Gridskipper

Cheap Eats in NYC

2008-10-06T15:00:39Z

With a recession seeming all but inevitable, you can say goodbye to those 15-course tasting menus from Masa and the thousand-dollar gold-flecked ice cream sundaes you've been gobbling up. Gone are the days of young hedge-funders doing rails of coke and throwing around wads of cash. The hipsters of Williamsburg will soon have to trade in their faux poverty of the creative class for the un-ironic poverty of the unemployed. But, before we all head down to the breadline, you may consider getting one last cheap meal. Here are a few of our favorite places to nosh for next to nothing as the recession comes to New York.

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Wheels Up: Everest, Haunted Mansions & Luxury Retreats

2008-10-06T13:30:28Z

Mt. Everest [Flickr/Jarikir]

·British skydiver ups adventure travel ante, skydives over Mt. Everest [via Jaunted]
·Is Willamette, Oregon the next Napa? [LAT]
·The secret to booking stays at top notch, luxury retreats [MSNBC]
·A fight to save one of Britain’s historic, baroque homes [Times]
·A 19th-century Indian mansion offering haunted sleepovers and ghost tours [USAToday]

Jetcetera: Nepal, Boston Eats & Galactic Porn

2008-10-03T21:00:26Z

Annapurna Circuit, Nepal [Flickr/Noud W.

·The world’s top ten trekking adventures [MSNBC]
·From clam chowder to ice cream, the best eats in Boston [SE]
·Virgin Galactic turns down $1 million offer to make world’s first galactic porno [Gadling]
·Adventure seekers set record climbing Sydney’s Harbour Bridge [Jaunted]
·Get a first-hand look at countless legendary buildings at Open House NY [via NYT]

Lesbian Nightlife in LA

2008-10-03T18:15:02Z

Lindsay Lohan's lesbian romance is on the cover of OK! this week. So, we figured it prime to take a look at her hometown of Los Angeles' options for lesbian-friendly nightlife. While LA has a pretty solid gay scene, there's a deleterious shortage of lesbian bars, as evidenced by the fact that The L Word actually had to invent its own coffee house cum restaurant cum music venue cum lounge. But, although The Planet is tragically fictional, there are lesbian nights at various venues around town just about every day of the week. Below, a veritable calendar of stuff for girls who like girls.

Late Night Dining in DC

2008-10-03T15:00:05Z

In most major cities, restaurants open late close around the time the sun comes up. In Washington, we're lucky if "late night" means "midnight." Though DC isn't exactly nightowl-friendly, a handful of restaurants feed the drunken masses until the wee hours, a market otherwise dominated by purveyors of oozy, sloppy jumbo pizza slices that have the nasty habit of sticking with you long after the party is over. Here are few places to chow when you need something to calm the roiling booze in your tummy.

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Wheels Up: Beachgoing, Passengers' Bill of Rights & Berlin

2008-10-03T13:30:58Z

Caladesi, Island [Flickr/Jmpk]

·A largely underdeveloped Floridian island perfect for beachgoing purists [NYT]
·Passengers’ Bill of Rights fails to pass on Washington [CNT]
·Four emerging wine regions—from the Hudson to Hill Country, Texas [USAToday]
·Abercrombie & Kent to roll out 15 new, adrenaline-fueled adventures this fall [Globorati]
·A New Zealander who skateboarded from Switzerland to Shanghai [Shanghaiist]
·Berlin seeks an afterlife for two, soon-to-close historic airports [Spiegel]

Jetcetera: Atlantis' Aquarium, Delta's Wi-fi & A Mob Museum

2008-10-02T21:03:38Z

Qatar [Flickr/Shenghung Lin]

·Qatar welcomes a sleek new 20-story “gourmet business hotel” [CNT]
·India bans smoking, offenders face $5 fine [Gadling]
·Delta readies its wi-fi capable fleet [Jaunted]
·Dubai’s Atlantis opens, debuts the Middle East’s largest aquarium [IT]
·Las Vegas to open mob museum downtown in 2010 [AP]
·The best seafood in Southern California [LAT]

Dining with a View in San Francisco

2008-10-02T19:00:59Z

There are three scenarios in which an amazing skyline view or people-watching potential is essential. 1) First dates (i.e. meals that have potential to single-handedly redefine the phrase "awkward silence"). 2) Any meal with your parents (so you can point to the skyline and repeatedly distract them from the fact that it's noon on a Tuesday and you reek of discount vodka and you're not wearing any shoes). And, 3) Dining on the prowl when you're looking to get frisky with your booth-neighbors (roofie-tinis all round.) There's plenty of time to think of nicer synonyms for "ogling" while stuffing your belly at the following hotspots.

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Boozing in Bondi Beach

2008-10-02T17:00:52Z

When the Sydney sun sets and you've had your fill of the surf and sand, you'll find there's still more fun to be had in Bondi. The crowd tends to be a locals mixed with a healthy dose of international flavor from the multitude of travelers who make Bondi their base, and there's a party going on pretty much every night. You'll find most places close around midnight, but it's only a $20 cab to Kings Cross or Darlinghurst if you feel like kicking on.

[Photo: mangodelatango]

NYC: Watering Holes For Watching the VP Debate

2008-10-02T15:00:28Z

TVs all across the city of New York will be tuning in to the Vice Presidential debates tonight (and, most likely, a lot of money is being bet on Sarah Palin’s crashing and burning). So, it is not only your duty as citizens and non-citizens to watch, but to drink while watching as well. If you’re looking to do both in a more public, and perhaps a more raucous, setting, hit the jump to find a handful of NYC watering holes that are hosting the debates tonight. Know of any more? Feel free to add them in the comments.

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Wheels Up: Vienna Design, VP Debates & TV Tourism

2008-10-02T13:30:26Z

Karlskirche, Vienna [Flickr/Magnusvk]

·Vienna Design Week debuts today and continues through October 12th [Globorati]
·NYC boutique Big Drop sets up shop in Gansevoort South [HC]
·Paris’ American Cathedral to host annual animal blessing ceremony [TPB]
·The Canadian Wilderness retreat where ScarJo and Reynolds tied the knot [IT]
·Bars where one can watch tonight’s VP debate in the Bay area [SFist]
·Real-life locales of The Wire, 30 Rock, The Office and Entourage [CNN]

Jetcetera: Colorado, D.C. & Shopping Tokyo

2008-10-01T21:00:46Z

Ginza, Tokyo [Flickr/Coolmeow]

·World class shopping in Tokyo [CNN]
·Tons of new and refurbished hotels debut in Portland, OR [OL]
·A ranking of America’s ten most reliable airlines [Forbes]
·NYC’s Parker Meridian hotel ads Knave, a café, into its mix of eateries [NYT]
·Washington D.C.’s Union Station celebrates its 100th year [MSNBC]
·Colorado’s Loveland ski resort hoping to open its slopes in October [USAToday]

Golfing in NYC

2008-10-01T19:00:37Z

Just because you live in one of the most urban environments in the world doesn't mean you have to give up playing certain sports. Who says you can’t golf in New York City? And, no, I’m not talking urban golfing. In fact, in both Manhattan and its surrounding boroughs, there are plenty of serious spots in which to stretch your golfing legs. For a select roundup: check after the jump. For more outer borough golfing locales, see here.

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Get Your Icebar On

2008-10-01T17:00:17Z

I was fortunate enough to have my very first Absolut Icebar experience this past August in Copenhagen. Rest assured, it didn’t disappoint. The ice-covered watering hole’s concept is simple—it’s all ice excavated from the Torne River in Sweden (save for a few fur cushions sporadically placed so you don’t freeze your buns… literally). Don’t worry about packing warm clothes either—floor-length, fur-lined jackets, as well as gloves and 80s-looking snow boots are provided at the door. Inside, in exchange for your entrance fee, enjoy a free Absolut vodka-based concoction (additional drinks will cost you), and see if you can last the full 45-minutes you're allotted. As today marks the debut of the very first all-ice bar in the U.S. (in Orlando, Florida), keep reading for a map of the original Icebars, which are all owned and operated by Absolut, around the world.

