#st andrews is very lovely you should all visit if you get the opportunity

[unspeakable3]

I really need you to elaborate on "Rule" being the correct nickname for Regulus lol

idk if it's like, universal, but

i went to st andrews uni and one of the halls was named after st regulus who used to knock about that way being a monk or whatever and his nickname was rule! there's a teetery tottery tower there called st rule's tower that i climbed up on graduation ✨

(st regulus hall was also colloquially called regs so!!!)

st regulus hall:

st rule's tower:

#st andrews is very lovely you should all visit if you get the opportunity #pro tip: janetta's has the best gelato that side of the forth #but if the queue's too big go to the wee sweet shop in pittenweem harbour #they have like 16 janetta's flavours and no queue!!!!

[cyndalyssa]

Oh, Look, Another Darkwing Drabble

This one’s a snippet of a bigger story in my head, based on the idea of Bushroot going massive mindless monstrosity. 

I dunno if I’ll ever write the rest of the story down, my life tends to get a little busy and I already have a lot of ideas I want to make in my free time, but I at least wanted to exercise the writing muscles. 

All was quiet at the Museum of Failed Experiments. The dark of night gave the appearance of rest to each polished display, even those that were still lit. Though dignified it looked, the place was home to quite a bit of failure, hence the name. Each wing, covering branches of science and engineering, was a hall of shame, showing off embarrassments, tragedies, and unfinished projects to the citizens of St. Canard.

It was at this scene that the night guards present had unfortunate encounters. A flower that sprayed sleeping gas, a stun gun, a joy buzzer that ended in instant knockout, being washed into a closet by water from the drinking fountain, and just getting hit by a mallet were their fates, and they were swiftly locked up by the intruders.  

The Fearsome Five then had the place to themselves. 

As they met up in the lobby, Megavolt couldn’t help but look up, in awe of the enormity of it. “Wowza, they really went all out on this place!” He glanced back at the corridor from whence he came and smiled. “They’ve got gizmos and gadgets aplenty!”

Quackerjack bounced to his side. “And whozits and whatzits galore!”

“They got thingamabobs?”

“Psht, at least twenty!”

Megavolt laughed. “I can’t believe they gave up on some of these! I oughta grab ‘em and show everyone how it’s done!” 

Quackerjack grinned. “Oh, I feel you, Sparky! In fact, I’m getting quite a bit of inspiration myself from doodads like the fruit-flavored fireworks! Ooh-hoo-hoo-hoo, can you just imagine a literal explosion of fruity goodness?”

Megavolt narrowed his eyes, his plug hat sparking and an irritated growl in his voice. “How many times have I told you not to call me Sparky?”

“Not like you can remember.”

Cutting between them, the Liquidator piped in, “Fruit-flavored fireworks? The phenomenon of the century, guaranteed to sweeten up your 4th of July celebrations! Comes in apple, cherry, grape, and blue raspberry.”

Bushroot scratched his head. “I’m just wondering how the inventor expected that to work. What kind of chemistry was involved?”

Negaduck rolled his eyes. “Blegh, of course you dweebs get hopped up on exploding fruit snacks. Now remember, children, we’re not here for the fireworks, we’re here for the portal gun that’s supposed to be displayed here… and I expect you to be looking for it!” 

The other four silently stared at him for a moment, glanced at each other, and then back to him. Then, Megavolt asked, “Well, what does it look like?”

“It’s red and vaguely gun-shaped, with a spinny thing at the end,” Negaduck answered in baby-talk. Then he snapped, “I’m sure you could figure it out from the display name! Now, get to searching!”

Negaduck stormed upstairs. Quackerjack and Megavolt rushed to the technology wing--partially running from Negaduck, partially rushing to see what kind of doodads they could see. Perhaps even take some and modify them for later mischief. 

Liquidator was about to flow down another hall when he noticed Bushroot at the directory. The plant duck glanced the direction of the hall that Quackerjack and Megavolt rushed down, and then up the stairs that Negaduck had descended. Then, almost sneakily, he went in the opposite direction and toward the natural science and chemistry wing. 

Curious, Liquidator decided to follow him, and had caught up in a second. “One in ten customers would say that this portal gun is not in this wing, Bushroot.”

Bushroot flinched at the sudden voice, but quickly regained his composure. “Well, uh… when studying the map earlier, I recall that the storage room was somewhere in this direction. It could be in there.”

Liquidator raised a watery eyebrow. “You want an excuse to look around, huh?”

Bushroot glanced away. “Well… it couldn’t hurt. I mean, I’m curious and I don’t know when I’ll be able to have another opportunity for a museum visit.” He looked back to see Liquidator still staring like a disappointed parent. “But I do think storage is in this wing, honest!”

“Hm. Well, if it’s in this direction, why not treat yourself to this once-in-a-lifetime super private tour? Just don’t get too distracted, and it’ll be between you and me.”

“O-oh, that’s no problem. I’m a pretty fast reader.”

The two mutants wandered around the natural science and chemistry wing, looking for a door or hall or basement staircase that led to that storage room. However, Liquidator was doing most of the looking, sweeping around the rooms quickly, while Bushroot, though still looking at the walls in hopes of spotting the passage they were looking for, was circling displays in fascination. There were models and pictures of odd creatures or monstrosities, as well as deformed skeletons of unfortunate souls. He read about attempts to clone prehistoric plants and even animals, a tale of a man who accidentally fused himself with a fly, and the horror of radioactive moss. On occasion, he’d stumble on a display involving water, and invite Likki to take a look. 

Every so often, Liquidator would look to see what Bushroot was doing. There were moments that Bushroot seemed to be genuinely looking for that storage room--such as now, when walking along the wall of glass cases full of more experiments, he paused at a gap in the wall, looking at a door, but saw that it was an emergency exit and then moved on. Otherwise, the plant duck was more invested in the science that surrounded him, which Likki had a little trouble relating to. While some of the stuff involving water was interesting, he otherwise didn’t care for the biological stuff that Bushroot was so entranced by. 

Meanwhile, so far, the only doors they had found were emergency exits, but nothing leading to any storage or basement at some point. Liquidator was almost of the mind that Bushroot duped him, but Bushy wasn’t like that.

At some point, when Liquidator finally found a hallway that looked promising, Bushroot suddenly cried, “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!”

Alarmed, Likki splashed his way to where Bushroot stood, at a display in the corner about biological chemical disasters. The plant duck was looking quite offended, glaring at one particular shelf where a green substance, surrounded by plant models and photos of a strange machine, sat. Likki took a closer look at the label, which read:

Chloroplast Infusion Solution, Dr. Reginald Bushroot, Ph.D

Skimming over the description of the substance, what it was supposed to do, and how it backfired, Likki just glanced over to Bushroot, who held his head in his leafy hands. 

“How humiliating! I can’t believe I made it into the Hall of Shame!”

Likki patted him on the back. “Aw, Bushy, do not fret! After all, you’ve gotten an upgrade! Who needs a normal sad sap scientist when you can have a super plant that can grow a forest with just a thought?” 

A sharp glare arose from Bushroot’s palms. “I just wanted to alleviate world hunger… and, uh, maybe get a little respect…”

“Respect, huh?” Likki shook his head. “I’m sure with your power, you can easily command it.”

“There is a difference between respect and fear.”

“Hm. Well, as Bud Flud, I was just a salesman trying to keep my business afloat; but as the Liquidator, I became master of all liquids, one with the water, and a force to be reckoned with!” A sphere of water detached from Likki’s hand and revolved around it. “I know my power, and I revel in it.” 

He grabbed the sphere, reabsorbing it. “As for you… well, you’ve got potential, but you lack nerve. Someday, I’d like to see you cut loose, show them what Bushroot is really capable of.”

Bushroot glanced at him, pondering on whether he should remind Liquidator of Negaduck and their shared fear of him, but decided against it. He crossed his arms. “Fine, whatever you say.”

He went back to glaring at the display of his fateful project. “If those two ignoramuses had just minded their own business and not made me look bad in front of the dean, then I would’ve still had the funding to test on the lab rats instead of myself. You know, catch the kinks and find a way to iron them out. But… here I am now.”

“I’d say that career change was for the better.”

“But I liked being a scientist… sure, I hated my coworkers--except one--but I love science.”

Likki shrugged. “Life sucks and we just gotta roll with the punches.” He turned around and marched toward that one hallway. “Now, come on, there’s a storage room calling our names, and who knows when the purple menace will pop in.”

Bushroot sighed, taking one last look at his experiment’s exhibit. “All right, I’ll stop wasting ti--”

He stopped when he caught a name on the display right next to his. Eyes boggling, he grabbed the bottle from that shelf and shouted, “Goodness grapevines! He has one here too?”

Likki stopped and turned around. “Inquiring minds must know… who’s he?” 

Bushroot gestured to the name on the display, which, when Likki took a closer look, read ‘Dr. Arthur Bones’. “He was my rival back in college, and he was one of the meanest, most condescending jerks that I’ve ever had the displeasure of knowing. I don’t know what I ever did to him, but sometimes it felt like it was his life’s mission just to convince me that everything I do is stupid and dangerous. Hmph, at least my buddy Andrew had my back.”

Liquidator rubbed his chin. “You just have a way of attracting bullies, don’t you? At the very least, you can take some joy that Dr. Bones is also in the Hall of Shame!”

“Yeah, I guess I could.” Bushroot looked at the label on the bottle, brow furrowed in confusion. “Although I do wonder what he was doing making fertilizer. Last I remember, he was into genetics--especially studies on mutations and defects.”

“For more information, check the description--it’s right there.”

Bushroot turned to the description and read aloud, “‘In 1990, a miracle growth formula invented by Dr. Bones took several western states by storm. With a natural sweet scent and potent power, it improved the lives of gardeners everywhere by making plants healthier, stronger, and sturdier against disease and pests, and helping them to grow faster than normal’.” He scratched his chin and nodded. “Well, now I’m tempted to bring it home with me and see what my plants think.”

Liquidator chuckled. “Oh, I bet they’d love it! The amazing miracle fertilizer, guaranteed to create a happy and hearty garden!”

“Ee-hee, it does sound great.” Bushroot’s smile fell into a frown as he turned back to the description. “But this is a Museum of Failed Experiments, so there is a catch here... ‘While at first it seemed to be a blessing, it soon proved to be dangerous for people, as proven with the Mallard High School Football Team during the fall of 1990. Reports of--’”

“I am the terror that flaps in the night!”

The sudden voice from nowhere made them jump. Bushroot even ended up tossing the bottle of fertilizer into the air. He didn’t even hear the second part of the introduction, too distracted by gravity smashing the bottle onto his head. The glass shattered, and fertilizer splashed everywhere on him and the floor, leaving him a dripping mess. His roots started lapping up the puddle that remained. 

“I am… Darkwing Duck!”

#darkwing duck #fearsome five #bushroot #liquidator #megavolt #quackerjack #negaduck #drabble #lyssa writes #wishing i had more time and motivation to write

[worryinglyinnocent]

Fic: Of Libraries and Ties (1/2)

Summary: Follow up to last month’s Of Comic Books and Sushi. Belle, Neal and Neal’s girlfriend Emma all end up at Gold’s for New Year’s. Belle falls in love with a particular room in Gold’s house, and a good time is had by all. 

Part one written for the @a-monthly-rumbelling prompt: Books, Tea, Big City, Drive. 

Part two written for the @a-monthly-rumbelling prompt: Surprise, Lingerie, Bedroom Eyes

Rated: Part one is T, part two will be E

=====

Of Libraries and Ties

Part One

Belle was still having a bit of trouble coming to terms with how small Storybrooke was in comparison to Boston. Ever since she’d come to America in the first place, she’d only ever lived in cities, her father figuring that there would be more opportunities in a big city than in a small town. Even back in Australia, she’d never lived anywhere quite as small as Storybrooke. 

“Are you ok?”

She glanced over at Neal in the driving seat of the little yellow bug. Emma was spark out asleep in the back. They’d decided that it would be more economical to cram everything into Emma’s car and all go up to Maine together, sharing the drive time, rather than all making their own ways to the same place. Andrew had invited them all for New Years - Neal obviously had a standing invitation as his son, Emma was welcome as Neal’s girlfriend, and Belle was welcome as Andrew’s own girlfriend.

It had taken Neal a while to get to grips with the idea of his roommate and his dad being together. It had taken Belle a little while to accept the fact that she was dating her roommate’s dad. Still, everything seemed to have worked out for the best, even if the relationship was still somewhat long-distance whilst Belle was still in college. She thought that they had the potential to go the distance, and she now knew Andrew enough to be assured that she wasn’t simply a flash in the pan, midlife crisis fling. 

“Yeah,” she said eventually, in answer to Neal’s question. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve just never been anywhere like this before.”

“That’s not the only thing though, is it?” Neal had slowed the bug to a crawl to comply with the town’s speed limits. “Come on, you can tell me. I’m your best friend.”

“Yes, and your dad is also my boyfriend. I think that there might be a conflict of interest somewhere along the line here.”

“Hey, as long as you never, ever talk about sex in my earshot, we’ll be fine.” Neal grinned. “So, it’s something about Dad that’s getting you down?”

“Not getting me down, per se. It’s just that every other time we’ve seen each other, we’ve been in Boston. We’ve been in my comfort zone, so to speak. Now we’re in his. In his house, no less. It feels… strange.”

“Maybe. But think about it this way. Dad’s lived in that house for over twenty years, so it’s got a lot of him in it. You’ll learn a lot more about him in Storybrooke than you ever could in Boston.”

“I suppose you’re right.” It would definitely be nice to get a first-hand glimpse of Andrew’s life, rather than having to imagine it all for herself as they talked about it. And after all, he had seen her home and how she lived. It was only fair that she should get the same kind of insight into his own life. 

“Ok, we’re here.” Neal pulled into the drive of a very impressively pink house on the outskirts of the town. 

“Your dad’s house is pink.” Emma had woken up and was staring out of the windscreen at the house, rubbing her eyes. “Is your dad’s house pink? Or am I still dreaming?”

“No, the house is definitely pink,” Neal said cheerily. He waved to his dad, who had stepped out onto the porch to greet them. “Come on, let’s get inside before we freeze. I hope it doesn’t snow. Not that being snowed in at Dad’s is necessarily a bad thing, but I left all my coursework in Boston and it’s due next week.”

“Is Storybrooke famous for snow?”

“Not really, we’re too near the coast. As in, literally on it. But when it comes, it comes with a vengeance.”

They manhandled all the luggage out of the car and into the blessed warmth of the house. Emma and Neal immediately took off up the stairs to dump their stuff in Neal’s room, leaving Andrew and Belle standing under the mistletoe in the hall. He leaned in, kissing her lips softly, and Belle dropped her bag to hook her arms around his neck and pull him in closer for a deeper kiss. He was smiling as she broke away, his eyes bright and a little shy. Belle saw then that he was feeling all the same nervousness about welcoming her into his home as she was feeling about visiting him in it.

“I didn’t know where you would want to sleep,” he said eventually. “The spare bed is made up ready for you if you would prefer, but I’d really like it if you stayed with me.”

Belle kissed him again. “Of course I’d like to stay with you.”

“I’d hoped you would. I just didn’t know if you’d be worried about traumatising Neal or something.”

Belle snorted. “Hey, he’s got his own girlfriend to traumatise us with, he can’t talk.” She grinned. “Why don’t you give me a tour of the house?”

Andrew gave a soft huff of laughter. “Why not indeed. Without meaning to sound in the least bit presumptuous, we can start in my room so you can park your bag.”

Andrew’s room was gorgeous, all dark woods and jewel-like colours, and Belle had to admit that the space suited him perfectly. She ran her hands over the intricately carved headboard, heat beginning to rise in her face as she imagined all the wonderful uses that it could be put to later. 

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “It’s very you. This is the kind of place that I can always picture you in.”

“I’m glad you like it.” There was no mistaking the quiet pride in his voice. “But there’s another room that I think you’ll like even more.”

Belle held out a hand to him. “Lead on, McGold.”

He snorted at the throwback to their first date together in Boston, back before they had really known that they were dating, but he nonetheless took her hand and guided her into the next room. It had originally begun life as a small box bedroom, but now, the amount of floor to ceiling bookcases in it meant that the only furniture it had room for was an old leather armchair and an antique end table. 

“It’s not exactly a library like you’re used to, but it’s good enough, I think.”

“Oh Andrew, it’s perfect. I’d love a room like this in my own place.”

She slipped her arms around his middle and rested her chin against his shoulder. It was nice to be dating a guy who didn’t tower over her for once. It was even nicer that he remembered how much she liked books and had known how much she’d like this room. Despite their age difference and the undeniable fact that he was Neal’s dad, Belle felt that Andrew was far better suited to her than some of her exes. 

“Dad, what’s for dinner?”

Belle felt Andrew’s sigh, but she didn’t pull away from him as he replied. 

“Neal, it’s only three in the afternoon.”

“I know, but we’ve had a long drive from Boston. We’re starving!”

“There’s a box of Granny’s peanut butter cookies in the kitchen.”

“Yes! Thanks Dad!”

Andrew always brought a steady supply of the mysterious Granny’s cookies with him whenever he visited Boston, and Belle’s stomach gave an aptly timed growl. Andrew chuckled. 

“Come on, before Neal and Emma finish them all. We can have the rest of the tour later.”

X

Belle curled up in the leather chair under her blanket, lost in Dickens’ prose. Dinner had turned out to be chicken chasseur, and now Emma and Neal had volunteered to do the dishes whilst Andrew made a couple of last-minute phone calls. Although, given the amount of hilarity that Belle could hear coming from the kitchen, she felt justified in wondering if they were actually creating more mess than they were cleaning up. 

“I thought I might find you in here.”

She looked up to see Andrew standing in the doorway, a mug in each hand. “Tea?”

“Yes, please.”

He placed the mug down beside her and made to leave the room, but Belle caught his arm. “Hey, stay. I’m sure that there’s room in this chair for two. Neither of us are very big, after all.”

Andrew smiled. “All right.”

Belle got up to allow him to sit down, then she scrambled up onto his lap, tucking the blanket back in around them both. 

“There, this is perfect. Good books, good tea, good company. I can’t think of a better way to spend the evening, personally.”

“No.” Andrew took a sip from his own mug. “No, I think you’re right there.”

“The only thing that would make this better is if we had a roaring fire and a cat stretched out in front of it.”

“I’m allergic to cats. How about a dog?”

“A dog’s good too. One of those big shaggy ones that just lies there like a rug. A retriever or St Bernard.”

“We had a collie retriever cross when Neal was younger. Looked like a collie but bigger. And hairier. She was the most docile pushover ever.”

Belle laughed at the image. “What was her name?”

“Tiff. Well, Tiffany. She looked like she was wearing a little black dress, like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

Belle thought about the scene, of Andrew and a big dog and a small child. She could see it easily. What was more concerning was how easily she could see herself as part of the picture as well. She shook her head; she was only twenty-two, she wasn’t ready to be thinking that long-term yet, and she knew that Andrew respected that. She loved what they had together, and she hoped that it would last, but the future was very big and very long. 

She glanced over to the window where the first few flakes of snow were beginning to come down. 

“Neal’s going to be pissed.”

“What?” Andrew followed her sight line. “Oh, yes. He never did like snow all that much.”

They watched it drifting for a while until Belle got up to close the curtains, keeping them safe and snug. The massed hilarity from the kitchen appeared to have finally ceased. 

“Shall we go down and join them?” Andrew asked. Belle’s response was to settle back down onto his lap. 

“Nah. Let them have some time to themselves too. I like it here like this, just you and me.”

“I like it too.” Andrew paused. “You know, you’re always welcome here without Neal. You don’t have to wait until he comes to visit.”

“I know. That’s good. I think it would be a bit awkward otherwise.”

“I’m sorry if we’ve made things weird between you and Neal.”

Belle shrugged. “It was weird for about a week, but then we got over it. We’ll always be friends. I know too many of his secrets for us not to be.”

“Well, that makes two of us. Together we’re invincible.”

Belle laughed and leaned in to kiss him. Andrew accepted her readily, pulling her in close beneath the blanket. They might not know exactly where they were going in the future, but that didn’t matter. They were happy in the present. It was the middle of the Christmas season, and they were going to enjoy themselves without a care. 

Belle kissed Andrew again, never wanting to let go. This New Year’s was going to be great. 

#rumbelle fic #A Monthly Rumbelling #rumbelle #Belle French #Mr Gold #Fic: Of Libraries and Ties

[heff88]

20 albums and 1 EP: my 2017 in music.

Hello all and welcome to my favourite records of 2017!

2017 has been quite a year for many reasons and musically is no different, as this has been one of the strongest years for new music in some time (which may or may not have to do with the current president in the white house and for one of these at least, Brexit). It has been a particularly great year for female voices in music - just under half the acts here are, or include, women or at least are female fronted, with Björk surely to join them - and I'm not sure there has been a time where women have been so well promoted. It is a stupid thing to have to say of course, but it is at least encouraging that change is happening in a positive way. It is also encouraging given the latter half of the year socio-politically has largely been concerned with how much assault and sexism women have to put up with in a very public but important manner (although again, this doesn't seem to be deterring the president, yet anyway.)

This year, I have chosen 20 (and 1 EP because I like to cheat) albums to feature, something I don't think I've been able to do before. This probably has much to do with this being my first full year as a (semi)-professional journalist, something I feel I really marked properly this time last year when I was sent to Prague to interview The Lumineers, which was a fairly mad-yet-incredible experience. However, it's not like I wasn't paying attention before, and I have made a playlist including 50 different records from 2017 I have enjoyed in some capacity and a more concise one for this list.

Since that Lumineers interview, I've had the opportunity to cover from great events and records in 2017, as well as meet a whole load of very welcoming and great people to whom I must say thanks (especially as today is Thanksgiving). To Derek of Drowned in Sound, Tallah from The Skinny, Caitlin from Uproxx and many others, thank you for your continued support and friendship, I couldn't have done it without any of you. In 2017 I got to:

Cover the BBC6 Music Festival in Glasgow, which was a really rather special weekend in my spiritual home. Interview some really excellent people, including: Jeremy Bolm, Touche Amore Angus Andrew, Liars Barry Burns, Mogwai Alex Cameron And finally, Joe Casey of Protomartyr (twice) which was by far the most difficult one, but ended up being pretty great.

I also got to keep travelling in the name of music journalism (what a trip!) by covering Mikkeller and The National's inaugural HAVEN Festival in Copenhagen (a city long overdue a visit - I loved it!) and got to see Iggy Pop be the absolute boss-man, and drink SO. MUCH. GREAT. BEER.

And even more crazily, I got sent out to CALGARY, ALBERTA CANADA to cover Sled Island. There I got to see the likes of Low, Mono and Waxahatchee play in a church, Converge play in a weird British Union Vets centre, Wolves in the Throne Room and Daughters in a dive bar and I got to see The Rolling Stones' mobile studio (which my parents visited just before I was born.) It was an amazing week I will never forget, full of incredible music and new friends, and while I didn't find Bret Hart I did get to tour the city's rather amazing beer scene, which I'm still in disbelief about, to be honest.

I also got to see and have many special live experiences this year less further afield, such as The XX's triumphant show outside SWG3, Glasgow, getting to see City of Caterpillar (!) after all these years in Berlin, Julien Baker play one of my all-time favourite songs, St. Vincent transcend mere mortal status, Mogwai play in a famous Berlin gay club for TV and Thee Oh Sees play in a tiny, cramped basement this summer.  

And finally, I RELEASED MY OWN ACTUAL, PHYSICAL ALBUM THIS YEAR!!! It was tough and stressful at times, but I am immensely proud of it and owe so much to my boys Kenni and Joe Campbell who make up FRAUEN, as well as the people around us who supported it, including Lewis Glass, Gary Taylor, Kyle Wood, Sean Campbell, Louise Grace Kenny (& Owen) my wonderful partner Ann-Christin Heinrich, and everyone who put on shows and came out to see us in our favourite haunts of Glasgow, Manchester, London, Brighton, Leeds and Newcastle (to name a few!) put us up for the night, drove us, bought a record, said a nice thing and generally were awesome.

So, onto the list. As a result of my year, I've decided to order this in release order rather than ranking, although I will point out the top five. A quick glance at this suggests that September was an absolutely ridiculous month (it was) and no I didn't forget LCD Soundsystem, whereas I have nothing in May (Do Make Say Think and Slowdive were... fine but nothing special.) I am currently catching up on stuff I missed as I am writing this, so to Julie Byrne, Aldous Harding, Kelly Lee Owens, SZA, Big Thief, Idles, Sampha, Jlin, Jay Som, Lorde, Vince Staples and as mentioned, Björk you could all find yourself making up your own list in a month's time.

A glaring but now expected omission is Science Fiction by Brand New, which up until a couple weeks ago I ranked as one of my top three records of the year. While of course, everyone should be wary of what we read online, Jesse Lacey's frankly embarrassing and vague response to the matter has, quite likely, put a disastrous end to a previously remarkable and canonised career which was setting itself up for a glorious and perfect ending in 2018. Now, it's very difficult to separate the art from the idea that this is an unsavoury at best, psychopathic at worst, white male who took advantage of his status and the surrounding scene towards young girls and called it a "sex addiction" which is highly troubling. Even his movements towards a "perfect end" to the band now feels slightly chilling, and at the time of writing, it seems as though he will (rightfully) not be rewarded with that. What a horrible turn of events for an artist and a band who have meant so much to so many people for well over a decade, the one band many have kept with them since their adolescence only for it all to go up in flames in an instant. The one (pyrrhic) positive from all this is that the continued conversation is finally giving victims a voice, and that is the most important matter which should never be forgotten.

OK, that unpleasantness behind us, let's get on with the list:

Priests - Nothing Feels Natural (January) *4th

So, just to completely undermine my ordering here, I slept massively on this band and album until the summer, almost six months after release. Thankfully, I caught them just in time to see them play live in Hamburg this June shortly after moving to Germany (oh yeah that happened too, what a year eh?) after seeing they were playing that week at the legendary Hafenklang venue. I checked out 'Jj' and was immediately bowled over, something a completely new artist to me hadn't done for some time. There's a moment in that song, a couple minutes in, where the sensation of "lifting off" occurs both in the music and listening experience, it is a thrill, to say the least. The rest of the album thankfully stood up just as highly (especially it's title track) and I admonished myself for not checking out this band clearly designed for my exact tastes. Live they were a force of nature, each member bringing something exciting, while collectively they reminded me of a tougher version of ESG's "dance-punk". So while I may have missed the boat initially, this record has quietly grown and grown in my estimation, to one of the year's standouts, and will be excited to see what they do next.

Thundercat - Drunk (February) *2nd 

The absolute boy does it again. Anyone who knows me knows Thundercat is one of my all-time boys, he'd be in my wrestling stable without a shadow of a doubt. I've been largely obsessed with Stephen Bruner since his fantastic turn on Flying Lotus's Cosmogramma and he has just got better ever since. For the first half of the year, Drunk was comfortably my favourite album of the record, knowing it would take something special to knock it off its perch (it did, but we'll come to that later). This is, paradoxically, both his most cohesive and chaotic album yet, detailing the wide range of emotions a drunk night on the tiles can elicit while also being his most confident statement musically yet. On top of that, Kendrick Lamar returns the favour for that 2016 Grammy win Bruner played a part in winning for To Pimp a Butterfly, the legendary Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald show up on the lead single, and in the album's clear highlight, Bruner completes his Tron suite with an ode to his cat of the same name.

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - The French Press (March) - EP of the year, for whatever that's worth.

Australian music, from Melbourne especially, is in a pretty impressive state right now. Along with the above, Alex Cameron, Royal Headache, Julia Jacklin, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and Total Control (to name a few) have in recent years created a formidable scene down under, making them a globally recognised force to be reckoned with in the music world. Despite the slightly annoying name, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever hit the BBC Radio 6 Playlists around March (though sadly not the Glasgow Music festival at the time) and with the song 'The French Press' turned many heads. The song gave 'Cause = Time' (a song somehow nearly 15 years old already) by Broken Social Scene a most welcome reboot while maintaining their own charming style. One would be forgiven for thinking this EP of the same name is just a vehicle for that one single, but no, to those who went out in search for more were rewarded with an excellent six tracks from top to bottom. This was only their second release after last year's Talk Tight so it will be very exciting to see what their first full-length LP brings us, hopefully, next year sometime.

Kendrick Lamar - DAMN. (April)

What can I say, it's Kendrick. Like Priests, I took a strangely long time to get round to DAMN. and not even really for any particular reason other than... just listening to other stuff and quietly knowing this would be great when I did finally come around to it. Though DAMN. for me doesn't quite meet the insanely high mark of Lamar's previous two albums, it's still a very, very strong album from one of the best artists of the generation. While this may have the bombast of Good Kid or the sheer scale of Butterfly DAMN. still shows Lamar's incredible skill as a storyteller, dropping the listener into a fully realised world, largely because it's his reality. On top of this, he manages to write a song featuring U2 and it not be the worst thing ever! Outside of that, however, James Blake gets to return on his sparse roots on 'ELEMENT.' ahead of their co-headline tour next year, which singles 'HUMBLE.' and 'DNA.' prove Lamar's chops as an artist able to step back from his bigger concepts and make his point in three-minute bursts.

Timber Timbre - Sincerely, Future Pollution (April)

One of the most perennially underrated bands out, Canadian creepers Timber Timbre had one of the most quietly solid records of the year with Sincerely, Future Pollution. I've never been sure why they haven't quite caught the wider imagination as some of their peers, such as Grizzly Bear for instance, who sonically have had a very similar trajectory from lo-fi "freak-folk" to a more electronic indebted sound. Whatever it is, in a year where everyone and their dog were (understandably) wanting to comment on the state of things in a post-Trump/Brexit world, Timber Timbre took a more subtle approach (a word that perfectly describes the band overall) as they brought up 80's, Reagan-era sleaze into a modern context, with a healthy dose of Lynchian nightmarish images and structures. Through 9 feverish trips to the classical image of the decaying (in this case, swamp-ridden) city, we see the toxic nature of contemporary Western society poisoning everyone who embraces it, all soundtrack to lounge-jazz samples. It is perhaps the darkest, most sinister record of the year, a prevailing sense of creepiness and uneasiness permeates every beat, every noise, every line of frontman Taylor Kirk's deadpan delivery in a completely different way to say, Alex Cameron's multi-coloured coke-ridden characters. As the album's alluring cover suggests, this is all your favourite black-and-white 70s paranoia films come to life.

Listen: Sewer Blues

Hey Colossus - The Guillotine (June)

Speaking of underrated, how the hell did everyone sleep on Hey Colossus this year? Perhaps they overshot themselves on their epic 2015 double albums In Black & Gold/Radio Static High, but this for me was the best British album of the year and one of the only to really address the mess the UK has got itself into. While the sludge/psyche rock act may not be quite as chaotic or as heavy as some of their earlier output, this is easily their sharpest to date, pinpointing the rage, anger, frustrating, sorrow and even humour in the current idea of being an "Englishman". This is a loose concept album, based on very similar themes and sounds as Timber Timbre's (albeit heavier) which skewers the current public conscious, but also provides genuinely breath-taking moments on songs like 'Calenture Boy'.

Englishman

Fleet Foxes - Crack-Up (June)

Robin Pecknold's triumphant return to music and to Fleet Foxes has been one of the major stories of the year, though he received mixed responses for it. In preparation for this album, Fleet Foxes' third and first in 6 years, Pecknold debuted a few of these songs, solo, supporting Joanna Newsom last year. At the time it was just good to know he was still writing songs, but the sheer ambition and kaleidoscopic scope of Crack-Up is incredible, for a band largely known for kicking off the folk resurgence in earnest. This record is rather like an intense, feverish, psychedelic vision in which Pecknold leads our hand, a singular voice in the void, while the music moves from madness to calm and back again across 11 beautifully composed tracks. The first time opener 'All That I Need' kicks in, it takes the listener completely off-guard, washing them away in the oceans and the incoming storm on the album's artwork sleeve, and the only hope is to try to ride it out and hope you survive. It is a genuinely impressive return to form, one I'm not sure many people thought Pecknold and Co still had in them.

Fool’s Errand

Sheer Mag - Need to Feel Your Love (July)

It's not often where a band, especially as politically fierce as Sheer Mag are, just consistently put a smile on your face and make you raise a fist and shout "YES!" But that's the Philadelphia punk-via-70s-radio-rock band do in spades. They manage to elicit a feeling in their music of so-called "simpler times" while simultaneously bludgeoning you in the face with the bullshit attitudes that were just as much of a problem in the 70s as they are today (in fact, an era partly responsible for them). Led by perhaps one of the best frontpeople in music today, Tina Halliday and guitarist co-writer Matt Palmer, Sheer Mag are the quintessential punk band in everything but their sound, one which the original punks would have openly mocked at the time. The irony, of course, is that those original "punk" acts, The Ramones, Sex Pistols, Clash etc. took largely from 70s glam-rock, they just sped up the songs and make the themes and lyrics angrier. Sheer Mag in many ways remind me of Fucked Up, another punk-band obsessed with 70s revivalism. Both bands understand with loving care and passion that to create truly great punk music, one has to look outside the obvious influences, while keeping an ear open for a catchy hook to couple with prescient themes on oppression, race, sexism, homophobia, police brutality which still plague us today. We need acts like Sheer Mag in these troubling times to remind us, there is another way.

Suffer Me

Waxahatchee - Out in the Storm (July)

Processing a rough break-up is one of music's classic tropes (hell I did it on that album I put out this year - I promise to shut up about that now) but if the recent re-evaluation of the early-to-mid Emo/Pop-Punk scene has taught us anything, it's that even these so-called "sensitive" boys can be just as much of the patriarchal problem as more aggressively "macho" acts out there (and in some instances, actually worse).  This is a round-about way of saying, traditionally, we rarely get to hear the female side of the story, and if we do, it is often met with patronising audiences of "poor little girl" syndrome. So what a breath of fresh air it has been to see Katie Crutchfield's Waxahatchee project break free of the shackles of a somewhat suffocating relationship that involved both her romantic and music life and create an album that deconstructs relationships and toxic masculinity in such brilliant fashion. Over the course of these 10 songs, Crutchfield proudly wears her battle-scars and reflects upon where she was and where she is now on Out in the Storm. I saw Crutchfield twice this year, first in the aforementioned church in Calgary, solo, essentially introducing this album to a new audience, and then later, all-female live band featuring her sister Alison (who also supported and is an excellent talent in her own right) and British guitarist Katie Harkin (Sky Larkin, Sleater-Kinney) who really helped make this album shine. Every song here is a stunner, but in 'Sliver' we have one of the best songs of the year, an anthem of defiance that neatly sums up this great, great album.

Silver

Grizzly Bear - Painted Ruins (August) *5th

One of the big narratives of music in 2017 was the "comeback" of mid-to-late 2000s indie-rock having a resurgence. Along with the aforementioned Fleet Foxes, we also had return records from The National, Wolf Parade, LCD Soundsystem and Liars, for instance, most of whom will show up later in this list (because I'm a nostalgic mark apparently). Grizzly Bear have been one of the most consistent acts in that world and with their 5th album Painted Ruins only continued to prove that. While I'm not sure they'll ever top my personal favourite, Yellow House, in fairness, the band made a statement that they were moving away from the more lo-fi, freak-folk and more towards chamber pop on Veckatimest. Grizzly Bear remain an amazing and consistently surprising act who reveal themselves with every listen, a tactic they've still not lost in over a decade. They can do a big pop song 'Mourning Sound' and the more subtle 'Neighbors' but they still after all this time have the ability to pull the rug from underneath you 'Three Rings', 'Four Cypresses'. While this certainly was a great year for "indie" music (whatever that really means) but Grizzly Bear remain the torchbearers.

Neighbors

Liars - TFCF (August)

I'll admit it, this album may have eluded me if I hadn't been commissioned to interview Angus Andrew this summer. I've never been a huge fan of Liars, but I've always liked their style and ambition to always try something new with every record, even if with varying results. But man, I am glad I had that experience with Andrew, because TFCF, striking artwork and all, is a mini-career benchmark for him. Liars is now just a solo act, after Andrew's partner in crime Aaron Hemphill suddenly departed from the band when recording sessions for TFCF began initially in Los Angeles. Andrew's world was turned upside down by this revelation, so his reaction was to move back to his native Australia, and become a hermit in the bush in New South Wales, outside of Sydney. The result is an album where Andrew fully immerses himself in his surroundings, using field recordings of the natural world he is currently living in as the background sound for him to write songs over. It's an intriguing experience, especially as I don't believe Liars' music have ever really been described as "emotional" before leading TFCF to sound almost like The Moon & Antartica-era Modest Mouse in places. This isn't the only characteristic though, as Andrew jumps around from genre to genre, all unified by this... buzzing of the bush that sits underneath it all. While not quite Andrew's peak of records like Drum's Not Dead or the self-titled album, this is a small renaissance in his career, and it will be interesting to see where he goes next.

Cred Woes

Mogwai - Every Country's Sun (September)

Yeah, it's another Mogwai album, which at this stage feels like a warm cup of tea and a hug, but there's no denying they keep on keeping on. In recent years Mogwai have slowed down their studio album production, favouring soundtrack work for TV and Film in recent years - such as last year's Atomic and Before the Flood, but they remain a solid act and for my money the greatest Scottish and further, British, act outside of Radiohead. Every Country's Sun is a mere reminder of the band's consistent greatness in a year where similar acts Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Do Make Say Think also had strong entries. While there are some familiar tropes on Mogwai's latest, their 9th studio album, they did add one of their poppiest songs ever 'Party in the Dark' and a more subtle use of the Carpenter-esque electronics that characterised Rave Tapes on tracks like 'aka47'. The best is indeed saved for last, however, as the album's excellent title track that closes the album is perhaps one of the band's most epic yet, one I wouldn't be surprised if featured at Celtic or Scotland games in the future.

Party in the Dark

Alex Cameron - Forced Witness (September)

Well, this one came from left-field. Again, like Liars, I may well have missed this one had I not been sent to interview him, and even then, my enjoyment wasn't assured given Cameron's retroactive sound and questionable lyrical content. However, when it quickly became apparent that Cameron is playing a role lampooning the toxic masculinity his characters exude which is seemingly openly everywhere in 2017. While some fans were disappointed Cameron moved away from his singular, lo-fi sound of his debut Jumping the Shark, his move towards 80s sleaze-pop, like Timber Timbre, is an excellent vehicle in which his rather pathetic characters exist. It's an intriguing idea, as rarely do musicians or artists "play the loser", something that only tends to exist in the world of acting. In many ways, Cameron is a performance artist, although in seeing him live (in his semi-hometown Berlin where he recorded the album) he unmasks and speaks about his songs candidly. Whatever it is, Forced Witness is an excellent album full of excellent, catchy ditties, especially his duet with Angel Olsen, who plays her own interesting role in the background of this album, that explore some fairly dark themes with a sense of humour and irony that stay, just about, on the convincing side.

Stranger’s Kiss (duet with Angel Olsen)

The National - Sleep Well Beast (September)

Another year, another solid National album. The National will, it seems, always have a spot on my list, though Sleep Well Beast didn't crack the top 10 when I was voting in my respective publications. Sleep Well Beast, The National's seventh studio album, sees the band try and mix things up with the seemingly inevitable turn towards electronic music that basically every guitar-based band eventually dabble in. The results are mostly successful, though in many ways this isn't as much of a departure as first suggested, remaining very much a National album. The one disappointment, in fact, is that it _doesn't_ go further in it's "electronica" as tracks like 'Guilty Party' prove there are some legs there, but towards the end, they become a bit over-reliant on pretty much one style which gets a little trying. In fact, Sleep Well Beast is probably their most piano-based record as opposed to guitars or electronica, which leads to beautiful opener 'Nobody Else Will Be There'. Meanwhile, the band step back into their older territory on tracks like 'Day I Die' and the somewhat unfairly maligned 'Turtleneck'. It's nowhere near the band's best, but The National are like a familiar friend you can not see for years and dip in with and catch up like no time has passed and will always be welcome to visit. (Fun fact, Ann and I were present for the shooting of the ‘I’ll Still Destroy You’ video as it was at their HAVEN festival, however sadly we didn’t get in!)

I’ll Still Destroy You

Chelsea Wolfe - Hiss Spun (September)

Chelsea Wolfe has slowly been getting better and darker throughout her career. Personally, I'm a little surprised Hiss Spun hasn't featured on more end of year lists, as it is a star turn from the still young LA-based goth, aided massively with Kurt Ballou's MASSIVE production and guitar chops from Queens of the Stone Age's Troy van Leeuwen. Perhaps its because she's fully embraced her "metal-side" that critics have been a little allergic to it, I'm sure there would have been a few raised eyebrows at Aaron Turner (ISIS/Old Man Gloom)'s roar at the end of the excellent 'Vex'. Either way, this is an album from an artist clearly in the ascendancy, and may well prove to be a stepping stone to a masterpiece in the future. Of all the artists currently out there, she's certainly got the most potential for it.

16 Psyche

Wolves in the Throne Room - Thrive Woven (September)

Continuing on with Metal, here is by far the heaviest entry on this list (though Converge, of course, run them close) from Olympia, Washington's Wolves in the Throne Room. I had the pleasure of getting to see the American Black Metal legends (I think we're good to give them that title now) this summer in Calgary and it was an overwhelming experience. To those who don't know, it may seem at odds to describe extreme, heavy metal as "beautiful" but that is Black Metal. Its atmosphere achieves a sensation that is transcendent when done right and WITTR are masters of it. From the second 'Born in the Serpent's Eye' begins, the listener is immediately fully submerged. From there on, this is yet another masterpiece in the band's already exemplary canon and it is good to have them back to winning ways after the disappointing left-turn 'Celestial'.

Born from the Serpent’s Eye

Protomartyr - Relatives in Descent (September) *1st place

Head and shoulders above, this is the best album of the year. Protomartyr have been quietly getting better and better with every record, and almost achieved a perfect record in 2015's The Agent Intellect, a record that has aged incredibly well since its slightly underrated release. Now, there's no avoiding it, the band's first album for Domino records is seeing a much bigger audience for the Detroit post-punk band who next year could well see themselves at the higher end of many festival slots. Simply put, Protomartyr are the most exciting punk act in the world right now. No one is doing anything as interesting, exciting, challenging as Protomartyr, their heavy, philosophical themes mixed with their highly original sounds. Just listen to the opener 'A Private Understanding' and see. Who else would dare open an album and a lead single with one of the weirdest drum-beats every committed, an off-key guitar line, frontman Joe Casey delivering the line "Not by my own hand/Automatic writing by phantom limb/Not with my own voice/Pleurisy made to stand on two legs". While Casey is pretty humble and coy about his band's success and journalists (myself included) who wanted to impose mad theories about "BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?" when really the answer is "truth is a slippery thing, just listen to it." Sage advice indeed, when the music is this good.

A Private Understanding

Wolf Parade - Cry, Cry, Cry (October)

Wolf Parade's triumphant return last year with an EP and Tour was one of the highlights of 2016. Their show at the Scala was one of the best of the year, a renewed vigour that was clearly waning by the end of the previous run was back and they looked fresh and happy to be here. It is perhaps no surprise then that they were able to translate that to the follow-up LP, 'Cry, Cry, Cry' (which came out on my birthday this year). Yes, it's a cleaner more polished sound, but goddamn they can still write a song. In 'You're Dreaming' and 'Valley Boy' we have great pop songs from Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug respectively, but it's when the album goes BIG that it really shines, on such epics as 'Flies on the Sun', 'Baby Blue' and 'Weaponized'. Of course, 'Cry, Cry, Cry' isn't close to their incredible debut, but that's an impossible standard to meet, so the band don't even try it, instead streamlining their later sound into something more confident and coherent (see: 'Am I an Alien Here') and it's a very welcome to have them back.

You’re Dreaming

St. Vincent - MASSEDUCTION (October)

A bit like Alex Cameron's Forced Witness, MASSEDUCTION is very much a response to celebrity and paparazzi. Though Cameron doesn't really sing about that (it doesn't really fit with the character) the title and artwork certainly do allude to it, while one of the major themes of MASSEDUCTION is on this. Annie Clark had a very public break up with Cara Delevingne which also takes up much of the record, but you can't really pin this album on any one particular event or theme, other than Clark's re-evaluation and sexual freedom. MASSEDUCTION is an experience worth seeing live, which made the album work for me, which I was initially a little tentative about. I saw glowing reviews but didn't quite match them up to the music. Then, seeing Clark "live" (which has caused much controversy), everything made sense. After a first half set where she ran through her greatest hits in release date order, the second half saw her perform the album in full and it really was a performance. Then everything clicked, in what could be Clark's best record to date, which is an already very high benchmark to clear.

New York

Fever Ray - Plunge (October)

Speaking of sexual liberation, (what a segue!) a couple weeks after St. Vincent's album, Karin Dreijer Andersson, better known as Fever Ray, surprised fans with a new album which plays on similar themes to Clark's. While Dreijer's not quite in the public eye the way Clark has become, she instead crafts an album about sexual politics which is dangerous-yet-endearing and seems particularly pertinent in this current spate of highly public reportage of sexual assault incidents currently ongoing. As ever, Dreijer proves why she is such a force of nature in composing these tracks, which are challenging and danceable, poppy and angry etc. with 'To the Moon and Back' she has a defining statement, a manifesto and a rallying cry, carrying on the theme's from The Knife's possible final record Shaking the Habitual perfectly.

To the Moon and Back

Golden Teacher - No Luscious Life (November)

One of Glasgow's best bands, Golden Teacher's debut full length has been waited on for some time. Really, this sextet are best experienced live, as every show immediately becomes a party. It can be difficult sometimes for highly-energised acts to capture that on record, but thankfully Golden Teacher manage it with the help of Emily McLaren & Stuart Evans at Green Door Studios. Golden Teacher are for me the quintessential Glasgow band. They exist in a liminal zone that links the city's art-punk scene with the world-famous electronic scene, hence their inclusion on the legendary Optimo's label. The record mix funk, world and electronic music with a punk energy and are an absolute thrill to experience, it would be impossible to not put this record and not feel the groove.

Spiriton

Converge - The Dusk In Us (November) *3rd Place

And finally, rounding out this excellent year are one of my all-time favourite bands, Converge. While I don't really listen to much heavy music these days, Converge are the exception to the rule in many ways. They exist in their own space within music that is fiercely inventive and original. I recently had an argument with a few people about what genre to classify Converge as and simply put, it's an impossible and unnecessary task. Converge simply don't fit into any easy genre classification, they are just Converge. What is a surprise was that, though Converge have never really had a dip in quality, the fact they have been able to produce such a career highlight this late into their salad days is nothing short of remarkable but also typically them? The Dusk in Us is an incredible achievement by all involved. It is perhaps Ballou's best production job to date, Newton and Koller's most controlled performance and, crucially, Jacob Bannon's most assured vocals to date. It seems ridiculous that the 25-year-old band keep finding ways to better themselves, but here we are. Kudos to you Converge for remaining such an inspirational figure not just in the heavier genres, but music as a whole.

A Single Tear

Thank you for reading! Have a happy new year and great festive season. 

#Best of 2017 #music #albums #Converge #priests #thundercat #protomartyr #Grizzly bear

[larrytcamp]

Falling in Love with Toronto: Insider Tips & Tricks for Your Next Visit

Welcoming a document 43.7 million visitors last year, Toronto has actually become one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Canada's most populated city has seemingly unlimited possibilities for where to go, see, consume, and sleep, so just how to tighten it down? Experts Karolína as well as Andrew are here to aid with their best Toronto tips.

Karolína and also Andrew are an international couple that got rid of 7000 kilometers to fulfill for the very first time in Toronto, a city that is currently close to and dear to their hearts. Together, they circumnavigate the globe as well as share their experiences with viewers on their blog site, Canadian Slovak. I talked with them concerning why Toronto means so much to them and all the best places to take a look at when visiting Canada's greatest city.

What do you like regarding Toronto? What makes it unique to you?

Toronto is an incredible city with lots of points to do, food to attempt or time to spend. It was my very first Canadian city to visit, and also I need to state that I fell in love right away-- as well as not just with the city but my Canadian partner, who I fulfilled for the first time in Toronto!

Well, that's a quite wonderful factor to enjoy it! What's your all-time preferred area there?

My personal fave was the markets. Toronto is well-known for its markets such as St Lawrence or Kensington Market. We checked out both of them and also have to claim that you can locate practically anything you are looking for there, whether you seek components or you come for breakfast, as we did! Whether its fruits or veggies, every little thing is fresh and also prepared to utilize! We completely took pleasure in the ambience therein, mainly on the weekend breaks.

If a vacationer just had 24-hour in the city, what are some locations you would certainly tell them they absolutely can't miss?

If a traveler only had 1 day in the city, I would without a doubt suggest that they take a look at the CN Tower, either at the base of the tower or take the journey up. And also if they enjoy purchasing, I would certainly tell them to take a look at the Eaton's Centre, which has a big selection of preferred stores, from clothing as well as shoes to house decors. I would additionally suggest that they take a trip to the waterside area, as there is a remarkable ambience and sight with several interesting dining establishments to take pleasure in.

What should travelers know about the neighborhood culture or people of Toronto?

Toronto is an extremely lively and also international city with a combination of different societies from all over the globe. The city provides everything one needs; no matter where from worldwide you are taking a trip from as well as no matter what you are searching for, you can certainly locate precisely what you are searching for. Individuals of Toronto are very pleasant and also practical. For instance, if you are lost as well as need assist with directions, many people enjoy to direct you in the best direction.

What's a cool community you 'd suggest to visitors seeking something a little different?

Chinatown is an extremely one-of-a-kind and also fascinating place to go to while in Toronto. Right after entering, you forget that you remain in Canada, as the design, individuals and also the ambience make it so authentic. You can locate anything in below, from Chinese food specials to souvenirs from Canada. We purchased much of them in one of the stores, as they offer a large spectrum for a good cost. Likewise, if you feel worn out after so many days of strolling as well as exploring the city, there are lots of health clubs and also day hair salons in this part of the city.

Inform me about your favorite restaurants in Toronto.

Our favorite breakfast area was Cora's. Located near the Blue Jay's stadium, Cora's offers an authentic Canadian morning meal that will not leave you hungry-- in fact the contrary! There are lots of points to choose from the food selection, including sandwiches, pancakes or eggs. Caution, it gets a little bit crowded so you may invest a min waiting for a table, however the food deserves it!

If you are looking for a lunch place and also you enjoy Italian food, we visited Scaddabush and had a charming and also fulfilling dinner there. Their food selection provides pastas, steaks as well as salads, so everybody discovers something they such as. We went for meatball pastas as well as penne pasta with couple of drinks as well as their signature mozzarella as a starter, as well as it was really tasty.

If you have a sweet tooth like us, we have an incredible area to show to you! Nadege Patisserie is a bakery/ice lotion shop situated right beside the Trinity Bellwoods park where you can get an ice cream in a homemade waffle or macarons or gelato with the macarons on it (yes, it is possible!) as well as go appreciate the day in a park.

Where would you suggest tourists stay when going to?

The benefit of remaining near to the city center is that you do not require to utilize any kind of sort of transport; rather you walk. If you select either Style, Entertainment, Financial Districts or Waterfront, every little thing ought to be reachable within maximum twenty minutes of strolling. Concerning holiday accommodation, we used Airbnb to rent a home, but I am pretty sure you can locate plenty of cellar homes, which are really typical, hostels or personal rooms.

What are one of the most photo-worthy or Instagrammable spots? Any type of fantastic hunts or otherwise photogenic places?

There are many places that are worth an appearance, however if you are truly searching for a wonderful shot of the city, I certainly recommend the sight of the city from the Central Toronto Island. It is an excellent opportunity to record all the essential features in one picture just as I did.

One more place I would visit once more is the Style District with numerous art/street art paints on the wall surfaces! One of the most well-known ones was actually right behind the building we lived in, the painting of Kate Moss.

Seems stunning! Any type of must-see museums or monoliths?

Standing at 553 metres, the CN Tower is a trademark symbol of Toronto as well as most definitely a monolith to appreciate! Either you select to just check it out from the outdoors, or you have the courage to climb and have supper overhead or attempt the EdgeWalk!

Furthermore, another essential attraction that is definitely worth a see is the Royal Ontario Gallery or ROM for brief. It has a wide variety of exhibitions from virtually every society as well as time period. It even has numerous interactive areas that are kid-friendly as well if you are taking a trip with your household.

What suggestions do you have for travelers looking to avoid the crowds?

We entirely advise walking the quieter backstreet rather than the major one. Additionally, it is much better to plan your journey as well as check out during functioning days, as it obtains a bit more crowded throughout the weekend, mostly in the museums as well as such.

What should visitors know about transport around the city?

Transportation in the city provides a selection to pick from. If you are not on a spending plan and choose to pass by car, Uber is a great pick for a longer drives. Yet while in the city, you can take a trip on a tram or use the metro. Another excellent option is to rent out a bike; rental places can be discovered all across the city. It's a great means of transport and enjoyable activity at the same time. Another transportation utilized is a ferryboat, which takes you to the islands and back.

Any other favorites in Toronto?

If you are traveling with youngsters or you just enjoy pets, you certainly need to visit Ripley's Fish tank! Found right under the CN Tower, it's a fun location with not only fish, sharks or jellyfish however with interactive presentations as well as panels to play. You can discover and explore the underwater life from throughout the world as well as the Canadian ones. You can touch a few of the fish in the end, go through the shark tunnel, have a treat while viewing the aquariums or acquire some mementos in the memento patronize the exit.

The post “ Falling in Love with Toronto: Insider Tips & Tricks for Your Next Visit “ was seen first on Venga, Vale, Vamos

Intravenous Hydration Clinic Toronto Ontario - Dr. Amauri Wellness Centre - Dr. Amauri Caversan, ND

[jenniferfaye34]

#Giveaway + Excerpt ~ The Matchmaker's Rogue by Regina Scott... #books #historical #romance #readers

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops

you'll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - Note from the Author

Welcome to Grace-by-the-Sea, a Regency spa village where everything is designed for your comfort and delight. Just don’t look too closely at those who pass silently in the night. . .

Bookworm Lisa - Review

"The Matchmaker's Rogue was a pleasure to read. I loved the characters. The eccentric residents and the "crazy" aunt all added a wonderful feel to the book. . . . It was the perfect blend of romance, mystery, and townsfolk. I can't wait to see who is matched in the next installment of the series."

Jorie Loves A Story - Excerpt

One of the reasons Jesslyn Chance loved the village of Grace-by-the-Sea is that it rarely changed. The same hot mineral water had been bubbling out of the limestone cliffs since before the Romans had landed in the little horseshoe-shaped cove below. The same families fished from the cove, farmed the chalk Downs above, worked at the spa, married at St. Andrew’s Church, and had babies who grew up to marry and have more babies. For the last hundred years, the same sorts of people, from young misses nervously awaiting their come out to venerable military gentlemen nursing war injuries, had come to drink the spa waters and bathe in the sea. The village had grown up to cater to the needs of its guests, boasting shops and conveniences few of its size ever managed. It was all very civilized. Until you introduced a rogue.

Among the Reads - Review

"It was such fun reading and trying to figure out who to trust and who the smugglers were. . . . While things wrapped up neatly, they didn’t. The ending hints at much more to come in this series: more mysteries to unravel, more adventures. I can’t wait!!"

Christy's Cozy Corners - Review

"I’ve read books and novellas by Regina Scott before, and I am a fan! Her characters are always so well written and lively. The characters in The Matchmaker’s Rogue are no exception. . . . The Matchmaker’s Rogue is a mystery that will keep you guessing and a romance that will leave your heart feeling happy. I can’t wait for more Grace-by-the-Sea books."

Beauty in the Binding - Excerpt

“You see it, don’t you?” her aunt whisper, nodding toward the man approaching them across the polished floor of the Grand Pump Room. “He’s a pirate, a rogue. He’s out to steal our greatest treasure.” Jess took a deep breath and raised her head. “Larkin Denby is no pirate. His mother and sisters live in Upper Grace. Very likely he’s merely here for a visit.”

Heidi Reads... - Excerpt

“Good afternoon, Mr. Denby,” she said, launching into her prepared speech. “Welcome to the spa at Grace-by-the-Sea. I am your hostess, Miss Chance, and this is my assistant Mrs. Tully. If you have any questions or would like an introduction, you have only to ask.” His head snapped up. Though he held her gaze only a moment, as was proper, she felt as if he were memorizing every feature, from the blond curls clustered around her face to her gloved hands resting on the table beside the book. His smile bloomed, and something inside her bloomed with it. “Miss Chance. How nice to see you and your charming aunt again.”

Andi's Book Reviews - Excerpt

“Mr. Denby will get on with the others famously,” she assured her aunt, letting go of her cautiously. “Look, he’s talking with the general like a gentleman.” The two men chatted, strangers making idle conversation as so many of their guests did. Then Lark moved on, leaving the general smiling as he rubbed the paunch straining his waistcoat. “Mr. Denby doesn’t fit in the spa,” Maudie argued. “He doesn’t look the least bit ill. He has no limp, no squint, no sign of a scrofulous cough.” “Neither did most of our visitors to arrive this summer,” Jess pointed out. “Not everyone comes to the spa because they are ill.” She tidied the stack of pamphlets, noticed her hands were trembling, and shook them out. At this rate, her aunt might suggest that Jess take the waters!

Locks, Hooks and Books - Review

"I love Regina’s writing and this one is probably among one of my favorites I have read by her to date. . . . I am giving The Matchmaker’s Rogue five plus stars. I can not wait to see what happens next in the Grace by the Sea series."

Becky on Books - Excerpt

“I am your devoted servant, sir,” he told the commissioner. “But surely there are other ways to identify these smugglers than to spend my time sipping the waters.” “I don’t care if you sip them, dunk yourself in them, or pour them on the ground,” the commissioner had replied, face tight and eyes steely. “Our source says the man we’re after sails from Grace Cove, and we have reason to believe he moves among the gentry, perhaps even the aristocracy. Where else would you expect to find him but at the spa?”

I'm All About Books - Excerpt

Yet it was her eyes that drew him. Large, wide-spaced, and a delicate blue, they made her look as if she were perpetually amazed by the world around her. He and Jess had been close when he’d visited eight years ago, the only two people that young at the spa then. They’d spent every day together, talking, walking, dancing at the assembly, attending church. Nothing had come of it. Nothing could come of it. They were too different—her content with life, him determined to see and do more. Still, perhaps she would indulge in a little gossip now. “Mr. Denby?” she persisted in that soft, lilting voice. “Might I be of assistance?”

Rockin' Book Reviews - Review

"I loved this story about Jesslyn and Lark. It is a sweet romance but has a lot more to offer with all that happened in Grace by the Sea and the spa that is so important to the families that live there. . . . I highly recommend this book to others to read and enjoy."

Remembrancy - Review

"Scott combines intrigue, romance, and small-town loyalty with a setting and characters I want to visit again. Not to mention an ending that makes me want to discover more about this sleepy little village. If you’re a fan of Regency and haven’t read Regina Scott’s books yet, you’re missing out."

Reading Is My SuperPower - Review

"Regina Scott’s books are always great reads, but I’m pretty sure that The Matchmaker’s Rogue is my favorite of hers so far. I can’t wait for book 2 to release – especially after the way this book ends! A story with romance, intrigue, adventure, and endearing humor, The Matchmaker’s Rogue is the perfect next read for fans of Jen Turano, Tessa Dare or Mary Connealy."

The Power of Words - Review

"The Matchmaker’s Rogue is filled with charming and sometimes quirky secondary characters. . . . In addition to the criminal element of smuggling, there’s also the concern of spies and passing of England’s secrets to Napoleon. The author skillfully aroused this reader’s suspicion of almost all of Grace-by-the-Sea residents . . . . The ending arrives at a very satisfying conclusion, with the village coming together in a unique way. Very little is quite as it seems on the surface! I hated to leave Grace-by-the-Sea and its many endearing characters, but there’s the promise of much more to come."

Tell Tale Book Reviews - Excerpt

He smiled at her. “I’m staying at the Mermaid for a few days, and I find myself wondering what to do for entertainment.” “It depends on what you find entertaining.” Said in such a disarming tone, he should not hear iron beneath the words, yet he did. She was being polite but letting him know she expected him to respond in kind. This was no time for coy comments, teasing remarks. She was no longer the young lady looking for companionship to while away the summer.

Singing Librarian Books - Spotlight

Historical Graffiti - Excerpt

Over the next while, she looked for her opportunity. But it soon became apparent she wasn’t the only one interested in the Newcomer. “And what can you tell us about Mr. Denby?” Miss Montgomery, the eldest sister, asked over tea that afternoon. Jess handed her a snowy white porcelain cup of the steaming brew from the wheeled teacart she or Maudie generally rolled from chair to chair. “His family lives nearby, a mother and two sisters.”

Red Headed Book Lady - Review

"My second book by this author and once again she has written another wonderful story. Great characters with a great plot that will keep you reading until the book is finished."

Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post...

The Matchmaker's Rogue (Grace-by-the-Sea #1) By Regina Scott Historical Romance Paperback & ebook, 272 Pages January 8th 2020 Grace-by-the-Sea: Where romance and adventure come home. Polished Jesslyn Chance has one of the most enviable positions in the little Regency coastal village of Grace-by-the-Sea. She is the hostess of the spa, arranging introductions and entertainments and playing matchmaker to the ladies and gentlemen who come to take the waters, promenade through the shops, and dance at the assembly. But when a rogue returns from her past, Jess finds herself suddenly at sea. Always an adventurer, Larkin Denby left Grace-by-the-Sea to right the wrongful death of his father. Now he’s back on a mission: to identify the mysterious Lord of the Smugglers who allegedly sails from Grace Cove and takes England’s secrets to France. But Grace-by-the-Sea is the perfect little spa town, run by the still oh-so-perfect Jesslyn Chance. When the village’s future is threatened, Jess must work with Lark to solve the mystery and protect the town’s own. In doing so, the matchmaker of Grace-by-the-Sea may just find that the best match for her is the rogue who stole her heart years ago.

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About the Author

Regina Scott started writing novels in the third grade. Thankfully for literature as we know it, she didn’t sell her first novel until she learned a bit more about writing. Since her first book was published, her stories have traveled the globe, with translations in many languages including Dutch, German, Italian, and Portuguese. She now has more than forty-five published works of warm, witty romance. She loves everything about England, so it was only a matter of time before she started her own village. Where more perfect than the gorgeous Dorset Coast? She can imagine herself sailing along the chalk cliffs, racing her horse across the Downs, dancing at the assembly, and even drinking the spa waters. She drank the waters in Bath, after all! Regina Scott and her husband of 30 years reside in the Puget Sound area of Washington State on the way to Mt. Rainier. She has dressed as a Regency dandy, learned to fence, driven four-in-hand, and sailed on a tall ship, all in the name of research, of course. Learn more about her at her website.

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Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive print copies of all six books in Fortune's Brides series (Never Doubt a Duke, Never Borrow a Baronet, Never Envy an Earl, Never Vow for a Viscount, Never Kneel to a Knight, and Never Marry a Marquess) US only

Ends January 29, 2020

ENTER HERE

#The Matchmaker's Rogue #Regina Scott #historical romance #Prism Book Tours #Hearts & Scribbles

[dcnativegal]

In which Jane turns 60 in the desert

Thursday, July 25th, 2019 was the first day that we were all together, everyone present. On Wednesday, my cousin Targ (a nickname created from “Margaret”) and her mother, my aunt, my father’s only sibling, Mary Lee Lincoln McIntyre, had arrived in a rental car from Eugene airport and checked into a cabin at Summer Lake Hot Springs. My sister, Elizabeth Lincoln, drove my kids, Jonah and Clara, and two of her kids, Yuuki and Makoto, and her husband Jim, up from Reno, arriving just after noon. My cousin, Julie McIntyre, drove with her son, Shayden, all the way from Tucson, AZ.  Valerie’s youngest, Arden, and his partner Maggie drove in from the Willamette Valley, and Valerie’s sister Karen arrived on Thursday from Chiloquin. Karen left on Friday, having to prepare a sermon for Sunday, so by Saturday morning, this was the assembled crew:

We had a more serious portrait shot but I tend to prefer the ‘act goofy’ photos. I look like a zombie, well fed after the apocalypse, Valerie is simply laughing. Mary Lee, age 86, is clearly game for anything. Yuuki is doing a pose. Maggie is blowing bubbles. Everyone was a good sport.

Months ago, realizing I was headed to the end of my 60th year on earth, I decided to invite the descendants of Ruth and Henry Lincoln to the Oregon Outback, Great Basin, High Desert land of Paisley to celebrate the fact of my existence. Not all could come, but a surprising number did. And the two relations of Valerie who were easily able to join us, got to meet more of my peeps.

That Thursday, we enjoyed a Mexican themed dinner, accommodating the vegan and the beef-eating, the gluten free and the ‘organic-only.’  Since July 25th was the day I decided would be my designated birthday with everyone as my captive audience, we played “Vertellis.”  It’s a Dutch card game that’s pretty simple: four rounds are organized into individual and group questions. I picked two categories of individual questions: Looking back on the year, what was good, crazy, interesting… and, looking forward to next year, what do you plan, hope for, find challenging? Everyone picks a card with a question, and you answer as honestly as you wish when it’s your turn.

I highly recommend https://vertellis.com/ for gatherings of people you don’t regularly see, especially around holidays. The answers can be hilarious, revelatory, and touching. When Valerie drew a card about picking something from the past year that she regretted, she told us: “I should have bought that primer bulb for the weed whacker way sooner!” Ever the practical gal, that Valerie! Clara hopes that the immigration hearing goes well for her husband, Jose. The answers spanned quite a range, and helped us to know each other a little bit better.

Why do we gather relatives only for funerals and weddings?  Or for old people’s 90th birthdays? Why not age 60?

I did feel selfish about the whole thing, off and on. My family had to spend money on the flights, the rental cars, and then the cabins at Summer Lake Hot Springs. My friend and coworker, JD, and his husband Joey lent me their RV camper, so 4 of the young’uns could sleep in that for nothing’. There were 4 Lincoln/McIntyre/Matteuccis and 4 Lincoln/Frey/Saitohs in each cabin. There was a lovely symmetry to the housing. The inside of the cabins has a southwest, rustic feel:

They are not air conditioned, and it was quite hot during the day, although as we say out west, at least ‘it’s a dry heat.’  Here in the desert, it is also very dusty. Thank goodness the temperatures cool off at night to around 50 degrees F, and there’s almost always a breeze.

There are the fabulous hot springs pools, too: here is the pool house at dusk, run through a filter:

We managed to escape the heat by going to the swimming hole in the Chewaucan River, which I’d never been to. The water is cool but not freezing, and clear, so that I could sit in a shallow spot and pick out flat rocks for Clara to skip. Even my aunt went, situated in a camp chair, safe from the water, and an elderly chihuahua named Uddha came, too. He stayed well away from the watery fracas.

Valerie and Uddha

Mary Lee and Uddha

 Someone stacked rocks in a lovely sculptural way:

We spent Friday schlepping to Picture Rock Pass to look at the petroglyphs, and then to Crack in the Ground, where I’d been wanting to go. That place is magical. Aunt Mary Lee sat comfortably in the shade on the picnic bench while the rest of us went one way or another, deep into the crevasses. My cousin’s son Shayden is a confident free climber and scaled all the way to the surface. We breathed in the moist, cool air and reveled in curious rock formations.

Shayden at Crack in the Ground

Where did this fern blow in from? Way to the west? I salute you, brave, flying little fern.

Looks like a path in the Holy Land, or a Roman ruin….

 “Crack in the Ground is a volcanic fissure that formed at the western boundary of a small graben underlying the Four Craters Lava Field. The Crack and lava field were recently dated at about 14,000 years old. The fissure is about 2 miles long and 70 feet deep, and disappears into lake sediments at its southern end. Therefore, this supports an interpretation that Lake Fort Rock rose no higher than this level in the last 14,000 years.”  http://www.fortrockoregon.com/Crack.html

Although impressing my family with the gorgeousness of high desert Eastern Oregon was deeply satisfying, the best part of the visit was the conversations. Family lore was reviewed by Mary Lee, who lived it, and Elizabeth, who brought a copy of a bound books she had made of her genealogy research on the Lincolns and the Smiths (my mother’s side.) Jonah was asked about The Future of Film, and Makoto shared that he’s looking forward to his semester in Japan where he can improve his Japanese and get a bit more feeling about the land of his father’s ancestors. I didn’t actually have any deep conversations. I felt a little bit like a bride: everyone’s gathered here to see me (and my beloved), and my job is to play my role and make sure everyone has enough seltzer to drink, and a comfy clean pillow. It was enough to create the event of gathering: I hope to continue conversations with my sister, cousins, and children by phone with more depth now that we’ve seen each other in the flesh.

 The family came in from Brooklyn, DC, Philadelphia, Virginia, Delaware, Albuquerque and Tucson, all very urban places. The empty expanses, and the star lit night sky, will surely stay with our visitors. Arden, Valerie’s youngest, was a firefighter in Lake County and knows a lot of cool locations, like the dry Loco Lake. He took the youngest generation to check it out on at least two nights. I was too tired. But from the photos, it looks like yet another spooky, otherworldly piece of the Oregon Outback.

Yuuki is the most photogenic creature that ever was, and was beautifully lit at Loco Lake by Jonah.

 Beautiful Clara, and Jonah making Alkali Angels??

 Apparently Loco Lake was a highlight for the youngest generation.

For the oldest traveler, Mary Lee, I think the best part of the trip was just seeing everyone. She’s lived and visited most of the planet, and reared her three children in New Dehli and Lebanon. She knows world history and writes plays about strong women, including Eleanor Roosevelt. She survived being widowed in her early 40s, and again in her 70s. She loves Italy, travel in general, gems, and her children and grandchildren. She loves me enough to deal with flight delays and dusty heat. She is amazing.

I was born in the evening of August 15th when Perry Mason was apparently just starting on TV. My father had just turned 30 two weeks before my arrival, and my mother was just 23. My mother passed away when she was 55, and my father after 7 years in a nursing home following a devastating stroke at age 69. Neither lived long enough to know my life as a divorced lesbian, and would have wondered at my choice to live in Paisley. Hopefully they’d have come around to my being gay, and as long as I have a job and am self sufficient, my father would have relaxed about the move. He’d also loved all the gun-toting, horse-riding republicans and he’d have adored Trump. Mom would have romanticized the First Nation people, and asked me about all the churches we’ve tried in our futile search for another St. Stephen’s. In any case, their daughters, myself and Elizabeth, are doing fine, and so are our five children. Mary Lee has 5 grandchildren, too. The 10 great grands of Ruth and Henry.

Ruth Turner, the descendant of slave owners. Henry Lincoln, cousin to the Great Emancipator. In that tension lies most of American History.

One thing that I reflect on as I think about the descendants of Ruth and Henry, is that we are committed to the social good, and to the arts. My sister is learning Healing Touch for working with animals and humans. Cousin Julie is an expert on pollinators, working against all hope for the healing of the environment with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Her sister, Targ, is a middle school guidance counselor. Brother Andrew McIntyre, who couldn’t come to Paisley, is a professor of acupuncture. Yuuki is an artist, exploring gender and the biracial life as a Japanese-American hyphenated human, with courage and sass. I’ve been a social worker for 33 years, now psychotherapist to the bruised and broken-hearted of Lake County. My daughter Clara is in charge of a tutoring site in Prince Georges County for at risk Latinx youth, using her bilingual skills to bring children and grandchildren of immigrants more opportunity through education. My son Jonah makes music videos in Brooklyn, living in what Beverly Tatum Daniel calls the borderlands where cultures complement, challenge, connect and stimulate each other. I asked him recently why he only dates women of color, particularly women of the African Diaspora. He says, they can relate to being of two cultures. Since he grew up white in a non-white world, he feels like a code switcher, too.

We are all in our own way, justice-seeking.

 The other part of the birthday extravaganza was letting people give to me. Receiving. Valerie had been reading a book called, It’s Not Your Money, by Tosha Sliver, who’s an amazing writer using humor and an ecumenical lens. I started reading it, and found this prayer, which I inhaled into my heart for the awkwardness of receiving all the love of my family for my birthday.

Here I go, headlong into my 61st year, giving with complete ease and abundance, wildly open to receiving.

#birthday crackintheground paisley toshasilver

[star-nova]

The Lives of the RiffRaff: Talia Santiago-Queen of the City

Previous: 

We Are the RiffRaff Rickie Johnson-The Art of War Vera Sherwood-Little Sister Kali Muburu-Hair Tracy Kwan-Vergil Franz Fawke-Hecklers James Weaver-The Preacher Mamoru Hayagawa-Three Weddings Charmain Dekker-Frankfort 

In Tanager, I'm the garbage on the side of the road. In Frankfort, I'm the queen.

These three little country mice—fellow garbage bags, as far as Tanager is concerned—are damned lucky to have me on their side. If they'd dared to go into Frankfort on their own, the city would swallow them whole and then shit them back out. But because they're with me, they're the safest bitches around. They just don't know it yet.

Sweet little Sophia and Charmain huddle together like frightened mice in the far rear of the Subaru. Directly behind me, Ellia and Sophia's little sister Elsie act like it's gonna be an adventure rather than a horror, and it is. It's hard to believe that Elsie is the little sister, but she's younger than Sophia by three whole years. Elsie must have had to learn to toughen up early in order to compensate for her sister's glaring lack of balls.

Sophia asks, “Do you think we could get cajun food around here? Or maybe we can try pad thai? Soul food?”

“There should be nicer restaurants here than in Tanager,” Charmain assures her, “upscale bistros and things like that.” Well, no shit, Char! All Tanager has is a pizza bungalow, a corner deli, and a tavern full of mediocre-ass beer. Oh, and there was a hot dog truck you could probably get e. coli from. But here we are, heading out into the city, and all they can think about are restaurants?

“I hope there's a skating rink,” Elsie says.

I say, “It's summer, retard.”

“That's the best time for skating rinks, you dingus,” Charmain says. “Nobody wants to go to an ice rink in the dead of winter.” Dingus. She'd be pathetic if she wasn't so damned adorable.

“I was talking about a roller rink anyway,” says Elsie.

Ellia says, “It's got a lot of historic buildings.”

You could take the bumpkins out of the country, but you could never take the country out of the bumpkins. Oh well, let 'em exchange their twee little fantasies of roller rinks, bistros, and hundred-year-old buildings. My only concern was that I was back where I belonged, in my world where everyone knew me and everyone who didn't know me would get to, soon enough. This was my territory and I ruled it with an iron fist. The queen bitch of Frankfort is back.  

My brothers owed me several favors, but I called them up and told them I was willing to let them all slide if they gave me just this one. Thankfully, they pulled through, and we had ourselves a flat.

The flat was not in the city proper, but in a little suburb tucked off to the side. It was quiet enough to appeal to my country girls, but close enough to the city to take advantage of it at every opportunity. It was all paid for, courtesy of my brothers, for the next two weeks, and it would be our home from now until July 1st.

“Talia, this is lovely,” Charmain said predictably when she saw the place. I just said, “Ain't it, though?” as I hauled my suitcase out of the van.

“It is,” Charmain said, “it's beautiful.” She sounded surprised, like she had expected me to hole them up in a drug den or some shit.

“You can thank my bros,” I told her. “You'll be meeting them later on.”

“Later on” came about an hour after we'd settled in and decided on who was sleeping where. There were three bedrooms, and I didn't mind sleeping on the couch so Charmain and Ellia could have their own; Sophia and Elsie would share the third. The girls were putting on eyeliner and doing their hair to go out into the city, because they didn't realize you didn't have to get dolled up to walk around Frankfort, when there was an unmistakable bang on the door. Sophia squeaked and froze up like a scared hamster, and it cracked me the hell up. The Four Santiago Brothers greeted us at the door in all their glory.

I'm not sure what the girls expected from my brothers, but what they got was one big, stocky Portuguese man, two tall, ripped ones, and one rail-thin one. The little one, Santino, had on a red button-down and skinny jeans. Luco, the oldest, was sporting a beat-up blue tee with cargos, and Monty and Ray had on wife-beaters and jeans in varying forms of distress.

I said, “Hey, shitheads,” and socked all four of them on the shoulder. They responded by socking me back, one after the other, first in my left shoulder then my right shoulder, my stomach, and finally my right eye. It wasn't hard enough to leave a mark or anything. It was how you showed love in the Santiago household.

Luco said, “Happy birthday, lil sis,” and tugged at my ponytail.

Monty said, “Now you an old bitch!” and I gave him a shove.

And then here came sweet little Charmain Dekker, with her fluffy brown curls and her daisy-print romper and the rose-colored lipstick she had on for no good reason at all. She went right up to the Santiago Four and said, “Hi, I'm Charmain, Talia's friend. It's very nice to finally meet you four.” She held out her hand. You don't hold out your hand to a Santiago unless you want them to snap it. But surprisingly, my bros each gave her hand a little shake. I nearly gagged when Monty took hold of her hand, kissed it, and said, “Well, bonjour, cherie!” He turned to me and said, “Damn, Tally, you didn't tell me your friend was cute!”

“I wasn't aware,” I told him. Not very many would call Charmain “cute.”

My bros introduced themselves to Ellia, Sophia, and Elsie. “Friends of Talia's,” Luco said, “are friends of ours. Round here, we look after our own.” Those girls were now the safest ladies in Frankfort.

After all the introductions were made, the boys told us to get our shit, we were going to see the Baroness.

“Who is that?” Sophia asked, sounding hella scared to hear the answer. The boys tittered at her anxiety. “She's just our auntie,” Ray told her, “that's all.”

To call Maven Whittaker, nee Santiago, “just our auntie” sounded incredibly disrespectful. She had always been “the Baroness” or “the Lady Maven” to us. My father's sister was the head of our district's branch of the Frankfort Police Department, and her power and influence had been a constant in this city for as long as we could remember. Somewhere in her early thirties, she managed to attract the attention of The Honorable Judge Andrew Whittaker of the Franklin County Courthouse, and her marriage to him was in equal parts for love and for alliances. The power that she had now that the head of the county justice system was in her bed every night was akin to that of Catherine the Great in 18th century Russia. She produced her first child soon after the wedding, and three years later along came her second, my cousins Larry and Stephanie Whittaker. The two of them grew up well aware of the power their parents had and the things that they were therefore allowed to get away with, and I made playmates of them whenever possible. Now, they both have guard jobs at the county jail.

The Lady Maven stood at a full six-foot-two—two inches taller than me and several inches taller than any of my brothers—and never carried any less than three forms of weaponry on her at any given time, sometimes concealed and sometimes right in the open. She was a Baroness in every sense of the word, and honestly, I wasn't sure that the girls were ready for her. But Charmain was the first to say, “I'd love to meet your aunt. Will we be meeting your other family too?”

“'Course you will,” Ray told her. “It's Talia's birthday and we're havin' a party.”

The girls hadn't wasted their hair and makeup after all; a visit to the Baroness' pristine palace was a hair-and-makeup affair for sure. I'm not the type to get dolled up, but still I changed out of my cutoffs and into some chinos and a hi-low. I left my worn-out combat boots on because they're all I ever wear.

The Baroness' palace echoed the splendor of both Judge Whittaker and the Baroness herself. Situated in upscale Frankfort, it housed the two of them, my cousins Larry and Stephanie, my father's brothers Jakob and Dale, and Jakob's wife Lydia. Tonight, in honor of the occasion, the mansion played host to much more than that; when we pulled up, the entire Santiago clan stood at the gates and at the door and the front yard, waiting for us.

The girls were stunned to silence when they saw the place. The palace and the surrounding mansions put the upscale abode of Florence and Pietro Frost, the richest of the RiffRaff, to shame. “Geez, Talia,” Ellia said as she took the whole thing in, “is your aunt an actual baroness?”

“I was thinking a princess,” Charmain said with a chuckle.

“She may as well be,” I told them.

“Is that really my girl there?” my father, Sheriff Carlo Santiago, said when he saw me step out of the Subaru. “Oh my gosh, I believe it is! But no, this can't be her; my girl's a scruffy little runt, and this...well, this is a beautiful Amazon of a woman!” He wrapped me up in his big old arms and hugged the hell out of me. “Thirty years old!” he cried out. “Thirty years old and my girl's a lady, a gorgeous lady!” The warmth of that hug and the giddy feeling of seeing my dad after three years only seeing him on FaceTime had some kind of power over me. I kissed his cheek, my one display of affection.

He released me and turned his attention to the girls. “Well, hello there,” he said jovially, like he was a member of the Brady Bunch. “It's nice to meet you ladies. Talia, you didn't tell me you kept such pretty company!”

Sophia turned rose-red, but Charmain held her hand out to him and said, “It's nice to meet you, sir.” She was so saccharine that it made me want to throw up in my mouth.

My father let out a tremendous laugh. “Sir?! Sweetheart, my name isn't Sir, it's Carlo.”

And then, beyond the throngs of other relatives that hadn't seen me in at least three years, the Baroness herself stood beside the Judge at the front door. She was dressed head-to-toe in uniform for no reason at all, except maybe to remind everyone of her power. You could kill a man in cold blood after taking everything from him, and if the Baroness found reason to believe it wasn't you that did it, then it wasn't you that did it and that was the end of that. On the contrary, you could be the cleanest and most innocent man alive, and the Baroness could find dirt on you that you didn't know you had, and magnify it until it was worth ten to twenty-five. She was a terrifying old bitch, and I respected no one like I respected her.

Maven Whittaker looked down the bridge of her nose at the four of us, but her smile was genuine. “Talia,” she said, “I missed the hell out of you.” She squeezed both of my hands. “Welcome home, my girl.”

I was home. After three years holed up in that shithole town, I was back where I belonged.

For me, city life is the natural order of things. I readjusted to it so quickly that it was as if I'd never left it behind.

The guys down at Clarke's Tavern welcomed me back with open arms. I started up one of our old poker games, and by my second day back in Frankfort I was walking away with three-hundred-fifty of the poor fuckers' dollars. My bros and I took it out dancing, and we took the girls with us.

At The Breeze bar and nightclub, the girls were acknowledged as “Talia's squad,” and they were given free drafts of ale, courtesy of Tony the bartender. Sophia eyed that draft with something like shame, and I could tell she was mentally fighting herself over whether she should shut up and accept the gift or tell Tony that she didn't drink. In the end, I grabbed it and downed it in one seamless gulp right before her eyes, and then proceeded to do the same to my own ale. “There,” I said, “now it didn't go to waste.” I slipped Tony a cool twenty-five.

To the surprise of everyone involved, those three were the stars of the club. They tore that floor right up, to the point where everyone else would move aside so that they could take center stage. Charmain learned the Jerk nine years too late, and Ellia executed a flawless one-two step. They danced with my bros and with the guys that sidled up to them, called them “cuties” and “beauties,” and asked for their names. When Mabel's “Don't Call Me Up” came on and Sophia pulled out a shuffle and a pop-lock with a finesse that I never in my life would have attributed to Sophia Bolshevik, I was sure that the city had transformed those three just the way that it needed to. I went ahead and let them own the night while Santino and I slipped into an alley to find a riot to start.

In the coming days, I settled back into my old life. Early every morning, before the girls were awake, my bros and I went out into the city and its surrounding suburbs with our crates of product hidden in the back of Luco's truck. For the past three years, everybody had to rely on shipments to get a Talia Santiago brew, and I missed the experience of street selling like a beached whale misses the ocean. Long-distance sales had none of the thrill of slinking along backroads and alleyways like secret agents, communicating in arbitrary code-words to keep our activities down low, and being directed to out-of-the-way shit-sties in Nowheresville in order to keep out of the watchful eyes of the populace. If we were caught or if somebody threatened to blow our cover, they would find themselves persuaded into silence by one of my blades or by the barrel of my 19X. If such incidents were reported, they would likely reach my father or even the Baroness, and then it was just like they never happened at all.

The girls were left to fend for themselves for most of the day, and they were just fine with that. They went off on their twee little adventures to museums and historic sites, took Instagram pictures of the city skyline and the capitol building, and romped through parks and shopping centers completely undisturbed by the general public. I met up with them at lunch and dinnertime and took them to places where they would be known as “Talia's ladies.” They soon learned that the mention of my name in the local establishments would inspire either fear or reverence in their patrons. Either way, everybody knew who I was, and if they didn't know me, they knew some other Santiago.

Yes, Frankfort had done just what I wanted it to. It had transformed us all from countryfied garbage into queens of the city. The curse of a shithole that saw us as nothing but rancid trash was broken the moment we stepped through the gates of the Baroness' mansion on our first day. The spell of the city took hold of us all, and we were RiffRaff no more.

#Fiction by Me #The Lives of the RiffRaff #writing #work in progress

[sentrava]

Spring Vacation in the Florida Panhandle: A Long Weekend Guide to PCB

For as long as I have memories, my family has gone down to Panama City Beach for vacation. We’d always pack up the station wagon—then later, the Cadillac—and make the seven-hour drive from Tennessee to the Florida Panhandle. While there, we’d run into dozens of people we know because, well, everyone from our area vacations in Bay County. But until the last few years, I’d never done a whole lot of long weekends in PCB—it was always a full week and change due to the drive time—yet now, we have a lovely little direct flight on Southwest that is just 45 minutes wheels up to wheels down, so it’s easier than ever to jet on down when I see a good deal.

Where to Stay in Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach stretches a lengthy 27 miles across the Gulf Coast, and there’s no shortage of beachfront properties from which to choose for a vacation. I’ve stayed all over the Panhandle, and many of the condo high-rises offer the same amenities and layouts, so it really depends on what end of the beach you want to use as your base.

ResortQuest by Wyndham dominates Northwest Florida’s rental market and offers every kind of rental house configuration imaginable; I stayed in a very large one-bedroom property of theirs with an additional bunk-bed nook down along Gulf Lagoon Beach while on this trip, and I’ve already booked one of their condo complexes at the complete opposite end of PCB for my long weekend there with SVV next month.

Personally, if you’re traveling with a girls’ group or significant other sans kids, I love Carillon Beach for its upscale homes and relative seclusion. If you’re traveling with children and/or a large group, you might prefer one of the Wyndham complexes near Laguna Beach, conveniently close to Pier Park and other family attractions like Gulf World Marine Park.

Thursday

If you’re like me, you take the first available flight out, meaning you’ll touch down in plenty of time for a full day on the beach. It also means you’ll require a major caffeine boost mid-morning—a 4am wake-up call is no joke, at least not for this sleepyhead—and that your first stop after leaving the airport is Finns Island Style Grub for a smoothie bowl, kombucha and the famed black salt pepper mocha made with cold brew. (Dairy-free or vegan? Ask for the “venocha,” and they’ll hook you up with house-made cashew milk instead.)

If you arrive closer to lunchtime, Finns is still a great bet as this food truck with a brick-and-mortar location (and a full build-out to come very soon) got its start cooking up the meanest fish tacos around. Note: Finns typically closes at 3pm on weekdays and 8pm on weekends, so check the hours before you make the pilgrimage.

If you’re traveling with a group, also take note that Finns has a catering arm and will come to your rental house to set up a full-on taco bar, which is often more convenient—and more economical—than going out to eat.

Once you’re nice and full, head to check into your accommodation. Even if you can’t get into your condo just yet, you can go ahead and park and stake your plot of sand on the beach. My condo happened to be right next to Schooners, so I nabbed a parking spot, slurped down a craft beer, chased it with a margarita, then headed for the beach.

Even traveling to PCB during mid-spring, the beaches weren’t crowded, probably because I was staying all the way at the eastern end of PCB toward St. Andrews, a little bit outside of the fray. And need I remind you there’s 27 miles of beachfront property?! It was a perfect 75 degrees every day we were there with very little humidity. Spring is absolutely my favorite time to visit the Panhandle for these balmy days and temperate nights with a bit of a nip in the air.

That night, I met the Travel Mindset crew at my favorite local spot for dinner: Craft Bar. Craft Bar has upward of 30 craft brews available in flights or full pints, and I never miss an opportunity to taste my way through some of Florida’s best beers. In typical fashion, Jade ordered a bunch of different plates—from hot chicken to fried green tomatoes—for all of us to snack on. Then, we hit the hay hard to rest up for a long weekend ahead in the sun.

Note: PCB now has both Lyft and Uber service, so you can leave your car at your rental and have fun out with your friends.

Friday

I love to hit the big hotspots on weekdays when crowds are slimmer, and there’s no more iconic spot than Shell Island, a 700-acre barrier island less than 30 minutes by boat from PCB. On this particular trip, our group chartered a boat with Lagoon Pontoons for a half-day, so we grabbed breakfast to go; packed coolers full of drinks, snacks and lunch; and set off for a morning on Shell Island’s white-sand beach.

If you don’t have a full day to set aside for this uninhabited paradise, alternatively, you can take the Shell Island Shuttle—which departs daily every half hour between 10am and 4pm—for a shorter stay.

We walked the perimeter of the island, we went swimming, we combed the shallow waters for starfish, and we pulled up our lounge chairs to where the ocean meets the sea and got properly sunburned (wear stronger SPF than we did!).

When we got back to land just after 2pm, we had a few hours to go back to our condos, grab food, change then meet back for a full night on the beach. New to the area since my last stay in Panama City Beach is Endless Beach Rentals, a company that sets up charming beach rigs so that you don’t have to worry about hauling your own gear through the sand. There are plenty of options from which to choose, but we opted for the ultimate night under the stars in PCB: a beach bonfire.

With a bit of a chill in the air after the sun sank, the bonfire felt like a dream. We lounged in hammocks and the cozy beach chairs Endless Beach Rentals provided us as we toasted s’mores and got our hands gooey, while several members of our group played cornhole and others grooved to 80’s tunes the DJ was spinning. (The DJ was me, guys. Give me a Bluetooth speaker, and I will blast some monster ballads from my favorite hair bands all night long.)

You can also bring your own cooler of beers now that the month of March has passed. (PCB bans alcohol consumption on the beach for the month of March during prime Spring Break season to keep things tame, but the rest of the year you’re welcome to BYOB and drink responsibly.)

After your bonfire has been quenched, head west to Saltwater Grill, one of the best fine-dining experiences in PCB, for a feast of scallops, lobster, crab and juicy cuts of steak.

Saturday

Breakfast in PCB, for me, is almost always Andy’s Flour Power, which recently located to an even bigger location just a half-mile from its original spot on Thomas Drive, and now can accommodate even more diners who flock there for the Belgian waffles, biscuits and gravy, omelets and French toast. I didn’t want to waste any beach time on lunch, so my breakfast at Andy’s doubled as two meals (that totally justifies my extra order of bacon, right?).

My favorite beach in PCB is nearby at St. Andrews State Park. Because there’s a small fee ($8 per car) to get in, it’s never overwhelmingly packed. But it’s got space galore including two great stretches of beach—one lining the Gulf, the other flanking the lagoon—from which to choose.

It’s also rife in wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled for herons, gators and other species that call the Florida Panhandle home. Those traveling with kayaks or SUPs should definitely consider St. Andrews; the protected lagoon makes it an easier spot to paddle than most.

Since I was already in the St. Andrews area, I lingered until mid-afternoon, stopping by the Grand Marlin for oysters and happy hour with friends before we boarded our dolphin cruise with Island Time Sailing.

This two-hour tour sunset dolphin cruise takes passengers out through the lagoon, around Shell Island and back near the shore of St. Andrews, where you can see the sun set over PCB as the dolphins frolic on the horizon.

As always, we saw SO many, it was hard to keep track of which direction they were coming from!

If you get seasick, take a little something before the trip out, as it can be a bit rocky on the sailboat. Once you’re back on land, you have a few dinner options nearby: Patches Pub for a more traditional PCB beach bar experience or Shore Shack Pizza, a two-year-old restaurant that serves up a nice mix of specialty pies on a pleasant outdoor patio.

Sunday

Be one of the first in line for Thomas’ Donuts after it opens. You won’t regret setting your alarm early for a stack of that sugary-sweet perfection. It opens at 6am, but if you’re there by 8 (or even 9) on a Sunday morning, you shouldn’t run into too long of lines.

Spend your final day beachfront, or if you’re all beached out, head to Panama City Beach’s Pier Park, a colorful wonderland, particularly well-suited for kids with its Ferris wheel, ice cream parlor, IMAX theater, laser tag and more. It also boasts 124 stores, so if you need a new bathing suit or are looking for a souvenir before you fly back home, this is your place.

Sticking around through sunset? Grab an early dinner beachside at Hook’d Pier Bar & Grille, then drive out to Camp Helen State Park to watch the colors in the sky light up on fire as only the Gulf knows how to do.

Looking for more PCB travel tips? Start here:

Secret Florida: Where the Dolphins Play

The Best Places for Your Killer PCB Instagram Shots

Chowing Down: Where to Eat in Panama City Beach

A Helicopter Ride Over PCB

Fitness in Panama City Beach: Learning Aerial Yoga

Carillon Beach: The Gulf Coast’s Best-Kept Secret

Wreck Diving in Panama City Beach

This post was in partnership with Travel Mindset and Visit Panama City Beach. All opinions are my own.

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Spring Vacation in the Florida Panhandle: A Long Weekend Guide to PCB published first on https://medium.com/@OCEANDREAMCHARTERS

[thechasefiles]

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 14/April/2020

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily news cap for Tuesday 14th April, 2020. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

CAUTION FROM WORLD BANK – The World Bank expects the Barbados economy to bounce back from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic next year once the crisis is “short-lived”. But Martin Rama, the international financial institution’s chief economist for the Latin America and the Caribbean region, urged that this forecast be taken “with a grain of salt”, given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19’s final impact. Rama also said it was still unclear if Barbados, which was graduated from funding because of its high income status, would be able to access World Bank financing given the current situation’s unprecedented nature. In its semi-annual report for the region, titled The Economy In The Time Of COVID-19, the World Bank forecasted that the Barbados economy would contract by 7.7 per cent this year but grow by 4.9 per cent in 2021 and 2.5 per cent in 2022. (DN)

NO POLITICAL REVIVAL FOR SINCKLER - Former Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler’s appointment to a special advisory group for current and post COVID-19 Barbados will not revive his political career, says political scientist Peter Wickham. The director of Caribbean Development Research Services said Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley’s selection of the former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) representative for St Michael North West was a way to form a unified position as the country deals with the virus. “The Prime Minister is having a challenge with the percentage of Barbadians who are still actively supporting the DLP. In a situation like this, you need to speak with one voice which is apolitical. I think in a situation like this we need to have a unified front and clearly [DLP president] Verla De Peiza is not that person that can help bring that to the fore.” He added: “His [Sinckler’s] utility is less about the economic knowledge he brings and more about the legitimacy he can bring to hard decisions that have to be taken. This is not a way to resurrect Chris or pick him up and scrub him off and present him to the public. This is a crisis situation and I think he will help respond to the crisis. His political career is no less dead than it was before and that is something to be clear about,” Wickham said today. (DN)

CZAR’S WARNING – The man in charge of Barbados’ effort to stem the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease is warning Barbadians not to be complacent during the extended national lockdown. In fact, COVID-19 czar Richard Carter says he expects more infections and even a few more deaths from the flu-like virus before Barbados can grapple the public health crisis to the ground, especially because of the prevalence of pre-existing medical conditions within the elderly demographic.Carter, a social scientist with experience in handling the impact of a viral pandemic in Sierra Leone, said Barbados’ early plan, which was instituted in January to prepare for the disease reaching these shores, and which moved to Stage 3 before many Eastern Caribbean countries, had served the country well. (DN)

BAJANS HABITS HARD TO CURB – COVID-19 CZAR Richard Carter has admitted that trying to curb the behavioural practices of Barbadians has been his biggest challenge. The island has been under lockdown since March 28, when an initial 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew was implemented. It has since been extended to a 24-hour curfew and Carter said it has been extremely difficult trying to keep people inside their homes during that period. “This has been perhaps the most difficult aspect of what we’ve tried to do. We’ve tried to remind people that even when you yourself may not be at serious risk in terms of a young person, for example, who gets affected by COVID-19, we know that about 80 per cent of the cases are mild, so mild that large numbers of people are asymptomatic or very mildly symptomatic and may not even know they have COVID-19, but you have a mother, you have an aunt, you have a grandmother or grandfather and the risk for them is considerably elevated. “All of the deaths we have seen of COVID-19 in Barbados are of elderly people and in one or two cases infected by persons younger than themselves, so that is part of what we have tried to communicate,” Carter said during an interview on various media platforms this afternoon.

“Disobedience and the natural tendency that some people have to try to flout rules, that is not simply putting yourself at risk, it is putting members of your own family at risk. We saw from very early, as soon as the restrictions were announced videos of young people stating their intent to disobey and so that is a message we have tried to communicate to young people.” Carter, who worked in West Africa during the Ebola outbreak, however, said this was not the first time he had encountered such stubborn attitudes. He said during the Ebola outbreak it had also been difficult in trying to curb the practices of Africans, especially as it related to treating the dead. “They’ve been lessons from Ebola. Under Ebola, persons were not allowed to touch their own relatives who died because it was immediately after death that the body was at its most infectious. So here you had a society that believes that if you don’t send off your ancestors or your loved ones in an appropriate way by washing and preparing the body, that body roams in the afterlife forever and torments you,” the Czar explained. “How do you get people to a part where they don’t touch their dead bodies, where they don’t touch their children if they are ill? “That was a huge battle and similarly in Barbados we are asking people to do things that are not in their natural instinct, we are asking people to do things that are contrary to what they’ve had and enjoyed for a long period of time. We are fortunate to live in a society that provides us immense freedoms, but those freedoms are the very things that something like the coronavirus can exploit,” Carter maintained. (BT)

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO RE-OPEN ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 – The Central Bank of Barbados and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) advise that all deposit-taking institutions and/or businesses facilitating domestic or international payments can open under the extended 24-hour curfew, which runs from April 15 until May 3. The Bank and the FSC acknowledge that during this period financial institutions may reduce the number of their branches that will operate. The regulators advise, however, that financial institutions, including commercial banks, credit unions and money service remittance firms must:

·       Enforce the requirement that their clients use their services on the day assigned by their surname or special circumstance;

·       Accommodate, by exception, during the shortened weeks of April 13 and April, 27 clients assigned to Monday and Tuesday, and Tuesday and Friday, respectively

·       Take the opportunity during this period to encourage their customers to sign up for ATM cards and/or internet banking, where feasible

·       Adopt protocols for dealing with persons who, for the protection of their health, wish to enter the banking premises wearing masks. Such clients must temporarily reveal their full face on entry to the institution and when they approach the customer agent for the purposes of security and customer identification.

The regulators advise that customers should check their financial institution’s website or monitor the media for the details about the operations of the financial services sector during the extended curfew.

The Bank and the FSC thank all deposit-taking institutions for their understanding and urge Barbadians to adhere to the new procedures for carrying out their financial transactions to ensure everyone’s safety. The regulators also remind the public to adhere to the national protocols and warnings to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. (Central Bank of Barbados) - (BT)

ESSENTIAL CARGO DELIVERY BY APPOINTMENT – Members of the public are advised that from tomorrow, Tuesday, April 14, essential cargo deliveries will be done through an appointment system at the Bridgetown Port, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Persons may book appointments by sending an email to the following addresses based on their requirements:

For less than container loads collection – [email protected]

Full container loads collection – [email protected]

Exports (for less than container loads) – [email protected]

Exports (full container loads) – [email protected]

Appointment confirmations will be sent via return email, and all relevant documentation must be presented at the gate. However, persons may direct queries to, or seek assistance by calling 244-1823 or 434-6100 Extension 5401/2/3/5 for lesser than container loads; 832-8398 or 434-6100 Extension 5501/2/6 for full container loads; or 434-6100 Extension 5405/6/7 for exports. For more information, persons may visit the Barbados Port Inc.’s website at www.barbadosport.com. This forms part of the National COVID-19 response to ensure cargo identified as essential is unstuffed and delivered to consignees, and that exports are facilitated in an efficient and timely manner. (BT)

PAYMENT & COLLECTION OF MAINTENACE – The Supreme Court of Barbados has advised that the payment and collection of maintenance monies will be done according to the following schedule:

Payment Date: Tuesday April 14th – Boarded Hall, & District F St. Joseph Magistrates’ Courts

Collection Date/Method: Wednesday April 15th 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Payment Date: Tuesday April 14th – Oistins Magistrates’ Court, District D & F St. Andrew, District A Domestic Court, St. Mathias

Collection Date/Method: CHEQUES TO BE POSTED

Payment Date: Wednesday April 15th - Oistins Magistrates’ Court, District D & F St. Andrew, District A Domestic Court, St. Mathias

Collection Date/Method: CHEQUES TO BE POSTED

Payment Date: Tuesday April 14th – Friday April 17th – District E & Holetown Magistrates’ Courts

Collection Date/Method: CHEQUES TO BE POSTED

Payment Date: Thursday April 16th & Friday April 17th – District C Magistrates’ Court

The payment of maintenance should be made between 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on the allotted days. (BGIS)

TWO SPECIAL SHOPPING DAYS – Two days have been designated for senior citizens aged 70 and over and members of the disabled community to go shopping at the supermarkets, hardware stores and fish markets, irrespective of their surnames. A press release from Government today said the days, starting April 19, are Sundays, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., and Tuesdays, between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.    Tuesday is also the day for them to conduct business at banks and credit unions, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.  The measures go into effect on April 15. They are reminded to travel with their national identification card, driver’s license or passport, as they will be asked to show picture identification before entering the premises. People in these groups are advised to bring a shopping list of essential items, an umbrella, drinking water and to wear a cloth face mask in public. All shoppers will be required to observe a physical distance of a minimum of six feet. Anyone feeling ill is advised not to go out. The number of people allowed in each store at one time will be 75 for mega supermarkets, 50 in the large, and 25 in the small stores.  These measures were implemented as Government works to limit the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). (BGIS)

SPECIALLY DESIGNATED SHOPPING DAYS FOR SENIORS AND DISABLED TUESDAY AND SUNDAY – Senior citizens aged 70 and over and members of the disabled community are reminded that there are two specially designated days for them to go shopping at the supermarkets, hardware stores and fish markets, irrespective of their surnames. The days set aside for these vulnerable groups, starting Sunday, April 19, are Sundays, between 9 a.m and 11 a.m., and Tuesdays, between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tuesday is also the day designated for them to conduct business at banks and credit unions, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. The measures go into effect for all groups of persons on Wednesday, April 15. They are reminded to travel with their national identification card, their driver’s licence or passport, as they will be asked to show picture identification before entering the premises. They are advised to bring a shopping list of essential items so that they can shop speedily, and to carry an umbrella and drinking water in case there is a waiting period before they are allowed entry. It is strongly recommended that persons wear a cloth face mask in public. All shoppers will be required to observe a physical distance of a minimum of six feet. Anyone feeling ill is advised not to go out. The number of persons allowed in each store at one time will be 75 for mega supermarkets, 50 in the large, and 25 in the small stores. All other persons, outside of these vulnerable groups, are advised that their shopping days are designated according to the first letter of their surnames. (BGIS)

KEEP KIDS HOME – Police are asking parents to keep their children indoors to protect them from the coronavirus (COVID-19). At the same time, child rights experts are saying enough activities must be provided for the youngsters, and they should be shielded from detention if they breach public health emergency rules. Inspector Stephen Griffith, of the Crime Prevention Unit of the Royal Barbados Police Force, has questioned why parents would allow their children to be in danger of contracting the virus by riding around and gathering during the 24-hour lockdown. So far Barbados has recorded 72 cases of the illness, including a seven-year-old, with four deaths. Thirteen people have recovered. (DN)

TRINIDADIANS LEFT STRANDED IN BARBADOS CAN RETURN HOME AT THEIR COSTS - National Security Minister Stuart Young is willing to grant an exemption to a group of T&T nationals, who were left stranded in Barbados after this country closed its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking at a Ministry of Health virtual press conference Sunday afternoon, Young said that they were free to return to Trinidad but had to arrange their own transportation. Young said: “They can make their way here but the Government is not sending a plane for them.” During the press conference, Young took the time to give a chronological account of the group’s plight and his discussions with Barbados authorities and the group’s attorneys St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar and Larry Larry over their possible repatriations. Young explained that the group landed in Barbados after the travel ban for nationals and non-nationals took effect on March 23. Young noted that while the T&T Government, through the Ministry of Health, sent COVID-19 test kits for the group, officials in Barbados still required that they serve 14 days mandatory quarantine before being tested. Young said that after the period elapsed, he was informed that the testing could still take place but was being delayed by the fact that Barbados has a shortage of testing swabs, which are not included in the test kits. Young said that after consultation with Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Roshan Parasram and other State medical experts, last Friday, the decision was taken to allow the nationals, who were asymptomatic throughout their quarantine, to be tested immediately upon their return. He explained that once the samples are taken, Parasram and his team would then decide whether they should serve the additional mandatory quarantine, under this country’s Quarantine Act, at their homes or at one of the State medical institutions being used for the pandemic. Throughout the press conference, Young repeatedly stated that neither he nor any of his Government colleagues were engaged in a “back-room deal” with the group’s lawyers. “We have always done everything above board and it can stand up to the highest levels of scrutiny,” Young said. (TRINIDAD GUARDIAN)

CHINA TO TEST EXPERIMENTAL VIRUS VACCINES – China has approved early-stage human tests for two experimental vaccines to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as it battles to contain imported cases, especially from neighbouring Russia, the new “front line” in the war on the disease. Russia has become China’s largest source of imported cases, with a total of 409 infections originating in the country, and Chinese citizens should stay put and not return home, the state-owned Global Timessaid in an editorial. “Russia is the latest example of a failure to control imported cases and can serve as a warning to others,” said the paper, which is run by the Communist Party’s People’s Daily. “The Chinese people have watched Russia become a severely affected country . . .. This should sound the alarm: China must strictly prevent the inflow of cases and avoid a second outbreak.” China’s northeastern border province of Heilongjiang saw 79 new cases of imported coronavirus cases on Monday. All the new cases were Chinese citizens travelling back into the country from Russia, state media said on Tuesday. They formed the bulk of new cases on the Chinese mainland, which stood at 89. As of Tuesday, China had reported 82 249 coronavirus cases and 3 341 deaths. There were no deaths in the past 24 hours. As China fights to prevent a second wave of COVID-19, two experimental vaccines will be tried on humans, state media Xinhua reported on Tuesday. The experimental vaccines are being developed by a Beijing-based unit of Nasdaq-listed Sinovac Biotech (SVA.O), and by the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products, an affiliate of state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group. In March, China gave the green-light for another clinical trial for a coronavirus vaccine candidate developed by military-backed China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences and HK-listed biotech firm CanSino Bio (6185.HK), shortly after United States drug developer Moderna (MRNA.O) said it had begun human tests for their vaccine with the US National Institutes of Health. At a meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Monday, China’s coronavirus task force decided to deploy more health resources on its borders. It said it would build hospitals and establish isolation points in border regions, and would also strengthen cooperation with neighboring countries. (Reuters)

The world is facing the rapid spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. As we continue to do our part in Barbados please remember to stay home but on the days you have to go out wear your masks, practice social distancing (stand 6-10 feet away from each other), practice good daily hygiene, eat healthy, exercise and keep your mind active. There are 262 days left in the year Shalom!  Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps #bajannewscaps #newsinanutshell #coronavirusinbarbados #nationalresponse #dailynews #thechasefilesblog

[topfygad]

20 of The Best Things to Do in Antarctica, The “White Continent” – I am Aileen

A visit to Antarctica is undoubtedly the journey of a lifetime for many vacationers — in spite of everything, it’s a distant grandeur that’s unmatched with regards to pure vistas and pristine wilderness! However in contrast to what most individuals suppose, a visit to this southerly a part of the world is NOT simply all about cruising as a result of by means of accountable IAATO-approved expedition suppliers, there’s a gradual improve of thrilling and distinctive issues to do in Antarctica which are a match for nearly anybody.

I had the wonderful likelihood to go to Antarctica with Hurtigruten final December and it was completely essentially the most awe-inspiring journey that I’ve ever completed in my life. As much as today, I nonetheless can’t shake off the great encounters and recollections that I’ve made.

So if I’ve managed to pique your curiosity, under are simply a number of the most epic experiences that you are able to do while you’re within the ‘White Continent’ — with or with out a cruise expedition ship. And relying in your curiosity (could it’s delicate or excessive) there may be absolutely sufficient so that you can do right here!

NOTE: Wanna know when is one of the best time to go to Antarctica? Learn right here for an entire listing of FAQ (Incessantly Requested Questions).

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Issues to Do in Antarctica

#1 – Get near Antarctic animals

That is definitely one of many experiences that everybody goals to do after they get to set foot in Antarctica! Before everything: the penguins: there are 7 lovely penguin species that you’ll find in and across the continent, and I guarantee you, you will see them irrespective of the time or month that you just come. Additionally, to be able to not stress these unimaginable creatures, everybody is suggested to maintain a 5-meter distance however I assure you: given how curious the penguins are, there will likely be so many situations whereby they are going to voluntarily stroll as much as you!

