Good luck keeping up, as something you were doing on New Year’s Eve is now illegal, somewhere in America – the land of the not as free as it used to be.

For example:

California added 10 new laws that include everything from allowing prison labor to be used to sell stuff for schools (see: Prison labor is good) to small breweries can now add tasting rooms as long as they don’t serve food. (As food would be bad for people if they are drinking beer.) Also, anyone under 18 can no longer legally buy cough syrup, as if they do, they’ll instantly go home and try to make a batch of meth. See those laws right here.

In New York, it is now illegal to use fertilizer between December and April. Additionally, if a tow truck is behind you and it’s flashing it’s light, drivers must pull off to the shoulder of the road.

It’s also illegal to throw away computers — as they must be recycled in the Empire State.

Eight states added laws that require businesses to verify the immigration status of its employees, and a handful states raised the minimum wage.

Utah banned happy hour.

Illinois makes it legal for motorcycles to drive through red lights.

And the list goes on, and on, and on.

It’s got, shake, it’s got roll, it’s The King in all of his glory — the young King as well, which is why that King was put on a stamp.

The Winter with Elvis site, WinterTnVacations.com, may have a goofy url — we can see the meeting, “but what if people can’t spell Tennessee?” actually has a cool contest — win a trip to Memphis, complete with bad puns, such as “It’s Now or Never.”

The contest includes people tweeting their Elvis sightings from around the world, such as the woman who saw some hand cream called Glove me tender. (They offer an app for you to upload sightings.)

The winner gets a free stay at The Peabody in Memphis, a slew of VIP tours and much more.

Of course, the site itself offers up some very cool information from around the state with loads of lists of things to do. It’s really well done, and our guess is they’ve hired someone under 30 to help manage all of the social media on it.

If you’ve never been to Indianapolis before, you know it’s located in the Midwest, have heard of the Indy 500, and know the source of their NFL pride, the Colts. Beyond that, Indy doesn’t get much press, and is largely an unsung hero in the repertoire of must-see cities. Typically, its flashier next-door neighbor, Chicago, gets all the glory, but really, who needs all that traffic, congestion and headache? Indy’s just as fun and frenetic, a city that’s on the rise, in the midst of reinventing and redefining itself to play host to the upcoming Super Bowl XLVI this February and rebranding its image as a destination location city.

The first thing you notice about Indy is the hospitality. In true Midwest fashion, the people greet you with a hearty “Hello!” and make direct eye contact at the check-out, displays that would easily rankle any native New Jerseyian to inherently suspect foul play and impending bodily harm. And, somewhat eerily, the residents all seem to share similar physical traits, akin to characters in “Children of the Corn”: piercing blue eyes, shiny, clear skin, tall in stature. It’s as if the city is one big extended family reunion, without the creepy uncle lurking near the beer cooler.

They’ll ask you if you like the Colts; even if you don’t, it’s wise to say “Yes.”  The fans are loyal, the fealty palpable: during the weather report on the local television news, Peyton Manning’s name is typically sprinkled in for no tangible reason: “Fair and pleasant today, partly sunny with light winds, highs in the upper 60s, and wishing Peyton well on his recovery from surgery.” Regardless the fact that the Colts won’t actually play in the Super Bowl this year—their season record is abysmal—the city is gearing up to host the big Bowl this February and is pulling out all the stops to polish the downtown area in preparation for the anticipated 150,000 visitors or more for the game, resulting in added revenue of nearly $300 million for the city.

Some of the refurbishments include a facelift for Miss Indiana, the sword-wielding, torch-bearing, 19,300-pound bronzed beauty perched above the 284-foot Soldier and Sailor’s Monument in the heart of downtown’s Monument Circle. To encourage more foot and bike traffic, the construction of the 8-mile Cultural Trail was initiated, a meandering path that encircles Indy’s five official cultural districts along the route, punctuated by large-scale pieces of original artwork, lush landscaping, and distinctive lighting. Visitors who don’t want to walk (or bike) but still want a taste of the downtown area might consider a Segway tour in and around White River State Park, a 250-acre urban green space featuring eight museums, concert venues, a zoo and the picturesque central canal, reminiscent of the San Antonio River walk.

