#The Underground Exhibitor

[viviseconds]

Installation view, David Zwirner: 30 Years, David Zwirner, Los Angeles, 2024 From left: Steven Shearer The Underground Exhibitor, 2024 Oil on canvas, artist’s frame 67 5/8 x 49 ½ in Andra Ursuţa Predators 'R Us, 2022 Lead crystal 29 x 27 x 52 inches Noah Davis Untitled, 2015 Oil on canvas 72 x 96 inches

[colleendoran]

MOCCA Arts Festival

Announcing the 2023 MoCCA Arts Festival Featured Guests

The Society of Illustrators is proud to share a list of Featured Guests who will appear at the MoCCA Arts Festival, taking place April 1 - 2, 2023 from 11:00AM - 7:00PM on Saturday and 11:00AM - 6:00PM on Sunday. The Exhibitor Hall will be held at Met Pavilion, a spacious venue nestled in the heart of the Chelsea neighborhood, and is within walking distance to many great restaurants and attractions. Programming will be a few steps away at the SVA Flatiron Gallery, located at 133 West 21st Street. 

Maia Kobabe is the author of Gender Queer (Oni Press), a critically acclaimed Young Adult graphic memoir that has also been named a Stonewall Honor book. Gender Queer was also ranked by the American Library Association as the most frequently banned or challenged book in the United States in 2021. Kobabe will talk about eir work in a special spotlight session moderated by Michele Kirichanskaya and will also participate in a panel on comics and censorship hosted by PEN America’s Jonathan Friedman.

In her career, Colleen Doran has written and drawn the long-running creator-owned series A Distant Soil and has worked on titles including Wonder Woman, Amazing Spider-Man, and many others. Her body of work includes a series of collaborations with writer Neil Gaiman which are the subject of the exhibit “Colleen Doran Illustrates Neil Gaiman,” running from March 22nd to July 29th at the Society of Illustrators. She will appear in conversation with Gaiman to discuss their comics collaborations and her overall body of work in a special programming event moderated by exhibition curator Kim Munson.

Barbara Brandon-Croft became the first Black woman to write and draw a nationally syndicated comic strip when Where I’m Coming From debuted in American newspapers in 1991. Featuring a cast of nine women of color commenting insightfully on current events, her groundbreaking comic strip has now been anthologized in a book edition from Drawn and Quarterly. Brandon-Croft will talk about her trailblazing work in a special spotlight session. 

Other featured artists at this year’s festival will include:

Kim Deitch, a pioneering underground comix artist who began publishing comics in the East Village Other in 1967 and whose most recent graphic novel, Reincarnation Stories (Fantagraphics) was published to critical acclaim in 2019. 

Drew Friedman, whose most recent book of portraiture, Maverix and Lunatix (Fantagraphics), celebrates the artists of the underground comix generation

Miriam Katin, whose out-of-print graphic memoir of escaping the Holocaust as a child refugee accompanied by her mother, We Are On Our Own (Drawn & Quarterly), will be republished in a forthcoming paperback edition. 

Toma Vagner, the award-winning illustrator who designed this year’s MoCCA key image and has produced striking graphics for clients including Harry Styles, Google, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and The New Yorker. 

Noah Van Sciver, whose body of graphic novels includes Joseph Smith and the Mormons (Abrams ComicArts), Fante Bukowski (Fantagraphics Books), and the forthcoming comic book series Maple Terrace (Uncivilized Books). 

These and other Featured Artists will participate in programming and signings, schedules for which will be announced in the coming days and weeks. A full list of exhibiting artists can be found on the MoCCA Arts website. 

About the Museum of Illustration at the Society of Illustrators and the MoCCA Arts Festival

Founded in 1901, the Society of Illustrators and its Museum of Illustration together comprise America’s longest-standing nonprofit organization dedicated to the art of illustration. The mission of SI/MI is to promote the art and appreciation of illustration and its history and evolving nature through exhibitions and educational programs. 

The MoCCA Arts Festival is a 2-day multimedia event, Manhattan’s largest independent comics and cartoon festival, drawing over 7,000 attendees each year. With over 500 exhibiting artists displaying their work, award-winning honorees speaking about their careers and artistic processes and other featured artists conducting demos, lectures and panels, our Festival mission accelerates the advancement of the Society’s broader mission to serve as Manhattan’s singular cultural institution promoting all genres of illustration through exhibitions, programs and art education. 

The Society will continue to release additional information about the Fest in the near future. Tickets are available to purchase online as well as at the door.  The Society is following all state and city safety protocols. Protocols are subject to change, so be sure to check back for the latest information. As of now, face coverings are optional at Metropolitan Pavilion and the Exhibitor Hall. Proof of vaccines, boosters and masks are required to enter SVA buildings and programming. 

To learn more about the Fest, please visit the website.

For media inquiries please contact:

Kate Feirtag

Director of Communications and External Relations

kate@societyillustrators.org

[stands-pro]

Bauma 2025

Get your career on the right track at the Bauma 2025 fair with innovatively constructed stands in Germany.

Bauma 2025 is set to be held in Munich between April 7 and April 13, 2025. It’s a worldwide expo that will showcase construction equipment, building materials, mining equipment, construction vehicles, and equipment. Construction sites, manufacturing of building materials mining, extracting raw materials and processing, and suppliers of components and services are the four sections of the exhibition.

Construction vehicles, truck carriages to support body assemblies for special Road sweepers, body trailers and assemblies Tractors, Dumper trucks, Semitrailer cars Attachments, Machines for tunneling, construction equipment excavators for tunnels, excavator loaders, Scrapers, loaders, bulldozers, graders and loaders are just a few examples of excavators.

Be ready for Bauma 2025 by using the best booth builder.

As an exhibitor from around the world, Finding a reliable exhibit stand design company located in Germany is a lot more difficult than making a stand in your own country. This is why having a professional guide with your exhibits will always help you to move to a successful future for your business. Stand builders will help you in developing an agenda to create a modern showcase. If you’re looking for a top-quality exhibition, don’t hesitate anymore. Rather, choose us to be your exhibit booth constructor in Munich for the Bauma 2025. Stands Pro is considered to be Bauma’s most competent and reliable exhibition stand builder. We are an exhibit stand design firm located in Germany that offers a broad assortment of stand options that are suitable for Bauma Munich 2025.

Stands Pro is an exhibition stand builder for Bauma that solves the problems exhibitors face when exhibiting. As an exhibit booth builder in Munich, we offer you a stunning stand, allowing you to have a fantastic showcase during Bauma Munich 2025. We design to ensure that your display during Bauma 2025 Munich will go beyond creativity by taking care of all the essential elements, including the transformation of ideas into creating, building, and demolishing your exhibit stand for Bauma 2025.

Let us take on the burden and act as your design and production company for your exhibit stand in Germany to ensure that your stand is profitable while you pay attention to your display. We are able to draw the attention of people at your tradeshow stand in Bauma Munich 2025

Event Details: Bauma 2025

Name of the Show: Bauma

Dates: April 7th to April 13th, 2025

Location: Munich, Germany

Organiser: Bauma is organized by Messe München GmbH, one of the world’s leading trade fair organizers with extensive experience in hosting exhibitions and events across various industries.

Exhibitor Profile: Bauma attracts exhibitors from various sectors of the construction, building materials, and mining industry, including:

Construction Machinery Manufacturers: Leading manufacturers of construction machinery, equipment, and vehicles such as excavators, cranes, bulldozers, loaders, dump trucks, and concrete pumps.

Building Materials Suppliers: Suppliers of building materials, aggregates, cement, concrete, prefabricated structures, roofing materials, and construction chemicals used in residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects.

Mining Equipment and Technology Providers: Companies offering mining equipment, machinery, and technologies for surface mining, underground mining, mineral processing, and resource extraction.

Construction Technology and Innovation: Providers of construction technology solutions, software, and digital tools for project management, building information modeling (BIM), automation, and sustainability in construction.

Services and Solutions Providers: Providers of construction-related services such as engineering, consulting, contracting, financing, leasing, rental, and aftermarket support for construction equipment and machinery.

Why Attend the Show:

Product Showcase: Explore a vast array of construction machinery, equipment, building materials, and mining technologies from leading industry suppliers, gaining insights into the latest innovations and advancements in the industry.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry professionals, contractors, engineers, architects, developers, and decision-makers from around the world, fostering collaborations, partnerships, and business opportunities.

Technical Insights: Attend conferences, seminars, and technical presentations featuring industry experts and thought leaders discussing trends, challenges, and best practices in construction, building materials, and mining.

Market Intelligence: Gain valuable market intelligence about the global construction and mining industry, including market trends, regulatory developments, and emerging opportunities in infrastructure development and urbanization.

International Platform: Bauma provides an international platform for companies to showcase their products and solutions, attracting visitors and exhibitors from diverse geographic regions, and facilitating global business connections.

Organiser Website Link for More Info: For more information about Bauma 2025, including registration details, exhibitor information, and the event program, please visit the official website: Bauma

In summary, Bauma 2025 is a premier event for professionals and businesses in the construction, building materials, and mining industry, offering valuable networking opportunities, product showcases, technical insights, market intelligence, and global business connections.

[theultimatefan]

Williamson, Mann, Gerads, Platt Headline Talented Comics Creators Attending FAN EXPO Portland

An incredible array of talented comics artists and writers, spanning more than a half century of work and encompassing dozens of the most popular franchises in the history of the medium through the present will be on hand as FAN EXPO Portland today announced the Artist Alley headliners for the convention, set for January 12-14 at the Oregon Convention Center. Among the superstar writers and artists are Joshua Williamson (“Superman,” “Batman and Robin”), Clay Mann (“Batman/Catwoman,” “Heroes in Crisis”), Mitch Gerads (“Mister Miracle,” Batman”), Stephen Platt (“Moon Knight,” “Wolverine”), Jeremy Adams (“Green Lantern” “The Flash”), Rose Besch (“The Amazing Spider-Man,” “Sheena: Queen of the Jungle”), Dan Brereton (“The Nocturnals,” “Batman: Thrillkiller”), Jonathan Glapion (“Wonder Woman,” “Batman”), and Tim Jacobus (“Goosebumps").

Just about every franchise imaginable will be well represented at FAN EXPO Portland, and comic fans will revel in meeting the creators who have made them possible. Q&A’s, interactive demonstration sessions, autographs, commission opportunities and more make the experience a can’t-miss for comic lovers.

Other notables in the deep field of creators include Jonboy Meyers (“Superman” “Venom”), Cary Nord (“Daredevil,” “Conan”), Dan Panosian (“Iron Man,” “Thor”), Doc Shaner (“Future Quest,” “Strange Adventures”), Tim Sheridan (“Teen Titans,” “Alan Scott: Green Lantern”), Ben Templesmith (“30 Days of Night,” “Star Wars”), Randy Emberlin (“Amazing Spider-Man,” “Batman”), Guy Gilchrist (“The Muppets,” “Nancy”), Stephen Green(“Hellboy,” “Sea of Stars”), Karl Kesel (“The Adventures of Superman,” “Fantastic Four”), Mindy Lee ("Crimson Lotus,” “Bounty Comic”), Steve Lieber (“Vampirella,” “Underground”), Kevin Maguire (“Justice League,” “Batman Confidential”), Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies, “The Walking Dead”) and dozens of others, many from Portland and the Pacific Northwest. The full list is available at https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpoportland/comic-creators/.

The FAN EXPO Portland comics lineup bolsters an event whose celebrity field is also first-rate. “Stranger Things” standout Joseph Quinn, "Daredevil" tandem of Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio, “The Walking Dead” stars Jon Bernthal (“The Punisher”) and Laurie Holden, Giancarlo Esposito (“The Mandalorian,” “Breaking Bad”), Sean Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, “Avengers: Infinity War”), Danny Trejo (Machete, The Book of Boba Fett), Lana Parrilla (“Once Upon a Time,” “Spin City”), “Charmed” duo of Holly Marie Combs and Rose McGowan, Peter Weller (RoboCop, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension), Jason Lee (Vanilla Sky, Almost Famous), Mary McDonnell (“Battlestar Galactica,” “The Fall of the House of Usher”) and Emily Swallow (“The Mandalorian,” “Supernatural”) are among the many headliners.

FAN EXPO Portland features the biggest and best in pop culture: movies, TV, music, artists, writers, exhibitors, cosplay, with three full days of themed programming to satisfy every fandom.

Single-Day Tickets, Three-Day Passes, and Ultimate Fan Packages for FAN EXPO Portland are available now. Advance pricing is available until December 28, 2023. More guest news will be released in the following weeks, including line-up reveals for comic creator guests, voice actors, and cosplayers.

Portland is the second event on the 2024 FAN EXPO HQ calendar; the full schedule is available at fanexpohq.com/home/events/.

[productsreviewings]

The newer West Corridor of CES, web site of automotive expertise, is the picture of how the remainder of the Las Vegas Conference Heart is being remade.  CTAThe annual Client Electronics Present is true across the nook (Jan. 5 via Jan. 8), and as soon as once more, it will likely be a hybrid occasion, happening concurrently in Las Vegas and inside a browser-based digital assembly corridor, as was the case final yr.Again in Las VegasThe expanded measurement of the bodily venue in Las Vegas for the 2023 present is a sign of enthusiasm for in-person interactions regardless of the continued digital ingredient, says the Client Know-how Affiliation, the sponsor group of the decades-old present.Over 100,000 attendees are the objective for CES, in response to the Affiliation. Attendees are coming from 173 nations, territories, and areas, and over 4,700 members of the media have been registered."I believe persons are enthusiastic about CES, they're excited to reconnect, they're excited to be again in particular person," stated John T. Kelley, vice chairman and appearing present director for CES, in an interview with ZDNET in New York."We're holding the digital element, however the in-person element is again larger this yr," stated Kinsey Fabrizio, senior vice chairman of membership and CES gross sales, in the identical assembly. For instance, the full present flooring is 70% larger this time than final.Additionally: Finest CES 2023 tech devices you should purchase proper nowExhibitors that could not make the final present are again for 2023, stated Fabrizio, with over 3,100 exhibitors. He stated about 1,000 of them are first-time exhibitors."They're taking assembly rooms, along with their exhibit house," stated Fabrizio of CES's exhibitors, "which is a sign that they need to do enterprise.""We have now a report variety of submissions for our Improvements Awards Program, too," stated Kelley. (Picture: Volvo)Key themes and tech to observeEVs and autonomous autosAmongst CES 2023's key themes are cars and car mobility expertise, stated Fabrizio. These classes have been moved to the just lately constructed West Corridor (located throughout Paradise Highway from the present Las Vegas Conference Heart) -- which, in January, had CES as its first tenants. Area is offered out in West Corridor, stated Fabrizio. CES additionally makes use of the present Central and North Halls, whereas the South Corridor has been razed as a part of a multi-part renovation of the Heart.The Central Corridor is linked to West Corridor by way of the underground tunnel created by Elon Musk's The Boring Firm, ferrying passengers in Teslas. Tunnel stations prolong previous West Corridor to the Resorts World lodge, throughout South Las Vegas Boulevard from the Wynn, subsequent to the Circus, Circus. Additionally: CES 2023 preview: Crowds set to return to Las Vegas, however digital ingredient stays"You may discover a number of autonomous driving expertise" in West Corridor, and electrical autos, stated Fabrizio, together with Mild 12 months, makers of a solar-powered electrical car. John Deere and Caterpillar can even be in West Corridor, the latter possible that includes an autonomous tractor.Together with autos, nautical tech may have an enormous presence, together with electrical yachts, stated Fabrizio, with manufacturers akin to Volvo, and all method of marine expertise.   Digital well beingOne other main theme is digital well being applied sciences, as soon as once more situated in North Corridor because it was final time. Areas inside digital well being embody sleep expertise, digital therapeutics, psychological well being, and new diagnostic expertise. "Over-the-counter listening to aids is an enormous factor we're seeing," stated Fabrizio. New laws handed this yr by the FDA within the U.S. relaxed entry to the gadgets, which implies shoppers should purchase listening to aids with no prescription. (Congress had handed a legislation pertaining to the loosening

in 2017, and President Biden carried out an government order this yr; The CTA was instrumental in working with the FDA on the implementation.)The over-the-counter strategy means "folks do not must go have that dialog with a physician," stated Kelley, eradicating among the stigma of self-consciousness or embarrassment which may have made people tentative about getting listening to aids in previous."Numerous corporations which were at CES are actually releasing merchandise for this class," stated Fabrizio, "and really some conventional hearing-aid corporations that'll be there showcasing their new traces of over-the-counter listening to aids as properly."Additionally: The all-digital CES 2021 will not be your common on-line occasionDigital well being can even embody "the emergency division of the longer term," an exhibit put collectively by CTA and The American Faculty of Emergency Physicians. In accordance with Fabrizio, the Emergency Division of the Future will characteristic "an incorporation of telehealth in addition to a number of distant affected person monitoring" with a purpose to cut back the congestion of emergency rooms and "so that individuals might be triaged in a different way.""After which, simply the totally different gear in there, imaging analyzers, issues to expedite diagnostics, remedy."Additionally: CES 2021 might be all digital and I am out of the blue lacking fatigue and confusionAI, robotics, and the metaverseSharing North Corridor with digital well being might be enterprise expertise, together with synthetic intelligence, robotics, FinTech, and the Web of Issues. The Venetian Lodge as soon as once more homes many grouped reveals, in what's the previous Sands Conference Heart, together with -- for the second yr in a row -- the meals tech exhibit, the sensible dwelling class, in addition to the very broad class of accent merchandise. Eureka Park, the tech startup cluster that is been occurring for a few years now, might be within the Sands as properly. A thousand or extra startup corporations will showcase wares at Eureka Park this yr, from over 20 nations. Ukraine Tech may have a pavilion as properly. The metaverse first turned a focus this previous CES, famous Kelley, and this yr, it should be "pervasive all through CES," he stated. "We even have a devoted space within the Central Corridor for Web3 [companies]; you may see corporations which are primarily hardware-focused there, like Magic Leap," the augmented actuality firm that's focusing now on enterprise makes use of of the expertise.Additionally: Immersive AR for shoppers is '5 or so' years away, says Magic Leap CEOMicrosoft can even be within the Web3 space, and a devoted studio within the corridor will "have thought leaders from that neighborhood presenting on stage and discussing digital belongings, blockchain expertise, metaverse," says Kelley."I believe Web3 might be mentioned prominently all through this system" of CES, says Kelley, "primarily centered on metaverse and NFTS [non-fungible tokens]."Web3 is displaying up in increasingly more novel functions, stated Kelley. For instance, startup Olfactory Digital Actuality, or OVR, is "including a way of odor to the headsets, so now you'll be able to odor within the metaverse," stated Kelley. An actual-world software, he stated, could be emergency response coaching, akin to smelling fireplace. A current partnership is between BMW and chip powerhouse Nvidia, to showcase the manufacturing unit of the longer term, stated Kelley. Such partnerships are "the foundational constructing blocks of what the longer term will seem like" within the mash-up of metaverse and Web3, he stated."It is fairly cool to see how a lot it is moved in a yr past simply the gamification of every thing," he stated.Additionally: CES 2020: Better of present? A few of this can final, most of it will not"I believe you may see on the present the place corporations might be displaying you their bodily merchandise, after which additionally launching a metaverse extension," stated Fabrizio.

