Matador Network's Blog, page 995

Thing bartenders find amusing

From awkward dates to cheesy bachelor parties, there are certain things bartenders find uniquely funny. We are flies on the wall, spending our nights watching people interact, especially after a drink or two. When you spend your nights dealing with people, you need to find enjoyment wherever you can. So if you see us smirking behind the bar, it’s more than likely an inside joke as here are six things only bartenders find funny.

1. Tinder dates

For you — a night filled with nerves and anxiety. For us, a chance to revel in someone else’s discomfort. For some reason, witnessing a first date brings out the empathy in all of us. Our favorite is when a regular always brings their first dates to our bar. You get to be the friend cheering them on or, at least, the friend slipping them shots. And it’s always interesting to see who has a type because most people do.

2. Family from out of town

When you live in a city of transplants, nothing makes a self-made urbanite more uncomfortable than their yokel roots. The overly chatty mother, the Coors Light drinking dad, the nervous girlfriend trying to make a good impression — these things bring a jaded city bartender true joy. Yes, at times it is frustrating being asked to turn the music down and the lights up or being mocked for not carrying Pinot Grigio, but all in all, it makes us remember our roots.

3. National holidays

Well, it’s more of a Ricky Gervais-style uncomfortable humor than a slapstick laugh, but national holidays bring out the strangest people. It’s all of the people who no one invited to their Labor Day barbecue or Fourth of July clambake, coupled with the young folks too broke to go out of town for long weekends, plus all the service industry types who have to work holidays anyway. This bizarre melting pot gets mixed with booze to create a twilight zone atmosphere at your normal bar. For a bartender, this energy shift feels like that kind of giddy high you get at 2:00 AM at a middle school sleepover.

4. Mocktails

We appreciate that bar guests don’t always want to drink alcohol but would like something more exciting than a club soda or a diet coke. The funny bit is more about how people request mocktails. There is usually a nervous stammer followed by a sheepish, “What is your favorite mocktail to make?” It’s something in the word “mocktail” that sets us off. A mocktail can be just as much work as a cocktail, but for a third the price, so it also depends on how busy we are. Don’t be embarrassed to order a mocktail, but keep in mind, we may just give you a mint lemonade and call it a day.

5. Unhip drink orders

Cosmos, Rusty Nails, Long Island Iced Teas, pretty much any drink order that hasn’t been cool in over 20 years, if it ever was — these are the drinks that bartenders secretly love making. There is something entertaining about a group of older women requesting Long Islands (“and make ‘em strong”). It breaks up the monotony of mezcal Negronis and rye Old Fashioneds. It feeds a nostalgia for a simpler time of Bay Breezes and Sex on the Beaches, a nostalgia we didn’t even know we had.

6. Bachelor and bachelorette parties

Working in an industry where every night is someone’s birthday or engagement party or anniversary desensitizes a bartender to special events. Bachelor and bachelorette parties, however, are so cringey that you can’t help but be amused. Between penis straws, novelty tees, and scavenger hunts, they are a fascinating social experiment in forced revelry. There’s always the one friend who lives for bachelor parties, another friend who is the most uncomfortable they have ever been, and a bride or groom somewhere in the middle.


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Ethical chocolate company scorecard

You may think that when it comes to chocolate, there’s no such thing as a bad decision. But the chocolate brand you choose to patronize matters a lot. According to the US Department of Labor, over two million children in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire work in hazardous conditions growing cocoa and make less than $1 per day. Responsibly consuming chocolate doesn’t just mean stopping when you’re full — it means being aware of which chocolate companies are adhering to ethical standards and which aren’t.

Green America has created a scorecard to help you determine which chocolate companies value good working conditions. The card evaluates companies based on their environmental, social justice, and human rights practices, as well as their attention to child labor issues and organic certifications.

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As you can see from the card, companies like Alter Eco, Divine, and Theo Chocolate rank highly for their labor certifications, charitable donations, reforestation investments, and worker wages. Companies like Mondelez and Nestle, however, earned far lower scores.

In Ghana and the Ivory Coast, 90 percent of forests have been lost, and this is largely thanks to the cocoa industry. This is why companies’ efforts to reduce deforestation is a major factor in boosting their score.

So next time you’re trying to decide between Godiva and Nestle, remember this scorecard and take ethics into account.


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The post This scorecard will tell you if your favorite chocolate was made with child labor appeared first on Matador Network.