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Vegetarian-Friendly Paris

2008-10-01T15:00:43Z

It's World Vegetarian Day, today. And, while Paris isn't exactly a city one thinks of as veggie-friendly--Paris bistros are a playground for those who like their dinner wrapped in bacon, drizzled with demi-glace, and slow-cooked in lard for seven hours--it's not entirely absent of vegetarian options. And, that doesn't mean the only option is to order the cheese plate, eat only ethnic food, or drag their whole party to specialized seed huts like Aquarius. Meatless options have been sprouting at some of the city's most well-respected restaurants for some time. Collected here are our favorite spots where food-lovers of any proclivity can come together for a special night out.

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Wheels Up: Patagonia, High-Speed Trains & Wii

2008-10-01T13:25:09Z

Bariloche, Argentina [Flickr/Michael Peterson]

̭Bariloche, Argentina to get eco-friendly Hilton Hotel [TH]
̭Bike rack design finalists picked in NYC Cityracks competition [NYT]
̭The far from dull future of high-speed train travel [Gadling]
̭Handful of Marriott Hotel outposts (Renaissance Times Square included) get Wiis [via HC]
̭Hyatt Hotel’s new Andaz Brand hopes to spearhead Silent Cinema trend [via USAToday]
̭A look inside LA’s biggest nightclub [LRD]

Jetcetera: Budapest, Public Transportation & An Olympic Cocktail

2008-09-30T21:00:55Z

Parliament Cafe, Budapest [Flickr/Jfraissi]

·Budapest’s literary-friendly cafés [MP]
·London’s Cavendish Hotel introduces Gold Medal cocktail [Londonist]
·The highest hotel suite in all of NYC [IT]
·A breakdown of Obama and McCain’s policies regarding public transportation [LAist]
·Hotels that offer unparalleled views of fall foliage [MSNBC]
·Tahiti to host world’s largest outrigger canoe race [USAToday]

London's Prime Picnic Real Estate

2008-09-30T18:55:41Z

Fall is upon us—meaning, there are only a handful of weeks left in which one can spend an entire afternoon al fresco without seriously bundling up. So, while the weather is still conducive to outdoor activities, why not take advantage and plan a picnic? London is full of fall picnic-friendly parks. Take your pick from the following five parks (all of which are Royal Parks of London); that is, after you’ve hit these gourmet spots for goodies to eat.

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Kosher Eating in Sydney

2008-09-30T16:50:19Z

Happy Rosh Hashana! In honor of the high holiday we're paying homage to some kosher eateries down under. While Sydney's Jewish population hasn't always enjoyed a lot of choice when it came to kosher eating, the options are improving. There are plenty of tasty kosher treats and meals to be enjoyed at several locations in Sydney, all of which are provided in the following guide.

The Big Apple's Best Sea Urchin

2008-09-30T15:00:05Z

Sea Urchin is kind of like caviar… you either love it or you hate it. And I, for one, happen to love it. All across NYC there are eateries serving the algae-eating, slimy sea creature in a variety of ways--be it slathered atop seaweed-wrapped white rice (uni sushi), or, better yet, straight from its shell. After the jump, a roundup of the restaurants where one can procure the freshest, tastiest servings of this delicious delicacy.

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Wheels Up: Resorts, Watering Holes & Subway Sleeping

2008-09-30T13:31:23Z

Whistler, British Columbia [Flickr/neil-san]

·Revelstoke opens in British Columbia in November, hopes to outshine Whistler [Globorati]
·A new iPhone application that’ll make sleeping in the subway much less precarious [PSFK]
·Mexico to build $500 million, 7-mile long beach resort in Escuinapa, Sinaloa [AP]
·Brooklyn bars that are easy on the wallet [NYDN]
·Jet Blue’s Terminal at JFK isn’t the only bright and shiny new one debuting this year [NYP]
·Gas shortages plague the U.S.’ Southeast, many switch to public transportation [AP]

Jetcetera: Spas, Hostels & A Pie Van

2008-09-29T20:45:46Z

Venice, Italy [Flickr/Cuppini]

·Getting you tourist fill in Venice for $40 a day [CNN]
·A pie van in Sydney that is 70 years young [AP]
·Britain’s four-year “Cultural Olympiad” has begun [Times]
·A $10 million spa on the banks of Northern Ireland’s River Maine [CNT]
·An inexpensive hostel opens on Broadway in Manhattan [Gadling]
·Ctrip: a new Chinese booking site that’s like Expedia and is growing like mad [Jaunted]

