Monthly Archives: March 2019

Getting the best out of your trip to Bhutan

Mention Bhutan to savvy travellers and you normally get two reactions. First comes a wistful ‘aaahh’, as people summon up hazy images of a pristine Himalayan kingdom, of colourful Buddhist festivals and a traditional culture that seems lost in an earlier age.

This is swiftly followed by a tear in the eye, as people remember that Bhutan is closed off to casual visitors and way beyond the average travel budget. In truth, Bhutan does rank as one of the world’s more expensive destinations for independent travellers, but this is only half the story.


A monk wanders through one of Bhutan’s most beautiful temples, Punakha Dzong © narvikk / Getty Images

As part of its value-not-volume tourism policy, Bhutan imposes a mandatory fee of US$250 per person per day for tourists (US$290 for solo travellers), but what many people don’t realise is that this includes your guide, private transportation, comfortable hotel accommodation and all food and entry fees (and an entire trekking crew if you go trekking). The other key thing to understand is that you can completely tailor your Bhutan itinerary to go wherever you have the time, budget and inclination to visit. This gives you the freedom to throw in some hiking, overnight in a farmstay, or just spend time soaking in a hotel spa. You don’t have to follow an agency’s set tour.

It’s also important to be aware that just because Bhutan is exclusive it doesn’t mean you’ll have the place to yourself. The vast majority of visitors only visit Bhutan once, and for less than a week, so most naturally spend their time close to Bhutan’s only international airport in the parallel valleys of Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. This means that you’ll see plenty of other tour groups at the main sights, especially in the high season months of April and October or during a major festival.

To help you make the most of a trip, and combine the must-see sights with some less-visited corners where you may just get the glimpse of Shangri-La that you were secretly hoping for, consider the following week-long itinerary.


Chortens (stupas) on Dochu La sit to a stunning backdrop of Himalayan views © Richard I’Anson / Getty Images

Day one: hiking, culture and architecture in Paro

Get the earliest morning flight you can book to maximise your time in Paro. Kick things off with a visit to the fortress-like Paro Dzong for a first taste of Bhutanese architecture and an introduction to the fundamental role that Buddhism plays in state affairs. Next door, the National Museum provides a perfect primer for understanding Bhutanese culture. For a taste of Bhutan’s fresh mountain air, consider the hour-long hillside hike to the 14th-century fortress of Zuri Dzong, with its expansive bird’s eye views over the Paro Valley. The trail conveniently finishes at the Uma Paro hotel, which is really all the excuse you need to try the Paro Valley’s best food at the attached Bukhari Restaurant.


View of Paro Dzong from the hike to Zuri Dzong © Bradley Mayhew / Lonely Planet

Day two: journey from Paro to Thimphu

It’s a three-hour drive to the capital Thimphu but there are several interesting places to break the journey. One spot not to miss is the riverside Thamchog Lhakhang, where you can walk across the traditional iron link bridge built by Thangtong Gyalpo, the extraordinary 15th-century Tibetan engineer and all-over Renaissance man who opened travel routes all over the Himalaya.


Walking gingerly across the traditional iron link bridge at Tamchog Lhakhang © Bradley Mayhew / Lonely Planet

Day three: traditional arts and more in Bhutan’s capital, Thimphu

Start your day with a morning walk through the capital, famous for being one of only two capital cities without a single traffic light (the other is Pyongyang). The charming bazaar area is full of shops selling Buddhist ritual implements alongside the latest iPhones, a contradiction you’ll see constantly in Bhutan. Photographers will love the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, where students train in the 13 traditional arts of Bhutan, from statue making to thangka cloth painting and woodcarving. Finally, consult with a traditional astrologer at the nearby Changangkha Lhakhang, where locals come to receive an auspicious name for their newborn children.


Learning the art of thangka painting at Thimphu’s National Institute for Zorig Chusum © Bradley Mayhew / Lonely Planet

Day four: take in the views from Tango Monastery, Thimphu

For your second day in Thimphu, drive up to the handsome Buddhist monastery of Tango Goemba, stopping en route for often missed views of the traditional cantilevered Pangri Zampa bridge and a house-sized rock carving of Guru Rinpoche, Tibet’s favourite magician-saint. It’s an hour-long hike up to Tango, with its intricately carved timbers, and from here you can continue hiking to nearby Dhrolung Gompa, which receives almost no foreign visitors.

If you time your visit to Thimphu between Friday and Sunday, you can wander the magnificent Weekend Market, picking up some fragrant unprocessed incense, local-style datse cheese or some of Bhutan’s famous pink rice, as well as Buddhist votive items and trinkets. It’s also worth trying to watch Bhutan’s national sport if the arrows are flying at the Changlimithang Archery Ground. Finally, allow time to experience the modern face of Bhutan at one of the city’s hip cafes, or listen to a live band at a venue such as Mojo Park.


