#Cucumber Recall Map
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freshfocusnews · 16 days ago
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🚨🍅Published May 29, 2025 at 6:16 AM EDT / Cucumber Recall Map as Salmonella Outbreak Sparks Investigation
🚨🥒Published May 29, 2025 at 6:16 AM EDT / Cucumber Recall Map as Salmonella Outbreak Sparks Investigation
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🍅TOMATO RECALL🍅
Published May 29, 2025 at 6:16 AM EDT 
Williams Farms Repack LLC initiated the recall on April 29 after Southeast Tomato Distributors notified it of a potential salmonella contamination from H&C Farms.
Why It Matters
The recall affects shipments of fresh tomatoes reaching retailers and distributors in several U.S. states. Salmonella can cause severe illness, particularly in children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
Salmonella infection, or salmonellosis, can trigger symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, nausea, vomiting and dehydration within six to 72 hours of exposure. While most individuals recover after four to seven days, severe complications are possible, especially for individuals in vulnerable groups. The FDA cautioned that rare cases can escalate to illnesses such as arterial infections or endocarditis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that salmonella causes about 420 deaths annually in the U.S.
https://www.newsweek.com/tomato-recall-update-fda-issues-highest-warning-level-2078344
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🥒Cucumber Recall Map as Salmonella Outbreak Sparks Investigation🥒
Published May 20, 2025 at 4:54 PM EDT
What To Know
On Wednesday, the FDA designated the recall as Class I, warning that exposure may lead to serious or even fatal health outcomes.
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The recall covers shipments from April 23 to April 28, and the affected tomatoes reached consumers in Georgia and the Carolinas.
The affected products include multiple packaging formats: 5x6 25lb, 6x6 25lb, Combo 25lb, 4x4 2layer, 4x5 2layer, 60ct 2layer, 60ct 18lb loose, XL 18lb Loose and 3ct trays with UPC 0 33383 65504 8. The lot numbers are R4467 and R4470.
The markets are located in Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and West Palm Beach, Florida. The impacted cucumbers were also sold to a wholesale distributor.
"Because the recalled cucumbers do not bear any stickers or other labeling, customers should discard and not consume any cucumbers that were purchased at these locations," the alert says.
The current recall excludes cucumbers for sale or any additional agricultural products.
Newsweek writes:
"The FDA on the salmonella outbreak investigation: "As part of a follow-up inspection in April 2025, FDA investigators collected an environmental sample from Bedner Growers, Inc. that was positive for Salmonella and matched recent clinical samples from ill people, by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis."
The FDA continued, "The recent follow-up inspection was in response to the 2024 Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup outbreaks linked to cucumbers grown at Bedner Growers, Inc. Additionally, FDA's traceback investigation has identified Bedner Growers, Inc. as the common grower of cucumbers in this current outbreak."
https://www.newsweek.com/cucumber-recall-map-salmonella-outbreak-2074923
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jestermessenger · 11 days ago
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hey, if you're in the US and eat tomatoes and cucumbers, they are currently being recalled for salmonella (again)
tomatoes from Williams Farm and Ray & Mescari. affected states that we know of right now are Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Wisconsin. any store that uses Gordon Foods as a supplier should be looked at with caution (Aldi is one example). source below
for cucumbers, this is the 2nd recall within the past few months from Bedner Growers. cucumbers from Fresh Start Produce are also being recalled. even if you didn't buy any from the store, restaurants serving dishes with cucumbers are also affected. states affected that we know of are; California, Michigan, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Virginia. map and source below
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Symptoms of Salmonella include abdominal cramps, vomitting, diarrhea, dehydration, and headaches. source below
PLEASE go to the doctor if you're able to. more cases reported means that they have more information to track and investigate these recalls
stay safe! wash your hands before and after cooking, eating, and touching animals. wash your fridges out with soapy warm water. stay hydrated and rest!! peace n love, reblog and share around 🌏
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chrismho · 5 years ago
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IR Week: Don’t Get Caught
Summary: Ichigo sneaks into the Kuchiki Manor to be with his girlfriend. A quick one-shot for Ichiruki week. Sheer and utter nonsense, I hope you enjoy it lmao
All was quiet at the Kuchiki Manor, save for the gentle, steady chirping of crickets. The night was a cool and clear one. 
Suddenly, a tall, spiky-haired figure emerged out of flash-step, silhouetted in the moonlight. He landed noiselessly on the porch, slinking up to the door to knock as quietly as he could. 
“Hey,” he whispered slyly to the petite, raven-haired woman who answered.  
“Hey, yourself,” Rukia replied in a voice just as hushed, pulling him into a quick kiss before putting a finger to her lips and sneaking him back to her room. 
_____
Ichigo gently kissed the sleeping woman cradled in his arms and heaved out a content sigh. They had been doing this for a while, now; with Rukia busy with the many responsibilities of being a Lieutenant, and he himself bogged down with the workload of a freshman college student, it was getting hard to find time to be together. It was usually Rukia making the trip to the Human World to see him, and it dawned on Ichigo that that probably wasn’t fair. And so began these usually spontaneous nightly excursions to Soul Society. Rukia was apprehensive at first, but Ichigo proved to be stealthy; sneaking past the guards and servants was cakewalk, and he had recently started getting better at learning to control and lower his reiatsu so Byakuya didn’t catch on. Besides...it was fun sneaking around. The clandestine nature of their meetings made them all the more romantic and exciting. They didn’t always make love when he came to the Manor. Sometimes all they wanted was each other’s company. They’d lay side by side in her bed and talk in hushed voices about anything and everything until the sun rose. 
Tonight, however, was not that kind of night, the rumpled sheets and scattered clothing serving as pointed evidence.
Ichigo recalled all that went down in her room tonight, unable to stop the devilish grin that spread across his face. Yeah, tonight was pretty perfect.
Well...almost  perfect.
It was just that...Ichigo Kurosaki was thirsty.
It was his thirst that had woken him up, probably. He tried to ignore it, but his lips were dry and chapped and it was getting hard to swallow. Sweet, cool, water sounded more amazing than anything in the world at the moment. He tried to draw out a map of the Kuchiki Manor in his head. He vaguely remembered a kitchen down the hall to the left, there had to be something to drink there.
I’ll be careful, he thought. In and out. 
The first grave mistake of the night committed.
Slowly, as to not wake her, he untangled himself from Rukia and slipped his yukata on. She was a heavy sleeper, and only stirred slightly. He kissed her forehead before quietly padding out of her room and into the hall. 
He sighed in relief when he correctly located the kitchen and spotted a pitcher of cucumber water, cool and inviting. Quietly taking a clay cup from a cabinet, he filled it to the brim and chugged. 
Satiated and pleased that his mission was successful, Ichigo turned back to the hallway-
FUCK.
There were three hallways facing him, each identical to the other, and each with a row of identical doors along the wall. 
Which one...which one did I come out of again?
He cursed Byakuya for choosing to live in such a large and Byzantine estate. 
After some time recalling his various visits here, Ichigo correctly determined that it was the center hallway he had come from. He walked through the hallway, a vague feeling of dread and unease washing over him.
So many doors…
Which one was Rukia’s?
Bingo! A door looked familiar, and the uneasiness vanished. 
“This one’s...definitely it!” Ichigo thought to himself, opening it a crack.
The second grave mistake of the night committed.
The bedroom was almost identical to Rukia’s. Almost. It’s a shame Ichigo didn’t notice the portrait of Hisana hanging on the left wall.  
In the bed, a head of soft, raven hair peeked out from under the covers. Already hazy with sleep, Ichigo stripped his yukata off and climbed into the bed, slinging an arm over the sleeping body next to him and pulling it close. 
Ichigo’s eyes flashed wide open. Something was horribly, horribly wrong. 
This...Ichigo experimentally patted and squeezed the taught, muscular arms he was snuggled up against, his heart racing with horrific realization….this doesn’t feel like Rukia…
Oh my God. 
“OH, SHIT-” Ichigo barely finished his scream before Byakuya shot straight up and flung the boy out of his bed and onto the floor, zanpakuto somehow already in his hand and pointed at Ichigo’s throat. 
“KU….,” Byakuya tried to muster out, wide-eyed and seething with rage and confusion. In all of the time he had seen and known Rukia’s adopted brother, Ichigo had never seen Byakuya so violently perturbed. 
“KUROSAKI.”
“BYAKUYA, BYAKUYA, OH GOD, PLEASE LET ME EXPLAIN!” Ichigo screamed in a panicked rush, shooting both hands up appeasingly. “PLEASE BYAKUYA, there’s a perfect explanation for all of this, I SWEAR to you, PLEASE, BYAKUYA, J-JUST HEAR ME OUT. ”
The noble’s eyes remained wide and horror-stricken but he moved his zanpaktou away from Ichigo and instead held it against his chest so that the blade pointed against the floor. 
They stared at each other. 
Ichigo took a breath and began, “Y’see, I thought you were Rukia-”
Byakuya dropped his sword. “Bankai.”
A chaotic flurry of deadly pink chased the naked Ichigo out of the manor. “WHY,” he bellowed to himself as he sprinted under the moonlight, the sakura petals not far behind. “WHY, DID I THINK THAT WAS A GOOD EXPLANATION?!?!!?”
End. 
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geminimoonbeamx · 6 years ago
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Home, Again: Chapter One
A/N: Soooo, if you know me at all you know that thick Bucky is my religion and I love him with all of my heart. These new pictures of Sebastian on the set of ‘Devil All The Time’ have got me twisted. Literally I’ve been fawning over them for days. That man is too much for me and my libido and this is the product of that.
Word Count: 2k+
Rating: This particular chapter is pretty mild, lots of cursing mostly- the next chapter, and the ones to come after that will be extremely explicit though so get your bodies ready.
Summary: Moving back home was never in her itinerary, but after the loss of a family member and being fired from her job, she finds herself back in the town she grew up in and face to face with the man who’d haunted her teenage wet dreams. Now in her early twenties, maybe she can do something to make those dreams a reality.
A Plus Size Reader x Dad!Cop!Thick!Bucky Barnes story
It’s a surreal moment for you- waking up in your old room. The one that you’d grown up in, that you hadn't spent more than a couple nights at a time in- in the last six years.
Like some weird, out of body experience. Looking at the ceiling through blurry, sleep bogged eyes, with the sun shining clear and bright through the curtains fills your stomach with nostalgia that makes you feel like you might barf. 
You sit up, trudge to the bathroom, half feeling like you’re about to get ready for school or something- about to but on your Volleyball uniform or something.
While you're brushing your teeth you can't manage to drag your eyes away from your reflection. The bags under your eyes, that are ever present, seem to be deeper. Probably from all the moving you’d done in the past couple of days.
Picking up your entire life, and moving it from Brooklyn all the way back to Springs Port had not been easy.
Luckily your friends had been game for the three hour drive, and the little bit of heavy lifting(Pietro and Quill we’re life savers) when it came to your bed and room furniture. You’d sold your couches and tables. You didn't have your own place anymore, didn't know when you would again and since you we’re currently unemployed, you could use all of the extra cash that you could get.
That was you:
Living back at home. Job less. And broke- because you used that almost all of that furniture money to rent the U-Haul.
In that moment, with those harsh truths, you can't manage to look at your reflection anymore.
After taking a shower and getting ready- contouring and highlighting and concealing all of your self hate away, you do feel a bit better. It was a coping mechanism, yes. But You needed to be presentable anyways, you think.
You’re fine. You are fine, Y/N. Everything’s fine.
If you keep repeating it, and accept it as your reality, you’ll feel better, right?
You linger on that thought as you eat breakfast, which is a definite perk of being back home. Your grandmother stands near the stove- a pan hot and the kitchen full of the delectable smells of not only the omelets she was stirring up, but the crock pot that had who knows what already brewing.
Also, the ever present, and pungent herby smell of marijuana that followed her ever since her accident undercurrents that.
It sure beat the instant oatmeal you used to eat mornings back in the city.
“That smells so ridiculously good” You start as you slide onto one of the chairs at the kitchen bar “Also, good morning, Grams”
“Good morning, baby bird. You’re up early” She comments, as she gives you a knowing side eye “Or did you not sleep at all last night?”
There's honestly no use lying to her. She’d always had this sixth sense when it came to that- it had made your childhood a bitch.
“I slept. A little bit” you defend yourself, pouring yourself the cucumber orange juice she’d made. Sounds weird- is actually extremely refreshing. She likes to make weird concoctions with the fruits and vegetables she grows in her garden.
You get another one of those all knowing looks.
“Okay I didn't sleep as much as I could have, but I was just getting everything else unpacked. I’m finally done” you punctuate with an innocent shrug.
“You unpacked all those boxes? Y/N Y/M/N, there was about twenty of them. You’re not supposed to get unpacked in 24 hours, you need to give yourself time to process this change in your life. I really thought that indica was going to help. You should’a been knocked on your ass” She tells you as she plates up your food and sets it in front of you.
You thank her, and bite your tongue about the whole “processing” thing. She’d been all about that lately- since Grandma Vee died a few months ago and she’d started her group therapies; she’d become some kind of self made, self help guru.
You figure it’s better that then her falling apart.
You’re all kind of waiting for her to fall apart.
“I was thinking i’d go into town and job hunt today” You bring up the topic softly, both of you most of the way through your spinach, bacon, mushroom and goat cheese omelet.
She tutts at you, of course she does.
“I invited you to come back and live with me, I’m not expecting you to pay for anything, you know that” You love the way she words it. You wonder if she really thinks of it that way, that you’re here for her benefit and not the other way around.
“Grams, I get that I really do. But I have like fifteen bucks to my name right now. Even if it’s just something part time, I need to work” You tell her, in complete seriousness.
You’d had a job, steadily, since you were fourteen years old and the broke bitch life wasn’t for you.
She fussed, tells you that you that she is very capable of helping you with whatever you need. Promptly informs you that Grandma Vee’s life insurance will hold both of you down for a long while.
You don’t get how she can talk about her death so easily. Calm and level headed. It’s still that iron hot pain that comes from losing a loved one that burns for you. You’d felt it before and yet it didn’t dull one bit this time around.
“Yeah, that’s gonna be a fuck no from me. You have to use that money for you, grams. You know she’d want you to” is your blunt reply and she chuckles and throws her napkin at you as you stand.
“You watch your language in my fucking house, girl. You’ve always had such a bad potty mouth”
It’s inherited, you don’t tell her.
With a few more words of dissuasion from her and a kiss on the head and the reassurance that you’d still help her with her garden, even if you were working from you, you grab your keys and walk out into the already hot, New Jersey air.
--
It’s summer, mid June and Spring Port is and has always been a resort town. Sea side and picturesque- people flood in during the summer season.
It doesn’t surprise you that the towns square is currently a tourist trap and that parking is hard as shit to find. No matter, you find a space eventually.
Your turquoise Jeep Wrangler is the same one you’d driven before college, that you hadn't taken to the city with you. It has some  issues sometimes- the starters a little finicky and has to be worked on every six months or so, but it honestly still runs like a charm. Can get you from A to B just fine now, and you guess it is way better than subways and busses.
You end up walking around the entire towns square, and you’re glad you’d gone with slides instead of wedges. Everyone seems to be hiring, tourist season and all. And in the end you fill out four applications- handwritten at that which you think is a little funny.
It’s not that Springs Port is tiny really- with a population of 12, 000, there are definitely smaller places. Towns square is actually pretty decently sized- about twenty five or so tiny stores and restaurants scattered along main street. There’s a theater. Three gas stations. You guys don't have a Walmart in the towns perimeters technically- but there's one just a few miles away. And everything's waterfront, the docs a skip away. The Atlantic a continual backdrop.
Compared to New York though, it’s a blip on the map,. It feels smaller to you now that you’ve lived in the big wide world.
You’re walking down the cross of Harbor and Main- on your way to Goodies- which you hear Angie now owns, to meet Wanda and B for lunch when your feet get stuck where you are.
Frozen on the spot.
As you look at the flower shop, that’s overflowing with greenery across the street.
Infinity Flowers-
You can't help the draw to the store. Your feet seem to have a mind of their own- and you end up inside before you can really think of it.
Hell, it smells just like it used to. You haven't stepped foot in here since…
It’s pretty busy in the shop- it always was though. Best flower arrangements in the whole Garden state was it’s slogan, and it only exaggerated a little.
“I’ll be with you in one sec- Oh! Y/N” The bleach blond head that belongs to none other then Mantis bobs as she comes over and envelops you in a tight hug “I heard you we’re back in town! I was wondering when you we’re going to come in. I haven't seen you in so, so long”
She says all of this without letting you go and you chuckle and endure it because this was Mantis. Always such a hugger.
“Yeah, I was just job hunting in town and I thought I’d stop by”
“So you’re back for good then, yes?” She asks, after letting you go. Going to greet another customer warmly, while still managing to small talk to you. She’d always been good at making people feel at ease.
You tell her not really, just for the moment, as you fix the hydrangeas in the window display. They have them all wrong-
“Those we’re always her favorite” Mantis tells you what you already know and you nod and swallow the bit of sadness that bubbles up.
This. Is why you tend to stay away from this store. Thoughts of your late mother assault your psyche here, always- but also...you can't help but feel like you’re supposed to be here. Some of your happiest childhood memories we’re in this shop, surrounded by flowers. You can recall the sound of your mother’s laughter best here…
You leave the shop, after you’ve filled out an application.
You don't know why you did it but-
“I’m pretty sure I just got a job at Infinity Flowers” You inform Wanda and B, who are already sat at a booth in the little pub waiting for you when you get there. Sharon couldn't get a break from the station to come, but you couldn't hate her for it. She was just living her dream.
“Really?” Wanda asks, attempting to choose her words wisely “That's- I would never expect for that to be where you’d decide to work”
“What she means; is do you think that’s a good idea? There’s ghosts for you in there girly” B, Brunhilde(she’d kill anyone who used her full name though) has always been the bolder one in your group of friends. And that would never change.
“Mmm, I don't know what I think. Wanna day drink about it?” You suggest with a shrug as you go to wave down a waitress. One of their house made hard lemonades we’re sounding real good right now…
“Bitch, some of us have to go back to work” Wanda argues while B excitedly agrees, telling you that she’s already started.
Two and a half house lemonades later you are sufficiently buzzed and feeling better. Wanda has to get back to work at the antiques gift shop though, you you leave Angie a hefty tip(or rather your employed friends do) and head out.
It’s hot as hell, honestly and you think you might go sit on the beach for a while until you sober up enough to drive- you’re telling your friends that when you see a patrol car roll up to the bakery on the corner.
Out of the driver's seat exits one Bucky Barnes. AKA your teenage wet dream.
And holy god, does he look good. He’s flanked by a tall dark skinned man who you don't recognize, but who is also pretty damn fine.
You know you’re ogling, and your friends are laughing at you and taunting you, but in that moment you really don't care.
“Hot damn, he is still so fine, oh my god” You groan and Wanda chuckles as she lights up a cigarette.
“Yeah? The dad bod doing it for you?” She questions on an exhale of smoke.
“Totally. Is it possible that he got even more attractive? Like? How? And why did Sharon not tell me about this” You try to pull your eyes away from him, you really do.
But you’re a little drunk and the feelings you’d harbored for the older man come trickling back. Yeah, he’s gained some weight. Is broader- his shoulders big. His whole frame hulking. But he still has that swoon worthy dark hair, and that jawline you could see even from here. You wonder if his eyes we’re still that stormy blue color that you’d spent literal years dreaming about...You desperately wish you could go up and take a closer look.
“He’s really been hitting those doughnuts since the divorce, huh?” B snarks and you turn a cold glare at her.
“Don't body shame him. That’s disgusting” You snap and she holds up a hand.
“Jesus, you know I’m just kidding. I forgot how fucking touchy you are about him” She defends herself and you try not to go on a rant about how talking about anyone's body, male female or anyone in between.
You end up doing it anyway and the whole time Wanda grins and tells you how much she’s missed you, and B tells you how much of a sensitive cunt you are.
All in all, it’s good to be home. Even if you are a total failure of a human being at the moment, your brain can't help but tac on to the end. As you watch the police cruiser pull out of the parking lot, and think about the man that sits inside- you think about the fact that you aren't sixteen anymore. And he’s not married...
And in that moment- you realize just how good it is to be home. 
And there it is. If you'd like to be tagged in future chapters, please let me know! I’m thinking, and have this planned out to be about five chapters. Just a sexy, juicy, emotional quick read. Some Angst ridden smut coming your way!
Also- I appreciate reviews and reblogs more than you could imagine. They are literally fuel for me- so if you can spare some time to give me your opinion, I’d love you forever!
@gifsbysimplysonia @peacefulwriter88 @prettybubblesintheair @lostinthoughtsandfeelings @lostinspace33 @4theluvofall @plumfondler @tatathekissypotato @jaamesbbarnes @jalapenobarnes @siren-kitten-his @brieannakeogh @skishenanigans @paulxrudd
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whitehareknits · 6 years ago
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10. The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where one ends and the other begins? -Edgar Allan Poe
The Watcher (After Ambrose Bierce)
Jake kept his breathing as quiet as possible as the door shut behind him and the lights in the room shut off with a soft click. He immediately turned his flashlight on and resurveyed the room that was now blanketed in darkness. Jake carefully made his way around the shiny metal tables to an empty corner and set his backpack down. From there, flicked his flashlight about the area one more time, purposely avoiding aiming his beam at the blanketed figure on table in the center of the room. Once he was satisfied that he knew where everything was, Jake sat down on the cold, hard tile, drew his knees up to his chest, and turned off the flashlight.
The sleepover started out fine enough, with all the boys meeting at Tommy’s house after dinner. Of course, the only reason Jake was there was because Grant’s mom made him extend an invite. All the boys at the party had been friends for years, except Jake. He hadn’t been at their school long enough to make any, so his aunt made Grant take his cousin everywhere. This, to Grant’s friends, only made him seem like an annoying tag-along. Of course, Jake had no say in the matter, like he couldn’t make his own friends so he had to have someone else’s. All the same, Jake was tired of the eye-rolling every time he came in their presence. So when someone proposed a game of truth or dare, he jumped at the chance to prove himself. Maybe it had been planned all along, or maybe it was an idea right off the cuff, but either way the group’s collective contempt for Jake led to him being dared to spend the night in Tommy’s cellar.
Any run of the mill dark, damp cellar is frightening to a twelve-year-old, but Tommy’s cellar was special. Tommy’s dad was the town mortician, who operated his trade out of that cellar.
Jake didn’t want to be labeled a chicken, along with several other choice names, so he accepted the dare. He was given a canteen of water, a pillow, and the storm flashlight. The full dare was to spend the night in the cellar, by himself, to be released at dawn. He could call off the dare at anytime by knocking on the door three times and yelling, “Help! I’m a scared little girl who lost her teddy bear and wet her panties!” Failing in his dare was not an option as it was liable to brand him a baby by everybody in the school for the rest of his days. Grant and his friends would see to that. Jake said it would be “a piece of cake” and that he would see them in the morning.
He was actually feeling pretty confident as he marched between Tommy and the rest of the group to the cellar, until Tommy off handedly mentioned that a new body had been dropped off only that evening.
***
The darkness was unbearably oppressive to the point that Jake almost felt pushed into the ground because of it. He could’ve easily turned his light on, but Tommy said that the batteries were probably low since the storm last week. Jake wanted to use the flashlight as sparingly as possible since he had no idea when it could go out. Tommy could’ve just been pulling his leg, the thought had crossed Jake’s mind, but he didn’t want to take that chance. It would’ve been better if the game had come up later in the evening. Last Jake saw, it was only 7:30 when he passed the kitchen clock on the way to the cellar. There was nothing for him to do in the darkness with a flashlight of questionable battery life, and he wouldn’t be ready to sleep for another two hours, at least.
The sound of laughter filtered through the ceiling, as the boys were obviously having a much more fun evening than he was. And the more Jake thought about it, the more obvious it seemed that this was all done on purpose just to get him out of the way for the night. They knew he would either spend the night in the morgue, or he would wimp out and be made a fool of. Probably enough of a fool for Jake to ask to go home, since he was “too scared to sleepover at someone else’s house.”
