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[Photo of the Day (9.22.10)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/22/photo-of-the-day-9-22-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/22/photo-of-the-day-9-22-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/22/photo-of-the-day-9-22-10/#commentsFiled under: ,


Swimming in foreign waters means you sometimes run into unexpected friends -- like this starfish that Flickr user nimso334 found in the San Blas Islands off the coast of Panama. The super-sized starfish was found after diving 25 feet down into the crystal clear water and after this photo was snapped, he was returned to the sea floor.

Have any travel photos that make amazing memories? Upload them to our Flickr pool and we just might select one for our Photo of the Day feature

Photo of the Day (9.22.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>panamasan blas islandsSanBlasIslandsstarfishtropicalWed, 22 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago Gourmet festival flavors Chicago this weekend]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/22/chicago-gourmet-festival-flavors-chicago-this-weekend/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/22/chicago-gourmet-festival-flavors-chicago-this-weekend/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/22/chicago-gourmet-festival-flavors-chicago-this-weekend/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In Chicago this weekend with an empty stomach? Then head to the third annual Chicago Gourmet festival. Hosted by "Bon Appétit" magazine, Chicago Gourmet compiles the best and brightest in Chi-town cuisine.

Event presenters include Frontera Grill's Rick Bayless, chocolate guy Jacques Torres and former "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" food guy Ted Allen, who is now something called a "food and wine ambassador" for Robert Mondavi wines. And subjects to be covered included gourmet guacamole, great steak and eggs dishes and fall foods. The fest also features live cooking demonstrations from the likes of Carlos Guytan, or Mexique and Bruce Sherman of North Pond Restaurant.

And on both days, master sommeliers will be on hand for Grand Cru Tasting events. Plus there's a separate "Hamburger Hop" burger showdown scheduled for Friday. Cost for Chicago Gourmet is somewhat steep: $250 for the weekend or $150 for the day (the Grand Cru event and Hamburger Hop are priced separately) -- but foodies will find it worthwhile.

For the full schedule of events and payment details, go to ChicagoGourmet.org.

Chicago Gourmet festival flavors Chicago this weekend originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chicagochicago festivalchicago gourmetChicagoFestivalChicagoGourmetfood festivalFoodFestivalrick baylessRickBaylessWed, 22 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dayzipping Reinvents the Day Trip]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/17/dayzipping-reinvents-the-day-trip/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/17/dayzipping-reinvents-the-day-trip/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/17/dayzipping-reinvents-the-day-trip/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Want to get away but don't have the time or money to go on an extended vacay? Then log on to Dayzipping, a new site dedicated to finding great day-long getaways from anywhere in the world.

The site asks you where you're located (or where you're traveling to), and then offers up a slew of options in the area. Suggestions are sourced and reviewed by members (and membership is free) -- which means that options are well-vetted and tested. A simple search for New York, New York offered a walk through lower Manhattan, a BBQ in Brooklyn, and a slightly-out-of-the-city foray to Theodore Roosevelt's Sagamore Hill Home.

The site also allows users to connect with their friends and share reviews and suggestions within friend networks. As with any user-generated site, the suggestions are only as good as the people using the service. So as Dayzipping continues to grow, expect to see more and more options. It's a great way to rediscover your own town, or get an insider's perspective on a spot you might be visiting.

Dayzipping Reinvents the Day Trip originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>day tripsDayTripsstaycationsFri, 17 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (9.07.10)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/08/photo-of-the-day-9-07-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/08/photo-of-the-day-9-07-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/08/photo-of-the-day-9-07-10/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Shorter days, changing leaves and crisp cold air -- all the hallmarks of a changing season. This photo from Flickr user Bonnie Bowne epitomizes the shift from summer blues and greens to autumn golds.

Have any travel photos that make amazing memories? Upload them to our Flickr pool and we just might select one for our Photo of the Day feature

Photo of the Day (9.07.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autumnseasonsWed, 08 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Slide away at Singapore's airport]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/slide-away-at-singapores-airport/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/slide-away-at-singapores-airport/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/02/slide-away-at-singapores-airport/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Airports are always looking for ways to make their visitor's travel time experience more enjoyable. And travelers to Singapore's Changi Airport now have a new way to pass the time: On a super-long indoor slide.

The Slide in Singapore Airports Terminal 3 is considered the longest slide in Singapore, topping out at 40 feet tall, and reaching speeds of around 19 miles per hour. (Scary!). The airport also contains an outdoor butterfly sanctuary, rooftop swimming pool and spa. Can we move in?

Rides cost a pretty penny -- each swish down the slide is around $11. It may not be as practical as the dental services offered at Sao Paulo -Guarulhos International Airport, or as time-consuming as the free Sony Playstation consoles at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, but we'll take it.

Slide away at Singapore's airport originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Changi airportChangiAirportsingaporeslidesThu, 02 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Photo of the Day (9.1.10)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/photo-of-the-day-9-1-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/photo-of-the-day-9-1-10/http://www.gadling.com/2010/09/01/photo-of-the-day-9-1-10/#commentsFiled under: , ,


You can schedule yourself into oblivion when you travel and tick off every major sightseeing spot in your guide, but sometimes it's the quiet moments that are the most memorable. This tranquil scene of Florence at dusk -- shot by Flickr user Justin Delaney -- reminds me that it's important stop and take a good look around every once in a while. After all, isn't that why we travel, anyway? It's not just about checking tourist spots off a list: It's actually getting a different viewpoint.

Have any travel photos that prompt whimsical musings? Upload them to our Flickr pool and we just might select one for our Photo of the Day feature

Photo of the Day (9.1.10) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>florencephoto of the dayPhotoOfTheDayWed, 01 Sep 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bayless hits O'Hare with two new restaurants]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/26/bayless-hits-ohare-with-two-new-restaurants/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/26/bayless-hits-ohare-with-two-new-restaurants/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/26/bayless-hits-ohare-with-two-new-restaurants/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dining at Chicago's O'Hare airport just got bumped up a notch or two: master Mexican food chef Rick Bayless announced he's opening two new restaurants in Windy City's major airport this fall.

The restaurants will feature Bayless's signature Mexican cuisine, and will be located in terminals 1 and 3 -- not a bad way to kill a an hour or so while on an endless layover.

Bayless owns several restaurants in the Chicago area, including the much-lauded Frontera Grill, Topolobampo and most recently, Xoco, which opened in September 2009 in the city's River North neighborhood. Bayless is a highly respected chef who competed against Bobby Flay on "Iron Chef America" in 2005, and most recently caught national attention when he competed and won Bravo TV's "Top Chef Masters."

[Image credit, Getty Images]

Bayless hits O'Hare with two new restaurants originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>frontera grillFronteraGrillohare airportOhareAirportrick baylessRickBaylessThu, 26 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fed up like Steven Slater? Get a SlipQuit!]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/26/fed-up-like-steven-slater-get-a-slipquit/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/26/fed-up-like-steven-slater-get-a-slipquit/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/26/fed-up-like-steven-slater-get-a-slipquit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The Jet Blue Steven Slater story just won't die -- not if the makers of "SlipQuit" have anything to say about it. The "SlipQuit" is a diabolically hilarious take on Slater's inflatable slide plane escape, and comes complete, says the ad, with "two cans of Blue Sky beer." The ad promises it's great for escaping boring parties and avoiding awkward conversations. We like the sound of that. If only it were real. [via Xeni @boingboing]

Fed up like Steven Slater? Get a SlipQuit! originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jet blueJetBlueslipquitsteven slaterStevenSlaterThu, 26 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Vote: the best bathrooms in America (and Canada)]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/25/vote-the-best-bathrooms-in-america-and-canada/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/25/vote-the-best-bathrooms-in-america-and-canada/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/25/vote-the-best-bathrooms-in-america-and-canada/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Ever popped a squat at a particularly pristine public restroom? You can now vote for it in the "Best Restrooms" competition. Sponsored by restroom supply company Cintas, users submitted their favorite stalls and ten finalists were chosen in both the U.S. and Canada.

Many of these restrooms are nicer than our apartments. The opulent bathrooms at the China Grill at Mandalay Bay Hotel, in Las Vegas, NV, include fountains and individual pods with televisions. The Fountain on Locust, in St. Louis, MO, boasts designer mirrors and hand-painted murals. And the Grand Hotel America, in Salt Lake City, UT, includes bronze and crystal chandeliers, commodes with inlaid African Anegre Wood and hand-painted walls.

Voting is on through August 31 and both the Canadian and U.S. winners will be announced next month.

Vote: the best bathrooms in America (and Canada) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best bathroom contestBestBathroomContestchina grillChinaGrillCintagrand hotel americaGrandHotelAmericamandalay bayMandalayBayWed, 25 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mall of America gets luxury hotel on the Fed's dime]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/20/mall-of-america-gets-luxury-hotel-on-the-feds-dime/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/20/mall-of-america-gets-luxury-hotel-on-the-feds-dime/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/20/mall-of-america-gets-luxury-hotel-on-the-feds-dime/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Good news for mall junkies: Bloomington, Minnesota's vaunted Mall of America will get a luxury hotel in the near future -- thanks in part to federal stimulus funds.

