While Azerbaijan's capital Baku may be in the news as the latest front line on the War on Terra, it's also well known for a preponderance of brothels that serve its population of horny foreign oil workers, horny oligarchs, and horny young local men who can't afford to get married. In fact, a general rule of thumb is that any bar that you have to walk downstairs to enter can be safely classified as a cat house. Considering this context, the Baku Radisson, one of only three major western hotel chains in the city, seems to be getting ahead of the competition with these advertisements on the baggage claim at the Baku Airport.
Stretching the elastic definition of "boutique hotel" to the very edge of credibility, the Sultan Inn recently opened in Baku. Its rooms boast the obligatory plasma screens, authentic Azeri carpets and 24 hour wireless - the latter most likely existing only in the realm of fantasy. The good news is that it's Turkish operated, which means it might exceed local service and quality standards (a tallest-building-in-Topeka scenario). Overlooking the old city and the Caspian, its tastefully designed and stupidly named Floor 3 Terrace restaurant has arguably the best location in the city for an evening drink, and the Turkopean food isn't that bad either. Rates start at about $160 for a "standard small room."
Thought I forgot about this, didn't ye? Oh no. The fine city of Wellington has thrashed its opponent Baku, and thus will get the full, close-up treatment in these pages directly. Meanwhile, if you'd like to particularly recommend things Wellingtonian, or even contribute to the victory post, by all means send in your kiwiphilic thoughts to tips@gridskipper.com. And if you want to nominate your own under-covered city as a future Pitch Your Burg candidate, email us your city pitch -- 200-300 words, one good image, and packed with as many local links as you can stand, all in aid of selling your city as cool to Gridskipper readers -- and we'll put you in the races.
What were the chances that the contenders for this first head-to-head Pitch Your Burg would both originate in foreign countries with the letter "z" in their names? I'm no technician, but I figure that's the likely reason our poll servers disintegrated last night and subtracted all but 1 vote from Baku's total. Of course, it could also be Kiwi sabotage, but please, let's not strain New Zealand-Azerbaijani relations to the flashpoint. Nobody wants a war, or at least, not until we get some cameras in position. In any case, we're going to try what in electioneering circles is referred to as a "do-over." Below is a whole shiny new poll that asks the same question. Read up on Wellington and Baku once more, then vote again. How often will you be asked to do that, in good conscience and not at gunpoint? No, that's not a gun in my pocket; I genuinely am happy to see you. Check back with this post -- we hope -- for current totals, assuming no further assaults on the democratic process.
[Pitch Your Burg challenges residents of cities given the short shrift on Gridskipper to convince you, the educated reader, that their metropoli indeed deserve more (or any) coverage. Unedited pitches from city residents or fans of same are presented for your review, followed by a poll. Vote to determine whether the city gets special survey post and subsequent coverage, or the cold, cold shoulder of permanent rejection. If you think your city deserves a shot on Gridskipper, send in your pitch -- 200-300 words, with at least one good, punchy image and as many local links as possible -- to tips@gridskipper.com.]
Now that you've read, considered, and evaluated the pitches from Wellington and Baku, it's time to choose which city is worth investigating and celebrating, and which city shall be consigned to the dustbin of history. Vote below, and check back in a week to see results, with coverage of the winner following shortly thereafter.
UPDATE: Yes, that blogpoll.com survey blew chunks, so we're returning to our glorious in-house polling, which has improved a bit. Vote anew below if you did so with the blogpoll krep, and check back with this post for current results.
UPDATE 2: The polling got effed up due to tech problems. New, restarted poll can be found here.
[Pitch Your Burg challenges residents of cities given the short shrift on Gridskipper to convince you, the educated reader, that their metropoli indeed deserve more (or any) coverage. Unedited pitches from city residents or fans of same are presented for your review, followed by a poll. Vote to determine whether the city gets special survey post and subsequent coverage, or the cold, cold shoulder of permanent rejection. If you think your city deserves a shot on Gridskipper, send in your pitch -- 200-300 words, with at least one good, punchy image and as many local links as possible -- to tips@gridskipper.com.]
A gray canker on the lower lip of the Absheron peninsula, oil-rich Baku combines the aesthetics of Houston, the hospitality of the Soviets, and the progressiveness of a Muslim culture shut off from the world for 70 years.
Recent photo contest winner Carpetblogger kindly points out a trio of restaurant reviews for her home base of Baku, Azerbaijan. All are faves with the local and/or expat crowd, thus addressing what Carpetblogger rightly calls Baku's "service journalism gap." You got the Kafe Sheki, for traditional and not-so-traditional Azeri kebabs, plus regional dishes; the Russian eatery Traktir Na Malakansky, for securing your lifetime requirement of borscht and similar delights; and Xayal Kafe, better known among expats as the Pork Chop Shop for serving the fine cuts of swine pictured above (in a Muslim country no less). Also be sure to check out Carpetblogger's Flickr photostream for her pics of Baku and beyond.
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While Azerbaijan's capital Baku may be in the news as the latest front line on the War on Terra, it's also well known for a preponderance of brothels that serve its population of horny foreign oil workers, horny oligarchs, and horny young local men who can't afford to get married. In fact, a general rule of thumb is that any bar that you have to walk downstairs to enter can be safely classified as a cat house. Considering this context, the Baku Radisson, one of only three major western hotel chains in the city, seems to be getting ahead of the competition with these advertisements on the baggage claim at the Baku Airport.
Comments
Stretching the elastic definition of "boutique hotel" to the very edge of credibility, the 
Thought I forgot about this, didn't ye? Oh no. The fine city of 
[Pitch Your Burg challenges residents of cities given the short shrift on Gridskipper to convince you, the educated reader, that their metropoli indeed deserve more (or any) coverage. Unedited pitches from city residents or fans of same are presented for your review, followed by a poll. Vote to determine whether the city gets special survey post and subsequent coverage, or the cold, cold shoulder of permanent rejection. If you think your city deserves a shot on Gridskipper, send in your pitch -- 200-300 words, with at least one good, punchy image and as many local links as possible -- to 
Recent photo contest winner 