Powdered incense for sale at Thimphu’s Weekend Market © Bradley Mayhew / Lonely Planet

Day five: Himalayan views, stupas and saints on the way to Punakha

Make the drive east up to the Dochu La pass early in the morning to get the clearest Himalayan views, framed by a collection of memorial chortens (stupas). Next stop is the Chimi Lhakhang to learn about Bhutan’s most outrageous saint, Drukpa Kunley, who used sex, alcohol and bad behaviour to teach bawdy lessons about Buddhist doctrine. The phalluses painted on the walls of the local village joyfully celebrate the saint’s unrestrained libido. Spend the night at Punakha, home to the sublime dzong, Bhutan’s most beautiful building.


Admire the country’s most beautiful architecture at Punakha Dzong © Bradley Mayhew / Lonely Planet

Day six: stop to smell the rhododendrons on the drive back to Paro

From Punakha, it takes six hours to return to Paro, so much of the day will be devoted to driving, but you can break the trip on a hike through rhododendron forests at the Dochu La (best in March or April) or on a visit to Simtokha Dzong, Bhutan’s oldest surviving dzong (fortress). Alternatively, complete the journey in one go and have a relaxing leg-stretch in the rice fields beside the Paro Chhu river before supper.

Day seven: standout sights in the Paro Valley

There are two sights in the Paro Valley you simply can’t miss. First is the seventh-century temple of Kyichu Lhakhang, home to a sublime 1400-year-old statue of the young Buddha. The second is the two-hour hike up to Taktshang Goemba (the Tiger’s Nest), a sacred temple perched spectacularly on the cliff-face and allegedly secured to the mountain by the hairs of angels. To gain a unique perspective on Bhutan’s most famous site, combine a visit with a trip to some of the surrounding meditation centres on a two-day trek from Paro, overnighting at Bumdrak.


Taktshang Goemba, the Tiger’s Nest, a highlight of any trip to Bhutan © Bradley Mayhew / Lonely Planet

With the end of day seven, your time and budget may be exhausted but one final Bhutanese cultural experience not to miss is a traditional hot-stone bath, a coffin-shaped wooden bathtub of Artemisia-scented water that is heated by sizzling hot stones added straight from the fire. Many hotels offer this relaxing soak but a couple of farmhouses in the Paro Valley offer a more authentic, almost medieval setting, with a traditional Bhutanese dinner served afterwards. It’s a timeless experience and the perfect end to a perfect week.

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Tattoos are Mainstream in Seattle

Tattoos used to have negative connotations, but thankfully, those stigmas have all but disappeared in the 21st century. In a city like Seattle, to have a tattoo is the norm and completely mainstream. What used to be an eyebrow raiser in mainstream circles is now fashionable, hip, and modern. In fact, I’m starting to think that in Seattle you stand out more if you don’t have a tattoo. 

There seem to be more tattoo parlours opening all the time. Both in the city, and further afield — these days you’ll find a tattoo parlour in the smallest and quietest little towns. There is also a growing trend of all-female tattoo artists and parlours in Seattle, which is fabulous and empowering for women entrepreneurs.

People wear clothing that showcase their tattoos because they are proud of them, and because the markings form an integral part of their style. I regularly do hot yoga, and most of the instructors and people in class are tattooed, some very heavily. Many of the sales assistants at the Nordstrom flagship in downtown Seattle are tattooed. It’s not unusual for your server at a fancy restaurant here to be quite heavily tattooed.

Four years ago, when I spoke to a few human resource managers from well-known Seattle companies about what to wear to an interview, we spoke about tattoos. Then, they strongly believed that tattoos should be covered during the interview process unless you were interviewing for a so-called “creative” profession. I don’t know where they stand on the subject today, but their opinions surprised me even then. Granted, some tattoos are easily covered by regular wardrobe items because of where they are positioned on the body. These days, visible tattoos are popular. Covering them to prevent unnecessary stigmas is a dated concept, and was never a measure of a person’s ability to do the job anyway.

I attended a women’s fashion event at Amazon a few weeks ago with about thirty employees in attendance. Many showcased a small tattoo, and some were heavily tattooed. It’s laughable to think that tattoos would prevent these capable software developers and program managers from getting a job.

I do not have a tattoo nor am I motivated to get one. They are too permanent for my liking. And too dark in colour to mesh with my crisp, dressy and soft style. That said, I am fascinated by tattoos and love looking at them. They are an impressive form of body art and self-expression. They can look incredibly beautiful and I’m in awe of the skill that goes into creating them. The techniques are rapidly improving and looking more sophisticated, detailed and colourful over time.

