Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Top 5 Cities For A Single to Mingle

According to a survey published by Travel & Leisure, the top five cities that rank for attracting and entertaining singles (heavy on the cocktail and eye candy for both sexes) may surprise some of you as it did us. Here are the top 5 with satisfying bars from our files:

1) New Orleans

The Three Muses
536 Frenchmen St.
New Orleans, La 70116
(504) 252-4801
http://www.thethreemuses.com

Three Muses brings together professionals in culinary, hospitality, and music to create a chic, unique, smoke free environment committed to quality and verve.

2) Austin

Dirty Bill's
511 Rio Grande Street
Austin, TX United States of America 78701
http://dirtybill.com/the-bar

An Austin down-n-dirty is popular among those that seek beer and a long counter. As one reviewer put it in bar-poetry, "The Anti-West-6th-Street bar and a very welcome change a scene of starched shirts, rooftop decks, calamari, and walls of plasma TVs. This is our best 'big city bar' laid out blue-collar shotgun style, no windows, and a couple TVs around so you have something at which to point and bitch."

Barfly's
5420 Airport Blvd.
Austin, TX United States of America 78751
Telephone: (512) 452-6455
http://www.barflysaustin.com/

3) Las Vegas

Tryst Nightclub
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S
Las Vegas, NV United States of America 89109
Telephone: (702) 770-3375
http://trystlasvegas.com/

In Short – Billed as an intimate rendezvous spot, this chic club has enough nooks to feel cozy despite its bulging 12,000 square feet. Bottle-service booths ring the semicircular club, and scads of framed mirrors decorate the red-velvet walls

Frankie's Tiki Room
1712 West Charleston Blvd
Las Vegas, NV United States of America 89102
Telephone: 702-385-3110
http://www.frankiestikiroom.com

Frankie's Tiki Room is a unique combination of south seas exotica and modern primitivism, with just a hint of Las Vegas kitsch. One hundred percent original and deeply rooted in tiki tradition, Frankie's is the place where you can escape to the fantasy any hour of the day or night. Where you can order up your buzz from the menu of exotic rum drinks in the tiki lounge, or enjoy traditional cocktails while gambling at the bar in classic Las Vegas style.

4) New York

Pegu Club
77 West Houston Street, New York,
New York, NY United States of America 10012
Telephone: 212/473-PEGU
http://www.peguclub.com/flash

Mixologist and owner Audrey Saunders, formerly of Bemelman's Bar in the Carlyle Hotel, makes magic with cocktails. In 2005 she opened her own little downtown gathering spot where she can even better showcase her immense talents. The cocktails here change seasonally and will astound you with their creativity. It helps that the staff uses fresh squeezed juices, homemade ginger beer and the largest assortment of bitters you will find anywhere.

Subway Inn Bar
143 E. 60th St.
New York, NY United States of America 10022
In an era of recast hipness, and transparent attraction, the Subway Inn reminds us of what a bar was and is supposed to be. Over looking Bloomingdale's loading dock, the view couldn't be better.

Raines Lawroom
48 West 17th Street
New York, NY United States of America 10011
http://www.raineslawroom.com/

Behind and unassuming door, on a street stocked with not so impressive bars lies a quite little gem. Nothing but drinks here, and seriously good cocktails with a Russian vodka theme.

5) Miami

Nikki Beach
1 Ocean Drive
Miami, FL United States of America 33139
Telephone: 305 538 1231
http://www.nikkibeach.com

A South Beach institution that is forever young, hip and if you seek to watch the beautiful people....this is it.

The Room
100 Collins Avenue
Miami, FL United States of America 33139
Telephone: 305 531 6061
http://www.theotheroom.com

So hip you almost need surgery.

At the bottom of 35 listed, Salt Lake City and Anchorage.

Salt Lake City

Gracies
326 S W Temple
Salt Lake City, UT United States of America 84101
Telephone: 1 801 819-7565
http://www.graciesslc.com

With two floors, two patios, and by far the most beautiful view of downtown and the Wasatch Mountains; Gracie's is a must for a night on the town.

Anchorage

Chilkoot Charlie's Promotion
1071 West 25th Avenue
Anchorage, AK United States of America 99503
Telephone: (907) 279-1692
http://www.koots.com

Koot's, as it is affectionately called by locals, began as a neighborhood watering hole with a live piano bar. Today Chilkoot Charlie's features a rustic Alaska atmosphere with sawdust-covered floors, 3 stages, 3 dance floors and 10 bars (11 in the summertime!) with padded tree stumps and beer kegs for seating.

Kodiak Bar & Grill
225 East 5th Avenue
Anchorage, AK United States of America 99501
Telephone: (907) 258-5233
http://www.kodiakbar.com

Serving up the best value for your drinking dollar and great food too. This is a family business so when you're here you're one of the family!! Your hosts, Doug and Calvin, and the best bar staff in town are here to serve you with the true Alaskan hospitality.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Woman Gropes TSA

We all know of TSA professionally groping those suspect travelers en route to terminals... grandmas, babies, the occasional celebrity. But in a turn of events a 61-year-old Colorado woman found herself in jail for groping a TSA agent.

It happened in Phoenix's Sky Airport on Thursday en route home to Colorado when the incident occurred.

According to the arrest report, the 61 year old is accused of groping a female TSA agent's "left breast through her clothing and squeezing and twisting it with both hands without the victim's permission." The perpetrator admits to having done the said grope, and was released from a Phoenix-area jail on Friday.

Charged with a felony.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Noma Has The Dirt On The Best Restaurants In The World

Few of us get to experience these global culinary gems, but every year S Pellegrino puts its stamp on the "World's 50 Best Restaurants". Some of our international recommendations found in The Carlton Files come from current and past S Pellegrino winners in the top 100 restaurants in the world. Face it, if you get to dine in one of the top 100 restaurants in the world, you're having a good meal. It doesn't have to be number 1.

This year, although not getting top honors, Spain has done very well in S Pellegrino's 50 Best Restaurants In The World, 2011. Spanish chefs took 2 of the top 3 listings (as well as number 50). Here is a sample of "must eat" restaurants, if you find yourself in the native country:

No. 1 
Noma
Strandgade 93
Telephone: 3296 3297
www.noma.dk 

Copenhagen, Denmark
Noma, Copenhagen's culinary star, has again won top prize for the best restaurant in the world. A title it has held since 2009. Noma is best known for its fanatical approach to foraging and presenting dishes like "Dirt" but there is much more to this ground-breaking restaurant than sous-chefs foraging Mother Nature's unknown bounty: It's the entire package - from its ingredient ingenuity to flawless execution. Many have copied chef Rene Redzepi's approach, but sadly most have failed. For the best in class, Noma really is the number one place to go.


No. 2 
El Celler de Can Roca
Can Sunyer 48
Telephone: +34 97 222 21 57
www.cellercanroca.com 

Girona, Spain
El Celler de Can Roca is possibly the least well-known restaurant to have ever held the much-vaunted number-two spot on the list, a quirk which, far from being a hindrance, has allowed the three brothers of Roca to get on with what they do best. Cellar de Can Roca delivers "emotional cuisine" based on traditional, intellectual ideas and an academic approach to cooking to "create new ways to awaken customer's taste memory: forgotten flavors and aromas that bring to mind moods and personal memories otherwise distant in time and space." Is the chef a philosopher or has he watched Ratatouille too many times?


No. 3 
Mugaritz
Otazulueta Baserria, Aludura Aldea 20, 20100, Errenteria, Spain
Telephone: +34 943 522 455
www.mugaritz.com 

Errenteria, Spain
Mugaritz has two menus that change daily - according to what chef Andoni Luis Aduriz can get his hands on at the street markets and what's growing in the restaurant's herb garden. Classic locavore. Whatever happens, you can expect to sample the team's intricate dishes that seek to reconnect diners with nature. His self-dubbed 'techno-emotional' approach sees the appliance of science and a rigorous understanding of ingredients jostle with produce-driven cuisine. This year, the Spanish seem to be about emotions and science.


