#best Thai restaurant in Upper East Side

[guilianafms]

            new  york’s  very  own  guiliana  rasananda  was  spotted  on  broadway  street  in  gucci  marmont  logo - embellished  leather  sandals  .  your  resemblance  to  lalisa  manoban  is  unreal  .  according  to  tmz  ,  you  just  had  your  twenty  third  birthday  bash  .  while  living  in  nyc  ,  you’ve  been  labeled  as  being  doctrinaire  ,  but  also  pragmatic  .  i  guess  being  an  aquarius  explains  that .  three  things  that  would  paint  a  better  picture  of  you  would  be  the  lingering  scent  of  her  perfume  after  she’s  long  gone  ,  a  fenty  beauty  gloss  bomb  as  her  staple  to  any  makeup  look  ,  and  the  glitter  of  diamond  encrusted  jewelry  on  tanned  skin  .

            hello  ladies  ,  gents  ,  and  nonbinary  pals  !  my  name’s  jin  and  i’m  super  stoked  to  be  here  !  i’ve  seen  this  group  in  the  tags  over  the  years  ,  and  i  decided  that  it  was  high  time  for  me  to  slide  in  (  and  now  that  my  school’s  closed  ....  indefinitely  ....  i’ve  got  the  time  )  .  giuliana  is  fairly  new  so  i’m  still  working  out  some  kinks  that  may  arise  ,  but  i  have  a  pretty  good  idea  of  the  direction  i  want  her  to  go  in  !  i  can’t  believe  that  this  is  my  first  time  playing  lalisa  in  a  couple  of  years  ,  but  since  the  chance  arose  ,  i  decided  to  take  it  .  i  won’t  chat  too  much  ,  and  i  need  to  make  a  new  d.iscord  since  i  forgot  the  password  to  my  old  one  but  if  anyone  wants  to  plot  ,  feel  free  to  slide  into  my  dms  (  or  i’ll  slide  into  yours  !  )

basic  information  .

FULL  NAME  :  guiliana  kanya  rasananda  .

NICKNAME(S)  :  gigi  ,  lia  ,  liana  ,  ana  .

BIRTHDATE  +  AGE  :  february  12th  +  23  .

ZODIAC  :  aquarius  .

HOMETOWN  :  new  york  ,  ny  .

GENDER  :  cis  female  .

NATIONALITY  :  thai - american  .

ETHNICITY  :  thai  .

HEIGHT  :  5′6″  .

LABEL(S)  :  the  amaranth  ,  the  vixen  ,  the  trust  fund  baby  ,  and  the  princess  .

ROMANTIC  ORIENTATION  :  biromantic  .

SEXUAL  ORIENTATION  :  bisexual  .

LANGUAGE(S)  SPOKEN  :  english  ,  thai  ,  japanese  ,  and  learning  spanish  .

OCCUPATION  :  socialite  ,  ‘  model  ’  ,  and  youtuber  /  social  media  influencer  .

POSITIVES  :  clear - headed  ,  assiduous  ,  self - reliant  ,  pragmatic  ,  and  cosmopolitan  .

NEGATIVES  :  disputatious  ,  exigent  ,  doctrinaire  ,  selfish  ,  and  unscrupulous  .

PLAYLIST  :  roxanne  /  arizona  zervas  ,  bad  guy  /  billie  eilish  ,  body  /  loud  luxury  ft.  brando  ,  nasa  /  ariana  grande  ,  mother’s  daughter  /  miley  cyrus  ,  sway  with  me  /  saweetie  w.  galxara  ,  say  so  /  doja  cat  ,  mad  at  me.  /  kiana  ledé  ,  apeshit  /  the  carters  ,  elastic  /  joey  purp  ,  watermelon  sugar  /  harry  styles  ,  ain’t  my  fault  /  zara  larsson  ,  lemon  /  n.e.r.d.  ft.  rihanna  /  nice  for  what  /  drake  ,  sugar  /  brockhampton  ,  icon  /  jaden  smith  ,  zimzalabim  /  red  velvet  ,  come  thru  /  joji  ,  in  my  head  /  ariana  grande  ,  broke  bitch  /  tiny  meat  gang  ,  honey  /  lay  ,  deserve  /  kris  wu  ft.  travis  scott  .

biography  .

let’s  see  if  we  can  keep  this  short  ,  am  i  right  ladies  ?

ratana  saelim  has  humble  beginnings  in  bangkok  .  her  parents  owned  a  small  restaurant  in  their  neighborhood  ,  and  they  lived  comfortably  ,  but ratana  still  had  to  work  hard  to  ensure  that  she  got  into  college  and  could  stay  in   college  .  she  often  did  her  homework  behind  the  counter  of  the  restaurant  ,  and  eventually  went  on  to  attend  bangkok  university  .

she  met  her  future  husband  at  bangkok  university  ,  a  fellow  student  named  kamnan  rasananda  .  he  was  studying  business  while  she  was  studying  law  .  in  contrast  to  ratana  ,  kamnan  grew  up  in  an  extremely  affluent  home  and  was  set  to  inherit  his  family’s  company  .  he  was  a  year  older  than  ratana  ,  and  the  two  got  married  after  her  graduation  with  her  master’s  degree  .  they  settled  in  bangkok  following  their  wedding  .

the  years  passed  ,  and  the  couple  established  themselves  in  their  respective  fields  .  kamnan  started  his  own  business  in  real  estate  and  construction  ,  so  they  decided  to  expand  out  of  asia  and  into  the  states  .  they  made  their  home  new  york  city  ,  and  settled  easily  into  a  multi - million  dollar  penthouse  on  the  upper  east  side  .  since  they  were  to  focused  on  their  careers  ,  it  wasn’t  until  they  reached  their  mid - thirties  when  they  had  their  first  and  only  child  ,  a  daughter  they  named  guiliana  .

guiliana  was  a  beautiful  little  baby  who  has  an  infectious  personality  while  growing  up  .  ratana  and  kamnan  may  have  been  busy  people  ,  but  they  never  had  an  issue  with  putting  work  on  pause  to  spend  time  with  their  daughter  .  the  couple  supported  their  daughter  in  everything  that  she  did  ,  and  that  even  included  when  she  turned  fourteen  and  decided  that  she  wanted  to  start  doing  youtube  videos  . 

going  through  high  school  ,  guiliana  had  been  a  member  of  the  photography  and  yearbook  clubs  ,  and  this  was  at  the  same  time  that  she  started  to  truly  focus  on  her  channel  .  of  course  ,  her  content  at  the  time  was  quite  cringy  (  shoutout  to  that  one  song  that  everyone  used  in  morning  routines  )  .  as  the  years  passed  ,  she  obtained  the  right  equipment  to  make  her  content  better  .

by  her  senior  year  of  high  school  ,  her  channel  grew  to  massive  numbers  .  she  dropped  the  makeup  videos  since  she  found  that  she  was  more  interested  in  fashion  than  makeup  ,  and  was  comfortable  with  sharing  her  personal  style  .  she  got  a  lot  of  backlash  because  she  grew  up  rich  and  people  often  felt  that  she  was  ‘  flaunting  ’  her  lifestyle  ,  but  really  ,  most  of  her  clothes  from  the  places  that  were  often  the  rage  at  the  time  (  urban  outfitters  ,  brandy  ,  etc  )  with  the  occasional  luxury  piece  like  a  purse  or  something  .

now  ,   she  isn’t  that  active  on  youtube  anymore  since  she’s  grown  into  more  of  a  socialite  ,  but  she’ll  still  do  weekly  vlogs  ,  catching  up  videos  ,  and  her  fashion  videos  .  despite  not  being  that  active  ,  her  channel  is  still  growing  and  has  now  amassed  five  million  subscribers  .

personality  .

guiliana  has  been  a  part  of  youtube  since  she  was  a  fourteen  year  old  ,  so  she’s  been  able  to  start  ignoring  the  haters  !  quite  honestly  has  the  most  idgaf  attitude  towards  people  who  have  anything  to  say  about  her  only  showing  luxury  outfits  and  such  on  her  channel  .  that’s  all  she  knows  since  she  grew  up  in  that  ,  but  quite  frankly  she  doesn’t  care  !

out  of  all  of  her  labels  ,  i’d  say  she  mostly  resonates  with  the  trust  fund  baby  .  outside  of  her  youtube  channel  ,  guiliana  doesn’t  do  much  other  than  spend  money  and  sleep  until  eleven  so  don’t  expect  her  to  be  out  there  making  businesswoman  moves  .

don’t  give  her  a  compliment  because  what’s  the  saying  ...  give  her  an  inch  and  she’ll  take  a  mile  ?  that’s  guiliana  to  a  T  !  she  knows  that  she’s  cute  and  her  parents  have  only  ever  praised  her  ,  so  she’s  got  something  of  an  over  inflated  ego  at  times  .  she  can  go  on  and  on  ,  so  please  tell  her  ass  to  shut  up  if  she  starts  taking  it too  far  !

headcanons  .

a  born  and  bred  new  yorker  ,  guiliana  doesn’t  possess  a  driver’s  license  .  she  gets  driven  around  in  a  bentley  bentayga  and  when  her  driver’s  not  available  ,  she  exclusively  uses  uber  black to  get  around  the  city  .

her  style  is  pretty  similar  to  lisa’s  where  one  day  she’s  exclusively  wearing  streetwear  ,  another  day  she’s  a  bit  more  feminine  ,  and  then  sometimes  she’s  wearing  pieces  straight  off  the  runway  !  when  it  comes  to  her  more  feminine  style  i  think  of  the  youtuber  kerina  wang  .

she’s  most  comfortable  when  she’s  in  her  apartment  .  usually  ,  she’s  only  wearing  a  lingerie  set  (  not  the  entire  thing  )  and  lounging  around  .  she’ll  throw  on  a  robe  or  something  to  answer  the  door  ,  so  just  call  her  ahead  of  time  .

i  can’t  make  up  my  mind  on  how  guiliana  usually  has  her  hair  (  since  lisa  switches  between  long  and  short  )  so  we’ll  just  say  that  she  gets  extensions  a  lot  !  currently  ,  i  love  her  long  brown  hair  so  click  for  reference  here  .

she  has  no  real  plans  for  the  future  ?  she’s  kinda  of  taking  it  day  by  day  and  enjoying  her  twenties  while  she  has  them  .  right  now  her  main  focus  is  her  instagram  and  her  youtube  ,  and  she  has  no  real  aspirations  to  do  anything  outside  of  that  at  the  moment  .

never  leaves  the  house  without  wearing  a  pair  of  heels  ?  even  when  it’s  cold  outside  ,  she’s  wearing  ankle  boots  with  a  heel  or  the  ever  elegant  over - the - knee  boots  .  

her  go - to  drink  from  starbucks  is  a  cold  brew  with  vanilla  sweet  cream  .  she  doesn’t  drink  coffee  with  sugar  .

wanted  connections  .

            i’ll  more  than  likely  end  up  reblogging  things  into  the  tag  i  made  for  these  ,  but  since  there’s  nothing  there  right  now  ,  i’ll  just  list  off  some  specifics  that  i’d  love  to  have  !  if  none  of  these  are  to  your  taste  ,  we  could  always  brainstorm  ,  work  off  chemistry  ,  or  let  me  know  if  there’s  something  that  you  think  guiliana  could  fill  !

i  might  end  up  sending  this  in  to  the  main  ,  but  i’d  love  to  have  the  fiancé  that  she  left  at  the  altar  !  truth  be  told  ,  i  kind  of  feel  as  though  she  may  have  done  it  simply  because  she  finally  realized  that  things  were  moving  too  fast  and  she  kinda  of  needed  to  pump  the  breaks  ?  she  definitely  didn’t  do  it  in  the  best  way  ,  but  it  could  be  an  interesting  relationship  /  dynamic  to  explore  .

she’s  been  in  new  york  since  forever  so  i  just  imagine  there  being  a  slew  of  connections  stemming  from  that  ?  friendships  ,  rivalries  ,  and  romantic  connections  !  idk  why  i  love  them  so  much  ,  but  i’d  really  love  for  her  to  have  an  ex  best  friend  .  we  can  determine  why  their  friendship  ended  ,  but  i  really  love  exploring  the  demise  of  relationships  .

my  brain  is  blanking  so  🤠  .

[lusciousthaifood-blog]

Luscious Thai - The Best Thai Restaurant in Upper East Side

Combining travel with food is an unlimited fun. Many of us love to travel and experience the new tastes. If you are one of those who is travelling to New York City and its Upper East Side and craving to taste the best Thai food, then this write-up is going to help you a lot. In order to find the best Thai restaurant in Upper East Side, you should try Luscious Thai restaurant. It offers a wide-range of scrumptious options to fill off your empty stomach.

https://lusciousthaifood1.blogspot.com/2019/08/luscious-thai-best-thai-restaurant-in.html

[thewandrblog-blog]

My Top 10 Best Places to Eat in NYC

I miss the food in New York City. A lot. It's expensive as hell, but as I continue to travel and discover new places, I still haven't met it's rival. The prices are warranted. So I got to thinking about which places I miss the most and where I would go right now if I could teleport there.

The thing is, there are so many restaurants in the city, with such a high rate of turnover, that you'd never have the opportunity to discover them all even if you went to two or three a day for the rest of your life. You just wouldn't be able to catch up! Discovering the best places to eat here is a true "word-of-mouth" experience. So, allow me to give you a head start...

Without further delay, here are My Top 10 Best Places to Eat in NYC, and why they are my favorite:

 10. Artichoke Pizza

Address: 114 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011 (Chelsea)

I know a few people who would rate this even higher than #10 on their list. It's a New York City Staple. It's not the NYC pizza you're thinking about. The slices are giant, yes, but you won't find another slice like their signature Artichoke version. My friends from Australia were blown away.

It's a favorite late night spot after a show at The Webster or a night out downtown. Take out available (and likely) as seating is limited. You haven't been to NY unless you've tried a slice of Artichoke Pizza. 

 9.  Chelsea Thai

Address: Chelsea Market, 88 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011 (Chelsea)

In the mood for authentic Thai? Look no further than Chelsea Thai, which is located in another place you don't want to miss- Chelsea Market. I'm kind of a Thai food snob, having lived there for several months, and I always look for the homage to Buddha on the wall when I walk into a Thai restaurant, which is a good luck tradition in Thailand.

The staff is very friendly, very talented, and very Thai. They were even happy to make me some off-menu classics. I worked in this building for Major League Baseball for a while, so we got to know each other pretty well. I definitely filled up a loyalty card or two.

 8. La Pulperia

Address: 1626 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028 (Upper East Side)

I discovered this place when I was hired to help out on a commercial film shoot all over the city. This is one of the places the commercial was highlighting in the city, and I soon discovered why. The owner, who I spoke with in length, is a creative Latino whose passion is to put a creative spin on latin american cuisine. Classics from south american countries like Mexico and Argentina are fuzed together with influences from Italy and Spain, and every dish is instagram-worthy. Also noteworthy is their cocktail menu- it's on point. 

 7. Drunken Monkey

Address: 338 E 92nd St, New York, NY 10128 (Upper East Side)

Best Indian Food I've had outside of my Indian friend's mother making it for me in their home, ever. This is not your traditional Indian Food experience, which is often accompanied by buffet-style food and oddly decorated dining rooms.

This is a beautiful hole-in-the-wall restaurant with the perfect low-lit ambience, an extensive bar, and traditional Indian dishes that blow me away every time I eat there. Luckily, I lived walking distance from it! Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. 

