Worth reading: Kansas City's gas-station barbecue and more

Hvide Kødby, Copenhagen Part of the meatpacking district in the Vesterbro neighborhood has come alive with galleries, boutiques, and bars. Leading the way is Karriere, a weekends-only café/gallery masterminded by artist Jeppe Hein and his sister Lærke (karrierebar.com). Nearby, ArtRebels stocks indie music and clothes from Danish designers (artrebels.com). And at Kødbyens Fiskebar, sample the jellyfish salad in front of a five-foot-tall fish tank (fiskebaren.dk). —David Paul Appell, from the September 2009 issue of Budget Travel

Following in the tracks of Velib', the wildly successful bike sharing program (that still isn't accessible to most Americans), the city of Paris is moving forward with a car sharing program called Autolib'. By the end of 2010 (which in "French time" means mid-2011) the mayor's office is planning to deploy a fleet of 2,000 electric cars that drivers will be able to pick up and drop off at rental/recharging stands around the city. If it works, Paris would be the first major city to offer such a service, one that could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 22,000 tons a year. Urban beaches, bike sharing, support for the arts and now this? I'm honestly loving the way mayor Bertrand Delanoë puts my tax euros to use. Let's just hope that the new program doesn't inspire a freeride auto equivalent! MORE Our Affordable Paris series

In August, it pays to be under 30 in Rome, but in September and October, anyone can take advantage of the city's newest special offer: late-night hours at select museums. Fridays The Vatican Museums will stay open until 11 p.m., with the last entrance at 9:30 p.m. You'll have to reserve a ticket online in advance; €14 ($19.70), plus a €4 ($5.60) online reservation fee. Saturdays Go museum-hopping: Ara Pacis Museum is architect Richard Meier's controversial modern glass home for a marble altar consecrated in 9 B.C.; the Capitoline Museums display a staggering collection of Roman statues and medieval and Renaissance art; and the Centrale Montemartini is a former power plant whose machinery sets off ancient statuary more recently acquired by the Capitoline Museums. Tickets for Ara Pacis are €6.50 ($9) and a combined ticket for the Capitoline Museums and Centrale Montemartini—valid for seven days—is €8.50 ($12). Sundays Cap off the weekend with a moonlit stroll through the Colosseum and the Forum, €9 ($13) total. If you plan to visit all these attractions, it's worth purchasing the Roma Pass. It costs €23 ($33) and gets you free admission to the first two attractions visited, plus discounts at subsequent attractions and select events, and unlimited rides on public transportation for three consecutive days. Maximize the value of the card by visiting two expensive attractions first. Get more details and purchase the card at romapass.it.

Only available until Friday (Aug. 21), American Airlines has partnered with NYC & Company to offer special deals between five major U.S. cities and NYC: L.A., San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Miami. The fares for Los Angeles or San Francisco start at $218 roundtrip; Dallas/Fort Worth is $198; Chicago is $168; and Miami is $138 for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday travel between Sept. 15, 2009 through Dec. 12, 2009, with exceptions around Thanksgiving. You have to buy your tickets three weeks in advance to get the lowest rates. Other rules, taxes, and fees apply, of course. Other low fares are available on other days of the week. See details at AA.com. MORE NEW YORK CITY NEWS NYC & Company also today launched new, customized travel itineraries for visitors to more easily navigate the five boroughs (via nycgo.com/itineraries). Where to eat and sleep in New York City? (40-plus comments) NYC & Company also continues its Sunday Stays program, which includes 20 to 30 percent off the price of a Sunday night hotel stay at more than 45 hotels throughout the City, including extra amenities. Info at nycgo.com/sundaystays. EARLIER New York: Statue of Liberty Crown tickets now for sale New York City: A new way to catch a play for cheap NYC: A new website offers short-term apartment rentals New York City launches a clever new trip planning website and tourist info center