Cheap Lunch Deals on Capitol Hill

2008-09-29T19:30:40Z

Things in the economy are bad. Real bad. And, considering the Bailout Bill failed in the House today, folks in Washington D.C. aren't feeling especially hot with regard to the country's financial state. So, more now than ever, flacks, chiefs of staff, and even lowly interns all have one thing in common: a need for cheap sustenance. Unfortunately, a good lunch deal on Capitol Hill can be hard to find. Cosi's and Starbucks are always a block or less away, but if the sight of one more Signature Salad is going to drive you mad, it may be time for you to try something new. Check out the following spots for good food that won't empty your wallet. More suggestions are welcome in the comments or via tips.

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NYC’s Best (Still Breathing) Restaurants of the Last 40 Years

2008-09-29T16:45:00Z

New York magazine is ringing in its 40th anniversary with an issue chock-full of nostalgic features and round-ups of the city’s best legendary spots. The rag’s illustrious food critic Gael Greene does her part—listing NYC’s 14 best and most historic eateries. While some have bitten the dust, other are alive and well. After the jump, a map of the Greene's beloved eateries that are still open for business. (photo)

Gaultier's Guide to Paris

2008-09-29T15:00:15Z

Paris Fashion Week will soon be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of places one can get a serious style fix in France’s capital city all year round. In honor of the SS09 shows in arguably the world’s most chic city, the New York Times asked the famed enfant terrible of French design (and currently the man at the helm of Hermès) Jean Paul Gaultier for the most fashionable places his hometown has to offer. After the jump, a Gaultier-approved guide to Paris. (photo)

Wheels Up: The Vatican, Shea Stadium & A Museum

2008-09-29T13:30:17Z

Vatican City, Italy [Flickr/Vgm8383]

·Exploring one of Europe’s smallest, not to mention most historic, countries [LAT]
·From a treehouse to a toilet and a camel lodge, Asia’s most outlandish hotels [OTB]
·In a final farewell, fans and former players bid goodbye to Shea stadium [NYT]
·A legendary writer and artist talk the death of Times Square and rebirth of the LES [NYM]
·A look at NYC’s new Museum of Arts and Design [AP]
·The most beautiful gardens the world over [MSNBC]

Jetcetera: Brighton, Biological Tourism & Paris Skyscrapers

2008-09-26T20:44:44Z

Brighton Beach, England [Flickr/Product of Newfoundland]

·Brighton, England: the new Miami Beach [NYT]
·New Pearl Harbor museum slated to open in 2010 [AP]
·Biological field stations become new tourist destination [CNN]
·North Carolina’s Outer Banks get some serious face-time in Nights in Rodanthe [USAToday]
·Melbourne’s Southern Star, which is similar to the London Eye, will open later this year [Jaunted]
·New Paris skyscraper courtesy of Herzog & de Mueron that’s sure to cause controversy [TPB]

NYC's Best Fish & Chips

2008-09-26T19:30:08Z

Fried with a side of fried. What could go wrong? Fish and chips (or, fish 'n' chips) are the ultimate drunkard's comfort food, capable of absorbing obscene quantities of flat English beer. You take bland white fish, which -- like everything else -- tastes great when submerged in a bath of boiling oil, and pair with fat, crisp-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside chips (what naive Americans call French fries). While offering no where near the deep-fried selection enjoyed by Londoners, New York has plenty of places for grease fanatics and visiting Englishmen to find, at very least, decent fish and chips. And here's a list of our favorites. As usual, additional recs welcome in the comments or tipline.

Chicago's Best Mac N' Cheese

2008-09-26T18:01:57Z

Nothing says fall like a hankering for comfort food. And nothing comforts the soul like some seriously cheesy, seriously delicious mac n' cheese. As Chicago’s reputation as a culinary capital has increased over the last few years, so has its options for the delicious cheesy pasta dish we all know and love. After the jump, six spots at which you can score some of Chicago's best macaroni and cheese. (photo)

Weekend Markets in Sydney

2008-09-26T15:15:35Z

The weekend market can be a blissful way to pass away the morning, saving mental strain, pushing that throbbing hangover into submission with the help of a coffee, and puttering about among the secondhand books, vintage tees, and farmers' produce. Unfortunately, this idyllic scene can just as easily become a nightmare jumble of plastic clock radios, broken lawn chairs and irate pensioners. Follow our advice and you'll steer clear of Sydney's less salubrious markets, and be able to return home with tales of divine biodynamic goat cheese tasted by the harbor and stalls full of young fashion designers.

