Gridskipper

Jetcetera: TX Music Fest, Caribbean & College Towns

2009-11-06T22:00:27Z

Austin, Texas [Photo by speedye/Flickr]

·A preview of Austin's Fun Fun Fun fest taking place this wkend [Austinist]
·10 Caribbean islands that are easy on the wallet [MSNBC]
·America's coolest college towns [CNN]
·An Ohio town where the west began [NYT]
·Toronto in a bubble in terms of housing market [USAToday]

London Hangover Spa Treatments

2009-11-06T16:00:23Z

It can be hard to pick yourself up after a hard night out, and many a London spa is hip to that. While most don't use the unseemly word "hangover" in their marketing brochures, many offer "detox" or "cleansing" treatments for all manner of poisons. And because this is London, where even your spa attendant may be nursing a rough one, they're sympathetic to your pain. We've singled out a few day spas that offer toxin extraction to get you feeling human again -- and in shape for the pub.

Wheels Up: Trains, Berlin & Hawaiian Islands

2009-11-06T14:30:31Z

Nashville, Tennessee [Photo by flc/Flickr[

·Luxury resort to open in down and out Rhode Island [AP]
·Choosing which Hawaii is right for you [MSNBC]
·36 hours in Nashville [NYT]
·Berlin: where the wall first fell finally gets a makeover [Spiegel]
·The world's most eye-catching subway stations [T+L]

Jetcetera: Glaciers, A Chef Classic & In-Flight Wifi

2009-11-05T22:00:20Z

Fox Glacier, New Zealand [Photo by dave_apple/Flickr]

·Ojai Valley Inn & Spa to welcome Celebrity Chef Classic Nov. 13-15 [HC]
·The world's most unique places to visit [Forbes]
·Airlines banking on in-flight Internet [MSNBC]
·AirTran introducing add-on fees [USAToday]
·New Zealand's Fox Glacier: the world's most accessible glacier [Gadling]

Los Angeles Tiki Bars

2009-11-05T16:00:59Z

The tiki bar was invented in Los Angeles, when Ernest Gantt opened "Don the Beachcomber" back in 1933. Since then, the concept of the Polynesian drinkery has bounced to the South Pacific and back, colonizing the rest of the West Coast and the world. Back in LA, summer is heating up. Weathered Angelenos can already feel the potential onslaught of a full-fledged heat wave. So, those interested in toasting the summer season with a cool drink in hand might consider (re)visiting your local LA tiki bar, as the city is home to several. Here are six of our favorites.

Wheels Up: French Art, Canada & Portugal

2009-11-05T14:30:43Z

Vancouver, Canada [Photo by Rick Leche/Flickr]

·France's Pompidou Center is on the move [AP]
·Canada's secret slopes [CNN]
·New York City Opera striving to make comeback [NPR]
·A Southeastern Portuguese town that's attracting a stylish international set [NYT]
·Expedia eliminates booking fee [USAToday]

Jetcetera: Berlin, Cheap Paris & Iceland

2009-11-04T22:00:21Z

Reykjavik, Iceland [Photo by Kristin Sig/Flickr]

·Iceland Express to offer direct flights between Newark & Reykjavik [Gadling]
·What airline cutbacks mean for your flight [AP]
·Discount shopping in Paris [Frommers]
·A basic guide to Berlin attractions [LAT]
·Destinations where you're most likely to run into newlyweds [MSNBC]

Manhattan Winter Drinking & Dining Outdoors-ish

2009-11-04T16:00:33Z

When most restaurant/bar backyards and gardens have pulled in their tables and chairs, there are some that promise a year-round "outdoor" space. Yes, even in Manhattan. After all, we will settle for a car-exhaust fumed, ugly sidewalk cafe seat most any day of the year we can. It comes as no surprise then that backyard gardens are becoming enclosed, heated, and winter-proofed at all costs for the blustery days ahead. Where are these temperature-regulated, vegetation-filled, patio furniture-strewn oases? A guide awaits you, and feel free to comment on malfunctioning heaters or less than waterproof roof coverings.

