Outwester.com

Gawker: New York City Subway Smell Map

Nothing but props for the Gawker: New York City Subway Smell Map.

Google Sightseeing's pretty cool too.

RSS Roundup 'Always hip' neighborhood in midst of cool revival

RSS Roundup: Miami Herald visits the Lower East Side:

MiamiHerald.com | 09/17/2006 | 'Always hip' neighborhood in midst of cool revival.

Downtown NYC street scene

  PUCK 
  Originally uploaded by HELLO, my name is _____..

What's On: San Francisco Arts & Culture Sept 2006

  Golden Gate Bridge Sunset 
  Originally uploaded by mattiasgrillet.

This week we're starting a new feature here at Outwester: monthly roundups of San Francisco's varied Arts and Culture scene.

The city, justifiably famous for its range of arts offerings, remains as progressive, independent and adventurous as always. You'll find heaps of info on what's on at SF Station, to whom we bow humbly and offer mad props and that hyperlink.

We'll aim to highlight some choice morsels that grab our eyes, which we'll focus on lesser-known trends and events that may be flying under the mainstream media. Each month we'll profile several cool happenings, any of which we'll give the Outwester guarantee of good stuff. Here goes:

Snap Your Hands Say Yeah: Never know what a walk down mid-Market will reveal. Today we came upon Fingersnaps, a self-proclaimed DJ and Arts Collective that offers 8-hour DJ training workshops. Cueing, beat mixing, equipment tips, audio engineering -- all are covered in lessons adaptable to beginners or advanced DJs. One on one consultations, all gear provided (though you may wish to bring your own CDs.

With opportunities in audio/video amplifying throughout the media world, all boosts to your skill sets and terminology bases are more than welcomed. Impress HR at your next potential gig with you offline creativity.

Start Your...Installations?: Art and autos converge on the Bay Area Sept 14-17 for ArtCar Fest 06, the 10th annual California road rally/pilgrimedge for the most American of mobile public art forms. Elaborate sculptures-slash-canvasses on wheels, ArtCars are exactly that: cars recrafted as mobile artworks.

If you've never seen an ArtCar parade, head to Amoeba Music on Haight Street, Thursday at 11am (or Amoeba on Telegraph in Berkeley around 5) for the Amoeba to Amoeba Caravan, winding its way across the bay. Or check the Pyramid Brewery Kick-Off Party, the staging point for the first evening's festivities. For the full weekend calendar, click here.

  The Illustrated Car 
  Originally uploaded by schmeebis.

Bikes, Birds & Madelline Kahn as the Bride: Just in time for September, San Francisco's best weather month, Film Night in the Park has a winning schedule for winning evenings, convening in shared public spaces.

On Saturday, Sept 9, Hitchcock's The Birds takes flight at Union Square. Saturday Sept 23 signals The Bicycle Thief in Washington Square Park (don't hate them cause it's spelled wrong.) Wear black or white for Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein ("that's fran-ken-steen"), screening on Saturday, Oct 7 at Dolores Park.

More films are screening at sites around Marin County. For photos of past events, check here.

Wired Magazine Backpacking Stoves

Just tested backpacking stoves for the August 2006 Wired Magazine. Too bad that Jetboil GCS didn't wow me like I'd expected, but can't wait to use the Brunton again.

  MSR pocket rocket 
  Originally uploaded by ryebrye.

  Ah....the Jetboil 
  Originally uploaded by mike.palic.

The Doctor Weighs In

With summer approaching thoughts turn to sandy stretches and the annual America's Best Beaches list, courtesy of Florida scientist Dr. Stephen Leatherman, AKA 'Dr Beach'.

Predictably, three of the 10 beaches are in the Sunshine state, including the chart-topper, North Beach in Fort DeSoto Park, outside St Petersberg. Here's the honor roll:

1. Fort DeSoto Park - North Beach, St Petersberg Florida
2. Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, North Carolina
3. Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
4. Caladesi Island State Park, Clearwater, Florida
5. Fleming Beach, Maui, Hawaii
6. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
7. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
8. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida
9. Main Beach, East Hampton, New York
10. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii