Stores are pulling the Anna Rexia costume from their real and virtual shelves after people started getting upset with the idea that someone might make fun of people with eating disorder.

Rick’s Costume Superstore issued this statement:

And the recent announcement by Evil Spirits Airlines to begin charging people for

Want to know what you're taking? Fold it up and lay it out, all of it, then decide what you need, before you stuff it into your bag.

using the overhead baggage bins (up to $45) has made everyone rethinking their packing skills.

If you need proof, the next time you’re on a plane just look at all of the junk your fellow passengers are lugging around. It’s a phenomenon I’ve never understood. If you’re trying to get away, to see some place new, why are you bringing all of your stuff with you? It’s only slowing you down, literally.

After years of travelling, I can honestly say I could leave my house today with a fresh pair of socks and a second set of boxers and be gone for as long as the journey allows me. My packing list for a seven month trip to Israel, Egypt, Greece and Turkey – and I didn’t know where exactly I was going when I left – amounted to the following (some of which I was wearing):

2 pairs of trousers; 2 button down shirts (one long sleeve, one short sleeve); 3 T-shirts; 1 pair swimming trunks; 1 pair hiking shorts; 1 pair sandals ; 1 pair of boots; 1 light jacket; 3 pairs of socks; 3 pairs of boxers; 1 wool hat; 1 lightweight sleeping bag; 1 guidebook to Israel; basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, deodorant, plasters, small sewing kit); Ziplock bags; flashlight; pocket knife (with corkscrew); 20-foot length of rope; and a camera.

If I’d wanted to, I could have cut that list down even more. But I’m not a minimalist, I’m just lazy. So anything I can do to lighten my load, I do.

A small handy bag is always more useful because it limits what you can bring before you pack the first item.

There is nothing other than medication which keeps you from dying that is really necessary.

Over-packing is a disease caused by people over-worrying. When you’re going to new places and only meeting strangers, you don’t need to impress them with all of your outfits. Most strangers will never remember what you wore – honestly, they probably won’t remember you at all.

My tips for packing start before you even pull your bag out:

1. Know where you’re going: Take a look online at the weather forecast for your destination. If rain is likely, an umbrella or rain gear might be necessary. Look at the temperature highs and lows and then add / deduct five degrees to that, meaning you’ll have something to keep you comfortable no matter what happens. Look for things you don’t need, instead of what you do.
2. Pack the right bag: People will fill whatever bag they have in front of them. If the bag is smaller, they will pack less, so don’t take a steamer trunk when you’re going away for the weekend.
3. Write a list: It takes two minutes to think through your trip – even one without an itinerary – and to conjure up everything you want to take with you. Think through the activities you’re likely to do. A fancy dinner? Beach lounging? Coffee shop smoking? Take the right clothes, and see if some items might be able to serve more than one purpose.
4. Plan on buying stuff: Cash and credit cards are much lighter than shirts, shoes or anything else. You can shed pounds in your bag if you’re planning to buy a few things on your journey. Additionally, those purchases will stay with you when you return – a friendly reminder of your time abroad.
5. View everything: Pull out everything that you want to pack and put it on your bed. If the pile is too big, then ask yourself: “Do I need this?” If you have to really think about it, you probably don’t. Also, include the clothes you’re going to wear to the airport – and make those your heaviest items.
6. Be decisive: Just make up your mind, and never pack two things because you couldn’t choose between them. If you ever arrive home with clean clothes, you over-packed. Don’t let that happen again.

Paring back your packing list will lighten your load – and just in case something happens and you end up lugging your bag around for a few hours, you’ll be grateful for everything you didn’t bring.

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

Editor’s Note: Hipster Travel Guide first published this piece at Cheapflights.co.uk.

We have the best dog EVER. I hate the days when we can’t go outside and play, throw tennis balls and run about the yard. And Bogart hates the no play days too.

What agony I go through each time we plan out a vacation. What to do with Bogart? I over analyze if  he’ll be sad locked in a cage at the kennel, if he’d wreck the friend’s home we drop him off at or if he’ll even remember who I am upon our return.

I’ve had to tell my self (and be reminded by my husband countless times) that Bogart is a dog. Yes, he’s cute and loving. But he’s a dog. He looks to both of us for food and survival, but he’s a dog. A loyal, beautiful, fun loving dog — but just a dog.

Dogs are a worry for owners planning a vacation. Where do you put Fido when you’re going to be gone for three days or three weeks? Don’t let the dog stop you from going, just make a good plan to take care of him while you’re gone.

Kennels are fine locations. Some are fancy pet “hotels” made to give the owners a sense of relief as they drop their dog off.  I mean, you’re staying in a five star resort, why shouldn’t your dog? Others are more utilitarian such as the one we use at our veterinarian’s office — though even ours has the guilt based $5 extra walk fee.

I like using the vet’s office kennel because if anything happens to Bogart, they’ll know what to do. And, every time I arrive to pick him up, he’s usually outside being walked for the umpteenth time that day and the poor guy walking him is dragged on a detour to my car (whew! he remembers me again!).

Friends are also an option. Friends who will watch your dog (or any pet for that matter) are true friends. And you should always cherish them. We dropped Bogart off for a super-slumber party weekend with some friends. (Super-slumber party – Well, that’s how I kept selling it to the dog!) He was excited as we drove past the kennel and on to our friends house where he had two loving people and two hissing cats to play with all weekend long. Bogart got to learn living with cats, go to a dog park and go running; he probably didn’t miss us one bit.

House sitters (aka friends) are another option. If you have someone you know and trust, they can stay at your home and take care of the dog on his turf. Your dog would be at home so there is no drama or trauma of leaving home. The only concern here is that the person staying at your house had better be well known and liked by your dog or they won’t be able to get back in. We haven’t tried this for Bogart yet, but it’s not a bad way to go as both your dog and your home are looked after.

Final option is to rely on a service that comes by once or twice a day to walk and feed the dog. I don’t suggest this for a sociable dog, a large dog, or really, any dog. This type of service works fine for cats, but dogs are too reliant on having other beings around them to feel secure. I really don’t think any dog owner would leave their dog alone home with a service popping by every 12 hours. It’s not fair to your pooch and some bad behavior issues will creep back from puppydom that won’t be pretty.

So, if your vacation plans don’t include your dog, don’t worry. There are good services and good friends out there who will love your dog while you’re away. And another thing, you dog will remember you just fine when you get home. It’s you they serve and they need you to be happy and well rested for those wonderful moments that you spend with them.

HTG is actually on vacation: This story is from our best of files.  This story originally ran March 14, 2010.

Space has become a big commodity on an airplane. Legroom has shrunk, and there’s just not that much space out there. It’s bad enough when someone in front of you reclines their seat the entire flight — nearly breaking your lap top as they push their seat back without warning and with the force they would never consider using on their Lazy Boy at home.

But on our recent flight to Vegas, a new problem reared it’s ugly head. People who use seats as hand rails. I can’t stand this. Here I am, sitting quietly in my little comfort zone when someone behind me grabs my seat and yanks it back as they try to jump over the person they’re sitting next to and climb into the aisle.

Stop grabbing my seat douchebag. Car accidents cause less whiplash than these people.

I understand part of this phenomenon. The narrow rows have made it more difficult to traverse the seats. Plus, a lot of Americans are a little bulkier than they used to be. Mobility, well, can be a problem. But that still doesn’t mean my seat was placed there for you to grab onto and yank down like it’s some sort of walking device. Second of all, you certainly don’t need to grab a fist full of my hair in the process and try to rip it out at the roots.

Here are my tips for you.

1. If you’re sitting by the window, tell your fellow passengers in your row that you want to get out. Wait until they get out and then exit quietly without touching the seats in front of you.

2. Don’t try to squeeze past the other passengers, as this will needlessly push your body up against the seats in front of you and the people sitting next to you most likely do not want your ass or junk in their face.

3. If the people in front of you have their seat reclined and you want to get out of your row, tap them on the shoulder and try something like: “Excuse me, I need to get out, could you put your seat up just for a moment please?”

3.5. Learn to walk. Babies can do it. Dogs can do it. You can too. Walking means not assistance is required.

4. Try phrases like, “Oh, I’m sorry” if you yank someone’s seat. Or something like, “Sorry ’bout that.” and then don’t do it again.

A plane requires a little bit of common sense and general public decency. You are not alone, no matter how much you paid for your ticket, and you don’t have any rights to be a pompous, selfish ass that you might be able to be when you’re not on the plane. So stop acting like the back of my seat was put there for you grab onto.

It wasn’t.

You've got the time, why not plan a trip to San Francisco?

The 2011 Summer Travel Intentions Survey suggests that more Americans are planning on taking a vacation this summer but no one has planned for it, showing that Americans love to dream but not plan for it.

According to the survey, 86 percent of the people surveyed said they intend to take some vacation this summer — that’s good news and up 7 percent from last year when more people were talking about staycations and stupid things like that. But of all of those people seeking a sun holiday, 70 percent haven’t planned for it or booked it.

