Matador Network's Blog, page 930

Belize trip for you and a coworker

Most people go on vacations to get away from their co-workers, but remember — while you’re away, they’re the ones picking up the slack. To stay in their good graces, you should probably find a way to keep them happy, and nothing’s better than the gift of a free vacation. In an effort to celebrate and promote Paid Time Off (PTO), the Belize Tourism Board is giving away three five-day trips to Belize for two Americans. Each winner can then nominate a coworker to receive the same trip for themselves and a guest.

Karen Bevans, the director of tourism for the Belize Tourism Board, said in a statement, “With so much to see and do in Belize, there is no time to waste feeling guilty about work. Too many travelers feel indebted to the colleagues who make their time away from work possible. What better way to enjoy a guilt-free Belizean getaway than to reward those same colleagues with a free trip of their own?”

To win the trip, go to the official Belize Guilt Trip website by February 18 and write why you feel guilty taking PTO and why you deserve a trip to Belize. Then, nominate one coworker whom you believe could benefit from some much-needed days off.


More like this: 7 hacks for making the most of a short vacation

The post Belize wants to take you and a coworker to paradise for free appeared first on Matador Network.

Americans spending less time outside

Despite evidence that spending time outside is good for your health and wellbeing, Americans are actually going outside less. According to the 2019 Outdoor Foundation study released on January 29, nearly half of the US population doesn’t partake in any outdoor recreation at all, while only 17.9 percent of people go out at least once a week. Compared to 2008, that means one billion fewer outdoor excursions. And it’s not just about loss of interest. The study claims that people are being deterred from outdoor activity by barriers like work, technology, and cost of entry to parks and other venues.

Lise Aangeenbrug, executive director of the Outdoor Foundation, said, “[The study] indicates that we’re becoming an indoor nation. People are missing out on the joy, learning, and community building that the outdoors can provide. Whether you bike, hike, ski, hunt, run, or fish, it’s a lost opportunity.”

The Outdoor Foundation is using these statistics as motivation to get people outside and active again. “The evidence is building,” said Aangeenbrug, “that outdoor time can help address physical health issues, mental health issues, social and emotional learning, academic outcomes, and community connection.” The organization is working at federal and local levels to give communities greater access to outdoor spaces, and increase the number of people who regularly take advantage of local parks and recreational areas.


More like this: 7 insane hikes with epic views that are worth your blood, sweat, and tears

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Best beaches in Egypt besides Sharm

The preferred destination of partygoers and spa enthusiasts, Sharm el-Sheikh near the tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula is a beachy paradise filled with high-end resorts, bars, and restaurants. It certainly has its charms. However, if your goal is to appreciate the natural beauty of Egypt’s coasts in places that range from slightly to far off the beaten sand path, there are some very worthy alternatives, all of which are accessible from major cities by car.

Swim season never ends in Egypt, thanks to its warm climate. That being said, the water temperature on Egypt’s Mediterranean can be cool (in the low 60s Fahrenheit) in mid-winter. It’s best to avoid going during Ramadan as some businesses and restaurants have limited daytime hours, although the beaches are decidedly less crowded. Springtime is ideal for a visit — just note that Ramadan starts in April this year.

Hurghada and the Giftun Islands: Sharm, but for locals

Photo: Obraz/Shutterstock

Hurghada, a large resort town falling smack dab on the center of the Red Sea’s western coast, is the most similar to Sharm on this list in terms of its party, resort vibe. But a few features make it perfect for travelers who want not only the opulent trappings of a posh resort town but also the chance to interact more with Egyptians and experience North African city life.

After a relaxing swim, venture out to El-Dahar Square and wander around the local souq, an open marketplace. Wooden crates and boxes are piled high with fresh and colorful produce like strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, jute leaves, and mint, and barrels are brimming with aromatic spices and dried hibiscus flowers. Locals rush around buying food for that night’s dinner, stopping only to chat with friends, their voices blending into the cacophony of shouted prices, calls to prayer, and car horns.

Lounging in the uninterrupted sunshine with a drink in hand is also an option. And if parlaying the day’s drinking into an evening of partying is an essential vacation element for you, Hurghada has that as well. A handful of nightclubs and bars line the main roads close to the resorts.

If you want to infuse adventure into your beach retreat, Giftun Islands National Park is a mere boat ride away. Your hotel can usually arrange a snorkel or even dive trip to the islands, or you can find a tour operator in town. The islands are ideal for observing the Red Sea’s magnificent marine life; their pristine waters are replete with corals, fish, turtles, starfish, and more.

Marsa Matrouh: Waves, caves, and ruins

Photo: shady mahrous/Shutterstock

Neither off the grid nor flooded with tourists, Marsa Matrouh is a port town on the Mediterranean Sea west of Alexandria with long stretches of sandy beach punctuated by caves and climbable outcroppings of eroded shoreline. Since most of Marsa Matrouh is insulated from rough waves (and the accompanying flurry of sediment) by a natural breakwater of rocks, the water is crystalline and provides high visibility for snorkelers.

Another bonus is that you can easily incorporate sightseeing into your itinerary while at Marsa Matrouh. The city is brimming with history, dating back at least to the time of Alexander the Great, when it was known as Paraitonion, and likely even earlier to the Rameside era in 1200 BC. Evidence for this can be found in the ruins of a temple to Ramses II.

There’s no shortage of ancient architecture below the waves too, the most prominent examples being the Drowned City of Caesar and Cleopatra’s Drowned Palace. Buried below the mercurial waters of the Mediterranean, the ruins themselves are too dangerous for vacationers to access, even equipped with scuba gear. Nevertheless, you can still interact with the memory of Ptolemaic Egypt. When the tide is low, and the sea is calm, walk to a section of Marsa Matrouh called Cleopatra’s Beach. There, two giant stones known as Cleopatra’s Bath rise up on the edge of a wide, semi-submerged outcropping. Local legend has it that the queen herself bathed in it with her lover Marc Anthony.

Egyptians have long seen the appeal of Marsa Matrouh. Almost every day, local teenagers can be seen scaling rocks and splashing about. Families, wading around on protrusions of rock jutting out from the shore, are happy to recommend the best places to swim or to point you in the direction of the caves, the walls of which are covered in old Coptic scrawlings.

Ain Sokhna: Close to Cairo with a dose of history

Photo: Mohamed Ramez/Shutterstock

While Ain Sokhna isn’t really known outside of Egypt, it deserves to be, given its affordable prices, clean beaches, and proximity to the famed Monastery of St. Anthony. Whereas most major Red Sea destinations are five to eight hours by car from Cairo, the drive to Ain Sokhna is a mere hour and a half.

