It’s Oktoberfest, and our resident beer expert has the cure for what “ales” ya

Words by Myron Mariano

(I)t’s finally time to put on your beer googles, especially for those who look forward to Oktoberfest, the yearly bacchanalia of all things hops. 2(X)ISTENCE beerologist Myron Mariano crawls the country in search of this special month’s magical malts, offering up right-in-your-backyard options that won’t require a passport to Germany. 

Cincinnati, Ohio
Spanning six blocks, seven stages of live music, thirty food vendors, and by estimates about eight hundred barrels of beer, the Cincinnati “Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati” celebration has more than deserved its reputation as the largest Oktoberfest-related festival in the United States. Attended by half a million guests, this Southwest Ohio event cemented its name in pop culture by having no other than Homer Simpson lead the annual Chicken Dance in 2009. [September 22 – 23; oktoberfestzinzinnati.com]

Chicago, Illinois
The Windy City brings in both kids and adults to its annual Oktoberfest. For the non-beer drinker (and perhaps those not yet of age), there’s Sunday’s Kinderfest, when homemade bratwursts, crafts, bouncy houses, and polka dance. Those that can indulge will enjoy School of Rock, and No Doubt and Dave Matthews tribute bands; or best yet, people watch during this three day festival. [September 28 – 30; oktoberfestchicago.org]

La Crosse, Wisconsin
Sample ninety-six brews from forty breweries around the country during craft beer night, or exercise your vocal chords at the Sing & Swig Karaoke contest at many taverns around the area. [September 28 – October 6; oktoberfestusa.com]

San Francisco, California
Pier 48 plays host to the Golden Gate City’s three-day festival rife with music—acts such as the Deutscher Musikverein, The Internationals, and the Chico Bavarian band take center stage—and an abundant amount of bratwurst and German beer. If you’re so inclined, don a trachten (that’s traditional Bavarian clothing) as you dance to traditional folk songs provided by the Nature Friends Schuhplattler. [September 28 – 30; oktoberfestbythebay.com]

New York, New York
Troop to 230 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District for enlist in this annual bacchanalia. Join the rooftop bar’s “Oktoberfest Olympics,” and test your mettle in stein relays, grain tossing, pretzel eating, and several other games while downing five types of German libations. [September 22 – October 7; 230-fifth.com]

Leavenworth, Washington
The lush selection of beers (including Holfbräu, Bitburger, Kostriker, Alpine, Ayinger, Paulaner, Weihenstephan, and Warsteiner) isn’t the only thing to look forward to. Social-media-savvy beer connoisseurs who check in, tweet, or update their status during the event stand a chance at snagging prizes. [October 5-6, 12-13, and 19-20; leavenworthoktoberfest.com]

Helen, Georgia
Now on its forty-second year—the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States—this Georgia town prides itself with its own brand of gemütlichkeit. For eight weeks, local and foreign bands perform polka and other German-style music at Helen’s own community center Festhalle. (And in case you were wondering, gemütlichkeit roughly translates to the feeling of warmth you get from a sense of camaraderie and friendship.) [September 20-October 28; helenchamber.com] 

Lake Worth, Florida
This part of Florida may celebrate Oktoberfest a little later than most, but it’s no slouch. Trade your tickets for schnitzel, Leberkäses (Bavarian meatloaf), and pints of Hofbräu. Entertainment includes line dancers, German-American and Bavarian dance groups, and an adjacent carnival outfitted with family-friendly rides and games. [October 12 – 14, and 19 –21; americangermanclub.org] (X)

How does a fledging musical act find its way? 2(X)ISTENCE interviews dance/pop group North of Madison and shows the only direction this vocalist/producer duo will move is up.

(E)ight floors above New York's bustling Madison Avenue sits the headquarters for the vocalist/producer musical duo North of Madison. Though somewhat new on the scene, the group's first two singles—the mesmerizing "Watching" and the punchy "Do It"—received wide notice as the soundtracks to both the SLIQ and ALL STAR campaigns for 2(X)IST.

In truth, North of Madison's HQ is the apartment and recording studio of Andy, the duo's producer. As he mills about the industrially-designed space, Andy (with his jovial, English accent) informs the room that he's about to offer a preview of their new tune "Let Out Your Love." Meanwhile, Vasi, North of Madison's singer with an intoxicating voice, refills wine glasses with generous glugs of Grüner Vertliner.

Song cued and the room's walls begin to reverberate with R&B-inflected, beats-heavy bass; "Let Out Your Love" is a clubthumper. Almost intuitively, Vasi puts down the wine bottle, gestures to Andy and starts duetting with the speakers' output: "It's easier said than done my love/You've gotta step up, be man enough/Do it now, cos I won't wait anymore."

"I was with a guy at the time …," she explains, before pausing to ponder then resuming her refilling duties. "I was trying to write an anthem to just let it out. It was about, in particular, asking a guy to choose between me and someone else."

"Let Out Your Love," like all of North of Madison's songs, are co-written by Vasi and Andy. For some, charged lyrics like theirs are an emotional avalanche for two people that aren't romantically linked. But, and perhaps more interesting, it's also a window into a strong working relationship. (For the record, Andy and Vasi are strictly platonic.)

