The New Green Trend Says Goodbye to Packaging in Zero Waste Grocery Stores

Imagine a supermarket where there is no disposable packaging. There are no shelves lined with single use boxes or plastic containers. Instead shelves hold products ready for dispensing into reusable containers.

zero waste market
“Zero waste market”, image courtesy of SFU University Communications on Flickr under license CC BY 2.0

This may seem like a far cry from the debates Americans have over banning single use bags but these zero-waste supermarkets are slowly becoming a reality. Original Unverpackt opened in Germany in 2014, selling some 350 products including produce, dry grains and dairy such as yogurt. All ready for customers to place into reusable containers. A similar zero-packaging supermarket is set to open in Copenhagen this summer and another hopes to open by the end of the year in Vancouver.

zero waste market
Photo courtesy of Original Unverpackt

Bea Johnson, author of Zero Waste Home, is one of a growing number of people around the world paying attention to the crazy amount of waste involved in our daily lives and in our food supply. Food and the packaging containers it comes in account for as much as 45 percent of the materials in US landfills. They waste energy and resources, generate greenhouse gases and contribute to the growing problem of plastics in the oceans.

zero waste market
Photo courtesy of Original Unverpackt

Recycling was once thought of as the answer, but more than 30 years after the first mandated curbside recycling in the US, the practice has yet to widely catch on in any substantial way. Americans still only recycle 51 percent of food packaging and less than 14 percent of plastic packaging.

recycling bins on curb

A zero-waste lifestyle like the one Johnson leads and zero waste supermarkets are attempting to stop the waste problem before it starts. Micro grocer In.gredients in Austin opened in 2012 and at least one more zero-waste US supermarket is in the planning stages. In general, prices at these supermarkets tend to be similar to those in a traditional market, and the fill-your-own container can prevent both food waste and save customers money as they only buy what they need.

in.gredients team
The in.gredients team | Image courtesy of in.gredients | Photo: Patrick Lane Photography

“The zero waste lifestyle does not cost more: it saves us 40 percent on our overall spending! It does not take more time: voluntary simplicity has allowed for our housework and professional work to be more efficient (what we do not own, does not need to be bought, stored, cleaned, maintained, repaired, replaced, recycled, etc.),” Johnson said.

zero waste market purchases
“Zero waste market purchases”, image courtesy of Christopher Porter on Flickr under license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Although the zero-waste lifestyle is not for everyone, the rise of zero-waste supermarkets or even adapting a zero-waste shopping style have the potential to dramatically improve the food system, the environment and maybe even our overall quality of life.

5 Things You Should Know About Beyonce’s Album, Lemonade

 

Whether you’re a self-proclaimed member of the Beyhive or just another innocent onlooker, the fact that Beyonce just released a brand new album will not have escaped your attention – at least not if you’ve so much as glanced at social media in the last week.

If you’ve heard anything deeper about the release, it’s likely to be this: The central theme is her husband Jay Z’s infidelity. There’s allegedly truth in that, and make no mistakes, Queen B is full of vengeance in the first few chapters of the album. (The visual version is laid out much like a novella.) Before now, we’ve seen her Crazy in Love and then, a little later, Drunk in Love; but this is the first time we see her truly angry in love. It’s something rare and beautiful to see her show this darkly fierce side within her music; and it’s fascinating too.

If that plot line – the one where her husband cheats on her and she repays him by immortalizing his sin in verse – were the only notable feature of the album, it would still be a masterpiece. Yet, there’s so much more you need to know about Lemonade, about what’s woven between each sure-to-be hit single and why it’s culturally important.

 

The album features an array of pure musical legends

There’s just no denying the fact that Beyonce is a legend in her own right. When you talk to people about her and her work, everyone has a firm, unyielding opinion. She divides people so that we fall into two camps: Either people recognize her as one of the world’s great contemporary artists, or they resent the fact that she’s become so popular, given that they can’t see what all the fuss is about. Those in the latter camp will do all they can to persuade you that her fame and all that surrounds her is nothing more than well-thought-out marketing – an illusion of sorts. Still, the rest of us know the truth. Like legends before her, she has weathered the storms of the music industry, grown and changed with each release and still managed to remain relevant.

So, arguably, to work with her on a project like this one, you’d have to be someone of notability – another great of the industry. Here, Beyonce has pulled together some of music’s most creative artists. From an unexpected collaboration with Jack White and writing credits from Robert Plant to her sampling the likes of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Animal Collective, this is a highly diverse album. Forget your average pop record; Beyonce has used her industry influence to entice some spectacular artists. That in itself should be reason enough to listen to it in one sitting – from start to finish.

 

The visual album will be submitted for an Emmy

For those of you still under the impression that Lemonade is merely a collection of music videos and catchy tracks, perhaps this will change your mind. Since the visual album first aired on television a little more than a week ago, it is actually eligible for Emmy consideration. Unsurprisingly, the executives at HBO have decided to submit the video release. Despite the fact that the album was available for just 27 hours, it still had its initial release on TV – and that’s all the panels needs to go on. Sadly, you can no longer catch the full visual album on the channel, but there are still options. You can buy the album on iTunes, which comes complete with all the videos, or you can sign up for TIDAL (that’s Jay Z’s music streaming service) and watch it there.

beyonce lemonade screen grab
Screen grab from LEMONADE Trailer

 

It absolutely is about the experiences of black women

Aside from the undeniably real focus on the instability of her marriage, there is yet more to this album than a mere tale of a love story gone wrong. Within the visual album, she quotes Malcolm X, stating:

“The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” 

Those who listen to and watch the album without acknowledging this fact may still enjoy it on a surface level, but it is by no means something that should be overlooked. Throughout the videos, she includes a selection of symbolic imagery to this effect: hoards of black woman coming together to hold hands and tell their individual stories to the camera. These women are here to be seen.

This is Beyonce making a statement about her history and heritage, about the struggles that many women like her face when it comes to being recognized by the greater community. It is her telling the world that this is still an issue today, even in a Western society that many of us perceive to be more equal than ever.

It’s a convincing and weighty sentiment. What’s more, it marks a change in Beyonce’s statements, a more political side of the songstress. This is the woman who just three years ago, in Vogue, replied to the question of whether she was a feminist with:

“I don’t know. That word can be very extreme. But I guess I am a modern-day feminist.”

