Bed-Stuy's Do or Dine has been closed for just under a year, its storefront sitting vacant since the sudden shuttering of the experimental New American restaurant. Now though, a team familiar to Brooklyn boozehounds is taking it over, as Sal Fristensky and Bill Mack of Lucky Dog, Skinny Dennis, Rocka Rolla and George & Jack's have opened their first Brooklyn bar outside Williamsburg, turning the popular restaurant space into a bar called Do or Dive. [ more › ]
yesterday when i got out of the pool someone said "the mayor just arrived!"
Still angry about a lower-than-hoped-for pay raise, members of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association this morning tried to hit Mayor Bill de Blasio where it hurts: in Park Slope. The mayor famously returns to his old neighborhood/comfort blanket several days a week, having his police detail drive him the 11 miles from Gracie Mansion to the Prospect Park YMCA for a low-impact workout, typically arriving at around 9 a.m. As a New York Times reporter observed recently in a deep dive look at the mayor's exercise habits, "[I]t is, in many respects, a routine that most busy people can only dream of." [ more › ]
If you're itching to get outside this summer (seriously, who isn't?), help bridge the time between nature walks by bringing the most beautiful parts of the outdoors inside. With a little DIY inspiration, garden blooms turn into wall hangings, a slice from a fallen tree becomes a side table, collected leaves transform into art. Grab a few basics from the crafts supply store and finds provided by Mother Nature—and your home will look like a nature sanctuary in one afternoon.
432 Park is a horrible, no-good, evil building—visually, politically, and spiritually.
Are you relatively new to this bustling metropolis? Don't be shy about it, everyone was new to New York once upon a time, except, of course, those battle-hardened residents who've lived here their whole lives and Know It All. One of these lifers works among us at Gothamist—publisher Jake Dobkin grew up in Park Slope and still resides there. He is now fielding questions—ask him anything by sending an email here, but be advised that Dobkin is "not sure you guys will be able to handle my realness." We can keep you anonymous if you prefer; just let us know what neighborhood you live in. [ more › ]
There's stiff competition for the title of "cutest thing on the Internet." This cat petting a lamb and these stoned sloths are top contenders, to name a few. But the Instagram account for The Kangaroo Sanctuary in Alice Springs, Australia just might take the cake.
At the sanctuary, Chris 'Brolga' Barnes takes in orphaned kangaroos, many of whose parents have been hit by cars. The center also includes a kangaroo hospital for rescued wildlife with injuries. You can even visit to hold a joey yourself, according to the sanctuary's website.
Really, though, it just seems like a thinly veiled plot to take over the world while we're all distracted by adorable animals.
The kangaroos in the photos look surprisingly human-like.
Banchan, side dishes that are a fundamental part of any Korean meal, enjoy a moment as the main attraction at Atoboy, opening tomorrow on East 28th Street just off Park Avenue. Inside the railroad-style restaurant, whose walls flip between raw industrial and polished paint, husband and wife team Chef Junghyun "JP" Park and Ellia Park are turning banchan into a tasting menu of sorts, though with more flexibility in the hands of the diner. Pick three items from their list—which starts light and moves heavy as you read from top to bottom—for a tapas-type experience with a fixed price. [ more › ]
Currently entrapped in summer's sweaty mitts? For the overheated amongst us, here's a solution to those miserable spots that are sans-air conditioning: a personal, portable AC.
I have spent the last two days Googling "symptoms of heat exhaustion," which is a Very Real Thing I probably do not have. But I might have it after this weekend, and you might too—New York's about to get enveloped by a "heat dome," which, like Spam and Vice President Pence, is just as terrible as it sounds. We warned you. [ more › ]
The lottery, as a wise man once said, should really be called the jack squattery because that's all you'll probably ever win in it. Forget those normally wise words though, because today a lottery opens that has a prize more valuable than money: affordable housing in New York City. [ more › ]
We'd say don't mess with something as perfectly simple as the garlic knot, but then again the pretzel croissant is mind-blowing, so sometimes the classics benefit from some tinkering. At Gristmill, which opened in Park Slope this week, the pizzeria staples get tossed in "everything" seasonings, black pepper and herb varieties. The knots are made from two different types of flour, too: a spelt variety from Four Star Farms and a high extraction from Farmer Brown. Leftover pizza dough this is not. [ more › ]
For many Americans, the U.S. nuclear testing of the late 1940s and '50s might seem like a distant memory — or something that has been forgotten altogether. But for the 13,000 residents of Ebeye Island in Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, the aftermath of missile testing is very real. Atomic Dust, a 2014 photo series by documentary photographer Vlad Sokhin shows the fallout on Ebeye, a tiny island that has been plagued with overcrowding, poverty, and outbreaks of disease.
In the 1940s, residents were moved to Ebeye Island, that's around half-way between Australia and Hawaii, from nearby Marshall Islands when the U.S. Army launched the missile-testing program "Operation Crossroads." In 1954, the military detonated a nuclear bomb on one of the northern Marshall Islands' Bikini Atoll, under the code name "Castle Bravo." It was the largest-ever U.S. nuclear test and made the island unlivable, forcing residents who had been moved ahead of the blast to stay on Ebeye.
As the nuclear tests continued in the Marshall Islands, Ebeye became more and more crowded, leading to outbreaks of various diseases, including cholera, measles, and polio.
Refinery29 has reached out to the U.S. Army for comment and will update this story when we get a response.
The United States has "expressed regret" about the accident, according to a statement on the website for the U.S. Embassy in Majuro.
"While international scientists did study the effects of that accident on the human population unintentionally affected, the United States never intended for Marshallese to be hurt by the tests," the statement reads. "Today, the United States is committed to a full and open collaboration with the Republic of the Marshall Islands in radiological monitoring, rehabilitation of affected atolls, and nuclear-related health-care assistance."
As The Washington Post notes, the U.S. Army still "operates a missile test range" on the neighboring Marshall island, Kwajalein Atoll. The ongoing U.S. missile testing still affects the health of Ebeye residents today, according to Sokhin. The tests can lead to the flu, pink eye, and other ailments, an employee at an Ebeye hospital told the photographer.
Refinery29 talked to Sokhin about life on Ebeye and what he hopes people will take away from his photo series.
Click through to see what life is like for the residents of Ebeye.
Kaelyn Forde contributed reporting.
How did you first become aware of the situation in Ebeye?
"Since 2012, I have worked in the Pacific region. I've decided to focus on Oceania, because it's a very underrepresented and underreported part of the world. I've spent several years working and traveling there and always look for the new stories. Marshall Islands was on my radar for a while, because of climate change."
Caption: Teenagers trying to catch a wave, surfing with any available floating materials.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
"Once, I met a person who worked for one of the charities years ago. He went to Ebeye in the 1990s to report on the situation of children there. He told me many stories about the 'Slum of the Pacific,' how difficult access was that time, and how a part of his report was censored by the U.S. military. It all sounded very interesting to me and I decided to go there and see if I could work on a photo project."
Caption: Ebeye Island has a population of more than 13,000 people, many of whom were relocated from other atolls as a result of nuclear testing that the American military began to conduct post-WWII. Ebeye subsequently became overpopulated and is informally known as the "Slum of the Pacific." Its people suffer numerous diseases and the mortality rate is one of the highest in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
What were your first thoughts when you traveled there?
"The first thing that you see while getting to Kwajalein Atoll is a U.S. military base. The security measures are very tight, the military personnel will check you many times before they escort you to a ferry terminal.
"Once you get on a ferry for a 20-minute ride to Ebeye, the first thing you see is a small strip of land. You can literally walk around the island in 20 minutes and it's hard to believe that more than 13,000 people live on it."
Caption: Residents and visitors return to Kwajalein Island from Ebeye on the free ferry operated by the U.S. Army. Only a few people have permission to enter the military base. Most of the foreigners that work on Ebeye travel to Kwajalein to catch a flight from the international airport that is located there and used by both military and civil aviation.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
"Half of the population are children. They are everywhere, playing sport games, hanging around, jumping, swimming, screaming...some areas, like North Camp, really look like a slum — people huddle in small houses made of particleboard or other makeshift materials — many of them have sewage problems. But generally, Ebeye looks clean, as residents try to maintain their island in good condition, despite all of the housing problems and overpopulation."
