#Have something that takes place during the food truck expo :^)

[strebcrarchivess]

🍔 — " Can you please stop talking? I’m trying to read the terms of use. " [ he's only half-joking. ]

"MY GUY, BOTH OF OUR BOSSES JUST FUCKED OFF INTO GOD KNOWS WHERE! I think we have bigger issues to worry about then a stupid terms of use pamphlet!!" Also Cesare had the fucking truck keys, HE WAS THEIR RIDE HOME ON THE ZOMBURGER END OF THINGS!!"

[theliterarywolf]

I smell a story with the ruined trip

I could have sworn I spoke about it on here before... Then again, I do have more followers since then.

Basically it was going to be my second time at Anime Expo. I had been doing everything in my power to convince my mother that I was responsible enough to go on that long of a trip that I was mostly in charge of (she was and still is on the overprotective side). My former acquaintance (I thought she was a friend, turns out... No) was excited to go to and she insisted that she had all her travel plans together and that her parents were going to be able to drive us to the place I had found for us to stay in LA during the trip. 

Everything was fine. 

... Things did not stay fine, though.

However... My acquaintance’s father, around this time, had been diagnosed with cancer and had had some of it removed as well as going through chemo. With this in mind, I asked my friend ‘Do you still want to go on this trip? I can understand if you want to stay home with your parents and your mind may be on what your father is going through.’ 

My acquaintance insisted ‘yeah, it’s fine!’ and her mother even insisted that it would be good for her to go on the trip to get her mind off of things. 

However, it also came up that my acquaintance had had to refund her pass to have some money in the house. But, seeing that she was going through a tough time, I mentioned to her and her mother that maybe I could help out with buying her another pass. My mom gave me hell for this, but I wanted to be a good friend during a trying time. 

So the day of the drive to LA arrives. My mother had also helped me to get a cooler so we could take food and not have to use what little money I had on food. And my acquaintance even said she and her mother would take care of food since they had a Costco membership and stuff (to kind of offset me buying the pass for her). I show up to my acquaintance’s house, get everything settled... 

Brief note: I’m allergic to pork (non-avoidable) and I don’t like peanut butter in ice cream (not a health-issue but just an annoyance). 

My acquaintance had bought a bunch of food with pork in it and had bought ice cream with peanut butter in it.

I was... annoyed, especially since now I had to worry about food on an already tight budget, but my friend was going through something major so I didn’t want to make a thing of it. 

So we drive out to LA, arriving at high noon... on Day 0. Now, surely the internet has been filled with growing accounts of the misery that is Day 0 at Anime Expo. So, seeing how hot it is, I try to say ‘let’s go drop things off at my Uncle-in-Law’s house -- where we were staying. Also, ‘Uncle-in-Law’; his brother in Nigeria married one of my aunts and was such a miserable bastard that no one really cared when he got poisoned and died. Moving on --

But my acquaintance insisted that we should go get our badges right then and there and that her parents could find somewhere to stay while we were in line. 

But, again, this was Day 0 at Anime Expo in Los Angeles. Summer in Los Angeles, hell, in any part of Southern California is HELL. And my acquaintance’s father was going through cancer. But her mom agreed, just to appease her daughter, and we went through the 3-hour long line until we got our badges and called her parents to get us and take us to my Uncle-in-Law’s. Her father was noticeably not doing alright after sitting for hours in the SoCal heat, but my acquaintance and her mother were insisting that everything was fine. 

So we unpacked everything, said goodbye to her parents, and we got settled. Around 9 or 10 (I said we should head to bed earlier so my Uncle-in-Law could drive us to the convention center to get a good spot in line, in addition to having time to get our cosplay ready), my friend gets a call from her mother and then she, in a panic, relays to me that ‘oh, when her father got home he was feeling really winded and weak; and she’s so worried; and she’s not sure if she’s going to be able to sleep’

I was getting uneasy too (though I was thinking ‘this is why you shouldn’t have forced your parents to stay out in the heat for God knows how long), but I did offer: ‘Do you need us to go home? Maybe I could ask my Uncle-in-Law to drive us back tonight since he won’t be available after tomorrow morning’

But she said no... All while constantly stressing out and worrying back and forth about ‘maybe I should go home/no, I want to stay/I should go home/no, I want to have fun’. So that went on all night and then the next morning arrived. We got dressed, were driven to the convention center... And my friend continued on with her back-and-forth worry/ecstatic/worry. Now I was getting annoyed because I had given her an opportunity for us to go home when we had the opportunity to but now we were pretty much stuck and she was starting to cry about how now she wanted to go home to be with her parents. Not to mention the whole ‘I bought two four-day passes and we’re barely only going to be able to stay for one day’, but that was aside from the point. 

... But then she doubles back to her ‘I want to have fun’ state and even insists that we split up since our interests in anime were splintering at that point. So I had gone and actually found some Hetalia fans and cosplayers (I was cosplaying as Russia that year), made con-friends with a chick cosplaying as Cuba, saw a journalist who was bewildered at all the flags and historical uniforms and Soviet Russia cosplayers chanting ‘Soviet Takeover!’

However, after a few hours I had to hunt her down because something had me worried and, lo’ and behold, she had found two of our mutual friends who had decided to swing by the expo and was bemoaning about wanting to go home. So I was getting frustrated but I had to start making calls. Luckily, another one of our friend-of-a-friend’s was in the area and he had a truck and he said he could take us back home in a few hours from then. So, again, more frustration at our trip being cut short but at least I could get her home to her parents. So the final activity I was able to squeeze in was a panel on the history of Prussia being handled by an actual history professor who was so happy that something like Hetalia had come along to get people interested in one of his favorite historical nations to talk about. Even my Cuba-cosplayer friend happened to be in there and had saved me a seat. The panel was really entertaining, really informative... Kind of soured when my acquaintance and two of our mutual friends peeked in and one of them jeered ‘what the fuck, I thought this was supposed to be about anime?!’

So, the panel ended, we swung by the artist alley for a bit so she could get a picture with Vic Mignogna and then we had to go to a Subway to meet up with the mutual friend who was going to give us a ride. 

We had to pay him, too. That was great. So after begging my Uncle-in-Law to come back from his trip early, we got our stuff and drove back home. We dropped my acquaintance off first so she could check in on her father and when I was helping her get her stuff to her door, her mom opened the door and I asked ‘how’s Mr. Acquaintance’s Dad doing? She was really worried about him?’ 

... And her mom just piped up and said ‘Oh, he’s fine. He went to Home Depot a few minutes ago to pick up some tools and stuff. He’ll be back in a bit. Wait, did you drive all the way back here? Why didn’t you just call?’ 

So. Yeah. That was my last trip to AX: a clusterfuck of unneeded anxiety and wasted money and a bunch of ‘I told you not to go on this trip with that girl’ from my mother. 

But, it needs to be said and acknowledged, that I gave my acquaintance SO! MANY! OUTS! But, nope! She just decided to stress me out instead on top of everything else! 

So, yes, that was the story of my ruined trip.

[mechamark]

S1E2 “End of an Era”

I’ve always liked being a storyteller. Being raised by my father (a performer by trade) and my mother (her nature to beautifully wax poetic) it feels like one quality that I was destined to inherit. All of this exposition to say: I enjoy writing and talking about life experiences. 

I decided to frame this blog in the form of “episodes”, because the medium of choice for my story would of course be some anime trash. Everyone’s life is full of amazing experiences, no matter how mundane or routine they seem. Some times a lot happens at once and it doesn’t fully register. This week was one of those.

It started with my friend Kevin coming down to visit. 

This is Kevin.

Our friendship is a funny one. It started with us both working part time in the sub shop at Wegmans. I usually manned the counter while he would be hanging out with our friends in the pizza department in the dish room  doing dishes. His number was in my phone as “Fuckin Kevin”. 

You know what? This could turn into a long digression. The story of how we actually became friends is spread over the course of a few years and deserves a bit more justice than trying to condense it into one or two paragraphs. Kevin is a great friend; one of my best. 

Groomsman Kevin. 

Back to the plot: Yuka and I picked Kevin up at the airport. He came down to visit one more time before we move to Japan. Along with binge watching all the fun video games coming out of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, he came to help us pack up some things to bring back to Syracuse and make the journey back together. 

However, the day that he arrived was also a special day. It was Yuka’s 28th birthday. Even though we couldn’t put together any big, she had one dinner request from me; my (mother’s) chicken stir fry with rice.

There’s few things I love more than this combination of citrus, chicken, vegetables, and rice.

So for the last time in our first home, we had birthday dinner together. It was delicious. 

It was a nice night. The kind of nights that we have grown accustomed to. Good food, some wine, and anime on the TV.

The next two days at work felt pretty normal, which is weird as they were my last. Since I was 19, I had worked at Wegmans in various departments and stores. Once we had our plane tickets bought for Japan, I knew I needed to step down from being a Team Leader so I could have more stable hours and focus on language school.

And so, in 2018, I finished out my career the way it began; Helping Hands.

As a side note, there was something wonderfully cathartic about getting to ride out my time pushing carts along side the Helping Hands guys. Averaging in age around 19, they are a great group of kids that graciously humored my undercover teen ass. 

During those final two days, I kept getting asked various forms of “How does it feel to leave?”. The honest truth is it still hasn’t hit me yet. I’ve never done something so consistently for so long. To have a routine for that amount of time suddenly end is not something I know how to process. 

The only thing I know is that I love and miss a lot of people, and I fear it won’t fully hit me until i’m across the world and it’s 3am for them. I sometimes joke that the way I react to things is because “my brain is broken”. I’m not exactly sure how accurate that joke is, but it feels to get the point across most easily.

Today was my first day of not being a Wegmans employee since 2009 and it felt like any other day off.

