All stories about "Best"

A few weeks ago I was raving to my father-in-law about Rustico, a neighborhood restaurant in Alexandria, VA, just outside of DC. Between its 331 types of beer and new American cuisine, I figured it'd be a great place to take him on his next visit. But when I said that my favorite meal there was macaroni and cheese, he laughed. "You go to a restaurant for macaroni and cheese? How much is it?" "$16," I whimpered and his laughter intensified. You know, maybe I am a fool. But damn it, ex-editor Chris's write up of New York's best restaurants for mac and cheese was one of the most read posts of 2007 on Gridskipper. So I can't be the only idiot. Maybe as current editor John said, "All these urban sophisticates are just softies once you crack the surface." Regardless, whether you're a fool, urban softy, or yuppie who can't fathom paying $0.50 for something when you could pay $16 for it, here's are DC's best restaurants for mac and cheese. (photo)

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Any jetsetter can tell you a comfortable airline seat is worth its weight on gold. The folks at Geek About have taken it upon themselves to evaluate the comfort of 10 different air carrier's chairs, complete with a comparison chart. [Geek About]

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It's bizarre. Washington, D.C., is not on the coast, doesn't have an abundance of top-tier seafood restaurants, and the Asians have been shunted to the suburbs. But a lot of DC restaurants serve excellent tuna tartare, the most delicious pink, moist, fishy-smelling appetizer that doesn't leave you picking hair out of your teeth afterwards. (photo)

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Back in college I thought I was allergic to wine; a few glasses and I'd have a two-day hangover. But then I graduated, got a job, and was able to afford wine out of a bottle. Good bye Franzia, hello muse! But as much as I enjoy wine now, I hate the pretense that goes with it at some stores and restaurants. It's been a while since I gnawed on bark, so saying a wine has a "slightly oaky tint" doesn't tell me whether or not I'll like it. And the prices can be even more off putting. When I'm in your store at noon on a Tuesday reeking of last night, wearing a t-shirt that says "Dykes against Bush," with a cigarette butt in my hair, do I look like I'm in the market for a $30 "special occasion" wine? Here are some DC area wine stores that offer good selections at reasonable prices with minimal affectation. (photo)

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The Best In Show at Birmingham, England's Crufts' Dog Show, the largest in the world, was announced yesterday. Mr. And Mrs. K Cullen's Giant Schnauzer CH Jafrak Philippe Olivier (he must have had a French au père) won. The video above shows footage of the jet-black beauty, as well as an interview with his owner and the head judge that immediately calls to mind the Christopher Guest mockumentary, Best In Show. Except for his accent, Mr. K Cullen is a dead ringer for Guest's own character in the movie, Harlan Pepper, and the judge says things like: "When you look into this dog's eyes...he just knew he was selling himself to me, and he did, big time. He's so solidly made. He's got muscles on its rear it's a joy to go over."

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In a move that's guaranteed to divide pizza lovers across the country, Forbes has singled out the U.S.'s best pizzerias. Among them are NYC's Lombardis, Naples 45 and Zero Otto. Other picks include Providence's Al Forno, Phoenix's Pizzeria Bianco and Mozza in LA. [Forbes]

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TripAdvisor has ranked the world's leading art museums. The Louvre takes the top seated spot, while the Vatican Museums and New York's Metropolitan Museum take second and third, respectively. "This top 10 is a checklist to see the very finest artwork in the world," says TripAdvisor spokeswoman Michele Perry. (Rankings were based on traffic to the landmarks). So how many have you seen? [via]

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If you're interested in gaining coveted comment access on Gridskipper, consult the comments FAQ. And you may effortlessly stay abreast of the latest, greatest commentary by way of the Gridskipper comments RSS feed. This week's comment highlights::

New Yorkers are passionate about their cookies. In response to the New York Cookie post, Joanna comments, "Milk & Cookies is the best. Try the peanut butter cookie with M&Ms; or their sandwich of fig ice cream and chocolate-chip cookies. they also have a bucket of chalk so you can play hangman on the tree-lined street outside." No doubt the legions of soon-to-be hanged chalk men thank her for the rec.

