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[mcgiggers]

New York - September 2024

Just back from the Armory and related art festivities in the Big Apple which also hosted the US Open and New York Fashion Week. The eclectic mix of aficionados made for a raucous and visually entertaining backdrop for the supercharged events. On the art front, the Armory Show was center stage as it celebrated its 30th edition and its second at the revamped Javits Center. Other fairs visited were Independent 20th Century and Art on Paper. While the sheer proliferation of fairs in the last decade can inevitably result in hit or miss experiences, the gatherings nevertheless offer the opportunity to see thousands of works by a broad range of local and international artists all under one roof which, with some patience and visual filtering, always yields marvelous art finds.

This year the Armory featured over 235 leading galleries representing more than 35 countries. The notable absence of the mega-galleries and smaller overall international representation gave the fair a more local feel with an energized NYC vibe. The smorgasbord of primarily post-war contemporary offerings ranged from figurative to abstract with a hint of conceptual. The Javits Center easily accommodated the bulked-up size of the fair, and the comfortable spacing and layout enhanced the viewing experience.  Some highlights included: Deni Lantz’s dreamy John Zurier-inspired “Untitled”, 2024, oil and beeswax on canvas (72.0 x 59.84 in.); Anouk Lamm Anouk’s ethereal “post/pre Nº 64”, 2023, acrylic on linen (19.75 x 21.63 in.); Paul Feeley’s iconically shaped “Untitled (January 29)”, 1962, oil-based enamel on canvas (57 x 81 in.); and, Sara Siestreem (Hanis Coos)’s playful “foxes on the moon”, 2024, acrylic, graphite, Xerox transfer on panel board (49 x 72 in.).

Independent 20th Century fair was more highbrow. From a gallery perspective, that might be fine if the right people are showing up; from a fair goer perspective, the offering was more nuanced. Set in the historic Battery Maritime Building for the second year in a row, the smallish 32-exhibitor show primarily championed artists that applied their trade between 1900 and 2000. The highlights included: Squeak Carnwath’s painted patterns and thoughts in “Dick & Jane”, 1996, oil and alkyd on canvas (76 x 102 in.); Tom Fairs’ nightscape “Untitled”, c. 1998-99, mixed media on heavy paper (30 x 22 in.); and Rebecca Ward’s translucent “king ranch lll”, 2013, bleach on canvas (40 x 30 in.).

Art on Paper continued its run on the courts of Basketball City on Pier 36 and celebrated its tenth edition with a 100-gallery roster featuring top modern and contemporary paper-based art. On a relative basis, the offering was probably the most accessible from a price point perspective compared to that of other fairs which likely contributed to its enthusiastic appreciation by art fans.  Highlights included: David Richardson’s “White Roses #3”, 2024, chalk on paper (14 x 11 in.); Simone Christen’s “Moment of Bliss l”, 2023, ink on raw linen (30 x 24 x 1.5 in.); and Herman Cherry’s “Untitled #35”, 1968, oil on rag paper (18.25 x 23 in.).

One of the most impressive sights viewed during the New York visit was a billboard by Glenn Ligon spotted from the High Line at 18th Street and 10th Avenue. This new version of “Untitled (America/Me)” spans 25 x 75 ft and features an altered image of Ligon’s iconic 14 ft 2008 “Untitled” which stretches 14 ft across spelling out the word “AMERICA” in neon lights that flicker on and off.  In 2022, Ligon revisited “Untitled” by creating a print, the original “Untitled (America/Me)”, that manipulated a photograph of the neon by drawing X’s through letters leaving only M and E untouched. The billboard is a reprisal of that modest sized print (14 x 11 in., edition of 50) on a gargantuan level, magnifying perhaps the polarized state of affairs in America today.  

Meanwhile back in Hogtown, it’s time to heat up the grill with BBQ season nearly upon us. The burning question is who is going to run with the Barnes, Barrett and Quickley trio. The Big Austrian is a prime candidate in the middle, but who will suit up at the number 4 spot? The ask is for a 6’8” 240 lbs. defensive stalworth that can guard in space, run the floor and knock down 3’s at a 38% plus clip. The current roster’s cast of characters are not obvious candidates. Tricky Dicky, Kelly Canuk and B-Squared each fall short in a few categories. As the auditioning plays out in training camp and the pre-season, there may be some surprises among the lesser known and yet unproven entities on the payroll, but hope is not a strategy. The whole spells for some uncertainty regarding the upcoming season. Barring injuries, the Dinos may be good enough to better last season’s record of 25-67, but probably not good enough to make a splash beyond a play-in round. With that prospect, Sensei Masai’s hand will not be far from the tank button. In the interim, Coach Darko will have to manage as best as he can and be ready to pivot at any time.

For more information on any of the artists or works mentioned, and the starting lineup for the Dinos, “Just Google It”.

There you have it sportsfans,

MC Giggers

(https://mcgiggers.tumblr.com) Reporter’s Certification

I, MC Giggers, hereby certify that the views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views and that no part of my compensation was or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific views expressed herein.

I also certify that I may or may not own, directly or indirectly, works of artists mentioned in this report and that I may or may not have a strong bias for such artists and, more generally, for “Pictures of Nothing”.

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1.2/Weekend chronicle/KNJ

Series Protector, protected

Part 3/?

Summary On your way home, you encounter someone in need of your help. Giving it earns you six new friends and one new enemy.

Genre(s) Drama, fluff, bit of angst, bit of antagonists to lovers, eventual smut, hurt/comfort.

Pairing Namjoon x Reader.

Warning(s) Alcohol consumption.

Tags Tourist!AU, reader is a clumsy brave idiot, Jungkook is everyone’s baby, possessive!Namjoon, this will be a long one.

Wordcount 1.8K.

Jungkook was waiting for you outside, the rest of the gang piled into the minivan behind him. He looked dashing in his midnight blue suit, and a glimpse into your Uber pumpkin chariot told you that the others had dressed up as well. You suddenly felt much better about your choice of dress, because you hadn’t been far off. At the same time, why the fuck are they wearing suits?

“You look very handsome, Jungkook,” you couldn’t stop yourself from blurting out, earning you a one of his tiny yet radiant smiles. He bowed before leading you to the car. Only when he opened the door for you did you realize that Seokjin of the many fanny packs was missing.

“He wanted to get there early, make sure our table is ready,” Namjoon explained from the passenger seat. Ever the leader, you thought, then squeezed yourself into the middle row between Jimin and Jungkook. Yoongi seemed to be napping in the backseat, head resting on Hoseok’s shoulder. Taehyung waved to you from his spot next to them.

The driver pulled back onto the boulevard and straight into evening traffic. Namjoon had his phone at the ready and opened to Maps. You were fighting down the urge to peek over his shoulder, or to ask the driver if he knew where he was going, or to guess from the direction where you could possibly be headed. The backseat was chatting quietly, and you hazarded a look in Jungkook’s general direction when you didn’t understand a word, as per usual. He was still beaming at you. His excitement, although contagious, made you even more nervous. The Uber was taking you north on the big avenue, then swerved right into K-Town. That didn’t surprise you much because one quick Google search of their names had told you that they were most likely Korean.

The car stopped and everyone piled out into a small parking lot. Before you get a chance to look around, Jungkook linked his arm with yours and pulled you along towards the side of the building. Red lettering across the façade spelt out “Park’s BBQ”. There was a flicker of anxiety settling in your stomach as you quickly replayed everything you knew about Korean BBQ in your head – which wasn’t much. You had never been to one, you worked at city hall, so you didn’t usually stray far from downtown for food or drinks, and Ani preferred ordering in to going out. 

Jungkook lead you up the stairs at the side of the building to a narrow walkway. The inside was very modern and very busy. Guests occupied almost all of the black table groups, chrome light fixtures glinted from above. Each table had a grill grate at the center, most of them in use, and you were surprised that the temperature was still so agreeable. Namjoon moved himself to the front of your little group and spoke to the hostess while Jungkook was still glancing at you expectantly from time to time. Yoongi and Hoseok were having a lively exchange, invigorated by the prospect of food. You were seated after only a few minutes, at a table that was already occupied by one fanny pack-less Seokjin.

Between the door and the table, your self-consciousness hat skyrocketed. You liked trying new things well enough, but a new restaurant with new people was a ways outside your comfort zone. To add to your unease, you had managed to sit down between Jungkook and Namjoon, one a comfort, the other a stressor. You were about ready to break a sweat, but as soon as you had all touched down at the table, you were engulfed in the guiding warmth and enthusiasm of your company. Yoongi tried to explain the different kinds of Sojus to you and which one you should not miss out on. They all ordered something a little different, promising to switch and share so everyone could have a taste. Even though Taehyung looked like he might have passed out when you mentioned that you weren’t much of a meat eater, you did try a bit of everything.

The ribs were sublime, and between the beef, rice and alcohol, you were soon lulled into a comfortable evening haze. In between bites, you asked them the questions that had kept you up the two previous nights: where had they been already, where did they want to go, how did home compare to the US, what did they do for a living, how did they form such a strong friendship in such a big group? Namjoon had to step in a few times to translate, but as the night wore on, you relaxed into your chair more and more. You had one elbow propped up on the table, head resting in your hand, listening to Hobi tell a story and laughing almost uncontrollably when your awareness of the situation hit you head on. You liked these guys, a lot. Even Namjoon had started opening up a few shots ago. He was next to you, closer than before, smiling into his hand while looking at his friends across from him. You had learned their nicknames first thing today, but something stopped you from calling him Joon or even Joonie. While Tae and Kookie were all smiles and goofiness, Hobi and Jin generous with their laughter, Namjoon towered over you even while sitting down and not above the occasional side-eye in your general direction. Maybe he wasn’t doing it on purpose, but he made you squirm in your chair just the same.

Before you knew it, ten was approaching. One of the waiters approached to tell you that it was nearly closing time. The smile died on your face. You thought of all the things in your apartment and your office that had been left undone over the course of the week and knew that calling it a night was the smartest thing to do. You really, really didn’t want to, though, so when Jimin suggested after-dinner drinks, no one objected. You were pleasantly buzzed from all the soju you had been drinking, and with a full belly and the warmth of yet another beautiful summer night, you wanted to make the most of it. As soon as you had finished thanking your new friends for the invitation, the power balance shifted back towards you. This was your city, after all, and they didn’t know the best places in town. You did. The Uber took you further East, into the strip between K-Town and downtown, where bars were good but not expensive.

“The Bucket?” Namjoon read out the squiggly writing on the front of the corner building. “Sounds… interesting.”

“The Bucket has been around forever,” you informed him before pushing the door open. The inside was fairly busy already and just when you thought you’d have to kill an hour at the bar waiting for a table to open up, you saw a group of young women grabbing their purses in the unison way that indicated that they were moving on. You snatched their booth up immediately.

“So,” Jungkook next to you said as soon as everyone was seated, “the Bucket. Am I translating that correctly?”

“Most likely, yes. It used to be a scene bar in the 90s, changed hands a few times and turned into this, eventually.” You indicated the general bucket-ness of the place, with its dark wood floors and darts boards and pool tables on one side, a highly polished glass-and-chrome counter on the other. The booths lined the back wall, smaller tables took up the place between them and the front.

“I’ll get the first round,” you said after the silence became a bit too long for your taste. When you got to the bar, you saw that Hobi had followed you there.

“Oh, hey,” you said when you spotted him right behind you, “Anything you guys may want to try?” There was no menu, but a board with most of the drinks and beers they were serving. You had been to this place every other week, though, and you had just the idea. Hobi was still engrossed in reading through the cocktail list while you ordered eight Landsharks and accepted the tray that was handed to you over the counter.

“Shots?” Yoongi sounded almost hopeful when you got back to the table.

“Not quite!” You managed to put your prize down without spilling or even jostling the glasses before squeezing back into your seat between Namjoon and Jungkook. There was an excited smile on your face, considering you hadn’t opened an evening like that in forever. You grabbed one of the shot glasses and raised it. “Tequila.” You pointed at the pints. “Beer.” Then you dropped the shot glass into the pint where it promptly sank with a soft clinking sound. “Landshark.”

“Poktan-ju?” Jimin asked no one in particular. Affirmative noises were being made around the table. Seven more shots were sunk into the waiting arms of beer, then you all raised your glasses. Whatever you had been expecting from them, being able to hold their liquor as well as they did was not on the list. Soon, you had become the second loudest table in the place, laughing and sharing anecdotes and asking stupid questions. Conversation flowed easily and you became more than buzzed as the clock ticked on. You considered yourself to be somewhat of an expert drinker, but by midnight the room started to look a little unsteady to you, even though your worldview had softened around the edges. Jimin, who had been downing his drinks like water, had joined Tae and Jungkook in their peanut slinging competition, Yoongi and Jin were singing along to the music at odd volumes, Hobi stared into the void and Namjoon – was silently nursing his beer. When he threw his arm around your shoulders, you didn’t think twice before leaning back against him.

“You guys are so much fun,” you giggled into his dress shirt. He smiled, you thought, and in your inebriated state, you were hit with the sudden realization of how good he smelled. It took most of your strength not to start sniffing him. “Like, ridiculously fun. And so good at drinking!”

“Korea has a very, uh, intense drinking culture,” he slurred. Before he could go into detail about that, Jimin, who you hadn’t realized had left in the first place, returned to the table with a tray of shots.

It took you until Sunday afternoon to resurface. You came to on your couch, face buried in your assortment of throw pillows, still in your dress and tights, but braless. A small construction site seemed to have sprung up inside your head since you last used it, or so it felt. Your mouth was dry and your movements sluggish as you tried to get up. When you managed to stand, you almost slipped on your phone. It lit up under your foot and displayed a whooping 34 unread messages and two missed calls. Only one coherent thought managed to form in your mind: what the fuck? 

[travelingbytastebuds]

LONG ISLAND CULTURAL RESTAURANTS (with some from NYC) I only picked one restaurant for each country, but there may be several for that particular ethnic cuisine. I have not gone to all of these, so I can’t stand by how good their food may be. And since restaurants unfortunately close all the time, please Google them before just showing up to see if they’re still operating (and what hours they are open as well. Afghanistan - Kabul Restaurant Afghani Cuisine - 1153 E Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 11743

Albania - Gurra Cafe - 2325 Arthur Ave, Bronx, NY 10458

Argentina - Cafe Buenos Aires - 23 Wall St A, Huntington, NY 11743

Australia - The Australian NYC - 20 W 38th St, New York, NY 10018

Austria - Werkstatt - 509 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11218

Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan Grill - 1610 Old Country Rd, Westbury, NY 11590

Bangladesh - Boishakhi - 29-14 36th Ave, Astoria, NY 11106

Belarus - Belarussian Xata - 1655 Sheepshead Bay Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11235

Belgium - BXL Zoute - 50 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10010

Bolivia - Mi Bolivia - 4410 48th Ave, Woodside, New York 11377

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Cevabdzinica Sarajevo - 37-18 34th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

Brazil - Villa Brazil Cafe Grill, 4316 34th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101-1171

Burma - Burmese Bites Food Cart - 5 Ct Square W, Long Island City, NY 11101 Cambodia - Angkor - 408 E 64th St, New York, NY 10065

Chile - San Antonio Bakery - 174 Rockaway Ave, Valley Stream, NY 11580

China - Jade Garden Chinese Restaurant - 555 Route 111, Ste 5, Hauppauge, NY 11788

Colombia - Pollos El Paisa - 989 Old Country Rd, Westbury, NY 11590

Costa Rica - Casa Tica Lounge - 174 E Montauk Hwy, Hampton Bays, Southampton, NY

Côte d’Ivoire - La Savane - 239 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026

Croatia - Dubrovnik Restaurant - 721 Main St, New Rochelle, NY 10801

Cuba - Cafe Havana - 944 W Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, NY 11787

Cyprus - Mesoyios - 472 Hawkins Ave., Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

Czechia - Koliba - 3111 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11105

Dominican Republic - Dominican Restaurant - 1637, 1019 Front St, Uniondale, NY 11553

Ecuador - Ecuadorian - 41-20 34th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

Egypt - Mombar - 2522 Steinway St, Queens, NY 11103

El Salvador - Las Brisas De El Salvador - 74 Hempstead Turnpike, West Hempstead, NY 11552

Eritrea - Massawa - 1239 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027

Ethiopia - Awash - 338 E 6th St, New York, NY 10003

Finland - Smorgas Chef - 58 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016

France - Le Soir - 825 Montauk Hwy, Bayport, NY 11705

Georgia - Pirosmani - 2222 Avenue U, Brooklyn, NY 11229

Germany - The Village Lanterne - 155 N Wellwood Ave, Lindenhurst, NY 11757

Ghana - Accra - 2065 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd, New York, NY 10027

Greece - Kavala Estiatorio - 10-07 50th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

Grenada - West Cuisine-Organic Grenadian Cuisine - 916 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203

Guatemala - Tikal Restaurant - 100 Front St, Greenport, NY 11944

Haiti - Mirelle's Restaurant - 170 Post Ave, Westbury, NY 11590

Honduras - El Rancho Catracho - 131 Jackson St, Hempstead, NY 11550

Hungary - Budapest Cafe - 1631 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

India - Curry Kebob House - 585 Medford Ave #1, Patchogue, NY 11772

Indonesia - Sky Cafe - 8620 Whitney Ave, Elmhurst, NY 11373

Ireland - Sullivan's Quay Restaurant and Bar - 541 Port Washington Blvd., Port Washington, NY

Israel - Bar Bolonat - 611 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

Italy - Branchinelli's Pizza - 555 NY-111, Hauppauge, NY 11788

Jamaica - Island Jerk - 1350 Deer Park Rd, North Babylon, NY 11703

Japan - Hana Traditional Japanese Cuisine - 14 Haven Ave, Port Washington, NY 11050

Korea - Ssambap Korean BBQ - 2350 Nesconset Hwy, Stony Brook, NY 11790

Laos - Khe-Yo - 157 Duane St, New York, NY 10013

Lebanon - Naya - 1057 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10022

Malaysia - Pulau Pinang - 82-84 Broadway, Elmhurst, NY 11373

Mexico - Maria's Mexican & Latin Cuisine - 211 Smithtown Blvd, Nesconset, NY 11767

Morocco - Cafe Mogador - 101 Saint Marks Pl # 1, New York, NY 10009

Nepal - Everest Himalayan Cuisine - 2518 Merrick Rd, Bellmore, NY 11710

New Zealand - The Musket Room - 265 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012

Nigeria - DF Nigerian Food Truck - http://www.divineflavoredcatering.com

Pakistan - Shaheen Restaurant - 253 S Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801

Paraguay - Sabor Guarani Restaurant Bar - 40-04 Bell Blvd, Bayside, NY 11361

Peru - Las Delicias De Mi Tierra - 1262 Suffolk Ave, Brentwood, NY 11717

Philippines - Kabayan Grill - 1640 Front St, East Meadow, NY 11554

Poland - Zagloba Polish Bar and Restaurant - 700 NY-27A, Amityville, NY 11701

Portugal - Churrasqueira Bairrada - 144 Jericho Turnpike, Mineola, NY 11501

Romania - Romanian Garden - 43-06 43rd Ave, Long Island City, NY 11104

Russia - Mari Vanna - 41 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003

Senegal - Joloff - 1168 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216

Serbia - Kafana - 116 Avenue C, New York, NY 10009

Singapore - Chomp Chomp - 7 Cornelia St, New York, NY 10014

Somalia - Safari - 219 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026

South Africa - Madiba - 195 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Spain - España Tapas & Wine Bar - 655 Middle Country Rd, St James, NY 11780

Sri Lanka - Lakruwana - 668 Bay St, Staten Island, NY 10304

Sweden - IKEA Long Island - 1100 Broadway Mall, Hicksville, NY 11801

Switzerland - Cafe Select - 212 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012

Taiwan - Taiwanese Gourmet - 8402 Broadway, Queens, NY 11373

Thailand - Sawasdee Thai Elevated - 395 S Oyster Bay Rd, Plainview, NY 11803

Trinidad and Tobago - Ali's Trinidad Roti Shop - 1267 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11216

Turkey - Bosphorus Cafe Grill - 138 Shore Rd, Port Washington, NY 11050-2217

Ukraine - Rondel - 2006 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11223

United Kingdom - Jones Wood Foundry - 401 E 76th St, New York, NY 10021

Uruguay - Tabare - 221 S 1st St, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Uzbekistan - Taste of Samarkand - 62-16 Woodhaven Blvd, Middle Village, NY 11379

Venezuela - Arepas Cafe - 33-07 36th Ave, Astoria, NY 11106

Vietnam - Saigon Casa - 4747 Nesconset Hwy, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

Yemen - Yemen Café - 176 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201

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Styles. || 7.

Hopeless Wanderer

April 21st, 2015.

When Elise asked if I’d like to join her family for a family lunch, I didn’t expect myself to say yes, in fact, I had expected to hesitate a lot more than I had. Family lunches or gatherings for that matter have never been my thing. Family, in general, has never been my thing. My family gatherings tended to end in heartache and some sort of wrenching pain, whether physical or emotional. I don’t think I remember the last family gathering where things went smoothly.

I swallow hard as I follow the phone GPS that is taking me to a neighbourhood that probably costs more than I can even imagine. When Elise told me her parents’ house was just twenty-five minutes from my apartment, I didn’t expect to be driving through Courtenay Avenue, Highgate. If the fact that Avenue is protected by a guard operated security gates and CCTV isn’t enough, my mouth gapes open when I find myself remaining in the driveway of a house that costs more than my tuition and the cost of my apartment together.

The house I grew up in is nothing close to a home like this, my childhood home doesn’t have a deep sweeping carriage driveway or security gates. My mother’s house also doesn’t have, one, two, three floors to it. My heart subsides into my chest as I come to the realisation that maybe, just maybe, Elise and I live two completely different lives. Behind the Doric-columned entrance, her parents’ and she are presumably waiting for me and part of me wants to bail.

When I agreed to this lunch, I thought I was agreeing to something small and pleasing. What I didn’t think it would be was a realisation of not being good enough.

I swallow my concerns and pull myself out of my car before making the walk to the front door with a bottle of wine in one hand and two bouquets of flowers in the other. I don’t think my wine or my flowers measure up to anything they have in the house, but it is all I had. If I could have brought the most expensive wine imported from Italy, I would, but for now, this will have to do.

I nervously knock on the door and bounce my weight from foot to foot as I wait for someone to answer. For a moment, I expect a butler to come to the door and greet me and take my coat, but I am relieved when I see Elise in front of me with her cherubic smile and her restoration curls of cinnamon-brown hair garland her face. She’s easy on the eyes and a grace of fresh air.

“Hi,” I smile, “I was passing through the neighbourhood and was trying to find this beautiful woman who hasn’t ceased to amaze me,” I greet her, trying to combat my nerves. With the sound of her soft giggle, my nerves begin to dwindle.

“I was just searching for a handsome man,” her nectarine voice announces with a subtle wink.

“Mhm,” I hum, “these are for you,” I hand Elise the flowers and she takes them graciously, “this is for your parents, I’m not sure they’ll like it but it is the best I could find.”

“I am sure they will love it.” … “And is the other bouquet for your other lover down the street?” Elise jokes and I shake my head.

“They’re for your Mum, she likes flowers, right?”

Elise nods, “That is sweet of you. Come in, don’t be shy, promise I don’t bite,” Elise chuckles as she benevolently draws me in before I affectionately kiss her sugar plum, sweet and silky soft lips.

I hold my breath for a moment as I glance around the foyer of the house, quite amazed by how Elise failed to mention that her family was well off, then again, I should have figured that out when I found out her uncle is who I intern under. I still find it a bit awkward to intern under him, I don’t want to feel as though I am receiving special treatment by any means just because I am dating his niece and I can’t help but I am now seen differently. I have somehow overstepped the boundaries, well, in my eyes I have.

I glance around the foyer that is more like a grand double height reception hall, that I am sure would be exceptional for social events, and my eyes observe the imposing staircase.

“You seem nervous, don’t be.” Elise breaks the silence and my gaze as she gently nudges me.

I give her a small smile, “bit hard, love. Anything I need to know?” I softly challenge, unsure of whether I need to make a mental list of all the things I need to avoid when talking to her parents.

I never thought I would say this, but I hope they like me. I don’t want to leave a bad impression of any sort.

Elise shakes her head, “nope, you will be fine,” she chuckles, leading me down a hallway.

There’s something about walking through the house that feels gracious, something I can’t help but feel as though I wish I felt when entering my mother’s house, perhaps it is just the memories that haven’t faded that continue to dampen the mood. The walls’ of Elise’s home are adorned with family portraits, up until now, I didn’t know Elise had siblings. Maybe I am not the only one who has some family secrets. Why wouldn’t she mention her siblings?

“I didn’t know you had siblings,” I point out.

“You never asked. But yes, I have a brother and a sister,” Elise gestures towards the photo frames on display as we pass a decorative table before we enter a kitchen that smells of fresh foods. Before I can ask about her siblings, I am thrown into what I have been dreading all morning— meeting the parents.

“Harry, this is my Mum, Cathleen,” Elise gleefully announces as Cathleen steps inside from previously being outside. “Mum, this is Harry,” Elise introduces us as I step forward closer to Cathleen.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you, these are for you,” I hand Cathleen the flowers I picked out for her.

“What lovely flowers, thank you. It is nice to meet you, too. I’ve heard a bit about you.” Cathleen looks up at me with alluring, galaxy-blue eyes that hold the identical endearing look Elise’s possesses.

“All good, I hope,” I nervously chuckle, theoretically kicking myself for using such a cliche line.

Really, Harry, really? Was that the best you could come up with?

“So far it has all been good. Would you like a drink or do you plan to drink the wine instead?” Cathleen pleasantly challenges with a bit of a chuckle in her voice. I can see where Elise gets her teasing side from.

“No, Mrs Cartier, I bought this for you and your husband, I wasn’t quite sure what to bring… and Elise told me not to bring any food… I tried to bring dessert.” I sort of babble, my nerves getting the better of me. Shit.

Cathleen gives me cherubic smile, “it is okay, I will put this in the fridge and get a vase for these. Elise put the boy out of his misery and assure him I am joking.”

I’m not much for jokes right now, please spare me any ridicules.

Elise rolls her eyes and hands her mother the flowers I gave her in the hallway, “come on, my Dad is outside pretending to look busy,” Elise chimes as she takes my hand and drags me away from the kitchen.

I let out a breath of relief, one parent down, another to go. I can do this— I think.

Elise and I step outside onto the raised terrace that overlooks the beautiful garden that I swear looks like it was designed to resemble the botanical gardens. How do they have such a sublime garden that looks as if it is straight from a magazine? My mother spends hours in her garden and it still doesn’t look this excellent.

My eyes pry from the garden and divert to the table that is set up for six people but I overlook the extra two placements for a moment and take a breath. “Dad, this is Harry. Harry, this is my Dad, Conrad,” Elise introduces us as the man removes his hand away from the centrepiece in the middle of the table; I can only assume Conrad was attempting to look busy. He strikes me as the man that prefers to grill on the BBQ than to be in the kitchen.

“Nice to meet you,” I am the first to offer my hand. For a brief moment, I have this feeling that he isn’t going to accept my handshake, or me in general, but he does.

“Pleased to meet you, Harry,” Conrad greets with a voice like bottled thunder, a measure of his vitality. I don’t know if I should be intimidated or not, but I fucking am the moment he narrows his eyes at me and shakes my hand, tightly. He has the handshake of a strong businessman and the look in his eyes confirms that. Elise never mentioned that her father was in the business world, I only assumed it when she told me her father was pushing her to major in business instead of journalism.

“Dad, why don’t you show Harry the new grill Mum wouldn’t let you fire up today?” Elise suggests as she observes the awkward silence lingering.

I don’t think her father is fond of me and it has only been a minute. I wouldn’t be fond of me either.

“Oh, yes,” … “my wife wouldn’t let me use the new grill, she insisted that today’s lunch was not an occasion for a BBQ. What do you think?”

I can’t help but chuckle, “I don’t see what’s wrong with grilling today,” I respond, part of me grinning at the fact that maybe one day, it’ll be me and Elise debating on whether it is acceptable to use the grill when company are coming over.

Is that too far-fetched? Oh well. I’m not dating Elise to pass time, I am dating her to hopefully fall in love and bicker over if it is appropriate to throw some streak on the bbq.

“I’ll leave you two to it, I’m going to help Mum,” Elise smiles as Conrad is already walking towards the BBQ area.

“Please don’t leave me,” I whisper, not too fond of being left to defend myself on my own with Elise’s Dad.

“You’ll be fine,” she responds, leaning up and kissing my lip before her fingers part ways with mine.

I step off the terrace and walk towards the BBQ area where Conrad is already ready to show off his latest pride and joy by the looks of things. “I don’t think it is too late to fire this baby up, do you think the wife will get upset?”

“Perhaps, sir,” I nod, “it is a nice grill you have,” I compliment the stainless-steel grill, unsure of what the hell I am meant to say. As you can tell, I don’t meet the parents’ very often.

“It’s a hybrid fire grill, Three powerful, lead-free cast-brass burners, Chain-driven rotisserie and so much more, I can’t believe I haven’t gotten to use her.” Conrad seems over the moon over his grill, I don’t quite understand it, but I am going to go with hit. “Enough about that, so you’re in Uni? What are you studying?”

“I graduate with a B.S. in Business Administration in two months and then I am going for my MBA in Economics.”

Conrad nods his head, seeming somewhat impressed but I am not fully convinced he is, “good choices, I got did a Dual Master’s Degree in Political Science and Business Administration.”

“Why did you choose political science?” I question, just to keep small talk.

“I wanted to understand international studies, government and law in order to expand my visions of branching into the business world. I knew it would help with international policies, as well as global trends and I wanted the upper hand.”

“That is understandable, very smart on your behalf; political science offers a wide range of options when it comes to career opportunities.”

“Why did you not choose political science? It would have been wise decisions.”

I nod, agreeing with Conrad. “I’m not looking at being in politics what so ever, Political campaign manager doesn’t fancy my interest. International business specialist and PR specialist aren’t in my field of interest. If I desire to take my business international, I can do so with my knowledge and degree if I do a 3 hour International Elective, which is what I am going to do.”

“Hmm, so you have a plan?”

“Somewhat,” I nod, having absolutely no desires to tell him my extensive plans when it comes to what I aspire for within the business world. If I told him my methods, I would overthrow my own empire before it rises.

Does an assassin tell someone who their next victim is going to be? No. Horrible analogy, I know, but you get my point.

“I am going to take a wild guess and say you’re discussing business,” Elise’s voice distracts us and I flick my head to the side to see her walking towards us. “I’m right, aren’t I?” she smiles before standing beside her father.

“Just business majors.” Conrad responds.

Elise rolls her eyes playfully, “can’t you be normal and discuss something more fun? Perhaps fishing or whatever normal men discuss?”