Cinnamon-hued mountains with craggy peaks loom above the line of resorts, a stark contrast with the squishy, oatmeal-hued sand and endless aquamarine expanse of sea in the opposite direction. Like other Red Sea cities, Ain Sokhna’s waters are teeming with fish, vibrant corals, and crabs.

After you’ve had your fill of snorkeling, strolling on the beach, and lunching on denis (a tasty, local sea bream), take the time to visit the Monastery of St. Anthony. It was founded in 300 AD by the eponymous St. Anthony, one of the first Desert Fathers and the person credited with starting Christian monastic life. Below the floor of the church, which dates to the 12th century, are underground rooms used for study and prayer that are as old as the original monastery itself and which you can see when the monk pulls back the rug to reveal a glass floor. Equally impressive are the paintings of saints dating back to the seventh and eighth centuries.

Within the gates, a garden fed by a small but resilient spring sits in the center of architecture both ancient and new, the latter being the result of a massive restoration effort in the early 2000s. Bibliophiles will be delighted by the library, which contains one of the largest collections of Coptic manuscripts in Egypt. Ambitious travelers can depart from Cairo, enjoy the beach, and take a monk-guided tour of this historic site all in one day.

Nayzak beach: A shooting star

Photo: Mohamed A. El Gendy

Nayzak Beach is certainly the smallest beach on this list, but its size in no way diminishes its appeal. Located a short drive from the seaside town of Marsa Alam, two-thirds of the way down Egypt’s Red Sea coast, Nayzak is more accurately described as a natural pool within a beach. While it’s possible to take a taxi from the city, you’ll end up paying the driver to wait to take you back after your swim. There’s no way to hail a taxi from Nayzak. If you want a leisurely, unrushed stay, it’s better to rent a car from Marsa Alam.

From an elevated vantage point, Nayzak resembles an almond-shaped, aquamarine gem embedded in the rosy-brown stone of the coast. Locals went a different direction when nicknaming the swimming hole, settling on “shooting star” owing to their belief that a meteorite strike created it. While geologists agree that this is not the case, the moniker stuck.

Sheltered from hidden currents and powerful waves, Nayzak Beach is a safe place to float unperturbed and enjoy the warmth of the Red Sea. At its deepest, the pool is about 30-feet deep; at either tip, it’s possible to sit on the rock and sand below. The only downside to this literal slice of beachy paradise is the lack of facilities and shade. Plan on bringing what water, food, towels, and umbrellas you think you’ll need so that you won’t be forced to interrupt your sunbathing and diving with a drive back to Marsa Alam for supplies.

Wadi el-Gemal-Hamata Protected Area: Where dugong and camel meet

Photo: Mohamed Ramez/Shutterstock

South of Marsa Alam, the Wadi el-Gemal-Hamata Protected Area affords visitors the chance to swim and to see some of Northeast Africa’s most impressive nature. In total, the area is home to an estimated 140 plant species and over 100 animal species, including the Nubian ibex, gazelle, hyrax, sand cat, and caracal.

Within the protected area, two islands in particular — Wadi el-Gemal and Wadi Qulaan — serve as great launching points for snorkeling or scuba diving. A series of tiny islands connected by shallow water and interspersed with mangroves make for a view reminiscent of a South Pacific vista. Venture underwater and you’ll find multicolored fish flitting about the abundant coral reefs. If you’re willing to travel a bit further offshore, you might see dolphins or even the dugong, an animal closely related to the manatee and the only surviving member of its family.

Compared to resort towns, the amenities in the protected area are somewhat limited though there is a visitor’s center. After a long day of swimming and hiking, hungry visitors who have booked inclusive tours can sit and eat with the Ababda bedouin tribe that lives in Wadi el-Gemal. If you’re feeling brave, you can even try camel cheese.


More like this: Diving in Egypt’s Red Sea reveals a world of hidden wonders

The post The most stunning Egyptian beaches and quiet resorts devoid of crowds appeared first on Matador Network.

Best things to do in rural Romania

2020 travel trends show a return to the simplicity of our world, with an emphasis on sustainability, locally grown and made items, and origins. Well beyond Transylvania, Romania has outposts where traditionalism and traditions are flourishing. The Romanian spirit and the impact of other nations onto the country bordering the Carpathians, the Danube, and the Black Sea led to something that has been lost in many parts of our world: a genuine encounter. Each of these three regions in the country is unique in its history and offerings, but all are worth a visit.

Take in Romania’s deep history in the western border counties.

Photo: Mita Stock Images/Shutterstock

In the far west of Romania, the counties of Mehedinţi and Caraş-Severin border Oltenia and Banat, two of the country’s most historically significant regions. The Danube is the main source of waterlust here, winding through on its path from Germany to the Black Sea. The river and surrounding bodies of water are popular for birding as over 300 species live around the lakes, waterfalls, and other wild rivers found throughout the region.

But history takes center stage here. Hire a local guide for a trip to the Roman Emperor Trajan’s Bridge and to get out on the water through the Danube Gorges, something to remember not only for the sunrises and sunsets but also because it allows you to take in a good deal of history in a single day. Many history buffs are familiar with the bridge, designed by architect Apollodorus of Damascus. It was built between 103 and 105 AD in a second attempt by the Romans to conquer Dacia. This was an ancient territory mainly inhabited by the ancestors of the Romanian nation, holding similar boundaries to today’s established borders. One of the bridge’s feet can be found in Drobeta-Turnu Severin, the other one on the Serbian bank. It is one of the oldest such structures still somewhat intact.

Photo: Cristian Zamfir/Shutterstock

About 45 minutes west, Tabula Traiana can be spotted on the Serbian side — a two-millennia-old plaque commemorating Trajan’s victory over the Dacians in 106 AD. It is said that Decebalus, who had successfully kept the Roman Empire away from Dacia since 88 AD, had committed suicide near here to avoid capture. He was Romania’s last ancient king, and his bravery and devotion are still praised by Romanians — his face was carved into stone in the town of Eselnita in 1994. It is the tallest rock-hewn sculpture in Europe and the third tallest in the world. You can see it from the road passing through Eselnita, but the water perspective is a more unique way to view the sculpture.

An hour to the north, Băile Herculane is a town that has just recently discovered some of the few Roman thermal systems in the world. Use a soak in the primeval thermal pots at resorts such as Afrodita as welcome relaxation after a day of river touring and sightseeing.

Experience unique, archaic traditions in Maramureş.

Photo: PICTOR PICTURE COMPANY/Shutterstock

In northern Romania, Maramureş is known as the land of fairytales. Here, spot trees decorated with cooking pots while you roam around local villages — a red pot on top means that there’s a single woman to be married in the household. You’ll see residents wearing traditional outfits, perhaps carrying around bags made of wool en route to Sunday church.