 6. Momo Sushi Shack

Address: 43 Bogart St, Brooklyn, NY 11206 (Bushwick)

This place was a favorite of my buddies in Brooklyn, who brought me there 50% of the time we went out to eat. They couldn't get enough of it, and I don't blame them. It's delicious.

Their ramen and sushi dishes always hit the spot and the cheerful chef never failed to impress or come out and say hello and have a chat with us. There's also some pretty amazing sake options there- and I don't even like sake. The lemon one, though- so good. Order it. And the pork belly ramen with the egg if they still have it. Go for lunch, and then go next door for dinner (see #1). 

 5. The Burger Joint

Address: Le Parker Meridien, 119 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019 (Midtown)

You'd never know this place was here unless you were fancy enough to be staying at Le Parker Meridian near Central Park; it's sneakily located in a hidden corner behind one of the customer service desks on the first floor. The only thing that gives it away are the intensely long lines circling out from the entrance.

Luckily, I've never had to wait long because I always tend to go there a little bit earlier than most people tend to be ready for lunch I suppose. I'd recommend you do the same! Be ready to order when you get to the window- shouldn't be hard since the menu is pretty simple (hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and fries), and keep on eye out for the various celebs that have inked their names on the wall amongst the thousands of others.

 4. Russ & Daughters

Address: 127 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002 (Lower East Side)

This Jewish restaurant is still somewhat new (opened in 2014) from a dine-in perspective, but the store has been around for over 100 years now and is a long-standing New York City favorite. The dining experience, which felt like an old-school diner, featured a creative cocktail menu, and traditional Jewish fare with tastebud-tantelizing seafood, cream cheeses, and freshly baked breads. I've traditionally hated bagels with lox and such, but this place changed my perspective. Everything was super fresh. 

 3. Tacombi

Address: 30 W 24th St, New York, NY 10010 (Flatiron)

This traditional Mexican Food joint impressed me. It was huge inside, darkly lit, with a bustling atmosphere of people who already know about how excellent the food and drinks are. As with Thai food, I'm a little hard to impress when it comes to Mexican food, having lived there for over a year, and coming from someone who lives with two Mexican chefs. The tacos are legit and it's a fun please to be with a small group of friends.

You'll get an order sheet similar to one you might get at an asian restaurant to lesson your ordering struggles and expedite delivery. You're going to want seconds, and probably thirds. I wish I knew about this place sooner into my stint in The Big Apple. 

 2. Gennaro

Address: 665 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025 (Upper West Side)

My roommate at the time somehow knew about this unsuspecting Italian restaurant out of the hundreds of them that exist in the city, and even after having visited Italy, I can still say that it's some of the best Italian food I've ever tasted. The pasta is cooked to al-dente perfection, the red sauce is heavenly and succulent, and they have my favorite red wine to accompany it- Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo by the bottle.

I've taken several people to this restaurant, including native New Yorkers, and they're all as impressed as I am. I order the same thing every time because it's so damn good that I can't get enough of it: Rigatoni con Melanzane (rigatoni with eggplant in a red sauce). Me want now.

 1. Roberta's

Address: 261 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206 (Bushwick)

Wow. Wow. Wow! This might be the best restaurant in NYC. It is to me at least! And I think it's my second-favorite in the entire country, only being trumped by Rose's Luxury in Washington, DC. They remind me very much of each other actually, offering outstanding pasta dishes like none you've ever tasted, and creative pizzas whose ingredients are masterfully paired.

This is my favorite pizza in the world, and I'm from the Connecticut which is apparently home to the best pizza there is (sorry, Pepe's). The wine list is extensive as well, and a wonderful accompaniment to their food menu. A word of advice- just like Rose's, they do not take regular reservations unless you're coming with 10-16 people, so get there early to put your name on the rotating list. 

I hope you have the opportunity to try at least one of these places; I'd recommend trying them all while you're alive and capable! Share the love, and tell me about your favorites below! Now that I'm about ready to pass out from hunger, I'm going to go look for something decent in my new home of Fort Collins, CO. Boy do they have some catching up to do...

[thotyssey]

tHOTlist 2017 # 100 - 51

100)  Marty Thomas

Famous Broadway wig and hair stylist Marty Thomas maintains his super-popular weekly revue DIVA at Industry, where he and a cast of female singers and special guests cover the best in pop and showtunes. This year he also started hosting an open mic night at Rise Bar, and he continues to do it all despite a debilitating leg injury he received this year.

 99)  DJ Amber Valentine    

Whether she’s spinning for the ladies at her weekly party “Misster” at Brooklyn’s The Woods or at Henrietta Hudson in the West Village, or she’s dropping the beats for mixed crowds like in Deryck Todd’s STRUT, this veteran DJ brings a downtown chic wherever she goes.

98)  Alotta McGriddles

One of Brooklyn’s most outspoken queens is also one of the borough’s busiest. With her Alotta Stuff hand-picked vintage collection she sells from her home bar Metropolitan, her loooong-running monthly Alotta Stuff Auction she co-hosts with Thorgy Thor or Acid Betty, her weekly trivia night at Metropolitan, her monthly charity show for Gays Against Guns in the West Village’s Rockbar and her new monthly pairing with Ari Kiki at Phoenix, there are a lot of places to catch this larger-than-life, unfiltered fashionista.

97)  Nowhere Bar

The East Village’s friendly neighborhood bar for smart people, featuring rotating and pop-up events both fabulous and kinky, weekly gogo boys cut from a manlier mold, and an eclectic roster of DJs. One highlight: DJ Sean McMahill’s monthly “Fire in the Hole” ginger worshipfest.

96)  Boudoir LeFleur

It’s rare that a virtually unknown young drag queen wins a coveted summer residency at Fire Island’s Cherry’s on the Bay, and then goes on to win Miss Cherry’s 2017 after that, but… hello, Boudoir! She owes a lot of that to luck and timing, but no one can deny that her combination of Vaudeville Jezebel fashions and gypsy magic stage presence bring something very unique and fresh to the Dragisphere. See her Mondays at Icon, and check out her occasional pairing with Kimmi Moore as killer drag duo The Assassins… actual sparks fly!

95)  DJ Scotty Rox

A favorite drag show DJ with a decade-plus career in the biz (GLAM-nominated again this year), you can also find him spinning a few dance parties these days at venues like the Ritz, Atlas and Alibi uptown.

94)  Ritzy Bitz

After winning both Miss West End in 2016 and Cunt of the Year at the last SLAM Awards, it was becoming obvious that Little Miss Bitz was about to Arrive. Now with a long-running brunch show at La Pulperia and another solo show at Vodka Soda / Bottoms Up (both in HK), a stint with Shequida this past summer at the Pines, and a new role in the “Bad Bitch Review” ensemble at Rebar, NY’s most athletic queen has officially leapt to stardom.

93)  Boy Radio

The Deep End bartender is an accomplished musician who’s music is even more sexy, stylish and soulful than his personage. Check his YouTube for a pretty solid offering of tracks and videos he dropped this year.

92)  Kareem McJagger

Whether he’s performing an original song parody in full on drag at Boots & Saddle’s GLOW Saturdays, pouring you a drink at The Cock’s Playpen Mondays while nearly naked, or doing any number of amazing things somehwere in between, this performer embodies the cool of NYC nightlife. And now you can see him “werk” on his new monthly party at Rebar, Flash (Me) Fridays.

91)  Get Out Magazine

The last “rag” (that’s a term of endearment) on the rack in every gay bar in the city, there are inevitable rumors that in the Age of Screens, editor Mike Todd’s Get Out is about to live up to its namesake. Let’s hope that’s not true. Blogs and apps are great, but absolutely nothing compares to the beauty and solidity of a printed, bound magazine, with beautiful sexy pictures you can touch. As for nightlife subjects themselves, of course they’d rather see their pics and interviews in print then on a screen. Who wouldn’t? The GLAMS voters, at least, have given special props to the staff of Get Out this year: Eileen Shapiro, their spirited on-the-spot interviewer, got her very first Best Writer nom, as did a more recent staff edition, the always-nearly-naked columnist Ian-Michael Bergeron. 

90)  Amber Martin

Here’s a multi-talented artist who’s learned to always keep it fresh and varied during her long tenure in NYC nightlife. Whether she’s spinning vinyl monthly at Julius’ popular “Mattachine” with John Cameron Mitchell, or crooning “elevator music” for her new Club Cumming residency, or rocking out a rendition of “Rhiannon” on the Irving Plaza stage for “Night of 1000 Stevies,” or bartending for her own variety show “The Amber Zone” at Sid Gold’s, or DJing darker stuff in character as part of the “Witch Camp” multimedia experience, or donning Reba drag for a holiday showcase at Stonewall, or recording an album of original songs… we live to go adrift in Amber’s waves.

89)  The Urban Bear

Robert Valin’s party conglomerate continues to provide a quality forum for the larger and the hairier to frolic. And with the “body positivity” movement on the rise, the definition of “beardom” is becoming more diverse… so the more the merrier. The Urban Bear Weekend is a major destination for the movement, and gets larger every year. Also, check out the monthly UB party at Rockbar.

88)   Jada Valenciaga

The living image and textbook definition of what it means to be a fierce queen, Jada is kind to everyone but takes shit from no one. And with dancing and costume and face and personality, she is at 1000% all the time. Adding much needed color (in every sense) to the largely white cast of the Fusion TV drag reality show Shade: Queens of NYC, she also gigs all over town – notably the Voss Events Sunday Dag Brunch at the Highline Ballroom and “Gurlesque” at Barracuda. And have you seen her lovely new music video, or her angry meme face that came out of a now-notorious Shade press event? My only request: when can we see Solo Weekly Jada????

87)  Switch n’ Play

This large troupe of drag kings and burlesquers has been at it for so long, none of the original members are left. But that just means that its performers continue to evolve and redefine themselves – one trait that helped get them a Brooklyn Nightlife Award this year. See their monthly residency at Branded Saloon, and discover for yourself what makes this outfit special.

86)  Shuga Cain

Being nice and professional in this biz goes a long way; having a flawless lip sync, colorful looks and an infectious stage presence on top of all that makes you a candidate for Goddess. Just ask Shuga! She exploded in 2017, and now you can find her hosting a solo show at Hardware and co-hosting another with sister JanSport at Pieces, plus turning it with the Voss Drag Brunch girls and hostng a new party at Atlas. And she bakes!

85)  Therapy Bar

If you hate Hell’s Kitchen, you’ll probably really hate Therapy Bar at first glance. It runs like an upscale restaurant, and there’s an air of plasticity that only the imperfect can smell. But when you get over all that you’ll find a nice bar staff, good food, reasonably priced drinks and some of the best drag shows in the city – including Paige Turner’s “Slurp,” and “The Help” starring Pixie Aventura and Monet X Change. Also, Marti Gould Cummings’ “Stage Fright” talk show gets legit celebrities to come by.

84)  Nedra Belle

We’ve almost gotten used to the thrill of seeing our queens compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race, which is a hugely popular yet still-fringe show. So when Nedra’s alter ego Chris Weaver got on Jennifer Hudson’s team on The Voice, it was a lot. And then when she came back for the finale as Nedra to perform with Stephanie’s Child and Jessie J, it was every motherfucking thing. We’re happy for her success, and happier to have her back in NYC hosting a show at Boots & Saddle and co-hosting The Ultimate Drag Pageant at the West End.

83)  The Carry Nation

Legacy veteran DJs Will Automagic and Nita Aviance’s dynamic DJ duo slayed their residence at Brooklyn’s Good Room this year, drawing huge, mixed crowds month after month.

82)  Cielo

The Meatpacking discotheque has one of the last moderately large dance floors in the city, and queer parties like Trade, Furball and Horse Meat Disco line up to get in on their calendar.

81)  Spunk

Luis Gomez assembles the absolute sexiest guys, period. Honey Davenport hosts the parties where said sexy guys dance all around you, like Thursday night’s Monster bash and the somewhat raunchier Ice Palace version… while Holly Dae handles both the Sunday night affair at Pieces with dark booths for lap dancing and Saturdays nights at FairyTail Lounge where the Spunkers (along with guys from Adonis Lounge) just descend on you. If you’re horny and want to rub up on a guy and have lots of dollars to throw around and stick into places, get thee to a Spunk affair.

80)  The West End

Way out in the wilderness of the Upper West Side, the West End’s full service cabaret stage draws a very mixed crowd of gay genre lovers and straight bypassers. Home to the Ultimate Drag Pageant and weekly and monthly drag shows as well as full-on musical productions and revues, there’s something here for everyone… if you can make it out there. Bonus: bartender Peter Dunn, who also produces a lot of the shows there, is adorbs and a sweetheart.

79)  Phil Chanel

A hot new event producer and promoter who’s all over the place, its hard to know where to even begin listing. Let’s say he’s at the Monster and Rebar a lot, and Castro Bar before it closed, and all over Jersey, and at Boots & Saddle’s GLOW.  But giving off a fun vibe that makes one unsure of whether you’re a host or a guest is a good skill to have! These days you can also see him co-presenting the “Polish That Queen” drag competition at Stonewall with Kristy Blaze and DJ King Ralphy.

78)  DJ Natazu

Back again at Boots & Saddle where his NY career began, this GLAM-nominated Thai trade also DJs for top queens in Therapy and Barracuda, while spinning the Thursday night dance party at Rise. Not to mention he’s Bob the Drag Queen’s chosen DJ for special out-of-town events.

77)  Deryck Todd

The couture hat designer has been producing the East Village’s most scene queen heavy weekly party, STRUT at Acme, for several years now, and celebrities from nightlife and beyond come through. This year Deryck also tried out some new events at Bedlam on Avenue C.

76)  The Bars of Richie Friendley & Associates

Friendley, Mickey Spillane, Jr. (son of the same-named mobster), Kurt Kalm and Scott Sternick, all of whom I believe are straight, own to varying degrees Vodka Soda Bottoms Up, Mickey Spillanes, Mr. Biggs and DBL in Hell’s Kitchen. These bars (and, from what I hear, these guys) aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but they certainly incorporate a gay business empire in HK. Two things all these properties have in common: dirt cheap drinks and cute boys behind the bar, so no complaints there. Plus, fun queens work in VSBU, like Ritzy Bitz, Adriana Trenta, Chaka Khanvict and Ally Ganza.

75)  DJ Xavier Mazara

This disco nugget is DJing, like, one fourth of Manhattan’s drag shows right now, plus a few club nights. Professional and agreeable, don’t be surprised if he wins the Best DJ GLAM this year.

74)  Boots & Saddle Drag Lounge

Still boasting the most drag shows per week (by far), the West Village institution is dealing with growing pains since moving to its much larger location about two years ago. And some of the apparently whackadoo business practices and staffing decisions that go down there become the talk of the town. But when it works, it works. Some of the best queens in the city still do shows there, new talent is born there every year, and regular customers remain loyal. And for the record, they now have their cutest bar staff in recent memory. Oh, and the tacos are yummy, too.

73)  Vita Summers

A pageant queen who won many crowns in 2016, Miss Vita was in high demand this year, in and out of the city. She don’t rest on pretty: she’ll sing like an angel and cuss like the Devil to keep the crowd entertained. Find her these days hosting happy hour at Pieces.

72)  James Michael Avance

The year’s breakout and most in-demand editorial photographer in nightlife, his colorful and dramatic shots of drag queens and other folks are all over social media. 

71)   Pattaya Hart

Cementing her role as a true pageant queen this year by winning two coveted crowns, Miss’d America and Miss Liberty Continental – plus a very strong showing in the Continental finals – Pattaya is still first and foremost a really entertaining showgirl. Check out her slaying dance chops as she performs with Industry’s “QUEEN” revue, or the cast of the Voss Events Sunday Drag Brunch. And for the full hosting package, there’s her Boots & Saddle show which Pattaya finally returned to this year.

