#DUMBO Fitness Loop

[vigxyz]

Things I’ll miss about NYC

Watching the sunset light up my room every evening.

Talking to my building’s porter Henry who is probably the happiest person I’ve ever met.

Eating a slice from Village Square Pizza at 4am.

Getting on the exact subway car to exit directly at the stairs.

Finding a parking spot directly outside my apartment.

Jaywalking constantly, even across 4 lanes of traffic.

Getting burritos from Tacos Casamigos.

Hearing Jazz music from the venue across the street.

Taking Rohit’s fusion classes at Ripley Grier.

Sitting at the Queens temple when there’s nobody there on a weekday.

Eating dosa at the Queens temple.

Seeing the skyline at night from my window.

Helping people find parking.

Wearing my Sox hat into Tompkins Square Bagels since the employees would chirp me.

Seeing the guy who blasts music out of his Corolla decked out with American flags on Ave A.

Running into people I know on the street.

Grabbing breakfast with Aseem at Ciao Gloria.

Leaving the Brooklyn Mirage at 5am.

Staying up so late that I could hear the birds chirping.

Getting a latte and almond croissant at La Cabra.

Sitting at Brooklyn Bridge Park at night.

Finding a piece I loved at a vintage store.

Going to Garba in Edison.

Waking up to snow on the trees for the first time every winter.

Getting the original at John’s of Bleecker Street.

Stopping at Chamoun’s Way on my drives back to Boston.

Sitting and listening to music in my car.

Conversations with Frank during alternate side parking.

Having people over at my apartment before going out.

Walking to the gym on summer afternoons.

Getting fresh mozzarella at Di Palo’s.

Walking into random parades once a month.

Lying down on the living room rug whenever I needed a place to chill.

Having my family come to visit.

Getting Veniero’s tiramisu cake every year for my birthday.

Going to the Apna Bazar in Jackson Heights to get bulk spices.

Grabbing a samosa at Punjabi Deli on my walk back from work.

Playing FIFA at my apartment.

Talking to the doorman at my old office in SoHo.

Getting my haircut at 12pell with Tim.

Finding random free stuff on the street.

Sitting on the rocks at Brighton Beach.

Driving over the Queensborough Bridge.

Taking dance lessons with Shakti at PMT.

Taking shuffle classes with Elena at 305 Fitness.

Ordering Malai Kofta on Uber Eats from Sahib.

Being the only one at the gym at 10pm.

Looking at the skyline from Sheep’s Meadow.

Getting a car wash at David’s Auto.

Talking politics with the construction guys working next door.

Going to PT with Michelle at Starpro.

Lifting with Andrew at Crunch.

Having friends stay on my air mattress when they were visiting.

Seeing the skyline lit up in Indian colors on Independence Day.

Getting on the subway right before the doors close.

Walking through the empty hallway at Fig 19.

Getting a lychee martini at Decibel.

Listening to terrible DJs at Blind Barber.

Shopping for gold in Jackson Heights.

Working out at the DUMBO Lifetime.

Eating the chocolate chip walnut cookie at Levain.

Going to sunset concerts at Elsewhere rooftop.

Visiting the 9/11 memorial on 9/11.

Driving from the Bruckner Expressway onto the BQE and seeing the skyline.

Driving over the Kosciuszko Bridge and seeing the skyline.

Walking through the outdoor plant store on 10th between 1st and A.

Playing basketball at Murry Bergtraum.

Talking to random people on the subway and then never seeing them again.

Feeling so accomplished by just doing regular errands like grocery shopping.

Eating the achari paneer at Dhamaka.

Walking through Midtown to get to my therapist’s office on Tuesday mornings.

Taking 12pm House classes at Broadway Dance Center on Wednesdays.

Nodding at random people.

Getting mangoes from my mango guy in Jackson Heights in the summers.

Watching the subway acrobats.

Getting passed by grandpas on the Central Park cycling loop.

Cooking in my little kitchen.

Going to Novel Nights book club meetings.

Walking with so much purpose to get around, and seeing everyone else do the same.

Watching F1 at Feile.

People watching on the subway.

Sitting near the fountain at Washington Square Park.

Walking near the West Side Highway.

Watching the Celtics at a bar in the Lower East Side.

Seeing all the nicely dressed people every time I walked outside.

Ranting about Eric Adams and Kathy Hochul to anyone who would listen.

Talking to my long-distance friends on the phone in my living room.

Seeing the Rockefeller Center tree lit up.

Going to wave/hardwave shows.

Giving directions to strangers.

Driving on the Merritt Parkway as the leaves are falling.

Visiting the MoMA.

Seeing the cherry blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Walking around the East Village with morning dew in the springs.

Getting honey and maple syrup from Roxbury Mountain Maple at the greenmarket.

Walking by all the little shops in the East Village on a weekend.

Seeing places I'd seen in movies and TV shows in real life.

Feeling, for a bit at least, like a New Yorker.

[lovemesomesurveys]

THIS OR THAT! CEREALS! Froot Loops or Cinnamon Toast Crunch Lucky Charms or Frosted Mini Wheats Cheerios or Chex Honey Bunches Oats or Honey Nut Cheerios Rice Chex or Raisin Brand Honey Smacks or Reese's Puffs Rice Krispies or Great Grains French Toast Crunch or Cap'n Crunch Oatmeal Crisp or Cookie Crisp Kix or Eggo Cinnamon Toast Special K or Corn Flakes Frosted Mini Wheats (Strawberry Delight) or Apple Jacks Cocoa Krispies or Frosted Flakes Oreo O's or Corn Pops Honeycomb or Fruity Fruits Croque Graham Dore or Croque Canelle Nesquick or Sugar-Crisp Trix or Life Smorz or Fruity Pebbles Cocoa Pebbles or Cocoa Puffs All Bran or Weet-Bix Nestle Milo or Coco Pops Rice Bubbles or Crunchy Nut Nutri-Grain or Sultana Bran Cheerios or Frosties

DISNEY MOVIES! Snow White and The Seven Dwarf's or Pinocchio Dumbo or Bambi Cinderella or Alice In Wonderland Peter Pan or Sleeping Beauty Lady and The Tramp or The Sword In The Stone One Hundred and One Dalmatians or Robin Hood The Jungle Book or The Aristocats The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh or The Rescuers The Fox and The Hound or The Black Couldron The Great Mouse Detective or Oliver & Company The Little Mermaid or Ducktales: Treasure of the Lost Lamp Beauty and The Beast or A Goofy Movie Aladdin or Return To Never Land Pocahontas or Mulan The Lion King or Coco Monsters Inc. or The Emperors New Groove Toy Story or Toy Story 2 A Bug's Life or Zootopia Cars or Cars 3 Tarzan or Doug's First Movie The Tigger Movie or Treasure Planet Lilo and Stitch or Brave Atlantis: The Lost Empire or Teacher's Pet The Jungle Book 2 or Bolt Piglet's Big Movie or Planes Brother Bear or Home On The Range Finding Nemo or Finding Dory The Incredibles or The Wild Pooh's Heffalump Movie or Meet The Robinsons The Nightmare Before Christmas or Inside Out Frozen or Frozen 2 The Princess and The Frog or Big Hero 6 Up or Tangled Frankenweenie or Wreck It Ralph Monsters University or Moana The Good Dinosaur or Valiant Wall-E or Ratatouille Fantasia or Mary Poppins Fantasia 2000 or The Rescuer's Down Under Toy Story 3 or Hercules Luca or The Jungle Cruise Cruella or Cinderella 2 Winnie The Pooh or The Hunchback Of Notre Dame The Lion King ll or Tinkerbell  James and The Giant Peach or Prince Charming

NICKELODEON SHOWS!

Angry Beavers or Catdog Hey Arnold or Jimmy Neutron Ren and Stimpy or Rocko's Modern Life Spongebob Square Pants or Avatar The Last Airbender Fairly Odd Parents or As Told By Ginger Rugrats or Aahh Real Monsters Clarissa Explains It All or The Amanda Show H2O or I-Carly Kenan and Kel or Drake and Josh Rugrats All Grown Up or The Wild Thornberrys Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide or The Backyardigans Zoey 101 or Danny Phantom Blues Clues or Big Time Rush Franklin or The Penguins of Madagascar My Life as a Teenage Robot or All That Invader Zim or Are You Afraid Of The Dark The Naked Brothers Band or Rocket Power Dora The Explorer or Go Diego, Go! TV SERIES/SHOWS The Walking Dead or Lucifer Riverdale or Supergirl American Horror Story or Greys Anatomy American Horror Stories or Supernatural Home and Away or Gilmore Girls Two and A Half Men or Nine Perfect Strangers The Big Bang Theory or Young Sheldon Friends or The Real Housewives of New York City Good Girls or The White Lotus Trinkets or Dead To Me Sex and The City or The Carrie Diaries The Hills or The City The Good Place or Awkward Revenge or Workin' Moms The 100 or I-Zombie Santa Clarita Diet or Happy Endings Girls or Love Life Younger or Dollface Two Broke Girls or New Girl Fear The Walking Dead or Top Gear Looking or A Teacher Bob's Burgers or Family Guy American Dad or King Of The Hill The Simpsons or Futurama Outer Banks or Sex Life NEVERTHELESS or A-Typical The News or Late Night Talk Shows Never Have I Ever or Ginny and Georgia Superstore or Suits 13 Reasons Why or Shameless The Inbetweeners or Friday Night Dinner My Mad Fat Diary or White Gold Outlander or Too Hot To Handle ANIMALS! Lion or Leopard Tiger or Buffalo Antelope or Zebra Ostrich or Emu Giraffe or Cheetah African Wild Dog or Hyena White Rhino or Black Rhino Elephant or Hippopotamus Butterfly or Stick Insect Cat or Dog Bunny or Guineapig Chicken or Duck Goat or Lamb Lyrebird or Pigeon Macaw or Toucan Horse or Donkey Turkey or Rooster Kookaburra or Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Scorpion or Cobra Water Dragon or Tortoise African Grey Parrot or Amazon Parrot Meerkat or Tapir Chimpanzee or Gorilla Lorikeet or Galah Tasmian Devils or Dingoes Sealion or Stingray Alpaca or Deer Little Penguin or King Penguin Quokka or Wallaby Echidna or Mandrill Baboon or Peacock Pelican or Barn Owl Bilby or Sloth Black Bear or Polar Bear Dolphin or Humpback Whale Starfish or Clown Fish Shark or Orca COLOURS! Pink or Blue Green or Yellow Brown or Black White or Grey Green or Purple Orange or Blue Pink or Purple Black or Red Yellow or Red Orange or Pink White or Purple Grey or Blue Blue or Purple Pink or White GAMES! Donkey Kong or Super Mario Yoshi's Island or Mario Party Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros Pokemon Let's Go Eevee or Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu The Legend of Zelda or Skyrim Minecraft or Fortnite Crash Bandicoot or Croc Spyro or PacMan Tetris or Space Invaders Grand Theft Auto or Street Fighter ll Animal Crossing or Overcooked Cooking Mama or Stardew Valley Just Dance or Harvest Moon Ring Fit or Snipper Clips