Caption: Hiroshi, 13, plays along with his friends on the rusty remains of machines abandoned on the coast of the island.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
In 1969, the United States began a project to "decontaminate Bikini Atoll," BBC News reports. Residents of the island returned in the 1970s, but they were evacuated after dangerous radiation levels were found in their bodies.
Caption: Children play among the detritus of a rubbish dump. Children and many unemployed adults often go to the dump in search of any discarded items that they can use.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
In 1985, the United States vowed to decontaminate Bikini Atoll over the next 15 years, according to BBC News. The U.S. ended its nuclear experiments in 1958, but according to a U.N. report in 2012, the tests' effects have caused "near-irreversible environmental contamination," according to The Guardian.
Caption: Children playing the 'Cemetery' game on one of the Ebeye's sandy beaches.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
What kind of health problems do the people who live there have?
"From my conversations with local residents and medical workers, I've found that they very often have outbreaks of infectious diseases. In 1963, a polio epidemic hit the island; the incidence of infection reached 91.3 per 1000 and caused 11 deaths and 212 recorded cases of full or partial paralysis. In the 2000s, measles, polio, cholera, and tuberculosis have become major diseases. I've met a few people with leprosy."
Caption: George Junior (24), a health worker at the Ebeye public hospital; with his wife, Angela (23); and children, Angeline (2) and Brangie (2 months), in their house. George says that every time the U.S. military test their ballistic missiles and the rains fall, the population of Ebeye gets sick with diarrhea, conjunctivitis, and the flu.
Caption: Mido, 78, spent most of her life on Ebeye. Now, she lives in an abandoned house with her daughter and grandchildren. As immigrants, they do not own land on the island and therefore are not allowed to build.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
What impact does ongoing testing have on the people who live there?
"Missile tests that U.S. military still conducts at Kwajalein Atoll are affecting the local population. According to George Junior, a health worker at Ebeye's hospital, and a few other people I have spoke to, during missiles tests, and especially if rain falls after them, the entire population of Ebeye gets sick. People have diarrhea, flu, and conjunctivitis. Such symptoms continue for 10 to 15 days. Then, people get better till the next testing time."
Caption: A boy stands on a rock in a rubbish dump and watches his friends play in the water. Although Ebeye's residents make a lot of efforts to keep their island clean, due the luck of regular collections, waste builds up at various dumps across the island.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
What obligation do you feel the U.S. has to the people there, in terms of cleaning up the damage they have caused and taking responsibility for their health problems?
"David Hanlon, in his book, Remaking Micronesia: Discourses Over Development in a Pacific Territory, 1944-1982, describes Ebeye as 'the most congested, unhealthful, and socially demoralized community in Micronesia.'" He adds that 'it is no accident that atmospheric nuclear testing took place in an area remote from the North-American continent and among people who were not white.'"
"People from Ebeye and other islands of R.M.I. are still being victims of the U.S. nuclear policy in the Pacific. In the past, they were relocated from their homes and got serious health issues. Nowadays, people still can't return to their home islands — some of them are still off-limits. It is true that some islands had a cleanup, but locals can't fish or grow food there, it is still not safe. Their daily ration is canned junk food imported from the States...my feeling is that despite all of the improvements the U.S. government made for these people, much more needs to be done. People need better housing, better access to health facilities, and a possibility to return to their native land, where it is safe to live, of course."
Caption: Children lying on mattresses placed on the floor of a room in an overcrowded house. Often, several families live in one home.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
In 2014, U.S. Ambassador Thomas Armbruster said that "words are insufficient to express the sadness" of the nuclear test's 60th anniversary that year, according to The Guardian. Ambruster noted that the U.S. is still working with the Marshall Islands to help islanders access health care.
Caption: Erina Paul, 55, near her house. Erina's family was relocated from Rongelap Atoll after Americans tested the "Castle Bravo" nuclear device on nearby Bikini Atoll. In 1963, Erina became paralyzed when the polio epidemic hit the island. Professional observers blamed the outbreak of polio in part on the American administration's failure to immunize the population of Ebeye against the disease, despite the existence of an approved, available, and cost-efficient vaccine.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
What were some of the stories they told you about how the testing has affected them?
"I've met some families who have children with disabilities. Their kids are paralyzed or born blind. The parents believe that this happened because of the nuclear tests that the U.S. government conducted in the Marshall Islands in the middle of the 20th century. I can't say that those tests have direct affection on children who were born a few generations after. My opinion is that the overpopulation and failure of American administration to immunize the fast-growing population of Ebeye are the real causes."
Caption: Patients in the waiting room of the renovated Leiroz Kit Lang Memorial Health Center.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
What is your advice for young people who want to use photography to draw attention to social justice issues, as you have?
"My advice to young photographers is to work as much as you can. Work hard, make the results of your work visible, and you will have success as a photographer. Your work might help people whose stories you are telling through your lens."
Caption: Ebeye residents look toward the Kwajalein Atoll's outer islands. For many, they were once home. Of the atoll's 97 islands, 11 were rented to the U.S. military for use in the missile-defense program and are closed to the public. Residents of several other islands of the so-called Mid-Corridor group can get to their home island only during three six-week periods each year, at a time when there are no missile tests conducted.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
During the Second World War, Kwajalein was referred to as "Execution Island," since it served as a POW camp for the Japanese, The Washington Post reports. Today, Kwajalein Atoll is still used for U.S. missile tests.
Caption: Oved, 62, sitting on a grave in one of many Ebeye cemeteries. Because of extreme overcrowding, all local cemeteries are full and now serve as a place of games for children and drinking alcohol for adults. Deceased people are usually buried on outer islands, as there is no room left in the island's cemeteries.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
The United States provides assistance, such as food aid to the Marshall Islands, The Washington Post explains. But since many of those food items are processed, including white rice and chicken, obesity is the leading cause of death in the Marshall Islands, the Post notes.
Caption: People outside their houses as dusk falls.
Photo: Vlad Sokhin
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Ever since South Brooklyn Councilmember David Greenfield triumphantly and prematurely announced the return of express F train service, the MTA has been playing defense, insisting that the plan isn't a done deal in the face of opposition from a number of other Brooklyn politicians. Still, there hasn't been any indication that the MTA won't go forward as planned, and Brooklynites who oppose the current plan for express service are now petitioning the authority to create a new plan to improve service on the F line for all riders, and scuttle a plan that they see as benefitting some southern Brooklyn communities at the expense of others who rely on the F. [ more › ]
Though the worst of cold winter should be in our rearview mirror by now, our productivity levels are still at an all-time low. The most we can do is hope and pray that the vacation gods will smile upon us and transport us to warmer climes. We need the beach, and we need it now. But we also need it to be affordable.
Ahead, find a gallery full of sandy stretches, azure waters, clear skies, and tropical lodgings. Fear not, it ain’t just mesmerizingly beautiful clickbait; all these places are actually inexpensive. Click on through to see a boatload of beach breaks that you — yes, you — can actually take.
Acapulco, Mexico Famous for its white sandy beaches and lively nightlife, Acapulco has been the summer playground for Hollywood royalty for decades. The destination was first put on the map by none other than Elvis, when he played a lifeguard working at La Quebrada diving cliff in the 1963 film Fun in Acapulco. Aside from watching daredevils dive off the 136-foot cliff, action seekers will also enjoy sailing through the Tres Palo and Coyuca Lagoons.
Cost of Getting There: The cheapest direct flights from JFK starts at $350 and $313 from LAX.
Where To Stay: Nestled on a tranquil bay, Copacabana Beach Hotel is the perfect place to bask in the sun — at the affordable price of $55 a night.
Photo: Courtesy of Go Acapulco.
Naples, FL Naples is a very special place. This little-known destination was just ranked the best beach town to live by WalletHub, scoring high in the well-being and quality of life index. With friendly locals, nature-based tours, and tons of restaurant options, it's easy to see why some locals never leave this hidden paradise.
Cost of Getting There: Naples is a two-hour bus ride from Miami, with tickets costing around $40 one-way.
Where To Stay: Situated in the heart of Old Town Naples, The Cove Inn has a calming view of the bay. Rooms start at $92 per night.
Photo: Getty Images
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Cabo may be known as a major getaway spot for spring breakers, but there's something for everyone here. Apart from thriving nightlife, the coastal tip of Baja California also impresses with a slew of dreamy beaches: The combination of warm, soft sand with the balmy breezes will tune out the partying masses.
Cost of Getting There: Spirit, a budget airline, flies from San Diego and Dallas to Los Cabos for as little as $190.
Where To Stay:Solmar Resort offers spacious rooms with kitchenettes for $113 a night. The hotel is so close to the Pacific Ocean that you'll be waking up to the peaceful sound of tumbling waves every morning.
Flagler Beach, Florida
This beach town will charm you with its retro vibes and beautiful waterfront. The perfect place to spend a relaxing break, this coastal gem is packed with al fresco restaurants and indie boutiques.
Cost of Getting There: The nearby Daytona Beach airport is your best option for air transit. Flights from LAX start from $280, and you'll be able to get in from JFK for under $200.
Where To Stay:White Orchid Inn & Spa stands out with tastefully decorated rooms and rejuvenating spa treatments.
Hilton Head, South Carolina This beach town may seem like a playground for the super rich due to its many golf courses, but it's still possible to have fun here on a smaller budget. Affordable hotel brands like Red Roof, Ramada, Travelodge, and Days Inn all have a presence on the island. For those preferring more space and privacy, a collection of vacation rentals come at a great value. The pièce de résistance: Over twelve miles of pristine sandy beaches easily accessible from oceanfront resorts.
Cost Of Getting There: The cheapest way to get to the island is to rent a car and do a one-hour drive from Savannah, Georgia. Flights from NYC to Savannah start at $189, and $360 from LAX.
Where To Stay: This recently renovated 1-bedroom condo — located just steps from the beach — offers ocean views and a shared pool for $78 a night.
Isle Royale, MI The Isle Royale National Park is something of a hidden gem: Only accessible by ferries and seaplane and largely vehicle-free, the 45-mile-long expanse is where you should head to clear your head and truly decompress. With unparalleled access to Lake Superior, anywhere on the island is great for fishing, kayaking and canoeing, but he best place to dip your toes in the sand is along Siskiwit Bay.
Cost of Getting There: Scheduled ferries are available from various points in Michigan for approximately $65 one-way.
Where To Stay: It's free to camp on the grounds, but you'll be charged a $7-per-day cover fee for remaining in the park.
Photo: Getty.
Clearwater Beach, FL Surprise: The best-rated beaches in Florida are not in Miami. Clearwater Beach has been crowned the number one beach in the country by TripAdvisor, and the crystal-clear waves and soft sands are all the proof you need. Don't miss out Clearwater Marine Aquarium to get up close with dolphins, and consider a day trip to Caladesi Island to see the pristine gulf beaches.
Cost of Getting There: Flying from JFK will cost you anywhere from $155 to $600, and between $175 to $710 from LAX.
Where To Stay:Magnuson Hotel is a no-frills resort with an outdoor pool. Rates start at $79 per night.
Photo: Getty
Cancun, Mexico Cancun is not famous for nothing: Some of the best bars and nightclubs are located here, making this Mexican beach town a great place for a great time. There are idyllic beaches to tan in, fresh ceviche and guac to consume, and even whale sharks to snorkel with. The dollar is accepted here, so there's no fussing over foreign currency exchange. What's not to love?
Cost Of Getting There: Flights from NYC to Cancun start at $262, and you can fly from LA for as cheap as $202.
Where To Stay: At $142 per night, NYX Hotel is your best bargain for an all-inclusive experience that won't break the bank. The attentive and friendly staff will make you feel like you're at a top-rated luxury resort.
Photo: Courtesy of Cancun Tourism
Key West, FL The Southernmost part of the U.S. has sunshine, tumbling waves, and plenty of literary history to offer. Ernest Hemingway is the island's most famous resident, having written some of his best work during his eight years living in old town Key West. It's not hard to see why the iconic writer chose to set up home here: The perpetually balmy weather and spectacularly clear waters will melt away your troubles.
Cost of Getting There: Flights to Key West begin at $191 from Newark, and $292 from the West Coast.
Where To Stay: Stay in the heart of Old Town to truly experience the relaxed Caribbean way of living. Key West Bed & Breakfast is cozy inn located in a Victorian-era building that has reached historic landmark status.
Photo: Getty Images
Puerto San José, Guatemala Native Guatemalans have been vacationing at Puerto San José for decades, but there's no reason this historic port city should be kept a secret. The beaches here stay quiet and family friendly all year round, blessed with perpetual blue skies and sunshine. Due to a recent resurgence of the local fishing trade, the destination also has an impressive showing of seafood delights.
Where To Stay:Hotel Soleil Pacífico is a bright and breezy stay that won't cost you a pretty penny. With its three outdoor pools and walking distance to the beach, you'll be soaking up plenty of Vitamin D. Nightly rates from $108.
Cost Of Getting There: Flights to Guatemala City start at $220 from Newark, and $240 from LAX.
Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Soleil Pacífico
Depoe Bay, Oregon
You can dig your toes in the sand at any given beach, but getting up close and personal with marine life is a whole other experience. From March through December, adorable gray whales arrive in droves and set up homes along the beaches at Depoe Bay. You'll also get to feed sea lions and seals at the docks — just the right type of animal therapy you need to get away from it all.
Cost Of Getting There: Flights from Los Angeles to Portland start at $95, and $165 from Newark. You can take the Caravan Airport Shuttle from the Portland International Airport, which will cost you from $45 to $60.
Where To Stay: The cozy digs at Inn and Arch Rock is an affordable option to get in on the whale watching action. Rates start at $89 in the winter and $99 in summer months.
Photo: Courtesy of OREGON COAST VISITORS ASSOCIATION
Varadero Beach, Cuba Cuba has long been a hot destination for amazing beach getaways, but now that Americans can fly directly there, it's more popular than ever. With its white sand and crystal blue water, Varadero Beach is the perfect spot for a first visit to Cuba. After spending hours relaxing by the ocean, have an adventure exploring the tropical forests and caves in Varadero.
Cost Of Getting There: American Airlines has roundtrip flights from JFK starting at $407. Most flights will require a transfer in Miami.
Where To Stay: In Varadero, there is no shortage of all inclusive resorts, which are good options for the budget conscious traveler. To get a bang for your buck, consider staying at Hotel Roc Arenas Dorandas. The standard double rooms offer plenty of space and cost around $150 a night. Though the resort itself has plenty of great features, its direct access to the gorgeous beach is its number one appeal.
Photo: Getty Images.
Virginia Beach, VA One of the most popular beach towns on the east coast, Virginia Beach sits at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. There's plenty to do here, even in the off-season. The busy Virginia Beach Boardwalk is one of the area's main attractions, and is the perfect place for walking, biking, and enjoying live music and views.
Cost Of Getting There: Roundtrip flights from most major U.S. airports start at around $300. You'll fly into Norfolk International Airport, which is about a 20 minute car ride from Virginia Beach.
Where To Stay:Beach Spa Bed and Breakfast combines Southern hospitality with a chill beach vibe. The cozy rooms start at around $160 during peak season. Off season rooms run in the low $100 range. Treat yourself to a relaxing spa treatment if you can.
Photo: Stephen Nakatani/Getty Images.
Maui, Hawaii Home to some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world, Maui is the place for your fantasy paradise vacation. If you like adventure, try your hand at snorkeling or windsurfing, or simply relax in the sun. But don't miss the opportunity to hike Haleakala Crater, the dormant volcano that is Maui's highest point.
