#Sir Gregory and his humble origins

[imogenkol]

— A CHRISTMAS KITTEN

pairing: Nadya Bishop x Jayde Thatcher (original works) rating: General words: 2.1k summary: an unsuspecting creature wanders into a den of wolves

notes: here is finally the Origin of Greg The Cat! Hope you all enjoy something sweet for the holidays ☃️

The cold evening breeze carried a strange sound as Nadya emerged from the woods after her weekly day hike. Her pace slowed to a stop in the middle of the parking lot and she tilted her head curiously, wondering if she had imagined the light metallic scrape of something unknown. Sometimes little critters such as raccoons or possums were brave enough to push past the scent of werewolves and rummage through the Lodge’s waste bins, but the particular sound that caught Nadya’s attention wasn’t quite that. 

Just as she was about to lose interest and head inside out of the freezing winter air, it sounded again. This time near the cars parked by the front doors. She knew it had to be something small taking refuge under one of the vehicles. 

With light feet on gravel, Nadya stepped in between two cars and intently listened for more, hoping her presence wouldn’t scare the mystery creature away. A part of her felt that she should just leave it alone, but a much bigger part of her simply wanted a glimpse of whatever it was. Nadya enjoyed seeing any animal, even ones considered to be pests. 

More scratching noises came from the truck on the right. Nadya grinned at having successfully located her target. The gravel dug into her palms and knees as she carefully kneeled down to look underneath the vehicle. 

“What are you?” she quietly asked, searching the dark shadows behind the tires for any movement. When Nadya didn’t find anything, she frowned and mumbled, “Where are you?” 

The smallest, softest meow sounded from somewhere close. A bright grin came across her face and she shot up with delight. A kitten! Nadya quickly checked the bed of the truck, then peeked through the windows. It wasn’t anywhere within sight, but she heard another, more persistent meow. And another. She tracked the sound to the engine, so she walked over to the front of the car and promptly popped the hood open. 

It took some more thorough searching with the flashlight on her phone, but Nadya eventually spotted a tiny pair of bright reflected eyes buried deep in the twisted and bulky metal. The little creature bared its needle-like fangs and meowed with more force. He clearly wanted nothing to do with her, but Nadya knew she had to get him out. 

“Oh, buddy, how’d you get in there?” she asked in a pained tone. 

Unfortunately, her hands weren’t quite small enough to reach through the narrow spaces. Even if they could, Nadya feared the kitten was stuck or injured and she didn’t want to risk hurting him more by trying to recklessly squeeze him out. She realized that parts of the truck’s inner workings would have to be removed to free him safely. Luckily, Nadya knew exactly who could help. 

“Just sit tight, little one,” she told the mewling kitten. “I’ll be right back.” 

Jayde wasn’t difficult to find. Nadya found her by the bar in the Den, having a conversation with Toby as he made drinks. Nadya rushed towards her and Jayde glanced over her shoulder as she approached, sensing her human before she even got close. 

“What’s got you all worked up?” she asked, accepting Nadya’s hand and letting her pull her off of her stool. 

Nadya explained quickly as she dragged Jayde along. “There’s a kitten stuck in one of the trucks outside, I need you to get some tools and help me get him out.” 

“A kitten?” Jayde sounded both surprised and amused. “How’d it get all the way out here?” 

Nadya shrugged. “I think he might’ve crawled into the truck when it was in town.” 

“Is he hurt?”

“I didn’t see anything obvious, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t banged up.” 

“Alright, I’ll go grab some tools from the shed and meet you…?”

“Just in the parking lot, right at the front.” 

“Okay,” Jayde said and gave Nadya a quick peck on the temple before striding off. 

The rescue mission became quite the operation. Jayde ended up halfway underneath the car and Nadya leaned over the engine with her hands and forearms already covered in grease and soot, trying her best to reach the poor little animal. He had retreated further into the metal maze once they got to work, making it far more difficult to extricate him. It hadn’t even crossed either of their minds to try and find the owner of the truck. Nadya guessed it was easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission when it came to saving such an adorable creature from the jaws of death. Jayde would put everything back into place as soon as they were done anyway. 

“He’s coming up to you!” Jayde called from under the truck. 

Nadya barely saw any glimpses of her, but she did see the flash of gray striped fur start to shimmy through the spaces in the engine. Her muscles coiled as she waited for an opportunity. The kitten’s flashing eyes locked on the human above him and he hissed and spat at Nadya’s outstretched hands, trying to back up again. 

“I know, I know,” Nadya cooed. “I’m very scary, but I need you to trust me for just a second, buddy.” 

When his little body managed to turn around, Nadya saw her opening and took it. Her hand snatched his scruff and he voiced his displeasure loudly as she carefully pulled him out. 

“Got him!”

Nadya had a small towel ready and swiftly wrapped the cat up before he had a chance to claw and bite. The little tabby looked madder than a demon and he was absolutely filthy, but once she had him safely in her arms, his snarl started to gradually fade. 

“There you go. See? This is much better,” Nadya murmured as she rocked him. 

Jayde pushed herself out from under the truck and stood. The kitten flinched when she clapped her hands together to get rid of any loose debris and she made a quiet apology. Then used the tip of her finger to pat his head, which he did not seem pleased about. “Don’t be such a grump, we just saved you.” 

Nadya let out a breath of amusement when he hissed at her in response. “I’m gonna go clean him up.” 

“I gotta put everything back together.” She motioned at the truck.

“Maybe leave a note or something?”

Jayde waved her hand dismissively. “Nah, it’ll be good as new when I’m done.” 

Nadya rolled my eyes and started towards the Lodge. “Meet me in our room when you’re finished. And thanks for your help.” 

“Anything for you, my love.” 

That made Nadya turn on her heel and rush back to place a grateful kiss to Jayde’s lips. She relished the way Jayde’s cheeks colored after she pulled back. Nadya flashed a crooked grin and went for the front doors again. 

Nadya made sure that the water in the sink ran warm before attempting to immerse the kitten for a bath. Surprisingly, he no longer squirmed or meowed in the towel. He just silently watched her prepare the bathroom from his place safely tucked in her arm. 

“This probably isn’t going to be very fun for you, but I promise you’ll feel better after,” Nadya told him, carefully unravelling him out of the soiled towel. 

The poor thing was so exhausted that he turned to putty as soon as he felt warm water on his back. Nadya used one hand to keep his head up and the other to wash the grime out of his beautiful stripes. Upon closer inspection, she didn’t find any injuries or ticks. He seemed perfectly healthy. She watched as his wide kitten eyes blinked up at her slowly and felt her heart swell with adoration.

