#modern lydia shelby

[wonderlanddreamer]

Shelby Sisters vs. Breakables

A modern Peaky Blinders drabble.

In the dimly lit confines of the Camden rage room, the air hummed with anticipation, punctuated only by the distant echo of shattering glass from a neighbouring chamber. Ada adjusted her protective goggles with precision, ensuring they sat snugly against her face. Her lips curled into a smirk as she turned to face Lydia. "Right, you ready for this?" she asked, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and challenge.

Lydia, standing beside her, already had a firm grip on a crowbar. It was as if the tool had personally offended her, and her expression spoke volumes about the havoc she intended to unleash. With a grin that mirrored Ada's, she replied confidently, "Never been more ready."

The attendant, a young man who seemed both amused and slightly apprehensive about the chaos about to unfold, stood at the door. He gestured toward the room, a veritable playground of destruction filled with fragile glassware, outdated televisions, and what appeared to be an entire office setup, complete with a rickety desk and a decrepit filing cabinet. "Uh, just… go nuts, I guess," he said, stepping aside with a knowing nod.

The moment the door clicked shut behind them, an intense energy filled the room. Ada was the first to feel the irresistible pull of destruction. She picked up a baseball bat, its weight familiar and reassuring in her hands. With a deliberate, slow swing, she aimed at a delicate porcelain vase perched precariously on a pedestal. The impact was immediate and satisfying, sending shards cascading through the air like a spray of glittering confetti. Ada exhaled deeply, a sigh of contentment escaping her lips. "Bloody hell, that felt good," she remarked, her voice tinged with a sense of release.

Lydia, meanwhile, had already set her sights on the desk. She attacked it with fervour, the crowbar descending with a powerful thud. "Why is this so therapeutic?" she mused aloud, her words punctuated by the rhythmic destruction. Each swing released pent-up frustrations, transforming them into splintered wood and mangled metal. "Tommy should book this place every time he pisses someone off."

Ada's laughter filled the room, a sound as liberating as the destruction itself. "If that were the case, he'd need his own private quarters," she quipped, her tone both amused and resigned.

Lydia moved on to an old printer, her weapon of choice swinging with precision. The impact sent the machine flying, its components scattering across the floor. "That was for last week's passive-aggressive 'I'm just saying' speech," she declared, her voice laced with satisfaction.

Not to be outdone, Ada selected a plate from a stack of mismatched crockery. With a swift motion, she hurled it against the wall, watching it shatter into countless pieces. "That one was for the time he told me I should be less intimidating in business meetings," she explained, her voice tinged with a mix of incredulity and defiance.

Lydia snorted, disbelief evident in her expression. "He said what?"

Ada, still simmering with indignation, reached for another plate. "Oh yeah," she confirmed, her grip tightening around the fragile object. "Apparently, I scare people. Which is rich coming from him."

Five minutes later, the sisters stood amidst the wreckage, breathing heavily and exhilarated. The room was a testament to their cathartic rampage, a chaotic mosaic of broken objects and scattered debris.

Ada wiped a bit of dust off her sleeve, her expression one of satisfaction. "Feel better?" she inquired, her voice warm with camaraderie.

Lydia rolled her shoulders, a broad grin spreading across her face. "Oh, much better," she replied, her tone light and playful. "We should make this a monthly thing."

Ada nodded in agreement, a sense of solidarity binding them together. "Agreed," she said, her eyes twinkling with shared mischief. "Now, do we tell Tommy about this, or just let him wonder why we're so suspiciously calm at the next family meeting?"

Lydia smirked, a conspiratorial glint in her eye. "Let him wonder."

[lillamolntuss]

lillamolntuss read 2024… check it out or don’t 🫢

titles in bold are my favorites… thumb down for books i didn’t like okay

🦦

the lost honor of katharina blum - heinrich böll

sir gawain and the green knight trans. marie borroff

the nenoquich - henry bean 👎

cat’s cradle - kurt vonnegut

under the net - iris murdoch

sugar and other stories - a.s. byatt

nausea - jean-paul sartre 👎

where i end - sophie white

the sandcastle - iris murdoch

dansare, konstnärer, älskare: ballets suédois 1920-1925 - karin helander

couples - john updike 👎🤢

the favorite game - leonard cohen

sula - toni morrison

the nice and the good - iris murdoch

sartre: romantic rationalist - iris murdoch

selected stories - katherine mansfield

men in the off hours - anne carson

johannasviten - patrik rochling

when we were birds - ayanna lloyd banwo 👎

waiting for godot - samuel beckett

beloved - toni morrison

the member of the wedding - carson mccullers

all the lovers in the night - mieko kawakami

the master and margarita - mikhail bulgakov

beautiful losers - leonard cohen

iris murdoch for beginners - bran nicol

the maze maker - michael ayrton

the portrait of a lady - henry james

the joke - milan kundera

the black album - hanif kureishi

the bell - iris murdoch

aucassin and nicolette: and other medieval romances and legends - ed. eugene mason

the heart is a lonely hunter - carson mccullers

never let me go - kazuo ishiguro

my autobiography of carson mccullers - jenn shapland

slaughterhouse-five - kurt vonnegut

ballet and modern dance - susan au

twelfth night - shakespeare

the stranger - albert camus

human acts - han kang

tipping the velvet - sarah waters

the unicorn - iris murdoch

the sweetest dream - doris lessing

immodest acts: the life of a lesbian nun in renaissance italy - judith c. brown

the end of the story - lydia davis

salt slow - julia armfield

creation lake - rachel kushner

stone yard devotional - charlotte wood

remarkably bright creatures - shelby van pelt 👎👎👎

wise children - angela carter

[lingeringscars]

🎰 well

Send 🎰 for me to put our muses into a random list generator then post the first five as potential ships! // always accepting !!

lydia x huck. i just think this could be v Sexy. i know you don’t have a tw verse and like maybe we could just iris x hope x huck x lydia something in wb idk !! but thinking about her modern verse & how maybe she goes into beacon hills bc of all the suspicious activity. maybe something s6 related. much thoughts. 

maddie x huck. oh my beloveds. i don’t have any thoughts except Yes.

june x dot. okay this could be SO Fun. june doesn’t have a family in her canon bc they all get killed by the government which doesn’t necessarily apply. and like everything is Super established but her being taken under gretchen’s wing for whatever reason ( even though she really is a soldier at heart ) after the loss of her brother. could be something off island or maybe some Sexy au where june arrives after nora disappears as the new operative and they find her in the ocean. maybe after shelby lets the boat escape bc hehe she went overboard as her cover story. just. thoughts.

logan x sasha. HM. do they want a younger sister. could go wild and tw verse them too. empath logan in a universe where grief is everywhere. that’ll be fun. but also them reading sasha sounds like something sasha would Not want <3 

callie x dot. no thoughts just yes absolutely. caretakers. burnout. 

eden x callie. two geniuses of my heart. i feel like. okay eden lives in the future in his book but like. he gets really sick when he’s little by a plague the government gave him and that leaves him almost blind. ten years after his brother basically overthrew the government and was the face of a revolution, they move and he becomes one of the best engineers and graduates early. he’s not big into activism activism but he could build things that would help callie’s cause. i think they would be great buds. i also think it’d be nice because them both trying to escape their families names and make names for themselves.

spencer x tracy. being told their mental illness is nothing <3 being told to get over it <3 

miller x kelly. i simply thing Best Friends. 

leoni x lydia. FRIENDS. ugh leoni my sunshine baby. they’re frequently referred to as a delight, sunshine, always optimistic etc. i just think lydia could use a good presence in her life who also believes that things will work out and she’ll be able to move past her trauma and live. where they won’t have to just get by!! and also just finding the Good Moments where they are and focusing on those. 

[bonniebird]

Read on AO3

Read on Wattpad

“I’ll just be hanging around the mistletoe, waiting to be kissed.” - Archie Andrews

“Guess who signed us up to go Christmas caroling?” - Stiles Stilinski

“I hate winter.” - Eragon Bromsson

“I’ll just be hanging around the mistletoe, waiting to be kissed.” - Theo Raeken & Rebekah Mikaelson

“I wish we could put some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.” - Bucky Barnes

“We’re snowed in…” - Illya Kuryakin

“Surprise! I’m your Christmas present.” - Stefan Salvatore

“Listen here, Kringle. I may have gotten naughty this year, but by today's standards, naughty's nothing! I didn't get anybody pregnant, I didn't Facebook a kid to death.”  - Wade Wilson

“Want a cookie?” - Abby Arcane

Christmas with Theo Raeken {Moodboard}  - Theo Raeken

“We’re snowed in…” - Dean Winchester

“Wow. So, what time is the Ghost of Christmas Past coming to visit you tonight?” - Wade Wilson

Christmas with Marko {Moodboard}  - Marko (The Lost Boys) 