If the Cultural Trail leaves you wanting more art, check out the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the nation’s seventh largest museum featuring more than 50,000 works with an impressive array of original art from a variety of cultures and periods throughout history, including Neoimpressionist paintings by Georges Seurat and preeminent works of Pont-Aven paintings by Paul Gauguin. In addition to the permanent installations, several national and international traveling exhibitions are featured in the museum throughout the year. Elsewhere on the grounds, Robert Indiana’s famous “Love” sculpture sits out front, known for its signature block lettering and a popular spot for photo junkies and amorous lovebirds. Escape the everyday crowd at the 100-acre Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park, an urban oasis where visitors stroll through modern sculpture parks with installations integrated into the woodlands, wetlands, lakes and meadows—the largest contemporary art park in the country.

While in town, it’s practically law to visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, a near spiritual experience for race car enthusiasts and even those less speedway-inclined. Billed “the greatest spectacle in racing” and the world’s largest spectator sporting facility at 253 acres, the 2.5 mile-long oval track at the IMS features four distinct turns and straightaways with nine-degree banked turns; racers reach speeds upwards of 200 miles per hour, inside an oval that’s big enough to fit Yankee Stadium, the Roman Colosseum, Vatican City, Churchill Downs and the Rose Bowl snug inside. Its size is deceiving small from the roadway, but once inside, you appreciate the sheer enormity of the place: hidden alleyways, tons of garages, enormous parking fields, medical bunkers, not to mention the grandstand itself, with 250,000 permanent seats, that, if dismantled and laid end-to-end, would stretch nearly 100 miles.

View of finish line at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

However, the true essence of the Indy 500 can only be experienced on race day: the pungent smell of burning oil, the growling din of screaming engines eating the track, the roar of the crowd cheering on their favorite driver, the electric anticipation of the checkered flag signaling victory for the lucky winner. Plus, there’s beer, and lots of it—approximately 14,000 gallons or more are poured on race day—to keep your engines going throughout the day. Arrive a day or so before the race and a make a pit-stop at the Hall of Fame Museum, featuring some of the most eclectic and diversified collections of antique and classic automobiles and racing cars in the world. Opened in 1956 and now a National Historic Landmark, the museum features 75 vehicles on display at any given time, with the winning Indy 500 race cars lined up in chronological order to see how the cars have evolved over the years. Visitors can sit in a mock Indy race car for photo ops, and pose in front of the famed Borg-Warner trophy, the sterling silver icon awarded to the winner each year and casted with replica busts of each race winner over the years, or browse the replica old-time garage, a step back in time with vintage signs, tools, photos and hardware.

Standard fare at the track is hot dogs and burgers, but step outside the oval you start hearing tales of the legendary shrimp cocktail that put Indy on the culinary map. Harry & Izzy’s restaurant, located in the bustling area of downtown’s Illinois Street, is a casually elegant throwback to the days of Prohibition in a comfortable, lush environment. A sister restaurant to the renowned St. Elmo’s Steak House, Harry & Izzy’s is co-owned by Peyton Manning and draws a big lunchtime suited crowd and serves as the perfect hideout for signature cocktails and wines at the upstairs circular bar. For dinner, grab a cozy table for two near the floor-to-ceiling windows and start with the world famous appetizer, the St. Elmo shrimp cocktail, a spicy concoction of oversized shrimp and tangy Worcestershire sauce, perfectly complemented by a juicy wedge of lemon and side of crispy crackers.  For the main course, try the Izzy-style New York strip, rolled in cracked peppercorn and pan-seared and served in an orange brandy butter sauce, and the grilled yellow fin tuna with rice and soy cilantro ginger sauce.

Borg-Warner trophy on display at Motor Speedway Hall of Fame

A growing trend in Indy’s dining scene is the farm-to-table movement, proving the Midwest still holds its might in fresh foods. A rising star on the culinary menu is R Bistro, offering contemporary American cuisine in a rustic, intimate setting (only 17 tables; call ahead for reservations), located in the heart of downtown’s eclectic art district on Mass Ave. Executive chef and owner Regina Mehallick brings her passion for flavor and local ingredients to each and every dish; veggies picked that morning are used in the salads and entrees that night. The menu changes weekly and reflects seasonal varieties; this fall, featured dishes include stuffed leg of lamb with red garnet sweet potatoes in a red wine sauce, and Cornish game hens with sweet potato risotto and cranberry sauce. Make sure to leave room for dessert.

