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We went to White Castle for the first time, and now we get why it's a cult favorite

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White Castle 3

White Castle is a touchstone of popular fast-food culture, from the top spot of Time's list of influential burgers to Harold and Kumar's hazy quest for the elusive slider. The chain's legendary slider, first introduced in 1921, was the industry's proto-signature burger, leading the way for countless other fast-food empires to take root.

Yet we, two fast-food fanatics, had never visited this iconic chain. So like Harold and Kumar before us, we decided to storm the Castle and see for ourselves why this chain has been named the home of most craveable burger in America by a recent survey reported by Restaurant Business. What we found was like no other fast-food chain experience.

SEE ALSO: We visited convenience-store rivals Wawa and Sheetz to see which does it better — and the winner is clear

We saw the gleaming crenelations of the White Castle in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and were struck by its distinct majesty in the midst of a sea of Walmarts and Wawas. The windows and interior were decorated lovingly for Valentine's Day.



We ordered a diverse representation of the menu, from the classics to the more modern culinary takes. Sliders are cheap because they're so small, with this heaping tray costing only $10.31 including tax.



As with any chain, the french fries must be tried. However, White Castle's fries did not stand out among the madding crowd. As crinkle-cut classics go, they were passable but forgettable.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

18 mouthwatering desserts you should eat in Greece

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revani

The Greeks may be known for their excellent meat dishes, but they're also very good at making dessert.

For dessert in Greece, you can expect syrupy sponge cakes, nut-filled pastries, and fried dough balls flavored with cinnamon, rosewater, and orange.

You'll want to save room for these decadent treats.

Bougatsa

The French have croissants, and the Greeks have bougatsa — a breakfast pastry filled with semolina custard. You can also get a savory version with cheese.



Loukoumades

These fried, syrup-filled dough balls are the Greek equivalent of doughnuts. They're usually garnished with nuts and cinnamon, but you can get them drizzled with chocolate too.



Fanouropita

Lost something? Whip up a fanouropita — a sponge cake made with orange, olive oil, cinnamon, and brandy — to change your luck. Named after Saint Fanourios, the saint of lost stuff, this cake may not have magical powers. Regardless, it's a delicious way to forget about whatever you misplaced.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

13 things introverts want you to know

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friends hanging out

The INSIDER Summary:

  • There's a difference between quiet and shy. Introverts are quiet.
  • They find social settings draining and need time alone to recharge.
  • Introverts think before they speak, while extroverts tend to think out loud.


According to Susan Cain, author of the bestseller "Quiet," one third to one half of the world is made up of introverts.

Despite this staggering number, introverts are often misunderstood. Their need for restorative solitude is deemed anti-social; their observant nature is mistaken for shyness; their quiet demeanor comes off as standoffish. 

When you live in a world built for extroverts, and that values big personalities that can walk into a room and charm the pants off of everyone, it's no wonder why many people overlook the value that introverts bring to their relationships and surroundings.

Here's what introverts wish you understood about them.

There's a difference between being quiet and being shy. Introverts tend to be quiet.

In her TED Talk, Cain classifies shyness as "fear of social judgment." That's different than keeping your thoughts to yourself and speaking only when you feel like you have something of value to contribute.



Because they don't always feel the need to insert their opinion, they make fantastic listeners.



Introverts are often overshadowed because they think through what they want to say before talking, while extroverts think out loud.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 15 best US states to start a business

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San Francisco California

Entrepreneurship is essential to America's economy. New businesses create jobs, promote competition, and transform industries, but where a business sets up shop can be crucial to its success.

As part of its 2017 best states ranking, U.S. News & World Report determined the states with the strongest business environment using two metrics: The number of new businesses formed between 2013 and 2015 and the average number of patents per 1 million residents granted during the same period. 

California, home to Silicon Valley, the launching pad for dozens of tech juggernauts, came out on top, followed by Massachusetts and Idaho.

Below, check out the 15 best states for starting a business:

SEE ALSO: The 22 best places to live in America if you want to make a lot of money

DON'T MISS: The 18 richest people in America

15. Vermont

Population630,000

Entrepreneurship rank: 43

Patent creation rank: 4



14. Oregon

Population4 million

Entrepreneurship rank: 26

Patent creation rank: 9



13. Minnesota

Population5.5 million

Entrepreneurship rank: 39

Patent creation rank: 5



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I tried Anthony Bourdain's secret to making scrambled eggs, and it was delicious

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Bowl of Scrambled Eggs

Anthony Bourdain is one of the most well-known American chefs. He stars in the shows "Parts Unknown" and "No Reservations," where he travels the world and tries new foods. As college students, we can't afford to travel and eat fancy foods regularly. So we stick to the simple and cheap eats, like scrambled eggs. There are many ways to cook this breakfast staple, like in the microwave. But Anthony Bourdain finally revealed his secret to making great scrambled eggs.

