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latte-fairytaekwoon · 4 years

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𝑀𝑎𝑓𝑖𝑎! 𝐴𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑧: 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑆/𝑂 𝐺𝑒𝑡𝑠 𝐷𝑟𝑢𝑛𝑘

Disclaimer: In no way am I condoning, supporting, justifying or encouraging mafia activities or lifestyle. This is all fictional and not meant to represent real life scenarios.

Bonus naggy mom disclaimer: Everyone please drink responsibly, alcohol can seriously mess up your five senses and you'll be hating yourself in the morning when you're hungover and remember all the dumb shit you did. And especially don't drink and drive, if you plan to drink, be sure to have a responsible designated driver or call an Uber, taxi, Lyft, etc.

✧𝓚𝓲𝓶 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰✧

You opened your eyes, the slight light coming from the slit of the curtains hurting your eyesight. You tried lifting your head, but ultimately failed as a killer headache took over. You groaned and fell back on the pillow.

"Maybe now you'll think twice before doing something stupid like, oh... I don't know? Hmm... getting wasted at a sketchy bar and then roaming around the streets alone!"

You didn't even notice Hongjoong was in the room till his nagging made you aware of his presence.

"Don't yell at me! My head hurts!" You exclaimed, clutching your head.

Hongjoong shook his head in disapproval as he reached over and poured you a glass of water. He wasn't actually mad at you. He was just panicked so much last night when he couldn't find you anywhere, thinking about all the things that could happen to you, if they didn't already. He was actually relieved to find you all in one piece.

"Here. I'll go make you something for your hangover." Hongjoong handed you the glass of water along the some painkillers before heading out to the kitchen.

"I love you Joongie." You called out, knowing full well he wasn't mad at you, just worried.

"Of course you do. Who else would put up with your crazy antics?"

You laughed at his usual way of saying he loved and adored you as well.

✧𝓟𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓢𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓱𝔀𝓪✧

"I don't wanna go home!" You whined as you tried to break your hand away from Seonghwa's grip, who was currently dragging you through the parking lot.

"I never asked for your opinion and frankly right now I don't care." He replied, turning around and proceeding to lift you up and carry you into the car.

"You're so mean Park Seonghwa! Never letting me have fun." You said as you tried slapping his hands away as he strapped you into the seat.

"I let you have fun.... safe and wholesome fun. Not this kind of rowdy fun that ends with you complaining the next day." Seonghwa sighed trying not to hurt you.

"I never complain!" You protested.

Seonghwa smirked.

"Oh no? Let's see if that's true tomorrow."

He knew it was all bullshit. Tomorrow you'd be running your mouth, cursing yourself for drinking so much and he'd still be there taking care of you because he loves you and he's a sucker for you..... also to tell you he was right all along.

✧𝓙𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓨𝓾𝓷𝓱𝓸✧

Yunho was seriously regretting taking you to this club. He should have known that since you were tinier than him and Mingi, obviously your alcohol intake would be much lower than theirs. Mingi didn't help either, he kept pushing drinks to you even after Yunho told him to stop.

"Lighten up Yunho, when did you become such a boring stick in the mud?" Mingi complained.

"When I started dating, like seriously dating, not like you who just hook up with random people." Yunho couldn't help but take a jab at his friend.

Yunho decided to go outside to cool down for a bit, not wanting to make the situation more tense and to not lose his temper. He came back inside once he was calm and was scared when he couldn't find you.

"Where's Y/N?" He looked over to Mingi.

Mingi just snorted as he pointed to where you were and Yunho was speechless when he saw you on top of a table, dancing wildly as you tried to take your shirt off.

"Ok! I think it's time to go home!" Yunho pulled you off the table and covered you up in his jacket.

"But why? Don't you like it when I strip for you?" You teased him, almost stumbling back when you tried to walk.

"Baby trust me, I do enjoy it...when there's not like 500 people looking. Now come on, I'm taking you home."

✧𝓚𝓪𝓷𝓰 𝓨𝓮𝓸𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓰✧

You woke up and the first thing you saw was Yeosang staring at you with a sly smirk on his face.

"How's my baby feeling?" He couldn't hold back the snort in his voice.

"Don't. Fucking. Start." Your threat wasn't menacing enough as you fell back into the couch when you tried to get up.

"Seriously? You couldn't even take me to the bedroom?" You whined.

"Bathroom is closer in the living room, which actually, you spent a lot of time in, puking your guts out and I helped you out." Yeosang replied proudly as if he did something extraordinary.

"Go away if you're going to be like that, I'm not feeling good." You groaned and plopped a cushion over your head.

Yeosang pouted and gently patted your tush.

"Aww come on baby, you know I'm only playing. How about I go make you something to help you? Hmm?"

You nodded softly and Yeosang melted at how cute you were, and went to the kitchen to make you food.....but since he was also a little shit, he made it a point to make as much noise as possible just to annoy you.

"Kang fucking Yeosang! Stop making so much noise! My head is going to burst!" You screeched.

✧𝓒𝓱𝓸𝓲 𝓢𝓪𝓷✧

"Ok there we go."

San struggled a bit due to you squirming around, but he finally managed to get you tucked in bed. Your drunk self had other plans though and grabbed him by his belt loops.

"Sannieee....." You whined.

"What?" He asked, trying to stop your hands from wandering too far.

You giggled softly before saying:

"Please fuck me."

San blushed slightly and chuckled.

"Baby as much as I'd love to, you're too drunk and about to pass out anytime. I'm not going to take advantage of you in your condition. I love and respect you too much to do that."

You became emotional at his words and actually started crying. San became flustered.

"No please don't cry sweetheart! You're going to make me cry and we can't have that." San bent down and started trying to calm you down, stroking your hair and kissing your cheeks.

"I just can't believe you actually said that. You love me so much to-"

You didn't get to finish as you passed out immediately.

"There it is. You see? Told you you'd pass out."

San couldn't get mad as you were hilariously cute whenever you got wasted.

✧𝓢𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓲✧

Mingi stood staring at the people in front of him: San, Wooyoung and Yunho just sat silently in the living room, while Yeosang held a totally drunk you up.

Mingi sighed.

"You know....when I said keep Y/N company....I didn't mean get them wasted!" His voice boomed through the living room.

"Ok...true...but look on the bright side.... at least it was in your house and not some club or bar...right?" Wooyoung tried reasoning with him.

Mingi was so furious at them, he actually began scolding them, adding a few insults to reprimand them for dragging you, his innocent and pure baby, into their reckless behavior.

"Mingi..." You tapped on his arm for the 20th time.

"Not now sweety, I'm not finished yet." He shrugged you off.

"Mingi I think I'm gonna-" You clutched your stomach in pain.

Mingi immediately scooped you up in his arms and rushed you to the bathroom where thankfully, he got there in time so you could throw up in the toilet.

"It's ok sweetheart, let it all out." Mingi said as he held your hair up.

Once he was done taking care of you and putting you to bed, he was going to cut off the other's heads for this.

✧𝓙𝓾𝓷𝓰 𝓦𝓸𝓸𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓰✧

"Wooyoung! I think I'm dead!" You called out to him, who was currently in the bathroom.

"You're talking though." He responded.

"Yeah I know! But I'm dead!"

You pressed your face into the pillow, feeling like shit and wanting to die.

"So am I speaking to your ghost?" Wooyoung let out his high pitched laughing.

"Shut the fuck up Wooyoung! This is all your fault!" You screeched.

"How is it my fault?!" He popped his head out the bathroom.

"You're the bad influence! You were there last night repeating 'Another shot! Another shot!' and you kept at it till I swallowed the entire bottle!" You accused him.

"I did no such thing!" He said as he came into the room.

"Oh sure. Now you don't remember! Fuck you." You huffed and covered yourself in the blankets.

Wooyoung snorted and sat down next to you, gently rubbing you through the blanket.

"Come on baby, you know you're not mad at me. After all, who's going to make sure you're taken care of in your state?" He cooed softly.

You peaked out from the blanket.

"Are you really going to be the sweet boyfriend you are and take care of me?"

"Nope. I'm calling Seonghwa to come over and deal with your hungover ass." He laughed and backed away when he felt you shift.

"Jung Wooyoung!" You screamed as you threw the pillow at him.

✧𝓒𝓱𝓸𝓲 𝓙𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓱𝓸✧

Jongho was really holding back only cause you were drunk and you were in front of a lot of people, but you made it really hard cause you kept clinging to him and kissing him randomly. You always did get touchy whenever you got drunk

"Jongho?" You pouted at him.

"What?" He sighed, knowing you were going to say the same thing you've been saying the past 15 minutes.

"I love you." You said as your lips began attacking his neck.

Jongho tried to gently pull you off him, embarrassed that his Hyungs were snickering and laughing at his flustered state.

"Sweetheart could you maybe control yourself?" Jongho groaned when he felt you start to bite at his neck.

"Jongho! This was supposed to be a family friendly get together, not a spot for you two to get kinky." Wooyoung teased him, as Yunho and Mingi pretended to be making out just to piss him off.

Jongho had enough. He told them if they continued, he'd break their necks like one of his many apple victims. He then detached himself from you and picked you up to take you home.

"Enjoy this time while you can Y/N, cause tomorrow I'm making sure you understand why you shouldn't pull stuff like that in front of others."

Gifs not mine, credit goes to their respective owners.

#ateez #ateez reactions #ateez hongjoong #ateez seonghwa #ateez yunho #ateez yeosang #ateez san #ateez mingi #ateez wooyoung #ateez jongho #mafia!ateez #ateez mafia au #mafia!au #ateez scenarios #ateez imagines

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ninjakitty15 · 3 years

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Steering Clear (Loki Oneshot)

Loki couldn’t understand why he was pressured into this trivial, useless and utter waste of time lesson. It was all beneath him, these midgardian contraptions, when he could just as easily get the same results his own magical, mischievous way without needing to lift a finger or get a license for it. Really the only reason why he eventually agreed to the very idea of it was because he wasn’t the only one that was reluctant to go along, the one giving the lesson definitely didn’t sign up for this either and was even less pleased by this whole situation than Loki was. Loki of course found that more than amusing and therefore worth the small amount of time he would actually waste doing this. There was an ongoing joke among his assigned teacher’s friends that said teacher already had a resting murder face but seeing that there was even a darker than murderous look on his face in agreeing to this lesson put a smile on Loki’s instantly.