[nothingunrealistic]

just for fun, some snapshots of this fic as it was being written, with commentary. under a cut to avoid dumping dozens of screenshots in a row on anyone’s dash. also i’m going to reblog this and add some more because tumblr is cutting me off from saving any more changes but i’m not done saying what i wanted to say.

i got this prompt back in july, dropped it into a new google doc, and then didn’t do anything with it until october. as you can see, i didn’t immediately have any good ideas, so i just let it percolate in the back of my mind (along with one or two dozen other writing prompts and projects) for a while.

then, three and a half months later, i finally had an idea! at three in the morning! (not pictured: half a dozen links to pages about autistic burnout, meltdowns, and shutdowns. research is important but it’s not as fun to look at.)

sometimes you think of dialogue well before you think of how to fit it into a scene.

this was eleven days later.

finally! some actual prose! and a way to tie the story to the events of canon! (after this, i worked on this particular fic every day until it was done.)

just putting stuff in brackets works basically every time. the bracketed notes start out as a more high-level interview of what’s going to happen, then get broken down / separated / elaborated on further until they pretty much stand in for individual paragraphs / sentences / lines of dialogue or inner monologue.

see: stuff from the Big Block Of Text getting copied and pasted to where it should be.

pretty sure *this* big block of text got written on one of the rare occasions where i actually managed to write for the entire hour i have set aside specifically For writing. if i were to break down the revision history further, it’d almost certainly show that many of these paragraphs started out as bracketed not-quite-prose, some of which still remained at this point. (also pictured: one particular line from mafee that did not make it into the final draft.)

more details from canon and just details in general.

mafee does Not have rights. (also, it turns out it’s much easier for someone to press their hands against their whole face if they’re not wearing glasses.)

by far the funniest change i made while writing this.

writing any new character’s pov is an adventure in trying to nail down how they’d talk inside their own head. doubly true for any new billions character given that no one talks like a normal person on billions; triply true when it’s a character like rian who Knows no one talks normally and is trying to fit in with the Accepted Dialect.

i’m like dropping hints that winston is having a bad time right now.

winston is having a bad time right now.

rip post-it note fidgeting; long live pen fidgeting. (another research topic: what *do* quants do all day that they might still be working on late at night? well, possibly, backtesting and optimization of algorithms.)

two character threads that started here: rian trying (and ultimately failing) not to make it obvious that she Cares about winston, and winston speaking more tersely than usual, for obvious reasons.

i watched Many clips from the show trying to figure out whether the doors at axe capital ever stayed open on their own, what sound they made when people opened them, and if it was even plausible for characters to hear construction noise through the glass when the doors were shut. (on that last point, i ultimately decided that if the mase cappers could hear becky lynch yelling through a closed door — and most likely they did hear her before they saw her — they could certainly hear power tools.)

“everyone else went home” was the best reason for mafee to walk back into the tmc office that i could think of. he just wants to hang out with Someone yknow?

mafee’s made the noise worse not only by leaving the door open, but also by sitting down loudly and talking a lot!

mafee’s use of “quisling” is a very specific shoutout to the incident he’s describing. axe declared that there was a quisling in the office; mafee had to ask what that meant, and donnie defined it for him; a few episodes later, mafee went out of his way to drop “quisling” into the conversation when talking about it to someone he wanted to impress.

getting the wording of this exchange just right was tricky. also rip mafee’s chair spinning.

switched up the placement of hammer noises and drill noises so that it’d be a Continuous, unrelenting noise that forced mafee to talk louder still and ultimately became too much for winston.

also had to figure out how to fit this comment from mafee into the flow of the scene.

mafee jumps to act as soon as he realizes something’s wrong; rian thinks about what the best course of action would be first.

rian’s got a pretty idealistic perspective on how taylor operates. (this connects nicely to a canon comment from wendy about how taylor tries “to solve every problem [they] see.”) she’s also still working out How people talk here.

wanted to include this early point about it being quieter in taylor’s office, but i couldn’t really make it work.

this was the first point at which i had a clear idea of how this fic was going to end / would conclude in any satisfactory way. bringing that “rian cares but doesn’t want that to be Known” detail full circle.

punctuation pickiness! (and the door is finally closed!)

you know what sounds even worse than metal on wood? metal on metal!

i spent so much of one day just working on these few paragraphs.

and then i got the idea to throw in rian’s recollection of winston’s description of the mase cap office either late that night or the next morning and wrote most of it down while sitting through a meeting. (ft. more emphasis on the Separation between rian and winston & taylor.)

DUMBO is an acronym (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) but it isn’t always written in all caps. i found a style guide (from a college department in nyc, though i can’t remember which one) that declared it should be written as Dumbo rather than DUMBO and decided to go with that.

mafee is WELL out of the loop here. no wonder he wants to leave.

i went pretty hard on “mafee is being Less Than Kind And Understanding about this whole situation” and eventually had to have him walk it back with “well i didn’t WANT him to suffer or anything.”

this is everything i managed to get done in the Designated Writing Hour (and then some) the night that the supernatural finale aired. oops.

i was torn between rian hearing Something to alert her of taylor’s presence and hearing nothing at all; ultimately i chose the latter. (this revision was also from the brief period of time where i changed the google doc to a landscape layout in the hopes that the Changed Visual would shake some more ideas loose. it worked, a bit.)

see: rian Not hearing taylor.

this detail was added pretty late — one of the last changes i’d made the day before posting. (i’d also switched the google doc back to portrait mode at this point.)

[rhydium]

Info dumbo about the StarFinite story?

aright u asked for it anon GET READY [cracks knuckles] this is gonna be long so obligatory cut in 3, 2........

...1!

so the uh, the au! the story!! w/e yall wanna call it! full disclaimer, i only began working on this whole thing a while ago, but it's totally taken over my fukn brain. like, we're talking big hyperfixation hrs. am i cringe for being this invested in my own content? yes? cool i do not Care >:3€

i should also throw it out there real quick that i am kin w/ infinite, n this is actually one of my two canons (both of which are my own aus lmfao wow). i didn't go into it expecting it to be but sfsfsgdfs here we are ig!! for that reason it's got extra importance to me n this definitely contributes to the euphoria i get from it!! it's a lil odd writing ur own canon,,? but i kinda just go w/ the flow!

the au n, the story that i will start Eventually, revolves around infinite n starline (obvi) n it's honestly just ... the tl;dr is big healing momence n, what's this? uh oh sisters !!! they are falling in love 😳😳😳

uhhhh so infinite is an android, made by eggman. that's like, the most notable canon divergence here! super important context to have. i've got a whole big theory on the possibility of sega originally intending infinite to be an artificial being (which i explored in the works for my Other canon too), stemming from not only the scene in forces wherein infinite comments on sonic's "data", but a line of dialogue from tails in one of the last stages of the game where he Literally Says "so this is where eggman built infinite". that ... i mean. that contrasts w/ episode shadow pretty hard don't it?? would explain why that dlc was so rushed, n the comic too. ANYWAY adsfsfs um that's a seperate ramblepost. yeah!!!

they are also agender n use they/them (primarily) as well as he/him!! so i'll be refering to them w/ those pronouns!

after the war, infinite is taken in by the resistance n, instead of being dismantled, they're basically given a chance to rehabilitate themselves. it's agreed that they won't be reprogrammed, as despite the potential risks, it feels wrong to do so; like a violation of their free will, individuality n thinking. if infinite is to be a good person, it's not gonna be bc other ppl recreated their entire personality, it's gonna be bc it's what they themselves truly want. robot ethics idk man!! u can't tell me that sonic n co wouldn't offer this to infinite if they offered it to metal in IDW,,,, i am Standing By This!!!

it's, yknow, a bit rocky, at first. infinite has to really fight the urge to return to eggman (something they already tried once, before the resistance found them; they were cast out). it's a struggle against what they were built to do, against giving into unhealthy familiarity over facing a, while healthier, unfamiliarity. new faces, a new life, turning their back on their mission n creator, it's like, a lot.

they work for/with the sonic crew, rebuilding the world they tore down as deemed fitting justice, being closely monitored for a bit as a natural precaution. as it becomes apparent infinite truly no longer has any ambition to harm others (they don't have much ambition for anything, really), they're then granted more freedom, n start taking on more important missions!! it at least gives them something to do, keeps them occupied. they have issues with dissociation, unreality, whether they're truly a real person bc, well, android. feeling purposeless, n a lack of worth, especially. a need to prove themselves. heavy stuff. i'll kinda go into that a bit more in a sec. their work grounds them, if only temporarily.

n soooooo... IDW comic stuff happens. metal virus time. starline gets kicked out of the empire.

now, as the comics are ongoing, n as this is already an au, there's gonna be divergence, n i must admit i haven't planned out all that yet. there's a lot i have to consider!! infinite being w the resistance/restoration is a big game changer ... tho i Do believe that they were absent, likely on a far out mission during most of the chaos. eggman doesn't know abt them, nor does starline or anyone else other than the sonic crew; n some civilians that recognise them.

i'm not 100% sure of Exactly when it happens, but i think it's just after bad guys, that infinite is sent to locate n bring in starline. it doesn't prove too difficult. there's a whole, starline realising "oh fuck it's you???", some bickering n, the two don't hit it off right away. they're both kinda like. not mentally stable ddgddgdds,,,

so uh. starline ends up essentially going thru the same sorta shit as infinite. careful watch, rebuilding, all that jazz, making sure he can be trusted. he's like... very very lost, quite like infinite is. the world has kinda calmed down, in the meanwhile.

it's at this point i'm gonna go ahead n drop a bit of a ramble i subjected my friends to a while ago, to articulate the way i see the two, n their dynamic together!! i was considering making this it's own post a while ago!

analysing their characters a bit... let's look at starline. Like. so we have this, in bad guys, which SENT ME tbfh;

i feel like it's the moment that triggers starline onto the path he is rn canonically,,, he's clearly like. rly mad n bitter. the core of this?? he wants his work n his efforts to be acknowledged.

he's big angry. still kind of in denial at this stage. he has himself obsessed w/ the idea of making eggman see him as Worthy, that if he just tries hard enough, that'll happen. he's dependent on eggman's validation, n i mean, it's no surprise; he's followed him a Long Time by the sounds of it.

then in the recent issue, hold the fuck up, bc we got, This;

god. my god it's all comin together now homies. this???? this right here??? it is the CLASSIC "i have to do this to prove i'm strong n powerful n smart n worthy n should be respected please Give Me Acknowledgement" ..... n who else is Like That? can u see where im going w/ this?

i think most ppl are aware of infinite's character being extremely indicative of self worth/esteem issues n the need to prove themself, right?? the extreme adversity, repulsion, perhaps even fear toward the idea of being weak. the compulsion to prove otherwise, to show their strength, to become powerful, to conquer to make a point. their theme exudes this same energy as their behaviour in-game; an aggressive attitude, trying to assert themself, while if u rly listen...? the lyrics are actually really sad in places. it reeks of cover up, although composition wise, a v interesting thing to note is a lot of the more telling lyrics are prominent while some of the affirming ones are in the background. indicative of a desire to have their true feelings be heard but caught in a vicious loop?

okay okay that's yet Another different analysis. AHEM.

not to get deep on main (oh who the hell am i kidding that's the point of this entire thing) but i think starline has issues w/ his worth in a similar way to infinite. they both seem to have this need to Prove something, whether it's to others or themselves, n get caught in a toxic spiral of doing worse n worse things for Some kind of validation or acknowledgement. they'll go to really big lengths chasing that, n both of them ultimately sought validation in the wrong place n wrong way.

this is a big part of my starfinite dynamic,, n so, what happens, as they get closer n open up??? we have them BOTH realising together that they don't have to do fuck all to prove anything to anyone. they don't need to do all this to show they're strong n smart n worth something, not to anyone else OR themselves. they're enough as they are. they bond over that shared feeling that they have to do xyz, to prove themselves, n that desire to just finally be acknowledged n appreciated n help each other thru it. to help each other understand that other ppls approval, or lack thereof, doesn't define them, their strength, intelligence, and worthiness.

i feel like they have an interesting parallel between them in like... the above could be taken as a general analysis, but to go more in depth on this au specifically?? ...

starline followed eggman for presumably a long time n it no doubt left him feeling a heavy and deep regret for all that time wasted n spent on an unhealthy path. infinite kinda teaches him that what matters is what he's doing Now n also reminds him that if none of it happened, starline wouldn't have learnt a lot of the serious skills he has. n while starline still feels bad, he also realises himself that, he likely never would have crossed infinite's path if none of it happened. for that reason, he wouldn't take it back.

infinite has only been recently made, on the other hand. they haven't really existed long, yet, but so far their experiences haven't been very positive n it can be .... discouraging. starline sorta, shows infinite their limited experiences w/ the world are a very tiny fraction of what's out there, n things can absolutely change, yes, including for the better; that's the essence of life, a neverending, constant flow of change.

it's a big tale of moving on n letting go, honestly; made easier as they're doing it together. n as they heal n grow, well... these bitches gay. sfshshdgds like, ig that's putting it p bluntly but!! they start to trust each other, understand each other more. as they get to truly know who the other is, they both start developing The Feelings. they're both pretty oblivious n the reveal is totally unknown so far!! yeah, i know, bummer. i suck. boo. adafsfsds however i can say there will be lots of content in the making!! if that soothes the soul! i've got of ideas i hope to bring to life.

ofc there's still a lot of more specific things i haven't covered here so! if y'all want more juice hmu w/ more focused questions but !! this is the overview n i hope it was a decent read now that gave some uhhh! Cool Insight! yea!!! ✌

[statticscribbles]

Common Cold

Summary: Sweet Pea/Archie Request: Sweet pea gets sick with the flu and Archie takes care of him

“It’s a cold Archie calm down.” “You sure you don’t need me to get some cold medicine or something? Anything at all?” Sweet Pea rolls his eyes. “I’m fine. I’m a Serpent, I can handle anything.” “You’re gonna get sicker just cause you said that.” Archie smirks when Sweet Pea sneezes. “See?”

“It was one sneeze” “For now.” Archie nods as he returns back to practice. Sweet Pea can tell that Archie is watching him. Despite the suicides and drills from the coach. Sweet Pea lounges on the bleachers Fangs and Toni sitting slightly off to the side. “I’m not that sick, it’s a cold; at worst.” He repeats to them and they nod, still wary.

—————————————————————————- Fangs side-eyes him when he doubles over coughing. “I’m fine; just ran up the stairs is all.” He placates; Fangs still shakes his head. They’re sitting in the student lounge when Archie walks up; Sweet Pea’s still trying to catch his breath. “Sweets, you okay?” Archie hovers slightly. “Fine, you just take my breath away.” He winks, before dissolving into another coughing fit. “You sound worse than earlier.” “I’m fine, just need something to-“ Sweet Pea blinks as Archie shoves a Pop’s shake into his hand.

“Jughead and I swung by;” He explains as Jughead appears holding extra bags in his arms. “Archie insisted I get the Serpent’s lunch as well, so here, enjoy.” “These are just bags of fries.” Fangs states, pulling half of one over to him. “I’m not risking getting your burger order wrong and having you starting a coup to overthrow me.” Sweet Pea laughs, as Archie hands him a burger. “I’m not hungry.” “Because you’re sick and you should go home.” “It’s allergies.” Sweet Pea counters.

“You said it was a cold earlier.”Sweet Pea glares and Archie shakes his head. “I’ll go home if you come with me, I can’t be sick at home without anyone to- Where are you going?” “My car? I’m not riding with you on your bike; what if you sneeze and run us off the road.” ——————————————————————-

“Won’t your dad care you’re skipping?” “I’m taking care of my boyfriend; he’ll understand.” “I’m pretty sure I’d have to be dying for him to be okay with it, don’t lie.” Sweet Pea smirks sitting on his couch. “He won’t care Sweet Pea; he’d be more upset if I left you alone.” “That was a joke you know; you don’t need to take care of me.” Sweet Pea grumbles as Archie pulls a blanket from the closet. Archie rolls his eyes nudging Sweet Pea’s leg so he swings them onto the couch so he’s laying down. He drapes the blanket over him and tucks it around his neck. “I’m not five.”

“I know, but you are sick, so medicine time.” Sweet Pea grimaces. “Here, come on, swallow it.” Archie holds out two pills and Sweet Pea nods. Narrowing his eyes when he’s presented with cough syrup as well. He’s about to protest coughing instead as Archie smirks knowingly. He grabs the cup from him grimacing as he swallows. “Why the fuck did you get cherry.” “Cherry’s the best.” Sweet Pea shakes his head. “You pour misinformed soul. Orange is clearly the best flavor.” “Yeah it…” Archie trails off. “What?” Sweet Pea watches him nervously. “We should watch a movie. Pick a Disney one, they’re always good for when you’re sick.”

“Arch what happened?” “Movie. I’ll get some toast.” “Archie!” he cringes at the panic in Sweet Pea’s voice. “Well I may have given you two of those nighttime pain medications, and the cough syrup isn’t non-drowsy so-“ “Are you saying you drugged me?” “On accident! Besides at least you’ll sleep through it.”

“You have to stay now, to make sure I don’t die from you giving me too much drowsy medication.” Archie laughs nodding. “Oh the horror having to take care of my boyfriend while he’s sick.” “It’s allergies.” Sweet Pea sneezes nodding as Archie shoves a box of tissues next to him. “Move over.” He nudges Sweet Pea who moves slightly, lifting up the blanket so Archie can lay next to him. “What’re we watching?” “A movie.”

“I swear if we’re watching Mary Poppins again.” “I could put on dumbo, how well do you think your sick brain would handle the ‘pink elephant’ song? Hm?” Sweet Pea hands his head, arms looping around Archie’s arm as they spoon on the couch. “Stay.” “Well I can’t exactly move if I wanted to now can I Sweets?”  Sweet Pea’s already dozing off, content smile on his face. Archie flickers his attention back to the movie for a moment before returning to watch Sweet Pea relaxing in his arms.

Support My Writing?

[stattic-writes]

Common Cold

https://statticscribbles.tumblr.com/post/639099629845233664/masterlist

Support My Writing?

[sophieakatz]

Thursday Thoughts: The Best Walt Disney World Rides

Since I work at Walt Disney World, people often ask me what my favorite ride is. The thing is, I can’t pick one favorite, because I like different kinds of rides for different reasons!

So instead of attempting to rank them all in order to pick one favorite, I’m going to hold my own little theme park awards ceremony. I’ve divided the current forty-nine Walt Disney World rides into nine categories – now let’s see which rides win!

Best In-Park Transportation

This first category is an often-overlooked type of Disney Park attraction. While most rides drop you off right back where you started at their completion, these rides serve a purpose as in-park transportation. The Magic Kingdom has multiple rides like this, including the horse-drawn carriages on Main Street and the rafts to Tom Sawyer Island. Disney’s Animal Kingdom also has the Wildlife Express train, which gives its passengers glimpses of the animal barns on their way to and from Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

Call me a sucker for nostalgia, but for me, the best in-park transportation is the iconic Walt Disney World Railroad. This classic ride takes you on a scenic tour around the Magic Kingdom, with stops in Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Main Street. U.S.A. The four locomotives that travel this route are actual narrow-gauge steam trains, originally built in the early 1900s and restored for use today. Though at the time of writing the railroad is temporarily not operating, the train is still at the station for photo ops, and I eagerly await its return.

Best Carousel

When I say the word “carousel,” an image of wooden horses prancing in a circle likely comes to mind – like the Prince Charming Regal Carousel in the Magic Kingdom. But Walt Disney World features a much wider range of spinning attractions, from aerial carousels like Fantasyland’s Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Tomorrowland’s AstroOrbiter, and DinoLand U.S.A.’s TriceraTop Spin. I even consider high-speed spinners like the classic Mad Tea Party and the new Alien Swirling Saucers as a more thrilling type of carousel. For a moment I considered being clever and naming the Carousel of Progress show as my favorite carousel.

However, I must give Dumbo the Flying Elephant the honor of best carousel ride. It’s the Goldilocks of aerial carousels – not too high and not too low, not too skinny and not too wide, not too fast and not too slow. When I visited the Magic Kingdom as a child, flying with my mother on Dumbo was the perfect thrill and delight. Today, I find it a wonderfully relaxing flight, and so I still make a point of visiting Dumbo whenever I pass through Fantasyland.

Best Dark Ride

“Dark rides” are indoor attractions which carry you along a track and – in true Disney fashion – through a story. Whether you climb aboard a clamshell at Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, hop into a honey pot at the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, or drive a Doom Buggy through the Haunted Mansion, you will encounter beloved characters and classic songs that you will never get out of your head. The Magic Kingdom isn’t the only park with dark rides – Epcot ferries you through time, the big blue ocean, and a quirky science lab via Spaceship Earth, The Seas with Nemo and Friends, and Journey Into Imagination respectively.

A star among these cherished attractions is Peter Pan’s Flight. The original version of this ride took its first guests to Never Land on Disneyland’s opening day, and it’s been a guest favorite ever since. Even though there are now five versions of this attraction around the world, and so many newer attractions competing for guests’ attention, it’s still nigh-on impossible to get a Fastpass for the one in Walt Disney World, and for good reason! The journey is chock-full of details for Peter Pan fans to discover, and it employs many simple tricks to bring the magic to life even for adults. The moment when your ship lifts off of the railing and takes to the sky gives me chills every time!

Best Game Ride

As I said at the start, I like different rides for different reasons. Therefore, I am taking two “dark rides” and setting them apart in their own category. Rather than carry you passively through a story, these “game rides” challenge you to take part in the adventure, hitting targets in a video-game-like setting. The classic example of a game ride is Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland, in which you work to defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg.

But the game ride I much prefer is Toy Story Mania at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Perhaps it’s unfair to compare two rides with vastly different technological platforms, but I find the gameplay of Midway Mania much easier to learn than Space Ranger Spin’s, making it a less frustrating and more engaging time for someone like me who does not have a lot of experience with video games. For the more serious gamer, this ride also offers many opportunities to strategize with your copilot and rack up the big points! Not to mention that the breakneck speed and the catchy tunes always put a smile on my face.

Best Slow-Moving Boat Ride

Many Walt Disney World attractions involve stepping onto a boat and taking a trip down a gentle river. From the musical Gran Fiesta Tour and “it’s a small world,” to the educational Living with the Land, to the hilarious Jungle Cruise, these rides are a great option for anyone searching for an experience without a height requirement. If you want a little excitement with your boat rides, Pirates of the Caribbean and Frozen Ever After both throw a dark drop into the middle of the otherwise peaceful journey.

For some people, that thrill would put a ride at the top – but when I get on a Disney boat, I’m looking for relaxation. That’s why Na’vi River Journey is the best slow-moving boat ride in all of Walt Disney World. This calm voyage completely immerses you in the breathtaking bioluminescent rainforest of Pandora, complete with up-close encounters with the flora, fauna, and Na’vi who live there. If I could ride it around and around all day, I would!

Best Car Ride

While putting rides into categories, I came across a few which didn’t seem to fit into the other categories well. Then I realized that these attractions all take you for a ride on a car! The Tomorrowland Speedway lets you steer your own two-seat racecar, Epcot’s Test Track lets you design a vehicle and put it through testing, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Dinosaur takes you on a bumpy trip through the late Cretaceous, pursued by both carnivores and meteors.

My favorite Walt Disney World cars are the trucks at Kilimanjaro Safaris. This open-air guided tour through the African savanna lets you see and learn about the thirty-four species that live there. You come away with incredible pictures and a call to action to help protect the creatures with whom we share this planet! Best of all, every single journey on Kilimanjaro Safaris is unique – the animals call the shots, after all!

Best Drop Ride

Let’s now move into the realm of thrills! This first thrill-ride category is a small one, for those rides which are not a roller coaster but nonetheless feature a drop that will make you scream! Some of these drop rides are also water rides, like Splash Mountain in the Magic Kingdom and Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

I much prefer the objectively best example of a drop ride – the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror! This spooky Hollywood Studios ride looms over Sunset Boulevard, daring you to enter. Now, historically, I am not a fan of scary rides. I was incredibly surprised to discover that I absolutely love Tower of Terror! The adrenaline rush makes me scream with delight more than fright as I fall faster than the speed of gravity. This attraction has something in common with Kilimanjaro Safaris as well, in that no two rides are the same! Will you go up first, or down? How many times will you rise before you fall for good? It’s impossible to know until you step aboard!

Best Roller Coaster

If you’re looking for a thrill, you can’t beat a roller coaster. Disney’s roller coasters beat the average amusement park coaster with their devotion to story and theming alongside the adrenaline rush! There’s a coaster for everyone, whether you prefer the rocky ride of Big Thunder Mountain or the smooth-swinging carts of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, the eerie void of Space Mountain or the colors and lights of Slinky Dog Dash, the easy pace of Barnstormer or the zero-to-sixty loop-de-loop rush of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.

Though many new coasters have arisen over the years, my favorite remains Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. It’s my top example of how Disney tells a story entirely through your surroundings, starting in the queue and continuing all the way through the ride itself, as you first prepare for your voyage, next are warned about the legend of the Yeti, and finally come face to face with the creature. For the thrill-lover, it has multiple drops, including one that sends you backwards in total darkness!

Best Simulator

Simulators are experiential rides that use a combination of video screens and g-forces to bring the high-flying adventure to life all around you. And like I said at the start of this article, I love them all for different reasons. When I’m in the mood for a relaxing glide, I let Soarin’ carry me around the world. Other times, I’m in the mood for the realistic gravitational pull of Mission: SPACE as I live out my childhood dreams of being an astronaut. I’ve ridden Star Tours: The Adventure Continues countless times to get the different combinations of heroes, villains, and planets.

But I have to pick one to call the best, and that one is AVATAR: Flight of Passage. Once again the moon of Pandora hits you with full immersion as you ride on the back of a banshee. This ride is like all my daydreams of flying brought to life. It’s a gorgeous experience in every detail, from the wide, sweeping landscapes you soar above, to the subtle sensation of the banshee breathing between your legs. There’s a reason it’s still such a high-demand attraction two whole years after it opened! The first time I rode it, I ran outside with a huge grin on my face, already eager to get back in line.

Are there any great attractions you love that I forgot? What categories would you use to rate your favorite attractions? Is there truly one greatest Disney World attraction of them all? Reply, reblog, retweet, or comment with your thoughts!

All images in this article are from the Walt Disney World website.

[cutiecrates]

Cutie Reviews: YumeTwins March 19

Okay, so here I am with the real March YumeTwins box.

This months theme: Spring Companions

“The cold and harsh Winter Season is drawing to a close and Spring is coming! There’s so many things we love about Spring here at YumeTwins, like the fresh buds and flowers appearing and of course all the cute baby animals that are born in Springtime! But the absolute best part of Spring in Japan is the Cherry Blossom or Sakura! There’s nothing more we love than to sit under the Cherry Blossoms and have a picnic, if you have the chance to no matter where you are in the world you should try too! To get everyone excited for Spring we decided to go with the theme Spring Companions for March’s box! In this Spring Companions box you’ll find a couple of kawaii fluffy companions as well as some more useful companions with lots of pastel and vivid Spring colors, so we hope you’ll enjoy them!“

Contest Prize

Yume Prize

Disney Dreamy Plushie

Our first item is this really cute, fluffy plushie of Marie, from Arisocats (an older Disney movie, which I LOVED when I was a child). Besides Marie we could also get Dumbo, Minnie Mouse, and Miss Bunny (the girl bunny from bambi, she is extremely popular in Japan). Each character features a lovely pastel color scheme and adorable flowers, pearls, and/or star accents.

Marie is also my favorite Disney character, along with Minnie Mouse and Piglet. So I was very happy to see/get her, although the Minnie Mouse was pink so I this would have been my second choice.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Well we all know how much I like plushies and stuffed dolls/toys, especially when they’re huggable and soft~ This one is perfect with that in mind, it’s shape fitting right in my arms for full snuggles~

Besides that, the detail on this is really nice. Not only does it add to the dreamy aesthetic, but its done very cleanly. I just wish there was a little bit more, like maybe they could have added a few tiny stars/flowers or more pearls? It’s only a suggestion though, I still think they’re plenty cute.

I did notice a few tiny little minuscule details that bothered me though. Such as the fact they collect hair and whatever else like nobody’s business. Besides that, they also have that obnoxious seam around the middle, the one where the material is a lot thinner and stands out in comparison to the rest of the plush? I also found a few small loose yarn strands...

Anyway, none of this changes how much I like the plush. The yarns can be fixed, it won’t be hard to keep it cleaned. It’s so sweet and even though it is essentially just a head, I think it’s very nice.

Animal Face Pouch

Our next equally fluffy cuteness is this pouch, shaped like a bear, puppy, or cats head; in 7 different styles! They each have a different leather strap color and inside patterned fabric; like my bear, who has a pink dot print.

Besides being a great, small size to fit into objects, you can also attach it to your bag or items if you lack room, or even carry it around your wrist or a strap.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

As many pouches as I have now because of these boxes, I think this one would be one of my top favorites. It’s very fluffy and cuddly-soft, and very cute too. I love how versatile it is and it’s pretty fun, using it as a hand held purse one day to a purse accessory the next. It has decent room on the inside for being a smaller pouch, and it’s very light weight.

Cutesy Organizer Folder

If you’re a long-time reader of this blog then you will probably recognize this design; if you’re new though, then welcome :D this design/pattern is on a Tuxedo Sam cup I got (From a YumeTwins box like a year ago), and still use now.

Besides this adorable design, there is also 2 different Kirby, and a Pompompurin available.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

As much as I complain about getting these (due to my belief I no longer need them), I will acknowledge that they are useful- and I’m sure at some point I will need something to put important documents in, or just letters, pictures, coloring pages, or drawings I want to save and have no where else to put them.

Anyway, I love how this matches my cup, even if I realistically wouldn’t have a reason to put them together. So as you can probably tell it is bent, but at the same time I’ve been feeling this material and it’s a lot less stiff than my other files have been. I can’t really explain it but it feels really nice.

Kawaii Key Holder

Our next item is this key holder, which was available in 5 different colors and themes: this brown Rilakkuma, a pink and white Korilakkuma, 2 Sumikko Gurashi (one light blue, one light green), and a yellow gudetama.

The key holder has two clips, one for each key, as well as a two other loops to connect it to various things. The string is 65cm long.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

At the time I don’t personally have keys of my own (I can’t be the only one right?? I know I probably should...), but I still think this is a cute and creative item. It could also be used for other things though, and it also just makes a cute accessory.

Disney Highlighter Pen

Our next item is this cutesy double-sided highlighter featuring black and white drawings of Disney pairs; like this pink and purple one features Donald and Daisy. There was also a lime and peach one featuring Mickey and Minnie, and a blue and yellow Chip and Dale one. There are 2 other sets but they’re not in the picture.

With that in mind... I’m not a big Daisy fan and I love Minnie Mouse, so I kind of wish I got that one. But I prefer the colors on this one, so I’m not really sure which one I would have wanted if I got the choice...

This is how they look when used. They’re brighter than they look on here/in the pic though.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

It’s small and smooth shape makes it easy to carry in a variety of items, and highlighters can be pretty handy, so I like how it’s dual sided rather than being several separates.The quality of the highlighter is great, and I like the color contrast to the black and white design.

Tumbler Set

Our final item is this 3-set of Tumbler cups, available in either a cute pastel Rilakkuma theme, or a colorful and bright Splatoon theme (oddly enough both sets feature the same base colors but different tones, and come with yellow straws). These Tumblers come in the shape of a fast-food cup with 3 included plastic, re-usable straws, and when not being used, the cups and lids can be stacked to take up less storage space.

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

I like Splatoon and Rilakkuma, so I would have been fine with either set. I have a bunch of lidded cups I really like to use, but I always love to add to my “collection“ so I really like these :3 the designs are unique and very fun to look at, and they seem to be really sturdy so I feel like unless you’re really careless it shouldn’t be that easy to spill using them.

I also like that you get a set of 3, so you could easily share these.

♡ Cutie Ranking ♡

Content - 4.5 out of 5. I don’t sound super-ecstatic or anything, but I actually really, really liked these items. As usual, I feel like half of it will be useful to me, while the other half might not be (for now), but I felt like all of the items are really nice quality and well thought out.