Exactly how the duo coupled up reads like a stylized, Manhattan-worthy boy-meets-girl story: Vasi had been working with producer Tony Mangurian (U2), and together they cut a full album in 2004. Then Manguria decamped to Los Angeles, leaving Vasi in New York with "all these song ideas and no producer." Meanwhile, Andy was producing and remixing music for a rotating roster of singers, but had yet to find his one vocalist muse.

So at the behest of mutual friend and art director Richard Austin, the two met with the intention of working together professionally. Much like dating, Andy and Vasi entered a discovery period.

"There was a big period of time where we were getting used to the way each other worked," says Vasi. "But there was always this great connection between us, not just personality-wise, but music-wise. We loved the same things and we'd bring inspiration to each other and say 'Let's do this!'"

So what came from a bonding over '80s tunes and artists like Imogen Heap and producers Benny Benassi and Guy Sigsworth was a singer/producer collaboration of their own. Slowly, the two started writing music and fine-tuning their eventual sound. But things didn't really gel until Andy moved to a new Manhattan neighborhood just north of Madison Square Park, complete with bigger digs and a fresh mindset.

"When I first met Andy, I had to record in his closet, and I would joke that I was coming out of the closet!," recalls Vasi. "But when he moved into this new apartment/recording studio, it definitely opened up a new vibe for us because I could be right next to him singing and he could be mixing and producing at the same time."

Adds Andy, "A lot of artists have found that working that way is actually much more efficient. Even big artists now, they all record in their home studio with a producer … it is really a room where two or three people are working close together."

And the intimacy started to pay off. Aforementioned friend Richard Austin was set to art direct a new 2(X)IST campaign and video and, noticing their burgeoning partnership, he approached Andy and Vasi to create a custom song. The result? "Watching," the haunting soundtrack to the 2(X)IST SLIQ video campaign.

With a borderline creepy beat and breathy vocals, "Watching" was the perfect backing track for the video's voyeuristic bend in which 2(X)IST model André Ziehe is relentlessly hounded by webcams, the Internet, and ogling eyes. The lyrics themselves ("I'm watching you … wherever you may go") played like scripted dialogue.

"I think the cinematic part is what 2(X)IST appreciated when they first heard 'Watching,'" says Andy, who offers further explanation. "We want people to spend a little more time getting the mood of the piece, and then it delivers. A lot of pop songs are about the hook and the chorus and ours is also about the journey that it takes you on the way there."

After the success of "Watching," Austin approached Andy and Vasi about using their song "Do It"—which Vasi describes as "about seizing the day and just being confident"—to support the 2(X)IST ALL STAR range while other friends and acquaintances with influential creative jobs wanted a piece of the duo too.

"We have an amazing sounding board here in New York City with people in all sorts of industries offering feedback. Some of our friends who have started up companies asked for our tracks and I think that's one of the best signs of whether your work is in the market or not," says Andy.

With all the new attention, and their songs migrating onto various companies' YouTube pages, Andy and Vasi decided it was time to incorporate. Needing a group name, they did so by coming home to North of Madison.

"It's where the album was recorded," says Andy. "It doesn't necessarily say 'New York' in the location, but it's got a New York state of mind."

On North of Madison's mind too is making their music more available to the public. Currently, their singles are available on iTunes and Spotify, and a fuller-length eponymous EP is due this fall, followed by live club performances. Despite the schedule, Vasi and Andy are determined not to make every move seem pop-perfect calculated.

"We don't sit there and try to create a formula or try to make masterpieces," remarks Vasi. "We know we're not musical geniuses. We do this for fun. We do this for wanting to hear a great song in the club that makes you want to let loose. We don't put too much pressure on ourselves."

Either way, we'll be "watching" you, North of Madison.  (X)      

THE ESSENTIALS: NORTH OF MADISON
North of Madison (www.facebook.com/NorthofMadison)
Listen to North of Madison on iTunes and Spotify

[PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy North of Madison]                                              

(W)hile you were emotionally eating over the economy this Thanksgiving, these top chefs were busy whisking up new ways to make their formerly frou-frou food relevant. After all, nobody has a hankering for terrine with foam when your portfolio is in the toilet.  That's why star chefs are hitting home runs by looking towards Comfort Food. Familiar, substantial, delicious, and fuss-free, the home-spun recipes in these ten cookbooks will inspire the at-home cook to whip up something yummy (and maybe hopeful) now through New Year's.

Paleo Comfort Foods: Homestyle Cooking for a Gluten-Free Kitchen
by Julie and Charles Mayfield
Call it a fad, but the proof is in the (gluten-free) pudding: Tennis champ Novak Djokovic shot up to the no.1 ranking (and stayed there) after adjusting his wheat intake. Maybe the recipes within can help win your own Grand Slam.

Momofuku Milk Bar 
by Christina Tosi
Anderson Cooper can't get enough of her crack pie and this 360 degree view of pastry chef Christina Tosi's repertoire reveals all the secrets, including what exactly's in her aptly-named compost cookie.

Home Cooking Made Easy
by Lorraine Pascale
She may have started out as a model (gracing the cover of American Elle), but this (sexy) British bird is all about the food. Her show, Simply Baking, currently runs on the Cooking Channel, but her maiden flight penning a savory cookery book soars.

