#official hyde merch

[mikeys-bike-slut]

NEW HYDE VS. MIKEY MERCH

Ken Wakui himself drawn this design specifically for this project.

As someone who started watching TR because of Hyde, this is EVERYTHING. Unfortunately only ships within Japan, but still!

Link!

[hislittleraincloud]

Once again, a useless side character like Thornhill being merchandised, but Xavier doesn’t get anything when he was one of the main characters in s1. It’s annoying. Just one piece of merchandise for him is all I’m asking for

*sighs*

I'm pretty sure I know who this is.

Look. If you look at my latest reblog you'll see that Thornhill/Gates wasn't just a "useless side character". She orchestrated everything that happened during the entire season, including helping to frame your precious Xavier for the Hyde murders. She was pretty important for the storyline.

I get your frustration, but he's no longer going to be on the show and is therefore irrelevant towards any forthcoming merch (unless Funko gets generous on us, and I don't think that'll happen since they've been super stingy with the Wednesday figures so far). Just get the bag clip and be happy, since I think the only way we're getting any Xavier is via custom figures and not through official merch.

[malaysiankpopfans]

K-indie band The Rose brings Dawn to Dusk Tour to Kuala Lumpur in January 2024

Pre-sale Tickets go on sale 6th January 2024 with exclusive fan benefits for the first 300 VIP, 104 VVIP, and 5 VVVIP ticket buyers

KUALA LUMPUR, 3rd January 2024 — Acclaimed South Korean indie rock quartet The Rose  is finally coming to Malaysia for their first appearance here in years!

Organised by Lo-Fi Entertainment, The Rose Dawn to Dusk Tour in Kuala Lumpur 2024 will  be rocking Mega Star Arena, KL on 31st January at 8.30 p.m.

Kuala Lumpur is among the very few Southeast Asian stops for the tour, which takes the band  to arenas and venues in cities across North America, Europe and Asia as they belt out a range  of hits for their fandom known as ‘Black Roses’. 

Members of The Rose – composed of vocalist and guitarist Kim Woosung, keyboardist and  vocalist Park Dojoon, drummer Lee Hajoon and bassist Lee Jaehyeong – met through the  busking scene in Seoul. 

The band, which is under their own label Windfall in partnership with Transparent Arts, is  known for their emotion-filled English and Korean songs such as Back to Me, Red, She’s in the Rain and debut single Sorry that propelled them to fame. 

Apart from being a collective, every member has also made waves in the industry as  individuals – Woosung is featured with the late Ryuichi Sakamoto on a track by Agust D, also known as Suga of BTS, and was cast as a voice actor in an Ali Wong-led animated series,  while Dojoon, Hajoon and Jaehyeong have made appearances in K-dramas and web series. 

Having played Lollapalooza in Chicago, Sweden, Brazil, Chile and Argentina, as well as  Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and BST Hyde Park in England, they have been named  Band of the Year at Brazil’s Prêmio Annual K4US in 2022. 

To date, The Rose has released two studio albums Heal and Dual, two EPs Void and Dawn,  one single album Red, along with numerous singles that made a mark on global top charts. 

Tickets to The Rose Dawn to Dusk Tour in Kuala Lumpur 2024 will be available from 6th January 2024 through www.ticketingtix.com at the following prices, subject to RM4 processing fee:

RM898 (VIP): First 300 buyers will receive Early Entry (after VVVIP & VVIP),  Soundcheck Experience, Q&A Session, Official Lanyard, Poster, The Rose Guitar Pick Pack,  and a sample of The Rose’s Upcoming Fragrance, Black Rose.

RM598 (CAT 1)

RM498 (CAT 2)

RM298 (CAT 3)

*All ticket categories are seated.

*VVIP and VVVIP tickets available only on The Rosarium App. 

VVIP: First 104 buyers will receive all VIP Benefits, Early Entry (after VVVIP), Meet & Greet  Photo (Groups of 8), Signature with Poster, VVIP Merch Bundle.

VVVIP: First 5 buyers will receive all VVIP Benefits, Earliest Entry, Solo Meet & Greet Photo  (in lieu of Group Photo), Exclusive VVVIP Merch Item Gift, Green Room Experience.

ERA, MY and HITZ are the Official Media Partners for The Rose Dawn to Dusk Tour in Kuala Lumpur 2024. 

For more information and the latest updates, follow Lo-Fi Entertainment on Facebook and Instagram.

[mykpoplovers]

K-indie band The Rose brings Dawn to Dusk Tour to Kuala Lumpur in January 2024

Pre-sale Tickets go on sale 6th January 2024 with exclusive fan benefits for the first 300 VIP, 104 VVIP, and 5 VVVIP ticket buyers

KUALA LUMPUR, 3rd January 2024 — Acclaimed South Korean indie rock quartet The Rose  is finally coming to Malaysia for their first appearance here in years!

Organised by Lo-Fi Entertainment, The Rose Dawn to Dusk Tour in Kuala Lumpur 2024 will  be rocking Mega Star Arena, KL on 31st January at 8.30 p.m.

Kuala Lumpur is among the very few Southeast Asian stops for the tour, which takes the band  to arenas and venues in cities across North America, Europe and Asia as they belt out a range  of hits for their fandom known as ‘Black Roses’. 

Members of The Rose – composed of vocalist and guitarist Kim Woosung, keyboardist and  vocalist Park Dojoon, drummer Lee Hajoon and bassist Lee Jaehyeong – met through the  busking scene in Seoul. 

The band, which is under their own label Windfall in partnership with Transparent Arts, is  known for their emotion-filled English and Korean songs such as Back to Me, Red, She’s in the Rain and debut single Sorry that propelled them to fame. 

Apart from being a collective, every member has also made waves in the industry as  individuals – Woosung is featured with the late Ryuichi Sakamoto on a track by Agust D, also known as Suga of BTS, and was cast as a voice actor in an Ali Wong-led animated series,  while Dojoon, Hajoon and Jaehyeong have made appearances in K-dramas and web series. 

Having played Lollapalooza in Chicago, Sweden, Brazil, Chile and Argentina, as well as  Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and BST Hyde Park in England, they have been named  Band of the Year at Brazil’s Prêmio Annual K4US in 2022. 

To date, The Rose has released two studio albums Heal and Dual, two EPs Void and Dawn,  one single album Red, along with numerous singles that made a mark on global top charts. 

Tickets to The Rose Dawn to Dusk Tour in Kuala Lumpur 2024 will be available from 6th January 2024 through www.ticketingtix.com at the following prices, subject to RM4 processing fee:

M898 (VIP): First 300 buyers will receive Early Entry (after VVVIP & VVIP),  Soundcheck Experience, Q&A Session, Official Lanyard, Poster, The Rose Guitar Pick Pack,  and a sample of The Rose’s Upcoming Fragrance, Black Rose.