 70)  Jackie Cox

She won “So You Think You Can Drag All-Stars!” She produced and starred in two hit back-to-back shows at the Laurie Beechman Theatre (I Dream of Jackie and it’s sequel)! Her holiday Beechman shows with frequent collaborator Paige Turner were also hits! This is a rare queen whose gifts as a true musical comedy stage actor and writer really shine through what on first glance can be perceived as very silly, light material. Now all we need is some venue to give us a weekly dose of Jackie!

69)  Bob The Drag Queen

Last year’s Drag Race winner was one of New York’s most popular and beloved queens. When Bob took her talents out of the bars and to the next level, which she was bound to do, there was a tectonic shift in nightlife as her vacant posts were filled and everybody moved up a peg. Fortunately, Bob has come through a few times this year to host special events, occasionally including the competition at Monster she created, Look Queen. And her company with Mitch Ferrino, The Only Productions, always brings the year’s most tremendous Halloween kiki spectacle in the city.

68)  Brandon Voss

The journalist and event producer who made his success and fortune from NYC nightlife very rarely gets involved in life that happens at night these days. His wildly successful Voss Events drag brunches go down in five or six American cities each weekend, with each brunch gathering that city’s top roster of performing queens every week (that’s something that no mom-and-pop venue could ever hope to afford), so Voss certainly employs a lot of top NYC talent. He’s also a major sponsor for and liaison between all these venues and Drag Race. Voss is the butt of a lot of “here’s the guy who killed nightlife” jokes. But then again, Voss Events’ “Queen of the Ride” monthly booze bus, where passengers are treated to impromptu drag performances on the street as they pass, is actually a pretty cool and creative idea.

67)  Yuhua Hamasaki

When this queen’s Friday night show moved from Boots & Saddle to Pieces and wound up being called “Trading Spaces,” it was the TEA of the town. After spending a chunk of time off doing important stuff in another realm, Yuhua’s now back at Pieces as well as Lucky Cheng’s, and back to designing gowns and costumes for nearly every queen in NYC, and several high profile queens beyond. 2018′s gonna be big for our gurl!

66)   Lee VaLone

When a Brooklyn burlesquing drag king with an ocean of creative ideas can’t get booked as much as, say, a basic drag queen, a Brooklyn burlesquing drag king creates his own gigs. That’s what Lee has done, and there’s quite a variety of performance experiences we now have as a result. Catch VeLone hosting and guesting in shows all over the borough, but most notably Bizarre Bushwick where Lee co-hosts “Sinner’s Kit Kat Cabaret” with Vic Sin, and hosts both the “Jump Shark” monthly open stage night and the long-running and popular drag/burlesque revue “BEEF.”

65) The Ritz

The Ritz on a weekend, filled to capacity on two floors with twentysomethings flailing to basic pop, is your heaven or your hell. But the place that brought us “Our Lady of Saliva” has more to offer then that scene.On Thursdays there are a happy hour bear party from Shane Tate upstairs and Morgan Royel’s late night hip hop party downstairs, plus Maddelynn Hatter and the gals of TURNt killing it Wednesday nights.

64)  Vinny Vega

Nightlife’s most recognizable and reliable gogo boy has become a gogo man! He’s branching out into other aspects of the biz, like photography and party promotion. Check out the new monthly he hosts at Atlas, “Voyeur.”

63)   Miz Cracker 

Bob the Drag Queen’s heir apparent to the NYC Comedy Queen throne is beloved by her sisters and fans alike, and can still find the balance between being a civic-minded voice of reason and reading a bitch to filth. Catch her at Barracuda and Hardware, and now with the gals of TURNt at the Ritz. Plus, this just in: a monthly at Intermezzo in Chelsea! 2017 was good for Cracker, and 2018 is gonna be epic.

62)  Jasmine Rice LaBeija

When Jasmine took to Facebook Live to call out the pageant judges and their “stunts” after not placing in Miss Stonewall a few months ago, it was a great drag tea moment where she perfectly channeled her Drag House Mother, the late Crystal LaBeija. She had a similar moment on FB Live just recently where she clapped back at reality TV show Shades: Queens of NYC co-star Paige Turner (”The Wicked Witch of Whoville”). Just BIG Tea Moments that queens are still gagging over. And if those weren’t enough, Jasmine continuously lived up to her own hype in 2017, winning Miss Liberty Continental Plus and a Miss Lady Liberty Showdown in a remarkable performance where she sang opera live with a full orchestra. And it goes without saying, she steals every scene in Shade! Catch Jasmine live at Barracuda (every two weeks on Wednesday), Pieces (Thursday), District Social and Hardware (both Sunday).

61)  Ragamuffin

This creative and versatile Brooklyn queen with the trademark heavy eyes is still co-hosting one of the borough’s most popular drag shows, “Mondays on Mondays” at Macri Park (with Ruby Roo), and headlining her monthly workshop / show “Failure” at Bizarre. And now on top of an additional weekly late night Sunday gig at Metro Bar, Raga has made a Manhattan presence as well. She co-starred with Pixie Aventura at Hardware for a month, and now is part of the regular cast of Club Cummings’ Tuesday night variety show, “Mary.”

60)  FiFi DuBois

A fan favorite at Boots & Saddle for a long time now (she’s their longest tenured queen at the moment), FiFi’s been serving fun, goofy numbers and jokes for awhile now. Then in just the past few years, she dipped her toes into pageantry, and by the end of this year she’s Miss’d America 2016, Miss Stonewall 2017 and Miss Boots & Saddle 2017, not to mention Top 13 in the prestigious national Continental pageant. Three cheers for FiFi!

 59) Logan Hardcore  

With her long-running show at Stonewall now a West Village institution, and her summer residency at the Ice Palace one of Fire Island’s biggest draws, New York drag’s favorite bitchy queen and her scarily spontaneous, unfiltered wit just keep on trucking… and evolving.

58)  Rockbar

Undeniably Manhattan’s most eclectic venue. On any given night you can experience drag shows, full-on burlesque revues, standup comedy, karaoke, trivia nights, viewing parties of the gay TV shows of the moment, live rock bands, underwear parties, fetish parties, and lots and lots of bear parties. Being three or four blocks away from the main strip of Gay Christopher Street has been a hindrance, but everybody finally seems to be catching on that there’s something special happening here. 

57)  Ari Kiki

The city’s number one messy comedy queen with the crazy crooked lips and hairy boobs is now the house mother of the Boots & Saddle sisterhood, and the role couldn’t have gone to a nicer gal. Besides being funny AF – both deliberately, and in a “falling off the stage” sort of way – she’s just good people. See her Wednesdays and Saturdays at Boots, plus monthly hosting the RIOT benefit show at her other home bar where everybody loves her, Stonewall. Oh, and now she’s also taking the East Village by storm as well, with a monthly Saturday evening Rampage alongside Alotta McGriddles.

56) DJ 2Face

Last year’s Best DJ winner at the GLAMs (and a nominee again this year) remains one of the most popular DJs in the city for drag shows and dance parties. Catch him these days at Hardware, Pieces, Rise and Vodka Soda Bottoms Up, and there’s a pretty good chance he’ll be the man behind the booth for any super high-profile kiki in the city.

55)  JanSport

Last year’s breakout drag star is still this year’s breakout drag star. With a genuine musical theater pedigree, she’s gone from an amazing novelty Kris Jenner impersonator (although she still drinks regularly from the Well of K) to a well-rounded, multifaceted performer. This year she became Icon’s Friday night star, and co-hosts Wednesday night with Shuga Cain at Pieces. She’s also done a commercial for LG USA Mobile, and as a member of smash singing drag trio Stephanie’s Child she recently performed on The Voice finale with Nedra Belle and slayed on a whole new level.

54)  Amanda Lepore

With NYC nightlife’s most iconic face (and body), Amanda passed into legendary status while barely uttering a word – which made her tell-all autobiography published this year that much more fascinating. On top of her hit book, Amanda of course was present at only the most amazing parties of the year, and she’s even recorded a full-length album of originals and covers that is all so very Lepore.

53) Shequida

One of the city’s most seasoned and talented entertainers is still going strong as ever, with her popular Hardware solo show and the “Drag Wars” competition she hosts at Pieces, plus she hosts the Voss Events Sunday Drag Brunch. Shequida also made a triumphant return to Fire Island this summer (this time at the Pines), and brought her opera diva character Jessye Normous to the Beechman recently.

52)  Sasha Velour

The recent winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race’s 9th Season represents the Brooklyn scene at it’s best… fiercely creative, intelligent, and serious, but with an exciting edge. She quickly spawned legions of inspired disciples, basic copycats and parodists (think about all of the projectors and rose petals you saw in drag this year). And fortunately she never stays away from the city too long… her “NIGHTGOWNS” shows, which bring together the best of Brooklyn nightlife and Drag Race all-stars for unusually dramatic multimedia performances, represent a whole new nightlife / theatrical experience for us to process.

51) Jeff Eason

If veteran on-the-scene nightlife photographer Jeff isn’t there to snap a pic of a thing, the thing never was.

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We weren’t initially going to visit Maui on our Hawaii trip as we’d heard it was too overdeveloped and touristy. While this is true in certain areas, it’s also possible to get off the beaten path, and the island has so much to offer including gorgeous beaches, whales, turtles, snorkelling, waterfalls, hikes, volcanoes, bamboo forests, and some stunning scenery.

Maui isn’t a huge island and you could explore everywhere on day trips from one base, but we really enjoyed spending a few nights in less touristed areas. For our Maui itinerary, we chose three places to stay, which enabled us to explore the island without any long exhausting day trips.

Most visitors to Maui stay in West or South Maui where the best beaches are. You definitely want to spend time here for some relaxation and activities like whale watching, snorkelling at Molokini Crater, and exploring the historic town of Lahaina.

But I also think less-visited East Maui deserves more than just a day trip for the popular Road to Hana drive, and there’s a lot to see in Upcountry (the centre of the island) too.

Maui Tips

At Wai‘anapanapa State Park near Hana

If you want to see humpback whales in Maui (the best thing we did on the island), the best time to visit is from January to March, although you may be able to see a few from November to May.

Prices are higher in the winter, though, so for lower rates visit in the spring (April and May) and fall (September to early November).

It can be rainier and cooler (70ºF at worst) in the winter. In late January/early February, we had a mix of hot sunny days and cloudy, windy days with some rain.

You’ll need to rent a car to make the most of your time on the island. We used Rental Cars to search for the best deal and ended up renting with Thrifty. We just chose the cheapest economy car and it was fine.

If you want to snorkel at Molokini Crater (details below), schedule it for early in your trip as it can be cancelled if it’s windy, and this will allow you time to reschedule.

I also recommend booking a whale watching trip for early on too. They usually run even in bad weather (we got soaked but it was still wonderful!), but you might love it so much like us that you decide to go out on another trip.

Sign up to the Snorkel Store’s snorkel report and you’ll get an email at 8 am every day with information on snorkelling conditions and the best beaches to visit that day. They also have reasonable rental rates for snorkelling gear, beach chairs, umbrellas, and boogie boards. 

Our Maui Itinerary at a Glance

Hana (East Maui) – 2 nights

Makawao (Upcountry) – 2 nights

Kahana (West Maui) – 10 nights

We arrived in Maui at 10 am on a short flight from Kauai, so we weren’t too tired to drive the Road to Hana on our first day.

If you are arriving from the mainland US, it would make more sense to reverse this itinerary and start with the relaxing beach portion of your trip in West or South Maui and finish with overnight stays in Hana and then Upcountry (where you’ll be closer to the airport).

We had plenty of downtime during our two weeks in Maui, so you could easily adapt this itinerary for 7 days in Maui.

Wai‘anapanapa State Park is a Maui highlight

A 7 Day Maui Itinerary

Here’s what I would recommend for the perfect week in Maui:

West or South Maui – 5 nights

Hana – 1 night

Upcountry – 1 night

If you’ll looking for a 5 day Maui itinerary, I would spend one night in Hana at the beginning or end of your trip and the other four nights in South or West Maui. You’ll still have time for the Road to Hana, sunrise at Haleakalā, and then choose the other activities you are most interested in from below.

Our Maui Road Trip Map

Note: The distances of each leg of our journey are taken from Google Maps (which we used for navigation) and the times are the actual time it took us including stops along the way.

Day 1 Kahului Airport to Hana (2 nights)

Distance: 50 miles Time: 4 hours including breaks

We arrived at the airport at 10 am and within an hour we had rented a car and were on our way. On our first day we drove the Road to Hana, which is one of the most popular things to do in Maui.

This narrow, windy road through the rainforest passes waterfalls, beaches, gardens, and bamboo forests. There are many places to stop to hike, swim, enjoy the view, or buy homemade treats from local snack stands.

Most visitors to Maui do the Road to Hana in one exhausting 12-hour day, but I think it’s worth spending a night in Hana (ideally two as we did in this itinerary). This allows you to enjoy the area at a more leisurely pace and avoid the crowds by visiting the most popular places near Hana early in the morning.

We first stopped in Paia to stock up on food at Mana Foods then visited the rainbow eucalyptus trees, the Ke’anae Arboretum for a short walk, the Ke’anae Peninsula for coastal views and banana bread, and Upper Waikani Falls.

At the rainbow eucalyptus trees on the Road to Hana

We left the rest of the road’s attractions for the next few days and arrived at our hotel by 3 pm where we relaxed for the afternoon then took a walk around the cute town in the early evening.

See my post on the best Road to Hana stops for more details about everywhere we visited in this area.

Where to Stay in Hana

We stayed in a studio condo at Hana Kai and it was our favourite place we stayed in Hawaii. The condo was comfortable and well-equipped and had a fantastic view of the quiet black sand beach and ocean in front of the hotel. Waking up to the sunrise over the ocean was magical. I highly recommend it. 

Hana Kai condos in Hana

There’s only one resort in town—the Travaasa Hana. It looks beautiful but is very expensive. 

Otherwise, it’s just B&Bs and vacation rentals—search on Airbnb and VRBO for the options. Make sure you book well in advance as accommodation is limited.

Where to Eat in Hana

We heard that there was nowhere to eat in Hana in the evenings, so we brought food to self-cater. We ended up only using it for breakfast and lunch as we couldn’t resist the town’s food trucks in the evenings.

We enjoyed our inexpensive meals at Ae’s Thai Kitchen and The Surfing Burro (Mexican) trucks and finished with ice-cream at Coconut Glens. These are all in the same area opposite Hana Ranch Restaurant.

There are a couple of restaurants open in the evening—Hana Ranch and The Preserve Kitchen at Travaasa—but they are pricey. I think eating early (before 7 pm) at the food trucks is a better option.

We also loved the Hana Farms snack stand about 15 minutes before Hana near Wai‘anapanapa State Park. The banana bread and chocolate macadamia cookies are divine. They also sell coffee, sandwiches, and lots of foodie souvenirs.

Day 2 Hana

On our second day, we left at 7 am to visit the Kipahulu section of Haleakalā National Park (also called Oheo Gulch), a 35-minute drive past Hana. Entrance costs $25 but includes the Haleakalā Summit and is valid for three days so you can use it when you get to Upcountry.

The Seven Sacred Pools here were a bit disappointing (you can no longer swim), but the Pipiwai Trail is a highlight of the Road to Hana. As we arrived early, we had the first half of this four-mile out and back trail entirely to ourselves. In the afternoons it gets very crowded, so this is a major reason for staying in Hana.

The hike took us two hours and included a large bamboo grove, banyan tree, and ended at a 400ft waterfall.

On the way back to Hana we stopped briefly at Wailua Falls, Koki Beach and Hamoa Beach.

After lunch and a rest at our condo, we walked 20 minutes to Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach. This was our favourite beach in Maui and is a magical place, but it can only be accessed down a steep, slippery trail.

Many people have been injured here so only visit if you are a confident hiker (it’s not suitable for small children). We spent the afternoon relaxing and swimming here.

Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach

Recommended Reading: 17 Stunning Road to Hana Stops.

Day 3 Hana to Makawao (2 nights)

Distance: 58 miles Time: 4.5 hours including breaks

Before we checked out, we left at 8.15am to visit Wai‘anapanapa State Park, a 15-minute drive before Hana. This is one of the most popular stops on the Road to Hana, but early in the morning there were only a few others around. We spent an hour visiting the beautiful black sand beach, sea cave, blowhole, and walking along the coastal trails.

Back at our hotel we checked out at 10.30am and drove past Hana on what is known as the Back Road to Hana. This road has a bad reputation, and there is a bumpy unpaved section, but after that it turns into a smooth and empty road. The scenery is very different on this side of the island—drier and more open with ocean views. I think it’s worth doing.

Our first stop was just past Oheo Gulch at Charles Lindbergh’s Grave. It’s not a must-do unless you are a big fan of the aviator, but it’s located in the lush gardens of the scenic Palapala Ho‘omau Church which overlooks the ocean.

The Back Road to Hana

We continued along the coast past black pebble beaches and rolling brown hills, before beginning the climb up into the centre of the island. This central area at higher elevations is known as Upcountry and surrounds the island’s highest peak, the Haleakalā volcano at 10,023 feet. It’s colder up here so keep a sweater handy.

Our first stop in Upcountry (just over two hours from Hana) was MauiWine (open 10 am – 5 pm), a winery with lovely views and an outdoor tasting area. We shared the tropical tasting ($12) which included three sweet pineapple wines and one white and snacked on goats cheese and crackers ($12). They also offer free tours at 10.30am and 1.30pm, but the timings didn’t work for us.

Twenty minutes further down the road is Ali‘i Kula Lavender Farm ($3 entry). Don’t expect the fields of Provence, but on the pretty grounds there are 45 varieties of lavender and views down to the ocean. It was chilly when we visited, but on a sunny day it would be a lovely place to hang out. You can also buy souvenirs and tasty lavender scones and tea in the shop.

We were considering visiting the Surfing Goat Dairy Farm as well, but we felt too tired so continued 20 minutes further along to Makawao where we were staying.

Makawao is a cute little town with some early 20th-century shop fronts. It’s described as a Paniolo (Hawaiian Cowboy) town, but you won’t see many cowboys around any more. It does have a very local feel, though, and there are lots of unique shops and art galleries.

Where to Stay in Makawao

We rented an Airbnb room in someone’s house with a private entrance and bathroom. It was small but pleasant with windows overlooking the gardens and the owner gave us fruit from the garden. We enjoyed staying in a local residential neighbourhood that felt very different from the beach resorts.

The listing is no longer available, but you can search for other Airbnbs in Makawao here. Accommodation is limited in Upcountry so book as far in advance as possible.

The closest place to stay for the Haleakalā National Park summit is Kula Lodge. The setting is beautiful, but the rooms look dated for the price. 

Where to Eat in Makawao

Sip Me has good coffee including nitro cold brew.

The old-school Komoda Bakery is supposed to have the best donuts on the island, but they were sold out by the time we got there at 1 pm. It’s best to go early.

We had dinner one night at Casanova Italian Restaurant. It was nice enough but quite pricey (as are all restaurants in Hawaii) and I wouldn’t go out of your way to eat there. It’s cheaper at lunch. A better option for pizza is Flatbread in Paia, a 15-minute drive away.

On our second night we drove 10 minutes away to Hali’maile General Store. This is one of the best-rated restaurants on the island and was our one splurge meal on Maui. Reservations are essential for dinner. The service was excellent, and they have a separate vegetarian menu, but I have mixed feelings about whether it’s worth the high price.

We really enjoyed some of our dishes like the blackened tofu with wasabi greens and mashed potato and the Maui Gold pineapple upside down cake, but our $30 green curry was too mild and creamy for our tastes (we preferred the $11 version at the Hana food truck). If you are on a budget, I’d skip it, but otherwise, it’s worth a visit and is cheaper at lunch.

Habibi is a cute outdoor cafe in the centre of Makawao serving Middle Eastern food for lunch. We didn’t eat here, but it looked good.

Other restaurants we wanted to try in the Kula area were La Provence, Grandma’s Coffeehouse, and Kula Bistro. 

Day 4 Upcountry

Our main reason for staying overnight in Upcountry was to be close to Haleakalā National Park for sunrise at the crater. Many people do this from the other side of the island, but it requires a very early start.

For sunrise, you must make reservations here up to 60 days in advance and it costs $1 per vehicle. If you miss those tickets, they release another batch two days in advance. 

It’s a slow, windy drive up the mountain. Even staying in Makawao it took us over an hour—we left at 5.20am, arrived at the checkpoint at 6 am (where you pay the $25 fee), and reached the visitor centre below the summit at 6.30am. This was 25 minutes before sunrise, but they had already closed the road to the summit as the car park was full.

You need to arrive an hour before sunrise to get a place at the summit, but you can still get a good view at the visitor centre.

We knew it would be cold up there, so we wore many layers, jackets, hats, gloves, boots, and a blanket wrapped around us both. The temperature was below freezing with a ferocious wind, though, and I was still painfully cold as we stared down into the crater and waited for the sun to come up.

It was a crazy feeling to be above the clouds, and the sunrise was pretty, but honestly, I was too cold to enjoy it. Afterwards, we attempted walking down the Sliding Sands (Keonehe’ehe’e) Trail which does have fantastic views as you descend into the crater, but the extreme wind sent us back.

I’m sure on a less windy day it would have been more enjoyable, but next time I’d go in the late afternoon instead to enjoy a hike before sunset. No reservations or early starts needed, and the colours of the crater would be better (in the morning you are looking into the sun).

At 8.30am we were back down the mountain and stopped at Kula Lodge for breakfast. We weren’t the only ones with this idea and had to wait 10 minutes for a table—thankfully by the much-appreciated fireplace.

The restaurant has beautiful views, and we enjoyed our pancakes and french toast. Sunset here is also supposed to be good.

By 9.30am, we arrived at the Upcountry Farmers Market which takes place on Saturday mornings. It was the biggest we visited in Hawaii with lots of fresh produce, sweet treats, and prepared food stalls with tempting vegetarian options like vegan miso ramen and Thai curry.

We almost wished we hadn’t eaten breakfast already, but we did appreciate having a proper sit down and hot drink after the trauma of the summit.

We took it easy for the rest of the day—having a nap and then wandering the shops in Makawao. You could manage with one night in Upcountry, but we didn’t want to have to drive to the west coast and wait for an afternoon check-in after the early start. 

Here are some more ideas on things to do in Upcountry, including a vodka tour and farm visit. 

Day 5 Makawao to Kahana (10 nights)

Distance: 47 miles Time: 4 hours including breaks

After a 10 am check-out, we took a slow drive to the west side of the island as we couldn’t check in until the afternoon.

Our first stop was the Sacred Garden of Maliko. This tranquil spot is not very busy or well known and entrance is free, so it’s perfect for using up some time.

There’s a huge nursery with lots of plants and seating areas where you can hang out, read books, or play chess. Outside there’s a labyrinth where you can take a meditative walk.

We then drove to the Ho’okipa Lookout past Paia where you can watch surfers and windsurfers riding the huge waves. On the beach below we saw dozens of turtles.

In the cute hippy town of Paia, we had delicious pizza and salad at Flatbread followed by dessert at Ululani Shave Ice which is considered the best shave ice on Maui.

On our drive to the west coast we stopped at Papawai Point (aka Whale Lookout Point). We had to wait a few minutes to get parked in the small lot, but we saw a few whales immediately. It would have been better with binoculars as they were quite far away.

Finally, we reached Kahana, our home for the next ten days. It’s a quiet area of condos and a few shops and restaurants just north of the popular beach resort Kaanapali.

Anywhere along the coast in West or South Maui would be a good base for the beach portion of your trip. It’s about an hour’s drive between the two areas.

Where to Stay in West Maui

We stayed at Kahana Reef, an oceanfront condo building. All condos have lanais with ocean views, and we even saw whales breaching. The sunsets are superb. 

View from our lanai at Kahana Reef

A small pool and large grassy area with sun loungers are located in front of the ocean. There’s a small beach to the right, but it’s narrow and the water was a bit too murky for swimming. We did see a green Hawaiian sea turtle, though. There are excellent beaches a five-minute drive north and south.

All units are individually owned and decorated differently. We were in 314 on the third floor and liked being higher up. Our condo was comfortable and well-equipped.

Our oceanfront condo at Kahana Reef

If you’d prefer to be right on the beach, search for resorts on Kaanapali Beach or just north on the quieter Airport Beach (our favourite). 

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa is a popular option on Kaanapali Beach with five pools, a water slide, four restaurants, and lots of activities. 

Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas is on our favourite part of Airport Beach and has both hotel rooms and apartments with kitchens. There are two pools, a gym and a spa. 

Further north near Napili Bay or Kapalua Bay would also be an excellent area to stay. There are lots of condos up here—search for options on Airbnb and VRBO.

Where to Eat in West Maui

Naked Summer Roll Bowl at A’a Roots in Napili

We mostly self-catered. The Napili Market is a five-minute drive north of Kahana and has a decent selection. Farmers Market Maui is five minutes south and has better fresh produce as well as health food items and locally made salsa and hummus. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, there’s a farmers market outside.

Other places to eat that we recommend:

A’a Roots in Napili – A vegan cafe with delicious healthy bowls, salads, smoothies, and daily specials (like an Indian plate). You can get salads to take to the beach.

Maui Tacos in Napili – Good, quick, cheap Mexican with vegetarian options and a salsa bar.

China Boat in Kahana – Surprisingly decent Chinese food at reasonable prices.

Maui Brewery in Kahana – Good beer and bar snacks like nachos and burgers.

Maika’i Lani Malasadas in Lahaina – This stand outside a church feels very local and sells freshly fried malasadas (Portuguese donuts). We preferred the sugar ones, but you can get various fillings.

Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop in Olowalu – Stop here on your way between the south and west coasts. The pies are delicious—we liked the macadamia chocolate and the apple crumble. We got takeout but you can also eat in.

Hula Grill on Kaanapali Beach – We didn’t eat here but enjoyed the Premium Mai Tai. It would be a good place for sunset.

Day 6 – 14 Exploring West and South Maui

There are many things to do in West and South Maui and you can pick and choose what to do each day based on the weather and your energy levels. Here were our favourite activities (all in the west except for the snorkelling trip):

Whale Watching

Our absolute favourite activity on Maui was taking a whale watching boat trip from Lahaina.

Thousands of humpback whales travel from Alaska to Hawaii during the winter to mate, give birth, and nurse their young in the warm, shallow water. Maui is the best place to see them—we did see some whales in Kauai but were blown away by how many we saw in Maui.

We chose a small boat trip with Makai Adventures and loved it so much we did the trip twice (you get 20% off repeat trips). The sunrise trip is fantastic value at $40 for two hours and the light is beautiful.

We couldn’t believe how quickly and easily we saw whales on these trips. We saw dozens of them including many baby whales (which aren’t so small), as well as adults breaching and tail slapping, and we even heard their otherworldly singing through a hydrophone. They are magnificent creatures and we were in awe the whole trip.

At one point we stayed with a mother and calf for over an hour. We turned off the engine and sometimes they’d approach us, so we got really close. The energetic baby was just a few weeks old but kept breaching (jumping out of the water) over and over again. The mother was over 50 feet long (and we were in a 37-foot boat!) and finally did a full breach herself along with her baby.

My camera had broken a few days before, but luckily we had a National Geographic naturalist on board, Jill Niederberger, who captured the moment.

Photo by Jill Niederberger

Do not miss a whale watching trip if you’re on Maui in the winter!

Lahaina Town

Lahaina is a pretty, historic small town. It’s a good place for shopping with lots of independent boutiques—I liked The Jewelry Stand Maui where they made me a custom design necklace.

The highlight is the incredible banyan tree. It dominates the Courthouse Square and looks like it’s many trees, but it’s all one huge connected one.

Kapalua Coastal Trail

The upside of our variable weather – lots of rainbows!

The Kapalua Coastal Trail is an easy, beautiful coastal walk in the northwest. We started at Kapalua Beach parking and walked to DT Fleming Beach and back, which was 3.5 miles round trip and took us 1 hour 20 mins. On a sunnier day than we had, you could take much longer and enjoy the beaches along the way. It’s also lovely at sunset.

I liked running along here too, although it’s best at sunrise before it gets too busy.

Kanapaali and Airport Beaches

Kanapaali is the main beach on the west coast and there’s a popular snorkelling spot called Black Rock. Parking is expensive here.

Kanapaali Beach

We found it too busy and preferred Airport Beach (aka Kahekili Beach) which is on the other side of the Sheraton. It’s just as long and beautiful but less crowded, the ocean was calmer, and it’s easier (and free) to park at Kahekili Beach Park (where there are toilets and other facilities). We spent a few relaxing afternoons here and even saw whales.

Airport Beach

Napili and Kapalua Bays

Kapalua Bay

Two lovely small beaches usually with calm water for swimming.

Snorkelling at Molokini Crater

Our one activity in South Maui was a snorkelling trip to Molokini Crater which departs from Kihei. Our first trip was cancelled (after we’d arrived) because of wind, so schedule this trip in early.

Molokini Crater is a partly submerged volcano and is a hugely popular snorkelling stop with up to 1000 visitors a day. We chose to visit on a raft (up to 20 people) with Redline Rafting as they leave at 7 am and are one of the first to arrive at the crater, so we snorkelled without the crowds. The large boats looked crowded and I wouldn’t have wanted to snorkel with 100+ other people.

Our trip included four snorkelling stops and lunch (make your own sandwiches) on the boat. The first stop at Molokini Crater was the best—the visibility was good and we saw parrotfish, pipefish, bannerfish, and even a white tipped reef shark. Best of all, we could hear the eerie sounds of whales singing under the water.

The back side of the crater was fun as there’s an area called the elevator where the sea lifts you up and drops you down again without crashing you into the rocks. The other snorkelling stops weren’t as good and we didn’t see any turtles as they often do.

We enjoyed the trip, and Redline Rafting was fantastic, but the snorkelling wasn’t amazing. If you haven’t snorkelled before, you’ll love it, but if you have done a lot of snorkelling (and are on a budget), you might want to skip it.

Summary

There are many more beaches and hikes we didn’t have time for in Maui, but this Maui itinerary covers the highlights of this beautiful island, and it’s just an excuse to return!

If you are also visiting Kauai on your Hawaii trip, see our posts on where to stay in Kauai and the best things to do in Kauai. 

[lusciousthaifood-blog]

Finding the Best Thai Restaurant in NYC

Welcome all of you who are big Thai food lovers and who want to find the authentic Thai foods in NYC. If you are new in NYC and want to taste the authentic flavor of Thailand, you need explore your nearby places.

Visit Here :- https://bit.ly/33dgs5K

[halsteadproperty]

Our Top Picks for NYC Restaurant Week, Winter 2019

Restaurant Week takes place twice a year, and the winter 2019 edition is upon us! It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year, when hundreds of restaurants across New York City offer specially priced prix-fixe menus. From January 21 to February 8, you can dine at some of the city’s best restaurants, with two-course lunches for $26 per person and three-course dinners for $42.