Theme: 4 out of 5. The theme is Spring Companions, and yes, I’d say in that sense these items greatly count as a companion, as you would bring them with you. But when I think spring, besides pretty pastels I think flowers play a pretty big role and I kind of wish they would have included more flowery items.

Total Rank: 9 out of 10. Like I said, I’m not 100% sold on how they carried out the theme but I do really like the items, and they offer a lot of practicality. I don’t know if I’m a bit biased because of how disgruntled the last box left me, or if I really just like this one that much more.

♡ Cutie Scale ♡

1. Animal Pouch - It’s so ultra-fluffy, I just want to cuddle it~

2. Disney Plushie - I love how soft it is, and it’s dreamy inspired design and detail is very pretty~

3. Highlighter Pen - I mentioned this above, but I really like how the white and black tube contrast the colorful ink. It’s very fun to look at.

4. Tumbler Set - I love how the bright colors contrast the rest of the items, and who doesn’t like Splatoon? I love how you get a set of them, and I like how we have 2 stylish designs based on the game, and a cutesy one covered in adorable colorful squid~

5. Key Holder - I like all the metal bits on it :3 I also think this would be a lot of fun to wear as an accessory until I actually find a more practical use with it.

6. Organizer File - This one is really cute, but out of all the items I feel like this one would either get no use, or very little use.

[centerpointfashion]

For just $16.49 Party vibes and ecstasy gush uncontrollably from this white holographic face mask. Wherever the flow takes you, you'll be unstoppable….and it’s always better pure, right? P.S. YOU DOWN WITH LPP? YEAH YOU KNOW ME :) ABOUT IN DUST WE TRUST! Whether you’re partying on the playa or being a conscientious civilian keeping those cooties at bay, Neva Nude has you covered night and day! Our DMs get an A+ for fashionable face coverage that is both comfy and cool! Our masks are made with a flexible elastic trim with an easy looping structure for both quick covers and rapid releases. Hand selected, breathable fabrics allow you to take a deep breath, don your dystopian best, and head out into this Brave New World. WHAT MAKES THEM SO AWESOME: Comfortably cover nose, mouth, and chin - it’s like a hug for half of your face! Amazing selection of fabrics and freaking awesome designs allow you to look like a dystopian dream! Not intended for medical use, but may help prevent transmittal of gross germs and cooties! Stretchy elastic trim allows for quick coverage and rapid release without giving you dumbo ears. Cotton liner provides maximal breathability and can even double as a reversible look. NAILED IT! MADE IN USA - FEMALE OWNED AND OPERATED, BOOYAH! Each mask is handmade and therefore unique! CARE INSTRUCTIONS Hand wash in cold water and lay flat to dry SIZE Regular: Regular sizing fits most PETIT: The petit option is the SAME size mask as the regular. We just add in bands so you can make the ear loops tighter if needed :) THESE MASKS ARE HAND MADE AND NO TWO ARE IDENTICAL PLEASE NOTE: If you find your mask is a little tight, pull on the ear loops! They will stretch :)

[because-its-important]

2017: a year of courage 🦄

If 2016 was a year of opening doors, 2017 was a year of walking through them. This year demanded a lot of courage.

First, the fun things!

Programming.

I’ve been talking about this quite a bit already, so I don’t want to linger too much. This was my first year working as a programmer (heyo) and I learned a whole lot very, very quickly. Building a data-heavy webapp for bar associations and their member lawyers from scratch is no joke! I’m also real proud to be capping the year off in the midst of a batch at Recurse Center. About a year ago I kept thinking about how good it would feel to be “ready” for something like RC, and it does, it feels good.

“what are u doing rn?” selfie circa mid May.

Zines and indie book sellers.

I encountered a lot of zines this year, exponentially more than all the years of my life prior. I went to a zine reading, multiple zine fairs (including one I volunteered at), I assembled a zine at the Bushwick Print Lab, I brought friends to Quimby’s. And, ofc, I bought a bunch too.

I purchased all the zines above at Pete’s Mini Zine Fest.  From top left to bottom right, they include: a parody science zine about “fracking”; a zine about a woman’s experiences riding the subway when she was pregnant; a zine about the history of animals that have been sent to space; a holographic bookmark that isn’t a zine but reminded me of a femme version of the robot in FLCL; a zine someone made about remembering her recently deceased father and how they’d go mushroom hunting; an art zine full of sketches of demons. I also asked every artist to sign the copy I bought, because I am a huge dork. 🤓

A beautiful zine I found in the library at the Recurse Center. Zines are everywhere! Keep an eye out. 👀

I also spent a lot of time browsing and buying books (often used, sometimes not) from independent bookstores and sellers. I picked up books from BookPeople in Austin, from the Oakland Book Festival, from a library sale in Syracuse, from Unnameable Books in Prospect Heights 1, from Autumn Leaves in Ithaca, from the Verso loft in DUMBO, from Borderlands in the Mission, from Powell’s in Portland. I even scored Invisible Cities and Frankenstein from a stack left outside my neighborhood coffee shop.

These were all purchased for like $3 from a library sale held in the garage of a old fire station in Syracuse, NY. Includes: a book about stream of consciousness novels; a book about how to make poisons written by this dude; a book of poetry about the devil. Must’ve been a real moody day.

Interference Archive and Church Night.

I visited a lot of new places in 2017, so I wanna talk about two places that I found myself coming back to again and again.

I first visited Interference Archive or went to events where they tabled roughly a dozen or so times this year. I remember spending snowy days in winter doing a bit of cataloging for a big archive they’d received of counter culture newspapers from the 70s. I participated in two reading groups hosted by IA, one on different social movements from the 60s to today and another on race and mass incarceration following The New Jim Crow2. Interference Archives annual block party was also killer, with free screen printing, radical button-making, a used book sale 😏, free tamales served out of a trash bag (they were so good!!), and a live Yiddish queer punk band.

I blew up and tied these balloons for IA’s block party all by myself! Very important work! 

One of the issues of The Berkeley Barb that I cataloged. I also cataloged about half of The Black Panther newspapers in their collection. You can check out Interference Archive’s catalog here.

I also went to church service four times! 😋 Church Night is a comedy show that features three standup sets, a burlesque show, and a 90s rock sing-a-long, all rolled up into a evangelical sketch. Each service is also topped off by a real-ass sermon, with positive messages that have made me cry multiple times. It is a really perverse good time and the folks who run it are extremely friendly and hardworking. They travel to Brooklyn every couple months or so and are based in Washington DC, so if you near live in either of those areas, I fucken implore you to check them out.

Another great service at Church Night!

Puppet shows and films.

I attended two puppet shows this year, which is two more than any year in adult memory and certainly two more than I could have expected! The first puppet show played after a few live bands on a rooftop in Bushwick on a hot summer night - I drank cold canned beer and graciously accepted when some generous stranger passed around a bowl.

The second puppet show was a performance at a banging housewarming party in a living room in Bed Stuy, and a friend was one of the central performers. At one point during the show an iMac in the living room fell four feet to the hardwood floor below and the audience - a room full of friends and friendly faces - gasped. THE SPECTRE OF FAILURE!3 I thought very loudly in my head while my face contorted into rapt, waiting concern. Of course the show Went On, the moment of danger transformed, transcended. Holy shit! This is real! This is real life! I thought over a swelling-swooning heart, and it set the tone for the best night of my year.

I managed to catch a bunch of rad shorts including the IFC’s showing of Academy Award-nominated animated shorts, Rooftop Films’ non-animated “uncanny” shorts as well as their animation block party, and a round of alternative horror shorts presented by the Bushwick Film Festival. Respectively, my favorite shorts from each of these collections were: Blind Vaysha, about a girl with an eye that sees the past and an eye that sees the future4, See A Dog, Hear A Dog which explores how we train non-humans (particularly 🐶 and 🤖) to respond to us as if they understand us, My Man (octopus) about the stickiness of a toxic relationship (or, from the same night, Pittari, about a v cute demon), and GREAT CHOICE, which is a hilarious horror short about being stuck in an infinitely looping Olive Garden commercial from the 90s.

If you enjoy films and live experiences generally, I can’t recommend Rooftop Films enough. They’re a long-running NYC nonprofit that supports diverse, independent filmmaking and their summer series is truly unique and wonderful; each screening is hosted in a dope outdoor location in NYC and is preceded by a musical act fit to the theme of the film. I saw films on the roof of the Old American Can Factory and backlit by the eponymous sunset of Sunset Park. The ticket-price also includes an open bar after each screening, and you can chat with the folks who worked on the films. These are the kind of events that make living in a city so special, so take a friend, take two, and go!

It was a chilly the night at the Old American Can Factory where we saw Rat Film, a documentary about Baltimore told through the measures taken to control the rat population. Eugene (left) is wearing a towel I bought in LA. Bailey (right) is wearing a NASA sweatshirt.

Big music, living room music, radio music, discos Good and Bad.

Unlike last year, I didn’t go to any music festivals, but I did hit up a couple biggish shows. I saw Chastity Belt at Williamsburg Hall of Music (what a great venue 💚) and Yaeji at Elsewhere.

In a surprise display of social aptitude and luck, I managed to pull together folks from no less than four disparate friend groups to go see Chastity Belt with me in June.

I’ve been getting good at identifying proper communal experiences and boy, AcouticQ really hits the nail on the head. It’s such a friendly, intimate setting that you can’t help but wonder, is this not the perfect what to share tunes about heartache and triumph? If that compelling to you and you’re a good person who enjoys folky music and supporting queer artists, starting following AcoustiQ and hit up one of their events! Bring snacks, bring booze, bring a cash donation. 💵

I saw Julia Weldon first at AcoustiQ in September…

…and then again in November at PIANOS. 😊🎸

I started listened to radio programs - I think perhaps when looking for tunes for my daily bike commute? Anyway, I found myself tuning in pretty regularly to Radio Free Brooklyn. Bushwick Garage is probably my most listened to station, and I haven’t really tried any of the more talk show stuff. I suspect there’s something for everyone, especially if you live in NYC. You can check out their schedule here, though I’ve been relying on their Mixcloud channel for the most part.

Continued to do a fair bit of dancing in 2017 and saw a few new-to-me venues. I’ve decided that I really hate most any dance club on a Friday or Saturday past midnight; the situation nearly always devolves into Basic Dance Beat while straights get sloppy all over the place. There is nothing more distracting and vibe-killing than pretending not to notice some baseball cap bro who keeps desperately dancing at you in a crowded space, especially when you know he’s “working up the courage” to say something that will inevitably be heinously stupid. Like, I did not come here to build empathy for mediocre dudes hoping to ~get lucky~ at the club, I came here to dance myself clean!!! 😤

So when I tell you that I’ve had nothing but positive, glowing experiences the last two times I’ve been to weekend events at Magick City, let me tell you, this is high praise! What a great DIY music venue. The first event I went to there was a record listening party, where a roomful of people laid on blanket on the floor and quietly listened to an album - had a break to talk about it, pee, get another beer - and then listened to another. The second event was a set by these folks in a thick fog with a great light show and yet room to dance and breathe! The drinks were cheap and there was a whole table of delicious free snacks that had been prepared onsite.

Look at this rad setup by Drippy Eye Projections!

A communal fifth of whiskey left in the bathroom at Magick City. Just in case you needed a lil, y’know? What a phenomenal discotheque!🕺✨

Biking.

Through 2017, biking has been my main form of commuting. I spent winter and spring using Citibike5 until finally buying my own in early June. Deciding to own a bike for the first time in the city, let alone picking what to buy, was a pretty challenging experience. I went with a lightweight matte-black hybrid with an internal hub for its 3 gears. 

My bb is decked out with cleated neon-chartreuse pedals, green and yellow spoke beads (not pictured), and a purple-teal bluetooth speaker. 💜💚

And a word, if we might, about my speaker: this speaker is tough as shit! I’ve dropped it off my bike multiple times, and once I looked back only to watch it get run over by a car, twice. It’s also survived rain, sailing, and being dumped roughly into airport bins.6

I have plenty more to say about biking, but to cut to the chase: biking is clearly a superior mode of urban transit if you are able-bodied, have the nerves to deal with cars, and don’t mind arriving at your destination kinda gross. In the last 18 months or so I’ve gone from someone who Never Goes Out to someone who Goes Out More Than Your Average Bear and I’m prepared to credit biking as a major enabler. If you want to learn more about your city, see your friends more often, and make new ones - start biking!

This is a video I shot while riding my bike home from a 4th of July party. I nearly got nailed with a Roman Candle, lol.

Traveling.

I also did a greater-than-expected bit of traveling again this year, again all within the United States. I went to Austin in April, visited Oakland and Berkeley for the first time in May, visited both Ithaca and Vermont for the first times in July, drove to Kentucky to see the TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE with my cousin in August, drove from San Francisco to Los Angeles for Indiecade in October, and capped off with a half-work half-play visit to Portland, OR in November. I suspect this isn’t a sustainable amount of traveling, but it’s incredibly hard to regret - especially when it allows you to see friends who live far away or experience unique bonding moments with friends who live nearby - so who knows what next year will look like.

One of the most special places I’ve been this year was Lothlorien, a student coop at Berkeley where a friend lived in undergrad. It was an inspiring intentional community - so much art on the walls, a tree house with a perfect view of the sunset, a dream library. So magical! 💖

The cabin trip in Vermont was also really special. We did so many appropriate summer camp activities, like sailing, tubing, visiting cows, taking walks under a sky full of stars, building a blanket fort, putting together puzzles, and playing with fire.

We made this at the beginning of the day and boy oh boy did it come in handy for organizing ourselves! And gee, look at how well hydrated we were. 💦🌈💦

Now, the less easy stuff.

Sex.

One of my goals this year was to “learn more about sex.”

me: when you said we were going to be learning about sex, i didn’t realize there’d be so much reading involved, i thought it might be less of a mental and more of a physical edu- also me: lol don’t front

When I first cracked open Bataille’s Erotism: Death and Sensuality, I remember being absolutely floored by how much it was not whatever I had expected it to be - and that that was a helpful starting place. Erotism is an examination of the function of taboos and their sites of transgression, how the act of transgressing is subject to its own social rules and tends to be ritualized7, and how as conscious mortal beings we’re compelled towards moments of transgression because they seem to imitate what we imagine the great continuity of death feels like without having to, y’know, die. I liked his analysis of de Sade’s writing and the irony of sadism - that the promise of transgression is greater self-awareness, but the violence it requires necessarily also erodes that same awareness. I both appreciate and am wary of how aggressively Bataille dislocates sex from a bodily endeavor to a psychological compulsion. He had also some real undercooked shit say about women and was clearly terrified of sex, so I’m kinda disinclined to treat his opinions as functionally valuable to lived experience.

The Persistent Desire, on the other hand, was easily the most personally important book I read this year. It’s an anthology of generations of lesbian femme-butch relationships, told through stories from women’s lives, interviews with queer scholars, and some extremely hot sex poems. My primary inner-dialogue with gender has been “ugh” and “this shit again” and “if I pitch my voice and play Nice Girl this unbearable interaction will be over faster.” I had never spent so much concentrated time thinking about the performance of gendered sexuality in queer relationships, and wow, I have been missing out on some much better thoughts!

Like, Q: Does gender performance ever feel sexy to me, not just hostile? Under what circumstances? A: Yes, but generally only so long as a) the performance is fluid, eg. you’re the boy, I’m the girl, now you’re the girl, now we’re both boys, and b) power, however gendered, doesn’t rest in one place for too long. Gender is fun to play with as long as it feels like playing, where the heteronormative script is really only referenced insofar as it’s being subverted, shredded up by contact with a reality that unequivocally de-legitimizes it.

Like, Q: how much better would my life be if I approached sexual relationships from a place of radical honesty and expected the same from my partners? A: PROBABLY A LOT.

Like, Q: how do I make space in my life to form romantic-sexual relationships with people who aren’t cishet dudes? A: idk bitch, but you’re apparently a pro at lifestyle changes! Keep going to queer events, keep reading, keep processing. I believe in you.

This is a cute fire safety map at the Lesbian Herstory Archives, which I visited for the first time on a very wet snowy day in November. The archives had been mentioned frequently in The Persistent Desire and I was so excited to find that they were still around (44 years!), located in Brooklyn, and having an annual book sale.

Depression, denial, and death.

At one point this year I remember having an entirely normal hang out with my sister and partner in our Bed-Stuy apartment. I turned to the both of them and said, “You know, I think I might be real sad. I think I might depressed.” I wasn’t worried when I said it, though I do remember the words feeling strange. My sister and my partner of 7 years looked at each other, something like ‘Uh, do you want to take this one?’ or ‘Does she really not know?’ and eventually someone said, “Yeah, Nicole, that sounds right.”

If you had told me last year that I’d be spending so much time with Freud and Camus I would have rolled my eyes very, very exaggeratedly.

The most frightening thing about mental unwellness, imo, is that a good personal quality which is otherwise healthy and worth cherishing can become catastrophically distorted. So, say, an extremely deep capacity for enduring pain and discomfort, especially in service of others, becomes proving your worth by how much you’re willing to suffer, how much energy you’re willing to give away without expecting reciprocation. Worse still, let’s say, is being trapped in a cycle of denial about your own nature.

Denial takes lazy, irrational, harmful patterns of thought and elevates them to Gospel. You can’t be a generous and giving person because you can so clearly recall all the moments when you could have given more. You can’t be getting taken advantage of because you obviously would not abide exploitation in your presence. A friend wouldn’t repeatedly use you, to your loss and their gain, so that’s impossible by definition. If what you’re doing was really that painful and exhausting, you would have stopped already. _If you were depressed, you’d know it._8

I took this photo in Austin on a night when I was feeling decidedly not good at all. In fact, I was feeling so not good and so ashamed of not feeling good that I went out and bought The Myth of Sisyphus.

Last month the opiate epidemic rose up and swallowed my estranged uncle. Though we weren’t personally close, I’d spent my childhood within a ten minute walk from his house and had lots of memories of him. Death leaves a vacuum, always. It’s also an effective invitation to re-examine your life and the people in it. My uncle was provided with endless love and support from his family - and yet. Self-delusion sure is captivating.9

This was a year where I decided that I valued truth over self-delusion, and more importantly, a year where I affirmed that decision with concerted effort. It is extraordinarily challenging to reckon with the blind-spots in your perception of reality, especially whenever those blind-spots were constructed By You to cope with past pain and avoid it again in the future. Maybe everyone doesn’t need to do this? Maybe most people live comfortably with the given state of their ego? But internal delusions are a barrier to conscious clarity, and to the extent that living consciously feels the most like Actually Living and not Waiting To Die, I am determined to clean that shit up.

Lessons, imperatives!

So it’s late afternoon on Dec 31st and if this is going to be a 2017 recap, I’m really coming down to the wire. Here are the most important lessons I learned this year.

I luv this demon, because they sure got the right idea. ❤️🖤 

AESTHETICS MATTER.

I’ve often caught myself feeling bad for identifying with a community or culture that I didn’t feel like I’d “earned” my place at yet. This happened with biking, it happened with programming, it happened in queer spaces. imo, the best way to handle impostor syndrome is to kill it where it sleeps. I sure am! I am a devious impostor! Let’s see how far I can get before someone reveals me, exiles me! Turns out you can get all the way to Being The Thing, especially if your intentions are true. Your attraction to the thing is the first signal of your belonging, so get busy belonging!

LOVE THYSELF, AND GET GOOD AT IT.

Most of the psychological friction I’ve come up against in my search for The Truth Please has been caused by a very stubborn refusal to see and accurately assess my own self-worth. Very classic, very boring. I have only just begun to internalize what it might mean to love myself, to care for myself with even a little of the generosity and kindness and specificity that I happily devote to other people. The psychic backbending I’ve had to do to accomplish this goes something like, what if we loved ourselves the way we wished someone else would, like, idk, as a joke or something? Wouldn’t that be funny, at least? 🙃

That worked pretty well, but when it didn’t, I used brute willpower: hating yourself is a coward’s game, and whatever I may be able to lie to myself about, I will not pretend that I’m a coward.

Ultimately, though, the best way to learn how to love yourself is to watch how your friends do it and to actively resist the urge to interrupt them.

SPEAK, BITCH 🗯

Earlier this year I was walking with a friend, and I was very ashamed of myself when I told her I was thinking about writing something. I immediately walked it back, waffled, recoiled from myself. She was bewildered. “You should! I feel like you have things to say!” My reaction to this was sharp, panicked fear.

Because she was right. Because self-articulation and knowledge-sharing are fundamental human endeavors and if I think I’m somehow exempt from that, that I somehow uniquely Haven’t Got Anything Worth Saying, then that is delusion. Because if the real thing holding me back is a fear that my skill won’t measure up to the things I want to express, then the brave and honest thing to do is to try anyway.

So when I went to Recurse Center, I started this blog. I named it Because Its Important just so that every time I started doubting myself and asking “Why oh why am I doing this?” I would have the answer right there. 🐙

👋 Thank you for reading! Here is a silly-glasses bathroom selfie.

