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9 Of The Most Amazing Office Spaces On The Planet

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BBC office

The places we work shape the work we do. Research shows that natural light leads to higher test scores in schools, plants reduce stress in the office, and spaces with high ceilings tend to promote creative thinking. 

Culled from Architizer's second annual A+ Awards, which are chosen by 300 experts and a popular vote, these are a handful of the most amazing office spaces in the world.

They are spaces we'd love to work in — warehouses transformed into airy workrooms, newsrooms of the future, and offices that double as laboratories. 

The BBC Broadcasting House in London brings together nearly 6,000 of the British broadcaster's employees.



The Autodesk headquarters in San Francisco is equal parts office, laboratory, and workshop.



The office of shipping company Drukta and mailing company Formail in Kortrijk, Belgium, epitomizes northern European cool — shipping containers are turned into sleek workspaces.



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How Fireball Whiskey Became The Most Successful Liquor In Decades

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fireball whisky

Fireball Whisky sales are soaring and the liquor is becoming a threat to more established brands.

In 2011, Fireball sold $1.9 million worth of whisky in gas stations, convenience stores, and supermarkets, writes Devin Leonard at Bloomberg Businessweek. By 2013, sales had leapt to $61 million, putting Fireball ahead of Jameson Irish Whiskey and Patrón tequila.

The $61 million figure doesn't even include bars, another popular place to consume Fireball.

Fireball, which is described as tasting like cinnamon gum, has become a go-to shot for "young hedonists," Leonard writes.

The whisky beverage is even close to surpassing Jägermeister, another liqueur commonly consumed as a shot.

Leonard highlights a few ways that Fireball's marketing campaign helped it skyrocket to success.

1. Targeting college towns. Marketers first dominated the Nashville, Tennessee bar scene, then moved on to Austin, Texas. The company would offer free shots of Fireball to the entire bar. The bar would then take the shot as a group, which left an impression on customers. Eventually, people in those markets began ordering the shots on their own.

2. Enlisting celebrities. Fireball targeted celebrities with large social media followings. For instance, Josh Harris, who stars in Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch," posted about the beverage on his Facebook page.

3. Drinking contests. The brand ambassadors encouraged bars to have Fireball drinking contests and post pictures of the results to Twitter and Facebook. "Our customers got a big kick out of that," a former executive said.

As a result of Fireball's aggressive marketing, it has become the go-to shot, writes Leonard.

"Jäger is dead," an Austin bartender told Businessweek.

SEE ALSO: How One Of The Worst Mexican Beers Became A Bestseller

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These Are Some Mesmerizing Photos Of The Urban Sprawl That's Devouring The Planet

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Growing up in post-war Germany, photographer Christoph Gielen was “repulsed” by the rows of drab, identical, pre-fabricated buildings that were constructed quickly to rebuild cities lost to Allied bombings. When he left art school in his 20s, he took on a photographic mission to document the way buildings and development misuse land.

He headed to the United States, where he encountered the most extreme examples of suburban development. Heading out with a helicopter pilot, Gielen began photographing communities from above to show how our car-centric development has altered the face of the planet. 

“We are leaving a huge footprint on the environment,” says Gielen. “Sustainability is something that we need to address now.”

Gielen shared some of the photos from the project with us here, but you can check out the rest in his new book Ciphers.

For Gielen's first attempt at aerial photography, he flew with an LAPD pilot in a training helicopter. With the doors off, Gielen hung outside the helicopter to catch these photos of California's famous freeway interchanges.c5On the left is a development constructed in the 1950s in Sun City, Arizona. On the right is Sterling Ridge in Florida, built in the 1970s.c2This is a view of Sun City, Arizona. To choose which communities to photograph, Gielen uses population and economic statistics like foreclosure rates, and mapping from the U.S. Geological Survey. When he has found an area that he thinks will be intriguing, he poses as a prospective home-buyer so that real estate agents will show him the area from a local's perspective. C1 sprawlOn the left is another view of Sun City, Arizona. Venture Out RV Resort in Mesa, Arizona (right) is an active retirement community of nearly 2,000 homes. It was built in 1968.c8Gielen says that suburban sprawl like the kind pictured here in the Anthem–Henderson, Nevada, region, originated in America, but has since spread to many parts of the world. c7Sun Lakes, Arizona (left) was built in the 1970s and encompasses five country-club communities. Summerlin, Nevada (right) was owned by Howard Hughes and has since been developed into a number of villages, many of which are still under construction.c4Gielen believes that single-family homes are a misuse of land. He instead envisions "mixed use zoning." "You'd have developments that are a mix between housing and businesses, so that you wouldn't have to get into your car every time you need to go grocery shopping or go to your school or job," explains Gielen. Here, Gielen photographed skyscrapers in China.c3

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16 Photos Of The World's Greatest Boxers Like You've Never Seen Them Before

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M.Pacquiao4

Ten years ago, German photographer Holger Keifel was looking through a few boxing books when he noticed that, in each photo, the boxer was in a similar position: hands up, tough face, ready to fight. He felt there was something missing — who the boxers were outside the ring.

