#770 New York

[airchexx]

Dan Ingram, MusicRadio 77 WABC | June, 1970

Whenever we run across any WABC or Dan Ingram airchecks, we have to go through the vast archives here at this repository first, before even bothering to work with it, to ensure that we haven’t run across it before. Well, here’s yet another gem that turned up in the archives of our biggest Contributor, Big Apple Airchecks. Two things about this aircheck to note. Okay, three. First off, it’s…

[daemonicdasein]

2023: Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

2024: Did you know that there is a secret tunnel under the World Headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic movement at 770 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York?

[determinate-negation]

so many of the israeli settlers in all those videos of them harassing people or rejoicing about living in palestinians homes are literally from new york and new jersey its crazy if you dont get your bitch ass back to 770 eastern parkway or the staten island jcc…

[misterblanc]

do you feel me here?

lewis hamilton x fem!reader

summary: getting intimately reacquainted with lewis after he decides a work trip has kept you away from him for far too long

warnings: mature language, smut (dirty talk, unprotected sex, fingering, daddy kink), possible spelling and grammar mistakes and a rushed ending [18+ MINORS D.N.I.]

note: this is my first time writing smut...ever! inspired by sabrina claudio's "don't let me down". help a hoe out and leave feedback/comments and if you feel so inclined a like/reblog 💕 stay safe all u horndogs

words: 770

❣️ dirty thangs under the cut ❣️

"Good girl - that's a good fucking girl." Lewis cooed, warm breath fanning against your slick inner thighs as you rode out your orgasm.

You whimpered and quaked as he slowed the pump of his fingers inside your tight walls and peppered gentle kisses against the silky skin of your thigh where his head lay, your hand threaded tightly through his braids.

You'd lost track of how long his lean muscled body had been draped over yours, and quite honestly, you didn't care. If you didn't know any better, you'd think you were drunk, lost in the hazy stupor that you always fell into when you got in bed with Lewis. The only indicator that time had passed was the dim, inky morning light that had started creeping through the gauzy curtains of his hotel room.

Lewis rarely made extraneous use of the private jet at his disposal but after 8 days spent by himself at a hotel in New York on a business trip to attend to his growing fashion line, he had grown too sexually frustrated in your absence to take it anymore. Of course, the photos and videos he received on a nightly basis that you took of yourself weren't helping, either. Sometimes you played lazily with your clit, other times you fucked yourself roughly with a dildo in your shared bed, but every time you moaned his name as you came, your sweet noises going straight to his stiff, aching cock.

With a few phone calls, you were on your way. And that's how you'd found yourself across the country at his hotel. You had barely any time to say hello once he opened the hotel room door before he grabbed you by your waist and threw you onto the soft bed where you'd stayed since you arrived.

Lewis tilted his head upwards between your shaking thighs to look at where you lay above him on the bed. He thought you looked beautiful all the time, but if he had to be honest, he loved this view the most. Eyelashes fluttered against skin that glowed with a sheen of sweat that only multiple orgasms could bring, the baby hairs of your undone hair sticking against your forehead. His eyes raked over your tensed neck and arched torso, where he had sucked and licked your sweet skin earlier on his way to your aching cunt.

"You look so gorgeous when you're all fucked out, princess," he murmured, propping himself up on his elbows. "You've been so patient for me, baby...I think you deserve Daddy's cock now. Do you think you can handle that for me?"

You moaned at his words, thighs squeezing together against the soreness and sensitivity of your pussy. "M' don't know, Daddy..."

"You can give me another one, can't you baby?" Lewis purred, wrapping tattooed hands around your thighs to pull them apart again. "Don't hide Daddy's pretty pussy, baby. I wanna see all of you."

He knelt on his knees in front of you, stroking his hard cock. Your head fell back against the pillow at the sight of him smearing his now dripping precum along his length.

Wordlessly, you gave in and hooked your legs around his waist as he rubbed the head of his cock against your creamy opening.