 NFTsThere's a "fairly small" devoted space within the Aria Lodge for NFTs, stated Kelley, to offer "a chance for corporations to at the least get some branding on the market to allow them to be a part of that dialog."The NFT, finest identified for stunts akin to The Bored Ape Membership, is sprouting new makes use of within the business, stated Kelley. For instance, within the occasions enterprise, it turns into an entry key for attendees so one thing akin to an after-party, for instance. "Because the holder of this NFT, you'll be able to entry the occasion, that is beginning to change into in style," stated Kelley. The identical NFT can change into a "distinctive passport," he stated, for manufacturers to have a type of connection to their shoppers totally different from electronic mail. And, after all, the NFT might be purchased and offered in a market.  (Picture: CNET)Keynote headlinersThis yr's headliners on the present characteristic keynotes by AMD CEO Lisa Su, BMW chairman Oliver Zipse, John Deere CEO John Might, Delta Airways CEO Ed Bastian, amongst others. On the digital facet of the present, as earlier than, keynotes might be live-streamed, and exhibitors have digital cubicles the place attendees who're solely digital can click on to see details about the exhibitor. "There are two issues we noticed because of COVID that individuals actually preferred," stated Kelley. "One is the flexibility to observe content material after the occasion, so we'll have over 100 periods you'll be able to watch after the occasion.""After which, it is also the flexibility to make higher connections with among the exhibitors," akin to by looking for a vendor earlier than the present and messaging them to arrange a gathering" and the flexibility to have a video assembly on the CES digital platform. Search options -- akin to looking out exhibitors by a class (say, metaverse) -- have been enhanced, stated Kelley."We refined our instruments understanding that our viewers has modified slightly bit as a result of we do have extra of a digital viewers than the place, pre-COVID, it was completely stay." Life sciences big Abbott is among the many huge digital well being exhibitors return to CES. CTAThe magic of a commerce presentDigital might by no means utterly seize the expertise of the in-person commerce present, nevertheless. Think about the big utility of face-to-face conferences. The CTA's evaluation reveals that corporations on the bodily present have, on common, 29 conferences, which may imply "29 fewer flights" that corporations must take, stated Kelley.And "issues get misplaced in Zoom world," famous Kelley, together with these probability conferences that may occur. "You have got these serendipitous encounters," stated Fabrizio, "the place you are in line ready for a espresso and also you stumble upon somebody and also you make a enterprise connection.""That is the magic of a commerce present, these serendipitous moments," stated Kelley. All of the digital options are "a pleasant add-on," stated Fabrizio, "however I believe, seeing a product arms on, and really getting to the touch and expertise it, there's nothing prefer it,".For media, CES begins sooner than the present flooring: Jan. 3. On that day, CES 2023 options a day analysis abstract presentation on the Mandalay Bay lodge by the CTA's information of us, adopted by the pre-show exhibition referred to as Unveiled, the place journalists get to see a number of exhibitors with tables arrange in a ballroom. Then, on Jan. 4, a complete day is dedicated to press conferences by exhibitors, the place media scramble to take down particulars of latest product bulletins -- after, usually, ready in lengthy traces to get into every briefing.CES just isn't open to the general public. It's for exhibitors, tech business members, and press, and there are a number of costs for attendance (see the registration FAQ right here).  #CES #tech #watch #EVs #metaverse #NFTs

[hippycomix]

https://vacomicon.com/exhibitors/dan-fogel-hippy-comix/

On Saturday November 19th I'm returning to my favorite show, the mighty VA Comicon in Richmond! I'll be hanging with my friends and vending thousands of Underground, Adult, Independent & Small Press Comix goodies. Come on down and join the fun!

[nahimjustfeelingit-writes]

Trois:

Chapter One. 

The leading lady will be introduced eventually but I feel like with the way this is written I need to focus on Adonis and Erik first. 

Warnings: AU!Erik, AU!Adonis, smut, bisexual, mentions of blood, threesome.

The 2019 Comic Con at the Los Angeles Convention Center was populous to say the least. Adonis Johnson felt like he was elbow-to-elbow with the animated and roused crowd of event goers. Everyone is grouped like teenagers in those cheesy high school flicks. You have your Nerds—never worried about being challenged to prove their knowledge about the gaming character or superhero on the shirt they're wearing, yelling out quotes in a spirit of shared fandom. Then, you have your cos players—rehearsed smiles on their faces whenever they are stopped to have their picture taken, sort of deteriorating and looking less magnificent as the day goes on due to wig issues, broken weapons, or itchy and hot costumes. Then, there are those individuals like Adonis who endure the hectic universe. 

Adonis is wearing a faded orange muscle tee with a mixture of his favorite anime characters such as Saitama, Goku, Sasuke, L, Yusuke Urameshi, and Spike Spiegel. He styled the tee with a pair of Nike Dri-FIT Basketball shorts in black, black Jordan socks, and a pair of orange and black Air Jordan 1’s on his feet. He couldn’t forget his layered silver chains and finger rings to make it more stylish, or his charcoal black Coach backpack to carry his essentials like the sun screen he needed and some water from standing in that long ass line in the blazing afternoon sun. The cast of Zombieland: Double Tap will be there, and over 800 exhibitors. Adonis didn’t even know where to start or end and at first he figured the map in his hand that he grabbed at the entrance was a great idea but he tossed it in the closest receptacle. 

Adonis scratched at the steri-strip on the corner of his pouty bottom lip since the regular stitches were removed by his doctor almost 48 hours ago. Adonis earned that busted lip from a fight he triumphed in. He didn’t get that wound from the type of fights you see on paper view—he’s an Underground Boxer who participates in Street fighting. Yes, Adonis fights in ‘unlicensed’ matches. This means it operates outside the governing bodies of the sport and is susceptible to rules being broken and fights being fixed. It is illegal in many countries because it is dangerous and disruptive to daily life—running the possibility of being charged with several crimes especially. It’s Adonis’ personal fight club, a badge of honor for him. 

Adonis was introduced to the idea of a fight club by a childhood buddy of his that died five years ago. His name was Clark Wilson. Adonis and Clark used to be in Juvie together—two angry kids who used their fists because of the violence and hatred surrounding them. When Adonis’ father, famous Boxer named Apollo Creed’s wife Mary Anne came looking for Adonis while he was in Juvie, she took him in as her own son and started him out in therapy and anger management groups. For the most part, Adonis felt as if his anger was suppressed but he missed the way fighting made him feel——alive. First, Adonis had to understand the reasoning of a Fight Club. Fight Club is about releasing his anger and stress; about fighting his problems; about going against normalcy and the safe little bubble he has become accustomed to living in. 

Rules were put in place and Adonis found a private property hidden from the public eye so that the authorities can’t interfere. Adonis uses a basement of a record shop for his Fight Club location. If someone would die in Fight Club, there isn’t anything anyone could do. There has only been one case where someone died in Adonis’ Fight Club and he swore to make sure it didn’t become deadly. Brutal, yes, but no murder. Pinching the steri-strip on his lip to keep it in place, Adonis visits an exhibitor—Comic Madness. Pulling out his iPhone so he could use his Apple Pay, Adonis sifts through the comic books to find the ones he wanted. The price tag on them was a bit much but this was a once a year weekend event so he could break the bank. 

Entrepreneur of a fitness company called Elite Body Edge, Erik Stevens strolls through Comic Con after checking out the Hellboy cast members doing a Q&A. Stylish per usual, dangling gold cross earring in his right ear, yellow and black camouflage cargos on, all-white creaseless Nike Air Force 1s, and a lax graphic tee with The Lost Boys on it, Erik pans his Canon PowerShot G7X Mark lll Camera around him, Vlogging his Comic Con experience for his YouTuber’s. When he’s not recording fitness and nutrition videos, Erik is vlogging about his daily life or giving advice to the anonymous subscribers who send him emails. He wanted to edit the video to look like a VHS video for a different aesthetic. Erik strolls past a group of cos players dressed as The Avengers and stops to record them, smiling at the enthusiasm and flashing his gold canines. 

Erik sips from his souvenir cup, the straw making an annoying suctioning noise since it was nearly empty. Shaking the cup, ice chips clanking around, Erik stops to get some more footage. Just when he was about to end his vlogging, there was a rather sexy, good-looking dude with chestnut eyes, amber skin so smooth and velvety looking. The muscle tee he was sporting didn’t leave anything to the imagination. Clearly, he’s lean, and chiseled. Erik haltingly lowers his camera, his inky black eyes trailing over this mystery guys frame with enthrallment. Just when Erik thought he would be coming to Comic Con for some fanboy fun, he spotted a distraction with a nice ass. Erik is a bi-sexual man. Friends jokingly called Erik a hoe that got off on pussy or dick—a reckless hoe that played with fire. Married couples, closet homosexuals, threesomes with women, anything that caused mayhem and wreckage with relationships. Anything to get his thick dick wet. 

Erik’s Adam’s Apple bobbed in his neck and his lips parted. When the mystery guy turned around Erik grunted deeply. Lips so thick and plump. Oooh. His breath became ragged and he felt himself swelling. Why did this have to happen to him right now? Donnie must have felt Erik’s hard eyes burning into the back of his skull because he looked back over his shoulder at him with a raised brow and obvious annoyance. The corners of Adonis’ eyes crinkled with suspicion. Erik found it comical, giving Adonis a sly half smirk when their eyes connected. Adonis shook out his shoulders, focusing back on the stacks of comic books in front of him. Why is his heart skipping a beat and his stomach in knots? The back of his neck prickled and he glanced over at Erik again before he cocked his head to the side. The devilish smirk on Erik’s face sparked Adonis’ short temper. 

Thinking back to his anger management tips, Adonis tried to take a timeout by using “I” statements—to stay in control. Think before you speak, don’t make assumptions, calm yourself. As much as he wanted those methods to work, Erik’s smiling, smug face bothered Adonis. Who is this random ass nigga and why the fuck is he smiling like there’s a joke? Adonis started to feel more and more uneasy about Erik staring at him. Does he know about the Fight Club? That seemed to invigorate Adonis’ irritation because he began charging through a group of cos players and walked right up to Erik with his pectoral muscles puffed out and his hands in fists so tight he could feel the aftershocks from his fight almost two days ago. Erik stood his ground with a single brow raised, waiting for Adonis to cause a scene. As soon as Adonis crowded his personal space that was already so little with how many people surrounded them, Erik made it his business to allow his inky black eyes to drop to Adonis’ crotch and back up swiftly. 

“The fuck is your problem staring at me, nigga?” Adonis spoke with a harsh whisper that caused his jaw muscles to clench, “You know me or something?” Adonis paused before he nodded his head slowly, “Let me guess...you wanna fight me?”

“Fight you?” Erik’s eyes become slits, “Why would I want to fight somebody I don’t even know?”

“Well, then you must have heard about me…” Adonis says with a questioning tone. Erik licks his lips and with no regard allows his piercing eyes to memorize the shape of Adonis’ mouth. Adonis couldn’t fight the urge to do the same. He’s turned on. Just as the tension between the two of them reaches a fever pitch, Adonis steps away before he could even realize what he was doing. Adonis didn’t even know he had been holding his breath until he drew in a shaky tone. He’s noticeably quieter now, his aggression tampered. He knew his bewilderment was written across his face. Adonis squared his shoulders and shook out his limbs as if Erik had a bind on him. 

“You good, fighter?” Erik asks sarcastically, “You’re a boxer? I can tell by your reflexes. For a second I thought you were gonna try and knock me out,” Erik smiled. Adonis swallows a hefty amount of spit to calm the tingling sensation in his abdomen. 

“Yeah...I box...underground,” Adonis clarified, “Been doing it for seven years now.”

“Ahh, dirty boxing, I see,” Erik strokes his goatee, “how does one get into that shit anyway? I’m interested.” 

“You don’t choose it like you choose your next meal..you gotta be initiated in...they like to weed out the weak ones…” 

“That hardcore?” Erik took a few steps towards Adonis.

“Hell yeah,” Adonis stares at Erik’s feet as if he were overstepping, “I can tell you more about it if you’re serious.” 

“As long as it’s from the pro himself I’m all ears.” 

This foreign feeling that washed over Adonis’ body was something he felt before when he questioned whether or not he wanted a man to suck his dick. He looks back at Erik just as he smiles and Adonis rolled his eyes away slightly. What the fuck is happening right now? 

“I don’t even know your name, bro,” Adonis held out his hand to give Erik dabs, “I’m Adonis.”

“Erik,” He raised his hand to shake Adonis’. He didn’t want to linger too long but the feeling of his calloused palm teased his hand and it made him want to stroke it. When Erik let go, he allowed his fingertips to brush across the center of Adonis’ palm and that little touch caused Adonis’ biceps to flex. Good to see him react. 

“you gotta be serious...this shit is...it’s rough,” Adonis cleared his throat, “Ain’t the place to really discuss this—“

“Nah, I’m cool,” Erik says with a chuckle—a teasing grin on his face and his eyes now following the definition of Adonis’ arms. Adonis didn’t like Erik staring at him so openly. Maybe Erik got the wrong vibe from Adonis—believing him to be a possible fuck he could conquer after this crowded event, “I’ll stick to boxing in my gym. This underground shit sounds like some kind of deadly contract.” 

“It’s not for everybody,” Adonis says with a smirk, “But if you change your mind, how do I reach you? I usually don’t recruit fighters out in the open like this.”

“Here you go,” Erik pulls out his black leather wallet, retrieving a business card before handing it over to Adonis. It’s a black business card with a gold metallic painted edge for his fitness club Elite Body Edge. The business card is twice as thick as standard cards, since they are printed on 32 pt. uncoated cardstock, offering a superb heft and feel everyone will notice. Erik’s contact information is at the bottom of the card. 

“I’ve heard of this fitness club, all good things too, I’ll keep in touch if you’re ever interested.”

“I’d like to come and watch the fights at least...is that cool?” 

Adonis ponders for a bit, “We have people come and watch but it’s mainly members…”

Erik notices Adonis’ hesitation, backing away a little, “Listen, you hardly know me, I don’t want to intrude on your little secret society. However, you have my card, you can stop by the gym anytime. We have boxing equipment that you can use too.”

“Aight...cool...I’ll come and check it out,” Adonis pockets the card, “Nice to meet you, Erik, sorry for the way I came off at you earlier, my anger can be a bit out of control,” Adonis lets out a nervous chuckle. 

“A bit? I get this vibe that it’s more than just a bit,” Erik turns to leave, “Don’t hesitate to stop by and get a good work out in! Enjoy the rest of your time here at Comic Con.”

“Will do,” Adonis salutes Erik before turning away and disappearing into the sea of people.

________________________________________________________

Elite Body Edge is designed with the purpose of building strong foundations by balancing flexibility, mobility, strength, conditioning and nutrition as well as giving you the perfect sculpt to turn heads; because a strong and sculpted foundation makes a power house. With an arsenal of knowledge, from competition preparation to rehabilitation to strength and conditioning, Elite Body Edge can design a program for any body habitus to achieve any fitness goal. They offer one-on-one training, group sessions and accountability programs to best fit your needs. Why train with Elite Body Edge? No contracts with affordable month-to-month membership, a safe environment to learn proper technique from experienced trainers, a flexible schedule with a variety of group classes to fit your schedule, and an encouraging atmosphere to make working out fun.

Elite Body Edge is a high-end gym experience. Some of the club amenities include, locker rooms complete with sauna and massage chairs, rooftop deck, group fitness classes, premium strength and cardio equipment including LifeFitness, HammerStrength, Precor, and Star Trac, and an amazing aquatic area for swim-fitness. Some of the classes include Restorative Yoga, H.E.A.T Camp, TRX, Feel Fit Naked, Boxing, Self defense, Spin, H.I.I.T, Yogalates, Circuit Burn, and many more. It’s located at 8053 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA. It’s striking architecture was designed by National Design Award winner Ian Jackson of Studio Sofield. It’s 30-foot video wall for virtual-reality cycle classes is exceedingly popular, and it’s soaring 25-foot ceilings supported by illuminated linear columns and over 40,000 square feet of state-of-the-art equipment, Elite Body Edge is a modern-day escape straight out of a sci-fi film. 

Erik is no stranger to the gym. Over the years he has received multiple certifications in performance enhancement, TRX Suspension and is a EliteFirst Certified Level 1 trainer, which he has employed as a strength and conditioning coach for the nationally recognized Fremont High School Basketball Team which has produced multiple athletes in the NBA. He supports the youth and employs them to stay active and live a healthy lifestyle. The fitness mogul himself was wrapping up a TRX tactical training course. Most of the occupants are military trained or athletes and with Erik’s skills it can keep them performing at the highest level. Sweaty, heart rate spiked, muscles fueled, and a round of applause, Erik puts up one hand with a black training glove to settle the cheers from his hard working pupils. 

“Nah, y’all should be clapping for yourselves,” Erik wipes sweat from the tip of his nose, “You guys did an amazing job today. The shit is tough but I see improvement and progress. We’ll meet at the same time next Wednesday. Remember, get some rest, stay hydrated, and eat a well balanced diet.”

Everyone gathered their things and exited the class. Erik grabs some cleaning solution and a few disposable cloths to wipe down the equipment. Gym playlist on, you wouldn’t be able to keep Erik’s energy down for one second. He’s so amped up that he could go for another training session; work on his hamstrings and calves some more. Satisfied with his cleaning, Erik exits the classroom, the double glass doors closing behind him. The energetic, hip-hop music pumped up his clients to finish their workout sessions. The air circulating the gym masked the usual odor that comes with sweating and his gym staff are very vigilant on keeping the place tidy. His staff wears black workout gear from head to toe with the gym logo on the front. 

As Erik walks through his gym, checking things out, a familiar face catches his eye. Training on an Everlast Powercore Dual bag with a speed bag attachment is the eye-candy from Comic Con just a week prior. He’s shirtless with a blue Adidas face mask on and fingerless black MMA gloves. His gym shorts hung low on his hips and his feet danced back and forth in his Speed-Flex boxing shoes in time with his fierce punches. Erik wondered when he became a member. He didn’t expect for Adonis to even take up the offer on joining the gym. Smirking, Erik strolls over towards Adonis at the same time as one of Erik’s pilates trainers, Andrea does. Andrea is wearing a black sports bra with the gym logo and black biker shorts. Her sleek platinum blonde pixie cut made her glistening peanut skin pop. Her dark brown eyes held recognition as well as lust. 

“Donnie?” Andrea says with a sultry voice, “I knew that was you,” Andrea popped her hip out, staring Adonis up and down with a big white smile, “How are you?”

Adonis takes off his face mask, those thick lips extra moist from the perspiration on his skin, “Andrea, w’sup? I’m doing good…” Adonis seemed to be thrown off by her presence. From the way he looked at her with his chocolate eyes, they must have had an interesting relationship. Erik took note of the way Adonis sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and Andrea licked her lips and touched his arm with her fingertips. 

“Why don’t you come and see me anymore? We used to have a good ass time...what happened with that? Got tired of me?” Andrea says with a single brow raised.

“I’ve been busy,” Adonis looked away awkwardly, the fresh scar above his right brow catching Andrea’s attention. 

“Busy getting into a brawl? What’s that scar about?” 

“You know me…” Adonis turned away, “Can’t pass up a good fight.”

Andrea didn’t hide her sexual appetite for Adonis from the way her eyes swept over his body, silently telling him how his ripped physique turned her on. Just when she allowed her eyes to drop to Adonis’ crotch, Erik was there next to her, the form-fitting Under Armor short sleeve grey top he wore drenched and molding with his well-built curves straining against the fabric. Two sexy men with twin facial features that made her drool like a love-sick dog. 

“Didn’t think you would show up,” Erik held his hand out to shake Adonis’ hand, “How are you liking it so far?”

“It’s dope, I love the set up, I especially enjoy this boxing section...I mean, you have everything I need to help me train.” 

“Where were you training before?” Erik asked.

“Delphi Boxing Academy, but I need more free roam, too many new people to train.” Adonis replies. 

“...so, you know Andrea?” Erik looks over at her, her peanut colored skin immediately turning red and the top row of her teeth chewing on her pouty, pink bottom lip nervously. 

“Yeah, we got history,” Adonis cracks a smile, “Maybe I should catch one of your Pilates classes...watch you do that seated toe touch.” 

Erik arched a single thick brow at Adonis’ words. It wasn’t directed towards him but the seductive way he said that had a pool of desire filling the pit of his stomach. Erik knows exactly how that seated toe touch looked. Seated on the floor, knees drawn towards your chest, feet in the air and toes pointed to the sky, a complete view of a woman’s phat pussy or a man’s hefty bulge straining against the fabric of their stretchy leggings or shorts. Erik enjoys fucking a woman with a malleable body just as much as Adonis does it seems. He wouldn’t mind seeing how malleable Adonis can be.

“Let’s see if you can keep up,” Andrea gives Adonis one final look up and down before walking away, “my number is still the same.” 

Adonis watches Andrea walk away, “you got a good selection on your staff, bruh.”

“Yup,” Erik agrees, head tilted to the side, dreads shifting across his forehead before he grins, baring his teeth, “gotta have options, a pretty face brings guests, it’s all business.” 

“Well, I admire your business. The dedication and strive to pull something like this together is inspirational. I put my membership in a day ago and was trying to meet with you for a personal tour but your front desk staff said you were out for the day.” Adonis says. 

“Yeah, I’m also a Biological Science Lab Tech two days a week pulling twelve hour shifts.”

“Damn, how the hell do you function?” Adonis says with a shocked voice. 

“You gotta love what you do. You should know, with your own fight club and all, living a double life...working a regular 9-5 during the day I’m guessing?”  Erik says with curious eyes. 

“I’m a Senior Trading Analyst for Smith Boardley Financial Group so, yeah, it’s like living a double life. They don’t ask questions though, which is good.” Adonis’ face shows annoyance as if he didn’t want to talk about his job. Erik senses that maybe Adonis isn’t satisfied with his daytime life, that he feels more free at night and in the ring. He hardly even knew this guy and yet he wanted to know every little detail; ask him questions. He has so many layers to fold back, and besides his reasons behind fighting, Erik hopes to make Adonis admit to his attraction to him. Only thing is, Adonis has to believe it. He’s still uncertain and confused. 

“Why do you fight?”

Silence settles between them for a short while before Adonis finally speaks. 

“Freedom mainly. I want to stop controlling everything and just let go,” Adonis closes his eyes briefly, “if it’s not working out for me...I need to find something that doesn’t...something that doesn’t define me as this perfect dude with a perfect job, and all this fucking money. The things you own end up owning you. The people around you can drag you down. When I fight, I lose control. I’ve been taught at a very young age to bottle up my aggression but all I wanna do is use my hands and to experience some feeling in this numb world...this ‘cocooned society’.” 

“So it’s not about the violence for you? I can understand that. I guess working out is a release for me...that’s an interesting method that I support,” Erik’s eyes scan Adonis’ body, taking a step back so he can blatantly check him out, “I wanna know how this fight club operates...you think I can come watch?” 

Adonis lets go of a laugh, his dimples flashing, “Yeah, man, you can come watch. I’m gonna warn you now though, it can get pretty graphic.”

“Blood? Broken teeth? Nasty scars? That shit don’t phase me,” Erik smiles, allowing his eyes to drop over Adonis’ body. Adonis leans down to grab his water bottle, taking a sip of it and completely avoiding Erik’s unwavering eyes. Why were those eyes making Adonis’ nerves spike up with excitement. It disgruntled him and had Adonis frowning from the feeling. 

“Listen, just don’t be late,” Adonis spoke with finality, placing his face mask back on, “Can’t have people wandering in at the last minute. Come by tomorrow night around 10.” 

Adonis’ change in demeanor has Erik chuckling. He has a habit of wearing his emotions on his face. 

“Will do, bro. Catch you tomorrow...champ,” Erik jeers before leaving Adonis to his training. 

____________________________________________________________

Going Underground Records was Erik’s destination for the late evening. Founded in 2001, Bakersfield's Going Underground Records is Central California's largest and longest running vinyl record store and has recently expanded with a new brick-and-mortar location in Los Angeles. They buy, sell, and trade LPs, 45s, stereo equipment, local concert promotional items (posters, flyers, one-off recordings, etc.) and more. They purchase collections of all sizes, so whether you have a handful, or thousands of records to sell, call or stop by any day of the week. They buy daily and travel to you for large collections. It seems completely deserted from the front but Erik’s instructions from Adonis’ text was to go around back through a basement door. Parking his red Audi R8 across the street, Erik puts out his weed, leaving it in his car. Opening the door, Erik’s left foot hits the wet street. 

Fully out of his car, Erik closes the door, turning to walk across the street towards the record shop. Erik is wearing a camouflage pullover hoodie with black sweats and white Jordan 1’s with a low cut style. Bringing his hood up to cover his freshly twisted locs, Erik saunters down a narrow alleyway before making a left turn ending directly behind the record shop. As soon as he approached the red stainless steel cellar doors, Erik knocks twice, stepping away just in time as a tall, carob-skinned man with a bald head and a single gold hoop earring dressed in a black bomber jacket with a dark purple T-shirt and dark blue denim jeans opens the cellar doors. He looked at Erik in an angry or threatening way, his bug-eyes practically sizing Erik up like he wasn’t welcome. Erik was expressionless, no signs of fear towards this shaq looking man whatsoever, instead, Erik pockets his hands and clears his throat to speak. 

“I’m here for rebellion.” Erik says. He was told to say this at the door from Adonis’ text after the gym yesterday. Erik stopped him before Adonis took off in his matte black Chevy corvette. They exchanged numbers so that Adonis could text him the address and password for entry into the fight club. 

“Why do you seek rebellion?” The man spoke with a voice as hard as the blade of a shovel. 

“Because of this effeminized society that forces me to live a dull and meaningless life,” Erik says with an even tone. 

“Come in, quick,” The man says, “I’m Damion, the owner of this record shop.”

“Erik,” He shook hands with the man before entering the basement of the record shop through the cellar doors. There are metal shelves filled with boxes and janitorial items. Following Damion, Erik could hear hoots and hollers growing louder and louder within the basement. A black drape ahead separated Erik and Damion from the fight club. When the drape was pulled back, the badly lit room with a boxing ring and a crowd of at least thirty people awaited Erik. The shouts and roars are angry and free in Erik’s ears. It smelled like sweat, liquor, weed, and Vaseline mixed with coagulate. 

There, in the middle of the ring with his fists tightly clenched, black boxer shorts hanging low on his hips, and left nose bleeding is Adonis himself. What would be his excuse this time when he went to work the next day? Maybe that he tripped and fell face first, bloodying up his nose. He bares his teeth that are just as bloody as his nose, punching his opponent so hard that they fall to the floor of the ring, his head pinched between the floor of the ring and Adonis’ left knee. Adonis kept slamming his fist into the bridge of his opponents nose——a beefy looking white man with ginger hair and a large leprechaun tattoo on his broad back. He did it again and again in flat hard packing sounds you could hear over all the yelling until the ginger-haired man caught enough breath and sprayed blood to say, stop. Just as those words fell from his lips with difficulty, Adonis stands to his full height, fisting the air with triumph. 

“WHO WANTS NEXT? The night is just getting started!!” Adonis yells, voice like a rising storm, “THE RING IS FREE!”

“I’ll take him on!” A random black guy wearing a FedEx uniform says, pointing to a tall blonde-haired alternative-looking white guy with arm tattoos and nails painted black, “He’s been giving me a dirty look all night, let’s see what your hands are like. I had a long fucking day too,” The FedEx worker removed his hat revealing a clean faded haircut with waves, “Lets go!!! Don’t act scared now!!”

The ginger-haired white man was pulled from the ring, a bloody trail from his face following him. Adonis slid between the ropes and hopped out of the ring, walking through the crowded room until he reached a table with a series of water bottles and towels. Adonis grabs a bottle of water to drink, his grip crushing the plastic bottle before he tosses it away. Erik’s attention was brought back to the ring when the black guy kicked the air out of the alternative white guy then landed on him pounding him limp. The white guy clawed his neck for him to stop and that’s when he backed off with a viscous laugh. The blonde took this opportunity to give him a taste of his medicine. His left fist connected with the black guy's face, spit flying from between his full lips. 

Yeah! Yeah! Kick his ass! 

It was like a raging storm in that room. Erik walks further into the room, bumping shoulders accidentally with a wild amped up Al Pacino look alike with slicked back hair and what looked to be a waiter’s uniform on. These men came all the way here from their boring jobs to relieve some tension. Erik took his spot in a corner, his commanding yet piercing eyes scanning the room. He sought out Adonis again, finding him shouting into the ring. Erik was standing under one of only several lights in the after-midnight blackness of a basement full of men. In the ring two new guys are fighting. One of the men has his opponent's arms behind his head in a full nelson and rammed his face into the ring floor until his teeth bit down on the inside of his cheek. He kept going, even when the guy yelled stop. Adonis jumped into the ring, yanking the guy away and earning a right hook to his face. Erik hisses before grabbing his own jaw as if he could feel it. 

“WHAT ARE THE FUCKING RULES, HUH?!” Adonis head butts him, knocking the guy to the floor before looking down on him with vengeful eyes, “WHEN THEY YELL STOP! YOU FUCKING STOP! Get up,” Adonis throws up his fists, “I said get the fuck up!”

Yeah Adonis! Teach him a lesson!

Body glistening from sweat and muscles perfectly sculpted as if they were carved out of limestone, Adonis beats this man down with just his fists, no special combo move like he’s some wrestler. The guy had enough, throwing his hands up in surrender. Adonis smiles with his blood stained teeth. There’s grunting and noise at fight club like at the gym, but fight club isn’t about looking good. There’s hysterical shouting in tongues like at church, except this isn’t a holy sanctuary like your grandmother would drag you to every Sunday morning to praise and worship. Erik briefly wondered who is responsible for mopping up the blood and sweat from the ring floor after all of this is over. Just standing there watching has his adrenaline spiked. Adonis raises his head towards the ceiling before opening his eyes, the low light making the blood on his face glisten. 

His chocolate eyes scanned the room and when they landed on Erik he seemed to freeze with shock but then a knowing smile appeared on his face. Erik returned the same smile bobbing his head in greeting. Adonis left the ring and squeezed through the small crowd of men before finally coming face to face with Erik. Erik’s eyes sparked as they quickly swept Adonis’ drenched body. He had to suck in a quick breath to calm the pulse coming from his dick. All this charged up, aggressive energy is what Erik craves every time he fucks a man. That fighting back before surrendering to him when all his fat dick enters them. Adonis looked like the type to fight back, Erik really wanted to see that for himself. He hoped it would be sooner rather than later. 

“Looks like underground street fights are a new favorite of mines,” Erik chuckled. 

The corners of Adonis’ eyes crinkled as he smiled, “Didn’t think you would really show up.”

“I’m not all bark and no bite, bruh. When I say I’m gonna be somewhere, I make it happen. Anyway, I ain’t never seen shit like this so I wasn’t about to pass that up,” Erik’s lashes fluttered and his tongue glided across his bottom lip, his gold slugs twinkling in the low light like diamonds. Adonis’ brows knitted and his eyes fell to Erik’s lips. He caught himself staring and backed away, scratching the tip of his nose and taking a deep breath, his pectorals dancing one at a time. Erik’s eyes flickered with mischief and he crossed his arms over his chest. 

“I broke the code inviting you here, you know that?” Adonis looks around, “I’m surprised nobody called you out to fight them. When that happens, you have to fight. That’s the rules.” 

“I don’t abide by rules easily,” Erik’s eyes are ablaze but his voice is like melted honey, “And clearly neither do you. I do my own thing. Is there some contract you have to sign to be involved in this shit?”

“First thirty names on the list get in, if you get in, you set up your fight right away, if you want to fight. If not, there are guys that do so maybe you should stay home.” Adonis points to his left brow, “A couple of stitches fixed this, some of these guys leave here with injuries so bad they need a bed in the hospital...It ain’t for everybody.” 

“But yet here they are getting their asses handed to em’,” Erik shakes his head, “Looks like you need a drink.” 

“I do, I was actually headed to the bar around the corner after this,” Adonis lifted a single brow as his eyes peered into Erik’s, “You’re welcome to join me if you want...I can tell you more about the fight club...looks like you’re interested in joining.” 

“Maybe,” Erik surveyed Adonis’ face, “We could get to know each other a little? You know, I feel like you’re a cool dude, wouldn’t mind kickin’ it over drinks.” 

“I don’t see why not,” Adonis gives Erik a quizzical look before backing away, “Meet me at The Spare Room around the corner from here.” 

Erik chuckles as he watches Adonis back away, stroking the length of his beard while he takes in the vibe of Adonis’ body language, “Aight, I’ll be waiting for you at the bar.” 

_____________________________________________________________

“I ordered for you if that’s cool? Whiskey.” 

Adonis is sporting a black and grey Nike zip-up hoodie with matching track pants and black AirMax on his feet. He settles next to Erik at the bar before drumming his fingers nervously on the polished wood of the bar countertop. The bartender serves them two glass tumblers filled with whiskey and a black cocktail straw. Erik removes his straw and drinks straight from the rim of his glass. Adonis stirs the ice in his glass around before taking a hefty sip over the rim as well. 