'I’ll show them,’ Jake thought to himself as he shifted on his seat, butt already numb from the hard floor. ‘I’ll walk out of here in the morning, cool as a cucumber.’ If nothing else, it would at least show the gang that he wasn’t some sniveling kid cousin. He would be someone they could respect. Someone they could maybe even let into their group, on their terms and not on their parents’.
No matter what brave thoughts and boasts ran through his head, the rest of the night still loomed ahead with nothing to do. Jake was tempted to practice his whistling. He was currently trying to master Elvis’ ‘Hound Dog’, but thought better of it. If any of the boys was listening at the door and heard his shaky notes, they would’ve thought he was on the brink of cracking. Instead, Jake’s mind jumped to one of his favorite stories, Poe’s ‘Pit and the Pendulum’.
‘I’ll layout the room!’ Jake thought as he stood. He’d keep a hand on the wall and count how many steps it took to make it back to his corner. Then he could familiarize himself with all the equipment and memorize the room by touch.
Jake tentatively stood and pushed all that he brought with him into a big pile that would act as his start/end marker. Satisfied with his bearings in the pitch black, Jake placed one hand on the cool tile and began to pace the room. Every table and counter he came across, Jake attempted to map in his head. His goal being to walk the room without the wall and know exactly where he was…a sink here…a cart there…
After the third corner, Jake came across what felt like a hinge that attached to a small door. It was too high from the ground to be a closet, and it didn’t protrude from the wall like a cabinet. Jake racked his brain to think what the hard, metal door could be. He decided to come back to it after finishing the initial floor plan in his head. He didn’t take three steps before he came across another tiny door, identical to the previous one. Another step brought him in contact with some leavers and this gave him pause. The image Jake conjured up in his head was that of the Saturday night sci-fi shows that always had a mad scientist. That mad scientist always had a wall full of leavers and other strange objects. He hadn’t recalled seeing any super computers upon his initial entry into the cellar, so it had to be something else. He tried to remember what he saw on the walls when the lights had been on…wash station…tool cabinet…closet…then it hit him. The incinerators.
Jake lurched back with such force that he lost his footing and began to flail about the room until his hands finally latched onto stationary piece of furniture. He quickly steadied himself and began to run his hands up and down the surface, trying to place which counter this was. It wasn’t until a starched cloth passed under his fingers, that Jake realized where he was. He had completely forgotten about the corpse.
With his heart in his throat and his stomach not far behind, Jake lunged away from the table, this time landing on the floor. Both his head and his back screamed in pain, but it barely registered a blip on his radar the second he heard something shift. He could only imagine that he had shaken the table of kilter as he jumped away. He frantically scrounged across the floor looking for his pile and flashlight. Jake eventually managed to find the pillow he brought with him and the flashlight he stashed underneath. He quickly backed against the corner and flicked his flashlight on…only to illuminate a standing pair of bare feet with a tag tied to one toe.
His brain stopped working and his body took over. Jake immediately found his filled canteen behind him and flung it in the direction of the body. It teetered back and seemed to collapse against the table it came from. Jake, flashlight in hand, cautiously approached the table. The corpse appeared to still have the sheet over his body. He couldn’t tell if it was moving or just his trembling hand, unable to hold the flashlight still.
It suddenly groaned and heaved forward, right into Jake’s flashlight. Then it ran into his flashlight again, and again. Jake couldn’t keep himself from screaming as he beat the light into the body’s head over and over, the blade of light continuously cutting through the darkness of the room.
When finally Jake was able to get control over himself, he stood back and surveyed his victim. The corpse laid sprawled across the gurney, with a puddle of black, red forming at one end. His breathing barely slowed to normal when the body twitched again.
Not knowing what to do, Jake stood in utter terror, until his eyes followed the glowing beam past the corpse and to the wall behind it. The incinerators.
He brought his pitching arm down against the body one last time to assure its incapacitation as he ran to the wall and wedged open one of the doors. He desperately tugged and pulled at the levers until he heard the snapping sounds of the incinerators coming to life. The fire now cast an orange, flickering glow about the room as, finally, Jake was able to see what he was doing. He ran to the gurney and kicked all the brakes off the wheels before lining it up with the opened door and running with all his might.
He rammed the cart into the wall at such a speed that the undead body slid in on its own. Jake then slammed the door shut and latched it tight as the flames consumed the screaming corpse. A sickening smell seeped out of the vent causing Jake to vomit and collapse under his own weight.
Suddenly, cold, fluorescent lights flooded the morgue as the door at the top of the stairs flung open and the boys crowded through the opening to see what the commotion was. The laughing and japing at their prank came to an uneasy silence as they saw what had transpired. Jake, on the floor, crying into a pool of his own puke, incinerators running, and an empty gurney covered in blood.
Not a one of them dared to move as the phone rang somewhere in the house.
“Boys, Steve’s mom says he isn’t in his room. You didn’t sneak him into your sleepover did you?”
.
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Day 10 of @downwithwritersblock 's october writing challenge.
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First thing's first, this story actually has an alternate ending which I will link to here . Start reading after the ***
2nd: This was actually a story I wrote a few years ago that I thought fit the prompt for today. Now, I know I should be contributing something new and not just posting old works... BUT I decided to use this as a basis of a quick discussion on paranoia and the uncanny. The corner stones of good horror. Or at least the horror I prefer.
This piece is called The Watcher (After Ambrose Bierce) because I took inspiration from "A Watcher by the Dead" by Ambrose Bierce. A story with which I have a complicated relationship with. The basic premise of which is that a man is bet a sum of money that he can't spend the night in a locked, dark room with a corpse. The point being that it shouldn't be a problem for any rational man because I rational man knows that there is nothing dangerous about a dead body. The oposition poses that given the solitude and the darkness with the situation, rationality will fail and fear will set in, even when logic dictates nothing cam actually happen.
~(SPOILERS)Long story short, the man agrees, fear eventually starts to creep up on him and he imagines that he hears movement in the room and drives himself insane before the night is out.(SPOILERS)~
My complicated relationship with the story stems from how I heard it. I first heard the story through an audio book while I was out hiking. I thought the story was absolutely terrifying and gave me goosebumps all through the trail. HOWEVER, when I relistened to it a few days later, I realized I missed something the first go around. You know how you can read several pages of a book and not actually absorb anything, so you have to go back and reread? Well that doesn't really work in audio format. It just keeps chugging along regardless of your attention.
Anyway, upon relistening to it, I noticed I missed a part. Those putting the man up to the "experiment" planted one of themselves in the room as 'the corpse'. When the man in the room hears noises, his paranoia starts to build, but we as the audience know what's actually going on. And I'm sorry to say that it ruined the story a bit for me.
I don't presume to know better than this amazing writer, but I think the direction he took made the whole story less frightening. At least for me. I believe the angle he was going for was more focusing on the men who started the whole thing and had to live with the consequences of their actions. But for my money, the true horror focus was in the room. (Again, this is my personal taste)
The paranoia, the uncertainty, the careful breaking down of our (presumably) sturdy walls of reason. That is what makes something scary. And that is why I made my own version of the story and kind of Schrodinger's Cat-ed with the alternate endings. One uncanny, the other marvelous. You can pick which ending you prefer, but I maintain that the horror remains, because up until the end, we remain as in the dark as the protagonist. We get taken on the same journey as he does. We watch him slowly go from a bet to possible unnatural danger and not know what the outcome is going to be until he finds out.
I have more thoughts on this, but I'll go further into it on a different day.
Thank you for coming to my TEDtalk
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melaninkpopimagines · 8 years ago
Text
Deal
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Youngjae x Reader
*Requested*
Word Count: 5790
Warning: Smut
Author: Admin Jae
6th grade gym class, you spotted some boys shoving the new kid to the ground while the teacher wasn’t looking. “Hey Asian, you going to do my math homework?! You need to go back where you came from there’s enough immigrants here!” They taunted him. No one to defend him.
“Hey! Leave him alone!” you shouted running towards them. “What! You gonna do something about it” one of the boys shoved your shoulder. “Yeah, I am” you punched the boy square in the face. The boy stumbled back and collapsed on his knees holding his nose. You saw a small trial of blood seep out. “I’m telling on you!” the boy ran off alongside his friends.
He froze in horror, he couldn’t utter a word. “Hey, are you ok?” you asked extending your hand to lift him off the ground. “Yeah, thanks” he said dusting himself off. “You didn’t have to do that” he stated. “Yes, I did. They wouldn’t have stopped” you pointed out. He nodded his head and extend his hand “I’m Youngjae, what’s your name?” he asked. “I’m Y/N” you introduced yourself.
3 Years Later…
“Ready to be fresh meat?” you asked looking at him.
“Fresh meat, meaning?” his eyes widen in horror.
“We’re freshmen. Tiny little freshmen. So many freshmen for upperclassmen to make fun off and bully” you cooed. He didn’t bat an eyelash, he froze completely.
“Youngjae, I’m just kidding. No one is going to mess with you” you soothed his nerves.
“Oh God, Y/N. Don’t scare me like that” he burst in laughter slapping your arm.
First day of High School would have any freshmen feeling anxious. You and Youngjae were stepping into unknown territory. You two stepped off the bus facing the entrance leading to the gym lobby. “This shouldn’t be too bad” you smiled. “I’m not sure” Youngjae replied. You pulled out your class schedule and school map find where the classes were. Youngjae pulled his schedule with yours. “We have almost the same classes just different times” he stated. Youngjae followed your finger as you pointed to his lunch period then to yours. “Hey! We have the same lunch period” he beamed.
The first bell rung for first period. “We’ll rendezvous there” you said. “Good luck with classes Youngjae” you said and hugged him. “You too Y/N” he said hugging you back. You two waved bye. You sped walk to class, you made it on time with one minute to spare. You grabbed a seat. Class started with usual introductions. You were wondering if Youngjae was holding up ok with his classes. You continued your day till lunch.
The cafeteria was crowded, you couldn’t spot Youngjae anywhere. I guess he already found some friends. You grabbed yourself a salad and a slice of pepperoni pizza. You spotted an empty table and took a seat. You felt a tap on your shoulder, you spun your head around. “Hey, sorry. I almost got lost. I was afraid I couldn’t find you” Youngjae smiled sitting next to you. “You should grab something to eat” you suggested. “I bought lunch from home” he said opening his container.
You slid some salad into mouth. Youngjae looked at you disgustingly. “What?” you asked. “How can you eat that?” Youngjae pointed at the cucumber. “It’s easy put in your mouth” you mocked. You grabbed some cucumber with your fork and placed it in front of him. “Here eat it”. “No” Youngjae refused scooting away from you. You knew Youngjae hated cucumbers with a passion. You smirked and pleasantly placed the cucumber in your mouth. “That’s really disgusting” he commented.
 “You know what’s really disgusting. That!” you pointed with your eyes. The couple sitting at a table in front of you two were tonguing each other down. Youngjae looked where your eyes were pointed, he frowned. “See!” you laughed, “We’re trying to enjoy our food and we have to see this almost every day”. “Leave the couple alone Y/N.” Youngjae said chewing a kimbap.
“They’re probably in love” Youngjae mentioned. “Do we even know what love is at this stage in our lives?” you questioned. “Mhm, Good question” Youngjae replied. “I bet they probably already had sex” you speculated observing the intense groping. “Honestly, I would rather have sex with someone I care about and love” Youngjae spoke. “Really? Even if they like cucumbers?” you joked “Yes, even if they like them” he said. “Well, Youngjae, it’s your lucky day. Come here and kiss me then” you teased. “Y/N, I couldn’t do that. I would rather do things in private” he added. “Same, I would to. Maybe hold hands or hug” you agreed.
Waiting for his reply, you caught Youngjae staring at the couple intense make out session. The guy was groping the girl’s thigh and biting her neck. Youngjae zoned out your comment, “I’m sorry what did you say?” he uttered turning his direction to you. You looked each other in the eye. Youngjae slightly smirked. “I’ve never seen gawk at a couple before” you observed. “I had a thought” Youngjae began.
“Oh, what were you thinking?” you asked sipping your beverage. “Sex” he spoke. You inhaled too fast, you nearly choke on your drink. Coughing slightly, Youngjae pats your back. “What about sex?” you blurted. “Well, it’s bound to happen sooner or later” Youngjae clarified. “Yeah, but not now!” you exclaimed. “Why, you don’t think it can happen?” he asked. “Not really no” you laughed. “I’m being serious” Youngjae said. “I am too” you remarked.
“Alright, let’s have a bet then” Youngjae challenged.
“What kind of a bet?” you cautioned. “If we don’t lose our virginity by our Senior Year. Then, we have to lose it to each other” Youngjae instructed
You slowly nodded your head. “Are you sure you want to do this?” you queried.
“Yes” Youngjae smiled. You shook Youngjae’s hand accepting bet. “Fine”.
The bell rung for electives to start. “Hey, where’s your next class?” you asked as you walked alongside Youngjae. “Oh, it’s chorus” he smiled. “I’m headed this way. I have Home Economics, I’ll see you on the bus”.
You knew chorus would be a good opportunity for Youngjae to use his vocals. His voice was amazing. It was always very pleasant hearing him sing. When you visited his house, you would play Karaoke with his siblings, Youngjae would make perfect scores.
When classes were over, you were headed to the bus lot. Until, you heard a loud voice coming from down the hallway. You followed a loud voice coming from the classroom. You knew it had to be Youngjae. You snuck a peek inside, Youngjae standing in the center of class with his voice echoed throughout the room. Everyone was dead silent staring at him.
“Oh my God, he’s so good looking” you heard someone commented behind you. You smirked. He was singing a few verses from ‘When I Was Your Man’ by Bruno Mars.
After he sang, everyone gave him a thunderous applause, this was the most you’ve him ever smile. His face was turned red from shock, this was unexpected for Youngjae.
Youngjae heard you cheer for him from the doorway. His cheeks started turning red. “Wonderful voice Youngjae” his music teacher complemented him. She continued, “Alright class is over. Get out my room. I’m ready to go home”. Youngjae grabbed his belongings and approached you. You smiled embracing him in a hug. “That was amazing” you said. “Oh, thank you” he blushed.
You spotted a group of girls huddled together. “Hey Youngjae?” one of the girls spoke you as passed by. Youngjae stopped, “Yes”. “Your voice is amazing. I’m Abby by the way. I’m also in the same music class as you” she smiled. “Oh, nice to meet you and thank you” Youngjae said. They waved good-bye.
“I see you have fans already” you hinted. “I guess so” Youngjae said.
“What time is it?” you asked. Youngjae glanced down at his watch. “It’s almost three. Why?”
“We just missed our bus” you said as you saw it driving past the gym lobby. “Now, we have to the city bus home” you sighed.
“No worries” Youngjae said.
When the bus arrived in your neighborhood, Youngjae walked you home. “Bye Youngjae, I’ll see you tomorrow” you said as you unlocked the front door.
You found your mom in the kitchen cooking. “Hey Mom” you greet. “Hey sweetie, you’re home a little late. I was about to worry. How was your day?” your mom asked.
“Sorry, I forgot to text you. I was with Youngjae, he did a small performance for his chorus class and we caught the city bus home. But my day was pretty good” you replied.
“You and Youngjae have been friends for a very long time” your mom acknowledged.
“I mean he is my best friend” you noted.
“Have you guys ever thought about making your friendship more than its current state?” she cautioned.
You immediately recalled the bet you made with Youngjae. “Mom! Really? No, I don’t think we’ll ever have that conversation” you exclaimed “We’re just friends”. You felt your face fluster in shook.
“Alright, alright! I was just wondering. No need to yell. You guys are really close that’s all” she mocked.
You headed upstairs to start on your homework. “Dinner will be ready soon!” she yelled.
Youngjae with someone like me. I don’t think he’ll be interested in me. We are friends that’s it. It’s going to stay that way. You thought.
After dinner, you retreated into your room to finish the last bit of homework. You read the first chapter of Les Miserables for English class. You slowly drifted off to sleep.
“I miss you” Youngjae spoke as his soft lips dove into yours. He stared deep into your eyes, he wants to be vulnerable with you. You huffed softly feeling excitement. Youngjae wrapped his arms around you pulling you close. He trailed tender kisses down your neck, it felt so good. His hand rubbed against your skin, you quivered from the slightest touch. “I miss you too” you whispered.
You jump frightened as you felt someone tap you. It was your mom. “Who do you miss?” she asked. “No one!” you yelped. “You missed the school bus” your mom told you. “You’ve must have been really tired. I’ll drive you to school. Get dress”
What the hell did I dream?
You got ready and headed downstairs with your mom already in the car. You were silent. “Had a weird dream last night?” your mom broke the silence. “I guess, I don’t quite remember” you looked out the window.
You continued your day at school as normal. You sat at your usual spot in the cafeteria. “Hey, you missed the bus this morning?” Youngjae said. “I know, I was really tired” you replied. “Is everything alright?” he asked. “Yeah, everything is fine” you smiled.
“I want to talk to you about something” Youngjae spoke. “Sure, what’s up?”. “During lunch, I’ll be practicing vocals with Abby. You can come and eat lunch with us” Youngjae beamed.
You nodded your head “Sure”, you said with a slight smile.
For the next few weeks, you ate lunch with Youngjae in the music room. Each time, Abby would freeze in the doorway and narrow her eyes at you. You arched an eyebrow curious about Abby’s attitude towards you. “We’re about to practice, I hope we won’t disturb you” Youngjae cautioned. “Don’t worry about me, I just reading” you smiled. They had the perfect harmony. When they sang, they would look at each other. Abby inched herself closer to Youngjae. He didn’t seem to pay any attention. You scoffed knowing Abby’s motives. She’s trying to drool all over him.
“Thank you for practicing with me Youngjae. We make a great team” she smiled. “We do” he beamed, “I’ll see you later today”. She waved good-bye and exited the door. With Youngjae back turned, she glared in your direction.
You rolled your eyes in disgust. “I don’t like her” you spoke reading over your paper. “What do you mean you don’t like her” Youngjae questioned. “I just got a bad vibe about her” you replied. “You don’t know her Y/N” Youngjae sighed.
“Neither do you” you rose an eyebrow. “Actually, I do” Youngjae corrected. You scoffed and shook your head in disbelief. “What’s your problem with Abby?” he huffed. “She keeps giving me evil glares behind your back” you answered. He nodded his head taking a seat next to you.
“Do you feel awkward being around Abby?” he asked. “Yes, she’s all over you like she’s thirsting for water!” you stressed. He remained silent.
“You got nothing to say about this” you broke the silence. “What do you want me to say?!” Youngjae scolded. “I don’t know. I hope Abby won’t become between our friendship. Youngjae, I care about you and I don’t want you to get hurt” you sighed placing your hand on his shoulder.
Youngjae shrugged your hand off. “I know you do but I don’t need you to protect me. I can take care of myself. We’ve been friends for a long time, but you always baby me”
“I don’t mean to” you spoke softly. You swung your backpack over your shoulders and look back at Youngjae. “Where are you going?” he asked. “I’m getting a head-start to class before the crowd gets in the hallway” you replied approaching the door. You looked back at Youngjae. “Youngjae, you are the closest person I have in my life as a best friend. We’re supposed to have each other’s back. Friends are worth protecting even if the truth hurts”.
You walked out. Frustrated
Men never listen!
You spotted Abby at a corner, in your attempt to avoid any form of contact. “Hey, Y/N” Abby called out. Shit, what does she want?!
She walked over. You folded your arms across your chest. “Yeah”. “I know you and Youngjae are really close” Abby said. “We are” you confirmed. “Neat, is there any chance you guys will hook up?” she asked. “I don’t know, why?” your eyebrow rose. “You guys spend an awful lot of time together. Wherever he is, you’re always there. I would like to be alone with him myself sometime. But, I’m just curious” she smiled. “It was nice chatting with you”.
“You are disgusting” you seethed under your teeth. “I’m sorry come again” Abby said. “You heard me Abby. I didn’t stutter”.
“Listen, Youngjae and I are singing partners. Whether you like it or not?” she stepped closer to your face.
“You better not hurt him” you narrowed your eyes. “Or what?” Abby walked away smiling.
Next day, you stopped by your locker to gather your binders for your next class. You saw a flyer of an upcoming Winter Musical called ‘Christmas in July’ with Youngjae starring as Christmas. You grinned happily.
Some girls approached the flyer talking amongst themselves. “Did you hear Youngjae asked Abby out?”
You overheard the conversation, you kept quiet with the locker door still open. “No, I didn’t hear about that. Omg, they would make such a nice couple. I can see them together”.
You felt your heart become heavy and your stomach began to knot. Deep down, you were happy for Youngjae but you couldn’t shake the feeling of him with Abby. You took a slow deep breath and continued with your day.
Lunchtime came, you sat your usual spot in the cafeteria. You suspected Youngjae was preparing for the play with Abby. You didn’t take much interest in eating. You heard a familiar voice beside you.
“Hey” Youngjae smiled sitting next to you. “Hey” you softly smiled. “How have you been?” he asked.
“Well, I’m ok. I guess” you huffed “You?”
“I’m good. You know why am here right?” Youngjae asked. You shook your head.
“I was wondering if you’d come support me” he cautioned.
You smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world”. “Great. I’ll see you then. I better get going” Youngjae stood up. “Is it true?” you asked.
“Is what true?” he replied. “Is Abby your girlfriend?”
He sighs. “Yes”
“Wow” you spoke. Taken by your reaction. “That’s all I get is a wow. I thought you would be supportive of me being with someone” Youngjae seethed.
“Yeah, someone that’s not her” you corrected.
“What’s your problem with Abby?!” he snapped. “I don’t trust her Youngjae” you argued. “She’s not good for you”.
“And how would you know what’s good for me? He questioned
“Because…I’m your friend. I care about you. I lo…” you paused. You breathed and asked, “What exactly do you see in her?” “Things that aren’t in you” Youngjae insulted.
Hurt, you still managed to keep your composure “And what exactly is that?”
He didn’t answer. You swallowed hard realizing you had lost your appetite.
“Look, Y/N. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean...” Youngjae murmured.
“Well Youngjae. You did” you threw your bookbag over your shoulder and proceeded out to walk out the cafeteria.
You avoided Youngjae. Every call, every text, every door knock went unnoticed. When it came time for his play. You came however you sat in the back of the auditorium. The play ended, Youngjae searched the lobby looking for you with Abby following closely behind him.
“Who are you looking for?” Abby asked.
“Y/N” he looked amongst the crowd.
“Why? We have tons of people that want to see us together” Abby said. “Maybe she didn’t show up”
“Don’t say that” he snapped, “I asked her to come”.
“Well I don’t see her” Abby said.
Youngjae gave up and went back with Abby.
Later that night, you received a text message from Youngjae:
Y/N, where were you? I was looking all over for you. I can’t believe you missed the play. I know you are mad at me but this was important to me. Why weren’t you there?
You left the message on read.
The next day, you noticed when you spotted Youngjae in the hallway, he avoided you. Any form of eye contact was made, he would glare. You still had a soft spot for him, you could never stay mad at him.
For the next three years, he greeted you a glare. The only news your heard about Youngjae, Abby’s name was included.
Each play, Youngjae had performed, you sat in the back of the auditorium with a camera taking a video. You started to pursue an interest in photography and video editing. You joined the yearbook club. Every time, an assignment is given that involved the school choir team, you stayed away.
Youngjae grew more handsome during every performance. You smiled after watching the videos. You missed him.
Prom was approaching, everyone was preparing for it. “Do you have a date for prom?” your mom asked happily. “No” you replied. “What about Youngjae?” she suggested. “Mom, for the thousandth time, he’s with Abby”. Every suggestion involving Youngjae, you felt down on the inside. You miss him but you couldn’t be with him.
You stared aimlessly down at the textbook drifting off to sleep. Your phone buzzed. It was Youngjae.
Youngjae: Y/N, I don’t know where to begin to apologize. I would rather speak with you in person. ☹ Please come outside.
You: Wait, now?
Youngjae: Yes. I’m outside. 😊
You quickly got up off the bed rushing downstairs. “Mom, I’m going outside for a few minutes. I’ll be back!” you shouted.
Your heart was beating so fast, you doubled check to breath. You found Youngjae at the bottom of the porch steps. Youngjae smiled approaching you. You smiled too.
“Youngjae, I..” you began.
“Shhh, I should have listened to you Y/N” Youngjae said sitting on the porch steps. You remained quiet sitting next to him.
He sighed. “I should have trusted you about Abby. You were right all along. I wasn’t thinking clearly and I let Abby into your relationship. I’m sorry” he apologized.
You sighed processing your thoughts together. “What did she do?” you inquired. “We’ve been going through a rough patch. Things became worse when Abby kept telling everyone our business”. You nodded your head. “All her friends kept pressuring us to have sex because everyone was having sex”.
“What?” perplexed by the amount of drama.
“Yeah crazy, right? I never slept with her. It wouldn’t feel right” he said. You nodded your head. He sighed again. You believe there was more to the story.
“What happened after that?” you asked.
“When Abby realized I wouldn’t sleep with her. I found out she cheated on me” he slightly chuckled.
“Youngjae, I’m so sorry” you apologized. “Don’t be. I had a feeling. But when I saw those text messages and photos she sent to other guys. I’m was stupid to think she actually cared about me” Youngjae paused.
“You’re not stupid” you clarified.
“But I let her get between us”
“It’s my fault too. I should have told you this a long time ago but I went to every play you performed” you confessed.
“Even the very first one?” he asked. You nodded your head. “I always had my camera on you.” You smiled.
“Was I good-looking?” he raised his eyebrows.
“Always” you nudged his arm.
You glanced at Youngjae staring back at you. “Youngjae, I…” you hesitated. “I miss you Y/N” he whispered in your ear. “I miss you too” you whispered. He scotted closer to you. He lowered his eyes downward, looking at your lips. You both leaned in, lips softly touching one another. He deepened the kiss, you accepted. He moaned.
You two pulled back. “Woah” you said.
“Do you have a date for prom?” he asked.
“No” you replied. “Why do you ask?”
“Just wondering. I’ll meet you there. I have a surprise for you. I should get going. It’s getting late. Night Y/N” Youngjae stood up and planted a kiss your lips before leaving.
“Night Youngjae”
You went back inside the house and found your mom happily sipping her tea. “So, what happened?” she giggled. “Nothing Ma. But a harmless kiss” you smirked. “Oh, so after 4 years he finally kisses you” she stressed. You nodded your head. “Did he at least ask you to prom?”
“No, he said he’ll meet me there. He has a surprise for me” you reckoned. “He loves you” she implied.
“How would you know?” you laughed.
“I’m your mother, I know everything” she continued to sip her tea.
During the entire school week, you witnessed guys going through great lengths asking for prom dates. One guy asked sent a bouquet of flowers and a pizza all to end in rejection. Another guy plastered a banner on the wall, his date said yes. You heard the news of Youngjae asking Abby to be his date besides they were also campaigning to be Prom King and Prom Queen. Flyers, buttons, even t-shirts were being given away by Abby and her minions. Youngjae was nowhere to be found.
Saturday Night came, Senior Prom the one night to have no regrets. The one night to celebrate high school freedom. You wore a lovely long lace backless champagne with a v-neckline. You stepped into the building, the music was blasting from the ballroom. The entire senior class had arrived. In a separate room, appetizers and drinks were being served. The bathrooms were flooded with girls checking their hair and makeup. The theme for Prom was One Night in Paris.
You saw everyone paused as Youngjae and Abby walked in together with her entire entourage behind them. He was dipped in all black suit. You were amazed, he looked extremely sexy. They took a seat a table near the stage. You walked in the food room, Youngjae spotted you walking across the dance floor, he quickly followed.
“Y/N?” he said.
You turned around smiling. “Wow, you look gorgeous” he stared in awe. His mouthed gapped open. “Cat got your tongue?” you asked. “I don’t have any words to say” he laughed. He walked up to you and embraced you in a hug, softly smelled you and let out a soft moan. He was warm to the touch. You’ve never had a hug feel this good before. “So, where’s my surprise?” you giggled. “Not yet, it’ll be later tonight” he smiled leaving a gentle kiss on your cheek. “It better be worth it” you said. “Just trust me” he smiled.
“Youngjae, what are you doing with her?” Abby approached sternly with her girls behind her.
“Exactly what you see me doing. I’m hugging her” Youngjae retaliated. She glared at you again folding her arms.
“It’s alright Youngjae” you said. “It better be alright” Abby chimed in. “Was I talking to you?” you snapped at her. “Go check your makeup or something”. She kept her mouth shut.
“I’ll see you later tonight” leaving Youngjae with Abby.
The night went on, bodies were so close together, the air became hot and thick. You looked over at Youngjae, he looked miserable with her. Why does he still put up with her? Why can’t he just leave her? I wish I could help him?
“Alright ladies and gentlemen. It is time to announce this year’s Prom King and Queen” the principal announced.
Everyone gathered around to the stage. You stayed behind to avoid being crushed.
The principal has an envelope in her had. “By default, we already know who won” she smiled happily. “Drumroll please” she asked. The audience drum rolled for dramatic effect. “This year’s Prom King is.... Choi Youngjae”. The crowd gave a thunderous applause. Youngjae bowed and smiled. He walked onto the stage to receive his sash and crown, he was handed the microphone. “Thank you everyone for voting for me to be Prom King. I greatly appreciate it” he smiled. The principal took the microphone in her hand, “And without further or do. This year’s Prom Queen is…. Abigail Thatcher”. All her friends screamed and cheered for her. She was smiling so hard. She stood next to her man receiving her crown as well. “Omg, I can’t believe this is happening. I want to thank everyone who support us on our campaign. We couldn’t do it without you guys. Thank you so much” she squealed. “Babe, is there anything else you want to say?” she asked.
Youngjae nodded his head and she handed him the microphone. “I have something I would like to say to all of you” he paused.
The whole audience remained silent. Abby still smiling.
“I’m not sorry for doing this. Abby, I’m breaking up with you” he announced.
“Oh my God” you gasped.
“Youngjae, what are you doing? What do you mean you’re breaking up with me? She stammered.
“Everyone, Abby is not as good as she says she is. Abby has been cheating on me for the past two years of high school” he confirmed. The whole audience gasped and immediately started booing.
“Youngjae, you need to stop this. Right now!” she shouted.
“It’s ok Abby. Everyone needs to know who you truly are. It’s over” He said. “I’m giving my crown to someone who’s been really special to me”. He stepped off the stage and started walking towards you.
You heard Abby shouting from the background, “I hate you Youngjae!” and left crying.
The lights shined on you. He smiled and placed his crown on your head. “I’m not a king” you whispered to him. “I know that but the person I love, should be honored” he spoke in your ear. You mouthed “love”. He nodded his head and extended his hand to slow dance. He gently pulled you close, his hands were around your waist. Your arms were around his shoulders.
He nodded. “Yes, I love you”. You smiled happily. “I take it this was the surprise?” you curiously asked. “Well part of it” he admitted.
“What else is there left?” you asked. “I can’t tell you right now” he smirked.
“What about Abby?”
“She’ll be fine” Youngjae reassured. “Besides, it doesn’t matter who you came with, it’s who you leave with”.
He extended his hand and said, “Come on, let’s go”. You took his hand and followed. The entire senior class stood there and watched. Hand in hand, you two couldn’t stop smiling. You both got in the car as he drove to a nearby hotel.
“Why are we here?” you asked as you two walked into the lobby to confirm his stay. He remained quiet until you two were alone in the elevator. “I want this night to be special for both of us” he finally spoke.
Entering the hotel room, one king size bed centered, the currents were draped closed. The tv placed in front of the bed. The bathroom styled with marble flooring, with motion sensor lights. The room was cozy.
Youngjae closed the door behind him and asked, “Remember the bet we made Freshman year?”
“Yes, but I thought you were joking” you chuckled. “No, I wasn’t joking. I meant it.” he walked closer to you. You froze in place, his tone changed.
“Youngjae...” your voice slightly cracked. “I want to lose myself in you” he moaned in your ear. His moan aroused you. You breathed and looked in his eyes, “I do too” you whispered. He didn’t hesitate, he kissed you. You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him closer. His hands moved slowing down an inch closer to your ass. You turned around to let Youngjae unzipped your dress dropping smoothly to the floor. You faced him only in your lace panties.
He stared in awe from head to toe. You felt exposed. “Please say something?” you said shyly. “You look beautiful”. You smiled.
He removed his jacket and proceeded to unbutton his shirt. You unbuckled his pants. All his clothing fell to the floor next to your dress. You stepped out of your panties. You both stood naked in front of each other.
You two couldn’t resist each other any longer. When your skin touched his, you quivered. Youngjae chuckled. You want to his. Your thigh felt slightly wet, it was Youngjae’s precum seeping out of his cock.
“I’m sorry” he apologized. “Don’t be. Let me get that for you” you got on your knees. You gently jerked him off more pre-cum came out. “Y/N” Youngjae said tilting his head back. You stuck his cock in your mouth and sucked him off. He softly placed his hand on the back of your head. “Fuck” slipped through his lips. Each moment you sucked his cock grew more until it was full length. You went faster. “I can’t hold it in any longer Y/N” he gasped. “I’m about to cum Y/N”. He came in your mouth, your tongue licked along his tip his knees slightly buckled.
You got off the floor and laid with your back against the bed. Youngjae crawled on top of you. Your legs opened for him. He put his whole weight against you. He was so warm. You caressed his cheek and smoothed his hair behind his ear. He kissed you and smiled. “How was that?” you asked. “Amazing”. You chuckled.
Youngjae started kissed your neck working his way down. Each kiss planted gave you goosebumps. “Let me know if I’m hurting you” he said before he parted your heated lips. His tongue explored you. Your nipples peaked from his warm touch. You were breathing heavily. “Youngjae” you whimpered. “Yes Y/N”.
“Don’t stop”. He continued to suck and lick all over your pussy. You never felt this relaxed before, your back arched off the bed.
He suddenly stopped and grabbed a condom out of his pants pocket. He jerked himself off a couple times and wrapped the condom around his cock. He laid on top of you again. You kissed him. “Are you sure you want to do this? I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable” he cautioned.
“Youngjae. I want to do this” you reassured him. He nodded his head and lined his cock to your pulsing entrance. You opened your legs wider for him. You held your breath as he inched his way inside of you. You felt a dull pain as you adjust to his cock. You gasped slightly. Youngjae immediately stopped. “Am I hurting you?” he asked. “It hurts a little bit. It’s ok.” you whispered.
“Maybe we should stop” he paused attempting to pull out. You placed your finger on his lips to prevent him to stop talking. “Youngjae, we’re here. Together. Alone. Don’t hold back” you whispered and passionately planted a kiss.  
He nodded his head, slightly thrust himself further in you. You pulled him closer to feel all of him. The pain faded away, you engulfed his hard cock. He hoists himself up with his thighs to place his cock at a better angle. His cock tugged at your walls going in and out. You felt tremors of pleasure spread throughout your body. Youngjae buried his face against your neck groaning in your ear. You felt like you were in a daze. “Yes, Youngjae” you whispered. “Are you ok?” he asked. “I’m better than ok”.
He smiled plummeting his cock back inside your wet pulsing guts. “Ah, Y/N. You feel so good” he murmured. His pace quickens, the mattress squeaked a bit each time his hips slammed into you. He gripped your thigh as you wrapped your legs around his waist. Your breasts bounced in unison to his thrusts. You were lost in him as he was lost in you. You cling to Youngjae afraid to be parted from him.
Each thrust made your pussy wetter than before. You were creaming all over him. “Youngjae, I’m so close baby”. “Me too” Youngjae mustered as he continued to keep his pace. You felt every muscle tighten and your upper thighs quivered in shock. You couldn’t hold in any longer. You cried out as cum released. Youngjae’s pace was slowing down, he called your name out as his cum spilled into the condom. He pulled out and disposed the condom. He crawls into the sheets with you. His forehead glistened from the sweat. You both caught your breath. You look over to Youngjae, he looks back and laugh.
