#also i’m super excited for july WAH | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

caws5749 · 5 years ago

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This took SO LONG thanks @natthisback

1: Name Madison

2: Age 21

3: 3 fears spiders, not becoming a doctor, becoming like my parents

4: 3 things i love marvel movies, my blanket (whoops), and scrunchies

5: 4 turn ons compliment me, be chivalrous, (idk if this means sex turn on too or not but) moaning my n- ANYWHO uh and the last one definitely like showing you want me

6: 4 turn offs someone who only talks about themselves, being like wishy washy, being arrogant/cocky, complaining about the same things

7: my best friend that would be shea @cloversofshea

8: sexual orientation lesbian

9: my best first date okay SO this like isn’t a first date but it was my first like nicer dinner date so I’m gonna count it. It was just this past weekend actually and i just i loved it so much it was amazing

10: how tall am i 5’2

11: what do i miss honestly, feeling like i was good at things

12: what time were i born 11:14am

13: favorite color purple, although it’s slowly been turning to like a baby light pink

14: do i have a crush yes yes i do and i likes her a lot

15: favorite quote “Truth is a matter of circumstance. It’s not all things to all people all the time. And neither am I.”

16: favorite place Chicago or New York City

17: favorite food SALMON

18: do i use sarcasm yes, but i feel like i don’t use it as much as i used to

19: what am i listening to right now Christmas pop playlist on Spotify

20: first thing i notice in new person whether they only talk about themselves

21: shoe size 8 or 8.5

22: eye color blue

23: hair color right now, it’s a brown that goes to blond at my ends

24: favorite style of clothing so if this means like fav style to wear daily, definitely athleisure. If it means in general, i love love love preppy looks? But not super preppy.

25: ever done a prank call? Absolutely, many times

27: meaning behind my url i explain this in my about me page (linked in bio!)

28: favorite movie captain America winter soldier

29: favorite song i don’t really have favorite songs but rn it’s prob December night by Michael buble

30: favorite band i don’t really have fav bands

31: how i feel right now it’s really hot in here, so warm. I feel okay

32: someone i love i love lots of people but ill stick with @cloversofshea

33: my current relationship status I’ve answered this so many times literally just look at the ask game tag

34: my relationship with my parents um yikes

35: favorite holiday Halloween

36: tattoos and piercing i have i have 6 tattoos! “Breathe” on my right inner ankle, a heart on left shoulder, heart w equal sign in it behind right ear, basically an ecg on my left inner ankle, Aquarius symbol on right bicep, and caws 5749 on my left side. And my ears are pierced.

37: tattoos and piercing i want definitely the black widow symbol in the same place Scarlett got her og6 tattoo, an amino acid tattoo that spells out “wah” , definitely more little tattoos! And maybe more ear piercings idk

38: the reason i joined tumblr so, I’ve had a tumblr for many many years. I originally joined bc my best friends at the time had them, and i was like sure! Ive deleted that personal blog since, and started my new personal blog a few years ago. I also have a studyblr that i started i think back in high school, and i just started this blog back in the end of July!

39: do i and my last ex hate each other no, I’d say far from it bc i likes her a lot

40: do i ever get “good morning” or “good night” texts yes from her and i fucking love it, it used to be a bigger thing almost every day and i loved it

41: have i ever kissed the last person i texted lmao no and for those who were wondering it is @cloversofshea

42: when did i last hold hands LMAO WITH @michelinaamour WHEN I WAS STUMBLING HOME DRUNK IN HIGH HEELS

43: how long does it take me to get ready in the morning it depends, anywhere from ten minutes to an hour and a half

44: have you shaved your legs in the past three days no! I am super lucky and have really light colored hairs on my legs and so i dont’ have to shave very often. Also i just want to say that i personally love shaving my legs and it is my choice to do so.. girls, you do not need to shave!!

45: where am i right now so i started answering this in the research lab, but i am currently sitting at one of the dining places on campus finishing it

46: if i were drunk and can’t stand, who’s taking care of me LMAO DEFINITELY @michelinaamour because she’s done it ALREADY FOR ME MULTIPLE TIMES

47: do i like my music loud or at a reasonable level it depends, in car trips, definitely blast it. But just driving around or listening in doors, definitely reasonable level

48: do i live with my mom and dad nope i live with @michelinaamour

49: am i excited for anything yes, I’m excited for lots of things. I get excited easily

50: do i have someone of the opposite sex i can tell everything to no. I used to

51: how often do i wear a fake smile this is a really interesting question. I don’t consider smiles i give to random people like ordering food or something to be fake, so i would say fake smiles are when I’m not okay and trying to hide it. Which happens less often now bc I’m just much happier of a person

52: when was the last time i hugged someone I think it was @michelinaamour two days ago but i think i hugged @cloversofshea that day too so

53: what if the last person i kissed was kissing someone else right in front of me I’d be heartbroken tbh

54: is there anyone i trust even though i should not yes, certain adults in my life

55: what is something i disliked about today my hair won’t do what i want it to :(

56: if i could meet anyone on this earth who would it be probably Chris Evans or Scarlett Johansson

57: what do i think about the most tumblr and everything with that, or probably her or school stuff definitely

58: what’s my strangest talent i don’t think i have any lol

59: do i have any strange phobias yes definitely haha, I’m terrified of stepping on worms

60: do i prefer to be behind the camera or in front of it i think a few years ago i would have said behind, but honestly I think I’d love to be in front of the camera now

61: what was the last lie i told i actually don’t know. Maybe this past weekend as to like the fact that i was going out on a date instead of just going out with a friend

62: do i prefer talking on the phone or video chatting online I’d say talking on the phone bc then they cant’ see me lmao

63: do I believe in ghosts? How about aliens? Yes and yes

64: do i believe in magic? Yes, or at least, that’s what i tell myself

65: do i believe in luck yes

66: what’s the weather like right now snowy!

67: what was the last book I’ve ever read The Butchering Art, it’s about the history of surgery

68: do i like the smell of gasoline omg yes yes yes yes yes yes

69: do i have any nicknames yes, madz, madi, girl who lives by the kitchen, queen (a new one) and clown (also a new one) thanks @natthisback

70: what was the worst injury I’ve ever had back in freshman year of college, i did something stupid and my foot swelled up like hell and hurt so bad. There were no fractures detected but the swelling stayed for a really long time, as well as the bruising and pain, and it never returned to normal

71: do i spent my money or save it SPEND IT BABY

72: can i touch my nose w my tongue no I’m not that talented

73: is there anything pink in 10 ft from me. Hmm part of my backpack? And my rings are pinkish bc they are rose gold. Oh and my scrunchie is pink, as well as my iPad

74: favorite animal cat

75: what was i doing last night at 12am i was still at work In the emergency room!

76: what do i think satan’s last name is uh honestly Jim lmao (it’s demons Jim! @cloversofshea )

77: what’s a song that always makes me happy when i hear it so good by dove Cameron

78: how can you win my heart suggest we watch a marvel movie, and I’m prob straight up in love. There are other things too but they’re pretty general, like compliment me, show you want me ya know

79: what would i want to be written on my tombstone haha, as a joke, “so realy its very thing. Just to keep everyone guessing.” But idk something funny

80: what is my favorite word i have no idea, maybe like sophisticated or something like that or aesthetic , champagne is a good one too

81: my top 5 blogs on tumblr ooh! Okay so @markiplier @lesbian-deadpool @americasass-romanoff @lesbianmariahilll @shining-rey-of-sunshine but i love so so so so so many more, and i have a lot of top blogs

82: if the whole world were listening to me right now what would i say fuck trump also I’m gay as hell and I’m growing tired of hiding it from people

83: do i have any relatives in jail not that i know of

84: i accidentally eat some radioactive vegatables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow me with the super power of my choice! What is that power lmao this question is great. Prob same powers as Wanda

85: what would be a question I’d be afraid to tell the truth on any weird fetis- JUST KIDDING. Do you still think about them?