I’m also intrigued by the motivations behind the selection of a tattoo. I sometimes ask people about this and they’re always passionate and proud to tell me about the symbolic meanings of their tattoos. Many chose their designs with great forethought, nostalgia, and a whole lot of heart. That’s beautiful in itself, and reflects the “personal” in personal style.

The Pom-Pom Trend

Pom-poms in fur, faux fur, wool, silk, felt, feathers and polyester, across all sorts of sizes and colours, are having their fashion moment. It’s odd to refer to it as a trend, because the pom-pom is a timeless design detail that’s always in style. It’s a modern classic having its trendy moment and becoming more popular than usual, suddenly gaining traction and visible everywhere. 

You’ll find pom-poms on the top of a Winter hat and at the end of a woolly scarf quite frequently. But you’ll also see them on jackets, coats, knitwear, footwear, socks, gloves, bags, guitar straps, jeans and jewellery.

I have a cream Winter pom-pom hat that comes out when it’s very cold. But lately I’ve been enjoying a few faux fur pom-pom accessories from J.Crew that you can clip onto anything. I bought them in Dutch orange, and a speckled version in navy/white/blush/chartreuse. Both pom-poms work well with the colours of my Fall and Winter wardrobe.

I’m attaching a pom-pom to my family of Furlas. I switch out my bags daily, so the pom-poms get lots of wear. I have a high affinity for colour mixing so I see and feel happy harmony when either pom-pom is attached to one of the six Furlas. I thoroughly enjoy the multiple combinations and the colour statement.

Custom Findby Angie

Sometimes I choose a pom-pom to pick up a colour in my outfit. Sometimes it creates a tonal effect, a pattern-mixed look, or adds a pop of mismatched colour to the ensemble. Maximal, yet polished and tidy. I never got into tying neckerchiefs to bags, but took to pom-poms like a duck to water. They add a playful element to my style, without looking overly casual. Someone else at home rather fancies the pom-poms too.

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Spring Fashion Essentials For Every Girl

Start planning for the new spring wardrobe as soon as the temperature shows the tiniest signs of warming up. This spring, it’s all about colors and patterned pieces mixed with classics like white denim and button down shirts. And the accessories? Only the cutest circle sunnies and slip-on sneakers inspired by some of the biggest fashion week runways. Here are six of spring trends to incorporate into your wardrobe now, ensuring a seamless transition from winter to spring and beyond!

Metallics

Typically spring is all about the colors. This year, metallics are on the upswing. If you are not ready to take the plunge on that silver midi skirt or gold blazer, an easy way to include this trend into your existing wardrobe is with your accessories. Think shoes and handbags. Even a little bit of metallic will go a long way! The glamorous 70’s were alive and kicking on spring’s runways, which were full of slinky floor-length dresses in jewel tones and sparkly metallics. We call them the disco dress.

Pastels

It’s no shocker that pastels are hot for spring, but light pink hues in particular are popping up everywhere this season. To keep the pink overload from becoming too girly, pair it with some tomboy-inspired pieces like a camo jacket or converse. Baby blue is spreading like wildfire too! But pastels of all shades are welcome as well.

Neon

A pop of neon will bring some cheer to even your puffiest parka. Keep the rest of your outfit neutral for best results.

A Versatile Spring Tote

After being lugged through rain, snow and sleet, your existing “everyday” bag likely needs to be put out of its misery. Opt for a versatile, roomy tote bag that will get you from work, through the weekends and even to the beach when that day arrives.

Florals

They are back and even bigger than ever. If it’s too chilly to sport a skimpy floral sundress, layer a paper thin turtleneck underneath. Or get your floral on with a springy scarf. With spring collections inevitably comes floral motifs and prints. This season is especially blooming with beautiful blouses, dresses, and skirts in the finest of allover floral prints.

Cropped White Pants

There is no rule that prevents you from wearing white before Memorial Day. Get a cropped pair. We love the slim fitting trousers and culottes. Wide-leg pants are doing very well now. Pair this style with a feminine blouse or sharp blazer to get the season’s posh tailored look. You can try the white suit too. Minimalism had its moment this season, with stark white on the runways of Calvin Klein Collection, Reed Krakoff, and Margiela. While it takes a brave soul to don a white suit anywhere outdoors, the look is masterfully chic.

Stripes

Finally, try stripes. They transcend all styles, from nautical to athletic, wide to thin, vertical to horizontal, and everything in between. No matter what your personal style, stripes will surely fit into your spring wardrobe effortlessly.

Below the skyscrapers: finding old Hong Kong on the streets of Central

Impervious to the day-in, day-out waft of incense, a thick flow of sharply suited city workers, selfie-stick-wielding shoppers and giddy bar-hoppers pass below and above a tiny shrine on Peel St as though it were invisible. Nobody ever seems to pause on this stepped slope in Hong Kong’s Central district, but the coiled incense burners hanging from the shrine’s corrugated metal ceiling are always lit.

It is a remarkable clinger-on in an area that is fast shedding all its historical baggage and metamorphosing at breakneck speed.

A dance of contrasts: some of Hong Kong’s oldest streets are seeing new life © JoeyCheung / Shutterstock

The beating heart of Hong Kong’s banking district, for decades, the Central neighbourhood has been performing an archaic dance of old and new. Home to the HSBC Building designed by Sir Norman Foster, and IM Pei’s prismatic Bank of China Tower, it bristles with skyscrapers that rise from a sea of luxury malls. Yet Peel St and its neighbours are among Hong Kong’s oldest streets, built in the shadow of Victoria Peak shortly after the British planted their flag on this sub-tropical slope in 1841. As a 19th-century port, the area was rife with gambling, prostitution and opium dens. Today, colonial relics cower in the cavities between Central’s steely teeth.

It was also Hong Kong’s main Chinese settlement, full of traditional shops and shrines. Peel St was once known for its calligraphers, but it is now part of modern day Soho: jazz notes escape from a thickly draped doorway as a punter pushes through, foodies hover with intent around a trendy French steakhouse patiently waiting for a table, and just above the streetside temple, a sign advertises local craft beer, illuminated by a neon glow.

The Central-Mid-Levels Escalator is undergoing a renovation set for completion in 2022 © AsiaTravel / Shutterstock

A 21st-century Asian super-city

Twenty-one years after the British left Government House, Hong Kong’s Central District has evolved as the showpiece for a 21st-century Asian super-city, and the balance is tipping in favour of all that is new and shiny. Mainland China accounted for 76% of all visitors to Hong Kong in 2017, and the city is adjusting to this group’s travel trends and desires. Luxury retailers, restaurants and high-end art dealers are replacing pokey antiques shops crammed with Chinese tombware, and bars listed among the ‘World’s Top 50’ are attracting Instagrammers rather than bohemian revolutionaries. Hong Kong Island’s first ‘flashpacking’ hostel (complete with co-working space) has just opened on the borders of Soho and Sheung Wan.

JC Contemporary is a non-profit art centre inside the redeveloped Tai Kwun © Lorna Parkes / Lonely Planet

Most significantly in 2018, Central cut the ribbon on Tai Kwun, the phoenix that has risen from the ashes of Hollywood Rd’s former Central Police Station, housing the area’s first major art gallery.

‘The opening of Tai Kwun next door to our gallery has led to an increase in footfall,’ says Jonathan Wattis, whose small shop specialising in Asian fine art prints and antique maps, Wattis Fine Arts, is about to celebrate 30 years at this location in Central. ‘In the late 19th century, this would have been the red light district together with Lyndhurst Terrace,’ he muses. At this end of Hollywood Rd, in an area that was once world-renowned for its antiques shops, Wattis is part of a shrinking tribe of independent businesses. Overnight rent hikes of 50% or more have become the butt of jokes in this neighbourhood. ‘I believe because we are on the 2nd floor of an old building, with no lift or escalator and no real management services, we have been able to stay here for this long,’ he says.

The parade ground inside Tai Kwun, the redeveloped former Central Police Station now housing an art gallery © Lorna Parkes / Lonely Planet

Tai Kwun’s swan song

The renovation of Tai Kwun may signal a new era for Central, but it is also magnifying the area’s past. Its fortress-like colonial façade is now bolder than ever and the heritage exhibitions inside the complex – some permanent, some temporary – feel like a swan song to a collective community history that is slipping through locals’ fingers. In May 2018, the complex’s flagship opening exhibition, 100 Faces, involved interviewing 100 residents of Central that had a relationship with the former Central Police Station. These were accompanied by illustrations by a local artist known as Flyingpig, who has spent her career recording Hong Kong’s old shops and buildings, and says that traditional businesses are disappearing rapidly.

‘Hong Kong people don’t treasure old Hong Kong culture,’ she says, citing societal change as one major factor in why local businesses are closing. ‘The owner gets too old, and their son or daughter may not want to inherit the shop.’ Other reasons she has identified through talking to the community are high rents forcing businesses to move, and the government or developers taking back land for residential or commercial use.

