We may have just celebrated the arrival of a new decade, but
for those of us who remember a simpler time of VHS tapes and Game Boys, another
year around the sun can bring back feelings of nostalgia. If it hit you hard
this new year, here are a few hotels that will bring you back to your Kris
Kross jumping, VIBE magazine reading,
Lauryn Hill miseducating good old days.
The Curtis Denver — Denver, Colorado
Nothing says throwback like a plate of chocolate chip cookies and a glass of cold milk. Guests are greeted at The Curtis Denver with this timeless indulgence at check-in, but if that doesn’t take you back to your childhood, then the retro video games and Barbie and Marge Simpson-themed rooms surely will. The hotel’s Five & Dime store brims with treats from the past and each guest floor is designed to reflect a pop theme from TV to music to art or sports and beyond.
Arlo Nomad, near Murray Hill, contains 250 thoughtfully designed rooms combining custom furniture with efficient storage spaces and a range of playful touches. In short, this hotel has bunk beds. Whether you loved them or hated them as a kid, bunk beds are certainly a nostalgic and playful touch that brings back memories of a simpler time.
Photo via arlohotels.com
Hotel Preston — Nashville, Tennessee
Pet fish, lava lamps, and board games for the win. Hotel Preston takes playful accommodations to the next level. The hotel aims to give you an experience that is “delightfully uncommon and filled with warm Southern hospitality.” Enjoy the evening in your suite playing your favorite childhood board games with your personal wet bar always within reach.
The June is “a throwback to the good ol’ days.” Targeting millennial women, this Instagrammers paradise is decorated with pastels, floral wallpaper, and neon signage. The super-hip, 16-room, roadside motel is located in Canada’s wine country and features plenty of wine-inspired amenities to go with your nostalgia.
This decade has been all about the rise and reign of Instagram, where we share our lives via pretty photos on our grids for our followers to see and ‘like’. Instagram has become a major part of travel that travel bloggers have turned their passion into full-blown careers.
According to a survey by InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, 55% of travelers report that posting travel-related content for Instagram has helped their travel experience be more meaningful. Of those surveyed, 39% say they want to put more work into creating content for their pages in 2020.
In addition to the survey, InterContinental has created a list of the “most over-Instagrammed sites” in seven major cities around the world. They came up with the sites after analyzing hashtags and which landmarks appear most in them.
53% of the posts shared using the #Paris hashtag featured this world-famous landmark. According to Refinery29, the Eiffel Tower is the most-visited paid monument in the world.
Since 2009, the Burj Khalifa has been known as the tallest building in the world, coming in at 829.8m. Of all the photos posted using the #Dubai hashtags, 36% features the Burj Khalifa.
This iconic building was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. 35% of the photos shared using the #Sydney hashtag feature the Sydney Opera House.
Central Park appears in countless movies and TV shows, therefore becoming an iconic location. It also dominates 20% of the posts shared with the #NewYork hashtag.
London has an abundance of landmarks but Buckingham Palace ranked the most popular in the #London hashtag. The iconic building appeared 21% of photos uploaded using the hashtag.
One of New York City’s largest celebrations of the Black community, family, and culture is back.
For the fourth year in a row, thousands of people will travel through Brooklyn and Harlem on Dec. 26 for Kwanzaa Crawl.
“Kwanzaa Crawl is a one-day event where people of the African diaspora join together to support the Black-owned bars in their neighborhoods,” a statement reads on the organizer’s website. “It’s a day of unity, fellowship, and fun.”
Last year alone, more than 4,000 crawlers generated over $250,000 in businesses for the 30 restaurants and bars that participated, as reported in New York Eater.
Tickets are
currently available for $40. The
crawl works by selecting a ticket for the first stop on your route. Your first
stop means that’s the team you’re crawling with and a Kwanzaa Crawl team leader
will guide you and your team from bar to bar.
The entire event will be divided into 40 teams to prevent overcrowding. Teams will criss-cross, split up, and get back together.
“Your route is predetermined and you won’t know all of the
bars your team will hit until you get your Kwanzaa Crawl map at the Kick-Off
ceremony. That’s a big part of the fun,” said organizers.
