#go see gay music at the Gorge

[mending-up-your-fences]

Brandi Carlile seeing Boygenius at the Gorge on her day off? That tracks

#schedule for the day: build a 50 ft bridge across a swamp #go see gay music at the Gorge

[glenngaylord]

Finding  Emo - Film Review: The Whale ★★★1/2

How many times have you thought to yourself, “Great performance but the movie was just okay”?  Even Oscars handed to Renee Zellweger in Judy, Jim Broadbent in Iris or Jessica Lange in Blue Sky couldn’t make the films themselves stand the test of time. I’m afraid the same historical distinction may befall Brendan Fraser in The Whale, the newest film from Darren Aronofsky, and while perfectly fine, never transcends the magnificent performance at its center.  

Adapted by Samuel D. Hunter from his own play, the story centers around Charlie (Fraser), a morbidly obese gay man who appears to welcome his own imminent death. Unwilling to seek medical care, Charlie remains mostly confined to his couch as he gorges on food and ignores the words of his friend Liz (Hong Chau), a nurse, that he is experiencing congestive heart failure and will soon die if he takes no action. Why and how Charlie came to this state of being unfolds throughout, and despite melodramatic moments and often repetitive scenes, the movie works because Fraser almost rips your guts out with this ferociously passionate yet gentle giant.

When we first meet Charlie, he’s masturbating to gay porn in his small Midwestern apartment. A random visitor named Thomas (Ty Simpkins), a missionary out to save mankind one awkward  door knock at a time, enters at this vulnerable moment. Throughout, several people will come and go, such as the aforementioned Liz, who also happens to be the sister to Charlie’s late partner. We also hear from his ex-wife Mary (Samantha Morton) and most notably his daughter Ellie (Sadie Sink), an aggressively angry teen who resents that her father abandoned her while still a child. Needless to say, this film betrays its stage origins with perhaps more doors opening and being slammed shut than found in Noises Off.

Clearly a film made during COVID with its limited sets and cast, Aronofsky, collaborating with his long-time cinematographer Matthew Libatique, masterfully films what could easily have been a claustrophobic and dull story. At times, however, Charlie gets the horror movie treatment as the music and his actions can feel monstrous. Witnessing Charlie attempt to stand or watching him slather Ranch dressing all over his pizza and inhale it feels shot through with a sense of terror. Think of how Aronofsky handled Ellen Burstyn’s character in Requiem For A Dream and you’ll the point, although he doesn’t resort to fish eye lenses or rapid cutting to make his point.

Charlie knows how the world perceives him and his deep depression has brought him to simply let go of his life. He won’t allow his students to see his face, pretending his camera doesn’t work on Zoom calls, and same goes for his contactless exchanges with a man who frequently delivers him pizzas. Charlie feels worthless and seems to want to spare the world of his presence. Over the course of a week, we watch him spar with Liz over his healthcare, providing the film with some of its richest, layered moments. Chau, who never gives the same performance twice, offers a brittle, intense yet immensely moving portrayal as a friend who enables Charlie yet feels so helpless as she watches him fall apart.

His daughter, however, seemingly wants nothing to do with him, but still manages to burst into the room whenever she has a beef with him. They work out a deal which keeps her coming back, and despite Sink really delivering sparks, the character’s bottomless pit of anger sometimes feels a little one note and just a little too much. Still, it all seemed worth it for a climactic reaction which connected, however briefly. Morton, who arrives late in the film, also ramped up the intensity just when it felt like we had been covering the same ground one too many times. This felt especially true of Simpkins’ scenes. Why this character could gain access to a stranger’s life so easily, especially when he preaches gospel to a man who clearly doesn’t want to hear it, seemed like a cheap way to insert the concept of religion into the film. It doesn’t entirely work, yet Charlie’s grace, even when calling Thomas out, felt beautifully heroic. It felt, however, like one plot strand too many.

I also took issue with how certain characters reacted to Charlie’s size. The film pulls no punches when it comes to showing his body, clearly augmented by a fat suit and some CGI, but I didn’t buy some of the pearl-clutching gasps and sly iPhone photography we see from people who should know how to control themselves just a little bit better.

Still, despite a pile-on of so many soapy elements and missteps, Fraser, who has spent much of his career in fluffier projects, transcends it all as if his life depended on it. Charlie has such soulful, kind qualities and we see them in Fraser’s eyes, in a casual playfulness which peeks through in his scenes with Chau, and in those explosive moments when he struggles to find meaning in his life. Fraser turned me into a totally sobbing mess with his fantastic work. The film may stumble here and there, but you won’t want to miss The Whale for Fraser’s unforgettable performance.

[azumasoroshi]

kazuma is somehow more intimidating in court than van zieks which is really funny

i do love that ryuu has to go against him after he was the competent one in the very first case and we got to see how badass he was and it was like damn im glad he's on my side and. now he's not

and i love how barok is just there like "what the fuck man i thought you were the cool silent type but you're actually a gay little bitch"

i skipped through a lot of the third case because i kind of want to experience that with different lets players and i'm just gorging myself on all the major plot spoilers rn to satisfy my curiosity

enoch drebber was such a guy though. love that robot ass

anyway kazuma's themes are REALLY good ugh the music playing when his first objection

#dgs2 spoilers #dgs 2 spoilers #dai gyakuten saiban 2 #dai gyakuten saiban 2 spoilers #tgaa 2 #tgaa 2 spoilers #tgaa2

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

Attila (La Scala, 2018): Reactions, Part I

eh sure why not

that quintessential slow Italian lyricism

OH THIS IS COOL

so this is like 30s Italy

ILDAR (and on a real horse, no less! Toulouse take a hint)

I mean...that’s a commanding voice and presence if ever I saw one

poor kiddo

see this scene doesn’t make a whole lot of sense if you just shot a bunch of the other women resistance fighters, but anyway

ODABELLA!!! (also Saioa Hernandez)

Badass Girlpower: the aria

reverse uno card

he gave her a necklace first lol

someone’s horny

OW

*casually pulls Italian flag out of pocket*

GET ‘IM

go girl go

sounds gay to me

nice voices, nice beards, nice outfits, nice dudes

and there it is (but no one clapped, which would have been funny)

Even Evil Has Standards

congrats Attila you pissed him off

UH OKAY

this aesthetic is a vibe

two bros, chillin on opposite sides of a burnt bridge, five (or so) feet apart ‘cause they’re not gay

you okay?

another cool look

awwwwww

love this musical sunrise

the ladies are here

leader by basis of *checks notes* being a tenor

makeshift church

sorry but watching them put together a makeshift church is way more interesting than this aria

“no one look i’m singing my cadenza”

*casually pulls Italian flag out of crate*

love these projections (young Odabella’s memories)

this is such a gorg melody

??? Odabella would NOT even be contemplating killing herself; the only person she wants to kill is Attila (and maybe his minions)

again: great projections

I love how it’s like she’s reconstructing her memories and going back in time to before everything was destroyed

this aria is so fucking beautiful I love it

Mexican Standoff

sir please drop the gun

also shut up

Foresto is every Reddit boyfriend with an insanely cool girlfriend Odabella PLEASE break up with him

yes girl

YES GIRL

like seriously, you really thought that she’d date the guy who murdered her father and invaded her country?

this is a bop

yeah give whoever did the projection/video work a raise

and here we see a hot bass in his natural habitat

nice bed

“mio fido”, hmm?

totally not foreshadowing

I mean, with that voice you can have the whole world if you damn please

not over the Huns allegedly worshipping Norse gods lol

oh this is COOL

this guy is good

oh hi Odabella!

Area Bass Is Now Losing His Shit

it’s fine everything is fine

#opera #opera tag #Attila #opera liveblog #Verdi #Giuseppe Verdi #LOVE the aesthetic and the performances are pretty great too

[chickwiththepurpleguitar]

stack! stack! stack! 📚

sunnie loml /p

writer bot started repeating so I had to roll it a couple times lol but final numbers that I haven't talked about before were 1, 5, 16, and 27.

1. Alex comes out to Reggie FIRST-- ok this fic I've talked about a lot because it has been Fighting Me Forever. Recently, however, I realized it was trying to do too many things at once and cut it down so hopefully I'll be able to finish it relatively soon. Snippet under the cut.

5. cause there we are again in the middle of the night FINAL CHAPTER-- i don't want to spoil the ending here, but I'll put a snippet under the cut, although I might start it over cause this one has been fighting me too :(

16. bobby musical angst mwahahahaha-- prompt from the lovely @starlight-17011-a: The boys watch the musical Rent. Either they go to haunt Bobby and see him and Carrie watching it or the whole group is doing a family movie night. Bobby gets sad when certain songs or lines are sung. I don't have a lot more thoughts about this yet but. It will be sad :)

27. My Name Is Luke/Bobby Post-Orpheum-- THE OFFICIAL ALL TOO WELL SEQUEL FIC. I’ve had plans for this for literally ever but I can’t write it until I finish a bunch of other fics in this series. I forget how much I’ve told you about this before but basically. Present-tense 2020 scenes involving Luke reuniting with Trevor after he finds out the version of My Name Is Luke he recorded is made up of a bunch of really gay drafts Luke wrote and hid in the studio. Past-tense 95 scenes of BobbyRayRose ANGST. Julie being awkwardly like “heyyy uncle trevor... here’s your exboyfriend, he’s in my ghost band. now.... talk!” etc. It’ll be Long.

Send me a book emoji and I’ll tell you about one of my wips!

Alex comes out to Reggie snippet:

“This is the life, man,” Reggie says, grinning, his face and shirtfront splattered with rum raisin ice cream. “We should do this more often.”

Alex smiles, stirring his melting cup of lemon sorbet into yellow soup. He doesn’t actually like lemon very much, but the ice cream shop was out of raspberry, and Alex didn’t bring his Lactaid pills so he can’t gorge himself on mint chocolate chip ice cream like he wanted to. “We can’t bring Luke, though. Can you imagine him on this much sugar? He’d never sit down.”

Reggie laughs, throwing his head back and kicking his feet out through the air, and Alex gives him a little side-eyed glance, thinking maybe Reggie doesn’t need any extra sugar either.

It’s a good day. Sunny, and not too cold for February, even in L.A., and Alex can hear the Nutcracker music from Sara’s class filtering through the dance studio windows, and he’s comfortable, even if he is wearing a too-small hand-me-down suit from his older brother Ben, and his tie is a little too tight, and he’s got anxiety thrumming underneath his skin, making his hands twitch and his stomach hurt because he’s got secrets like a blood clot threatening to stop his heart.

But he always has secrets these days, from everyone but himself, and he likes Reggie, even if they don’t spend a whole lot of time together without Luke there to act as an over-enthusiastic buffer. He likes that Reggie knows when to joke and when to be serious, that he means everything he says even if what he says is a little silly, that he’s quick to love, slow to judge, and treats Alex’s anxiety as an emotion to curb and not a problem to fix.

Reggie is one of Alex’s best friends, just as much as Luke is. Alex likes Reggie, loves Reggie even (though he is very much decidedly not in love with Reggie), and he trusts Reggie—or at the very least he wants to.

But none of that changes the fact that Alex doesn’t know what possesses him to say, “Reg, I think I have a crush on Luke.”

Lukebobby sickfic chapter 7 snippet:

Luke blinks, taken aback by Bobby’s sudden intensity, by the tears brimming in his eyes. “Bobby—” he tries, but words quickly fail him. 

Bobby shakes his head and rubs a hand down his face, settling it back into an emotionless mask. “Forget it,” he mutters, backing away from Luke’s bed. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t—you need to rest, I—I should tell the guys you’re awake.”

“The guys are here?” Luke pushes himself up against his pillows, even as his ribs protest. 

Bobby checks his watch. “They should be back any minute, they drove back to the studio to get you some new clothes.”

“Who drove? Alex only has his learner’s permit.” 

Bobby waves a hand nonchalantly, still backing toward the door. “Yeah, but he already stole Reggie’s dad’s car to get to my place, so they figured neither of them could get grounded twice. It was a—it was a weird night, okay? I’m just gonna go get your doctor. Lie back down.”

#ask #wips #jatp #my fics #cause there we are again in the middle of the night #all too well verse #bobby wilson #luke patterson #lukebobby #lobby #julie molina #reggie peters

[artificialqueens]

Girl I Met On The Internet, 6/6 (Crystal x Gigi) - Strawberry

a/n: and it’s a wrap! for now anyway bc i totally dont have a fic coming based on the good news nicky had for jaida! i just want to say thank you to every single person who read, liked and reblogged this story. it means so much to me, i’m so glad people enjoyed the strange idea that came into my brain. <3 (also! i wanted to let you guys know that i’m planning on posting this fic on ao3 as well, probably after this chapter is posted on here. my username on there is drivingmecrazy !!)

crystal: does everyone’s spring break start this weekend too?? anyone doing anything??

jan!: mine does! i’m staying home all week, jackie is leaving me :(

nicky: my spring break isn’t until late april!! wtf :(

heidi: ha loser

heidi: i’m going to play animal crossing all weekend i can’t wait

Jackie: I’m going to Canada to visit family on Sunday. Jan, if you want we can hang out on Saturday if you’re going to miss me that much. :P

nicky: i’ll hang out with you jackie

jan: i hate you nicky

jaida: i have a pageant next week!!

jan!: yaas gorg

nicky: bring home the crown!

crystal: GO JAIDA!

nicky: also jaida call me. i have good news for you :)

gigi: crystal you already know what’s going down

crystal: do i now?

gigi: GOOD LUCK JAIDA!!! NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE OUR WINNER

Crystal had somewhat of an idea of what was going down. She had been granted permission to sleep over at Gigi’s house, and they would be going on their date the following day. Gigi would not tell Crystal anything about where they were going, and refused to give her any hints no matter how much Crystal begged. 

