More than anything, it’s about celebrating togetherness and showing gratitude for earth’s bounty. So bring some Midsummer magic into your own life by breaking out the drinks, lighting up a bonfire, and gathering friends for a game-filled dinner party.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs3kDnnBGE6/

Origin Story

Midsummer originates from Scandinavian pagan traditions that welcomed warm weather and fertile fields. Celebrated with the summer solstice, it always falls on the Saturday between June 20 and 26 (though epic festivities stretch across the whole week). Pagan Swedes believed early summer to be inherently magical and used the time to gather healing plants, decorate their homes with greenery, and even deck themselves out in ferns to become “green men.”

Smaklig Måltid!

Eats and drinks are central to the fun. Pair pickled herring and cured salmon with crackers or mustard and mayonnaise for dipping. The libation of choice is aquavit—a distilled herbal spirit Swedes call “snaps” that’s been produced in Scandinavia since the 15th century. Serve it chilled in small tulip glasses. No Midsummer feast is complete without jordgubbstårta. Whip up this strawberry cake by mixing cut strawberries into vanilla cake batter, then top your creation with ricotta cheese (really!) and strawberry slices.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CtBIIArIF1F/

Game On

The maypole is a Midsummer staple. The huge wooden pole decorated with flowers and leaves serves as the centerpiece for traditional folk dances, including the Små grodorna, which has participants hop around while singing about tiny frogs. Outdoor games are a given (especially after a few rounds of snaps) and range from sack races to fiskdamm, where kids use sticks to “fish” for prizes behind a raised fabric. (Just whip out an old bed sheet, buy some candy, and boom: fiskdamm complete.) Another popular activity is a good old-fashioned taste test. Fill Mason jars with unlabeled herbs, beers, or even aquavits to see who can guess the most correctly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on9PLzlY0Ww

Nature, Naturally

The Midsummer “look” isn’t complete without a crown of freshly picked flowers. Shape a piece of flower wire into a circle and use green floral tape to secure leaves and foliage as your base. Then beautify your crown with flowers (those with stems at least three inches long are easier to tape). After the festivities, dry and store the flowers, then display them during winter to ward off bad spirits. Oh, and if you fancy an energizing start to your day, another tradition is to wash one’s face with morning dew just as the summer sun rises. Early risers rejoice!

For those new to outdoor activities and wanting to spend more time outside— whether trying new hiking locations, venturing into climbing, or learning how to safely camp— most necessary information is not readily available, and quite frankly, the outdoor community can be quite exclusive and elitist. Although it may seem easy to “get outdoors,” the reality is that gear is expensive, knowledge of your surroundings is necessary, and the great outdoors are not always safe to explore alone. This makes the outdoor community typically white, affluent, ableist, and exclusive. It also makes it difficult for people to try new outdoor activities. But Unlikely Hikers is here to change that.

According to their website, “Unlikely Hikers is a diverse, anti-racist, body-liberating outdoor community featuring the underrepresented outdoorsperson… Unlikely Hikers is for adventurers who are plus-size & fat, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, queer, trans and non-binary, disabled, neurodivergent and beyond.” They were founded by Jenny Bruso and exist as an online community, with a podcast, and even meeting up IRL for group events.

On their Instagram, they connect their community, and pass along essential outdoor information. They uplift stories of incredible adventures from Unlikely Hikers, sharing what is possible for all folks. From humor to how-tos, they share posts such as how a backpack should fit, and their incredible journeys as a group.

Unlikely Hikers gather throughout the United States to do group hikes with the motto, “no hiker left behind.” They recently met up in southeastern New York at the Minnewaska State Park Preserve and have hikes scheduled throughout the summer with different focuses. On June 17, Unlikely Hikers hosted a Queer Pride hike with the Venture Out Project, exclusively for 2SLGBTQIA+ hikers, and an Accessible group hike on June 24 in Portland, specifically for those with disabilities.

As Unlikely Hikers states on their website, “If you see yourself as an Unlikely Hiker, then you are.” So if you’re excited to get outdoors, there is a community waiting for you wherever you might be starting.

Top Photo by Ameruverse Digital Marketing Media: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-standing-in-front-of-pine-trees-1687514/

BUST has been a home for many incredible stories over the years, and has held a special place in the hearts of many over the decades. (If you’re feeling sentimental, check out this retrospective we did for our 25th anniversary, where readers share their favorite moments about the magazine.) As time passes and the social landscape changes, BUST has continued to publish fresh and innovative features on the coolest feminists of today.

BUST, like boygenius, was formed independently by a trio of badass women. BUST started out as a homemade zine in 1993. The first few issues were photocopied, stapled together, and distributed by its three founders, Laurie Henzel, Debbie Stoller, and Marcela Karp.

In those 30 years, we’ve created a bi-annual craft fair, published several books, and have had over 10,000 subscribers as of 2018. For our 30th anniversary issue, we decided to celebrate with boygenuis, the indie-rock supergroup that’s taking the world by storm.

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boygenius is composed of indie-rock singer Julien Baker, viral folk sensation Phoebe Bridgers, and singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus. In our summer issue, released on June 1st, the trio discussed their rise to being one of the most influential feminist supergroups of the modern age. The members of the band talk with BUST about their blooming friendship, their (sometimes rabid) fanbase, and Kristen Stewart, who directed the band’s short film. They also discuss their debut studio album, The Record, which was released earlier this year on March 31st.

Dacus and Baker had previously been acquainted since they both performed together in Washington DC back in 2016, but after performing on the same bill in 2018, all three women got together to record a promotional single for the tour. They decided that they were having too much fun to stop, and later that year, they released their first official EP as boygenius. How did they land on their unique and discordant name? How did the COVID-19 epidemic affect their success? How do they feel about their adoring fans? And who the hell is Maxine? You’ll just have to pick up our newest issue to find out!

But boygenius isn’t the only thing we’re highlighting this summer. Here are some other cool things to look out for in the 2023 Summer issue.

Check out our feature on Malaysian film producer and screenwriter, Adele Lim. Lim talks with us about her new R-rated comedy, Joy Ride, which came out June 7th. Joy Ride is the first major studio film with an all Asian-American (and predominantly female) cast. The film is raunchy, delightful, and diverse. Lim was open with BUST about the real-life inspiration behind Joy Ride, Asian-American representation in media, and her lengthy list of credits (including Disney’s Raja and The Last Dragon, and Crazy Rich Asians). “We’re finding joy and reveling in our own messiness, just like any other white guy’s R-rated comedy.” Succinct, substantial, and chock-full of intersectional feminism, Adele Lim’s feature is a must-read.

But that’s not all the intersectionality we have to offer; check out the other pieces on writer and activist Rachel Cargle, and our feature on comedian and “cat daddy” Marc Maron.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Caren

This issue is also full of fun treats for those long hot summer days, like our recipe for grilled peaches, and DIY Balboa Bars. The only thing better than enjoying a cool homemade treat on a hot summer day is looking cool while you do it. Take a look through our ‘Looksee’ feature, where we list all the things we’re into this season, like this cutely packaged sunscreen, these size inclusive swimsuits, and unique sunnies to shield your eyes from the sun’s rays. There’s more cool attire featured throughout; our Get The Look section highlights several Malibu Barbie-themed accessories, like these Moxi roller skates, and this vintage polaroid film camera. But we’re just as comprehensive about our fashion coverage as we are with our anthropology.

This summer’s issue is also full of cool cultural pieces and historical topics, like the extensive feature on the lives of women in the rural mountains of Tibet. The story, written by Eleanor Moseman, details Moseman’s time spent with Tibetan villager Jamyang Tsomo and her family. It covers Tsomos daily chores, which include tending to yaks, harvesting barley, and looking after her family. Jamyang Tsomo’s story is a phenomenal glance into the lesser covered fierce women of the modern world. And she’s not the only cool cultural feature we have. This Summer’s issue also has an inside scoop on “one of the Middle Ages most fascinating figures,” visionary St. Hildegard of Bingen, written by noted historian Dr. Eleanor Janega.

So if you haven’t subscribed already, you’re definitely missing out. There’s something so special about receiving a physical print publication in the mail. It’s nostalgic, and reminiscent of the simpler bittersweet days of adolescence. Relieve the days of reading horoscopes aloud to your bestie and skimming the pages of a magazine for cute summer accessories. Alternatively, indulge your curiosity for knowledge by checking out our features on the historic town of Dublin, or the origins of Midsummer (the Scandinavian Pagan tradition, not the Ari Aster film!) And of course, as always, there’s way more!

We here at BUST are proud to provide a platform for everything; and our digital articles are no different. From updates on the new Barbie Movie, to abortion rights, and from Taylor Swift & Ice Spice collaborations, to coverage on an all girls robotics team in Afghanistan, there’s always an exciting online feature for you. Sounds enticing? Keep an eye out for us on your news feed, as well as on your local newsstands. Here’s to another 30 years. And 30 more after that!

Subscribe now to get your hands on this 30th Anniversary issue!

Top Image: Photo Credit: Ramona Rosales

Whether you’re road tripping to see family or leavin’ on a jet plane for vacay, packing your stuff and then lugging it around can be stressful. But having the right luggage changes everything. Here are our picks for the most stylish luggage sets to help you travel like a pro.

Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board

This is the lightest carry-on in the world, legit—it weighs only 3.9 pounds! Even loaded up with 360-degree spinner wheels and a TSA-approved lock, it’s the definition of “traveling light.” Carry-On Light, $245, july.com.

Lavender in the Air

The wheels on this baby fro Away do a full 360, making zooming through crowded airports a breeze. This stylish luggage has a TSA-approved lock and a flex feature that can size it up to schlep back your souvenirs. Bonus: Away is women-owned and partners with various charities and organizations, including the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association. The Carry-On Flex, $325

Make It Personal

Combine this under-seat-size bag with a carry-on and you’ll never need to check a suitcase again. Its four separate compartments include a laptop pocket and a charging port (you have to use your own power bank but the port makes it more accessible). Plus, the straps are super comfy, so you can load it up without breaking your back. Backpack for Laptop, $32.99, matein.com.

Roam Where You Want To

This bag is spendy, but you can customize the color of every element, including the front and back shells, wheels, zipper, binding, and handle, so you’ll never have trouble spotting your bag on the carousel. Plus, it has a built-in TSA-approved lock, an expandable option for even more room, and a lifetime warranty for functional fixes. The Large Carry-On, $575, roamluggage.com.

Retro-a-Go-Go

Take off in style with this vintage-inspired suitcase set. It’s got the look of old-school luggage but with the ease of updates—like quiet 360-spinner wheels and a built-in combo lock—for smoother travels. Personalized Pink Floral Luggage Set, $239.99 for a 2-piece set, patternislands.etsy.com.

This article originally appeared in the Winter 22/23 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

Top images: patternislands.etsy.com, matein.com, awaytravel.com

I had a chance to live the RV dream a few years ago when my bestie and I toured New Zealand, where campervans are a regular mode of tourist travel and you’re never more than 20 minutes from the nearest campsite. We rented a schmancy campervan with a combo toilet/shower, kitchen with sink and gas burners, dining area, queen-sized bed, and plenty of storage space. In it, we traveled the coast of the South Island, stopping to visit seals and penguins and goats and sheep, and overnighting at various campsites that ranged from little more than a parking lot to a weird petting zoo/carnival/playground type of place. My friend did all the driving (I was too scurred), and I took care of planning and preparing all our meals. It was a division of labor that worked out swimmingly.

One night, during a heavy downpour, we cozied up inside with popcorn and hot cocoa, feeling sorry for our soggy tent-camping neighbors

It didn’t occur to me to RV vacay in the U.S., but the combination of COVID, an elderly mother, and a burning need to go somewhere made me realize it was the perfect solution. Together with my pod of my mom, myself, my brother, and my sister-in-law, we spent a few days in a rented camper, visiting two local parks, where we had lovely campfires, made dinners, took long walks with mom in her wheelchair, and sat around relaxing. One night, during a heavy downpour, we cozied up inside with popcorn and hot cocoa, watching TV on an iPad and feeling sorry for our soggy tent-camping neighbors. It was one of the nicest trips we’ve ever had together.

You can rent RVs from private owners or large chains, and they go for about $100 to over $750 per day, depending on the model and season. If you can afford around $250 a day you’ll have plenty of options. Hoping for something cute and custom? Try a private owner. Beware of those adorable, older “vintage” models, though—RVs can, and do, break down. Traveling in a basic beige-and-brown number from a rental outlet? Bring along colorful tablecloths, throw blankets, bedding, and strings of fairy lights to personalize your experience. 

Bring along colorful tablecloths, throw blankets, bedding, and strings of fairy lights to personalize your experience. 

Most RVs are able to generate their own electricity and hot water, so you can pretty much stay anywhere it’s legal to spend the night. This kind of “dry camping” or “boondocking” only works for as long as your propane and water last. Also, you’ll have to find a place to get rid of your sewage—or “black water”—before you return the vehicle, which must be done at special sanitary dump stations (there’s a directory at sanidump.com). Don’t worry—the way this is set up on most RVs, you’ll never have to really come face to face with that stuff. That said, it’s definitely easier to stay in a location meant for RVs, with electric and water hookups (and on-site dump stations). Private “RV parks” may have sewage lines as well, and even cable and Internet connections. In all cases, try and get to your campsite before dark. Parking your rig at a site can be challenging, especially if you have a back-in spot rather than a “pull-through.” 

Types of Campers 

Class A: These are giant buses, like the kind rock bands tour in. They require a truck driver’s license to drive, so probably not an option.

Class B: The super-cute van type you see those #vanlife folks travelling in. Some have toilets, kitchens, and showers; others are more like a Scooby-Doo van. They’re easiest to drive, but the ones with amenities can be extremely pricey to rent. 

Class C: This is probably what comes to mind when you think of an RV. They can be more intimidating to drive than a campervan, but you don’t need a special license, and if you’re not a chicken like me, you’ll be fine. They range in length from from 20’ to 30’ or more. 

Where to Rent an RV

Outdoorsy.com is the Airbnb of rental sites. It allows people with RVs to rent them out—some will even deliver them to your house. Unfortunately, I was burned three times on Outdoorsy—one owner canceled just four days before our trip, and some owners list RVs as being available when they really aren’t. If you’re dead-set on finding an IG-worthy rig, however, here’s where to look.

Rvshare.com is another Outdoorsy-type place, but most people who list on one also list on the other, so I would predict similar issues.

Cruise America is a national chain, and I recommend it highly. They have 128 locations across the U.S. and Canada, each with multiple vehicles, so if one breaks down, they’ll likely have a replacement available. They also have the pickup and drop-off process down to a science and include manuals and phone assistance if you need it. Though they won’t deliver the vehicle to you, you can usually leave your car in their lot until you return (for a fee). Best of all, they have a limited number of models (basically large, medium, small, and tiny), so decision-making is much simpler. 

Finally, there are local, independent RV rental outlets. If you find one, be sure to read the Yelp reviews to make sure they are legit and reliable.

What to Look for in an RV

Finding an RV that includes the following amenities will make for the most comfortable trip:

• Electric generator
• Electric and water hookups
• Toilet and shower (sometimes the bathroom itself is also the shower stall.)
• Kitchen with sink, burners, microwave, and fridge 
• Dining area with windows where you can sit even if people are still asleep
• At least one bed that doesn’t need to be set up at night and taken apart in the morning. 
• Decent amount of storage for food and clothing, etc.
• In the summer, make sure you have an air conditioner; any other season, check for a heater.
• Enough outlets to charge all the stuff you need.

Where to Stay

Public Parks with campsites often offer a few spots for RVs, some with electric and water hookups. These are cheap (like, $20 a night) and awesome, but can be difficult to find, as there is no central listing site. You can start with nps.gov/subjects/camping/campground.htm, but may have better luck searching state and county websites for parks with campgrounds that accommodate RVs.

Hipcamp.com is a bit like the Airbnb of campsites (last Airbnb reference, I promise). Here, people offer up areas on their private properties for campers. Few will have hookups, so you’ll be boondocking, but you can camp by the side of a lake, on a farm, or even in someone’s driveway.

Both Reserveamerica.com and Campendium.com offer loads of RV parks to browse, which can vary from stark (basically parking lots) to kind of nice (like a family vacation resort with pools and playgrounds) to rundown trailer park vibes. RV parks do tend to have the most hookup options (including sewer), but do as much pre-reservation googling as possible to get a real sense of what the place is like. 

Additional Inspo

Girl Camper is a print magazine and website that encourages women to “camp like a girl,” and you’ll find tons of ideas and resources there. 

Illustrated by Meredith Felt

photos: Togo RV / Unsplash (mirror); Lawton Cook / Unsplash (window)

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2021 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

I have to admit, before this year, I always kind of took Atlantic City, NJ, for granted. Las Vegas’ grungier, East Coast counterpart, this seaside vacation town is where my grandparents on both sides all spent their humble honeymoons and was the setting for a seedy 1980 crime drama starring Susan Sarandon. But a recent visit to the shiny, new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino—a miraculous re-build over the remains of Donald Trump’s dismal Taj Mahal—really opened my eyes to what safe travel can look like in the COVID era while reminding me that “Work From Home” can really mean “Work From Anywhere.”

By the time I made it to the Hard Rock with my guy, I was in pretty rough shape. As someone at higher risk for COVID, I had been living as a virtual prisoner in my tiny East Village N.Y.C. apartment for the past six months. Whenever I tried to venture out for a little sun or a nice walk, I was scared back inside by streets crowded with maskless partiers with To-Go cups of cocktails; sick, displaced folks in hospital gowns doing hard drugs in front of boarded up businesses; and even a parade of maskless strangers from NYU heavily laden with beer making their may to my roof for a clandestine party. It just didn’t seem worth it to even try anymore. My skin turned gray, there were dark circles under my worried eyes, and the health risks of living like veal were beginning to compete with the dangers of the virus.

So when I was invited to Hard Rock’s Atlantic City location to check out the new Safe + Sound protocols being put into place at all of their destinations worldwide, the idea of spending a few days with plenty of uncrowded outdoor space and indoor areas being maintained in strict accordance with CDC guidelines sounded literally like a breath of fresh air. I couldn’t get there fast enough.

 Atlantic City is only a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Manhattan, so my guy and I were able to pay a friend with a car to get us there safely. But the real safety party began at the front door to the hotel. Posted at every entrance was a security guard with thermal scanning equipment ensuring that nobody running a fever could get in. We also had to answer a lengthy list of questions about possible COVID exposure. The place is an anti-viral fortress.

 Once inside, there were more security guards maintaining 100% mask compliance and social distancing while making sure nobody was eating or drinking outside strictly designated areas. Smoking was prohibited everywhere, the front desk was walled off by plexiglass dividers, and so was every seat at every table throughout the entire casino, making the few gamblers and dealers on the floor look like rare exhibits under glass. 
Hand sanitizer dispensers were absolutely everywhere, and a literal army of staff wearing bright yellow Safe + Sound shirts were buzzing around like an army of helpful bees constantly disinfecting every surface in sight. The few times I ventured into public bathrooms they were always in the process of being cleaned and signs outside informed visitors that every restroom was being cleaned hourly.

After a completely contactless check-in, we took our bags up to our ocean-view room and had to break a seal that had been placed on our door signifying that the space we were entering had passed a 272-point inspection process. The room smelled like lavender and fresh linen. Sun was shining in through the curtains and waves were rolling in on the nearly empty beach below. I had just arrived and already I never wanted to leave.

What followed was a whirlwind of totally revitalizing days spent walking the historic boardwalk, gazing out to sea watching surfers ride the sparkling September waves, swimming in the blissfully uncrowded pool, basking on the socially distanced sun deck, playing the sanitized slots (my lucky machine was Pac Man), racing go-karts on Central Pier, melting into an amazing fully-masked massage at the Rock Spa, and generally reminding myself how to be a happy, fully-functioning person again. I even managed to get work done—while the desk in our room was perfectly adequate for a day or two, I found that answering emails while propped up on six pillows in the enormous king-sized bed made me feel like the Queen of BUST Magazine.

 The part of the trip I was most nervous about before I arrived was eating, so I packed a few things for the room’s mini fridge. But I quickly realized that I could safely navigate feeding myself outside of what I brought, too. My favorite meal was a decadent old-school room-service breakfast—the rolling cart with the coffee and the fruit and the toast and all those little pots of jam—heaven!  

Another great meal was had when we found the Hard Rock outpost of the famous Atlantic City sub shop White House (a local institution since 1946!) in the “Flavor Tour” food court area. We grabbed a couple of huge sandwiches and sodas and ate them in a deserted outdoor area that pre-COVID was a bar but now functioned as a perfect place to eat overlooking the ocean. When I saw how truly far apart the tables at the indoor dining options were and how few diners were allowed to eat there at a time, we also decided to try a sit-down place called Sugar Factory. It was there that we had the most memorable drinking experience of our stay—an enormous goblet of blue, boozy, fizzy, blue-raspberry-flavored craziness that smoked and bubbled like a cauldron and had jawbreakers and blue gummy bears floating amongst the ice cubes. The snaps I took of my guy doing battle with that beverage were by far the most popular on social media.

We enjoyed our time in Atlantic City so much we decided to stay an extra day. In fact, we’re already planning to return to the Jersey Shore (assuming New Jersey’s COVID transmission rate stays among the lowest in the nation at around 2%) the next time the quarantine blues become too much to bear. That being said, however, it should be noted that during my boardwalk explorations I did peek inside a few other oceanside casino resorts and the safety measures in those places were not comparable to those I experienced at the Hard Rock. I didn’t see thermal scanners at the door anywhere else and if there were extra cleaning crews on-hand, they were not an obvious visible presence like where I was staying. The whole Safe + Sound program definitely put my mind at ease during my first outing away from home since the COVID crisis began and helped me re-capture a little glimmer or normalcy during a very abnormal time. If Americans are ever allowed to travel to other countries again, I’ll be tempted to look for Hard Rock resorts outside the U.S. before deciding where to visit next.

Los Angeles feels like a hodgepodge of disparate towns, mashed into one giant, perennially sunny, palm tree-studded city. It’s got glittering beaches and boardwalks, lush mountains, jammed freeways, and towering skyscrapers. There’s old Hollywood glamour and new Cali cool. Taco stands are ubiquitous and famouses roam wild. Writing this during quarantine, I miss it all. So here’s a little love letter to L.A., featuring recs from some of our favorite BUST-y Angelenos. This piece is also a practice in manifestation (so very L.A.): hopefully as you’re reading it, Los Angeles will have glimmers of its formerly bustling self, and all of these incredible spots will be welcoming us with open doors. 

morning

Start the day with a cappuccino and beignets at the bright and airy Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen in Inglewood, the new spot co-owned by actor Issa Rae. Hopefully it’s the second Sunday of the month, so you can head to the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, the sprawling mother of all vintage markets with several thousand vendors shilling all kinds of wares. Continue the shopping spree at The Plus Bus in Glassell Park where owners Jen Wilder and Marcy Guevara-Prete offer plus-size fashion from colorful mod dresses to sequined crop tops to a rack curated by Gabi Fresh. And pick up the utilitarian jumpsuit that looks good on everyone from the rainbow of colors at tiny clothing shop Big Bud Press in Echo Park. 