After 10:30 PM, all crawlers can roam freely to any
participating bar.
Giving Back
Organizers have pledged to give a part of their proceeds to two NYC non-profits: Barbershop Books, an organization that creates reading spaces in barbershops to get more young black boys to read; and Seeds of Fortune, a scholarship program for young women of color.
Traveling will expose you to new ways of living and doing. Not only will you try new foods and learn different languages, but you’ll be able to see how beautiful other countries are with your own eyes.
One of my favorite things to do while traveling is stroll through cities and experiencing the beauty of streets unknown. Some streets are filled with colorful homes while others are very monochromatic. Either way, this world has some pretty interesting and stunning streets to discover through travel.
From West 140th Street to 145th Street, you’ll see the beautiful street known as Convent Avenue. Head to 339 Convent Avenue to view The Royal Tenenbaums’ house. You’ll also see the stunning Convent Avenue Baptist Church while strolling this Harlem street.
Caminito means “the little path” in Spanish and is also the most colorful street in Buenos Aires.
There was once a railroad that ran through this area but it closed in the 1950s, resulting in the street becoming neglected. A local artist by the name of Benito Quinquela Martin saw potential in the street and began the process of bringing it back to life.
Now Caminito is known as a street museum and showcases local artists’ works.
If you’re interested in seeing old architecture, this is your spot. Brouwersgracht is filled with warehouses from the 17th century, tanneries and it’s the space where spice traders once operated.
Known as the most stunning street in Amsterdam, Brouwersgracht has great views of canals and Dutch architecture.
The streets of the Blue City will completely enchant you. All of the buildings were painted blue to indicate there was a presence of the Brahmin, priest or caste.
To get the best experience, take time to stroll through the alleyways of this historic area.
Travel between September and November to see the jacaranda trees in all its glory. You’ll be able to see 70,000 trees from the Klapperkop Nature Reserve in Pretoria but its Herbert Baker Street that dons the best views.
The street is located in Groenkloof and has 100 white jacarandas.
Located in northwest Morocco is Chefchaouen, alleyways filled with blue. There isn’t a definite reason why the streets are blue but some say its to prevent mosquitos while others say it was painted blue by Jewish refugees after escaping the Nazis in Germany.
Head to Rome with your bae and slowly take in the beauty of Via dei Coronari. The buildings date back to the Renaissance and are perfect for enjoying an espresso and people watching.
The Dark Hedges, Bregagh Road – County Antrim, Northern Ireland
The buildings in Nevsky Prospekt are some of the best-preserved in all of Russia. Notable sites include the Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood and the Kazan Cathedral.
This private cobbled road is quite easy to miss if you don’t know where to look. The street connects Parc Montsouris with Avenue Reille and has some of the most stunning homes embellished with stained glass and mosaics.
Located a few steps away from the Hampstead Tube station is this quaint street. The street begins as a narrow alleyway but ends as an opening to the beautiful residential streets of London. While strolling through Flask Walk, you’ll see traditional British pubs and Victorian shopfronts.
This street is one of the busiest tourist spots in San Francisco. It is known as the most crooked street in the world. Getting a view from the top is the best way to enjoy this street.
Traveling while vegan has become increasingly easier over the last few years. Not too long ago, vegans would struggle to find food options on menus, resorting to ordering sides instead of a meal.
HappyCow is one of the top online resources for vegans to find restaurants in various cities and countries while traveling. According to the vegan-friendly site, 10 years ago they had 625 fully vegan restaurants listed and today there are over 8,100 vegan restaurant listings. This alone shows that the world is becoming more open and interested in veganism.
Fortunately, HappyCow has put together a list of the 10 most vegan-friendly cities in the world. They determined the cities on the list by “the number of vegan restaurants in a five-mile radius in the most vegan restaurant-dense area in each city, the number of vegan/vegetarian/veg-option restaurants in the same five-mile radius, vegan restaurant count to population density, and the availability of festivals, meetups & community [in each city].”
Here are the 10 most vegan-friendly cities in the world, according to HappyCow.
1. London
In 2017, London became the first city on HappyCow to have 100 completely vegan restaurants listed. Today, London Town has 125 vegan restaurants in a five-mile radius within the city as well as 152 fully vegan restaurants across the city.