The next morning, on their walk to school, Crystal finally got a hint. 

“You tweeted about it. That’s all I’ll tell you.”

“That’s not helpful at all!” Crystal had almost 30 thousand tweets, her Twitter was her space to say weird things without being judged too harshly, and she had a lot of things to say! She thought about things she might’ve tweeted about wanting to do, or places she wanted to go, but came up empty handed.

“Well, you have the whole day to think about it. I’ll meet you after school, yeah?”

-

Gigi’s mom offered to pick them up after school, even though the walk from their school to Gigi’s house wasn’t far. Crystal finally met Nancy, Gigi’s beloved dog. Crystal didn’t want to do anything besides hold the dachshund to her chest all night, but Gigi wouldn’t let her, saying it wasn’t fair for Nancy to get all of the attention even though Gigi does the exact same thing with Tic Tac.

They made homemade pizza for dinner, and played monopoly with Gigi’s parents and her brother. Gigi’s brother thought Crystal was cute, and hit on Crystal; trying out a ridiculous pickup line on the green haired girl every chance he got. After they called off the game, Gigi excused her and Crystal to her room.

“So quick to leave, Georgina,” Crystal teased, sitting down next to Nancy who was using Gigi’s strawberry cow pillow pet as a headrest. 

“Wanna spend time with you. Can we cuddle?”

“Yeah, of course.”

They sat in silence for a while, enjoying each other’s company until Gigi spoke up.

“I couldn’t do it.”

“Couldn’t do what?” Crystal asked, lost.

“Come out to my friends. I thought I was ready but obviously I’m not.”

“It’s okay, Gigi. You’ll know when it’s time, don’t rush it.”

“I just want to be more open, I guess.”

“That’s good, but it’s not going to happen overnight. You have to take baby steps, G.”

“Was it hard? To come out?”

“To who?” Crystal snorted, “You know I don’t have any friends. I’m pretty sure everyone at school already knows, though.”

“Does your mom know?”

“Probably. She got a little too suspicious when I started liking Poppy.”

This turned into revealing who their first gay crush was, and how and when they figured out they liked girls like the rest of their friends liked boys. Crystal told Gigi about how she originally tried to fake like One Direction so no one would suspect anything, and Gigi told Crystal about how she refused to listen to any music sung by female artists for half a year before they decided to go to sleep.

-

Crystal had woken up first. She didn’t bother waking up Gigi, going to scroll through Twitter instead. It was still early, but the group chat was on some bullshit, Jan changed her display name to Nicky and changed her profile picture to Nicky’s to mock her. Nicky did not find this funny in the slightest, but Jaida did.

nicky: i’m nicky i’m french i love stealing my friends gfs

jaida: omg period!

THE REAL nicky: JAIDA THAT’S NOT ME!!!

jaida: proof?

THE REAL nicky: I HATE IT HERE!!

nicky: croissant

crystal: HELPDGNJKFNJ

THE REAL nicky: i cannot stand jan. this is why jackie should date me instead

Crystal couldn’t stop laughing, which ended up waking Gigi up. Gigi was grumpy at first, but that changed when she realized they needed to get ready to go on the date she had planned.

After they had gotten up and dressed, they sat next to each other in front of the giant, floor length mirror next to Gigi’s closet to do their makeup. Gigi stopped doing her makeup after putting on her foundation, deciding that watching Crystal do her eye shadow was more entertaining than finishing the look she had in mind.

“Stop looking at me, you’re making me nervous!” Crystal giggled when she noticed Gigi’s stares, not actually wanting Gigi to stop.

“I’ll think about it,” Gigi paused, pretending to think, “I will not. You look beautiful.”

Crystal squawked, “I barely have anything on my face!”

“So?”

“What are you, gay or something?” Crystal teased, making Gigi poke at her sides, “Stop being a dork and finish your makeup!”

“Fine. Only because we need to get going soon.”

-

“Wait, you know how to drive?” Crystal asked, getting in the passenger seat.

“Yeah! I don’t have my own car yet, but I got my license on my 16th birthday. I am not enforcing the stereotype at all!” Gigi grinned, opening the garage door and starting her mom’s car.

“I’ll be the judge of that. Can I play music?” 

“Yeah, sure.” Gigi handed her the aux cord and started backing out of the driveway. 

“Okay. This is the ultimate test,” Crystal stated, starting to play a song. “Which One Direction song is this?”

The song in question was good, but Gigi didn’t recognize it. She had only listened to ‘Midnight Memories’ because it was Crystal’s favorite album, and she knew for sure Crystal wasn’t playing a song from that album. “Is it from ‘Made in the A.M’?”

“Trick question! It’s one of Niall’s solo songs. It’s called ‘Dear Patience’!” Crystal laughed, thinking she had pulled off the biggest prank in the world.

“Oh, fuck. I should’ve known there was only one person singing.”

After fifteen minutes of driving, and Gigi almost running a stop sign, they finally pulled up at a cute little thrift shop on the outskirts of town, and Crystal was just about shaking with excitement. “I love thrifting! I’ve only been once, but it was so fun! I found that jumpsuit I wore that one day while thrifting!” She rambles, rushing to get out of the car and inside.

“Wait, when I did tweet about this?”

Around the time they had first started talking, Crystal had tweeted about how her dream date was going thrifting. Gigi naturally stored this information in the back of her mind, even though at the time she never thought she would need it.

On their walk from the parking lot to the store, Crystal held her hand out, which Gigi hesitantly accepted.

“We should play a game! We should split up and pick out an outfit for the other person without them knowing and then meet up and try them on!” 

Gigi’s heart swelled, Crystal was so cute. “That sounds fun, but how do I know this isn’t just a trick to dress me up in something hideous?” Gigi teased, making Crystal blush.

“I would never, don’t be ridiculous,” Crystal scoffed, “I’ll save that for the next time we go thrifting!”

Crystal let go of Gigi’s hand to open the door for her, splitting up as soon as they walked into the shop.

It didn’t take them very long to pick out their pieces. Crystal stayed true to her word, picking out a light green, halter top dress for Gigi. Gigi, on the other hand, had picked out a hideous pair of neon pink, zebra print leggings and a red flannel shirt.

“Gigi, what is that?” Crystal scrunched up her nose in disgust.

“You like patterns, why not clash them?” Gigi tried to defend herself, but could barely finish her sentence before bursting out laughing.

“No! I’m not getting that! I’m not even going to try on that outfit. It’s yucky.”

“That’s fine, give me the dress you picked out for me. I need that.” Gigi snatched it from Crystal’s hands, walking quickly to the dressing room.

The dress looked gorgeous on Gigi. Crystal was so glad she took their game seriously. 

They looked around together for a little bit before wandering from each other yet again. Gigi somehow ended up with a pile of clothes that you would only see in a very successful thrifting haul video on YouTube. Crystal had stuck to the men’s section, immediately claiming some loud button ups and with a little digging, she found a very specific, out of place t-shirt that said something about how ‘real grandmas drink Dr. Pepper’ that she found hilarious and needed to own.

“What does that say? Some grandmas play bingo, real grandmas drink Dr. Pepper?” Gigi questioned when they finally met back up, “What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know, but it’s sending me. I need it!”

“So you hated my outfit I got for you, but you’re buying that?” Gigi teased.

“You do not understand the art of highly specific shirts, like these, babe. I’ll have to teach you all about them later.”

Gigi thought Crystal was an idiot, but she couldn’t stop smiling.

-

After paying for their clothes, they got back into the car. Gigi started driving, not telling Crystal where their next stop was. The stop happened to be the Taco Bell drive thru, which Crystal was excited about. “Okay, I do remember tweeting about wanting to go to Taco Bell.” 

When they got their food, Gigi placed the bag in the back seat, making Crystal raise an eyebrow. 

“You’re a messy eater, so we aren’t eating in the car. My mom would kill me if we made a mess.”

While Crystal tried to convince Gigi she was not a messy eater and her mom’s car would be fine, Gigi pulled up to a park.

“Can you find a spot to sit down at so we can eat it there?” Gigi requested. It took Crystal about two seconds to travel from the car to the grass, settling down in a shady spot underneath some trees. Gigi joined Crystal, holding a blue blanket as well as the brown paper bag.

“It’s not a picnic blanket, I couldn’t find one but I hope it works.”

“It does! I love picnics!” Crystal hops up so Gigi can lay down the blanket, going to retrieve the drinks that they forgot in the car. 

Their lunch was filled with flirting, stupid inside jokes and Crystal loved every second of it. She knew for sure by the end of the day she would not be single anymore, but the lack of confirmation was making her antsy.

Once they were done eating, Gigi collected all of the wrappers and cups, walking across the grass to the nearest trash can to dispose of them. When Gigi came back, she had a huge grin on her face, “Well, Crystal Elizabeth. I would like to think that I successfully wooed you, if only you could do something for me in return…”

“What do you have in mind, Georgina?” Crystal giggles, hoping Gigi couldn’t tell how nervous that statement made her.

“Crystal Elizabeth, I was wondering if you would be my girlfriend?” 

“God, yes. I’ve been waiting for this for months.” Crystal exclaimed, immediately being pulled into a kiss.

They stayed at the park after that. Crystal’s inner child had jumped out after the kiss was broken and she wanted to play on the playground. 

“Wait, Crystal! Come here, the light looks good right now and we need to take our reveal selfie!”

-

Their date came to an end when Crystal’s mom texted her asking to come home. Crystal’s mom had no idea what she was interrupting, as Crystal did not tell her mom what they were actually doing.

“I hate it here, I would let this date go on all week if I could.” Crystal pouted, buckling her seatbelt.

“If there’s any other place you want to go this week, we could go on our second date.” Gigi smiled, reaching out to hold Crystal’s hand.

“Be careful, I know steering with one hand is peak lesbianism, but I don’t know if you’re a good enough driver to do that yet.” Crystal joked, even though she gladly accepted Gigi’s hand.

“Oh, shut up. Like you could go ten minutes without holding my hand.”

Crystal kissed Gigi again when they got on her street, Gigi parking a few houses down for privacy.

“This was fun. I really am happy with everything. You completely wooed me, Georgina.”

“I’m glad. Does this mean I can call you my clown girlfriend now?” Gigi jokingly asked, making Crystal let out a tiny scream.

“As dumb as that sounds, yes. You can.”

Gigi did not let Crystal get out of the car without getting another kiss.

-

Crystal entered her house, her grin slowly fading when she saw her mom waiting for her.

“You took a while to come home.” Crystal’s mom started, under the impression she was at Gigi’s house. “What took you so long?”

“Yeah, sorry. I couldn’t find my charger.” Crystal felt bad for lying to her mom, but she didn’t want to tell her what happened yet.

“Oh, your generation and your phones. I was starting to get worried.”

“Mama, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I’m going to my room now, is that okay?”

“Yeah, I’m about to start dinner. We’re having your favorite!”

The second Crystal got into her room, she locked her door and jumped on her bed, logging onto Twitter.

crystal: good evening l a d i e s

jan!: HEY!

jaida: crystal!

Jackie: You haven’t been active today, what were you up to?

heidi: not jackie demanding answers

nicky: ooooh

gigi: well, since you asked…

crystal: :D

gigi: my girlfriend crystal and i went on our first date today. isn’t she beautiful??

The group erupted into chaos the second they saw their selfie, congratulating the new couple for finally getting together. Crystal wouldn’t have it any other way. She would be forever grateful for being added into Elites Only, and even more for the special girl she had met there.

gigi: so, any ideas for our second date?

crystal: tons, babe. i’m gonna blow your mind.

#rpdr fanfiction #gigi goode #crystal methyd #jackie cox #jan sport #jaida essence hall #heidi n closet #crygi #lesbian au #high school au #social media au #girl i met on the internet #strawberry #submission #s12

[oksanasanna]

Is 2x07 your favorite because of villaneve (ear)phone sex?

I could write a whole essay on why 2x07 appeals so much to me specifically

I know no one likes Aaron, but I love him. I relate to him a lot (minus the murder and the billion dollars). I’m obsessed with his speech about how he never gets lonely, has no desire for human interaction, and would rather observe people’s lives from afar. I’m the same way, and he’s the only other person real or fictional I’ve ever seen who also doesn’t experience loneliness.

