Can it be challenging to be a jet-setting vegetarian? Well, it used to be. Now it’s changed for the better, so pack your bag and bring your appetite—join us for a gastronomic globetrot across the nation to visit some of our fave vegetarian eateries, many with vegan menus as well, —for a taste of Vegetarian America.

Atlanta, Georgia

Café Sunflower
2140 Peachtree Road

Atlanta, GA 30308

(404) 352-8859

www.cafesunflower.com

$$=Moderate

Got a hunger for some ‘dirt candy’? An internationally inspired vegetarian menu with signature plates drawing from flavors of the Caribbean, Asia, and onwards at this hip eatery with two Atlanta locations—one in Buckhead, the other Sandy Springs.

Chicago, Illinois
Green Zebra
1460 W Chicago Ave # 1

Chicago, IL 60642

(312) 243-7100

www.greenzebrachicago.com

$$=Moderate

Refreshingly “new” vegetarian dishes and exciting sides are de rigueur at contemporary “Green Zebra.” Informally elegant décor surrounds you as all your senses are satisfied with their sensual dishes. The five-course “Tasting Menu” as well as the new Sunday Brunch offering is a must-try.

Santa Monica, CA
Real Food Daily
514 Santa Monica Blvd.

Santa Monica, CA 90401

(310) 451-7544

www.realfood.com

$$=Moderate
Make every bite count at this organic vegan restaurant with two Los Angeles locations—Santa Monica as well as West Hollywood where friendly, speedy service takes center stage. Both locals turn out a menu that transports American comfort food to Vegan acme, while the Santa Monica location turns the spotlight on its “Real Food Bakery” next door

New York, NY
Organic Grill

123 First Ave

New York, NY 10003

(212) 477-7177

www.theorganicgrill.com

$$=Moderate
Veggie power rules here at Manhattan’s cheery “Organic Grill” where an energetic atmosphere pervades this day-to-evening restaurant. The highly satisfied denizens of this neighborhood eatery frequent for their daily dose of plant meals.

Philadelphia, PA
Horizons
611 S 7th St

Philadelphia, PA 19147

(215) 923-6117

www.horizonsphiladelphia.com

$$=Moderate

Meatless creativity and panache characterizes “Horizons” restaurant that dishes-out upscale Vegan starters and entrees that preserve glorious vegetal flavors with never-miss-the-mark standards. Round-out your meal with one of their stylish and sinful desserts composed with care.

San Francisco, CA
Millennium Restaurant
580 Geary St

San Francisco, CA 94102

(415) 345-3900

www.millenniumrestaurant.com

$$$=Expensive

Prepare for a sophisticated, transformative meal at “Millennium Restaurant.” Vegetables triumph at this class-act destination. The freshest produce combined with tantalizing, choice ingredients reach their optimal height at this masterful restaurant for artful meals executed with precision. Seasonal specialties with bold flavors and satisfying mouth feels are the hallmark—dining here should not be missed by any herbivore.

Washington, DC
Soul Vegetarian Cafe and Exodus Carryout

2606 Georgia Ave NW

Washington, DC 20001

(202) 328-7685

www.soulveg.net

$=Budget
Though its a cafeteria-style atmosphere—hearty food bridges the gap of what you might expect from a vegetarian restaurant—great, wholesome yet inexpensive fare is served-up at “Soul Vegetarian Café and Exodus.” Since patrons can’t get enough of the food here, the restaurant has expanded and there is even a take-out section, hence the namesake “exodus” a welcome option for vegetable-lovers and soul-food fanciers.

By Mara Rogers, Editorial

The newest recruit to the Offbeat Guides editorial team, Zain Iqbal is putting us all to shame with his colorful traveling past. He studied Uzbek while working for the Peace Corp in Uzbekistan, got hip with the MTV crew in New York and subsequently won an Emmy, and lived for a year in the Hague, while his friends were Spring Breaking in Cancun.

I asked Zain to spill the secrets on his favorite travel experiences and remembered to pronounce his name correctly, (Zen, not Zayne).

First trip overseas? - The first trip overseas that I remember (there was the border crossing into Tijuana, Mexico when I was 3 years old; I think my parents wanted fish tacos) was to Paris in July of 1986. We were on our way to Nigeria for my dad’s first foreign service assignment and we stopped off in the City of Lights for a 3 day visit. Highlights for me were the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the weird round pillows that are commonplace in European hotels.

