Worth reading: The building formerly known as Sears Tower

By JD Rinne
October 3, 2012
blog_090720_blog_searstower_original.jpg
Courtesy <a href="http://mybt.budgettravel.com/_Chicago-River/photo/3788956/21864.html">kristymccray/my Budget Travel</a>

A few of our favorite links from around the 'net this week.

With name change, Sears Tower—and Chicago—is losing a sense of identity. [Chicago Tribune]

Get inspired: 12 great summer vacation movies. [World Hum]

Voluntouring like Angelina in Africa. [The Faster Times]

10 gadgets to make your road trip more enjoyable. [Gadling]

Sneak peek: The World of Color water show at Disney's California Adventure, coming in 2010. [LA Times]

Visit Harry Potter's favorite haunts in London. [Jaunted]

Unesco's World Heritage list gets 13 more entries, including two natural sites. [The New York Times]

For more travel blogs, go to Alltop.

Plan Your Next Getaway
Keep reading
Inspiration

Paris pizza buzz: Pink Flamingo

My love for this quirky outfit lies dormant during the cold months, then gushes anew when the weather is warm enough to eat outside. There is a dining room at the Pink Flamingo to serve you during the dark months, but the real draw is their delivery along the banks of the Canal Saint Martin. On summer evenings, both sides of this curving canal are lined with lively picnic parties. I used to bring my own basket, but haven't done that once since discovering "the Pink." And judging by the number of balloons that are dotting the banks these days, I'm not alone. So what's with the balloon? Well, they give you one in exchange for your order, then use it to locate your group for delivery. There's something very cheery about walking in the footsteps of Am&eacute;lie with a helium balloon tied to your wrist. While devouring a pizza, stand next to the footbridge from which the heroine of Am&eacute;lie skipped her stones. The Menu Kooky names and inventive combos are part of the program at the Pink. "La Basquiat" is topped with gorgonzola, fig, and cured ham from the Auvergne. "Le Che" features marinated Cuban pork and fried plantains. "La Dante" is surprisingly tame with fresh basil, fresh tomatoes, and mozzarella. Whatever the topping, you can be assured of a thin crust made with organic flour and sel de Gu&eacute;rande (fancy salt). The Bill Prices range from &euro;10.50&ndash;16 ($14&ndash;22) and each pizza can easily feed two. Bottles of wine (with plastic cups for takeaway) range from about &euro;13&ndash;20 ($18&ndash;25), but you could save money with a cheaper bottle from the Franprix grocery along the Canal (108 quai de Jemmapes). The Buzz The artists of IVY Paris have long been hosting their "hipnics" with Pink Flamingo pizza. French guide Le Fooding loves it, too, even though they think the name sounds like a strip parlor. Food blogger Adrian Moore is a fan of the "Ho Chi Ming" pizza (chicken, shrimp, coconut, lemongrass, and crushed peanuts) and the organic beer. And the cutesy My Little Paris site has even rendered the "flying pizzas" in watercolor. The Coordinates 67 rue Bichat, 10th arrondissement, 011-33/1-42-02-31-70, M&eacute;tro Jacques Bonsergent. Closed Monday. A second Paris location has just opened in the Marais at 105, rue Vieille du Temple, 3rd arrondissement, 011-33/1-42-71-28-20, M&eacute;tro Saint-S&eacute;bastian-Froissart. Closed Monday. CLICKABLES Slimming down the lunch bill at Paris restaurants 10 top Paris food blogs Paris bistro buzz: Frenchie

Inspiration

Photos of Rome's street artists

Creative expression in Rome isn't limited to museums and churches. It's out in the open, if you know what to look for and where. We sent photoblogger Jessica Stewart out to capture street art's various incarnations&mdash;stencils, graffiti, chalk drawings, even break-dancing. Check out the results in our slide show. Stewart moved to Rome four years ago, after completing degrees in art history and Renaissance studies, and began posting at RomePhotoBlog. Her photographs are on display through July 31 at Al Vino Al Vino (via dei Serpenti 19) and will be included in a show at Hobo Art Club (via Ascoli Piceno 3), September 11-25. I chatted with Stewart over pizza at Il Maratoneta in Rome's San Lorenzo neighborhood this spring and, more recently, traded emails to get her impressions of the evolving street art scene. What sparked your interest in street art, and when did you start photographing it? I'd always noticed stencils and posters around in the city, but my real interest started in February when shooting a series on San Lorenzo for my blog. It's an area where a lot of street artists work and afterward I noticed it became a strong theme for that shoot. From then I've been doing more and have gotten a chance to get to know many of the artists, which makes it all the more interesting. Where can tourists go to spot street art while in Rome, and what should they be looking for? All the artists I know are quite respectful of the city, so you won't be finding anything pasted up on the Colosseum&mdash;you need to go a bit off the beaten path. The neighborhoods of Trastevere, Pigneto, and San Lorenzo are all good bets for finding street art. Ostiense has some nice stuff as well, especially near the Garbatella metro station where there are many interesting painted murals, and the Jewish Ghetto has work by Sten and Lex, as well as stencils by the French artists C215. For tiny touches, check out the backs of street signs and bus stops, where many artists will place small stickers. Just keep your eyes peeled, as once you start looking you'll find examples everywhere. Now my friends (many of whom have lived here for years or are Romans) are seeing street art everywhere for the first time. It's been under their nose the whole time, but they hadn't noticed until someone pointed it out. How does street art in Rome compare with that of hubs like London, Berlin, or L.A.? What makes it uniquely Roman? I think that Rome street art is still very unknown, even in the city itself, and hasn't gotten nearly as commercial as in a lot of cities. A very small number of artists are making a name for themselves internationally already, but most are still emerging, which is really exciting. And I think the city is just starting to come around, with more events being organized and the founding of the gallery MondoPop, which features a lot of street artists, right near the Spanish Steps has brought even more legitimacy to the scene. As far as what makes it very Roman, I think you'll see a lot of pieces influenced by classic art, religion, and politics. Rome has centuries worth of masterpieces. How do you think that legacy rubs off on street artists? The influence is more obvious with some than others. The artist Lucamaleonte studied restoration here in Rome, and his pieces always remind me of the engravings or etchings of Albrecht Durer or Rembrandt. Mr. Klevra and Omino71's Byzantine-style Madonna and Child icons are other example of pieces that are influenced by the surroundings. But at the same time, I don't want to say that this is what every artist is looking at. Many, I think, subtly pay homage to Roman history, such as the Hogre stencil that with a date written on a beer bottle gives a nod to Allied bombings here in Rome in the 1940s. More often than not, however, I think people are creating their own styles. Artists have always commented on politics, religion, etc., so I think that isn't anything new. What I do think is that all the artists respect the city and are striving to express themselves outside of the established norms. How long has the Rome scene been around, is it changing, and what sort of community is there? As I understand it, around 2002, a small group began working more on stencils and posters. From there, the movement has grown, and I'm always struck by the diversity and talent I see here. There's a strong community of artists that has grown up around certain events and locations. The centro sociale Strike near Stazione Tiburtina is one haven, and certainly MondoPop's exhibits have brought people together, as well as the Stick My World exhibitions (begun by artist Omino71) that have given Roman artists more chances to work together. Some, like Sten, Lex, and Lucamaleonte work in a collective studio, while others often will go out together and paste up posters or work together on pieces. Do you have a favorite artist? I don't really have one absolute favorite, so if you don't mind, I'll give you a list of some favorites (in no particular order!). UNO, Hogre, 999, #, Lucamaleonte, Sten and Lex, Mr. Klevra, Omino71, Alice', Sone, Urka, and [X]. All completely different, but all very interesting and talented in their own ways. Most don't have websites, but almost everyone has an account on Flickr, which you should be able to find easily.