One cold spring, while visiting Maramureş during Easter, the old ways of living caught me by surprise, even though I knew of them. In Surdeşti, a collection of rock formations are currently situated in the courtyard of a local family. My Tanti Rizuca passionately told us the legend of these structures through her strong accent and seemingly archaic words. The rocks, she said, are called Clăile de Piatră and resemble stacks of hay. Her legend has it that a group of peasants had committed the forbidden sin of working on a holiday. St. Peter, as punishment, turned all the hay that they had collected into stone, casting it permanently into place. She quickly added, looking at my partner, “I do hope the two of you are married. In my time, even a lousy goat was sold with deeds.”

Visiting a land that sticks so closely to its traditions is akin to taking a step back in time. Not everything is so outdated, however. Holidays — of which Christmas and Easter are prominent but a minor celebration is likely to include any time guests over — are always accompanied by a shot of horincă, a strong distilled spirit popular throughout Romania. It’s often as strong as 130 proof, though batches vary in potency. Even if you aren’t invited to a family’s home, you can taste the stuff poured straight from a traditional gate in the town of Sârbi. Guided tours of the Maramureş region range from single-day walking tours to full-week-plus all-inclusive experiences.

Photo: cge2010/Shutterstock

Most Romanians identify as Orthodox Christian or Roman Catholic and, as noted above, take their holidays quite seriously. At the beginning of December, there is a holiday beloved by all Romanians known as St. Nicholas. He comes bearing gifts on the evening of December 5, a full 19 days before St. Nick visits chimneys in the majority of the Christian world. In Maramureş, this is also the chance for carol singers to rehearse for their Christmas performances. Hazelnut rods full of buds are given to dear ones, representing purity of the soul, as well as power.

Church has played an important part in the lives and education of the people in Maramureş and many of the country’s rural counties. Throughout Maramureş, you’ll come across well-preserved wooden churches that encompass a protected UNESCO World Heritage site. Built in similar styles, though over multiple centuries, they have nowadays transformed from places of worship to prime attractions for visitors. Among the most popular is Ieud, which some Romanians claim was built in the 1300s but many historians suggest was actually constructed a few hundred years later. The Codex of Ieud, the oldest known document written in the Romanian language in 1391, was found here. Other UNESCO-listed churches worth a visit in Maramureş include the Rogoz, the Plopis, and the Desesti. Take them all in on a full-day guided tour for about $60.

Splurge on seafood in the Danube River Delta.

Photo: dpVUE .images/Shutterstock

“The Delta,” as Romanians endearingly call it, is a return to the simpler things that life has on offer. A land of extremes where water is queen, the Danube Delta blends the overwhelming and sometimes humid heat of the summer months with long, frozen winters that often isolate residents for days in a row, and sometimes even weeks.

Such circumstances made communities here develop differently from the rest of the country. By adding the Slavic influences of the neighbors, Lipovan customs complete the picture — and the menu, so to speak. Food is, after all, one of those cultural elements that helps define a nation. Vegetarians usually suffer in the Delta, but fish lovers are in their element and can have a taste of the specialties from the remotest of villages to the trendiest of Danube ports.

Borş de peşte, a fish soup, and storceag, a fish soup with sour cream, which are usually made from catfish or sturgeon, are commonly served as a first course. For the second course, you cannot go wrong with fried fish (you’ll often choose between catfish, pike, goldfish, and carp) served with polenta and garlic sauce, Romanian style. Winter visits to the Delta come coupled with saramură de crap, or carp brine.

There are also staple desserts to be licked off your fingers made from the basic ingredients of the area, such as pirozhki, fried buns stuffed with rice and raisins; vareniki, dumplings filled with sour cream and served with honey and walnuts; and the star of the dessert table: the Dobrujan pie. This classic is made with both cottage cheese and raisins in generous amounts and is named after the historical region hosting the Delta. To work off some of that gorging, you can explore the canals in a kayak or a boat, and there are even parts where you can drive or ride a bicycle.


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The post The most underrated rural regions in Romania for cultural immersion appeared first on Matador Network.

Milwaukee DNC travel guide

With swing-state status and blue-collar grit, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, won the bid to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention thanks to more than just the city’s famous beers, custards, and cheese curds. America’s Dairyland is the heart of the Midwest, a key region for Democrats to win in the upcoming American presidential election. The Democrats will host their most important event of the 2020 presidential campaign in one of the region’s most emblematic cities.

The political imperative isn’t the only reason to visit Milwaukee this summer during the Democratic National Convention. The laid-back brew-city culture invites everyone to have fun, and a booming new scene around the Fiserv Forum, where the convention will take place, makes it easy to enjoy the best of the Midwest in downtown Milwaukee.

Photo: Tony Savino/Shutterstock

Once known more for factory jobs than art and culture, Milwaukee has developed into the beating pulse of Midwest culture, brimming with museums, nightlife, festivals, and an enviable beachfront along Lake Michigan. If you are planning a trip here this year, here’s where to eat, drink, and stay near the Milwaukee convention center.

Where to eat

East Side

Photo: East Town Kitchen & Bar

East Town Kitchen & Bar $$ — Located inside the Milwaukee Marriott Downtown, East Town Kitchen & Bar is not your usual hotel restaurant. The Bloody Mary’s, oversized and overflowing with cheese and bacon garnishes, would impress even the most experienced Wisconsinite. Paired with fried chicken and waffles, drizzled with a bourbon maple syrup, you’ve got a perfect brunch for two people. The restaurant avoids the generic banality of typical hotel eateries with a mural collage of dozens of logos from Wisconsin’s favorite local breweries. Sophisticated without being stuffy, East Town Kitchen & Bar delivers Wisconsin hospitality with an updated edge that reflects Milwaukee itself.

Where: 323 E Wisconsin Ave

Celesta $$ — For unique takes on comfort-food favorites for vegans and meat-eaters alike, Celesta delivers. It has even won over residents of the Cheese State with its dairy-free macaroni and cheese, which is no small feat. True to its Wisconsin roots, Celesta offers a vegan “fishless fry” for those who want to participate in the weekly state-wide Friday night fish-fry tradition. If you’ve come in for brunch, indulge in a slice of homemade pies or cakes. If you prefer a cocktail, locals recommend the Orion, made with rye whiskey, or the East Side Old Fashioned, a neighborhood spin on Wisconsin’s favorite cocktail.

