All about Men and the women who love them!
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Author: Emma Marie
Traditional bathhouses are an essential part of contemporary Korean culture. Literally “heated rooms,” these jjimjilbang (찜질방) are where locals come to unwind, hang out and engage in a whole host of health and beauty rituals that go far beyond a quick soak.
A Korean bathhouse attracts grandmas and young couples alike. It wouldn’t be odd for a group of friends to meet up at a jjimjilbang on a Friday night. Call it a spa date, but a surprisingly affordable one. Entrance usually costs between ₩7000 and ₩20,000, with smaller, neighborhood jjimjilbang being the cheapest options. Most places have different day and evening entrance rates, with the latter being just a little higher. The more elaborate joints have restaurants, outdoor swimming pools, hair and nail salons, and karaoke rooms in addition to the usual baths and saunas.
These spas have an unspoken code of manners and customs, which can make a first-time visit intimidating for foreign travelers. Read up on the towel techniques and Korean bathhouse etiquette to experience the jjimjilbang like a local.
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The first thing you’re likely to see when you walk in the door is a wall of small lockers. These are for your shoes: slip them inside and take your locker key to the front desk. Pay up (the price should be posted at the reception desk) and hand over your shoe locker key.
In exchange, you’ll be given a new locker key for the changing room (sometimes the first key is used for both), a towel and a pair of cotton pajamas. Many jjimjilbang use electronic keys, which double as your tab; otherwise, the staff will note your locker key number if you add any services inside (such as a scrub or massage) to bill you at the end. The front desk staff should point you in the direction of the appropriate gender-segregated changing room. If not, it’s nam (남) for men and yeo (여) for women.
The key in your hand should have a number on it – that’s your locker, where you’ll store your clothes and anything else you’re carrying.
Most jjimjilbang have two distinct areas: the baths, which are same-sex only, and the sauna areas, which are communal.
Whichever you want to visit first is up to you, but most people prefer to wash up before sweating it out (and then wash up again). If you’re going to the baths, you need to remove all your clothing, bringing only a small towel and toiletries with you. If you’re going to the saunas, change into the pajamas. Wear your locker key on your wrist.
The cardinal rule here is that you need to wash before getting into the baths. There will be rows of washing stations and piles of plastic stools; grab one and pick a faucet. There will be soap, but there isn’t likely to be shampoo or conditioner, so you’ll need to bring your own (most convenience stores in Korea sell little single-use packets of various toiletries, and jjimjilbang usually sell them as well).
You don’t have to wash your hair, but if you don’t and it’s long, make sure to tie it up so it doesn’t trail in the bath. Once you’re nice and clean, head to the tubs.
There will usually be a variety of temperatures, from about 38°C (100°F, not too hot) to about 45°C (113°F, pretty hot), and also a cold tub. In most jjimjilbang, these are indoor soaking pools, but some also have open-air baths. Bathhouse regulars have their individual routines down to a science, but in general, optimal soaking time is considered to be 20 minutes. To stay in the water this long, it’s best to keep your heart above the water.
Koreans, and women in particular, are mad about exfoliation, and you’ll see them giving themselves long and hearty scrubs (you can also buy scrubbing towels and mitts at convenience stores and markets). If you really want to up your jjimjilbang game, you can opt for a professional scrub (called seshin).
In a corner of the bathroom, there will be a few plastic tables manned by ajumma (aunties) in their underwear (or men on the men’s side) wielding scrubbing mitts. They’re generally merciless, but you will never have smoother skin in your life. You’d do this after soaking for a bit, so the steam from the baths loosens your skin. A basic scrub usually costs ₩20,000, and you can also get an oil massage here for about ₩60,000.
The most difficult part of the experience for a lot of first-timers is being naked with strangers. Fear not: Koreans consider this a normal part of visiting a jjimjilbang, and you are unlikely to be given a second glance by anyone else.
You can use your towel to strategically cover yourself as you walk around (but the towels are small, so this isn’t easy). You shouldn’t bring it into the water, but if it does get wet, a stack of fresh towels is usually waiting near the door to the changing room. The best way to keep your towel dry is to wear it on your head.
Another etiquette tip: splashing and loud talking might earn you dirty looks.
The sauna you might picture – a steaming room heated to hellish temperatures – is probably different from a Korean sauna (and if you’ve never liked saunas, you might like these). Traditional Korean saunas (called hanjeungmak; 한증막) are stone or clay kilns typically heated to between 50°C (122°F) and 90°C (194°F) and are really quite pleasant.
As you lie on hemp mats (or sometimes salt or jade crystals), the heated stone gently warms your body, and after about 15 to 20 minutes, you start to sweat. It’s easy to fall asleep, but don’t – or risk dehydration. Cap off a good sweat with a cold, sweet sikhye, a traditional fermented rice drink usually sold at jjimjilbang. You can also buy eggs that have been steamed in the saunas, called maekbanseok gyeran.
Many jjimjilbang are open 24 hours and actually double actually double as Korea’s best budget accommodations: for a few thousand won more than the standard entrance fee, you can opt to spend the night in the sleeping room. At simpler spots, the sleeping room might just be a wide room with some thin plastic mattresses (and yes, they are thin) and squishy plastic blocks (“pillows”) on the floor.
At more sophisticated places, the sleeping rooms resemble capsule hotels, with two levels of cubbyholes, which offer a little privacy. Some have separate rooms for women and snorers (regardless, earplugs are a good idea). Some also have blankets to loan or rent, though the rooms are usually heated – traditional under-floor ondol style – such that they’re not necessary.
There are also usually big common rooms where people congregate to watch TV, sit in massage chairs, snack and generally hang out. These areas are mixed and non-naked, so make sure you wear the pajamas provided. Some of the fancier jjimjilbang, such as Dragon Hill Spa in Seoul, also have outdoor swimming areas, hot tubs and entertainment zones like arcades to keep sauna-goers busy, sometimes throughout the night.
This part’s easy: hand your locker key to the front desk staff, and they’ll present you with a bill if you’ve racked up any charges inside. Once you’re paid up, you get your shoe locker key back, and you’re good to go. Most jjimjilbang expect you to stay no more than one night, though some may allow you to negotiate a stay of multiple nights. You just might find yourself wanting to come back.
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Tesla announced it had delivered 254,695 vehicles during the second quarter of 2022, about an 18 percent drop from the previous quarter. The report, which was published on Tesla’s site, signals an end to a nearly two-year-long run of record quarterly deliveries for Elon Musk’s company, which can mostly be attributed to lengthy COVID-related shutdowns of its factory in Shanghai.
Tesla said the Model 3 and Model Y vehicles made up 238,533 of these deliveries, while 16,162 were for the Model S and Model X vehicles. On the production side of things, Tesla said it managed to build a total of 258,580 vehicles.
China has been crucial to the company’s rise to its status as one of the most valuable automakers in the world. But Tesla’s…
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Author: Andrew J. Hawkins
Virgin Orbit launched a rocket carrying seven satellites from California’s Mojave Air and Space Port early Saturday morning at 1:49 AM ET (10:49PM local), marking the small satellite launcher’s first successful night mission. The company brought the satellites into low Earth orbit with the help of its Boeing 747 carrier aircraft called Cosmic Girl, which had the LauncherOne rocket attached beneath one of its wings.
The mission, called Straight Up after a 1988 Paula Abdul song, involved seven research satellites as part of NASA’s Space Test Program. Like its previous missions, Virgin Orbit propelled the satellites into space by having Cosmic Girl carry the LauncherOne rocket 35,000 feet above the ground, giving it a headstart before the…
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Author: Matt
Chicago is practically tailor made for family getaways, offering a wealth of interactive museums, fabulous parks and jaw-dropping architecture.
From tots to teens, there’s something for every child in the Windy City – without the aloof attitude or supersized footprint that make some big cities feel like no-fly zones for tiny tourists. Research the many kid-friendly happenings in town at Chicago Parent and Chicago Kids. Discovering the city as a family is easy on the budget, too: children under age 7 ride free on the L train and public buses, while those ages 7 to 11 pay a reduced fare.