“What’s got your feathers ruffled now, Barton?” Loki asked none too innocently.

Clint jerked his head sharply in Loki’s direction then with an expression that promised a lifetime of slow, painful deaths. “Shut up and get in the fucking car. You’re lucky we’re stationed in America or this would suck so much harder for both of us.”

Loki arched an eyebrow at the second part as he had come to understand America wasn’t as a great a country as it probably could be, it wasn’t even the second greatest country on this planet, probably not the third either. Nonetheless he graciously did as he was told and slid into the car smoothly, opposite side as Clint. “How do I adjust my seat exactly?” he begrudgingly asked.

“There should be a lever next to your seat to adjust the back, another one to move it forward or backward for leg room.”

Loki reached below his left side seeing as there was absolutely no way to reach down the right and found both levers, fixing his spot accordingly till he was completely comfortable. He glanced at all things needed to control the contraption, how much different could this be than the ships in Asgard? Besides the fact these ones weren’t made to be airborne, a shame that was as he actually enjoyed flying when it wasn’t by his oaf of a brother’s doing. He glanced over at Clint expectantly then and held out a hand. “I believe you have something I need.”

“What’s the magic word?” sneered Clint right back.

“You really don’t want me to say any magic words in your presence as a great many of them wouldn’t give you any peace of mind, something I’m sure you’ve already experienced,” growled Loki right back.

Clint considered chucking the keys he was harboring out the window but as this wasn’t even his car and he was the assigned supervisor for it, he would be the one in trouble for losing them in the end. He also considered a few scenarios where he would get out of the car right before a freak accident occurred with Loki still inside but he reminded himself as the car was still his responsibility in the end and Loki was after all superhuman, he would still be the only one hurting from it. Not worth the pain on his end. What would Natasha do? Probably blind him in one eye that would hinder his ability to drive without depth perception and make it look entirely like he did it on purpose.

“What exactly do you need from me? Ask me nicely,” Clint retorted before realizing how sexual that sounded and inwardly cringed, it sounded a lot better in his head.

“If you would give me the keys to this death trap, Barton, that would be ever so kind of you,” Loki in turn purred, not at all bothered.

Clint reluctantly handed it over, already done with the verbal sparring and just wanting this whole thing to be over already. He suddenly had a desperate need to take a long shower and scrub himself raw.

Loki took no time at all figuring out which key actually worked for the car and turned it till the engine came to life for him.

“Check your mirrors first,” grumbled Clint, earning him an eyeroll from his student driver. “How can someone so much older act so childish?”

“You’d be better asking that question to my older brother who has yet to reach maturity himself despite being the crown prince.”

“I would but I’m stuck here with you instead. Gently press your right foot on the brake pedal on the left then firmly pull the stick shift from P to D.” Clint decided to blame Tony for his mind instantly thinking that too sounded dirty, he couldn’t have been any more uncomfortable doing this if he was wearing a thong and Natasha’s super suit.

Loki did as he was told and was tempted to read Clint’s mind seeing how even giving the god instructions seemed to grind his gears the wrong way but decided against it as he too wanted this over with.

“Take your foot off the brake pedal and gently press it on the accelerator pedal on the right, slowly please. Keep both hands on the wheel as often as possible on either side of the top center or ten and two if this was a clock.”

Loki threw a glance around him before he got bored of simply following instructions to the T and pretended to slowly drive forward before applying more pressure on the pedal and bolting forward, peeling out into the driving course parking lot and weaving his way through the orange traffic cones, tires screeching the entire way with every sharp unorthodox turn. He stole a glance at Clint whilst driving like a Fire Giant out of Muspelheim who was sheet white and pressed back against the passenger seat, knuckles just as white while one hand gripped the seat and the other hand grasped the latch over the window. He then stopped short in front of a stop sign temporarily stationed ahead before lurching forward and quickly figuring out how much to turn the wheel and brake at just the right time and pressure to miraculously park between two other SUV’s to check off parallel parking on the list of driving achievements. He put the car back in park and turned off the car before turning to Clint fully for his reaction.

“How’d I do?” Loki asked once again not too innocently or as innocently as the god of mischief could sound.

“What the actual fuck was that? No, don’t answer that! I’m gonna need a moment to hold down my lunch and a clean pair of pants after that stunt.” He looked over the list he was given to decide if Loki passed the test or not and was dismayed to find there was no spot for comments or complaints. He was even more dismayed to find that Loki despite his antics and speeding had somehow managed to check everything off the list, well almost everything, he didn’t use his signal lights though to be fair, that seemed to be a dying art among drivers depending on where you were driving. “How the hell did you pass, this is some bullshit.”

“What is it you Midgardians would say? Ye of little faith?”

Clint snorted at Loki’s smug commentary. “This is why I’m atheist.” He snatched the keys from Loki once more and the two got out of the car, Clint glaring at Loki the entire time. “If there really were such things as gods then one of them would show some mercy and put me out of my misery by now.”

“Why Barton, all you had to do was ask and I’d be more than happy to oblige,” Loki cooed.

Before Clint could lunge at the cocky god like he so desperately wanted to do since shooting him wouldn’t do anything, Fury interrupted their verbal battle himself and directed his unforgiving gaze at Clint in warning. “How’d he do?”

“He fucking passed! I’m done with this fuckery! I’m going home and having a shower and a drink, maybe at the same time and I’m never doing any more favors for you ever! Peace!” He tossed the paper in the air dramatically and stormed off without another word or a glance back.

Fury caught the paper before Loki could and read down the list curiously before glancing up at Loki who was smirking proudly back at him. He then took out a cigarette and a lighter and promptly set the paper on fire. “You didn’t think I’d notice the format had been changed and the list shortened, did you?”

Loki scoffed. “Consider me surprised you notice anything with only one working eye.”

“Consider yourself a pedestrian until I decide otherwise and if there is an otherwise it will be either myself or Romanoff as your tester and you can bet we won’t take any of your bullshit tricks. Until then, you better start walking now if you want to get back to the compound by the evening.” Fury then unlocked the car behind the one Loki had parked and smoothly backed out and sped off.

Loki watched Fury drive off and rolled his eyes before disappearing in a flash of green then reappearing right where he last stood and looked around. He sighed, shook his head, and repeated disappearing and reappearing two more times. “What sorcery is this?”

“Mine actually,” another familiar voice spoke up before a sparkling gold ring appeared behind him and out stepped another sorcerer in a red cape and blue robes. “When you can drive, you can teleport again, no shortcuts or cheating.”

“I thought you didn’t want to deal with the Avengers.”

“Oh I don’t, but putting you in your place again made their lesser annoyance worth it. Start walking, no taxi, lyft or Uber will pick you up either, I made sure of it.” He stepped back through his gold ring before Loki hurled a dagger he had summoned at him and disappeared from the parking lot, leaving Loki alone and stranded.

Loki tried once more to teleport only to remain back where he stood before again and cursed in his native tongue before eying the remaining car left. He couldn’t teleport clearly but if he could summon daggers, his magic wasn’t completely cut off. He snapped his fingers and the car unlocked for him, the mortals were fools for teaching him how to drive. He slid into the car and started it up with magic, smirking in satisfaction as it came to life at his command. Rob Zombie’s Red, Red Kroovy came blasting on the stereo and his smirk widened. The sky might be Thor’s but the roads were now his. He glanced up at the rear view mirror before peeling out of the parking lot, the black SUV shimmering into a forest green sports car as it sped off into the city. As if he needed anything but himself to get what he wanted or where he wanted.

#Loki oneshot #loki driving lessons #avengers #clint barton #hawkeye #Fury #Dr Strange #Loki #for @kaogasm #challenge accepted

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lovemesomesurveys · 6 years

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What is your favorite smell/scent?: I like Bath and Body Works’ summer and autumn scents, patchouli, coconut, mint, the ocean air, rain, good food and desserts, cedar, sandalwood...

How long can you run without stopping?: Not long at all. I’m so out of shape now.

What color is the underwear you’re currently wearing?: Red.

How tall are you?: According to the length of my arm span I’m 5′4.

What height do you wish you were?: 5′8, which is how tall I thought I was. Well, how tall I thought I would have been.

What age do you want to live to?: I don’t know.

If you had a time machine, when would you go to?: My childhood.

Have you ever been infatuated with someone and you didn’t even know why?: No.

Have you ever cried yourself to sleep?: Too many times.

Have you ever felt an earthquake?: No.

Have you ever had a pen pal?: Yes. We did that in 3rd grade.

Is your more photogenic side your left or right?: I’m just not photogenic.

Do you currently owe money to anyone?: No.

How often do you shower?: Every couple days.

Have you ever been vegetarian or vegan?: No.

Do you believe in evolution?: No.

If you were ever to be on the news, what would you want it to be for?: I can’t think of any reason.

What’s the fastest you’ve ever driven?: I don’t drive.

Have you ever donated blood? Have you ever done a blood test?: I’ve never donated blood, but I’ve had countless blood tests.

What do you believe happens after you die?: I believe in heaven and hell.

What job do you think people should be paid the most for?: Doctors.

Have you been inside of a burning building? What happened?: No.

Do you like roller coasters?: Nooo.

Do you believe in astrology/horoscopes?: Nope.

Have you ever dined alone at a restaurant?: No.

Have you ever kept a journal or diary?: Yes. I also consider this my diary.

Have you been in a car accident? What happened?: No.

Have you ever lived alone?: No.

Have you ever been stung by a bee?: Nope.