Another tipster Windowseat alerts us that though Park Slope's Al Di La is often kid-stuffed, there is another kidless option. "Psssst.." s/he whispers, "eat in the Wine Bar around back, I've never seen a child back there."'

Last but not least, Geoff Horn writes to tell give us the lowdown on the underground spy bar in Milwaukee: "FYI, you can also get into the place by just walkng through the back of 'The Newsroom' the pub that is on the corner (they are connected).

Friday is a time for introspection here at Gridskipper. Neither we nor you will ever live through another July 17th-24th 2006. Looking back over our highlights for the week, who can contain the tears that well up and drip down onto the keyboard, so that annoyingly, everytime you try to turn off the volume, you put your computer to sleep? Hush now children. Here are the highlights.

The Name's House. Safe House:Gridskipper Plays the Scooter Libby to Milwaukee Secret Agent Bar Safe House.

Le Cool: The Little Red Book of Barcelona Guidebook Goes Wild, Takes Off Dust Jacket, Goes Tapas.

You Down With Other People's Pools? How to crash the pools of Toronto's luxury hotels like Naughty By Nature would

Waiter's Race New York Exclusive Video of Waiter's Racing in Tribeca, Disgruntled Fan Cursing.

Tokyo Luxury Hotels: Have Yen, Will Travel. Have Lots of Yen, Will Stay In Luxury Hotel

A Very Deyrolle Sense of Style Zebra 1: Care for an eclair? Zebra 2: No, I'm stuffed.

No Clownin' Around at the Clowns Inn in Denver Things to do in Denver When You're A Sad Clown

Gangs of New York: Handball In our second installment, we find the Handball City Warriors. One Wall Handball Ain't Nuttin' To Fuck With.

Italian Museums Put the Tour in Torture Hey Nice Rack!

Assmeat Never Tasted Better Roman deli specializes in delectable pig booty

Gangs of New York: Lonely? Join a roving band of anarchist bicyclists.

Ñanda: It's What's For Dinner: The other, other, other, other white meat. No, not that one, the other one.

Whips and Sips at Shangai's Feeling Bar: Get hogtied in Shanghai

Italians Strip; French Curl Up In Foetal Position: Tighty whitey Italian nighty

Lucha Libre Con El Washington Post: Gaze into the waxed mirrorlike chest of Tijuana wrestlers

Ask Daddy Gridskipper: Virgin America: Virgin America keeping her panties on for a while longer

Mashup Review: Al Di La Di Dada: Gridskipper: Exploding the Paradigm of Reviews

Birmingham: It's Not Shit: Who loves ya, Brummies?

According to the fresh off the presses reader's survey in Travel+Leisure, a magazine catering to leisurely travelers (aka tourists), the best city in the world is Florence. Though some may decry the Disney-fication of the once-upon-a-time powerful city-state, tourists seem to like the fact that everyone speaks English. Florence beat out Rome, Bangkok, and last year's numero uno Sydney (in that order). A suprising arriviste is Beirut, long known for its scenic bombed out buildings, the city now free of meddling Syrians, is rapidly rebuilding itself into a tourist's Mecca and even is in the running for the 2024 Olympics.

T+L's Best Cities

[photo: ChunukBair]

Previously: Trove of Wax Corpses Found in Florence Museum, Florence and Rome Via Segway, How to Win a Bottle of Jack or Get Royally Ripped Off

Editorial Exit — Or how Chirs Mohney survived the Night of the Gawker Long Knives.

David Bryne in Argentina — Baggy suits, Buenos Aires and you.

Wilanow Poster Museum — Seriously, bro, I feel sorry for you if you don't understand Polish graphic design.

Pioneer Bar-B-Q — Coronary failure never tasted so delicious.

Gifts From India — Indian kitsch = the best kind of kitsch.

