#Donut Friar

[suitelifeoftravel]

The Village in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

One of my favorite places to visit in Gatlinburg is The Village, especially at dusk. Resembling a charming, European town out of a Grimm’s Fairytale, the collection of shops is perfect for picking up last minute souvenirs or enjoying an ice cream before turning in for the night. Strolling the cobblestone streets under twinkling lights, we explored the 27 shops within the miniature town.  Some of…

[thewestern]

Chapter 19:2

Whereas in many respects the Phish business plan — or lack thereof — was built to spec on the Grateful Dead’s blueprint, there is one major exception wherein the student became the master. That is Music Festivals, a space in which Phish was a trailblazer. Their jam-flow elders, meanwhile, never quite found their footing with the festival format. But how can this be? After all, the Grateful Dead played the granddaddy of them all — we’re talking about Woodstock here. Well, their by-all-accounts-forgettable set opened with one of the band members electrocuting himself with his guitar. What had happend was, Bear Stanley thought the festival PA system was some amateurish bullshit, so he spent Soundcheck doing some on-the-fly fiddling with the wiring on the amplifiers. And then it started raining. Playing the first few bars of the opening song — a rare Saint Stephen, and perhaps now we know why — Bobby recalled feeling a distinct tingling sensation, right before his rig blew him ten feet back across the fucking stage. 

So Woodstock could have gone better, but the boys remained steadfast. Beside, everybody knows the Grateful Dead are a California band. Which is to say these East Coast cats weren’t yet hip to their jive. Naturally, then the question became: what if there were a Woodstock West? Enter: Altamont. 

Not much to relitigate, really. Hippie speed freak charges the stage, brandishing a .38 Special. Beer-drunk biker fascist dude stabs him three times in the back. Party’s over. 

(It was always Jerry who had the hard-on for those wannabe outlaw assholes. Nobody else in the family wanted them around, picking fights with the men, and copping feels from the women. Not to mention the work they could do on a backstage buffet. But, hey, Garcia insisted, and this was his rodeo. To him, the whole wave they were riding at that time was about Freedom, with a capital fucking f. And they, The Angels, were Freedom Personified, he said. Whatever the hell that means.)

The licensing agreement between Saints Sixtus and Bernardus expired in the early nineties. Both parties would probably have been pleased to extend their symbiotic business arrangement, were it not for those tight asses at the Brotherhood of Holy Brewers. Around that time they were creating an unofficially official industry standard for designating authentic Trappist breweries, as opposed to plain old abbey breweries. It heretofore mandated that all monastic brewing take place in an accredited monastery, to be performed by gen-u-ine monks. So the free ride to total consciousness was over for the everly pious brothers of Saint Sixtus, just as the gravy train had reached its final destination for the contract brewers at Saint Bernardus. Though there were no hard feelings between them. For a fact, Saint Bernardus was allowed to keep the recipes and the famous Sixtus yeast strain, just so long as they gave back the Westvleteren Brewery brand name. They were even allowed to keep the picture of the monk on the bottle. Although they had to take off his little yarmulke and his special tunic. Still looked like any other monk you ever did see. Brown-robed, donut-headed, Friar Tuck-looking mother fucker. On the Christmas Ale label he’s got a little Santa hat to cover up his bald spot. 

Mayor Mockingbird (cat) didn’t show much enthusiasm for anything apart from licking himself and torture killing the odd rodent. Brewing, certainly, the kitten did not much care for it. Whenever the hoses turned on, he took off. But, for some reason, that cycloptic little feline loved the forklift. He’d hear it beeping and coming running. Hop on Grace’s lap and lean his little paws up on the steering wheel — Seven and Five. The way Wilhelm II would let Hildy drive on his lap around the dirt roads down on the ranch. Her kid brother Ernie rode shotgun. He was still too small to see over the dash, but he cherished the memory always, as if someday it was still going to be his turn. Hildegard hadn’t thought about it in years. For a fact, she had almost no memory of her father. Not as he lived. Grace, never the sentimentalist herself, nonetheless thought this to be the cutest possible violation of occupational health and safety protocol. She even wanted to get Larry Cat his own little yellow hard hat.  

Here’s a thesis: from Amy’s Farm to Big Cypress, Phish pioneered the modern music festival. 

But … somewhere in between, was the beginning of the end. He was called Clifford Ball. 

Pleased to meet you  

Hope you guessed my name

It all started out with the best of intentions, like these things so often do. They were going to Build Something, (Gestures) Out There. Plattsburgh, New York, specifically, would be the place. A short hop and a skip across Lake Champlain from Burlington, their beloved Vermont home. The venue, such as it was: a decommissioned Air Force base. Back in its heyday, about eighteen months before the Altamont Free Festival, a B-52 bomber had took off from right there, on a Hard Head mission, part of Operation Chrome Dome. (Again, what pervert is naming all this stuff?) Before it could reach the edge of Soviet airspace, where it would maintain a perimeter of first-strike capability, a cabin fire sent this Stratofortress into a tailspin, corkscrewing into the icy depths off the coast of Greenland and dumping its ruptured payload of four thermonuclear bombs into the North Star Bay. Anyway, that was thirty fucking years ago. There hasn’t been a Broken Arrow incident since, not counting that shit sandwich in Damascus. (Arkansas, not Syria.) By now the Cold War was ancient history. We were ramping down our strategic defenses. And did anybody think about what effect that would have on the fine people of Plattsburgh? No they did not. Because it would take another thirty years to recover the economic loss wrought by the base closure, per the official estimate of the Clinton County comptroller. But then along comes these four hippie goofballs from across the lake. And damn if they don’t make up the deficit fivefold in a fucking weekend. Seventy thousand concertgoers descend, sextupling the local population. They build their own popup city, complete with campgrounds, food vendors, a town square, provocative art installations, free parking as far as the eye could see and two thousand port-a-toilets. There’s a Clifford Ball Chapel, where two wooks have a tie-dye wedding. No amount of Internet research can confirm whether they’re still married, but you can still watch the ceremony online. The first comment reads: My first Son was conceived at the Clifford Ball. Good times. Quite. Come to think of it, everybody knows how four kids died at Altamont Speedway. (The aforementioned fatal stabbing, plus two victims of a hit-and-run, as well as an LSD-induced drowning in an irrigation ditch, makes four.) However, according to the American Red Cross there were also four babies born that day at the festival. So in terms of net life lost, it was a wash.   

