All posts by Heather Dockray

Heather Dockray is a writer-storyteller-comedian living in Brooklyn, NY. She regularly contributes to Uproxx and GOOD, and has recently appeared in VICE, Splitsider, Narratively, Brooklyn Based, Entertainment Weekly, Jezebel, and Gawker. As a storyteller, Heather has performed stories at Mass MOCA and BRIC Arts Media House.

How to Make a Gourmet, Eco-Friendly Feast

By this point in history, you’ve probably learned how to make a nutritious, healthy dinner. Start off with some local, healthy, fresh greens, feature a small portion of organic, locally produced, lean meat, and then stuff an enormous pizza in your freezer for later when you’re sad and starving. Or maybe just—make those greens taste great.

You might know how to make joyless vitamins taste like high-class fat, but making a meal that’s actually good for the environment is a whole other feat altogether. One of the biggest polluters in America isn’t your local coal plant or highway factory—it’s your neighborhood farm, pumping out more greenhouse gases than any other industry in the country. And most of those gases come from processing meat: close to eight tons, or 22 percent of total emissions, originate in meat alone. Eating one burger is environmentally equivalent to driving a 3,000 pound car 10 miles. Fantastic.

Want to make a meal that not only tastes delicious, but is actually healthy both for you and the world around you? Here’s what we recommend.

 

Shop at the right places.

Shopping organically doesn’t matter as much as shopping locally. Ideally, you’d be able to satisfy both needs, but organic foods sometimes come from tens of thousands of miles away: exacting a huge price in terms of gas emissions. Check your local farmer’s market, consider joining a CSA, (Community Supported Agriculture), and if you only have access to a large-scale supermarket, take a look and see where your produce is coming from. Don’t be afraid to place pressure on your local grocery—consumers have huge voting power.

 

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Unless it came from down the block, nix your meats.

As discussed above, it’s next to impossible, given the size and scale of our factory farms, to produce meat that’s not only free of disease, but free of externalities. Grass-fed beef produces the least amount of greenhouse gas, but that meat often travels from afar.  Your safest best is to probably skip the meats in favor of some green, or even carbohydrate-y, deliciousness.

 

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Buy in season.

It’s January, you live in New York, and you feel a big hankering for kiwi. Chances are that kiwi probably travelled tens of thousands of miles in a gas-guzzling airplane just to get to your mostly indifferent stomach. Find fruits and vegetables that match the season and the salad and maybe the dishware.

 

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Go raw.

Energy that would have otherwise been spent on cooking carrots can now be spent on eating them. Everybody wins. Except for the carrot.

 

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Make a lot of it.

Over 40 percent, or, approximately $165 billion dollars worth of food in America is never eaten, at an outrageously huge cost to the environment. Simplest solution? Double the amount you make and then—using all of your inner strength—eat it.

 

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Grow it in your backyard.

The closest grocery store might be miles away, but the closest farm could be your grassy backyard. Cut down on travel time and eat shockingly local, all within striking distance of your bed. Or, if you live in a metropolitan area and have more of a “fire escape” backyard, consider joining your local community garden (or nagging a community garden friend).

 

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The best trick of all? Make something you won’t hate.

If there’s one thing we can learn from barely verbal toddlers, it’s that if our bodies don’t like something—they will reject it. The more food we waste by not eating (or by putting it in the freezer in cute little bags and “pretending to eat later”), the greater the cost to our environment. Sometimes, the secret to eating right is summoning all your strength, mustering all your courage, and just eating what you like.

 

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Meet the Most Badass Moms of America

Say the word “mom” and you’ll probably—depending how much terrible television you grew up with—think one of the following: khaki pants, roomy jeans, school lunches, air conditioned cars, supermarket u-hauls, coupon collections. Of course, these are all miserable stereotypes, but they exert real influence, conscious and unconscious, on the American imagination. The media has mothered our vision of mothering.

That’s why it’s important to highlight the moms of this world that aren’t just challenging exhausted stereotypes, but doing real, hardcore, social justice work in their communities and families. Activism typically (in our cultural imagination) belongs to boys and their fathers—yet it’s often women who serve on the frontlines.

Here’s a look at some of the most badass moms in America doing some of the hardest work in America—compassion, with a vengeance.

 

1. The Mothers Against Senseless Killings

Every summer, hundreds of young kids in Chicago die due to gun violence. While the problem has lessened somewhat in recent years, it’s a brutal reality for many of the youth living in the Englewood neighborhood. So a group of moms known as MASK (Mothers Against Senseless Killings) recently decided to start patrolling the Chicago city streets, hoping to keep their kids safe from violence. Founded by Englewood resident Tamar Manasseh, moms hit the streets every day from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m, checking in with neighborhood kids, cooking hot dogs and hamburgers, and looking for potential trouble. The police alone have been unable to keep the neighborhood safe, so these moms stepped in. “I’m a mom who hasn’t lost her kids, and I don’t want to,” Manasseh told ABC7.

 

2. Michelle Obama

First lady, supermom, and outrageously instrumental in the (now successful) fight against American obesity. Is there anything Michelle Obama can, or has done, wrong? Short answer: no.

 

3. Tina Fey

Not only is she seen as one the “funniest women alive in America,” Tina Fey is also a proud mom of kids she’s not too private to make fun of. She’s making huge inroads for women in public life and women in comedy, and continues to be jaw-droppingly successful.

 

4. Shonda Rhimes

Producer, director, writer, and badass mom Shonda Rhimes was listed as one of TIME Magazine’s “100 People Who Shaped The World” in 2014. Not only does Shonda successfully manage multiple jobs, multiple programs (Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice) and three daughters, she was the mastermind behind Scandal, rated the most “highly addictive show on television” by pretty much everyone who saw it.

 

5. Vanessa Howard

Vanessa Howard is a mom, and a formerly homeless woman. For her, taking control of her fashion and body was critical to moving out of homelessness. That’s why she decided to subsidize a free spa day for other mothers and their children, hoping that the free makeovers will give women confidence. “I was once not having a place to stay with children and having no hope and having no dignity and so that’s what’s inspired me,” Howard said.

 

6. Jenny Morretter

Jenny Morretter’s daughter, Mackenzie, struggles with Sotos syndrome, a disorder that makes it difficult for her to build relationships. When Morretter recently decided to throw her daughter a 10th birthday party, no one responded to her invite. Morretter was heartbroken, but instead of falling into despair, she decided to take action. She went on Facebook and shared Mackenzie’s story with a few select groups, hoping to get more responses. After posting her stories, hundreds of people not only replied, but showed up to Mackenzie’s party, rewarding a 10-year-girl with a brand-new community of friends.

 

7. Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America

31 Americans die every day at the hands of a gun, and 55 kill themselves with a firearm. Over one in three Americans know someone who has been shot. To help stop the epidemic of violence, a group of mothers got together to organize against gun violence by hitting the phones and slamming the streets. Some like to say that “these women are the NRA’s worst nightmare.”

 

8. Alice Dreger

By now, it’s clear that for many teenagers, abstinence-only education simply doesn’t work. That’s why Alice Dreger, mother of a son in an abstinence-only sex class, decided to take action. Dreger sat in on her son’s class and chose to live-tweet it, posting such juicy nuggets as, “You’ll find a good girl. If you find one that says “No,” that’s the one you want. HE ACTUALLY JUST SAID THAT.”

Dreger, a writer already, obviously, and deservedly, went viral.

 

America’s Top 9 Best Cities to Travel to—If You Love Snacks

Let’s say you identify as a “foodie” and you want to find the world’s best place to brunch. The Internet is built for people like you: the people who will cross streets, cities and mountains to locate the highest ranking “eggs benedict and a side salad.” A quick Google search will return hundreds of results for the best cities to brunch, lunch and dine in. You have a need, and somewhere, a listicle has an answer.

But not all of us identify as “meal people:” some of us live our lives perfectly content just to eat snacks. Despite what the “meal majority” says, many snacks are quite nutritious, and even the medical community has recently come in out in favor of a snack-based society. Snacks taste good, they feel good and they often “cost good” too. Yet it can be hard to find out what cities to travel to (and eat in) if you identify as a snacker. The Internet doesn’t have easy answers. That’s why we—after an in-depth investigation and extensive amounts of round-the-clock-snacking—decided to identify and share the best 9 cities to travel to—if you love snacks (which obviously, you do).

 

1. Philadelphia, PA

It’s home to some of America’s most beloved landmarks, including The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the world’s best pretzel stall—Miller’s Twist. For people who grew up with Rold Golds and Bachmann’s, pretzels bring up salty, dry, underwhelming memories. But Miller’s Twists, located in Reading Terminal’s glorious food market, reinvents the often abused snack. Slightly sweet, lightly buttered and just soft enough, Miller’s Twists are a must-eat-NOW in a must-see-soon city.

 

#NationalHotDogDay? Don’t mind if we do! #MillersTwist #PretzelDog #LoveRTM

A photo posted by Reading Terminal Market (@rdgterminalmkt) on

   

2. Madison, WI

Madison might have a fascinating and storied history, but all of their accomplishments pale in comparison to their chief regional export: cheese curds. Head down to The Old Fashioned to eat the city’s best soft-yet-stable, milky-yet-moist, cheesy pieces of heaven. Is it good for you? Irrelevant. It’s a cheese curd, and it is wonderful.    

3. Brooklyn, NY

Called the “snack capital” by snack-enthusiasts everywhere (this writer), there are so many reasons to head to Brooklyn for snacks—chief among them, donuts. While the city is home to many donut specialists, locals recommend Clinton Hill’s Dough, known for its strange and wild variety of flavors: hibiscus, chocolate salted, Earl Grey. Dough donuts are softer than traditional donuts, which makes eating them feel like you’re eating a really delicious pillow.        

4. St. Louis, MO

Bacon might have the best reputation, but people who care about pork know the best place to find it is in prosciutto. St. Louis is home to Volpi, a brand you might be able to find in your fancy supermarket, but originates in this bustling city. Head down to Volpi for freshly sliced slabs of joy, and the never-to-be-missed opportunity for free samples.

5. Chicago, IL

Chicago might be the restaurant capital of the Midwest, but their biggest culinary delicacy is a little more quotidien: popcorn. Sure, you might be able to find branches of Garrett Popcorn in other cities, but Chicago is home to the original legendary popper and flavors such as: Cashew CaramelCrisp, Macadamia CaramelCrisp, and the one and only—plain.

 

My favourite popcorn from where it originated.. straight outta Chicago!

A photo posted by YeeWen Tan (@yeewenscreams) on

   

6. Palo Alto, CA

Sometime in the last decade, hummus simply went viral in the United States. And while most supermarket shoppers are familiar with decent alternatives Sabra and Tribe, some people want and deserve the best. Oren’s Hummus Shop in Palo Alto, California, imports many of their organic ingredients from Israel, and their time and attention shows up in both their silky smooth hummus and five-star Yelp results.    

7. Hyannis, MA

Forget the stunning beaches and legendary families that travel here every summer: let’s talk chips. You might have seen or eaten Cape Cod Chips if you have access to a local Whole Foods or up-and-coming bodega. But seriously—why buy one bag when you can eat free ones in a factory, without shame, without judgment? Back in the 80’s, Cape Cod Chips–crispy, salty, and not full of poison—brought “kettle chips” into the mainstream.        

8. Las Cruces, NM

Las Cruces might have been rated one of the most boring places to live in America, but who cares: they’ve got nachos. Specifically, nachos covered with smoky-sweet brisket over at the infamous El Patron. That, combined with guacamole, salsa, cheese and homemade tortillas, will make all of your subsequent health problems seem totally worth it.

9. Portland, OR

No comprehensive snack list would be complete without Portland, home to some of America’s best healthy snacks, and yes—chicken wings. While there’s a bevy of socially conscious wing joints to choose from, we recommend Pok Pok, a Thai eatery with awesome, garlicky, fish-saucy wings and absolutely reasonable prices. Win-win, wing-wing.

10 of the World’s Most Jaw-dropping Parking Spots

Let’s be honest: most of us don’t associate the phrase “natural beauty” with the words “parking spot.” Still, for many car-bound travellers, especially those in metropolitan areas, quality parking spots are a rare and precious treasure. Not all parking spots are created equal: some are simply more spacious than others, while still others are better located, and a few are even—as strange as it is to say—beautiful.

Parking spots might be one of the most (understandably) neglected parts of our visual culture. At their root, most parking spots are simple open rectangles: modular, white, and unforgivingly bland. But their very banality is what makes the exceptions that much more interesting. And some parking spots have actually been impeccably designed, while others are located atop stunning vistas or open plateaus. Here’s a look at 10 of the most stunning parking spots in the world.

1. Los Angeles, CA

The Musem of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Image via MOCA Facebook Page

Los Angeles: city of endless sun, brilliant cinema, and … parking spots. Tens of thousands of them, to be precise, in a city that continues to be defined by the automobile. While Los Angeles has taken a lot of (well-deserved) flack for its reliance on private transportation, artists have done their best to reclaim the city’s wide open cement-scape. Take, for example, this work, designed by OBEY Giant and infamous street artist, Shepard Fairey. While the surrounding settings might seem pretty prosaic, this violently energetic mural was painted on the walls of a library parking garage!

2. Kansas City, Missouri

flickr Tim Samoff Kansas Library parking spot
Photo by: flickr/Tim Samoff under license CC BY-ND 2.0

In another outrageous (and strange) win for libraries, Kansas City decided to dress up their parking garage by making it look like a Barnes and Noble classics bookshelf. Titles range from “Their Eyes Were Watching God” to “The Invisible Man” to the middle-school favorite (or not-favorite) “Huck Finn.” The concept is brilliant, the execution perfection, and the parking spots: infinitely plentiful.

3. Santa Monica, California

flickr TNS Sofres Santa Monica Parking
Photo by: flickr/TNS Sofres under license CC BY 2.0

Lovingly named the “Santa Monica Civic Center Parking Structure,” this garage has to be one of the only parking garages in the world with five-star reviews (also: Who is spending the time to write free parking garage reviews for Yelp?). Solar panels power this 300,000 square foot structure, and stunning/energy-efficient LED lights light the entire building. This parking garage was the first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) garage in California.

4. Munich, Germany

BMW Welt

Feel like traveling halfway across the world to see a parking garage? Of course you don’t, but if you’re in Munich, Germany, head over to the awesome BMW Museum, which details the history of the beloved luxury automobile. Even if you don’t like learning about cars, you can’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime parking experience (okay, you can, but—look how stunning!)

5. Detroit, Michigan

flickr TNS Sofres Michigan Theater
Photo by: flickr/TNS Sofres under license CC BY 2.0

Designed in a jaw-dropping French Renaissance style in 1925, The Michigan Theater could once hold up to 4,025 people in its audience. To accommodate all those people, the theater needed not only wait staff and clean bathrooms, but one hell of a parking garage. The theater has since closed and the parking garage fallen into disrepair, but remnants of its original glory remain.

6. Wolfsburg, Germany

flickr Matthias Hensel Autostadt
Photo by: flickr/Matthias Hensel under license CC BY-ND 2.0

Germany: Home to some of the world’s best music, art, and parking garages. Known as Autostadt, this 200 foot parking garage is used exclusively to park Volkswagon cars. The vibrant, white, psychedelic design makes Autostadt feel like it was pulled out an 80’s sci-fi movie: refreshingly modern, creatively bombastic, and deeply, strangely, real.

7. Seoul, South Korea

South-eastern view (by photographer Sun Namgoong)
Photo by: Sun Namgoong/South eastern view Herma Parking Building

You know what they say about South Korea: you come for the culture, you stay for the parking garages. Or maybe they don’t say that, but who cares—the Herma Parking Building of Seoul, South Korea has to be one of the city’s finest pieces of architecture, period. Designed by JOHO Architecture, the Herma building combines a futuristic minimalism with over 600 polycarbonate and 900 stainless steel panels. Perfection.

8. Chicago, Illinois

Marina City
Photo by: O Palsson [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Chicago might be one of the most historic cities in the country, but all of their landmarks simply pale in comparison to their parking garages. At the top of everyone’s list is the Marina City parking garage, an enormous, contemporary, cylindrical, structure that bravely looks out over Lake Michigan.

9. Miami, Florida

1111 Lincoln Road Miami Fl
Photo by: flickr/Forgimind Archimedia under license CC BY 2.0

Designed by famous Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, this stunning parking garage sits atop Miami Beach, offering some of the city’s best views. Known as 1111 Lincoln Road, the building captures the essence of “tropical modernism” with incredible urban-suburban convenience.

10. Birmingham, United Kingdom

Millennium point car park
Photo by: flickr/Tony Hisgett under license CC BY 2.0

Like many cities in England’s Midlands, Birmingham was once an up-and-coming factory town. And while some of that industry might have faded out, Birmingham decided to stay firmly in the present—with a parking garage. Designed by Mark Sloane of Acivico, Millennium Point glows blue at night, signaling unapologetic urbanity, postmodernity, and yes, one hell of a parking spot.