“Oh, what are we going to do with you?”

Nadya knew as she asked that she wanted to keep him. It reminded her of the cat she had as a kid. The patient and sweet Charlie. Nadya always thought that she would get a pet for herself one day, but being busy with university and then having her entire life flipped upside down after meeting Jayde, she had completely forgotten that desire. Staring at the kitten in her hands now felt like the perfect excuse to fulfill it. 

Jayde didn’t come home until Nadya had the kitten mostly dried and on their bed. He was a playful little fella and she decided to sacrifice one of her old shoelaces for a makeshift toy. Nadya laughed as he flopped onto his back and batted at the dangling lace she swung over him. 

Jayde scoffed at the sight and Nadya glanced up at her, wearing a big grin. After noting her wife’s expression, she shut the door behind her and came to sit next to her on the bed. There was obvious tension and Nadya knew exactly what she prepared to tell her. “I’ll take him to the shelter tomorrow.” 

“I was thinking…” Nadya began with hesitation. 

“We can’t keep him, Nadya,” Jayde said gently. “Animals and werewolves don’t mix. Especially cats and werewolves. He’ll be scared here.” 

Nadya was eager to make a case. “But he can’t be more than six or seven weeks old. It’s like the animals your parents raised at the ranch. He’ll learn not to be afraid.”

“The chickens still hated my dad,” Jayde pointed out. 

“Maybe they had their own reasons.”  

She chuckled lightly, but still shook her head. “I don’t know how to take care of a cat.” 

“I know how. I used to have one as a kid.” 

“So will he stay in this room all his life?”

“This could be his home base and we can teach him where he can and can’t roam in the Lodge.” The kitten abandoned the shoelace in favor of chewing on Nadya’s sleeve and she absentmindedly gave him her pinky to suckle on. “I’ll teach him.” 

Jayde glanced around the room like she was trying to think of something else to convince Nadya not to keep the cat. “He’ll shed on everything.”

Nadya raised a brow. “You already do you.” 

She sighed in defeat, yet still tried to continue, “Okay, but—”

Nadya placed her free hand on Jayde’s thigh to stop any more arguments and leaned forward. “This is the only child I will ever ask you for. Please, can we keep him? I’ll let you name him if we can keep him.” 

Jayde gave her a dramatic eye-roll and let out an even longer sigh that deflated her entire body. A long moment of tense silence passed between them. Jayde stared her down and Nadya gave her best puppy-eyed expression. “It’s for sure a he?”

Nadya nodded. “It’s a he.” 

Jayde scooped the kitten up and he flopped around in her grip, trying to gnaw on her fingers. She held him up and tilted him this way and that, her brow furrowed in deep thought. Then she plopped the kitten back down on the bed and looked at me with resolution, “Greg.” 

“Greg?” Nadya asked with a raised eyebrow.

Jayde gave a single nod. “We name him Greg or we don’t keep him.” 

There wasn’t any doubt in Nadya’s mind that Jayde gave him the dumbest name she could think of in an effort to dissuade her, but she picked the kitten up and cradled him against her chest while she scratched his chin affectionately. “Are you Greg, little mister? Sir Gregory, the valiant knight who was swallowed by the great and terrible metal dragon?” 

Greg let out an adorable meow and Jayde scoffed again. “I should have known better,” she grumbled, though there was the hint of a smile on her face. 

Nadya kissed the subtle upturn at the corner of her mouth and whispered, “Thank you.” 

Jayde’s whole body softened and she turned her head to catch a deeper kiss. Nadya indulged her, allowing the tingling sensation that came with her contact to spread warmth throughout her chest — let their heartbeats fall in tandem with each other. When they pulled away, Nadya felt that Jayde had fully accepted the new addition to their pack. 

“We should still take him to the vet and get him checked out,” she said, eyeing him with mild concern.  

“I agree,” Nadya said, giving Jayde another lingering peck before pulling away and smiling. “I guess we’re parents now.”  

“And I named my son Greg.” 

“It’s too late, you can’t take it back now,” Nadya chuckled. 

Jayde smiled fondly at the curled ball of fur in her wife’s arms and gave him a head rub. “I think it suits him.” 

Nadya matched the warmth of her smile and held the car a little tighter. “I think so too.”

tag list (ask to be added or removed!): @socially-awkward-skeleton @neonshrike @inafieldofdaisies @voidika @florbelles @adelaidedrubman @simonxriley @tommyarashikage @buggknife @aceghosts @carlosoliveiraa @risingsh0t @unholymilf @thedeadthree @cassietrn @jackiesarch @d-esmond @loriane-elmuerto @shellibisshe @katsigian @captastra @simplegenius042 @theelderhazelnut @g0dspeeed @strangefable @statichvm @sevikagf @cptcassian @hexmaturgy @euryalex @auricfog @confidentandgood @raresvtm @minaharkers

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.28 (before 1920)