Wheels Up: Ghana, Oman & Seoul's Grand Prix

2008-09-26T13:38:49Z

Kakum National Park, Ghana [Flickr/chschnei_at]

·Skywalking Ghana’s Kakum National Park [CNN]
·9,000-feet up: a luxury resort in Oman’s Musandam Peninsula [CNT]
·Seoul’s Formula One Grand Prix race may be delayed by monsoon [Globorati]
·Jet Blue’s Terminal 5 opening date pushed back [Jaunted]
·Swiss pilot crosses the English Channel thanks solely to a jetpack [BBC]
·A hotel bucket list, George Clooney sightings included [MSNBC]

Jetcetera: London, Monaco & Tokyo's Five-Star Spas

2008-09-25T20:30:58Z

Monaco [Flickr/Salvatore88]

·Monaco takes ‘world’s most expensive’ title from London [Luxist]
·Tokyo's five-star spas [LI]
·The world’s quietest retreats [MSNBC]
·101 free things to do in Australia [AAG]
·25 destinations where the dollar is still worth something [T&L]
·London’s new Tube to include air-conditioning [Gadling]

London's Best Indie Bookstores

2008-09-25T19:15:13Z

There are plenty of bookstore chains in London. If you're looking for that latest read from Richard and Judy's Book Club (translation for Yanks: Oprah's book club), you can slip in to any number of WH Smiths. If you want a pile of forlorn looking, much reduced books arranged somewhat haphazardly on a table, you can head to Borders. If you want a good, varied choice, you can try Waterstones or Blackwells (the best of the bunch). However, looking for a good read in one of these chains can be a homogenized, frustrating experience. Luckily, London has a great selection of independent bookstores -- almost every neighborhood has one. In these you can find knowledgeable staff, great atmosphere, and, often, a hidden surprise or two. Almost every Londoner has their favorite indie bookstore, but here's a selection of the best.

Single in the City of Angels

2008-09-25T16:45:49Z

In case you didn’t know, it’s national singles week boys and girls. So, in hopes of spearheading some love connections, we’ve decided to highlight some of the best spots for picking up straight singles (a similar same-sex guide is in the works) in the greater Los Angeles area. So, whether you’re in need of hitting the gym, the grocery store, or just want to swig some gin and tonics, here are the places to do so where you might actually score. Success at the following locations, of course, is purely up to you. (photo)

Filmgoing Below 14th Street

2008-09-25T15:00:42Z

NY’s annual Film Festival returns to some of the city’s biggest screens this week. But, scoring a seat at one of these premiere screenings and rubbing shoulders with some silver screen stars isn’t easy. So, why not bypass the red carpet altogether and opt for a quiet movie night out at one of NYC’s prime independent theatres? Luckily for you, south of 14th Street there are tons of options when it comes to finding a convenient independent movie theater. After the jump, NYC’s best downtown, megaplex alternatives.

Wheels Up: Opera, Dubai & London Transportation

2008-09-25T13:25:39Z

Lincoln Center, New York [Flickr/Listen Missy!]

·Legendary performances at the Metropolitan Opera to hit web via Met Player [NYP]
·Atlantis Dubai opens its doors [via HC]
·London’s Mayor looking to close Heathrow airport for good? [Gadling]
·Meanwhile, looks like the Tube is getting a face-lift [Londonist]
·See designer dwelling in London first-hand at not one, but two events [Jaunted]
·The Smithsonian’s new Ocean Hall opens Saturday [AP]

Jetcetera: Ballooning, Eco-Spas & Hotel Mixology

2008-09-24T20:36:18Z

Bagan, Myanmar [Flickr/Organic Maven]