Rome. I studied Latin and Classical Culture in college.

Villanelle gorging on pasta, my favorite food. It’s soo satisfying watching her absolutely stuff her face. I completely understand Aaron’s weird kink.

The bread hand touch.

Bread in general. I would also like to watch Villanelle eat bread and ice cream and chocolate and pasta. Those are the best food groups. Again, Aaron’s onto something.

Eve fixing her hair for Villanelle before going to give her the mic.

The atelier jacket is one of my fave Villanelle outfits.

I also enjoy the outfit Villanelle first wears when she gets to Rome. And the outfit she wears to the lunch date. Billie’s outfits are on point the whole episode, and I love that scene of Villanelle being amazed by all her new clothes in Rome.

I love Billie.

“I don’t like rich men.”

“I will not be needing the pill.”

“Ugh, get a room” and the way you can hear Villanelle’s wet smile after she says it.

The way Villanelle asks for the shepherd's pie recipe and then repeats all the ingredients to herself under her breath to memorize it.

“Always close the curtains. You never know what kind of pervert might be outside.”

“See? That wasn’t so hard was it?” ‘Are you going to leave us alone now?” “Of course not. Why don’t you sit down.”

“The sexy maths teacher.”

Eve’s wide awake speech was Sandra’s best scene of the entire season. The way she doesn’t blink because she’s so focused on the convo and so ready to talk about Villanelle. The tears of intensity. “Are you in a relationship?” “Define relationship.” It’s so powerful.

The earpiece sex!!

The morning after softness!!

Just the fact that we got that (micro)phone sex was absolutely wild. That’s still the sexiest Villaneve have ever been, and that “good morning” and snuggle into the pillows rivals some of the best 3x08 softness. I can’t believe how blessed we were.

Edward Bluemel in his underwear. (I’m gay, but he’s my exception, don’t judge. It’s not straight if I say #NoHetero)

Hugo’s stupid smile and “hey” when he wakes up

Eve’s absolute disdain for Hugo’s entire existence when he says “hey”

“Thanks for the threesome”

Villanelle’s threesome in the beginning of the episode. That whole first scene is fabulous. The slapstick of the girls interrupting them one by one. Jealous Eve. “Thank you.” “For the sex? You’re welcome!” The sexiness of “I’m not with them when I’m with them” and the emotion of “I feel things when I’m with you.” Villanelle’s robe. “I’m not dressed.” “I don’t care.” The framing. The acting. Literally every second of that scene is a masterpiece.

Villanelle having an alley cat for 2 seconds (cats > dogs fight me)

Carolyn asking the same questions for Eve and Villanelle “Any escalation, increased attention seeking, recklessness?”

That beautifully creepy shot of Carolyn in the mirror hovering over Kenny as he watches Eve leave their house.

The way Aaron drags that poor closeted gay dude for watching Gossip Girl with his boyfriend and the way Villanelle just watches on enjoying the tea as she eats her meal and pretends she doesn’t understand Russian.

Villanelle singing and Hugo bopping along.

Hugo being a bi king calling Aaron “not bad looking”

Eve “He Could Kill the Shit out of Me” Polastri getting horny for some rando psycho dude and liking him even more when she finds out he’s killed people. It’s so fresh to see her openly flirting with someone other than Niko and really marked a turning point in their relationship. It wasn’t just that Villanelle was her exception, it was that she was a completely changed person willing to flirt with a psychopath and take advantage Hugo “Human Dildo” Chambers/Turner/Tiller just because she felt like it.

In the same vein, Hugo changing and saying “Don’t watch me. I know what you’re like” and Eve being offended because he’s right lmao

“Cooped up in a hotel room with nothing to do. How will we pass the time?”

“Set up everything in here.” “Why’s it got to be in my room?” “Because I don’t want all this shit in my room.” I love selfish Eve.

I think 2x07 was actually the peak of Dark Eve. Sure she kills someone in 2x08 and again in 3x07, but she kind of regrets it both times or at least feels guilty. In 2x07 she’s taking advantage of people and manipulating them and giving in to her own desires without a care in the world. She stands up to Villanelle when she gets jealous, she ignores Kenny’s warnings because she wants to see Villanelle, she sends herself and Hugo to Rome knowing its dangerous because she wants to see Villanelle, she flirts with the murder dude, she makes the conversation with the therapist about herself because she wants to indulge, she gets impatient with the Peel case and is quick to insult Hugo every time he disagrees with her methods, she doesn’t care when Hugo gets upset about being out of the loop with the threesome (the 2x08 coffee scene where Hugo is pissy about the night before and Eve’s only concern is that her coffee is cold has strong 2x07 energy and is an honorable mention scene). She doesn’t give a fuck about anyone but herself and Villanelle the whole episode and it’s beautiful.

“What happened to her profile?!” “I don’t know, maybe you shouldn’t have fired Kenny!”

I love Hugo with my whole heart. Aside from Aaron, Hugo is the second character I see the most of myself in. I relate to his sense of humor and I think I would probably be some rich posh douchebag boy like him in an alternate dimension. I love that he gets featured so much in the episode, and it’s really his character’s climactic episode. He finally gets to succeed in his missions of banging Eve and taking down Aaron before going down in 2x08. I just like seeing my boy happy.

Villanelle having that really stylish gorgeous piano that I wish I could have.

Eve leaving those voicemails for Villanelle and Villanelle laying down, listening to them, and stroking her scar with that giddy smile on her face.

Villanelle packing her suitcase by balling everything up and throwing it in there and then acting surprised when Konstantin finds razor wire.

The directing juxtaposition of Villanelle and Aaron entering Aaron’s (STUNNING) palazzo and Eve and Hugo checking in to their grubby hotel.

The cheeky face Hugo makes when the receptionist mistakes Eve and Hugo for a couple.

The way you completely forget about Niko and Gemma in the storage unit until the very end of the episode when you least expect it and it shows you their fate as a shocking cliffhanger juxtaposed with the morning after Villaneve softness in the scene immediately before it. What a rollercoaster. What a way to end on a high note.

Gemma’s murder is probably the most gruesome murder of the show for me. Not that I enjoy gruesome murder, but it’s another aspect of the episode that really stands out. Her face in that bag? Genuinely creepy. Yet the fragile tape is funny. It’s a great example of that blend of comedy and darkness that makes this show so unique.

The pink and black title card is one of the best opening color schemes of the whole show.

“Non Voglio Piu Rivederti” by Paola Neri and 

“Vai Tu Sei Libero” by Dalida are songs I listen to regularly

This list is an unorganized hot mess and I probably missed stuff, but you get my point.

There’s not a single weak spot in the episode. From the acting, the directing, the writing, the music, the costumes, the set design, I love every moment of every scene, and I can’t believe Emerald Fennel wrote it just for me.

#killing eve #ask #anon #2x07 #wide awake

[boghermit]

every question with the number 2 in it :3

For Salem and Kaz! Unless you want me to do another character (I love doing these so that’s not a problem) 

SALEM

2. Gender identityMale (He’s transgender) 

12. Own any pets? At home he has a lot of farm animal friends, in addition to the reindeer his clan herds. 

20. Clothing / aesthetic Often wears vests, scarves, and white button up shirts / undershirts. Also wears items made of animal fur and skin. If I had to describe his aesthetic in a single phrase, it would be “bard-druid multiclass.” 

21. Fav foods(s) and drink(s) His favorite foods are baked fish, fried potatoes, and spice bread / cake. His favorite drinks are milk, sweet juice, and more milk. 

22. Fav colorVarious shades of purple 

23. Fav genre If we’re assuming music, then folk. If we’re assuming books / movies, then epics. 

24. Fav season In his homeland, spring. In the warmer areas of the world, autumn and winter. 

25. City or country? The port city in his homeland, and the university city in the southern lands. 

26. Guilty pleasureShoving his face with dessert foods during feast times 

27. What’s their family like? Who’s in it? What’s their relationship with them?Salem has a large, loving family. He has four other siblings. Excluding Salem, who leaves at some point, they all live fairly close to each other. 

28. Are they literate? Did they go to school? How long? What level? Yep, he is literate! School is pretty much mandatory where he’s from, but not formal like modern day education in my part of the world, so I’m not sure what “grade” he topped. He wanted to study outside of his country, but never got the chance. 

29. What was their childhood like? Fairly uneventful. 

32. What steps have they taken to overcome their main conflict? Currently, none really. He’s only made it worse. That’s where his story comes in.

42. What’s the dumbest thing your character’s done?He flew too close to the sun. 

52. How are you and your character the same? How are you different?Both: Depressed / paranoid as shit, both gay himbos, both have horrible taste in fashion, both too idealistic, both love potatoes, desserts, picking random garbage off of the ground, and reindeer. Differences: Salem is transitioned, Salem can stomach the smell of fresh fish, Salem isn’t even remotely as squeamish as me, Salem has more energy, Salem has musical talent, and Salem isn’t as relaxed. 

- - - 

KAZ

2. Gender identityMale (Most likely born male but it’s not set in stone. I also have trouble seeing him as cisgender) 

12. Own any pets? I really want him to have a pet bearded dragon, since I can’t have one and I love bearded dragons and lizards. However, I feel like the kind of stuff he does involves too much activity and movement for him to safely have a small animal companion with him. 

20. Clothing / aesthetic The regions he explores are usually very muggy and/or hot most of the year, so he wears very comfortable and loose clothing. He is often seen with a lot of exploring / traveling / spelunking equipment with him. He wears very comfortable shoes. If I had to describe his aesthetic in a single phrase, it would be “Indiana Jones with better self-preservation.” 

21. Fav foods(s) and drink(s) Trail mix (of course), beef steak, dishes with thick and smoky gravies / sauces. HIs favorite drink, of the top of my head, is just water. He drinks beer sometimes, but not often, and he’s very picky about his beer. 

22. Fav colorHe likes green, orange, and blue. 

23. Fav genre If we’re assuming music, then folk and bluegrass. If we’re assuming books / movies, then nonfiction and academic journals. 

24. Fav season In his homeland, deep deep winter. In everywhere else except Salem’s homeland, winter or autumn. In Salem’s homeland, spring and summer. 

25. City or country? The port city south of his hometown. He also likes exploring the more barren areas of the map when they aren’t deathly hot, because there are more ruins exposed in those areas than, for example, his home area, where there is a lot of underbrush, forest, and swampland. 

26. Guilty pleasureShopping and collecting functionally useless things. 

27.  What’s their family like? Who’s in it? What’s their relationship with them? I haven’t written much about his family, but I imagine them as pretty large and local / never moving outside of their home territory. He writes to check in on them, but doesn’t go home often. When he does go home, it’s always a warm and pleasant experience. I think his family would be very proud of his career path. 

28.  Are they literate? Did they go to school? How long? What level? He is literate but, like Salem, didn’t have a formal education. He loved / loves learning and read a lot as a kid, even outside of school. Currently he is trying to get into the largest university in the southern lands. 

29. What was their childhood like? Fairly uneventful. 

32. What steps have they taken to overcome their main conflict? I’m not sure what his main conflict is yet, beside his personal problems. 

42. What’s the dumbest thing your character’s done? When he was a youngin, he climbed into a gorge in some ruins and got stuck because he couldn’t figure out how to get back. Luckily he wasn’t down there for long and didn’t get hurt. 

52. How are you and your character the same? How are you different? Both: OCD, both have a resting bitch face, both socially inept / bad at picking up social cues / introverted, both tacky as hell, both like doing shit that they problem shouldn’t (like climbing down steep ditches and stuff), both love books, both have too much hair, both have a lot of anxious energy. Differences: Kaz has much more mental and physical energy, Kaz is agile and very physically fit, Kaz makes his horrible sense of fashion work, Kaz makes his resting bitch face work, Kaz isn’t as concerned with what other people thing of him and he has a fairly stable self image. 

#justmaghookit #long post #thank you for the asks these cheered me up #kaz #salem nummelin

[baebadook]

Some things I like to imagine because I’m weak and gay and I love this strange family.

During the summer break Steve takes all the kids to see The Goonies.

They all gorge on popcorn and soda and candy and it’s like the most rambunctious he’s ever seen them, though honestly he thinks they deserve it after everything that happened.

He does try to keep them from getting everyone kicked out, though. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t just as enamored with the plot as they are. On the ride home they’re all conked out and sleeping against each other and it’s pretty much the cutest thing Steve’s ever seen

Touches. Lots of touches, lots of hugs (cuddle piles~!!) lots of reassuring pats. They’re all just pretty grateful that everyone made it out alive...

Well, almost everyone (rip Bob, you’ll always be my superhero)

Will Byers get’s to rest and have lots of naps and meals and everything is Fine

Max gets more of the love she deserves and soon Jane and her are the best of buds and roll their eyes a lot @ the boy’s shenanigans

Steve somehow turns into the go-to babysitter guy??? Like sometimes when Joyce can’t drop a shift, and Jonathan is either out with Nancy or working himself Steve ends up being the one to look after Will

Not that he minds, really. He’s glad to help, and Will is kind and soft spoken. One would think they wouldn’t have much in common but once Steve gets him going about music or movies or something it’s like a faucet.