98 – On the death of Nerva, Trajan is declared Roman emperor in Cologne, the seat of his government in lower Germany. 814 – The death of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, brings about the accession of his son Louis the Pious as ruler of the Frankish Empire. 1069 – Robert de Comines, appointed Earl of Northumbria by William the Conqueror, rides into Durham, England, where he is defeated and killed by rebels. This incident leads to the Harrying of the North. 1077 – Walk to Canossa: The excommunication of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, is lifted after he humbles himself before Pope Gregory VII at Canossa in Italy. 1521 – The Diet of Worms begins, lasting until May 25. 1547 – Edward VI, the nine-year-old son of Henry VIII, becomes King of England on his father's death. 1568 – The Edict of Torda prohibits the persecution of individuals on religious grounds in John Sigismund Zápolya's Eastern Hungarian Kingdom. 1573 – Articles of the Warsaw Confederation are signed, sanctioning freedom of religion in Poland. 1591 – Execution of Agnes Sampson, accused of witchcraft in Edinburgh. 1624 – Sir Thomas Warner founds the first British colony in the Caribbean, on the island of Saint Kitts. 1671 – Original city of Panama (founded in 1519) is destroyed by a fire when privateer Henry Morgan sacks and sets fire to it. The site of the previously devastated city is still in ruins (see Panama Viejo). 1724 – The Russian Academy of Sciences is founded in St. Petersburg, Russia, by Peter the Great, and implemented by Senate decree. It is called the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences until 1917. 1754 – Sir Horace Walpole coins the word serendipity in a letter to a friend. 1813 – Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is first published in the United Kingdom. 1846 – The Battle of Aliwal, India, is won by British troops commanded by Sir Harry Smith. 1851 – Northwestern University becomes the first chartered university in Illinois. 1855 – A locomotive on the Panama Canal Railway runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean for the first time. 1871 – Franco-Prussian War: The Siege of Paris ends in French defeat and an armistice. 1878 – Yale Daily News becomes the first independent daily college newspaper in the United States. 1896 – Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, becomes the first person to be convicted of speeding. He was fined one shilling, plus costs, for speeding at 8 mph (13 km/h), thereby exceeding the contemporary speed limit of 2 mph (3.2 km/h). 1902 – The Carnegie Institution of Washington is founded in Washington, D.C., with a $10 million gift from Andrew Carnegie. 1908 – Members of the Portuguese Republican Party fail in their attempted coup d'état against the administrative dictatorship of Prime Minister João Franco. 1909 – United States troops leave Cuba, with the exception of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, after being there since the Spanish–American War. 1915 – An act of the U.S. Congress creates the United States Coast Guard as a branch of the United States Armed Forces. 1916 – The Canadian province of Manitoba grants women the right to vote and run for office in provincial elections (although still excluding women of Indigenous or Asian heritage), marking the first time women in Canada are granted voting rights. 1918 – Finnish Civil War: The Red Guard rebels seize control of the capital, Helsinki; members of the Senate of Finland go underground. 1919 – The Order of the White Rose of Finland is established by Baron Gustaf Mannerheim, the regent of the Kingdom of Finland.

[phoenixborncreations]

I posted 18 times in 2022

That's 18 more posts than 2021!

16 posts created (89%)

2 posts reblogged (11%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@abz-j-harding

@phoenixborncreations

I tagged 12 of my posts in 2022

Only 33% of my posts had no tags

#dnd - 11 posts

#phoenixborn creations - 10 posts

#art - 9 posts

#wizards of the coast - 8 posts

#dungeons and dragons - 8 posts

#phoenix - 8 posts

#oc - 6 posts

#digital art - 6 posts

#wotc - 5 posts

#mtg - 4 posts

Longest Tag: 44 characters

#doctor strange and the multiverse of madness

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

I’m so looking forward to Multiverse of Madness, I got a bit creative with an OC!

Credit to Scott Christian Sava on YouTube for the idea of outlining them, and for the constant inspiration to continue to try different things. :D

~Copyright Phoenixborn Creations 2022~

15 notes - Posted May 6, 2022

#4

She’s drowning in the sound of the siren’s call...Let go, fire child, and succumb to the deep...

~Copyright Phoenixborn Creations 2022~ This is a humble addition doodle to MerMay. 

18 notes - Posted May 6, 2022

#3

Hoppy Froggy Fall, y’all!

Here was a commission for @sirgregorysstitchery for day 19 of Froggy Fall! The prompt was Frog’s Familiar, and here we have our dapper sewing gentleman, Sir Gregory, summoning his cat familiar, Bobbin!

DM me for a Commission!

Copyright Phoenixborn Creations 2022

20 notes - Posted October 18, 2022

#2

“Oh honey, it’s just my trunk, there’s nothing suspicious going on here!” 

~Nancy Egglefort

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My friendly OC/NPC for my player’s Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos DnD game! Her name is Nancy Egglefort, and although she’s very helpful and sweet, she seems to have a bit of an...interesting past she doesn’t like to speak about. Is she involved in something shady at the school? Who’s to know? I guess my players will just have to find out...

Copyright Phoenixborn Creations 2022

Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos owned by Wizards of the Coast.

21 notes - Posted July 11, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

"May your journey overflow with curses and blessings." - Bondrewd 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a WIP fanart of Bondrewd, our favorite morally-questionable Lord of Dawn from the anime Made in Abyss. 

Art Copyright Phoneixborn Creations 2022 

(Original Character design Copyright: Made in Abyss by Akihito Tsukushi and Kinema Studios)

24 notes - Posted July 11, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[imagine-loki]

You were saying, little mortal?

Title :You were saying, little mortal?

CHAPTER NO.: 2/?

AUTHOR: Solaramoonset

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine being a passive superhero fan. You’ve read a few comics, you’ve seen most of Marvel’s movies. One day on your way to work, you get pulled over and arrested. The police don’t explain why, only demanding you keep quiet. You’re taken to an abandon looking warehouse. Roughly you’re tossed into a makeshift cell. Really its just an office someone empty and replaced the normal door with a metal one. You don’t expect the voice behind you.

“So kid what are you in for?”

Its Robert Downey jr, sort of. Something is off and he seems confused to be called by that name. You hear a scuffle outside your shared cell. The door bursts open and in walks Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Although something is off about him too. You soon find all the “Avengers” actors there. You don’t know whats going on but the longer you are around them the more crazy you feel. They don’t seem to know their actor names, and you can’t find any cameras around. Its like for them this is real.

They decide to take you back with them (clearly thinking something is wrong with you). You find yourself sitting next to Loki. Having enough of this craziness you go on a rant, expecting you are ranting to Tom Hiddleston. Loki lets you say your bit, seemingly amused by you, before holding up his hand and bringing forth just enough seidr to glow and flow around his hand. “You were saying, little mortal?”

RATING: Teen

NOTES: Also on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18953773/chapters/45273334#workskin

CH2

Enid woke to gentle sway and the feel of being in someone’s arms. She groaned and looked up at a chiseled jaw, bright blue eyes and cropped blond hair. “You name isn’t Chris Evans, is it?” she muttered.

“Sorry Ma'am, I’m Steve Rogers.” he gave her a gentle smile.

“Please tell me buried under that boy scout and apple pie – ness there’s a troll hiding.” she pleaded as she looked round.

“Oh he’s hiding a troll alright but its hell to get him to show it. You know all that proper 40s manners and what not.” Gregory popped his head up.

“I have no idea what you two are saying.” there was a slight pink tint to Steve’s cheeks.

“Where are we going, by the way and why are you carrying me?” Enid smirked at Steve’s redden cheeks.

“Medical, you were in no state to walk Ma'am.”

“Spangles is right. You were out for fourteen hours give or take. You kinda gave me a scare, E. I told them everything. And maybe it’s time I tell you as well.” Gregory rubbed the back of his neck.

