Italy: Decoding those tempting gelato flavors and pizza toppings

My introduction to Beaujolais wine came, oddly enough, from an Urge Overkill song. The Chicago band sings, in "Ticket to LA," about sucking on a bottle of "boojalaaaay" while riding a westbound Greyhound bus. That certainly sounded exotic to a 16-year-old in Kansas. Having no other frame of reference, I imagined this Beaujolais tasting something like the wine coolers we drank in the Taco Bell parking lot. I wasn't wrong. Years of Paris-based wine "study" have led me to conclude that Beaujolais—at least the Nouveau variety—does indeed taste like Bartles & Jaymes. The wine is light, sweet, purple, and meant to be served cold. Thanks to the process of carbonic maceration (to accelerate the wine's aging process), it also produces famously punishing hangovers. If that stimulates your adolescent cravings, you'll be happy to know that a rosé variety (strawberry cooler, anyone?) has been recently introduced in France and Japan. I'm crossing my fingers for "orchard peach" by 2010. Nearly 50 million bottles of this sweet stuff are now sold every year. The season begins with an official kickoff on the third Thursday of November (that's tomorrow). In the Beaujolais region of France (which also produces many fine cru like Morgon and Brouilly), there are more than 120 celebrations to mark the occasion. Global marketing maneuvers aside, this is a local harvest tradition that stems from vin de l'année—a wine created to drink almost immediately in celebration of the crop. In Lyon and smaller towns of the region, the release date will be marked by fireworks, feasts, and, of course, lots of tastings. Bars and bistrots across Paris will also be celebrating on November 20. Walk down any street and you're likely to spot a sign proclaiming that "le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!" Resistance is futile, so you may as well join in the youthful spirit and have some fun. Here are a few addresses to guide your regression: L'Estaminet, an adorable wine bar inside the Marché Enfants Rouge, will put out a spread of cheese and charcuterie to accompany all-you-can drink vins primeurs (young wines) from Beaujolais and other regions. From 6-11 p.m. for €20 ($25) per person. 39 rue de Bretagne, 3rd arrondissement, 011-33/1-42-72-28-12. There's a similar happening on the Péniche la Baleine Blanche—a white whale of a boat floating in the Seine. A buffet campagnard (country cookin') will be served from 8 to 10:30 p.m., and Beaujolais and beer will flow freely from an open bar all night. DJ Robi will spin with dancing until the wee hours. Entry is €20 after 10:30pm, and €30 ($38) if you arrive early for dinner. Docked at Port de la Gare, near the Simone de Beauvoir footbridge, 13th arrondissement, 011-33/1-42-52-64-31. For a more gastronomic evening, the excellent L'Opportun, a bouchon (Lyonnais-style bistrot), will serve classic food from the region and carefully selected cuvées—the best of Beaujolais Nouveau. Menus start at €19 ($24). 62-64 boulevard Edgar Quinet, 14th arrondissement, 011-33/1-43-20-26-89. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL'S BLOG Our Affordable Paris series.

Actress and dancer Leslie Caron made her big-screen debut alongside Gene Kelly in the travel-inspiring musical, An American in Paris. In her more recent role of innkeeper, Caron is again doing her part to encourage Americans to visit France, despite the tough economic times. All rooms at Caron's Auberge La Lucarne aux Chouettes—a few restored 17th-century farmhouse buildings in Burgundy—are now €99 ($125) on an ongoing basis. That's a discount of up to 42 percent as the most expensive rooms were previously €170 ($215). Caron handpicked the antique armoires, sleigh beds, and painted tiles that outfit the rooms. The walls showcase photos and posters from her decades-long film career, which has included Gigi, The L-Shaped Room, and Chocolat. Her own paintings are on display, too. Michelin-award-winning chef Daïsuke Inagaki oversees the atmospheric restaurant, which has exposed brick walls, raffia-covered chandeliers, and a crackling fireplace. Meals are at reduced prices: €10 ($12.60) for breakfast, €20 ($25) for lunch, and €35 ($44) for dinner. With any luck, Caron will join you for coffee one afternoon. She frequently makes the 90-minute drive southeast from her Paris home to the auberge in the riverside town of Villeneuve-sur-Yonne. RELATED Movie Quest 2008 Real Deals: Biking in Burgundy, From $1,099 Our Affordable Paris series.

Saturday marks the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963. In the 45 years since that dark day, there are still conspiracy theories and unanswered questions. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, where the shooting occurred, is commemorating the date. The 45th: Remembering President Kennedy and Impressions of Jack Kennedy include speeches by people peripheral to the assassination. One Saturday evening highlight is an appearance by Dan Rather. The former CBS News anchor will talk about the day. He famously raced with other reporters to the hospital, where he commandeered a pay phone and called in his reports (calling collect). In the days before cell phones and computers, it was common for reporters to fight over pay phones. Another must-see is on Thursday—the Reverend William Holmes, who preached a controversial sermon after the assassination, will speak about his experiences. He received death threats for his criticism of Dallas's political climate. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is open year-round and examines Kennedy's life and death in its permanent exhibit. 411 Elm St., 214-747-6660, jfk.org. Nighttime events are free; seating reservations are required. Museum admission is $14, children 5 and under free. MORE The Dallas Historical Society is offering a $50 special tour on Saturday Read the Dallas Metroblog See more travel blogs at travel.alltop.com

Barack Obama's Chicago Done as a Google map, with 20+ locations. [Chicago Tribune] Cleaning up at the Beirut races Horse-racing has been held in Beirut since 1918, and the track is "still one of the few places in the Arab world legally to have a bet." [BBC] You'll fit right in being poor in Berlin Getting deals in that "poor but sexy" city. [San Francisco Chronicle] New Yorkers trying to save historic Tin Pan Alley The "half-dozen row houses" were where "God Bless America", "Give My Regards to Broadway" and many other "iconic American songs were born." [USA Today] Critics Accuse Ryanair of Sexism for Charity Calendar Thirteen flight attendents "stripped off their uniforms for the company's annual charity calendar." [Spiegel, with photos]