Except, ya know, for the whole moving truck in our parking lot thing.

Between packing and moving things, Kevin did his thing. His thing is always good.

Our room is packed. Our furniture is almost all gone. There are two TVs next to each other so we can have beautiful Splatoon 2 matches. One of those things is normal.

Even though tomorrow kick starts a two week blitz of traveling to visit friends and family, we still need some normal. Four weeks from today we will be on a plane. Our time in Alexandria. The place where we got married, adopted two cats, and built a life. 

That time may almost be up, but there’s still a few episodes left until the season finale. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next Time! The place where I was born and raised. The city where I met my wife. Where it all began. We take our final drive up from Alexandria. Onward to Syracuse.

[techcrunchappcom]

New Post has been published on https://techcrunchapp.com/an-austin-trip-for-sxsw-ll/

An Austin trip for SXSW (LL)

Austin’s SXSW, aka South By Southwest, should be experienced at least once. During this nine-day event, art meets cutting-edge technology, with lots of entertainment in between.

This culmination of creativity is what you make it, though a little planning can go a long way. Don’t get me wrong, though; there’s something magical about planting yourself in the midst of some of the best talents on the planet and just seeing what happens.

Lodging

Long before you set foot in Austin for SXSW, lodging should be secured. Unless you’re looking to camp out a few miles away in your (rental?) car, it’s best to lock something down months ahead of time. 

The fest works with various Austin hotels to provide rooms and slightly friendlier rates for attendees. To take advantage of these room blocks, get your fest access badge in order. Once your pass details are squared away on the SXSW site, you can use your registration number to nab a South By hotel room.

Austin vacation rentals are also excellent SXSW lodging options. You’ll have a ton of flexibility when it comes to the experience. Traditional stays range from shared rooms to sprawling private residences. Looking for more than just a place to leave your bags? Post up in a treehouse, tiny house, or tent.

Accessing the Fest

Alright. None of the other SXSW trip details matter if you don’t have your access pass figured out. This multifaceted fest spans tons of themes and scenes, and passes are required to attend most of the features. 

Platinum badges are the most versatile and offer access to most of the SXSW programming. The VIP-style SX Xpress Pass fast tracks its carriers to priority status at some events. Category-specific badges like music and film are available for attendees focused on specific aspects of the fest. Not sure which badge is for you? The SXSW badge quiz helped me hone in on my access needs. Bottom line: all badge levels get access to the taco meetups.

South By can also be experienced on a budget. A very minimal budget, at that. Tons of free events are held throughout the festival; some are offered by SXSW, and others are pop-ups on the streets surrounding the main events. Riding the free-entertainment train is definitely an option, so don’t let limited funds hold you back from experiencing SXSW.

Food and Drink

micheile henderson 7NFwwp vZk8 unsplash

You won’t go hungry during SXSW. Food and drink booths flood the area, and you can easily fill a day (and your stomach several times) sampling the offerings. Badges are beneficial for this aspect – some of SXSW’s best food spots require them. Lots of the food spreads are free, though portions tend to be small.

And, while in Austin for SXSW, you’ve got to try some food truck cuisine. Most can be found within a one-mile radius of the Austin Convention Center; these mobile meal stations are the perfect way to refuel while hopping between conferences and expos. Selections span all meals of the day, from donuts and breakfast burritos to Texas barbecue and sandwich fusions. And lots of tacos. Austin really has a strong taco game.

Austin’s bar scene is not to be taken lightly, especially during SXSW. Hit Maggie Mae’s on E. 6th Street for live music and gourmet pub fare…if you can snag a spot. No worries if you can’t, though. Austin’s East 6th Street is home to tons of bustling bars, so keep walking and you’ll find something.

If you’d rather seek out a low-key spot to relax and plot your next move, you can branch out beyond the SXSW action. Cozy wine bars and pubs with patios can be found a few miles from the downtown area. Just don’t tell anyone where you’re going…

Tips

Expect lines.

Long lines are guaranteed at SXSW. Accept it and plan accordingly. Meet fellow line-waiters, scan schedules, or stare at your phone; it is what it is, and you might just enjoy it.

Pack like you’re going to a remote island.

Even though you’ll be immersed in oceans of people, access to resources can be scarce. Weather can be unpredictable, and electricity might be hard to find. Extra batteries, sunscreen, and raingear have come in handy in the past. I can’t stress enough the importance of wearing footwear that you love (and not in a “these are super stylish and match my outfit” kind of way). Came a little too prepared? Austin luggage storage is a handy way to lighten the day-to-day load while having easy access to your gear.

Check out some of Austin’s best attractions.

Sure, the space booths and start-up presentations are intriguing, and the films are fantastic…but there’s more to Austin than SXSW. The SoCo District’s home to boutique shops and is a perfect place to experience some of Austin’s quirky culture. The Moody Theater usually has some excellent programming on the calendar. If you want a good outdoor show, head for the Congress Avenue Bridge at sunset, and you can see thousands of bats embarking on their nightly bug hunt. Seriously. This city has everything.

[tripxtours]

Dubai Food Festival 2020: What are the top things to do?

Have you already made plans for February and March? Is a trip to Dubai on the cards? If not, it definitely should be. If you are wondering why we will tell you. The biggest culinary extravaganza the Dubai Food Festival 2020 is on! If you love all things food, this event is a must-attend for you! It celebrates food like nothing else.

Food Festival in Dubai is a huge event that brings people together. You will find everyone from a foodie looking to try something new, the popular chefs, the traditional restaurants, the five-star hotels, and the celebrities come together to eat, party and chill. Along with the Dubai Food Festival, you can also visit the major attractions in Dubai for a wholesome experience!

What is the Dubai Food Festival 2020 all about?

The Dubai Food Festival is a yearly event organized by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE). It is a small part of a bigger strategy to organize year-long events boost tourism in the emirate. Food Festival 2020 is one of the most awaited events in this year. In 2020, the event includes gaming zones, live events and more to keep you enthralled!

Last year the event was a huge hit, with 40 of Dubai’s hidden gems came out shining and the famous restaurants offered people samples of their delectable dishes. Here is a list of the events that you can attend during the 17 days of the food festival in Dubai!

Where to visit during the Dubai Food Festival 2020?

Beach Canteen

One of the hottest attractions of the Food Festival makes a comeback this year. The Beach Canteen transforms a portion of the beach to a culinary paradise for DFF 2020.

A large part of the crowd at the Beach Canteen comprises of tourists. Last year’s event had witnessed a turnout of 156000 people and about 175000 people are expected to become a part of it. The Canteen will be returning this year at Sunset Beach for one of the most anticipated events at this year's food festival.

The Beach Canteen also has a club exclusively for the kids. Your kids can also sign up for some exciting culinary classes. This will keep them busy while you explore and taste some more dishes.Miami Vibes makes a comeback!

Whether you want to try the homegrown concepts of food or try eateries from different parts of Dubai, the Dubai Food Festival satisfies every taste and budget easily.

Entertainment, Fun & Games

Sunset Beach will transform into an incredible and gleaming hotspot for dining, entertainment and chilling. You can experience some mind-blowing beachside activities, watersports, entertainment, culinary experiences, farmer's market and open mike nights! A beach cinema under the starry ceiling is another incredible experience and all this while you will smell the heavenly fragrance of the food around you!Kids Club

Considered to be the most instagrammable in the DFF, the Miami Vibes makes a comeback at the City Walk. Starting from the neon sign at the entrance to the huge ice- cream cone, almost everything at this pop-up event is worth clicking. The food is also perfect for the ‘gram with creatively presented shakes and rainbow cheese toasties being a part of the menu. It gives you all the Miami feels that you need in Dubai!

The Miami-themed food festival is open every day until March 1st. You can find Miami Vibes in City Walk 2 in the Green Planet parking area. With the cute food trucks and pink benches, the festival is impossible to miss!

Location: City Walk 2, Downtown Dubai

Timings: 03:00 pm to 12:00 am (Saturday to Wednesday), 03:00 pm to 01:00 am (Thursday and Friday)

Dubai Restaurant Week

This event takes place from 24th February to 4th March. In this event, you can taste a three-course meal at 15 places around the city for as little as 199AED per person. You can become a part of this event at Social by Heinz Beck and Rhodes W1 and Marina Social.

Dine and Win

Dine and Win is the event that takes place in over 1000 restaurants during the Dubai Food Festival. Each person who spends more than 30 AED to enter the competition. The winner of the contest gets a new apartment. Also, there are many goodies to win on the spot as well. Exciting… right?

Unlimited Food Competitions

Can you devour 10 chicken wings in one sitting? Or finish a whole bucket of crisps in 15 minutes? We are imagining what kind of competitions can there be! These types of competitions take place throughout the city. You can win some amazing prizes and also dining at popular restaurants as the prize. So, put your competition shoes on and go out there and enjoy yourself with your friends!

Cookery Lessons

Do you want to learn some cool tips from Internationally celebrated chefs? You can do that at the Islami Masterclasses, where you will get to know some amazing cooking tips from celebrity chefs. Additionally, you can meet famous local food bloggers, local chefs and noteworthy people at this event behind Sunset Beach.

Hidden Gems

This event celebrates the city's restaurants that are hiding away and are still to be discovered by the public. It is your chance to explore the restaurants in the backstreets of the city. You can try some amazing dishes without emptying your pockets and the serving size is also great! Last year, 40 of the city's undiscovered culinary possessions competed to earn a spot on the list of Top 10 Hidden Gems of Dubai.

