One Astronomer's Guide to Travel

These pages give one astronomer's recommendations for restaurants, cafes, pubs, and playgrounds in cities of the US and around the World.

Tables of Summation

The following tables list my favorites for restaurants, cafes, playgrounds. I consider these to be >95% guaranteed.

Restaurants
City Name Style Kids? Outside? Price Address Telephone Comments Ref Visited
Amherst The Night Kitchen American No No Modest 440 Greenfield Rd., Montague MA (In a mill!) 413 367 9666 Very good food in a great setting JXP 2010
Amsterdam La Fruiteria Healthy Yes Minimal seating Modest 141 Nieuwezids vooburg wal (next to a large church) Excellent smoothies and crepes JXP 2009
Baltimore One World Cafe Eclectic Yes No Fair 100 W. University Veggie/vegan. Excellent atmosphere(loud)+beer JXP 2009
Baltimore The Helmand Afghani No No Expensive 806 N. Charles St. 410-752-0311 The pumpkin soup is otherworldly. JXP 2007
Cambridge Rice Boat Indian Yes No Fair 37 Newnham Rd 01223 302800 Authentic Indian. "Traditional" plus a few standard curries. Reservation recommended. JXP 2007
Cambridge The Ghandi Cuisine Indian Yes No Fair 72 Regents Street (01223) 353942 Standard Bangladesh dishes. JXP 2007
Durham Alishaan Indian Yes No Medium On the round-about of North Rd. 0191 370 9180 Bengalese? JXP 2011
Geneva Fish Maybe Yes! Expensive ? ? Lovely setting on Geneva lake. Traditional Swiss fish dishes. JXP 2007
Munich Italian No No Mid+ ? ? D'Odorico's favorite. Nuff said JXP 2006
Paris Fish la Boissoinnerie Fish Not really No Expensive 69, Rue de Seine 01 43 54 34 69 English-speaking is tolerated, excellent fish dishes. Great wine menu. Reservation recommended. JXP 2006
Paris Grenier de Notre Dame Vegetarian Yes No Fair to Expensive 18 rue de la Bucherie 01 43 29 98 29 Organic veggie dishes. Excellent quality. JXP 2006
Puebla ?? Mexican Yes No Moderate Excellent food in the 'hip' district JXP 2008
San Diego Pizza Port Pizza, beer Yes A little Fair 135 N. Highway 101, Solana Beach (858) 481-7332 Best pizza in California, especially given the home-brewed beer. JXP 2009
San Diego Nobu Sushi Japanese Yes (early) No Expensive 315 South Coast Highway 101, Solana Beach 858-755-7787 Best sushi in San Diego. Nuff said. JXP 2009
San Diego Cafe Zinc Gourmet Yes Yes Expensive 132 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach 1 858 793 5436 Excellent lunch place. Good coffee JXP 2009
Shanghai Spicy Yes No Fair ?? ?? Outstanding food in a fun (non-tourist) atmosphere. JXP 2005
Waimea, HI Merriman's Fish,Beef,etc No No Expensive Opelo Plaza 808-885-6822 Off-scale food. One of the top restaurants I've been to. Try the seared Ahi tuna. JXP 2009


Cafes
City Name Style Out? WIFI? Address Comments Visited
Amherst Lady Killegrew Casual Yes Yes 440 Greenfield Road - Montague, MA A bookstore, cafe, pub (great beer) 2010
Amsterdam Brandmeister's European No No Near Van Gogh Museum, toward the park Mainly a store for machines and beans 2009
Beijing ? European No Yes UN district Only good coffee in Beijing? 2005
Cambridge Hot Numbers Coffee ? ? Yes Unit 6 Dales Brewery, Gwydir St Recommended by Jemma Never
Chicago ? European No ? A far walk from Astro Best coffee 'nearby' 2007
Durham Caffe Nero Italian No Yes 34 Silver Street Best coffee in city center 2011
Marseille O'Monaco African Yes Yes 1 A COURS ST LOUIS Espresso and a glass of cold water. 2007
Montalcino, Italy Caffe Fiaschetteria European Yes ? Next to the clock tower Full cafe 2009
Munich, Germany Cafe San Pietro Italian Yes ? Next to St. Peter's church Full cafe 2011
Paris, France La Cafeotheque French? > ? 52, rue de l'Hotel-de-Ville Full cafe 2011 (Thom)
Shanghai ? Tea Yes ?? ?? Nice views of the garden and P 2007


Watering Holes
City Name Style Out? View? Address Website Comments Visited
Kona Humpy's Casual Yes Ocean 75-5815 Alii Drive, Kona http://www.humpys.com/kona/ Great beer selection 2012


Playgrounds
City Name Style Address Comments
Ajaccio ?? Fun structures On water, below statue of Napolean Bocci ball scene is great
Baltimore Federal Hill Slides and stuff Across the water from the Harbor Fantastic views, nice spot
Cargese Gardienne de ses traditions Minimal Top of the hill in town Amazing views
Marseille Palace du Pharao Climbing Park next-door Fantastic views of the city
Marseille Climbing Park below NotreDame Nice park, big playground. Benches for parents to sit.
San Diego 15th St. playground Standard On the beach at 15th St. in Del Mar Amazing views of the Pacific. Large grass area
Santa Barbara Huge Climbing Near downtown Huge playground. Lots of space for adventure. Shaded
Waiemea Climbing Next to the large field near downtown Large playground. Nice wood construction.


Airports
Airport Coffee Food "Playgrounds" WIFI?
CHO Free
DEN Seattle's Best (B24); Order a medium Americano with a small bit of water Itza wrap (Center of B); Heidi's deli (~B90) T-mobile
IAD Maui Hut (C7; smoothies too) T-mobile
SAN Starbucks only La Salsa (T2; Outside American Security) Free
SFO Peets (88) Chinese (81; BBQ Pork on rice) 89A T-mobile
SJC Starbucks only Tacqueria (C) Free


Great Hikes
Name Location Trailhead Distance Difficulty Highlights
Captain Cook Waimea, HI Take Nopoopoo Rd. off Route 11, about 10 miles south of Kona between mile markers 111 and 110. Travel 0.1miles and park. Trail head is on right hand side, opposite 3 tall palm trees. ~2 miles each way. 1300' eleveation Hard, especially when warm (typical). Lots of loose rock near bottom. Great snorkeling; excellent views
Poloulu Valley Hawi, HI Drive to the end of Hwy XX and park. ~0.5 mile each way. 500' elevation drop/gain Medium. Loose terrain Fantastic views and wondnerful black beach
Torrey Pines Del Mar, CA Drive to the top of the State Park and park. $10 day fee ~3 mile loop. 800' elevation drop/gain Medium. Loose terrain Fantastic views and terrain; beach access
West Cliff Santa Cruz, CA Park on XXX St. near the entrance to Natural Bridges State Park 2 miles each way. No elevation drop/gain Easy. Asphalt Fantastic views; beach access; lighthouse


e-mail: xavier at ucolick.org
modified 02/28/2011