Christmas with David {Moodboard}  - David (The Lost Boys) 

“Umm just so you know, I’m kind of stuck in the Christmas lights.”  - Sam Winchester

“The price limit was 20 dollars!”  - Elijah Mikaelson

“Chaos has come again.” - Prudence Blackwood

“Surprise! I’m your Christmas present.” - Lydia Martin

“Aww, too bad Santa's dead.” - Klaus Mikaelson

“You can’t put alcohol in the hot chocolate.” - Eragon Bromsson

“Tell me this, sweetheart, have I asked you for a lot this year?” - Kol Mikaelson

“Is that mistletoe hanging from the light?”  - Elijah Mikaelson

"Why are you even worrying? The kid's just going to ignore the toy and play with the box."  - Derek Hale

“Wow. So, what time is the Ghost of Christmas Past coming to visit you tonight?” - Theo Raeken & Rebekah Mikaelson

"Love the giver more than the gift." - Scott McCall 

"Only two weeks left till Christmas!" - Dorcas Night

“We’re snowed in…” - April Ludgate

“Tell me this, sweetheart, have I asked you for a lot this year?”  - Damon Salvatore

“I’ll just be hanging around the mistletoe, waiting to be kissed.” - Victor Zsasz

“That was like a crazy trust exercise.” - Napoleon Solo

“I hate winter.” - Dorcas Night

“Umm just so you know, I’m kind of stuck in the Christmas lights.”  - Prudence Blackwood 

“I knew you'd forget, so my gift to you is a gift for you to give me.” - Prudence Blackwood

“I’ll just be hanging around the mistletoe, waiting to be kissed.”  - Dorcas Night

“Is that mistletoe hanging from the light?” - Michael Langdon

“You cannot do what you did last year.”  - Nick Scratch

“Please stop singing Christmas songs.” - Sweet Pea

“You can’t put alcohol in the hot chocolate.” - Dean Winchester

“I’ll just be hanging around the mistletoe, waiting to be kissed.” - Sweet Pea

“Three days before Christmas and somebody kills Santa!” - Sam Winchester

"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone." - Castiel

"I got this, I watch food network." - Dean Winchester

“Umm just so you know, I’m kind of stuck in the Christmas lights.” - Isaac Lahey

Christmas with Stiles Stilinski {Moodboard}  - Stiles Stilinski

“Surprise! I’m your Christmas present.” - Rebekah Mikaelson & Theo Raeken

“That was like a crazy trust exercise.” - Kol Mikaelson

"Only two weeks left till Christmas!" - Daenerys Targaryen

“Is that mistletoe hanging from the light?” - Prudence Night

“Time to deck the halls with your incompetence.” - Peggy Carter

“This is extremely important. Will you please tell Santa that instead of presents this year, I just want my family back.” - Starlight

"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone."  - Aziraphale 

“Put that cookie down. NOW!” - Sherlock Holmes (BBC)

"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone." - Sherlock Holmes (BBC)

“It's just a bit of a tradition at Christmas parties that I have with my friends. See, we do a cookie competition, and then the winner gets to take home all of the leftovers to their families on Christmas Day.” - Clark Kent (HC) 

Christmas with Dean Winchester {Moodboard} - Dean Winchester

Christmas with Sam Winchester {Moodboard} - Sam Winchester

“I’ll just be hanging around the mistletoe, waiting to be kissed.” - Tommy Shelby

Christmas with Theo Raeken and Rebekah Mikaelson {Moodboard} - Theo and Rebekah

Christmas with Monica Geller {Moodboard} -  Monica Geller

Christmas with Rachel Green {Moodboard} -  Rachel Green

“Surprise! I’m your Christmas present.”  - Diego Hargreeves 

“Hands down, this is the best day of my life. And quite possibly the last.”  - Theo Raeken & Rebekah Mikaelson

Christmas with Johnny Storm {Moodboard}  - Johnny Storm

Christmas with Draco Malfoy {Moodboard}  - Draco Malfoy

“What to get the Shadowhunter who has everything.”  - Simon Lewis and Isabelle Lightwood

“Tell me this, sweetheart, have I asked you for a lot this year?” - Bonnie Bennett

“Is that mistletoe hanging from the light?” - David Rossi

“Surprise! I’m your Christmas present.” - Theo Raeken

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."  - Jojen Reed

Christmas with Sherlock Holmes {Moodboard}  - Sherlock (BBC)

Christmas with John Constantine {Moodboard}  - John Constantine

“Umm just so you know, I’m kind of stuck in the Christmas lights.” - Buffy Summers

“Tell me this, sweetheart, have I asked you for a lot this year?” - April Ludgate

Christmas with Nick Miller {Moodboard}  - Nick Miller

"You have such a pretty face. You should be on a Christmas card." - Rebekah Mikaelson & Theo Raeken

“You ruined my favourite Christmas sweater!” - Modern!Ivar Ragnarsson

Christmas with Sweet Pea {Moodboard}  - Sweet Pea

"This is Christmas spirit, as in spirits, booze." - Dean Winchester

“Christmas is just so stressful... with the lists and the lines and-and the dancing girls at TV Town Song Room." - Dean Winchester

“It's Christmas Eve! Who's going out crashing other people's Christmas parties?” - Dean Winchester

"If I hear this song one more time there will be blood." - Steve Rogers

“I’ll just be hanging around the mistletoe, waiting to be kissed.” - Derek Hale

“Put that cookie down. NOW!” - Rowena McCleod

“Do you want to build a snowman?” - Jughead Jones

“Put that cookie down. NOW!” - Joey Tribbiani

“Surprise! I’m your Christmas present.” - John Constantine

“I hate winter.” - Mick Rory

“Oh, I know exactly what you’re trying to do. But you will not ruin my Christmas. Not again. Not this year.”  - Jason Todd

“You and I on the same team. It must be Christmas.” - Ava Sharpe

"You have such a pretty face. You should be on a Christmas card." - Barbara Kean

“Aww, too bad Santa's dead.” - Gina Linetti

“Umm just so you know, I’m kind of stuck in the Christmas lights.” - Draco Malfoy

Christmas with Derek Hale {Moodboard}  - Derek Hale

“MERRY CHRISTMAS!” - Jughead Jones

“Oh, I know exactly what you’re trying to do. But you will not ruin my Christmas. Not again. Not this year.”  - Rosalie Hale

“Put that cookie down. NOW!”  - Sweet Pea

“Hands down, this is the best day of my life. And quite possibly the last.” - Jerome Valeska

“Umm just so you know, I’m kind of stuck in the Christmas lights.” - Stiles Stilinski

“You can’t put alcohol in the hot chocolate.”  - Spencer Reid 

"Call me elf one more time!" - Theo Raeken & Rebekah Mikaelson

Christmas with Remus Lupin {Moodboard}  - Remus Lupin

“You can’t put alcohol in the hot chocolate.”  - Damon Salvatore

“Put that cookie down. NOW!” - Norma Bates

“Umm just so you know, I’m kind of stuck in the Christmas lights.” - Ambrose Spellman

Christmas with Peter Hale {Moodboard}  - Peter Hale 

"Love the giver more than the gift." - Fred Weasley

Christmas with Roman Godfrey {Moodboard}  - Roman Godfrey

“Surprise! I’m your Christmas present.” - Sweet Pea

“Surprise! I’m your Christmas present.” - George Weasley

“Put that cookie down. NOW!”  - Peter Maximoff

"Love the giver more than the gift." - Jughead Jones

"You have such a pretty face. You should be on a Christmas card." - Ron Weasley

[iamapumpkinseed]

Babygeddon Name Predictions

JoKen2 - girl

Sibling: Garrett David

Style guess: Feminine, classic, sweet. Nothing too modern/trendy, but also nothing very stylish or surprising. I'd guess Olivia for them, if it weren't her sister.

Name guesses: Lucy, Katelyn, Claire, Elise, Lillian, Amelia, Molly

JoyStin2 - unknown sex

Sibling: Gideon Martyn

Style guess: I think Joy on her own would go super trendy, like Blakely or Kinsley. She'd probably even go unisex like Payton or Kameron, if she weren't so fundie. But I don't think Austin would go for it, unless he really DGAF about girl names. For a boy I think they'll do another semi-uncommon Old Testament.

Name guesses: Leah, Esther, Lydia, Grace, Margaret "Maggie" / Ezekiel, Asher, Solomon, Abram, Isaiah

SiRen1 - girl

Sibling: Asa 👼

Style guess: Hard to say whether they would have used super-old-school, Biblical Asa if their first pregnancy had made it. I think their girl pick will be either Biblical or meaningful. Probably stylish, maybe vintage.

