Cheese and Biscuits
Impala, Soho
If you know what to look for, you can work out the restaurant lineage of Impala just from a quick...
13 hours ago
If you know what to look for, you can work out the restaurant lineage of Impala just from a quick scan of the menu. Firstly, and most importantly, you want to try every last item - a feat frustratingly unavailable unless you're eating with at least ten of your friends. Between...
Spoon & Tamago
Tokyo is Gearing Up for an Art-Filled Fall. And the Entire City is Here for It
They say autumn is the season for art. In Japan, fall symbolizes freshness and new endeavors. The...
a week ago
They say autumn is the season for art. In Japan, fall symbolizes freshness and new endeavors. The season’s clearer skies and brighter moons gives renewed enthusiasm to encounter artistic inspiration. And the entire city of Tokyo is not only here for it, but sponsoring it. From...
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Reasons to Stay at The Cooper in Charleston
a week ago
Herbert Lui
Falling back in love, for the right reasons
When he was a young man, Andy Buckley wanted to be an actor. After graduating from Stanford, he...
2 weeks ago
When he was a young man, Andy Buckley wanted to be an actor. After graduating from Stanford, he moved to New York City to try to make it. He appeared in a couple of music videos, but didn’t experience much initial success otherwise. Andy pivoted, spending much of his early...
Londonist
Open House London 2026: The Best New Buildings To Visit
Use this filter to find new additions.
2 weeks ago
Use this filter to find new additions.
diamond geezer
Belated transport news
Belated transport news
I missed reporting on several transport stories while I was away so here's a...
2 weeks ago
Belated transport news
I missed reporting on several transport stories while I was away so here's a brief catch-up.
🚦 This Saturday the gyratory at St Paul's is being tweaked. The southern end of King Edward Street is being pedestrianised (to create Greyfriars Square) so...
Cheese and Biscuits
Kismet, Borough Market
Every new generation of Londoner has to go through the phase of being bewildered and bedazzled by...
17th Aug 2026
Every new generation of Londoner has to go through the phase of being bewildered and bedazzled by the various lavish stalls and speciality producers at Borough Market, shell out a small fortune for a selection of wildly unrelated items they're entirely unable to turn into a...
I am BARRY HESS
Parking for a Concert at Gillette Stadium
Parking a vehicle for a concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is quite a...
9th Aug 2026
Parking a vehicle for a concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is quite a challenge. Before heading to the BTS concerts this past week I did some research, even asking Chat GPT about how to handle parking. To its credit, with my hints about what I wanted, it...
Spoon & Tamago
Sou Fujimoto’s Meiji Park Brings a Three-Dimensional Landscape to Hakata Station
Is it a park? A building? A pathway? A Landscape? It’s one of our most-anticipated architecture...
8th Aug 2026
Is it a park? A building? A pathway? A Landscape? It’s one of our most-anticipated architecture project of 2026, and it just opened yesterday (August 7) in Fukuoka, just steps away from Hakata Station. Meiji Park is a new 3,572-square-meter urban park designed by Sou Fujimoto....
AFAR Media - Travel...
Regent Resorts: Culinary Travel Experiences
5th Aug 2026
Herbert Lui
Creative slack
It’s much easier to be creative when you’re not constantly worried about tradeoffs. In order to...
1st Aug 2026
It’s much easier to be creative when you’re not constantly worried about tradeoffs. In order to relax, and actually create, you need to be able to experiment. And not every experiment will turn out successfully. Many will fail. You need to be able to make mistakes. Let’s call...
Londonist
London's Best New Pubs 2026
A dozen new pubs worth visiting.
1st Aug 2026
A dozen new pubs worth visiting.
diamond geezer
Underblogged July
Slim Summer Saturday
31 underblogged things I did in July
Wed 1: Malted wheats for breakfast.
Thu...
1st Aug 2026
Slim Summer Saturday
31 underblogged things I did in July
Wed 1: Malted wheats for breakfast.
Thu 2: The buzzer wasn't working.
Fri 3: Surrounded by school trip.
Sat 4: Freezer so needed defrosting.
Sun 5: Victoria didn't have any.
Mon 6: Sara Cox pefectly adequate.
Tue 7:...
Cheese and Biscuits
Khao Bird, Soho
Before I was able to assess the authenticity or otherwise of the food at Khao Bird, I could at least...
27th Jul 2026
Before I was able to assess the authenticity or otherwise of the food at Khao Bird, I could at least appreciate the ambient temperatures in the dining hall were at genuine Thai levels. It's not really their fault that we visited during one of the hottest day's of London's...
Spoon & Tamago
FamilyMart’s New Hipster ‘FAMIMA’ Reimagines What a Conbini Can Be
For decades, Japan’s convenience stores have been admired for, well, their convenience. By being...
11th Jul 2026
For decades, Japan’s convenience stores have been admired for, well, their convenience. By being sweetly attuned to utilitarian consumer needs, the ubiquitous 24/7 conbini has spread across Japan, achieving an unparalleled density that is perhaps second only to vending machines....
Damn Interesting
A Possible Future
A Possible Future:
Alan Bellows here, founder of Damn Interesting. For the better part of twenty...
8th Jul 2026
A Possible Future:
Alan Bellows here, founder of Damn Interesting. For the better part of twenty years, I kept this project afloat by working part-time engineering jobs to pay the bills, and spending the other halves of my work days researching, writing, editing, and podcasting....
AFAR Media - Travel...
Charleston Waterfront Dining: The Cooper Hotel Guide
7th Jul 2026
I am BARRY HESS
We have collectively been recovering from a physically...
We have collectively been recovering from a physically and emotionally draining two weeks of...
3rd Jul 2026
We have collectively been recovering from a physically and emotionally draining two weeks of marching band. We all were caught napping at some point throughout the early days of this week! It’s been nice to have activities wind down this week, and we’ll have a bit of relaxation...
Herbert Lui
The Love Metric
If you’re publishing content, one useful way to measure success is to read what people are writing...
1st Jul 2026
If you’re publishing content, one useful way to measure success is to read what people are writing about it online. Margarita Noriega, who’s the current managing editor of Morning Brew, calls this the Love Metric. When she sees someone saying something nice about her work online,...
Londonist
Coughlans: South London Bakery Chain Co-Owned By Romesh Ranganathan Closes
Bye bye to yum yums.
1st Jul 2026
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in June 2026
30 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in June 2026
1) In the last 5 years no accidents have...
1st Jul 2026
30 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in June 2026
1) In the last 5 years no accidents have been recorded at Liverpool Street Station involving pushchairs being taken through ticket barriers.
2) During 2025 defibrillators were used on 50 occasions across the London...
Spoon & Tamago
5 Art Exhibitions Worth Traveling for in Japan This Summer
There’s no better time to escape Tokyo than the summer. While beaches and mountain retreats offer...
20th Jun 2026
There’s no better time to escape Tokyo than the summer. While beaches and mountain retreats offer temporary relief, there’s another way to flee the capital: follow the art. From giant robotic insects in rural Aomori to a celebration of one of Japan’s most beloved manga artists in...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Guide to Las Fallas Festival in Valencia
8th Jun 2026
News Archives |...
TTC and Transit app are teaming up
Here’s all you need to know about our year-long digital customer experience pilot in Toronto
The...
8th Jun 2026
Here’s all you need to know about our year-long digital customer experience pilot in Toronto
The post TTC and Transit app are teaming up appeared first on Transit.
I am BARRY HESS
Do We Need Billionaires?
A significant portion of the population in the USA still thinks of Reaganomics as certified fact...
5th Jun 2026
A significant portion of the population in the USA still thinks of Reaganomics as certified fact rather than a largely discredited theory. By this mindset the engine of our economy requires people to strive for a ton of money. A rising tide lifts all boats and all that.