Where are you off to next? - I’m hoping to go to Black Rock City at Burning Man in September as a first-timer. In the meantime, I want to spend the summer exploring the San Francisco Bay Area and hiking in some of California’s national parks. Of course, if I found a decent airfare I’d be off to Japan in an instant.

Best offbeat souvenir? - When I was leaving Uzbekistan, a local friend of mine gave me a cow’s horn that is traditionally used for drinking wine. I’m not sure if I’d really want to ruin its authenticity by putting a California Cabernet in there, but it works perfectly for a good Georgian or Russian wine.

Longest plane delay? - I was going from Nigeria to Kenya on Pan Am (remember that airline?) in 1987 to go on safari with my family. While there wasn’t too much of a delay, it was the first time I flew business class. As a 10-year old, waiting to board a 747 and experience the upper deck was agony. Of course, I ended up sleeping through the entire flight!

Food you would fly for? - Austin for Tex-Mex, New Orleans for Cajun, and to NYC for a stacked pastrami sandwich from Katz’s Delicatessen in the Lower East Side.

What do you collect when you travel? - My uncle got me into collecting coins at an early age from all of places that I’ve been to, but more recently I’ve been collecting maps. Almost every city or town has an antique store that sells old maps, so I’ll usually try and browse through their stuff. My prized possession is a print of a map of Central Asia from 1749.

It’s sunny in Oakland. Summer is nearly here which means an ever-present fog bank for San Francisco, but just a quick BART trip under the bay there are clear skies. Oakland has long languished in the shadow of her more glamorous older sister, but has recently seen an outbreak of art, music, food and culture. In combination with the nostalgic embrace of its historical monuments, Oakland now stands to compete at an international level.

To celebrate, Oakland’s newly formed community benefit district groups are throwing her a debutante party: Uptown Unveiled! The free street fair will take over Oakland’s Uptown on Thursday June 18, 2009 from 5pm-10pm. Expect nothing short of an interactive art circus in this loosely defined area just north of downtown.

This is what’s on the menu for the eclectic evening:

Live music on three outdoor stages scattered around the area including out of the ordinary Rock in front of the now legendary Café Van Kleef near 16th St and Latin tunes on 18th St. A showcase of foodie culture will take place with booths lining the Fox Square park where you’ll be able to sample delights from restaurants like nearby Flora. Alongside the food stands will be art, events and local business stops.

Festivities for children will take place outside the Fox Court Residences on 19th St with a bounce house, crafts, face-painting and clowns. Youth Movement Record will put on a Battle of the Bay Poetry Slam at 8:30pm at the Black Box Theater at 1932 Telegraph Ave.

The event is a great chance to sneak a look at the interior of the newly revitalized Fox Oakland Theater. The landmark reopened on February 5, 2009 with a grand gala, its stunning architecture restored to its 1920s glory. Just a few blocks away you can take a better look at the art deco masterpiece of the Paramount Theatre as well.

There will also be illuminated art installations, a skateboard competition, a promise of the mysterious but intriguing Great Wall of Oakland multimedia presentation, beer gardens to enjoy an afternoon in, as well as ice skating and lessons at the Oakland Ice Center and after parties at the bars and nightclubs. Pedicabs and motorized cable cars will be available to shuttle you around from one diversion to the next. There will be a skateboarding contest, with a fashion show put on by VJ London Studios.

The Uptown restaurants and nightspots that help make this area a burgeoning center of culture even when it’s not throwing an organized festival will have great specials during the night. Many art galleries will also have extended hours.

Things are happening in Oakland. The night promises to be a wild mash-up of art and fun, an awesome celebration of all the juxtaposed elements of cultural stimulation that give Oakland its edge.

Uptown Unveiled! will be just a short walk away from the 19th St BART stop and easily reached by several AC Transit bus lines. Free bike parking will be conveniently located near the event as well as signs directing drivers to convenient parking.

Date: June 18, 2009

Time: 5pm-10pm

Location: Based around Telegraph Avenue from 16th St. to West Grand/Broadway

Price: Free!

You can check out the event on the web here.

By Lauren Theriot Locke-Paddon, editorial.