At the DFF 2020, everything is on offer and at great prices! From the five-star restaurants to street food; the less pricey cafes to popular eateries, everything is available at the best price. The festival celebrates the evolving Middle Eastern food concepts and also embraces the diversity in the culinary scene of the city. The event also encourages the emergence of independent restaurants across the city and initiating new concepts for the food. It is a truly unifying factor for the culinary community in Dubai and it also promotes the traditional cuisine of the city. Do not miss out on the Food Festival in Dubai this year!

What are the Dubai Food Festival 2020 dates?

This year the best food festival in Dubai promises to be bigger than ever before. The festival will run for 17 days and each day you can enjoy a new culinary experience!

Dubai Food Festival 2020 Dates: February 26th to 14th March

What is the Dubai Food Festival 2020 location?

The Dubai Food Festival 2020 location is not a fixed venue. It is going to take place in different locations across the city. So, keep your schedule free to go around the city to enjoy the tempting offers and become a part of the events happening at the restaurants.

To know the top things to do in February in Dubai, read our blog! Expo 2020 Dubai is just a few months away, get all the information about Dubai Expo 2020 here! We also have the top events in Dubai listed out for you, check them out to see what's happening around Dubai!

[weshipyourride]

Looking Back at 2019: Our Favorite Moments

As the calendar year draws to a close and we give the BikeFlights.com vans' engines a few moments to cool, we're taking the time to reflect on some of our Outreach Team's highlights from the road. So grab a hot beverage of choice and join our West Coast, Mountain States and East Coast marketing managers around our proverbial campfire as each shares his favorite events of 2019.

Colin Blanchard, West Coast Marketing Manager

West Coast by Colin Blanchard

The Sea Otter Cycling Classic

Early in the season nothing beats the Sea Otter Cycling Classic. Getting to see so many people stoked on bikes after a long winter is a blessing. The weather in Monterey, California was amazing this year. Riding in short sleeves and shorts was something that I had been missing. 

This year was a mix of work and play. We had just rolled out our partnership with UPS, which meant that a lot of people came by to talk about the change.

The Sturdy Dirty Enduro

A new event for BikeFlights.com this year was The Sturdy Dirty in Issaquah, Washington which is a women’s specific enduro race.

This event stands out for me because of how amazing the people at the event are, along with the riding. Having lived in Washington previously, going there feels like home and the trails, albeit hard, are always welcoming.

They also had some of the best snacks on course!

North American Handmade Bicycle Show

With frequent travels from east to west, I end up driving though Sacramento, California quite often. Getting to know the small bike companies in that town has been such a joy. That friendship was made even better considering the North American Handmade Bicycle Show happened there. 

Considering BikeFlights.com works with so many small builders, we have gotten to know them personally very well over the years. Getting to see them all in one place doesn’t happen enough. Friends from Squid Bikes hosted some great pick-up races, which made the event even better.

The Downieville Classic

Downieville, California is one of my favorite places in the world. The mixture of the small town and epic riding is hard to match. BikeFlights.com has been working with the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, who hosts the Downieville Classic, for the past two years.

So many riders travel from all over the country to race down these amazing trails, though I find the best part is hanging out with friends on rides. May it be taking a dip to cool off or sessioning some of the harder parts of their trails.

Single Speed Cyclocross Worlds

Similar to the Sea Otter Classic, getting away from the colder temperatures is always a joy. Which is one of the many reasons I loved going to the Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships in Saint George, Utah.

Though I do not own a cyclocross bike, that didn’t stop me from racing on my single speed dirt jumper. It wasn’t ideal for some of the course but it certainly made other parts more fun.

This year has been an amazing year of meeting new riders all across the West. I can’t wait to see what will happen next year!

Some photos provided by The Radavist and Angel Perez.

Michael Potter, Mountain Region Marketing Manager

Mountain Region by Michael Potter

Land Run 100

District Bicycles Owner and Land Run 100 Co-Promoter, Bobby Wintle puts on one hell of an event in Stillwater, Oklahoma. A two-day party of inclusion, motivation and celebration of all people. Before the ride, a block party is hosted leading into the event that features music, beer and an atmosphere unlike any other event I’ve attended this year.

If Land Run is not on your list - you’re missing out. This event guarantees a good day on the bike, regardless of weather. It is all worth it for that “welcome back hug.”

Leadville 100

The highest event on our calendar, this ride starts at over 10,000 feet of elevation in Leadville, Colorado. If the elevation doesn’t take your breath away, the views will. Considering this was my first endurance mountain bike race, I felt nervous going into the ride, but left with excitement for more.

The infamous belt buckle is the coveted prize for not only completing the course, but also meeting time goals. I rode away with the “big buckle!”

SBT GRVL

A first year event usually brings some uneasy feelings, considering the unknowns of the weekend. SBT GRVL in Steamboat Springs, Colorado clearly considered those unknowns and crushed the route, communication, amenities and execution.

This event has proved themselves already, but we have no doubt that their team has a few ideas up their sleeves to out-do their inaugural event. I look forward to challenging myself in Steamboat again in 2020.

Dirty Kanza

My experience at Dirty Kanza in Emporia, Kansas was rocky to say the least. Multiple flat tires with sidewall tears took me completely out of contention in the 100-mile edition. Though my bad luck here sidetracked my goals, I learned a lot this day.

I learned that the cycling community is generous and thriving. Maxxis provided me two new tires because they wanted to see me finish. They wouldn’t let me quit, and I’m thankful for that. Their tires brought me home, and the second half of my ride was such a great experience.

USAC CX Nationals

Despite Cyclocross Nationals taking place on the west coast in Tacoma, Washington, I was lucky enough to attend and race myself. MFG Cyclocross constructed and performed one of the best cyclocross courses and events I’ve been to in years.

We partied hard and hosted many friends throughout the week. We also enjoyed quality time among our team to bond and prepare for the new year ahead.

2019 was a big year. I attended 23 events in 11 different states while traveling nearly 25,000 miles through an additional seven states. I moved from North Carolina to Colorado and learned the balance of life on the road, maintaining a healthy marriage and found a renewed vigor for riding bikes of all kinds. I am so excited to see what 2020 has ahead.

Vince Camiolo, East Coast Marketing Manager

East Coast by Vince Camiolo

Santos Fat Tire Festival

Being based in the Northeast US, late February is about the time my tolerance for heading out on rides dressed like Randy from “A Christmas Story” reaches an all season low. This year was my third southbound trip to the Santos Fat Tire Festival in Ocala, Florida. The idea of a mountain bike festival in central Florida may evoke some side-eye glances, and for my inaugural Santos in 2017 I was simply excited by the prospect of winter riding bathed in warm sun on bare skin. However, the event itself and the Santos trails made the festival a highlight of my year independent of the escape from Philly winters, and 2019 was no different. The expo and demo-oriented festival is well organized, well attended and maintains a grass-roots feel. The organizers are friendly, helpful and go out of their way to make the vendors feel appreciated. And the food trucks are some of the best I’ve encountered at a cycling event.

The Santos trails, while not at all mountainous, are certainly unique, providing fast flow through dense green forests of sand pine and scrub oak draped in hanging moss. The area even offers the Vortex Freeride Area to ensure all levels and styles of mountain bikers are satisfied.

Dirt Rag Dirt Fest PA

While Santos Fat Tire Festival is technically the first mountain bike festival of the season, the Northeast has to wait a couple more months to officially open their season. And even then, as exemplified by the conditions at Dirt Fest PAs of the past, Pennsylvania weather in mid May can be unpredictable and far from ideal. Although Dirt Fest PA manages to be a great time despite the weather, 2019′s conditions propelled it to an easy choice for this 2019 event highlight list.

The sun stayed out, the sleeves stayed short, the wonderfully flowy Allegrippis trails stayed dry and camaraderie and celebration of mountain biking flourished.

 RAGBRAI

I probably don’t have to explain what the Register’s Annual Great Big Ride Across Iowa is, but it is challenging to convey the impressive scale of the event to someone who hasn’t witnessed it for themselves. Although the official rider number is sub-10,000, more accurate estimates generally hover north of 30,000. Needless to say BikeFlights.com is busy every July getting the bikes of many of those riders to and from the event. As the lone on-the-ground BikeFlights.com representative it’s also needless to say that my days around the start and end of RAGBRAI were also quite busy this year. Opportunities to eat and sleep during those days were at a major premium. But RAGBRAI makes this list for the time between the start and end during which -- in addition to catching up on sleep and resting my feet -- I got to explore opportunities Iowa offers in three of my favorite things: mountain biking, coffee and baseball. And it delivered on all three.

Iowa may not be on anyone’s short list as a premiere mountain biking destination, but the small trail systems maintained by local organizations that dot the state are impressive and a much appreciated reprieve from many hours of windshield time in the BikeFlights.com van.

It was also fun to see how the Iowa host towns embraced RAGBRAI.

JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes La Crosse

Every year the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund puts on at least five fundraising rides across the country. They’ve raised more than $47 million dollars for “research to deliver life-changing therapies and, one day, a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D)” and we’re proud to be an integral partner in helping the ambitious fundraising cyclists get their bikes to and from each event.

The Mississippi River town of La Crosse, Wisconsin is traditionally the host of the first JDRF Ride event of the season. It’s a wonderful opportunity for me to connect in person with the organizers and bike team with whom I work closely all year, and spend some time in a great Midwest river town. Thanks to The Root Note for keeping me fueled with great coffee and vegan crepes on a daily basis!

Philly Bike Expo

Ok, it’s true I’m a born-and-raised-unapologetically-Philly-prideful-never-not-wearing-a-Phillies-hat kind of person, but I swear I’m not unfairly biased in declaring the Philly Bike Expo as one of the best events of the year. The volume and diversity of attendees, ranging from casual commuters to bike messengers to professional racers of all disciplines, makes it a no-brainer for vendors of all types. What really sets it apart, however, is the social dynamic coursing through the veins of the show. The big players are there, but it’s clear the small frame builders and makers run the show. Remember in high school when the punk kids had that party and the jocks finally realized they were cool and asked if they could come? Maybe not. But the Philly Bike Expo is kind of like that.