No. 50
Asador Etxebarri
Plaza San Juan 1, 48291 Axpe-Marzana
Telephone: +34 9465 83042
www.asadoretxebarri.com 

Atxondo-Bizkaia, Spain
To see a true culinary workshop in action, head to Asador Etxebarri where part chef, part blacksmith Victor Arguinzoniz deals almost exclusively in grilled food. If you can eat it, he'll grill it: Caviar, cockles and even milk are cooked over locally felled oak and unlike at many Asadors (country style barbeque popular in Spain and South America), few of the ingredients arrive charred or blackened. If you're in Basque country, Asador Etxebarri is a destination.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Travel Warning For Tunisia Extended

The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the potential for ongoing political and social unrest in Tunisia. Unrest has diminished and public order has returned in many areas, including the developed tourist zones; however, spontaneous and unpredictable events, such as work stoppages and demonstrations, have recently occurred. Although the Tunisian government has lifted the curfew, the state of emergency is in force and curfews can be re-established with short notice. The U.S. Department of State continues to advise U.S. citizens currently in Tunisia to defer non-essential travel to the central and western regions of Tunisia. This Travel Alert supersedes the Travel Alert for Tunisia dated March 10, 2011, and expires on July 9, 2011.

International Pillow Fight Day

The little known "International Pillow Fight Day" was a success. "In these times of war, revolution and nuclear disaster it's good to see people dressed in their jams fighting with pillows," said John Baker from Trafalgar Square, London.

People in cities (130) across the globe have taken part in mass pillow fights as part of International Pillow Fight Day, April 2.
Dressed in pajamas, dressing gowns and fancy dress to take part in the good natured annual pillow fight all manner of folk, mostly young spent a part of their Saturday afternoon making feathers fly. Most people carried feather-filled pillows that exploded as they fought. London's Metropolitan Police said Sunday that the event had been peaceful and they had no reports of any trouble. Tempurpedic pillows were not allowed, as the filling is dangerous on impact.

The fights were organized by The Urban Playground Movement which wants to encourage people to make use of public spaces. Organizing a massive pillow fight is perhaps the simplest of free events or interventions, but also, according to the organizers, The Urban Playground Movement, one of the most rewarding.

Friday, April 1, 2011

The World's Highest Bar Opens

The name says it all. OZONE is situated on the top floor of the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong making it the highest bar in the world. Indulge in signature cocktails and an exotic selection of Asian tapas and while enjoying lofty DJ beats and an amazing view of the Victoria Harbor from floor 118.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong opened its doors to the heavens in March 2011. Occupying the 102 floor to the top of Hong Kong's towering International Commerce Centre, the Ritz Carlton provides significant luxury and commanding views of Hong Kong's distinctive skyline, located at a key Harbor crossing point in West Kowloon.

Goats Grazing Gritty Streets

Police have captured five goats that were wandering the streets of a gritty northern New Jersey city.

Chief Animal Control Officer John DeCando, munching on a pork sandwich, tells The Record newspaper that a woman called Paterson police after nearly hitting the herd with her car at 2:30 a.m. Thursday.

Police took the goats to the animal shelter. They'll stay there until they are sent to an undisclosed farm to live out their days.

DeCando says he believes someone was keeping them for an Easter meal or a sacrifice. It's illegal to keep farm animals in Paterson. They probably knew that.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Airlines to Load on More Fees

Oil futures are not the only source of additional fees for airline service. In their insatiable drive to find new ways to dig out profits, airlines will be charging for more services. Some of which you may have taken for granted. The new standard of checked bags, snacks, competitive seat selection and other now standard fees brought in $22 billion last year. Spirit Air derives 27% of its revenue from these fee sources:

This has, well, excited airline executives to the possibility of more revenue and some of those new sources may be as follows:

Infants riding in a parent's lap: Domestic flights could start charging the same kinds of fees (10% of an adult fare) that are charged for lap-riding infants on international flights.
Using a credit card: Cash-paying customers would get a 3% discount, effectively charging a 3% fee to credit card customers.
Checked baggage based on weight: Instead of paying a flat rate for your checked bags, the fees would be based on the weight of each item.
Carry-on bags: Spirit Airlines already began charging for some carry-on items last year. Don't be shocked if more carriers follow suit.
A pre-ordered champagne brunch in economy class. Well that’s worth it.
Weather related flight cancellation insurance.
Upscale meals delivered in coach.
In-flight movies.
Wi-Fi
A new “economy comfort zone” or “economy plus” premium coach seats designed for more leg room (4 inches!) and 50% more reclining which could cost from $80 – $160 each way. Annual upgrade to economy plus could cost $450 a year with Continental.

Although some believe that charging for once free items has reached its limit, these new upgrade money makers are based on creating a more comfortable flight. Creating value for the additional spend. "Passenger-pleasers."