RM598 (CAT 1)

RM498 (CAT 2)

RM298 (CAT 3)

*All ticket categories are seated.

*VVIP and VVVIP tickets available only on The Rosarium App. 

VVIP: First 104 buyers will receive all VIP Benefits, Early Entry (after VVVIP), Meet & Greet  Photo (Groups of 8), Signature with Poster, VVIP Merch Bundle.

VVVIP: First 5 buyers will receive all VVIP Benefits, Earliest Entry, Solo Meet & Greet Photo  (in lieu of Group Photo), Exclusive VVVIP Merch Item Gift, Green Room Experience.

ERA, MY and HITZ are the Official Media Partners for The Rose Dawn to Dusk Tour in Kuala Lumpur 2024. 

For more information and the latest updates, follow Lo-Fi Entertainment on Facebook and Instagram.

[otherpplnation]

803. Allegra Hyde

Allegra Hyde is the author of the novel Eleutheria, available from Vintage. It is the official December pick of the TNB Book Club.

Hyde's debut story collection, Of This New World, won the John Simmons Short Fiction Award through the Iowa Short Fiction Award Series. Her stories and essays have appeared in The Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, The Best Small Fictions, and The Best American Travel Writing. Originally from New Hampshire, she currently lives in Ohio and teaches at Oberlin College.

***

Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly literary podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.

Launched in 2011. Books. Literature. Writing. Publishing. Authors. Screenwriters. Etc.

Available where podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, etc.

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Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com

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www.otherppl.com

[anonymoushouseplantfan]

The book reads like if Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde wrote it. It starts of being really nice and then it oddly throws in a piece of sly criticism as if it was edited last minute. E.g, if one line says that "Our source said Will and Kate were supportive", the next line it would have something like "But Harry didn't see it that way" or "Another source says they weren't." The same thing happened with Eugenie in the book as well. It's as if Carolyn writes unbiasedly and then Omid adds in the trash talk

LOL, Omid refers to Harry as “an heir to the throne.” 

This book is wild. They mention the trip to Africa and then there’s five paragraphs on what an amazing Africa-focused humanitarian Megan is. It’s bizarre.

Harry supposedly met Doria in LA early on (I’m skeptical but whatevs), but it’s pretty clear Harry was hiding from his family. No official cars and no royal residences. I remember the sugars claiming that Harry’s aristo friends were lending them houses and they were spending time at Birkhall. Nope, it was all Soho House. No wonder they merched it so hard. 

[japanessie]

Hi Shelly. I'm a new storyteller. Tbh I feel upset because i just found out about this amazing band 9 years after their debut. I know that MFS is an indie band and maybe it'll be more difficult for them to gain public recognition. I want to ask you about MFS popularity in Japan these days. Are they doing well or they still struggling? Thank you!

Hi ✌️😊

Welcome to the fandom 🤗. Would you share with us all how you found MFS? It would be fun to know your story too. My story is in this post.... hehe 😄

https://japanessie.tumblr.com/post/139468092797/how-did-you-find-out-about-my-first-story

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

It’s ok. Don’t be too sad 🤗

Think of it this way 😉. You came to them at a point when....

1. They already have an extensive collection of works under their belts for you to choose your favs from.

2. Availability of their music on legal digital platforms (Spotify, YouTube Music, international iTunes etc).

3. A bunch of fanpages in different languages.

4. Many translated lyrics, articles and interviews.

5. An official Fan Club 😀🤘

6. Online official band merch shop.

Those of us who started early didn’t have much or even nothing at all (not even Spotify!). We, the fans, had to support each other building up the fandom into what it is today from scratch. The only advantage the earlier fans had was the fact that the band members had public Twitter/Instagram accounts back then.

How popular is MFS in Japan?

Hmm... interesting. 

I met a Japanese guy who looked like he was in his late 20s in Sept 2019 at a hostel in Fukuoka . Upon knowing that I was there to see MY FIRST STORY, he said, “Sugoii!! They’re very popular you know.” 

I was a bit astonished to hear it as I assumed MFS was not known much, “Really 😮?? I'm not Japanese. So, I don’t know if they’re popular here or not.”

“Yes, they’re very popular,” he said in an affirming manner, smiling 😀.

Our conversation ventured on to ONE OK ROCK after that though 😅. It’s like a given that anyone who knows MFS would know who OOR is. We ended up watching OOR videos on YouTube together with his friend and another traveller in the hostel common area.

Yup... that's OOR on the TV screen 😅

Looks like MFS is known just enough but .....🤔

They’re NOT YET at a point where people of any walk of life you meet in Japan would know them like they do with OOR. Hiro’s brother Taka’s face was practically plastered on billboards all over for Honda in 2019. 

It’s not an exaggeration to say that OOR is moving up bit by bit towards the level of super Senpai like HYDE and L’arc en Ciel sooner or later. I’m not talking musically or artistically. I’m talking about the level of being known by the general public in their country.

I would say that MFS is still mostly only known by the teens and the 20-somethings which is their main market. But once you reach the point where babies and 80-year-old grandmas also know who you are, then you have reached the golden plateau. Which is why MFS is actively trying to expand their fanbase by collaborating with many different artists.

It's a big blessing too that MFS leader Sho Tsuchiya is a songwriter/producer behind the scene and this opens lots of doors for them to get song projects. Getting that King & Ashley theme song on Netflix is important for the band's “brand awareness".

* Personally though I feel that Hiro's status as a Moriuchi is what has been garnering attention from the media. Especially now that Hiro is more open with talking about his family in public. But hey, it's still publicity for MFS indirectly 😄

By Indie artists’ standard, MFS is secure. However...

MFS wants to be an arena selling band and later on the Dome. They want more than being secure at ZEPP Hall level (can easily sell out 2.5K~3K pax per Hall) and the Budokan (10K~12K pax no problem). However I can’t close my eyes to the fact that they didn’t quite fill up Saitama Super Arena. My analysis of that situation here.

I personally feel their target planning is a bit too tight in timing:

Nippon Budokan (2016 ~ 12K pax)

Makuhari Messe (2017 ~ 18K pax)

Yokohama Arena (early 2019 ~ 18K pax)

Saitama Super Arena (late 2019 ~ 18K pax)

Tokyo Dome (planned for 2021 ~ can they reach >18K pax?)

Being Indie means they don’t quite have the budget or networking power for the marketing machines that big labels have. Add to that, the entire Live entertainment industry around the world is being financially crippled by a deadly pandemic.

The Corona virus situation unfortunately came at the most crucial time for MFS to build the momentum for the Tokyo Dome show 😖. I do hope they will continue using their digital platforms wisely and strategically. Learn the algorithms and stuff.

Can MFS do the Tokyo Dome by 2021?

Would they take advantage of the “social distancing" rule to do a fully seated show with huge spacing in between and charge higher ticket prices without the pressure of selling >18K tickets 🤔?