I read Donna Haraway’s CYBORG MANIFESTO for an outdoor discussion group at Unnameable books this summer. It is so amazing. I could only barely keep pace with it and I can’t wait to read it again after some time. ↩︎

I consistently arrived late, but bearing coffee by way of apology. ☕️🙏 ↩︎

I read Theatre of the Unimpressed, a book recommended to me by a friend after we saw an indie play earlier this year. The book talks a lot about what makes theater captivating, about the necessity of the possibility of failure, about the tendency for people to see see one boring-ass play and decide that they Just Aren’t Into Theater. The play we saw together wasn’t memorable, save for the fact that it was performed in a loft that hosts semi-regular makeout parties, which I’ve attended on half a dozen occasions. They are largely terrible. ↩︎

In one of the scenes Vaysha is courted by suitors, but they appear as child in one eye and an old man in the other. Fucking chilling. ↩︎

I remember a conversation earlier this year where a guy said that he “couldn’t imagine what it takes” to ride a heavy Citibike over a bridge in NYC. “Willpower, mostly” I replied. He ignored me, repeated himself: “Gee, but I just don’t get it!” If someone doesn’t want to understand, they don’t want to understand. ↩︎

You can buy one here. ↩︎

In fact, a taboo ain’t even a taboo if it can’t be transgressed! ↩︎

A possibly less upsetting example of a denial! In September I was walking to brunch with my sister and her boyfriend the morning after a party at my bff's apartment. "Nicole, you really brought the party!" He said to me. My immediate emotional response was anger at how 100% wrong he was. The night before I had brought glowsticks, mini shark toys, and a Gingerhead House kit to the party. I was going to a party that night for which I'd purchased a tank of helium and large tropical balloons. But my desire to argue, my certainty that He Had Erred was complete. I've very rarely experienced moments where my subjective experience is so strongly misaligned with objective reality, but now that I'm in the business of noticing this crap, it happens pretty regularly whenever anyone says anything nice about me, to me. ↩︎

Drugs, too. ↩︎

[rottenwoodandwiltedsunflowers]

Thoughts from a Waffle (9-12)

So I find it hard these days to type out a long play by play type of recap of my shows like I used to. We have a baby (well, I guess a toddler) and if any of you have kids or know people with kids, you know they tend to ruin your life. They are the best and the worst at the same time. So needless to say I love my child more than anything (except my cat...sorry baby cat was here first and he is WAY less of a jerk on a daily basis) but you can’t have anything nice with a baby including hobbies or trips to NYC for Manderley time or blogs that get updated with any sense of regularity. The only reason I am able to type this right now is that I am sitting in an Air B&B in Dumbo while my baby is enjoying a few days with the grandparents. So as much as I love looking back at my old recaps and remembering past shows, I just don’t have the time to write them anymore. Life evolves and so must my recaps. I have however been missing documenting my check-ins for my own memory so I am going to TRY to do these more abbreviated thoughts on my shows type posts. We will see!

EDIT: For your news feed’s sanity, I am going to insert a break here because I am apparently incapable of writing a short bulleted recap but there are not 1:1 spoilers, as per usual, in my recaps.

Last night Kae and I wrapped up show 2 of 3 for this trip. I am just going to talk about what I saw that I liked or that struck me from the shows starting with Tuesday 9-12. 

I am fairly sure I deserve a cookie or something of that nature for correctly identifying cast members the last 2 nights. HOLY CRAP THERE ARE SO MANY NEW CAST MEMBERS! We have only been a handful of times this year so I feel like I am still trying to get a grip on the new-as-of-last-cyle cast. To be fair, I spent a lot of time creepily but respectfully studying faces in the cast gallery last week.

Tuesday night the entrance to the show was a bit late but apparently, the show was also running a bit late because we ran down and the witches were just hugging pre-ballroom. I saw Ryan VanCompernolle’s sexy witch and all thoughts of new faces went flying out the window.

Ryan is infectiously fun to watch. This is not an opinion, it is a fact. Her dancing is beautiful and her characters are distinct and interesting. She makes great choices. On the technical side of things, I think she is one of the most impressive women in the McKittrick. She has been with the show longer than we have been going and it shows. She is one of the most versatile swings so it is always fun to see where she lands on the cast. She knows plays every role except Lady Macbeth and Hecate but unlike some cast members who retire their characters and move on to new roles, she plays them all occasionally. I don’t know how she remembers so much show content and manages to perform it so well.

I will almost always choose a loop with Ryan because we just have so much damn fun together. Aside from her beautiful dancing, she keeps me on my toes. I knew that it would be a great way to kick off a 3 show run and I wasn’t disappointed. I found myself smiling under my mask at so many moments.

There was a moment at the end of the sexy witch 1:1 where we were standing in the dark and she leaned in and whispered in my ear “Welcome back.” It was a moment that really pulled at my heart. It was a gentle reminder of what this building means to me (and so many other fans) who frequent it during times in their life of celebration or heartache. It was a reminder that there are breathtaking stories and art inside the McKittrick but also a sense of community.

I have to go on a little rant about just how good the witch trio was on Tuesday night. Ryan, Daniel, and Krista were perfect. The chemistry was off the charts. I have said before that other witch trios were great but to get to the level that they were on with Daniel in a relatively new role and Krista being a new cast member was astonishing. I think I said this recently about the Steph C, Emily, and Tyler trio but Tuesday's trio was better. I watched the rave 2x and it was scandalizing. I have seen this show 70+ times. I was scandalized. 

Daniel is a great boy witch. To be fair, he hasn’t been on my radar much in the past but I never really follow Banquo or Macbeth so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. He rocks the boy witch guyliner and embodies the spirit of boy witch. His audience interactions were great. Bravo! 

Krista is a great bald witch. Kae followed her more than I did but if you are a bald witch lover, you are in for a treat this cycle. I saw both Krista and Molly the past 2 nights and hold onto your horses because bald witch is stronger than ever. Nothing to be disappointed or worried about this cast change over. Also, just in case you keep score- there are 3 bald bald witches in rotation so hallelujah!

These witches were driving the McKittrick sex appeal through the roof in their portrayals! Whether it was bald and boy messing around or bald and sexy’s long embrace in the ballroom pre-reset, it was all fun and sexy.

At the end of Ryan’s sexy witch bar top solo, she dropped to the floor and reached up for my hand. Standard interaction- sexy witch grabs your hand looking crushed as Hecate rips her away, tells her to buck up, and sends her on her way. Ryan grabs my hand and forcibly yanks me into THE MIDDLE OF THE SCENE. Needless to say, I felt immediately panicked inside standing next to her, next to the bar, in front of all of the other white masks, feeling like I definitely did something I shouldn’t have. That mask was useless because I felt totally exposed and like a kid with their hand in the cookie jar. Did I mention Ryan likes to keep me on my toes? Mission accomplished. 

Tori’s Hecate forcibly removed out hands and stared me down. There aren’t many things that scare me in the show these days but I am more than willing to admit that Tori’s Hecate does. She continued to stare me down as she fixed sexy witches dress and ended the scene. Needless to say, I bolted out of there.

I did inevitably loop back around to Tori’s Hecate later in that show. I walked into the rep bar as she was finishing a reset of her table. I was about 2 steps inside and no one else was in sight. She was by the bar in front of the blue light and I saw her turn around and very quickly make a beeline toward me. She grabbed my hand, dragged me into the hall, and very forcefully tossed/pinned me against the wall. Once again, I am not easily shaken inside the hotel but Tori makes me real nervous. She told me a terrifying story about witches and the perils of sailing. 

It is always a bit vulnerable when a performer removes your mask but it is downright terrifying when it is literally aggressively snatched off of your face by Hecate. 

Brace yourselves for the shocker I’m about to lay out...I visited the Matron’s hut. I love a Matron who engages in storytelling using their eyes and Chelsey is great. Very inviting and warm but it is her eyes that make her 1:1 great. There is a very precise moment in the story where her eyes shift from hope to despair and the shift is stark and amazing.

Tori’s lip sync. I don’t really need to say more.

The last thing about my first show that really stuck out as fantastic was Molly Griffin. I love me a good nurse character and I am really liking Molly’s vibe on the character. 

I watched her fold some laundry and lay it out in the room with the beds. This is one of the standard nurse activities that can be very boring to watch for long periods of time and can get repetitive. I watched Molly lay out pajamas on 3 different beds and she laid them out all very differently. You could see her nurse carefully thinking through each one like it was of the utmost importance. The first one she laid out so it was laying down, one leg slightly bent, with their arms up next to their head. The next one, she turned down the bed laying the shirt out before pulling the sheet back up to give the illusion the person was tucked in. She then took the pants, folding them with great precision, and made them into a small rectangle. The nurse then tucked the rectangle into the top of the shirt to make a head for this imaginary patient. It was VERY clever! The third person she laid out straight with their arms crossed at the wrists at their waist. 

She went into the operating theater and ran her hand around the walls until she reached the upper back corner of the room. She faced the corner with her back to the audience and basically had a breakdown in the corner before quickly composing herself and rushing off as though she had suddenly remembered somewhere she had to be. I am very interested to see how her nurse character develops!

At the end of the show, I went back to find sexy witch. Sometimes when I full loop a character for the first loop (ballroom to ballroom) I find it fitting and cathartic to end the show with that character. It is a nice cycle to my show. Also, I adore Ryan! At the end of the finale, Ryan spotted me and we went running back to the Manderley all smiles! 

[lesdowntown]

Feeling the color scheme on this set. Dark blue against sky blue combining it all with grey to seal it on in. Honestly I prefer trousers without belt loop holes for a seamless look, also to showcase that it's a perfect fit, and no need for any assistance in making the fit...actually fit, however a bad ass belt as an accessory to showcase a specific color gets a pass. _______________________________________ Silky button downs make me wanna slide.... • • • • • #genderfluidity #androgynousstyle #tomboyfashion #mensfashionforwomen #successfulwomen #tomboyswag #tomboi #lgbtstyle #queerfashion #softbutch #goaldigger #womenbusiness #hustledaily #loveislove #lovewins #fashionbloggerstyle #redcarpetfashion #redcarpetready #vouge #harpersbazaar #lgbtfashiondesigner #genderisover #twomoms #pride #bespokesuits (at The Shops at 145 Front Street, Dumbo) https://www.instagram.com/lesdowntown/p/BwrlVBMpgW-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jjkul1seoj3u

[parkspring4-blog]

Sports Events in New York City This Weekend - February 15-February 17 - City Guide NY

Photo: m01229/Flickr 

NYC is home to the Knicks, the Yankees, the Jets, the Rangers, the Mets, the Nets, and the Islanders, so you can bet that there are sporting events happening in the city no matter the season. (There's also soccer, minor league baseball, marathons, and all kinds of college teams.) Find out what sports events in New York City are happening this weekend on City Guide's roundup and then snag some tickets for a game you'll never forget.

New York Islanders vs. Edmonton Oilers - Barclays Center February 16, 2019 - Brooklyn

Parm, an acclaimed casual Italian restaurant, is the perfect place to start your Barclays Center experience. Make your dinner reservation for Parm by calling 917.618.6340 or online through RESERVE. For information on individual suites, please call 718.BK.SUITE. LIRR TRAIN TIME APP Download the LIRR Train Time app to get real-time information. Pick your station, check a countdown to your train's arrival and easily search for your destination. Basic train information is available even without cellular service. Download the Metro-North App LIRR SCHEDULE Plan your trip to Barclays Center with a quick search of the schedule online. View Schedule LIRR SCHEDULE UPDATES Before you leave Barclays Center, check our screens in the arena's main concourse for the latest information on LIRR schedules and service alerts. LIRR EXPANDED SERVICE The Long Island Rail Road has enhanced service to make Islanders games in Brooklyn easily accessible for fans from Long Island. View Details For hotel information, please visit New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. For special rates, check "corporate/promotional code" and then enter W85.

