#Whimsical Pop Pretty Cure

[neopolitansworld]

Hey, here's an unfinished group design of another fanseries:

Kitai no Pop Precure / Whimsical Pop Pretty Cure

The themes are imagination, childhood, bubbles, dreams. Was to lazy to do proper lineart and color but hopefully in the future. Also a lot of details are missing like their magical bubble wand, overall needs refining.

Cure Cupid

Cure Herb

Cure Torch

Cure Glacier

Yayy I've now introduced 3 out of my 6 fanseries although I have yet to post Lightmis designs, soon to come.

[northernyogurt]

Oh my gosh! I'd love to hear more of your thoughts on Finn/Jake/Piers please!

Btw I did a quick look and it looks like there's a fic for that throuple ship on AO3, so other people seem to enjoy it too! I really wish there were a lot more content for them though. 😭

They're such a good ship!

WHEN I TELL YOU. I RUSHED TO READ THAT FIC. I GOT SO SO EXCITED I'VE BEEN STARVING FOR FOOD FOR JAKINNIERS FOR LIKE TWO YEARS AND IT'S FINALLY HAPPENED!!!!! i seriousluy feel like im going to have a meltdown im so excited i've written several things of my own on these three i just never really finish things or get them to a point where i feel good enough to publish them? i have tons of things hidden away but one day maybe they'll be finished one i was working on was some sort of fun and whimsical lawyer-esque au? where the BSAA was actually a law firm located in raccoon city and were in the middle of a long lawsuit on albert wesker/tricell for medical malpractice/unethical practices or something akin to that. and chris had taken a few people from his team on a vacation in LA to keep spirits up and have some fun, and there finn and piers (being pretty close in the firm, at that point) would get lost and meet jake, a (currently) LA 'resident' thug who knew the streets pretty well and helped them get around. i still like the concept and i've been thinking of returning but jojo brainworms are overtaking me so it's been rough to do anything resident evil related (but i may return for a short while just to get some jakinniers shit out cuz i miss them) actual rambling under the cut v

but like as for in actuality, aka the string of events ive actually procured; in of course an everyone-lives au, i imagine finn to be the one to get jake and piers to set their differences aside and bring the three of them together, in a sense. piers and finn weren't super close before the ambush in edonia, though piers still cared for finn marginally as he would any other soldier. it wasn't until they were both in recovery in a BSAA-owned lab for rehabilitating bioweapons that they actually became close with one another. they're both in there until about 2014, thanks to jake's blood being the key to manufacturing some kind of "cure", or at least something to satiate or cut off the effects of the c-virus. finn has a lot longer to go than piers - seeing as he was hit with a more crude, destructive version of the virus - but they're both stable, and that's what matters. they attend the 2014 rewards ceremony for their bravery in edonia. finn doesn't see jake there-- sherry says he didn't want to go, didn't want to make the trip, which is.. fair enough. he's still upset for a reason piers cannot understand. but in 2015, chris holds a christmas party, which is something he likes to do often. by now, piers and finn are in some sort of weird situationship that finn wants to put a name to, but piers won't budge, unwilling to admit his fear of commitment to something like a relationship. regardless they attend this party together and, lo and behold, that ginger fuck shows up. piers is greatly upset, wondering how the hell he'd be allowed when he literally shot the host of the party in 2012, but chris actually seems okay with it, so he can push aside his anger for now and let it go, just wanting to get this social event over with, aaand great finn is going to literally talk to him. amazing finn actually just wants to thank jake for what he's done, and jake is like, reasonably a bit awkward and confused, having had his cute little character arc where he's like not a bad person now, but somehow the conversation turns and they hit it off. hooray! that's how that happens. now within a few weeks finn is juggling two odd situationships at once and loves both of them but can't exactly just admit that because that would mean "choosing", or at least that's how he sees it this is getting a bit long so im going to try and speed-explain: jake pops into finn's place at some point to give him something, piers is there. cue awkwardness and tension. something snaps, piers goes off, is very upset to see jake is hanging around piers's boyfriend-not-boyfriend-technical-situationship-thingy, they talk things out after an almost-argument and discover they actually aren't too different. relationships between the three of them develop over a few months, but nothing official because nobody is really sure how to go about this, then on a semi-drunken night jake is like "what if we were just all together at once i hate monogamy" and?? they just slowly start calling each other their boyfriend. of course they don't come out to anyone for a while (but everyone has known lmao) happily ever after huzzah! that's such a quick explanation of something that in my mind is so intricate i don't really know how else to squash that down while still keeping key points. there's so much to it and i imagine it'd be a VERY slow burn that all of them get frustrated about at points (especially finn, being the most eager to actually jump into an official title of their weird relationship, but the other two being a lot more on the fence about it) you just have to trust me might go into this more and if you have any specific questions i would LOVE TO ANSWER. i love talking about them very much and all the different aus/ideas i have in my head

[mmorpg-escapism]

It's time to go mass produce de-tempering Porxies! How?

By using Matoya's Relict to make a Mother Porxie imbued with the cure to pop out a bunch of little ones. Yeah, that sounded better in my head. Oh well.

Our party for this dungeon is G'raha (Tank Form) and the Twins. Y'shtola can chat with or otherwise help Matoya while we do the work. It's... a whole mess in here. The music is very march-like yet whimsical, and sounds like something out of a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Fitting, I guess, since we're being guided around by frogs.

The first boss is Mudman and I'm not entirely sure what to think about this one other than "ew gross." Mud is not something I enjoy playing in, but I'll admit the golf-like mechanic where you have to aim the ball you're about to get smacked with at a hole so it doesn't keep smacking you is pretty neat.

Oh, and we got a callback to an earlier Matoya-related dungeon right before boss #1 - Sonny of Ziggy. Ziggy was one of the bosses in the Antitower... which is also my least favorite in the entire game (sorry, Calca/Brina enjoyers).

Boss two is a Nixie and we're going to be enjoying a callback to that in the future, don't worry. The mechanics here are nothing to sneeze at, between the "dodge the firehose" holes in the walls and the burn phase where we have to hop up on a cloud using water fountain jump spots. Everything boils down to "don't stand in the Bad" but this one is "the Bad is a water park" too.

And finally, we have to heat up the kiln (the magma is so pretty here, oh my god) and move on to our final boss: Mother Porxie! This unruly familiar is supposed to be helping us out but of course we have to beat it into submission first. It can't ever be easy. I do love the mechanics here, using pushbacks to avoid getting toasted and such. The big "inhale" section is probably the least fun out of all of them, and even then it's just "hold W and strafe out of AoEs" so it's not *that* bad.

Anywho, huzzah! We have our mass-producable cure for tempering! Celebration in the streets! Everywhere! Come on!

...No?

[granvarones]

i can still picture us hanging out in his dimly lit room as he sang his heart out to tasmin archer’s “sleeping sattelite.” i didn’t get it. i just didn’t hear what he did. where was the beat? how do you dance to this? what the hell was is it even about? he just said, “it’s about failure. human failure.” still, i didn’t get it.

i cannot remember how he and i met. i think it was at teen night at woody’s, the first gay club i ever patronized. he went to high school with a mutual friend. i didn’t. i was a high school dropout. what i do know is that we entered each other’s orbit sometime in the fall of 1993. we were fast friends. he was a loner and oh-so whimsical. his presence was sporadic but i really didn’t mind. except when he played this damn song!

released in late 1992 in the UK and in the US in early 1993, “sleeping satellite” is the debut single from british singer and songwriter tasmin archer. the song blends pop, rock, and folk and lyrically references the apollo moon missions from 1968-1972. the song’s ethereal production, coupled with archer’s emotive vocal delivery, express a sense of disillusionment. the song’s metaphorical title, “sleeping satellite,” can be interpreted as the untapped potential and dreams of those still holding out for hope in a world that often seems indifferent.

in 1994, he asked me to accompany him to a doctor’s appointment. i really didn’t think much about it. it was an opportunity to get out of the house and hang out with him, so i was down. we walked into the clinic, and were immediately greeted by a black nurse. she welcomed us, told me to take a seat, and then took him a private room. i waited in the main area. after about 10 minutes, he came back out and motioned towards the exit. we then rushed out into the busy street awaiting us.

“you will beat this!” “they are working on a cure,” and “i am here for you,” were my replies.

on the way home, he abruptly disclosed that he had just tested HIV positive. at first, there was just silence. then i put all of the inspirational messaging i learned from watching my fair share of “on this very special episode of…” TV sitcoms to use. “you will beat this!” “they are working on a cure,” and “i am here for you,” were my replies. i meant every word but, chyle, i was 17 and doing my best to keep us both from panicking. and in 1994, inspiration and hope was pretty much the only thing that could be offered.

co-written by tasmin archer, “sleeping satellite” achieved international chart success reaching #1 on the UK singles chart and top 20 in several countries, including the US, in 1993. the same year, the song earned archer a BRIT award for best british breakthrough act.

we kept that day of the clinic a secret from our other friends for weeks. we young people holding a piece of the epidemic on our shoulders. he immediately told his family. they rallied around him as much as a family could in 1994. because they knew that i knew that i was welcomed into the fold. i spent many nights at their house, in his room – as he blasted “sleeping satellite.”

[precuredaily]

Precure Bonus Day: YPC5GG Op/Ed

The start of a new show naturally means new theme music to go with it, and once again I’m going to avoid cluttering up an episode review by discussing the opening and ending separately. Here’s the gallery I threw together and my thoughts are below: https://imgur.com/a/wnX3871

Yes! Precure 5 Go Go! Opening: “Precure 5, Full Throttle GO GO!” by Kudou Mayu

Similar to its predecessor, this is an action song, but it’s a bit more whimsical and fantastical than the Yes 5 theme. It’s not lighter, but it evokes a different mood. As @sailorzombiestar​ described it, it screams “WE’RE BACK!” The instrumental composition is an electric guitar, violins, bass, a drum kit, piano, and brass. The full version of the song has some short one or two measure solos by each of the voice actresses for the main 5 and some instruments, like a trumpet and a guitar solo. The lyrics talk about the power of working together and how you can overcome any problem if you believe in yourself. The chorus says “I’m waiting for everyone’s help, so let’s move forward and shout together that we’re Precure 5 and our feelings are one!” which is nice and inspiring. 

The visuals are overall better than in the first series intro. There’s more unique and animated footage and less reused art from the series. While the Yes 5 intro had a build up to the title drop in the song, and therefore displaying the name of the show, in this one they sing and show it right away while the five main girls fade in from silhouettes in the background. After that, they do an interesting thing where they have all of the characters run past the camera, while the Precures are naturally first, Dream comes at the very end after Syrup, Coco, Nuts, Milk, and Kurumi/Milky Rose have been shown in order to transition to the next sequence. There’s not as much to show off each girl’s personality like there was in the Y5 intro, so they really are assuming you watched the last show. Following this, there’s some nice visual exposition by showing Flora crying, and in one of her tears is the Rose Pact. Later, there’s a scene of the cures raiding Eternal Headquarters, and a mysterious hooded figure representing the boss of Eternal is seen holding four orbs, each of which has the image of one of the four monarchs in it that the girls have to rescue over the course of the series.

Also there’s a really cool sequence where they flash between a bunch of still shots of the Precures appearing in the media, implying their existence is more widely known in this series. The first scene is a shot of Bunbee holding a newspaper, making him the only villain from this series to appear in the intro (the hooded figure above does not count). Another shot is from the journalism club, with the very strong implication that it’s Mika writing a piece on the cures, so it’s nice that she made it into the intro.

I don’t like it quite as much as the first series opening, but it’s another fun song and it’ll be good to experience for the next few months while I dig through this series.

Yes! Precure 5 Go Go! Ending 1: “Holding Hands Also Links our Hearts!!” by Kanako Miyamoto

Following in the grand tradition of Precure ending themes, this is another nonsense song. The lyrics are about holding hands to transmit energy and positivity and make each other laugh. The visuals align closely with this, and sometimes the girls lip-sync with what’s being said. They’re pretty much always acting out what’s being said. There’s some fun sight gags, like Karen coming in early on the first count-up (she’s supposed to be 5 but she comes in on 4 and both Urara and Komachi turn to look at her.) There’s a lot of floating heads in bubbles, and other times there’s a thick, colorful border surrounding the characters as they stand in front of generic backgrounds.

I caught a couple moments of particular closeness between Karen and Kurumi, as if the staff are really leaning into that pairing.

Instrumentally, it’s very heavy on the drum kit and electric guitar, with prominent brass cutting in again. There’s also a rubber piano providing harmony in the quiet parts. Other percussion like maracas can be heard at various points. At one point in the full version, there’s even a saxophone solo! The style is a very feel-good pop with lots of audience interaction.

It’s a catchy song, but I find it distinctly, maybe purposefully, non-memorable. Some Precure songs stick with me (Wonder Winter Yatta and H@ppy Together come to mind) while others are instantly forgotten when the show is over. It’s not a condemnation of the song or the work that went into it, but it doesn’t stick with me for very long at all. That being said, I think I prefer it over GoGo’s rendition of Ganbalance de Dance.

There are two things I find particularly interesting about the animation in both the opening and ending: first, Kurumi/Milky Rose is included here despite not appearing in the show until episode 11. They probably just didn’t want to re-animate these segments later to include her, lord knows all the Precure shows that have done this only half-ass it. The second thing is that they don’t reveal that Kurumi is actually Milk’s alter ego, which is definitely a big secret and I believe that isn’t properly revealed in the series until episode 14. (sorry for 12 year-old spoilers) They even go as far as to show Milk and Milky Rose together in that splash cards at the end of both songs, despite not showing off Coco, Nuts, and Syrup’s human forms at the same time as their fairy forms.

Next time on Precure Daily, Nozomi receives a mysterious letter, meets a mysterious boy, and the team gets their powers back! Look forward to it!

[monstersdownthepath]

Theme Bestiary: Galluvix

CR 2

Neutral Tiny Magical Beast

Pathfinder Adventure Path: War for the Crown: Songbird, Scion, Saboteur, pg. 84~85.

Whimsical, skittish, and just a tiny bit lazy, the Galluvix are the creation of fae pranksters who first observed humans attempting to domesticate the fauna of Golarion and decided to muck with them. Capable of freely shifting between the form of a common rooster or a mundane fox, the Galluvix’s true form (and appetite) is a mixture of both of the animals, the fey-made beasts tend to infiltrate farmlands and gorge themselves on grain, eggs, and hapless chickens, all while enjoying the protection of the farmer.

Farmers who figure out the ruse can chase the creatures off rather easily, their first instinct being flight rather than fight... But cornering one can turn out disastrous for the aggressor if they aren’t prepared. Galluvix have a singular bite attack dealing 1d6-2 damage, but more importantly they can cast Sonic Scream 3/day. Sonic Scream can be unleashed thrice, dealing 4d4 damage on its first go, 2d4 on its second, and 1d4 on its final blast. A lucky shot from the first cone can knock low-level folk unconscious instantly, and if not, the later cones may. Galluvix have low AC for a Tiny creature and barely any HP, and despite the surprise damage they can pull off with their scream, they really should still run rather than stay put and unleash all three cones.

Galluvix can fly, but just barely. They have a 20ft, clumsy fly speed and can’t stay in midair; they Drift back down after rising up and must end every movement on the ground or on some perch capable of supporting them, or they just fall. Thankfully, despite their clunky flight, they ARE good at running away, capable of using Blurred Movement 3/day to cover their bushy tails and can Calm Animals 3/day to get angry guard dogs or territorial bears to leave them alone.