First, I...
Cheese and Biscuits
Can Koya, L'Escala
I'm acutely aware that a review of a (hitherto) obscure restaurant in a small town in Spain isn't...
4th Jun 2026
I'm acutely aware that a review of a (hitherto) obscure restaurant in a small town in Spain isn't going to be one of my most read posts of the year. Back in the days when I was doing 6 or 7 posts a month, slipping the odd leftfield location in now and again just made things a bit...
Cheese and Biscuits
The Highland Laddie, Leeds
At first, you can't quite believe what you're seeing. Right in the middle of a cluster of modern...
19th May 2026
At first, you can't quite believe what you're seeing. Right in the middle of a cluster of modern high-rises, behind a large neon-lit casino and steps away from a giant ugly motorway junction, is a beautiful little brick-built pub that seemingly has no business being there. How...
Spoon & Tamago
Issey Miyake’s New NYC Flagship Blends Fashion and Architecture
Japanese fashion house Issey Miyake has opened a striking new flagship store in Manhattan, marking a...
9th May 2026
Japanese fashion house Issey Miyake has opened a striking new flagship store in Manhattan, marking a major new chapter for the brand in New York City. Located at 45 Madison Avenue inside the historic New York Life Building overlooking Madison Square Park, the two-level,...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Monaco Travel Guide: Stay Longer, See More
7th May 2026
I am BARRY HESS
Spent this morning at Minnebar...
Spent this morning at Minnebar. This year was the 20th anniversary. I’ve had several posts about...
2nd May 2026
Spent this morning at Minnebar. This year was the 20th anniversary. I’ve had several posts about Minnebar on this blog through the years. I’ve only been able to go a couple times over the past ten years and it was good to see many familiar faces. (Even some Minnesota expats. 👋,...
Herbert Lui
Be mindful of renting capabilities
“For a while, he even makes you believe that his power has become yours. Irresistible power… that...
1st May 2026
“For a while, he even makes you believe that his power has become yours. Irresistible power… that makes every desire’s fufilment seem inevitable.” When I heard this line from Rings of Power, it reminded me of this: Sometimes, business partners want to make you rely on them in...
Londonist
Explore The City's Public Art With The London Artground Map
Street art, sculpture and statues.
1st May 2026
Street art, sculpture and statues.
diamond geezer
Unblogged April
30 unblogged things I did in April
Wed 1: My blogpost about TfL producing a new set of bus maps may...
1st May 2026
30 unblogged things I did in April
Wed 1: My blogpost about TfL producing a new set of bus maps may have been an April Fool but Quickmap do a truly excellent Greater London bus map which is online here. I might have saved that jpg to my phone.
Thu 2: The West Ham chunk of the...
Cheese and Biscuits
Willy's, Margate
I have often come across menus that read better than they deliver - full of interesting ingredients...
7th Apr 2026
I have often come across menus that read better than they deliver - full of interesting ingredients and clever techniques on paper but not living up to the promise when the actual food starts appearing. This makes sense from a certain point of view - it's all very well writing...
I am BARRY HESS
Short, and late, rendition of Friday this week as I’m traveling...
Short, and late, rendition of Friday this week as I’m traveling.
We took a spring break to Phoenix...
5th Apr 2026
Short, and late, rendition of Friday this week as I’m traveling.
We took a spring break to Phoenix and were able to fit in a Project Hail Mary IMAX screening. It was excellent! Two of us have read the book, and we enjoyed both versions of the story on their own terms.
We got in...
Spoon & Tamago
Shibuya’s New ‘G-CHA & Ba-CHA’ Cafe Is Run by Senior Citizens
In the heart of Shibuya—a district known for youth culture and constant reinvention—a refreshingly...
3rd Apr 2026
In the heart of Shibuya—a district known for youth culture and constant reinvention—a refreshingly different kind of café has just opened its doors. G-CHA & Ba-CHA is not just another trendy tea stand; it’s a celebration of energy, community, and a reimagining of what it means to...
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Cultural Guide to Cheyenne Wyoming
2nd Apr 2026
Herbert Lui
Be curious, not judgmental
Being judgmental is useful for doing difficult things. (Sanctimonious, self-righteous, prideful, are...
2nd Apr 2026
Being judgmental is useful for doing difficult things. (Sanctimonious, self-righteous, prideful, are all variations of what I mean by being judgmental.) When you believe in a statement that’s judgmental, it gives you the energy you need to stick with letting go of bad habits,...
Londonist
MOTH Club: Beloved Hackney Venue Saved
Planning permission for neighbouring development refused.
1st Apr 2026
Planning permission for neighbouring development refused.
diamond geezer
New London bus maps
Unbelievably it's been 10 years since TfL last bothered to print a set of London bus maps. Ten whole...
1st Apr 2026
Unbelievably it's been 10 years since TfL last bothered to print a set of London bus maps. Ten whole years.
they just stopped. No good reason was ever given, although saving money probably had a lot to do with it.
the 2016 quadrant maps when travelling around London, they're...
Spoon & Tamago
In Rare Exhibition, Kenya Hara Offers a Look Into His Design Process
Kenya Hara, the internationally acclaimed Japanese designer, has long been associated with clarity,...
27th Mar 2026
Kenya Hara, the internationally acclaimed Japanese designer, has long been associated with clarity, restraint, and the quiet power of minimalism: traits that are evident in his work as creative director for MUJI. But an upcoming exhibition promises to reveal something more...
Cheese and Biscuits
Dover Street Counter, Mayfair
First of all, apologies - to Dover Street Counter and readers of this blog alike - for the atrocious...
13th Mar 2026
First of all, apologies - to Dover Street Counter and readers of this blog alike - for the atrocious state of the photos in this post. What's strange is that I don't remember the lighting in the room being particularly subdued - each generously spaced table had a decent spotlight...
AFAR Media - Travel...
9 Sonoma County Wineries With Outdoor Experiences
10th Mar 2026
I am BARRY HESS
It’s Not Better Yet
We mourn our craft:
The worst fact about these tools is that they work. They can write code better...
3rd Mar 2026
We mourn our craft:
The worst fact about these tools is that they work. They can write code better than you or I can, and if you don’t believe me, wait six months.
This point stuck out to me. I’m going to take it completely out of context to make my own point. I haven’t yet...
Herbert Lui
Turn a creative fever into lasting inspiration
A few days ago, an idea came to me: why is there no business book covering Pokémon? By one estimate,...
1st Mar 2026
A few days ago, an idea came to me: why is there no business book covering Pokémon? By one estimate, the company has earned over $147 billion in its existence. It just opened a theme park, and its trading cards business has survived for 30 years and gained tons of momentum. There...
Londonist
"Why I Wrote A Musical About Ruth Ellis - The Last Woman To Be Hanged In The UK"
"It was one of those lightbulb moments."
1st Mar 2026
"It was one of those lightbulb moments."
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in February 2026
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in February 2026
1) The assignment of stations to zones...
1st Mar 2026
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in February 2026
1) The assignment of stations to zones was implemented some 30 years ago, broadly fitting six concentric zones within the geography of London. Very few changes have since been made - generally only in very specific...
Cheese and Biscuits
Bistro Sablé, Islington
Sablé occupies the handsome 1930s public house that, most recently at least, was home to Neil...
23rd Feb 2026
Sablé occupies the handsome 1930s public house that, most recently at least, was home to Neil Rankin's Smokehouse. I spent many happy times in Smokehouse back in the day but such are the fickle whims and fashions of London food that, in 2026, low-n-slow American BBQ seems...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Great Florida Resort for Multigen Vacations
10th Feb 2026
Spoon & Tamago
Cats to Blame for Octopus Deity Enshrinement Delay
Hayasuhime Shrine in Oita prefecture is a rarity in Japan because it is dedicated to the octopus....
