Author: Michele Debczak

Some people save for years to enjoy a meal at one of the top restaurants honored by the Michelin Guide. But starting Friday, December 16, New York City diners will be able to purchase a one-star meal for less than the price of a grande latte at Starbucks. As Gothamist reports, Tim Ho Wan, the cheapest eatery to earn a coveted Michelin star, is bringing its dim sum to a new location in Manhattan’s East Village.

In 1900, Michelin started publishing annual city guides as a way to encourage travel among its customers. Today, restaurants around the world can receive up to three stars from the company—one if it’s worth a stop, two if it’s worth a detour, and three if it’s worth a special journey.

These honors are usually awarded to fine dining establishments, which is why Tim Ho Wan captured the food world’s attention in 2010 when it secured a star for its affordable dim sum menu. Based in Hong Kong, restaurant founders Mak Kwai Pui and Leung Fai Keung have since opened dozens of locations around the world. Their New York outpost marks their 45th, and it will serve up many of the same specialties diners find in Hong Kong including barbecue pork buns and steamed shrimp dumplings. The menu will also feature two new items that are unique to the city: fried vegetarian spring rolls and French toast with custard filling. What makes the offerings sound even more appealing is that they’re all priced at $5.50 or less.

The full menu will be available when the restaurant has its soft open this Friday. Unless you’re planning a trip to Singapore, where street vendor Chan Hon Meng was awarded a Michelin star earlier this year, you’ll be hard-pressed to find Michelin-approved eats this cheap elsewhere.

[h/t Gothamist]

Exploring the final frontier can wait until tomorrow. For now, the comfort of a bean bag command chair modeled after Captain Kirk’s looks much more alluring.

This officially-licensed Star Trek product from ThinkGeek is the perfect addition to any living room-turned-casual Enterprise. It’s emblazoned with the Starfleet insignia and even includes a control panel patch with a communications speaker and various buttons. (Unfortunately “beam up snacks” isn’t an option, so you’ll have to leave your chair when you get hungry.)

The $90 purchase gets you the 3.25-foot tall chair cover—no beans included. Affordable filling isn’t too hard to find at big box stores or online, so once you have that taken care of all you need are some Starfleet sweats and you’ll be ready to snugly go where no man has gone before.

[h/t io9]

A windy day in 2013 has made history for producing the tallest wave ever recorded by a buoy, the BBC reports. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the wave measured 62.3 feet from crest to trough, besting the previous record by 2.34 feet.

The data was gathered by the UK Met Office’s K5 buoy, one of the service’s many Marine Automatic Weather Stations. It resides in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Scotland’s Western Isles and monitors ocean conditions with help from ships and satellites. On February 4, 2013 a strong cold front with over 50 mph winds created the perfect conditions for the massive wave to sweep by. The record was recently confirmed by the WMO.

While it may be the tallest wave ever recorded by a buoy, it still doesn’t earn the title of tallest wave on record. That distinction belongs to a 95-footer spotted by a ship in the North Atlantic in 2002. Of course both of those records would be destroyed once you include monstrous underwater waves in the mix, which can reach 1640 feet in height.

[h/t BBC]

Unless teachers have a specimen ready for dissection, it’s hard to turn a lesson in fish anatomy into a hands-on experience. But artist and designer Rachel Ciavarella thinks she’s found a way. Her reversible plush dolls use different materials to bring the inner workings of an anglerfish to life through touch.

According to Colossal, the toy originated as a class project. After seeing the excitement it inspired, Ciavarella decided to take her product to Kickstarter with hopes of making it available to a wider audience.

From the outside, the fish looks like a normal stuffed animal, with a fleece body and jagged teeth cut from felt. But once you turn it inside-out, all the glorious guts are on display. Each part is crafted from a different touch-friendly material like canvas, sateen, faux sherpa, and chiffon. He even has a cute name. Ciavarella writes,

“Morris is named after all of my dead goldfish. As a child, every time I got a new goldfish I would name it Morris and it would inevitably die, as goldfish eventually do. Their memories can now live on through the immortal toy Morris fish.”