Cost Of Getting There: On the more expensive side, roundtrip tickets from New York start at $600 on Hawaiian Airlines. Coming from Los Angeles is a bit less expensive; around $550. April, May, September, and October are the best times to find flight deals to Hawaii, according to govisithawaii.com.
Where To Stay: Since you're shelling out for flights, save on accommodations at the Maui Seaside Hotel. The rooms are nice and plenty comfortable, and nightly rates start at $130. The hotel is near many gorgeous state parks and restaurants favored by locals. It's a great laid-back and affordable option for Maui.
Photo: David Olsen/Getty Images.
Brackley Beach, Prince Edward Island Brackley Beach provides a quiet escape into nature. In this magical place, you can relax on the many miles of pristine beaches or take a trip to the nearby Dunes Studio Gallery for island art and delicious, unique cuisine. The beach town is also home to Prince Edward Island's only drive-in movie theater.
Cost Of Getting There: Roundtrip flights to and from New York City start at $279 with Air Canada. Flights land at Charlottetown Airport, just 15 minutes from Brackley Beach.
Where To Stay:Shaw's Hotel and Cottages offers beautiful views of Brackley Bay. Private cottages start at $140; standard rooms go for about $112 a night, depending on the season.
Photo: Barrett & MacKay/Getty Images.
Hampton Beach, New Hampshire Hampton Beach is the busiest beach community in the state of New Hampshire, and as an added bonus, the ocean water is among the cleanest in the country. There are fun events planned in town nearly every night during the high summer seasons. The town also offers activities all year-round, like September's Seafood Festival and the famous holiday parade in December.
Cost Of Getting There: New Yorkers can make the five-hour drive, but if you live further away, you can fly into Manchester-Boston Regional Airport about an hour away. Flights from most major airports around the country fall in the $200-$300 range.
Where To Stay:Ashworth's by the Sea is right on the beach, as its name suggests. Clean and comfortable rooms start around $150 per night. The hotel has a seasonal rooftop bar from which you can admire beautiful and bustling Hampton Beach.
Photo: Walter Bibikow/Getty Images.
South Padre Island, Texas Nestled off the southernmost tip of Texas, South Padre Island is an ideal location for a laid-back beach escape. The only island in Texas, South Padre features 34 miles of soft, white sand, and was named one of the world’s most beautiful barrier islands by Fodor's.
Cost Of Getting There: Round-trip tickets from major U.S. cities run in the $400 range. Most flights will land in Valley International Airport, and it's about an hour's drive to the island.
Where To Stay: Rated the number-one South Padre Island hotel on TripAdvisor, the recently renovated La Copa Inn Beach Hotel offers comfort and convenience. Score a deal on a room for around $128 a night.
Photo: Getty Images.
Cannon Beach, Oregon Stretching nine miles up the Oregon coast, Cannon Beach is your dream Pacific Northwest destination. Stroll or bike down the beach looking for wildlife, or simply relax with a good book and beautiful views of Haystack Rock. In town, you'll experience a quaint escape since, according to TripAdvisor, Cannon Beach restricts large chain stores or restaurants. This gives visitors a truly unique stay.
Cost Of Getting There: Round trip airfare to Portland ranges from around $80 to $250, depending on where you're flying from. Cannon Beach is about a two hour drive from Portland International; we suggest renting a car at the airport.
Where To Stay: When you go to any beach, you're looking for easy access and beautiful views. You'll get both from Land's End at Cannon Beach. This hotel's unique and spacious rooms start at around $130 per night. With the Pacific Ocean just steps away, and downtown Cannon Beach close by, Land's End is the ideal location for an Oregon Coast vacation.
Photo: Getty Images.
Saugatuck, Michigan When thinking about possibilities for beach vacation spots, don’t overlook the Great Lakes. Saugatuck is home to Oval Beach, one of Lake Michigan’s most beloved beaches. The small shore town also offers incredible art galleries and the historic Mount Baldhead, a hiking trail with breathtaking views of the surrounding area.
Cost Of Getting There: Flights from New York start at $309 round-trip. You’ll land at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, and from there, it's a 45-minute drive to Saugatuck.
Where To Stay: This beach town is known for its B&Bs, but staying at the waterfront cottages can cost a pretty penny. Try The Starlite Resort, which offers standard rooms starting at around $167 a night. The hotel is located just minutes from downtown and the beach, so you'll have easy access to the best of both worlds.
Photo: Getty Images.
Isle Of Palms, South Carolina Isle of Palms is one of five islands off the coast of historic Charleston. Its nearly 2,880 acres include championship golf courses, marinas for boating trips, a thriving local business district, and miles of beaches perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation. Consider renting a car so you can travel into downtown Charleston — just 12 miles away — for tours, great shopping, and amazing restaurants.
Cost Of Getting There: Round-trip flights from New York start as low as $148. You’ll land at Charleston International Airport, which is about a 40-minute drive from Isle of Palms.
Where To Stay: Put the money you saved on your cheap flight towards a stay at Wild Dunes Resort, the top-rated accommodation on the island. A one-bedroom condo starts at $256 a night.
Photo: Getty Images.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Punta Cana offers everything you ever wanted in a tropical vacation, from water sports and spa treatments to horseback riding and tennis. Oh, and of course, the beach. Get acquainted with the native wildlife at Manati Park and experience the local culture by visiting Altos de Chavón, a modern-day artist’s village.
Cost Of Getting There: Round-trip flights from NYC start at around $440. Flights from other major U.S. cities fall in the $300-$500 range.
Where To Stay:AlSol Luxury Village is located on Cap Cana, a private resort area in Punta Cana. Offering breathtaking views at every turn, AlSol’s design includes 300 villa-style suites starting at just $125 a night.
Photo: Getty Images.
Gulf Shores, Alabama Nestled off the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores is a 32-mile stretch of soft, white sand beaches and clear blue waters that you'd never expect to find in Alabama. Spend your days zip-lining, golfing, fishing, or splashing around in the water. Come nightfall, sample the regional cuisine while enjoying the musical stylings of hometown celebrity Jimmy Buffett.
Cost Of Getting There: Roundtrip airfare from most major U.S. cities will cost around $400. You can fly into either the Mobile Regional Airport or Pensacola International; both are about an hour's drive from Gulf Shores.
Where To Stay: Situated right on the beach, Phoenix All Suites Hotel offers the best of both worlds: the luxury (and privacy) of a condo, and the amenities of a hotel. Rates start at around $135 a night.
Photo: Getty Images.
Outer Banks, North Carolina For a perfect domestic beach vacation, hit North Carolina’s Outer Banks. There, you’ll find open-sea beaches, gorgeous state parks, and the best seafood North Carolina has to offer. Climb the tallest brick lighthouse in America at Cape Hatteras or go fishing off Jennette’s Pier. You don’t even need to leave the country for this slice of paradise.
Cost Of Getting There: A round-trip plane ticket from New York will cost in the $300-$400 range. You’ll land at the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport, which is about a three-hour drive from the Outer Banks.
Where To Stay: Check into Ocracoke Harbour Inn, which offers 16 rooms and seven suites on beautiful Silver Lake, in the heart of the fishing village of Ocracoke. Nightly rates run around $140.
Photo: John Greim/Getty Images.
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands There are many reasons to love the U.S. Virgin Islands — not the least of which is that you don't need a passport to visit if you're a U.S. citizen. But with clear skies, emerald waters, and plenty to do, ease of travel is just a bonus. Go surfing in Hull Bay, hit the duty-free shops, or take a tour of Blackbeard's Castle. The island of St. Thomas is only 32 square miles, but it definitely packs a lot in.
Cost Of Getting There: Airfare from New York will cost you about $300 roundtrip, depending on the time of year. (For the best deals, travel in the summer.)
Where To Stay:Sugar Bay Resort & Spa is a nice beachside resort with all the amenities and incredible views of the ocean. Rooms can be found for under $200 a night, and an all-inclusive option is also available.
