Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[How to Be Swedish: This Video Will (Sort Of) Tell You]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/21/how-to-be-swedish-this-video-will-sort-of-tell-you/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/21/how-to-be-swedish-this-video-will-sort-of-tell-you/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/21/how-to-be-swedish-this-video-will-sort-of-tell-you/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

cacophonyx, Flickr


Nothing like stereotypes to really give you the feel of a country. It seems that a lot of people have a soft spot for anything that gives us an insider look - whether true or not - at Scandinavia. Why Scandinavian, and in particular Swedish culture, is of such interest is a bit beyond me, but there's certainly an obsession with that country in the north that brought us flat-pack furniture and ABBA. People do love their Swedish videos.

Continue reading How to Be Swedish: This Video Will (Sort Of) Tell You

How to Be Swedish: This Video Will (Sort Of) Tell You originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 21 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>culturefunny videoFunnyVideohow to be SwedishHowToBeSwedishScandinaviaspoofSwedenSwedishvideoTue, 21 May 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Exploring Glacier National Park]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/19/photo-of-the-day-exploring-glacier-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/19/photo-of-the-day-exploring-glacier-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/19/photo-of-the-day-exploring-glacier-national-park/#commentsFiled under: , ,

JasonBechtel, Flickr



It's almost summer, and you know what that means? Road trip season. Sure, you can take a road trip any time of the year, but there's something about warm air drafting through the windows as you drive down an unexplored road, twisting and winding towards a new and tempting destination.

JasonBechtel's photo, taken on the iconic Going to the Sun Road from the front of a Red Jammer, the buses used at Glacier National Park to cart tourists around, manages to get that same sensation into one single shot. Makes you want to go grab your car and head for the road right now, doesn't it?

Do you have a photo that captures the spirit of travel? Submit it for a chance to be featured on Photo of the Day. Pop it in our Gadling Flickr pool for the chance to be featured.

Photo Of The Day: Exploring Glacier National Park originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 19 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drivingexploringGlacierGlacier National ParkGlacierNationalParkmountainsoutdoorsphotoroadroad tripRoadTripSun, 19 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Late Night, Free Cultural Event Extravaganza: European Night Of Museums 2013]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/18/the-late-night-free-cultural-event-extravaganza-european-night/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/18/the-late-night-free-cultural-event-extravaganza-european-night/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/18/the-late-night-free-cultural-event-extravaganza-european-night/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Nuit des Musées, Facebook

Budget traveling night owl alert: if you're in Europe right now you don't want to miss out on the ninth annual European Night of Museums this Saturday, May 18.

The idea is simple: open up museums way past their general closing hours, cut the entrance fee and make museum going a little more like nightlife instead of a rainy Sunday afternoon activity.

Coinciding with International Museum Day, European Night of Museums is organized by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, and this year almost 3,000 museums around Europe are participating not just by opening their doors for the late-night crowd, but hosting special events and beyond. Track them down here.

In Paris for example you have access to 150 museums and cultural centers - most of them for free - and while the waived entrance fee might attract a larger crowd to some of the more well known spots, it also means the chance to explore a few new places that you might have been meaning to check off the list.

In the U.K., you'll also find Museums at Night, tied in with the European Night of Museums campaign, but open for a couple of extra days, this year held May 16-18, 2013.

Latvia, Romania, Norway ... wherever you are in Europe, find a museum and book your Saturday night.

The Late Night, Free Cultural Event Extravaganza: European Night Of Museums 2013 originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 18 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EuropeEuropean Night of MuseumsEuropeanNightOfMuseumsfreefree entranceFreeEntrancelate nightLateNightmuseummuseumsnightParisSat, 18 May 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Swedes Don't Like Aggressive Beer]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/16/swedes-dont-like-aggressive-beer/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/16/swedes-dont-like-aggressive-beer/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/16/swedes-dont-like-aggressive-beer/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Iron Maiden Beer

The first piece of news is that if you're an Iron Maiden fan, there's now a beer for you. The second piece of news is that if you're going to Sweden you won't be able to drink it.

Trooper, the new beer for hardcore Iron Maiden fans, is now available in the U.K., and can also be bought online and distributed to a variety of E.U. countries - except Sweden. Why? The label is just too much.

