Travel alerts straight to your inbox:

Smile and Fake It

December 2, 2008 at 9:15 AM | 0 Comments

Previously: The Van der Woodsens fled to Brooklyn for Thanksgiving, Vanessa pretended not to compete with Jenny for Nate's attentions and Aaron decides to be a one-woman man for Serena.

It's time for the Senior Snowflake Charity Ball! And everyone is whipped up into a frenzy about it. Serena and Dan have both decided to go solo... then Aaron's ex Lexi (Natalie Knepp, new enough to the scene that she still has a Facebook page under her real name!) shows up and makes things super awkward. Aaron is able to purchase Serena's cooperation by agreeing to go to the ball with her, but Lexi takes a shine to Dan and decides to accompany him... and she sleeps with guys on the first date. So Serena decides to sleep with Aaron afterwards too. Ooh, competitive sex!

Lily and Bart still haven't made up from their little Thanksgiving spat. Lily doesn't seem that concerned about it, but Bart assures her that he fired the private investigator. Too bad in an easily accessible drawer she discovers this invoice:

It's funny that he's tracking Aaron, but who's Jonathan Henry? And how do we get into this business?

Jenny isn't even going to the ball, nor is she re-enrolled in school, but she gets drawn into the drama anyway. After she finds out that Vanessa is sneaking away to see Nate on Gossip Girl, she helps junior meanie Penelope sabotage V. by giving her a dress that oh-so-happens to be see-through when you shine a light on it. Preparing to re-enter the world of Constance Billiard, perhaps?

And without the slightest compulsion to go with anyone else, Blair and Chuck decide to pick each other's dates for a little friendly wager. If Chuck likes his date, Blair gets the Sex Limo for a month. If Blair likes hers, Chuck gets Dorota's services. Blair enlists Dorota to find some girls ("On Facebook! I joined a bunch of groups!") who look just like her... not that any girl could replace her in Chuck's heart.

Finally, the ball! And the decor looks just like that gallery room where Dan and Serena slept together for the first time, which must be why that night is on their minds. After an awkward conversation, Dan tells her that no matter what he does with Lexi, that was "the greatest night of my life." And Serena agrees! Man, they are so not over each other.

Jenny's little sting works on Vanessa, but not to the effects she intended: The humiliation happens, but J. is caught at the last minute trying to stop Vanessa, putting her once again out of the mean girl circle. (She then threatens to return to school, which... is a given, right?) And even though Nate finds out about the letter Vanessa kept from Jenny, he still wants to be with his sweet Brooklynite, even though the costume designers continue to put her in hoop earrings. Seriously, what is with the hoop earrings? They are not edgy and they're a lazy trademark for a character who would be too cool to wear them in real life.

Blair and Chuck's plan also backfires, but hilariously! See, Blair found Chuck a faux-Blair, and Chuck found Blair a faux-Chuck. How close are they?

Who knew there were Bass knockoffs out there? That's the only kind we can afford... Then the doppelgangers make out, which only makes Blair angry because even they can work it out while she and Chuck can't. Chuck just looks into the distance and manages to make an Elvis-style sparkly jacket look hot. Oh, Chuck.

And Lily and Rufus are supposed to be chaperoning this business, but instead she's obsessing about her divorce and he's trying to express to her why he didn't try to stop the marriage. But meanwhile, across town, Bart is racing to her side... until he gets into an accident. And that's where it ends -- damn you, writers! Where is our comeuppance?

Related Stories:
· Last Week: "You Have A Family That Fights For You" [Jaunted]
· Two Weeks Ago: "That Tiny Man Must Have Some Big Secret" [Jaunted]
· Last Year's Ball: Lonelyboy Versus The Blueblood [Jaunted]

Our Mother Told Us Not to Play With Our Vegetables

December 2, 2008 at 9:00 AM | 0 Comments

While we spent our childhood being told to sit still and eat all our vegetables, the upbringing in Chinese artist Ju Duoqi's house was obviously different. She's making a living out of exhibiting vegetables that she's turned into art.

Clearly unsatisfied with using the traditional paint or pastels or even getting creative with tin cans, Ju's gone the route of pickling, drying and boiling vegetables to use in recreating famous paintings like the Mona Lisa or Andy Warhol's version of Marilyn Monroe.

Curious travelers can find the vegetable works in the Vegetable Museum exhibition running now in Beijing; perhaps it's the only art gallery exhibition where you can have you art and eat it too.

Related Stories:
· Woman Recreates Art With Veggies [UPI]
· Yes We Can Edition [Jaunted]
· Beijing Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: Ananova]

"Disgusting And Embarrassing"

December 2, 2008 at 8:45 AM | 0 Comments

Previously: Spencer turned his back on his flesh and blood like a cold blooded gangsta. And for once, we agreed with JustinBobby when he called the rumor about him hooking up with LC "fictitious."