Here are some of our favorites among the participating restaurants. Make those reservations soon!

Claudette Greenwich Village

Claudette is a Provençal restaurant that draws inspiration from Chef Ari Bokovza’s Tunisian grandmother. Local produce, quality seafood, and North African aromatics make up the menu here. Enjoy a warm and hearty meal during Restaurant Week, with options that include muhammara, smoked eggplant and garlic soup, vegetable tagine, a lamb kefta gyro, and Moroccan lemon tart.

BLACKBARN NoMad

As the name suggests, BLACKBARN serves local artisanal food in a modern barn setting. The environment may be rustic and casual, but the menu and wine list are refined and world-class. Highlights of the Restaurant Week offerings include sheep ricotta gnocchi, big eye tuna tartare, and chili dusted swordfish.

Maiella Long Island City

An elegant waterfront restaurant in Long Island City, Maiella serves authentic Italian dishes with a modern flare. Enjoy the pretty setting while you feast on burrata, handmade ricotta and spinach ravioli, and chestnut panna cotta.

Fish Cheeks NoHo

Fish Cheeks is a seafood-centered Thai restaurant that prides itself on authentic dishes served family-style in a vibrant, playful space. During Restaurant Week you can expect items like grilled fish cakes, crispy pork belly, Manila clams, and vegan curry.

Barano Williamsburg

Head to South Williamsburg to try Barano, a wood-fired seasonal Italian restaurant that makes its own pastas and mozzarella. You’ll be presented with options like cavatelli with house-made lamb sausage, octopus with mint pesto, a heritage pork tomahawk, and dark chocolate almond tart.

Edi & the Wolf East Village

If you’ve never tried rustic Austrian cuisine, Edi & the Wolf would be the place to do it. The warm, inviting atmosphere is meant to inspire Gemütlichkeit, “a sense of conviviality and cozy intimacy that comes from the temporary surrender of everyday responsibilities.” If the space doesn’t do it, the potato leek soup and wiener schnitzel with potato salad and lingonberry jam sure will.  

Hanjan Flatiron District

Hanjan was inspired by the joomak, a Korean tavern offering travelers food, drink, and a place to rest. In that spirit, you’ll find Korean fare reminiscent of street market food – elevated for the New York palate, of course. Try the gochugaru-cured cod roe, braised beef short rib, and black sesame ice cream.

Baar Baar East Village

Translating to “again and again,” Baar Baar reimagines Indian food in a way that will challenge your perception of the subcontinent. The East Village establishment will serve innovative dishes like avocado papdi chat, duck shammi kebab, and tandoori mushroom during Restaurant Week.

Buttermilk Channel Carroll Gardens

Buttermilk Channel is the name of the mile-long strait between Brooklyn and Governors Island. When the area was no more than farmland, dairy farmers would cross the strait by boat to sell their milk in Manhattan. If you have lunch at the restaurant named in the channel’s honor, try the buttermilk ricotta for your first course. And whether you’re there for lunch or dinner, the buttermilk fried chicken is an easy winner.

Café Boulud Upper East Side

Café Boulud is the creation of French chef Daniel Boulud, one of New York’s culinary greats. The Michelin-starred institution blends French tradition with American sensibility through its cuisine. Try the pâté de campagne and beef bourguignon.

Zuma Midtown East

A forward-thinking Japanese restaurant, Zuma claims its cuisine is authentic but not traditional. Taste for yourself when you try the seared tuna with chili daikon or salmon teriyaki.

The Cecil Steakhouse Harlem

For an incredible meal in an upbeat and unpretentious environment, make a reservation at The Cecil. The Harlem steakhouse is adjacent to a revival of Minton’s Playhouse, which was a noted jazz club that hosted many of the genre’s greats.

La Lotería West Village

Chef Julieta Ballesteros presents a spin on Mexican cuisine with La Lotería in the West Village. During Restaurant Week you can make brunch, lunch, or dinner reservations, with a selection including chipotle pulled chicken empanadas, pork belly tacos, and churros with chocolate and dulce de leche.

[dylonnmadagwood-blog]

What to Eat in Thai Restaurant: Food You will Love!

When it comes to choosing the best and delicious dishes for yourself especially in Thailand. Then, you may opt to choose the which are best of its own. In case, if you want to eat the delicious food then should opt for the below given Thai dishes in detail.

Visit At :- https://bit.ly/2wzzZym

[biofunmy]

36 Hours in Whistler – The New York Times

Consistently ranked among the top ski resorts on the North American continent, Whistler Blackcomb is the opposite of a well-kept secret. Seventy-five miles north of Vancouver, in Canada’s Coast Mountains, the resort — technically two mountains, tethered by a two-mile-long, peak-to-peak gondola — was the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics and hasn’t looked back. Diverse terrain with a mile-long vertical drop, a ritzy alpine village and epic mountain scenery have proven irresistible to travelers, around three million of whom visit each year. Acquisition by the international behemoth Vail Resorts has only accelerated, for better or worse, resortification of the one-time backcountry playground.

With beefed-up infrastructure like a new gondola and lifts have come high ticket prices (around 180 Canadian dollars, or about $138, for a one-day ticket, or around 150 dollars if bought in advance online) and grumbles from locals that the mountain is increasingly catering to a globe-trotting elite. The question for travelers: Is there still a ski-bum soul to be found beneath that glitzy surface? Or has Whistler become — like Las Vegas or Ibiza — one of those unreal places on the planet where soul-searching is beside the point? Well, a little of both. A weekend in Whistler uncovers plenty of one-percenter indulgences, from fine dining to retail therapy, some positively out-of-this-world skiing, and hints of the quaint mountain town that up until the 1960s had no road access, electricity or running water. (Oh, and a favorable exchange rate for American visitors makes those lift prices a little easier to bear.)

Friday

1) 1 p.m. Ski culture

Whistler’s slopes close at dusk (with the last run as early as 3 p.m. in winter), so take advantage of Friday afternoon to explore the master-planned village — a maze of pedestrian paths weaving between hotels and restaurants. Housed in a sleek, glass-panelled building, the Audain Art Museum (admission 18 dollars) is a high-culture highlight in the hard-partying ski town. In one gallery: haunting First Nations masks dating back to the 1700s, bedecked with abalone, sea lion whiskers and human hair. Next door: hallucinatory forest scenes in greens and browns from British Columbia’s first daughter of painting, Emily Carr.

2) 3 p.m. Retail orientation

Whistler shopping can have a premium-outlets feel (minus the deals), with the usual suspects well represented, from Lululemon to North Face. But exceptions exist. For ski accessories, McCoo’s is owned and staffed by friendly bearded locals who know from experience which toques, gloves and goggles work best for Whistler terrain. Across the village, 3 Singing Birds brings together all things exquisite and scented, from ginger-infused honey (12.50 dollars) to aromatic, artisanal candles (40 dollars).

3) 6 p.m. Paleo dining

A rare find in Whistler, where restaurants tend to be either white-tablecloth affairs or variations on pub fare, Hunter Gather is unpretentious (you order at the counter) and fastidiously local (even the ketchup is artisanal). From the carnivore-friendly menu, the 18-hour-smoked, grass-fed brisket stands out (24 dollars), especially matched with local Pemberton potatoes, roughly mashed and deep-fried.

4) 9 p.m. Pints and kilts

Whistler’s night life is lively for a ski village, with the kind of pumping bass, surly bouncers and long lines of a city club scene. For a more down-home experience, the Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub — dark wood, beer-stained floors, waitresses in kilts — is neither new nor necessarily trendy, but always lively. On a recent night, the house band played Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” on fiddle and guitar, while an enthusiastic crowd sang and danced along.

Saturday

5) 7 a.m. Breakfast at 6,000 feet

Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains don’t open for skiing until around 8:30 a.m. But early risers can take the gondola up beforehand for the Fresh Tracks breakfast at Whistler’s Roundhouse Lodge, a mountaintop gondola hub with cafeteria-style seating inside. The all-you-can-eat buffet (26 dollars) offers the standard eggs, bacon and pastries. But the food isn’t the draw as much as the chance to be among the very first skiers to hit the newly groomed (or powdered) slopes when the first tracks bell rings.

6) 8:30 a.m. Mountain time

The largest ski resort by area in North America, Whistler Blackcomb covers a combined 8,000 acres of skiable terrain with more than a dozen bowls and hundreds of runs. For newbies, the mountain map, a dense web of colored lines, is about as readable as a big city subway plan — though a few hacks can help. Whistler is regarded as the more family-friendly, or “beginner” mountain, though its upper reaches are anything but. For casual skiers, Blackcomb’s Catskinner zone (served by a newly upgraded chairlift) affords a nice combination of leisurely green runs and slightly more challenging blues. The T-bar-accessed glaciers high on Blackcomb Mountain, with their yawning bowls and access to double black diamonds, are a magnet for ski pros the world over.

7) Noon. Repast and defrost

For those planning to squeeze every run out of their pricey lift tickets, Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb Mountain offers a prime spot for quick lunchtime refuge and refueling, though seats can be hard to find on busy days. Inside, skiers still in boots and bulky gear vie for space at long shared tables adjacent to the food court, which offers standard burgers-and-fries fare, plus a taco bar, Thai station and great soups. But if your toes are already frozen and legs turning to jelly, descend to the village for better dining options. Tiny Bar Oso, little more than a bar and a few tables, brings tapas back to their Spanish roots, with excellent salted cod croquettes (9.50 dollars), tortilla española (10.50 dollars), and lamb albondigas (17.50 dollars).

8) 1:30 p.m. History lesson

The land Whistler Blackcomb resort sits upon was first inhabited by the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations. Today, they offer one-hour guided tours inside the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, an airy, wood-and-glass building big enough to accommodate towering totem poles (admission 18 dollars). Artifacts inside range from canoes carved from red cedar to blankets made from the “wool” of the Salish dog, a now extinct, Pomeranian-size canine from the area.

9) 4 p.m. Après alternatives

With Whistler’s lifts closing early, there’s plenty of time for après-ski diversions. Garibaldi Lift Co. Bar & Grill, right at the base of the mountain, is a venerable, if well-worn, Whistler institution. The open interior, dominated by a large fireplace, feels equal parts dive bar, ski lodge and dance club. It’s packed most afternoons with skiers fresh off the slopes, downing beers, shots and enormous plates of poutine (16.50 dollars, with locally sourced cheese curds). An upscale alternative a short walk away, the ritzy Bearfoot Bistro features a baby grand, inventive cocktails and exhaustive wine list, and a dedicated oyster sommelier with an encyclopedic knowledge of mollusks far and near (plate of six East and West coast oysters, 30 dollars).

10) 7 p.m. High-end Italian

Decades of serving international high-rollers have left Whistler with no shortage of high-end steakhouses, bistros and wine bars — not to mention a surfeit of culinary talent. Among the latest standouts on the scene: Il Caminetto — white-tablecloth Italian served family-style (that is, if your family dines on Wagyu beef rigatoni Bolognese, 32.50 dollars, and buffalo mozzarella with tomato chutney, 14.50 dollars) and run by the award-winning chef James Walt. Inside, diners trade ski boots and snow pants for stilettos and stretchy black pants and enjoy West Coast takes on Italian standbys, like chicken saltimbocca (36.50 dollars) and steak Florentine (market price).

Sunday

11) 9 a.m. Chateau buffet

Though it dates back only to 1989, the Euro-inspired Fairmont Chateau Whistler easily qualifies as the most venerable old hotel in town, with a buffet (38 dollars) to match. Guests are ceremoniously called by surname into the dining room of The Wildflower restaurant — high ceilings, dark wood, wall of windows looking out at the base of the mountain — and given a guided tour of the spread, from apple-spinach smoothies all the way to hand-carved pork belly and brioche French toast.

12) 11 a.m. A real train wreck

Whistler’s crowds and high-end trappings can get a little exhausting after a while. Fortunately, there’s plenty to explore outside the village. Just south of town, a new, half-mile-long section of the Sea to Sky Trail (a 112-mile stretch of pathways, some still in progress, running north and south of Whistler) leads to a swaying wooden footbridge suspended over the Cheakamus River. On the other side, hikers are greeted by smashed steel boxcars scattered in the wilderness — the remnants of a 1956 train wreck, now covered with Basquiat-worthy graffiti and appropriated as ramps by local mountain bikers.

13) 1 p.m. Beer and axes

Nearby, the Function Junction neighborhood offers a more rustic alternative to the alpine glam of Whistler Village and a hint of what the area may have once felt like. Inside Coast Mountain Brewing — really just a skinny communal table and a couple of taps at the bar — locals in ski boots and flannels sip their way through tasting flights (four tasters for 10 dollars) of locally brewed sours, I.P.A.s and session ales. Situated (dangerously) right next door, Forged taps into the current vogue for recreational ax throwing. One-hour sessions (38 dollars per person) include instruction in everything from the basics of sticking your target to double-ax trick throws.

Lodging

Higher-end hotel options abound in Whistler, though for a combination of location and atmosphere the Fairmont Chateau Whistler is hard to top. The 12-story resort, loosely modeled after a French manor house, offers ski-in, ski-out access at the foot of Blackcomb Mountain and an extensive pool and hot tub area for soaking away the burn from the day’s runs (rooms in-season starting around 500 dollars).

For a quieter alternative outside Whistler Village, try Nita Lake Lodge, which sits on the shore of a glacier-fed lake, a short drive from the slopes. Studio suites with fireplaces and soaker tubs start at around 300 dollars in season.

Nearly one in five residential properties in Whistler is listed on Airbnb, though options in-season can still be tough to find owing to zoning restrictions. One-bedroom condos on or near the slopes are around 500 dollars a night.

52 PLACES AND MUCH, MUCH MORE Discover the best places to go in 2020, and find more Travel coverage by following us on Twitter and Facebook. And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter: Each week you’ll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world.

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36 Hours in Whistler – The New York Times

Consistently ranked among the top ski resorts on the North American continent, Whistler Blackcomb is the opposite of a well-kept secret. Seventy-five miles north of Vancouver, in Canada’s Coast Mountains, the resort — technically two mountains, tethered by a two-mile-long, peak-to-peak gondola — was the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics and hasn’t looked back. Diverse terrain with a mile-long vertical drop, a ritzy alpine village and epic mountain scenery have proven irresistible to travelers, around three million of whom visit each year. Acquisition by the international behemoth Vail Resorts has only accelerated, for better or worse, resortification of the one-time backcountry playground.

With beefed-up infrastructure like a new gondola and lifts have come high ticket prices (around 180 Canadian dollars, or about $138, for a one-day ticket, or around 150 dollars if bought in advance online) and grumbles from locals that the mountain is increasingly catering to a globe-trotting elite. The question for travelers: Is there still a ski-bum soul to be found beneath that glitzy surface? Or has Whistler become — like Las Vegas or Ibiza — one of those unreal places on the planet where soul-searching is beside the point? Well, a little of both. A weekend in Whistler uncovers plenty of one-percenter indulgences, from fine dining to retail therapy, some positively out-of-this-world skiing, and hints of the quaint mountain town that up until the 1960s had no road access, electricity or running water. (Oh, and a favorable exchange rate for American visitors makes those lift prices a little easier to bear.)