Wheels Up: Dubai, Coco's France & Ace Hotel

2009-11-04T14:30:13Z

Dubai [Photo by fatboyke/Flickr]

·Ace Hotel lets BUTT mag curate homoerotic movies for guests [NYT]
·Dubai to debut world's biggest town early 2010 [AP]
·Three northeastern weekend escapes [CNN]
·Colorado town votes to legalize marijuana [MSNBC]
·A Coco Chanel tour of France [T+L]

Jetcetera: Northern CA, Airlines & The Perfect Hotel

2009-11-03T22:00:46Z

Sonoma, California [Photo by Jill Clardy/Flickr]

·Airlines adding on holiday surcharges [AP]
·Businesses are on the decline in Nogales , Arizona [NPR]
·Finding the perfect hotel online [MSNBC]
·Traveling to Napa and Sonoma in December [NYT]
·Regional airlines thrive while bigger ones suffer [USAToday]

Sydney Tasting Menus

2009-11-03T16:00:35Z

Sydney offers access to some of the best produce and chefs in the world, so why stick to three courses when you can have fourteen! Known either as tasting or degustation menus, these extensive banquets are created from a chef's selection of entrées, mains, desserts, and unlisted specials. Portions are smaller so you can enjoy the full experience, and courses usually highlight the chef's signature dishes. Most restaurants will cater for dietary requirements if you call ahead, and there's such a selection of debauch meals that Sydney will suit any appetite.

[Photo by Snapperwolf]

Wheels Up: Ski Resorts, Shanghai & New Zealand

2009-11-03T14:30:11Z

Shanghai, China [Photo by Cuellar/Flickr]

·China approves Disney theme park for Shanghai [NYT]
·The many different faces of New Zealand [AP]
·Where to go leaf-peeping from the Southwest to the South [CNN]
·The 10 most affordable ski resorts in N. America [Gadling]
·A Rare World: a new print mag covering luxury hotels [HC]

Jetcetera: Jamaica, Chicago & Hotel Tattoos

2009-11-02T22:00:11Z

St. Maarten Todd Neville/Flickr]

·WestJet launches new routes to Cuba & St. Maarten [Jaunted]
·A pair who stole more than 1,000 bags of luggage from the airport [MSNBC]
·The Marcel Hotel in NYC now accepting tattoo reservations [HC]
·A well known Jamaica resort introduces a residential addition [NYT]
·Chicago's Chinatown [Jaunted]

Best Paris Dive Bars

2009-11-02T16:00:19Z

Apart from the corner PMUs -- utilitarian cafés catering to working class gamblers and the nearby high school's most dedicated slackers -- Paris doesn't seem to represent as well on the dive bar front as cities that have always carried and honed a gritty image, like New York and Berlin. But even in Paris, a good number of dive bars provide an escape from the beauty when it starts hurting your eyes (or when you simply need to drink for cheap).

[Photo by City Voter]

Wheels Up: Yellowstone, Strange Airports & Seaside

2009-11-02T14:30:15Z

Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn [Photo by Wallyg/Flickr]

·Tips for owners and renters of winter vacation homes [MSNBC]
·Most Yellowstone roads closed for winter [AP]
·The world's strangest airport attractions [T+L]
·Six passengers faint on a British Airways flight [USAToday]
·Sheepshead Bay: Seaside without the kitsch [NYT]

Jetcetera: Berlin, Bangkok & Spanish Gardens

2009-10-30T21:00:35Z

Barcelona, Spain [Photo by SMB/Flickr]

·Two new ways to find better places to stay while traveling [AVC]
·Barcelona's secret gardens [NYT]
·The new Berlin [LAT]
·The world's largest cruise ship sets sail [AP]
·Bangkok airport offers free wifi [MSNBC]

DC's Best Museum Eats

2009-10-30T15:00:07Z

After living in Washington for nearly five years, I have a very laissez-faire attitude toward our free museums. Occasionally, I'll hit up a blockbuster exhibit at the National Gallery or concede to take an out-of-town visitor to the Air and Space Museum. That said, there's one museum feature I never tire of: the fabulous food that's worth a trip to the National Mall just to grub. Here are a few places to grab some good eats, and if I've missed one, let us know via the comments or tips.