Keifel resolved to change that. Now, he has become known in boxing circles for having what may be the largest single collection of boxing portraits in the world, consisting of 400 portraits of fighters, promoters, trainers, cutmen, and announcers. Every portrait tries to reveal the inner life of his subject, from Mike Tyson to Joe Frazier to Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Keifel shared some photos from his boxing project with us here, and you can see more in his book, "Box: The Face of Boxing." The National Portrait Gallery also recently acquired two of Keifel’s portraits.

Despite Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s tough reputation, Keifel says the boxer is a nice guy once he's done "selling" himself and the cameras are off.F.Mayweather.Jr.2It took Keifel two and a half years to get Luis Collazo in the studio. When Keifel asked for the portrait, Collazo had just been injured in a loss to Shane Mosley. Keifel decided to wait because he "wanted to make him look good."L.Collazo1Ukrainian boxer and current heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko has spoken out often about the current unrest in his home country. His brother Vitali, also a boxer, is the leader of the opposition in Ukraine.W.KlitschkoArthur Abraham's nickname is King Arthur. When Keifel took this photo, Abraham had just arrived in America to promote the Super Six World Boxing Classic. He was wearing the crown and jacket.A.AbrahamConsidered one of the finest defensive boxers of all time, James Toney tried his hand at mixed-martial arts in 2010 at the age of 42. He lost his one and only match in under 4 minutes.J.ToneyKeifel calls Bernard Hopkins "the quintessential old-school boxer." He took this shot after a press conference in New York.B.Hopkins1Nicknamed "the Golden Boy," Oscar De La Hoya retired in 2012, after losses to both Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.O.DLHoyaKeifel had to stand on a milk crate to photograph the 7-feet 1 inch tall Nikolai Valuev.N.Valuev2"The Italian Dragon" Joe Calzaghe retired in 2009 with an undefeated record and as a reigning world champion.J.CalzagheMike Tyson was not easy to get in front of the camera, Keifel told MaxBoxing. In order to convince Tyson that it was worthwhile, Keifel talked to Gene Kilroy, Muhammad Ali's business manager in the 1970s, who set it up. This was taken at the Luxor in Las Vegas.M.TysonLennox Lewis is ranked as the number one pound-for-pound British boxer of all time.L.LewisOne of the most well-known boxers of all time, Evander Holyfield will likely be most remembered for when Mike Tyson bit off a piece of his ear during a rematch.E.HolyfieldLarry Holmes made 20 successful title defenses, second only to Joe Louis.L.HolmesKeifel got this shot of Joe Frazier in 2003, eight years before the boxing great died. "You don't have to tell him what to do," Keifel says of Frazier. "He had an incredible life story and it was all written in his face."J.FrazierAfter seeing this shot of himself, Jake LaMotta told a journalist, "It's an ugly picture of me, but I like it because it makes me look tough."J.LaMotta1After initially refusing, Don King eventually let Keifel photograph him three times. It was only after seeing Keifel's work that King warmed up to him. D.King1

SEE ALSO: If Vladimir Putin And Vitali Klitschko Got Into A Fight, Here's Who Would Win

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'Internet Is Coming To NPR!' An Amazing 20-Year-Old Company Memo Explains What The Internet Is And How Email Works

Here's How Facebook's Executive Chef Feeds 6,000 Employees Around The Globe

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Facebook Headquarters Burger Shack (1 of 1)With a workforce of more than 6,000 employees in 48 offices around the globe, providing daily meals for Facebook employees is no small feat.

Executive chef Dean Spinks oversees the menus at Facebook's company cafes. According to a recent profile by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, that includes the company's 57-acre headquarters in Menlo Park, where a team of more than 200 employees prepares meals at 11 campus dining options.

According to Rick Angelini, general manager of Sunnyvale-based Cosmopolitan Catering, the catering industry determines a full meal to be about one pound of food, which includes an entree and three small side dishes. Facebook offers its 6,000 employees three full meals a day, five days a week, which means that according to industry standards, the kitchen staff could be serving 18,000 pounds of food on any given day. 

"We usually write menus about four weeks in advance," Spinks said to the Silicon Valley Business Journal. "If you’re getting 500 pounds of one cut of beef, you’ve kind of got to give the purveyors a little bit of leeway."

The free food at the company's headquarters is said to be so plentiful and of such high quality that some employees report gaining "the Facebook 15."

arepas bar facebook

Spinks says that the dining scene is an important part of Facebook's office culture. 

"I think it kind of fosters the idea of people gathering together for lunch — different departments getting together," Spinks said. "It’s rumored that several of our products were started that way."

But feeding Menlo Park Facebookers is only one part of Spinks' responsibilities — he also designs custom kitchens and helps set up relationships with vendors in cities like Dublin, Berlin, and Tel Aviv. Facebook has 34 offices outside of the U.S.

Spinks draws from food field trips and workers' family recipes to come up with menus that will satisfy the taste buds of Facebook's international workforce, but it can be a complicated process. 