Don’t let the steep hills intimidate you, San Francisco’s size makes it easy and accessible to explore on foot. It’s great news for visitors, as walking tours are the perfect way to sightsee, save on bus fare, and burn off all those sourdough bread-bowls and Ghirardelli chocolate. And as with so much in this city, there’s a walking tour for everyone! Here are a few local favorites.

If you’re a goofball:

Foot! Tours offers a gaggle of themed neighborhood walking tours all led by stand-up comedians. They’ve been voted “Most Eccentric Walks” by SF Weekly, and the guides work in entertaining games, puzzles and re-enactments along the way. The two to three-hour tours include “Go West, Young Woman: Daring Divas of the Past” and “Where’s the F-ing Beach in North Beach”. There’s something going on nearly every day.

Foot! Tours

(800)979-3370 (US)

(212)209-3370 (international)

http://www.foottours.com/

$30-45 a head

If you keep walking into things because you’re admiring the skyscrapers:

Then the San Francisco Architecture Walking Tour is for you. Guided by architecture historian Rick Evans, discover art deco treasures and hidden rooftop gardens, and learn the surprising stories behind some of the city’s most famous buildings. The two-hour tour, winner of the 2009 SF Weekly award for “Best Walking Tour of San Francisco”, happens daily, provided enough people sign up.

My Favorite City Tours

(415) 264-8824

www.architecturesf.com

$10 kids under 12

$20 adults

If you’re a creature of the night:

Glimpse the Gothic side of San Francisco with a vixen tour guide. Mistress Mina Harker leads groups of locals and visitors alike on this two-hour evening jaunt through Nob Hill, mixing true tales of city history with local legends and vampire lore. According to Mina, the tour is 85% fact, 15% fiction. She just won’t tell you which part’s which.

San Francisco Vampire Tour

(650) 279-1840

http://www.sfvampiretour.com/

Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00pm

$20.00 per mortal

$15.00 each for seniors, students, or groups of 10 or more

If you’re on a budget:

Choose from an overwhelming list of free (really!) neighborhood tours from the volunteer-based San Francisco City Guides. You’ll learn from knowledgeable locals about the city’s rich history and culture, while toning your calves climbing those famous hills. Several tours are offered each day, including “1906: Earthquake and Fire”, “Murals and the Multi-Ethnic Mission” and the “Prostitution Tour”.

San Francisco City Guides

(415)415-557-4266

http://www.sfcityguides.org/index.html

Free!

If you want a better deal:

Search Goldstar’s San Francisco pages for discounts of up to 50% on many of these tours if you order through them. Goldstar membership is free, and it’s a great resource for things to do in the city, always at reduced prices.

http://www.goldstar.com

Tour tips:

-Reserve your spot well in advance. Some tours sell out fast!

-Wear comfortable shoes and bring water.

-Bring a camera, but ask your guide if photos are permitted before you shoot.

-Ask questions. Tour guides are chatty and usually happy to answer when time allows.

See you on the streets!

For more information on what to do in San Francisco, check out the Offbeat Guide to San Francisco here.

by Kay Dover, editorial

When you’re living in Pacific Heights, one of San Francisco’s most exclusive neighborhoods, ‘affordability’ looks hard to come by. With blocks of Victorian mansions and stunning views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Heights gives off the impression of luxury. The majority of activity takes place on Fillmore St, which is lined with high-end boutiques and expensive restaurants. While it may not look like an area where you can live on a shoestring budget, Sophie Klimt in our editorial team has discovered the secret to living the high life for under ten dollars in Pacific Heights.

SHOPPING:

Goodwill - 1700 Fillmore @ Post. The perfect place to pick up T-shirts at $1.99 each, or a vintage bag for $8. This store was recently re-organized and if you squint your eyes you can just about imagine you are in American Apparel…
Walgreens – 1899 Fillmore @ Bush. Who needs Kiehls? (shh…). You can pick up your cuticle scissors, shampoo and Almay concealer at the same time. Tip: Walgreens’ own brand is comparable to most of the brands they replicate and is several dollars cheaper.

