Cool Travel / Done with New York

July 1, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Gerry Mak |

I’m going to catch a lot of flack for this, but I’ve got to say that I’m pretty fed up with New York City. Space and time constraints, prohibitively high rents, and the sheer density of the city crush the creative and generative spirit of even some of the most imaginative people I know, turning even idealistic artists into cut-throat opportunists and cynical sociopaths. Read more

Cool Travel / Lord of the Fries

June 29, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Caitlin Zaino |

Lord of the Fries is a one time revolving van turned take-out joint offering “burgers” and not surprisingly, fries, for Melbournian vegans and vegetarians alike. Their Big Mark Burger — a veggie patty topped with soy cheese, pickles, and ketchup — was recently named Australia’s Best Veggie Burger by animal rights activist group PETA. That’s not to say their fries aren’t equally legendary. Made from Australian-sourced potatoes, these hand cut, skin on fries boast a crunchy, crisp exterior and a fluffy center. Lord of the Fries’ ingredients and methods focus on healthy ingredients, locally sourced, so whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian, locavore, or carnivore, this humble shop promises to please. [photo via Here's The Veg]

Cool Travel / Secret Supper Clubs

June 27, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Francis Andrews |

The blind date of the food world has finally arrived, and it’s proving more palatable than the awkwardness of an evening spent in superficial conversation. Secret Supper clubs are springing up in the backstreets of London: what are attics and living rooms by day get converted into makeshift restaurants catering for an evening of surprise tastes and conversations. Read more

Cool Travel / Bethlehem, Palestine

June 23, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Ron English |

You may have to work your way through the flock of sheep being hustled down the street by your local shepherd on your way to breakfast, but the people are extremely friendly and helpful. Everything is cheap. You can get a nice four-ounce glass of cognac for three dollars. Shopping is not as extensive as some other locations, like Dubai, but they have the coolest hand-carved olive wood sculptures, and you can visit the many mom and pop factories that make them. Read more

Cool Travel / Toronto

June 19, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Zolton |

I visited Toronto for the first time a couple of weekends back to check out the Luminato Festival and explore the city itself, which is being promoted as a more socially progressive and cultural alternative to other Canadian hotspots such as Montreal and Vancouver. And for good reason. Toronto is a fascinating place on many levels: from the architecture in the city center, which seamlessly combines the ornate majesty of pre-1940 buildings with the glistening facades of more contemporary designs; to the long, straight roads which defines movement though the city and contains an assortment of hidden gems; to the overall cleanliness of the streets and the overwhelming sense that a bustling creative community is doing all it can to foster the careers of others around them. It was an eye-opening experience. I left the city with a feeling that Toronto is very much on the rise, casting aside its wintry persona and thriving on the back of what is clearly a dynamic and exciting creative scene. Photos by Alison Zavos Read more

Cool Travel / Merchant’s House Museum

June 17, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Ilana Kohn |

If you live in New York, or find yourself lucky enough to be visiting, and you have any interest in history whatsoever, be sure to visit the Merchant’s House Museum on the Bowery. Walking into the Merchant’s House, you are essentially walking into the home of the Tredwells, circa 1832. A virtual time capsule of life on the upscale Bowery in pre-Civil War New York City (yes, the Bowery was actually a very upscale locale 180 years ago), the house is filled with all the original belongings of the Tredwell family and imbued with their history. It’s one of the most fascinating places you will ever visit.

Cool Travel / Retro Arcade Museum and Baby Boomer Antiques

June 15, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Ron English |

Located in an old storefront with blacked out windows on the Rockwellian Main Street of Beacon New York, this ‘museum‘ is a bit spooky at first. Once you’re inside, you’ll quickly forget this century. All the 1970s vintage pinball machines, early video games, and side-showish arcade games are present in mint condition. I brought my ten year-old son, thinking the experience would make him more appreciative of his modern gaming systems. But the flashing lights of the seventies arcade had him mesmerized. Ten dollars gets you an hour of unlimited play and just showing up gets you an in-depth tour, including opening up the machines to expose their clever secrets. [photo via RetroThing]

Cool Travel / Sydney’s Ruby Diner

June 11, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Katrina Whitehead |

When you wake up on a Sunday morning with a slightly hazy head and a rumbling tummy, what do you need? A damn good brunch! And where can you find one? Well, if you happen to live around Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, I suggest you head straight to Ruby’s Diner, on Bronte Road in Waverley. Ruby’s is owned by a cool dude named Ed, who gained local notoriety at Jed’s Cafe in Bondi.