Name guesses: Iris, Thea, Hope, Ruth, Luna, Ada (cringe, but I wouldn't put it past them)

M6 - girl

Siblings: Mackynzie Renee, Michael James, Marcus Anthony, Meredith Grace, Mason Garrett

Style guess: Anything M. I wish they'd go Maeve or Margot, but it's probably going to be very tame and mainstream. Not stylish but not too dated. Lots of predictions that they'll honor Grandma Mary, but I hope they don't use straight Mary. I've included some Mary-nicknames in my guesses, but I'm not sure they're smart enough to connect them.

Name guesses: Molly, Madelyn, Mia, Maya, Maisie, Marissa

BatesPerkins3 - unknown sex

Siblings: Bradley Gilvin, Kaci Lynn

Style guess: This is an odd one. Bradley is so formal and Kaci is so... not. But they're linked by being super 70s/80s to me. I get a very southern/rural vibe from the set. So it will probably be traditional for boys and cutesy for girls, but kinda dated either way.

Name guesses: Shelby, Faith, Kaylee, Rylee, Carli / Ashton, Dustin, Wesley, Travis, Cody

BatesPaine4 - unknown sex

Siblings: Charles Stephen IV "Carson," Brooklyn Elise, Everly Hope

Style guess: 100% pop trendy. Slightly more modern than her brother's set, above. Maybe a little less cutesy for girls. If her sister weren't Addee, I'd guess Adelyn, Addison etc.

Name guesses: Skylar, Lyla, Aria, Kylie, Kinsley / Hayden, Sawyer, Logan, Liam, Wyatt

[kansascityhappenings]

The history behind Kansas City-style barbecue and its star burnt ends

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Several regions throughout the United States have fanatics devoted to their local brand of barbecue, and Missouri is no exception. Kansas City is the birthplace of dry-rubbed barbecue drizzled in tomato-molasses sauce. Kansas City is also known for adding the sticky, finger-licking condiment onto a range of meats, veggies, and fruits.

Origins of barbecuing in Kansas City

Globally, people know Kansas City for its barbecue. Jazz, the Chiefs, the Royals, fountains, speakeasies, and President Harry S. Truman also top the list for what puts the metro in the international limelight. Even still, barbecue is often the first item tourists ask about when they hear about our city.

Smack-dab in the center of the first edition of The Kansas City Star (then called The Kansas City Evening Star), published on Sept. 18, 1880, appeared a story with the prophetic headline “The Grand Barbecue.”

On that day, Kansas Citians held a parade following the completion of a long-delayed railroad connection. The parade ended with an old fashioned barbecue attended by more than 3,000 hungry locals.

On July 3, 1869, Kansas Citians celebrated the historic opening of the Hannibal Bridge — the first permanent railroad bridge to cross the Missouri River. It also followed with a celebration parade and a large barbecue party. Before widespread modernization and cooking gadgets became mainstream, barbecuing food was one of the easiest ways to feed a large group of people.

It’s not surprising that barbecue took off in late 19th century Kansas City. Meat was relatively cheap and plentiful thanks to the city’s stockyards. After the Civil War, many freed slaves left the deep south for new destinations: Kansas City was often picked as a new home for its thriving river and rail hub and dominate meatpacking industry. These jobs promised a new life. The new residents brought with them their culinary traditions, and the city’s love of barbecue created a demand bound for profit.

Barbecuing in the modern times

Henry Perry is considered the Barbecue King and credited with starting and spreading the Kansas City barbecue trend on a wide-scale. Today the Kansas City metro has more than 100 barbecue dining options with a variety of sauces and dishes.

Kansas City-style barbecue makes use of different types of meat including: pulled pork, pork ribs, burnt ends, smoked sausage, beef brisket, beef ribs, smoked or grilled chicken, smoked turkey, lamb ribs, and sometimes fish. Occasionally, Kansas City-style barbecue includes vegetables or fruits.

The barbecue is often rubbed with spices, slow-smoked over a variety of woods and served with a thick tomato-based sauce. There are several different takes on the sauce, but the staple flavor people are familiar with blends both sweet and spicy.

Burnt ends are the crusty, fatty, and flavorful pieces of meat cut from the ends of a smoked beef or pork brisket — these are popular in several different restaurants in Kansas City from Q39, Char Bar, and sometimes Chicken N Pickle. Burnt ends used to be seen as the throwaway part of a brisket, but not anymore. It’s now a shining star of Kansas City-style barbecue.

Staple side dishes include: baked beans, fries, coleslaw, potato salad, cornbread, and vegetables.

Henry Perry brings a new style of barbecue to Kansas City

Henry Perry, the Barbecue King

Henry Perry famously cooked and sold his meats out of an old trolley barn at 19th & Highland in the historic African-American neighborhood around 18th & Vine. He served slow-cooked ribs on newspaper pages for 25 cents a slab. Perry came to the Kansas City area from Shelby County, Tennessee near Memphis. He started serving barbecue in 1908.

Before moving here, Perry spent the past 15 years earning his way in the world as a cook on riverboats tugging along the Mississippi River. He began cooking for Kansas Citians in an alley at the corner of 8th and Banks in the Garment District. He sold the meat from a stand. He also operated Perry’s Barbecue at 17th and Lydia Avenue before moving to his most well known site. 

Compared to Memphis-stye barbecue, the Kansas City kind tends to use more sauce and more meats. Customers said Perry’s sauce was somewhat harsh with a noticeable peppery flavor. His sauce had more  vinegar and was spicier than what people are familiar with today. He pit-smoked his meats, which included pork ribs and beef along with wild game — like opossum, woodchuck, and raccoon.

Perry preferred tradition over creative nuances or innovation. He was quoted in an article in The Call as saying, “There is only one way to cook barbecue, and that is the way I am doing it, over a wood fire, with a properly constructed oven and pit.”

The Call reported in Perry’s heyday that there were more than a thousand barbecue stands in operation throughout the city.

Perry’s restaurant became an icon during the city’s Jazz renaissance and during the “wide-open” days of the Pendergast Era in the 1920s and 1930s. Jazz pianists Count Basie and Mary Lou Williams along with saxophonist Charlie Parker all loved the smoked meats Perry served at his eatery.  Kansas City was known then as the Paris of the Plains.

Charlie Bryant worked for the Barbecue King. He brought his brother Arthur Bryant into the business. Charlie took over the Perry restaurant in 1940 after the legend died.

Arthur then took over the business in 1946, renaming the restaurant Arthur Bryant’s.

The Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque Era

Arthur Bryant’s BBQ | Wikipedia

Arthur Bryant’s moved to 1727 Brooklyn Avenue. In the new neighborhood, it became the rendezvous for baseball fans and players in the 1950s and 1960s — it was close to the Municipal Stadium, where the Kansas City A’s played their home games. The team moved to Oakland, California in 1968.

In 1972, journalist, food writer, and author Calvin Trillin wrote an article for Playboy designating Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque as the best restaurant in the world.

The restaurant today serves smoked meets with Wonder bread and fries in plain self-service digs. Some of its top items are smoked ribs, brisket, and burnt ends.

Presidents Harry S. Truman, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan all stopped by to eat some grub there. Count Basie reportedly spat on his ribs to keep his bandmates from eating his food while he performed. Actors Jack Nicholson and Robert Redford also have stopped by for a meal.

In Trillin’s widely read Playboy essay, he wrote about Bryant’s legendary burnt ends, the crispy caramelized edges of smoked brisket:

“The main course at Bryant’s, as far as I’m concerned, is something that is given away free — the burned edges of the brisket. The counter-man just pushes them over to the side, and anyone who wants them helps himself. I dream of those burned edges. Sometimes, when I’m in some awful, overpriced restaurant in some strange town, trying to choke down some three-dollar hamburger that tastes like a burned sponge, a blank look comes over me: I have just realized that at that very moment, someone in Kansas City is being given those burned edges… for free.”

Shortly after Christmas in 1982, Bryant died of a heart attack in a bed that he kept at the restaurant.

His niece, Doretha Bryant, sold the restaurant to Bill Rauschelbach and Gary Berbiglia.

Gates & Sons

Gates BBQ Headquarters on Brush Creek in Kansas City | Wikipedia

In 1946, Arthur Pinkard, who also worked for the legendary Perry, joined with George Gates to form Gates and Sons Bar-B-Q. The first restaurant was in the same neighborhood as Perry’s famous eatery. When visiting baseball teams and sportscasters came to Kansas City, they fell in love with the barbecue scene, and they would go home to preach about the food they devoured. They had a huge hand in spreading the word about Kansas City cuisine to the rest of the country.

George Gates initially bought the restaurant for its liquor license, intending to turn it into a pub. His wife didn’t agree with this — she was a devout Methodist and disapproved of whiskey, so barbecue became the venue’s main focus.

Ollie Gates was in high school when his father bought the restaurant. He grew up working alongside his father. After college and a stint in the U.S. Army, Ollie actively worked at the restaurant. He now owns it. Three of his five children now preside over the small empire.

Gates barbecue sauce doesn’t contain molasses. The ingredients include tomatoes, vinegar, salt, sugar, celery, garlic, spices, and pepper. 1/10th of 1% potassium sorbate preservative is added into the mix. The additive is a white salt that is highly soluble in water. The sauce is available in several different varieties.

Gates expanded in the metro with restaurants all displaying certain trademarks — the red roofed buildings and a recognizable logo — a strutting man donning a tuxedo and a top hat.

The chain consists of six area Gates Bar-B-Q restaurants: four in Missouri and two in Kansas.

The American Royal

Kansas City is home to the American Royal, a nonprofit that debuted in 1899. It featured 541 registered head of Hereford cattle, the event was held in Kansas City’s flourishing stockyards. Around 55,000 people visited the show tent that year. The annual event grew to include goats, hogs, horses, and sheep. The annual event inspired the name for the Major League Baseball team the Kansas City Royals.

The American Royal in the present helps create scholarships, educational programs, and community outreach programs. It is the world’s largest barbecue competition.

Joe’s Kansas City

Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que traces back to barbecue competitions in the 1990s and the Kansas City Barbecue Society.

Jeff Steheny accompanied some friends to the American Royal and The Great BBQ Battle and this inspired him to start cooking his own meats. The first smoker he purchased was an Oklahoma Joe’s 24” smoker, christened in April 1991.

By 1993, Jeff, his wife and business partner Joy, and Jim “Thurston” Howell had made noticeable traction in the KCBS competition circuit. Their competition team, Slaughterhouse Five, ended up winning eight Grand Championships, including the prestigious American Royal BBQ, three Reserve Grand Championships, and the KCBS’s Grand Champion “Team of the Year.”

Jeff and Joy opened Oklahoma Joe’s Bar-B-Que in a gas station in Kansas City, Kansas in 1996. It was later renamed to Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que. There are also locations in Olathe and Leawood.

Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain listed Joe’s original Kansas City, Kansas location as one of “13 Places You Must Eat Before You Die.”

It’s probably the best gas station barbecue one could ever hope to find. Slaughterhouse Five continues to compete at the American Royal. They continue to take home awards too.

KC Masterpiece

In 1977, Rich Davis capitalized on the growing reputation of Kansas City-style barbecue sauce. He created the KC Masterpiece, which evolved from his “K.C. Soul Style Barbecue Sauce.”

He sold KC Masterpiece to the Kingsford division of Clorox in 1986. It now claims to be the number one premium barbecue brand in the United States. The KC Masterpiece brand tastes sweeter than the classic Bryant’s or Gates sauces.

Davis held KC Masterpiece barbecues on the White House lawn for President George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.

The History Channel stated Dr. Davis bucked the trend of KC BBQ restaurants by developing his sauce first, then creating a restaurant. The History Channel also found that KC is the crossroads of the BBQ community, in part due to the influence of the early railroad system.

When Davis sold the rights to his sauce, he announced plans to build a barbecue franchise. New restaurants popped up around the country, but all KC Masterpiece restaurants have closed. The Overland Park location was the last to close in 2009.

Jones Bar-B-Q

Jones Bar-B-Q is an independent barbecue joint on Kaw Drive in Kansas City, Kansas owned by sisters Deborah and Mary Jones. 

In 2001, Doug Worgul featured Jones Bar-B-Q in the afterword of his book The Grand Barbecue: A Celebration of the History, Places, Personalities and Techniques of Kansas City Barbecue.

The sister pitmasters do not participate in the barbecue competition circuit. 

In 2018, they appeared on an episode of Steve Harvey’s Steve in a segment titled “The Queens of Barbecue.”

In March 2019, the sisters and their famed barbecue appeared on the third season of American television series Queer Eye. The television celebrities gave the restaurant a makeover, and the sisters started bottling their famous sauce. They had to put in a second barbecue pit to handle the new demand.

Innovations in the present

Competition over who serves the best barbecue is fierce in the present. Even President Barack Obama, when visiting Kansas City in 2014, refused to comment on which restaurant served the best grub.

Recently, restaurants have gotten really creative with barbecue. Q39 is known for its salivate-inducing sauce. The restaurant is owned and operated by Rob Magee, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Magee captained Munchin’ Hogs, one of the most successful competitive barbecue teams in history. They’ve won more than 50 Grand Champion titles at dozens of contests across the United States.