The best things to do in Nara, Japan

The picturesque city of Nara lies in the Kansai region of Japan, forming a triangle with its more famous neighbors of Kyoto and Osaka. As the country’s first permanent capital, it’s a city with a huge historical and cultural significance — as is evidenced by its eight impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites. Yet somehow Nara doesn’t get as much attention from international tourists as it deserves, and not nearly as much as its neighbors. Getting to Nara takes just 45 minutes by train from Tokyo, making the visit doable as a day trip if you’re staying in the contemporary capital. It bridges the natural and the urban in a way that few Japanese destinations south of Hokkaido can, with shrines and temples lining the city of 360,000. Here are 11 of the best things to do in the city.

1. Befriend the sacred deer in Nara Park.

Photo: Benny Marty/Shutterstock

Nara has over 1,200 semi-tame, sacred deer living in the city, and these furry residents are what draw the majority of visitors. Local lore holds these deer as messengers of the gods. The story goes that Takemikazuchi, the God of Thunder, arrived on the back of a white deer and was enshrined in a local tomb, and the deer that now roam the park eating from the hands of guests possess the same courier powers as the steed that Takemizakuchi arrived on. The best place to encounter them is in Nara Park, where the deer roam freely around the grounds, bowing to tourists for food. If you want to make some new friends, buy some shika senbei (deer crackers) from one of the nearby stalls and watch them come running.

2. Admire the giant Buddha at Todaiji Temple.

At over 1,000 years old, Todaiji is one of the most famous and significant temples in all of Japan. The entrance is marked by the colossal Nandaimon gate, which is guarded by two imposing deity statues. The temple’s gigantic main hall — one of the largest wooden structures in the world — is genuinely awe-inspiring, and inside you’ll find a serene, 15-meter tall bronze statue of Buddha. The temple is located inside Nara Park, making it easy to visit after you’ve handed out all of your deer crackers.

3. Wander the lantern-lined pathways of Kasuga Taisha shrine.

Photo: Daboost/Shutterstock

This stunning shrine lies hidden among the trees in Nara Park, the pathways leading to it lined with ancient, moss-covered stone lanterns. In contrast to their surroundings, the inner shrine buildings are a vivid red, with countless bronze lanterns hanging from the eaves. The most important Shinto shrine in the city, Kasuga Taisha is also one of its most beautiful locations.

4. Hike up Mount Wakakusa.

For something a little more invigorating, head to the grassy slopes of Mount Wakakusa. The 342-meter (1,122-foot) summit is easy to reach as the paths are very well maintained, although the routes are steep in places, so you’ll still get a bit of a workout. The views out over the city from the top are fantastic, and in spring, it’s a great place to admire the cherry blossoms.

5. Stroll around Kofukuji Temple.

Photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

The last of Nara’s big-name attractions, Kofukuji temple is easily identified by the soaring pagoda at its heart. It’s the second-tallest five-story pagoda in Japan at just over 50 meters (around 170 feet) and has become a symbol of the city. If you like Buddhist art, don’t miss the impressive collection in the temple’s nondescript National Treasure Museum.

6. Enjoy an award-winning cocktail.

Somewhat unexpectedly, Nara is home to a renowned cocktail bar whose owner and bartender, Michito Kaneko, won a World Class bartending tournament in 2015. Hidden down a side street, Lamp Bar is a speakeasy-style establishment with a classy steampunk aesthetic. There’s no menu — instead, Kaneko will mix up an exquisitely presented classic or original cocktail to suit your particular tastes.

7. Find Zen at Isuien and Yoshikien gardens.

Photo: Tupungato/Shutterstock

This pair of classic Japanese gardens is much quieter than Nara’s other attractions, despite being just moments from the city center. The exquisitely designed and immaculately maintained grounds are perfect for quiet contemplation, and each season brings something different to enjoy. You can also extend your stay by stopping for tea in one of Isuien’s traditional tea houses.

8. Sample the local sake.

If you prefer a more traditional tipple, stop by the Harushika Sake Brewery. One of the best-known breweries in the city, it’s been making Japanese rice wine for about 150 years and now opens its doors to visitors who want to sample its wares. For under $5, you can try five different types of sake and can even keep your tasting glass as a souvenir.

