#anyways onto 2024 goals we go

[mal-studyblr]

apparently one of my new year’s resolution for 2023 was to read 30 books and i just?? girl in WHAT WORLD 😭

[th3-0bjectivist]

Springin' Chip with a 24' page update!

Greetings, dear follower! th3-0bjectivist has appointed me, Chipper the Springer Spaniel, as the official page mascot and acting spokescanine of this blog moving forward. It sure is great to be here! And might I say, the range of my vernacular as a mere canine has increased something like 28000% in just the last few weeks thanks to the hard lessons I’ve endured so far. Late nights in front of an English dictionary, lots of treats, and tons of sleepless nights have transformed me into perhaps the only English-literate puppy that has ever existed on planet Earth. From this point forward, I plan to operate as an empathetic, humorous, and nurturing presence to all of those on Tumblr into 2024 and beyond!

If you wanna know a little more about me to start, so far in life, I enjoy 1. Voraciously sniffing all manner of ass and crotch (if you approach me, please just spread fully eagle for one full minute, it lets me know who you are without you saying a word) and getting my own ass/crotch sniffed! 2. Pissing indoors (preferably on carpets to create an overpowering urine-miasma that permeates the entire room) 3. Attempting to playfully bite th3-0bjectvist directly in the balls with my nasty, bacteria-laden, inverted Spaniel teeth on a weekly basis!!

My pal, th3-0 and I, have long discussed my potential nickname on this blog. It has run the gamut from… Chip the Dip, to Chipper the Dick, to Chip the Prick, to Chipper the Testicle-Destroyer. In particular, the phrases ‘Stop biting me’, and ‘Hey, A-hole, cut that biting shit out’, and ‘Hey, dickhead, stop trying to bite my fuckin’ balls!!’ have strongly resonated with me as a puppy. I’ve realized very early on; it is essential that I improve my behavior otherwise I’m going to be hard-up on quality treats. And that’s what this blog will be all about moving forward… gradual improvement! Luckily, I have the good fortune of being cute as all hell. So, we graciously settled on the tentative title Springin’ Chip to instead highlight the positive aspects of our collective spirits and aspirations moving forward. New year, new positive goals! Folks, just look at my pics! Check out my feathered-ears and adorable face! Do I not have the perfect mug to represent a proper renewal of this blog?? And mug I will! If you continue to follow th3-0bjectivist, you’re going to see me grow up slowly over the next few months and years! Anyways, onto a bit of business…

My new friend, th3-0, has instructed me to give you an official page announcement! He will be back soon (end of March) with new art and drawings, music and commentary, goofy-ass memes, and more! This year (2024) th3-0 will be putting an artistic focus on dimensionality and expression by doing lots of drawings of expressions on human faces! He will also attempt to make some paintings with a little more -- POP -- than in previous years by incorporating a liquid background behind a solid mass of brushwork. If you like music, and who doesn't (??), this year will be the year of the musical double-feature! That means every time you see music on this page moving forward, there will be TWO SONGS by the featured musician(s) to highlight the range of said musician(s). Also, it’s election year! Now, I don’t have the vote myself, but you’ll have me around as your comical, politically neutral, and stalwart companion while everybody else on Tumblr is being just about as polarizing as they can be without directly and openly supporting terrorist organizations on the left or right side of the political spectrum! It’s gonna be a great year with this dog n' this blog!

Alright, gettin’ sleepy over here… you guys can fuck off for now. MORE 0bjectivist! END OF MARCH! NEW ART!!! DOUBLE-FEATURE MUSIC SHOWCASES EVERY OTHER WEEK!!! MEMES AND GIFs!!! SNARKY-ASS COMMENTARY!!! AND MORE OF MY BALL-BITING ADORABLE ASS!!!

Best, Springin’ Chip

[shares-a-vest]

💖 Fic Writing Review 2023 💖

I was tagged by @penny00dreadful @rocknrollsalad @cranberrymoons and @unclewaynemunson Thanks everyone! You all smashed it in 2023. Here's to more words wording and fun fandom times with our faves.

Tbh, it took me a good month minute to work out how to do this, seeing as I don't post much to ao3 (something I intend on mending in 2024). I'm very much going with the 'feel free to show whatever stats you like' aspect of the rules.

But before all that, I'd like to use this post as an opportunity to acknowledge everyone who enjoys my writing. I kinda just fell into writing in this fandom and discovered that I love it!

I'm also sending love and appreciation to my beloved moots and everyone in the stwg discord server. Here's to another year of creating, sharing and interacting 💖

This fandom really is my happy place a lot of the time, a much-needed creative outlet and a space where I can talk to people who let me be my silly little old self.

I have so much I want to write in 2024 (including some in-the-works stuff listed below). One goal I know I have in 2024 is to write what I'll temporarily title, 'The Origin of Joanie Munson'. I would really like to knuckle down and write a looonnnggg fic this year that would tell that story.

Anyway, enough of me talking, I'll stop before I get too sappy...

Top 5 Posts by Notes:

Wayne and Claudia to Steve's Rescue

I'm Dating Garfield

My Prince

Eddie gets stuck in Steve's shower after the power goes off

Eddie Munson: Sparkly Vampire Boyfriend

Proudest Work & Reflections:

Wayne and Steve get hearing aids: This post was very much inspired by my pop's ongoing struggle with his hearing aids. HoH Steve is a beloved headcanon of mine so I was happy to receive so much love for a little ficlet that came from a very real place.

Steve spends Father's Day with the Buckleys: If there's one Steve trope I will write, it's Steve Has Bad Parents™. I always find myself writing this trope and getting Steve all sad and angsty as a personal coping mechanism/outlet for irl Dad Stuff™. I was a pile of goo over the tags and comments saying this ficlet resonated with readers! We really are just out here projecting onto our blorbos to get through shit.

Joanie Munson's First Word: I love my Joanie Munson AU. And one thing I love writing into it is Wayne being a doting Grandpa. It was a WIP for quite a while and I remember waking up at like 3am, unable to sleep and bam I finished it, proving that sometimes it's worth letting something linger in the drafts until the moment strikes.

My Fandom Events in 2023 (I did a sprinkling of others, but these I completed/worked on consistently):

Spicy Six Fanworks Challenge SPRING and SUMMER

Steddie Week 2023

Steddiemas

Upcoming Works & Events (aka, next in the pipeline):

Spicy Six Fanworks Challenge WINTER

Clarkson Mixtape Fic

STWG Hozier Project

Tagging some precious moots (plus those above) to send my love and good New Year vibes to! @thefreakandthehair @tboyeddie @steventhusiast @imfinereallyy @hbyrde36 @spicysix @momotonescreaming @withacapitalp @farahsamboolents @hellion-child @sidekick-hero (also feel free to do this tag game too if you'd like/haven't already!)

Rules: Feel free to show whatever stats you have. Only want to show Ao3 stats? Rock on. Want to include some quantitative info instead of stats? Please do this. Want to change how yours is presented? Absolutely do that. Would rather eat glass than do this? Please don’t eat glass but don’t feel like you have to do this either.

[jacksgreysays]

Untitled bleak!primadonna AU related struggling (2024-03-23)

I continue to have bleak!primadonna AU brainrot and so I am thinking about it even while at work, BUT I think my brain is snagging on something in particular that I have to type out in order to figure out how I feel about it. A sort of, if I can articulate it, it will make sense. Or, rather, in the process of articulating it, it will adapt until it makes sense.

Because I still do not understand Naruto, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like him. It is unfair of me as an “objective party” to think poorly of him in this AU just because Shikako makes more sense to me, so let’s get into Naruto’s behavior/opinion regarding revenge:

The fact that the “most emotional” member of Team Seven is also the most against revenge seems to be a contradiction on the surface: revenge is a very emotionally charged motivation. A more logical person (ie, the Aburame clan’s opinion on The Incident as gone over in this post) would consider revenge to be a waste of potential resources or, at the very least, a sunken cost fallacy. (Revenge being different from ensuring the threat is neutralized, of course. Preemptive pruning of future threats is logical, and while it may look similar to revenge, it is different)

But, from what I’ve prescribed to him in the bleak!primadonna AU as an extrapolation of the Land of Birds conversation, Naruto’s rejection of revenge isn’t motivated by logic but by philosophy. He simply doesn’t believe in killing… outside the heat of battle.

I mean, he also doesn’t believe killing in the heat of battle (never mind that some of the techniques he uses would definitely be considered mortal blows, but we have to assume that’s a shounen protagonist sort of hand waving. Sort of like how Spiderman Is (Definitely Not) Murdering People) but outside of battles, he’s definitely anti-killing. So the premeditated, deliberately planned revenge that Shikako (and Sasuke in canon, theoretically, even though his plan is less a plan and more a vague list of questions marks leading to Step 3: Profit) is extremely against his philosophy.

I want to backtrack a bit, actually, and get into Naruto killing in the heat of battle. Or, more specifically, Naruto wanting/getting revenge in the heat of battle. We don’t see it much, but we DO see it sort of—especially in canon—specifically, when Naruto thought Haku had killed Sasuke. Even if he didn’t land the killing blow himself (what up, Kakashi, how’s that Rin-related trauma treating you?) we do see a switch flipped in Naruto in regards to his aggression/goals for that fight. Of course, it could be argued that a good chunk of that is malevolent Kyuubi chakra leaking out and, hmm, tainting things, but it’s not as if he went full berserk, feral rage. He was still capable of speech, even while he was attacking.

But that’s canon! What about DoS? It is a minor point in the list of things within the unreliable narrative that Shikako as the first person POV doesn’t catch onto, but for all that the series is called Dreaming of Sunshine — and which I, with my love of celestial motifs, interpret sun to be Naruto— Shikako ALSO doesn’t understand Naruto. Like. She understands Sasuke so thoroughly that she can manipulate him (for his own benefit) into majorly deviating from his canon fate. And, sure, Shikako’s presence has also changed some of Naruto’s life (making chuunin first, for example) but not to such a drastic agree. And a lot of that has to do with the fact that Shikako can only nudge Naruto into things. She can improve his skills, can advise him strategically, can make suggestions, but she seems to (also) not have a complete understanding of Naruto.

Anyway, all of that to say, Shikako doesn’t really get to witness Naruto going apeshit in battle because usually that happens after SHE’S been taken out of the fight (either knocked out or temporarily killed.) We don’t really know what Naruto did after Haido killed Shikako during the Gelel mission. Naruto wasn’t at the Grass Chuunin Exams to react live to the attempted abduction. Shikako is dealing with the aftermath of Tsukuyomi and related Uchiha massacre trauma to pay attention to Naruto after he brings Tsunade back.

So I think, in the heat of battle, Naruto WOULD get revenge for his precious people, but it HAS to be in that window of time. Because consider, also, that Naruto was so fond of the Sandaime, but he never swore vengeance against Orochimaru or anything like that. To be fair, it’s a bit of a weak comparison considering I don’t think Naruto’s fondness of Sandaime measures up to his love for his teammates by any stretch, and the waters do get muddy considering a lot of Naruto’s beef against Orochimaru (in canon, at least) is that he “took” Sasuke.

I am circling around, I think… sorry for the mess…

Here’s a hypothetical: someone kills Shikako — if Naruto kills that person within that same battle, would he regret it later? (This is presuming Shikako doesn’t come back or, at least, doesn’t come back for a long while to the point where they assume she isn’t coming back)

… I honestly don’t know. Or, well, I know he would to some extent, but I don’t know why — I can picture him saying “I shouldn’t have killed [that person]” but I don’t know if the emphasis is in the “I” (as in Naruto specifically shouldn’t have been the one to kill [that person] as opposed to someone else, ie Sasuke who is more comfortable with revenge and presumably would have also been in that battle, or Kakashi who Naruto knows has killed people and would have done so with a level of authority that Naruto could have looked away) or if the emphasis is in the “killed” (but, again, for someone who is so against killing, Naruto is the only one Team Seven that doesn’t really have non-lethal methods. Theoretically he could just dogpile the enemy with an endless amount of shadow clones, but Naruto’s specialty isn’t even taijutsu, it’s ninjutsu. Of the ludicrously powerful variety. Naruto, unfortunately, is a weapon of mass destruction.)

Is this just a variation of the why doesn’t Batman kill the Joker problem? Hm… but I do partially give Batman a pass on his no killing policy in part because his whole trauma is from the fact that his parents were shockingly, needlessly killed and also because there is a difference between Batman, the vigilante symbol of justice, killing and the person Bruce Wayne killing. (I can’t locate the series that I am thinking of in particular right now, but it basically has Batman and Bruce Wayne as distinct personalities and the vibe of: “Batman’s greatest enemy is Bruce Wayne” because Bruce Wayne will kill people who threaten his children outside of the mask and Batman can’t put Bruce Wayne in jail because then Batman wouldn’t be able to complete The Mission)

Naruto doesn’t have the innate societal/cultural pushback against violence or killing—in fact, considering the world he lives in, he should have the opposite. He should have been inured to violence starting in the Academy—and for all that he becomes the peacemaker messiah Hokage in the future, that’s not now, it doesn’t ruin his reputation/symbolic status because he doesn’t have one yet.

And this does make me bounce, briefly, to the idea of Tsunade whose international reputation is as much about her healing as her super strength. But not even her super strength is deadly, per se. Destructive, yes, and obviously could be turned so easily into death dealing blows, but it’s almost… the difference between a bulldozer and a bomb, if that makes sense? Like, obviously both are capable of killing and the same level of destruction, but there’s a level of… controlled application?… of the bulldozer where the bomb just seems more easily lethal?

Which does get back to the Land of Birds debate: Naruto, basically, admonishing Shikako for using lethal force even though her enemy was also using lethal force. Like. What if Shikako had lost that fight? Naruto only has the luxury to scold a still living Shikako BECAUSE she won that fight. Could she have used non-lethal tactics? Maybe. She, at least, has more non-lethal techniques available to her than Naruto does. But she also doesn’t have the regenerative abilities to shrug off incoming lethal damage the same way Naruto does (at this point in the timeline, at least, I think? Or she's not as practiced with her shadow form to be able to use it reliably?). From Shikako’s POV (which means, from DoS readers’ POV) Naruto does seem more than a little bit hypocritical and, possibly, ungrateful in that conversation. And Shikako does get to the heart of the problem—if Naruto has another way, then he has to come up with it, because Shikako can’t. She doesn’t have the same abilities, nor does she have the same philosophy. In that particular battle, she had to prioritize efficiency more than uncertain, lofty morals.

To be fair to Naruto, from his POV, Shikako was the first one to show mercy in situations where even he, arguably in canon, would not have or “lucked” into doing so because he passed out before it got to that point. Ie, with the DoS version of Haku and Zabuza and the Sand Siblings. The fact that Shikako was the one that physically took down Haku and stalled Zabuza and Kakashi’s fight long enough for Gatou to show up and betray them, thus allowing them to live in this universe is mercy. In canon, both of them die because Naruto goes berserk and Kakashi with the chidori is unstoppable (HOW’S THAT RIN-RELATED CHIDORI TRAUMA, KAKASHI?) And then, with the Sand Siblings, Shikako strategizes her hodgepodge of genin teammates to the point that she practically has all three Sand Siblings in front her on their knees, literally pleading, their lives in her hands, and then she DELIBERATELY LETS THEM GO. Whereas, I think in canon, Naruto does defeat Gaara but he passes out from the fight, which gives them the opportunity to retreat.

So, like, yeah. From his POV, he’s modeling Shikako’s behavior, not knowing (and how would he?) that she’s only being “merciful” because these are strategic, near certain decisions she’s making based on knowledge of an alternate universe future.

… I’m not sure if I’ve solved my confusion about Naruto so much as I just talked in circles and made very little progress… can someone with more insight into Naruto’s character lay this out for me? I am clearly STRUGGLING

[geekybombshell]

Scarleteen is Turning 25! Can You Help Me Keep Us Going Into 2024 and Beyond?

It’s Scarleteen’s 25th! That's a helluva thing for a scrappy little independent, grassroots, queer, feminist, sex education resource: a quarter-century of providing progressive, inclusive sexuality and relationships education, information and support, and resources to tens of millions of young people all over the world. 

If you know me at all, you know that my work at Scarleteen is deeply, deeply important to me, and that this year I was honored to become on of the three co-directors! 

We're in a particularly rough spot this year, despite working our butts off both doing all of the very valuable work for young people we do at Scarleteen, and trying to raise and secure enough funding to keep on doing it all. To get through 2024 and into the years beyond, we currently need around 750 new monthly recurring donors* (or the financial equivalent). 

We're looking for people to host personal fundraisers just like this one to help us reach that goal. I've set a modest one; $100= 10 people signing up for $10 a month or more recurring donations.

Here's how you can help me to do that:

You can take part in my personal fundraiser and, if you're not already, become a recurring donor today.

You can also host your own fundraiser just like this via this link: https://www.classy.org/campaign/support-scarleteen-on-our-25th-birthday/c546792 (this is a great option if you're one of the folks who already has a recurring donation and things others should too)

You can share this on your social media.

You can do all of the above!

Curious about why we're looking for 750 donors?

750 new recurring donors at an average monthly amount of $10 for at least a year will allow us to fill a current funding deficit that we must resolve before summer of 2024 to keep doing all the things we do and give us some momentum towards meeting more than just our minimum needs.  

In the 25 years we’ve existed for, we’re served close to 90,000,000 people. And our work is more essential now than ever. We’ve been experiencing a growing wave of legislation designed to cut young people off from vital and wanted information, support and community, especially young queer and trans people. In the last several years, we’ve also seen many sources of independent, feminist and queer, media shutter or give up their independence, some at the cost of their ingenuity or integrity. 

Scarleteen is and has always been fully independent, feminist, queer media. We don’t de-fang our content in order to appeal to advertisers or other sponsors. The kind of sex ed we offer – unapologetically queer, pro-abortion, feminist, justice-minded and pleasure-forward –  means that what paltry government funding there is for comprehensive sex education wouldn’t be within our reach without us…well, not being us. And it’s precisely who we are and how we do sex ed that served all the people we have over the years so well.

We center young people in our work, and believe they’re entitled to the kind of education and support they can access through our site and services for free. But even if we didn't, most of them don't have the ability to pitch in financially anyway. We need your help so we can keep helping them. 

If we were there for you when you or your kids were younger; if you use us in your classroom, your health curriculum, your counseling or healthcare office; if you refer young people to us; if you return to our content time and again to share on your social media, to pass onto friends, or as a resource for your own research or writing; if our work helps you, even though you’re not a teenager or young adult anymore? I hope that if you're at all able, you'll become a recurring donor today.

Thank you!  As always, if you can help keep us not just open, but growing, adapting, creating and serving for many years to come, I appreciate you to the max!

* At an average monthly donation of $10 run for at least a year.

[starlessskies94]

Consequence (Joel Miller x OC)

Summary: What if Joel survived his injuries from the Abby and Fireflies attack but ends up with really bad amnesia. He can’t remember his wife, Ellie, or the Outbreak; only before. How will his family bring back the man they once knew?

Pairing: JoelMiller x OC

Notes: Happy New Year folks!! Hope you all have a happy and healthy 2024; we're now entering our four year of me writing this story, and my goal for 2024? Finish it haha Anyway, this chapter took me a while to write and was kicking my ass with writers block but we got there in the end. It's a wild ride! Hope you enjoy!! 

Chapter Twenty six

Ada didn't get the chance to finish her thought as a hand clamped around her mouth, another wrapped around her waist and dragged her back into an alleyway; pinning her against the wall. Her heart raced as she flailed against the arms that tried to hold her still. Grunting and kicking out in a poor attempt to defend herself. “Let go of-” She tried to scream but again, the hand covered her mouth. “Ada, calm down, easy… It’s me.” That voice, that deep rumbled whisper, so familiar. She gasped against the palm that was gently cupped around her lips as it softly trailed away and rested against her cheek. Her brown eyes wide and watering as she looked at the man standing in front of her. 

“Joel…” She breathed out in a broken sob, he smiled weakly as he rested his hands upon her trembling shoulders. His fingers brushing at the hair on the base of her neck in that comforting way he always did. 

“Hi…” he shuffled awkwardly as he said it; as if he wasn’t sure of his own voice. His hands falling from her shoulders and hanging at his sides; uncertain if he was right to want to hold her. If he was allowed. There was a tension holding them apart. Like two islands divided by an ocean in a storm. Joel felt a fool; that after everything they’d been through the last few months; the only thing he could muster to say to her was a fragile ‘Hi’. He rubbed nervously at his neck in that bashful way he did and noticed the spark it ignited in her eyes as she stared at him in awe. “I don’t really know what else to say….” He cleared his throat; shaking away this ridiculous notion of feeling nervous in front of the love of his life. He’d been through hell and back and lived to tell the tale. He couldn’t shy away now. 

“Actually that ain’t true, I gotta a lot I wanna say to you but we don’t have time right now. I got somewhere safe where we can go. We can talk there.” He took her hand as he spoke, pulling her away but she gently tugged back before he could move. 

“Joel wait… did you…do you…are you…” she was struggling to say the words aloud; her eyes still glistening with unshed tears and her voice uttered against the exhales of trembling breaths. He knew what she was trying to ask. Did you get your memories back? Do you know who I am? Are you my Joel again? He could see it in her eyes as they tried to search his for any sign of recognition. He swallowed hard against the lump building in his throat; his heart leaping in his chest at the love, that softened her gaze up at him. God he’d missed her so much and yet hadn’t even remembered that he’d missed her. It’d been a strange feeling knowing something in his life was missing and not being able to figure out what it was. Now he knew and he did the only thing he could think of, to prove that, he kissed her. 

His lips captured hers; his arms wrapping around her hips as he pulled her against him. She returned it in earnest, a sense of relief flooding through her, her slender hands sliding up into his hair. Fingers tangling into his thick locks as they held each other tightly. Ada pushed up onto her tiptoes to reach him and he responded by pulling her even closer, lifting her slightly against his frame. Hearts ached at the feeling of being connected again after so long. They parted slowly as noses brushed and chests heaved with hard exhales that echoed in the quiet shared between them. He smiled at her breathlessness, gently nudging his nose against hers as he set her down on her feet once again. 

“Does that answer your question?” he whispered huskily, his breath caressing her face. Leaving her feeling weak at the knees. Words failed her as she nodded. Joel actually smirked at his kiss rendering her speechless. Smug bastard.  She thought sarcastically. A small smirk tugging at her own lips as she let him continue pulling her away, this time into the nook of his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her shoulder as they moved. 

“Come on, let's get outta here before those bastards spot us.”

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Eventually Joel led her to an old bar. The front was boarded up and overgrown. Entering through the backdoor; Ada took in the place as she stepped inside. Debris littered the floor, along with discarded glass and various broken bottles. The booths were torn, the wood that surrounded them was rotten and growing with mildew and damp. There was a musty smell that hung in the air. She noticed that Joel had organized the space around the bar. He’s made an array of different bombs courtesy of Bill’s recipes. Nail, smoke and stun bombs along with recently made molotov cocktails. All ready to go. He’d also made himself a makeshift living quarters in the backroom, a sleeping bag spread out on an old mattress on the floor, along with a blanket she recognised from their home in Jackson, With his supply of food organized on a desk in the corner, there was also a heater and hot plate; evidently left by the previous occupants. 

Joel wordless followed her inside as he disarmed the pistol from his hip and the knife from his belt as he grabbed a box of bullets to reload the weapon before reaching over for a rag to clean the blade afterwards. Ada chose not to comment on the red stains dried on the metal. 

“Have you been staying here this whole time?” She asked instead. 

“No.” He shook his head as he continued his focus on the knife in his grip. “I mostly kept on the move. Didn’t like staying in one place for too long.” She nodded. She understood the logic in that. It made sense. They’d done the same when traveling across the country. The risks of staying in one place for too long were always too great. Especially when traveling alone. No one is there to watch your back. He finished cleaning and slid the knife back onto his belt along with his gun before moving to sit beside her, where she’d taken a seat on the old dusty couch by the boarded up window. “We should be safe here; they checked the building over just before I got here so it should be a while before they think about coming back through.” He smiled reassuringly, but Ada was still on edge. Turning in her seat to face him. Her face, every bit as serious as her tone. 

“You know who they are, right? You recognised them?” 

“,Course I did. That’s why I’ve been laying low for as long as I can.” Joel’s features harden with his words. There was a heaviness in the air as he spoke.   

“Those guys we saw before, I think they were looking for someone…”

“Yeah I know… I’ve seen a few more groups in other areas searching too. I think they’re lookin’ for me.”  The older woman balked at such a suggestion, her brows creasing in confusion.  “Why would they think to do that? They think you’re dead.” She insisted. But her husband shook his head slightly as he took her hands and looked at her with a sense of alarm she hadn’t seen in a long time.  “They did. But I’m starting to think they know I survived. I know this might sound crazy…” He hesitated before finishing his thought. “ But I think they’ve been followin’ me.” She was taken aback by his suspicion. It made no sense, why would they think to follow him, if they believed they had murdered him weeks before. She couldn’t think straight. 

“Following you? For how long? Since you left Jackson?”  Joel shrugged. “I told you it sounded crazy but yeah.” She could tell by the look in his eyes he had more to say and so without intruding she gestured for him to continue. 

“At first I thought I was just bein’ paranoid; I mean my memory was still a mess and I didn’t know what was what but after I left the hospital in Salt Lake City, I was attacked by a horde of infected. I didn’t think much about it at the time because I still didn’t have a goddamn idea what they were but then I started to think about it… Ada that horde didn’t come out of nowhere; they were drawn out I’m sure of it. “

“So what, do you think they were responsible?” This was crazy. The idea that they’d been after him all this time. That even after almost killing him; they still hadn’t stopped. 

“It would make sense; the infected take me out for 'em’. Save those bastards a job. I don’t think they were expecting me to fight ‘em all off.” Ada didn’t know how much more she could hear. She shot to her feet and began pacing, Joel never took his eyes off her. The worry was as evident in his own features as it was in hers. She’d always joked that the stress of worrying about each other aged them both terribly. But in truth, right now with all this information invading her mind at once; she felt a hundred years older. 

Her thoughts were like a freight train charging along at full speed, the long weeks of conversations and arguments with Ellie and Tommy flashed through her head. Until something surfaced, like a small seed bursting through the frost on the first day of spring. She paused in her pacing, swiftly turning on her heels to face Joel. “ A few days before you left Jackson; Ellie and Dina were staking out an outpost near the hunting lodge. She said there were ex-fireflies that stayed behind after Abby’s group left. They were killed by a group of clickers but what if the group left behind was bigger than Ellie realized.” 

She could see Joel’s eyes clouded with confusion; the evident tells of his features contorted into deep thought “Why would they leave a group behind?” He asked and again Ada was at a loss as for an explanation.  

“I don’t know…” she admitted. “Maybe they were waiting for some kind of retaliation from the town; from us after what they did to you. They must have stayed behind to deal with the fallout.”

“But that never happened.” 

“No, it didn’t. Instead they saw the man they thought dead, alive and well and leaving Jackson like nothing had happened. It stands to reason that they’d follow you to figure out what you were up to.” They were on the cusp of something they could feel it. Both had risen to their feet; going back and forth. This was how they’d always worked together. How it had always been even back when they’d first met in Boston. Taking turns with ideas before throwing it back to the other to build on it until eventually they finally had things worked out. They were getting there…they just had to keep brainstorming. 

"But then why not just try to kill me when I was already out here? They had plenty of opportunities. Unless they’re waitin’ for something…” That caught Ada’s attention, her eyes snapping up to meet him. “Like what?” Joel sighed deeply as he thought through his theory before saying out aloud. Hands rested on hips, one reaching up to rub across his bearded chin until finally he glanced back up at his wife. A knowing look aflame in his stare. And it was at that moment she knew. 

She knew Joel had figured it out. 

“They must've known that you would come after me. Maybe they were countin’ on it. They want us together; the ones that brought down the Fireflies. The ones that robbed them of their precious cure.” There it was. After weeks of not knowing, or trying so hard to figure out what they were after; they finally had it. 

The group Abby had left behind in Jackson had been waiting for her. To kill her. Just like they thought they had Joel. She had just been one more job to do before they could finally move on and call it a day. Another loose end to take care of. The retribution for a crime committed; in their eyes. She dropped onto the seat of the couch; feeling sick at the revelation. 

“Jesus… Joel… whaddya we do?” She uttered in a broken whisper. He kneeled to face her, one hand taking ahold of both of hers that lay upon her lap. While the other rested under her chin, tilting her face slightly to look up at him. “I don’t know yet. But I ain’t lettin’ them touch you. You hear me. That ain’t happenin’.”  

“Joel…” She hiccuped a sob as tears welled in her eyes. He shuffled along before joining her; squeezing in beside her, letting his hand caress up the side of her face, his callous thumb gently wiping away a stray tear that fell. “I mean it.” His voice had dropped. But it no longer held with it the bitterness or the venom it had held when he’d spoken about the Salt Lake crew. Instead only that softness and love whenever he spoke to her or anyone else he cared about. A side not many ever saw of Joel Miller. He cleared his throat and she could tell he was holding back tears of his own. 

“Ada the things I said to you before; I didn’t mean any of it. It wasn’t me talkin’, not really. If I could take it back I would.” She shook her head in defiance, sniffing and sighing as she bit at her lower lip. “I deserved it. You were right; I was a coward and I wasn't there when you needed me. But I was so afraid and hurt that I couldn’t even see the other side of it.” She pulled him close, arms around him. As she buried her face into his shoulder; she could feel him wrapping his arms around her waist. “I’m sorry.” she said, muffled into his coat. He squeezed slightly as her loosen hair tickled against his face. “I’m sorry too.” he whispered. 