 

“Hot Sauce” turns out to be a baseball bat

Back in January, Beyonce released the single “Formation” – the same song she performed live at the Super Bowl less than a month later. The song and performance were controversial for numerous reasons; but among all the hype, there was one lyric that stuck in all our minds: “I got hot sauce in my bag.” Wait, what? Why was Beyonce carrying hot sauce everywhere she went? Surely, she’s the kind of lady who frequents the type of restaurants where the condiments are thrown in free of charge, right? We were all a little baffled by this reference in an otherwise flawless, not to mention sensical, song.

Well, all becomes clear when you watch the second video of her album, the one that accompanies the song “Hold Up.” Clad in an outrageous yellow dress, Beyonce is seen smashing up the streets with a baseball bat. Look a little closer and you’ll see a faint inscription on the weapon: “hot sauce.”

 

The poetry between songs is just that – and it’s not by Beyonce

While the audio album is nothing short of brilliant, it lacks something that the visual album has to offer – poetry. In the film version, Beyonce punctuates the gap between each song with readings of strangely vivid poetry extracts. In fact, the words are the work of another rising star. Warsan Shire is a Somali–British poet who already has a cult-internet following. I’ll admit that before this, I had no idea who she was; I’d not so much as heard the name. I doubt I’m alone. Now, though, she will undoubtedly widen her audience further still, and so she should.

A stand-out line, which is likely to stick with you long after you’ve finished the album, plays with the idea of love – both family love and romantic love:

“My father’s arms around my mother’s neck, fruit too ripe to eat. I think of lovers as trees … growing to and from one another. Searching for the same light.”

Hearing Beyonce’s voice-over of these words – this striking imagery against the backdrop of her bizarre visuals – is utterly awe-inspiring.

Of course, you don’t have to know all of the above to find joy in Beyonce’s latest musical offering. It stands alone as a catchy R&B album with a few rare digressions into soul and even country too. It asks nothing more of you if you’ve nothing you’re willing to give. Dig a little deeper, though, and it’s a work of unlike any other in mainstream music; showcasing the most mature version of the star yet and allowing her to break violently into a new era of her career.

5 Books You’ve Always Meant to Read

As we slowly tick over into the summer months, even those with the most hectic of schedules take a moment to stop, breathe, and relax. What’s truly wonderful about this period is the fact that you can finally get around to dipping into some of those books that you’ve always meant to read. If you’re on the hunt for your next literary adventure, look no further. There’s a handful of brilliantly engaging novels that everyone simply must read at least once. From deeply touching accounts of life and death to alternate lifestyles, the tales here are ones that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

 

Down and Out in Paris and London

by George Orwell

orwell down and out in paris and london

First of all, if you’re hoping for a fast-paced adventure, this is not the book for you. In Down and Out in Paris and London, Orwell meanders through a lengthy account of his experiences of sheer poverty in both cities. The genius of Orwell was that he was never one to waste words, yet he still had the power to weave descriptively rich tapestries in the reader’s mind. Flipping through the pages is like living his reality, however bleak, moment by moment.

This may not be the most uplifting book you’ll even read; it’s packed with the struggles and sorrows of an often times lonely man, but the themes are as relevant today as they were back in 1933, when it was originally published.

 

The Dice Man

by Luke Rhinehart

rhinehart the dice man

The term ‘cult classic’ is thrown around a lot these days, but The Dice Man really is a novel deserving of that title. The plot follows Luke Rhinehart, a psychiatrist who has ultimately grown tired and weary of his mundane existence. (Note that although the book carries this character’s name, it is not an autobiography. The author has used the protagonist’s name as his pseudonym.) When he finds that nothing pleases him anymore, Luke makes a decision that would likely terrify most sane people; he will live his life by the roll of a die. Every minor and major life decision he makes from that time forward is controlled solely by chance. He gives over his free will to chaos in the hope that he will somehow find life satisfaction once again.

As you might imagine, it often makes for a rather shocking read. When you take morality and common sense out of the equation, your choices may lead to disastrous consequences, but in a way that’s the beauty of this fictional lifestyle. On opening this novel’s pages, the reader is taken on a tumultuous journey with the main character by their side, holding a set of dice and grinning manically.

 

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

by Milan Kundera

milan kundera the unbearable lightness of being

There are many themes woven seamlessly into this story of love and infidelity – politics, philosophy and morals come together to set the background for the tale. What I personally enjoyed the most about the book is that it never once leads the reader one way or another. On a surface level, you can read the story of a marriage slowly being crushed by the protagonist, Tomas’ tireless womanizing.

There’s also the striking tale of Sabina, his mistress and a painter in that order, who has the feverish desire to think and live for herself. Finally, there’s Tereza, a woman made of morals and Tomas’ wife – her story seems to be the most tragic of the three as she goes from near poverty to stability, but loses her independence along the way. The three characters symbolize archetypal personalities of the time, and you don’t have to understand the political implications to be moved by their tales.

 

The Secret History

by Donna Tartt

tart the secret history

What would inspire a group of five Classics students to premeditate and carry out the savage murder of one of their closest friends? That is the question that will be running through your mind from the moment you begin this feverishly addictive book. Tartt wastes no time gleefully mapping out the murder scene for the reader – giving away one of the central plots of the book before you’ve gotten more than a few pages into it. Just as Tarentino leads us into Pulp Fiction with the infamous diner robbery that doesn’t chronologically take place until much later in the film, Tartt leads us into an unceremonious murder that will most certainly resurface later in the novel. From that moment, the reader is hooked. This is not a game of figuring out who killed the character – we know that already – but one of why they killed them.

The narrative unfolds in the voice of one of the group – Richard Papen or Dick for short – who is new at the university. Upon arriving, he quickly makes friends with an odd, anachronistic group. It’s not clear when the novel is actually set, but most assume that it is in the 1980s, when Tartt herself attended university. Yet, despite this, the central group of characters dresses and acts as though they’ve walked off the pages of a period drama. While that in itself is bizarre, there’s much more to these individuals than meets the eye.

 

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

by Ken Kesey

kesey one flew over the cuckoo's nest

If you’re looking for a quick read that will leave a lasting, unyielding impression, this is the modern classic for you. This is yet another work which many people know only by its later film adaptation. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is an insight into the troubled mind of the narrator, Chief Bromden, who resides in an Oregon psychiatric hospital.When a new patient comes onto Bromden’s ward, he’s taken by his ferocious nature and cheeky con man-esque hyjinx. He sees this new-comer as a savior of sorts; this could be a sign of change within the ward. Soon enough, though, the Chief has to let go of this misguided notion – as he sees that even this oddly precocious man can be worn down.

