the UK, food takes a backseat to finance. The Royal Mint of the United Kingdom began trading in 886. Similarly, the longest-running business in France is also a mint — the Monnaie de Paris — which was established in 864.

Photo: BusinessFinancing.co.uk

North America’s oldest business is also a mint, the Casa de Moneda de México, which opened in 1534. In Canada, however, that business is Hudson’s Bay Company, which opened in 1670.

Photo: BusinessFinancing.co.uk

South America continued the currency trend with the Casa de Moneda de Colombia, a Colombian currency museum in Bogota that was founded in 1621.

Photo: BusinessFinancing.co.uk

Asia bucks the other trends with a Japanese construction company founded in 578 called Kongō Gumi.

Photo: BusinessFinancing.co.uk

In Africa, Mauritius Post gets the longevity crown, having opened in 1772. In fact, the top 10 oldest businesses in Africa are all post offices. The same goes for Oceania whose oldest business still in operation is Australia Post.

Photo: BusinessFinancing.co.uk

Photo: BusinessFinancing.co.uk

More like this: These maps show every state’s favorite and least favorite states

The post This map shows the oldest company in every country appeared first on Matador Network.

Mumbai tests light that punishes

Honking at a traffic light won’t make the traffic flow quicker, but most of us feel compelled to do it anyway. It makes us feel like we’re being proactive, doing something about the situation. It’s not helping, but at least it can’t possibly make the traffic worse. Well, it turns out that it can. In Mumbai, police have introduced noise-sensitive traffic lights in an effort to cut noise pollution. If cars honk too loudly, the light will remain red for longer.

The system relies on decibel meters connected to traffic light poles, which register the noise level of the area. If the meters register noise 85 decibels or higher, the lights will reset and stay red for longer. Thanks to traffic lights that display countdown timers, honking drivers can actually see how many seconds they’re being penalized in real time.

The lights have already been installed on a trial basis at a few junctions in Mumbai, with more locations slated to be added if the system proves effective.

Horn not okay, please!
Find out how the @MumbaiPolice hit the mute button on #Mumbai’s reckless honkers. #HonkResponsibly pic.twitter.com/BAGL4iXiPH

— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) January 31, 2020

A humorous video posted on Twitter by the Mumbai Police shows the system in action. The video dubbs the new traffic light as “The Punishing Signal,” with police inviting motorists to “Feel free to honk — if you don’t mind waiting.”


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New Orleans cuisine told by a chef

When it comes to food, the old cliche of the United States as a melting pot rings true. Nowhere, however, is it truer than New Orleans. There are Haitian, Vietnamese, Italian, Cuban, and Chinese influences in the food of this eclectic city. Classic French dishes get a Southern twist and are then punched up with spices from India and West Africa.

This all makes New Orleans an exciting place for people like Phillip Lopez, the executive chef at Galatoire’s and the host of the PBS show Good Gumbo.

“[New Orleans is] a big beautiful mixture of all these different cultures and ethnicities,” Lopez says, comparing the city’s makeup to one-pot dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and etouffee. “Food is the big uniter. It’s the thing we can carry through to any conversation; whether it’s mourning a loss or celebrating, it always happens around food.”

Lopez is a New Orleans native but grew up in a military family and has also lived in Europe and on the East Coast of the US. The New Orleans flavors he remembers from his childhood came from his mother’s co-workers: Cuban medianoches, Punjabi spices, and Vietnamese phở. He moved back to New Orleans in 2004 and began exploring the city’s culinary identity.

By the early 2010s, the rest of the country began to take note of Lopez’s efforts to elevate New Orleans’ cuisine: He was named “Chef to Watch” by the Times-Picayune, “Rising Star” by StarChefs, “Chef of the Year” by Eater, and was a three-time nominee for Food & Wine’s “Best New Gulf Coast Chef.” He opened restaurants focused on innovation and molecular gastronomy and, for a time, ran the most expensive tasting menu restaurant in New Orleans, Square Root. Lopez joined Galatoire’s, a classics-first restaurant open since 1905, in 2018.

Photo: Jennifer Finley

Lopez’s decade-plus career working with food in New Orleans gives him the inside intel that locals and first-time visitors alike will find useful during a culinary adventure around a city flush with exceptional restaurants.

“There’s so many different flavors across the world that I can bring into New Orleans [cooking] and it works,” Lopez says, later adding, “for me, [New Orleans food tells] a story to not be afraid to reach outside, but also to know who you are and where you’re from.”

That change is evident in the restaurants popping up in New Orleans.

“It’s a constant living, breathing, and evolving city,” Lopez says. “Over the past 20 years, we’ve been known for Creole-Cajun. In one of the episodes of Good Gumbo, we talk about the Vietnamese people who settled in New Orleans after the fall of Saigon and how those influences have tremendously reshaped our idea of what New Orleans is.