Note: Concert photo is of girl group TWICE at the Tokyo Dome. Reportedly 50K pax per night.

To me it's more realistic for MFS to postpone the Tokyo Dome show to another year or two or even 3+ if they want to build up an attendance number beyond 18K pax 🤔. The problem is with the current Corona situation, can they financially afford to postpone any show much longer 😕?

[lethal-liability]

Info Dump Time!

So it has come to my attention that the slasher fandom has recently been introduced to Ice Nine Kills, my favorite band (aside from Rammstein, of course). So if you are really wanting to get into them but have no clue where to start, look no further! As I am about to impart my knowledge onto all of you lovely people!

So Ice Nine Kills is an American Rock band from Boston, Massachusetts (but they like to say they’re from Salem). The band was formed in 2002 by high school friends Spencer Charnas and Jeremy Schwartz, though today the only surviving member of the original band is Spencer.

(more under the cut)

The current members are:

Spencer Charnas - lead vocals (main stage character: Freddy Kruger, Jason Vorhees)

Ricky Armellino - rhythm guitar, co-vocals (the extra screaming voice in most songs lol) (main stage character: Georgie)

Patrick Galante - drums (main stage character: Jigsaw)

Joe Occhiuti - bass, keyboard (Main stage character: Eric Draven)

Dan Sugarman - lead guitar, backing vocals (Main stage character: Leatherface)

Justin “JD” DeBlieck is also technically a current member but he's been on hiatus from the band since Warped Tour 2018. His role in the band has been filled in by Ricky since then.

Their original sound was more ska-punk but have, since their first official album, have changed their sound to metalcore, or as Spencer calls it, theatricore.

Their discography is as follows:

Last Chance To Make Amends - 2006 (not currently on spotify and the only one I haven’t heard)

The Burning - 2007

2 Song Acoustic - 2009

Safe Is Just A Shadow - 2010

The Predator - 2013

The Predator Becomes The Prey - 2014

Every Trick In The Book - 2015

The Silver Scream - 2018

Other notable releases:

They’ve been featured on Punk Goes Pop three times and Punk Goes 90s once. They covered Adele’s Someone Like You on Vol. 5, Maroon 5’s Animals on Vol. 6, Taylor Swift’s I Don’t Want To Live Forever on Vol. 7, and Green Day’s Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) on Punk Goes 90’s Vol. 2 (also, side note, Motionless In White covered Rammstein’s Du Hast on that record and it is *chef kiss* horrible. Awful. Listen to it if you wanna ruin your ears. Chris Motionless does not know a lick of German and it shows)

In 2017 they released a re-recorded version of Safe Is Just A Shadow which I personally prefer over the original because it is a much cleaner record. I also like that it only features Spencer’s vocals which I find sounds much better than the mix of his and former bassist Shane Bisnett’s vocals.

Last year, they released a deluxe version of The Silver Scream which includes the new track Your Number’s Up, a cover of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and acoustic versions of A Grave Mistake, Stabbing In The Dark, SAVAGES, and Thank God It’s Friday (personally I only really like the acoustic of A Grave Mistake)

Their two most recent albums, Every Trick In The Book and The Silver Scream follow a similar format where every song on them follows a similar theme, ETITB being all based on classic novels and TSS being all based on slasher movies (with the exception of Thriller).

The songs and what they’re based on are as follows:

The Nature Of The Beast - Animal Farm by George Orwell

Communion Of The Cursed - The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

Bloodbath & Beyond - Dracula by Bram Stoker

The Plot Sickens - Alive: The Story of The Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read

Star-Crossed Enemies - Romeo And Juliet by William Shakespeare (the analyst in me really loves this song because it implies that Romeo and Juliet knew that they were only characters in a play but died together anyway because they knew they couldn’t escape their fate)

Me, Myself, & Hyde - The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

Alice - Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks

The People In The Attic - The Diary Of A Young Girl by Anne Frank (this song features Spencer doing a very unconvincing German accent which, outside of the context of the song, is very funny)

Tess-Timony - Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Hell In The Hallways - Carrie by Stephen King

The American Nightmare - A Nightmare On Elm Street

Thank God It’s Friday - Friday The 13th

Stabbing In The Dark - Halloween

SAVAGES - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Jig Is Up - Saw

A Grave Mistake - The Crow

Rocking The Boat - Jaws (fun fact! This song features Jeremy Schwartz, the other founding member of the band and the lyrics contain the names of 5 of their 6 albums, excluding The Silver Scream)

Enjoy Your Slay - The Shining (another fun fact! In 2016 they put a vote to their fans to pick what piece of media the song they were working on would be based on, either The Shining or Psycho, I voted for Psycho because they already had a song based on a Stephen King story)

Freak Flag - The Devil’s Rejects

The World In My Hands - Edward Scissor-Hands

Merry Axe-Mas - Silent Night, Deadly Night

Love Bites - An American Werewolf In London

IT Is The End - It (including this one they have 3 songs based on Stephen King stories! His influence, ugh)

Your Number’s Up - Scream

More fun facts!

Aside from INK, Spencer also has a clothing company, Kleaver Klothing, which if they haven’t moved sites again, is at salem666.com

Last Year on their Summer tour they were supposed to play a show at a venue in Orlando, Florida that is on the grounds of Disney World. At the last minute Disney canceled their show because they’re performance was deemed “too violent” for a family park, despite the show already being 18+. In retaliation, the band released a series of limited edition merchandise featuring classic Disney characters as slasher villains, most notably Mickey Mouse as Freddy Kruger. They literally all sold out. I really should have got one when I had the chance

I own more pieces of Ice Nine Kills merch than literally any other piece of media I have ever consumed, including:

3 t shirts

2 tank tops

1 Letterman jacket

1 CD

2 vinyls

1 Kleaver t shirt (that I’m wearing right now)

1 poster

And a red balloon and paper boat from the IT Is The End music video promotion, (the boat is currently serving as a jewelry dish on my vanity)

I’ve seen them twice, Warped Tour 2016 and Warped Tour 2018, both times I met Spencer after the set and despite the whole scary act the band puts on during the shows, he’s very genuine and always really sweet to his fans. Enjoy these fetus pictures of me meeting him at 14 and 16 y/o

The lyric sheet for The Silver Scream is formatted like a spec script with action lines, scene headings, and inter-scene cuts, which screenwriting student me really, really enjoys

I got distracted while writing this because Patrick went live on Instagram, oops. He was setting up his new kit for the show tonight, it looks really cool, they’re painted to look like popcorn buckets

So that’s about it! Thank you for reading and enjoy the music!

[valkerymillenia]

Binging on Young Justice

So I used to watch random Young Justice eps on tv and lightly followed the plot but I finally decided to binge watch the whole thing and I'm just loving it.

I'm currently halfway through season 3.