You can find fully vegan bakeries, cafes, juice and smoothie bars, and even a vegan cheese shop!
If you’re looking to grab a slice of vegan pizza, head to Young Vegans Pizza Shop in East London. The Vurger Co is a great option for plant-based burgers and Zionly Manna has amazing Caribbean and African food.
According to HappyCow, the largest vegan restaurant in the UK opened this year. Erpingham House, a Norwich-based, three-story restaurant serves hot beverages, juices, and food with the eatery turning into a cocktail bar at night.
If you don’t want to constantly dine-out when exploring London, there are loads of vegan-friendly grocery stores for you to find plant-based goods.
The vegan scene in London is huge, making it the top contender for the most vegan-friendly city in the world!
2. New York City
New York City’s food scene is much like it’s people — a melting pot. The vegan scene in the Big Apple is alive and kicking with 111 vegan restaurants in a five-mile radius of the city.
NYC is also the home to many vegan bakeries and vegan dessert spots. If your sweet tooth is is in need of some vegan goodies, head to Dun-Well Doughnuts, Sweets By Chloe or Erin Mckenna’s.
3. Berlin
Berlin, Germany is regarded as one of the top international vegan destinations. There are 62 vegan restaurants within a five-mile radius and 397 vegan and vegetarian restaurants on HappyCow. From brunch to dessert, Berlin has it all and the locals are very familiar with a vegan lifestyle.
LA is known for being a haven for healthy living. There are currently 49 fully-vegan restaurants and 190 vegetarian and vegan-friendly spots in a five-square mile radius. There are a lot of international options to choose from including 19 vegan Thai spots, two vegan Ethiopian restaurants along with vegan Cuban, Italian, Japanese and Vietnamese options.
If you’re looking for a true vegan LA meal, head to Little Pine vegan bistro where you can indulge in a fusion of Italian and Mediterranean dishes.
HappyCow reveals that Warsaw has over 150 vegan-friendly options, with expectations to grow in the future.
7. Portland
Portland is awesome for the vegan who absolutely loves cheese. Visit Vtopian Cheese Shop & Deli and try up to 20 different types of vegan artisanal cheeses.
Your trip to Portland wouldn’t be complete without hitting up a coffee shop. Oracle Coffee Companyserves up vegan coffee as well as baked deliciousness from Shoofly Vegan Bakery.
According to HappyCow, Portland has “46 fully-vegan restaurants, 26 vegetarian restaurants, and 185 veg-friendly restaurants” all in a five-mile radius with plans for more restaurants to open in the coming months.
8. Bangkok
Bangkok is a dream destination for vegans with markets and fruit stands everywhere. Since most locals practice Buddhism, the majority of restaurants in this city have an abundance of vegan options on their menu.
Currently, there are 42 vegan restaurants and 67 vegetarian restaurants listed on HappyCow.
If you don’t feel like venturing out, Vegan Crush Food Deliverywill deliver vegan meals all made from whole ingredients.
9. Tel Aviv
There are estimated to be 400,000 people in Israel living a vegan lifestyle, making it the highest percentage of vegans in the world. Tel Aviv has 36 fully-vegan restaurants, offering foods with a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influence.
Prague may be small, but there is definitely is nothing small about its vegan scene.
If you’re looking for other vegan-friendly cities around the world, check out:
Paris, France Taipei, Taiwan Melbourne, Australia Singapore Sydney, Australia Sao Paulo, Brazil Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam San Francisco, California Kyoto, Japan Montreal, Quebec Seattle, Washington
New York is the city that never sleeps and where opportunities are endless. However, at times it can be overwhelming in the Big Apple. Thoughts of moving away from home, pursuing a new career, or starting at a new school can lead to shedding a few tears in public. I’ve personally had a few public outcries on the train or while walking the streets of Lower Manhattan.
If you need to let all out and don’t want to risk onlookers judging you, Curbed New York has revealed the best and worst locations to cry in NYC. Staten Island Ferry and Manhattan were named the top places to shed a few tears, according to Curbed New York‘s editors. Check out the full list below.