Wheels Up: Ski Resorts, Barbados Eats & East Timor

2009-10-30T13:30:24Z

Jackson Hole, Wyoming [Photo by Stirwise/Flickr]

·America's favorite cities [MSNBC]
·Earliest opening in years for two Sierra ski resorts [AP]
·Barbados as a foodie destination [LAT]
·East Timor to use its struggle for independence as tourist draw [NYT]
·What's new at ski resorts around the country [USAToday]

Jetcetera: Villa Rentals, Luxe Trains & Airlines

2009-10-29T21:00:07Z

Rajasthan, India [Photo by prakhar/Flickr]

·US Airways cutting jobs and flights [AP]
·New York's El Museo del Barrio reopens [USAToday]
·More travelers are taking to the skies [NPR]
·A great new resource for villa and apartment rentals [CNT]
·New luxury trains coming to India [Gadling]

London Bookshop Cafes

2009-10-29T15:00:25Z

The bookshop café was a staple of life in 18th-century London. Back then, one cent granted entrance to a world of caffeine and lofty ideas at what were called "penny universities." The 21st-century London bookshop café is a tad less romantic. Nevertheless, the bookish will find plenty of solace with like-minded souls at these well-established literary watering holes scattered around town.

Wheels Up: Canada, Boston & Skiing In Austria

2009-10-29T13:30:48Z

Auckland, New Zealand [Photo by Light Knight/Flickr]

·Jet Blue to increase flights to Boston by %30 [AP]
·A picture perfect Austrian ski vacation [CNN]
·Offbeat Auckland on the cheap [MSNBC]
·Trying on the Cordon Bleu's Canadian outpost for size [NYT]
·How to save on airfare after you've booked your ticket [USAToday]

Jetcetera: Barcelona, Texas & The Alps

2009-10-28T21:00:31Z

Kerrville, Texas [Photo by Vicki Gibson/Flickr]

·The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona to open November 26 [HC]
·Airtran offering free gogo inflight wifi to first-timers [Gadling]
·A look at who is visiting America the most this year [MSNBC]
·Loads of culture in Texas' not so cosmopolitan Kerrville [NYT]
·A guide to ski resorts in France [Telegraph]

Berlin's Literary Lesungen

2009-10-28T15:10:47Z

Berlin's literary scene can be broken down into three categories: The kind of "establishment" readings common throughout Europe and America, generally organized by publishers and/or large book chains to promote an author and push sales. Another facet of the Berlin literary scene are the festivals and events spearheaded not only by publishers but also literary organizations and/or booksellers large and small. Finally, there are the Lesungen, readings that are a mix of performance art, a poetry slam and an open mic. These events, generally taking place in bars and cafes, can be comic, political or social in nature. They may include songs, stories, poems, radio plays or interaction with audience members, many of whom are regulars and fans of a particular reading group. Though some of the participating authors are published, most of the material you'll hear is written to be read for the performance. Everything has a spontaneous, temporal quality.

These shows tend to be unconventional, independent and distanced from the mainstream, and they're said to be a product of the former east's repressed counterculture mixed with the alternative scene that emerged there after the Wall fell. Not surprising, then, they first established themselves in the former eastern neighborhoods of Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte. Achtung: Almost all of these readings are in German. But even with just basic German skills, they're a chance to experience a unique subculture.

Wheels Up: New Mexico, Mumbai & Turkish Eats

2009-10-28T13:30:37Z

Istanbul, Turkey [Photo by Alaskan Dude/Flickr

·New Mexico's Spaceport America to open for tours [USAToday]
·British Airways expands its Metrotwin city guide to include Mumbai [PSFK]
·10 vampire vacations [MSNBC]
·Stellar eats in Istanbul [NGIT]
·Coal country's tracks & tunnels on two wheels [NYT]

Jetcetera: Cheap Flights, Ireland & iPhone Apps

2009-10-27T21:00:02Z

Cork, Ireland [Photo by mozzercork/Flickr]

·Where to go along a journey from Dublin to Cork [NYT]
·Licenses of US pilots who overshot airport revoked [BBC]
·Southwest Airlines launches $25 airfare sale for those flying to & from Dallas [AP]
·Paying homage to celebrities' resting places [LAT]
·Priceline launching iPhone app for hotel bidding [USAToday]

Top Picks: Grilled Cheese in LA

2009-10-27T15:00:56Z

Believe it or not Los Angelenos take their grilled cheese very seriously. From comfort food to culinary couture, grilled cheese appeals to a wide range of appetites, as well as both professional and amateur gourmands. And, for those who call LA home, the city houses a number of noteworthy spots serving up both classic and innovative takes on the diner staple. LA Weekly recently rounded up its favorite top ten locales to hit if you're looking to satisfy a hankering for grilled cheese. Find a selection of half-a-dozen of those posts just after the jump.

