Category: News

If it seems like your entire social media feed over the summer was just a stream of pics of your friends in Spain’s Balearic Islands (think: partying in Ibiza or lounging sexily on Mallorca’s beaches), then join the club. Both Ibitza and Mallorca are fully on the “Cool Kid of Instagram” summer travel circuit. Which is fun for many but also… kinda turned me off a tad. So when I heard about the lesser-known island of Menorca — often called “Mallorca’s little sister” — I booked a flight straightaway.

Not only did I discover that Menorca lis indeed ess crowded than Mallorca, but I also found my new favorite hotel on earth. Villa le Blanc by Gran Meliá has that “it” factor. It’s new(ish), sexy, eco-conscious, and gives an overall sense of Mediterranean laidback luxury without ever trying too hard. It also delivers a sense of place, from the scenery, F&B curated by a local chef, and one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever jumped into.

Let’s get down to the details…

WHY IT’S AWESOME:

Well, first of all….look at this place:

From the moment I walked in, the cool design and architecture caught my attention. But when I learned that they sourced all of the hotel’s artwork, sculptures, and even furniture, from local artisans to drive support to the island’s businesses, I knew I’d just walked into someplace special. The hotel opened last summer as the island’s first energy-efficient carbon-neutral luxury hotel, with sustainability efforts and tributes to Menorcan food and design.

Spanish architect Álvaro Sans transformed this hotel to reflect traditional Menorcan architecture including sea-facing terraces, tons of natural light (perfect for snapping those Insta-worthy pics), and materials like stone, wood, and clay with a predominately white and blue color scheme. One of the coolest aspects was that the common areas throughout the resort are designed to achieve a seamless blend of outdoor and indoor spaces. Also, the hotel’s gardens are planted with olive, cypress, lemon, and pomegranate trees, among other local plants.

If you’re anything like me and always seek some sort of wellness experience while on vacation (because, #selfcare), the spa can’t be missed. Treatments feature all-natural, vegan products that combine essential oils, trace elements, and naturally active and biotechnological ingredients that are all carefully selected for their high quality and sustainability. Guests can use the spa’s hydrothermal circuit consisting of a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, and hammam.

IN-HOUSE FOOD & DRINK:

From my pool-side cabana lunches (my must-try picks: oysters and the spicy tuna roll) to golden hour cocktails and dinner, every single bite and sip here excited me. The hotel’s dining pays homage to local products, with each restaurant using the fresh ingredients from the island’s various farms. Located on the first-floor terrace overlooking the sea, Villa Le Blanc is home to the newest location of S’Amarador — widely recognized as one of the top seafood restaurants on the island. The restaurant works with top fishermen and farmers to source the ingredients for its delicious rice dishes and seafood bisques, with a particular focus on one of the culinary highlights of the Balearic Sea: the local red lobster. The restaurant preserves and adapts all the traditions of the ancient fishermen’s taverns that used to be located throughout the port area. My menu recs: the Menorcan lobster stew, monkfish, and the margarita cocktail.

Along with S’Amarador, the restaurateur Joan Canals brings his Menorcan cuisine expertise to Cru, which combines fresh fish, shellfish, vegetables, and olive oils for super contemporary techniques and presentation. Ceviche, sushi, oysters, and the famous Mahón cheeses are all highlights. Cru is also the more social gathering spot to grab cocktails, meet other guests, and watch the sunset.

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Lastly, Nivi is the hotel’s all-day restaurant, which offers grilled dishes, rice specialties, international-inspired menus, and dare I say, an extensive wine list. It’s also the go-to spot for its breakfast buffet. However, as a self-proclaimed “room service snob,” I opted for a breakfast room service. It was well worth it.

AMENITIES:

• Direct beach access
• Indoor and outdoor pools
• Rooftop with an adults-only pool
• Boutique store
• 24-hour gym
• Room service
• Pet friendly
• Kids club and babysitting services
• Bathrobes
• Spa with sauna and hammam
• Free WiFi

ROOM TYPES:

All 159 guestrooms (45 of those being suites) are designed with balconies and either city or sea views. I stayed in a junior sea-view suite, which has its own private roof terrace and offers direct access to the hotel’s adults-only rooftop pool via an outdoor spiral staircase. It felt like a true wellness oasis of my own. The room amenities range from pools to terrace jacuzzi tubs, along with TVs, coffee makers, a mini-bar and in-room snacks, luxury bathroom products, and a comfy bathrobe.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 15-MINUTE WALK:

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The hotel itself is located on Santo Tomás Beach, so it’s an ideal spot to go for a walk along the coastline, snorkel, or take part in watersports, if that’s your thing. There’s also a running trail carved out along the beach making it easy to go for a morning run or sunset walk with the most amazing scenery.

THE BEST THING TO DO/EAT/DRINK WITHIN A $20 CAB RIDE:

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A “cala” is a small bay or cove in the coastline of the sea. Cala Mitjana is the closest one to the hotel, around a 20-minute drive that’s definitely under $20, and ended up being a top highlight of my trip. It was pure natural beauty, with bright turquoise waters and cliffs.

The charming historic center of Ciutadella de Menorca is small but very beautiful, and while it may be a longer journey (30-minute car ride), it’s a must-visit while on the island. The narrow streets of the old town are pedestrianized and lined with charming shops, bars, and restaurants. Wandering those medieval-looking streets was the exact moment I fell in love with Menorca. The main square, Plaça des Born, is home to the Gothic-style City Hall and the 19th-century palaces of Salort and Torre-Saura. The 14th-century Santa Maria of Ciutadella Cathedral features a huge marble altar and the baroque-style Chapel of Souls. You can make it a day trip to spend a few hours there or go later in the day to spend dinner there.

I had dinner in Ciutadella at the restaurant Ulisses, led by chef Joan Canals who curates the restaurants at Villa Le Blanc. What makes it cool? Joan Canals started making cocktails self-taught from a very young age. Over time, he trained in classic mixology and molecular mixology and is now award-winning. His passion and training were evident because each dish was not only delicious but really made you think, engaging all senses beyond taste and texture.

BED GAME:

As a travel writer, I’ve visited many hotels in my lifetime, but this king bed has risen to the #1 spot. The fluffy yet lightweight comforter, ceiling fan above, and perfect pillows, had me excited to get back into my room any chance I got. If I could transport any hotel bed into my apartment, this would be my vote.

Rating: 10/10

SEXINESS RATING:

The rooftop access, cocktail bar, design, rooms, and overall vibe would be a 10/10. The only aspect that calls for minus one point on the sexiness scale is that it’s kid-friendly. Add to that a few crying babies by the main pool and you hit eight on the meter.

Rating: 8/10

VIEWS & THE PHOTO OPPS:

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It’s hard to capture a bad picture here. The rooms and outdoor spaces have unobstructed views of the Mediterranean Sea. That, plus the Instagrammability of the hotel itself, make this a dream photo opp. I recommend walking through the hotel lobby right before sunset for interior pictures and snapping pool or rooftop balcony pictures during the day.

Rating: 9/10

BEST SEASON TO VISIT:

Anytime from May to October is the best time to visit. I was here in mid-May, right before the summer busy season began. It was the perfect time if you want less crowds and warm, but not too warm, weather.

IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING:

The service was top-notch, the food was mouth-watering, and I never felt more relaxed. One drawback is that the downstairs lobby bar closes at 11 p.m., which can be early for the younger crowd who still wants to socialize and mingle over drinks past that time. However, if you are a partier, you can head into town after 11 p.m. While Menorca doesn’t get rowdy, there are tons of bars and clubs, some even with live music.

For a night of indie, soft rock, or acoustics – possibly some jazz, head on over to Es Claustre. Other local nightlife experiences can be found at JAZZBAH and Pura Vida Pub Menorca.

BOOK IT:

Rates start at around $800 per night for guest rooms and $1,200 per night for suites.

INSTAGRAM IMAGES TAKEN AT VILLA LE BLANC

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For however long James Harden remains on the Philadelphia 76ers, all eyes will remain on the Los Angeles Clippers and whether they’ll be able to make a trade. Harden has expressed his desire for Philly to move him, and his preferred destination is Los Angeles, where he would get to team up with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

That request came at the beginning of the offseason, and with training camp starting, Harden is still a member of the Sixers. While he joined the team for camp, the clock is still ticking on a potential deal, and according to Sam Amick and Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Clippers are leaving no stone unturned in trying to make something happen.

League sources say the Clippers have been talking to several teams about ways to move pick swaps for additional draft capital with the intention of bolstering their offer and getting a deal done.

The Clippers offered the Sixers an unprotected first-round pick, a pick swap and salaries for Harden in July, league sources say, but Philadelphia has set a much higher threshold. The Sixers have valued fifth-year forward Terance Mann and multiple first-round picks in a potential trade with the Clippers, sources added.

It’s an interesting spot for Los Angeles to be in, as the team is just starting to recoup draft capital following the trade that brought George (and, by extension, Leonard) to the team. But for the merits of playing the long game, the team is incentivized to try and win as soon as possible, as both of those All-Stars are in line for extensions before they are potentially unrestricted free agents next summer. (Harden, it should be noted, is also set to hit the open market.)

As for whether or not the Sixers are able to get Mann, that is a separate story. The soon-to-be 27-year-old wing would be a snug fit alongside Tyrese Maxey in their backcourt, and he’s about to enter the first season of a two-year, $22 million extension.

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. We hope you like weird and out-there designs because… well, that’s mostly what this week is packing! A strange Rick Owens collaboration that radically reimagines a classic silhouette? Check. A saturated Air Uptempo that looks like it’s straight out of a ‘90s Spike Lee movie? Check. The weirdest basketball sneaker you’ve ever seen? Check. Sneakers that literally have the word “crazy” in the name? Double Check (Adidas is dropping two of those this week).

But don’t worry if that doesn’t describe your vibe, because there are also some more conservative drops this week that’ll scratch that vintage itch, including the Jordan 6 Aqua, the Charles Barkley-branded Air Max 2, and a super dope New Balance collaboration with Concepts.

Let’s dive into the best sneaker drops of the week!

Converse x DRKSHDW TURBOWPN

Price: $200

I won’t sugarcoat it, this sneaker is weird, but isn’t that what we’ve come to expect from anything bearing Rick Owens’ name? Made in collaboration with DRKSHDW, this redesign of the Converse Weapon — dubbed the TURBOWPN — features exaggerated midsole and tongue designs with a full-grain leather upper, elevated platform-style midsole, and a wrap-around woven label.

It’s part Converse classic, part UK Glam Rock.

The Converse x DRKSHWD TURBOWPN is out now for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair via at Converse.

Nike Air Max 2 CB ’94 Black and Metallic Silver

Price: $170

Stealthy and stylish, these signature sneakers from NBA legend Charles Barkley feature an ultra-lightweight build for ultimate mobility, a premium leather upper, and metallic details throughout. It’s rare you see basketball sneakers this stylish that aren’t Jordans.

Where most NBA players go for wacky designs and loud colorways (See the entirety of LeBron and Kyrie Irvin’s Nike collars), Barkley kept it cool, building off the Air Max 2 design and giving it just the right amount of flair.

The Nike Air Max 2 CB ’94 Black and Metallic Silver is out now for a retail price of $170. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Concepts x New Balance Made in USA 998 Sea Salt with Covert Green (Aka C Note)

Price: $219.99

In what is no doubt a highly anticipated drop for New Balance nerds, Concepts and NB are teaming up this week for a release that pays tribute to the 998 ’N-Noted Only’ which dropped 10 years ago. Dubbed the ‘C-Note,’ this sneaker features suede leather overlays with mesh underlays riding atop an ABZROB midsole and a colorway inspired by the design of the $100 bill.

The sneaker features a beautiful mix of off-white and soft green tones with bright blue and metallic copper accents. Whether you’re a fan of the original or not doesn’t matter, this sneaker looks great regardless. Count me a New Balance nerd convert.

The Concepts x New Balance Made in USA 998 Sea Salt with Covert Green is out now for a retail price of $219.99. Pick up a pair via the New Balance webstore.

Nike Air More Uptempo Low x AMBUSH Lilac and Apple Green/ Black and White

Price: $190 (Lilac and Apple Green/Black and White)

How do you make the Nike Air More Uptempo, one of the brand’s craziest sneaker designs, look even more wild and out there? Drop it in a mix of bold purple and green tones, that’s how! AMBUSH’s latest Nike collaboration did just that and the results are fantastic.

The sneaker features a luxurious leather build with an AMBUSH branded heel and tongue, embroidered swoosh at the toe box, and a jelly swoosh at the heel. Oh, and the sneaker also drops in a black-and-white version, which is good but not quite as eye-catching as the Lilac and Apple Green.

The Nike Air More Uptempo Low x AMBUSH Lilac and Apple Green and Black and White is set to drop on October 6th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Adidas Crazy 8

Price: $140

What’s crazier, Nike’s Air More Uptempo or the Adidas Crazy 8? We’re leaning toward the former, but that doesn’t mean that this sneaker isn’t still bringing weirdness to the table. The Crazy 8, a design first introduced in the ‘90s, sports a leather upper with textile lining over an EVA midsole and Adidas Torsion System for enhanced midfoot support.

The design was inspired by vintage collegiate apparel and looks great layered up with some wide or straight-leg pants.

The Adidas Crazy 8 is set to drop on October 6th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair via the Adidas.

Adidas Crazy IIINFINITY

Price: $160

Born from the Crazy 1, a sneaker that had a polarizing reputation, the Crazy IIINFINITY sports a futuristic silhouette with a synthetic upper with textile lining, a zipper closure, molded sidewalls, and a mid-rise cut in a stealthy triple black colorway.

I like the futuristic design but I can’t help but feel like from certain angles this sneaker looks like those oil-resistant slip-ons you wear over your shoes when you work in restaurant kitchens.

The Adidas Crazy IIINFINITY is set to drop on October 6th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair via Adidas or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

PUMA x LAMELO Ball MB.03 LaFrancé

Price: $140

In stark contrast to the classic Charles Barkley-branded Air Max dropping this week, is LaMelo Ball’s third signature sneaker with PUMA, the MB.03, in its new LaFrancé colorway. This sneaker features an engineered mesh and knit upper with cutouts, a NITROFOAM-infused midsole, and slime-inspired rubber wraps. ’Slime-inspired’ is a term you’d never see in 90s sneaker culture, but here we are in 2023, living in the future!

The sneaker sports enhanced cushioning, a full coverage nonslip rubber traction system, and a breathable and lightweight fit with a swirling paisley design.

The PUMA x LAMELO Ball MB.03 LaFrancé is set to drop on October 6th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair via PUMA.

Air Jordan 6 Aqua

Price: $200

This week’s most hyped-up sneaker drop once again goes to Jordan brand who are bringing a classic colorway to the Jordan 6. Known for first appearing on the Jordan 8, this Aqua colorway combines a black upper with aqua and concord details on a leather upper.

Nike’s main strategy this year has been bringing famous Jordan colorways from one silhouette and slapping it on another and while it’s ultimately a lazy practice, credit where credit is due, it looks great so we’re not about to complain about it.

The Air Jordan 6 Aqua is set to drop on October 7th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

Have you ever wondered what happens at the dry cleaners? Or are you like me, who just assumed the people at the dry cleaners were wizards and never questioned their magic? Turns out, dry cleaners aren’t magic and there’s actually a pretty interesting explanation of how they came to be and what they do.

Melissa Pateras is known on Tiktok for her laundry knowledge. Seriously, her ability to fold laundry is hypnotizing. This time, she created a video explaining what actually takes place at the dry cleaner and the internet is aghast.

Before Pateras explained what happens in the mysterious world behind the counter of a dry cleaner, she asked a few of her friends what they thought dry cleaning was. Their answers were…interesting to say the least.

One friend surmised, “You put it in a box, right…and then you let some wind, really fast wind, blow around on your clothes and it wipes off all the dirt.” The friend, whose username is @unlearn16, continued with her working hypothesis, saying that the clothes are then blasted with infrared heat to sterilize the garments. While that is certainly an interesting theory, that’s not what happens.

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Another friend guessed, “Dry cleaning is when they take all of your dirty clothes into this big dryer with a clean sheet that sticks all of the dirt to it from your dirty clothes.” This friend was also incorrect, and Pateras finally explained why after her friends dug deep into their brains for their best guesses.

Turns out dry cleaning was invented by accident when Jean-Baptiste Jolly spilled a kerosene lamp on his tablecloth, which dried cleaner than it was previously, according to Pateras.

The laundry guru explained that while it was dangerous, the practice of cleaning things with kerosene continued until a less flammable method was discovered. But even the safer method is still fairly harsh, which is why dry cleaners take buttons off of clothing before running them through, she says.

This prompted one commenter to ask, “They really take the buttons off of every shirt?” to which Pateras replied that it only occurs if the buttons won’t withstand the chemicals.

If you’ve ever been curious about what happens at the dry cleaner, watch the video below. She takes you through each step.

@melissadilkespateras

What is dry cleaning #laundry #laundrytok #drycleaning #funfacts @Tracy Taylor @Unlearn16 @Ana Pac @Ashley Mathieu @Li

This article originally appeared on 5.10.23

You’ve probably been there. You’re out and about and you see something that just feels … off.

“Should I step in? … But it’s not really any of my business. … And I’m not even sure they need my help…”

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Our gut tells us to speak up, to ask questions, to tell someone. But often, we don’t.

This happened to Malyk Bonnet, a 17-year-old from Montreal. But instead of ignoring his instincts, he acted brilliantly. It may have saved a woman’s life.

Bonnet had been having a relatively normal day until he spotted something suspicious on his way home.

He’d been waiting for the bus after a shift at the restaurant where he works when he saw a man and woman arguing. He sensed a red flag.

“The guy was screaming at her, the girl,” Bonnet told CBC News. “He wasn’t really gentle with her, and I started watching, because I thought he would hit her, so I approached them a little bit.”

The pair asked Bonnet if he could lend them bus fares to nearby Laval, a city about 25 miles away from downtown Montreal.

Bonnet felt uneasy about what was happening. But instead of declining, he decided to get more involved. He helped the man and woman with their fares and told them he was also traveling to Laval (which was not the case).

“My plan was to keep them in a public place where he wouldn’t hurt her,” Bonnet told Dateline NBC. “I decided to be friendly with the man and have him think I was his friend. I played my game and he seemed to trust me.”

After arriving in Laval, Bonnet suggested they grab a bite to eat. At the restaurant, he gave the pair $50 for food and excused himself to use the restroom. Finally having the opportunity, he called the police and told them “someone had been kidnapped.” Officers arrived minutes later.

What Bonnet hadn’t known at the time was that police were already looking for the perpetrator and his victim.

The abusive man Bonnet reported had abducted his ex-girlfriend just hours beforehand.

“We were looking for a 29-year-old woman who was kidnapped by her former boyfriend earlier that day,” Laval police Lt. Daniel Guérin told CBC News. “We believed that man was very dangerous.”

Previously, the abuser spent time behind bars for assaulting his ex and sending her death threats.

Bonnet told Dateline NBC that while he didn’t speak with the woman after police arrived, he could see how relieved she was. “We made eye contact and she had tears in her eyes. She was really happy.”

Unfortunately, this type of tragic experience isn’t all that rare.

While this particular story unfolded in Canada — where roughly half of women have experienced at least one incident of sexual or physical violence since the age of 16 — you’ll find similarly alarming statistics in the U.S.

1 out of 4 American women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. What’s more, female victims of homicide are far more likely than male victims to be killed by a current or former partner.

Although it may seem easy to simply leave an abusive relationship in the dust, take it from some women who’ve been there — it’s much more difficult than it seems from the outside looking in.

Instead of passing judgment, you can learn more about how you can help friends and family members who may be experiencing domestic abuse.

Bonnet has become a local hero for his selflessness.

“His quick actions may have saved this young woman’s life,” Guérin said. The officers made sure to collect money so Bonnet could be reimbursed for the bus fares and food he purchased while trying to save the victim. “He now has 500 new friends in our department.”

Thank you, Malyk, for reminding me that sometimes the bravest thing I can do is simply listen to that voice when it’s trying to get my attention.

This article originally appeared on 08.20.15

There was never just one moment in my family when we “found out” that my dad was an addict.

I think I always knew, but I never saw him actually drinking. Usually, he downed a fifth of vodka before he came home from work or hid tiny bottles in the garage and bathroom cabinets.

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My name is Ashley, and I am the child of an addict. As a kid, I cried when our family dinner reservation shrunk from four to three after a man with glassy eyes stumbled through the door. I didn’t guzzle the vodka, but I felt the heartbreak of missed birthdays. I feel like I should weigh 500 pounds from all the “I’m sorry” chocolate donuts. I had to grow up quicker, but it made me into the person I am today.

I spent many years shouting into journals about why this was happening to me. But this is the thing that no one will tell you about loving someone who has an addiction: it will force you to see the world through different eyes.

Here are some things I’ve learned:

1. When your family’s yelling about burnt toast, they’re probably also yelling about something else.

My family yelled about everything — and nothing — to avoid the messy stuff. We all handled my dad’s addiction differently. My brother devoured sports. My mom took bubble baths. I slammed doors and slammed boyfriends for not understanding my family’s secrets.

Regardless of the preferred coping mechanism, everyone feels pain differently.

2. Your “knight in shining armor” can’t fix this.

Boyfriends became my great escape when I was young. But when I expected them to rescue me from the pain I grew up with, it never worked out. No matter how strapping they looked galloping in on those white horses, they couldn’t save me or fix anything.

In the end, I realized that I had to find healing on my own before I could build a strong relationship.

3. “Don’t tell anyone” is a normal phase.

When my dad punched holes in the wall, my mom covered them up with artwork. I wanted to rip the artwork down to expose all the holes, especially as a bratty teenager. But eventually I realized that it wasn’t my choice. My parents had bills to pay and jobs to keep. I’ve learned it’s common to cover up for dysfunction in your family, especially when it feels like the world expects perfection.

4. Friends probably won’t get it, but you’ll need them anyway.

Bulldozed by broken promises, I remember collapsing on a friend’s couch from the crippling pain of unmet expectations. I hyperventilated. Things felt uncontrollable and hopeless. My friend rubbed my back and just listened.

These are the kinds of friends I will keep forever, the ones who crawled down into the dark places with me and didn’t make me get back up until I was ready.

5. You can’t fix addiction, but you can help.

When I was a teenager, I called a family meeting. I started by playing a Switchfoot song: “This is your life. Are you who you want to be?”

Let’s skip to the punchline: It didn’t work.

It wasn’t just me. Nothing anyone did worked. My dad had to lose a lot — mostly himself — before he hit that place they call “rock bottom.” And, in all honesty, I hate that label because “rock bottom” isn’t just a one-and-done kind of place.

What can you do while you wait for someone to actually want to get help? Sometimes, you just wait. And you hope. And you pray. And you love. And you mostly just wait.

6. Recovery is awkward.

When a counselor gave me scripted lines to follow if my dad relapsed, I wanted to shred those “1-2-3 easy steps” into a million pieces.

For me, there was nothing easy about my dad’s recovery. My whole family had to learn steps to a new dance when my dad went into recovery. The healing dance felt like shuffling and awkwardly stepping on toes. It was uncomfortable; new words, like trust and respect, take time to sink in. And that awkwardness is also OK.

7. I still can’t talk about addiction in the past tense.

Nothing about an addict’s life happens linearly. I learned that early on. My dad cycled through 12-step programs again and again, to the point where I just wanted to hurl whenever anyone tried to talk about it. And then we finally reached a point where it felt like recovery stuck.

But even now, I’ll never say, “My dad used to deal with addiction.” My whole family continues to wrestle with the highs and lows of life with an addict every single day.

8. Happy hours and wedding receptions aren’t easy to attend.

My family will also probably never clink glasses of red wine or stock the fridge full of beer. I’m convinced happy hours and wedding receptions will get easier, but they might not. People get offended when my dad orders a Diet Coke instead of their fine whisky.

Plus, there’s the paranoia factor. Surrounded by flowing liquor, I hate watching my dad crawl out of his skin, tempted to look “normal” and tackle small talk with people we barely know. I’ve learned that this fear will probably last for a while, and it’s because I care.

9. If you close your eyes, the world doesn’t just “get prettier.”

With constant fear of the unknown, sometimes our world is not a pretty place. I remember watching the breaking news on 9/11 and feeling the terror of the planes crashing into the Twin Towers as if I was there.

My dad numbed the anxiety of these dark days with vodka, but this didn’t paint a prettier world for him when he woke up the next day. I’ve dealt with the fear of the unknown with the help of boys, booze, and bad dancing on pool tables. Life hurts for everyone, and I think we all have to decide how we’re going to handle the darkness.

10. Rip off the sign on your back that reads: “KICK ME. MY LIFE SUCKS.”

Sometimes I look in the mirror and I see only my broken journey. In some twisted way, I’m comforted by the dysfunction because it’s kept me company for so long. It’s easy to let the shadow of my family’s past follow me around and choose to drown in the darkness.

But every day, I’m learning to turn on the light. I have to write the next chapter in my recovery story, but I can’t climb that mountain with all this crap weighing me down.

11. It’s OK to forgive, too.

Some people have given me sucky advice about how I should write an anthem on daddy bashing, or how to hit the delete button on the things that shaped my story.

Instead, my dad and I are both learning to celebrate the little things, like the day that he could change my flat tire. On that day, I didn’t have to wonder if he was too drunk to come help me.

I can’t forget all the dark nights of my childhood.

But I’ve learned that for my own well-being, I can’t harbor bitterness until I explode.

Instead, I can love my dad, day by day, and learn to trust in the New Dad — the one with clearer eyes and a full heart. The one who rescues me when I call.

This article originally appeared on 04.27.16

Mezcal is the smoky progenitor of tequila. The agave-based spirit has a deep history across what’s now Mexico and America’s Southwest (where it is slowly making a comeback among the Mescalero Apache). In modern times, mezcal is the artisanal or hand-made cousin to the much more industrialized tequila (for the most part). It’s also just a different beast, thanks to a deeply hewn earthiness and smokiness, and it’s on the rise as people look for bolder flavors in their drinks.

Have you tried a mezcal Negroni yet? They’re awesome.

Today, it’s time for a double-blind taste test of some smooth and super smoky mezcals. I have a few shelves of mezcal and asked my very helpful wife to grab bottles that weren’t aged or flavored and catalog and pour them. I ended up with eight clear pours of very bold mezcal on the panel.

That makes our lineup today the following bottles of smoky mezcal:

• Lobos 1707 Mezcal Artesanal
• Mezcal Amarás Cupreata Mezcal Artesanal
• Mezcal Ilegal Joven Special Edition
• Bosscal Joven Mezcal Artesanal
• Gracias a Dios Mezcal Artesanal Espadin Joven
• La Tierra De Acre Cenizo Mezcal Artesanal
• Mezcal Los Siete Misterios Arroqueño Mezcal Joven
• Mezcal Verde Momento Mezcal Artesanal Joven

After tasting these mezcals, I ranked them based on overall quality and flavor. As an international spirits judge, I’ve judged a lot of agave-based spirits over the years. I keep things straightforward by looking at the quality of the base spirit and then the depth, balance, and overall enjoyable flavor of the spirit on the senses. In short, I was looking for good-tasting, well-made mezcal. The specifics about how the mezcal was made weren’t a factor as I had no idea what was in those glasses as I tasted them.

Let’s dive in!

• The Absolute Best Tequilas Under $100, Ranked
• The Best Tequilas You Can Find For Under $30, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Tequilas Under $50, Ranked
• Every Bottle From The Core Line Of Don Julio Tequila, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• The Best Añejo Tequilas On Earth, According To The ‘Oscars Of Alcohol’

Part 1 — The Mezcal Double-Blind Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Light notes of fireplace embers draw you in on the nose with a sense of white pepper, roasted agave, dark red wine, and a whisper of cacao nibs.

Palate: There’s almost a woody earthiness to the palate with a good dose of sweet fireplace smoke cut with caramelized agave over more of that cacao.

Finish: The end is sweetly spicy with a good sense of smoky agave next to smoldering cinnamon and clove.

Initial Thoughts:

This feels like classic mezcal from top to bottom — sweetly smoky, spicy, and very earthy.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a super earthy note that’s almost on fire with smoke as dried red chili, rich cacao, and old leather drive the nose toward a sense of dried pumpkin and the ends of cigarettes.

Palate: Roasting herbs and very black pepper pops on the palate as intense fireplace smoke drives the taste toward very dry chili pepper, black pepper, and caramelized agave with a soft creaminess.

Finish: That creaminess delivers more red and black spices (yes, burnt) on the finish with a sense of more of that smoldering black earth and a hint of pine-y tobacco leather pouches.

Initial Thoughts:

This is complex and bold with a delightfully soft mouthfeel. That creaminess goes a long way to making this a really enjoyable pour of mezcal.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is fruity and lightly smoked with a good sense of peppery agave and pepper over flutters of apple cores, smoked orange, and maybe even some lavender.

Palate: That light floral note pops on the palate as caramelized pears and orange pith drive the taste toward light moments of butterscotch, smoldering black dirt, and a creamy nuttiness.

Finish: That creaminess drives the finish with a nice dose of nutty depth, more of that firey caramelized yet peppery agave, and plenty of orchard fruits and dark citrus.

Initial Thoughts:

This is another one that really stretches out for a great finish with that creamy texture. There’s a lot to like here.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Burnt orange peels and thin smoke lead to a moment of melon skins, old firewood, and soft black potting soil on the nose.

Palate: The orange mounts on the palate with a dose of peppery spice, smoky vanilla, and touches of peppery agave cut with citrus.

Finish: The citrus really mounts on the finish with a light sense of that smoky vanilla.

Initial Thoughts:

This is very light and smoky but sort of peters out at the end.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose on this one smells exactly like a caipirinha — lime, sugar, and white booze — with a hint of pepperiness and smoke.

Palate: The light smokiness continues on the palate with more of the caipirinha vibes before dry smoke arrives with a light sense of agave and dirt.

Finish: Smoky agave and black pepper drive the dry finish toward a hint of raw sugar.

Initial Thoughts:

This was so different that I’m not sure what to make of it. It was much closer to a cachaça on the nose and palate with a hint of smoke.

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a sense of smokiness that leans toward fresh tires (like a hardcore peated Islay whisky) next to hints of dry red chili and black pepper over caramelized agave.

Palate: Those sharp spiciness notes drive the palate toward deep and dirty earthiness, more peppery smoke, and a dash of creaminess.

Finish: The creaminess takes on the black pepper and smoky dirt/tires on the finish with a bold sense of firey agave.

Initial Thoughts:

The nose on this was a lot to get past. There was a good flavor profile that leans heavily smoked/earthy and was saved by a touch of creamy mouthfeel.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Lime leaves and dried sage drive the nose toward grapefruit pith and mild earthiness with a good dose of pepper and smoky agace stems.

Palate: The citrus and herbal vibes mount on the palate as notes of burnt sugar and old lemon tea leaves lead to a bitter sense of burnt citrus tobacco.

Finish: Notes of black pepper and smoked dirt drive the finish toward a moment of pine-laced honey and more smoked black pepper.

Initial Thoughts:

This is sharp (peppery) and earthy yet balanced in just the right ways with citrus and sweetness.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Floral tea leaves and dry mint open the nose toward sweet fireplace smoke that’s almost like fresh tires next to a garden store.

Palate: Roasted agave and white pepper open the palate toward notes of caramel cut with earthy citrus pith and hints of dark spice barks.

Finish: The sweetness drives the smoky and earthy finish toward more white pepper and roasted agave with a nice sense of soft smoldering firewood.

Initial Thoughts:

This was nice. It wasn’t a “wow” pour but very much felt like a good standard mezcal.

Part 2 — The Mezcal Ranking

8. Gracias a Dios Mezcal Artesanal Espadin Joven — Taste 5

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $34

The Mezcal:

This mezcal from NOM-0223x is made by Mezcalero Oscar Hernandez from eight-year-old Espadin agave. The Oaxacan spirit is copper pot distilled, proofed, and bottled.

Bottom Line:

This straight-up felt more like a cachaça than a mezcal, especially on the nose. That’s not a bad thing but felt off compared to the rest of the pours on this list. If those flavor notes are what you’re looking for, then go for it!

7. Bosscal Joven Mezcal Artesanal — Taste 4

ABV: 42%

Average Price: $46

The Mezcal:

This mezcal from NOM-D248G is made with 100% organic products and no “chemical additives”. The agave is the Cenzio variety that’s distilled in steel stills before a short rest before proofing and bottling.

Bottom Line:

This was very much in the average column. It’s fine but very light. If you’re a beginner looking to dip your toes into this world, this might be a safe place to start.

6. La Tierra De Acre Cenizo Mezcal Artesanal — Taste 6

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $46

The Mezcal:

This mezcal is made at the Acre Baja Resort in San José del Cabo, Mexico. The mezcal in the bottle is made with Cenizo agave that’s anywhere from eight to 14 years old when harvested. After hand-grinding, long fermentation, and copper pot distilling, the mezcal rests for a short spell in vats before proofing and bottling.

Bottom Line:

The nose on this one was intense. It’ll be a lot to get past. If you do get past it, there’s a wealth of deep and classic mezcal smoky notes to enjoy. My advice is to pour this one over a big rock to calm that nose down and go from there.

5. Mezcal Verde Momento Mezcal Artesanal Joven — Taste 8

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $34

The Mezcal:

This Oaxacan mezcal is made with eight-year-old Espasin agave. The agave is slow-roasted and ground with old-school Egyptian stone mills before fermenting in old pine vats and copper pot distillation. The fresh mezcal is then left to rest for a moment before bottling with a touch of local water.

Bottom Line:

This was a very easy drinking experience with mezcal notes that went beyond just “peppery” or “smoky” with a pleasant floral tough and well-layered sweetness that added to the overall experience. I can see this working really well over some rocks as a sipper or in a cocktail.

4. Lobos 1707 Mezcal Artesanal — Taste 1

ABV: 42%

Average Price: $59

The Mezcal:

This mezcal — part of LeBron James’ brand of tequilas — is made the old-school way. Old Espadin agave, open roasting in an Oaxacan firepit, Egyptian stone mill grinding, copper pot stills, and slow cooking times throughout. The mezcal is then rested in Spanish Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for a short spell before batching, proofing, and bottling.

Bottom Line:

This had a nice depth and nuance to it that made it very enjoyable as a sipper. I can also see this working wonders in cocktails where mezcal is the star of the show.

3. Mezcal Los Siete Misterios Arroqueño Mezcal Joven — Taste 7

ABV: 49%

Average Price: $153

The Mezcal:

This mezcal from NOM-1053X uses very old Arroqueño agave (some plants are up to 25 years old when harvested). The slow-roasted hearts are hand-ground before open fermentation then clay pot distillation. After a very short rest, the mezcal is just cut with local water and bottled as-is.

Bottom Line:

This was the easiest sipping mezcal on the panel. It had a nice balance of classic notes you want in your mezcal. It’s classic.

2. Mezcal Ilegal Joven Special Edition — Taste 3

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $45

The Mezcal:

“No celebrities, just damn good mezcal” is the slogan of Ilegal Mezcal. That’s … refreshing. The actual mezcal in the bottle is made from Espadin agave in Oaxaca with copper and steel stills. The mezcal rests for a moment before proofing and bottling.

Bottom Line:

This was pretty damn good mezcal. It had a nice balance of fruitiness, smokiness, and creaminess that really helped it shine brightly on this panel. This felt like a well-rounded sipper that’d shine over some rocks with a twist of lime.

1. Mezcal Amarás Cupreata Mezcal Artesanal — Taste 2

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $71

The Mezcal:

This mezcal is made with Cupreata agave that’s at least 13 years old. The hearts are slow-roasted in old stone ovens before Egytpitan mill grinding and fermenting in old pine tanks. After running through a copper pot still, the hot juice rests for a moment before proofing and bottling.

Bottom Line:

The creaminess of this pour really propelled it to the top of the panel. That soft mouthfeel was the perfect delivery system for deep, dark, and earthy mezcal notes that went hard but felt approachable. I can see sipping this over a big ice cube any day of the week.

Part 3 — Final Thoughts on the Mezcals

This panel of mezcals went from “that’s fine” to “I can see sipping this all the time” very quickly. For the absolute best overall experience, I’d focus on the top two bottles. The creaminess really helps those mezcals shine. That said, any of the top four are going to work well. I’d play around with numbers three and four more in cocktails but they’d work as slow sippers over ice any time too.

In the end, go back through the tasting notes and find one that speaks to you. Hit that price link and give it a try. It’ll be a smoky adventure that may well introduce you to a whole new world of fun, vibrant, and very earthy spirits.

For months, Drake has been teasing his new album For All The Dogs. He’s made announcements on his tour, he shared the single “Slime You Out” with SZA after pushing the album back, and today, he released the timestamp freestyle, “8AM In Charlotte.” With all that, anticipation is at a fever pitch for the project. Only one question truly remains:

What Time Will Drake’s ‘For All The Dogs’ Come Out?

Usually, this wouldn’t be a question: Most artists and labels are pretty good about getting their projects to DSPs well before midnight on New Music Friday, allowing them to be promptly launched as the clocks switch over on the east coast.

However, Drake isn’t most artists. In addition to his proclivity for pushing his deadlines to the absolute last second — sometimes literally — he’s one of the few artists on the planet who can get away with dropping new albums and songs without any previous promotion and still be reasonably assured of a massive response from listeners.

Especially with an album like For All The Dogs, which Drake has already pushed back before, there’s always a chance he won’t make it as the clock strikes 12. On the other hand, he’s never actually missed a deadline, even if he gets close, so it’s probably safe to assume that midnight will be the magic hour — or, as he likes to call it, the Scary Hour.

Simone Biles has done it yet again, clinching her 20th gold medal at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championship and leading the U.S. women’s team to their historic 7th consecutive victory.

There is no question that Simone Biles is the greatest gymnast that has ever set foot on the mat. Her domination in the sport has been unparalleled, and she has earned every bit of praise she has received as a gymnast.

However, there’s a solid argument to be made that she isn’t just the GOAT of gymnastics, but truly the greatest athlete of all time. Yes, I know, it’s a subjective title, comparing sports is like comparing apples and oranges and people will argue about who deserves that title the most. But hear me out before putting Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali or Jim Thorpe up against the 4-foot 8-inch wonder that is Simone Biles.

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Here are 5 reasons she deserves the GOAT title:

1. She has dominated her sport with the winningest record of all time

This is the easy argument, of course, and one that could be used for any athlete who holds the most gold medals and the most medals overall in their sport. Let’s just see this as the foundation of the GOAT house that Simone built.

Biles has now won 26 world championship medals (20 gold, three silver and three bronze) and seven Olympic medals. That puts her at the top of women’s gymnastics historical record and has her tied with Belarus’ Vitaly Scherbo for most gymnastics medals, male or female, earned on the world stage.

2. She can do things no one else in her sport can do

There’s winning championships, and then there’s pushing your sport forward by inventing new moves or succeeding in feats no one has ever attempted, much less achieved, before.

Biles has done that, not once, not twice, not thrice, but a whopping five times. This single gymnast has five official moves named after her in the international rule book (one on balance beam, two on floor exercise and two on vault). She is pushing the boundaries of the sport like no one else ever has.

Every sport has had individuals who excel at a unique skill. Many of those individuals aren’t also world champions. Most of them don’t have multiple moves that bear their name because no one else has ever done them. Biles has done it all.

3. She stands out as an individual competitor and as a team leader

Gymnastics is both an individual sport and a team sport, and Biles has proven her skills in both. As an individual competitor, obviously, Biles is No. 1. But she has also led the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team to victory time and time again.

Biles’ teammates praised her leadership skills after she backed out of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 (which we’ll get to in a moment). Though she was no longer competing herself, she stood on the sidelines and became her teammates’ best cheerleader. Her teammates and coaches said that meant the world, and Biles’ unwavering encouragement and support for her fellow gymnasts helped propel them to their own medal-winning performances.

To be able to dominate at the highest level as an individual and be an effective team leader is the mark of an exceptional athlete. Biles does both and makes it look easy.

4. She faced a devastating setback in her sport and came back on top

It’s not easy to maintain the status of being “the best” at a sport. Being the best and then having a major setback disrupt your career is even more difficult. Overcoming that setback and returning not only to a high level of competition but jumping back up to the very top is something only GOATs do.

Biles did it. After getting the dreaded “twisties” at the Tokyo Olympics, Biles did the right thing and dropped out of the competition. (The twisties cause a gymnast to lose their sense of place in the air, creating both a frustrating and incredibly dangerous situation.) She could have called it quits then and no one would have blamed her.

But she didn’t. She came back. And unlike some other star athletes who have pushed past their prime and lost some of their competitive edge, Biles is slaying once again, winning world titles like she was born for it.

She balances it with wisdom, but her competitive spirit is unstoppable.

5. She is well past retirement age and still dominating in her sport

Biles is 26 years old, which isn’t old by most measures, but she’s a bit of a grandma in the world of gymnastics. The average age for elite female gymnasts to retire is 22. There are other competitive gymnasts who are older than Biles, but they aren’t up there on the world championship podium with her. The main reason gymnasts retire so early is the wear and tear gymnastics puts on their bodies. Biles continually pushes her body to do what no one else can do, and she’s still going strong.

Her ability is unparalleled but her longevity is equally impressive. Peak time varies by sport, of course, but for a gymnast to be this dominant for this long is an incredible accomplishment.

Honorable mention: She’s a woman in a GOAT field filled with men

Should being a female athlete make a difference? Well, the International Certification of Excellence in Fitness (ICEF) seems to think so, since they made a list of the 10 Greatest Athletes of All Time and there’s not a single female on it.

As the ICEF’s Top 10 list unwittingly demonstrates, male athletes are automatically thought of as better athletes than women, no matter the variables, which is silly. No one is putting Babe Ruth up against Muhammad Ali as having the same or even similar skills, so why are there no women at all on this list?

I’d put Simone Biles up against any of these 10 men for all-time athlete GOAT. Yes, even Michael Jordan, who holds the top spot. He holds records in his sport. He pushed the boundaries of basketball. He was an individual standout and a good team player. He overcame setbacks (more in his personal life than the sport itself, but still) and he came out of retirement twice to keep playing. Heck, he was even famous for defying gravity. Simone Biles has done all of that on a global level—and on a beam 4 inches wide.

No one can argue with a straight face that gymnastics is an easy sport—the years of intense training and discipline and the combination of strength, agility, flexibility, gracefulness and body control elite gymnastics requires are utterly bonkers. Arguably, gymnastics requires more athleticism than many other sports, so Simone Biles’ total domination of the sport for this long at this level certainly qualifies her for GOAT status—not just among gymnasts, but among all athletes of all time.

Even if you’ve been living in a time capsule and think Hanson is the newest boyband on the block, you’ve likely still heard about Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner’s divorce. Jonas has been in the public eye since the age of 15 as part of his band he shares with his brothers, aptly named Jonas Brothers. And Turner catapulted to fame playing Sansa Stark on the massive hit show “Game of Thrones” when she was also just 15.

Throughout their relationship the two worked hard to keep things extremely private and positive, so these stories portraying Turner as a party girl absent mom and Jonas as super-dad were shocking.

Enter Robin Rambles, a TikTokker and huge Jonas Brothers fan. She noticed the discrepancy in coverage, Jonas’s slow response time and fans insisting the pop star is misogynist. The makings of a PR nightmare, and Robin has a solution. Giving Jonas the opportunity to pay off her car.

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I mean it’s really a small ask when you think about it. He’s a millionaire with a PR problem and she’s a hundred-aire every couple of weeks on payday. Jonas paying off her car would be good PR for him and a smart financial decision for her. Win-win. I’m personally rooting for Robin in this divorce, which is why Upworthy talked to her to find out more about what prompted this hilarious plea.

“It was a mixture of things that prompted the actual video. Like I had just paid my car payment and I had also just gone to a Jonas Brothers concert last week and the price of the ticket was very similar to the price of my car payment,” Robin laughs. “And I was like, you know what, Joe should pay this for me. Like ‘you owe me. I sat through a pitchy concert.'”

“I was like, ‘I’m mad about patriarchy, I’m mad about rich people being rich, I’m mad about paying for my car payment.’ It was a beautiful storm of just me…being mad.”

In fact, after the original story that prompted the misogyny claims was published, Robin and her friend seriously contemplated going to the Jonas Brothers’ concert dressed as Sansa Stark. That would’ve taken trolling someone to a new level, likely a hilarious level for everyone but Jonas.

Since she’s such a long time big fan of the boyband, Robin settled on simply asking Jonas the small favor of paying off her car loan in exchange for positive headlines. Honestly, it seems like a sweet deal being that she says there’s only about $11K left on her loan and according to Robin, he’s likely paying over $10K for his PR firm.

Either way, divorces are painful no matter who you are, so maybe Jonas will come across Robin’s video and at the very least get a good laugh out of it. Bonus points and guaranteed character redeeming headlines if he actually follows through on paying off her car.

Watch Robin’s amusing PR offer below:

@robinrambles

dear Joe Jonas,