Staten Island Ferry
There is “something oddly romantic about weeping quietly to yourself on a boat as it glides across New York Harbor,” according to Curbed New York, and they were right. It kind of reminds you of a love scene in a movie.
West Village
West Village is one of the most picturesque walkable neighborhoods in Lower Manhattan. You’ll have no problem ducking into one of these small streets to shed a tear or two.
Gay St in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York, NY, USA
Strand Book Store
Get lost and find a spot within 18 miles of new, used and rare books, gifts, and other collectibles. After your therapeutic release, purchase a book or admire the paintings on the walls to uplift your mood.
Chelsea Piers is a great waterfront location where you’re guaranteed to shed a few tears, either for yourself or while watching one of the many countless weddings that have taken place there.
Curbed New York got it right with this one. I’ve never seen a cleaner park bathroom in New York. Bryant Park is an outdoor hotspot in the middle of Midtown’s chaos. Their bathroom offers fresh flowers, regularly updated art installations, and a full-time attendant so you’ll never run out of tissue if you forget your own.
Ford Foundation Center
This serene oasis, surrounded by 39 species of plants in a spacious, light-filled atrium garden, encourages peace and reflection. The garden sometimes closes for special events so make sure to review their website.
Ford Foundation Center
Fifth Avenue
Between the overcrowded streets and packed retail shops, Fifth Avenue is easily one of the most famous and busiest streets in the city. I bet if you look up, you just may run into someone weeping their eyes out.
It’s the perfect place to cry when you think about it. Others won’t know whether you’re actually crying or just so moved by the artwork and paintings, either way, they won’t bother you.
Curbed recommends heading to the panorama section or dipping into one of the museum’s theatres for a cry session. Just be mindful of the younger ones running around.
Overlook the Hudson River and the beautiful scenery while you sob for however long you need to.
Fort Tryon in Manhattan | Getty Images
Brooklyn Heights Promenade
The Promenade offers a grand view of the Brooklyn Bridge, East River, and Downtown Manhattan. It also serves as the backdrops for numerous scenes in the Netflix series “She’s Gotta Have It” and it looks even better at night.
Get there mid-week or evenings on weekends, it’s less crowded and lessens the chance of running into someone while you give in to your feelings.
Greenwood Cemetery
Visiting any cemetery brings a range of emotions that absolutely no one will judge you for, whether you know someone or wish to pay respects to a legendary artist like Jean-Michael Basquiat, you won’t be the only one letting the tears flow.
Subway
I had my first meltdown on the subway earlier this year. As much as I tried to hold back my emotions, I couldn’t. But most train riders were too busy absorbed with their phones, on the computer or watching the train street dancers hop around poles.
Subway train in 125 st. Station in New York City | Getty Images
New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden
This garden oasis house features that embody poetry, reflection, and mountains that resemble paintings of Buddhist monks. Crying visitors can experience zigzag bridges and paths, which Chinese philosophers believe to ward off evil spirits.
If you ever feel like you need to release or shed a few tears, stop by one of these locations and don’t forget your kleenex.
Traveling to space, hotel rooms that you can set up from a smartphone, and getting through the airport faster are all emerging trends that travelers are interested in.
Travel company Luxury Escapes analyzed data from more than 20,000 voters in Australia for its “Travel 2020: Forecasting The New Decade of Travel” report and here are some of the most anticipated trends that could change travel as we know it.
Smart Hotel Rooms
Rooms that enhances the experiences for guests ranked No. 1 among voters as what they’d like to see more of, according to the report.
More hotels are investing in smart technology that will allow guests to open doors, dim the lights, and playing specific songs with a smartphone.
Facial Recognition Technology
Next on the list is an increase in facial recognition technology. Why? Because passengers are looking for faster ways to get to their terminals, according to the report.
Eco-Friendly Airlines
More travelers are adopting environmentally friendly standards and choosing airlines who committed to taking care of the environment.
Smart Luggage
Unless your goal is to unplug, forgetting to pack your phone or laptop chargers is annoying. That’s why voters said they are looking forward to luggage that incorporates modern technology like battery packs and GPS locators.
Jet Lag Pills and Cures
Traveling is exciting but the worst part is the jet lag that follows. Passengers said they are looking forward to a jet-lag cure.
Space Travel
Just to be clear, this is not happening in 2020. The Luxury Escapes report, however, revealed that 1 in 5 voters said they are down for an orbit trip. They might be on to something as Elon Musk’s SpaceXis planning its first cargo mission to Mars in 2022.
“There might be a little boy or girl in the audience seeing that and saying, ‘Hey, I can do that, too,’” 11-year old Charlotte Nebres told The NY Times. Charlotte is the first Black ballerina in history to be cast as Marie in New York City Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker.” The play began in 1954.
The young star simply credits it all to just doing what she loves, dancing. She is currently a student at New York’s School of American Ballet and beat out more than 180 other dancers for the starring role.
“To me, it just feels like when I dance. I feel free and I feel empowered,” Charlotte told The New York Times. “I feel like I can do anything when I dance. It makes me happy, and I’m going to do what makes me happy. You don’t need to think about anything else.”
This year’s ballet began running on November 29, so you have plenty of time to catch it in action.
Thanks to ballerina’s like Misty Copeland paving the way, we can only hope to see more Charlotte’s in the near future. Do your thing young Queen, the world is yours!
Scroll down Eat Good NYC‘s website and the first thing you’ll notice is it’s nothing like your typical bakery.
In fact, if it weren’t for the receipts to prove it, we doubt that you would believe there is a food artist out there who has managed to combine pop culture with sugar that when juxtaposed, creates a luxury brand of baked goods.
Instagram | @eatgoodnyc
Founded in 2014 by Benny Emeri and Caroline Wang, Eat Good NYC was the brainchild of two young creatives who bonded over their love of fashion, art, and baking.
The idea behind the bakery was to bring those worlds together in a way that no one ever expected. As detailed on the website, the two used cupcakes as their canvas to create “edible art that speaks and relates to everyday pop culture and current events.”
And while the bakery is widely known for its signature item the “selfie cupcake,” it took some time to build a clientele that includes Beyonce.
Instagram | @eatgoodnyc
During an interview with Black Enterprise, Emeri noted that he got a big break when he went out on a limb, despite not being able to get inside the event, and waited outside for English model, actress, and singer Cara Delevinge for two hours with paparazzi.
“When she finally came out, I pulled out my selfie cupcake and just waved at her. She looked at me and screamed, ‘WTF is that?!'” he said. “She came over and asked to see it and if she could take a picture of it. The next day I woke up to that picture of her with the cupcake in Vogue, the Daily Mail, and other big publications.”
Paying It Forward
After years of success, including building a clientele and creating pieces for pop-cultural icons including, The Roots, Pharrell, the cast of the Hamilton Musical, and [again] Beyonce, Emeri said he’s now paying it forward to support other black males in the industry.
“I’m paying it forward through open communication and always lending a hand,” he said. “I have a special place in my heart for my people, because I know firsthand how hard it is to acquire certain opportunities and experiences.”
You want your favorite sneaker on a cupcake? How about your favorite handbag? What about your favorite selfie? Shop black-owned, EatGoodNYC has you covered.
If you’ve ever dreamed of getting paid to travel and sip cocktails all winter, this gig is for you! Reservations.com is searching for a writer to travel to New York City and find the best Irish coffees. Could this be you?
Winter in NYC is the perfect time to enjoy a hot beverage. Getting paid to enjoy a hot ADULT beverage is the icing on the cake.
Irish coffee is a cocktail consisting of Irish whiskey, hot coffee, and sugar, stirred and topped with cream. Reservations.com wants to know who has the best Irish coffee in the city and they’re looking to pay one lucky person to find out!
Reservations.com has just launched a contest where one lucky applicant will be hired to visit the top bars and restaurants across NYC and taste their Irish coffees. The winner will write up a personal review of their experience and rank their favorites. They’ll receive a total of $2000 to cover the cost of travel, accommodation, food, drink, and of course, their written reviews.
The deadline for applications is December 1, 2019. Of course, you must be 21 years or older to apply. Click here for full details and to put in your bid. Good luck!