Friday

1) 1 p.m. Ski culture

Whistler’s slopes close at dusk (with the last run as early as 3 p.m. in winter), so take advantage of Friday afternoon to explore the master-planned village — a maze of pedestrian paths weaving between hotels and restaurants. Housed in a sleek, glass-panelled building, the Audain Art Museum (admission 18 dollars) is a high-culture highlight in the hard-partying ski town. In one gallery: haunting First Nations masks dating back to the 1700s, bedecked with abalone, sea lion whiskers and human hair. Next door: hallucinatory forest scenes in greens and browns from British Columbia’s first daughter of painting, Emily Carr.

2) 3 p.m. Retail orientation

Whistler shopping can have a premium-outlets feel (minus the deals), with the usual suspects well represented, from Lululemon to North Face. But exceptions exist. For ski accessories, McCoo’s is owned and staffed by friendly bearded locals who know from experience which toques, gloves and goggles work best for Whistler terrain. Across the village, 3 Singing Birds brings together all things exquisite and scented, from ginger-infused honey (12.50 dollars) to aromatic, artisanal candles (40 dollars).

3) 6 p.m. Paleo dining

A rare find in Whistler, where restaurants tend to be either white-tablecloth affairs or variations on pub fare, Hunter Gather is unpretentious (you order at the counter) and fastidiously local (even the ketchup is artisanal). From the carnivore-friendly menu, the 18-hour-smoked, grass-fed brisket stands out (24 dollars), especially matched with local Pemberton potatoes, roughly mashed and deep-fried.

4) 9 p.m. Pints and kilts

Whistler’s night life is lively for a ski village, with the kind of pumping bass, surly bouncers and long lines of a city club scene. For a more down-home experience, the Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub — dark wood, beer-stained floors, waitresses in kilts — is neither new nor necessarily trendy, but always lively. On a recent night, the house band played Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” on fiddle and guitar, while an enthusiastic crowd sang and danced along.

Saturday

5) 7 a.m. Breakfast at 6,000 feet

Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains don’t open for skiing until around 8:30 a.m. But early risers can take the gondola up beforehand for the Fresh Tracks breakfast at Whistler’s Roundhouse Lodge, a mountaintop gondola hub with cafeteria-style seating inside. The all-you-can-eat buffet (26 dollars) offers the standard eggs, bacon and pastries. But the food isn’t the draw as much as the chance to be among the very first skiers to hit the newly groomed (or powdered) slopes when the first tracks bell rings.

6) 8:30 a.m. Mountain time

The largest ski resort by area in North America, Whistler Blackcomb covers a combined 8,000 acres of skiable terrain with more than a dozen bowls and hundreds of runs. For newbies, the mountain map, a dense web of colored lines, is about as readable as a big city subway plan — though a few hacks can help. Whistler is regarded as the more family-friendly, or “beginner” mountain, though its upper reaches are anything but. For casual skiers, Blackcomb’s Catskinner zone (served by a newly upgraded chairlift) affords a nice combination of leisurely green runs and slightly more challenging blues. The T-bar-accessed glaciers high on Blackcomb Mountain, with their yawning bowls and access to double black diamonds, are a magnet for ski pros the world over.

7) Noon. Repast and defrost

For those planning to squeeze every run out of their pricey lift tickets, Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb Mountain offers a prime spot for quick lunchtime refuge and refueling, though seats can be hard to find on busy days. Inside, skiers still in boots and bulky gear vie for space at long shared tables adjacent to the food court, which offers standard burgers-and-fries fare, plus a taco bar, Thai station and great soups. But if your toes are already frozen and legs turning to jelly, descend to the village for better dining options. Tiny Bar Oso, little more than a bar and a few tables, brings tapas back to their Spanish roots, with excellent salted cod croquettes (9.50 dollars), tortilla española (10.50 dollars), and lamb albondigas (17.50 dollars).

8) 1:30 p.m. History lesson

The land Whistler Blackcomb resort sits upon was first inhabited by the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations. Today, they offer one-hour guided tours inside the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, an airy, wood-and-glass building big enough to accommodate towering totem poles (admission 18 dollars). Artifacts inside range from canoes carved from red cedar to blankets made from the “wool” of the Salish dog, a now extinct, Pomeranian-size canine from the area.

9) 4 p.m. Après alternatives

With Whistler’s lifts closing early, there’s plenty of time for après-ski diversions. Garibaldi Lift Co. Bar & Grill, right at the base of the mountain, is a venerable, if well-worn, Whistler institution. The open interior, dominated by a large fireplace, feels equal parts dive bar, ski lodge and dance club. It’s packed most afternoons with skiers fresh off the slopes, downing beers, shots and enormous plates of poutine (16.50 dollars, with locally sourced cheese curds). An upscale alternative a short walk away, the ritzy Bearfoot Bistro features a baby grand, inventive cocktails and exhaustive wine list, and a dedicated oyster sommelier with an encyclopedic knowledge of mollusks far and near (plate of six East and West coast oysters, 30 dollars).

10) 7 p.m. High-end Italian

Decades of serving international high-rollers have left Whistler with no shortage of high-end steakhouses, bistros and wine bars — not to mention a surfeit of culinary talent. Among the latest standouts on the scene: Il Caminetto — white-tablecloth Italian served family-style (that is, if your family dines on Wagyu beef rigatoni Bolognese, 32.50 dollars, and buffalo mozzarella with tomato chutney, 14.50 dollars) and run by the award-winning chef James Walt. Inside, diners trade ski boots and snow pants for stilettos and stretchy black pants and enjoy West Coast takes on Italian standbys, like chicken saltimbocca (36.50 dollars) and steak Florentine (market price).

Sunday

11) 9 a.m. Chateau buffet

Though it dates back only to 1989, the Euro-inspired Fairmont Chateau Whistler easily qualifies as the most venerable old hotel in town, with a buffet (38 dollars) to match. Guests are ceremoniously called by surname into the dining room of The Wildflower restaurant — high ceilings, dark wood, wall of windows looking out at the base of the mountain — and given a guided tour of the spread, from apple-spinach smoothies all the way to hand-carved pork belly and brioche French toast.

12) 11 a.m. A real train wreck

Whistler’s crowds and high-end trappings can get a little exhausting after a while. Fortunately, there’s plenty to explore outside the village. Just south of town, a new, half-mile-long section of the Sea to Sky Trail (a 112-mile stretch of pathways, some still in progress, running north and south of Whistler) leads to a swaying wooden footbridge suspended over the Cheakamus River. On the other side, hikers are greeted by smashed steel boxcars scattered in the wilderness — the remnants of a 1956 train wreck, now covered with Basquiat-worthy graffiti and appropriated as ramps by local mountain bikers.

13) 1 p.m. Beer and axes

Nearby, the Function Junction neighborhood offers a more rustic alternative to the alpine glam of Whistler Village and a hint of what the area may have once felt like. Inside Coast Mountain Brewing — really just a skinny communal table and a couple of taps at the bar — locals in ski boots and flannels sip their way through tasting flights (four tasters for 10 dollars) of locally brewed sours, I.P.A.s and session ales. Situated (dangerously) right next door, Forged taps into the current vogue for recreational ax throwing. One-hour sessions (38 dollars per person) include instruction in everything from the basics of sticking your target to double-ax trick throws.

Lodging

Higher-end hotel options abound in Whistler, though for a combination of location and atmosphere the Fairmont Chateau Whistler is hard to top. The 12-story resort, loosely modeled after a French manor house, offers ski-in, ski-out access at the foot of Blackcomb Mountain and an extensive pool and hot tub area for soaking away the burn from the day’s runs (rooms in-season starting around 500 dollars).

For a quieter alternative outside Whistler Village, try Nita Lake Lodge, which sits on the shore of a glacier-fed lake, a short drive from the slopes. Studio suites with fireplaces and soaker tubs start at around 300 dollars in season.

Nearly one in five residential properties in Whistler is listed on Airbnb, though options in-season can still be tough to find owing to zoning restrictions. One-bedroom condos on or near the slopes are around 500 dollars a night.

52 PLACES AND MUCH, MUCH MORE Discover the best places to go in 2020, and find more Travel coverage by following us on Twitter and Facebook. And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter: Each week you’ll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world.

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[businessliveme]

12 Best Fast-Casual Lunches in New York, From Top World Cuisines

(Bloomberg) — New Yorkers like to eat out. They spend 130% more money grabbing food outside the home (like amazing sandwiches) than do residents in the rest of the country, according to real estate firm CBRE. Big Apple residents fork over an average of $8,082, compared to $3,512 outside the city.

CBRE also reports that 35% of the city’s food and beverage leases have gone to fast-casual places since 2016.

Read: The World’s Best Restaurants: 2019

Europe, too, is on a fast-casual fast track. The market is expected to grow to around $17 billion by 2024, according to Report Linker, at an annual growth rate of 6%, thanks to demand for quicker meals and high-tech innovation and an interest in foods around the world.

In New York, the fast-casual trend also serves the purpose of opening culinary doors to the world. For under $20 and just a few minutes of your time, diners can experience Chinese bing bread, Taiwanese oyster omelettes, or Georgian khinkali dumplings. Cuisine that was outside the mainstream in the city, such as Senegalese and Peruvian, is easier than ever to get your hands on.

Read: Best Foods and Restaurants to Try in Dubai

New Yorkers have been looking beyond the burger option for a long time. Xi’an Famous Foods, which put northwestern Chinese hand-pulled noodles on the map, started its expansion out of Flushing, Queens, in 2010; Taim, from chef Einat Admony, has offered superb falafels since 2005.

But there has never been a better time than now to eat a $15 lunch at your desk (or a not-too-fancy table or counter.)

Here are a dozen of the hottest places around Manhattan to feel as if you’ve taken a trip much farther away.

Miznon

Star chef Eyal Shani, who also has the riotous, and pricey, party restaurant Ha’Salon, dedicates much of Miznon’s menu to pillowy pita breads, which he stuffs with rib-eye steak slathered with tahini and spicy peppers, as well as a za’atar-spiced omelet with salty pickles and giant hunks of roasted cauliflower. Besides its Chelsea Market home base and Upper West Side outpost, Miznon has a spot at the upcoming food hall in the CitiCorp building at 601 Lexington Ave. ”My idea is to take high-end food and put it in a pita instead of a plate,” says Shani, whose sandwiches start at $8. “By the way, pita is the best bread, it’s like the most genius envelope for everything.” 435 W. 15th St. and other locations

Teranga

Senegalese culinary ambassador chef Pierre Tham has an ideal location for his café: the Africa Center on upper Fifth Avenue, across from Central Park. His menu introduces customers to such ingredients as fonio (a West African grain hailed as a superfood) and attieke (fermented cassava couscous) with accompaniments such as ndambe, a stew of sweet potatoes and blacked eyed peas. There’s also the option of more straight forward garlic- and lime-laced grilled chicken, and lattes in flavors like turmeric and moringa. 1280 Fifth Ave.

Read: Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019

Junzi Kitchen

This growing chain dedicated to northern Chinese cuisine, specifically noodle bowls and wraps made with the flatbread, bings. It was co-founded at Yale University by Yong Zhao and chef Lucas Sin, who met at Sin’s renegade supper clubs; the first Junzi opened near the campus in New Haven, Conn. Junzi now has multiple locations in Manhattan, with the latest in Bryant Park.

They are serious enough about their noodles to offer a choice between “knife” noodles—wide and wavy and excellent with options such as tomato and egg sauce pork—and the thinner, chewier “spring” noodles, which are great with spicy sesame oyster mushrooms and other vegetable dishes. “Remember when eating tacos and burritos felt like an adventure? That’s what we want to make happen with bing wraps,” says Sin. 135 W. 41st St. and other locations

Llamita

During the day, James Beard award-nominated chef Erik Ramirez specializes in counter service rotisserie chicken with a spicy aji verde green sauce and the Peruvian fried rice, arroz chaufa, at this West Village offshoot of Williamsburg hotspot Llama Inn. The small sandwich selection includes caramelized pork shoulder with slices of sweet potato and salsa criolla, a red onion relish on a sturdy roll for around $14. At night, Llamita becomes a full service restaurant offering braised chicken with aji panca and a $26 pork chop, instead of a sandwich. 80 Carmine St.

Chama Mama

Many fast-casual dishes are delivered in bowls. Food from the nation of Georgia in the Caucasus politely rejects that constraint. The airy storefront on Manhattan’s West 14th Street specializes in the cuisine’s notorious khachapuri bread pockets that have launched a million Instagram pictures, stuffed with cheese and presented to go in a small pizza box. Other regional options include khinkali, doughy, folded dumplings that can be stuffed with chopped beef and pork, or more cheese. Because this is a casual restaurant, not a grab-and-go spot, there’s also a strong selection of Georgian wine. 149 W. 14th St.

Read: Five Best Restaurants in Oman That Should be on Your Food Radar

Dalup Modern Indian

It’s only a matter of time before fast casual food that’s not made by a robot will be the exception. For now, an early entry in the city’s robotic restaurant game is Dalup, which has a machine for making dosas, the giant, thin, pancake-like wraps. It stars in the classic masala dosa filled with spiced potatoes and onion; there are also non-robot-made dishes such as bowls with a base of rice or the whole grain freekeh, and the option of a curry like chicken tikka masala or lamb madras. To amplify the mechanized POV, the place donates a portion of its profits to Girls Who Code. 350 7th Ave.

Field Trip 

No single specific cuisine is highlighted at the brand new Field Trip in Harlem. The brand-new place is all about rice ,which notable chef JJ Johnson (formerly of Henry, at the Life Hotel, and Cecil’s— and our own holiday entertaining guide) believes is a through-line on tables around the world. Bowls include crispy chicken with sticky barbeque sauce and Carolina gold rice, braised beef with spicy black beans and Texas brown rice, and shrimp with green curry sauce and sticky rice. Even the dessert nods to the mantra; it’s not rice pudding but rice milk hibiscus soft-serve. 109 Malcolm X Blvd.

Kati Shop

Coconut milk rules at this Thai spot in east midtown. The menu offers a short list of flavorful curries, including lemongrass chicken, coriander steak, and baked sesame tofu. Diners have the option of jasmine rice or shredded cabbage as a base, as well as curries that pack a punch, such as the Kati signature with lemongrass, galangal (a ginger-like herb), turmeric, and a serious amount of chili. There’s also penang, with dried chili and galangal, as well as cardamom and tamarind-infused massaman. 162 E. 55th St.

Zai Lai

Taiwanese food hasn’t made as much noise in New York as some other Asian cuisines, but now it’s breaking out, thanks to places like Zai Lai. Located in the Turnstyle Underground Market just off Central Park, this place from chef Edward Huang offers “Street Eats” such as fried scallion pancakes rolled around slow-braised beef chunks and “ex-girlfriend’s oyster omelet” (a cleverly named version of one of Taiwan’s most iconic dishes). Among the rice bowls are “lion’s head” pork meatballs with ginger and scallions and the option of a sous-vide cooked egg on top. Beverages are traditional, from taro milk tea to sarsaparilla, Taiwanese root beer. 1000 8th Ave.

Inday Go Go

Inday is a groovy, Indian-accented bowl food place that hypes Ayurvedic principles. The Go Go outpost in Midtown is an express spot with a superfood roti, or wrap, made from coconut and flax and chia seeds that can enclose fillings such as braised lamb with chopped greens, pickled vegetables, and sliced avocado. The signature bowls include a lot of buzzword ingredients like curry flower (cauliflower rice with turmeric lemongrass curry) with additional protein options; dishes start at $7.50. Inday’s “side hustle,” or sides, include such more conventional Indian offerings as spiced chickpeas; to drink, there’s hot masala chai spiced with cardamom and cinnamon. 570 Lexington Ave.