2nd Feb 2026
Hayasuhime Shrine in Oita prefecture is a rarity in Japan because it is dedicated to the octopus. When local sculptor Kousei Hashimoto was tasked with creating a new deity to be enshrined, he expected for it to be completed by the end of the year. But the neighborhood cats had...
Herbert Lui
The 48 Laws of Power started with powerlessness
Early in his life, Robert Greene wanted to be a writer. His first attempt at this started early,...
1st Feb 2026
Early in his life, Robert Greene wanted to be a writer. His first attempt at this started early, with a job in journalism. After working for several years, one of his editors took him out for a liquid lunch and told him, “You should seriously consider a different career. You are...
Londonist
A Century Ago: What To Call The Northern Line?
The Dashfield line? The Capri line?
1st Feb 2026
The Dashfield line? The Capri line?
diamond geezer
The Class 230 battery trial
In a peculiar act of recycling, a tube train from the 1970s was relaunched in West London yesterday...
1st Feb 2026
In a peculiar act of recycling, a tube train from the 1970s was relaunched in West London yesterday but not on the tube, and everyone said how cutting edge it was. [10 photos]
This is a Class 230 train with pioneering battery-charge capability, finally entering passenger...
I am BARRY HESS
These artists selling signed vinyl direct on their websites is getting me...
These artists selling signed vinyl direct on their websites is getting me. Pretty clever! I like...
1st Feb 2026
These artists selling signed vinyl direct on their websites is getting me. Pretty clever! I like supporting them this way, but I do wish they could find a way to reduce the shipping costs.
Reply by email
AFAR Media - Travel...
How to Plan Your Trip to Bermuda Carnival
30th Jan 2026
Spoon & Tamago
Japanese Designer New Year’s Cards of 2026
Happy New Year of the horse! The year of the horse (uma-doshi) is said to be auspicious in Japan,...
4th Jan 2026
Happy New Year of the horse! The year of the horse (uma-doshi) is said to be auspicious in Japan, not only because it represents strength, speed and energy, but because of the wordplay: umaku iku (meaning, “everything will work out”) has the word uma (horse) in it. For those...
I am BARRY HESS
Spell Check
I proofread everything I write. Still, there is no better spellchecker than the "publish" button.
–...
2nd Jan 2026
I proofread everything I write. Still, there is no better spellchecker than the "publish" button.
– Nick Heer via People and Blogs via The Jolly Teapot
So very much this!
As a blogger of twenty-plus years, I’ve experienced this phenomenon many, many times. That is why Pika has...
Cheese and Biscuits
The Hart, Marylebone
In an ideal world this would be a post about the 'proper' upstairs restaurant at the Hart, a serious...
2nd Jan 2026
In an ideal world this would be a post about the 'proper' upstairs restaurant at the Hart, a serious (though not by all accounts stuffy) dining room serving seasonal British food in the heart of Marylebone village. Unfortunately, due to a combination of my own lack of...
Herbert Lui
Stop exploiting yourself
One of the friends you grew up with is now a popular YouTuber. When they visit your city, they ask...
1st Jan 2026
One of the friends you grew up with is now a popular YouTuber. When they visit your city, they ask if they can stay with you, and you oblige them. You get a glimpse into their life. An employee might get a lunch break, but not a YouTuber; lunch is for filming. They constantly...
Londonist
12 Predictions For London In 2026
Our silliest predictions for the year ahead...
1st Jan 2026
Our silliest predictions for the year ahead...
diamond geezer
A2026
As the new year begins, let's walk the A2026.
Ewell, Surrey.
Dartford, Kent.
The A2026 started...
1st Jan 2026
As the new year begins, let's walk the A2026.
Ewell, Surrey.
Dartford, Kent.
The A2026 started life as the Crayford bypass, a flat estuarine alternative to the Roman road up West Hill. It was opened on 22 June 1923 by the wife of Wilford Ashley, Parliamentary Secretary to...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to See Bermuda’s Top 2026 Sailing Races
17th Dec 2025
I am BARRY HESS
Words Matter
I hate what drugs have done to parts of American society as much as anyone. The purveyors prey on...
17th Dec 2025
I hate what drugs have done to parts of American society as much as anyone. The purveyors prey on people in a vulnerable state, a state they’ve arrived at for any of a number of reasons. The addictive qualities can be nearly impossible to resist.
While I’m not super-informed...
Spoon & Tamago
RIP Ken-chan: The Cat Whose Epic Battle with Museum Security Guard Captured Hearts Across Japan
all photos courtesy Onomichi Museum of Art Sadly, Japan has bid farewell to a beloved cat. Ken-chan,...
14th Dec 2025
all photos courtesy Onomichi Museum of Art Sadly, Japan has bid farewell to a beloved cat. Ken-chan, the local feline whose epic battle with a security guard at the Onomichi Museum of Art in Hiroshima became a fixture, passed away in September. Ken-chan’s story begins in 2017...
Cheese and Biscuits
Firestarter, Liverpool Street
It's often very difficult to stand out from the crowd in Restaurant London, especially when - as in...
9th Dec 2025
It's often very difficult to stand out from the crowd in Restaurant London, especially when - as in Firestarter's case at least - you appear to be serving the same kind of live-fire, internationally-ambiguous, ingredient-led menu that began to pop up all over the place after Acme...
News Archives |...
2025 Riders Choice Awards
We asked riders what they think of public transit. Here's which systems came out on top.
The post...
8th Dec 2025
We asked riders what they think of public transit. Here's which systems came out on top.
The post 2025 Riders Choice Awards appeared first on Transit.
Herbert Lui
Being frugal makes entrepreneurs less fragile
Many—maybe most—bootstrapped entrepreneurs tend to bias towards frugality. A dollar saved is a...
1st Dec 2025
Many—maybe most—bootstrapped entrepreneurs tend to bias towards frugality. A dollar saved is a dollar earned. Saving money buys greater freedom, it also enables the entrepreneurs to survive longer, so they have more time to execute their plans or to get lucky. Here are some...
Londonist
A History Of The Future At The Cartoon Museum's New Exhibition
Fascinating cartoon strips that predicted the future (or not).
1st Dec 2025
Fascinating cartoon strips that predicted the future (or not).
diamond geezer
Unblogged November
30 unblogged things I did in November
Sat 1: Spotted a doomed pillarbox in Beckenham High Street...
1st Dec 2025
30 unblogged things I did in November
Sat 1: Spotted a doomed pillarbox in Beckenham High Street wrapped in plastic film, ready to be updated to one of those new solar-powered automated boxes. I wonder what they do with the boxes that get replaced.
Sun 2: The sheer irony of a...
Spoon & Tamago
JR East to Retire Iconic Suica Penguin After 25 Years of Service
Straphangers are mourning today after JR East announced that their beloved mascot, the Suica...
11th Nov 2025
Straphangers are mourning today after JR East announced that their beloved mascot, the Suica penguin, will retire after 25 years of serving as the iconic face of IC cards. The penguin was designed by picture book author and illustrator Chiharu Sakazaki and was modeled after the...
Cheese and Biscuits
Elephant, Hackney
I spent most of this month in Spain (see previous post) and although I'm happy enough to be back in...
4th Nov 2025
I spent most of this month in Spain (see previous post) and although I'm happy enough to be back in cold, wet London town (honest), as the evenings really closed in I was in dire need of a reminder of sunnier times and brighter places. And after scrolling through my holiday photo...
AFAR Media - Travel...