So Audrina is still upset that Lauren is upset... because she accused her of being a woman of loose morals. (That's right, it's Jane Austen week on "The Hills"!) And JustinBobby is still upset that Audrina believed "Dino," the rumormonger who should get some screen-time stat because she no longer believes him. But who will plant those seeds of precious doubt!?

more ›

Hills "Newlyweds" Channel Kanye West

December 2, 2008 at 8:00 AM | 0 Comments

Worst couple in the world Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt touched down at LAX Monday, ending their most recent Mexican vacation, during which they were allegedly married. But while they were carrying more Louis Vuitton luggage than five Kanye roadies, one thing they weren't flashing were wedding rings.

Could the love birds have simply forgotten to slip their rings back on before facing the paps? Or is there something more sinister afoot, like leaking "wedding" details to Perez without actually, you know, getting married? Hard to say for sure, but Spencer did offer this gem about the "honeymoon":

It's all on video tape!

Related Stories:
· Heidi And Spencer Get Married In Mexico [Jaunted]
· "Disgusting and Embarrassing" [Jaunted]
· "The Hills" Season 4 Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: JustJared]

Poor People Ice Skate, Too

December 1, 2008 at 5:00 PM | 0 Comments

As if you needed anyone to tell you: The US is now officially having a recession, and these headlines agree.

Spirit Airlines has announced its latest fare sale with a possibly racy name, though you can't argue with one-way trips for $28 plus tax. Chicago is letting visitors ice skate for free, and in New York you can try a synthetic rink for just $10. Meanwhile Ryanair apparently has enough money saved up that it's launched another bid to buy up Aer Lingus while the economy is in the tank.

But in the recessionary world, one thing does remain constant: You can still get trapped on a tarmac for nine hours!

Related Stories:
· "Ocho's Crazy 8's Tournament" [Spirit Airlines]
· The Ice Is Right [Chicago Sun-Times]
· New York Gets Its First "Fake Ice" Rink [BT]
· Ryanair Returns with Bid for Aer Lingus [WSJ]
· Diverted Plane Stuck on Tarmac for Nine Hours [KCAL]

[Waiting for skating in Chicago: liz_noise]

Voluntour In Sunny Guatemala

December 1, 2008 at 4:47 PM | 1 Comment

Now that the holidays are here, we're chasing that warm fuzzy feeling that comes from doing good. Of course, you don't have to go out of town to find a soup kitchen or Toys 4 Tots program that would love for you to pitch in. But if you have an extra-long winter break and the itch to get out of town, why not head for Guatemala for some voluntourism?

There's no waiting for a visa for Cross Cultural Solutions' Guatemala City trip, which leaves December 13 for two weeks working with small children or the elderly in clinics or orphanages in the Latin American capital city. CCS will take care of your lodging, meals and transportation; all you have to do is roll up your sleeves. And you'll be back in the US for New Year's Eve, which encompasses all the drunkenness of Christmas without the pesky obligation of buying presents. You Scrooge, you.

Related Stories:
· Guatemala Beats Egypt At Pyramid Game [Jaunted]
· Ask Jaunted: Guatemala In A Week [Jaunted]
· Christmas Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: antigua-guatemala]

Anatomy Of A Cruise Ship Attack

December 1, 2008 at 4:17 PM | 0 Comments

On Sunday, the luxury cruise ship Nautica got closer to Somali pirates than any ocean liner since the Seabourn Spirit came under grenade attack in 2005. Though bandits fired eight shots at the Nautica, she managed to outrun her attackers, escaping any damage or injuries to the 684 passengers and 386 crew aboard.

How'd it go down? After spotting two small boats on an intercept course, the Nautica accelerated beyond its normal top speed of 20 knots (23 mph) and prepped its defensive long range acoustic device, a gizmo that channels a shrill sound loud enough to rupture eardrums and cause temporary vision loss. As one of the pirate skiffs closed to within 300 yards, a cruise line spokesman told the LA Times, eight shots were fired in the direction of the Nautica. The attackers broke off the assault after all the shots missed.

The next port of call for the Nautica is Salalah, Oman. The ship is on a 32-day voyage from Italy to Singapore, and it continues on to Muscat, which doesn't front the Gulf of Aden, on December 3. Until it gets there, you can help keep watch for further pirate attacks via the Nautica's on-board webcam.

Related Stories:
· Pirates Fire at Cruise Ship Near Somalia [LAT]
· Somali Pirates Strike Again Near Nascent Tourist Hotspot [Jaunted]

[The Nautica in Kobe, Japan: Wikimedia]

Macy's Parade Was Best Ever, Say Our Internet Overlords

December 1, 2008 at 3:30 PM | 1 Comment

There are no words for our delight. While Macy's played it mostly safe with its new balloons for the 2008 Thanksgiving Day parade, adding a Smurf, Horton the Who and Buzz Lightyear, the Cartoon Network float appealed to those of us who live in the series of tubes by having the set of "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends" interrupted by... Rick Astley. That's right, Macy's Rickrolled the world.