In an instant it all comes rushing at once, all the days she thought she’d never see him again…all those weeks following his trail. All the anger and frustration, it all stopped. Here and now. At this moment to finally be with him again. To have him back. It makes it all worth it. 

She feels him pull back, his frame leaning back a little to get a better look at her. Like he’s only just seeing her for the first time. 

"Is that my jacket?” He asks with a smirk. She glances down at herself and remembers taking the garment out his closet before leaving Jackson. The sherpa jacket is loose on her small frame; the arms completely covered passed her hands so she’d turned up the cuffs a few times. It had been one of Joel’s favorites, but when he’d left, he’d opted for his other lighter weight brown jacket instead.  

“It might be.” She says bashfully but her husband only smiles again at the sentiment. “I missed you… a lot.” she confesses again. And suddenly the diffidence is gone, she grabs him; pressing her lips against his.  He wastes no time in removing both their jackets; scattered onto the floor and long forgotten. Shirts follow soon after, with passionate kisses pressed upon bare flesh; along necks and collarbones, hands caressing and consuming. They sink down onto the softness of the mattress; the two together; intertwined. Once an ocean apart, now rejoined in the shallow tides.  

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joel was the first to wake as the rays of the morning sun were gleaming through the cracks of the boards attached to the windows, hitting him straight in the eyes. He blinked away the dazed sleep from his eyes before shifting slightly onto his side. Propping himself up by leaning on his elbow, he took in the sight beside him. 

Ada. She was still asleep. From the bags she’d had under her eyes the day before, she’d clearly needed the rest. Joel didn’t even want to think about how many sleepless nights she’d had over the last few weeks. Over the last few months, he corrected himself. The stress had taken its toll on her but now she looked so peaceful. Her features relaxed and soft, brows smooth and untensed. He noticed she had some new scars too, though he supposed they both did now. Albeit for very different reasons. Her skin was a little tanned from spending so long out in the sun, which accentuated the wrinkles that dusted her face. The little crow's feet by her eyes, the laughter lines above her mouth. The small crease in between her brows, that she got whenever she was annoyed by something. Joel always found it adorable when she did it; especially because she always insisted she didn’t. 

He reached out and tentatively brushed a strand of hair away from her face; notably more gray than it was before. He remembered when she’d found her first gray hair, he’d teased her about it and said at least now they looked the same with their salt and pepper hair. Though these days; Joel was well aware that his was more salt than pepper now. It didn’t matter though, because this is what he’d wanted. To grow old with her. Slowly and some-what gracefully, they weren’t dead yet, he smirked to himself. She stirred a little; absentmindedly snuggling closer towards him, and he didn’t stop her. Pulling her in, against his chest and settling back down into the mattress. His eyes never leaving the woman in his arms. 

“You’re staring.” She said dryly without even bothering to open her eyes. He just chuckled lowly, brushing more of her hair away from her face then pressing a kiss to her forehead. “No, I’m admirin’.” He corrected with a sly grin. She fluttered her eyes open then up at him as her vision focused. Fighting the urge to roll them. “Oh is that what you call it?”  

She sat up; keeping a hold of the blanket to cover herself. “Because it looks to me more like ogling.” She sniped playfully; while he was already getting out of bed; fastening his jeans and reaching for his shirt. “Oh? Is a man not allowed to ogle at his own wife? Especially when she’s as beautiful as you?” She blushed and she knew he noticed, but was quick to hide it as she smirked back at him with mirth in her eyes. Two could play at this game. 

“Oh he can…” She hummed innocently. “But only if he’s not planning on starting something he can’t finish.” 

Joel chuckled darkly at her words as a devilish grin widened across his face. “Ya know…I could make a joke about havin’ no problems finishin’ anything. But after last night; I don’t think I need to.” 

Ada scoffed in astonishment. Watching him saunter towards the desk in order to fix them breakfast. “You smug son-of-a-bitch.” She chastised lightly. “Yup.” He laughed again turning to face her with that same damn smirk as he took a sip of his coffee. “Care for a cup, my darlin’?” She rolled her eyes as she rose from the bed, throwing her pillow at her husband though he narrowly missed it as he ducked. The soft mound hitting the wall behind him then landing on the floor. “Pack your shit Casanova we need to get moving.” 

She said it in a stern voice but Joel could tell by the look on her face that she was still fighting the urge to laugh. God he’d missed this. 

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By late morning they’d managed to pack up the bar and made it out with most of the supplies Joel had collected. Split evenly between the two. Heading down further towards the river; before finding a bridge to take them into the other half of the town. It was clear this half was regularly sweeped by the WLF. They’d stayed low and on guard as much as they could. Making their way into a rundown hotel building hoping to find any signs of Tommy passing through. 

Ada had already informed Joel of the plan to meet his brother at the radio tower and though Joel was nervous to see his brother again after the fight they’d had the last time he’d seen him, he knew Tommy would be relieved to find that Joel was himself again. 

Bodies littered the floor, of both clickers and runners alike already put down by the couple as they first walked through the door. The last of them, still twitching slightly as Joel pulled his knife from the clicker's skull, wiping it on his jeans and sliding it back onto his belt. “That’s the last of em’, I reckon. At least for now. Keep your guard up.” He uttered as the two continued moving forward.  

They made their up the levels; taking in the devastation that was all too commonplace now. Broken windows, mildew and mold growing up the walls, old bullet holes littering the doors and floors. Faded blood stains and mud staining and marking the rotting carpets. 

Ada walked through the suites, checking the bathrooms for any useful supplies, rolls of bandages or bottles of alcohol. The further along she went, the bigger the suites seemed to be. She whistled in awe at the grandeur of the room. Marble tops, four poster king size bed, with silk drapes and thick linen rugs lining the floor. “This place is fancy…I think this used to be the honeymoon suite.” She wondered aloud as she took in more of the decor. Joel wandered in beside her, looking over the place. “Do you think if we’d gotten married before everything…Maybe we could have stayed in a place like this for our honeymoon?” Joel snorted a laugh as he turned to smile at her. “Bold of you to assume I could afford a place like this for our honeymoon.” 

The older woman rolled her eyes, flicking her wrist to swat at him, hitting him lightly in the shoulder. “No; don’t talk like that, you’ll ruin the game.” She pouted. “If you could have gone anywhere on our honeymoon, where would you want to go?”  The man shrugged nonchalantly, taking a second to think it over as he continued looking over the room for supplies. “I don’t know…somewhere tropical maybe?” Ada's eyes lit up at his suggestion. “Oh yeah…I always wanted to go to the caribbean.” She checked the bathroom, pocketing several bottles of pills and a few rolls of bandages. Her mind drifting away to white sandy beaches and clear blue sea. With the gently warm breeze, swaying in the palm trees; while she and Joel sat in their deck chairs, toasting to each other with alcohol filled coconuts complete with tiny umbrellas. 

“I went to the caribbean…” Joel said from the closet he was checking over. Ada stepped out of the bathroom to join him in the main room again. As she gestured for him to continue. “Uh…I went on a cruise for two weeks when Sarah was about eight. She was more interested in the stuff the kids club were doin’ instead of seein’ the sights. They’d…uh, do these little science experiments and learn about the sealife. She loved it.” Ada smiled at Joel, smiling at his memory. His hand rubbing at his neck as he took a breath. 

She knew it was easier to talk openly about Sarah after so long together but she also knew that sometimes it still got a little too much for him. She squeezed his shoulder gently and he shot her a grateful grin before they both left the room and pushed forward. 

It didn’t take long to get back to ground level, before the all too familiar groans and screeches of infected caught their attention. Wordlessly falling in line with each other, they crouched behind a burned out car, in an attempt to get a better view of their surroundings. A horde stumbled down the street, a collection of runners, clickers and strange variations of the two; the likes of which neither had seen before; all huddled together. It looked something like a stalker but yet wasn’t affected by light like normal. It looked halfway to a bloater, except skinnier. 

Whatever it was, Joel and Ada knew they had to be careful. With a shared nod they both moved forward. Joel wasted no time in squaring up behind a runner; pulling its head back and slashing at its throat, gently letting the body slide to the floor with dull thud. Ada coming up the side to take out a clicker with her newly sharpened hatchet.  

The others turn as if sensing their fellow beings' pain and scream out in anger. Lunging at the couple. They quickly swap out melee weapons for armed ones, shooting into the frenzy of monsters so keen on tearing them apart. 

Adrenaline races through veins, blood runs cold, hearts beat against chests. The horde grows in aggression as the two try their damnedest to put them down. Joel takes out a few on his side; before glancing to check on Ada. Furiously gunning down her own targets, before reloading and starting all over again. The older man shoots out at a clicker, the blast of his shotgun taking out the monstrosity’s legs, it’s top half still going as it drags itself towards him, it takes him by surprise, tugging at his pant leg and yanking harshly pulling Joel to the ground in great force. 

“Joel!” Ada panics at the sight of the thing clawing at her husband, aiming her gun and not hesitating to shoot the damn thing through the temple. She races to his side, to pull the remains away from him and pulling him to his feet. “You okay?” She asks breathlessly, he nods. Unexpectedly pushing her to the side as another clicker stumbled towards her, no words are exchanged as he stabs the creature through the chin, flicking the blade up to dig deeper into its head until it ceases to move. Then letting the body fall limply to the ground as he retracts his knife. 

The horde groups together as the size seems never ending, the screeches and grunts of infected deafening the sounds around them. It takes over. And they see no way out, until the sound of a rumbling engine fills the air as a military grade truck plows down the street; a machine gun fixed to the roof rains down a sea of bullets upon the horde. It speeds through the street and Joel and Ada have no option but to run, lest they get caught in the crossfire. In the rush of escape Ada loses sight of him, running for cover by the doorway of an old bank. She holds herself steady until the world around her grows silent. The street littered with bodies of torn down infected. The truck at a stand still; parked on the opposite side. She risks the chance to peek up in the hopes of spotting her husband but a hand clamps over her mouth. For a moment she hopes it’s just Joel, but the swift kick to the back of her knees tells her that it’s anyone but. 

“Well, well, what do we have here?” A male voice sneered in her ear as she’s dragged forward out onto the street. A group gathers at the man’s hollers and she swallows hard when she sees the wolf patches sewn onto their upper arms.

WLF. Fuck. 

“Look what we got here fellas. Looks like someone’s trespassing.” He twists her arms around her back and kicks at her legs again. She grunts in pain but rears back and pulls against him, wrenching her hand free, sending it flying across his nose with a sickening crack. He growls in pain as he retaliates and throws his fist into her stomach, winding her. As she drops to the ground in a heap. His kicks again and again while she’s down. She can feel the blood streaming from her nose and her now busted lip, coughing and gagging against the loss of breath with every strike to her ribs. “Stupid bitch!” The man spits as he continues, “Think you can just come into our territory and not suffer the con-” 

“Hey! That’s enough! Get her up now!” Another voice cuts in.  She hisses in pain as she lugged to her feet and her ribs burn, she glances through her loose blood-soaked hair to see an unwanted but familiar face glaring down at her. Mike. Marlene’s second in command. She remembered him from Boston and by the hate in his eyes; it was obvious he remembered her too. 

“Do you have any idea who this is?” He asked the younger man standing beside her, he shrugs and scoffs in disdain. “No. Should I?” 

Mike sneered at the young man’s arrogance, hands resting on the gun that’s strapped to his torso. “You kids don’t have a fucking clue about anything do you?!” He spat. “This is Adaline Smith.” 

The younger man looked at him with wide eyes. Along with an untenable fear. It was clear he knew he’d done wrong but Ada would be damned if she knew why; he was so afraid. “Oh good, you’re not as stupid as you look then. Get out of my sight now!” 

The man skulked away like a frightened mouse, making a beeline for the truck. And jumping in the back before slamming the door closed behind him. Mike turned his attention back towards Ada, that sneered expression now aimed at her. “Hello Adaline. I’d say you looked good, but we both know that’s a lie.” He jeered. “It’s a pity really, I thought after all these years you were dead.” 

Ada glowered at him, spitting the blood from her burst lip down onto his boots. “Sorry to disappoint. But then I thought you were dead. So I guess it’s disappointment all round…” She spat. “Though I guess you’re used to that around women I’ve heard.” 

Mike smiled bitterly; moving tentatively around her. Pacing in a circle like a predator sizing up its prey, before striking without warning. Throwing a punch down into her gut, waiting until she doubled over then grabbing her by her hair as he yanked it in his fist, his other hand brandishing a switchblade pressed deep into her throat. “You know, Abby only asked me to bring you to her alive. She never said I couldn’t chop off some pieces.” He taunted darkly into her ear. Ada breathed deeply in through her nose, her eyes catching sight of Joel peeking out from the hotel lobby doorway. She could see he wanted nothing more than to kill every one of the these fuckers that surrounded her but she knew it would ended badly for both of them if that happened. 

They were outnumbered. Outgunned. They wouldn’t stand a chance. He needed more people. He needed to find Tommy. But that would mean leaving Ada and there's no chance in hell he’d do that. Ada saw him flinching to move with his gun but gave him a look that told him, and begged him to stay put. 

They wouldn’t kill her, as long as they were after Joel as well. He’d said it himself. They wanted both of them. And they knew he would come after her; just as she had come after him. She laughed bitterly at Mike’s words, blood running from the corner of her mouth. “You wanna kill me? Go ahead Michael; I’d like to see you fucking try.” She spat with words dripping in as much venom as she could muster. 

Mike chortled in twisted glee at Ada’s stubbornness. Snatching the blade away from her neck, nipping her skin a little. “Oh Jesus, it is going to be fun breaking you. Get in the truck now, you’ve got a meeting to get to Smith.” 

“You don’t scare me, you know. All you were was Marlene’s little lap dog. And that’s all you’ll ever be. And it’s Miller by the way.” 

He didn’t say anything else as he bound her wrists together and dragged her harshly towards the truck. Her eyes fiercely searched for Joel again to make sure he was okay. She saw him and it broke her. Her eyes glistening with tears as she saw the darkness descend across his face. She prayed he could tell what she was thinking. 

I love you. Be safe. Find Tommy.

[bereft-of-frogs]

✨ Fic Writing Review 2023 ✨

@aurorawest tagged me in this an age ago but there was always a chance (however slight) that I'd maaayyybe finish something else before the end of the year (I did not) so I held off. But! It's time for the 2023 review.

Words and Fics

103, 870 words posted

Technically only 1 fandom, but then like...3 subfandoms? (Star Wars: Fallen Order, Prequels/JA-era, and A New Dawn/The Last Padawan)

14 fics

1 ongoing WIP, 2 multi-chapter, 10 oneshots, and 2 chapters added onto my OC repository, 2 series

most recent drop: we are made of our longest days

longest: technically the whole of the dark ocean duology at 50,304 but also just part 2: to stand at the edge of the sea (25,752)

shortest: found a tape that was blank (1,392)

Top Fics by Kudos

closure, and the lack thereof (98)

omens and all kinds of signs (72)

with teeth, we've come this far (66)

(dark ocean duology) part 1: the deep sea is a haunted house (63)

(dark ocean duology) part 2: to stand at the edge of the sea (59)

and some love for the bottom 5 because my favorite is among them: 1. a shadow resides by night (13), 2. follow me into the endless night (16) 3. p.s.: wipe the salt off of my skin (30), 4. I feel like I'm borrowing all my time (33), 5. take in a breath, fill your lungs (34)

My fandom fic events in 2023

just the usual whumptober taking up most of my autumn

Upcoming Events and Projects for 2024

for 2024 I think I'm going to try out like a 'leapfrog' method, where I focus on finishing a first draft, then let that percolate while I work on the next first draft on the list, then backtrack for the second and so on...I think this makes sense. I liked focusing on one project at a time last year and I'm hoping that gets me to make progress on the 4-parter that I really, really want to write and keep putting off.

omens and all kinds of signs (chapter 3)

manipulation/hostage thing (?) (part 1)* - I really need a better working title for this, this is not actually describing what's going on

the haunting presence / serial (part 4)**

the haunting presence / serial (part 3)**

manipulation/hostage thing that turns into an undercover thing (part 2)* - god these working titles are just so pithy aren't they

the haunting presence / serial (part 2)**

the haunting presence / serial (part 1)**

omens and all kinds of signs (chapter 4)

We'll see where that brings us in the year....and if I get derailed haha. If I make it through this I have a sick!fic in development and a myriad other bullet points of vague ideas, inspiration lightning might strike on one of them.

Last word: I spent the first third of 2023 so convinced I would never write again and in a not-great place, to clear 100k posting on ao3 was truly a relief and sharing all of this with you all has been a joy. Thanks for being there and I hope everyone has a happy New Year!

Rules & Tags below the cut! ***(ok let's be real, you all know me, I didn't actually tag anyone because I'm a mess of social anxiety and I always feel like I'm bothering people with tags (even though I am NEVER bothered by tags, but I can't apply that to myself for some reason, in my own mind I'm just uniquely annoying, but we don't have time to unpack all that--) but anyway, I put the rules there and the summaries for the two mystery upcoming fics if you want to see those or reference the rules!

Rules: Feel free to show whatever stats you have. Only want to show Ao3 stats? Rock on. Want to include some quantitative info instead of stats? Please do this. Want to change how yours is presented? Absolutely do that. Would rather eat glass than do this? Please don’t eat glass but don’t feel like you have to do this either.

I am too shy to tag anyone but if you're looking for an excuse to post some stats and goals use this as an open tag!

That should probably be one of my '2024 goals' to get less shy. ah well.

*This is a holdover from the 'psychological' whumptober prompt, I started it in October but knew it deserved more time and energy that I could give it on a deadline. The sort of core of the first part is my take on a 'fandom staple': the Haxion Brood finally gets the jump on the crew and they get entangled in a plot that's perhaps unnecessarily complex due to the interference of a...like 'HR consultant' Sorc Tormo hires, who attempts to manipulate them into carrying out their dirty work. Part 2 (it's a duology again folks!) picks up a bit after the end of part 1. Because to get out of the part 1 situation they end up owing someone a favor, and the calling in of that favor sends the crew on an undercover mission to a super-secret Imperial construction project. Clearly still developing some stuff, I don't have a working title or a good way of summarizing events, but I have a lot of dramatic scenes and everything pretty well outlined.

**Ah, my four part serial killer drama that I have been saying I've been saying I was going to work on for months. Years. This is going to be my year, I swear it! 'Why are you writing it in reverse order' it just makes more sense to work backwards, and part 4 I have the most clear plot outline for. Yeah it's fairly straightforward in general, a mysterious serial killer stalks Jedi through 4 generations. Possibly inspired by My Literal Nightmare, aka 'someone is secretly living in your house' (aka phrogging??? I learned there was a term for it while doing research for nanowrimo, I just thought I was being paranoid and sleep deprived during an insomniac period a few years ago lol) (it's a long story haha). But yeah this mysterious murderer who seems to not really exist at all, and vanishes like a ghost for years at a time.

[chaosandorder46]

Task switching is probably the hardest thing for my brain to accomplish.

I generally have the attention span of a gnat and work in a role that includes constant interruptions. So, I struggle hard to switch tasks or get back on task after being interrupted. But my 2024 goal is for me and my brain to get along a bit better, and to deal with some burnout issues.

I am super reward driven. LIke if I were a dog, that would be in my adoption profile. It's not totally feasible to give myself a little snacky or break every time I complete a task (sadly). BUT, since I am a huge fountain pen nerd AND write almost constantly, whenever I need to switch tasks (or get back on task after being interrupted) I change pens...thus colors. It is so damn SATISFYING.

I've also started using a productivity timer, and budget time for tasks. My to do list will never be done, and I tend to work on the more enjoyable things until they are done, procrastinating on the less enjoyable tasks. So I end up behind on the items I hate to do...and catch-up is no fun.