Have you ever bought stuff at a thrift store?: No.

Have you been to a professional sporting event?: Yes.

What do you wear to bed?: Leggings, sweats, or pajama pants with an oversized shirt.

What shampoo do you prefer to use?: I use a salon style shampoo for red dyed hair.

Do you check your phone as soon as you wake up?: To check the time.

Are you always staring at your phone?: No.

What was your very first email address?: I forget, but something so ridiculous.

How often do you do laundry?: Mine gets done once a week or so.

How often do you wash your hair?: Every 3-4 days.

How often do you take naps?: It varies.

Have you ever won a game of pool?: I’ve never played.

Have you ever seen a tornado in real life?: No.

Have you been in a long-distance relationship?: No.

Have you seen a baby being born in real life?: No.

Have you swam in the ocean?: No, I’m too afraid. I admire the ocean from a safe distance ha.

Have you snorkeled?: Nooo.

Have you gone fishing? What about hunting?: I’ve gone fishing before.

Have you gone ziplining?: No.

Have you been rock climbing?: No.

Have you hitchhiked?: Nooo.

Have you had stitches? Where?: Several in different places.

Have you ever broken a bone?: Yes.

Have you ridden in a taxi? What about an Uber/Lyft?: Yes to a taxi, no to an Uber or Lyft.

Have you ridden on a horse?: No.

Have you been on a blind date? How was it?: No.

Have you taken part in a protest? What for?: No.

Have you ever signed a petition?: Yes.

Have you ever been fired from a job? Why?: No.

Have you ever given someone else a haircut?: No.

What is the longest your hair has been?: It’s to my ass currently.

Have you ever made a prank call?: Yes.

Have you ever been stranded because your car broke down?: No.

Have you performed on stage? What did you do?: Yes, for choir concerts and band recitals.

Have you ever danced in front of a mirror?: Yeah.

Have you ever used a tanning bed? What about tanning spray?: Nope.

Do you like to chew gum?: Yeah.

Have you ever smoked a cigarette?: No.

Have you ever purchased anything online?: I’ve done that countless times. Honestly, that’s how I do must of my shopping these days.

What was your favorite stuffed animal as a kid? What was it named?: Hmm.

How many different addresses have you lived at?: 4, I think.

How do you prefer to celebrate your birthday?: Lowkey with the family.

Do you have any famous relatives?: No.

Did you ever pretend to be sick to get out of going to school?: I didn’t feel well often enough so I didn’t have to, but I did probably play it up sometimes.

Who is the best cook that you know?: My mom and brother.

Do you do your own taxes? If not, who does them?: I don’t file taxes.

Do you believe in Big Foot? What about the Loch Ness Monster?: No.

Have you played the lottery before? Did you win anything?: I have and no.

Do your friends tend to be male or female?: Female.

If you could change anything about human nature, what would it be?: Oh where to start.

How many pairs of shoes do you own?: 6.

Do you pluck your eyebrows?: I do.

Have you been bitten by an animal? If so, what?: No.

Have you ever had surgery? If so, why?: I’ve had a few.

Have you gone more than a week without your phone before?: Yeah.

Have you ever had a close friend confess their love for you?: Yes.

Did you attend your senior prom? What about junior prom?: I did.

How do you behave or feel when you’re nervous?: I get really fidgety and squirmy, I bite my lips, pick at my nails, get really hot, my heart is beating super fast... it’s awful.

How do you behave or feel when you’re excited?: My heart rate increases and I’m just in a good mood.

Are you ticklish? Where?: My neck.

Do you usually carry cash on you?: Not usually.

Were you ever held back a year in school? Did you ever skip a grade?: No.

If you had to have plastic surgery, what would you get done?: I wouldn’t.

Do you know how to use chopsticks properly?: No.

Have you ever rented a vehicle?: Not me personally, but my parents have for us when we’ve gone on trips.

Have you ever had a near death experience? What happened?: Yes, twice.

Have you won a contest? What was it?: Yeah. One was when I won meet and greet and concert tickets for Drake Bell.

Have you ever fainted?: No.

Have you ever been on an airplane? What was your longest flight?: Yes. I think the flight was just 5 hours.

Have you ever been given a hickey? Have you given one?: No.

How many times a day do you typically eat?: Two meals and some things in between.

Has anyone given you flowers before? Have you given someone flowers?: Yes.

Where is your favorite place to be alone?: In my room.

What is on your nightstand right now?: My makeup storage thingy, a bottle of lotion, my jewelry holder, and room spray.

What skills would you like to learn?: I’d love to be able to play the piano.

How many vehicles have you owned? Makes and models?: Zero.

Have you ever seen a UFO?: Nope.

#personal #text #survey #surveys

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ultratesterthings · 4 years

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Parents: Take social distancing seriously and limit playdates, experts say - CNN

Social distancing applies to kids too

For the first time ever, Americans are being called upon to practice "social distancing," which the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines as "remaining out of places where people meet or gather," and "avoiding local public transportation." That includes buses, subways, taxis and rideshares (like carpools, Uber and Lyft).

It also means maintaining a distance of six feet (or two meters) from others. Yes, that means you're supposed to be keeping kids six feet apart, not piling them in a car to go the local movie just because they're out of school.

"Children were sent home, businesses closed, and people began working from home," Bitton said, "so they would not be exposed to other children and adults who might unknowingly have the coronavirus.

"When people want to have the kids play with each other or otherwise normally interact, it sort of defeats the purpose," Britton said. "So frankly I wanted to send out a bit of an alarm ... because going out and pretending that life is as usual certainly can't be recommended at this time."

Most children are not in danger

Now let's quickly say -- and remind your children -- that such advice is not because your kids are in serious danger from the virus -- unless, of course, your child is immunocompromised from cancer or another serious medical condition.

In fact, healthy children "are at reduced risk" of serious illness or death from coronavirus, said Dr. Tom Frieden, the former CDC director, in an op-ed for CNN.

"One bit of good news is that, unlike with the flu, children up to at least age 18 appear to not become very ill with Covid-19. They can become infected, but fatal infection appears to be extremely rare," Frieden wrote.

That's "a striking mystery about this virus," Schaffner said, one that experts are struggling to understand. One possibility is that it could be like mumps and chicken pox. In both cases,the older you are when you get it, the worse the symptoms.

Another is that a child's immune system is not as developed as an adult, so the novel conoravirus doesn't trip it into "hyperdrive" as it appears to do in the most affected elderly patients.

Children are 'spreaders'

If the vast majority of children are not in danger, why such caution? Because we don't yet know how infectious children under age 20 may be, said Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, in a press briefing Saturday.

"Are they a group that is potentially asymptomatic and spreading the virus?" Birx asked, as she discussed the need to protect the most vulnerable to the virus -- the elderly or anyone with an underlying chronic disease such as diabetes.

"Children are the great spreaders in our communities -- I like to joke they have the distribution franchise," said Schaffner, a professor of preventative medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee.

"With influenza, which is a crude analogy to coronavirus, children produce very large amounts of virus, and shed this large amount for quite a long period of time," he said.

Will children turn out to be major carriers of this new disease? We don't know and may not know until after many others have been infected and died.

So at this time, it's best for the most vulnerable in our society if we act as though children may be key transmitters of coronavirus, and do our best to help everyone stay safe.

Plan carefully

There's no way you can keep your child away from everyone, of course, so experts suggest parents plan carefully.

Schaffner isn't as concerned about small playdates of two or three children, as long as you know the child and family and can be assured they have had no cold or flu symptoms (early coronavirus symptoms often appear like colds or flu).

Bitton disagrees. He worries the symptoms may be too mild to detect.

"We know that kids touch each other and rough house with each other. And so we really want to be mindful about reducing that interpersonal contact and any potential spread," Bitton said.

If you do consider a playdate, experts say, send the kids to play outside in the yard, where there are fewer places for germs to collect. Make sure everyone washes their hands the right way (scrubbing for 20 seconds) or uses hand sanitizer (also scrub hands when using it).

If possible, consider individual outdoor activities like biking or hiking where sports equipment isn't shared and it's easier to keep a good distance from each other.

Playing outdoors is an excellent activity for the whole family -- it reduces stress, gives us the sunlight and exercise we need, and improves sleep -- all things that fight off illness (of any sort).

"Why not try family soccer games instead of soccer games with 12 kids?" Bitton suggests.

If the playdate is inside, use bleach wipes on every surface you can think of that kids will touch -- wall and light switches and doorknobs, toilet handles and lids, all sorts of toys, and of course any video game controllers or other devices, including TV remotes. Wipe them all again after the other kids have gone home.

What about going out to restaurants? Movie theaters? Grocery stores?

"Going to the movies? Ah, not such a good idea. Stay home," Schaffner said. "We all have to eat," of course, but he suggests picking an unpopular time to visit the grocery store (his son goes at 2 a.m. when it's a ghost town).

He's not as worried about restaurants that aren't packed with people (and there's no connection between food and the coronavirus). But if you want to be extra careful, consider to-go or delivery.

But don't stop using your local favorite businesses -- you want to keep them operating as they are a community resource, Bitton says.

Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter

In the end, experts say, it all comes down to what you -- as a parent -- are comfortable with when it comes to risk. And keep in mind that this is the current advice. It could change tomorrow as we learn more about this viral invader.

But as you ponder how to navigate these next few weeks at home with your kids, keep in mind that the impact of your decisions affect more than your family.

As CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta recently said on Anderson 360: "We have an obligation to each other, I think, more than ever before. How I behave affects you and how you behave affects me."

This content was originally published here.

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oliveratlanta · 4 years

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Q&A: Fourteen influential Atlantans discuss the city’s decade that was

This 2014 mockup of expected development in just one part of Midtown represents a decade of seismic changes across Atlanta, for better or worse. | Jared Adams

We posed one simple question to architects, planners, developers, artists, and other movers-and-shakers

If the 1990s are remembered as Atlanta’s Olympics decade, and the aughts the era of homegrown music cementing itself on a world stage, the teens of this young century could leave a legacy of physical changes—how Atlanta’s built environment began to rapidly become something else, and how the world started to notice.