"That's right baby girl, you know just what to do." he breathed out as he finally pushed in, the searing stretch of just his tip making you gasp. "Always know just what to do for Daddy."

He leaned down and you wrapped your arms around his neck, desperate to feel him closer to you. He groaned softly as he bottomed out inside of you and began thrusting, your wet cunt clenching around him.

"Do you feel me here, baby?" Lewis asked, reaching one hand down to press against your lower tummy where you could feel his cock buried deep inside you.

"Mmhmm, yes Daddy," you panted, thighs tightening around his waist as you felt the approach of another orgasm and screwed your eyes shut. "Please, don't stop!"

"Oh, love, are you going to come again? Are you gonna come all over Daddy's cock?" he asked, pulling his head back and gripping your chin so you were face-to-face again. "Say my name when you fucking come, princess."

Suddenly, the knots twisting in your stomach came undone and the only word you could speak was his name,

"Lewis!"

At the sound of hearing you finally moan his name, he smirked as he picked up the pace of his thrusts.

"Good job, princess. Rest up, because I'm gonna make you scream it again before daylight."

[girlactionfigure]

🇮🇱AFTER Shabbat - Saturday night - events from Israel  

ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

⚠️Kiryat Shmona and the Upper Galilee: residents are asked to be near protected areas, including in non-evacuated towns. (19:32)

❗️ISIS SUPPORTER - PAKISTANI CANADIAN - PLANNED MASS ATTACK ON CHABAD 770.. arrested when he tried to cross the border into the United States - where he planned to carry out a shooting attack on Chabad HQ and synagogue 770 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY.  He was arrested after he shared with undercover agents his intentions: "to take advantage of Israeli gatherings on Oct. 7 memorials for the Hamas massacre, and to carry out the largest attack against Jews outside of Israel ever - and the largest in the US since Sept. 11”.

Planned mass shooting with automatic weapons in New York because "there is the largest population of Jews in America."

Arrested.

▪️ON THE AMERICAN-TURKISH ACTIVIST SHOT NEAR SHECHEM.. The White House: We contacted Israel demanding information and asked for an investigation into the shooting of the American citizen near Shechem.  

.. IDF spokesperson: During the security forces' activity near Beta today (Friday), the force responded by firing at a central instigator who threw stones at the forces, and posed a threat to our forces.

.. The Turkish-American anarchist who was killed today by IDF gunfire in Kfar Beta in Samaria is an activist of ISM - the "International Solidarity Organization" - a pro-Hamas and Hezbollah "resistance" organization that has been working against Israel for years through provocations, boycotts, defamations and confrontations.  Its operatives even helped transport a terrorist to an attack in Tel Aviv in the past. The founder of the organization, Paul Larudi, even praised the massacre committed by Hamas in Israel.

▪️US AGREES TO WITHDRAW FROM IRAQ.. in Sept. 2025.

▪️ISRAEL MAINSTREAM MEDIA CREATES POLLS.. to prove Israelis support a deal - - by phrasing questions in such a way as to remove negatives.  For example: “do you support a complete withdrawal from Gaza in a deal to free the hostages?”, 52% say yes.  I say yes!  (( Oh did you forget to mention being bombarded with rockets again within a year and increased terror attacks and Israeli deaths?  Yes, yes you did. ))  (i24)

.. “Majority does not accept the PM’s position and thinks a deal is more important than remaining in control of the border - 60%”. (Mako).  (( Does the poll mention releasing 5,000 mass murderers, many who will murder again?  No, no it does not. ))

▪️US SAYS IRAN TRANSFERRED HUNDREDS OF SHORT RANGE MISSILES TO RUSSIA.. Iran says “no we didn’t.” (WSJ)

▪️TERROR ATTEMPT - RAMMING ATTACK - ELI.. gas station.  They rammed a police car!  Terrorist captured, no casualties.