[Photo by charliechu/Flickr]

Wheels Up: Halloween, Louisville & Flying Tips

2009-10-27T13:30:40Z

Louisville, Kentucky [Photo by Woodie/Flickr]

·An American Renaissance in Paris [Globorati]
·New Yorkers spend the most time of anyone in the country commuting [UPI]
·A one-of-a-kind hotel in downtown Louisville [AP]
·How to survive a talkative plane-mate [CNN]
·10 places to get freaked out come Halloween [MSNBC]

Jetcetera: Smokey Mountains, MOMA & LA Hotels

2009-10-26T21:00:12Z

Smokey Mountains [Photo by Bob Jagendorf/Flickr]

·Food Frenzy at LA Hotels this month [HC]
·6 ways to stay in shape when you're constantly jetsetting [Gadling]
·Great Smokey Mountains to undergo a face-lift [USAToday]
·Tips for traveling safely during flu season [AP]
·A review of the MOMA's 'New Photography' exhibit [NY]

The Best Private Dining in Paris

2009-10-26T15:00:17Z

Paris counts an impressive number of Michelin-starred dining establishments. Unfortunately, these well-known, historic restaurants tend to be filled with a large influx of annoyingly loud and braying tourists. When you need to get away for a romantic dinner, family function, or business meeting, your best alternative is to rent a room. Here's our guide to the city's most exclusive private dining rooms.

Wheels Up: Georgia, Airbags In Planes & New Zealand

2009-10-26T13:30:48Z

Savannah, Georgia [Photo by Apophysis Rocks/Flickr]

·Continental Airlines joins Star Alliance [USAToday]
·Inside Air New Zealand's matchmaking flight [Gadling]
·Creepy walking tours [NPR]
·Airbags in plane is no joke [NPR]
·Exploring Savannah, Georgia's unrivaled beauty and history [AP]

Jetcetera: Colombia, The Berkshires & Jamaica

2009-10-23T21:00:14Z

Lenox, Massachusetts [Photo by Lady-bug/Flickr]

·Jamaica's Royal Plantation takes fresh fish to new level [Globorati]
·Steamboat Springs: more than just a ski town [USAToday]
·The Berkshires' thriving art scene and scenic foliage [CNN]
·Colombia's Villa de Leyva offers unique lens into the country's colonial history [NYT]
·What airlines' recent fare hike means [MSNBC]

Sydney Beer Cafes

2009-10-23T15:00:12Z

Beyond the Aussie pub lies the European beer café (as distinguished from the beer garden). Whether you're after boutique Belgians, colonial brews, Bavarian bottles, or Czech imports, Sydney has a variety of beer cafés to suit any connoisseur's palate. Some are homegrown, while others cash in on the reputation of Old World producers. But all offer a good guzzle and a hearty feed.

Wheels Up: Free Flights, Japan & Improving LAX

2009-10-23T13:30:29Z

Osaka, Japan [Photo by Mr.mt/Flickr]

·A striking church that sits on the 21st floor of an Osaka hotel [Times]
·Ten towns from around the globe with unparalleled flair [USAToday]
·How to win free flights for the rest of your life... if you're female [Gadling]
·How to improve LAX - the 3rd worst airport in the world [BLA]
·Minas Gerais: a lesser-known, rural side of Brazil [NYT]

Jetcetera: Spas, European Deals & Latin America On The Cheap

2009-10-22T21:00:26Z

Paron Lake, Peru [Photo by marcoIE/Flickr]