“What are you going to tell your job tomorrow about that purple bruise under your eye and that bloody nose? You tripped and hit your face against a brick wall?” Erik cracks a smile.

“I’m off tomorrow,” Adonis touches the bruise under his eye, wincing a bit, “That punch was brutal.” 

“I felt that shit myself. Damn, he got your ass good.” 

“And I got his ass right back,” Adonis proclaimed. 

Erik finishes his drink before calling on the bartender for more.

“After a fight I usually get some pussy to calm me down but good pussy is hard to come by these days,” Adonis stretches his back, “I ain’t been in good pussy in a minute…”

Erik’s jaw clenched at the way Adonis said pussy. He glanced over at Adonis, watching him drink from his glass. 

“Shoot Andrea a text, maybe she’ll stop by and give you that pussy you’ve been craving,” Erik motions for 

Adonis to pick up his phone, “The night is still young, ain’t too late to get in that puss...ain’t never too late.”

Adonis arched a single brow at Erik, “...You fuck her?”

“She yours?” Erik twirled his glass while studying his drink.

“Nah, she’s not...but did you hit?”

Erik bites his bottom lip, “Once, around the time I first hired her. She got it.”

“I know, I been it before,” Adonis shakes his head, “You fuck all the women on your staff?” 

“Yeah, if they want this fat dick.” 

Adonis stirred in his seat, “Another round, homie.”

The bartender fills his glass, the liquid sloshing around the only sound between them until the bartender walks away. 

“You mad I dipped into Drea?” Erik asks casually.

“Can’t be mad at that. She’s not mine...remember?” 

“I got this feeling that if she was yours...you would use this bar top to crack my head open,” Erik flashes Adonis a dimpled smile, “That’s if you can though.” 

“You talk like you would want that,” Adonis squinted his eyes. 

“I like aggression,” Erik says with a hushed tone. Adonis looked away, pondering Erik’s words. He couldn’t explain it but the way he said that felt as if he were flirting with him. Adonis pulls his phone out of his pocket at that exact moment to find Andrea’s number. He shoots her a quick you up text before returning to his drink. 

“You from around here,” Adonis asked to clear the growing tension. It only worked a little. 

“South Central. You?” 

“Crenshaw up until the age of twelve, in and out of Juvie until my dad's wife found me…”

“Your mom wasn’t around?” Erik asked.

“She died when I was ten. Never knew my dad until his wife took me in...from there I moved to Tarzana to live in this mansion. My whole life changed. Found out who my pops was too. Apollo Creed.” 

“Shit...you serious?” Erik’s eyebrows disappeared behind his dreads, “Bro...that’s WILD...why didn’t you follow in your father's footsteps?”

“I didn’t want to be known as Apollo Creed’s son and expected to be the next Creed star. I wanted to do my own thing, you know? That pro boxer shit didn’t stroke my curiosity. All the fame, all the attention. Nah, underground street fighting is my thing.”

“I’m sure your old man would be proud either way though, you’re a hot head just like him.” 

Adonis smirks, “That’s what I’ve been told.” 

“I know mine would be proud of me...lost him to the streets back in 92’ when the riots were going on. He was an activist like my momma. He protected me from getting shot on my tricycle. It humbled me...Still got my momma. She moved back to New Orleans two years ago.”

“Those riots were crazy. I’m sorry about your father...shit is tough.” 

Erik sighs, “It is, but it just reminds me of how lucky I am to have him as a father. Made me the man I am today.” 

“Yeah...I got nothing but love for my dad even though I never met him. Took me a while to get here though, it wasn’t a walk in the park. Got siblings I didn’t connect with in the beginning but now we’re tight. Mary Anne...that’s my step-mom’s name, she didn’t have to raise me, could have left me in the system.”

“What was your real mom’s name?”

“Vivica. She was an aspiring model. My dad met her at some Hollywood party. They slept around for a while but then Mary Anne found out so he ended things. My mom got pregnant, kept the pregnancy a secret until she passed from a brain aneurysm. By then my pops was already gone. Mary Anne found out and raised me.”

“Man,” Erik dragged his hand down his face, “This whole conversation turned heavy so quick. Let’s fill up these glasses, we need more liquor.”

“I second that.”

The bartender gladly refilled their glasses. For a little while longer, Erik and Adonis talked, learning more about each other. They argued about their favorite Anime, the best clubs in LA, and other random shit that had them laughing. They had only met about six days ago and they talked like old friends catching up. Adonis asks for a bottle of water since he has to drive. The bartender brings him his bottle at the precise moment that his phone buzzes. Picking up his phone, Adonis unlocks it to find a text with an image attached from Andrea. Opening the text, Adonis’ eyes became stormy with lust and his bottom lip poked out with need. 

“Goddamn,” He muttered. Andrea always knew how to get him worked up. She’s on the floor naked with her legs spread wide in front of her floor mirror, peanut skin glistening from whatever body oil she used and that phat, creamy pussy with all her glistening pink spread open and freshly waxed for him to come play with. He remembers how sweet she tastes. Adonis’ tongue rolled around his teeth before forcing his eyes away, locking the phone and placing it within his pocket. He was about to be all up in that pussy. 

“Andrea?” Erik says with a sly smirk. 

“Yeah...she really miss me,” Adonis retrieves his wallet from his pocket, “I can cover the drinks—“

“It’s already on my tab, bruh. Don’t worry about it. Go ahead and handle your business.” 

“You ain’t have to do that, Erik,” Adonis stands from his stool.”

“Think of it as a victory drink for the champion of underground street fighting,” Erik held up his glass to Adonis before knocking back the rest of the contents. 

“I hope that’s your last drink, your eyes are so fucking low.” 

“It is, I gotta get home, I’m pretty tired,” Erik tells the bartender to close his tab before standing from his seat. He dabs Adonis, bringing him in for a brief bro hug, pulling away so that his cologne wouldn’t have his dick brushing up against his. He didn’t need that to happen so soon. 

“I’ll holla at you, Erik,” Adonis turns to leave the bar. 

Erik watches him exit before short, heated breaths escaped his mouth. Erik signs his receipt before leaving himself. While walking to the car, Erik pulls his phone from his hoodie pocket, scrolling through his messages, and finding the person he was looking for. 

Erik: Still on for tomorrow night with you and hubby?

Jodie: Absolutely💕 we’ll see you tomorrow night! Can’t wait 😘

______________________________________________________________

Andrea has an apartment at the Madison Toluca in North Hollywood, CA. It’s a three bedroom, two bathroom apartment with a black, red, and white color scheme. Adonis arrived shortly after 12:30 AM and knocked on her door. Her All black Yorkipoo—-a mixed breed of a Yorkshire terrier and a poodle, named Cookie was barking at the door when he knocked. Andrea could be heard yelling at Cookie before opening her door. Andrea beamed at Adonis with her big round eyes bewitching and her smile wide and pretty. She was wearing a teal blue Nike sports bra with a pair of black high crotch panties and bare feet. Her platinum blonde pixie cut is wet and slicked back from her shower and her peanut skin still glowed from the oil on her body. 

“I didn’t get a response from you so I didn’t think you would show up,” Andrea stepped to the side to allow Adonis entry, “What made you text me tonight to see if I was up?”

“You know how I get after a fight.”

 Adonis closed the space between them and grabbed the back of Andrea’s neck, tilting her head back enough to have her back bending before his thick tongue slithered up her neck and to her lips for a kiss. Adonis always itched for sex after a fight. His dick on swole and his hands unexcused Adonis cuffed Andrea’s ass, damn near pulling her from the ground. They continued to kiss, suck, and lick all over each other’s mouth to savor the taste. 

“Damn, got my dick heavy right now, girl,” Adonis squeezes Andrea’s ass, “come on, I want that pretty pussy.” 

“Donnie,” Andrea moaned, voice as pure and sweet as if from heaven, “I miss the way you used to fuck me.” 

“Uh-huh?” Adonis lifts Andrea off her feet, wrapping her legs around him, “How I used to fuck you?” 

“So good baby,” Andrea thumbed Adonis’ pouty bottom lip before peppering light kisses along them, “I miss your lips on my pussy too.” 

“I can’t wait to taste it again, is she still nice and creamy?”

“Always, daddy,” Andrea’s body shook with anticipation in his arms, “Damn...I’m shaking.” 

“It’s because you need this just as much as I do.” 

“I miss your big dick stuffing me,” Andrea dragged her kisses down Adonis’ neck. 

“You miss the way daddy used to give it to you?”

“Ooh, yes—“ 

“I’ma tear you up, Drea.” 

Adonis brought Andrea to her bedroom, flopping down with her straddling his lap. Andrea giggles like she always does while Adonis kisses along her neck and tongues her cleavage. Andrea’s breath is coming out shallow and fast. Adonis grabbed her face, making her look at him. 

“Breathe,” Adonis pecked her nose, “This dick ain’t going nowhere,” Adonis smirked, “It’s all for you, girl.”

“This my dick?” Andrea leans back so that she could grab for Adonis’ crotch, “It’s so goddamn thick goddamn baby.”

“I’m tryna make you cream all over it.”

Adonis was in an intense tongue-lock with Andrea while she stroked him through his track pants. She broke the kiss with a trail of spit before lifting from Adonis’ lap and dropping to her knees. A constant hiss escaped her mouth as she fumbled with his track pants. Discovering his waistband, Andrea pulls his pants and briefs down and around his ankles. That fat, long, swinging dick almost hit her in the face. Andrea grabs it before putting it right in her mouth where it belongs. While Andrea Gluck-Glucked Adonis removed his hoodie and the black T-shirt beneath it. 

“I just wanna fuck your face and eat your pussy until you can’t take it anymore,” Adonis tilted his head back, “Drea, fuck.” 

Adonis curses under his breath when Andrea gave his heavy balls some attention before bringing her lips back to that fat tip. Adonis dragged his fingers through her wet, short platinum blonde strands before palming the back of her neck and forcing more dick into her mouth. The loud slurping was something Adonis missed heavily. His hips were practically off of the bed now, lip between his teeth and eyebrows knitted together. 

“I miss this fucking mouth,” Adonis fucked Andrea’s mouth, “Shit, Drea, you still got it girl, this mouth is still a beast.” 

Andrea smirked before stroking his spit covered dick while sucking the tip. She really missed his dick from the way she was eating it up. Adonis wasn’t about to stop her, he simply widened his legs and laid back on his elbows. 

“You finna have a nigga bust,” Adonis’ abdomen flexed, “I needed this so fucking bad, make me bust, girl.” 

The eye contact she was giving him had Adonis balls so full with his tasty cum. 

“Just loving on me,” He says before chewing on his bottom lip, “Mmhmmm,” his eyes closed and his brows pressed together tightly. 

Andrea planted her hands on the bed and started bobbing her head up and down his dick while moving her head in a circular motion. 

“Slow down...yes, yes, like that,” Adonis’ lips parted. 

He could literally feel the corners of the inside of Andrea’s mouth and her tight pouty lips nice and steady on his dick. She manipulated that muscular organ in her mouth to flick back and forth on the base of his dick and his balls each time she went down. 

“Love on my dick, babygirl, Drea I’m about to bust, you ready?” Adonis’ eyes squeezed shut and he completely fell back against the bed, “good girl slurp all that shit up oh my fucking God,” Adonis exploded in Andrea’s mouth damn near making her choke. 

“Get up here,” He says, picking Andrea up and bringing her on the bed. Andrea was on her knees, shaking her slim thick booty in his face, her pussy wide with anticipation. Her cream made a mess of her pussy and it was begging to be licked up. Adonis smacks each ass cheek before giving both of them a nice, appreciative kiss. His lips tickled and they felt so moist against Andrea’s skin. She widened her thighs and arched her back more, practically pushing her pussy into Adonis’ face for him. 

“You shoving this beautiful pussy in my face?”

Andrea nods her head with a bite of her lip. Adonis turns around, laying his head between Andrea’s thighs before wrapping one arm around her waist with the other hand occupied with jerking his fat pole. Andrea sat on his face fully before grinding Adonis’ lips. He leans forward to place his lips on her pussy, serving her tongue with long trails of spit. The wiggle of his wet tongue had her lifting up on her hands, thighs shaking. Adonis takes both of his thumbs, peeling her open.

His damn tongue.

“Ooh, yes, Donnie.” 

Her entire body shivered.

Adonis’ tongue was dripping with spit and warm against her inner folds. He was in the middle of spelling out his name with the tip of his tongue all up and down her slit. With the D Andrea’s body shivered. With the O she started shuddering in breaths of gasping completion. With the two N’s Andrea clawed the bed. The letter I made a shape over her clit at the right angle. After the E He sucked her pussy into his mouth. 

“When you lick me you never miss a spot,” She said with a voice like the harmony of angles. Adonis lapped at her pussy some more in response to her words, “Donnie, please don’t stop, baby...I’m gonna cum, Donnie keep doing that to me.” 

Adonis gave her sloppy suction kisses down to her entrance and back up to her clit, keeping her lips apart so he could really get inside. He repeated and repeated, slurping and sucking and licking and kissing. He went faster and faster and she bucked her hips into his mouth, cries getting louder and louder.

“Mmmm, yes, do it like that,” Andrea said with a sensual voice. 

“How bad do you want to cum?” Adonis said before he slurped on her clit and her labia at the same time, moaning himself feeling his precum wet his fingers.

 “Really bad daddy...I wanna cum so fucking bad from your dirty mouth...make me scream.”

“Fuck. You may be a sweetheart but you a freak for sure.” 

Adonis concentrates on tonguing and sucking all the spots that have Andrea’s hips bucking and her pussy smothering him. 

“Daddy...guess what?” Andrea’s eyes watered and heat crept up her body. 

“Uh-huh, I got that pussy cumming?” Adonis’ words are muffled with the way his lips trailed all over Andrea’s pussy. 

With that Andrea’s body froze as her orgasm washed over her. Remembering how good Adonis ate her pussy wasn’t enough for her. Now she was experiencing it again while sitting on his face. He was going for round two from what it felt like. He kept saying over and over how much he needed her beautiful phat pussy and how he was going to dick her down just like that with her back arched. Andrea was ready to crawl off of him when her second orgasm hit her. She squealed so loud her throat went raw. Satisfied, Adonis resurfaced, his lips and freshly shaved chin glistening from her juicy folds. 

“Come taste how sweet you are.” 

Andrea turns, wrapping her arms around Adonis’ shoulders before licking his lips. She hummed with satisfaction while pulling him down on top of her body. 

“Pussy is gushy baby,” Adonis held all his body weight up on one hand while the other played with Andrea’s folds, “That pussy just needs me in it...I could tell from how your eyes lit up when you saw me… miss the way I bust this tight kitty open...I wanna stick my dick so deep in it.”

Adonis leans down on his elbow to kiss Andrea again while he rubbed her clit. His dick is like a swinging pendulum between his legs right now, desperate and hard for Andrea’s pussy. Adonis has enough of teasing Andrea with how fast his heart beats and how painfully hard he is. Grabbing his dick, mixing the wetness on his fingers from her pussy on his pre-cum laden dick, Adonis lined up with Andrea’s pussy before thrusting in slowly, widening her thighs at the same time. Adonis groaned when he was fully inside, making sure to watch her face so that he could see all of her expressions. 

“Ahhh, yes, that’s it.” 

Adonis’ muscular body was mesmerizing from that angle. He began to roll his hips, working all that girth and length in and out of Andrea. Adonis felt Andrea’s pussy squeeze his dick and it only made him go harder. Adonis pulls Andrea’s sports bra off, her perky breasts with dark brown nipples reminding him of Hershey kisses blessing his eyes. Adonis sucked on each titty while he strokes her pussy. The double sensation has Andrea creamy and the macaroni and cheese sound of her pussy grew louder and louder between them. 

“You taking this dick just like you used to,” Adonis pushes her thighs back, “Fuck all that moaning call me daddy while I’m in it.” 

“Daddy,” Andrea whispered. 

“Look at it Drea,” Adonis whispered back. 

Andrea’s eyes traveled down the length of Adonis’ magnificent body to his long, thick dick spreading her open. She couldn’t put into words how full she felt. 

“Pretty, ain’t it?” Adonis whispered, “This how Erik fucked this pussy?”

Andrea’s eyes flicked up to Adonis’ face quickly. She went red with embarrassment, ragged gasps leaving her mouth. 

“What? Answer the question,” Adonis pushed his dick all the way in. Andrea could feel it tickle her navel. 

“Yessssssss,” Andrea answered with an uneven breath. 

“He fuck this pussy in your bed, Drea?” Adonis’ hips were smacking into the back of her thighs, “What he do, girl?”

“He-he fu-fucked me in my b-bed,” Andrea stuttered. Adonis heard himself grunt at her response. Had he ever gotten off on another man fucking the same chick as him? No. Probably wouldn’t have cared in the past but for some reason, knowing that Erik hit Drea too has him harder than he was seconds ago.

“You call him daddy?” 

“Yes!!! Donnie, baby, it’s so much dick,” Andrea’s face frowned with ecstasy.

“And this pussy is good so you’re getting all this dick, baby,” Adonis reaches up to grab onto Andrea’s headboard and she knows what that means. Andrea held onto his waist with a death grip to prepare herself. Adonis started descending his dick all at once in Andrea’s pussy. No pause, no warning, just nothing but a fat dick with all its length sinking into her drenched pussy fluently. It felt like she wasn’t in control of her body anymore. 

“Donnie, please please please,” Her mouth opened, no words escaping. 