"Moving globally is a challenge, going from having one kind of small restaurant to overseeing restaurants all around the world. Or trying to set up vendors in Brazil," Spinks told the SVBJ. "I don’t speak Portuguese."

When Spinks came to Facebook with culinary school friend Josef Desimone in 2008, the social network was still a small, young company. The pair had previously helped Google to grow their in-house food operations.

Desimone died in a motorcycle accident last summer, leaving Spinks with the top job. 

SEE ALSO: Why Two Top Chefs Left The Restaurant World To Cook Lunch At A New York Startup

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The 10 Best Spas In America

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Montage Deer Vallery

Summer is a time to relax on the beach, drink something fruity out of a coconut, and indulge in a massage. Or two, or three.

But instead of squeezing in a measly back rub between your sunbathing, why not plan your whole vacation around it?

Condé Nast Traveler came out with a voter-based list of the best spas across America.

Far from your strip mall spas that play "Sounds of the Beach" on loop, these are full-on retreats that offer premium pampering in some of the most beautiful and tranquil places in the country.

So sit back, relax, and completely indulge.

10. Samoset Resort, Rockport, Maine

The Spa at the Samoset is on the smaller side with just four private rooms, but their outdoor patio overlooks 230 acres of Maine' Penobscot Bay. Their body massage options include Detoxifying Seaweed Wraps and Citrus Detox Reviving Scrub. If you're looking to go all out, get the Samoset Ultimate Signature Package for $445 which includes a facial, massage, and champagne.



9. The Cloister, Sea Island, Georgia

The Mediterranean-style resort on Georgia's private Sea Island, offers the "best of ancient and modern wisdom" with therapists and consultants on hand at their Forbes Five-Star spa and fitness center. Their treatments range from a White Tea Organic Facial to a Fresh Start Spa Day for those who want to embrace a healthier lifestyle. 



8. L'Auberge Del Mar, San Diego, California

Located in California's "heart of Del Mar," their treatments are primarily open-air and "draw on the healing wonders of the ocean." A popular option is "Seaside Sojourns" which feature ingredients and techniques indigenous to the Amazon, Morocco, Polynesia and Asia. They also have the Invigorating Coffee Scrub which uses coffee oil. 



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The 100 Best Brunch Spots In The US

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Level One DC Brunch

Anthony Bourdain may have slammed brunch in his tell-all "Kitchen Confidential," but the leisurely weekend meal is starting to hit a good stride in its evolution, according to OpenTable's chief dining officer Caroline Potter. 

"It's appealing to diners because they don't have to dress to the nines if they don't feel like it. And it's an excuse to have a cocktail at noon on a Sunday," she told Business Insider.

In a newly released list of the best brunch spots in the U.S., OpenTable found restaurants that are taking the meal seriously. They offer a wide variety of specially prepared brunch entrees (not just the week's leftovers) that complement the standard eggs Benedict.   

Potter was especially happy to see Washington D.C. crop up several times on the list of cool places to grab brunch. In a relatively small area, D.C. had eight entries, double its amount last year, and putting it on par with New York City.

OpenTable picked the best restaurants for brunch based on more than five million restaurant reviews submitted by the restaurant reservation site's diners for more than 15,000 restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Here's the full list of the best places to brunch:

606 R&D – Brooklyn, New York

94th Aero Squadron – Miami, Florida

94th Aero Squadron – San Diego, California

Allgauer’s – Lisle, Illinois

Amelia’s Bistro – Jersey City, New Jersey

Archetype (fka French Blue) – St. Helena, California

Atchafalaya Restaurant – New Orleans, Louisiana

Beau Monde – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Belga Café – Washington, D.C.

Bella Vista at Four Seasons Resort-The Biltmore Santa Barbara – Santa Barbara, California

Big Jones – Chicago, Illinois

Biltmore Brunch – Coral Gables, Florida

Bixby’s – St. Louis, Missouri

Bonnie Ruth’s Café et Patisserie – Frisco, Texas

Broadway Cellars – Chicago, Illinois

Brockton Villa – La Jolla, California

The Café at The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead – Atlanta, Georgia

Café Fleuri – Boston, Massachusetts

Café Modern – Fort Worth, Texas

Café Monte – Charlotte, North Carolina

Café Sebastienne – Kansas City, Missouri

Canyon Café at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort – Tucson, Arizona

Chez Zee – Austin, Texas

Chicken and the Egg – Marietta, Georgia

Circle Brunch-The Breakers – Palm Beach, Florida

The Classic Cup – Kansas City, Kansas

Cooperage Inn Restaurant – Baiting Hollow, New York

Corner Café – Atlanta, Georgia

Croc’s 19th Street Bistro – Virginia Beach, Virginia

The Crystal Room at Le Pavillon Hotel – New Orleans, Louisiana

Cupping Room Café – New York, New York

Datz – Tampa, Florida

Deerfield – Newark, Delaware

Deerpark Restaurant – Asheville, North Carolina

The Dining Room at Salish Lodge & Spa – Snoqualmie, Washington

East Bank Club-Maxwell’s at the Club – Chicago, Illinois

Ellyngton’s at the Brown Palace – Denver, Colorado

Envoy – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Founders Inn Swan Terrace Grill – Virginia Beach, Virginia

The Front Page – Washington, D.C.

Garden Court – San Francisco, California

Garden Terrace at The Inverness Hotel – Englewood, Colorado

Gertrude’s – Baltimore, Maryland

Grand Concourse – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great Maple – San Diego, California

Greenhouse at the Jefferson Hotel – Washington, D.C.

The Hamilton Inn – Jersey City, New Jersey

Harding House – Nashville, Tennessee

Hilltop House Restaurant – Fayetteville, North Carolina

Hundred Acres – New York, New York

Jane – New York, New York

Kingsbury Street Café – Chicago, Illinois

Lake Elmo Inn – Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Lake Terrace-The Broadmoor – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Level One – Washington, D.C.

M ST. Café –St. Paul, Minnesota

Macondo – New York, New York

Magic Flute – San Francisco, California

Mama Kim Eats – Sacramento, California

Max’s Wine Dive – Dallas, Texas

Max’s Wine Dive – Houston, Texas

Mountain View Restaurant at Cheyenne Mountain Resort – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Mrs. K’s Toll House – Silver Spring, Maryland

Naupaka Terrace-JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa – Kapolei, Hawaii

Nellie’s Sports Bar – Washington, D.C.

Normandie Farm – Potomac, Maryland

Norma’s at Le Parker Meridien – New York, New York

Oasis Café – Salt Lake City, Utah

Olivia – Austin, Texas

Oxford Exchange – Tampa, Florida

Parrot Cage-Washburne Culinary Institute – Chicago, Illinois

Peacock Garden Café – Coconut Grove, Florida

Petite Chou – Carmel, Indiana

Plumeria Beach House – Kahala, Hawaii

Pond House Café – West Hartford, Connecticut

Ports O Call – San Pedro, California

Queen Mary Champagne Sunday Brunch –Long Beach, California

Radish – San Francisco, California

Restaurant506 at The Sanford House – Arlington, Texas

Rosebud – Atlanta, Georgia

The Roycroft Inn – East Aurora, New York

Salty’s on Alki – Seattle, Washington

Santorini – Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Seasons Restaurant – Washington, D.C.

Soco – Brooklyn, New York

South End Buttery – Boston, Massachusetts

Station – Brooklyn, New York

Styer’s Garden Café – Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

Sundy House – Delray Beach, Florida

Tap Room-Hotel Bethlehem, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Ted’s Bulletin – Washington, D.C.

Ted’s Bulletin-14th Street – Washington, D.C.

Tilikum Place Café – Seattle, Washington

Timber Dining Room at Lied Lodge & Conference Center – Nebraska City, Nebraska

TJ’s at The Jefferson Hotel – Richmond, Virginia

Toast – Birmingham, Alabama

Top of the Mark – San Francisco, California

Valley Green Inn – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

V’s Italiano Ristorante – Independence, Missouri

Weathervane Restaurant – Chapel Hill, North Carolina

SEE ALSO: The Most Hipster Restaurants In 17 Cities Across America

CHECK OUT SOME FOOD PICS: On Business Insider's Pinterest

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The Frozen Yogurt Craze Is Slowing Down

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frozen yogurt Frozen yogurt chains like Pinkberry, Red Mango, and 16 Handles have become ubiquitous in recent years. 

But the trend is starting to slow down, and chains are trying other options, writes Venessa Wang at Bloomberg Businessweek

"Frozen yogurt is a competitive business. There are a lot of players out there, and despite its growth, supply has outpaced demand," says Red Mango founder Dan Kim told Businessweek

To boost sales, Red Mango is trying to capitalize on another trend—juicing. The brand's juices include ingredients like carrots, ginger, kale, and cucumbers. 

Kim told Businessweek that the juices are selling surprisingly well. 

Meanwhile, Red Mango rival Pinkberry announced a new cookie dessert earlier this year. 

The frozen yogurt business is appealing because of high profit margins. 

CBS New York pointed out last year that yogurt selling for 59 cents an ounce costs less than a dime to produce. There's a 500% markup on a 10-ounce serving even when you factor in the expense of cups and spoons. 

SEE ALSO: The Best Fast Food In America

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Here Are All The Situations In Which You Need A Prenup

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Ani Mason, a New York-based divorce lawyer and mediator, recently noticed more clients were asking her to prepare prenuptial agreements.

As more people marry later in life, the benefits of having a prenup are clear. 

Crafting an agreement that speaks specifically to your situation allows a couple to flesh out each individual's expectations about how they will manage their finances in the future. It also defines how pre-existing assets will be treated. 

If you are already married, but haven't drafted your own prenup, state law already defines the terms of your economic partnership.

NOW WATCH: How To Keep Your Divorce Out Of Court

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A Late Hedge Fund Millionaire's Central Park West Apartment Is On Sale For $25 Million

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The San Remo

The Upper West Side co-op that belonged to the late-hedge fund manager Robert Wilson is on the market for $25 million, the New York Times reports [via Curbed].

