New York Marathon Tips - Home Viewing Guide

By: Dan Visnick - Eat, Drink & Travel

This Sunday marks the 40th running of the New York City Marathon, an annual rite of passage for New Yorkers and running fans around the globe. This year, an estimated 2 million people will join the nearly 40,000 running participants on and around the streets of New York.

If you're not going to be one of those 2,040,000 persons, however, it's still possible to join in the fun remotely. Whether you want to cheer the progress of friends or family who are running (go Charlie & Margaret!) or just keep tabs on the competition from your couch, these tips will keep you in the middle of the action without risking a pulled hammy.


Learn the history. From humble beginnings in 1970 when the course was a few laps around Central Park, the marathon has grown into an iconic, global event. Having a little context will make your viewing more rewarding, and you'll be able to drop some knowledge on your friends if you happen to be watching with them. Get the company line from the official website or the Web 2.0 version from Wikipedia.

Get to know the course. Yes, it still runs through Central Park, but it also winds through the other four boroughs, starting in Staten Island and ending in Manhattan. Even though you may be strapped to your couch, it shouldn't preclude you from trying to visualize what the runners are experiencing. Here's a course map you can download and print, and here's a great video that takes you through the whole course in 7 minutes, marking the mileage along the way.

Get the schedule. Here's the scoop - professional women kick-off the race at 9:10 a.m. EST, and subsequent waves keep going until 10:20 a.m. Eastern time. WNBC is broadcasting the event live in New York and Universal Sports will be airing it live on the Internet. NBC Sports will broadcast a 2 hour highlight package starting at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

Track your friends (or favorite celebs). This alert tool will send you email updates on people you know as they cross checkpoints along the route. If you don't have any close friends you'd like to track, you can sign up for alerts from acquaintances like Ed Norton (bib #10612) or other celebs running this year.

Show your support. Just because you won't be running doesn't mean you can't be inspiring. Make sure to reach out to people you know who are running - it's a grueling event and they will appreciate the support. Instead of calling or emailing, try posting a public note on Facebook or Twitter and maybe you'll start an avalanche of support messages. Don't know anyone personally to support? No sweat, you can sponsor a Maasai Warrior and race vicariously through them.


Photo credit: flickr cc Martineric

Best NFL Stadiums for Tailgating

By: Rahul Kishore - Rahul's Musings

If Baseball is America’s past time, then football is its day job. Going to games is more than just a way to fill up a Sunday afternoon or evening, it’s a religious experience for some. For those who truly support their team with their heart and soul, for the season ticket holders who haven’t missed a game in decades, the tailgate party is their playing field. There is no better place to show off how big a fan you are than in the parking lot of your local NFL stadium, hours before your team takes the field. But when it comes to tailgating and fan spirit, a few teams and stadiums really stand out.

1. Lambeau Field, Green Bay Packers — Green Bay, Wisconsin, would probably be the last place you would look to locate a professional football team. This city of 100,000 is one of the smallest to have its own franchise, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in spirit. Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packers have solidified their place in history as a legendary franchise in a legendary stadium. Playing at Lambeau is an experience all in itself, and watching a game there is necessary for any true fan of the game. Lambeau is a fantastic combination of historical significance, amazing fans, and some of the best views in the League. Don’t be surprised to see fans showing up in Green Bay on Thursday before a Sunday Night game to prepare, sitting in hot tubs on the back of flat bed trucks in the middle of winter.

2. Heinz Field, Pittsburgh Steelers — Beautiful Heinz field in Pittsburgh is set against the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, but the serene setting is rarely relaxing for visiting teams. Whether it's the 6-time Super Bowl Champion's Steel Curtain defense or the rabid fans that crowd the parking lot starting at 8 AM on game days, there is a lot to fear in Pittsburgh. But when it comes to being a fan, there are few better places to tailgate. If you want to just join in on the action you can park across the river in downtown Pittsburgh and save yourself some parking fees. But if you really want to be in the midst of the action, be sure to show up early at the north side of the lot. Tailgating action at Heinz tends to extend from the north end of the parking lots to the edge of what once was historic Three Rivers Stadium.