Philly Bike Expo was also an opportunity to bring star Support Team member and personified sunshine Marci out to meet BikeFlights.com customers old and future (and perform some bubble trumpet).

This year marked my third and, sad to say, final year on the road full-time for BikeFlights.com. It was another great year spreading the good word of BikeFlights.com and working with partner events ensuring their participants can conveniently get their bikes and gear to and from the event. And although I’ll continue with BikeFlights.com in a modified capacity, I’m looking forward to pursuing a dream, along with my wife Natalie, opening a coffee roastery and cafe in Trenton, New Jersey, One Up One Down Coffee. 

[snowfragrance]

California 2017 review part 2

I’m summarizing the stay in downtown LA and Venice Beach/Santa Monica.

Downtown LA

Freehand aka the best hostel ever

We shared a room with two other guys who also went to Anime Expo so that was nice. They were pretty chill.

The Pros:

It’s a hostel so the price is cheaper when compared to the nearby hotels

Located in downtown LA, about a 20 minute walk from the convention center

There are bellhops ready to greet you and help take your bags

Free breakfast (though they had almost the same things for us every morning)

Steady WiFi

Amazing staff (I remembered their names after the first day, they were that amazing)

Very accommodating to requests

Working thermostat

Separate bathroom and shower

Roof top pool and bar

Indoor bar and restaurant

Free gym

Personal storage cubes

 The Cons:

Bunk beds were low. Everyone hit their heads at least once.

The elevators were down a few times. The staff helped drag all our stuff to our rooms on the 8th floor and gave us free drink tokens.

The light in the room was dim but we have our own personal light near our beds

 Free Attractions:

There were lots of gorgeous art murals. There were plenty around Venice Beach too.

Hollywood Sign: We walked through the neighborhood to get to the Hollywood Dog Park for better pictures. Lots of steep inclines and some nice houses. If you want good pics of the sign, go to the dog park and not to the Griffith observatory (which will show up on the gps but is further away).

Hollywood Walk of Fame: Another walk but we didn’t see every star cause that would take forever. I kinda wanted to see Trump’s star to see if it was still there or vandalized but I didn’t care enough to search for it. Really, the stars and sign are just there for pictures...Hollywood itself is very sketch so we didn’t hang around for too long.

Bradbury Building: Location of a couple of movies and TV shows. The inside of the building has some nice intricate iron railings. It looked like it belonged in the movie Inception but it wasn’t filmed there.

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles: not free, $12 admission. Really big and a good way to waste time before our nighttime flight

Food:

Californians like their juicing and organic foods. So healthy! Lots of good food trucks around the convention center.

CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice: Relatively cheap and delicious bubble tea, juices, and teas. There’s one about 5-10 minute away from the convention center.

Bulgogi Hut: We were about 15-20 minutes away from Korean Town so we got to have some all you can eat Korean BBQ. We had BBQ twice but Bulgogi Hut is the best one. Their prices are so cheap for the selection of meats. The side dishes were also good. People line up for hours to dine so go early because they don’t take reservations.

Chocolate Chair:  Went to get the famous Dragon’s Breath for fun. Basically liquid nitrogen over cereal balls. It’s amusing with the smoke coming out your nose. 

Transportation:

We walked and Uber everywhere. But there is also the metro and bus available. We just don’t have the energy to figure out the metro system.

Venice Beach/Santa Monica/Malibu

Venice Beach and Santa Monica was only a couple miles away so we walked back and forth between them. I wanted to go to Malibu to hike to a waterfall but we decided against that and do the state park because it had easier trails. We wanted to do Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. on the Santa Monica Pier but my sister’s BF is deathly allergic to shrimp and they had like 2 options without shrimp. Plus our eating schedules were all over the place so we were never hungry over at the Santa Monica side. 

Venice Beach Hostel

We shared a room with lots of guys. The one from Austria was really friendly. Two girls who looked like they were backpacking talked with us too but then noped out pretty quickly. This one might take the award for worst hostel away from YMCA hostel in Flushing.

The Pros:

It’s a hostel so the price is cheaper when compared to the nearby hotels

Located right by the boardwalk, literally a few minutes away from the ocean

Free ingredients for breakfast but you have to make it yourself

Allowed us to store our luggage after check out and before check in

 The Cons:

Unreliable WiFi

No AC, I had to keep my window open to keep my room from boiling and the noises from the street made sleep impossible

Toilet and shower were in the same room

No elevators, only stairs

They preferred cash and charged extra to use credit card (which they could have told us or have a disclaimer before we arrived)

Gnats everywhere

No food or drinks in rooms…well we brought water to our rooms anyway, everyone was dehydrated from walking everywhere

 Free Attractions:

Venice Beach

Venice Broadwalk

Venice Canals: First time seeing someone removing a coconut lol. Very pretty area with the houses along the canal costing millions.

Muscle Beach: Arnold Schwarzenegger use to work out there

Santa Monica Pier

Malibu Creek State Park: Bring lots of water cause there were no water fountains in the park when the visitor center is closed. Those were located near the parking lot. It’s got a deep rock pond and a lake. Easy hike trails with little shade along the paths. It has the site where M.A.S.H. was filmed if you are able to walk a couple more miles.

 Food:

We ate around the broadwalk and Main Street. Nothing really amazing…lots of the average American food.

Mao’s Kitchen: The only Chinese restaurant around. Food was decent but the décor was interesting. They have some legit communist propaganda hanging on the walls. To think I would find something like this in CA lol.  

 Transportation:

We walked and Uber everywhere. But there is also the metro and bus available.

 So California was fun, I wouldn’t mind visiting another area again. Don’t think I want to spend a night at Venice Beach again but it’s ok to visit during the day. The smell of weed on the boardwalk is disgusting. Venice Beach is sketchy but Santa Monica is so clean despite being so close. 

[quetzalcoatl2k]

So looks like I’ll be going to Anime Expo this weekend. This isn’t my first time going, but I’ve learned a few things over the years that might be helpful for any first-timers out there. This is all based on my personal experience/opinion, but hopefully this can help people in some way: 

It WILL be hot - You’re heading to Southern California during the month of July, so make sure you’re prepared for the heat because it’s unforgiving as heck over here during this time.

Lines, lines, and more lines - Bring a 3ds or something, cause I can almost guarantee you that you’ll be waiting hours on end just for badge pick-up. Of course the heat doesn’t help and you’re sometimes placed directly under the sun for a while, but thankfully the staff passes out free water and you can also find the paleteros (ice cream vendors) coming to the lines to save the day, which brings me to the next tip:

Local street vendors are your best friends - Again, personal opinion but the bacon-wrapped hot dog vendors and paleteros that are found all around the convention are practically a godsend in a place filled with overpriced food with really long waiting times. These guys have managed to save my ass time and time again because instead of wasting around 30 or so minutes waiting in line to buy something from food trucks that are always packed, I can just grab a hot dog and soda from these guys in just a few seconds. It’s because of them that I am able to feed myself quite easily at this convention and that makes them heroes in my eyes.

Cash is king - Yeah, alot of people inside the convention take credit/debit cards, but it’s always a good idea to keep a bunch of physical bills in your wallet because transactions go alot faster that way and you’re also covered for those “cash only” purchases.

[burstspain67-blog]

Q&A 393: How To Increase Testosterone After Exercise, Keto For Athletes, Keto Pancakes, Cream Cheese, CBD Gummies & More!

January 10, 2019, Q&A Episode 393: How To Increase Testosterone After Exercise, Keto For Athletes, Keto Pancakes, Cream Cheese, CBD Gummies & More!

During this podcast intro, Ben mentions Thorne Mediclear, The Fresh-Pressed Olive Oil Club, Elemental Health CBD, BioCBD (code: BEN10 will save you 10%), Thorne Hemp and his new book releasing at DiscoverKi.com.

Have a podcast question for Ben? Click the button at the bottom of the page (or go to SpeakPipe), or use the Contact button in the free Ben Greenfield Fitness app.

Special Announcements [37:34]

This podcast is brought to you by:

–The Butcher Box Skip the store and spend more time on what's important – family. Get your meat delivered, for free, right to your door. Each box, whether it's chosen by you or curated by us, is perfectly packed and portioned for your needs. Get 2 FREE pounds of wild-caught Alaskan salmon.

–Kion Coffee What's better than Kion Coffee? Keeping it piping hot at home, in the office, or on-the-go in a stylish Kion Tumbler!

–Organifi Red Juice. A “Tart-Sweet” Custom Brew With The HOTTEST Fat Melting And “Skin-Firming” Superfoods In The World. Use discount code: GREENFIELD at checkout and get 20% off your entire order.

–Click here to follow Ben on Snapchat , and get ready for some epic stories about his morning, day and evening routine! 

Ben's Adventures: [43:40]

– January 12, 2019: TEDxCoeurdalene, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. I am thrilled to present topics in longevity and biohacking to in an intimate setting to an inspired audience. Join me!

–January 30, 2019: NextHealth FOREFRONT Talk with Ben Greenfield: NextHealth, Century City, CA Westfield Mall 10250 Santa Monica Blvd LA CA 90067 to RSVP and for more information, send an email to [email protected] (And stop by Sunlife Organics, which is right next to NextHealth before the talk and mention Ben's name for a 10% discount on your Billion Dollar Bowl!)

– Jan 20 – 21, 2019: Serious Business Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana. This conference is going invoke thought and insight and expose you to new ideas and thinking on self-development and business in the beauty industry. Register here.

