#edit: just watched Hotel Artemis

[buckleypilled]

honestly fuck gender except for whatever the hell charlie day characters have going on

[the-prince-and-the-socialist]

Young Royals Fav Fanfic Recs pt.2

SERIES

1. in this kiss, i'll change your bore for my bliss by wyoheartsmusic <@prince-simon>

i ask nothing of you (T, 43900 words, post canon fix-it fic, oh my god they were roomates, kinda)

Five months after the sex tape scandal, the Hillerska rowing team is going on an away trip for the Nationals. When they get to their hotel, it turns out there’s been a mix-up with the rooms and Simon didn’t get assigned a room. Despite things still being awkward between them, Wilhelm offers that Simon stay in his room with him.

that's my opportunity to feel brave (WIP) (T, 4203 words, 1/3 chapters, wille be like oh so this is what its like to have friends, which is adorably hilarious and a little sad at the same time)

After Wilhelm's coming out, he learns what it means to have people in his life who support him unconditionally 2. as the years fly by by but_atleast_i_have_an_iced_coffee

thirty eight (T, 2474 words, pre-canon, canon, and post-canon erik always knew fic + doesn't die. i adore it)

A ten year old Erik watches as Wilhelm cries.

Their nanny telling him that it’s not fair to eat the carrots but not the broccoli is the source of his tears. To a ten year old crown prince who is being raised to carry a nation, he thinks it’s a stupid thing to be upset over.

Sometimes things are unfair, that’s why you try to make it better.

It’s what he tells himself, anyway. It makes the idea of being king just a little bit better.

But when he watches Wilhelm’s small hands clench into fists as he sniffles, trying to get his eyes to dry, Erik decides that maybe little Wille doesn’t need to be so strong.

heaven (T, 2795 words, re-write of thirty eight from wille's pov)

Wilhelm is sixteen and confused.

So fucking confused.

He’s not gay.

He’s not gay.

home (T, 1941 words, you know the taylor swift lyric that goes like 'and he feels like home' from long story short? that.)

Simon is sixteen when he meets Wilhelm.

If he’s being honest, he first thinks that he’s a privileged asshole.

But as time goes on, he slowly peels the masks off of Wilhelm.

Royalty. Spare prince. Student. Son. Brother. Until it’s just Wilhelm left.

And Wilhelm does the same to him.

3. ✨Prince Simon Cinematic Universe ✨ by TheBoyWhoWalksInTheLight , wyoheartsmusic <@aro-of-artemis> <@prince-simon>

i don't feel like our love is brand new (WIP) (E, 112815 words, 6/10 chapters, oh my god prince simon what more could you want from life)

“Your Royal Highness, it’s nice to meet you.” Being addressed in Swedish by a melodious voice suddenly startled Wilhelm’s brain into awareness. The first thing that Wilhelm noticed about the man in front of him were the sharp cheekbones and beautiful bronze skin. Then he met deep brown eyes filled with mirth. Crown Prince Simon of Spain, his brain helpfully supplied when usually, it was embarrassingly shit when it came to names. But this name- well, of course he’d remember the world’s first out and proud gay Crown Prince. Or: Wilhelm is a queer mess and Simon is a little shit who's ready to win the Swedish prince's heart.

And the fire bright (let it blaze alright) (T, 1941 words, missing scene from the main fic)

Wille's memory of the night of Erik's wedding is hazy. All he knows is that Simon got him safely to bed.

[EDIT: more parts have been added to this series !!]

4. Firsts (Erik Lives Universe) by cmere <@omgcmere>

Keep Me Company (T, 2741 words, pure floof. Agnes-worthy floof. we love it.)

The halls are silent, only the ghosts of Wille's forefathers left to judge him.

And let them fucking judge him.

He wants this, so badly it feels like his heart might crack open from it. He's been looking for this—the same feeling that had him trying to get lost in the woods with Erik as a kid, trying to find a connection with someone unfamiliar in the public school, trying to drown himself in a bottle until he forgot who he was. Instead he found it here, the one place he never wanted to be. In a chapel, in a boy, in a song.

Where He Belongs (T, 6010 words, wille : 'babe my parents aren't home come over' except his home is the fucking palace lmao)

It's always like this between them—despite all the complex pressures Wille's facing that only shed layers of different but related pressures onto Simon, it feels so easy when it's just the two of them, when they can exhale fully and say everything that's on their minds. Simon has seen Wille bound up tight with anxiety, biting his lips and rubbing his collarbone; he's held him more than once as Wille tried to gasp out words and struggled for air. The contrast now is stark, his limbs loose and his laughs coming easy.

Wilhelm invites Simon to spend the night alone with him at the royal palace for New Year's Eve.

5. It's Like A Multicolored Snapshot (stuck in my brain) by isnt_that_wizard

When I Said I Wanted You to Get Along (this isn't what i meant) (T, 27344 words, 7 chapters, Erik Lives era, 5+1 fic)

After hearing that their parents weren't bothering to show up for Parents' Day, Erik comes in their place. The following results are that he never gets in the car crash, August doesn't stay at school that weekend, and Wille gets absolutely tortured as his brother and boyfriend decide to become best friends.

Throw the Script Out the Window (let's start something new) (T, 4417 words, Erik Lives era, Coming Out fic)

Wille had practiced the statement so many times it was engraved in his brain. He had stayed up hours into the night writing it with Erik, meeting with every single public relations staff member, and repeated it to himself under his breath at any given moment. It was entirely memorized.

He had barely said a single word of it.

Maybe a few sentences.

Wille was sure that the press secretary was somewhere in another room, crying and turning in her resignation.

Life Was Stringing Me Along (then you came) (T, 5321 words, Erik Lives era, Simon meets the parents who happen to be the fucking Queen and Prince Consort)

"Are you okay?" Wille whispered, quietly so that Erik wouldn't be able to hear him from where the Crown Prince was sitting in an overly ornate chair.

Simon smiled a little bit at the question, then gave a slow, hesitant nod.

Wille gave a little- and absolutely not adorable, shut up- snort, and said, "Liar."

Simon rolled his eyes, but his smile grew a bit wider. "Oh, shut it, Wille. Like you weren't a nervous wreck the first time you came over to my house for dinner."

Wille laughed, "I never said I wasn't."