Whether the reference was caught by a majority of the over three million people lining the parade route in New York was not recorded. But if they didn't enjoy that, there was always Miley Cyrus on the "Bolt!" float, numbers from last summer's park production of "Hair" and "American Idol" runner-up David Archuleta. The Energizer Bunny led the parade but peeled away at the end, that wascally wabbit.

Philadelphia's parade was led by TV foodie Rachel Ray but concluded with a visit from Santa Claus, who was cheered on by crowds bearing noisemakers IKEA passed out before the show. And Detroiters saw a resurgence in their parade tradition of papier-mache costumes known as Big Heads, with over 120 marchers decked out in historical or celebrity noggins to walk the parade route.

Related Stories:
· Thanksgiving Parade Offers a Fun Distraction [Detroit Free Press]
· Santa Brings End in Oldest Thanksgiving Day Parade [WFMZ]
· Boosters Push Love for City, Parade [Metro Mode]

Natalie Portman Takes Flight In NYC

December 1, 2008 at 2:30 PM | 0 Comments

Today, we're back to work--and so are our favorite celebrities. In the first installment of our new series, Jaunted On Location, we have two location shoots happening today on opposite coasts.

First, on the left coast, "Monk" is filming outside of Serious, Inc Clothing at 1317 Willow St. It sounds like today's scene may find our favorite OCD detective getting into a bit of trouble: We hear today's shoot involves dry ice, simulated bullet hits and live animals.

In New York, "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits" is filming at JFK. The movie, due out next year, stars Natalie Portman as a young lawyer who struggles to forge a relationship with her five-year-old stepson. LOIP has been filming in and around New York City since late October. Other recent locations have included the Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park and the American Museum of Natural History.

If you have any tips about where movies or TV shows are filming, send them our way at tips@jaunted.com.

Related Stories:
· Chasing Natalie [Jaunted]
· Natalie Portman, Filming in New York [Show Hype]

[Photo: Back Seat Cuddler]

Secret Jungle Discovered. In England.

December 1, 2008 at 12:32 PM | 2 Comments

A startling discovery has residents in Cornwall, England wondering if they've stumbled upon an ecological disaster or the country's best new tourist attraction.

In the 19th century, English shipping magnate Charles Fox turned his family's 26-acre estate into a lavish garden, complete with exotic plants from around the world. Now known as the Trebah Garden, the land includes a giant overgrown tract that had never before attracted much interest. But recently, caretakers discovered that beneath hundreds of years of brush, the land has grown into an honest-to-goodness South American jungle.

more ›

Yes We Can Edition

December 1, 2008 at 11:15 AM | 1 Comment

New York's economy could use a boost from another giant waterfall-style public art exhibit. And while this one might not quite bring in the billions, it's still pretty awesome.

Now on display at the World Financial Center, Canstruction is a competition from the Society for Design Administration, which invited architectural firms to create massive, Legoland-like exhibits, all made entirely from canned goods.

The 40 pieces, from a can Mona Lisa to the AlasCAN Bridge to Nowhere, are on exhibit through December 8. And don't worry about waste; after the show, all the cans get donated to the hungry.

Related Stories:
· Canstruction [Official Site]
· Canstruction Exhibit in New York City [Serious Eats]
· Design Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Canstruction]

Acqua Alta In Venice At Near-Record Levels

December 1, 2008 at 10:50 AM | 2 Comments

Parts of Venice were under more than five feet of water today, as the Adriatic overwhelmed the city's canals in near-record-breaking fashion. While the flood waters quickly receded from the crest, another surge of acqua alta is predicted early Tuesday. The mayor has warned everyone to stay indoors, which shouldn't be a problem, since the city's vaporetti, or water buses, aren't operating normally because of a national transportation strike.

By mid-morning, almost every walkway in Venice was submerged because of the exceptionally high waters, and St. Mark's Square was more than 2.5 feet under. The brave few who did trudge outdoors had boots pulled up above the knee to fend off the sea.

While the flooding looks really awesome in photos, it's horrible for the long-term survival of the city, which is slowly being eaten alive by salt water and sea breezes. Get there now for the best chance of seeing high seas yourself: Floods are most common in the winter.

Related Stories:
· Venice Suffers Worst Flooding in 22 Years [AFP, via Google]
· Have Kayak, Will Travel [Jaunted]
· Water Taxi Travel: Brad on a Boat! [Jaunted]

[Photo of the flooding today: TangOblivion]

« Previous

Send us a tip