They end up getting on like a house on fire, it’s pretty adorable

Soon this expands on to the other kids and Steve just sighs and wonders how in the hell he got into this mess tbh

Hopper, begrudgingly teaches the teens how to shoot. He wouldn’t unless he thought it absolutely necessary, and the way he sees it it’s best if they know how to handle a gun if the adult’s aren’t there or incapacitated

Nancy is pretty much a boss at it, so she spends a lot of her time helping position Jonathan and Steve correctly and gives them tips.

Joyce and Nancy help Jane pick out some new clothes. She finds that she likes jeans and shirts and skirts and dresses just the same.

Usually in bright, happy colors. She hadn’t gotten much bright and happy things back at the lab, so she’s making up for it now.

The girls also help educate her about the changes her body will probably start to go through soon, and Hopper is eternally grateful for that honestly

Steve ends up getting a walkie-talkie, with the parties go ahead, in case they need him for something and they can’t reach him by his home phone.

He insists that they can contact him for anything- if Billy’s acting like a dick, if Dustin needs a ride, if Mike needs someone to ramble to about Jane- anything

Just???? Everyone is happy and loved and has a great time??? pls

#stranger things #steve harrington #mike wheeler #el hopper #dustin henderson #will byers #god i can't tag everyone that's just too much for me sorry #stranger things spoilers #spoilers #long post #my post

[themuller13]

We are in a pokey costumier’s workshop somewhere in the bowels of the Almeida theatre in Islington in north London. It’s not much more than a broom cupboard really, and Ben Whishaw sits on a stool amid the clothes and faceless Styrofoam wig-stands sipping a cup of tea. He seems happy.

All actors — particularly once they become successful — like to go on about how much they just love doing theatre. With Whishaw this is genuinely, honestly true. Ever since he arrived, fully formed, as Trevor Nunn’s Hamlet aged only 23, he has continued to return to the stage even as his screen career has blossomed. It’s almost impossible for him to do TV without being at least nominated for some award — Criminal Justice, The Hour, London Spy — and his film roles are as varied as they are acclaimed: John Keats in Bright Star, Keith Richards in Stoned and supporting turns in Suffragette and The Danish Girl. There are also his regular gigs as Q to Daniel Craig’s James Bond and, of course, the voice of Paddington Bear. Yet for all that here he is, backstage and back in rehearsals, drifting contentedly through the organised chaos of theatre company life.

“I love that about doing plays,” he says softly. “I love being part of a group of people, part of a troupe. It suits me. There’s no etiquette. It’s a profession that is really accepting of everyone’s oddities.” He smiles. “All sorts of people are actors.”

What sort of person is Whishaw? This has not always been an easy question to answer. Over the years a composite image has emerged of a fierce talent who is nevertheless guarded, opaque and fragile. His appearance (skinny, elfin) and manner (gentle, modest) add to this perception. Only, he explains, we’ve got the wrong idea. “Sometimes I get really annoyed because people think I’m going to be cute. And nice. And I’m not very nice sometimes. And I’m not very cute really,” he says, frowning in a way that, to be honest, is quite cute. “There’s this notion that I might be sensitive and shy. Which is partly true. But I can be grumpy and angry and irritable.”

He chuckles and drinks his tea. Still, it’s only fair to point out that these preconceptions about Whishaw are not totally unfounded. Now 36 years old, he says that during his twenties he struggled badly with performance anxiety. “I suffered a lot of awful, terrible nerves and stomach pains,” he says. “Really debilitating things. You realise that other people are dependent on you doing well. Money. All sorts of things become part of the equation. I remember not sleeping because I was so stressed.”

For a very long time he was by his own admission anxious about submitting himself to scrutiny. We knew he grew up in Hertfordshire, went to Rada and has a non-identical twin brother who doesn’t act? Beyond that? Not loads. Talking about himself is still not his favourite thing in the world. “I find interviews quite nerve- racking,” he says apologetically, but explains that he’s trying harder to not get stressed about them or to second- guess what people might make of him. He stops and regards me with what looks a lot like sympathy. “I understand,” he says. “It’s the pressure of your job to capture an essence of somebody, which I suppose is very difficult.”

He thinks he used to use his reputation for shyness as a defence mechanism. “Maybe you can end up playing a role or something?” he says. “Behaving in a certain way because you think people are going to expect that of you. And it becomes a place that’s quite comfortable because you’ve been there before. So you just trot it out again.”

One big change — perhaps the big change — came in the wake of Whishaw coming out as gay in 2011. “I definitely feel like I’m more relaxed as a person,” he says. “I don’t know if that makes you a better actor or more available or anything, but it’s certainly lovely not to have to be worrying about keeping something private. That’s a really, really good feeling. It makes me realise that I spent a long time — too long, really — in a private agony about something. About it.”

So that’s good. He’s also “become really obsessed with this amazing Buddhist nun who teaches meditation practice that is all about acceptance of whatever comes up. About being OK with things being uncomfortable.” This has also helped him to become more sanguine. “You see yourself. Your own mad thoughts, your repetitive thoughts and your own blind spots. It’s very easy to think that everyone else is nuts and you’re sane, but you’re really not,” he says cheerfully.

Madness, as it happens, permeates the play he is about to appear in. Against, by Christopher Shinn, is about a Silicon Valley tech magnate called Luke who believes he is in communication with God, who has given him the task of ending all violence on Earth. It’s a powerful work — occasionally frightening and certainly not the satire it could be — with this well-meaning but eerily detached protagonist at its centre.

“He is vaguely modelled on someone like Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos, and he’s involved in AI and rockets and thinking about the future. But before the play begins he has had this revelation and God has spoken to him and issued an instruction to him to ‘go where there is violence’. So we meet someone at the beginning of the play who is a changed man.”

Whishaw says that, to prepare for the role of Luke, he spent a lot of time on YouTube. “I did begin by watching a lot of TED Talks, people being interviewed, Elon Musk showing people around his factory. And actually, in that sense, it feels very much a play of the moment because there are so many of these people talking about mankind with a messianic, visionary zeal. But the biggest challenge is trying to understand what it feels like to really, truly believe you have been spoken to by God. That’s the thing. That’s the centre of it.”

Whishaw admits what most actors don’t: that he’s competitive when it comes to his career and getting the roles he wants. “I’m definitely competitive, yeah. And I definitely want things for myself. Yeah. Definitely. And I think that’s good.” Has he ever gone up for parts and missed out on them, and felt angry about it? Pissed off? “There are one or two things,” he says a little airily, smiling to himself. “One or two things where I’ve thought . . . I could have done that. I should have done that.”

For a long time he was down to play Freddie Mercury in a forthcoming biopic. The Queen guitarist, Brian May, had said that he hoped Whishaw would get the role, because “he’s fabulous, a real actor”, but that’s fallen through, Whishaw says. He was up for it, but he says there’s no hard feelings. “I don’t really understand what happened myself, but just one day I wasn’t doing it. And somebody else was. And it’s fine. It was just one of those funny things that happen sometimes in the way that films get made.”

Whishaw will be back in the theatre in the new year when he plays Brutus in Julius Caesar, one of the eagerly awaited productions in the first season of Nicholas Hytner’s new London start-up venue, the Bridge Theatre. He has also just finished filming Mary Poppins Returns, a sequel to the classic 1964 musical in which he plays a grown-up Michael Banks. The film is released at the end of next year. “I sing in it,” he says, but then backpedals slightly. “Well, it’s more like talking-singing. It’s Emily Blunt playing Mary Poppins and my sister, Jane, is played by Emily Mortimer. It was wonderful fun.” In fact, he says that doing these big Hollywood numbers are invariably a laugh. “I don’t think a job is more noble or valuable for not being fun. Although I think I used to.”

Playing Michael Banks was a particular pleasure given that Mary Poppins was the first film he saw. “My dad taped it off the telly. I watched it in the way that my niece and nephew watch Frozen. Over and over and over again.”

In 2012 Whishaw entered into a civil partnership with the Australian composer Mark Bradshaw. They met during the filming of Bright Star and live together in east London. “We’re quite weird. Music relaxes me, but it doesn’t relax Mark because it’s Mark’s thing,” he says, meaning that the last thing Bradshaw wants at the end of a long day of listening to music is to listen to more music. “So we always have a tussle about when I can play my music. He’ll hate me for saying that.”

Bradshaw produced the score for the latest season of Top of the Lake, the crime drama featuring Elisabeth Moss. Whishaw says that he recently gorged on it. “I just watched the whole thing in one day and what Elisabeth Moss did in it was really inspiring to me. I thought: ‘F***! That’s reminded me why this job is such a great thing to do.’ ” Was the music any good? He nods with faux-solemnity. “The music was good as well.”

Someone knocks on the door to say it’s time to go back to rehearsals. Whishaw seems slightly relieved, but he’s trying his best. “In the past I might have been very defensive about a whole load of things. And I’m telling myself not to be that,” he says. He’s still shy and sensitive and all the rest of it, but nothing like he used to be. “I’m probably a little bit more confident in myself. A bit more relaxed in myself. More relaxed in my own body.” He is, despite his protestations, every bit as cute and as nice as we imagine. He’s also a brilliant actor. All said, there are worse things to be. Against is at the Almeida, London N1 (020 7359 4404), to September 30

#Ben Whishaw

[tamboradventure]

30 Things to See and Do in Tokyo

Posted: 11/23/2019 | November 23rd, 2019

Tokyo is an incredible, massive city home to over 10 million people. It’s the capital of Japan and home to a wide array of fun, historic, and quirky attractions. From the world’s largest tuna auction and the Imperial Palace to robot restaurants and vampire cafés, Tokyo really does have something for everyone.

Whether you’re here for a short stopover or living here as an expat, you’ll be able to find plenty of ways to pass the time and get a feel for the organized chaos that is Tokyo. To help you make the most out of your trip, here are the best things to see and do in Tokyo:  

1. Visit the Fish Market

The Tsukiji Fish Market was one of the most iconic staples of the city. In 2018, the market moved to Toyosu and is now twice the size of the original Tsukiji market. In fact, the new market is the largest fish market in the entire world. While you’ll need a visitor’s pass to enter (you can get one on arrival) the pass is free (which means you’ll have more money to spend on sushi!)

There are over 600 vendors here selling fresh fish as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Gorge on sushi and marvel at the chaotic atmosphere of the world’s largest tuna market. The tuna auction here powers much of the world’s sushi supply, and it is truly a sight to be seen. You can also see a model of the largest tuna ever sold at Tsujiki — which weighed 500kg (1,100lbs!).

In addition to the new market, the old outer market at Tsukiji still has plenty of restaurants and shops. You can still head there to eat and look around, though all the action is now at Toyosu. Be sure to arrive early to beat the crowds (especially on Saturdays).

Tsukiji Fish Market: 5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo, [phone]. Admission is free. Toyosu Fish Market: 6 Chome-6-2 Toyosu, Koto, [phone]. Open Monday-Saturday from 5am-5pm, though most shops don’t open until 7am. Admission is free.  

2. Explore by the Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace is the official home of the Emperor of Japan. It’s a terrific spot to learn about Japan’s history and culture. Formerly Edo Castle, the palace was built in the 15th century, and some of the walls and moats from that time are still in use to this day. When the Emperor moved from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1869, he took Edo for his new palace and renamed it the Imperial Palace.

You can’t go inside (or even get super close), however, the building itself is both regal and serene and a great place to relax or snap some photos. The palace is surrounded by beautiful grounds and a park, and there’s a moat around the massive stone walls. Admission to the grounds is free.  

3. Experience a Tea Ceremony

No visit to Japan is complete without experiencing a traditional tea ceremony. Tea was brought to Japan in the 9th century by a Buddhist monk and by the 12th century, the ceremony began to take shape. While these ceremonies are usually long (not to mention expensive), there are plenty of budget-friendly options for anyone looking to experience one without breaking the bank. Here are a few budget-friednly tea ceremonies in Tokyo worth checking out:

Kyoto-kan (500 JPY per person, Yanmar Tokyo Building 1F 2-1-1)

Nadeshiko (2,700-4,400 JPY per person, 2-7-24-2F Asakusa)

The Way of Tea (5,500 JPY per person, Coredo Muromachi 3 3F)

  4. Relax in Ueno Park

Ueno Park is a relaxing and beautiful spot to relax for a few hours (or an entire day if you’re not in a rush). It’s a serene spot to photograph the many cherry trees that line the park (which blossom in April and are a huge tourist draw) or to have a picnic on a sunny summer afternoon.

There are also a few important things to see in the park as well. Here are a few sights in the park you should make time to visit:

Tokyo National Museum – Established in 1872, this museum is located in the north end of the park and houses one of the world’s largest collections of art and artifacts from Asia, particularly Japan. 13-9 Uenokoen, Taito, [phone], tnm.jp. Open daily 9:30am-5pm (8pm on most Fridays). Admission is 620 JPY.

Tosho-gu Shrine – This is a 17th-century Shinto shrine with stunning gold doors and ornate carvings. 9-88 Uenokoen, Taito, [phone], uenotoshogu.com/en. Open daily 9am-5:30pm. Admission is free, though to go further into the shrine, you’ll have to pay 500 JPY.

National Museum of Western Art – Opened in 1959, this is one of the only art galleries in the country to focus on Western art. The collection is comprised of 5,000 pieces, dating from the Renaissance all the way to the 20th century. There are works by Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, and Picasso as well as sculptures dating back to the 14th century.7-7 Uenokoen, [phone] , nmwa.go.jp. Open Tuesday-Sunday 9:30am-5:30pm (8pm on Fridays). Admission is 500 JPY for adults, 250 for college students, and free for seniors and anyone under 18.

  5. Eat at the Robot Restaurant

This restaurant, literally called Robot Restaurant, is an absolute sensory overload. it has lasers, robots, monsters, music, dancing and much, much more! Sure, it may be a bit of a tourist trap (aka it’s not cheap), but it is an epic dining experience unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It’s definitely worth the price if you want to do something completely out of the ordinary — and something decidedly Japanese.

1 Chome-7-1 Kabukicho, [phone], shinjuku-robot.com/pc. There are three performances a day on weekdays starting at 4:45pm, with afternoon matinees on weekends.  

6. Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum

This small museum used to be the official residence of the Prince and Princess Asaka. Built in 1933, the building itself was influenced by the art deco movement in Paris. The prince had studied in Paris and wanted to bring the art deco style to Japan, hence the building’s style and decorations. In 1983, the residence transitioned into a museum and is now home to a rotating series of modern art exhibitions. See their website for information on what exhibits are available.

5-21-9 Shirokanedai, [phone], teien-art-museum.ne.jp/en. Open daily 10am-6pm. Admission is 200 JPY, with discounts available for students, children, and seniors.  

7. Stroll Along the Meguro River

The Meguro River weaves almost five miles through the city and makes for a magnificent stroll. There’s a path with a bit of green space that follows the water, so plenty of locals walk or exercise there. In the spring, you’ll be able to see a lot of cherry blossoms as you walk along the banks of the river as well.

While the walk is nice at any time of year, late March to early April is when the cherry blossoms will be in bloom. While there will be a lot of people then (cherry blossom viewing is a national pastime) you’ll be rewarded with some beautiful scenery in the heart of the metropolis.  

8. Check out Asakusa

If you want to check out some of Tokyo’s historic and culturally-significant religious sites, be sure to spend some time wandering around Asakusa. Two places that I’d suggest you visit are:

Senso-ji – This is Tokyo’s most popular (and arguably most famous) temple. It’s beautifully painted and sits in a scenic spot near a pagoda and the Kaminari Gate. There’s a huge statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, inside the main hall. It’s busy during the day so aim to visit in the evening to beat the crowds. 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, [phone], senso-ji.jp. The grounds are open 24/7, though the temple itself is open daily 6am-5pm. Admission is free.

Asakusa Shrine – This is a Shinto shrine located near Senso-ji. It’s much more peaceful and less busy than Senso-ji as well. It was built during the Edo period and miraculously survived the air raids of World War II. 2 Chome-3-1 Asakusa, Taito, [phone], asakusajinja.jp. Open daily 9am-4:30pm. Admission is free.

  9. Have Dinner with Ninjas

For another unique dining experience, head to Ninja Akasaka. It’s a novelty ninja-themed restaurant designed like an Edo-era building. The waitstaff are clothed in stereotypical all-black garb and trained in all sorts of simple tricks, sleight of hand, and illusions. You’ll order off old scrolls while being entertained by the skillful tricks of your server. The food isn’t anything special it’s super fun and the atmosphere is unique.

Tokyu Plaza Akasaka, [phone], ninjaakasaka.com. Open daily 5pm-10:30pm (9:45pm on Sundays)  

10. Drink in Golden Gai

If you are looking for something interesting to do at night, this alley of backstreet bars is a cool spot to start at. There isn’t much going on here during the day, but come sundown, these zigzag hallways and closet-sized beer rooms are filled with interesting people and cheap drinks. There are 6 alleys connected by narrow passageways only wide enough for 1 or 2 people, making it a rather unique place to start your night out on the town. It’s located in Shinjuku.  

11. Visit the National Art Center

Opened in 2007, this museum and gallery doesn’t actually have a permanent collection but rather houses a never-ending series of temporary exhibitions, from impressionism to modern art (the Monet exhibition that was held here in 2007 was the most visited exhibition in the world). There are upwars ofr 60+ exhibitons each year so check their website to see what is currently being shown.

7 Chome-22-2 Roppongi, [phone], nact.jp. Open Wednesday-Monday 10am-5:30pm. Admission varies by exhibit.  

12. Eat Below the Girders

Not far from Ginza is the Yurakucho neighborhood. Below the elevated train tracks at Yurakucho Station is a 700m-long stretch of restaurants and bars. There are wine bars, beer pubs, and casual restaurants filled with businessmen. If you want to get a sense of local city life, this is a good neighborhood to explore after the workday is over.  

13. Superhero Go-Karting

If you’re a video game fan (or just want to do something different), check out Street Kart. This is a real-life Mario Bros. go-kart company that lets you dress up and race around the city. As long as you have an international driving permit (which you can get if you have a valid driver’s license), you can take part, racing around the city dressed up as Mario, Yoshi, or even Spiderman.

4-12-9 Sotokanda, [phone], maricar.com/en/akihabara.html. Open daily 10am-10pm. The course will take 1-2 hours and costs 9,000 JPY per person. There are multiple locations around the city.  

14. Check out a Sento

A sento is a traditional (and communal) Japanese public bathhouse. In the past, private baths were rare as accommodations in Japan are notoriously small. While private baths are much more commo today, sentos remaining important cultural hubs. The Japanese are not shy in sentos so you need to be comfortable with nudity! They are typically separated by gender. A budget-friendly sento will cost you just under 1,000 JPY. Just keep in mind that many have rules against tattoos.  

15. Visit a Quirky Café

Tokyo has all sorts of weird and wonderful cafés. Monster cafés, cat cafés, dog cafés, owl cafés, vampire cafés, and much more! If you can think of it, there is probably a café for it somewhere in the city. If you’re looking for something unusual to do (or just want a place to relax after exploring) then take a look and see what weird and quirky cafés are near you (they’re all around the city so you never have to go far to find one!).

Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

Kawaii Monster Café

Vampire Café

Christon Café (Christian-themed café)

Dog Heart (dog café)

Cat Café Calico

  16. See Shibuya Crossing

This is generally considered to be the busiest (and most famous) intersection in the world. This nearby metro station transports 2.4 million people per day and it’s estimated that upwards of 2,500 cross it at a time during rush hour. At night, the interaction is buzzing. Futuristic bright lights line the streets, with billboards playing videos and ads. It has a sci-fi feel to it (it kind of reminds me of Times Square on steroids).

While you’re here, make sure to visit the statue between Shibuya Station and the intersection. It’s a tribute to Hachiko, a loyal dog who waited for its master every day for 9 years, not knowing his owner had passed away. The dog is something of a national icon in Japan, and the story was made famous by the film Hachi: A Dog’s Tale.  

17. Stroll Around Shimokitazawa

Brimming with vintage shops, this Bohemian neighborhood is often compared to New York’s East Village. It’s a great example of the quieter side of Tokyo and offers some more relaxing streets to wander and window shop. Whether you’re looking to shop or just want to take in the scene, this is a cool neighborhood to explore for a couple hours.  

18. Gaze at Mt. Fuji from Hakone

If you want to take a day trip (or a multi-day trip) from the city, consider going to Hakone. It’s located just over an hour from Tokyo and is one of the best places to get away from the city, relax for a few days, and take in the view of Mount Fuji. There are numerous guesthouses in the area, many with their own private onsen (natural hot springs), making it a great place to go for a romantic getaway or if you just want to pamper your yourself.

If you have the Japan Rail Pass you can get here for free.  

19. Hang with the Harajuku Girls

Harajuku is an electric and quirky part of town known for its fashion, vintage stores, and cosplay shops. As you wander, you’ll often see “Harajuku girls” walking around town in unique clothing and colorful hairstyles (imagine a 1990s Gwen Stefani video come to life). In addition to all of the avant-garde fashion, there are also tons of trendy restaurants in the area as well. And there is also a monthly Harajuku Fashion Walk which highlights the costumed cos-players of the city as they parade around. For specific dates, check out the group’s Twitter account (@harajuku_fw).  

20. Watch a Sumo Match

Kokugikan is Japan’s most famous sumo wrestling arena. It hosts tournaments three times each year, all of which draw huge crowds. Sumo wrestling (the kind we are familiar with today) dates back to the 17th century, though its origins date back even further. Even to this day, it’s still one of the most popular traditions in the country. If you’re in town at the right time, this is a must-do (even if you’re not a sports fan, it’s a unique and rare opportunity). Tickets sell out quickly so be sure to book early.

1 Chome-3-2-8 Yokoami, Sumida, [phone], sumo.or.jp/kokugikan. Ticket prices vary, but expect to pay around 2,200 JPY.  

21. Watch Traditional Japanese Theatre

Kabuki theatre is a traditional form of Japanese performance involving dance and drama. The costumes and makeup are heavily stylized, making for a very visual performance. The Kabukizaka Theatre, located in Ginza, is the best place to see these incredible and power performances. You can purchase tickets for an entire show or just one act if you’re not ready to commit to a longer performance (they’re in Japanese and usually last a few hours).

4 Chome-12-15 Ginza, [phone], kabuki-za.co.jp. Performances are held almost daily. Check the website for the most up-to-date schedule. Expect to pay at least 1,000 JPY for a single-act ticket.  

22. Visit Daibutsu (the Great Buddha)

For another day trip, head to Kamakura. Here you’ll find a 13m bronze statue of Buddha that was built in 1252. The statue was initially constructed within a temple, but the temple was washed away — on several occasions — by storms.

Today, the statue now sits in the open air (along with a massive pair of straw sandals that belong to the statue). You can even go inside the statue itself (there isn’t much to see, but it’s still kind of neat to be able to step into a massive statue of that size and importance). The journey only takes about an hour so it’s a great destination for a half-day or full-day excursion.

4 Chome-2-28 Hase, Kamakura, [phone], kotoku-in.jp. Open daily 8am-5:30pm. Admission is 200 JPY. If you have the Japan Rail Pass you can get here for free.  

23. Visit the Ghibli Museum

If you’re a fan of the award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki’s work (he’s the genius behind Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Princess Mononoke), then you’ll want to check out this amazing museum. The exhibition was actually designed by Miyazaki himself and is an immersive experience that any film buff will appreciate. The museum hosts a new short film every month, only available to visitors. While a visit here won’t take up a whole day, it’s not in a very central location so you’ll need to plan accordingly (it’s about an hour from downtown Tokyo).

1 Chome-1-83 Shimorenjaku, [phone], ghibli-museum.jp. Open Wednesday-Monday 10am-6pm. Admission is 1,900 JPY for adults, with discounts available for youth and children. There are limited tickets available each day so book in advance.  

24. Get Touristy at Tokyo Disneyland

I’m a sucker for Disney attractions! This is a fun choice for anyone traveling with children, but also for any adults who just love amusement parks. Opened in 1983, it has seven themed areas to explore and is the third most visited theme park in the world. it has a lot of the same famous rides you’ll find at Disney World such as Splash Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, and the nauseating Mad Tea Cup Ride.

1-1 Maihama, Urayasu, [phone], tokyodisneyresort.jp/tdl. Open daily 8am-10pm. Admission is 7,400 JPY for adults and 4,800-6,400 JPY for children, depending on age.  

25. Hike Mount Mitake

Located just over an hour from Tokyo is Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park. The park covers 1,250 square kilometers of rolling hills, mountains, and lush forests. There are plenty of hiking trails, though you can also take a cable car to the top and then hike to the shrine that sits on the peak, some 930m above sea level. It’s a 30-minute walk to the shrine from the peak/top of the cable car. From there, you can hike for an hour to a small valley with two picturesque waterfalls or continue on to Mount Otake, which is about 2 hours from the summit of Mount Mitake.  

26. Stroll through Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

This park spans over 144 acres and is home to some 20,000 trees. Most of the original park was destroyed in World War II, however, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1949. During spring, the park is one of the best spaces to see cherry blossoms. My favorite part is the Japanese landscape garden, which has several ponds with bridges and islands. It’s a peaceful little oasis within the hustle and bustle of the city.

11 Naitomachi, Shinjuku, [phone], env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen/index.html. Open Tuesday-Sunday 9am-4pm. Admission is 200 JPY.  