The Mick was doing paperwork — POs on the HIHA. He didn’t get to ride the forklift so much anymore, what with all this desk job bullshit, come fallen into his lap. Managing the accounts as they fluttered away like leaves with the changing of the seasons. Considerable fewer stops for Skip, the Newfy’s longtime delivery driver. He was getting up there, though. Probably for the best. Topher SKIP Engel had used to be Hank’s mailman, as well as he was his weed dealer. How about that for convenience? Door-to-door service, before that was the expectation. Nowadays you can get blood or semen — whatever your pleasure — delivered same-day. Anyhow Skip would have held out for that sweet postal service pension were it not for President Pudding-For-Brains implementing mandatory drug screening for all federal employees. Clean piss was much harder to come by back then in the late eighties, so urinalyses were a non-starter. (By the mid-nineties, pee was everywhere. Yellow piss, clear piss, pregnant piss. All kinds.) To hell with it. He had his pastoral ideal of the postman — Charlie Utter, Cliff Calvin, Karl Malone. The old Pony Express. Whatever he was now, it wasn’t that. Not even in the same zip code. By then hardly all they were delivering by the U.S. mail was out-and-out junk. Scams for cash sweepstakes you didn’t stand a snowball’s chance in heck of winning. Catalogs for crap you couldn’t afford unless by some miracle you did. He didn’t want to be a party to the demise of such a storied public institution anyhow.

Well, so it goes how one door closes. Because it just so happened that the Newfy were outgrowing Mary Ellen Moffett’s station wagon, what with the exponential growth of the Distribution Co-op. So Hank made the capital expenditure investment of a new delivery vehicle. And dammit if he didn’t buy a Grumman LLV — a mother fucking mail truck for all you laymen. Not Skip’s old rig, per say, but one just like it. Naturally Hank offered his old buddy the gig driving it, on the condition that he continue to sell to him on the side from his private stash; in addition to being a distributor and retailer of cannabis products, Skip was himself a manufacturer. This in his capacity as a pharmaceutical botanist, which was the term he preferred. After some terse negotiation, Skip accepted. He’d been zig-zagging the state in that POS ever since. (It was a POS, but Hank had his reasons for buying it. Two of them. First: it should come as no surprise that they’re fucking indestructible as a Sherman tank, which is how come they so rarely appear on the auction block. Therefore, if they do go up for sale, you basically have no choice but to buy it. Also, of all commercial vehicles, the mail truck bears the closest passing resemblance to the Space Shuttle, with the sort of snub nose. Hank’d since come around on the whole astronaut thing. The Mick hand painted their ripoff of the NASA insignia with the letters NEWFY swapped in that outer-spacey, red font.)  Though he wasn’t a prideful sort, Skip would go on to take immense personal satisfaction in crossing the CDL million-miler rubicon. Even though he would’ve never said so to his colleagues, they all knew how much it meant to him, so there was a little ceremony for him at the bar. Hank hand-made him a medal (a gold medal), and hung it around his neck like Chewbacca. Skip affixed it onto the rearview mirror. The Mick even brewed a commemorative beer to mark the occasion. Two Trips to the Moon and Back. A Belgian-style dubbel. (For those of you wondering, should a prolific grower and smoker of Marijuana have a job driving six thousand pounds of sin up and down the highway … grow up. Skip had the reflexes and the hands-free hygiene routine of a cat. That’s why they called him Whiskers.) Per the American beer writer Jeff Alworth in his reference tome, The Beer Bible (Workman, 2015), the Westvleteren beers brewed at Saint Sixtus remain undoubtedly the most coveted in the world. This is because they refuse to scale their operation to meet demand. There are only two places to get Westvleteren beer — by the glass at the lovely monastery cafe, or by the crate on the loading dock. (Limit one per customer for the latter. No telling if you’ll see a monk driving a forklift. Flowing robes and open-toed shoes would constitute an OSHA double whammy.) Saint Bernardus beers are also quite well renowned in their own right, but they’re distributed all over the world. Not that they’re necessarily easy to find. If you’re curious, best bet for copping is if your town has one of them wine and spirits warehouse superstores, where you get a full-on shopping cart, like you’re doing the supermarket sweep with plastic handles of hard liquor. They might could have Christmas Ale or Abt 12 stocked in the Imports aisle. That, or if there’s a fancy liquor store in the rich neighborhood with the good schools, where the guy behind the register has a goatee and knows about what natural wines pair best with which gamey meats. Just ask him. Never mind. He’ll come out an tell you. Unsolicited. There he is behind you. 

Those bougie-ass Bottle Shops, as they’re so called, were always Hank’s bread and butter. Bar accounts were always the harder nut to crack. (First rule of beer distribution: there’s a lot more shelf space than there are bar taps. Allocate your time accordingly.) He’d ride all over with a handheld cooler that he rigged up with a miniature tap, pouring little sampler glasses in tiny red plastic cups abot the size of shot glasses. If they liked the merchandise and the price was right, Skip would step in to fulfill the order. Used to be when the limited edition SKUs would come out, such as Home Invasion Holiday Ale, the most hopeless of the beer dorks — we’re talking the real sickos here — would call ahead to those fancy liquor stores to see who was getting what and when. Then word would get out on the message boards or however else those life forms communicate. Fucking, nerd telepathy. Then they’d all set up camp there, in a strip mall out front of some mom-and-pop wine and spirits store in the middle of the damn afternoon on a workday. Could be dead of winter. Didn’t matter. Was it a bit like a scavenger hunt for grown-ups? (Pokemon Go … to the polls!) Skip would see them sitting there on the curb, Indian style, and think well isn’t that the damnedest thing. They would gawk at him as he rolled the dolly by, mouths even more agape than usual. Did it make him proud to be delivering something so coveted after? No, not really. To reiterate, he wasn’t a prideful man, apart for when he was awarded that gold medal for driving that millionth mile. Fucking a, that was something. Otherwise, he’d deliver horse shit and do it happily. Just so long as it was honest work, as in the shit came direct from the horse’s ass. That, the check cleared and the truck had an AM/FM radio. 

[orangejayhawk]

Part One - Pixel and Owner's Birthday

Granddog Pixel and her owner came to visit us during Pixel's owner's birthday week!  It was great to have someone in the house besides just two empty-nesters.