·10 European vacation deals taking place right now [USAToday]
·Bargains in Latin America [NYT]
·The world's most bizarre spa treatments [MSNBC]
·Northwest plane overshoots Minneapolis airport by 150 miles [NPR]
·The duo behind Sant Ambroeus pick their favorite NYC haunts [The Moment]

Southwestern French Cuisine in Paris

2009-10-22T15:00:50Z

The rolling hills of Gascony, the dramatic landscape of the Dordogne, the Cathar fortresses of the Ariège -- we'd like to believe you can taste all this in the food of Southwestern France. You probably can't, but the right cassoulet may trick you into thinking otherwise. It may only take three hours on the TGV to get from Paris to Bordeaux, but if you're craving a magret de canard or a great glass of Cahors and can't wait for the TGV, hop on the Métro to one of these fine establishments.

[Photo by maitresse/Flickr]

Wheels Up: Mexico, Aussie Golf & Inflight Matchmaking

2009-10-22T13:30:40Z

New Zealand [Photo by swisscan/Flickr]

·The best and worst airlines for lost luggage [T+L]
·Posh Bermuda resort, named one of the world's 500 best, closes [AP]
·Mexico's monarch butterfly migration [NGT]
·Inside Air New Zealand's matchmaking flight [MSNBC]
·The world's longest golf course to open in Australia [Gadling]

Jetcetera: Charitable Drinking, Clinton & Adventures

2009-10-21T21:00:27Z

Scottsdale, Arizona [Photo by lumierefl/Flickr]

·Outdoor adventures in Scottsdale, Arizona [NG]
·Top pre-packaged autumn adventures [CNN]
·Tips for buying travel insurance [MSNBC]
·Bill Clinton's childhood home to be added to National Park [USAToday]
·Get drunk for charity at London hotels [HC]

Los Angeles Dance Dance Revolution

2009-10-21T15:00:37Z

Grab your tap shoes and leotards, veils and finger cymbals, swords and shamadans, and get ready to dance like nobody's watching. Whether you're a Dancing with the Stars fan, or you're more inspired by the likes of Riverdance, Los Angeles offers something for everyone. From hip-hop to tango, pole dancing to Bollywood, you'll find a reason to bust a move at one of the following eight Los Angeles dance studios.

Wheels: Gay Tourism, Vegas & Stress-Free Holiday Travel

2009-10-21T13:30:03Z

Las Vegas [Photo by http2007/Flickr]

·World class museums... in Las Vegas [Frommers]
·Stress-free Thanksgiving getaways [MSNBC]
·London opens its first gay travel office [Gadling]
·British Airways launching its Las Vegas route [VC]
·The Pierre Hotel is back in action [NYT]

Jetcetera: Bourbon Street, Trains & LA's Face-Lift

2009-10-20T21:00:31Z

New Orleans, Louisiana [Photo by Wallyg/Flickr]

·The world's most bizarre abandoned places [T+L]
·LA planning $1.3 billion airport face-lift [NYT]
·Get ready for a resurgence in train travel [MSNBC]
·Barkers on Bourbon Street may get the boot [AP]
·The US' coolest small towns [CNN]

Paris Food & Wine Lit

2009-10-20T15:00:17Z

Learning to cook has become curiously à la mode in Paris in the last few years, with a cookbook publishing boom to prove it. For the foreign visitor, the range of titles shows that French home cooking is not exactly America's Julia Child-fueled vision of onion soup and Boeuf Bourguignon. At the city's bookstores, you can find everything from Escoffier to photo-heavy vehicles from today's French TV chefs, who are increasingly interested in the cuisines and eating habits of the rest of le monde. The following is a selection of gastronomic and wine bookstores for the foodie tourist in search of a souvenir.