As a comic nerd I particularly like the way the changes are woven in, how rare characters pop up, how the intricate DC universe is slowly developed, and the lovely little nods to comic canon (ah, Mal wearing Superboy's 90's outfit on Halloween and telling Conner it's "superman done right", that one killed me) and some wall breaks and references to other media (I never laughed so hard as I did with the dark humor Doom Patrol Go skit *insert guess I'll die meme*).

Gotta say I really prefer the Kaldur'ahm incarnation to the Jackson Hyde version but either way I just really want more of Kaldur'ahm/Jackson in the comics (and show, been seeing too little of him in s03), he's such a good Aqualad. And an LGBT+ POC!!!

I mean, I like Garth but I prefer him as Tempest (I never really liked his incarnation of Aqualad in the comics), Kaldur is such a refreshing take on Aqualad and feels like so much more than a sidekick.

Kinda like the changes to connect Artemis and Cheshire, even if Artemis feels a bit like another Arrowette, still I find this dynamic a lot more interesting anyway.

Love all the Flashes and all the BatFam and just generally all the family and next gen stuff with everyone, it's pretty awesome. And Billy Batson!

Ok, maybe I just like kids and the mix of family stories with superheroes, in fact I squealed upon seeing baby Damien and all the kids at the playdate (Jon!!! Tornado twins!!! Traya!!!! Arthur!!!), although in that ep one thing annoyed me - Amistad, although hilarious, was too young since he should have been born years before, I very much liked the single-teenage-mom drama of Rocket in the comics.

And the fact that we actually get to see rare team-ups like the Super Friends or the Outsiders? And characters like Icon, Rocket, Red Tornado, Adam Strange, and other rare references? Brilliant.

Anyway...

I can see why season 2 took so many years to be green lit, seeing as season 1 was marketed as a show for children with the intent of making money out of the merch. Ultimately it was too complex and mature for what was being aimed and ended up appealing to an older crowd which is not bad at all but wasn't the intended goal.

Nonetheless, the end result was brilliant and I hope we get many more seasons now that the tone had been established and it's officially being marketed to the older crowd.

Personally though, I'd like a Justice League spin-off show too. The reason being that the cast of YJ has grown very large and forces the the writers to either focus on one group per season or divide attention so much that some characters end up neglected or robbed of development (which is what the comic adaptation was initially for! Filling in the gaps that we can often feel are there in the show, I'm not sure what's the status of the comic though, I need to check).

So, yes, I know there's been several JLA shows in the past already but my reasoning for a spin-off/reboot is that it would be cool to have two shows canon to each other but focusing on the two different teams (YJ and JLA), thus finally giving us a more complete JLA and allowing us to enjoy the two shows within the same universe. It just has so much potential!

Anyway, about season 3... I have to admit I'm quite impressed by the evolution of certain aspects of the show.

Despite the cast being very big and forcing our focus away from some of our fav og members, we do see an evolution in other aspects that were restricted by the age rating and tv rules before.

Season 2 itself already have us more politics and trauma than is usual in a kids show but season 3 breaks even more barriers- intimacy between couples shown more openly and with more subtext (heck, Jefferson and Helga in bed together), more detailed and graphic blood and injuries (I mean, the Victor Stone accident, for example, you'd be lucky to see a smear of red in previous seasons but in this scene you get blood, exposed organs, eyeballs, bones and brains, or, hell, just look at Halo's "deaths"), actual dead bodies and murders being shown (so taboo in kids shows that deaths were just mentioned or censored in other seasons like Tula or Wally as opposed to the Markov royals, Orm or Olympia Savage in this season), the mere fact that the "nuclear option" is even a thing, etc.

And let's not forget that although it's a pretty inclusive show for POC and women (even approaching subjects such as racism, xenophobia and misogyny before), there are certain types of representation that they only had the guts to show now- LGBT+ and religious rep, for example.

So the show as evolved but the change in broadcasting medium and DC policies between seasons also seems to have had a heavy influence and I for one love it but I also love that the first 2 seasons were so good for any age.

Anyway, I might add more to this once I finish this season (although I'm so aware of the comics that I know a lot off plot points that are going to happen already).

However, I already know that season 4 is coming next year so I'm already excited for that.

[cardcaptorzine-blog]

Who did the enamel pin ?

Just realizing we didn’t make an official list of the merch artists gosh sorry .. i’ve linked them all below !!

From left to right:

Lanyard - jors @kaeryi_

Stickers:Sakura - renny @rennimooYue - hyde @HydeTweetsMeiling - jess @ssaeciKero - jane @POKOPPANGTomoyo - ray @picksnoseSyaoran - sanigo @sanigo_ 

Enamel pin - anita @uglyblacksmith

Charms:Sakura Tomoyo - kimqi@turtleservantKero Suppi - kira@KiramekiraikiraGlow Sakura Tomoyo - lina@segseuFly Sakura - ray @picksnose

Postcards:Fruits Candy - mari @marikyuunnYue - grem@rudebeetleFly - nekoichu @96_yuu

Thank you so much for asking !!!!

[anacchi24]

Mention 10 things that you have always wanted to do in the future or from now on! Tag 5 people and tell them to do the same

Thank you for the ask, Anon-san, and I’m sorry I took so long in answering this ; A ; Anyway:

1. (the most important one right now) I’ve always wanted to learn to love myself. It’s hard, but I’m trying! :D

2. Go to Japan and travel to other countries with my self-proclaimed twin, @ranami68!

3. Visit lots of countries and meet up with my online friends! (And boy, I’m gonna spend a lot of time in Philippines, especially lololol) xD

4. I want to be able to draw and color and write better! I still have so much rooms for improvements for all three of them and I’m looking forward to my own progress! x3

5. I want to continue learning Japanese! I intend to take Japanese literature in college

6. In case the plan on number 5 fails, I want to take Psychology and become a councilor or something like that. I like helping people even though I’m not good at giving advices. HOWEVER! I’m willing to learn so if anyone’s opening a class about how to give good advices, please let me know and I’ll sign up right away xD //shot

7. I want to make myself proud. Not much difference with number 1, but it’s more about doing what I want and making myself happy with this one

8. I WANT TO BUY OFFICIAL SERVAMP MERCH. The only things I have of it now are the illustration book and the official guide book but maaaan. I can’t wait till the time I can gain my own money so my parents can’t say a thing about what I buy lololol

9. I want to try ice-skating. Yuri on Ice may or may not triggered this haha xD

10. I WANNA BUY A HEDGEHOG AND Y’ALL WATCH ME, I WILL. I’m gonna buy one as soon as I don’t live with my parents anymore (again, so they can’t say a thing about it) and I’M GONNA NAME IT HYDE. JUST WATCH ME //shot xD

[thatonecomicguy]

The Glass Scientist is a wonderful fantasy comic set in the Victorian era that is both a wonderful spin off as well as an incredible homage to the classic Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story. 

It opens with a monolog of a strange man calling himself the “Spirit of London at night” when suddenly a werewolf begins charging through the streets, followed quickly by a very conveniently prepared angry mob. You see, in this world, not only were people like the famous Frankenstein real, but they are actually very famous and have inspired many others to pursue “Rogue Science.” 

After a quick chase the young lycanthrope is cornered and about to be hauled off despite his enduring protests that he must return to his lab, or else, a lovely carriage pulls up and stuns the crowd into silence. Who else steps out but none other that the famous socialite Dr. Henry Jekyll. He not only convinces the police officials that this young werewolf can be reintegrated into society but also shows that the mob may have been a touch intimidating for a new on a young man who was simply scared and panicked already. After a quick stop to the young boy's lab to pick up his..... many furry research subjects, they soon make their way to the Society of Arcane Science, and we are introduced to a multitude of wonderfully colorful characters and personalities. We also catch a glimpse of the good doctor’s greatest secret, one that could spell the doom for all his friends should even one mistake be made.

I absolutely adore this story. It has all the small quirks and amazing details of a work that has been in development for years, not to mention the love and care put into crafting the world. While not a huge fan of the “Jekyll and Hyde” theory I do like it when it is executed properly, and where better can it be executed than with the actual Dr. Jekyll himself? Admittedly I never read the original work I have seen many adaptations of it that I am very familiar with the basic formula. They have ranged from deep and tortured souls, all the way too goofy unrealistic performance. Looking at you Spiderman movie! 

When done right, the “Jekyll and Hyde” theory can be very intriguing and very haunting. One single character having two personalities is a treasure trove for writers, but more often than not it is never done well. I’m happy to say that here it not only works beautifully it is the very foundation for the main character giving plenty of room for development as the story progresses. From the haunting scenes of Henry talking to his own reflection to the comedic antics of Hyde out on the streets of London, it is definitely a relationship full of potential.

Moving to the art I suppose like our leading man you could separate the art into two distinct portions as well. We have the bright and colorful world of Dr. Jekyll as he fills the area with his charisma and pretty words, and on the flip side, we have the dark and somewhat gloomy world that Hyde not only calls his own but seems to absolutely revel in it. These two contrasting moods are blended very well by the appearance of either person and give a very clear signal of when these changes are about to occur. 

While the art is very polished and well practiced already, I personally can’t wait to see how and when their style changes and evolves as all art tends to do. Overall though I think that the art matches beautifully with the narrative that has been placed before us and can’t wait for the next update.

And, as always, I hope you enjoy as much as I do.

While there doesn’t appear to be a patreon page for The Glass Scientist (I may be wrong, if so shoot me a message or leave a comment and an edit shall be made asap) but there is a shop you can visit and get some cool merch including a neat “Prologue” comic to this one called “The Bleeding Heart”. If you like my reviews and want to show your support, consider becoming a patron over on my patreon page! All reviews are still free to read, I simply use patreon for the more Adult comics. there is no paywall, just consider it a tip jar of sorts. Thanks so much for reading, see you next week!

[rickymolina]

Visit 5 Landmarks in a single match Hyde and Seek Challenges #fortntechallenges #dailyfortnite #fortnitechallenge Landmarks are basically anything on the map that aren't part of the regular terrain, such as campsites, outposts, monuments, and even stuff from Chapter 1. While five may seem like a lot to have to visit in a single match, there are so many of them throughout the map that they're actually pretty easy to get to in quick succession. In total, there are approximately 30 Landmarks, and a good place to find several of them close together is the snowy mountain range on the bottom right corner of the map, just south of Retail Row, and landing there should make it easiest to visit five as quickly as possible. 🎉 Become a Member / Aste Miembro: http://bit.ly/2W5Af6p 🎉 🎁 SENT ME A LOOT (MANDAME UN LOOT) : https://goo.gl/s9YnEs 🎁 👨‍💻 DOWNLOAD STREAMLABS FREE: https://goo.gl/jo8oq4 👨‍💻 👨‍💻DESCARGA STREAMLABS GRATIS: https://goo.gl/jo8oq4 👨‍💻 🤪 DLive Become a Creator: http://bit.ly/2VE3dKq 🤪 💸All donations are optional and greatly appreciated. - Donaciones son opcionales y gratamente apreciadas💸 DONATIONS / DONACIONES: https://goo.gl/cU4Lqp Stream https://goo.gl/gAJMb4 PAYPAL: ricky@rickymolina.com ⚖️DISCLAIMER: By clicking on the Donation with Paypal button and completing the transaction you hereby certify you are the rightful owner of the funds being donated in this transaction and cannot be withdrawn/charged back. We have a 100% no refund policy⚖️ ~ 🏆 ENDORSED BY 🏆 ~ LIGHTS BY MIGHTY BRIGHT - https://goo.gl/3rYnDS 📺WHAT I USE TO STREAM📺 Room Light: The Orchestra Music Stand Light https://goo.gl/3rYnDS Capture Card: Elgato HD 60 Pro Encoder: StreamLabs OBS - Free Download https://goo.gl/jo8oq4 Webcam: Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 PC: HP - OMEN by HP Desktop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 - 1TB Hard Drive - Brushed Aluminum ~ 🎮 SOCIAL NETWORKS / REDES SOCIALES 🎮 ~ Official Website: https://ift.tt/1ixSwla Instagram: http://bit.ly/2Q6Kv96 Twitter: http://bit.ly/2JnCGvi Facebook: http://bit.ly/2W6ZgOI ~ 👾 SCHEDULE / HORARIO 👾 ~ Monday/Lunes: Classic Gaming Tuesday/Martes: Playstation Wednesday/Miercoles: Xbox Thursday/Jueves: VR Friday/Viernes: Mobile / PC Saturday/Sabado: Nintendo Sunday/Domingo: ANYTHING =) ~ 🚨 CHAT RULES / RECLAS DE CHAT🚨 ~ 1. Respect the Moms and other viewers / Respeten Las Mamas y Viewrs 2. Do not troll the chat / No Trolear el Chat 3. Do not spam the chat / No spam en el Chat ~ 🎮 PLAYING WITH SUBS / JUGANDO CON SUBS 🎮 ~ Subscribe - Have notifications ON! First come, first serve. 1. Add me / Agregame: - Epic: morusitos - Origin: myvideogamesw 2. When stream starts, I will open my lobby and whoever hops in gets to play. / Jugar Solo Cuando Se te Invite o Con Link 3. There is a 2- 4 game limit. /Limite de Jugadores 2 - 4 4. NO CRUDE LANGUAGE. - No Lenguaje Crudo 5. No Background Music /No Musica de Background 🔴 🔵🕹 Join our Channel 🕹 http://bit.ly/2W5Af6p Get: A FREE MVGW hat worth $29.99 or a FREE MVGW T-Shirt worth $29.99. One on One Gaming Session, Special merch offers, Contests with BIG prizes!, Contest for FREE Game Keys to play New Upcoming Games and much MORE.🔴 🔵 🔴 🔵🕹 Únete a nuestro canal 🕹 http://bit.ly/2W5Af6p Opten: una Gorra MVGW GRATUITA con valor de $29.99 o una Playera MVGW GRATUITA con valor de $29.99, Sesión de juegos Privada, Invitaciones a eventos exclusivos de MVGW, Ofertas especiales demercancia MVGW, Concursos con GRANDES premios!, Concurso de Codigos para juegos GRATIS de nuevos juegos y mucho más🔴 🔵 by My Video Games World

[michaelfallcon]

A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Leeds

Some Yorkshire natives frequently describe the area as “God’s own county,” which suggests they’re not shy of sharing the virtues of this northern English region. Leeds is Yorkshire’s largest city, which may explain the loud and proud approach of many locals when their home is the subject.