Where: 1978 N Farwell Ave

Photo: Carnevor/Facebook

Carnevor $$$$ — If you’re serious about your steaks, there is no better option in Milwaukee than Carnevor. The dark and modern setting suits this award-winning upscale steakhouse. While its steaks are the headlining act, don’t miss out on the popular lobster bisque. Pair it all with a wine from the extensive list or a seasonal cocktail like the summertime Lavender Fields Forever — a nod to Wisconsin’s own lavender fields.

Where: 718 N Milwaukee St

Swingin’ Door Exchange $$ — Midwest, meet the Wild West. With an old Western decor aesthetic that pulls off being fun without being cheesy, Swingin’ Door Exchange has earned a reputation for having the best Chicago-style hot dogs outside of the Windy City. Don’t disregard its vegetables either — the grilled beets and Brussels sprouts are worth writing home about. Located near the Pabst Theater, this is a convenient and fun spot for pre-show pub food with a gourmet flare.

Where: 219 E Michigan St

Downtown West Town

Photo: Glass + Griddle/Facebook

Glass & Griddle $$ — If the pretzel-crusted cheese curds don’t entice you to visit this hip and casual restaurant, then the pizza dip or buffalo broccoli and cauliflower should do the trick. Housed in what was once part of the original Pabst Brewery empire, Glass & Griddle’s renovated space brings the outdoors in with greenery on the walls, skylights above, and floor-to-ceiling windows built into the garage-door-style walls. Beer-hall-style seating, freshly baked pretzels, and Milwaukee Brewing Company beers on draft complete the experience.

Where: 1130 N 9th St

Photo: Milwaukee Brat House/Facebook

Milwaukee Brat House $ — You’ll know you’re in Wisconsin as soon as you step into the Milwaukee Brat House, thanks to the stamped copper ceiling and Tiffany-style stained-glass lamps that give guests a glimpse into Wisconsin supper-club culture. If you want a truly local experience, order a Usinger brat topped with local cheddar. For a more creative twist on the regional staple, try the Tiger Style Thai Brat. Private party and special event shuttles are available, making it a great option for a Democratic National Convention-goers.

Where: 1013 N Old World 3rd St

Where to drink

East Side

Photo: SafeHouse/Facebook

SafeHouse Milwaukee $$ — Offering one of the most unique nightlife experiences in Milwaukee, SafeHouse is a longstanding establishment with no competition. After all, it’s the only espionage-themed bar in town, and it leans into this theme hard. Decorated with historic spy artifacts and serving up on-brand cocktails like The Spy Who Tequila’d Me, SafeHouse embodies Midwest kitsch.

Where: 779 N Front St

Trinity Three Irish Pubs $$ — Trinity caters to the group who can’t decide whether they want to dance to a DJ, listen to a cover band, or enjoy a dark beer in an equally dark wooden booth. Three bars in one, including two live music stages, this ever-popular nightlife destination means you can pub crawl without ever going outside. You’ll probably still want to, though, if only to take advantage of the outdoor seating area.

Where: 125 E Juneau Ave

Photo: Plum Lounge/Facebook

Plum Lounge $$ — This upscale nightclub wants to make visitors think again when they assume Wisconsin can’t deliver when it comes to the club scene. With DJs mixing a range of musical genres, including international hits, Plum Lounge is where Milwaukeeans come to dance. If dancing isn’t your thing, it also offers hookahs, a curated list of rare and international whiskeys, and a balcony fire pit for those cooler summer nights.

Where: 780 N Jefferson St

Downtown West Town

Photo: Milwaukee Brewing Company/Facebook

Milwaukee Brewing Company $$ — Whether it’s the beer-in-hand brewery tour or a personalized tasting flight, Milwaukee Brewing Company wants to make sure you are happily buzzed when you’re their guest. Located in the same warehouse-style space as Glass & Griddle, this craft brewery deserves a visit not only because its beer tastes good (just try the Sasquash, a sweet potato porter, for proof) but also because it features locally and sustainably sourced ingredients. Setting the standard for environmentally friendly beer in the region, Milwaukee Brewing Company will satisfy your taste buds and your conscience with its unique brews.

Where: 1128 N 9th St

Best Place at the Historic Pabst Brewery $ — For an authentic glimpse into Milwaukee’s origins as America’s “Brew City,” nothing beats a visit to the historic location of Pabst Brewing Company. Once an empire covering four city blocks, Pabst was the largest brewery in the world at its peak in the late 1800s. Join a tour of the old brewery starting in the historic Blue Ribbon Hall, where fresco paintings depict the story of the brewing process. Order a beer (included in the $10 tour) at the gorgeous wooden bar and enjoy a bit of tipsy history.

Where: 917 W Juneau Ave

Photo: Punch Bowl Social/Facebook

Punch Bowl Social $$ — When you want to go bowling, sing karaoke in your own private booth, and drink a boozy milkshake all at the same time, Punch Bowl Social has you covered. Located a short walk away from the Fiserv Forum, Punch Bowl Social invites visitors to play away a day of politics. Offering any game you can think of, from foosball to darts to ping pong and more, you won’t be bored at this lively and spacious hotspot. Indulge in an adult milkshake like the whiskey-heavy Malted Maple Royal, or opt for a healthy, freshly pressed juice. With a myriad of choices, at Punch Bowl Social, none of them are wrong.

Where: 1122 N Vel R. Phillips Ave

Where to stay

Boutique

Photo: The Brewhouse Inn & Suites/Facebook

The Brewhouse Inn and Suites — Located within walking distance of the Fiserv Forum inside the former Pabst Brewery, The Brewhouse Inn and Suites is perfect for visitors who want an only-in-Milwaukee hotel experience. The lobby features copper brewing kettles, and the rooms showcase the steel and stone of the industrial revolution that propelled Pabst forward in the 1800s. Though heavily influenced by the building’s past, the rooms’ modern decor, oversized showers, and full kitchens make this iconic location an excellent 21st-century choice.

Where: 1215 N 10th St

Photo: Ambassador Hotel/Facebook

Ambassador Hotel Milwaukee — Thanks to its iconic neon sign sitting high over Milwaukee’s downtown, you’ll see the Ambassador Hotel well before you arrive. Many consider the hotel’s facade and decor to be one of the best examples in the region of Milwaukee’s Art Deco era. Located along a couple of miles from the Fiserv Forum, Ambassador Hotel is an easy Uber, Lyft, or taxi ride away from the Democratic National Convention, while being comfortably outside of the event bustle. The hotel also offers a complimentary shuttle to many locations downtown.

