Gadling TAKE FIVE: Week June 21–June 27

by Jamie Rhein on

With stock prices plummeting, the Midwest flooding, and all other difficulties in the world, I looked over the Gadling posts this week for the cheery and creative stuff.

  • George Carlin’s death wasn’t cheery news, but Aaron’s post made me laugh. He recounted one of George Carlin’s routines, “A Place for My Stuff.” That’s cheery and creative.
  • Kelsey told us that if your car breaks down on a highway in Mexico, the Green Angels will come to save you. This is cheery news to know.
  • If you don’t have the money to travel around the world, Jeremy suggested The Brickskeller in Washington, D.C. Here you can drink your way around the world. That’s one creative way to experience an aspect of various countries from the comfort of a bar stool.
  • When it comes to that perfect signature piece of furniture, Anna pointed out airplane drink trolleys. They have been jazzed up for the home. Heather was cheered by that news, and they certainly are creative.
  • And Abha wrote about “Buns and Guns” an eatery in Lebanon that, if nothing else, is creative.

But, the most cheery of all is Matt Harding’s video “Dancing 2008.” If you haven’t seen it, you are missing out. I’ve watched it at least eight times.

Here’s hoping you have a cheery weekend and that you find something creative to do.

Excuse me, are you Jewish? The ethics of ordering a special meal on plane

by Iva Skoch on

I frequently order special meals on planes. Why, you ask? They are usually much better than the standard in-flight fare you get.

I am neither a vegetarian nor a practicing Jew, yet I order vegetarian, kosher, low-sodium, or any other alternative I get, rather than ordering the standard salt-packed meal. I never thought twice about it.

My sister’s recent experience changed that.

For her recent Czech Air flight from Prague to New York, my sister ordered a kosher meal. When distributing meals, the flight attendant came over and asked her:
“Excuse me, did you order a kosher meal?”
“Yes.”
“Are you Jewish?” the attendant asked.
“Why do you ask?” she replied.
“Well random people sometimes order kosher out of curiosity and then they don’t like it.”
Sigh.

I don’t know about you, but this strikes me as incredibly rude. Asking a customer what religion they are in front of a plane load of people? I don’t think so.

It got me thinking though. Do airlines frown upon people ordering special meals just out of curiosity? Is it ethical to order kosher even if you are not Jewish? I, personally, don’t think so. If it’s offered, it’s fair game.

Perhaps Heather, Gadling’s own galley expert, could help us out here?

Take a beer trip around the world in Washington DC

by Jeremy Kressmann on

I love beer. For me, beer is also a drink that goes hand-in-hand with travel. It’s available just about everywhere from Asia to America to Africa, yet no two places are alike when it comes to the preferred local brand. One of the first things I do when I arrive in a new place is try out the local beer. My reaction is usually a good sign of things to come. Is the beer watered-down and tasteless? Not a good sign for the rest of my trip.

Thankfully this past weekend I found myself in Washington DC, home of the beer paradise that is The Brickskeller. This beer institution in our nation’s capital has one of the most extensive beer lists anywhere in the world, boasting a place in the Guinness Book of World Records with over 1,000 offerings in-house. Ever tried a smoked beer from Germany? Take a pick from their numerous list. Wonder what beer from Ecuador tastes like? Not good. Looking for a classic Belgian Trappist beer? The Brickskeller has got you covered there too. There are so many beer choices at The Brickskeller that you’ll be full (or drunk) before you even scratch the surface.

If you find yourself absorbing some culture in Washington this summer, head up to the city’s DuPont Circle neighborhood and sample a few bottles of your favorite domestic or foreign brew. And make sure to try a few you’ve never heard of – it’s sure to impress your globetrotting friends.

Looking for more spots to quench your thirst? Check out this previous Gadling list of the best places for beer.

Terrorist themed restaurant in Lebanon

by Abha Malpani on

Who said terrorism and violence couldn’t be laughed at, or to that matter, even eaten!? Fast food restaurant “Buns and Guns” in Beirut allows you to do both.

In a space decorated as if a military post (with weapons, ammunition and camouflage netting hanging from the ceiling), this eatery serves “rocket propelled grenade” (chicken on a skewer), “terrorist bread” and other dishes called Kalashnikov, Dragunov, Viper and B52.

This concept is unique and the owner says that it’s successful as people laugh before they ask any questions. I guess the second meaning of “buns” is out of context for people who speak English as a second language, so with that in mind, the name is smart and the motto is even smarter: “A sandwich can kill you”. The image is the menu. Apparently, people eat to the sound of guns rather than elevator music — perhaps the only disturbing element of the diner.

When I lived in Dubai, I worked with and encountered many Lebanese people and one thing that stood out about most of them was their great sense of humor. When such a war torn country can take a serious issue and knock some giggles into it tastefully (in this case, literally!), it’s refreshing.

InBev’s offer to Anheuser-Busch: What do you think?

by Aaron Hotfelder on

On my first trip abroad, I was appalled that none of my travel companions– mostly Australians, Britons, Germans, and Swedes– had ever heard of my hometown, St. Louis, Missouri.

I eventually ended up telling them, during the course of the where-are-you-from game that travelers play, that I lived “near Chicago.” Such humiliation is outmatched only by that of a native Bostonian who’s forced to tell his fellow travelers that he lives “near New York.”

Before long, I realized that although relatively few people outside the US knew of St. Louis, almost everyone was familiar with Budweiser, the sweet nectar made by St. Louis’ largest corporate resident, Anheuser-Busch. The recent offer to A-B from InBev, a massive Belgian-Brazilian brewery company, has got me thinking about how I’ll identify myself abroad if the deal goes through. “Yeah, St. Louis. You know, the North American headquarters of InBev, a corporation based in Beuven, Belgium.”

I guess I should prepare myself for a lot of blank stares. Either that, or I’ll just tell them I live near Chicago.

Elsewhere: In its “What do you think?” feature, The Onion asks “random” people on the street for their reactions to the proposed sale of Anheuser-Busch to Inbev.

Says one man: “Those greedy Belgians. First they annex the German districts of Eupen-Malmedy in 1919, and now this.”

Says another: “St. Louis is not about to give up its last remaining source of hometown pride after losing Scott Bakula to Hollywood.”