Ferocious dinosaurs at the Field Museum of Natural History, an ark’s worth of beasts at Lincoln Park Zoo, lakefront boat rides and sandy beaches are among the top choices for visiting Chicago with kids. Add in magical playgrounds, fun tours and family-friendly food, and it’s clear that Chicago is a kid’s kind of town.
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An up-close encounter with Chicago’s legendary architecture is a can’t-miss for visitors of all ages. Wee daredevils will delight in the city’s pair of high-altitude viewing decks: 360° Chicago on the 94th floor of the 875 N Michigan Ave building and the 103rd-floor Skydeck at the Willis Tower. As if the observatories’ heights weren’t dizzying enough, glassy viewing alcoves reward brave little ones with the sensation of being suspended over the city. Not sure which to pick? Skydeck scores points for sheer loftiness, while lakeside 360° Chicago has the edge in the panorama department.
For a ground-up view of the skyline and a fun boat ride to boot, treat tweens and teens to the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s river tour, which delivers an overview of the city center’s most important buildings from aboard a double-decker cruiser. If your children are too young to know their Burnham from their Mies, forego the formal tour and hop on the Shoreline Sightseeing water taxi. In addition to serving up spectacular lakefront scenery, the service links two of the most popular ports of call for visiting families: Navy Pier and the Museum Campus.
When is the best time to go to Chicago?
Over at the Art Institute of Chicago – free for under-14s – a real-life audience with some of the most recognizable paintings in the Western canon (think American Gothic, Nighthawks and A Sunday on La Grande Jatte) may stir your child’s inner Picasso. Dollhouse fans will be enchanted by the tiny universe of the Thorne Miniature Rooms. The Ryan Learning Center provides art-making activities and interactive games, such as puzzles featuring famous works. Even the most jaded teen will crack a smile for selfies with the iconic stone lions that stand sentry on the museum’s front steps.
25 best free things to do in Chicago
Bring on the dinosaurs. The sprawling Field Museum of Natural History captures little imaginations with colossal fossils. The Crown Family PlayLab on the ground floor lets kids excavate bones and make loads of other discoveries. The Field Museum houses some 30 million artifacts – beetles, mummies, gemstones, Bushman the stuffed ape – all tended to by a slew of PhD-wielding scientists (the Field remains an active research institution). The collection’s rock star is Sue, the largest Tyrannosaurus rex yet discovered. (She even gets her own gift shop.) The museum is vast, so get a map at the desk and make a plan of attack before you set out.
For an interactive experience to suit a broad range of ages and interests, it’s hard to top the Museum of Science and Industry. Families could spend a week here and not see it all. Big kids will get a kick out of descending into a coal mine, transmitting secret messages in the whispering gallery and playing astronaut at the Henry Crown Space Center, while little ones will love peeping at the adorable hatchery chicks and catching their reflections in the mirror maze.
Wildlife enthusiasts are in for a treat at Lincoln Park Zoo, where chimps swing from the trees and Japanese macaques chill in hot springs. With its relaxed pace, the adjacent Farm-in-the-Zoo is geared to the littlest visitors. Be sure to stroll the boardwalk that links the two, where you’ll find an otherworldly honeycomb-like pavilion that makes the ultimate Chicago family photo op. Perhaps best of all for parents, the whole experience is free – even parking, if you’re lucky (or patient) enough to score a spot on Stockton Dr, just steps from one of the zoo’s main entrances.
Just up the street, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum earns high marks with youngsters for its butterfly haven, a light-filled indoor garden that’s home to 1000 winged beauties.
When the kids are looking to let loose, Chicago is at the ready with miles of lakefront and a plethora of parks. With its vertiginous crow’s nests, climbing wall and wintertime skating ribbon, the Loop’s Maggie Daley Park is a crown jewel in the city’s park system – though parents of tiny tots should note that an abundance of boisterous big kids and hiding spots can make it a bit nerve-jangling. The wide-open spaces of nearby Grant Park, best known for pretty Buckingham Fountain, may be a better match for small ones. Millennium Park, home to the super-photogenic interactive sculpture Cloud Gate (better known as “the Bean”), is a winner with kids of all ages.
Come summer, more than two dozen lifeguard-manned beaches beckon. Waves are typically pint-sized – perfect for petite swimmers. Tucked behind the Museum Campus, 12th Street Beach gets props for its manageable size, proximity to the Loop and cool view of the Adler Planetarium. At North Avenue Beach, gutsy teens can test their balance on a stand-up paddleboard. This beach is the most crowded, since its selling point is the location near both downtown and Lincoln Park Zoo. The steamboat-shaped beach house is totally kid friendly, with bathrooms and lockers plus a concessions stand serving ice cream and burgers.
When the weather tanks, Garfield Park Conservatory offers a year-round burst of balmy air and verdant greenery. Built in 1907, these two acres under glass are a lovely spot to while away a few hours sauntering around rooms of palms, ferns, orchids and koi-filled ponds. Between May and October 10 acres of outdoor grounds include a lily pool, a carnivorous-plant bog and the Monet Garden, which is based on the Impressionist painter’s flower patch at Giverny, France. Kids can get down and dirty with roots and seeds in the indoor Children’s Garden.
Amusements abound on Navy Pier, a half-mile-long wharf. Families will love the giant whirling swing, sky-high Ferris wheel, hand-painted carousel, remote-control boats, fountains to splash and more. Popcorn, ice cream, burgers and other treats add to the carnival atmosphere. The pier is also home to Chicago Children’s Museum as well as several boat-cruise operators. Polk Bros Park, at the pier’s entrance, has a fountain little ones can splash in, plus performance lawns for free concerts and movies.
Just about all but Chicago’s most exclusive restaurants will accommodate children without batting an eye, though for your family’s own comfort you might find it best to have your doggie bags in hand by 6:30pm, when dinner crowds can make maneuvering strollers and high chairs awkward. Adventurous eaters will love slurping noodles beneath the pagodas of Chicago’s Chinatown and digging into enormous dosas amid the sari shops and Indian candy stores of Devon Ave: both neighborhoods offer numerous dining spots that are casual and easy on the wallet.
Certain restaurants go the extra mile to welcome little guests. Lincoln Park’s retro RJ Grunts soothes post-zoo fatigue with kid-sized shakes and burgers along with a complimentary stroller valet, while over in hip Ukrainian Village, Quad Cities–style pizza spot Roots encourages tiny diners to play with their food, distributing dough balls to be squashed and stretched while dinner’s in the oven. Grown-up topping options like duck sausage and a lengthy Midwestern beer list will keep parents happy, too.
Kids get the royal treatment each afternoon at the Drake Hotel’s Little Prince and Princess Tea, an elaborate spread of dainty nibbles served up in the hotel’s grand Palm Court. Fanciful decorations and carolers make holiday season visits here particularly magical. Parents and rugrats alike will be sweet on the inventive ice cream at West Town’s Black Dog Gelato and the rich hot chocolate at Logan Square’s Katherine Anne Confections.
Home-sharing sites offer rental apartments scattered around Chicago’s vibrant neighborhoods. If self-catering is not your family’s thing, you’ll find a bevy of boutique hotel options, as well as all the usual chain suspects, clustered around the Loop, Streeterville and River North neighborhoods – all good bases in terms of proximity to many of the city’s top kid-centric attractions.
Some hotels make a point of rolling out the red carpet for little ones. Up in quirky-cool Andersonville, the lovely Guesthouse Hotel offers spacious kitchen-equipped suites and a thoughtful menu of free-to-use kid essentials that run the gamut from car seats to sippy cups.
Top neighborhoods to explore in Chicago
Taxis and ride-sharing services are readily available – but rather than scrambling to stash strollers and secure child seats in an unfamiliar vehicle, consider riding the L, Chicago’s system of elevated trains and subways. Most major sights are within an easy walk from an elevator-equipped station, indicated on system maps by an accessible icon. Tickets can be purchased at station kiosks.
Attractions tend to be quietest first thing in the morning. Some spots, like the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History, have designated stroller and wheelchair entrances where lines are often significantly shorter. If you plan to hit more than a couple of signature attractions, consider a CityPass, valid for admission to your choice of five out of seven major sights. In addition to saving your brood a few bucks, it also includes fast-track entry to spots like the Willis Tower’s Skydeck – no small thing when little legs grow tired and crankiness looms.