The main representative for Systembolaget, the government-run store that is the only place to sell any liquor above 3.5% alcohol in Sweden, claims that the label doesn't adhere to Swedish labeling laws, which regard the Trooper beer label too "aggressive" to be allowed into the Swedish market.

Want your Iron Maiden beer? Stick to the U.K. for now.

Swedes Don't Like Aggressive Beer originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 16 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beerdrinkingIron MaidenIronMaidenmarketingSwedenThu, 16 May 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Farm-To-Hotel The Latest Lodging Trend?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/15/is-farm-to-hotel-the-latest-lodging-trend/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/15/is-farm-to-hotel-the-latest-lodging-trend/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/15/is-farm-to-hotel-the-latest-lodging-trend/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


At home there's the backyard garden, the local co-op farmers market and the stash of homemade pickles, but on the road, what's a food-loving locavore to do? Track down a farm-to-hotel of course.

Hotel restaurants aren't normally at the top of the list of a traveler's places to eat, but sometimes time and efficiency leave you eating at the dining room on the first floor of wherever you're staying, especially if you're a business traveler. Wouldn't it be nice to know that the food you're getting comes from close by?

The New York Times reports that that's exactly what some travelers are looking for.

At a visit last winter to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta, Canada, Ms. Driscoll said she was happy to discover a French fries dish called poutine, made with Alberta beef, that was served in the hotel's lounge. "It gave me a unique feeling of a sense of place," she said. "Local foods give you a great feeling of culture in a very short period of time, especially when you're traveling on business."

But it's not just specialty and boutique hotels that are taking on the trend. Hyatt Hotels Corporation started a food initiative last May that requires that its chefs at about 120 hotels in the US, Canada and Caribbean incorporate at least five local ingredients in their menus; "local" being defined as within 50 miles of the hotel location.

That doesn't make the entire restaurant a hub for locavores, but it's certainly a start.

Via: New York Times

[Photo Credit: Anna Brones]

Is Farm-To-Hotel The Latest Lodging Trend? originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 15 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foodhotelhotel restaurantHotelRestaurantHyattlocallocal foodlocal restaurantsLocalFoodLocalRestaurantslocavorerestaurantsWed, 15 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[48 Hours In Lisbon: In Search Of Coffee, Tiles And Sun]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/14/48-hours-in-lisbon-in-the-search-of-coffee-tiles-and-sun/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/14/48-hours-in-lisbon-in-the-search-of-coffee-tiles-and-sun/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/14/48-hours-in-lisbon-in-the-search-of-coffee-tiles-and-sun/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


All truth be told, Lisbon was never a city I had given any thought to. In fact, I couldn't even come up with anything linked to it. Give me a list of other European cities and there was at least one or two things that came to mind.

Stockholm: Old Town and the archipelago.

Paris: croissants, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre.

London: pubs, fish and chips and Big Ben.

Venice: canals, gelato and carnival.

But Lisbon? My inability to come up with anything symbolic of the Portuguese capital was embarrassing.

Come to think of it, it wasn't just embarrassing; it was a little odd. For centuries, Portugal was a powerhouse, conquering remote parts of the world from Brazil to Timor (even today, seven of Portugal's former colonies still have Portuguese as their official language), bringing back exotic luxuries that would later become European staples - chocolate and coffee come to mind. And yet here I was unable to come up with a connection to Portugal whatsoever. It was obviously time to improve my cultural understanding.

Enter the 48-hour trip - like a quick dip into the sea, the kind of thing that sort of gets you acquainted, but really just leaves you wanting more.

Continue reading 48 Hours In Lisbon: In Search Of Coffee, Tiles And Sun

48 Hours In Lisbon: In Search Of Coffee, Tiles And Sun originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 14 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>48 hours48Hoursbudget-travelcapital cityCapitalCitycitiescityEuropeexploringLisboaLisbonPortugalPortuguesewalkingTue, 14 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Javanese Graffiti]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/12/photo-of-the-day-javanese-graffiti/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/12/photo-of-the-day-javanese-graffiti/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/12/photo-of-the-day-javanese-graffiti/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Barcelona and Berlin might be known for their guerilla street art, but graffiti isn't reserved for these cosmopolitan capitals alone. Instagram user laurenirons snapped this shot while in Jogja, Indonesia. Also known as Yogakarta, Jogja is a city known for its classical Javanese fine art and culture, and it's a place to discover the iconic local art forms of batik, poetry and puppet shows. But it's also known for its street art. On this wall, we see old meeting modern, in a graffiti version of the Ramayana story.