“What?”
“I can’t believe you thought I was joking, that was by far one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had” he said pulling you in his arms.
“Really?” you asked wiping the sweat of his forehead. He nodded caressing your cheek.
You leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on his lips.
“I did. Besides I didn’t think you would want to lose your virginity with me” you explained.
“I don’t trust anyone else but you. You’re more than a friend.”
“What am I then?” you questioned. “My girlfriend?” he hinted
“I like the sound of that”
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jerrisdiction · 6 years ago
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SeoulSearching: Chapter 01
Long story short, the perfectionist in me considered this trip a complete failure. But I'll accept that with gratitude- after all, there's a first time for everything.
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One of these "first times" was using automated check-in, which did not work for us anyway, since there were other procedures we were to complete in person. Nonetheless, the staff were all relaxed and helpful.
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And yes, more surprisingly, it was the first time we used McDonald's automated ordering kiosks to order light supper, for the counters were closed that night.
I've had better spicy nuggets than these.
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Another 'first': being on a late night flight, which we all regretted. Even Mum, who's usually a heavy sleeper, complained of being sleep deprived. As for me, it goes without saying that I disembarked in the morning half-disoriented.
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I did look forward to witnessing the sunrise on the plane though. It wasn't crisp clear, and I couldn't take a shot of the crimson horizon from my seat. But a beautiful 5am view, it was.
In-flight meals were served shortly before 7am, but I suppose most of us were just tired and indifferent towards the food by then. The three of us opted for stir fried noodles with fried fish fillet, which surprised me a little as I thought Dad would prefer having porridge. Then again, Korean style porridge is likely very different from what we're used to.
。・:*:・゚
Upon arrival, Dad was amused that the immigration there, like Taiwan, used index fingerprints instead of thumbprints. I couldn't care less, so long the process was smooth. It did take slightly shorter than clearing the Taiwanese customs.
The next step was to purchase our T-money cards - also the first time I spoke Korean to a local there. As expected, it failed quite miserably. My mind already went blank when the GS25 staff told us that they did not sell normal 2,500won T-money cards. Thank goodness another staff came in and intercepted the awkwardness with some English.
Along the way I learnt that it's okay to speak a little bit of simple English. In fact, much better than struggling to be understood in Korean, only in vain. Fast forward to our arrival at Hongdae, where we deposited our luggage with Safex, their staff was pretty relaxed with conversing in English. (I think it's me who needs to relax LOL.)
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Hongdae was a place with inexplicably good vibes that afternoon, even though most recommend going in the evening. We settled at a random restaurant, and it turned out to be our favourite meal in the entire trip. Each of us got this huge portion of bibimbap at just 6,500won.
At this point I probably figured out the distinction between traditional bibimbap and the more 'modern' ones like this. Traditional vegetable toppings typically include mushrooms, carrots, spinach, soybean sprouts, and cucumbers. But I don't recall much of those in this bowl- instead, alfafa sprouts, chopped yellow radish and cabbage were among the highlights. Making a wild guess right here that these modern variations are more widely seen in areas like Hongdae to appeal to youths and tourists. Not saying that traditional bibimbap tastes worse, but it had become a tad boring for our family overtime.
We later ventured down the smaller streets of Hongdae, passing by several stores and cafés- each with their own character. I recall being in awe with one of the many accessory stores; its rustic industrial design was well complemented with its scent, probably from a diffuser. Almost felt like stepping into an unfamiliar realm, even though earrings were its highlight.
We also visited Market A, but somehow none of us had a thing for their pieces. They just felt like elegant vibes I couldn't carry. Mum also commented that their pieces are mostly in 'plain' colours. Yes, precisely that- there isn't really a colour the locals can't manage, given their fair skin. In subsequent days, I also observed that they mostly wore such neutral, muted colours to work, especially black and cream.
Meanwhile, Dad had been sitting outside the store, coughing non-stop still. He was obviously displeased with all the walking, and the lack of sleep was taking a toll on him. Surprisingly though, he suggested to find a café nearby to recharge (he was never the type to visit cafés). So we gradually tried to find our way out.
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The parents were doubtful when I started going underneath one of the bridges, but wow it turned out to be a really nice spot with shade. 책거리, or what I'd interpret as "Book Street" is such an apt name for a path leading students from the subway station exits towards the university. The afternoon breeze blowing under the bridge also came refreshing after a long walk in the sun. And witnessing some elderly folks reading together in the shade simply completed the picture.
Hongdae is, indeed, definitely more than its nightclubs, restaurants and fashion trends.
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Thanks stranger for making this picture even more perfect. Really love the lines and warm vibes in this shot.
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That street also had me noticing all the gorgeous flowers Seoul had to offer. I don't have good shots of them up close, for they were better admired in abundance.
Lots of white daisies in this city... I guess the more you avoid something, the more often you see them.
。・:*:・゚
This café (located in a mall near Exit 4) caught our attention so after some mindless shopping there, we picked a few items for afternoon coffee.
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Their coffee (forgot which one Mum ordered for us) wasn't really something I'd fancy. It was our first time trying an beurre - seemingly just bread with cream and red bean filling but, of course, more sophisticated.
I picked up a chocolate financier as well, for I hadn't had one in years. Dad did not think much of it, but I never expected a financier to be the highlight anyway. But it's decently rich (damn, is this a pun HAHA) for me.
。・:*:・゚
Little did we know that the real challenge was to come after we collected our luggage and headed to Seoul Station. Mum suggested visiting Lotte Mart before checking into our apartment, but it was a really long walk from the airport line. Hell, if the walk within Dhoby Ghaut station was already a chore, I bet this was way, way worse especially with us lugging our baggage around.
By this time, Dad was having the runs and displaying more discomfort, so he decided to rest outside Lotte Mart, giving us 30 minutes to shop. I'd thought this was a great place with variety, for I'd always liked shopping in supermarkets but... The crowd, the tourists, even the promoters enthusiastically drawing customers in with Mandarin were quite a turn-off for me. It really just felt like a place for tourists to sweep all those goodies away last minute before they head home. And seeing Mum almost turn into a child in a candy store got me thinking, this is a bad sign.
When we finally got out of Lotte Mart, somehow Kakao Map failed us and could not point us in a direction that seemed right. Some bickering and struggling later, we decided to lug all that baggage underground once again back to the airport line to find the other station exit, since the subway was our only hope with more visible signs.
And after what seemed like endless walking, we reached our apartment in sheer exhaustion.
。・:*:・゚
By the time we recharged ourselves enough to go out for dinner, it was yet another challenge to decide what to eat. There were several (probably family owned) restaurants near the estate, but after passing by the lots of them, we headed back to Lotte Mart - this time via a shorter route we'd found.
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Lotte Mart isn't so bad after all, for there were a few stalls that sold really affordable and filling meals. We ordered one set of steamed dumplings and 2 sets of kimbap for 13,000won, and though that wasn't way too filling, at least we were able to finish it all - Dad didn't like the tuna kimbap while I didn't like the tonkatsu kimbap so we swapped LOL. Somehow the dumplings were the highlight for me, not sure if it was the filling or the soy sauce.
On our way back, we hopped into a minimart and bought some bread for breakfast the next day (though later on I ate none of it). Oh, and out of curiosity Mum and I tried a spicy vegetable kebab thingy, it kind of set my tongue on fire but felt super shiok (much better than Spicy McNuggets, huh).
Back at the apartment, the duo started generating more complaints of our humble home for the next 4 days. Again, I was the one to blame (who else?), but that didn't bother me much for we were all scrambling to catch up on sleep that night.
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tonyduncanbb73 · 8 years ago
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Explore the Wines of Moldova in Newton (and More Updates)
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Instagram is ruining food, Portland has a new spot for Jewish deli classics, and other news bites
Welcome back to Morning Briefing, an almost-daily round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.
Booze News
More than a year after its Newton debut, Moldova Restaurant (344 Watertown St.) — which serves Moldovan cuisine, from plăcinte to mămăliga — now has a full liquor license. (Previously, the restaurant was able to provide limited beer and wine service, only on specific days.) The restaurant is now serving Moldovan wines and local beers, with hard liquor and cocktails arriving on the menu shortly.
Goodbye, Trucks
For “All Things Considered” on WGBH, Susan Kaplan chats with Clover founder Ayr Muir about his decision to take the Clover trucks off the road and focus on the restaurant group’s brick-and-mortar locations. “I think the food trucks really were linked with that downturn in the economy,” says Muir, recalling Clover’s 2008 start. “It was really hard for aspiring chefs to get the capital to open a restaurant and a food truck is a really low barrier to entry.”
“Pity the Stew”
The Globe’s Devra First declares that Instagram is ruining food; the exploding social media network has become such an effective form of restaurant advertising that some chefs focus perhaps too much on creating the perfectly photographable dish. “But what makes a good picture does not always taste good, and what tastes good does not always make a good picture,” she writes, lamenting the “delicious” but “not photogenic” stew.
Jams and Teas and More
Four Seasons Farm Pantry is now open in Andover (733 Turnpike St.) The shop is a partnership between Doves & Figs, a local jam company, and Soluna Garden Farm, a Winchester-based herb and flower farm that also produces spice and tea blends. Four Seasons features products from both companies and also serves hot and iced teas and baked goods.
Meanwhile, in Maine
Rose Foods is now open in Portland, Maine (428 Forest Ave.), serving bagel sandwiches and other Jewish deli classics, including pastrami on rye, latkes, and matzo ball soup. Owner Chad Conley is also co-owner of Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine.
Chad Conley (@c_con_ley) held a friends and family breakfast this morning for @_rose_foods_. The grand opening for the Forest Ave bagel shop, deli and cafe is scheduled for Wednesday. Shown here is the Classic Whitefish (whitefish salad, lettuce, onion) and the Classic Nova (cream cheese, nova lox, cucumber, onion, capers). The menu also includes other breakfast items, and lunch options like matzo ball soup and a pastrami on rye. @_rose_foods_ is serving @parlorcoffee. #portlandmaine #rosefoods #novalox #thenewforestave
A post shared by Portland Food Map (@portlandfoodmap) on Jul 29, 2017 at 8:56am PDT
Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email [email protected].
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oselatra · 6 years ago
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The Hot Springs mile-pie club
Spa City is swiftly becoming a polestar for pizza.
Exactly 3 miles along state Highway 7 separate Rod's Pizza Cellar and Grateful Head Pizza Oven & Beer Garden. If you were to walk that line — about an hour on foot on mostly flat terrain, Google Maps tells us — you'd pass Rocky's Corner, SQZBX Brewery & Pizza Joint and DeLuca's Pizzeria along the way. Those five joints are adding another identity to the Spa City's multiple personality: as a pizza town.
Deluca's Pizzeria 831 Central Ave. | 501-609-9002
Pizza dough can be as volatile as the stock market, and nobody knows that better than Anthony Valinoti. Fueled by wanderlust both personal and professional, the boisterous former Wall Street broker took some onsite training in Naples and opened a pizzeria in the Park Avenue District of Hot Springs. Valinoti fashioned his recipes after his memories of Brooklyn's Di Fara Pizza, a spot in a Hasidic Jewish neighborhood he visited as a child. It caught on — big. Since last fall, Valinoti's Napoletana charred-crust pies, antipasto, cannoli and salads have taken up residence in a primo spot on Central Avenue. It's not the cheapest pie in town, and it's sold a scant four days a week, but some things are worth going to a little trouble for. Grateful Head Pizza Oven & Beer Garden 100 Exchange St. | 501-781-3405
This offshoot of Grateful Head's original location in Hochatown, Okla., would be worth seeing even if you didn't eat a bite. Just off Bathhouse Row on Exchange Street, a labyrinthian courtyard networks a web of pavilions and pathways alongside the wooded cliffs of Hot Springs National Park. Inside, the building is similarly maze-like; tiny rooms with low ceilings and winding stairways link the upstairs bar and dining room to a lower floor that feels as much a speakeasy as a pizzeria, with sections of tiled wall, a lusty mural of barely clad women among nests of ferns, stained glass light fixtures and decorative nods to both Captain Trips and old Hot Springs. Craft beers from Spa City breweries like Superior Bathhouse Brewery and Bubba's Brews are routinely on tap rotation, and the pizza is solid, brawny bar fare.
Rocky's Corner 2300 Central Ave. | 501-624-0199
Rocky's Corner is about as unpretentious as they come, and the fact that it sits directly across Central Avenue from Oaklawn Racing & Gaming — and has since 1982 — makes for some first-rate people-watching. Sunburned daytrippers in flip-flops and quick-dry swim trunks stagger in the front door from Lake Hamilton. Oaklawn-burned gamblers sidle up to the bar in the back, their winnings more commensurate with a celebratory pitcher of Bud than a cucumber martini at The Waters Hotel. (On a recent visit, our basket of chicken wings — don't knock 'em 'til you try 'em — were consumed to the shrill soundtrack of day-drunk, giggling barflies, one of whom had evidently scored some portable source of helium.) The beer at Rocky's is consistently a perfect icy cold, and the Italian beef sandwiches come piping hot, served with hot or sweet peppers and named, like the pizzas, after boxing moves: "The Jab," "The Upper Cut," The Right Cross," "The TKO."
Rod's Pizza Cellar 3350 Central Ave. | 501-321-2313
Like a mulish bastion of '80s interior decor and wall-mounted televisions, Rod's Pizza Cellar set up shop on the Fourth of July in 1975 and has maintained a family-friendly following for its "Godfather" deep-dish style pizza, along with meaty menu companions. Boutique pie it is not, but Rod's fare is sturdy stuff, with small-batch sauces and cheese sliced in-house. This old warhorse's lunch buffet fills the parking lot on weekdays, and the list of pie varieties — the Leonardo, the Taco Pizza, the Razorbaccio, the Godmother — recall a time when middle America needed their Italian food packaged in fun, recognizable terms, and when mom-and-pop pizza joints in Arkansas were few and far between.
SQZBX Brewery & Pizza Joint 236 Ouachita Ave. | 501-609-0609
In 2017, Cheryl Roorda and Zachary Smith — the two idiosyncratic halves of the polka duo Itinerant Locals — put aside their helicon and accordion for a few moments to prioritize a new venture: lovingly restoring an old piano shop on Ouachita Avenue and transforming it into a sleek pizzeria and brewery. Sandwiched between the other chapters of Roorda and Smith's business portfolio — solar-powered community radio station KUHS-FM, 102.5, and the newly spruced-up Starlite Club — SQZBX serves pies for vegans and carnivores alike, sub sandwiches, garlicky bread knots and tank-to-tap beers brewed by Smith in the purist German Reinheitsgebot style (no infusions, no additions). Architectural and stylistic details abound: Giant neon letters spell out SQZBX in the historic spot's transom windows, offbeat custom glassware serves as brew vessel, and retired accordions and piano parts gesture warmly to the place's origins. 
The Hot Springs mile-pie club
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polixy · 7 years ago
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The Korean summit menu recalls how royals ate when the peninsula was united
The Korean summit menu recalls how royals ate when the peninsula was united; ... in Switzerland (with the potato fritters rösti, as well as chocolate and macaroons); past summits (with rice and sea cucumber dumplings from the hometowns of former Korean peace brokers); and even a territorial disagreement with Japan (with a map decorating dessert that includes a disputed island).; Google Alert - site:qz.com map; https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://quartzy.qz.com/1261848/the-history-of-korean-royal-court-food-plays-out-in-the-korean-summit-menu/&ct=ga&cd=CAIyGmE5NTc4ZThmYzk1MjQ0N2E6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNGujkfiODSfE-APg1A6j6IO3HSJqw; ; April 26, 2018 at 02:11PM
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headspacepress · 8 years ago
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http://headspacepress.com/time-get-fringe-montreal/
Time to get your Fringe on, Montreal!
Ok, it’s that time of year again, and I’m just going to cut to the chase and say this: If you’re a Montrealer and haven’t attended a Fringe performance in the past 27 years or have no plans to attend one in the coming weeks, I’m going to sit here and silently judge you. Mainly because it makes absolutely no sense to me.
The Fringe Festival is quirky, unpredictable, original, imaginative, free-spirited, funny, titillating, ground-breaking, heartbreaking, experimental, hysterical, bizarre, fucking strange, and oh so Montreal. It’s simply a creative crapshoot of the weirdly wonderful and a huge part of the fabric of this city and its summer.
Can you tell I’m a fan? No, seriously… where else can you get over 100 original, thought-provoking shows (most in English, many in French, a few bilingual) that span theatre, dance, poetry, puppetry, magic, sketch, drag, clowning, Shakespeare, burlesque, musical, and more to choose from over a span of two weeks?
Where else can you check out over 50 bands and a bunch of fun events for free? Where else can you enjoy the creative fruits of someone’s labour knowing that artists keep 100 percent of their box office revenues and that tickets are super affordable at $10, allowing you to see more than a few shows at a time without taking out a bank loan?
I’m an unabashed Fringe supporter because I love the arts, I love creativity, I love people who live (often dangerously close to the poverty level) to create, I love all the volunteers and staff at Fringe Montreal, I love the vibe at the Fringe Park (a.k.a. the Beer Tent), I love the quirkiness and tiny impossibilities of most of the haphazard Fringe venues sprinkled around the Plateau like afterthoughts.
I love that some productions in the past were so damn good that years later I still can’t believe I paid less than the price of a movie ticket to witness sheer magic on stage, and that some were so bizarrely bad I still giggle uncontrollably and shake my head when I recall them. Either way, they’re always memorable because art is trying stuff out and taking chances and not everything will work, but you can’t help but admire and support folks brave enough to bare their souls for us so we can laugh and cry and commiserate on our existence. There is nothing more beautiful, more intimate, more life-affirming than artistic creation, and the impractical and audacious act of someone standing on stage sharing a part of who they are for you to witness, consume, and hopefully embrace.
So, with that full-blown declaration of Fringe love out of the way, here are the productions that caught my eye during Monday’s Fringe-For-All and which I plan to see. If you find the descriptions intriguing, simply click on the links and find out where and when to see these shows. Keep in mind that I can’t possibly include them all, so do your own homework and scan the website for additional descriptions, times, and all the other fun events (Scavenger Hunt, Drag Races, Pinball Karaoke, 13th Hour, etc.) surrounding the two-week festival. There’s bound to be something here you’ll fall in love with too.
Cherry Docs
A neo-Nazi skinhead is charged with murder, and legal aid has assigned him a liberal Jewish lawyer. An epic battle that leaves each man marked by the other’s belief, David Gow’s Cherry Docs is a provocative exploration if the inescapable and insidious presence of hatred in our society.
Peter Pansexual
Peter Pansexual lures Wendy and her darling brothers from suburbia to Neverland, a.k.a. Montreal. They discover the magic of snorting fairy dust, crushing the patriarchy and exploring their sexuality. Captain Hooker seeks revenge on the Lost Boiz for flaunting their eternal youth on social media. For young at heart adult audiences.
Illustrated Lady
Do you have a tattoo? Do you want one? Sophie had been collecting them since she was eight years old. Through stories of terrible choices and happy mistakes, she will take you on a journey reflecting on memory, body and ink. She also plans on live tattooing drawings made by audience members on her body each night of her show and half-seriously joked on Monday night that she hopes she doesn’t end up with a bunch of penises on her thighs.
Syl-lo-go-ma-ni-e/a
Syllogomanie (ou accumulation compulsive) : fait d’accumuler de manière excessive des objets et incapacité ou réticence à jeter un grand nombre de possessions. Syllogomania (or compulsive hoarding): pattern of behavior that is characterized by excessive acquisition and an inability or unwillingness to discard large quantities of objects. This quirky and frankly quite adorable bilingual duo had me intrigued. I need to see more.
The Thrill of the Chaise
Spirit of the FRINGE winner Chocolate Moose returns with a license to thrill. Intrigue, love and betrayal are hidden just under the table in this well-upholstered epic of Russian spies and world-class set design. Warning: Contains very convincing sex.
Wolves
This “deconstruction” of Little Red Riding Hood fractures a familiar yarn into a prismatic and lacerating reflection of the monsters that lurk in the big city and within. A darkly comic, predatory tale that explores the conflation of sex and fear in modern culture, the comfort of lava lamps and the dangers of a handy axe.
Comment le cancer de mon grand père m’a fait découvrir le disco
Comment les derniers jours d’un homme atteint du cancer seront-ils salutaires pour son petit fils, accro au pot, aux jeux vidéo et à Tinder ? La vie nous ouvre parfois des avenues par le biais d’évènements totalement imprévisibles. Le cancer peut-il se transformer en Disco ?
Crazy Bitch
Crazy Bitch is a fresh, dark and biting look at how the princess becomes the villain. Half autobiography, half social commentary, 100% comedy, MacDonald uses stand-up, film and storytelling to explore the ubiquitous phenomenon of the crazy bitch in this high-energy one-woman show.
Old, Fat & Fucked! Now What?
How do you grow old and fat when you are a gay man living in a community where being young and slim is the official standard of attraction? Puelo Deir’s latest comedic show tackles this struggle with humour, wit and raunchy personal anecdotes.
The Detective, the Dame, and the Devil
A troubled detective, down to his last dime; a mysterious dame, cool as a cucumber; a maniacal husband, out for revenge. But who to believe in this crazy world of danger, intrigue, wordplay, and the odd anachronism? Welcome to Spadesy’s Private Investigation: no case too small, no laugh too cheap.
La Ronde
Don’t you hate it when you’re sleeping with someone who’s sleeping with someone who’s sleeping with someone who’s sleeping with you? We do too! But we still find it funny to watch! Come see this merry-go-round of sex and confusion at La Ronde.
Precinct: An Improvised Cop Story
Montreal’s Plateau is the toughest borough in the roughest city. Officers John Calgary and Carl Boucher are hitting the street to shake down perps. Guided by Captain Bill Garber, Calgary and Boucher will investigate and solve every single miserable case wrapped in manilla that drops on their desk… in the Precinct.
Things Drugs Taught Me
Nisha (Self-Exile, 2016 Best English Production) and Jeff (The Balding, 2013 Best Comedy nominee) have had wildly contrasting drug experiences. In this two-part storytelling show, they share everything they’ve learned from their substance use and abuse. As best they can remember. “Will leave audiences howling.” – Montreal Gazette
Also, a quick shout out to Cabaret Abnormal, 0 Days Without Crying, Mapping Grief, Docile Bodies, and Periscope. Many more shows online, so go check them out.
The 27th edition of the Montreal Fringe Festival runs until June 18. For information and/or tickets,  you can go online to: www.montrealfringe.ca or call 514-849-FEST. Pick up the schedule available around town, and follow the hashtag #FringeBuzz on Twitter for all the latest show reviews. It’s often the best way to find out what’s most popular with audiences. Happy Fringing and see you at the Beer Tent!
0 notes
tonyduncanbb73 · 8 years ago
Text
Explore the Wines of Moldova in Newton (and More Updates)
Tumblr media
Instagram is ruining food, Portland has a new spot for Jewish deli classics, and other news bites
Welcome back to Morning Briefing, an almost-daily round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.
Booze News
More than a year after its Newton debut, Moldova Restaurant (344 Watertown St.) — which serves Moldovan cuisine, from plăcinte to mămăliga — now has a full liquor license. (Previously, the restaurant was able to provide limited beer and wine service, only on specific days.) The restaurant is now serving Moldovan wines and local beers, with hard liquor and cocktails arriving on the menu shortly.
Goodbye, Trucks
For “All Things Considered” on WGBH, Susan Kaplan chats with Clover founder Ayr Muir about his decision to take the Clover trucks off the road and focus on the restaurant group’s brick-and-mortar locations. “I think the food trucks really were linked with that downturn in the economy,” says Muir, recalling Clover’s 2008 start. “It was really hard for aspiring chefs to get the capital to open a restaurant and a food truck is a really low barrier to entry.”
“Pity the Stew”
The Globe’s Devra First declares that Instagram is ruining food; the exploding social media network has become such an effective form of restaurant advertising that some chefs focus perhaps too much on creating the perfectly photographable dish. “But what makes a good picture does not always taste good, and what tastes good does not always make a good picture,” she writes, lamenting the “delicious” but “not photogenic” stew.