“Everything? What don’t I know? And as nice as this is, I think you can put me down … And don’t call me Ma'am, Steve. I’m Enid.” Gently Steve set her down. Enid took one step before her leg buckled under her. She was swept up in Steve’s arms again before she could hit the floor.

“E, you just traveled through the multi-verse. No one from your world has ever done that before, and for some odd reason, humans from that earth have a gene not present on any other Earth. I’m not entirely sure what bringing you here is going to do to you. Please, my lovely office empress, do this humble engine a favor and let spangles carry you to medical.” Gregory hovered near-by. A Snort sounded at Gregory’s ‘humble��� comment.

“Multi-verse?” Enid rubbed her temple, she could feel a head-ache coming on.

“Yep. Welcome to the MCU… well, one of the off shoots at any rate.”Steve had begun waking again.

“You don;t mind if I get a second opinion on that do you?” Enid asked softly.

“By all means do your own investigating but I think I’ve won our little bet.” Gregory smirked at her.

“Bet?” Steve asked as they turned into medical. A nurse rushed over.

“We used to discuss the marvel movies. Particularly the ones that got remade or rebooted. We debated the multi-verse theory so many times we decided to make a little bet. Gregory’s bet was that all the movies were true, just different Earths. My bet was lazy writing and trying to win back fan interest. If he won, Gregory wanted a kiss. If I won, he’d buy lunch for a week.”

“Wouldn’t that be considered cheating, since he already knew the answer?”

“Maybe, but I’ll allow it in our wager. You see Steve, the thing he failed to add was the who, where, and when. IT was implied that f he won I would be the one to kiss him, but it was never stated.” Enid smiled over a nurse’s shoulder.

“Dammit! How could I forget how easily you find loop holes? You should have been a bloody lawyer!” Gregory threw himself in a chair close to Enid. She laughed, as Steve looked back and forth between them.

XOXOXOX

Thor and Loki discreetly followed Steve, Gregory and the woman from the other Earth. Enid, Loki corrected himself. Thor snickered at the loop hole comment. He leaned close to Loki.

“Looks like there’s someone who likes to play your games brother. She is something special, after all it isn’t every day you choose to sit with someone new. Or follow them.” While Thor’s normal voice boomed, when he wanted he could whisper. Loki knew this whisper was meant as a tease.

“Perhaps brother, I simply wanted to see such blind adoration in her eyes again. When we met, it was like all her dreams had come true and were standing right before her. She did not fear me, or distrust me. I don’t think any one has ever been that happy just to meet me.” His last comment was muttered under his breath. He doubted Thor would have heard it.

“Be careful Loki, she may not have been seeing you, but this Thom Hiddstone instead. Gregory seems particularly attached to her. He will not make it easy for you to get close to her. If you have need of me, call.” Thor clapped Loki’s shoulder, exiting before they were discovered. Loki stood in the doorway until a nurse shooed him, Steve, and Gregory away.

XOXOXOX

“Am I to understand, you had Gregory Stark, alone on another world, a world I might add that didn’t have enhanced, mutants, or even super heroes, and you still lost him?” Sin’s voice was low and calm, echoing through the room. The demeanor of the men around the room changed drastically at the lack of tone. Nerves tics, began appearing.

“Sir, the avengers found us-”

“Not because you had Gregory but because you had capture Tony Stark and they had come to free him, If this report is true. Had you taken the elder Stark to another location, Gregory would be in our hands. Tell me gentlemen, do you have anything of value after this monumental disaster?” Her voice grew cold. The men knew they were about to die. Sin had a reputation that rivaled Red Skull’s.

“There was a girl with Gregory when we captured him. When the Avengers took Gregory back to their Earth, they took the girl too. She may be his weakness.”

“You are grasping at straws. I gave you a simple task, and you have failed me, failed HYDRA. My father, would not have tolerated failure, and neither will I.” Faster than anyone could register, Sin had a gun up. Six shots went into the leaders of the failed mission. One eyebrow rose and she looked around at the remaining men.

“Hail HYDRA!” Echoed around the room. Sin smirked. Her father, Red Skull, had been a merciless taskmaster and teacher. She had learned much from him.

[northshorehealthandfitness]

Chicago adventures: Architectural boat tour + Hamilton!

Hi friends! How are you? Hope you’re having a lovely week. I’m still dragging after returning from Chicago, but am slowly getting my mojo back. I got very used to staying up until 2am Valdosta time and sleeping in. I felt like my phone was taunting me when the alarm went off this week, but it was WAY worth it; we had such an amazing time.

Chicago, you are so pretty.

When we got into Chicago, we took the train downtown and checked into our hotel: the Ritz-Carlton Chicago. The Pilot said I tricked him because it’s located in the water tower building, which is a 6-story shopping center. (Apparently OPRAH USED TO LIVE IN THAT BUILDING.) These things don’t happen by accident haha. Betsy and I also chose this hotel because it was in such a great location: surrounded by shops, restaurants, and fun opportunities to explore.

The room was beautiful. It had a sitting area with a couch and a couple of chairs, two bathrooms, a comfy bed + magnificent views of the city.

When we walked into our room, we were surprised to see chocolate-covered strawberries and a little card for our 10th anniversary. It was an awesome touch.

We met up with Betsy and Jeremy to walk around the area, and then got dressed for dinner at Alinea! (The full recap is here. It was one of the best meals of my life.)

In addition to all of the amazing food we ate, we also enjoyed a lot of unique Chicago experiences.

Here are some of the highlights:

Farmer’s market

While we were walking to meet Mara and her family for brunch, we wandered through a farmer’s market. I love getting the chance to explore local farmer’s markets when I travel, especially since it gives me an idea of the fresh produce in the area, the types of handmade and artisan creations they offer, and we can check out local artists and musicians. Something about walking around a farmer’s market with a fresh juice makes me really happy.

While we didn’t pick up anything to take home, and didn’t eat anything since we were on the way to eat brunch + every dessert on the Nico Osteria menu, we did pick up some cute pumpkin branches to take to Mara.

The Surgical Sciences museum

(Dress is Saloni, shoes <— on sale, and handbag <— on sale)

This was completely accidental, and we meandered in on our way to Lincoln Park. It was fascinating to get a glimpse into the history of medicine and pharmaceuticals -we’ve come a long way, folks- and some of the old medical tools and instruments were very appropriate for Halloween-time. 

The above picture is of a bone crusher that they used to use to break bones and reset them in proper alignment… minus anesthesia, natch. 