The area around Graham St has been earmarked for a HK$3.8 billion redevelopment © OliOpi / Shutterstock

Redevelopment angst

Hong Kong’s voracious appetite for renewal and redevelopment is a particularly raw issue for shops and hawker stalls operating around Central’s Graham Street Market. Here, the brash jab of Cantonese still accompanies morning shopping hours on the site of Hong Kong’s oldest wet market. The area has been earmarked for a HK$3.8 billion redevelopment for housing, retail and office space by the Urban Renewal Authority.

Plumes of dust now strangle the thin artery of market traders that remains in the midst of a building site between Peel and Graham Streets. Many family traders in the surrounding streets have been forced to move already. In September 2018, Hong Kong’s Civic Party launched a renewed appeal to save the site. After years of indifference, heritage conservation is finally moving up the political agenda.

Trinket stalls near Man Mo Temple reflect an older, slower way of life in fast-changing Central © Christian Mueller / Shutterstock

The stalled redevelopment of nearby Central Market has also irked heritage preservation campaigners. This modernist landmark is to be regenerated for affordable culture and retail development (by 2021–22), but has lain empty for more than a decade. Underneath the market’s hoardings, the walkway that links the site to the start of Hong Kong’s Central–Mid-Level Escalator – the longest of its kind in the world, now in the throes of its own upgrade that is set to be completed in 2022 – currently hosts an exhibition redolent with nostalgia titled Tales of Central. A series of sepia panels charts the history of Central’s original 13 lanes.

Finding old Hong Kong

Central’s mix of new development and urban preservation projects promises change but also an interesting future for the neighbourhood. Right now, pockets of old Hong Kong still remain. ‘Many shops and streets have changed rapidly in the past few decades; however, Central still has many old residents. Their stories are still in the city,’ says Flyingpig. Tourists curious to catch a whiff of Central’s traditional culture need only take to the streets. During the lunch-time rush, Lam Wai-ching’s Good Spring Co on Cochrane St can still be found serving takeaway bitter herbal teas to a constant flow of frazzled city workers. His grandfather did the same from a hawker cart here in the early 1900s. From 6pm, queues still form outside Kau Kee Restaurant. It’s a Central institution that began life as a dai pai dong (street food stall) and has been doling out butter-soft beef brisket noodles on Gough St for more than 80 years. Other survivors, like Kung Lee (established in 1948) and Kowloon Soy Company (1917), remain despite mounting rent pressures.

The Graham Street Mural depicts old Hong Kong tenements © Lorna Parkes / Lonely Planet

And younger generations of Hong Kongers – like Flyingpig, who was born in the 1990s – are beginning to ride the nostalgia wave. One of the most photographed locations on Hong Kong Island is a street art mural of old Hong Kong tenements at the intersection of Graham St and Hollywood Rd, where Instagrammers have leaned so often that the paint is being rubbed clean. The mural was commissioned in 2014 by home-grown retailer G.O.D., which specialises in designs that channel Hong Kong memorabilia. Bars and restaurants, like wildly popular Ho Lee Fook, are starting to channel old Hong Kong too.

The rhythm of daily life in Hong Kong may be changing, but as businesses and developments start to draw from the city’s past, the dance between old and new continues.

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My Fashion Era Nostalgia

I am very nostalgic about my favourite fashion eras, which are the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. I thought that most people shared the same emotion, but as it turns out, relatively few people have fashion era nostalgia, and very few are as nostalgic as I am. 

When I see fashion and style from from my favourite fashion eras, I feel a surge of positive emotion. A happy excitement runs right through me, and I want to wear the items again — but with a big dose of modern and current so that I don’t look lost in a time warp. Maybe I feel this way because I’m an extremely sentimental person.

I was born in 1970 and was blessed with a very happy childhood. Part of this happiness came from seeing my Mum and her friends rock their glam ‘70s fashion with verve and panache. I was in awe of their beauty and style, and wanted to look just like them. All these years later, and those ‘70s childhood images are as vivid and aspirational as ever. That’s why I’m nostalgic about ‘70s fashion and like to incorporate it into my style.

I wasn’t around for the ‘60s, but seeing photos of my Mum & Dad in that era — as well as in many movies — pulls at my heart strings. I used to watch ‘60s movies with my late Mum, and together we would passionately “ooh and ahh” at how incredibly well dressed everyone was. These are happy moments that I hold in my heart forever, and why the fashion era is special to me.

I was a teen and student in the ‘80s. Although the years were amongst the most challenging of my life, I LOVED the fashion and the music. The tough times were thankfully juxtaposed with the very best moments. The decade touched my soul like no other fashion era, and that’s why I am the most nostalgic about the ‘80s. I liked the early ‘90s because it was very ‘80s, and I loved the Seattle grunge music scene. I incorporate the ‘80s aesthetic into my style because it rekindles these euphoric feelings, which makes me happy. It also makes me chuckle and shake my head at the types of cringe-worthy things I thought and did at the time — all of which still make me smile.