For after-dinner libations, there’s nothing better than the new Libertine Liquor Bar on East Washington Street, where the bartenders are true mixologists, not beer slingers, and don proper vests, ties and caps, lending a youthful newsboy vibe from behind the bar. Named for its untamed, innovative, and uncompromising spirit, The Libertine is easy sophistication meets old-time saloon, greeting you with words from Walt Whitman scrawled on the foyer walls upon entrance to whet your prose (“Pioneers! O Pioneers!/Come, my tan-faced children/follow well in order…”). The drink menu is creatively crafted as are the drinks; the cocktail listing reads like a flier from a gypsy circus passing through town (“Snake oils, fortifieds and palatable bitters”). Bottles of Absinthe are properly housed in vintage atomized spritzers, and choice drinks dance in mystical blue flame. Preferred drinks include the Chartreuse Smash (green Chartreuse, yellow Chartreuse, lemon and mint), or Pimm’s Cup (Pimm’s No. 1, Bluecoat gin, cucumber, lemon and Redd’s ginger brew).

Tasting bar at New Day Meadery

If you’re into home brewing, check out New Day Meadery in the historic Fountain Square Cultural District for quality hard ciders and honey wines. Former bee keepers turned mead makers, owners Brett Canaday and Tia Agnew started making mead in 2001 as way to combine their love of gardening, bee keeping and good food.  The hobby soon turned into a flourishing business with an emphasis on using nothing but fresh, locally grown and harvested fruit and honey to make quality mead. Quantities are seasonal and limited due to the freshness of each batch, so check back often to see what’s on the menu, and bring your “growler” (bottle) in for a refill. Worth a taste: The Free Thinker, a floral and fruity honey wine with a hint of spice, and the semi-sweet Plum Honey Wine, featuring top notes of bing cherry and plum with undertones of cinnamon and fig.

The best-kept secret for a comfortable stay while visiting Indy is 14 West Restaurant and Suites, hidden in plain sight in the heart of the downtown area near the convention center. Known more for its restaurant of the same name (perfect lobster mac & cheese, with generous chunks of lobster swimming in brie and parmesan), the all-suites hotel features queen and king suites with full kitchens and fridge, washer/dryers, flat screen TV, WiFi, and comfy beds with goose down duvets. The 2,500 square-foot penthouse suite, which takes up the entire fourth floor, has two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, a sauna, and Jacuzzi—typically reserved for celebrities and dignitaries while in town. Complete the experience by booking a massage or facial at the new Evan Todd Salon and Spa Conrad, at home in the luxury digs at the Conrad right down the way from 14 West. Services incorporate the balance of beauty and well-being using all-natural signature Aveda products.

Robert Indiana's infamous sculpture out front Indianapolis Museum of Art

Special thanks to the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association; Chris Gahl, vice president of marketing and communications; senior communications manager Morgan Greenlee; and marketing and communications coordinator, Evan Strange,  for hosting media writer, Gayle McCarthy.

Everything is all right: Photo from Cancun taken 9:22 AM on October 28, 2011.

But it was all a big bluster, according to the Cancun tourist office.

“There are currently no reports of damage due to the storm and the destination is officially fully-operational,” The Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau said in a news release Friday.

The airport is running at full capacity (187 flights on Saturday) and the power is on. Officials there attribute the tourist location’s preparedness for hurricanes to its ability to get things up and running so quickly.

And for anyone who wants to help a tourist location after a storm, the single best thing to do is go there and spend money.

Let the Day of the Dead begin!

Hurricane Rina - Image from MODIS

Hurricane Rina, currently a category 2 and strengthening to a category 3 hurricane, is changing travel plans of those in Cancun and aboard cruise ships.

Rina is expected to land on Cozumel, and then move along the coast to Cancun on Wednesday evening. Where the storm goes after hitting the tourist areas still up for debate. The National Hurricane Center is predicting that Rina will bounce off of Cancun and head east to Florida or Cuba.

Tourists in the Cancun have a mixed reactions. Many are cutting vacations short to escape any danger of being stuck while others are just planning to take the old fashioned approach to riding out the storm – going to a bar.

Not willing to play the guessing game, cruise ships have changed their ports of call to avoid being in the Gulf during the storm. No word on how passengers feel about being diverted away from Cancun, but chances are they can find cheap silver, maracas and pinatas at whatever replacement port of call the cruise lines use.

Photo by The Red Horse Inn

That’s the best way to see all of the amazing colors surrounding you as North America gets ready for winter is to leave your desk and hit the great outdoors.

New England has already begun its foliage season, where trees turn into fireworks of color for a few weeks. (The prime season is right now. And the dazzling colors will slowly make their way south as the season extends all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.)

So why count on us to pick the best places to see the fall colors? AAA did all the work and named the 10 best places to see them. One of those places, which sent us some fabulous photos was the four diamond, ultra fancy, The Red Horse Inn, 28 miles from Downtown Greenville in Landrum, SC.

Photo by The Red Horse Inn

Located on 200 acres on the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Innkeeper Mary Wolters, who with her husband built the Inn, said everyone is welcome.

“The scenic views here are one of our greatest selling points. It enhances the overall serenity of the Inn. We’re always at capacity during foliage months- but it’s nice now that the world knows our little secret.”

Indeed, and judging by the pictures, a little southern hospitality might make for a great long weekend.

Rooms start at $175 a night. And there are six cottages on the property, as well as six rooms in the main building.

Around Mexico, in under a month, they’ll be celebrating the Day of the Dead — aka, El Dia de los Muertos.

A recent press release from the fine folks in Cancun reminded me of the holiday. Down in the Yucatan, the Day of the Dead is known as Hanal Pixán, dating back to before there were even Mexicans. (It was Mayan back then.)

Once the Spaniards arrived, the holiday evolved to incorporate all of that Christian claptrap.

There are a few rules that come along with celebrating folks that have died. According to Cancun press release (aside from them pointing out that Cancun is the best place to celebrate the D o’ D, which is hard to argue), rules include:

• Part of the traditions of the Day of the Dead also include praying and singing, along with sweeping the yard and painting the homes to receive the dead with the honor they deserve.
• Large portions of the “dead’s” favorite foods are made as a tribute to them.
• Along with local dishes that are famous during the holiday, such as Mucbipollo, from the Mayan “Pib” meaning “buried,” is a tamale or corn cake stuffed with chicken, sauce, broth and spices, cooked in a hole in the ground and covered with banana leaves.

Expect lots of celebrations come Nov. 1 — the day after Halloween, another holiday that predates all of that Christian stuff. Also, the Day of the Dead has the best trinkets ever, which is probably why this holiday has been spreading across the U.S. like a deadly virus.

If you want to check out some of the D o’ D info, click here.

Detroit's Central Station-Built to last 300 years, abandoned for the past 40+ years

Forbes magazine likes lists. Usually, they’re fun money lists like wealthiest person in the world, most wealthy eligible bachelors or the top Hollywood earners. But with the fun comes the serious or in this case the sad.

Forbes has decided to take FBI crime data from cities with populations of more than 200,000 and boil it all down to determine the most dangerous cities in America. Looking only at four categories of violent crime: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault, here are the winners. Well, change that to losers.

5. Anchorage, Alaska. Yes, cold days that last for less than two hours are bound to drive anyone to murder. And apparently do Meth which, regardless of the laws in place to limit the sale of Sudafed, still seems to find it’s way into Alaska from Mexico.

4. Flint, Michigan. Okay, if Michael Moore continued to use you but never bought you dinner, I’m pretty sure you’d end up holding up the Kroger to get some kibble. Seriously, those that haven’t left are now just doing what they can to survive.

Detroit: Abandoned, no life, oh, and it's for rent at a good rate.

3. Springfield, Illinois. Those Simpson kids are causing trouble here. The unemployment rate is low, it is the capital of Illinois and it’s not a particularly poor city, it’s only logical to blame it on those damned kids.

2. Memphis, Tennessee. Everyone’s singing the blues since the new method of reporting crime in Memphis. The new system makes the poorest city in America look even bleaker as Memphis police have gone super anal and decided to report out every crime ever committed in the city.

1. Detroit, Michgan. The usual excuses here. Job loss and people loss. You can’t blame a new reporting system (the police aren’t necessairly renowned for reporting anything), you can’t blame the youth (they’re leaving in droves) and you can’t blame meth (no one can afford it here). Crime is crime and it’s about the best business in Detriot. Just ask our former mayor.

Of course, if we Detroiters don’t like it, we can always move to Flint.

The Pod Hotel Bunk Beds - photo courtesy The Pod Hotel

We spent the past hundred years up sizing, so it was inevitable: downsizing is now the rage, whether we like it or not. From cars to homes to waistlines to well, now hotels.

Everyone’s heard about the capsule hotels in Japan’s airports and train stations, and thought sure, if you’re tired enough, claustrophobia won’t set in and it beats sleeping on the ground. But really, it’s not feasible for more than a few hours and what about spending a week there?

The Jane's single room - - photo courtesy of The Jane

New York City, home of everything cool and hip, has the answer. Micro-hotels. Offering just about everything a normal hotel room does except for floor space. Rooms are sized 50 to 130 square feet and have the price to match with rates ranging from $89 to $170 per night. Space? Who needs space?

Located in the city’s trendy Meatpacking District is The Jane, offering micro-rooms designed to look like a cabin on a ship. This micro-hotel offers three size accommodations: single bed, bunk beds and double beds. Single and bunk rooms have shared bathrooms on each floor. Think of that as sharing

The Jane's shared bathroom, cleaner than home! - photo courtesy The Jane

the bathroom with your brother – you’ll be fine. Each room offers free wi-fi access, cable on the LCD flat-screen TV, DVD players, iPod docking stations, toiletries and bathrobes (this way, you don’t lose your undies in the bathroom).

The Pod Hotel is located in Midtown Manhattan. It’s decor looks like an Ikea showroom, but you can probably find your room a lot faster than you can find the exit at Ikea. The Pod offers four room sizes (single bed, bunk, double or queen) and has a few more options depending on your lodging needs. The single and bunk bed rooms have shared bathrooms on the floor with a handy lighting system in your room that allows you to know if the bathroom is occupied so you don’t have to look like a perv hanging out by the bathroom. Amenities at the Pod include free wi-fi access, LCD flat-screen TV, mp3 docking stations, and a steel sink in your room – so there’s no excuse not to brush your teeth.

Yotel Time Square Concept - photo courtesy Yotel

Opening Spring 2011 in Times Square is the Yotel. This micro-hotel is already available in London at Gatwick and Heathrow airports and at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport. They’ve taken the idea of the Japanese capsule (coffin) and turned it into a room at the airport. Originally designed for the person stranded overnight, with a long layover or those that want to freshen up after that long flight to Europe, Yotel’s airport rooms are available for four hours or more and require reservations.

Yotel Standard Room floor plan - photo courtesy Yotel

Whereas we don’t think Yotel will offer rooms by the hour in Times Square, the rooms will be available for more traditional bookings starting in Spring of 2011. All rooms boast private bathrooms, LCD flat-screen TVs, a work station with free wi-fi and 24 hour room service.

All of these micro-hotels offer plenty of common space outside your room. From terraces to hip hang-out lounges, the place to be is outside your room, whether on the property or not. Hey, it’s New York – do you really want to hang out in your room?

HTG is actually on vacation: This story is from our best of files.  It originally ran on Oct. 10, 2010

Every package of Detroit Ruin Porn should include Detroit Central Station.

People come from around the world to take pictures of Detroit.

The city has been dying for generations and there are lots of rubberneckers riding around one of the largest cities in the US snapping off pics of the decay. It’s like going through the cancer ward at your local hospital and taking portraits.

It’s the latest craze: Ruin Porn. Snap a photo of some of the destruction and then talk to your friends about how awful things really are there. If people visit you in Detroit, you can also give them a guided tour of some of it — just leave the windows of your car rolled up — you wouldn’t want to breathe any of the city air without a filter.

Now the key to taking good Ruin Porn is to disregard all of the life and real culture in the city. Refuse to notice parts of the city that are vibrant and full of life. If there’s a building falling apart, snap it’s picture — it may not be around much longer.

Also, if you’re viewing ruin porn, disregard the car’s mirror in the picture, or the fact every photo is taken from street level.

Ruins can become art. Look at Egypt or Rome, those are full of ancient buildings that are, technically, abandoned. Though those buildings have fewer crack addicted squatters.

Check out some of the photos we took Saturday and what pics make good Ruin Porn and what pics don’t. All photos are by HTG and shot by Vikki Stenstream. Stunt driving, which included running a couple of lights because your car should act like a shark in Detroit, if you stop, you could die.

HTG is actually on vacation: This story is from our best of files. This story originally ran May 20, 2010.