The Architectural boat tour

Chicago is an architectural wonder, especially since it rebuilt itself after the great fire that destroyed a vast majority of the city. While the fire was tragic and thousands of locals were left homeless, Chicago quickly rebuilt itself. The architects who came in saw the land as a clean slate. Chicago is one of the cities where the skyscraper originated, and you’ll see so many different styles and unique details on the structures.

My dad is an architect, so since I was young, I’ve always been intrigued by design and ornamentation of houses and buildings. When Betsy suggested the boat tour, and so many people had suggested it, we thought it would be a fun afternoon activity. We hopped onto a boat on the river, and on the 90-minute tour, we learned a lot about the history of Chicago and the different buildings. I would highly recommend it if you’re traveling to Chicago!

My favorite story was about the old Post Office (where the Batman movie Dark Knight was filmed) and the fact that it’s been vacant for 20 years. Now, they have a permit to turn it into a residential complex and are quickly transforming it. For now, it looks pretty creepy, but I’m sure it will be fixed up and sparkling in no time. While we went up the river, we also found a lot of goals areas where we’d like to live. (If it didn’t snow so much and turn into a frozen tundra, I would want to live in Chicago.) Noteworthy: the boat had a full bar + free cookies. 

Hamilton!!

As you guys know, I’ve been obsessed with Hamilton for at least two years. (I even dedicated a workout to my Hammy love. #truefan.) Despite playing it constantly, I’m still not sick of the soundtrack.. and Liv and P know some of the words. Maybe inappropriate. Who knows.

(Dress is here)

For our 10th anniversary, the Pilot told me he’d take me to see it. We were originally thinking we’d go to NYC, but when we heard it was playing in Chicago, and Betsy and Jeremy had suggested a joint vacay, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity. Thankfully we were able to snag some tickets, and it felt very surreal when we were finally in the room where it happens. 

We grabbed glasses of champagne, and we took our seats.

Even though I was extremely excited and had been looking forward to it for months, I was expecting to be the smallest bit underwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong; I was sure I would LOVE it, but in my heart, nothing would compare to Lin-Manuel Miranda and the original cast. I thought maybe this particular cast would try to “copy” the sounds and styles of the original cast members. I was SO so wrong. Everyone brought their own unique style, nuances, and flavor to their characters. Their voices were INSANE, and I had the chills the entire time. I also cried pretty much the entire second act.

Miguel Cervantes was beyond incredible as Hamilton. We got to meet him after the show, and he was so kind and humble.

Everyone was amazing, but King George was particularly hilarious (the audience was cracking up during his numbers) and Aaron Burr. He blew us all away. He had so much heart, and a strong, incredible voice. 

With Aaron Burr, sir.  

(Gregory Treco. I failed on making a mad Aaron Burr face for the pic.)

It felt like such an honor to be able to witness that much talent and hard work in one room. Something else that surprised me: the dancing. Since I’d only listened to the soundtrack, it was hard for me to picture the ensemble and the dance numbers. The choreography was astounding. Some numbers were more like interpretive dance, but over the course of the show, it ranged from modern, to hip hop, to ballet, and classic Broadway jazz. There were so many pieces that went into place so perfectly, and it was by far, my favorite musical experience. I seriously had to hold it together while we were leaving because I was about to start sobbing like a weirdo. I was just so happy.

Best anniversary gift, and trip, ever. <3

Have you been to Chicago? What was your favorite part?

If you could live anywhere, where would you choose?

xoxo

Gina

Shout out to reader friends Julie and Melissa who said hi and chatted for a bit at Nordstrom! I loved getting to meet you. <3 

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[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.28