Wilson, a retired fund manager and a big philanthropist, jumped to his death from the 145 Central Park West apartment late last year. He had previously suffered a debilitating stroke a few months before. He was 86.

Kleier Residential has the listing on his former residence.

It's a lovely apartment with breathtaking views of Central Park. Now we're going to take a tour.  

You enter apartment 16C from a private elevator into this gorgeous gallery with marble floors.



Wilson's apartment was located in the south tower of The San Remo.



Seen here is the 32-foot living room. The corner apartment has 4,600 square-feet of living space.



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The World's New Best Restaurant Is Noma (Again)

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Noma Restaurant

Noma, the Copenhagen restaurant known for serving "foraged" fare, has once again been named the world's best restaurant by Restaurant magazine.

The awards were handed out this evening in London. Noma regained the crown after losing last year to El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spainwhich serves native Catalan fare with a cutting-edge twist.

Before that, Noma had taken the title the previous four years. The restaurant, where dinner for two can run upward of $900, received some bad press last year when dozens of diners got sick with a norovirus after eating there.

The kitchen, run by executive chef René Redzepi, serves a reinvented version of Nordic cuisine with a focus on ingredients foraged from the nearby forests and shores (to see what it's like to eat there, click here).

The list, which is co-sponsored by S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, gives a snapshot of the best restaurants in the world in a given year. It is selected by the votes of more than 900 international leaders in the restaurant industry, including food critics, chefs, and restaurateurs. Each member can cast seven votes, and at least three must recognize restaurants outside of their home regions.

Here are the 2014 winners:

50. Waku Ghin, Singapore

49. Coi Restaurant, San Francisco, U.S.

48. The Test Kitchen, Cape Town, South Africa (and Best in Africa)

47. The Fat Duck, Berkshire, U.K.

46. Le Calandre, Rubano, Italy

45. Hof van Cleve, Kruishoutem, Belgium

44. The French Laundry, Napa Valley, USA

43. Schloss Schauenstein, Fürstenau, Switzerland

42. Geranium, Copenhagen, Denmark

41. Quique Dacosta, Alicante, Spain

40. Daniel, New York City, U.S.

39. Piazza Duomo, Alba, Italy

38. L'Astrance, Paris, France

37. Restaurant Andre, Singapore

36. Mani, Sao Paulo, Brazil

35. Martín Berasategui, Lasarte-Oria, Spain

34. Asador Etxebarri, Vizcaya, Spain

33. Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo, Japan

32. Attica, Melbourne, Australia (and Best in Australasia)

31. L'Atelier Saint-Germain de Joel Robuchon, Paris, France

30. Per Se, New York, U.S.

29. De Librije, Zwolle, The Netherlands

 28. Acqua, Germany

27. Le Chateaubriand, Paris, France

26. Azurmendi, Bilbao, Spain (and Most Sustainable Restaurant)

25. L'Arpege, Paris, France

24. Amber, Hong Kong

23. Restaurant Franzen, Stockholm, Sweden

22. Vila Joya, Albufeira, Portugal

21. Le Bernardin, New York, U.S.

20. Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico

19. Faviken, Järpen, Sweden

18. Astrid y Gaston, Lima, Peru

17. Gaggan, Bangkok, Thailand

16. Steirereck, Vienna, Austria

15. Central, Lima, Peru

14. Narisawa, Tokyo, Japan

13. Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand (and Best in Asia)

12. Vendome, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

11. Mirazur, Menton, France

10. The Ledbury, London, U.K.

9. Alinea, Chicago, U.S.

8. Arzak,  San Sebastián, Spain

7. D.O.M, Sao Paulo, Brazil (and Best in South America)

6. Mugaritz, Errenteria, Spain

5. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London, U.K.

4. Eleven Madison Park, New York, U.S. (and Best in North America)

3. Osteria Francescana, Modena, Italy

2. El Celler de Can Roca, Girona, Spain

1. Noma, Copenhagen, Denmark

The award for the world's best pastry chef went to Jordi Roca of El Celler De Can Roca, and the award for best female chef went to Helena Rizzo of Mani in Sao Paulo.

SEE ALSO: What It's Like To Dine At The No. 1 Restaurant In The World

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What It's Like To Eat At Noma, The Best Restaurant In The World [PHOTOS]

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noma copenhagen denmark dinner

Copenhagen restaurant Noma has once again been named the "world's best restaurant" by Restaurant magazine.

The kitchen, run by executive chef René Redzepi, serves a reinvented version of Nordic cuisine with a focus on ingredients foraged from the nearby forests and shores.

The two-Michelin-starred restaurant regained the title after coming in second in last year's restaurant ranking. Before that, it had held the crown for four years running.

One thing is for sure: a meal at Noma is completely out of the ordinary. Guests are treated to a parade of around 20 small plates, most of which bear little resemblance to recognizable food. The tasting menu costs $296 a head, and the wine pairing is an additional $185.