9. Witness the fastest mochi pounders in town.

Photo: PassionPhotography/Shutterstock

Mochi (sticky rice cakes) are a staple Japanese sweet, and in Nara you can watch them being freshly made in front of you. The Nakatanido mochi shop pulls in crowds with its street-side displays of high-energy, high-speed rice pounding. Flavored with yomogi (Japanese mugwort) and kinako (roasted soybean flour), the finished product is soft, warm, and deliciously chewy.

10. Lose yourself in the Nara of old in Naramachi.

Naramachi is the traditional merchant district of the city, a maze of narrow lanes and classical architecture. Many of the wooden townhouses have been transformed on the inside, now housing quaint cafes, boutique craft stores, art galleries, and inns. Wandering around here is like stepping back in time to ancient Japan, and a great way to get a feel for Nara’s history.

11. Shop for souvenirs in boutique arts and crafts stores.

Photo: Tooykrub/Shutterstock

Hopefully, by the time you’ve done all of the above, you’ll have completely fallen in love with Nara and be looking for some mementos to take home. Browse the boutiques of Naramachi for hand-made arts and crafts like bags, folding fans, and pottery, or hit up the more modern shops near the train station for all manner of deer-related goods.


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The post From sacred deer to mochi, Nara deserves a spot on your cultural tour of Japan appeared first on Matador Network.

Best outdoors in Krabi, Thailand

In the last few years, Phuket has become one of the more well-known parts of Thailand. Yet, of late, over-tourism has dulled Phuket’s sparkle. But it’s not the only Thai destination where you can marvel at white-sand beaches, decorative longtail boats, and striking island towers that seem to surge out of the water. You can savor these natural treasures in peace, away from the Phuket party scene, in the Thai province of Krabi.

While most of the province of Krabi, which lies due east of Phuket, is on the mainland, it also has an estimated 200 islands that surround the coastline. Outside of the town of Krabi, outdoor adventurers will be captivated by its thick jungle, steep limestone mountains with caves to explore and cliff sides to rock-climb, and, of course, aquamarine waters that lap up against irresistible beaches. You can fly directly to Krabi from Bangkok, and here’s what you can do when you get there.

Incredible rock climbing

Photo: King Ropes Access/Shutterstock

The limestone cliffs of Krabi have all kinds of holds that make it easy for beginners to experience the most fun parts about climbing. Tonsai, Ao Nang, and Railay Beach are particularly good areas for climbing. If you don’t have your own gear, or if you’re trying out rock climbing for the first time, there are plenty of companies — like Hot Rock Climbing School, Real Rocks Climbing School, or The Rock Shop Tonsai — with experienced guides who will take you out climbing. You can also choose what kind of climbing you want to experience, from top roping to multi-pitch lead climbing.

If ropes aren’t your thing, go deep water free soloing. All you’ll need is a pair of climbing shoes, a bathing suit, and a desire for cliff jumping. Many of the rock climbing companies in the area also offer deep water free solo tours, where they’ll let you rent shoes and take you on a boat ride to some of the good spots for climbing. You’ll climb right up on the rock, fall safely into the water, and climb again. Once you’ve gotten a feel for it, rent a kayak and shoes and return to those spots again.

Irresistible island hopping

Photo: Guitar photographer/Shutterstock

Jump on a boat and go exploring the outlying islands. Some islands are the area’s large, iconic cliffs of craggy limestone rock, covered in thick, green flora that shoot up straight out of the water. Others are flatter islands, where the water dividing them is so shallow you can sometimes walk from island to island. Many of them feature coral reefs that you can explore while snorkeling.

You can go island hopping DIY-style by paying a person to take you to different islands, or you can make it easier by going with a company — like Krabi Castaway Tours or Big Tour Krabi. You can also ask around once you’re there for a smaller, local guide. Many offer four- or five-island tours, allowing you to see many different islands in one day.

Many guide services will offer snorkel rentals where you can swim among a colorful variety of fish such as Pinnate spadefish, damselfish, and the Moorish idol. Dive closer to the rocks and coral on the ocean floor. Island hopping will guarantee crystal-clear water.

Many excursions will also provide a lunch of rice, prawns, and chicken with a Thai coconut curry sauce. They’ll also serve fresh fruit like watermelon slices for snacks as part of the package. The guides also know where the best spots are, where you can avoid the crowds, and how you can get the most out of your experience.

