Obama adding umph to the Land of Lincoln and Winfrey

by Jamie Rhein on

Barack Obama’s new status as the president-to-be has added a boost to Illinois tourism. Already tourists are showing up to frequent the places Obama has frequented. Want to see where he used to get his haircut before the Secret Service said, “No way,” to the large plate glass windows? Head to Hyde Park Salon and Barber Shop. Even though Obama won’t be there, (the barber now goes to him) you can see the chair where he once sat.

If eating where Obama heads with Michelle on date nights is what you’re after, head to Medici on 57th Street in Chicago. There you can join the 3,000 other folks who have bought “Obama Eats Here” T-Shirts.

For some inspiration, tour the Old Statehouse in Springfield where Obama gave two campaign speeches, or stand in Grant Park in Chicago and imagine the crowd on election night when history was made.

The Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau’s homepage has been changed to reflect the flurry of tourists interested in Obama travel. There’s a link to “Presidential Chicago” that highlights the places Obama has frequented and provides addresses and contact information. One of them is Maria Pinto Boutique, the designer who is a fave of both Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.

For more Obama travel ideas and information, check out this AP article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. It’s where I found out about these details, except for the info about Obama’s barber. I read about that in an article earlier this week about how Obama has had to change his patterns for security reasons. If you see a gaggle of Secret Service members, Obama might be close by. Keep an eye out.

Photo of the Day (11.15.08)

by Anna Brones on


I picked this photo, because often some of the best photography is about making the mundane interesting. Although airports are full of people and constant activity, it’s probably not on the top list of photography destinations. But in this photo, Tapeleg manages to find a creative angle to shoot a scene that travelers probably don’t even give a second thought to. I think it’s the use of lines in this view of the Denver International Airport, and the fact that there are no people in the foreground, giving the shot a very clean feel.

Do you have a shot that should be considered for Photo of the Day? Submit it to the Gadling Flickr pool.

Traveling Solo: You Are Not Alone

by Brenda Yun on

I just moved out of my parents’ house and into a one-bedroom apartment about fifteen minutes away by car. While this does not sound like a daunting “trip,” there is more to living alone than meets the eye. In fact, as I type this with no other sound but the whir of my bedroom fan, I am reminded of the pangs of loneliness that I occasionally feel when traveling solo on the far reaches of this planet.

Loneliness is a very tricky matter. I feel loneliness now, despite being just ten miles from where I spent my adolescence. I feel loneliness all the time when I’m traveling, too. Yet there is a distinct difference between the two. The loneliness of travel is surprisingly easier.

Let me explain.
When you’re out in the world by yourself, traveling with just a backpack and maybe not even knowing a lick of the native language, you are already out of your element. Your “survival of the fittest” instinct will inevitably kick in and you will (trust me, you will) make genuine efforts to get out and explore the place around you. Once you step your foot out of your hostel and into the unknown, you won’t let yourself turn around and seek refuge in your room. Instead, you will want to see that world around you because it is so unfamiliar and because you have the cultural curiosity of what awaits you around the street corner (otherwise, you wouldn’t have traveled so far away from home, right?).

On the flip side, when you are sitting in your apartment by yourself, in an environment that is familiar (my high school is just five blocks from here), there is less excitement about what’s around the corner because you know what’s there (in my case, there’s a sushi shop, hairdresser, laundromat, market, and coffee shop). And you don’t HAVE to leave the confines of your home. There’s always tomorrow.

In the end, while it appears to be a difficult and scary thing, traveling solo is actually easier than living at home alone. I promise. If you’ve dealt with loneliness at home, then you can certainly get out there and explore the world on your own. Tell it Brenda sent you.

Daily deal – Koss mini MP3 player speaker – free + $4 shipping

by Scott Carmichael on

My daily deal for today is for the Koss SA-10 portable speaker dock.

This AA powered mini speaker plugs directly into the headphone jack of your iPod, or any other MP3 player with a regular headphone jack.

The 2 AA batteries keep the speakers powered for up to 10 hours of continuous playback.

The Koss SA-10 is on sale at 1 Sale A Day, and is being sold for $0. Of course, the catch is that you need to pay $3.99 for shipping. Even after the fairly high shipping charge, these speakers are a fantastic deal, and perfect for bringing along on your next trip if you want some music in your hotel room.

Putting out fake fires

by Jerry Guo on

Ever wondered what the scene of a runway accident looks like? This might be the closest you’ll get: one photographer has captured some interesting shots of crews going through air disaster simulations.

Apparently at JFK, you can actually see the simulation rig they use–“an intimidating black oblong structure situated dangerously close to one of the runways.”

The photographer also traveled to the sites of a few actual accidents, which provides for more of a somber mood. Check it all out here.

But remember, flying is still much safer than driving!