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Cool Travel / Barcelona’s Hotel Omm

June 9, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Zolton |

There’s something to be said for staying in a hotel room that’s bigger than your Brooklyn apartment. Yup, it happens so rarely that when you come across it, you kinda want to hang inside, bask in the space, and imagine that this really is your life. 365 days a year. Ah ha, then you wake up. Anyway, I stayed recently at the beautifully designed Hotel Omm in the Eixample district of Barcelona, surrounded by the glitzy, sparkling shops that dot the landscape and by the disarmingly original Gaudi buildings that tower spectacularly above the skyline. It’s quite a sight. [photo by Alison Zavos] Read more

Cool Travel / Old style, new class at Sydney’s Bar Cleveland

June 4, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Xavier Toby |

For some reason, over the last decade nearly every pub in Sydney has been systematically destroyed. I’m not sure who’s doing it, or why, but a someone is ripping out every ounce of character, replacing it with bright lights, flat screens, garish colours and emotionless interiors. Bar Cleveland on Cleveland St in Surry Hills seems to be one venue that has so far escaped. It could easily be just another big pub, but it’s not. Recent renovations have faithfully rendered an art-deco inspired interior to surround the impressive centrepiece, the large original bar. The interior is kept dim, the couches are comfortable, the beer is cold and the food is decent.

Cool Travel / Manhattan’s Crif Dogs

June 1, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Sonya Rosendorff |

I love Crif Dogs. I’m sure most of the locals in New York know about this awesome hot dog place, but for those new to the area, it’s a must see, do and eat. Deciding on what hot dog your belly desires is probably the most difficult thing to do here as there are many to choose, from the classic New Yorker to my all time favourite, Spicy Redneck: a house dog, bacon wrapped, with chilli, cole slaw, and jalapenos. You may need to get two hot dogs and a side of tatar tots to fill your stomach, as I was craving more. While I was waiting, I killed some time playing my favorite 80s arcade game, Galaga. Also, you may get invited into their secret bar, PDT. You need enter the phone booth to answer a secret password or just be let in by chance.

Cool Travel / Brooklyn Flea

May 30, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Ilana Kohn |

With spring fully arrived, it’s brought with it the return of the Brooklyn Flea, a mecca for crafts, vintage and food. Having gone out of my way to attend the Fort Greene flea almost every Saturday since it began almost a month ago — to stuff my face with the myriad gastronomical indulgences available and peruse the amazing wares set out on folding tables throughout the courtyard of Bishop Loughlin Memorial High — I only wish that I had a larger belly and more disposable income. Read more

Cool Travel / Five unusual museums that defy belief

May 28, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Xavier Toby |

Museums can be really boring. There’s a dinosaur, here’s a rock. Wow. To combat those assumptions, here are five very real and very different museums from around the world that are anything but boring. The Inti Nan Solar Museum: Ever wondered which way water spins down the drain when you’re on the equator? Visit the Inti Nan Solar Museum in Ecuador to find out. Also, balance an egg on a nail — it’s only possible on the equator — and see a bunch of shrunken heads. I’m not sure how they fit it all in. The Creation Museum: Did God create the world in six days only 6,000 years ago? According to this museum, he did. See exhibits where humans run with dinosaurs, and be bowled over by information that makes no logical sense. Read more

Cool Travel / El Tizoncito, the best tacos

May 26, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Caitlin Zaino |

Mexico City’s streets are a sensory overload, saturated with sights, sounds, and smells. The unmistakable old-school bright green Volkswagen bugs chug along while enticing smoky scents of roasting meats waft through the air. Street food is a quintessential and seriously important part of life in this city. And there is no shortage of small storefronts, trucks, and even plastic tables on the side of the road, where truly authentic Mexican food is on offer. Where to find the best tacos in the city has been and will continue to be a never-ending debate. But for me — and countless locals — El Tizoncito is undoubtedly one of the greatest. Read more

Cool Travel / Grose Valley in Australia’s Blue Mountains

May 21, 2009 | Cool Travel | by Katrina Whitehead |

Last weekend in Sydney, thousands of buffed individuals ran a half marathon around the Sydney central business district. Feeling a little guilty about my lack of participation — or inclination to do so — I started reminiscing about the last time I had blisters worth talking about. Sadly, it was over a year ago, after a two-day hike through the Grose Valley in the Blue Mountains National Park. Read more