I also scan my notes into OneNote weekly-ish, and type up a list of search terms beside the scanned handwritten notes, so that in a year when I am trying to remember how exactly we dealt with a specific issue, I can efficiently go to my notes. I also like OneNote because you can 'flag' action items and they will drop onto your Outlook task manager. It has a ton of other features as well, that I should probably consider utilizing. I then forward those to Asana, which is a better task manager, IMO.

Anyway, this is some nerd shit, but..hi. 🤓👋 Sharing in case anyone else finds this helpful. It has been a game changer for me.

I'm still really fucking far behind in all things, but I think that is just working in corporate healthcare in America?

[navigamus-blog-a-vela]

SAIL 2017 - World’s youth attracted by the timeless challenge of the Finn - 2017

22 agosto 2017 -  of the largest Finn Silver Cups on record is about to begin on the largest lake in Central Europe. Nearly 50 young Finn sailors from 21 countries and four continents are gathering at Balatonfüred, a popular resort town on Lake Balaton’s northern shore. The list of entrants could read like a who’s who for the 2020, or 2024 Olympic Games, including both those who have experienced Olympic competition, and those who are taking their first steps on the long, personal and physically challenging journey towards that quadrennial pinnacle. The host club is the MVM Hungarian Power Companies Sport Club (Magyar Villamos Művek Sportegyesület- MVM SE). The sailing club of MVM SE has an idyllic location overlooking the race area with lawns and tree lined boat parks leading down to the water. The sailors are all being made to feel very welcome as the build up continues for the first races on Tuesday. Within the impressive line-up, three sailors have won the title before and one has gone to the Olympics already. The defending champion is Phillip Kasüske from Germany. He hasn’t put as much time in the boat as he would have liked, having just returned from the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup, where he was the wing trimmer on SVB Team Germany. “This year I'm trying to defend the title, but not having sailed the Finn as much as the others during the season it is going to be a very hard task.” Last year in Aarhus, Kasüske took the title off Ondrej Teply, from the Czech Republic. Teply is optimistic about his chances of a second title. “I am feeling good. I had a bit slower beginning of the season, but after some training in summer I am starting to feel better in the boat, so I hope I will be able to show it in the Silver cup. Balaton can be a light and tricky place, and with the number boats here it could be an interesting regatta. Anyway, my goals are to be around top three like for every junior worlds, and let’s see what happens.” His strongest opposition could come from the new U23 European Champion, Henry Wetherell, from Britain. Wetherell won the title convincingly in May in Marseille while also placing sixth in the senior fleet. Having only joined the Finn fleet last year he feels he is making good progress. “I feel like I'm constantly progressing and making gains. At the last Silver Cup I had only sailed the boat for a couple of weeks, so compared to last year I am 100 times more comfortable with the boat, the setup and my fitness. I have a great group to train with so we are always pushing each other to improve.” He says he was not too surprised at clinching his first Finn title earlier this year. “I had a great year training with the team and I literally felt as though I was going faster and faster each session. Over the past couple of events before the Europeans I had still been learning the boat. Obviously the format helped me jump up a few spots in the end but over the week I felt I was going well.” He has set his goals high this week. “My goal for the event is to win. I know the venue is quite light and tricky and there are some really good light wind sailors in the fleet so it will be a tough event. But it's easier saying it than doing it so we will have to wait and see who is the best on the day.” The third former champion present in Balatonfüred is Arkadiy Kistanov, from Russia, who won on home waters in 2011.  This year will be his final attempt as he will be too old in 2018. “It was pretty tricky for me to take part in the Silver Cups. Every year I expected something, but every year someone stronger came. I really think the level of top 10 sailors at the Silver Cup should be very high this year.” “I have three competitions in one month, so I will try to get a good result but I’m not focused only on this aim. This last Silver Cup for me is something special. I want to have some nice, tricky races. I expect light winds and will push; the conditions are good for me and I cannot wait to start racing.” There are lots of other stories to tell this week. Here are a few more: Facundo Olezza is he only sailor here with Olympic experience. He placed third in last year’s Silver Cup, just before he went to Rio for the Olympics, where he placed ninth after winning two races. One sailor who could surprise this week is Lars Johan Brodtkorb. He still splits his time between the Europe dinghy and Finn sailing and is too heavy for one and not really heavy enough for the other. A double Europe World Champion, a few weeks back he jumped straight into an OK Dinghy and won the European title after just four days in the boat. This should give him extra confidence as he approaches what could turn into a light wind decider later in the week. Last year Jan Orel turned to Finn sailing to turn his life around. This year his younger brother Liam has also begun to sail the Finn. A top Slovenian Optimist sailor in his younger days, he later turned to the Laser and windsurfing, before ending up in the Finn. He’s only done a few months training so far so, but his brother rates him highly for such little time spent in the boat. Another newcomer is Taavi Valter Taveter. His father Imre sailed two Olympics in the Finn and is in Balatonfüred this week coaching his son. Sailing since the age of six, he was successful in the Optimist class and won several Laser Radial national titles before turning to cross country skiing, for which, now at 190 cm and 97 kg, he feels he is too big. Then, “the old love (sailing) was in his heart, so he decided to start sailing Finn.” His first international Finn regatta was this year’s Kiel Week, where he finished 25th. Later we went to Warnemünder Week and he finished with good second place behind Jan Kurfeld, the 2007 Silver Cup winner. Luke Muller, from the USA, is sailing in his second Finn Silver Cup. Last year he took part in the Europeans and was Caleb Paine’s training partner in Rio [Paine went on to twin the bronze medal], before focussing on school. He said he also gained a lot from training alongside Paine. “It was great because it was by first time using really good equipment. I was fast tracked onto Caleb's Olympic kit and that was very helpful to see what the boat should feel like. Training and doing practice races with the Olympic fleet was extremely motivating and forced to train at my very best.” He feels the progress he had made so far has been positive. “I feel that I have made many strides working with Luther [Carpenter] as my coach. I am identifying opportunities on the race course much faster and my knowledge of sail trim is tenfold what it was last year. The only issues I am having now have been due to a lack of training volume, but focus on those weaknesses has helped mitigate them.” He is very excited to be sailing the Silver Cup this year. “It is where the best youth Finn sailors come together to compete. My goal is to just sail with a clear head and practice the things I have been working on recently. I think there will be a few guys gunning for the win and I hope to be one of those, but we will see, as Balaton will present a unique challenge.” The practice race takes place Monday afternoon. While the sailors who arrived early have been enjoying the fresh to strong winds over the past few days the breeze is forecast to fall away gradually over the coming week. Thirteen races are scheduled from Tuesday to Sunday to decide the 2017 U23 Finn World Champion.

FROM http://www.navigamus.info/2017/08/worlds-youth-attracted-by-timeless.html

[dashlung62-blog]

Rye Bread

Rye bread made without yeast. A rye soda bread recipe that will make you fall in love with rye flour.

I have a quick love letter to write today, and I hope you’ll indulge me.

It’s part love letter, but really, I want to let you know which cookbooks I use in my kitchen several times a week. If you reach for a cookbook on a weeknight, or if you reach for a cookbook more than once a week, it’s a good sign.

I have a coffee nook in my kitchen, well, I’m a tea drinker, so I should call it a tea nook, but it was clearly designed as a coffee station. Anyway, since I have no need for a coffee maker, espresso machine, or any of those other coffee tools in my nook, I keep a small selection of cookbooks on the counter.

It’s well-thought-out; it’s the books I love the most and use the most. Not just beautiful books that inspire me, it’s incredible books that make me want to get in the kitchen and cook that very instant. Often, the pages have food splatters and can be a bit sticky, but that’s even better for me.

The cookbooks that I use the most are written by Heidi Swanson from 101cookbooks.com. I first discovered her when I moved to California, and upon first meeting, I believe I told her that she taught me everything I know about California cuisine.

Heidi taught me how to shop at and how to love farmer’s markets, and she taught me about Deborah Madison and all the other great chefs in California that are paving/had paved the way for eating REAL food. Because of Heidi, my top factor when choosing food is where was it produced and how was it produced.

I reach for her cookbooks after every farmer’s market haul. Her stuff is vegetarian, yes, but it’s the most flavorful, unique vegetarian food I’ve ever had that makes you never miss the meat, honest!

In full disclosure, my husband and I are part-time vegetarians. While most people do ‘meatless Monday’ and take one day off each week from meat, we actually only eat meat one day a week or so. It’s not uncommon for us to call instant pot mac and cheese with a salad a Monday night dinner, and enjoy a my orzo pasta salad with feta or my pesto tortellini salad later in the week. Our one meat day might include my honey garlic chicken thighs.

But did you notice a theme? My vegetarian meals rely heavily on pasta. Not Heidi’s.

Heidi’s recipes are inventive and far from your standard vegetarian recipes. I own all of her books, and I cook from them often.

Super Natural Every Day is the one I grab the most, though I am working my way through the very beautiful Near & Far.

Her dish called Otsu is something I make for company, especially company that has food allergies. Plus, it’s my belief that she invented baked oatmeal, and the world is a much better place for it.

More details about this rye bread made without yeast:

Today, I’m sharing with you her recipe for rye bread. It doesn’t have any yeast, and is technically a rye soda bread. It bakes up so crunchy, crusty, and beautiful that it took my breath away the first time I made it years ago.

As I baked this rye bread recipe for possibly the one-hundredth time to photograph this for you, it still took my breath away when it emerged from the oven.

I can’t help but run my finger over the indentations made with the knife before baking–that’s where the real CRUST emerges.

Soda bread made without deep slashes is now dead to me–this is the only way forward.

Honestly, I can’t believe I get to count Heidi as one of my friends. She inspires me so much. A woman who can make bread with just 4 ingredients that tastes this good is an angel.

I keep rye flour in my house now to make this rye bread whenever I have soup or stew on the stove. It comes together so quickly, and serving homemade bread with a meal makes me feel like I’ve got my life together.

For some strange reason, my daughter isn’t that into carbs, unless gnocchi is involved, and she frequently licks the butter off bread and leaves the bread.