Yuppies 1, Mars Bar 0 — Tales from New York's Diviest Bar

Undercover in Japan — Culture clash was never so fun.

Dallas 'Q and Chicken Fried Steak — Coronary failure reflux.

Warhol Hearse Stalks Toronto — Think Christine, but with Asperger's.

RedSquare — Soviet themed Las Vegas attractions were never so much fun.

Team Party Crash: Bondi Road Fish & Chips: Because nothing says Aussie like the Lower East Side.

Spectacle Island: Because Dildo Island just didn't appeal to the masses.

London Stripper Galleries: Because art and clevage go well together.

Tirana: Cheap, Crazy: Because Beirut is just a bit too gentrified these days.

Argentina Art Attack: Because Argentineans do more than just eat steak these days.

Yoko In London: Because there's absolutely no irony in Yoko Ono's art installation in St. Paul's Cathedral.

The World's Best Bookstore: Because everyone needs a reason besides coffee to go to Portland.

Antwerp Street Art: Because we dig stenciles, Antwerpen-stylee.

Exploring The NJ Of The Sopranos: Because Newark's urban too.

Antwerp Cool: The River Schelde: Because Antwerpers love their river, damnit.

Atomium Attack! - Meet the sculpture that ate Jacques Brel.

24-Hour Koreatown - In which the bulgoki bridges the yummy divide between East and West.

Matthew Barney @ SFMOMA - Cremasterlicious.

London's Abandoned Tube Stations - These Morlocks just want a chicken tikka and a decent pint of bitter.

Toronto - Hipsterfied For Your Pleasure - And how.

Mr. And Mrs. Smith's Guide to Doin' It - Hotel trysting 101. Sexxay.

Welcome To The Hotel Gowanus - For an extra $25 fee, Marty Markowitz will even take your luggage up to your room!

Onwards To Flanders - Gridskippering amongst the Flemings and Walloons and other such names.

Pitching Philly Vs. NYC - The sixth borough's mighty, mighty return.

Relevant or Not, Gays Go On Parade - It's parade season and the rainbow flags are flying.

Atomium Attack! - Meet the sculpture that ate Jacques Brel.

24-Hour Koreatown - In which the bulgoki bridges the yummy divide between East and West.

Matthew Barney @ SFMOMA - Cremasterlicious.

London's Abandoned Tube Stations - These Morlocks just want a chicken tikka and a decent pint of bitter.

Toronto - Hipsterfied For Your Pleasure - And how.

Mr. And Mrs. Smith's Guide to Doin' It - Hotel trysting 101. Sexxay.

Welcome To The Hotel Gowanus - For an extra $25 fee, Marty Markowitz will even take your luggage up to your room!

Onwards To Flanders - Gridskippering amongst the Flemings and Walloons and other such names.

Pitching Philly Vs. NYC - The sixth borough's mighty, mighty return.

Relevant or Not, Gays Go On Parade - It's parade season and the rainbow flags are flying.

XXX Root Beer - Washington (and Indiana's) finest rooty beverage stand.

Wherefore the World Cup Hooligans? - Football thugs under control.

Bono Probability Positioning System - Geolocating Bono in Dublin.

NYC & LA Gridskipper Interns Wanted - Still looking for applicants, especially in Los Angeles.

Restaurant Sex Wars: Prostitutes vs. Profiteers - San Fran tries to outsex the East.

Glamourite NYC Chickblog - Young blogging ladies, well styled.

Time Out for Star Wars - The sixth star of morning.

Strip Club Map - Plotting out Naked America.

Spreadshirt Derby Tee Shop - Design-your-own tees for cash, renown.

Mothership BBQ - New cue in Music City.

Philly Roller Girls - Hot thuggish chicks on wheels.

Airport People Shopping - Pick up your new Bulgarian wife at the WH Smith.

Stung Meanchey Dump - Phnom Penh's garbage scavengers.

32 Soccer Balls - The national spheres revealed.

Rue Saint-Placide Cheap Shopping - Being "careful with money" in Paris.

TranStrap Mini - Bondage gear to go.

World Cup in NYC - Watching the footballing in New York.

Bandai Museum - Giant robot attack.

Pink's Hollywood Doggs - LA celeb weinerfest.

World Cup in DC - The nation's capital takes the field.

Staying Gay in West Hollywood - Homosexualist bulwark against rising hetero tide.

Nabaz'mob WiFi Rabbit Opera - Networked bunnies twitch, chirp, glow.

Colette Commands You to Dance - Paris style shop busts moves.

Chumley's - Unsecret NYC pub.

World Cupsters Wanted - Reports solicited from soccer cities.

O.Y.S.T.E.R.S. Water Park - Cooling down in Delhi.

Black Tulip Gay Leather & Art Hotel - Not for sleeping.

Airplane Animal Attacks Wanted - Snakes, or anything really, on a plane.

Hollywood Hotel Star Map - Celebrity scandal cartography.

Team Party Crash: Original Trends @ MODAA - Peons befoul the VIP juice bar.

NYC Rooftop Bar Roundup - The new season of elevated inebriation.

Hotel Adlon Kempinski's Panic Suite - Paranoia chic.

Headless Monitor People - Terry Gilliam's video sculptures.

Paris Eats Under 35 Euros - Reasonable to cheap in Paree.

Pitch Your Burg: Wellington Victorious - Kiwis enjoy laurels.

Burgers & Cupcakes - Need we say more?

New Orleans Says Hello - The state of the city.

Airhitch: "Send It to God" - The latest dispatch from crazytown.

New Airplane Flip Seats - Latest aerial torture device.

Gridskipper Interview: Secret Dubai Diary - UAE anonyblogger speaks.

Tijuana Art at MCASD - New exhibit, flashy website.

Jason Calacanis Hotel Nightmare - Relive the horror.

Matt Gross: Cheapo Circumnavigator - Frugal traveler begins trotting of globe.

Pixel City Posters - Supercool videofied urbanity.

Zurnet iPod Subway Guide - Simple but useful transit info.

Noodlepie Hankers for Haggis - Inside parts eaten.

Teens, Ozzy Covers, Cheap Beer = Genius - Crazy. That's how it goes.

Dan Smith Has Taught Me Guitar - The man. The legend. The flyer.

Josh Spear in Japan - Design hound hit Nippon.

Bad Monkeys Get Sticky Phones - London primates prevented from texting.

Jacktracker: R.I.P. - End of the era of Bauer.

No Blow Blowback - More on Amsterdam toking tale.

Urban Luxury Contest - Define luxury, then observe luxury in natural habitat.

Mango Amore - Juicy fruit in Mumbai.

House of Wine - Toddies in Tbilisi.

Team Party Crash: Sapporo Sushi - Raw fish and flesh in Vegas.

Snoop Dogg + Free British Airways Wine = Chaos - Snoop reprazents in fine fashion.

Burj Al Arab Hotel - Splendiferous splendor with a sick-making balcony.
To Be Stuck In A Chinese Train Station - Learn important travel tips via someone else's pain.

Hot Dubai Models Photos! - Not what you think, but titillating nonetheless.

Seattle: Letting The Balls Hang Free - Exactly what you think. If you're into that sort of thing.

Dubai Builds Bigger - It's unstoppable.

Takohachi - Adventures in weird food.

Shisha Time - Kick back after a day of Dubai-ing.

Double Wide - Dallas bar mocks itself.

Dubai Traffic - Not For Pussies - Wherein Mr. Mohney is terrified.

Depeche Mode Bar - Getting your Estonian DPM fix.

Gridskipper Interview: Grapeshisha - Dubai meditations.

Jacktracker: Day 5, 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. - President personally strangles a kitten. Really!

SRO Airplane "Seats" - Outrage over Airbus's new seatless airplane seats.

Avant-Garde Art on Rue Louise Weiss - Thriving Parisian art avenue.

Crepes & Co - The best/only creperie in Bangkok.

Standings Sports Bar - Intimate enjoyment of sport, brew.

Pecha Kucha - Ongoing Tokyo design klatch.

Katz's Texas Deli - Heinous "Hebro-Disney" deli fantasy.

Vegas by Night by Air - Sin City aloft.

Depeche Mode Bar - Getting your Estonian DPM fix.

Gridskipper Interview: Grapeshisha - Dubai meditations.

Jacktracker: Day 5, 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. - President personally strangles a kitten. Really!

SRO Airplane "Seats" - Outrage over Airbus's new seatless airplane seats.

Avant-Garde Art on Rue Louise Weiss - Thriving Parisian art avenue.

Crepes & Co - The best/only creperie in Bangkok.

Standings Sports Bar - Intimate enjoyment of sport, brew.

Pecha Kucha - Ongoing Tokyo design klatch.

Katz's Texas Deli - Heinous "Hebro-Disney" deli fantasy.

Vegas by Night by Air - Sin City aloft.

Rule Britannia, Rule Brooklyn. - The biggest queen in New York, and that's saying something.

Google Maps Go Video - Feel the convergence.

How to Avoid Jetlag - Tips on staying awake, or not.

Jacktracker: Day 5, 12 a.m. to 1 a.m. - A whole new crate of whoop-ass cans arrives.

Amateur Boxing in NYC - Get hit.

New Jersey vs. Bloggers - Tourism flacks invite 200 bloggers to Camden; trap suspected.

Paris au Cinema & Paris Cinema Festival - The City of Lights does the big screen thing.

MTV Cafe Studio - J-pop heaven.

Giraffe Manor - Pay to see long-necked livestock steal your breakfast.

Taste of Chinatown - The weekend's cheap food fest.

I Want to Hire Your Sexy Bicycle - Phone sex or language lesson?

Afternoon Bar Dance: Ever wanted to watch Vegas bartenders dance on top of the bar? on YouTube? Now you can.

Argentina on Two Steaks a Day: Mmm. Recession Beef.

How to Sleep on an Airplane: Tips from the flying pros on how to get some shuteye.

Memphis and Nashville Music Tourism: Party like you're Rufus Thomas.

105-Story Death Star Hotel on Google Earth: When North Korea builds a hotel, don't expect it to be normal... nor functional.

Top Seven World Hotels: Strangely enough, the hotel above isn't listed.

Mannekin Pis Loves to Dress Up: Belgians + watersports + kitsch = cuteness!

Grapeshsisa UAE & Dubai Resource: Your shortlist for the world's newest megalopolis.

Curse Like a Singapore Sailor - Blow it out your faeces portal.

Google Maps Guide to Atlanta - Mashups for the ATL.

Jacktracker: Day 5, 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. - A nice night for killin'.

Erik Torkells vs. the AirTrain - The mystery train.

Baseball Shuts Down DC Gay Bars - Move over, Ella.

Mumbai Fashion Dispatch: Wardrobe Malfunctions and More - Spicy chutney on parade.

Rats on Snakes on a Plane - Rat did not rip my flesh. Rzzzzzz!

The Surreal Machine - The telegenic Dubai.

Ask Gridskipper: How Do Airlines Find Lost Luggage? - With little effort, or not at all.

Cabspotting - Follow SF taxicabs -- from space.

Will You Work for Food? - The trials and tribulations of socialized groceries.

Dutch Gashouse Goes Big - New artplex emerges in Amsterdam industrial quarter.

Pitch Your Burg: Wellington vs. Baku, Round 2 - New Zealand takes on Azerbaijan.

Jacktracker: Day 5, 9 p.m. - 10 p.m. - Much movin', more killin'.

Banksy on Melbourne Street Art - Famous street artist speaks.

Phillies Love Cocks - Just how far Major League Baseball will go.

Propeller Island City Lodge - Den of Berlin hotel madness.

L.A. Letter: The End - Off into the sunset.

Noodle Loft - Hot noodly video.

A Bape Tour of Harajuku - Major Bapeness in Tokyo.