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boujeeboutiques · 3 years ago

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Shopping in the past Style - It's Aberdeen City and Shire

michelle mea hoodies clothing If shopping tops the list of your favourite pastimes, plus Aberdeen City and Shire won't disappoint.From designer boutiques to a host of high street names, you'll locate all the labels and pinnacle character outlets you'd expect from a major city.The city has for centuries been the main shopping destination for a big catchment place, and a popular destination for European shoppers taking a weekend crack. With its striking skyline, historical obsolete town and impressive granite buildings this is a prosperous, cosmopolitan city.

The pleasing range of excellent shopping centres ensures that you'll always be practiced to locate exactly what you'on the subject of looking for and if it's something more exclusive or a tiny quirky that you'concerning after, one of Aberdeen's independent retailers will be skillful to meet the expense of that too.At a mile long, Aberdeen's Union Street is Britain's longest high street and is jam packed subsequently than than than a host of household names and high street favourites. At the upper encroachment less you'll locate the newly opened Hugo Boss, G -Star Raw and Cruise, along moreover premium stores once Jaeger and Jones the Bootmaker.

Cruise, which opened in the autumn of 2007, michelle mea hoodies clothing is one of the UK's leading independent luxury retailers gone a fabulous reputation not by yourself for designer brands, but as a showcase for well-ventilated spiteful edge fashion. Brands currently also-door door to at Cruise optional association Gucci, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Dior, Hugo Boss, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Fendi, Chloe and Jimmy Choo to state a few. At the bottom halt of Union Street, just past it meets the historic Castlegate, is The Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre.Right in the heart of the city it has a impressive range of stores and is the prime retailing place in Aberdeen. The biggest shopping center in the city, it is split into two buildings and has three floors extending to 630,000 sq ft on summit of two levels. Built in a serpentine touch to maximise shop unit frontage, it is covered by a barrel vaulted glazed roof gone a 90-ft high glazed field.

Flagship stores member in the works New Look and Monsoon, one of the largest in Scotland, a large Boots and Woolworths and shops such as The Body Shop, River Island, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, Ortak and Oasis. A auxiliary Costa Coffee will revive the most weary shopper, though the restaurants within the Upper Mall, John Lewis and Marks and Spencer, located at either fade away of the Centre, remain a poplar rendezvous for a casual lunch and a catch-occurring gone links. And of course, there's a Starbucks, taking into account an outside sitting place, if you fancy a spot of cafe culture. Just across from the city's Union Terrace Gardens, The Mall Trinity is a good, one floor shopping middle following about 27 stores including Debenhams, Argos Extra, T-Mobile, HMV, Superdrug, Waterstones and a large Primark.

Cobbled Belmont Street, known for its well-liked bars, cafes, and art habitat cinema, is with the location for The Academy shopping centre. Surrounding an Italianate style piazza, it has an excellent range of upmarket brands and individual shops, coffee shops, bars and restaurants, and the gate-space piazza is often a focus for alive entertainment throughout the summer months. Here the style living will locate independent shops such as Attic, AB10 and Concept, which specialises in casual designer-ware for men. A real style leader in Aberdeen, Attic is continuously introducing choice collections including U.A.R.M, Green Apple Tree and Six Pack. AB10 has anything from footwear to trappings, following many main stream brands including G-Star, Ted Baker, Miss Sixty, Replay, Firetrap and Gio-Goi.

Nicknamed 'Little Chelsea', the Thistle Street place of the city is the usual style quarter of Aberdeen considering a range of independent shops stocking anything from clothes, shoes and frills, in colleague in crime to avow shops, delicatessens, French bakers, florists and art galleries. Bellino and Hamish Munro both have excellent ranges of shoes by continental designers, and if you craving a dress for a big night out, attempt Frox - as soon as anything from funky to formal, it's evening wear behind than attitude. Esslemonts and Esslemonts 2 p.s. a stylish unconventional of menswear and women's fashion from leading brands such as Camel Active, Tommy Hilfiger, Remus, Hobbs and Turnover.

Verdict, along with re Thistle Street, stocks a broad range of really unfamiliar designer clothing and superfluities that are both wearable and attractive. From contemporary evening wear and fused accessories through to casual jeans and edgy tops, Verdict was named by style guru Caryn Franklin as one of the peak ten independents in Scotland.

For stylish, eternal designs Kafka, just not in the disaffect away afield afield off from the corner in Alford Place, has the latest from Armani, Burberry and Prada, even if Kafka for men can be found taking into account mention to Rosemount Viaduct.

Aberdeen's taking place and coming place, The Green, is residence to a range of first class bistros and colossal dining, and a number of trendsetting shops have plus opened in the place, including Coco Violet, designs for the cool and accepted. It houses an eclectic amassing of fashion for the girl that wants to stand out from the crowd, taking into consideration stunning items you won't locate anywhere else in Aberdeen, let alone the UK. For shoes subsequent to a difference find the money for a see at Fenner and Coburn at Netherkirkgate when an wonderful accretion of distinctive designs.

Meanwhile Zoomp, tucked away in Jopps Lane astern John Lewis, has a broad range of clothing covering unnamed casual to Jimmy Choo and Matthew Williamson.

If it's a retro vibes you'as regards after, head to The Closet in Jopps Lane for quirky, vintage retro - an Aladdin's cave of retro finds and one off pieces , or manageable Retrospect, which was recently featured in Vogue magazine, even though Vintage Phoenix in Chattan Place will tailor your finds to fit.

Jewellery, art and antiques

Aberdeen is not known as the Silver City for nothing - the excited granite buildings that make taking place much of the city are testament to that - however the city is plus the residence of some independent jewellers who can design that signature fragment to celebrate a enormously special occasion.

Family-owned Finnies the jewellers, has Scotland's largest amass of diamond jewellery - and biggest accrual of grandfather clocks. As ably as more than 26 watch brands, you'll locate unfamiliar gifts including silver snooker chalk holders. Jamieson and Carry is substitute intimates make a attain of, conventional in 1733. From pearls to pendants it's a true favourite gone jewellery lovers. You can even commission a special fragment to be individually intended and made in-house. Sandy Menzies Designer Jewellers push a constantly evolving range of contemporary jewellery. The design and production of commissioned pieces in precious metals and gemstones is also easy to use, even if George Kite on the subject of Holburn Street features a range of objector Scottish designers.

For antiques, head for the city's West End, where you'll locate Elizabeth Watt going considering reference to for Thistle Street, specialising in ceramics, silver and jewellery even if Rendezvous, re Forest Avenue, has immense art deco finds as proficiently as contemporary art. Thistle Antiques upon Esslemont Avenue is the area to go for satisfying earliest mirrors and lamps, and Atholl Antiques upon Great Western Road has character furniture and paintings. For earliest maps, grow Colin Wood upon Rose Street, who carries a definitely earsplitting range.

Gallery Heinzel specialises in contemporary Scottish art from its base in Aberdeen's Thistle Street. The gallery hosts occurring to 10 exhibitions a year showcasing the play a share of conventional and emerging Scottish artists. The Carby Art Gallery, in a contemporary art freshen, offers a unique gallery experience. Resident performer Ian Carby, famed for his vivacious landscapes and shoreline scenes, exhibits adjacent-door door to international and local artists plus sculptures, ceramics, jewellery and photography

If you'vis--vis searching for that special flavor that's a tiny bit every second from the unspecified, Nova upon Chapel Street has long been a favourite behind Aberdonians. Its combined have enough maintenance selection ranges from the cool and funky to the timeless even if Annie Mo's, upon Holburn Street and the bottom fall of Union Street, as well as stocks an uncharacteristic range of gifts along previously some beautiful furniture.

Markets

Aberdeen's Country Fair is a monthly have enough maintenance gone on zenith of 30 stalls of full of beans farm fabricate, local crafts, in flames-baking, food and beverage. The main vent takes area upon the last Saturday of all month and there's a smaller weekly report all Saturday at the Academy Shopping Centre. One of the largest markets in Scotland, it provides local farmers and crafters the opportunity to showcase their setting home-grown and handcrafted products. A typical Aberdeen Country Fair will feature everything from Aberdeen Angus beef, fish landed at Aberdeen and Peterhead Harbours, local fruit and vegetables, baking, cheeses, confectionary, Scottish whisky, wines and handmade crafts.

#dressing

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inspector-montoya-fox · 5 years ago

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#7 - The Black Chateau

Setting: this is surprisingly one of my favourite hubs from the game. this is Paris at its prime: the music, the details, the cafes in the street, the little boats, the whole aesthetic is a mood. yeah, there’s danger around every corner, but it’s still the most romantic city in the world and we get to explore it. even its nightclub aspects give it that turn of the millennium, euro club let’s do coke in the bathroom scene. the interiors in this episode give me life, honestly. stoney, candle-lit underground tunnels that are connected to the nightclub is so Scooby-Doo but also France, and the theatre-related interiors showcase a certain grandeur and stand out on their own. i’ll also remind you that this is Sly’s home. we never get a definitive reason or backstory on the gang’s switching from railroad car to that huge safehouse they couldn’t possibly pay rent for, but this new version makes an appearance in Sly 3, so it’s safe to say that this is the gang’s home (although the concept art indicates that SP had plans for something else: https://inspector-montoya-fox.tumblr.com/post/182678860237/inspector-montoya-fox-cool-concept-art-for-band). anyway, having the first proper episode take place in Paris is perfect for the tutorials because there’s the comfort of failing whilst being at home. and this is what The Black Chateau truly is: a tutorial. as jam-packed with action and bedazzlement! as it is, it’s a crash course. and it works because it’s a perfect hub for learning the ropes with Bentley and Murray gameplay. other than that, i’d like to add that Sly 2 takes a new approach with its hubs. instead of having Sly make his way to the baddies by literally blasting himself to their lairs via canons or rockets (...), the gang tries to lure the baddies outside. you’ll notice that Dimitri, Rajan, the Contessa, Jean Bison and Neyla all make appearances before their bossfights, the former 3 also coming into close contact with us within the hub (eavesdropping, following, pickpocketing). this all being said, the gang’s way of luring the baddies outside is altering the hubs and the peacock’s collapse kicks it all off majestically (we then move on to bridge bombings, shooting planes, demolishing dams, etc.). amazing stuff.

Characters: i won’t be referring to Sly and the gang like i did with Sly 1 except if they have a turning point/revelation, so the Characters section will mostly be reserved for the baddies and Neyla or Carm. nonetheless, i would like to acknowledge Matt Olsen’s voice acting because he perfectly captures Bentley’s anxiety when out in the field. and now..... Dimitri. where to fucking start? the lizard is a star. his sleazy posture, how he’s a gay heterosexual, how strongly i’m able to imagine his scent of cheap cologne and Marlboro Golds. and the crime of using a demonic, robot owl’s tailfeathers to print counterfit cash suits him perfectly. he might not be your favourite character, but you have to admit the pimp is as well fleshed out as Mz Ruby, and that’s all because of the dialogue and the voice acting. fucking perfection. the dialogue is so well written, full of his nonsensical phrases and mannerisms, he literally engraves his mark onto the player’s brain, like i can hear him talking about clocks or whatever at will. having him go first was such a good choice because he makes a lasting impression whilst keeping it very ‘neighborhood crime’ with the counterfeit, in comparison to global drug networking. as we’ll find out by the end of the game, he too played a part in the Klaww Gang’s plans, but having his own counterfeit sidegig (which he prioritised, surely) is so him. however, what never made sense to me is his power, that static shock he shoots during his bossfight? is he a mutant lizard? like, Rajan controlling lightning i get, Contessa mastering hypnosis i get, but this is..... what?? i’ll let it slide because of his sick dj mix but still..... and then there’s Neyla. she retains her mystique even if she gives us a reason behind her assistance. the whole thing hits different when you know what she’s up to because lines like ‘Now, legally I can't enter Dimitri's nightclub without a warrant... but I happened to have obtained a key to his backdoor... which a person like yourself can use however he pleases.’ come across as seductive and evil, and we watch Sly fall for it (all of it) because she knows how to pamper his ego. prior to her big reveal (the first one at least), the way with which she moves and handles herself has us think that she’s Sly’s female counterpart, and therefore competition for Carmelita (as outdated as that sounds...). Carmelita’s presence in The Black Chateau is muted, almost non-existent. she only pops up at the end cutscene and SP masterfully uses her absence in order to play up Neyla as a potential ally and girlfriend, despite my thoughts on Carmelita having a bigger presence in the Monaco extension which was scrapped.