Case in point when I saw these new season items, I was instantly excited because they’re deliciously ‘80s and bring back very happy memories. Back in 1985 with the help of my Mum, I made a pair of pants just like the pink plaid, but in a turquoise tartan. I had a red top very much like the the puffy sleeve darling back in 1983. I lived in athletic white hi-tops as a student in the late ‘80s. The jeans are styles I loved to wear back then too. The bias-cut skirt is a little later in the ‘90s, and I loved wearing the silhouette. I want all these items in my closet right now!

I will wear a look from a past fashion era that I’ve worn before and enjoy it just as much as I did then. Maybe more, because I’m more comfortable in my skin now than thirty years ago. Are you nostalgic about fashion eras? If so, which ones?

Rugged Winter Boots for Women (A Guide to Buying Your Winter Boots)

Snow boots and winter boots are different from one another but one thing they both can do is to keep your feet warm for the cold days.
Snow boots have so many features that winter boots don’t have – like snow boots made to crunch through snow and will keep your feet from soaking wet.

If you want to know more about what to look for when buying your snow boots, just read a few tips below.

 

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Winter boots are made mostly with the idea of warmth and some of its advantages can also be found on snow boots.

 

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Winter boots may look extremely stylish than winter boots but winter boots are made more for general winter. They will provide you more protection than snow boots.

 

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If you know you’re going to be walking through snow, you will definitely be looking at a pair of boots that’s specifically made for that purpose.

 

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Snow boots are usually made of leather or nylon with sealed or taped seams to make sure that you are protected from wetness.

 

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They also some with fleece collar or a drawstring closure at the top of the boot to keep the snow and cold out.

 

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The proper height of your snow boots should extend at least above the hem of your pants or above your ankle to ensure that no snow will get inside your boots.

 

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The sole of your snow boots should be made of rubber since they are 100% waterproof material.

 

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Aside from being cold, snow and ice and very hazardous and slippery. You’re going to need a pair of boots that will keep your feet when it’s slippery. A heavily treaded sole is something you should go for strenuous activities and for everyday wear, you can get away with flexible rubber sole.

 

Purchase it here
Winter boots can be heavy. Sometimes it’s not too bad but if you want a lightweight option, choose a pair of boots that’s made of synthetic materials. Maybe you’re just doing fun activities in your backyard like building a snowman, then maybe you can opt for snow boots instead of winter boots.

 

Purchase it here
Your winter boots should be available for purchase right now. You should definitely start purchasing yours already.

Atlanta for sports fans: where to watch, cheer or play

Hosting the 2019 Super Bowl has put Atlanta on the radar of NFL fans, but the South’s largest city has much more than one big game to offer those who love sports. Cheer on the home team from the stands, play around yourself or gather with other diehard fans in our favorite spots for sports fans headed to Atlanta.

Sporting events loom large in Atlanta © Gene Phillips / ACVB & AtlantaPhotos.com

See Atlanta sports first-hand

Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Whether you’re looking to see the Dirty Birds in action or want to see players bend it like Beckham, your destination is Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which hosts games for both the Atlanta Falcons football team and the city’s MLS Cup-winning soccer team, Atlanta United FC. The soccer games are especially lively, drawing record-breaking crowds since the team first hit the field in 2017. If you drive a Mercedes Benz, you can park in the Loyalty Lot for free.

The Battery Atlanta

Are you in love with the Atlanta Braves? Then head to the Battery, the entertainment complex where the celebrated baseball team moved in 2017. Watch the team dominate at SunTrust Park, or head over to one of the Battery’s many restaurants and bars to watch the game with other fans without having to purchase a ticket. Sports & Social has more than enough space for you and your crew – not to mention TVs aplenty and activities like skee-ball and air hockey. If you can find a spot, parking at the Battery is free for up to two hours.

SunTrust Park is the home of the Atlanta Braves © VisitGeorgia.com

State Farm Arena

Formerly known as the Philips Arena, the State Farm Arena in the heart of Downtown Atlanta is home to both men’s and women’s basketball teams, the Atlanta Hawks and the Atlanta Dream. Fans can get a taste of Atlanta with onsite restaurants such as Gio’s Little Italia and J.R. Crickets, and concessions won’t break the bank: beers are just $5 and both bottomless popcorn and soda ring up at $4.

The College Football Hall of Fame is a major destination for sports fans © James Duckworth / ACVB & AtlantaPhotos.com

Get in on the sports action

Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame

Both engaging and interactive, the Chick-Fil-A College Football Hall of Fame is a shrine for fans of this popular American sport. Offering 45-yard indoor football field, children’s activities and so much more, this museum is three stories and nearly 100,000 square feet of pure football fun. Plus, it’s located just minutes away from State Farm Arena and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, making it an easy add to your sports-themed itinerary.

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games

Grab the gang and get ready for a good time. Andretti Indoor Karting & Games is a one-stop shop for everything adventure is made of. From go-karting and bowling to a ropes course and laser tag, there’s plenty to burn off any excess adrenaline you might be experiencing after a tough loss (or exciting win) by your favorite team. And yes, they have a bar.

Dick Lane Velodrome

For fans of cycling, the Dick Lane Velodrome is a true treat. Constructed in 1974, this velodrome – commonly known as a “track” – is one of only 22 active velodromes in the country. Located south of Downtown Atlanta in East Point, the track is open to all ages. It is recommended to take one of the free youth cycle classes (16 years or younger) or $60 four-day track certification class (17 years and older) before riding, but there are plenty of activities for spectators, too. And admission is always free during events, except for the Pro Race Series.

The 656 Sports Bar & Grille is one of the best places in Atlanta to catch a game © Ni’Kesia Pannell / Lonely Planet

Best spots in Atlanta to watch a game

Doc’s Food & Spirits

Located less than five minutes down the road from The Battery, Doc’s is one of the best-kept secrets in Atlanta. Equipped with pool tables, a stocked bar and an impressive menu, this venue treats everyone like family. Visitors should be cautioned, however,that this is not a smoke-free zone, though there is outside seating (with a fire pit in winter) for those who prefer to avoid the smell.

Dugan’s Restaurant

A true Atlanta staple since 1982, Dugan’s wasted no time becoming of the top go-to spots to view sporting events. Known for their irresistible wings, the restaurant has developed a loyal following among locals and is one of the first places suggested to those visiting from out of town. And while it’s especially crowded on days the local sports teams are playing, there’s never a dull day or moment here.

TVs stretch along the bar at Stats © ACVB Marketing

Stats Brewpub

Located Downtown, within walking distance of both the Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena, Stats is a spacious and welcoming spot to watch your favorite team take home a win. Pick a local beer from the dozens on tap, or grab a bite from the extensive menu, which features everything from traditional game day snacks like nachos to entrees like seared salmon.

656 Sports Bar & Grille

If you’re looking for a new place to call a favorite, 656 just might make the cut. Located just minutes from the former Turner Field, this contemporary bar will have any and every sports game playing on one of its many TVs. And if you happen to stop by at lunchtime on a weekday, be sure to take advantage of the $6.56 lunch deals!

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15 Different Costumes to Wear this Coming Halloween

Halloween is a few days away. Still thinking what you’re going to be?

We have rounded up our most recent Halloween costume posts so it would be easier for you to decide. From Disney characters to Star Wars characters, men, women and kids of all ages, you’ll definitely find here the perfect Halloween costume for you.

 

Women Costume Ideas

Cute and Sexy Disney Costumes Ideas for Halloween

You can never go wrong with going as a Disney character. Add your own flare to the ensemble. Click the link to see some of our top picks on Disney costume ideas for you to become this Halloween and other costume parties for the whole year round.

 

Superhero Costumes for All Comic Book Nerds

Not everyone is into glitz and glamour. Some love superheroes and one way of showing your love for them is by wearing a superhero costume this coming Halloween. Be ready to kick some super-villain butt. All you have to do is wear the outfits of one of the classic comic book superheroes.

 

Sail the Seven Seas in These Pirate Costume Ideas

Back in the day, many believed that women were bad luck on ships. So being a lady pirate was difficult back then. Now, it’s awesome to know that times have totally changed. Show them what a real pirate you can be wearing one of these pirate costume ideas for Halloween. Be a real life pirate inspire by Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean in these irresistible costume ideas.

 

Different Ways to Wear the Zombie Costume

When a zombie apocalypse happens, there’s only two things you need to do- it’s either you beat them or you join them. If you want to beat them, transform into a putrid being with different ways to wear the zombie costume.

 

Top Historical Themed Costumes for the Next Party

The thing about history is that there’s so many of it. With these top historical costume ideas for Halloween, it can be so easy to return back in time in a different place and a different era. Best part is you have so many options.

 

Seductive Vampire Costumes for Women this Halloween

Give in to the blood lust in these sexy vampire costumes for women. Be prepared to sink your teeth into these provocative dresses. Being a vampire is a balance of elegance and terrifying nocturnal activities. If you’re going to live forever, you’re going to need a timeless look.

 

TV and Movie Inspired Costume Ideas for Halloween

Crafting a special Halloween costume can be gratifying but if you’re still having a hard time looking for a get up this Halloween, we have a bunch of TV and movie inspired costume ideas for you. Click the link to see some of our favorites.

 

Men Costume Ideas for Halloween

Top International Costumes to Wear to the Next Costume Party

Why not leave those options out and be unique by bring various nations all together, wearing international costumes. Open your eyes to a new world as well as discovering a whole new culture. No matter what you’re using these international outfits for, they will undeniably bring a lot of foreign flavors to any event.

 

11 Cool Sports-Themed Costume Ideas for Halloween

If you don’t want to be anything scary like zombies and vampires or the usual TV characters, then this list of sport costume ideas will really be a great help.

 

Eerie Zombie Costumes for Men to Wear this Halloween

The zombie apocalypse is coming on the 31st of October and anyone and everyone is bound to fall victim. Disguise yourself by wearing one of these zombie costume ideas for Halloween. Pursue your dreams and nightmares in these adult zombie costumes that will give people the right amount of spook.

 

Top 12 Realistic Star Wars Costumes to Wear this Halloween

Why not stand out from the crowd and go with something unique? Suit up for Halloween for an adventure in a galaxy far away. With our selection of Star Wars costume ideas, you get a guide on these costumes with character breakdowns.

 

Hilarious, Witty and Funny Costumes for Men

Funny costumes for men are suddenly becoming the themes for any party. Wearing a costume is nice, but wearing a funny costume can open so many doors to numerous monkey businesses. You’ve probably seen scary costumes a lot of times already but for Halloween parties, costume parties and holiday festivals, these costumes will surely be an unforgettable fashion getup.

 

 

Kids Costume Ideas for Halloween

Cute and Adorable Halloween Costumes for Toddlers

Are you excited to turn your bundle of joy a cute Halloween costume for toddlers? She might not care about her outfit but of course you do. Dress your toddlers in clothes that are even too adorable for words. Everybody will never stop cooing.

 

Halloween Costumes: Top Scary Costumes for Kids

Kids are always the most enthusiastic during Halloween. We have some children’s Halloween costume ideas for this year’s celebration of terror and excitement. Your kids can go with something cutesy but why not shock people with the most petrifying costume ever? Click the link to see some crazy and spine-chilling Halloween costumes that you and the kids will love.

 

Top 12 Halloween Costumes for Babies

It can get pretty overwhelming with the variety of Halloween costumes for babies you get to choose from since there are so many cute Halloween costumes out there, as well as scary Halloween costumes which are popular among young ones. You can’t go wrong with these endearing clever Halloween costumes for babies. Don’t forget to make your little tyke’s Halloween something that’s worth remembering.

 

 

Other posts you might like:

Check Out These Sexy School Girl Ideas for Halloween
Cute and Creative Matching Costumes for Halloween with your Best Friend
10 Cute and Adorable Halloween Costume Ideas for Babies
Fun Costume Ideas to Try This Halloween for Men

How to Layer Over Bell Sleeved Tops

Trendy maximal sleeve treatment like bell, lantern and fluted styles look interesting and fabulous, but are tricky to layer over with a topper. Sleeve-squashing and tailored topper sleeves are uncomfortable and crease the sleeves. Things are easy in Summer because we seldom need a topper. 

The maximal sleeve trend is relentless going into Autumn and Winter, which is when you’ll definitely need a topper of sorts. Here are fives ways to top exuberant sleeves. In all cases the toppers have sleeves that are sufficiently roomy to encase the volume of maximal sleeves, or they are sleeveless.

Wraps and Ponchos

Capes and Capelets

Cocoon Coats

Gilets and Vests

Gigantic Puffer Coats and Jackets

I have blouses, a shirt, pullovers, and dresses with bell and fluted sleeves. The exact items are represented in the collection below.

I wear the blouses and shirts in high Summer weather, so no topper required. I add a Summer scarf wrapped around my neck when I’m chilly and stay away from arctic air conditioning. The pullovers and dresses work best under my roomy cocoon coats and cape, although I have squashed them under denim jackets from time to time.

The denim jackets are only just manageable from a comfort point of view because the sleeves of the tops and dresses aren’t that voluminous, and the toppers have stretch. They did unfortunately crease my sleeves, which was annoying. These are the exact toppers that I wear over the pullovers and dresses.

Custom Findby Angie

Make sure you have the right toppers for maximal sleeves when temperatures drop. Or simply stay away from the trend and wear tailored sleeves under toppers instead.