Conrad chuckles, “we are normal.”

“Mhm, lunch is ready and Mum needs your help in the kitchen.” Elise gestures towards the house and her Dad nods and takes off towards the house instantly. “You surviving?”

I nod, “yeah, what exactly does your Dad do?”

“CEO of a global business, can we try and avoid business conversations, please?” Elise requests and I nod, obeying her wish despite the fact I have so many damn questions right now. 

Is everyone in her family apart of big companies?

“Okay, are your siblings coming to lunch? There are six places at the table.”

Elise shakes her head, “Dad has his business partner and his wife coming.”

Elise intertwines her fingers with mine under the table as she leans back comfortably in her chair with a glass of wine in her other hand, "Harry, tell us about yourself, you’ve been quiet, do you have siblings?” Cathleen questions.

“I have a sister named Gemma,” I answer, making a mental reminder that I need to call her and touch base with her too, make sure she is doing okay and that she and Mum have everything paid for at the moment.

“Is she at Uni?”

Why do I feel like I am getting the third degree?

“No, she graduated in 2013 and she is a writer.”

“What about your parents?” Conrad challenges curiously.

“My Mum is a school teacher and in her spare time, she is trying to become a promoter of charities.”

“Ah, and your father?” Conrad asks and every nerve in my body stops and begins to ache.

Does everything always have to come back to him?

I clear my throat, “he’s not in my life,” I respond in a tone that infers to drop the conversation. I am proud of myself for not lying and telling them he’s dead. It wouldn’t be an entire fabrication, to me he is dead. Nothing but a deadbeat father who causes devastation on people’s lives.

✿✿✿

Despite the occasional third degree over lunch, the afternoon seems to have gone well. I have a bit of a genuine understanding of Cathleen and Conrad. Cathleen, like her daughter, is a lovely woman who is lively and continuously smiling and easing any tension that happens arise. She has this grace to her, one that is similar to Elise’s where she can bring light to discussions.

While Conrad and his business partner are in the living room, I take it upon myself to assist the ladies with cleaning, not just because it is polite to help clean up but also because I want to stay around Elise where I feel a little more at peace.

The moment I overhear glass shivering against the flooring, my body tenses, my heart races and my throat feels as though it’s closing on me. I wince as I feel the emotional turmoil that will eternally be associated with glass fragmenting to a million pieces.

Fuck.

When my eyes flash open from shutting themselves for a brief moment, my gaze catches Elise’s and she steps forward. She touches her tender hand to my arm, “you okay?” Her voice is sweet sounding, something that is unfamiliar with what I generally correlate with damaged glass.

I nod my head, “I need some air, excuse me.” I clear my throat, attempting to avoid eye contact with her. I don’t want her to see through me. I don’t want her to inspect the destroyed boy through my eyes.

“I need air too,” Elise comments, “let’s go out back,” she gestures towards the glass doors that open out to the back porch of her parents’ house.

I follow Elise as she leads the way. I look out at the extensive landscaped rear garden, staged around a raised terrace, and I take in a few deep breaths.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” I agree, knowing very well and good that I don’t want to answer any questions at the moment. I know where this is leading and I don’t want to go down that path.

“This is the second time I’ve seen you flinch at glass breaking. Can I ask why?”

I grow silent for a moment, hoping that I’ll be saved by the bell or by something at least. But I’m not. Nothing protects me, not her parents abruptly joining us or even a phone ringing. Damnit.

I take another deep breath, buying a few extra moments before I feel her hand press to my back, “if you don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to.”

How do I tell a girl that it isn’t that I don’t want to tell her, it’s that I’m scared telling her will only cause her to run away? How do I tell my girlfriend that broken glass is a souvenir of my drunken father?

For a minute, I contemplate telling her a lie. But deep down inside me, I know I can’t lie. It isn’t ample to have a relationship based on dishonesty, even if it is to save myself and to save her.

“It happened when I was younger, about nine.” I begin, already sensing my heart in my chest rupturing and making it laborious to breathe.

I don’t want to tell her, I don’t want her to think differently of me; I don’t want her to know my fucked up history.

✿✿✿ ✿✿✿

It was a bitter winter night, the snow had already begun to collapse and blanket the surroundings with a soft white tone, the heat was on but everything was still stone cold inside. The house was warm but there was this uncanny sensation and coldness to it that assigned shivers spiralling down all parts of my body. Mum wasn’t home, there’s no telling where she was, presumably working or crying at a friends house while attempting to figure out how to save herself from the loveless marriage she was in.

My father was resting in his recliner chair, rocking back and forth with a half-pint of scotch in his hand, just enough to keep him warm and satisfied. It wasn’t his first glass, I’d say it was plausibly his fourth, perhaps fifth, but either way, it didn’t make the night any easier. He rocked back and forth for a few hours, his nomad-blue eyes focused on the wall. For anyone that may have been an outsider looking in, it would have resembled as though he was psychotic with how he rocked with a specific motion and didn’t manage to spill an inch of his drink— god forbid a drop goes to waste.

I walked into the living room for no real reason, I generally tried to avoid the living room when my father was in it, but that night, I didn’t. The moment his ominous eyes pried themselves away from the white wall, I swear I felt as though I was gazing down a barrel that had no salutary end. He had this appearance in his eye, it wasn’t a glimmer of hope or love, it was revulsion and contempt. His eyes were red and it wasn’t just from being bloodshot from the alcohol, no. I’m convinced it was the sinister in him coming out to strike.

In the moment his eyes locked with mine, it almost felt as though my heart ceased and my own life flashed before my eyes. He pounced like a lion belatedly deciding to seize its prey. He stumbled to his feet and grabbed ahold of me by my shirt. I wanted to fight, I wanted to react, but I was arrested between the grips of his hands and the frozen contempt of his darkening eyes.

I wanted to yell, I wanted to push him away, but it wasn’t worth it. I couldn’t even if I had tried. I was too far gone, too young. Not to mention. I thought I deserved whatever was to happen next. My father was and still is, the kind of man that is like a snake— if you poke it, it’s going to fucking strike— but that night, that night I didn’t poke; I didn’t prod, I didn’t awaken a beast that was destined to strike. No. He was already awake and ready; I was just the next victim of the venomous attack.

His fingers gouging into my shirt released themselves from my grip and he shoved me away. He didn’t leave me with an array of repugnant words to express how bitterly disappointed in me he was, or how I ruined his life, nor did he bother to inflict any physical pain. Instead, my father drank the last of his beverage before casting the glass across the room, allowing it to hit the wall and shatter to pieces before plunging to the raw, hard floor.

✿✿✿ ✿✿✿

I remember the moment as clear as day, and after that night, things never got better, the vibration of glass shattering became engraved into my subconsciousness. No matter how much I tried to disregard the sound, it always crawled back.

I stare at Elise, still contemplating whether to tell her the story or not. “Glass shattering is like nails on a chalkboard for me; maybe one day I will tell you the story behind it, but today, today I just want to have a pleasant day with you and your family,” I offer her the greatest and most faked smile I possibly can in an attempt to conceal the misfortune inside of me.

Elise nods and doesn’t push me, instead, she gives me a petite smile that seems to shine a bit of light into my darkened thoughts, “okay, I can understand that, you don’t have to tell me anything until you’re ready.“ Elise assures me and I nod. The only problem is, I don’t think I will ever be ready. I don’t share my past with anybody, I am closed off to that segment of my life for a reason. “I’m going to go inside, join me when you’re ready? No rush, I’m just going to give you some space, okay?”

“I’ll be back inside in a minute, love,” I assure Elise, just needing a moment to breathe in the warm air and compose myself. It seems as though my Dad isn’t going to let me go about my day without the constant reminders that he isn’t dead but, in fact, very much alive.

After a few minutes outside with just the rattling thoughts in my head, I wander inside and bypass the kitchen and stroll down the hallway that is adorned with the family portraits; I take the moment to observe one particular photo of all five family members. I cock my head to the side and notice how Elise and her sister never seem to be together, there is always someone between them, whether it be the parents or the brother. Strange.

I stop observing the photographs and go to round the corner, but I stop when I overhear Conrad speaking.

“Are you sure he is good for you? Darling, can he provide for you? I don’t want to have to offer him a job at my office because he isn’t capable of being successful in the business world.” Elise’s father questions with a typical fatherly tone of voice.

I don’t really blame him for asking such a question but I thought he would have at least a little bit of faith in me. At least I am trying. For fuck’s sake— I am going for my masters—- that is a good sign, is it not? I can’t exactly be a millionaire at twenty-one.

“That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?” Elise’s dulcimer sweet voice responds and my heart moderately flatters at her somewhat sticking up for me.

“Elise, how do you know he isn’t using you so he can get ahead of everyone else and get opportunities? He has nothing to offer you.”

“He doesn’t need a step up, Dad. He interns under Jamie.”

“Exactly, and suddenly he is dating you while interning under your uncle. What a coincidence.” Conrad points out, making a decent case against me. I can’t exactly explain how the coincidences are just coincidences. I don’t give a damn about who her family is, I want her, not a step-up in the world of business.

I’m not like my father, I don’t use people for my own advantages.

“You’re jumping the gun… He didn’t know I was Jamie’s niece until the Valentines Day benefit. Just like he didn’t know you were in the business world until you told him.” … “Can’t you accept that he is with me for me and not for what he can gain?”

There is silence between them and I think about making my presence known, but I don’t round the corner when I overhear Conrad begin to speak again. “I don’t know, Elise. He seems closed off.”

“Don’t judge a book by its cover, Dad. Maybe he has a story he doesn’t want to tell yet.”

And with that comment from Elise, I take the moment to enter the living room with a fake smile, “I’m going to help Cathleen with tea and cake, I’ll be right back,” Conrad politely excuses himself and leaves Elise and me.

I can feel the tension in the air despite the fact her Dad has fled the room. I wish I could overlook the fact that her father doesn’t deem me good enough for his daughter, but truth be told, I can’t.

I’m not good enough for Elise, I don’t have the highlife like she does, I don’t come from a family where we have wealth and a picture-perfect family. My father is an alcoholic piece of shit, the complete opposite of Conrad. My mother constantly works but she still can’t make ends meet financially, not to mention, she has yet to forgive me for getting away from Chesire and attempting to escape the things she doesn’t understand.

I don’t have the financial stability to offer Elise, and I know it is ridiculous and absurd that at twenty-one I should have everything together, but by the looks of things, this is what is expected. The expectation of Conrad are expectations I cannot satisfy at the moment.

"Hey, love. I think I am going to head to my apartment, I have a ton of work to do for my classes and-”

Her lips purse like she’d been chewing a lemon rind before Elise cuts me off before I can continue my excuses for leaving, “you’re lying.”

“Excuse me?” I am taken back by her bluntness.

“You’re lying to me.” … “You’re biting your lip and not in a sexual way and your eyes are avoiding me.”

I inhale a sharp breath. “Observant,” I murmur.

I was right about her when I deemed she was good at reading people back when we were sitting in the coffee shop that one night after leading her away from the party.

-Despite my cocky ego, I am wholly positive she would be able to destroy me in every way possible if she was my business opponent and not because I find her to be attractive in every damn way, but because I know she is the kind of person who sits back and observes. Elise can probably read straight through my eyes as we speak. She is the type who would presumably sit back, watch and strike at the most unexpected time when her rival is at their weakest. Just by the way she holds herself and speaks I know she isn’t dimwitted.-

When I thought she could read straight through my eyes, I didn’t think she would do it so soon within our relationship and call me out on it.

“Elise, I don’t think I should be here. I think I should just go.”

“You heard, didn’t you?”

I nod, not wanting to lie to her. I heard what her father said and I know he is right with his intentions and his concerns. I would probably feel the same way if I had a daughter. “I did. Your Dad is right, I’m not good enough for you Elise. I don’t fit in here and I don’t think I am wanted here at the moment.”

“I want you here, he doesn’t mean any harm by it.”

“I know he doesn’t mean harm by his comments, he’s right though.”

Elise shakes her head, adamant that her father isn’t correct. “No, he isn’t.”

“He is, you just don’t see it. I’m going to go home. I work all day tomorrow so I will see you Monday, okay?”

“I don’t want you to leave.” Her voice is a bit softer now, but it isn’t enough to persuade me.

“Love, I don’t think me staying is much of a good idea.”

“Please? I don’t care whether my Dad thinks your good enough for me, you’re a twenty-one-year-old that is doing better than half the people I know. You’re being hard on yourself… Please stay? For me?” She bats her eyes at me and uses this unforeseen pull on me that tugs at me to give in.

This woman is going to have me wrapped around her finger, I can feel it. Fuck.

“He’s just being protective. Just stay for dessert and then you can leave.”

“Elise, I can’t.”

“Or you just don’t want to?”

“You don’t get it,” I sigh, beginning to feel frustrated with myself and with her. “Elise, look around, you have everything I don’t. I can barely afford to take you out to dinner let alone all of this,” I throw my hands around, gesturing towards the extravagant house.

“None of that means anything to me.” …  "Please, just tea and cake and then we can talk about this later when it is just me and you.“ Elise sighs as she runs her fingers through her hair.

To my surprise, I give in. I think I can survive tea and cake with her parents’. It isn’t like things can get much worse, they already don’t think I meet their high expectations to date their daughter, what’s next? Are they going to deem me the worst boyfriend? They’d probably be correct. I’m not much of a good boyfriend, I don’t get to take Elise out a lot, I am constantly working, studying or doing my internship; I don’t have much time to sleep let alone going on dates that last more than a few hours.

✿✿✿

I survived the tea and cake, I managed to leave Elise’s house without losing my mind completely. Elise told me she would come over to my apartment once she finished up a few things her house.

I rest on my couch, pondering over the day and the fact that I can’t stop thinking about what her father said and if he had other things to say to Elise after I left. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that her family are significant in the business industry, I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I am not with Elise for what her family is. I don’t want a step up in the world or any sort of help. I am fine with doing it on my own, I don’t require anybody’s help, I do not rely on anyone, I know better than that. I don’t want someone to give me a free ride or to make my life easier when it comes to my future and my career.

"Are you going to talk to me?” Elise distracts me as she wanders in front of me, pacing a little bit.

I glance up at her, unsure of what I am meant to say. To be quite honest, I am exhausted, today wasn’t meant to be so arduous. Between the shattered glass and recollections of my father and Conrad telling Elise I am not good enough, I am absolutely tired.

“Is this what our first fight is going to be about?” Elise sighs, her hands crossing over her chest. She isn’t pleased and I understand that.

“No, it can be a discussion. The truth is, I’m not good enough for you, Elise,“ I inform her of what feels like the hundredth time.

Elise rolls her eyes, and despite the fact I find it to be incredibly sexy the way she rolls her eyes, it also frustrates me. She is stubborn.

"You realise that is just a stupid excuse, right?”

“Elise, your father thinks I want to use you guys for my own advantage, everyone else is going to think the same. I can’t live up to your parents’ expectations, I can’t provide for you, I am just twenty-one. We have two different lives.”

“I know you aren’t wanting advantages.”

“And yet, somehow I already have been given an advantage. Can you explain how I was offered a permanent position at your Uncle’s business before I have managed to graduate?”

Elise grows withdrawn for a moment, processing what I just said. “Wait, what? That is great news, Harry.”

“Yeah, like you didn’t know about it or get me the chance.”

There is no way I managed to earn a position at this company just by interning under him. My experience and knowledge aren’t enough to work with such a high profile company.

“Harry, I swear I had nothing to do with it. I didn’t know.” … “Harry, Jamie doesn’t give out free rides, he doesn’t just offer positions unless they are deserved. I am sorry, but you don’t give yourself any credit, that is the problem here, not me.”

“You didn’t ask him to give the position to me?”

“No,” Elise shakes her head, “I don’t meddle with that stuff, Harry. It isn’t my business to get into. I know you’re not the type of guy to want free chances, it doesn’t take a genius to know you like to do things on your own even if it is hard, you’re bloody stubborn.” … “Hense why we are bloody arguing over nothing because you are so stubborn and hard on yourself.”

I lift my shoulders into a shrug, she might be right, but that doesn’t make anything any easier. “You’re a runner,” Elise sighs, sitting down in the recliner.

“What?” I raise a brow, unsure of what she is referring to.

“You run. When things get hard, you run, you listen to the bad things about yourself, you use them against you, and then you run.”

I don’t run, well, I don’t run from everything. The only thing I have tried to escape from are the monsters of my memories and my father, and as you can see, that has gotten me far. A hopeless wanderer, perhaps suits me better, but a runner, no. “I don’t run.”

“Really? then prove it to me.” Elise stands back to her feet and comes to stand in front of me.

“Prove it to you?”  I ask.

“Prove to me that you don’t run when things get hard, prove to me that I am wrong.”

I don’t want to run, I don’t want to destroy whatever is going on between Elise and me. I don’t want to seem like the coward that runs just because her father doesn’t think highly of me at the moment. I stand to my feet and cup my hands around her face, “you want me to prove that I don’t run?” I whisper, holding her face between the palms of my hands.

“Yes,” Elise nods and I take the opportunity to prove to her that I am not a runner, that I don’t run when things get tough.

I lean closer and graze my lips against hers, “I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper before I kiss her sherbet sweet lips that are pillow soft. Then she is kissing me. At first, our kiss is delicate and sweet, just enough to keep us wanting more as we smile between kisses. Our disagreement becomes nothing but something of the past the moment her tongue skims my lips and I feel my hands twitch as she wraps her arms around my neck and presses our bodies closer together. I welcome the bold caress of her tongue, gentle but demanding, and I move my hands from cupping her face to resting on the small of her back. She’s beckoning me like a siren’s song; I can’t get enough of her.

I attempt to ignore her body being so close to mine, I strive to ignore the fact that she’s inches away from rubbing up against me. I benevolently move us to the couch as she enables me to taste what I didn’t know I had been craving. We kiss, and for a long time.

My nerves palpitate and my heart feels as though it is milliseconds away from exploding. One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four Mississippi and this isn’t a dream, this is real, and every inch of me feels like lightning in a bottle-  powerful and elusive. I have never wanted anyone like this before; I want her. I want her so damn bad.

Elise gently pulls away from our kiss, “I don’t want to ruin the mood,” she breathes, “but I want to wait.”

I know what she means and I respect that, “of course, may I still kiss you?” I ask carefully, not wanting to overstep any lines, I will go at her speed and only do what she wishes.

Elise smiles at me, “how could I ever say no to that?” She giggles, tenderly pulling me down to kiss her sweetly. “Guess we’re done disagreeing?” She mumbles against my lips.

So-fucking-done-with-arguing.

I hum, “showin’ you I don’t run,” I respond, not giving her a chance to respond as I kiss her deeply and she kisses me back with her sumptuous, sensuous and velour soft mouth.

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2021 Toyota 4Runner  Review

Japanese editor put together some specifications in car or truck community, mixed with its 2021 Toyota 4Runner is amid many of these practices which push the boundaries. This mid-dimensions SUV was made in 1984, and in addition, because, Toyota revealed 5 generations of efficiently-loved from-roadster. Even so, appears to be 2021 design schedule calendar year will heighten the degree of its a long period, pondering this great site comes with a redesign for ones forthcoming 4Runner and the start of your 6th modern technology.

EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR

Previously many years Toyota’s 4Runner survived about 6 a long time, commonly, plus the offer gen accustomed to simple fact lengthened required some precise day and made it through for 6 instantly years. New 2021 MY offers some extreme changes to the amount of this SUV. First of all, the essential may seem like Toyota has not yet still but deserted on 4Runner’s body-on-body design, promoting turning it into individual and a bit more changeable from as well as on the roadway.

Fully, an out-of-distinct time exterior might be revamped and revitalized and now we can foresee 2021 Toyota 4Runner to generate some thrilling changes. Perfect bbq bbq barbeque grill and total foremost fascia from the crossover will likely be remodeled. It can be famous nostrils may well be a little more cozy, when its front side end lights have a very redesign and progression.

On the inside 2021 Toyota 4Runner, we might foretell some substantial adjustments at the same time. Thinking of 2015 design period, Toyota started out to offer everybody circular of 4 trims, which include SR5, Trail, TRD Pro and Modest amounts. TRD Pro deviation is done up of products which grow appearances and functions in the same manner because of this SUV.

ENGINE AND SPECS

The powertrain of the 2021 Toyota 4Runner is going to be a roll-across by going over the forerunner. This is certainly a V6 which utilizes a manufacture of 270 horse would-be and 278 lb-toes of torque and its obtainable built-in working with a 5-price computerized transmission. The drivetrain depends upon the clip, so on some trims (SR5 and Nominal) purchasers can select about rear- and some-tire click, some are indicated with AWD especially (Trail and TRD Pro). It perfect transferring potential is graded at 4,700 body body fat. Fuel economy of structures employing a back close-wheel vacation is positioned at 17 miles per gallon city, despite the fact 4×4 styles profited truly exact same a long way coming from the city journey (17 miles per gallon) even so a mile much less with regards to the avenue and built-in (21 and 18 mpg).

Toyota could attempt to improve output within the 2021 4Runner that incorporate many other alternatives. Until now, you will see no true choices which can affirm it. Nevertheless, opinions suggest that obtaining next to the product will likely be provided to generate a particularly the least one more engine option. Achievable powertrains, that is described, consist of oftentimes diesel engine (that is likely to transpire) or greater dynamic V8 engine, which could offer far more achievable. Still the actual essentials in regards to what precisely we could unquestionably anticipate to proceed staying unavailable, still, hold to end up being tuned, wondering about we will let you know about all most provide analyses from Toyota.

PRICE AND Unveiling

The challenge this from-roader packet cope which does not have almost all its competitors is, truly, an three-row car seats. Jeep Grand Cherokee uses part de reluctance. Having said that, a competitive price significantly less position as compared to the 4Runner.

Dodge Durango and Toyota Highlander are the closest competitors included in the 4Runner, in a summary they besides supply you with your location for ten holiday-makers. The roll-out of your 2021 Toyota 4Runner will not be believed before in the long run in 2019 when its money time is probably not envisioned beforehand at the beginning of 2021. No matter the point that Toyota has not yet discovered any specs towards the solution, the desired price inside nearing variant will likely be a bit additional important, and might will also get started virtually doubtlessly all over $34,000.

[johnboothus]

As Football Returns Largely Without Fans Homegating Is the New Tailgating

By 7 p.m. the cars started turning off Route 1 in Saugus, 10 miles north of Boston, and funneling into the parking lot of Kowloon, a kitschy, 1,200-seat Mandarin restaurant and tiki bar originally opened in 1950. This being a pandemic and all, none of these customers had any plans to enter the restaurant, and few were even going to get out of their cars. They were there to watch a massive, 40-foot by 20-foot outdoor screen that would be projecting that night’s New England Patriots game versus the Seattle Seahawks, as well as drinking and eating during what the restaurant called its first ever Sunday Night Tailgate.

“The Patriots are not allowing anybody to tailgate in the [Gillette Stadium] parking lots,” explains Adam Benoit. He’s a director at The Greg Hill Foundation, the eponymous local sports talk host’s charity that organized the event as a fundraiser. Tickets were $75 per car, with à la carte, car-hopped dining options that included everything from crab rangoon to Mai Tais. It didn’t get too out of hand. “Patriots fans are more subdued than most fan bases — that comes with the success of the team. But, there is clearly still a rabid fan base who wants to get out and watch games together,” Benoit says.

For many Americans, the revelry and community surrounding football are more important than the actual games themselves. The arrival of fall means loading up the car, or RV if you’re truly committed, and driving to stadium parking lots across the nation to grill meats, toss cornhole bags, and drink heavily. But what happens when the games are going on but fans aren’t allowed in the stadium, and, in many cases, even the parking lots? For many football nuts, they are finding new avenues for pursuing their passion.

“I just love the experience of tailgating,” says Jim McGreevy, a Chicago Bears obsessive who has had season tickets for 20 years. For home games, he typically wakes up at 6 a.m. so he can get from his suburban Schaumburg house to Soldier Field by 8 a.m. in order to be one of the first five cars in the South Lot premium section, the premier place to tailgate. When he realized that would be an impossibility this year, he decided to tailgate the home opener in his driveway instead.

“I have a 28-year-old daughter who was planning to come. She asked, ‘What time are you starting?’ ‘Lot opens at 8 a.m.,’” McGreevy joked, though indeed, he did have everything set up that early.

He strictly invited his friends, about 30 people, who also tailgate with him at the stadium. Lawn chairs were placed at a social distance on his driveway and front yard and food was prepared in individual portions to prevent any unnecessary handling. A regional sales manager for American Beverage Marketers, McGreevy also had all his products on hand, like Loaded Bloody Mary Mixer, even arranging enormous inflatables on his lawn. By the end of the day the ad hoc tailgate had gone through nine bottles of Champagne, five bottles of vodka, 12 cases of beer, and, of course, some Jeppson’s Malört. The Bears also defeated the New York Giants, 17 to 13.

“It really did feel like a tailgate,” claims McGreevy, who is unsure if he will do it for future games, though he would like to. He’s trying to be as Covid-conscious as possible, while keeping his traditions intact. “I really do want to maintain this as much as possible,” he says.

Still, this is ’murica, of course, and some fans aren’t as respectful as McGreevy. Many, in fact, just refuse to accept that things are going to have to be a little different this year, even if some tailgating meccas, like Penn State’s State College, Pa., are currently overrun with Covid cases.

That’s especially true in the South, not just a Covid hot spot, but a college football hotbed, where Saturday tailgating is a way of life. If around 30 schools like Alabama, the University of Oklahoma, and Louisville are allowing restricted-capacity fans to actually attend their games, these same schools are mostly trying to completely curb tailgating. (Insert plenty of lame jokes about “peaceful protesting” in the parking lot.) Some have still figured a way around these restrictions, however.

“We put together a proposal that outlined and used Gov. Greg Abbott’s guidelines for the state, Department of State Health Services, and put it into a proposal on how we can do a special event that’s socially responsible,” explains Ryan Lepper, who owns Horn-Ball Texas Tailgaters.

Some 18,000 fans attended the University of Texas’s Sept. 12 home opener against UTEP at the 100,119-seat-capacity Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, and Lepper’s company had the only state-approved tailgate outside it. They set up operations in a private parking lot on 18th and Trinity Street, just across from the stadium. Groups could book their own 10-foot by 10-foot, socially distant tent with chairs, tables, and a trash can, food and drink provided by masked servers (costing upward of $500 per group). This was not the typically raucous Horn-Ball tailgates of years past, which have included Fireball ice luges and beer pong, but it still scratched the itch for many Longhorn fans.

“It was just great to be outside, near the stadium, having some drinks,” one attendee, Aubrey, told me. “Ice block drink ramp or not.”

Meanwhile some colleges, such as Clemson and South Carolina, as well as five NFL teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs, don’t have official bans on tailgating, but are still imploring fans to, say it with me, follow guidelines. Masks and social distancing and pods and, please, no “large buffet-style spreads.” But, you try adhering to all that after a keg stand.

“I don’t think the tailgates this year are quite as rambunctious as they used to be,” explains Craig Renfro, the owner and editor-in-chief of Tailgater Magazine, a print periodical with over a quarter-million subscribers. He’s a longtime Cowboys and Texas A&M fan and a passionate tailgater. “You’re just not seeing the craziness of years past,” he says.

At other stadiums, though, the issue of what is and isn’t “tailgating” seems to lie less on health standards and more on pedantry and placating outside observers.

“Georgia is technically not allowing tailgating but they say they will allow people who come to the games together to ‘gather near their vehicles,’ whatever that means,” explains Amanda Mull, a Brooklyn-based writer for The Atlantic, and a big-time UGA fan. “Basically, I think they are trying to ban big tailgates while still letting people tailgate, but being able to tell media that they have ‘banned tailgating.’”

Still, for the vast majority of football fans, tailgating this year will be exclusively done at home, and all sorts of companies are stepping in trying to take advantage of the big pivot to “homegating.” Like the Tailgate Guys, an Auburn, Ala.-based company which, in a normal football season, rents and sets up a variety of tailgating packaging (including tents, coolers, cocktail tables, and even mounted DISH televisions) for fans at nearly 50 schools and three NFL cities. This season they are selling the #TailgateAnywhere package, offering their services to any home or business within 100 miles of their 17 warehouses.

Meanwhile, Lowe’s is hoping you’ll stock up on a variety of chairs, canopies, grills, and even inflatables to build your own NFL-worthy homegate. Sam’s Club too has an entire homegate section on its website, touting everything from frozen waffle fries to 82-inch TVs. There’s even Homefield Tailgate, which will literally sell you a tailgate, sans the rest of the truck. For the diehard who wants to cosplay hanging out in parking space.

“We’ve pivoted ourselves — yeah, the magazine is titled Tailgater, but our motto has always been ‘Your parking lot and backyard BBQ entertainment guide,’” explains Renfro. “We’ve always positioned it as, if you think about it, 80,000 go to a game, but millions watch at home and always have and always will. But you can still cookout on the grill and drink beer and cocktails.”

And, while admittedly none of that is as good as crushing Bud Lights and ice-luging Fireball in a scenic Meadowlands parking space, it does offer one advantage over traditional tailgating.

When the game is over, you don’t have to drive home.

The article As Football Returns Largely Without Fans, ‘Homegating’ Is the New Tailgating appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/football-homegating-tailgating/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/as-football-returns-largely-without-fans-homegating-is-the-new-tailgating

[wineanddinosaur]

As Football Returns Largely Without Fans, ‘Homegating’ Is the New Tailgating

By 7 p.m. the cars started turning off Route 1 in Saugus, 10 miles north of Boston, and funneling into the parking lot of Kowloon, a kitschy, 1,200-seat Mandarin restaurant and tiki bar originally opened in 1950. This being a pandemic and all, none of these customers had any plans to enter the restaurant, and few were even going to get out of their cars. They were there to watch a massive, 40-foot by 20-foot outdoor screen that would be projecting that night’s New England Patriots game versus the Seattle Seahawks, as well as drinking and eating during what the restaurant called its first ever Sunday Night Tailgate.

“The Patriots are not allowing anybody to tailgate in the [Gillette Stadium] parking lots,” explains Adam Benoit. He’s a director at The Greg Hill Foundation, the eponymous local sports talk host’s charity that organized the event as a fundraiser. Tickets were $75 per car, with à la carte, car-hopped dining options that included everything from crab rangoon to Mai Tais. It didn’t get too out of hand. “Patriots fans are more subdued than most fan bases — that comes with the success of the team. But, there is clearly still a rabid fan base who wants to get out and watch games together,” Benoit says.

For many Americans, the revelry and community surrounding football are more important than the actual games themselves. The arrival of fall means loading up the car, or RV if you’re truly committed, and driving to stadium parking lots across the nation to grill meats, toss cornhole bags, and drink heavily. But what happens when the games are going on but fans aren’t allowed in the stadium, and, in many cases, even the parking lots? For many football nuts, they are finding new avenues for pursuing their passion.

“I just love the experience of tailgating,” says Jim McGreevy, a Chicago Bears obsessive who has had season tickets for 20 years. For home games, he typically wakes up at 6 a.m. so he can get from his suburban Schaumburg house to Soldier Field by 8 a.m. in order to be one of the first five cars in the South Lot premium section, the premier place to tailgate. When he realized that would be an impossibility this year, he decided to tailgate the home opener in his driveway instead.

“I have a 28-year-old daughter who was planning to come. She asked, ‘What time are you starting?’ ‘Lot opens at 8 a.m.,’” McGreevy joked, though indeed, he did have everything set up that early.

He strictly invited his friends, about 30 people, who also tailgate with him at the stadium. Lawn chairs were placed at a social distance on his driveway and front yard and food was prepared in individual portions to prevent any unnecessary handling. A regional sales manager for American Beverage Marketers, McGreevy also had all his products on hand, like Loaded Bloody Mary Mixer, even arranging enormous inflatables on his lawn. By the end of the day the ad hoc tailgate had gone through nine bottles of Champagne, five bottles of vodka, 12 cases of beer, and, of course, some Jeppson’s Malört. The Bears also defeated the New York Giants, 17 to 13.

“It really did feel like a tailgate,” claims McGreevy, who is unsure if he will do it for future games, though he would like to. He’s trying to be as Covid-conscious as possible, while keeping his traditions intact. “I really do want to maintain this as much as possible,” he says.

Still, this is ’murica, of course, and some fans aren’t as respectful as McGreevy. Many, in fact, just refuse to accept that things are going to have to be a little different this year, even if some tailgating meccas, like Penn State’s State College, Pa., are currently overrun with Covid cases.

That’s especially true in the South, not just a Covid hot spot, but a college football hotbed, where Saturday tailgating is a way of life. If around 30 schools like Alabama, the University of Oklahoma, and Louisville are allowing restricted-capacity fans to actually attend their games, these same schools are mostly trying to completely curb tailgating. (Insert plenty of lame jokes about “peaceful protesting” in the parking lot.) Some have still figured a way around these restrictions, however.

“We put together a proposal that outlined and used Gov. Greg Abbott’s guidelines for the state, Department of State Health Services, and put it into a proposal on how we can do a special event that’s socially responsible,” explains Ryan Lepper, who owns Horn-Ball Texas Tailgaters.

Some 18,000 fans attended the University of Texas’s Sept. 12 home opener against UTEP at the 100,119-seat-capacity Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, and Lepper’s company had the only state-approved tailgate outside it. They set up operations in a private parking lot on 18th and Trinity Street, just across from the stadium. Groups could book their own 10-foot by 10-foot, socially distant tent with chairs, tables, and a trash can, food and drink provided by masked servers (costing upward of $500 per group). This was not the typically raucous Horn-Ball tailgates of years past, which have included Fireball ice luges and beer pong, but it still scratched the itch for many Longhorn fans.

“It was just great to be outside, near the stadium, having some drinks,” one attendee, Aubrey, told me. “Ice block drink ramp or not.”

Meanwhile some colleges, such as Clemson and South Carolina, as well as five NFL teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs, don’t have official bans on tailgating, but are still imploring fans to, say it with me, follow guidelines. Masks and social distancing and pods and, please, no “large buffet-style spreads.” But, you try adhering to all that after a keg stand.

“I don’t think the tailgates this year are quite as rambunctious as they used to be,” explains Craig Renfro, the owner and editor-in-chief of Tailgater Magazine, a print periodical with over a quarter-million subscribers. He’s a longtime Cowboys and Texas A&M fan and a passionate tailgater. “You’re just not seeing the craziness of years past,” he says.

At other stadiums, though, the issue of what is and isn’t “tailgating” seems to lie less on health standards and more on pedantry and placating outside observers.

“Georgia is technically not allowing tailgating but they say they will allow people who come to the games together to ‘gather near their vehicles,’ whatever that means,” explains Amanda Mull, a Brooklyn-based writer for The Atlantic, and a big-time UGA fan. “Basically, I think they are trying to ban big tailgates while still letting people tailgate, but being able to tell media that they have ‘banned tailgating.’”

Still, for the vast majority of football fans, tailgating this year will be exclusively done at home, and all sorts of companies are stepping in trying to take advantage of the big pivot to “homegating.” Like the Tailgate Guys, an Auburn, Ala.-based company which, in a normal football season, rents and sets up a variety of tailgating packaging (including tents, coolers, cocktail tables, and even mounted DISH televisions) for fans at nearly 50 schools and three NFL cities. This season they are selling the #TailgateAnywhere package, offering their services to any home or business within 100 miles of their 17 warehouses.

Meanwhile, Lowe’s is hoping you’ll stock up on a variety of chairs, canopies, grills, and even inflatables to build your own NFL-worthy homegate. Sam’s Club too has an entire homegate section on its website, touting everything from frozen waffle fries to 82-inch TVs. There’s even Homefield Tailgate, which will literally sell you a tailgate, sans the rest of the truck. For the diehard who wants to cosplay hanging out in parking space.

“We’ve pivoted ourselves — yeah, the magazine is titled Tailgater, but our motto has always been ‘Your parking lot and backyard BBQ entertainment guide,’” explains Renfro. “We’ve always positioned it as, if you think about it, 80,000 go to a game, but millions watch at home and always have and always will. But you can still cookout on the grill and drink beer and cocktails.”

And, while admittedly none of that is as good as crushing Bud Lights and ice-luging Fireball in a scenic Meadowlands parking space, it does offer one advantage over traditional tailgating.

When the game is over, you don’t have to drive home.

The article As Football Returns Largely Without Fans, ‘Homegating’ Is the New Tailgating appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/football-homegating-tailgating/

[diorista-n-diamonds]

2021 Toyota 4Runner Redesign

Japanese writer put in place some descriptions in car or truck neighborhood, joined with its 2021 Toyota 4Runner is amid everyone of these lifestyle which go the restrictions. This medium-dimensions SUV was made in 1984, in addition to, considering, Toyota disclosed 5 long time of correctly-precious from-roadster. However, may seem like 2021 design calendar year or so will increase the degree of its a number of years, thinking about this blog delivers a redesign to your forthcoming 4Runner and the beginning of your 6th technological innovation.

EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR

Previously many years of Toyota’s 4Runner made it through about 6 quite a few years, usually, together with the present gen well-versed in simple fact lengthened anticipated some selected particular date and made it through for 6 right yrs. New 2021 MY presents some considerable changes to the type of this SUV. Before everything else, the primary may seem like Toyota has not to date but abandoned on 4Runner’s body-on-body design, supporting which makes it specific and an infinitely more variable from and also to the roadway.

Completely, an out-of-specific date exterior are going to be revamped and revitalized and we all can predict 2021 Toyota 4Runner to create some inspiring changes. Most beneficial barbecue barbeque bbq grill and in general top fascia in the crossover will probably be remodeled. It is well-known nostrils may well properly be a bit more at ease, when its front side area light use a redesign and progression.

On the inside 2021 Toyota 4Runner, we might foresee some substantial adjustments concurrently. Taking into consideration 2015 device time of year, Toyota began to give everybody spherical of 4 trims, which feature SR5, Trail, TRD Pro and Bit degrees. TRD Pro variety is created up of items which boost will look and executes in a similar fashion using this type of SUV.

ENGINE AND SPECS

The powertrain in the 2021 Toyota 4Runner will probably be a roll-more than by looking at the forerunner. This really is a V6 which incorporates a manufacturing of 270 horse would-be and 278 lb-feet of torque and is also accessible built-in employing a 5-price computerized transmission. The drivetrain is determined by the clip, so on some trims (SR5 and Small) customers can come to a decision about back end- and three-wheel visit, some are displayed with AWD solely (Trail and TRD Pro). It suitable relocating power is graded at 4,700 body pounds. Fuel economy of routines making use of a lumbar region side-wheel vacation is put at 17 miles per gallon city, despite the fact that 4×4 choices profited definitely identical distance within the city journey (17 mpg) still a mile far less regarding the avenue and built-in (21 and 18 miles per gallon).

Toyota could want to increase the output inside 2021 4Runner during which contain several other other possibilities. Until recently, you will see no honest possible choices which might affirm it. However, testimonies suggest that procuring next to the version will likely be accessible to come up with a very minimum a different engine personal preference. Doable powertrains, that can be reviewed, include things like usually diesel engine (that is likely to appear) or much higher robust V8 engine, that may present considerably more doable. Consistently the complete essentials regarding what correctly we might undoubtedly be prepared to keep going simply being unavailable, on the other hand, continue to generally be tuned, contemplating we are going to notify you about all most give you scientific tests from Toyota.

PRICE AND Start up

The problem this off from-roader program bargain which does not have practically all its competitors is, genuinely, an three-row chairs. Jeep Grand Cherokee uses attribute de reluctance. Even so, a competitive price much less location compared to the 4Runner.

Dodge Durango and Toyota Highlander will be your closest competitors inside of the 4Runner, on the report that they will likewise offer your town for ten tourists. The roll-out of your 2021 Toyota 4Runner is definitely not estimated prior to sometime soon in 2019 when its earnings time is probably not imagined beforehand at the outset of 2021. Irrespective of the point that Toyota has not exposed any specs to the thing, the estimated price on the nearing variation is going to be just a little considerably more needed, and can even also get started off nearly without any doubt during $34,000.

[grillpartshub-blog]

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[whogoesthere-cleveland-blog]

The Lake House Restaurant

Where are we?

Lake House Restaurant (or Café, depending on who you ask)

11850 Edgewater Dr., Lakewood, OH 44107

http://www.lakehousecafe.org

Why haven’t we been here before?

Susan: OK, in full disclosure, we have. A couple of years ago when “Who Goes There?” was in its nascent stages, Shannon and I went to ‘practice restaurants,’ one of which was Lake House. Our memories are hazy and few, but there are a couple of definite stand outs. There’s an open kitchen and in it on a shelf up high was a mysterious 5 gallon tub of brown that apparently required no refrigeration. We’re still vexed as to what it could have been: BBQ sauce? Gravy? Chocolate puddin’? Though I scanned the menu, nothing seemed to correlate with this tub of brown. It wasn’t there when we returned this go around, which is probably great for health code adherence, but bad for comedy. I think I got the tuna fish sandwich or grilled cheese last time.  It doesn’t matter.