Baby, You're The Cure (so let me close to you) (T, 8069 words, 5+1 fic, sick simon omg my heart)

When Simon shows up sick to school one day, Wilhelm discovers that not only is his boyfriend completely terrible at admitting that he's sick, but he also craves physical touch and cuddles like no one's business. Wille is more than willing to provide said affections, but life would be a hell of a lot easier if Simon would just accept the fact that he was ill.

or

Five Times Simon Clung to Wille While He's Sick, and One Time Wille Does The Same Thing

6. Red, White and Young Royal Blue by toffeelemon <@toffeelemon>

blood is thicker than water (G, 3114 words, pre-canon)

Crown Prince Erik has always known his baby brother is a bit different. He would take on the world before he lets hurt get to Wille.

royal pains (G, 12625 words, Henry and Wilhelm talk about boys <3 )

‘Hey cousin, I know this is super out of the blue, but now that Erik is gone, I literally have no one else to talk to. Is it a wild idea if I come visit you in England for Christmas? I could use a vacation’

Wilhelm visits his cousin Prince Henry in England for Christmas for gay guidance. That's it.

worst kept secret in history (G, 9970 words, getting back together fic ft. simon taking care of himself we love that)

They have a nice thing going on, ever since school resumed in the new year. Wilhelm had gone up to Simon in the middle of the corridor on the first day back, held his hand in front of everyone, and it all went from there. Simon doesn’t want to be a secret, so Wilhelm bites down on his anxiety and just lets things happen, onlookers or not. He is terrible at keeping secrets anyway.

or, Wilhelm is a chaotic anxious queer who just wants to win his boy back

Alex, ¡ayúdame! (M, 14087 words, Wille gets the talk from the FSOTUS)

Alex Claremont-Diaz did say Wilhelm could go to him for anything.

Until Wilhelm momentarily wishes he lived in a universe where he was straight and didn’t have to have in depth discussions about anal sex with the First Son of the United States, who weirdly is one of the queer men that Wilhelm trusts the most.

or, how Alex Claremont-Diaz became Wilhelm and Simon’s agony aunt

take my heart and hit the back (M, 6062 words, alt. title: the FSOTUS knows way too much about his cousin-in-law's sex life)

Simon has a weird relationship dynamic with Alex Claremont-Diaz. They met in real life once during New Year’s, two months ago, when the First Son of the United States extended Wilhelm’s invite to the White House to Simon, and now Alex likes to interact with Simon’s Instagram posts and stories, like telling him how his hickey is way too obvious from his Instagram story. Since Alex is already so invested in Simon and Wilhelm's sex life, Simon might as well ask - 'So, are you a top? Do you have any tips?'

or; Simon tops for the first time

The Life of Simon and Wilhelm, the Most Famous Gay Couple in Sweden (G, 29092 words, 8 chapters, future fic)

Simon Vasquez (LGBTQ activist and charity-gig-pop-star-extraordinaire), and his boyfriend, Wilhelm (formerly 'of Sweden'), are known for their fiercely protected private life - whilst being firmly in Generation Z and generously flaunting their relationship on Wilhelm's public Instagram account, the young couple has never appeared in media engagements, where they are not in control of the portrayal of their own image.

On a groundbreaking occasion, Simon and Wilhelm are sharing a week of their life, unfiltered, in a filmed extended interview, revealing many previously unknown opinions and details about their lives. Curiously, the host of such a groundbreaking interview is an unknown amateur journalist - a teenager in high school in Stockholm, whose biggest credit to her name is representing the Queer Straight Alliance of her school.

7. Missing Moments by embracedthevoid <@ungaroyals> (Varying rating, 29K+ words, 15+ works, all brilliant)

A collection of beautifully written and thought out missing moments from the series, AND the author takes requests for the series as well. Dare I say YR fic god?

---> If the authors are seeing this, thank you for writing awesome fic !! <---

- love, nick (@autumn_has_rusty_people_skills over on ao3)

[soundsof71]

So, considering you are a passionate fan of music released in 1971, I feel justifiably obligated to ask you what you think of Buffy Sainte-Marie's 'She Used to Wanna Be a Ballerina' album. 😂 (Also, it would make me beyond happy if you could post more about Buffy, my friend! Thank you! ❣)

Buffy Sainte-Marie + Crazy Horse - what’s not to love? LOL I confess that it was the Crazy Horse connection that caught my attention first. I had a general idea who Buffy was, had seen her on TV a few times, but I was a big Crazy Horse fan. News that they were her backing band for this album was easily enough for me to scoop it up.

They weren’t doing anything much with Neil Young in 1971 (other than this album, on which Neil also appeared!), but they had released a tasty solo album in February 71, produced by Jack Nitzsche (who also produced this, and would later marry Buffy), and featuring Ry Cooder (also featured here, although did not marry Buffy). 

(btw, the first place that Buffy, Ry, and Jack worked together was on the Nic Roeg film Performance, starring Mick Jagger. People obviously remember Mick in that, but musically, Buffy was the best part!) 

She Used To Wanna... also features Jesse Ed Davis, a Native American guitarist and singer who was a frequent “usual suspect” at these sort of “sure, invite everyone!” jam albums of the era, and played a prominent role at 1971′s biggest concert (at least in the US), The Concert for Bangladesh on August 1.

(I know you know  RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked The World, the documentary about indigenous music’s influence on rock and roll, which has chapters on both Buffy and Jesse Ed. I just watched it again recently, and love it! A reminder of Buffy’s pivotal role in classic rock history. Not mentioned in the film: she relentlessly championed the work of her fellow Canadians Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, helping them get their first record deals.)

I haven’t listened to She Used To Wanna Be A Ballerina for a while, so I definitely need to do that, along with posting more pictures of Buffy.  (I can’t believe I’ve only posted two!) 

But I’ll tell you what still stands out to me about that record years later. “Smack Water Jack” is an underrated track from Carole King’s Tapestry that got a ton of airplay at the time. Quincy Jones did an instrumental cover as the title track for his terrific 1971 album, too, but it has somehow faded to obscurity since then. Buffy takes a playful trifle, and turns it into a powerful fable of men of color who explode into violence in response to the violence visited upon them, and self-satisfaction of whites in authority who answer their demands for better living conditions by killing them on the spot. 

No need for a trial when you can murder them in the streets, right? “You can't talk to a man when he don't wanna understand / And he don't wanna understand” hits different when Buffy sings it, and in 2020 for that matter. 

It’s also just a terrific performance whose combination of soul and rock and roll and driving piano in a sort of Old West-sounding context would have made this sound right at home on a record like Elton John’s Tumbleweed Connection  or something by The Band. I’m limited to five video embeds per post so I can’t embed it here, so I'm linking instead: anyone who hasn’t heard this definitely needs to.

Her cover of Neil’s CSNY track “Helpless” has things I like even better than Neil’s original, including Merry Clayton standing in for CSN. Buffy’s version is more muscular (thanks again to Crazy Horse), and taps even more deeply into the isolation of the song that the star power of CSNY somewhat obscured. 

Buffy’s version also made a brief but memorable appearance in the 2018 film Hotel Artemis, starring Jodie Foster. A weird little movie that I loved maybe more than it deserved LOL but I recommend nonetheless:

I know that this album gets attention because of the unusual number of covers, including one by Leonard Cohen, and a cover of a cover that Leonard had made famous on top of that, called "Song of the French Partisan” (hers is the far superior version imo, a song of French resistance to Nazi occupation from the perspective of a woman hiding a resister), but there are a couple of standout originals too. 

I love the title of this record, and the title track is a delightful little stomper that playfully cautions against equating the intentions of grown women with the childhood fantasies they’ve grown out of. More Merry Clayton goodness here on backing vocals too. 