5 Reasons Discover Airlines Makes Europe Travel Easy
3rd Nov 2025
I am BARRY HESS
No Socials November
November seems to be a ripe month for challenges. Some people grow facial hair. Some people write...
1st Nov 2025
November seems to be a ripe month for challenges. Some people grow facial hair. Some people write many words daily hoping to come out with a novel on the other side. I’m sure there are five other such efforts that I’m not aware of.
For me, I’m going to continue my push away from...
Herbert Lui
Make a list of pains you prevented
When you warm up and stretch your muscles before exercise, you’re preventing pain. You’re lowering...
1st Nov 2025
When you warm up and stretch your muscles before exercise, you’re preventing pain. You’re lowering the chances you’ll get injured. It’s useful to remember the purpose of preparation is to help you get ahead of pain. Your present feels ordinary, maybe even slightly boring,...
Londonist
The Lost London Tavern Where It *All* Happened
The City of London Tavern is a forgotten nexus.
1st Nov 2025
The City of London Tavern is a forgotten nexus.
diamond geezer
London's most and least deprived
The Index of Multiple Deprivation is a government statistic calculated by the Office of National...
1st Nov 2025
The Index of Multiple Deprivation is a government statistic calculated by the Office of National Statistics every five years or so, and 2025's data has just been released.
deprivation score based on factors including income, employment, health, education and crime. All 33755...
Herbert Lui
AI is useful because you can blame it
Imagine you’re about to do something brave. Maybe you’re writing a cold email to someone you admire,...
31st Oct 2025
Imagine you’re about to do something brave. Maybe you’re writing a cold email to someone you admire, or applying for a job. If you wanted a second pair of eyes or gut check for your email, you needed to ask a smart friend. That way, you’d feel confident—at least another person...
Cheese and Biscuits
Compartir, Cadaqués
Compartir, a restaurant in the seaside village of Cadaqués, has lots going for it. The most obvious...
7th Oct 2025
Compartir, a restaurant in the seaside village of Cadaqués, has lots going for it. The most obvious thing it has going for it is Cadaqués, a tourist town but not troublingly so, with its own unique identity - bohemian, somewhat eccentric, traditionally popular with artists and...
Spoon & Tamago
Is the Human Washing Machine of our Dreams Finally Becoming a Reality?
If you wandered the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion at Expo 2025 and felt like you’d stepped into a retro...
5th Oct 2025
If you wandered the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion at Expo 2025 and felt like you’d stepped into a retro sci-fi spa, you weren’t imagining things. One of the talk-of-the-fair exhibits is a futuristic bathing pod — billed as a “Future Human Washing Machine” — that promises to wash and...
Londonist
Slow Horses: Series 5 Filming Locations
Where is Slough House and the key scenes from Series 5?
1st Oct 2025
Where is Slough House and the key scenes from Series 5?
diamond geezer
Unblogged September
30 unblogged things I did in September
Mon 1: While researching the number of ticket offices at...
1st Oct 2025
30 unblogged things I did in September
Mon 1: While researching the number of ticket offices at every London rail terminus I managed to take photos at 15 different stations without anyone ever expressing suspicion at what I was doing, so hurrah for See It, Tolerate It, Disregard...
I am BARRY HESS
A List of Unplugging Possibilities
As I’m thinking about disconnecting from the endless social media and news streams, I’ve been...
1st Oct 2025
As I’m thinking about disconnecting from the endless social media and news streams, I’ve been sniffing around the world of paper products. Here are a few publications that I’m considering:
Financial Times weekend print edition. The price is pretty reasonable for a year. I’ve...
News Archives |...
GOFS is ready for its close-up
Meet the open data standard for on-demand transit, taxi and ridehail trip planning
The post GOFS is...
30th Sep 2025
Meet the open data standard for on-demand transit, taxi and ridehail trip planning
The post GOFS is ready for its close-up appeared first on Transit.
I am BARRY HESS
Today’s Home Screen
As I start to make a concerted effort to turn down my phone and social media usage, I’ve moved to a...
20th Sep 2025
As I start to make a concerted effort to turn down my phone and social media usage, I’ve moved to a new Home Screen experiment. First, I tried Dumb Phone. It’s good! The immediate impact of no icons was pretty effective, but I realized over time it trained me to search-then-open...
Cheese and Biscuits
Serra, Mayfair
It's very often the case about the very top London hotels that despite the amount of money they have...
12th Sep 2025
It's very often the case about the very top London hotels that despite the amount of money they have at their disposal, and the pick of whatever celebrity or otherwise feted chefs they can choose from, the restaurants end up being rather mediocre. Partly this is due to the unique...
Damn Interesting
There Once Was a Man Called Curley
In the village of Bellewstown, about 15 miles north of Dublin, Ireland, they still talk about what...
6th Sep 2025
In the village of Bellewstown, about 15 miles north of Dublin, Ireland, they still talk about what Barney Curley did back in 1975. It all happened during a horse race on the Hill of Crockafotha. It was just an amateur jockey race on a lazy summer day in a sleepy, remote town; it...
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Street Foods in Québec, Poland, Malta, & Finland
2nd Sep 2025
Spoon & Tamago
WA Table Lamp: Where Transit History Meets Timeless Design
You can now own a piece of the Den-en Toshi train line. Akasaki & Vanhuyse, a Japanese-French design...
1st Sep 2025
You can now own a piece of the Den-en Toshi train line. Akasaki & Vanhuyse, a Japanese-French design studio, have created a limited-edition table lamp born from the upcycling of resin train straps from Japan’s Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line 8500 series, which was withdrawn from service...
Londonist
Princess Anne To Walk Through Giant Inflatable Gut.... And You Can Too!
Paternoster Square will host a microbiome festival.
1st Sep 2025
Paternoster Square will host a microbiome festival.
diamond geezer
Unblogged August
31 unblogged things I did in August
Fri 1: I ummed and ahhed about doing another month-long series...
1st Sep 2025
31 unblogged things I did in August
Fri 1: I ummed and ahhed about doing another month-long series about the River Fleet, because maybe it's best to only do things once, but once I was stalking through the woods at the top of Hampstead Heath hunting for muddy rivulets it all...
News Archives |...
Transit 6.0: let’s make public transit more beautiful
With Transit 6.0, our designers have dreamed big, and packed in plenty of surprises for our biggest...
25th Aug 2025
With Transit 6.0, our designers have dreamed big, and packed in plenty of surprises for our biggest update EVER. We think you're going to love it.
The post Transit 6.0: let’s make public transit more beautiful appeared first on Transit.
Spoon & Tamago
The T.K.G. Handkerchief from Chikazawa Lace
We are absolutely in love with this T.K.G. (tamago kake gohan) handkerchief from Chikazawa Lace....
17th Aug 2025
We are absolutely in love with this T.K.G. (tamago kake gohan) handkerchief from Chikazawa Lace. It’s part of their 2025 Autumn & Winter collection that’s slowly releasing right now. The handkerchief, which will become available in September, features a bowl and chopsticks...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to Stop and Stay Along Route 66 If You Love Astronomy
12th Aug 2025
I am BARRY HESS
Experimental August
As you can probably sense, I’ve been looking for a change in the normal course of things. While I’m...
3rd Aug 2025
As you can probably sense, I’ve been looking for a change in the normal course of things. While I’m awfully tempted by Manuel Moreale’s recent experiments, I think I’m going to put those off for another month while I pursue an experiment slightly more tuned to how I’m feeling at...
Londonist
A First Look At Lucy Sparrow's Fantastic New Felt Chippy In Mayfair
A fish and chip made entirely from felt — and it's a delight!
1st Aug 2025
A fish and chip made entirely from felt — and it's a delight!
Cheese and Biscuits
Luna, Shad Thames
This is not going to be a long post. Not because Luna - a cosy little new wine bar from the people...