“We were surprised by how many folks haven’t acted on their summer travel plans yet, but procrastination looks like it will pay off this year because we are seeing deals continue to sweeten as we head into the summer season” said Angela Lyda, Senior Editor of Travel Ticker in a release on the survey. “Whether you’re dreaming of being barefoot on the beach, sightseeing in your favorite big city or heading abroad, the trick is to let the deal be the inspiration to get the most savings.”

You can also hit an amusement park during the week. Lines are shorter and coasters are faster.

Indeed, while the open plans may provide some last minute changes, you still have to figure out where you want to go. Our recent trip to DC was set up that way — we took time off but weren’t sure where we’d go. When we started going through last minute vacations, we found a solid plane and hotel package so we booked it about three weeks before we headed out.

According to the survey:

More Travelers are Planning on Summer Fun This Year

The majority of respondents (73 percent) said they will travel more or the same this summer compared to 2010, with over 30 percent planning on taking 2 or more vacations. Free time was the number one reason for this, followed by a better economic situation:

• 40% will have more free time to travel this summer
• 26% say that their economic situation will be better than last year
• 25% say they have waited too long to take a vacation
• 22% think there will be better deals available this summer

Good news for those people, less good news for the ones below.

For those who plan on traveling less this summer compared to last summer (18 percent), their economic situation was the largest factor:

• 52% say their economic situation will not allow them to travel as much this summer
• 27% will have less free time to travel this summer
• 19% don’t think there will be better deals available this summer
• 17% plan on traveling more during the rest of the year instead

So where are they traveling to? Stay tuned, tomorrow, we’ll share those survey results.

The 96th annual Nathan’s hot dog eating contest takes place today. And while the term competitive eating is attached to the event, it is not a sport. Yes, there is a race of sort, people seeing how many hotdogs, tacos, wings, pizza slices, grilled cheese sandwiches and just about anything else that can be served on a plate they can eat.

Some of the “competitors” are relatively thin, as if they are some sort of freak with body chemistry that allows them to digest an incredible amount of calories at one go.

But these gobblin’ gluttons are not athletes. Eating is not a skill, it’s something we all do every day.

Sadly, we celebrate our independence by proving we have the ability to eat until our stomachs burst and then applaud the one who can do it faster and more than anyone else.  Sure, it’s America, and we can do whatever we want — and there’s nothing wrong with that.

We can even attach the word competitive to the word eating and pretend it’s a sport. But it’s not. It’s not even close.

Priceline.com has selected the Windy City has its go to place for the Fourth of July after a survey of more than 50 cities.

The summer holiday, which should always include fireworks, hotdogs and a cheap beer hangover, is that time people can let everything hang out — sometimes a little too much.

According to Priceline.com, there are still more than few other last minute deals for the big weekend. Check them out here.

As for Chi-town, here are few events to take note of during the long weekend according to Priceline.com.

MILLENNIUM PARK CELEBRATION, FIREWORKS AND TASTE OF CHICAGO

Electric Picnic: Bomb Squad in Millennium Park, July 2
Catch a special DJ set by Hank Shocklee, co-founder of Public Enemy, at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at noon, presented as part of the LunchBreak Music Series.

Independence Celebration in Millennium Park, July 3
Get a head start on the holiday at the Grant Park Music Festival’s Independence Celebration at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. A free concert by the Grant Park Orchestra with Conductor Christopher Bell at 5:30 p.m. celebrates our country’s birthday and musical heritage.

Taste of Chicago, through July 3
Celebrating its 31st Anniversary, Taste of Chicago is the world’s largest outdoor food and entertainment festival. Through July 3, the ten-day lakefront event in Grant Park features food choices ranging from ethnic to exotic to Chicago specialties. Check out Country Music Day on July 1, along with many other bands throughout the event.

Downtown Sound Concert in Millennium Park, July 4
Celebrate the Fourth of July when the circus punk marching band, Mucca Pazza, comes to the stage of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. as part of the Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays series. Opening for the night is the psychedelic rock group, Cave.

Fireworks at Navy Pier, July 4
Enjoy a spectacular display of pyrotechnics on the Fourth of July with fireworks at Navy Pier. Beginning at 9 p.m., 15 minute displays will light up the sky, with a mix of patriotic music in the background.

It hates it — it loves it.

The government wants people to quit, but it also wants a certain amount to keep smoking, as cigarette smokers pay a lot of bills with all of the taxes hit upon them.

Big Tobacco — a phrase often used to described these businesses — are evil. They are good. They are drug dealers, they are saviors for many states, paying out billions. They are the first group to be sued by consumers because of all of the evil they have perpetrated on an unsuspecting group of people.

Anyway, smoking is bad for you. Seriously, it is. And if the government really wants to save you, it would simply make smoking illegal. Drinking should be illegal too. And driving. And walking. And watching television. And just living will eventually lead to death.

And now, the government wants to put ugly pictures on cigarette packs to remind you how evil smoking really is. (We’ve included all 9 of the potential photos to be put on the pics.)

Of course, no one is sure how much more this will stop people from smoking, as most smokers don’t puff on a cigarette and gaze at the pack. These photos will likely make nonsmokers feel better about themselves though.

As for smokers, our answer is pretty simple. Buy a cigarette case — then you can decide what photos you want to look at.  They range in price from a few dollars to hundreds. Plus, just like dragging on a smokey treat on a street corner, they look pretty cool.

Now, check out the photos that will be reaching a cigarette pack near you.

Have your photos tell a story. This one says breakfast in Nice, France. Note the foreground, midground and background Photo by Scott Burgess.

Every month, Olympus sends out a few tips on shooting better photos (naturally, with Olympus cameras). Sometimes we manage to do that, some times we don’t.

But these three short video tips offered this month are actually really good — and it takes a total of seven minutes to watch the videos.

Video No. 1: Talks about shooting more video on vacation. There are a couple of worthwhile tips there — including editing the video to include all the elements of your trip and investing in a tripod to take away that shaky video. Also, look for things that are action oriented instead of just a bunch of people standing in front of a big ball of twine.

Video No. 2: Talks about composing better photos. Don’t forget establishing shots that have a

Establish the scene. This baseball game tells you a story. Note the composition. Photo by Scott Burgess.

foreground, midground and background. (Though Kinghorn didn’t talk much about shooting in the morning and evening when the light is best.) And while some of those big landscape photos are often nice, don’t forget lots of detail shots too. Those often tell a story better than the big shots. Also think about the angle you can take the picture, shoot high, shoot low. And think about how a photo is lit.

Video No. 3: Talks about about shooting pictures of food and setting your white balance. It only takes a little bit of time to make sure all of those things are set we. Kinghorn uses food as one example (and lots of people are now taking pictures of everything a waitress puts in front of them) as stuff that can be shot well or not so well. We’re no different, but have found a big difference between a quick shot taken from our iPhones compared to pics from a real camera.

The key to all three videos is taking your time. Think about what you’re shooting, what story you want to

Use close ups and detail shots to tell the story and watch your lighting. Photo by Scott Burgess

tell and what you’re trying to capture. Yes, sometimes a person catches lightening in the bottle with a magical shot, but most of the time, your photos are flat and boring.

Finally, it’s important to edit the pictures. Sometimes a simple cropping will make a photo more interesting. And even if you have a great photo, something that captures all of the elements you’re looking for — if it’s lost in a batch of 300 other just average pics, no one may ever see it.

Play with lightening to create more magical shots. Here's a picture taken after sunset in Newport, R.I. It requires a tripod (but I used the top of a pier to take it. Photo by Scott Burgess

Look for different ways to frame a photo. This picture was taken from the Supreme Court building and only took a minute to find this particular angle. Very American. USA, USA, USA. Photo by Scott Burgess.

Here's a detail shot from the Korean War Memorial that seems to capture the emotion of the memorial instead of that static shot of the entire memorial. Photo by Scott Burgess.

Not a bad way to enjoy a beer or two.downtown LA.

But finding some photos reminded me of this Moroccan themed manner — or maybe it was the recent episode of The Real Housewives of New York City trip to Morocco that spurred the idea.

Both the Housewives and the Hotel have a certain rode hard and put away wet look to them and both also show how  some creative lighting can do wonders to wash away the years.

So here it is, Figueroa Hotel, and all of its splendor.

Really, it’s not that bad of a place and its name does use every available vowel. And the price was right — $99 a night (right now, according to the hotel, you can grab a room for $148 a night). (Though if you use wifi ($15 a day, $12 parking and

Still, that’s not a bad deal for a place that was built in 1925 as a YWCA residence (and the rooms actually have room “keys” that are, well, keys. Since, then, it’s lived a couple

The lobby and dining area at the Figueroa Hotel is clean and practical.

of lives and remains a breezy place complete with a small pool and bar with a sweet view of the surrounding sky scrapers.

Really, the Figureoa Hotel does the job without costing you an arm and a leg. It’s BS that you have to pay for Internet access — an issue we have with EVERY hotel that charges you for it — but we’re learned to deal with it.

The hotel is an ideal crash pad from a night down town LA, whether going to the Staples Center for a game or concert, hitting all of the clubs and bars in the downtown, or just a nice night out. It’s better to spend $150 for a hotel room than $5000 for a DUI any day of the week.

All photos by Scott Burgess of Hipster Travel Guide.