– February 22- 24, 2019: CalJam: The Rebel Yell Tour. California Jam combines a TED talk format with a rock n’ roll show in-between! The driving objective of the event is to get attendees up to date on chiropractic research, scientific studies, and useful practice management strategy. The hope is that attendees bring all they learn at Cal Jam back to their communities to implement real, rippling change. Get your tickets here before the prices go up!

– April 6 – 7, 2019: FitCon Summit, Salt Lake City, Utah. FitCon® encourages everyone to Find Their Fit. It does not matter whether it is powerlifting, Crossfit, bodybuilding, roller derby, or even axe throwing. Be sure to visit the Kion booth in the expo! Register here and use code BEN50 for $50 off!

– April 26 – 28, 2019: Paleo f(x) Conference, Austin, Texas. Join me, staff from my company, Kion, and the rest of your tribe at Paleo f(x)™ 2019, the largest gathering of Paleo / ancestral health / keto / functional medicine / strength & conditioning experts in the world… see everything you'll get out of this enriching, enlightening event. Besides, April is a wonderful time of year to visit Austin, TX….Get your tickets here.

– June 23 – July 7, 2019: European Detox Retreat, Paracelsus al Ronc, Switzerland. At this 2019 liver detox and R&R at the beautiful Swiss Mountain Clinic (formerly Paracelsus al Ronc) in the Italian quarter of Switzerland, you will stay on-site and receive diagnostics and treatments from the best doctors of biological medicine to detox your liver and your soul. Plus you're going to have a wonderful time hiking, sightseeing and enjoying one of the most beautiful places in the world. Here's the link to more info. *this event is sold out, waitlist is available

-View the Official Ben Greenfield Fitness Calendar Here

Giveaways & Goodies

-This week's top iTunes review – gets some BG Fitness swag straight from Ben – click here to leave your review for a chance to win some!

——————————————

Listener Q&A

As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick.

How To Increase Testosterone After Exercise [47:08]

Jim says: You have talked about how testosterone levels can be prolonged if you simply fast after a workout and that they dip if you eat post-workout. I am wondering if eating post-workout just causes a drop in blood testosterone because your insulin takes the testosterone out of the blood and shovels it into the muscle to begin recovery. So I am wondering if eating post workout is actually something we could do to enhance recovery and that blood levels of testosterone are not, in fact, the real desired effect.

How To Fix The School Lunch Program [59:53]

Ben says: I would love to hear your ideas for avoiding the epidemic of poor quality food in our public school system. And also if you have any ideas of how we can affect a change in the system so future children don't have to suffer. My daughter's kindergarten offers hot dogs, nachos, corn dogs and an ice cream truck from Hershey's. I would love you hear your thoughts on combating this issue and getting better vendors into the system.

Prior to asking your question, do a search in the upper right-hand corner of this website for the keywords associated with your question. Many of the questions we receive have already been answered here at Ben Greenfield Fitness!

—————————————————–

Ask Ben a Podcast Question

Get The Low Carb Athlete - 100% Free!Eliminate fatigue and unlock the secrets of low-carb success. 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Source: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/podcast/lifestyle-podcasts/increase-testosterone/

[rolandfontana]

How China Drove Out Mister Softee and Why You Need to Know About It

China Law Professor Donald Clarke sent me a great article this week from New York Magazine, entitled, How China Drove Out Mister Softee. Professor Clarke’s email with the link said the following:

Thought you might like this. Interestingly, it is NOT a story of “guy skirts rules, naively trusts Chinese partner, gets screwed.” It’s “guy does everything absolutely by the book, has reliable Chinese partner who does not screw him, and still gets screwed by changing political atmosphere.” For him to get competition eventually is quite normal, and the competition wasn’t using a trade name similar to his. But the rules were not evenly enforced.

This is the sort of story I both love and hate. I love this sort of story because it is interesting and important but I hate it because I constantly and aggressively stress to my clients the need to follow China’s laws to the letter and with that I ought to be able to tell them that by doing so they will have no problems. I also hate this sort of story because it reveals the cynical truth that the reality is really more the opposite: if you do not follow China’s laws you will have a problem. If you do follow Chinese laws the odds of your having a problem will go way down, but hey, it is no guarantee. Truth is that as a foreign company doing business in China you will be a target and this means you must follow the laws to avoid being an easy and legal target but even if you do follow the rules you are still a target.

Quick aside. Why the Jim Carey clip about “messing with the doo?” Two reasons. One, It’s just a great clip. And two, I love soft-serve ice cream and I have fond memories of eating Mr. Softee ice cream when visiting my grandmother in New Jersey. So I see China’s messing with Mister Softee as the equivalent of “messing with the doo.” But I digress.

So if you read the New York Magazine article, you will learn that Turner Sparks brought New York’s iconic Mister Softee trucks for the first time to China” back in 2007 and eventually built his ice cream empire to ten trucks and 25 employees in Suzhou. You will also learn the following:

Mr. Sparks did local TV and newspaper interviews and was a fixture at school and corporate events, where he and his team doled out waffle-cone soft-serve to thousands. During one corporate party at Bosch, an international electronics company, he sold $9,000 worth of $1 cones in just two hours.

Competition was scarce, because he essentially invented the Suzhou ice-cream-truck market. “All these trucks were just going nuts, doing really well. Huge lines all the time,” he told me. “Everyone knew Mister Softee.”

He planned an ambitious expansion, and lined up investors to back it: He wanted to quintuple his fleet to 50 trucks, add more storefronts, and move into new territory.

More importantly, you will learn how tough it can be to do business in China, because you will learn that instead of expanding his business in China, Mr. Sparks ended up leaving China “with just enough money to reinvent his life as a New York stand-up comic.” and that “what happened to Sparks is an illustration of how the landscape has shifted for foreign businesses in China since current premier Xi Jinping has taken over the country, and the climate has become considerably less hospitable for foreign business — small ones, in particular.”

The article talks about how things began to change for foreign companies in China starting in 1978 and how Sparks was able to build up his ice cream empire:

They created a local supply chain from scratch, finding vendors for cones, straws and soft-serve mix at a Shanghai food-and-drink expo. Using secret blueprints from Mister Softee, the truck was built in Nanjing by a company that makes telecommunications trucks, armored vehicles, and ambulances. Workers were hired from a job fair, with many long-distance drivers jumping on the opportunity to work locally and try something different. To give the soft-serve the same taste as back home, they shipped the milk in from the U.S.

Suzhou officials worked with Sparks to create a new kind of business permit for their ice-cream trucks, called a Qualified Mobile Vendor License. It let them operate the trucks, but only as “delivery vehicles” for two stores. The license also required they have a staffed office and were restricted to operate at certain spots around the city. The solicitousness of Suzhou officials wasn’t unique. All around China, local governments were inviting in foreign businesses, easing the cost of doing business with tax breaks, and giving them friendly government liaisons to help them navigate the labyrinthine bureaucracy.

Then you will learn how the ice cream empire fell apart, for reasons that will likely not be unfamiliar to most foreign companies that operate in China — taxes and thieving employees who then go out and illegally and even violently compete:

The first inclination Sparks got that things were changing was around 2012, when a local official called him into his office and accused Sparks of not paying enough in taxes.

“Immediately, I knew it was a shakedown,” he said. “This guy was an idiot. He was like, ‘There’s money, I need some.’”

Sparks declined the man’s offer and left, but says that meeting was his first experience with the corruption he’d often heard about in China. Soon after, two new drivers alerted Sparks to a longtime scam by his eight other drivers. They were quietly making extra soft-serve sales and pocketing the money for themselves. Because Mister Softee was a cash business, office workers would count drivers’ ice-cream cones at the start and end of their shifts to make sure they weren’t stealing. To circumvent that control, drivers bought their own cones. When Sparks started measuring the ice-cream mix instead, the drivers would buy extra cones and mix, too.

Eventually, he instituted random checks on drivers and fired several on the spot when they were caught with more mix in their trucks than they had at the start of the day. Soon after, his tires outside his apartment were slashed. Then a fired driver showed up at Mister Softee’s office and threatened to kill the workers there.

Things got more bizarre. In early 2013, just a few weeks after they were fired, Sparks’s former drivers resurfaced with their own unlicensed ice-cream trucks, with knockoff names including Baby Bear, Snow Princess, and Mr. Big. These drivers would park along Mister Softee trucks’ routes to poach customers. Plus, they didn’t have the special city license, which allowed them to operate without having to open storefronts or an office, and they could sell wherever they wanted.

Conway was too far away to help out as problems started cascading. Cai, meanwhile, had moved to the suburbs about an hour away and was starting another printed circuit board business, so had no time to lend a hand.

*   *   *   *

Perhaps the slashed tires and death threats were unique to Mister Softee, but local officials’ deciding to yank support was downright typical of the changing times.

For the record, nothing that happened to Mister Softee in Suzhou is “unique.”

The article then goes on to rightly note that foreign companies that bring technology or know-how that China hasn’t developed on its own are still very much welcome in China, but the others not so much. “One in four foreign businesses are scaling back in China or say they plan to, and most say they feel increasingly unwelcome, according to a 2018 survey from the American Chamber of Commerce in China.”

The article extensively quotes Anil Gupta, professor of University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business, “who’s been researching and writing about China for 25 years” and who has this to say:

Gupta added that blatant knockoff enterprises are so common in China that it’s almost a wonder Mister Softee’s easily replicated business wasn’t copied sooner. Plus, local officials and courts are more likely to back the local knockoffs to support Chinese businesses — to hell with the permits.

“With 99 percent confidence, I would say this was destined to happen,” Gupta said of Mister Softee’s fate. “I would say that God couldn’t even save this business.”

