Cool Bowling Lanes in Big Cities

by Adrienne Wilson on

With the opening of a new upmarket
bowling alley in London there comes good news and bad. The good news according to Wallpaper* who provided the scoop in their latest online
edition is the place is already packed with West London "trendies." The bad news is the diner-style food is
not so bueno. Unless it affects your ability to do so, they recommend you stick to the cocktails when attempting to
bowl a strike at All Star Lanes.

Personally, I love these
stylish and contemporary alley interiors despite cruddy food. If I want more appetizing I’ll usually sign my name on
the enormous wait list and head over to the nearest restaurant to kill time while noshing on better fare. Reading their
short write-up prompts me to list a few similar trendy spots in big cities to get your bowl on:

  • Lucky Strike – Located smack dab in the middle of Hollywood you’re
    bound to catch site of a celeb on a lucky night.
  • Kings Back Bay –
    Big Boston bowling spot with mixed reviews, but head in to decide for yourself.
  • Splitsville – Still relatively new in Tampa, FL and always packed on the
    weekends. Arrive early or anticipate waiting.
  • 10pin Bowling
    Lounge     – Chicago’s upscale lounge and alley with a twist.
  • Pin-Up
    Bowl     – Mid-West best in good old St. Louis, MO – nabbed a spot the Conde Nast Hot Nights list in 04′.

Daring Scottish Kilts

by Neil Woodburn on

There is
perhaps no item of clothing more evocative of ancient cultures than the Scottish kilt.  I always do a double-take
when one crosses my path, usually in a parade or some type of festive gathering I’ve stumbled across while
abroad.  But, to see a kilt outside of such circumstances is always a little unnerving.  To see such a kilt
in anything other than the traditional checkered pattern with bagpipe accessory is even more so.

If Edinburgh designer Howie
Nicholsby has his way, however, we’ll be seeing a whole lot more of this—whether we are in Scotland or
elsewhere.

Nicholsby is adding a modern flair to his kilt creations
that pushes the limits of manhood far beyond the massive cojones normally required for an adult male to wear a
skirt.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love the tradition of the Scottish kilt.  I think they’re really
cool.  It’s just that Nicholsby gets just a little too wacky here.  Many of his creations are remarkably
stylish and surprisingly hip, but others are overly flamboyant and garish in a terribly emasculating way.  When I
see kilts made of green plastic or silk brocade I’ve got to ask myself, “What would Sean Connery
think?”

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Scotland but can anyone step in and tell me if this is a
growing trend?  Is there a resurgence of stylish kilts parading about Edinburgh?  Or is this just an isolated
fad?  Sean, are you out there?

 

Survival International & Baka Beyond

by Adrienne Wilson on

Survival International is an organization that has long helped tribal
people defend their lives, land and determine their own futures. Together with a group of Baka musicians from the Cameroonian rainforest they are hoping to spread the word
internationally about the forest dwellers who are being overlooked and persecuted by local and global organizations.
The Baka’s music is apart of everyday life where the villagers are often woken by women singing
"Yelli" to bring animals from the forest for successful hunting. When they bathe in the river there
seems to be music too. The opportunity to witness Baka Beyond during their upcoming
tour in April-May is one that shouldn’t be missed. Come for their intricate sounds, learn of the people, their
situation and lend your hand in their struggle.

As of right now all tour dates are solely in the UK,
beginning April 30 in Westonbirt. For a full tour listing click here.

Three Best Road Trips in the World

by Neil Woodburn on

Road trips are the bread and butter of the travel world.  It is so very easy to simply throw some gear in
the car and head north or west or whatever direction you choose with the realization that the very best road trips are
those where the destination is actually secondary to the journey itself. 

Since nearly anything involving a car and a passenger constitutes a road trip, I found it rather ambitious that
The Sunday Times tried narrowing down the three very best in the world.  And
frankly, they do a pretty good job of it, detailing daily itineraries, places to stay, things to see while driving and
even the best type of car to rent (and where to rent it). 

And what are the three best road trips in the world?  Well, Pacific Coast Highway in
California is the first on the list, as well it should be.  Although the trip can be done in one long day, The
Sunday Times provides an amazingly detailed itinerary for an entire week. 

Lake Garda and the Dolomites come in at number two on the list.  This tour of the lake
country in Northern Italy sounds simply magical, winding along cliffs, lakes, mountain passes and jaw-dropping
scenery. 

Number three is a drive through the western highlands of Scotland.  This journey leaves from
Glasgow and heads past a number of lochs and glens before riding along the coast up to the majestic Isle of
Skye.  

Top 50 Foods to Eat Before You Die

by Erik Olsen on

In the
spirit of the book, the 1000 things to Do before You Die, a glorified Lifelist book (which, I confess, I wish I’d written), the good folks
at Slashfood bring us a wonderful post on the Top 50 foods to eat before you
die…

Well, actually the list comes from the BBC..and those Brits know something about food, don’t
they?…and comes from a voting effort to get viewers and readers to list those food items they most enjoy. Now, I
apologize, but I have to say the list is rather lame. Check ot the top ten items:

   1. Fresh
fish
   2. Lobster
   3. Steak
   4. Thai food
   5.
Chinese food
   6. Ice cream
   7. Pizza
   8. Crab
   9.
Curry
  10. Prawns

Thai food? How general is that? See what I mean? Now, if they’d said, Red Curry
from Topaz Thai on 56th Street, well, now we’re talking. So while I offer the link, I  will say up front I’m rather
disappointed in the list.