1st Aug 2025
This is not going to be a long post. Not because Luna - a cosy little new wine bar from the people behind Legare just over the road - isn't good, but rather because it really isn't going to take me long to describe why it's good.
Because it's really not rocket science - take...
diamond geezer
Unblogged July
31 unblogged things I did in July
Tue 1: Thanks for your 57 comments on Unblogged June, even if...
1st Aug 2025
31 unblogged things I did in July
Tue 1: Thanks for your 57 comments on Unblogged June, even if they were predominantly about smoke alarms. I have now sorted the issue, thanks (and the replacement will itself need to be replaced in ten years' time).
Wed 2: In surprising news, as...
Damn Interesting
Omiword, a Word Game
In certain dialects of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese, the word for ‘four’ sounds very...
21st Jul 2025
In certain dialects of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese, the word for ‘four’ sounds very similar to the word for ‘death’1. Consequently, the number 4 is considered by many people in East Asian nations to be unlucky. It is not unusual for buildings in that region to skip...
Cheese and Biscuits
El Molí de l’Escala, L'Escala
I have eaten at El Moli a number of times over the 40 or so years I and my family have been visiting...
18th Jul 2025
I have eaten at El Moli a number of times over the 40 or so years I and my family have been visiting this part of the world. The first couple of visits were pre-blog and pre-camera phone and I don't remember much about it other than being sat in those same ancient vaulted rooms...
Londonist
Open House Festival 2025: Which Buildings Are Open? Which Need Booking?
First details of this year's architecture fest.
16th Jul 2025
First details of this year's architecture fest.
I am BARRY HESS
Turning on the Newsletter
We’ve added a newsletter feature (beta) to Pika, and I figured I’d give it a try here on the ol’...
11th Jul 2025
We’ve added a newsletter feature (beta) to Pika, and I figured I’d give it a try here on the ol’ blog. For a few years I maintained a separate newsletter, but I haven’t written there for a couple of years now. In that newsletter, I would generally write something that I hadn’t...
AFAR Media - Travel...
9 Can’t-Miss Summer Events in Park City
3rd Jul 2025
Spoon & Tamago
Tanjiro Emerges in the Fields as Gyoda Unveils 2025 Rice Paddy Art
Every summer, the city of Gyoda in Saitama Prefecture turns rice paddies into giant canvases,...
1st Jul 2025
Every summer, the city of Gyoda in Saitama Prefecture turns rice paddies into giant canvases, planting colorful rice varieties to form massive works of art. Known as tanbo art, these living murals stretch across nearly three hectares and can only be fully appreciated from above....
diamond geezer
Unblogged June
30 unblogged things I did in June
Sun 1: My Dad hasn't had any answerphone messages for three weeks...
1st Jul 2025
30 unblogged things I did in June
Sun 1: My Dad hasn't had any answerphone messages for three weeks since BT switched him to Digital Voice, the internet-based phone connection. We tried to work out why this might be, and were surprised/shocked to discover that as part of the...
Damn Interesting
Much Ado About Adenoids
Edmund Lawall must have felt cursed. He’d brought his family to New York in the late 1800s to carry...
23rd Jun 2025
Edmund Lawall must have felt cursed. He’d brought his family to New York in the late 1800s to carry on his father’s business as a pharmacist, but fate—or perhaps the city itself—seemed determined to drive him back out again. Lawall’s health had been in decline since their...
I am BARRY HESS
Spotlight and Mei Semones
Last night I was able to experience a rare musical two-fer. First was day one of Minnesota’s annual...
10th Jun 2025
Last night I was able to experience a rare musical two-fer. First was day one of Minnesota’s annual celebration of high school musicals: Spotlight Showcase. This is a two-night event for the Minnesota theater to community to celebrate tens of schools whose musical productions...
Cheese and Biscuits
Norbert's, East Dulwich
They're like the buses, these rotisserie places. You wait years for a decent, affordable spit-roast...
4th Jun 2025
They're like the buses, these rotisserie places. You wait years for a decent, affordable spit-roast chicken in the capital, and then two come along at once.
one in Holborn closed (where I would go at least once every couple of weeks back in the day), then Kentish Town, then...
AFAR Media - Travel...
How This Resort Is Redefining Dining in the Caribbean
2nd Jun 2025
Spoon & Tamago
The Machu Picchu of Japan—and Other Sites that Compare Themselves to World-Famous Destinations
See the World Without Ever Leaving Japan There are several remote corners of Japan that have been...
1st Jun 2025
See the World Without Ever Leaving Japan There are several remote corners of Japan that have been comparing themselves to world-famous tourist destinations. Whether it’s out of pride, a bid to attract tourists, or just a good sense of humor, their reasons vary. But that’s not to...
diamond geezer
V&A East Storehouse
This is Blythe House, a monumental Edwardian office block round the back of the Olympia exhibition...
1st Jun 2025
This is Blythe House, a monumental Edwardian office block round the back of the Olympia exhibition centre.
Swindon, the British Museum are off to Reading and the V&A shifted their repository to the Olympic Park... opening yesterday.
New in E20: V&A East Storehouse
Location:...
Spoon & Tamago
This Wrapping Paper Turns All Your Presents into Bread
At first glance, these wrapped objects see like freshly bakes loaves straight from the bakery. With...
5th May 2025
At first glance, these wrapped objects see like freshly bakes loaves straight from the bakery. With toasty brown hues, signature flour dusting, and even hand-scored patterns mimicking artisanal baguettes, this genius wrapping paper turns all your gifts into bread. Conceived by...
Cheese and Biscuits
Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, Great Milton
I'm sure the Manoir (as I will call it for this post) can impress whatever the weather, but when the...
1st May 2025
I'm sure the Manoir (as I will call it for this post) can impress whatever the weather, but when the early summer sun is shining, and punters are welcomed into the gardens for their aperitifs and/or digestifs, the place is surely at its best. When you've got gardens like these,...
Herbert Lui
Your own project
You should always have at least one project, or a performance, that you can complete with no...
1st May 2025
You should always have at least one project, or a performance, that you can complete with no meetings, no bosses, and no external accountability. Just you doing something for yourself, where you don’t need to explain yourself at all, or need to make money doing. If it resonates...
diamond geezer
May Days
20 things to do in London in May 2025
1st May: Morris Dancing in Hammersmith/Islington. You've...
1st May 2025
20 things to do in London in May 2025
1st May: Morris Dancing in Hammersmith/Islington. You've already missed Primrose Hill/Greenwich.
1st May: IKEA opens at Oxford Circus. Come walk the flatpack maze and eat meatballs.
1st May: London May Day Rally. Up the workers from...
AFAR Media - Travel...
12 Lakes to Visit Near Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota
1st May 2025
Spoon & Tamago
Goldwin Set to Open Expansive Nature Park in Toyama in 2027
Goldwin, the Japanese outdoor apparel company, has unveiled plans for an ambitious new project: the...
26th Apr 2025
Goldwin, the Japanese outdoor apparel company, has unveiled plans for an ambitious new project: the Play Earth Park Naturing Forest. Set to open in the summer of 2027, this expansive nature-themed facility will be located in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, the birthplace of...
AFAR Media - Travel...
What Makes Disney the Best Family Cruise in Alaska
4th Apr 2025
I am BARRY HESS
Florence: Davide, Le Chiese e i Dottori
Not much writing tonight as I need to get to sleep.
Ava had class all day, so we were on our own to...
1st Apr 2025
Not much writing tonight as I need to get to sleep.
Ava had class all day, so we were on our own to run around town. The big event was seeing David at La Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze. We did a guided tour. It was well worth the information and the line-skipping advantage....
Herbert Lui
Don’t fight back, fight forward with forgiveness
A restaurateur speaks up publicly for what he thinks is right. The people who think he’s wrong take...
1st Apr 2025
A restaurateur speaks up publicly for what he thinks is right. The people who think he’s wrong take action. They vandalize his restaurant. Glass is shattered. Mirrors broken. Furniture destroyed. He had invited his father to town to dine at the restaurant. That can’t happen now...
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in March 2025
25 things we (genuinely) learnt from TfL FoI requests in March 2025
1) Only two refurbished Central...
1st Apr 2025
25 things we (genuinely) learnt from TfL FoI requests in March 2025
1) Only two refurbished Central line trains have so far entered service. Three more are planned to enter service by January 2026. The overall programme is planned to complete in 2029.
2) Seat cushions on...
I am BARRY HESS
Florence: Arti II e Calcio
Today we made our way over to Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi to see all of the wonders. What can I really...
30th Mar 2025
Today we made our way over to Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi to see all of the wonders. What can I really say? Paintings like Birth of Venus, Venus of Urbino, Caravaggio’s Medusa, Michelangelo’s only surviving panel painting, so much Botticelli, da Vinci, Raphael, and much more. The...
Spoon & Tamago
A Chandelier of 28,000 Eggs and Other Scrumptious Delights Reframe our Consumption of Food
The Osaka Expo 2025 kicks off on April 13th. And while we’re excited about some pretty niche things...
19th Mar 2025
The Osaka Expo 2025 kicks off on April 13th. And while we’re excited about some pretty niche things like Hello Kitty algae and attendant uniforms, one of Japan’s signature pavilions, Earth Mart, is shaping up to be delightfully delicious. Located within the expo’s Green World...
Cheese and Biscuits
Interlude at Leonardslee, Horsham
If there's one thing I've learned after nearly twenty years of writing about food in this country,...
18th Mar 2025
If there's one thing I've learned after nearly twenty years of writing about food in this country, it's that fine dining can happen pretty much anywhere. If Ormskirk, an otherwise unremarkable town in Lancashire previously best known as the childhood home of Marianne Faithful...
AFAR Media - Travel...
6 Must-See Events in Dallas This Spring and Summer
5th Mar 2025
Herbert Lui
How wanting something less freed me up to do more
While it’s good to be passionate about your work, an overwhelming ambition—bordering on a need—to...
1st Mar 2025
While it’s good to be passionate about your work, an overwhelming ambition—bordering on a need—to achieve or have something, sometimes actually gets in the way. I learned this the hard way. I spent most of my 20s wanting to be a bestselling author—recognized by traditional...
diamond geezer
TfL FoI requests in February 2025
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in February 2025
1) The oldest bus in service in London...
1st Mar 2025
20 things we learnt from TfL FoI requests in February 2025
1) The oldest bus in service in London is the Uno 605, a vehicle introduced in 2007 and currently in use on route 383. However, this vehicle is due to be withdrawn from the fleet shortly.
2) On average TfL's income from...
News Archives |...
All aboard the ski bus!
Find a ride up the mountain with Transit: we support dozens of ski buses across the Alps, Rockies,...
20th Feb 2025
Find a ride up the mountain with Transit: we support dozens of ski buses across the Alps, Rockies, Cascades, Columbia and Coast Mountains
The post All aboard the ski bus! appeared first on Transit.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Virginia Beach Travel Tips From Fishing Pro Jim Root
13th Feb 2025
Cheese and Biscuits
Holy Carrot, Notting Hill
I don't know about you, but the concept of a 'vegetarian restaurant' brings to mind a certain set of...
4th Feb 2025
I don't know about you, but the concept of a 'vegetarian restaurant' brings to mind a certain set of expectations, not all of them good. I suppose it's because traditionally, vegetarian food has been, at best, just 'normal' restaurant food with the meat either taken out, or...
Spoon & Tamago
Contemporary Nihonga Images of Hamsters Created by Otama-shimai
all images by Otama-shimai | used with permission The Japanese artist who goes by the name...
2nd Feb 2025
all images by Otama-shimai | used with permission The Japanese artist who goes by the name Otama-shimai creates Nihonga-style images almost exclusively of hamsters. Nihonga is a Japanese style of painting coined in the mid-1800s to differentiate it from its Western counterpart....
Herbert Lui
What’s the point?
“What’s the point in planning, if it could all end at any time?” Dustin Gorton survived the...
1st Feb 2025
“What’s the point in planning, if it could all end at any time?” Dustin Gorton survived the Columbine massacre at age 18. He learned how fleeting life can be that day. A blog attributes a powerful reflection to him, penned when he turned 36. It reads, “I came away with the...
diamond geezer
The Count 2025
For twenty-two consecutive Februaries on diamond geezer I've kept myself busy by counting things....
1st Feb 2025
For twenty-two consecutive Februaries on diamond geezer I've kept myself busy by counting things. Ten different counts, to be precise, in a stats-tastic 28-day feature called The Count. You therefore won't be surprised to hear that I intend to do exactly the same again this year,...
diamond geezer
Bow Roundabout update #13
The major roadworks at the Bow Roundabout continue, now more obviously because the hi-vis workforce...
26th Jan 2025
The major roadworks at the Bow Roundabout continue, now more obviously because the hi-vis workforce have shifted their focus from 'under the flyover' to 'the perimeter of the roundabout'. Their task has been to slightly reshape the roundabout to better accommodate the influx of...
AFAR Media - Travel...
A Road Trip Along Mississippi's Blues Trail
7th Jan 2025
Cheese and Biscuits
Vatavaran, Knightsbridge
It was Trishna in Marlebone, all the way back in something like 2009, that opened many Londoners'...
5th Jan 2025
It was Trishna in Marlebone, all the way back in something like 2009, that opened many Londoners' eyes - not least my own - to the possibilities of modern Indian fine dining. Now, I'm sure Vivek Singh (Cinnamon Club, 2001), Sriram Aylur (Quilon, 1999) and Cyrus Todiwala (Café...
Spoon & Tamago
Japanese Designer New Year’s Cards of 2025
Happy New Year of the snake! In Japanese art and mythology, the snake is a complex figure that...
2nd Jan 2025
Happy New Year of the snake! In Japanese art and mythology, the snake is a complex figure that represents both auspiciousness and malevolence. Snakes are revered as sacred beings, embodying themes of renewal, fertility, and the duality of nature as both protector and destroyer....
Herbert Lui
Openness
When I was a senior in high school, my English teacher shared an op-ed she clipped from a newspaper...
1st Jan 2025
When I was a senior in high school, my English teacher shared an op-ed she clipped from a newspaper entitled, “Please offend me, and allow me to offend you.” The spirit of the class discussion focused on how important it was for you, me, and everybody else, to be able to say what...
Spoon & Tamago
Our Favorite Tokyo Designer Christmas Trees of 2024
If you’re doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in Tokyo, try and swing by some of these...
22nd Dec 2024
If you’re doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in Tokyo, try and swing by some of these locations where you’ll find the best seasonal yet unorthodox designer Christmas trees. Happy Holidays! Christmas Tree of Light at Omotesando Hills “Christmas Tree of Light” is a...
Cheese and Biscuits
Crispin at Studio Voltaire, Clapham Common
Although my useless photos hardly do it justice (let's just get that out of the way from the start),...
16th Dec 2024
Although my useless photos hardly do it justice (let's just get that out of the way from the start), Crispin at Studio Voltaire is a lovely space to eat in. The candles on each table aren't the only source of light, but provide a romantic accessory to the tealights dangling above...
News Archives |...
2024 Riders Choice Awards
We asked riders what they think of public transit. Here's which systems came out on top.
The post...
6th Dec 2024
We asked riders what they think of public transit. Here's which systems came out on top.
