Here’s the first look at Nicole Kidman in V Magazine. Lensed by Mario Testino, the actress has a shaggy, sexy vibe going on — Jane Fonda in Klute meets Olivia Newton-John getting Physical. What’s your thought on Nicole’s new style? Comment below.
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Worried that your collection of Final Fantasy games is incomplete? Here's your chance to grab the ultimate addition. An eBay seller named fefea is offering an American edition of Final Fantasy II for $50,000.
"$50,000 – for an old video game?!" you may well scream. But this is the unreleased NES version of the title, which was localised for the American market after the success of the original Final Fantasy role-playing adventure, but never released. As the seller points out in his auction description:
"This particular cartridge was put together by the fine folks at Square Soft USA to display at the 1991 Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The plan was to release the game later that year, but instead, Square scrapped its 8-bit NES plans to focus on the new 16-bit Super Nintendo."
Fefea claims to have bought the cart from a private collector in 2003 and maintains that it's the only official version available. It's certainly no looker; a blank grey cart with 'Final Fantasy II Sample' scrawled on a label on its surface. That hasn't stopped 85 eBay users putting in offers so far – though most have been rejected.
If this cart goes for anywhere near its asking price it will become the most expensive video game ever purchased. Previously, the most valuable piece of gaming software was thought to be another NES title – the gold version of the Nintendo World Championships cart, given out in a Nintendo Power magazine competition in 1990. Only 26 of the cartridges were made and they now fetch up to $20,000 each.
Retro video game collecting has become increasingly popular over the last decade as nostalgic gamers have sought to track down the favourite arcade cabinets and game cartridges of their younger days. There have also been increasing efforts to begin the academic preservation of these often delicate artefacts. In the US, the universities of Texas and Michigan have both set up archives, while Britain has its own National Video Game Archive at Bradford's Media Museum.
Whether or not any of these collections will have the budget to bid for this slice of gaming history is another matter. $50,000 will buy you a hell of a lot of Spectrum tapes and BBC Micro floppy disk games.
This article originally appeared on guardian.co.uk
It is 45 years since Paul McCartney wondered whether he would still be needed or fed by the time he reached 64 – an age that to him, a stripling of 25, then seemed scarcely imaginable. Were he to revisit those lyrics today he would need to add some years to the figure. A survey, reported yesterday, shows that the average person wants to live until 83 and that a quarter of us wouldn’t mind hanging on until we notch up a century.
I should like to see the results of a survey on a related subject: at what average age do people alter their newspaper reading habits and turn to the obituaries first? I reached that landmark a few years back. The motive for this seemingly morbid preoccupation is not just to check up on friends and acquaintances but to look at the ages achieved by the deceased and speculate on how much longer I might expect for myself.
Yesterday, as it happened, this proved an immensely heartening exercise; for the three obituaries in the Telegraph totalled 287 years. Dom Mintoff and Don Charlwood died at 96 and Phyllis Diller at 95.
“Is this a record?” I wondered aloud. Then, leafing backwards through the paper, I came across the tale of the Melises, nine Sardinian siblings with a combined age of 818. That is indeed a record, just recognised by Guinness World Records after a careful study of the supporting documentation.
All this will surely have provoked despair among pension providers and their actuaries, whose calculations of how long we might live never seem to keep up with the reality. For our average lifespans have, in recent years, increased at what to them must be an alarming pace.
A mere 23 years ago Alan Bennett, in his play An Englishman Abroad, wrote: “If you live to be 90 and can still eat a boiled egg they think you deserve the Nobel Prize.” Today he might want to increase the target figure by some 10 per cent, as well as setting a more demanding gastronomic challenge. Even George Bernard Shaw, who died in 1950 at the then remarkable age of 94, would probably not now tell an admirer, as he did a year before his death: “I am extinct.”
Modern advances in medicine are clearly a major factor; yet the Sardinian siblings, whose ages range from 78 to 105, have an alternative theory. They attribute it in part to being surrounded by 150 descendants – children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. While I am prepared to accept that my son and his three children help me keep a spring in my step, a 40-fold increase in their number would very probably have the reverse effect.
So would I like to live as long as Consolata Melis, the 105-year-old? Possibly not, even though the compensations of growing older do much to soften its disadvantages. When Pablo Picasso was 82 he said: “One starts to get young at the age of 60 and then it is too late.” I see what he means, but I’m not sure that I go along with it.
Certainly an advantage of advancing years is that I no longer feel bound to conform to a code of behaviour. At sports grounds I stay doggedly in my seat when all around me are leaping to their feet in a Mexican wave. Similarly, I do not participate in the American convention of giving standing ovations at the end of nearly every theatrical performance, good or bad – a practice that has now spread to the West End. Instead, I smile at my cheering neighbours and point to my hip. From my position of seniority I can observe, too, that young people are more considerate than I was at their age. More often than not I am offered a seat on trains and buses by people who, unlike me, have paid for their ticket. And my wife and I shall long be grateful to the security guard at the Olympic Park.
With thousands of departing spectators from the 100 metre finals, we made our way to the station. We had just joined the seemingly infinite queue when a kind man plucked us from it, along with a few others of our age group, and directed us towards a short cut through the shopping centre. One of his colleagues ensured that we were on the train, comfortably seated, within 10 minutes.
Despite such fringe benefits, 105 might be a target too far. Nor am I certain about Phyllis Diller’s mark of 95. But 83? Ask me in 2021.
The chateau producing Napoleon's favourite red wine, one of Burgundy's most prized vineyards, has been sold to a Chinese gambling tycoon, sparking dire warnings from local growers of a "foreign invasion" of mainly Asian investors.
The unnamed casino magnate from Macao outbid local vintners to pay eight million euros for Chateau de Gevrey-Chambertin - a 12th Century listed building along with its two-hectare vineyard and pinot noir grapes.
It is the first Burgundy chateau to fall into the hands of the Chinese, who have already bought 20 Bordeaux chateaux and are fanning out to other regions as they seek to cater for rocketing domestic demand for French wine and art de vivre.
But local winegrowers are furious at seeing the chateau sold to Asian outsiders from under their noses, particularly as they had put in an offer of five million euros – well above the estimated value of the property of around three million euros. They want nothing less than state intervention to keep their wine heritage in French hands.
"I think France is selling its soul and that our politicians must react," fumed Jean-Michel Guillon, the president of the Gevrey-Chambertin winemakers syndicate, who mounted the failed local bid.
"We are starting to say to ourselves that our heritage is going out the window because it is not the only [foreign] purchase we've seen in the area. I'm afraid that within years, Burgundy will no longer belong to the Burgundians," he warned.