That said, the place does have a fair bit to shout about. Formerly an industrial powerhouse built on the milling trade, Leeds has evolved to become the country’s second-largest financial and legal hub, with four universities fueling growth across different sectors.

Previously dubbed “the United Kingdom’s fastest-growing city,” Leeds now blends historic houses of commerce like the 1857 Kirkgate Market—one of the largest in Europe—with designer developments such as Trinity Leeds. But fortunately, it’s not all big brands. Recent years have seen the city’s independent economy thrive, and this is evident in the ever-expanding set of places to pick up a great coffee.

Locals appreciate this daily, whether they’re working on deals, dissertations, or just feel tired from worrying over when Leeds United will finally awake from slumber and win promotion back to the Premier League. But the city’s well worth a stop for tourists too, particularly as its cultural, sporting, and social attractions are a straightforward train trip from London, Edinburgh, Manchester, or York. The list below is by no means exhaustive, but if you feel your energy dipping as you wander across this lively city, it includes some of the best places to grab a brew and recharge.



La Bottega Milanese

A man in an immaculate shirt and tie dispenses drinks and “Ciaos” in perfect synchrony. Customers sip cappuccinos while standing at tiny tables. People in suits breeze past naked lightbulbs and concrete pillars. That instrumental funk you’re imagining? It’s playing.

You might be in Leeds, but the stylish La Bottega Milanese does its best to capture something of the city it’s named after. Espresso comes from two La Marzocco Linea Classic Pros, and the drinks menu proudly wears its Italian heritage, with traditional nods including an affogato and a liqueur-spiked espresso corretto.

The “off-peak” service section offers AeroPress and V60 cups too, and more modern tastes are reflected in the range of non-dairy milk and matcha, beetroot, and turmeric lattes. One of three grinders will presumably always hold La Bottega’s own La Classica blend, but recent guest espresso came courtesy of Darkwoods Coffee, based only 25 miles from Leeds.

If you plan to stop for more than a quick caffeine hit, you might find yourself tempted by the counter of savory and sweet Italian treats. Do chocolate cannoli taste just as good regardless of which country you’re in? There’s only one way to be sure.

La Bottega Milanese has multiple locations in Leeds. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  North Star Coffee Shop & General Store

Want to escape the city buzz and wander by some water? A 20-minute walk from the central train station, North Star lies just off the River Aire on Leeds Dock. While the company has been roasting coffee since 2013, the cafe opened its doors less than two years ago.

The outside seating might not always be your first choice (Yorkshire isn’t famous for its climate), but the tranquil interior provides an ideal opportunity to relax with a drink. A piccolo with North Star’s Burundi Maruri Natural was the best coffee of my last weekend in Leeds, and the shelves were full of more offerings from Peru, Rwanda, and El Salvador. A La Marzocco Linea PB sits on the light wood counter—there are always two espresso choices—while filter comes from Marco SP9 brewers.

Noisette Bakehouse takes care of the food here: breakfast and lunch plus highly photogenic cakes and pastries. The “General Store” features plenty of coffee equipment next to various food and drink products, and the menu also includes beers from some of Leeds’s superb breweries. One of which—Northern Monk—has a bar that is only a short stroll back up the riverside …

North Star Coffee Shop & General Store is located at 33 Leeds Dock, The Boulevard, LS10 1PZ. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Layne’s Espresso

Something of an early fixture on the Leeds specialty coffee scene, an unmistakable orange front gives way to a clean, minimal space. (Is it possible to say that a venue opened in 2011 has a rather “classic” feel? Maybe in this industry.)

Layne’s baristas serve espresso from a Synesso MVP, with batch and pour-over brews also on the board. London’s Square Mile regularly provides the coffee here, but the V60 was recently loaded with a single-origin Colombian from Round Hill Roastery in southwest England.

Being around the corner from Leeds Station means Layne’s is often busy, but the apparently compact layout benefits from chilled out basement seating. The main service area provides contrasting viewing opportunities: will you choose a window pew and look out on bustling commuters, or turn inwards to see plates proceed from the open kitchen? The food includes brunch comforts such as Turkish eggs and buckwheat pancakes, as well as coffee complements from fellow Leeds business Porterhouse Cake Co.

Given its people-watching potential—and how tough it can be to find good coffee in the United Kingdom after 5pm—it’s worth knowing that Layne’s is open until 7pm weekdays, 6pm weekends.

Layne’s Espresso is located at 16 New Station Street, LS1 5DL. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  Temple Coffee & Donuts

Though it sits on an unremarkable lot among garages and petrol stations, this is a popular fuel stop to the west of the city’s financial district. Savvy work on branding and social media is reflected on the premises, where the décor’s as bright as the rainbow of donuts at the counter. If you don’t plan on dunking one of these in your drink, they can be carried away for later in equally fresh pink and green boxes.

Still, it’s not a case of style over substance. Coffee–from East London’s Dark Arts–flows smoothly from a three-group La Marzocco Strada, with batch-brew filter available. Vegan caffeine fiends might appreciate that the swap to oat milk is free, which is not the case in some other city shops. It makes sense here though: all the donuts are vegan, as is the ice cream.

A couple of iced coffee options sit alongside more alternative specials, including the “Purple Haze: lavender steamed milk with floral flavors.” There’s less in the way of coffee equipment for sale, but there is a wall of branded merch should you desire a cafe-related souvenir of your stay in Leeds.

Temple Coffee & Donuts is located at 3 Burley Place, LS4 2AR. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Kapow Coffee

Its renown as a shopping destination means that each weekend crowds hit Leeds in search of glitzy goods. If that all gets too much, you can stop here in the smaller Thornton’s Arcade, and find an oasis of relaxed style and substance.

Kapow’s downstairs area is snug, with a couple of small tables and some window seats. This means customers have the option of chatting with the friendly staff, who knock out espresso on a Kees van der Westen Mirage Duette. Pour-overs are on hand too; a honey-processed Ethiopian from Echelon Coffee Roasters was fresh and floral on my latest stop.