What or who exactly killed Mister Softee. China:

After receiving one-year permits for his trucks without fail from 2007 through 2012, Mister Softee’s permits were withheld without explanation and Sparks couldn’t reach government officials for months to clear up the issue. When Sparks finally heard back from government officials in mid-2013, they told him they would figure out a way to regulate the new trucks. Nearly a year later, with Sparks still operating without a new permit, officials proposed holding a lottery to dole out Suzhou permits to Sparks and the knockoff trucks. Around that time, police started ticketing Mister Softee trucks for parking illegally in spots they’d been working for years.

By 2015, it became clear the lottery would never take place and Sparks’s new round of investment crumbled.

“Part of it was a relief, to know it was over,” Sparks told me. “You feel, obviously, helpless.”

Over the next year, he wound down the business, paid his remaining staff and sold off the trucks so some others could spread the gospel of neighborhood soft-serve to nearby cities.

In early 2016 on a Friday, Mister Softee’s tumultuous foray into China quietly ended with Sparks, his lawyer, and accountant filing liquidation papers and figuring out who they still owed money to. Sparks had already sold off the office furniture to his ice-cream cone supplier.

Ignoring for a minute whether any deity could have saved Mister Softee, was there anything it could have done to survive China? Maybe. Were a company like Mister Softee come to me today, I would likely recommend that instead of going into business in China, it seek our a licensee in China for its name and its ice-cream know how and its trucks look and feel. Indeed, my law firm a few years ago did a licensing deal on behalf of a regional American ice cream that has worked out very well for the American company. I constantly find myself trying to steer clients away from what I call “theoretical massive profits” that can allegedly be realized by going into China as a WFOE or a Joint Venture in favor of a licensing or distributing deal. See Forming a China WFOE: Needed or Not. See also my Forbes Magazine on this: Want Your Product In China? Try Using A Local Distributor.

Welcome to China 2018 people.

What are you seeing out there?

UPDATE: Literally minutes after I wrote this I received an email from a China lawyer friend who said I should have talked about how Mister Softee could have prevented “at least some of its problems” by having made its employees sign non-compete agreements. I don’t think those would have worked because China’s courts generally will not enforce those against any but high level employees and I do not think ice cream truck operators would qualify as high level employees. See

How China Drove Out Mister Softee and Why You Need to Know About It syndicated from https://immigrationattorneyto.wordpress.com/

[delenaciamacco]

You will not want to miss these upcoming CENTRAL OHIO EVENTS in SEPTEMBER! 

WCOL Country Jam | September 1, 2018 Legend Valley | 7585 Kindle Rd Thornville, OH 

Come out and listen to some amazing country music from some of your all-time favorite country singers and musicians! Columbus Greek Festival | September 1-3, 2018

The Annunciation  Greek Orthodox Cathedral | 555 North High Street Columbus, OH

An annual tradition in Columbus for more than forty years, Greek Festival has become an end-of-summer staple for many. The cultural festival celebrating all things Greek lasts four days, offering guests a great variety of traditional Greek food, dance by the Greek Festival Folk Dancers, cathedral tours, cooking lessons, musical performances and more.

Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival | September 3, 2018 Northam Park | 2070 Northam Rd Upper Arlington, OH 

The annual Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival in Upper Arlington, Ohio, showcases the finest in one-of-a-kind handmade art across various media of visual art. The one-day event features over 200 local and regional artists, interactive art displays, a diverse lineup of live music, dancing, face painting, jewelry and crafts for the kids.

Marion Popcorn Festival | September 6-8, 2018 Center Street between Campbell Street and State Street | Center St & Prospect St Marion, OH

Your dentist has nightmares about this movie theater favorite, but they’ll just have to suffer as you munch through buckets of buttery goodness. Popping alongside the popcorn is a main stage filled with live entertainment, a refreshing beer garden, a lively downtown parade and a variety of kid-friendly rides and games. It’s the perfect excuse to snack on popcorn without the presence of the silver screen.

Columbus Oktoberfest | September 7-9, 2018 Ohio Expo Center & State Fair | 717 E 17th Ave Columbus, OH 

The tradition of Oktoberfest busted through its German borders like a cultural bulldozer. Oktoberfest celebrations are found over the world, from its homeland in Munich, Germany, to Blumenau, Brazil, and cities all over the United States. Columbus, Ohio, is one of those lucky U.S. cities to boast the Bavarian celebration. Columbus Oktoberfest boasts craft beer, live music, stein hoisting, yodeling and much more.

St. Teresa Latino Festival | September 8, 2018 St. Teresa Catholic Church | 1827 N Limestone St Springfield, OH 

Celebrate and experience Latin culture at the St. Teresa Latino Festival. Enjoy food from Latin American countries, traditional dances, performances, raffles, and arts and crafts vendors of all kinds. There’s something to enjoy for people of all ages, cultures and walks of life.

Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show | September 9, 2018 Makoy Event Center | 5462 Center St Hilliard, OH

Whether you’re braving the bitter cold or soaking in the sun’s rays, the Midwestern climate can’t stop you from admiring local artisanship. The Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show visits numerous cities throughout Ohio to showcase original arts and crafts produced by native Ohioans. Dress according to the season (if you wish) and you’ll stumble upon a masterfully created piece that’ll look magnificent at home.

ReelAbilities Film Festival | September 12, 2018 Gateway Film Center | 1550 N High St Columbus, OH

ReelAbilities Columbus is the ninth segment of the national traveling disabilities film festival. The event features screenings of international films at four different venues throughout Central Ohio. Cultural programming such as an opening night event, talk back  panel discussions and hands-on workshops take place in conjunction with the screenings.

Columbus Caribbean Festival | September 14-16, 2018 Scioto Mile, Downtown Columbus | 233 S Civic Center Dr Columbus, OH

Ohio transforms into a tropical paradise for one day only. Enjoy the positive vibes of the Caribbean  without leaving the comfort of Columbus. Plenty of musical acts will be dishing island tunes while chefs will be dishing island food.

Lost Lands Music Festival | September 14-16, 2018 Legend Valley Concert Venue | 7585 Kindle Rd Thornville, OH

Dr. Ian Malcolm, esteemed mathematician and philosopher, once said, “Life finds a way.” That was before genetically engineered dinosaurs wreaked havoc in Jurassic Park, but they’ve since found a new purpose on Earth: throwing down with thousands of headbangers at Lost Lands, Jeff “Excision” Abel’s prehistoric-themed music festival in Thornville, Ohio. Lost Lands is a  bone-crushing celebration of bass music with a stacked lineup that’s curated by Excision himself. What do dinosaurs have to do with 500,000 watts of bass? Well, this is the closest you’ll ever come to hearing such deafening noise with  out having to time travel to the Mesozoic Era.

Grove City Arts in the Alley | September 15-16, 2018 Historic Grove City Town Center | 3378 Park St Grove City, OH

Once the parade passes through, festivalgoers begin immersing themselves in arts in crafts at Grove City Arts in the Alley. The Grove City, Ohio, art party is a multi-day event, and provides a sea of over 100 exhibitors, which are juried, so you know they’re good. Everything from jewelry and fine art, to photography and pottery are on display. The Arts in the Alley Music and Arts Festival also features food vendors, children’s entertainment and live music.

Body Mind Spirit Celebration | September 15-16, 2018 Ohio Expo Center Cardinal Hall | 717 E 17th Ave Columbus, OH 

Your typical festival exposes you to the exterior of thousands of people, but rarely do you ever connect with them on a more personal level. This holistic celebration features a wealth of metaphysical presentations, holistic healers and psychics with the goal to entertain, inform and help you discover your inner path.

Delaware County Fair |September 15-22, 2018 Delaware County Fairgrounds | 236 Pennsylvania Ave Delaware, OH

Ohio’s Delaware County Fair is an annual four-day event dedicated to agriculture, community and education. The fair offers a wide range of activities suitable for the whole family including prestigious agricultural competitions, demolition derbies and school bus races, parades and live music before culminating in the famous “Little Brown Jug” horse race, one of the most famous harness races in the country.

Ohio Craft Brew Festival | September 2018, Dates Unconfirmed North Market | 59 Spruce Street Columbus, OH

Leave the light lagers for the masses and grab a microbrew with other like-minded hopheads at the annual Ohio Craft Brew Festival in Columbus, Ohio. The three-day suds-soaked event features over 20 of Ohio’s finest craft breweries serving tastings of their their signature brews and latest creations. Other attractions include music spun by DJs, photo booths and a home brew competition.

Night Nation Run | September 2018, Dates Unconfirmed Mapfre Stadium | 1 Black & Gold Blvd Columbus, OH

Scientific studies suggest that running is unbearable without music. You won’t have to tune in to your lungs collapsing because you’ll be listening to frenetic electronic dance music during this 5k run. As you sprint, or dance, maniacally to the finish line, you’ll encounter vibrant lights and lasers along the way to assist the music’s energy. Once you cross that finish line, there’s no need to torture yourself anymore with running; it’s just straight up music from here on out.

New American Festival | September 2018, Dates Unconfirmed North YMCA | 1640 Sandalwood Place Columbus, OH 

Originally a celebration of the Ethiopian community in Columbus, Ohio, the New American Festival has grown to represent the cultural diversity of the area, welcoming guests of Asian, African and Latin American descent. Attendees come together to share their rich cultures and traditions as well as their experiences building a new life in an entirely different country. The festival has become a way for immigrant and refugee residents to preserve their traditional customs and celebrate cultural diversity.

Ohio Bacon Fest | September 2018, Dates Unconfirmed Columbus Commons | 160 S High St Columbus, OH 

At the Ohio Bacon Fest you can savor the flavor of America’s favorite breakfast food. It’s one of the tastiest festivals of the season and is sure to delight bacon lovers of all ages. There’s local food trucks and restaurants serving up some signature bacon dishes, competitions with local celeb judges and of course, a bacon eating contest. If you like your fun wrapped in bacon, this is the fest for you.

[jadorelyon]

It is very often when I i feel so lucky to live in Lyon. The city is beautiful and you can’t argue with that. The people are very nice and kind. And on top of that it’s not a boring place at all.

There is so much to see and do in Lyon. The monuments, the museums, the parks, churches etc. There are also so many big events happening in the city and there are quite a few typical lyonnais activities. There are quite a few I discovered and liked and I would love to share with you. To keep it simple, I have chosen just my top 5 favourite lyonnais festivals but very particular ones. So I hope you appreciate. Here it is my list if top 5 particular festivals in Lyon I like. Do you know and like others?

Lyon Biere Festival – It got so popular that it is impossible for it not to happen very year. Yes. Be sure that the beer festival returns to Lyon each April for a weekend which seems too short for such a success as there are more and more exhibitors and more and more visitors each year. The Lyon Bière Festival is organized by Rue89Lyon, an independent regional information website; Bieronomy.com, online sales site specializing in craft beer and winery in Seynod / Annecy; Le Petit Bulletin, cultural and leisure press group in Lyon, Grenoble and Saint-Étienne. And why is it so popular? Well, have you seen my article about the French little beer obsession here? And why is it in Lyon? Because this beautiful city welcomes brewers from all over the France (including many from Lyon), from Belgium, Germany, even Japan etc and because Lyon is constantly changing its image related to gastronomy, thanks to an exciting food scene. So, the city with its festival make everyone happy because it gives the opportunity to the bigger and smaller breweries to present and sell the beers they make, to all of us to learn something new about the beer via conferences, events and tasting and simply it’s a great opportunity to share the passion for beer with others but mostly the Lyon Biere Festival let us all taste the artisanal beers. And the BONUS here is: you get a FREE unusual beer glass and there are food trucks for the lunch tasty and still healthy option! Can you beat that? When: weekend in April Where: Sucrière, 49 – 50 quai Rambaud – 69002 Lyon 2nd; How Much: 6 Euros

Lyon Biere Festival – free glass

Lyon Biere Festival – free glass and not a free beer

More Beer at the festival

Beer PIP – do you know?

Even more beer

IMG_Never ending story with the beer in France

French love beer!

Not only beer in bottles!

Silver beer stickers so cool

Yummy lunch from Food trucks

So many beers at the Festival in Lyon

The Nuits de Fourvière – oh la la what’s a festival! It’s one of the most popular and beloved by all French really. People from around Lyon come to take part in it. Les Nuits gathers every summer over 130 000 spectators. The average attendance reaches 83% of the full capacity of the theatres. It took me 2 years to go for a concert and I had an amazing, unforgettable experience. Ok, I was scared of the rain because the umbrellas are forbidden but I found a solution and few tips for enjoying the festival here. But what The Nuits de Fourviere festival is? It’s a type of the festival with theater, circus, music, dance, and film shows. It has a long tradition. The festival has been taking place every summer since 1946 in the Théâtre antique de Fourvière, and in the Odéon de Lyon (since 1952) in the 5th arrondissement near the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière. So really in all the best spots in Lyon. Every summer, in June and July, the festival presents about 60 shows. I went there in 2017 to see Vianney and I can’t express how wonderful experience I had. Imagine warm summer night on the hill of Fourviere with the amazing view of the city of lights. Imagine ancient theater and the music you love. And now book your tickets and come to see it and feel it all yourself. When: June/July; Where: in the Théâtre antique de Fourvière, and in the Odéon de Lyon (since 1952) in the 5th arrondissement near the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière; How Much: different, depending on the singer

Jungle Art Urban Festival – thankfully it is not happening only once a year but more often. The first edition of Urban Art Jungle festival by SUPERPOSITION  took place in September 2016. More than two thousand visitors with different profiles from all over Lyon made the trip to this unique location in the 7th arrondissement. It again took me 2 years to take part in such an event but finally in 2018 I visited it to learn more about the lyonnais street art. Because what exactly is the Urban Art Jungle Festival? It is Lyon’s festival which brings together visual artists, musicians, performers and new talents to promote the art to as many people as possible. Interestingly, the Urban Art Jungle Festival is organized by the association Superposition which aims to be a real artistic patron for the local and national artists. It tends to democratize art for all and to promote the urban artists. I’m not the specialist of the street art at all. Of course I like it and admire all the artists and their talents that is why I enjoyed my first time at festival and that’s why I can recommend it and I will come back for more. Why? Because of its beautiful and interesting exhibitions and also because of the unique opportunity to see the real workshops of various artistic practices (graffiti, ceramics, screen printing, etc ..), screenings or conferences, musical evenings, etc and also because of the artistic workshops in which we all (but really mainly kids) could take part. When: different date; Where:  Croiseur; How Much: 5-6 Euro

Perfection!

Creative method 3D

Urban Art Jungle Festival

Real art being created

The equipment

Wow!

Urban Art Jungle Festival Expo

Art everywhere

Not only paintings and posters but also sculptures

Powerful message

Quais du Polar Festival –The best, the biggest festival of crime culture, through literature, but also cinema and music. It’s an international event gathering the crime stories authors from really all over the world. The Quais du Polar festival has become the must-see event for the crime readers in France. Now installed in the French and European cultural landscape, it is recognized by both book and publishing professionals from all countries and by by crime stories readers who now not only come to meet their favourite authors but also take part at the various events proposed by the festival. So imagine: novels, comics, TV series, cinema, round tables, meetings, urban investigation, theater, exhibitions, games around the crime happening at the April festival during 3 days. And the BONUS here is: the unique opportunity to meet the best crime books authors and get their signatures or even a photo with them…And for FREE! When: weekend April; Where: Various places in Lyon and the main one is the Palais du Commerce (stunning building at the Rue de Republique); How Much: FREE to enter but you need to buy a pass of 20 or 30 Euros to take part in conferences

Quais du Polar at the Palais de Commerce in Lyon

Quais du Polar at the Palais de Commerce in Lyon

Quais du Polar at the Palais de Commerce in Lyon

Quais du Polar at the Palais de Commerce in Lyon

Quais du Polar at the Palais de Commerce in Lyon

The Celebrity at Quais du Polar

Quais du Polar at the Palais de Commerce in Lyon

Quais du Polar at the Palais de Commerce in Lyon

Rob Lee

The author at Quais du Polar at the Palais de Commerce in Lyon

Quais du Polar at the Palais de Commerce in Lyon

Lyon BD Festival – This one is so cool as well! You know what BD is, right? Well, I’m ashamed to admit but I didn’t know! BD= Bande Dessinée, so very popular and beloved by French people, comics. And this festival brings together the world of the 9th art around different and original events for a BD! Cinemas, museums, restaurants, welcome comics in all its forms. In a nutshell: 48 hours, more than 200 authors come to meet their audience during dedications, performances, live shows, workshops, masterclasses etc.; through many cool and unusual places of the Presqu’île de Lyon, also worth a visit! The BONUS: throughout the month of June, many museums, cultural institutions, theaters, cafes, cinemas, schools, town halls welcome comics with their expos and events. I attended the festival and I was very impressed. Go and see yourself. It’s worth it! When: weekend in Jun; Where: various places in Lyon (BONUS: some events and expo can be found in the magnificent Hotel de Vill); How Much: 5- 8 Euros

BD Festival

Oh…I came to the end with my selection of the top 5 particular festivals in Lyon I like and I can recommend. Obviously, there are others I know and like and many more which I don’t know. What are your favourite local festivals in which you took part or you would like to? Can you recommend any? Thanks!

Top 5 Particular Festivals in Lyon I like! It is very often when I i feel so lucky to live in Lyon. The city is beautiful…

[dusudaunord]

Things to do in Montréal from May 5 to11

With spring comes new delights in Montréal: step back 50 years in exhibitions about Expo 67, conduct an orchestra of fountains downtown, marvel at a Cirque du Soleil show, new theatre and illuminating visual art, listen to live music of all kinds, and explore the city.

Springtime scenes

It’s time to play in the heart of downtown: hop on a colourful, music-making swing at the 21 Swings installation and conduct your own virtual orchestra connected to a system of high-powered water jets in Maëstro – both outside Place des Arts in the Quartier des Spectacles, part of this year’s Digital Spring art-meets-tech creations. Walk through the Botanical Garden‘s blooming grounds and tropical greenhouse and take a tour with avian experts during Bird Fest at the Biodôme at the Montréal Space for Life. Also fun for kids: solving forensic mysteries at the Montréal Science Centre’s CSI: The Experience in the Old Port. Walk up Saint-Laurent to see bright building-sized murals or take a walk off the beaten path to discover welcoming and wonderful quirky spots in Montréal. Find out more about free things to do this Spring in Montréal and the city’s secret corners in this spring’s Grande Tournée events.

Une publication partagée par Spade & Palacio Tours (@spadeandpalacio) le 20 Sept. 2016 à 8h56 PDT

Food and fashion 

See the city sights and eat well in the process on Montréal’s best food tours. Explore the menus of new Montréal restaurants, relax with a cup of tea at Montréal’s tea houses, try a signature cocktail at one of Montréal’s hidden bars or indulge your sweet tooth at the city’s best candy shops. Whether you’re a committed vegan or simply love a high-quality animal-free meal, read our ultimate guide to vegan eating in Montréal. As the weather warms to al fresco dining temperatures, keep an eye out for Montréal’s food trucks and street food. In fashion, check out the Phi Centre’s Luxury Rubbish art-meets-boutique, and pick up something new and stylish at Puces Pop, a designer craft fair full of Montréal-made art, housewares, clothing, accessories and more, at L’Église Saint-Denis (5075 Rivard) in Mile End, May 5-7.