Themes: the theme of duality, first and foremost. Dimitri is complete and utter gutter trash, but is supposedly a high-class artist as well. he’ll scream and screech but is also one heck of a host, even if the world perceives him as a washed out artist. the level’s interiors are separated into two categories: underground and non-underground. the underground parts represent Dimitri’s true nature, a sleazebag and a crook, whereas the theatre and the club present him as a pristine pimp and professional nightclub owner. the two clash because of their nature, stoney and shady rooms for crime vs grand and majestic rooms for art. duality can also be seen in the Sly and Neyla partnership, the birth of a (short-lived) alliance. Paris as a theme instead of a location, because of such a dominant presence. this is not just any city we’re in. SP respects Paris and this is further proven by the fact that it’s the beginning and the end of the game. the fact that it’s a catalyst belongs in the final episode’s analysis, but in The Black Chateau the city is also a theme because it embodies humble beginnings, the warm comfort of going through trial error whilst at home. and it’s not exaggerated and pushed into kitsch, à la Sly 3′s Holland where the cheese acted as trampolines... what i mean by Paris as a theme is the emphasis on art and charm, showcasing Europe (because Prague is also a European city but is used as a basis for the trademark spooky level). nighttime and pleasure are two that go together. nighttime is used differently in every episode, or location. you’ll notice that this is the only episode in the game where the night sky is the traditional navy, dark blue (instead of purple, green, red or baby blue as seen in later episodes). it’s a traditional night for a heist, nothing out of the ordinary. it goes together with the theme of pleasure because Dimitri’s establishment is a nightclub and defines the episode to a certain degree. pleasure is interpreted as danger disguised as oblivious fun. the nightclub isn’t the common criminal base and the funky pink walls and disco balls come into contrast with the threat of the Klaww Gang’s operation. even the gang falls for it, trusting Neyla without second thought and failing to pick up on the greater scope of things. they think of it as easy fun, joking around while on the job. lastly, the motif of lights. Paris is known as the city of lights and all of the hubs (interiors included) capture this. the opening cutscene even mentions ‘the flashing lights’. it circles back to the pleasure theme because it can be seen as a distraction and a malicious trap to fall into oblivion (yes, i’m a writer).

What I Like: i freakin love Paris. everything about the setting’s execution, its detailing, the music and the hubs. all of it. i love how the hub is a circle, allowing you to run around in an endless loop, the rat guards striped shirts and red berets, that water tower Bentley enters. everything is just so European and petite and cute, like a well constructed Playmobil set.

What I Don’t Like: hmmmm............... although i love the title’s enigma, i’d really like to fucking know what the ‘Black Chateau’ represents or is connected to??? also, i wish we could explore more of the nightclub? like while it’s open? the episode’s strength lies in its interior missions, the best of the bunch being Theater Pickpocketing, where we get to explore the stage, the balconies, backstage, the dressing rooms, etc. i fucking love that mission and wish we could get more, instead of Murray throwing rats at those annoying security alarm machines that just happen to be violet.....

Quote: either Behold the majesty of gravity and inertia! or I have no idea what you're saying. And your suit sucks or anything Dimitri says because... Dimitri

#Murray's pink so let's make the alarm machines violet !#episode project #sly cooper #i'd lowkey go on a date in this episode #have dinner at one of the charming cafes and then go for a walk in the streets before partying it out in the club #with my non-existent bae #:(

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sugarysweetsprites · 5 years ago

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ALL THIRTY OF MY ENTRIES FOR FAKEATHON 2020 COMPILED BELOW THE CUT

ROUND 1: HOMETOWN MONUMONK - Derived from monument, monk

did you know I like maybe four miles away from a field of 109 identical 7 foot corn statues

FAKEATHON ROUND 2: THE USA ROBINOX - Derived from robin, autumnal equinox

Round one was our hometown, and I did my current city. But my childhood belongs to Connecticut, so I wanted to do a connecticuter. The american robin is the state bird of Connecticut, and as a part of New England it has a colonial history, hence the style. A type of garnet is the state gemstone, hence the species name.

Mostly though, I associate Connecticut with the vibrant autumns. The falls of New England are magic.

FAKEATHON DAY 3: CANADA CURTLE - Derived from curling, turtle

Very simple this one. Canada has a lot of curling events, right? Put the CURLING STONE. On the TURTLE. and you get the CURTLE. Dudes in this other server I’m in really love this one

FAKEATHON DAY 4: MEXICO CASOLURO - Derived from first two letters of the cards it’s based on; el CAtrin, el SOl, la LUna, la ROsa

A very fun one to work on. These are based on those Loteria cards - Specifically, the sun, moon, rose, and the dandy. The 4x4 grid on the inside of its cape is a reference to the 4x4 grid of a loteria play mat. Just threw crap at the wall here and got this funky friend.

FAKEATHON DAY 5: BRAZIL CAPYERA, CAPOBARA - Derived from capoeira, capybara

Not new designs, so much as designs I really needed to give another go. Much happier with these. And frankly, couldn’t think of a concept more wholly Brazilian short of slapping the flag on them.

FAKEATHON DAY 6: FRANCE CHÈVAÇAY - Derived from chèvre (French for goat), Chevalier (French for knight), valençay (French variety of cheese)

F🥐R🎨A🍷N🚬C🥖H

I stole the grease type from someone in that fakemon server it fit this cheesy boy too well

FAKEATHON DAY 7: SPAIN POMEGRIA - Derived from pomegranate, bandurria

Typically tried to avoid the lady-in-dress motif, but felt too justified here. Spain is home to pomegranates, with the blossom being the national flower. The body shape was inspired by the instrument the bandurria, with the base of the body being a halved pomegranate, and her “earrings” being both the tuning pegs and pomegranate seeds.

FAKEATHON DAY 8: UNITED KINGDOM MEMORI - Derived from memento mori, memory

I could’ve uh. Had this idea at a better time huh :^)

FAKEATHON DAY 9: ITALY MEDITIVE - Derived from Mediterranean, olive

Tried going more off-the-wall, but it didn’t quite work. Based on olive branches clearly - olive oil was often used as lamp oil, hence the fire typing. I meant for it to resemble a nuns habit or monastery robes, a la Italy’s heavy catholicism, with the floating olive leaf circlet as a halo. It was… good ideas that didn’t come together perfectly. Probably my least favorite of the lot

FAKEATHON DAY 10: NORDICS MINKJAVIC - Derived from mink, Reykjavik

Look when I think Iceland I always think black metal. This is the second time I’ve done a heavy metal pokemon. The first one was more badass. This one’s instead uh A lot : )

FAKEATHON DAY 11: EGYPT DJEDLY - Derived from Djed, deadly

One of the easiest to draw for… obvious reasons. Based on a canopic jar, sort of like an off-brand yamask or cofagrigus. It’s meant to open up twice; If you take off the lid, you see the fleshy eyeball dude in the lower corner. And if you pull that like a handle, you see what’s inside… and die with that knowledge : )

FAKEATHON DAY 12: ETHIOPIA CAFFIEND - Derived from caffeine, fiend

Obviously hyenas live in Ethiopa. But moreover, Ethiopia is also known as pretty much the birthplace of coffee, and coffee drinking/making is important to the culture. So I thought, why not make a hyena that’s super happy cause it’s always super hyped up on caffeine? Dunno if the electric typing makes much sense, I just thought caffeine = energy = electricity

FAKEATHON DAY 13: MADAGASCAR TENROCK - Derived from tenrec, rock

Tenrecs are endemic, yeah, but this wasn’t just based on a native animal. It was based on the land of Madagascar - specifically, the gorgeous and incredibly sharp structures of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. I’ll post a photo above the art, when I saw Madagascar was a theme day I knew I had to base something on that park.

FAKEATHON DAY 14: SAUDI ARABIA MASQAREEN - Derived from masquerade, Qareen

This is based on the Islamic idea of the Qareen. People don’t 100% agree on what Qareens are, but they are consistantly considered to be spiritual doubles - Every person has a Qareen associated with they’re spirit. This is based on one idea, them as dark spirits who attempt to lead their companion-spirit astray. I chose them because even though they’re evil from the start - hence the dark typing - they can become good based on their companion - in this case, trainer’s - actions and whims.

Since they’re counterparts to humans, I thought having them mimic humans would be fitting. It’s body is ALMOST humanoid, it’s many pink extremeties ALMOST resemble clothes. It would be a zoroark like situation, where it could make illusions to resemble human.

FAKEATHON DAY 15: RUSSIA MATEESHKA - Derived from mastryoshka, tea SAMOSHKA - Derived from samovar, matryoshka

Fun fact, I actually used to collect matryoshka dolls. Have a whole box of them in the basement somewhere. So I felt I had to. I have a thing for designs that look a little snobby, Samoshka certainly fits that little niche of mine : D

FAKEATHON DAY 16: INDIA BOVIQUIN - Derived from bovine, palanquin

I like ride pokemon, and I like customizable pokemon. So I made one that’s both! It’s supposed to be based on the water buffalo. The simple colors are because it’s supposed to be customizable - As in, the fabrics hung from it (and maybe the markings painted on it) could be swapped out, so I wanted something simple as a base. Sort of like Furfrou, but the customization doesn’t wear off

FAKEATHON DAY 17: CHINA LONGRUSH - Derived from Long (chinese for dragon), brush, rush

I expect here will be a lot of chinese dragons this round, I wanted to avoid the obvious. But… this is one of the best concepts I’ve ever come up with. The second I had the mental image, I knew that was it

FAKEATHON DAY 18: JAPAN SPIROUS - Derived from spirit, cirrus, pious

This is a myth from both China and Japan, but I associate it with yokai primarily. This is based on Hangonkō, incense that brings forth the spirits of the dead. Hence it’s body obscured by the clouds - It’s literally being summoned by the incense it carries. In retrospect, this could have been an interesting pokeball mimic with different colors.

FAKEATHON DAY 19: INDONESIA WHALEEN - Derived from baleen whale

The Philippines are home to the coral triangle, a stretch of ocean that’s home to a stupidly large amount of coral life. So I initially wanted a coral mon… but it’s known for its reefs. So why not make the whole reef?

FAKEATHON DAY 20: AUSTRALIA OPALINE - Derived from opal, mine

One town in Australia I’ve loved since middle school is Coober Pedy. Known as the opal capital of the world, it’s a desert town that’s so hot, almost all the residents live in houses carved into the ground. Even many businesses and hotels are underground! Coloring was fun on this dude :3

FAKEATHON DAY 21: ANTARCTICA SOUTHAIR - derived from south, hairgrass.

I wanted to do something unexpected. So rather than do that obvious penguin or similar, I went with southern hairgrass, the south most flowering plant. Did it’s closer meant to loosely resemble any wet clothes, but since there are no Inuit populations to Antarctica, only loosely. It’s species, the 1000-to-1 pokemon, Refers to both its chances of survival and the fact of the body is comprised of many many blades of grass

FAKEATHON DAY 22: SOMEWHERE HOT - DEATH VALLEY HELINDRA - Derived from helios, indra

The reason I chose the Indra butterfly is because it's native to death valley. I figure, if death valley gets HELLA sun, why not instead of it living in spite of the harsh sun, living so well because of it?