Echelon was one of several Leeds-based coffee brands stocked on that visit. Maude Coffee Roasters—last seen plotting another specialty venue for Leeds, titled Fwd Coffee—was also among the many retail bags in the window. This suggests a laudable commitment to the locality, despite the house espresso being provided by London’s Union Coffee.

Customers who pass the small but well-filled cabinet of goodies—plenty of gluten-free options alongside decadent brownies from Leeds’s Brown & Blond—can enjoy a peaceful hour on two airy additional floors, with artwork dotting the walls throughout.

Kapow Coffee has multiple locations in Leeds. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  Opposite Cafe

This unfussy pit-stop between the city centre and the student areas of Hyde Park and Headingley has been around longer than many of the specialty spots in Leeds: a sign informs passers-by that Opposite has been “Smashing out amazing coffee since 2005.”

The Cafe lies—funnily enough—opposite the main campus of the University of Leeds and therefore fuels the toil of students and staff throughout the day. But this isn’t an extension of the library: the easygoing vibe means many tables are free of textbooks, and the helpful baristas are just as accommodating to customers from further afield. Dropping in on a weekday afternoon, I was handed a super-smooth oat milk flat white, and suggestions for other worthy cafes in the city.

Here, Union Coffee is fed into a La Marzocco Linea PB, with batch-brew from the likes of North Star. Tempting homemade cakes are bolstered by strong pastry work from another Yorkshire city; cinnamon buns and more are sent up from Sheffield’s Cawa Bakery. Back in Leeds, Opposite could provide a handy pause on the way to an intimate gig at the Brudenell Social Club, or a film at the beautiful Hyde Park Cinema.

Opposite Cafe has multiple locations in Leeds. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

  Cielo Coffee House

Though Leeds has certainly improved in the last few years, it’s not always easy to find a quality cup away from more central parts. Happily, this outpost in the eastern area of Garforth has been roasting and pouring coffee for more than a decade, and has retained its upbeat atmosphere.

This might be down to the owners’ commitment to giving their profits to other local organizations, or their volunteer program, which helps young people gain coffee skills that can lead to paid employment.

It would be a shame if the product didn’t match the principles, but thankfully it deserves a mention too. All of Cielo’s coffee is roasted on site, and an April trip to Uganda was planned to build more direct relationships with importers. Espresso is dispensed from a La Marzocco FB80, and the house choice is rotated regularly.

Nearby French bakery Dumouchel supplies excellent pastries, and those wanting a sugar fix might also eye the hot chocolates, often served swaying with cream and chunks of sweet snacks. Cielo is a heartening example of a neighborhood independent that has survived the nationwide deluge of awful-to-average chain coffee.

Cielo Coffee House has multiple locations in Leeds. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Martin Flynn is a freelance journalist based in Sheffield. This is Martin Flynn’s first feature for Sprudge.

The post A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Leeds appeared first on Sprudge.

A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Leeds published first on https://medium.com/@LinLinCoffee

[shebreathesslowly]

A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Leeds

Some Yorkshire natives frequently describe the area as “God’s own county,” which suggests they’re not shy of sharing the virtues of this northern English region. Leeds is Yorkshire’s largest city, which may explain the loud and proud approach of many locals when their home is the subject.

That said, the place does have a fair bit to shout about. Formerly an industrial powerhouse built on the milling trade, Leeds has evolved to become the country’s second-largest financial and legal hub, with four universities fueling growth across different sectors.

Previously dubbed “the United Kingdom’s fastest-growing city,” Leeds now blends historic houses of commerce like the 1857 Kirkgate Market—one of the largest in Europe—with designer developments such as Trinity Leeds. But fortunately, it’s not all big brands. Recent years have seen the city’s independent economy thrive, and this is evident in the ever-expanding set of places to pick up a great coffee.

Locals appreciate this daily, whether they’re working on deals, dissertations, or just feel tired from worrying over when Leeds United will finally awake from slumber and win promotion back to the Premier League. But the city’s well worth a stop for tourists too, particularly as its cultural, sporting, and social attractions are a straightforward train trip from London, Edinburgh, Manchester, or York. The list below is by no means exhaustive, but if you feel your energy dipping as you wander across this lively city, it includes some of the best places to grab a brew and recharge.



La Bottega Milanese

A man in an immaculate shirt and tie dispenses drinks and “Ciaos” in perfect synchrony. Customers sip cappuccinos while standing at tiny tables. People in suits breeze past naked lightbulbs and concrete pillars. That instrumental funk you’re imagining? It’s playing.

You might be in Leeds, but the stylish La Bottega Milanese does its best to capture something of the city it’s named after. Espresso comes from two La Marzocco Linea Classic Pros, and the drinks menu proudly wears its Italian heritage, with traditional nods including an affogato and a liqueur-spiked espresso corretto.

The “off-peak�� service section offers AeroPress and V60 cups too, and more modern tastes are reflected in the range of non-dairy milk and matcha, beetroot, and turmeric lattes. One of three grinders will presumably always hold La Bottega’s own La Classica blend, but recent guest espresso came courtesy of Darkwoods Coffee, based only 25 miles from Leeds.

If you plan to stop for more than a quick caffeine hit, you might find yourself tempted by the counter of savory and sweet Italian treats. Do chocolate cannoli taste just as good regardless of which country you’re in? There’s only one way to be sure.

La Bottega Milanese has multiple locations in Leeds. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  North Star Coffee Shop & General Store

Want to escape the city buzz and wander by some water? A 20-minute walk from the central train station, North Star lies just off the River Aire on Leeds Dock. While the company has been roasting coffee since 2013, the cafe opened its doors less than two years ago.

The outside seating might not always be your first choice (Yorkshire isn’t famous for its climate), but the tranquil interior provides an ideal opportunity to relax with a drink. A piccolo with North Star’s Burundi Maruri Natural was the best coffee of my last weekend in Leeds, and the shelves were full of more offerings from Peru, Rwanda, and El Salvador. A La Marzocco Linea PB sits on the light wood counter—there are always two espresso choices—while filter comes from Marco SP9 brewers.

Noisette Bakehouse takes care of the food here: breakfast and lunch plus highly photogenic cakes and pastries. The “General Store” features plenty of coffee equipment next to various food and drink products, and the menu also includes beers from some of Leeds’s superb breweries. One of which—Northern Monk—has a bar that is only a short stroll back up the riverside …

North Star Coffee Shop & General Store is located at 33 Leeds Dock, The Boulevard, LS10 1PZ. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Layne’s Espresso

Something of an early fixture on the Leeds specialty coffee scene, an unmistakable orange front gives way to a clean, minimal space. (Is it possible to say that a venue opened in 2011 has a rather “classic” feel? Maybe in this industry.)

Layne’s baristas serve espresso from a Synesso MVP, with batch and pour-over brews also on the board. London’s Square Mile regularly provides the coffee here, but the V60 was recently loaded with a single-origin Colombian from Round Hill Roastery in southwest England.