Stand-up paddling and kayaking

Photo: Dmitry Molchanov/Shutterstock

Now’s your chance to try the Instagram favorite: stand-up paddleboarding. You can rent them on Railay Beach and paddle yourself out to sea. One popular company is Freebird Paddle Co., which also offers night tours, including a bioluminescent tour. However, you can find just about any company renting boards on the beach. Some people have found options as low as $3 per hour.

In places like Railay Beach, the ocean waves aren’t too vigorous, so you can comfortably paddle a safe distance away. Depending on the time of day and the tide schedule, you can check out little inlets and caves alongside the limestone mountains and take your paddleboard through the cave.

If stand-up paddleboarding isn’t your thing, you can also try out ocean kayaking. You can find rental options on Railay Beach. Many of the beaches have rental options up and down the coast. Kayaking helps you maintain control, and it’s fun having a partner in the same boat as you. You can also usually travel farther in a kayak than you can paddleboarding and enjoy bobbing in the waves that the passing boats create.

Hiking to caves and temples

Photo: Balate Dorin/Shutterstock

There are plenty of hikes available in Krabi. You can explore caves like Tham Pranangnai — also known as Diamond Cave — on Railay Beach, which features bats and otherworldly rock formations. Since Railay Beach is so small, it’s easy to walk to the cave. The cave is about $3 per person and is well-lit by lamps. It gets its diamond name from the reflection of water that trickles down in different parts of the cave. It’s a relatively short exploration, so you won’t get too cold inside the cave.

If you’re looking for a hike on your last day in Krabi, another cave to check out is Wat Tham Suea, also known as the Tiger Cave Temple. It’s six miles away from the Krabi airport, and many local hotels offer shuttles to take you there. The name is said to come from a legend about a monk witnessing tigers prowling around the cave as he meditated there.

Once you’re done exploring the cave, you can climb to visit the “Footprint of the Buddha” temple above. Do this early and bring water to beat the heat when you’re climbing all 1,237 steps. After you reach the temple, take off your shoes out of respect. The view of the temple and the surrounding lush mountains will be worth it.

Hit the beach

Photo: Preto Perola/Shutterstock

The ocean in Thailand is the perfect temperature: blissfully warm. During the warmest time of year, in March or April, the water temperature in Ao Nang Beach averages 86 degrees Fahrenheit. If you go swimming in the early morning, there are fewer people on the beach, and the water is much clearer. Plus, you can still enjoy the warm weather before the sun starts burning you up.

Near beaches like Ao Nang and Railay Beach, you’ll find the mainstays of Thai cuisine, such as the famed noodle fish Pad Thai or Khao Pad, which is made with fried rice. Try out a Thai pancake, which is basically a fried crepe, which you can have served with banana, strawberries, or even Nutella. Get a fresh mango smoothie or drink out of a coconut. And always take advantage of opportunities to eat fresh fruit, as the fruit is as sweet as candy.


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The post For outdoor adventure in Thailand, go to Krabi, not Phuket appeared first on Matador Network.

World's oldest travel guide on show

It might seem like travelogues, how-to lists, and trip-planning articles are a relatively modern business, but travel guides actually date back to the 15th century. Indeed, the world’s oldest known travel guide was written by Bernhard von Breydenbach in 1486, and now it’s on display at the British Museum. The guide was written after Breydenbach’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land, starting in Oppenheim, Germany, and features illustrations of Venice and Jerusalem.

Called Peregrinatio in Terram Sanctam, meaning “a pilgrimage to the Holy Land,” the book was the first time many people in western Europe saw realistic depictions of these destinations. Giulia Bartrum, curator of German prints at the British Museum, said, “The large panoramas of famous cities are what make this book so remarkable, and are what made it a 15th-century ‘bestseller.’ Before it, most of the depictions of places such as Jerusalem or Venice were totally made up. Very few people in Europe had ever visited these places, so they had no realistic idea of what they looked like until this wonderfully detailed guidebook came along.”

The book is part of an exhibition called “Inspired by the east: how the Islamic world influenced western art,” which will feature a small collection of surviving first editions of the book. It runs from October 10 to January 26, 2020, so there’s plenty of time to go see it. Tickets start at $17 and can be purchased online.