Wheels Up: Brazil, Cannary Row & Andalucia

2009-10-20T13:30:20Z

Paraty, Brazil [Photo by lfcastro/Flickr]

·New York's 'grandest' hotel [TDB]
·A literal and figurative taste of Andalucia, Spain [CNN]
·Delta reevaluating the international routes it services for 2010 [AP]
·Off the beaten path in Rio & Paraty [NYT]
·Cannary Row's top notch aquarium [LAT]

Jetcetera: Airports, Affordable Hotels & Meeting Men

2009-10-19T21:00:58Z

Berlin, Germany [Photo by Werkunz1/Flickr]

·Kentucky coal mines now open to tourists [AP]
·The best and worst US cities for meeting men [TDB]
·Berlin soon to celebrate 20th anniversary of the wall's fall [Forbes]
·Affordable places to stay in NYC [CNT]
·10 tips to beating the airport security line [MSNBC]

Sydney Late Night Eats

2009-10-19T15:00:26Z

One of the problems with Sydney is the dearth of late night kitchens. After 10ish you tend to find your options limited to dodgy kebabs, crappy pizza, or whatever travesty the Quickie Mart has warming up in the pie heater. As always, we have tracked down the city's hidden gems, be they Chinese, Italian, something classy, or a decent slice made desirable as the night drags on and your stomach seeks solace in the form of booze-absorbing foodstuffs.

Wheels Up: NYC, San Francisco & A New Nat. Park

2009-10-19T13:30:39Z

Madison Square Park, NYC [Photo by Laughing Squid/Flickr]

·True hospitality in India [NYT]
·Six ways to enjoy Madison Square Park [Gadling]
·Conde Nast Traveler anoints San Francisco its best US city to visit [AP]
·Delaware announces plans for first National Park [USAToday]
·Inside the new Crosby Street Hotel [Globorati]

Jetcetera: Caribbean, Day Spas & Italy

2009-10-16T21:00:54Z

Florence, Italy [Photo by Jim Moran/Flickr]

·Florence to ban cars in its Piazza Duomo [Gadling]
·The most affordable Caribbean hotels [T+L]
·10 very affordable day spas [MSNBC]
·Flight innovations that deserve applause [CNN]
·15 American hot spots [T+L]

Montreal's Fledgling Contemporary Art Scene

2009-10-16T15:01:35Z

Bilingual. Bicultural. Bipolar? It’s hard not to think of Montreal in terms of split identity, as equal parts French and Anglo, North American and European. The notorious St. Catherine Street strip clubs notwithstanding, the city is generally a pretty civilized hub of arts and learning. McGill is one of the best schools on the continent. Catholic steeples vie for skyline primacy with more modern landmarks like Moshe Safdie’s famous modular housing complex, a legacy of the forward-looking 1967 Expo, and arts spaces are popping up in all sorts of re-purposed old buildings. Sophisticated but unpretentious, it’s a burgeoning center of contemporary art and design, the kind of city where you can show some homegrown or international work in an old warehouse without too much fuss. Our thanks for photos and guidance to local blogger Daviel Vieira, who writes about the local art scene here.

[Photos by Daviel Lazure Vieira unless otherwise noted]

Wheels Up: The Olympics, Richmond & NYC Hotels

2009-10-16T13:30:38Z

Richmond, Virginia [Photo by ucumari/Flickr]

·The world's most expensive cruise ship [Forbes]
·City tours that are all available on your iPhone [MSNBC]
·36 hours in Richmond, Virginia [NYT]
·New faces on the NYC hotel scene [USAToday]
·Navigating London's 2010 Olympic Games [Times]

Jetcetera: Boozing in Spain, Fall Leaves & Four Seasons

2009-10-15T21:00:04Z

Beirut, Lebanon [Photo by thriol/Flickr]

·Catalonia banning drinking promotions at bars [BBC]
·Why airfares are likely to go up next year [LAT]
·Fall foliage tours on two wheels [NYT]
·Four Seasons Beirut to open in December [HC]
·Oman Air's new state of the art toilet [Jaunted]

Weird Science NYC

2009-10-15T15:00:44Z

Back when I was accidentally blowing up a non-pyrex beaker full of ground meat simmering above a bunsen burner, science seemed like a great way to simultaneously drop my GPA and induce regurgitation from the sight of dissected animals. Years later, however, I have become entranced by the New York Times Science section, captivated by the double helix, and happily dumbfounded by the concept of light years and black holes. Science is cool. And just as those high school science teachers exclaimed to their sleepy-eyed students, it's everywhere! New York boasts a proverbial science museum or two, but did you know that there at least three restaurant/bars host science nights, and we're home to the United States' largest Science Playground? That's right, science isn't just for the nerd's bedroom lab anymore.

[Photo by turtblu/Flickr]