Home Cooking with Jean-Georges: My Favorite Simple Recipes
by Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Inspired by stays at his country house, Chef Jean-George creates family-friendly fare like Lamb Chops with Smoked Chile Glaze and Crab Toast with Sriracha Mayo that would satisfy even the most jaded of city-centric palate.

My Family Table: A Passionate Plea for Home Cooking
by John Besh
James Beard Award-winning Besh plays handsome everyman, cooking up homefood based on his recipes written for people who may not have a perfectly-propped pantry. (This means you, bachelors.) 

Bi-Rite Market's Eat Good Food:
A Grocer's Guide to Shopping, Cooking & Creating Community Through Food
by Sam Mogannam and Dabney Gough
Bi-Rite is where discerning San Franciscans get their treats, and in this book, owner Mogannam reveals all his tricks, including ninety recipes and useful tips ranging from how to buy greens to what labels really mean.

The Family Meal: Home Cooking with Ferran Adria
By Ferran Adria
Yes, he was the chef of El Bulli, often considered the world's best (and most exclusive) restaurant, but here Chef Adria gives step-by-step tutorials on making family-style, multi-course meals with impressive mains like Mexican-style Slow-Cooked Pork.

The American Cocktail:
50 Recipes That Celebrate The Craft of Mixing Drinks from Coast to Coast
by Karen Foley
Often overlooked as a part of the meal, the cocktail is the bookend of a party: It kicks the night off, sets a mood, and at the end of the evening, helps wind it down too. Cheers to this book for providing 50 new ways to say hello and good night.

Plenty: Vibrant Recipes from London's Ottolenghi
by Yotam Ottolenghi
A vegetarian cookbook by a dedicated carnivore? Absolutely, especially when the chef-in-question is London-based foodie darling Yotam Ottolenghi, who turns what-would-be-relegated-to-side-dishes into the main event.

Off The Menu: Staff Meals From America's Top Restaurants
by Marissa Guggiana
A restaurant's best dishes often don't make it table. Instead, they're ladled out to waitstaff pre-opening and author Guggiana lovingly documents the best from 51 of America's backstage kitchens. (X)

[PHOTO CREDIT: Shop these books and more at bn.com and amazon.com]

Hosting at home? Don't get shaken or stirred worrying what to serve. Choose one (or all) of these speciality cocktails that are sure to get the party started (and then some).

(L)ooking to conjure a few good spirits for your next gathering? Allow 2(X)IST to play mixologist by stealing these specialty cocktails created by SKYY Vodka for The 2(X)IST Fashion Show. Each signature drink contains a minimum of ingredients —including one part SKYY Infusions Vodka plus a few key mixers and garnishes —so they're easy to recreate at home. (But you can still inform your guests that tips are encouraged.) Enjoy…

THE CONFIDENCE & SODA
Ingredients:
2.5 oz. SKYY Infusions Ginger Vodka
Soda
Lime (for garnish)

Directions:
Stir. Serve on the rocks.

THE (X)-FIZZ
Ingredients: 
2.5 oz. SKYY Infusions Citrus Vodka
1 oz. Grapefruit Juice
1 oz. Lime Juice
Ginger Ale
Lime (for garnish)

Directions:
Combine SKYY Infusions Citrus Vodka and fruit juices into a glass with ice. Stir, then top off with ginger ale.

CONTOURED CHERRIES
Ingredients:
2 oz. SKYY Infusions Cherry Vodka
2 oz. Cranberry Juice
Splash of Soda
Cherry (for garnish)

Directions:
Combine SKYY Infusions Cherry Vodka and cranberry juice in shaker with ice. Shake vigorously, then strain into a champagne flute. Top off with soda.

THE PERFECT FIT
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. SKYY Infusions Pineapple Vodka
1 oz. Lime Juice
1/4 oz. Simple Syrup
3 Basil Leaves

Directions:
Muddle basil leaves in a shaker, then add ice. Combine SKYY Infusions Pineapple Vodka, lime juice, and simple syrup in to shaker. Shake vigorously, then strain into a martini glass. [NOTE: Simple Syrup can be purchased at better spirits shops or made at home by mixing equal parts water and sugar in a pot, boiling mixture until sugar dissolves, then cooling until ready to use at room temperature]  (X)

At your next party, tune into your guests with not-so-regular programming

(I)nvite the television to your get-together, and you could be entertaining a party pooper. Unless it's the Super Bowl (when the actual programming is the real draw), turning on the tube can drain the energy right out of your party. Instead, loop these classic movies on your gorgeous flat screen with the volume set to mute. Besides standing in as video artwork, iconic films—not one on this list is post-1984—strike a chord between familiarity and curiosity, fostering plenty of conversation and the opportunity to mix and mingle. Check out the list below, and feel free to add your own DVD suggestions (even if they're more modern). But please, no Avatar 3D. This is your home, not a Best Buy showroom.

Drawn to crash-'em-ups like Drive, Fast & Furious and The Italian Job? This is the granddaddy of car chase flicks, starring Steve McQueen as a cop hunting down a mob boss while (crazily) driving a Mustang around mid-century San Francisco. Though dated, Bullitt still plays like a (vintage) love letter to the City by the Bay.

So much of this second Indy flick plays like a silent movie anyways—the gross-out banquet scene, the trapped-in-a-vault-with-lowering-spikes scene—that having the sound silenced won't make a difference. Plus, your guests are certain to stick around until at least that mining cart goes awry.

You can never go wrong with an Alfred Hitchcock flick, and this classic caper of mistaken identity is no exception. A dapper Cary Grant evades goons, hangs out in kitschy sets, scales Mount Rushmore, famously evades a deadly crop-dusting bi-plane, and still manages to seduce a very comely Eva Marie Saint.

With throwback stop-motion special effects by the wizardly Ray Harryhausen (the master behind 1981's Clash of the Titans), Sinbad will make you feel nostalgic for those lazy Sundays of yore, when you'd catch these pulpy flicks on the tv (provided you could manipulate those foil-capped rabbit ear antenna just so …or on Turner Classic Movies, depending on your age).

Campy, trippy, and awe-inspiring all at once, director Fritz Lang's 1927 sci-fi love story pushed the visual effects boundaries of its day and clearly impacted everything from not-yet-invented-back-then music videos (Madonna's 1989 "Express Yourself") to the next film on this list.

We didn't plan on having Harrison Ford twice here, but director Ridley Scott's futuristic dystopia looks so good almost 30 years later, you'd think Mr. Han Solo was Benjamin Button. Continuing on Metropolis' pedigree, Blade Runner's neo-gothic art direction is still influential today, as seen in modern sci-fi and comic book imaginings like Underworld and Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy reboot. (X)

[PHOTO CREDITS: Warner Bros.; Paramount/Lucasfilm; MGM; Columbia; Universum Film; The Ladd Company/Shaw Brothers/Warner Bros./Michael Deeley Production/Ridley Scott Productions]

Can you feel it? 2(X)ISTENCE points out what'll have you coming to your senses this Spring

(B)y now, brandfans are well aware of TOUCH, 2(X)IST's irresistible collection that feels as good as it looks. But does the launch of the tactile-pleasing TOUCH have you wondering what will make your other four senses tingle this season? Here, a shortlist of what to get psyched for this springtime…

(MACARONS)
These colorful French pastries—picture two small, chewy cakes sandwiched with a ganache center—will be big this year, thanks to the stateside arrival of original Parisian patisserie Ladurée in New York … and the inevitable crush of usurpers/impersonators. Think of macarons as the cupcake of 2012:  irritatingly cute, inescapably tasty, and seemingly everywhere (but all with an extra dash of je ne sais quoi).

(THE OLD FASHIONED)
What's old is new again, and Esquire magazine nominates the gentlemanly Old Fashioned as "The Retro Cocktail of 2012." Maybe it's "old" because it was first created in 1806 (as a post-breakfast beverage to aid digestion…good morning, indeed), but this strangely sweet/savory concoction consisting of muddled sugar, Angustora Bitters and Rye will taste like new to those over-saturated with boring, bland vodka beverages. 

(FROZEN PLANET)
The producers of Planet Earth go bi-polar with Frozen Planet, exploring the north and south caps of the globe and all its cuddly (and not so-) inhabitants. Expect FP (like its predecessors) to play like hi-def porn for your flat screen, all whilst being seduced by the voice-over work of smooth talker Alec Baldwin. (Frozen Planet Premieres March 18 on Discovery Channel)

(CRAZY HORSE)
Documentary crews go behind-the-scenes at the famous Parisian erotic revue/tourist trap that—despite the obvious gentleman's clubbiness (red banquettes, champagne in buckets, oh and plenty of T&A)—prides itself on the actual creative process and choreography (cue Balanchine and Fosse) behind showing, well, plenty of behinds (albeit tastefully). (In theaters)

(GOLDFRAPP)
The English duo behind, like, every commercial soundtrack for the past decade (Verizon, Target) returns this spring with The Singles, an anthology of members Alison Goldfrapp and WIll Gregory's charting records plus two new singles, "Melancholy Sky" and "Yellow Halo," the last of which boasts a video shot completely with an iPhone. Perhaps another ploy for an advert deal? Paging Cupertino... (goldfrapp.us)

(DIE ANTWOORD)
Are they a joke or the next wave of happy dance music? (Just ask LMFAO.) Futuristic rap-rave crew Die Antwoord hail from South Africa, but they may as well be from cyberspace, as their Afrikaans-laced freestyling merged with fascinatingly weirdo visuals made them overnight YouTube superstars. Their party anthem "I Fink U Freaky" (off new album Ten$ion … and yes, that's a "$" as in Ke$ha) is so darn hilariously infectious that even David Letterman made it a catchphrase du jour,  egging guest Michelle Dockery (of equally buzzy Downton Abbey) to say it on camera in her best posh accent. (dieantwoord.com)

(SOULCYCLE by JONATHAN ADLER) 
Rarely has the phrase "The gym smells so good" been used without irony, but when one is shelling out $30 a pop to ride a bike, that shit best smell like roses, or in the case of indoor cycling gym SoulCycle, pink and white grapefruits with a touch of freesia. The bicoastal spin centers—where Kelly Ripa, Anderson Cooper, and Tom Cruise saddle up—pump this signature citrusy fragrance into their lobbies, but now prince-of-kitsch decorator Jonathan Adler bottles it up into a candle so you can feel the burn at home. (SoulCycle by Jonathan Adler Candle, available at soul-cycle.com) (X)

[PHOTO CREDITS: laduree.fr; esquire.com; BBC/Discovery; mubi.com/films/crazyhorse; goldfrapp.us; dieantwoord.com; soul-cycle.com] 

Which movies featured bikinis that killed and trunks that roared? 2(X)ISTENCE dives in to see which cinematic swim scenes rise to the top.

(W)ho's a bathing beauty and who's a beast? 2(X)IST dips into Hollywood's pool of stars to see which ten movie moments went swimmingly (and maybe a few that sunk).

An iconic movie kiss so smoldering that you (almost) forget how uncomfortable it really is to make out on the beach. (Funny how sand can manage to find its way, er, up there.)

Despite multiple high-octane action scenes, it was this moment when audiences were fully convinced of a blonde Bond and finally learned a new men's swimsuit vocabulary beyond the words "board short."

Sure, sorority gal Elle Woods had a 4.0 (in fashion marketing?) and got a 179 on her LSATs, but it was her itty-bitty sequin bikini that cemented her admission to Harvard and Reese Witherspoon's graduation to America's Sweetheart status.

Keanu's excellent adventure as a rookie FBI agent investigating Patrick Swayze finds him in all kinds of extreme get-ups, including a parachute pack, but it was his rashguards and wetsuits that gave this surfing flick's title gravitas.

The coming-of-age flick's seminal scene stars a red bikini-clad Cates emerging out of a pool, and thereby sending a generation of teen boys to lock themselves inside the bathroom.

The original Brat Pack vixen dropped off the radar for a few years but came back with a bangin' bikini bod and enough heat to melt her much-junior counterparts Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, and Drew Barrymore.

Top Gun cadets Cruise and Val Kilmer hit the volleyball court in gym shorts and denim, not swimmies,  but it is on a beach and thus worthy of mention. Also because it's the most random use of beefcake in cinematic history, despite the scene being totally integral to the plot.

Yes, Halle Berry was hot in Die Another Day, but it was an homage to Ursula Andress as Honey Rider in James Bond installment Dr. No. Maybe it's best not to question it, lest she will cut you with her holstered knife.

As blue blood ex-pat Dickie Greenleaf, Law's trunks certainly weren't short on style (if not length). Too bad the same can't be said for co-star Matt Damon's chartreuse number in the same scene. (Let's just say Damon would've killed for Law's look.)

SBC's over-the-shoulder boulder holder is certainly good for laughs, if not much else. (And the brash color doesn't help either. See: Matt Damon reference above.) And then when John Mayer dogs your style, then you know it's game over. (X)

[PHOTO CREDITS: Columbia; Columbia/Eon; MGM; 20th Century Fox; Universal; Columbia; Paramount, Eon/United Artists; Miramax; 20th Century Fox]

Have 2(X)IST SWIM, will travel! 2(X)ISTENCE books your itinerary, packed with six sexy destinations that'll have you flying right in no time ...

(W)hen it comes to pulling on any ordinary swimsuit, the simple question is often, "Pool or Beach?" But when it's 2(X)IST, everything is bigger—global, in fact— which explains why the current six styles of 2(X)IST SWIMWEAR are the namesakes of super-chic, yet accessible, locales around the world.

"We chose these destinations as the names for SWIM to mirror the life of the well-rounded 2(X)IST man. He is well-traveled, educated, evolved, and on the cutting edge of trends," says 2(X)IST Creative Director Jason Scarlatti. "These are places that are youthful and have an energy to them, and places our Brandfans already visit or aspire to visit."

Check out 2(X)IST SWIM's six essential destinations, and perhaps by article's end, you'll be ready to name your next vacation too. Bon voyage.

COUNTRY: Brazil
FLY INTO: Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International (GIG)
STAY HERE: Portinari Design Hotel. While it pales in comparison (in terms of clout) to hip juggernaut Fasano, this small boutique hotel is like a winning lottery ticket. Each floor of the 66-room Portinari is kitted out by a different Brazilian designer, so while there's no saying what decor you'll get, just know you'll be intrigued. (Portinari Design Hotel. 17 Francisco Sá St. Copacabana)
BEST TIME TO GO: Set your watch to Carnaval. Exact date varies per year, but roughly the week prior to Ash Wednesday in late winter. But if that seems, well, obvious, Cariocas (that is, citizens of Rio) also throw a wicked New Year's Eve.
PRESSED FOR TIME: Take a break from finding the girls and boys from Ipanema with a stop at popular juice bar Polis Sucos. Freshly-pressed choices ranges from commonplace (watermelon, passionfruit, et al.) to uniquely Amazonian concoctions, all at under $3 USD. (Polis Sucos. 70A Rua Maria Quitéria, Ipanema)
WEAR THIS: 2(X)IST SWIM NEON Rio Swim Suit in Bright Green

COUNTRY: Australia
FLY INTO: Sydney International (SYD)
STAY HERE: Ravesi's Hotel on Bondi Beach. Yes, this is the same Ravesi's with the raucous, good-times bar. But lodging in a hotel room above the party never hurt Las Vegas, right? (Ravesi's Hotel. 118 Campbell Parade. Bondi Beach)
BEST TIME TO GO:  Australia Day, akin to American Independence Day, is celebrated every year on January 26, during the height of the Southern Hemisphere summer.
LOCAL FLAVOR: "After a day at Bondi, it's always a toss up between Bondi Beach Burrito Company for a burrito and a frozen margarita or Speedo's Cafe for a sandwich and a smoothie," says Sydneysider, model, and 2(X)IST Brandfan Daniel Garofali. (Beach Burrito Company. 252 Campbell Parade. Bondi Beach / Speedo's Cafe. 126 Ramsgate Ave. North Bondi)
WEAR THIS: 2(X)IST CORE Bondi Racing Suit in Poppy Red