Where: 2308 W. Wisconsin Avenue

Photo: Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel/Facebook

Saint Kate The Arts Hotel — Milwaukee’s first hotel dedicated to the arts, Saint Kate, located a short walk away from the Fiserv Forum, celebrates established and emerging artists nationwide in its ever-changing exhibits, as well as in each guest room. Perfect for those who want to be inspired by their surroundings, Saint Kate features creative co-working spaces ideal for planning, debriefing, and strategizing pre- and post-convention. Each room has quirky touches, like a record player and a ukulele, and if you book one of the Canvas Rooms, you’ll get to stay in a living piece of art created by an area artist.

Where: 139 E Kilbourn Ave

Luxury

Photo: The Pfister Hotel/Facebook

The Pfister Hotel — The Midwest meets Old World elegance in this historic hotel located within walking distance of the Fiserv Forum. The Pfister Hotel opened in 1893 as the “Grand Hotel of the West,” and the luxurious hotel has maintained this identity while simultaneously keeping up with 21st-century expectations. The grand lobby features an eye-catching staircase and a painted ceiling that inevitably brings to mind the Sistine Chapel. The Pfister actually houses the largest collection of Victorian-era art of any hotel in the world. For a truly elegant and luxurious stay in downtown Milwaukee, The Pfister Hotel is the city’s undisputed choice.

Where: 424 E Wisconsin Ave

Photo: The Delafield Hotel/Facebook

Delafield Hotel — For those who want to experience a luxurious stay in Wisconsin’s scenic Lake Country, the Delafield Hotel is an excellent option. Best for visitors with access to a car, the Delafield Hotel is a half-hour’s drive from the Fiserv Forum, surrounded by views of the rolling glaciated landscape of the Kettle Moraine region. Blending small-town ease with high-end contemporary elegance, this hotel invites guests to decompress from a long day of convention sessions or an afternoon of hiking in one of the nearby State Parks with a cocktail in its chic bar, an in-room massage, or a decadent dinner in the highly esteemed restaurant. The Delafield Hotel is also pet-friendly and can even welcome you and your furry family member with locally made treats and toys.

Where: 415 Genesee Street

Hostel

Photo: Cream City Hostel/Facebook

Cream City Hostel — Milwaukee’s only hostel is a newcomer to the city but is already making a name for itself. Offering affordable dorm-style accommodations, Cream City Hostel is ideal for groups on a budget who enjoy the social and communal atmosphere of cohabiting in a shared space. With on-site bike rentals, guests can pedal the short two-mile distance to the Fiserv Forum, beating traffic and parking challenges.

Where: 500 E Center St


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The post Where to eat, drink, and stay near the Milwaukee convention center appeared first on Matador Network.

Panic over coronavirus is harmful

On Tuesday, January 22, the news reported the first case of coronavirus on US shores. By January 26, after two more cases were reported, the Los Angeles County Health Department had to release a statement reading, in part, “People should not be excluded from activities based on their race, country of origin, or recent travel if they do not have symptoms of respiratory illness.” There are now a total of five reported cases in the United States.

Still, as tends to happen in cases of the sudden and massive outbreak of an unfamiliar disease, panic is growing — and spreading fast. We saw it with SARS in 2003, which ultimately killed 600 people in China and Hong Kong, and hundreds more around the world. This time, around 2,000 people are already infected by coronavirus; 170 of them have died. The World Health Organization has yet to declare the situation a global health emergency, but no one can be faulted for feeling, perhaps, a tinge of fear.

Of course, in the United States that fear might sound a little hypocritical, too: In 2019, Clark County, Washington, experienced a measles outbreak that infected 53 young children, prompting the governor to declare a state of emergency — the greatest number of cases since 1992, according to the CDC. One study placed the blame squarely on a resurgence in dangerous anti-vaccine rhetoric.

The unfamiliarity of conditions like coronavirus and even measles make them seem even more terrifying, but it’s actually the most familiar virus of all — the flu — that poses the biggest risk of all. In 2019, the flu was responsible for 34,000 deaths in the United States, and yet only half of Americans opt to receive the vaccination that will prevent it.

These cases bring to mind an uncomfortable question: From where, exactly, does this panic over coronavirus stem? Are we afraid of our children getting sick? Or do some Americans still cling to their deep-seated racist fear of an Asian menace? Perhaps it’s some combination of both. But in this country, we have easy access to inexpensive (oftentimes free) and painless vaccines that prevent disease in our homes and those of our neighbors. If all Americans feared was illness, wouldn’t everyone flock to the pharmacy? Instead, researchers in the same measles study found that since 2014, “vaccine opposition” has only increased.

That pointed statement from the Los Angeles Department of Health should ring in your ears: “People should not be excluded from activities based on their race [or] country of origin.” Since the outbreak of coronavirus, prejudice against Asian people has become so overt that a government organization had to speak out about it.

The message is clear: Chinese people are being blamed for this outbreak — not the government that is supposed to be managing it. Like a sickness itself, racism bleeds into every corner of this crisis: As Bettina Makalintal pointed out in Vice, concerns that the virus originated in markets where carcasses of animals like ostriches and hedgehogs are sold is “fueling fears about the ways Asian people eat” — a classic racist trope that has existed since the 1800s. This vitriolic racism is not limited to the western world: Signs have even begun popping up in the windows of restaurants in South Korea banning Chinese people.

In Canada, parents at a school district in Ontario signed a petition asking that students who had recently returned from China remain “isolated” for at least 17 days. This ban would, of course, affect children who have family in China, who have immigrated from there, the most. This stance, though perhaps well-intentioned, does not take into account that travel bans and quarantines do not stop the spread of disease.

In 2014, during an outbreak of Ebola in Africa, the director the CDC wrote that he did not support a travel ban in Africa. Quarantining Africa, he argued, would make it harder for medical professionals to address the disease and for patients to seek help, creating an even larger humanitarian crisis than the ban sought to stifle. Americans abroad would struggle to get home. And crucially, people would still move between borders either seeking escape or asylum, spreading the disease as they went — the difference is that those travelers would be impossible to track.

Travel bans have far-reaching, devastating consequences for the countries where they are instated. Tourism and trade to the country where the disease originated immediately cease — regardless of whether or not it is easily transmitted. Even once the disease is under control, fear and panic regarding the safety of said country will continue on so that it might take years for the tourism industry to recover. One study found that the GDP of Sierra Leone and Liberia dropped significantly in the years following the Ebola outbreak due to a lack of government revenue.

Fear, it seems, is a powerful drug. It has forced us to turn on our fellow humans, to see the people of China not as individuals but as an infected mass, ready to strike. But fear obscures the truth: The families quarantined in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people, are likely more afraid, and for better reason, than anyone in the US. They are reportedly being crammed into hospitals amidst a food shortage, worrying every day that their children or parents or husband or wife might be infected next. They are not tropes, stereotypes, or statistics. These people deserve our aid money, our research, our doctors. They do not deserve to be cut off from the world, alone, as they suffer. This disease is frightening. But the world doesn’t need more fear right now. It needs compassion — compassion that will, I hope, lead the rest of the world to see how they can help end this crisis rather than hide from it.