98 – On the death of Nerva, Trajan is declared Roman emperor in Cologne, the seat of his government in lower Germany. 814 – The death of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, brings about the accession of his son Louis the Pious as ruler of the Frankish Empire. 1069 – Robert de Comines, appointed Earl of Northumbria by William the Conqueror, rides into Durham, England, where he is defeated and killed by rebels. This incident leads to the Harrying of the North. 1077 – Walk to Canossa: The excommunication of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, is lifted after he humbles himself before Pope Gregory VII at Canossa in Italy. 1521 – The Diet of Worms begins, lasting until May 25. 1547 – Edward VI, the nine-year-old son of Henry VIII, becomes King of England on his father's death. 1568 – The Edict of Torda prohibits the persecution of individuals on religious grounds in John Sigismund Zápolya's Eastern Hungarian Kingdom. 1573 – Articles of the Warsaw Confederation are signed, sanctioning freedom of religion in Poland. 1591 – Execution of Agnes Sampson, accused of witchcraft in Edinburgh. 1624 – Sir Thomas Warner founds the first British colony in the Caribbean, on the island of Saint Kitts. 1671 – Original city of Panama (founded in 1519) is destroyed by a fire when privateer Henry Morgan sacks and sets fire to it. The site of the previously devastated city is still in ruins (see Panama Viejo). 1724 – The Russian Academy of Sciences is founded in St. Petersburg, Russia, by Peter the Great, and implemented by Senate decree. It is called the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences until 1917. 1754 – Sir Horace Walpole coins the word serendipity in a letter to a friend. 1813 – Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is first published in the United Kingdom. 1846 – The Battle of Aliwal, India, is won by British troops commanded by Sir Harry Smith. 1851 – Northwestern University becomes the first chartered university in Illinois. 1855 – A locomotive on the Panama Canal Railway runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean for the first time. 1871 – Franco-Prussian War: The Siege of Paris ends in French defeat and an armistice. 1878 – Yale Daily News becomes the first independent daily college newspaper in the United States. 1896 – Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, becomes the first person to be convicted of speeding. He was fined one shilling, plus costs, for speeding at 8 mph (13 km/h), thereby exceeding the contemporary speed limit of 2 mph (3.2 km/h). 1901–present 1902 – The Carnegie Institution of Washington is founded in Washington, D.C. with a $10 million gift from Andrew Carnegie. 1908 – Members of the Portuguese Republican Party fail in their attempted coup d'état against the administrative dictatorship of Prime Minister João Franco. 1909 – United States troops leave Cuba, with the exception of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, after being there since the Spanish–American War. 1915 – An act of the U.S. Congress creates the United States Coast Guard as a branch of the United States Armed Forces. 1916 – The Canadian province of Manitoba grants women the right to vote and run for office in provincial elections (although still excluding women of Indigenous or Asian heritage), marking the first time women in Canada are granted voting rights. 1918 – Finnish Civil War: The Red Guard rebels seize control of the capital, Helsinki; members of the Senate of Finland go underground. 1919 – The Order of the White Rose of Finland is established by Baron Gustaf Mannerheim, the regent of the Kingdom of Finland. 1920 – Foundation of the Spanish Legion. 1922 – Knickerbocker Storm: Washington, D.C.'s biggest snowfall, causes a disaster when the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre collapses, killing over 100 people. 1932 – Japanese forces attack Shanghai. 1933 – The name Pakistan is coined by Choudhry Rahmat Ali Khan and is accepted by Indian Muslims who then thereby adopted it further for the Pakistan Movement seeking independence. 1935 – Iceland becomes the first Western country to legalize therapeutic abortion. 1938 – The World Land Speed Record on a public road is broken by Rudolf Caracciola in the Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen at a speed of 432.7 kilometres per hour (268.9 mph). 1941 – Franco-Thai War: Final air battle of the conflict. A Japanese-mediated armistice goes into effect later in the day. 1945 – World War II: Supplies begin to reach the Republic of China over the newly reopened Burma Road. 1956 – Elvis Presley makes his first national television appearance. 1958 – The Lego company patents the design of its Lego bricks, still compatible with bricks produced today. 1960 – The National Football League announces expansion teams for Dallas to start in the 1960 NFL season and Minneapolis-St. Paul for the 1961 NFL season. 1964 – An unarmed United States Air Force T-39 Sabreliner on a training mission is shot down over Erfurt, East Germany, by a Soviet MiG-19. 1965 – The current design of the Flag of Canada is chosen by an act of Parliament. 1977 – The first day of the Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977, which dumps 3 metres (10 ft) of snow in one day in Upstate New York. Buffalo, Syracuse, Watertown, and surrounding areas are most affected. 1980 – USCGC Blackthorn collides with the tanker Capricorn while leaving Tampa, Florida and capsizes, killing 23 Coast Guard crewmembers. 1981 – Ronald Reagan lifts remaining domestic petroleum price and allocation controls in the United States, helping to end the 1979 energy crisis and begin the 1980s oil glut. 1982 – US Army general James L. Dozier is rescued by Italian anti-terrorism forces from captivity by the Red Brigades. 1984 – Tropical Storm Domoina makes landfall in southern Mozambique, eventually causing 214 deaths and some of the most severe flooding so far recorded in the region. 1985 – Supergroup USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa) records the hit single We Are the World, to help raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief. 1986 – Space Shuttle program: STS-51-L mission: Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrates after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts on board. 1988 – In R v Morgentaler the Supreme Court of Canada strikes down all anti-abortion laws. 2002 – TAME Flight 120, a Boeing 727-100, crashes in the Andes mountains in southern Colombia, killing 94. 2006 – The roof of one of the buildings at the Katowice International Fair in Poland collapses due to the weight of snow, killing 65 and injuring more than 170 others. 2021 – A nitrogen leak at a poultry food processing facility in Gainesville, Georgia kills six and injures at least ten.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.28

98 – On the death of Nerva, Trajan is declared Roman emperor in Cologne, the seat of his government in lower Germany. 814 – The death of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, brings about the accession of his son Louis the Pious as ruler of the Frankish Empire. 1069 – Robert de Comines, appointed Earl of Northumbria by William the Conqueror, rides into Durham, England, where he is defeated and killed by rebels. This incident leads to the Harrying of the North. 1077 – Walk to Canossa: The excommunication of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, is lifted after he humbles himself before Pope Gregory VII at Canossa in Italy. 1521 – The Diet of Worms begins, lasting until May 25. 1547 – Edward VI, the nine-year-old son of Henry VIII, becomes King of England on his father's death. 1568 – The Edict of Torda prohibits the persecution of individuals on religious grounds in John Sigismund Zápolya's Eastern Hungarian Kingdom. 1573 – Articles of the Warsaw Confederation are signed, sanctioning freedom of religion in Poland. 1591 – Execution of Agnes Sampson, accused of witchcraft in Edinburgh. 1624 – Sir Thomas Warner founds the first British colony in the Caribbean, on the island of Saint Kitts. 1671 – Original city of Panama (founded in 1519) is destroyed by a fire when privateer Henry Morgan sacks and sets fire to it. The site of the previously devastated city is still in ruins (see Panama Viejo). 1724 – The Russian Academy of Sciences is founded in St. Petersburg, Russia, by Peter the Great, and implemented by Senate decree. It is called the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences until 1917. 1754 – Sir Horace Walpole coins the word serendipity in a letter to a friend. 1813 – Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is first published in the United Kingdom. 1846 – The Battle of Aliwal, India, is won by British troops commanded by Sir Harry Smith. 1851 – Northwestern University becomes the first chartered university in Illinois. 1855 – A locomotive on the Panama Canal Railway runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean for the first time. 1871 – Franco-Prussian War: The Siege of Paris ends in French defeat and an armistice. 1878 – Yale Daily News becomes the first independent daily college newspaper in the United States. 1896 – Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, becomes the first person to be convicted of speeding. He was fined one shilling, plus costs, for speeding at 8 mph (13 km/h), thereby exceeding the contemporary speed limit of 2 mph (3.2 km/h). 1902 – The Carnegie Institution of Washington is founded in Washington, D.C. with a $10 million gift from Andrew Carnegie. 1908 – Members of the Portuguese Republican Party fail in their attempted coup d'état against the administrative dictatorship of Prime Minister João Franco. 1909 – United States troops leave Cuba, with the exception of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, after being there since the Spanish–American War. 1915 – An act of the U.S. Congress creates the United States Coast Guard as a branch of the United States Armed Forces. 1918 – Finnish Civil War: The Red Guard rebels seize control of the capital, Helsinki; members of the Senate of Finland go underground. 1919 – The Order of the White Rose of Finland is established by Baron Gustaf Mannerheim, the regent of the Kingdom of Finland. 1920 – Foundation of the Spanish Legion. 1922 – Knickerbocker Storm: Washington, D.C.'s biggest snowfall, causes a disaster when the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre collapses, killing over 100 people. 1932 – Japanese forces attack Shanghai. 1933 – The name Pakistan is coined by Choudhry Rahmat Ali Khan and is accepted by Indian Muslims who then thereby adopted it further for the Pakistan Movement seeking independence. 1935 – Iceland becomes the first Western country to legalize therapeutic abortion. 1938 – The World Land Speed Record on a public road is broken by Rudolf Caracciola in the Mercedes-Benz W125 Rekordwagen at a speed of 432.7 kilometres per hour (268.9 mph). 1941 – Franco-Thai War: Final air battle of the conflict. A Japanese-mediated armistice goes into effect later in the day. 1945 – World War II: Supplies begin to reach the Republic of China over the newly reopened Burma Road. 1956 – Elvis Presley makes his first national television appearance. 1958 – The Lego company patents the design of its Lego bricks, still compatible with bricks produced today. 1960 – The National Football League announces expansion teams for Dallas to start in the 1960 NFL season and Minneapolis-St. Paul for the 1961 NFL season. 1964 – An unarmed United States Air Force T-39 Sabreliner on a training mission is shot down over Erfurt, East Germany, by a Soviet MiG-19. 1965 – The current design of the Flag of Canada is chosen by an act of Parliament. 1977 – The first day of the Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977, which dumps 10 feet (3.0 m) of snow in one day in Upstate New York. Buffalo, Syracuse, Watertown, and surrounding areas are most affected. 1980 – USCGC Blackthorn collides with the tanker Capricorn while leaving Tampa, Florida and capsizes, killing 23 Coast Guard crewmembers. 1981 – Ronald Reagan lifts remaining domestic petroleum price and allocation controls in the United States, helping to end the 1979 energy crisis and begin the 1980s oil glut. 1982 – US Army general James L. Dozier is rescued by Italian anti-terrorism forces from captivity by the Red Brigades. 1984 – Tropical Storm Domoina makes landfall in southern Mozambique, eventually causing 214 deaths and some of the most severe flooding so far recorded in the region. 1985 – Supergroup USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa) records the hit single We Are the World, to help raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief. 1986 – Space Shuttle program: STS-51-L mission: Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrates after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts on board. 1988 – In R v Morgentaler the Supreme Court of Canada strikes down all anti-abortion laws. 2002 – TAME Flight 120, a Boeing 727-100, crashes in the Andes mountains in southern Colombia, killing 94. 2006 – The roof of one of the buildings at the Katowice International Fair in Poland collapses due to the weight of snow, killing 65 and injuring more than 170 others. 2021 – A nitrogen leak at a poultry food processing facility in Gainesville, Georgia kills six and injures at least ten.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.28

