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Why the Los Angeles County Museum of Modern Art is Worth a Visit

April 9, 2009 at 2:31 PM | by Omri | 0 Comments

We kind of alluded to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art last week in that story about Pasadena art museums, but it really deserves its own post.

The museum is the largest encyclopedic museum west of Chicago, with over 250,000 works of art - and from every inhabited continent - spread over an ever-growing maze of buildings and pavilions. Plus it's one of those LA destinations that's actually accessible by Metro. Plus they have free WiFi. So off we go.

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Heathrow T5 WiFi: Now as Big as 50 Football Fields

September 8, 2008 at 9:45 AM | by amandak | 0 Comments

If you get stuck waiting for a plane (or hanging around to see if your baggage will show up) at London Heathrow's new Terminal 5, then things just got a bit more pleasant if you're keen to hop online while you wait.

T-Mobile has launched a WiFi hotspot that covers the entire area of Terminal 5, and they're boasting that it's the biggest in the country, spanning an area equivalent to 50 football pitches.

If you're not already a T-Mobile customer then you can get an hour's access for £5 or 24 hours for £10; but don't forget that if you can get into a British Airways lounge you'll get WiFi for free.

The other dream possibility? Your experience at T5 is so smooth and quick that you don't have time to log on. That really does sound like a dream.

Related Stories:
· T-Mobile Launches T5 Hotspot [Business Traveller]
· BA Can't Find Bags But Does Have Free WiFi [Jaunted]
· Special People Get Their T5 Baggage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Roo Reynolds]

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Kuala Lumpur Is Hopping

July 18, 2008 at 9:20 AM | by amandak | 0 Comments

Hip Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur is suddenly promoting their Hop-On Hop-Off bus service, although this government-sponsored scheme actually launched more than a year ago. The tourist bus works a circuit past 40 major sightseeing spots and shopping malls, and on one RM38 ticket ($12) you can use it for 24 hours, while RM65 ($20) gets you 48 hours.

Sometimes these buses are a good value; sometimes you'd do a lot better just taking cheap public transport around a city. The jury's still out on the KL version, though something caught our eye on the website that we haven't been able to verify yet: They mention having WiFi on board their buses.

If it's free and fast, then we're all for the KL Hop-On Hop-Off, except that we might do more hopping on than off to catch up on all our emails while we see the sights.

Related Stories:
· KL Hop-On Hop-Off [Official Site]
· Kuala Lumpur Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Srini rules]

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Boingo Giving Away Free WiFi This Weekend

July 2, 2008 at 9:30 AM | by pbb | 0 Comments

The airport internet provider we love to hate, Boingo, is giving away WiFi this holiday weekend. You'll only get 24 hours of free access before you have to pay, but hey, free stuff!

You'll have to download a program called GoBoingo from the company's website to get online, but it's not much of a hassle. After your free session is over, you can use the same program to reconnect to any Boingo-managed hotspot for $8 a day.

Given how prevalent those are in bigger airports, this could certainly come in handy over the long holiday weekend.

Related Stories:
· Boingo's Free WiFi [Official Site]
· Airport WiFi Map [Jaunted]
· Airport WiFi coverage [Jaunted]

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First-Person Bus Reviews: Megabus

June 23, 2008 at 1:31 PM | by pbb | 7 Comments

Megabus is riding high with new double-decker coaches and lots of new passengers thanks to $4-a-gallon gas. But is service on the super cheap bus up to snuff? Sort of!

One recent Megabus rider wasn't looking forward to her trip. Said an Ohio University student:

No one wants to take the bus, but driving and flying are so expensive.

Why wouldn't anyone want to roll Megabus style? Probably because of what another rider experienced:

The scene on 31st Street was TOTAL CHAOS. People lined up on the sidewalk for different destinations. We left about half an hour late, but smooth sailing the rest of the way, and I sat up front with no one next to me. The bus driver had NEVER driven to Boston before, so I had to help him out.

Still... It's only a dollar! Doesn't matter to people in LA: The car-lovers out west never got on board.

Related Stories:
· Distance Bus Travel Revives [Columbus Dispatch]
· You Mostly Get What You Pay For [The Doree Chronicles]
· Buses coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Sung Sook]

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The Virgin Clubhouse at SFO: Futuristic, with a Bong

June 20, 2008 at 4:45 PM | by DanielR | 1 Comment

Before our recent Superfly flight, we had the opportunity to spend some time in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at SFO. We were greeted by a woman who looked like a missing character from an "Austin Powers" movie. She was older, just a hair over five feet tall with big red hair, even bigger glasses and a vague English accent. She said things like "Welcome love, great to have you here!" Good start...

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Starbucks Alternatives: Milkboy Coffee

Where: 2 East Lancaster Ave. [map], Ardmore, PA, United States
June 19, 2008 at 10:30 AM | by BS | 2 Comments

Philadelphia isn't one of those towns that's overflowing with quirky coffee shops, but it's worth a ride out on the SEPTA train to hit up Milkboy Coffee, an always-happening cafe in the Mainline suburb of Ardmore.

Set between Haverford, Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore, the spacious venue is always buzzing with studious types--probably thanks to the free WiFi and 10 percent student discount. Evenings are a little more lively, offering live music, indie movie premiers, art openings, book readings and DJ nights. The drinks menu is limited to java, but like many of Philly's finer venues, you can bring your own booze.

There's also a smaller offshoot of Milkboy about two miles up the Mainline in Bryn Mawr; it features live acoustic performances. Both locations serve breakfast and a menu of sandwiches and grill items.

Related Stories:
· Milkboy Coffee [Official Site]
· Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: jessiezhng9]

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Megabus Planning to Ride High

June 17, 2008 at 4:15 PM | by pbb | 1 Comment

Super-cheap coach line Megabus may not be as slick as BoltBus, but the company's about to introduce something pretty cool.

Megabus says they'll be the first outfit to offer double-decker rides between Boston and New York; the service is scheduled to start sometime in the next four months. As it turns out, folks in the Midwest have already tried the two-teired coaches. A St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter gave one a go in late May:

Except for a few bug splatters, my front row seat on the upper level of the double-decker Megabus gave me a sweeping view of the Missouri countryside. The guy sitting across from me, Dick Williams, agreed: "You get the panoramic view--it's the best seat in a thunderstorm."

Related Stories:
· Megabus Launches Double-Decker Service [Boston Globe]
· 10 Hours on a Double-Decker Bus [St. Louis P-D]
· Buses coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Sung Sook]

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Starbucks Alternatives: Flamepoeira

Where: 3 Lewis St. [map], Boston, MA, United States, 02109
June 12, 2008 at 11:30 AM | by BS | 0 Comments

This quirky North Boston cafe is about as far from a corporate coffee shop as you can get.

Owner L'angelo--who goes by one name--named his place after his two favorite dances, and that should give you a hint to Flamepoeira's artsy sensibilities. The sandwiches are all named for famous artists: You can go for the classic Da Vinci or the eclectic Dali, but you'll get more props from the staff if you venture for the avant-garde Warhol or the screaming hot Munch.

The espresso is strong and the WiFi is free, but this isn't the place to put on the earphones and dive into work. The lounge-y open room inspires conversation, and the cafe draws a crowd of artists and activists who are quick to slide in next to you and talk your ear off about the eclectic artwork on the walls, Barack Obama's election chances or the virtues of fair-trade coffee.

Related Stories:
· Flamepoeira [Official Site]
· Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: GV Chang]

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Adventures of Link: "Free" WiFi

June 3, 2008 at 5:30 PM | by pbb | 1 Comment

You've heard, right? Starbucks will start giving away two-hour chunks of WiFi to people who use their 'bux card at least once a month. Given that we're more into alternative coffee shops, we're having a hard time getting excited about getting online this way.

Besides, it's not actually free: You have to buy stuff! Still, for a lot of people, this is probably a good deal. (Just make sure to read through the extensive rules and restrictions.)

But we did get excited about certain Starbucks airport locations. Would they give us a work-around for those obnoxious $10-a-day fees? According to the searches we did... No. All the airport locations we checked are WiFi-free. Weak!

Related Stories:
· Starbucks Card [Official Site]
· AT&T Offers Free Wi-Fi to Laptop Wireless Users [CNet]
· Starbucks Courts Customer Loyalty with Free Wi-Fi [Seattle P-I, via]
· It's Official: Free WiFi at Starbucks for Everyone* [DMN]
· Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: c'est moi]

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Starbucks Alternatives: Napa Valley Roasting Company

Where: 1400 Oak Avenue [map], St. Helena, CA, United States, 94574
May 22, 2008 at 9:30 AM | by DanielR | 0 Comments

Calling a cup of coffee 4-star is a bit too hyperbolic. It makes us think of all those dirt-bag delis in midtown NYC that claim they have the "World's best cup of coffee!" But at Napa Valley Roasting Company they do in fact create individual coffee blends for 4-star Napa Valley restaurants like French Laundry, Bouchon and Martini House.

This coffee cadre of buyers, roasters, brewers and baristas located in St. Helena take the art of coffee seriously. Manager Douglas Dunlap explained to us that they purchase their beans from regions of the world that are having the best seasons. All coffee is roasted in-house, in small batches of 20 pounds at a time for better consistency.

But don't think you can't sit down in the comfortable sunny space without the woman next to you quizzing you on the flavor profile of your cup of Sumatran. The shop is very laid back, offers free wifi and is an early morning meeting place for locals. Buy a pound of the French Laundry blend and head home to brew it yourself--and cry into your mug about never scoring that impossible-to-get reservation.

Related Stories:
· Napa Valley Roasting Company [Official Site]
· Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]

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Starbucks Alternatives: Mayorga Lounge and Coffee

Where: 3301 14th St. NW [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20010
May 21, 2008 at 1:00 PM | by BS | 0 Comments

Always a corporate-lovin' town, Washington, DC's java options skew the chain route, with more Starbucks and Cosi outposts than corrupt politicians and lobbyists. But local Mayorga Coffee has crept up on the big guys, building a mini-chain of nine area locations, from the grab-and-go counters at BWI, Dulles and Reagan National Airports, to a massive lounge and performance space in Silver Spring.

The company's newest offering, Mayorga Lounge and Coffee, is in suddenly happening Columbia Heights, recently insta-gentrified with a flurry of new establishments both cool (uber-hipster bar Wonderland Ballroom and vegan bakery Sticky Fingers) and corporate (Target, Ruby Tuesday and, yes, Starbucks).

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