Here's how to make scrambled eggs like Anthony Bourdain. 

What you need:

- 1 fresh egg

- Salt

- Pepper

- Butter

Step 1

Heat up the pan with butter so that the eggs don't stick. The pan shouldn't be too hot, or else you risk over cooking the egg.

 



Step 3

Crack the egg inside a little cup or a container to make sure there are no egg shells in the mix.



Step 3

Beat the egg with a fork, but be careful to not over beat it.

"You do wanna, sort of, have a ripple of white and yellow throughout. You just don't wanna make it complete, sort of, homogeneous yellow,"Bourdain says in a video with Tech Insider

You also want to make sure to beat the egg right before putting it in the pan. That way your egg stays fresh, and it doesn't sit.

This step is always tricky for me because I'm guilty of beating the egg until it's all yellow. But now I know that with one egg, you just have to beat it 2-3 times at most.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

4 lessons about how millennials spend money from MTV's new reality competition show

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Stranded with a million dollars cast mtv

MTV's new show, "Stranded with a Million Dollars," serves up a twist on the reality survival show.

On the new series, which airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m., 10 millennials from diverse backgrounds accept the challenge of living on the island of Taveuni, Fiji. But they're also given a total of $1 million to spend on a variety of food, tools, and luxuries at outrageous prices. In the end, those who are able to last for 40 days will get to divide whatever's left of the million-dollar bounty.

With its million-dollar twist and the tough living conditions, viewers get an ample look at the cast members' attitudes toward money.

"I was guilty of the preconceived notion that millennials are lazy and don't understand the value of money,""Stranded" creator Kevin Lee recently told Business Insider. "And what happened during the 40 days that we were filming in the woods is that I learned that was wrong. That notion was wrong."

Reactions to the harsh environment and the financial windfall are captured by the show's use of flying drones and automatic cameras.

"On any given day, there's approximately 30 cameras in play that don't have humans holding them," Lee said. "That made all the difference in the world... I think they headed toward more extreme behavior because they didn't feel that they were being judged by the human holding the camera. When there's just a robot camera, they don't care what the robot thinks."

Here's what the creator of MTV's "Stranded with a Million Dollars" learned about millennial spending habits while shooting the show:

SEE ALSO: Why MTV's president is stepping down after only a year

DON'T MISS: MTV is undergoing a huge revamp to return to its music roots

1. The biggest strategic mistake: Contenders failed to invest their money early on, so that it could help them win later.

"I think one of the big strategic mistakes that was made on the show, at least early in the show, were the cast members who didn't understand the idea that you have to spend some money now in order to win or gain more money later on," Lee said.

"They mistakenly made the calculation that they should be frugal and not spend one penny ever," he continued. "They have to be willing to invest a small amount in their survival in order to win at the end, and they didn't realize that... And guess what? They never made it."



2. The best course correction: Some cast members did come around to realizing an early strategic purchase would really pay off.

"If you're going to spend $30,000 on a pot, you may as well do it on day one as opposed to spending $30,000 halfway through, after you've been drinking dirty water for 20 days and you're sick," Lee said. "Some cast members were smart, like, 'Hey, you know what, we're gonna get ripped off whether we buy it on day one or day 20. Let's just buy it on day one. Obviously, they didn't, but eventually they got around to that — they understood that strategic level. That was a real smart play on their part. Took them a few days, but eventually they figured that out."



3. The most "unexpected" social insight: Bonds over views around money overcame personality and cultural differences.

Lee said the cast splintered into groups that shared similar strategic plans around the money and crossed geographical or cultural divides, something the show creator called "unexpected."

"Basically, you see this cast member named Cody," he said. "He comes from a pretty conservative background and his family is very entrepreneurial. They're very willing to delay gratification for the long-term good. He ended up bonding with a girl named Makani, who couldn't have come from a more different background. She's a free spirit, alternative girl who traveled the world and is a bit of a hippie. So the conservative and the hippie girl ended up bonding over their mutual decision to not spend money and to delay gratification. And that was a huge surprise.

"In the real world they would never get along," he continued. "They would never even know each other in the real world, because they come from such different tribes. But because they both shared this notion that money's valuable and we gotta preserve it, and not spend, they bonded."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Everyone is talking about WikiLeaks’ massive CIA data dump — here’s what’s going on (AAPL)

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WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks published a large cache of documents stolen from the CIA related to hacking tools on Tuesday. The Wall Street Journal has confirmed their authenticity with an intelligence source

The files seem explosive at first glance. Internal CIA files are rarely seen, and WikiLeaks has used them to claim that the agency has "lost control of the majority of its hacking arsenal."

But some of the claims that WikiLeaks presented along with the documents have been criticized by security researchers as being exaggerated or overblown. WikiLeaks has claimed that secure messaging apps have been broken, and that the CIA can hack into iPhones, which have widely been seen as a more secure choice than Android.

Although the documents themselves are a rare and fascinating look into the CIA, there isn't much in there that should worry everyday people for now, security researchers and professionals told Business Insider. 

Here's what you need to know as an iPhone or iPad user about the WikiLeaks' "Vault 7" dump.

SEE ALSO: WikiLeaks claims the CIA built special tools for hacking iPhones and other Apple products

False: The CIA was able to break into Signal and WhatsApp

Apps like Signal and WhatsApp are commonly cited as secure messaging apps, meaning that the government, companies, or hackers can't intercept messages in transit and read them.

That's what security professionals call "end-to-end encryption."

So, if the CIA was able to break into Signal, as several outlets and commentators have claimed, that would be a big deal. Even WikiLeaks is phrasing its claims to make it sound like this is the case. 

The good news is that there is no evidence in the WikiLeaks dump that suggests the math that keeps messages secure — called "crypto"— behind either WhatsApp or Signal has been broken, as suggested by WikiLeaks. 

Instead, the claim is more fundamental. If the CIA were able to hack into an end user's iPhone or Android device, then Signal's crypto wouldn't matter. The CIA would be able to read what users are seeing and sending before it was encrypted by the software. 

If your computer or operating system, like iOS, is already compromised, then it doesn't matter how secure your messaging system is.

Basically, "CIA has some expensive, targeted ways to hack phones, and if your phone is hacked, well, your apps won't save you," Zeynep Tufekci, New York Times contributor and associate professor at the University of North Carolina School of Information and Library Science, told Business Insider. 

"If someone is specifically targeted and their phone is running an older version and thus vulnerable to exploitation, no 'secure' apps can protect you because the OS itself is compromised," Will Strafach, CEO of Sudo Security Group and a security professional with extensive experience with iOS exploits told Business Insider. 

Signal's underlying technology remains secure. “End-to-end encryption has pushed intelligence agencies away from undetected and unfettered mass surveillance to where they have to use high-risk and targeted attacks," Signal creator Moxie Marlinspike told New York magazine

"WikiLeaks has an interest in getting big hype for their leaks obviously, so it blurs what is and is not a concern,"Strafach said. 



WikiLeaks did not release a tool that can hack an up-to-date iPhone

Although WikiLeaks claims the CIA has exploits that can work on iPhones, the actual tools and code needed to implement those hacks was not included in the document release, according to Strafach and other security experts. 

The documents do refer to iOS exploits — commonly called "zero days," or bugs that have not been publicly found before — but they tend to be threads and hints leading to a working exploit, instead of what's needed to verify the CIA's capabilities. And many of the exploits in the leaked files have already been found and squashed.

Apple declined to comment on the WikiLeaks files. 

What WikiLeaks is claiming the CIA can do is scary: Basically, using expensive undiscovered bugs, it could take over a target's phone if it gets them to click on a link or another attack vector. 

Using exploits, hackers can "make [a phone] appear to be off when it's really on, and enable your microphone, and be able to listen to conversations you're having with other people," exploit vendor and famous hacker Kevin Mitnick told Business Insider last month

Strafach said that after perusing the WikiLeaks files, "If you are an average iOS user and you are worried about a malicious party downloading this leak and using information form it to hack your iOS device, you can rest easy."

"This is not possible from what has currently been released," he said. 

Strafach said that much of the files seem to show tools that do "not appear to be incredibly 'production-ready'" and are experimental in nature. Many of the files released look like the work of a small team working on experimentation and R&D, and resemble how iPhone jailbreakers and small security companies put together research and internal wiki websites, he said. 

"I can’t rule out that there is not a single live vulnerability at all mentioned, but I at least have been able to ascertain that this leak does not have anything which can pose a threat to an everyday user," he said. 



WikiLeaks hasn't published everything it has

WikiLeaks said that it removed code and other parts of its leaked data that could be used by hackers. But it has said that Tuesday's dump is only the first of many — it's possible that WikiLeaks is planning to publish exploit code in the future.

But that might end up being a good thing for iPhone and iPad users, because when an exploit becomes public, it gets patched by Apple and other big tech companies. Once it's patched, hackers and organizations like the CIA can't use them anymore. 

Apple pays up to $500,000 for a working iOS exploit. Mitnick said the going rate for an iOS exploit can range up to $1,500,000. 

If there are any exploits revealed by the WikiLeaks CIA files, it's possible that it just made millions of dollars of software useless. The CIA "have to use these [attacks] very carefully,” Marlinspike said to New York Magazine. “Every time they use one, there’s a chance it’ll be detected, which costs millions of dollars to them.”

For maximum security, you should update to the latest version of iOS on your iPhone or iPad in Settings > General > Software Update



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

From rich kid to first daughter: The fabulous life of Ivanka Trump

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Ivanka Trump

Ivanka Trump has lived her life in the public eye.

Born to then real-estate mogul Donald Trump and model Ivana Trump, his first wife, Ivanka Trump is the now president's oldest (and favorite) daughter.

She has been a business executive, runway model, socialite, doting mother, and now key adviser in her father's White House.

Here's how she did it:

SEE ALSO: Ivanka Trump describes her life as the daughter of a US president, running the Trump empire, and building her own brand

DON'T MISS: The meteoric rise of Hope Hicks: How a 28-year-old with no political experience found herself in Trump's inner circle

Ivanka Trump was born in Manhattan on October 30, 1981.



She is the middle child of Donald's first wife, Ivana, who was born in Czechoslovakia.



Her mother and father divorced in 1992 after a very public breakup when he cheated with Marla Maples, who would become his second wife. Ivanka was 11 years old.

Instagram Embed:
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See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 9 best countries in the world for working women, as voted by expats

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Taipei

Expats that move abroad for new job opportunities have to take a host of aspects into consideration, such as cost of living, tax, and cultural integration.

However, for women some countries are better than others in providing opportunities and an amenable work environment.

In a new survey by InterNations, the world’s largest network for people who live and work abroad, the company asked 14,300 expats, representing 174 nationalities living in 191 countries or territories, to rate 43 different aspects of life abroad on a scale of 1-7.

Out of those people, almost half of the women who currently live abroad mentioned their job or business as a reason for expatriating and those 6,000 women rated the place they live and work in.

To celebrate International Women's Day, Business Insider took a look at the best nine countries for women who want to work abroad:

9. Norway — Female expats in this country can expect to earn a lot more than they would at home. However, the country is not at the top of the list due to the lower levels of overall happiness.



8. New Zealand — 61% of female expats say that they would "possibly stay forever" in the country, due to the amount of leisure activities and a good work-life balance.



7. Ecuador — Money clearly is not everything. 29% of female expats earn significantly less than at home but 84% say they feel satisfied with their work-life balance.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 19 most prestigious and powerful business degrees in the world in 2017

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NYU grads

LONDON — A business or management degree can be a springboard to huge things, helping grads secure high paying, high prestige jobs at big banks, hedge funds, and consultancies. Generally speaking, the better the university, the more chance of getting to Goldman or Bridgewater Capital.

Every year, education company QS produces a comprehensive ranking of the world's best universities, broken down by region and subject. QS's latest ranking was released on Wednesday, and it includes some interesting data about which universities provide the best education in business and management.

A university's ranking is based on the institution's reputation with academics and employers, and the number of research citations the school gets per paper published in a specific discipline — in this case, business and management.

Check out the highest-ranked universities for getting a degree in business and management below:

19. Columbia University — New York-based Columbia has one of the best business and management degrees on earth through its central New York campus. It climbed from 22nd in 2016.



T=17. University of Chicago — Climbing two places from its ranking of 19th in 2017, Chicago's business school has produced famous alumni including the founder of Oracle Larry Ellison.



T=17. New York University — Beating Columbia once again, NYU is officially the best place in New York City to do a business and management degree. Students of business at the university attend the prestigious Stern School of Business.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

RANKED: 13 global cities where rent eats up most of your wages

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new york

LONDON — When it comes to renting in some of the world's leading cities, it can seem like the bulk of many people's salaries are spent on accommodation.

New research by British housebuilder Barratt London found that workers in some cities spend as much as 50% of their salary on rented accommodation.

So what percentage of an average salary does it cost to rent homes in leading cities around the world? Barratt's research throws up some interesting findings.

Whereas New York is traditionally regarded as one of the world's most expensive cities, it is another north American city which tops the list in terms of unaffordability.

And despite recent reports of London's rental market easing up, it remains strikingly high on the list.

Take a look at the full list below, which ranks 13 major cities according to their unaffordability — calculated as the percentage of the average city wage which is required to rent an average one-bedroom apartment.

13. Toronto, Canada — Canada's most populous city is the least affordable in the country, although two north American cities fare worse in terms unaffordability.

Average rental price for 1-bed apartment: £732 pm

Average proportion of wage spent on rent: 30%



12. Milan, Italy — Rated as an "alpha" leading global city, Milan's business district hosts Italy's stock exchange and headquarters the country's major banks and companies. Rent is expensive by European standards, but still low compared to London.

Average rental price for 1-bed apartment: £627 pm

Average proportion of wage spent on rent: 30%



11. Barcelona, Spain — The city's urban area extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of around 4.7 million people, making it the sixth-most populous urban area in the European Union.

Average rental price for 1-bed apartment: £651 pm

Average proportion of wage spent on rent: 32%



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 15 coolest tech companies in the North of England

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SwapBots cofounder

The North of England hasn't traditionally been considered a technology hub in the same way that cities like London and Cambridge have. 

But that doesn't mean there's nothing going on there. 

The region, which encompasses cities like Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle, is home to an increasing number of technology companies, according to government quango Tech City UK. Many of the startups are relatively small compared to those in the capital but there are several tech giants with offices scattered across the North as well. 

Here's 15 of the coolest tech firms in the North of England:

 

15. Kontainers

Kontainers' platform lets companies book shipping containers through an online platform. It allows businesses to book freight door-to-door. That means a company could book a delivery from, say, a Chinese factory to a UK warehouse. 

Location: Newcastle 

Founded: 2014

Funding: $3.49 million (£2.87 million)

Number of staff: 



14. Cronofy

Founded by entrepreneurs Garry Shutler and Adam Bird, Cronofy has developed an application programming interface (API) that developers can use to create two-way calendar integrations between their apps and Google Calendar, Apple iCal, and Microsoft Exchange.

Location: Nottingham

Founded: 2013

Funding: $1.7 million (£1.4 million)

Number of staff: 9



13. Reason Digital

Working with charities in the UK, Reason Digital uses digital technologies to tackle issues such as poverty, inequality, and a range of diseases that define our times, including dementia, HIV/AIDS, cancer and diabetes.

"We don't need to apologise to our team for having to work on unfulfilling projects for apps so people sign up for spam or gamble their savings away — seeing the difference our projects are making is reward enough," a Reason Digital spokesperson told Business Insider. 

Location: Manchester

Founded: 2008

Funding: Undisclosed

Number of staff: 40



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 23 best countries in the world to live in if you're a woman

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young woman in ireland

Sweden is the best country in the world to live in for women, according to a new ranking from U.S. News & World Report.

Just in time for International Women's Day on Wednesday March 8, the media organisation surveyed more than 9,000 women as part of its wider 2017 Best Countries ranking in order to determine which of 80 countries around the globe are the best for women to live in.

The full 2017 Best Countries List surveyed 21,000 business leaders, informed elites, and general citizens to discover how 80 countries are perceived on a global scale for a range of criteria, from economic influence to citizenship and quality of life. The Best Countries for women scored highest on five of these attributes: human rights, gender quality, income equality, safety, and progression.

While Tunisia and Bolivia are the worst countries for females, according to the study, the best places to live as a woman span across the globe.

Scroll down to see the 23 best countries in the world to live in if you're a woman, ranked in ascending order.

23. Czech Republic: Gender equality is one of the key priorities of Czech governmental policy, making this the first city to make the list.



22. Singapore: An act called the Women’s Charter was passed in 1961 to protect and advance the rights of women and girls in Singapore.



21. Poland: Though it has restrictive abortion laws, the other criteria in the study make Poland one of the best places for women to live.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The 25 highest-paying jobs in America in 2017

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nuclear power

Considering the amount of schooling and training it takes to become a doctor or lawyer, it's no surprise that these jobs are in the top echelon when it comes to pay.

But as a new report from job site Glassdoor shows, there are plenty of other high-skill, high-paying jobs that don't involve litigating or blood.

"With nearly half the list comprised of jobs in the tech and healthcare industries, this report reinforces that higher salaries are found in America's fastest job-creating sectors, which require higher education and in-demand skill sets," says Andrew Chamberlain, Glassdoor's chief economist. 

Based on salary reports shared by employees with these jobs on Glassdoor over the past year, here are the 25 highest-paying jobs in the US, the current number of job openings, and what these people do:

SEE ALSO: 32 high-paying jobs for people who don't like stress

DON'T MISS: 10 jobs that will make you happy and rich

25. Attorney

Median base salary: $94,695

Number of job openings: 1,010

An attorney represents and advises people, businesses, and government agencies in criminal and civil litigation.



24. Nuclear engineer

Median base salary: $94,852

Number of job openings: 155

A nuclear engineer conducts research on nuclear engineering projects or applies principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.



23. Financial planning and analysis manager

Median base salary:$94,862

Number of job openings: 501

A financial planning and analysis manager performs business and financial analysis to help the company measure its success and predict its needs.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

10 trendy Austin restaurants you need to try right now

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st. elmo brewing austin

If you're heading to Austin for the annual SXSW festival this week, you'll want to make sure you're hitting up all of the best spots in town. 

Every week, the Foursquare team puts together a "Trending This Week" list, ranking food and drink destinations by which are generating the most buzz on its two apps. Its Austin version includes everything from a healthy salad place to a new Tex-Mex spot serving up Mexican martinis.

If you've already hit up the classics like Franklin's BBQ and Torchy's Tacos and want to try something new, these are your best bet.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best places for a power breakfast in New York City

10. Heo Eatery

6214 North Lamar Boulevard

Stop by Heo Eatery for Asian street eats like a turmeric fish rice box or a lemongrass beef banh mi. It's open for both lunch and dinner. 



9. DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana

8000 Burnet Road

This pizzeria — which also has locations open in Nashville, Charleston, Los Angeles, and Fort Lauderdale — is known for cooking its pies in authentic, imported pizza ovens. If you're up for trying something new, order one of the pizzas with a stuffed-ricotta crust. 



8. WhichCraft Beer Store

1900 Simond Avenue, Suite 200

This beer mecca's Mueller location has nearly 30 different brews rotating on tap. Swing by one of the tap room's special events to sample new beers from local breweries. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

THEN & NOW: What happened to the stars of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' 20 years later

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buffy the vampire slayer

For 20 years, a petite, beautiful blonde girl has subverted the norm.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" premiered on March 10, 1997, and ever since, we've been able to watch (and re-watch) Joss Whedon's fast-talking, atypical heroine save the world a hundred times over from vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness.

"Buffy" spawned a fanatic cult following, created its own language, inspired hundreds of scholarly books and articles (often dubbed Buffy Studies), and truly was "golden" even before the almighty Golden Age of Television started.

Beyond the show's large cultural footprint, "Buffy" also launched careers for many of its main stars. And some have had some surprising paths.

See what the main "Buffy" cast has been up to since the show premiered 20 years ago:

SEE ALSO: The 50 best TV show seasons of all time, according to critics

DON'T MISS: RANKED: The 20 best new TV shows right now, according to critics

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers)

After retiring Mr. Pointy, Gellar was at the peak of her "it girl" status — which was especially so after she married fellow early-2000s royalty Freddie Prinze Jr. But she never did anything that topped "Buffy." She had memorable turns in the “Grudge” films, and in 2011 and 2013, she did single-season stints on the CW (“Ringer”) and CBS (“The Crazy Ones,” with the late Robin Williams).

Since, Gellar has laid relatively low. She continued her voice acting on “Star Wars Rebels” and filmed the now-shelved TV reboot of one of her hit movies “Cruel Intentions.”

But nothing is stopping Gellar from her latest passion: baking. Gellar cofounded Foodstirs, which is aimed at helping families bond in the kitchen (Gellar has two kids) by baking with consciously sourced ingredients. She actively promotes the culinary-lifestyle brand on InstagramGellar also wrote a cookbook called “Stirring Up Fun with Food,” which will be released April 4. (Freddie Prinze Jr. has his own cookbook, too.) It’s about as far as you can go from slaying vampires.



Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg)

Hannigan married "Buffy" costar Alexis Denisof in 2003, a few months before the show ended, but she didn’t have to wait too long to find her next hit TV series. Starting in 2005, Hannigan starred in the beloved sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” as Lily Aldrin for nine years. Since the show's end in 2014, Hannigan has taken a step back. For one season in 2016, she hosted “Penn & Teller: Fool Us,” a competition series in which aspiring magicians show their best tricks to the famous duo. She was also tapped to star in the TV remake of “The First Wives Club,” but the project has been shelved for now.

Like Gellar, Hannigan has also focused on a hobby that involves her two children: crafting. She’s such a crafter that she converted her Los Angeles home’s guesthouse into a hyper-organized crafting room.

You can tell she’s really into it:

 



Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris)

Over the course of seven years, Brendon appeared in 21 episodes of “Criminal Minds” as Kevin Lynch, but beyond that, he's unfortunately led a tumultuous life after “Buffy.”

Since 2010, he has been arrested several times. In September 2015, he was arrested after an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend and was charged with third-degree robbery along with two counts of criminal mischief and one count of obstruction of breathing. He's also been arrested on a charge of public intoxication.

In August 2015, he walked off the set of “Dr. Phil,” writing later in a Facebook post that he felt Dr. Phil “went for the jugular, talking about some of my recent mistakes, with no build up. I felt that he wanted me to lay the darkest parts of myself on national TV right from the start, and I’m not willing to do that.”

Brendon has spent time in rehab and admitted to a relapse in mid-2016.



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The 5 best reasons you should play the incredible new 'Legend of Zelda' game

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In the late 1980s, a bizarre video game from Japan arrived in the United States and became a near-instant classic.

It starred a boy named Link, on a quest to save a princess named Zelda, in a mysterious, massive open world called Hyrule. 

The Legend of Zelda (NES)

"The Legend of Zelda" for the Nintendo Entertainment System is now regarded as one of the best games of all time — a masterpiece work from Nintendo. What "Cinderella" is to Disney, "The Legend of Zelda" is to Nintendo.

And it looks like Nintendo — long-regarded as the Disney of video games — just topped that original accomplishment with "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The game just launched on Nintendo's new Switch console, as well as the Wii U, and it's receiving near-universal praise from critics and fans alike. There's good reason for that — it's an incredible, memorable game that everyone should play

Here's why!

SEE ALSO: 20 tips and tricks for conquering the fantastic and surprisingly challenging new 'Zelda' game

DON'T MISS: The first major game on Nintendo's new console is one of the best games I've played in years

1. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" is a game about discovery in its purest form.

Hyrule is an inhospitable place early on in "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." There are monsters everywhere, you've got very little health, and the weapons keep breaking. You can die from being in too cold of an area, or from drowning. 

From these early encounters, you'll learn which enemies are strongest and how to defeat them. You'll learn how to extend your meager health with food and armor. You'll learn how to most effectively use the weapons at hand, in whatever circumstance. And, most crucially, you'll learn how to survive in extreme temperatures. 

All of these early lessons are taught through trial-and-error, and the solutions are often completely logical. That cycle is repeated throughout "Breath of the Wild," and it's part of what makes the game so magical. It's the same sense of mystery, followed by discovery, that brought millions of people to the original "Legend of Zelda" so many years ago.

Though clearly not the case, "Breath of the Wild" gives you a sense of being the first person to discover its treasures. It's a world full of puzzles hand-crafted to make you feel smart.



2. Forget about "Grand Theft Auto"— this is a truly open world.

There are few limitations in "Breath of the Wild," but they're severe in nature — they often result in death (which isn't as bad as it sounds). Perhaps an area is filled with powerful enemies; perhaps the climate is extreme. There are millions of different ways to die in Hyrule.

More often than not, you will survive. Rather, you'll find a way to survive.

Maybe you'll distract those enemies, or you'll sneak past them. Or you'll figure out a way to get to the top of that mountain peak. And, without fail — time and time again — "Breath of the Wild" rewards that tenacity. In those moments of triumph, the game's designers are nodding at the player — as if to say, "We see you! Thank you for caring enough to go through with that! Here is your reward!"

And, every time, it's a delight.

After an initial starting area, where Link is equipped with several tools ("runes") that serve as the base for much of the game's puzzle solving, you're free to go wherever you want. Think you're tough enough to take on the game's final boss, Ganon? Go right for him. He's in Hyrule Castle, which you can get to immediately — if you survive the walk there. Or perhaps you'd like to take a break from the game's many quests to just explore the massive world of Hyrule? Go for it! There's a ton of stuff to see and do. This is a game that rewards exploration of its massive world.



3. Hyrule is full of charming, goofy, memorable characters.

Much like "Breath of the Wild" encourages exploration and discovery, it rewards your interest in its characters. Towns full of people dot the landscape, each citizen ready to chat. Some have missions, but many just have a silly story to tell or a song to sing. It's a classic trope in Legend of Zelda games, but it's got new levels of polish in "Breath of the Wild."

Beyond just reacting to what you say, what time of day it is, and your previous actions in the game, Hyrule's many characters also notice if you're walking around in your underwear. It's a silly touch, no doubt, but it's another testament to Nintendo's attention to detail with "Breath of the Wild." 

Of note: You don't have to be a longtime fan to play "Breath of the Wild," though there are plenty of nods to previous games that fans (like myself) will appreciate.



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12 destinations in Asia that tourists haven't discovered yet

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Jiufen Taiwan

Asia is full of opportunities for every kind of traveler — especially the adventurous traveler looking to go where most other travelers haven't been.

Luxury Asia tour operator Remote Lands provided us with some hidden gems across the continent that are still unknown to many tourists.