▪️TURKISH PRESIDENT ERDOGAN CALLS.. on the Muslim world to unite against Israel: it will want to conquer Turkey as well.

🔸DEAL NEWS.. New York Times: Hamas added additional demands regarding the release of Palestinian prisoners as part of the first phase of the deal. (( The more Israeli’s protest demanding a deal, the more Hamas demands. ))

.. The head of the CIA: "We hope that a hostage deal will be signed in the coming days - it's a matter of political will"

.. Assessment in Israel: There is no chance of a deal.

⭕ 16 rounds of ROCKETS and mostly SUICIDE DRONE attacks over Shabbat at northern Israeli towns and cities, including Rosh HaNikra and Safed.

.. 2 drones hit Ayelet HaShachar.  No casualties.

♦️The IDF eliminated senior Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon and Deir al-Balah.

[lordoftheringsmusical]

Reviews

The Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater

19 July 2024 to 1 September 2024

The highly popular UK revival of The Lord of the Rings officially opened in Chicago last Friday. The response from critics is mixed (some good, some bad) - but it seems to be a hit with Tumblr audiences. A fascinating development!

I've compiled a list of reviews published so far and will update it from time to time. Please check the original post for the most up-to-date version.

Newspapers / news outlets

1news (28 July 2024)

Chicago Sun Times (28 July 2024)

Chicago Tribune (29 July 2024)

New York Times (31 July 2024)

Bloggers / Theatre guides

File 770 (25 July 2024)

The Fourth Walsh (27 July 2024)

Around the Town Chicago (27 July 2024)

third coast review (27 July 2024)

Chicago Stage and Screen (27 July 2024)

Chicago Culture Authority (28 July 2024)

Chicago Theatre Review (28 July 2024)

Chicago Onstage (28 July 2024)

Talkin' Broadway (28 July 2024)

Buzz Center Stage (28 July 2024)

BroadwayWorld (29 July 2024)

Newcity Stage (30 July 2024)

Chicago Reader (30 July 2024)

PicksInSix (30 July 2024)

Stage and Screen (30 July 2024)

axios Chicago (2 August 2024)

Hellenic Moon (4 August 2024)

Sean Michael Malone (7 August 2024)

Playbill (8 August 2024)

Vloggers / video reviews

Jess of the Shire (26 July 2024)

OK. (4 August 2024)

CST's compilation (5 August 2024)

Social media reviews

Hilary Klein (21 July 2024)

@myfairkatiecat x (24 July 2024)

@sirdeln x (26 July 2024)

@heretherebedork x (27 July 2024)

@freenarnian x (27 July 2024)

@supermacaroniandsqueezeblr x (27 July 2024)

@sonofarathorns x (3 August 2024)

The date indicated refers to the date the review was published.

Picture source

[darkmaga-retard]

The financial landscape for many American households has declined in recent years. A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York paints a picture of rising debt and delinquency rates, highlighting the economic challenges many families face.

Let’s break down the key findings:

Credit card debt has skyrocketed by 48.1% between early 2021 and mid-2024. In dollar terms, that’s a jump from $770 billion to $1.14 trillion. It’s like the national credit card bill grew by nearly half in just over three years.

Overall household debt, which includes mortgages and car loans, also saw a significant increase of 21.6% during the same period. The total rose from $14.64 trillion to $17.8 trillion. To put that in perspective, it’s as if every American household took on about $24,000 in additional debt on average.

But it’s not just about how much we owe – it’s also about how well we’re keeping up with payments. The report shows that delinquency rates have reached levels not seen in over a decade.

About 9.1% of credit card balances and 8% of auto loan balances became delinquent in the past year. That’s the highest since 2011 for credit cards and 2010 for car loans.

So why is this happening? There’s no single cause, but several factors are at play.

“Today, however, I don’t think there’s much doubt that a lot of debt is being driven by struggle rather than by confidence. Stubborn inflation and sky-high interest rates have really taken a toll,” Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, said.