FAKEATHON DAY 23: SOMEWHERE COLD - GREENLAND STUFFIN - Derived from storm, stun, puffin

I know there are myths that say puffins can bring thunderstorms, so I thought why not turn a puffin into a storm cloud? But uh. It kind of just. Is a puffin isn't it :/

FAKEATHON DAY 24: ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS KYTHURA - Derived from Antikythera, Urania

One of my favorite remnants of ancient times is the Antikythera Mechanism. It was an ancient Greek computer. With proper gears and mechanics and everything, that was used to plot the locations of the planets and the stars in stunning detail. This first go around turned out… not that great, I’ll be honest. But I wanna do something with the Antikythera Mechanism. It shouldn’t take TOO much tweaking to make this something I love

FAKEATHON DAY 25: FUTURE WORLDS COCOWATT - Derived from coconut, watt

One of my favorite images of the future is, instead of all streets having street lights, some having bioluminescent trees! I wanted to make something to that effect. Even though we have Exeggutor I chose palm trees cause they already have a street-lamp-like shape. Finally got to bust out my super neon pencils :3

FAKEATHON DAY 26: RANDOM COUNTRY - IRELAND AMANEELIE - Derived from amanita, unseelie

I have irish blood, so I wanted to do an irish mon. I took the idea of the fairie ring in a weird direction - when it extends its arms and the little purple "hands" touch, anything in the loop of its arm - the fairie's ring - will become hideously poisoned. Visually referenced the deathcap. Just like imagining these things in a secluded dense forest, floating along like swimming jellyfish

FAKEATHON DAY 27: THE OLYMPICS SYNCRA - Derived from synchronized, tetra

This is similar to wishiwashi, in that it's a schooling mon. But instead of it having a schooling form, it's ALWAYS in a school of five fish, constantly swimming in unison. Clearly based on synchronized swimming, I wanted the tails to be super long, so they'd flow all elegantly when they maneuver around. Kinda... power rangers in execution, innit

FAKEATHON DAY 28: THE OCEAN EXPLORB - Derived from explore, orb

The idea to turn the bathysphere into a pufferfish-like dude just came together really clearly in my head. I imagine their attack would be terrible but their defence would be amazing - basically, they aren't out to fight, they just wanna explore the oceans :3

FAKEATHON DAY 29: THE MOON MOOMOON - Derived from moomoo, moon

its the cow that jumped over the moon

FAKEATHON DAY 30: LEGENDARY CORRA - Derived from core, cor (latin for heart), terra

I figured, we’ve done every part of the earth this challenge… except the interior. So for the legendary representing the world, I based mine on the core of the earth. The body itself is meant to resemble the phylotypic stage of an embryo - the stage of development where most species are virtually identical. It cannot leave its lava bubble. At the center of its body is a heart glowing with all the colors of magma.

The FIRST person to make a legend of korra joke is getting slapped

#fakemon #fakeathon #fakeathon2020 #pokemon #My Art #Non Spritework

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steviestevington · 5 years ago

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all of them quarentine questions babe!😘💕❤️

Why thank you angel ! 😘💕❤️

1. Animated character that was your gay awakening?

Don’t think there was one

2. Grilled cheese or PB&J?

Grilled cheese

3. What show/YouTube video(s) do you put on in the background when you when you don’t have anything to watch but you want something on?

Uhh idk literally anything on tv I vaguely like if there isn’t anything I want to watch on

4. Your go-to bar order, if you drink?

I don’t ew

5. What’s your favorite pair of shoes that you own?

my electro threads

6. Top three cuisines?

idk italian, thai, chinese

7. What was your first word as a child (that wasn’t a variation of “Mom” or “Dad”)?

Neither of my parents can remember lmao

8. What’s a job that you’ve had that people might be surprised to find out you’ve had?

Idk I’ve only had 2

9. Look up. What’s directly across from you?

A window

10. Do you own any signed books/memorabilia in general?

A lot of signed bvb stuff and some stuff signed by american idol contestants from years ago

11. Preferred way to spend a rainy day?

Ohhh snuggled up to my boy under a warm blanket while watching some good shows!

12. What do you get on your bagels? What WOULD you get if you had access to anything you wanted?

I only care for cream cheese tbh

13. Brunch or midnight snacks?

Midnight snacks

14. Favorite mug you own

I have a bambi mug I stole from the disney store that I love lmao

15. What coffee drink would you describe yourself as?

None I hate coffee

16. Pick a song lyric to describe your current mood (and drop the name and artist!)

I ain’t got time for doing this one lmao

17. Fruity or herbal teas?

Idk the only tea I ever drink is snapple and it’s peach so fruit?

18. What’s that one TV show that you’re a little bit embarrassed to watch but you still like nonetheless?

My Little Pony

19. That book you were forced to read for class but actually ended up enjoying?

The Outsiders

20. Do you match your socks?

All my socks are the same

21. Have you ever been horseback riding?

Hell yeah

22. What was your “phase” when you were younger? (i.e., Mythology Nerd, Horse Girl, Space Geek, etc)

Ohh definitely dragons or owls

23. Have you ever been to jail?

Nope

24. What’s your opinion on Lazy Susan’s (the spinning tray in the middle of tables)?

Literally don’t care lmao

25. Puzzles?

They’re pretty funky

26. You can only have one juice for the rest of your life, what is it?

Mango juice

27. What section do you immediately head for when you walk into a bookstore?

The animal section

28. What’s one thing you’re trying to learn/relearn in your downtime right now?

Idk not much honestly

29. Who’s your go-to musical artist when you’re feeling upbeat?

Panic at the disco

30. Where could someone find you in a museum?

Dinosaurs

31. What’s that one outfit in your closet you never get the chance to wear but want to?

I have some dresses I used to wear but never do anymore but they’re cute

32. Rainbows, stars, or sunset colored clouds?

Sunset colored clouds

33. If you could own any non-traditional pet (dogs, cats, fish, rodents, etc), what would it be?

Wolf

34. Do you have more art on your walls or more photographs?

Idk it’s a mix

35. You have to get one meme tattooed on your body, what meme is it and where does it go?

It would be dat boi and it’d go on my leg somewhere

36. Pick a superhero sidekick to hang out with

Don’t wanna lmao

37. Lakes, rivers, or oceans?

Rivers

38. Favorite mid-2000s song

I don’t know when any songs I like were even released adfdfdsdf

39. How do you dress when you’re home alone?

T-shirt and pj pants

40. Where do you sit in the living room (we all have a preferred spot, and you know it)?

The end of the couch in the corner of the room next to my birds cage

41. Knives or swords?

Knives

42. A song you didn’t think you’d enjoy but ended up loving

Heathens by 21P

43.Pick an old-school Disney Channel Original Movie

Thirteenth year

44. Are you a “Quote that relates to the photos” caption-er, an “explanation of where I took the photos” caption-er, or a no caption kinda person when you post pictures online?

None of these lmao

45. Name a classic Vine

hi welcome to chilis

46. What’s the freezer food that you stock up on when you go to the grocery store?

stouffers meals

47. How do you top your ice cream?

I don’t

48.Do you like Jello?

Fuck yeah I do

49. What’s something that you don’t have a picture of that you wish you did?

Idk I wish I had much better photos of the Impractical Jokers show I went to years ago

50. How are you at climbing trees?

Pretty decent but not amazing

#ask #mortalkombatdeception

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fernscollective · 5 years ago

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A 2-day itinerary for Brussels 01.03.2020

With Brussels being in the centre of Europe, and so well connected, it is easily reachable. For me, this meant a 2hr Eurostar journey from St. Pancras, London. Upon arrival in Brussels, you are met with a typical ‘grungy’-urban, suburb district. The station is so close to the main town square, about a 25min walk, depending on how many photos you like to take, down Avenue de Stalingrad through Stalingrad district. This has a big Moroccan and Turkish influence which is really interesting and shows how culturally diverse Brussels is.

1. Take a free walking tour. These need to be pre-booked but I cannot recommend them enough. The volunteers have such a passion for the city; hence they offer their time. Their knowledge is second to none. Ours was booked for 11 and lasted until 1:30. I recommend tipping (5-10).

2. After this, you will most likely to be very hungry, and, depending on the time of year, also freezing. Head to Sainte-Catherine and eat in Ballekes. This urban café serves wholesome, food, with a big focus on traditional cuisine. There are vegan and vegetarian options also. I highly recommend the vegan meatballs with tomato sauce and sprouts!! My sister loved her beef meatballs, with cheese sauce. This area is very local and has a radiating, happy vibe, where lots is happening.

3. Next, head to the Melting Pot, a vintage clothes lovers dream. It is about a 2-minute walk away and definitely worth the visit. If you are conscious about the fast fashion industry, this is a great shop! The price is 15 euros per kilo. They had a huge array of jackets in particular. The shop was extremely organised and clean.

4. Now head to the European quarter, this is one of the longer walks but there is no point taking transport. By walking, you get to see so much of the city which you would miss otherwise. You go through the Grand Palais, up and through Mont des Arts, past the Place Royale Bruxelles in Koningsplein square and through Parc de Bruxelles. From the top of the park, head straight down Rue Belliard and you will be right in the European quarter. The transition to modernist architecture is fascinating, and the whole district feels both very formal and energetic. Today, head to the House of European History. Check before if there are any temporary exhibitions on and, if there are, allow more time. We went to the exhibition on youth movements during the 20th century which was incredible! The permanent exhibitions focus on the Cold War primarily, but also key events from science to the arts, that marked the 20th century.

5. We now headed to check into our Airbnb, located perfectly in Ixelles. I really couldn’t recommend this Airbnb for two enough if want to be right in the heart of a very local area. It gave us both a different perspective of the city, something we would have missed staying in the tourist traps in the old town area.

6. In the early evening, head into the local district of Flagey. There are numerous independent restaurants but what we found was a hidden gem and I cannot recommend it enough! It was called Takumi, they serve fresh, delicious Japanese cuisine. We tried edamame, gyoza, ramen and the chicken salad and everything was exceptional. Oh, and the home-made iced tea was to die for! The staff were so so lovely and friendly, which really made our meal. The restaurant is tiny, so potentially book if you are a bigger group, but they do not make you feel at all rushed. What’s more, the interior is insanely funky, with red neon lights, Japanese text and posters, so much thought had been given to every minute detail. It really was a perfect meal.

7. As a British person, it is easy to forget that most European cities are pretty sleepy on a Sunday morning. Brussels is no exception. Don’t be fooled by opening hours online, we tried to go into two cafes for breakfast which were both closed! Luckily, we found Fika. A chic, independent café. The coffee was delicious, and the brioche bread melted in our mouths. We were the only ‘tourists’ inside, and the vibe was very local.

8. From here, this is a great location to visit the Parliamentarian. This is such an informative exhibition, we both learnt so much about defining events of the 20th century and how the EU became the institution it is today. Both the Parliamentarian and European House are completely free, including the lockers and an exceptionally good audio guide is provided! Highly recommend. Also, don’t forget to go into the free photo-booth!

9. From here, it is only time to get a waffle. Our tour guide told us there are two types. The smaller, sweeter version (what most people think of) with many toppings being the Liège waffle and the traditional one which is longer. The traditional one is delicious on its own – which is what I tried. Our guide told us that the prices do not vary around the city, and pretty much everywhere has a similar standard. Due to the cold, we opted for Gaufre De Bruxelles, which, right in the middle of the Old Town was a bit a tourist trap, but they were delicious, and the smell wafted around the restaurant!

10. Can a visit to Brussels be complete without trying Belgian chocolate? Absolutely not! Head to Chocomuseum, a brilliantly interactive museum which tells the full history of chocolate, from its Inca origins to the industry in Brussels. Oh… and every half hour there’s a demonstration on how to make pralines… tasting recommended!!

