If you're zapped by the choice of things to do on vacation (and the list is long in major cities such as New York or Barcelona in mid-summer), how do you narrow down the cultural chaos? Flavorpill, www.flavorpill.net, in the U.S. and le cool, www.lecool.com, in Europe, took on the task of choosing two dozen best events weekly in each city. Event selection and reviews are aimed at young, hip urbanites with "quality filtering" their mantra. Genres generally cover the performing arts and happenings, but its not all for the uber hip; le cool's London guide last week featured London Zoo hippos getting their teeth cleaned ... now there's a sharp event.

Flavorpill's network reaches New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Chicago; le cool covers Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Istanbul, Milan, Rome and London. Both publish weekly e-mails to subscribers (subscription is free).


— Chris Oliver

BOOKS

GO. STAY. PLAY

Study abroad for U.S. college students gets more popular every year, with thousands heading off to foreign shores this month. Now there are guidebooks written just for them. Fresh, edgy, irreverent and opinionated, MTV Guides, a partnership between the music video network and Frommer's publishing house, provide cool insider advice on everything from staying in the best hostels and places to eat to booking student tickets online and buying vintage chic for the chillest nightlife.

Written by selected college-age writers, "MTV Best" icons highlight the most happening places and things to do, while "mtvU" icons provide handy, practical tips for students studying abroad. "Free" icons point readers to museums with no admission charge, free bar food, and no-cover charge entertainment. MTV Guides are available for France, Italy, England, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Europe. $22.99.

— Chris Oliver

TOP 10

EUROPE'S HOT SPOTS

The top European attractions, according to traveler popularity and TripAdvisor editors:

1. London Eye, London

2. Tower of London, London

3. Eiffel Tower, Paris

4. Musee du Louvre, Paris

5. Colosseum, Rome

6. Anne Frank House, Amsterdam

7. Musee d'Orsay, Paris

8. State Hermitage Museum and Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia

9. Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen

10. The Alhambra, Granada, Spain

— Chicago Tribune