·Myanmar looking to reignite tourism, ballooning included [Globorati]
·London’s Grosvenor House Hotel to undergo ‘grand’ renovations [HC]
·Russia’s Sky Express airline launches in-flight magazine [Jaunted]
·World’s best eco-spas [MSNBC]
·A Miami Beach commissioner’s push to ban smoking on beaches [UPI]
·Hotels hop aboard the mixology bandwagon [NYM]

Where to Wax in Sydney

2008-09-24T18:30:03Z

Summer is just around the bend here in Australia, and that means there's a lot of work to be done, considering the degree of exposure that warm weather entails. It's all very well getting through winter (and even spring for the true stayers), covering up all manner of hairy sins, but there's no denying that there's going to be a whole lot of flesh on display at one time or another during summer. Whether they're opting for a short top and sides, or a full blown return to pre-adolescence, girls are heading in droves to the nearest waxing salon. And many of the guys aren't far behind, as they contemplate the alternative of a sniggering female population as they expose their hairy backs at the beach. It takes a special kind of someone to be a waxer; here are a few that have earned their stripes -- but can venture into other designs if that's what you're into.

Bedford Avenue Bar Crawl

2008-09-24T17:15:25Z

Time for Williamsburg Drinking 101. The main drag is the north end of Bedford Avenue, and while Williamsburg extends far, far beyond it, Bedford's the first part of the 'burg most people see when they get out of the L train. Williamsburg has changed a lot in the time I've lived here, and it's certainly less raw than it was back in the day (whenever that was), but I say it's still a fun and creative neighborhood for shopping and dining, and an even better place to go out drinking. Come with an open mind and you'll love it. Please take out your notebooks and sharpen your pencils. You'll be having seven drinks tonight, so I hope you had a good dinner.

The Greenest Hotels From Sea to Shining Sea

2008-09-24T15:15:42Z

The green hotel trend is becoming increasingly common. From reduced carbon outputs to sustainable design, everyone from boutique hotels to huge corporate chains are getting in on the game. But, who’s the greenest of the green? And we’re not just talking “unwashed towels and unlikely flavors of organic toothpaste.” After the jump: MSNBC’s top 16 environmentally friendly hotels. (photo)

Wheels Up: French Food, Music Festivals & The Stone Age

2008-09-24T13:33:07Z

Champs-Élysées, Paris [Flickr/Wallyg]

·Paris’ famed macaroon maker opens a bar on the Champs-Élysées [TPB]
·French chefs aim to solidify French cuisine’s World Heritage status [NYT]
·Virgin America to take over majority of Terminal 2 at SF’s Intl. Airport [via Gadling]
·The world’s most remote music festival [Globorati]
·Reward for tourists who turned in Stone Age artifact [Times]
·Ellis Island’s Immigration Museum to expand, include new center [USAToday]

Jetcetera: NYC, Art & Jordan's Wildlife Sanctuaries

2008-09-23T20:32:54Z

Guggenheim Museum, New York [Flickr/Watz

·Guggenheim Museum’s façade to feature Jenny Holzer text art [USAToday]
·Jordan to develop nine new wildlife parks and sanctuaries [CNT]
·Yotel to open outpost at Amsterdam airport this month [HC]
·Google maps now include NYC transit system [AP]
·Time Out Chicago picks the city's top 40 cultural heroes [Chicagoist]
·Canada passes a passengers’ ‘bill of rights’ [Gadling]

The Best Mojitos in D.C.

2008-09-23T18:15:47Z

The end of DC's summer is no reason to start purchasing hot toddies at your local watering hole. An unscientific survey taken at happy hour last week revealed 9 out of 10 boozehounds agree: alcohol keeps you warm regardless of its temperature. With that in mind, it's not too late to sample some of the District's best mojitos, naysayers be damned. Close your eyes and one sip of the minty goodness can bring back hot summer nights. ¡Viva la revolución! Further fan faves welcome in the comments or over the tipline.

Eating Ones Way Through Istanbul

2008-09-23T17:00:02Z

The Los Angeles Times recently published an article on the best culinary offerings of Istanbul. Not only do most of the restaurants they chose serve mouth-watering, traditional Turkish dishes. They offer some of the most eye-pleasing views of the flourishing city. From hotel rooftops to the Old City, delicious mezes and killer kebabs are all within reach. Just don’t forget the raki. (photo)