Jose Moran Moya, a foodie who takes gorgeous photos of his meals for his blog Spanish Hipster, was lucky enough to eat at Noma in 2012. He shared pictures of his Noma feast with us.

The first appetizer was actually hidden in the table arrangement. It consisted of malt flatbread and juniper.

See more of Moya's photos at Spanish Hipster



Next up, "moss and cep,"—fried reindeer moss and mushrooms.

See more of Moya's photos at Spanish Hipster



Crispy pork skin and black currant. Moya described it like "a fruit roll up getting it on with a chicharrones (Spanish fried pig skin) ."

See more of Moya's photos at Spanish Hipster



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These Maps Show How Segregated The US Still Is

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America might be less segregated now than ever, but it remains far from total racial integration.

2010 Census maps, posted to Reddit by user DMan9797, illustrate this point well.

Check out the maps, in which darker spots show higher population density for a particular race (click here for larger versions):

The northeast and midwest are much whiter than the south:

Segregation maps

The highest concentration of African Americans is in the southeast:

Segregation maps

Native Americans are most concentrated in the pockets of the west, generally in areas where there are reservations:

Segregation maps

Asians are more spread out across the U.S., but see higher concentrations on the coasts:

Segregation maps

Latinos are most concentrated in the southwest and Florida:

Segregation maps

SEE ALSO: The 25 Most Segregated Cities In America

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12 Ways To Get Paid To Travel The World

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plane st marteen

With airfare rising more than 10% in the past five years and hotel rooms going for exorbitant prices, conventional tourism has become more challenging to do affordably.

But what if you could travel and not spend a dime? What if you could even get paid?

Many would jump at the opportunity to experience new cultures, traverse through beautiful landscapes, and satisfy their insatiable wanderlust. 

We’ve compiled 12 ways for just about anyone to get their golden ticket to spending weeks, or years, in exotic lands while earning some cash. 

1. Become A Tour Guide

tourguide

Leading tours through some of the world's most iconic and historic places sounds like a dream come true. It can offer tons of variety, depending on how you approach it. Do you become a tour guide in one dream place — say, Paris! — and lead hordes of American tourists through the Louvre, the Bastille, and the Eiffel Tower? Or do you lead groups on longer trips that go through a series of destinations? 

Either one can be a solid way to make a living and see new cultures. There are a few cons, though. Guides who stay in one location will likely be working freelance, which may mean uneven paydays and a lack of job security. Some guides give free tours and try to use their personalities to get tips from generous tourists.

Longer-term guides may be lucky enough to get a contract or a full-time gig from a touring company, which adds stability but means they will be the one dealing with all the logistics, planning, and headaches that come with trying to manage a group of cranky tourists for weeks at a time

Be prepared to be extroverted and friendly at all times, even when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed.

2. Go WWOOF'ing

wwoof

WWOOF, or Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, is not a traditional business. Volunteers go for a set period to work on a farm with like-minded travelers in exchange for accommodation and home-cooked meals. The terms are flexible with WWOOFers staying as long or little as they want, and the opportunities are plentiful. While you'll have to pay your own way to fly to the farm, once you are there, there are plenty of people who can offer a ride to the next destination. 

WWOOF'ing isn't quite a career choice, but it is an excellent way to see the world while keeping your bank account (mostly) even.

3. Teach English

teachenglish

If you're looking for adventure in a foreign land, one of the most accessible and lucrative ways to get there is by taking up a job teaching English. Jobs in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America are abundant, and most of them do not require that you speak the native language.

Schools are looking for native English speakers with bachelor degrees who can teach the "direct method," by which students learn through concepts, pantomiming, and the target language exclusively.

While not all schools require it, a certification for Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) can make you a more desirable candidate. Salaries can be as high as $36,000 a year in Japan or $45,000 in the United Arab Emirates.

4. Trade Specialty, Foreign Goods

grandbazaar

Looking to travel and have a little capital to start with? Consider getting in the import-export trade and head out to exotic countries to find local, specialty, and handmade goods that will appeal to travel-hungry consumers back home. Pick up goods that areas are known for (examples include Italian leather, Mexican hammocks, and Turkish ceramics) as well as one-of-a-kind pieces that can't be purchased by the truck full. Once you are back in the U.S., sell them to stores, collectors, and even eBay for a handsome profit.

You'll have to figure out how to navigate customs regulations, but when you can sell goods for many times their original worth, the hassle pays for itself.

5. Research For A Travel Guidebook 

guidebooks

There aren't many professions as romanticized and misunderstood as researching and writing for travel guidebooks such as Lonely Planet and Fodor's. While the job is exhilarating — jetting you off to hundreds of places to try the local culture, food, and hotels — the reality of the work is a grind. Most guidebook researchers and writers report having to meet unrealistic deadlines that require them to work 12-to-14-hour days. In addition, seeing the sights is a small part of the job. Researchers and writers must crank out reports and articles, make maps of the areas they visit, and engage in extensive, tedious data entry.

Because of tightening budgets and an abundance of 20-somethings willing to do the job for next to nothing, guide writing is hardly a lucrative profession. But you can earn enough to make a living.

In an illuminating New York Times' feature about the lives of guidebook writers, Warren St. John reveals the cardinal tenet of the job: "Most who do it quickly learn the one hard-and-fast rule of the trade: travel-guide writing is no vacation."

6. Become A Flight Attendant

flightattendantsIf you don't mind taking your travel with a side of 9-to-5, a great option could be applying to become a flight attendant. Flight attendants make between $25,000 and $50,000 a year, and they get free travel benefits for not just themselves but also their families. The pay might sound low, but consider that the average schedule has attendants working 80 hours a month.

7. Work For A Cruise Line

cruiseWorking on a cruise ship similarly sends you to exotic locales for pay, yet there are a few key differences. The job comes with long hours for comparably poor pay, but with all expenses paid and free travel. Crew members have their own dining halls, shops, Internet cafes, gyms, party areas, and even organized activities, which creates a fun culture. There are numerous jobs on a ship, with certain ones better than others. Washing dishes just doesn't sound as good as chaperoning passengers on exotic excursions.

8. Start A Travel Blog

backpackersBeing a professional travel blogger is a tough gig. While traveling to every sight imaginable is a tantalizing part of the job, it takes a lot of work to make it happen. Most travel bloggers spend a year building their sites, churning out several posts a day and building up a following on social-media before they ever see any money from their sites.

Almost all travel bloggers start out by spending their savings just to get up and running. Even once you've built a following, a network, and ad partnerships, you are running your own business, which means that in addition to traveling and writing, you must handle all the marketing, site growth, and financials. As you can imagine, it's a job that never ends. To make it all work, you have to truly love travel and blogging.

9. Work As An Au Pair

aupairAn au pair, or an extra pair of hands, is an international nanny who lives with a family for a set period, taking care of their children in exchange for travel, room, board, and pocket money. It can be a fantastic way to see a new culture from the locals' perspective and make some money. Most au pairs are students or recent graduates, so get in before it's too late.

Many families don't require au pairs to speak the native language, and many even prefer it if you speak to their children in English so that they can improve their fluency. There are websites, such as Au Pair World, that help match people with families. 

10. Become A Destination Wedding Photographer

wedding photographer This one requires a bit of skill, but for those with the artistic temperament a wedding-photography business can offer free travel and an outlet for creative expression. It goes without saying that you will have to be a talented photographer, or at least a well-practiced one.

The wedding business is a competitive one with high entry costs (think computer, camera, lenses, editing software, portfolio, website, and, possibly, training), but it pays well. Many destination wedding photographers charge up to $10,000 a wedding, plus airfare, meals, and incidentals. While you'll be working hard during the wedding, extend your stay for a few hundred dollars and you are well paid and traveling free. 

11. Join The Peace Corps

peace corpsJoining the Peace Corps is not a decision to be taken lightly. It requires a 27-month commitment in a developing country with few modern conveniences and not much opportunity to see friends or family. If you're still on board, and have a desire to make a difference in the lives of others, the Peace Corps can be a life-changing and rewarding experience.

Few opportunities immerse travelers in a culture as thoroughly as the Peace Corps. Expect to choose from an array of assignments, including teaching English, working in disease prevention, and building infrastructure. There is also an extensive application and interview process. The Peace Corps pays for travel expenses, living expenses, certain student-loan benefits, and it offers a $7,425 readjustment allowance upon completing your service.

12. Write A Literary Account Of Your Travels

normanmailerIf all else fails (or you are an incredible wordsmith), take a crack at writing the next "Green Hills of Africa," "Homage to Catalonia," or "The Sun Also Rises." If the book does well, you could have a cash cow on your hands in the form of royalties and advance checks. Of course, most would-be authors will never see a cent from their travels or literary hard work. If you have the courage to try, you could end up with the traveling lifestyle and your pick of publications to print your essays and stories. 

SEE ALSO: The 10 Destinations Americans Dream About Visiting

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11 Great Gifts All Mothers Will Love

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mother child sweden parent

Just because Mother's Day comes around every year, doesn't mean you have to get mom the same bouquet of flowers and Hallmark card every year as well.

We know mothers come in all different shapes and sizes, but we compiled a list that we think every mom will love.

Here are the best things to give your mother on May 11th for a truly special Mother's Day.

 

A fancy tea-maker so she can always have the perfect cup.

For the serious tea-drinkers, Teavana's Perfect Teamaker "is an efficient, simple and clean way to steep tea."

Instead of making and covering a pot of boiling water, this tea-maker does all the work, even draining out the tea leaves. 

Price:$19.95



The important staple of a statement necklace.

Statement necklaces are the must-have accessory now, so if your mother (or the mother of your children) is looking to freshen up her wardrobe, a bold necklace would be a welcome addition.

This Maldives necklace with a gold-plated chain is perfect for her to either dress up or down.

Price:$118



A terrarium will let her garden on a micro scale.