Expo 67 and beyond

Montréal celebrates the 50th anniversary of Expo 67 with entertaining and history-rich exhibitions: see colourful outfits and products created by Québec designers at the McCord Museum’s Fashioning Expo 67; photographs tell the tale in The Sixties in Montréal: Archives de Montréal at City Hall; marvel (and maybe laugh a little) at the technological innovations of EXPO 67: A World of Dreams at the Stewart Museum and Écho 67 at the nearby Buckminster Fuller designed Biosphère; baby boomer youth culture is a blast in Explosion 67 – Youth and Their World at the Centre d’histoire de Montréal, and it’s all about  ’60s artistic expression in the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts’s Révolution: “You say you want a revolution” and the Musée d’art contemporain’s In Search of Expo 67. Photography exhibition Aime comme Montréal celebrates the city’s diversity in an installation at Place des arts. Old Montréal landmark Notre-Dame Basilica, one the city’s most stunning churches and historical landmarks, lights up with beautiful high-tech spectacle Aura, while the surrounding streets are illuminated by the historic tableaux projections of mobile-app project Cité Memoire.

Une publication partagée par #CINQCENTQUATORZE ® (@jfsavaria) le 28 Avril 2017 à 18h04 PDT

On stage

Incredible acrobats, dancers, parkour experts and motor bike athletes awe in the millennial-era story of Cirque du Soleil’s VOLTA, under the big top in the Old Port of Montréal. A visual and musical spectacle, Russian performance artist Slava Polunin’s Slava’s Snowshow wows at Theâtre St-Denis May 2-14. Inspired by painter Frida Kahlo, Jean Piché and Yan Muckle’s opera Yo soy la desintegración comes to life at Cinquième Salle, May 5-7. In theatre: at Centaur Theatre see Clybourne Park, a neighbourhood drama tracing racial tensions in Chicago, and hilarious and heartwarming Bed & Breakfast; The Segal Centre presents hit musical Million Dollar Quartet, inspired by the true rock ‘n’ roll story of Sam Phillips gathering Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley for an historic recording session; and Aboriginal Spring of Art THREE presents Productions Ondinnok’s dance/theatre performance El buen vestir-Tlakentli May 10–12 at Monument-National. As part of Montréal’s winter-spring dance program: Danse Danse presents Flemish choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s Rain at Place des Arts May 4-6; Agora de la Danse presents free outdoor show 15 X LA NUIT every night at 9 p.m. in Place des Festivals; and Mykalle Bielinski’s immersive multimedia opera Gloria wows at La Chapelle May 2-6.

Une publication partagée par Therese Nguyen (@miss.t.nguyen) le 3 Mai 2017 à 15h50 PDT

Art and film

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts special exhibition CHAGALL: COLOUR AND MUSIC brings vivid colour into your springtime with 340 pieces by the Russian-French artist with musical accompaniment. Over at the Musée d’art contemporain see work by foremost Mexican artist Teresa Margolles and Québec artist Emanuel Licha’s Now Have a Look at This Machine documentary installation, while Galerie de l’UQAM presents Mexican artist Gilberto Esparza’s biotechnical art exhibition Plantas autofotosintéticas. The eclectic and multidisciplinary Festival Accès Asie coincides with Canada’s Asian Heritage Month – this week featuring a recital by Japanese pianist Kimihiro Yasaka on May 6, exhibition Smile of Afghanistan by Iranian photographer Hamed Tabein at the Gesù, the Afghanistan & Culture Shock talk on May 7, and flamenco and Persian Music performance Kimia on May 11. British artist Ed Atkins poses questions on human bodies, digital creation and reality in video exhibition Modern Piano Music at DHC-ART. Never Apart‘s Spring Exhibition features Two-Spirit Sur-Thrivance and the Art of Interrupting Narratives. Pointe-à-Callière archaeology and history museum presents the fascinating Amazonia: The Shaman and the Mind of the Forest. Travel through virtual worlds in films by Felix & Paul Studios at the Phi Centre‘s Virtual Reality Garden and see short films for free in the Not Sure on Talent showcase. Get immersed in new space-exploration double feature KYMA – Power of Waves and Edge of Darkness at the Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, or in electroacoustic A/V performance Électro-Acrylique and the high-tech 360° visuals of Orbits at the Satosphere surround-sound dome May 4-13.

Live music

On Friday night, American country duo Florida Georgia Line whoops it up at the Bell Centre, alt-rock royalty Redd Kross plays Bar Le Ritz P.D.B., Around the World in 80 Raves provides hours of dancing at New City Gas and Kilter and JNTHN STEIN let us dance or happily chill at Newspeak. Saturday brings international entertainment icon Engelbert Humperdinck and his hits to Place des Arts, while the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal presents Organ and Space: Gaze up to the Heavens featuring celestial symphonies by Dvořák and Holst and reflections by astronaut David Saint-Jacques at the Maison symphonique. Also on Saturday night: British shoegaze luminaries Slowdive play L’Olympia, Montréal indie-rockers We Are Munroe kick up a good, loud time at Théâtre Fairmount, and Dutch production duo Bassjackers take over the dance floor at New City Gas. And on Sunday: pop singer-songwriter Jojo with opener Craig Stickland at Théâtre Corona.

Tuesday night comes alive with punk-garage rockers The Black Lips and Surfbort at Le National. Discover the world’s finest young pianists at the Concours musical international de Montréal, in gala concerts May 9-10 at Place des Arts. Beloved weirdo singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mac DeMarco plays May 10-11 at Metropolis. Also on Wednesday: metalcore band I Prevail and Starset at Théâtre Corona, hip hop artist Ab-Soul with British rapper Little Simz and Nick Grant at Théâtre Fairmount, and Bare Noize and Lo Key at Newspeak. Thursday shines with legendary French electronic composer and producer Jean-Michel Jarre at the Bell Centre, The M Machine at Théâtre Fairmount, Hessle Audio Showcase with Heatwave, Ben UFO, Pearson Sound and Pangea at Newspeak, rockers Hollerado and PS I Love You at La Sala Rossa, and the Afro-Caribbean jazz-pop sounds of Prince Ali-X and his Ambassadors at Rialto Hall.

Up next:La Grande Tournée: Experience Montréal like a local

The post Things to do in Montréal from May 5 to11 appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

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[birdyincanada-blog]

Day 43: Downtown Seattle

Entry #41: This day was so packed, it won’t all fit into the title. First I enjoyed a breakfast that didn’t entail the same sh--.. stuff, than the last 6 weeks and then I took the train down pioneer street. The weather was perfect. Blue sky as far as the eye can see. First up: Pioneer street! It’s called Pioneer street because it was the first street with settlers, which later grew to the city it is today.

The buildings are mostly red brick buildings and surrounded by huge skyscrapers. I had been warned not to go here during the night, so this was not the place to be around 1 am - 3am. There were quite a few beggars around. I remember that it was similar in Vancouver around Gastown. But during the day time it seemed completely fine and I enjoyed to have a look around. I even found a Berliner Dönershop, which made me laugh. I also found a small games shop in which I had a nice conversation with a sales guy. He knew his stuff and I bought a small card game that can be played with two players. Good games for two players are rare, especially if you’re not a big fan of chess. Anyway. The downtown area was nice and even had a statue of the most important man: Chief Seattle, after which the town was named after.

Before I went to my next stop, the public market at pike street, I got myself Falafel at a local food truck. Yes!! They exist here as well. The food was good, but not cheap. I wouldn’t spend 9 € on Falafel in Germany, but I’ve noticed that food isn’t cheap in America or Canada. Now, the market:

The market was above as well as under ground and it was also pretty large. The food market was above and merchandise, cloths, etc was below. Since I had just eaten I went under ground right away. I stopped at a souvenir shop and another comic book store. I cannot resist these stores, I don’t even try anymore. There were some very nice postcards of which I picked up 2 and another comic book, called Descender from Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen. Some of the stores were packed with stuff and people and I really liked the market overall.

After I exited the market I went down to the pier where you could already see the ferris wheel of Seattle. I know it from Grey’s anatomy. (I know I watch too many great shows). Now I’m finally here myself.

I treated myself for a ride and snatched some great pictures.

This picture isn’t edited. The light in the glass of the cabin had this cool effect.

The downtown city is really beautiful. I really like Seattle… when it’s not raining like crazy. The city is really green with trees everywhere and its neat little coffe shops. The people are kind as well and that makes always for good travels.

My next stop was the Space Needle. I was really tempted to take a ride up, but since I had already seen the city from the ferris wheel I decided otherwise. The attractions are very nice, but the fees aren’t cheap. So I decided to go to Chihuly Garden and Glass, not because it was any cheaper (it wasn’t), but because I thought it would be something out of the ordinary and so it was.

All of these were made out of glass and there was so much more worth showing. One sculpture more masterful than the other. The whole exhibit consisted of a museum a garden and a glasshouse. Each had certain kinds of artworks and all were absolutely stunning. That coming from me, who is usually over judgmental when it comes to art.

The rest of my time I spent in the Museum of Modern Pop Culture (MoPop). What is that, you might ask and I would describe it as a museum full of things that a teenagers likes. Music, comics, games, Sci-Fi and fantasy shows/movies. Special expos were Nirvana, Star Trek and Jimi Hendrix. The best part was, I could return the next day and finish my stroll, because I came quite late and they closed at 5pm, so I did. But till then I went to my hotel and stopped at the FIRST Amazon Bookstore in the world, which was just across the street from my hotel. I love book stores, did I mention that? Especially, when they sell comics.

It was quite the day and I didn’t go home alone. I left with 4 new friends.

Tomorrow: My trip to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and finishing my trip through MoPop. I’ll read you later.