Photo: Courtesy of Sugar Bay Resort & Spa.
Pedasi, Panama If the touristy scenes of Mexico and the Caribbean don't do it for you, consider hightailing it to Panama. Everything about the coastal town of Pedasi is tranquilo. Here, you'll find idyllic mountain views, immaculate beaches, a bustling downtown area, and activities galore: horseback riding, snorkeling, surfing, fishing, diving, and more.
Cost Of Getting There: Flights from major U.S. hubs to Panama City are available for around $300. From there, it's a short $70 flight to Pedasi.
Where To Stay:El Sitio Playa Venao offers 14 rooms of varying size and amenities. Perch yourself on a comfy hammock and spend the afternoon just watching the waves. If you get bored, all the activities mentioned above are close at hand. Standard rooms can be found for as little as $90 a night.
Photo: Courtesy of El Sitio Playa Venao.
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico With incredible snorkeling reefs, white beaches, cool stores and cafes, and arty boutique hotels, Playa Del Carmen is a hub for hipsters with wanderlust. Popularized by backpackers who sought spotless sands, it's a chilled-out beach town with a slightly hippie-esque atmosphere. Better yet, it's a short drive from Cancun — a major city with plenty of direct flights — but has none of the spring break-style cheesiness.
Cost Of Getting There: Roundtrip flights from major U.S. cities to Cancun start at around $315.
Where To Stay: Booking.com has some seriously good deals, if you're flexible with your dates. Try Hotel Kinbe, a stylish outpost just feet from the beach with minimalist rooms, a pool with a waterfall, and nightly rates as cheap as $57.
Photo: Courtesy of PlayaDelCarmen.com.
Costa Rica For a tropical retreat, try Costa Rica, which, despite its growing popularity and uptick in development, remains largely undisturbed, natural, and affordable. Book ahead and get a cheap and cheerful B & B; there’s no point in splashing your cash for a room when you’re going to be spending all of your time out exploring. And here, we guarantee that’s exactly what you’ll be doing.
Cost Of Getting There: Roundtrip flights from major U.S. cities to San Jose start at around $350.
Where To Stay: Located in Montezuma (on the southern tip of Costa Rica), Amor de Mar is an 11-room guesthouse surrounded by tropical greenery and only five minutes from the beach. Doubles are available from around $55 per night.
Photo: Cultura/REX USA.
Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands The most easterly point in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Saint Croix is a teeny, tiny island that offers everything you could possibly want from a tropical beach break: sun-kissed seas, talc-like sands, blue skies, palm trees, and quality piña coladas.
Cost Of Getting There: Roundtrip flights from major U.S. cities are available for around $360; depending on your departure city, you may have to change planes in Miami or Saint Thomas.
Where To Stay:Hotel Caravelle in the historic town of Christiansted is a great and affordable option, with nightly rates from $119 and rooms with harbor views.
Photo: Courtesy of The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.
Kona, Hawaii There’s no doubt Hawaii can be seriously expensive, but tucked away between pricey resorts and five-star hotels is Kona, a sleepy village on the Kohala Coast, where you can eat local, stay cheap, stroll along black-lava beaches, and appreciate great surf and snorkeling — in other words, have an authentic trip to Hawaii for a fraction of the price you’d expect.
Cost Of Getting There: Roundtrip flights from LAX start at around $550.
Where To Stay: Use a site like Booking.com to find a cheap deal at Kona Guest House. With four rooms (some with ocean views), tropical surroundings, a "micro spa" where massages are available, and rates from around $76 a night, it’s a steal.
Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia.
Culebra, Puerto Rico On the eastern side of the island, Culebra is a sleepy coastal town with a vibrant local culture and a beautiful tropical setting. Walk for miles along undisturbed white sands and paddle in warm, clear water with tropical fish nipping at your ankles. (Culebra is an especially great spot for snorkeling and diving, with all its reefs and shallow water.) In the evenings, soak up Culebra culture, eat seafood with locals, dance to gentle guitar music, and take a moonlit dip.
Cost Of Getting There: Roundtrip flights from New York to San Juan hover around $245; from there, take a short flight to Culebra for $105 (roundtrip). You can also drive 90 minutes from San Juan and take an inexpensive ferry to the island. (More info can be found here.)
Where To Stay: Mamacita’s is a warm and friendly 10-room guesthouse with clean rooms, a tropical bar, and cheap nightly rates. Call for pricing.
Photo: Courtesy of See Puerto Rico.
Ocho Rios, Jamaica The island of Jamaica is beautiful, easily accessible, and relatively affordable. Eat cheap at roadside shacks serving the best jerk chicken and pork you've ever had in your life, discover natural wonders like the magnificent Blue Hole, spend your days paddling in the ocean, and dance the night away between hefty sips of Jamaican rum.
Cost Of Getting There: Roundtrip flights to Montego Bay from major U.S. cities start at around $400.
Where To Stay: Located on the beach, the 74-room Fisherman's Point Resort offers one-bedroom suites for as little as $85 per night, plus all the standard hotel amenities, a freshwater pool, and an on-site restaurant and bar.
Photo: Justine Goodman.
Placencia, Belize Placencia has all the workings of a perfect tropical beach break, but without the sky-high price tag. Crystal waters, tropical reefs, and luscious rainforest canopies are omnipresent, wrapped around bright and beautiful budget beachfront resorts which you can reserve for under $120 a night. What’s there to do? Swim and soak up the sun, of course.
Cost Of Getting There: Roundtrip flights to Belize City from major U.S. hubs start at around $300.
Where To Stay: The aptly named Maya Beach Hotel is right on the beach, so you can roll out of bed and straight into the sea. Air-conditioned rooms with queen-size beds start at $149 per night.
Photo: Courtesy of the Belize Tourism Board.
Saint John, Virgin Islands Saint John is an island of two tales: There are the world-class resorts, where guests arrive by private jet, and then there are more modest, wallet-friendly options that are perfect for the rest of us. Take Maho Bay, a calm stretch on the North Shore of the island, where the beaches are long and the water's calm, and there are ample opportunities to snorkel, and eco-friendly accommodations for the earth-lover on a budget.
Cost Of Getting There: Pick your dates right and you can find roundtrip flights for under $300 — try American Airlines for the best prices.
Where To Stay:Concordia Eco Resort has a variety of eco tents (which are like tree-houses on the hillside), with all of the basic facilities you need. They sleep up to five people and cost around $135 per night.
Photo: Courtesy of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.
Cape Cod, MA Stunning beaches and glorious sunsets aside, Cape Cod is the vacation destination to experience New England charm. You'll find historical edifices aplenty, from Pilgrim-era monuments to centuries-old lighthouses. Be sure to take a long walk along Cape Cod National Seashore and ponder life at the edge of America — literally.
Getting There: Cape Cod is accessible from Boston via the Provincetown Ferry. Flights from NYC to Hyannis start at $170.
Where To Stay: Just across the street from a museum, 1750 Inn at Sandwich Center is situated in a Victorian-era house. Run by a charming old couple, this quaint bed-and-breakfast will give you a taste of life at a seaside village.
Photo: Getty Images
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The beach town may have suffered a bad rep as a destination for wild college-aged spring breakers, but there are plenty of activities in Fort Lauderdale for grown ups, too. If you're looking to engage in some R&R, this is as good as it gets. Slow down your pace by being a total beach bum on the sunkissed sands, or take a long, leisurely stroll along Las Olas Boulevard, the city's arts and shopping epicenter.
Cost Of Getting There: Flights from New York start at around $123 on budget airlines, and hover around $175 for major airlines like Delta.
Where To Stay: It's hard to miss the beach at The Atlantic Hotel & Spa — the 124-room stunner offers large balconies and a pool that directly looks over the golden sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach. Nightly rates start at $162.