“Soldier Blue” is a powerful song first written for the 1970 film of the same name, billed at the time as “The most savage film in history” -- and maybe it was. It used the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre as a metaphor for Vietnam, and it's still shockingly brutal. It was the third-highest grossing movie in the UK in 1971, though, and the single became a top-10 hit for Buffy there. 

It didn’t do as well here, either the song or the movie. Perhaps not shockingly in retrospect, Soldier Blue was pulled from American theaters after a few days, the Vietnam metaphor not at all lost on the Nixon administration. 

As horrifying as it was, this is about when I was reading Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee (first published in 1970), and Soldier Blue resonated with me in a whole lot of ways. Here’s the song in the opening credits of the movie.

I was also really struck by “Moratorium”, which is the story of “Universal Soldier” (from her 1963 debut, but a bigger hit for Donovan in 1965), coming from the opposite direction. In the earlier song, she blamed war on the soldiers who think that fighting is honorable, but here, she has empathizes with the young men, boys really in many cases, who’ve been lied to by their countries, their parents, and even their friends. They’re not vainglorious. They’ve been duped by people they trusted. 

(I don't think she takes enough into account how many men sign up to fight because they want to embrace and celebrate their worst, most violent impulses, which was of course an undercurrent of “Universal Soldier”, but I appreciate her empathy here. More than one thing is true at a time.)

Buffy goes even farther, though, calling on soldiers to support and validate demands for peace as explicitly supporting them, summed up in the unforgettable cry, "Fuck the war and bring our brothers home!" 

1971 was the peak of antiwar demonstrations in the US, with the biggest crowds ever seen in this country until the 2017 Women’s March. The May 1971 demonstrations pretty much shut down Washington, culminating with Vietnam Veterans Against The War throwing back their medals on the steps of the US Capitol, incredibly powerful stuff to see on TV in my formative years, and Buffy was right there in it. Anti-war songs were a cottage industry for sure, but nobody was writing with the nuance and empathy that Buffy was.

Here’s a 1972 performance of “Moratorium”, Buffy and a piano, and more emotionally bare than that:

There’s obviously lots more to say about Buffy, far outside the realm of protest music that was actually just a small part of her musical palette -- her pioneering experiments with electronic music, her educational philanthropy starting in her 20s, Sesame Street, you name it. Her commercial peak was still in front of her, and while I can’t say that this is my favorite of her records, it does have some of my favorite songs of hers, and 1971 and She Used to Wanna Be A Ballerina is definitely where I went from knowing who Buffy Sainte-Marie was to being a fan. 

I'll also note as I do now and again that while this blog started as an offshoot of a book on 1971 that I’d started but abandoned, I mostly listen to music released now. That’s always been my policy, including in 1971. When 1972 rolled up, I was mostly listening to music from 1972, music from ‘80 in ‘80, ‘91 in ‘91, 2018 in 2018, etc., to name just a few other favorites. (Plus The Beatles, okay? LOL I still listen to The Beatles every day. No apologies.) Honestly? It took me until 2011, in my fifties, when a whole bunch of 40th anniversary editions of 1971 albums got released all at once that made me think, “Wait a minute, this was maybe THE pivotal year in classic rock history!” 

So yeah, the historian in me dug into 1971, but even though I happened to be alive and enthralled by music in that year, what I’m doing here has nothing to do with nostalgia, or any idea that that was the *best* year in music, even if for the narrow slice of music that is classic rock, yeah, it absolutely is. For soul/R&B too, and for the explosion of women artists outside the even narrower confines of pop as well. This is not subject to debate. No year like it, before or since. It's just that classic rock is a such a narrow slice, and I like my slices wide. LOL Which is also why my blog has less and less 1971 content as I go along. 

While my general policy is that my favorite year for music is THIS year, this particular year hasn’t left me as much energy as usual for listening to music. Some of it is These Trying Times™, some of it is my bipolarity and schizophrenia getting the better of me in waves, as is the way with these, uhm, things. (Keep taking those meds, kids!) I listen to music and post about the people making it as a creative act, not a passive or reflexive one, and I just haven’t felt as creative as usual.

(This is also has everything to do with why so many Asks have been piling up unanswered. I apologize if you’re one of the many kind and indulgent souls who’s gotten in touch, but I swear I’m gonna get to ‘em all!)

To get an idea of what I’m ACTUALLY passionate about right now, my “to be edited later” running list of 2020 favorites randomly added to a playlist as I encounter them, to be properly curated later, is at Spotify, cleverly entitled “2020″ -- 94% women, which is about right. LOL 

But since I do in fact listen to old stuff (by which I mean 2019 LOL), I made a list of mostly 2020 bangers from women rockers with some tasty treats from 2019 that I haven’t been able to let go of just yet, inspired by a post I saw at tumblr saying that punk music by women is just plain better (also beyond debate), called “Women Bangers: A Tumblr New Classics Jam”. I’ll be posting an essay with a YouTube playlist soon, because god forbid that I only talk briefly about anything LOL and most of these women need to be heard AND seen.

Like Buffy Sainte-Marie, whom you'll both see and hear more often on my blog soon. Thanks for the reminder! Always a pleasure to hear from you and be challenged by you. :-)

Peace, Tim 

[thescrapbookingscientist]

Biweekly Media Roundup

- Dark (TV) - Started this ahem, dark time travel drama series after hearing some good buzz about it being a great, complete series with a satisfying ending that you should totally go into blind. I am really enjoying it, the mysteries, set-up, and tense atmosphere are all really solid, and I love how each episode is able to reach a satisfying conclusion without answering too many questions about the larger narrative. That being said, I do really wish I had a character chart. Without getting into too many spoilers, the series has parallel plotlines in multiple different time periods, with many of the characters appearing in more than one timeline as older or younger versions of themselves. In some cases which character is actually the same person or who is related to who is a big spoiler so I can’t just look up a character chart, but man is it difficult to keep all these people straight, the cast is huge, 100% white, and all have German names so I’m at a disadvantage here. Still recommend though.

- Star Trek Strange New Worlds (TV) - Yup.

- Lord of the Rings (Movie) - Finished the trilogy, don’t have anything interesting to say, great music and cinematography, Sam/Frodo are wholesome af, The extended edition is great but also so so very long.

- The Owl House (Cartoon) - Was pretty satisfied with the season finale, the collector’s theme and cosmic powers are great, love Belos getting absolutely bodied, and the plot wrapped up certain loose ends up nicely where it’s got some good legs going into the finale. Trying to find a good King plushie atm, his design is so cute and yet somehow Disney is not capitalizing on merch. 

- Pokemon Brilliant Diamond (Video Game) - Started    a nuzlocke for this since I had gotten it for Christmas anyway. I don’t appreciate the clear lack of effort put into the game, but I do like pokemon so eh.

- Pathologic (Video Game) - Finally finished viewing a playthrough of all 3 of the classic routes, and both of the Pathologic 2 ones, bless you SulMatul for making this story accessible to those of us who are not good at video games. I really enjoyed The Marble Nest, I l’ve Artemy as well but it’s fantastic to get some spotlight on my scrungly Daniil again. Not sure which game I would say is better in general, The music is better in 1 and I like the duality/ambiguity of the endings, but I also appreciate how dynamic a lot of the dialogue and scenes in 2 are and appreciate that they strengthened Artemy’s relationships, Sticky and Murky especially were great in 2. 

- Schitt’s Creek (TV) - Making our way through still.

- The Great Ace Attorney (Video Game) - A streamer I liked started on the 2nd game and I’m hyped to get to see it played in real time, I always had to watch the backlogs of streams before. The 3rd case is coming up which is one of my favorite ace attorney cases in general so hell yeah.

- Lot’s of Monster Anime (Multi-Anime) - Started onto Phase 2 of my monster anime project, placeholder is the cute GL anime Konohana Kitan about cute little gay foxgirls who run a fantasy hotel/ hot springs, very wholesome, very nice.

Listening to: Dead Man Walking by City Wolf, Fear & Delight by The Correspondents, Begin Again by Purity Ring, I’m Gonna Win by Rob Cantor, Samaritan by ionnalee, The Mother We Share by CHVRCHES, Sweet Talk by Saint Motel, Someone to you by BANNERS, Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride by Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu, Another Way Out by Hollywood Undead

[deathpiggy]

Tagged by: @burngorman-slut

Rules: tag people with awesome taste

Colors I’m wearing right now: couple different shades of blue, black, white, orange

Last band shirt I bought: god I can’t fucking remember I wanna say an aquabats shirt but I could be wrong

Last band I saw live: Belizbeha they’re a pretty cool jazz band I saw at a festival in Vermont, my mom is good friends with one of the members

Lipstick or chapstick: chapstick, I would die without it

Last song I listened to: make me feel weeeird by together PANGEA

Last movie I watched: Hotel Artemis

Last 3 tv shows I watched: it’s always sunny in Philadelphia, queer eye, and rupaul’s drag race

Books I’m currently reading: make room make room by Harry Harrison and slaughterhouse five by Kurt Vonnegut (I’m always working through a couple comic book series but I just can’t afford the newest editions lmao)

I’m tagging: @bortjorts @m0thmans @arodudejude @maus1941 @hansolo-disasterbi @piranhapunk @handjobshamwow @ghovl @neatlywitches @gaywyldstallyns (and anyone who wants to do it also you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to it’s cool)

[starsscribble]

Let’s Play

“Come… Let’s Play A Little Game! It’s called ‘You’ll Be With Me Forever"

Relationship: Yandere

Fandom: DC

Character: Dick Grayson

Ever since Artemis sent him this Let’s Play youtube channel he had been in love with you. Your smile, your laugh, you as a whole he loved. He watched every video, and livestream even became a mod in your chat on Twitch. You relied on him to deal with chat when you were busy playing games. When you tweeted that you would be going to a gaming convention in Gotham he instantly DM you. Saying that you should both meet up. You happy agreed wanted to meet the person that help controlled you chat when you weren't looking. Dick quickly bought tickets to the con.

It wasn’t hard to find you at the convention, they had given you a booth so you were there selling a limited edition shirt, signing things, meeting and greeting fans. Dick watched for a bit as you talked with some fans. A young girl walked up to you she looked to be twelve and scared to death to talk with you. Her parents pushed you forward till she finally gave you something. It looked to be cookies, you opened the bag and looked at them. Taken a bit you smiled brightly, moving behind the booth you knelt down and hugged the girl. The girl’s parents bought a shirt and you signed it thanking the girl once again for the cookies. Some more people passed till Dick walked over to your booth.

“Hello. Hello,” You said your well-known intro to most of your videos. “How can I help you today sir?” Your eyes then narrowed onto him. “Wait a minute are you?” You pulled your phone out and after a few taps held it up. Looking between the phone and him you gasped.

“Birdy!” You smiled as Dick chuckled.

“You can just call me Dick from now on. Come over to see if you wanted to get lunch.”

“Sure!”

It was the last day of the convention, the second to last day you would be with him. He wouldn’t allow that, you were not going to get away from him. Since your announcement to come to Gotham Dick had made plans. He bought a home out of the city limits, far away from people but close enough for him to do his Nightwing thing. He couldn’t wait to get you there. When you were at the convention Dick gather your things up at the hotel. Covered you track to making it seemed like you left today instead of tomorrow. At the ended of the convention, Dick picked you up and you were going to go out to dinner with him. But as soon as you were in the car and down the highway he quickly knocked you out. When you finally woke you he had just pulled up to a house.

“Where are we?” You asked and when to move your hands only to feel them tied together.

“Come… Let’s Play A Little Game,” Dick said as he turned the car off and got out. You walked as he walked around the front. You pulled at the rope trying you best to get free. You door open making you jump as Dick’s hand grab your arm.

“It’s called ‘You’ll Be With Me Forever’.” You cried out and beg for him to let you go. It fell on deaf ears as Dick pulled you out of the car and walked you towards the house.

[wasabipesto]

I will use this great opportunity to procrastinate at work and respond to this tag like a week late.

Nickname: My name isn't conducive to nicknames, but people call me by my initials at times. I've also gotten nicknames of Daddy or Dad multiple times independently, which is a bit weird I guess.

Zodiac: Aries, though I've been told I'm a bad one.

Last Google: "mountian dew make baja blast available in stores tshirt"

Song in My Head: Say My Name by Tove Stryke, combined with Say My Name by ODESZA.

Height: 5'10" last I checked

Followers: Tumblr says 48 but I don't believe that.

Amount of Sleep: My app says I've averaged 7:43 over the past month.

Lucky Number: 47 right now. I also like 21.

Favorite Song: This week it's Fineshrine by Purity Ring. Last week was Arrow by Polite Fiction. I just heard Jank by Foreign Figures the other day, I might look into them next.

Favorite Instrument: I've always had a fondness for the cello. No strong opinions here.

Favorite Author: Generally the one I'm reading at any given time. Currently, Brandon Sanderson. I will also read any fiction Scott Alexander ever publishes.

Random Fact: I am currently procrastinating.

Favorite Book: Again, it's usually the one I'm reading at any moment. But The Princess Bride (book) hit me quite hard, and before that I would have said Dorian Gray.

Favorite Movie: So I watched Hotel Artemis a few weeks ago, specifically not thinking about it too hard. It was not a great movie by my normal standards but I was a really enjoyable experience that I wouldn't have had otherwise. This is really just a way to avoid the question.

Favorite TV Show: Three shows I enjoyed over the past few months include The Umbrella Academy, Dark, and Hunters. If I had to pick a show to magically get another season, I would probably pick Dirk Gently.

Favorite Podcast: I've tried different audio dramas, but the only one I could really get into was Wolf 359. I also listen to MBMBaM and Hello Internet for laughs.