“The po’ boy here is a sustained everyday sandwich, but the banh mi is side by side with that,” Lopez continues. “Those flavors and ingredients that you find — Thai basil, all these different spices, chilis — Vietnamese food is so fresh and is also influenced by French culture, so it works so well here.”

Vietnamese influences along with dry spices from India have changed the way New Orleans chefs think about and prepare food, Lopez says. “A lot is going on that a lot of people don’t realize.”

Best places to try modern New Orleans food

Isle of Man wants you to ditch cell

If you take vacations for the purpose of relaxing and unplugging, but then find it nearly impossible to stop looking at your phone, the Isle of Man’s “phonebox” concept is right up your alley. In an effort to encourage visitors to be in the moment and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings, the island is installing “phoneboxes” at rural retreats around the island. These boxes contain a guidebook to the Isle of Man, a film camera, postcards and stamps, a map of the island, bird and plant identification books, binoculars and magnifying glasses, a travel journal and notepad, a deck of cards, and a book on how to digital detox your life. All of that in exchange for ditching your cell phone for the day.

“We want to encourage our visitors to disconnect,” said Angela Byrne, head of Visit Isle of Man, “switch off and step away from digital distractions in order to dissociate from work and social media and concentrate better on their surroundings.”

Don’t worry, the policy isn’t mandatory. And if you do choose to lock your phone safely inside one of the phoneboxes, your emails will still be there when you retrieve it at the end of the day.


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Best black-owned eateries in London

London is a famously multicultural city, shaped by the immigrant communities that have built their lives there. Much like the city itself, black-owned restaurants here span the width of the African diaspora. From the kitchens of the American South to Addis Ababa, these black-owned eateries transcend borders and passport stamps. Basically, you don’t need to leave the Big Smoke for an authentic yet diverse taste of African culture and identity.

Besides well-seasoned plates, this round-up will take you to some of the most interesting neighborhoods in the city. In east London, try out some hot chocolate or chicken and waffles in one of London’s top art districts. Head south of the river for a taste of the Caribbean in two of London’s historically black boroughs, Brixton and Peckham. Here are the best black-owned restaurants in London.

1. Prince of Peckham Pub

Photo: Prince of Peckham

Located in Peckham, South London’s predominately Nigerian district, Prince of Peckham is a go-to pub in the neighborhood. Founded by Clement Ogbonnaya, who grew up in the neighborhood, this spot serves up Caribbean inspired plates from its in-house pop-up restaurant, White Men Can’t Jerk. If you’re craving jerk, like I always am, reach for the chicken brioche bun with coleslaw. It’s simple yet done well. Or keep things classic with an order of the wing tings, chicken dipped in buttermilk and dunked in a honey chili glaze. Enough said. In line with its Caribbean roots, every Saturday the pub throws a wall-to-wall, sweat-dripping party called Culture. The DJs always spin the classic hip hop, R&B, and Afrobeat tunes. It promises a good time and usually gets packed, so it’s essential to get on the guestlist before turning up.

Where: 1 Clayton Rd, Peckham

2. Dark Sugars

Photo: Dark Sugars/Facebook

Dark Sugars is not quite a restaurant but is definitely a black-owned spot you shouldn’t miss in London. The cocoa house sells decadent chocolate of all kinds. From shaved hot chocolate to edible pearls, the shop boasts a deep knowledge of chocolate-making. Fatou Nyanga, owner of Dark Sugars, started by selling her chocolate truffles at Borough Market. Soon after, she traveled to Ghana to learn more about the ins and outs of making chocolate. Her hot chocolate topped with freshly shaved morsels is hailed as one of the best in the city.

Where: 141 Brick Ln, Shoreditch

3. Ikoyi

Photo: Ikoyi London/Facebook

Named after the neighborhood where co-founder Iré Hassan-Odukale grew up in Lagos, Ikoyi is a taste of West Africa in South London. Chef Jeremy Chan (Hassan-Odukale’s business partner) harnesses the true essence of Nigerian ingredients and has spent years perfecting the dishes that make up the foundation of the menu. Plantains, scotch bonnet chilies, and smoky peppercorns are just some of the flavors profiles you can expect here. Ikoyi’s chic interiors feature cozy wooden decorations and a lot of greenery. On the tasting menu, some of the standout dishes include smoked crab, Jollof rice, and a fermented plantain waffle.

Where: 1 St James’s Market, St. James’s

4. Little Baobab

Photo: Little Baobab/Facebook

This Senegalese pop-up restaurant also brings West African flavors to London. Founder and head chef Khadim Mbamba realized that the city lacked a Senegalese restaurant, so he started this monthly pop-up dinner series to bring the food and music of his home to London. Little Baobab’s chefs use fresh ingredients to recreate the home-cooked meals of their childhoods in Senegal.

Must-try dishes include Chicken Yassa (chicken served with caramelized onions and rice) and Thiebou Dienne, Senegal’s national dish of sea bass with jollof rice. For a sip of Senegal, don’t leave Little Baobab without tasting fresh bissap, or hibiscus juice. While the food is stellar, the highlight of dinner at Little Baobab might be the live musical performances from emerging African artists. At only 35 British pounds per person for a three-course meal with live music performances, there’s no reason Little Baobab shouldn’t be on your list.

Where: Varies each month

5. Red Rooster

Photo: Red Rooster Shoreditch/Facebook

Harlem collides with Shoreditch at this East London hotspot. Critically acclaimed chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson opened the London outpost of his popular New York City restaurant in 2017. Red Rooster’s menu is heavy on American soul food with a touch of East African influence. Dishes like chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits are staples here. If you feel like breaking the mold, try the Obama short ribs served with ricotta gnocchi or Timballo D’Antonia, an Ethiopian chicken stew. Staying true to its African-American roots, Red Rooster hosts a weekly gospel brunch on Sundays. Come for the classic brunch and stay for the live gospel choir — they’ve been known to tear down the house.

Where: 45 Curtain Rd, Hackney

6. Island Social Club

Photo: Island Social Club/Facebook

In Haggerston, an effortlessly cool social-club-meets-restaurant is Marie Mitchell and Joseph Pilgrim’s ode to British Caribbean culture. The roti-slinging chef and bartender duo opened Island Social Club, a space for them to plate their rerooted lineage. In true island flavor, rum and roti are the stars here. Pop into the space mid-week for Roti Wednesdays, a discounted homage to the West Indian flatbread. If you’re in need of a little rum, ISC mixes up punches made from inter-generational hand-me-down recipes.

Where: 258 Kingsland Rd, Haggerston

7. Zeret Kitchen

Photo: Zeret Kitchen/Facebook

While there are many Ethiopian restaurants in London, Zeret Kitchen has been serving up beloved Ethiopian food since 2004. Tafeswork Belayneh & Berhanu Tesfaye run the buzzy Camberwell-based restaurant. Long communal tables make this airy space the perfect place for breaking bread with groups of friends or family.

Regarded as one of the best spots for Ethiopian food in London, Zeret Kitchen prides itself on using quality ingredients sourced directly from Ethiopia and local markets. If you are feeling adventurous, order the Zeret Surprise for a cornucopia of veggies, stews, lentils and, of course, injera.

Where: 216-218 Camberwell Rd, Camberwell

8. Eat Of Eden

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A post shared by Eat Of Eden (@eatofeden) on Aug 12, 2019 at 5:51am PDT

Located inside of the historic Brixton Village Market, Eat Of Eden has a cult following for its vegan soul food. Inspired by the flavors of the Caribbean, this restaurant sources organic ingredients for veggie- and grain-based plates. I’ve come here with friends who are vegan and friends who are carnivores, but everyone loves it. From the herby chickpea curry to creamy macaroni pie, Eat of Eden puts an arguably better meat-free twist on all of your favorite dishes. If you’re coming with friends, order the tasting platter, which features six to eight different dishes. In true Caribbean fashion, be prepared to wait when you get here as the shop itself is quite small, and it’s usually always busy. It’ll be worth every second.

Where: Unit 4, Brixton Village, Coldharbour Ln, Brixton


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How to make traditional Berber tea

Berber-Libyan tea is a true specialty. Heated over the coals of an open fire in the sands of the Sahara, Libyan tea is dark and rich, often served with nuts floating in the steaming hot tea. Berbers — the native ethnic group of Libya and the Maghreb, or northwest Africa, region — make their home in Libya’s mountains and desert. Today the Berber, or Amazigh people, account for just 5 percent of Libya’s population, but their traditions live on.

The making and drinking of tea in Berber-Libyan culture is just as much about spending time with family and loved ones as it is about enjoying a snack. Tea drinking in Libya is all about slowing down and catching up with friends in conversation. If you’re lucky enough to partake in this timeless tradition in any part of the world, you will come away with a greater appreciation for tea ceremonies and how they draw people closer to one another. As they say in Libya — “sahteen!” — to your health!

Although this tea is probably best prepared by a local Berber family, you don’t have to journey to another continent to experience Berber tea. Here’s how to recreate this special tea of the Sahara, and be transported with every sip.