Photo: Courtesy of Greater Ft Lauderdale
Bermuda
This sunny island is the place to be for balmy weather and endless good vibes — and there's no better place to flaunt your Bermuda shorts. Given its colonial history, you'll be able to find vibrant forts and churches scattered everywhere. Apart from postcard-perfect pink sand beaches, this strip of paradise is also renowned for its seafood. Don't miss out on the signature Bermuda fish chowder and the Rum Swizzle, a classic cocktail invented by Swizzle Inn.
Cost of Getting There: U.S. carriers operate round-trip flights to Bermuda from major cities starting at $280.
Where To Stay: Pricey all-inclusive hotels are the norm in Bermuda, so if you're on a budget, renting a vacation house is the way to go. Bermuda Rentals offers chic properties starting at $85/night.
Photo: Getty Images
Cape Coral, Florida
This idyllic waterfront community is one of the fastest-growing city in the U.S. Expect to be wowed by its expansive golf courses, lush wildlife and myriad of restaurants and bars.
Cost of Getting There: Cape Coral is a short drive from the airport in Fort Myers, which costs between $120 to $300 for a round trip flight from New York and between $300 to $500 from L.A.
Where To Stay: You'll be surrounded by breathtaking water views at The Westin Cape Coral Resort At Marina Village. The nightly rates are a steal for the hotel being the only luxury resort in town: Rooms start at around $150 per night.
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Ahh glorious summer, the time of iced coffees and frozen cocktails, refreshing drops of rain from the sky and the dulcet melodies of ice cream trucks slowly draining your will to live. Every year, the phone lines at 311 are peppered with complaints about the pernicious ear worm, and this year is no different. So far in 2016, New Yorkers have lodged 1,013 noise complaints against Mister Softee and its ilk. So far, only one ticket has been issued in response. [ more › ]
MUJI, the Japanese retailer that's known for anonymous minimalism, is switching it up. At its New York flagship, the company is featuring an exhibition of home goods made by traditional artisans.
With New York safely ceded to the rich old people and their rent-controlled apartments, the lamestream media's been trying to find a new home for all the unwashed young people who are too busy texting to get real jobs. Or something. This time, our nation's so-called youth is getting directed towards Philadelphia, deemed "the best city for Millennials" by a new study that ranked cities based on the qualities millennials consider most desired. So should we all flee Brooklyn for the City of Brotherly Love? Let's find out! [ more › ]
Update: Art Parkinson, who plays Rickon Stark on Game of Thrones, is well-aware that his character should have run in a zigzag to dodge Ramsay's arrows. The actor tweeted about it after Rickon was lambasted on Twitter for running in a straight line. Parkinson also spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about Rickon's decision. "That's more of a question for the writers," he said. "I just stick to the script! But in the moment, I really wanted him to make it. I put everything into it."
This story was originally published on June 20 at 4:30 p.m.
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
It turns out that just because you're dead doesn't mean you can't get ruthlessly roasted on Twitter. On last night's Game of Thrones, Rickon Stark meets his death at the hands of Ramsay Bolton. Before the Battle of the Bastards kicks off, Ramsay releases the youngest Stark and instructs him to run back to Jon Snow. Rickon begins walking, but Ramsay tells him to run. So he does. Rickon beelines straight to his big brother while Ramsay showers arrows down around him. The kid almost makes it, until he doesn't.
But fans don't seem to be mourning the young Stark all that much. They're actually pretty pissed at him for sprinting in a straight line. Apparently, if you're trying to avoid getting struck by flying arrows, you should run in an unpredictable way, like a zigzag, so that you're a tougher target to hit. Well, that makes total sense. But honestly, if a sadistic bastard like Ramsay were trying to kill us, we doubt we'd have sufficient wits about us to ponder the proper escape route.
Here are some of the most furious (and funniest) reactions Twitter has to offer.
Dogs are descended from wolves. Humans bred them to be loyal, good hunters, and sometimes just cuddly. But they came from wolves. Remember that as you’re reading the rest of this article.
For example, here is a pack of wolves hunting a buffalo.
Look at the power, the speed, the coordination. The whole pack moving as one. As beautiful as it is terrifying, like a Jack London novel come to life and deployed to take out big mammals.
Anyways, there’s this dog that’s addicted to watching Netflix. His name is Chiko, he’s a shiba inu (like the one from the meme), and he’s basically a New Yorker on a brunch drunk at 2 p.m.
Here, look at him. Wolves, Netflix-addicted meme dog.
Owner Olesia Kuzmychova tells Metro UK that she started setting up a TV for him to watch when she left the seven-month-old home alone while she went to work.
“The next thing, I noticed he started watching whole movies whether I was sat there or not,” Kuzmychova tells Metro UK. “For the first month I was completely surprised. I know some dogs like to watch TV, but not hours like him. But now it’s completely normal to me.”
The dog, the direct descendant of an apex predator that once faced off against Liam Neeson in a major motion picture, sits up in his chair like a person.
Many budget-minded renters save apartment hunting for December, figuring that crummy weather and holiday spending will soften the market to their advantage. But a new analysis from RentHop challenges that rule of thumb, suggesting that the best months to score a deal depend on where you’re moving.
Do you want your beloved cat to be able to retreat to her sacred place of solitude without being shunned to the dark corners of your least-tread rooms? Are you also looking to break the stank, not the bank? These budget-friendly feline facilities are less of an eyesore and more of a chic cat pad (catchelor pad?) that will give your little buddy prime real estate in your home.
Hamilton, that show everyone's talking about but no one can see, has nearly doubled the price of its most expensive seats. Since the show's sold out through next January, the increase—up to $849 from $475—isn't all that newsworthy, especially considering a rear mezzanine seat ticket to a 7 p.m. showing next Tuesday is going for upwards of $2000. What is good news, though, is that the show will also double the number of $10 lottery tickets available, so by 2017 you've got a teensy bit of better chance of seeing the show. Not by much, mind you, but you might as well take your shot. [ more › ]
[UPDATE FROM MTA AT BOTTOM] The hurricane-damaged L train tunnel under the East River isn't the only tunnel that's going to get some love from the MTA in the near future: The Brooklyn Paper has learned that the F train tunnel between Brooklyn and Manhattan is also in serious need of repair, and the MTA is currently evaluating the best way to go about getting it done. And this may include completely closing the tunnel on weekdays. [ more › ]
The backyard barbecue is a summertime tradition, one being played out with pork kalbi and ssam instead of burgers and dogs at Flushing's Majang Dong. If you can't read Korean, the nondescript storefront bears only the word "BBQ" to offer a clue about what's inside. To say nothing of the restaurant's large backyard space, where they're grilling up meats and seafood over hot charcoal. Luckily, Joe DiStefano visited the "Korean BBQ speakeasy," chronicling his meal on his blog Chopsticks + Marrow. [ more › ]
Iceland might not be the first place you think of when planning your next vacation, but these pictures might just change your mind.
To paraphrase Shakespeare, Iceland might be small, but Iceland is fierce.
The island nation is often referred to as the "Land of Fire and Ice." Why? In Iceland, you can visit a glacier and also come close to some of the most active volcanoes in the world.
There are beaches with black sand and vast open lands filled with flowers.
Visit at the right time and the sky will be a rainbow of colors, courtesy the northern lights. At other times, Iceland's position close to the Arctic Circle will mean 24 hours of daylight.
Click through to see some of the awesomeness that awaits.
Remember the old cliché? Greenland is covered in ice and Iceland is covered in green.
This is Lake Myvatn, in Kálfaströnd.
Photo: Getty Images.
Those lights are hikers heading to Mt. Esja, across the bay from Reykjavik. Not your thing? Reykjavik is a pretty happening spot, too.
Photo: Getty Images.
Geysir is Icelandic for geyser. There are hot springs and boiling mud pits. It's like a spa. A really big spa.
Photo: Getty Images.
A black-sand beach and a misty morning make for the perfect spot to catch up on your dream journal.
Photo: Getty Images.
This looks like a painting. It's not.
Photo: Getty Images.
The northern lights are like a rainbow straight to your soul.
Photo: Getty Images.
Glaciers and volcanoes can make the coolest caves.
Photo: Getty Images.
Take the road less travelled. Seriously, take it.
Photo: Getty Images.
TLC sang, "Don't go chasing waterfalls." The trio couldn't have meant these.
Photo: Getty Images.
Again with the waterfalls. Stop it, Iceland. We can't even.
Photo: Getty Images.
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Name:Halle and Jeff Location: East Village, New York, NY Size: 1,250 square feet Years lived in: 1
The talented guest photographer for this tour, Emily Johnston, gave us the background scoop on this newly redesigned apartment: "Halle and her husband Jeff recently moved to NYC from San Francisco. They were looking for that rare city home with outdoor space when they found and fell in love with this East Village apartment. After a nine-month renovation gutting and extending the kitchen, adding an office, and creating a second full bath, they can now call this place home."
One of the primary pieces of advice my grandmother imparted on me — besides the fact that she thought I should be a writer, an absurd idea I promptly ignored — was that one should always leave the house looking the best they can. I realize this might sound a little old-fashioned and possibly even oppressive — I Exist As More Than A Decorative Object, thankyouverymuch — but I took it to heart nonetheless because I know she didn’t mean high heels and rollers, but mostly that looking more with it than you might actually feel sometimes can trick you too.
I apply it in the kitchen as well. Thus, while if we’re being completely honest, life is currently a swarm of getting recipes ready for the next book (eee!), a to-do list for this month as long as the remainder of this year, kids waking up way too early, mama going to bed too late, an apartment that has yet to clean itself and let’s not even talk about what’s going on in the produce drawer — i.e. real life, and not even a bad one — rather than dwelling on the chaos, I think we should cook for the life we want, not for the life we have. Thus: I choose picnic bars.
Because when the opportunity to spend a weekend picnic-ing or basically doing anything that involves blankets, lawns, hammocks, iced tea or naps and laziness, I’m going to be so ready for it. Also, statistically speaking, having picnic bars ready immensely increases the chance that one will find or create a picnic to take them to. [Caveat: Not confirmed by actual statistician but I just know it’s going to work out for us.]
Consider these a spring riff on 2014’s apricot pistachio squares; here we make a more classic frangipane with toasted almonds and extract and the rhubarb, well, I know ombré and chevron are totally out these days (grandma would not approve) but this was honestly accidental, a thing that happens almost naturally when you bias-cut a great pile of rhubarb and try to puzzle-piece it into a pattern. If all of your rhubarb are pointing in the same direction when you cut them, that is, the greener bases on one side and the pinker tops on the other, and you work through the pieces from one side of the board to the other, a gentle transition of color happens on its own. Or, you know, you could just scatter pieces all over and it will all taste the same in the end.
You can double this recipe and make them in a 9×13-inch pan.
Yield: I cut these into 16 2×2-inch squares
Crust
1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon fine sea or salt
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (4 ounces or 115 grams) unsalted butter, cold is fine
Filling
3/4 cup (75 grams or 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 ounces) sliced almonds, ideally toasted and cooled
1 tablespoon (10 grams) all purpose flour
A few pinches of sea salt
6 tablespoons (75 grams) plus 1 teaspoon (5 grams) granulated sugar
5 tablespoons (70 grams) unsalted butter, cold is fine
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon almond extract, 2 teaspoons brandy or another flavoring of your choice (totally optional)
1/2 pound rhubarb
To finish
Powdered sugar or 1/4 cup jam of your choice
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut two 12-inch lengths of parchment paper and trim each to fit the 8-inch width of an 8×8-inch square baking pan. Press it into the bottom and sides of your pan in one direction, then use the second sheet to line the rest of the pan, perpendicular to the first sheet. This is going to make it very easy to remove the bars.
Make the crust: Combine the flour, salt and sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Cut the butter into chunks, and add it to the bowl, then run the machine until the mixture forms large clumps — that’s right, just keep running it; it might take 30 seconds to 1 minute for it to come together, but it will. [No food processor? Get the butter to room temperature and beat it with the sugar, then the flour and salt and mix until combined. Chilling it for 15 minutes or so will make it easier to press in.]
Transfer the dough to your prepared baking pan and press it evenly across the bottom and 1/4-inch up the sides. Bake for 15 minutes, until very pale golden. For the sake of speed, transfer to a cooling rack in your freezer for 10 to 15 minutes while you prepare the filing.
Make the filling: In your food processor bowl (which I never bother cleaning between these steps), grind almonds, 6 tablespoons sugar, flour and salt together until the nuts are powdery. Cut the butter into chunks and add it to the machine. Run the machine until no buttery bits are visible. Add any flavorings and egg, blending until just combined. Spread filling over mostly cooled (warmth is okay but it’s hoped that the freezer will have firmed the base enough that you can spread something over it) crust.
Arrange the fruit: Trim rhubarb and cut it half horizontally top to bottom, i.e. like splitting a hamburger bun, with the flatter part on the bottom. [Update: Does this diagram help?] Keep tops and bottoms matched/stacked and cut stalks on the diagonal into about 1 1/4-inch lengths. The top and bottom of each segment should nicely “V” together, color side up, in a chevron pattern. If you mostly reach for the more green segments first and the pink-er segments second, you’ll end up with an ombré look on top. Sprinkle fruit with 1 teaspoon granulated sugar.
Bake the bars: For 45 to 55 minutes, until they’re golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the almond cream underneath comes out cream-free. The rhubarb pieces are going to move around a little as it bakes so don’t be surprised if the pattern looks a little different when it’s done.
Let cool in pan on a rack, or in the fridge, or even in the freezer. You can decorate the bars with a little powdered sugar, or warm some jam and brush it over for a glossier finish. I find it easiest to get very clean cuts when the bars are very cold. A serrated knife, used gently, can ensure the rhubarb stays perfectly put if it’s not cold enough. While bars do not need to be refrigerated if it will just be a day or so, they keep longer and (I think) more nicely chilled.
Here at Refinery29, we're no strangers to adorable animal cafés: from Japanese owls to Canadian cats to Californian pooches, we have covered the growing phenomenon of pairing coffee and croissants with cuddling adorable creatures.
But photographer Jun Michael Park explored perhaps the weirdest animal café, yet: Seoul, South Korea's Blind Alley, a place where guests can interact with two playful raccoons: Cong and Milk. The café's owner, Han Song-hee, says she adopted the two raccoons and took over the café a year and a half ago.
Because they're willing to eat just about anything, and can adapt to life anywhere from forests to cities, raccoons are found all over the world, according to National Geographic. Their hand-like, dextrous paws and masked faces have won them plenty of fans (one raccoon, Pumpkin, has even become an Instagram star in her own right), but wildlife experts maintain raccoons belong in the wild and don't make good pets.
Still, Song-hee says Cong (whom she adopted from a breeder) and Milk (whom she rescued from a fur importer) are like her children, and that they enjoy life at the café. Ahead, Song-hee shares her story and a peek inside Blind Alley with Refinery29.
Caption: A foreign visitor bursts into anxious laughter while being kissed by Cong.
Where did the idea for the café come from?
"This café has been around for about six years, and I took it over about a year and a half ago. By then, I had been living with Cong and Milk about six months. I brought them back and forth to work in a cage. But they are so dexterous with their [paws], and eventually escaped the cage and roamed about. I ended up getting toys for them, milk-feeding them with students from the nearby college, and building a separate room for them to stay."
Caption: Milk, the café's female raccoon, climbs on a wooden wall inside the glass window. Blind Alley is divided into two sections: a normal seating area with food, and the raccoon room.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Caption: Milk inside the raccoon room.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Caption: As a visitor takes a photo with her smartphone, Milk walks down a wooden pathway.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Why did you choose to keep raccoons as pets?
"I have always liked animals. I have lived with a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a turtle, and even a pheasant! To be honest, it also had to do with curiosity. Well, my son’s curiosity. But, of course, I had to bear the responsibility as a mom and take care of the raccoons."