As part of our End of Decade coverage, we reached out to a spectrum of Atlantans who’ve helped shape the city the past 10 years, from alley walls to high-rises and the halls of higher education.

The goal was to capture viewpoints from interesting VIPs, city and neighborhood leaders, innovators, architects, artists, developers, madmen, madwomen, and more. Responses were limited to 242 words or less—one for each neighborhood officially recognized by the City of Atlanta. The one simple question was this:

“What’s your take on Atlanta’s decade that was?”

Not everyone responded. Atlanta ambassadors in entertainment such as Killer Mike and Big Boi (a hat-tip to their friends and reps for trying), along with influential locals like Cathy Woolard, Shirley Franklin, and Blondie... well, the door’s open to expanding this story if they can find the time.

What’s represented below are perspectives covering a large swath of Atlanta, beginning with input from the city’s planning czar himself, the only respondent to not follow the 242-word rule. But with historical context like this, he gets a pass.

Tim Keane

City of Atlanta planning commissioner

“This past decade was a hugely significant one in terms of the direction of Atlanta and the region. After the catastrophic recession slowly diminished, beginning about 2010, people’s expectations about lifestyle and homeownership began to change, perhaps forever. As a result, the City of Atlanta’s population began to increase substantially for the first time in 60 years.

Courtesy of City of Atlanta

Between 2000 and 2010, the region added 1.6 million people, and the City of Atlanta only 3,529—or less than half of one percent of the region’s growth. Ten years later, we’re experiencing a much different scenario; in each of the last two years, the city added 10,000 or so new residents. The City of Atlanta now issues more residential building permits than any other jurisdiction in the region. We have experienced a shift in where people want to live, which has the potential to remake the city and region as significantly as low-density suburban development did over the last generation of growth.

The City of Atlanta’s population density in 1940 was about 8,500 people per square mile. Today it’s about 3,600 people per square mile. There remain vast amounts of underused property in the city—including downtown and in proximity to our high-capacity transit stations. The potential for growth in the city is enormous. The good news is that a growing city center helps with the most vexing problems we face as a city and region; particularly challenges related to mobility, affordability, and sustainability.

This growth can make a better city if we are intentional about it. A place where people of all economic means can thrive and where we create a public realm that supports a more urban lifestyle. So, this past decade in Atlanta was one where a new trend blossomed, which in my assessment, holds great promise for our future.”

Courtesy of Carse

Steven Carse

King of Pops cofounder, owner

“In 2010, I remember regularly being the odd one out when exuding pride for living here.

It now feels like we’ve pushed this huge boulder up to the top of the hill, and it’s starting to roll faster and faster back down. The changes are coming constantly, and they aren’t going to stop. We have to work to make sure the things that make Atlanta great aren’t overrun by unbridled momentum.”

Jordache Avery

Architect, owner of Xmetrical firm

“Many parking lots died in the last decade, buried by new infill developments while old buildings were brought back to life, some with amusement parks on the roof! My take… Atlanta grew and not just by the numbers, but it also feels as if we’ve matured, from a development perspective. If you start to glance around the city, you can begin to see how Atlanta has weaved the gaps in the urban fabric. There is a connectivity that’s starting to present itself.

Courtesy of Avery

Howell Mill Road, Memorial Drive, as well as many sections of Midtown and downtown are becoming a lot more pedestrian-friendly. Smart private developments and civic projects, like the Beltline, have connected the dots, pushed Atlanta forward and raised the bar architecturally. Some have also employed a modern aesthetic that does not pretend to be held hostage by the design and construction limitations of decades past. From our high-rises to our homes, Atlanta looks a bit different today.

Unfortunately, the successes of the last decade further exposes some of the failures of our past. Our roads are more congested, and our housing is less affordable. New zoning updates at city hall provides additional tools to address these issues by discouraging driving and encouraging density. However, Atlantans must also be onboard in considering alternative transportation and having an appetite for smart developments. We need the sensibility, and we can’t afford to lose the socioeconomic and cultural diversity that makes us Atlanta.”

Denise Starling

Livable Buckhead executive director, driving force behind PATH400

“This decade was a time of tremendous growth and change for Buckhead. An entirely new neighborhood has formed in the commercial core as high-rise residential towers have gone up, and that has brought a demographic shift to the community.

Courtesy of Livable Buckhead

We’ve now got a younger population that values sustainability and wants to live and work in a community with parks, trails, and good access to transit. PATH400 in Buckhead is nearly 80 percent complete, and other segments in Sandy Springs and Dunwoody are on the drawing boards as well. It’s pretty amazing to realize that none of this green infrastructure was underway at the start of this decade, and even more amazing to realize that by the time the next decade rolls around, Buckhead will be the nexus of a complete regional trail network!

Housing costs have risen astronomically in Buckhead over the past decade, which is exacerbating our ever-present traffic problems since 98 percent of the workforce commutes into the community each day. But the good news is that we’ve developed several innovative strategies that will allow more of the people who work in Buckhead to live in Buckhead as well.

All in all, the 2010s were an excellent decade for Buckhead, and all of the elements are in place for us to continue as a vibrant community where people want to live and work for many years to come!”

Grant Henry

Owner of Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium, artist

“Zooming in to zooming out, I was bartending at a friend’s bar on Ponce de Leon Avenue where I was unknowingly learning to run a bar.

Fate and fortune aligned. I finagled a harebrained, desperate leap of faith and said, ‘Fuck it!’ to renting a commercial space on Edgewood Avenue to open my own bar.

Courtesy of Henry

Leaving the area of an abandoned old Sears building as a suckling, and landing like an eagle in yet another derelict spot contiguous to the MLK Center, smack dab in the middle of a ‘real’ Church zone, for some reason didn’t seem odd to me. I was too dumb and desperate to listen to the fears and cheers of those watching my moves.

In 2010 at the grand opening of Sister Louisa’s Church, I called Lenox Taxi for a ride for someone who had come to Church. ‘Sorry, sir, we don’t go near Edgewood.’

Fast forward to 2020 and Edgewood has bike lanes, Uber and Lyft are hovering like hawks, scooters litter the streets, like chicken bones, that now share the lanes with walkers and joggers who are puddle-jumping construction barriers building five-star restaurants and hotels the likes of the new Motto by Hilton.

Hopes and dreams are high that the current giggle of a streetcar will one day connect to the unimaginable Beltline that is now the lifeline connecting intown communities that have skyrocketed in value in the past 10 years. Beltline Rail Now.”

Mark Toro

Managing partner with North American Properties, developer behind Avalon and the reimagining of Colony Square

“As predicted in Richard Florida’s The Great Reset (published April 2010), the past decade was characterized by rapid reurbanization, the rise of a renter class, and introduction of new forms of infrastructure. Metro Atlanta saw an influx of residents and employers to its most dynamic urban district (Midtown), increasing employment by 82 percent and population by 42 percent, growing at 4.5 times the citywide rate.

Courtesy of NAP

We also saw the introduction of the region’s first ‘urbanburb’ at Avalon, offering suburban residents an urban experience and the amenities of the city. It was followed by a handful of ‘city centers’ (Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Lawrenceville). Albeit drive-to-urbanism, each has proven successful in quenching suburbanites’ thirst for walkability and energy.

Tens of thousands of multifamily units have been delivered in urban districts and urbanburbs, reflecting the preference of millennials and their parents. As predicted by Florida, many Atlantans have eschewed homeownership in favor of lock-and-leave living in fully amenitized walkable communities.

Mobility options have contributed to these lifestyles, offering new technologies (Uber, e-scooters) along with established transit systems to lessen our dependence on cars. And our region’s leadership has responded by introducing legislation that reflects these preferences as we seek to densify our communities and ease our commutes. The formation of The ATL and initial proposals for MARTA’s expansion into Gwinnett are indications of what’s to come: increased support for transit expansion to serve an urbanizing region that has historically clung to the single-occupancy vehicle.”

Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ph.D.

Spelman College president

“For decades, Atlanta’s West End has been a valiant community, especially in the arena of education. Schools in the Washington cluster have re-invented themselves. Principals and teachers dedicated to the success of their students are slowly but surely seeing improvements in reading and math scores. The Atlanta University Center campuses have renewed their collaborative efforts with the community.

Courtesy of Spelman College

With support from the public and private sector, the AUC is making investments in the community to improve health services, educational excellence, and the physical rehabilitation of the neighborhood. Students from all of the campuses have been at the forefront of change. They volunteer in the neighborhood. They patronize the small businesses. And many have laid down roots in the community after graduation. We are working for change that supports longtime residents and supports growth.”

HENSE (ALEX BREWER )

Painter and international muralist, former graffitist, Grady High alum

“I miss some of the historic buildings that have been torn down and small businesses of Atlanta pre-2010, but I also understand the positive aspects of progress and change.

It’s exciting to know what the city offers now to both residents and visitors, although we need to work on preserving our history while also having an eye for the future.

Courtesy of HENSE

The past decade has brought significant growth and development to our city, and it would be great to see more projects that embrace and speak to Atlanta’s identity.

I’m hopeful we will think more about the preservation of our city in the coming decade and continue to make Atlanta a great place to live and visit.”

Jarel Portman

Cofounder of JPX Works development company, creators of Midtown’s lilli tower

“The decade started off not as one had hoped or planned, but by 2011 we were starting to gain momentum—not only in Buckhead and Midtown, as was previously the case—but this decade has also seen interesting, unique development on the east and west side neighborhoods. The boom hasn’t stopped since. There’s been incredible growth in the more established submarkets, in addition to the activity in other neighborhoods that help make Atlanta a special place to live.