Do you have a photo that captures the spirit of travel? Submit it to our Gadling Flickr pool, or by mentioning @gadlingtravel on Instagram and tagging your photo with #gadling.

[Photo Credit: laurenirons]

Photo Of The Day: Javanese Graffiti originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 12 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artgraffitiInstagramJavaphotoRamayanastreet artStreetArtSun, 12 May 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[International Adventure Guide 2013: Stockholm, Sweden]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/10/international-adventure-guide-2013-stockholm-sweden/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/10/international-adventure-guide-2013-stockholm-sweden/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/10/international-adventure-guide-2013-stockholm-sweden/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Known as the Venice of the North, Stockholm is a city defined by water; it's in the soul of the city's inhabitants. Cold and icy in the winter and ready for sailing and bathing in the summer, water is as much a symbol of Stockholm as Old Town and the Royal Palace. This makes the Swedish capital the ideal hub for adventure - the chance to blend an urban center with the beauty of the outdoors.

Swedes are known for their deep connection to the outdoors. Nature is a part of Swedish literature, art, music and everyday life, and you'll find this throughout Stockholm. From boat trips out into the Stockholm Archipelago to afternoon walks around Djurgården, Stockholm is the city for those that love the outdoors. In a time when Scandinavian culture is at the top of every travel hit list, Stockholm and its outskirts are worth an exploration for those that are looking to blend the big city with the beauty and possibility of the outdoors.

Continue reading International Adventure Guide 2013: Stockholm, Sweden

International Adventure Guide 2013: Stockholm, Sweden originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 10 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureadventure-travelbicyclingbikescyclinghostelskayakingparksScandinaviaStockholmSwedenswimmingtrail runningTrailRunningFri, 10 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dinner And Bikes 2013: An Annual Tour To Grow The Bicycle Movement]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/08/dinner-and-bikes-2013-an-annual-tour-to-grow-the-bicycle-moveme/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/08/dinner-and-bikes-2013-an-annual-tour-to-grow-the-bicycle-moveme/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/08/dinner-and-bikes-2013-an-annual-tour-to-grow-the-bicycle-moveme/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There's a lot of talk about bikes these days. From single speeds in New York City to nighttime tours in Guatemala City and the bike share in Paris, the discussion of bicycles as a real means of alternative transportation is taking hold in a big way.

But talking about bikes in cycle centric hotspots like Portland, San Francisco and New York is only part of the step. As with anything, getting more people on two wheels means getting people engaged all over the country. And that's where Dinner and Bikes comes in.

The annual month-long tour is a traveling combination of bicycle inspiration, vegan food and pop-up bookstores that brings people together to get inspired about bicycle transportation. If you're a bike junkie, it's hard to resist.

Continue reading Dinner And Bikes 2013: An Annual Tour To Grow The Bicycle Movement

Dinner And Bikes 2013: An Annual Tour To Grow The Bicycle Movement originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelalternative transportationAlternativeTransportationbicyclesbike cultureBikeCulturebikesbudget-travelgluten-freemidwestnortheastPortlandtransportationveganWed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: Skulls For Sale]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/05/photo-of-the-day-skulls-for-sale/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/05/photo-of-the-day-skulls-for-sale/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/05/photo-of-the-day-skulls-for-sale/#commentsFiled under: , ,



You can find many things at local markets: organic vegetables, artisan cheese, perfumes, wine, textiles, souvenirs ... the list goes on. A look into the tastes and smells of a place, markets are a traveler's jackpot.

But market souvenirs come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes you find the kind of things you might just get pulled over for in customs on the way home. Like this selection of morbid goods on the island of Boracay in the Philippines, captured by Flickr user Adam James Wilson. Skull and teeth anyone?