11. For your last few hours in a city I think it’s really important to leave them free. Spend this time visiting anywhere you hadn’t already, or re-vising your favourite spots. Its these independent times of exploration where you find your own jems. Every corner has a different mural, with another story to tell. But if you’re looking for a place to start, try the streets of Matonge.

12. I don’t think there is anything more wholesome than a picnic dinner. Just before we caught our Eurostar home, we popped into one of the Moroccan bakeries called Boulganrie Tazaghine in south Stalingrad (on the same street we took to reach the main square on the first day) to get some snacks for dinner. The owners were lovely, and even warmed up our food.

This really shows how much you can fit into 48hrs in Brussels. The city is small enough to be able to walk everywhere which is what is great, as you are seeing so many interesting sights as you get from A to B. If I were to go back, I would however check out the Musée Magritte and Tich café.

#Brussels #travel guide #travel blog #travel #photography #fujitx20 #chocolate #explore #European Parliament #europe #world #fun #museums #history #culture #waffles

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artsistory · 6 years ago

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The House on the Rock:

Brandi and I woke up in the morning, packed a lunch, and made our way to Wisconsin. Wisconsin is like one big cow farm commercial. We stopped on the way for some cheese curds from a small cheese shop. The lady working was a real Dolly Parton type with big hair and bright pink nails. Her funky brooches sparkled as she nodded to us knowingly. “You gals havin’ a cheese lunch?” Yes, Definitely. Thank you ma’am. We squeaked on some curds as we made the final stretch to the House.

As we drove down the long driveway we were met by several of these big silly pots. We started to get excited, thinking that these were a good example of the fun stuff we’d see inside...oh how wrong we were. We walked into the lobby and were given our tickets and tokens. We hit up the bathroom first only to find it full of porcelain dolls. We quickly washed our hands and filled up our water bottles and started our long and wacky journey. In the lobby there was a self playing piano and I large sculpture completely lost in the low ceiling beams. We first walked around a small “chinese garden”. This is the face of someone who’s realizing she’s about to see a lot more garbage like this.

We could hear chirping crickets and cicadas buzzing... All coming from artfully hidden speakers. The first leg of the tour was a small exhibit telling the history of the house. Obviously neither Brandi nor I can read so we sped through. The next section was a simple tour of his house. Picture dark and dusty rooms all set into the ground. 5 1/2 foot low ceilings covered in dark rusty carpeting.

Every corner has a large hearth and fireplaces. Dank, dusty couches scattered here and there amongst rocks which jut surprisingly through the cushions at odd intervals all set into the ground. There are no lights in this place and it had the aura of something has has never been cleaned since the 50s. Which it hadn’t. [At this part of the story enter the largest, loudest, most infuriating family to ever exist. Made up of generations ancient to baby the sprawled large expanses of the space. The teens were running and screaming back and forth, lounging on musty couches and reaching over banisters to touch old books and art pieces.]

We crouch our way through the main house and end up at the infinity room. Known for jutting out over the landscape, seemingly supported by nothing.

I don’t have many photos of all the absurd things I’m describing because, again, nothing is lighted. The whole place is dark. We move on to the next section. A small hallway informs us that we about about to enter the Streets of Yesterday. Imagine if you can, a bad, dark, dusty disneyland.

Where the windows are full of garbage and old dolls and terrifying collections of victorian dentistry kits and full size mannequin horses.

Along the route are many music machines. These are what our tokens are for. We drop two in and suddenly a full sized train we hadn’t noticed comes to life as a bawdy jingle pumps out of barely hidden speakers. Instruments move as if they are playing the tune themselves... The static assures us it’s all a rouse. The next “room” houses a sculpture the size of the statue of liberty if she was tipped on her side. The sculpture depicts a giant whale with massive teeth fighting a giant squid. Birds are suspended all around it.

As you ascend the ramp leading several stories up and around this monstrosity you are met with endless displays of miniature boats. [Meanwhile the aforementioned family was screaming in the distance. We stopped for lunch to but space between us but as their yells echoed down the halls we knew we were drawing near to them once again.] The next hallway opened up onto another massive, dark room. This one features a dark sky full of suspended hot air balloons carrying mannequins.

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tumblunni · 6 years ago

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Man today was A Chore. I got some good stuff done in the end but the middle of it felt awful and im just relieved it ended on a better note i guess? I had to spend like three hours sitting waiting for a package listening to some horrid old ladies talk about how child abuse is great and all the flaws of modern life stem from the fact we dont smack kids anymore. And like..fuckin.. "Ha ha remember how we used to fail all our classes and lie and hide our grades because we were scared of our parents and do anything to try and make the beatings hurt less BUT NOW IM AN ADULT I KNOW MY PARENTS WERE TOTALLY RIGHT YES" And friggin discussing all these beatings and LAUGHIng?? Laughing about being beaten and about going on to beat their own kids like ha ha this is so fuckin normal and just the logical conclusion of everything?? Like these were GOOD MEMORIES?? Fuck man i was like that gif of the dude with the giant vein in his head it was SO HARD to just sit there and try not to hear what they were saying. I actually ended up buying like 20 scratchcards just cos i was running on autopilot and trying anything to distract myself. (Only wasted 10 pound tho cos i won a few quid along the way and lost it again lol)

And gahhhhh after all that waiting i just get told my package didnt arrive today and i just have to come back tomorrow! So i went home super depressed and had to try and talk myself out of it and yeah. AND THEN i get a phonecall from the post office literally right then, saying 'yo whoops the parcel arrived a lil late, come get it before we close'. It was kinda funny, like me conquering myanxiety self hateness actually summoned a good luck better resolution to the story?? And i rushed down there and managed to get the parcel and all the post office people were REALLY NICE,like they'd gone kinda mom friend on me from seeing me come in and out asking for this parcel for the whole entire day. I dont know either of their names but thank you nice red hair lady in charge of the parcels and scratchcard corner grandma who chatted with me! If i see them again another day i have to go into the post office, i'll be sure to say thanks!

So yeah anyway i FINALLY have everything sorted now to do my Lets Play of the new pokemon game! I probably wont be able to start it til saturday evening or sunday morning though? Cos tomorrow i have the Big Stress of meeting again with my estranged sister and hoping i can maybe repair our bond. I dunno how long we're gonna hang out or even what we're gonna do or if its gonna go well, aaaa!! And then on saturday i need to wake up super early and catch a million buses to get to a cool art class place. Maan its been a busy week lol!

Oh!! And the stuff of actual success today!! Cos yeah some stuff did go well before the big post office trashness, and i need to focus on that instead of the awkward middle. Big good thing the number 1! I met with my support worker and had a really nice meeting in the new cafe in the local library. She was just super nice and gave me a great motivational talk about how i was handling this whole sister thing really well and she was proud of me. She said she got my voicemail i left for her during the whole thing and she was really sorry she was late replying to it and she was really worried how it all went. I totally forgot i even sent her that voicemail during all the mess! So i just got caught up in the panic and forgot to call her back, aaa!! Im glad she knows im okay now! And we had a nice hot chocolate and she said she's also proud of the progress i've made in going out and being social more often, pointing out how when she first met me i was too nervous to go to this cafe and now we're havong a nice day here. And i was like "but thats not a very big accomplishment" and she was like "ITS BIG ENOUGH, BUNNI!!!" Dammnit what did i do to deserve these kind people? *sniff*

Oh, and then she also helped me learn how to post an international package and IT IS FINALLY DONE!! Summon-daze, keep an eye out for parcel number 1, containing 25% of all the books i have for you!! They said it should reach you between 5 to 14 days. Sorry its so long, it seems the christmas rush starts a whole damn month early! *sigh* And i feel proud of myself for pulling it off, it was so stressy and embarassing aaaa. Just the soul pain of asking so many questions of the post office lady and holding up the line and having to go back and forth and be like 'is the parcel ok now? No?' *awkwardly crabwalks back again* But now i know! And i can definateky handle it all better next time! And aaaaa i just really hope it all goes well and i hope she likes the books and i hope i can afford to send the rest soon!

And then also i was brave enough to go to the other cafe too! I had to kill a lot of time so i had a second hot chocolate at the other place lol. That one is more busy and standard restauranty instead of a small library place, so its a little more imposing. And i actually had a small sandwich too! Somehow eating things in public is one degree more scary than drinking a drink? Dont ask me to explain my anxiety lol, even i dont know! XD it was weird eating a sandwich with a knife and fork tho?? Like the lady just gave me a knife and fork and i felt too polite to say 'umm actually i ordered a sandwich so here have them back'. It was a toasted cheese so the bread was all warm and chewy and really hard to cut! Really really nice though, it helped heal my soul from all the stress. Oh and i tried an american root beer for the first time! Its so cool and weird! Like a slightly bitter/salty sweetness combo? And how it foams up like beer even though its a soda??? Thats so WEIRD AND NEATO!!! Oh and umm maybe i should give myself some points for making conversation with the post office people too? I was so awkward and anxietyish so i feel proud that i managed to articulate myself well enough to actually ask for my parcel, and then they were just so nice and tried to chat with me and i...vaguely managed to chat back, lol.

Oh oh oh! And also i bought a shoes! I shall officially dub them The Murder Shoes~! It was a really good deal in a clearance thing at the supermarket, for shoes that actually looked pretty awesome! These big neat boots covered in WAY TOO MANY metal studs and belts and awesomeness! Theyre like goth cowboy aesthetic?? I love them, i dont have too many professional shoes and these are that but also funky cool!

So yeah several good things happened but the bad bit in the middle was just so long and frustrating that it left me in a big downer mood where it was easy to forget the good stuff. Writing it out like this kinda helps! And also to remember i have stuff to look forward to for the rest of the week! And, well, more challenges to face, but i feel more optimistic now!

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thisfearlesslife · 7 years ago

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Solo trip to Asheville, NC

Since 2017 ended the exact opposite I thought it would, I wanted to spend the last few days of the year focusing on me and doing something I wanted to do. Me, by myself, taking time to do something I enjoy. So obviously that meant traveling somewhere new. I’ve actually been to Asheville a few times when I was younger but they were always family trips where I was interested in nothing but being an oblivious pre-teen child.

So here are some quick things about Asheville that intrigued me to make the ~4.5 hour skid from Nashville:

Beautiful, scenic Blue Ridge Mountains | Pisgah National Forest

Small city with a vibant downtown, cool music and art scene, intoxicating southern charm

Many, many breweries and local beers

History - Biltmore Estate

I loved Asheville because it still felt like home, just in a different place. I stayed in West Asheville, an eclectic part of town that allows you to experience local life easily. There isn’t much in the way of accommodations in that area (hotel-wise), but I found a cheap little Airbnb that was perfect for my stay.

I was a few minutes drive away from some cute and funky coffee shops, where I set up to work for a few hours each day before exploring. This one was my favorite, Odd’s Cafe.

I stopped at WALK to grab a quick lunch one day, a super cool spot in west Asheville that I highly recommend if you’re in the area. Good food, good vibes.

Just a bit of street art as I passed by.

I think my favorite place in Asheville was the Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar. Yep, CHAMPAGNE BAR. If that doesn’t have me written all over it...

And yes, I got a champagne flight. This is one of the coolest concepts I have ever seen. A book store, coffee shop, champagne and wine bar complete with cheese plates, pastries and desserts. A huge building with fancy couches and tables, fun artwork and an incredible wine and champagne selection. There are little nooks everywhere. It's like a labyrinth, no matter where you turn - something else opens up that you didn't even realize was there.

The bartender explained each pour, and said that one of them was what they drank on The Titanic. Whether that is true or not, it was still tasty.

Also, it’s PUPPY FRIENDLY. I wanted to take this place home with me.