Different excellent Antarctic animals which you could rise up near are whales and seals. Throughout my journey with Hurtigruten, I managed to see an enormous pod of finback whales except for a few orcas and humpbacks. Should you’re fortunate, you’ll be able to even witness extra of them! In the meantime, seals quantity loads particularly in South Georgia and there are 5 sorts in complete which you’ll probably discover in an expedition: crabeater, fur, elephant, leopard, and weddell.

READ: Antarctic Animals: Kinds of Wildlife to Spot Throughout an Antarctica Cruise

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#2 – Witness nearly one million of penguins! 

I recommend (or I insist) that you just select an Antarctic cruise that makes a stopover to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia (e.g.: Hurtigruten’s 20-day expedition).

Why so…? As a result of when you land in South Georgia, you should have one of the best wildlife expertise in your total life — assured! (To not point out, the fantastic thing about this island is really unparalleled.) Apart from, while you land in St. Andrew’s Bay, you’ll be blown away by the large colony of king penguins that quantity at nearly one million!

Personally, it was a particularly surreal second after I lastly noticed tons of those penguins huddled collectively while their chirping circulated by means of the air like a loud orchestra. In brief: I’m fairly certain that this sight will depart a mark on you; subsequently I dearly suggest that you just put this excessive in your listing of issues to do in Antarctica! .

#3 – Expertise in a single day tenting

It’s not on a regular basis which you could have the possibility to go tenting in essentially the most excessive and southern place on the planet — so when the chance presents itself, I urge you to provide this a attempt!

It received’t be essentially the most comfy tenting escapade given the chilly circumstances and the robust winds within the continent, however it’s going to absolutely make for a memorable exploit nonetheless. Relaxation assured, so long as you include an IAATO tour supplier, your security will likely be assured!

But when I say so myself, my tenting expertise in Antarctica was nice and heat, because of the high-quality help and gear that was given to us by Hurtigruten.

READ: Tenting in Antarctica : A Distinctive In a single day Expertise

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#4 – Kayak in Antarctic waters

After you’ve explored the icy terrain and stated hiya to the penguins or seals as part of your issues to do in Antarctica, it’s time to discover the waters! Apart from, kayaking is the easiest way to get tremendous near gigantic glaciers, icebergs and whales.

Anyhow, irrespective of your ability stage, it’s completely attainable to go kayaking in Antarctica. Nevertheless, it helps to recollect to remain cautious — moreover, it helps that you just’ve had prior expertise of kayaking too since this exercise would require an excellent sense of stability from you. Both manner, the waters will likely be calm and there will likely be skilled guides who will likely be with you always. Apart from, your security will all the time be of utmost significance, so no sweat! .

#5 – Go inside a volcano

Function picture of Paradise Harbour and above shot of Deception Island from Shutterstock.com The South Shetland Islands are a bunch of islands within the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula (or the northernmost a part of mainland Antarctica) and in there you’ll find the distinctive Deception Island as a result of it’s the caldera (volcanic ‘crater’) of an lively volcano.

Yep, you learn that proper — it’s the crater of an lively volcano! How’s that for an incredible Antarctic journey?

First issues first, coming into right here will likely be fairly exhilarating. To offer you some background, a portion of the wall of the volcanic caldera in Deception Island had collapsed way back which resulted to the flooding of its inside — subsequently, entry to this inside is simply by means of a 200 metre-wide (660 ft) entrance often called Neptune’s Bellows. There may be even a rock within the center slightly below the water; plus, the realm to at least one aspect can also be foul. So you’ll be able to simply think about how our ship had solely 100 metres (330 ft) with which to navigate! Relaxation assured, we acquired in safely (after all!)

As soon as inside, you’ll be able to even discover the protected black sand bay of Deception Island the place you’ll be able to witness some analysis stations in addition to find out about its previous whaling stations. But when I’ll say so, among the best issues you are able to do right here is to… .

#6 – Do a polar plunge!

I imply… I used to be already in Antarctica AND I used to be even inside a volcano, so why not do the primary polar plunge of my life within the freezing waters of this distinctive location?! …Aaah, I can nonetheless really feel the chilliness!

Some cruise firms let their visitors do a polar plunge by leaping off a ledge on the ship, however in my journey with Hurtigruten, we got the chance to do it from the Pendulum Cove seaside on Deception Island. (So sure, I did a polar plunge “inside” an lively volcano — and I even acquired a certificates for it! How’s that for being ‘excessive’? Haha.)

TRIVIA: There was a time when you’ll be able to dig holes within the sand (because the sand IS heat in Deception Island) so you’ll be able to take pleasure in a ‘scorching spring’ by the bay; nevertheless, that is NO longer allowed beneath the Antarctic Treaty. Therefore, individuals’s notion that there are scorching springs in Deception Island will not be true; and imagine me, even when it was nonetheless allowed to do this, there isn’t a manner that your plunge received’t be chilly.

You can even do a polar plunge in Whalers Bay of Deception Island, however the upside of doing it in Pendulum Cove is that when you get again on the seaside after your swim, you’ll get to take pleasure in temporary moments of heat sand in your ft. (After all I instantly dipped within the ship’s scorching out of doors jacuzzi after my polar plunge — in spite of everything, I wanted to remind my physique the way it felt to be heat once more!).

READ: Polar Plunge : The Day I Swam in Antarctica’s Icy Waters!

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#7 – Attempt snowshoeing or go mountain climbing

You’ll positively be given plenty of alternatives to go mountain climbing or snowshoeing — not solely in Antarctica but in addition within the sub-Antarctic islands that you may be stopping in (as dependent in your cruise expedition tour supplier).

As somebody who’s into mountain climbing, this was one of many issues to do in Antarctica that I actually loved; in spite of everything, it provides you entry to locations and sights that different visitors wouldn’t have the opportunity of seeing in the event that they didn’t go for this further exercise. (Aside from the truth that it makes for some good train.)

NOTE: It’s VERY vital to put on shades or sun shades whereas in Antarctica as a result of there may be such a factor as ‘snow blindness’. Don’t neglect to place sunscreen both as a result of the UV rays listed here are harsher than regular given its southerly location. ..

#8 – Get pleasure from cruising round with zodiac boat excursions

While you’re part of an Antarctica cruise expedition, there will likely be plenty of probabilities so that you can go on further or optionally available excursions akin to occurring zodiac or polarcirkel boat excursions.These small but sturdy boats are mainly used to ferry individuals both ashore or on other forms of adventures to be able to get as shut as attainable to the scenes and wildlife round you.

Merely put: this is among the issues to do in Antarctica that can bode effectively instead for people who find themselves not too assured with their kayaking expertise. Don’t fear concerning the parts although as a result of your cruise tour operator will just be sure you’re tucked in securely and that you just’re carrying the fitting gear that can defend you from the tough chilly winds and water.

Therefore, all that you want to do is to remain alert and preserve a glance out for any penguins leaping up and down within the water, seals gliding within the water, whales coming out from their swim, and extra! .

#9 – Ship a postcard from the Penguin Publish Workplace

The Penguin Publish Workplace in Port Lockroy is the world’s most southerly publish workplace and it’s usually run by a employees of 4 — people; sadly, NOT penguins… however the publish workplace IS surrounded by about 3,00Zero gentoo penguins!

There is likely to be another stops throughout your cruise expedition the place you’ll get to purchase and ship postcards from, such because the Arctowski analysis station in King George Island; however I say, Port Lockroy is the publish workplace on this world that you just shouldn’t miss as a part of your issues to do in Antarctica. In the end although, your family members will merely get the shock of their life after they obtain your postcards all the best way from Antarctica! (The stamps right here price solely $1 every and you should purchase your postcards there or in your cruise ship).

TRIVIA: Throughout Operation Tabarin in 1944, the British arrange two bases within the Antarctic Peninsula to determine a everlasting presence within the Antarctic. They arrange Base A at Port Lockroy and Base B at Whalers Bay, Deception Island. Since its restoration in 1996 by the Antarctic Heritage Belief (AHT), Base A on Goudier Island at Port Lockroy has grow to be probably the most visited websites in Antarctica. It now operates as a museum, stored because it was within the 1950s, in addition to a publish workplace and memento store with all proceeds going to the AHT, a non-profit group devoted to conserving this and different historic huts in Antarctica. .

#10 – Cross the notorious Drake Passage

Picture by Karsten Bidstrup / Hurtigruten Another choice for reaching Antarctica is by airplane however for certain, the commonest manner for visiting is by cruise ship. Talking of which, I’d recommend doing the latter as a result of other than it being cheaper, it’s going to additionally offer you a shot at experiencing the notorious Drake Passage!

What’s up with this Drake Passage? Effectively, it’s stated to be world’s roughest seas provided that it’s the place the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern seas converge. There aren’t any close by landmass both so the currents right here meet with NO resistance, ensuing to it being the choppiest waters on the planet.

However after all, one’s exploit right here can both be referred to as ‘Drake Lake’ or ‘Drake Shake’ as depending on climate circumstances. For my case, it was someplace within the center: it was swaying greater than normal, nevertheless it was manageable — however, it’s fairly cool to have the bragging rights of crossing and ‘surviving’ this well-known physique of water. .

#11 – Be taught extra about Antarctica by means of scientists

That is but once more one other a kind of issues to do in Antarctica that I positively loved and was grateful for!

You see, all IAATO operators are inspired to supply methods of enriching and educating visitors concerning the setting of Antarctica and its safety — so with ships like Hurtigruten, there have been FREE instructional packages or lectures obtainable each day whereby everybody was free to take part or not. They allow us to study extra concerning the wildlife and the locations we have been visiting, they usually have been even delivered by the expedition workforce that was made up of knowledgeable geologists, marine biologists, historians, and ornithologists amongst many others!

If I occur to have any particular requests, I used to be additionally all the time free to strategy any of the employees scientists on board or on shore. With that in thoughts, doesn’t it simply make a visit to Antarctica enriching?

NOTE: Alternatively, you’ll be able to go a step additional and work in Antarctica as a scientist or assist employees! A fast search on-line will take you to some job listings for this. Anyhow, it helps to notice that there are extra individuals all for working in Antarctica than there are precise job openings obtainable. .

#12 – Attempt scuba diving

Scuba Diver from Shutterstock.com Diving beneath Antarctic waters will likely be like no different dive on the market, so when you’re a seasoned driver, that is an exercise that you just CANNOT afford to overlook when within the ‘White Continent’. In spite of everything, it’s stated that with the mixture of the daylight and the ice formations, the water wonderland that you just’ll see may have a continuing shifting of spectacular colours!

Regrettably… this isn’t one thing anybody can do as a result of inexperienced divers will solely be a hazard to themselves and to others too. Even when the dive isn’t so technical, as a result of unpredictable circumstances, that is solely restricted to skilled or superior divers.

NOTE: To be part of this diving expedition, you have to be a educated and licensed scuba diver with an internationally-recognized certificates, have prior adventures in chilly water dives and dry-suit diving, have no less than 20 dives, and a accomplished diver’s logbook. .

#13 – Climb the tallest mountain of Antarctica

Vinson Massif from Shutterstock.com If in case you have the purpose of climbing the world’s 7 summits, Antarctica’s Vinson Massif is a peak that you just’ll must concur. Technically talking, it’s not so troublesome to go up this 4,897-meter mountain however given the intense Antarctic setting, you would want to have affordable expertise and coaching beforehand.

Referred to as because the “high of the underside of the world”, there are a number of tour teams providing the service of taking you on this expedition which takes no less than 14 days. For sure… that is an journey I’m unqualified for — however, I nonetheless want that sometime I can do it as a result of I’m certain it is going to be such an incredible endeavour! .

#14 – Go trekking to the South Pole

Man Trekking from Shutterstock.com If time will not be a problem and also you’ve acquired grand polar ambitions of going to each ends of the Earth, there are firms on the market that do treks to the South Pole.

However a phrase of warning: when you suppose that scuba diving and climbing Vinson Massif as issues to do in Antarctica are already excessive, then trekking to the South Pole will likely be far crazier. Apart from, this expedition would require a humongous quantity of dedication — emotionally, financially and bodily (and there’s even an opportunity you may not attain it). But after all, when you’re up for the problem, this will likely be a journey that will likely be a memorable achievement! .

#15 – Run a marathon

Snow run from Shutterstock.com Should you’re a marathon runner or extremely athlete who’s in search of the following large problem or exercise to tick off on their listing, then the well-known Antarctic Ice Marathon needs to be put beneath your radar!

It will likely be a formidable race on the continent with a median windchill temperature of -20C and an altitude of 700 meters however you wager that it is going to be a novel and fulfilling feat.

NOTE: Registration price is about $18,000+ inclusive of roundtrip flights to the Antarctic inside, lodging, meals, operating paraphernalia and pictures. It’s additionally attainable to do a half marathon throughout this occasion. .

#16 – Hit the slopes!

Man Snowboarding from Shutterstock.com If what you need is the final word snow-sports expedition, nothing beats exploring Antarctica by snowboarding or snowboarding on its grand slopes!

These days, there are a number of Antarctic tour operators that offers snowboarding fans the possibility to do a bucket listing exercise on this distant location. Now after all, to be part of an journey like this, you don’t actually have to be a professional athlete — however you will want to no less than have an affordable stage of health, some prior coaching, and functionality in ski touring. Equally, snowboarding is one thing that you are able to do too whilst you’re exploring the wild corners of Antarctica! .

#17 – Go to a analysis station

There aren’t any everlasting residents in Antarctica and there are solely two transient teams that go there: both vacationers or researchers. Talking of which, as a vacationer to the ‘White Continent’ you may get to have the unique likelihood of visiting a number of the lively analysis stations on the continent!

There are two well-known stations that I do know of and they’re:

Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station: probably the most visited scientific stations, largely as a result of it’s readily-accessible and that the Polish employees are pleasant. Established in 1977, the station is managed by the Polish Academy of Sciences and its essential analysis areas embody marine biology, oceanography, geology, geomorphology, glaciology, meteorology, climatology, seismology, magnetism and ecology. Guests are free to come back in and speak to the scientists; plus, the station’s official stamp is on the market to be used by anybody on their passport or on postcards.

Vernadsky Analysis Base: Present in Marina Level on the Argentine Islands, this Ukrainian Antarctic Station has a number of buildings, however essentially the most well-known half of all of them could be their lounge which is taken into account to be the southernmost public bar on the planet! Individuals used to have the possibility to buy a $Three shot of horilka or a Ukrainian alcoholic beverage right here, nevertheless it led to 2016. Anyhow, you’ll be able to nonetheless mingle with the wonderful Ukrainian scientists on website and have a tour of the entire base. .

#18 – Cruise by means of the scenic Lemaire Channel

Lemaire Channel from Shutterstock.com Lemaire Channel is an 11-kilometer strait (or a naturally-formed navigable waterway) in Antarctica that’s typically referred to as because the “Kodak Hole”. As you may already know, “Kodak” is a kind of well-known movie manufacturers and the rationale why Lemaire Channel was nicknamed as such is as a result of this place is simply so ridiculously photogenic.

I swear, once we handed by this strait’s calm waters, we might NOT cease taking footage of the snow-capped mountains, steep cliffs and icebergs that surrounded us!

As one among Antarctica’s high vacationer locations, going by means of this channel is an ordinary a part of a cruise itinerary, however the one hindrance to probably seeing it are the icebergs within the water — in the event that they’re too many, you may not be capable of cross! Nevertheless, when you get to take action, it’s going to completely be a sight that you’ll perpetually keep in mind.

This was truly the final panorama that we noticed in Antarctica and it was absolutely an effective way to finish our journey! .

#19 – Apply your images expertise (or hone it!)

It’s completely troublesome to take a foul picture in Antarctica — it’s simply so photogenic, irrespective of the climate or the time! So go and snap away loopy; however certainly, if you wish to enhance your expertise, this would be the greatest place to start out.

In spite of everything, most cruise tour operators (akin to Hurtigruten) present images courses which are dealt with by their on board skilled photographer. As such, this provides you with the proper alternative to hone your expertise! Don’t fear although as a result of anybody is definitely free to strategy thee stated photographer to ask for tips about capturing one of the best pictures attainable.

Ain’t {that a} deal with as one of many issues to do in Antarctica? .

#20 – Go to close by islands

Should you ask me, it is going to be a disgrace to go to Antarctica with out stopping by a few of its Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands. Subsequently, when you get the possibility to go to this far off vacation spot, you should absolutely take the chance to cease by a number of the locations just like the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Orkney, and extra!

For example, you’ll be able to benefit from the attractive landscapes within the Falkland Islands which are crammed with penguins of  completely different species in addition to different wild birds. However I suppose the island that I like essentially the most could be South Georgia due to it rugged but gorgeous vistas! To not point out, it holds a number of colonies of fur seals, elephant seals, and king penguins. (As I’ve already talked about beforehand, it was right here that I acquired to see a colony of king penguins that numbered nearly one million and it was really a spectacle!).

READ: South Georgia : A Breathtaking Antarctic Hub for Wildlife Viewing!

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When is one of the best time to go to Antarctica? Antarctica is inaccessible to vacationers for almost all of the yr as a result of its excessive circumstances — it IS referred to as because the world’s coldest and windiest place in spite of everything. In actual fact, winter temperatures can fall as much as -70°C  (it even reached -94.7°C again in 2010 and -89.2 in 1983) and that comes along with 24 dead nights too!

Nonetheless, issues get higher in the course of the summer time season between November and March when the ice begins to interrupt and the temperature will get hotter; therefore, cruise expeditions are run throughout this time of the yr and most landings are completed on the tip of the continent alongside its west coast. The temperatures there common at solely about 0°C to eight°C (with near 24 hours of daylight).

NOVEMBER: That is stated to be the time when you will notice Antarctica in its most ‘untouched’ kind! Icebergs are at their largest, snow is pristine, and the penguins begin to mate (with them laying eggs on the finish of the month of their nests). Nevertheless, the temperatures are nonetheless fairly chilly and polar ice continues to be breaking apart so the draw back of touring to Antarctica on this month is that you just may not be capable of entry some areas. Furthermore, wildlife akin to whales and penguins are harder to identify. .

DECEMBER to EARLY FEBRUARY: December is claimed to be the BEST month for touring to Antarctica. Because the continent begins to heat up, it creates the proper circumstances for seals, penguins and whales — subsequently, wildlife is loads simpler to seek out (together with the lovable little seal pups and penguin chicks who’ve simply been born). Whales, specifically, are greatest seen in February. Additionally, since these are a number of the months whereby there may be extra hours of daylight, you’ll have loads of alternatives within the day to take great pictures. .

MID-FEBRUARY to MARCH: There are a number of execs and cons for visiting throughout this time of the summer time season. Let’s begin with the cons: temperatures begin to get a bit colder, most wildlife would have already went out to sea, and landings will are usually rockier and muddier. However for the ‘execs’: whales are nonetheless ample for recognizing, the penguin chicks are bigger and beginning to ‘molt’ (or shed their fur), and there are lesser vessels (so there’s much less competitors for landings).

For my case, I landed in Antarctica someday in early to mid-December with Hurtigruten’s 20-day ‘Final Antarctica Expertise’ and I’ve seen plenty of completely different penguins, whales (orca + finback + humpback ones), seals, glaciers and big icebergs. There have been no drawback with landings nor was there any competitors (we have been the one ship round in the course of the days of our go to). Climate was additionally good averaging at about 2°C to five°C, so I didn’t put on an excessive amount of layers; at one level, I even sweated loads once we have been mountain climbing up a hill! The winds have been nonetheless fairly robust although and there have been instances that it was cloudy; however for essentially the most half, we had nice sunny climate.

All in all, it’s greatest to keep in mind that each journey to Antarctica is exclusive. Irrespective of in case your good friend went on a distinct journey in the identical month and identical cruise as you do, the experiences you’ll each have will probably be dissimilar as a result of each voyage will rely upon ice and climate circumstances. Which means there will be days the place you’ll expertise and see wonderful issues that some others may not (when you’re fortunate!). For instance: our ship sighted about 50 humpback whales whereas we have been on our approach to the Antarctic Peninsula they usually say that this prevalence was fairly uncommon in December!

What are methods to get there? By cruise ship. That is the MOST widespread approach to go to the Antarctic and up to now, there are over 80 firms who belong to IAATO (Worldwide Affiliation of Antarctica Tour Operators). The cruise can begin and finish from any of those areas: Ushuaia in Argentina, Punta Arenas in Chile, Bluff in New Zealand or Hobart in Australia.

Relying on the supplier, the size of the journey, and the form of cruise expedition that you just decide, you are able to do further actions or excursions within the Antarctic, in addition to go to different Antarctic and sub-Atlantic islands alongside the best way. It helps to notice although that the dimensions of the ship issues: on the whole, smaller ships are most popular as a result of they’ll go to extra locations and do extra landings. …Why extra landings, you may ask? Effectively, in keeping with IAATO pointers, there can solely be 100 individuals at a time on land — so, in case your boat has greater than 200 individuals, you may simply spend only some hours on the shore.

With this, I extremely advise that you just go for Hurtigruten’s MS Fram ship, which is a small but robust vessel that carries about 200 visitors. This was the ship that I went with and each day, we did no less than 2 landings to completely different areas (which was additionally full of optionally available excursions like kayaking, tenting, zodiac excursions, hikes, and others).

By airplane. There are Three methods to do that: you are able to do a [1] ‘fly over’, a [2] direct flight, or a [3] fly-cruise possibility. First, because the title implies, a ‘fly over’ will simply be a sightseeing flight whereby you may be above the continent for hours as you admire the views. This type of flight solely takes off from Australia and it’ll price from $1,00Zero to $8,000. Second, direct industrial flights will be completed from Argentina, Australia, Chile or South Africa — however they are often fairly uncommon. (A fast Google search will lead you to some suppliers who schedule flight journeys to the continent.) Lastly, the fly-cruise possibility will simply lower your time on a cruise ship (to keep away from the tough Drake Passage, as an illustration). These flights will take you to locations like King George Island the place you’ll then board your designated ship. More often than not, costs for this begin at $10,00Zero and departs from Chile.

By yacht. There are a couple of dozen of those constitution yachts that supply Three to six week journeys to the Antarctic Peninsula from South America. Even when it will possibly present extra freedom and adaptability, you should keep in mind that it’s pricier (beginning at $1,000+ per day), extra treacherous (the seas will rock you more durable) and may require work (since most yachts would need you to assist out.)

What areas will you usually go to or see on a cruise? Like I’ve already talked about, it’s going to rely upon the time, the cruise supplier, and the expedition that you just decide. For a begin although, vacationers from cruise ships will primarily go to both the Antarctic Peninsula (the northernmost a part of mainland Antarctica) or the Ross Sea space (a deep bay which is the primary vacation spot of cruise ships leaving from Australia and New Zealand). Other than this, you’ll be able to go to different Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands too.

For my journey with Hurtigruten’s 20-day ‘Final Antarctica Expertise’, except for touchdown within the Antarctic Peninsula, I additionally acquired to land within the Falkland Islands, South Georgia (one of the best widlife hub!), Deception Island, Half Moon Island and Cuverville Island.

READ: South Georgia: A Breathtaking Antarctic Hub for Wildlife Viewing

How a lot does it price to go on an Antarctic cruise expedition? Antarctica is clearly NOT a price range vacation spot given how most cruise expeditions begin at a value of $5,00Zero per individual. Nevertheless, there’s the opportunity of paying solely $4,00Zero when you handle to get a final minute deal in Ushuaia (the primary place to begin of cruise ships in Argentina) throughout November or December. This selection is simply very best when you’ve got the time and endurance to attend for an opportunity to come back by — which they are saying will be fairly uncommon. But once more, it’s price a shot!

For a extra hassle-free expertise, naturally, it’s higher to guide prematurely. Hurtigruten‘s expeditions normally begin at $5,000  per individual (my 20-day expedition’s price begins at $17,000).

But when I’ll add a tip: when you e mail Hurtigruten through [email protected] and point out my promo code ‘IAMAILEEN’, you’ll get a particular discounted value quote!

Do I would like a visa to go to Antarctica? Since there may be NO single nation or authorities who owns nor controls Antarctica, guests technically do NOT want visas. Nevertheless, with the existence of the Antarctic Treaty’s Protocol on Environmental Safety, it requires guests (who’re residents of nations which are signatories of this treaty: together with USA, Canada, EU, and Australia) to amass a allow previous to visiting Antarctica. These permits are nearly all the time acquired by means of tour operators.

EXAMPLE: Should you booked through a cruise ship, permits are lined by the cruise firm that you just’re going with. If visiting by air, you should test together with your native authorities or airline when you’ve got the fitting paperwork. If doubtful, you could possibly all the time ask your Antarctica tour operator.

In the meantime, like I’ve already mentioned, most ships and vessels depart from ports in locations like Argentina, Chile, Falkland Islands, New Zealand, and South Africa. Relying in your nationality, you may want a visa to have the ability to set foot on the ports of any of those stated international locations to be able to begin your voyage to Antarctica.

So for my case, since I’m a Philippine passport holder and my cruise began in Ushuaia, Argentina, I wanted to use for an Argentina Visa. As such, it’s your accountability to test when you want visas to any of the aforementioned beginning ports.

What ought to I pack? There’s a LOT to be aware of: from seasickness medication to the correct clothes. For a whole listing, learn this complete article: Antarctica Cruise Packing Checklist.

What currencies ought to I convey? Antarctica will not be a rustic, so it does NOT have its personal forex. Nevertheless, there will likely be some locations within the Antarctic Peninsula akin to Port Lockroy (the place you’ll find the Penguin Publish Workplace museum and memento store) and a few analysis station services that can promote some stuff to guests. With them, currencies just like the USA {dollars}, Pound Sterling and Euro are typically accepted (along with MasterCard and Visa playing cards).

As dependent in your ship too, they’ll settle for different currencies (e.g. Hurtigruten is a Norwegian firm so that they settle for the Norwegian krone forex on board.)

NOTE: If you’d like a whole listing of FAQ (Incessantly Requested Questions) for Antarctica cruise expeditions, learn right here.

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There positively are an array of actions in Antarctica that can cater to only about any form of traveler.

All in all, I hope this listing helped offer you a greater concept of what the continent can supply in order that you could possibly quickly jumpstart in your epic journey. Get pleasure from!

What do you consider the above issues to do in Antarctica?

What are the actions you’d prefer to attempt?

Or have you ever been to Antarctica earlier than? How was it?

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A Guide to St.Andrews

Interesting Facts, Things to do, Places to See and Where to Eat in St Andrews

A seaside town north east of Edinburgh St Andrews is most famous for it’s golf courses and university.

St Andrews University occupies many of the beautiful and historic villages in St Andrews, it has seen many famous students over the years including actor John Cleese, Author, Fay Weldon and most famous of all the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who first met at University.

Founded in the early 15thcentury, St Andrews was Scotlands’ first university and the 3rdoldest university in the English-speaking world.  It continues to attract students from all over the world.

The St Andrew Links Golf Course has 7 separate courses, The Old Course, The New Course, The Castle Course, The Jubilee Course, The Eden Course, The Stratyrum Course and The Balgove Course.  You can pre-book all courses online except for the Balgrove Course, simply turn up for the day.  The Old Course., reservations for this are hard to come by and fully booked for the majority of 2019, however, they do run a ballot system, you will be informed 2 days prior to play if you have been successful, the system requires 2 players and a specific handicap.  For more information visit the clubs site, they also have some special offers so it’s not as expensive as you might think. St Andrews

One of the most famous and most popular tournaments is the Alfred Dunhill Tournament, which sees professional golfers playing alongside famous amateur golfers.  The 2018 tournament saw celebrities including Peter Jones from Dragons Den, Ronan Keating, Hugh Grant and Greg Kinnear so a great opportunity to do some star spotting as well a watching golf. Alfred Dunhill Links

There are many other sporting activities to try other than golf.   How about Land yachting, which is a combination of sailing and motor racing, basically a buggy with a sail on top of it!   Also on offer are better known water sports such as Kayaking and surfing. Blown Away

Looking for more of a thrill?  Just 5 miles outside of At Andrews is a skydiving school.  Tandem jumps are offered for those with no experience, a dual harness secures you to a qualified instructor.  Prices from £270.00 so not a cheap day out but certainly one we think you’ll remember forever!

Sky Dive St Andrews

But there are also plenty of other things to do and see in St Andrews besides golf. A walking / food tour is a great way to learn about the historical town from a local whilst also enjoying some local food, wine, beer and whiskey on the way.   Tours start at either 1pm or 5pm and with around 4 or 5 stops at different establishments. Eat Walk St Andrews

Scotland is probably most famous for whisky but many distillers have now branched out into offering gin as well.  Eden Mill is located just outside St Andrews and offers both blended and single malt whisky, including a range bottled in hip flask style bottles. There is the original Eden Mills Gin, the very popular pink gin and now a Golf Gin, made using botanicals found around the coastal golf courses in the region.   They also produce 8 different craft beers, so something for everyone (except Tee totallers!).   Book a tour of the distillery or why not enroll in Gin School?  You can make your own gin and even have it bottled with it’s own label an ideal keepsake or a great gift to take home for a friend or relative who loves gin. Eden Mill

If you are visiting St Andrews at the end of July then the town has it’s own Highland Games. St Andrews Highland Games

After all the sporting activities you might want to treat yourself to a relaxing massage or a spa day.  The Kohler Water Spa at The Old Course hotel has hydrotherapy pools, an indoor pool, a roof top hot tub, a swan neck jet spray to ease those shoulder muscles, steam room, saunas and a whole range of massage options, facials and much more or simply relax on a lounger by the pool with a glass of champagne.

The Old Course Hotel Spa

Looking for a chilled day, if the weather is warm (yes it is occasionally in Scotland) then why not pack a picnic and head to West Sands Beach.  This 2-mile stretch of sands is were the opening scenes of Chariots of Fire was filmed.  It’s about 15 minutes walk from the town and it’s dog friendly too. West Sands Beach

A fun way to explore the city with children is to purchase a treasure trail. There are 3 different themed Treasure Trails in St Andrews, including a spy mission (for those wannabe James Bonds) and a mystery themed Trail as well as the treasure hunt. Purchase the trail for £6.99, you can either print it yourself order in advance and have a printed guide posted to you, you can even have them personalised so great for a birthday. Treasure Trails

Children of all ages will love a visit to the Aquarium.  See everything from cute seals, fluffy meerkats to sharks and reptiles. Children can also feed the animals (only the cute fluffy ones, not the reptiles or sharks!). St Andrews Aquarium

For cold and wet weather days and a good dose of culture and education visit The St Andrews Museum.  The Museum details the history of the town, with regular exhibitions throughout the year and it’s free to enter.

As St Andrews is the home of golf a trip to the town should really include a visit to The Golfing Museum.  Learn everything there is to know about golf since the game began over 500 years ago.  Despite Scotland being the home of golf it was in fact banned in 1457, by King James II of Scotland who also banned football. British Golf Museum

St Andrews is also home to Scotland’s secret bunker, spanning the space of 2 football pitches, the bunker is located under a farmhouse and wascreated as a safe house for the government should the country get caught in a nuclear war. It housed its very own broadcasting studio, staffed by the BBC, to ensure that in the event of a nuclear strike emergency broadcasts could be transmitted. All other radio and TV channels would automatically go off-air and the emergency broadcast would inform people of the dangers. The bunker also had it’s own chapel and resident clergy throughout the cold war. The Secret Bunker

The Botanic Gardens have events for children scheduled throughout the year called Planet Botanic; activities include planting, den building, rock pooling and outdoor art. Botanic Gardens

St Andrews Castle was the official residence of Scotland’s bishops (and later archbishops) throughout the middle Ages. They were Scotland’s leading churchmen so had to be prepared to defend themselves and the property of the Church – hence their strong castle. Its scale demonstrated the power and wealth of the bishops, and it was the setting for many important events, which determined the course of Scottish history.  St Andrews Castle was a bishop’s palace, a fortress and a state prison during its 450-year history.

The Cathedral was Scotlands largest medieval church. If you can face the climbto the top of the 33m tall St Rule’s Tower it is well worth it for the views over St Andrews and out to sea.

Retail Therapy

Surprising St Andrews has some really great independent shops, and not just ones that sell jumpers with diamond patterns and long socks.

For a designer fix head to Sam Brown Boutique for a great selection of womanswear, accessories and scented candles. Sam Brown

If you’re looking for tartan or cashmere head to Johnstons of Elgin for mens, womans and childrens clothing as well as luxurious throws and cushions. Johnston of Elgin

As you would imagine, a town with one of the most famous universities in the world is bound to have a good book shop, well, it has two actually.

Topping & Co is the largest independent bookshop to open in Britain in the last 30 years. Feel right at home with floor to ceiling bookshelves, a wood burning stove, free-flowing coffee and regular book signings and talks. Topping Books

For a fine selection of antiquarian and second hand books visit Bouquiniste Bouquiniste

The Sky Candle shop will ensure the scents of Scotland can be enjoyed long after the holiday ends.  The Scottish collection includes Heather, Pine and Gorse scents. Skye Candles

For those with a sweet tooth, Burns is a traditional sweet shop that has been in St Andrews for over 60 years.  Step back in time with real old-fashioned favourites such as Rhubarb and Custard, Strawberry Sherberts and many more. Burn Sweet Shop

For cheese lovers I.J Mellis has a great selection of artisan and farmhouse cheeses including locally made cheeses and very expensive French butter. Mellis Cheese

With so many historical buildings, ruins and its seaside location make St Andrews a great place for photography.  Impress the folks back home with some really great Instagram shots by taking a 3 or 4 hour photography tour of the town.  It’s also a great way to see places not on the tourist trail. St Andrews Photo Tours

Food and Drink

Just outside the town, Balgrove Larder is a must for all foodies, whether you are after some local produce to take back to your holiday home to cook up a feast, a cup of tea and a freshly baked scone, a steak supper or some beautiful flowers for your dining table, Balgrove Larder has everything you might need, even some excellent homemade ready meals if you’re feeling lazy.  They also offer butchery classes if you want to indulge your inner Julia Child and learn how to French trim a rack of lamb.

The former sawmill is home to the steak barn, the menus offers a selection of their 28 day matured steaks, homemade burgers and a weekly specials menu.  There is a small wine list and beers and gin from local distillery Eden Mill.

Special events are held throughout the year including an evening Christmas market, flower arranging, festive menus etc.

Balgrove

The Seafood Restaurant is a must for a touch of luxury, amazing locally sourced seafood with stunning sea views.  The restaurant is located right next to The Royal and Ancient.  As well as the usual seafood platters, oysters and smoked salmon expect to find inventive dishes on the a la carte menus such as John Dory with Orkney scallop, truffle gnocchi and sweetcorn or Wild Halibut with razor clams, coco beans and verjus.  All menus have locally sourced meat options and there is also an interesting vegetarian menu as well as a very reasonably price Bollinger Sunday lunch menu at £29.50 for 2 courses with a glass of Bolly. The wine list is impressive with over 35 Italian wines and 29 French Wines as well as New World Wines. The Seafood Restaurant

Champagne and Prosecco brunch specials are also on offer at Rogue, enjoy a full Scottish Breakfast (that’s with Haggis and 2 types of sausages) with either Prosecco or the champagne of choice at this establishment is Veuve Cliquot.  They also have a full a la carte menu with plenty of local seafood and steaks as well as a dedicated childrens' menu. Rogue

For a touch of luxury why not have a Savoy Afternoon tea at The Fairmont Hotel.  Served in the Atrium Lounge which features a 60m lighting sculpture that hangs gracefully above.  Worth going just to see this which is quite an amazing work of art. Chose between the Savoy Afternoon tea and the Traditional Scottish Afternoon tea, both available with champagne as an option if you want to make it a truly special occasion. The Fairmont St Andrews

The Fairmont Hotel is a luxury 5 star hotel set in 500 acres, it enjoys a hilltop position with views out to sea and over its’ two golf courses.

For a low-key relaxed place to eat, try The St Andrews Brewing Co.  Offering a selection of traditional pub style food to complement their many selections of beer, they even have a Christmas Beer as well as an Espresso Beer “A beautifully balanced porter, which starts with an espresso nose and ends with a chocolate, malt led finish” If you’re not a fan of beer they also produce three exotic sounding gins, Pink Gin, Lemongrass and Ginger and Orange, Cardamom and Tonka Bean.

St Andrews Brewing Co

Mitchells Deli is well worth a visit, whether you just want a bottle of wine and some olives, a great selection of take out meals, amazing sandwiches, afternoon tea or a relaxed meal, you will find everything here.  A mixture of traditional fair mixed alongside modern day classics, such as avocado on sourdough bread or Rose Harissa spiced Chicken wraps.  A childrens' menu is available and there is live music every weekend.   A short wine list is available, plus local spirits and more local ale including the Drygate Disco Forklift Truck, Mango Pale Ale apparently brewed in Scotland!

Trip Advisor quotes: The Best Haggis in St Andrews” Mitchells

Eat like Royalty.  The North Point Café is something of an institution in St. Andrews and supposedly the scene for the first date between Prince William and the then Kate Middleton.  It has a reputation for the best pancakes in the town, as well as a great selection of cakes.  It’s so well known it doesn’t even need a website.

The Saint Bar and Restaurant is the place where the young and trendy of St Andrews hang out.  As with all establishments local produce is in abundance on both the menu and drinks list and they also serve Haggis.   We recommend ordering the Harviestoun Schiehallion at the beginning of the evening and the far easier to pronounce, Cold Town lager towards the end! Saint Bar & Restaurant

St Andrews isn’t the place you’d probably expect to find a traditional Italian Gelato but there has been one in the town since 1908 and still belongs to the same Italian family.  Expect the usual flavours plus some with a Scottish twist including Scottish Tablet and Cranachan Jannettas

Strange Scottish Foods you are likely to come across on your travels

So what is a Scottish Tablet? No it’s not an Ipad, a Scottish tablet is a medium-hard, sugary confection made from sugar, condensed milk, and butter, which is boiled to a soft-ball stage and allowed to crystallise. It is often flavoured with vanilla or whisky.  Think fudge.

Cranachan is a dessert of cream and fresh raspberries mixed with Scottish oats and whisky – so slightly better for you than a tablet but not much!

Irn Bru – the Coca Cola of Scotland and a favoured hangover cure for many a Scot.  Approach with caution if you spill it on the carpet it literally does not come out, don’t even ask what it does to your insides!

Haggis – the most famous food to come out of Scotland and still a mystery to many people.  It is a mixture of the heart, stomach or liver of a sheep or calf; minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and cooked while traditionally encased in the animal's stomach though now often in an artificial casing instead.  Traditional served with neeps and tatties (Turnips and potatoes mashed together) and gravy.

A more sophisticated dish is Balmoral chicken, a chicken breast stuffed with haggis, wrapped in bacon and served with a whiskey sauce.

Porridge is of course another famous dish from Scotland and one that is very popular around the world as a healthy breakfast option, however, be aware, in Scotland they often make it with cream and sometimes butter so not as healthy as you might think.

[eddiejpoplar]

GREAT DRIVES: Touring the Scottish Highlands in a BMW 3 Series Touring

“When the day shall come that we do part,” he said softly, and turned to look at me, “if my last words are not ‘I love you’-ye’ll ken it was because I didna have time.”

Yes. You read that right. And now you have read just as much of Diana Gabaldon’s ‘Outlander’ as I have. So, let’s stop now.

For the uninitiated, Outlander is a series of historical romance novels set in the Scottish Highlands. The books have more recently spawned at least three seasons of a TV series which is currently sweeping through loungerooms around the world.

Now, I don’t want to stereotype fans of this content, I mean there’s action, violence, time travel, nudity, and kilts to pad out the historical romance, but let’s just put it out there that there may be a correlation between my wife’s obsession with this show and her ‘impromptu’ decision that we visit Scotland on our annual family holiday.

It is, after all, only a mere 10,000 miles away…

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Scotland

Tourism is a US$15bn cornerstone of the Scottish economy, and that figure is on the rise. In fact, Tourism Scotland has noted an almost 15 percent surge in international visitors between 2016 and 2017, citing the romantic series as a key driver.

It is helped in part that the content is essentially a stepping stone for more ‘mature’ Harry Potter fans, although in Outlander the only wand in use is under Jamie’s kilt…

Throw in the location of 007’s family home Skyfall, castles featured in Monty Python, Highlander and Braveheart, and of course that expansive world of witchcraft and wizardry from Hogwarts, and Scotland is a historical pop-culture extravaganza. And we haven’t even touched on golf trips!

Plus, what makes Scotland even better as a travel destination, is that it is best enjoyed from the ground as part of a touring holiday. So while my wife was scouting for shirtless, barrel-chested clansmen, my daughter and I could enjoy the stunning Highland landscape, with a bit of Loch Ness Monster hunting thrown in for good measure.

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Getting there

Aside from our New Zealand compatriots to the east, no one has further to travel to Scotland than us Aussies. A direct flight from Melbourne to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh (via the Middle East) is a pretty painful 25-hour experience.

That said, it is still a fair hike for those of you on the west coast of North America, with direct flights only available from Chicago and major east-coast hubs. And even then, it is still a 7-8 hour jaunt in the air.

Alternatively, if you are already in Europe you can leverage the excellent train network and make your way to Scotland as we did, by driving north from London.

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Our transport – BMW F31 320d xDrive M-Sport Touring

A number of rental firms including SixT and Avis, offer a selection from the BMW range, and so balancing a need for luggage space with a desire for driving enjoyment, we opted for a BMW F31 320d xDrive M-Sport Touring from Thrifty

It is not a bad trim for a hire car, and with the Mineral Grey paint and sole option addition of the Advanced Parking Package, would have retailed for just over £41,000 (US$53k) had it been a private purchase.

You know all that rhetoric you hear about cars being cheaper in Europe? Makes the equivalent 330i xDrive Touring available in North America for US$49k feel like a bit of a bargain now, huh?

It worked out to be about £68 per day for our seven-day hire (approx. A$125 / US$88) which is very comparable with rental car prices around the world, especially for a BMW!

Powered by a 2-litre, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel, with 190hp (142kW) on tap, the 320d might not scream ‘entertaining road trip car’, but the 50:50 weight distribution of the F31, and sub-2000rpm availability of a generous 295 ft-lb (400Nm) of torque, making it a balanced and responsive tourer.

More importantly, however, is the miserly fuel consumption claim of 67mpg (4.2L/100km) on a touring cycle. The Australian dollaridoo doesn’t travel as far in ‘ol Blighty as it used to, and at the equivalent of US$6 per gallon (A$2.15 per liter) for diesel, a Scottish driving holiday can become pretty expensive, pretty quickly!

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London to Edinburgh – East coast 409 miles (658km)

Heading north from London, the 400-mile trip up the A1(M) is a great introduction to driving in the UK. It’s not what you’d call an exciting journey, but if you are new to the right-hand side of the car and need to get the basics of roundabouts, lorries and the fact the speed limit is largely ignored, then it’s a good way to start.

The drive should take you about 7-hours, so make sure the family has enough snacks and iPad charge to last the journey, or get ready for an extended game of eye-spy. A quick hint, ‘C’ is usually for ‘cow’.

For trivia buffs, the A1 passes by RAF Wittering, the air base known as being the home of the Harrier Jump Jet, and near to Rippon and the Yorkshire Dales, countryside familiar to fans of the Downton Abbey television series.

You can safely tick along about 10km/h above the posted limit and not fall victim to stationary speed cameras or police patrols. However, the general approach to speed in the UK is to drive to the conditions. Sunny day? Those policing the limits tend to relax a little. Sleeting rain and fog? Slow down and take care, as unsafe driving is not tolerated.

The road itself is a mixture of freeway and dual carriageway, with the last leg in Scotland down to a one-up one-down A-road. It’s an easy and picturesque drive though, and you’ll find plenty of places to stop and take a break, not least of which is the huge St Andrew’s cross Saltire flag to denote crossing the land border from England to Scotland.

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Edinburgh to Inverness – East, and center 201 miles (323km) with the detour

There’s plenty to explore around the Scottish capital itself, but it is all best done on foot, or by using the efficient bus network. When you’ve had your fill of shortbread and haggis though, make the 170-mile run up to the Highland hub of Inverness.

On the way, golf fans can make a short detour to historic St Andrews on the east coast of the Fife Peninsula. The region here is largely rural, so get used to narrow B-roads with blind crests, surprise cattle grids and even more surprised cattle!

The balanced nature of the 3 Series is very much at home here too, the Touring flows easily through the winding curves, maintaining a solid pace along the sometimes-unpredictable roads. Complaints from the passengers are low too, and I can’t really take all the credit for that.

From Perth onto Inverness, I would suggest taking the route through the stunning Cairngorms National Park, rather than around the coast through Aberdeen.

The Cairngorms landscape is a mixture of barren mountains and pine forest and is simply spectacular. It feels almost Nordic, even in the summer, with some patches of snow still visible on the highest peaks.

To add another movie reference, and to help you picture the environment, the thrilling ‘plane-jack’ scene from The Dark Knight Returns was shot here. Bane approves.

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The NC 500 Up to 516 miles – 336 miles as driven (541km)

Inverness makes an excellent base from which to explore the Highlands. Much of the plot of the Outlander series is based here too, so if you are still required to find a specific cobbled lane or ancient battlefield to placate any traveling fan, then this is your place.

For a stunning introduction to the region, and for some solid driving, you can hit the North Coast 500 (NC500), a 516-mile long touring route around the top of the British landmass.

The route, which may be best enjoyed over a couple of days, explores the variety of landscape Scotland has to offer and takes you through some wonderful roads that wind and twist and climb through the raw Scottish countryside.

Pass castles like the stunning Dunrobin on the east coast, hit the ‘end of the road’ in John o’ Groats then travel across the wild north and west coasts. From mountains to glens, crystal clear lochs to farmland that extends beyond the horizon, you’ll travel for miles without seeing another vehicle and can be forgiven at times, for thinking you are the only people left in the world.

It is truly a world-class drive and one where I regularly wished I could trade four-wheels for just two. That said, even in our little Touring, we spent most of the run around 130km/h, relaxed in eighth gear, sipping a very modest 6-liters every 100km (39mpg).

The roads aren’t wide, but visibility is largely good, so overtaking slower campervans or cyclists is an easy task. Just make sure to give them plenty of room, and always be mindful that in wet or cold weather (which is most of the time) you can come upon patches of standing water or ice with little warning.

Here’s a touring tip too, unless you are on a dual carriageway or motorway, keep the car in Sport mode. Fuel use difference when running at 100km/h+ is negligible, and it readies the car for response when you need to make a short-looking overtake opportunity even shorter.

The NC500 is something of a tartan Route-66, so there is a terrific website supporting the drive, listing places to eat, stay and stop along the way. Worth a read before you visit!

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Loch Ness 157 miles (253km)

I mean, you are here, you just have to, right? Pull up on the side of the road, which traces the 23 mile (37km) long inland lake, and look for the infamous ‘monster’.

I’m not sure what, exactly, a monster looks like, but rest assured when traveling with a 9-year-old, any semi-submerged log, boat wake, shadow or even mild wave chop i from Performance Junk Blogger 6 https://ift.tt/2MAGMNQ via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Performance Junk Blogger 6

[paintmeyourbluesky]

Okay, the first question, how long have you been living here in Edinburgh?

M: Quite long, since 1980 so that’s 36 years… 37 years.

And what is your favorite part of the city?

M: My favorite part of this city is an area near my house called “Blackford Hill.”

Why do you like that place?

M: Because it’s wild land, it’s one of the 7 hills around the city and you can go up there and it’s lovely and peaceful.

Oh right, so can you tell us just why Edinburgh is such a pleasant tourist attraction from tourists from all around the world?

M: Edinburgh is very good for tourists from all over the place, first of all you have very good transport links to get to Edinburgh, and then when you get to Edinburgh itself, you have a very compact city center, so you have the old town and the new town linked by the north bridge. both the parts of the city are very accessible so it’s very easy to get around as a visitor.

Alright. so Edinburgh has been super lovely so far as the eyes can see, how would you like to describe this city yourself?

M: Okay, how many words do i have?

Um, it’s completely up to you actually. *laughs*

M: Okay, describe the city. I think it’s a city of two halves, with the old town and the new town. we have this historic city center but it’s also a very modern outwith looking city with a large international population and a very exciting place to live.

Oh that’s very fascinating. So, tourists come from all over the world every year to visit this grotesque historical town. can you tell us which part of the world often visit here the most? And what are the things they usually prefer to see or do here?

M: I think the most visitors are probably from the North America, it’s the largest contingent and a lot of people visit the castle. 

So, you mentioned several novel writers and poets that once lived here in these very streets. Now would you personally think that Edinburgh is a city that highly regards and appreciates the art of literature?

M: Yes, definitely. We still have a lot of modern writers that live here, people such as Ian Rankin who writes detective novels, we have Alexander McCall Smith, we have J.K Rowling who wrote Harry Potter. there are certainly a lot of writers and a lot of very good talent here in Edinburgh.

Any good local food recommendations?

M: If you haven’t tried haggis, you should try that.

Alright, what do you like most about Scotland?

M: Most about Scotland, I love the landscape most about Scotland.

Landscape, just because like it’s surrounded by nature.

M: Yes.

And is it ever not cold and chilly here in Scotland?

M: Yes, we get some lovely summer days.

When exactly is that?

M: Oh, well we have two seasons; we have may in winter- no, we have proper seasons. So, we have four different seasons. Can be changeable weather, and sometimes lovely and sunny.

I’m going to ask you quite a very political question here if I may. in your defense now, what are your thoughts on Brexit? Feel free to elaborate your answer.

M: I think Brexit is a bad idea for Britain.

Why do you think so?

M: I think it gives us a lot of advantages being part of the European Union, and I think it’s going to be a huge change to come out of the EU, and particularly for the younger generation, not to have the links with Europe that we’ve enjoyed over the last few decades.

I see, so you don’t support this movement?

M: Um unfortunately, I think Brexit is going to happen. I don’t think there’s any way out of that.

Oh right so thank you very much for your time, i really appreciate it.

M: Okay, okay. Are you gonna put them up on your blog?

Yeah, yeah I will. How do you spell your name again?

M: Do you want to send me it when you’ve done it?

Of course I will, I would love to.

M: I’ll give you my email, then.

Marion J. Rodger, Member of Scottish Tourist Guides Association.

I had the idea of interviewing Marion just right after several minutes of picking up the many fascinating things she said during our tour around town. Then I simply thought to myself, “Hey, why not interview her and see how she thinks of this beautiful city? It’d be nice to look through the eyes of an actual local.” Long story short, I asked her if she minded that I took around 5 minutes of her time before she left our group, to answer a few questions I prepared quite spontaneously before then, and being the nice Scotland lady she is, the answer was yes.

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Fair disclaimer before we move on, most of the pictures that are to be shown here are going to be in forms of slideshows like this because I just had THAT many to share with you guys.

After the interview, we were immediately left on our own to explore the Edinburgh Castle and witness the historical vibes it resonated alongside the beautiful, beautiful architecture it possessed. I thought about Ed Sheeran’s “Castle On the Hill” and hummed it numerous times that even several strangers heard and sang along with me that time, because the song somehow genuinely reminded me of where we were at the time.

The castle had the most breathtaking view of Edinburgh that caught me off guard. I just couldn’t stop staring at how glorious the city looked from up the hill above. The wind, on the other hand, were also playing its part that day, and despite how beautiful it all looked, I’d still love the idea of staying anywhere indoors that could provide the lack of warmth and solace I was getting.

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There was this telescope that allowed us to zoom in so close to look upon the busy streets where people were walking from here to there, scavenging themselves in stores, cafes, and restaurants. It only lasted for a few minutes though, it could’ve lasted longer if we added another 30-pence coin in there. Likewise, the overall view was a complete knock-out for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better one.

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Aside from its magical landscape, the castle had offered several museums to visit, it showcased a lot of true historical exhibits of what happened during the earliest centuries in Scotland, being related to affect the rest of the world as well. The castle also had very intricate prison cells that was made to look like the actual ones they had back in the old days. Oh, how I enjoyed the visit to this remarkable site.

I am going to remind you that these pictures I’ve shown are nothing compared to what I’ve witnessed. You should really be seeing it on your own to really understand how amazing it felt standing there with the view before your very eyes. 

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After which, we managed to head downtown and had lunch. We ended up parting ways, I went with my dad because we apparently shared the same trait, being more of an explorer than a shopper when it really comes to opportunities like this.

We spent the entire 3-hour given time walking around town, taking pictures. Enjoying every second of it like it was going to be our last, and taking our time to suck in the brisk weather while we could. This was therefore, my favorite part of the entire trip. You could say that we resonated ourselves pretty well with this so called Athens of the North city.

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After tirelessly touring ourselves around town, grasping on everything we could with our cameras, we decided to stop by a gorgeous cafe called “Fortitude”  that provided specialty coffee, being the coffee lover that he is, I’d say he made the most out of it. There was a photoshoot going on during which, and spacious might have not been the perfect word to describe this aesthetically pleasing joint, but all in all it was still a pleasant visit. The barista was kind enough to provide us a couple of spare seats despite how crowded the place were, her service was super nice, as she brews the coffee my dad ordered passionately.

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We managed to also drop by Waverley Station, and witnessed our very first Britain train station at hand. Witnessing the locals hurrying from here and there, or simply waiting for their train to arrive allowed me to feel like as if I were one of them. The thing I love most about European stations is that, the feels it provide, despite it being crowded and busy, there will always be a lot going on here that felt a little more regional than being at an airport.  I guess that says a lot remembering the fact that I adore being in airports as much.

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It was a shame that we had to leave for St. Andrews the next morning. The aura, the weather, the street musicians and art performers, the breathtaking vintage view you get no matter where you turn your head around to, and the mobility yet stagnant imagery it portrayed. I’ve never imagined any of it to be this refreshing and enjoyable after experiencing the city on foot myself. I wouldn’t mind spending a whole other week staying here if I were given the chance. And I’d stay here forever if I could, but hey. There are still over a million more beautiful cities that’s waiting for me out there. Pictures and words can never describe how I adore this city, and you bet I’ll come back one day.

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School had took little to plenty of my energy to actually put myself into writing stuff here, and it sucks. Taking bits and pieces of my trip and putting them altogether would certainly be best if I got the knack and mood for it, because you just can’t rush slightly ~refined~ quality, now can you? Kidding. I hope it’s still worth the read, though you guys.

You can tell by the amount of pictures I took that this was a city that I found myself immediately fell in love with. Although there were a few struggles regarding the uploading process that made me delay publishing this post.

It’s said and done, then. My undying love for Edinburgh all piled up in one chunky heck of a blogpost. Thank you for reading so far! Do look forward to my next post revolving around St. Andrews, the founding father of the fanciest sport there is out there famously known as golf.

To Marion, thank you, thank you , thank you for your time and answers regarding the city of Edinburgh! I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I adored writing it. (:

Cheerio, then!

        Athens of the North Okay, the first question, how long have you been living here in Edinburgh? M: Quite long, since 1980 so that's 36 years...

[bonsaieejit]

After Crater Lake it would be hard to find anything in nature as inspiring on the rest of the trip. Therefore I switched to Bonsai for inspiration for the rest of the short time we had left :-). Leaving Klamath Falls we moved North West over the high desert and down into Portland. A chunk of this was done in the rain so we missed some mountain views along the way. It can’t always be perfect 🙂

My next stop was Michael Hagedorn’s place, Crataegus Bonsai. You should know who I’m talking about if you follow this blog. I reblog a lot of Michaels posts as they are always so informative and well timed for seasonal work. Michael also posts kusamono which as you know is also a major passion of mine. This was one spot I was really looking forward too. I had been emailing with Michael to plan my visit and although he had a class on, he was still keen for me to come.

The weather improved the closer we got and on arrival the sun was shining. We were met by Andrew Robson, Michael’s apprentice and shortly there after by Michael who was just finishing lunch with his students. One thing that stands out at every bonsai establishment I visited was the warm welcome, and here was no different. A very relaxed atmosphere and happy faces. This looks like a great environment to study. The Pacific Northwest is truly blessed with bonsai opportunities. Michael got the students to work and between times spent some time walking the garden with me. Andrew was also very helpful but I was pleased to be left to my own devices for a while and just study the trees.

And then a truly magical thing happened! My long suffering wife, who has had to deal with my addiction for 24 years, having hordes of people visit my house, catering for these visitors, etc etc. made a statement. ‘I get it’. Just three words, but I was floored. She explained that after Crater Lake and the amazing trees there, showing all the age and character that you could imagine, and then coming into a garden were the bonsai looked just like that, she got why I do this mad thing called bonsai. She swore me to secrecy and straight after I told Michael all about 🙂 I’ll get a stern look for posting this here too, but hey, live dangerously. So, if you have a spouse who doesn’t get it, take them to Crater Lake and then a tour of the bonsai spots in the Pacific Northwest. Real bucket list stuff.

I loved the variation in species at Crataegus and am fast falling in love with many of the American ones. Nice also to see Japanese Black Pines being developed from humble beginnings. I had a ball looking at the accents as well and Michael and I had a good chat about what plant types are used both there and back home. You’ll see from the photos that I didn’t miss many.

A massive thank you to Michael and Andrew for adding us to an already busy day.

The galleries just keep getting bigger! Apologies if there are any doubles but some are with the camera and some with the phone which causes me grief now I’m home. From here I moved on to Mirai, a little place in St Helens, you may have heard of it! I will be breaking it down into a few different post as the amount of photos I took was total greed!

  Crataegus Bonsai After Crater Lake it would be hard to find anything in nature as inspiring on the rest of the trip.

#accents #bonsai #crataegus #crataegus bonsai #eejit #kusamono #Michael Hagedorn #Northern Ireland #photographs of trees #photography #photos #yamadori

[nofomoartworld]

Art F City: This Week’s Must-See Art Events: Survive Art Fair Hell With Bushwick Punx and Georgia O’Keeffe

“Moll Madnoss” opens Friday night at Elijah Wheat Showroom. Why does a child’s board game about navigating a mall sound like a perfect metaphor for Armory Week?

It is hell week for the art world. What used to be referred to as “Armory Week” is now a beast spanning more art fairs than anyone has time or energy for. Now that NADA has joined the fray, it’s likely going to be more stressful, but at least slightly less soul-crushing.

To help navigate this mess, we’ve picked out the week’s highlights: the art fairs you really should see, as well as gallery, DIY, and museum events to help recover from the convention center lighting.

These events include an artist talk from photographer Elle Perez at  Daniel Cooney Fine Art on Tuesday, a peek at Georgia O’Keeffe’s personal style at the Brooklyn Museum on Friday, and the Silent Barn’s Paper Jazz Small Press Festival all weekend long in Bushwick.

Wear comfortable shoes. Bring aspirin. We’ll get through this together.

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Mon

FIT

227 W 27th St New York, NY 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.Website

Make America Great Again--Like It Was 37 Days Ago

The #FITTownHall invites the public to discuss the Trump administration with art industry workers. The list of speakers includes Brian Boucher, Walter Robinson, Christian Viveros-Fauné, Ariel Adkins, Ambre Kelly, Andrew Gori, Amol Sarva, John Post Lee and more, but anyone is welcome to speak.

The talk will be moderated by FIT Art Market MA chairperson Natasha Degen, and was conceived by BravinLee programs. There are lots of meetings every week about the Trump crisis, but this one looks like it will be especially juicy.

Tue

COMPANY

88 Eldridge Street New York, NY 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.Website

Allyson Vieira: Disinherited

There’s something a little unsettling about Allyson Vieira’s work. Her assemblages or installations combine construction materials and urban detritus. They have a trash aesthetic but feel slightly detached or clinical.  Beyond this out-of-focus image of smiley faces, we don’t know what this show will look like. But the statement is an epic musing on New York’s paradoxical place at the center of global capitalism and the movements of migrant labor, luxury goods, and perpetual “development” that passes through its increasingly surreal cityscape.

Daniel Cooney Fine Art

526 W 26th St (suite 9C) New York, NY 7:00 p.m. Website

Artist's Talk: Elle Perez

Following the election of Trump, Daniel Cooney Fine Art started “The View From Here: Creating Meaningful Art in Hostile Times” lecture series, with a focus on queer artists. This week, Elle Perez is presenting, and I couldn’t recommend her work more. Perez photographs unusual subcultures—from underground wrestling clubs in the Bronx to queer woodland retreats—with a candid style that resists sensationalizing her subjects. Her photos are really lovely peeks into the social lives of others, with an implied sense that the outside world isn’t what it should be.

Wed

Former Condé Nast Building

4 Times Square New York, NY 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.Website

SPRING/BREAK Art Show

Reliably, SPRING/BREAK is the highlight of this hellish art overload week.

The curator-driven, artist-centric show doesn’t really feel like an art fair—we mean that in the best way possible. It’s the perfect antidote to sales-driven spectacle crap and soulless secondary market booths. Come see some smart emerging work. You’ll probably actually enjoy yourself.

This year, the fair has moved to vacant offices in Times Square and will be on view until Monday. This should be a very different context from its old digs in the Farley Post Office—I’ve already heard from one artist who is thinking about how to deal with the billboard up against her room’s window. Oh, and very appropriately, the curatorial theme for the fair this year is “BLACK MIRROR.” We can’t wait to see how this turns out.

Park Avenue Armory

Park Avenue at 67th Street New York, NY 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Website

ADAA Art Show

The Art Dealers Association of America’s annual art show is like the granddaddy of all art fairs. Reliably blue chip, it’s not exactly a thrilling fair, but it’s worth a visit if you like “art fair” art fairs. Expect big names, big production budgets, etc…

Highlights this year include Louise Bourgeois at Peter Blum Gallery, Betty Tompkins at P•P•O•W/ Pilkington-Olsoff Fine Arts, Inc., and Mexican masters including Diego Rivera at Mary-Anne Martin/Fine Art.

The show is up until Sunday, and day passes are $25. All the proceeds go towards The Henry Street Settlement, so it’s for a good cause!

  Thu

Piers 92 & 94

711 12th Avenue New York, NY 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.Website

The Armory Show

Pretty consistently, we get bored at The Armory Show. That comes with the caveat that fair fatigue is inevitable this week, and The Armory Show tends to not be as fun/exciting as SPRING/BREAK. Nevertheless, Molly Rhinestones and I found plenty of highlights last year (and cowboys) so who knows?

Skylight Clarkson North

572 Washington St New York, NY 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.Website

NADA NY

NADA has moved dates and venues this year, to coincide with The Armory Show and the week’s mega-art-saturation. It remains to be seen how that will impact the fair. It looks to be a better logistical situation than its previous satellite relationship with the island-bound Frieze fair, but let’s hope The Armory doesn’t wear off too much on forward-thinking NADA.

We’re optimistic that won’t be the case. They’re kicking off their weekend of programming with events such as a Thursday night drag show, and 50% of this year’s ticket sales ($20/day) will go to the ACLU. Right on!

Fri

Brooklyn Museum

200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.Website

Georgia O’Keeffe: Living Modern

Like it or not, a lot of attention often gets directed to important women’s style. (Think of all the obsession with Frida Kahlo’s wardrobe, Casa Azul, garden, etc…)

But for women artists in the early-mid 20th century (and maybe to a lesser extent today), style was an important way of asserting identity and independence. This exhibit focuses on the unusual fashion and forward-thinking interior decorating sensibilities of Georgia O’Keeffe. A few of O’Keeffe’s works will be contextualized alongside her garments, photos of her homes, and portraits.

She could really strike a pose!

Elijah Wheat Showroom

1196 Myrtle Brooklyn, NY 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.Website

Joseph Kraska & Johannah Herr: Moll Madnoss

Joseph Kraska’s trippy queer video series Peppré Ann and Froends returns with a new episode. This time, the girls are going shopping.

But instead of typical consumer schlock and Orange Julius, they’re going to be exposed to the harsh, bizarre reality of the suburban mall (“moll”) as a privatized public space, where the logic of capitalism rules over free speech or the right to congregate. This all-too-real dystopian nightmare will be brought to life through an installation in collaboration with Johannah Herr. In the gallery, viewers can browse chain-store garments modified with slogans from the Women’s March on Washington and fabric prints that reference the militarized police presence used to suppress protesters. Hell yeah.

Sat

David Zwirner

525 & 533 West 19th Street New York, NY 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Website

Guided tour of 'Alice Neel, Uptown' with Hilton Als

This exhibition at David Zwirner focuses on the time legendary painter Alice Neel spent living in upper Manhattan. Neel was a resident of Spanish Harlem and then the upper Upper West Side until her death, and painted many a portrait of her friends and neighbors.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see the show with critic Hilton Als.

RSVP to [email protected].

Arsenal Contemporary

214 Bowery New York, NY 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Website

The Finiliar: Pop-up Merch Shop

Ed Fornieles opened The Finiliar last week. It’s a bizarre company that somehow ties data from financial institutions to a kawaii aesthetic through a series of multi-media works. Think Pokemon meets CNBC?

This week, Fornieles is opening a pop-up show with Finiliar merch. Capitalism comes full circle. Gotta catch ’em all!

The Silent Barn

603 Bushwick Ave., Brooklyn, NY 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.Website

Paper Jazz Small Press Festival

The Silent Barn has changed the name of their beloved zine and print fest “Paper Jam” to “Paper Jazz.” I’m not a fan of the name change, but I am a huge fan of the event.

Come browse tons of zines, small publications, prints and more from local and national small press. There’s more programming TBA, so we’re guessing there will be music or performances of some sort. Probably the best weekend antidote to a week of art fairs we can think of.

Sun

Interference Archive

131 8th Street Brooklyn, NY 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Website

Propaganda Party: Building Resistance

Interference Archive invites arts and activist groups to come together and share “propaganda” material. This could be informative pamphlets, posters, buttons, or other politically-charged goodies.

If you’re part of an organization interested in participating, email [email protected].

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