86: what is my current desktop picture so on my laptop, it’s fall flowers. But since that’s broken af, i use my iPad and that background is one of the apple ones. It’s just a beach idk why but I’ve never changed it

87: had sex WHY IS THIS IN EVERY SINGLE ASK GAME WTF

88: bought condoms nope i am gay as hell bye

89: gotten pregnant nope i am gay as hell bye

90: failed a class nope, definitely come close though

91: kissed a boy yes

92: kissed a girl yes

93: have i ever kissed somebody in th rain honestly, probably at some point, but I’ve never had one of those romantic kisses in the rain. I really really want to though and i think about it a lot

94: had job yeah, I’ve had three true jobs

95: left the house without my wallet probably

96: bullied someone on the internet no bc I’m not a fucking douche

97: had sex in public not yet

98: played on a sports team yeah, played softball and basketball in middle school

99: smoked weed yeah, but i didn’t get high

100: did drugs nope

101: smoked cigarettes nope, i think i asked drunk once if i could smoke, but my friend was like “really?” And i was like uhhhhhh just kidding haha

102: drank alcohol lmao i drink fucking all the time i mean. I literally have drunk writing nights , I’m drinking tonight too

103: am i a vegetarian/vegan i was a vegetarian for a while, and then an aspiring vegan, and then vegetarian, and then pescatarian now!

104: been overweight no

105: been underweight yes

106: been to a wedding yeah, but like not for a long time. I was like 4 and the flower girl. Oh WAIT. Does playing a wedding count? I played cello at a wedding so i was there???

107: been on the computer for 5 hours straight hell yeah, how would i function not doing this with class and relaxing

108: watched tv for 5 hours straight lmao definitely

109: been outside my home country yeah

110: gotten my heart broken yeah

111: been to a professional sports game yeah. I don’t really do sports though , so when i go it’s usually in suites and I’m just there for the food

112: broken a bone nope!

113: cut myself this is...a. Really deep question but bc i want to be able to speak about mental health on here, the answer is yes.

114: been to prom yes! I went to my junior and senior proms!

115: been in airplane too many times

116: fly by helicopter no, I’m not sure if i want to do this or not

117: what concerts have i been to I’ve been to lots. So first off, I’ve been to hundreds of classical concerts (and performed in them). As for pop, Bruno mars twice, maroon five like three times. Selena Gomez. Josh groban. American authors. Definitely others that i don’t remember

118: had a crush on someone of the same sex yes I’m fucking gay

119: learned another language so if this means fluent, no. I took a decent amount of French and am learning Russian right now!

120: wore make up absolutely. When i choose to wear makeup, its because i fuckign love makeup haha. Most days I’m lazy though and like to let my skin breathe and be natural

121: lost my virginity before I was 18 no

122: had oral sex yeah

123: dyed my hair many times

124: voted in a presidential election okay i think so but honestly can’t remember. But I’m pretty sure i did.

125: rode in an ambulance no and i never want to.

126: had a surgery no and i never want to haha. Well i cant say that. Depending on how my life plays out, I might freeze my eggs or something.

127: met someone famous yes, several I think, but probably Henry winkler was the one I remember most.

128: stalked someone on a social network yeah

129: peed outside nope don’t think so and definitely don’t want to

130: been fishing yes I have been ice fishing and regular fishing

131: helped w charity i have!

132: been rejected by a crush I’ve been not liked back but i don’t think I’ve ever made like a move on a crush and been rejected

133: broken a mirror ooh i don’t think i have actually

134: what do i want for birthday nothing bc i dont’ like my bday

#madison speaks #ask game

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zukalations · 6 years ago

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Mori Keaki - 120% Darling: Part 1 Chapter 11 - Once again: I LOVE TAKARAZUKA

Mori Keaki published this essay book the month before her retirement as Top Star of Snow Troupe. It is mainly a memoir of her personal journey in Takarazuka, as well as her early life. Her writing/formatting style is kind of unique, and I tried to reproduce or reflect it as much as possible. 120% Darling has around 24 chapters, and I plan to post one every Friday. It’s a really lovely book, that ended up making me cry many times. I hope you enjoy it! For a table of contents with links to all the chapters, go here.

Once again: I LOVE TAKARAZUKA

On November 24th of the 4th year of the Heisei era, I reached the final performance of my last show in the Takarazuka Grand Theatre, The 47 Ronin: Fall with the Snow, Fall with the Flowers.

But at the same time, that was also the final day of operation of the old Takarazuka Grand Theatre, that I thought of as ‘My Home!’

The Takarazuka Grand Theatre…

From its construction in July of the 13th year of the Showa era, up to its final days, it stood for 68 years!! That stage that raised us Takarasiennes and fostered the dreams of audience members, that theatre that was always kindly and warmly there for us…

Passed away.

To state it clearly, the building that was the ‘former’ Takarazuka Grand Theatre, is gone.

The new Takarazuka Grand Theatre held its opening production in January of the 5th year of the Heisei era.

Therefore, it’s not as if ‘The Takarazuka Grand Theatre’ is gone or anything, but…

Actually,

We held many special memorial events for the ‘Grand Theatre Finale’.

The one that most moved me occurred during the Snow Troupe performance, on the 7th and 8th of November in the 4th year of the Heisei era: Takarazuka Grand Theatre Farewell Event - Adieu Grand Theatre: ‘Takarazuka - Our Hearts’ Home!!

In the performance guide, they said: “A big event to bid farewell to the current Takarazuka Grand Theatre, which ends its life as the home of the Takarazuka Revue at the end of the 4th year of the Heisei era.”

And, really.

No joke, it was really big!! Big!! Big!! Super big!!

“Takarazuka is such an amazing place,” I felt, to the point my body was tingling.

It was a 3-hour special concert taking place after the main show ended.

Of course, we performed to a full house. (As usual, I’m so, so thankful!!)

A huge number of big stars who had been ‘born’ in the former Grand Theatre, as well as all of us current students, sang and danced and acted: it was a show that really conveyed to the world, ‘This is Takarazuka!!’

Wah~

This was so stirring to me, that I actually can’t even hold my pen calmly to write about it.

In the dressing room, it was so, so, so, so amazing, that even if I ran around 100 times I wouldn’t have tired of it.

Everywhere, stars, stars, stars, stars!! !! !! !!

Among the graduated performers appearing, the most senior was Ashihara Kuniko.

The most senior of the current students was Kasugano Yachiyo.

And what made me so happy is that all the previous Top Stars of Snow Troupe were gathered…

Maho Shibuki*, Migiwa Natsuko, Asami Rei, Taira Michi. And then, there was Mori Keaki!!

Also, there were so many other stars who I had known when they were current performers.

Haruna Yuri, Ootori Ran, Anna Jun, Setouchi Miya, Matsu Akira, Jun Mitsuki, Takashio Tomoe, Mine Saori, Daichi Mao.

Also, Fukamidori Natsuyo, Yodo Kahoru, Asadori Chiho, Kamo Sakura, Kouzuki Noboru, Furusato Akemi, Minamikaze Youko, Nachi Wataru, Uchinoe Noboru, Yashioji Mari, Koshiro Miyako, Hatsukaze Jun, Uehara Mari, Kotobuki Hizuru, Kuroki Hitomi. There were so many others, but I can’t write them all… I’m sorry.