27. Visit the Tokyo Tower

Built in 1957, Tokyo Tower resembles the Eiffel Tower (though the Tokyo Tower is taller, standing 333m). It’s made entirely of steel and you can pay to go all the way to the top floor to take in the view. While the views are amazing, the main observation deck offers one that’s just as good for almost half the price.

4 Chome-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato, [phone], tokyotower.co.jp. Open daily 9am-11pm. Admission is 900 JPY for the main deck or 1,600 JPY for the top.  

28. Visit the Samurai Museum

No trip to Japan would be complete without learning about samurai. While they were known for their skills in combat, there was much more to the culture than just mastering the sword. This museum does a great job of illuminating life as a samurai and it also has some incredible displays of traditional weapons and armor (some of which you can even try on)

Kabukicho 2-25-6, [phone], samuraimuseum.jp/en. Open daily 10:30am-9pm. Admission is 1,900 JPY per person. You can explore the museum on your own or in a group tour, which are conducted every 30 minutes.  

29. Walk across the Rainbow Bridge

This is the city’s most popular bridge and offers some lovely views of both sides of Tokyo Bay. Built in 1993, the bright lights up at night with rainbow colors — hence the name. It makes for a pleasant walk during the day or at night if you need to stretch your legs after binging on sushi.  

30. Drinks at the Park Hyatt

New York Bar is the iconic bar from Sofia Coppola’s 2003 film Lost in Translation. Located on the 52nd floor, the bar actually lives up to the hype of the film. The atmosphere is classy, the drinks are great, and the view is absolutely stunning. There is live jazz every night, and while there is a cover charge (around 2,500 JPY), it’s definitely worth it if you’re looking to splash out.

3-7-1-2 Nishishinjuku, [phone], hyatt.com. Open Sunday-Wednesday 5pm-12am and Thursday-Saturday 5pm-1am.

***

Tokyo is one of those cities that really does have something for everyone. Nightlife, delicious food, accessible nature, insightful museums, art galleries, relaxing parks — you name it, you can find it here. But where the city really shines is with its quirky offerings. You’ll find tons of weird and wonderful restaurants, cafés, and activities here — things you wont find anywhere else in the world.

While the city isn’t the cheapest in Asia (though there are lots of ways to save money here it offers visitors the opportunity to experience life in one of the most electric, futuristic cities in the world. And, to me, that’s worth the price.

Book Your Trip to Japan: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the most comprehensive hostel inventory out there. If you want to stay in a hotel or guesthouse, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. My favorite places to stay in Tokyo are:

Khaosan Tokyo Kabuki – This is one of the best hostels in the country. The staff go above and beyond, each room has its own bathroom, and it’s in a great location to help you explore the city.

Sheena and Ippei – This hostel is super homey, and the owners are both helpful and knowledgable. The lounge is open to everyone, and you can enjoy appetizers and sake on the weekends.

Hostel Chapter Two Tokyo – This is a small, family-run hostel in Asakusa. There’s a great view of the river and the dorms seem new and immaculately clean.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Looking for more travel tips for Japan Check out my in-depth Japan travel guide for more ways to save money, costs, tips on what to see and do, suggested itineraries, reading, packing lists, and much, much more!

Photo credit: 1 – AlexTalmaciu, 4 – Nick Turner, 5 – shiranai, 6 – Liz Mc, 9 – Michael Mortola, 12- Ian Kennedy, 16 – HeatherLWilliams

The post 30 Things to See and Do in Tokyo appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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#IFTTT #Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

[chaifootsteps]

SO LET’S TALK ABOUT THEM THERE LIONS.

SPOILERS AHEAD.

THE GOOD

I fucking adored this movie. I was hyped for it ever since we learned it would be a thing; I was hyped for it ever since I was five and wondered what this movie that I loved would look like with real animals. I loved it for exactly what it was and I’m thrilled it’s making all kinds of money. You all whine too much, go sit in syrup.

No, real lions are not particularly expressive, and it was a conscious choice by the director not to make an exception here, and if you’ve ever loved a 90s movie where they just dubbed voices over real animals walking around, you don’t get to complain.

The body language is basically fine. There’s plenty of pinned ears and bared teeth and one moment I absolutely loved, when Mufasa’s coming to chew out Scar for missing the presentation, and Scar indolently scent marks some rocks by rubbing against them, then flops down to clean his paw. When Simba’s rescued in the gorge, his jaws are parted and his tongue is barely sticking out as he pants shallowly. I loved Rafiki’s jerky little ape movements and Zazu’s bird movements and Timon’s plopping on his live action meerkat ass and scratching his crotch.

Chiwetel Ejiofor is just fantastic as Scar. He’s scheming and sniveling and occasionally frantic. There’s a moment in the middle of Be Prepared when he breaks from his slow, menacing speak-singing and just starts ranting, and oh, it’s excellent. And I get that not everyone’s going to like the fact that he’s not gay, nor is he after Nala, but instead bitter over being rejected by Sarabi, but it was a new take and I liked it.

Shenzi. Doesn’t matter which movie you’re in -- long live the motherfucking queen.

I was never the biggest Timon and Pumbaa fan, and I’m just going to say it, I honestly prefer them this go around. They’re incredibly fun, hilariously cynical, but mostly, meerkats are just inherently funny animals. 

Baby Pumbaa. There was an audible ripple of “awww” in the theater I was in.

Sarabi leading the charge in driving off the hyenas early in the movie. In general, this movie did right by the lionesses.

Oh, the ghost scene, the ghost scene, the ghost scene.

One of my minor problems with this scene in the original is that, as amazing as it is, Mufasa’s all business and basically just there to tell Simba to get his shit together and go home and do his job. Here, we lose out on “You have forgotten me.” “No! How could I?”, which was disappointing, but that’s okay, because...

“Please, don’t leave me again!” “I never left you, and never will.”

GAH.

THE BAD

James Earl Jones. I shit you not -- he’s by far the weakest actor here, and don’t think I enjoy having to say that. The aforementioned “remember” scene is lovely, but prior to that, there’s not a single line where he sounds like he gives a shit one way or the other. 

Seriously. Not when he’s lecturing his son, not when he’s going to rescue him from the stampede, not when he’s dangling from the ledge and about to die. And I was so jazzed for his role, too.

I would have liked even more body language, especially for the cub scenes. The whites of eyes, heaving flanks, and more flattened ears.

There were a couple of little things that added a lot that got left out. Simba curling up underneath Mufasa’s lifeless paw, for one, and then huddling against Scar in search of comfort even as Scar spills poison into his ear.

When Timon and Pumbaa find Simba, in the original, they have to carry him bodily out of the desert, get him in the shade, and splash water on him. Here, he just gets up and starts walking and talking and singing, which is jarring when you’re in full blown realism mode. I was waiting for him to dunk his head in the water and suck it down like the dehydrated little thing he was and was disappointed when this never happened.

Nala after they reunite. She’s urgent first and foremost, then they squeeze in Can You Feel the Love Tonight, and as soon as that’s over, she’s immediately back to the matter at hand and it’s all kind of a mess.

“Tell me it’s not true.” The lionesses somehow believing that a tiny cub could have murdered Mufasa was always a flaw and I hoped they’d fix it, but apparently not.

THE UGLY

When Simba races back to Pride Rock, instead of the amazing music and visuals, they’ve got Beyoncé singing some nonsense pop song that doesn’t matter.

TL;DR: Lion King 2019 is gorgeous, charming as hell, and provides a take on The Lion King that some of us were always curious to see. It’s not the original, it doesn’t touch the original, and that’s okay. It’s just a fun, nostalgic exercise that’ll make you appreciate the original all the more.

#Lion King #The Lion King #TLK #Lion King 2019 #actual blog post

[sherlockkinkmeme]

Prompt #219

Signal Boost Prompt: BBC, Sherlock/Various, Moriarty

AU where instead of a consulting criminal Moriarty is the internet’s most celebrated fanfic writer And he aggressively writes real person fic about Sherlock with every single person in his life and absolutely refuses to stop. Sherlock becomes infamous because everyone is reading it and it’s really cramping his untouchable-virgin style. [Jim Moriarty, well-known fic writer and pt criminal mastermind is thereal_moriarty, or alternatively, there is no Jim, or maybe there is but this is someone else entirely. Take your pick. ] Prompt titles and descriptions as follows:

“His Archenemy” by thereal_moriarty, featuring Sherlock Holmes/Mycroft Holmes, explicit, incest, chan, D/s dynamics

“You Are Important to Me” by thereal_moriarty, featuring Sherlock Holmes/Molly Cooper, het, fluff, smut, PWP

“Turn Around and Don’t Even Breathe” by thereal_moriarty, featuring Sherlock Holmes/Philip Anderson, smut, hate sex, angst, toplock

“Correct Me, Doctor” by thereal_moriarty, featuring Sherlock Holmes/John Watson also ft. Sherlock’s riding crop, explicit, crack, fetish

“Not Your Housekeeper” by thereal_moriarty, featuring Sherlock Holmes/Martha Hudson, roleplay, age difference, humour, milf

“Find Yourself Another Friend” by thereal_moriarity. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Sally Donovan, enemies to lovers, handcuffs, rough sex, shame kink, dirty talk.

“A Quick Cup o’ Joe” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Mr. Chatterge, coffee shop AU, casual sex, hook ups, bathroom sex.

“It Only Matters If You’re Caught” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Sarah Sawyer, infidelity, cheating with your best friend’s girlfriend, seduction.

“I’m The Only Drug You Need” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Jefferson Hope, car sex, non con, drugged sex.

“Welcome Home” by thereal_morarity. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/The Empty Hearse Fan Club, gang bang, group sex, orgy, where do all these limbs go.

“Water Water Everywhere” by thereal_morarity. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/The Waters Family Gang. Polyamory, group sex, relationship negotiations, lots of cuddles.

“In My Free Time” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Anthea-his-brother’s-PA. Secret relationship, silent sex, caught in a compromising position.

“Light Me Up, Doctor” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Doctor Stapleton. Sex as an experiment, sex in a laboratory, cunnilingus, unexpectedly hot clinical talk.

“Bunny My Honey” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Bluebell. Fluffy animal as a masturbatory aid, frottage, sensuality.

“Let Me Be Your Hero” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Bombing Victim #2. Rescue turns romantic, hero worship, pity sex.

“Just Platonic” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Kitty Riley. Bathroom sex, sex to prove heterosexuality, sinks and mirrors will be shattered along with Kitty’s belief that Sherlock is gay.

“I’ve Been A Bad Boy” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Prosecuting Solicitor in TRF. Suit kink, Dom/Sub, Sub Sherlock, verbal orders, boot licking, rough sex.

“Only You Can Help Me” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Defending Solicitor in TRF. Rescue kink, role play, power exchange, Sherlock just wants to be taken care of, handjobs.

“You Must Find Me Guilty” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Judge from TRF. Wig kink, blowjob under black robe, hiding under the bench to tease your lover, public sex kink, blowjob during a trial.

“Come Fly With Me” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Lady Carmichael/The TAB pilot. Time travel, sex on a plane, Mile High Club, threesome M/F/F, a new meaning to the term COCKpit, selfcest, flight instruments as sex toys.

“Precision” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Soo Lin. Museum conservation tools as sex toys, sex at work, tickling, brushing, paint and solvent smells as aphrodisiacs.

“I’m In Charge Here” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/DI Dimmock. Sex in a murdered man’s bed, restraints, gags, spanking, acrobatic sex.

“It Happened One Night” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Henry Knight. Sherlock comforts a terrified Henry, comfort sex, sex with the lights on, sex with the curtains open, exhibitionism, making animal growls during sex.

“Around The World Twice In A Week” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Sebastian Wilkes. Hatesex, revenge sex, pissing contest, not literal pissing, edging, seeing who can hold out longer, dry orgasm, repeat hatesex.

“And That’s Coming From Me” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Billy Wiggins. Drugged out sex, sex multiple times in a day, chafing, surreal sex due to hallucinating, inability to attain orgasm, because drugs, rimming, blowjobs.

“The Original” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/The Museum Curator from TGG. Partially clothed sex, hate sex, not really hate sex more contempt sex, sex in a museum, biting, scratching, swearing, dirty talk, accents as aphrodisiacs.

“Meat Market” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Tom The Meat Dagger Guy. Role play- pretend meeting in a gay bar, mutual masterbation, phallus worship, Dom Sherlock, blow job, humiliation kink.

“Text Alert” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Dave Mary’s Ex. Casual sex, being summoned for sex, Come Anyway, top Sherlock, rough sex, ball gag, blindfold, flail.

“You Gotta Have Faith” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Faith Smith - the real Faith Smith not Euros-as-Faith. Sex in a morgue, inappropriate use of stainless steel autopsy table, cane as a sex toy, caning, blood play, scalpel​ play.

“Make Me Wear The Hat” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Janine Donlevy. Extended sex romp, cosplay, The Deerstalker as a sex toy, copious amounts of lube, spanking with the hat, exhibitionism.

“Not My Department” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Greg Lestrade. Hangover, sex in a jail cell, food play, gorging on donuts, making a porn movie on a smartphone.