St. John's Red Storm Men's Basketball vs. Villanova Wildcats Men's Basketball - Madison Square Garden February 17, 2019 - New York

St. John's University will continue its Big East schedule as the Red Storm take on the reigning National Champions Villanova Wildcats.

DO It All with Jane DO at Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park - Bryant Park Through February 26, 2019 - New York

This total body workout fuses artistry and athleticism to lift your booty and your spirit. Strength training is coupled with high and low impact cardio elements to foster the most powerful version of yourself. Free and no experience is required! Taught by instructors from Jane DO, a studio that empowers women to find their strength through fitness so they can DO what others don't - own a business meeting, rock a date, cross the next finish line. Details: Class takes place in Overlook, located on the second floor of the Skating Pavilion. The designated entrance for class participants is on the 40th Street side of the building, across from Le Carrousel. Register on Eventbrite, and bring your registration confirmation to enter. Please allow extra time so that you can get into the Pavilion. The waitlist will open 5 minutes before class starts. Any unclaimed spots will be turned over to waitlisted participants at that time.

A Whole Different Ball Game: Playing through 60 Years of Sports Video Games - Museum of the Moving Image Through March 10, 2019 - Astoria

Tennis for Two was the world's first video game. When it debuted at the Brookhaven National Laboratory's public exhibition in 1958, its goals and actions were familiar to visitors because it simulated a sport they already understood. Though rudimentary, the ball and net depicted on an oscilloscope were enough to intuit a game of tennis. Yet the experience of playing Tennis for Two was completely different from playing an actual tennis match. Tennis for Two did not directly influence the video game industry, but it marks the beginning of a long relationship between sports and video games. A Whole Different Ball Game presents a selection of more than 40 playable sports video games spanning the last six decades, examining the complex relationships between game, sport, media, and culture. Despite the widespread prevalence of video games today, sports are still the games that Americans most regularly encounter, whether on television, via apparel and other consumer goods, or through play, including organized leagues and pickup games. Video game developers leverage this familiarity by producing some of the highest grossing titles on the market. The most lucrative professional sports le... (read more)

Manhattan & Central Park Bike Tour - Brooklyn Giro Bike Tours Through December 30, 2020 - New York

No other bike tour of Manhattan covers this much ground! In fact, one could argue that this scenic cycling excursion is the most fully-loaded tour of Manhattan, full stop! On a bike, you’ll see everything—every nook and cranny that you couldn’t access by any other means. You’ll also see all the greatest hits: the Brooklyn Bridge, The Manhattan Bridge, Lady Liberty and all the postcard architecture recognized the world over. But for many, the star of this Manhattan bike tour is the nearly 6-mile loop you take through Central Park. This stretch of the Manhattan adventure is a complete sightseeing tour unto itself! Take a 4-hour Manhattan bike tour, including an extensive Central Park bike ride! Start off in Lower Manhattan under the Manhattan Bridge. Travel along the East River and appreciate the perfect views of the Brooklyn Bridge! Head into Southport Seaport and make your way to Battery Park. Here, you’ll have amazing photo opportunities of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island! Continue along the Hudson River Greenway with scenery that includes Chelsea Piers, the Meatpacking District, Highland Park and more!Explore the Upper West Side, home to Julliard, the Lincoln C... (read more)

Brooklyn Bike Tour - Brooklyn Giro Bike Tours Through December 30, 2020 - Brooklyn

Of all the different tours of Brooklyn out there, the ones that always best capture the pace of the borough are on bike! With its countless stops and signature attractions, this Brooklyn Bike tour is an epic excursion that gives you and your family a real insider’s look at the borough. Pedal your way through DUMBO, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Prospect Park and more! Take a 3-hour guided Brooklyn Bike tour! Hop on your lightweight hybrid bike at DUMBO, right by the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. Visit the Brooklyn Navy Yard then continue to South Williamsburg. Appreciate the stunning street art and colorful shops. Next, pedal your way from Fort Green Park to Barclays Center. Marvel at all the historic buildings en route. Ride through Prospect Part and head to Red Hook. Make stops at local distilleries, chocolatiers and bakeries. Even more historical architecture awaits at Brooklyn Heights! Lastly, travel back to DUMBO and into Brooklyn Bridge Park for a post-cycling snack! Few other New York City bike tours offer an experience as culturally rich and diverse as this one! Pedaling through New York’s most colorful neighborhoods gives you time to see everything up close in a... (read more)

Source: https://www.cityguideny.com/article/Sports-Events-in-New-York-City-This-Weekend-February-15-February-17

[spilledreality]

lil j

Little Jenny Humphrey: born to an ex-rocker dad, slumming it in a spacious loft in Dumbo, attending Constance Billiard on scholarship. She longs for the lives of her Upper East Side classmates, who have private drivers and alternate summers between Tuscany and Sagaponack. Her daily focus is allocated to fitting in, the attempt to convert an idolization of top-girl Blair Waldorf into a spot among her acolytes: interning at Blair’s mother’s design company, suffering through slumber-party hazing rituals, forays into painting and modeling, art and fashion. Her father, Rufus (like Wainwright) tells her she’s ‘losing herself’.

1.

The bookshop had closed early, citing an impending launch party for a chapbook published by one of the city’s most promising young poets, and we had left to walk westward in the day’s lingering warmth, first looping through the parts of the Village occupied chiefly by New York University students, then towards the Lower East Side proper. 

I was talking about Jenny Humphrey, about how at some point she gains the confidence to break free of the prep school’s symbolic order, mobilize the rules of the game when they benefit her and ignoring them when they get in her way. She stages a guerrilla fashion show at a benefit event honoring her classmate’s father, crashing the proceedings to grab publicity for her passion project and convert it into a ploy for investors. It works.

In part, she’s given up a smaller game—approval and acceptance among old money New Yorkers—to play a much larger game—making a mark on the world. By scaling up, the old rules have stopped feeling like hard-coded laws of physics.

A similar thing happens to people who grow up moving between cultures: they always seem like the ones best able to game their social world. You pass from one set of ground rules to another, from one hierarchy to the next. The object-level rules start looking like guidelines, fade from sensory foreground to background; in a sense, they hardly matter. Mere details of execution, they, when the recognition of a system, and its contingency—its constructedness, the squish of its rules—that matter most. 

2.

First, the umbilical cord severs; the access arms retract, swinging out of harm’s way. Water rushes forth from “rain birds,” pouring onto the pad to prevent damage from ignition.

The booster exhaust starts translucent red, then blue, then finally white from increasing heat. The propellant reaches upward of 6,000 degrees, hot enough to convert sand to glass.

Some rockets are bound for lifelong orbits, steadily passing weather and geolocation data back to Earth. Others continue onward; the propulsion systems which provided their initial thrust, got them first free of the ground and then the atmosphere, will be discarded, secondary systems kicking in to continue travel beyond the planet’s gravity.

What changed? Was it the “fantasies and imaginings” about herself, the identity as hyperprior which shapes decisions and dreams?

We were talking about Myers-Briggs, I was citing the impossibility of summing up, with any precision, elements of personality—going from how you’d behave in a specific situation, to who you “are” in vacuum. “The questions are like, ‘Do you prefer staying in or going out?’ Well, if I like the people and I have the energy that night, I’ll go out. If I don’t like the people, or I’m tired from work I won’t. Or they’ll ask, ‘In discussions, do you care more about the truth, or keeping the peace?’ If it’s a situation where there are real stakes for a wrong belief, it’s probably worth risking social friction, otherwise not. So inevitably I end up checking the middle option on each question, ‘Unsure’ or ‘Neutral.’”

੪ was standing in the park next to a dogwood. “I feel like I know exactly where I am on a bell curve: I don’t like going out, circa fifth percentile.” We were interrupted; you had to take a call.

We were discussing identity in general. Is it even coherent to ask who you “are” in a vacuum, Ф asked. ੪ drew a line between the Robin Hanson take on the unconscious as mostly socially motivated, and on the other side the psychoanalytic as filled with individual memories, trauma, desire. Ф said, only half relatedly, “It feels like most identity-framings of questions end up obfuscating instead of clarifying the situation. ‘Am I a wife, a mother, or a writer?’ is a nonsense question, but ‘What are my priorities between my partner, my children, and my work?’ could get you somewhere—at the very least, away from dichotomous, quasi-essentializing thinking and into a pragmatic balancing of limited time and personal preference.” 

[nycneighborhoodchallenge]

DUMBO Fitness Loop

Organization: DUMBO Improvement District

Grant Amount: $50,000

Year: 2

Neighborhood: DUMBO

Borough: Brooklyn

The Challenge:

Blighted and underutilized city parks in and around DUMBO’s borders cut off the neighborhood from adjacent communities, constrain entrepreneurial growth, and create unwelcoming entrances to the district. Furthermore, with a variety of capital construction projects taking place in DUMBO’s streets, plazas, and parks, the district’s need for increased recreational spaces will be amplified over the coming years.

The Big Idea:

To connect the neighborhood to adjacent communities, the DUMBO Improvement District will create “DUMBO Circuit” – a series of fitness stations and creative interventions that would become a free outdoor gym and fitness circuit. Designs selected through a competitive process would beautify and activate the neighborhood’s underutilized parks and public spaces below and around the BQE. DUMBO Circuit aimed to promote local public health, inspire long-term investment in these parks, and advance the Brooklyn Tech Triangle initiative by improving the connection between DUMBO and Downtown Brooklyn.

The Progress:

Activating underutilized and blighted spaces within Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood, the DUMBO Fitness Loop (formally known as the DUMBO Circuit) will officially launch in spring 2016. The free neighborhood amenity will empower DUMBO residents and visitors to maximize their workout via ground painted fitness installations located throughout underused spaces in three of the area’s parks. With eye-popping designs and detailed suggestions for users, the DUMBO Fitness Loop aims to inspire healthy outdoor exercise habits while also catalyzing much-needed capital investment in the neighborhood.

Quote:

“We are thrilled with the outcome of our Neighborhood Challenge. We have given new life to dingy park spaces and got the whole community talking about their potential. It was a wonderful opportunity to work with a local design company, Hush, and really add something bold to our neighborhood. Without the Neighborhood Challenge program, we wouldn't have even been able to dream in this direction.” – Alexandria Sica, Executive Director

Press:

DUMBO Park Gets a New Life | Brownstoner

DUMBO’s Bridge Parks 1, 2, and 3 To Become Part of Fitness Loop | Brooklyn Paper

One-Mile 'Urban Fitness Trail' Coming to DUMBO | DNAinfo

DUMBO Outdoor Fitness Loop In The Works | Gothamist

DUMBO beefing up for summer with plans for an outdoor gym | New York Daily News