#Giant Cheeseburger Architecture

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

THE BIGGEST BITE IN THE MONSTROUS BURGER HISTORY OF CLASSIC, VINTAGE LOS ANGELES.

PIC(S) INFO: Mega spotlight on “The Burger That Ate L.A," a now legendary and world famous burger joint on Melrose Ave. in the shape of a giant cheeseburger. "This amazing attempt at wackiness was designed by Solberg and Lowe Architects and created by owner David Alderman. "

MINI-OVERVIEW: "We all know that programmatic architecture in Los Angeles was very popular in the 1920s and 1930s, but here’s an example of a programmatic structure, during the 1980s and 1990s… The Burger That Ate L.A. was a latecomer in Los Angeles' venerable pantheon of fantasy architecture. It ranked up there with Randy's Donuts and Tail o' the Pup.

The Burger That Ate L.A. held its own on trendy Melrose Ave. The bun-shaped dome once devoured the corner of Stanley Avenue. The unconventional facade (with sesame seeds) was shaped like a giant cheeseburger had glass bricks forming as ketchup and oozing with onions. The structure also appeared to have a missing bite chomping on City Hall."

-- ALISON MARTINO'S "Vintage Los Angeles," "The Burger That Ate L.A.," published June 15, 2024

Source: http://martinostimemachine.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-burger-that-ate-la.html.

[s10127470]

DisneySea: (Part 2) The Lost Empire

For our second stop, we come to one of the only two ports of call themed exclusively around an IP, The Lost Empire, themed after the 2001 Walt Disney Feature Animation film Atlantis: The Lost Empire. 

This land is depicted as a replica of the legendary city from the film, but obviously scaled down in order to fit in a theme park, based in the middle of a lake that can only be reached by bridge.

The design of Atlantis is very similar to how it appears in the movie: a tiered city structure surrounded by water with architecture that draws heavy influence from Southeast Asian cultures and the Mayan civilization. Waterfalls run down rocky formations on the edge of the land, flowing into the lake. The Guardians of Atlantis, giant stone sculptures, encircle Atlantis, protecting it from any grave danger. Above the highest peak of Atlantis (forced-perspective), The Heart of Atlantis – the very lifeblood of the Lost City – provides its power.

And all over this land, you'll find various signs and ruins bearing the Atlantean language created by Marc Okrand.

Sub-areas here include The Harbor, The Atlantean Royal Palace, and The Caves. 

Deep in The Caves, we'll find two of the three attractions this land has to offer. 

The first (and biggest one) is Atlantis: Trial by Fire and Ice.

In this rollercoaster and 4D-ride hybrid, we join Milo and Kida on an all-new adventure!

Recently, they've discovered a mysterious chamber that can only be unlocked by the Fire and Ice Gems, a pair of mystical gems that reside in the Fire Trial and Ice Trial respectively, a series of lava-filled and snow and ice-filled caverns.

Aboard a Martag (the flying fish-shaped vehicles from the film), we join Milo and Kida as they fly through the two elemental trials to retrieve the gems.

But it's not gonna be easy.

In addition to the lava and ice, we'll also have to watch out for rock golems, lava monsters, pyreflies, a lava whale, yetis, icy wolves, ice apes and a giant mammoth.

The second attraction is The Secret Swim. 

It's essentially a play-area of sorts. Here, guests can swim through a maze of underwater caverns (with air pockets areas obviously), filled with ruins and ancient murals.

Back in The City itself, we find our third and final attraction, The Atlantean Zoo.

Here, guests can get to know about the strange wildlife that reside here, featuring Audio-Animatronics depictions of various Atlantean animals: parrot-lizards, pyreflies, Bahadmok tigers, lava-whales and other such fantastical creatures.

As for dining, we have The Explorers' Hall.

Set in a huge army tent, guests can experience cuisine that's a fusion between American and Atlantean flavors.

And by Atlantean, we mean Southeast Asian.

Dishes you can expect for find here include salted, cheesy congee, bird's eye chili cornbread, johnnycakes that come in coconut and banana flavors, pork belly skewers, citrus-flavored roasted chicken, vegetable stir fry, spicy collared greens, char siu bacon cheeseburgers, sambal fries, frozen coffee, bubble soft drinks, coconut milkshakes and dragonfruit pie.

As for shopping, we have two options.

The first and biggest one is The Atlantean Marketplace, which sells Atlantean trinkets, toy weapons (such as spears and daggers), and all kinds of jewelry.

The second is a gift shop known as Hearts of Atlantis, which sells Atlantis-themed memorabilia and has different sections of products set up by the expedition crew.

Moliere has put out crystals, rare rocks, and a colored magic sand pit, Audrey sells mechanical devices and toys, Cookie sells cookbooks and food products, Sweet sells cosmetic appliances such as lotions and ointments, and Vinny sells firecrackers and fireworks.

As for entertainment, we have The Atlantean Royal Band, who perform traditional Gamelan music, the same kind that can be heard in the film.

Along with that, they’ll also perform Gamelan version of various tracks from the film as well.

Finally for character greetings, we’ve got Milo, Kida, Sweet, Vinny, Moliere, Audrey, Cookie, Ms. Packard, Rourke, Helga and even Preston Whitmore.

[umichenginabroad]

Paris Week 3: "études, châteaux et nourriture"

Matthew Sinanis :)

Bonjour tout le monde!

It is honestly crazy to think that our engineering in Paris program has passed its halfway point. I feel that everything is moving so quickly just because of the nature of the program where each day I am off to a different museum, booking another trip, or trying a new restaurant in central Paris.

The start of this past week was a bit rocky as our classes definitely picked up the difficulty. For my differential equations course, we had both homework and a midterm which were pretty tough but we were able to make it through. Also this week I started my upper-level humanity class which is focusing on the history of high fashion in Paris. Just to give you all an update on how this class schedule was working, at the three-week point, my schedule starts at 9 am with my fashion class that ends at 11:30 am and then my differential equations class from 12 pm to 2 pm. I have both classes every day except on Fridays where I only have my differential equations class at the usual time.

Finding some time after class on this tough academic week, a couple friends and I walked along the Seine. It was very peaceful as it was close to sunset and we were able to stop at a couple of the cool vendors along the river.

The one thing that remains constant throughout the craziness of studying abroad in Paris is the food. This week we ended up cooking a few fun dishes in our very small apartment kitchen that actually turned out great. When going out to eat we tried the French version of a couple of American classics, such as a cheeseburger and hotdog which surprisingly were very good. Additionally, we tried a couple restaurants that specialized in Lebanese and Japanese cuisine.