Have a photo that captures the spirit of travel? Submit it to the Gadling Flickr pool or mention us on Instagram @gadlingtravel and tag your photo with #gadling for a chance to be featured on Photo of the Day.

Photo Of The Day: Skulls For Sale originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 05 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exoticexotic marketExoticMarketmarketPhilippinesphotophotographyshoppingskullssouvenirsSun, 05 May 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Postcards From Carcassonne: Exploring A Medieval French Village]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/01/postcards-from-carcassonne-exploring-a-medieval-french-village/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/01/postcards-from-carcassonne-exploring-a-medieval-french-village/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/01/postcards-from-carcassonne-exploring-a-medieval-french-village/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



While on a film production in southern France (no really, for this), we were cruising along the autoroute between Toulouse and Narbonne. I was in the driver's seat, which, for the record, is not the spot you want to be in while driving through this part of France. You get the occasional glimpse at the countryside, but as the sun shines and the southern landscape passes by, you definitely want to be a passenger so you can take it all in.

"Look... a medieval village!" I exclaimed, pointing to our left.

It was Carcassonne.

"No big deal," one of our team members said with a bit of humor.

This had become our joke on this trip; pretending to be unimpressed. But if you're not impressed by a road trip through France, you've been sleeping.

To the American eye, it's always shocking to see historic monuments like this; on a road trip in the U.S. the oldest thing you might find is a Revolutionary War battle site. You're hard pressed to find a cathedral or a chateau looming about.

Carcassonne rose out of the rolling landscape, its protected walls reminiscent of a time that we'd only ever read about. A road sign reminded us that we were passing a UNESCO Heritage Site - in case the medieval village to the left wasn't sign enough.

Continue reading Postcards From Carcassonne: Exploring A Medieval French Village

Postcards From Carcassonne: Exploring A Medieval French Village originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CarcassonnecultureFrancehistorymedievalmiddle agesMiddleAgesUNESCOworld heritage sitesWorldHeritageSitesWed, 01 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Richard Branson Makes Airplane Hookups Easier By Letting Travelers Send Each Other Drinks]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/29/richard-branson-makes-airplane-hookups-easier-by-letting-travele/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/29/richard-branson-makes-airplane-hookups-easier-by-letting-travele/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/29/richard-branson-makes-airplane-hookups-easier-by-letting-travele/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



If you travel when you're single, the following scenario may sound familiar: You get a friend to drop you off at the airport early, you make it through security and grab a coffee or a pre-trip beer, you wander to your gate and board, scoping out the people around you. You sit down in your seat - damn, how did you get stuck sitting in the middle row again? - and you secretly cross your fingers hoping for someone attractive to sit next to you instead of that overweight man/woman with overgrown nose hairs making their way down the aisle.

Attractive person saunters by. If only you had been in row 30A instead of 28C.

But thanks to Richard Branson, there's help.

Virgin America is now offering Seat-to-Seat Delivery, making it easy to flirt with that hottie (scare them?) a few rows back by sending them drinks, snacks and even meals. Nothing better than hitting on fellow travelers. Who better to explain how it works than Branson - king of international affairs - himself?



The best part about it? Given the fact that airplane food has become so expensive, your potential mile high club partner probably won't turn the free drink/food down.

No jokes about salty nuts please.

Richard Branson Makes Airplane Hookups Easier By Letting Travelers Send Each Other Drinks originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flirtingloverichard bransonRichardBransonsexVirgin AmericaVirginAmericaMon, 29 Apr 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[#OnTheRoad On Instagram: Paris, France]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/29/ontheroad-on-instagram-paris-france/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/29/ontheroad-on-instagram-paris-france/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/29/ontheroad-on-instagram-paris-france/#commentsFiled under: ,



Paris is one of those iconic travel destinations that everyone seems to have on their travel list at one point or another. It's romantic. It's beautiful. It's chaotic. It's French.

I came three months ago, with the excuse of needing a month to focus on a couple of writing projects and somewhere inspiring to do it in. I still haven't left.