Make an open fire

Photo: cribe/Shutterstock

Preparing your tea outside is the best way to capture the essence of Berber culture. Whether by the shores of the Mediterranean or in the heights of the Nafusa Mountains, this black (or sometimes called “red” tea), is best enjoyed under the open sky. The water for a proper Berber tea is heated over the logs that have turned to coals.

Of course, many Libyan families also make their tea with the conveniences of current technology and achieve happy results, so don’t be ashamed to use your stove if you can’t make a fire.

Time for the tea leaves

Photo: Marta navarroP/Shutterstock

Once your water is hot, throw a generous handful of loose green or black tea leaves into the pot. In Morocco, the most popular variety to drink in a traditional Berber tea ceremony is Chinese gunpowder green tea. To make the Libyan version, however, any fresh, full, unpackaged loose-leaf green or black tea will be suitable. If the only thing available to you is black tea bags from the grocery store, those will suffice. Be sure to add at least three or four tea bags to the water, as packaged tea is generally weaker in strength. Bringing to a boil again, let the tea simmer for about 20 minutes. It will transform into a dark, thick, pungent tea.

Prepare foam for the tea

Photo: Sergey-73/Shutterstock

Tea foam, or reghwa, is the signature Berber twist on black tea. Much like a frothy cappuccino, the tea is served with a thick foam on the top inch or so of the tea. The foam is created by passing the tea from one cup to another, often holding the teacups far apart to create a greater chance for foam. By passing the tea from cup to cup about 20 to 30 times, the foam is formed. A skilled tea-frother will be able to pass the tea from over their head to a lowered cup below without spilling.

Add the peanuts or mint

Photo: Sergey-73/Shutterstock

Libyans love to soak nuts in their tea. The nuts can be salted or unsalted but usually a generous handful is added to each glass teacup. Peanuts are standard, and almonds reserved for when you’re feeling fancy, or want to show an honored guest your appreciation. Fresh mint or basil can also be added at this point. This round is also sometimes served with a traditional ring-shaped cookie, kaak malih.

Serve and enjoy in good company

Berber tea should always be enjoyed in the company of family or friends. Preparing tea signifies that it’s time to gather with friends and family, so you shouldn’t be in a rush to finish. Take your time and luxuriate in the experience; that’s what it is all about.

Berber tea is usually served in three rounds, in small, glass teacups that are quite hot to the touch, and should be approached with caution. Tea time in Libya is synonymous with hanging out; these sessions can last for 30 minutes up to three hours. Everything is discussed, from politics to family decisions, the birth of a new child to the upcoming marriage — tea time is time to go deep in conversation. The passing of time is punctuated not by a clock, but instead by the serving of the next round of tea.


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Philadelphia City of Sisterly Love

Everyone knows Philadelphia as “The City of Brotherly Love,” but for the rest of 2020 it’s the sisters getting the spotlight. Philos is Greek for “beloved” and adelphos for “brotherly,” but the city is slightly altering this literal translation in celebration of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. That’s right, for the next year Philadelphia will be known as “The City of Sisterly Love.”

Women were officially granted the right to vote on August 18, 1920, thanks to the 19th Amendment, and this year marks the 100th anniversary. To celebrate, Philadelphia City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson proposed a change to the city’s nickname.

According to the resolution passed last Thursday, January 30, by the city council, “The rights established by the 19th Amendment did not initially extend to women of African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American heritage due to widespread sexism, enduring inequality, and racism. It wasn’t until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, passed on 6 August, 1965, that black women and other women of color were actually allowed to exercise their right to vote.”

To accompany this temporary name change, the Visit Philadelphia tourism authority will work on a new campaign designed to encourage visitors to learn more about women’s contributions to the city.

“It’s not about excluding anyone,” said Richardson, “It’s about uplifting women. Because we don’t have to put someone down to lift someone up.”


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Word and language museum in DC

There are plenty of museums that revolve around visual art — now words are finally getting their due. An interactive museum dedicated to words and language is opening on May 31, 2020, in Washington, DC. Planet Word is designed to educate visitors about language, with exhibits focusing on the spoken, sung, and written word. The 51,000-square-foot space will be located inside the historic Franklin School in the heart of DC.

Photo: Anna Shuster/Vimeo

The museum will feature 11 galleries with distinct immersive experiences. One will allow guests to paint a scene with words using small brushes that change the virtual landscape. Another has a 22-foot-tall Word Wall with over 1,000 voice activated words, lighting up and telling stories about how they made their way into the English language. In a slightly less educational vein, there’s also karaoke, and the opportunity to recite famous speeches from the likes of JFK and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Photo: Anna Shuster/Vimeo

The museum also aims to be a contributing member of the community by offering “Wordshops” in its classrooms, and performances, author readings, and community discussions in its auditorium.


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