Localphiles

Coming soon to a theater near you, "WE MET ON A PLANE"

2012-02-01T17:54:12Z

Happy February, my fellow localphiles! Love is officially in the air (pun intended). Just in time for V-Day, cue the launch of a great new site, We Met On A Plane. Think Craigslist's "Missed Connections," but much more practical! According to the Huffington Post, 4,400 people search for "met on a plane" on google each month, so there's clearly a market here.

Sometimes you're having a great conversation with your seatmate, but then that xanax kicks in and you're out like a light! By the time you wake up, you can't even remember where you are, let alone your flirty banter from 5 hours ago! He asks for your number, and you hear "Did you have a good slumber?" Just me?

Anyway, in true localphile spirit, we encourage you to chat with your fellow travelers. If this tool helps connect you with your future husband/wife/life travel partner, what icing on the cake!

Get ready for plenty more Valentine's themed posts this month. As you know, travel is my Valentine. For now. January was a tough month for travel, but our bank accounts are finally recharged and begging to see some foreign transaction fees!

Until next time,

Lindsey

IN LOVE WITH SAN FRANCISCO

2012-02-01T00:23:49Z

Want to fall in love with San Francisco? In less than 3 minutes you will. Thanks to Jaunted for the great clip.

I'm moving.

-Justin

A BETTER LA BRUNCH

2012-01-30T18:24:09Z

More often than not, we living in Southern California are often at brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings. It's basically drinks, or catching up dinner for the weekend...it just happens only on the Saturday or Sunday. Ok, enough with that.

My friend Noah, suggested that Lindsey and I, prior to the LA Times Travel Show, grab breakfast at Nickel Diner. Noah makes pretty great suggestions (i.e. Cliff's Edge, Street), so I followed his word and Lindsey and I headed downtown Sunday morning to see what we'd been missing. Cutting to the chase here...Nickel Diner is exceptional. One of the best breakfast experiences I've ever had in Los Angeles.

It maintains it's charm from the 1940's with the old menu still painted on the wall. Re-opened in 2008 after extensive renovation, Nickel Diner doesn't cease to amaze. From their homemade pop-tarts (they had apple or pumpkin when we went), to their famous Maple-Glazed Bacon Donut...all the fare is great. Refills on coffee, mimosas offered the minute you sit down, and probably the best bacon I've ever had in Los Angeles. The kicker is this...it's priced like breakfast should be. Two meals, two drinks, a homemade pop-tart and Lindsey and I were splitting a $22 breakfast. $11 breakfasts in LA seem almost non-existent.

So next time you're looking for a great breakfast and you don't want to weather the lines on Melrose or 3rd, and you have a real craving for a homemade pop-tart (cause who doesn't), you should head to the Nickel Diner for an old fashioned breakfast.

-Justin

I HEART NY

2011-11-04T17:35:33Z

This video has been making the rounds this morning. It's well worth 5 minutes of your time. Andrew manages to capture the true local flavor of New York City - no easy task! I love how authentic and unexpected some of his images are. You really get a sense of everyday New York, and the people who make up that wonderful city. Take a look:

A Year in New York from Andrew Clancy on Vimeo.

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

-Lindsey

A CASE FOR MOONLIGHT

2011-11-04T16:36:22Z

When most people think about skiing adventures, they think Tahoe or Vail or Wintergreen...when I think of skiing, or just getting away in general, I would have to side with Montana. Most people aren't aware of how surreal and breathtaking (no hyperbole there at all) that Montana is. The great thing is, that most don't know about Big Sky or Moonlight Basin, and due to that fact, they both stay real local. Also, when combined with Big Sky's runs, it's the biggest skiing in America...so, there's that.

Moonlight is above Big Sky on the mountain, so you're lodging at around 9500'...and it's apparent. The balconies on the cabin that I stayed in over looked the entire mountain, valley and surrounding areas. The picture to your left was taken looking off the balcony of our cabin. Postcard? Alright then.

Moonlight Basin is probably one of the most nostalgically lodge-y places I've been to. In that I mean that it's what you think of when you think of skiing, log cabins and luxury. Every cabin is different, employing the same basic feel/look.

"Choose from cozy cabins to ski chalets, or spacious and secluded mountain homes." Moonlight Basin really does have it all, and they provide so much to their guests...it's truly a flawless mountain experience. We're talking outdoor hot tubs, grills on the balconies, stocked wood supplies for their wood burning fireplaces, satellite TV in every room and heated tile floors so you don't freeze your toes off in the mornings. Oh...and boot warmers. No big deal. But yes.

The lodge is just as inviting. With ice skating, a heated out door hot tub, the classiest bar on the mountain (they're one of the only places with Hendricks Gin) and an incredible restaurant.

Getting up to Big Sky is a bit of a hassle, but it's well worth it. There are daily flights in via United, Delta and Frontier. The trip is pretty short if you're flying one way, but there are only 2 one way flights from LAX a day. Nevertheless, it's an amazing experience that shouldn't be forgotten about just because of the air travel.

So next time you are looking for a ski resort that is more locally focused, a bit more homegrown and with the biggest skiing in America, look no further than Moonlight Basin.

Who's going with me?

-Justin

ANOTHER VIRGIN?

2011-11-02T06:57:05Z

Might have just found out some of the best news ever. Well...sort of. Virgin will soon be opening Virgin Hotels. That's right, the same service, quality and innovation that we've come to love with Virgin America, Atlantic, Trains...will now be in the hotel sector. First stop? Chicago in 2013.

Virgin Hotels has purchased the Dearborn Bank Building, a Chicago landmark. It was one of only two office buildings designed by famous theater architects Rapp & Rapp. Virgin Hotels will keep the outside as it and accent it's architectural splendor inside. A sigh of relief for such a great company like Virgin to come in and preserve the landmark as opposed to gentrifying/tearing down. We love this idea of keeping the skyline as is and simply making the inside 2011, if you get my drift. I'm a much bigger fan of the nostalgia than I am the gleaming metal and glass that has come around as of late.

We expect that Virgin will do exceptionally well in their hotel venture. Some hotels will open prior to the 2013 opening of the Chicago property, but it remains to be seen as to where they will be.

I mean...Virgin America, but on the ground? Alright.

-Justin

A GREAT KIMPTON SALE

2011-10-28T00:12:56Z

We here at Localphiles are pretty big fans of Kimpton Hotels. Maybe it's their wine hour or their, pretty much complimentary, Wi-Fi. What I think we love the most is that Kimpton Hotels tend to pride themselves in being a lot more boutique than their counterparts and we'd have to agree. Their Hotel Monaco in DC is in the old US Post Office building and is independently designed (they all are). I actually have plans to stay at the Hotel Palomar in Washington DC this Christmas, and I'm damn excited. But that's not the point here.

What we're letting you all know about is a fantastic sale they're having right now. We're talking $99 rates at some incredible hotels. But here is the catch, you have to become an InTouch member. Which costs you nothing and you get complimentary WiFi, two items from the minibar and the occasional welcome gift. Best part is that InTouch members also get five days a year when many of the hotels put their rooms up for $99 per weekend night.

You should join (click here), enjoy the free perks (there is no ranking system, just simple rewards) and remember this tip we just got from our friends at HotelChatter, "If you're dining at a restaurant within a Kimpton Hotel—say like Sable Kitchen & Bar at the Hotel Palomar Chicago—say "nutmeg" to your server to enjoy a complimentary appetizer."

-Justin

WANDERLUST MUCH?

2011-10-26T01:23:41Z

Nobody--and I mean nobody does Wanderlust like The Cool Hunter. They had me at "Part 1," but their stellar follow up feature, "Part 2," tops it.

Here are my favorites:

Porto Katsiki, Lefkada Island, GreeceBern, Switzerland

Rice Field Terraces in Yunnan, China

See the full collection here.

-Lindsey

BACK TO THE GOLDEN AGE

2011-10-21T16:52:34Z

Shut down in 2001, with TWA folding into American Airlines, the famed TWA Flight Center at JFK has reopened. For a bit. For hours. Literally. Open House New York opened the doors to the historic terminal for 4 hours this week and "half of New York" showed up to take a look. Since I couldn't go, I've included some of the best pictures here (courtesy of Jaunted).

The great thing about Terminal 5 is that it is on the National Registry of Historic Places...meaning it's really not going anywhere. Sad thing about this is -- Pan Am's historic Worldport terminal is not on the list...so it's being torn down by 2015. Damn.

Note some of the famous "pieces" of this terminal. The scarlet seating area, the ceiling clock and one of my favorite things (and so few are left) a "digital" split-flap display departure board. They're few and far between but you can still find them in Grand Central, Luftansa's Frankfurt terminal.

While some would say that these terminals are on the outs, I would say we're seeing a resurgance of beautifully designed airline terminals. Take Virgin America's Terminal 2 at SFO, San Jose Airport or Raliegh-Durham's (Curtis Fentress designed) terminal.

I think we might come close to another terminal a la the TWA Terminal 5, but I highly doubt it. Until then, I'll have to fly to NY the next time this sucker is open and just relish in the golden age of jet travel.

-Justin

Why DO we shoot fish in a barrel?

2011-10-19T16:16:42Z

In true Localphiles spirit, one of my favorite things to do when I'm abroad is to pick up a bit of the local slang. A popular idiom can go a long way. Case in point: you've just ordered "fish" to drink instead of water. The waiter is looking at you with utter disdain. Throw in the local catchphrase for "Don't mind me, I'm just a complete idiot with my foot in my mouth," and you're instantly forgiven.

Sometimes, however, these foreign idioms make absolutely NO. SENSE. The French say "Avaler des couleuvres," which literally translates to "to swallow grass snakes." I'm told this has something to do with suffering humiliation and sucking it up. Right. My favorite Italian idiom is "Magari," which has no literal translation, but basically means "I wish! Yeah Right! If only! Ha!"

Continuing with this week's "lingual" theme, I came across this video and just had to share. This poor German guy is utterly confused by several American idioms, particulary "shooting fish in a barre." I can't really blame him.

-Lindsey