However, she loves this rye bread. The dark color scared her at first, so I served it with the dill butter that Heidi recommends in the book, and it sold her. Most commonly, I serve it with salted European-style butter.

Is rye bread gluten free?

No, it’s not. I wanted to answer that question, because I know it will come up.

It’s important to me that Camille learns to love bread and carbs, because there are so many B vitamins in whole grains. I am so grateful this rye bread recipe helps me accomplish that goal.

Rye flour can be a tough sell when it comes to whole grains, but I’ve been working it into my pancakes for two recipe, and I’m considering adding some to my small batch crepes recipe, too.

Ok, onto the recipe now. I hope you love this homemade rye bread recipe made without yeast. It will quickly go into your Fall rotation for serving alongside soup, and I’m sure it will find its way out again for St Patrick’s Day since it’s technically soda bread.

Rye Bread

Christina Lane

Yields 1 small boule

Homemade rye bread made without yeast.

15 minPrep Time

50 minCook Time

1 hr, 5 Total Time

Ingredients

2 1/3 cups (9.75 ounces) rye flour

1 3/4 cups (8 ounces) all-purpose flour

1 3/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt

2 cups (475 mL) buttermilk

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400, and ensure a wire rack is in the middle position. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper.

Sift the flours, baking soda and salt into a large bowl.

Make a well in the center of the flours and pour in all of the buttermilk at once. Stir just until a dough forms.

Scoop the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for about 30 seconds to bring it together.

Using your hands, press the dough into an even flat disk.

Sprinkle the top of the dough disk with about 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour.

Next, make 4 deep slashes into the dough, about two-thirds of the way through. Be careful not to cut all the way through.

Bake for 30 minutes, and then move the dough to the top rack of the oven. Bake for another 20 minutes to crisp up the surface.

Let cool on a wire rack completely before serving with salted butter.

7.8.1.2

2024

https://www.dessertfortwo.com/rye-bread/

Source: https://www.dessertfortwo.com/rye-bread/

[wtfranjo]

Start from the start with episode 1

< Episode 192

Newest Story – “Help”

Good riddance to this transfer window, that’s what I say. It’s absolutely done my head in. We see a late flurry of bids come in for one player in particular – Manchester City and Anderlecht make 2 lowball bids each for young striker Sylvain Magnin. He could be an a good player for Auxerre in the future though so I reject their advances, after which Anderlecht turn their attention to Jordan Leroux. Still no.

We also get a call from our good friends at Eupen, who have decided that they need a replacement for playmaker Joël Soumahoro and that the replacement should be… Our holding man Raf. I’m not sure I follow their logic, but I want to keep Raf around for numbers anyway. Sorry lads.

The good news on deadline day is that a permanent Summer transfer for our loanee left back Rogério is confirmed. The bad news is that it isn’t us that confirm it, but rather our Ligue 1 rivals Nantes. Well this is awkward. If he really, really impresses me in the next couple of games I’ll consider playing him over Billy for the remainder of the season, but otherwise I’ve now got no reason at all to give him any first team football. Bit annoying really.

Still, at least that’s the window out of the way so now we can get back to our abysmal start to league football in 2024. Today we travel to SC Bastia, who’ve been really quite impressive since their promotion, currently sitting in 14th place, just a stone’s throw from the top half and who we thumped 3-1 at the Stade Abbé-Deschamps.

The only change to our team from what was quite an unfortunate loss against Toulouse is Lamine Fomba, who comes in replacing the suspended Abi Sissako. I’m willing to look past Vladimir’s mistake for the second goal and give him another chance, but I’ll be watching Rogério like a hawk. He really does have to impress today.

To say that we get off to a flying start would be a slight overstatement, because within 3 minutes we’re 0-1 down. My God, are we suffering from the worst collective post-Christmas hangover in history or something? What is happening to this team?! Negre sprints down the right wing and maybe I’m biased by recent events but he’s chased by Loïc Goujon seemingly because Rogério can’t be arsed. He gets to the byline, chips a low cross in and Marcus Thuram smashes in the opener.

Thankfully we respond quickly and it pleases me to see that the move that leads to the equaliser starts when Rogério heads clear from a dangerous cross. Nathan Andre then releases Foden down the wing, who eventually cuts inside and tees up Ferhat on the edge of the box, who toe pokes the ball into the bottom corner. That’s better. I encourage the team to play on the counter as that particular counter attack was very pleasing.

Amine Reynier once again replaces Andre when we reach half time as I continue to slowly introduce him into Ligue 1 and within 10 minutes of the restart, we take the lead. Ferhat the goalscorer powers down the left wing before passing inside to Aidir, who has the choice of either the new boy Reynier or Phil Foden to slip in behind the defence as they both make excellent runs either side of him. He opts for the tried and tested latter and I’ve no complaints as Big Phil places the ball into the top corner from 12 yards.

I make another change after that to try and protect our lead: Basauri replaces Hicham Aidir and moves in front of our defence in a 4-1-2-3, while Reynier moves onto the left and Ferhat gets a crack at the lone striker role, where he’ll sit deep and collect the ball before making more of those surging runs. The change nearly pays off within minutes in an entirely unexpected way when Basauri smacks a free kick against the underside of the bar and then with 22 minutes to go, Ferhat also rattles the woodwork when his 20 yard curler comes back off the angle.

Of course, hitting the woodwork twice in quick succession while holding a single goal lead just screams “Danger” for me, so I’m pleased that we manage to hold onto the lead for the remainder of the match. After a shaky start, we’ve come away with a decent win. Rogério is impressive as is Phil Foden, but I always love to see Player of the Match Brahim Ferhat steal the show.

It’s easy at times to get caught up in the here and now of football. In the here and now, despite that win, we’ve slipped a bit in the league and that’s disappointing, but the fact that we’ve now equalled our points tally of 37 from last season with 14 matches left to play gives me some much needed perspective. We’ve done fucking excellently this year. One thing that isn’t happening in the here and now though is a relocation to Norfolk to follow in Mike Bassett’s footsteps by taking the Norwich job. No thanks.

After picking ourselves up from the loss against Toulouse and dusting ourselves off, what better way could there be to kick on by playing Toulouse again in the French Cup 10th round? Don’t worry, I’m not still annoyed about that loss. It happens and we were unlucky, so fine. Interestingly this is a repeat of last year’s Coupe de la Ligue Semi Final, when our clubs were both having dramatically different seasons.

I’m making quite drastic changes, including the debut of a brand new system named after it’s purpose – Project: ToWin. As oppose to Toulouse, or ToLose. Clever, isn’t it? … Suit yourself. Project: ToWin is a defensive 4-4-2 that’s going to allow us to beat our hosts at their own game. You want to bore us to death, Mellberg? Fine by me. Let’s all sit back and watch paint dry together. A 0-0 draw and all those tired legs dragging themselves through 30 minutes of extra time could really kick your survival hopes squarely in the plums, but let’s do it.

Goujon’s suspended again of course and Nathan Andre’s dropped in the name of team shape, while Gaizka Basauri and Alessandro Bassani come in to replace them. Ferhat starts with Aidir up top and Xavier Lenogue is restored between the sticks as I’ve not been bowled over by Vlad. Hopefully our new approach should nullify the one-trick pony that is Toulouse from performing their one trick, which is to say it’ll stop them from soaking up pressure and then hitting us on the break with headache-inducing consistency and water-bottle-kick-inducing ruthlessness. Project: ToWin will make a mere pony of Mellberg’s purple cronies and force them to come out and play, after which we’ll win the ball with our energetic harrying and hit them on the break with our direct passes into space. They shall taste their own foul medicine and burn off all the tastebuds from their tongues with it’s bitterness, while I bask in the glorious and unquestionable glow of victory!

On second thoughts, I might still be a bit annoyed about that loss.

Well would you look at that. Half time and neither side has done a bloody thing. Not a bloody thing. Former Best Beard in Birmingham nominee Olof Mellberg is used to this situation of course, having dedicated his entire stint in France so far to working out how to prevent football from being played over the course of a match, but I’m uncomfortable. I feel dirty. I’m not above playing for the draw if you’re Höllviken or Katowice, but this isn’t us. Not Auxerre.

5 minutes into the second half, something does happen. Olof panics. He throws his usual plan out of the window as I watch on, grinning with near orgasmic levels of smug satisfaction and reaches for a flat 4-3-3 system. Finally. Finally Toulouse are coming out to play. In the following few seconds I construct a reply in my mind. We’ll bring out Project: Sword to deal with the numbers they now have in the middle and we’ll get our fullbacks bombing up the wings. Sissako and McCarthy are both told to warm up, but are then quickly told to sit back down. Because something else happens.

Hicham Aidir picks the ball up 25 yards from goal and lays it off for young Basauri in midfield, who swings a beautiful pass onto the left for Bassani. The French-Italian winger’s left in acres of space after his marker makes the bizarre choice to follow Aidir into the box, but he then courageously doubles down on his mistake by allowing Bassani’s low cross to reach our Moroccan centre forward, who clips a shot into the corner. Beautiful. The pass from Basauri, the movement from Bassani, the shot from Hicham and the tears rolling down Olof Mellberg’s face and into that nest on his chin: The tears of a man who has blinked first and has paid the price. It’s all just so beautiful.

Alas, my elation doesn’t last too long. 15 minutes after the opening goal, Toulouse have gone completely the other way from their usual tactic of turtling me into an early boredom-related grave and are throwing the kitchen sink at us. One particular patient move around a packed Auxerre penalty area ends with Diallo slipping a pass through for Ivanovic, who has his ankles clipped by Mamadou Doucouré. My thought of “At least LeGod’s in net” proves fleeting as Ramírez steps up from 12 yards and buries his effort into the bottom right, just out of our keeper’s reach.

A few minutes down the line, the turnaround is complete. Again. Of fucking course. Diallo swings a deep corner to the far post, Ferhat forgets what marking is and Dumortier rises all on his own to head the ball straight at Lenogue, who flaps it into the net. I despair. Billy, Reynier and Andre all come on as I desperately roll the dice and we attack Toulouse for the last 20 minutes, but no. It’s over. They’ve done us again.

