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Dare To Vary In Amsterdam

egw — 2008-11-19T16:30:16-05:00

Are you ready to expand your palate? Put down that steak and look beyond the salad plate at the world's best vegetarian restaurants.

It's true that De Waaghals means "the Daredevil" in Dutch. But this vegetarian restaurant in southern Amsterdam (outside the canal belt) is far from a risk--it's a proven stop for tourists and locals alike.

The organic ingredients (down to the beers and wines) are definitely a draw, but for DepressedMetabolism.com, it's De Waaghals' variety, with four different foods included in a classic plate, that sets it apart from other neighborhood joints. The current Classic, for example, features a spinach and goat cheese souffl� roll, polenta fritters, oven-roasted fennel and roasted portobello mushrooms. And HappyCow.net commenters mention that most dishes can be made vegan on request, in case you need that extra flexibility.

Just don't go Mondays, or you won't risk anything: The kitchen's closed.

Want to see your favorite joint featured? Tip us off.

Related Stories:
· The International Guide to Great Vegetarian Restaurants [DepressedMetabolism.com]
· Green Is Good in Boulder [Jaunted]

[Photo: Veggieplaces.co.uk]

Green Travel: The Taga Bicycle

Dan Gould — 2008-10-22T15:05:49-05:00

Bicycle innovation keeps coming at a super fast pace. And places like the Netherlands, where bike riding is eclipsing automobiles as the preferred method of transportation, are leading the way.

The Dutch have cranked out yet another awesome design in the Taga. This multifunctional urban vehicle combines a baby stroller and a carrier bicycle. The three wheeled ride goes beyond typical conceptions of a bike, becoming a handy tool for harried parents on the go.

But the Taga can do more than haul your kids. Different baskets and cargo carriers can be swapped out of the front section when you have other errands to run. Oh, and we're not the first to lavish praise on the bike: It just won a Eurobike 2008 Award and the Kind and Jugend Innovation Award.

Related Stories:
· Taga [Official Site]
· Urban Family Biking [Swiss Miss]
· Biking Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Taga]

Third Coast Art: The Heartland Exhibition

Dan Gould — 2008-10-20T12:01:04-05:00

What exactly is the "heartland" of America? Usually mentioned in passing as that vague area between the East and West Coasts, Heartland is the name and focus of an extensive exhibition at the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

The show highlights the variety of art coming out of the area of America that roughly follows the Mississippi River, from New Orleans to Minneapolis, including Omaha, Kansas City, Detroit and Chicago. Heartland aims to give a better picture of the often overlooked middle of the country by questioning traditional definitions of cultural centers by demonstrating that cultural creation can happen anywhere.

The show runs till January 25, when it will move (in a slightly smaller scale) to the Smart Museum of Art in Chicago.

Related Stories:
· Heartland Research Blog [Official Site]
· Heartland, a Walk into the Art Scene of the "Third Coast" [WMMNA]
· Art coverage [Jaunted]

Smoking Ban Switching up the Crowd at Amsterdam Coffee Shops

pbb — 2008-08-18T14:05:12-05:00

Guidebook guru and pot promoter Rick Steves just left the Netherlands, and he's got a substantial update on the marijuana scene in Amsterdam. First things first: Don't bother calling an ambulance after smoking too much because the EMTs will just tell you to walk it off!

But the big news is what's changed thanks to a new smoking ban--that prohibits indoor tobacco smoking but gives marijuana puffers a pass:

The Dutch, like the rest of Europe, mix their marijuana with tobacco. It might seem strange to an American, but if a coffeeshop is busted--it's busted for tobacco. Shops are mixing a kind of herb tea as a tobacco substitute for joints. Coffeeshops with a few outdoor seats have a huge advantage as their local customers can light up outside....
Many local smokers would rather get their pot to go than smoke it without tobacco at their neighborhood coffeeshop.

Thank heavens for American vice tourists then!

Related Stories:
· Lessons Learned in an Amsterdam Coffee Shop [Rick Steves]
· No Impulse Buying Magic Mushrooms [Jaunted]
· Drug Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: jlantzy]

Racing Travel: Formula Zero World Premiere in Holland

Dan Gould — 2008-08-14T13:00:10-05:00

Imagine the thrill of being a race car driver: Slamming your foot on the gas, going hundreds of miles per hour, whipping around turns, hearing the non-existent roar of the engine. Wait, what? This isn't Formula One, it's Formula Zero.

The new race series is the world's first international championship for hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars. Held in Rotterdam August 22-23, it features teams of university students that will put their zero-emissions cars head-to-head in a race to the finish line.

A warning: Formula Zero may not be as hair raising as NASCAR. Although drivers will be zooming around Rotterdam's city center, they'll only be going 30 mph. Cut them some slack, though: It may not be death defying, but it is the cutting edge of clean technology.

Related Stories:
· Formula Zero World Premiere in Rotterdam [Treehugger]
· Formula Zero [Official Site]
· Netherlands Travel coverage [Jaunted]

Dance Dance! at Dance Valley

sedona — 2008-06-23T09:15:04-05:00

If you're a closet "So You Think You Can Dance?" fan or are just waaay to into Dance Dance Revolution, we have the perfect getaway for you. Dance Valley is on July 12 in the Dutch city of Spaarnwoude, about a half-hour west of Amsterdam.

Dance Valley is an all-day outdoor dance party encompassing four different valleys (fields, really) where DJs will be spinning and live bands playing back-to-back. Acts like Phil Horneman, John Digweed, Tiesto and Jessie Vendetta will take the Valley of Love, Strawberry Valley, Devil's Valley and Field of Dreams throughout the day.

Tickets for the day are about $100 and various transportation options are available for dance enthusiasts including coach buses from over 160 places in the Netherlands, commuter trains and, yes, a parking lot for your bike.

Related Stories:
· Dance Valley [Official Site]
· Datebook [NYT]
· Music Festivals coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Electronation]

Richard Branson Flies Around on Coconuts

amandak — 2008-02-25T09:00:01-05:00

Wanna fly green? Fly on coconut oil. That sounds pretty environmentally friendly, which is no doubt the impression Richard Branson was hoping to give us with the weekend's biofuel test flight on a passenger-free Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Amsterdam.

The maiden voyage using a mix of coconut oil, babassu oil and normal, nasty kerosene was a success, especially as plenty of press reports failed to mention the kerosene. Some, however, reminded us that the plant matter made up just 20% of the fuel in just one of the four engines. Doesn't sound like a lot.

But Branson is already talking about research to use other fuels, including one made from algae. What we can't understand is why he isn't researching an even more environmentally friendly (and convenient) method of getting around, like, say, teleporting.

Related Stories:
· Biofuel-Powered Jet Makes Test Flight [CNN]
· Virgin Atlantic To Fly Biofuel 747 [Jaunted]
· Virgin Atlantic coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: TigerPuppala]