AirBnB.com, an idea generated by two guys in San Francisco who offered up air mattresses to a few hotel-less conference goers in 2004, offers travelers local flavor and potential for friendship while touring the U.S. and overseas. The idea is simple: hosts post photos of their pads online, along with a price for the accommodations (less than most hotels); travelers review the profile, offer some information of their own, and book a stay if all checks out. Payment is arranged via credit card or Paypal. On arrival, guests get local advice on where to eat, tour, and shop while forging new camaraderie. As an added bonus, AirBnb users enjoy the comfort of staying in someone’s well-kept home.
Rates vary based on the type of accommodations offered – the site features everything from full apartments to air mattresses for rent. Unvarnished guest reviews dispel some security concerns, as does the ability to book rooms noted on AirBnb’s Top 40 list. AirBnb also makes it easy to find hosts with whom you share a common bond – a University alumni connection, for instance, or a penchant for hiking, skiing, sailing, or wine tasting, to name just a few – reducing the risk of spending your vacation with bizarre strangers.
AirBnb processes payments, taking a 6% cut for their work – a fee well worth the security it offers. The site has received positive reviews from The New York Times, Time, The Washington Post and others.
Louisana Crawfish Co.
Spring is by far the best season in Atlanta. The city comes to life through its blooming azaleas, dogwoods and bradford pears. However, that’s not all. The people of Atlanta emerge, ready to soak in the sun, enjoy our patios and decks, and begin the warm-weather ritual of outdoor cooking.
While traditional backyard fare around the city consists of chicken, pork, burgers and steaks, we know there is a underground club of devotees who are quietly longing for something else: the savory bayou delicacy of crawfish.
Mudbugs, as the committed call them, are the South’s lobsters. Salty, juicy and terrifically messy, consuming them is truly full contact eating. However, where to find them is the standing issue for Atlantans. Paying for overpriced, undersized portions at the local bar is for beginners. The experienced want them fresh, large, and lots of them.
Enter the Louisana Crawfish Co. This family-run company is arguably the best in the business at raising and shipping fresh, LIVE (when in season, Jan. – June, frozen when out of season) crawfish anywhere in the country via FedEx overnight. Prices for live crawfish run $3.69 – $6 per pound, minimum order of 10 pounds, but they recommend three pounds per person when coupled with corn and potatoes (overnight shipping is included in the price).
The company also sells all the spices, seasoning and cooking gear you will need and will talk you through the elements of a great boil if you give them a call. Additionally, they offer a variety of other foods, including Alligator, Turtle, Turduckens, and Gulf Shrimp.
We first used them last summer and found their customer service was fantastic, their packaging solid and the taste didn’t miss a beat.
The art of discovery is sometimes as simple as linking up with the right expert to show you the way. In the quest for the best whiskey, others can make the introduction, but in the end, you and your taste buds are the only judge that matters. To find the ultimate bottle, The Whisky Explorers Club will deliver unique whiskeys to you from around the world without any preconceived notions as to what you’re drinking.
Six times a year each member receives four tasting bottles of fine whiskeys. Each sample will arrive in generically-packaged bottles, with no cost, brand or age identity (you can go to their website to find out what you’re drinking). You’ll be introduced to a variety of limited production whiskeys and receive discounts on additional purchases. There’s also an opportunity to share and compare experiences with other club members. Only 200 new members are allowed each quarter. Membership fees for each level are $120, $185 and $250 a year.
You know the value of purchasing a good pair of shoes. But for some men, that’s where the concern for their feet stops. Taking care of your shoes will not only make them last longer but will help distinguish you from the rest. We recently met Fred Payton, a sixty year-old shoe shiner who since 1964 has been shining the shoes of Atlanta mayors, celebrities, business men, lawyers, and everything in between. He shared with us some of his expertise:
-Like anything, there are the right techniques, tools and knowledge. I don’t believe in tricks, just hard work and a technique based on experience. When a guy pops your shoes with a towel he’s just playing with your feet. I use good polish, my hands, a simple rag and a brush.
-Make sure you always use the proper matching color of polish and never use those instant shines. Have your shoes polished once a month.
-Most men don’t pay enough attention to their feet but women notice. Why buy nice shoes if you don’t take care of them? A man should have three pairs of classic shoes. Rotate them, take care of them and your wardrobe can last longer.
-Some shoe shiners don’t properly turn the heel and do the back of the shoe. The back of your shoe is seen more than you think.
-Don’t use wooden shoe trees, use the plastic kind that lock. Wood takes out the moisture from your feet, but it can also dry out and crack the leather if you leave the wood in too long.
-Men didn’t properly handle the switch to the business casual trend. Casual doesn’t mean sloppy or that you don’t need to shine your shoes. With the tough economy and people fighting to keep their jobs, it’s brought back some pride in looking sharp. Remember that your shoes are a key part of that.
-As soon as you buy new shoes, bring them in to get a good polish. If you scuff new shoes you’re damaging the actual leather. There’s no protection until you get a layer of polish on them.
If you can’t make it to see Fred once a month, here’s how to shine your own shoes:
1. Clean the dirt and dust off with a slightly damp rag.
2. Apply polish with a thin rag and your fingers. Use 2-3 coats if necessary.
3. Use a tooth brush with a little polish on it to get in the crevices.
4. Shine with a brush.
5. Test with a drop of water; it should bead and roll off. If not, add more polish.
Visit Fred Payton in the lobby of the 1180 Peachtree St building Monday thru Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shoe shines are $10.
Also, today only our friends at ScoutMob are featuring half-off a shoe shine from Fred. Click over to their website and sign up for their daily deals.
As locally grown, organic produce has become more popular, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups have begun to pop up everywhere. But unlike traditional CSAs, whose delivery quantities can be excessive and fruit and vegetable varieties unpredictable, Nature’s Garden Delivered lets its members know what will be in their fresh produce boxes; the company also allows people to choose the sizes of their boxes, which range from “tiny” to “large,” enabling even a family of one to take part in the local food revolution.
In addition to stocking fruit and vegetable boxes, Nature’s Garden Delivered also gives consumers the option to add coffee, nuts, Georgia jams, baked goods and pasta sauces to the mix, bringing regional suppliers and food artisans to your door. Also unlike traditional CSAs, Nature’s Garden Delivered allows members to customize their boxes, sign up for just one week or for regular deliveries, and can deliver to your door or to a central location, via a co-op. Prices range from $28 to $55 (without any of the non-fruit/veg add-ons) for tiny to large boxes.