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Notre Dame, Ghanian trees proposal

There have been all kinds of creative solutions proposed to rebuild parts of Notre Dame, after its spire and roof were devastated by a blaze in April, but using wood from an underwater forest might actually be the most effective. A Ghanian company called Kete Krachi Timber Recovery believes that wood from the massive tropical trees beneath Lake Volta would be sturdy enough to use in the cathedral’s reconstruction. They were submerged in 1965 when construction of Ghana’s Akosombo Dam flooded part of the river basin, and because the wood has been preserved from decay, it is much stronger than ordinary wood.

There are, however, concerns that harvesting this wood could have a negative impact on the local ecosystem, potentially polluting the water with sediment and destroying the habitat of aquatic wildlife. Many on Twitter are also questioning the ethics of pillaging an African ecosystem to restore a man-made European monument.

The company argues that this is a more environmentally friendly solution than cutting down new trees, but others believe it could prove detrimental to the ecosystem. France is in a tough spot, however, as finding trees strong enough to restore the cathedral to its original state is proving difficult, and these African trees certainly seem to fit the bill.

Francis Kalitsi, chairman of Kete Krachi, said, “We don’t think they still have oak in these volumes for the construction of cathedrals. Whereas underneath the lake, you have typical African hardwoods that are similar to oak trees — their density may range from 650kg to 900kg per cubic metre. They are structural timbers which could be useful in the reconstruction.”

If allowed to move forward, the company would sell $50 million worth of wood to the French government. The trees are already being harvested and exported to other locations in Europe, as well as the Middle East, Asia, and South Africa.

The French government, however, hasn’t acknowledged whether or not it will accept the proposal. According to Jérémie Patrier-Leitus of the French culture ministry, “Right now we don’t know if the frame will be rebuilt in wood. We are in the process of securing the monument, and then we will have to rebuild the vault and the spire.”


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The post This proposed plan to rebuild Notre Dame using wood from Ghana is causing controversy appeared first on Matador Network.

Swiss versus Belgian chocolate

When it comes to chocolate, few countries are as well known as Switzerland and Belgium. Chocolates with the countries’ names attached are generally associated with quality, despite the obvious fact that neither country grows its own cocoa. The reason why all comes down to manufacturing history (and the marketing budgets of powerful companies).

The Swiss chocolate and Belgian chocolate names aren’t as protected in international markets as other famous European foods. You can’t call a sparkling wine Champagne unless it’s produced in Champagne, France, or a cheese Parmigiano-Reggiano unless it’s made in a specific region in Italy. Swiss and Belgian chocolates lack similar European Union legal backing. That doesn’t mean either lacks distinct stylistic qualities, though, as businesses have banded together to set standards. So what exactly is the difference between Swiss chocolate and Belgian chocolate?

Swiss chocolate

Photo: Ekaterina_Minaeva/Shutterstock

Signature style: Smooth milk chocolate bars with little bitterness made using Swiss milk.

How it came to be: The origin of modern Swiss chocolate dates back to 1819 when François-Louis Cailler opened a production facility in Corsier. Today, it’s the oldest Swiss chocolate brand. In terms of overall style attributed to Swiss chocolate, however, credit goes to two people: Daniel Peter and Rodolphe Lindt.

Peter started a factory in Vevey in 1867. He was the first to make a solid milk chocolate bar in 1875 using condensed milk from a nearby Vevey factory run by Henri Nestlé (yes, that Nestlé). Lindt opened his chocolate factory in Berne in 1879 and is responsible for inventing a process called “conching.” A conche is used in the production process to warm the beans as they’re ground and evenly distribute the cocoa butter. You can thank conching for the melt-in-your-mouth quality of chocolate. These two inventions define Swiss chocolate to this day.

Chocosuisse, founded in 1901, is the organization that protects the interest of Swiss chocolate manufacturers from companies abroad that try to use the label “Swiss chocolate.” Swiss law allows food to be branded as Swiss if at least 80 percent of the food by weight is from Switzerland, and the main manufacturing is done in the country, according to the international legal publication Lexology. Ingredients that can’t grow in Switzerland like cacao aren’t included in that weight calculation. According to Chocosuisse, a product can only be described as Swiss chocolate if it’s “ready-conched chocolate or chocolate mass entirely manufactured in Switzerland using cocoa beans or cocoa mass, cocoa butter, sugar and milk as the case may be.”

Belgian chocolate

Photo: Anna_Pustynnikova/Shutterstock

Signature style: High-cocoa dark chocolate, particularly chocolate truffles and pralines.

