Ballpark Eats

by Erik Olsen on

A somewhat non-travel-related piece, but
one dear to my heart. It has long been a complaint of mine that ballparks serve such crappy food. Ballpark owners and
vendors seemed for so long to believe people when they sand “Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks” as if that’s all
anyone wanted. I went to Camden Yards way back when it opened as was psyched to see they were actually serving decent
grub. Yankee Stadium, meanwhile was way slow on the uptake.

So here’s a cool little piece on NPR about
how the ball parks are going haute cuisine. A trend who’s time has certainly come.

Blogging for Pennsylvania

by Adrienne Wilson on

In an effort to get more camera-snapping tourist revenue in the state of Pennsylvania, the state
tourism office has called upon six very different, real individuals to hit the road
and start blogging.  Pause right there. That almost sounded like an introduction to the Real World, but
looking at the new VisitPA site it almost feels like it.  (What I am really
trying to say is two things here.  One, I am slightly a product of way too much MTV.  Second, all the good
intentions they had with the show actually made into the blog.)  Moving along…

When CNN covered the site I couldn’t
help but, to check it out as a blogger myself.  They’ve really got some good travel blogs going on
Pennsylvania.  A little bit longer in form, I picked on the ‘Hipster Roadtrippers,’ Mike and Tamara’s blog to tell
me about all the
really incredible
sites in Amish country, cozy B&B’s, and even Smorgasborg.  Something about their travel tale’s really
made me want to get over to Pennsylvania – fast!  Maybe it was milking the cow.

It’s really worth looking into if you are planning a visit to the state anytime soon.  They’ve got a blogger
there for everyone and every possible interest. 

Eating on Taipei’s Toilets

by Adrienne Wilson on

Wow!  Wait, let me try that again. WoWoWoWoW!  Cool Hunting is
an awesome blog I just happen to come across through several random
mouse clicks and with one last click, I book marked the travel section.  An eclectic
mixture of all things cool and possibly some guilty pleasures, they really managed to dig up some interesting spots to
eat, stay, and play.  

This restaurant found in Taipei, Taiwan is completely based around a toilet theme.  In fact it’s called
the Toilet Restaurant.  So if what goes in, must come
out, why not eat your beef noodle, Chinese dumpling, or Paigufan on the commode?

This one definitely gets two cool thumbs up!

Gadling Podcast: Quit Your job

by Erik Olsen on

It is my
guess that very few folks know that June 24th is the International Day of
Leisure. I didn’t. But that doesn’t mean it’s not something to add to your calendar. But more than that, I wonder
how many have ever considered taking not just a day, but a whole year off. Ditching the cube and the bleat of the fax
machine for 365 days of travel or self-improvement?

Well, that’s what our newest podcast is all
about. Our interview is with is with Dean LaTourrette and Kristine Enea, the authors of the new book: Time Off: The Upside to Downtime. These two "leisure
experts" explain how they came to write the book, and tell some stories and details about how you, too, can bail
for a year…or a month…or however long it takes you to make your life a little richer.

Give a
listen.

Host: Erik Olsen.
Format: 22 minutes

SF’s Angel Market

by Erik Olsen on

A food story for you.

NPR has got a cool audio piece on SF’s
Angel Market today. Bay Area bohemians will probably know the market well, even though no one seems to know who opened
the market over 100 years ago. Today, it’s run by George and Alice Sacca, who have owned Angel’s for the last decade.
The market is a HUGELY popular place to get just about everything you need for fine city living. The piece here is part
of NPR’s very enjoyable series on hidden
kitchens…something New Yorkers certainly know a lot about as the city is filled with them.