Gevrey-Chambertin is a village in the Côte de Nuits region of Burgundy home to some of the world's most prestigious and expensive red wines derived exclusively from pinot noir.
Its intensity of colour and rich, deep flavors have earned it the title the "King of Wines", which, according to the poet Gaston Roupnel expresses "all that great Burgundy can be".
The vineyards sold with the chateau only produce around 10-12,000 bottles out of a total of more than two million for the whole appellation.
But for Mr Guillon, the sale is highly symbolic and amounts to plunder.
"I have nothing against the investor…but if we turned the tables, what would the Chinese say if French investors bought up 10 or 50 metres of the Great Wall of China?"
Jacques Dorey, a municipal councillor in Gevrey-Chambertin played down the sale, saying: "There is every chance that the chateau will be well looked after. The vines will be tended to by a local vigneron so it will change nothing in terms of wine production."
Locals were already put out when a Chinese businessman entered a partnership with a local grower to buy two hectares of prized Vosne-Romanée vines in February. At least two other top chateaux are said to be quietly seeking buyers, insiders said, while another Burgundy landmark, le chateau de la Rochepot, is also up for grabs.
Kyriakos Kynigopoulos, a wine consultant and owner of Burgundia Oenology, said: "The Burgundians are very close to their wines and very attached to their land, however small the plot. They even frowned on a domain in Vosne-Romanée being sold to buyers from Bordeaux.
"They have made a lot of money since the 1990s and every time a piece of land comes up, five of them fight for it and it is bought within the day.
"Now all the talk is of the arrival of the Chinese, taking their land forever."
The Chinese first started buying chateaux in Bordeaux in 2008, with some turned into luxury hotels for high-end Chinese clientele. China is now the biggest importer of Bordeaux wines with consumption up by 110 percent in 2011 alone, and it is even building a Saint-Emilion-inspired wine theme park in the northern Dalian resort, due to open this year.
I’m booking a cruise and am overwhelmed by all the options. Where will I find the best rate—through a travel agent or online?
Question submitted by Alex Bruno, Boston, Mass.
Trip Doctor’s Answer
Book through an agent.
Cruise lines are strict about keeping pricing consistent across the board—so if you find a discount offered online, your agent should have access to the same rate.
“The playing field is pretty level in terms of what vendors can sell a cruise for,” says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of cruisecritic.com.
When deals do pop up, they usually take the form of onboard credits, excursions, and other perks. Note the fine print: a lower price online could be for a different cabin category and may not include the same extras.
Given the potential for confusion, it’s no surprise that 80 percent of cruisers still book through a travel agent, says T+L’s cruise editor, Jane Wooldridge.
“If you don’t care what ship you’re on or where you’re going, you can buy a cruise like you would an airline ticket, and just grab a good deal you see online.”
But agents can offer insight and advice that a website cannot. The best of them will be familiar with the features and quirks of a ship, will tell you if upgrades become available later, and may get you access to onboard welcome parties.
(If you’re using miles for your flights, they can also help you obtain air credit.) “In general, you’re not going to pay more to book through an agent,” Wooldridge says—yet the advantages are clear.
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Labor Day Weekend is the perfect time to soak up the last few days of summer in a new place, but it's also one of the most expensive times to travel.
If you haven’t made plans yet, here are a few last-minute, affordable ideas for a great trip.
It’s not too late.
This post was originally published on Bundle.
Even if you're traveling from the East Coast, San Francisco can be a cost-effective option. There are plenty of deals to be scored – especially if you’re booking last minute. According to Travel-Ticker, the average nightly hotel rate in San Francisco during peak season (summer) is about $112 per night, just $10 more than the low-season average. Head to Fisherman’s Wharf, Coit Tower, The Stairs of Telegraph Hill, The Trolley to the Castro ($2!), Golden Gate Park and Bridge, and walk around Haight Ashbury.
Leave your heart in San Francisco, but bring your appetite! Here are Bundle's top picks for SF eats.
While Orlando may be known as a “kid’s heaven,” there are plenty of fun, non-Disney activities for adults to enjoy, too. Unlike other Florida destinations, Orlando has low prices all year round, which is a perk you should make sure to take advantage of this Labor Day Weekend. Expedia reports hotel prices as low as $85 per night, which is certainly a steal. Aside from the obvious main attraction, be sure to check out Gatorland, SeaWorld, Ripley’s Orlando, Orlando Science Center, and Kissimmee Air Museum. Feeling adventurous? Take an Airboat tour or go on an EcoSafari.
Arizona typically attracts visitors year round because of its unbeatable climate and breathtaking scenery. The dry desert air is bearable even over the hot summer, and luxurious accommodations can be found for a great deal - hotels start as low as $50 over Labor Day Weekend, according to Expedia. In Phoenix, don’t miss The Heard Museum, Chase Field, Desert Botanical Garden, and climbing Piestewa Peak or Camelback Mountain. While you’re in Scottsdale, be sure to take a hot air balloon ride, walk the Indian Wash Greenbelt, check out the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park, and the Fiesta Bowl Museum.
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With the recession showing no signs of slowing down and our economy struggling to find its footing, the golf industry has found that it is not as untouchable as one might think.
Private clubs throughout the country have been doing all they can in order to fill membership and keep their clubs afloat. Whether it be cutting dues, discounting initiation fees or waiving them altogether, private clubs are doing what they can to stay on top.
However, as difficult as it has been for some, there are a few clubs that are not only doing well but extraordinarily so.
As Golfslope continues to focus on the New York City area, we’ve come across a slew of private clubs within the area that are thriving.
With staggering initiation fees and wait lists a mile long, these clubs show no sign of slowing down. It’s somewhat insane to the average person to think that these prices are somewhat common and actually fairly good deals considering. Would you pay these prices? Do you think it’s worth it? Or would you rather play on a public course with a daily fee? Let us know at our article page.
The respective clubs have not confirmed the initiation fees. These numbers were gathered from research, word of mouth and industry insiders.
Bayonne Golf Club is located in Bayonne, New Jersey. The course was designed by Eric Bergstol. One of the most prestigious courses in the area, Bayonne requires a $150,000 initiation fee.
Source: Links Magazine, August 2012
With staggering initiation fees and wait lists a mile long, these clubs show no sign of slowing down. It’s somewhat insane to the average person to think that these prices are somewhat common and actually fairly good deals considering. Would you pay these prices? Do you think it’s worth it? Or would you rather play on a public course with a daily fee? Let us know at our article page.
The respective clubs have not confirmed the initiation fees. These numbers were gathered from research, word of mouth and industry insiders.
Trump National Golf Club Westchester is located in Briarcliff Manor, New York and was designed by Jim Fazio. It’s no surprise to see another Trump course on this list. Initiation fees for his Westchester club are $200,000.
