A Guide to the Best Cities…and Streets…for 2025

As travelers plan their 2025 adventures, two key questions emerge: which cities offer the most compelling experiences, and within those urban landscapes, which streets capture the true essence of local life? Recent rankings from Time Out shed light on both, offering a comprehensive guide to the world’s most vibrant urban destinations. So if you’re thinking of exploring cities in the year to come, here are some great suggestions.

Cape Town Claims the Crown

Cape Town has emerged as 2025’s must-visit city, offering an unmatched combination of natural wonders and urban excitement. Where else can you encounter African penguins, sample world-class wines, and gaze upon one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature all in one day? The city’s blend of historical significance and affordable experiences makes it particularly appealing for international visitors, with areas like trendy Kalk Bay and the food-centric East City leading the charge in urban innovation

Global Cities Making Waves

Following Cape Town’s lead, Bangkok secured the second spot, earning praise for its legendary food scene, with 86% of locals rating it as exceptional. New York City, though dropping from its top position last year, still commands attention as the third-best city globally, with an impressive 92% of respondents celebrating its world-class cultural offerings.

Melbourne, securing fourth place, proves itself a double threat – not only is it among 2025’s top cities, but it’s also home to what’s been crowned the world’s coolest street for 2024: High Street.

With all of this in mind, here is the rundown of the top 10 cities to visit this year:

  1. Cape Town, South Africa
  2. Bangkok, Thailand
  3. New York, US
  4. Melbourne, Australia
  5. London, UK
  6. New Orleans, US
  7. Mexico City, Mexico
  8. Porto, Portugal
  9. Shanghai, China
  10. Copenhagen, Denmark

What about the best streets?

It’s interesting to evaluate places to visit based on which ones have the coolest streets. Undoubtedly, if you have one cool street, you probably have other places worth seeing. High Street in Melbourne exemplifies what makes a street truly “cool” – a perfect blend of epic restaurants, hidden bars, live music venues, and boutique shops, all wrapped in a warm community spirit. This vibrant thoroughfare, crossing through the suburbs of Northcote, Thornbury, and Preston, showcases everything from Portuguese custard tarts at Casa Nata to innovative pasta at 1800 Lasagne.

Hong Kong’s Hollywood Road claims the second spot among cool streets, featuring Michelin-starred dining at Tate Dining Room and cultural landmarks like Man Mo Temple. Meanwhile, Austin’s East Eleventh Street packs remarkable variety into just a quarter-mile, with highlights including the unique Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar and the perpetually festive Kenny Dorham’s Backyard.

Here is the list of the top ten streets to visit, as covered by Time Out.

  1. High Street, Melbourne, Australia
  2. Hollywood Road, Hong Kong
  3. East Eleventh, Austin, Texas, USA
  4. Guatemala Street, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  5. Commercial Drive, Vancouver, Canada
  6. Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  7. Rua da Boavista, Lisbon, Portugal
  8. Arnaldo Quintela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  9. Chazawa-dori, Tokyo, Japan
  10. Consell de Cent, Barcelona, Spain

This certainly offers a lot of suggestions as you plan your 2025 travels!

A Sustainable Health Plan Idea

Yes, the new year just started and people are always talking about New Year’s resolutions at this time. Hopefully, you’ve already created a sustainable food and fitness plan that doesn’t have to be modified or started again just because the calendar turned to January 1. But if you haven’t yet created a fitness plan – here is a great way to start.

You don’t have to join a gym (although you certainly can!) or exercise for hours a day in order to see results and health benefits. Here are two very simple ways to start to incorporate fitness into your regular routine. Two fundamental elements – core strength and walking – can form the foundation of a sustainable fitness journey.

Your core is more than just visible abs – it’s a complex system of muscles that includes your entire midsection, from abs and obliques to lower back and pelvic floor muscles. This powerhouse stabilizes your body, enables movement in all directions, and transmits power through your limbs. The plank exercise stands out as an excellent way to strengthen your entire core, offering modifications and variations to suit any fitness level. Here is an article that explains more about the plank and about how to get started incorporating this into your life!

Complementing core work with regular walking provides remarkable benefits with no need for a gym membership or equipment purchases. Starting with just five minutes of walking per day can build momentum toward a more active lifestyle. To maximize benefits, try increasing intensity gradually, perhaps by adding weights or incorporating stairs. Walking also offers mental health benefits, reducing anxiety and depression.

For optimal results, combine both elements: maintain a strong core for stability and power, while using walking as your daily cardiovascular foundation. Remember that consistency trumps intensity when starting out – small, sustainable changes lead to lasting fitness improvements.

What Happens to Those Dresses After the Gala?

Have you ever wondered what happens to those incredibly fancy gowns worn to the Oscars, Golden Globes and other awards shows once the night is over? Certainly most women would never be caught in the gown again – and they wouldn’t exactly loan it to their friend to wear for another occasion. So what happens?

CNN recently covered this topic and their findings were quite illuminating. The afterlife of a red carpet gown is far more complex and carefully orchestrated than you might imagine. Immediately after an event, these garments undergo a cleaning process to remove any traces of makeup, perfume, or body products that could damage the fabric over time. This preservation step is crucial, as even invisible residues can oxidize and alter the garment’s color and texture.

Most gowns then make their way to specialized storage facilities, either owned by fashion houses or private archivists like The Wardrobe. These aren’t ordinary storage units – they’re more like museums, with carefully controlled temperature, humidity, and lighting conditions. Each piece receives individualized treatment: some hang, others rest in boxes, and some require custom dress forms to maintain their shape. The storage method depends entirely on the garment’s construction and materials.

These preserved gowns can follow several paths. Some are selected for museum exhibitions, becoming historical artifacts that document both fashion evolution and cultural moments. The logistics of moving these pieces are incredibly complex – some require seven-foot-tall custom crates for transportation. Other gowns become part of fashion house archives, preserved for future reference and inspiration.

Occasionally, celebrities purchase their gowns, as Kim Kardashian has done with her Met Gala outfits. In rarer cases, gowns take unexpected journeys – like Elizabeth Taylor’s Dior Oscar dress being discovered in a friend’s suitcase years later, or Lady Gaga’s Golden Globes gown allegedly ending up in hotel lost and found. Some garments, like Tyla’s 2023 Met Gala Balmain creation, are even deliberately altered or partially destroyed after their red carpet moment, becoming part of the evening’s performance art.

This careful preservation of red carpet gowns reflects their evolution from mere clothing to significant cultural artifacts, worthy of museum-quality care and documentation.

10 Anticipated Movies of 2025

It’s always exciting to start another year and to see what great movies are on the horizon. Here are ten to watch for this coming year.

  1. “Superman” (July 11) – James Gunn reboots DC’s flagship hero with David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan in a fresh take on the Man of Steel.
  2. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (July 25) – Marvel’s latest adaptation stars Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn in the third major attempt to bring the super-powered quartet to life.
  3. “Wicked: For Good” (November 21) – The conclusion of the two-part musical follows the complicated relationship between Elphaba and Glinda in the land of Oz.
  4. “Michael” (October 3) – Jaafar Jackson portrays his uncle Michael Jackson in this highly anticipated biopic featuring Colman Domingo and Miles Teller.
  5. “Mickey 17” (April 18) – Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho returns with Robert Pattinson starring in this sci-fi tale about an expendable space clone.
  6. “Jurassic World: Rebirth” (July 2) – Scarlett Johansson joins the dinosaur franchise for another prehistoric adventure.
  7. “Back in Action” (January 17) – Cameron Diaz ends her decade-long hiatus to star alongside Jamie Foxx in this Netflix spy thriller.
  8. “How to Train Your Dragon” (June 13) – The beloved animated franchise gets a live-action makeover from Universal and DreamWorks.
  9. “Paddington in Peru” (February 14) – The beloved bear returns for a third adventure with Hugh Bonneville and newcomer Emily Mortimer.
  10. “Karate Kid: Legends” (May 30) – Jackie Chan returns to mentor a new karate kid played by Ben Wang in this franchise continuation.

5 Wacky Ways to Spend New Year’s Eve

We all know about the ball drop in Times Square, of course, and about having a party at your house. But there are many other ways to spend New Year’s Eve. Some of them are wackier than others – and here is a taste of some truly wacky ways to enjoy the evening if you happen to find yourself in one of these areas.

In Princess Anne, Maryland, a caped muskrat sporting a stovepipe hat ziplines into the new year, bringing local charm to this unconventional celebration. The event is called The Muskrat Dives at Midnight and includes a dj, oysters, party favors, games and more.

Out west, Prescott, Arizona embraces its cowboy heritage with the Whiskey Row Boot Drop. A massive six-foot illuminated boot descends from a 40-foot flagpole not once, but twice – giving early birds and night owls alike a chance to witness this uniquely Western spectacle.

Sweet tooths flock to Mobile, Alabama, where a gigantic 600-pound MoonPie makes its descent. The festivities span all day, featuring a special kids’ drop at noon and creative activities like decorated-umbrella contests.

Mount Olive, North Carolina keeps it briny with their famous pickle drop at 7 p.m. sharp. The giant pickle plunges into an equally enormous jar, followed by fireworks and free pickle handouts to celebrate.

Not to be outdone, Plymouth, Wisconsin – the cheese capital of the world – drops a massive wedge of cheese as the clock strikes midnight. Lucky early arrivals receive gift bags of Sartori cheese, while everyone enjoys music and a dedicated cheese-tasting station.

You can’t get much more American than these cute cultural events for New Year’s Eve. Have fun, be creative, and stay safe!

AI: Artistic Evolution or Inauthentic?

AI is certainly a controversial topic for artists. Should it be incorporated into artistic work? Does it mean the artist has lost the authenticity of his or her work?

One famous artist is answering with a resounding no to AI being an issue. In his groundbreaking London exhibition, Takashi Murakami demonstrates how artificial intelligence has become a transformative tool in contemporary art. By reimagining Iwasa Matabei’s 17th-century epic “Rakuchu Rakugai Zu Byobu,” Murakami reveals AI’s potential as a collaborative artistic partner rather than a replacement for human creativity.

The 62-year-old artist embraced AI to reconstruct damaged sections of the historic artwork, engaging in an iterative dialogue with the technology. Through multiple rounds of refinement, Murakami and AI co-created a unique interpretation that blends traditional Japanese art with his signature pop aesthetics. His approach challenges the ongoing debate about AI’s role in creative industries, positioning the technology as a sophisticated tool for artistic exploration.

Murakami’s perspective stands in stark contrast to many artists who view AI with skepticism. He sees technological evolution as inevitable, drawing parallels to how digital design was once considered inauthentic but is now standard practice. By integrating AI into his meticulous restoration process, Murakami demonstrates that technological innovation can enhance, rather than diminish, artistic expression.

His work suggests that the future of art lies not in resisting change, but in creatively embracing technological collaboration. Some will definitely disagree – and the discussion will continue in many artistic locations around the world for years to come.