On Saturday, August 20, we got another National Park visit out of the way for Pixel!  The Great Smoky National Park - the most visited national park.

We decided just to make a long day trip of it. We left Chatt early in the morning, got through Knoxville, and then to the 441 parkway to Gatlinburg. We noticed a lot of Shoney's along the way. We found parking at a PTA school - Pi Beta Phi Elementary School and took a short walk to the Village Shoppes.

This is where you find Donut Friar!

We walked around Gatlinburg after visiting a few shops in Village Shoppes. Got some cute pictures of Pixel. We picked up delicious fudge at Kilwin's Chocolates and Fudge, and tasted some wine at Little Bear Winery.

Back on the road, we headed into the Great Smoky National Park driving through Newfound Gap Road to the top and back down.

We pulled over at the main pull-over along the road at the top. We even got a picture of Pixel on the ledge.

We found a break to stretch out and look around at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Pixel sniffed around too.

Instead of taking the traditional highway route, we took the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway back to I-40. Tunnel after Tunnel on this edge of the wilderness park road. The sights were just astounding!

We stopped in Newport for a bite to eat and then drove all the way back to Chatt. It was definitely a fun day with a lot of pictures!

On Sunday the 21st, we took a nice long break!

[aiweirdness]

AI-generated donuts

If you're going to open a late-night donut shop, you're going to need a unique set of over-the-top donuts to set the proper festive atmosphere. But how to keep the ideas coming?

I decided to see what donut ideas I could get using OpenAI's GPT-3 text-generating models. I collected seven of the weirdest donuts and descriptions I could find (such as a pizza donut, or a dirt-themed donut), and presented them as a list for the AI to complete. I've drawn a few of the best donuts it added to the list.

[human illustrations of some of the ai-generated donuts below]

When I say I used "GPT-3" for this project it's hard to be exact about it, because OpenAI often updates the models. The newest GPT-3 versions (as of May 2022) actually did the worst at this task - they kept presenting me with real donuts that they'd seen during their online training, and not even particularly weird donuts. They were trying to match what was most common online, not what I was asking for. But the original early-2020 GPT-3 models were more willing to deliver the weirdness. Here are some more of my favorite results from the various models!

The biggest model, DaVinci

Violet Beauregarde - A lemon glazed donut with blue raspberry eyes and a raspberry center The Candleberry Flu - A chocolate doughnut filled inside with ganache plus a dripping candle on top that's dripping liquid sediments Brick of Yum - A glazed doughnut sandwiching American cheese, with red pepper jelly inside The Confusatron - A doughnut sliced into three layers - vanilla, coconut, and chocolate, dipped in chocolate ganache and topped with sugar pearls that look like circuit boards The Purple Stuff - Chocolate, oreo, and purple stuff sprinkled with powdered sugar

Curie, the second-largest model

Heckleberry - A strawberry donut smothered with blueberry syrup and crushed vegan Crunchies Donut of Doom - Rainbow donut filled with Frosted Flakes, black sprinkles, and sour candy The Alligator Rising - A spiral donut, frosted with chocolate and filled with a filling of chocolate hard-boiled egg and green apple slices Hell Raisin - A jelly donut with a filling of peanut butter and hot dogs Dark Crystal - A donut filled with candy corn and white chocolate chips I ♥ My Gay Ex - A rainbow Jell-O donut with white frosting, red sugar sprinkles, and pink glitter Fish N' Chips – Topped with chocolate and tangy tempura-flavoured icing

Babbage, the second-smallest model

Mr Crepe - Topped with tapioca pudding, green sprinkles Little Red Apples - Topped with pumpkin bread crumbs and small red apples Chalkista - Stationary donut with chalk dusting Horns - Cupcake gripped in both of the animal’s horns Julius Rooms - A pair of bottomless donuts Doughnut Forest - A profusion of donuts spread throughout the French Quarter Flintlock fennec - bacon, fried okra, and burnt thermochromic alcohol Baffle - cocoa powder, giraffes, and vanilla wafers

Ada, the smallest and definitely weirdest model

Bath Roll - Three donuts melted hot on one side Friar Flats - Topped with tomatoes, honey, red paint and ceramic chili caps Ponder Owls - magical, yellow-feathered donuts covered in icing with puffiness and shine By Soul - filled with firecrackers, black bean dip, red pepper syrup, and watermelon Coconut Fun - Sulphure hasn’t been wiped off, a demon cake filled with coconut cream and pistachios Blood Donut - Creamy moist donut topped with spoonfuls of delicious blood Goofy Trick - the elephant, is a clown and it's all about tossing treats into his skull Spankin’ - Other-colored donut with a frying pan in the middle

Bonus content: More of Ada's weird donuts (plus some donuts made of antimatter??)

Also you can buy the donuts on a tea towel! Along with pies, cookies, and breakfast cereals.

[jilliantravels]

The Donut Friar  //  Gatlinburg  //  Great Smoky Mountains National Park  //  Tennessee  //  USA

Fresh hot donuts in the heart of the mountains! 

[licenselesswriter]

The One Who Stayed CH21

Lucas smiled when he looked at his smartwatch in complete darkness, not only because of the date but also because of the time. He lazily uncovers himself and sits on his bed before taking a good look at the suit perfectly tailored hanging from his door. Without too much insight, he gets up and puts on his usual running shorts, only to hear a camera sound behind him - Did I wake you up, future Mrs. Friar? - he asked without looking at her.

Looking at him standing while he gets dressed, make Maya smile, not only because of how familiar that has been for the last 3 years but also because she knew that he probably knows that she was smiling - Well, today I'm getting married to the sappiest of all men, so, it's not like I had too many reasons to sleep - she replies before feeling his side of the bed sink a bit, seconds before his lips lands on her lips - Are you sure that you want to marry me? - she asks, slowly hiding her eyes from him.

Lucas smiled at her and kissed her again, this time, slowly, deeper, and way more passionate than before - I do, you? - he asks back.

- For a few years - she answers before kissing him, and almost forced him to lay back on the bed.

- Was that a bit of sappiness? - Lucas' asks before chuckling a bit and softly caress the side of Maya's face - Ok, I'm gonna go for a run, then I will stop at the Minkus tower - he says while he intertwined his fingers with her and put a kiss on her ring - You know I will be waiting for you there - he adds before she copies him and kisses the ring she gifted him.