More like this: Everything travelers need to know about the coronavirus outbreak

The post Racist panic over coronavirus will not help the people of China appeared first on Matador Network.

Cheap flights for February 2020

It has been a long and brutal winter. Not only was it so cold that iguanas started falling out of trees in Florida, but it was also an icy wasteland for cheap flights. With the holidays in full swing and everybody planning escape-the-cold getaways, we endured a couple of months where, literally, the best deal to be found was four percent off flights to Louisville.

But good news! The ground is beginning to thaw — for cheap flights anyway — as our friends and crack cheap-flight experts at Skyscanner have once again found some phenomenal price drops expected to hit in February. By analyzing literally millions of historic airfares, they identified 10 destinations both foreign and domestic where flights should be a lot cheaper than normal next month. So spring is definitely looking up.

On the domestic side, this will be your time to book flights for spring break, with Palm Springs leading the pack boasting flights down 25 percent to $244. You can also spend spring break funneling beers beachside at the Lani Kai since Ft. Myers airfares went down 17 percent to $213. Two Hawaiian destinations also crack the top 10, with Kahului down 16 percent to $381 and Kona flights a scant $361, down 15 percent.

Here’s the rest of the domestic leaderboard:

Photo: welcomia/Shutterstock

1. Palm Springs, California — $244 (25%)

2. Chicago, Illinois — $189 (21%)

3. Portland, Oregon — $232 (20%)

4. Ft. Myers, Florida — $213 (17%)

5. Kahului, Hawaii — $381 (16%)

6. New York, New York — $236 (16%)

7. Boston, Massachusetts — $223 (16%)

8. Kona, Hawaii — $361 (15%)

9. Seattle, Washington — $242 (15%)

10. Detroit, Michigan — $231 (14%)

Looking to leave the country this spring? You’re in luck, as this is shaping up to be one of the cheapest months on record to fly to Europe. All 10 of the top international destinations are on that continent if you count Turkey, where Istanbul airfares are down 22 percent to $777. You can also join the throngs of hard-drinking Americans doing St. Paddy’s Day in Dublin with $483 flights, down 26 percent. Or take that scenic spring train ride through Switzerland you’ve always dreamed about, with Geneva flights 23 percent cheaper at $667.

The rest of the international leader board:

Photo: Oleksiy Mark/Shutterstock

1. Copenhagen, Denmark — $477 (29%)

2. Rome, Italy — $511 (26%)

3. Dublin, Ireland — $483 (26%)

4. Reykjavik, Iceland — $381 (24%)

5. Geneva, Switzerland — $627 (23%)

6. Berlin, Germany — $612 (23%)

7. Amsterdam, Netherlands — $527 (23%)

8. Athens, Greece — $704 (23%)

9. Istanbul, Turkey — $777 (22%)

10. Vienna, Austria — $671 (22%)

Of course, though big flight discounts seem to be back in full force, none of this is guaranteed. And though the folks at Skyscanner are pros at this, nothing here should be taken as gospel. Still, while the sunshine and warm weather may seem months off, at least the icy desert of flight discounts has finally begun to warm. And you can take advantage of it to escape the last weeks of winter.


More like this: The best places to travel this March

The post Flights to these cities are going to drop hard in February appeared first on Matador Network.

Most dangerous bugs in the world

Everyone’s experienced the irritating bite of a mosquito, but a lot worse can happen than just having an itchy red bump. Encounters with insects can leave you with debilitating diseases or agonizing bites, and you certainly don’t want creepy crawlies to turn your dream vacation into a nightmare. Insects are the deadliest animals to humans when you factor in terrible diseases, and dangerous insects can be found almost everywhere. Generally speaking, it’s good to load up on bug spray and do some research on what to look out for before you hit the road. Start by watching out for these 11 bugs that pack an agonizing sting or carry nasty diseases.

Bugs with horrifying stings or bites
1. Bullet ant

Photo: Christian Vinces/Shutterstock

True to its name, the bullet ant is widely regarded as having the most painful bite of any insect. They’re found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, and their stings have been used in coming-of-age rites and manhood tests by the Sateré-Mawé people of the Amazon. Dr. Justin Smidt, an entomologist that’s made a career out of being bitten by horrible bugs, described the pain for Esquire as “absolutely riveting. There were huge waves and crescendos of burning pain — a tsunami of pain coming out of my finger. The tsunami would crash as they do on the beach, then recede a little bit, then crash again. It wasn’t just two or three of these waves. It continued for around 12 hours.”

2. Asian giant hornet

Photo: akiyoko/Shutterstock

One of the largest hornets in the world has a venomous sting that can be deadly if stung enough times or if the victim has an allergic reaction. These hornets are around an inch and a half to two inches in length, and their sting is incredibly painful. Asian hornets are territorial, swarm, and can sting multiple times, so disrupting a nest could lead to a fatal attack. The Asian giant hornet’s range stretches from India to Japan, although they’ve established themselves in parts of Europe and, more recently, have been spotted in British Columbia, Canada, and the state of Washington in the US. Although they are generally uninterested in people, if you are attacked by a Asian giant hornet, stay still, close your mouth, cover your face, and don’t panic.

3. Black widow

Photo: Sari ONeal/Shutterstock

The black widow spider lives up to its infamy — its poison is 15 times more toxic than a rattlesnake’s (although you’ll get a much smaller dose), and its bite can cause muscle spasms, nausea, chills, vomiting, and fever among other serious symptoms. Black widows are found in temperate regions around the world; over 1,000 cases of black widow bites are reported in the United States each year.

Female black widows — the ones to look out for since they deliver more venom — have a shiny black body and typically a red hourglass shape on the belly. Those bitten should remain calm, ice the bitten area, and seek medical attention immediately. Death resulting from a black widow bite is extremely rare in the United States.

4. Puss caterpillar

Photo: IrinaK/Shutterstock

Don’t be deceived by the puss caterpillar or woolly slug’s cute, fuzzy coat. The insect is the most toxic caterpillar in the United States, and its small spines, hidden among its hair, can cause a terrible, burning sting and rashes that can last hours. The insects are indigenous to the southern United States and, luckily, very rare. If you do come into contact with one of them, try to remove the spines with cellophane tape and consult a medical professional. Wash your clothes to get rid of any other spines lying around.

