Ask most people who’ve had their heart trampled on by love if it was worth it, and the answer is usually a resounding… yes. That might be surprising, but despite the pain that comes from an inevitable breakup, most lovers agree that the good times outweighed the bad; they move forward looking to fall for someone else, pain be damned. The cycle is eternal (unless the love affair turns out to be) and for one of Sweden’s finest musicians, Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson, heartache is the export she knows best. Lykke Li is a singer-songwriter — and lowkey pop star — who has spent her career contemplating this cyclical nature of romantic love and loss.
Though some artists might find it insulting to condense the scope of their career into a singular recurring theme, Lykke has made it clear that her latest album, EYEYE, is an almost meta, hyper-focused examination of her focus on adoration and heartache. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, she declared herself a “love junkie” and came to the conclusion that her pattern in relationships is something that needed to be addressed head-on. “I’ve really realized that I can’t blame anyone else any longer for my suffering,” she told the UK paper. “It’s really turning the lens back to myself and getting back to the root of why I’ve repeated some patterns.” Still, getting clean is usually easier said than done.
Even as EYEYE looks to be an overarching study of the subject, each of the eight songs on her fifth album approaches matters of the heart from a different angle. “5D” imagines a couple through the crisp, cinematic lens of a movie’s love story, and “Carousel” is the sole slightly upbeat track here, pitching tinny ‘80s as the stand-in for a carnival merry-go-round’s pure romance. But when it hurts, EYEYE pulls zero punches. Li consistently called this album “a break up with the breakup album,” but from the sounds of this, this pair is more together than ever. In some ways, the album is simply Li’s past MO turned up to eleven — a maximalist approach to pain done in Li’s signature soft, synthy tones.
And though her last album, so sad so sexy, found a hint of twisted pleasure in the pain, there’s very little to long for here. The album’s lead single, “No Hotel,” decries the tropes of toxic lovers — hotels, cigarettes — for the even sadder act of turning up on someone’s doorstep to beg for them back. Instead of glorying in a past memory spent in a gorgeous hotel room doing something sad and sexy, Li cites a moment in the back of a car, a bit of pathos too stark to need unpacking. “Happy Hurts” is the de facto center of the record, and the most vintage Lykke as she spins whispery vocals against a backdrop of stately organ chords, looking for meaning in passing cars and more old memories.
The driving theme continues on “Highway To Your Heart,” a song with the title of an ‘80s power ballad that still manages to be one of the stronger offerings here. Flanked harmonies, booming percussion and dramatic piano chords echo some of the production choices on one of Li’s best albums, I Never Learn, and indicates that the return of her longtime collaborator Peter Bjorn and John’s Björn Yttling is a positive development. But despite these high-water marks, the album’s closing numbers, “Over” and “u&i” are both mid-tier drags, the kind of sadness that only makes sense to the person going through it. Neither connect to a larger world outside of themselves like the most electric breakup songs do (“Dancing On My Own,” “Back To Black”), and the lengthy runtime of the final track only adds to the claustrophobia.
If Lykke Li really wants to break up with the breakup album format, her best bet is to attempt a new form. Whether that’s a love song, or a reflection on another facet of her emotional life, I don’t know. But one last dose of breakup songs seems unlikely to cure her of her old ways. It remains to be seen if she goes cold turkey after EYEYE, but if the album has proved anything, it’s that her talents are best spent elsewhere. Then again, give the morose “You Don’t Go Away” a spin at the right time of evening, and you might find yourself falling right back into the record again. Does EYEYE sound like the closing of a chapter? No — but odds are that doesn’t surprise any of the ex-lovers listening to it on loop.
The mid-season finale of Better Call Saul takes the main story of the season so far and, for lack of a less literal metaphor, walks into its apartment and shoots it in the head with a silencer. The first six episodes of the show’s final season have taken their time, as Better Call Saul always does, letting Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler’s elaborate plan to humiliate Howard Hamlin unfold throughout multiple episodes. While everyone’s favorite toxic married couple with a prank kink does encounter some hiccups along the way, their plan unfolds almost entirely as planned all season long, from faking Hamlin’s cocaine addiction with a wig and self-tanner to the precise moments he appears at their apartment following their win over him. What happens next is the only thing they didn’t see coming, even though it’s the most obvious in retrospect.
When Howard confronts Jimmy and Kim, Lalo Salamanca walks in and shoots Howard in the head. The first half of the final season, which generally unfolded like a typical season of Better Call Saul with its character-driven pace and slightly upbeat tone finally proved how effective it is when its long-teased tension finally gets a release. The season is in stark contrast to every episode of the final season of Breaking Bad, whose episodes, in retrospect, wereevents with plot, tension, and twists, moving as quickly as the final two seasons Game of Thrones (with better writing, obviously).
Meanwhile, you could describe the first half of Better Call Saul’s final season so far in just a few bullet points (with dozens of annotations, of course). First, there’s Jimmy and Kim’s Howard takedown and his death, while Gustavo Fring and Mike Ermhantraout have been dealing with the fallout of the attempted assassination of Lalo Salamanca. On the cartel side of the story, Lalo’s solo mission to take down Gustavo Fring has been left rather ambiguous, with limited, but precious screen time. Before Howard’s death in the mid-season finale, the season’s most explosive episode was episode three, which sealed the fate of Nacho Varga.
From the very beginning, and times to a fault, Better Call Saul has operated at a glacial pace, like Mad Men in slow motion. Instead of speeding itself up before the endgame, Better Call Saul has remained loyal to its pace, ridiculously patient with itself. Even in its final episodes, Better Call Saul would rather simmer than boil.
Better Call Saul, like Mad Men, the AMC show it has more in common with than Breaking Bad, values character development over a rapid plot and shock value – which is not to say that Better Call Saul isn’t shocking because it is. The show is so patient that it’s almost cruel. This storytelling device made Howard Hamlin’s death gutting. Better Call Saul has patience with its characters, its audience, and, vitally, itself. While it’s clear that the series will pick up in the second half of the season, which returns in July, it will continue to simmer as it always has.
De Garde/Lost Abbey/ Lindeman’s/Jester King/istock/Uproxx
There are a lot of different beer styles that taste more or less the way drinkers envisionbeer to taste. We mean the pilsners, lagers, and less hopped pale ales of the world. But — seeing as beer is complex, complicated, and absolutely sprawling — some beer styles read just a little bit different. Enter fruited sour beers which are fruity and sour (no surprise, considering the name), sort of a twofer in terms of unique, memorable flavor profiles. More specifically, these brews are known for their slightly acidic, sometimes funky notes and can be brewed with pretty much any fruit, from peach to raspberry to sour cherry.
Sean Towers, owner and brewer at The Seed: A Living Beer Project in Atlantic City likes sour beers, but actually hates the term “fruited sour.”
“The style of fruited sour has come to mean kettle-soured or quick soured beer with unreasonable levels of highly processed, pasteurized, fruit purees added post-fermentation for an overly sweet, gluttonous, fruit juice with a completely masked background of beer,” he explains. “But that short rant aside, there are many beers out there that very harmoniously pair a reasonable level of acidity with fresh, pure, fruit character.”
Since we’d rather find the latter, we decided to turn to the beer pros for help. We asked a few well-known craft beer experts, brewers, and brewing professionals to tell us the best fruited sour beers they don’t make themselves. Keep reading to see all of their picks.
DeGarde The Sixth Peach
DeGarde
Mike Haakenstad, brewing operations manager at Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte, North Carolina
ABV: 6.5% Average Price: Limited Availability
Why This Beer?
The Sixth Peach from DeGarde Brewing is a top fruited sour in my book. Peach comes through and through fantastically. The barrel working on this beer is perfect, with just the right amount of oak/vanilla to round out the slight tartness and dry finish. A truly beautiful beer.
My favorite fruited sour beer is Fou’ Foune by world-renowned Belgian Lambic producer, Brasserie Cantillon. Fou’ Foune is a blend of spontaneously fermented lambics aged 18-20 months and then fruited with Bergeron Apricots. Fou’ Foune has a well-rounded complexity of acidity, oak, and fruit where each sip is like biting into a juicy apricot. Not so easy to acquire these days, Fou’ Foune is a special treat and best shared with good friends.
I don’t drink many fruited sours, but the first that comes to mind is Île Sauvage Raspberry Sour. That’s been one of their key beers from day one and each time I’ve had it, it retains a fresher and more vibrant raspberry character than any other raspberry beer I’ve had. Often, I’ve been surprised at the creaminess of the malt body that’s there to back it up. It melds together so well.
Kudos to them — that beer is great.
Avery Barrel Aged Cucumber Hibiscus Sour
Avery
Hector Cavazos, owner and head brewer at Rebel Toad Brewery in Corpus Christi, Texas
ABV: 7% Average Price: Limited Availability
Why This Beer?
Avery Barrel Aged Cucumber Hibiscus Sour. It’s bright in color, sour and the cucumber makes it very refreshing. It has a unique flavor profile that’s fresh bright and works together perfectly. It’s definitely a can’t miss sour beer.
Lost Abbey Red Poppy
Lost Abbey
Douglas Constantiner, founder and CEO of Societe Brewing in San Diego
Red Poppy from Lost Abbey. There’s an explosion of sour cherry flavor and it truly showcases the traditional style of Belgian Beer making through an American brewery that helped create this industry. Matching the cherry with the beer in a beautifully aged product. Lost Abbey makes it look easy but to achieve that sort of balance is incredibly difficult.
Lindeman’s Oude Kriek Cuvee Renee. Not to be confused with Lindeman’s ultra-sweet dessert beers, this sour beer has a huge cherry aroma and balanced tartness with a complex wood character. Brewed in the old style of Belgium’s most famous guezeries.
Allagash Coolship Red – I’m a huge fan of the wild program at Allagash up in Portland, Maine. Their coolship has produced some incredible beers, but my favorite so far has been Coolship Red. It is fermented and conditioned in red wine barrels, with raspberries added, and aged for over two years. The resulting beer is incredibly complex and certainly worth writing home about.
New Glarus Wisconsin Belgian Red is my favorite fruited sour. This was the first beer I noticed people lining up for at the Great American Beer Festival. Unlike any other at the time, this is Wisconsin cherry distilled into a bottle. Tart, sweet, juicy, It’s world-class.
Jester King Brewery’s Nocturn Chrysalis is a bottle I need to get my hands on again. An insane amount of blackberries added to this wild Texas yeast fermented ale aged in barrels turn this funky beer into a purple, jammy experience that somehow tastes like the best possible version of just running through a blackberry field with your mouth open.
I have tried a lot of fruited sours over the years, but I keep coming back to the classics. Cantillon Kriek is probably my all-time favorite fruited sour. The blast of fresh cherry flavor coupled with the earthy and sour characters of a classic lambic is just fantastic.
Blueberry Muffin by Great Notion. I grew up with my family making blueberry muffins at least once a week with blueberries we picked from our garden, and this beer reminds me of that. Tart with great blueberry flavor and enough breadiness/sweetness to mirror that muffin top, this is a beer that will always bring me back to my childhood.
Anything from Cascade Brewing is great. I don’t see a whole lot of their stuff on the East Coast, but we stopped by their brewery one time when we were in Portland and loved just about everything we had there. They are definitely known for their sour beers, and they did not disappoint. It is absolutely a must-try if you like sours and haven’t had one before. One of the best is called The Vine. It’s a fruited sour made with tripel, blonde, and golden ales that are fermented using white grape juice.
Framboos Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen is really difficult to beat. Ripe raspberries all day long. It’s so tart, sweet, and loaded with raspberry flavor it makes me feel like we need to open another facility to brew lambics or mixed culture beers.
Lost Abbey Framboise de Amorosa. I am a sucker for raspberry sours and Lost Abbey always brings it. This beer starts with Lost and Found ale that is aged for a year in recently emptied wine barrels where it has raspberries added to it multiple times. It’s sour, tart, and filled with fresh, ripe raspberry flavor.
Surprising nobody, a new Call of Duty game will be released in 2022. First confirmed back in February, we’ve known for quite some time that a new game was on the way and that it would be a sequel to Modern Warfare. What we didn’t know was when exactly everyone would be able to get their hands on the next entry in the series.
On Tuesday, that detail was finally unveiled in a live-action trailer that saw a cargo ship with the face of Call of Duty campaign character, Ghost, displayed across the ship. The trailer also features the faces of other characters from the game’s campaign, also displayed in a cargo port setting, until finally at the end of the trailer we get the release date of October 28.
This is one of the more unique ways to unveil a game’s release date and artwork, mainly because it didn’t give us any actual gameplay to look at. Modern Warfare 2 has the potential to change the franchise formula and engine in a way that it sorely needs. Right now, the last handful of games has all used the same original engine that the first Modern Warfare game used in 2019. This has some benefits, such as allowing all of the games to sync well with the Call of Duty battle royale game, Warzone. However, because each game uses the same outline it has led to most of them dealing with a massive hacker problem.
With all that in mind, we were hoping that this next game was also going to represent a step forward for the franchise and give us something new. Unfortunately, gameplay details have been very scare so far so we’ll have to wait for more information to come out in the future.
While fans will have to wait a little longer for the Exploding Kittenstv show starring Lucy Liu and Tom Ellis, the game is coming to Netflix much sooner!
Exploding Kittens– The Game will drop on May 31st on Netflix’s mobile app, free of charge for ay current subscribers, though that number has been dwindling. The game lets you play alone or with up to five friends (they also need to be a Netflix customer) as you flip over virtual cards decorated with cat art, until the exploding kitten is revealed, and the game explodes. Hence the name Exploding Kittens. Makes sense! Here are the official rules:
Draw as many cards as you can, and do your best to dodge — or defuse — fatal felines. Or else, boom goes the dynamite! In this kitty-powered game of chance, players draw cards — until someone draws an exploding kitten and blows up. But that’s not all, Netflix members will be able to play with two new exclusive cards, Radar and Flip Flop, enabling players to manipulate the deck in new ways. Radar reveals to players the position of the Exploding Kitten closest to the top of the card deck and Flip Flop reverses the order of the cards in the deck. Featuring original art by The Oatmeal.
Exploding Kittens started as a crowdfunded project which then became a record-setting card game. A series based on the game will premiere on Netflix next year, with expansion packs revolving around the show’s characters becoming available in the future.
The combusting cat game is just one of the games Netflix is introducing to its roster, with three more games debuting today on the app. Dragon Up is a single-player game where players are expected to look for rare dragons in order to save their kingdom. Townsmen- A Kingdom Rebuilt is a strategy game where players build their own medieval city, and Moonlighter is a role-playing game that puts users working in a store in a mysterious village overrun by monsters. Looking forward to seeing if anybody actually plays these games, or if Netflix pulls the plug on them too.
As promised, Marvel dropped a new Thor: Love and Thunder trailer during Monday night’s NBA playoff game, and people are freaking out over this latest look at the Taiki Waititi-directed film. Not only did it unveil the first official look at Christian Bale’s Gorr the God Butcher, as well as promises of seeing Chris Hemsworth’s naked Thor butt, but audiences finally got to see Natalie Portman in action as Mighty Thor. Judging by the responses on social media, folks are definitely here for her bringing the female God of Thunder to life.
As shown in both trailers now, Portman’s Jane Foster somehow has possession of Mjölnir, Thor’s mythical hammer gifted to him by his father that was seemingly destroyed by his sister Hela in Thor: Ragnarok. And, yet, here it is, mostly intact. We say mostly because the cracks in the hammer from when it was shattered are still visible, but imbued with glowing blue lightning. As the new trailer reveals, that separation provides Mighty Thor with the opportunity to pull off a devastating attack.
In a brief clip, Jane can be seen felling a line of foes by hurling the shards of Mjölnir at them, which then fly back to her to reform the hammer. It’s a pretty sweet trick that not only impresses Thor, but also a ton of people on social media who are absolutely freaking out after the new attack. Again, we’re talking about a trailer where Thor is totally nude, and all people want to talk about is Jane’s new badass hammer move.
You can see just some of the Mjölnir reactions pouring in below:
The Belgian Malinois is a special breed of dog. It’s highly intelligent, extremely athletic and needs a ton of interaction. While these attributes make the Belgian Malinois the perfect dog for police and military work, they can be a bit of a handful as a typical pet.
As Belgian Malinois owner Erin Wilson jokingly told NPR, they’re basically “a German shepherd on steroids or crack or cocaine.”
It was her Malinois Eva’s natural drive, however, that ended up saving Wilson’s life.
According to a news release from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wilson had been walking down a path with Eva slightly ahead of her when a mountain lion suddenly appeared and swiped Wilson across the left shoulder. She quickly yelled Eva’s name and the dog’s instincts kicked in immediately. Eva rushed in to defend her owner.
It wasn’t long, though, before the mountain lion won the upper hand, much to Wilson’s horror.
She told TODAY, “They fought for a couple seconds, and then I heard her start crying. That’s when the cat latched on to her skull.”
Wilson did everything she could to release Eva from the cat’s grasp. She told The Sacramento Bee that she threw rocks, tried choking it and gouging its eyes. But no luck. It wasn’t until she received help from a passing motorist, Sharon Houston, who had a PVC pipe and some pepper spray that the situation improved. The pair were finally able to get the mountain lion to let go, but not before it dragged poor Eva along the path trying to escape. She was quickly rushed to the vet.
Wilson’s beloved canine companion was in life-threatening trouble. Wilson’s husband, Connor Kenny, told SFGATE that Eva had suffered two skull fractures, a punctured sinus cavity, severe damage to her left eye and experienced seizures. The pup’s situation was dire.
To help cover the medical expenses, Wilson created a GoFundMe account and was soon surprised by the outpouring of love and support the public had for her heroic Malinois. The fundraiser gathered more than $30,000, well exceeding what the family needed.
And luckily, Eva never lost her fighting spirit. As was posted on her own Instagram account, Eva recovered, returning home to her sister Mishka (and to new toys, no less).
She even got a milkshake on the way home. And Wilson shared with The Sacramento Bee that there’s going to be more treats where that came from, “stuffies” shall be chewed and steak dinners shall be had.
Eva might technically be a Belgian Malinois, but her true breed is hero. Her fierce determination, loyalty to her loved ones and unbridled courage came out in full force. Because of her, a life was saved. She is, without a doubt, the goodest girl.
Grant Williams, a former studio worker for Wu-Tang Clan, will be awarded $7 million from New York City. Williams served a 23-year prison sentence beginning in 1996 for the murder of Shdell Lewis — a murder he did not commit.
After being granted parole in 2019, Williams was cleared two years after. He then filed a notice of claim to sue the city and overturn the wrongful conviction. According to Associated Press, the comptroller’s office settled Willams’ claim, using their authority to do so without court action, and will pay Williams $7 million.
“This will assist him in going forward and trying to get back on his feet,” said Williams’ layer Irving Cohen.
“I missed him,” Ghostface said. “When he left, part of me left.”
Ghostface was by Williams’ side when he shared the news that he will be receiving $7 million from New York City, according to Associated Press. Cohen also noted that while Williams was incarcerated, he received an associate’s degree and plans to help other wrongfully convicted people in the future.
Wu-Tang Clan is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Last Thursday, The New York Times published an op-ed by Dr. Timothy Snyder, a Yale University history professor and author of several books on fascism and European history. In the piece, simply titled “We Should Say It. Russia Is Fascist,” Snyder claimed that the fascism sentiment in Russia right now is as high as it was during World War II. As such, according to Snyder, “If Ukraine does not win [the Russia Ukraine War], we can expect decades of darkness.”
As The Daily Beast reports, this article has gained a lot of traction in Russian state media circles where an enraged Kremlin has gone so far to dispute the claims that they’ve actually turned on one of their most beloved heroes: former president Donald Trump.
On Friday night, Kremlin TV host Vladimir Solovyov addressed America at large with one big “Listen, you bastards,” then proceeded to explain the many ways in which Trump is a fascist: “Strong leader, with large crowds coming out in his support… Discussions of former greatness. Donald Trump promised to make America great again… Donald Trump’s red hats.”
Russian propagandists seemed all too comfortable labeling their favorite American president as a fascist, despite the fact that they’re counting on Republicans—led by Trump—to gain ground in the U.S. midterm elections and follow an agenda favored by the Kremlin. Meanwhile, Biden’s falling popularity ratings have been discussed by state media with gusto on an almost daily basis. The Biden administration’s backing of Ukraine, including the brutal wave of sanctions against Russia over the invasion, has not sat well with Moscow.
“Author, professor of Yale University Snyder, is trying to convince the readers that we are waging a fascist war,” Solovyov fumed, referring to the historian as a “pseudo-professor of a pseudo-university. “[They say that] we call Ukrainians Nazis because they refuse to recognize themselves as Russians and dare to resist. Snyder knows nothing and understands nothing. He is simply a liar.”
Trump may currently be persona non grata on Russian state TV, but at least they’ve still got golden boy Tucker Carlson.
Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz / Chloe Caldwell/Esther Susag/Nicoletta de la Brown
While flying across the world to a tropical hideaway, romantic European city, or adventure-filled destination is always an incredible time, the truth is that you don’t need to go far to have a memorable travel experience. The United States contains multitudes for lovers of adventure, food, culture, and wild spaces. From Southern hotspots where barbecue joints and live music thrive to Midwest locations where the food scene takes center stage to West Coast favorites that offer quintessential tourist attractions, there are myriad places to explore across the country.
To find out which U.S. destinations you should add to your spring and summer travel plans, we asked travel writers and influencers to share their absolute favorite cities in the U.S. Check out their picks below, clear your calendar, and start booking those domestic plane tickets.
EDITOR’S PICK: STEVE BRAMUCCI (@steve_bramucci) — BEND, OREGON
Unsplash
Bend, Oregon is literally “adventure town, USA.” It’s been named to all the hotlists by all the outlets that cherish rock climbing, mountain biking, river surfing, and hiking — many of them more than once. But it’s not just adventure that Bend specializes in. This is Oregon, after all. There’s also a whole lot of beer and cheffed-up food to be had. Plus some great whiskey, if you know where to look.
Weed is legal. Mushrooms are decriminalized. A river slurps and bumps through downtown. Mountains line the horizon. Everyone is sunkissed and fit. There’s a preponderance of beards, but that can be forgiven. The last Blockbuster on earth opens every morning at 10:30 am sharp.
“This,” a friend who recently moved from Portland to Bend told me last summer as we freaking paddle boarded on the Deschutes River from one free concert to another, “is the best place to live in the country.”
The next day, the same friend took me crashing through the underbrush on mountain bikes. But not like, the sucky part of mountain biking, where you have to upkeep a bike and pedal uphill for a few hours. We did the fun part — in which the shuttle and rental service Cog Wild gave us bikes, motored us to the base of Mt. Bachelor, then sent us on our way to speed recklessly downhill. It was an absolute blast. And made me feel way less bad about housing nine of the 12 pretzel bites pictured below and then slurping down the “beer cheese” about an hour later at Cascade Lakes Brewing Co.
The brewery — I found by drinking beer at 11 am, which is very common in Bend — is also home to a fruity/piney Hazy IPA that was the purest distillation of “Cool Mountain Town” in liquid form I’d ever tasted. Though, to be fair, the town has a lot of breweries competing for that title.
Cascade lakes Brewpub
“Seriously… what more do you need?” that same paddleboard friend asked on the last day of my trip, when he made his pitch for me to move to town. This time, we were lined up on an island in the Deschutes River, waiting to surf the town’s famous standing wave. And the question got me thinking. What more do I need?
“Oh, you have the Verve Pipe on the same bill as Eve 6? TAKE MY MONEY.”
There’s also a totally free concert series that runs the whole summer long. It’s called Munch & Music, which sums the weekly event up pretty neatly — it’s a whole load of food trucks paired with bands fronted by people who still wear Tevas. You want a proper party? For a small(ish) mountain town, Bend has three clubs — Velvet Lounge, Astro Lounge, and SEVEN — along with a whole heap of bars. Better still, these options are tightly crowded together. No monster Uber rides here, you can walk almost anywhere in the downtown area.
“I’m telling you…” my (clearly brilliant) Bend transplant buddy said as we listened to yet another live band at yet another cluster of food trucks, eating one of the most decadent burgers I’ve ever tasted, from Waygu Wagon.
He didn’t need to finish the sentence, I was sold. Thirty years of visiting Bend on vacation with my family plus a few recent trips to see it in its current boom phase have me convinced — it’s the best place to be in the country. I’ve already booked myself back at the vintage-y roadside motor inn-feeling Campfire Hotel for summer ’22.
There’s an energy in Memphis that feels rare in America. Stroll through its neighborhoods, dance in its nightclubs, or post up in a Memphis dive bar and you can almost feel the city breathe. The city’s modest skyline rises over the banks of the Mississippi River, an oasis of creativity that fostered the early beginnings of a sound that changed the world.
When the blues sprang from the flat, humid farmlands that often surround the river’s floodwalls, musicians came to Memphis to make their break. Later, rock and soul genres took that legacy and ran with it. While tourists can certainly get their fill of music history in the city—see the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Blues Hall of Fame, Rock N’ Soul Museum or Sun Studios — a recent renaissance means Memphis is once again out-punching its weight as a global source for creativity.
Slide onto a sofa at Central Station on any weekend night, and you’re likely to mingle with modern hip-hop legends, producers, and disc jockeys. Soak in a Mississippi River sunset from Beck & Call’s rooftop lounge, and you’ll be surrounded by murals of modern Memphis icons like Yo Gotti, Justin Timberlake, and Valerie June.
In a time when many American cities can feel like an extension of one, homogenous apartment complex, Memphis is still defiantly authentic. Its people come with no pretense. Its skyline comes with little luster. The city needs no marketing gimmick because it remains as real as the raw emotions that reverberated through its record studios decades ago and changed the world around us today.
I’d say my hometown — Milwaukee. I know it’s not a city that a lot of people think about, but I can give a few reasons why it’s great. And maybe I’m biased. Summer is the sweet spot. I grew up in Wisconsin, but I’m not a big fan of winter. So summers in Milwaukee are my favorite time of year to be at home. Number one, because there are so many festivals. We have a festival for everybody and everything.
There’s Summer Fest, which is a huge music festival that’s there every summer. But then we also have Black Arts Fest, German Fest, Polish Fest, Pride, Mexican Fiesta. There are literally so many festivals for people of all backgrounds, which is representative of how diverse the city is — even though people don’t know that. There are pockets of different communities across Milwaukee. So I think that comes out the most through our summer festivals. You’re able to see that on display.
As far as things to do, I would say again to focus on summer things because that’s when I explore the most. There are boat cruises you can do, paddle-boating, going to the lakefront is a real big thing. The other big thing you do in Milwaukee is eat. It’s a really great food city so there are tons of things to eat.
If you want a food truck park you can go to Zócalo Food Park. If you want Jamaican food Uppa Yard is my favorite Jamaican spot in the city. If you want some soul food, Daddy’s is always a good choice. If you want Spanish-Portugese food you can go to Amilinda. If you want Indian food, I love India Garden or Cafe India. I could go on and on about the food, but there’s just much to explore. The Southside is predominantly Spanish-speaking, so there’s tons of great Mexican restaurants. Guanajuanto is one that I’ve been to.
Food is one of the reasons I love Milwaukee, and it’s affordable. Everything’s not going to cost $25 or $30 for you to have a really good meal. It’s not an overpriced city, so I think it’s in that really good sweet spot of being one of my favorite cities. It’s accessible for people who are visiting.
My favorite city in the U.S. is St. Paul, and yes, I am biased! I just love the gorgeous summers and falls there with the beautiful lakes and parks. Everything is so accessible, you can get the city vibe, and then five minutes away there’s a gorgeous park with a huge waterfall in it. There’s always something to do. With over 10,000 lakes, boating, fishing, and just being on the water is an amazing thing to do in St. Paul and right outside of the city.
The food scene is unbeatable and filled with variety. Some of my favorites are La Grolla, Red Cow, and Meritage. On top of our food scene, we also have great bars, breweries, and pubs. Seriously, St. Paul is a hidden gem!
San Francisco continues to prove itself as one of my favorite U.S. cities. It’s an all-around colorful city, from the buildings (you’ve gotta visit the iconic Painted Ladies — the setting for Full House!) to the people and lively culture. I love spending time here as there’s always something to do. I especially love visiting for the annual Outside Lands Music Festival — it’s an absolute blast and a must for any avid festival-goers on the west coast.
What I love most about San Francisco are the accessible parks and outdoor spaces. Whether you explore Golden Gate Park, take a stroll through Presidio National Park, which offers 24 miles of hiking trails and 25 miles of bikeways, or have a boozy picnic at Mission Dolores Park, there’s plenty of space to spend time outdoors amidst the busy city lifestyle buzzing around you (just make sure to bring a jacket!).
I recommend spending an afternoon in the Marina District. Here, you’ll find views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and sailboats cruising through the bay. This area also has a ton of trendy bars and restaurants. I love Wildseed, a fully plant-based restaurant that’s downright delish. Order the polenta cakes and spicy sausage pizza, along with the elderly fizz cocktail (trust me, you won’t regret it).
NICOLETTA DARITA DE LA BROWN (@vida.magica.love) — BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
Nicoletta de la Brown
Baltimore has a very special place in my heart. There are people that I love with my whole being that are here, my studio practice is based here, my children are being raised here. I’m from New York, I’m a New Yorker, but Baltimore is home.
As an artist, I want people to come here and absorb the art and meet the people who make beautiful things, but I also want people to come and explore and enjoy the food and the culture. If you come to Baltimore, you definitely need to eat. I would suggest seafood. I’d check out Clavel. I’m Latinx and I love the ceviche at Clavel. The ceviche at Clavel is everything.And the restaurant is minority-owned and family-owned.
I would also check out Home Maid. The brunch at Home Maid is crazy. Also the mixologists and the drinks there are insane. So I would definitely try some of those delicious Southern comfort options but with a twist. It feels a little speakeasy-ish.
Also, I would check out Mount Vernon Marketplace. One of my friends Chyno, The Blue Bearded Foodie, put me onto the colossal crab sandwich, which is insane. If you come to Baltimore, you should probably have blue crab of some kind. This sandwich is definitely an Instagram moment, but it’s also genuinely tasty. When I go to Mount Vernon Marketplace, I always check out Fishnet. It’s woman-owned, black-owned, and the food is so good. Everything is super fresh. When I’m in the mood for seafood, I’m going to hit up Fishnet for sure.
When I do a staycation and want to treat myself, I’ll stay at The Ivy Hotel. It’s a boutique, private hotel. It’s black-owned, it’s insanely luxurious, and it feels super special. You can barely even find the front door — it’s one of those places you gotta know to know. The Ivy Hotel is super posh, it’s super luxe. It’s beautiful. You feel like when you’re walking down the hallway Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, or some other iconic figure is about to pop up. It’s one of those moments when you want to put on a gown and have tea.
The bathtubs there are insane and I’m obsessed with bathtubs. So The Ivy Hotel is a must.
I also will spend the day at Harbor East. I love being by the water. I’ll go shopping, I’ll dance by the water, I will look at the harbor and just remind myself of everything that’s bigger than me and feel deeply connected to so much. Those are my top tips for Baltimore. Definitely come to visit Baltimore, eat some amazing seafood, and support small local businesses.
My top favorite city in the U.S. is New York City! Although it might sound cliche, NYC is its own world that never sleeps. I travel to New York a few times a year because of its fabulous events and bustling atmosphere. If you are a person that thrives in chaos like me, you will definitely want to put a trip in the books for 2022.
Love the arts? Stop by the many famous museums, theatres, or galleries. You’re a foodie? There are hundreds if not thousands of restaurants to try. Some of my favorites are Paesano in Little Italy, Ralph’s Coffee Shop, Boucherie, and Zazzy’s Pizza. I also always hit up Mr. Purple on the Lower Eastside, as well as the Soho area for shopping. The best part in my book is with the subway its so easy to get to your next destination without breaking the bank.
New York City will forever in my heart be my favorite place to visit all year round.
JEREMY FOSTER (@travelfreak) — SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
For the outdoorsy among us, Salt Lake City, Utah may very well be one of the best cities in the United States. With the Wasatch Mountains as a backdrop, you never feel like you’re far from the mountains — and the fact is, you’re not. SLC has all the city amenities and you’re only a few hours from many of the best National Parks in the US, meaning a Utah road trip is never out of the equation. Rent is affordable, you’ve got winter sports just up the road in Park City, and a film festival every year, to boot.
Okay, I had to include two entries because I couldn’t leave out my beloved hometown of Los Angeles. While many aspects of LA are far less glamorous than they appear in the movies that are filmed here and the traffic is downright brutal, this city truly has something for everyone. With West Hollywood’s eclectic food scene, the endless sunshine of Venice Beach, the cliché tourist attractions in Hollywood, and everything in between, I firmly believe LA is somewhere that every kind of traveler should visit at least once.
Every neighborhood in LA offers its own unique charm, so you can spend time exploring each corner of the city and never run out of things to do. No matter where you end up, visiting the beach, hitting a rooftop bar (High Rooftop Lounge and E.P. & L.P. are my favorites!), eating a burger and animal fries from In-N-Out, and visiting one of the many museums are all a must while you’re in town.
Music City is always a good time. Nashville is a very neighborhood-based city, meaning you can go out to a different neighborhood each day/night you’re in the city and have a different vibe and time in each spot. Looking for a college scene? Hang out on Broadway and West End Ave. right next to Vanderbilt University. There’s a dope Santa Fe Taco Co. up there that’ll fill you up on crunchy and soft tacos before your night out. If you’re feeling saucy, there’s also a Hattie B’s Hot Chicken outlet a little further down on Broadway. If you’re brave, try the Cluck You heat level. Be ready for a long stretch of insane heat. To recover, head over to Hopsmith Tavern for a long list of local and national craft brews that turns into a party atmosphere after the sun sets. Once you’re re-set after that hot chicken, hit up Winners (right next to Hopsmith on Division) for a night out dancing, drinking, and (likely) hooking up.
And look at that, a whole night out and we’ve only hit one neighborhood. At some point, you’re going to have to hit downtown and the honkey tonks on Broadway. Yes, a lot of them are very touristy. Just go with the flow, enjoy the $5 Jack and Cokes, and give yourself into the live bands and revelers. You will have a good time.
For a little more upscale time, head to Germantown. The whole vibe is reconstructed warehouses and brick garages with higher-end restaurants, beer bars, and cocktail stops. Grab a slice from 312 Pizza when you get there and then just bar hop all night. Monday Night Brewing, Neighbors, and Mother’s Ruin are all must-stops on any night out.
Naturally, there’s so much more than just partying in Nashville. You can hit the numerous country music museums and sites. The Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline museums are a must. The Country Music Hall of Fame is a great way to walk off your hangover. Then there’s the whole Grand Ole Opry scene just north of downtown.
Finally, you should probably hit up some distilleries for that sweet, sweet Tennessee whiskey. Corsair Distillery is centrally located and worth stopping in if you’re looking for something out of the norm. Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery up in Watkins Park is worth the Uber ride up there. You’ll be greeted by a whole scene of whiskey lovers diving into one of the country’s hottest whiskey lines right now. Just make sure you book your tour ahead of time and don’t sleep on the cocktail bar in the main tasting room.
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