Now, if you can get past their habit of being skittish and slovenly, a Galluvix can make a loyal, fun-loving familiar for any caster that has reached level 7 and takes the Improved Familiar feat. However, though they can technically be taken by a caster of any alignment, Galluvix typically loathe people who kill and destroy for no reason (especially ones who target farmlands), holding a racial hatred for gnolls, goblins, and gremlins of all stripes. Casters with the rooster-fox fey as their familiars can enjoy their at-will Mage Hand, Ghost Sound, and Open/Close to help them around the home or prank their enemies, as well as the powers they hold above, but the real reason someone would take a Galluvix as a familiar above anything else would be their Trickster’s Egg.

Once per week, the critters can vanish into the First World to scout the land for a mystic, wooden egg. This takes one hour to perform, and after this, the Galluvix returns to the spot it vanished from (or at its masters side, if it’s a familiar) with the little wooden egg in its jaws. The Trickster’s Egg can only be used by the Galluvix or by one creature it designates, and using it is as easy as cracking it over top the person you want to use it on. The egg acts as a potion of one of the following spells cast at the critter’s caster level: Cure Light Wounds, Delay Poison, Remove Paralysis, and Lesser Restoration.

Sadly, those spells will fall off quickly as the caster levels up, and Delay Poison is pretty much useless (it takes an hour to get the egg!), but it’s a 1/week free potion! And both Lesser Restoration and Remove Paralysis are nice to have at any level. However, there is another, more unusual use for this ability which may end up saving the party: Seeking the Trickster’s Egg renders the Galluvix utterly and completely impossible to harm, track, or interact with, which means it cannot be called back by its master even if it’s needed... But it also means it’s totally safe for a whole hour, popping right back at its master’s side with a minor potion to benefit them.

With a bit of divination here and there, it may be possible for a clever caster to see doom or capture ahead of time, and rig it so their fey familiar is out fetching whatever they’ll need. The Galluvix popping back while it’s master is in prison may turn a failed encounter into a prison break scenario. It takes a bit more thinking than a normal familiar would since its true power and utility isn’t obvious at first, but the power to shove your pet into a pocket nothing can follow it into without Miracle or Wish can be potentially game-changing, especially if you, say... have it throw some accursed artifact into the First World for you, or have it carry you and your allies inside a Bag of Holding...

You can read more about them here.

[the-rolling-libero]

Pulling Down the Sky: How Heaven’s Arena Grounds HxH

I’m going to do some necessary meta right now and it’s going to explain why I like Hunter x Hunter so much; basically, it’s able to continue after the first arc, and it’s able to do so in a cohesive and natural way. This, I believe, is almost entirely a result of how the Heaven’s Arena arc is carried out. Can I talk about this? no? cool! 

The Hunter Exam is easily the freest arc we get. There’s breathing room in how the story can be told, because the world hasn’t really been established yet. Are there flying spider eagles? Sure! Can there be a swamp that exists purely to deceive you? Hell yeah. Is it possible to have A, B, C, X, and its cousin, Y? Why not? -- and that’s really the question that lives in the Hunter Exam Arc. When there’s no reason ‘why’ things should be a certain why, Togashi has the ability to ask that question as much as he likes. Why not? It’s the height of HxH’s fantasy feel, bright, whimsical, and just all around a fun place to be. 

That’s not to say that there’s no darkness or rules in the arc at all; the character’s base personalities and abilities are laid out here, as well as some basics about the world itself, especially in Trick Tower and Zevil island. What we discover through this arc, though, are mostly the roles that people play within the world rather than the “rules” of the world. The Hunter Exam arc exists within a bubble, so we don’t really get to know this world for a while. We don’t learn the ‘why’ or ‘how’ of anything; in the Hunter Exam Arc. I would argue that as we’re thrown into the story, we see the effect of this world upon our characters, whereas in the Heaven’s Arena arc, we see the cause. 

The Heaven’s Arena arc acts as a grounding arc in several ways; by ‘popping the bubble’, so to speak, and planting us in a real world setting (although the arena is still somewhat isolated, I’ll concede, compared to York New), by establishing rules (especially in regards to Nen), and by taking down Gon and Killua a notch-- and this, in particular, is especially important to creating sympathetic characters. 

The Setting of Heaven’s Arena

This is the view we get of Heaven’s Arena; it is not clean or brightly colored or sleek, as many of the buildings we’ve seen up to this point are (Whale Island, Trick Tower, the airship etc.) It is monochrome and bulky. What stands out are the various parts stuck together like some steampunk frankenstein monstrosity, reaching out into the sky. This is as close as we get to the Tower of Babel, and it’s pretty ugly. Does this have symbolic meaning about how as people in this series try to reach higher things just get uglier and uglier? Maybe. Maybe it’s just a nasty building. 

But it does have a gritty, street feel to it, like it was picked up and tacked together cell at a time. We see once we get into the arena itself that that’s not necessarily the case, that the rooms higher up are actually quite nice, but we also see the stark division that exists in the Hunter x Hunter world: the weak and the strong; the poor and the privileged; background faces vs The Characters. 

The upper floors are what we’ve already seen to an extent in the hunter exam, the world where the best live. But we see the streets-- the normal world-- for the first time now, and how it interacts with that upper echelon. These streets aren’t a great place to be if you’ve got enemies up high. Where is the law, when Zushi (below floor 100, therefore not elite) is abducted? Where is law when people are broken in their nen ‘baptisms’ when they reach the 100th floor? Where is rule of law when Killua threatens the lives of several 100th floor occupants? Nowhere, because, honestly, what are the police going to do? As we’re introduced into the world of nen and get to more closely observe the interactions between the common and the elite, we begin to realize how horrifically unfair this whole world is, and how self contained and unregulated the sphere of Hunters really is. 

The idea of self policing and vigilante justice will prove hugely important in upcoming arcs. This is why all Hunters must have basic combat skills, as is said in the 2nd hunter rule; fighting is an essential part of what it means to be a Hunter, because there is no one else to defend you should someone dangerous (and with nen, who isn’t?) decide to go after you. There is no calling the police. Can you imagine trying to take someone like Illumi to court, who could manipulate judge and jury without a second thought? The civil system of laws that we common people know cannot exist within the Hunter system as it is presented in Heaven’s Arena. This kind of lawlessness will feed into the cowboy-style justice that Gon delivers, based not on any strict code but on what feels right according to his personal morality. That’s...concerning, considering how stable powerful hunters tend to be (read: not at all).

It’s one of the things that leaves such broad swathes of gray morality left for our characters. For instance, later in the case of Kurapika. We see that the police cannot do anything to stop the Phantom Troupe from attacking the auction. Neither can the Mafia. So in order to get justice, Kurapika must take on a vigilante role and commit murder. If not justice system is in place, is it truly murder, or an execution? Who has the right to make those decisions? Hunters are absolutely terrifying both in their enormous power and lack of civil restraints on that power. They can do pretty much anything they like, as long as they’re either a) strong enough to fight any challengers (Ging), or b) generally approved of, so they go unchallenged (Kurapika). This tiny, elite society with exclusive access to many resources and very little oversight has only the flimsiest of rules, and those rules do little to protect the common person. Hunters are not allowed to hunt each other, but everyone else is fair game. Great! When you’re faceless man #7 walking down the street, you’ll be really glad that Hunters operate by such strict rules right before getting accidentally blasted sky high as collateral.��

The difference between the regular world and the Hunter world is made abundantly clear, as in this arc, Killua and Gon make that transition and go through all the accompanying shocks. 

The main shock is, of course, nen.

Nen, Rules, and Expansion

It’s been remarked upon before that nen is the ‘magic’ of this world, and it brings with it an essential component of popular shonen anime-- the ability to expand. Most series that involve fighting will bring in a fantasy component at some part, because as cool as punching and kicking are, after awhile, they tend to get boring. Every arc, and in some cases, every fight brings new revelation to the character’s abilities. Part of this shows growth in the characters. Part of it is largely just entertainment value-- if every fight brings something new, then we’re always kept guessing. You’d be hard pressed to find an anime that does this better than Hunter x Hunter, in my opinion, because it circumvents one of the most problematic aspects of this trope: the miracle cure. 

Often within this idea of constant expansion is a sort of deus ex machina, a last minute discovery of the power or object that lends our protagonists new abilities. It’s the miraculous evolution halfway through a fight, the stumbling upon the artifact that just barely lets them use the next level of their powers. Due to the nature of nen in Hunter x Hunter, this is almost impossible. 

And when it is, there’s serious consequences. 

This version of Gon is the one that gained power quickly and recklessly. Or consider Gido, severely handicapped as a result of having undergone nen baptism-- another form of gaining power quickly and recklessly.

Let’s instead examine how the Heaven’s Arena arc establishes the concrete, but encompassing rules of nen. Being one of the reasons that Hunter x Hunter stays so dynamic, nen has fairly simple and well followed rules. These rules are sometimes expanded on, but they’re never really broken in an ‘aha’ moment by anyone-- there’s no, ‘but what you did not know was that--’ scene where the rules are twisted in half by a villain. Nen exists as it exists, in a sensical and almost instinctive way. 

Wing explains nen to be a manifestation of will-- something that our two protagonists have in bucket loads. Therefore, it makes sense that they’re prodigies; past experiences have proven that Gon has exceptional willpower (the fight with Hanzo still fresh in the viewer’s memories) and that Killua possesses strength of mind equal with that of his body (extensive torture that he reacted to nonchalantly). Nen takes great discipline, and that’s what makes it immune to miracle cures; beyond the initial burst of power our leads get, they’re placed in a world where power normally takes years to attain. Though they’re exceptional, it slows their growing to a sustainable rate-- more on how nen affects Killua and Gon later, though. 

Nen gets a lot of exposition in this arc, it’s true. Some of it may feel overmuch at times (and let’s be real hxh adores exposition) but it’s all necessary. It sets clear, firm boundaries of what nen can and cannot do-- within those boundaries, a lot is possible, but not everything. And there’s a price for everything that nen brings. 

Heaven’s Arena grounds nen within rules, and creates a solid foundation for the characters building their abilities. They first must master the basics before moving on to some of the really spectacular abilities that their hatsu lets them develop, and cleanly transitions the world of Killua and Gon from the mundane to the magical. After Heaven’s Arena, nen is a given. Without this introduction, both they and we, the viewer’s would have been surely lost. Can you imagine the York New arc bogged down by explanations of nen all the time? The Heaven’s Arena arc is the beach for nen’s ocean-- though it must be kept it mind that even this shore has its sharks. It presents the basic level of nen in a way that is both gently immersive and high stakes simultaneously. Not once do we doubt the seriousness of the fights that happen in Heaven’s Arena. Gon’s life is legitimately at a risk because of the learning curve that nen offers; that too is important for how Heaven’s Arena progresses the story.  

Killua and Gon

When our protagonists enter Heaven’s Arena, they raze the competition. I mean, it is actually comedic how easily Gon and Killua tear through their early matches, advancing up to the 100th floor in no time at all. This is how things have been throughout the series so far; Gon and Killua are exceptional, the kind of rookies that pass the Hunter Exam without real difficulty (barring one or two unpleasant situations). So far, we’ve seen that they’re on another level from the common man, but we haven’t yet seen what that level looks like; Heaven’s arena opens our eyes. At the same time that it grounds us in what the real world looks like, it also shows us by merit of contrast what the nen-user’s world looks like; the view from the 100th floor. For the first time, Killua and Gon are weak, and it’s the best thing that Togashi could have done for our characters. 

This is especially relevant to Killua’s character, whose struggles have been for the most part internal. We’ve not seen him break a sweat in a physical situation ever (I personally count his fight with Illumi as mental). But with nen, suddenly he’s as much a beginner as anyone else, as weak as someone ‘naked in the snow’. We can finally root for Killua now as a protagonist rather than a distant-but-badass supporting character. We get to see him grow and improve; but first what’s necessary is to tear him down to the ground and plant him there like Heaven’s Arena does. There’s no tree that grows without roots. 

Meanwhile, Gon’s doing the same thing, growing and fighting at a pace with Killua. Not only is this significant because it’s the first time we’ve seen Killua have anything close to a peer, but it means that Gon and Killua grounded together. The inherent inequality of their relationship was presented throughout the hunter exam arc. It’s most evident in the scene where rankings are revealed for the final exam and Gon is listed far above Killua. Killua’s jealousy reveals a narratively-unsustainable truth to the viewer: Killua is much stronger than Gon, even if he lacks in that fundamental trait of likability. The Heaven’s Arena arc sets them side by side, creating a more sustainable dynamic for their friendship. 

Going forwards, this means that we can empathize with their struggles as they fight to grow stronger. While Killua’s distant prodigy and Gon’s wild-child routine are fantastic and fun in the Hunter Exam arc, people like to see a protagonist experience something familiar, even if the framework around it isn’t. Everyone’s gained a skill through hard work, experienced both the frustration and incredible rewards of when it pays off, the human experience of growth; that’s what Heaven’s Arena is to the characters of Gon and Killua: a chance to be human for the first time. 

Now that they can start from the bottom, they have somewhere to go. The grounding of this series gives it room for expansion, a direction for the personal development of the characters, and a world for all of this to take place in. What’s important to take out of this arc is that it situates the rest of the series. York New may be in many ways more active and exciting-- I certainly enjoy the development of Kurapika’s arc in York New-- but it rests heavily on Heaven’s Arena. Just like supporting characters are essential to a good story, so are supporting arts. Respect Heaven’s Arena. Appreciate Togashi. Wait for hiatus to end.  

[wineanddinosaur]

15 Cocktail Influencers You Should Be Following on Instagram

Since most of us are missing our local bartenders as much as our friends and family during the ongoing pandemic, many of us have taken to our kitchens in an attempt to make our favorite drinks ourselves. But while G&Ts and vodka sodas are great every now and again, where do we turn when we’re craving something a little more complex? Enter: the “drinkstagrammer” — or drinks Instagrammer.

These bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts have made names for themselves by sharing photos of whimsical drinks and helpful tips with their followers. So, at a time when we need inspiration more than ever, VinePair has collected a list of our 15 favorite drinkstagrammers, whom you should follow right now.

@highproofpreacher

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Back from a long weekend in the forest, without WiFi or cell reception. With sheltering in place + most of my clients pivoting hard to lean into the digital world, these last few months have been insane and I’ve been constantly connected 📲 It felt amazing to just rest, read and fully relax for a few days. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Also, based on all of your responses after sharing a video of my dog Pip on my IG story, apparently you want me to focus on corgi content instead of cocktails 🤔🐕 Can’t say that I blame you. Swipe for a look at sleepy vacation Pip. 🔊��🏽 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #highproofpreacher

A post shared by Jordan | High-Proof Preacher (@highproofpreacher) on Jun 22, 2020 at 7:51am PDT

  Jordan Hughes, also known as High-Proof Preacher, is a Portland-based mixologist and self-proclaimed “visual storyteller.” He’s also contributed delicious cocktails to VinePair’s recipe library, like the El Murcielago Cocktail and the Viking Colada.

@join_jules

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It’s fri-yay aka time for an 𝐀𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐳! ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Instead of dreaming for the day we can get back into some of our favorite restaurants safely (because who knows when that will be)… let’s bring the Friday happy hour cocktails right into our home! After creating recipes for the past 4 months now, there’s a lot to choose from on our website! My personal favorite to celebrate the beginning of the weekend on a hot day is of course the Aperol Spritz. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ But on a serious note, I can't believe that 4 months ago COVID lockdown hit in the US and that actually made me really start taking Join Jules seriously. It was the only way to turn a sour situation into a good one I guess. But, I do hope these cocktails have helped cure the oh so missed happy hours and that you look forward to so many more to come… (I'm looking at you 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧)!! Let's just say this, it's only the beginning of Join Jules 𝘞𝘰𝘰𝘩𝘰𝘰! (𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴… okay okay I'll stop).⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝐍𝐨𝐰, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐠𝐨-𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥? 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰!

A post shared by Cocktail Recipes with Jules (@join_jules) on Jul 10, 2020 at 2:11pm PDT

  Join California-based Julianna McIntosh in making cocktails that taste as delicious as they look. McIntosh creates out-of-this-world drink recipes, and — along with her mother — she runs a television show called “Bringing it Home” that delves into the stories behind the food we eat.

@thecollectress

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Hey Y’all, Rare morning post. So many things are happening, but I wanted to thank both @mofad and @readspill for highlighting me and giving me a chance to talk about my work. . . SPILL is a hospitality co-op and online platform. This is there first online issue, and I was honored to be asked to be this month’s Industry Spotlight. Thank you to @davidmmor . . Last week (I think), I got to sit down with @sarikamin of MoFAD and talk about grief, history, @uniteamericastable and the Hospitality Census as well as my process for care. Take a listen. . . I will be linking both pieces in my story and bio. Drawing a rendition of @noahfecksisawesome photo by @cocktail_colors

A post shared by Ashtin Berry (@thecollectress) on May 5, 2020 at 8:56am PDT

  Ashtin Berry is more than just a sommelier and bartender. She’s also an activist and educator, as well as the founder of #americastable. Expect delicious drinks recipes, inspiring videos, and educational posts that explore how race and privilege play out in the drinks industry and beyond.

@onedrinkaday

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Dehydration station (minus a couple of bags). – – – – – – – – #garnish#dehdratedgarnishes#garnishes#gin#gins#ginandtonic#goodprep#cocktailgarnish#cocktails#cocktailgarnishes#brisbane

A post shared by One Drink A Day (HEEBS) (@onedrinkaday) on Jul 25, 2020 at 1:08am PDT

  Aussie Hee Chung is here to help you up your garnish game. His posts include easy drink recipes (including lots of delicious G&Ts), garnish how-tos, and more. Check out his garnish e-book here.

@joanna.lin

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Honored to be featured in @aberlour_us’s campaign for #internationalwomensday. Sharing my advice for fellow hustlers: “When you stand up for yourself, you stand up for all women. So lead by example, know your values, own your confidence, and don’t be apologetic for who you are and what you want to achieve.” #louderthanwords #readysetjo . . . . . #aberlour #aberlourwhisky #whiskylover #whiskyadvocate #whiskytasting #whiskylife #whiskyblogger #scotch #sevenfiftydaily #totc #whiskymagazine #scotchwhisky #singlemaltscotch #liqpic #50bestbars #worldsbestbars #greenwichvillage #thespaniard #pernodricard #womenwhowhiskey #womenwhowhisky #womeninhospitality #womenempowerment #womenentrepreneurs #entrepreneurlife #womeninbusiness #womenshistorymonth

A post shared by Joanna Lin 🦉#ReadySetJo (@joanna.lin) on Mar 8, 2020 at 3:51pm PDT

  Joanna Lin is a cocktail connoisseur, photographer, and artist. Her feed includes a balanced combination of feel-good and politically driven content. Expect entertaining posts, such as this animation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo drinking a Negroni, and mixology action shots. More recently, Lin has also shared Black Lives Matter protest photos and drawings.

@cocktailbandits

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Our first in-person event since the lockdown would involve Tequila, of course. 🥃 Today is #NationalTequilaDay and we are celebrating with @patron by hosting a pop-up at @tacoboychs from 4PM to 6PM. Come say, ‘Hi’ and try our cocktail of the day, recipe listed below: ‘Blacker the Berry’ 1.5 oz of Patron Blanco 1 oz of BlackBerry Purée 🍇 Jamaican Bitters Limeade @drinkhooch Garnish: Sage leaf & Blackberries 🌱 Add Patron and blackberry puree to mixing tin full of ice. Secure lid then shake passionately. Strain mixture into chilled glass. Carefully add Limeade soda until glass is full. Lovingly add sage and blackberry garnish. #GentleLadySips 💃🏽🍹✨ Photo by: @tacoboychs #cocktailbandits #cheers #celebrate #curlyladieswhotalkcocktailsdaily #southernlibationist #tequila #tequilacocktail #agave #willtravelforbooze #patron #blackberry #limeade #drinkhooch #hooch #curls #curlsandcocktails #cocktailsdaily #dailycocktails #smiles #popup #tacoboychs #wearecharleston #charlestonsc #tequiladay #authors #holyspiritschs

A post shared by Johnny & Neka (@cocktailbandits) on Jul 24, 2020 at 1:53pm PDT

  Charleston mixologists Johnny Caldwell and Taneka Reaves are the “Cocktail Bandits.” Their feed is full of drinks inspo, tasting videos, and more. Their book, “Holy Spirits!”, teaches readers about Charleston cocktail culture.

@thegrandiosebartender

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For those of you who don’t personally know me, my name is Anthony Bates and (I think) I am more than a person who slings cocktails! I’m currently taking over @liquor’s Instagram today so you can find me there shooting the s***! Besides perfecting my Mai Tai – I’m really into reading, music, and definitely art… I love to see people be creative and express themselves artistically! I’m a introvert at times so I like to express myself through different forms of creativity wether I’m the creator or in collaboration with someone else. Here’s me on NYE at @undercote with a cocktail by @beaub.knowin …..I felt like Super Fly this day lmao… I hope everyone is having a great 4th and enjoying themselves! Illustration by: @jenchiascreative

A post shared by Anthony Bates (@thegrandiosebartender) on Jul 4, 2020 at 11:11am PDT

  Harlem local Anthony Bates is a private bartender and a mixologist at The Polo Bar in New York. His bio reads “Heavy Drinker, Heavy Thinker,” and his feed reflects this, with bright recipes, fun illustrations, and educational captions.

@theweekendmixologist

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– A P P L E    W O O D 1½ oz Apple Brandy ¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice ½ oz Maple syrup Top with @sanpellegrinodrinksus Tonica Oakwood Add all ingredients except the Tonica to a shaking tin and then add ice. Shake well and strain over ice into a Collins glass. Top with Tonica Oakwood and garnish with fresh apple slices. – I had so much fun back in January on location in New York with @sanpellegrinodrinksus . We are excited to announce the launch of their new mixers! Here’s a recipe I created to feature the dry and spiced flavors of their delicious Tonica Oakwood. Cheers friends! . #AppleWood #SanPellegrino #TonicaOakwood #SanPellegrinoSparklingDrinks #TimeForTaste Sponsored Ad

A post shared by Barlow | Weekend Mixologist (@theweekendmixologist) on Jul 17, 2020 at 10:35am PDT

  Barlow Gilmore makes and photographs creative libations that are almost too pretty to drink. This dedicated mixologist even carves his own ice!

@whats.marisa.drinking

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It’s National Tequila Day and I’m celebrating with this deliciousness! Salud! 🌺 GINGERED BLOOD 🌺 45ml Tequila Reposado @casamigos 15ml Ginger Liqueur @thekingsginger 30ml Lime Juice 20ml homemade Blood Orange syrup Garnish with Mint, Flowers & Blood Orange 🌿🌺❤️ #whatsmarisadrinking #thecocktaildreamteam #liqpic #libations #imbibe #cocktailpic #cocktailrecipe #instacocktail #drinkstagram #mixology #garnishgame #classicocktail #drink #drinkpic #drinkup #goldcoastcocktails #goldcoastlife #myfavouritecocktail #booze #craftcocktails #drinkporn #cocktailhour #drinking #mixologist #tequila #nationaltequiladay #tequiladay2020

A post shared by What’s Marisa Drinking (@whats.marisa.drinking) on Jul 23, 2020 at 2:37pm PDT

  Marisa’s feed, full of rainbow cocktails, is the definition of #Instagrammable. The Australian drinks creator posts recipes that are colorful, garnished to perfection, and simple enough to make at home.

@thecocktailsnob_

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I fully intended to just select a few of my favorites from my 📸 @shoottphotos session a few weeks ago. But they were all so good lol. I just couldn't decide. So I bought all 146 of them lol. So if you see a couple hundred pictures of me in the same outfit in the same location, just mind your business, mmkay? 😂😂😂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📸: @amcrommett

A post shared by Camille | Cocktail Blogger (@thecocktailsnob_) on Jul 30, 2020 at 5:00am PDT

  Though she’s a self-proclaimed cocktail “snob,” Camille’s page is fun and approachable. She’s a New York-based cocktail writer and happy-hour enthusiast (she even created the hashtag #happyhourathome), and her feed is full of exciting cocktail recipes and helpful advice for home bartenders.

@bon_vivantito

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Turn up for Tiki 🍹🥥🍌🍍. It has been blazing hot here on the Mid-Atlantic coast, and all I want to do is crush tropical cocktails. But, honestly, it’s just one of those genres of drinks that always taste better at the bar – usually because I don’t have a pebble ice machine at home (yes, it does matter). . Lately, I’ve been making some Mai Tais with @denizenrum Merchant’s Reserve, @smallhandfoods orgeat, fresh lime, and dry curaçao. That’s as complex as it gets, but it’s well worth it. . Who has some easy tiki cocktails that they have developed at home worth sharing? I’m looking for some new flavors 👌🏽🍹.

A post shared by Tyler Zielinski (@bon_vivantito) on Jul 10, 2020 at 9:54am PDT

  Tyler Zielinski is a mixologist and drinks writer. He’s contributed many classic and original cocktails to the VinePair recipe library, and his Instagram feed is full of beautifully photographed cocktails and helpful how-to videos.

@danmagro

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✨"Tartlet" 🍓 1.5oz Reposado // 3 Strawberries, muddled // 2oz Lemon Juice // 0.5oz Lime Juice // 1oz Simple Syrup // Pinch of Salt // Brut Sparkling Wine // Sour Candy Rope, for garnish⁣ on a @rawrutes tree pick of course!⁣⁣ 🍓⁣⁣⁣⁣ Petite but with a sucker of a sour punch! I was obsessed with sour candies when I was younger and wanted to emulate that mother pucker of a smack when you take that first bite…but boozy.⁣⁣⁣ 🍓⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ #contest #supercall #mixology #cocktailporn #happyhour #cocktails #bartender #drinks #bartenderlife #craftcocktails #imbibegram #libations #liqpic #eeeeeats #drinkporn #eaterla #california #foodandwine #fwx #buzzfeast #bareaders #thekitchn #delish #boozytalk #BAReaders #FeedFeed #drinkstagram #tequila #sourpunch @sourpunchcandy @thefeedfeed.cocktails

A post shared by Dan Magro (@danmagro) on Jul 30, 2020 at 5:51am PDT

  Dan Magro is a West Hollywood-based mixologist, host of Sip&Stream, and author of “Suck It Up: Extraordinary Cocktails for Everyday People.” His cocktails are bright, fun, and always topped with impressive garnishes.

@apartment_bartender

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Hey, you look thirsty 😛 throw some drink recs you’re craving in the comments and I’ll mix you up something in my IG stories later today! Lesssssssss get it! 🕺🏽👇🏽 #ApartmentBartender

A post shared by Elliott | Apartment Bartender (@apartment_bartender) on Jul 14, 2020 at 1:31pm PDT

  Elliott, an apartment bartender and cocktail recipe developer, has a feed full of colorful recipes and more. Check out his highlights for tips on everything from using bitters in cocktails to building a cocktail book library

@ivymix

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I really really miss @leyendabk and on days like today with May just around the corner I miss our patio the most. May has always been our biggest month with the weather being perfect combined with our anniversary and Cinco de Mayo. This year we were going to do a huge party for our five ( 5️⃣❗️) year anniversary as well as my book launch. Instead we won’t. Instead, rather than being in Leyenda’s backyard mixing up drinks and hanging out with the whole neighborhood, I will just post them on social media. Like this one— featured in my book with link in BIO!—Cereza Picante: With this drink, I wanted to create an exceptionally fruit-forward fall-like sour that highlighted spice and smoke to compliment its fruity notes. The result is what its name advertises: one spicy cherry. 1 oz Jalapeño @siembraspirits Valles blanco tequila 1/2 oz @delmagueymezcal Vida 3/4 oz @cherryheering 3/4 oz lime juice 1/4 oz simple syrup Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and Luxardo cherry flag. . Photo by @Shannonshootscocktails

A post shared by Ivy Mix (@ivymix) on Apr 29, 2020 at 11:27am PDT

New York-based Ivy Mix is an author, bar owner, and drinks educator. Mix is the owner of Leyenda — a Latin cocktail bar in Brooklyn — and the author of “Spirits of Latin America,” a cocktail book full of diverse Latin American cocktail recipes. Follow her for educational Instagram lives, cocktail recipes, and more.

@holycityhandcraft

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The face you make when your 23 month old son walks into your super serious, ice cutting shoot and furiously waves at you👋🏽 while shouting “HIIII DADAAAAAA” – at the top of his lungs. . But hey… it made for a semi decent/authentic smiling photo. God I love that kid.

A post shared by miguel | HANDCRAFT (@holycityhandcraft) on Jul 9, 2020 at 6:25pm PDT

Based in Charleston, S.C., Miguel is a drinks creator and photographer. His feed is full of fancy yet approachable recipes you’ll want to recreate again and again. He’s also an expert cocktail party host and ice carver.

The article 15 Cocktail Influencers You Should Be Following on Instagram appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/15-cocktail-influencers-instagram/

[isaiahrippinus]

15 Cocktail Influencers You Should Be Following on Instagram

Since most of us are missing our local bartenders as much as our friends and family during the ongoing pandemic, many of us have taken to our kitchens in an attempt to make our favorite drinks ourselves. But while G&Ts and vodka sodas are great every now and again, where do we turn when we’re craving something a little more complex? Enter: the “drinkstagrammer” — or drinks Instagrammer.

These bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts have made names for themselves by sharing photos of whimsical drinks and helpful tips with their followers. So, at a time when we need inspiration more than ever, VinePair has collected a list of our 15 favorite drinkstagrammers, whom you should follow right now.

@highproofpreacher

View this post on Instagram

Back from a long weekend in the forest, without WiFi or cell reception. With sheltering in place + most of my clients pivoting hard to lean into the digital world, these last few months have been insane and I’ve been constantly connected 📲 It felt amazing to just rest, read and fully relax for a few days. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Also, based on all of your responses after sharing a video of my dog Pip on my IG story, apparently you want me to focus on corgi content instead of cocktails 🤔🐕 Can’t say that I blame you. Swipe for a look at sleepy vacation Pip. 🔊✌🏽 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #highproofpreacher

A post shared by Jordan | High-Proof Preacher (@highproofpreacher) on Jun 22, 2020 at 7:51am PDT

Jordan Hughes, also known as High-Proof Preacher, is a Portland-based mixologist and self-proclaimed “visual storyteller.” He’s also contributed delicious cocktails to VinePair’s recipe library, like the El Murcielago Cocktail and the Viking Colada.

@join_jules

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It’s fri-yay aka time for an 𝐀𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐳! ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Instead of dreaming for the day we can get back into some of our favorite restaurants safely (because who knows when that will be)… let’s bring the Friday happy hour cocktails right into our home! After creating recipes for the past 4 months now, there’s a lot to choose from on our website! My personal favorite to celebrate the beginning of the weekend on a hot day is of course the Aperol Spritz. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ But on a serious note, I can’t believe that 4 months ago COVID lockdown hit in the US and that actually made me really start taking Join Jules seriously. It was the only way to turn a sour situation into a good one I guess. But, I do hope these cocktails have helped cure the oh so missed happy hours and that you look forward to so many more to come… (I’m looking at you 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧)!! Let’s just say this, it’s only the beginning of Join Jules 𝘞𝘰𝘰𝘩𝘰𝘰! (𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴… okay okay I’ll stop).⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝐍𝐨𝐰, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐠𝐨-𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥? 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰!

A post shared by Cocktail Recipes with Jules (@join_jules) on Jul 10, 2020 at 2:11pm PDT

Join California-based Julianna McIntosh in making cocktails that taste as delicious as they look. McIntosh creates out-of-this-world drink recipes, and — along with her mother — she runs a television show called “Bringing it Home” that delves into the stories behind the food we eat.

@thecollectress

View this post on Instagram

Hey Y’all, Rare morning post. So many things are happening, but I wanted to thank both @mofad and @readspill for highlighting me and giving me a chance to talk about my work… SPILL is a hospitality co-op and online platform. This is there first online issue, and I was honored to be asked to be this month’s Industry Spotlight. Thank you to @davidmmor . . Last week (I think), I got to sit down with @sarikamin of MoFAD and talk about grief, history, @uniteamericastable and the Hospitality Census as well as my process for care. Take a listen… I will be linking both pieces in my story and bio. Drawing a rendition of @noahfecksisawesome photo by @cocktail_colors

A post shared by Ashtin Berry (@thecollectress) on May 5, 2020 at 8:56am PDT

Ashtin Berry is more than just a sommelier and bartender. She’s also an activist and educator, as well as the founder of #americastable. Expect delicious drinks recipes, inspiring videos, and educational posts that explore how race and privilege play out in the drinks industry and beyond.

@onedrinkaday

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Dehydration station (minus a couple of bags). – – – – – – – – #garnish#dehdratedgarnishes#garnishes#gin#gins#ginandtonic#goodprep#cocktailgarnish#cocktails#cocktailgarnishes#brisbane

A post shared by One Drink A Day (HEEBS) (@onedrinkaday) on Jul 25, 2020 at 1:08am PDT

Aussie Hee Chung is here to help you up your garnish game. His posts include easy drink recipes (including lots of delicious G&Ts), garnish how-tos, and more. Check out his garnish e-book here.

@joanna.lin

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Honored to be featured in @aberlour_us’s campaign for #internationalwomensday. Sharing my advice for fellow hustlers: “When you stand up for yourself, you stand up for all women. So lead by example, know your values, own your confidence, and don’t be apologetic for who you are and what you want to achieve.” #louderthanwords #readysetjo … . . #aberlour #aberlourwhisky #whiskylover #whiskyadvocate #whiskytasting #whiskylife #whiskyblogger #scotch #sevenfiftydaily #totc #whiskymagazine #scotchwhisky #singlemaltscotch #liqpic #50bestbars #worldsbestbars #greenwichvillage #thespaniard #pernodricard #womenwhowhiskey #womenwhowhisky #womeninhospitality #womenempowerment #womenentrepreneurs #entrepreneurlife #womeninbusiness #womenshistorymonth

A post shared by Joanna Lin 🦉#ReadySetJo (@joanna.lin) on Mar 8, 2020 at 3:51pm PDT

Joanna Lin is a cocktail connoisseur, photographer, and artist. Her feed includes a balanced combination of feel-good and politically driven content. Expect entertaining posts, such as this animation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo drinking a Negroni, and mixology action shots. More recently, Lin has also shared Black Lives Matter protest photos and drawings.

@cocktailbandits

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Our first in-person event since the lockdown would involve Tequila, of course. 🥃 Today is #NationalTequilaDay and we are celebrating with @patron by hosting a pop-up at @tacoboychs from 4PM to 6PM. Come say, ‘Hi’ and try our cocktail of the day, recipe listed below: ‘Blacker the Berry’ 1.5 oz of Patron Blanco 1 oz of BlackBerry Purée 🍇 Jamaican Bitters Limeade @drinkhooch Garnish: Sage leaf & Blackberries 🌱 Add Patron and blackberry puree to mixing tin full of ice. Secure lid then shake passionately. Strain mixture into chilled glass. Carefully add Limeade soda until glass is full. Lovingly add sage and blackberry garnish. #GentleLadySips 💃🏽🍹✨ Photo by: @tacoboychs #cocktailbandits #cheers #celebrate #curlyladieswhotalkcocktailsdaily #southernlibationist #tequila #tequilacocktail #agave #willtravelforbooze #patron #blackberry #limeade #drinkhooch #hooch #curls #curlsandcocktails #cocktailsdaily #dailycocktails #smiles #popup #tacoboychs #wearecharleston #charlestonsc #tequiladay #authors #holyspiritschs

A post shared by Johnny & Neka (@cocktailbandits) on Jul 24, 2020 at 1:53pm PDT

Charleston mixologists Johnny Caldwell and Taneka Reaves are the “Cocktail Bandits.” Their feed is full of drinks inspo, tasting videos, and more. Their book, “Holy Spirits!”, teaches readers about Charleston cocktail culture.

@thegrandiosebartender

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For those of you who don’t personally know me, my name is Anthony Bates and (I think) I am more than a person who slings cocktails! I’m currently taking over @liquor’s Instagram today so you can find me there shooting the s***! Besides perfecting my Mai Tai – I’m really into reading, music, and definitely art… I love to see people be creative and express themselves artistically! I’m a introvert at times so I like to express myself through different forms of creativity wether I’m the creator or in collaboration with someone else. Here’s me on NYE at @undercote with a cocktail by @beaub.knowin …..I felt like Super Fly this day lmao… I hope everyone is having a great 4th and enjoying themselves! Illustration by: @jenchiascreative

A post shared by Anthony Bates (@thegrandiosebartender) on Jul 4, 2020 at 11:11am PDT

Harlem local Anthony Bates is a private bartender and a mixologist at The Polo Bar in New York. His bio reads “Heavy Drinker, Heavy Thinker,” and his feed reflects this, with bright recipes, fun illustrations, and educational captions.

@theweekendmixologist

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– A P P L E    W O O D 1½ oz Apple Brandy ¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice ½ oz Maple syrup Top with @sanpellegrinodrinksus Tonica Oakwood Add all ingredients except the Tonica to a shaking tin and then add ice. Shake well and strain over ice into a Collins glass. Top with Tonica Oakwood and garnish with fresh apple slices. – I had so much fun back in January on location in New York with @sanpellegrinodrinksus . We are excited to announce the launch of their new mixers! Here’s a recipe I created to feature the dry and spiced flavors of their delicious Tonica Oakwood. Cheers friends! . #AppleWood #SanPellegrino #TonicaOakwood #SanPellegrinoSparklingDrinks #TimeForTaste Sponsored Ad

A post shared by Barlow | Weekend Mixologist (@theweekendmixologist) on Jul 17, 2020 at 10:35am PDT

Barlow Gilmore makes and photographs creative libations that are almost too pretty to drink. This dedicated mixologist even carves his own ice!

@whats.marisa.drinking

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It’s National Tequila Day and I’m celebrating with this deliciousness! Salud! 🌺 GINGERED BLOOD 🌺 45ml Tequila Reposado @casamigos 15ml Ginger Liqueur @thekingsginger 30ml Lime Juice 20ml homemade Blood Orange syrup Garnish with Mint, Flowers & Blood Orange 🌿🌺❤️ #whatsmarisadrinking #thecocktaildreamteam #liqpic #libations #imbibe #cocktailpic #cocktailrecipe #instacocktail #drinkstagram #mixology #garnishgame #classicocktail #drink #drinkpic #drinkup #goldcoastcocktails #goldcoastlife #myfavouritecocktail #booze #craftcocktails #drinkporn #cocktailhour #drinking #mixologist #tequila #nationaltequiladay #tequiladay2020

A post shared by What’s Marisa Drinking (@whats.marisa.drinking) on Jul 23, 2020 at 2:37pm PDT

Marisa’s feed, full of rainbow cocktails, is the definition of #Instagrammable. The Australian drinks creator posts recipes that are colorful, garnished to perfection, and simple enough to make at home.

@thecocktailsnob_

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I fully intended to just select a few of my favorites from my 📸 @shoottphotos session a few weeks ago. But they were all so good lol. I just couldn’t decide. So I bought all 146 of them lol. So if you see a couple hundred pictures of me in the same outfit in the same location, just mind your business, mmkay? 😂😂😂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📸: @amcrommett

A post shared by Camille | Cocktail Blogger (@thecocktailsnob_) on Jul 30, 2020 at 5:00am PDT

Though she’s a self-proclaimed cocktail “snob,” Camille’s page is fun and approachable. She’s a New York-based cocktail writer and happy-hour enthusiast (she even created the hashtag #happyhourathome), and her feed is full of exciting cocktail recipes and helpful advice for home bartenders.

@bon_vivantito

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Turn up for Tiki 🍹🥥🍌🍍. It has been blazing hot here on the Mid-Atlantic coast, and all I want to do is crush tropical cocktails. But, honestly, it’s just one of those genres of drinks that always taste better at the bar – usually because I don’t have a pebble ice machine at home (yes, it does matter). . Lately, I’ve been making some Mai Tais with @denizenrum Merchant’s Reserve, @smallhandfoods orgeat, fresh lime, and dry curaçao. That’s as complex as it gets, but it’s well worth it. . Who has some easy tiki cocktails that they have developed at home worth sharing? I’m looking for some new flavors 👌🏽🍹.

A post shared by Tyler Zielinski (@bon_vivantito) on Jul 10, 2020 at 9:54am PDT

Tyler Zielinski is a mixologist and drinks writer. He’s contributed many classic and original cocktails to the VinePair recipe library, and his Instagram feed is full of beautifully photographed cocktails and helpful how-to videos.

@danmagro

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✨"Tartlet" 🍓 1.5oz Reposado // 3 Strawberries, muddled // 2oz Lemon Juice // 0.5oz Lime Juice // 1oz Simple Syrup // Pinch of Salt // Brut Sparkling Wine // Sour Candy Rope, for garnish⁣ on a @rawrutes tree pick of course!⁣⁣ 🍓⁣⁣⁣⁣ Petite but with a sucker of a sour punch! I was obsessed with sour candies when I was younger and wanted to emulate that mother pucker of a smack when you take that first bite…but boozy.⁣⁣⁣ 🍓⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ #contest #supercall #mixology #cocktailporn #happyhour #cocktails #bartender #drinks #bartenderlife #craftcocktails #imbibegram #libations #liqpic #eeeeeats #drinkporn #eaterla #california #foodandwine #fwx #buzzfeast #bareaders #thekitchn #delish #boozytalk #BAReaders #FeedFeed #drinkstagram #tequila #sourpunch @sourpunchcandy @thefeedfeed.cocktails

A post shared by Dan Magro (@danmagro) on Jul 30, 2020 at 5:51am PDT

Dan Magro is a West Hollywood-based mixologist, host of Sip&Stream, and author of “Suck It Up: Extraordinary Cocktails for Everyday People.” His cocktails are bright, fun, and always topped with impressive garnishes.

@apartment_bartender

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Hey, you look thirsty 😛 throw some drink recs you’re craving in the comments and I’ll mix you up something in my IG stories later today! Lesssssssss get it! 🕺🏽👇🏽 #ApartmentBartender

A post shared by Elliott | Apartment Bartender (@apartment_bartender) on Jul 14, 2020 at 1:31pm PDT

Elliott, an apartment bartender and cocktail recipe developer, has a feed full of colorful recipes and more. Check out his highlights for tips on everything from using bitters in cocktails to building a cocktail book library

@ivymix

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I really really miss @leyendabk and on days like today with May just around the corner I miss our patio the most. May has always been our biggest month with the weather being perfect combined with our anniversary and Cinco de Mayo. This year we were going to do a huge party for our five ( 5️⃣❗️) year anniversary as well as my book launch. Instead we won’t. Instead, rather than being in Leyenda’s backyard mixing up drinks and hanging out with the whole neighborhood, I will just post them on social media. Like this one— featured in my book with link in BIO!—Cereza Picante: With this drink, I wanted to create an exceptionally fruit-forward fall-like sour that highlighted spice and smoke to compliment its fruity notes. The result is what its name advertises: one spicy cherry. 1 oz Jalapeño @siembraspirits Valles blanco tequila ½ oz @delmagueymezcal Vida ¾ oz @cherryheering ¾ oz lime juice ¼ oz simple syrup Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and Luxardo cherry flag. . Photo by @Shannonshootscocktails

A post shared by Ivy Mix (@ivymix) on Apr 29, 2020 at 11:27am PDT

New York-based Ivy Mix is an author, bar owner, and drinks educator. Mix is the owner of Leyenda — a Latin cocktail bar in Brooklyn — and the author of “Spirits of Latin America,” a cocktail book full of diverse Latin American cocktail recipes. Follow her for educational Instagram lives, cocktail recipes, and more.

@holycityhandcraft

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The face you make when your 23 month old son walks into your super serious, ice cutting shoot and furiously waves at you👋🏽 while shouting “HIIII DADAAAAAA” – at the top of his lungs. . But hey… it made for a semi decent/authentic smiling photo. God I love that kid.

A post shared by miguel | HANDCRAFT (@holycityhandcraft) on Jul 9, 2020 at 6:25pm PDT

Based in Charleston, S.C., Miguel is a drinks creator and photographer. His feed is full of fancy yet approachable recipes you’ll want to recreate again and again. He’s also an expert cocktail party host and ice carver.

The article 15 Cocktail Influencers You Should Be Following on Instagram appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/15-cocktail-influencers-instagram/ source https://vinology1.tumblr.com/post/625991098950647808

[johnboothus]

15 Cocktail Influencers You Should Be Following on Instagram

Since most of us are missing our local bartenders as much as our friends and family during the ongoing pandemic, many of us have taken to our kitchens in an attempt to make our favorite drinks ourselves. But while G&Ts and vodka sodas are great every now and again, where do we turn when we’re craving something a little more complex? Enter: the “drinkstagrammer” — or drinks Instagrammer.

These bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts have made names for themselves by sharing photos of whimsical drinks and helpful tips with their followers. So, at a time when we need inspiration more than ever, VinePair has collected a list of our 15 favorite drinkstagrammers, whom you should follow right now.

@highproofpreacher

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Back from a long weekend in the forest, without WiFi or cell reception. With sheltering in place + most of my clients pivoting hard to lean into the digital world, these last few months have been insane and I’ve been constantly connected 📲 It felt amazing to just rest, read and fully relax for a few days. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Also, based on all of your responses after sharing a video of my dog Pip on my IG story, apparently you want me to focus on corgi content instead of cocktails 🤔🐕 Can’t say that I blame you. Swipe for a look at sleepy vacation Pip. 🔊✌🏽 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #highproofpreacher

A post shared by Jordan | High-Proof Preacher (@highproofpreacher) on Jun 22, 2020 at 7:51am PDT

 Jordan Hughes, also known as High-Proof Preacher, is a Portland-based mixologist and self-proclaimed “visual storyteller.” He’s also contributed delicious cocktails to VinePair’s recipe library, like the El Murcielago Cocktail and the Viking Colada.

@join_jules

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It’s fri-yay aka time for an 𝐀𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐳! ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Instead of dreaming for the day we can get back into some of our favorite restaurants safely (because who knows when that will be)… let’s bring the Friday happy hour cocktails right into our home! After creating recipes for the past 4 months now, there’s a lot to choose from on our website! My personal favorite to celebrate the beginning of the weekend on a hot day is of course the Aperol Spritz. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ But on a serious note, I can't believe that 4 months ago COVID lockdown hit in the US and that actually made me really start taking Join Jules seriously. It was the only way to turn a sour situation into a good one I guess. But, I do hope these cocktails have helped cure the oh so missed happy hours and that you look forward to so many more to come… (I'm looking at you 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧)!! Let's just say this, it's only the beginning of Join Jules 𝘞𝘰𝘰𝘩𝘰𝘰! (𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴… okay okay I'll stop).⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝐍𝐨𝐰, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐠𝐨-𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥? 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰!

A post shared by Cocktail Recipes with Jules (@join_jules) on Jul 10, 2020 at 2:11pm PDT

 Join California-based Julianna McIntosh in making cocktails that taste as delicious as they look. McIntosh creates out-of-this-world drink recipes, and — along with her mother — she runs a television show called “Bringing it Home” that delves into the stories behind the food we eat.

@thecollectress

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Hey Y’all, Rare morning post. So many things are happening, but I wanted to thank both @mofad and @readspill for highlighting me and giving me a chance to talk about my work. . . SPILL is a hospitality co-op and online platform. This is there first online issue, and I was honored to be asked to be this month’s Industry Spotlight. Thank you to @davidmmor . . Last week (I think), I got to sit down with @sarikamin of MoFAD and talk about grief, history, @uniteamericastable and the Hospitality Census as well as my process for care. Take a listen. . . I will be linking both pieces in my story and bio. Drawing a rendition of @noahfecksisawesome photo by @cocktail_colors

A post shared by Ashtin Berry (@thecollectress) on May 5, 2020 at 8:56am PDT

 Ashtin Berry is more than just a sommelier and bartender. She’s also an activist and educator, as well as the founder of #americastable. Expect delicious drinks recipes, inspiring videos, and educational posts that explore how race and privilege play out in the drinks industry and beyond.

@onedrinkaday

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Dehydration station (minus a couple of bags). – – – – – – – – #garnish#dehdratedgarnishes#garnishes#gin#gins#ginandtonic#goodprep#cocktailgarnish#cocktails#cocktailgarnishes#brisbane

A post shared by One Drink A Day (HEEBS) (@onedrinkaday) on Jul 25, 2020 at 1:08am PDT

 Aussie Hee Chung is here to help you up your garnish game. His posts include easy drink recipes (including lots of delicious G&Ts), garnish how-tos, and more. Check out his garnish e-book here.

@joanna.lin

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Honored to be featured in @aberlour_us’s campaign for #internationalwomensday. Sharing my advice for fellow hustlers: “When you stand up for yourself, you stand up for all women. So lead by example, know your values, own your confidence, and don’t be apologetic for who you are and what you want to achieve.” #louderthanwords #readysetjo . . . . . #aberlour #aberlourwhisky #whiskylover #whiskyadvocate #whiskytasting #whiskylife #whiskyblogger #scotch #sevenfiftydaily #totc #whiskymagazine #scotchwhisky #singlemaltscotch #liqpic #50bestbars #worldsbestbars #greenwichvillage #thespaniard #pernodricard #womenwhowhiskey #womenwhowhisky #womeninhospitality #womenempowerment #womenentrepreneurs #entrepreneurlife #womeninbusiness #womenshistorymonth

A post shared by Joanna Lin 🦉#ReadySetJo (@joanna.lin) on Mar 8, 2020 at 3:51pm PDT

 Joanna Lin is a cocktail connoisseur, photographer, and artist. Her feed includes a balanced combination of feel-good and politically driven content. Expect entertaining posts, such as this animation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo drinking a Negroni, and mixology action shots. More recently, Lin has also shared Black Lives Matter protest photos and drawings.

@cocktailbandits

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Our first in-person event since the lockdown would involve Tequila, of course. 🥃 Today is #NationalTequilaDay and we are celebrating with @patron by hosting a pop-up at @tacoboychs from 4PM to 6PM. Come say, ‘Hi’ and try our cocktail of the day, recipe listed below: ‘Blacker the Berry’ 1.5 oz of Patron Blanco 1 oz of BlackBerry Purée 🍇 Jamaican Bitters Limeade @drinkhooch Garnish: Sage leaf & Blackberries 🌱 Add Patron and blackberry puree to mixing tin full of ice. Secure lid then shake passionately. Strain mixture into chilled glass. Carefully add Limeade soda until glass is full. Lovingly add sage and blackberry garnish. #GentleLadySips 💃🏽🍹✨ Photo by: @tacoboychs #cocktailbandits #cheers #celebrate #curlyladieswhotalkcocktailsdaily #southernlibationist #tequila #tequilacocktail #agave #willtravelforbooze #patron #blackberry #limeade #drinkhooch #hooch #curls #curlsandcocktails #cocktailsdaily #dailycocktails #smiles #popup #tacoboychs #wearecharleston #charlestonsc #tequiladay #authors #holyspiritschs

A post shared by Johnny & Neka (@cocktailbandits) on Jul 24, 2020 at 1:53pm PDT

 Charleston mixologists Johnny Caldwell and Taneka Reaves are the “Cocktail Bandits.” Their feed is full of drinks inspo, tasting videos, and more. Their book, “Holy Spirits!”, teaches readers about Charleston cocktail culture.

@thegrandiosebartender

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For those of you who don’t personally know me, my name is Anthony Bates and (I think) I am more than a person who slings cocktails! I’m currently taking over @liquor’s Instagram today so you can find me there shooting the s***! Besides perfecting my Mai Tai – I’m really into reading, music, and definitely art… I love to see people be creative and express themselves artistically! I’m a introvert at times so I like to express myself through different forms of creativity wether I’m the creator or in collaboration with someone else. Here’s me on NYE at @undercote with a cocktail by @beaub.knowin …..I felt like Super Fly this day lmao… I hope everyone is having a great 4th and enjoying themselves! Illustration by: @jenchiascreative

A post shared by Anthony Bates (@thegrandiosebartender) on Jul 4, 2020 at 11:11am PDT

 Harlem local Anthony Bates is a private bartender and a mixologist at The Polo Bar in New York. His bio reads “Heavy Drinker, Heavy Thinker,” and his feed reflects this, with bright recipes, fun illustrations, and educational captions.

@theweekendmixologist

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– A P P L E    W O O D 1½ oz Apple Brandy ¾ oz Fresh Lemon Juice ½ oz Maple syrup Top with @sanpellegrinodrinksus Tonica Oakwood Add all ingredients except the Tonica to a shaking tin and then add ice. Shake well and strain over ice into a Collins glass. Top with Tonica Oakwood and garnish with fresh apple slices. – I had so much fun back in January on location in New York with @sanpellegrinodrinksus . We are excited to announce the launch of their new mixers! Here’s a recipe I created to feature the dry and spiced flavors of their delicious Tonica Oakwood. Cheers friends! . #AppleWood #SanPellegrino #TonicaOakwood #SanPellegrinoSparklingDrinks #TimeForTaste Sponsored Ad

A post shared by Barlow | Weekend Mixologist (@theweekendmixologist) on Jul 17, 2020 at 10:35am PDT

 Barlow Gilmore makes and photographs creative libations that are almost too pretty to drink. This dedicated mixologist even carves his own ice!

@whats.marisa.drinking

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It’s National Tequila Day and I’m celebrating with this deliciousness! Salud! 🌺 GINGERED BLOOD 🌺 45ml Tequila Reposado @casamigos 15ml Ginger Liqueur @thekingsginger 30ml Lime Juice 20ml homemade Blood Orange syrup Garnish with Mint, Flowers & Blood Orange 🌿🌺❤️ #whatsmarisadrinking #thecocktaildreamteam #liqpic #libations #imbibe #cocktailpic #cocktailrecipe #instacocktail #drinkstagram #mixology #garnishgame #classicocktail #drink #drinkpic #drinkup #goldcoastcocktails #goldcoastlife #myfavouritecocktail #booze #craftcocktails #drinkporn #cocktailhour #drinking #mixologist #tequila #nationaltequiladay #tequiladay2020

A post shared by What’s Marisa Drinking (@whats.marisa.drinking) on Jul 23, 2020 at 2:37pm PDT

 Marisa’s feed, full of rainbow cocktails, is the definition of #Instagrammable. The Australian drinks creator posts recipes that are colorful, garnished to perfection, and simple enough to make at home.

@thecocktailsnob_

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I fully intended to just select a few of my favorites from my 📸 @shoottphotos session a few weeks ago. But they were all so good lol. I just couldn't decide. So I bought all 146 of them lol. So if you see a couple hundred pictures of me in the same outfit in the same location, just mind your business, mmkay? 😂😂😂⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 📸: @amcrommett

A post shared by Camille | Cocktail Blogger (@thecocktailsnob_) on Jul 30, 2020 at 5:00am PDT

 Though she’s a self-proclaimed cocktail “snob,” Camille’s page is fun and approachable. She’s a New York-based cocktail writer and happy-hour enthusiast (she even created the hashtag #happyhourathome), and her feed is full of exciting cocktail recipes and helpful advice for home bartenders.

@bon_vivantito

View this post on Instagram

Turn up for Tiki 🍹🥥🍌🍍. It has been blazing hot here on the Mid-Atlantic coast, and all I want to do is crush tropical cocktails. But, honestly, it’s just one of those genres of drinks that always taste better at the bar – usually because I don’t have a pebble ice machine at home (yes, it does matter). . Lately, I’ve been making some Mai Tais with @denizenrum Merchant’s Reserve, @smallhandfoods orgeat, fresh lime, and dry curaçao. That’s as complex as it gets, but it’s well worth it. . Who has some easy tiki cocktails that they have developed at home worth sharing? I’m looking for some new flavors 👌🏽🍹.

A post shared by Tyler Zielinski (@bon_vivantito) on Jul 10, 2020 at 9:54am PDT

 Tyler Zielinski is a mixologist and drinks writer. He’s contributed many classic and original cocktails to the VinePair recipe library, and his Instagram feed is full of beautifully photographed cocktails and helpful how-to videos.

@danmagro

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✨"Tartlet" 🍓 1.5oz Reposado // 3 Strawberries, muddled // 2oz Lemon Juice // 0.5oz Lime Juice // 1oz Simple Syrup // Pinch of Salt // Brut Sparkling Wine // Sour Candy Rope, for garnish⁣ on a @rawrutes tree pick of course!⁣⁣ 🍓⁣⁣⁣⁣ Petite but with a sucker of a sour punch! I was obsessed with sour candies when I was younger and wanted to emulate that mother pucker of a smack when you take that first bite…but boozy.⁣⁣⁣ 🍓⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ .⁣⁣ #contest #supercall #mixology #cocktailporn #happyhour #cocktails #bartender #drinks #bartenderlife #craftcocktails #imbibegram #libations #liqpic #eeeeeats #drinkporn #eaterla #california #foodandwine #fwx #buzzfeast #bareaders #thekitchn #delish #boozytalk #BAReaders #FeedFeed #drinkstagram #tequila #sourpunch @sourpunchcandy @thefeedfeed.cocktails

A post shared by Dan Magro (@danmagro) on Jul 30, 2020 at 5:51am PDT

 Dan Magro is a West Hollywood-based mixologist, host of Sip&Stream, and author of “Suck It Up: Extraordinary Cocktails for Everyday People.” His cocktails are bright, fun, and always topped with impressive garnishes.

@apartment_bartender

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Hey, you look thirsty 😛 throw some drink recs you’re craving in the comments and I’ll mix you up something in my IG stories later today! Lesssssssss get it! 🕺🏽👇🏽 #ApartmentBartender

A post shared by Elliott | Apartment Bartender (@apartment_bartender) on Jul 14, 2020 at 1:31pm PDT

 Elliott, an apartment bartender and cocktail recipe developer, has a feed full of colorful recipes and more. Check out his highlights for tips on everything from using bitters in cocktails to building a cocktail book library

@ivymix

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I really really miss @leyendabk and on days like today with May just around the corner I miss our patio the most. May has always been our biggest month with the weather being perfect combined with our anniversary and Cinco de Mayo. This year we were going to do a huge party for our five ( 5️⃣❗️) year anniversary as well as my book launch. Instead we won’t. Instead, rather than being in Leyenda’s backyard mixing up drinks and hanging out with the whole neighborhood, I will just post them on social media. Like this one— featured in my book with link in BIO!—Cereza Picante: With this drink, I wanted to create an exceptionally fruit-forward fall-like sour that highlighted spice and smoke to compliment its fruity notes. The result is what its name advertises: one spicy cherry. 1 oz Jalapeño @siembraspirits Valles blanco tequila 1/2 oz @delmagueymezcal Vida 3/4 oz @cherryheering 3/4 oz lime juice 1/4 oz simple syrup Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wheel and Luxardo cherry flag. . Photo by @Shannonshootscocktails

A post shared by Ivy Mix (@ivymix) on Apr 29, 2020 at 11:27am PDT

New York-based Ivy Mix is an author, bar owner, and drinks educator. Mix is the owner of Leyenda — a Latin cocktail bar in Brooklyn — and the author of “Spirits of Latin America,” a cocktail book full of diverse Latin American cocktail recipes. Follow her for educational Instagram lives, cocktail recipes, and more.

@holycityhandcraft

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The face you make when your 23 month old son walks into your super serious, ice cutting shoot and furiously waves at you👋🏽 while shouting “HIIII DADAAAAAA” – at the top of his lungs. . But hey… it made for a semi decent/authentic smiling photo. God I love that kid.

A post shared by miguel | HANDCRAFT (@holycityhandcraft) on Jul 9, 2020 at 6:25pm PDT

Based in Charleston, S.C., Miguel is a drinks creator and photographer. His feed is full of fancy yet approachable recipes you’ll want to recreate again and again. He’s also an expert cocktail party host and ice carver.

The article 15 Cocktail Influencers You Should Be Following on Instagram appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/15-cocktail-influencers-instagram/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/15-cocktail-influencers-you-should-be-following-on-instagram

[neopolitansworld]

"Hugs and arrows made of dreams, spreading love to all, Cure Cupid!"

Its her day, Happy Valentines everyone! Here's a quick illustration of Cure Cupid and her civilian form Miyu (first name) Yahata (last name)

[frostywindmademoan]

A Worthy Adversary

Pt. 2 of a multi chapter OC fic featuring Michael Gray

“It’s maddening. She keeps snubbing me, but I’ll be damned if I have to admit defeat. If anything, I’d just like to take her out for purely spiteful reasons.” Michael complained to John, Isaiah, and Finn at the Garrison. “Women can sense that. They know when they’re just a trophy you wanna win.” Isaiah informed him.

“He’s right mate. It’s the same in the jungle. I heard somewhere that in the lion families it’s the girl lions who do all the killing. They’re the ones with the killer instincts.” John said before taking a gulp of beer. “Lions don’t live in the jungle. And they’re called prides not families.” Michael corrected. “If you’re so fuckin’ smart then you should know to give up on this girl. When a girl wraps you around her finger and then yanks you around it means she’s damn dangerous! She’s one of those killer lion ladies.” John warned. “They’re called lionesses.” Michael once again corrected him. “She’s a fuckin’ killer lioness then! Either way she’s dangerous.” Finn chimed in. “She’s a nurse, how fucking dangerous can she be?” Michael scoffed. “She’s a nurse with big doe eyes and even bigger ti-“ Isaiah started to say, but was cut off. “Alright yeah, she’s a 10/10 but that doesn’t mean she’s dangerous.” Michael reasoned. “You know what? I hope she eventually lets you take her out. It’ll be bloody funny to see her kick your ass.” Finn grinned. “Fuck you all, I’ll go drink somewhere else.” Michael stood up from the table and stormed out. “That kid’s too touchy. That short fuse’ll get him killed.” John once again brought his beer to his lips. 

Michael wandered for a bit until he found himself in front of a bar that was a tinge classier than the Garrison. Clara’s words about speaking as little as possible or not at all rang in his ears. He had to laugh at how she had really got him going at first about his ‘condition.’ Michael decided he might as well give not talking a try. This bar was a nice place for that. No way he was actually on a first name basis with anyone in there. He walked in and found a bright atmosphere. The men were in well tailored suits and neatly trimmed hair. The girls were fit and sparkling. Very different from the tweed wearing factory workers of the Garrison. Michael sauntered up to the bar and took a seat on a stool as he ordered whiskey. As his drink was being poured, Michael turned towards the room and scanned the other patrons. He froze when he saw the back of a familiar head. He smirked as the whiskey was handed to him. With drink in hand he made his way over. “What’re you drinking love?” Michael asked as he stood behind her. Clara turned to see who was speaking and her face fell in disappointment when she recognized Michael. “God fucking damn it.” She sighed. “There you go again with the curse words.” He smiled. “Wanna see a neat trick? I’m gonna curse again! Just for you! Fuck off!” She turned back around to face away from him. “C’mon Clara, I’m just being friendly!” Michael tried to get her to turn again. “You’re being a pain in the ass, not friendly.” She scoffed. “Tell you what, if you let me buy you a drink, and then sit and have a conversation with me while you drink, and if you still think i’m a piece of shit by the end then I’ll leave you alone.” He promised. “Alright, those are pretty fair terms.” She agreed. Michael offered his arm, which Clara reluctantly took.

“So then, what am I getting you?” He asked as they walked to the bar. “Gin.” She curtly responded. “I heard somewhere that psychopaths drink gin.” Michael commented. “I most certainly can’t deny that.” She smirked at him. He ordered her drink as they cozied onto the bar stools. “So then Mr. Gray, dazzle me.” Clara crossed her legs as Michael’s eyes flit up and down, taking all of her in. She was in a dress with thin straps resting on her shoulders. Her arms were toned and unblemished. The dress was the same shade as a freshly popped bottle of champagne. She was radiant. “You just gonna stare all night or will we hold actual conversation?” Clara cocked an eyebrow at him. “You’re the one who told me I have to talk less in order to cure my bullshit-idis.” Michael smirked. “I did indeed say that. I appreciate you taking my advice, but your whole plan involves you convincing me you aren’t shit.” Clara reminded him. “You’re right. I just haven’t thought this through completely. I’m not sure what I can say to a lioness.” Michael admitted. “A lioness? I didn’t realize I was in the company of a zoologist.” She chuckled. “My cousin John brought the point up to me. In lion prides it’s the females that do all the hunting. Lionesses are killers.” Michael recounted his earlier conversation. “Ah, so I’m a killer. I quite like that.” She smiled. “Are you a killer?” Michael ask. “I certainly hope so.” Clara brought the gin to her lips. “And why is that?” Michael cocked an eyebrow. “You know why. My reasoning is no different than yours.” She replied. “Now THAT is an interesting answer! I’m a fucking gangster so being a killer comes with the turf. A nurse though, is supposed to care for people.” Michael sipped his own drink. “You physically kill. I emotionally kill. We both get power, just in different ways.” She stated. “What does that mean?” Michael was thoroughly enthralled by her conversation. “Picture a swan, if you will. They are beautiful creatures. They’re the very definition of grace. People stop to admire swans and watch them glide across the water with such whimsical ease. Those same people never get close, though. Swans are fierce and known to attack. If you get too close you’ll get hurt. So people fondly watch swans from afar and equate them to beauty and romance, but they are unattainable. I make it so that people like to admire me, but can never get close. That’s a pain that stays with you, unlike the snap second of pain when a bullet hits you, before it kills you. I find manipulating people funny.” Clara explained. “Shit” Michael exhaled. “Indeed.” She smirked. “Lioness is right then. Consider me afraid.” He was only half joking. “You should be. I’m a day tripper Mr. Gray. I don’t stay long term.” Her smile was malicious. “I attempt to be the same. Lasting relationships don’t exactly agree with my line of work.” Michael tried to explain. “Tell me about your work.” She leaned in slightly closer to him, indicating her curiosity. “There isn’t much to say, I’m an accountant.” He smirked. “Your bullshit-idis is flaring up again.” Clara leaned back in her seat, taking back her curiosity. “It is indeed. Would talking about my work help me charm you?” Michael raised an eyebrow at her. “It’s certainly an avenue worth exploring.” She replied. “I’m extremely interested in you, but I don’t know if I’m interested enough to incriminate myself.” Michael hesitated. “This isn’t a sting, Mr. Gray. Your secrets are quite safe with me.” Clara assured him. “What is it you want to know exactly? About the Booze, the cars, the horses, the bookies, the drugs?” Michael asked. “Tell me about the killing. I told you about how I kill, now it’s your turn.” Clara once again leaned in, this time closer than before. This excited Michael, so he also leaned forward to close the distance even more as he answered. “I’ve killed a couple people, directly and indirectly. First time I killed someone was while covering Tommy. Shot a man in the back of the head. And the second guy… If you could even call him that, he was more devil than man. I planned on shooting him. I had the barrel shoved in his goddamn eye socket. There ended up being a bit of a struggle. I cut his fucking throat.” Michael was surprised by how honest he found himself being. “A gun creates distance between you and the kill. Slitting a throat, however, is extremely personal. Getting that much blood on you requires an emotional connection.” She commented.  “Are you a fucking shrink or something?” Michael didn’t like how close to the truth she was getting. “I’m not certified or anything, but I am a woman of many interests. I take it I’m close to hitting the nail on the head then.” Clara chuckled before taking another sip. “I think a change in subject is in order. I don’t even know the most basic fucking shit about you.” Michael pointed out. “Alright, I’ll go along with your diversion. I’m 20 years old. My favorite color is blue. My birthday is in December, and you can probably piece together what my favorite animal is. Your turn.” Clara bounced the ball in to Michael’s court. “I’m 22 years old. My favorite color is red. My birthday is in May, and my favorite animals are horses.” Michael was amused to be answering such basic questions. “I’m nearly finished with my drink Mr. Gray. Your time is running out.” She warned. “Have I yet to dazzle you?” He chuckled. “Horses are nice and all, but you’ve been quite annoying lately. Horses hardly make up for that.” Clara scoffed. “It’s hard to be charming when you’re up against someone so intimidating.” Michael tried to reason. Clara smirked, downed the rest of her gin, and slammed the glass down on the bar. “I’m intimidating. That’s the most charming thing you’ve said tonight. I suppose that means I’ll be seeing you around sometime Michael.” She gave a dazzling smile before walking back to the friends Michael had stolen her from. Michael didn’t understand how he had managed to amuse her, but he didn’t really care. The rest of the night he had a grin stuck to his lips.

Chapter List Here

[moriiyun]

first listen: txt's the chaos chapter: freeze

oh look! another one!

i'm surprised i'm reacting to this tbh, since i don't know txt all that well ,, i know nearly nothing about them rip. but i’ve always been a casual listener of their music and after watching the mv, i was fascinated by the direction they went in so i decided to dive in :D 

although this won’t be super member-specific or detailed, i hope you enjoy it nonetheless!!

once again, these are just my opinions and takeaways so pls don’t kill me thanks :D

1. anti-romantic

ooh. this was nice. it kinda starts off as one of those staple sad ballads? and you expect it to be like sad and mellow and calm the whole way through - which it is, but not in the way you expect. the bass is super prominent and picks up in the chorus which stops it from being the calm song that you put in your sleep playlist but it still feels calm, somehow. what’s interesting is that with the bass picking up the way it did it makes you anticipate this big drop where the instrumentals fill in and the sound feels...full? idk how to describe it but yea. a good example would be in my blood by shawn mendes, where the big drop that you anticipate actually comes. but in here, it never does. it stays kinda hollow and echo-y throughout. it’s cool cos it’s almost like it’s going against what you expect musically - which is like ‘anti’ bit of the title, since pop culture always romanticises romance and expects you to do the same, but in this song they aren’t, they’re ‘anti-romantic’. the fact that it’s hollow the whole way through is kinda indicative to me that without the fulfilment of romance, one tends to feel hollow (for them at least); or how one feels hollow after a break up or losing a loved one. it’s an interesting song and i really enjoyed it since it felt like a whole world of music explaining lyrics and lyrics explaining music :)

2. 0x1=lovesong (i know i love you) ft. seori

* yells * the more i listen to this the more i love it!!!!! it’s got a rougher, slightly grunge sound that is more reminiscent of kbands than actual kpop groups, which i adore, and they pull it off beautifully. they’ve added a rougher timber to their voices that i’m pretty sure is new for them (?), but idk i love this sound for them so much!! maybe it’s because the song sounds almost desperate, with a certain sense of yearning that leaves you not feeling satisfied when the song ends, added on to the fact that it doesn’t really resolve and just ends - it makes you feel like the song is too short, makes it feel like you could play this song on loop for hours, makes you feel like it could cure heartbreak. it hits a spot you didn’t realise needed to be triggered but it’s so satisfying to hear the song and yet, you don’t feel satisfied by the time it ends. i dunno i love this song so much. the instrumental is beautiful, even if you can tell it’s just midi instruments. they way the song pulls back and fills up and builds up and fulfils before becoming hollow and sparse again. there is something about it the way it makes you feel inside. not to mention the harmonies scattered throughout the song that add such a beautiful touch. seori’s voice is one of my favourite voices in music, her voice is so unique and beautiful and it adds an almost whimsical texture to a song that feels very grounded yet dreamlike. there is something beautiful about this song that i cannot explain, and maybe i will be able to explain it someday, but for now i’ll just cry over how beautiful it is ;-;

(p.s. txt really do love their long ass titles huh)

3. magic

this is a bop i don’t make the rules. this is such a fun song omg like i did not expect it to sound like this. it feels like a song from the 2010s with a bit of 2000s energy?? idk it slaps it is such a bop i physically started dancing in my seat while listening to it and could not stop. this is a earworm for sure and you bet it’s gonna get stuck in my head for the next 2-4 working days. gave me the same energy as can’t stop the feeling by justin timberlake for some reason but like. make it ✨ sparkly ✨. this feels like glitter and confetti and a fun party at your friend’s place where you stay up all night bopping to songs from your growing up years. the high range notes in the chorus were so crisp and beautiful and the harmonies and echoes added a little extra kick which made the song hit different. and the bridge!!!! literally i imagined hearing this at a concert and the entire crowd cheering and shouting the bridge and now i miss attending concerts. it really is a feel-good song that is an instant seretonin boost!! and i’m only just realising on second listen that all the lyrics are in english i feel like a clown 🤡 it’s a beautiful song about how love is magical, and that if you’re broken hearted take a chance because you could experience something magical which is. honestly not something you hear in songs often cos everyone’s like ‘oh im broken hearted let me sob about it’. which is maybe why the song feels almost like fairy dust and magic (no pun intended) because broken hearts need time to recover and after the initial feeling of a breakup, having something good with someone doesn’t feel like a reality - in other words, magic. but like tbh i would totally listen to this on a road trip and yell to it with the windows down because it just feels so. carefree and almost like i can fly!!

4. ice cream

hm this is. interesting. the intro of the song honestly threw me off a bit? not in a bad way but i was a bit confused at first lmao. like that was unexpected lmao. but i’m gonna yell about the pre-chorus now because it’s art?????? like whoever came up with this pre-chorus deserves a raise seriously. like for the first two lines of the pre-chorus it actually pans from ear to ear???? like bruh damn. and the way it descends with the sung-rap being more staccato and choppy and THEN the ticking noises kicking in later?????? literally genius engrave this pre-chorus into my memory pls. also the weird warped ‘wap’ sound in some parts in the song is so nice?? like overall this song is so nice in the instrumentals and mixing cos of the way it creates atmosphere?? idk it hits different in that aspect. and the harmonies in different parts of the song are a really cool addition and they’re so well done????? also i will take a moment to talk about the chorus because i have no idea why ‘i scream you scream we all scream for ice cream’ is there but it makes you pay attention to the chorus like ‘hey listen up’ which i think is smart hhhhh. but the ‘i scream you scream’ shouty part lowkey annoys me?? like the tone in which it’s done somehow doesn’t sit right with me and it feels like it’s a part of the song i just don’t. like it for some reason. overall am still undecided about whether this should end up in my playlist but i do like it a decent amount so who knows ?

5. what if i had been that puma

okay this was a fun listen. it reminded me of like a mature, grown up version of cat and dog?? like the audiotune and the bass beat is very reminiscent of that, although the melody of the music and how they sing/rap over it makes it sound way different and definitely more mature and grown up than cat and dog. it was something that made you want to keep listening, from the moment it surprises you by starting without any intro, until the end where the music cuts out and one of them sings acapella to the end. also one of my favourite parts is the rap in the second verse!!!! like all the music cuts out and then the rap cuts in, and for that moment the song sounds like a modern hip hop song and not like a kpop song and it’s interesting that they made a section of the song sound like that. if you look at the song as a whole it feels like a video game?? idk i would listen to it while gaming or hanging out with friends just chilling because it’s such a chill and relaxed song. i feel like if you removed the vocals and mellowed the music out a bit it could be a lofi song LOL. idk since they literally put puma in all caps i expected it to sound like puma but it’s like. the furthest thing from puma. and yet it says what if i had been ‘that’ puma, like implying that they aren’t that puma and want to be like it. OH maybe they’re just ‘cats’ (reference to cat and dog) and they want to be like ‘puma’ (a literal wild cat) but they aren’t/can’t so they dream in a more mature way of what they want to be but cannot achieve?? idk i’m just rambling at this point lmao. overall there really isn’t a lot to say about this song musically because it’s not the most complex but it was a fun listen and was still interesting!!

6. no rules

why does this radiate high school musical energy to me???? idk the vibes and the energy, and maybe the bass with the claps and the synths, horns and trumpets that come in later in the song contribute to it i suppose. i also really love the acapella sounding thing in the first pre-chorus because it’s so well done and pretty!! also another thing that i noticed is that the pre-chorus are pretty different from each other when usually pre-choruses are similar to each other, and then there’s the bridge that honestly doesn’t sound much like a bridge but more like another pre-chorus?? those things are cool and honestly they were like ‘well if songs are usually made a certain way i’m not doing that because there’s no rules here :D’ what’s interesting is that this song is similar to new rules? like musically the vibes are quite similar and they’re quite upbeat but the difference is that new rules follows song structure pretty closely so stuff like verse, pre-chorus, chorus, verse and etc. but at the end of new rules after what you think is the ‘bridge’ there isn’t a final chorus - instead the song just ends, which breaks the typical song structure; which might be a heads up to no rules since no rules practically ignores song structure as a whole which is cool. i might be grasping at straws to be honest but if this is a genuine connection that’d be cool, and even if it isn’t this song is still great :)

7. dear sputnik

okay i love this one. the grungy rough sound returns, but instead of being mellow and sad it’s very uplifting and empowering yet magical at the same time!! like i feel like i wanna fly through space and i can achieve anything when i hear this song seriously it’s beautiful. the intro radiates coldplay vibes slightly?? and the pre-chorus is literally art it’s like you don’t expect it to go there, and it almost feels like we’re going through turbulence while cutting through the atmosphere and it destabilises you and goes down instead of up but yet it stabilises and brings you to the chorus which makes it feel like you’re blasting off at light speed to fight some space pirates and create an epic space adventure together with your best friends. the bridge almost feels like you’re preparing to conquer the universe and the final chorus feels like the epic battle at the end of it all where you defeat your mortal foe. this song feels almost like a cinematic experience in three minutes and it is really so uplifting and beautiful like the whole chanting stuff in the back all the time makes it feel like there’s a whole crowd rooting for you and they’re gonna have your back and they’re gonna go and cross space and conquer the galaxy with you. it really hits a spot in you that you don’t think about and it’s so interesting in the way they’ve executed it. also i think it’s cool that they referenced sputnik which was the first ever satellite to orbit the earth!! it makes you feel like you can go and accomplish the impossible and make it a reality and you have the universe in the palm of your hand. this is going into my list of emotional support songs for sure :D

8. frost

oh this is a gooood song. literally radiates evil psycho vibes, like i would play this in a suicide squad movie and it genuinely reminds me of poor unfortunate souls from the little mermaid which is sung by the villain, ursula. the commentary at the start and end really gives it a comic book/superhero movie kinda feeling?? i also love the way their voices sound in this?? like they’ve changed their vocal tone and it’s so unique!! and you can hear it isn’t autotune and they’ve actually made the effort to practice this specific vocal tone and it works so well so kudos to them!! the instrumentals really match everything too like the ‘ding’ in the verses really sounds like icicles clinking like title reference much?? also i love the bridge so much the warped bits and how it’s just a quick rap that really doesn’t hold your attention from the loudass chorus. the way they produced this was really soooo good it sounds so well put together and just a cohesive thing that flows soooo well like yall are suicide squad going on a mission and everything’s going to plan *evil laughter from a distance*. the way it’s instrumented really adds to the evil villain energy of the song seriously. also the vocal echoes in some parts, the random cackles, damn this song was very well thought through. it has such an interesting energy because the dynamics are so not grounded like idk the dynamics feel funky. also everything feels unstable and slightly warped almost like you are crazy which is so cool !!!

overall this is an amazing album, some really cool songs on here, and no two songs are the same, they’re all so distinct!! it’s an interesting direction and sound for them, but if i’m being honest i think we all enjoyed this one :D here’s to more good music from them hehe :)

[chriskarrtravelblog]

Tea with a twist

Once the current crisis is over, why not treat yourself to a slap-up afternoon tea in one of London’s grand hotels? For a fresh and quirky take on tradition, try one of these themed afternoon teas

For many, partaking in the wonderfully decadent tradition of afternoon tea is a must when in London. Such is the demand that hotels and restaurants have upped their game in recent years, coming up with ever more outlandish themes to evolve their offering from a teatime treat to an experience to remember.

In the name of research we’ve sipped tea and sampled scones at top tea venues across the capital. Here is our selection of London’s quirkiest cuppas.

Mad Hatter’s tea, Sanderson

Sanderson hotel, with its out-there Philippe Stark interiors, has always been quirky – and its afternoon tea, served in the courtyard garden, is as whimsical as they come: Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland provides the inspiration for a wildly imaginative afternoon tea.

Menus are hidden inside vintage books, teapots adorned with kings and queens, and sandwich plates feature ticking clocks. The menu includes outré offerings such as a ‘Drink me’ potion of exotic fruits, a chocolate and pistachio Blue Caterpillar, Queen of Hearts rose and strawberry Jammy Dodgers and a Mad March Hare vanilla pocket-watch macaroon; all curious concoctions, but traditionalists will be pleased to note that scones and jam are also on the menu.

Wash it all down with Alice-inspired tea infusions and a glass of champagne, for Cheshire Cat grins all round.

From £48. 50 Berners St, Fitzrovia

London Landmarks tea, Town House at The Kensington

Taking their cue from the capital’s iconic landmarks, Town House at The Kensington offer a sweet homage to the city’s skyline. Tea is served in an elegant salon, warmed by a roaring fire in winter. Each table has a stunning centrepiece: a London Eye-inspired tea stand, its tiers decked with a skyline of sweets, sandwiches and scones.

Tempting though the cakes are, tradition dictates that you start with the savouries, and these are a cut above, with a stilton and broccoli quiche, mini steak and London ale pie and crab cake, alongside an array of sandwiches.

But it’s the sweets that steal the show: a white chocolate Gherkin filled with dark chocolate ganache, a carrot cake Shard, the classic red telephone box made of rhubarb jelly, and a lemon curd tart Big Ben.

After nibbling on these mini-masterpieces, you can visit their full-size counterparts: guests are given an illustrated map of the city to take home.

From £42. 109-113 Queen’s Gate, Kensington

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tea, One Aldwych

In Roald Dahl’s children’s classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the sweet-toothed hero finds a Golden Ticket and is granted access to Willy Wonka’s factory of delights. The recently remodelled One Aldwych hotel, in the heart of Theatreland, recreates the magic with a scrumdiddlyumptious slap-up tea.

Proceedings begin with savouries such as meal-in-marshmallows and a not-quite-as-it-seems salmon and beetroot macaron. Save room, though, for the main event: a parade of Wonka-worthy cakes, from whipple-scrumptious red velvet cake pops and lemon candyfloss to scones with snozzberry jam.

Drinks are as delightfully bonkers as the food – minty chocolate milk mixed by waterfall; chocolate or lemon sherbet tea; Swimming Pool Fizz or Pistol Punch cocktails, or fizzy lifting Champagne. Looking for a tea with a touch of magic? This is just the (golden) ticket.

From £45. 1 Aldwych, Covent Garden 

Saint and Sinner tea, L’oscar

Credit: Jean Cazals

Be sure to work up an appetite before tackling afternoon tea at the L’Oscar hotel – perhaps with a few laps of the nearby British Museum, or a stroll through the garden squares of Bloomsbury.

Chef Tony Fleming has had some fun with his Saint and Sinner menu – a nod to the hotel’s setting in a former Baptist church: a sticky apple tart – Adam and Eve’s pudding – is topped with an icing sugar serpent, while the gooey chocolate Devil’s Food Cake has horns and a tail. Saints can choose from a variety of exotic teas, while sinners can opt for tea-infused cocktails.

The richness of the food is matched by the opulence of the hotel café. Deep purple banquettes, dark walls with gilded accents, a mirrored ceiling and warm light filtering through glass and translucent stone complement the baroque-style architecture and evoke Venetian cafés. A suitably sumptuous setting for a properly indulgent afternoon.

From £38. 2-6 Southampton Row, Holborn

Seasonal tea, Dalloway Terrace

Dalloway Terrace at the Bloomsbury Hotel must be London’s most-photographed restaurant terrace: the hashtag #dallowayterrace has almost 11,000 Instagram posts at the time of writing. Its secret? A fabulous nature-inspired backdrop that’s almost an art installation in itself. The display changes seasonally, as does the afternoon tea, which is themed to match the installation.

Visit in winter and you might find yourself in an alpine forest, the foliage dusted with snow, and cheesecake fondue and a Swiss chocolate snow-coated pine tree on the menu. In spring, the terrace might be covered with a lush jungle canopy woven with fuchsia orchids and passionflowers. In summer, botanical blooms make a pretty backdrop to flower-themed cakes; while autumn is celebrated with flame-coloured foliage and treats such as “conkers on a string” (chestnut and milk chocolate cream). It’s pretty as a picture at any time of year; selfie obligatory.

From £40. 16-22 Great Russell St, Bloomsbury

NY-Tea, Balthazar

Balthazar has been a staple of the London restaurant scene since opening in Covent Garden to wild reviews in 2013. Its all-day French bistro menu and buzzy atmosphere continue to pull in punters looking for a memorable dining experience in the heart of theatreland.

Their ‘NY-Tea’ pays homage to the original Balthazar in Manhattan, introducing some all-American flavours alongside familiar British afternoon tea favourites.

A pastrami brioche accompanies the more classically British sandwich selection, but it’s the cakes and pastries that really evoke the spirit of the Big Apple. A bittersweet key lime pie, moreish cookies ‘n’ cream tart and – our favourite – the ‘Liberty’ peanut butter and apricot eclair are all beautiful to look at and even better to eat. Wash down the cakes with a selection of teas, and finish with ‘The Yankie’, a sweet cocktail of bourbon and champagne. Yee-haa!

From £29.95. 4-6 Russell St, Covent Garden

Science tea, the Ampersand Hotel

The Ampersand Hotel is a mere scone’s throw from London’s Science and Natural History museums, so it’s no wonder that the hotel used its neighbours as inspiration for a themed afternoon tea. The room – part English drawing room, part French salon – is relaxed and a touch quirky: the perfect setting for an unconventional tea.

Dust for mini dinosaur biscuit ‘fossils’ hidden beneath chocolate soil; sample orange and lemon half-moon cakes alongside milk chocolate spacemen; and tuck into an out-of-this-world caramel and passionfruit ‘planet’ mousse. Well-chosen props – lab beakers, petri dishes, test tubes – and special effects such as smoking teapots add to the fun.

The Teapot Tails menu offers a tipsy alternative, with curious cocktails such as the Marie Cure-All, a mix of Genmaicha-infused rum with Aperol, vermouth and Amer Picon, to fuel your voyage of discovery.

From £39.50. 10 Harrington Rd, South Kensington

                The post Tea with a twist appeared first on Britain Magazine | The official magazine of Visit Britain | Best of British History, Royal Family,Travel and Culture.

Britain Magazine | The official magazine of Visit Britain | Best of British History, Royal Family,Travel and Culture https://www.britain-magazine.com/features/tea-with-a-twist/

source https://coragemonik.wordpress.com/2020/05/21/tea-with-a-twist/

[mialipsky-blog]

26 Filler Flowers and Types of Greenery

Nothing brings a bouquet to life like the gorgeous filler flowers and various types of greenery that surround it! From delicate baby’s breath to colorful snapdragons, rich ferns to romantic dusty millers, discover 26 types of fillers and greens that will round out your bouquets and floral arrangements.

1. Baby’s Breath

                    Baby’s Breath is one of the most popular white filler flowers. It also comes in a variety of tinted colors, as well. The flower is delicate and soft, just like a baby, and symbolizes innocence. It’s also referred to as angel’s breath. Though traditionally used as a filler, this flower can also be used alone to create fluffy, cloud-like arrangements.

  2. Bells of Ireland

                    Bells of Ireland, also known as molucella, has a long stem lined with clusters of bell-shaped blooms. This green is perfect for adding height and texture to bouquets and centerpieces. And because it is said to symbolize luck, you won’t have any worries on your wedding day!

  3. Bouvardia

                    Bouvardia is great filler flower featuring clusters of star-like flowers that have a delicate scent and comes in shades of pink and white. Each stem resembles a small bouquet! Add some Bouvardia to your bouquet to represent enthusiasm! I mean, you are marrying the person of your dreams!

  4. Delphinium

                    Another great flower for adding height, delphinium has a long stalk covered in many small blooms. The volkenfrieden delphinium is a great flower for adding something blue, with is stunning, natural true blue hue. The delphinium stands for swiftness and lightness.

  5. Dusty Miller

                    Representing happiness and delicacy, dusty miller is a popular green filler flower. It’s often used in soft, garden-like bouquets. It’s velvety, frosted sage green leaves will be the perfect complement to petal heavy, romantic blooms like garden roses, ranunculus, and peonies.

  6. Feverfew Daisies

                    Who doesn’t love the look of freshly-picked wildflowers? Feverfew daisies can help achieve that look with their beautiful daisy-like blooms and its wispy long stems. These filler flowers may have small blooms, but their bright-yellow centers and white petals really stand out in an arrangement. Feverfew looks beautiful on its own but also pairs nicely with other wildflowers. We love seeing little pops of yellow throughout a bouquet.

  7. Fiddlehead Fern

                    Fiddlehead ferns have a branch-like stem with a curly tip that spirals at the end. Fiddlehead is available year-round and comes in a range of green and purple hues. With its one-of-a-kind shape and beautiful color, it can easily add dimension and texture to any arrangement. It especially pairs well with rich, fall colors but also looks stunning mixed in with a ton of greenery. Adding a few stems of fiddleheads can easily transform your arrangements into a woodland fairytale.

  8. Heather

                    Heather is a filler flower that features tiny fisheye blooms that run the length of its branchy stems. Perfect for filling in the gaps and adding a unique texture, heather is available in white and pink. It is believed that Heather has protective powers and can also symbolize admiration and good luck.

  9. Holly

                    Holly is mainly thought of as a Christmas flower, but it’s available year round at FiftyFlowers! The bunches of bright red berries against fresh greenery will add a fresh, natural look and feel to your wedding bouquets and arrangements. Holly traditionally symbolizes deference and domestic happiness. Pretty perfect for a wedding don’t ya think?!

  10. Italian Ruscus

                    With its rich green color and its narrow tear-shaped leaves, Italian Ruscus makes a gorgeous filler. As an added bonus, this greenery is available year-round and it’s long-lasting (up to eight days!). This variety looks beautiful on its own, especially when it’s laid out on the center of the table. It also pairs nicely with candles, too. The shiny leaves add a touch of glam while the candles create a romantic ambiance.

  11. Ivy

                    Ivy is another popular choice for garden, vintage or romantic wedding bouquets. Their carefree draping shape can create movement and the popular loose, unstructured look that is more natural. Ivy also has the perfect meaning for weddings, as they represent wedded love, affection, fidelity, and friendship!

  12. Leatherleaf  Fern

                    The leatherleaf fern (a.k.a. leather fern) is another romantic and lovely filler. With tufted, rich green leaves that fan out triangularly, this fern provides a dramatic backdrop to the flowers in your bouquet. The stem is strong yet flexible, and the entire fern grows up to 24 inches tall and 8 inches wide.

  13. Leyland Cedar

  Leyland Cedar is commonly associated with the holiday season, but its longevity (eight days with proper care) and dark green color make it an excellent choice no matter the time of year. Leyland Cedar can be used tucked into a holiday-inspired wreath or mixed in with other greens in a garland. One of the great things about this greenery is that it is easy to work with! A table runner can easily be created using our Leyland Cedar, simply lay strands of greenery down the center of a table for an effortless and festive table runner. Attaching a sprig or two on napkins, table numbers or place cards is also a great way to use this greenery. It also pairs well with any type of berries, such as Hypericum Berries, Hanging Pepperberry and Red Ilex Berry Branches. Leyland Cedar looks especially elegant when paired with white flowers.

14. Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley is a very delicate flower with tiny bell-shaped blooms and broad basal leaves. The perfect filler flower for delicate and dainty wedding bouquets (think Princess Kate’s wedding bouquet.) This white flower symbolizes purity, humility, happiness and sweetness.

15. Lisianthus

Lisianthus is a wonderful filler flower that features anywhere between two to six budding flowers per stem. The blooms feature delicate layers of petals, soft and romantic, while the un-bloomed buds add perfect texture. Available in lots of great colors and in standard and super varieties. The super come already bloomed and ready to use. Lisianthus is said to represent being outgoing.

16. Moss

Moss is a fun green, great for whimsical, woodland, and even modern table arrangements. Check out some Moss Inspiration here! Symbolizing maternal love, this would be great for a bride who is a mom or mom-to-be, or to give appreciation the newylweds’ mothers.

17. Myrtle

Myrtle symbolizes love and is the Hebrew emblem of marriage. Every royal bride since Queen Victoria has had a sprig of myrtle in her bouquet. The myrtle comes from a tree which grew from a cutting of Queen Victoria’s own bridal bouquet. Since then, each royal bride has included a sprig from the original plant in her bouquet, and the bridesmaids then plant the sprigs in Queen Victoria’s garden after the wedding. Feel like royalty with your very own sprig of myrtle!

18. Queen Anne’s Lace

Queen Anne’s lace is similar to baby’s breath with its tiny and delicate clusters of small white flowers, however, these clusters are located at the top of the stem rather than scattered along the stems like baby’s breath. Queen Anne’s lace symbolizes magic, trust, and healing.

19. Sedum

Sedum, also known as stonecrop flowers, have clusters of tiny pink blooms and are only available from August to October. Folklore has said the essence of the sedum flower is a cure for broken and wounded hearts. Another popular meaning of this flower is tranquility.

20. Snapdragon

The snapdragon is a popular filler flower also good for adding height to arrangements. Snapdragon is known for its wispy jaw-like upper and lower petals. A single stem averages 10-15 of these unique blooms, which are grouped closely together giving the impression of a single lengthy flower. Said to represent desire, snapdragons would make a wonderful addition to any bouquet or centerpiece.

21. Statice

Statice is sometimes called the tissue flower, because of their tissue paper-like blooms. It’s also called sea lavender. Whatever you call it, statice are stunning purple filler flowers (they also come in blue, white and apricot). Each main stem has a spray of smaller branches with several of these tiny funnel-shaped flowers. They have a long vase life and require very little maintenance, making them popular for both fresh and dried arrangements. The meaning of statice is lasting beauty and success, and because of its longevity, statice has grown to be the flower of fond memories. Statice is also symbolic of remembrance and sympathy.

22. Stephanotis

Stephanotis, also known as Madagascar Jasmine, is another flower with a great meaning for weddings…marital happiness! It is a sweetly scented flower that blooms to form a 5 pointed star. Due to their small stems, special wiring may be required for design work. You can also adorn your bouquet by inserting sparkling faux diamonds or jewels into the center of each flower.

23. Stock

Don’t let the name fool you: Stock is anything but ordinary. It is fluffy, tall and fragrant in all the right ways! In Spanish, this flower is know as “El Aleli” — much prettier name, don’t ya think?! It can have a spicy, clove-like fragrance and is indicative of a happy life and lasting bonds of affection; gifting a bouquet of these blooms says, “You will always be beautiful to me.”

24. Sweet Pea

This list of fillers and greens wouldn’t be complete without sweet, petite sweet peas. The sweet pea gets its name from is sweet scent and would look great in a soft spring bouquet. These blooms are said to symbolize delicate pleasures, and would make a great addition to any arrangement.

25. Sword Fern

The sword fern is a long, flat leaf with sword-shaped fronds (hence the name!). Sword fern comes in a bright green color so it really pops in floral arrangements. This specific variety especially work best in line arrangements but also look great in round arrangements. Just like leather leaf, sword fern makes an excellent selection for a decorative filler. This variety comes in a grower’s bunch, which is typically 8-10 stems per bunch. It can last up to eight days with proper care. It’s also available year-round. Sword fern looks amazing in tropical arrangements but also works well in other themes such as, boho and woodland.

26. Variegated Pittosporum

Variegated pittosporum features a tall, woody stem that bursts into dense green leaves with creamy, white edges. Its beautiful bicolor is what sets this greenery apart from the rest! Though they’re available year-round, long-lasting and can maintain its shape out of water.

This greenery is bound to stand out and make an impression even when paired with showy flowers like peonies. Variegated pittosporum is commonly paired with flowers like roses, kale, dahlias and hypericum berries, though they look great with just about any flower!

It also comes in a miniature size that’s perfect for boutonnieres or corsages. Mini variegated pittosporum is easy to work with and its size makes it ideal for smaller arrangements. It looks great in flower crowns, too! For an organic or bohemian look, pair mini variegated pittosporums with white spray roses.

The possibilities for flower arrangements are endless with so many gorgeous types of greenery and filler flowers to choose from!

See More:

Focal Flowers and the Meaning Behind Them

How to Create a Table Runner Made of Greenery

Using Tropical Greenery as Wedding Décor

26 Filler Flowers and Types of Greenery published first on their blog to my feed

[mainemanus-blog]

26 Filler Flowers and Types of Greenery

Nothing brings a bouquet to life like the gorgeous filler flowers and various types of greenery that surround it! From delicate baby’s breath to colorful snapdragons, rich ferns to romantic dusty millers, discover 26 types of fillers and greens that will round out your bouquets and floral arrangement.

1. Baby’s Breath

Baby’s Breath is one of the most popular white filler flowers. It also comes in a variety of tinted colors, as well. The flower is delicate and soft, just like a baby, and symbolizes innocence. It’s also referred to as angel’s breath). Though traditionally used as a filler, this flower can also be used alone to create fluffy, cloud-like arrangements.

2. Bells of Ireland

Bells of Ireland, also known as molucella, has a long stem lined with clusters of bell-shaped blooms. This green is perfect for adding height and texture to bouquets and centerpieces. And because it is said to symbolize luck, you won’t have any worries on your wedding day!

3. Bouvardia

Bouvardia is great filler flower featuring clusters of star-like flowers that have a delicate scent and comes in shades of pink and white. Each stem resembles a small bouquet! Add some Bouvardia to your bouquet to represent enthusiasm! I mean, you are marrying the person of your dreams!

4. Delphinium

Another great flower for adding height, delphinium has a long stalk covered in many small blooms. The volkenfrieden delphinium is a great flower for adding something blue, with is stunning, natural true blue hue. The delphinium stands for swiftness and lightness.

5. Dusty Miller

Representing happiness and delicacy, dusty miller is a popular green filler flower. It’s often used in soft, garden-like bouquets. It’s velvety, frosted sage green leaves will be the perfect complement to petal heavy, romantic blooms like garden roses, ranunculus, and peonies.

6. Feverfew Daisies

Who doesn’t love the look of freshly-picked wildflowers? Feverfew daisies can help achieve that look with their beautiful daisy-like blooms and its wispy long stems. These filler flowers may have small blooms, but their bright-yellow centers and white petals really stand out in an arrangement. Feverfew looks beautiful on its own but also pairs nicely with other wildflowers. We love seeing little pops of yellow throughout a bouquet.

7. Fiddlehead Fern

Fiddlehead ferns have a branch-like stem with a curly tip that spirals at the end. Fiddlehead is available year-round and comes in a range of green and purple hues. With its one-of-a-kind shape and beautiful color, it can easily add dimension and texture to any arrangement. It especially pairs well with rich, fall colors but also looks stunning mixed in with a ton of greenery. Adding a few stems of fiddleheads can easily transform your arrangements into a woodland fairytale.

8. Heather

Heather is a filler flower that features tiny fisheye blooms that run the length of its branchy stems. Perfect for filling in the gaps and adding a unique texture, heather is available in white and pink. It is believed that Heather has protective powers and can also symbolize admiration and good luck.

9. Holly

Holly is mainly thought of as a Christmas flower, but it’s available year round at FiftyFlowers! The bunches of bright red berries against fresh greenery will add a fresh, natural look and feel to your wedding bouquets and arrangements. Holly traditionally symbolizes deference and domestic happiness. Pretty perfect for a wedding don’t ya think?!

10. Italian Ruscus

With its rich green color and its narrow tear-shaped leaves, Italian Ruscus makes a gorgeous filler. As an added bonus, this greenery is available year-round and it’s long-lasting (up to eight days!). This variety looks beautiful on its own, especially when it’s laid out on the center of the table. It also pairs nicely with candles, too. The shiny leaves add a touch of glam while the candles create a romantic ambiance.

11. Ivy

Ivy is another popular choice for garden, vintage or romantic wedding bouquets. Their carefree draping shape can create movement and the popular loose, unstructured look that is more natural. Ivy also has the perfect meaning for weddings, as they represent wedded love, affection, fidelity, and friendship!

12. Leatherleaf  Fern

The leatherleaf fern (a.k.a. leather fern) is another romantic and lovely filler. WIth tufted, rich green leaves that fan out triangularly, this fern provides a dramatic backdrop to the flowers in your bouquet. The stem is strong yet flexible, and the entire fern grows up to 24 inches tall and 8 inches wide.

13. Leyland Cedar

Leyland Cedar is commonly associated with the holiday season, but its longevity (eight days with proper care) and dark green color make it an excellent choice no matter the time of year. Leyland Cedar can be used tucked into a holiday-inspired wreath or mixed in with other greens in a garland. One of the great things about this greenery is that it is easy to work with! A table runner can easily be created using our Leyland Cedar, simply lay strands of greenery down the center of a table for an effortless and festive table runner. Attaching a sprig or two on napkins, table numbers or place cards is also a great way to use this greenery. It also pairs well with any type of berries, such as Hypericum Berries, Hanging Pepperberry and Red Ilex Berry Branches. Leyland Cedar looks especially elegant when paired with white flowers.

14. Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley is a very delicate flower with tiny bell-shaped blooms and broad basal leaves. The perfect filler flower for delicate and dainty wedding bouquets (think Princess Kate’s wedding bouquet.) This white flower symbolizes purity, humility, happiness and sweetness.

15. Lisianthus

Lisianthus is a wonderful filler flower that features anywhere between two to six budding flowers per stem. The blooms feature delicate layers of petals, soft and romantic, while the un-bloomed buds add perfect texture. Available in lots of great colors and in standard and super varieties. The super come already bloomed and ready to use. Lisianthus is said to represent being outgoing.

16. Moss

Moss is a fun green, great for whimsical, woodland, and even modern table arrangements. Check out some Moss Inspiration here! Symbolizing maternal love, this would be great for a bride who is a mom or mom-to-be, or to give appreciation the newylweds’ mothers.

17. Myrtle

Myrtle symbolizes love and is the Hebrew emblem of marriage. Every royal bride since Queen Victoria has had a sprig of myrtle in her bouquet. The myrtle comes from a tree which grew from a cutting of Queen Victoria’s own bridal bouquet. Since then, each royal bride has included a sprig from the original plant in her bouquet, and the bridesmaids then plant the sprigs in Queen Victoria’s garden after the wedding. Feel like royalty with your very own sprig of myrtle!

18. Queen Anne’s Lace

Queen Anne’s lace is similar to baby’s breath with its tiny and delicate clusters of small white flowers, however, these clusters are located at the top of the stem rather than scattered along the stems like baby’s breath. Queen Anne’s lace symbolizes magic, trust, and healing.

19. Sedum

Sedum, also known as stonecrop flowers, have clusters of tiny pink blooms and are only available from August to October. Folklore has said the essence of the sedum flower is a cure for broken and wounded hearts. Another popular meaning of this flower is tranquility.

20. Snapdragon

The snapdragon is a popular filler flower also good for adding height to arrangements. Snapdragon is known for its wispy jaw-like upper and lower petals. A single stem averages 10-15 of these unique blooms, which are grouped closely together giving the impression of a single lengthy flower. Said to represent desire, snapdragons would make a wonderful addition to any bouquet or centerpiece.

21. Statice

Statice is sometimes called the tissue flower, because of their tissue paper-like blooms. It’s also called sea lavender. Whatever you call it, statice are stunning purple filler flowers (they also come in blue, white and apricot). Each main stem has a spray of smaller branches with several of these tiny funnel-shaped flowers. They have a long vase life and require very little maintenance, making them popular for both fresh and dried arrangements. The meaning of statice is lasting beauty and success, and because of its longevity, statice has grown to be the flower of fond memories. Statice is also symbolic of remembrance and sympathy.

22. Stephanotis

Stephanotis, also known as Madagascar Jasmine, is another flower with a great meaning for weddings…marital happiness! It is a sweetly scented flower that blooms to form a 5 pointed star. Due to their small stems, special wiring may be required for design work. You can also adorn your bouquet by inserting sparkling faux diamonds or jewels into the center of each flower.

23. Stock

Don’t let the name fool you: Stock is anything but ordinary. It is fluffy, tall and fragrant in all the right ways! In Spanish, this flower is know as “El Aleli” — much prettier name, don’t ya think?! It can have a spicy, clove-like fragrance and is indicative of a happy life and lasting bonds of affection; gifting a bouquet of these blooms says, “You will always be beautiful to me.”

24. Sweet Pea

This list of fillers and greens wouldn’t be complete without sweet, petite sweet peas. The sweet pea gets its name from is sweet scent and would look great in a soft spring bouquet. These blooms are said to symbolize delicate pleasures, and would make a great addition to any arrangement.

25. Sword Fern

The sword fern is a long, flat leaf with sword-shaped fronds (hence the name!). Sword fern comes in a bright green color so it really pops in floral arrangements. This specific variety especially work best in line arrangements but also look great in round arrangements. Just like leather leaf, sword fern makes an excellent selection for a decorative filler. This variety comes in a grower’s bunch, which is typically 8-10 stems per bunch. It can last up to eight days with proper care. It’s also available year-round. Sword fern looks amazing in tropical arrangements but also works well in other themes such as, boho and woodland.

26. Variegated Pittosporum

Variegated pittosporum features a tall, woody stem that bursts into dense green leaves with creamy, white edges. Its beautiful bicolor is what sets this greenery apart from the rest! Though they’re available year-round, long-lasting and can maintain its shape out of water.

This greenery is bound to stand out and make an impression even when paired with showy flowers like peonies. Variegated pittosporum is commonly paired with flowers like roses, kale, dahlias and hypericum berries, though they look great with just about any flower!

It also comes in a miniature size that’s perfect for boutonnieres or corsages. Mini variegated pittosporum is easy to work with and its size makes it ideal for smaller arrangements. It looks great in flower crowns, too! For an organic or bohemian look, pair mini variegated pittosporums with white spray roses.

The possibilities for flower arrangements are endless with so many gorgeous types of greenery and filler flowers to choose from!

See More:

Focal Flowers and the Meaning Behind Them

How to Create a Table Runner Made of Greenery

Using Tropical Greenery as Wedding Décor

26 Filler Flowers and Types of Greenery published first on their blog, reposted for me