Paris is one of those places that sucks you in. The kind of place that when you ride your bike down a street just before dusk, you risk getting in an accident because you're mesmerized by the golden light hitting the tops of the buildings. It's a city of well-known landmarks, but also one of hidden gardens, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, hipster bike shops, abandoned railways turned to community gardens and moments of serendipity. That's the Paris that I have fallen in love with, and will be sharing with you this week on our #OnTheRoad Gadling Instagram series.

[Photo credit: Anna Brones]

#OnTheRoad On Instagram: Paris, France originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>InstagramOnTheRoadParisMon, 29 Apr 2013 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: The Milky Way In Arches National Park]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/28/photo-of-the-day-the-milky-way-in-arches-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/28/photo-of-the-day-the-milky-way-in-arches-national-park/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/28/photo-of-the-day-the-milky-way-in-arches-national-park/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Utah is one of my favorite escapes. There's something about sitting on a slab of redrock and watching a black sky dotted with stars. You're in the middle of nowhere, alone, surrounded by silence, overpowered by the feeling of grandiose canyons.

Flickr user djurma captures exactly that in this nighttime photo of Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. You can feel that stillness just by looking at it.

Want your own photo featured on Photo of the Day? Submit it to the Gadling Flickr Pool or on Instagram by mentioning @gadlingtravel and tagging #gadling.

[Photo credit: djurma]

Photo Of The Day: The Milky Way In Arches National Park originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arches National ParkArchesNationalParkbackcountrycampingMilky WayMilkyWaynightnight photographyNightPhotographyoutdoorsphotophotographyUtahSun, 28 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[On The Road With NPR Music: Sean MacLean At KING, Seattle, Washington]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/25/on-the-road-with-npr-music-sean-maclean-at-king-seattle-washi/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/25/on-the-road-with-npr-music-sean-maclean-at-king-seattle-washi/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/25/on-the-road-with-npr-music-sean-maclean-at-king-seattle-washi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Beyond travel, we're also big music fans here at Gadling; largely because music is a great way to get to know a place. This month happens to be Public Radio Music Month and we're teaming up with NPR to bring you exclusive interviews from NPR music specialists around the country. We'll be learning about local music culture and up and coming new regional artists, so be sure to follow along all month.

You might know Seattle for its grunge, alternative and indie scenes - this is after all the home of the Experience Music Project - but as Sean MacLean tells us, if you haven't been paying attention to the classical music of the region, you're missing out.

Name: Sean MacLean

Member station: Classical King FM 98.1

Regular Show/Contribution Beat: Northwest Focus, weeknights 8-10 p.m., with live musicians Friday nights at 8. Afternoon/evening host Monday - Friday 4-10 p.m.

1. When people think of music in Seattle, what do they think of?

Options! The Early Music, jazz, rock, and film scoring cutting edge, but also Benaroya Hall, home of Seattle Symphony, where you can sip outstanding Washington State Syrahs while enjoying the view from the giant windows that give out onto beautiful Elliott Bay, then go into the splendid acoustics of the floating hall and have your heart blown wide by timeless music.

2. How do you help curate that musical scene?

Through "Northwest Focus": since living in Seattle means figuring out what NOT to see that night, we pick the most engaging events to link at our website, and give our listeners a chance to meet local classical musicians on "Northwest Focus LIVE" on Friday nights at 8. The shows are archived and YouTube videos are shared. The groups get exposure, and our audience is enriched. We get a lot of feedback about the quality of the music scene here.

Continue reading On The Road With NPR Music: Sean MacLean At KING, Seattle, Washington

On The Road With NPR Music: Sean MacLean At KING, Seattle, Washington originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>classicalclassical musicClassicalMusicNPR MusicNprMusicSeattleWashingtonThu, 25 Apr 2013 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[On The Road With NPR Music: Matt Fleeger At KMHD, Portland, Oregon]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/23/on-the-road-with-npr-music-matt-fleeger-at-kmhd-portland-oreg/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/23/on-the-road-with-npr-music-matt-fleeger-at-kmhd-portland-oreg/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/23/on-the-road-with-npr-music-matt-fleeger-at-kmhd-portland-oreg/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Beyond travel, we're also big music fans here at Gadling, largely because music is a great way to get to know a place. This month happens to be Public Radio Music Month and we're teaming up with NPR to bring you exclusive interviews from NPR music specialists around the country. We'll be learning about local music culture and up and coming new regional artists, so be sure to follow along all month.