Source: Links Magazine, August 2012
Atlantic Golf Club is another club located in Bridgehampton, New York. With a course designed by Rees Jones, this club can cost its members a rumored $200,000 in initiation fees.
Source: Links Magazine, August 2012
São Paulo is bursting with creativity, from its one-off boutiques and galleries to authentic gastronomic temples.
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Centro: The once-gritty city center has been reborn, thanks to an influx of nightclubs and restaurants.
Higienópolis: Art lovers won’t want to miss this up-and-coming neighborhood, known for its Modernist architecture and galleries.
Jardins: The top hotels are located here, and the tree-lined Rua Oscar Freire has the city’s most exclusive shopping.
Pinheiros: Sandwiched between Vila Madalena and Jardins, Pinheiros has a rich, multicultural feel, with a wide range of ethnic shops and cafés.
Vila Madalena: São Paulo’s answer to New York City’s West Village is filled with pint-size shops and lounges.
Getting Around
Taxis are the best and safest way to navigate the city (roughly $15 for a 10-minute ride). Luckily, they’re ubiquitous—just try to avoid rush-hour periods (7:30–10 a.m. and 5–8 p.m.).
São Paulo is full of avant-garde fashion, accessories, furniture, and more.
Colorful, boho-chic dresses and tunics are displayed on luggage trolleys at Brazilian designer Adriana Barra’s new flagship store, in Jardins. Barra also creates the vivid prints for the home-furnishings collection on the second floor.
Galeria Melissa (pictured) is a mecca for plastic and rubber footwear. Expect stylish sandals, sneakers, and kitten heels by Vivienne Westwood, Karim Rashid, and Jason Wu, among others; the rotating installations by local artists at the massive entranceway draw even the non-shoe obsessed.
The woven baskets, wooden bracelets, and carved objets d’art at Projeto Terra have all been made by regional artisans using sustainable materials. And the shopping is guilt-free; a portion of the profits is reinvested in local communities. 150 Rua Harmonia, Vila Madalena.
At the rustic-chic Oficina de Agosto, sibling owners Antônio Carlos Bech and Sonia Bech Vitaliano work with craftsmen from the state of Minas Gerais, in the southeast, who produce rough-hewn trunks, whitewashed-framed mirrors, and brightly hued wooden sculptures. 243 Rua Harmonia, Vila Madalena.
In the Vila Madalena district, Beco do Batman(Rua Gonçalo Afonso) is a long, graffiti-lined alley that continually evolves as street artists add new works. For a more traditional experience, swing byMuseu de Arte de São Paulo (1578 Avda. Paulista, Bela Vista); the 1968 Modernist building houses one of the most comprehensive Western art collections (ranging from Botticelli to Diego Rivera)in the Southern Hemisphere. São Paulo is a hotbed for contemporary art galleries: there’s newcomerRaquel Arnaud (125 Rua Fidalga), which represents more than 20 Brazilian artists, including sculptor Frida Baranek; Galeria Vermelho (350 Rua Minas Gerais), showcasing experimental works by international talent such as provocative Danish art collective Superflex; and Galeria Fortes Vilaca (1500 Rua Fradique Coutinho), one of the city’s largest gallery spaces. Leave time to see Oscar Niemeyer’s Auditório Ibirapuera and the impressive collection of Brazilian paintings, sculptures, and artifacts from the 1960’s at Museu de Arte Contemporânea (160 Rua da Praça do Relógio).
Given the ubiquitous nature of air travel today, it’s hard to believe that in the 1920s the public was terrified of flying. (Americans preferred the train.)
But everything changed in 1930, when a young registered nurse from Iowa suggested hiring onboard nurses to reassure the public that flying was safe.
The head of Boeing Air Transport enthusiastically agreed, and Ellen Church became the world’s first flight attendant.
The experiment was a tremendous success. Air travel gained popularity, and before long nearly every airline had nurses onboard.
Still, the 1930s requirements for female flight attendants were restrictive at best. In addition to being registered nurses, women had to be unmarried, younger than 25 years old, weigh less than 115 pounds and stand less than five feet four inches tall. The first group of attendants earned $125 a month.
By the mid 1960s and 1970s, most Americans had gotten over their fear of flying. Airline-attendant criteria loosened, and those who took the job were young and trendy. Fashion designers moonlighted as uniform designers, adding style and cachet to the profession. Florentine fashion guru Emilio Pucci, known for his vibrant prints, created uniforms for the now-defunct Braniff International Airways, as did Halston.
Pierre Balmain designed the looks worn on Singapore Airlines in 1964. Italian couture designer Ettore Bilotta is responsible for the uniforms worn on Emirates Airlines today (red leather gloves included), and Virgin America announced this month that its crew members will wear uniforms designed by Banana Republic come August, including fitted lambskin leather jackets for women and zip-up cardigans with red-and-black bicep bands for men. (Passengers can even purchase pieces from the Utility Chic line from the airline’s in-flight shopping portal.)
Today’s flight-attendant uniforms are crucial to an airline’s brand. Classic ensembles, like those worn on Lufthansa and Emirates, create a feeling of luxury, while more casual uniforms—like the colorful mix-and-match styles on New Zealand Air—reflect an airline’s sense of fun. From playful to professional, these designs go above and beyond.
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Austrian Airlines attendants dress in red and silver, emblematic of the colors of the Austrian flag.
Female airline attendants wear red-and-silver silk scarves with the Austrian logo and male attendants wear silver ties.
The bit of flash has a purpose: The airline, founded in 1957, operates under the motto “We fly for your smile.” austrian.com.
Founded in the 1940s, Malaysia Airlines has seen its fair share of uniform change.
What began as standard skirts and blazers gradually took on more character, and today’s female attendants are known for their stylized batik uniforms, decorated with an intricate and colorful kelarai weave pattern from the Malaysian state of Sarawak. malaysiaairlines.com.
Perhaps the most innovative airline on our list, Singapore Airlines clothed its attendants in uniforms created by French fashion designer Pierre Balmain in 1964. Modern day attendants wear an updated version of Balmain’s design, the sarong kebaya, a traditional Malay garment.
The sarong is made from a cotton batik-print cloth and custom fit to each flight attendant as they come through the final stage of the five-month training program. (The standard industry program is five weeks.) The uniform exists in several different colors; attendants begin in standard blue and then graduate to red, green and brown as they rise through the ranks. singaporeair.com.