The Getty by Emily Shur

Emily V. Gordon
Screenwriter and podcaster

Eat: “Jitlada in Thai Town! This unassuming Thai restaurant is intensely spicy, incredibly delicious, often has a long wait, and is completely worth it. I get the Pumpkin with Crab Meat.” 

Drink: “I love the Turmeric Almond Macadamia latte at Go Get ’Em Tiger. I usually go to the one in Los Feliz because it’s an outdoor patio restaurant. Having enough time in the afternoon to meet a friend there is a real luxury.” 

Chill: “The ArcLight Cinemas Hollywood. I miss and love the communal experience of everyone coming together as a unit to enjoy a movie. The ArcLight is my favorite place to be.” 

Otherwild by Isabella Behravan

Chani Nicholas
Astrologer

Eat: “ixlb DimSum Eats in Hollywood is a new favorite. I could eat there every day!”

Shop: “Every time I am on the Eastside I stop by Otherwild in Los Feliz.”

Chill: “Topanga State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains has always been a sanctuary for me.”

afternoon

Take your post-shopping appetite to Kismet in East Hollywood where chefs/owners Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson serve up modern Mediterranean eats in a soothing, neutral-colored space. Oh, you want dessert? Magpies Softserve in Silver Lake it is! Pastry chef co-founder Rose Schwartz makes all the flavors—like Ube Coconut and Roasted Strawberry—from scratch. Next, indulge your inner desk-supply geek at Shorthand in Highland Park, where owner Rosanna Kvernmo stocks an inspiringly curated collection of stationery sundries. Next, grab a bottle of wine from Vinovore in Silver Lake, a wine shop focused on female winemakers, and a steamy book or two from The Ripped Bodice in Culver City, a romance-only bookstore run by sisters Bea and Leah Koch. 

Bea and Leah Koch by Jenn LeBlanc

Mandy Harris Williams
Writer, Artist, WCCW programming director

Eat: “El Siete Mares in Silver Lake—my favorite fish taco in the city for approaching 10 years.” 

Drink: “Silverlake Coffee in Silver Lake. Three words: Espresso Banana smoothie.”

Shop: “Painted Bird in Silver Lake. I know it’s risky to share your favorite vintage store, but here we are!” 

Chill: “Upstairs at Ace Hotel Rooftop in DTLA. I throw a conversational event series at the Ace called SALON. We dive into a critical topic (like the need to recognize Afro Latinx artists) and then go upstairs for a decompression (skinny dipping in the heated pool has definitely happened).” 

Ace Hotel Rooftop by Emily Shur

Lauren Toyota
Hot for Food host and vegan cookbook author

Eat: “Joy on York in Highland Park. I’m obsessed with the vegan Dan Dan noodles.”

Drink: “Crossroads Kitchen in Beverly Grove. The vegan food is amazing but I can also work my way down the cocktail list!”

Shop: “I like browsing and shopping on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice because there are some hidden gems mixed with mainstream stuff.”

evening

It’s time to put on your best martini-sipping lewk for some old-school glamour at Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood, which has been serving movie stars steak and shrimp cocktail since 1919. Then on to the Filipina-owned Genever in Historic Filipinotown; this small, dimly lit bar is Art Deco femme personified. Welp, you’re drunk; it’s time for street tacos—head to Taco Zone in Echo Park, a taco truck mainstay in a grocery store parking lot. If you eat meat, the suadero is insane, but the veggie burrito is an excellent nightcap. 

By Lisa Butterworth
Top photo: The Getty by Emily Schur
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2020 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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A Feminist Guide To Morongo Basin, California

WHO RUN RWANDA? Women. Ever since the country’s tragic genocide nearly 25 years ago, the women left behind have been rallying together. As entrepreneurs, politicians (nearly 68 percent of the country’s government officials are female), and business owners, women are building Rwanda up, and the heart of all the action is Kigali—the capital city’s become a center for technology, tourism, arts, and more. This small country is known as the land of a thousand hills, and driving through Kigali can feel like breezing across California, but cleaner (thanks in part to monthly mandatory community cleanup days called umuganda). A quick Google search will also tell you that Kigali is the safest place to visit in Africa—making it an empowering, female-forward destination. 

LOCAL CULTURE

Akagera National Park

Put the Nyamirambo Women’s Center (KN 7 Ave.)—an NGO (nonprofit) founded in 2007 by 18 Rwandan women living in the Nyamirambo neighborhood—on your itinerary. Support their mission to fight gender-based violence, inequality, and discrimination by booking a walking tour, which includes a visit to a local hair salon, a family compound, two mosques, a tailor shop to check out vibrant traditional fabrics known as kitenge, and, finally, a traditional lunch served in the home of one of the center’s finest cooks. Or, you can learn to live outdoors like a local at the Urugo Women’s Opportunity Center (Kayonza) and explore the hills of Rwanda about an hour and a half from Kigali. The Urugo center gives local women a safe environment to learn and develop skills, as well as a place to explore their entrepreneurship and hone their business acumen. This space was built by women for women and welcomes female tourists, which is perfect since it’s is on the way to Akagera National Park, a well-known protected wetland where the “Big Five”—lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, elephants, and Cape buffalos—can be spotted. If you’re en route to some major animal sightings, consider a stay at Urugo; spacious safari tents complete with stunning views of the valley and the women’s farm can be as little as $50 per night.

DRINK

Inzora Rooftop Café

Rwanda is known for its java. Coffee shops line the streets of Kigali, but a cup at Question Coffee (8 KG 8 Ave.) is extra good—the beans, roasted in-house, are grown by female farmers in the area. If you’re interested in what goes on behind the scenes, book their immersive specialty coffee master class, which includes a tour of a farm, an inside look at the roasting and brewing processes, and, of course, a tasting. Every Friday the scenic Inzora Rooftop Café above the Ikirezi Bookstore (15 KG 5 Ave.) serves seasonal cocktails and wine. Your average bar in Kigali can be dark with limited drink options, but Inzora boasts a modern look, big open windows, and tasty concoctions. 

FOOD

The Women’s Bakery

For stunning hillside views, sit by a window at Papyrus (KG 674 St.) and enjoy some U.S. Top 40 music and dim sum—the duck spring rolls are a crowd favorite. For some local grub, head to Panorama Ten to Two (KN 203 St.) and try a dish called “big fish,” a giant tilapia stuffed with onions, seasoned with flavorful spices, and served with plantains or potatoes that can feed up to three people (it’s worth the long wait). Let’s face it—the highlight of any meal is dessert. Skip to the good stuff, aka freshly baked breads and pastries, at The Women’s Bakery (13 KG 176 St.)—the pain au chocolat is a solid choice. It’s more than just a bakery, though; since 2015 the organization (womensbakery.com) has offered a 200-plus hour training course to vulnerable women, and it offers ongoing support as students open bakeries in their own communities, reducing food insecurity in the process.

SHOPPING

Kimironko Market

Candy Basomingera and Linda Mukangoga are the Rwandan masterminds behind Haute Baso (39 KG 9 Ave.), a clothing, accessories, and home décor store empowering local female artisans by featuring their goods and paying them fairly. You’ll easily want to buy all your souvenirs here, like the area’s popular hand-woven baskets or a statement-making look made from local fabrics. Wood Habitat (16 KG 674 St.), run by a woman named Paradis Imfura, sells gorgeous Rwandan-made furniture and home goods. For a more immersive experience, don’t miss the Kimironko Market (KG 194 St.) where all kinds of vendors hawk their goods daily. Move past the produce to the back of the market where you’ll find tons of colorful kitenge. Pick out a style or two and get a market tailor to make something for you.

Kigali at night 

By Isis Briones
Photographed by Laura Mulkerne

This article originally appeared in our Spring 2020 print edition from the “You Go, Girl” series. Subscribe today!

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I’m a long-time live music fan and I have the scars to prove it. The first Lollapalooza festival in 1991 was so hot, Corey Glover from Living Colour doused the crowd with a fire hose. I caught the spray full in the face and was knocked painfully to the ground into a sea of stampeding Doc Martens. And at the 1993 HFStival at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C., I moshed to the front row during Iggy Pop’s set, only to be crushed against the retaining wall by a huge crowd surge once INXS took the stage. Security had to drag me over the wall before I lost consciousness, and I remember lying on a medical cot under the stage while Michael Hutchence’s distorted vocals boomed over my head.

My love for live music hasn’t diminished in the last 25 years, but my tolerance for music festival mayhem certainly has. I don’t want to endure abject human suffering just to see a great group of bands. Which is why my experience aboard the Celebrity Infinity for the Ultimate Disco Cruise—a floating music festival that took attendees from Miami to Key West to the Bahamas and back from February 10-15—was such an absolute game-changer for me.

To my delight, the retro-soul lineup assembled on the ship was as good as anything I’ve endured heatstroke for on land. Over the course of five days, I saw stellar mainstage performances by the Commodores, the Jacksons (Jackie, Tito, & Marlon to be exact), Sister Sledge, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Shalamar Reloaded featuring Jody Watley; as well as a series of high-energy afternoon showcases dominated by amazing women from the disco era, including Anita Ward, Maxine Nightingale, France Joli, Linda Clifford, Norma Jean Wright, and my absolute favorite—Martha Wash, the former Weather Girl with a voice as big as the ocean itself.

Martha Wash on the Pool Deck

It was the promise of these great performances that got me on the boat. But what I never anticipated was how luxurious a concert-going experience like this could actually be. There wasn’t a bad seat in the ship’s Celebrity Theater where all the main concerts took place. Every row was lined with plush banquettes punctuated with little drink trays. You could sit or stand, dance at your seat or jump up and down and grasp the hand of the lead singer down at the lip of the stage. There was plenty of room for everyone in a relaxed, climate-controlled atmosphere where handsome waiters were always standing by ready to refresh drinks. (By the end of the cruise, I didn’t even need to ask for my Diet Coke—it just arrived!)

The Commodores at the mainstage Celebrity Theater

And that was just one of the venues. During the day, the great divas of disco performed out on the pool deck where the main swimming pool had been covered over to create a fun open-air concert hall. Sun worshippers could stretch out on chaise lounges and enjoy the tunes with frosty daiquiris and veggie burgers from the BBQ grill in hand. Amateur dancing queens spun and twirled with their pals in the open area in front of the stage. And the aquatically inclined took it all in while soaking in hot tubs or floating in the lap pool.

Bee Gees Gold rocking the Pool Deck

Once the mainstage shows had concluded and a fancy dinner had been served in the formal dining room, that’s when the real decision-making process for music fans began. Every night there were first-rate tribute bands covering hits by ABBA; the Bee Gees; Earth, Wind, and Fire; and more, doing late-night sets. The karaoke bar was bumpin’. And celebrity DJs including Nicky Siano, Bob Pantano, and Felipe Rose (of the Village People) revived Studio 54 in a dining room tricked out with a light-up Saturday Night Fever floor beneath a spinning disco ball.

Nightclub “Studio 55”

Meanwhile, the midnight buffet was its own amazing scene where fans could easily meet their idols post-show. (I’m a shy creeper, so watching Debbie Sledge eat salad in an oversized hoodie and snapping a pic of Marlon and Tito Jackson eating oatmeal together at dawn were highlights for me.) Foxy session musicians were always hanging out there swapping war stories with other bands over slices of pie in this sprawling space, and more than a few love (or lust) connections were made before closing time.

Marlon and Tito Jackson eating oatmeal

Which led to possibly the most luxurious aspect of the Ultimate Disco Cruise. All my life, the high of going to a music festival was always immediately tempered by the crushing despair of trying to exit a venue en masse. Lining up to clear the grounds, hours of traffic to leave parking areas, or risking life and limb to jam myself into late-night mass transit, followed by more walking or driving or whatever to get home after a show. It all eventually became too much to endure. But in this miraculous musical Shangri-La at sea, once the last encore was played and I had left it all on the dance floor, a fluffy hotel bed overlooking the ocean was just an elevator ride away every night. It was the greatest feeling ever to rock till I dropped, crash in my room immediately afterward, and then get up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready for more.

Heaven after a long night of bustin’ moves

For a music fan like me, it was a level of pleasure I didn’t think was even possible. And I can’t wait to do it all again.

The author and her paramour on the dance floor

 ***

The Ultimate Disco Cruise is a production of StarVista Live, a company that specializes in curating music festivals at sea for multiple genres, including The 70s Rock & Romance Cruise, The Country Music Cruise, The Flower Power Cruise, The Southern Rock Cruise, The Soul Train Cruise, and the Malt Shop Memories Cruise. Info for those cruises is available at StarVistaLive.com.

Tickets for the next year’s Ultimate Disco Cruise, sailing from February 22 – 27, 2021, are already on sale and headliners will include Kool & the Gang, Expose, Bonnie Pointer, and A Taste of Honey. Find out more at UltimateDiscoCruise.com.

Unassuming, down-to-earth, and friendly in a way rarely found outside the Midwest, Missouri’s Jefferson City has everything you could want for a weekend jaunt: locals eager to lend a hand, just the right amount of indoor/outdoor activities, plus plenty of quirky boutiques, tasty eats, and a little luxury to round out the experience. Clocking in at around 2.5 hours by train or car from St. Louis, the Show-Me State’s capital is a laid-back good time.

SHOPPING & SWEETS

Southbank Gift Company

When it comes to vintage and handmade goodies, the city’s historic downtown area is a veritable oasis. Power up before you begin with Rocket Fuel (the house brew) at Yanis Coffee Zone (130 E. High St.). Then browse local and Missouri-made wares like chocolates, stationery, and natural soaps at Southbank Gift Company (110 East High St.); dive into tomes by area authors (and don’t forget your copy of BUST) at Downtown Book & Toy (125 E. High St.); and nab a cinnamon roll the size of your face at High Rise Bakery (118 E. High St.). Or stock up on shockingly wholesome treats like dark chocolate brownies at Love2Nourish (700 E. High St.) before scoring vintage threads in rainbow hues (oh the floaty and sometimes flammable dressing gowns of yore), amidst all the accessories and a smattering of vinyl, books, furniture, and housewares at Encore Department Store (113 E. High St.). Cap off your shopping trip, and satisfy your sweet tooth, with malts, banana splits, ice-cream sodas, and hand-packed pints to go at Central Dairy (610 Madison St.), a local favorite since 1934. Bring your appetite; the ice-cream is piled on just as thick as the nostalgia in this old-school ice cream parlor.

EAT & DRINK

Sweet Smoke BBQ

If you decide to become a regular anywhere during your stay, make it Ecco Lounge (703 Jefferson St.). The oldest restaurant in town, this lady-owned establishment continues to be a local institution for myriad, delicious reasons, most of them battered and deep-fried (cauliflower and green peppers should always be this addictive), although the steak salad’s pretty hard to resist, too. Of course, if meat’s what you’re after, you’re better off opting for a “slop” or “fat pig” barbecue platter with a side of just-spicy-enough jalapeño cheddar grits at Sweet Smoke BBQ (127 E. High St.). Craving pizza? Get your fix at Arris’ Pizza (117 W. High St.) where you can top your thin-crust pie with Greek ingredients like gyros and feta. If drinks are what you’re after, share a flight of seven seasonal beers brewed on site at Prison Brews (305 Ash St.) or wind down with wine by the glass or bottle at Bar Vino (204 E. High St.). For relaxed vibes and live tunes head to The Mission (915 East High St.) for your nightcap of choice.

ARTS & CULTURE

Cole County Historical Society

When you’re shopped out, head for the hill—Capitol Hill (201 W. Capitol Ave.), that is. The tallest structure in town, the early-20th-century State Capitol building, currently in restoration, also houses Missouri artist Thomas Hart Benton’s highly stylized and vividly colored “The Social History of Missouri” murals. Nearby, gawk at the creepy old toy collection in “Granny’s Attic” at the Cole County Historical Society (109 Madison St.) and track the ongoing evolution of style for political wives in the Delong Room display of first ladies’ inaugural gowns—it’s the only not-for-profit, private collection like it open to the public in the U.S. 

OUTDOORS

Red Wheel Bike Shop

When the weather cooperates (the city’s prone to sudden showers), meander on two wheels (or two feet if you prefer) through sprawling farmland and wooded hills following in the wake of the rushing waters of the Missouri River along the Katy Trail (Clay Street Trailhead Plaza). For a zero-hassle cycling adventure on the U.S.’s longest developed rail trail, rent a bike and gear from Red Wheel Bike Shop (400 West Main). They’ll even shuttle you further up the trail so you can pedal on back to town at your leisure. 

On stormy days, hit up Runge Nature Center (330 Commerce Dr.) where you can learn about endangered wildlife and bird-watch without risking lightning or flash flooding on the Katy. Then really soak up those vacation vibes by splurging on a massage with Rachel Steinmeier of Graceful Healing Massage (at the Yoga Studio), or at Much Kneaded Touch (606 Dix Rd. Suite B).

By Chris Ciolli
Photographed by Julia Calleo
Top photo: Missouri Governor’s Mansion
This article originally appeared in our Winter 2020 print edition. Subscribe today!

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The travel industry mostly promotes influencers of the non-melinated variety (aka white people). But thankfully, YouTube has given people of color a platform to promote globetrotting reportage for us, and by us. Here are five of our fave female travel vloggers of color sure to give you wanderlust.

GrrrlTraveler
With a focus on solo female travel and food, Christine Kaaloa aims to inspire women of all ages to find their travel sweet spot. Kaaloa films and blogs around Asia and various other parts of the world, creating informative content like solo travel city guides and roundups of the best bets at each destination. 

Charly Cheer
Plant-based foodie and vlogger Charly Cheer began documenting her life on the ‘tube while working as an English teacher in South Korea. Currently based in Hanoi, Vietnam, Cheer takes her viewers along on her adventures and sometimes does sit-down chats with guests on personal topics such as polyamory, bisexuality, and paganism.  

Ms.Blackoreanlady
Tonya Bost is tall, Black, Korean, and has been living in South Korea for over five years. On her vlog, she shares the ups and downs of life as a biracial, six-foot-something woman living in Asia. Usually updated monthly, her fun content includes a taste test of Korean school lunches and “10 Apps You Need to Survive in Korea.”  

Mas Masa
Silvia Salas-Sanchez’s main bread and butter is her sentimental channel Abuela’s Kitchen, where she makes memories and tries out recipes with her grandmother. On Mas Masa, Sanchez shares her travel adventures stateside and abroad from downtown L.A. all the way to Cuba, alongside old home movies of vacations from her childhood.

Internationally Me
New Zealand native Angela An currently calls Japan home and is a sucker for the countryside. Tune in as she takes you on a Japanese homestay experience, explores hidden Japanese alleyway bars, and gives the lowdown on starting her very own language school. 

By Niesha Davis
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2020 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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Capable Is Our First Name: One Woman’s Story Of Traveling Alone

Safe Spaces On The Open Road: Why More Women Are Embracing #VanLife

The Feminist Guide to Boulder, Colorado

Spring convocation of undergrad came and went in a dizzy haze. Flurries of champagne silk and moving boxes seemed to swirl around me in a blur. I remember walking to receive my diploma in a kind of trance – my hyperactive, anxiety-driven brain was already thinking about the long road ahead of me.

Fast-forward one month to my teary-eyed self haunting the departure lounge of Pearson International Airport. My family and I stood before the security gate in a tight circle with our shoulders touching, trying to keep the heat in. I told them I would see them soon—a lie to sugar-coat their ache as much mine. The truth was, I had no plan. I thought about my name printed in block letters across the stiff card of my boarding pass; it sat patiently tucked between the pages of my passport, thick with prepared visas. My stomach dropped into the sole of my hiking boots when I remembered that it was one way. Practically humming with fear, I gave them each a long goodbye. Mama gave me last-minute reminders, Papa told me to be safe, my sister gave me an all-knowing squeeze in the way that only sisters can.

I looked down at my Osprey pack sitting loyally by my side. I had chosen orange, my favourite colour, in the hopes that it would make this thin shell of neoprene feel more like home when my own was so far away. It was the size of my torso and jammed with malaria medication and one of everything from MEC’s travel section (75% of this would be left behind at the first hostel). I took a deep breath, praying it would keep me full as I prepared to let go of so much. Swinging my pack onto my back, its frame groaning in protest, I crossed over the border between comfort and whatever lay on the other side.

This is not a story of fearlessness. It’s a story of itching nerves and deep-belly dread. As I waded through customs that day, radical self-doubt throttled itself against the walls of my chest. The soon-to-be familiar thud of security bins against conveyor belts echoed as if worlds away from my own.

It’s safe to say that when I left home, fear was my baseline. For the first month or so, the person checking into hostels was just a watery version of me; I sat in restaurants alone and my skin prickled with the looks of other guests, always lingering just long enough to shift the ground beneath me. With time, something in my skin thickened as the sharp edges of aloneness settled in and in many ways, I flourished: I sang my way into 23 from an ashram in India, celebrated Christmas from a quirky hostel in Kathmandu, and welcomed 2018, legs quaking but heart wide from Mt Everest Base Camp. Yet no matter how familiar “table for one, please” felt in my mouth, I still carried around fear like it was another piece of luggage.

Sometimes I think it takes courage to live this kind of life – to travel alone, to eat alone, to wake up alone somewhere far from home. I think it takes even more courage when we’re told from the outset that we’re not good enough for it. As women, we are nursed to maturity on fear. From childhood, we listen to bedtime stories of boundaries and the importance of staying safe within them. I think this must begin early with the words we use to raise our girls. Whether it’s swinging across the monkey bars or climbing a tree, we condition girls to believe they have more to risk. We stifle our girls with “be careful” or “don’t hurt yourself” but coach our boys on how to reach the next branch.

