Rick Steves: Vibrant, historic Dresden is worth a detour
Intriguing Dresden, Germany, winds up on far fewer American itineraries than it deserves to. Don’t make that mistake. Since its horrific firebombing in World War II, the city has transitioned to a thriving cultural center that’s well worth a visit. Even with only a day to spare, Dresden is a doable side trip from bigger attractions like Berlin or Prague.
Skywatch: Astronomy news and happenings
W.M. Keck Observatory atop Maunakea and the University of Hawai‘i Institute for Astronomy’s Pan-STARRS on Haleakala teamed up to investigate a faint red star speeding across the galaxy.
Diana Duff: A garden of giants
Gardeners who are thinking of a sort of stay-cation, might want to consider a quick trip to Oahu to visit some of the wonderful botanical gardens near Honolulu.
Tropical Gardening: Manures and other nutrient sources to enrich our young volcanic soils
Our young volcanic soils are often in need of organic matter and nutrients. Where animal manures are available they are probably the best source of fertilizer. Compost and mulch can also help to add and hold nutrients.
Volcano Watch: Volcanic tremor or distant earthquake? Distinguishing seismic signals
The island of Hawaii is one of the most seismically active areas in the world, producing thousands of earthquakes every year. It also commonly produces a signal called tremor that can originate from the volcanic system.
Let’s Talk Food: Pasta salads
Pasta salads are a great side dish for a picnic or gathering as it tastes best at room temperature. It can be made to fit a theme, whether it is Mediterranean, Greek, Southwestern, Italian or Asian, just by changing the ingredients.
Frittata is the answer to laid-back summer dinners
For those looking for a no-fuss, no-stress meal that’s also quick, inexpensive, versatile and delicious, the humble frittata is the answer.
Steves: Europe’s authentic, lively second cities
Each European country has its marquee city that attracts the vast majority of travelers — think Rome, Paris, Amsterdam. And all too often, that tourist-pleasing destination is a traveler’s one and only stop.
Ask Angi: What projects should I never DIY?
We all love the occasional DIY project, but did you know some DIY projects can cause more harm than good?
Volcano Watch: Aʻo pu makou: We learn together with PIPES
The Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Science is celebrating its 30th anniversary of growing the next generation of aloha ‘aina leaders in Hawaii and the Pacific through transformative place-based internships, mentorship, innovative programming, and strategic partnerships.
Tropical Gardening: Color to brighten fall gardening with flowering plants and trees
Temperatures remain warm but things are about to change. Fall will officially arrive Sept. 22 in the northern hemisphere since the sun will move south of the equator. The autumnal equinox for us is spring for those south of the equator. As the earth tips to the north the sun appears to move further from us, days are shorter and plants tend to slow their growth.
5 tomato recipes to take advantage of summer’s ripe red bounty
PITTSBURGH — Sweet corn, which is plentiful at farmers markets and roadside stands in August, is often touted as summer’s best vegetable. We love it because it’s so familiar — we start eating corn on the cob with plenty of butter and salt as kids, then fall in love with it all over again as adults when we discover dishes like Mexican elote salad and corn souffle.
Why do childhood tastes continue into adulthood?
I’m currently reading Quentin Tarantino’s largely enjoyable 2022 paean to the movies of the 1970s, “Cinema Speculation.” While his opinions about the films that filled his formative years are delightfully eccentric, I think the book is more fascinating in what it says about the filmmaker himself.
Let’s Talk Food: Onions
I probably cut onions almost daily. It is such an essential ingredient in my cooking! So when I am thinking about what to write for my column, my inspiration is often something that I have in my hand.
Steves: Amboise’s Loire delights and Leonardo da Vinci sights
As the Loire River glides gently east to west, officially separating northern from southern France, it has come to define one of France’s most popular tourist regions.
Volcano Watch: Kilauea’s 2019–2020 lake: recalling the watery intermission between eruptions
Remember when a little puddle of green water was spotted in Halema‘uma‘u? Time flies, because that was late July 2019 — over five years ago! And because we’ve had multiple eruptions and intrusions since then, the water lake sometimes feels forgotten in the larger history of Kilauea.
Tropical Gardening: When is a weed not a weed?
Is it a weed? A weed may be defined as any plant growing in the wrong place. Some folks even think a plant that is not native is a weed, but with that mind set, even the coconut palm is not native and could be considered a weed. Perhaps an even better definition is “a weed is a plant for which we haven’t found value.”
Don’t settle for a bland apartment. Here are ways to personalize it
With the housing market increasingly competitive, many people are finding themselves stuck in apartment living.
The most disgusting recipe ever for steak is on TikTok. Of course
In a few short years, when super-intelligent cockroaches gather together to analyze the cause of the end of human civilization, I’m pretty sure they will look at each other and say, “Chkkxlk mklkx.”
Let’s Talk Food: Chicken hekka
My friend Amy Aoyagi mentioned that she misses eating chicken hekka but there are no restaurants in town that serve this dish anymore. This dish was created in the 1880s, probably in the sugar plantation camps. Hekka is the Hiroshima dialect for sukiyaki and is great for sharing. Amy’s memories are eating hekka that was cooked over a hibachi.