The bookstore bar is located in the Grove Arcade shopping area, but I didn’t really find anything else that interested me, so I set out walking.

I found another cool bookstore called Malaprop’s, which was more of your standard (and sober) bookstore. I loved this section, where you could pick a book based on a set of adjectives describing the story on the front without knowing what it is.

Once it became an acceptable time to drink, I set out on a solo brewery tour. First up was High-Wire Brewing and actually was one of my favorites.

I got a flight to sample various beers and set up shop in a corner to plan my next trip. I liked the vibe of this place, though it got incredibly packed by the time I left an hour later.

I walked over to Burial Beer, which was referred to me by several friends.

It was cool, but the whole 'homage-to-the-dead' thing was trying a bit hard via the decor inside and extending to the names, but at least most of the art was eclectic and not as cheesy.

Obviously my favorite part of this spot besides the beer was the mural. Though I might be a closet Tom Selleck lover...

I stopped at Catawbra Brewing next since it was getting dark outside and I didn’t want to walk far. There is a seemingly endless variety of breweries in the south slope neighborhood of Asheville, and while this place was certainly good, I wouldn't say it sets itself apart from the others around the area.

I got up early each morning to hike and watch the sunrise at Mt. Pisgah, and my God y’all, they were so beautiful. Getting up before the rest of the world while my head is still quiet is one of my favorite things. I feel like I found a bit of peace during these moments I had to myself and I’m grateful for that.

I ventured over to the Biltmore Estate, which is one of the top suggested things to do in Asheville. My family went when I was a kid, so I remembered it enough to not want to spend money on the extremely pricey tickets to tour again, despite the fact that I’d probably appreciate the history more at my current age.

I had to stop at Biscuit Head, which was recommended to me by many locals. It was good, but not life-changing. Nashville has a mean brunch game so I might be a little hard to impress.

Another favorite brewery that was a bit off the beaten path was Pisgah Brewing Company. This spot was truly a hidden gem. Once you find your way to the taproom, you are transported to hippie paradise. Awesome outdoor beer garden, great music and of course some just solid, good beer. I made a friend at the bar and we shared stories of our adventures over a drink. One thing I noticed traveling solo here was it was really hard to find other solo travelers Generally, I will sit at the bar as an easy way to strike up a conversation, but none of the bars I went to had seating, nor did I see anyone sitting alone.

If you want a beautiful rooftop view for a drink, go to the Montford Rooftop Bar. I still cannot get over the beautiful sunsets. In a weird sense, it made me feel like I was exactly where I needed to be at that moment in time. Perfect way to end my last night.

Before I left on my last morning, I checked out the River Arts District. It’s in an industrial kind of area, not very sexy looking, but has been taken over by artists and transformed in an art Mecca of the area. It's fun, colorful, and street art is everywhere you look.

All in all, I really enjoyed Asheville. It’s your typical friendly, southern city and an easy place to go if you’re intimidated about traveling alone. I’m dying to get back into those mountains and explore some great hiking in the future. Some things I didn’t grab photos of were some of the music venues I hit up, but I highly recommend checking out some shows while you’re there! I heard some of the best old country picking and bluegrass. It was pure southern perfection. Some food recommendations would definitely be Curate (on the pricier side but sooo worth it) and White Duck Taco Shop, which was pure heaven post-brewery tour.

#asheville #travel #solotravel

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cheesebitsb · 27 days ago

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this was the first time I had drawn Sebastian so it’s a bit of an old drawing but I forgot to post it here too so

#art #fanart #cheese’s funky art corner #pressure sebastian #roblox pressure #sebastian solace

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callumpottie · 4 years ago

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Avenue south residences condo2

Whether you are browsing the chic Yorkville boutiques, digging through deals in Chinatown or discovering funky vintage finds in Kensington Market, Toronto shopping offers something for every type of shopper, from the most trend-savvy fashionista to the sharpest bargain hunter. Check out these popular Toronto shopping destinations and discover great areas of this amazing city at the same time!

Toronto Eaton Centre Millions of shoppers every year make their way to the Toronto Eaton Centre, located at the corner of Yonge and Dundas Streets in the heart of downtown Toronto. There are more than two hundred shops and restaurants housed on the four levels of this glass-domed mall, ranging from upscale retailers A/X Armani Exchange and BCBG to mall favourites like Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle Outfitters. A tip for tourists: visit the Guest Service Info Desk on Level 2 for a free city map and brochures on local attractions.

Bloor-Yorkville The swanky Bloor-Yorkville shopping district is Toronto's version of New York's Fifth Avenue. The main shopping area on Bloor Street is lined with one chic designer boutique after another including Gucci, Prada, Chanel and Burberry. The historic Yorkville neighbourhood Avenue south residences condo nestled between Yonge and Avenue Roads is also dotted with trendy shops such as Anthropologie, Jeanne Lottie and Vera Wang, as well as several funky bistros and bars. A tip for tourists visiting Toronto in September: this area is a celebrity hotspot during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Kensington Market and Chinatown Seeking a more eclectic shopping experience? A must-see destination when visiting Toronto are the narrow streets of the Kensington Market neighbourhood- particularly for vintage lovers and bargain hunters. Tucked between College Street, Spadina Avenue and Dundas St. West, Kensington Market is home to several vintage shops including Courage My Love, Flashback and Exile as well as hipster favourite Bungalow, which features retro home decor pieces and a mix of new and vintage apparel.

Just steps from the Market stretching up and down Spadina between King and College Streets is Toronto's vibrant Chinatown, which is lined with dozens of shops offering great deals on everything from clothing to housewares.

Queen Street West and West Queen West The popular Queen Street West shopping area between Yonge Street and Bathurst Avenue is packed with a mix of funky shops like John Fluevog Shoes and trendsetter favourites H&M and Zara, as well as dozens of hip cafes, bars and bistros.

Head further west along Queen past Bathurst Street and the bigger retailers give way to an edgier collection of boutiques featuring cutting edge styles by local designers, as well several art galleries and furniture stores. This area from Bathurst to Gladstone Avenue, known as West Queen West, is Toronto's Art and Design District and boasts the largest concentration of art galleries in Canada.

The Distillery District Toronto is a city with a rich past, and a visit to the Distillery District offers visitors a taste of the city's history as well as a unique collection of boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. Located east of the downtown core, whiskey production took place throughout the 19th century in the carefully restored distillery buildings, which now house some of the funkiest shopping in the city. From the stunning boutique Lileo with its organic lines and renowned denim collection to the popular foodie destination A Taste of Quebec which offers a delectable selection of artisan cheeses and other gourmet specialities, there is plenty of unique shopping to explore on the cobblestone streets of Toronto's Distillery District.

St. Lawrence Market Love shopping for food? St. Lawrence Market is a must-stop for foodies visiting Toronto. The Saturday Farmers' Market in the North Market has been a city tradition since 1803, with vendors setting up at the crack of dawn to showcase their fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables. The South Market features over 50 merchants renowned for their incredible array of meat, fish, baked goods, desserts and produce. Located west of Jarvis Street between King Street East and the Esplanade, St. Lawrence Market is easy to get to from downtown Toronto.

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easyfoodnetwork · 5 years ago

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How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Freezer

hutchyb for Getty Images/iStockphoto

There’s a technique — even a flair — to freezing food successfully

My mother is what you might call a culinary cryogenicist. Long before the crew at the Noma Food Lab grew their first flavor spore, my mom was experimenting with the effects of age and temperature on all kinds of foodstuffs: the last two bites of some mac and cheese. Four shrimp. One-third of a pork chop. Three matzo balls. Half a bag of green beans tied shut with a trash bag twist-tie. An old joint. Eight slices of rye bread. Raisins. So. Much. Ham. And that’s just the first shelf of the freezer.

It was a talent she inherited. Her own mother was a master of the freezer arts, best exemplified by the very same “tray of frozen shrimp” offered to us on every grandparent visit for more than two decades; it became a running family joke. As a member of the next generation, however, my family’s faith in the preservation power of cold turned me into a devoted freezer snob. For most of my adult life, my freezer has remained a sacred space reserved for only the most cold-hardy ingredients — ice cream, popsicles, those giant cocktail ice spheres, and maybe the occasional box of toaster waffles or bag of frozen peas. Meat? God no. Fish? Please, back away and leave quietly.

In my mind, freezing things ruined their precious molecular integrity by turning them into rock-hard cubes. Meat is normally prized for its “freshness.” In the fields, crops are carefully covered to prevent freezing, so why put them under such duress in your own home? Having kids a few years ago loosened me up a bit — show me one child-rearing American household a without a frozen bag of dinosaur-shaped chicken blobs lurking somewhere. But overall, for the better part of the last decade, my freezer has remained as sleek and food-free as an after-hours Apple Store.

But when COVID-19 hit I admittedly went into full hoarder mode. My diet, like my fashion, is dictated by my mood (it’s also why I’m a chronic over-packer). With annual memberships to Instacart, Amazon Fresh, and a handful of specialty grocers down the street, I’d become accustomed to getting all the ingredients to sate any craving within an hour of it hitting. Maintaining that level of spontaneity in the time of supermarket lines and impossible delivery queues meant stocking up in ways I’d never fathomed before.

Even with a family of four eating three-plus meals a day, the kind of inventory I was sporting needed to be able to hang out a while. And so, it was with deep reservations that I finally began freezing things — though the real miracle didn’t occur until I began un-freezing them.

First I tried a pork tenderloin, one of three I had purchased at Costco a few weeks earlier. Following the advice of the pros, I took it out of the freezer and put it in my fridge overnight, cooked it as usual, and it was… fine. Good, even. Next I tried salmon — I’ve had terrible experiences with frozen seafood in the past, so my hopes were low for the three rosy-pink portions I defrosted and broiled. But again, the resulting fish was surprisingly moist, fatty, firm, delicious.

After that I started throwing everything in the freezer just to see: ground turkey, chicken thighs. All were fine. Then I moved into pizza dough, shredded cheese, blanched vegetables; then on to chili, tortillas, pancakes, whole loaves of bread, coffee (while dry coffee beans won’t technically “go bad,” their flavor and aroma suffer over time). Pretty much every single thing I froze — and later unfroze — emerged as relatively unharmed and tasty as the day I bought it. (Notable exceptions included skim milk and some poorly wrapped steaks, and it took some serious trial and error with fresh greens.)

Now, as we go into week five… or six? of “safer at home” measures, my freezer has transformed from a sterile ice-storage facility to a clutch partner in culinary crime. Today the once-barren shelves are buckling beneath the weight of dated and labeled baggies and bins with enough perfectly preserved food to more than bridge the gap between bi-weekly produce box deliveries and masked-up grocery runs.

But as it turns out, my mom and grandmother were, in fact, artists — there is a technique, even a flair to freezing food successfully. Wrap something improperly or defrost incorrectly and you might not just risk the integrity of your ingredients, but also your health. So after a month or so of embracing my familial fate and becoming a frozen food convert, here are a few lessons I’ve learned:

The Container Matters

I know, plastic is the enemy, but those fancy glass containers can crack in the freezer. According to the experts, the best way to freeze food is in a vacuum-seal bag that you suction yourself with one of those fancy machines to minimize air (air is your enemy in the great freezer wars). I don’t have one of those — though I’ve been eyeing this one on Amazon — so I use regular old freezer-grade zipper bags and press out as much air as possible before sealing. There’s also a trick where you mimic a vacuum sealer with a drinking straw, slipping it in the corner of the bag and sucking out as much air as you can before pulling the straw out at the last minute, but I felt weird inhaling all those funky meat fumes. My Instagram feed has been full of ads for these pricey silicone bags that I hear work well but I’ve yet to give them a test run.

Either way, you’re going for minimal air exposure and some thickness barrier — a little cushion between your food and the freezer air will help prevent that dreaded freezer burn, a damaging mix of oxidation and dehydration.

Prep Is Key

For meat and fish, you generally want to remove them from their original packaging and re-wrap in individual portions before freezing. Wrapping each cut in an extra layer of plastic before putting them in the zipper bag adds another degree of protection. Timing is key here. Freeze cuts of meat immediately after you get them home, or better yet, buy them pre-frozen. There are entire industries built around freezing fish in a way that sacrifices the least in the way of flavor and texture, so trust the pros — they know what they’re doing.

Vegetables, for the most part, should be quickly blanched before freezing. The drag here is that in the process of blanching, they absorb too much water to get any sort of good roasty char later, but it’s a small price to pay for having quality seasonal produce year-round. Before you blanch, prep the ingredients the way you plan to eat them, meaning separating broccoli and cauliflower into florets, snapping the ends off green beans, and chopping greens. Then boil a big pot of water and dunk the vegetables in for about a minute before plunging immediately into a big bowl of icy water. This will keep them from continuing to cook and turning to mush. The next part is key: Dry everything as best you can. The more water, the thicker the tectonic ice coating you’ll get on every piece. Then put everything into baggies and freeze.

Fruit freezing techniques vary — it all depends what you want to use them for. No amount of freezer skill will recreate the experience of biting into a fresh peach after it’s been frozen. But for smoothies, pie fillings, baking, or juice, most fruit will freeze just fine. Bananas freeze great, peel and all. Berries you’ll want to rinse, dry, then let freeze on a large flat surface like a cookie sheet before transferring to bags. If you want to use citrus just for zest or juice, go ahead and freeze them whole. They say you can freeze citrus in wedges individually, but I found the texture suffers greatly after defrosting, and honestly I can’t imagine what you’d want to use floppy, deflated tangerine wedges for. Juice is no problem — just squeeze, put the juice into an ice cube mold and freeze. You can pop them out later and transfer to a plastic bag for easier storage.

The above ice-cube tray technique works well for all kinds of liquids and purees. I actually bought these cool molds to freeze baby food for my second kid, and I use them now for smaller portions of stocks, lemon juice, pesto, pizza sauce. For larger batches, I pour a couple of cups into a zipper bag, get out as much air as possible, and freeze them flat so I can stack them later.

Breads freeze fantastically, but as a rule pre-sliced is best. I started buying giant loaves of my favorite rye bread from the farmers market and keep them in the freezer full-time, toasting off individual slices as needed; my mom perfected a technique with bagels that involves slicing them as soon as you get them home, wrapping each half separately, and then toasting them direct from the freezer. Pre-cooked tortillas and pita you can just wrap, freeze, and cook off one by one, but my most exciting recent discovery has been in the realm of pre-baked goods. It turns out most doughs recover well after freezing, and I just made a batch of biscuits using this technique that has you freezing the raw, cut biscuits ahead of time and baking them off as needed. It’s opened up a whole new world of frozen pastry projects for me.

I’m sure there’s some technique to freezing cheese but honestly I just put whole hunks and bags of the pre-shredded stuff straight into the freezer. I don’t really freeze milk but the wisdom is that the more fat content, the better it freezes, so half-and-half freezes great, skim milk not so much. Coffee I found out you can freeze and brew straight from frozen, which is excellent considering it is an absolute nonnegotiable in my house.

*If you’re curious about any other ingredient, there are countless guides to freezing food online that will steer you in the right direction.

Don’t Rush the Defrost

(Even Though Sometimes I Do, But It’s Really Risky, Okay?)

The basic rule of thumb for pretty much everything is low and slow. Put whatever you want to defrost in the refrigerator the night before you want to cook it — sometimes longer for big cuts of meat — and let it come to temperature gradually. I do this... most times. But there is a reason your microwave has a “defrost” setting, and it will definitely speed things along if also putting you at risk of prematurely cooking the edges of your chicken breast. I’ve successfully defrosted smaller cuts of fish and shrimp by running the bags under cold water in the sink for a few minutes until soft enough to handle, but this is not officially endorsed by the pros. What you’re definitely not supposed to do is let your ingredients hang out at room temp until they defrost. I have done this too, though it is a surefire recipe for a bacterial infection and this is not the time you want to be running to the ER for dehydration.

The point is, the freezer might be cold and dark, but it is not at all a thing to fear. Utilizing it well has helped me maintain the kind of spur-of-the-moment cooking style that feels normal to me — a valuable thing when pretty much everything else about my life right now does not feel normal. Now all I need is a bigger freezer.

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/3ctLE4P https://ift.tt/3efkQXs

hutchyb for Getty Images/iStockphoto

There’s a technique — even a flair — to freezing food successfully

The Container Matters

Prep Is Key

*If you’re curious about any other ingredient, there are countless guides to freezing food online that will steer you in the right direction.

Don’t Rush the Defrost

(Even Though Sometimes I Do, But It’s Really Risky, Okay?)

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/3ctLE4P via Blogger https://ift.tt/2REXkcN

#Blogger #cooking #Eater #food #recipes

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courage-a-word-of-justice · 7 years ago

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Apparently there’s a bonus if you watch until the end of the 5th ep of Netjuu no Susume…I’ve seen it, or else I wouldn’t be telling you it exists.

I’ve rolled out the simulcast commentary tags for the seasonal shows that don’t have tags yet (aside from Netjuu no Susume’s replacement when that time comes).

Plus, as you can see in the title…there’s the Boueibu OVA in this bundle of notes, for completion’s sake.

Houseki no Kuni 3

That snail sure is a lively thing.

Really? A poop joke? Well, that’s one way to rub Phos’s new state into Dia’s face.

…welp, not much to talk about this time, I guess.

Houseki no Kuni 4

What the heck? The snail has a type???

This OP is lovely. Its best aspect is the visuals, though. It sounds kind of plain compared to even Saturday Night Question (Netjuu no Susume).

That snail makes a nice wig for Master Kongo, doesn’t it?

I’m listening to this show for the first time, and Phos uses “boku”, interestingly enough.

The snail's urge to go back to its home in the sea reminds me that lots of Chinese people go back to their country for Chinese New Year. I wonder if the same sentiment is involved in both instances?

The ED is nice, but not as good as the OP.

Houseki no Kuni 5

Watermelon? I feel sorry for the gem which has that name.

Ahh! These jellyfish are cute (and practical)!

“No getting all weak-kneed now!” – Says Phos, who’s got legs potentially harder than their body.

Houseki no Kuni 6

Trust exercises. I did some with some members of my anime club once. (Haha.)

I noticed the spikes were blue, so they might be Sapphire. It’s kind of like Rabbit’s necromantistry (Juuni Taisen), but…in a slightly different form.

Girls’ Last Tour 3

Kanazawa???? *thinks about King’s Game, where the protag and the author share the surname Kanazawa*

There’s some extremely glaring CGI during this episode. For a moment, you can discern Chi’s made of CGI while in her Kettenkrad.

Please don’t ship the grown man with the loli.

That’s some grim humour they attempted with Kanazawa. Kinda like Zetsubou-sensei (Nozomu Itoshiki).

Boueibu OVA

I almost wasn’t going to cover this, because it’s an OVA, but hey, why not make an exception? This may be the last time we Boueibu fans can talk about this stuff again…(Plus I think I’ll have volume for the entire thing if I hurry.)

Haha, the volleyball scene. Notice En talks first.

Yumoto’s being basic as always. *sighs happily*

Trump, eh? The word for playing cards is trump, but…y’know?

(about “graduating in a storm of cherry blossoms” and En saying it sounds lonely) I was just about to say that, En. However, that may just be OVA feels speaking.

Itsumo Ichiban? Rememer that guy? Well, there’s Itsumo’s brother on Kin-chan’s list. You can tell because he’s literally Itsumo Nisan. Geddit?

(about Zundar’s meeting with Kin-chan) The manga! It was correct after all!

Yep, that’s exactly how it went 2 years ago. In fact, I think it might be recycled content…(?)

Wombat speaks very formally. I learnt about keigo in the past year so I only picked up on that this time around.

The word used by Aki is “sad” according to the subs, but hazukashii means “embarrassing”, which puts a new spin on it.

They’re literally just using montages of s1, which is why I want Pony Canyon to bundle the OVA with s2. It’s more money, but for the consumer, it’s more worth it. However…having Bi…Egoism in an anime segment at all is new.

Akoya must be popular in the fandom. Either that or the staff are acknowledging how unloved he is.

Yay! It’s Star the VEPPer!

It’s good that each of these side characters is getting their own montage. Plus we’re getting official translations of the character songs, which is the best thing you can get for free when character songs aren’t distributed normally in most cases.

4th wall breaking! I guess you never expected that, eh? (Actually, you probably did, considering it’s been a montage for almost everyone now.)

(I love En’s little snarks in the middle of the song.) The only one left after this is Atsushi, right? Update: Oops, forgot Kin-chan. Sorry Kin-chan.

I never really realised Atsushi’s song was so hard rock compared to En’s more pop-like one.

“But do I really have that fire inside of me?” – I think I heard the song go atsui which is a real funky (in a good way) pun on Atsushi’s name.

Aww, they missed out in such a good pun! Haru went haru and Aki went aki. The translator didn’t pick up on that though…aww.

Whoa! Yumoto got all scary! Botan Yuzuru though…gotta look into that later for magicalgirlsandcerulean.

This (Spanish?) guitar reminds me of this track from The Dog Island.

A-ha! This is what you get when you translate the Japanese in the ads too.I was quite right indeed, although it really is the dang 132nd graduation ceremond.

It’s literally a button monster. Don’t wanna mash his buttons! (I bet you’re all groaning from my jokes, ahaha…)

Dadacha’s voice sounds kinda ridiculous now because Yasumoto is clearly using the deeper voice he normally uses for Zundar.

Notice the monster’s face is made from the character 高 (the first character in the Japanese word for “high school”).

Salty Sol is still salty after all this time…sad life.

That train station is the same one from the beach episode!

I’ve seen enough spoilers so I know where this is going…I already identified in the spoiler chat what Wombat is going to catch as a reference to a Kenji Miyazawa work.

This train is somewhat obviously CGI…

Spinach curry? When’d Wombat eat that?

Ths slideshow appears to be all the clean art for everything they’ve ever produced in the Boueibu canon! Even events and collabs!

“So wipe away your tears.” – I’m not crying, you are…*tear leaks from corner of eye*

I don’t recognise two of those pictures…(EnAtsu beach pic and a yukata one with the Defence Club on the roof.)

Oh…my…it’s over? Well, frankly I was expecting the fandom’s end in 2015…so, here’s to the future. Farewell, and remember: love is forever! Separations are only a new beginning!

Netjuu no Susume 6

That was a really bad Glico man in the back (of Koiwai)…

I think something’s wrong with my eye. It just gave off a few tears…(kidding tone)

Whose car is this that Morimori-chan is sitting in??? Update: It’s a taxi. Whoops.

I think Morimori-chan used the word douryou (colleagues, coworkers) instead of employees. The word for employees would probably be very different.

Nikunokiya??? (thinks about Kinokuniya)

(Koiwai goes Ai no chikara ne…) Boueibu reference…kind of.

Notice Koiwai said he was low on health in the text but he said zombie in the Japanese. That’s where Fruits de Mer comes in for Morimori-chan.

“There’s no way I’d say something like that!”

I think the cup this ED is new. Plus the headphones.

Oh! I spotted Morimori-chan with the medium length hair in the background of Sakurai’s bit of the ED.

There are some blurry pictures of Koiwai in the ED and they’re so hilarious!!!

So the ED actually evolves along with the show. Interesting.

Juuni Taisen 7

Rabbit stores his blades in his tail. That’s weird, but funny.

Literally, the episode title is “Dragon Head, Snake Tail”.

Dragon and Snake really are like the Beppus! I keep thinking that. I want a crossover fic now…

Tatsu = dragon.

I only just realised but…a naga is a snake. Nagayuki is the younger bro, isn’t he? Dangit, Nisio Isin! You bested me again.

150 doesn’t have any significance in regards to the number 12 now does it?

It’s Rabbit! Who’s not wearing his trademark booty shorts or high heels! Rabbit in a waiter’s outfit is really something, though.

“Hot guy”? Not by most people’s standards Tora/Kanae, considering he’s currently missing his head.

It’s tiger versus…aww. It’s not tiger vs dragon…

How can Ushii still talk after being strangled by Snake’s arm???

Whoa! Incendiary components are cool in Bond movies, but fiery liquid? That’s a step up!

Mahoutsukai no Yome 6

Admit it. You saw it in the next ep preview (unless you skipped it or read the manga)…It’s TITania time!

“She touched me for the first time.” – Elias, what a dork you are…

The birbs around Chise are so fluffy and adorable! It’s cute.

Geez, it really is TITania…these fanservice wiggles are destroying my Mahoutsukai no Yome experience…

Seing the Faerie Queen facepalm…is something else. *sweatdrops*

In the same way I want a koala sheep from Avatar the Last Airbender, I want one of those sheep bug things.

“Every creature of the night, including she and you, are my adorable little children.” – No wonder you have such big hooters, TITania…

A wild SIMON appeared!…Thought we’d forgotten about him for the rest of the episode. He would’ve made a better brick joke if his return were prolonged, y’know.

Strange question, but do priests wear pants?

Girls’ Last Tour 4

I’m listening to Ugoku Ugoku for the first time and it’s…strangely catchy…

That thing with the face is really creepy…

That thing is a stone statue???

“What IS cheese?” – Considering sometimes cheese tastes pretty bad, I don’t blame you for not knowing what cheese is.

Couldn’t they check the camera for what Kanazawa was doing with it?

I just saw the number 3230 on the camera’s inside frame for taking pictures (whatever you call it). That might be the year this show is set…

Notice the word for temple that’s used is jiin, a Buddhist temple. A Shinto version of that might be jinja.

Kanazawa was voiced by Akira Ishida? The guy who did Kiku (SGRS)??? NOOOOOOO! I missed a prime opportunity! I’ll have to go back for it later.

The ED is even more catchy than the OP. Is that even possible???

The camera breaks in the ED…that’s so ominous…

That post-ED scene was cute. A little bit.

Girls’ Last Tour 5

The slightly-electronic-sounding OP doesn’t quite fit the show, does it?

The phrase used was definitely ie dake ni. I’m not quite sure what that means, but…okay. I’ll just believe the subs on that one.

I wonder if Sentai is planning to dub these…I can imagine this show being dubbed.They wouldn’t need to pay too many VAs for it, for one thing.

Akogare is the word for desire or longing. It would be no surprise f there was an akogaru or akogarareru made from it as well.

Notice it’s “Yay!”, but with the word for house (ie) emphasised.

What is this fish dream, a metaphor for lesbians…?

The soundtrack guys must’ve had lots of fun striking cans or whatever.

I think this ED is different to the one last ep…Its name appears to be Amadare no Uta and it’s sung by the main VAs.

I bet the soundtrack guys hit a bell or two there…

Girls’ Last Tour 6

Oh no! It’s an Anime Scientist! Last time we had one, it was Shinawa (Kado), and you know how badly that went…

Interesting that the word for “takeoff” is “separation [from the] ground” literally.

Okay! I’m caught up to the weekly episodes now!

#simulcast commentary #girls' last tour #boueibu ova #boueibu #binan koukou chikyuu boueibu love!#binan koukou chikyuu boueibu love! love! love!#mahoutsukai no yome #ancient magus bride #juuni taisen #netjuu no susume #recovery of an mmo junkie #houseki no kuni #land of the lustrous #chesarka watches juuni taisen #chesarka watches netjuu no susume #chesarka watches shoujo shuumatsu ryokou #chesarka watches houseki no kuni #chesarka watches mahoyome #battle lover simulcast

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bites-kms · 5 years ago

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Chicago, that toddlin' town

I guess very deep inside I love it: I always end up visiting freezing places in December for a quick holiday before the actual big holidays. First it was Russia, then Finland, London and now Chicago. I must definitely have a fetich with the cold, because it’s really unbearable with -18C, and yet, here I am.

Chicago is cold, yes. But it’s wonderful as well. I can’t wait to come back during summer time. If I find it gorgeous already, I can’t imagine then. Winter isn’t that bad either: all the beautiful places you want to go, see and know are actually empty, picture-perfect awaiting for you and your enjoyment. Some rooftops get cold very easily but, there are other closed ones, surrounded by glass, already ready to fight the winter back, gifting you a beautiful sight of Chicago lights within the comfort of AC.

You breath and eat its culture. People are polite. The American flavor is present in every corner. It’s hard to describe a particular neighborhood or place; instead, you just have to wing it to discover it. If, as per my point of view, New York City is the heart of the US (at least on the East Coast), where the culture beat and rhythm is determined, Chicago must definitely be its lungs: the air is fresher, the city is cleaner, more tidy yet exciting, smaller but rich, more elegant and better taken care of, making sure the blood stream fluids hassle-free in this living being that is America. I mean, it’s called the Windy City for a reason!

A mix of Sydney, San Francisco, Singapore and Sweden (all of them with S - such a weird coincidence) with a dash of Toronto and Austin, this is a perfect merge of everything. What Yangon is to SEA, I believe Chicago is to North America’s East Coast.

Downtown Chicago, The Loop & River North, the main stuff.

Michigan St. is one of the city’s main arteries, it’s fully decorated, with its fancy boutiques, stores and hotels, charming the riverwalk and its surroundings. The sharp cold, the one that makes you feel like you are about to lose your fingers in any sudden bump or gentle touch, paints the city with a crisp white - still figuring out whether it actually came from my frozen watery eyes or the snow itself. Regardless, it’s indeed a charming Winter Wonderland.

Arriving from O’hare to any part of town is quite easy thanks to the CTA. I went off on Washington stop and walked a few blocks reaching my friend Gabe’s house by New East Park. A compulsory stop at Millennium Park, with a visit to the wrongly named “bean” (it’s actually named Cloud), the Art Institute of Chicago - awarded the best Museum in the World by Trip Advisor until 2018 for four years in a row - is a must. But what is even more important is to try Chicago’s pizza emblem: the stuffed pizza pie at Giordano’s. It has multiple locations, -the original one being at River North- and its menu is full of the good stuff. We went to the one by the Bean instead, and be prepared: it’s a lot of food and it will take at least 45 mins to reach your table. So don’t get fooled, try to hold on and avoid ordering appetizers, don’t be like us, if not you’ll get super full before the main food star. It’s rich and full-filling, the doe is fantastic, it honors the actual “pie” name it stands for, the sauce is delicious and the stuffing reminded me of the pizza rellena my Nona used to make, although with a complete different taste (ours was way better, coz it had bacon, anchovies and eggs).

After an evident food comma, be prepared to check out a wonderful sunset at London House, a hotel & rooftop bar strategically located on the intersection of Michigan St. and the Riverwalk, where you can be mesmerized by Chicago’s skyline. If you are visiting in winter, remember to drop by early (sunset in December happens approximately around 4:30pm), and if you are checking it out during summer nights, be ready for some music and fun until late.

A great winter alternative is The Signature Room & Lounge - a closed yet wonderful restaurant, located on the 95th and 96th floor of one of Chicago’s tallest building. A reminiscence of the Hyatt Hotel in Tokyo and a flashback to Charlotte’s wondering sights at the massive windows in Lost in Translation happens when you first face those monumental glasses, while being charmed by Chicago’s lights and movement. From 5 to 7 there’s a very convenient happy hour, so be mindful to check it out: Prosecco for me, Old Fashion for Gabe. Another incredible talk for our memories.

Right next to it, you can find The Drake Hotel, now owned by Hilton, also known as the place where Al Capone lived here in Chicago.

When it comes to dinner, man, you’re in a pickle! Chicago is known for its food scene and for a reason. It’s foodie’s heaven. Thankfully, talking with locals, residents and cross-checking with blogs and seasonal magazines, I can undoubtedly say that The Purple Pig is the place to go. Mediterranean cuisine with a twist, with a wonderful collection of wines and charcuterie. We shared three delicious dishes: whipped feta with honey and sweet heirloom tomatoes, butternut squash with peanut butter and adobo, to finally wrap it up with an exquisite Spanish grilled octopus with potatoes and pesto greens, which made us end up with no extra room for dessert - my friend Belu would be so disappointed on me.

Right across the street, you can take some pictures at the Intercontinental Hotel, which hosts Michael Jordan Steakhouse (not a biggie, but it’s kind of funny that this legend, Mike 23, has a restaurant on his own). Wrap up your night with some blues. Walk down the area to find your favorite bar, hopefully one with no or little cover fee. We went to Blue Chicago ($10 bucks), grab a IPA Goose Island beer (the local brew) and enjoy some tunes. It was really amazing - I could listen to this music all day long.

Up North: Old Town, Wicker Park & Longan Park, the cool stuff.

Head up to Old Town, near Lincoln Park. Take the brown line (if you manage to activate your CTA card, it’s not an easy task if you don’t have a US phone number) and travel 4 long stops. This neighborhood holds St Michael’s Church, one of only seven buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Start your tour over there, and check out the beautiful architecture that surrounds it. It’s an extremely weird merge of modern and old buildings and styles, with some very well preserved gems. Same happens downtown. I guess that after the fire, the city really focused on keeping its charm as untouched as possible. And damn they are doing a great of a job at it!

Up there, one of the main roads - which is also a National highway - is North Wells Street (IL-64 Route, oh well hello New York’s BQE deja vu!) and check out Second City, an iconic Comedy Club and Theater in the US - thanks Juan for the tip!-. It started as a small cabaret theater nearly 60 years ago and has since become the world’s premier name in improv-based sketch comedy and education. Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Bill Murray and Mike Myers are just some of the name-dropping figures that appear as their alumni.

Right in front of it, there’s Foxtrot Cafe, a wonderful and warm place where to have breakfast. It’s iconic spicy chicken biscuit is a must, and you can pair it with the coffee of your choice. Almond cap for me. After some needed calories to fight the -8C temperature, I headed east to Wicker Park.

What a wonderful place. It’s dodgy, ruined down and hipster-looking. It is truly fantastic. The best of British’s Shoreditch with the untapped, gritted vibe of Brooklyn’s Bushwick or Flatbush, with the crazy look of Seattle’s Pike/Pine-Capitol’s Hill. This is where High Fidelity (2000s, John Cusack in a record store movie) was shot. Gentrification is the hype word you’ll hear, but still, Wicker Park remains a vibrant hub of culture and commerce in Chicago, riddled with boutiques, restaurants, cocktail bars, concerts venues and condos. It’s main area is located around the six corners of Milwaukee, North and Damen Avenues.

Starting from Milwaukee Ave. South, make a compulsory stop by Myopic Books, a nerdy paradise for all second-hand book fans. Continue your literally hunt down by Milwaukee Av and rejoice at Volume’s Book, get the warm hot cocoa you were craving for while writing your travel blog post about Chicago or read a new book instead. For a more funky venue, walk down a few more steps to find The Wormhole, Chicago’s most visited coffee shop.

The Wormhole is a place very hard to define, so I will just say that is an '80s-themed rustic coffee shop, complete with a DeLorean, pouring locally roasted coffee. It’s a fun place with great music and even better wifi. It’s easily and strategically located before arriving to some of greatest stores by Milwaukee Ave. Make some time to check out all the fantastic the second hand, vintage and thrift shops like Kokoroko, Free People, & or if you prefer, stop by Reckless Records for some great music discounts.