- I hate you for infecting me with sappiness - Maya says before covering herself with the covers, making him laugh.

Lucas finishes getting ready and a few minutes later he stops in front of their room's door - I love you, see you later - he says before walking out.

- Love you too - she replies from under the covers.

  After 45 minutes of running, Lucas stops in front of a Starbucks. Once inside, he waits in line for a few minutes until it was his turn - Yes, good morning - he says to the cashier - I would like a double espresso, a mochaccino venti, 4 donuts, and an egg-bacon sandwich - he says before taking his credit card from his wallet.

He takes the bag with donuts from the cashier and then sits closer to a window while he waits for his order until he was interrupted by a body sitting in front of him - Morning - he says to his best man.

- I hate working in Dubai - Farkle replies - I want to come back to New York - he adds before they both hear an "Order for Lucas".

- Let me feed you - Lucas says before softly laughing at his friend's disgrace. A few seconds later he came back with his sandwich and 2 coffees on hand - espresso and donuts for you - he says before taking a huge bite from his sandwich - Ready for this afternoon? - he asks.

- I'm not getting married - Farkle replies before taking a sip of his double espresso - Are you ready? - he asks back.

- You can bet on it - he jokes.

- I hate you - Farkle replies and shoves a whole donut on his mouth - I get you a gorgeous Italian suit, you're gonna love it - he says while he takes his phone from his pocket - And Isadora, Gods, she's gonna be an amazing mother one day, just look at the dress he gets Lily and Mia - he adds before showing him the pics of the dresses.

Lucas saw the pictures, and even when on the surface, his daughter looks like she's having fun, he's been next to her all her life, and to him, it was pretty obvious that she was doing her best to hold herself.

Farkle looks at him and takes a bite of a donut - Allow me - he says and clears his throat - Your past is not a memory, it's a force at your back - he started, then he takes a sip of his espresso - It pushes and steers, You may not always like where it leads you, but - he continues and stops to eat a piece of donut - Like any story, the past needs resolution, what's past, is prologue - he finishes.

- Wow - Lucas says surprised and a bit relieved by his friend's words - Gabriel Garcia Marquez? - he asks.

- Samus Aran, Metroid Other M - he replies with a snarky smile - Don't worry, she loves you and Maya, she knows you're doing this out of love and nothing else - Farkle says, knowing exactly what his best friend was thinking.

- I lost my appetite - he says, pushing his sandwich to Farkle's side.

- More for me - he says, picking up the rest of the donuts and Lucas' sandwich - Shall we go? - he asks getting up.

- You're already on your feet, so yes - Lucas replies and walks out with his friend in direction to his car - Zay? - he asks then.

- Doing the final touches - Farkle answers - Did you know that he calls you his S.S. Lucaya? - he asks.

Lucas' covers his face, ashamed - Maya? Don't know, me? Since I talk about the beautiful brunette, the genius who's loyal and kind, and of course, the blonde beauty - he answers.

Farkle just laughs at his friend while his driver drives them inside the Minkus Tower.

- Conflicts? - Stuart Minkus asked while he walks with a pair of glasses with whiskey on his hands.

- A bit - Shawn replies before taking the glass Stuart was offering him - Thanks - he adds.

- Don't mention it - the older Minkus replies - By the look of your eye bags, I'm gonna suggest it has nothing to do with the wedding itself, or the people marrying - he says and takes a sip of his glass.

Mimicking his friend, Shawn takes a sip too, letting the liquor soothe his mind - Nothing against you, I'm grateful that you let my daughter marry in your tower, but... - he started, only to be interrupted.

- But you pictured that the one sharing a drink with you at your daughter's wedding would be Cornelious, right? - Stuart asks with a sufficient smile.

- Smartass - Shawn replies with a side smile on his face - I've seen that girl grown from a wonderful girl into a wonderful woman, I help her get her first home, a car she doesn't even use, and also saw her fall for this cowboy, then break herself for him and Riley - he explains.

- Lucas loves her - Stuart defends him.

- I know - Shawn replies - I know - he repeats.

- But you're still having trouble with Maya marrying the ex-husband of your best friend's daughter - Stuart says, reading Shawn's mind before finishing his drink - Trust me, I understand - he adds.

- You say that because of Riley and your son? - Shawn asks.

Stuart smiles at him - Smartass - he replies - I doubt that my son would do something like that, but there is a minimal percent of my brain that says "it might happen" - he adds.

Shawn finishes his drink before patting Stuart's back - I would never believe that you and I would bond about our feeling on our kid's marriages - he says.

- Well, there are infinite universes, probably, in more than one, I should be your Cory - Stuart replies before fixing Shawn's tie - Your daughter is probably having the same conflict, she's marrying her ex-best friend ex-husband, she needs you, now more than ever - he adds before leaving him to deal with his daughter.

- Thanks for the drink Minkus - Shawn says before giving him back the glass and walks towards the room where the bride was getting ready.

  A few minutes later, Shawn softly knocks on the room the lends to the bride, only to see the blonde hair of his wife - Wow, trust me, if I wasn't married, I would ask you to marry me - he jokes while Katy just laughs and kisses him.

- Here to see the bride Mr. Hunter? - Katy asks.

- Here to give her a piece of my mind - Shawn replies, making his wife look at him a bit worried - Don't worry, only good things - he clarifies. Katy smiles and lets Shawn walk-in, just when the hairdresser was finishing Maya's hair - Oh my God - he says looking at his daughter.

- Hi - Maya says looking at him through the mirror.

- Hi - Shawn replies, feeling his eyes a bit watery. He fastly clears his throat to disguise himself, but Maya was able to see those tiny tears - You look even more beautiful - he adds.

- Thanks - Maya replies while she blushes a bit - Stupid Huckleberry and his stupid sensitivity - she says very low.

Minutes later, the hairdresser finishes Maya's hair and with a smile, she left. Shawn takes the chance and looks at the women around him - I'm not trying to impose anything, but I would appreciate a few minutes in private with my wife and daughter - he says, while Isadora and her mother in law walk out the room.

- If you say something wrong, I'm turning Katy into a widow - Jennifer teases Shawn.

Once they were left alone, Shawn looks at hi his wife and daughter - I have a new sense of admiration for Minkus - he says while Maya softly laughs.