The post 2024 Riders Choice Awards appeared first on Transit.
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 Lesser-Known Adventures to Explore in Greece
4th Dec 2024
Herbert Lui
Some notes on a return visit to Hong Kong
In late 2021, I moved to Hong Kong for six months. My partner and I enjoyed it so much that we ended...
2nd Dec 2024
In late 2021, I moved to Hong Kong for six months. My partner and I enjoyed it so much that we ended up staying nearly a year and a half. We moved to New York City shortly after that, and I started my job at Figma. I always thought I’d document the trip some other […]
The post...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Lisbon's Culinary Scene Rivals Europe's Best Food Cities
8th Nov 2024
Cheese and Biscuits
Lima, Shoreditch
I don't usually like to do invited reviews back-to-back, so this was supposed to be a post about a...
5th Nov 2024
I don't usually like to do invited reviews back-to-back, so this was supposed to be a post about a lovely Catalonian restaurant called El Molí de L'Escala. El Molí serve a daily-changing menu of exciting and unusual local seafood (they had sea cucumber on the menu last week, and...
Cheese and Biscuits
Camille, Borough Market
Some restaurants just make it look so easy, don't they? The menu at Camille is so enticing, with...
7th Oct 2024
Some restaurants just make it look so easy, don't they? The menu at Camille is so enticing, with unusual eye-catching ingredients prepared in exciting and distinctive ways, that it's almost enough to spoil any other dining experience by default, and it makes you wonder if they...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Top 6 Underrated Places to Visit in the BVI
2nd Oct 2024
AFAR Media - Travel...
Myrtle Beach’s Sensory-Friendly Hotels, Spots, Restaurants
18th Sep 2024
News Archives |...
Unplanned TTC bus and streetcar diversions now tracked in Transit
First-of-its-kind app functionality in Transit automatically detects and displays detours as they...
3rd Sep 2024
First-of-its-kind app functionality in Transit automatically detects and displays detours as they happen
The post Unplanned TTC bus and streetcar diversions now tracked in Transit appeared first on Transit.
Cheese and Biscuits
Mamapen at the Sun and 13 Cantons, Soho
There are a few pubs in London notable for their hosting of fledgling food businesses, giving...
3rd Sep 2024
There are a few pubs in London notable for their hosting of fledgling food businesses, giving talented but cash-strapped teams a chance to test their market and their cooking skills without the risk and stress of opening a completely brand new restaurant. Over the years, you will...
News Archives |...
Lessons from the Transit Roundtable
We got some transit agency rockstars into a room for a day of real talk
The post Lessons from the...
19th Aug 2024
We got some transit agency rockstars into a room for a day of real talk
The post Lessons from the Transit Roundtable appeared first on Transit.
AFAR Media - Travel...
What to Eat, Do, and See, and Where to Stay, in Maine
14th Aug 2024
Cheese and Biscuits
The Barn at Moor Hall, Ormskirk
In restaurants that offer both an A La Carte and parallel set menu I often play a bit of a thought...
12th Aug 2024
In restaurants that offer both an A La Carte and parallel set menu I often play a bit of a thought experiment. If there was no such separation of options, and if all the dishes available were priced evenly on the same list, which would I end up going for?
Set menus (usually,...
Cheese and Biscuits
OMA, Borough Market
Dave Carter, a big friendly giant of a man with a completely impenetrable Barbadian accent, began...
12th Jul 2024
Dave Carter, a big friendly giant of a man with a completely impenetrable Barbadian accent, began his London restaurant journey at Smokestak, the hugely influential East London BBQ joint. Smokestak, together with a tiny handful of other brave pioneers around the same time...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Why Vacation to Corpus Christi, TX in the Fall
3rd Jul 2024
AFAR Media - Travel...
5 Excursions With Afar and Atlas Ocean Voyages
7th Jun 2024
AFAR Media - Travel...
Isabelle Star LaBlanc's Guide to Minneapolis
6th May 2024
News Archives |...
How on-target is that ETA, really? Now there’s a way to know.
We pop open the hood on a shared benchmark to measure the accuracy of public transit's real-time...
11th Apr 2024
We pop open the hood on a shared benchmark to measure the accuracy of public transit's real-time countdowns
The post How on-target is that ETA, really? Now there’s a way to know. appeared first on Transit.
AFAR Media - Travel...
21 Must-Try Michelin-Star Restaurants in Monaco
8th Apr 2024
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do In London This Week: 1-7 April 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
1st Apr 2024
Things to do for under a fiver.
Damn Interesting
A Trail Gone Cold
Iceland is known to the rest of the world as the land of Vikings and volcanos, an island caught...
21st Mar 2024
Iceland is known to the rest of the world as the land of Vikings and volcanos, an island caught between continents at the extremities of the map. Remote and comparatively inhospitable, it was settled only as long ago as the 9th century, and has seen little additional in-migration...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Best Places to Shop and Eat In Los Angeles
8th Mar 2024
Londonist
Things To Do In The Borough Of Bexley
Sound baths, Pre-Raphaelites and a gorgeous sewage pumping station.
1st Mar 2024
Sound baths, Pre-Raphaelites and a gorgeous sewage pumping station.
News Archives |...
CTDOT renews statewide sponsorship of Royale after year-long pilot
Becomes latest statewide transportation agency to grant Royale to all riders as part of investment...
22nd Feb 2024
Becomes latest statewide transportation agency to grant Royale to all riders as part of investment in customer experience
The post CTDOT renews statewide sponsorship of Royale after year-long pilot appeared first on Transit.
AFAR Media - Travel...
BIPOC Guide to Asheville's Outdoors
5th Feb 2024
Londonist
The Glass Heart: A Smashing Exhibition At Two Temple Place
Intriguing artwork in a stunning building.
1st Feb 2024
Intriguing artwork in a stunning building.
News Archives |...
Pace Bus pilot enables first-of-its-kind integration between Transit and DemandTrans
Partnership leads to the first deployment of GOFS-lite to support
The post Pace Bus pilot enables...
10th Jan 2024
Partnership leads to the first deployment of GOFS-lite to support
The post Pace Bus pilot enables first-of-its-kind integration between Transit and DemandTrans appeared first on Transit.
AFAR Media - Travel...
Asheville Restaurants Refining Appalachian Culinary Traditions
3rd Jan 2024
One from Nippon
$450 for a School Bag?!
Every year, around March, a curious social custom occurs in Japanese families.
Parents of kids...
2nd Jan 2024
Every year, around March, a curious social custom occurs in Japanese families.
Parents of kids entering elementary school visit the grandparents and gingerly tread the topic of buying the kids a very expensive item: a randoseru.
And gingerly they must tread. The randoseru, a...
Londonist
Things To Do This Weekend In London: 6-7 January 2024
Last-chance exhibitions, comedy, ice hockey, and bottomless fondue.
1st Jan 2024
Last-chance exhibitions, comedy, ice hockey, and bottomless fondue.
AFAR Media - Travel...
7 Reasons To Explore South Africa by Land and Water
6th Dec 2023
Londonist
How London Underground Became The Coolest Brand In The World
From the first roundel to moquette trainers.
1st Dec 2023
From the first roundel to moquette trainers.
One from Nippon
The World's First App Store
Editor’s Note: This article ends on a cliffhanger. The next part goes out in a week.
I will start...
5th Nov 2023
Editor’s Note: This article ends on a cliffhanger. The next part goes out in a week.
I will start with an honest admission. I didn’t set out to write about the world’s first app store. I set out to write about Brother printers.
But
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Broadway Shows of All Time to See in NYC
3rd Nov 2023
Londonist
Hither Green Rail Crash: 1967 Disaster Was One Of London's Worst
"I saw one of the coaches go straight up on its end."
1st Nov 2023
"I saw one of the coaches go straight up on its end."
AFAR Media - Travel...
Top 10 Locations and Hotels for Food Lovers
9th Oct 2023
Londonist
10 Times That Fictional London Has Slipped Into Our Universe
Glitches in the matrix.
1st Oct 2023
One from Nippon
Coffee in a Can
Life’s inconveniences, when they happen to you and me, are just that. Inconveniences.
When they...
10th Sep 2023
Life’s inconveniences, when they happen to you and me, are just that. Inconveniences.
When they happen to some people though they end up becoming multi-billion dollar businesses.
This is the story of Japan’s canned coffee.
One finds at least one vending machine in almost every...
Damn Interesting
Breaking a Bit
It’s been a busy summer, and the large shortfall in donations last month has been demoralizing, so...
5th Sep 2023
It’s been a busy summer, and the large shortfall in donations last month has been demoralizing, so we’re taking a week off to rest and recuperate. The curated links section will be (mostly) silent, and behind the scenes we’ll be taking a brief break from our usual researching,...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Discover Lake Como's Epic Hikes & Cuisine
1st Sep 2023
Londonist
The Top Exhibitions To See In London In September 2023
A crystal dinner and chic couture in this month's top shows to see in London.
1st Sep 2023
A crystal dinner and chic couture in this month's top shows to see in London.
One from Nippon
A peek into Japan’s Hot Springs (Part 2)
Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part post. Part 1 can be found here.
The Hot Spring...
19th Aug 2023
Editor’s note: This is the second of a three-part post. Part 1 can be found here.
The Hot Spring Act of 1948
Lest you think any old well could be an onsen, the Japanese government has very clear rules on what can be called an onsen.
These are
Londonist
Free And Cheap Things To Do This Week In London: 14-20 August 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
14th Aug 2023
Things to do for under a fiver.
Damn Interesting
Giving the Bird the Bird
We’re not going to post things on Twitter X anymore. The new owner keeps doing awful stuff. If you...
7th Aug 2023
We’re not going to post things on Twitter X anymore. The new owner keeps doing awful stuff. If you have enjoyed our mostly-daily curated links via the aforementioned collapsing service, we invite you to bookmark our curated links page, or follow us a number of other ways.
Rather...
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Safest Countries for LGBTQ Travelers
1st Aug 2023
AFAR Media - Travel...
10 Beautiful Tropical Islands to Visit in 2023
1st Jul 2023
Damn Interesting
Journey to the Invisible Planet
In the late 17th century, natural philosopher Isaac Newton was deeply uneasy with a new scientific...
13th Jun 2023
In the late 17th century, natural philosopher Isaac Newton was deeply uneasy with a new scientific theory that was gaining currency in Europe: universal gravitation. In correspondence with a scientific contemporary, Newton complained that it was “an absurdity” to suppose that...
One from Nippon
A peek into Japan's Convenience Stores
Editor’s note: Due to the sheer amount of interesting material here we decided to break this into a...
11th Jun 2023
Editor’s note: Due to the sheer amount of interesting material here we decided to break this into a two-part article.
All across Japan, one sight remains ubiquitous – the convenience store.
A far, far cry from their American cousins, convenience stores in Japan are without...
AFAR Media - Travel...
Where to Celebrate Pride in Washington, D.C.
2nd Jun 2023
One from Nippon
A peek inside Japan's largest Dagashi store
Every morning, 67-year Hideyuki Akiyama drives to his store along the rural roads of Okayama in...
29th May 2023
Every morning, 67-year Hideyuki Akiyama drives to his store along the rural roads of Okayama in Western Japan. Today is no different. A line of excited customers queuing up before the shutters are open.
“Disneyland isn’t our land of dreams, this is!” says one 20-something woman.
Damn Interesting
From Where the Sun Now Stands
An American Indian man on horseback stood outlined against a steely sky past midday on 05 October...
22nd May 2023
An American Indian man on horseback stood outlined against a steely sky past midday on 05 October 1877. Winter was already settling into the prairies of what would soon become the state of Montana.
Five white men stood in the swaying grass on the other side of the field,...
AFAR Media - Travel...
The Best Things to Do in Abu Dhabi
11th May 2023
One from Nippon
The shoe that became a sock. And then a shoe again.
Stockholm, 1912
At 35° C it was an unusually hot day for Stockholm. Shizo Kanakuri stood at the...
15th Apr 2023
Stockholm, 1912
At 35° C it was an unusually hot day for Stockholm. Shizo Kanakuri stood at the start line of the marathon in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. Shizo was carrying the hopes, dreams, and pride of Japan, a country attempting to become a “modern” nation.
There
One from Nippon
The Surprising Roots of Japan's Indian Curry
It's been a while since our last post - life got in the way. A big thanks to everyone who reached...
30th Mar 2023
It's been a while since our last post - life got in the way. A big thanks to everyone who reached out!
We are now restarting our articles, though we might not always write once a week. If we don't think it's interesting, we
Damn Interesting
The Ancient Order of Bali
In the 1970s, the Indonesian island of Bali went through a period of rapid change. Along the...
28th Mar 2023
In the 1970s, the Indonesian island of Bali went through a period of rapid change. Along the stunning beaches on the southern side of the island, tourism boomed. Parking lots were put up, together with swinging hot spots and hotels of various colours. Hip young travellers from...
One from Nippon
A peek into the world of Japan's electric rice cookers
It's been a while since our last post - life got in the way. A big thanks to everyone who reached...
26th Feb 2023
It's been a while since our last post - life got in the way. A big thanks to everyone who reached out!
We are now restarting our articles, though we might not always write once a week. If we don't think it's interesting, we
The Forney Flyer
MAF Liberia
A few weeks ago I was asked to pop over to Liberia (on the west coast of Africa) to help with their...
5th Sep 2021
A few weeks ago I was asked to pop over to Liberia (on the west coast of Africa) to help with their flying for six weeks. Our Liberia program has been short on pilots and very busy with flying, so of course I was happy to help!
Above is a shot of a bunch of Covid vaccines...
The Forney Flyer
From the Flight Line
Here's some random shots from the flight line. First, one of our Cessna 208B Grand Caravans taking...
10th Aug 2021
Here's some random shots from the flight line. First, one of our Cessna 208B Grand Caravans taking off from our home airstrip in Kajjansi, Uganda. This aircraft is now serving in Liberia.
I've always loved watching the sky and the weather. Last week I was out of the city and...
The Forney Flyer
Recent Stuff
A few weeks ago we (fellow MAF pilot Andrew and I) landed at Amudat airstrip for the first time in a...
3rd Jul 2021
A few weeks ago we (fellow MAF pilot Andrew and I) landed at Amudat airstrip for the first time in a very long time (below).
Over the past year and a half quite a few of the upcountry airstrips in Uganda (especially in Karamoja) deteriorated so badly that we had to stop using...
The Forney Flyer
Subsistence Living, Way Back When
Well, it's been forever since I've posted and I won't even begin to make excuses. But before I try...
13th Jun 2021
Well, it's been forever since I've posted and I won't even begin to make excuses. But before I try to start posting stuff from East Africa, I figured I'd finish that series I had started over a year ago about Way Back When we used to live just north of the Arctic Circle in...
The Forney Flyer
Northern Scenery, Way Back When...
Today I'm returning to the "Way Back When..." series, highlighting some of the surreal beauty we...
9th Nov 2020
Today I'm returning to the "Way Back When..." series, highlighting some of the surreal beauty we enjoyed in the boreal forests of the far north.
Obviously most of these photos feature frigid beauty. That's because it was cold and snowy/icy much of the year. Also, there were...
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