COUNTRY: Mexico
FLY INTO: Los Cabos International (SJD)
STAY HERE: Los Milagros, Cabo San Lucas. It's easy to be seduced by the cookie cutter resorts of Baja California, but Los Milagros manages to be a sweet deal, considering the potentially sour, drunk co-eds at the those other hotels. This is no nonsense, straight-to-the-point, and decidedly more hippie than Hollywood. (Los Milagros Hotel. Matamoros #116. Cabo San Lucas)
BEST TIME TO GO: With mild temperatures year-round, it's always good to be in Cabo. The high season from October to May brings the crowds (and the prices), but also the whales making their migrations in the Pacific.
PLACE TO GET PAPARAZZI'D: If you're staying at tranquil Los Milagros, tip the scales with a visit to posh Nikki Beach Cabo San Lucas. Lounge all day in a white teepee until the DJ takes residence in late afternoon, then move your entourage to the Passion Lounge & Nightclub and party like a VIP. (Nikki Beach Cabo San Lucas. Playa El Medano S/N El Medano Ejidal. 23410 Cabo)
WEAR THIS: 2(X)IST SWIM (X)-PRINT Cabo Square-Cut Trunk in Black

COUNTRY: Spain
FLY INTO: Es Codolar International (IBZ)
STAY HERE: Atzaró, Ibiza. Even if foam parties and house music brought you to this Mediterranean paradise, Atzaró is the welcomed aspirin to your hangover. Nestled in the orange-groved countryside, this retreat boasts luxe accommodations and a fine spa.  Don't worry, there's still a live DJ (playing chill out, natch). (Atzaró. Ctra. Sant Joan KM 15. Ibiza)
BEST TIME TO GO: If you like crowds, August is when all of Europe is in full holiday swing. To avoid the masses—but still feel the on-season perks and party atmosphere—try June or September.
FORGET ME NOT: "You can fully immerse yourself in the Spanish culture during the day, and then come night, it turns into the club capital of the world," says 2(X)IST Brandfan Patrick Crough, Artistic Production Director of event firm Matinée (whose next "CircuitFestival" hits Barcelona this August). "My fave club has to be Amnesia on Saturday nights. Matinée has been throwing their signature glam parties in Ibiza for nearly 15 years, and it keeps getting better and better." (Amnesia. San Antonio Road Km. 5. San Rafael)
WEAR THIS: 2(X)IST SWIM STRIPE Ibiza Swim Short in Victoria Blue

COUNTRY: United States
FLY INTO: John F. Kennedy International (JFK) or MacArthur Regional (ISP)
STAY HERE: C/O The Maidstone. Perfect if you're a little bit country and rock 'n' roll, C/O The Maidstone tickles both the lover of the B&B and the boutique hotel, with a trad-gone-Scandinavian sensibility and amenities like courtyard yoga and bikes-to-borrow. (C/O The Maidstone. 207 Main Street. East Hampton, NY)
BEST TIME TO GO: May-September, when the population of The Hamptons (actually a collective of 12 villages and hamlets), swells with urbanites escaping the friction of Manhattan.
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE: Townies and tourists alike take a liking to Townline BBQ, an easy-going spot with communal, cafeteria-style seating and down-home comforts like fried mac & cheese, hush puppies, and of course, smoked meats galore. (Townline BBQ. 3593 Montauk Highway. Sagaponack)
WEAR THIS: 2(X)IST SWIM SEERSUCKER Hampton Swim Short in Classic Green

COUNTRY: United States
FLY INTO: Kahului International (OGG)
BEST TIME TO GO: May and October are considered "off-season," but unless you have school-age children, this shouldn't apply to you. Take advantage of lower prices and less-annoying crowds (again, "school-age children") during these months when the weather is just (if not more) glorious.
STAY HERE: Inn at Mama's Fish House, Paia. Adjacent to the famous Mama's Fish House restaurant, the Inn is actually ten cottages, ranging from private to family-sized, all situated within a quiet coconut grove. You'll come for the unobstructed sunset vistas from the beach … and stay for the room service catered by Mama's herself. (Inn at Mama's Fish House. 799 Poho Place. Paia)
FIND SOME ACTION: Adventure sports enthusiast and 2(X)IST Brandfan Thomas Crowley suggests "mountain bike riding down Haleakala following the sunrise, swimming and wave surfing at Little Beach, and snorkeling at Molokini Crater."
WEAR THIS: 2(X)IST SWIM SPORT Maui Board Short in White (X)

EDITOR'S NOTE: All styles mentioned can be found at 2XIST.COM

[PHOTO CREDIT: 2(X)IST]

Grab your stein and go! 2(X)ISTENCE criss-crosses the nation's breweries to taste test America's top-notch beers

Words by Myron Mariano

(T)here comes a time in a man’s life when everything requires a version 2.0. Still hanging onto that ill-fitting suit from college? Treat yourself to a custom-tailored three-piece. Still cutting yourself with a dull knife from the Dollar Store? Employ a proper 10-inch chef’s blade. With all these changes in order, it stands to reason that your choice of libation also follows suit. Face it: Beers that cost a dollar—free keg stand and body shot included—no longer cut it. Expand your Spirits IQ by paying these breweries a visit. We promise their offerings not only will please your beer sensibilities, they will also whet your appreciation for craft beers … or the next round's on us.

(1) Victory Brewing Company: Pennsylvania
With a dozen beers available all year and nine seasonal varieties, there’s never a lack of choice at this suburban Philadelphia brewery. Grab a seat at the bar of their expansive brewpub, decked out in modernist decor, and order a thin-crust pizzas to go alongside a pint.
 
Essential Must: Festbier. This amazingly drinkable medium-bodied amber beer pairs well with, quite frankly, everything. It’s also a great bottle to pop open on a brisk spring afternoon. Set yourself at your porch, lose your shoes and prop up your feet. [www.victorybrewing.com; 420 Acorn Lane, Downingtown, PA]

(2) River Horse Brewing Company: New Jersey
Taking its name from the translated Greek word  "hippopotamus," River Horse Brewing Company, situated in a quiet part of town, churns out six unique beers year-round and five seasonals. You can only sample their brews in the building—you can’t get full pours—but many of the nearby local pubs carry what they have. If you care to find out the alchemy that goes on behind producing their beers, you can sign up for one of their weekend brewery tours.

Essential Must: Summer Blonde. Available only from April through August, this beer is your grill’s best friend; Burgers, kebabs, even something as simple as grilled peppers, all complement the blonde’s refreshing citrus flavor. [www.riverhorse.com; 80 Lambert Lane, Lambertville, NJ]

(3) Brooklyn Brewery: New York
This brewery is so popular with both tourists and locals alike it’s almost an institution. At any given day, you’ll see small groups playing card- and board games, and Europeans curious to taste America’s take on beers. Pick up several tokens from the register by the door (say hi to the cat lording over the brewery while you’re there) and use them to buy twelve-ounce samples served in biodegradable plastic cups. (At twelve ounces, they’re hardly considered a sample, but regardless....)  

Essential Must: Brown Ale. This malty and sweet homage to its English origins goes well with the pies the truck right outside the brewery fire up. (And yes, you can bring food inside.) [www.brooklynbrewery.com; 79 N 11th St., Brooklyn, NY]

(4) Half-Acre Beer Company: Illinois
Stop by this longtime Windy City favorite for a sample or two of whatever they are concocting. (They only have three perennials. The rest are seasonals and one-off collaborations.) While there, take part in the informal but very engrossing tour of the brewery, given by an enthusiastic brewmaster. Ten dollars get you a pint glass and three full pours once it’s over. No reservations accepted but they only take in sixty guests a time.

Essential Must: Daisy Cutter Pale Ale. Perhaps there’s no better beer out there that reminds you of freshly-mowed grass (in a good way!) than this medium-bodied drink. It’s refreshing and well-rounded with just the right hint of citrus and grapefruit.  Note: Their beers are only available in cans, or growlers and kegs for consumption in significant quantities. [www.halfacrebeer.com; 4257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL]

(5) Thirsty Bear Brewing Co.: California
Although this downtown brewery—just a stone’s throw away from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art—is popular for the fact that it’s The City By The Bay's first and only organic brewery, many compliments can also be said for the Spanish flavor permeating Thirsty Bear’s brewpub. Tasty tapas—say yes to the tocino flatbread—comprise the menu, and flamenco shows are a Sunday staple.

Essential Must: Kozlov Stout. Everything that’s great about rich beers and an espresso can be found in this smooth drink. Finish your meal with an order of churros con chocolate and a pint of this stout ... and taste the flavors come alive in your palette. [www.thirstybear.com; 661 Howard St., San Francisco, CA]

(6) River City Brewing Company: Florida
With a great view of the marina and the pub permanently flooded in Florida sun, this brewery/restuarant is a must-visit when you’re in the Sunshine State. The menu satisfies every dining persuasion: Try the beer-batter lobster tail, three-way Ahi tuna appetizer, or the gator tail for the culinarily adventurous. If you’d rather go for the standards, their pesto chicken sandwich and fish tacos are worth ordering.

Essential Must: Red Rooster Ale. With just the right balance of sweet and sour flavors—and with a hint of bitterness towards the end, this beer is a pleasant go-to for almost everything on the menu; or enjoyed as is. [www.rivercitybrew.com; 835 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, FL]

(7) The Boston Beer Company: Massachusettes
Get in line early to secure a spot in the brewery’s tour—this alone is worth the trip to Boston. Knowledgeable brewmasters take you through the production process along with some Sam Adams company history thrown in for good measure. In the end, you get to sample about three beers in a keepsake commemorative glass you get to take home. All this for free. (They ask for a donation which goes to a local charity.)

Essential Must: Black Forest. This curious concoction is a combination of the Cherry Wheat (available all year round) and the Chocolate Bock (a seasonal). Don’t worry—it doesn’t taste saccharine sweet.[www.samueladams.com; 30 Germania Street, Boston, MA]

(8) Spoetzl Brewery: Texas
As the oldest independent brewery in Texas, Spoetzl survived prohibition and low production numbers in the ‘80s to become the tenth-largest brewery in the U.S. Currently they produce eight year-round beers and four seasonals, all staying relatively close to their traditional Bavarian roots. Pull into the quaint Texas town of Shiner and head into their hospitality room, where you can take in the rugged decor and sample all eight beers.

Essential Must: Spring Ale Dortmunder Style. This medium-bodied ale has similarities of a lager, with a dark golden color and aromas of citrus and floral. The malty, yet sweet taste is perfect for those warm spring days spent outside enjoying the sounds of the season. [www.shiner.com; 603 East Brewery Street, Shiner, TX]

THE ESSENTIALS: AMERICAN BREWERIES
To find out where these breweries may offer products in your neighborhood, visit each company's website (listed above) for stockist and contact information. (X)

Don't get screwed on your next jaunt to London. Hit the nail on the head with hints on having a jolly good time across the pond.

(T)he Olympics aren't the only game in London Town. Up and down the Thames, there's plenty of action to be had, thanks to a top-notch scene, posh hotels and eateries, an eye for great design, and ever-friendly Londoners suffering from a much-deserved sense of renewed British pride. Follow our tips, a mix for the insider and everyman in all of us, to ensure you'll come out on top as a true player.

In formerly ramshackle King's Cross sits Rough Luxe, a Georgian townhouse-turned-boutique hotel that likes to play on opposites. With chipping walls and peeled wallpaper, this is like Miss Havisham's derelict parlor, but instead of a crazed elderly hag, there's plenty of hospitable staff to cater to your every whim. As you explore the rooms—each with a different mix of old-and-new furnishings—you'll find yourself interacting with the other in-the-know guests or petting in-house hounddog Spud. [roughluxe.co.uk; 1 Birkenhead Street, King's Cross, London]

London is notoriously pricey, so once in awhile it's nice to know you'll lay your head down at night without fretting about the budget. Tune Hotels offer the necessities like a 5-star bed and high-pressure "power showers," but mostly everything else is a la carte or (in Tune language) a "Chargeable Add-On," down to the towel and in-room wi-fi. The upsides to Tune include great locations (four in metro London alone), and base rates as low as £35 per night. (But catch a promotion and you won't pay any more than £9.) [tunehotels.com; 118-120 Westminster Bridge Road, Westminster, London]

You'll first notice the formaldehyde-filled tank perched precariously above diners' heads. Yes, this is the doing of famed artist Damien Hirst, but you've come for Tramshed's food, not the art, right? But rather slyly, the tank's inhabiting cock and bull act as visual cues to the exact fare of this Shoreditch resto. The menu is simple: Three pre-fixe starters, your choice of main (that being free-range chicken or steak, duh), then a selection between two English pudding desserts. If you can't wrestle a table from a seated hipster (Shoreditch is lousy with them), Tramshed also offers standout takeaway like juicy, savory steak sandwiches. [chickenandsteak.co.uk; 32 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London]

British food has the unfortunate (and faulty) reputation of  being the pits. In truth, London food can be wholly satisfying and diverse, thanks to a population that counts over 30 percent as part of an ethnic group. Case in point: Yoobi, the capital's first temakeria. A staple in Japanese communities in Brazil, temaki are hand-rolled cones of sushi that are made-to-order on the spot. And you couldn't ask for a better location: the wallet-friendly Yoobi sits squarely in Soho, near many a shop, bar, or club (or whatever else tickles your fancy). [loveyoobi.com; 38 Lexington Street, Soho, London]

Marking the half-century anniversary of the James Bond films, Designing 007 gives all the intel to the production, art direction, costuming, technology, and imagination of one of the most successful cinematic franchises of all time. The exhibit shakes up movie clips and memorabilia and stirs in a little fashion and special effects gadgetry for a perfect cocktail guaranteed to satiate any Bond fanboy. And speaking of drinks, after the exhibit, exit through the on-site Martini Bar to cozy up with a pal or meet new ones for some intense cross-examination. [barbican.org.uk/bond; Silk Street, The City, London]

Break up the band of usual tourist hotspots (London Eye, The Houses of Parliament, et al.) with a few gallery visits, including Yoko Ono's exhibition To The Light at The Serpentine Gallery. Included is the installation  #smilesfilm, which invites you to step into a bespoke photobooth and upload your smile to share around the world (and on large screens above), which Ono says transmits "positive energy with healing and peace." Photographs are also shared online, and on an iPhone app (where you can also show off your own grills.) [serpentinegallery.org; Kensington Gardens, London]

No trip to London would be complete without the requisite visits to the city's top department stores, especially the iconic Selfridges. During the summer, the six-floor shopping palace hosts The Big Rooftop & Tea Party starring a makeshift 9-hole mini golf course mixed in with tasty treats like traditional jellies and, of course, scones and adorably petite sandwiches. After your fill of putt-putt and a spot of tea, head back down to the men's department on One and restock your drawers with your favorite 2(X)ISTs. [selfridges.com; Marylebone, 400 Oxford Street, London]

[PHOTO CREDITS: roughluxe.co.uk; tunehotels.com; chickenandsteak.co.uk; loveyoobi.com; barbican.org.uh/Ion Films; imaginepeace.com; selfridges.com]