Courtesy of Portman

This decade developers have been focused more on creating places as opposed to building the simplest project. My colleagues in the industry have become more thoughtful than we were in the last cycle, as more data has become available to us. New technologies have changed the way we build and operate buildings.

These changes resulted in the completion of a lot of great projects, there have been an incredible amount of jobs added, and Atlanta’s growth and economic indices are all strong. There has been a significant amount of foreign capital invested in Atlanta, which wouldn’t have happened 10 years ago. Atlanta used to be a transient city, but there are now many reasons people come here and say, ‘Wow, this feels a lot better than my last city; this is a place I want to call home.’ As we see that growth continue to impact the built environment, Atlanta will seem more like a gateway city.”

Brandon Ley and Johnny Martinez (joint statement)

Co-owners of Edgewood Avenue establishments Georgia Beer Garden and Joystick

“It certainly feels like the last 10 years have been the beginning of a new chapter in the city’s history. Atlanta has not been immune to the global trend of urban growth, with the population swelling throughout. Atlanta is now more demographically diverse, but there is a clear economic divide—one that is still growing.

Courtesy of Ley (left) and Martinez

A lot of the growth taking place seems to be happening at the large developer level and not organically. Why sell many small lots to multiple people and small businesses when a corporation will purchase entire city blocks? The city has seen a growth of wealth but concentrated disproportionately. That complicates things for those of us in the middle, putting greater influence in fewer hands. This creates challenges for the city and its infrastructure in the present day, but it also sets up a precarious future.

The other side of that coin, however, is that over the past 10 years more people have become civically engaged. They are actively working to make Atlanta a healthier, more culturally rich, and equitable place. Watching people of all descriptions organizing and making their voices heard is one aspect of Atlanta that should never change.”

Courtesy of Buckhead Coalition

Sam Massell

Buckhead Coalition founding president, former Atlanta mayor

“The last decade for our Buckhead community gave more of the same, in a positive measurement. Most particularly, this index was in multifamily rental development, providing increased housing for an increased labor market for increased businesses. This is the cycle that cements fiscal fitness and satisfies our stability, building our brand as ‘The address of choice.’

We admit that the price we pay for this success is increased traffic; however, even that continues to be processed by both business and political leadership.”

Dr. Dax

Legendary graffiti writer, commercial artist

“I moved to Atlanta when I was 9 years old in 1985. Upon arrival I entered a town becoming a city. Yet uber rich in culture. I was in culture shock to say the least. But I was instantly adaptable.

Daxfolio

There was barely any authority seemingly present; a bit of a Wild Wild West climate. Tremendous feeling of freedom. Unique privately owned restaurants, stores, and businesses. Tons of flavor in the old brick and cement city structures, swallowed by trees, nature swallowed by kudzu.

I feel blessed at all moments to have experienced such a pure and innocent place. To experience being part of a culture that changed the world, much like hippies in the ’60s and punks in the ’70s. For me, it was Crunk in the ’90s.

As heartbroken as I was over the extreme changes, I once again have become adaptable and pride myself on being a part of Old Atlanta and adapting to the new. Everything has a shelf life. If I could go back, I would. But I can’t, so I won’t even fathom. Here’s to today!”

Michael Gamble

Georgia Tech College of Design professor, Gamble+Gamble architect behind the Hotel Clermont’s recent revival

“From 2010 to 2020... A healthy, livable city is what residents and leadership collectively imagine and make—through debate and design. Atlanta is going through a profound transformation. Atlantans did a good job in the last 10 years to:

Recognize that infrastructure is driving cultural formation, e.g. parks, trails, public amenities along major boulevards allowing for multiple publics to appear and interact. Atlantans now know that healthy public infrastructure creates strong democracies.

Courtesy of Gamble

Rethink zoning to allow for greater density, even in residential districts; attract even more diversity through the creation of new industries, in technology, health, film; lead in the imagination and creation of innovation districts that attract young talent from across a spectrum of disciplines

And our challenge for 2020 to 2030...

Give everyone an option to build financial equity in the place in which they live; we need radical thinking own how everyone can own shares of our neighborhoods.

We need to focus on maintaining local economies and quality of neighborhoods; Cloud services are reshaping urban retail; we have to balance virtual convenience with our visceral, spatial needs.

Continue to conserve and preserve our natural and historic environments. Elevate imaginative thinking. Create grand challenges—and go for it!”

Ryan Gravel

Creator of Atlanta Beltline concept, architect, president of urban design consultancy Sixpitch

“The last 10 years have been sobering for Atlanta—in a good way. Following the first decade of this century, which seemed to be intoxicated by a post-Olympic euphoria that included previously-unheard-of population growth in the urban core of the region, this last decade seemed a little more honest about the challenges that come with that growth.

Today, we can no longer ignore the threats of economic and cultural displacement that have come alongside our new urban prosperity. And while more growth is coming whether we want it or not, if we learn to better manage it, I think that growth will be good for us.

Courtesy of Gravel

Atlanta has an enormous capacity for more people, more businesses, and more social and cultural opportunities. We just need to make sure that that growth includes everyone—that it lifts existing communities, rather than displacing them. Fortunately, this past decade has prepared us for that work.

The Atlanta City Design lays the groundwork for translating Dr. King’s concept of the Beloved Community into tangible plans and policies capable of delivering a city for everyone. And Mayor [Keisha Lance] Bottoms’s vision for One Atlanta brings the political commitment needed on the toughest issues to make sure Atlanta grows into a more affordable, resilient, and equitable city.

Looking ahead, with a more sober view toward the tsunami of growth and change headed our way, Atlanta is better positioned to survive and thrive in a new decade of shared prosperity.”

source https://atlanta.curbed.com/2019/12/19/21029741/atlanta-2010s-decade-development-stories-trends-2020

#OliverAtlanta

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ageloire · 6 years

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Scooter-Sharing Is a Big Deal. There's Just One Problem: No One's Heard of It

Everything old is new again.

That's so often the case with fashion, movies, and other key elements of pop culture. And now, it's true of the modes of transportation we use to get around -- in some cities, anyway.

When I was in San Francisco in April, it seemed that -- in nearly an instant -- everyone was talking about electric scooters and the new system of sharing them: scooter-sharing.

My fellow tech reporters were tweeting jokes about their popularity. Abandoned, unreturned scooters were strewn about sidewalks throughout the city, many residents still trying to figure out how they ended up there, or what purpose they even served.

Nevertheless, this mode of transportation -- which many of us haven't considered since before we had driver's licenses -- has been on the minds of Silicon Valley professionals. Among them are investors, who are leading to the valuation of some of the companies behind electric scooters to reach the billions.

But if you haven't heard about this new transportation trend -- despite its popularity -- surely, you're not alone. (That's what our research shows, anyway.) Allow us to enlighten you, and figure out if (or how) scooter-sharing will go mainstream.

Will Scooter-Sharing Be the Next Uber? Maybe, Once People Hear of It

What Is Scooter-Sharing?

The concept of scooter-sharing is comparable to the models of Uber, Zipcar, or city bike rental programs. With scooter-sharing, electric scooters are available to rent for short-term periods, and some of the companies behind them -- like Lime -- offer similar systems for traditional bicycle rentals.

Equally similar to ride-sharing systems like Uber and Lyft, most scooter-sharing also requires an app through which users can unlock a scooter for a ride by scanning a QR code on the handles. Here's what it looks like on Lime (since Lime-S, its scooter-sharing service, isn't available in Boston yet, I was obligated to pretend-scan a plant on my desk.)

Scooter-sharing companies, at least in San Francisco, are currently stuck in what Megan Rose Dickey of TechCrunch calls "a bit of a legal gray area" -- they aren't fully regulated, though they've faced issues in cities like Indianapolis and Honolulu, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is looking to create some sort of legislation that would formalize how these companies operate within the city.

Some companies appear to have rules, however, such as requiring a helmet or a valid driver's license to operate the scooter, the latter of which is a traffic law. (When I downloaded both Lime and Bird, I wasn't asked to provide proof of a valid driver's license, though I also didn't get to the point of fully unlocking a scooter.)

Bird asks users to bring their own helmets, while Lime provides the option to purchase one from the company -- though, again, it's unclear how either verifies that the rider is following that guideline.

The (Un)Awareness of Scooter-Sharing

Several arguments have been made in favor of scooter-sharing permeating the market. It's been advertised as an alternative to automobile use, as Lime's own data indicates that 60% of users said their Lime-S ride replaced a trip that would have otherwise been by car -- personal, rideshare, or taxi.

And while scooter-sharing's relationship with public transportation is up for debate, it appears as though this newer mode of transportation might complement bus or subway systems. That same data from Lime also indicates 40% of users got to or from public transit stations on one of its scooters.

Source: Lime

It's worth mentioning that Lime's survey sample was 7,000 scooter riders in San Francisco -- for context, that's about .08% of the city's population, which has placed a market cap of 1,250 Lime-S scooters (which 93.8% of the company's survey respondents said was too few).

But outside of this tech-centric metropolis, what do people think of scooter-sharing? According to our data, most haven't really heard of it.

This data raises the question: Can scooter-sharing go mainstream, and if it can, how will it get there?

The Sustainability of Scooter-Sharing

Here's the thing about ride-sharing systems that use traditional automobiles: They're complicated.

Lyft, for instance, has communicated an intention of reducing car ownership overall by making its services more widespread. That can have several implications for the environment, city planning, aging populations, and others who drive less for a number of reasons.

But Christina Bonnington of Slate points out a bit of a contraction there: Although "250,000 Lyft users abandoned vehicle ownership in favor of ride-sharing, and half of its users reported driving less frequently now ... the company put 520,000 additional drivers on the streets" in 2017.

How good that is for the environment is up for debate.

That's where the impact of bike- and scooter-sharing programs come in. The scooters run on battery power, eliminating any fossil fuel emissions. As for bicycles -- well, they've been known as one of the eco-friendliest and healthiest modes of transportation for years.

