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02
May 2012
06:04 PM

The Worldwide Patio Rundown

For the weary traveler, all tuckered out from a full day of carousing about and absorbing all the sights and sounds, there is truly nothing better than sitting down and sipping a beverage on a patio. Whether it’s a bone dry cappuccino or a cold lager, a true pleasure comes from relaxing and letting the world go by. And in that spirit, we here at BRINKguide spotlighting a few patios you might enjoy on your travels across the Earth. These hot spots have everything to cool down.

TUCSON
Armitage Wine Lounge / 2905 E Skyline Dr / 520.682.9740

This patio holds the trump card for outside seating: large, comfy couches. With half-off wine on Wednesdays and a brunch menu on Sundays, this is the place to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful vistas Tucson is known for. The only drawback is the people watching is lackluster because the lounge is cloistered inside an outdoor mall. For those looking for a private session, disregard what I just said. For you, this will be everything.

PORTLAND
Gladstone Street Pub / 3737 SE Gladstone St / 503.775.3502

It can be hard to find a truly friendly little pub in a hip city like Portland. A place where a smiling face is sure to greet you isn’t just everywhere. Although Portland is a pretty friendly mid-sized city, Gladstone Street Pub is a cut above in the hip-corner-pub type of way. But more importantly, their patio contains the necessities for a game of corn hole, and a grill for some added earthly delights.

NEW DELHI
Bemisal Restaurant / District Center, Janakpuri

Located in West Delhi, this little restaurant is right in the center of an open-air market. That makes for excellent people watching (obviously something I’m concerned with), and the shade means a respite from the sweltering Indian heat. Coupled with a large variety of cuisines to choose from, Bemisal Restaurant has all the trappings of a fine, fine patio.

LONDON
The Big Chill House / 257-259 Pentonville Rd / 020.7427.2540

London can be a cold place, both literally and metaphorically. So it’s nice to a place to go with some warmth. This has comfort in spades plus good food, good people and a great rooftop view to get you (literally) above it all. And The Big Chill House will raise to the top of your London go-tos if you care about eclectic music at all , they always have something good playing.

-Alexsey Kashtelyan

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13
Apr 2012
04:49 PM

Guide to Tucson’s New School

There’s a reason why a city in the middle of the desert can attract a group of creatives like those you find at BRINK headquarters. Tucson has the culture, the landscape and an eclectic mix of places to go. Hip bars, gastropubs and fashionable boutiques, all of the accoutrements of a thriving city, keep cropping up. BRINK sorted through a slew of new spots and these are the ones we can really getting behind.

Tres / 210 N 4th Ave / 310.754.0621

Right smack-dab on Fourth Avenue, Tucson’s favorite strip for shopping and imbibing, Tres is a new boutique for the seriously fashion-minded. This is the type of shop you would expect to see in Brooklyn or San Francisco. Tres’ savvy owners mix actually-great-vintage goods (not stuff you could just walk into a thrift store and pick up yourself) alongside ahead-of-the-trend new stuff. The women and men’s selection is a cut-above most boutiques you could compare Tres to and everything is laid out in the most accessible way. If you need any extra help, the owners are always around to lend their taste, they’ve got lots to spare.

BLX / 35 E Toole Ave / 520.622.5858

Tucson may have the feel of a small town but it is still an urban city. And with concrete, come decks with wheels. Right next to cultural-hub Solar Culture on Toole Avenue, BLX (say it like “blocks”) offers everything a skater might need, from a superior offering of boards and accessories, to fresh Adidas and whatever random paraphernalia the owners see fit to include (books, toys, etc.). They host local art shows and the openings are definitely worth checking out. The owners are not just trying to make a buck, this is their culture. And this new addition to the Tucson scene is destined to become a legend, not only amongst skaters.

The Union Public House / 4340 N Campbell Ave / 520.329.8575

This new go-to is situated farther north than the rest of the list and maybe that’s for a reason, this pub was designed with a chicer crowd in mind. One BRINKer says it is a spot in Tucson where you know every one of the hip and clean-cut patrons has a job, and that can’t be assumed everywhere in town. This place is definitely no dive. If you have a laid-back, but sophisticated time in mind, try making a trek up north a bit. The Union boasts an honest American aesthetic, delicious food and just-as-good cocktails.

The Parish / 6453 N Oracle Rd / 520.797.1233

A little way out west is a new gastropub with a southern-fusion style called simply The Parish. Three staples of Tucson’s culinary scene founded this new spot: the general manager and the executive chef of Tucson’s famed Cup Cafe and the founder of the French Quarter. The Parish is sure to be a gourmand’s delight with its new take on the old New Orleans’ cuisine. A hospitable happy hour menu helps it rise to the top of our list of places to be when you’re hungry (and thirsty). The Parish is located on the northwest corner of Oracle and Orange Grove which is a bit out of our range normally but a little cruise up Oracle is worth it.