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J.M. Weston and Maison Kitsuné have partnered for an exclusive new loafer. The New Yorker loafer is only available in New York, sold exclusively from April 19th at Maison Kitsuné at NoMad – New York (1170 Broadway) and at J.M. Weston (600 Madison Avenue). According to Kitsuné:
This version of the major classic makes use of materials by combining smooth, almost glazed calfskin and grainy black calfskin whose sheen recalls the caviar-like grain of shagreen. All the finishings (sole edge, welt wheel stitch separating on heel, inner lining) were also stained black, to emphasize the dinner suit inspiration of this loafer. While J.M. Weston traditionally mounts its loafers using Goodyear stitching, this design uses Blake stitching for a more flexible, relaxed shoe which is particularly appreciated by Masaya Kuroki.
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It seems that every week a new tablet device has launched or a new robot is being introduced to do the work of a person—and hotels that know what’s up have made sure to stock up on new technologies.
While some spots have simply added Kindle rentals to their amenity checklist (not that we’re complaining, Four Seasons Maui), others have gone above and beyond in terms of incorporating modern technologies into every day hospitality.
And although vacation is traditionally a time to “get away,” more and more travelers are looking to be connected—virtually speaking, of course—no matter how far off the grid they’ve gone. Get inspired by these top-notch tech spots and incorporate them into your own space ASAP.
More From Oyster.com:
If this futuristic hotel wasn’t cool enough, the folks beyond Yotel in New York City took their technology to new heights by introducing Yobot, a robotic luggage handler. Essentially, it appears to select and move luggage from a very large luggage rack in order to organize all of the pieces received each day during check in. And since the hotel is just so hip, what better way to introduce Yobot than through a hilarious Funny or Die video?
Address: 570 10th Avenue/New York, NY 10036
This 41-room boutique hotel exudes luxury—and spares no expense when it comes to catering to their guests. The Halkin Hotel London's Sumptuous and spacious rooms literally offer convenience at the touch of a button, as all have wall consoles for calling the butler and other services including light switches and the classic “do not disturb” option.
Address: Halkin Street/London SW1X 7DJ, United Kingdom
Opulence is discreet at the Setai in New York; the Asian-inspired designs are luxurious without being gaudy. The same applies for The Setai Fifth Avenue's technology: While each guest room does have a 52-inch flat screen television, each bathroom has its own set embedded into the mirror. Now you can wash up with Matt, Savannah, and the whole Today Show gang. (Have you seen us on the show yet?)
Address: 400 5th Avenue/Manhattan, NY 10018
Three months after they unveiled their first coupé, BMW and Italian coachbuilder Zagato debuted their first amazing roadster, dubbed Z4 E89, at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, on Sunday, August 19.
This second concept stemming from the collaboration of the two brands once again seamlessly blends Italian design and German automotive tradition. The design is a drop-top version of the original coupé, with a few differences. The trunk now hides a softtop roof, and the sports car’s bumper and twin exhaust pipes have also been tweaked.
Neither brand has confirmed yet that the one-off concept could be headed for production. We hope so…
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After a week’s holiday in Italy, Britain feels optimistic and surprisingly carefree. Piedmont is a traditionally prosperous corner of north-west Italy that has been home to the Odones for generations; but it felt unfamiliar this summer. The first sign that things were amiss was at the grocer’s in the piazza, where we always stock up on local delicacies such as Gavi wine and cacciatorini (hunter’s salami). But the shelves stretched empty, as did the meat counter that used to groan under succulent joints of wild boar and racks of lamb. “Trade has halved since last year!” moaned the shopkeeper.
No wonder that our daily visits there prompted effusive greetings of Gli inglesi, gli inglesi! – we had nine people to feed. Elsewhere in the village, building work has stopped, leaving houses without windows, doors or even a roof. A friend who had to close her fresh pasta shop for lack of business cannot rent out her two-bedroomed house for the 500 euros that would cover her monthly mortgage; two years ago, she could have asked at least 600.
We spend the evenings visiting the feste – patronal festivals – held in nearby villages. The patron saint — Lorenzo, Rocco, or Anne, depending on the village — is celebrated with folk dances and huge meals. This year, the queue for dinner al fresco that used to snake around the municipal hall had disappeared, and I spotted empty tables everywhere. Worse, one village had cut costs by replacing the live band with karaoke.
When a Ferrari roars past us, our host shakes his head. This is not macho envy but concern: Equitalia, in charge of exposing tax dodgers, can stop any flashy vehicle to interrogate the driver about their income. Everyone speaks resentfully of the tentacles of the austerity government. Yet burdensome bureaucracy remains all but untouched. Enterprise, a byword for this region, risks disappearing. Friends plan to register their business in Britain, a paradise by comparison.
On our return, Heathrow’s Terminal 5, with its buzzing shops and eateries, energetic staff and upbeat officials, suddenly looks like the gateway to la dolce vita.
• The parish priest played a huge role in my childhood summers. My great aunts vied with other villagers to host Don Luigi. Everyone learned to cook his favourite dish (gnocchi al pesto), and I suspect my great aunts bought the first television set in Gamalero in order to ensure they won the competition for his presence. Let others tempt him with home-made tagliatelle: at their house, Don Luigi could see Claudia Cardinale. Today, priests are a rare sight in Italy — our village, with two churches, has only a part-share in one. But the Church is still a presence: in the nearby town of Acqui Terme, a big new apartment building is owned by the diocese. The diocesan bishop used to enjoy the status of a cabinet minister: priests and nuns guarded him jealously from ordinary mortals. But now, when I ring his office to inquire about a possible flat for my father, he answers his own phone. I could sense my great-aunts shuddering in horror at the comedown.
• Tom Beardsworth, the Oxford undergraduate who wrote a guide to dating posh girls for Cherwell, the university newspaper, has a bright career ahead of him. His guide (satirical, he insisted), depicted them as sexually voracious, snooty and duplicitous. It was withdrawn following accusations of misogyny. But he should persevere. Huge interest surrounds the drink-crazed hooliganism of the toffs in the Bullingdon Club — and not only because some of our top politicians were members. So far we know little about what their female counterparts get up to. Do they trash restaurants? Undergo unspeakable initiation rites? The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook needs updating, and Beardsworth’s the man to do it.
(Did you know that Pursuitist co-editor Christopher’s family was featured in Disney’s “Let the Memories Begin” TV ad campaign? Read about it here: “Family attracts Disney’s attention.” YouTube videos of his Disney vacations are a huge success, with over 400,000 combined views — check them out at the bottom of this article.
Are you planning a visit to Disneyland or Disney World? Do you want to discover the inside scoop on how to visit the Disney Parks like a pro? For the perfect trip to the Magic Kingdom, to hang with Mickey Mouse or your favorite Disney princess, discover our Top 10 Tips for Visiting Disney Parks :
1. Arrive at the parks early, and return to your resort mid-afternoon. We prefer to arrive at the parks when they open, to avoid the crowds and the Florida heat. After noon, we return to our hotel, have lunch, go swimming, and relax. With older kids, you could definitely spend an entire day at the parks — but it’s a good idea not to overdo it with children under 10.