The same could soon be said of traveling by scooter. Lime, for its part, reports that more than 250,000 trips have been taken on its scooters since its San Francisco launch, which translates to an "offset in airborne pollutants ... equivalent to 280,389 lbs CO2 saved."

And while it might not be a vigorous cardiovascular workout, it could be argued that it's still healthier than a mode of transportation where the commuter is largely sitting -- whether that's in a car, bus, or subway train.

But just as many emerging transportation trends before it -- ride-sharing and autonomous vehicles (the second of which is still in it earliest days) -- there are safety concerns to consider alongside the benefits. Scooter riders still need to share the road with cars (riding on sidewalks is discouraged), and as I mentioned earlier, the enforcement of the helmet requirement is ambiguous.

If I had to predict scooter-sharing's viability, I would specifically point out how, historically, transportation and related safety concerns have evolved. Automobiles, for example, didn't always have seatbelts. Once upon a time, helmet laws for traditional bike riders didn't exist. And as for ride-sharing, we're watching it continue to iron out its kinks in real time.

But have a look at the progression of user numbers within the ride-sharing industry since 2016 -- and where it's expected to go by 2022.

Source: Statisa

When Uber first emerged in 2009, it was nearly unheard of -- especially on the east coast. There were few drivers. The idea seemed like a radical novelty. And getting a ride took, if I remember correctly, at least 20 minutes before the car arrived.

At present, scooter-sharing appears to be at a similar point. There appears to be some lack of awareness around it, as well as accessibility -- the service is in its earliest stages and is only available in a limited number of cities.

Despite this lack of awareness, investors have taken note.

Take Lime, for instance, which recently received a direct investment from Alphabet (Google's parent company) -- which is part of a bigger $300 million funding round. That round also includes GV -- Alphabet's investment arm -- which was also an earlier investor in Uber.

Are we seeing a pattern yet?

Whether good or bad, the concept of scooter-sharing raises eyebrows -- and could be here to stay. Let's watch, and see where this new, niche ride takes us.

from Marketing https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/scooter-sharing-awareness-data

#Marketing

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wolfliving · 5 years

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The Kalanick Saga

*Let Travis break all the rules; he's expendable. But the Valley never recovered from this cynical hack; the Gold Rush turned ugly fast.

*An interview with Mike Isaac, author of “Super Pumped: the Battle for Uber.”

https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2019/10/uber-history-super-pumped-book-mike-isaac-travis-kalanick/599881/

The techniques that Uber used to enter markets in cities, like Greyball, caught city officials and transportation departments so flat-footed. What can that incident tell us Uber’s relationship with cities?

I tend to look at the 2014 to 2015 era of Uber as when they weaponized and systematized deceit in software. A lot of cities have learned a lesson about how much to trust a startup that’s just deciding to barge in. When companies tried to roll out scooters really rapidly in San Francisco, the transportation department immediately slapped them down and threatened to fine companies that pushed through. There are a lot of sore spots from how Uber flooded the zone. City transportation officials don’t want to go through that again. They just got completely railroaded.

Their technology really enabled them to pull one over on much slower institutions.

It’s like a form of guerrilla warfare. Cities only have so much in their budgets to employ people to enforce existing rules or laws. The way Uber saw it, the law was not what was written, it was what was enforced. You can only do so much, and Uber was really creative, if you want to call it that, in the ways that it figured out how to circumvent the way things work.

You mention how Uber changed its name from UberCab, in its earliest iteration. Does the fact that it was essentially a less-regulated taxi company explain Uber’s approach now?

They like to say they’re a logistics company, they’re a transportation network, they are just a software layer. That’s partly strategic and legal. They are now in an ongoing fight with various state attorneys general around the country around their classification of their workers. Are they workers? Are they contractors? It’s core to Uber’s business model that they define themselves as not a transportation company, as not a car service.

I don’t think they would ever even pretend to agree with that. From the beginning, when they called themselves UberCab, they were essentially dressed-up as a transportation company or cab service. When San Francisco came to shut them down in 2010, they said, “We’ll change our name since we’re not a taxi service but we’re just going to keep barreling ahead.” They have basically done that ever since.

It’s interesting that originally, they kind of found slack in the luxury driving market—picking up extra hours for luxury car drivers to drive during their downtime, which is totally different than what driving for Uber is like now.

That’s where they found their first entry. The ironic thing is that they weren’t the first ones to break the law or push into the peer-to-peer stuff. They thought it would have been too much heat to break the rules and go peer-to-peer, but they saw Sidecar and Lyft really moving people and decided to chase it. That opened up a whole new battleground with cities and regulators across the country and around the world.

One of the things I didn’t know about Travis Kalanick was that his previous companies, Scour and Red Swoosh, were built around the online peer-to-peer network parts of the internet. It’s weird to think of ride-hailing having its roots in the Napster-era of file-sharing and music piracy.

I think a lot of it is about efficiency, like different ways to figure out a seamless efficient way to network people. It’s trite because everyone recognizes it, but I do think the iPhone was the key to unlocking in the physical world what had only existed in networked computers in the digital world. We all have our iPhones with us at every moment of the day and that just changes so much about how you can incorporate computing into daily life. That thread is a through-line to every company....

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tophoustontruckaccidentlawyer · 5 years

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False Car Accident Law Firms On Google By A Houston Car Wreck Attorney

Houston Car Accident Lawyer Video

Nothing is sadder than watching people who have no ability to market themselves resort to devious and unethical means to secure clients…especially when they probably are not even lawyers. For personal injury attorneys, this practice was once known as ambulance chasing. Back in the day car accident lawyers across the nation would pound the pavement around hospitals waiting for some unlucky soul to be whisked into the emergency room where they would attempt to either talk them into signing with the lawyer or if the lawyer truly was a dirtbag then they would send their “representative” to the scene of the accident or in some situations, to the house of the deceased.

Although some states allow lawyers to practice under trade names, Texas is one of the states that does not allow you to do so. Sure, you can establish a moniker such as the Texas Law Hawk or the Texas Hammer. Heck, I thought the idea was so brilliant that I started calling myself the Texas Big Rig Bull. Well, also because I enjoy brisket, was born in May (Taurus), enjoy watching bull rides, and I have a huge, metal bull statue in the lobby of my building. Anyways, one of the state bar of Texas’ advertising committees just passed out a survey one whether Texas should allow trade names for law practices.

Initially, I thought, “this is a great idea!” However, after recently viewing the amount of spam in the Google search world for car accident lawyers this is a terrible idea. When there is a name attached to a firm then you know who is responsible for your case. Recently, I have seen fake firm names such as Worry Less Car Accident Lawyers of Houston, Not Sorry Car Accident Lawyers, Fighter Group Lawyers of Houston, etc… They all pretend to practice law even though in most cases, the only photo is that of a low-end motel parking lot or strip mall with lone phone number and no website. Google My Business pages have now become a low rent way for unsuspecting personal injury victims to fall suspect to predatory characters thanks to Google’s unwillingness to properly police its’ own product.

For most persons, this might be enough to dissuade them from choosing such an establishment to do business. However, what is likely happening is that you call the number and someone is directing you to either a clinic or a law firm where you can face a high pressure sales pitch to sign representation forms with people you may never likely meet. If you are a lawyer and you are dealing with people in these types of situations, you should remember that they have nothing to lose. They have not went to school for years (sacrificing years of their lives) and accrued mountain loads of student loans. If they lose with you (meaning you lose your livelihood and law license) through their scheme of defrauding the injured then it is simply on to the next sucker who falls prey to their scam.

Something to think about…

It is best to consult an experienced Houston car accident attorney to get help in seeking the claim. Call Houston car accident attorney RJ Alexander Law, PLLC at (832) 458-1756 to request a free case evaluation.

Houston Car Accident Glove Compartment Guide

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kennethherrerablog · 5 years

Text

The Perfect Weekend Getaway? It Might Just Be Puerto Rico

When you’re wandering around Old San Juan, you’ll feel worlds away from the United States.

Quaint cobblestone streets. Murmurs of Spanish. Centuries-old fortresses.

But the capital of Puerto Rico is just a few hours by plane — and because the island is a U.S. territory, you won’t need a passport to get there.

You can also use your cell phone and spend U.S. dollars, and since almost everyone speaks flawless English, you won’t need to worry if you don’t speak Spanish (though most people will happily let you practice).

I recently spent 10 days in this tropical paradise. It makes a perfect weekend getaway for Americans seeking exotic sights, sounds and tastes without having to travel far from home.

What to Expect

As you probably know, Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria in September 2017. The storm caused $90 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Many residents went without power for almost a year.

Given all the negative news coverage, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What would it look like? Would there be hot water and electricity? Would restaurants and hotels be open?

When I hopped off the plane, I was surprised to see that San Juan looks, well, normal. Restaurants, hotels and attractions are open, and the city has been welcoming cruise ships for months.

I’m not saying the work in Puerto Rico is done. It is $71 billion in debt, and the island faces myriad challenges. While I hope you’ll take some time to learn about the territory before visiting, that’s not what this article is about.

So, instead of diving into Puerto Rico’s politics and history, I’ll just assure you: The average tourist can have a perfectly lovely visit.

And you should, because one of the best ways to support the island is to spend money there. Puerto Ricans are some of the friendliest people I’ve encountered in my travels; they will likely welcome you with a smile.

When to Go

The temperature in San Juan is around 75 to 85 degrees year-round.

High tourist season lasts from mid-December to mid-April and comes with bigger crowds and prices. Spring’s shoulder season (mid-April to June) has fewer crowds.

It’s hurricane season from June to November, though that shouldn’t necessarily deter you from visiting. The weather can still be great, and you can find discounted rates on hotels, according to U.S. News & World Report.

What to Do

You won’t find yourself hurting for activities while visiting San Juan. Here’s a sampling of offerings in this historic seaside town.

Old San Juan

For most visitors, simply wandering the charming streets of Old San Juan could provide days of entertainment.

With 16th- and 17th-century architecture, swaying palm trees, blue cobblestones and stray cats sleeping on stoops, you’ll feel far removed from big-box stores and strip malls.

Stop into stores, sit in one of the many plazas, grab a cup of world-class coffee from Cuatros Sombras and watch the world go by.

Museums and Attractions

History lovers, rejoice! San Juan’s museums are incredibly affordable.

Entrance to the San Juan National Historic Site, which includes the 16th-century El Morro Fort and Fort San Cristóbal, is $7. La Casa Blanca, the oldest continuously occupied house in the western hemisphere, costs just $3 to enter.

Ready to spice up your day of history? Take a $15 historical tour of the Bacardi rum distillery.

Beaches

When it comes to beaches, you usually have to get out of the city to find beautiful ones. But that’s not the case here.

Neighborhoods like Condado, Ocean Park and Isla Verde all have pristine beaches and are just minutes from Old San Juan. Many visitors choose to book waterfront hotels here.

But even if you don’t stay by the beach, set aside at least a half day to enjoy the sun, surf and white sand while pretending you’re in a Puerto Rican postcard.

Day Trips

To get out of the city, the most budget-friendly option is to rent a car. (When I looked, it was only $17 per day.)

You can then cruise 30 miles to El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. Most of its trails closed after Maria, but they’ve been steadily reopening. Even so, you can always take in its lush surroundings and waterfalls.

On your way back, hit up Piñones, a beachside town famous for its laid-back food kiosks.

Where to Eat and Drink

Although you don’t hear about it as much as other foodie destinations (yet!), Puerto Rico’s culinary scene has got it going on.

Its most famous dish is “mofongo”: garlicky fried plantains, sometimes shaped into a bowl and filled with meat and broth. You can find it anywhere from hole-in-the-wall establishments to fine-dining restaurants.

As far as budget options go, here were a few of my favorite spots:

Lote 23: This industrial lot is filled with over a dozen food kiosks — it’s an absolute must visit. Be sure to try manchego croquettes at Croqueteria (two for $4) and homemade cashew milk lattes at Cafe Regina ($7). El Jangiri’s poke bowls ($8-$12) are also excellent.

La Bombonera: One of the oldest restaurants in San Juan, this bakery has been open since 1902. Its most famous offering is the “mallorca”, a flaky pastry filled with cheese and topped with powdered sugar ($3.95). Yum.

Café Manolín: Stop by this unpretentious local joint to sample chicken mofongo ($10.95) and “empanada de lomillo”, or breaded beef steak ($11.95).

Señor Paleta: In San Juan’s tropical climate, you’ll probably get a hankering for something cold. This gourmet popsicle shop has a range of inventive flavors; my favorite was Nutella-filled strawberry ($4).

Barrachina: This restaurant claims to have invented the piña colada. Although another bar in the area claims it, too, all you really need to know is the piña coladas here ($8) are delicioso. Sit at the bar in the courtyard, and you’re guaranteed to have a good time.

La Placita de Santurce: For a fun night out, grab a beer ($2) and wander around this lively bar area, where the streets fill with locals and tourists alike. It’s perfect for people-watching — and if you stay late enough, you’ll undoubtedly see some spontaneous salsa dancing.

Where to Stay

When deciding where to stay in San Juan, you’ll face a tough decision: old town or the beach. While Old San Juan offers plenty of charm, staying at the beach is, well, staying at the beach.

The good news is that most options are fairly close together, and by choosing one, you’ll probably only be a $5 to $7 car ride from the other.

Since Old San Juan is small, its accommodation choices aren’t as robust as elsewhere in the city. Some reasonably priced options I found were the Fortaleza Guest House and the Decanter Hotel.

You can also choose an Airbnb, but be mindful that it isn’t always best for a city’s residents.

Large, resort-style hotels abound in Condado, a touristy beach area a few miles east of Old San Juan. I’d recommend staying a little further afield, though; you’ll get more for your money, and won’t, be sleeping at a Holiday Inn in Puerto Rico.

Here are two wonderful options:

Nomada Urban Beach Hostel

This trendy hostel is located just a few blocks from the beach. It has a fabulous rooftop — complete with hammocks and lounge chairs — that overlooks the ocean. It also has a shared kitchen, allowing you to cook meals to save money.

Even though I’m past the point of sleeping in dorms, I often still book private rooms at hostels. They’re a great way to enjoy the low rates and sociability of a hostel without listening to other people snore.

Here are its nightly rates:

Dorm bed: $32 and up

Rooftop tent: $45 and up

Private room: $64 and up

Deluxe private room: $88 and up

The Dreamcatcher Hotel

This boutique vegetarian bed-and-breakfast feels like it’s out of an Instagram catalog. (I know that’s not a thing, but if it were, this hotel would play a starring role.)

Each room is uniquely decorated with vintage finds, and the grounds, filled with plants and hammocks, ooze tranquility. Rates depend on which room you book but start at $89. You can opt for fresh vegetarian breakfasts ($11) and also make use of a shared kitchen.

How to Get to San Juan

Many airlines, including Southwest, Spirit and JetBlue, offer daily departures to San Juan. (Note that with Spirit, you’ll have to pay extra for all luggage, including carry-ons.)

When looking at flights about a month out from my trip, here are some round-trip rates I found:

From Chicago O’Hare: $279 (Spirit)

From Newark: $307 (JetBlue, direct)

From Baltimore: $331 (JetBlue, direct)

From Atlanta: $182 (Spirit)

Once you get there, renting a car isn’t necessary if you’re just staying for the weekend.

Ubers and Lyfts are plentiful and cheap — with the exception of arriving at the airport, when you’ll have to take an official taxi to your hotel. Within the city, walking and biking are great options; some hotels even offer free bike rentals.

Although you won’t get to see everything in Puerto Rico in a weekend, you can always save things for your next trip. Because, once you go — there will always be a next trip.

Susan Shain is a freelance writer and digital nomad. She covers travel, food and personal finance (basically, how to save money so you can travel more and eat more). Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

The Penny Hoarder Promise: We provide accurate, reliable information. Here’s why you can trust us and how we make money.

The Perfect Weekend Getaway? It Might Just Be Puerto Rico published first on https://justinbetreviews.tumblr.com/

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marcuspc-blog · 5 years

Text

The Perfect Weekend Getaway? It Might Just Be Puerto Rico

When youâre wandering around Old San Juan, youâll feel worlds away from the United States.

Quaint cobblestone streets. Murmurs of Spanish. Centuries-old fortresses.

But the capital of Puerto Rico is just a few hours by plane â and because the island is a U.S. territory, you wonât need a passport to get there.

You can also use your cell phone and spend U.S. dollars, and since almost everyone speaks flawless English, you wonât need to worry if you donât speak Spanish (though most people will happily let you practice).

I recently spent 10 days in this tropical paradise. It makes a perfect weekend getaway for Americans seeking exotic sights, sounds and tastes without having to travel far from home.

What to Expect

Given all the negative news coverage, I wasnât sure what to expect. What would it look like? Would there be hot water and electricity? Would restaurants and hotels be open?

When I hopped off the plane, I was surprised to see that San Juan looks, well, normal. Restaurants, hotels and attractions are open, and the city has been welcoming cruise ships for months.

Iâm not saying the work in Puerto Rico is done. It is $71 billion in debt, and the island faces myriad challenges. While I hope youâll take some time to learn about the territory before visiting, thatâs not what this article is about.

So, instead of diving into Puerto Ricoâs politics and history, Iâll just assure you: The average tourist can have a perfectly lovely visit. Â

And you should, because one of the best ways to support the island is to spend money there. Puerto Ricans are some of the friendliest people Iâve encountered in my travels; they will likely welcome you with a smile.

When to Go

The temperature in San Juan is around 75 to 85 degrees year-round.

High tourist season lasts from mid-December to mid-April and comes with bigger crowds and prices. Springâs shoulder season (mid-April to June) has fewer crowds.

Itâs hurricane season from June to November, though that shouldnât necessarily deter you from visiting. The weather can still be great, and you can find discounted rates on hotels, according to U.S. News & World Report.

What to Do

You wonât find yourself hurting for activities while visiting San Juan. Hereâs a sampling of offerings in this historic seaside town.

Old San Juan

For most visitors, simply wandering the charming streets of Old San Juan could provide days of entertainment.

With 16th- and 17th-century architecture, swaying palm trees, blue cobblestones and stray cats sleeping on stoops, youâll feel far removed from big-box stores and strip malls.

Stop into stores, sit in one of the many plazas, grab a cup of world-class coffee from Cuatros Sombras and watch the world go by.

Museums and Attractions

History lovers, rejoice! San Juanâs museums are incredibly affordable.

Entrance to the San Juan National Historic Site, which includes the 16th-century El Morro Fort and Fort San CristÃ³bal, is $7. La Casa Blanca, the oldest continuously occupied house in the western hemisphere, costs just $3 to enter. Â

Ready to spice up your day of history? Take a $15 historical tour of the Bacardi rum distillery.

Beaches

When it comes to beaches, you usually have to get out of the city to find beautiful ones. But thatâs not the case here.

Neighborhoods like Condado, Ocean Park and Isla Verde all have pristine beaches and are just minutes from Old San Juan. Many visitors choose to book waterfront hotels here.

But even if you donât stay by the beach, set aside at least a half day to enjoy the sun, surf and white sand while pretending youâre in a Puerto Rican postcard.

Day Trips

To get out of the city, the most budget-friendly option is to rent a car. (When I looked, it was only $17 per day.)

You can then cruise 30 miles to El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. Most of its trails closed after Maria, but theyâve been steadily reopening. Even so, you can always take in its lush surroundings and waterfalls.

On your way back, hit up PiÃ±ones, a beachside town famous for its laid-back food kiosks.

Where to Eat and Drink

Although you donât hear about it as much as other foodie destinations (yet!), Puerto Ricoâs culinary scene has got it going on.