How it came to be: Belgian chocolate producers pull from influences around the world, and there are many types of Belgian chocolate. Unlike Switzerland, Belgium held colonies abroad, and its chocolate history starts in the 19th century with its colonization of Congo.

The country reached international chocolate acclaim in 1912 with the praline, a hard chocolate shell with soft chocolate inside. It was invented by Jean Neuhaus, a Swiss chocolatier living in Brussels at the time. The country’s chocolate reputation grew from there as companies like Neuhaus, Godiva, and Leonidas innovated new ways to make a variety of high-quality pralines, bonbons, truffles, and other styles.

Choprabisco, the country’s association of chocolate manufacturers, created the Belgian Chocolate Code to protect the Belgian chocolate name in 2007. While it doesn’t have any legal power, it sets criteria for how chocolate bars and other products can be made, according to the European literature publication Econstor. The association states that all mixing, refining, and conching be done in Belgium.

It wasn’t the most popular decision, even among companies considered quintessentially Belgian. Godiva, now owned by a Turkish company, said in 2013 that the Belgian Chocolate Code is restrictive. A statement published by Reuters from the company said that Godiva chocolates made in countries like the US “are still essentially Belgian, in the same way that one might think of a BMW made in South Carolina as still essentially a German car.”


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The post The real difference between Swiss and Belgian chocolate, explained appeared first on Matador Network.

Get paid to travel through Greece

Greece is on many travelers’ European bucket lists, and if you happen to have some Instagram know-how, you might get to go there for free. Travel company Unforgettable Greece is looking for someone to spend nine days in Greece, and all you have to do is post photos of your trip on Instagram (which you were probably going to do anyway).

If chosen, you would be taking over the Unforgettable Greece Instagram account for the duration of your trip, receive a $600 stipend, and enjoy comped stays at some of the country’s nicest hotels in Crete, Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, and more. You will also be given a Samsung S10 to take photos, just to ensure you’re not slumming it with an iPhone 6. And no, you don’t have to travel alone. The winner is allowed to bring one friend along for the ride.

According to Unforgettable Greece, the ideal candidate is someone “who knows how to capture eye-catching Instagram shots and isn’t afraid to throw themselves into different activities and new environments.”

If this describes you, applying is easy. Just upload your best travel photo to Instagram and tag @UnforgettableGreece and #UnforgettableInstagrammer in the caption. Applications are open now through November 15.


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Ways you're not from Philly

So you’ve taken the leap and made Philadelphia your new home. Welcome! We’re glad to have you. However, don’t think that your new driver’s license instantly makes you part of the culture. Maybe you’ll be one of us eventually, but you’re not there yet. Whether it’s an innocent question of what we’re up to on a Sunday in September or you naively believe that you will someday stop getting pinged by the Philadelphia Parking Authority, there are things you will do to cue us into your rookie Philadelphian status. Inevitably, we will spot you for the newbie that you are, and it’ll most likely happen through one of the following ways.

1. You mispronounce everything Philadelphian, but with confidence.

When you’re a tourist, you mispronounce Passyunk but it’s with a bit of hesitation. Usually, there is an accented last syllable so it comes off more like a question. The rookies, though, you’ll mispronounce it with pride because you’re sure — positive, even — that this time you nailed it. You are wrong, of course, and we immediately spot you for what you are.

2. You look around too much.

When you’re walking around as a resident of Philly your eyes belong in one of two places: looking at the ground or staring ahead. It’s those eyes to the sky or searching for a friendly face that clues us into the fact that you’re not from around here. Get your head out of the clouds and onto the pavement if you want to hang in these streets.

3. You ask what we’re doing on Sundays in the fall.

If you know, you know. If you don’t know, we’re not here to educate you. We will be either in front of a TV or tailgating in South Philly. There are no other Sunday activities this time of year.

4. You try to make plans in January.

If your plans include anything other than sitting indoors somewhere then we’re not interested. Thanks, but no thanks. This time of year we’re sitting inside, preferably alone. Except on January 1, of course, when we’ll be out gallivanting in the streets in our best costumes.

5. You refer to quizzo as trivia.

We don’t care what they called it where you’re from. Read the signs, they say, “Sign up for quizzo night.” No one said anything about trivia, and nobody’s going to.