Being around the corner from Leeds Station means Layne’s is often busy, but the apparently compact layout benefits from chilled out basement seating. The main service area provides contrasting viewing opportunities: will you choose a window pew and look out on bustling commuters, or turn inwards to see plates proceed from the open kitchen? The food includes brunch comforts such as Turkish eggs and buckwheat pancakes, as well as coffee complements from fellow Leeds business Porterhouse Cake Co.

Given its people-watching potential—and how tough it can be to find good coffee in the United Kingdom after 5pm—it’s worth knowing that Layne’s is open until 7pm weekdays, 6pm weekends.

Layne’s Espresso is located at 16 New Station Street, LS1 5DL. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  Temple Coffee & Donuts

Though it sits on an unremarkable lot among garages and petrol stations, this is a popular fuel stop to the west of the city’s financial district. Savvy work on branding and social media is reflected on the premises, where the décor’s as bright as the rainbow of donuts at the counter. If you don’t plan on dunking one of these in your drink, they can be carried away for later in equally fresh pink and green boxes.

Still, it’s not a case of style over substance. Coffee–from East London’s Dark Arts–flows smoothly from a three-group La Marzocco Strada, with batch-brew filter available. Vegan caffeine fiends might appreciate that the swap to oat milk is free, which is not the case in some other city shops. It makes sense here though: all the donuts are vegan, as is the ice cream.

A couple of iced coffee options sit alongside more alternative specials, including the “Purple Haze: lavender steamed milk with floral flavors.” There’s less in the way of coffee equipment for sale, but there is a wall of branded merch should you desire a cafe-related souvenir of your stay in Leeds.

Temple Coffee & Donuts is located at 3 Burley Place, LS4 2AR. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Kapow Coffee

Its renown as a shopping destination means that each weekend crowds hit Leeds in search of glitzy goods. If that all gets too much, you can stop here in the smaller Thornton’s Arcade, and find an oasis of relaxed style and substance.

Kapow’s downstairs area is snug, with a couple of small tables and some window seats. This means customers have the option of chatting with the friendly staff, who knock out espresso on a Kees van der Westen Mirage Duette. Pour-overs are on hand too; a honey-processed Ethiopian from Echelon Coffee Roasters was fresh and floral on my latest stop.

Echelon was one of several Leeds-based coffee brands stocked on that visit. Maude Coffee Roasters—last seen plotting another specialty venue for Leeds, titled Fwd Coffee—was also among the many retail bags in the window. This suggests a laudable commitment to the locality, despite the house espresso being provided by London’s Union Coffee.

Customers who pass the small but well-filled cabinet of goodies—plenty of gluten-free options alongside decadent brownies from Leeds’s Brown & Blond—can enjoy a peaceful hour on two airy additional floors, with artwork dotting the walls throughout.

Kapow Coffee has multiple locations in Leeds. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  Opposite Cafe

This unfussy pit-stop between the city centre and the student areas of Hyde Park and Headingley has been around longer than many of the specialty spots in Leeds: a sign informs passers-by that Opposite has been “Smashing out amazing coffee since 2005.”

The Cafe lies—funnily enough—opposite the main campus of the University of Leeds and therefore fuels the toil of students and staff throughout the day. But this isn’t an extension of the library: the easygoing vibe means many tables are free of textbooks, and the helpful baristas are just as accommodating to customers from further afield. Dropping in on a weekday afternoon, I was handed a super-smooth oat milk flat white, and suggestions for other worthy cafes in the city.

Here, Union Coffee is fed into a La Marzocco Linea PB, with batch-brew from the likes of North Star. Tempting homemade cakes are bolstered by strong pastry work from another Yorkshire city; cinnamon buns and more are sent up from Sheffield’s Cawa Bakery. Back in Leeds, Opposite could provide a handy pause on the way to an intimate gig at the Brudenell Social Club, or a film at the beautiful Hyde Park Cinema.

Opposite Cafe has multiple locations in Leeds. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

  Cielo Coffee House

Though Leeds has certainly improved in the last few years, it’s not always easy to find a quality cup away from more central parts. Happily, this outpost in the eastern area of Garforth has been roasting and pouring coffee for more than a decade, and has retained its upbeat atmosphere.

This might be down to the owners’ commitment to giving their profits to other local organizations, or their volunteer program, which helps young people gain coffee skills that can lead to paid employment.

It would be a shame if the product didn’t match the principles, but thankfully it deserves a mention too. All of Cielo’s coffee is roasted on site, and an April trip to Uganda was planned to build more direct relationships with importers. Espresso is dispensed from a La Marzocco FB80, and the house choice is rotated regularly.

Nearby French bakery Dumouchel supplies excellent pastries, and those wanting a sugar fix might also eye the hot chocolates, often served swaying with cream and chunks of sweet snacks. Cielo is a heartening example of a neighborhood independent that has survived the nationwide deluge of awful-to-average chain coffee.

Cielo Coffee House has multiple locations in Leeds. Visit the official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Martin Flynn is a freelance journalist based in Sheffield. This is Martin Flynn’s first feature for Sprudge.

The post A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Leeds appeared first on Sprudge.

from Sprudge http://bit.ly/2XU8k78

[popofventi]

Songs You Should Hear Series :: "13" by Ciaran Lavery

"This is possibly one of the most honest things I have written to date. It makes me uncomfortable. I hope it makes you feel something."  -- Ciaran Lavery referencing '13' (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Northern Irish artist Ciaran Lavery is one of our favorites. His 2016 album 'Let Bad In' won the Northern Irish Music Prize amid a plethora of plaudits.

His new album 'Sweet Decay' is out April 13th.

The first released track from the new record is '13' and it's a deceptive up beat number with introspective contracting lyrics and by far, one of the best songs he's released to date.

Ciaran says of '13', "This is as honest as I can be as a songwriter without tearing my heart out of my chest and putting it on display. It’s basically about me being a terrible person; the whole thing. I can’t be any more frank about this..."

Ciaran Lavery "13"

Support Ciaran Lavery in person at one of these fine cities near you: 

April 13 Belfast Empire Music Hall 18 Kilkenny Set Theatre 19 Dublin Whelan’s 23 Edinburgh Voodoo Rooms 24 Glasgow Glad Café 25 Newcastle Cluny 2 26 Manchester Castle Hotel 27 Leeds Hyde Park Book Club 29 Liverpool Buyers Club 30 Birmingham Hare & Hounds

May 1 Cambridge Portland Arms 3 London Sebright Arms 4 Bristol The Crofters Rights 5 Cardiff Club for Bach

Support, share, buy music and merch and follow Ciaran's music here: Twitter / Official Site

If you find any peace and value in what I do, any donation, big or small, means a lot and helps keep spreading the positive vibes and recognition to deserving artists.

ONE-TIME DONATION

You can make a single donation in any amount you choose by clicking the button below.

Songs You Should Hear :: Series 2018

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