Its most famous dish is âmofongoâ: garlicky fried plantains, sometimes shaped into a bowl and filled with meat and broth. You can find it anywhere from hole-in-the-wall establishments to fine-dining restaurants. Â

As far as budget options go, here were a few of my favorite spots:

Lote 23: This industrial lot is filled with over a dozen food kiosks â itâs an absolute must visit. Be sure to try manchego croquettes at Croqueteria (two for $4) and homemade cashew milk lattes at Cafe Regina ($7). El Jangiriâs poke bowls ($8-$12) are also excellent.

La Bombonera: One of the oldest restaurants in San Juan, this bakery has been open since 1902. Its most famous offering is the âmallorcaâ, a flaky pastry filled with cheese and topped with powdered sugar ($3.95). Yum.

CafÃ© ManolÃn: Stop by this unpretentious local joint to sample chicken mofongo ($10.95) and âempanada de lomilloâ, or breaded beef steak ($11.95).

SeÃ±or Paleta: In San Juanâs tropical climate, youâll probably get a hankering for something cold. This gourmet popsicle shop has a range of inventive flavors; my favorite was Nutella-filled strawberry ($4).

Barrachina: This restaurant claims to have invented the piÃ±a colada. Although another bar in the area claims it, too, all you really need to know is the piÃ±a coladas here ($8) are delicioso. Sit at the bar in the courtyard, and youâre guaranteed to have a good time.

La Placita de Santurce: For a fun night out, grab a beer ($2) and wander around this lively bar area, where the streets fill with locals and tourists alike. Itâs perfect for people-watching â and if you stay late enough, youâll undoubtedly see some spontaneous salsa dancing.

Where to Stay

When deciding where to stay in San Juan, youâll face a tough decision: old town or the beach. While Old San Juan offers plenty of charm, staying at the beach is, well, staying at the beach.

The good news is that most options are fairly close together, and by choosing one, youâll probably only be a $5 to $7 car ride from the other.

Since Old San Juan is small, its accommodation choices arenât as robust as elsewhere in the city. Some reasonably priced options I found were the Fortaleza Guest House and the Decanter Hotel.

You can also choose an Airbnb, but be mindful that it isnât always best for a cityâs residents.

Large, resort-style hotels abound in Condado, a touristy beach area a few miles east of Old San Juan. Iâd recommend staying a little further afield, though; youâll get more for your money, and wonât, be sleeping at a Holiday Inn in Puerto Rico.

Here are two wonderful options:

Nomada Urban Beach Hostel

This trendy hostel is located just a few blocks from the beach. It has a fabulous rooftop â complete with hammocks and lounge chairs â that overlooks the ocean. It also has a shared kitchen, allowing you to cook meals to save money.

Even though Iâm past the point of sleeping in dorms, I often still book private rooms at hostels. Theyâre a great way to enjoy the low rates and sociability of a hostel without listening to other people snore.

Here are its nightly rates:

Dorm bed: $32 and up

Rooftop tent: $45 and up

Private room: $64 and up

Deluxe private room: $88 and up

The Dreamcatcher Hotel

This boutique vegetarian bed-and-breakfast feels like itâs out of an Instagram catalog. (I know thatâs not a thing, but if it were, this hotel would play a starring role.)

How to Get to San Juan

Many airlines, including Southwest, Spirit and JetBlue, offer daily departures to San Juan. (Note that with Spirit, youâll have to pay extra for all luggage, including carry-ons.)

When looking at flights about a month out from my trip, here are some round-trip rates I found:

From Chicago OâHare: $279 (Spirit)

From Newark: $307 (JetBlue, direct)

From Baltimore: $331 (JetBlue, direct)

From Atlanta: $182 (Spirit)

Once you get there, renting a car isnât necessary if youâre just staying for the weekend.

Ubers and Lyfts are plentiful and cheap â with the exception of arriving at the airport, when youâll have to take an official taxi to your hotel. Within the city, walking and biking are great options; some hotels even offer free bike rentals.

Although you wonât get to see everything in Puerto Rico in a weekend, you can always save things for your next trip. Because, once you go â there will always be a next trip.

The Penny Hoarder Promise: We provide accurate, reliable information. Here's why you can trust us and how we make money.

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tophoustontruckaccidentlawyer · 5 years

Text

False Car Accident Law Firms On Google By A Houston Car Wreck Attorney

Houston Car Accident Lawyer Video

youtube

Something to think about…

Houston Car Accident Glove Compartment Guide

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Houston Car Accident Lawyer Injury Resources

Houston Car Accident Lawyer – Driver Involved in Accident Resources

Houston Car Accident Lawyer – Type of Car Accident Resources

Houston Car Accident Lawyer – Location of Your Car Accident Resources

Accident at Intersection Bridge Car Accident Car Accident Close to Home Highway Accident Parking Lot Accident Railroad Crossing Accident School Zone Accident Stop Sign Accident Traffic Accident

Houston Car Accident Lawyer – Car Accident Cause Resources

Houston Car Accident Lawyer Lawsuit Resources

Houston Car Accident Lawyer Resources

Houston Car Accident Lawyer Insurance Claim Resources

Houston Car Accident Lawyer Road Accident Resources

Houston Car Accident Resources

The post False Car Accident Law Firms On Google By A Houston Car Wreck Attorney appeared first on Houston Car Accident Lawyer.

source https://rjalexanderlaw.com/false-car-accident-law-firms-on-google-by-a-houston-car-wreck-attorney/

0 notes

kennethherrerablog · 5 years

Text

The Perfect Weekend Getaway? It Might Just Be Puerto Rico

When youâre wandering around Old San Juan, youâll feel worlds away from the United States.

Quaint cobblestone streets. Murmurs of Spanish. Centuries-old fortresses.

But the capital of Puerto Rico is just a few hours by plane â and because the island is a U.S. territory, you wonât need a passport to get there.

I recently spent 10 days in this tropical paradise. It makes a perfect weekend getaway for Americans seeking exotic sights, sounds and tastes without having to travel far from home.

What to Expect

Given all the negative news coverage, I wasnât sure what to expect. What would it look like? Would there be hot water and electricity? Would restaurants and hotels be open?

When I hopped off the plane, I was surprised to see that San Juan looks, well, normal. Restaurants, hotels and attractions are open, and the city has been welcoming cruise ships for months.

So, instead of diving into Puerto Ricoâs politics and history, Iâll just assure you: The average tourist can have a perfectly lovely visit. Â

When to Go

The temperature in San Juan is around 75 to 85 degrees year-round.

High tourist season lasts from mid-December to mid-April and comes with bigger crowds and prices. Springâs shoulder season (mid-April to June) has fewer crowds.

What to Do

You wonât find yourself hurting for activities while visiting San Juan. Hereâs a sampling of offerings in this historic seaside town.

Old San Juan

For most visitors, simply wandering the charming streets of Old San Juan could provide days of entertainment.

With 16th- and 17th-century architecture, swaying palm trees, blue cobblestones and stray cats sleeping on stoops, youâll feel far removed from big-box stores and strip malls.

Stop into stores, sit in one of the many plazas, grab a cup of world-class coffee from Cuatros Sombras and watch the world go by.

Museums and Attractions

History lovers, rejoice! San Juanâs museums are incredibly affordable.

Ready to spice up your day of history? Take a $15 historical tour of the Bacardi rum distillery.

Beaches

When it comes to beaches, you usually have to get out of the city to find beautiful ones. But thatâs not the case here.

Neighborhoods like Condado, Ocean Park and Isla Verde all have pristine beaches and are just minutes from Old San Juan. Many visitors choose to book waterfront hotels here.

But even if you donât stay by the beach, set aside at least a half day to enjoy the sun, surf and white sand while pretending youâre in a Puerto Rican postcard.

Day Trips

To get out of the city, the most budget-friendly option is to rent a car. (When I looked, it was only $17 per day.)

On your way back, hit up PiÃ±ones, a beachside town famous for its laid-back food kiosks.

Where to Eat and Drink

Although you donât hear about it as much as other foodie destinations (yet!), Puerto Ricoâs culinary scene has got it going on.

As far as budget options go, here were a few of my favorite spots:

CafÃ© ManolÃn: Stop by this unpretentious local joint to sample chicken mofongo ($10.95) and âempanada de lomilloâ, or breaded beef steak ($11.95).

Where to Stay

When deciding where to stay in San Juan, youâll face a tough decision: old town or the beach. While Old San Juan offers plenty of charm, staying at the beach is, well, staying at the beach.

The good news is that most options are fairly close together, and by choosing one, youâll probably only be a $5 to $7 car ride from the other.

Since Old San Juan is small, its accommodation choices arenât as robust as elsewhere in the city. Some reasonably priced options I found were the Fortaleza Guest House and the Decanter Hotel.

You can also choose an Airbnb, but be mindful that it isnât always best for a cityâs residents.

Here are two wonderful options:

Nomada Urban Beach Hostel

Here are its nightly rates:

Dorm bed: $32 and up

Rooftop tent: $45 and up

Private room: $64 and up

Deluxe private room: $88 and up

The Dreamcatcher Hotel

This boutique vegetarian bed-and-breakfast feels like itâs out of an Instagram catalog. (I know thatâs not a thing, but if it were, this hotel would play a starring role.)

How to Get to San Juan

Many airlines, including Southwest, Spirit and JetBlue, offer daily departures to San Juan. (Note that with Spirit, youâll have to pay extra for all luggage, including carry-ons.)

When looking at flights about a month out from my trip, here are some round-trip rates I found:

From Chicago OâHare: $279 (Spirit)

From Newark: $307 (JetBlue, direct)

From Baltimore: $331 (JetBlue, direct)

From Atlanta: $182 (Spirit)

Once you get there, renting a car isnât necessary if youâre just staying for the weekend.

Although you wonât get to see everything in Puerto Rico in a weekend, you can always save things for your next trip. Because, once you go â there will always be a next trip.

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