6. You trust the time Google Maps says it takes to drive somewhere.

So you think you can simply plan out your day based on mileage? Big mistake, one that only a rookie would make. Philadelphians know that we are always subject to the whims of our own terrible driving and traffic patterns. Around here we know that the ETA is something best saved for the suburbs.

7. You still believe that you’ll stop getting parking tickets.

Ignorance is bliss, they say. In this case, though, acceptance is the only way forward. You will always pay parking tickets to the PPA. The sooner you let go of any kind of fair parking rules that actually make sense, the sooner you can get on with living your new Philadelphia life.

8. You don’t have a long list at the ready of where you’ve eaten recently.

As a newbie, you’ll have to learn to keep up with this weird, competitive thing we do here in Philly where we go back and forth about which restaurant or bar we’ve been to recently and why it’s better than the one the other person brought up. There’s no real explanation for why we do this, but we don’t need one. Just come prepared, do your research, and you’ll survive the restaurant throwdown.


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Traditional candy stores in the US

Stepping inside Shane Confectionery in Philadelphia is like walking into a sacred space where the congregants worship candy. The smell from 150 years of chocolate production in the shop’s kitchen has seeped into the walls and floors. When the candy makers roast chocolate, the aroma wafts through the building. The interior of the shop has the original, early 20th-century decor of gilded, ornate fixtures painted white and blue. Small lamps shaped like upside down tulips hang from the walls. Large mirrors are mounted between shelves stacked with jars filled with candy. The shop is a time machine into the past, to a pre-Depression era when sweets were elaborately designed, and stores competed to seduce window shoppers.

Shane opened in 1911. In 2019, it’s still a “glittering jewel box,” as Pavia Burroughs, Shane’s creative director, puts it. Ryan Berley, half of the sibling duo that owns the shop, nicknamed Shane a “cathedral of confection.” Burroughs has noticed that when customers come in, they tend to whisper while browsing the glass cases stacked with confections, like they would in a church.

As the oldest continuously operating candy shop in America, Shane Confectionery is a Philadelphia staple, as much a resident of the city as the people who live there. In 1863, Samuel Herring opened a candy shop at Shane’s current location, 110 Market Street. Two years later, his son, Benjamin, took over the business and it stayed in the family until 1899, when William T. Westcott bought the building. Westcott kept the candy shop running until 1910, when Edward R. Shane bought the business. Shane immediately went to work redesigning the shop to satisfy turn-of-the-century tastes, installing the elaborate decoration that is still in place today.

The Shane family operated the candy shop until 2010, at which point Barry Shane had taken over the business. Barry, eager to retire but with no family members at the ready to carry on the family business, sold the shop to Ryan and Eric Berley. Barry made sure he didn’t sell the shop to the first interested party. The Berley brothers, Barry knew, had a vested interest in maintaining the Shane legacy.

Photo: Shane Confectionery

Ryan and Eric grew up surrounded by historical artifacts. Their mother opened an antique shop in the front room of their house the year Ryan was born, and the brothers spent many family trips in the back of a van while she hunted for new treasures to add to her collection.

“The brothers see themselves as stewards of history,” Burroughs says.

When it came time to open a business of their own, of course the brothers looked to the past. They already owned Franklin Fountain, a replica of an early 1900s soda fountain and ice cream parlor, where, today, bow ties are part of the staff uniform. A vintage candy shop seemed like the natural next step, but they faced a problem: The brothers had no idea how to make candy.

Thankfully, Barry stuck around long enough to help them learn how to use the antique stove and copper pots, as well the cream beater, the machine used to make the filling for Shane’s signature buttercream candy that’s still made with the original Shane family recipe. The Berleys hired a professional candy maker too, of course.

Except for a modern stove, there is very little contemporary equipment used in the kitchen. Shane simply doesn’t need (or want) to make mass-produced batches of candy.

“The demand is lower than it was at the turn of the century,” says Laurel Burmeister, manager of the shop’s historical outreach programs. “These days we don’t get a lot of people looking for that super sweet experience. What they’re looking for now is a salted caramel. There’s a movement in taste toward more complex experiences. It might have to do with the mass production of chocolate in the mid-century, which was very sweet, but now we’re back to thinking about confections as a more complicated, slow, special food.”

Photo: Shane Confectionery

Shane Confectionery has survived so long because it never went the Hershey route. The shop stayed rooted in the community and stuck to its original purpose: to make hand-crafted, intricately detailed and creatively flavored, delicious candy. These days, Shane runs on nostalgia — not just for childhood, which candy naturally stirs up in adults, but for the glamor and the craftsmanship of the early 20th century.