3. Gillette Stadium, New England Patriots — If Joe Montana and the 49ers owned the 80’s, and John Elway and the Broncos owned the 90’s, then Tom Brady and the Patriots have owned this decade. Patriots fans are drawn from all over the north east, from Boston to Nashua and Nantucket to New Haven. This eclectic group of fans comes from every background and makes tailgating at Gillette Stadium one of the most original experiences one can have. There are baked clams, clam chowder, and grilled goodies galore, but what sets tailgating here apart from other stadiums are the boisterous fans that will go to any length to represent their team. They’ll run around shirtless in the middle of a New England winter without a second thought, and after all of it they’ll be ready to cheer for their team at kickoff.

4. Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo Bills — Buffalo, home of the eponymous chicken wing, will always lay claim to the title of ultimate tailgating food. When you come to “the Ralph” as locals call it, be prepared to arrive early, be as rowdy as possible, and remember to enjoy as many of those delectable wings as you can. This season the Bills will host their first Monday night games in recent history, and you can expect that Bills fans will start showing up at Ralph Wilson Stadium well before the event takes place to prepare for game day.

5. Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City Chiefs — In Kansas City, as the last days of summer come to a close and Chiefs fans prepare for the upcoming season, the city begins to take on a red hue as fans don their gear. Though the Oakland Raiders may try to compete with the “Black Hole”, the sea of red that every fan witnesses at Arrowhead stadium on game day is something that every NFL franchise envies. It is a colossus, and from a distance it seems as though it is one single unit storming around what seems to be a puny patch of grass. There’s nothing quite like the sight of thousands of middle aged men decked out in more red than you’ve ever seen and screaming like little children as their team takes the field.

6. Cowboy Stadium, Dallas Cowboys — By most accounts, Cowboy Stadium is poised to become the new Mecca of NFL stadiums. Just completed this year, the stadium is a testament to one of the better football franchises in the history of the NFL. It seats more than 70,000 people, sports the world's largest video display, and has fans from all over the lone star state that descend upon days before the game even starts. There are few other teams in any sport that command the same amount of attention, coverage, or rabid fans as Dallas does, so it's included in the list although it has yet to host an official NFL game yet.


Photo credit: flickr cc BrunkFordBraun

Deals and Discounts for 9-9-09

By: Dan Visnick - Eat, Drink & Travel

What's so special about 9/9/2009? Numerologists will tell you it's an auspicious date with powerful numbers, ancient cultures believe the number nine represents long-life (Chinese) or bad luck (Japanese), and more practically it's the last time we'll see a single digit, repeating date until January 1, 3001. Oh, and marketers from movie studios to hoteliers to wedding chapels are taking advantage of the good fortune of the date to launch films and offer discounts and deals.

The number 9 also has significance for Center'd, since the 9 dots in the center of our logo help complete the 28 dots of this centered nonagonal number. At any rate, we figured we'd get in on the fun by highlighting some local businesses that are offering deals today or that have the auspicious number 9 in their name.


Deals & discounts:

Restaurant.com - Offering more money off its usual discounts: Save 90% off with every $25 Gift Certificate order. Use code NINETY and Pay $1 thru 9/13/09 3:01 AM PST at Restaurant.com.

Envy the Steakhouse at the Renaissance Las Vegas - Offering $9.99 dishes at lunch and dinner. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., all soups and salads on the lunch menu (plus the roast beef sandwich) will be $9.99 or less. And from 5 to 10 p.m., all appetizers, soups and salads on the dinner menu will be $9.99 or less; two $9.99 wine flights also are being offered.

Spirits Pub & Grub in Cary, NC - Magic Hat #9 beer and a burger for $9.09.

Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City - Offering $99 room rates, $99 spa treatments, and a chance to win $999 in bonus slot dollars.

Hard Rock Hotel, Chicago - Re-tweet the following message on twitter “RT to win! @HardRockChicago is giving away 9 rooms for $9. Winners selected 9/9/09! #contest #hardrockchicago09” and get automatically entered to win one room night at the hotel for a $9 rate. Nine winners will be selected at random on 9/9/09.

Businesses with 9 in their name:
For a special night out on 9/9/09, give one of these businesses with 9 in their name a try.