“Nicely” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Mary Morstan. Gun play, power exchange, Dom Mary, Sub Sherlock, blood play, scar kink, humiliation kink.

“Finger Play” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Eurus Holmes. Hand holding, twining fingers, music kink, fingering, multiple costume changes, wig kink, so much fingering.

“Lost Weekend” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Billy the Innkeeper/Gary the Innkeeper. Cross Keys Inn, threesome M/M/M, three in a double room, sugared coffee flavored lube, aftercare, snoring.

“Ten-Hut” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Major Barrymore/Corporal Lyons. Military kink, threesome M/M/M, following orders, bottomlock, sex in an office, uniform kink.

“A Funny Thing Happened On The Way Out” by thereal_moriarty. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Doctor Frankland. Elevator sex, frottage, height difference, lab coat kink, hallucinagetic gas, sex under the influence, dubious consent due to influence of drug.

The Drugs One” by thereal_morarity. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Isaac Whitney. Sex in a drug den, drugged out sex, sex on a filthy mattress while other junkies watch , speedballs, fumbling sex, inability to orgasm due to drugs.

“What To Do About John” by thereal_morarity. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Ella Thompson. Dubious consent due to Doctor-Patient relationship, sex on a set of matching leather and chrome chairs, sex in an office, virgin Sherlock, sex lessons, sex therapy, first time.

"I’m Late For Cath” by thereal_morarity. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Cath (Mary Morstan’s friend. Sherlock being Sherlock, sounding, piss kink, catheters, golden shower, nurse-patient roleplay, bad BDSM ettiquet.

"Kiss Me Kate” by thereal_morarity. Featuring Sherlock Holmes/Kate Irene’s Assistant/Irene Addler. Three-way M/F/F, Dom Kate, Sub Sherlock, Switch Irene, blindfold, chains, restraints, makeup kink, whipping, riding crop, injections, hallucinations.

#sherlockkinkmeme #BBC #sherlock/various #ficwriter!Moriarty #prompt contains various kinks and triggers #collaborative fic #thereal_moriarty #prompt219 #jun2017 #unfilled #filled #wip #ongoing fills

[artificialqueens]

Now With Moving Parts (Trixya) - OkayMary

Trixie and Katya are neighbors and best friends. Trixie is celebrating her 13th birthday, trying to impress the popular girls. When she makes a wish that comes true, she struggles with her new life while trying to hold on to her past.

Guys it’s basically just 13 Going on 30 but gay.

Read and Comment on AO3

Picture day, 2002. Trixie sat timidly on a stool in the middle of her school’s cafeteria. She was placed in front of a backdrop painted to look like the sky. She had her heart set on wearing her favorite pink velour tracksuit that she worked hard to bedazzled a T on all by herself. Her mom, however, had other plans. She made her wear this itchy pink and purple striped sweater her grandma knitted her for last Christmas.

The fact that she had to change her outfit last minute left her no time to do her hair. She had to settle for her day old curls that hung around her face, slightly frizzy and flat in some spots. She pinned back some of the front pieces, just keep it out of her face.

“Okay little lady, I’ll take your ticket.” The camera man said walking up to Trixie. He adjusted her seating and posture before returning to his camera. “Now, look right up at the camera, okay? Nice smile. Here we go Tracy 1, 2…”

“It’s Trixie.”

“Look over here, Tracy”

“It’s Trixie!” –CLICK! And just like that, Trixie’s school photo was taken.

“Oh god, I can’t be remembered looking like this.” Trixie grabbed her photos from the table outside the cafeteria. She’s looks mad, her hair was wild and the sweater looked just as itchy as it felt. Not really the Barbie dream girl she was hoping to look like.

She started walking down the hall, sulking, when a small and energetic blonde came up behind Trixie with camera in hand. She slung her arm around Trixie’s shoulder, pulled her close and took a photo of the two of them.

“Smile Trix!”

“Ugh, Katya, no more photos today.” Trixie hid her photos against her body and looked down in shame, not even wanting to ask Katya about her photos.

Katya wore a shirt that said “I’m a Woman’ on it and red pants with white pinstripes. Her long blonde hair cascaded down in effortless waves. She’s so pretty without trying and it makes Trixie so mad and even jealous sometimes.

“Oh come on, it’s your 13th birthday. You’re never going to be this young and perky again. We gotta document it.” Katya is bouncing next to Trixie as they stand in front of lockers lining the school hall.

The hall clears a path and a group of girls make their way toward Trixie and Katya.

“Hey Farrah” Trixie says to the girl at the front of the pack. She’s like a tiny Christina Aguilera. If she could do a full Dirrty look, Trixie’s sure she would but they’re in 8th grade and not even Farrah is that bold.

“Hi Mattel. So how’d yours come out?” She replied, gesturing toward the photo in Trixie’s hands.

“Oh yeah, can’t say they’re my favorite.” Trixie keeps the photos hidden against her body.

“Yeah, mine aren’t so hot either. I could do better”

“Shut up Farrah, you look like a model!” One of her minions, Valentina, reply.

“Trix, I’ll meet you out front.” Katya rolled her eyes and pushed through the crowd. Katya may be just as pretty as the popular girls but she would never be a part of their group. They thought she was weird and Katya thought they we’re basic robots.

“Anyway, Trixie could I talk to you a tiny sec?” Farrah pulled Trixie away from the rest of the group.

“So I told Bob that me and the Dolls were going to your party and he said he wanted to come with. It’s really too bad we can’t make it because we really wanted to be there, didn’t we girls” Farrah turns to her friends who are all nodding in agreement.

“It’s just, Ms. Davis is really up our butts with this group project and Bob is going to help so he can’t go either.”

“Well, if it’s really that much of a problem, I could write your report for you.” Trixie offers up.

“Thanks gorge!” Farrah waves and walks away with her friends in tow.

Trixie met Katya outside of the school and they started their walk home together, just like they do everyday.

 “Honestly Trixie, I can’t believe you invited that witch and her flying monkeys to your party.”

 “Katya, they’re kinda my friends. Or at least one day I’ll be part of that group so maybe you should start being nicer.”

 “Gross, I will absolutely do no such thing. They don’t appreciate my amazing fashion sense or my stunning resemblance to Julia Roberts so they’re basically dead to me.”

 “I just want to be one of the cool girls Katya, can you just let me have that?” The two them stop in front of their homes that sat side by side.

 “They are unoriginal Trix, like dumb, poorly programed robots. You are the cool one.” Katya pulled a bag of candy out of her jacket pocket, “Would you like some Razzles?”

 “Will you leave me alone if I say yes” Trixie giggled and held her hand out.

 Katya poured some Razzles into Trixie’s hand before crossing the drive way toward her house.

 “Da svidania!” Katya yelled from her yard while snapping one last photo of Trixie.

 “Au revoir!” Trixie replied before heading into her house next door.

Trixie sat in her mirror applying more pink blush to her cheeks, double checking the wings of her eyeliner and making sure her curls sat just right around her face. She had Dolly Parton playing on her TV in the background, bopping about to the music as she got ready for her party. Maybe a little inspired by Dolly, Trixie stuffed a handful of tissues down the top of her sparkly pink dress to make her boob look like they actually exist.

 “Hey, sweetie! Happy birthday!” Her mom barges in her room with balloons. How’s your new life as a teenager? Is this blush? Are you wearing a bra?”

 “God mom, you’re being so embarrassing! Get out!” Trixie shouted before flopping herself face down into her bed. “I look rotted. I hate my life.”

 Trixie’s mom sits next to Trixie on her bed, “Bee, you’re not rotted, whatever that means. You’re beautiful in your own way. Plus, you’re still young. You have time to grow.”

 Trixie sat up and grabbed the magazine sitting at the foot of her bed, “I want to look like these women mom. Look, ‘Thirty, Flirty and Thriving. Why the 30s are the best years of your life’. I need to be older to be beautiful and successful. For god sakes, Dolly didn’t even write Jolene or I Will Always Love You until she was like 28! I just wish I was older.“

 “Well, you will be, honey but you just turned 13 so let’s get through that first.

Trixie finished setting up for her party down in the basement and turned on some music as she waited for her guests to arrive. Waterloo by ABBA started playing and she broke out into a full performance, choreography and all.

ABBA is her mom’s favorite band so she grew up dancing around to them daily. There was something about their 1974 hit single Waterloo that spoke to Trixie. Her whole childhood, Trixie not only made Katya watch her perform it constantly, but she also made her learn a choreographed dance with finger points and leg kicks. It was her happy song.

Katya came down the stairs carrying a huge cardboard box with a neat pink ribbon around it. She stopped and smiled at Trixie’s dancing before making herself known.

Katya was the only person besides family that Trixie would sing in front. Sure she wanted to be a singer one day. She just watched Kelly Clarkson win American Idol and was sure that would be her one day but for now she kept it under wraps.

“Happy birthday! I come barring gifts and yes, I am part of the gift, your welcome”

Trixie helps Katya with the box, setting it down on a near by table. “What is it?”

Katya’s eyes light up, “You know how you always wanted a Barbie Dream House?” Trixie nodded as she lifted the box, “Well, I decided to make you your own Trixie Dream House! Now you can fully live your Barbie fantasy!”

“You made all of this?” Trixie was in awe of the work put in to this gift, “And it’s not like a haunted house with like baby hands or creepy witches?”

“Yes! See, that’s you in your bubble bath, writing a song. And there’s your bedroom, pink of course, with a massive stereo and every Yee Haw record ever made.” Katya points out every little detail of the house.

“And there’s that bum Paul Rudd just loafing on the couch and there I am, to make sure that no funny business happens.” Trixie laughs at Katya’s over the top explanation but admires the work.

“Oh, almost forgot. I got you this hocus pocus magic wishing dust. I don’t really think it’ll work, duh, but it says, ‘This wishing dust knows what’s in your heart of hearts. It’ll make all your dreams come true.’ So it’s worth a shot.” Katya sprinkled it on top of the house.

“This is amazing Katya, I really appreciate it. Thank you.” The door bell rang and Trixie jumped up frantically “Oh my god! The Dolls are here. What do we do?” She straightened out her dress and turned up the music. She ran back over to the dream house and ran to the closet with it.

 “Kat, I’m just going to put this away okay, gotta make room for dancing and whatever.” Trixie ran upstairs to get the door.

Trixie’s little sister is standing by the door, getting ready to let the guests in. “You promised you’d stay upstairs!” She pushed her toward her mom and answered the door. All 6 of the doll stood there, “Hey guys, party’s downstairs,” with Farrah leading the way, one by one they walked inside, throwing their jackets into Trixie’s arms.

“Oh wow, okay yeah, see you down there” Just then, Bob and his friends pull up and walk toward the door.

 “Hi, glad you can make it, party’s downstairs!” Trixie fluttered her eye and tossed her hair over her shoulder hoping to be giving off flirty vibes. They guys just nod and walk through and head downstairs.

Downstairs, Katya is trying to get the party started by wiggling around to some Russian rock song she’s fully aware that nobody knows but that doesn’t stop her from having a good time.

 Everyone else is standing around staring at her like she some kind of street preforming monkey.

 Farrah walks over to Trixie who’s also just staring at Katya thrashing herself around, “What is this music.”

 “I don’t know, Katya put it on.”

 Farrah moves over to Katya, took the CD out of the player and handed it to her. “Sorry weirdo but majority rules and the majority of us say this sucks.” Farrah put on some generic pop music and Katya walked over to Trixie.

 “Hey so I’m just gonna go next door and grab something.” Katya was clearly over the party but didn’t want Trixie to feel like she was bailing on her.

 Trixie looked over at Farrah and her friends before replying, “Cool Katya, it’s not like I need an itinerary of your day.”

Katya was visibly upset that Trixie was being dismissive and Trixie felt bad when she saw Katya’s face but the room erupted into laughter and she felt too cool to care. Katya just rolled her eyes and headed up the stairs.

 “So I have a great idea, lets play 7 minutes in heaven” Farrah spoke, taking back the control of the room. “In fact, Trixie can go first because it’s her birthday!” Farrah tied a scarf around Trixie’s eye and led her toward the closet. “Bob wants to go first so you’ll get to do whatever you want with him for 7 whole minutes” she whispered to Trixie.

 Farrah placed Trixie in the closet, “Before I forget, where’s our project?”

 “On the table by the stairs”

 “Thanks gorge” and Farrah closed the door with Trixie inside.

 Farrah tip-toes back to the group, project in hand. “Let’s get out of here, I can get my brother to buy us beer.” Farrah whispers and the group quietly makes their way upstairs.

 On their way out, they run into Katya. “Um, what’s going on? Where’s Trixie?” Katya asks.

 “Oh she’s waiting for you in the closet but I think she should just come out.” Farrah giggles at her own joke. “Bye lezbo!” and she ran out the door to catch up with her group.

 Katya walks over to the closet and opens it to see a blindfolded Trixie sitting on the floor.

“I thought you weren’t gonna come.” Trixie says with a sly smile. Katya doesn’t reply, instead she’s joins Trixie on the floor. Does Trixie really feel the same way about her as she felt about her?

 Trixie reach out and Katya grabs her hands and slowly leans forward, “Oh Bob” Trixie calls out causing Katya to jump back.

 “I’m not Bob, It’s Katya.”

Trixie yanks off her blindfold and looks around and see only Katya. “Where did everyone go? What did you do? Did you scare them off?”

 “They where leaving when I came back from my house!”

 “Get out! Get out! I hate you! I hate me! I hate everybody!” Trixie closed herself into the closet and sunk down to the floor.

 “Trixie what are you talking about? Let me just show you our other gift. It’ll make you feel better.” Katya tries to reason with her through the door.

 Trixie slams her back into the shelves behind her and magic dust falls on her from the dream house as she repeats, “I wanna be 30. Thirty and flirty and thriving.”

#rpdr fanfiction #katya zamolodchikova #trixie mattel #trixya #fluff #slow burn #mutual pining #lesbian au #13 going on 30 au #now with moving parts #okaymary #submission

[fangirlmomentsandmytwocents]

Maelstrom by Kass Barrow Release Blitz

Buy Links: JMS Books | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 69,000 words

Publisher: JMS Books 

Blurb When Kylor Knightley, a multi-millionaire nightclub owner, is out talent-spotting at an open mic event in London’s Limehouse district, the last thing the stiff-lipped Brit expects is to fall head-over-heels for a devastatingly handsome singer ten years his junior. Born in New York, twenty-two-year-old Eden McFadden now calls London home and has ambitions of making it big in the capital’s music scene. In the meantime, the feisty free spirit is secretly rocking it as a stripper at a gay club in Soho. But when fate brings him and Kylor together in Limehouse, it starts a chain of events that tears both of their worlds apart. It’s going to take some serious attitude adjustment for the smart-mouthed stripper and the arrogant British gent to find common ground, but the attraction is too strong to ignore. Sometimes you have to trust in fate and see where it takes you. Excerpt Eden was so pumped about meeting the guy with the sparkling turquoise eyes that he couldn’t wait to tell someone. He wasn’t usually one to gossip, but he’d pulled up a chair alongside Blade, who was busy removing his guyliner. Eden was talking to Blade’s reflection in the mirror, relating the moment he’d looked down and seen the gorgeous guy staring back up at him. Just then someone shouted, “Which of you is green?” and there was the stranger; standing in the doorway next to a security guard. Eden sat gawking at his visitor and all the strength drained out of his body as if someone had pulled his plug. Blade nudged him. “Don’t just sit there. That’s your guy, isn’t it? God, he really is gorge!” Eden slowly got to his feet, praying his knees wouldn’t give way, and shoved a shaky hand in the air. “That package is for me.” The weak attempt at humour was his way of handling the embarrassment he felt because he knew that if the token had been black or pink the security guard wouldn’t have needed to ask whose it was. Everyone knew Stemmy’s tokens were black and Oberon’s were pink. But this was only the second time Eden had handed out a token. The last time he’d invited a guy backstage, his guest had been under the mistaken impression the token entitled him to instant sexual gratification, but Eden hadn’t been that into the guy. The guard nodded at Eden’s visitor and left. Still in just his pink briefs, Eden scurried back to his own station and rummaged around in his duffel bag for a clean top. The first thing to come to hand was his old Keep Calm and Carry On Funking T-shirt. He quickly pulled it on and rolled it down his sweat-dampened chest and abs. Then he stood by his dressing table, ready to greet his guest, with one hand resting on the table for support. Eden knew he shouldn’t be getting this worked up over someone he’d only just clapped eyes on. He had no idea what the guy was like. I haven’t even spoken to him yet. Maybe he’s just a good-looking asshole in a suit. As the guy approached, Eden’s eyes widened in awe. It felt like he was watching the scene through a slow motion filter. He was entranced by the rhythmic sway of the guy’s narrow hips and everything else in the room faded to a blur. The guy’s suit jacket was unbuttoned and his left hand rested inside the trouser pocket, while his right arm hung loose by his side. It was like a breath of self-assured elegance had wafted into the room. And then there was his hair. It was glorious. A flame-coloured shock of tumbling waves, its hue changed as the light danced over it, like an abstract of wildfire and scorched earth. It jarred with the image of the sophisticated city gent in the cool blue suit. It was hypnotising, the way the picture was so wrong and yet so right.

Eden could tell straight away this guy was no bit player on life’s stage. He had a starring role. You could tell from his arrogant swagger that the only rules he ever played by were his own. He was like a dream come true to Eden. A guy with “Fuck Me” written all over him and a seriously hot “Fuck You” attitude to compliment the looks. Eden swallowed hard. Where have you been all my life? Author Bio Kass Barrow lives 100 miles north of London in a small town in the farming county of Lincolnshire. Despite always having lived in the same area she has seen a fair bit of the world, from the eerie innards of the King’s Chamber in the Great Pyramid, to the majestic vistas that come with snowboarding in the Rockies. However, none of these life experiences prepared her for the emotional roller-coaster ride of penning a novel. Now she has become so accustomed to having four handsome gents in her life – her husband, her dog and her two main characters – that she can’t imagine life any other way.

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[jennaschererwrites]

Prospect Park: secrets of Brooklyn’s beloved park | Curbed NY

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of Prospect Park, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux's other great parkland masterpiece. (There's also that big central one in upper Manhattan, but we forget what it's called.)

What it lacks in size compared with its neighbor to the north, Prospect Park makes up for in ingenious landscaping, plenty of diversions and a refreshing lack of tourists. In modern times, the park's story has been one of neglect followed by restoration. Today, it maintains many of its historical elements while also constantly revamping and evolving—just like the borough that surrounds it.

Here's a rundown of some of Prospect Park's hidden corners and interesting byways, plus the stories of a few of its stranger artifacts. (And the less said about that "aggressive squirrel," the better.)

1 Mount Prospect Park

Off Eastern Parkway near the Brooklyn Museum, you'll find a staircase that leads away from the bustle to the second-highest point in Brooklyn. (The highest is Battle Hill in Green-Wood Cemetery.) To call it a "mount" is generous—it's only 200 feet above sea level—but it served as a lookout point for the Continental Army during the Battle of Brooklyn in the Revolutionary War as they defended the Heights of Guan (now the neighborhood of Gowanus) from the British. There's not much of a view these days thanks to the buildings that have sprouted up around it, but there's now a playground and a wide lawn for lounging high(ish) above it all.

2 The Rose Garden

Not all of Prospect Park is equally maintained; one area that until recently had fallen particularly into neglect was the Rose Garden, which sadly hasn't had a rose growing in it since the 1960s. But in its heyday in the 1880s, the garden bloomed and boasted a pool with goldfish swimming inside. Earlier this summer in honor of the park's 150th anniversary, the the Connective Project to install 7,000 sunflower-yellow pinwheels in the onetime flower beds. Keep an eye on this spot: It's the focal point of the Prospect Park Alliance's new restoration project.

3 Vale of Cashmere

This extravagantly named chunk of parkland takes its title from a Thomas Moore poem about a region of Northern India. It was once a children's play area and then a formal garden, but much like the nearby Rose Garden, it's fallen into disrepair. Since then, the area has come to resemble a fairyland, with flowers and trees growing wild in an abandoned fountain. It's also held an important place in the history of Brooklyn's gay cruising scene, as documented in photographer Thomas Roma's book In the Vale of Cashmere. The Prospect Park Alliance is beginning restoration efforts in the Vale, removing invasive weeds (using goats!) before beginning reforestation in the area.

4 Lefferts Historic House

Get a peek at Brooklyn's bucolic past at this Dutch Colonial farmhouse, built in 1783 by Pieter Lefferts. Originally located on Flatbush Avenue, the house managed to survive the Industrial Revolution before it was relocated to the park in 1918 to prevent it from being knocked down. Now it's a kid-friendly museum offering an immersive experience in the 18th-century farming lifestyle, complete with candle making and butter churning demonstrations.

5 The Ravine

Deep in the center of the park, this lush woodland holds the title of Brooklyn's only forest. Olmsted and Vaux designed the Ravine with Adirondack landscapes in mind, and as such it's an oasis of winding trails, waterfalls, rustic bridges and even a small gorge. Erosion and overuse threatened the forest until reclamation efforts began in the 1990s, and now it's almost back to its former glory. If you're looking for wildlife in the park, this is the place to find it.

6 Prospect Park Carousel

This carousel near Flatbush Avenue is a few notches above your average kid's ride. Built in 1912 by master carousel maker Charles Carmel, its elaborately decorated wooden menagerie includes 53 horses, a lion, a giraffe, two dragons, and a deer with inlaid with real antlers. The carousel was restored in 1987, and can be ridden today for $2 a pop.

7 Prospect Park Dog Beach

This small area off the Upper Pool is notable not so much for its beauty but for the park visitors who frequent it: Brooklyn's endless, varied parade of dogs. Particularly during off-leash hours in the early morning and evenings, the shallows of Upper Pool are swarming with frolicking canines cooling off after a run in the Long Meadow. The beach reopened after renovations just this summer, having replaced its ugly concrete entryway with stone slabs meant to mimic an Adirondack streambed.

8 Prospect Park Boathouse

Prospect Park's water features are actually all part of one water way, from the Lake in the south part of the park to the Upper Pool in the north. Perhaps its most picturesque portion is the Lullwater, a wide basin modeled after the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park. Beside it is a 1900s Beaux Arts boathouse designed by Helme & Huberty. In addition to being rented out as an events venue, the landmarked building is home to the Audubon Center, dedicated to bird conservation. The Boathouse was saved from demolition thanks to preservation efforts in 1964, and went on to be a filming location in Martin Scorsese's 1993 movie The Age of Innocence.

9 Camperdown Elm

If Prospect Park's weirdest tree looks like it came from another time and place altogether, that's because it did. This knotty, twisting elm was donated to the park in 1872, using a cutting from the singular trees that grew on the estate of the Earl of Camperdown in Dundee, Scotland. The elm fell into neglect until it was saved from the ax and restored to health thanks to Pulitzer-winning poet Marianne Moore, who used it as a symbol to help found the Friends of Prospect Park. Moore even wrote a verse ode to the tree, in which she dubbed it Brooklyn's "crowning curio."

10 Concert Grove

The park's extensive Lakeside project, which opened in 2013, included the restoration of several original Olmsted and Vaux landscape elements that had been bulldozed to make way for Wollman Rink in the 1960s. Among the revived areas is this shady grove facing out onto the lake, which originally served as a venue for live alfresco performance. Its musical legacy lives on in 19th-century busts of composers that dot the grove, including the likes of Beethoven, Mozart and Grieg. The grove also includes the dubiously named Oriental Pavilion, designed in the 1870s to approximate a Middle Eastern architectural style.

11 Friends Quaker Cemetery

Though it's closed to the public, you can still catch glimpses inside this small, 19th-century cemetery on the southwest side of the park. Opened in 1849 by the Society of Friends, the graveyard actually predates the park and is now private land within it. Among the prominent Quakers buried here are Raymond Ingersoll, former Brooklyn Borough President, and Montgomery Clift, the midcentury Hollywood heartthrob who died young in 1966 and was buried here at the behest of his Quaker mother.

12 Imagination Playground

This playground along Flatbush Avenue is the most visually interesting of Prospect Park's kid spaces. Among its diversions is a bronze dragon that spews water; and a statue of depicting Peter and his dog Willie, characters in children's books by beloved Brooklyn author Ezra Jack Keats. As its name suggests, this playground has nontraditional structures for kids to play on, like a stagelike area overseen by a giant eye and a curling bridge that resembles a piano.

13 Lookout Hill

The best views to be had in Prospect Park are from atop this 177-foot-high hill overlooking the Lake. At the bottom you'll find a monument erected to the memory of the Maryland 400, a company of American troops who held the hill while Washington's army retreated during the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776. There used to be a wide path for well-to-do Brooklynites to take their carriages up the hill, but these days you can go on foot via a stone staircase. On a clear day when the leaves are off the trees, you can see all the way to Coney Island.

14 The Peristyle

Also known as the Grecian Shelter, this neoclassical structure on the southern end of the park was designed in 1905 by legendary architect Stanford White. (He was murdered a year after its completion.) Open to the air and held up by limestone Corinthian columns, the Peristyle looks like it might have fallen through a time portal from Ancient Greece. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

15 Prospect Park Parade Ground

Situated at the very bottom of the park across Parkside Avenue, the Parade Ground is a 40-acre expanse dedicated to sports of all stripes, with public spaces for baseball, football, tennis and soccer. In the 19th century, the Parade Ground was used for military drilling by the Union Army and the Coast Guard. Today, it's famous for a different reason: The ballfields here have been early swinging grounds for dozens of World Series-winning MLB players, including Sandy Koufax, Tommy Davis and Joe Torre.

#jenna scherer #curbed ny #prospect park #new york city #things to do #camperdown elm #history #parks #brooklyn