The Brooklyn-made First Connection Terrarium is pint-sized greenery set in a glass apothecary jar and features a tiny, customizable sculpture of parent and child.

And if your mother is into light gardening, each terrarium comes with a set of tweezers to help prune, and needs only a misting every two weeks for upkeep. 

Price:$75



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Business Insider Just Moved To An Awesome New Office — Come On In And Meet The Team!

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business insider group shot

After nearly three years in our old office space, Business Insider's growing team moved into its new world headquarters on Fifth Avenue last week.

Since we've given our readers a peek inside so many other neat office spaces, we thought we would give you a glimpse inside our home. Keep reading to meet some of the team and see where we work.

Welcome!

Welcome to our new building! We're on Fifth Avenue, right in the heart of the Flatiron District.



Our neighbors include TechMedia Network and Capitol Music Group, along with a bunch of other record labels.



The main lobby is pretty swanky, with nods to many of our neighbors' hit records.



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There's A Serious Lime Shortage Going On — Here's Why, And Here's What Restaurants Are Doing About It

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Beer Margarita

Blame an unfortunate combination of Mother Nature and Mexican drug cartels for a huge lime shortage in the U.S.

With an already sparse crop this year due to tree disease and heavy rains, a Mexican cartel that calls itself the Knight’s Templar is stealing limes from farmers or imposing high taxes on the crop, according to NPR.

95% of America's limes come from Mexico, and grocery store prices are already surging — from 29 cents per lime a year ago to $1 per lime today, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

Restaurants are being forced to confront the issue as well, since the shortage could last all summer, as some experts believe that lime prices won’t settle down until four or five months — right at the end of peak lime season.

“Our prices tripled overnight about six weeks ago,” Steve Tarpin, owner of Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pies in Brooklyn, told Business Insider in an email. His bakery specializes in fresh key lime pie, and after its supply line closed down a few weeks ago, he had to raise the price on his product 14%.

“The supply line has since re-opened,” Tarpin told us. “We won’t know the quality [of the limes], but we’re hopeful they will be suitable. The price has retracted a bit and we’re hoping to see them stabilize. We’re looking at sources outside Mexico (Columbia, Venezuela, Peru) and also looking at alternative sources within Mexico in areas that weren’t as affected by crisis.”

His is not the only establishment raising prices. Lime-centric drinks around the city have become more expensive as wholesale crates have increased from $12 to $14 to well over $100. Many restaurants have begun substituting lemon wedges with cocktails, or asking customers if they want limes to garnish their drinks  rather than adding them automatically   to try and save their existing supplies.

Those who aren’t raising prices may be cutting lime juice with lemon juice, or using pasteurized lime juice. “We have looked into pasteurized bottled lime juice,” the owner of Gran Electrica in DUMBO told Brooklyn Magazine, “but unfortunately the taste just doesn’t hold up to that of freshly squeezed. Our award-winning margaritas are too special to make that sacrifice, but if prices continue to rise, it may be a sacrifice we all have to make.”

Ciro Garzon, the general manager of Pampano, told Grub Street a similar story. "Prices from our purveyors have tripled," Garzon said. "At the bar, we look for other alternatives, and sometimes use lemons instead."

It’s a sacrifice some establishments are avoiding altogether by revamping their menus. So far, Cubana Social in Williamsburg is planning spring cocktails without lime juice (or raising the price accordingly), as is Apartment 13 in the East Village where owner Steve Olson told Grub Street that one featured cocktail with lime juice may be taken off the menu entirely.

The squeeze is being felt around the country. Tacolicious in San Francisco wrote an essay to customers about the lime shortage, explaining on its website that it plans to both raise the price of freshly squeezed lime cocktails and make more moderately priced drinks using a combination of juices:

In this case, a mix of 50 percent flash-pasteurized fresh lime juice from local juice company, 25 percent freshly squeezed lime juice, and 25 percent freshly squeezed lemon juice. We did a margarita taste test, pictured above, made of a few different lime-y combinations to come up with this mix and we think it has great integrity and is quite tasty to boot.

Another California-based restaurant, Matador Cantina in Orange County, made national headlines when it posted on Facebook about a promo where customers could bring in a bag of limes and get a margarita for only 25 cents.

The promotional deal is still going on.

Times are definitely desperate. Here’s hoping this lime shortage ends sooner than expected so we can stop worrying about America's favorite cocktail garnishes.

SEE ALSO: The 12 Best Margaritas In NYC For Cinco De Mayo

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24 Awesome Photos From The Stagecoach Country Music Festival

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Stage Coach Music Festival

More than 63,000 country music fans, young and old, gathered this past weekend in Indio, California for the annual Stagecoach Music Festival.

Headliners included Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Don McLean, and other veteran acts.

But in addition to being there for the music, everyone showcased their best festival fashions — from cowboy boots to American flag everything.

More than 63,000 people gathered in Indio, California for this year's 3-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival.



It takes place on the same grounds as the Coachella Music Festival and just one weekend later.



Cowboy boots are a must for festival-goers.



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We Compared SodaStream Cola To Coke — Here's What People Liked Better

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