“You can talk to the person dipping the chocolate in the back. That keeps people coming back,” adds Burmeister.

Yet that doesn’t mean Shane is stagnant. The shop has found ways to infuse contemporary tastes into its repertoire. For instance, the shop sells classic caramels in flavors like earl grey and chili cinnamon. In 2015, Shane launched its bean-to-bar chocolate line of ethically sourced, small batch cocoa beans roasted in-house.

“The beans are ground right in the back of the shop,” Burroughs explains. “You can see that happening. We turn them into finished bars with hand designed labels.”

But perhaps what makes Shane stand out the most is its dedication to candy making traditions that time has mostly forgotten. In addition to its signature buttercreams, the shop is one of the few in the country to still make a confection called clear toy candy.

Photo: Shane Confectionery

Clear toy candy is a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, likely brought to the United States by immigrants from Germany and the United Kingdom. The green, red, and yellow candies are molded into 3D shapes and given as Easter and Christmas gifts. At Shane, the most popular clear toy candy shapes include rabbits, dogs, cats, deer, and ships, while some of the more unusual shapes include a frog riding a bicycle and a “goat standing on top of a terrified looking boy,” as Burroughs puts it.

Shane doesn’t keep making clear toy candy simply to keep the holiday tradition alive. There is, in fact, still a demand for it. Burroughs says that during Christmas, every available surface is covered in clear toy candy. Customers come in year after year chasing nostalgia, but also looking for a gift rooted in history, made with precision, care, and a little love, too. That’s why Shane has such an enduring Philadelphia presence: Its candy makes people feel special.

“I think that’s what Shane is doing,” says Burmeister. “We’re re-elevating chocolate and confections to a more attractive level that has been lost.”

Five other specialty candy shops in the US you need to visit

Shane Confectionery is certainly worth a visit if you’re ever in Philadelphia. However, the family owned, artisan candy shop is an American tradition. You can find shops around the country making hand-crafted candy. Some of these confectioneries have existed for a century, while newer establishments are also helping to keep the love of candy alive. These are five destination-worthy candy shops in the US.

1. Economy Candy — New York City, New York

Photo: Economy Candy/Facebook

Originally located on the corner of Rivington and Essex, this expansive candy store, which carries everything from Ring Pops to gummy hot dogs to balloon animal kits, began as a shoe and hat repair store with a cart out front selling candy. After the Great Depression hit, only the candy sold, and in 1937, the space officially became Economy Candy. In the early ‘80s the shop moved to its current location, but it’s been family owned and operated since the end of World War II.

Where: 108 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002

2. Big Top Candy Shop — Austin, Texas

Photo: Big Top Candy Shop/Facebook

This Austin candy shop is so much more than barrels of salt water taffy and rainbow lollipops. Big Top comes complete with a soda fountain and ice cream machines. The shop opened on Austin’s famous South Congress Street in 2007, and the selection is massive. Big Top carries 400 varieties of bulk candies and 3,000 different wrapped candies.

Where: 1706 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

3. Miette — San Francisco, California

Photo: Miette/Facebook

Miette began as a simple stall in the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, where the founder, Meg Ray, sold cakes and pastries. Nowadays, the shop specializes in not just handmade candies imported from around the world, but macarons, cupcakes, and caramels.

Where: Ferry Building Marketplace, Shop 10, San Francisco, CA 94111

4. Chutters — Littleton, New Hampshire

Photo: Chutters/Facebook

Chutters still bears the name of its original owner, Frederick George Chutter, who was a preacher turned candy salesman. The shop has been a presence in Littleton since the 1800s, beloved by the community for so long, at least in part, because of its 112-foot candy counter — the biggest in the country. Chutter’s fudge is especially popular.

Where: 43 Main Street, Littleton, New Hampshire 03561

5. Candyality — Chicago, Illinois

Photo: Candyality/Facebook

Founded in 2007 by Terese McDonald, Candyality carries 30 flavors of jelly beans and 21 colors of M&M’s. There’s a licorice bar, too, serving varieties imported from all over the planet. It’s become such a beloved Chicago institution that Food Network Magazine named it one of the top 50 candy shops in America.

Where: 3737 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL 60613


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