Mayflower Market – 2498 Fillmore @ Jackson. Don’t go to nearby Mollie Stones for your cheese. Go here – they sell tasty blocks of Gorgonzola, Brie Gruyere and my favorite, Camembert. These are perfect for sandwich fillers and most cheeses are under $3. Avoid their grocery items as these are marked up, but head to their deli counter as they make big old sandwiches for only $5.

DINING:

The Grove – 2016 Fillmore @ Pine. A casual eatery decked out like a ski lodge, The Grove serves up large, delicious sandwiches priced between 7 and 10 dollars. They come with a big portion of Kettle Chips on the side. They also do excellent salads, including my favorite which comes with beets and goats cheese. Most of the time though, I cannot avoid their tomato soup at $5.25 for a big bowl, which is the creamiest and chunkiest soup I have ever tasted.

Royal Ground Coffee House – 2060 Fillmore @ Pine. Come here for your sweet treats. Ultimate Cookie’s pumpkin cream cheese cupcake ($2.25) is to die for, and there is also an extensive selection of cookies (some vegan) and cakes all around the $2 mark. Dangerously addictive and incredibly satisfying.

Mollie Stones – 2435 California Street, between Fillmore and Steiner. The salad bar is ridiculously overpriced ($9.99 per lb) but their selection of ready-made sandwiches at around $5 is a steal.

Crepevine – 2301 Fillmore @ Washington. Serving up huge crepes and omelettes, Crepevine is slightly more expensive than I’d like (around 8 or 9 dollars), but you do get a lot of food for your money and it’s always good for leftovers.

Noah’s Bagels – 2231 Fillmore @ Sacramento. Just a bagel is fine for me (wholewheat, sundried tomato or cheese), but I have seen customers walk out with some pretty fine looking bagelwiches for about $5.
Food Inc Trattoria – 2800 California @ Divisadero. Cute little restaurant which gets busier at lunchtime and is very slow for dinner. Try their soup of the day at $4.95, which is always flavorful and healthy, or nibble on one of their inventive sandwiches. Get the pear and melted brie and let me know if it’s good!

El Burrito Express 2 – 1812 Divisadero @ Bush. I love these burritos. My standby is the Cheese Bronco Burrito for $4 including tax, but you can buy the super size at only a few dollars more. Huge and amazing, particularly if you go with a flavoured tortilla, which I always get.

King of Falafel – 1801 Divisadero @ Bush. Not quite Pacific Heights, but still excellent. Their falafel is transcendent, and their falafel sandwich at only $5.89, is a bargain. They also serve vegetarian and meat combo plates which are only 7 or 8 dollars, and these come with a serving of pita bread.

For more information on what to do in San Francisco, check out the Offbeat Guide to San Francisco here.

By Sophie Klimt, editorial.

Well before I started interning at Offbeat Guides, I was just another visitor to San Francisco, eager to take advantage of all that this great city had to offer. Last year, I found one weekend in particular that seemed to culminate in a critical mass of tastes, sounds, and sights; so much in fact that it made me want to come back again and again to experience it. The third weekend in May is a perfect time to visit the Bay Area, especially if you can’t wait to get out between that seemingly endless period between New Year’s and Memorial Day weekend. Mark it on your calendar and be sure to hit at least one of these three must-attend events:

San Francisco Oyster Fest: Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, this festival is more than just about slurping down your favorite oyster; it’s a benefit, music concert, and history expo all rolled into one! Shuck a few of your local favorites from Drakes or Tomales Bay, enjoy the sounds, all while enjoying a breathtaking view of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Tiburon Wine Festival: Just across the Bay in the sailing mecca of the North Bay, you can sample wines from all over California, including Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, as well as a few from France, Australia, and New Zealand. The festival usually has some decent music, as well as art showings and great food options from some of the best restaurants in the Bay Area. Find a friend with a sailboat and cruise over to Tiburon from the Marina District, or take a ferry ride from the Fisherman’s Wharf.

Bay-to-Breakers: One of the oldest races in the United States starts at the Embarcadero on the Bay, winds through some of the most scenic neighborhoods in San Francisco, and ends spectacularly at the breakers of Ocean Beach. While the 12K run may be an epic test of your abilities on the hills, the atmosphere is anything but serious; runners are encouraged to lighten the mood with creative apparel. For those who aren’t interested in running, join the throng of 100,000 people who follow the race route with themed floats, wearing costumes, or even naked!