Thinking about relocating to Los Angeles, Washington D.C. or New York City? Well, a study conducted by Purdue University and GoBankingRates.com has run the numbers and they’ve revealed just how much you’ll have to make to be happy in 50 of the nation’s biggest cities.
To come up with these figures, the study pinpoints just how much money someone needs to make in order for their level of emotional well-being and overall life satisfaction (life evaluation) to not be affected. This includes their day to day mood as well as the funds needed to meet their goals.
If you’re looking to pack your bags and head to a big city on the West Coast, your cheapest bet may be along the lines of Sacramento. With just a salary of $76,500-$95,625, your emotional well-being will be intact. You’ll also only need to make $133,875 to be happy.
In Los Angeles, however, you’ll need to make $204,855 a year to live happily, $117,060-$146,325 for your emotional well being and a salary of $185,345 for your life evaluation. To live in Long Beach, it’s suggested that one would need a salary of $188,055 to be happy and a salary of $170,145 for their life evaluation.
Also in California is Oakland, where your emotional well being will cost you around $120,720-$150,900 a year. To be happy you’ll need to make $211,260 annually and your life evaluation will cost a salary of $191,140.
However, none of that compares to living in San Francisco where a salary of $319,935 annually is needed for optimal happiness.
Living in New York packs a hefty price tag of $219,765 to live happily, $125,580-$156,975 for your emotional well being, and $198,835 for your life evaluation.
Thinking about Washington D.C. as your next home? You’ll be happy to know that it’s cheaper than living in most major cities in California or New York. A salary of $182,595 is needed to happily live in D.C. while you’ll need $104,340-$130,425 for your emotional well-being.
Want to see the entire list of cities and income? Check out the list here.
The Folklore is an innovative online retail concept operating out of New York City and Cape Town. The Folklore stocks high-end and emerging designers from Africa and the diaspora, and serves as a cultural hub for contemporary brands, artists and creatives to showcase their personal stories.
Our carefully curated product-line reflects the diversity of Africa’s contemporary urban landscapes and design aesthetic. We deliver apparel, accessories, shoes, bags, and homeware that can live in cities around the world, and be enjoyed by men and women who appreciate luxurious, thoughtful, clean and boundary-pushing design.
Exclusivity is key in our product selection process, we carry a limited stock of each product and host a small list of 20 globally recognized designers. Some styles are even one-of-a-kind and exclusive to our platform, and therefore cannot be replicated.
In addition to operating as an online concept store, The Folklore also provides wholesale services to African designers interested in penetrating the global retail market. Our wide range of services helps brands reach new audiences and significantly enhance profits. The Folklore works as an intermediary to facilitate positive and rewarding wholesale business relationships between brands and retailers.
The combination of goods and services provided by The Folklore helps enhance the visibility and financial success of Africa’s garment industry while exposing a global customer base to exclusive designers and styles, some of which were previously unavailable to shop online or outside of Africa until now.
TN Plus members get 20% off at The Folklore with the promo code: TNPLUS20 . Click HERE to shop now.
Beauty and travel merge with the new Makeup Museum in New York City. Plan a trip to the big apple for a history lesson on the beauty industry and how it has impacted society.
The museum is set to open in May 2020 and will be located in the Meatpacking District. You’ll be guided through over 10,000 years of makeup history with a focus on each decade.
Doreen Bloch, executive director and co-founder of The Makeup Museum tells WWD, “The Makeup Museum is a critical institution for the cultural landscape in New York and globally. Makeup has a 10,000-year history, spanning from the ancient Egyptians and the kohl eyeliner they used to kabuki and geisha makeup in Japan, all the way to drag makeup and the influence it has today on pop culture.”
There will be rotating exhibitions with the first, “Pink Jungle: 1950s Makeup in America” highlighting the most iconic trends of the decade.
Block shared that the museum will start with the 50s because the decade birthed the modern makeup industry with brands like Max Factor, Elizabeth Arden, Sally Hansen and more. The 50s is also when trends like the cat eye and red lip came into play.
The makeup industry in the U.S. has been experiencing major declines in sales with brands such as MAC, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and Urban Decay, according to the NPD Group’s first-quarter 2019 stats.
The Makeup Museum will be in a semi-permanent space at 94 Gansevoort Street and will open for six months with plans for a permanent space in NYC as well as other parts of the U.S.