5. Africanized honeybees

Photo: Simon_g/Shutterstock

Also known as “killer bees,” the story of the Africanized honey bee is that of a science experiment gone horribly wrong. Honeybees from Africa were brought to Brazil for genetic studies in the late ‘50s, but a swarm of them escaped and bred with European honeybees in the wild. They formed a hybrid species and have since established themselves in Central and North America. In the US, they are found in Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida.

The Africanized honey bees are a little smaller and just as venomous as other honeybees, but the difference lies in their behavior. Africanized honey bees are much more defensive and aggressive, and the whole nest is much more likely to swarm than European honeybees. If you happen to have accidentally disturbed or destroyed a nest, the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) recommends covering your face and mouth with your shirt and running for shelter as fast as possible.

6. Bot flies

Photo: Cosmin Manci/Shutterstock

Bot flies will literally make your skin crawl. The fly’s larvae are transferred through mosquito bites and burrow under the skin of the infected person for between six and 10 weeks. It’s stomach-churning disgusting, but botflies can be easily removed with simple surgery. They’re native to tropical and subtropical areas of South American and Africa and can be avoided by wearing long sleeves and insect repellent.

Bugs that carry dangerous diseases
7. Mosquitoes

Photo: frank60/Shutterstock

Although they appear more annoying than life-threatening, mosquitoes are one of the deadliest animals in the world. While there are dozens of different species of mosquito, the guiltiest disease-carrying culprits are anopheles, which spreads malaria; aedes, which spreads dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika virus, and chikungunya; and culex, which spreads West Nile virus and Japanese encephalitis. Avoid mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves or insecticide-treated clothing, using an insect repellent, and sleeping under a mosquito net.

8. Ticks

Photo: KPixMining/Shutterstock

Ticks are a broad group of tiny arachnids found all over the world, but only a handful of species carry diseases. The best-known tick-borne illness is Lyme disease; it is spread by Ixodes, or black-legged ticks, and affects about 300,000 people each year in the US. Lyme disease can also be contracted throughout Europe (especially Eastern and Central Europe) and Northern Asia. Other serious tick-borne illnesses include spotted fevers, hemorrhagic fevers, and tick-borne encephalitis, among others.

Avoid ticks by wearing a strong insect repellent and long sleeves, and tuck your pant legs into your socks when walking in tall grass. Ticks can latch onto you for several days, so after having spent time outside, inspect your midriff, groin, armpits, back of ears, and knees for any unwanted passengers.

9. Kissing bugs

Photo: Glass and Nature/Shutterstock

Kissing bugs, or triatomine bugs, carry a parasite that causes Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis. The bugs typically bite at night, and the parasite is spread through the insect’s feces and rubbed on the bite wound or deposited in mucous membranes like the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Chagas disease has acute and chronic phases. The acute phase begins immediately after infection and includes no symptoms or mild ones such as fever, fatigue, rashes, upset stomach, and body aches. Following the acute phase is the chronic phase in which many people will remain without symptoms, although 20 to 30 percent may develop cardiovascular or gastrointestinal complications. An estimated eight million people have Chagas disease in Mexico, Central America, and South America, although the disease is not limited to Latin America and can be found in the US.

Chagas disease can be symptom-free or fatal, but there’s no point tempting fate. Bites from kissing bugs can be prevented by avoiding sleeping in clay, adobe, or thatched homes with dirt floors and sleeping with an insect net. Applying insect repellent or wearing insecticide-treated clothing is also a good preventive measure. The disease is treatable with antiparasitic medication and more effective when treated early on.

10. Tsetse flies

Photo: Jaco Visser/Shutterstock

Tsetse flies carry the African form of trypanosomiasis, also called sleeping sickness, which is transmitted by the insect’s bite. There are two forms of the disease in sub-Saharan Africa with different symptoms and progression rates, but both can lead to coma and/or death if left untreated. The World Health Organization estimates that 10,000 people are infected each year, although the actual number could be much higher. Avoid tsetse flies by wearing neutral-color, medium-weight long sleeve clothing, as the insects are attracted to bright colors and can bite through thin clothing. Use insect repellent or wear insecticide-treated clothing.

11. Sand flies

Sand flies are found in 90 countries in parts of Mexico, Central and South America, southern Europe, the Middle East, tropical regions of Africa and North Africa, and parts of Asia. They can carry a parasite that causes an infection called leishmaniasis. The main forms of leishmaniasis can either be cutaneous, infecting the skin, or visceral, infecting the internal organs. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is much more common and causes a large or sometimes painful sore. In visceral leishmaniasis, the parasite infects the internal organs, most frequently the liver, spleen, or bone marrow. If left untreated, visceral leishmaniasis can be fatal.

According to the World Health Organization, “An estimated 700,000 to one million new cases and some 26,000 to 65,000 deaths occur annually,” and the disease is most often associated with malnutrition, a weakened immune system, a lack of financial resources, and poor housing.

Avoid sand fly bites by wearing long-sleeved clothing, tucking your shirt into your pants, and using an insect repellent containing DEET. Cutaneous leishmaniasis will develop in the form of a large sore a few weeks after being bitten while visceral leishmaniasis can take months to manifest and cause fever, weight loss, enlargement of the spleen or liver, or low blood counts. If you suspect you have either form of leishmaniasis, seek a medical professional for treatment.


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Most detailed image of sun’s surface

It might look like a bowl of popcorn, but it’s actually the most detailed image ever taken of the sun’s surface. The images come from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, mounted near the summit of Haleakala, Maui, in Hawaii.

Thanks to this preeminent solar telescope, scientists are now closer than ever to understanding the sun and the space weather that happens on its surface. Space weather can have a significant impact on our planet. “Magnetic eruptions on the sun can impact air travel, disrupt satellite communications and bring down power grids, causing long-lasting blackouts and disabling technologies such as GPS,” explains the press release from the National Solar Observatory.

The images show a pattern of boiling plasma covering the sun’s entire surface. Although each cell-like structure appears small, they’re actually the size of Texas and the result of violent motions transporting heat from the interior of the sun to its surface.

Photo: NSO/AURA/NSF

The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope is the largest solar telescope in the world and will be able to provide unbeatable views of the sun’s atmosphere and invaluable understanding of the star that makes life on Earth possible.


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The post Solar telescope reveals most detailed image of the sun to date appeared first on Matador Network.

Restaurant scene in Columbus, Ohio

In 2013, Lauren Culley returned to her hometown of Columbus, Ohio, for a visit. At the time, she was managing the kitchen at Blue Bottle coffee shop in New York City after leaving a career in book publishing. She didn’t intend to stick around Columbus for long, and she certainly didn’t intend to move back. But when she got there, she found a city she hardly recognized.