Portland, Oregon might be known for its indie scene, but as Matt Fleeger shows us, it's also home to a burgeoning jazz scene. As Fleeger points out, when most people think of jazz, they think of a scene that ended in the late 60s. On the contrary, it's a genre that's alive and well, full of fusion acts and creative ensembles. Check out Fleeger's playlist for a good feel of what this city has to offer.

Name: Matt Fleeger

Member station: KMHD Jazz Radio

Regular Show/Contribution Beat: Program Director/Host of "New Jazz For Lunch" M-Thurs 12 (noon) to 1 PM, M-Thurs.

When people think of music in Portland, what do they think of?

A DIY, underground approach to music, independent music. In terms of Jazz, highly creative ensembles and players - people who aren't afraid to think outside the box a bit.

How do you help curate that musical scene?

At KMHD, we try to "hold up" the really creative, interesting, different sounds that are coming out of our city. We partner with the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble, which is an organization is concerned with fostering new Jazz compositions and releases a different CD featuring a Portland band each month. We bring local musicians into the studio every Friday afternoon for live performances direct to air, and we film local bands playing in various spaces throughout the city. My show in particular features all new releases in an attempt to expose our audience to new sounds. Often times, the Jazz audience gets caught up in the thinking that Jazz ended in 1969, but there are many very interesting sounds and directions happening within the scene today.

Continue reading On The Road With NPR Music: Matt Fleeger At KMHD, Portland, Oregon

On The Road With NPR Music: Matt Fleeger At KMHD, Portland, Oregon originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jazzjazz musicJazzMusicmusicNPR musicNprMusicOregonPortlandTue, 23 Apr 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo Of The Day: The Signs Of San Francisco]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/21/photo-of-the-day-the-signs-of-san-francisco/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/21/photo-of-the-day-the-signs-of-san-francisco/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/21/photo-of-the-day-the-signs-of-san-francisco/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Over dinner recently, a fellow Gadling blogger, some other travel lovers and I were discussing the merits of San Francisco. We decided that our favorite part about it was that it just has that special amount of "funk" that is hard to find in other cities. It's hard to describe, but if you have been to San Francisco, you know what I am talking about.

That feeling is perfectly captured in this photo of colorful and slightly seedy signs on a main drag in the city of hills and streetcars. It's busy, and you get the feeling that behind every sign is a story. Makes me want to go and spend a sunny day exploring.

Want your own photo featured on Photo of the Day? Submit it to the Gadling Flickr Pool or on Instagram by mentioning @gadlingtravel and tagging #gadlingtravel.

[Photo credit: pkorsmok]

Photo Of The Day: The Signs Of San Francisco originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CaliforniaphotophotographySan FranciscoSanFranciscosignsstreet signsStreetSignstravel photographyTravelPhotographySun, 21 Apr 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[On The Road With NPR Music: Chris Campbell At WDET, Detroit, Michigan]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/18/on-the-road-with-npr-music-chris-campbell-at-wdet-detroit-mic/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/18/on-the-road-with-npr-music-chris-campbell-at-wdet-detroit-mic/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/18/on-the-road-with-npr-music-chris-campbell-at-wdet-detroit-mic/#comments

Beyond travel, we're also big music fans here at Gadling; largely because music is a great way to get to know a place. This month happens to be Public Radio Music Month and we're teaming up with NPR to bring you exclusive interviews from NPR music specialists around the country. We'll be learning about local music culture and up and coming new regional artists, so be sure to follow along all month.

Today we're checking out the scene in Detroit, and local host Chris Campbell has his finger on the pulse of all that's progressive and underground. His playlist that he made exclusively for Gadling is full of tracks you've probably never heard, but certainly won't be able to stop listening to. If you think Detroit is just a rap scene as depicted in "8 Mile," think again.