This week we also had the opportunity to participate in a food tour with our program, CEA, where we tried a bunch of traditional French classics. We started off by tasting olive bread, then several cheeses and charcuterie, a couple of fresh strawberries, and finishing with the famous French eclair. The food tour was very fun and allowed me to learn about a lot more French cuisine which I did not initially know about. (as you can see from the picture below, everyone really loved the cheeses).

With my fashion class this week, we took a trip to the Nocturne Exposition which was a museum that was focusing on the use of hair throughout history, with an emphasis on how hair contributed to fashion. It was definitely one of the most interesting museums that I have ever been to and taught me a lot about the importance of hair in history. Towards the end of the museum, it shifted towards a more modern take on the use of hair, and one of the exhibits reminded me of a Wookiee from Star Wars or Bigfoot which was interesting, to say the least. I am pretty sure you all will be able to figure out which one I am talking about ;).

Another fun experience this past week was figuring out how to go to the movies to see the new Spiderman movie (amazing film btw). For future reference, in France if a movie says "VOSTF" that means it will be in its original language with French subtitles and if it says "VF", that means it will be dubbed in French.

Bringing us to the weekend, CEA (the company running this program) took us to Loire Valley, France where we visited a bunch of castles and tried some local foods.

The first castle was called "Chateau de Chambord" and it was absolutely massive and was surrounded by acres upon acres of gardens.

The next castle was called "Chateau d'Azay Le Rideau", this castle was a lot smaller than the others and looked like a giant mansion with some very interesting architecture and garden displays. This chateau also had a lake and moat surrounding it.

Getting into the food on this trip, we tried a bunch of cheeses, a croque madame, and a regional sausage. Everything was really great, except for the sausage in my opinion. The sausage had an "interesting" odor to it and that is because we later found out it was made from pig intestines... which wasn't my personal "cup of tea"

The last castle of the trip was called "Chateau de Chenonceaux" which has such an amazing history to it and was by far my favorite castle. The architecture, nature, gardens, river, and interior made this castle truly special and a sight I am so grateful to have seen.

And that's a wrap for this week, thank you all for following along, and check in next week for my trip to London and a bunch of other fun adventures!

À bientôt! Au revoir :)

Matthew Sinanis

Aerospace Engineering

Engineering in Paris

[nuttydefendoryouth]

Are stinky inflatable pool toys putting your kids at risk?

The researchers expressed concern that some of the products contain potentially hazardous chemicals that could pose a risk to children’s health, depending on the degree of exposure and concentration levels in the products.

The researchers conducted tests using an inflatable beach ball, a pair of swimming armbands and two bathing rings they bought off the shelf from local stores and online suppliers in Germany.(Shutterstock)

HEALTH

Are stinky inflatable kids' toys putting your kids at risk? Here’s what a study found

The researchers expressed concern that some of the products contain potentially hazardous chemicals that could pose a risk to children’s health, depending on the degree of exposure and concentration levels in the products.

Washington D.C. | By ANI

UPDATED ON APR 13, 2017 08:46 PM IST

Turns out, there are many dangerous chemicals lurking in your swimming pool that can risk your children’s health.

Inflatable sprinkler and swimming aids, like bathing rings and arm bands, often have a distinctive smell which could indicate that they contain a range of potentially hazardous substances.

Some of these compounds, which include carbonyl compounds, cyclohexanone, phenol and isophorone, might be critical when present in higher concentrations in children’s toys, said authors Christoph Wiedmer and Andrea Buettner.

Lead author Wiedmer from Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV in Germany and his team conducted tests using an inflatable pool, a pair of swimming armbands and two bathing rings they bought off the shelf from local stores and online suppliers in Germany.

A small piece of material from each sample was analysed using a variety of material analysis techniques, including one that takes infrared measurements, and it was concluded that the inflatable objects were all made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The researchers then investigated the molecular make-up of the distinctive smells arising from the pool toys. They extracted detectable odours from each sample using solvent extraction and high vacuum distillation methods, and then identified the main odorants using a combination of sensory and common analytical approaches.

Between 32 and 46 odours were detected in each sample, of which up to thirteen were quite intense. The majority of these odorants were identified and among these were several fatty smelling mono- or di-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and their epoxidised derivatives, but also odouractive organic solvents such as cyclohexanone, isophorone, and phenol.

As part of the study, a panel of trained volunteers sniffed each product, and ascribed common odour attributes to these. They also rated the intensity of each odour, and had to guess whether these could be hazardous. Three of the products reminded the panellists of almonds, plastic and rubber, while the fourth more pungent one reminded them of glue and nail polish.

Wiedmer expressed his concern that some of the products contain potentially hazardous chemicals that could pose a risk to children’s health, depending on the degree of exposure and concentration levels in the products. Cyclohexanone can be harmful if inhaled, phenol is known to be acutely toxic and to presumably have mutagenic potential and isophorone is a category 2 carcinogen, which means that this is a suspect substance in the development of cancer in humans.

“A range of these substances are not yet resolved in their chemical structures. Likewise, potential negative effects on humans, such as irritation, smell nuisance, or other physiological or psychosomatic effects still need to be resolved,” said Wiedmer.

“Modern products such as toys and children’s products are sourced from a wide variety of chemical and physical manufacturing processes, and this complexity often makes it difficult for us to identify those containing contaminants and unwanted substances, and to determine their causes,” noted Wiedmer. “However, we found that in a number of cases our noses can guide us to ‘sniff out’ problematic products.”

The study appears in the journal Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (ABC).

Backyards and patios have been working hard all year because of the pandemic, and this summer they can provide new ways to cool off and have fun in the water.

Whether you have a lot of space or a little, there’s gear ranging from water tables and tubs for kids to floating loungers with drink holders for adults.

One company, Minnidip, makes inflatable “adult kiddie pools” that aim to transport you to some exotic travel destination. Patterns on the Marrakesh pool reference Moroccan architectural details, while the Amalfi is a nod to the blue, yellow and white tile of the Italian coast.

“Because for me, having a pool on our urban Chicago rooftop felt like being transported to another place,” says company founder Emily Vaca. “I wanted to capture that feeling through design and pattern. “

Minnidip also offers inflatable drinks coolers and glam pool balls filled with gold confetti, among other offerings.

The only water table that lets you make waves, Little Tikes’ Island Wavemaker has a water wheel, plus cute sea creatures and a wee pirate to send paddling around the waterway or down the waterfall. Toddlers can practice their fine motor skills with Little Tikes’ Spinning Seas Water Table; small balls, a cup, a funnel and a water wheel set up the fun.

Step2’s two-sided Waterfall Discovery Wall has adjustable toggles, spinners and chutes to send the water tumbling in lots of different ways. And Lakeshore Learning’s Watch It Flow water table features three plastic logs that can be configured however you wish. Fill the logs using a hose or bucket; gates control the flow and can close up to make long tubs.

Foamo, also from the folks at Little Tikes, creates mountains of easy-to-clean-up foam when you add the nontoxic, biodegradable foam solution to water.

HOSE HAPPY

Turn on the hose and attach it to West Elm's inflatable car bed or giant shark mouth sprinklers. Fat Brain Toy’s Hydro Twist Pipeline Sprinkler has a couple of fountains, plus a bunch of wiggly worm hoses. Or hook up to BigMouth’s giant 6-foot-high unicorn, who shoots water out of her horn. There’s a ginormous ape, giraffe, dinosaur and giraffe here as well.

SWIM AND PADDLE

Giant inflatable water wheels let you find your inner hamster. You can find ones online for toddlers, while Wow Watersports has a grownup version they call the Aqua Treadmill.

Don’t forget the family pets; a nonporous, puncture-resistant floating dog bed at Frontgate comes in a bunch of colors and three sizes.

Chewy has ZippyPaws Floaterz sturdy turtle-shaped water toys for dogs, as well as rope-handled bumpers and a variety of floating balls.

A hard-sided kiddie pool can be a good non-inflatable option for cooling off; just hose it out and stow away. Other pluses: The doggos will also have fun splashing around in it, and it makes a great sand or snow play zone in colder weather. The Sun Squad Wading Kiddie Pool is inexpensive and has an embossed bottom, so it’s less slippery.

SLIDE AND RIDE

A basic heavy-duty plastic water slide or “slip and slide” can be set up in most backyards; if yours doesn’t come with an attached barrier at the bottom, make sure to put something soft there.

Studio 21 Graphix’s slide has a crash pad at the finish line, plus two lanes for racing and a sprinkler curtain to pass thru on the way down. Wow Watersports’ Strike Zone Water Slide is 25-by-6 feet of slipperiness; zigzag sprinkler patterns assure a wet ride, fat pontoons on either side keep riders inside, and two sleds are included. Got a really long yard? Get two; they can be interconnected.

If you’ve got lots of space, consider Costway’s inflatable Bounce House and Water Slide, with a bounce area, water gun, two slides, a basketball hoop and several balls. It comes with a storage bag for easy transport.

POOL STYLE

Marisa Issa of Los Angeles says her family’s favorite pool games are corn hole and a floating basketball hoop, but her favorite is a floating mat from Frontgate “that only mom can use,” she says. The sleek, minimalist white float has a headrest, and is made of marine-grade dense foam, suitable for chlorine or saltwater pools.

If you prefer sitting up a little, Frontgate’s got a floating armchair with attached ottoman. Choose from aqua, blue or flamingo pink. Or splash out on a full-size pool chaise kitted out with drink holders.

Want to hang out with a handful of friends in a backyard pool? Funboy has a 9-foot-wide floating metallic crown with drink holders. Or lounge luxuriously in the company’s Bali Cabana Lounger, with a curved integrated shade, a tropical leaf print, cup holders and handy grab ropes.

BigMouth has some food-related inflatables like a giant ice pop, pizza slice, donut, watermelon slice, cheeseburger and taco.

At first, glance, laying on an inflatable toy in shallow water seems pretty safe. After all, the water isn't deep, and there is a floating toy right there. Recently, a family's trip to the beach in Nova Scotia proved to be a harrowing reminder of why this is not the case. In August, two 5-year-olds played in shallow water – one in an inflatable ring, the other on an inflatable roller. Because the girls were in shallow water, their caregiver assumed the inflatable toys were enough. It wasn't until the girls began to drift away from that the complete danger of the situation became clear.

Inflatable toys can be dangerous

Because they are so light and buoyant, they tend to drift in the water or deflate when they get wet. That's when it's a problem. Kids don't know when their toys are deflated and cannot compensate when they're in the water. They can get trapped in the holes or strangle. When the girls got stuck, their caregiver did the right thing by calling for help. First responders rescued the girls and took them to the hospital to be treated for their injuries. While it's infrequent that inflatable toys are the source of injury to kids, it's good to know that they can pose a hazard. The numbers aren't obvious, but it seems that they're responsible for 1 in every 100 boating-related deaths in the U.S. and are one of the leading causes of drowning for children aged 4-6.

Why Inflatable Toys Can Be Dangerous

The giant inflatable was much bigger than the girls and began to drag the mattress toward shore, according to the parent of one of the girls who spoke with CTVNews. However, the inflatable ring wasn't nearly as big or heavy and was drifting with the current. The girls eventually lost hold of both and drifted a considerable distance. The girls' parents rushed to the scene and tried to retrieve their children, but the current was too firm, and the military eventually rescued them. The girls were found to be unharmed. Since this incident, many parents have expressed concerns about the safety of inflatable toys.

[erinelezabeth920]

Days 30 & 31: La Ultima

Friday morning (Day 30) I woke up stupid early. We had to meet at a panderia at 7:30. So not that early but early enough where I’d been out on a party bus the night before. I got dropped off in a taxi and found everyone there, eating breakfast. Erin was in a rough state, feeling sick, concerned she had stomach poisoning. Mike was out of it too. Eventually we all ate our food (or Gatorade) piled on a bus and drove about an hour and a half out of the city. I sat in the back next to Tara and her little 8 month year old baby. We chatted as the bus drove out of the city toward the volcano, Cotopaxi.

Long story short, we went mountain biking and it was pretty awesome. We drove up to Cotapaxi National Park, up into the clouds and the chilly mist with pine trees. I felt a hint of Seattle and my soul lifted. All 20 and some change of us filing along on single track paths in the arid, eerie landscape of the side of an active volcano. Mike and some others sped off. I putted along, braking too much and skidding on rocks, cursing. Mountain biking is not the top of my favorite outdoor activities, something about the instability, fear of falling, not liking narrow spaces and not being able to get over that. But even with all that, biking (hands gripping the handle bars in a death grip) in the Middle Earth like landscape, fresh air on my face was like a cure all, as it always is. We went for about 2 or 3 hours, 12 miles and all, stopping for lunch. It was cold and we had tea by a little hut and sandwiches, and brownies which our guide’s wife had made which were the best brownies ever. Apparently known in the program from the years past.

Cotopaxi is one of the world’s highest active volcanoes. The National park itself was actually closed for the past two years due to eruption activity. That day the peak itself was wreathed in clouds- very Northwest esque, but its presence still seen and felt. We biked over dirt and gravel, up hills and through water. I got off and walked a lot. At one point Erin and I tried to pee behind some boulders in the empty landscape and were not very successful. It was incredibly beautiful. The Andes are foreign to me, electric with the feeling of a moonscape, arid and huge. There were cows and fences, and at one point llamas! Finally. I took many selfies.

Finally we got to the meeting place. I felt tired, sore, and grinning in that outside way where my body feels electric, active and close to the edge of experience. It was the perfect last adventure day. We all got on the bus and fell asleep.

We got back to the city around 3:30pm. I stopped at my favorite coffee shop, a “white person place” I call it with lates and good internet. I ordered a giant hot chocolate. I called my mom. Sturgill Simpson played over the speakers and I almost started crying. Homesickness is a funny thing.

When it started to get dark I headed back to Monica’s. That night at dinner we chatted about Seattle, immigration and a bunch of other things. Primo was going off about some movie he loved. I was amazed at how much better my Spanish had gotten, maybe not speaking wise, but definitely just following the conversations without a total blank stare all the time. Monica then gave me a package and a card; it was a scarf and a card saying thank you for staying, and I am a part of the family. It was signed by everyone and even had the names of all the dogs. I in turn went upstairs and brought down the Seattle mug, magnet and Chukar Cherries I had bought at the airport. They put the magnet on the fridge and we all ate some cherries. It was a nice time and night. In typical Erin fashion I am overly emotional with goodbyes and as a result shut down or tend to run away. I excused myself pretty early and headed upstairs, trying to avoid the emotions that were swirling around. I petted the dogs on the way upstairs.

Saturday (Day 31)

I woke up around 8am or so and took the bus to Beraca. My stomach felt pretty off, so Kayla and I went to find a bathroom. It was bright and sunny and I was wearing my hat but very tired. We’d pretty much been non-stop for the last two weeks (or month). A handful of us we’re meeting to head up a couple hours north to a smaller town that had a huge market on Saturdays. I definitely didn’t need to buy anything else, but wanted to go just to see a new place and hang out with folks for the last day. The crew from Neuro (me, Kayla, Erin plus Liz, Jenna and Stephanie) piled in a van with Tara, her mother, two friends and little baby. The drive was pretty, rolling hills and dry landscapes with the mountains in the distance. It kind of looked like California wine country, and cacti lined the road. I was talkative on the way up, product of the coffee I had drank, although it hurt my stomach later. We got to Otavalo, a small town; it was big market, six streets or so with a mix of locals and tourists and tons of blankets, scarves, food and the deal. It was fun for a bit but then I was pretty finished and sat in the town center people watching. It reminded me a little of a South America Sonoma, Spanish colonial architecture and a center foundation square.

(Otavalo)

After Otavalo we headed over to a different town with apparently cheap high quality leather but I’m not really into those things so I found a restaurant and had a Caprese salad. The way back was long. I felt very sick, the roads were windy and there was traffic. Tara’s baby was crying too. Back in Quito Kayla and I stopped at the artisanal market, as we’d decided they had better jewelry than Otovalo. She helped me learn how to look for the number for real silver and helped me pick out a beautiful ring.

(Erin, Kayla and I and our rings)

The sun was setting and it was lovely. I was blocking out a lot of emotions because it was easier that way. We parted ways saying we’d meet up later. Erin had a date with one of the Spanish teachers (!) and Mike and Jojo wanted to go back to the gay bar. Somehow we all had to say bye to each other. I headed back to Monica’s to pack. I had a quick dinner with them but my heart wasn’t in it. We had already done our formal goodbyes the night before and I was pulling away for self preservation. I gave hugs and excused myself to pack.

Finally, after shoving everything in my backpack which was definitely twice as heavy as when I arrived, I headed out the door and grabbed a taxi. I met up with Kayla and her roommate from the one week program Brittany at a strange mall site up north in the city. We found a bar close by, which happened to be a rock and roll bar full of white people. Ah well I had two micheladas and was happy. At 11pm we walked over to a salsa club where Mike, Erin, Jojo and Raul were standing outside. There was a lot of hugging and passing around a water bottle of tequila. Then Kayla and Brittany headed back. Raul said goodbye as well; Mike, Jojo and I gave Erin her space for that one. She skipped up to us a few minutes later, grinning. I walked the three of the to the dance club, and dropped them off at the door. More hugs, Mike and I promised to hang out in NYC, waves goodbye and they dissappeared behind the doors and into the thumping bass.

And then it was just me. I was hungry. There was a McDonalds near by. In my sad and emotional state my basic instincts took over and I found myself with a double cheeseburger and fries at a little table by the window. Country music played on the radio. For some reason it felt like a limbo, transitioning out, phasing myself back into a ghost, walking the streets of Quito in transparency, like I was never here at all. Alone in McDonalds at midnight listening to country music, half in this world and half in America, part of both and neither. We can travel all we want, but we can never escape ourselves. Sometimes it’s honestly best to embrace it.

I finished up, grabbed a cab and headed back. The guy upcharged me and I couldn’t find the energy to care. The lights of the city zoomed by, and I didn’t have enough emotions. I was pretty empty, placidly gazing out the window. I said gracias, paid the fare, opened the gate and headed inside the dark house. Mayra and Chelsea were picking me up at 5am the next morning to go to the airport. It was 12:30am.

And well, that was that.

[shaunstoffer]

Why did I end up in Washington D.C.? Truthfully, why not? It was my birthday that week, I found a $130 round-trip plane ticket, had a few old friends living there who I didn’t mind visiting, and wanted to see what the difference was seeing DC on a field as an 8th grade as opposed to a soon to be twenty-eight year old man. What was I trying to find? Hidden gems. Every tour guide can tell you about the Lincoln Memorial and the Smithsonian museums, but not all can tell you where to get the freshest oysters on the half shell, where to find the best food trucks, or where to tailgate before a pro baseball game – but I can.

Spent my first night in DC exploring “Barracks Row” and found some awesome spot like Hank’s Oyster Bar and the Barrel where I indulged in a variety of a dozen oysters on the half shell, blood orange cheesecake, local draft beers, and then ventured into a whiskey lounge where I blew some hard earned cash to sip some proper, aged, single barrel whiskeys like Blanton’s.

Food trucks are everywhere in DC, but surprisingly expensive! A soda costs around $3 and simple meals like a cheeseburger and fries will cost around $7-$10. However, I spotted a Vietnamese food truck and couldn’t resist. I ordered and started a conversation using only Vietnamese. The staff couldn’t believe it and complimented my pronunciation. I got a “bun bo Hue” a type of beef noodle soup that originated in Vietnam’s ancient city called Hue. I’m used to it costing less than a $1 in Vietnam, here it was $11, but I have to say it was as authentic as it gets.

Inside of the United States Botanic Garden!

The Bullpen is a tailgating space located right next to the Washing National Stadium which is basically a parking lot surrounded by shipping containers with a giant projector screen playing the game. People come to tailgate and some just decide to stay in order to save on tickets and food and drink prices as well as not have to deal with the lines.

I’m at the Nationals vs. White Sox game. I have no idea what the hell is going on, but I’m enjoying myself.

Today, I realized I’ve been doing seafood wrong the entire time I’ve been in DC. The Wharf in DC has a selection of dockside seafood markets offering FRESH lobsters, crawfish, oysters, clams, blue crabs and more for less than half the price you’d get at an oyster bar or crawfish restaurant. Today, I got a pound of crawfish for $6 and half a dozen oysters for $8 all ready to eat with sauces and seasonings. Then, I simply strolled to a pier bar that allowed outside food and washed it down with a cold Pacifico and enjoyed the view. Mistakes were made, but I’m glad I got to eat like a local at last.

The inside of some of the Smithsonian Museums and National Gallery of Art.

Exploring DC’s Eastern Market and trying their famous crab cake sandwich!

I’m used to a life in southeast Asia where you have to always be on guard. Dog thieves, motorcycle snatchers, pickpockets, mafia, corrupt police and more. Today, I decided to learn the DC metro and within 5 minutes of trying to figure out how to purchase the right pass a woman randomly walks up and asks if I’m trying to purchase a metro card. Before I could even respond, she tells me she has an extra metro card at home and hands me hers. Shocked, I just tell her thank you and she smiles, nods, and walks off. My point being, and what I’ve been preaching, kindness is free. Not always the act itself, but the choice to be so is. “Be the change you wish to see in the world”

Say what you want about Trump, but his hotel is an awesome piece of architecture!

So, in DC people tie their dogs up outside of a business when they want to go shopping and it’s not considered a big deal. Well, being me, I thought all the good boys deserved lots of pets and wanted to take a selfie with yours truly. Meet my buddy big, good, blonde boy.

This bar, called The Barrel, had an underground dive that acted as a separate entity, but shared the building space. The bartender ironically had a Vietnamese wife and I wrote down some compliments for him to write to her. In return, he gave me some free drinks out of these tiki glasses resembling Trump, Obama, and someone who I don’t recognize.

I get all the time how people are jealous of my travels or are living vicariously through me. Truth is, there are plenty of days when things go wrong, bad weather, delayed flights, unbearable crowds, getting sick, traffic jams, or, in this case, seeing the famous Tidal Basin drier than a bone. In the end, it’s all good, no one died and I still got to see and do some amazing things. I’ve drank wine in the Eiffel Tower, stood on top of Hitler’s bunker, and celebrated New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam. Life is always worth living no matter your past or current situation.

I quickly realized that in DC the majority of attractions are grouped together. The easiest way to get around is to use the metro, rent-able scooters which are everywhere in DC, or walk. I prefer walking because I stumble upon the best little hidden gems that way. And, when walking, the US Capitol and the Washington Monument are basically your North Stars for when you get lost or second guess your location.

These scooters are everywhere in DC and rent-able through multiple phone apps. I never tried one because, to be honest, I was worried I’d start driving like I was back in Vietnam. Running red lights, not yielding, and having a complete disregard for life and the laws.

My birthday gift to myself was a box seat to see the National Symphony Orchestra. I was the only one wearing jeans, a sweater, and sneakers in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, but I also had one of the best box seats in the house. Throwing myself into concert halls and quickly learning Aaron Copeland, Manuela De Falla, and Antonin Dvorak.

When you’ve been exploring the Smithsonian museums for the past 6 hours and walked over 7 miles somehow.

Flying out from BWI Airport at 6am didn’t seem like a bad idea, right? Nope! The security line was so overwhelmed it took nearly an hour to get through and people were visibly upset. I came with plenty of time to spare so, for the most part, I just turned on Pandora and let it ride as complaining wasn’t going to do me any good!

Exploring Washington, D.C. Why did I end up in Washington D.C.? Truthfully, why not? It was my birthday that week, I found a $130 round-trip plane ticket, had a few old friends living there who I didn't mind visiting, and wanted to see what the difference was seeing DC on a field as an 8th grade as opposed to a soon to be twenty-eight year old man.

[oselatra]

A Little Rock late-night eatery rundown

Nine for the nighttime.

The moon is high. The fridge is empty. You haven't had a bite since the early-bird lunch special and you're far too considerate a human being to waltz into a local eatery and order up your dinner 10 minutes before closing time. (Aren't you?) Lucky for you, the late-night dining game in Little Rock has gotten a whole lot stronger, and your options extend far past the realm of smothered-and-covered. Read on, night owl, and patronize some of the fine establishments offering up bar bites and couture fare into the wee hours. 

1. Pantry Crest 722 N. Palm St. 4 p.m.-midnight Mon.-Sat.

The fact that this Pantry Eateries kitchen stays open late is only the beginning. First things first: Happy hour lasts all evening on Mondays, a day when many area restaurants are shuttered. Choice pilsners and pinot noirs can be had at cut rates, along with a bevy of small plates perfect for sharing after a show or when your after-work meeting ran ridiculously late and you're ready to consume the first thing within sight that looks like a carbohydrate. There are the decadently Truffled Deviled Eggs; Pommes Frites; the silky House Made Ricotta, served in the center of a ring of charred bread slices; the house-made Liver Paté; the halved-and-charred Brussels Sprouts with Aioli; that apex of all German comfort foods, Cheese Spaetzle; and, maybe the best of all, the salty-sweet dualism of the Bacon Wrapped Dates on toothpick skewers. The Lasagna al Forno's damned near the stuff of legends; the rotating, one-pot Rustic Bowl is consistently creative; and the house-pressed Country Terrine is a must. (Think: Spam's erudite Parisian cousin.) Even better: It's a place you can comfortably go out for a meal with your friends even during the leanest of months; The Pantry's House-Made Sausage and Bratwurst, topped with mustard and your choice of vegetable lesco or sauerkraut and served on a Boulevard Bread hoagie, are $4.95.

2. Pantry West 11401 N. Rodney Parham Road 11 a.m.-midnight Mon.-Fri., 4 p.m.-midnight Sat.

The Pantry Eateries' first location, est. 2009, is so many things. It's the Zeus' head from which its Hillcrest offshoot sprung in 2014. It's a place to make you feel a little less plebeian after you've just spent an hour in Party City across Rodney Parham Road. It's a place whose dim lighting and internal architecture seem uniquely suited to intimacy; you could hide away in a corner gazing into your beloved's eyes for an entire evening without interruption. It is, in most other respects, similar to its Crest counterpart — a cozy Germanic hangout with consistently delightful small plates. It has a couple of major advantages over its off-Kavanaugh cousin: It serves lunch and is the exclusive spot for chef Tomas Bohm's signature paella, an outsized, jovial celebration of a dish that requires an eight-person minimum and one week's notice to serve.