Nine, San Francisco, CA

N9NE Steakhouse, Chicago, IL

The Nines, Ithaca, NY

Nine Steakhouse, Las Vegas, NV

Nine Fine Irishmen, Las Vegas, NV

Nine on Nine, Pittsburgh, PA

If you know any other 9-9-09 deals or businesses with 9 in their name, post a comment.


Photo credit: flickr cc westerndave

Favorite Amusement Parks for Labor Day

By: Rahul Kishore - Rahul's Musings

Labor Day is a great time to get out of the house, take advantage of a day off of work and take the kids out for a day of fun at one of America's great amusment parks. The amusement park is something that is distinctly American. No other culture seems so interetested in the thrill of being catupulted at 120 mph in an open air car heading straight for the ground. Luckily there are a multitude of parks that fulfill our needs for speed, thrills, and fun. Here are some of the best amusement parks to visit this Labor Day.

Cedar Point, Ohio — Cedar Point is a roller coaster addicts dream. This amusement park, situated on a small peninsula jutting into Lake Eerie, is home to the most roller coasters in the entire world. The 17 different coasters at this 364 acre wonderland are bound to throw you for a loop. If you’re into speed, Cedar Point is home to the second tallest and second fastest coater in the entire world, hitting speeds of 120 mph. Cedar point also boasts four coasters with heights above 200 ft, the only amusement park that can claim that title. Cedar Point has 75 different rides, also the greatest for any amusement park, and is sure to please the entire family. Cedar Point also has two water parks and a long sandy beach which is great for swimming during the summer.

Schlitterbahn, Texas — For those who enjoy water more than absolute speed on a coaster, Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, Texas, should be your amusement park of choice this Labor Day. The park offers many uphill water rides including the original “Dragon Blaster," and newer iterations like the “Master Blaster." Many travel magazines have rated the “Master Blaster” as the best water ride in the entire world. The park also has miles of innertube rides, a water playground for kids, and tons of other water slides. Schlitterbahn has been consistently rated as one of the best amusement parks in the US and often the best water park.

Disneyland, California — For many, childhood memories include a trip to Disneyland in Anaheim. This amusement park, the brainchild of Walt Disney himself, has always been part of Americana. Though Disneyland may not have the biggest coasters or the most thrilling rides, the park has always been able to reinvent itself for each generation. It’s an amusement park that you have to visit at least once in your life, regardless of what type of park you enjoy. The park is constantly adding new rides, and with the addition of a sister park, California Adventure, Disneyland always has something new to offer its guests.

Knoebels Amusement Resort, Pennsylvania — The worst part of amusement parks has always been getting past the ticket stand. These days parks like Disneyland and Six Flags have no qualms about charging $100 for a single day ticket. Knoebels is the largest open admission park in the country. The park has 50 rides which are all pay-per-use. In the end, you’re bound to save a lot of money at Knoebels in comparison to most amusement parks. Even if you decided to ride the roller coasters until you threw up, you probably still would have saved money. Knoebels is also a great place to take the kids for the day and is about a three hour drive from Philadelphia.

Legoland, California — After creating a hugely successful park in Germany, Lego built an amazing amusement park out of its famed building blocks near San Diego. The park is both a spectacle of engineering and a great place to spend a day. There is everything from race cars made out of Legos to enormous reproductions of famous monuments. Legoland is definitely one of the most unique theme parks in the U.S., and is probably the most complicated. The many different sections of the park keep visitors interested and occupied for the entire day. Legoland is also great for kids who often stare up in awe at what people have made from these little blocks. Don’t be too surprised if they run to the Lego store at the park wanting the largest kit available so that they can start working on their own Lego creation.

Photo credit: flickr cc Stefan

Free Papa John's Pizza for Camaro Owners Today

By: Dan Visnick - Eat, Drink & Travel

Maybe you've seen the commercials with Papa John's owner John Schnatter driving around in a Camaro delivering free pizzas to people and wondered, like me, what the heck is this ad about?

It turns out there's a back-story to this campaign which was recently revealed when the eponymous owner was reconnected with his youthful love, a 1971 Z28 Camaro. The upshot is that Papa John's is giving a free pizza to Camaro owners today, Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - "To redeem, Camaro owners must arrive at their nearby Papa John’s restaurant in their Camaro to order and pick up their free pizza."

You can find some Papa John's here:

Papa John's in Louisville, KY (Their hometown)

Papa John's in New York, NY

Papa John's in Philadelphia, PA

Or search for one in your local area.

Photo credit: Papa John's

Meet the Chefs of Top Chef Season 6 (Part 2)

By: Rahul Kishore - Rahul's Musings

Continuing on our post from yesterday, here's the rest of the Top Chef season 6 class:

Eli Kirshtein — Kirshtein could be considered the prodigy of the cast this season. He started his career in the kitchen at 16, working for Kevin Rathbun at Buckhead Diner in Atlanta. Soon afterwards he moved to Fishbone under Chef Richard Blais, his long term mentor, before attending Culinary Institute of America in New York. He spent much of his years in college experimenting with different types of cuisine and interning under some of the best chefs in Manhattan. Kirshtein returned to Atlanta to work with Blais on One, Midtown Kitchen, which become wildly popular. He is now the Executive Chef at ENO, Restaurant and Wine Bar.

Michael Isabella — Isabella has bounced around from the best restaurants in New York City to Stephen Starr’s restaurants in Philadelphia. But he found true passion when he worked at Kyma, one of Atlanta’s best Greek restaurants. At Kyma, Isabella understood the understated flavor of Greek cooking and spent time in Greece and the Middle East understanding the subtlties in preparation of grilled meats. He is now the chef at Zaytinya in Washington, D.C.

Jennifer Zavala —Zavala is an expert in the cuisine of Latin America. She is currently the Sous Chef at Xochitl, a restaurant in Philadelphia that specializes in high end latin cuisine. Zavala uses fresh ingredients and seasonal flavors to take traditional Mexican dishes and turn them into culinary delicacies.

Eve Aronoff — Ann Arbor, Michigan, is home to the University of Michigan, some of the best college bars in the country, and Eve Aronoff's restaurant, Eve. Aronoff is a Le Cordon Bleu Paris graduate, and combines her love for french cuisine with the flavors of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Her restaurant in Ann Arbor specializes in taking the “methode traditionelle” and making it into something exciting and different.

Mattin Noblia — The only native Frenchman of this season’s cast, Noblia combines traditional French cusine with a Basque and Spanish heritage to produce dishes that pay homage to his roots. Noblia is the owner of Iluna Basque, a popular restaurant in San Francisco. Iluna is an experience in the Basque region of France, where Spanish, French, and Italian flavors and traditions blend.

Kevin Gillespie — Gillespie specializes in American cuisine, the combination of meats, vegetables, and spices to make a traditional dish anything but ordinary. Gillespie worked at the Atlanta Grill and Two Urban Licks in Atlanta, before heading to Oregon to become the Executive Sous Chef at Fife Restaurant. He has since returned to his hometown to become the Executive Chef at Woodfire Grill.

Michael Voltaggio — For the first time, Top Chef is bringing in siblings to compete against eachother. Michael is the younger of the two Voltaggios, and will have to compete hard to beat his brother. Voltaggio has been trained in traditional European cooking while innovating and using modern techniques to create flavor. He is the only chef this season to have his own Michelin star. Voltaggio has been Chef de Cuisine at the Dining Room of the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida, and at Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen. He is currently Chef de Cuisine at the Dining Room of the Langham Huntington Hotel.

Bryan Voltaggio — The older Voltaggio is chef at VOLT in his native Frederick, Maryland. Like his brother, he worked with famed celebrity chef Charlie Palmer. His restaurant, VOLT, is considered a three-star fine dining establishment. Voltaggio focuses greatly on his produce and seasonal harvests. He uses the bounty of the fields around him to craft extraordinary dishes, using the specific flavors of each piece of produce to create original dishes.

Ashley Merriman — Born in the northeast, Merriman has spent much of her Culinary career in Seattle where she is currently chef of Branzino. Previously she was chef at Tilth, and Butter in New York City. Merriman takes advantage of the simple flavors of generally available ingredients to craft her dishes. her favorite ingredients for dishes include, extra virgin olive oil, champagne vinegar, lemons and thyme.

Tune in Wednesday to see which of the chefs continues on in the competition.

Photo credit: flickr cc FLICKR USER NAME

Meet the Chefs of Top Chef 6

By: Rahul Kishore - Rahul's Musings

The sixth season of Bravo's hit series, Top Chef, is about to begin. This season's contestants are diverse, each having their own skills and unique histories. Here is an in-depth look at each of the chefs vying for the top spot, in two parts (check back tomorrow for the second half).

Laurine Wickett Hope — Hope is the chef/owner of Left Coast Catering, a company that got its start bringing fresh and interesting cuisine to the high-power dinner parties of the Silicon Valley elite. Hope never used menus to impress her clientele, instead taking advantage of some of the best produce in the world and making different dishes for each occasion simply by finding the freshest ingredients from the market.

Preeti Mistry — There are a lot of perks of working for Google. You have one of the coolest corporate campuses around, you get “recess” just like in elementary school, and you also get to eat tons of free food from Preeti Mistry. Mistry is the executive chef of Google’s cafeteria, and though to some that might seem a dead end for a chef, the cafeteria at the Googleplex is just different. Mistry is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in London and is known for integrating Indian flavors into many of her dishes.

Ron Duprat — Ron Duprat has been an executive chef along the Gulf Coast for much of his career. He specializes in mixing the flavors of the Caribbean, the delicacy of France, and the cooking style of Asia into a delectable and original burst of flavor. Ron’s talent in spices should help him differentiate himself from the competition as Top Chef wears on.

Hector Santiago — A native of Puerto Rico, Santiago is now the executive chef and owner of Pura Vida in Atlanta. Santiago specializes in Latin flavors, but integrates South American grilling techniques and a wise hand for spices and peppers to make his cooking truly unique. Santiago spends a lot of his time focusing on the process and experimentation of cooking. He works on taming flavors and bringing them together in new and different ways.

Jesse Sandlin — A native of Baltimore, Sandlin is one of the few chefs this season who has no cooking degree or training. Completely self taught, Sandlin was inspired to get into the restaurant business while working at Paragary’s Restaurant Group in California. She currently is the Executive Chef at Abacrombie Fine Foods, an exploration into European Cuisine with a twist. Sandlin is known for using fresh seasonal ingredients to create food that spans culture and nationality.

Jennifer Carroll — Jennifer Carroll got her start in the kitchen in California as a sous chef at Julia and Cafe Kati in San Francisco. After great success on the west coast, Carroll returned to her hometown of Philadelphia to work at Sonoma and Aroyo Grill, helping create one of the most popular dining experiences in Philadelphia. After a year at Arroyo Grill, Carroll took a job at Le Bernadin in New York, Eric Ripert’s famed restaurant. Since then she has taken the position of Chef de Cuisine at 10 Arts, Ripert’s new restaurant at the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia. Carroll’s diversity of experience in the kitchen should prove to be her secret weapon this season.

Robin Leventhal — An artist, a teacher, and a chef, Robin Leventhal is a jack of all trades. She is a self taught chef, and was formerly the owner and executive chef at Crave, a popular restaurant in Seattle. Leventhal’s cooking is rooted in the pacific northwest, with spices from her adventures around the world.

Ash Fulk — Fulk, a San Francisco Bay Area local, got his start cooking in a small restaurant in Oakland. Since then this small time, self taught chef has moved from small kitchens to the lower west side of Manhattan. Fulk is now the Sous Chef at Trestle on Tenth, a popular restaurant near the Chelsea Piers.

Look for part 2 of this post tomorrow where we'll give you the scoop on the rest of the contestants.

Photo credit: Bravo

Great US Beaches

By: Rahul Kishore - Rahul's Musings

Sometimes you just want to escape to your own secret isle, a place with sandy shores and beautiful skies. Few of us can afford an entire island, but sometimes finding the desolation that we want is as simple as hopping in the car and driving out to the coast. All along the US coast and in Hawaii there are beautiful beaches, undiscovered treasures that have taken millions of years to shape. Here are the best beaches in America to escape to in the summer months.

Hanalei Bay, Kauai, HI — Hawaii is full of amazing beaches, but what puts Hanalei Bay ahead of the competition is its serene setting. Hanalei Bay has 2 miles of perfect beach set against the base of huge green mountains on the north shore of Kauai. The water is glassy much of the year, calm and perfect for people of all ages. The water is a perfect hawaiian turquoise and as warm as a bath. This is the perfect beach to just toss around a frisbee or take a swim out into the ocean. Be sure to take off your shoes, let your feet sink into the sand while the water slowly laps up at your toes.

San Gregorio Beach, San Gregorio, CA — Though the Pacific Ocean in Northern California tends to hover in the low to mid-50’s year round, what makes beaches here so beautiful are the iconic cliffs that line the coast. Many beaches, including San Gregorio are 50 vertical feet below the roadway, a sheer drop against huge sandstone cliffs that define the California Coast. As the sun begins to set, and the sky turns from blue to pink, these faces have a golden sheen that shines off the water. The sea is rough and the breeze is laces with salt. So if you ever find yourself near San Francisco, and you’re tired of city life, then head out to the coast, drive down the Pacific Coast Highway and stop at San Gregorio while the sun is beginning to set.

Coopers Beach, Southampton, NY — Though it seems like California and Hawaii get all the credit for having the best beaches in the US, the Hamptons were the original spot to put your feet in the water and walk through the sand. Coopers Beach in Southhampton, like many of the other Hamptons, is full of the wealthy and elite from New York City during the summer months. The water seems to sparkle as it passes over the wet sand making for one of the most pristine and iconic beaches along the east coast. But what sets Coopers Beach apart from the rest are the enormous beach front mansions that look out towards the water, each nestled behind a windswept bank and overgrown coastal shrubs. But even if you can’t afford to buy yourself a palatial Hamptons estate, you can enjoy the calm that people find in the Hamptons.

South Padre Island, TX — Out in the Gulf of Mexico, South Padre Island is a small isle full of beautiful white sand dunes. This one horse town is nothing more than a beach and a couple of shops. But there’s nothing quite like the desolation you find in South Padre, the ability to sit down under an umbrella and spend your entire afternoon reading a good book. There are few places where you can sit down and stare out into the beautiful blue waters of the gulf and not be surrounded by thousands of other beach goers. South Padre is also a great place to try out any sort of beach activity whether it be parasailing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, or fishing.

Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii — Hamoa Beach, on the road to Hana in Maui, is a beach that is guarded by huge boulders and volcanic rock at its edges. It is a perfect crescent of silvery gray sand that feels soft against your feet. The water can be rough, but the sights and sounds of this beach make it one of the best in the Hawaiian islands. Though relatively well known amongst Hawaiians and tourists alike, Hamoa beach always seems to maintain a sense of desolation. Set in front of huge Hala trees, civilization seems millions of miles away from this place. Be sure to walk along the edge of the water, and just enjoy the smells of the Maui forests and the warm water biting up at your ankles as you walk along the crescent.

Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, MA — During the summer months, Coast Guard Beach is one of the best places to swim on the Cape. It’s a beautiful stretch of sand sidled along the beautiful waters of the Atlantic. Though the Cape is full of New England’s elite during the summer months, it still maintains its down-to-earth feel. The beach can become crowded during the summer months, but this beach at the heart of the national seashore is one of the best places to be on the Cape. The calm waters are great for kids and adults alike and is a great place to spend a weekend for Bostonians who want to escape the city.

Hapuna Beach, HI — Though many of Hawaii’s beaches have fantastic snorkeling, Hapuna Beach has been known to have one of the most beautiful reefs in the entire archipelago. At the south end of the beach you can swim out about 15 feet to see fish of all colors, running in schools all along the coral. The clear water will give you some of the most up-close and personal views of marine life, and many of Hawaii’s native fish. The north side is also great for swimming out into the open ocean while the beach is well outfitted for picnics, barbeques, and just sitting back and relaxing.

Photo credit: flickr cc Jay Bergesen