It was so amazing, amazing, amazing; saying it 100 times wouldn’t be enough. Right!?

The variety, the breadth, of Takarazuka is something to be proud of in all of Japan, no, all of the world!!

You see, the members of this cast were only ‘some of the graduated students who were able to appear’, among those who didn’t have ‘miscellaneous schedule conflicts’.

So, in that way, so many stars came back to their ‘hearts’ home’, the stage of the Takarazuka Grand Theatre, and their singing and dancing was so cool!! Of course!!

Also, what made me so happy that I thought I could cry, was that among all those members, where all of them were senior students! In the culture of the Takarazuka hierarchy!!

In the dressing room.

Those stars, who were ‘senior students’ even among the senior students, were helping out those stars who had been ‘junior students’ at the time they were in Takarazuka together, with the costumes and makeup.

Even though if we were onstage, among that group, Mori Keaki was just the youngest junior student, so if we were all to line up, I would have to be on the very end. I would be in the dark where the spotlight wouldn’t reach!!

That feeling of ‘Oh~ I’m a junior student~” made me really happy. It was very exciting. It made me feel that, in terms of the history of Takarazuka, “I’m right in the middle of things!” I was so moved, and I thought “Yes. Since I made it into this theatre, I have to make sure even in the future that I’m a person who can talk about that with pride.”

Also. This, this is really Takarazuka. Listen, listen!! (Ah! Read this, read this!!)

At the ending lineup, the curtain closed slowly from each side, and.

I watched out to make sure that the curtain wouldn’t hit the head of Ootori Ran, who was standing next to me, and Ootori Ran watched out for Kashiro Sakura, who was next to her, and then Kashiro watched out for Maho Shibuki, who was next to her… continuing in that pattern, according to the vertical relationships, everyone helped out everyone else. Each person with kind, sparkling smiles… As if it was the most natural thing in the world…

I was moved, so moved, super moved!!

This sort of thing, this lifelong, no, eternal, I think, continued attention to the hierarchical propriety, but not out of any grudging sense of obligation, is something I think you can only find in Takarazuka!!

On the first day, even though I was nervous, I did manage to talk a bit with the wonderfull senior student stars who were there. But just as I was thinking ‘Ah, I can sort of talk to these stars I admire properly now…’ the Adieu Takarazuka Grand Theatre event reached its conclusion.

Really… I wish it would have lasted a bit longer…

For those senior students, and to me.

The Takarazuka Grand Theatre was…

The home of our youth.

Although in these days, middle school and high school students might think it’s a bit ‘uncool’.

But. It really was.

My youth!!

You see.

As we were singing When the Violets Bloom.

All of the senior students had tears streaming down their faces.

Everyone’s eyes…

Gleamed brightly.

All we could see was the sparkling lights…

But the lyrics came to everyone’s lips perfectly.

And everyone wore a splendid smile…

That is what it is to be a Takarasienne!!

It might be strange to say that I felt it in my soul.

But, I felt like something just hit me in the face.

“Me too. I’m a lifelong, eternal Takarasienne!!” I cried in my heart.

I saw off my ‘home’...the Takarazuka Grand Theatre.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Takarazuka.

“I’ll keep doing my best!!”

As I stood in the spotlight.

Past that dazzling light were the faces of all the different people in the audience.

I had always tried to see them before.

But.

For that ‘Adieu~!’ to the Grand Theatre.

The ‘feelings’ of everyone who was there in that space that day.

Were somehow different from a normal performance, a really special sort of ‘energy’.

“I’m so happy that I am able to be here!”

That Mori Keaki was able to be a student of the Takarazuka Revue is something I will always think of with heart-felt gratitude and honor.

Also.

That I was able to tasked with the final operation of the Takarazuka Grand Theatre, the stage that knew the smiles, sweat, and tears of countless Takarasiennes, and contained the dreams of exponentially more audience members, is something that stirs immense emotions in me even now.

Even though I am leaving.

In the reborn ‘Takarazuka Grand Theatre’,

the history of Takarazuka will continue, on and on and on.

The 80th year is already in sight.

Kobayashi Ichizou established the New Takarazuka Onsen in the 44th year of the Meiji era. And in the 2nd year of the Heisei era, he created the Takarazuka Chorus in that hotsprings town, using a stage built in a municipal pool for their performances (looking back on it now, it was such an epochal event!!), then built the theatre, and in the 3rd year of the Taisho era the ‘Takarazuka Girl’s Operetta Troupe’ was established. The 3rd year of the Taisho era would be 1914. Amazing!!

If you try thinking about 50 or 100 years into the future.

Normally you would feel ‘Huh? I have no idea what’s so far ahead~!’ but.

That 100 years in the future.

In terms of Takarazuka.

Is only a bit more than the history that has already passed.

Don’t you think?

And I, Mori Keaki.

Was so, so, so, so (I sound like a cow now**) blessed.

To be assigned as the Top Star who would perform on the last day of that Grand Theatre’s operations. And, even more so.

I was tasked with the ‘stage christening’ of the new Grand Theatre (I danced Takara Sanbansou, choreographed by Master Dancer Hanayanagi Juraku, which had earlier been performed by Amatsu Otome).

And also, I was able to participate in the opening performance of the new Grand Theatre.

I appeared as a guest in the Star Troupe performance, starting from the night before the opening performance.

How blessed was Mori Keaki to be in this position, in this situation...

Therefore, therefore…

There is only one thing I can think now!

Since I was there at the end, and at the new beginning, I feel like I took all the souls that were absorbed by the theatre over its 68 years of operation into my heart and body, and conveyed them to the new theatre…

To be honest, when the last days of the former Takarazuka Grand Theatre were approaching, it seemed to be very sad.

Does it hurt…

Do you feel empty…

I would often try to ask it.

And it seemed that I heard it saying,

‘I’m just, just, so lonely!!’

But,

When we were performing Adieu, Grand Theatre, it seemed to have a really happy smile. The Grand Theatre!!

Therefore, I tried telling it…

‘It’s only as if you’re having some makeup done...well, a bit more, so a full makeover,’ I said.

‘Nothing will truly change.’

‘So, let’s keep going on together!!’

And…

On March 31st of the 5th year of the Heisei Era, Mori Keaki will graduate from Takarazuka.

Full of pride.

Fully aware of how blessed I was in my Takarazuka life.

And, keeping the same stage name, I will become an ‘actress’.

But, from now on,

No matter what I am doing and where.

I will eternally be ‘former Takarasienne’, Mori Keaki.

My time spent as otokoyaku Top Star.

The feathers, the disco balls, the shanshans from the finales (that’s the prop everyone will hold during the finales in Takarazuka)...

I’ll never forget the world I lived in as a junior student, and as a senior student, up until my graduation.

At the moment, since I still have so much work, the feeling that ‘I’m retiring!’ has actually vanished somewhere.

Knowing me, I’m sure the day will come when I take a bit of time, and just be by myself for a bit, and at that moment, ‘Ah…’

“I’ve really...quit Takarazuka…” I’ll think. And I’ll feel it very deeply…

But whether that day is near or far,

And whether I want it to come or not,

I’ll surely, always, be the same Mori Keaki.

If you don’t mind.

Even into the future.

Maybe you could check out this ‘Mori Keaki’ person.

To be honest…

I want you all watching over me… Hahahahaha!!

You know, ‘Takarazuka’ supported me until now, and I’m sure it will be the same from now on as well.

Maybe...even more!!

In any case,

in conclusion,

from the bottom of my heart…

I LOVE TAKARAZUKA!!

* Maho was never technically Top Star of Snow Troupe, as she retired before the system was made official, but she was the most prominent leading otokoyaku of the troupe at the time.

** She’s joking about how this word sounds in Japanese.

#takarazuka #OG materials #sienne: mori keaki #book translation #book: 120 darling

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superrichlads · 7 years ago

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about Niall: the solo era

HITS DAILY DOUBLE, SEPTEMBER 2016: ″Niall Horan is indeed inking with Steve Barnett's Capitol following another fierce signing derby… The word from people who’ve heard Niall’s record is that it’s outstanding.”

HITS DAILY DOUBLE, SEPTEMBER 2016: “Coming just after UMG’s A&R meetings in Hampshire, UK, Horan’s release is the first offering from a very important worldwide signing for the company and one of the top records of the meetings, according to many of the attendees.”

AMY WADGE, NOVEMBER 2016: “Niall’s a cracking writer, he’s got a great voice, he’s kind of got a Paul Simon thing going on, so I think there’ll be elements of country within [his album], because that’s what he likes, but at the moment he’s recording, and he’s smashing it, he’s doing so well.”

DON WAS, BLUE NOTE PRESIDENT & RECORD PRODUCER, DECEMBER 2016: "He showed up with a bunch of really great songs he wrote, he sings really well… He was thoroughly professional, humble and sweet. He spent time talking with all the musicians, hung out -- everybody loved him… He's the real deal, man. I'm so impressed with this guy."

CHRIS MARTIN, (COLDPLAY), DECEMBER 2016: “I really honestly feel that everything is a touchstone. Whether it’s Chopin or Niall from One Direction, if it’s good I’ll listen to it, and I’ll love it.”

JOE RAINEY, CAPITOL RECORDS VP PROMOTION, MARCH 2017: “I’m excited for what he’s gonna be creating, because in the few times I’ve met with him, that’s a remarkably talented man.”

GARY TRUST, BILLBOARD CO-DIRECTOR OF CHARTS, MARCH 2017: “Even if This Town is not a number one record at Top 40, it sound like to me, because it’s so intimate, I have a feeling that it’s a lot of people’s favourite song… it seems like it could really hit people on a really deep level.”

GOLF DIGEST, MARCH 2017: “One of the music industry's biggest stars—the first artist to debut at No. 1 on Billboard's Social 50 Chart with his single This Town late last year.”

LINE OF BEST FIT, MAY 2017: “Niall Horan's new track ‘Slow Hands’ wipes the floor with all the other solo sounds that have emerged since the demise of One Direction. It's one of the year's first proper Song Of The Summer contenders and sees Horan ditch balladeering for slinky riffs and proper raunch. He's shed his squeaky clean onesie and donned a crooner coat, giving us one of the coolest, catchiest choruses of 2017 in the process.”

BILLBOARD, MAY 2017: “Slow Hands doesn’t just put his voice in a bit of a new light, the grittier, funkier tune also presents Horan’s versatility as a solo artist."

ELVIS DURAN, Z100 MORNING SHOW, MAY 2017: “When we saw you, way back at - was it Jingle Ball, in New York City? And of all the people I talked to that night and interviewed, you were the nicest, you were the nicest guy. And I just wanted - I’ve been waiting all these months to say thank you.”

RYAN SEACREST, MAY 2017: “Niall, when he comes in, to me he has the most charisma of all of them… he’s got that, he’s super-nice, and super-normal for being in One Direction and having the solo thing.”

DON HENLEY, MAY 2017: “Niall is a solid guy whose focus is right where it ought to be: on songwriting. He’s got the Irish charm and a healthy, self-effacing sense of humor, which is an essential survival tool in this business. I think that Niall will evolve into a resonant, thoughtful voice for his generation.”

DON WAS, MAY 2017: “Niall’s got the stuff… He drove himself to the studio, carried his own guitar, stepped up to the microphone and was great every take. If they do the Desert Trip festival in 50 years, he’ll be headlining.”

STEVE BARNETT, CAPITOL RECORDS CHAIRMAN & CEO, MAY 2017: “The absolute top in terms of professionalism, thoughtfulness, work ethic and appreciating what he’s got. You’d be proud if he was your son.”

SHAWN MENDES, MAY 2017: “I’m pretty nervous in front of other celebrities still, but he’s so calm and chill… We just started jamming out, and it didn’t feel like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to be good in front of him.’ It was complete fun, no ego, like the reason you play music in the first place.”

ELVIS DURAN, MAY 2017: “I’ll never forget this moment, when This Town - when you first released This Town… this was the first time I’d seen you perform solo, and you came out on stage - Madison Square Garden, not a bad room… you came out on stage by yourself, you and your guitar, it was just you, your guitar, and one little light shining on you, in this huge, huge arena, and you sang that song, and I was thinking: this is probably the most pure, wonderful performance we’re going to hear in a long time. I still, I still - look, I get goosebumps. When you sung the song earlier today, it took me back to that performance… you came out and sang that song and I was thinking: this guy is it, that was it, and that was the perfect song to launch with… that song, it speaks volumes about you, because it’s such a gentle, wonderful song.”

ELVIS DURAN, MAY 2017: “You sound so fantastic that no one believes that it’s live, they think we’re playing a track.”

CLARA AMFO, BBC RADIO 1, JUNE 2017: “I’ve been saying to the listeners, I do appreciate the approach you’ve taken with your solo stuff. No shade to the other guys, but you didn’t really make a big fuss, there wasn’t like these big teasers, you just kind of slyly did it, just casual, you were just chilled with it, I rate that.”

TMRW, JUNE 2017: “For a man so adored and so blindingly good at what he does, he’s modest as anything. Except for golf, he knows he’s good at golf.”

TANYA KIM, ENTERTAINMENT NOW, JUNE 2017: “This Town is one of my favourite songs of all time. Ever. In the existence of music. I have to say it’s so beautiful.”

NOTION, JUNE 2017: “Having travelled around Asia and relocated to LA, Niall is more than ready to re-enter the world of pop, and he’s doing it with surprising finesse. When he released his second single, ‘Slow Hands’, at the beginning of May, the world was taken aback. It wasn’t some radical departure from his work in 1D, it was a more mature, nuanced version of that same guitar music meets pop sound they’d come to specialise in, and more importantly it was great.”

SHANIA TWAIN, JULY 2017: “He's really wonderful. He's very organic and natural... He's a sweetheart and we get along really well. We need to write together. I think that would be a really successful, creative time.”

JULIA MICHAELS, JULY 2017: “He actually told me he was going to cover [Issues] when we did a show together in Minneapolis and I was so flattered, and then when I heard his kind of organic approach to it I was like: oh, this is so magical. Plus, his voice is everything.”

STEVE BRAUNIAS, SPINOFF, JULY 2017: “Is Niall the best solo artist to come out of One Direction? Yes, yes he is... Life after 1D has seen Harry playing Jesus to the lepers in his head, walking on water in that endless video to his endless ballad, looking all profound and troubled and beautiful. ZZZZZZZZZZ! But good old Niall packed up his 1D bag containing a bottle of peroxide remover and got on with the business of making simple, awesome pop. ‘This Town’ was Niall as the sensitive singer-songwriter picking on his guitar. Follow-up ‘Slow Hands’ is Niall laying down a sexy falsetto to a sexy lyric, although it does include the weird line, “like sweat dripping down our dirty laundry”. There’s a raunchy version on Ellen featuring a cat on wah-wah guitar, and the one on One Love Manchester is even better – it shows Niall in his element, a relaxed cat in a hat, in total control of his art. If it wasn’t for ‘Bad Liar’, this would have been the best song of 2017 so far.”

RAISA BRUNER, TIME MAGAZINE, SEPTEMBER 2017: “For a small country, Ireland is on a roll lately bringing out talented, moody male solo artists. First there was Hozier. Then there was the grown-up Niall Horan.”

DAVE FAWBERT, SHORTLIST, OCTOBER 2017: “Niall, all round top lad who, in every single interview that I’ve read, has never failed to come across as anything other than a nice bloke. Having somewhat been in the shadow of Harry and Zayn in the band, his solo career has seen him move from unfancied outsider to the man most likely to be the biggest of all of them. ‘This Town’? Delicate, beautiful track. ‘Slow Hands’? Legit brilliant song. And the rest of Flicker, his debut album? Genuinely really really good.”

ZOE GILLESPIE, CAPITOL RECORDS SENIOR MANAGER, DIGITAL MARKETING, OCTOBER 2017: “talent hard work integrity respect patience hard work talent.”

CHARLES KELLEY, (LADY ANTEBELLUM), NOVEMBER 2017: “I think I may have to head up the Niall Horan fan club after tonight! Killed it at the Ryman... One of the best concerts I’ve seen in a long time, Niall Horan. Thank god for good musicians in this world.”

DAVE FAWBERT, SHORTLIST, DECEMBER 2017: “[Slow Hands] is an absolutely bloody brilliant song. Great groove, great chorus, an absolute giant earworm and no mistaking. And the rest of the album’s great too.”

KATIE LOUISE SMITH, POPBUZZ, DECEMBER 2017: [Flicker] is fucking brilliant and dare I say it, the BEST One Direction solo album so far... it was a bold move to dive head first into this ‘not-quite-pop, not-quite-rock, little-bit-country, little-bit-folk’ genre and many wondered if his fans would follow along with him. (Spoiler alert: They did. In their millions.) While you can clearly hear the influences on the album, it doesn’t sound like a who’s who of Niall paying tribute to his favourite bands… it sounds like a Niall Horan album. He’s not trying too hard. It’s cohesive. It feels genuine. It feels authentic. And you know what, it just feels right. ‘Slow Hands’ is without a doubt one of the best songs the year, he puts Ed Sheeran’s penchant for an Irish folk bop to shame on ‘On My Own’. Even his foray into country music with Maren Morris on ‘Seeing Blind’ had the entire population of Nashville inviting the Irish Prince round for Thanksgiving.”

CHRISTOPHER BUSCHER, ARTMAG, DECEMBER 2017: “[Niall] doesn’t waste time trying to be so edgy and so raunchy and just concentrates on making properly good folk-pop music.”

ANDY CUSH, SPIN, DECEMBER 2017: “No one expected the blonde and boyish Niall Horan to emerge as the breakout artist after the breakup of One Direction last year, not from a band that also included two ridiculously good-looking born stars in Zayn Malik and Harry Styles... but neither has released anything quite as good as “Slow Hands,” Horan’s sexy and soulful second single. He brings convincing grit to a track that bends the industry’s current fetish for the sounds of the ‘70s a little further from Studio 54 and closer to Muscle Shoals, with a simple but swaggering rhythm section and infectious blues guitar line.”

DAN JACKSON, THRILLIST, DECEMBER 2017: “Who will be the biggest star to emerge from One Direction? It's still too early to say -- post-break-up careers are a marathon, not a race -- but Niall Horan makes a convincing play for the grownup John Mayer zone on "Slow Hands," an acoustic guitar-driven R&B track about his skills as a lover.”

TAYLOR WEATHERBY, BILLBOARD, DECEMBER 2017: “Bringing out his sexy side with daring lyrics, sultry vocals and a thumping, bluesy guitar hook was definitely worth the risk, as [Slow Hands] landed Horan his first No. 1 Pop Songs hit as a solo artist, and set the scene for his debut LP Flicker to arrive atop the Billboard 200 in October.”

STEVE BARNETT, CAPITOL RECORDS CHAIRMAN & CEO, JANUARY 2018: “We had the support of [Niall’s manager] Richard Griffiths in buying into the idea that we’re going to be three singles deep before we release the album, and he’s going to go around the world three times and try to touch those fans. Niall is really a unique young man, who’s developed a great relationship with the whole company. He’s beloved at this label. There’s a vulnerability and an authenticity about [Niall’s music]. The band’s fans could relate to that. Those transitions [from boy band to solo star] aren’t easy.”

JOHN BIRD, FEBRUARY 2018: “[One Direction] was obviously an incredible experience for him, he got to see the world… I think he really embraced it, you know, his personality allowed him to enjoy it, and yeah, he just seems very, very happy that it all happened. I don’t feel any negativity towards it at all, and like I said, we’re just lucky to get a little part of that experience, you know.”

RON HART, BILLBOARD, APRIL 2018: "There’s no denying the Knopfler-isms of ‘On the Loose’, perhaps the strongest single off Niall Horan’s thoroughly impressive and organic solo debut Flicker."

LEWIS CAPALDI, JULY 2018: "I say this in a few interviews, but Niall Horan is the nicest guy I’ve met in music, just the way that he carries himself is ridiculous. He’s just so nice."

JOSEPH BRYANT, OUT & ABOUT NASHVILLE, JULY 2018: “Heartfelt and honest, Horan shows a soft, sentimental side. His maturity as a musician really comes through [on So Long]. Reminiscent of those best parts of John Mayer, Horan is making his mark as the smooth charmer the soft rock/pop genre this generation is lacking. He has a fantastic career ahead of him.”

GERRY MORGAN, 180 DRUMS PODCAST, SEPTEMBER 2018: “The first time I heard one of his tracks I was driving – a car, believe it or not, and it came on the radio – it was called This Town, and I pulled over on the side of the road and I remember listening to it and I went – that is a beautiful song. And I kept on listening and at the end the DJ went, in usual DJ fashion, ��and that was a little song by Niall Horan’, and I just texted him and said, ’This Town, I didn’t realise that was you, that’s a beautiful song and singing’. And yeah, it was a very innocent – not innocent, that’s the wrong word, there was a very pure and authentic style of writing there that I really loved from a songwriter that kind of really ticked all of the boxes for me. So yeah, I met him, we did a lot of stuff just the two of us, went out and did a lot of shows, a lot of promo runs and such, some studio stuff, and we had a really great time I’d jump at doing [anything with him again…] I was just really super-excited to represent him – I was excited because he was coming from such a pop background, like boy band vocal group pop to becoming a legit singer-songwriter, standing up there fronting his own band, with a guitar and a great voice, and he’s Irish as well, and I was just really proud and excited for people to hear what he was going to come out with – because I knew what he was going to come out with, and it was legit, and I just thought that people – other musicians and friends of mine were dubious because of maybe where he had come from, but I was like – nah, wait until you hear this. And the record has done so well, and I’m super proud of him.”

MUST MUSIC, DECEMBER 2018: “At the start of this year, Irish singer Niall Horan scored another success with Too Much To Ask, third single from his album Flicker. A remix of this ballad topped the dance club chart, and Niall also charted on Pop & AC radio. Many doubted Niall as a solo artist, but in the end he has proven to be the strongest – commercially speaking – of the members of boy band One Direction.”

RUTHANNE CUNNINGHAM, DEEP DIVING WITH EOGHAN MCDERMOTT PODCAST, MAY 2019: “I remember when they played me what they had started [Slow Hands], I was like: this is different from the rest of the record, not too far away. I knew it was something good, but I don't think any of us thought it would be number 1 on American radio or anything like that. But Julian was smart, he was like: OK, we have all these songs, but we need that one. And a lot of people have asked me about the production, about the way the vocals sound, and the way the instruments sound, and I really feel like Niall nailed it in the way of just taking that risk, knowing that it was a great sound for him, and not being afraid of that edgier sound, because he had done a lot of more acoustic-folksy stuff for the album. For me, whenever now I see it live and everyone's singing it, I'm like: oh, that's his song. And it's so hard, when you've been in One Direction, you know, you're like, are the fans going to be wanting to hear Best Song Ever or Story of My Life, but they're not, they want to hear Slow Hands. That's what you aim to do when you work with an artist, is to have that moment.”

JULIA MICHAELS, AMERICAN EXPRESS 5 DAY WEEKEND SHOWCASE, MAY 2019: “This next song [What A Time] I did with an incredibly talented human being from Ireland. He's the most amazing dreamboat of a person and I love him to death."

RUTHANNE CUNNINGHAM, MAY 2019: “I wrote with Niall in February, can I just say the new music is sounding amazing, I got to hear what he’s been doing with Julian and Tobias and stuff, it sounds amazing, and I think we wrote two really great songs... I love the songs that we did.”

THOMAS RHETT, IHEARTRADIO, MAY 2019: “We’ve written a couple of songs together, I wrote with him about a month ago when he was in Nashville. Niall is such a sweet dude. I met Niall through my producer, Julian, I got to meet Niall through him, and it’s such a cool friendship.”

MAREN MORRIS, ET, JUNE 2019: “Niall and I became such great friends. Our bands became friends on the road last year. I would love to write with him and do something in the future. He's such a great guy. He's a badass."

RUTHANNE CUNNINGHAM, SONGWRITER UNIVERSE, JUNE 2019: "Niall had such a vision for his album—he knew what he wanted the album to sound like, and he had this book of ideas. So as a writer, it was a dream collaboration because it was so easy for me to fill in the blanks for him. And we’ve been writing together for his next album.”

JULIA MICHAELS, UMUSIC, JUNE 2019: "The first time I heard Niall sing 'we didn't end it like we were supposed to' I remember just breaking down in the studio and he coming out and giving me a hug, the minute he sung it I knew he was perfect for [What A Time] and it had to be him."

CARA CROKE, THE WHISP, JULY 2019: “We appreciate Niall Horan for more reasons than one. He was the dark horse of One Direction, his solo album was a banger, he’s Irish (duh), and he’s absolutely hilarious on Twitter. Niall isn’t afraid to speak his mind online."

RUTHANNE CUNNINGHAM, JULY 2019: “Niall is one of my faves to write with because he’s very involved; he knows who he is as an artist – and he’s Irish, so we always have a laugh as well. It never feels like work when I’m writing with him."

JULIA MICHAELS, LADY GANG PODCAST, JULY 2019: “Niall's one of my best friends... we have such similar personalities, we're super stupid and goofy. If I had to be stranded on a desert island with someone, I'd want it to be someone I could be super silly with.”

BEATA MURPHY (KIIS FM ASSISTANT PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR & MUISCDIRECTOR) & CONNOR HATCHEY (IHEARTRADIO LA DIGITAL PRODUCER), ADD THIS PODCAST, JULY 2019: “'You know who might be in the studio that we'll hear stuff from soon? Niall.' 'Really? Oh, awesome! He was the 1D member that I— it wasn't that I didn't think he was going to put out music, but he seemed perfectly fine golfing & just chillin after they split. But then he ended up putting out This Town which was an amazing song and following it up with Flicker —and he's been like the most successful— ahaha yes! out of all of them. It's not that no one expected it— it's just that everyone put all their eggs into the Harry basket.’”

#niall horan #solo Niall #Niall has the best friends

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thewidowstanton · 7 years ago

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Tessa Blackman, hand-to-hand and acrobalance artist, Josh & Tess, Living Room Circus

American circus artist Tessa Blackman – who is from Chicago – trained as a dancer from the age of five. She specialised in classical ballet at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and also did tap, jazz and contemporary. She went on train at Chicago’s Second City and has also studied holistic energy and worked with InVision, a school of psychic abilities.

In 2016 she graduated from the National Centre for Circus Arts in London with her hand-to-hand partner Joshua Frazer. As Josh & Tess, their acts are an enticing fusion of ballet and circus. They are members of Living Room Circus and appear in its show The Penguin and I from 29 June – 2 July at The Dairy at Springhill Farm, in Forest Row, Sussex. It runs again on 25 July at Jacksons Lane in London, and the duo appear in Simple Cypher’s Cypher Stories on 26 July at the same venue during its Postcards 2017 season. Tessa chats to Liz Arratoon.

The Widow Stanton: Any there any other performers in your family? Tessa Blackman: Yes. My mum, Suzanne Lek, was a prima ballerina. My great, great uncle was Nicolas Legat, who was a really famous Russian dancer. He was kind of like in the beginning of the whole Vaganova technique. Back in the day there was the Legat School of Ballet and the Royal Ballet and they were kind of rivals. So my mum went there from ten to 18. But then Legat got shut down. She worked for the London Festival Ballet and then moved to Yugoslavia and worked in a company there. She also worked at Pineapple Dance Studio and then actually first brought Pineapple to New York. My dad isn’t a performer but he loves the arts.

Is your mother Russian? No. Our familly line is Russian but she’s actually Welsh… well, it’s all mxed up because my grandparents lived in Holland but when the Nazis invaded they moved to Wales, cos we’re Jewish. My dad is from Chicago, born and bred.

Did you always want to be a dancer? Yes. When I was five my mother was teaching and I said, ‘Please can I come and take some classes with you?’. There was never pressure. She never pushed me to dance but it was kind of, ‘If you’re gonna do it, you’re gonna do it well.’ Then she pushed me pretty hard, but in a good way. It was tough at times and I danced from five years old up until 19. I went to North Carolina School of the Arts boarding school for ballet and yeah, I always wanted to be a dancer. That was my thing.

So why aren’t you a dancer? Yes, exactly. When I was 18, I had a really bad back injury; I had a herniated disc and that was the end of my ballet career. I kind of took about four years out. All the doctors wanted me to have surgery but there was something instinctual in me that told me not to do it, and I said I didn’t want it. I did holistic therapies and everything I could and essentially healed myself over time. During that time I went to art school, started painting, did a lot of energy work…

Did you do acting at Second City? Isn’t it an improv place? Yeah, they have a five-level improvisational programme and I did that for a year right after NCSA.

What made you move on to circus? Basically when I was living in Chicago and doing all these crazy things, I started getting romantically involved with a Circus du Soleil performer, who was a dancer in Dralion. [Laughs] I was like, ‘This is awesome!’. I was going to all his different shows around the States and he took me backstage one day and I got to meet all the performers. I was talking to them and was like, ‘How do you do this? This looks insane!’ They were like: “Well, you can train your muscles just like you train your muscles for dance.” They gave me this conditioning programme that I started doing on my own.

Then because I have a UK passport, I decided that I was gonna buy a one-way ticket and move to England. I did that – it worked with our relationship because he was travelling everywhere too – and I researched where I could take circus classes. I found Circus Space, which the National Centre for Circus Arts was at the time. It said, ‘Degree auditons in four weeks’. So I was like, ‘Maybe I should do this’. [Laughs] I trained for four weeks and I got in, which I still can’t believe. I couldn’t believe it happened because I had only really been physically training hard and getting back into shape since my injury probably for six months prior to the audition. I did a dance performance for my audition piece; I’d never done any circus before, I couldn’t even do a handstand. [Laughs]

This is marvellous, almost like running away with the circus… Yeah, I always describe circus to people as like one of those claw machines at fairgrounds that pick up toys. [Makes a claw hand motion] Circus just sort of picks you up and you’re like, ‘Oh, how did I get here?’. Everyone’s story is just completely different. What made you choose hand-to-hand? I was trying a bunch of disciplines and because I had no gymnastics background I had zero upper-body strength. I found aerial quite challenging. Then I started doing acrobalance and me and Josh paired up and started working together. It was really interesting, because we were similar in size and I was basing him a lot and he was basing me, and I realised that actually hand-to-hand was closer to dance than I thought and it felt really good. And we were dating, so it seems as if my romantic life takes me in the direction of my art forms [laughs]. We just dove into it together and started training and we loved it.

Your degree piece, Bound, was so distinctive and really impressive. How would you describe your style? Where we started is kind of like gender neutrality and not being confined to our genders in the way we express ourselves as artists. So we wanted to bring in a fluid movement quality and not have that be distinctly feminine and bring in a raw quality and not have that just be male; how we can both move in-between that language together and display a woman strongly and maybe display a man femininely.

Since our devised piece we’ve developing a lot with the knotted ropes – Shibari – moving more towards this raw, more aggressive style at the minute. I’m seeing that Shibari is getting more incorporated into circus now, which is really cool [see our interview with Hanna Moisala]; the whole self-suspension thing, having it be an aerial apparatus. We haven’t explored that as much but we’ve been using more the harness work.

Would you agree there has been quite a move to having women as bases? Is there a point to prove? Yeah, absolutely. I think for years we’ve been in that space as women of trying to prove a point, but for me I like to think of it, in respect to the feminist movement, that we’re not trying to be men, it’s more that we’re trying to display our strengths. The difficulty is that people are going: “Oh, you’re just trying to do the man’s job.” But it’s like, ‘No, actually these jobs are equal and we’re trying to show you that we are strong as well, that we are just as strong, we are built to do things like that, too’. It’s like: “Female bases, what’s this?” But it’s super-exciting to see and everyone loves to see it. I think it’s amazing that it’s happening.

How hard is your ‘iron-jaw’ move? [Laughs] I think that like with every circus trick, it’s an illusion to a certain extent; you have the strength but there are ways of making it safe for your body. I would say it’s probably more like a neck hang than it is genuinely from my jaw.

You might be interested in the aerialist Miss La La… but tell us about Josh and why you like working with him? A lot of reasons. We’re basically best friends. We’re not together any more in a relationship so that’s been a difficult transition but the fact is that when you work so close with someone you become best friends. We were living together for three years, we saw each other 24 hours a day so I think my relationship with him is unlike any other I’ve had with anybody. It’s probably one of the most special relationships I’ve had.

The way I kind of describe our creative process sometimes is at times I throw up on the table and then he cleans it up [laughs, a lot]. I’m kind of like, ‘Wah, wah, wah, here it is, this idea, this idea’, and he’s like: “OK, but how can we make that all work and structure it together.” It feels like a good balance.

I’ve always loved adagio and hand-to-hand with the woman in pointe shoes. You support Josh on your shoulders while on pointe. It’s stunning but what does it do to your feet… [Laughs] It requires a lot of training with my legs. The strength isn’t all coming from my ankles, it’s coming from my entire leg, so I have to keep up on my physio with my ankles and then also the strength of my inner thighs and glute muscles so that the whole leg is working to lift the body rather than just my feet.

I’ve never really understood pointe shoes. Is the inside shaped to cushion your foot? Not really. It’s a really close fit but they’re made of papier maché and have wood around the block part. You mostly wear toe pads inside. Most people use cotton or little gels, so sometimes there’s a little bit of foam at the tip of the shoe.

What have you done since graduation? I’ve mostly been working with the Living Room Circus, which is run by Elinor Harvey. She won the Deutsche Bank Business Plan Award in our year at NCCA. We did our first performance together last summer in a yurt in Forest Row in Sussex. We’re coining ourselves right now as an immersive experimental circus company. We mix circus, dance, live music and physical theatre, with an emphasis on audience interaction and involvement. We’re working on The Penguin and I, which Jason Dupree is directing.

Tell us a bit about the show… We’ve been creating a series of scenes that we can then adapt into whatever space we’re going into. For the new show we have this bespoke sofa that we can use in different ways, to balance on, to hang from. We actually got the money to make it from a Kickstarter campaign, which was great. This coming week we are performing in a dairy farm again in Forest Row. We have the scenes all laid out and we’re going to see what we can do with the space. It’s going to be really, really cool. It’s Eli’s home town and it’s kind of like our starting place.

Can you pick out a career highlight or two so far? Right off the bat, I’d say how much Josh and I have travelled so far. We’ve been to Corsica, Israel, Belgium and around the UK, and that alone is pretty awesome and exciting. Then just working with the Living Room Circus has been amazing because it feels just like a circus family. It feels like we’re a bunch of kids making a company, because we haven’t really had that much outside help. We’ve had help funding-wise but yeah, we’ve created this family together and we’re trying to make it work and see what happens.

vimeo

The Penguin and I runs from 29 June – 2 July at The Dairy, Springhill Farm, in Forest Row, Sussex and again on 25 July at Jacksons Lane in London. Josh and Tess also appear in Simple Cypher’s Cypher Stories on 26 July at the same venue during its Postcards 2017 season.

Picture credits: Tessa’s headshot, Nizaad Photography; Josh on shoulders/iron jaw, Bertil Nilsson; The Penguin, Miriam Strong

For tickets for The Penguin and I at The Dairy and at Jacksons Lane, and for Cypher Stories. click the links

Twitter: @LRCircus @jacksons_lane @SimpleCypher

Follow @TheWidowStanton on Twitter

Click the links to read our interviews with Simple Cypher’s Kieran Warner and Christopher Thomas

#tessa blackman #joshua frazer #josh and tess #interview #hand-to-hand #living room circus #acrobalance #circus artist #Elinor Harvey #shibari #simple cypher #jacksons lane #the dairy #postcards2017

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joshuamshea84 · 6 years ago

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My Favorite Restaurants in Hong Kong

Updated: 07/04/2018 | July 4th, 2018

In the crowded streets of Hong Kong, one always finds street vendors serving delicious noodles, roasted ducks hanging in the windows of restaurants, fish tanks full of tonight’s dinner, and trendy eateries next to decades-old dim sum establishments. Smells of rice, fried chicken, and noodles fill the air as you move from restaurant to restaurant. Food is the grease that keeps the wheels of this city moving at a lightning-fast pace.

As my flight began its final descent, I drooled over the thought of all the food I was going to eat during my (fourth) visit. Within hours of landing, I’d eaten three meals.

Over the course of the next four days, I gorged myself every waking hour in order to create a robust list of suggested restaurants for future travelers. I’m pretty sure I gained about five pounds. But the food in Hong Kong is worth all the extra time at the gym. I can’t imagine the city without it.

Here is my list of the best places to eat in Hong Kong:

Mak’s Noodles (77 Wellington Street, Central, 852-2854 3810) – Mak’s is famous for its wonton noodles and is one of the best noodle shops in the city thanks to its tasty broth, healthy-sized portions, and cheap prices (less than $5 USD). All its food is homemade, and the service is quick. I’ve been twice, and slurping down those noodles is one of my new favorite things to do in Hong Kong. Besides the Wellington Street location, there are four other locations in Hong Kong.

Kong Restaurant (Alpha House, 27 Nathan Road, TST, 852-2366 724, wukong.com.hk) – Located on Nathan Road, the fried rice and chicken dishes make this restaurant worth a stop. I loved their pineapple rice, which arrived in a big portion, heavy on the pineapple (yum!). If you’re looking for a quick, light, and cheap lunch, this place is a good choice. Sadly, their noodles are mediocre in a city known for noodles (Mak’s is better).