Name: Chris Campbell

Member station: 101.9 FM WDET

Regular Show/Contribution Beat - The Progressive Underground w/Chris Campbell


1. When people think of music in Detroit, what do they think of?

Generally speaking, people think of Motown Records, but Detroit also has a vibrant techno/electronic music scene (it's the birthplace of techno music) in addition to a burgeoning progressive hip hop and R&B scene as well. The electronic, future soul and progressive hip hop genres are the scenes that we tend to focus on during our show broadcasts.

2. How do you help curate the Detroit musical scene?

I curate the electronic music scene through artist/DJ spotlights, atmospheric mix segments and artist interviews, which are also posted through various media networks (WDET website, Sound Cloud, etc).

Continue reading On The Road With NPR Music: Chris Campbell At WDET, Detroit, Michigan

On The Road With NPR Music: Chris Campbell At WDET, Detroit, Michigan originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Detroitelectronichip hopHipHopMichiganmusicnpr musicNprMusicprogressiveThu, 18 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free Art: Exploring The Graffiti Of Barcelona]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/18/free-art-exploring-the-graffiti-of-barcelona/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/18/free-art-exploring-the-graffiti-of-barcelona/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/18/free-art-exploring-the-graffiti-of-barcelona/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



You could go to Barcelona and see Sagrada Familia, and the contemporary art museum and all of the Gaudi houses, but if you head to the capital of Catalonia and don't take some time to simply peruse the streets and check out the graffiti, you'll miss out on some of the best art and creative inspiration that the city has to offer.

I, for one, am not usually a fan of graffiti, but done well, it's a form of public art. In fact, graffiti in Barcelona is as ubiquitous as spots to drink an outdoor cortado. Walking one day I noticed a huge art supply store, their main window display a collection of cans of spray paint.

Barcelona graffiti is funky, recognizable and oozing with a creative spirit that you are hard pressed to find anywhere else - well, except maybe Berlin. Make your way down any alleyway and it's almost like you're in a modern art gallery; plus, I don't need to remind you that it's free. Here, art is democratized, and you can see it on almost every street if you just look.

The best time to go graffiti scouting is outside of business hours, when stores have their shutters - common canvases on the Bracelona graffiti scene - pulled down. Granted, not everyone is a fan; a couple of years ago the city cracked down on businesses that were commissioning graffiti artists to paint on their shutters. Eventually, those works were even deemed illegal, and the scene moved to the suburbs. But there's plenty of good graffiti to be found all around, and if you're a fan of the independent art scene, and like a different way to get a feel for a city, plan for an afternoon or two of wandering the streets and seeing what works you can track down.

Gallery: The Graffiti of Barcelona



[Photo Credit: Anna Brones]

Free Art: Exploring The Graffiti Of Barcelona originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artBarcelonabudgetbudget-travelCataloniafreegraffitipublic artPublicArtSpainstreet artStreetArtThu, 18 Apr 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[On The Road With NPR Music: Gwen Thompkins At WWNO, New Orleans, Louisiana]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/16/on-the-road-with-npr-music-gwen-thompkins-at-wwno-new-orleans/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/16/on-the-road-with-npr-music-gwen-thompkins-at-wwno-new-orleans/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/16/on-the-road-with-npr-music-gwen-thompkins-at-wwno-new-orleans/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We love music here at Gadling, and this month is Public Radio Music Month, which is why we're teaming up with NPR to bring you exclusive interviews from NPR music specialists around the country. We'll be learning about local music culture and up and coming new regional artists, so be sure to follow along all month.

Today we're headed to the birthplace of jazz: New Orleans. But New Orleans offers a whole lot more than jazz, and the local scene is one that's well known outside of Louisiana. Thanks to local music host Gwen Thompkins we get the insider scoop on the music of this exciting city, from singer-songwriters to high school brass bands.

Name: Gwen Thompkins

Member station: WWNO, New Orleans

Regular Show/Contribution Beat: Host, Music Inside Out with Gwen Thompkins. NPR contributor.

Continue reading On The Road With NPR Music: Gwen Thompkins At WWNO, New Orleans, Louisiana

On The Road With NPR Music: Gwen Thompkins At WWNO, New Orleans, Louisiana originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluesjazzLouisianamusicNew Orleansnew orleans music sceneNewOrleansNewOrleansMusicSceneNolaNPR musicNprMusicTue, 16 Apr 2013 12:00:00 EST