2. When arriving to a park early, head straight to the attractions that, later in the day, have hour plus waits. When the Magic Kingdom opens, we head straight to the Jungle Cruise or Pirates of the Caribbean — and there’s usually no wait. At the Animal Kingdom, we do the same for the Kilimanjaro Safaris. After getting the rides out of the way, discover casual areas of the parks, like Main Street USA, or the Conservation Station at the Animal Kingdom.
3. Find accommodations on the Disney property. For ease of use, to exploring all the parks, resorts, water parks, golf courses, or Downtown Disney, stay at a Disney resort. It’s convenient, and you can find the right resort to fit your budget. We usually stay at the Grand Floridian, which is ever so magical.
4. Renting a car is not necessary. Complimentary for guests staying at Disney Resorts, you can catch Disney’s Magic Express bus to and from the Orlando airport — and they handle transferring your luggage. After arriving at your resort, there are frequent monorails and buses to the various parks and destinations.
5. At certain rides and attractions, make sure to pick up a “FastPass” — which could be best described as virtual queuing. It allows guests to avoid long lines at the attractions, freeing you to enjoy other attractions during the wait. The service is available at no additional charge to all guests.
6. Check with a travel agent for special offers. Depending on the season, there’s non-published offers, like “stay three nights, get two nights free.” Check around and do your homework before booking your reservation.
7. Make sure to pick up a “PhotoPass.” It’s easy. If you see a park photographer, ask them to take your photo. After clicking a few pictures, they will hand you a PhotoPass card. When you travel to a different destination or park, just show your card to the new photographer – and all of your photos from the different parks will be loaded up. You will be able to make prints at the parks, or online when you return home.
8. There are plenty of activities for your little princess or pirate. For girls, there’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, a beauty salon where little girls are magically transformed into little princesses. Within Cinderella’s Castle, there’s character dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table – or visit the Norway showcase at Epcot to have lunch with all the princesses at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. For boys, there’s the Pirates League, an interactive experience that transforms boys into their favorite pirates. There’s also the Pirate Adventure boat ride, as young pirates scour the Disney resort waterways in search of pirate treasure.
9. Discover fun activities and dining at the various resorts. We always catch the Spirit of Aloha Luau at the Polynesian Resort; it’s a feast and an amazing show. Visit the Animal Kingdom Lodge to dine on African, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine at the restaurant Jiko. If you want to take a break from the kids, there’s fine-dining at the Grand Floridian’s Victoria & Albert’s, a 10-year recipient of the prestigious AAA Five Diamond award.
10. Book your reservations, character dining, and travel very far in advance. A few weeks before your trip, call and re-confirm your itinerary. To plan a stress-free vacation, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Disney World 2011 Trip:
Disney World 2009 Trip:
Disney World, Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom 2007 Trip (Part 1):
Disney World 2007 (Part 2):
Disney World and Animal Kingdom Lodge 2006:
“Let the Memories Begin” TV ad:
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As Pursuitist fans know, I’m a big admirer of Walt Disney. Not only am I inspired by the work of Disney, but I also have great family connections with the parks — my family has appeared in Disney TV ads and has been featured nightly at the “Magic, Memories, and You!” projection show on Disney’s Cinderella Castle. However, when we received our invite to visit Disney’s Golden Oak, their new luxury community, the destination exceeded our expectations (See our initial review, impressions and photos of Disney’s Golden Oak here).
Quality. From Walt Disney movies, theme parks to the Golden Oak project, Disney is all about the quality. Quality that includes amazing experiences, being exceptional and not cutting corners. These themes thrive at Golden Oak. The attention to detail at their new luxury community is remarkable — they take quality and “plus it.” They take something great and make it even better. Plussing.
The Pursuitist had the opportunity to chat with Page Pierce, the vice president of Disney’s Golden Oak. Learn how the Disney tradition of “plussing” is at home within Golden Oak.
Q. How long has the plan for Golden Oak been in the works?
A. The concept of a luxury home development for guests with a high affinity for Walt Disney World began to take shape in 2005, and was announced as Golden Oak in June 2010. Around that same time, Four Seasons approached Disney about opening a hotel near our theme parks in Florida. Disney Imagineers went to work to create the designs and plans for what is now Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort.
Q. How is Golden Oak unique compared to other experiences at WDW?
A. This is the first time that families have had the opportunity to actually live at Disney. Additionally, through something we call the Disney Connection, Golden Oak homebuyers have access to VIP passes that provide admission for the pass-holder and up to four guests to eight Disney parks and attractions with no block-out dates. Other amenities include door-to-park transportation, merchandise discounts and free parking.
Q. At the end of the year, how many homes will be built?
A. We are very excited by the progress at Golden Oak. About a dozen families have moved into the community as of July, with even more on the horizon. When complete, Golden Oak will encompass 450 homes across 980 acres.
Q. Tell us about the Club House, what will be benefits for your residents?
A. Summerhouse, the private club for Golden Oak homeowners, is now open, offering residents and their guests exclusive access to lounge areas, a lap and family pool, a game room and state-of-the-art fitness facilities. The Resident Services team is based at Summerhouse, providing guests with concierge-style assistance – from making dinner reservations to arranging VIP park tour guides and door-to-park transportation. When fully operational, Summerhouse will feature food and beverage accommodations in both indoor and outdoor dining areas.
Q. Seriously, you will have concierge garbage pick-up?
A. Yes! Residents don’t need to worry about hauling their garbage out to the curb – we’ll take care of it.
Q. How will Golden Oak residents take advantage of the Parks?
A. Homebuyers who close on the purchase of a home before the end of this year will receive a complimentary three-year Golden Oak VIP pass that provides access for the passholder and four guests to eight Disney World parks and attractions, including Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, DisneyQuest and ESPN Wide World of Sports. Residents can also enjoy no blackout dates, free parking, door-to-park transportation, and more as part of the Disney Connection.
Q. When will the Four Seasons resort open — and what will be some shared luxuries?
A. The Four Seasons is anticipated to open in 2014 and will offer Golden Oak residents multiple dining options and access to luxury spa amenities.
Thanks to Disney and Page Pierce for the interview.
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I wrote an article (link below) about cashing out of the NYC housing bubble and moving to Reno, NV. No one knows when the bubble will end, but when house prices exceed fundamental rents and wages, watch out!
This article focuses on Las Vegas because it is a very interesting city with lots of bad press, much of it unfairly gained.