He points to the record-high inflation rate of 9.1% in June 2022 as a key driver. When prices for everyday items like gas and groceries shoot up, it leaves less money for other financial goals. Some families have even turned to credit cards just to make ends meet.

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

Season 3 Rewatch Drabbles: 3x20 Kansas

Summary:  A series of 100-500 word drabbles to accompany my    rewatch of season 3 of Once Upon a Time.  There will be a drabble–either a deleted scene, a “fix it” fic or a character musing for each episode of the season.  Focus will be on Emma, Henry, the Charmings and Killian–with an emphasis on Captain Swan’s epic love story.

Word Count: 770

Other Chapters: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (23) (24) (25) (26) (27) (28)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Hook! Hook! Hook!  Wake up! Killian!” Emma shouted, shaking him, hearing the blinding panic in her voice.

Nothing happened.  He lay there, senseless and immobile. Not breathing. She caressed his face, leaning down close. “Killian, come back to me!”

Still nothing.  Emma knew this was what Zelena wanted.  She’d manipulated them into the exact place she wanted them.  Emma could either let him die or give him mouth to mouth–giving up her magic.

It wasn’t even a question.  She couldn’t lose him.  She couldn’t.

She’d been trying so hard, so damned hard ever since drinking the memory potion Hook had given her, to deny….well, a lot of things, but in particular the pull, the unbreakable emotional tether she had to Killian.  The thought that he had burrowed his way into her heart, that he’d begun to matter to her frankly terrified her.

Oh, she could admit she liked him.  She could admit he’d been her friend and confidant ever since Neverland. She could admit they would have been far worse off in this fight without him around.  And as for his looks, well, she wasn’t blind.  Obviously he was hot as hell.

What she hadn’t been able to admit, even to herself, is that it went deeper.  That she was beginning to care for him in a way she hadn’t cared for anyone, at least since Neal.

And so she’d told herself over and over again that she wasn’t going to let him all the way in.  She wasn’t going to give him the power to break her heart.  When all was said and done, she could walk away back to New York without a backward glance.  Leaving him behind would be no big deal.

And yet he continued to push and push and push.  It wasn’t so much that he was pestering her to be with him.  He wasn’t.  He had always, always let her set the pace of their “relationship” or whatever it was.

It was that he got to the heart of the matter.  Pushing her to move past her denial.  Pushing her to move past her fear.  Pushing her to accept that things had changed and that she couldn’t take Henry away from his family again, at least not without doing damage to both him and them.

And so she’d been snarky–nearly to the point of being cruel–as they’d trudged through the woods to Zelena’s house.

“You’ve taken care of the boy quite well here,” he’d said,  “You can talk about danger all you like, but it isn’t that. So tell me, what is it? Why are you so scared of staying?  I think it’s because you can see a future here. A happy one.”

As usual, he’d hit the nail on the head.  Back in New York before she’d taken the memory potion, he’d told her he knew her better than she knew herself, and once again, he’d proven the truth of that statement.

The fear had risen up and made her respond in a mocking, cutting tone.  One meant to dismiss.  One meant to convey that he was nothing to her.

One that was a lie from beginning to end.

“Let me guess, with you?”

For a split second, she’d seen the pain in his eyes at that, and she’d had the urge to apologize, but then, as usual, all hell had broken loose.  Zelena and Gold had shown up, and well, it all led to this moment right now.

The moment she had to admit, at least to herself, exactly what he meant to her.

“Son of a bitch,” she muttered before leaning down and letting her lips touch his.

There was an instantaneous wave.  She felt her magic lifting from her, like the removal of a cozy coat in the middle of winter.  It left her cold, vulnerable.

But there was something more, some kind of energy surge.  The deep, dark honest part of her that her conscious mind viciously kept under lock and key wondered if that had been it, proof that they’d shared a True Love’s Kiss.

And really, truth be told, what happened between them had been more like a kiss than mouth to mouth rescusitation. 

She’d sat back, looked at him, waiting, her fear mounting as the moments passed by, each one feeling like an hour.

And then he’d coughed, water spewing from his mouth, and the relief that flooded her was stronger than any she’d felt. 

He turned horrified blue eyes up at her. “Swan, what did you do?” he asked.What I had to, she thought. Nothing, absolutely nothing, would be worth letting you die.

NEXT CHAPTER->

[your-stranger-halfblood-things]

Eddie Munson grew up calling his father "tatty" which is Yiddish for father. He called his grandfather "zayde" which is grandfather in Yiddish

He also grew up saying Shema at night and Mode Ani in the morning. Once in a while, he still says them when he remembers. He also grew up washing his hands in the morning and for bread, but he doesn't do that any more. But he doe still have the bowl and cup set that he had as a child

And he shares all these things with Steve whenever the other man asks about the certain tasks he does. "It's kiddush on Friday night," Eddie replies, or sometimes, "I'm davening."

And Steve learns about it and supports his boyfriend because why shouldn't be? They even go visit New York together. They visit 770 and the Rebbe. On the way back to their hotel, a man outside a restaurant stops Eddie and asks "hey, did you put on Teffilin yet?"

And Eddie says no because he never has. He never got to. By the time he turned thirteen, he was living with Uncle Wayne, who didn't practice.

The man put Teffilin on Eddie's arms and head and they said the blessing. Steve watched his boyfriend with a proud smile. He was glad Eddie was happy

[have-you-been-here]

Tumblr headquarters, 770 Broadway, New York, New York, USA

[atotaltaitaitale]

.

Onto the next adventure.

I was supposed to take the Amtrak popular Adirondack train line between Montreal and New York but the train got cancelled 2 weeks prior to departure so I decided to change it to the Greyhound bus.

Time saved 3.5 hours!!

Yes you’ve read that right the bus is faster than the train.

Got to enjoy an early evening in New York too thanks to my earlier departure and a much earlier arrival too. Win/Win.

As a side note and for a giggle: Montreal and New York are about 370 miles (600 kms) apart. Paris and Marseille in France are 770 kms (so 100 miles further) apart but the train ride is only 3.5 hours so 7.5 hours less!! Go Europe and our fast train.

[airchexx]

Dan Ingram, 77 WABC New York | November 4, 1961

Aircheck Courtesy of Big Apple Airchecks This one goes back nearly to the beginning of what would be one of the most famous Top 40 radio stations in the world. Dan Ingram held down Afternoon Drive on WABC for most of the 22 years of it’s existence as a music station, and here you can listen to how he sounded in the early days of the WABC music format. The jingles in use here, I believe are from…

[tvcallsign]

April 5

Good evening, it's time again for congratulations to be handed out to several radio and television stations across North America. A couple big players celebrate anniversaries today.

WGN-TV (April 5, 1948)

The famous Chicago superstation WGN-TV celebrates 76 years on the air today. It has been the host of several affiliates throughout its lifetime, including CBS, DuMont, NTA, United, The WB, and The CW, but now exists as an independent station. Their call letters are derived from the nickname of their founder, the Chicago Tribune, known to many as the "World's Greatest Newspaper."

KQED (April 5, 1954)

Though KQED was the fourth television station to sign on in the Bay Area, it was a big player in the beginnings of public television in the United States. The PBS affiliate for San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, California turns 70 today, providing Californians with educational programming for generations. Their call sign is taken from a Latin phrase, Quod Erat Demonstrandum, meaning, "what was to be shown," or "that which was to be demonstrated," commonly found at the end of mathematical proofs and philosophical arguments, in print, showing the argument is complete.

WNYE-TV (April 5, 1967)

This former NET and PBS affiliate in New York City turns 57 years old today. It began when the New York City Board of Education put it on the air to primarily air instructional programming for classrooms. Some PBS programming continues to air on WNYE. The call sign meaning is very simple, New York Education.