“Did he call you his nasty little girl?” Adonis says with a voice so gruff and guttural. He looked down at his dick working the hell out of Andrea’s pussy. The muscles in his back and arms burned in a good way. He was tearing Andrea up from this angle, “Got me going crazy in this pussy...I needed this pussy.” 

“Daddy, daddy I’m gonna squirt,” Andrea’s toes curled. Her body didn’t feel like it belonged to her anymore with the way Adonis was taking her pussy. Andrea trembled while her pussy leaked it’s sweet juices all over his dick. 

“Got that pussy cumming?!! You ain’t answer my question...he calls you his nasty little girl?” 

“No,” she spoke faintly, “He called me his nasty little bitch.” 

Adonis bit down on his lip hard. He pumped her fast a few more times before withdrawing from her tightness, flipping her over and arching her back deep. 

“Nasty little bitch? Huh? You like that name?” Adonis sounded harsh, “Keep that ass up Drea, come on baby...I got something for you.” 

“DADDY!!” Andrea wasn’t prepared for that big surprise just now. Adonis has both of his large hands on her waist while he plowed her. She never had this rough amount of treatment from him. 

“Daddy, shit,” her shoulders fell forward against the bed. High-pitched moans filled the room and her cheeks smacking and ricocheting off of Adonis’ rock hard hips was stinging her flesh. He was hostile and she loved the change. Sure, Adonis’ much gentle side was always just as good but to see him use her body the way he was it had her squirting and she never experienced squirting while having sex with him. She needed more of this. 

“Throw it back, Drea, keep going, baby,” Adonis watched her struggle. It didn’t matter to him, his big dick was nice and wet. 

“Nasty little girl, huh?” 

“Yes,” Her breath was rattled. 

“Come on and make this dick cum.” Adonis grabbed her hips, forcing her back to take all his length. Andrea screamed.

“That’s how you do it, so do it, girl, I’m not showing you again,” Adonis watched her do it right this time with a smirk, “That’s my nasty little girl… take this dick...keep taking this dick.”

“Daddy-“

“Why is this lil’ pussy so fat? Damn,” Adonis felt his nut sack jump, “Look at this beautiful, fat pussy, go ahead and cum Drea, go ahead baby.” 

“Yes, daddy, Unh!!!!!” 

Andrea slows down, Adonis taking over again, giving it to her and moaning the closer he got to cumming. 

“That pretty pussy, fuck, take this nut girl,” Adonis’ words were stuck in his throat the second he let off in her pussy with his thick cum. Thank God she was taking contraceptives because she would be pregnant with all his damn babies with how thick and heavy his load is. Adonis retracted his hips, dick sliding out and his cum dripping from Andrea’s gaping entrance. His dick left a serious imprint with how much wider her slick hole is. 

“Damn,” Andrea’s body turned over, “That was some kind of fucking,” she giggles, wiping sweat from her face, “What’s gotten into you, Donnie? baby, you were wild in this pussy tonight.” 

“Lack of pussy does that to you,” Adonis stood from the bed, stretching out his back muscles. Andrea tilted her head while staring at his dick. 

“Round two?” Andrea begged. 

Adonis sighed, “I need some water first.” 

“How do you know Erik anyway?” 

Adonis shrugged, “Comic Con. It was a random situation. He gave me his business card and that’s how I ended up at his gym.” 

Andrea gave Adonis a playful smile, “Are you mad that I fucked him? It was only once, Adonis.” 

“Nah, I’m not mad,” Adonis gave Andrea a once-over with his chocolate eyes, “But you liked that I brought it up...that pussy was choking my dick.” 

“I did. Maybe we should have a threesome. I would love it if you both fucked me.” 

Adonis felt his chest grow tight from her words. His face twisted up with confusion at the feeling. Was that...anticipation? Nervous excitement? 

“Maybe, you should get on all fours again so I can come back and get some more of that pussy,” Adonis responded before leaving her room to grab them both some water. 

_____________________________________________________________

Parked on a hill on Valley Ridge Ave. in View Park, CA,

Erik pulled out his phone to remind himself of the address. 4515. DVSN- Still Pray for You stopped playing when Erik turned his car off. Air Jordan 3 Retro’s, Khaki cargo pants, white T-shirt, a denim jacket, and layered gold chains was Erik’s outfit for the evening. His dreads are side swept, a few of them falling in his eyes. He slouched slightly in his gait, oozing confidence. The home is an iconic 1930 Spanish Revival with stunning city views, exceptional vintage details, custom modern updates, a large beautiful private yard with a tiered flat grassy area, patio, and an herb garden. Jogging up the steps, Erik knocked on the green door, stepping back before swatting away a moth that lingered near the porch light. 

The door unlocked, Jodie standing before Erik with a glass of red wine in her hand and a long charcoal grey T-shirt dress with a high slit, coffee brown eyes fringed with false lashes and copper skin looking soft and silky. Her lush lips are glossy and her blue-black hair is in a sleek low bun. Erik’s eyes traveled from her toes that are painted a fuchsia pink up her shapely legs, over her poked out hip and up to her heart-shaped face. Sweet notes of apple and apricot wafted from her skin the closer Erik got to her. He leaned down to kiss her glossy lips delicately, his tongue tasting the gloss. Jodie’s oval-shaped pink ombré nail skimmed Erik’s jawline with fascination. 

“Hi,” Jodie said with a pleasant voice. 

“Hey,” Erik whispered back, the suave way he said it causing Jodie to nibble on her lip. 

“Do you want some wine?” Jodie offered. 

“I’ll take some wine,” Erik closes Jodie’s front door, “Where is the party?”

“For now, in the living room.” 

Jodie pointed towards the area in question before walking away with a sway of her extremely thick hips towards the kitchen. Erik found the living room, Jodie’s husband, Vance, seated on the couch, smoking some weed, denim cut-off shorts on, an olive green linen short sleeve button-down shirt with a bandanna print open and revealing his athletic body. The deep brown complexion of his skin looked satiny beneath the living room lights. His chiseled face with sharp cheekbones made him look like a male model and Erik especially loved the nose ring on his broad nose. His full lips smirked at him before taking yet another puff of weed. That fresh fade with glossy waves and perfectly groomed beard has Erik lusting even more. 

Vance spoke with a husky voice, “Erik...glad you came.” 

“Me too...let me hit that.”

Vance shared his weed with Erik. 

“Training TRX on Wednesday next week?” Vance asked. 

“I am. I’m not here to talk about my gym though, you know that,” Erik said, savoring the weed, “I ain’t know you went both ways, Vance.” 

Vance cracked a smile, “Yeah, I’m bisexual. Me and Jodie. We’ve been trying to hook up a threesome with a man for a while and then Jodie said she saw you out a few weeks ago at the Avalon with some dude tonguing him down.”

“A date I met on Tinder, fucked him good that night too,” Erik’s head relaxed against the couch, licking his lips to the memory. 

“I bet you did,” Vance passed the weed, “He takes it well too?”

“He needed to be trained, but I’m good at that..have them coming back for more in no time.” 

“Mm,” Vance’s eyes glossed down to Erik’s crotch where his dick print was visible on his left thigh. Vance shook his head as his breath rushed out. Erik was a big boy. 

“You looking for something?” Erik spoke softly, the sensation of the weed sweeping deeper, “it’s right here,” Erik squeezed his dick, the cargo pants molding around the shape of it, “You want this dick?” Erik’s eyes looked at Vance’s big lips and he just knew those juicy lips would feel fucking fantastic sucking on him. 

“I do, I want that dick.” 

“Put that weed out and come get it, that’s why I’m here right? Get the fuck over here,” Erik takes off his denim jacket, widening his thighs, “That pretty ass mouth you got...I need my dick sucked now…do it slow too.” 

Vance’s hand gripped Erik’s dick through his pants. Erik made it jump against his hand. Vance let out a groan. 

“Come on, boy, my shit is thick right now.” 

Vance went to work on Erik’s pants, pulling them down and around his ankles. He couldn’t wait to satisfy the beautiful massive dick in front of his eyes. Slide that big dick in his hungry mouth and drain his balls. Speaking of balls...they are heavy and soft to the touch. Erik slouched, pulling his T-shirt up to reveal his taut abdomen, defined pectorals, and bulging biceps. His dick was standing up and the veins looked like a work of art on his chocolate pole. 

“From the way you’re looking at it I can tell you’ve been wondering just how big this dick is...right, nigga?”

“Yes…”

“Yeah...it’s here for you and your wife...where is wifey at anyway? Jodie!” Erik called for her.

“I’m here—Ooh,” Jodie sauntered over and placed Erik’s wine on the coffee table. She’s in her purple lace bra and panties set. Jodie dropped to her knees next to Vance. She stared at Erik’s dick in a trance. 

“Let me feel those soft ass lips, Vance,” Erik slapped Vance on the cheek, startling him, “Yeah, you taking too long, baby boy, all this fat dick in front of you. Show your wife how you suck some nut out of the dick.”

“Damn, Erik,” Jodie’s eyes are love-struck. 

Vance gripped Erik’s dick and pumped him nice and steady, making sure to squeeze a little just beneath the tip of his dick so he could watch his pre-cum spill from his slit. Spreading the pre-cum along the sides of Erik’s dick, Vance’s big lips engulfed half of Erik’s dick, bobbing his head while reaching down to gently squeeze his balls. Erik kept his gaze pointed downward, looking from his dick being sucked by Vance and Jodie watching with envious eyes. Jodie has to grab hold of something so she placed her hand over Vance’s erection, his visible erection pressed hard against his denim cut-offs. 

“Two big dicks just for me,” Jodie spoke with excitement. 

“Don’t worry, ma, you’ll have some of this dick in your mouth too, Fuckkkk...yeah, suck that shit...suck that fat dick...oooh, you really wanted this shit, hungry ass nigga...don’t get too greedy your wife need some of that too.”

“Yes I do,” Jodie has Vance’s jeans and briefs down with his dark chocolate dick in her hand, nice and warm. It’s more so long than girthy. She jerked him while watching Vance slurp up Erik. 

“Vance...baby...get that dick,” She whimpered. 

Erik will never get over how good Vance’s lips feel. He thrust his hips, forcing more girth and length into Vance’s greedy mouth. Damn, he can deep throat too. 

“Look at you deep throating this wood, boy. You miss big black dick in your mouth, yeah? Miss a nice pair of heavy balls too? I got a load waiting just for you...all you gotta do is be a good boy…”

Erik’s eyes went so low that his long lashes made them seem like they are closed. Jodie’s hand twisted Vance’s erection and each time Erik’s dick hit the back of Vance’s throat, his dick would jump in Jodie’s hand. She arched her back and brought her lips to Vance’s dick. Jodie wasted no time slurping along Vance’s dick. One look at Jodie’s ass in the air has Erik reaching down, his thick fingers clawing her lace panties and yanking them from her ass in pieces. That action made her lips tighten around Vance’s dick and Vance moaned. 

“How that dick taste Jodie?” Erik asked. 

“Delicious,” She said before slurping Vance up some more. 

“Got that phat ass in the air...I already know that pussy phat with the way it sits in your leggings at the gym…”

“Mmm,” Vance cast his eyes upwards watching as Erik’s toned abdomen is exposed, reaching up to run his hand along the deep ridges of the cut muscle, slurping along his dick. He worked more of Erik into his mouth until his nose touched his trimmed hairs, feeling his length curve down his throat as he took him all the way. 

Jodie was in the middle of gagging on Vance’s dick, her spit staining the carpet the more she tried to swallow him. She reached beneath her, hand finding her creamy pussy before spreading her folds to rub her clit in circles. Erik could hear Jodie’s pussy from his seat on the couch. He groans deep, mouth hanging open from the way Vance was sucking him. He tilts his head to watch Jodie while holding the back of Vance’s head to fuck his throat. 

“FUCK!” Erik let out the curse before gripping Vance’s throat, hips jerking from how purposefully tight Vance’s lips are as his mouth slipped off, “Let Jodie have some.” 

Jodie’s lips popped off of Vance’s dick. Erik gazed at Vance’s dark brown dick. All that dark chocolate. He’s long as fuck too. Ain’t nothing Erik can’t handle down his throat. Too bad tonight was his night to get all the work. Jodie moaned before gripping Erik’s spit covered dick. Her tongue flicked Erik’s dick before she locked eyes with him, batting her false lashes like she’s innocent with all that fat dick in her mouth. 

“Damn, girl, crazy with it,” Erik leaned forward to slap both of Jodie’s cheeks hard, “Got all this hard dick down your pretty little throat...got your Hubby taking off his clothes...you see your wife sucking my dick, Vance? She a dick hungry bitch.” 

Vance is completely naked now. He pumped his long dick while leaning over Erik’s lap to hope for Jodie’s lips to slip off so he could take over again. Jodie lets her throat get fucked, gagging only slightly before fighting it back down, eyes turned up to watch the pleasure on Erik’s face as she feels Erik’s dick stretching out her esophagus. Jodie moans around his length, reveling in the taste of Erik on her tongue.

“Jodie,” Vance calls to her while gently squeezing Erik’s balls, “put his dick in my mouth.”

“You want some more of his hard, thick dick? Here,” Jodie feeds Vance Erik’s dick, “Suck it baby…”

“Husband and wife working together...Jodie...let me see that pussy,” Erik showed her how wide his tongue is. 

Jodie climbed onto the couch, turning with her ass facing Erik before bending over on her knees. Her pussy lips are pushed between her thick thighs. Two slippery lips that he wanted to kiss. 

“Spread your cheeks so I can see all that pink pussy...mmmmm,” Erik hisses, “Pussy creamy as fuck,” Erik licks his fingers before resting them on Jodie’s protruding clit and labia. He loved how smooth and soft she is. It looked like chocolate and from the way she tasted on his fingers it was just as sweet too. 

“Come here,” Erik spoke firmly, slapping Jodie’s ass, “lay on your back and spread your thighs so I can finger fuck you.”

“Unh—“

“I wanna feel how tight this little pussy is.” 

Vance jerks Erik’s dick before slobbering on the tip of his dick, “It’s tight...she’ll grip you.” 

“That’s what I want, right Miss Jodie?” 

“Yes, daddy,” Jodie says with a lick of her lips. 

“There you go, baby boy, suck that fucking dick up, suck daddy’s dick up,” Erik demanded. He could feel his balls grow tight and he knew what that meant. He didn’t want to cum yet, not until he had his dick in Vance’s ass and Jodie’s pussy. 

“Erik,” Jodie called to him with a melodic voice. 

Erik watched her bring her knees to her chest, that pussy wide open and her slippery hole winking at him. Erik couldn’t hold back from rubbing Jodie’s clit back and forth before slapping it, causing her to whimper. Erik smoothed his fingers down her pussy before pushing two fingers inside, biting his lip at the way Jodie gasped. 

“Tight fucking puss,” Erik strokes with a curl of his fingers, “I’m digging baby?”

“Yess,” She cries.

“I hear that pussy,” Vance says with spit hanging from his mouth. 

“Come suck her clit,” Erik commanded. Vance and Erik got down on the floor between Jodie’s thighs. Vance spreads her pussy lips so wide that her labia stretched. Erik was astounded when he saw how much cream spilled from Jodie’s pussy. Vance’s tongue curved at the tip while he teased her big clit. 

“Clit big as fuck, Vance stop playing, suck that shit up. Clit nice and phat like that you better suck it.” 

When Vance’s lips wrapped around Jodie’s clit she moaned to the ceiling. Vance reached up to pull the cups of her bra down, her big, round breasts spilling over, creating a mouthful. Erik damn near drooled. He sucked one of her nipples into his mouth while his fingers played all in Jodie’s pussy. Vance was slurping loudly on her pussy and it had Erik slapping Vance’s firm ass. 

“Yeah, nigga,” Erik says, “Got the whole puss in your mouth, make this bitch cum...say, I’ma make this pretty pussy cum.” 

“I’ma make this pretty pussy cum,” Vance says before French kissing Jodie’s clit. 

“I’ma make it squirt,” Erik flicked his tongue on Jodie’s nipple before showing some attention to the other. Jodie gripped his dreads when he went back and forth with sucking her nipples. He had her thrusting her chest into his mouth. 

“Grip me like that again, go ahead, ima put my face in your pussy next,” Erik spoke roughly. 

“Eat my pussy up,” Jodie widened her legs, “There’s plenty...slurp me up daddy.” 

“Nasty bitch, I like you,” Erik was face to face with Vance, “Let me see how that clit fit in my mouth.” 

Vance chuckles before giving Erik some room to eat on Jodie. He helped him by keeping her pussy lips open. Erik was still working his fingers, practically stirring all in Jodie’s creamy cavern. Erik kisses Jodie’s clit, the pecks slowly turning into full blown French kisses that has him opening his mouth wide to wrap his lips around her. 

“Mhm,” Erik’s eyes rolled shut.

“Taste good, yeah?” Vance said while extending his neck to kiss Jodie’s lips, “That’s your pussy on my tongue.”

“Mmm, I taste lovely.” 

Erik spits on Jodie’s clit before working his tongue with so much gusto that Jodie and Vance watched with awe. 

“Ooooh, He’s stroking my pussy with those thick fingers...oooh, I’ma squirt…Vance, baby, he’s gonna make me squirt, baby,” Jodie grabbed for the back of the couch. She became spasmodic and Vance had to hold her down and kiss her lips to distract her so Erik can keep going. That bitch was leaking all in Erik’s mouth. He sucked her up again before tasting his fingers. Vance leaned over Jodie’s lap, getting some of Jodie’s pussy too. 

“Pussy is so goddamn good,” Erik gripped Jodie’s jaw, pressing his lips into hers, “I can’t wait to bust your shit wide open, let’s take this shit to the bed.”

Pulling his lips away, Vance stands with Erik, both of them picking Jodie up. She had her legs wrapped around Erik while Vance stood behind her cupping her titties. Erik bounced Jodie on him like he was fucking her standing. Vance kissed and sucked on her neck at the same time. All three of them took their fun to the bedroom. Jodie grabs some condoms from her dresser, begging to watch Erik fuck Vance first while she rode his face. Vance went to lay on the bed, his knees drawn to his chest. Erik was blessed with the sight of Vance’s tight asshole and heavy balls with his dick resting against his toned abdomen. Jodie climbed on top of Vance’s mouth, turning to give Erik the condom and lube. 

Erik spits on Vance’s asshole before sticking his finger inside. With his free hand, Erik jerks Vance’s long dick 

To keep him solid so he could have something beautiful and chocolate to look at while he banged his ass. Jodie was currently popping her pussy on Vance’s tongue, legs in a squat so her pussy could be nice and spread for him to suck up. It was a beautiful sight. Erik almost wanted to bust from that alone. Staring at Vance’s body now made him think about Adonis. He tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling. Adonis. Nice big lips, sexy rock-hard body, aggressive and competitive, sexy smile, chocolate eyes all intense at one minute then gentle the next, the way he fights…

“Erik I love the way your finger feels in my ass.” 

Vance’s words broke him out of his trance.

“Yeah? Ain’t shit compared to this dick, boy,” Erik removes his finger, grabbing up the magnum to place on his dick. Rolling it over his glans all the way down to the root, Erik applies a little bit of lube for some extra slip. Bending his knees, Erik forced Vance’s thighs back before slapping the weight of his dick against his ass, sinking inside of his warm, tight ass. 

“Damn boy...damn...ass tight as fuck,” Erik started grinding his hips, “Feel all that thick dick pumping?” 

Jodie looked over her sweaty shoulder and saw Erik’s fat condom covered dick thrusting in and out of Vance’s ass. She felt chills all over her flesh and the sexy moans against her pussy and groans from Erik made her cream even more. Jodie can see Erik and Vance’s muscles ripple and flex with their movement. Jodie turned around so that she could 69 with Vance, grabbing his long dick up and going straight at it with a bob of her head. Vance clapped her cheeks before eating both of her holes. 

“Fuck, that’s what I’m talking about Jodie, eat that dick up,” Erik pushes her head down further, “There you go, deep throat that shit.”

Vance was working his hips to take all of Erik’s dick, Erik caught that, rolling his hips to meet Vance half-way so that his dick could be all up in his ass. 

“Got this nigga working his hips to get all this wood,” Erik bites his lip, “ass is creaming already too.” 

“Mmm, I wanna see,” Jodie jerks Vance’s dick while admiring her husband's creamy asshole grip Erik’s dick, “Vance...baby...he got you creamy, mmmm, Vance.

Vance moaned into Jodie’s pussy with each suck. 

“That’s it baby, make this pussy cum...oooh I feel you tugging on that clit, make me nut baby,” Jodie’s eyes almost crossed, Oh God...Oh God...fuuuuuuckkkkkkk babyyyyyyyyyyy—“

“Face hella sexy when you bust, girl,” Erik wrapped his arms around Vance’s thighs and started ramming his dick deep, big balls slapping against his ass. Vance’s core tightened and it seemed to shoot straight to his dick because now he’s cumming in Jodie’s hand. Jodie licked as much away as she could but he kept on erupting. It was Erik’s pounding deep in that ass that had him making a big mess. 

“Oh shit, Erik, fuck,” Vance stared between Jodie’s thighs at Erik, “Dick is all up my ass——“

“I’m taking this ass?” 

“Yes, daddy.”

Jodie could not stop looking at Erik’s hard dick fucking Vance so good. Erik leaned over Vance, his naked chest and those gold chains hanging over Vance’s body. His dreads hung low and he bit down on his lip, working his hips fast and skillful. Jodie needed that dick in her pussy. 

“Ima nut again,” Vance’s handsome face crumbled, “Fuck, Erik, ima bust—-“

“Yeah, nigga, I’ma make that dick cum while I beat this ass up good.” 

Jodie cupped her pussy and rubbed it up and down to the sight of Vance shooting out yet another thick load. Erik pulled out and rocked back on his heels, watching the way Vance’s ass quivered. There is a creamy puddle beneath his ass. Erik removes the condom, walking to Jodie’s dresser to grab another. Rolling it over his still hard erection, Erik walks up to Jodie picking her up and wrapping her legs around him. Erik sits back on the bed, Jodie over him with his hands cradling her ass.

“It’s time to get in you now...nothing but dick deep in your guts…”

Vance stood up from the bed and jerked his dick watching Jodie grab Erik’s dick herself, squatting over his dick before lowering her hips, that thick dick nothing but a flesh covered pole for her to fuck. Jodie was up on her feet, upper body bending over so she could bounce her hips. Her ass cheeks clapped with each bounce while she fed her pussy some dick. Vance went to lay next to Erik so that he could have a better look at his wife handling Erik’s dick. 

“You see that sexy little pussy taking all this dick?” Erik says to Vance before his eyes zeroed in on Vance’s erection, “Dick long as fuck...tear some ass up with this.” 

Erik started Jerking Vance’s dick.

“Get that dick, ma, nasty ass bitch...got my dick all in that pussy...I bet that ass looks real juicy bouncing…”

“This big ass dick.”

Jodie’s cream coated the condom.

“Good dick…” She moaned, “mmmmm, some good fucking dick...so thick...Unh, so good.”

“She’s loving that,” Vance says before grunting from Erik’s thumb stroking his tip, “I love that fat dick too.”

“I know you do, baby boy,” Erik gives Vance a sexy smirk. 

Erik liked the feel of Vance’s dick in his hand but he couldn’t stop wondering how Adonis’ would feel against his palm. Is it thick with a little bit of curve? Does it have length to it for Erik to deep throat? Is it soft to the touch yet textured from his thick veins? He couldn’t shake it. He let go of Vance’s dick and grabbed Jodie’s ankles, picking his hips off the bed and serving her more dick. He didn’t let up on his strokes, knocking the wind out of her chest and making her shout. Vance took over with jerking his dick while his eyes focused on Erik’s powerful hips. 

“KEEP FUCKING ME!” 

“Make her cum, Erik...Make that pussy cum,” Vance said.

“Ahhhhhhhhh,” Erik gritted his teeth, “cum on this dick, bitch...get you some of this dick...she about her business look at her,” Erik and Vance watched Jodie work her hips on his dick, “bounce that shit.”

“Hell yeah, I love watching that big dick pound her pussy,” Vance leans over to tongue Erik’s neck. Erik gripped his chin and flicked tongues with Vance. He broke away from him to moan out. His balls contracted rhythmically with his dick and that was a sign that he was ready to pump his fat load all over their faces. 

“Get down on your knees, both of y’all, hurry up, fuck, I gotta bust!”

Vance and Jodie are on their knees and Erik stands before them, snatching his condom off before fisting his dick. All of that cum squeezed out from his heavy sack all over Vance and Jodie’s face, mouth, and wiggling tongue. 

“Clean this dick up,” Erik spoke with a gruff tone. Both of their tongues battled for a taste. The feeling of two sets of lips on his dick made more cum dribble. Vance took over and sucked him, Erik pulling his dick from his mouth to give Jodie some. He allowed his dick to swing back and forth for them to catch and suck. 

“Y’all gon’ have me fucking again,” Erik shook his head, “Damn...y’all love this dick.”

Watching them attack his dick had Erik satisfied but there was still part of him that needed more. 

Adonis was going to be trouble...if only he would accept his attraction for Erik so he could really show him how badly he needs him. Erik wasn’t going to wait too long either. 

@tgigoldie​ @soufcakmistress​ @chefjessypooh​ @chaneajoyyy​ @pananegra​ @theblulife​ @becincere @blaqwidow91 @fish-outta-watah @eyeknowmywrites @crowngold @njadakillthiscookie @blktinkerbell @luvanxi @sheisexcellent1 @chocolatedippedinhoney @brandithecrystalgem @dababydababydababydababy @soulfulbeauty19 @btitannaaa @sunkissedebony97 @youngblackndgifted @harleycativy @rbhp @thee-germanpeach @thadelightfulone @palmstreesallday @skylahb @bakaris-shorty @nizzle-mo @truglori @queenflaws @ljstraightnochaser @theegoldenchild @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @nickidub718 @vikkidc @thehomierobbstark  @abluesforlyssa @abeautifulmindexposed @fd-writes @chasingsunlight @sickaddiktions @munteanhorewrites @xo-goldengirl @tiava143 @33kiara@honeytoffee @asiasblackworld727 @momobaby227 @informalmelancholy @soulshinechronicles @hearteyes-for-killmonger @goddessofthundathighs @soulfxll @whazzzupmyhitta @seyven89 @lahuttor @janelledarling @shewritestheblues @fanfangal @kreolemami @thoughtsoftheantagonist @luvwitoutlimit1 @mygirlrenee @hippiesandpeacesigns @alittlejd @jaysaidhi @chaneajoyyy @walkrightuptothesun @shawnstacksss @theesotericqueen @mareethequeen @browngirldominion @ceeverse @therealmrsrhodes @sensitivelegend @cecereads209 @teheeboo @yomiloo @msreshel @bbygirrll05 @fahi0nanart @afteracouplepuffss @shaelyn102 @yaminax-kuss-a @lackbbaby @amyhennessyhouse @thattruckinwitch @dameshaemonique  @glittermakesmesmile @justgetitoverwith0  @notavintagecliche @pariahcolored @cydneyrenee4 @ajjiiaaahhhh @naeelyniecee @ambthegamer @efonteno @mikesteel20 @wisenerdcreator @draggingstxns @eevolsidog @xoxomyaah @asweet-serendipity @therealmrsmbjordan @ajspencer1892 @queengodiva619 @niqui87 @quietpoeticheart @itsjustyazz @dasia21 @woah-express @bbgiirrll @backandbetter2 @megabriahall @forbeautyandlife @queenflaws @queenbetter @yomiloo @daddys-baby-girl-t @lovinthemelanin @ladymac82 @ambitionwood @t3mporaa @toniilaney @iv0rysoap @sinfully-dope @lovehatecritique @chocolategirl605 @naysianaee @nyleveeee @erlebnissebliss @melinaasap1 @woahthatshitfat @that-chick212 @scarypumkin23 @sambuckyslayallday @vikki240401 @kuaua98 @enigmadivine @gingerylimonte @counterfeit-recherche @unholyxcumbucket @xdezaraex @missgigglesmoultrie @imrootingforeveryoneblack @dashhoney25 @oversorry @abluesforlyssa @honeybeejaes @admirehermind @wassuduoo @kaykay0829 @woahitslucyylu

[citizenscreen]

It’s been the practice here to honor notable film-related anniversaries at the onset of every year – Looking back to move forward, if you will. This year there is particular excitement across social media because 2020 brings with it echoes of a century ago, the decade called The Roaring Twenties when youth threw caution to the wind and enjoyed life to its fullest. It was an era of economic prosperity and interesting (to say the least) social and artistic changes, an era of happenings and creativity. Some of that is reflected in films depicting the Roaring Twenties, which – luckily for us – happens to be this month’s theme on TCM.

In all pictures about the Roaring Twenties you’re likely to see the Flapper, perhaps the most familiar symbol of the era. The Flapper helped the decade retain a certain “feel,” one of partying and promiscuity with distinct style and energy. In movie terms you might look to Colleen Moore and Clara Bow to get a sense of what the Flapper was like.

Colleen Moore

Clara Bow

While the flapper enjoyed life throughout the decade, she gained considerable freedoms in 1920. On August 18 of that year the 19th Amendment was passed, giving women the right to vote. Due to the great economy at the time, millions of women worked in white-collar jobs and could afford to contribute in ways they previously could not. The increased availability of birth-control devices allowed for more personal choice and advances in technology helped the effort as well. Many homes in America, especially in the industrialized cities, were now powered by electricity, and effort-saving devices such as refrigerators, washing machines, irons, and vacuum cleaners, most of which were used by women, made life much easier as well.

Other inventions that came to be in 1920 include the hair dryer, invented by a women who inserted a hose in the exhaust of a vacuum cleaner. Brilliant! The traffic light was also born that year thanks to police officer William Potts who used red, amber, and green lights and $37 worth of wire to make his traffic light in Detroit, Michigan. The Band-Aid was invented by a man called Earle Dickson for his wife Josephine who cut herself often. The final invention worth noting was the automobile with the combustion, probably the most popular invention in the 1920s, which facilitated the Flapper lifestyle and led to many new jobs. The popular, reliable, and inexpensive Ford Model T made it all possible – and made it in the movies.

Harold Lloyd in GET OUT AND GET UNDER 1920

Stan Laurel in a Ford Model T 1920, which appeared in several Laurel and Hardy movies

  While previously mentioned freedoms were expanded, others were curtailed in 1920. The most famous being the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1919, but put into effect in 2020. The Federal Volstead Act, formally the National Prohibition Act, established to carry out the intent of the 18th Amendment, banned the manufacture and sale of “intoxicating liquors,” and at 12 A.M. on January 16, 1920, the Act closed every tavern, bar and saloon in the United States. Tragic as that may seem to some, there was plenty of booze to go around thanks to unseemly types who took control of underground “wet” businesses.

Hollywood’s fascination with Prohibition and the times during which it took place have resulted in fantastic film offerings through the decades. Sam Mendes’ Road to Perdition (2002) is one example of a great modern film dealing with the subject. But I am here for the classics and suggest you revisit the following to get a sense of how colorful the world was during the Prohibition era:

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Another right was curtailed on June 13, 1920 when the US Post Office stated that children could not be sent by parcel post. Various instances of this occurrence made the law a necessity.

More interesting facts about 1920:

The average life span in the United States that year was about fifty-four years.

The top ten toys of the 1920s were:

Teddy bears

Erector sets

Lionel trains

Lincoln Logs

Raggedy Ann

Radio Flyer Wagon

Tinker Toys

Crayons

Tin toys

Tiddlywinks

On January 29, 1920 Walt Disney started work as an artist with KC Slide Co. for $40 a week.

On May 1, 1920 legendary slugger Babe Ruth hit his 50th career home run, his first for the NY Yankees in a 6-0 win over the Boston Red Sox. How sweet it was.

On May 16 Joan of Arc (Jeanne D’arc c. 1412 – May 30, 1431) was canonized a saint. Her life has inspired numerous films starting as early as 1900 with Georges Méliès’ Joan of Arc. I must admit I’ve only seen two films on this topic, but can recommend both: Carl Theodor Dreyer’s deeply affecting The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) and Victor Fleming’s visually appealing Joan of Arc (1948).

On June 2 the Pulitzer prize for Drama was awarded to Eugene O’Neill for Beyond the Horizon.

On July 29 rebel leader Pancho Villa surrendered to Mexican authorities. As it turns out Villa who had an interesting connection to movies as this Smithsonian Magazine article explains.

On November 2, 1920 the first commercially licensed radio broadcast was heard, from KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The first broadcast was live results of the presidential election, a transmission of breaking news that was new and unprecedented. The impact of the medium of radio and the importance of this 1920 event cannot be overstated.

1920 in Hollywood

By the early 1920s, the film industry had made its (more or less) permanent move to Hollywood from the East Coast. The face of American cinema was transformed. Hollywood was now the world’s film capital producing virtually all films shown in the United States and 80 percent of the revenue from films shown abroad. Many American towns had a movie theater with over 20,000 movie houses operating in the U.S. by that year. Most Americans went to see the movies at least once a week. The movie industry became a big business. And Hollywood’s position only got stronger as many of Europe’s most talented movie players arrived.

By the end of the decade, the movies claimed to be the nation’s fifth largest industry, attracting 83 cents out of every dollar Americans spent on amusement. It’s only natural then that through this journey Hollywood also became the ideal of many things in the audience’s eyes. In particular the movies excelled at extravagance, fun, and glamour – and they were the primary distraction through tough times. Here’s more…

In 1920, Metro Pictures Corporation (with its already-acquired Goldwyn Pictures Corporation) was purchased by early theater exhibitor Marcus Loew of Loew’s Inc. In another acquisition, Loew merged his Metro-Goldwyn production company with Louis B. Mayer Pictures.

In 1920 C.B.C. Film Sales Corporation was founded in 1920 by brothers Jack and Harry Cohn, and Joseph Brandt. C.B.C. was renamed Columbia in 1924.

On March 28, 1920 the wedding of the century took place when Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford joined in matrimony. Fairbanks bought a lodge for his new bride and it was named Pickfair, a place that soon became the social center of Hollywood. In June 1920 the couple joined fellow newlyweds Frances Marion and Fred Thomson on a European honeymoon.

On April 3, 1920 F. Scott Fitzgerald wed novelist Zelda Sayre at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.

Director John Ford wed Mary Smith in 1920.

Charlie Chaplin discovered Jackie Coogan and chose him to play The Kid released in 1921.

Alice Guy, the world’s first female filmmaker and a key figure in the development of narrative film, directed her final film, the feature-length Tarnished Reputations (1920).

Born in 1920

I am astounded by the talent born in 1920. Expect major centennial celebrations for these important people who have given us so much joy through film and television.

Vincent Gardenia

Constance Moore

DeForest Kelley

Federico Fellini

Delbert Mann

James Doohan

Toshiro Mifune

Jack Webb

Denver Pyle

Peggy Lee

Yul Brynner

Maureen O’Hara

Shelley Winters

Ray Bradbury

Jack Warden

Mickey Rooney

William Conrad

Walter Matthau

Laraine Day

Montgomery Clift

Merlina Mercouri

Hy Averback

Nanette Fabray

Gene Tierney

Ricardo Montalban

Noel Neill

Virginia Mayo

Frances Gifford

Jack Lord

Tony Randall

Ray Harryhausen

Deaths in 1920

1920 is relatively early in the life of the movies so it’s not surprising only one stood out as notable…and particularly sad. On or about September 10 of that year actor Olive Thomas ingested bi-chloride of mercury from a French-labeled bottle in a darkened bathroom, believing it to be another medication. Found unconscious, she died five days later. The death made worldwide headlines. Olive was only 25 when she died.

With Olive’s death came a flood of stories linking her to alcohol and drug use and to sexual promiscuity. The evils of “movie people” were spotlighted along with her death by moralists everywhere. Regardless of the circumstances, which I believe have never come to light, this was the tragic death of a 25-year-old woman. Olive was survived by her husband Jack Pickford who was with her in Paris when the tragedy occurred. You can read more about the life and death of Olive Thomas at Silents are Golden.

Olive Thomas c. 1919

Among the notables who made their film debuts in 1920…

Mary Astor made her film debut by way of an uncredited part in Buster Keaton’s The Scarecrow

Madge Bellamy made her debut in Edward José’s The Riddle: Woman.

Charles Boyer in Marcel L’Herbier’s L’homme de Large

Greta Garbo in Ragnar Ring’s How Not to Dress, which according to the New York Times obituary is a short sponsored by the department story where Greta worked as a sales clerk.

Alfred Hitchcock – Hitchcock submitted a portfolio of title cards for The Sorrows of Satan and The Great Day and is hired by Famous Players-Lasky British Producers Limited. (Hitchcock.zone)

Barbara La Marr , the girl who was too beautiful caught everyone’s attention when she co-starred with Douglas Fairbanks in The Nut in 1921, but she made her debut the year prior in Bertram Bracken’s Harriet and the Piper.

Victor McLaglen in A. E. Coleby’s The Call of the Road (1920) he gets a starring role right off the bat as a gambler-turned-boxer.

Nita Naldi – the story goes that her dancing was spotted by John Barrymore, who obtained her debut role for her in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920).

Claude Rains – we see him for a brief moment at the end of the film, but it’s a brilliant turn he delivers in his formal film debut as James Whale’s The Invisible Man in 1933, but as is news to me at this writing, Rains appeared in Fred Goodwins’ Build Thy House in 1920.

Notable Film Releases

Germany’s silent landmark classic, director Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was released in the US in 1920.

Douglas Fairbanks’ first swashbuckler, Fred Niblo’s The Mark of Zorro (1920).

Buster Keaton made his first solo film appearance in the comedy short One Week (1920), after co-starring with Roscoe Arbuckle for the three previous years.

Legendary Broadway stage star John Barrymore appeared in the adapted Robert Louis Stevenson tale-horror film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) directed by John. S. Robertson.

Ernst Lubitsch’s Passion was released in the U.S. bringing attention to Polish actress Pola Negri.

Way Down East, a romantic drama directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish was a top grossing movie of the year.

Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton released several shorts each that are worth watching so check out their filmographies and get to it. Roscoe Arbuckle had a slow year given his star status in 1920, but that would all fall apart in 1921 following the Virginia Rappe scandal.

Harry Millarde’s Over the Hill to the Poorhouse or just Over the Hill starring Mary Carr was one of the top grossing films of the decade.

Paul Powell’s Pollyanna starring Mary Pickford was popular despite both screenwriter Frances Marion and Mary Pickford not liking it.

Shipwrecked Among Cannibals, a travelogue/documentary directed by William F. Adler, was the first Universal film to gross $1,000,000.

Cecil B. DeMille’s Something to Think About starring Elliott Dexter, Gloria Swanson and Monte Blue was popular with audiences.

Top Money-making actors

According to Quigley Polls from results of 1919 film releases.

Wallace Reid

Marguerite Clark

Charles Ray

Douglas Fairbanks

Mary Miles Minter

Mary Pickford

Clara Kimball Young

William S. Hart

Norma Talmadge

Theda Bara

Theda Bara in THE LIGHT 1919

◊

I hope you enjoyed these hundred-year-old highlights. I look forward to what I hope will be a stellar, enjoyable year of blogging and wish you and yours the very best. Now, in 1920s lingo, “Go chase yourself!”

HAPPY NEW YEAR…1920, A Centennial Celebration It's been the practice here to honor notable film-related anniversaries at the onset of every year - Looking back to move forward, if you will.

[judithcrousenhypercraft]

Het HEM – Chapter 3HREE Maarten Spruyt

9/02/2020

At the HEM they stimulate your interpretation of art. With the programs the museum offers, they want to give you the freedom to discover the story's which are told via art yourself.  

This requires sensory perception. You're forced to submit to your own intuition. Intuition is knowing from the heart.

Maarten Spruyt uses the underground spaces of the HEM where he creates an immersive exhibition about the power of mankind and its spirit. I was the only exhibitor during that time, so the 200 meters long obscure tunnel impressed me. No noises at the background, I could give a good peek at all the displayed artworks.

An age-old artistic theme shines through in the selection of the works of art; the human desire to get closer to nature, by curbing it or even destroying it.

An intriguing exposition with a couple of artworks that especially draw my interest. For instance, the sculptures of Ivana Basic; which resemble the vulnerable and transformation of the human body in a science fiction-style shape.

Also the work of Bianca Bondi "The private lives of non-human entities", which was an intimate household installation. An abandoned dining table disappeared into emptiness or dissolved into and fused with its natural environment.

Another artwork that drew my attention was the "Liquid Garden" from Tanja Smeets. Different kinds of structures from laser-cut felt, knitted structures, and cable tires give an impression of organic growth processes. It has such a futuristic but organic approach, it gives me questions about whether it will resemble the world's future or history.

Last but not least I want to mention the decorative objects from Carla van Riet, leather wall properties which are made with old leather jackets, saddlebags, and curtains. They look animalistic like a huge beetle is climbing against the wall. I'm intrigued by this three-dimensional form and I want to exploit it further during my concept research.

Overall I think this was the most beautiful and out of the ordinary exposition I have ever seen. 

[ccp-visualarts]

Transcendental Mervy Pueblo x Atsuko Yamagata

14 November 2019 to 9 February 2020 Bulwagang Carlos V. Francisco (CCP Little Theater Lobby) Opening reception: 14 November, Thursday, 6pm

Pueblo and Yamagata, visual artists based in Manila, have met, created and exhibited their works at the recently concluded 7th international art festival called the Nakanojo Biennale in Japan last September 2019. This 14 November 2019, Thursday, 6pm, the Cultural Center of the Philippines unveils their work from the biennale to bid visitor to look-in to the insights of the artists in this exhibition who address historical, contemporary and societal specters.

Working both individually during their artist in residency of the biennale, Pueblo and Yamagata have realized projects that respond to the physical and nonphysical realm. Pueblo’s installation is interjected with coded references, creating socially charged mysterious draperies that function as a portrait of our contemporary reality. Yamagata playfully explores animist processes and presents a materialistic definitions of the immaterial just like how one’s journey is recorded by one’s own footprint. Transcendental offers an immersive experience that sets the space for an examination of one’s own values and of the indelible tracks that continues even after one’s presence is relinquished.

About the artists

Atsuko Yamagata Born 1982 in Sapporo City, Hokkaido, Japan, Yamagata is a self-taught practicing visual artist since 2006 with a B.A. degree from Foreign Studies Program of Tokyo University majoring in Indonesian language: Southeast Asian Cultural Studies. In 2012 she entered Musashino Art University in Tokyo, but withdrew after a year as she moved to the Philippines. Yamagata has numerous solo exhibitions in 2018: Uncontrolled Artificiality at Finale Art File, Born Softly at MO_Space, Belongingness at West Gallery, and in 2017: Breathing, Breeding, Blowout , at Artinformal, and Borrowed Scenery at Underground gallery, and Made Roots Here at Hotel Nikko Sapporo. On the same year she participated to the 6th Nakanojo Biennale in Gunma Prefecture(Japan) as resident-artist and exhibitor. She has been participating in numerous exhibitions mainly in the Philippines, but has exhibited internationally: Japan (from 2012-2019), Indonesia (2016) and Singapore (2018 and 2015).

Mervy Pueblo Born in Quezon City in 1982, Pueblo graduated from Minneapolis College of Art and Design with an MFA degree under the flagship of the Philippine-American Education Foundation and Fulbright Scholarship in 2013. She has received several awards from different institutions such as the Award for Continuing Excellent Service: for Visual Arts and Art Education by the Metrobank Foundation Inc. (2019 PH), AICAD Post graduate Teaching Fellowship by the Minneapolis College of Art and Design MN, USA (Nomination, 2016); Thirteen Artist Awards (2015 CCP, PH), Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Award (2013 USA), Ateneo Art Awards (Finalist, 2012 PH), the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence: Sculpture Competition (Special Citation 2006, and Finalist, 2007 to 2010 PH), and Recognition of Talented Youth in Arts and Culture conferred by the office of the Pasig City Mayor (2006). Pueblo had solo exhibitions at Gotanda Community Center, Gunma, Japan (Coming Home, 2019), Artinformal, MM, PH (Fearless, 2014), Bliss on Bliss, NY, USA (Capital Values, 2013), Northrup King, MN, USA (Expectation Kits, 2013), MCAD Library Gallery, MN, USA (Remember to Forget, 2011), and at the Black Room, Whittier Studios, MN, USA (Project Mediating Stone, 2011). Moreover she has participated in numerous group exhibitions and symposiums, locally and internationally such as; Japan 2019, 2018, 2016, 2012 and 2009; Malaysia 2018 and 2016; Singapore 2017 and 2014; France in 2014; the United States of America in 2011 to 2013; South Korea in 2011, 2010 and 2008; Russia in 2008; and Vietnam in 2007. She continues to work at her studio in Rosario, Cavite.

Exhibit viewing hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm. Hours are extended until 10pm on days with evening performances at the CCP Main Theater. For more information, please contact: Visual Arts and Museum Division, Production and Exhibition Department at (632)8832-1125 loc. 1504/1505 and (632)8832-3702, mobile (0917) 6033809, email ccp.exhibits@gmail.com or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.

[black-riders-production]

The Quick Guide to Find Professional Exhibition Organisers In Delhi - Black Riders Production

Exhibiting products and services and taking care of all the facilities turn out to be a very responsible task altogether. All the exhibitors come together at one platform to engage the audience in their unique style. But, if you are the host of the exhibition, you have to take care of all the basic and crucial things. Moreover, you have to ensure whether all the arrangements are convenient for the participants and the visitors or not. Sounds tough work, right? Well, there is an easy way out where you can hire exhibition organisers in Delhi. These exhibition organisers have a vast knowledge about the prerequisites of exhibitions held in Delhi.

On the basis of these arrangements, industry-wise standards and your company requirements, these professionals chalk out their strategy. Nevertheless, they don’t miss their creative input and make sure your exhibition stands out further fetching your excellence, prominence in the Indian and international market. You should always be prepared with your blueprint of the exhibition, so that briefing the exhibition organisers based in Delhi becomes easier.

On the other hand, if you are hosting the exhibition for the first time, then, you may have many apprehensions. You may even have basic queries as exhibition hosting demands a detailed overview. This is where the proactive exhibition organisers play a vital role in guiding you about the master plan of the exhibit solutions. Not only will they tell you about the total number of exhibition stalls which can participate in your exhibition, but also offer business insights.

With that let's get into this quick guide to finding the professional exhibition organizers in delhi. Event Organisers For Exhibitions

So first the quick guide to finding the professional exhibition organizers in Delhi. Accumulation the stand, products to display, materials, tools & equipment and head towards the venue and that is. Well, this does not end here. The role of an event organizer is essential for a successful result. Because exhibition events involve a proper checklist. In the following article, we’ll help you to find the top event organizers for exhibitions. Give a brief read to the article.

ORGANIZING AN EXHIBITION CHECKLIST

Organizing an event is a heavy and responsible thing. In terms of exhibition-like events, they need proper preparation to look after. Because exhibition events are those where people come for marketing and explore new things. Exhibition event requirements like venue selection, plan/decoration, security, catering, logistics, and supervising.

FOCUS ON THE EXHIBITION STAND

Before organizing the exhibition stand, you need to calculate all the duties and pretensions. Because if it is your first show to organize, you must prepare yourself for it. As the show might go long and make you tired a lot. That is planning before execution is necessary. Additionally, with such the show appears providing the best deals that meet all your needs.

CONNECTIONS

Exhibition events might create a mess so make sure that you connect all the cables and wires. Because internet connection and standard switch connections are essential in events. Further, connecting after the display stand is not a good idea. Additionally, if you are displaying the stand anyway then make sure that you finalize it on at least with one practice. Importantly, whenever you order the accessories of the package, survey them entirely by listing them. This helps you to find the missed and damaged one.

The Internet or power connections must be excellent.

The power connection’s requirements must be higher, up to 20 amp.

Check the phases correctly

Take the account of health care, security, and safety.

The connection must be covered, raised or underground but not visible.

List the distributers

You need to list the distributors, who will come for marketing. List their goals and products carefully with the distributor’s name, distributor’s company name, etc. Put the list in your documents collected. Further, it will help you to remember everything you might need during the event. And eliminate the chance of missing or forgetting something important.

MAKE A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR STAFF

Pay attention during the responsibilities distribution.

List the schedule and explain the duties separately.

The entire team must be one the same page so that no staff-mishaps occur during the event. Manage the transportation for the staff and accessories

Find the way for the staff and the traders to visit the event. Because transportation services are necessary. For the one who is organizing, the one who’s controlling, and the one who’s performing at the particular event. Additionally, remember the accessories/equipment/tools placement to assemble for both the performer and controller.

COMPLETE THE CHECKLIST

Importantly, finalize everything by giving the checklist, scheduling, staff, and suppliers for one last time. Survey the event before it starts and make sure that each member is prepared. Last but not least, just relax and survey the overall things, if done with all, now you’re ready to begin.

Some of the professionals to help you with the same in delhi are -

1) OVATION INC.

Pocket 1, Vasant Kunj, Delhi

OVATION INC. is well known in the Industry as specialists in event Management since 2003, event design, management of gala launch events, customized exhibition stands, weeding events and organizing conference events in India and around the world. We are also specialized in Retail Management and Digital Technology. Using our knowledge and skills, we manage the entire process from concept to finish, providing you with a complete 360 degree solution.

2) DEEPSHOBHA DANCES

Rohini Sector 9, Rohini, Delhi

Exhibition and Trade Fair Organisers, Corporate / Commercial event organisers

We deals in Wedding dance choreography Anchoring services Dance troups Dj set up / stage set up Belly dancer available Tanura dance available Photographer and videographer Lights., led walls, led tv Feather girls for bride and groom entry etc.

3) A & T EVENT MANAGEMENT

148-149 Guru Ramdas nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi

Exhibition and Trade Fair Organisers, Live music and Orchestra

We are Best service provider in entire delhi NCR, we are giving you multiple services like Wedding Planning, Catering services, birthday party Organisers, DJ & Decor, logistics services, Tent & Decor, In-house & outdoor Decoration.

4) PUNCHLINERS

DLF Okhla Phase 1, Okhla, Delhi

Exhibition and Trade Fair Organisers, Live music and Orchestra

The New Normal for Comedy is here presented by Punchliner Live on Zoom in your city. You don’t have to wait in Lines to hear jokes from us. Buy your tickets for punchliners comedy show.

5) RITUAL'S VISION ENTERTAINMENT

India, Pitampura, Delhi

Exhibition and Trade Fair Organisers, Live music and Orchestra

my company very honest professional dancer awesome work and everybody join Mj step dance studio

I hope our recommendations help you out to meet your needs to organise a very different and elegant event for your exhibition.

[viviseconds]

Steven Shearer The Underground Exhibitor (detail), 2024 Oil on canvas 67 5/8 x 49 1/2 in

[epacer]

Classmates

Scott Shaw!

You can find Scott Shaw in the Exhibitors area of the Exhibit Hall at booth I-08. For the first time since 2019, Comic-Con returns to the San Diego Convention Center on July 21 - 24, 2022! Click link to find more information:  https://www.comic-con.org/cci

About Scott Shaw

For fifty years+, I've created underground comix, mainstream comics, children's books, syndicated comic strips, graphic novels, TV cartoon series, toys, trading cards, video games, animated and print advertisements, premiums and packaging art. As a San Diego Comic-Con co-creator, I'm delighted to see so many of my friends and fans again in 2022. I've brought a tablefull of my comics, books, art prints, magazines, stickers, T-shirts, and original artwork from my career in comics, animation and more, all for sale. I'm also booking art commissions for depictions of your favorite chararacters.

[lennonhead]

akibadetectives said: oh sick!! what event? -------------- Artism Market. even if I don't make it as an exhibitor, I think anyone interested in "angura" 70s style Japanese underground art should go! these are my people

[architectnews]

Hotel Property Award 2020 News

Hotel Property Awards 2020, International Accommodation Competition News, Designs, Buildings

Hotel Property Award 2020

9 Oct 2020

Hotel Property Award 2020 Winners

hotelforum: The Grand Park Hotel Rovinj in Croatia is the winner of the “Hotel Property Award 2020”

The runners-up are the Lighthouse Hotel & Spa in Büsum and the Hotel Ottilia in Copenhagen

Three finalists from three different European countries

Integration into the overall environment is key

Munich, 9th October 2020 – This year’s “Hotel Property Award 2020” goes to the Grand Park Hotel Rovinj in Croatia, designed by 3LHD Architects. The Award was presented yesterday as part of the hotelforum conference.

Andreas Martin, Managing Director of hotelforum management GmbH: “This year’s prize-winner has impressed us by successfully combining the clear, modern architectural language of Croatian architects 3LHD from Zagreb with the elegant Italian interior design signature of Piero Lissoni and partners from Milan.

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj

The Grand Park Hotel Rovinj is integrated into the surroundings in such a way that guests can enjoy a variety of spectacular views of the bay and of the town of Rovinj. In combination with the intensive greening of the building, this means that the hilly coastline between the waterside and the surrounding pine trees is treated with respect.”

The Grand Park Hotel Rovinj replaces the former Park Hotel and is situated on a slightly elevated position in a pine grove in Rovinj Bay, with a view of Catarina Island, directly off the coast, and of the picturesque Old Town of Rovinj. There are 209 rooms and suites on the hotel’s six floors. The hotel offers two bars and two restaurants on the upper floors, directly adjacent to the hotel lobby.

These include the Cap Aureo Signature Restaurant, which specialises in preparing local vegetables, as well as three other gastronomic establishments on the hotel building’s ground floor, which opens onto the marina where there are various boutiques. In addition, the two upper floors feature a very spacious 3,800 square metre wellness and spa area accommodating a total of three indoor and outdoor pools overlooking the bay of Rovinj. Access to the hotel by car and on foot is from the land side, via the 5th floor. The hotel has an extensive underground car park, which is built into the coastal cliffs and also has a public section that is accessible from the marina level.

The interdisciplinary 19-member jury pre-selected among the 40 candidate hotels from 12 European countries to choose ten nominees from four European countries. The following three hotels were selected from these nominees for the final round (in alphabetical order):

– Grand Park Hotel Rovinj (Rovinj, Croatia)

– Hotel Ottilia (Copenhagen, Denmark)

– Lighthouse Hotel & Spa (Büsum, Germany)

Jan-Oliver Meding, Managing Partner of MPP and spokesperson of the hotelforum jury: “All three finalists are characterised by a high degree of empathy for integration into the overall environment of the respective hotels. Hotel developments should ideally bring new life and momentum to districts and neighbourhoods. They will not be remembered as isolated solitary objects, neither in the urban environment nor in the natural surroundings. The developers and operators of all three hotels have done this successfully.”

The three hotelforum finalists came from three different European countries for the first time. Martin: “Whether we are talking about holiday hotels on the waterfront or inner-city hotels, Europe is also growing together on a high level of quality in terms of hotel architecture. It is characteristic of the current market situation that two hotels in holiday destinations have been selected as finalists and that a holiday hotel has emerged as the winner of the competition for the second year running.”

Hotel Ottilia, Copenhagen

The Hotel Ottilia in Copenhagen was created in the Carlsberg district as part of the project to repurpose the former Carlsberg brewery. One part of the building dates from 1881, and another building was added in 1969. The 4-star boutique hotel houses 155 rooms and suites and offers an unrestricted view of the Danish capital from the roof terrace, which also has an event area. When converting the ex-brewery’s former grain and beer stores into a hotel, the challenge was to retain the original elements of the brewery in the building and to convert them to a new purpose.

The result was a contemporary, and in some aspects unexpected design by Danish interior designers Mette Fredskild and Morton Hedegaard which reflects the history and architecture of the building. An original silo was transformed into a work of art incorporating mirrors and water pools, and the former entrance area of the brewery, the historic Dipylon Hall, is now a trendy lounge area of the hotel. Together with the Scandinavian team of architects Arkitema, project developer and operator Brøchner Hotels has successfully applied sustainable district development in order to convert a property that is of historical significance for Copenhagen to a new purpose.

Lighthouse Hotel & Spa, Büsum

With its 111 rooms, the Lighthouse Hotel & Spa is located directly on the Wattenmeer World Heritage Site, on the North Sea. Building on their constructive cooperation in the past, project developer and operator Heimathafen Management has worked together with the Ladehoff architectural office to incorporate the jagged charm of Büsum harbour in front of the entrance and has created a high-quality hotel with a North Sea character.

The building replaces a former spa facility at the Museumshafen and was built directly adjacent to the dyke. Some areas of the hotel are located in the dyke, such as the car park, and the two restaurants looking out over the Wattenmeer on a level with the dyke. The neighbouring former Büsum adventure pool is currently being modernised and, when it reopens, will once more offer direct access to the pool from the new hotel.

All public areas are designed to be barrier-free, and the distinctive Northern German charm of the hotel property is characterised by the playful arrangement of buildings which appear to be individual constructions, but which are in fact integrated on the inside to form a single hotel complex. The new hotel considerably enhances the harbour environment, and is located directly next to Büsum lighthouse, which gives the hotel its name. In order not to disturb individual guest rooms with the beacon, the hotel records light sequences and transmits the light signal on from the façade with a precision of seconds.

The Award targeted both hotel developers, owners and operators. Applications to the “Hotel Property Award” were received from hotels which were opened between January 2019 and July 2020.

The jury was looking for a successful interplay between architecture and design, integration into the project environment, sustainability and technical innovations, the originality of the concept, as well as cost-effectiveness.

The winner of the “Hotel Property Award 2020”:

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj Location: Rovinj, Croatia Owned by: Maistra Hospitality Group Operated by: Maistra Hospitality Group Project developer: Maistra Hospitality Group Architect: 3LHD Interior design: Lissoni Architettura Type of operation/category: holiday hotel, full-service, 5 stars Construction period: 24 months No. of rooms: 209

Hotel Ottilia Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Owned by: Brøchner Hotels Operated by: Brøchner Hotels Project developer: Brøchner Hotels Architect: Arkitema Architects Interior design: Architect MAA Mette Fredskild & Morten Hedegaard Type of operation/category: city hotel, full-service, 4 stars Construction period: 24 months No. of rooms: 155

Lighthouse Hotel & Spa Location: Büsum, Germany Owned by: Sroka Beteiligungs GmbH, Kähler Beteiligungs GmbH, Light B.O.N.E. GmbH Operated by: Lighthouse Hotel GmbH & Co. KG Project developer: Heimathafen Management GmbH & Co. KG Architect: Archtekturbüro Ladehoff GmbH Interior design: COSMAN-Interior Type of operation/category: holiday hotel, full-service, no star classification Construction period: 23 months No. of rooms: 111

10 Nominated Hotels in alphabetical order:

Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor (Munich, Germany) Grand Park Hotel Rovinj (Rovinj, Croatia) Hotel Bergamo (Ludwigsburg, Germany) Hotel Ottilia (Copenhagen, Denmark) Lighthouse Hotel & Spa (Büsum, Germany) nhow Amsterdam RAI (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Pierdrei Hotel HafenCity Hamburg (Hamburg, Germany) San Canzian Village & Hotel (Buje, Croatia) The Slaak Rotterdam, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel (Rotterdam, Netherlands) Yotel Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Previous Hotel Property Award Winners

Schgaguler Hotel Castelrotto/Kastelruth (2019), QO Amsterdam (2018), Bretterbude Heiligenhafen (2017), Reichshof Hamburg CURIO Collection by Hilton (2016), Hotel Zoo Berlin (2015), Holzhotel Forsthofalm Leogang, Salzburger Land (2014), Radisson Blu Hotel Nantes (2013), Hotel TOPAZZ Vienna (2012), 25hours HafenCity Hamburg (2011), Roomers Frankfurt (2010), Lindner Park-Hotel Hagenbeck (2009), 25hours Frankfurt (2008), Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa & Cultural Hideaway (2007), Hotel Daniel Graz (2006), Colosseo Erlebnishotel Rust (2004), Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo Brussels and Accor Suite Hotel Hamburg (2003), Hilton Köln (2002).

hotelforum

hotelforum is the European Hotel Development Conference, which for 18 years now has been a regular annual feature accommodating networking and exchanges between experts when it comes to hotel properties. hotelforum continues to offer a highly-qualified communication platform even as a hybrid conference with a live stage in Munich where a limited number of people are able to attend in person, and consists of a varied stage programme, virtual breakout sessions, opportunities for exhibitors, and various networking formats for the hospitality industry. It culminated in the presentation of the Hotel Property Award on Wednesday, 7 October. You will find more information at www.hotelforum.org.

16 Sep 2020

Hotel Property Award in 2020

hotelforum jury nominates hotels for the “Hotel Property Award 2020”

Ten hotels from Croatia, Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands have been nominated

Newly-built hotels and conversions are evenly balanced

Sustainability as an overall concept of social, economic and ecological factors

Nhow RAI Hotel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: photo courtesy of hotelforum

Berlin, 16 September 2020 – The interdisciplinary jury of hotel experts has nominated ten hotels from among 40 applications received from 12 European countries for the “Hotel Property Award 2020”, which will be presented on Wednesday, 7 October as part of the hotelforum conference.

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, Croatia: picture courtesy of hotelforum

The nominees include four hotels from Germany, three from the Netherlands, two from Croatia and one from Denmark. Four of the hotels are purely new constructions; three hotels replace former hotel or spa facilities, and three are the result of the conversion of a former brewery, a publishing house and an old village centre, respectively.

Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor, Munich, Germany: photo © Andaz Munich Schwabinger

Andreas Martin, Managing Director of hotelforum Management GmbH and Chairman of the jury: “Whether we are talking about newly-developed hotels, repositioning after demolition and the construction of new hotels, or the conversion of existing properties, the development of the neighbourhood and the integration of the new hotel into an existing or newly-developed environment play a central role in all the nominated hotels. The interplay between the individual hotel architecture and the respective project environment was discussed all the more intensively by the expert jury and weighed up against one another in terms of sustainability aspects”.

Hotel Bergamo, Ludwigsburg, Germany: photo : Brigida González

The expert jury with a total of 19 members is made up of ladles and gentlemen from the fields of architecture, development, finance, operation, technical building installations and design of hotel properties, as well as of representatives from the media and academia.

Hotel Ottilia, Copenhagen, Denmark: photo : Sasha Maslov

“The discussion among the jury regarding the nomination for the ‘Hotel Property Award’ was controversial up to the very end, but it was striking and absolutely positive at the same time that more and more attention is being paid to the topic of sustainability – and not only in terms of energy,” according to jury spokesman Jan-Oliver Meding, Managing Director of MPP.

Lighthouse Hotel & Spa, Büsum, Germany: photograph : Andrea Flak

“Sustainability is increasingly also seen as a coherent overall concept combining social, economic and ecological factors, and it is becoming increasingly central for a hotel to be embedded in its immediate surroundings.”

Pierdrei Hotel HafenCity Hamburg, Germany: photograph : designhotelfotografie

San Canzian Village & Hotel, Buje, Croatia: photo : Nova Slika_Cijela_Velika Rez

The Slaak Rotterdam, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Rotterdam, Netherlands: photo courtesy of hotelforum

Yotel Amsterdam, Netherlands: photo courtesy of hotelforum

hotelforum considers interaction between the following categories to be decisive in selecting the nominees:

• architectural design quality (innovation) • integration into the project’s surroundings (destination) • sustainability and technical innovation (the future) • the originality of the concept (creativity) • economic efficiency (investment)

Hotel Property Award 2020 Nominees

The ten nominees in alphabetical order:

Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor (Munich, Germany) Grand Park Hotel Rovinj (Rovinj, Croatia) Hotel Bergamo (Ludwigsburg, Germany) Hotel Ottilia (Copenhagen, Denmark) Lighthouse Hotel & Spa (Büsum, Germany) nhow Amsterdam RAI (Amsterdam, Netherlands) Pierdrei Hotel HafenCity Hamburg (Hamburg, Germany) San Canzian Village & Hotel (Buje, Croatia) The Slaak Rotterdam, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel (Rotterdam, Netherlands) Yotel Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Links to Hotel Property Award 2020 Selected Nominees

Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor, Munich, Germany photo © Andaz Munich Schwabinger Hotel Andaz in Munich

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, Croatia photo courtesy of hotelforum Grand Park Hotel Rovinj

Hotel Bergamo, Ludwigsburg, Germany photo : Brigida González

Hotel Ottilia, Copenhagen, Denmark: photo courtesy of hotelforum

Lighthouse Hotel & Spa, Büsum, Germany: photo : Andrea Flak

Nhow RAI Hotel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Architects: OMA / Reinier de Graaf photo courtesy of hotelforum nhow Amsterdam RAI

Pierdrei Hotel HafenCity Hamburg, Germany photograph : designhotelfotografie

San Canzian Village & Hotel, Buje, Croatia: photo courtesy of hotelforum

The Slaak Rotterdam, Netherlands: photo courtesy of hotelforum

Yotel Amsterdam, Netherlands: photo courtesy of hotelforum

Previous winners of the “Hotel Property Award”

Schgaguler Hotel Castelrotto/Kastelruth (2019), QO Amsterdam (2018), Bretterbude Heiligenhafen (2017), Reichshof Hamburg CURIO Collection by Hilton (2016), Hotel Zoo Berlin (2015), Holzhotel Forsthofalm Leogang, Salzburger Land (2014), Radisson Blu Hotel Nantes (2013), Hotel TOPAZZ Vienna (2012), 25hours HafenCity Hamburg (2011), Roomers Frankfurt (2010), Lindner Park-Hotel Hagenbeck (2009), 25hours Frankfurt (2008), Schloss Elmau Luxury Spa & Cultural Hideaway (2007), Hotel Daniel Graz (2006), Colosseo Erlebnishotel Rust (2004), Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo Brussels und Accor Suite Hotel Hamburg (2003), Hilton Cologne (2002).

hotelforum

hotelforum is the European Hotel Development Conference, which for 18 years now has been a regular annual feature accommodating networking and exchanges between experts when it comes to hotel properties. hotelforum will continue to offer a highly-qualified communication platform even as a hybrid conference with a live stage and with a limited number of people being able to attend in person in Munich. There will be a varied stage programme, virtual breakout sessions, opportunities for exhibitors, and various networking formats for the hospitality industry. It will culminate in the presentation of the “Hotel Property Award”. 2020’s event will be held on Wednesday, 7 October. You will find more information at www.hotelforum.org.

Location: international

Hotels

Hotel Buildings

Architecture Awards 2020

Architecture Awards added in 2020 on e-architect – recent selection:

RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship 2020 image courtesy of RIBA

Praemium Imperiale Architecture Laureate

Rethinking The Future Awards

SBID International Design Awards 2020 News

Asia Pacific Property Awards 2020: 10 DESIGN

Architecture Awards

Stirling Prize

RIBA Gold Medal Award

What’s Up Paris? Competition

Rethinking Urbanity Competition image : wonderland plaform for European Architecture

Rethink Hotels Competition

Hotel Architecture

Contemporary Interiors

Comments / photos for the Hotel Property Award 2020 page welcome

The post Hotel Property Award 2020 News appeared first on e-architect.

[artworldnews]

15 year Reunion of work by the artists ‘Art Below’

LONDON.- ‘Every Day is a Miracle’ is Art Below’s first gallery exhibition since January, and is now on view at Ad Lib Gallery. Following months of isolation and global uncertainty, ‘Every Day is a Miracle’ celebrates a reunion of work by the artists Art Below has presented throughout its fifteen-year history, as well as an optimistic look towards the future. Open to the public for ten days, this exhibition comprises a series of events, each with a limited capacity to comply with guidance as the COVID-19 lockdown measures begin to lift. We live in extraordinary times, and beyond great tragedies, recent years have also seen triumph and pride in moments of adversity, from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to the 50th Anniversary of the first moon landing and the great work of our NHS – themes which have been explored in past exhibitions and which are returned to again here as Art Below looks optimistically towards the future, with fresh works recently created by artists longstanding and newly brought on board. Curator and Art Below Co-Founder Ben Moore says: “I feel that the coronavirus has created a wall in history, and that everything that happened before 2020 we will reminisce about for years to come – about the way things used to be. This brief window of time is an opportunity for me as a curator to reflect on those wonderful years as Art Below went on its journey, from 2006 to its last event at the start of this year. This is a chance for us to relive that wonderful time, enjoying a gallery as we used to do and seeing those iconic works that once starred on the walls of the London Underground in a new environment. Things, I believe, will not be the same again in our lifetimes, however with change comes opportunity, and we are looking forward to our continued work with new, emerging artists on the scene, as well as those with whom we have collaborated for over a decade.” The exhibition is part retrospective, looking back at some of the most iconic billboard posters from Art Below’s fifteen-year span, including Ben Eine, Sarah Maple, Billy Childish and Alison Jackson, as well as work from the Art Wars collection by artists such as Hayden Kays, Philip Colbert, Orlanda Broom and Joe Rush. The show also unveils fresh new work by James Ostrer, Karen Bystedt, Anna Kenneally, Tom Lumley, Jeffrey Robb, Ben Eine, Ru Knox, Mark Metcalfe, Pauline Amos, Nasser Azam and Mikey Voice. A section of the show is being dedicated to the work of underwater photographer Terry Arpino (12 December 1944 – 7 April 2020), who sadly passed away in April. Terry was a regular Art Below exhibitor from its earliest days and will be greatly missed. He became passionately interested in underwater photography over 35 years ago, excited about how nature shows its beauty and colour in the shapes and forms of organisms, living in this challenging yet serene environment. He enthusiastically described his unique practice as being at times “beyond imagination and dreams.” A billboard poster of work by Terry Arpino was installed at Hyde Park Corner Tube Station on Monday 13 July 2020. RIP Terry.