Jams and Teas and More
Four Seasons Farm Pantry is now open in Andover (733 Turnpike St.) The shop is a partnership between Doves & Figs, a local jam company, and Soluna Garden Farm, a Winchester-based herb and flower farm that also produces spice and tea blends. Four Seasons features products from both companies and also serves hot and iced teas and baked goods.
Meanwhile, in Maine
Rose Foods is now open in Portland, Maine (428 Forest Ave.), serving bagel sandwiches and other Jewish deli classics, including pastrami on rye, latkes, and matzo ball soup. Owner Chad Conley is also co-owner of Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine.
Chad Conley (@c_con_ley) held a friends and family breakfast this morning for @_rose_foods_. The grand opening for the Forest Ave bagel shop, deli and cafe is scheduled for Wednesday. Shown here is the Classic Whitefish (whitefish salad, lettuce, onion) and the Classic Nova (cream cheese, nova lox, cucumber, onion, capers). The menu also includes other breakfast items, and lunch options like matzo ball soup and a pastrami on rye. @_rose_foods_ is serving @parlorcoffee. #portlandmaine #rosefoods #novalox #thenewforestave
A post shared by Portland Food Map (@portlandfoodmap) on Jul 29, 2017 at 8:56am PDT
Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email [email protected].
0 notes
tonyduncanbb73 · 8 years ago
Text
Explore the Wines of Moldova in Newton (and More Updates)
Tumblr media
Instagram is ruining food, Portland has a new spot for Jewish deli classics, and other news bites
Welcome back to Morning Briefing, an almost-daily round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.
Booze News
More than a year after its Newton debut, Moldova Restaurant (344 Watertown St.) — which serves Moldovan cuisine, from plăcinte to mămăliga — now has a full liquor license. (Previously, the restaurant was able to provide limited beer and wine service, only on specific days.) The restaurant is now serving Moldovan wines and local beers, with hard liquor and cocktails arriving on the menu shortly.
Goodbye, Trucks
For “All Things Considered” on WGBH, Susan Kaplan chats with Clover founder Ayr Muir about his decision to take the Clover trucks off the road and focus on the restaurant group’s brick-and-mortar locations. “I think the food trucks really were linked with that downturn in the economy,” says Muir, recalling Clover’s 2008 start. “It was really hard for aspiring chefs to get the capital to open a restaurant and a food truck is a really low barrier to entry.”
“Pity the Stew”
The Globe’s Devra First declares that Instagram is ruining food; the exploding social media network has become such an effective form of restaurant advertising that some chefs focus perhaps too much on creating the perfectly photographable dish. “But what makes a good picture does not always taste good, and what tastes good does not always make a good picture,” she writes, lamenting the “delicious” but “not photogenic” stew.
Jams and Teas and More
Four Seasons Farm Pantry is now open in Andover (733 Turnpike St.) The shop is a partnership between Doves & Figs, a local jam company, and Soluna Garden Farm, a Winchester-based herb and flower farm that also produces spice and tea blends. Four Seasons features products from both companies and also serves hot and iced teas and baked goods.
Meanwhile, in Maine
Rose Foods is now open in Portland, Maine (428 Forest Ave.), serving bagel sandwiches and other Jewish deli classics, including pastrami on rye, latkes, and matzo ball soup. Owner Chad Conley is also co-owner of Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine.
Chad Conley (@c_con_ley) held a friends and family breakfast this morning for @_rose_foods_. The grand opening for the Forest Ave bagel shop, deli and cafe is scheduled for Wednesday. Shown here is the Classic Whitefish (whitefish salad, lettuce, onion) and the Classic Nova (cream cheese, nova lox, cucumber, onion, capers). The menu also includes other breakfast items, and lunch options like matzo ball soup and a pastrami on rye. @_rose_foods_ is serving @parlorcoffee. #portlandmaine #rosefoods #novalox #thenewforestave
A post shared by Portland Food Map (@portlandfoodmap) on Jul 29, 2017 at 8:56am PDT
Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email [email protected].
0 notes
tonyduncanbb73 · 8 years ago
Text
Explore the Wines of Moldova in Newton (and More Updates)
Tumblr media
Instagram is ruining food, Portland has a new spot for Jewish deli classics, and other news bites
Welcome back to Morning Briefing, an almost-daily round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.
Booze News
More than a year after its Newton debut, Moldova Restaurant (344 Watertown St.) — which serves Moldovan cuisine, from plăcinte to mămăliga — now has a full liquor license. (Previously, the restaurant was able to provide limited beer and wine service, only on specific days.) The restaurant is now serving Moldovan wines and local beers, with hard liquor and cocktails arriving on the menu shortly.
Goodbye, Trucks
For “All Things Considered” on WGBH, Susan Kaplan chats with Clover founder Ayr Muir about his decision to take the Clover trucks off the road and focus on the restaurant group’s brick-and-mortar locations. “I think the food trucks really were linked with that downturn in the economy,” says Muir, recalling Clover’s 2008 start. “It was really hard for aspiring chefs to get the capital to open a restaurant and a food truck is a really low barrier to entry.”
“Pity the Stew”
The Globe’s Devra First declares that Instagram is ruining food; the exploding social media network has become such an effective form of restaurant advertising that some chefs focus perhaps too much on creating the perfectly photographable dish. “But what makes a good picture does not always taste good, and what tastes good does not always make a good picture,” she writes, lamenting the “delicious” but “not photogenic” stew.
Jams and Teas and More
Four Seasons Farm Pantry is now open in Andover (733 Turnpike St.) The shop is a partnership between Doves & Figs, a local jam company, and Soluna Garden Farm, a Winchester-based herb and flower farm that also produces spice and tea blends. Four Seasons features products from both companies and also serves hot and iced teas and baked goods.
Meanwhile, in Maine
Rose Foods is now open in Portland, Maine (428 Forest Ave.), serving bagel sandwiches and other Jewish deli classics, including pastrami on rye, latkes, and matzo ball soup. Owner Chad Conley is also co-owner of Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine.
Chad Conley (@c_con_ley) held a friends and family breakfast this morning for @_rose_foods_. The grand opening for the Forest Ave bagel shop, deli and cafe is scheduled for Wednesday. Shown here is the Classic Whitefish (whitefish salad, lettuce, onion) and the Classic Nova (cream cheese, nova lox, cucumber, onion, capers). The menu also includes other breakfast items, and lunch options like matzo ball soup and a pastrami on rye. @_rose_foods_ is serving @parlorcoffee. #portlandmaine #rosefoods #novalox #thenewforestave
A post shared by Portland Food Map (@portlandfoodmap) on Jul 29, 2017 at 8:56am PDT
Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email [email protected].
0 notes
tonyduncanbb73 · 8 years ago
Text
Explore the Wines of Moldova in Newton (and More Updates)
Tumblr media
Instagram is ruining food, Portland has a new spot for Jewish deli classics, and other news bites
Welcome back to Morning Briefing, an almost-daily round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.
Booze News
More than a year after its Newton debut, Moldova Restaurant (344 Watertown St.) — which serves Moldovan cuisine, from plăcinte to mămăliga — now has a full liquor license. (Previously, the restaurant was able to provide limited beer and wine service, only on specific days.) The restaurant is now serving Moldovan wines and local beers, with hard liquor and cocktails arriving on the menu shortly.
Goodbye, Trucks
For “All Things Considered” on WGBH, Susan Kaplan chats with Clover founder Ayr Muir about his decision to take the Clover trucks off the road and focus on the restaurant group’s brick-and-mortar locations. “I think the food trucks really were linked with that downturn in the economy,” says Muir, recalling Clover’s 2008 start. “It was really hard for aspiring chefs to get the capital to open a restaurant and a food truck is a really low barrier to entry.”
“Pity the Stew”
The Globe’s Devra First declares that Instagram is ruining food; the exploding social media network has become such an effective form of restaurant advertising that some chefs focus perhaps too much on creating the perfectly photographable dish. “But what makes a good picture does not always taste good, and what tastes good does not always make a good picture,” she writes, lamenting the “delicious” but “not photogenic” stew.
Jams and Teas and More
Four Seasons Farm Pantry is now open in Andover (733 Turnpike St.) The shop is a partnership between Doves & Figs, a local jam company, and Soluna Garden Farm, a Winchester-based herb and flower farm that also produces spice and tea blends. Four Seasons features products from both companies and also serves hot and iced teas and baked goods.
Meanwhile, in Maine
Rose Foods is now open in Portland, Maine (428 Forest Ave.), serving bagel sandwiches and other Jewish deli classics, including pastrami on rye, latkes, and matzo ball soup. Owner Chad Conley is also co-owner of Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine.
Chad Conley (@c_con_ley) held a friends and family breakfast this morning for @_rose_foods_. The grand opening for the Forest Ave bagel shop, deli and cafe is scheduled for Wednesday. Shown here is the Classic Whitefish (whitefish salad, lettuce, onion) and the Classic Nova (cream cheese, nova lox, cucumber, onion, capers). The menu also includes other breakfast items, and lunch options like matzo ball soup and a pastrami on rye. @_rose_foods_ is serving @parlorcoffee. #portlandmaine #rosefoods #novalox #thenewforestave
A post shared by Portland Food Map (@portlandfoodmap) on Jul 29, 2017 at 8:56am PDT
Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email [email protected].
0 notes
tonyduncanbb73 · 8 years ago
Text
Explore the Wines of Moldova in Newton (and More Updates)
Tumblr media
Instagram is ruining food, Portland has a new spot for Jewish deli classics, and other news bites
Welcome back to Morning Briefing, an almost-daily round-up of mini news bites to kick off the day.
Booze News
More than a year after its Newton debut, Moldova Restaurant (344 Watertown St.) — which serves Moldovan cuisine, from plăcinte to mămăliga — now has a full liquor license. (Previously, the restaurant was able to provide limited beer and wine service, only on specific days.) The restaurant is now serving Moldovan wines and local beers, with hard liquor and cocktails arriving on the menu shortly.
Goodbye, Trucks
For “All Things Considered” on WGBH, Susan Kaplan chats with Clover founder Ayr Muir about his decision to take the Clover trucks off the road and focus on the restaurant group’s brick-and-mortar locations. “I think the food trucks really were linked with that downturn in the economy,” says Muir, recalling Clover’s 2008 start. “It was really hard for aspiring chefs to get the capital to open a restaurant and a food truck is a really low barrier to entry.”
“Pity the Stew”
The Globe’s Devra First declares that Instagram is ruining food; the exploding social media network has become such an effective form of restaurant advertising that some chefs focus perhaps too much on creating the perfectly photographable dish. “But what makes a good picture does not always taste good, and what tastes good does not always make a good picture,” she writes, lamenting the “delicious” but “not photogenic” stew.
Jams and Teas and More
Four Seasons Farm Pantry is now open in Andover (733 Turnpike St.) The shop is a partnership between Doves & Figs, a local jam company, and Soluna Garden Farm, a Winchester-based herb and flower farm that also produces spice and tea blends. Four Seasons features products from both companies and also serves hot and iced teas and baked goods.
Meanwhile, in Maine
Rose Foods is now open in Portland, Maine (428 Forest Ave.), serving bagel sandwiches and other Jewish deli classics, including pastrami on rye, latkes, and matzo ball soup. Owner Chad Conley is also co-owner of Palace Diner in Biddeford, Maine.
Chad Conley (@c_con_ley) held a friends and family breakfast this morning for @_rose_foods_. The grand opening for the Forest Ave bagel shop, deli and cafe is scheduled for Wednesday. Shown here is the Classic Whitefish (whitefish salad, lettuce, onion) and the Classic Nova (cream cheese, nova lox, cucumber, onion, capers). The menu also includes other breakfast items, and lunch options like matzo ball soup and a pastrami on rye. @_rose_foods_ is serving @parlorcoffee. #portlandmaine #rosefoods #novalox #thenewforestave
A post shared by Portland Food Map (@portlandfoodmap) on Jul 29, 2017 at 8:56am PDT
Got a news tip for the Eater Boston team? Email [email protected].
0 notes