Tsui Wah (15-19 Wellington Street, Central, tsuiwah.com) – This popular chain restaurant serves both Hong Kong and Western dishes, though it’s famous for its Cantonese dishes such as fish ball noodles, curry beef brisket, and crispy condensed milk buns. It’s always crowded but makes for great hangover food. If you go during peak dinner or lunch hours, expect a long wait. You can find locations all over the city.

Aberdeen Fish and Noodle Shop (139 Tung Choi Street, Mong Kok) – I stumbled across this noodle and soup shop located near the Ladies Market in Mong Kok while searching for lunch one day. The shop was filled with locals — I didn’t see one Westerner there, and judging by “are you lost?” looks from the other patrons, I don’t think they see many Western diners. The fried noodles were delicious and super cheap ($2.50 USD) and they serve a tasty fish ball soup. Service is slow, so be sure to flag down the staff when you want something. The restaurant will also seat various parties together to fill the table, so don’t be shy about sharing a table with strangers.

Yokozuna (466-472 Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei) – This is one of the best and most consistently good ramen places in Hong Kong. The restaurant only seats 24, so expect a wait for a table. But, for your patience, you’ll be rewarded with flavorful broth and noodles made fresh and served quickly. As a ramen lover, this place gets two thumbs up from me.

Butao Ramen (69 Wellington Street, Central, butaoramen.com) – Another world-class ramen restaurant. This small establishment is famous for its slow-cooked pork bone soup and “King Black,” a squid ink ramen soup. The regular ramen with basic pork and noodles are richly flavored. They serve a delicious miso-flavored ramen, too!

Sushi Mori (16/F, Circle Tower, 28 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay) – This sushi restaurant isn’t cheap, but their $45 USD lunch special gives you a lot of superb-quality fish, big portions, and an appetizer and dessert. They even use real wasabi (what you eat at most places is just colored horseradish). Sushi is always a splurge, but if you want to do so and make it worth it, I recommend this place. It’s incredible.

Shang Hai HK Restaurant – This tiny restaurant tucked away in Jardin’s Bazaar on Causeway Bay offers some of the tastiest chicken and rice in Hong Kong. Big portions are served by friendly staff on shared tables. I return here every time I’m in the city. Not only is it delicious, it’s cheap (under $5 USD).

Kam Lung Gourmet (Floor 1, Shop 29, Jade Plaza Shopping Plaza, 3 On Chee Road, Tai Po, New Territories) – On the same street and a couple of doors down from Shang Hai HK, this place also served delicious noodles and succulent pork. It’s inexpensive, popular, and open late. It’s a nice little hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

Tim Ho Wan (Shop 72, G/F, Olympian City 2, 18 Hoi Ting Road, Tai Kok Tsui) – This is the world-famous dim sum restaurant located in Mong Kok. Its three Michelin stars mean that everyone wants to eat here and, as a result, wait times can be up to three hours long. The food is worth the wait! (To avoid lines, come in the morning — dim sum is a breakfast food anyway.)

Chom Chom (G/F Block A, 58-60 Peel St, Central, chomchom.hk) – If you’re looking for good Vietnamese food in Hong Kong, check out this place in SoHo. It serves amazing pho with richly flavored broth in healthy portions. It’s a popular place among the Western expats in the city.

Din Tai Fung (G/F, 68 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay, dintaifung.com.hk) – Another very popular dim sum restaurant in Causeway Bay (they actually have multiple locations around the city and the world) that is packed all the time. They are famous for their soup dumplings and steamed pork buns (I loved both). The food comes quickly, the servers are friendly, and you feel like you’re in banquet hall because it’s so large.

Lan Fong Yuen (G/F, 2 Gage Street Central) – Located in the Graham Street market area, this tiny restaurant is famous for its milk tea and sandwiches. But come here and get their noodles and BBQ pork — they’re flavorful and more filling. It’s a popular stop with both locals and food tours.

Tuk Tuk Thai (G/F, 30 Graham Street Central) – Also located on Graham Street, Tuk Tuk offers the most traditional Thai food in the city. Their curry, papaya salad, and rice all taste like they were made in Thailand. Be sure to stop here if you enjoy authentic Thai food (and something a little spicy).

Lin Heung Tea House (G/F, 160-164 Wellington Street) – Located in SoHo, this dim sum place is popular with local Chinese and seems to have its fair share of regulars who just sit around and shoot the sh*t. It reminds me of a local suburban coffee shop where old-timers go. It’s a traditional place, so waiters come around with carts of food and you take what you want. Don’t expect an English menu, but locals and waiters will help you when they see your confused face looking at all the dishes. This place is great for families and large groups too.

Mr. Wong’s (10 Shamchun Street, Mong Kok, Mr. Wong’s) – A place popular with foreigners in Mong Kok, Mr. Wong’s doesn’t serve the best food in Hong Kong, but he does serve up unlimited food and beer at one price. It’s one of the most enjoyable experiences, with travelers and expats sharing stories and beer with each other and Mr. Wong himself! This restaurant is all about the experience. It’s my favorite value place in Hong Kong.

Ding Dim 1968 (Shop A, 14D Elgin Street, Central, dingdim.com) – Affordable and delicious, this dim sum restaurant offers both a traditional take and a modern spin on classics, as well as food that is hand-made fresh daily with no MSG, and great vegetarian options.

This list is just the tip of the tip of the iceberg for a city with thousands of restaurants, but if you only have a few days and are wondering where to eat in Hong Kong, you can’t go wrong with these incredible places that will keep you full and satisfied.

Get the In-Depth Budget Guide to Hong Kong!

Want to plan the perfect trip to Hong Kong? Check out my comprehensive guide to Hong Kong written for budget travelers like yourself! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money in one of the most beautiful, and exciting in the world. You’ll find suggested itineraries tips budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, and my favorite non-touristy restaurants, markets, and bars, and much more!! Click here to learn more and get started.

Book Your Trip to Hong Kong: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight to Hong Kong by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel in Hong Kong with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never ever go on a trip without it. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. You should too.

Need Some Gear? Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Hong Kong? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Hong Kong for even more planning tips!

The post My Favorite Restaurants in Hong Kong appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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vidovicart · 6 years ago

Text

My Favorite Restaurants in Hong Kong

Updated: 07/04/2018 | July 4th, 2018

As my flight began its final descent, I drooled over the thought of all the food I was going to eat during my (fourth) visit. Within hours of landing, I’d eaten three meals.

Here is my list of the best places to eat in Hong Kong:

Get the In-Depth Budget Guide to Hong Kong!

Book Your Trip to Hong Kong: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight to Hong Kong by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel in Hong Kong with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Need Some Gear? Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Hong Kong? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Hong Kong for even more planning tips!

The post My Favorite Restaurants in Hong Kong appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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theladyjstyle · 6 years ago

Photo

Updated: 07/04/2018 | July 4th, 2018

As my flight began its final descent, I drooled over the thought of all the food I was going to eat during my (fourth) visit. Within hours of landing, I’d eaten three meals.

Here is my list of the best places to eat in Hong Kong:

Get the In-Depth Budget Guide to Hong Kong!

Book Your Trip to Hong Kong: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight to Hong Kong by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines. Start with Momondo.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel in Hong Kong with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)

Need Some Gear? Check out our resource page for the best companies to use!

Want More Information on Hong Kong? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Hong Kong for even more planning tips!

The post My Favorite Restaurants in Hong Kong appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

My Favorite Restaurants in Hong Kong https://ift.tt/2IWNnAs

#Nomadic Matt's Travel Site digital nomad

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