With a week still left to go in the campaign, Ciavarella has already raised more than $26,000 of her $25,000 goal. Backers can reserve a Morris of their own for a pledge of $40 or more with shipping set for June of next year.

[h/t Colossal]

If you own a Microsoft Windows phone or desktop PC, you may already be acquainted with Cortana. The voice-controlled virtual assistant is good for things like searching the web and sending emails hands-free, and pretty soon she may be useful around the home as well. As The Verge reports, Microsoft is developing the feature for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including toasters, thermostats, and fridges.

The plan was revealed by Microsoft officials at the tech company’s recent WinHEC conference in China. As Microsoft program manager Carla Forester explained to The Verge, the Windows 10 Creators Update will enable “any kind of smart device with a screen” to use Cortana. Microsoft provided some suggestions for possible IoT hardware but is leaving the door open for manufacturers to build devices for the new software.

The update also includes far-field speech, which will allow users to activate their devices with a “Hey Cortana” voice command from up to 13 feet away. This means that a homeowner with Windows 10 IoT Core appliances could adjust her thermostat or preheat his oven without leaving the sofa.

Windows users will still have to wait a bit before trying the new-and-improved Cortana for themselves; the latest Windows update is expected to roll out in March 2017. Until then they can pass the time by asking Cortana whether or not it’s raining outside.

[h/t The Verge]

Since Jurassic Park premiered in 1993, the practical effects that were used to bring the film to life have all but gone extinct. Computer technology has made enormous leaps in the past few decades, allowing filmmakers to create everything from violent explosions to adorable alien sidekicks from the comfort of an animation lab.

Despite CGI’s undeniable success, plenty of film geeks are still nostalgic for the look and feel of animatronics. J.A. Bayona is one of them, and according to The Hollywood Reporter he plans to revive the lost special effects art when directing the upcoming sequel to Jurassic World. He said in a recent interview:

“It’s complicated because the audience now is so used to seeing CGI that they’re sometimes reluctant toward animatronics. But at the same time, I think animatronics bring soul and reality to it. We’re trying to find the balance between animatronics and CGI in order to cheat the audience so they don’t know what they’re seeing.”

That blending of different effects is what makes the original Jurassic Park so watchable 23 years later. The movie is known for featuring some of the most impressive animatronic puppets captured on film, but at the time, it broke ground with its use of computer technology. That iconic scene where the park guests are introduced to a towering Brachiosaurus marked the first time physically-textured (photo-realistic) CGI was used to create characters that could seamlessly appear alongside live actors.

Rather than showing off this new technology at every opportunity, Steven Spielberg wisely chose to be conservative with it. Only four of the 14 minutes of dinosaur footage in the film are computer generated. These scenes mostly consist of full-body shots where the dinosaurs are moving around, while the animatronics were used for intimate close-ups.

By only using CGI when absolutely necessary, the film was able to achieve this audience-cheating effect that Bayona mentions. It also allowed for more authentic interactions between the dinosaurs and the actors. When the characters meet the sick triceratops in Jurassic Park, their amazement is genuine: Spielberg made sure that scene was shot the first day of filming so the cast and crew could get used to working with animatronics. Jurassic Park also includes some instances of authentic fear, like when the T.Rex puppet broke through the roof of Tim and Lex’s car unplanned.

The animatronics technology in use today is, not surprisingly, even more impressive than the tech used back in 1993. Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow was aware of some of the advantages of animatronics while filming, which is why he had an Apatosaurus puppet made for Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard to interact with. Audiences will have to wait until 2018 to see what dinos receive the animatronic treatment in the next installment.

[h/t Movie Pilot]

It’s already been established that picking up a live Christmas tree locally can be better for the environment than buying a fake one. You should feel no shame then in browsing for trees at one of our country’s national forests this holiday season—assuming you have the proper permit, of course.