Of course, if you’ve seen the movie already, you’ll know all of this, so why is the novel any different? Well, there is something about the first hand account (albeit fictional) that you read here. From the unethical practices within the institute to the stigmatization of the ‘chronic’ patients, this is a book that conveys just how far we’ve thankfully come in terms of understanding mental health.

Leiden: Travel Off the Beaten Cobblestone Path in the Netherlands

Among the list of European cities that inspire nostalgic sighs and sparkling eyes, Amsterdam ranks high. The Dutch capital is a pristine picture of most travelers’ hyperbolically beautiful notions of a European city trip that combines culture and cocktails, cycling along perfect canals under blue skies and churning windmills on the way to the risqué thrills of the Red Light District.

rapenburg bike
Photo: Jakob Gibbons

 

Except that this isn’t Amsterdam.

It’s Leiden, a smallish student city located no more than a 35-minute train ride from Amsterdam or any of the three other most populous and important cities of the Netherlands. Hidden in plain sight, Leiden goes mostly unnoticed by travelers transiting through its Central Station on their way from Amsterdam to the Hague and Rotterdam.

ouderijn
Photo: Jakob Gibbons

 

The city is smaller than it feels. Despite having a population density similar to that of New York City, the official population of this medieval man-made island and the connected neighborhoods outside the moat that surrounds it is comparable to New Haven, Connecticut, and its land area is no more expansive than that of a spacious American university campus.

haven
Photo: Jakob Gibbons

But it’s no Amsterdam: in fact, a strong part of Leiden’s local culture and history is that it’s not its posh, powerful, and more popular older sibling on the other side of the imaginary line between the provinces of North and South Holland. The city has a singular atmosphere, its own traditions, and even a trademark accent distinct from those of each of the four urban pillars that together form the densely-populated Randstad area—the Dutch equivalent of a Boston-Washington corridor—in which Leiden finds itself in the near-exact geographic middle.

Many of the discreet local cultures that comprise the mosaic of the present-day Randstad emerged during the Eighty Years War. Leiden’s own story of singularity begins dramatically on October 3rd, 1574, when the Leidenaren of the sixteenth century ousted their Spanish Habsburg imperial rulers.

hooglandsekerk
Photo: Jakob Gibbons

 

For contemporary Leidenaren this meant a valiant victory and political and cultural autonomy. For residents of and visitors to Leiden today, it means one of the best festivals on the Dutch calendar.

breestraat
Photo: Jakob Gibbons

 

Every year on the second day of October, the city’s businesses close up early; and that night, the cobblestone roads along and between the canals erupt into a city-wide festival that’s somehow both one of the country’s biggest and best and at the same time mostly unknown outside a two- or three-town radius around Leiden: Leids Ontzet, or the Relief of Leiden.

For two nights, the sacred cultural norm of “just be normal” goes out the window. The second day of Leids Ontzet features more day-drinking, more city streets packed with stands selling beer and raw herring and fries with mayonaise, and the kermis, the giant fair that sprouts up overnight next to the Central Station and for two days devours the entire northwest corner of town.

kermis CC
Photo by ChrissyJ via Flickr Creative Commons under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

As a reward for the valiant defense of Leiden that gave us the modern-day Leids Ontzet celebrations, in 1575 William of Orange, the founding father of what would become the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands, endowed Leiden with the very first university of the Netherlands.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Leiden University was an international center of philosophy and science; and in the 21st, it’s not only one of the most prestigious universities of the continent and the university where all future kings and queens of the Netherlands are educated, but also one of the biggest drivers of cosmopolitanism and the international community of Leiden.

kermis CC
Photo by kattebelletje via Flickr under CC BY-NC 2.0

Together the many international students and the equally plentiful expats form a key part of Leiden’s local culture—you’ll never take a stroll through the Wednesday and Saturday street market or through the alleys along the Rapenburg Canal without hearing the sounds of English and half a dozen other languages in the space of a few minutes. At times Leiden, with its not-quite 150,000 residents, feels more intensely international than Amsterdam or the Hague.

steeg
Photo: Jakob Gibbons

And this makes a difference for travelers. The thriving expat scene is constantly organizing events for newcomers and passers-through to dip their feet into Dutch culture and dive head-first into local culture.

dekooi
Photo: Jakob Gibbons

 

The International Student Network hosts the odd roadtrip and a traditional local hutspot dinner during Leids Ontzet, but those looking for less hand-holding or a bit of distance from the student scene normally turn to the lively local Couchsurfing scene.

Also a handy hospitality network for travelers visiting the city, Couchsurfing is a cultural exchange community, and in Leiden it’s best known for its weekly Wednesday “Language Lab” at Café de Keyzer—known lovingly by locals and internationals alike by its Dutch diminutive, t Keizertjeas well as hosting theme parties and events for everything from the Dutch Sinterklaas to an annual Halloween party that’s become a staple of the annual expat social calendar.

nieuwerijn
Photo: Jakob Gibbons

Modern Leiden is a multicultural amalgamation of its own local identity and the globalism that’s always been a fundamental part of that identity, from offering asylum to the English refugees who would later become the American pilgrims of Plymouth Rock to carving out a position as an international center of art, science, and scholarship during the Dutch Golden Age. In Leiden today, you can see that global identity literally written on the walls of the city.

arabic
Photo: Jakob Gibbons

Leiden launched its Muurgedichten or “wall poems” project in 1992, sponsoring the painting of over 100 poems in nearly as many different languages on the walls of buildings of every sort throughout the city. The result is a city whose physical bricks and mortar are covered in the many languages of global society, painting a picture as diverse as the residents who see a sliver of home when they walk past a poem in Polish, Arabic, Japanese, or English.

spaansemuurgedicht
Photo: Jakob Gibbons

Travelers looking for a seedy coffee shop full of joint-smoking tourists or a wild night of electronica-fueled partying may wish to step off their flight in Schiphol airport and directly onto the next Amsterdam-bound train. But those looking to spend a few days in a city with its own unique local culture that’s somehow both authentically Dutch and patently international should instead take the train fifteen minutes in the opposite direction, right into the heart of the Netherlands.

5 Cocktails That Will Make You Love Gin

Oh, gin. You complex, exotic, yet entirely misunderstood spirit. Gin has been the foundation of the spirit world before cocktails were fashionable. As a base, gin can be mixed with just about anything—bitters, sweeteners, citrus, you name it—as its distinct, juniper flavors mingle with, and even enhance, nearly every flavor profile you throw at it.

For the uninitiated, however, gin can be an overwhelming, daunting spirit that’s often overshadowed by other approach spirits such as vodka and tequila. And while a recent renaissance in classic cocktails has rendered a more educated drinking public, gin cocktails are still often overlooked.

To introduce you to this botanical spirit, consider five classic cocktails that will undoubtedly make you reconsider gin.

Last Word

Need an introduction to gin-based libations? The Last Word is the ideal candidate. Boasting incredible depth and complexity, this sweet and sharp drink is attractive and downright drinkable—despite its potency.

Equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice, this prohibition-era cocktail feels decidedly modern. Originally developed at the Detroit Athletic Club in the 1920s, the drink fell out of style sometime around World Ward II, but has enjoyed renewed popularity thanks to Murray Stenson, who revived the cocktail at Seattle’s Zig Zag Café.

last word drink nicole duda
The Last Word at Bar Fausto | Photo: Nicole Duda

Served straight up and boasting an enticing pale green color—partially due to the Chartreuse—the wonderfully balanced cocktail is a little sour, a little sweet, and a little pungent. In other words, it’s the perfect sipper, no matter the season or your mood.

 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 34 gin
  • 34 green Chartreuse
  • 34 maraschino liqueur
  • 34 fresh lime juice
  • Twist of lime for garnish

 

French 75

Never heard of the inimitable French 75? This just may be the cocktail you’ve missed your whole life. And you wouldn’t be in bad company, either. The drink was a favorite of the Lost Generation. 

The French 75, or simply Soixante Quinze (75) in French, was first created in 1915 at New York Bar in Paris by Harry MacElhone. Named after the 75-millimeter M1897, a vicious but compact gun favored by the French field artillery in World War I, the potent cocktail was said to resemble the feeling of being shelled with the gun when consumed.

french 75 nicole duda
French 75 at Bar Fausto | Photo: Nicole Duda

Appropriately so, this little drink packs a hell of a punch. Featuring a sturdy base of gin, a smattering of sugar and lemon, and a healthy top-off of bubbly, you’ll be surprised how well the French 75 hides its liquor. Refreshing and intoxicating, the cocktail is a classic that every bartender should know and every drinker should admire.

 

INGREDIENTS:

  • .5 oz Lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Sugar
  • 2 oz London dry gin or cognac
  • Champagne, chilled
  • Glass: Collins

 

Ramos Gin Fizz

If we want to get technical, fizzes encompass a number of sour-based cocktails that incorporate spirits, club soda, and lemon juice. And rightfully so, gin was the earliest spirit used in a fizz. Light, drinkable, and approachable, the first printed reference to “fizz” was in the 1887 edition of Jerry Thomas’ Bartender’s Guide, which included six variations. 

gin fizz kyle cooper
Ramos Gin Fizz at Union Lodge No. 1 | Photo: Kyle Cooper

One of the most iconic interpretations, the Ramos gin fizz, was born in 1888. As legend has it, bartender Henry C. Ramos of the Imperial Cabinent Saloon on Gravier Street in New Orleans called for a 12-minute mixing time, requiring the bar to staff as many as 32 employees during the carnival of 1915 just to shake the drink.

gin fizz kylecooper
Gin Fizz at Union Lodge No. 1 | Photo: Kyle Cooper

You probably won’t get the marathon shaking time these days, but the Ramos gin fizz is still a balanced silky spectacle, thanks to its egg white and cream base, and citrus and aromatic notes, courtesy of lemon, lime, and orange flower water.

 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 1/2 oz. gin
  • 1 Tbsp. simple syrup
  • 1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 oz. fresh lime juice
  • 1 fresh egg white
  • 1 oz. heavy cream
  • 3 drops orange flower water
  • 1 oz. club soda, chilled
  • Glass: highball

 

Martinez

Classic? The Martinez goes beyond that. It’s a precursor of many a classic cocktail. In fact, it’s often considered the evolutionary missing link between the Manhattan and the Martini. Booze-forward and complex, the modern Martinez drinks like a Manhattan, but forgoes the oaky, vanilla notes of whiskey for the aromatics of gin.

martinez nicole duda
The Martinez at Bar Fausto | Photo: Nicole Duda

Ever the unequivocal black sheep of the cocktail world, the Martinez has a hazy past. First mentioned in O.H. Byron’s seminal The Modern Bartender in 1884, the original drink is vaguely described as “same as Manhattan, only you substitute the gin for whisky.” Byron continues with two versions of the Manhattan—both a dry and sweet variation—and no further suggestion of the Martinez. To further complicate matters, since the 1880s, no two recipes have agreed on the ratio of gin to vermouth. And several recipes printed in the early-to-mid 20th century even call for equal parts gin and dry vermouth.

Suffice it to say, this uncertainty has created a legion of devotees. While you’re apt to get riffs on an ancient, ambiguous recipe, these days, you’ll most likely be served a fairly even amount of sweet vermouth and gin, a splash of maraschino liqueur or Curaçao, and a dash or two of bitters. You’ll be drinking a piece of history that boasts an unbeatably complex, balanced taste—no matter how you mix it.

 

INGREDIENTS (Original Recipe):

  • 30ml Old Tom Gin
  • 30ml Sweet Vermouth
  • 2 dashes of Angostura biters
  • 2 dashes of Curaçao
  • Glass: coupe

 

INGREDIENTS (Modern Recipe):

  • 2 ounces gin
  • 3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
  • 1/4 ounce maraschino liqueur
  • Dash of Angostura bitters
  • Lemon twist for garnish
  • Glass: coupe

 

Negroni

While the Negroni’s true origins are unknown, we like to go with the legend of Count Camillo Negroni, circa 1919. As the story goes, the count invented it when he asked Fosco Scarselli, bartender at Caffè Casoni in Florence, Italy, to strengthen his favorite drink, the Americano, by replacing soda with gin. While the story’s legitimacy is hotly contested, drink historian David Wondrich has confirmed the existence of Camillo Negroni; and while his status as royalty is certainly questionable, his grandfather was, indeed, a count.

negroni nicole duda
The Negroni at Bar Fausto | Photo: Nicole Duda

As with most lore, at the end of the day, the Negroni’s true origins are nothing more than cocktail conversation. But as an actual libation, it’s one hell of a conversation starter. Slightly bitter and slightly sweet, the drink consists of equal parts Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin. Deceptively easy to perfect, yet always of a dashing, deep-red hue, the Negroni is a drink that’s truly worth of royalty status.

 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 oz gin
  • 1 oz Campari
  • 1 oz sweet red vermouth
  • Glass: old fashioned

9 Regions Every Wine Lover Should Visit

Row upon row of grapes, stunning landscapes and exquisite wines, vineyards are magical places. Whether you like your vino red or white, rosé or sparkling, there’s no denying there’s nothing quite like tasting wine at the vineyard it was produced. From South Africa to California and everywhere in between, the world’s wine regions provide the backdrop for must-visit vacations for wine lovers. 

Some are destinations unto themselves where you can spend a leisurely week or weekend tasting wine and enjoying nature’s bounty. Others add to the allure of a bustling arts scene, where you can scope out a new while learning about an upcoming region. No matter what you’re looking for, if you’re a wine lover, these are the nine regions you’re going to want to visit.

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Delaware River View
NEW HOPE, PENNSYLVANIA-AUGUST 29: A scenic view of the Delaware River with the Bucks County Playhouse on the right on August 29 2015 in New Hope Pennsylvania.

Tucked in the picturesque countryside of Pennsylvania you’ll find a hidden gem. Bucks County is home to nearly 10 world-class wineries. Surrounded by rolling hills, sample everything from sparkling wines to French-style reds and then head to one of the charming small towns that make up the area, where you can window-shop the many galleries and antique boutiques and have dinner at Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm, recently ranked among the most romantic restaurants in the state, while you think about which wine you want to bring home.

Visit: Rose Bank Winery, Buckingham Valley Vineyards & Winery

 

Cape Town, South Africa

cape town vineyard
Cape Town vineyard

Most people head to South Africa for the chance to see a lion or elephant in the wild, but you can also combine a safari with a visit to the vineyards. The Winelands of Cape Town are known for producing a diverse range of wines, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Some of them have been producing wine for more than 300 years.

Visit: Vergelegen, Mullineux Family Wines, Boekenhoutskloof

 

Champagne, France

Rue des Vesle in Reims France
Reims, France, EU – June 27, 2012: Tram lines on the cobblestoned Rue des Vesle in Reims France. After many false starts with a public transport system, the city as of 2011 has a mass transit system.

France may not be the birthplace of wine, but no other country has done as much for the drink. And while all of France’s wine regions are worth a visit, Champagne is the one not to miss if you have to pick only one.  The historic province in Northeast France gave us the ultimate celebratory drink. Start in charming Reims, “the city of kings,” and learn the history of the famous bubbly before taking your pick of the many champagne houses in the region, each producing a unique version of the sparkling wine.

Visit: Tattinger and Veuve Cliquot

 

Long Island, New York

Vineyard in Long Island
Vineyard in Long Island

Sometime between strolling through the vines, sitting in the garden shaded from the dazzling sun by leafy trees and stepping into a tasting room, all with a glass of wine in hand, you realize that Long Island wineries have grown up. The still relatively young wine region is now home to nearly 60 wineries producing a diverse range of wine from 2,500 acres of vines, many of them award-winning. The best varieties tend to be Chardonnays and Cabernet Francs, but you’ll also find Rosé and sparkling wines here.

Visit: Sparkling Pointe Vineyard, Martha Clara Vineyard.

 

Mendoza, Argentina

Early morning in the late autumn: Volcano Aconcagua Cordillera a
Volcano Aconcagua Cordillera and Vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina

Mendoza is probably the most famous of South America’s wine regions, and for good reason. Nearly 1,500 wineries surround the small city, and they produce about two-thirds of Argentina’s wine. Here, red wine lovers will want to sample Malbec and Tempranillo, while white wine fans should try Chardonnay, Torrontés. And while many of the vineyards close on the weekends, consider that your chance to explore the charming city of Mendoza.

Visit: Familia Zuccardi and Alta Vista.

 

Napa Valley, California

napa valley
Napa Valley | Image via Pixabay

Arguably the most famous of US wine regions, Napa Valley is home to not just award-wining wines, but incredible spas, art galleries and restaurants. At the vineyards, you’ll find tasting rooms that evoke the nature that surrounds—grapevines, barrels and rustic space. Sign up for one of the many tours, such as Platypus Wine Tours, for plenty of tasting options and a picnic lunch among the vines. Then head into one of the towns that make up the region for a complete luxury getaway.

Visit: Beaulieu Vineyard, Cade Estate

 

Santorini, Greece

A Santorini vineyard in the sun

Whitewashed villages, stunning cliffs, deep blue waters – Santorini is one of the most beautiful islands in the world. For years, Greek wine wasn’t well known outside of Greece, and what was known wasn’t that great. A new generation of winemakers honoring the tradition of the past while using modern technology is slowly making Greek wine something to pay attention to. The Santorini region is home to heritage grapes: Assyrtiko, Roditis and Savatiano. Try the sweet Vin Santo or the Rosé blends.

Visit: Estate Argryos, Santo Wines

 

Tamar Valley, Tasmania

Tasmanian Winery
Richmond, Tasmania, Australia – January 16, 2015: Winery overlook. Australian vineyard in the area between Richmond, Cambridge and Hobart

Tasmania is wild, rugged and mysterious. In its heart is Tamar Valley, one of the world’s older emerging wine regions. Vintners have been making wine here since the 1800s, but it’s only recently that the rest of the world has started to notice. At the small vineyards tucked into the rolling hills you’ll find makers happy to talk your ear off about the history of their farms. The cool climate produces Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer.

Visit: Winter Brook Vineyard, Tamar Ridge, Providence Vineyards

3 Unique Yoga Hybrids

Are you looking for new ways to spice up your asanas? If so, it’s time to join ranks with yoga pioneers, those who are breaking down the barriers of tradition and changing the face of their preferred exercise. The results are exciting, albeit unusual, and a few of these variations may remind you of circus performers with their gravity-defying stunts and acrobatic movements.

Each fluid transition turns the yogi into a captivating dancer in all three of these variations. Don’t let that discourage you from trying them for yourself, however. Every style of yoga has stages and modifications so even the most novice can feel comfortable while stretching and testing their limits. A bit of practice and mindful concentration can go a long way, and with time you too may be able to somersault, spin and leap as if you were weightless.

Acroyoga

Yoga is the name, awareness is the game, and people are never more alert than when they are in contact with other individuals. In this variation, partners support each other through stretches and poses that promote awareness of the self and others. This exercise is all about teamwork and trust. Wanderlust captures the essence of Acroyoga in this video of two skillful yogis practicing at an elevation of 11,000 feet.


Video: Wanderlust

As you will see, each partner assists the other through a series of stretches and poses that build strength, flexibility, deep breathing and mindfulness, which are all common benefits of yoga. The mover, otherwise known as the Base, guides the one being moved, known as the Flyer. The Base must focus on aligning his/her arms and legs with their torso, stacking the bones in preparation of the Flyer’s weight. The Flyer befriends gravity as he/she inverts, bends and rolls through the air, relying on the Base’s feet and hands for support. In some cases, especially when learning Acroyoga, a spotter is present. Their task is to watch over the Base and Flyer and step in if assistance is necessary. After each session, the Flyer treats the Base to Thai Massage, an ancient healing activity.

acroyoga

This is a wonderful exercise for anyone who enjoys gymnastics or acrobatics. It also suits playful personalities, and can be a great bonding experience for yoga-loving couples.

Aerial Yoga

No mat, no problem. A silk trapeze is all you need as you defy gravity and “fly” through the air. Aerial or anti-gravity yoga is a combination of Pilates, asanas, acrobatics and dance. The yogi will flow through a series of positions while sitting on, or hanging from, a hammock that has been suspended from the ceiling to a height based on the yogi’s preference (typically between the waist and shoulders).

Style varies between each school of aerial yoga. Some use the hammocks as tools to modify and dramatize routine yoga sequences. Others delve deeper into the acrobatics side.

It is believed that inverting and hanging from a hammock can lengthen the spine and provide additional assistance in toning muscles. However, the health benefits have yet to be explored, as this style only became popular over the last decade. The hammock may also be used as a prop and help some find their centers as they bend and stretch, activities that may be difficult on a mat.


Video: Kyle Hoffman

Budokon Yoga

If you’ve ever watched Tai Chi, you have an idea of the fluidity observed in Budokon yoga. This is a blend of three ancient traditions: yoga, martial arts, and meditation. Unlike many modern versions of traditional yoga, these poses are not held in place. Instead, the postures are waves, flowing and ebbing from each transition to the next. Budokon has two main elements, the yoga sun salutations (which warms up the body) followed by a martial arts-inspired routine. Movements are synchronized with breath, in true vinyasa fashion.


Video: Wanderlust

Kicks, punches, and jumps all make up the martial arts portion of this exercise, which will spice up your experience and get the blood flowing in ways new to yogis. Transitions from one posture to the next are still smooth, especially when compared to typical martial arts, and movements are uninterrupted.

Eight Unstoppable Women Writers Balancing Work and Family

Much controversy and conversation still centers around the idea of women “having it all”. The thought of a family and successful career can be overwhelming to some, and downright unattainable to others, but our culture is dripping with women who can, indeed, balance work and family. Women writers, specifically, need only turn to their tribe to see how they might balance their family lives and their calling to write.

Cheryl Strayed

TEDxConcordiaUPortland2012 - Cheryl Strayed
Photo: Armosa Studios, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

She’s the mother of two and author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller, Wild, which was adapted into a feature film. She believes the positive relationship a woman has with her family depends on her pursuing her dreams rather than giving them up. While her children were young, she left them for a two-week writer’s retreat to finish Wild. She says it was one of the hardest—and most necessary—things she’d ever had to do.

“You will learn a lot about yourself if you stretch in the direction of goodness, of bigness, of kindness, of forgiveness, of emotional bravery. Be a warrior for love.” –Cheryl Strayed

 

Sylvia Day

Quick pre-party in the hotel 🙂 #MusiCaresPOTY #bobdylan #thegrammys #redwine

A photo posted by Sylvia Day (@sylvia_day) on


She’s a #1 best-selling author in 28 countries and just this April, she released the fifth and final novel in her popular Crossfire series. She’s considered one of the world’s most widely read writers, which is a feat in itself. Her accolades include winning Amazon’s Best of the Year Award and nomination for the Goodreads Choice Award.Day has two children, and she’s published over 20 novels while raising them. As if writing and raising kids isn’t enough, she’s also a workshop presenter, speaker and panelist at literary events across the country.

“I’ve learned to allow myself the room to fall in love with what I’m writing.” –Sylvia Day

 

Edwidge Danticat

edwidge danticat
By David Shankbone – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

This Haitian-American best-selling writer’s work centers on themes like the mother/daughter relationship, the relationship to the self and relationship to place. She’s a proponent of social activism, makes time for interviews and appearances, and she continues to write, all while raising two daughters in Miami.

“Create dangerously, for people who read dangerously. … Writing, knowing in part that no matter how trivial your words may seem, someday, somewhere, someone may risk his or her life to read them.” – Edwidge Danticat

 

J.K. Rowling

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Photo: Daniel Ogren, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

She created one of the world’s most beloved characters, Harry Potter. Rowling was teaching English in Portugal when the idea for the best-selling series came to her. In the meantime, she’d married and had a baby-girl. After her divorce, she lived in poverty in England, but she continued to write what would become one of the most successful series to date.

‘We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.” –J.K. Rowling

 

A.S. Byatt

A.S. Byatt
Photo by Martin Figura, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

She’s been named one of Britain’s greatest writers and won the prestigious Booker Prize. She did it all while raising four children (two from her first marriage and two from her second marriage). She believes that women, regardless of whether or not they have a family, must create if that’s what they are called to do.

“I think of my writing simply in terms of pleasure. It’s the most important think in my life– making things. Much as I love my husband and my children, I love them only because I am the person who makes things.” –A.S. Byatt

 

Mary Karr

She’s the best-selling author of three memoirs, one of which is considered among the best memoirs ever written. Her writing delves deep into the pits of her past struggles with alcoholism. Now, over 20 years sober, she’s written a mountain of poetry in addition to her memoirs, she teaches creative writing on the university level, and she’s raised a child.

“Sure the world breeds monsters, but kindness grows just as wild…” –Mary Karr

 

Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison (1)
Photo: Angela RadulescuCC BY-SA 2.0


She’s regarded as one of the best novelists of the 21st Century, she’s won a Pulitzer Prize and she gave a voice to diversity in literature. Morrison rose early to write her novels while her sons slept. At the time, she also served as an editor at Random House, bringing other diverse writers to the world.

“If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it.” –Toni Morrison

 

Emily Giffin

Her best-selling chick-lit novels have been made into movies, served as the subjects of many a book club and graced the New York Times bestseller list time and again. Giffin, a former lawyer, is still going strong, writing new novels while raising twin boys, Edward and George, and her daughter, Harriet.

“Guilt is a supreme waste of time and energy.” –Emily Giffin

What’s So Great About a Mediterranean Diet?

By now, everyone has heard of the heart-healthy and cancer-fighting benefits of antioxidant-rich EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil). Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts have been shown to reduce mood disorders like depression and anxiety. We accept that leafy greens are super foods and that white bread is the enemy. Buzz of the “Mediterranean diet” may have even hovered around our heads at one time or two (or twenty). We have heard the hype, but have we absorbed the message?

greece santorini

It is no secret that the Mediterranean countries have cultivated one of the healthiest diets in the world. In 2015, six of these nations were listed among the 20 healthiest in the world, with Italy, Spain, France and Greece dominating most lists from year to year. Lower rates of cardiovascular diseases, type-2 diabetes, obesity, and stroke have been observed in the communities that stick to this regimen on a daily basis.

The food is also among the most delectable on our palates. Dining out tops our lists of “things to do” while traveling to this region and we tackle the task with ardor. Pizza and pasta in Italy? Absolutely. Paella in Spain? Bring it on!

Adopting this lifestyle can be one of the healthiest changes to our routine. These tips will jump start your way to enjoying clean, Mediterranean cuisine, daily.

Design your meals around the Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid

mediterannean diet

A food pyramid is a helpful device used to break down daily, weekly and monthly dietary requirements. The best part about the Mediterranean Food Pyramid is that nothing is left behind.

Fruits, vegetables, legumes and a choice of complex carbohydrates comprise the spine that holds the rest of the diet together. Each of these food groups should be consumed with every meal.

Fish, poultry, and eggs are viewed as supplementary choices, enjoyed 2-3 times per week. Baked sweets can be relished a few times per week as well.

Red meats are treated as special treats, to be saved for special occasions, including holidays.

Moderate red wine consumption also makes up part of this lifestyle and Mediterranean folks can be true connoisseurs. The MVP here is resveratrol, an antioxidant linked to lowering bad cholesterol, raising good cholesterol and preventing blood clots. A maximum of one to two glasses per day is recommended for the average person, and people with certain health concerns are cautioned against alcohol consumption in general.

mediterranean platter

Must-Try Recipe: The Mediterranean Platter

Cherry tomatoes

Cucumbers

Carrots (and other vegetables you prefer)

Olives

Whole wheat bread

Cheese (cubed)

Hummus

Tzatziki dip

How: Variety surely is the spice of life. It is also the keystone to Mediterranean cuisine. For lunch, group a variety of vegetables (cherry tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, and carrots, for example), olives, small slices of whole wheat bread and cubes of your favorite cheese in individual piles around a dish. In the middle, add heaping spoonfuls of hummus, tzatziki (greek yogurt-based dip) and couscous. Not only is this meal easy and delicious, but it covers many major food groups and will introduce the best flavors from around the Mediterranean Sea into one dish.

 

Think of the Mediterranean Diet as less of a diet and more of a lifestyle

The word diet is plagued with negative undertones. It represents the types of food that we routinely eat, but also signifies curbing oneself to small amounts or special kinds of food. But take a look at the Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid (above); nothing is off limits and everything is recognizable (and enjoyable).

The Mediterranean cultures love their food so much that meals are savored. Work-time lunch breaks last between 1-2 hours and social gatherings nearly always include a meal.

baklava
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

They are culinary masterminds behind delectables like gelato, croissants, flan, and baklava. The trick is to eat healthful, smaller portions often and reserve special treats for 2-3 times per week. By no means do you have to cut out your favorite snacks; just space them out!

Carbohydrates and fats are staples, and choosing the healthiest options is key. Olive oil is a chart topper, followed by cheese and yogurt. Shavings of Feta, Ricotta, Parmesan and Provolone will add protein, calcium and a dash of flavor to your meals. Bread and pasta can be enjoyed regularly, especially the whole grain options, and carbohydrates pair well with fiber to slow sugar absorption, preventing spikes in our bloodstream and energy levels.

olive oil
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

The Mediterranean diet is also environmentally friendly. Take a second glance at your trusty food pyramid. This cuisine is heavy in plant-based ingredients. Not only is it life sustaining, but it is environmentally sustaining as well!

Must-Try Recipe: Paella

This isn’t the easiest recipe to master, but one that is well-worth the effort. This Spanish dish has everything that makes the Mediterranean diet unique, from an aromatic blend of herbs and spices to a rich marriage of surf and turf, cooked vegetables, and choice of grain. One of my favorite substitutions is couscous in place of rice, for a North African/Spanish hybrid. I recommend looking up different versions and choosing the one that sings to your soul.

 

Recipes can be simple yet effective

grilled salmon and vegetables

Eating healthy has never looked so good or been this easy. The high quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables keep the daily routines simple, and clean cooking methods can reduce your time slaving over a hot stove. Grocery store runs will also decrease when you base the majority of your shopping list to the perimeter of the store (typical areas for produce, legumes, fresh fish, meat, and dairy).

 

Must-Try Recipe: Grilled Salmon with a side salad

Chopped basil

Chopped parsley

Minced garlic

Lemon juice

Salmon fillets

Side salad:

Tomatoes

Cucumbers

Crumbled cheese

Sunflower seeds

Balsamic Vinegar and EVOO

How: For a quick fix, mix 3 parts of chopped basil with 1 part of chopped parsley. Add a fraction of minced garlic (1-2 cloves will suffice for two salmon fillets) and enough lemon juice to soak the spices. Rub this mixture over your salmon and grill to perfection.

A simple side salad of finely chopped tomatoes and cucumbers, basil, crumbled cheese of your choice, toasted sunflower seeds and a balsamic vinegar/EVOO dressing are the perfect accompaniment.

 

Herbs and spices emphasize flavor, not salt

Turkish breakfast of the beach of MarmarisDid you know that cinnamon, parsley, chile pepper and sage are among the healthiest spices in the world? They are also prominent in the Mediterranean Diet. These herbs and spices have been reported to improve brain activity, act as antioxidants and boost metabolism.

Must-Try Recipe: Mediterranean Spice Mix

*The quantities will vary depending on your personal preference. I add a higher proportion of oregano since it’s one of my favorite dried herbs.

How: Simply combine equal parts of dried parsley, basil, rosemary and garlic powder with double the amount of dried oregano. Some recipes also call for half a part of cinnamon in the mix (cinnamon is a staple in Greek cuisine). That’s all that there is to it! Store this mixture in an airtight container. A Mediterranean Spice Mix can be sprinkled over chicken, turkey and fish, acting as a seasoning and reducing the need for salt from many of your meals.

Forget Europe: The Latin American Cities Stealing the Spotlight in Social Progress

 

 

 

The world cities on the cutting edge of innovation and social progress aren’t where you think.

When we think of the world’s most progressive cities, we often imagine the same destinations that form the pillars of the traditional travel industry: Amsterdam’s sexual liberation, Berlin’s art-obsessed hipsterdom, and London’s big city anything-goes tolerance are synonymous in many travelers’ minds with progress and liberation.

But in the last decade, the forefronts of many fights for freedom and dignity have shifted to Latin America.

In the last two decades, the region as a whole has experienced a renaissance of people’s movements and leftist economic thought known as the Pink Tide, a period in which more than 50 million Latin Americans have risen out of poverty. With an increasingly stronger middle class able to provide for its own basic needs and hold democratic governments accountable, the fight of the new Latin American middle class is in many ways shifting to the front of human rights and dignity.

While the region as a whole reinvents itself, four cities in particular stand out as beacons of social progress in this traditionally conservative and unequal part of the world.

 

Mexico City: Leading Latin America in LGBT Rights

The ushering in of marriage equality in Mexico’s Distrito Federal in 2009 was one of the first signs of the progressive wave sweeping across the Americas. In a world where over 70 countries still punish homosexuality as a criminal offense, the massive Mexican capital became the region’s first city to legalize its LGBT-friendly attitude.

Today Mexico City retains bragging rights to one of the most vibrant gay neighborhoods from Tijuana to Tierra del Fuego in its Zona Rosa, a downtown neighborhood bursting with drag shows, dance clubs, and Korean karaoke any night of the week. But the most progressive thing about Mexico City is its tolerant and relatively LGBT-positive atmosphere that allows residents of and visitors to the city to walk down most streets holding the hand of whomever they choose.

 

Santiago: Social Investment through Startup Culture

While so many of its neighbors have struggled through economic uncertainty and instability, Chile has quietly built itself up into one of the success stories of the Americas. The country with one of the highest Human Development Indexes in the region, Chile continues to invest in its human capital and knowledge economy, and nowhere is that more evident than in its capital city.

Santiago Skyline and Park
View of the skyline of Santiago, Chile

Santiago’s now-famous Startup Chile incubator once looked like another dime-a-dozen developing country startup program, and now six years after its launch is held up as a model for creating innovation hubs in the Global South. The program brings aspiring entrepreneurs from within Chile and across the world to Santiago, where they’re given an interest-free startup loan as well as entrepreneurial mentoring and support. This is all part of the Chilean government’s plan to position Santiago as the “entrepreneurship hub of Latin America,” furthering Chile’s development and ability to offer better education, healthcare, and economic opportunity to its people.

 

Montevideo: Bringing Peace to the War on Drugs

In 2012, Uruguay shocked the world when it became the first country to ever completely legalize the growth, sale, and consumption of cannabis. In an era when the War on Drugs has shredded the social fabric of countries like Mexico and Colombia, the Uruguayan government has followed through on its popular mandate to combat drug crime by legalizing and regulating marijuana.

Port Market - Mercado del puerto - Montevideo Uruguay
Montevideo, Uruguay – December 15, 2012: A view of Mercado del Puerto in the left, the famous place in Montevideo to eat local meat cuts, Montevideo, Uruguay.

The decision has received both praise and criticism in the local and international press: its impact on organized crime and drug use in the country has been mixed, but the policy also provides promising opportunities for medical and psychological research impossible elsewhere. The government looks at it as a possible future revenue source, but for now the state-run marijuana industry’s main goal is to undercut the influence of the black market and organized crime in Uruguay, while at the same time providing an inspiring Latin American model for a post-drug war society.

 

Medellín: Innovating through Social Urbanism

From 1990s international murder capital to innovation capital of the world in 2014, Medellín’s program of urbanismo social, social urbanism, has made the city a model for urban progress that’s turned it not only into a model case study of Latin American urban planning, but also a tourism and expat hotspot.

Medellin Metro Cable Cars
MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA – MARCH 8: Metrocable cars arriving at a station in Medellin, Colombia on March 8, 2014. Metrocable is the first gondola lift system in the world dedicated to public transportation.

By focusing first on the most resource-poor and opportunity-desperate parts of the city, Medellín’s social urbanism approach jump-starts social change by beginning with drastic and spectacular innovations in the places where they can make the biggest differences. The best evidence of this approach is the ultra-modern cable cars and outdoor escalator that have been constructed and integrated into the city’s modern metro system to connect isolated hillside shantytowns to the economic opportunities of the city center. Alongside these public transit investments, the impressive parques-biblioteca, “library-parks,” that serve as community and education centers in Medellín’s poorest neighborhoods make a spectacular statement about the city’s approach to progress.

biblioteca belen
Parque Biblioteca Belén, a neighborhood ‘library park’ in Medellín, featuring community workshop spaces, technology skills instruction, music classes for children, and other services designed to keep youths out of gangs and adults out of unemployment. Photo by Jakob Gibbons.
parque explora
Parque Explora, a giant community center-educational complex hybrid built onto the side of the metro station in one of the poorer neighborhoods of the city’s northeast. Photo via Wikimedia Commons under CC0

It’s true that many of the cities where human rights and civil liberties are best translated into opportunities for their citizens are found in Europe and the Global North, but today, our battles for social progress have gone entirely global. Entire regions are shifting their own narratives, shaking off images of violence and narcotrafficking that no longer tell the true story of day-to-day life in Latin America.

Now is the time to go and experience the cultural transformations guiding Latin America into the future, to say you witnessed peace in Colombia, the completion of Chile’s successful transition to democracy, the fight for safety and rule of law in Mexico, and countless other people’s movements moving and shaking the region.

A lifestyle magazine inspired by author Sylvia Day