814 – The death of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, brings about the accession of his son Louis the Pious as ruler of the Frankish Empire. 1069 – Robert de Comines, appointed Earl of Northumbria by William the Conqueror, rides into Durham, England, where he is defeated and killed by rebels. This incident leads to the Harrying of the North. 1077 – Walk to Canossa: The excommunication of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, is lifted after he humbles himself before Pope Gregory VII at Canossa in Italy. 1521 – The Diet of Worms begins, lasting until May 25. 1547 – Edward VI, the nine-year-old son of Henry VIII, becomes King of England on his father's death. 1568 – The Edict of Torda prohibits the persecution of individuals on religious grounds in John Sigismund Zápolya's Eastern Hungarian Kingdom. 1573 – Articles of the Warsaw Confederation are signed, sanctioning freedom of religion in Poland. 1591 – Execution of Agnes Sampson, accused of witchcraft in Edinburgh. 1624 – Sir Thomas Warner founds the first British colony in the Caribbean, on the island of Saint Kitts. 1671 – Original city of Panama (founded in 1519) is destroyed by a fire when privateer Henry Morgan sacks and sets fire to it. The site of the previously devastated city is still in ruins (see Panama Viejo). 1724 – The Russian Academy of Sciences is founded in St. Petersburg, Russia, by Peter the Great, and implemented by Senate decree. It is called the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences until 1917. 1754 – Sir Horace Walpole coins the word serendipity in a letter to a friend. 1813 – Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is first published in the United Kingdom. 1846 – The Battle of Aliwal, India, is won by British troops commanded by Sir Harry Smith. 1851 – Northwestern University becomes the first chartered university in Illinois. 1855 – A locomotive on the Panama Canal Railway runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean for the first time. 1871 – Franco-Prussian War: The Siege of Paris ends in French defeat and an armistice. 1878 – Yale Daily News becomes the first independent daily college newspaper in the United States. 1896 – Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, becomes the first person to be convicted of speeding. He was fined one shilling, plus costs, for speeding at 8 mph (13 km/h), thereby exceeding the contemporary speed limit of 2 mph (3.2 km/h). 1902 – The Carnegie Institution of Washington is founded in Washington, D.C. with a $10 million gift from Andrew Carnegie. 1908 – Members of the Portuguese Republican Party fail in their attempted coup d'état against the administrative dictatorship of Prime Minister João Franco. 1909 – United States troops leave Cuba, with the exception of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, after being there since the Spanish–American War. 1915 – An act of the U.S. Congress creates the United States Coast Guard as a branch of the United States Armed Forces. 1918 – Finnish Civil War: The Red Guard rebels seize control of the capital, Helsinki; members of the Senate of Finland go underground. 1920 – Foundation of the Spanish Legion. 1922 – Knickerbocker Storm: Washington, D.C.'s biggest snowfall, causes a disaster when the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre collapses, killing over 100 people. 1932 – Japanese forces attack Shanghai. 1933 – The name Pakistan is coined by Choudhry Rahmat Ali Khan and is accepted by Indian Muslims who then thereby adopted it further for the Pakistan Movement seeking independence. 1935 – Iceland becomes the first Western country to legalize therapeutic abortion. 1938 – The World Land Speed Record on a public road is broken by Rudolf Caracciola in the Mercedes-Benz W195 at a speed of 432.7 kilometres per hour (268.9 mph). 1941 – Franco-Thai War: Final air battle of the conflict. A Japanese-mediated armistice goes into effect later in the day. 1945 – World War II: Supplies begin to reach the Republic of China over the newly reopened Burma Road. 1956 – Elvis Presley makes his first national television appearance. 1958 – The Lego company patents the design of its Lego bricks, still compatible with bricks produced today. 1960 – The National Football League announces expansion teams for Dallas to start in the 1960 NFL season and Minneapolis-St. Paul for the 1961 NFL season. 1964 – An unarmed United States Air Force T-39 Sabreliner on a training mission is shot down over Erfurt, East Germany, by a Soviet MiG-19. 1965 – The current design of the Flag of Canada is chosen by an act of Parliament. 1977 – The first day of the Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977, which dumps 10 feet (3.0 m) of snow in one day in Upstate New York. Buffalo, Syracuse, Watertown, and surrounding areas are most affected. 1980 – USCGC Blackthorn collides with the tanker Capricorn while leaving Tampa, Florida and capsizes, killing 23 Coast Guard crewmembers. 1981 – Ronald Reagan lifts remaining domestic petroleum price and allocation controls in the United States, helping to end the 1979 energy crisis and begin the 1980s oil glut. 1982 – US Army general James L. Dozier is rescued by Italian anti-terrorism forces from captivity by the Red Brigades. 1984 – Tropical Storm Domoina makes landfall in southern Mozambique, eventually causing 214 deaths and some of the most severe flooding so far recorded in the region. 1985 – Supergroup USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa) records the hit single We Are the World, to help raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief. 1986 – Space Shuttle program: STS-51-L mission: Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrates after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts on board. 1988 – In R v Morgentaler the Supreme Court of Canada strikes down all anti-abortion laws. 2002 – TAME Flight 120, a Boeing 727-100, crashes in the Andes mountains in southern Colombia, killing 94. 2006 – The roof of one of the buildings at the Katowice International Fair in Poland collapses due to the weight of snow, killing 65 and injuring more than 170 others.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 1.28