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After two years of Fourth of July celebrations without fireworks during the COVID-19 pandemic, the California resort community of North Lake Tahoe is ready to light up the sky again. But instead of traditional fireworks, more than 100 drones will take off for a light show choreographed to music. Like an increasing number of communities throughout the region, city planners chose fire safety and sustainability over nostalgia as California copes with a cruel megadrought.
“Fireworks come with their own list of known environmental impacts—including noise pollution, impacts to the lake, and increased risk of fire at a time when the wildfire risk is already so high,” Katie Biggers, executive director of the Tahoe City Downtown Association,…
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Author: Justine Calma
Meta’s ending the pilot for Novi, the company’s digital wallet and the last remaining piece of its troubled cryptocurrency project, as first reported by Bloomberg. On Novi’s website, Meta says the wallet is shutting down on September 1st, 2022, and asks users to withdraw their funds “as soon as possible.”
Users will lose access to their accounts come September, and will no longer be able to add money to Novi starting July 21st. If someone forgets to withdraw their remaining balance, Meta says it will “attempt to transfer” their funds to the bank account or debit card added to the service.
Meta rolled out the “small pilot” of Novi to users in the US and Guatemala last October. Novi was originally built to support fast and free…
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Author: Emma Roth
Bend, Oregon sees four distinct seasons a year, each with a draw of its own. From winter sports like skiing and ice skating to swimming and horseback riding in summer, there is plenty to do in Bend, no matter what the weather.
Despite varying temperatures, Bend sees an average of 300 or more days of sunshine each year. What more can visitors ask for? Whether you’re looking to come to Bend to ski, hike, golf or fish, here are the best times to visit.
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The snow season in Bend offers endless possibilities for outdoor enthusiasts willing to brave the cold – skiing and snowboarding are at the top of the list. Mt Bachelor, Hoodoo and Willamette Pass are the ski hills in closest proximity to Bend. Mt Bachelor is well-known for its expansive 360-degree terrain as well as its Adaptive Sports Program, geared toward people with special needs.
For a night ski session, affordable lift tickets and ski biking, Hoodoo is the best choice. Snowmobiling, Nordic cross country skiing, skate skiing, snowshoeing, sledding and fat-tire biking are popular at Dutchman Flat, Virginia Miesner and Wanoga snow parks, and are easily accessible, all for the price of a sno-park permit. Be willing to share the trails with an abundance of winter enthusiasts.
Other enticing winter sports options include ice skating at Seventh Mountain River Company, the Bend Pavillion or the ice rink in Sunriver. Sled dog rides with Oregon Trail of Dreams are also popular with visitors. For a top-notch adventure, get picked up by Elk Lake Lodge in a snowcat Suburban, and chauffeured out to the full-service lodge for a beer or meal. Or, extend your trip by staying overnight in one of the onsite cabins.
April showers bring May flowers and variable weather, which deters some visitors. But while the weather in spring oscillates rapidly between intermittent rain, cold, cloud cover and bright sunshine, the wildflowers burst.
Central Oregon spring showcases a unique variety of wildflowers, blooms and blossoms that pop up in neighborhoods and high desert landscapes alike. Following the elevation, flowers such as native sand lilies bust in town first and can be seen on the lower flanks of Pilot Butte. Oregon grape and manzanita blooms follow. If you find the lower elevations are bloomed out, head for the hills. Upper elevations will slowly bloom in tears like dominos falling uphill as heat and sun exposure increase.
Take a similar tack for springtime mushroom hunting.
Many visitors only venture to Central Oregon in the summertime. With two dozen golf courses in Bend alone, retirees come for the driving ranges and 18-hole amenities. Resorts like Brasada Ranch, Black Butte Ranch and Pronghorn offer an immersive experience, with additional family options including horseback riding and pool time.
When the midday sun is in full force, locals tend to head for the Deschutes River. There are many access points throughout Bend to swim and launch kayaks, canoes and paddleboards. Favorite parks for water access include McKay, Miller’s Landing, Harmon, First-street Rapids, Riverbend and Farewell Bend Parks.