“The city felt different. It looked different,” Culley says. “There was a momentum to the city that you could see and feel. It’s developing everywhere. There were young people. Neighborhoods were popping up that didn’t exist when I was [growing up] here. There was electricity to it.”

Photo: Courtney Ryan

Culley saw an opportunity in Columbus that she instinctively felt would be fleeting. She appealed to her husband Jeff, the front of the house manager at Blue Bottle’s flagship location: If they wanted to open their own coffee shop, this was their chance. Once again, Culley found herself changing careers. The pair uprooted their lives in Brooklyn and moved back to Columbus. In 2015, they opened the first location of Fox in the Snow.

Since then, Culley has opened two more locations of Fox in the Snow. Her success is emblematic of Columbus’s astonishing growth. Discussions of the best food cities in the Midwest have inevitably and deservedly centered on Chicago and Kansas City. Within the state lines of Ohio, Cincinnati and Cleveland are likely to come up before the conversation lands on Columbus. But all that, it seems, is poised to change.

“Columbus is a vibrant, young, growing city,” says Tyler Minnis, chef at The Market Italian Village, a hybrid restaurant and bottle shop. “Cincinnati and Cleveland have gotten their stuff together quicker than us, but we’re catching up. They’ve had the magnifying glass on them more so, but I think we’re ready to get that attention and praise.”

Like Culley, Minnis grew up in Columbus but left Ohio for school. He attended culinary school at the Art Institute of Portland, in Oregon, where he became enamored with seasonal and regional cooking. He returned to Columbus to reunite with his loved ones, but in the back of his mind, the dream of opening his own restaurant lingered. But setting Columbus apart from the abundant Pacific Northwest turned out to be a challenge.

Photo: The Market Italian Village

In order to make his menu at The Market Italian Village feel more regional, Minnis dips into his own family recipes and digs through old Midwest cookbooks, including those written by women he calls “church ladies” — collections of recipes put together by church congregations. He also works with local farmers to source chicken, duck, cheese, squash, and his favorite, tomatoes.

“I just don’t work with local stuff just to be local,” he says. “I would gladly ship from somewhere else. We’re just lucky enough that we have really good farmers.”

The still-burgeoning restaurant scene in Columbus allows for experimentation — and Minnis is all about throwing ideas at the wall and seeing which ones stick. He’s hosted a dinner pairing Champagne and French fries with an array of dipping sauces, which proved so popular that he’s already scheduled three more nights. The restaurant also hosts No Menu Mondays, during which the regular menu is replaced with off-the-cuff dishes made with whatever ingredients the kitchen staff has on hand. He’s even opened what he calls a “chef’s tasting counter,” where guests can sit down and chat with Minnis about their tastes and appetite and he’ll customize a tasting menu featuring as many as seven courses (the experience costs between $50-60 per person).

Even though experimenting with menus and highlighting local produce isn’t a new idea, Columbus’s explosive growth — 100 new restaurants opened in the city in 2019, and the downtown area is currently in the midst of a $450 million expansion — provides the ideal backdrop for experimentation. Minnis is free to mold and remold what a fine-dining experience can look like.

In the midst of all that playful energy, there is consistency at work in Columbus, too. Culley and her husband opened Fox in the Snow on a shoestring budget in Italian Village (the same neighborhood where The Market is located). Culley had no formal culinary training. And yet their model, which they have stuck to through the years, has worked: The food is rustic yet elevated and all made in house from scratch (buttermilk biscuits topped with jam and cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing, for instance). The minimalist decor — white tile walls, warm lighting, unfinished floors, and lush green plants for decoration — is chic and inviting.

Photo: Courtney Ryan

“We didn’t have the money to overdesign that shop, so a lot of the minimalism of that space came from necessity,” she says. “The joke between me and Jeff is that’s the only time that being broke was wonderful.”

Culley admits that they were emulating the coffee shops that they frequented in New York, but it’s undeniable that the design style has grown in popularity in the five years since Fox in the Snow opened. That’s not to say that Columbus is simply playing catch up with the rest of the country. Columbus has its own distinct — if not yet fully formed — voice and perspective.

“When people think of food from the midwest, they think of bread, potatoes, hearty meat, and corn, and that’s not necessarily true anymore,” Culley says. “That’s an antiquated idea of these cities. There are people who are transplants who are bringing their ideas here and then people like me who are from the Midwest and are familiar with the food here. So you have those two groups of people who are creating this new palate.”

Columbus’s culinary identity is still a work in progress. Avishar Barua, widely considered one of the city’s top culinary talents, worked for celebrity chefs at both wd-50 and Mission Chinese in New York City. Like Culley and Minnis, Barua eventually felt compelled to return to Columbus to launch a culinary career on his own terms. Barua has been running the kitchen at Service Bar for five years. He sees a lot of “potential” in his hometown, but he also is careful to add that as Columbus still feels as though it’s in its adolescence.

“It’s like we have all the stars, but they’re not yet connected. We’re not a constellation yet,” he says. “We have all these bright shining things in different places.”

All the new restaurants popping up in Columbus signal that the city is growing in all directions. More immigrants from places like Somalia and Bhutan are moving to Columbus, as well as people seeking a lower cost of living (the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,066) and jobs at corporations like Victoria’s Secret, which has its headquarters in Columbus. Culley says she notices new neighborhoods popping up that weren’t there before, and that it’s difficult to even find real estate if you want to open a business because all the buildings are being snapped up fast. And as the population booms, tastes are growing more open-minded.

“Twenty years ago you couldn’t sell sushi in Columbus. It was impossible,” Barua, who is Bengali-American, says. “I can serve something in the restaurant that I grew up eating, and not only will people eat it, they will love it. Twenty years ago they would have been like, that smells weird.”

Barua does offer a quick caveat, however: Columbus has always been, at its core, an accepting and supportive city in other ways. After all, he says, it unreservedly embraced his parents after they immigrated from Bangladesh. That attitude has allowed Columbus to nurture not just an experimental and trendy restaurant scene, but one that is diverse and bold.

One of the city’s greatest strengths, according to Barua, is that it allows chefs (like Minnis) “flexibility and freedom.” There’s less pressure to open a cookie-cutter barbecue or American restaurant. There are Somali and Sichuan restaurants in Columbus. Barua can still recall a time when people would tell him to go “literally anywhere but Columbus” to pursue a career as a chef. Now, he can honestly say had he’s better Vietnamese food in Columbus than in New York City.

Columbus has a bright, if uncertain, future. A tougher challenge is on the horizon for a restaurant scene that has shown so much promise: Keep up the momentum; keep experimenting; keep embracing diverse, global cuisine.

“It really does feel like there is a bit of a boom happening,” Culley says. “What sort of happens from that boom — I guess we’ll see.”


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