I also remember there being a table of about a dozen lesbians and separately, at least one transgendered person wearing a very bushy lilac colored coat. I thought at the time, “Wow! This place must be very LBGTQ friendly.” However, this latest visit was seemingly hetero-normative.

Shannon: The first time I dined at the Lake House Restaurant Cafe I was talked into ordering the Lake Erie Perch special by, I think, the same server we had for this current visit. I’ll admit, the Lake Erie perch was special, just not in a particularly appetizing way. I forced down a few bites to make it seem to the server like I was one satisfied customer, but after a logical progression of time, requested a to-go container and promised myself I would eat the rest of the fish ‘a little later.’ I convinced myself that, no, that perch will not have died in vain because of me. Sadly I had errands to run that afternoon and after our freshwater friend had been adding its unmistakable stank to the interior of my car, I ultimately decided to deposit the leftovers into a trash bin outside the Detroit Avenue/Lear Road Drug Mart Food Fair. My apologies to the staff of Drug Mart and to the fish — I do think of you often, and truly meant no disrespect.

What’s it like inside?

Shannon: The interior reminds me of the kind of restaurant you might find on the grounds of the Quality Court Motel in Jellico, Tennessee in the late 70s. It has a helter-skelter interior design plan, with two tables reserved solely for restaurant operations —- the first displaying a disorganized hodge-podge of papers, receipts, a spiral ledger, pencils and pens, and an adding machine, and seemed to serve as some sort of makeshift accounting station; the second, although giving off the aesthetic vibe of a Warhol screen print, was being used as a condiment re-stocking station. There are maybe 15 tables in the joint. It seemed an impolitic decision to take that kind of real estate off the market on a busy Sunday morning and leave customers waiting in a congested knot just inside the front door. You always have the feeling you are in somebody’s way at The Lake House Restaurant Cafe. Even after you are seated. They truly need an expert to come in and feng-shui the hell out of this place. Another mysterious phenomenon is, you also always get an eerie feeling that you are being watched. I’m not exactly sure why, but it could have something to do with the oddly placed two-way mirror overlooking the entire dining area. I shouldn’t take it personally, though. They may just be keeping a cautious eye on the wait staff.

Susan: My hypothesis was that the two way mirror housed food eating fetishists on the other side who pay high dollar to ogle at the omelet ingesting masses whilst getting their rocks off.  However, I think we have to talk about the outside first. The only acknowledgement of a restaurant even being there is this tiny, chintzy realtor’s type sign.

I truly thought they would have upgraded in the years since we had been, but I’m fairly certain it’s the same one. This is a marketing fail of biblical proportions. The apartment building in which it is housed reminds me of Kent State’s brutalist brick box dormitories circa ’84. These would have the cafeteria stationed in the bottom floor, just like the Lake House.

The Lake House Restaurant boasts a stunning open water view…

and also there’s Lake Erie.

There are options to dine “al fresco” and about 500 yards away; a sad, misplaced garbage can for your disposal of leftovers, but by the time you make the hike over, you’ll probably begin to feel peckish again. 

There was one point during our visit when I had to escort a millipede outside. I don’t know how it got in, but I think it’s safe to say it used the door. Anyway, we couldn’t bear to stand idle as it slowly made its way towards us and likewise impending doom. There was so much foot traffic; it was bound to get squished right before us and that’s gonna be a brunch ruiner right there, dear readers. Anyway, I coaxed it into a napkin and set it outside. This incident may or may not reflect on the overall cleanliness of the Lake House Restaurant. I don’t want to judge based upon that one occurrence. Nature gets inside sometimes. That’s just a fact of life and has been since the dawn of man. Let’s be thankful it wasn’t a saber tooth tiger who is, from my limited understanding, not so easily coaxed outside on a napkin.

Who works here?

Susan:  Well, the short answer is: parolees. Confidence men, grifters, scammers, a bait and switch type of character, if you catch my drift. OK, so we don’t actually have any proof of the above claim, but it just seemed like something was amiss in their staffing. Their “.org” status of their website lends further credence to my suspicion that it’s a work release program. Our waiter, being an expert on getting one over, was big on up selling without mentioning the additional cost. Didn’t we want the exceedingly popular Spinach Special (that was like $2.50 more than the regular spinach omelet)?

Didn’t we want crispy onions on our hash browns (which was like $2 more)?    Yes we want crispy onions! What do we look like? Advocates of the anti-delicious?!  I shall beg your pardon, Sir! We are most definitely not! In fact, we want crispy onions on ALL the things!

Shannon:  It was great to see that Chef from South Park was handling the kitchen. That fact, combined with the conspicuously absent tub of brown sauce, gave me a certain confidence that I hadn’t felt about the place until that moment.

Can you eat the food without fear of taint?

Susan:  Yes! Yes! A resounding yes! It was fudgin’ delicious! We actually couldn’t believe it.  I mean let’s face it, in large part it was because of the crispy onions. Check it out. Looks pretty good, eh?

Shannon: Hell yes! I got the spinach feta omelet which was fantastic; and although I was coerced into ordering the home fries with crispy onions in place of the tomato and fruit salad that traditionally comes with the meal, it was well-worth the extra cost. I’m convinced that somewhere within that magical spuds and onion combo, I actually detected the elusive umami flavor. But, like many a greasy spoon, they need to invest in better coffee. Their menu actually touts specialty alcoholic brunch drinks, so the next time I go — which you can bet will be soon — I may jettison the java altogether in favor of a Lakeside Lemonade (vodka, lemonade, cucumber slices). Also, thanks to some aggressively pro-active marketing on their website’s home page, I was already able to secure my reservations for Mother’s Day Brunch. http://www.lakehousecafe.org

Would they notice if you brought a cat in a Baby Bjorn here?

Susan: Yeah, definitely. We were sat smack dab in the center and it’s really not a place for discretion, whimsy, hoopla, or flights of fancy. We’re dealing with riffraff that (hypothetically) just gotta outta the clink here. You think they wanna see some god damned pussycat in a god damned sling, sittin’ in a fucking RESTAURANT like it’s PEOPLE!? That shit right there will make them break their probation when they gotta clock out on somebody (us).  No, I do not want to be the cause that the newly rehabilitated must return to the hoosegow and furthermore, I would not put Neal at risk for bodily harm.

Shannon: There’s no way. In the first place, we weren’t seated at a booth, which is definitely the preferred location when trying to smuggle in a feline friend. Secondly, Neal has a sensitive stomach. One stolen bite of a wayward crispy onion and the whole place would be in the danger zone.

Susan: Indeed.

Who goes there?

Shannon: Tourist families who have Air BnB’d a condo in the Lake House believing it to be a lot closer to Cedar Point that it actually is; sullen, weak-chinned teens with Manic Panic hair and their apathetic mothers, and my friend Alison who told me not to post this review because she is worried that additional diners will find out about this hidden gem and ruin it for her.

Susan:  An eclectic mix of low rent after church goers, residents of that building and adjacent buildings, and an elderly couple that upon further investigation was not a couple at all but a mother with a frighteningly garish, clown-like make-up job and her likewise geriatric son that just appeared as a couple. You know, totally normal, not weird at all. As an aside, I asked a millennial type coworker who resides on Edgewater if she had been to the Lake House Café. And she repeated. “Lake House….. It’s a restaurant.”  Again, it was all a statement. Not a question, not an inquiry, not a point of clarification, just a spot on descriptor. And no, she’d not been.

Would we go again?

Susan: For me, it’s a resounding yes, especially for breakfast. I literally just got done eating lunch elsewhere and am still sitting at said establishment, but looking at the pictures from the Lake House make me want to pack up and head over there for a side of crispy onions.

Shannon: Yes! Lake House Restaurant is the best place in Northeast Ohio to enjoy a modestly-priced lacustrine prandial. As an added bonus, it’s in such close proximity to my apartment that I walked there in ten minutes flat. This allowed me to ‘get my steps in’ as today’s fitness-minded folks say, before gorging on fried onions and returning home for a three-hour nap.

Philosophical Stance:

Susan: Relativists

Shannon: Accidentalists

Famous TV or Movie Characters You Might See Here?

Susan: Kip and Henry from Bosom Buddies. Not only does the Lake House Restaurant seem friendly to the Trans community, but there’s also an inexpensive apartment building upstairs (which for these purposes, I will assume is a strictly female only residence).

Shannon: This is the kind of place where you’d witness a hangdog Mel Sharples showing up, sailor hat in hand, begging Flo to come back to work at the Diner. Flo would be stubborn and reluctant at first, sure, because she ‘loves’ her new job, but at Mel’s agreement to a fifty cent raise, Flo would cast her apron to the ground and tell Lake House management that they can “Kiss my grits!”

 The Lake House Restaurant Café is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Monday – Closed

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 8 am – 2:30 pm & 5 pm – 8 pm

Friday & Saturday: 8 am – 2:30 pm & 5 pm – 9 PM

Sunday: 8 am – 2:30 pm

[black-winged-pippa]

I went out tonight with my parents and had a pretty good time. We stopped at Avenue to check out the closing sale. Every location in town has closed but one, now, so they are getting all of the merch from the other stores. I was able to find jeans in tall sizes, at last (something that I desperately needed, because the last pair that I picked up shrank half an inch in the leg after washing). I may only be 5′4″, but I’m shorter in the torso and all leg, so I get really annoyed when my pants shrink in length. I got a pair of jeggings in 14T and a pair of butter soft jeans in 16T. (Still annoyed when I can’t wear the same size consistently within a brand, but whatever.) I also got a sweater and some swimwear (a tankini top and boy short bottoms). With fall around the corner, I’m really looking forward to wearing sweaters and jeans every day.

After Avenue, we stopped at Costco to get a set of lounge-wear for my grandmother. She likes to feel comfortable and warm, and my aunt has been complaining about her looking like a hobo in her old sweats. To be fair, she’s been wearing the same stuff since the 90s.

After all of that shopping, we were all desperate for food, so we stopped at our favorite burger joint. I got a chicken sandwich with bacon, Dad got a mushroom burger, and Mom got a bbq burger. We sat at the front counter and watched them cook while we ate. We were all salivating over the fried bologna on the grill, and we started contemplating future orders. We just had fun, really. And we’ve become regulars, at this point, so we enjoyed a few laughs with the managing team between orders. They all adore my parents, since they come in more often than I get to.