From an ancient tropical rainforest in Malaysia to a prehistoric city in South Korea, here are 12 must-see spots.

Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia

You'll want to dive straight into the jewel-toned water that surrounds Indonesia's jungle-covered Raja Ampat islands.

If you're adventurous, go for a swim with whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay Marine Park, or explore caves and ancient rock paintings on Misool Island. Plant lovers can head to Waigeo Island, the home of the bird of paradise.

 



Gyeongju, South Korea

Although it's only a few hours from Seoul on the bullet train, Gyeongju is a city that will make you feel as though you've stepped back in time. The coastal city was first settled by humans in the prehistoric period, and then served as the capital of the Silla dynasty for 1,000 years.

It's no wonder then that the city boasts the most pagodas, temples, palace ruins, and tombs in all of South Korea. The beautiful 8th century Bulhuksa temple is one such example and a site you won't want to miss. 

 

 



Yala, Sri Lanka

The array of wildlife you'll encounter in Yala National Park is impressive to say the least. The park has one of the largest populations of leopards in the world, as well as peacocks, crocodiles, sloth bears, and elephants.

The landscape itself is also incredibly diverse; you'll make your way through grasslands, rainforests, and beaches. History buffs won't want to miss the Buddhist monastery of Sithulpawwa, a more than 2,000 year-old temple that was once home to Sri Lankan kings.

 



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13 off the beaten path destinations in Europe

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Ljubljana, SloveniaThe INSIDER Summary:

• Travel to some of Europe's off the beaten path cities. 
• Less known than Paris and Rome, Zagreb, Valletta, and Skopje make great travel destinations.


Sure, there’s Rome, Paris and London—all of which are amazing—but for those who have already been there, done that or are looking for places a little more undiscovered, these European cities are for you. 

Seville, Spain

Most people head to Barcelona or Madrid, but Seville in southern Spain is an Andalusian gem. Come here for delicious tapas, afternoon siestas, cortados at sidewalk cafes, and the relaxed lifestyle emblematic of Spanish culture—then stay for the city’s architecture and culture. Don’t miss the magnificent Plaza de España and the mudejar Alcázar palace (also known as Dorne to Game of Thrones fans). Though Seville has much to offer tourists, the city still feels local at heart, especially the neighborhoods of Triana, famous for its tile workshops, and the area surrounding the 16th-century Alameda de Hercules, which features a fresh market, jazz bars, and al fresco cafes for an evening glass of wine.



Riga, Latvia

More than 800 years old and rich in history, Riga is the Baltic region’s largest city and was named the European Capital of Culture in 2014. Take in the old Gothic spires of the Riga Cathedral and its collection of art nouveau buildings, the largest in the world. Then check out the city’s burgeoning alternative scene (see the Kanepes cultural center), modern art centers, odd museums (one is entirely dedicated to the sun’s role in Latvian culture) and experimental restaurants for a taste of the new.



Ljubljana, Slovenia

Pronounced “lyoob-lee-yah-nah," Slovenia’s tiny capital (population 300,000) is perfect for those who love to wander. Slip on your walking shoes and stroll through the artsy pastel-colored city and the tiny lanes that fan out from the Old Town’s city square. It’s also worth it to take in the views from the hilltop castle, and browse the works at the Museum of Contemporary Art, which houses the country’s collection of 20th-century Slovene art. Those who are after a more alternative scene can’t miss Metelkova, an autonomous arts community in the city center, with live music, colorful murals, funky studios, and dive bars.

 



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Stunning photos of 'Caramel Curves,' the all-female motorcycle club that rules the streets of New Orleans

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caramel curves:helmet kiss

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Caramel Curves is the only all-female African American motorcycle club in New Orleans.
  • They're local celebrities thanks to coordinating outfits and tires that emit pink smoke.
  • Photographer Akasha Rabut spent three years photographing them.


With their matching outfits, sky-high stilettos, and dazzling motorbikes that emit puffs of pink smoke, Caramel Curves is a photographer's dream.

Founded in 2005, the all-female motorcycle club meets every Sunday to cruise through the streets of New Orleans and share in the sisterhood of partaking in what is often a male-dominated arena. 

Photographer Akasha Rabut spent three years riding with them and documenting these divas in action.

Photographer Akasha Rabut was out and about on Super Sunday in New Orleans when she came across two women sitting on motorcycles.



"They mentioned that they were in an all-female motorcycle club called 'Caramel Curves,' and my interest was totally piqued," she said.



They invited her to their meeting at a nail salon owned by one of the members, where she decided to document the group through a photo series.



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