For more information on what to do in San Francisco this weekend, check out the Offbeat Guide to San Francisco here!

By Zain Iqbal, editorial.

All Things Digital’s Kara Swisher visited our office this week and sat down to talk to our CEO David Sifry about Offbeat Guides and what makes us great.

‘This week, I went on a trek to downtown San Francisco–from ATD HQ, located in the wilds of the Castro–to visit David Sifry, the jovial Web entrepreneur who recently launched Offbeat Guides.

The San Francisco-based start-up makes “personalized, up-to-date travel guides that cover over 30,000 travel destinations, using a combination of search technology and curation by both amateur and professional travel experts.”

In other words, on-demand travel books, with a touch of humanity–an obvious and even innovative trend as custom printing gets cheaper.

But Sifry is also putting the guides on digital devices, like the Kindle from Amazon (AMZN).

Sifry, who also founded the blog search engine Technorati, talked to BoomTown about the business and gave me a quick tour of its HQ near Union Square’.

Check out the video interview here

By Marina Kosmatos, editorial

Are you or someone you know looking for a unique 4 week internship doing travel writing and editing? Come join us at Offbeat Guides. The ideal candidates are self starters with editorial experience who can learn quickly and help us grow our high quality base of travel information. Key qualifications include an the ability to write well, exceptional attention to detail, ability to edit quickly and thoroughly, and a passion for travel.

Offbeat Guides create personalized, up-to-date travel guides that cover over 30,000 travel destinations, using a combination of search technology and curation by both amateur and professional travel experts. Our guides scour the web to find the best, most up-to-date information about your destination. You can personalize the information you want based on your travel dates, preferences, and destination. The guides come with local maps, festivals and events going on while you’re there, exchange rates, key phrases in the city’s language, weather forecasts and more.

Your job would be to help our editorial team in writing, editing, and curating the guides. If you’ve ever wanted a start in the field of travel writing, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

Internship Information: This is an unpaid 4 week internship, although the internship has the potential to be extended. We ask that you give us at least 20 hours a week, and there is some flexibility in the schedule. You’ll get experience, publication credit and attribution for the guides that you work on, experience working in a team-oriented environment, and get to see the inside of a tech startup that’s growing quickly even during a down economy. Send your resume/CV and writing samples to interns@offbeatguides.com along with your availability. If you know someone who you think might be interested, please pass this on to them!

It’s hard enough to get into a workout routine without travel interfering, but you can’t let exercise keep you from visiting all the wonderful and new lands out there!  Of course most tourism involves some activity– walking the cobbled hills of Montepulciano, kayaking in New Zealand, climbing to the top of the Westerkirk in Amsterdam– but if you’re traveling for work or you just favor a more structured workout, I’ve got a few suggestions from my own experience:

1.  At-home workout DVD’s aren’t everybody’s cup of tea; personally I get bored of doing the exact same thing every day.  But I’ve found that they’re great for travel, as you only use them sporadically so the exercises stay fresher.  My two favorites for traveling require no accessories: Tae Bo, for a high-energy calorie burn, and Winsor Pilates, for a more relaxing, muscle toning, stretch workout.  If you have an iPod or an Mp3 player and you don’t need a visual, you can also download podcasts of exercise routines, to switch it up a bit.

2.  If you’re less into cardio and more into pumping iron, don’t despair; your home gym might not pass airport weight restrictions, but AquaBells has come up with a solution.  Their compressible, water-filled barbells are sized to allow up to 16 pounds of liquid, but weigh about a pound and a half when empty.  They also squish flat to fit into your overstuffed bag.  They’re leak-guard guaranteed too!

3.  If you travel a lot for business, or just generally stick to the Continental US, then you may want to think about investing in a countrywide gym membership.  24-Hour Fitness offers an all-club membership that gets you into any of their 400+ locations across the country, and if you’re really gung-ho you can add on personal training sessions!  If you’re determined to have all the amenities of the gym at your fingertips no matter what, then this might be your best option.

Of course there are other ways to keep fit while traveling: you can go for a run along the freeway, do calisthenics in your airplane seat, or just dance the night away at your hotel lobby bar!  But if you’re really serious about sticking to a routine, these are just a few of the best ways I’ve found to stop making excuses and start making a commitment.

By Anne H. Putnam, editorial