- So? - Maya asks turning to face Shawn.

- So - Shawn started - I'm here just to say how grateful I am - he adds before softly hugs Katy - Trust me, I would never imagine I would be in this situation, hell, I never imagined I would be happy to see my daughter in a wedding dress, but you both changed me, for the best - he states before feeling Maya hugging him.

- Thank you for being there - Maya replies while Katy hugs her.

- Didn't I promise you that? - he asks while Katy kisses her daughter's hair.

- We love you, baby girl - Katy softly says.

- Ok, too many emotions, I'm gonna leave you both, I will be waiting outside - Shawn says and left Katy and Maya alone.

Once the door closes behind him, Maya stayed a few minutes hugging her mother - Thank you for always being there - she thanks her mother.

- Thank you for letting me be a part of your life - Katy replies before softly chuckling, and then slowly she notices how the silence reigns on the room - Something wrong baby girl? - Katy asks.

- I was wondering if you have any advice for your daughter? - Maya asks.

Katy smiles at her and kisses her hair again - You already crossed that bridge baby girl, if you care enough to ask for advice, you care enough to make your marriage work - she answers before looking at his daughter right into her eyes - But if you want advice, the best one I can give is that communication is key, but you both already are great at that - she adds before softly petting her daughter's hair, being careful to not ruin her hair.

- I'm getting married - Maya softly says, realizing what it was about to happen.

- You're getting married - Katy says with a chuckle at her daughter's excitement. 

Maya takes a few seconds and lets that feeling sinks a big in her heart - Ok, I'm ready, let's go - she says and takes her mother hand while they both walk out of the room.

In the rooftop of the Minkus Tower, a tiny crowd was gathering and taking their seats, which was the indicator that something big was coming.

- Nervous? - Zay asks Lucas.

- I'm kinda excited - he replies with a huge smile on his face.

- In the sportsmanship way? - Farkle asks.

- No - he simply replies, making his friend show disgust on their faces - It's not my fault my future wife is that hot and that she looks amazing on white - Lucas excuses himself. 

- Gentleman, please - Mark says while walking beside - Today it's my time to shine and use that little minister title I get ages ago - he adds, making Lucas laugh.

A few minutes later, Shawn shows up and gives the thumbs up to Lucas and Mark.

- Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats - Mark says before nodding to the guitarist at his right, guitarist that softly starts to play the chords of Lover by Taylor Swift.

Lucas' smile grows wider when he saw Maya walks to him with Shawn by the arm.

In front of him, Lily wasn't able to suppress her smile, knowing that his father was finally getting better.

- Will a box of 24 donuts be able to help you with that? - Mia asks, softly caressing Lily's hand.

- It's ok, I will be ok, people change people, and in this case, it was always for the best - she replies before looking directly at Maya and smile at her.

Against every norm, Maya separates herself from Shawn and jogs to Lily, and softly hugs her - No matter what happens, I will always love you, you will always be my favorite girl - she softly says to her before looking at Lucas.

Shawn resumes the walk and left Maya with Lucas. He gives him a stare for a few seconds and then smiles - Yeah, she's gonna be ok - he says to Lucas, who only shakes his hand with a huge smile on his face.

At the moment Maya hold hands with him, he just looks at her and kisses her cheek - You took your time - he jokes.

Maya just softly punches his chest - It takes time to look like this - she replies.

- Yeah, right, like you're not gorgeous even with a hungover - Lucas says and laughs.

Mark suddenly clears his throat - May I? - he asks, noticing how his friends didn't want to stop flirting with each other.

- Oh, yeah, I forgot we were getting married - Maya says, teasing Mark - Sure, proceed - she adds.

- Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today in the sight of family and friends, to witness and celebrate the union of this, kinda problematic but really funny, couple - Mark started, making the assistants laugh - Lucas Joseph Friar and Maya Penelope Hunter - he continues while he keeps reading the documents on his table - Any vows or quick wedding? - he jokes again - It's a joke, vows please - he corrects himself after feeling Zay's glare.

Lucas and Maya look at each other - Please, ladies first - Lucas fastly says.

- You beat me for a second - she teases him, making him chuckle - Ok, try to follow this - she adds before taking a tiny piece of paper from her bouquet, and delicately clears her throat - I honestly have no idea how we get here if we count how prone we are to over complicate things and walk in circles around each other, would things be different if I dared to close the distance in Texas, or not end things on our ski trip, probably, but - she says before making a pause and looks at all their friends and family - Look around, you have a daughter, you have new friends, and now I have hope, which is what makes us strong, It is why we are here, It is what we fight with when all else is lost, and I thank you for that - she finalizes.

Lucas softly picks her hands and kissed them - That was beautiful, no way I'm gonna ruin that with a joke - he jokes, making Maya chuckle.

- Idiot - she replies.

- Soon to be your idiot - he whispers to her - Ok, maximum effort - Lucas says and clears his throat - I'm, honest to God, happy, and that's a complicated concept - he started - Because I used to think that life is like a mountain where, in the end, you reach happiness when you get to the top, but it's not like that. Life is the constant chase of happiness, we use certain moments to fuel ourselves to reach the next point and we keep chasing, but with I don't need to chase anymore, I don't need to run anymore, with you, I can take your hand and walk calmly, enjoying the scenery of life, instead of trying to reach a top that doesn't exist - he explains, still holding Maya's hands - I wish not to sound too nerd with this, but you're my Higgs boson, you're that particle that completes my happiness - he adds before giving a look at his daughter - and I thank you for that - he finishes, copying her.

Zay leans towards Farkle - Did Maya win? - he asks.

Farkle just smiles without looking at his friend - Yeah, she quoted God of War 3 - he replies.

Mark clears his throat, and his voice stills break a bit - Ma-ya, dammit - he says and clears his throat again - Do you, Maya Penelope, take Lucas Joseph to have and hold until death do you part? - he asks Maya.

Maya moves her left hand to her back, and Isadora puts a golden ring on her hand - I do - she answers and slowly slides the ring in his ring finger.

- Do you, Lucas Joseph, take Maya Penelope to have and to hold until death do you part? - Mark asks Lucas.

Lucas softly turn - Ring? - he asks Farkle.

- Here - he replies and puts the ring on Lucas' hand.

- Thank you, sir - he replies - I do - he finally answers to Mark, sliding a twin ring on Maya's ring finger.

- Then by the power bestowed upon me by evenyoucanperformweddings.com and by the state of New York, I now pronounce you, Husband and Wife, you may kiss the bride - Mark says with a smile - Or backward, it's not 2011 - he adds.

Lucas just smiles at Maya and she pulls him by his tie to kiss him deeply, while their friends and family cheer for them.

They spend a good 6 hours in the Minkus apartment with a nice reception, courtesy of Stuart Minkus, who turn out a genius to plan receptions too.

It was 1 A.M. when Maya finally allows herself to get rid of the heels she has been wearing all-day.

Lucas picks her up and carries her like his bride to their room, and once they were there, he softly put her on the bed - You're gonna use the bathroom first? - he asks.

- Yep, my hair is gorgeous, but I had no idea flowers were that heavy once you carry them on your head - she says putting a fast peck on Lucas' lips.

- Well, I'll be here when you're back Mrs. Friarhunter - he softly says.

- Great, because being alone on the first night doesn't sound too good - she jokes before entering the bathroom.

Lucas fastly looks at the suit he left on his closet last morning - 2 months of practice for this moment Friar, make yourself and Zay proud - he softly says to himself before starting changing his suit.

Once Maya walks out of the bathroom, she was surprised by her husband - Did you change suits? - she asks.

Lucas smile and walks barefoot to her - Yeah, I did - he says and kisses her - I know that you refuse the first dance because of respect for Riley and Lily - he softly says before softly sliding one of his hands into the pocket of his jacket - But right here, it's only us, he says looking for a song on Spotify - Can I have this dance? - he asks, offering one of his Airpods.

Maya didn't say a word, she just takes the Airpod and put it on her ear, and Lucas did the same.

I took her half a second to notice the song - Sap - she softly says while Lucas gently sways with her.

- Perfect - he replies, pressing himself against her.

And that's all.

After 62266 words, and 101 Microsoft Word pages in Calibri Light 10.

The End.

Now, if I'm allowed, I would like to say a few words, after refusing to write any writer commentary after every chapter since July 16, 2018.

I want to say that I'm grateful for the people who take the time to read this, I honestly only have grateful feelings for all of you who take a piece of your time to read what I write on mine.

Also, in a twist of Neil Gaiman's words.

"I hope you all enjoyed the most honest lie I was able to write for you"

Ok, one last time.

Thank you all.

Also, for those, who are wondering what's the song Lucas search on Spotify, it is “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran.

[angelic-essence]

The Village.

[peonypearls-muddled-musings]

Props to my parents for bringing me back some treats from The Donut Friar back in Gatlinburg TN ;; Just before they left my half-asleep, frustrated corpse crawled downstairs and tried to give my dad what I had left in cash ($6) to get me a box of donuts for my day off but he didn’t take it and said they’d bring me a box and here I am finally in bed with some coffee and my box of goodies knowing I don’t have to deal with a soul until I WANT TO today.

[finnishfun]

Is a Finnish monk a donut friar?

[katiejean-kj]

Donut Friar + me = LOVE

[the-acid-pear]

Fun fact! There's a pastry similar to jam donuts here called Friar Balls (bolas de fraile) and some people like calling them sigh of nuns (suspiro de monjas)

[reportwire]

Providence vs. Vermont: How to watch, schedule, live stream info, game time, TV channel

Providence vs. Vermont: How to watch, schedule, live stream info, game time, TV channel

Who’s Playing Vermont @ Providence Current Records: Vermont 6-3; Providence 8-1 What to Know The Vermont Catamounts will face off against the Providence Friars on the road at 6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday at Dunkin’ Donuts Center. These two teams seek to continue their momentum from their previous wins. While not quite a landslide, the game between the Catamounts and the Dartmouth Big Green last…

[sports-teller]

New Post has been published on Sports-Teller.com!

New Post has been published on https://www.sports-teller.com/providence-bruins-best-food-concessions-to-try/

Providence Bruins: Best Food Concessions to Try

Looking to Grab a Bite to Eat at the Providence Bruins/Friars Game? Concessions to Try at Dunkin’ Donuts Center (Providence, RI) are… Hello Everyone! Welcome to Sports Teller! Today, we…

[hagridkeeperofkeys]

June 2021 Posts

IF YOU DO ANY OF THESE POSTS AND THEN  SEE THEY WERE ACTUALLY CLOSED, PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR HEAD OF HOUSES  AND THEY MAY STILL BE ABLE TO AWARD YOU THE POINTS! 24 Hour Puzzle Challenge:

Nearly Headless Nick (140 pieces - Medium/Hard Level) - CLOSED

Fat Friar (150 pieces - Medium/Hard Level) - CLOSED

Grey Lady (150 pieces - Medium/Hard Level) - CLOSED

The Bloody Baron (150 pieces - Medium/Hard Level) - CLOSED

Peeves (150 pieces - Medium/Hard Level) - CLOSED

Quick Quotes Contest: 

Round 1 (Vote One) - CLOSED 

Round 1 (Vote Two) - CLOSED 

Round 1 (Vote Three) - CLOSED

Round 1 (Vote Four) - CLOSED

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Round 1 (Vote Twelfth) - CLOSED

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Round 1 (Final Vote) - CLOSED

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Round 3 (Final Vote) - CLOSED

Round 4 - CLOSED

WINNER puzzle (200 pieces - Hard Level) - CLOSED

Quidditch Cup: 

Create Your Team Symbol - CLOSED

How Well Do You Know Your Quidditch Team? Crossword - CLOSED

Color Flying Harry - CLOSED

Quidditch Test - CLOSED

Quidditch Through The Ages - CLOSED

Find The Differences - CLOSED

Which Uniform Do You Like? - CLOSED

The Ultimate Quidditch Quiz - CLOSED

Which Quidditch Player Do You Like? - CLOSED

Quidditch Cryptogram - CLOSED

Which Uniform Do You Like? Part 2 - CLOSED

Which Quidditch Ball Are You? - CLOSED

Create Quidditch Uniform - CLOSED

Snitch Flow Challenge - CLOSED

Quidditch! (150 pieces - Medium Level) - CLOSED

Quidditch Pitch Puzzle (99 pieces - Medium Level) - CLOSED

Where’s The Snitch? - CLOSED

MAGIC! Bingo:

First Sign Up - CLOSED

First Card - CLOSED

Elimination Challenge:

Favorite Potion (First Vote) - CLOSED

Favorite Potion (Second Vote) - CLOSED

Favorite Potion (Third Vote) - CLOSED

Favorite Potion (Fourth Vote) - CLOSED

Puzzles:

House Ghosts Memory Game - CLOSED

Brooms And Scarves (204 pieces - Riddikulus Level) - CLOSED

The Boy Who Lived (150 pieces - Medium Level) - CLOSED

HP Merchandise (48 pieces - Easy Level) - CLOSED

Gryffindor Wins! (112 pieces - Medium Level) - CLOSED 

Gryffindor (100 pieces - Medium Level) - CLOSED

Hufflepuff (100 pieces - Medium Level) - CLOSED

Slytherin (100 pieces - Medium Level) - CLOSED

Ravenclaw (100 pieces - Medium Level) - CLOSED

House Ghosts Sliding Puzzle - CLOSED

Hogwarts Ghost Party Sliding Puzzle - CLOSED

Draco Birthday (150 pieces - Medium/Hard Level) - CLOSED

Peeves (50 pieces - Easy Level) - CLOSED

Prisoner of Azkaban (156 pieces - Easy/Medium Level) - CLOSED

Happy Father’s Day (42 pieces - Easy Level) - CLOSED

Babbling Beverage (49 pieces - Easy Level) - CLOSED

The House Ghosts (100 pieces - Easy/Medium Level) - CLOSED

Snape Pride (100 pieces - Easy/Medium Level) - CLOSED

Myrtle Death Day (99 pieces - Easy/Medium Level) - CLOSED

Ghosts (108 pieces - Easy/Medium Level) - CLOSED

Dudley (100 pieces - Easy/Medium Level) - CLOSED

The Golden Trio (150 pieces - Easy/Medium Level) - CLOSED

House Ghosts (117 pieces - Medium Level) - CLOSED

Happy Birthday Draco (100 pieces - Medium Level) - CLOSED

For Draco’s Birthday (98 pieces - Medium Level) - CLOSED

Draco’s Birthday (100 pieces - Medium Level) - CLOSED

Ticket (198 pieces - Hard Level) - CLOSED

Hedwig (48 pieces - Easy Level) - CLOSED

Gringott’s Vault (198 pieces - Hard Level) - CLOSED

Gryffindor (99 pieces - Easy/Medium Level) - CLOSED

Happy Father’s Day (100 pieces - Easy/Medium Level) - CLOSED

Hogwarts Crest (200 pieces - Hard Level) - CLOSED

Happy Birthday Dobby (54 pieces - Easy Level) - CLOSED

Astronomy Tower (99 pieces - Easy/Medium Level) - CLOSED

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Draco’s B-Daze (200 pieces - Hard Level) - CLOSED

Juneteenth Celebration (90 pieces - Easy/Medium Level) - CLOSED

Fantastic Beasts (144 pieces - Medium/Hard Level) - CLOSED

Skele-gro (48 pieces - Easy Level) - CLOSED

Logic Puzzles:

Peeves Cryptogram - CLOSED

The Staircase Challenge - CLOSED

Sudoku (Easy/Medium) - CLOSED

Harry Potter - CLOSED

Creative Writing: 

Make New Death Stories For The House Ghosts - CLOSED

Give Love To The House Ghosts - CLOSED

Ghostbusters Team and Who You'll Fight - CLOSED

How Did You Run Into One Of The Ghosts? - CLOSED

Choose Myrtle’s Date - CLOSED

Create A Harry Potter Recipe - CLOSED

Harry Potter Marathon Movie Night - CLOSED

Who Are You Haunting As A Ghost? - CLOSED

Which House Ghost Would You Replace And How Did You Die? - CLOSED

Easy Points:

Veritaserum Vs Lie Elixer (Round 1) - CLOSED

Guess The Keys - CLOSED

What's Your Harry Potter Name? - CLOSED

Scenes And Songs Part 1 - CLOSED

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Snape Says - CLOSED

Would You Rather? (Hagrid Vs Arthur) - CLOSED

Predictive Text (Draco Edition) - CLOSED

Who, What, And Where Was Peeves Annoying A House Ghost? - CLOSED

Favorite Ghost React - CLOSED

Would You Rather - CLOSED

Polyjuice Potion (Who Am I?) - CLOSED

Guess Who Said The Quote (Ghosts Edition) - CLOSED

Tag Your House - CLOSED

Dudley Quotes Predictive Text - CLOSED

Who, What, And Where Cast A Jinx On Vernon Dursley? - CLOSED

Reaction To Getting Hogwarts Letter - CLOSED

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Langlock, Avada Kedavra, Amortentia, or Confundus (Ghost Edition) - CLOSED

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This Or That (Characters Edition) - CLOSED

Would You Rather (React) - CLOSED

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Pick A Card - CLOSED

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Wish Our Students Happy Birthday! - CLOSED

Veritaserum Vs Lie Elixer Part 3 - CLOSED

Quizzes: 

Do You Deserve A Place On The Hogwarts Express? - CLOSED

Do You Know What These Spells Do? - CLOSED

Who Is Your BFF At Hogwarts? - CLOSED

Which Hogwarts Ghost Are You? - CLOSED

What Percent Draco Malfoy Are You? - CLOSED

Tri-Wizard Quiz - CLOSED

The Ghoulish Ghosts Quiz - CLOSED

Who Is Your Harry Potter Father Figure? - CLOSED

The Peeves Challenge Quiz - CLOSED

House Ghosts Quiz - CLOSED

What’s Your Zodiac Sign Per Harry Potter? - CLOSED

Can You Ace This Hogwarts Quiz? - CLOSED

Collages:

Draco Malfoy Birthday - CLOSED

Draco Malfoy - CLOSED

Favorite LGBTQ couple - CLOSED

Sorcerer’s Stone - CLOSED

Templates:

Malfoy This Or That - CLOSED

Spot The Difference (Part 1 - Gryffindor Common Room) - CLOSED

Spot The Difference (Part 2 - Slytherin Common Room) - CLOSED

Spot The Difference (Part 3 - Hufflepuff Common Room) - CLOSED

Spot The Difference (Part 4 - Ravenclaw Common Room) - CLOSED

I Spy... - CLOSED

Philosopher’s Stone This Or That - CLOSED

Remus Lupin Once Said... - CLOSED

Ghosts Word Scramble - CLOSED

How Much Do You Have In Common With Draco - CLOSED

Harry Potter Spin-Off - CLOSED

Harry Potter Characters This Or That - CLOSED

Ravenclaw This Or That - CLOSED

Which Of The Bronze Trio Are You? - CLOSED

This Or That (Slytherin Edition) - CLOSED

This Or That (Hufflepuff Edition) - CLOSED

Wordsearch: 

House Ghosts - CLOSED

Secret Message - CLOSED

Minor Characters - CLOSED

Death Eaters - CLOSED

Draco Malfoy - CLOSED

Drawing/Coloring:

Design A Donut For A Character - CLOSED

Draw And Color In A Snitch - CLOSED

Create A Birthday Card For Draco - CLOSED

House Ties - CLOSED

Moaning Myrtle - CLOSED

National Eat Your Vegetables Day - CLOSED

Zentangle - CLOSED

Your Own School Crest - CLOSED

Gryffindor Characters - CLOSED

Lessons:

History Of Magic - CLOSED

Charms - CLOSED

Potions (Part 1) - CLOSED

Potions (Part 2) - CLOSED

Care Of Magical Creatures - CLOSED

Herbology - CLOSED

Mini Lessons:

Peeves - CLOSED

Fawkes Flow Challenge: 

House Ghosts (Easy Difficulty) - CLOSED

Pets (Easy/Medium) - CLOSED

Astoria’s Associations:

Dragon - CLOSED

Crossword: 

Hogwarts Ghosts - CLOSED

Harry Potter - CLOSED

Hermione's BAG Bingo: 

June Bingo - CLOSED

Disney FanCast: 

Hermione Granger - CLOSED

Draco Malfoy - CLOSED

Harry Potter - CLOSED

Remus Lupin - CLOSED

Luna Lovegood - CLOSED

Gregory Goyle - CLOSED

Sirius Black - CLOSED

Albus Dumbledore - CLOSED

Department of Magical Cooperation Post:

Find The Magical Creatures In Other Posts - CLOSED

Dueling Club:

Sign Up - CLOSED

[ryanreporting]

St Lawrence Friary Capuchin friars Retreat Center prayer meditation bench 180 Sargent Ave, Beacon, NY 12508 USA on former estate of Herman Fisher of Fisher-Price toys Beacon City along the Hudson River in Dutchess County Middle Hudson Valley region of New York State USA October 17th 2020 MTA Metro-North Railroad from Grand Central Terminal East 42nd Street NYC to Beacon Newburgh - Beacon Ferry station one way ticket price $17.50 (Oct 2020 rate) Things to enjoy in Beacon NY Main Street Beacon Glazed Over Donuts Beacon Creamery Pumpkin Ice Cream tasting Notions-N-Potions Witch shop with love incense Madam Brett Park Tioronda Hat Works Factory abandoned site Fishkill Creek Tioronda Falls Waterfall Mount Beacon Park A Scenic Hudson Park Beacon Falls City of Beacon Greenway Trail Scenic Hudson trails Hiking Brett Family Cemetery St Lawrence Friary Retreat Center 96.5 FM Real Country HV radio Bamboo grove Welcome to Beacon Welcome Center Beacon Farmers Market Vineyard Tours Strawberry Festival in June Corn Festival August Pumpkin Festival October Pumpkins in the Park Jack-o'-Lantern Lighting October Autumn fall foliage viewing Two Way Brewing Company Tito Santana Taqueria - Mexican burritos Hudson Beach Glass makers Bike tours Kayaking on the Hudson River Waterway Hudson River views Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park Dennings Point Brickworks abandoned site Bannerman's Island Cruise Bannerman Castle Malouf's Mountain Sunset Camping Dia Beacon Museum Storm King Art Center (12 miles away) Beacon Train Station #Beacon #BeaconNY #BeaconNewYork #BeaconCity #CityOfBeacon #WelcomeToBeacon #DiaBeacon #Dutchess #DutchessCounty #DutchessCountyNY #DutchessCountyNewYork #DistinctlyDutchess #HudsonValley #MiddleHudsonValley #HudsonValleyNY #HudsonValleyNewYork #HVNY NY #NewYork #NewYorkState TheEmpireState EmpireState ILoveNY ILoveNewYork #NYLovesFall #NewYorkLovesFall #FallFoliage #Autumn AutumnFoliage Halloween HappyHalloween HalloweenSeason Samhain October 2020 #Prayer #God #Jesus #Meditation #StLawrenceFriary #Friary #StLawrence (at Friary Saint Lawrence) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLXB6dlhRqq/?igshid=1izh757yq7mpt

[mykalakhangmaynilatravelandtour]

ATTRACTIONS IN METRO MANILA

1. LAKBAY MUSEO

Lakbay Museo describes itself as the “first PH interactive millennial museum.” The vibrant colors, IG-ready stalls, perfectly flatlayed food replicas and quirky props seem to have been designed to appeal to social media users. The museum offers 14 unique experiences featuring 11 different destinations around the country.

2. QUEZON CITY EXPERIENCE

This is the newly build Quezon City experience or QCEX for short. It's an interactive and new way at looking into the rich history of the former capital city of the Philippines.

3. INTRAMUROS UNDERGROUND

It is said that churches and convents within the walled city of Intramuros were connected through a vast network of underground tunnels. Every night when everyone else was in deep slumber, some friars and nuns in the 19th century Manila would walk the dark halls of these secret passageways for a rendezvous. And that’s how these religious people supposedly kept a romantic relationship without their superiors knowing it, and away from the unforgiving eyes of the society. 

4. NATIONAL PLANETARIUM

The National Museum Planetarium (shortened as NM Planetarium), is a planetarium owned and operated by the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila. It is a 16-metre (52 ft) dome located in Rizal Park between the Japanese Garden and Chinese Garden on Padre Burgos Avenue in the central district of Ermita. It opened on October 8, 1975, and has been in operation since then.

5. DESSERT MUSEUM

The Dessert Museum is an interactive eat as you play and learn experience where the sights are just as delicious as the sweets located in Pasay City, SM Mall of AsiaYou will gobble your way through 8 mouthwatering rooms of sugar-filled happiness. There are only two things on the menu - sugar and selfies.