Plans for the hotel have been in the works for several years, but had to be quashed two years ago due to lack of funding, says USA Today.

Now, Hennepin County officials have granted the Bloomington Port Authority the ability to issue $40.3 million in tax-free bonds to help fund the $130 million venture. The hotel is set to be 12 stories, and connected to the MOA via a skyway. And though it's not yet clear who will manage the property, Starwood, Radisson and Marriott are all up for the gig.

The federal stimulus funds were made available to projects that were "significant and shovel ready" and located in economically depressed areas. Proponents of the hotel say it will bring much-needed jobs to the area, and will pay for itself in revenue. But critics argue that building a luxury property probably isn't the best use of federal funds. What do you think, Gadling readers?
[photo by Flickr user cliff1066]

Mall of America gets luxury hotel on the Fed's dime originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hotelsluxuryMallOfAmericamarriottradissonstarwoodFri, 20 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Mexico City a rising tourism star]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/19/report-mexico-city-a-rising-tourism-star/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/19/report-mexico-city-a-rising-tourism-star/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/19/report-mexico-city-a-rising-tourism-star/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The newest list of North and Latin America travel hotspots is in -- and it seems Mexico City tops the charts.

According to the folks over at Cheapflights.com, Mexico City experienced a 58 percent increase in tourists in 2009 over 2008-- making it the fastest-growing travel destination. Other up-and-coming Latin American destinations include
Mariachi capital Guadalajara, Mexico (really?); cheap travel destination San Jose, Costa Rica; and Guatemala City, Guatemala, which filled out the remaining top four spots.

Los Angeles, CA; San Jose, CA; and Syracuse, NY experienced a zero increase in tourist visits, while around 80 cities, including Philadelphia, PA; Atlanta, GA and Washington, D.C., all saw a decrease in visits. The increase in foreign travel and decrease in domestic U.S. vacation getaways could speak to an increase in overall travel spending.

One surprise on the list? Despite a ubiquitous marketing campaign, Las Vegas saw a whopping -19 percent downturn in visitors in 2009. Perhaps what happens in Vegas ... has lost its thrill for travelers.

[Photo by Flickr user gripso_banana_prune ]

Report: Mexico City a rising tourism star originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheapflights.commexico cityMexicoCityThu, 19 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Michigan hotel guests victims of identity theft]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/17/michigan-hotel-guests-victims-of-identity-theft/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/17/michigan-hotel-guests-victims-of-identity-theft/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/17/michigan-hotel-guests-victims-of-identity-theft/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Former guests at a Michigan hotel got a nasty surprise on their credit card statements this month. Around 150 guests at the Doherty Hotel and Convention Center in Clare, Michigan, found fraudulent charges on their credit card statements after staying at the hotel. Victims' average fraudulent charges were around $2,500.

Authorities say they're not sure whether the hotel's system had been hacked or whether the cards were accessed by a criminal employee, but the hotel is cooperating with the investigation. This isn't the first time a hotel has been targeted: LA's Westin Bonaventure and the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas, have both experienced similar crimes.

According to credit experts, hotel guests are at particularly high risk for identity theft, and travelers are encouraged to be extra vigilant when checking credit card statements while traveling and after.

[photo by Flickr user Andres Rueda]

Michigan hotel guests victims of identity theft originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>credit card fraudcredit cardsCreditCardFraudCreditCardsdoherty hotelDohertyHotelmichiganTue, 17 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[No more vacation rentals in San Francisco]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/17/no-more-vacation-rentals-in-san-francisco/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/17/no-more-vacation-rentals-in-san-francisco/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/17/no-more-vacation-rentals-in-san-francisco/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bad news for those of you planning on renting an apartment for your next trip to San Francisco: it's illegal. It seems the city's long forgotten ordinance against residents renting out their apartments to tourists has of late been reinforced. The 1981 ordinance prohibits landlords from renting out to a tenant for a period of less than 30 days.

Why would San Fran care if landlords rent their apartments out as vacation rentals? Well, the city argues, the vacay rental market takes valuable housing off the rental market, making it more difficult for people to find affordable places to live. A recent survey of one of the city's largest vacation rental services found around 500 properties available.

San Francisco's enforcement of the vacation rental policy mirrors a decision earlier this year from New York state governor David Paterson to ban short-term vacation rentals in New York, and could signal the beginning of an anti-vacation rental legislative trend. And that could have a big impact on vacation rental industry companies like HomeAway and VRBO.