According to Travel + Leisure, the U.S. Forest Service offers permits to chop down trees for firewood and holiday decorations starting at $5. To see when your local national forest offers holiday tree permits and for what prices, you can call the forest district office before making your visit. Once you get out there, the U.S. Forest Service asks you take trees from overgrown areas at least 200 feet from the nearest camp ground, recreation site, or main road; choose one with a trunk less than 6 inches wide; and above all, stay safe. Any wood you collect from the forest cannot be resold.

If an aspiring young lumberjack is joining you on your journey, you might be able to take home the tree for free: As part of their collaboration with the Every Kid in a Park Program, the U.S. Forest Service is providing free permits to fourth graders at certain parks. In addition to the permit, kids will also receive a free ornament they can color and design themselves.

[h/t Travel + Leisure]

For some people, the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are more than enough time to celebrate the holidays. But the people living near these locations may feel differently. From Alaska to Tennessee, here are seven towns where Yule is a 365-day affair.

1. NORTH POLE, ALASKA

 
You wouldn’t be faulted for mistaking this 2200-person town for Santa’s home-base. While it’s closer to Fairbanks, Alaska than the true North Pole, it does feature several festive landmarks such as Santa Claus Lane, Kris Kringle Drive, and an expansive Santa Claus house that’s open year-round. In 2015 residents even elected a local man named Santa Claus to preside over the town as mayor. Settled in 1944, North Pole has a development company to thank for its quirky address. The hope was that a toy company would be enticed to move there so they could market their toys as being “made in the North Pole.” That never came to fruition, but the town has embraced their jolly title nonetheless. Things get especially exciting around December, when they celebrate with an ice sculpture contest and an annual winter festival. It’s also the time of year when the town receives hundreds of thousands of letters addressed to “Santa Claus, North Pole, Alaska.” A team of volunteers works each season to ensure every letter is answered.

2. MIDLAND, MICHIGAN

 
There’s no need to journey north of the Arctic Circle to learn what it takes to be Kris Kringle. The most prestigious Santa Claus academy on earth can be found in Midland, Michigan. Since 1934, the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School has been attracting rotund, rosy-cheeked gentlemen to the Midwestern town. It’s there that they’re taught reindeer handling 101, how to dress like St. Nick, and the history of the legendary character. Once the holiday season rolls around, the newly trained Santas disperse to malls across the country—or if they decide to stick around, they can march in Midland’s annual Santa Parade.

3. PARADISE, PENNSYLVANIA

 
Located off U.S. Route 30, Paradise is home to one of those charming roadside museums that can be found in so many small towns across America. What sets this attraction apart is its yearlong commitment to celebrating a single day in December. The National Christmas Center comprises 20,000 square feet of exhibits tracing centuries of holiday history—visitors can peek inside a recreation of an F. W. Woolworth’s 5 & 10 Cent Store, browse through over 500 depictions of Santa Claus, and learn about Christmas traditions around the world. On their way out, guests can do some early holiday shopping at the museum’s gift shop no matter what month it is.

4. FRANKENMUTH, MICHIGAN

 
The streets of Frankenmuth feel like they belong on the pages of a storybook. Dubbed “Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” the town is home to covered bridges, charming old-world architecture, and horse-drawn carriages reminiscent of another era. But the town’s main attraction is what’s said to be the world’s largest Christmas store, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. The 320,000-square-foot space contains 350 decorated trees, 150 styles of nutcrackers, and gifts imported from 70 countries around the world. A hundred thousand Christmas lights brighten the store’s exterior throughout the seasons (their electric bill averages $1250 a day).

5. SANTA CLAUS, INDIANA

 
The residents of Santa Claus, Indiana didn’t have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads when they came up with the town’s merry moniker—they were just suffering from a lack of inspiration. In 1856, back when the town went by Santa Fe, they learned that a town of that name already existed in Indiana. Wanting to at least keep the first half of their address, they reportedly chose the name Santa Claus simply because they failed to come up with something more creative. More than 150 years later, Santa Claus, Indiana is the state’s number one destination for year-round holiday festivities. Visitors can check out the town’s Holiday World (which pays homage to Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Independence Day as well as Christmas), pick out sweet treats from Santa’s Candy Castle, or head over to Santa’s Lodge motel and bask in the glory of the two 12-foot fiberglass St. Nicks on display outside. Kids looking to reach the community’s famous post office can mail their holiday wish lists to 45 North Kringle Place, Santa Claus, IN 47579.

6. BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA

 
Finding Bethlehem, Pennsylvania isn’t difficult for those nearby—just follow the electric star that looks down on the town from its perch on South Mountain. The festive landmark was first erected in 1937 in an effort to attract tourists to the town in the midst of the Great Depression. That same year, Bethlehem was officially named “Christmas City, U.S.A.” by the Chamber of Commerce—a fitting title for a town that was founded on Christmas Eve in 1741. Originally made from incandescent bulbs strung on plywood, the star of Bethlehem currently consists of steel and LED lights that glow every night of the year.

7. PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE

 
Looking for a blinged-out nutcracker in the middle of July? The Incredible Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee has you covered. The self-proclaimed largest Christmas shopping village in the South is home to wreaths, lights, ornaments, and any other holiday-themed decor you may need whatever time of year you need it. In 2007, the store opened a festive hotel across the street where customers could continue keeping with the holiday spirit even after they’d finished shopping. The Inn at Christmas Place features performances by a singing Santa twice a week, present-wrapping workshops, and plenty of holly jolly embellishments. Things get even more intense around the actual holidays, with 30 or more trees displaying nearly half a million lights on the hotel grounds.

Approximately 120 years ago, a student at Hereford Cathedral School in the UK checked out a library book he never got around to returning. Arthur Boycott is no longer alive to deliver the book back to its rightful home in person, but recently, his granddaughter was able to clear his name for him, the BBC reports.

Alice Gillett stumbled upon the University’s copy of The Microscope and Its Revelations by Dr. William B. Carpenter while rifling through her family’s collection of some 6000 volumes. Even though it was about a dozen decades overdue, Gillett decided to return it after spotting the HCS library stamp inside. Fortunately for her, the school agreed to waive the late fee, which would have amounted to something close to $9361.

Despite his apparent lack of respect for their library system, Boycott went on to become a source of pride for the school, earning a name for himself as an accomplished naturalist. And he’s in good company when it comes to epically overdue library books: A book George Washington borrowed from the New York Society Library went unreturned for 221 years.

[h/t BBC]

For every Uber horror story you’ve shared, you can rest assured that drivers have plenty of their own. In an effort to encourage better behavior among passengers, the ride-sharing service recently released a list of actions that could potentially get users banned, VentureBeat reports.

The updated community guidelines don’t contain any major surprises: They’re mostly common sense rules that anyone who’s ever conducted themselves in public will hopefully be familiar with. The list of behaviors to avoid includes shouting, swearing, vomiting, carrying firearms, leaving trash in the car, allowing minors to ride unaccompanied, and flirting with drivers or fellow passengers. Uber makes that last part crystal clear for those who didn’t catch on the first time: “As a reminder, Uber has a no sex rule. That’s no sexual conduct between drivers and riders, no matter what.”

They also remind passengers that local laws still apply once they’ve climbed into the backseat. This covers obvious violations, like verbal and physical harassment, but also less serious misdemeanors like riding without a seatbelt or asking drivers to exceed the speed limit.

If most of these rules sound obvious to you, you might be more concerned with receiving less-than-stellar ratings than losing your riding privileges all together. Uber shared a few tips to help boost your rating as well. A big one is punctuality: Meeting your driver where and when they’re expecting you is ideal, but if you know you’re going to be late it helps to shoot them a call or text updating them with your E.T.A. Above all, Uber asks that you treat the people you share your ride with with respect. They write: “People who use Uber come from all walks of life. Please respect those differences in your conversations and behavior. We want drivers and riders to always feel welcome.”

To find out if your good (or bad) passenger behavior is reflected in your rating, you can follow these steps to see how Uber drivers have scored you.

[h/t VentureBeat]