3. Midtown Billiards 1316 S. Main St. 3 p.m.-5 a.m. daily

Like a great Phoenix with grease-tipped wings and Camel Lights on its breath, Midtown Billiards has risen from the ashes again and again. Sometimes the ashes were metaphorical; the spot's revelry has been broken up by more than one booze-fueled brawl. Sometimes they were literal; the late-night dive and perennial Hub of Bad Decisions was forced to close and remodel after a particularly devastating fire in September 2016. And what were we robbed of in the subsequent months? For one thing, a dreadnought of a sandwich called the "Midtown Burger Challenge" that doubles as a gauntlet thrown at the most voraciously competitive of diners. Therein, challengers work their way through a stack of four beef patties, an entire can of Spam, and two fried eggs layered between buns and all the fixin's. If they do it in half an hour, the sandwich is free; otherwise, they pay $25 for the sandwich and its digestive aftermath. You need not go to such extremes, though, and most don't; Midtown's staple — the plain cheeseburger — will do quite nicely, seasoned with all the oily history of that time-honored flat grill and the sloppy romance of marathon drinking.

4. Dugan's Pub 401 E. Third St. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.

The Gaelic saying "Céad Míle Fáilte," literally meaning "a thousand welcomes," greets visitors above the doors at Dugan's Pub at the corner of Third and Rock streets in the River Market district. Named for owner Don Dugan, former owner of Markham Street Grill & Pub, the spacious Irish-inspired pub slings customary bar food, such as cheese dip, nachos, burgers and chicken strips, along with "traditional Irish fare" — shepherd's pie ($8.95), corned beef hash ($9.95) and bangers and mash ($8.95). A large drink menu welcomes patrons with cocktails, cocktail warmers, brews by the bottle and a rotating draft selection. The pub's small slice of covered outdoor patio space is often busy, weather permitting, and Dugan's also sometimes hosts live music. It regularly broadcasts professional and college football games. This corner of the River Market district is also home to Stratton's Market at Dugan's Pub, which offers groceries, specialty foods, produce, wine, beer and liquor, with an emphasis on local products. It's open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Sat.

5. Waffle House Various locations. 24 hours daily

Waffle House, the pervasive diner chain that offers cakey waffles and hash browns served in a delightfully long list of ways — smothered, covered, chunked and, among many other options, the coyly phrased "all the way" style, which combines every option together for what must be a sight to behold — has a familiar appeal that's rooted in the fact that Waffle House is for everyone. Teens squeeze into the booths in the thrillingly empty hours between dinner at home and an 11 p.m. curfew; early risers and folks getting off their overnight shifts line the counter at 5 a.m.; hungover college kids stumble in around noon to slurp down coffee and strips of crispy, greasy bacon, of which the Waffle House website says it slings 341 rashers per minute. The chain is dependable. Waffle Houses are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so the warm, beckoning lights of each establishment, scattered like its hash browns across 25 states, are perpetually accessible for hungry, bored or weary travelers, drawn to those yellow block letters in the sky like moths to a flame.

6. Four Quarter Bar 415 Main St., North Little Rock 3 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Sat., noon-2 a.m. Sun.

Bar grub's come a long way in Little Rock in recent years, and Four Quarter — an offshoot of Maggie Hinson's Midtown Billiards family — is leading the charge in the Argenta Arts District. The shotgun dive smokes its own pork and serves the best veggie hash in town. Elevated fare, such as Chicken Cordon Bleu rillades, arrives unceremoniously in those red checkered paper trays you get from food trucks; a pool of otherwise elegantly plated chorizo shrimp cheese grits lands on the table in a styrofoam bowl. It's not unusual at all for the 4Q to smoke a pork belly to perfection, for example, and do something wild with it — batter it up like a corn dog, to pick a recent example. The food's so good it's almost a joke: a high-art-meets-low-art farce. Whatever it is, it translates on the paper plate to a barfly's sweetest dream and a tongue-in-cheek mashup of fine dining with a state fair/gas station nachos aesthetic.

7. JJ's Grill 12111 W. Markham St. 11 a.m.-midnight Mon.-Sat.

At the Rock Creek Square Plaza shopping center at Bowman Road and West Markham Street sits JJ's Grill, a bar/restaurant that could be described as a bizarre hybrid of Applebee's and Hooters. It has a few slogans, including "Do your mouth a favor" and "Boots, class and a lil' sass." In the "Meet Us" section of the restaurant's website, a short video features narration by Jody Thornton, owner of JJ's, as well as testimonials from customers and waitresses (whom Thornton and Andrew Locke, JJ's general manager, refer to as "the girls") about the live music, fresh food and friendly atmosphere. A menu of American bar food favorites is spiced up with some odd originals, such as the PB&J burger ($9.99), topped with grape jelly, bacon, peanut butter and Sriracha. Pricier "serious meals" on the menu include fish 'n' chips ($14.29) and JJ's salisbury steak ($12.59), and there are a variety of salads, tacos and wraps to round out the eatery's offerings. An addendum at the end of the menu asks "Date not hungry?" and lets customers know they can double an order of fries and add three onion rings for $3.29. This section also adds that while JJ's is a "true short-order grill," patrons will have to pay more for extra fixings because "if it costs me, it's gonna cost you." This Arkansas-only restaurant chain also has locations in Conway, Rogers, Bella Vista, Fort Smith, Springdale and Fayetteville.

8. Brewski's Pub & Grub 315 Main St. 11 a.m.-midnight Sun.-Wed., 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Thu.-Sat.

Fratty vibes notwithstanding, the service at this double-decker Main Street pub belies the usual sports-bar mediocrity: The servers and bartenders may not be hip to the ways in which that Brewski's logo was derived from a certain Boston bar of sitcom renown, but they still make you feel welcome to pull up a chair and order a tall one. Wall-filling flat screens surround diners. The beer is served killer cold and the wings piping hot. During some particularly long stints this summer staring (and OK, yelling) at a giant television in the cozy Brewski's basement during the 2018 College World Series, we appreciated the variety of spots to perch on or curl up in: tall stools, low couches, cozy booths or convivial tables. Don't sleep on those cheese curds, either.

9. Ciao Baci 605 N. Beechwood St. 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Fri., 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Sat.