814 – The death of Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, brings about the accession of his son Louis the Pious as ruler of the Frankish Empire. 1069 – Robert de Comines, appointed Earl of Northumbria by William the Conqueror, rides into Durham, England, where he is defeated and killed by rebels. This incident leads to the Harrying of the North. 1077 – Walk to Canossa: The excommunication of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, is lifted after he humbles himself before Pope Gregory VII at Canossa in Italy. 1393 – King Charles VI of France is nearly killed when several dancers' costumes catch fire during a masquerade ball. 1521 – The Diet of Worms begins, lasting until May 25 1547 – Edward VI, the nine-year-old son of Henry VIII, becomes King of England on his father's death. 1568 – The Edict of Torda prohibited the persecution of individuals on religious ground in John Sigismund Zápolya's Eastern Hungarian Kingdom. 1573 – Articles of the Warsaw Confederation are signed, sanctioning freedom of religion in Poland. 1624 – Sir Thomas Warner founds the first British colony in the Caribbean, on the island of Saint Kitts. 1671 – Original city of Panama (founded in 1519) was destroyed by a fire when privateer Henry Morgan sacked and set fire to it. The site of the previously devastated city is still in ruins (see Panama Viejo). 1724 – The Russian Academy of Sciences is founded in St. Petersburg by Peter the Great, and implemented by Senate decree. It is called the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences until 1917. 1754 – Sir Horace Walpole coins the word serendipity in a letter to a friend. 1813 – Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is first published in the United Kingdom. 1846 – The Battle of Aliwal, India, is won by British troops commanded by Sir Harry Smith. 1851 – Northwestern University becomes the first chartered university in Illinois. 1855 – A locomotive on the Panama Canal Railway runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean for the first time. 1871 – Franco-Prussian War: The Siege of Paris ends in French defeat and an armistice. 1878 – Yale Daily News becomes the first daily college newspaper in the United States. 1896 – Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, becomes the first person to be convicted of speeding. He was fined one shilling, plus costs, for speeding at 8 mph (13 km/h), thereby exceeding the contemporary speed limit of 2 mph (3.2 km/h). 1902 – The Carnegie Institution of Washington is founded in Washington, D.C. with a $10 million gift from Andrew Carnegie. 1908 – Members of the Portuguese Republican Party fail in their attempted coup d'état against the administrative dictatorship of Prime Minister João Franco. 1909 – United States troops leave Cuba with the exception of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base after being there since the Spanish–American War. 1915 – An act of the U.S. Congress creates the United States Coast Guard as a branch of the United States Armed Forces. 1918 – Finnish Civil War: The Red Guard rebels seize control of the capital, Helsinki; members of the Senate of Finland go underground. 1920 – Foundation of the Spanish Legion. 1922 – Knickerbocker Storm, Washington D.C.'s biggest snowfall, causes the city's greatest loss of life when the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre collapses. 1932 – Japanese forces attack Shanghai. 1933 – The name Pakistan is coined by Choudhry Rahmat Ali Khan and is accepted by Indian Muslims who then thereby adopted it further for the Pakistan Movement seeking independence. 1935 – Iceland becomes the first Western country to legalize therapeutic abortion. 1938 – The World Land Speed Record on a public road is broken by Rudolf Caracciola in the Mercedes-Benz W195 at a speed of 432.7 kilometres per hour (268.9 mph). 1941 – Franco-Thai War: Final air battle of the conflict. A Japanese-mediated armistice goes into effect later in the day. 1945 – World War II: Supplies begin to reach the Republic of China over the newly reopened Burma Road. 1956 – Elvis Presley makes his first national television appearance. 1958 – The Lego company patents the design of its Lego bricks, still compatible with bricks produced today. 1960 – The National Football League announced expansion teams for Dallas to start in the 1960 NFL season and Minneapolis-St. Paul for 1961 NFL season. 1964 – An unarmed United States Air Force T-39 Sabreliner on a training mission is shot down over Erfurt, East Germany, by a Soviet MiG-19. 1965 – The current design of the Flag of Canada is chosen by an act of Parliament. 1977 – The first day of the Great Lakes Blizzard of 1977 which dumps 10 feet (3.0 m) of snow in one day in Upstate New York, with Buffalo, Syracuse, Watertown, and surrounding areas are most affected. 1980 – USCGC Blackthorn collides with the tanker Capricorn while leaving Tampa, Florida and capsizes, killing 23 Coast Guard crewmembers. 1981 – Ronald Reagan lifts remaining domestic petroleum price and allocation controls in the United States helping to end the 1979 energy crisis and begin the 1980s oil glut. 1982 – US Army general James L. Dozier is rescued by Italian anti-terrorism forces from captivity by the Red Brigades. 1984 – Tropical Storm Domoina makes landfall in southern Mozambique, eventually causing 214 deaths and some of the most severe flooding so far recorded in the region. 1985 – Supergroup USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa) records the hit single We Are the World, to help raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief. 1986 – Space Shuttle program: STS-51-L mission: Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrates after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts on board. 1988 – In R v Morgentaler the Supreme Court of Canada strikes down all anti-abortion laws. 2002 – TAME Flight 120, a Boeing 727-100 crashes in the Andes mountains in southern Colombia, killing 92. 2006 – The roof of one of the buildings at the Katowice International Fair in Poland collapses due to the weight of snow, killing 65 and injuring more than 170 others.