Tourists have gravitated to the vacation rental market in recent years in part because it's more economical than staying a hotel: Prices are typically around half as much as hotels -- and with added living amenities like kitchens and living spaces.

[photo by Flickr user permanently scatterbrained]

No more vacation rentals in San Francisco originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>san franciscoSanFranciscoTue, 17 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spirit Airlines uses Steven Slater to sell seats]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/16/spirit-airlines-uses-steven-slater-to-sell-seats/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/16/spirit-airlines-uses-steven-slater-to-sell-seats/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/16/spirit-airlines-uses-steven-slater-to-sell-seats/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Irate JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater has gone from controversial hero to marketing tool, thanks to a new campaign from JetBlue competitors Spirit Airlines. Their new promotion advises, "don't be blue, slide down to low fares with our $35 coupon."

This isn't he first time Spirit's done some cheeky advertising: In 2007 they held a "MILF" sale -- claiming the acronym stood for "Many Islands Low Fares." Sure. And more recently, they attempted to capitalize on the BP oil spill with a campaign encouraging people to "Check out the oil on our beaches." Blech.

While a $35 coupon isn't really enough for us to travel on Spirit Airlines, it could spell good things for Steven Slater. After all, we know that Mr. Slater wants his old job back, but perhaps he should give Spirit a ring.

Spirit Airlines uses Steven Slater to sell seats originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jetbluespirit airlinesSpiritAirlinessteven slaterStevenSlaterMon, 16 Aug 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Blogger Julie Gerstein]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/16/blogger-julie-gerstein/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/16/blogger-julie-gerstein/http://www.gadling.com/2010/08/16/blogger-julie-gerstein/#commentsFiled under:

Where was this photo taken: Condesa neighborhood, Mexico City

Where do you live now: Brooklyn, New York

Scariest airline flown: I'm of the opinion that flying is part of the travel experience -- not just a means to an end. I find flying to be exciting and glamorous and do my best to elevate the experience however I can.

I'm lucky to never have had a truly bad flying experience. That said, my scariest flying experience was the flight I took to sky dive in New Zealand (with fellow Gadling blogger Mike Barish). Nothing is more frightening than taking off in a plane you KNOW you won't be landing in.

How did you get started traveling?
I worked all through college and never had the time or money to travel. When I graduated, a boyfriend and I had lofty plans to head to Cuba via Mexico. But when we got to Mexico we fell in love with the place and couldn't leave.

This was during the historic 2000 Mexican election, and my travel partner and I decided to become international observers during the election. We were stationed in a small Zapatista village for two weeks in the remote mountains of Chiapas. So I went from no travel experience to roughing it pretty hardcore in a short amount of time.

Favorite city/country/place: Mexico City is magical to me. I love its wild energy and gritty charm -- and tacos. But it's really hard to pick just one place. I love the bike culture of Amsterdam, the quiet beauty of Croatia and the maniacal "Blade Runner"-ness of Tokyo.

Most remote corner of the globe visited: I went to Salta region of Argentina, which is the Andean Northwest of the country -- and traveled through the Quebrada de Cafayate. It's so remote that most people don't have cars -- and even the POLICE hitchhike to get in between towns.

Favorite guidebook series: For sheer aspirational living, I love the "Wallpaper" city guides. But for real down and dirty details, I tend to stick with "Lonely Planet."

Favorite foreign dish or restaurant? I love eating. I'm a strict vegetarian -- so eating while traveling can be challenging and sometimes boring, depending where you are (pro tip: Buenos Aires is a terrible place to be veg!)

A surprisingly fun place to eat -- Ljubljana, Slovenia. It continues to emerge as a travel destination -- and that means more and more varieties of ethnic food can be found there. I ate some really good Mexican in Ljubljana.

Favorite travel book
By far, my favorite travel book is Paul Theroux's "Dark Star Safari." It chronicles his overland journeys from Cairo to Capetown over a six month or so period. Theroux heads into deeply uncharted -- and in some cases -- unsafe territory in order to experience the wealth of culture and beauty Africa has to offer.

Traveler's resume -- where have you been? So far, I've been to around twenty countries on four continents. But I'm itching to travel even more. In the 70s, my dad traveled the Hippie Highway across Turkey and down to India through Iraq and Afghanistan. He's gone places most of us couldn't even think of traversing now, and I'd love to someday, somehow follow in his footsteps. Up first though: expanding my traveling repertoire to Africa -- the cave churches of Addis Ababa sound like a must-see and I'm dying to check out Botswana.

Blogger Julie Gerstein originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogger profileBloggerProfilejulie gersteinJulieGersteinMon, 16 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST