World Country Guide

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Food & Drink
In large cities, restaurants are mostly modern and very clean, offering a vast range of cuisines, prices and facilities. US breakfasts are especially notable for such specialities as pancakes or waffles with maple syrup, home fries and grits (a Southern dish). Foreigners are often perplexed by the common question of how they would like their eggs fried, ie ‘over easy’ (flipped over briefly) or ‘sunny side up’ (fried on one side only). Fast food chains serving hot dogs, hamburgers and pizzas are everywhere. Regional specialities range from Spanish and Mexican flavours in the southwest to Creole, French and ‘Soul Food’ in the Deep South, Tex-Mex tastes in Texas, seafood chowder and Maine lobsters of New England, and the bare edible minimum that is California cuisine. Restaurants come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from fast-food, self-service and counter service to drive-in and table service. The ‘diner’ is an integral part of the US way of life; consisting of a driveway, neon lights and simple food served from the counter; these are generally located in or just outside smaller towns. Discounts on eating out include Early Bird Dinners, where discounts are offered for meals served prior to 1800; Children’s Platters, selections from a low-cost children’s menu; and Restaurant Specials, when a different specific meal is offered each day at a discount price or there is an all-you-can-eat menu.
There are also many types of bars, ranging from the smart cocktail lounge, cafe-style, high ‘saloon’ style bars and imitations of English pubs to the ‘regular’ bar. Many have ‘happy hours’ with cheaper drinks and free snacks on the counter. Generally speaking, waiter/waitress service costs more. Drinking laws are set by the individual States, counties, municipalities and towns, although closing time in bars is traditionally between midnight and 0300. The legal age for drinking also varies from 18 to 21 from State to State and the laws on the availability of alcohol run from New Orleans’ policy of anytime, anywhere and to anyone, to localities, such as in Utah, where drinking is strictly prohibited. Where the laws are severe, there are often private clubs or a town only a few kilometres away from the ‘dry town' where alcohol sales are legal. It is important to be aware of these laws when visiting an area and it is worth remembering that where alcohol is available, visitors may be asked to produce some form of identity that will prove their age. It should also be noted that it is illegal to have an open container of alcohol in a vehicle or on the street. Beer is the most popular and widespread drink and is served ice cold. In some States the alcohol content of beer is restricted to around 3 per cent. The best places to find good beer are micro-breweries and brewpubs, found in most major cities and university towns. Californian wines are very popular; see Food & Drink in the individual State sections for further details.

Nightlife
Clubs generally stay open until the early hours in cities, where one can find music and theatre of all descriptions. Theatre tickets for Broadway, New York’s equivalent of London’s West End ‘Theatreland’, can be booked through the Group Sales Box Office, 226 West 47th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10036 (tel: (800) 223 7565 or (212) 398 8383; website: www.bestofbroadway.com). Special discounts for group bookings are available. Tickets must be paid for in advance and will be mailed out or kept at the theatre box office for collection on the night of the performance. Gambling is only allowed in licensed casinos and the legal age for gamblers is 21 years of age or over.

Shopping
Variety, late opening hours, competitive prices and an abundance of modern goods typify US shopping. Many small stores, specialist food shops and hypermarkets are open 24 hours a day. Clothes and electronic goods can be bought direct from factories. Retail outlets range from flea markets and bargain stores to large chain department stores. Malls are a popular way of shopping in the USA and consist of a cluster of different kinds of shops in one building, often a few storeys high, connected by an indoor plaza. Note that a sales tax is levied on most or all items in most States and the addition is not included on the price label; sales tax can be anywhere from 3 to 15 per cent, depending on the State; some States have no sales tax at all. Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0900/0930-1730/1800. There may be late-night shopping one or two evenings a week. Some States permit Sunday trading.

Special Events
The holidays which are closest to the people’s hearts are Thanksgiving and Christmas; see also Special Events in the individual State sections.
Mardi Gras: Every year, New Orleans celebrates the weeks leading up to Mardi Gras (February 8 in 2005), attracting visitors from all over the USA and abroad. There are parades, dancing in the streets and revellers in masks and costumes all in a spirit of wild abandon.
The Fourth of July: In honour of the USA’s victory against the British in the Revolutionary War, this holiday is celebrated throughout the country, with spectacular fireworks displays. US fireworks are among the best in the world and some of the most dazzling shows take place over lakes, rivers or on the coast, where the sky is lit up and the light is reflected in the water.
Hallowe’en: Another holiday celebrated in the USA is Hallowe’en (October 31). Children dress up in costumes, often as witches, devils and ghosts and tour the neighbourhood, usually in groups, knocking on the doors of nearby houses and saying ‘trick or treat’. The owner of the house is then obliged to give the children some sort of ‘treat’, usually food or sweets. Failure to comply can result in the ‘trick’. The night before Hallowe’en is known as Mischief Night, when children roam their neighbourhoods making a nuisance of themselves with pranks such as ringing doorbells and running away or spreading toilet paper along fences and telephone poles. Both of these nights are somewhat unpopular with adults, but children have a great time and the tradition is probably too ingrained in US psyche to be discontinued.
Thanksgiving: This takes place on the fourth Thursday of November (November 24 in 2005). It is a festival celebrated with close family and friends. Blessings are shared and prayers of thanks are said over a meal of roast turkey, bread stuffing, roast potatoes and yams. This holiday originated in the first year after the Pilgrim Fathers arrived in the New World, as a feast to thank the Native Americans for their aid and advice in helping the immigrants come to grips with a new land.
Christmas: Americans celebrate Christmas (December 25) in a big way, both religiously and as consumers. Northern regions have the added bonus of wintery weather and snowfall, and a ‘White Christmas’ (a fairly common event in the New England area and other northern States) always adds to the atmosphere.

Social Conventions
The wide variety of national origins and the USA’s relatively short history has resulted in numerous cultural and traditional customs living alongside each other. In large cities, people of the same ethnic background often live within defined communities. Shaking hands is the usual form of greeting. A relaxed and informal atmosphere is usually the norm. As long as the fundamental rules of courtesy are observed, there need be no fear of offending anyone of any background. Americans are renowned for their openness and friendliness to visitors. Gifts are appreciated if one is invited to a private home. As a rule, dress tends to be casual and quite informal. Smart restaurants, hotels and clubs insist on suits and ties or long dresses. Smoking is becoming increasingly unpopular in the US and is often considered offensive; it is essential to ask permission from all present before lighting up. Smoking is forbidden on city transport and often restricted or forbidden in public buildings. There will usually be a notice where no smoking is requested and most restaurants have smoking and non-smoking sections. Smoking is banned in all restaurants in California and New York City.
Tipping: Widely practised, as service charges are not usually included in the bill and waiters depend heavily on tips for their income. Waiters generally expect 15 to 20 per cent, as do taxi drivers and hairdressers. It should be noted that a cover charge is for admission to an establishment, not a tip for service. Porters generally expect US$1 per bag.