Now, I was a lucky girl. I still am. I grew up in a two-parent household who raised their daughters as superheroes. There were no limits in our house. It was “atta girl,” “try again,” “we believe in you.” I know not everyone is so fortunate. That I grew up in a locus of radical encouragement was exactly the stability that made me feel safe enough to jump, not knowing where I’d land. But beyond our family walls, I was slapped with the reality that a bright-eyed young woman with two degrees and a healthy dose of attitude under her belt was still not enough to weather the world on her own. My decision to travel alone was weighed down with warning by most everyone I told. Family, friends, even periphery acquaintances shuddered at even the mention of travelling alone as a woman. They unloaded “Aren’t you scared?” upon “That’s so dangerous!” as if my own (gargantuan) fear hadn’t already lodged itself comfortably at the base of my throat, nestled in for the long haul.

I must admit, travelling alone as a woman holds different albeit greater risk for women than men. Routine logistics such as taking a local bus warrant pause for female travelers where it may not for males – at least not for the same reasons. These risks transcend a binary-centric perspective and are layered with intersectionalities. Solo travel may be experienced differently for LGBTQ+ folks, femmes of colour, and femmes with disabilities. These are perspectives I cannot speak to; instead, I point to Mari Brighe who recounts her experience travelling alone as a trans woman and Gloria Atanmo who speaks of travelling as a woman of colour.

Despite these realities, bubble-wrapping our girls in this way serves only to drive home the shrinking belief that she doesn’t have it in her. Travelling alone for so long would always have been scary but by the time I reached my fly date, I was so soaked with the warnings of others that I could barely tell where their fear ended and mine began. While likely well-intentioned, the lasting impression of this was a billboard-sized message that they didn’t find me capable.

This rhetoric spills into women pursuing adventure in all its flavours, be it starting a new business, taking a salsa class, or learning a new language. We laden women, sometimes even unconsciously, with spoonsful of perfect as the standard, and failure as the worst possible outcome. When fear spills out before encouragement, it has a way of grinding in the narrative that girls hear from a young age that no matter how tall she may stand, the obstacles stand taller, that worth is not part of her genetic make-up.

The me that left that July was swimming in fear, fresh batches of dread doing somersaults in my stomach each morning. But the me that left also decided that I would be louder than the warnings. The reward for this was searing pride when I walked through the sliding glass doors at Pearson arrivals one year later and bottomless gratitude for the arms of my family, still warm from when I left.

Since then, I can’t seem to quiet the gnawing reminders of when I let fear decide. I can’t help but wonder how much taller I would be – how much taller we all might be – if we were raised to stand on a platform of capable instead of digging our way out of less than. I can’t help but wonder what we might unleash if we raised generations of women with an unbridled sense of self-worth and potential, to unequivocally believe in themselves.

So I will remind myself to choose carefully the language I drape across our women and girls as they grow. And in doing so, I will remind myself just as much that though this world holds risk, we hold more; that Capable is our first name; that bravery looks like us. I hope you will join me.

Header photo courtesy of Denys Nevozhai via unsplashed

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All over North America, women are turning vans into tiny rolling homes and living life on the open road. Documenting their adventures with the hashtag #vanlife, these solo female travelers are claiming space and creating mobile communities.

With her bright magenta hair and matching striped shorts, 34-year-old Lisa Jacobs balances her DSLR camera on her kitchen counter inside her 2012 Nissan NV2500 High Roof van. Popping a fedora on her head with a grin, she strikes a pose with her hands above her head, projecting the happy, easygoing image of what’s been dubbed “vanlife”—the movement of people traveling and living in stylishly converted vans.

Later, Jacobs—who travels solo—live chats to over 30 thousand Instagram followers and is candid about the difficulties of vanlife: no running water, often no heat, always in search of a parking spot where she can sleep. Nonetheless, she’ll take it any day over her previous staid career as an attorney. In the same chat, her eyes water when she talks about how her mother’s death in 2014 propelled her toward a life on four wheels. For Jacobs, it was a wake-up call that her own life could be cut short. “I realized, I don’t want to just live to work and then die,” she told her followers. “I want to do something.”

There are plenty of other modern digital nomads like Jacobs on Instagram, where members of the #vanlife community broadcast their lives and connect with fans and each other. A search of the hashtag returns peak influencer fodder: gorgeous mountain backdrops, crystal clear tropical waters, and trailheads that scream possibility—often framed by the flung-open doors of a stylish van embellished with twinkly lights and succulents. At first glance, #vanlife is all nature photos taken during golden hour with ample lens flare, carefree women in bikinis, and of course, adorable dogs. If you feel stuck in your life, it’s easy to envy, and even easier to disdain. 

Peel back Instagram’s veneer, however, and you’ll find an inspiring community of women taking charge of their lives, supporting each other, and often grieving loss. While #vanlife as a hashtag broke into mainstream awareness sometime in 2015, solo women travelers have been less visible until recently. A 2018 survey by Outbound Living, a web resource for vanlifers, revealed that 36 percent of them live and travel alone. And while that study wasn’t broken down by gender, a dig through Instagram shows that the ranks of women hitting the road alone are growing. 

Like all vanlifers, women travelers must work out a myriad of logistics to live the van lifestyle: hygiene, cooking, electricity, making money. And of course, if #homeiswhereyouparkit, where, exactly, do you park it? Vanlifers take a variety of approaches: “stealth” camping (parking on the street where a van just looks like any other car); paying for campsites; parking on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, which is free; and, when a spot is tougher to find, utilizing Walmart parking lots. 

Most cook using propane on portable stoves and grills. Solar panels frequently supply electricity. Water tanks provide running water—some tanks are big enough to supply a toilet, a sink, or even a small shower. Those without large water tanks rely on gym memberships to get clean. Jacobs once got desperate enough for shower access that a Bumble date convinced her not to skip town by making the most romantic of vanlife gestures: offering use of his shower. (Yes, she vetted him extensively beforehand.)

Inside Lisa Jacobs’ 2012 Nissan NV2500 High Roof van

For many vanlifers, converting a vehicle into a home offers a chance to significantly reduce costs. Jennelle Long, a 20-year-old full-time student in Silicon Valley, had never even used a power tool before she converted a 1995 GMC Vandura Explorer into a home. “My van is my baby,” she says. “It gives me a sense of pride; I built it myself. I watched nearly every YouTube video and read every Reddit post from people who already lived in vans for a year before I moved into my van. And people want to help you. When I have questions, I shoot them out on Reddit or Instagram.” The transition, she says, was relatively easy. “I bought my van for $2,500 and I’ve put about $5,000 to $6,000 into it, including a new paint job, mechanical fixes, solar panels, and the interior remodel. My conversion took me almost a year, and I’m still always changing things up, but realistically, I could have done everything in about a week or two,” she says. “I was just constantly building and rebuilding things until I got them right. But for the first few months in the van, I was practicing minimalism with just a small box of clothes and a hammock to sleep in.”

Long is anchored in Northern California, traveling part time while she works and attends school, and she’s not alone in paring down to reduce student debt. Anouk Wilhelm, a rock climber originally from France, also chose vanlife to facilitate travel and continue rock climbing while studying interior design full time. Like Long, Wilhelm converted her van herself and discovered she’s handier than she’d thought. “Cutting a hole in my roof was probably the scariest thing,” she says, “because then if something goes wrong, you have a hole in your ceiling.” 

Jennelle Long in her homey 1995 GMC Vandura Explorer

Bionca Smith, an entrepreneur who travels with her 10-year-old son, Carter, gave up significant luxury to take to the road. “I had this nice condo on the Bay and a BMW. Everything was fancy,” she explains. “But I had a whole bunch of debt, my son was struggling with his reading, and I didn’t have time for friends and family. I was unhappy and stuck. I felt like I was drowning.” But thanks to a switch to full-time living in her 1989 Ford Econoline van, Smith and her son (who’s home schooled digitally via Connections Academy) are both happier, and she’s paid down a large chunk of that debt. 

Smith purchased her van with a kitchen, toilet, and even a shower—veritable vanlife gold—for $4,900, and she recently added solar panels for $400. “I have a son, and we’re too busy to chase down showers and toilets,” she tells me. “We prepped our van so we wouldn’t need to worry about water, food, and gas. And every Sunday, we refresh. That’s when we clean out and restock the fridge, do laundry, vacuum the van, and get our fresh water for drinking and bathing.” Sundays are also when Smith dumps her used sink, toilet, and shower water, usually at campsites, truck stops, or the occasional gas station.

That small bit of routine has allowed Smith and her son the freedom to go where they please, and it’s helping Carter to get a more hands-on education—even when things go wrong. “Our van broke down on the Pacific Coast Highway outside Malibu and we were stranded for a couple of days,” says Smith, who took the unexpected stop in stride. “We were in the most beautiful place. We witnessed the high and low tides and Carter would do his homework and then go down to the beach and learn about marine life.” Vanlife has also made Smith and her son more cognizant of their resources. “Now we know how much water we use in a week,” she says. “We grocery shop at farmer’s markets and we don’t have trash. Buying local lets us give back to the community where we are.” The pair also makes a point to benefit the communities they visit in other ways, whether it’s doing beach cleanups or speaking at local schools for Smith’s anti-bullying non-profit The Bully Barricade.

But even with minimal housing costs, how do vanlifers afford to live their nomadic lifestyle? Turns out, there are quite a few ways to continue working while on the road. For instance, Jacobs still works as an attorney via her laptop, using a hotspot and mobile booster for internet. Some cobble together several income sources, including leveraging their social media. (“How to” vanlife YouTube videos are practically a cottage industry, explaining every aspect from finances to loneliness to where and how to dump van toilets.) Liz Bryant, a former breaking news reporter originally from Tulsa, OK, not only runs her own production company part time, she also has a sizable social media following. And while she’s opted out of YouTube ad revenues, her online presence has led to sponsorships from outdoor goods companies. 

Inside Bionca Smith’s van

It’s not surprising that marketers are eager to find spokespeople from among the ranks of vanlife women. Often viewed as attractive free spirits, they span a wide variety of occupations, ages, and backgrounds. There are students, photographers, illustrators, journalists, writers, athletes, and interior designers. Some are fully nomadic, some stick to one city, and still others take a part-time approach. Many are white, but the number of women of color taking up vanlife is certainly growing. Vanlifers don’t have typical days and that’s the point. Every one is different, depending on how quickly a person moves on to new locations and their degree of interest in the outdoors. 

While reducing bills and your environmental footprint are certainly huge upsides, many women vanlifers started their journey to travel and focus on what they felt mattered most. Many describe leaving lives that felt like just existing. For example, when 26-year-old Katie Larsen’s then-boyfriend suggested buying a van in 2016, she was happy to deviate from the usual life script. “I was working a corporate job, wearing heels and a suit and working weekends. I had no time for myself and I was miserable,” she explains. Larsen and her boyfriend lived for a year in a van they converted, but parted ways when he wanted to stop and she didn’t. “I felt suffocated after we stopped [traveling],” she says. “After deciding what I actually wanted to do each day, having freedom over my life, I couldn’t go back to a regular job where all of my time was someone else’s.”

This opportunity that vanlife offers women—to discover their own wants, desires, and interests free of pressures to please others—is a big part of its appeal. Bryant, the former television reporter, puts it most succinctly: “Vanlife has given me an extreme clarity of who I am.” Vanlifers spend significant time alone, whether on long drives or camping deep within the desert, and that can lead to some serious introspection and personal growth. “If you’re driving five hours on the highway, there are only so many podcasts you can listen to before your mind wanders and you start thinking about your own stuff,” Larsen says. “I’ve grown to like who I am. I never could have done that if I hadn’t spent so much time by myself.” That positive relationship to solitude is a common theme in this lifestyle. In fact, Long had the word “solitude” tattooed on her left foot. “I enjoy community, but I don’t need anyone else to find joy,” she says. 

Katie Larson in her 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter stopped in Joshua Tree

Long is in good company when it comes to not needing any company. Smith describes the solitude almost as free therapy. “You have no choice but to find your true self,” she says. “You are gonna think so much and pay attention to things you wouldn’t normally, because you have fewer distractions.” Renee Blair (@ren.rover), 29, a construction project manager who spent seven months traveling in her converted van before she was sidelined by vehicle troubles, also stresses the mental benefits of vanlife. “When you take time for yourself, you feel re-energized,” she says. “Imagine that feeling, but for seven straight months.”

Many vanlifers hit the road after facing serious loss. Like Jacobs, an ailing parent set former CrossFit athlete Sloane Thomas onto the house-on-wheels path. In 2014, her father started exhibiting symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Thomas moved to Arizona to care for him, and he soon lost much of his mobility. “He had all these things that he waited his entire life to go do and then he was unable,” she says. It was a wake-up call to Thomas: she might not have time to waste. Thomas started building her van home while caring for her dad, and she soon had another brush with mortality—this time, her own. In December 2018, an MRI scan revealed an aggressive malignant tumor on her right glute muscle. “It was essentially a death sentence,” she says. To compound her trauma, Thomas’ father passed away as she was being rolled into surgery in January, 2019. By some miracle, her pathology came back benign, but the tumor she had removed was the size of a butternut squash. “The doctors said I should have cancer all over my body,” she says. “I’m a walking, living, breathing miracle.”

Thomas moved into her van shortly after her surgery and her father’s death, and vanlife has given her the chance to process her grief on her own timeline. “You’re not living by societal norms or following rules or regulations,” she tells me. “It gives you the space to accept your emotions as they come.”

Laura Hughes recording for her “Woman on the Road” podcast

Before 2017, it was difficult to find solo women vanlifers online. “It was hard to see myself doing road travel since I didn’t see other women doing it, too,” says 30-year-old photographer Laura Hughes, who started her journey in 2014. Hughes’ desire to hear other women’s experiences led her to host the podcast Women on the Road. “There were plenty of articles online about gear and equipment,” she says, “but not enough about women traveling. Five years ago, it was still considered taboo and extremely unsafe if you’re female. There were people doing it, but they weren’t talking about it.”

It’s likely that female vanlifers weren’t sharing about their travels because of a widely held belief that women navigating the road on their own are in danger. In fact, the vanlifers in this story all reported that “Aren’t you scared?” is the question they get asked most. And Hughes concedes that there are times she’s felt frightened while traveling. “But there are also times I’ve been afraid at night in Seattle getting groceries,” she adds. Long’s take is particularly pragmatic. “Bad things happen regardless of whether or not you live in a van,” she says. “I feel safer in my van than in an apartment. If someone breaks in, I can either get out or drive away.” 

For women of color, safety concerns can be compounded by fears of encountering racial bias. “I was a lot more scared being a person of color traveling in certain areas than I was of traveling solo as a woman,” Blair tells me. “That was top of my mind. But once I got out there, it was not that bad. Maybe that’s because I was really cautious. But I want to encourage more women of color to try vanlife and get into the outdoors more.” 

The safety question is also just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to public debate regarding women’s competence on the road. When Bryant, the former television reporter, started posting her videos to IG in 2017 and YouTube in 2018, she quickly grew a social media presence, and that came with the internet’s inevitable negativity. “People said I was fake,” she says. “So many people commented, ‘Oh this is just some sponsorship deal. She has daddy’s money. There’s a production crew following her.’ People don’t want to accept that a woman did this by herself.” 

Anouk Wilhelm and her 1990 Chevy G20

Though they love their solitude, women vanlifers are now reaching out to each other to form community like never before. Van gatherings are organized all over the world, and they have an intensity that’s likened to summer camp. In October 2018, Women on the Road held the first gathering strictly for women and non-binary individuals, and close to 200 people journeyed to Taos, NM, for the event. “In vanlife, you don’t have stability in your location or even a mailing address,” says Hughes. “The online community is one of the most stable things we have, and meeting in person solidifies those relationships.”

The night before the gathering, several attendees arrived early and a conversation about van toilets turned toward the subject of urinary tract infections on the road. Quickly enough, the attendees discovered several of them had recently dealt with UTIs, and they traded tips and resources for addressing them. “Then someone says, ‘This is exactly why we need an event just for women!’” Hughes recalls. “We laughed because it was so true.” 

“Because it was all women, we were able to talk much more openly,” says Jacobs, who co-hosted the gathering. Event attendees often recognize Jacobs from her Instagram account and want to talk to her about her mother’s death and other topics she’s shared about online. The conversations get deep fast and dozens of people have cried in her van in the year since she started traveling. “Everyone was so raw and vulnerable, people bonded quickly,” Larsen says of the gathering. “Some of my closest friends now are vanlife women I met there. Our conversations are never surface-level. I get a phone call in the morning, and it’s, ‘How are you feeling today? Where is your heart?’”  

Top photo: Laura Hughes and her 2013 Ford Transit Connect

By Erica Lies
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2019 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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The Feminist Guide to Boulder, Colorado

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Boulder, CO, is made for the adventurous. This happy mountain city enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year, and according to the National Endowment for the Arts, it boasts the third most artists per capita of any city in the U.S. Boulder overflows with opportunities to nurture and challenge the body and soul while captivating visitors with the Flatiron Mountain Range to the West, beckoning you to take an inspiring journey. 

MOVE

We are serious about biking, hiking, and climbing—when it snows, the bike paths are likely to be plowed before the roads. Grab a city bike from nearly any spot in town and ride it to Chautauqua Park (Baseline Rd & 9th St.) for large fields and hiking trails, including entrance to a couple of the mountains in our famed Flatiron range. Skip steep climbs by wandering around Wonderland Lake Park (601 Poplar Ave.) for stunning reflections in the water and gorgeous horizon views. Boulder Hiker Chicks can guide you while connecting you with new friends (register for their group hikes here). 

Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse

CULTURE

Drive or hike up to the National Center for Atmospheric Research (1850 Table Mesa Dr.) for educational fun and more breathtaking sights. During the week their library and art galleries are open to the public for bonus eye candy. The Main Public Library (1001 Arapahoe Ave.) is a great stop with windows overlooking the Boulder Creek (their Seeds Café sources ingredients from nearby farms). Drop by the beautiful Boulder Shambhala Center (1345 Spruce St.) to get your meditation on, or go on a leisurely walk through Central Park (1236 Canyon Blvd.) for the farmers market (Saturdays and Wednesdays) and an afternoon tea at the market-adjacent Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse (1770 13th St.). 

Rayback Collective

DRINK

Boulder is the headquarters of two famous beverages, and they both offer free tours: Avery Brewing Company (4910 Nautilus Ct. N) employs one of the three beer archeologists in the country, and iconic tea brand Celestial Seasonings (4600 Sleepytime Dr.) gives you an “adventure for the senses in every cup”—don’t forget to clear your sinuses in their famous Mint Room. Later, hit food truck park/beer garden Rayback Collective (2775 Valmont Rd.) and try kombucha on tap from Rowdy Mermaid, owned by cool mom Jamba Dunn. You can even leave with a growler of your favorite flavor, from Savory Peach to Alpine Lavender. 

ARTS

Boulder has more than 30 art galleries in its 24.4 square miles. The Dairy Arts Center (2590 Walnut St.) has an indie movie theater, along with multiple art galleries, and live dance and theater performances. We are also home to two famous music venues: the Fox Theatre (1135 13th St.), revered by Rolling Stone for its superb sound system, and former opera house The Boulder Theater (2032 14th St.). End your night at one of these establishments to be blown away by their roster of small and large name bands, poets, and speakers from around the world.

SHOP

Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary & Supply

Curate your self-care at Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary & Supply (1227 Spruce St.), just off Boulder’s iconic Pearl Street Mall, where they’ll help you choose salves, lotions, soaps, and teas made with herbs from local farms. The Amazing Garage Sale (4919 N Broadway) has lots of curious and wacky knick-knacks you didn’t know you needed. Are you a crafter? Art Parts Creative Reuse Center (2860 Bluff St.) is a thrift store for art supplies. Find all the tools and inspiration you need for your next project.

By Samantha Albala 
Photographed by Rebecca Stumpf

This article originally appeared in the July/August 2019 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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Adelaide, Australia

THE SPLENDOR OF Sydney and Melbourne’s arts, culture, and food scenes may call to travelers heading down under, but the South Australian capital of Adelaide has just as much to offer, and with fewer tourists to boot. Referred to as “Radelaide” by locals, this city has some of the southern hemisphere’s biggest arts and culture festivals, easy access to rolling vineyards, and golden sandy beaches from which to watch the sunset.

Naomie Murrell

Imprints Bookseller
SHOP

The east end of Rundle Street, the main shopping drag in central Adelaide, has some great second-hand stores (called “op shops” in Australia) including Australian Red Cross (284 Rundle St.) and Fox on the Run Vintage (238 Rundle St.), where you can also peruse vinyl and newer wares from local, ethical Adelaide makers. The quiet laneway of Ebenezer Place is home to Treadly Bike Shop (5 4/10 Ebenezer Pl.), a must for bike lovers. And if you’re on the lookout for prints and jewelry, there’s Naomi Murrell (5 Ebenezer Pl.). Colorful creations cover the walls at Urban Cow Studio (10 Vaughan Pl.), which features the work of 150 local South Australian designers. Beautiful and sustainable wardrobe essentials made with natural fibers abound at the Good Studios (94 Gilles St.). Dive into contemporary Australian literature at the wonderful independent Imprints Booksellers (107 Hindley St.).

Exchange Specialty Coffee
COFFEE

The coffee game is strong in Australia, and Adelaide is no exception. On a warm morning, sit outside on stools at Exchange Specialty Coffee (Shops 1-3, 12-18 Vardon Ave.) and pair a pourover coffee with breakfast. Snag an afternoon cup of joe and a pastry at Monday’s Coffee Store (7/38 Gawler Pl.) where the service is incredibly dialed in. In the southeast part of town, on a tree-lined street, Fawn Coffee (269 Gilles St.) is a quaint and popular cafe where everything is baked in-house. 

The Stag Public House
FOOD AND DRINK

The Adelaide Central Market (44-60 Gouger St.) has been the city’s food hub since 1869. Walk through the stalls of local olive oil, cheeses, and produce, then grab a quick bite at Jamface, a homey cafe that makes its own preserves. In Australia, pubs are neighborhood gathering places and Adelaide is full of them. For traditional pub fare that’s done with local ingredients and modern twists, hit The Stag Public House (299 Rundle St.). Try cocktails with local spirits at Clever Little Tailor (19 Peel St.). At Africola (4 East Terrace) you can dive into an excellent, spicy, South African-inspired menu that’s best enjoyed alongside the selection of local, natural wines. Two-Bit Villains (150 Rundle Mall) is a 1950s soda fountain-themed diner serving up vegan versions of BLTs, burgers, and potpies with a side of kitsch.

WOMADelaide

CULTURE

Adelaide is a designated UNESCO City of Music, and if you plan your trip accordingly, you can enjoy one of the many festivals that Adelaide is known for, like the Adelaide Fringe, where you can see everything from music to burlesque, or WOMADelaide which showcases music, arts, and dance. Experience the world of traditional and contemporary Aboriginal art at Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute (253 Grenfell St.), the country’s oldest Aboriginal-owned and managed multi-arts center. The creative studios at JamFactory (19 Morphett St.) provide not only space for local designers and craftspeople to create, but also exhibition and retail space so visitors can be inspired by all of the creative energy.

Lost in a Forest

ADELAIDE HILLS

Adelaide Hills is a little like California’s Wine Country, full of rolling hills, vineyards, and local produce. Stirling is an easy bus ride from the city, and is a great access point for the Adelaide Hills. If you can rent a car, spend a day exploring the area. The small town of Uraidla is home to Lost in a Forest (1203 Greenhill Rd. Uraidla), a unique wood-fired pizza restaurant that boasts some of the region’s most creative and wild wines.

River Torrens Linear Park Trail

OUTDOORS

The center of Adelaide is surrounded by the Park Lands, the largest inner urban park system in Australia, and you can walk and explore all of it. The River Torrens Linear Park Trail goes from up in the Adelaide Hills all the way through town and out to Henley Beach, making it easy to rent a bike and cycle to the shore, or go on a morning run along the river. Beaches like Glenelg, Semaphore, and Seacliff are just a short drive or tram ride away. While the waves aren’t conducive to surfing, the long stretches of sand are perfect for swimming, lounging, paddleboarding, and walking.

By Anna Brones
Photographed by Morgan Sette

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2019 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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A few hours from Los Angeles, 40 minutes north of Palm Springs, is the Morongo Basin, home to a handful of high desert small towns that act as an escape for city folk and boast a community of artists and outdoors lovers. Places like Joshua Tree, Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, Landers, and Twentynine Palms are notoriously affordable by Southern California standards, making them a draw for many women—a cool, safe place where we can also own property. It’s no surprise, then, that many of the local businesses are women-owned and the highlights below are truly superb…not just “desert good” (for a full archive of lady-run businesses, check out daughtersofthedesert.com). Take into account the otherworldly landscape, inherent desert quirkiness, and just the right amount of woo, and you’ll want to seek refuge at this SoCal destination, too. 

Cactus Mart

STAY + EXPERIENCE

Book a room in advance at the serene oasis of Mojave Sands Motel (62121 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree); the compact, roadside retreat has only five sought-after rooms. The Joshua Tree Inn (61259 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree) has been a mecca for Gram Parsons fans for decades (he spent his last hours in room 8), but locals love this hotel for its picturesque pool. 

For a relaxing meditative treat, and a uniquely desert experience, schedule a sound bath at the Integratron (2477 Belfield Blvd., Landers). Owners Linda Krantz and Robyn Celia host world-class music acts at their historic roadside saloon and BBQ joint Pappy & Harriet’s (53688 Pioneertown Rd., Pioneertown)—even Paul McCartney recently played the small but legendary venue. (Pro tip: Monday open mic is a favorite night for locals.) A visit to Joshua Tree National Park is a must, but so is respect for the land. When driving through the park or around the desert, stay on marked roads—Joshua trees look like mystical creatures, but they’re actually very old, very fragile succulents. 

Pappy & Harriet’s

SHOPPING + PLANTS

You can’t visit the hi-des without doing some vintage shopping. At The End’s two locations (55872 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley; 49925 Twentynine Palms Highway, Morongo Valley), owner and stylist Kime Buzzelli will help you flaunt your wild creative soul with colorful graphic dresses and art-to-wear clothing. Black Luck Vintage (7350 Acoma Trail, Yucca Valley) has a little bit of everything including home goods, records, and clothing. Stop into Holly’s Trading Post (49700 Twentynine Palms Highway, Morongo Valley) for vintage ceramics and textiles, and Pioneertown General Store (53635 Mane St., Pioneertown) for curated vintage with a Western vibe.

Cactus Mart (49889 Twentynine Palms Highway) is one of the first landmarks you see when you drive through Morongo Valley, where visitors have been digging up their own baby cacti since the 1960s. And florist The Bloomin Gypsy (55827 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley) also boasts a plant-focused gift shop called TBG Homegrown curated by floral designer Veronica Lowe.

The End

EAT + DRINK

La Copine (848 Old Woman Springs Rd.) means “girlfriend” en français, and this French-American restaurant from co-owners Chef Nikki Hill and musician Claire Wadsworth has put Yucca Valley’s Flamingo Heights nabe on the map. Their fried chicken is a favorite, but I go for their delicious lamb burger and duck fat potatoes. After hiking in Joshua Tree National Park, fuel up on vegetarian and vegan dishes at The Natural Sisters Café (61695 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree), and be sure to save room for a slice of vegan pie heaven made by local baker Boo. Wine & Rock Shop (59006 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley) is a newly opened libations shop, which offers really pretty crystals along with bottles of beer and wine. 

The Natural Sisters Cafe

ART 

Midnight Oil Gallery (55818 Twentynine Palms Highway) in Old Town Yucca Valley has rotating shows, but make an appointment for a desert-inspired stick ’n’ poke tattoo from co-owner Taylor Elyse Compton. I might be biased, but you should try to catch open hours at the All Roads “Stordio” (7319 Acoma Trail, Yucca Valley), my tiny textile shop and studio where I work on large-scale weavings. Happy hookers can’t miss the World Famous Crochet Museum (61855 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree); the former photo-processing booth houses owner Shari Elf’s colorful, eclectic collection of crocheted items. At the weekly Sky Village Swap Meet (7028 Theatre R., Yucca Valley, Saturdays and Sundays), stop by the High Desert Test Sites HQ for a local-art-site driving map. Want to know more about hi-desert desert living? Listen to interviews with local desert ladies on the podcast Desert Lady Diaries.

World Famous Crochet Museum

Wine & Rock Shop

By Janelle Pietrzak
Photographed by Kat Borchat
This article originally appeared in the March/April 2019 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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An imperial city with a seedy communist past, Budapest sits directly at the intersection of glamour and grit. By night, the “Capital of Freedom” is an illuminated fairytale split in half by the black waters of the Danube river, animated by partiers both foreign and domestic. By day, it’s a bustling capital boasting Turkish influences, Habsburg history, and the many scars of war. Like any good love affair, this affordable Central European gem is a heady combination of pleasure and history, destined to seduce even the most seasoned traveler.

Shop
Budapest has two main shopping centers, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Andrássy Avenue, and the Jewish Quarter. Sandwiched between the two you’ll find boutiques boasting distinctly Hungarian designs. Don’t miss Margot (Irányi u. 10, 1056), a boutique hosting only female Hungarian designers and hyper-feminine looks. It’s staffed by the designers themselves, so you’ll get the chance to chat about the pieces—like a pink velvet wide-brimmed hat or a leather handbag covered in hand-drawn naked ladies—with the women who made them. Then mosey on down to The Garden Studio (Paulay Ede u. 18, 1061) or Lollipop Factory (Király u. 24, 1061) for some seriously eclectic designs that could only be found in Eastern Europe. Think metallic hot pants, jewelry made from AstroTurf, and looks inspired by retro-futurism. For more sophisticated pieces hit Nanushka (Bécsi u. 3, 1052), run by a husband-and-wife team quickly gaining an international following for their satin dresses.

The Garden Studio

Lollipop Factory

Bathe
Budapest is perhaps most famous for its thermal baths, and rightly so. Where else is it socially acceptable, nay, encouraged, to spend entire days soaking in hot water while drinking wine? The Turkish bath known as Rudas (Döbrentei tér 9, 1013) is a true Hungarian treasure. Floating around among the steam, waterfalls, and Medieval architecture, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another world where pleasure reigns and wine is cheaper than water. Since it’s open until 4 a.m. on weekends and boasts an on-site bar and nap room, there’s no reason to cut the fantasy short. Gellért Thermal Baths (Kelenhegyi út 4, 1118) is another local favorite. This art nouveau masterpiece is not to be missed by lovers of indulgence or architecture.

Gellért Thermal Baths

Eat
For dinner, stop by Onyx (Vörösmarty tér 7, 1051) to explore Michelin-starred interpretations of Hungarian cuisine. What’s Hungarian cuisine like? It’s basically comfort food whipped up by the most loving grandmother in the world—hot stews, potato dishes, and lots and lots of cheese. If you like a more traditional approach, grab a table at Drum Cafe (Dob u. 2, 1072) for hearty fare and decadent desserts flavored with nostalgia. Hungarians are famous for their sweets, so don’t miss the honey cake or palacsinta (Hungarian crepes). After a night of partying, score some langos—deep fried dough covered in garlic, sour cream, and local cheese—Hungary’s national hangover cure, on virtually any street corner.

Onyx

Drink
Iconic buildings destroyed by war, then reclaimed decades later by a bunch of aesthetically minded young folks in need of a place to party—what could be more Hungarian than Budapest’s famous ruin pubs? Don’t miss the gorgeous restaurant and ruin pub Mazel Tov (Akácfa u. 47, 1072), serving up artisan cocktails and Israeli fare. Just next door is the grungy, psychedelic Fogasház Kert (Akácfa u. 49-51, 1073). Eastern Europe might not always be the most friendly place for queer folk, but you can certainly find a safe haven at Auróra (Auróra u. 11, 1084), a queer community space, nightclub, and bagel shop. And of course, you can’t miss the one that started it all, the original ruin pub, Szimpla Kert (Kazinczy u. 14, 1075). Go on a weekday to skip the crowd. 

Szimpla Kert

Culture
Beauty abounds in Budapest. Fisherman’s Bastion, a lookout point on the Castle Hill (Szentháromság tér, 1014), hosts romantic views of the Danube. Art lovers can head to the nearby Hungarian National Gallery (Szent György tér 2, 1014) inside Buda Castle to see the most beloved pieces of Hungarian art. For a more mystical experience, glide over to Gellért Hill Cave and wander around the once forbidden Cave Church (Szent Gellért tér 1, 1111). Conquered time and time again, Budapest still showcases art bearing the influences of its many invaders, while remaining true to Hungarian culture. One of the best examples of the singularly Hungarian cultural legacy is the Museum of Applied Arts (Üll?i út 33-37, 1091), which spotlights the architectural elements that have made Budapest so strangely majestic.

Fisherman’s Bastion

By Isabella Beham
Photographed by Anna Illés
Top photo: Buda Castle on Castle Hill
This piece originally appeared in the January/February 2019 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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Travelers come in all shapes and sizes, but airline seats, sadly, do not. I can personally attest to this, as a plus-sized woman who’s been squashed into tight spaces en route. Suffering in silence makes for a lousy trip, so read on for my best advice, plus some pro tips from a few fat-acceptance authors and bloggers. Who says big girls don’t fly?

Research before you book 

Not all seats, planes, or airlines are created equal. Aircraft size matters. Smaller planes usually have smaller seats. And while Frontier Airlines has seats as wide as 19.1 inches across, and Delta’s new Boeing 777 seats are 18.6 inches across, most seats typically fall between 16 to 18 inches in width. And trust me, two inches can be the difference between feeling crowded by the armrest, and bruising your hips. So call up the airline and chat about the seat measurements, length of seatbelts, legroom, and their policies for passengers of size. Want to skip this step? Lia Garcia of Practical Wanderlust recommends flying Southwest, her favorite “fat-positive” airline, and grabbing “one or two extra seats as needed.” It’s really easy to get a “refund for the extra seats after your trip.” All you have to do is call or email Southwest to receive a full refund of the extra seats. Plus, when you book a second seat, you’re automatically included in the early boarding group. 

Don’t bank on premium economy 

It’ll save your knees, but not your hips or thighs. While these seats have more legroom, they usually aren’t any wider. Forget booking an exit row—some airlines don’t allow passengers of size to sit in these seats (because fat people don’t deserve to exit the burning plane first, apparently). Business-class seats are substantially roomier, but way spendy. If you have no budget for upgrades, Hannah Logan of Eat Sleep Breathe Travel advises ditching the use of tray tables, and bringing your own bottled drinks to “stick in the seat pocket” instead. 

Be your own best ally 

Request to be moved next to an empty seat at check-in, and again after boarding if you spot any. Ask to board early if you want extra time, and for a seatbelt extender if you need one. You deserve to be comfortable and safe. Like Jes Baker, author of Landwhale, says, “Be kind to YOU. There is no reason for self-flagellation when you walk down a plane aisle. You deserve to be treated like a human just like every other passenger…every single time.” 

By Chris Ciolli
Illustration by Maia Boakye
This article originally appeared in the October/November 2018 print issue of BUST. Subscribe today!

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Known for its past as an audacious gambling hub complete with brightly lit neon-signed motels, Reno has evolved beyond its “smaller Vegas” stereotype to host a thriving and dynamic arts culture (thanks, in part, to its proximity to Burning Man). Stay away from the gaudy nightlife of the casinos and instead dive straight into the heart of the city, where locals are friendly and good times are aplenty.

The DeLuxe

FOOD + DRINKS

To indulge like a true local, head to The Little Nugget (233 N. Virginia St.), a classic throwback to ’50s diner culture, for their famous “Awful Awful” burger. The name’s origin is a secret, and a misnomer—it’s Reno’s favorite greasy late-night meal. For healthier options, you can’t go wrong with the variety of eateries at West Street Market (148 West St.). For Reno’s freshest wood fired pizza, check out the Pizza Collective. Vegan food lovers should try The DeLuxe, where you can relish savory dishes such as vegan bahn mi and mushroom tacos. Stop by Sol, Reno’s one and only kava bar, where they mix up tasty and healing herbal tonics and teas with the plant, known for its calming properties. Top off your market trip with dessert at Icecycle Creamery, whose ice cream bar is stacked with signature flavors like honey butter cornbread and rosemary chocolate chip. Just down the street, grab drinks at The Eddy (16 S. Sierra St.); with an open courtyard and games like bocce ball, it feels more like an adult playground than a bar.

The “Awful Awful” burger at The Little Nugget

COFFEE + TREATS

For a sweet morning treat, take a peek at the glorious array of options at Holey Schmidt Donuts (490 S. Center St.). With flavors like Oreo, red velvet, and cheesecake, this shop will titillate the taste buds of any fried dough fiend. Walk by the river and grab coffee from Hub on Riverside (727 Riverside Dr.), which has the best view of any coffee shop in Reno. If you’re looking to step up your typical latte, Old World Coffee Lab (104 California Ave.) houses the Mocha Dragata, a double shot espresso with milk and a cinnamon, cayenne, and allspice blend—this signature drink is unparalleled!

Icecycle Creamery

OUTDOORS

Reno is famous for effortless natural beauty, including its gorgeous, rosy pink sunsets—catch one while walking through Reno’s Riverwalk District along the Truckee River. For something a little more adventurous, try BaseCamp Climbing Gym (255 N. Virginia St.). Once a colossal casino, the building now hosts the largest climbing wall in the world. For a trip outside the city limits, the easily accessible mountains are perfect for day hikes and weekend camping (Lake Tahoe is only 45 minutes away!).

Hub on Riverside in the Riverwalk District

SHOP

For the best treasure hunting and most unique finds, walk through Reno’s midtown district. With a host of fresh female-owned shops, you are sure to find a statement piece or gem of a gift. One of the most iconic spots is Junkee (960 S. Virginia St.). Reminiscent of a colorful New Orleans parade, the large space is a truly eclectic source for all things costume and vintage. For more curated vintage and the latest trends with feminist flair, check out Bad Apple Vintage (1001 S. Virginia St.). For an unexpected gift, hit up Natural Selection (39 St. Laurence Ave.), a contemporary taxidermy shop with hanging succulents, petrified bugs and spiders, and a myriad of bones.

Junkee

ARTS+CULTURE

As one of the most distinguished architectural achievements in the city, the Nevada Museum of Art (160 W. Liberty St.) is a visual masterpiece both inside and out. For a far less polished, much more intimate experience with Reno’s underground arts culture, check out the music at The Holland Project (140 Vesta St.), where you can hear everything from electro synth pop to neo grunge, a true rebel girl’s fantasy. See local plays and art exhibits at the PotentialistWorkshop (836 E 2nd St.), or hit Dickerson Art District (Dickerson St.), which houses a series of artist collectives and creative businesses including Reno Art Works (1995 Dickerson Rd). The creative space hosts regular art installations and also sells work from resident artists, who create everything from jewelry to multimedia wall hangings. No matter what you’re into, there is bound to be a place for you in the biggest little city! 

Potentialist workshop

Natural Selection

By Yolo Mana Yarrow
Photographed by Elspeth Summers
Top photo: Reno Arch
This article originally appeared in the October/November 2018 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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Shanghai, the most populated city in the world and the global epicenter of China, is still largely shrouded in mystery to many. I have to admit, when I moved here a few years ago to teach English, my perception of the city was warped and misinformed, based on outdated propaganda from the West. Most people harp on the perceived restrictions put on citizens, however, there’s plenty of innovation and creativity thanks to Chinese millennials and expats who are changing the cultural landscape. Shanghai is a city that is more than the sum of its past.

SHOP

Pawnstar
V Spot (218 Xinle Lu) is a female-centered adult shop with a mission to empower women to celebrate, express, and enjoy their sexuality. They keep it classy with luxurious, handcrafted leather strap-ons and whips, as well as kitschy vibrators—like the ice cream cone-shaped i-Scream—and dildos from conceptual sex toy designer Shiri Zinn. The store also hosts drag workshops, pole-dancing tutorials, and burlesque classes. Fashion lovers will find no shortage of boutiques selling expensive designer wear, but if you’re going to drop a pretty penny, Pawnstar (Xiangyang North Street, Lane 34, No. 1) is the place to do it. The consignment shop houses an eclectic mix that consists mainly of well-preserved high-end labels from the ’60s and ’70s.

Knock-offs at fake market

For more modern treasures, Madame Mao’s Dowery (207 Fumin Lu) carries a wide range of locally designed clothing, artisanal accessories, and modernized propaganda art. Come here for quality Shanghainese souvenirs, from stationery to baby clothes and handmade jewelry. And no trip to Shanghai is complete without an obligatory fake market (Line 2 Metro Science and Technology Museum) visit, where hundreds of stalls are stocked with knock-off clothes, Chinese souvenirs, “designer” handbags, shoes, and much more. Barter hard for the best prices and avoid electronics and makeup at all costs; everything else is fair game, though.

EATS

Xibo
Shanghai’s culinary star is on the rise, so be sure to get your fill of all the regional and international delights the city has to offer. Go straight to Xibo (83 Changshu Lu) to try authentic Xinjiang food. Enjoy Northern-style delicacies like mutton, noodles, and pickled vegetables; the pumpkin-stuffed dumplings are not to be missed. Di Shui Dong (2/F, 56 Maoming Nan Lu) specializes in ultra-spicy Hunan-style cuisine. Daring eaters should order the pidan (aka century) egg (preserved by way of an intricate months-long fermentation process) with green peppers. If moldy eggs aren’t your thing, go for the earthy, cumin-rubbed spare ribs. With whimsical décor that includes a full-size slide and several dining chairs replaced by swings hanging from the ceiling, Daliah (408 Shaanxi Bei Lu) provides the perfect backdrop for an Instagram-worthy selfie. The Austrian- inspired food is just as quirky: rainbow- colored hummus is served alongside staples like veal schnitzel and minced meatballs. 

NIGHTLIFE

Moulin Rouge at Candor
Start the night off with libations at Kartel (1 Xiangyang Bei Lu). This three-story French wine bar boasts one of the most impressive rooftop views of the city. Swanky cocktail bar Candor (57 Maoming Nan Lu) offers theatrical cabaret-style performances most nights of the week. The décor transports patrons back to old Shanghai with its golden-age-of-burlesque aesthetic. Roxie (359 Kangding Lu), Shanghai’s only lesbian bar, is a chill spot for a relaxing weekday drink. Weekends tend to get packed when a DJ sets up shop and the space is transformed into something more nightclub-worthy. Underground dance club Elevator (218 Xinle Lu) has become the go-to spot for shaking it to house, disco, and techno, especially at its monthly queer dance party, “Medusa.”

CULTURE

Monks at Jing’an Temple
With a rich history spanning more than 700 years, Jing’an Temple (1686 Nanjing Xi Lu) is the most famous Buddhist temple in Shanghai and a good place to soak up what’s left of the city’s old culture, since much of it has been replaced by skyscrapers. Enjoy the countless pavilions, bridges, and colorful pagodas at the beloved Yuyuan Garden (137 Anren Jie).

Old City pedestrian area of Yuyuan Garden

Get lost in the maze of indie art galleries and showrooms at M50 (50 Moganshan Lu), a contemporary art district known for the colorful graffiti that lines most of the surrounding street walls and alleyways. Finally, get away from the hustle and bustle with a day trip to the “Venice of the East,” Zhujiajiao, one of the region’s last existing villages built around water and canals—temples, gardens, and ancient curved rock bridges abound.

Boats at Zhujiajiao

By Niesha Davis
Photographed by Fulden Dehneli
This article originally appeared in the August/September 2018  print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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As someone who’s shit in all kinds of conditions, I can tell you that bathroom habits (and facilities!!) vary widely from country to country. Sure, the toilet situation may not be the first thing on your mind when planning your next big adventure, but it warrants some attention if you want to have comfortable, ahem, movements while you’re away. (And maybe avoid wiping with a receipt after an attack of “Delhi Belly” at the Taj Mahal.) Read on for my best tips.

Do your research. 

Knowledge is key, whether you’ll be donning mandatory slippers to use sparkling toilets that wash and dry your delicate parts with the press of a button in Japan, or squatting over the porcelain slabs typical in European parks. It will help you avoid embarrassing mistakes like clogging a toilet in destinations where you can’t flush paper (parts of Mexico and Eastern Europe, Greek and Spanish islands, Turkey, most of Africa, and Central and South America) or even worse, committing a fineable offense—in Singapore, leaving a floater can cost you $150. And be sure to learn the words for toilets and please in the local language.
 
Keep an eye out for clues. 

See instructions in a language you understand? Follow them. If there’s a trash basket next to the toilet full of toilet paper, add yours to the pile (soiled side down, please).
 
Bring a kit.

Sometimes soap and water are scarce (even in urban settings). So pack an organic, cruelty-free hand sanitizer like EO’s travel-sized peppermint spray ($2.56, amazon.com). Where paper is not a given (think India, Japan, and the Middle East, among other places), wipes—especially flushable, 100 percent biodegradable ones like Stall Mates ($13.99, amazon.com)—are a lifesaver. Pro tip: never flush more than one at a time, unless you want to learn the local word for plunger the hard way. Bleeding while traveling sucks, period. Mostly you can forget about flushing even the teeniest, most organic of tampons; if you use a menstrual cup, add potable water to your kit for rinsing it.

By Chris Ciolli
Illustration by Angela Ho
This article originally appeared in the August/September 2018  print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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From our June/July 2018 issue, Stephanie J. shares her “good stuff.” This time, the theme is “Bon Voyage”—catch the travel bug this summer with these wise buys.

With this striped suitcase, your bag will be easy to spot. 20-INCH GLACIER STRIPE SPINNER LUGGAGE, $330, PENDLETON-USA.COM

Keep it zipped with a canvas case for your tech. CANVAS LAPTOP SLEEVE, $89.95, MOCHITHINGS.COM

Lauren Falkowski’s leather designs are perfect for travel and time off. STELLA TRAVEL WALLET CLUTCH, $158, LOLAFALKLEATHERGOODS.ETSY.COM
Keep your pennies peachy in this purse. LIFE’S A PEACH COIN PURSE, $10, US.SKINNYDIPLONDON.COM
Travel light with a rucksack handmade in London. HEAVYWEIGHT YELLOW CANVAS & LEATHER BACKPACK, $191.46, SIDEWINDERAPPAREL.ETSY.COM

ID your stuff with these retro luggage tags. ADMIT TWO TICKET AND RAINBOW TRAVEL MIX CASSETTE TAPE LUGGAGE TAGS, $9.25 EACH, CURIOUSCASEGIFTS.ETSY.COM

Stay organized on the move with this travel wallet. ODYSSEY TRAVEL COMPENDIUM, $29.99, COTTONON.COM

Stash your essentials and explore the world in style. YOU GO GIRL LARGE CANVAS POUCH, $22.53, ALPHABETBAGS.COM

You’ll have all the power with Ban.do’s cute mobile charger. BACK ME UP! MOBILE CHARGER—BE NICE, $35, BANDO.COM
Trick out your bags with fun graphics. VINTAGE LUGGAGE STICKERS, $6.95, PAPERBUILTSHOP.ETSY.COM

This article originally appeared in the June/July 2018  print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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Hawaii? Who doesn’t know about Hawaii? Beaches, hula, mai tais, surfing—a sweet-paced life of simple pleasures. Pretty typical, right? It can be, but there’s so much more. On Oahu, the contradiction of exclusive golf courses and mega-hotels on the sovereign land of the Hawaiian people looms large. To have the best experience, it is important to understand that you’re a haole, a foreigner, here, and the most crucial rule to observe in this sacred, wondrous place is aloha. Aloha is the Hawaiian word for love, peace, and compassion. It is a word of welcome and a way of life. If you’re looking for luxe resorts and touristy luaus, there’s Google. For the atypical traveler looking to live aloha with the locals, this is a guide to the goods.

VW Camper van available for rent on Airbnb

STAY

Let’s get this out of the way: Waikiki is a rather Vegas-y, overpopulated strip of hotels and restaurants towering over a thin strip of crowded beach. Avoid it. The guaranteed best move is to rent a private home through VRBO or Airbnb in one of Honolulu’s coolest neighborhoods (Kakaako, Kaimuki, or Manoa), Kailua (great for “on-the-beach” spots), or Haleiwa, a lowkey little surf town on the North Shore. Or camp in the county campgrounds (camping.honolulu.gov/parks) on the side of the island you’re most interested in. You can even camp on the beach!

Shoyu chicken with white rice and mac salad at the Rainbow Drive-In

EAT + DRINK

Kama’aina, the people of Oahu, sure do love to eat—every gathering calls for big, heaping plates of ono grinds (delish food), with plenty of rice and mac salad, aka “plate lunch.” You’ll find “drive-ins” (really just diners and takeout counters) all over the island that specialize in this style of meat-and-sides meal. The iconic Rainbow Drive-In (3308 Kanaina Ave.) is a sure bet for teriyaki chicken or sweet and sour ribs. For traditional Hawaiian cuisine, go to unfussy Helena’s (1240 N School St.) for kalua pig, poi (taro), and laulau (smoked pork wrapped in taro leaves). The fusion of Asian cultures on Oahu means that piping hot bowls of saimin, ramen, pho, and various other noodles and hot pots tempt you from every direction—get your slurp on at Aunty’s Ramen (1110 McCully St.). On the North Shore, snack up with a cacao elixir and a papaya bowl at The Sunrise Shack (Sunset Beach). The one thing you must eat before you leave the island is Waiola Shave Ice (3113 Mokihana St.)—sweetened syrup drizzled atop a mountain of fluffy snow.

After your obligatory post-meal nap, it’s time to find a dive bar to do some karaoke, drink cheap beer, and bask in the performances of “ringer” singers who come in every night just to show off. This Honolulu short list will not disappoint: 8 Fat Fat 8 (1327 S. Beretania St.), a family-run dive with great fried rice; Goody Goody Bar & Grill (1272 S. King St.), which I swear has an autotuning mic; and, the most divey of all, Chinatown’s Smith’s Union Bar (19 N. Hotel St.), for $3 drinks and intense duets with strangers.

Lanikai Beach in Kailua

TO DO

The best time to beach is on weekday mornings, as opposed to weekends, when the entire island is trying to do the same. On the North Shore, don’t miss Turtle Bay (yes, there are turtles), and learn to hang ten in Haleiwa with the all-female instructors of North Shore Surf Girls (Kahalewai Pl.). On the island’s windward side (east or north of the island), Kailua and Lanikai Beach are unbeatable for sun, swimming, kayaking, and windsurfing; on the leeward side the secluded Yokohama Bay is an incomparable stretch of white sands. Sign up for the Waimea Valley Moon Walk (held every full moon) for a guided, after-dark tour of Waimea Valley’s botanical garden where an expert botanist (read: adorable science teacher) explains the wild history of the native and invasive trees, flowers, and plants of the islands.

Paiko

SHOP

It’s good manners when traveling to bring back omiyage (souvenirs) for your friends and family, but skip the mass-produced crap. Cindy Yokoyama’s handmade jewelry is the focus of Ginger13 (22 S. Pauahi St.), a stunningly curated boutique that also offers fragrances, incense, and stationery. Maura Fujihira’s gorgeous gallery and designer dry goods boutique fishcake (307 Kamani St.) is a beautiful space featuring art, one-of-a-kind homegoods, and clothing. Don’t bounce from your housestay without leaving a thank you gift—Paiko (675 Auahi St.) is owner Tamara Rigney’s adorable coffee shop and “botanical boutique,” where you can find the perfect floral or plant arrangement to say mahalo to your hosts.

By Valerie Bronte
Photographed by Carli Wentworth
top photo: Lanikai Beach in Kailua

This article originally appeared in the June/July 2018  print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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Yogyakarta—aka Yogya—is the heart of Indonesia’s Java Island, known for its arts and traditional crafts. Though it’s small enough that you can run into friends on the street, it’s home to dozens of universities, making it a welcome stopover for international students and travelers. Incredible hospitality and friendly locals are some of Yogyakarta’s main draws, but there are also stunning beaches, amazing street art pieces, and quirky, off-the-map sights. Come for the well-trod temples, stay for the Chicken Church.

Art 

Survive Garage

Yogya is the art capital of Java. Start with a visit to the colorful Affandi Museum (JI. Laksda Adisucipto No.167, Caturtunggal Kec. Depok, Kabupaten Sleman, Daerah Istimewa). Not only are the works of Affandi (one of Indonesia’s most well-known painters) on display, but the museum is also in his former home—the structures alone are worth the trip. Learn about traditional Javanese culture at the Ullen Sentalu Museum (Jalan Boyong KM 25, Kaliurang Barat, Hargobinangun, Sleman, Kabupaten Sleman, Daerah Istimewa). To check out the local underground art scene, Survive! Garage (JI. Nitiprayan 99, Ngestiharjo, Kasihan, Bantul, Daerah Istimewa) is an excellent starting point.

Eats

Milas Vegetarian

Yogyakarta is most famous for gudeg—a sweet Javanese coconut curry made with jackfruit, spices, and chicken—but there are plenty of choices, whatever your palate. If you’re missing Western food, Via Via (JI. Prawirotaman No.30, Brontokusuman, Mergangsan, Jogjakarta, Daerah Istimewa) has pasta and burgers as well as daily Indonesian food specials. They also have a bakery, a small fair-trade shop, and they offer yoga, cooking classes, and bicycle tours. Milas Vegetarian (Jl. Prawirotaman 4 No. 127B, Parangtritis, Brontokusuman, Mergangsan, Kota Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa) is a secret garden hideaway—I highly recommend the battered and fried tempeh mendoan. Vegan restaurant Simple Plant (Jl. Prawirotaman No.24-30, Brontokusuman, Mergangsan, Kota Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa) doubles as an art space, and part of the profits go to a local animal rescue. Be sure to order the vegan burger and the tonseng jamur (a local-style mushroom soup). For a drink, simply stroll down one of the two backpacker-populated streets, Jalan Sosrowijayan and Jalan Prawirotaman, where you’ll find lots of small bars and the occasional live music performance. 

Culture

Papermoon Puppet Theater

While wayang (shadow puppet theater), percussive gamelan music, and colorful, patterned batik fabric are the dominant cultural exports, there are lots of other interesting things to experience in Yogya. Papermoon Puppet Theatre (Bangunjiwo, Kasihan, Bantul, Daerah Istimewa) is a local puppetry and art space; catching a performance there is always a treat.

Papermoon Puppet Theater

Artspace and restaurant Kedai Kebun Forum (JI. Tirtodipuran No. 3, Mantrijeron, Kota Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta) hosts a variety of movie screenings, theater performances, poetry, and music gigs. Borobudur and Prambanan are two of the most-trafficked temples, but there are plenty of smaller (and more affordable sites) all over Yogya, including the Gereja Ayam, aka Chicken Church (Gombong, Kembanglimus, Karangrejo, Borobudur, Magelang, Jawa Tengah), located just a few minutes from the Borobudur Temple. The creator of this unique church said it was meant to look like a dove, but the locals all agree: It’s a giant chicken.

Markets

Beringharjo Market

Touring local markets is as much a part of the cultural experience as visiting temples or art galleries. Beringharjo (Pasar Beringharjo, Jl. Margo Mulyo, Ngupasan, Gondomanan, Kota Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa) is the whole package, located on Malioboro Street, the world-famous tourist hub of Yogya. It offers floor after floor of everyday, vintage, and traditional items—a great place to find oleh-oleh (souvenirs) for friends and family back home. Kota Gede Silver and Night Markets are famous for silver. From jewelry to elaborate boxes and figures, there is a vast array of shiny things to be had.

Kota Gede

There are also several places offering silversmithing classes, so you can make your own trinket to bring home. Kasongan (JI. Raya Kasongan, Bangunjiwo, Kasihan, Bantul, Daerah Istimewa) is a road in the south of Yogyakarta. This area is famous for pottery and crafts, and it’s a great place to wander around and check out the various wares in small shops up and down the strip.

By Taarna Grimsley
Photographed by Nonna Olive Nella
Top photo: Beringharjo Market

This article originally appeared in the April/May 2018  print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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The German capital of Berlin, once infamously described by former mayor Klaus Wowereit as “poor, but sexy,” can feel as if it’s straining at the seams with people pouring in to start art galleries, organize festivals, or open up cocktail bars. Roll up with any esoteric interest or wacky dream and you’ll find a crowd that gets you. Traces of history and the city’s divided past permeate most everything, but the Berlin of 2017 is fun, hyper-tolerant, and welcoming to all.

Companion Coffee

DRINK

Coffee culture has hit Berlin hard in the last few years, and every neighborhood has its share of amazing cafés and award-winning baristas. Roastery Bonanza Coffee Heroes (Oderberger Str. 35) is a stalwart of the coffee scene and a stone’s throw from the Mauerpark, while Concierge Coffee (Paul-Lincke-Ufer 39-40) and Companion Coffee (Oranienstraße 24) offer relaxed spaces and great coffee further south. Caffeinate and gorge yourself on delicious cakes at the tiny and beautiful Friedl Rösterei & Kekse (Pappelallee 35) in Prenzlauer Berg.

For something a little boozier, when the weather’s nice, the long tables under the chestnut trees at Prater Garten (Kastanienallee 7-9) fill up with a relaxed mix of locals and tourists. Cozy and inventive cocktail bar John Muir (Skalitzerstraße 51) provides seasonal drinks, craft beers, and a chill atmosphere. 8mm (Schönhauser Allee 177b) is a punk rock oasis amidst touristy Mitte, with old films projected on the walls and dense clouds of cigarette smoke after midnight. Head to karaoke bar Monster Ronson’s (Warschauer Str. 34) to sing ‘til dawn.

ARTS & LEISURE

Plan ahead and book a visit to Sammlung Boros (Reinhardtstraße 20, guided tours only: sammlung-boros.de), a WWII bunker transformed into a contemporary art gallery. Most of Berlin’s major museums are conveniently piled around one another in the middle of the Spree river on Museum Island in Mitte. Decompress and get weird at Kater Blau (Holzmarktstraße 25), a dance music playground on the Spree. Or make new friends on the sordid and sweaty dancefloor of Icky (Sundays @ Ficken 3000, Urbanstraße 70). You came to Berlin to have fun, right?

Teufelsberg

OUTDOORS

Berlin gets dark very early in winter and can be quite cold, but Berliners still venture outdoors. Café am Neuen See (Lichtensteinallee 2) is a beer garden and restaurant at the edge of the Tiergarten, but the real fun is the curling sheet that opens once the temperature drops. Grunewald forest in the west is great for a quiet stroll—or foraging for mushrooms, nuts, and edible plants. It’s here you’ll run into Teufelsberg, a man-made hill created by WWII rubble. If you climb to the top, you’ll discover an abandoned radar station with huge graffiti walls and panoramic views of the city. Don’t visit Berlin in December without spending an evening in a Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market) eating Schmalzkuchen (little doughnuts) washed down with a Glühwein (mulled wine) or three. Lucia is a Scandinavian holiday market in the courtyard behind the Kulturbrauerei (Schönhauser Allee 36) and is as cozy as it gets. For a more traditional vibe, the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt (Mitte) has a winter market every year until December 31.

Clâerchens Ballhaus

EAT

Germans have been enjoying long and elaborate breakfasts for ages. Silo (Gabriel-Max-Straße 4) and Distrikt Coffee (Bergstraße 68) offer delicious, familiar brunch fare such as baked eggs and pancakes. Concept cafe Isla (Hermannstraße 37) in Neukölln serves amazing breakfasts while using sustainable methods that minimize food waste. For dinner, sit down to homemade southern German delicacies at Alpenstueck (Gartenstraße 9), vegetarian fare at Cookies Cream (Behrenstraße 55), or dine with a background of tangoing strangers in vintage ballroom Clärchens Ballhaus (Auguststraße 24). To sample all the most interesting food in Berlin in one go, head to indoor food paradise Markthalle Neun (Eisenbahnstraße 42/43), a hall packed with street food stalls, delis, mini outposts of local restaurants, and a cocktail bar or two.

do you read me?!

SHOPPING

Don’t forget your canvas tote bags and washed yogurt jars before heading to supermarket Original Unverpackt (Wiener Str. 16), a packaging-free supermarket pairing two of Berlin’s favorite things: sustainability and concept stores. On Sunday, comb for treasures at any of the many Flohmärkte throughout the city. The flea at the Mauerpark (Bernauer Str. 63-64) is huge, crowded, and the likeliest place to find something you never knew you needed. Artsy bookworms should make a pilgrimage to do you read me?! (Auguststraße 28) for design and fashion ’zines, books, and periodicals.

Denkmal für die Ermordeten Juden Europas

HISTORY

For a sobering lesson on the impact border walls can have, the Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer (Bernauer Str. 111) preserves over a half-mile of the Berlin Wall between the Mitte and Wedding districts and includes a documentation center dedicated to the history of Berlin’s division. Across town, the East Side Gallery (Mühlenstraße) draws flocks of visitors to its permanent display of work from artists worldwide, painted on the eastern side of the wall in 1990. The Denkmal für die Ermordeten Juden Europas (Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Cora-Berliner-Straße 1) is a somber memorial to Jewish victims of the Holocaust, designed by architect Peter Eisenman. Don’t idly lean your bike against (or worse, climb on) the quiet sea of grey stone blocks.

By Anda Corrie

Photographed by Robert Rieger

Top photo: Museum Island

This article originally appeared in the December/January 2017 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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You Go, Girl: Lisbon, Portugal

Good vibes abound in this coastal European town

Written and photographed by Chelseas Fuss

Affordability, sunshine, and a laid-back feel are just a few of the reasons folks flock to Lisbon, one of Europe’s oldest cities. Portugal’s capital is also a melting pot of its past, influenced by transplants from Mozambique, Angola, São Tomé, Brazil, and Goa, who returned after the country’s dictatorship dissolved in 1974, creating an energy of newness combined with history. Lisbon is the antithesis of trying too hard (many of the best spots don’t even have signs!), so wander the narrow mosaic sidewalks and hilly streets to discover secret cafes, green spaces, and truly unique boutiques.

Narrow city street

Eat & Drink

Pastelaria Alcoa

A non-flashy, super affordable pizza joint in Lisbon’s colorful Mouraria neighborhood, Cantina Baldracca (Rua das Farinhas 1) offers thin crust, homemade pizza—try the asparagus and egg pie. You can’t visit Portugal without trying its fresh seafood, so hit Zapata Restaurante (Rua do Poço dos Negros 47/9), a no-frills family restaurant with simple but flavorful dishes like the family-style plate of small clams with olive oil, garlic, and cilantro. Crowded at lunchtime with local construction and office workers alike, O Afonso das Bifanas (Rua da Madalena 146) makes the city’s freshest (and cheapest!) bifanas: pork sandwiches with garlic and herbs on just-baked Portuguese bread. Decorated with hard-to-miss art deco tiles, Pastelaria Alcôa (Rua Garrett 37) makes traditional Portuguese convent pastries, inspired by the abundance of egg yolks nuns had on hand after using the whites for starching linens. The windows offer a show-stopping display of sweets including pastry cones filled with custard.

Enjoying a drink or coffee at one of the many outdoor kiosks is a quintessential Lisbon experience. Clara Clara Kiosk (Jardim Botto Machado, Campo de Santa Clara), in Alfama, the city’s oldest neighborhood, offers a view of the Teijo river, and borders an endless flea market (on Tuesday and Saturday mornings). Like most of the best places in Lisbon, Park Bar (Calçada do Combro, 58) doesn’t have a sign. Just walk up to the top of the parking garage on Calçada do Combro in Chiado, to enjoy a stunning view of the city with a drink. Topo Chiado (Terraços do Carmo) combines the best of old and new—sip a cocktail at this bar that sits at the foot of 15th-century ruins, facing a castle.

Boutiques

 A Vida Portuguesa

With multiple locations each featuring different goods, A Vida Portuguesa (Rua Anchieta 11, Chiado; Rua Ivens 2, Chiado; Largo do Intendente Pina Manique 23, Lisboa) is a must for its dedication to Portuguese artisans. Stocking everything from sardines and soap to textiles and pans, it’s a perfectly curated lifestyle store. Located in Lisbon’s antique district, home decor shop Cavalo de Pau (Rua de São Bento 164) provides a fresh twist on Portuguese vintage and industrial design. Bisset (Rua D. Pedro V, 56 B/C), tucked away in an alley in Lisbon’s posh Principe Real neighborhood, offers a stunning vista of the city; inside the jewel box of a shop, you’ll find African textiles, French clothing, and handmade bags. 

DIY

A Avo Veio Trabalhar

Meet a Portuguese granny and learn a craft at A Avó Veio Trabalhar (Ru do Poço dos Negros). This studio, on one of Lisbon’s most artistic streets, offers affordable workshops (from paper flower making to basket crocheting) with Portuguese grannies and stocks a selection of granny-made products designed by owner Susana. Caulino Ceramics (Rua de S. Mamede 28) is a large, impressive studio offering playful, imaginative ceramics as well as workshops in English and Portuguese.

Cafes

Cafe Tati

Charming, bohemian Café Tati (Rua Ribeira Nova 36), beyond the city’s largest market, Mercado Ribeira, is the perfect place to take some shade and enjoy a light, healthy lunch; the salmon, tomato, and guacamole served with toasted bread is a classic. Carpe Diem Arte e Pesquisa (Rua de O Século 79), one of the city’s best kept secrets, boasts a palace-turned-museum, modern art gallery, cafe, and bookshop. The menu is a rotating collaboration between the chef and the artists on exhibit, and a meal is best enjoyed in the crumbly garden out back. Located in Intendente, a neighborhood bursting with Indian spice shops, Chinese markets, and delicious Bangladeshi restaurants, Casa Independente (Largo do Intendente Pina Manique 45) serves as a community center, concert venue, and cafe with a verdant secret patio.

Green Spaces

Jardim da Tapada des Necessidades

Far off the tourist trail, Jardim da Tapada das Necessidades (Calçada Necessidades) oozes charm with acres of green space, a cactus garden, rustic buildings, and a greenhouse. Across from one of Lisbon’s most beautiful churches, Jardim Estrela (Praça da Estrela) boasts a walkway of gardens, fountains, and benches for relaxing. Visit on Sunday, when locals gather for picnics and swing dancing.

Top photo: One of Lisbon’s many hillsides

This article originally appeared in the August/September 2017 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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Hitting the highway this summer? Don’t forget these stylish essentials.

Chronicle the trip of a lifetime with this neat notebook.
THE ADVENTURE LOG, $12 FOR 3, WORDNOTEBOOKS.COM

PH-balanced wipes for both your body and your bits.
FRESH BY KIT DELUXE GENTLE WIPES IN LAVENDER, $10, BEAUTYHABIT.COM

Capture classic moments with a digital Polaroid cam.
POLAROID SNAP INSTANT DIGITAL CAMERA, $89.99, POLAROID.COM

Map out your trip and make the most of your memories with a pin board.
CROSS COUNTRY KEEPSAKE BOARD, $70, UNCOMMONGOODS.COM

Stock these pouches with your power and first-aid supplies, and you’ll be prepared for any emergency, whether you need a Band-Aid or a battery charge.

ESSENTIAL POUCH COLLECTION, $29.95, MOCHITHINGS.COM

Protect ya neck with a cool cushion.
RAINBOW GET CUSHY PILLOW BY TYPO, $19.99, COTTONON.COM

Keep hydrated in the heat with a slick, stainless steel water bottle.
“STINGRAY” WATER BOTTLE, $35, SWELLBOTTLE.COM

Try a bright backpack (made from recycled plastic) when going off the beaten track.
REKÅNKEN BACKPACK IN SUNFLOWER YELLOW, $90, FJALLRAVEN.US

Grab those zzzs even when the sun is shining.
HUSTLE EYE MASK, $25, DECOTEASE.ETSY.COM

BY STEPHANIE J.

Top photo: Thelma and Louise

This article originally appeared in the June/July 2017 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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Tiny towns both east and west of the mighty Hudson River are the escape for N.Y.C. babes (and anyone looking for a peaceful trip east). And if you’ve never been upstate, you’re missing the best of New York’s natural good looks. About a two-hour drive (or Amtrak ride) from Manhattan, Hudson Valley helps visitors shake off their stress and stunt on the ’gram with riverside sunset stories and Catskill mountain panoramas. But don’t worry about posing like another city hipster, this guide — organized by East and West for ease of planning — has all the local tips for a perfect trip.

A typical Hudson Valley farm

CULTURE

EAST: No visit to Dutchess County should exclude Dia:Beacon (3 Beekman St., Beacon), one of the largest art exhibition spaces in the country. In Columbia County, do not miss Olana (5720 State Route 9G, Hudson), Hudson River School painter Frederic Edwin Church’s vibrant Victorian mansion set on an expansive estate for 360-degree views of the Hudson and surrounding mountains.

Olana

WEST: Spend the entire afternoon at Storm King Art Center (1 Museum Rd., New Windsor), featuring mammoth works by contemporary artists like Maya Lin and Alice Aycock on 500 acres. For a break from high art, head south to gearhead heaven: babes who ride will dig Newburgh’s Motorcyclepedia Museum (250 Lake St.).

DRINK

EAST: Tivoli locals love the cash-only Traghaven Whiskey Pub & Co (66 Broadway, Tivoli) with its dizzying whiskey list. Hudson’s cozy Spotty Dog Books and Ale (440 Warren St., Hudson) is a bookstore pouring beer and wine all day, or grab a coffee or a cocktail at the Scandinavian-inspired shop/café/bar ÖR Gallery and Tavern (35 S. 3rd St., Hudson). After dark, the Hudson dive of choice is the grungy Half Moon (48 S. Front St., Hudson), which has live music and DJs rocking sweaty Saturday night dance parties.

Spotty Dog Books and Ale

ÖR Gallery and Tavern

WEST: In Kingston, start your bar crawl at The Anchor (744 Broadway, Kingston), one of many spots in town with nightly live music. Craft brew buffs should trek to Athens for Crossroads Brewing Company (21 Second St., Athens); don’t pass on the homemade pretzels. Tip: There’s no Uber or Lyft upstate, so pick a DD or arrange a taxi in advance.

The Anchor in Kingston

SHOPPING

EAST: In Hudson, stroll Warren Street to get your shop on, saving your energy for Kasuri (1 Warren St., Hudson), Layla Kalin’s Japanese-inspired, haute-couture boutique. Carrying exclusive, sickening pieces by Comme des Garçons and Issey Miyake, even their sale rack is life changing. If music moves you, visit Darkside Records (611 Dutchess Turnpike, Arlington) to satisfy your appetite for a rare-pressing. At Bruised Apple Books (923 Central Ave., Peekskill), you’ll find nearly 50,000 used, rare, and out-of-print tomes.

Window shopping at Kasuri

WEST: Witchy types should hit Tannersville’s Bones and Stones (5977 Main St., Tannersville) for curiosities like snake vertebrae, deer hoof bottle openers, and the owner’s handmade jewelry. For something soft and delicate, Woodstock’s Vidakafka Boutique (43 Tinker St., Woodstock), a European-style lingerie shop run by Nancy Kafka, specializes in fineries for your bust and behind. Antique-heads will roll at salvage yard/antique shop Zaborski Emporium (27 Hoffman St., Kingston), boasting floors of relics that range from crap to incredible.

A picker’s paradise at Zaborski Emporium

EATS

EAST: Weekends start at Murray’s (73 Broadway, Tivoli) for brunch in an old church. Go in on the “Conference Call,” a bottle of sparkly served with fresh juices for four. Just be sure to go after 12 on Sundays, or learn about New York’s archaic blue laws. Just off Hudson’s main drag you’ll find “artist chefs” Carla Perez-Gallardo and Hannah Black’s “ ongoing restaurant/installation/performance project” Lil’ Deb’s Oasis (747 Columbia St., Hudson). This trippy, cash-only, pan-Latin gem serves smoothies and pupusas during the day and Peruvian chicken and Brazilian seafood stew at night. Whovian ladies lunch at The Pandorica (165 Main St., Beacon), a Dr. Who-themed restaurant run by Bronx-native Shirley Hot, complete with a Tardis front door.

Lil’ Deb’s Oasis

WEST: Halfway between Saugerties and Woodstock, New World Home Cooking (1411 Route 1212, Saugerties) is the place for the omni, vegetarian, and gluten-free alike. The menu suggests, after enjoying the bone marrow appetizer, a tequila luge through the hollowed shin, so order up shots to “clean” the bone. Beware: your restaurant options dwindle after 8 p.m., but in Kingston, head to 24-hour local favorite Dietz Stadium Diner (127 N. Front St., Kingston) for American classics anytime.

BY VALERIE BRONTE

PHOTOGRAPHED BY GLYNIS S.A. CARPENTER

This article originally appeared in the June/July 2017 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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This fantastic French city will sweep you off your feet
By Lisa Butterworth

Sure, Paris may be the romance capital of France, but just a two-hour train ride away is a city that’s equally charming, just as French, way less crowded, and yes, I’ll say it, even more delicious: Lyon. It even beats Paris in river count, too, with the Rhône and the Saône both flowing through its center. Walk the city’s narrow streets, dip into its many boulangeries, marvel at its pastel-colored buildings, soak up its indie entrepreneurial shopping scene, and you’ll be shouting, “Lyon, je t’aime!” in no time.

 
Coney Cookies

Shop
The Croix-Rousse neighborhood is an indie shopping haven: Get adorable cookies and colorful party goods at Coney Cookies (14 Rue Sergent Blandan), eclectic housewares and gifty items at L’Effet Canopée (18 Rue des Capucins), and handmade wares like jewelry, totes, and super-cute prints from a collective of creative ladies at lafabriq (106 Montée de la Grande-Côte). Then dip into indie bookstore Ouvrir L’Oeil (18 Rue des Capucins) to see how much cooler French covers are on your favorite tomes. Scope vintage threads at Leonard (19 Rue Hippolyte Flandrin), and if you ask nicely, maybe they’ll usher you into the secret back room, where racks of incredible French work wear will appeal to your androgynous side. For a bottled souvenir, head to Antic Wine (18 Rue du Bœuf)—simply rummaging through the dusty crates in the tiny shop’s cellar is half the fun.

lafrabriq 

Eat & Drink
Lyon is known as one of the great culinary capitals of the world, so if there’s one thing you should splurge on while you’re here, it’s food. Get your fill of bread, cheese, meat, seafood, pastries, and more at Les Halles de Lyon (102 Cours Lafayette), a gigantic, indoor gourmet food market with dozens of vending stalls and restaurants. (A lot of the cheesemongers will vacuum pack their goods, so stock up on stinky souvenirs!) Treat yourself to a meal at the quaint and airy Le Bistrot Du Potager (3 Rue de la Martinière). Grab a booth upstairs and order as many of the small tapas plates—featuring fresh, Spanish-twist takes on French dishes like tartines and croquettes—as your stomach can handle. You’ll be drinking wine like it’s water, but Lyon knows its way around a craft cocktail, too. Pop into the dark, speakeasy-style L’Antiquaire (20 Rue Hippolyte Flandrin) for high-end versions of low-end classics (including the best White Russian that will ever hit your lips). For a bit more swank, hit The Monkey Club (19 Place Tolozan). This laid-back bar feels like a trip back in time with its leather banquettes, vintage bric-a-brac, and deep jewel-toned décor, and the A+ cocktails are like tasty sips of history.

The Monkey Club

Treat Yo’ Self
It’s hard to find a bad pastry in Lyon, but you’ll score some of the best at Boulangerie Saint Vincent (49 Quai St Vincent), a teeny-tiny spot with a glass case full of buttery goodness. Ogle the magnificent cakes at Sébastien Bouillet (15 Place de la Croix-Rousse), then duck into the patissier’s more rustic spot next door, Goûter, for hunks of bread pudding and pink pralines—candy-coated almonds that are a Lyonnaise specialty. Caffeinate at Mokxa Cafe (3 Rue de l’Abbé Rozier), where you can sip your espresso on their cobblestone patio, or at the lady-run Le Tigre (91 Montée de la Grande-Côte), which also serves up the rare gluten-free treat. When you need a carb break, head to La Fabrique Givrée (66 Rue Saint-Jean) for incredibly flavored ice cream from peach and pistachio to chocolate and wine (!).

Sébastien Bouillet

Outdoors
Lyon is a veritable treasure trove of gorgeous vistas, cool nooks and crannies, and awe-inspiring architecture, so simply walking around is a treat in and of itself (keep your eyes peeled for awesome and plentiful street art). But for a breathtaking view, head to the top of Montée de la Grande-Côte, the main thoroughfare in the Croix-Rousse quarter. Grab a bike from one of the many bike share stands and cruise along the Rhône, working your way to Lyon’s grand green space, Parc de la Tête d’Or. Keep an eye out for the exotic animals—like giraffes and flamingos—that populate its free zoo, which is not at all sad like most American zoos. Then reward yourself with a crêpe from the magical little stand by the park’s carousels. Stunning murals will catch your eye all over Lyon, but the Fresque des Lyonnais (2 Rue de la Martinière) is particularly worth a visit. This public work of art features famous past and present Lyon residents, from poets to chefs, providing a glimpse into what the people of this incredible city hold dear.

Montée de la Grande-Côte

Parc de la Tête d’Or

Photographed by Elise Julliard

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Austin Skyline
Photographed by Stuart Seeger

This Southwest capital is weird and wonderful

Not only is Austin a progressive haven in the red-state of Texas, but it’s also an eclectic and vibrant enclave for music, art, and eats, with mouth-watering barbecue and Tex-Mex joints around every corner. “Keep Austin Weird” is the local mantra, and this offbeat city’s managed to do just that while also preserving its Southern warmth.

SHOPPING, ARTS, & ?CULTURE?

BookWoman (5501 N. Lamar Blvd.) is a local feminist bookstore that has been around for 39 years. Beware, you might get lost for hours perusing their diverse and unique selection (and check their calendar for feminist literary events). Vintage hunters should skip the overpriced stores on South Congress, and head to Treasure City Thrift (2142 E. 7th St.), which is full of Southwestern fashion favorites. With a bit of searching, you can find a unique pair of cowboy boots or some uncommon relics.

Once a part of Mexico, Austin is rich in Mexican history, art, and culture. The Mexic-Arte Museum (419 Congress Ave.), featuring work from young Latino artists on issues of migration, border control, and religion, is worth a visit. Check out the Hope Outdoor Gallery (11th & Baylor St.)—a collection of concrete walls from a failed condo development turned secret graffiti spot turned protected park—for amazing street art. Want to contribute? Pick up a paint pass from the onsite trailer and leave a Krylon memento of your trip.

Mexic-Arte Museum

Hope Outdoor Gallery

EAT & DRINK

Austin is a food lover’s paradise filled with all kinds of gourmet delights. To get a true taste of the town, bypass the hip brunch spots and head instead to neighborhood favorite, Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop (referred to locally as Joe’s Mexican Restaurant—2305 E. 7th St.) for a breakfast taco and traditional Tex-Mex migas (eggs scrambled with crispy tortilla strips) with jalapeno and cheese. For the best barbecue in town, don’t miss La BBQ food truck (1906 E. Cesar Chavez). Try the impossibly perfect brisket sandwich and a side of potato salad and enjoy them in one of Austin’s many outdoor eating spaces. Yes, the line sucks—I sometimes wait an hour!—but free beer on tap makes it way less painful. For veggie lovers, head south to Whip In (1950 S. Interstate Hwy. 35), an Indian restaurant, corner store, bar, and event space all rolled into one—the vegan samosas are an absolute must.

There is no shortage of places to drink in this craft beer hub. To skip the crowds, head north to the hidden Adelbert’s Brewery (2314 Rutland Dr.) for glorious, handcrafted Belgian-style ales. Cozy up under the hanging lights outside and try the Lobster Melt from the on-site food truck (expensive, but totally worth it!). For a more upscale option, try Peche (208 W. 4th St.), which serves up craft cocktails (many with absinthe) in a New Orleans-styled space.

La BBQ

Peche

Peche

ENTERTAINMENT

Live music is everywhere in Austin. Attending the city’s famous South By Southwest Music and Film Festival (March 10–19) is a trip on its own. But for a wild night of dancing every other week of the year, don’t miss TuezGayz on Tuesdays at Barbarella (615 Red River St.) where you’ll catch the city’s best drag show. Also check out SpiderHouse Cafe & Ballroom (2908 Fruth St.), a coffee shop by day and a laidback event space by night, hosting everything from comedy shows and poetry slams to burlesque performances and punk rock. A trip to Austin wouldn’t be complete without a Sunday visit to The Little Longhorn Saloon (5434 Burnet Rd.) for “Chicken Shit Bingo,” which is exactly what it sounds like; roll in, grab a local beer, listen to country tunes, and bet on where a chicken is going to shit on a bingo board at this legendary bar!

The Little Longhorn Saloon

OUTDOORS

The Southwest is home to some of the country’s most pristine natural pools and intricate rivers, and Austin’s no exception. Local favorite Barton Springs (2201 Barton Springs Rd.) is a natural pool that’s 67 degrees all year round. This city gem is a glorious escape for everyone from local councilmen to bare-breasted free spirits. The springs cradle the lush Zilker Park, perfect for hiking or a bicycle ride (B-Cycle stations, Austin’s bike share program, are all over the city). To escape the crowds and for a bit of adventure, head to Krause Springs (404 Krause Spring Rd., Spicewood) less than an hour away, which is home to more than 30 natural pools and jaw-dropping waterfalls.

Barton Springs

Photographed by Sarah Ellison Lewis

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Even rain can’t put a damper on this bustling British metropolis

World-renowned for its music (the Smiths, Joy Division, and Oasis all hail from “Manny”), sport (we’re football, aka soccer, obsessed), and radical (including feminist) politics, Manchester’s also got a reputation for rain (approximately 140 days per year). But there’s no raining on this British city’s parade: Manchester is busy and eclectic, with skyscrapers towering over what remains of its industrial heritage. So grab your Wellies and get ready for an adventure.

ART, CULTURE, & SPORT
The Whitworth (Oxford Rd.), Manchester’s “Gallery in the Park,” has won fistfuls of awards since it reopened last year; visit for a tranquil afternoon browsing the exhibitions and sitting among the trees in the café. Less well known is the Portico Library (57 Mosley St.), an unexpectedly stunning hidden gem above a pub and handily near the following civic icons. The neo-Gothic Manchester Town Hall (Albert Sq.), often used as a Houses of Parliament stand-in for film and TV, is well worth a tour (check out the clock tower at Christmas for an amazing view of the bustling holiday markets below). Just around the corner is the beautiful Central Library (St. Peter’s Sq.): head inside to gawk at the huge Reading Room with its domed ceiling.

Canal Street is home to Manchester’s gay bars, and the center of Pride—unmissable if you’re lucky enough to visit at the end of August. Make time for a quiet visit to Sackville Gardens (Whitworth St. and Sackville St.), home to the statue of Alan Turing, the pioneering computer scientist persecuted to his death in the 1950s because of his sexuality.

You can’t get away from football in Manchester. And why would you want to? Manchester City and Manchester United both offer stadium tours, and the National Football Museum (Cathedral Gardens, Todd St.), which occupies the striking Urbis building in the city centre, is the best place to get a good feel for our national obsession.

The Pankhurst Centre

HISTORY
To truly understand Manchester’s story, visit the People’s History Museum (Left Bank, Spinningfields), which charts the moxie of Britain’s working folks and their battle for equality and democracy under the slogan, “There have always been ideas worth fighting for.” One of those ideas was the vote for women: The Pankhurst Centre (60-62 Nelson St.) was once the home of feminist activist Emmeline Pankhurst, and the birthplace of the British suffragette movement. Now the townhouse holds a small but inspiring museum and an active women’s community center.

The Whitworth

EAT, DRINK, & SHOP
Try to book a table at the outstanding ?Mughli (30 Wilmslow Rd.), a busy Indian street food restaurant with a mouth-watering menu of grilled kebabs and classic biryanis on the Curry Mile. The rest of the Mile is sadly long past its heyday; if Mughli is booked up, stay in the city center for curry at a branch of Kashmiri chain East Z East (Blackfriars St. or Princess St.).

The Northern Quarter bars and cafés speak the international language of hipster fare, from avocado toast to zebra pie. Try the cheery Home Sweet Home (49-41 Edge St.) for milkshakes and cake, Almost Famous (100-102 High St.) for creative burgers, and Pie & Ale (The Hive, 47 Lever St.) for a classic Northern combination of savory pastry pies and a craft pint. If you prefer moo-free meals, try vegan diner V Revolution (Edge St.) or experience gourmet veggie dishes like “fish” and chips or seasonal salads at 1847 (58 Mosley St).

Home Sweet Home

The Northern Quarter is also great for independent shops: try Fig + Sparrow (20 Oldham St.) for design-focused gifts, cards, and housewares (plus you can perk up with an espresso at its in-house coffee bar), and the Manchester Craft & Design Centre (17 Oak St.), a Victorian building packed with studios and boutiques where local artists sell their wares from jewelry to ceramics.

For an unforgettable (if pricey) drink, grab a cocktail at Cloud 23, the very fancy bar in the iconic Beetham Tower (303 Deansgate). Or for a down-to-earth pint, The Briton’s Protection (50 Great Bridgewater St.) is a classic British pub that’s been serving suds since the early 1800s.

Manchester Craft & Design Centre

V Revolution

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
Morrissey is kind of annoying these days and famed nightclub the Hacienda (the epicenter of the city’s late-’80s and early-’90s Factory Records scene) is now an apartment block, but Manchester music continues. The Warehouse Project’s occasional huge club nights (locations vary; thewarehouseproject.com) are unforgettable for electronic dance music. Prefer live tunes? Check out what’s on at Gorilla (54-56 Whitworth St. W.), a smaller venue in the arches under a railway bridge near Oxford Road Station, where you can enjoy a decent burger before catching an indie band, and a delicious cocktail afterward.

Gorilla

Photographed by Rebecca Lupton

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It’s been dubbed “The Nasty Nati” and simply “Cincy,” but the nickname that serves this trendy Ohio metropolis best is its official moniker: “The Queen City.” Cincinnati, which borders Northern Kentucky, is a progressive haven that’s the perfect mix of bustling city life and Southern charm (not to mention extremely affordable). You’ll come for the river views and festivals, and stay for the beer and people, respectively. All hail the Queen.

Eats

Holtman’s Donuts

Cincinnati is the birthplace of a number of scrumptious and exclusive delights, including our famous skyline chili, a mouthwatering secret recipe of noodles, chili, and cheese available at its namesake resto, Skyline Chili (254 E. 4th St.—Google for more locations). Graeters (511 Walnut St.) is Cincinnati’s beloved ice cream empire; one taste of their infamous Black Raspberry Chip and you’ll never be the same. Keystone Bar & Grill (3384 Erie Ave.) is a local hotspot that serves some of the city’s best brunch; their veggie-stuffed frittata pairs perfectly with the peach mimosas. Check out Holtman’s Donuts (1332 Vine St.), family owned since 1960, when you’re in the mood for a custard-filled or sprinkled deep-fried treat.

Brews

Rhinegeist

With a wide selection of lounges featuring even more choices on tap, Cincinnati is a certified beer hub that satisfies any suds snob’s wildest dreams. Local brewer Rhinegeist (1910 Elm St.) offers a rooftop craft experience that is classically Cincinnati; try Alice, a Belgian-style blonde ale with “spicy banana and pear notes.” MadTree (5164 Kennedy Ave.) serves up local brews and the city’s finest wood-fired pizzas in a quaint drinking lounge located in the same space as their brewery. Taft’s Ale House (1429 Race St.) is another local favorite with its impossibly high ceilings, artisanal beers, and downtown charm.

Entertainment

Great American Ball Park

Cincinnati has a serious knack for festivals: Bunbury Music Festival and Taste of Cincinnati are the city’s summer staples; Oktoberfest Zinzinnati celebrates food, alcohol, and German culture in mid-September; and Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo (3400 Vine St.) is the must-see local holiday tradition. Unknown to most, Cincinnati’s comedy scene is one of the best in the country. Check out MOTR Pub (1345 Main St.) on Tuesdays for open mic night and Myrtle’s Punch House (2733 Woodburn Ave.) on Thursday nights for rad comedy showcases featuring hilarious locals like Kelly Collette and Liza Treyger. Before winter sets in, enjoy Cincinnati’s thriving outdoor spaces. Walk across the pedestrian-friendly Purple People Bridge or Roebling Bridge (connecting Ohio and Kentucky, it was the prototype for designer John Roebling’s Brooklyn Bridge). Washington Park (1230 Elm St.) and Sawyer Point (705 E. Pete Rose Way) are the city’s most delightful greenspaces with impeccable views and people-watching, guaranteed river breezes, and countless food truck encounters (keep your eyes peeled for Empanadas Aqui). During the summer, a Reds baseball game at the Great American Ball Park (100 Joe Nuxhall Way) is an absolute must. Fall brings Bengals games to Paul Brown Stadium, a guaranteed good time for football lovers. We take tailgating very seriously; dress accordingly in proper Cincinnati gear, pack a cooler full of cold brews, and enjoy the wonders of a pre-game parking lot party.

Culture

Yoga in Washington Park in front of the Music Hall

Once a busy railroad station, the beautiful Art Deco architecture of Union Terminal now houses the Cincinnati Museum Center (1301 Western Ave.), a special place that offers natural history and science exhibits. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975, Music Hall (1241 Elm St.) is one of the classiest places in town to go see a show. Locals also say it’s haunted, with stories of supernatural activity dating back to the 1800s; guided ghost tours are offered after-hours every Friday.

Shopping

Findlay Market

Like any major metropolitan area, mainstream stores and expansive shopping centers cover the Cincinnati area. But hidden gems do exist. Local boutique Leeli + Lou (2732 Erie Ave.) provides fabulous finds for affordable prices, whether your outfit of choice is a simple shirt-dress or a sexy jumpsuit. The hybrid Lydia’s On Ludlow (329 Ludlow Ave.) is part hole-in-the-wall boutique and part cozy coffee house offering crystals, books, herbs, and tarot cards. Woman-co-owned Casablanca Vintage (3944 Spring Grove Ave.) is Cincinnati’s best-kept shopping secret, specializing in clothing from the 1920s through ’70s, and good vintage Levi’s that will make your ass look exceptional. Founded in 1852, Findlay Market (1801 Race St.), Ohio’s oldest continuously operating public market, is a Cincinnati treasure where farmers and merchants sell homegrown produce, cheese, flowers, food, and locally produced goods. A Saturday wandering through Findlay, blooms and tea in hand, perusing the vendors and enjoying the street performers, is a Saturday well spent.

Roebling Bridge

WRITTEN BY DANNIAH DAHER
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MACKENZIE FRANK

This article originally appeared in the October/November 2016 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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You can’t beat sleeping under the stars on a warm summer night or waking up next to a sparkling mountain lake. It’s the best reward for hiking into nature and setting up camp with only the gear on your back. But what exactly does that gear entail? Whether you’re setting out with friends or rolling solo into the wild, here are the essentials for a comfy and safe adventure.

—

By Emily Polar
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This article originally appeared in the June/July 2016 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today! 


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“Madrid is a huge rock ’n’ roll city—it’s so hip, it’s so free, it’s so open minded,” says Carlotta Cosials, singer and guitarist of the garage band Hinds. “It’s cool, but the city itself doesn’t know it, which is even cooler.” In addition to breathtaking architecture and an incredibly rich history, Spain’s capital, smack dab in the middle of the country, is also full of hidden gems, from the most delicious vegetarian restaurant to the best vintage scores to the tiniest all-night club. Hinds gives us the inside scoop for your next European vacation.

Photo by Heather MobleySHOPPING
Malasaña is the band’s favorite neighborhood for many reasons, not the least of which is its treasure trove of amazing vintage stores. La Mona Checa (Calle Velarde, 2), which literally means The Czech Monkey, has been around the longest, probably because it’s so damn affordable. Be sure to check out their selection of coats. “You always find something there for sure,” Cosials says. Flamingos Vintage Kilo (Calle del Espiritu Santo, 1) is bigger and newer and sells clothes by weight for an even better deal. Stock up on wearable souvenirs from their selection of ’80s and ’90s T-shirts. Non-used ’90s dead stock is the specialty at The The Storage (Velarde, 1) where you can get new vintage in multiple sizes; it’s also where the band gets all their “dungarees” (aka jeans). For a more mainstream shopping experience, walk the Gran Vía, but be sure to look up from the storefronts to take in the street’s impressively ornate buildings.

Photo by Heather Mobley

EATING + DRINKING
Brunch isn’t big in Spain. Locals mostly eat breakfast at home, but for a quick nosh in the morning, try Café Pepe Botella (Calle de San Andrés, 12). Its patio overlooks Plaza del Dos de Mayo, one of Malasaña’s busiest squares. Try the pa amb tomàquet, a Catalan dish of seasoned tomatoes and bread, or hot chocolate and churros. For a little coffee shop action, get your café con leche at Naif (Calle de San Joaquín, 16)—it’s not cheap, but it’s in the middle of everything and its terrace offers top-notch people watching. “We love coffee and we love cigarettes,” says Corsials, “so we just sit down there and smoke and drink coffee and talk. A lot.” The city’s best vegetarian dishes are served up at El Restaurante Vegetariano (Calle de Manuela Malasaña, 9) where Corsials’ aunt is the owner and chef. “It’s the perfect balance between elegance and cuteness,” she says, and the lasagna is not to be missed. (“You can cry about how good it is.”) If you’re not in the mood for an entire meal, get your night started at Bar Sidi (Calle de Colón, 15), where beers are served with complimentary tapas.

Photo by Heather Mobley

Photo by Heather Mobley GOING OUT
La Vía Láctea(Calle de Velarde, 18) is one of the city’s most legendary hangouts. The interior is covered in posters, they play music on vinyl, there’s a pool table, and drinks are super cheap. The place is so cool, you don’t even need to go inside—Corsials says people just hang out in the street by the entrance, drinking and talking where the loud music doesn’t cancel out conversations. When you’re ready to get your dance on, head to Hinds’ favorite discotheque, Ochoymedio (Calle Barcelo, 11), where rock and indie music, something that’s “not that easy to find in Madrid,” says Corsials, is played until dawn. “They have a more open–minded taste in music and you always, always have fun.” When your feet can dance no more, Wharf 73 (Calle Colón, 12) is where everyone ends their night. The tiny corridor of a club is one of the only other bars that stays open till 6 a.m. “The drinks are very, very cheap and there is always a good vibe inside,” Corsials says.

Photo by Heather Mobley

CULTURE
Malasaña is becoming a hot spot for galleries and theater, but one of Corsials’ favorites is Microteatro por Dinero (Calle de Loreto Prado y Enrique Chicote, 9) a tiny theater filled with a handful of different rooms, where you can catch short plays for just a few Euros. “It’s so cool because it’s super cheap and if suddenly you don’t like it, it doesn’t really matter because it’s only 15 minutes,” Corsials says. Grab a beer at the basement bar and get ready for a dynamic performance experience.

—

Want the perfect soundtrack for maximum fun in Madrid? Hinds’ latest album, Leave Me Alone, has all the travel tunes you need.

This article originally appeared in the April/May 2016 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today! 

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Puerto Rico sits between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. After 522 years of colonization, this island has become an intriguing mix of African, Native, and European ancestry with a modern sprinkle of American influence. San Juan includes some of Puerto Rico’s oldest and most cherished neighborhoods (Condado, Isla Verde, Ocean Park, Old San Juan, and Santurce), where eco-friendly hotels, warm beaches, and a smorgasbord of options for the epicurious await!

A view of Old San Juan’s colonial architecture

HOTELS

Casablanca Hotel

Latte at Café Cuatro Sombras

Casa Cortes ChocoBar

Museo de Arte e Historia de San Juan

Piñones Beach

La Placita de Santurce

Around The World In 80 Girls: #77 By Lourdes Rodriguez

Photographed by Manuel Gatell

This originally appeared in the December/January print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today! 

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Girls don’t just want to have fun—they want a whole lot more out of the world than that. But if life gets in the way of your best-laid travel plans, a few good reads can tide you over until your next trip. Happy travels!

1. The Swiss Affair by Emylia Hall (2014)

Emylia Hall’s study-abroad plotline covers friendship, self-discovery, bittersweet romance, and an ever-twisting mystery set against the scenery of winter-white, chocolate-box Lausanne, Switzerland. The sense of place is so masterfully rendered that it seeps like melting snow into protagonist, Hadley, and makes us ponder the power and influence of location on our shifty and suggestible formative years.

2. Everything Is Going to Be Great: An Underfunded and Overexposed European Grand Tour by Rachel Shukert (2010)

This brash memoir mimics the migratory path of most backpackers—it tears though a whole bunch of countries, but only gets really good when it stays in one place for more than just a drive-by. (In Shukert’s case, she ends up temporarily living in Amsterdam with Dutch friends). Her shameless misadventures and often un-sexy sexcapades are told with the forthcoming, laugh-aloud-on-public-transport humor of an endearing, foul-mouthed smart-ass.

3. The Invisible Circus by Jennifer Egan (1994)

Follow Phoebe through free-spirited, 1970s Europe, where she’s searching for answers about the death of her older sister. Not short on romantic description and atmosphere, the Euro-hippie backdrop serves as a tried-and-true place to come of age and have questionable sex.

4. Wanderlust: A Love Affair With Five Continents by Elisabeth Eaves (2011)

“When you were somewhere else, you could be someone else,” says Eaves in her introspective and witty travel memoir. Much of the tale centers on boys and boinking, but that could be said about the perspective of most in their early twenties. Regardless, the poignant doses of true-to-form travel writing and verbal snapshots of culture make this a trip-instigating read.

5. Undress Me In The Temple Of Heaven by Susan Jane Gilman (2010)

In this factual account of touring communist China in the eighties, Gilman gives us girls gone wild—but not in the racy manner that the title suggests. Beyond your basic travelogue of two recent grads getting culture-shocked at every turn, this novel-like memoir takes an unexpected turn into a raw and serious reality that will have you doing thorough background checks on any future travel companions.

6. Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan (1954)

This fatalistic and oh-so-French novella is not so much about the trip, but more the destination. Narrated by precocious seventeen-year-old Cécile, the story captures that languid, carefree mood of a long, hot summer spent in a holiday home (in this case it’s a secluded white villa in the French Riviera) rife with sun, sea, sex, and symbolism.

7. Girls Who Travel by Nicole Trilivas (2015)

Full disclosure: I wrote this book. But one of the reasons why I wrote it is because I am too, am a girl who is utterly obsessed with travel, and back when I was in my early twenties and gallivanting around the globe at every opportunity, this kind of book—a lighthearted, smile-inducing, travel-themed romance—was type of story I always was looking to bring with me.

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The eclectic port town of Olympia, Washington, put itself on the feminist map in the early ’90s as the home of the riot grrrl movement, K Records, and badass lady-fronted acts like Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney. Washington’s capital city is still a progressive hub with a thriving music scene that no Kathleen Hanna fangirl should miss. Music’s not your thing? Then come for the quirkiness, culture, and breathtaking sight of Mount Rainier on the horizon!

Darby's Café

 Rainy Day Records

Olympia's evergrowing moss 

—

Written by Bianca D. Velasco
Photographed by Sarah Cass

This guide originally appeared in the October/November 2015 print issue of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!

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Mount Wellington Observation Center

A strange and beautiful island, from which ships chart their course to Antarctica, Tasmania is a part of Australia like no other. Foodies flock to the “Apple Isle” to devour gorgeous produce that adorns the menus of some of Australia’s finest restaurants. Haunted (like the rest of Australia) by the continuing legacy of colonialism, “Tassie” has long been associated with darkness through infamous figures like the cannibal convict Alexander Pearce, and it even has its own literary sub-genre: Tasmanian Gothic. A sojourn to the capital city of Hobart will allow you to enjoy beautiful art, delicious dining, and a laid-back small-town vibe.

SWEETS

Jean-Pascal Patisserie  

The scrumptious Sweet Envy bakery (341 Elizabeth St.) is owned by Alistair and Teena Wise. Acclaimed pastry chef Alistair formerly co-ran Gordon Ramsay’s pastry kitchen at New York’s The Connaught, and Teena worked at The Greenhouse in London. Pop in to sample a few (or many) of the innovative-yet-nostalgic handmade delights offered, including cupcakes, tarts, cookies, and unique ice cream flavors. Jean-Pascal Patisserie (30 Carlton St.) and Jean-Pascal La Boutique (23 Baker St.) offer a range of French-informed culinary goodies. You can enjoy a chocolate éclair at the cozy patisserie before heading across the road to the Boutique to marvel at croquembouches, brioches, and cakes. Many of the products are made from traditional French recipes, some handed down through five generations of the Lepretre family.

Sweet Envy Bakery

EATS

ZUM Restaurant

If you’re in the mood for savory tucker (that’s Aussie slang for “food”), check out Pigeon Hole Café (93 Goulburn St.), ZUM Restaurant (29 Salamanca Place), or dine at the award-winning Chinese restaurant Me Wah (16 Magnet Court). Each of these spots will offer you a quick introduction to Tasmania’s diverse, energetic dining culture. The Dark Mofo Winter Feast (Princes Wharf 1) is a memorable culinary event that runs every June during the Dark Mofo Winter Festival operated by the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). The Feast, which celebrates the dark spirit of the winter months, is not to be missed by foodies or those drawn to the macabre. Past Feasts have included scantily dressed young men dancing on tables, art installations, and a gothed-out Ferris Wheel of Death. Taking place over five nights on Salamanca wharf, the festival encourages a Bacchanalian mood of sinful indulgence. Vendors include iconic Tassie companies such as Bruny Island Cheese, Gillespie’s Ginger Beer, and Pagan Cider. 

Dark Mofo

ANIMALS

Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary (593 Briggs Road) is just half an hour from Hobart via car and is home to local animals including real Tasmanian devils (not that Looney Tunes imposter!). Tassie devils are facing potential extinction due to Devil facial tumor disease, and the Sanctuary focuses on education to help their cause. Day and night tours are available, and feature activities like feeding koalas, emus, and quolls. 

NATURE

A visit to the striking Mount Wellington, which overlooks much of Hobart, is always a memorable experience. Charles Darwin even climbed the mountain once. It’s often covered in snow, sometimes even in  summer, and its lower slopes are full of dense forests. It also features a range of walking trails of varying difficulty. Specific trail info is available at discovernaturalhobart.com.

SHOPPING

Salamanca Market

Salamanca Market (Salamanca Place) is a famous Saturday event, attracting thousands of visitors every week. It takes place at beautiful Salamanca Place, which is lined with heritage sandstone buildings converted into galleries, restaurants, and stores selling unique jewelry. Delicious fresh food and drinks are available at the market, buskers perform, and wares created by local artisans, including Huon pine creations, are available for purchase. 

GETTING AROUND

Hobart Waterfront

Hobart is generally easy to navigate due to many popular sites being in easy walking distance from the city center. The Metro Shop (22 Elizabeth St.) can provide helpful information about bus travel to tourist hotspots and further visitor information is available from the Hobart Travel Centre (20 Davey St.). 

CULTURE 

MONA

The Stranger With My Face Film Festival (77 Salamanca Place) was founded by filmmakers Briony Kidd and Rebecca Thomson to showcase female horror directors and work by independent filmmakers. Past guests include Jennifer Lynch and Mattie Do, the first female director of a Laotian feature film. As annual dates for the festival vary, more information can be found at strangerwithmyface.com. The aforementioned Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) (655 Main Rd. Berriedale) was created by flamboyant professional gambler David Walsh, and since its inception has established itself as a world-class institute, exhibiting works by artists like Matthew Barney and Damien Hirst and hosting visits from iconoclasts like Marina Abramovié. There’s a winery on-site, a music performance space, a movie theatre, and even luxury accommodation on the River Derwent. MONA is a must-visit for all culture vultures. The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (Dunn Place) provides a fun experience for those interested in learning more about Tasmanian history. One permanent exhibition tells the story of the hunted-to-extinction Tasmanian tiger. Although the Tassie tiger is long gone, there are a number of people who continue to search for it, believing it still lives secretly in remote bushland.

—

Article by Sophie Clark
Photographed by Kishka Jensen

This article originally appeared in the June/July 2015 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today! 

Looking to get away from it all and don’t mind a little dirt under your nails? A work exchange program known as WWOOFing might be your ticket out of town. Here, a tried-and-true traveler shares her tips and tricks for working your way around the world.

A day hike in the Colombian Sierra Nevada de Santa Maria

In early 2014, after handing in my master’s thesis, I hopped on a plane and headed to Colombia. I wasn’t taking a post-grad beach vacay; I was traveling to a coffee farm to work. I wouldn’t consider myself a farmer, but I wasn’t a tourist, either. It took one bumpy hour balancing backpacks on motorbike taxis and one sweaty hour of hiking through blackberry bushes to reach Juan Carlos’ farm, but by the time I arrived, I felt thoroughly removed from the world I’d left behind. For 14 nights, my companions and I slept in tents provided by Juan Carlos, who slept in a hammock hung between the posts of his unfinished house. For as many days, after enjoying Juan Carlos’ famous pancakes and coffee for breakfast, we shimmied buckets around our waists and tenderly popped coffee berries off trees. We moved through rows and rows of trees until lunch, and then worked again after lunch until dinner. Every meal involved the ripening plantains that we’d harvested by machete. We pooped in the woods after collecting soft, heart-shaped leaves to wipe with. There was no electricity, no mirrors. It was exactly what I’d signed up for.

If you’re not familiar with the idea of a farm-stay, the general gist of it is that a traveler will work on a sustainable farming project in exchange for food and a place to sleep. A two-week stay with 4 to 6 active hours a day and two personal days is fairly standard, but the details of each farm-stay are totally unique to that location, as farms are subject to the whims of weather, budgets, and livestock (if a goat escapes just before dinner, you will probably be roped into catching it regardless of your agreed-upon hours). The work involved can vary in difficulty and length; the place one stays may be a tent pitched on a patch of grass or a spare bedroom; the food one eats may be microwaved mac and cheese or fire-charred arepas; and the exchange can be limited to basic necessities and grunt work, or you may, for example, end up becoming best friends with a lemon farmer, bonding over beer and a ukulele.

One of my WWOOFing companions, Kris, picking coffee beans

If you’ve already heard of farm-stays, it may be because of World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)—an umbrella organization of loosely related national non-profits that connect volunteer travelers to host farms. WWOOF, born in England in 1971 as way for city-folk to access and support the organic movement on the weekends, is now a well-established network for curious travelers, and WWOOFing has become the verb most commonly associated with traveling via farm-stay. More than 60 countries have a WWOOF host contact list that a volunteer can access for a membership fee of around $30. Workaway and HelpX are millennial-friendly, social-media-inspired platforms that perform the same function for around the same price, offering a diverse array of projects, though they may be less ardently “organic.”  While WWOOF provides a list of contact information for any project based in bio-dynamic and sustainable practices, HelpX and Workaway provide host profiles and a messaging system to contact ranches, lodges, hostels, hotels, B&Bs, sailboats, and even families looking for childcare. WWOOF, HelpX, and Workaway do not negotiate travel plans for volunteers, nor do they provide visas, insurance, contracts, training, background checks, or site validation. Contacting hosts and arranging details is the responsibility of the WWOOFer (a term that applies loosely, regardless of the agency used). WWOOF will send staff members to sites with multiple negative reports, but the verification system varies country by country; HelpX and Workaway both offer a Yelp-like review system that can be helpful in scoping out a potential host or volunteer. Each organization offers previews of hosts, but their contact information is only visible to members. 

If you’re visiting a place that has lots of farms or orchards, chances are high that some of them are registered on WWOOF, or are at least familiar with the practice of work-exchange, and would be happy to take on a trustworthy and upbeat volunteer. If you’ve completed a successful stay, your host may be happy to send you to friends who may not be registered farm-stays. Once you are in the system, online or not, it is easy to be passed along if you are flexible, friendly, and eager to help and learn. In Colombia, my two travel companions and I had arranged our stay on the farmtwo weeks ahead of time because a group of three can be tricky to accommodate. While we waited to meet Juan Carlos, two other farmers offered us a work-exchange. Travelers going through official networks have the option of arranging a stay months in advance, but I once called a dairy farm in Italy the day before I arrived (more on that later). Typically, a few days’ notice is all that a farm will need, but more popular projects (farms with guest bedrooms that are walking distance from a beach, for example) may require advance reservations and may not have space for last-minute volunteers. 

My sleeping tent on Juan Carlos’ farm

There aren’t many limitations or qualifications otherwise. Though you must be 18 to register with WWOOF, Workaway, or HelpX, there are no age restrictions for volunteers. (I personally ended up working with a lot of folks under 40 who had undergrad degrees but were unenthused by job prospects in their home countries, from a Spanish student trained in midwifery to a German punk who wanted to give life on a goat farm a try.) There are projects that are happy to host volunteers traveling with their children, couples, or a couple of friends, depending on available space. Special training or experience is not at all necessary. Thanks to a few farm-stays in the States, I’d managed to rack up a resume that included milking and cheesemaking before I traveled to Italy, so I was sure to mention that when I contacted my host family; but in Colombia, I didn’t know a thing about coffee except how to drink it. Learning is one of the benefits of WWOOFing, and it goes both ways: many farms would be delighted to have volunteers teach them. That includes sustainable farming practices, as well as advertising, photography, translation, and the use of social media, especially for eco-hotels and farms involved in eco-tourism. If physical labor like digging weeds is not an option for you, think creatively about how you could be useful to another project.

Left: drying coffee beans; Right: my host, Juan Carlos

It should be noted that although WWOOFing is an option for traveling to countries that are otherwise out of your price range, if none of the other benefits of tilling the fair-trade tourism soil resonate with you, you should reconsider using a farm-stay to get out of Dodge. Likewise, being a traveler with a higher budget doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t participate in a travel style that supports small local business, sustainable and bio-dynamic agricultural practices, and cultural exchange. Ideally, farm-stays are more than just a cheap travel option. They can be a short stint on a longer escapade—perhaps two weeks spent picking grapes in the French countryside to kick off a tour of European capitals—or, without a return flight, WWOOFing can become a lifestyle.

For both penny-pinchers and big spenders, there is a plethora of non-financial reasons to volunteer on a farm while traveling abroad. If you want to avoid shuffling through museums with herds of other tourists, work-exchange is low-impact tourism. A few days in the most popular cities in Italy left me sweaty, cranky, and train-sick. I spent a desperate hour in a McDonald’s, taking advantage of their free Wi-Fi to frantically message Workaway hosts for last-minute openings. I wanted to see the countryside, milk goats, learn about Italian cheese, and practice rolling my Rs. (For the committed polyglot, full-on immersion is an effective and bewildering way to become fluent in a non-native language. That said, the whole process is much easier if you share a common language with your host.) The next day, I found myself in a place I’d never heard of; but that place, called Monesiglio, was a quaint, happy town in a stunning landscape where I met many fine friends. For solo travelers looking for company, hard labor forges friendships easily, despite language barriers. 

In Italy, I was a single female traveler, and that played a big part in my decision to work in Monesiglio. During my frantic search for a host, I contacted a horse trainer who gave me directions that involved commandeering a boat and warned me that there might not be much work because of recent rainy weather. I politely declined. For this trip, I wanted an easy escape route for a quick getaway, something that didn’t seem as necessary when travelling with two trusted male comrades, as I had in the past. I looked for a project that was currently hosting other volunteers, preferably female ones, as a clue to that farm being a safe space. Monesiglio was a decent-sized village, easily accessible by train; there were other volunteers there, and the hosts spoke English. Trust your gut and don’t put yourself in recklessly dangerous situations.

Left: a dappling machine; Right: Pouring freshly picked coffee

Speaking of safety and remote farm-stays, whether you agree to take a motorbike up a mountain or work at the front desk of an eco-hotel, you should email your mom and let her know what’s up. (OK, it doesn’t have to be your mom, but for me, it has to be my mom, because she worries about me.) In general, give updates to the worriers in your life. Some projects may take you out of Wi-Fi range—let the people who worry know where you will be and when they can expect to hear from you. I underestimated the scope of my Colombian coffee stay and returned to the Internet a few days later than expected. Do not do this to your mom. She might send emails every few hours for three days that say, “I love you, but I am really starting to get nervous.” Or, that she is “Starting to freak. Please be OK.” And then she might realize she knows “someone whose son works for the DEA” and form a “plan to move forward with your dad, Aunt Roxanne, Aunt Linda, Grandma, Aunt Dottie, and Uncle Dave. I believe I will hear from you, so I am not worried. I love you, don’t be mad.” (Luckily, my mom was able to calm down and avoid an international incident when I finally got in touch a few days later.)

Traveling alone while female not only comes with its own set of risk management suggestions, but also necessitates a certain amount of tact in both accepting and challenging the type of work involved in the exchange. Farm lifestyles are often quite traditional: physical labor is designated as masculine and domestic tasks are considered feminine. On the coffee farm, the other female volunteer and I prepared every lunch and dinner. This task was less physically grueling, though more complicated than digging holes, but it still involved building a fire and usually took a full hour. I love cooking, and so did my new friend, so we didn’t mind at all. In Italy, I was the only female WWOOFer in the barn—usually, the women who came through would help in the cheese room, adding rennet and wrapping hunks of chevre to age in hazelnut leaves, but I was happiest and most helpful when milking goats. My hosts were excellent at challenging my strength, but let it be known that they were surprised that this short, harmless-looking girl was accepting the challenge. My advice for these moments is to evaluate your situation and decide if your skills are being fully utilized, if you are enjoying your task, and if you feel like you should be contributing to a different kind of work. Don’t put yourself in the way just to prove that you can hang, and don’t assume you are being ignored because of your gender. At the end of the day, you should be most concerned with being as helpful as possible and enjoying your time, whether that means accepting your physical abilities are not suited to a certain task, or encouraging your host to reconsider their assessment of your potential helpfulness. 

Above Left: I was on lunch duty every day in Colombia; Above Right: A meal of rice, Jamaican salad and lentils that I prepped

The view from the Colombian mountainsOn the goat farm in Italy, we had the afternoons to ourselves. I took long walks over the hills to neighboring villages, jogged by the river, read, drew, and perused the farmers’ market. It is important to entertain yourself when traveling by farm. Bring reading material, a journal, a camera. Ask about walking routes or hikes, but know that your host is not your tour guide, and may not have daily recreational activities planned for you. You may, however, be invited to take part in the quotidian events of your host’s social calendar. You should probably say yes/si/oui or just nod your head and smile emphatically. The other volunteers and I were invited to many dinner parties in Italy, or threw our own in our host Lorena’s small kitchen. On the weekends, Lorena packed us in her car, along with tents, sleeping bags, and tons of food. We headed to the mountains for reggae festivals and hikes to Alpine lakes.

What do you pack for such a sojourn? I recommend jeans, T-shirts, and boots that have no sentimental or aesthetic value, a bandanna, a menstrual cup, sunscreen, bug spray, cash for snacks and day trips, and a headlamp. But beyond what you bring, the most important quality you should cultivate in yourself is flexibility. Everyone has a different comfort zone, and when traveling alone, I deeply believe in pushing beyond it. I ended 12 years of vegetarianism in Italy, but eating prosciutto is a different level of flexibility than slaughtering pigs. Be honest with yourself and choose your projects wisely. Accept a farm opportunity only if you can commit yourself to that lifestyle; backing out early for lack of Wi-Fi is disrespectful to a farm’s time and resources. If you find that balance between challenging and comfortable, your farm-stay will almost certainly yield a bountiful harvest.

—

Story and Photos by Audrey Cerchiara

This article originally appeared in the Aug/Sept 2015 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today! 

Just in case you ever need a travel guide while wandering the deserts of Tanzania, trekking through waist-high weeds of Indonesia or hopping country to country on the Eurorail: look no further. From beer in Munich to pot in Saigon, Ayun Halliday, is no foreigner to the secrets of adventurous traveling. In No Touch Monkey! And Other Travel Lessons Learned Too Late, she shares her wisdoms through hilariously candid personal tales of her mishaps on the road and the lessons she learned along the way. Originally published in 2003, the book is back in 2015 with a fresh new cover and an updated foreword from the author. Though the book of personal essays is packed with lessons to be learned (and cool illustrations of primates), five stick out as essential for any world traveler who likes to spice up their trip with a little risk. Let’s take a look:

1. Bathing as little as possible will win you free food and drinks.

Like Ayun and her (then) boyfriend Nate at Oktoberfest in Munich, if you are thirsty and low on funds, being dirty and grimy enough could cause some of your new foreign friends to mistake you for starving Hungarians. The discovery of the error may also help you get free booze all evening from some Irish folk.

“‘We thought you were starving Hungarians,’ Jim howled. ‘Because of the looks of you, see. No offense, but I’d never heard of an American as dirty as the two of you.’”—Ayun Halliday, No Touch Monkey!

2. Be wary of the weed you buy from kids in Saigon.

When traveling abroad and looking for a little pick-me-up, don’t buy marijuana from the first little salesman you find—his goods could be laced with something you’re not so used to. Ayun and her traveling buddy, Greg, are surprised when their weed ends up taking them on a trip where words like “Steerumphed,” exist and the whole world seems like it is actually a reenactment of the first scene in the film Apocoaypse Now.

 “We had trouble getting the key in the door because the lock was melting.”—Ayun Halliday, No Touch Monkey!

3. When you dislocate your knee in Indonesia, seek an Islamic bone healer—not a western doctor.

Venturing to see the flying foxes in Bukittinggi, Ayun takes a tumble causing her knee to pop out of its socket. With her injury swelled to the size of a cantaloupe and no help in sight except for a local attempting to massage her with a mysterious healing cream called “jamu,” what you can learn from Ayun’s agony is that seeking out local healers is probably the quickest road to recovery. After a few pops of her leg by an Islamic healing man, Ayun’s leg was snapped back into order.

“The dislocated knee snapped back into alignment with the resounding crack of a gunshot. The audience at the window burst into spontaneous applause while I gasped…”—Ayun Halliday, No Touch Monkey!

4. When life gives you malaria, make malaria-ade.

Otherwise known as making an Australian nurse your roommate, who will instruct you to take pills your own doctor said would cause blindness. Also, misery loves company, so make sure that there are others suffering with the same sickness, preferably two frat boys. Ayun recalls her travels in Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya and reminisces that the photos feel more memorable than the actual experience. Sometimes adventures take you to lessons learned instead of fond memories made.

“Lots of mosquitoes bit me that first night in Tanzania, but this one was special. This one had a snoutful of malaria…that caused me to stagger across our campsite two weeks later like a lion-felled gazelle erupting at both ends.”—Ayun Halliday, No Touch Monkey!

5. If “No Touch Monkey!” isn’t clear enough, then you probably don’t want to venture into the Monkey Forest of Bali alone and in the dark.

You might find an angry dog. Or two. Or six. Trying to crash a Balinese wedding to enrich her cultural experience, Ayun wanders into the Monkey Forest, where there are clear instructions not to touch the monkeys, but little instructions on what to do if met by an angry pack of dogs. She manages to escape by backing away slowly, but long story short, as she says, “Traveler can not return home with any stories if Traveler’s throat has been ripped open for her on the journey.”

“That damn dog, couldn’t he see I was no ordinary tourist? I was there because I wanted to learn more about his culture!”—Ayun Halliday, No Touch Monkey!

Learn from Ayun; get out there and explore. She proves that the worst thing that could happen sometimes ends up being (literally) one for the books!

Grab your copy of No Touch Monkey! And Other Travel Lessons Learned Too Late, for some easy reading while you travel to your next adventure (or dream about your next adventure from the bathtub).

Image via ShutterNomad.

GIFs via Giphy, Giphy, Giphy, Giphy, Giphy and Giphy.

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BUST’s Favorite Reasons Why Jersey City Is Your New Fave Tourist Destination

Stunning Photographs Of A Tiny Village Where Girls Run Society

Sunny days are finally here to stay and it’s the perfect time to start planning that vacation you’ve been wanting to take with your girlfriends for months. Here are some of our favorite places to visit—guaranteed to make for an epic summer girls adventure. (And sure, you could include the guys if you wanted too. But sometimes a lady trip is exactly what the doctor ordered!)

 1. Mushroom Dome Cabin—Aptos, California

This cozy and ridiculously cute cabin located in Aptos, California accommodates three and is perfect for all nature lovers. The cabin is located in a forest and is close to the San Francisco Bay area. There are plenty of oak and redwood trees around and tons of hiking options! Book here.

2. Casa Caracol—Isla Mujeres, Mexico

This unique and beautiful Mexican house accommodates four and is located in a quiet residential area Isla Mujeres. Incredible beaches lie a fifteen-minute golf cart ride away and there are plenty of snorkeling options nearby. It’s also close to Cancun! Book here.

3. Cubehouse—Rotterdam, South Holland

Splurge on a flight to the Netherlands! It will be worth it—you get to stay in this incredible Cubehouse apartment which accommodates four. It is the perfect place to stay at if you and your girlfriends appreciate architecture and have always wanted to visit Amsterdam, which is just a 50 minute train ride away. Book here.

 4. Cozy Lofted Studio—Austin, Texas

This is the perfect place for you and your best girlfriend to stay at if you are both music lovers. Austin is known for its vibrant and affordable music scene and this lovely little house is only a ten minute walk from downtown Austin, which is chock full of eateries, bars, and coffee shops. Book here. 

 5. Charleston, South Carolina

Do you love food? If so, Charleston is one of the most exciting foodie destinations in America. Not only does it have in incredible comfort food scene, the city also boasts tons of culinary tours and cooking classes you can take while you’re there. Stay at this beautiful house that accommodates five and is conveniently located in a quiet downtown Charleston suburban area. Book here. 

6. Maui Eco Retreat—Maui, Hawaii

Perfect for all your eco-friendly, yoga loving buds! Maui boasts beautiful beaches, plenty of hiking options and lots of sun! Book this awesome retreat here! 

 7. 1920’s Cabin—Lake Burton, Georgia

This is the perfect getaway if you love the outdoors. Located right by the beautiful Lake Georgia and with plenty of mountains to explore, this charming cabin sleeps 5. There are a lot of fun activities to do nearby, including rock climbing, horseback riding, antiquing, and visiting art galleries. Book here. 

8. Log Cabin, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Have the whole crew stay at this authentic log cabin which sleeps a whopping 12 people! This cabin is located right by Douglas Lake and is surrounded by beautiful mountains. Book here. 

 9. Destin, Florida

This awesome blue house has 7 bedrooms and a private heating swimming pool. The beach is literally one block away away— and this beauty comes with a golf cart! Book here.

Images via: Airbnb, Homeaway, and Maui Eco Retreat. 

Pack Like a Champ This Holiday Season

Travel can be a real pain, but being a skilled packer definitely simplifies things. As a hardcore globe-trekker, I’ve developed a knack for packing on the fly, tucking away essentials into my lightweight, durable suitcase during trips to East Africa, New Zealand, and in-between. Whether you’re hopping a train or stuffing yourself into a plane’s economy class, these tips will maximize your packing options when you’re heading home (or wherever) during the holidays: 210681.jpg

• Make a list on your phone of the items you’ll need and check it as you pack, so you don’t arrive at your destination only to realize that your favorite belt is still hanging on your closet doorknob.

• Rolling is the ultimate space-saver: curl your garments into tight little bundles, and you’ll be able to layer lots more pieces into your luggage. This summer, I rolled a two-month’s supply of casual wear into my small suitcase. Lay folded bulkier items like jeans (or formalwear in sealable plastic bags) on top. Stack your underwear in the corner nearest to the zipper opening, so they’re easy to access.

• The length of your trip should determine how many pieces you pack. For casual trips four days or shorter, pack one pair of jeans, a cute dress, a handful of casual/dressy tops, and two pairs of shoes. You can change things up with accessories. For trips that are five days or longer, add an extra pair of patterned leggings (a light, space-saving pant alternative), a pair of tights, and a sweater, both of which are key layering pieces in the winter. You can wear most things more than once, and you don’t want to arrive and realize that there’s no way you can wear everything you’ve packed.

• Keep your shoes away from your clothes by packing them last, bottoms-up or facing the side panels. Or start with boots at the bottom and place rolled items all around or even inside of them (if they don’t smell) to save space.

• When choosing what goes into your suitcase, start with what you think are must-haves. This usually creates an over-packed bag, so go through it a second time, leaving behind a third of what you’ve packed. Don’t forget pajamas, a lightweight hat, and a big scarf (unless you’re going somewhere hot for the holidays).

• Keep in mind that you’ll likely go shopping at some point, so you’ll need room in your luggage for new goodies.

• When packing liquids, secure the tops and cover the bottles in plastic wrap, then put them in another sealable plastic bag, to lessen the chances of them leaking on your stuff.

• Keep a set of travel-sized toiletries in your carry-on, and leave room for two to three extra pairs of undies and T-shirts, just in case your luggage is delayed.

• Also, always keep valuables in your carry-on. Jewelry, small electronic items, medicines, and your passport (and, ideally, snacks and a favorite magazine) should also remain with you.

• Wear your coat or jacket onto the plane instead of packing it. You can always store it overhead, lay it across your lap, or use it as a pillow.

• When you’re in transit, also wear your bulkiest clothing and biggest shoes, to free up some valuable real estate inside your suitcase. Happy travels!

Written by: Mai Perkins

Photography by: Kate Lacey 

This story originally appeared in BUST Magazine. Subscribe today! 

“Well-behaved women seldom make history” is a tale as old as time. This can be applied to women traveling and making independent, wayward decisions. We’ve all been told not to walk alone at night, to avoid strangers, to keep ourselves safe and protected because the world is full of danger! I’m not suggesting that it isn’t full of danger…I’m just saying it is not our burden to live in fear.

It isn’t the 18^th century and we can live strong, well-traveled lives. Illustrator and comic writer, Natalie Nourigat, was fed up with restricting herself from exploring the world and began traveling. Thankfully, she has created an ongoing web comic called “Home Is Where The Internet Is” to record her Eurotrip. 

This comic acknowledges social stigmas and combats the fear instilled in all of us from a young age. By overcoming and illustrating her fears, Natalie teaches us that we absolutely should follow her lead and live a lil’ before we all die! You can see the rest of Natalie’s work here. 

Images Courtesy of Natalie Nourigat

A few other recommendations for Montreal include: Club Blizzarts on Mod Night, Lawrence French toast and fresh apple juice (so good!!),  poutine at Poutine la Banquise, fancy drinks at Taverne Square Dominion, and the most amazing bagels in the world at St.-Viateur Bagels.

We only spent a day in Quebec City, but it was super charming. Unfortunately it rained while we were there, but we still just walked around. We stopped by the fancy Fairmont Le Château Frontenac and took a gander at it’s grandness. 

Toronto was our last stop before heading back to NYC. We stayed with the lovely Serah Marie, Editor-in-Chief of WORN Magazine. Like Montreal, Toronto was full of pure deliciousness. We started our mornings at a place called The Glory Hole.

Then, we walked around and later ate fish and chips at Chippy’s. Nadege Patisserie across the street was the perfect place for dessert.

That yellow square is a homemade marshmallow!

Other cool places in the area were Preloved, a reworked vintage boutique, The Paper Place with amazing paper products of all kinds (I wanted to buy everything!), and a cute little bookshop called Type Books. There was also a park across the street, which was the perfect place to eat our fish and chips!

One of my other favorite places was called BYOB Cocktail Emporium. There was a plethora of fancy mod housewares, clothes, Tiki lounge accessories and, of course, things to make cocktails!

Stay tuned for more photo and style posts to come! xo

Originally posted at TweeValleyHigh.com. Read original post here: http://www.tweevalleyhigh.com/2012/10/a-canadian-adventure-eh.html

Who says you’re too old for sleep-away camp? The fun-filled getaway isn’t just for little kids, anymore.  Founded in 2009 by self-proclaimed “adventurer” Angela Ritchie, Ace Camps are travel experiences for the creatively curious. Each journey features a different leader who is established in his or her field. Ranging from bloggers, artists, crafters, foodies, and writers, these talented creative-types conduct different workshops, lectures, and demonstrations. Each instructional event will help you learn, improve skills, and get inspired. There’s no doubt you’ll get the individual and intimate attention you may need to fully reach your goals, as most groups range from about 4-10 people, maximum. Some Ace Camps in the past have included trips to Sweden with personal-favorite artist Camilla Engman, and afternoons of feeding goats in Morocco with the lovely artist Suzanne Northcott.  There have also been nights of slumbering under the stars, surfing lessons, and gondola rides up mountains.

In addition to getting your creative-juices flowing, these camps provide an opportunity to explore new cities and different cultures, either on your own or with some lovely like-minded travelers who share a similar enthusiasm. You don’t have to worry about sleeping amongst daddy long-legs and eating canned beans in a log cabin during your stay, either. For each Ace Camp a unique location is chosen–including historical hotels, mansions, and even ranches–where you can enjoy a nice prepared meal with the instructor and fellow travelers.

While most of the 2012 Ace Camps have filled up or occurred already, you can still sign up to go to the land of blue oceans and breezy palm trees in Kailua, Hawaii. With travel writer and author Rolf Potts, you’ll have the opportunity to develop memoirs, travel stories, and experimental essays all while on the soft island sand. Angela is currently working on Ace Camps for 2013 that could take you to Japan, Mexico, Argentina, Canada, Portland, Paris and more, but she warns, “If you are not open to spontaneity…Ace Camps may not be for you.” Angela believes that being “[open] to impromptu experiences creates adventure.” Now, where are my binoculars? 

Images courtesy of Ace Camps

By Sonja Patterson

Photographed by Aaron Spicer

You may have visited the District of Columbia’s many monuments and memorials, but the city has lots of sexy, unexpected spots that go beyond the usual historical suspects. At its heart, D.C. is all about the pursuit of happiness, and for many Washingtonians, that means setting aside policies and partying when work is done. Stuffy speechwriters cut loose at one of the city’s many comedy clubs; office drones get spicy at any of the countless ethnic restaurants; lobbyists unwind in the city’s numerous parks; and orators stop talking to eat, drink, dance, laugh, or take in the city’s vibrant art, theater, and music scenes. Visit the less-seen D.C. and declare your independence from boring vacations.

Start at Co Co. Sala Restaurant and Chocolate Lounge (929 F St. NW), a one-of-a-kind place that puts a chocolatey twist on breakfast, lunch, and dinner by turning every meal into dessert. From s’mores French toast, to chocolate-covered bacon, to white- chocolate pancakes with caramel sauce, the breakfast offerings alone will make a way better meal than Cocoa Puffs.

Let your sugar rush fuel an exploration of feminist art at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Ave. NW), which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. It’s dedicated to highlighting women’s achievements in the visual, performing, and literary arts, and houses more than 4,000 paintings, sculptures, and drawings.

Honor D.C.’s past as a suffragette city at The Sewall-Belmont House & Museum (144 Constitution Ave. NE). Alice Paul (played by Hilary Swank in the movie Iron Jawed Angels) lived here and was jailed for leading the first women’s suffrage protest at the White House. She went on to lead the National Women’s Party in 1929 and author the Equal Rights Amendment. See Susan B. Anthony’s desk, Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s chair, original banners used in picketing, photos, cartoons, and an amazing library.

A short cab ride away is Toki Underground (1234 H St. NE), whose Taiwanese-style ramen and dumplings have a cult following. Slurp noodles in a hip setting with anime wallpaper and red paper lanterns. I recommend the curry chicken Hakata and for dessert, a warm white-chocolate ginger cookie or two. There’s no sign, so look for the blue flower painted on the glass door next door to the pub The Pug. Nearby, The Red Palace (1212 H St. NE) is a venue that straddles several worlds; depending on the night, you can find live music or burlesque. D.C.’s proximity to Baltimore and N.Y.C. brings circus artists and Coney Island sideshow acts to this eclectic, New Orleans-inspired joint, which stays rocking late into the night. Look for the old-timey “Palace of Wonders” sign out front.

Rise, shine, then head over to D.C.’s famous Sunday Drag Queen Brunch at Perry’s Restaurant (1811 Columbia Rd. NW), for a fabulous eye-opening meal. An all-you-can-eat American and Asian feast is served for $23.95 from 10 am to 3 pm, including sushi, spring rolls, dumplings, waffles, eggs, bacon, and hash browns. They don’t take reservations, and a line typically forms outside by 9 a.m.

Hippies, gypsies, and worshippers of the goddess Kali will find shopping salvation in the flowing fabric from India Art & Craft (2602 Connecticut Ave. NW). Imported goods from India—dresses, skirts, belly-dancing costumes, jewelry, and scarves—are stuffed into this small shop close to the National Zoo.

The U Street Corridor was once known as “Washington’s Black Broadway” because of institutions like the historic Howard Theatre (620 T St. NW). It was built in 1910, making it older than Harlem’s Apollo. Catch a concert, stand-up comic, or Sunday gospel brunch, which will make you sing hallelujah! While you’re in the area, swing by Ginger Root Design (1530 U St. NW), owned by two hip redheads (hence the name) who upcycle and revamp vintage clothes. You won’t find cookie-cutter or mass-produced pieces here. After shopping, boogie over to Oohh’s & Aahh’s (1005 U St. NW), a charming hole-in-the-wall dive that serves finger lickin’ soul food, including fried chicken and waffles, collard greens, and sweet tea. They stay open late to catch the after-concert crowds from nearby clubs like The Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW), which was founded by D.C. native Dave Grohl.

The area around 9th and U Street is unofficially known as “Little Ethiopia,” since it has the largest Ethiopian population in the U.S. Restaurants here are known for family-style dining and a lack of utensils—you use “injera,” a pancake-like bread, to scoop up your food. Dukem (1114 U St. NW), one of the most popular, features a live band on Wednesday evenings. Try the beef or lamb tibs, vegetarian platters, and honey wine.

Water wonderland Spa World (13830-A Braddock Rd.; Centre-ville, VA) is worth the 30-minute drive out of the city—especially since $35 buys you unlimited access to a steam room, pool, hot tubs, sauna, and seven “poultice rooms” (spots full of “natural earth elements” that claim to eliminate body toxins). It’s open 24/7, and the onsite restaurant serves bubble tea, smoothies, and Korean cuisine. Tranquility also awaits at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America (1400 Quincy St. NE), a hidden gem built in 1899. Stroll the gardens on the serene 44-acre grounds, or take a guided tour of the Roman catacombs under the monastery.

D.C. is where the South meets the North, Democrats meet Republicans, and diverse races and nationalities coexist, making history every day. Whether you Occupy D.C. or stay just a couple of days, this land is your land—D.C. was made for BUSTies like you and me.

Photos (from top); The White House; National Museum of Women in the Arts; Toki Underground; Red Palace; Perry’s; Ginger Root Design

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This story appears in the June/July 2012 issue of BUST Magazine with cover girl Anna Paquin. Subscribe now.