Anyway, Reno is great for outdoor types and I don't regret defending that city every chance I get. However, I have since relocated to Las Vegas and am enjoying the mild and warm weather here. Las Vegas is a great place so when I saw this quote at this Patrick.net blog post, I had to share it with all you guys who are pondering a lifestyle change. Apparently you are not the only ones:
"I was born and raised in Manhattan in a neighborhood that became more and more crime ridden every year. We gave up and moved to Yorktown Heights in Westchester. The utilities, mortgage and prop taxes ($10K for prop taxes alone) were a sleigh ride to hell. We stuck that out for 13 years and moved to Las Vegas in 2006. Life is easier here, more affordable. You can park anywhere. The people I've met are friendly (much more so than in Westchester.) I guess it depends on what you're used to. I like the weather here. I don't miss snow. I would not walk around at night in the area we rent in now. But I wouldn't do that in NY either, if I had any qualms about it. When I first got here I rarely met another NY refugee. Now they're coming in droves."
To be fair, not all responses to my article have been positive, but this quote pretty much sums up how I feel. And you poor New Yorkers, you can't park anywhere you want? Who can go through an entire lifetime not being able to park where you want?
And think about it New Yorkers, no snow! There is virtually no snow in Las Vegas. Can you grasp living where there isn't any snow, and no major humidity in the summer to boot? You can't even imagine it can you, unless you hop down to Florida now and again.
The summers in Las Vegas are warm, but they are not as stuffy as Palm Springs, another place I really like. That sea level heat can be quite "close", if you know what I mean. Las Vegas, on the other hand, sits above 2000 feet above sea level on the strip and west of it is even higher. Obviously Lake Las Vegas and most of Henderson are lower than the strip but are beautiful. Just a little hotter there.
There are a lot of misconceptions about Las Vegas. It is a lot nicer than many folks think. Not all of Las Vegas. But I bet there are well over 100 square miles of pretty nice living in Las Vegas. There are 35 square miles in Summerlin alone. Las Vegas totals about 300 square miles for two million people. 300 square miles crams 8+ million people into New York City proper. Wow, what a difference.
As I was driving down Tropicana Boulevard looking at the New York skyline, I was thinking to myself, at least here you can visit NYC, eat the good food, and go home in 15 minutes! What a hoot.
So far, the hottest day I have spent in my new city was 115. It felt like 109. But the heat generally is intense in two weeks in July and in two weeks in August. Global warming does impact some summers, and makes things a bit hotter. But if you don't get snow your body adjusts to warm just fine. I have been more miserable in the east with 95 degrees and 90 percent humidity. Talk about close.
And, as I write in my article about the pros and cons of living in Las Vegas, parts west of the strip have a rise in elevation. It makes a large difference, and cools down more at night.
We had a weird rain on August 22 and I thought I would need a jacket walking my dog through a trail in Summerlin. It is close to where I live, so I try to go up the plateau just a bit for cooler weather for a dog built for cool. But to almost need a jacket on August 22 was nice.
It won't get much cooler than that in January people!
I happened to be talking to a server at the Agave restaurant in Summerlin and he told me that Brooklyn was high crime and not so clean as he remembered it. I don't know since I have only driven through Queens a long time ago. But he said Las Vegas was clean and in his area there was little crime. He loved it. Las Vegas was his second favorite place to live, the first being San Diego. But San Diego is stupidly expensive, and it doesn't have the strip.
So anyway, I hope I have been able to show you a glimpse of Las Vegas absent a bunch of negatives that are most certainly exaggerated. Check it out sometime, New Yorkers, and you could improve on your lifestyle. If it is good enough for Pia Zadora, hey, it has to be great right?
For further reading:
Pros and Cons of Living in Las Vegas
Prostitution is Illegal in Las Vegas and Reno: Funny Stories
New Yorkers: Escape that Housing Bubble and Move to Reno, Nevada
Pros and Cons of Living in Los Angeles
The Background
“Since when does a salad for lunch cost $11 in New York City?” said Bundle CEO Jaidev Shergill. As we try to budget our money and keep unnecessary spending at a minimum, food becomes a major player in keeping our wallets full (or empty).
In order to save money, many people make their own lunches or bring leftovers from the night before to work. A survey by the placement firm Accounting Principals revealed that 66 percent of all American workers spend about $2,000 per year on lunch—because many of us buy instead of bring.
If you value lunch as a way to break up the day and socialize with colleagues, you’re going to have to learn how to beat the pricey Make-Your-Own-Salad phenomenon. We looked at the breakdown of the $11 salad and just how these merchants hike up the cost of vegetables in a plastic bowl.
The make-your-own-salad boom has spawned hundreds of local lunch joints specifically catering to those on-the-go workers who want an in-and-out type of lunch. This trend has become so popular because it’s personalized, quick, and healthy. From “premium” ingredients to limits on the number of items, it’s easy to rack up a hefty bill when it comes time to swipe your credit card. Unsurprisingly, according to Bundle, these salad shops’ highest traffic days are weekdays.
The Breakdown
Sprout Café, a salad-centric shop in Palo Alto, CA, has an outstanding Bundle score of 90 and an average spend of $13—its main menu item is the make-your-own-salad. We begin with the choice of a full salad or a half salad, whose prices are a mere $1.45 in difference. When looking at the two prices, it seems to be worth it to go with the bigger salad because it’s just not that much more money. It also seems like you’re getting a great deal. The natural progression is to choose your lettuce first—but at Sprout, if you want arugula, you’re going to have to shell out an extra $0.50. After some research, however, this extra charge makes sense considering arugula is some of the most expensive lettuce you can buy in grocery stores. The next step is to choose your ingredients.
Let’s keep in mind that as of now, without any ingredients, a full arugula salad with no ingredients is already $7.45. You can choose up to six regular ingredients at no extra charge, but each additional item is $0.50. In the mood for Applewood smoked bacon, avocado, or shaved Parmesan? Be prepared to pay $1.00 each for these “premium” ingredients. Other optional ingredients that fall under the steak, poultry, and seafood categories can cost up to $4.95 extra, including pepper-crusted seared tuna. What seems to be just another salad ingredient can actually put your salad’s price over the edge. Last but not least, you must choose your dressing (if you’d like “extra” dressing, you’ll pay an extra $0.50).
In total: A full arugula salad ($7.45) with six regular ingredients (no extra charge), two premium ingredients (+$2.00), and one grilled portabella mushroom (+$1.95) will total $11.40 (without tax).