WSNS-TV (April 5, 1970)

Currently a Telemundo affiliate, this former Independent, then ON TV affiliate, turns 54 years old on this date. In 1985, it became Chicago's first full-time Spanish-language channel. It shares its station and frequency with its sister station, WMAQ-TV. Its call sign comes from its founding owner, Essaness (S-N-S) Theatres.

Radio stations:

A couple of centenarians in the mix for today.

KKOB, 96.3 FM, Albuquerque, NM (1922, 102 years)

KMBZ, 980 AM, Kansas City, MO (1922, 102 years)

KTTH, 770 AM, Seattle, WA (1925, 99 years)

WHBY, 1150 AM, Kimberly, WA (1925, 99 years)

WENZ, 107.9 FM, Cleveland, OH (1958, 66 years)

KURL, 93.3 FM, Billings, MT (1969, 55 years)

KCBC, 770 AM, Manteca, CA (1987, 37 years)

[reasoningdaily]

The Oldest Treasures From 12 Great Libraries

The oldest reading room at the Bodleian Library, in Oxford. David Iliff/CC-BY-SA 3.0.

When you start to think about the oldest books that a library might hold, there are any number of rabbit holes you can fall down. What’s the oldest book in any particular city? What’s the oldest book in the world? Well, what do you mean by “book”? The oldest written text? The oldest manuscript? The oldest printed material? The oldest bound book?

Librarians take these kinds of questions very seriously, so when Atlas Obscura contacted some of our favorite libraries to ask about the oldest books in their collections, we were treated to a wealth of information about the treasures they hold.

The New York Public Library, for instance, has not only cuneiform tablets and ninth-century gospels, but also a Gutenberg Bible and a copy of The Bay Psalm Book, one of the oldest books printed in America. In addition to its own cuneiform tablets and Gutenberg Bible, the Library of Congress holds one of the oldest examples of printing in the world, passages from a Buddhist sutra, printed in A.D. 770, as well as a medieval manuscript from 1150, delightfully titled Exposicio Mistica Super Exod.

New York Academy of Medicine

Apicius, De re culinaria

Created: A.D. 830, Germany

Synopsis: The earliest surviving cookbook in the West, this Latin manuscript contains recipes that date all the way back to the fourth century B.C. These were recipes meant for average Roman households, although they included non-native spices that would have had to travel far to reach the Mediterranean. Some of the highlights, according to the library, are “roast lamb with coriander, deep-fried honey fritters, and cucumber with mint dressing.”

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Constantinus Africanus, Viaticum

Created: No later than 1244, Italy

Synopsis: In the 10th century A.D., Ibn al-Jazzar, an Muslim physician, wrote a book titled Provisions for the Traveler and the Nourishment of the Settled, a compendium of the medical knowledge of the day, which focused on the interaction of humours and elements in the human body. A few decades later, Constantinus traveled from North Africa to a monastery in southern Italy, where he adapted and translated Ibn al-Jazzar’s work into Latin.

Bodleian Library

Ash-Preserved Papyrus

Created: Before A.D. 79, Herculaneum, Italy

Synopsis: When Mt. Vesuvius erupted in the first century A.D., it covered the town of Herculaneum in ash, gas, and other volcanic material that preserved organic matter for hundreds of years. These carbonized papyrus scrolls came from the town’s library. Archaeologists have struggled to find a way to read the damaged scrolls, so there’s little known about their contents—though progress is being made with advanced imaging techniques.

Provenance: These scrolls were discovered in Herculaneum in 1750s. In 1810, George, Prince of Wales, received 18 of them and presented four to the library in Oxford as a gift.

St. Catherine’s Monastery

Codex Sinaiticus

Created: A.D. 330–60, possibly Rome, Italy

Synopsis: A handwritten version of a Greek Bible, the codex is one of the oldest copies known today, and the oldest surviving version of the complete New Testament.

Chicago Botanic Garden

Theophrastus, Historia Plantarum

Created: 1483, Treviso, Italy

Synopsis: Back in the third century B.C., Theophrastus, one of the first botanists of the Western world, set out to catalogue the the plants of ancient Greece and created the first known classifications of plants in his part of the world. He covered a range of trees, shurbs, dwarf shrubs, and herbs and examined how they grew and were used in his own time.

American Museum of Natural History

Albertus Magnus, De animalibus

Created: 1495, Venice, Italy

Synopsis: Albertus Magnus spent his life studying and commenting on the works of Aristotle. Without his work, much less knowledge of the Greek philosopher would have made it to future generations of scholars. Albertus, who died in 1280 and was later canonized, wrote widely about the scientific and natural worlds. This volume collects his work on the animal kingdom.

Library of Congress

Cuneiform Accounting Tablets

Created: 2050 B.C., Sumeria

Synopsis: The Library of Congress’ oldest written material dates far back, beyond the founding of this nation, to more than 4,000 years ago. The collection of cuneiform tablets dates back to the reign of Gudea of Lagash, in the 2100s B.C. The tablets recorded bills of sale, receipts, ledgers, and other accounting tasks.

Folger Shakespeare Library

Magna Carta

Created: Compiled 1325, England

Synopsis: The Magna Carta was the first English statute, but it wasn’t given that name until after 1217, when it started being issued along with the Charter of Forests. To distinguish the original statutes from the forestry code, they were given the name the Great Charter, or the Magna Carta. This copy is in Anglo-Norman, translated from Latin.

Boston Athenaeum

Egyptian Artifact Album

Created: circa 1500 B.C., Thebes, Egypt

Synopsis: This book isn’t exactly the oldest book in the Athenaeum’s collection. It was bound in the 1910s and is “more an album of archaeological artifacts than a rare book in the traditional sense,” the library writes. It contains three shrine hangings describing the worship of the goddess Hathor, and a series of inscribed mummy bandages, which are some of the oldest examples of painting on cloth.

Austrian National Library

Book of the Dead

Created: 15 century B.C., Egypt

Synopsis: Sesostris was a cattle counter and writer in ancient Egypt, and he was well-off enough to own his own copy of the Book of the Dead. In contrast with its name, the book is actually a papyrus scroll, 20-foot long, that contains magical spells to help the recently deceased make their way to the afterlife.

New York Public Library

Landévennec Gospels

Created: Circa ninth century, Brittany, France

Synopsis: Like the Library of Congress, the New York Public Library’s oldest written material is a collection of cuneiform tablets. Its oldest manuscript, however, is a ninth-century copy of the Gospels, made in a French monastery, but showing Celtic influence in its imagery.

Free Library of Philadelphia

Aldhelm, De Virginitate

Created: Circa 899, England

Synopsis: The oldest written items at the Free Library of Philadelphia are a set of cuneiform tablets—a common theme—but its oldest manuscript is a prose version of De Virginitate, About Virginity. Aldhelm, the Abbot of Malmesbury and Bishop of Sherborne, had written this treatise about early virgin martyrs, the value of purity, and its relationship to Christian virtue. This later Latin edition was written in an Anglo-Saxon script.

Provenance: R. Contan gave this book to a new owner in March, 1855. J.F. Lewis acquired it in 1914, before it went to the library.

[kristabella]

Important French Silver & Guilloche Enamel Inkwell by Edouard Henry Dreyfous

This inkwell is one of the finest examples we have had in our collection to date. Crafted by the firm 'Dreyfous' the inkwell is made from .800 purity silver, etched crystal and cranberry guilloche enamel. The square form crystal base which sits upon four scroll feet is etched with floral motifs and bordered by gilded .800 purity silver that features panels of rich cranberry guilloche enamel. The central bulbous inkwell features further guilloche enamel that is overlaid with silver garlands and a hinged lid with floral knop. To the inside of the inkwell sits what appears to be its original glass ink liner which is in lovely condition. To the inside rim of the well is engraved 'Dreyfous Paris Londres New York' which helps date the piece to between 1890 and 1920.

Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary of England were both frequent customers of Edouard Henry Dreyfous, purchasing a range of works from his London locations. Aside from his main shop in London, Dreyfous also held premises in Paris and New York. There are three wonderful noted examples of works by Dreyfous in the Royal Collection, two of which are exceptionally good pieces with a similar quality of work to Faberge. One of these pieces is a enamelled and jewelled egg which was a gift to Queen Mary from her children at Christmas in 1927. Dreyfous was the holder of an English Royal Warrant during the early 19th century.

Interestingly this piece is able to be completely dismantled to clean and polish it, with the central inkwell and the feet screwed on with small bolts. We have however left the piece in its original condition and only lightly polished it to allow it to retain its rich antique patina.

Measures - 10cm H x 15cm Square

Total weight - 770 grams

[kendalldimeglio]

An Overview of Cupcakes in the United States

Cupcakes were invented in 1796 by Amelia Simmons, who developed a recipe that described the treat as “a light cake to bake in small cups” in the book American Cookery. The first recorded use of the term “cupcake” can be traced back to a cookbook from Eliza Leslie published in 1928. Before the widespread use of “cupcake,” the desserts were alternatively referred to as number cakes, or 1234 cakes, because the basic recipe called for one cup of butter, two cups of sugar, three cups of flour, and four eggs, along with a cup of milk and spoonful of baking soda.

Cupcakes grew in popularity during the early 20th century, particularly after 1919, when the Hostess company began mass producing a variety of cupcakes and similar dessert food products, sometimes called snack cakes. Over the years, Hostess introduced numerous cupcake options, including orange-flavored and chocolate cupcakes.

There have been various surges in the popularity of cupcakes over time and trends within the dessert marketplace. Local New York City shops such as Magnolia Bakery gained national attention after being featured in episodes of Sex and the City in the early 2000s. Sprinkles Cupcakes opened in 2005 as the first bakery dedicated solely to cupcakes. The store has opened a second location and now produces upwards of 25,000 cupcakes each day. Crumbs, also in New York City, has reported over $23 million annual cupcake revenue.

The earliest examples of cupcakes were simple in design. Hostess mass-produced cupcakes for over a year before introducing frosting as a staple ingredient. Chocolate and vanilla frosting were standard cupcake toppings for many decades, but newer varieties include red velvet, coffee, pumpkin spice, and lemon, to name only a few.

While cupcakes have a long history in the United States, the popularity of the dessert option has hardly plateaued. Cupcake consumption throughout the US increased by 52 percent between 2010 and 2011. In 2015, 14 percent of respondents to a national survey named cupcakes their favorite dessert, just 5 percent behind cake. Less than 10 percent of respondents said they did not like cupcakes. In recent years, Americans have consumed more than 770 million cupcakes yearly.

Cupcakes are so beloved in America that they have their holiday. National Cupcake Day is observed by baking enthusiasts in the United States and a few other countries around the world on December 15. There are even sub-holidays for the dessert, such as National Chocolate Cupcake Day on October 18.

The largest cupcake ever baked belonged to GourmetGiftBaskets.com. They set the World Record in 2009 with a 1,224-pound cupcake that measured 4 feet tall and 10 feet wide. The giant cupcake contained 2 million calories. Indeed, while cupcakes are a popular tasty treat in America, it is important to remember they are a dessert item and should be consumed sparingly.

A standard cupcake provides little to no nutritional value. Unless a person is living with a specific medical condition, accepting a cupcake at a birthday party or after dinner is fine, but limiting the dessert to a single serving is best. Individuals planning a dinner or party can look for healthier cupcake recipes or mini-cupcakes.