Walk around any major city and you will see electric scooters. Similar to the rent-a-bike scheme, electric scooters are available for riders at their convenience.
Riders have praised the scooters as an affordable and eco-friendly means to get around. Critics, however, argue that they put the lives of riders and pedestrians at risk as people ride them on sidewalks or step over them as they lay in walk paths.
As a result, countries are pushing back and limiting how
they are used.
Most recently, officials in Singapore announced that they would test banning e-scooters on sidewalks, which could result in a total ban next year, as reported on CNN. The decision comes amid a local hospital’s report of six deaths linked to the scooters in 2019.
Singapore isn’t the only country to do so.
In France, scooters were banned from sidewalks in September after a rider was killed by a truck driver.
And across the UK, e-scooters are banned from public roads, sidewalks, and cycle lanes.
Among the safety risks that critics say e-scooters pose, the most alarming is the impact they are having on persons with disabilities.
Some cities have docking stations but for the most part, scooters can be picked up or dropped off anywhere. As a result, people are leaving them abandoned anywhere.
“If you’re a wheelchair user or a blind person, indeed a human being, I predict these two-wheeled electric scooters, will become very annoying.,” Simon Minty, a disability consultant tweeted in Brussels this past summer after examining two scooters left blocking the sidewalk. “They seem to be abandoned, in the middle of the pavement, everywhere I go. I saw three from the station to my hotel. #disability.”
If you’re a wheelchair user, or a blind person, indeed a human being, I predict these two wheeled electric scooters, will become very annoying. They seem to be abandoned, in the middle of the pavement, everywhere I go. I saw three from the station to my hotel. #disabilitypic.twitter.com/7UyeRCpben
In the UK, riding one on a road can cost six penalty points on your driver’s license and/or a fine of $385.
In Paris, riding on the sidewalk can cost you’re a $148 fine and dumping them in places of inconvenience, including a doorway or crosswalk has a fine of $38.
Spanish officials have banned them in Barcelona, and Madrid city officials refused granting licenses to e-scooter companies, CNN is reporting.
Meanwhile in the United States, New York City considers them
illegal although consumers can own one personally.
Los Angles, San Francisco, and San Diego allow them.
The Future of E-Scooters
As cities struggle with how to cope with the scooters, there’s a possibility that you may not see them too much longer if there’s not a better system in place to protect both pedestrians and riders.
“I don’t quite understand how people can just leave them in the street,” Minty told CNN. “It just blows my mind a little bit.”
You may know Vanessa Braxton as the owner of Black Momma Vodka – the unique handcrafted spirit blends infused with natural tea, spices, and sugar cane.
The New York native launched Black Momma Vodka in 2013 and since her launch, has expanded her empire by making teas and flavored agave which has garnered up an estimated 33,000 in online and wholesale customers totally more than $2 million in sales.
That’s why it should come to no surprise that it’s no stopping
Braxton, who recently announced that she is planning to open a café and bar in
2020.
Black Momma Tea & Café will be a 4,600 square foot restaurant that will serve more than 16- blends of tea, three flavored agaves, and organic food, including muffins and wraps, as reported in Black Business.
Black Momma Tea & Cafe Concept Design
Instagram | @blackmommavodka
The new café will be located on Colonial Springs Road in
Whatley Heights, NY where more than 60% of the 5,100 residents identify as black
and Latino.
“I have plenty of places I could go, but I wanted to take
the opportunity for people who look like me to see what I’m doing for the
community so that they can step up and do the same thing,” she
told Newsday. “I’m using a lot of small, minority, women and
veteran-owned vendors, who never had the chance with larger places. It’s
economic inclusion for everyone.”
Braxton said her goal with Black Momma Tea & Café is to become the Starbucks of the tea industry.
She also plans to have meeting rooms available inside the café and will partner with companies such as Microsoft to offer the community free classes.
As the CEO and president of Black Momma Vodka and Black Momma Branda, Braxton is the first American-American woman distiller and operator of a nationally distributed vodka in the country.
Her inventory includes hundreds of tea blends, vodka, CBD oils, flavored agaves, and more.