Chop’t, a salad lunch shop in New York City, has a high Bundle score of 81 and a typical cost of $11. Its base lettuce salad is $6.99, and again, arugula is an extra $0.49. At Chop’t, each customer gets four free “choppings”—a.k.a. “regular” ingredients, and each additional chopping is an extra $0.49. Moving on, we examine our “premium” ingredient options. If you’re craving cheese, edamame, organic tofu, egg whites, or slivered almonds, be prepared to pay for it. Thankfully, the salad dressings are free.
In total: A mesclun mix salad ($6.99) with six choppings (+$1.00), two premium choppings ($3.98) will total $11.97 (without tax).
So, where does the $11 salad come from? Now you know, and now you’re—hopefully—able to cut costs when you crave a quick leafy lunch.
“I ate a whole lemon, raw, and it was delicious,” says Katie O’Neill, a Philadelphia-based medical student.
No, she wasn’t on drugs, but her perception was chemically altered: after eating miracle fruit, nearly everything tastes (temporarily) sweet. The experience is so psychedelic that many have dubbed it “flavor tripping.”
Miracle berries, native to West Africa, are a trendy example of the weird world of exotic fruits. A sure sign that you’ve landed somewhere new, such fruits intrigue and challenge us, whether by their unfamiliar size, shape, texture, or smell. The stinky durian fruit, for instance, has become infamous among travelers to China and Southeast Asia.
“I was thrown off a bus once because I had one in my bag,” says travel writer Mikaya Heart. But she’s quick to add that durian is one of her favorite tastes: “It is very succulent and oily, the consistency and color of really thick custard. I would eat it every day if I could.” With a little effort, you can find durian and other exotic fruits without flying halfway across the world; start your search at specialty grocery stores or ethnic restaurants.
Such crazy, beautiful, and above all, natural fruits are a vivid reminder of the planet’s incredible, if precarious, biodiversity. As many farmers mass cultivate the same breeds of common fruit over and over again, other versions may die out to make room for bestsellers like Golden Delicious. At the same time, fruits once considered exotic (like mango or, recently, acai) can find their way into the American mainstream, which makes encountering an unfamiliar fruit that much more of a tantalizing novelty.
Case in point: David Slenk lived with a Peruvian family in Lima during a yearlong trip through South America. At dessert time, they served him a weird fruit: “bright white and kind of mushy, chopped up and covered in orange juice,” he recalls. “I’d never seen anything like it before. I took a cautious bite, couldn’t believe my taste buds, then finished the entire bowl in seconds.”
That’s how Slenk discovered that he loves cherimoya, a green fruit with a fleshy white inside and black seeds. “It’s almost enough to make me move to Peru forever.”
Keep reading for more exotic fruits bound to stimulate your senses.
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This brilliantly purple fruit thrives in northern Japan, in the Tohoku area, but only briefly, making an appearance for about two weeks in early autumn. It grows on a wild vine and, for many Japanese people, is a symbol of the changing seasons. When the fruit is ripe and ready to eat, it pops open on one end. The gooey pulp inside is slightly sweet, while the rind is slightly bitter and is usually used as a vegetable. Do as locals do, and slurp up the flesh along with the seeds.
Native to southeastern Brazil, this strange bowling ball–esque fruit grows right off the main tree trunk. The deep-purple fruits have a white pulp inside that can be eaten raw or used in jellies. “Jaboticaba was very fun to eat,” recalls Tyler Burton, who lived in Brazil for two years. “You gently bite into them and the juice squirts out into your mouth, and you spit the seed and skin out.”
What’s green and scaly all over? Cherimoya fruit, although the inside is white and creamy, with many dark brown seeds. It’s currently grown throughout South and Central America and South Asia (the name originally comes from the Quechua word chirimuya).
Mark Twain called it the “most delicious fruit known to men,” and generations later, that reputation is holding up. Dan Clarke, who works for Real Peru Holidays, a company that specializes in vacations to Peru, says, “The usual English translation for it is ‘custard apple,’ which sounds tasty enough, but doesn’t come close to capturing the creamy sweetness.”
What will the cars we drive look like 10, 15 and 20 years from now?
Cars that drive themselves, or anticipate our every move—even a car that flies—could all be part of the automotive landscape.
Most of the car concepts that follow aren’t yet in production, but they provide a compelling glimpse into what the future might hold.
One thing’s for sure: All of them illustrate the trend toward boosting fuel efficiency and automation while not sacrificing design or performance.
This car, which Mercedes says is intended to give the public a look at what cars will be like in 2025, uses fuel cell technology and runs on hydrogen, which has a far greater range than electric vehicles. Mercedes says it can go as far as 621 miles on a tank of hydrogen, with a fuel economy of 105 miles per gallon.
It will be able to rely on a driver's hand gestures to understand and execute commands. The car has autonomous features, automatically change lanes on one-way roads and navigating traffic jams without driver involvement.
Featured in the movie "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," this sleek four-seater sports car is a plug-in hybrid that uses a three cylinder engine, optimizing performance while ensuring high fuel efficiency. The car accelerates from 0 to 62 miles per hour in under five seconds, while achieving 104 miles per gallon in fuel efficiency.
General Motors' goal for this electric vehicle is to be a connected, zero-emissions personal transportation car that addresses issues with traffic congestion, parking availability, air quality and affordability. At 1,100 pounds and less than 50 inches long, it's one-third the size of a conventional automobile. Running on a lithium-ion battery, it has a driving range of 25 miles.
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Despite the daily invasion of tourists that flood Venice, some neighbourhoods retain a down-to-earth village feeling, where there are still butchers and bakers rather than mask and glass shops. In the residential quarter around the Ormesini and Sensa canals at the northern end of Cannaregio you can still enjoy a real slice of genuine Venetian life. Here are 10 of the best bars, restaurants and shops to check out.
Al Timon has fast established itself as not just the favourite rendezvous for locals of Cannaregio, but a popular hangout for students and young Venetians from all over the city. The setting is perfect, with tables at the edge the Ormesini canal, and the savvy owner, Alessandro Biscontin, has moored a boat alongside as a floating terrace and impromptu venue for live jazz concerts. Occasionally tourists reserve tables for dinner, but this is a quintessentially Venetian locale, with most people drinking spritz al bitter or one of a fine selection of regional wines by the glass, and snacking on tempting cichetti such as grilled zucchini with pecorino cheese, or smoked ricotta and roughly chopped tomatoes drizzled with olive oil, or radicchio topped with gorgonzola, mascarpone and walnuts.