A Hobby: I DM for a group of friends when I have free time to come up with sessions (which hasn't happened lately). This style is more episodic, which requires a bit more planning than I'm used to.

Normally I would tag people here but I need to get back to work. Maybe I'll edit in some tags later. Thanks!

Tagged by @acefitzroymaplecourt (thank you!)

Nickname: el

Zodiac: sagittarius

Last thing I googled: critical role merch at hot topic

Song stuck in my head: critical role campaign 2 art reel music, which I'm sure has a name but I don't know it :P

Height: 5'6

Followers: 247

Amount of sleep: 9 hours on a good night, but more like 7 right now

Lucky number: 6

Favorite song: that changes a lot but lately its been "hollow" by cloudeater

Favorite instrument: to play, tenor sax; to listen to, probably violin

Favorite author: either juliet marillier or laini taylor

Random: despite not being a Greek myth kid i ended up with a degree in classics

Favorite book: I have several but my go to comfort read seems to be Hearts Blood by juliet marillier

Favorite movie: the lord of the rings films count as one movie if you watch them all at once, right?

Apparently there were supposed to be more questions, so im making some up:

Favorite TV show: at the moment, critical role

Favorite podcast: lately I've been listening to a lot of The Ghost Story Guys

A hobby: I've been teaching myself embroidery (badly)

Tagging: @wasabipesto , @writersblockandapotoftea , @queer-disillusion , @atinydino , and anyone else who feels like tagging along (I think im funny)

[callunavulgari]

Scrapbook 2019 | Pt III

I can’t fucking edit my post because this website is crap, so we get a part three even though there’s only two more months to 2019. But whatever, I’m not bitter or anything.

Reminder:

Normal font - Indifferent/Neutral Italicized font - Enjoyed bold font - Loved with an asterisk* - All time favorite (bracketed titles) - Re-watches/Re-reads strikethough - Disliked

Goals are: read one hundred books this year (finished!), finish five video games (finished!), write something novel-length (not so much, does it count if I wrote a novel’s worth of short stories in October?) and write something original (technically done? don’t know if I want to count a snippet that didn’t even hit 1k). These last two goals CAN be combined (I might try NaNo this year, so we will see).

Part I: January-July Part II: August-October

MOVIES

November

The King

(V For Vendetta)

(Avengers: Endgame)

(Beauty and the Beast: Enchanted Christmas)

Frozen 2

(Winnie the Pooh)

Journey to the Sun

December

Klaus

(Aladdin: Return of Jafar)

Hotel Artemis

(The Santa Claus)

(Star Wars: A New Hope)

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

(Love Actually)

BOOKS

November

The Gilded Wolves | Roshani Chokshi [Fin]

Words of Radiance | Brandon Sanderson [Fin]

Oathbringer | Brandon Sanderson

The Hating Game | Sally Thorne [Fin]

Again, But Better | Christine Riccio [Fin]

The Queen of Nothing | Holly Black [Fin]

North and South | Elizabeth Gaskell

December

Oathbringer | Brandon Sanderson [Fin]

Snow, Glass, Apples | Neil Gaiman, Colleen Doran [Fin]

North and South | Elizabeth Gaskell [Fin]

The Starless Sea | Erin Morgenstern [Fin]

There There | Tommy Orange [Fin]

The Secret Commonwealth | Philip Pullman

The Library of the Unwritten | A.J. Hackwith [Fin]

PODCASTS

November

The Penumbra Podcast s3, Eps 2-3

The Magnus Archives Eps 160

King Falls AM Eps 11-30

Adventure Zone Moonlighting Pt 1

(Zero Hours: When the Beat Drops)

December

The Magnus Archives Q&A

Outliers s1, ep 1

King Falls AM Eps 31-34

TV SHOWS

November

Buzzfeed Unsolved: Supernatural, s6

His Dark Materials, s1

She-Ra, s4

(Gargoyles, s1)

South Park

Rick & Morty, s4

Star vs the Forces of Evil s1, s2

The Flash, s4

The Dragon Prince, s4

The Mandalorian

Star Wars: Rebels, s1

December

His Dark Materials, s1

The Mandalorian

The Dragon Prince, s4

The Untamed

The Good Place, s3

The Witcher, s1***

The Great British Bake Off, s7

VIDEO GAMES

November

Assassin’s Creed: Origins (10 hours)

Death Stranding (10 hours)

Pokemon: Shield (20 hours)

December

Pokemon: Shield (20 hours)

Red Dead Redemption 2 (2 hours)

DELIGHTFUL FIC

November

The Sun Dog by ambiguously | Star Wars | Finn/Ren/Rey | 5k | Finn and Rey, with their semi-prisoner Kylo Ren, attempt to meet up with the Resistance on a planet that has been taken over by monsters.

Seeing Ghosts by blacktofade | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 4.5k | Ryan blames the entire thing on temporary insanity.

silver in our lungs by taywen | Spinning Silver | Miryem/The Staryk Lord | 3.6k | The marks had been with Miryem for as long as she could remember. 

sing all your questions to sleep by Wildehack (tyleet) | The Magnus Archives | Martin/Jon | 1.5k | Jon, Martin, and Basira take a breath.

as ordinary things often do by lymricks | Stranger Things | Harringrove | 4k | Max is yelling out the window, “She means like, two weeks--” before they’re turning around the corner and--And Steve is standing on the front steps of Billy Hargrove’s house, keys jingling in his palm, thinking what the fuck?

on hairpins by Lirazel | The Queen’s Thief | Attolia/Gen | 3k | When the citizens of Attolia complain that the Thief of Eddis is a terrible influence on their queen, they have no way of knowing the truth of their own words.

the umbrella by Wildehack (tyleet) | The Magnus Archives | Martin/Jon | 4.6k | "And to think—all of Jonah Magnus’ carefully laid plans, the centuries of scheming, the murders, the sacrifices, all of that work could have been completely undone if Martin Blackwood had gone back for an umbrella"

you got me begging, begging, i'm on my knees by plalligator | The Queen’s Thief | Attolia/Eugenides/Costis | 5k | (or, that struggle when you're a guard who's in love with your rulers and it turns out you would kind of like it if they bossed you around a little)

rumour has it by plalligator | The Queen’s Thief | Attolia/Eugenides/Costis | 1.5k | “Costis, what in the name of the gods happened? I have heard from five separate people that you have a secret sweetheart who you went to meet on your day off.”

Home Was A Dream by impertinence | Attolia/Eugenides/Costis | 3k | Lunch, a mysterious fruit, revelations, and sex. In that order.

Well Loved by SerenadeStrong (ninja_orange) | Attolia/Eugenides/Costis | 3.5k | Gen finally convinces Costis to sleep with his wife.

and so begins by romanoff | Marvel | Steve/Tony | 8k | After Tony's death, Steve is adrift. He carries Tony's body, and thinks: I never said thank you.

something more alive than silence by pageleaf | The Queen’s Thief | Costis/Attolia/Eugenides | 21k | It was a good thing that six months after the king had promised to halve the guard, he still hadn’t done it, because since then, there had been two attempts on the king’s life.

Covenant by liesmyth | Stormlight Archive | Kaladin/Adolin | 9k | Adolin had never imagined he’d meet his match like this, on the dusty streets of Sadeas’s warcamp - or that it would be a bridgeman of all people, defiance clear in his dark brown eyes.

How Do You Catch a Storm and Pull It Down? by liadan14 | Stormlight Archive | Kaladin/Adolin/Shallan | 4k | It takes Shallan approximately two months after the wedding to realize that she is an idiot.

Keep It In Your Sights Now by LuckyDiceKirby | Shades of Magic | 9k | Holland travels with Lila and Kell. Somewhere along the way, they reach an equilibrium.

waiting for the sunlight by sarcasticfishes | Buzzfeed Unsolved | 18k | Sara had always known, growing up as both an only child and a princess, that she would likely not marry for love. 

Fifty Shades of Gold by beethechange | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 21k | That’s his official position: he’s over Ricky Goldsworth.Shane’s unofficial position, regrettably, is that he’d rather be under Ricky Goldsworth.

(these things take time by sonhoedesrazao | Les Mis | Enjolras/Grantaire | 63k | He’s always wary of making assumptions; even more so when Grantaire is concerned. He knows he’s not the easiest person to deal with. People either like him or can’t stand him, and it’s easy to respond to those reactions, but Grantaire—Grantaire is hostile and mocking, Grantaire scorns his beliefs, and Grantaire stays.)

December

Begin the Begin, Over and Over by beethechange | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 33k | Shane only agrees to be handcuffed to Ryan for a video because he can put up with anything for twenty-four hours. That’s the funny thing about time loops, though—they don’t always adhere to the parameters set by clickbait videos.

When I Fall to Rise by lc2l | Thor | Loki/Thor | 41k | Loki wakes up to ship alarms blaring, the air full of ash and Valkyrie saying she brought him back because she needs his help. She's captaining a small emergency vessel containing the last handful of Asgardians desperately looking for a place to call home. And she's having to do it sober.

From Orbit by astolat | Star Wars | Leia/Han/Luke | 4k | “You’ve got to quit doing this,” Han said.

Charioteer by petrichoral | The Queen’s Thief | Attolia/Eugenides/Costis | 14k | Captured in battle and stuck in the Mede capital, Costis has given up all hope of seeing his country again. But Eugenides has a habit of turning up where he's least expected.

ready if it happens with you by sarcasticfishes | Buzzfeed Unsolved | Ryan/Shane | 4k | It’s not a thing. Ryan’s just a little… touch-starved. Intimacy-starved.

I fancied you’d return the way you said by ambiguously | Star Wars | Reylo | 3k | No one else can see him. Rey is used to that.

i kill giants by diasterisms | Star Wars | Reylo | WIP | 7k | "Rey Skywalker?" There's a vaguely sardonic twist to the corner of his mouth. "Does that make you my cousin now?"

DELIGHTFUL FANVIDS

November

MARVEL/DC - Runnin

THE WITCHER | MAIN TRAILER | NETFLIX

(GoT) Daenerys Targaryen | Meant To Fall

Game of Thrones | Never Wanted to Leave

young god.. (multifandom)

Poison & Wine | Ben and Rey

Multifandom ][ Glitter & Gold

rules of nature [multifandom amv]

December

what's up danger [Death Stranding]

Kylo Ren || Destiny

star wars || blue monday

K[L]AUS | High Enough

2019 Movie Trailer Mashup

Reylo | My Love Will Never Die [tros spoilers] Rey & Ben

Reylo | Dusk Till Dawn [+TROS Spoilers]

REYLO || SOMEBODY TO DIE FOR (+tros)

Multifandom Mashup 2019

DELIGHTFUL MUSIC

November

Frozen 2 Soundtrack

Les Mis Soundtrack

December

Spotify Unwrapped 2019

Reylo Playlist

POSTED FIC

November

open the walls, play with your dolls | Coraline | Coraline/Wybie | 2,886 words | Halloween at the Pink Palace is a lot like any other time of year.

December

yule gift #2 - 4,639 words [fin]

WIPS | UNPUBLISHED | ORIGINAL

November

December

yule gift #1 - 1,267 words [unfinished]

yule gift #2 - 4,639 words [fin]

FANMIXES/GRAPHICS

November

Havoc

December

Somebody to Die For - a Reylo playlist

[haroldgross]

New Post has been published on Harold Gross: The 5a.m. Critic

New Post has been published on http://literaryends.com/hgblog/waves/

Waves

[3 stars]

Horror auteur Trey Edward Shults (It Comes at Night) takes a hard left with his latest production. Waves is an often painful, sometimes triumphant look at a Florida family, all to the backbeat of a range of curated music. Structured in two parts, we get to watch the disintegration of one sibling and its effect on the family and remaining sib.

Shults didn’t just work with his actors to set mood and action. His camera work and lighting, from the opening through to the final moment, are designed to elicit emotion and energy. He manages to create the out-of-control energy of being a teenager as well as the contemplative, anchorless sense of being lost as a way to inform the already powerful performances. However, if you suffer any degree of motion sickness or sensitivty to flashing lights you may find it challenging to watch at times.

Part one of the story is focused on Kelvin Harrison Jr.  (It Comes at Night) and Alexa Demie (Euphoria), whose relationship is intensely passionate. At the same time, we see Harrison navigate the expectations of his parents and himself. The combination is, as you’d expect, volatile.

Taylor Russell (Escape Room) and Lucas Hedges (Boy Erased) head up part two of the story, who pick up the thread of the story and tie it back to the opening of the film. The relationship here is the yin to her brother’s yang tale. The combination turns the movie into a visual Taoist structure.

In a bridging story, Sterling K. Brown (Hotel Artemis)  and Renée Elise Goldsberry (Altered Carbon) give us the parent’s perspective that wraps and reflects on the young adults around them. It’s a complicated situation for them and their household, but it is also a little forced as written.

The movie is a bit more of an interesting experiment and piece of art than it is a great film. In part that is due to its length and structure, but it is also due to the self-conscious visuals and editing. That isn’t so much a ding as an acknoweldgement that this story happens more to you than with you. It is sweet and brutal and honest, but it is also somewhat presentational. That said, there are moments that will drop your jaw and, in my theater, had people talking out loud. So there is no doubt it is effective.

[blacklotus71]

Tonsilitis and Artemis

My kid had her tonsils out and she is absolutely miserable.  As a 15 year old, she seems to think that she absolutely MUST regress to the status of a 2 year old.  I say that she can’t talk and we go back to sign language that she could remember and she still talks.  She feels compelled to tell me that her throat hurt. She stands in my doorway at odd hours of the night, looking like the damned slenderman and growls like she’s the exorcist-”Mom, my thrrrroooooatttt”.  Sounds just like that.  Like exactly.  So, a little pee did escape me and I had to tell her not to do that because it scares me.  She levitates to the side of my bed and breathes on me (her breath is baaadddd-from the surgery) and repeats, “Mom, my thrrrrrooooaaatt”.  Yeah, because THAT’S not scary.  Either way, I have another week of this-jello, baked potatoes, mac n cheese, soup, popsicles, freezer pops and water.  Waking up every three hours to alternate medicines and not getting a full night’s sleep anytime soon.

In my marvelous down time, I have managed to just about finish editing my novel for my writer’s group.  I’ve also written a short horror story about a red box that takes place in the future.  I’ve watched all of Naruto Shippuden and about four movies.  Some Netflix movie named Tau.  Another one named Extinction.  Read a bunch of comic books called Deadly Class.  Found the next Injustice 2 comic book and a site where I can read comic books for free if I just slip through the porn.  (I mean who doesn’t mind two chicks kissing or a random gigantic ass popping up every now and then-I mean, I live in DC.  This is like ‘the norm’.  So, I issue my pop up porn a challenge, show me something I haven’t seen, bitches!)

Hmm...holding off on doing laundry and responsible adult stuff because I have what feels like narcolepsy.  (That every three hours sleeping thing)  I can barely cook anything for myself.  I plan on frying some shrimp later today and exercise, but damn if I’m not tired.

Okay, so, I saw Hotel Artemis-

let me see if I can insert some cool images here. 

Let’s chat.

I wanted this movie to be really good.  Like Jimmy Walker-Dy-No-Mite!!! Now with the whole James Gunn thing-I like Dave Bautista’s performance but I can’t support him supporting James Gunn.  Thing is whenever I see him, Bautista-he’s the best in the movie and has the least amount of acting experience.  

A hotel for villains to get stitched.  You have a list of rules and some other covert shit happening in the hotel.  What’s one thing that’s funny is once you check in, you are referred to by your room and not your name.  Sterling Brown is Waikiki.  That’s classic!  And hilarious! And fucking original!

We have former lovers, racists and double crossers here. I mean it’s a hotel for criminals but here’s the problem I had with this movie.  It just didn’t meet the heaviness of itself.  I will explain.  This movie had so much potential but when you watch it, it feels like eating an ice popsicle that someone told you was vanilla.  It soothes in the heat, but it’s not what you really want.

It was a pretty short movie.  Sterling Brown and Sophia Bou...she who dated Chris Pine-were really good.  Charlie Day played against type.  Zachary Quinto needs to take a long break.  It’s like he’s got one expression and if you put a mustache on him, you aren’t supposed to know that he has such a limited range.  

Jodie Foster looks good, even though they tried to age her up and for most of the movie she looked like she may have been either holding a fart or having to shit but scared which would come out.  She was also agoraphobic.  Jeff Goldblum drops in and plays Jeff Goldblum albeit with much more cursing.

Awesome potential but it just didn’t live up to what I thought it would be worth. My overall grade is C for average.  There is space for a sequel but meh.

[zillowcondo]

America’s Cup 2017: Where To Stay, Play And Eat in Bermuda

From May 26th through June 27th, Bermuda will host the America’s Cup presented by Louis Vuitton, the world’s oldest and most prestigious sailing event. The competition will draw six teams comprised of the world’s best sailors to the crystal blue waters of Bermuda’s Great Sound for the first time in the event’s 166 years.

The America’s Cup races are steeped in history, dating back to the Royal Yacht Squadron’s Annual Regatta around the Isle of Wight in 1851. An unusual looking Schooner named America, owned by the fledgling New York Yacht Club (NYYC), unexpectedly emerged from the mist, surpassed all 15 yachts of the Royal Yacht Squadron and came out to win the trophy. The trophy was later renamed America’s Cup and since the 1850s, has been held in trust as a perpetual challenge trophy to promote friendly competition among sailing nations.

Like past editions, the 2017 America’s Cup will be a grand test of athleticism, sailing prowess and nautical design, as well as fund-raising and management skills. But several factors are making this year’s competition much different and potentially, much more exciting to watch. Many eyes are focused on Emirates Team New Zealand after the breathtaking conclusion of the 34th America’s Cup in San Francisco, which, many say, was the greatest comeback in sports history. The Kiwis were up 8-1, but Oracle Team USA fought back, finally winning 9-8 and retaining the trophy they won in 2010.

The Kiwis are hoping to take the cup from defending champion Oracle Team USA with a newly designed boat, launched earlier this year. Fans will notice a major change in design to the grinding pedestals; instead of having the traditional setup where the sailors stand and use their arms to grind, they’ve set it up so the pedestals are like bikes. The idea generally being that legs will generate more power than arms. Sounds good in theory, but getting in and out of the bikes will add more time to the process, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Speaking of the Kiwis, they’re the only team who hasn’t signed the event’s new framework agreement. Earlier this year, teams and race organizers came together for the first time in race history to discuss the future of the races, and outlined new rules. One of the major changes of the new agreement is the allowance of training sessions ahead of the start of official cup racing. The teams have been training in Bermuda over the past several weeks, and early reports say that Oracle Team USA and Artemis, which recently added Olympian Jake Lilley to the team, are the fastest looking boats.

Bermuda is preparing up for one of the largest parties it will ever host, and anyone traveling to the island to watch the world’s Grand Prix of sailing will love every second. Here are a few of the best spots to check out on the island.

Stay:

Tucker’s Point in St. George’s on the north end of the island is steeped in history. While the private Tucker’s Point Golf Club has been around since 1932, the adjacent resort is relatively new. Originally opened in 2009, Rosewood Resorts took over the management of the 88-room Tucker’s Point in 2011. The new resort sits atop one of the highest hills on the northeastern end of Bermuda, next to Castle Harbour and with ocean views from almost every room and window. Rather than opt for a minimal contemporary look, Tucker’s Point remains true to its location with rooms decorated in a Georgian colonial look, complete with canopy beds, wainscoting and freestanding tubs. The resort has an impressive four pools (considering its relatively small size), including a 25-meter lap pool and another reserved for adults. Not so much a complaint as a caveat: while the resort has an enviably large beach (unlike many Bermuda properties), it’s a five-minute shuttle ride away.

If some laps in the pool or splashing in the surf don’t constitute sufficient exercise, guests at the resort also have access to the Tucker’s Point Club. This 18-hole course was originally laid out in 1932 and then redesigned in 2002 by Roger Rulewich, former chief designer for Robert Trent Jones.  Greens fees start at $205 through mid-September and $225 after. What’s more, guests of Tucker’s Point also receive playing privileges at the renowned Mid Ocean Club, which consistently ranks among the world’s top 100 courses. Originally designed in 1921 by Charles Blair Macdonald, the historic course was enhanced in 1953 by architect Robert Trent Jones. 

A smaller, yet equally lavish resort, The Reefs, a villa only resort in Southampton is also a great stay if you can afford. A beloved fixture on Bermuda’s South Shore since 1947, The Reefs, which Conde Nast rated #1 in the region (including Bermuda, Bahamas and Turks & Caicos) is family-owned and operated by the Dodwell family, native Bermudians whose passion for island living and gracious hospitality has delighted generations of loyal guests. Nestled in a pink sand cove surrounded by Bermuda’s wind-swept limestone cliffs, The Reefs echoes the island’s enduring elegance, blending it effortlessly with a youthful, make-our-own-rules spirit that charms friends old and new.

A less expensive alternative to Tucker’s Point and The Reefs, The Fairmont Southampton, right down the street from The Reefs is a great deal with a great location. If you can get by the size and color—affectionately known as the “pink elephant” due to it’s size (400 rooms) and light pink facade—the Southampton has a ton to offer at a very reasonable rate. Fairmont’s Private Beach Club is situated on one of Bermuda’s finest beaches, a secluded private cove with Bermuda’s signature pink sand.  The cove is somewhat protected from rough water due to a large rock just a short swim out (you can walk to it during low tide). It also happens to be an easy and convenient location to put on your snorkel and mask and see some of Bermuda’s beautiful fish. If you want a larger beach, the world-famous Horseshoe Bay Beach, a curved stretch of pink sand that connects to other South Shore Beaches, is just steps away. The Southampton also has two pools including a kid’s pool with a slide.

Cambridge Beaches, Elbow Beach Resort and The Hamilton Princess are also solid options and not too pricey.

Play:

If you’re not staying at Tucker’s Point (and you’re not a member or don’t know one) then Mid Ocean is not an option. But many will argue that the prestigious Port Royal Golf Course is just as good—and easily as beautiful. Originally designed by famed course architect Robert Trent Jones in 1970, the Port Royal Golf Course of Southampton Parish underwent a $14.5 million refurb back in 2009. It now features resewn fairways and tee boxes, a new irrigation system and a grandiose clubhouse.  Although the course has incredible ocean views, at 6,842 yards, it is also Bermuda’s longest and perhaps most challenging course so beginners beware. (Non-members can book a tee time at Port Royal Golf Course up to seven days in advance. The course is public and open to all players daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.). But be prepared to pay hefty greens fees and book well in advance.

For a less highfalutin activity, and one that is completely free, the beaches in Bermuda are a top-of-the-list activity. Whether your beach time is of the more active nature (walks, swimming, frisbee) or the less active (sunbathing) there is no place on Bermuda more pristine to waste the day away than Horseshoe Bay Beach. Always ranked among the top beaches in the world, it is easily on par with the best stretches of sand in the Bahamas and Caribbean.  

Eat

To say Celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelson’s namesake restaurant Marcus’ in the Hamilton Princess Hotel is breathtaking would be an understatement. Arrayed with modern art from the hotel’s owners, including original pieces by Andy Warhol, Liu Ye and Nelson Mandela amongst others, the space is visually striking, The signature restaurant occupies the former Gazebo Room, once a grand ballroom, offering a central bar and views of the ocean. An open kitchen creates a show all in its own, with chefs creating Samuelsson’s specialty including Jerk Pork Belly, and tantalizing Fried Chicken & Waffles. Additional dishes pay tribute to Bermudian culture, such as Grilled Bermuda Onion and Fish Chowder Bites among others. The restaurant features a full beverage menu with signature and classic cocktails, a well-rounded selection of wine and beer, and a new spin on a local favorite, ginger beer-based Darker and Stormier.

The only true beach bar and bistro on the island, Mickey’s Beach Bistro—or just “Mickey’s”—on Elbow Beach is loved by locals and visitors alike. Sip an island cocktail prepared by Bermuda’s best bartenders while listening to the waves break and gazing at the wide open Atlantic. Their eclectic menu and versatile wine list rounds out a great overall experience—a must stop while on the Island.

For cheaper eats, head to Art Mel’s Spicy Dicy (in Hamilton and in St. George’s) for what many—including Marcus Samuelson himself—believe to be the best fish sandwich on the island. The traditional Bermudian fish sandwich — deep-fried and served on raisin bread with lettuce, tomato, tartar sauce, coleslaw, and perhaps a touch of hot sauce and some sauteed onions — is one of the best fish sandwich anywhere.

Drink

Bermuda is a unique island in that it has many of the characteristics of the tropical islands in the Bahamas and Caribbean but it is undoubtedly subtropical—it is on approximately the same latitude as the Carolinas. So while the peak season in August and September may feel balmy and lend itself to island (rum) drinks, much of the year is more temperate. This, combined with the fact that Bermuda is a British territory, steeped in British culture and cuisine, results in food and drink options that are just as much pub fair-oriented as they are beach bar.

A less formal option than Mickey’s, Sea Breeze, also located at Elbow Beach Resort and positioned just above the famous stretch of sand, is an open-air terrace, with stunning, panoramic views of Elbow Beach’s pink sand and the wide open, blue atlantic waters. It’s a wonderful spot in which to enjoy cocktails from the bar, an aperitif before dinner or drinks under the stars.

Over in the more bustling Hamilton Parish lies The Swizzle Inn, a landmark known as Bermuda’s oldest pub and favored by both locals and visitors. It also happens to be the birthplace of Bermuda’s original Rum Swizzle, the deliciously potent national drink made with Goslings Black Seal Rum, Barbados Rum, Triple Sec, pineapple juice, orange juice, Bermuda Falernum, and Angostura Bitters.

For more British style pub fair, head to the The Frog and Onion Pub which calls an old barrel making building home and is also attached to the Dockyard Brewing Company. This authentic British-style pub was created in 1992 by a Frenchman (Frog) and Bermudian (Onion), hence the name. The historic Cooperage, completed in 1853, was converted to five storehouses in the 1940s. With the pub serving great comfort food, it pairs perfectly with an ale from Dockyard Brewing Co., Bermuda’s only microbrewery. Featuring 5 different types of beers and ales, it is a favourite destination of locals and tourists alike who wish to sample artisanal beverages of exceptional quality.

See

Bermuda has a ton of history and perhaps nothing symbolizes it more than St. Peter’s Church in St. George’s. Established when Bermuda was settled by the Virginia Company in 1612, for over 400 years this has been the church of the Town of St George. It is a cultural and historic icon, a holy place at the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also the oldest Anglican Church outside the British Isles and the oldest Protestant church in continuous use in the New World.

Watch

On May 26th 2017, Bermuda—renowned for its crystal blue water and pink sand beaches—will host the 35th America’s Cup. The eyes of the world will turn to Bermuda’s iconic Great Sound—turned natural amphitheatre—where the best sailors on the fastest boats will battle for the oldest trophy in international sport. Racing starts with the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers on 26th May and the top Challenger will meet Defending Champions ORACLE TEAM USA in the 35th America’s Cup Match beginning on 17th June, 2017.

More on America’s Cup:

This article was originally featured on GoodLife Report. Reprinted with permission.

The post America’s Cup 2017: Where To Stay, Play And Eat in Bermuda appeared first on Pursuitist.

America’s Cup 2017: Where To Stay, Play And Eat in Bermuda published first on http://ift.tt/2pewpEF