Hermitage Hotel Pulls Off Rare Double-Flush, Wins Second Straight 'America's Best Bathroom' Award

The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee houses America's Best Bathroom. AGAIN. This is according to the America's Best Restroom(ABR presented by Cintas) which recently announced the winner of its 2009 award. The Heritage -- a five-star hotel in Nashville -- was also the winner of the 2008 award and a recent ABR Hall of Fame inductee.

And frankly, while this could seem like a joke, I don't think it's really stated enough how important having an awesome bathroom is. I was in the Philadelphia airport yesterday -- picking up the swine flu, natch -- and I couldn't use the bathroom despite the, um, necessity of it. Why? Because it was freaking disgusting. And this happens all time. The Hermitage, on the other hand, dominates in terms of cleanliness and awesomeness.

The ABR's primary criteria are hygiene, style and access to the public. And according to Cintas, "tens of thousands" of people voted following the close of nominations on March 31, 2009.

The Heritage dominated again, with its art-deco theme, duel shoeshine seats, authentic terrazzo floors and leaded-glass tiles.

And it's a truly a statement to the Hermitage's staying power that they could wipe the competition out and win this award for the second consecutive year. And sure, it may sound corny, but word on the street is that people see the Heritage's bathroom and "fall in love with it."

That's obviously the case with most of America and the bathroom-judgers (the world needs them too, Danny!) who fancy themselves connoisseurs of such a thing. For the Hermitage, it's a tremendous honor. But for the rest of the competition, it's back to square one.

Man in Hurry for Bathroom on Delta Flight Charged With Felony Assault

There's nothing worse than needing to go to the bathroom on an airplane, standing up, and seeing the dreaded drink cart/stewardess combo staring back at you. There's no other recourse than to return to your seat, cross your legs and wait it out. Unless you're Joao Correa of Concord, Ohio.

Joao Correa of Concord, Ohio, says he had a bathroom emergency but his path was blocked by a beverage cart during the March 28 flight from Honduras to Atlanta. He asked if he could use the lavatory in business class, but was told no.

[...]Authorities say the 43-year-old man is accused of pulling and twisting the flight attendant's arm. He was arrested when the plane landed in Atlanta and charged with assault.

Right off the bat, I'll go ahead and say it: I feel bad for this guy. There's nothing more terrifying than having a "natural urge" (read: bowel movement) than on an airplane flight. Typically, there's some turbulence or a long line or just the awkwardness of having to hit someone's head with your rear end as you're semi-sprinting down the isle.

But with that drink cart and an unruly stewardess and the panic that sets in, well, I can kind of see why he freaked out. At the same time though, if Meet the Parents taught us anything, it's that you don't ever get angry with a flight attendant. It just doesn't work out well for anyone.

Toilet Restaurants = The New Hotness

Bathrooms: they're very clearly one of the more appetizing places you can possibly sit. So why wouldn't someone have already thought of a toilet-themed restaurant? Yeah, I have no idea either.

But it's finally here now, via the Daily Fork: a restaurant chain with a toilet theme, aptly named "Modern Toilet."

Modern Toilet is a restaurant chain in Japan that was recently brought to our attention by Spike.com. The restaurant serves their food in plastic toilet bowls, to diners sitting atop (you guessed it) toilet seats.

It should also be noted, as seen in the picture, that the tables appear to be washtubs/sinks. Which is just flat out gross. I mean, sure, there's a glass table over them. But I doubt they're clean; this is, after all, a bathroom, right?

Oh, and also, re: these anywhere near where I live: DO NOT WANT. 

Senator Craig Bathroom in Minnesota Is, Oddly, Not a Popular Tourist Destination

Have we got the Valentine's Day vacation for you! That's right, friend, nothing says "I Heart You" quite like taking that special person in your life to the Minneapolis - St. Paul International Airport, with the express intent of visiting Larry Craig's famous bathroom.

Wait, what? That's not romantic? Get out. Maybe that's why it's failing as a tourist destination.

Patrick Hogan, spokesman for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, says that the surge of publicity also brought an abrupt end to the type of activity in the restroom that had prompted lewd-conduct complaints.

Plans to modify the restroom to prevent occupants from passing signals were scrapped because complaints dropped.

"It is the busiest restroom at Minneapolis-St. Paul International," Hogan told The Spokesman-Review. "It's right in the middle of our main thoroughfare."

[...] Hogan says one person offered to buy the restroom stall for $5,000, but that airport officials declined.

Now, I'm not entirely sure how they handle things in Minnesota ... but, um, WTF? If you get offered five large for a bathroom stall where a someone -- regardless of how famous they are -- was arrested for soliciting sex, you take the money and run. Also, you never, ever, ever, evereverever try and turn such a place into a tourist attraction. That's just not going to work out well for anyone.