Make yourself some time to check it by night as well, you can have fun at Emporium, the great arcade place or even have a drink or two at Davenport’s, the great piano bar and cabaret.

The best place - and most iconic one - to have a cozy, all-time-classic lunch is Dove’s Lunchonette, inspired in old ‘60s and ‘70s Chicago’s soul and blues. It’s really fantastic. Becky (almost certain that was her name) is the great waitress that will recommend you all the goodness available in the menu and refill your coffee or tea, always with her laugh and great vibe. Make sure to appreciate the tunes and the environment, it’s a great memory from this city. A delicious poblano pepper filled with chicken and cheese, deep fried in delicious crumbles, topping a side of mexican rice with house, home-made spicy sauce. Yummy.

Continue your exploration heading towards Logan Place, where more cool stores like tattoo parlors and skate stores are located. Don’t miss out on the street art scene and the 606, the Chicago’s Highline. Make a stop at the “Greetings from Chicago” mural and don’t hesitate to refuel at Colectivo Coffee, a great place where co-working and coffee brewery merges.

Going West: Fulton Market, Greek Town and West Loop

This is THE place to eat. All of Chicago’s top restaurants are here, even the ones that have their venues by the riverwalk, they know they need to be here as well. We tried out luck at Au Cheval, named the best burger in America for a while, but it comes with a cost: an hour and a half waiting queue. Instead of getting our burger treat, with it’s typical knife on top, resembling some kind of conquest your stomach is about to achieve and colonize, we decided to give Green Street Smoked Meats a chance. This is one of Gabe’s favorite spots in Fulton Market, and it’s a nice and fancier Texas Smokehouse. Communal, big tables, great music and vibe, where to find delicious BBQ, even better brisket which we tried to tuned down with healthier sides such as yummy broccoli salad as well as the traditional pickle cabbage one, are there to ignite your night.

The Green Door Tavern is an awesome tip my parents gave me. Apparently, it was vox populi back in the ‘20s that the establishments that had a green door, hosted a speakeasy inside and did not respect the prohibition rules of no-alcohol. So, let’s party like it’s 1921 and enjoy a drink or two in here! Once you enter, it just look like a regular, sports and antique bar, where memorabilia and Irish Pub look-and-feel rules the place. Yet, do not despair: head to the back, go down the stairs and before reaching the bathroom, try to listen to the music. A wall, a tricky one, hidden behind a books and ornaments shelf, you shall find Heaven’s door. A funky, old school, hour-o-clock-show bar, where to enjoy strong cocktails, and around the clock shows. Music, magic or, it’s signature event: burlesque. After choosing your drink from a very unique tarot-card-like menu, indulge yourself in the ‘20s era with the surprise show and the old-school videos played on the stage curtains. It’s a fantastic experience!

Visit the Hoxton hotel (always beautiful, never disappointing according to my experiences in Brooklyn, Paris and now Chicago) and head up to it’s rooftop restaurant Cabra - a Peruvian fusion delight. Great for brunch or lunch, we indulged on it’s sample menu and enjoyed some fresh guac and chips, a pulled pork belly sandwich, a tuna tiradito, goat empanadas and some delicious mango and chocolate dessert. It was a perfect Thursday food-comma.

Before leaving Fulton Market, walk around and visit the brand new Time’s Out Market. Contrary to the Hoxton experience, Time’s Out is a great content platform with great venues around the world. Although, no market is as nice and as delicious as the Lisbon one. It was the first Time’s Out market they launched, and although I’ve visited some others like New York’s or Chicago’s, they do not manage to create the same vibe and atmosphere you can find in Lisbon. Chicago’s one is nice and you can find top names such as The Purple Pig and so on, but maybe you wanna give some of the surrounding restaurants a try before choosing Time’s Out Market.

Wrap it up by Navy Pier & a bis on the Riverwalk

While my stayed in the Windy City was coming to an end, I went to the Navy Pier for sunset to be wonder by the Michigan Lake and its view. We also walked down again the main road and visited The Protein Bar, a healthy venue were wraps and juices are top notch and you with your purchase you contribute to a local start-up. You can also check out a top view of the Bean and the Millennial park at Cindy’s, the rooftop of Chicago’s Athletic Association. Visit the Public Library and imagine yourself studying at the same booths or with the same texts Obama once did. Have a coffee by the Theater District at Goddess and the Baker.

Head to Nonnina for some yummy Italian and even better service. We had some wine, pasta and salmon to celebrate my last night in the city. Call it a day by visiting another Varela’s Family recommendation and favorite: The Redhead Piano Bar. This energetic, fun and light-hearted venue is a fantastic spot where to drink your sorrows away, sing your heart out and laugh as hard as you can. The talented crew at the piano and mic will sing your requests for tips and will cheer and entertain your night with fine tunes, Chicago’s stories and public interaction that will certainly lift any night and place a unique bow on your unique Chicago Farewell.

4 days in Chicago is not enough, specially if the cold forces you to be inside. I guess the same applies in summer: it wont be enough either due to the outdoor activities the city will offer. Next time I will drive a little bit uptown heading to Superdawn, the traditional and well known Chicago sausage drive thru. I would also love to visit Manny’s Place, a traditional deli that’s been around for quite a while now, as well as to Kingston Mines, the traditional blues bar near Lincoln Park and Zoo -which we did actually go but too early for a show- as well as another fun and very hard to find ( I need to research a little bit more) tiki-bar speakeasy called three dots and a dash. Chicago, you’ve been awesome - I’ll be back!

#usa #chicago #illinois #travel #food #foodie #cafe #bar #speakeasy #friends #pizza

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shooktim-blog · 5 years ago

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I can imagine relaxing in the Cavalier Beach Club, sitting back with a gin fizz and listening to the nightly musicians including Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller or even Bing Crosby. Shiny new Studebakers would roll past and everyone was in their Sunday best to enjoy a night out on the town. Although this could easily describe New York or Chicago in the 1940s, it also perfectly describes the Golden Age of one of the country’s most lauded historic hotels, The Cavalier in Virginia Beach. Although the hotel languished for a number of years, it was recently completely renovated and brought back to its Big Band glory, with lots of quirky 21st century touches thrown in along the way. I recently had the great pleasure of staying at what is really an incredible property, and today I want to share why it is a rarity in the travel world, a hotel that is a destination in its own right.

Honoring the Past

Originally built in 1927, almost immediately The Cavalier became a hotspot for the rich and famous. Thanks to nonstop trains from cities like Chicago, the halls of the hotel were soon filled with those who wanted to see and be seen. The Fitzgerald’s, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and several Presidents all were guests of the hotel and many say that The Cavalier is what put Virginia Beach on the map in the first place. This Golden Era came to an abrupt end though in World War II when the hotel was surrendered to the US Navy and became a site for radar training. Although the hotel was returned to its owner, it had lost its pizzazz and in the intervening decades lost the brilliance for which it had once been known. Several years ago though it was sold to new owners who went through an extensive renovation and restoration process and, somewhat miraculously, brought back the luxury and hospitality that made The Cavalier, now part of the Autograph Collection, famous during the Roaring Twenties.

The Cavalier was originally inspired by the architecture of Thomas Jefferson and many of those elements have been thankfully brought back to life. It’s not an old-fashioned building though, far from it, it was renovated with the needs of the modern traveler kept in mind and the design elements may draw on the classics, but are undeniably quirky in their own right.

Sleeping in History

During the renovation, the owners reduced the number of guest rooms from 195 to just 85 standard rooms and suites, which means that just about any room you enjoy will be spacious and roomy, as was the case for me. It’s that size that impressed me as soon as I opened the door, with the light furnishings and many windows creating an airy and relaxing escape. At first blush the finishings may look traditional, until you peer a little closer. That fancy portrait in the corner? It’s a dog with a top hat. The artwork over the bed? It’s a very modern take on Ben Franklin. It’s funky without being annoying, colorful without trying to appeal too much to Millennials. The black and white tiled bathrooms hearken back to another era, but still have every modern convenience you can imagine. As with any luxury experience, the details though are what matter most, and it was the small touches like outlets next to the bed and plenty of complimentary water that meant a lot to me. While the rooms are of course nice, it’s the property itself that draws so many visitors.

The public spaces in the hotel are stunning – there’s really no other word to describe them. The main lounge and bar area feature those same quirky and yet traditional details that I loved in the bedroom, meaning that you need to pay close attention to the small details in order to appreciate all of them. And that’s just the start.

Amenities, Food and Service

Just as The Cavalier of the 1920s offered guests the opportunity to enjoy some beachside pampering, that’s still very much true today with the reimagined Beach Club. This is where all of those impressive musicians from Cab Calloway to Benny Goodman performed and in fact, The Cavalier was at one time the largest contractor of big bands in the world. Today the space reflects the needs of the modern luxury traveler, with a quiet refinement that one wants from any getaway, but especially a beach vacation. The incredible views are accentuated with delicious food, a private beach with cabanas, a members’ lounge, infinity swimming pool and much more.

Back at the main hotel there are also great amenities to make your stay incredible, including the completely refurbished plunge pool. Locals tell the story that F. Scott Fitzgerald was inspired to write “The Great Gatsby” during one of his many stays at The Cavalier and who knows, maybe he was inspired by the long days and he his family spent by the saltwater plunge pool. When built, that was yet another extravagance that set The Cavalier apart and today, it’s been brought back to life to honor that time period. It may have also been one of my favorite parts of the hotel thanks to the remarkable attention to detail and design throughout the loggia.

As with any grand hotel, food has also been an important part of The Cavalier experience and that’s certainly true today from luxurious outdoor dining to more rustic options. I enjoyed a dinner at the historic Hunt Room, another blast from the past that has been thankfully reimagined into something no one will soon forget. Originally a quiet space for duck hunters to enjoy a meal in the early days of the hotel, that same rustic feel is what I first noticed walking into the new and impressive Hunt Room. A massive brick fireplace is at the heart of the room, creating a warm and inviting space that I loved right away. The menu is just as impressive with modern twists on Virginia classics, like the charcuterie board made with local meats and cheeses and even a delicious fried quail as a main course. This is also where you’ll find the hotel’s on-site distillery, Tarnished Truth. This, the first hotel distillery in the country, features several craft spirits, including bourbon, rye whiskey and even AVA Vodka. Guests can also take flight tastings, tours and cocktail lessons here.

Location

Aside from the hospitality and comfort, hotels need to be well located in order to impress me and The Cavalier Hotel is perfectly situated to experience the best that Virginia Beach has to offer. The boardwalk is a 5-minute walk away and all of the many sights and attractions are an easy drive from the hotel. Virginia Beach is also home to a number of LOVEworks projects that are fun to discover. An extension of the state’s famous “Virginia is for lovers” campaign, the LOVEworks project encourages local communities to come up with their own unique take on the LOVE sign and so far there are more than 160 around the state. Virginia Beach has several of these now iconic signs, which you can find via the official LOVEworks site. It’s a fun way to explore new regions and what you discover on the way to the signs is many times even more impactful than the works of art themselves.

Hotels are an important part of my travel experience; they’re a luxury in which I love to indulge. The Cavalier exemplifies one of my favorite categories of luxury hotel, the historical property. Sure, having all the latest high tech gadgets and Danish design can be great, but so can a return to a different era and a very different type of luxury. It’s funny that Fitzgerald was so inspired here, because it’s Scott and Zelda who immediately came to my own mind as I walked through the doors of the hotel. The Cavalier so perfectly evokes the glamor, and slight madness, of the 1920s and even 1930s that it’s hard not to feel like American royalty, if only for a few days. When it combines that special feeling with very tangible elements like attentive service, great food and relaxing rooms, then you have a near perfect experience. Just as The Cavalier came to define Virginia Beach 90 years ago, I have the strong feeling that it will continue to do so as we approach its centennial.

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