SkyMall Monday: Tex The Armadillo Can Holder

by Mike Barish on

The NFL playoffs are heating up and soon people will be gathering for Super Bowl parties all across the world. The problem with Super Bowl parties – and all winter parties for that matter – is that cold weather requires you to entertain your guests indoors. That means that your home could sullied by muddy shoes, clumsy drunks and, perhaps worst of all, inconsiderate people who don’t use coasters. There may be nothing worse after a party than discovering that your coffee table has a brand new ring-shaped stain thanks to someone leaving their glass directly on the wood. Here at the SkyMall Monday headquarters, my girlfriend monitors coaster usage like Secret Service watches the president (not counting that unsightly Kennedy assassination). The problem with coasters, however, is that they are either woefully boring or horribly kitschy. It’s challenging to find something that will protect your surfaces from drinks while also spotlighting your interior decorating skills, impeccable taste and sophisticated character. That is, until now. Thanks to SkyMall, your drinks can now have a safe and attractive home that will make all of your party guests green with envy. Feast your eyes on Tex the Armadillo Can Holder.Coasters can only do so much. While they protect tables and countertops, they don’t prevent glasses from being knocked over. That’s where Tex comes in. Armadillos, unlike humans, hold beer cans using not only their hands, but also their tails. That third support point is what separates them from their human overlords. You see, tail support is key for balancing your brew and keeping its thick rich head from ever staining your table.

Think that an Armadillo-shaped beer can holder is tacky? Believe that there is nothing wrong with plain old coasters? Well, while you polish all of your hardwood for the third time today, the rest of us will be reading the product description:

Protect your beverage of choice until you’re ready to uncap and unwind! Our rough-n-ready armadillo, Tex, is a sure-fire conversation piece from his textured armor to his whiplash tail.

Coasters are only conversation pieces until drinks have been set down upon them. After that, they are concealed and forgotten. Meanwhile, Tex is always on display and ready to entertain your guests once you’ve gotten too drunk to be interesting.

No matter what the reason for your party, you’ll want to keep your home immaculate. So, whether it’s for the Super Bowl, the Oscars or your brother-in-law’s overdue circumcision, keep your tables clean with Tex the Armadillo Can Holder.

Check out all of the previous SkyMall Monday posts HERE.

Daily Pampering: Prague’s The Augustine luxe beer spa treatment

by McLean Robbins on

Prague’s luxe hotel The Augustine, which overlooks the Wallenstein Gardens, is a historic seven-building complex that includes the St. Thomas Monastery – a building that dates back to the 13th century. The monastery is also the home of St. Thomas beer, the brewing of which can be traced back to 1352.

Yeah, yeah, so we all know you’d like a glass of the frosty stuff. But what about a pampering treatment featuring the brew? The Augustine spa’s signature treament blends beer and hops flowers to create a luxe 90 minute package that’s surely less caloric than a few classes of the dark stuff.

This treatment starts with a relaxing footbath before moving on to a scrub of carefully blended Himalayan salts and hops flowers that are said to help improve the skin’s tone, increase blood circulation and combat dryness.

Hops, a key ingredient in beer counter cell damage and can also help to reduce blood pressure and levels of insulin in the blood. Beer can help to increase the level of HDL (beneficial cholesterol) in the body, decrease the likelihood of blood clots, and raise the level of antioxidants.

A relaxing scalp and full body massage finishes the treatment. We’re hoping a glass of the hotel’s signature brew is also available? The 90-minute treatment is $201, give or take a few pennies for the exchange rate.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Worlds most expensive beer made from Antarctic ice

by Kraig Becker on

Australian beer maker Nail Brewing revealed the secret behind its latest ale, which set a new record for the most expensive beer ever produced when it was sold at auction last month. The new limited edition brew, which was produced and sold for charity, was made from melted Antarctic ice.

Dubbed Antarctic Nail Ale, the beer first went on the auction block to raise money for the Sea Sheperd Conservation Society, an organization dedicated to protecting whales and other sealife around the globe. On November 3, a single bottle sold for an amazing $800 AUD (roughly $780), setting the new record for the worlds most expensive beer in the process. That auction was just the warm-up however, as another bottle went up for sale on November 19, smashing the new record. That second bottle sold for a whopping $1850 AUD ($1805)!

The beer was created by John Stallwood, the owner of Nail Brewing. Stallwood’s brother-in-law is part of the crew on board a Sea Sheperd ship, and recently visited an iceberg floating in the waters off Antarctica. He collected some of the ice there and flew it back to Tasmania, where it was melted and then passed on to Stallwood to use in the beer.

I’ve had some expensive beer before, but $1850 for a single bottle? I’d have to nurse that one for a really long time.

Photo of the day (12.2.10)

by Meg Nesterov on

Seeing animals in the wild can be one of the highlights of any trip, especially when everyone comes out of it with all body parts intact. Flickr user kumukulanui captured this “Emu intensity” in Perth, Western Australia. I love the emu’s soulful eyes and curious/bordering-on-scary expression. I don’t know how the meeting will end, but I’m glad to have caught a moment. Emus are native to Australia and quite bold about approaching human, particularly when they have food, and have also inspired the Perth-brewed Emu Beer.

Have any interesting animal encounters on your travels? Add your pix to the Gadling Flickr pool and we may use one for a future Photo of the Day.

Could you live in Portland?

by Jeremy Kressmann on

There will be a moment during your visit to Portland, Oregon when you’ll have an epiphany. Maybe it won’t happen during your blissful stroll through one the city’s giant public parks, your nostrils fresh with the scent of pine trees and clean air. And it might not hit you during your $3 lunch at one of Portland’s plentiful food carts, your taste buds humming to a savory, cheesy mac n’ cheese made with locally produced Tillamook Cheddar. It might not even cross your mind as you get lost in aisles of Powell’s, a temple of a bookstore that fills an entire city block. But at some point you’ll be overwhelmed by how much you’re enjoying yourself and start to wonder: could I live in Portland? Why am I not here already?

Portland is a place that seems as if it was created with travelers in mind. Everything about it, from the city’s accessible size and convenient public transportation, to its killer food and beer culture, top-notch shopping and easy access to nature, is made to appeal to the visitor in ways that feel welcoming, inspiring and surprising. In a word: wonderful. Sure, as a visitor it’s easy enough to glance over the city’s problems: the unemployment rate is currently hovering above 10%, and for much of the year the city is shrouded in a gloomy, misty haze of rain. But these facts ultimately pale in comparison to the reasons why Portland is such a forward-thinking, livable destination.

Could you live in Portland? Or maybe you’re just curious about making a visit? Keep reading below for our Portland tips.Getting in, getting around
Portland visitors will arrive at Portland International Airport (PDX), located about 45 minutes from the downtown city proper. Don’t bother with a taxi – for just over $2, you can jump on the clean, speedy Light Rail to whisk you towards downtown. Public transport is a big win here: a one-day pass covering rides on all city light rail, bus and street car lines is just $4.75. Travelers who are renting/driving a car will find there’s ample street parking, though the city does have occasional traffic gridlock (no place is without a few flaws, right?).

Orientation
Portland is bisected by the Willamette River, and most addresses and neighborhoods identified by their relationship to this body of water. On the West side of the River you’ll find Portland’s main commercial center. Just North of this (in the Northwest) is the Pearl District, a humming district of art galleries, shopping and killer cuisine. In the NW, the area along 23rd Avenue is also popular for shopping.

The East side of Portland is decidedly more low-key, but definitely worth a visit. In the Northeast you’ll find plenty to check out on Mississippi Avenue. The happening Southeast is anchored by plenty of great dining and shopping along Hawthorne Boulevard.

What to do
With so much to see, eat, buy and explore in Portland, a better question for first-time visitors might be, what shouldn’t you do?

  • Have a brew – like beer? Welcome to Nirvana. Boasting one of the largest concentrations of microbreweries in the country, you’d be hard-pressed to come to Portland and not enjoy one of the town’s outstanding, locally-crafted beers.Though you can’t go wrong at most bars, spots like Deschutes, Henry’s Tavern and Laurelwood get consistently high marks.
  • Eat out – not only is Portland a great town for beer, it’s also a great town for outrageously fresh, delicious food. One of the greatest features of Portland is the city’s many cheap food carts. Ditch that bland bag lunch and track down tasty fare with the locals, like Schnitzel sandwiches and tip-top Thai food at Nong’s. At night, head to the SE for dinner at Pok Pok, one of Portland’s best restaurants.
  • Parks – Portland’s reputation for livability and beauty has a lot to do with the city’s plentiful parkland. It’s a great way to spend the day, enjoying a blissful trail hike, riding a bike or simply stopping to smell the roses. Check out Forest Park, one of the nation’s largest urban parks. During the summer, stop by Portland’s Rose Garden for thousands of the colorful flowers overlooking the city’s downtown.
  • Shop local – the diversity and quality of Portland’s small-scale retail is unmatched. Visitors will be hard-pressed to track down a chain store and everywhere you look are creative, one-of-a-kind handmade goods. The mother of all bookstores is Powell’s, a modern-day “Great Library” bursting with new and used tomes. Music lovers flock to stores like Mississippi Records in Portland’s Northeast.

Killer food and drink. Blissful nature. Quirky local shopping. What’s not to like about Portland? Perhaps it’s time you came to check out this buzzing Pacific Northwest capital for yourself. But consider yourself warned – spend a weekend in Portland and you’ll come away wanting more.