• Fondamenta degli Ormesini, +39 041 524 6066
Tucked next to a narrow bridge in the heart of Venice's historic Jewish ghetto, Old World Books is a goldmine of rare books on Venice and Italy, run by eccentric Englishman John Francis Phillimore. Books are in English and Italian, ranging from little-known 16th-century editions to secondhand copies of the latest Donna Leon, sometimes signed by the author herself, who lives nearby. You never quite know who you'll bump into here – visiting poets, philosophers, artists – because John Francis also runs the Casa delle Parole, an active literary society, which sponsors Vapoesia, a series of eye-catching poems regularly exhibited on the vaporettos (water buses).
• Campo Ghetto Vecchio
This is the ultimate locals' haunt, from the first building workers who stop off for a caffè coretto con grappa at 7.30am, to mums enjoying an espresso after the school run, grizzled regulars who wander up and down the canal all day, going from bar to bar, and those enjoying the ritual of an early evening aperitivo as the sun begins to set. Dodo himself is a great personality, and he and lively barmaid Cristina make probably the best – and most lethal – spritz al bitter in town. The bar closes early, at around 9pm, but next door the partying carries on late at the funky Profondo Rosso bar, whose owner, Fifo, doubles as a DJ, while just across the bridge is La Bagatela, open till 1am and serving food well after midnight.
• Fondamenta degli Ormesini, dodocaffe.it
The latest hotspot to open in the neighbourhood, this buzzing bar has become an immediate hit with locals and tourists alike, and is worth visiting soon before it gets discovered by bloggers and guidebooks. The interior – small but not as tiny as the claimed "10 Square Metres" – is more Milan than Venice: sleek white minimalist decor contrasting with wooden beams, and modern art exhibitions decorating the walls. everyone wants a table looking out over the busy Canale di Cannaregio, where there is a nonstop parade of vaporetti, motoscafi (water taxis) and hefty cargo boats chugging past. Apart from the usual spritz, barman Giuliano mixes an array of cocktails, from the classic Martini to exotic fresh fruit mojitos. The bar stays open till well after midnight and serves salads, tasty grilled panini and plates of affetati, sliced ham, salami and local cheeses.
• Fondamenta di Cannaregio, +39 041 713241
One canal over from the buzzing Ormesini neighbourhood, is this elegant restaurant, out on sleepy Fondamenta della Sensa. Reservations are a necessity as the creative cuisine of the husband and wife chefs has gained a serious reputation, and the place always seems to be fully booked. The menu is a tempting mix of cucina della mamma recipes with original twists, such as scampi in saor profumati allo zenzero – similar to the traditional sarde in saor, but using plump shrimps instead of sardines and adding a zing with grated ginger – or tortellini stuffed with baccalà (salt cod) and chickpeas, smothered with lightly fried courgette flowers. To walk off lunch, two landmark churches are just nearby, Sant'Alvise, with three splendid paintings by Tiepolo, and the towering Madonna dell'Orto, parish church of Tintoretto.
• Fondamenta della Sensa, +39 041 720744
Shopping in Venice often does not go further than Murano glass, Fortuny lamps and carnival masks, but the intrepid fashionista that tracks down Malefatte in Cannaregio will discover one of the Serenissima's most original boutiques. This is the main store in Venice run by Rio Tera dei Pensieri, a work-in-jail cooperative that promotes products made by prisoners in the city's male and female jails. You can pick up beauty products, hand-sewn leather notebooks and sketchpads and its latest hot seller, a series of Freitag-inspired canvas bags at bargain prices. The most popular purchases, though, are their distinctive silk-screen T-shirts and shopping bags graphically imprinted with the Spritz logo.
• Calle Zancan, rioteradeipensieri.org
Bacco is one of Cannaregio's hidden secrets, tucked away so far along the quiet Canal delle Capuzine that few tourists discover it by chance. But it is one of the most ancient osterie in Venice. This is the place to spend the evening enjoying a long romantic meal, from the seafood antipasti of shrimps, anchovies and baby octopus to spaghetti cooked with black ink squid, freshly grilled sea bass or a plate piled high with a fritto misto of Adriatic seafood. A few tables line the canal outside and the garden is covered with a giant 120-year-old vine, but the best spot is inside the cosy wood-panelled dining room. Roberto Meneghetti is a laid-back host, but on certain evenings he may put on his favourite tango music and wheel one of the customers round the restaurant. Dinner will set you back €40-€50, but there is a well-priced set lunch at €13.
• Fondamenta Capuzine, +39 041 721415
It is easy to walk straight past this hole-in-the-wall bar, but once inside, you'll find the atmosphere is more like a private social club, filled with raucous locals moaning about politics, football and tourists – though everyone is made welcome, especially by the friendly host, Roberto di Berti, who has been running the place for 35 years. This is an authentic bacaro, the Venetian dialect term for inn, where a glass of the excellent house wine is 90 cents, and the tempting cichetti on the counter cost €1.50 and are made using the finest regional products – sopressa salami, prosciutto, asiago and montasio cheeses. This is an all-standing bar – no tables or chairs – and Roberto also has an extensive cellar with around 150 wines to take away, from renowned local producers such as Sirch, Pieropan and Livio Felluga.
• Rio Tera' Farsetti, Closes 9pm
This venerable osteria, at the entrance into the ghetto, has just been taken over by flamboyant Calabrian chef Domenico Iacuzio, who has immediately turned back the clock to when Bentigodi was both an obligatory stop-off for locals on daily their giro d'ombra, or bar crawl, and for foodies looking for a gourmet dinner. Domenico has filled the dining room with his favourite black-and-white photos of Gina Lollabrigida, Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren, as well the lucky giant yellow cash register that follows him every time he changes restaurant. A glass of wine and a tasty polpetta (meatball) will still only cost €2-€3, at the crowded counter, and his menu spans Venetian favourites like insalata di polpo (octopus salad) to raviolo di burrata al pomodoro e basilico (with mozzarella, tomato and basil) from his native south Italy. Domenico's American wife, Stacy, runs a bed and breakfast just round the corner.
• +39 041 822 3714, bentigodi.com
Sitting out on the terrace of Luca and Fred's friendly bar is the ultimate spot for people-watching in Cannaregio. You sit right on the busy drag, between the train station and the Rialto bridge, and there is a non-stop stream of tourists heading for the sights, and Venetians now living on the mainland getting to and from work. The Rio Terà is filled with stalls – masks and tacky souvenirs, but also fruit and veg. While there is a menù turistico, locals prefer to come at noon when the dish of the day, usually a delicious risotto, comes out of the kitchen steaming hot. This place alos offers some of the traditional cichetti that few bacari prepare today – milza, skewers of pork spleen, and nervetti, veal tendons with onions and vinegar.
• Rio Tera San Leonardo, +39 041 716170
This article originally appeared on guardian.co.uk
Is living for a century now a realistic ambition?
Cristina Odone's European break has made her realise that Britain's not doing so badly after all.