Caption: Milk walks on a wooden pathway inside the raccoon room at Blind Alley.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Caption: A visitor pets Milk.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Caption: Milk's foot.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Where did the raccoons come from?
"I adopted Cong from a breeder. Cong’s family has been domesticated from his grandmother's generation. Since he was alone, I wanted to get him a friend. Milk was one of those raccoons imported to China and destined for pelt or fur coats. I was able to adopt her from one of [the] animal importers."
Caption: Café owner Han Song-hee plays with Cong, the male raccoon, on top of her shoulders. Han says that Cong likes to get on people's backs.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Caption: Cong playfully clings to a customer's leg.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
How do people react when they see the raccoons?
"Some people get afraid, and some people find them intriguing. Most people visit here out of curiosity, but Cong loves to ride on people’s backs or shoulders. When he does, sometimes people freak out, thinking they are being attacked. We don’t allow any children in the raccoon room. These raccoons are quite playful, but their auditory sense is 60 times stronger than that of human beings. So, when people scream, that is a huge noise and it can startle them."
Caption: Visitors feed Milk.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Caption: Customers interact with Milk.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
A customer takes a selfie with Milk.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
What would you say to people who say this isn't fair to the raccoons?
"I would like to remind them that I had brought the raccoons as pets first. Who knows what might have happened to Milk if I hadn’t adopted her? And Cong is already domesticated. I think of them as my family. They are like my children, and I’m doing everything that I can to make their lives more pleasant. And that’s why I built myself these wooden pathways, and houses atop, as raccoons love higher ground."
Caption: Milk peeks out from a wooden house in the raccoon room.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Caption: The interior of Blind Alley café looks like any other — except for its furry friends, of course.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Caption: A drawing of a raccoon at Blind Alley café.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
What do you feed the raccoons?
"Raccoons are omnivorous, so I feed them a 50-50 mix of cat food and dog food. Being a girl, Milk loves bread and cookies, while Cong loves meat. They both like sweets, as well."
Caption: As a visitor takes a photo with her smartphone, Milk munches on a cookie inside the raccoon room.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Caption: A foreign visitor feeds Cong a cookie.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Have you encountered any safety issues? Do they ever bite?
"As I mentioned, Cong loves riding on people’s backs. But sometimes people do get freaked out and jump. When they do, he tends to cling to the back. As a result, there have been unfortunate incidents of scratches. And they gnaw and nibble — that’s their way of goofing around. But some people might find it unpleasant. They are quite tame and like people a lot, but I always watch them through a surveillance camera and keep them in check for safety reasons."
Caption: Cong interacts with guests.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Caption: A customer gently touches Milk.
Photographed by Jun Michael Park.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Still angry about a lower-than-hoped-for pay raise, members of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association this morning tried to hit Mayor Bill de Blasio where it hurts: in Park Slope. The mayor famously returns to his old neighborhood/comfort blanket several days a week, having his police detail drive him the 11 miles from Gracie Mansion to the Prospect Park YMCA for a low-impact workout, typically arriving at around 9 a.m. As a New York Times reporter observed recently in a deep dive look at the mayor's exercise habits, "[I]t is, in many respects, a routine that most busy people can only dream of." [ more › ]
Are you relatively new to this bustling metropolis? Don't be shy about it, everyone was new to New York once upon a time, except, of course, those battle-hardened residents who've lived here their whole lives and Know It All. One of these lifers works among us at Gothamist—publisher Jake Dobkin grew up in Park Slope and still resides there. He is now fielding questions—ask him anything by sending an email here, but be advised that Dobkin is "not sure you guys will be able to handle my realness." We can keep you anonymous if you prefer; just let us know what neighborhood you live in. [ more › ]
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Banchan, side dishes that are a fundamental part of any Korean meal, enjoy a moment as the main attraction at Atoboy, opening tomorrow on East 28th Street just off Park Avenue. Inside the railroad-style restaurant, whose walls flip between raw industrial and polished paint, husband and wife team Chef Junghyun "JP" Park and Ellia Park are turning banchan into a tasting menu of sorts, though with more flexibility in the hands of the diner. Pick three items from their list—which starts light and moves heavy as you read from top to bottom—for a tapas-type experience with a fixed price. [ more › ]
I have spent the last two days Googling "symptoms of heat exhaustion," which is a Very Real Thing I probably do not have. But I might have it after this weekend, and you might too—New York's about to get enveloped by a "heat dome," which, like Spam and Vice President Pence, is just as terrible as it sounds. We warned you. [ more › ]
The lottery, as a wise man once said, should really be called the jack squattery because that's all you'll probably ever win in it. Forget those normally wise words though, because today a lottery opens that has a prize more valuable than money: affordable housing in New York City. [ more › ]
We'd say don't mess with something as perfectly simple as the garlic knot, but then again the pretzel croissant is mind-blowing, so sometimes the classics benefit from some tinkering. At Gristmill, which opened in Park Slope this week, the pizzeria staples get tossed in "everything" seasonings, black pepper and herb varieties. The knots are made from two different types of flour, too: a spelt variety from Four Star Farms and a high extraction from Farmer Brown. Leftover pizza dough this is not. [ more › ]
Ever since South Brooklyn Councilmember David Greenfield triumphantly and prematurely announced the return of express F train service, the MTA has been playing defense, insisting that the plan isn't a done deal in the face of opposition from a number of other Brooklyn politicians. Still, there hasn't been any indication that the MTA won't go forward as planned, and Brooklynites who oppose the current plan for express service are now petitioning the authority to create a new plan to improve service on the F line for all riders, and scuttle a plan that they see as benefitting some southern Brooklyn communities at the expense of others who rely on the F. [ more › ]
Ahh glorious summer, the time of iced coffees and frozen cocktails, refreshing drops of rain from the sky and the dulcet melodies of ice cream trucks slowly draining your will to live. Every year, the phone lines at 311 are peppered with complaints about the pernicious ear worm, and this year is no different. So far in 2016, New Yorkers have lodged 1,013 noise complaints against Mister Softee and its ilk. So far, only one ticket has been issued in response. [ more › ]
With New York safely ceded to the rich old people and their rent-controlled apartments, the lamestream media's been trying to find a new home for all the unwashed young people who are too busy texting to get real jobs. Or something. This time, our nation's so-called youth is getting directed towards Philadelphia, deemed "the best city for Millennials" by a new study that ranked cities based on the qualities millennials consider most desired. So should we all flee Brooklyn for the City of Brotherly Love? Let's find out! [ more › ]
Hamilton, that show everyone's talking about but no one can see, has nearly doubled the price of its most expensive seats. Since the show's sold out through next January, the increase—up to $849 from $475—isn't all that newsworthy, especially considering a rear mezzanine seat ticket to a 7 p.m. showing next Tuesday is going for upwards of $2000. What is good news, though, is that the show will also double the number of $10 lottery tickets available, so by 2017 you've got a teensy bit of better chance of seeing the show. Not by much, mind you, but you might as well take your shot. [ more › ]
![[UPDATE] MTA Is Quietly Planning Extensive F Train Tunnel Repairs, Misery](http://gothamist.com/attachments/nyc_arts_john/060616mta_restrict_width_110.jpg)
[UPDATE FROM MTA AT BOTTOM] The hurricane-damaged L train tunnel under the East River isn't the only tunnel that's going to get some love from the MTA in the near future: The Brooklyn Paper has learned that the F train tunnel between Brooklyn and Manhattan is also in serious need of repair, and the MTA is currently evaluating the best way to go about getting it done. And this may include completely closing the tunnel on weekdays. [ more › ]
The backyard barbecue is a summertime tradition, one being played out with pork kalbi and ssam instead of burgers and dogs at Flushing's Majang Dong. If you can't read Korean, the nondescript storefront bears only the word "BBQ" to offer a clue about what's inside. To say nothing of the restaurant's large backyard space, where they're grilling up meats and seafood over hot charcoal. Luckily, Joe DiStefano visited the "Korean BBQ speakeasy," chronicling his meal on his blog Chopsticks + Marrow. [ more › ]