Perhaps the most iconic summertime activity of all is floating down the Deschutes River on an inner tube. Stop in at Bend Park & Float to get set up with a tube and shuttle, or BYO tube. You can easily walk back to your car, post-float in about a half-hour. Launch at Riverbend Park and take out at Drake Park.
Bend often sees warm weather into the late fall, which can last through Thanksgiving. The summer crowds have thinned, the kids are back in school and the fish (particularly steelhead) are jumping. Littleleaf Guide Services and Nate’s Rogue Adventures provide guided fishing excursions on the Lower Deschutes River, north of Bend. Anglers can also be seen in town trying their hand at casting for a brookie or brown trout.
Be sure to go for a drive and take in the beauty of the fall leaves as they peak in color. If you’ve been to the east coast for this pastime, you know how striking the fluorescent yellow, orange and pink leaves changing color can be. Aspen trees and groves are particularly outstanding, along with the golden hue of larch trees among their evergreen counterparts.
Many mountain resorts in Central Oregon and beyond run buy-one-get-one-free and other discount days in January. Local watering holes and restaurants host Après-ski (after ski) events including concerts and social hours.
Every February, Bend puts on a weekend festival like no other. Winterfest offers dueling performance stages, food carts and seasonal crafters. Dance in the cold night air while sipping a micro-brew with all your favorite snow homies.
Key Events: Winterfest
Many families descend on Bend for a fantastic spring break on the ski hill. It’s a good time to snowshoe and enjoy the last of the winter season activities.
If you whitewater kayak or raft, you’ll be drawn to high desert rivers in April for their high water flows. With snow beginning to melt in the mountains and rain often falling, discover unruly flood waters while boating whitewater.
Beat the crowds by heading to Bend before Memorial Day. Chances are the weather could be fairly nice, and you’ll get the best of Bend before the busy summer months.
Although June is the high season in Bend, no one is ever quite certain of the weather. Sometimes it snows, other times, it feels like summer. Come prepared for anything!
If you happen to visit around Independence Day, you won’t want to miss the July 4th Fireworks Festival. Start the day off with live music, great food and games for kids, and end it with the fireworks show launched from the top of Pilot Butte
Key Events: July 4th Fireworks Festival, 4th of July Fireworks on the Warm Springs Reservation
If art shows are your thing, see more than 100 visual artists’ work on display at Art in the High Desert, or the work of local metal artists at the Central Oregon Metal Arts Guild Annual Show, both in August. Classical music lovers won’t want to miss the Sunriver Music Festival, and foodies should check out Munch & Music in Drake Park on Thursday nights for live music and good food.
Key Events: Art in the High Desert, Central Oregon Metal Arts Guild Annual Show, Sunriver Music Festival, Munch & Music
Early fall is a great time to visit – temperatures still reflect summer warmth, but kids are back in school and crowds have subsided. This month also kicks off fall fishing for steelhead and salmon – keep an eye out for public salmon bakes.
Key Events: Salmon Run, Mill-Luck Salmon Celebration
The Old Mill District hosts a kid-friendly Halloween, with trick-or-treating and more, while many other venues around town host adult-only festivities. Smith Rock Ranch is popular this month, with its pick-your-own pumpkin patch, corn maze and pumpkin catapult. October also kicks off several design and arts festivals.
Key Events: Halloween in the Old Mill District, Bend Design Week, Bend Venture Conference, Bend Film Festival
Despite its dry climate, the high desert pulls in a bounty of locally-grown food each year, and November is typically the pinnacle of the harvest season. This is your last chance to check out local farms before the winter season.
Key Events: Veteran’s Day Parade on the Warm Springs Reservation
Visit Bend during December for the best holiday events. See locals decorate their canoes and boats in lights as they float down the Deschutes River in the Old Mill District for the Winter Holiday Lights Paddle Parade. Or, catch a nightly light show at the Sunriver Resort. Bend and Prineville also have spectacular annual holiday parades.
Key Events: Winter Holiday Lights Paddle Parade, Sunriver Resort Holiday Lights Shows
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The show is live in Philly this week, and we invited one of the city’s heroes. Darryl “Cornbread” McCray is the father of modern graffiti, but what does he know about the game of tag?
(Image credit: Sara McCorriston/Paradigm Gallery/Darryl “Cornbread” McCray)
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