Table of Contents: June 2007

Skype, the software that allows free phone calls via the Internet, has a new feature, SkypeFind, that lets its 171 million users post and search reviews of hotels, restaurants, and other businesses around the world. (In the rating system, a full daisy means "really good," while a quarter-daisy is "not so good.") To check the service out, you have to download Skype's latest software.

In his new book, Street Food: Exploring the World's Most Authentic Tastes, Tom Kime, a chef who has worked in top restaurants in London, Sydney, and Malta, reveals how to make 89 favorite dishes that he has tasted during his many trips around the globe. While the book focuses on recipes, Kime learned quite a bit more while conducting research on the streets of Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and beyond. We asked him for tips on finding the most delicious food and avoiding an upset stomach, or worse. 1. Follow crowds "A line of people is always a good indicator that the food is tasty and fresh-- it never sits idle for long. If a vendor on a busy street has no customers, there's probably a reason." 2. Ask the locals "The best recommendations I got were from taxi drivers, policemen, shop owners, and office workers. Locals are discerning: They only eat what they like and what doesn't make them sick." 3. Watch it cook "Always request that your food be cooked fresh for you. A hot grill will usually eliminate any microscopic bugs that are present. And a plate of steaming noodles is safer than food left out for hours at a hotel buffet." 4. Wash your hands "There's no way to know what's on anyone else's hands, but you can at least get the germs off your own. Store a bunch of antibacterial wipes in your daypack and wash your hands frequently--in particular, before you eat." 5. Fill up on starch "If your stomach is uneasy, eat plain starchy food, such as rice, bread, and noodles, until you feel settled. Bananas are excellent because they're packed with vitamins and minerals, which restore your body's internal balance."

Flavorpill.net Some 300 writers and editors sift through hundreds of events, plucking ones that'll appeal to young urban sophisticates. Versions of the website and weekly e-mail are available for New York, San Francisco, L.A., Chicago, Miami, and London. Like what? Anything and everything, though always with an edge: a collaboration between German techno artists and American DJs in Brooklyn, a stage show in London with Rik Mayall, star of the cult classic The Young Ones. LABrainTerrain.com An anonymous editor keeps a blog and tracks events "for Angelenos interested in more than just driving, flirting, and (net)working," as the site's motto says. The focus is on intellectual happenings in Los Angeles, with calendars devoted to literature, science, culture, and politics. Like what? An opening reception for artist Damien Hirst, readings by French authors, foreign-film festivals. MyOpenBar.com The "guide to free booze" doles out the latest nightlife info, listing drink specials and hipster parties in Chicago, L.A., New York, and San Francisco. Each scene is rated on a scale of five glasses, with five as the coolest. Like what? Surprisingly, many classy events make the list: gallery openings, DJ nights, lounges with promotions for new vodka. LaughingSquid.com Since 1996, tech firm Laughing Squid has run an online calendar and e-mail for the San Francisco Bay area known as the Squid List. Most days, there are more than a dozen recommendations, from the bohemian to the avant-garde. Like what? Music, drama, underground comedy, rarely shown films--if it's left of mainstream, Squid List knows about it. NonsenseNYC.com This is a weekly e-mail guide to New York's most progressive, under-the-radar happenings. Like what? The New York City Juggling Festival and an end-of-season party thrown by an "interactive dance" troupe. OhMyRockness.com Currently available for New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, Oh My Rockness is a roster of small-venue concerts for fans hoping to hear the next big thing. Billed as an Indie Rock Show List, the site does an admirable job of covering all genres. Like what? As long as your favorite musicians don't sell out Madison Square Garden, you can find out where they're playing.

Each month, Simply Audiobooks gives away one audiobook that anyone can download, at no cost whatsoever--past featured authors have included Jack London and Agatha Christie, and the free download in June is Sun Tzu's The Art of War. Carnival Cruise Lines is making some of its ship decks adults-only areas. A new service, 1800CabRide.com, lets folks in many U.S. cities order a taxi online or over the phone--and the bill, which you can pay in advance by credit card, covers all tips, taxes, and tolls. Six EasyHotel properties are in the works for India. The Michelin Guide series announced that books rating the top restaurants and hotels for two new cities--Los Angeles and Las Vegas--will be available this November. VIA Rail, Canada's train system, has several promotions, including a senior fare which lets passengers over 59 bring a companion of any age at no extra charge, and a summer special that allows a child under 12 to ride for free with any paying adult. After introducing new signs and informational videos in four languages to its international arrivals terminal, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston is the nation's first model port of entry, a program that's expected to spread to other airports to make them more friendly to visitors to the U.S. Alaska Airlines is allowing loyalty program members to book one-way reward seats for as little as 7,500 miles for flights within Alaska, and 10,000 miles for trips to other parts of the U.S. and Canada.