Pat O’Brien’s
Home of the hurricane
The legendary New Orleans bar that created the hurricane cocktail is a hot spot for pilgrims, especially those that sit in the patio next to the flaming fountain.
Fleur de Sel
The last word in gourmet salt
One of the world's rarest and most expensive kinds of salt comes from the sea, but has a very special method of harvesting.
The Autogyro
Taking the proto-helicopter for a spin
What do you get if you cross and airplane and a helicopter? A funny-looking aircraft with an unpowered rotor. Whatever else you can say about it, it won't stall at slow speeds.
Wife Carrying Contests
Obstacles to a healthy relationship
Those wacky Finns. The best-known and goofiest sporting competition in Finland involves carrying a woman through an obstacle course. The reward? The woman's weight in beer!
Freeze Drying
The amazing science of lyophilization
It's not just for instant coffee and camping foods anymore! The process by which virtually all the water can be removed from something while keeping its structure intact is being applied to everything from flowers to pets.
Castor Oil
The all-purpose health aid and poison
The old cure for constipation has also been used as a weapon, and extracts from the same plant produce a deadly poison.
Walloon
Green Bay and the French connection
What's the connection between Belgium and Green Bay, Wisconsin? It's not cheese, but a little-known language called Walloon.
French Butter Dishes
Fresh butter without refrigeration
A refreshingly low-tech way to keep butter fresh without making it rock-hard and unspreadable, French butter dishes rely on simple physics.
Snow Crusts
A few words about the surface of snow
Are there really dozens of Eskimo words for snow? Maybe or maybe not, depending on how you look at it. But there are definitely at least eight English terms for "snow crust."
Durian
Exotic fruit and vampire repellent
Referred to by some as the king of fruits, this tropical fruit has an overpowering aroma and a flavor that, to be generous, is an acquired taste.