Inspiration

The Parisians are on vacation! Rent their apartments

French workers are blessed with six weeks of vacation a year, on average. Many of them take a full month off in late summer. Their good fortune is also yours. The reason? A good number of vacationing Parisians will try to sublet their apartments while off dallying in the Maldives. These exchanges happen first and foremost by word of mouth. Parisian party chat in early summer consists of "where are you going on holiday?" and "do you know anyone who wants to rent my apartment?" Twitter and Facebook are also increasingly being used to advertise apartment availability, i.e. "going 2 Bali rent my Aug apt 300 wk". If you have a local connection or participate in any Paris discussion groups, it's a good idea to make your vacation desires known. For those without a local friend, Craigslist is a great way to connect with departing Parisians. A glance at "sublets and temporary housing" today revealed about forty different listings for July and August. You can snag a one-bedroom in the Marais for &euro;500 per week or a two-room studio along the Bassin de la Villette (my favorite 'hood) for &euro;300 per week. Advantages: These informal exchanges are much cheaper than traditional short-term rentals, which are already much cheaper than hotels per night. You can generally stay a week for the same price as a couple of nights in a hotel. Apartments offer the possibility of cooking&mdash;or at least of morning coffee. They also offer a look "behind the curtain" at local life. Disadvantages: Unlike the short-term rentals that we've discussed in "Paris at a Price That's Right" and here, these are "real" and lived-in apartments, filled (for better or worse) with the occupant's stuff. That could mean a well-stocked gourmet kitchen and a library filled with interesting books. It could also mean clutter and bursting closets. Cleanliness varies. Some hosts will scrub their apartments, but most will do a quick tidy before heading out the door. They'll usually leave you with a contact number in case of emergency, but you'll otherwise be on your own. As mentioned in a previous blog post on Paris sublets, it's buyer beware with these informal agreements. I've had friends arrive at their holiday apartment to find somebody else already settled in. I've heard about travelers sending security deposits to people who subsequently disappeared. The best way to avoid trouble is to ask a lot of questions, trust your instincts, and avoid wiring any money. These warnings aside, informal rentals offer incredible value and a way for unfussy travelers to lengthen their stay in Paris. They also help the fortunate Parisians to order a few extra Pi&ntilde;a Coladas during their holidays. Everybody wins. Let's hear now from you: What have been your experiences in renting apartments from Craigslist or similar websites? Any advice or strategies to share? OUR AFFORDABLE PARIS BLOG SERIES

Inspiration

Will Paris shops soon be open on Sunday?

American visitors in search of retail therapy have long been shocked to find Paris shops closed on Sunday. With a few exceptions&mdash;the Champs-Elys&eacute;es, the Marais, and some parts of Belleville&mdash;the city's boutiques are dead on dimanche. There's a reason for this: the opening of retail stores without special permission has been illegal under a 1906 law that established Sunday as a mandatory day of rest. That law may soon be changing. A bill proposing to relax the Sunday restriction has just passed in the National Assembly. It goes next week to the Senate, where it's expected to pass before being adopted later this month. French President Sarkozy was elected, in part, on a campaign promise to open shopping on Sunday. He promised that the easing of labor restrictions would help the French "work more to earn more." The Obama family's recent visit gave Sarkozy's argument a second wind, according to this article from the AFP. He asked legislators "Is it normal that on a Sunday, when Madame Obama wants to go shopping in Paris with her girls, that I have to make phone calls to get them to open?" Not everyone thinks that Paris shops be open on Sunday. Opponents of the shopping bill fear that this measure will put an end to the beloved tradition of the Sunday family lunch. They also worry that small shops, if they choose not to stay open, might be crushed by superstores. CLICKABLES Sunday in Paris: Where do I eat? Practical Paris: What's closed on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays?