AltWeeklies Wire
Brazilian Wineries Finally Come of Agenew
Not too long ago, the words "Brazilian" and "wine" would hardly be put together without a stern warning against a horrible hangover. Not that decent wine did not exist there -- it simply had not been made available for the general public, and much less for export.
Chicago Newcity |
Ernest Barteldes |
07-09-2008 |
Food+Drink
Trendzilla: Curly Hair Vs. Straight Hair Smackdown!new
More than likely, if you have naturally curly hair, you hate it.
Temples of Tex-Mex: A Diner's Guide to the Oldest Mexican Restaurants in Texasnew

We took a pilgrimage in search of old-fashioned tamales, chili con carne and cheese enchiladas.
Houston Press |
Robb Walsh |
07-08-2008 |
Food+Drink
Colorado Springs Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries Could Soon be Out 'Real' Foodnew

Sucker-punched by high gas and food prices, increased demand, less assistance from government and food manufacturers, and dwindling supplies from food drives, the Care and Share food bank has fewer of the necessities it needs to help feed struggling families.
Colorado Springs Independent |
J. Adrian Stanley |
07-08-2008 |
Food+Drink
Olympic Hopeful Dana Torres is Swimming Upstreamnew
The 41-year-old can outrace Olympic swimmers half her age, but beating the skeptics may prove more difficult.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Brantley Hargrove |
07-08-2008 |
Sports
Alt Farmers Share in the Farm Bill's Bounty, but at What Cost?new
Even if the same law shovels tons of subsidies to rich farmers and agribusiness giants, the little guys growing organic food are at least catching some of the crumbs.
Isthmus |
Marc Eisen |
07-08-2008 |
Food+Drink
Zen and the Art of Cougar Huntingnew

They practice picking up young men at the grocery store, these older women who have never been married, or whose husbands have left them for younger stock, or whose soul mates have died of heart attacks or in car accidents. On a balmy Thursday at a hotel in Pasadena, life coach Zen Kern, simply Zen to his clients, instructs the ladies in his Cougar Class to pretend they've just spotted a cute guy contemplating the cereal at Ralphs.
L.A. Weekly |
Gendy Alimurung |
07-07-2008 |
Culture
Tags: Los Angeles, dating, Sex, cougars, relationships, older women, cougar class, life coaches, Zen Kern
It's Not Easy Trying to be Cougar Baitnew
If I'm to achieve a life of leisurely Parisian mornings and afternoon massages, without working for it, of course, I'll have to become someone's pretty piece of meat. Someone rich, middle-aged and a little desperate. In other words, I need a cougar. But where to find such a woman?
L.A. Weekly |
Matthew Fleischer |
07-07-2008 |
Culture
A Simpler Rouillenew
Here's Eileen Weiswasser's simplified version of this sauce. If you'd like, make your own mayonnaise and mix in a bit of bouillabaisse. Makes one cup.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Mara Zepeda |
07-07-2008 |
Food+Drink
Dirty Buttons: Bogged Gardensnew
Most people assume these striking, alien plants are rare tropical exotics, but they’re not. The venus flytrap is native to a very small coastal plain in the Carolinas, and sundews and pitcher plants can be found from southern Florida to as far north as Canada.
Philadelphia Weekly |
Lord Whimsy |
07-07-2008 |
Gardening
Chicago's Last Coal Hauler is Down to Two Customersnew
Used to be coal yards were like taverns -- practically every neighborhood in the city had them. But today Paul Schoening is the last person in Chicago who retails the fuel, and he only has two customers: D'Amato's Bakery and Coalfire Pizza.
Chicago Reader |
Mike Sula |
07-07-2008 |
Food+Drink
The Something Store Restores Suspense to the Webnew
While we may enjoy the detailed Mapquest directions, the thorough Hotels.com reviews, the "most e-mailed" New York Times articles, we still yearn for mystery, too. Or at least the idea of mystery. And that's why the Something Store exists. For $10, shipping included, this online enterprise will send you something in a plain brown package with a large question mark on it.
Las Vegas Weekly |
Greg Beato |
07-07-2008 |
Tech
Alt.health: Zenning Out to Your iPod Can be Your Sonic Medsnew
Studies over the last few years suggest -- though, some say, don't truly prove -- that melodic aural stimulation has an effect on healing, from reducing pain in premature babies and speeding recovery for stroke victims to reducing stress.
NOW Magazine |
Elizabeth Bromstein |
07-07-2008 |
Advice
Ecoholic: Fireworks Trash the Planetnew
I've always wondered whether fireworks are polluting. Any idea?
NOW Magazine |
Adria Vasil |
07-07-2008 |
Advice
20 Fabulous Toronto Fringe Showsnew
Here, in chronological order, are some of the highlights from nearly two decades of Toronto Fringe-going.
NOW Magazine |
Jon Kaplan and Glenn Sumi |
07-07-2008 |
Theater