LaoMa Spicy

There’s a lot of different directions to pursue at this Sichuan spot in the Village, the first Manhattan outpost of the popular Flushing dry-pot chain. Behind a glass case are dozens of ingredients, from tofu skin and rice cakes to prawns and from fatty beef to kidneys and liver. Diners can select any assortment, as if this were a bizarre salad bar; products are gathered in a bowl—weighed ($12.99 per pound for meat and seafood, vegetables at $10.99 “per bucket”) and then stir-fried behind the scenes at the desired heat level. Among the composed dishes, the best seller is spicy diced chicken in a sea of chiles and Sichuan peppercorns.  58 E. 8th St.

Peach Mart

This closet-sized space (and one of the best options) in Hudson Yards is Momofuku’s vision of a Japanese 7-Eleven that specializes in kimbap, akin to a Korean sushi roll with such fillings as spicy fried chicken, the Japanese omelet tamago, and spicy bigeye tuna—enclosed in rice and a sheet of seaweed. The place also offers sandos, the milk bread sandwiches that might include a chicken katsu cutlet or potato salad with pickled jalapeños. For those who want a crash course in Asian snacks, there are bags of honey butter Calbee potato chips and Pocky biscuit sticks. Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards

The post 12 Best Fast-Casual Lunches in New York, From Top World Cuisines appeared first on Businessliveme.com.

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[demitgibbs]

San Francisco Weekend in the Historic Castro

Spring has sprung in San Franciso and after a winter of heavy rains, the hills are emerald green and filled with wildflowers. The City by the Bay makes for a fun long weekend or even a vacation.

GETTING THERE

I took Southwest nonstop into nearby Oakland. Oakland International which suffers fewer weather delays than SFO where the parallel runways are too close together making for frequent issues. (FYI….my flight out was at SFO and was delayed 2 hours by a light rain which backed up all the fights all day.)

Both airports are served by the BART subway where you can buy a Clipper Pass good on all transit in the region. You transfer in the City to the Muni Metro (to the Castro Station). You won’t need a car in SF.

WHERE TO STAY

I always stay at Beck’s Motor Lodge at 2222 Market in the Castro neighborhood, still one of the best LGBTQ neighborhood’s in the world. 

You can walk everywhere from the motel and it is near transit including the F historic street car line which uses street cars from around the world to make the journey from the Castro to Fisherman’s Wharf. Peet’s Coffee is across the street and you can work out at the nearby SF Fitness or 24 Hour Fitness. If you have a car, the parking is free (unheard of in the City). Book your room at Becksmotorlodge.com. Tell Britney Beck I sent you.

Other Castro lodging options include the Parker Guest House at 520 Church Street and The Willows Inn at 710 14th Street. Check out Airbnb as well. 

Other affordable hotel options outside of the neighborhood include the new Yotel Hotel on Market Street or The Harbour Court Hotel in the Embarcadero waterfront area. There are also lots of hotels around Union Square. Check TripAdvisor for recommendations. However, I always try and stay in my old neighborhood away from the touristy areas.

WHAT TO DO

I went hiking out in the East Bay with the San Francisco Hiking Club (which I co-founded) to see the incredible display of spring wild flowers at Black Canyon Mines East Bay Regional Park. The Rainbow Chapter of the Sierra Club also has hikes. Don’t miss the display of California poppies and lupines which cover the green hill sides.

From Beck’s you can easily hike up to Corona Heights and Buena Vista Park for great views as well as up to Twin Peaks.  You can also head over to Dolores Park which also has incredible views of the Bay. 

A walk along Upper Market and the Castro Neighborhood is another must. You will find Victorian homes everywhere including on 20th Street above the Castro as well as stairs that climb to mini parks. 

Experience LGBTQ history at the GLBT History Museum at 4127 18th Street (glbthistory.org) to learn about the rich history of the gayborhood where slain supervisor Harvey Milk ran his camera shop (now a HRC store). 

Plaques on the sidewalk of the neighborhood commemorate LGBT icons (rainbowhonorwalk.org).

Take the F Street historic street car (streetcar.org) to the Ferry Building (think upscale farmer’s market) and have great Thai Food at the Rincon Center. 

WHERE TO EAT

There are restaurants everywhere. We tried Eric’s, a Chinese place at 1500 Church in the Noe Valley (accessible via the J Church Line). 

La Mediterranee at 288 Noe is always good as is Cafe Flore at 2298 Market. You will find Hamburger Mary’s at 531 Castro. 

Marcello’s Pizza at 420 Castro is good for a quick slice. 

NIGHTLIFE

Don’t miss a movie at The Castro Theatre, a historic gem on Castro Street. They often feature sing a longs and other interactive events complete with props as well as a great organist before the show. Check out what’s showing at castrotheater.com.

There are a lot of great bars. The Lookout on the second floor on Market Street (3600 16th Street) features a drag brunch every Saturday and has great views of the street scene. Nearby you can dance the night away at Beaux at 2344 Market. Toad Hall and Badlands on 18th Street are also fun. The Moby Dick at 4049 18th Street is another must. The Midnight Sun at 4067 18th Street is good for a cocktail or two as well. 

IF YOU HAVE A CAR

Don’t miss Pt. Reyes National Seashore north of the City as well as Mount Tamalpais State Park. In the East Bay, Mount Diablo State Park is another must. Drive south along the Coast to Santa Cruz on Highway 1 and then take Highway 17 back through the redwoods  to San Jose where you can come back to SF on I-280, the world’s most beautiful freeway (with more views of the coastal hills). Yosemite National Park with its spring water falls and Lake Tahoe are other options if you have time and wheels.

INSIDER TIPS

Under no circumstances go to San Francisco General Hospital or take an ambulance there. They do not take any insurance and the local paper had a story on a resident having to pay over $50,000 out of his own pocket for an emergency appendectomy even though he had insurance. A friend from Detroit was slapped with an $11,000 bill when he went in for observation after a fall. He had insurance as well, but to no avail.

Similarly, never park in a bus stop area as the parking fines are ridiculously high. Better yet, do not rent a car and skip the stress all together.

Apparently the City raises revenues in strange ways.

Do get a Clipper Transit pass for use on all the transit agencies (Muni Metro, BART, F Street Historic Streetcars, Cable Cars, etc.).

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The weekly newspaper, the Bay Area Reporter, is still going strong (ebar.com). Bay Times is the monthly LGBTQ publication that lists what is going on. You will find it at sfbaytimes.com. The Castro Guide is another source of what to do plus the history of the gayborhood. Another monthly is Gloss Magazine which features left coast nightlife and more. 

You can’t beat the Bay Area for a vacation, especially in the spring when the wildflowers are everywhere on the green hills. 

Bill Malcolm’s syndicated travel column appears in publications in Chicago and Florida and other cities. Based in Indianapolis, he is a former resident of San Francisco (the Castro), but resides in Indianapolis. All or part of his column may appear in other publications. His opinions are his own!

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/04/18/san-francisco-weekend-in-the-historic-castro/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.tumblr.com/post/184272169125

[cynthiajayusa]

San Francisco Weekend in the Historic Castro

Spring has sprung in San Franciso and after a winter of heavy rains, the hills are emerald green and filled with wildflowers. The City by the Bay makes for a fun long weekend or even a vacation.

GETTING THERE

I took Southwest nonstop into nearby Oakland. Oakland International which suffers fewer weather delays than SFO where the parallel runways are too close together making for frequent issues. (FYI….my flight out was at SFO and was delayed 2 hours by a light rain which backed up all the fights all day.)

Both airports are served by the BART subway where you can buy a Clipper Pass good on all transit in the region. You transfer in the City to the Muni Metro (to the Castro Station). You won’t need a car in SF.

WHERE TO STAY

I always stay at Beck’s Motor Lodge at 2222 Market in the Castro neighborhood, still one of the best LGBTQ neighborhood’s in the world. 

You can walk everywhere from the motel and it is near transit including the F historic street car line which uses street cars from around the world to make the journey from the Castro to Fisherman’s Wharf. Peet’s Coffee is across the street and you can work out at the nearby SF Fitness or 24 Hour Fitness. If you have a car, the parking is free (unheard of in the City). Book your room at Becksmotorlodge.com. Tell Britney Beck I sent you.

Other Castro lodging options include the Parker Guest House at 520 Church Street and The Willows Inn at 710 14th Street. Check out Airbnb as well. 

Other affordable hotel options outside of the neighborhood include the new Yotel Hotel on Market Street or The Harbour Court Hotel in the Embarcadero waterfront area. There are also lots of hotels around Union Square. Check TripAdvisor for recommendations. However, I always try and stay in my old neighborhood away from the touristy areas.

WHAT TO DO

I went hiking out in the East Bay with the San Francisco Hiking Club (which I co-founded) to see the incredible display of spring wild flowers at Black Canyon Mines East Bay Regional Park. The Rainbow Chapter of the Sierra Club also has hikes. Don’t miss the display of California poppies and lupines which cover the green hill sides.

From Beck’s you can easily hike up to Corona Heights and Buena Vista Park for great views as well as up to Twin Peaks.  You can also head over to Dolores Park which also has incredible views of the Bay. 

A walk along Upper Market and the Castro Neighborhood is another must. You will find Victorian homes everywhere including on 20th Street above the Castro as well as stairs that climb to mini parks. 

Experience LGBTQ history at the GLBT History Museum at 4127 18th Street (glbthistory.org) to learn about the rich history of the gayborhood where slain supervisor Harvey Milk ran his camera shop (now a HRC store). 

Plaques on the sidewalk of the neighborhood commemorate LGBT icons (rainbowhonorwalk.org).

Take the F Street historic street car (streetcar.org) to the Ferry Building (think upscale farmer’s market) and have great Thai Food at the Rincon Center. 

WHERE TO EAT

There are restaurants everywhere. We tried Eric’s, a Chinese place at 1500 Church in the Noe Valley (accessible via the J Church Line). 

La Mediterranee at 288 Noe is always good as is Cafe Flore at 2298 Market. You will find Hamburger Mary’s at 531 Castro. 

Marcello’s Pizza at 420 Castro is good for a quick slice. 

NIGHTLIFE

Don’t miss a movie at The Castro Theatre, a historic gem on Castro Street. They often feature sing a longs and other interactive events complete with props as well as a great organist before the show. Check out what’s showing at castrotheater.com.

There are a lot of great bars. The Lookout on the second floor on Market Street (3600 16th Street) features a drag brunch every Saturday and has great views of the street scene. Nearby you can dance the night away at Beaux at 2344 Market. Toad Hall and Badlands on 18th Street are also fun. The Moby Dick at 4049 18th Street is another must. The Midnight Sun at 4067 18th Street is good for a cocktail or two as well. 

IF YOU HAVE A CAR

Don’t miss Pt. Reyes National Seashore north of the City as well as Mount Tamalpais State Park. In the East Bay, Mount Diablo State Park is another must. Drive south along the Coast to Santa Cruz on Highway 1 and then take Highway 17 back through the redwoods  to San Jose where you can come back to SF on I-280, the world’s most beautiful freeway (with more views of the coastal hills). Yosemite National Park with its spring water falls and Lake Tahoe are other options if you have time and wheels.

INSIDER TIPS

Under no circumstances go to San Francisco General Hospital or take an ambulance there. They do not take any insurance and the local paper had a story on a resident having to pay over $50,000 out of his own pocket for an emergency appendectomy even though he had insurance. A friend from Detroit was slapped with an $11,000 bill when he went in for observation after a fall. He had insurance as well, but to no avail.

Similarly, never park in a bus stop area as the parking fines are ridiculously high. Better yet, do not rent a car and skip the stress all together.

Apparently the City raises revenues in strange ways.

Do get a Clipper Transit pass for use on all the transit agencies (Muni Metro, BART, F Street Historic Streetcars, Cable Cars, etc.).

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The weekly newspaper, the Bay Area Reporter, is still going strong (ebar.com). Bay Times is the monthly LGBTQ publication that lists what is going on. You will find it at sfbaytimes.com. The Castro Guide is another source of what to do plus the history of the gayborhood. Another monthly is Gloss Magazine which features left coast nightlife and more. 

You can’t beat the Bay Area for a vacation, especially in the spring when the wildflowers are everywhere on the green hills. 

Bill Malcolm’s syndicated travel column appears in publications in Chicago and Florida and other cities. Based in Indianapolis, he is a former resident of San Francisco (the Castro), but resides in Indianapolis. All or part of his column may appear in other publications. His opinions are his own!

source https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/04/18/san-francisco-weekend-in-the-historic-castro/ from Hot Spots Magazine https://hotspotsmagazin.blogspot.com/2019/04/san-francisco-weekend-in-historic-castro.html

[lusciousthaifood-blog]

Finding the Best Thai Restaurant in NYC

Welcome all of you who are big Thai food lovers and who want to find the authentic Thai foods in NYC. If you are new in NYC and want to taste the authentic flavor of Thailand, you need explore your nearby places.

There are various ways by using which you will be able to reach and taste the authentic Thai food in USA. Let’s check out the various way to find the best Thai restaurant in NYC.      

Search on Google map

Taking the Google help is always a witty choice when it comes to finding the best Thai restaurant in Upper East Side of NYC. People, new to NYC, can take assistance of Google maps. All they have to do is to open the Google maps and search for Thai restaurants. Without any wait, they will be able to see almost every Thai restaurant that are listed on Google maps in that specific area.  

Get in touch with the local Thai community

If you see some Thai community nearby you, then try to get in touch with them.  It might be possible that you discover a Thai food cafeteria but only a Thai person can tell you which specific restaurant provides you with indigenous food of Thailand miles away in USA.

Ask the local food lovers

You can ask to the local persons who love to taste new flavors. Every group of friend or people has some folks who love exploring exotic places particularly when it comes to food. They can help you to get the delicious Thai cuisine nearby you.

Search on Facebook

Turn on your live location so that Facebook would be able to find your location. Now this is the time when you can use your Facebook account apart from postings. Almost each business with a clear vision to expand has created their page on the Facebook and Thai restaurants are no exclusion. Search for the best Thai Restaurants in NYC on Facebook and you will certainly find relevant places.

Source :- https://uberant.com/article/571651-finding-the-best-thai-restaurant-in-nyc-/

[hotspotsmagazine]

San Francisco Weekend in the Historic Castro

Spring has sprung in San Franciso and after a winter of heavy rains, the hills are emerald green and filled with wildflowers. The City by the Bay makes for a fun long weekend or even a vacation.

GETTING THERE

I took Southwest nonstop into nearby Oakland. Oakland International which suffers fewer weather delays than SFO where the parallel runways are too close together making for frequent issues. (FYI….my flight out was at SFO and was delayed 2 hours by a light rain which backed up all the fights all day.)

Both airports are served by the BART subway where you can buy a Clipper Pass good on all transit in the region. You transfer in the City to the Muni Metro (to the Castro Station). You won’t need a car in SF.

WHERE TO STAY

I always stay at Beck’s Motor Lodge at 2222 Market in the Castro neighborhood, still one of the best LGBTQ neighborhood’s in the world. 

You can walk everywhere from the motel and it is near transit including the F historic street car line which uses street cars from around the world to make the journey from the Castro to Fisherman’s Wharf. Peet’s Coffee is across the street and you can work out at the nearby SF Fitness or 24 Hour Fitness. If you have a car, the parking is free (unheard of in the City). Book your room at Becksmotorlodge.com. Tell Britney Beck I sent you.

Other Castro lodging options include the Parker Guest House at 520 Church Street and The Willows Inn at 710 14th Street. Check out Airbnb as well. 

Other affordable hotel options outside of the neighborhood include the new Yotel Hotel on Market Street or The Harbour Court Hotel in the Embarcadero waterfront area. There are also lots of hotels around Union Square. Check TripAdvisor for recommendations. However, I always try and stay in my old neighborhood away from the touristy areas.

WHAT TO DO

I went hiking out in the East Bay with the San Francisco Hiking Club (which I co-founded) to see the incredible display of spring wild flowers at Black Canyon Mines East Bay Regional Park. The Rainbow Chapter of the Sierra Club also has hikes. Don’t miss the display of California poppies and lupines which cover the green hill sides.

From Beck’s you can easily hike up to Corona Heights and Buena Vista Park for great views as well as up to Twin Peaks.  You can also head over to Dolores Park which also has incredible views of the Bay. 

A walk along Upper Market and the Castro Neighborhood is another must. You will find Victorian homes everywhere including on 20th Street above the Castro as well as stairs that climb to mini parks. 

Experience LGBTQ history at the GLBT History Museum at 4127 18th Street (glbthistory.org) to learn about the rich history of the gayborhood where slain supervisor Harvey Milk ran his camera shop (now a HRC store). 

Plaques on the sidewalk of the neighborhood commemorate LGBT icons (rainbowhonorwalk.org).

Take the F Street historic street car (streetcar.org) to the Ferry Building (think upscale farmer’s market) and have great Thai Food at the Rincon Center. 

WHERE TO EAT

There are restaurants everywhere. We tried Eric’s, a Chinese place at 1500 Church in the Noe Valley (accessible via the J Church Line). 

La Mediterranee at 288 Noe is always good as is Cafe Flore at 2298 Market. You will find Hamburger Mary’s at 531 Castro. 

Marcello’s Pizza at 420 Castro is good for a quick slice. 

NIGHTLIFE

Don’t miss a movie at The Castro Theatre, a historic gem on Castro Street. They often feature sing a longs and other interactive events complete with props as well as a great organist before the show. Check out what’s showing at castrotheater.com.

There are a lot of great bars. The Lookout on the second floor on Market Street (3600 16th Street) features a drag brunch every Saturday and has great views of the street scene. Nearby you can dance the night away at Beaux at 2344 Market. Toad Hall and Badlands on 18th Street are also fun. The Moby Dick at 4049 18th Street is another must. The Midnight Sun at 4067 18th Street is good for a cocktail or two as well. 

IF YOU HAVE A CAR

Don’t miss Pt. Reyes National Seashore north of the City as well as Mount Tamalpais State Park. In the East Bay, Mount Diablo State Park is another must. Drive south along the Coast to Santa Cruz on Highway 1 and then take Highway 17 back through the redwoods  to San Jose where you can come back to SF on I-280, the world’s most beautiful freeway (with more views of the coastal hills). Yosemite National Park with its spring water falls and Lake Tahoe are other options if you have time and wheels.

INSIDER TIPS

Under no circumstances go to San Francisco General Hospital or take an ambulance there. They do not take any insurance and the local paper had a story on a resident having to pay over $50,000 out of his own pocket for an emergency appendectomy even though he had insurance. A friend from Detroit was slapped with an $11,000 bill when he went in for observation after a fall. He had insurance as well, but to no avail.

Similarly, never park in a bus stop area as the parking fines are ridiculously high. Better yet, do not rent a car and skip the stress all together.

Apparently the City raises revenues in strange ways.

Do get a Clipper Transit pass for use on all the transit agencies (Muni Metro, BART, F Street Historic Streetcars, Cable Cars, etc.).

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The weekly newspaper, the Bay Area Reporter, is still going strong (ebar.com). Bay Times is the monthly LGBTQ publication that lists what is going on. You will find it at sfbaytimes.com. The Castro Guide is another source of what to do plus the history of the gayborhood. Another monthly is Gloss Magazine which features left coast nightlife and more. 

You can’t beat the Bay Area for a vacation, especially in the spring when the wildflowers are everywhere on the green hills. 

Bill Malcolm’s syndicated travel column appears in publications in Chicago and Florida and other cities. Based in Indianapolis, he is a former resident of San Francisco (the Castro), but resides in Indianapolis. All or part of his column may appear in other publications. His opinions are his own!

from Hotspots! Magazine https://hotspotsmagazine.com/2019/04/18/san-francisco-weekend-in-the-historic-castro/

[topbeautifulwomens]

#Egypt’s #Best #Kept #Secret #– #Taba #and #Taba #Heights, #South #Sinai #babe #explorepage #fashionmodels #instadaily #look #makeupaddict #nature #nikon #quotes #redcarpet

If you are seeking for a place to get pleasure from your vacation that presents eveninggolf equipment, stayly bars, discotheques and so forth – you are on the improper web page as Taba offers none of people centers. What this incredible vacation resort does offer is extreme natural cosmetic, tranquility, stunning cafes, globe – class diving and drinking watersports, golfing and the friendliest and most true men and women who will make your vacation experience very special.

Taba is located in a prime location to discover not entirely the Sinai and Egypt, nevertheless you also have the possibility to visit Israel and the Urban of Jerusalem, Masada and the Lifeless Sea, or swim with dolphins in the cosmopolitan City of Eilat. Taba is the gateway to Petra in Jordan so you can avail of this golden opportunity to explore this incredible historic city, now deprovidedly one of the 7 Miracles of the Entire world.

Taba Heights is also house to Crimson Sea Waterworld, the watersports and diving center voted by divers the prime dive center in the world several moments over. There you can enjoy water – ski and wake – board, catamaran sailing, windsurfing and even benefit VDWS certificate with instruction from their top – level trainers and have a wonderful time performing it! They also offer snorkeling cruises on their sail boat; they’ve a glass base boat and even a semi – submarine so that you can view the beautiful coral reef which sursphericals the coast without having even getting moist – great for aged attendees, small young children or if you never swim.

The Waterworld textbooks all discuss fluent English and ptrip on their own on their expertise and knowledge of the regional reef, and risk-freety is paramount. You can have a go on the fun rides as well on bananas, donuts and other contraptions! Red Sea Waterworld is a place to pay out the working day, their beach front and every is the greatest in Taba and totally cost-free of charge adding a solar bed. Their beach bar and restaurant has a total menu, and their helpful personnel will even serve your food and beverages on the beach to you on your sun bed! Their home cooked shepherd’s pie and apple crumble is to die for, and their candy and bitter hen is the best I ever ate wherever.

There is certainly no reason for you to buy a full Egyptian visa to visit Taba or the Sinai. If you visit Israel or Jordan you’ll buy a visa for those international locations on introduction there, and any Egyptian visa would be cancelled. The only reason you’d purchase a full visa is if you are making ready to visit the African side of Egypt to show up at Cairo or Luxor on an tour. Taba is in Asia, and the Suez Tunnel is the route into Africa. Other factors to have a full visa would be if you are an innovative diver and you want to dive on the Thistlegorm or Dunraven wrecks. This would by natural means not be an process presented from Taba, but from Sharm El Sheikh which is around a two and a 50 percent hour power from Taba. If you land in Cairo en route to Taba, you would need the full visa; in a different way they give you a Sinai stamp which is legitimate for a stay of two months.

Taba Heights is a very secure and safe resort; objective – constructed by specialists Orascom who also have other resorts in El Gouna and all over the Centre East. The resort has 5 accommodations the Marriott, Hyatt Regency, A few Corners El Wekala, the Insidetercontinental and my possess preferred the Sofitel. All are outstanding hotels, not just for their facilities but for the good quality of their staff. They are going to bend over againwards to make confident that your stay with them exceeds all your specifications.

The Sofitel has the upper edge for me, most of their staff have labored there given that they opened their doors and they never overlook any person. The areas are enormous, all placelessly clean and new and the younger man who seems following it’ll typically surpincrease you with his abilities in towel sculpture! You may return to your room to uncover your white bathtub towels on your bed and sculpted into swans, mummies, monkeys and all fashion of other designs. You will truly feel negative undoing his endeavours, and most guests take photos of these skillful arts. The Sofitel has a pleasant stability of global guests and they make a level of being that very crucial function. Several a vacation has been destroyed by hotels who take also a lot of guests of one nationality as it leads to complications with the differing life, restaurant behavior and alternatives of menu for the minorities. Here’s specifically important in an Arab vacation spot as the Arab culture is very different to the Western one.The Sofitel offers an international menu to remember to from time to time up to 15 nationalities at one sitting down. They’ve themed evening meal, including an Egyptian night, and after your meal the enjoyment consist ofs stomach dancers and the standard whirling dervish.

There is a golf club in Taba Heights, with a resident golf pro. The system offers eighteen holes, and hosts televised Pro – Am 2 times a 12 months. This is a extremely – rated world one hundred course and many people are now coming to Taba just to enjoy it. You can e-book a round, or even obstacle the golf pro to a round, or have classes. Other facilities include a driving variety, club house, golf shop and special technique for children.

If you are a food vacationer or simply enjoy a special evening out at a specialty restaurant, Taba is the choice for you! The International Resort has the El Mar seafood restaurant, the Chicken’s Nest Thai Cafe and a Tapas restaurant overlooking their salt water lagoon. The Tapas is really low cost, but you will have one eye on your plate and the other on the most beautiful serenity you will ever find. Taba is immediately contrary the Saudi Arabian coastline, it really is just 10 km throughout the Red Sea. The moon sits on the top of the Saudi mountains opposite, providing a reflection on the water cringesting a view that would make you cry with contentment. This is exactly where to make wedding proposals or notify a special somebody you love them. The food is beautiful, not just enormous quantities of tapas, they offer tasty steaks and vegetarian alternatives as well.

The Thai restaurant is out of the hotel, once once again top – level with a chef who has won world championship acclaim for his creations. L’Asiatic restaurant is in the Sofitel hotel, and involves a Teppan grill so that the chef chefs the food as you watch. This is pure entertainment, and he will have you be a part of in at the grill, cooking lobster, steaks, chicken and other delighting. This hotel has even entertained movie star guests, and they ended up very influenced with the L’Asiatic. If you are looking for a distinct experience, the Sofitel has a tower overlooking the whole Bay of Aqaba. They will set up a individual dinner at the top of the tower for you with your exact choice of menu for very humble cash. This is one thing which is a life span memory and can not be recurring anywhere else, the view from the tower is just past words and phrases.

Other excellent dining places include the Lebanese at the Hyatt Regency who also have tandoori and charcoal grill restaurants, the Italian in the Marriott who also host a Mexican restaurant which is as first as it turns into. The Traveling Carpet is a favourite not just with visitors, but with locals as well. This is the most household friendly restaurant choice – you can eat almost everything in there from fish and chips to an remarkable fish platter, and you can round off your evening with a traditional Shisha pipe.

All the restaurants and hotels in Taba are a part of the Crystal Strategy, assuring guests that all delicacies and beverage is entirely safe to drink. Crystal Program means all water for drinking, ice and all water employed in food preparing and washing is bottled mineral water. Kitchens and food storage are inspected frequently, and staff have special training in “Posi” processes, a very comprehensive cleanliness program. This includes the restaurant of Castle Zaman, which is owned by Orascom and a 20 – mins ride out of Taba Heights. The Castle can only be noted as the last eating experience; the food calls for to be requested at minimum a few hrs ahead as it is sminimal cooked in a stone oven. It really is great, make certain to be starving prior to you eat; portions are fit for at least two! You can go from 1.30pm and enjoy their pool bar, which has beautiful thoughts of a abandoned white sand beach, and overlooks the Bay of Aqaba.

As the moon rises later on, enjoy the magnificent view of the moon on the water and twinkling Saudi lights as you devour the delicious food. An activity not to be skipped in Taba comes absolutely free of charge except for a minor effort on your part. Sunlight rise in summertime is close to four.30am or in wintertime later than that, it comes over the Saudi mountains and is never the exact same twice. The colours are indescribable, a mix of hues and ochre, purples to pinks, reds by means of to yellows. Your digicam helps make testimony to that, and again in the evening. The sun sets guiding the Sinai mountains, a backdrop to the resort losing potent rays over the Saudi mountains, reflecting their red color on to the water among. After there is certainly no wind, the sea is like glass, a reflect and this influence adjustments it to a deep mauve color. The sundown is best considered from the Mexican restaurant, the dawn from any sea dealing with spot.

An additional excellent photo spot is from the top of the hill at the Hyatt Regency, the beach route which operates from Red Sea Waterworld, earlier the Intercontinental, Marriott, Sofitel and Hyatt proceeds up this hill. That’s your sunrise prize photo. Quad cycling in Egypt is best booked with your tour owner as there are so many cowboy clothing enticing in risky practices. They’re very easily noticed, as their motorcycles are shabby looking, they’ll offer you a scarf alternatively than a crash helmet and heading take you via general public streets. Your insurance policies will never cover public roads or using without a crash helmet. In Taba, there is an outfit Quads Canyon who are associated to Red Sea Waterworld, and function with the same quality. Their one and two hours canyon rides are practically nothing quick of amazing, and they’re insured for children over six several years. All staff are crisis initial solution focused, and the bulk of their guests go back for a moment spin!

Horse riding is obtainable in Dahab, but you need to be mindful. As a qualified instructor and very experienced rider, I’d be anxious about beginner riders doing this activity. The horse tack departs a good deal to be wanted, girth (the strap that holds the saddle on) needs your eye to verify. There need to be 2 independent short straps identified under the saddle flap, one with 2 buckles, and the other with 1. It is crucial that the 2 buckles on the actual strap that goes around the horse are mounted one on each separate short strap, leaving the short strap with 2 buckles with 1 free. If your girth breaks, this means you and the saddle will not likely come off the horse.

Every single time I’ve ridden there, there has been a discrepancy on this. You also need sneakers with a low heel, NOT trainers and certainly not change – flops or sandals. The tongue of your trainer receives trapped in your stirrup, and if you drop off – you will be dragged, likely at pace. They do not offer hats which are absolutely essential but if you ask, they do provide hats and leg chaps. Many of their horses have no brakes, so make sure you are reasonable about your ability! Taking stated all that, I have experienced many a wonderful experience riding there on their beautiful but frisky Arab horses.

Other suggested objects to do and see from Taba include the Bedouin evening with dinner and stargazing in the desert, a visit to the Monastery of St Catherine and Mount Sinai and a visit to Dahab to loosen up at the beach entrance restaurants. You can shop in Taba Heights; there is a resort segment with many stores and facilities. The Salt Cave there not only offers the cave experience but sells Dead Sea merchandise. There are numerous artist and craft shops, memento shops, a wonderful fragrance shop, jewelry, apparel and traditional shops. This is the one place in Egypt you will shop with zero headache!

The shop house owners are forbidden by Orascom from getting pushy or hassling anyone to buy. They will make you tea – the perfume shop is a great place for tea, and you are certain to leave smelling wonderful even without having invested one penny! April to November at Taba Heights offers a free of charge competition every Friday. E-book the Flying Carpet, outside the house desk and you’ve front row view of the phase to watch the traditional demonstrate, live band usually of gentle rock style and a disco after – something for each person.

Taba offers a unique and very special experience, bringing visitors back continuously to their recently found corner of the world. There are no banging clubs, bars or discotheques in Taba, entertainment is primarily limited to the hotels. Taba Heights is a resort especially ideal to people with young children, partners, retired people, enthusiasts, honeymooners, single people and people with a feeling of journey who want to explore by availing of what is actually perhaps the best excursion choice in the world. Occur to Taba!

The post Egypt’s Best Kept Secret – Taba and Taba Heights, South Sinai appeared first on Beautiful Women.

source http://topbeautifulwomen.com/egypts-best-kept-secret-taba-and-taba-heights-south-sinai/