The cozy atmosphere of Ciao Baci, the Hillcrest bungalow-turned-eatery, welcomes guests to a friendly space that encourages conversation over its tapas-style small plates and appetizers, such as its rich, smokey sweet potato fries basket with chipotle honey ($8) or the utterly decadent baked pimento cheese, served with grilled pita and pepperoncini ($9). These "Ciao Baci Food Favorites," as the menu describes them, are available from 4 p.m. until midnight, while the larger entree plates, described on the restaurant's early fall 2018 menu as "Food Features," are available 5-10:30 p.m. They include an ambitious chef's tasting menu for $45, which, according to the menu, is a five-course progression of "what you should be eating." Other food features, such as the pan-roasted duck breast ($24) or the butternut squash tamale ($14), come paired with well-conceived, complementary side dishes for a satisfying, full-belly experience. Ciao Baci hosts happy hour from 4-6 p.m. daily, and for those in the mood for a cocktail or glass of wine to get through the midweek slump, select bottles of wine are only $20 on Tuesdays and it's happy hour all day on Wednesdays.

A Little Rock late-night eatery rundown

[thesundiaries]

Paris - Central Paris

This is the first post in a series of a guide to Paris, organized by area. Here we are starting with central Paris - the area bordering the Seine where you will certainly head to, especially if it's your first time. This is where you can find all the must-sees: the Louvre, St. Germain, the Palais Royal and the long lines for a teeny scoop of salted caramel ice cream at Bertillon. 

The central part of Paris is probably the Paris you pictured before you went for the first time. It's pale beige limestone buildings, with slate grey roofs and wrought iron balconies. It's windows framed with wooden shutters and adorned with flowers, parks with rolling lawns shaded by neat rows of linden trees with their thin, flat green leaves that catch the sunlight. It's the sun reflecting off the waters of the Seine, and cafés with woven rattan chairs spilling out into the sidewalk. It can also be, especially during popular holiday times, masses of people, rows of tour buses, selfie sticks waving in the air, long lines, and pricey not-so-great espressos. 

It's still probably the first area you should head to if it's your first day or first time in Paris, to really make it feel like you're *there*. And although some of the lines cannot be avoided, know that even in this most well-traversed of areas there are quiet alleys, hidden gems and great, (fairly) reasonably priced cups of coffee.

11:30AM MY FAVORITE PETIT PETIT DEJEUNÉR:

From the same team as Verjus (which you should definitely go to as well), Ellsworth also does small plates and it is one of my favorite breakfast spots in Paris. Small plates for breakfast means you can get eggs and fried chicken AND a yogurt parfait and not leave stuffed. And of course since this is no Denny's the scrambled eggs are dotted with morel mushrooms and swirls of homemade ricotta and pesto while the strawberry parfait looks like that (below). 

My mom actually declared this her favorite meal in Paris and was sad to find out that the team behind it were amèricaines...

   12:00PM THE PERFECT DAYTIME PICNIC SPOT:

Not revolutionary by any means - and this will be obvious by how packed it will be on a sunny day - but the Luxembourg Gardens are a great spot to have a picnic. Lots of lawn space, chairs to read in, leafy paths, lawn bowling and the last time I went - miniature pony rides?  Bring a book, a blanket, fruit, some pastries from Pierre Hermé, a baguette, some charcuterie and a bottle of wine - and you're all set. If the weather turns on you, the trees provide some decent coverage from the rain.

1:14PM WHEN YOU HAVE AT LEAST A HALF DAY TO SPARE:

It's huge, and there are lines and the Mona Lisa is pretty underwhelming. But. It is awe-inspiring, from the architecture of this grand former palace to standing a couple inches away from iconic art pieces and thousand year old relics. The Louvre can feel like a treasure hunt: make sure you look up at the ornate ceilings (especially the Cy Twombly painted one in the Objets d'Art wing), down at the intricately patterned marble tiled floors, and around nooks and crannies, where the less notorious but at times most fun pieces are tucked away. Get there early, wear comfortable shoes, and the lockers make life much easier if you are carrying a lot of stuff (shopping, umbrellas, et. al). My favoritest wing is the Objets d'Art one, with all the  gem-studded, exotic leather covered, solid gold monogrammed and mother-of-pearl inlaid royal artifacts. Although it is a symbol of the preposterous wealth inequality at the time it is fascinating to look at everyday items like hairbrushes, tea cups, and snuff boxes that cost more than anything I've ever touched in my life. 

4:37PM FOR AN ESPRESSO TO REFUEL POST-LOUVRE:

After getting your 10,000 steps in at the Louvre the beautiful Café Marly is right on site and the perfect place to catch your breath (and maybe some wifi to post that Mona Lisa snap) for a bit. Although prices are a little steep, an espresso and freshly squeezed orange juice shouldn't break the bank. The outside terrace is lovely and faces the iconic Louvre pyramid while the inside is all rich reds, velvet black and touches of gold. The waiters are notoriously rather good-looking and last time we were there, there was a friendly calico cat chilling underneath one of the tables inside the restaurant. A little something for everyone. 

5:16PM WHEN YOU WANT ICE CREAM BUT DONT'T WANT TO RUIN YOUR APPETITE:

It's pricey no doubt and there will be lines but the salted caramel is unequivocally worth it. Plus if you have a whole day of eating planned, take comfort (or glass half full it) in the fact that the scoops are definitely on the small side. And IMHO, the extra euro for the seasonal fraises des bois is not worth it, go for the regular strawberry (or double up on caramel au beurre salé).

There are actually carts that sell Berthillon all over Paris so if you don't want to wait in lines, or go to Ilê-St-Louis you certainly don't have to. The island is worth a peek though, especially the quieter outer streets that are more residential.

6:30PM WHEN YOU MISS HOME ALREADY:

It's not the *best* burger in Paris and it's not a budget spot. But it's a pretty decent burger, and most of all there is something fun about eating cheeseburgers, tomato soup, and cobb salad in a stately French courtyard, smack dab on the Boulevard Saint-Germain.

8:11PM FOR THE BEST SUNSET PICNIC VIEWS:

Although you could go up to the fancy restaurant at the top of the Eiffel tower, I much rather sit at the edge of cobblestone paths on the Quai de Seine, legs swinging above the lapping waves of the river, with a bottle of wine and a bite of bread and cheese. For free. As the sun goes down you can witness the full color spectrum of the Seine: the water goes from a forest green, to a dark grey, then a pale orange-pink as it reflects the light of the sunset, and finally an inky midnight blue. The area facing the Eiffel Tower (shown above) or Notre Dame (down below) are especially scenic as the sun goes down. If it's a nice day, you will see many Parisians following your cue. 

9:24PM BEST MEAL AT A COUNTER:

If you can't get a seat at the perpetually packed restaurant Le Relais du Comptoir head on over to the more casual stand-up counter operation next door, L'Avant Comptoir. The menu is hung up on the rafters, and anything pork is a solid choice - especially the jambon. If in season the white asparagus might be one of my favorite dishes in Paris. Order a glass of wine and make (generous) use of the communal baskets of bread, giant mound of butter and giant-er jar of cornichons. If  the bartenders take a liking to you, you can use the Sharpies to leave your initials (at least until the next time they wipe them clean) on the tiles that line the walls. 

  10:45PM FINISH THE NIGHT WITH A COCKTAIL OR TWO:

Prescription Cocktail Club is right off a busy portion of St. Germain, but as soon as you walk into the small bar, you are transported to another world. The shades are always drawn, candles are the only source of light, and the murmur of conversation and clinking glasses mix in with the background music. The drinks are strong and the mule and anything with mezcal are sure shots. 

9:01AM AND OF COURSE, SUPPLIES FOR ALL THESE PICNICS:

Uhh actually that's the restaurant Claus, but on the opposite side you have Claus the store (below), that sells pastries, coffee, juices, yogurt, jams, chocolate hazelnut spread...you get the idea. With some charcuterie (from Gilles Verot if you want the best) and a baguette from wherever (there is a La Parisienne nearby), maybe some of the passion fruit macarons from Pierre Hermé, and some libations; I think you'll be all set.

9:47AM WHAT TO DO ON THE DIMANCHE WHEN THE RESTAURANT YOU WANT TO GO TO IS CLOSED:

The Marché Biologique Raspail in St. Germain is one of my favorites. It is certainly not one of the more affordable markets as everything is 'bio' (organic) but you can find a wide selection of breads, meats, fish, cheeses, & produce as well an assortment of clothes, Turkish towels, carved olive wood cutting boards and other home goods. I highly recommend the Middle Eastern flatbreads fresh from the griddle, the fruit & nut breads and the onion pancakes from the 'onion pancake man' at the end of the market. There may be a short line but have your exact change ready and bite into this perfectly browned mixture of griddled cheese and shaved onions.

10:58AM COFFEE AND COOKIES WITH A VIEW:

The Maison Kitsuné café in the Galerie de Valois probably has one of the most pleasant little backyards ever - just casually inside the Palais Royal gardens. Grab a coffee or a matcha latte and some of their (gluten free) kitsuné shaped shortbread cookies and head out to the tables in the back. If you are so inclined the Acne store nearby is a good one. 

12:17PM WHEN YOU COME IN AUGUST, AND EVERYTHING IS FERME POUR VACANCES:

Yes Le Relais de l'Entrecôte is a chain and the line out the door has a lot of fellow tourists. In fact the first time I visited the restaurant, I was not in France at all but in São Paulo in Brazil. But they serve good food efficiently, year-round. The menu is also rather (extremely) streamlined as they only serve one thing: entrecôte (rib-eye steak) with their famous sauce, fries and a simple green salad. The only decision you make is whether you want salad or not, and to what doneness you want your steak done. Their sauce is quite tasty, the service is très efficient and the fries are bottomless (!): in other words this is the closest thing you can probably get to a French version of fast food. 

1:45PM WHEN THE LINES FOR NOTRE DAME ARE TOO DAMN LONG:

The stunning Saint-Chapelle is probably my favorite cathedral in Paris (and right around the corner from Notre Dame on Ilê-St-Louis). When the sun is shining through the colorful stained glass windows in the morning you can see rays of magenta pink, royal blue and golden yellows streaming into the church. The lines and crowds are minimal compared to its more famous brethren like Notre Dame and Sacré-Couer and it feels like being inside a jewel box. 

2:37PM WHEN YOU HAVE SOME MONEY TO BURN:

Hard to beat Rue Saint-Honoré if you are after some *fancy* stuff to bring home. Remember that the tax-back minimum is 175 euro, so if you reach that amount you can get a form to get about 12% of your purchase value back to you by just scanning and dropping off the forms at the VAT Refund kiosks in the airport. If you shop at department stores like Le Bon Marché you can also get your VAT refund on the spot. Some of the stores can get packed - the teensy Hermès stores will ask you to come back later if they are full and it can be a bit trying to get someone to assist you at some of the more popular stores like the perpetually packed Louis Vuitton. This is yet another opportunity to get some macarons at Pierre Hermé and chill. If you are after something a little less stodgy, the Colette store always has fun clothes and merchandise. 

3:50PM BEST SUNNY DAY WALK:

The Tuileries on a nice day is a truly joyful experience with a wide expanse of rolling green grass, colorful flowers, and the ferris wheel ever slowly spiraling in the background. And on a sunny day the airy all-white Museé de L'Orangerie seems particularly vivid, with the purples and teals of the grand Monets hugging the curved walls seemingly sparkling. When I was there in the spring a blanket of tiny white flowers was covering the shadier parts of the grass and sprouting out of cracks in the walls, the tulips were in full bloom and purple and pink flowers were cascading out of the somber stone vases. 

5:48PM BEST RAINY DAY WALK:

The Musée d'Orsay is housed in a former train station built in the late 1800s and the building alone is worth a look, with its domed glass ceilings and grand Beaux-Art style clocks spread throughout. It houses mostly French art from the mid 1800s to early 1900s including Monet, Seurat, Van Gogh and my favorite painting in the world by Gustave Caillebotte. It can be crowded but it has an interesting mix of art and is easy to do in an hour or two. I especially love the room with art inspired by Asia and the Middle East, which has a different feel from the rest of the depictions of mostly Europe-centric art. With no gardens or outdoor areas, it is a good one to head to when it starts to pour. 

7:36PM WHEN YOU FEEL THAT (FUTURE) VAT REFUND BURNING A HOLE IN YOUR POCKET:

Hotels like the Plaza Athenée and the Hôtel Costes have beautiful interiors, with leafy courtyards, impeccable decor, and minimally lit, maximally luxurious bars all mahogany panels, eggplant purple velvet and flickering candles. And 19 euro cocktails. But hey, the spiced almonds, chips and olives are free so... 

8:55PM FOR A TRADITIONAL FRENCH DINNER AND NOT A MICROGREEN IN SIGHT:

Polidor was recommended by a friend of my dad's who lived in Paris. It serves up no-fuss French food in a decidedly cozy and unpretentious atmosphere. The prices are extremely reasonable and the crowd leans older and French-er. The blond lentil cream soup was served simply with a few torn hunks of bread. The beef carpaccio was sprinkled only with grated parmesan and came with a hefty side of French fries. Lastly, the blueberry Bavarois was feathery light, swimming in a pool of inky purple coulis. There was not a shred of green in sight but fear not, if this seems a little too French: after handing me the fries the waitress whispered that 'of course we don't normally serve it - but if you want we do have le ketchup in the back'.

Ces't tout for now! Last update June 16, 2017.