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Paint the Town Red

8.29.12
source: Wall Street Journal

On most days people fear getting a tomato thrown in their face, but not in Buñol, Spain on the last Wednesday in August during the festival of the tomato, La Tomatina, better known as the world’s largest food fight.

Every year over 40,000 people flock to the small Valencian town to hurl 100 pounds of rotten and over-ripe tomatoes at friends, foes and family alike. The fighting begins around 11 a.m., after a brave and agile sole climbs a greasy pole, the “palo jabón,” and cuts the ham hanging from it free. As soon as the ham hits the ground, a cannon sounds and the tomatoes start flying. An hour later, the cannons fire again and the tomato-drenched fighters drop their weapons leaving the world’s biggest batch of pasta sauce behind.

Fire tucks hose down the tomato puree river running through the streets while participants hose off themselves, the buildings and anything else that became a “casualty of war.”

And while it may look like a wholesome time, don’t be fooled. Things get rowdy. Clothes get torn. Shoes get lost. And acid is bound to get in your eyes. Tomato acid, that is. So if you’re planning to head to Buñol, Spain next year, it’s best to wear clothes you don’t mind ruining, shoes you don’t mind losing and goggles. Really, really good goggles.

So, who’s coming with me? I’ve always wanted to paint the town red. And taking a bath in spaghetti sauce? An added bonus. It might even do wonders for the skin.

Oh, and don’t worry about getting a black eye. They make you squish the tomatoes before throwing.

See more photos of the epic food fight »

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Tenacity

8.10.12

If you’ve had a rough week or want a laugh, watch the video above of salesman — or more aptly put, budding comedian — Kenny Brooks. He should be the poster boy of why it pays to be persistent. I could use a dose of his tenacity. What about you?

Fun & Sassy Greeting Cards

7.25.12

1 & 2: Sycamore Street Press | 3 & 4: Christine Wisnieski | 5 & 6: FIG. 2 Design Studio

While looking for new stationery yesterday, I stumbled across these fun and original greeting cards. Perfect for both the everyday and special occasions, they’re sure to be a crowd pleaser. Now, I just have to figure out who to give them to.

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Please Feed the Giraffes

7.20.12

You’re eye don’t deceive you. Those are indeed giraffes poking their heads inside that home. Or I should say, the Giraffe Manor Hotel, and if you book a night, they’ll be peeking in on you and begging for your breakfast. You may even be lucky enough to get a giraffe kiss.

Located right next to the equator in Nairobi, Kenya, the Giraffe Manor is home to a herd of Rothschild giraffes. Every morning, the giraffes swing by for breakfast, sticking their long necks inside the windows looking for a tasty treat. And if they get hungry in the afternoon, they may even stop by for cocktail hour or a late night snack, and guess what. You get to feed them. Unlike most establishments who forbid catering to animals, here it’s encouraged, and has been since 1974 when the manor’s owners Betty and Jock Leslie-Melville adopted their first Rothschild giraffe, Daisy.

At the time, giraffes from the nearby national park were already wandering into their yard and poking their heads in the windows. So when Betty heard the population of Rothschild giraffes had shrunk to a mere 120 members and was in danger of extinction due to being favored by hunters and their habitat being turned into farmland, she begged Jock to let her adopt one. And they did. Then two years later, they adopted five more. And so began their conservation effort to save the Rothschild giraffe.

The entire story is outlined in their book, “Raising Daisy Rothschild,” which was subsequently turned into the movie, “The Last Giraffe.” But the undoubted best way to understand their tender tale is to see it in person as so many others — including celebrities — have. Mick Jagger. Johnny Carson. Marlon Brando. To name a few.

The manor, modeled after a Scottish hunting lodge, offers six bedrooms, exquisite meals served three times a day and of course, the once-in-a-lifetime experience of petting and feeding giraffes. Unfortunately, once in a lifetime experiences often come with larger-than-normal price tags, and the Giraffe Manor Hotel is no exception.

But come on, you get to wake up to giraffes outside your window. How cool is that?

sources: 1, 2, 3

See 17 more photos of Giraffe Manor »

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Moon Rise

7.3.12
Full Moon, Moonrise, Hawaii, Ocean
source: Bob Ewing

Looking for something awesome to do this evening? Head to the closest shore — river, lake, pond or ocean — and pull up a seat for one of nature’s greatest shows: The full moon rise.

Before moving to the lakes, I’d never seen this dazzling spectacle. But now? I won’t miss it. Catching the moonrise has become a monthly tradition. It’s absolutely magical watching the sparkles on the water with the soft sound of the waves in the background. If there was a pathway to heaven, the moonlit trail would definitely be it.

If you decide to catch this lunar marvel, be sure to pick a spot that faces east, and arrive on time. If you show up late, you’ll miss the gleaming path and only catch the last straggling sparkles.

And if you’d like some tunes to set the mood, cue the classic, Moondance, or one of these other artists: 40 songs about the moon or 10 moon songs.

See 9 more spectacular moon rise photos »

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