-Alexsey Kashtelyan, BRINKtern
(Photos and editing by Caroline Jackson)

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24
Mar 2012
04:07 PM

AUSTIN: Beyond SXSW Must-Dos


BRINKguide welcomes you to Austin! BRINK headed out there for South by Southwest but we’re gonna give you the rundown of the must-do stuff for any time you’re in the capital of Texas.

GET BBQ FROM IRONWORKS
100 Red River St./ironworksbbq.com

This no-fuss BBQ joint is much talked about in Austin and I think they live up to the hype. My brisket was perfectly cooked and incredibly savory, plus the hot sauce (a big deal for me) and potato salad (which I normally don’t even like) are top-notch. We tried out a couple places while in Texas, but this was head and shoulders above the rest.

GO VINTAGE SHOPPING AT NEW BROHEMIA
2209 S. 1st St.

Austin has a lot of thrift and vintage stores that are worth looking at but New Brohemia is my favorite. And they don’t even cater to me! It’s a men’s shop but they carry all the way down to little boys sizes (I got a silk shirt and a Native American-inspired jacket). Plus they have loads of inexpensive silver jewelry and colorful cumberbands that I re-imagine as a belt. I can’t pump this place up enough. Look how happy Isaiah Toothtaker is in his New Brohemia find.

PERUSE BOOKS AND ZINES AT DOMY
913 E. Cesar Chavez St./domystore.com/austin


I am infatuated with Domy books. They have an extensive zine selection plus they gather some of the most interesting books out and host art shows. When we were here they had a backyard party show which supposedly happen even with the ruckus of SXSW is over.

BOWL AND SING KARAOKE AT THE HIGHBALL
1142 S. Lamar Blvd./thehighball.com

The historic High Ball is right next to the much praised Alamo Drafthouse (which we digged also), but it shouldn’t be overlooked. The decor is wonderfully restored and they have bowling, karaoke and they host concerts. The bar is great looking but they also have tasty drinks and competent bartenders.

TRACK DOWN THE NICE KICKS ‘NICE CREAM’ TRUCK
nicekicks.com

We have a warm spot in our hearts for anything mobile. Afterall, we did drive the BRINKmobile to Austin. And sneaker shop Nice Kick’s ‘Nice Cream’ Truck is a very cool idea. Track them down for exclusive roll-outs of Vans and Nikes.

-Caroline Jackson, editor

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29
Feb 2012
07:10 PM

The Bar Story

I’ve been so bombarded with beer drinking spots in Portland, I had to tell my editors to exit the bars so we can fill BRINKguide Portland with lots of options for non-alcoholics. But it did inspire me to scour all of the BRINKguides for the best dives and chilled out venues for enjoying a cold brew. Here’s the rundown when you just need a frosty mug.

PORTLAND
Red Fox/ Mississippi/ 5128 N Albina

Reading the review of this “North Portland treasure” is what got me off and running on this blog post. It’s warm and cozy inside, and the entrance is in a small field. The hidden location must be what keeps out the droves of unwitting hipsters who might otherwise wander in from the main drag of Albina. But you’ll know it by the iconic fox logo sign and gigantic carrot perched on the adjacent natural food market. They have it all: awesome jukebox, covered patio and lots of good beer on-tap. We’re told the bar is often populated with locals and friendly bartenders. Our reviewer says all-in-all, it “is hard to beat.”

MADRID
Cervecería Restaurante Quevedo/ Huertas/ Calle de Quevedo, 7

I have definitely not been overwhelmed with suggestions of beer joints for our BRINKguide Madrid but this spots sounds choice no matter where you’re from. They offer “well-poured and reasonably priced cañas” (along with tapas) in an “on-the-up” area, where usually an adult beverage will cost you a pretty penny. Plus, it is charmingly old school and there is a stuffed pig head wearing sunglasses hanging on the wall.

SAN FRANCISCO
The Irish Bank/ Downtown/ 10 Mark Lane/

The huge outdoor seating area, great beer and stiff drinks The Irish Bank has will please anyway. And they are especially a standout as far as Downtown SF is concerned. It is situated in a charming alley in Union Square and the varied crowd loves to get loose. Our reviewer makes note of the back room which offers more seating (and good food) for when it is crowded or crappy outside (or when you need to soak up some of that booze).

TUCSON
The Bashful Bandit/ Central/ 3686 East Speedway Boulevard

Now, BRINK’s hometown of Tucson has lots of better beer options, but this is where you’ll get a taste of the huge local motorcycle scene (and occasionally run into some University of Arizona co-eds too). Plus I wanted to show you a picture of the mural because I love it. Sidle past the row of motorcycles posted up outside, grab a bottle of good old domestic beer and belch if you got to. This spot is simple, entertaining and cheap.

LONDON
The Champion/ West End/ 13 Wells Street

London is known for their pubs so we had to pull out one of their bests. The Champion is a Samuel Smith style spot tucked away just north of the Oxford Street shopping crowd. The beer is good and reasonable and a review said to order (or maybe just ask about) “the man in a box” if you are feeling adventurous. She also added that this was a spot to go if you want to look and act like a local. I’ll take that over a played out tourist spot any day.

NEW YORK
Cherry Tavern/East Village/ 441 East 6th Street

This quirky, low-key joint is the perfect place to gather some friends up and enjoy a beer and a shot of tequila (for only five bucks!) The prices are unreasonably reasonable for NYC, which makes it a favorite amongst reviews and locals alike. Plus, they have pool and it isn’t pretentious. If you spent a day doing all things quintessentially New York (and surely spending too much money) this will be the perfect place to take a break.

-Caroline Jackson

If you think I totally missed a beer drinking spot in YOUR city, e-mail me at editor@brink.com or fill out your info here.

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20
Feb 2012
08:14 PM

Where You Need to Go: Portland’s Best Shops

Portland is known for having great coffee shops (and strip clubs), for being absolutely beautiful and for having a bit of a rough around the edges attitude. But it isn’t exactly a shopping destination like New York, Los Angeles or Paris. And our writers keep submitting reviews that acknowledge that, followed by “but…” Turns out Portland has lots of interesting shops. So I thought I’d pull out my top five (uniquely Portland) venues for perusers and purchasers of fine goods.


Langlitz Leathers / 2443-A SE Division / langlitz.com / 503.235.0959
This was one of the first entries I saw when I started editing BRINKguide Portland, and I immediately began pinning for some leather from Langlitz’s. This family-owned business specializes in custom motorcycle jackets and they have been around since 1947. All their leather is premium quality and they offer a variety of styles (chaps, vests, boots, etc.). It is a bit pricy but well-worth it, whether you ride a motorcycle or you just love a solid, good-looking garment made locally.


Green Noise Records / 3840 SE Gladstone St. / greennoiserecords.com / 503.736.0909
A good record store has long been the sign of a good neighborhood, but they are getting harder and harder to come by. But Southeast Portland’s Green Noise Records is one of the best record stores left. They have a small but truly phenomenal selection of the best vintage and contemporary (new and used) punk, indie and rock vinyl imaginable. The store’s operated by a local record label owner with sublime taste in the hard stuff, and they also feature releases by some of the better Portland local scene bands.


Oblation Papers and Press / 516 NW 12th Ave / oblationpapers.com / 503.223.1093
This spot is a 19th century print shop where they design wedding invitations, baby shower announcements and anything you want printed on paper. And that paper will be exceptionally fine and the design will be perfectly simple. Our reviewer said “this place is truly incomparable to any other stationary,” and I back her 100%. And you can tour their urban paper mill and see them employing traditional techniques (they make sheets of cotton paper from recycled remnants of the garment industry). The already made goods they sell are far from disappointing also.


Goorin Bros. / 808 NW 23rd Ave. / goorin.com (Nob-Hill) / 503.227.5300
This isn’t a Portland one off, but it is the only Goorin Bros. in Oregon and inside the shop is wonderful. These stylish hats will cost you around one Benjamin Franklin, but they will last forever and are timeless. I’d gladly fork over a big bill for any hat in their ‘Heritage’ collection. In particular, “Pierre Renoir” (a boater), “Whiskey Pete” (a safari fedora), “Lady Lefty” (a cloche) and “Vinnie the Brain” (a porkpie) are impeccably-made classics.


Portland Design Collective / 902 SW Morrison St.
This list would be remiss if it didn’t include at least one of Portland’s great vintage shops. This is my favorite spot. Any shop that carries vintage is only as good as their curators, and this shop is obviously being run by some keen eyes. This boutique is styled perfectly, the merchandise is unique and there’s lots of variety. The inventory is constantly changing according to the season, so you are likely to find something completely unique for whatever occasion you have coming up.

If you think we are totally missing out on some great Portland venue, check out brinkguide.com to point out where we screwed up.

-Caroline Jackson

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07
Oct 2011
12:06 PM

London is Calling!

At BrinkGuide, we are putting the final touches on our London edition. I have been sitting in front of my computer screen, scrolling through page after page of reviews. Our editors are talking about where to imbibe, munch and find the perfect dress. It is enough to make me want to hijack the next trans-atlantic flight out of Tucson and into the London fog. And then, today I got a bunch of new photos from one of our contributors across the pond. They didn’t help. But instead of doing anything rash, I thought I would share a few spots with you.

Our writers have promised me Cloud Cuckoo Land isn’t another run-of-the-mill secondhand shop. Instead, it sounds like a wonderland of well-picked gems. And the shop owner is supposed to be a woman of discerning taste who won’t skimp on the compliments or critique. That is always what I want when I’m looking for the right thing and willing to pay a little extra for it.

Cloud Cuckoo Land

Cloud CuckooLand

But after getting the royal treatment, I wouldn’t mind rifling with the masses on Portobello Road. I don’t what could be more appealing than pastels and tables piled up with antiques. These photos made me crave a little shopping across the pond.

PortobelloMarket

PM2

PM3

-Caroline Jackson, Editor of BrinkGuide

All photos taken by BrinkGuide London contributor Mira Joshi. Read More »

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