Magee and his team elevated barbecue as a cuisine with unique sides and genius flavor combinations like jalapeño-cilantro slaw, bacon-onion marmalade, Béarnaise butter, to drop donuts with chocolate and raspberry sauce.

At the restaurant Rye, they have created a burnt ends hash. For those that want a meatless option, Char Bar has an option worth trying. The JackKnife sandwich contains smoked jackfruit with a taste and texture close to pulled pork.

Kansas City Barbecue Society

The Kansas City Barbecue Society has more than 10,000 members worldwide. It is the largest organization of barbecue and grilling enthusiasts around the globe. KCBS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to “promoting barbecue as America’s cuisine and having fun while doing so.”

KCBS sanctions nearly 300 barbecue contests across the country each year. It offers assistance to civic and charitable groups through the contests.

KCBS also offers educational programs, consultation services, and civic organization presentations to help spread the word about tasty and perfected barbecue.

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/2019/11/23/the-history-behind-kansas-city-style-barbecue-and-its-star-burnt-ends/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2019/11/23/the-history-behind-kansas-city-style-barbecue-and-its-star-burnt-ends/

[wonderlanddreamer]

Modern! Lydia & Finn.

Lydia: I'm winning!

Finn: That's the tutorial.

[wonderlanddreamer]

Reader POV Masterlist

Main Lydia Masterlist

Edits, Drabbles & More

Multi-Chapter Fics.

Queen Of Kings - Nellie Ensor never expected to return to Small Heath, but fate had other plans. After her father's brutal murder at the hands of a ruthless gang, Nellie inherits the family business—a prize many would kill for. Torn between selling it off for safety and honouring her father's legacy, Nellie decides to stand her ground. Navigating a world steeped in danger, she finds herself entangled with the notorious Peaky Blinders. As threats loom and loyalties are tested, Nellie must find courage to protect her father's dream and carve out a place for herself in a world where survival is never guaranteed. In the heart of Birmingham, amidst the smoke and shadows, a legacy is about to be reborn.

Behind Enemy Lines - Fearless journalist Florence Fletcher is on a mission to expose the Peaky Blinders, but her relentless pursuit pits her against the dangerous and captivating John Shelby. When a greater threat looms, they must join forces, turning enemies into uneasy allies. Amidst the chaos and intrigue, sparks fly and forbidden passion ignites. Can they survive the shadows of Birmingham's underworld and find love, or will their secrets destroy them?

Blurred Lines - Florence Fletcher has always been a thorn in John Shelby's side, but when he finds her drunk and vulnerable on a night out, his protective instincts take over. As he steps in to help her, the hard edges of their contentious relationship start to blur, uncovering unexpected depths and hidden feelings.

[A modern spin-off of Behind Enemy Lines]

The Rook - Seeking refuge from his turbulent life, Tommy Shelby finds solace in The Rook, a quiet pub on Birmingham's outskirts. There, he meets Rosemary King, a barmaid whose sunny disposition offers him an unexpected sanctuary. Her kindness and warmth begin to thaw his hardened heart, creating a bond that takes the gangster by surprise. But peace is short-lived when Tommy's enemies track him to his hidden refuge, putting both The Rook and Rosemary in jeopardy. As danger looms, they must navigate the threats together, testing the strength of their growing connection. Can Tommy protect his newfound sanctuary, or will his criminal life shatter the fragile peace he's found?

[wonderlanddreamer]

Edits, Drabbles & More.

Lydia Elizabeth Shelby

The Early Years -

OC Interview

Things that Lydia would love if she existed in 2025.

Lydia & Tommy

October 🎃 & December 🎄

Modern! Lydia & Finn

Lydia & Johnny Dogs: Headcanons

Lydia & Alfie Solomons

Rusty 🐾

Lydia does Disney

Wolf

GOT AU - Lydaerys Targaryen

Lydia & Evie [ft. @novashelby 's Evie]

Lydia & Lucy [ft. @mischievouslittlecreature 's Lucy]

Lydia & Eva [ft. @evita-shelby 's Eva]

Lydia & Heaven [ft. @call-sign-shark 's Heaven]

The Later Years -

The Mature Era

A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More 'Touch Me'

Sunshine & Rainbows

Lydia Shelby x Bonnie Gold: One • Two • Three

Ringside

His Gypsy Girl

Bonnie × Lydia - Ship in 5 Minutes

Call Your Sister || Ada & Lydia

Gold for Gold