I want to scream or fight something. I want to fight Olof Mellberg. In fact no, he’d crush me. I cannot stand him. I cannot stand him and I cannot stand his shitty little club. When they’re good, they beat us. When they’re awful, they beat us. When we batter them, they beat us. When the tides rise and when the tides fall, they beat us and beat us and beat us again. Fuck you, Mellberg! Fuck you, Toulouse! I swear on the knees of my somewhat prolific striker Hicham Aidir, this is not over! The Pink City shall feel my wrath yet!

The Best Beard In Birmingham (Franjo: A Journeyman Story – Ep193) Start from the start with episode 1 < Episode 192 Newest Story - "Help" Good riddance to this transfer window, that’s what I say.

[instantdeerlover]

LA’s New Restaurant Openings (8) added to Google Docs

LA’s New Restaurant Openings (8)

If you tried to keep track of every brand new restaurant in Los Angeles, you might go a little bit crazy. So just read this list instead. These are the new restaurant openings that seem like they have the most potential - although keep in mind, for the ones we haven’t tried, we make no promises. Go forth and be a pioneer.

We’ll be updating this post regularly, and once we check out each spot, we’ll add a note so you know where to read more about it.

march  Aliza J. Sokolow Violet Bistro $$$$ 1121 Glendon Ave

Westwood’s latest addition is Violet, a casual French bistro that also doubles as a culinary school. Everything here is charming and Très French, from the rustic, wooden interiors and a shaded patio out back, to the menu, filled quiche, steak frites, gougères (choux pastries with cheese), and pan-seared whitefish barigoule. The cocktail list follows suit, featuring, uh, French-ish drinks like the Monsieur Pimm and the Bloody Antoinette. Violet is open for lunch and dinner during the week, and does a weekend brunch from 9am-2pm.

 Tree of Wishes $$$$ 7469 Melrose Ave

Forget Disneyland, if you really want your dreams to come true, head to Melrose Ave. Operating out of a cozy, West Hollywood-ish space, Tree of Wishes serves all kinds of Mediterranean fare, from mezze like hummus and muhammara (a red pepper and walnut spread), to larger mains like branzino and casarecce with roasted eggplants and Kalamata olives. And if you’re like B.O.B. and could really use a wish right now, there’s a literal wishing tree out back. Just write down your hopes and dreams onto a ribbon, tie it to one of its branches, and hope that the forest gods will actually take away your adult acne.

LOVE Organic $$$$ 8205 Santa Monica Blvd

We found love in a hopeless place - which, in this context, means organic, vegan food in West Hollywood. This plant-based restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. serves a variety of pan-Asian foods, such as Thai “wings” cooked in lemongrass, pad thai, chow mein noodles, and green curry dumplings, as well as an entire menu of fish-less sushi rolls, with ingredients like spicy tofu, seared trumpet mushrooms, and carrot tempura.

 Nomoo $$$$ 7507 Melrose Ave

Life is cyclical - the old replaces the new, Drew Barrymore now books mom roles on television, and the Johnny Rockets on Melrose has been taken over by vegan burgers. Nomoo (get it?), is a new plant-based restaurant that serves Impossible cheeseburgers and “hot chicken” sandwiches made with fermented seitan. Plus, 10% of their monthly profits are donated to an animal rights charity - which should make you feel better about all of the water you wasted taking that 40-minute stress shower last night.

 Krystal Thompson Pearl River Deli $ $ $ $ Chinese  in  Chinatown $$$$ 727 N Broadway #130 Not

Rated

Yet

After starting as a pop-up, Pearl River Deli made like that tattoo you got while blacked out of broccoli conducting an orchestra (it’s Chopin Broccoli, and it was not funnier at the time) and has gone permanent. Located in a bare-bones space in the Far East Plaza (you might need to wade through the line at Howlin’ Ray’s to find it, F.Y.I.), this order-at-the-counter Chinatown joint is serving Cantonese dishes like char siu over rice, silky shrimp-and-egg scrambles, and Macau pork chops on pineapple buns.

We checked out Pearl River Deli and put it on our Hit List.

Burgers 99 $ $ $ $ Burgers  in  Hancock Park ,  Hollywood $$$$ 131 South La Brea Ave Not

Rated

Yet

With shelves filled with ’90s NBA bobbleheads and Happy Meal toys, this retro smashburger spot hits the nostalgia button hard, and will transport you back to the days when you wore low-cut jeans and got dropped off at the mall in your mom’s Dodge Caravan. Owned and operated by the brothers behind Badmaash, this new burger joint on La Brea keeps it pretty simple - look out for single and double patties, a bacon burger, hot dogs, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, fries, and milkshakes. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

We checked out Burgers 99 and put it on our Hit List.

La Camarona $$$$ 181 E Glenarm St

If the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words “Mexican seafood” is “I want more of it,” then La Camarona might just be for you. This new all-you-can-eat restaurant in Pasadena focuses on the flavors and cooking styles of the coastal state of Nayarit, which means hot and cold dishes like ceviches, aguachiles, steaks, and whole fried tilapia. Do not eat beforehand.

 Pascal Shirley Hermanito $ $ $ $ Bar Food ,  Tacos ,  Mexican  in  Sawtelle Japantown ,  West LA $$$$ 2024 Sawtelle Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

Unlike hanging out with your actual little brother (for the record, this is a joke, Noah), Hermanito is a bar/restaurant where you might actually have some fun. Located on Sawtelle Blvd., this new neighborhood spot has a menu filled with “snaxxx” (their word, not ours) like chicharrones and shrimp sandwiches, and tacos served on Sonoran-style flour tortillas, as well as a variety of mezcal-filled cocktails.

We checked out Hermanito, read our first thoughts here.

El Prince $$$$ 2171 W Florence Ave

El Prince is a new Middle Eastern restaurant in Inglewood, and perhaps the first place we’ve ever covered inside of a Quick Mart. Located amongst rows of produce and cleaning supplies, this all-day Halal spot features plates of shawarma, kofta, and shish taouk (grilled chicken skewers marinated in yogurt, lemon juice, and garlic) served over rice or fries, as well as wraps made to order.

february  CHD $$$$ 3377 Wilshire Blvd

Chang Hwa Dang, or CHD for short, is a new restaurant from Seoul that specializes in dumplings. Located in a strip mall off of Wilshire Blvd., you’ll find the entire spectrum of mandu here, from grilled to steamed, with fillings like ground pork, kimchi, galbi, and shrimp. But if you, like Fabolous (featuring Jeremih and Davido), can’t choose just one, get the mixed plate - or one of their other Korean dishes, like tteok-boki or kimchi fried rice.

 Malama Pono $$$$ 13355 Ventura Blvd

From modern takes on Hawaiian fare to a name that roughly translates to the title of Drake’s 2011 album, Take Care, Malama Pono is a new restaurant in The Valley serving food from across the Pacific. Located in a blue-and-green-toned space that’s so lush, it looks like it could have been ripped from a Smithsonian rainforest exhibit, the menu features a variety of both Hawaiian foods, like Spam crispy rice and loco moco, and not-Hawaiian foods, like Southeast Asian duck confit and hanger steak au poivre.

 The Ricans Food $$$$ 1801 E 7th St

The Ricans is a new takeaway counter in the Arts District with one central goal - to perfect the art of mofongo. And while we can’t tell you if they’ve actually achieved such excellence (y’know, since we haven’t been yet), what we can say is that they’re serving a diverse mix of Puerto Rican dishes, from chicharrones de pollo over rice to smashed pork burgers, in addition to their pièce de résistance, their North Star, a traditionally made mofongo plate served with a house criolla sauce.

 Chef Tony $ $ $ $ Dim Sum  in  Pasadena $$$$ 2 E Colorado Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

Chef Tony is a new high-end dim sum spot in Pasadena that comes from the man behind Sea Harbour, a terrific Chinese restaurant in Rosemead that’s one of our favorite places for salted egg yolk buns and people-watching. Featuring high ceilings, gold accents, and crystal chandeliers, this place errs on the side of upscale and feels very palatial (a word we definitely knew before today). The menu is similarly filled with luxury items, like squid ink shrimp dumplings with a gold leaf and stir-fried Maine lobster, as well as simpler, more traditional Cantonese dishes like shrimp har gow, radish cakes, and steamed pork buns.

We checked out Chef Tony, read our first thoughts here.

Tempura Nagomi $$$$ 20920 Hawthorne Blvd

Located at a semi-private bar within I-Naba Restaurant, Tempura Nagomi is a new spot in Torrance that specializes in everything battered and deep-fried. There are a few a la carte options, but the prix-fixe menus are the main focus here. At both lunch and dinner, you have your choice between three different sets, which include rounds of sashimi, soba noodles, and of course, tons of tempura. Reservations only.

 Pablo Enriques Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura $$$$ 347 N Rodeo Dr

This new luxury restaurant comes from the chef behind Osteria Francescana, the three-Michelin-star restaurant in Modena that’s inspired an estimated 7 trillion Google Flights searches to Italy. His newest outpost is located on the rooftop of the Gucci store on Rodeo Dr., and besides the obligatorily opulent decor - which includes Gucci wallpaper, antique furniture, plenty of plush velvet, and red marble tabletops - the menu features dishes like spaghetti with Tuscan seafood stew, pâté drizzled with balsamic vinegar, and white trout with hazelnuts and mushrooms.

9th Street Ramen $$$$ 111 W 9th St

The straightforward name of this new restaurant in DTLA pretty much says it all, but here are a few more details anyway. In addition to ramen, which ranges from tonkotsu with confit pork shoulder to a vegan option with charred onions and mushrooms, they also serve Japanese dishes such as gyoza, spicy tuna rice bowls, and karaage fried chicken (apparently not everything fit into the name).

 ABSteak $$$$ 8500 Beverly Blvd Ste 111

The newest addition to the ground floor of the Beverly Center is ABSteak, a modern steakhouse doing Korean-style BBQ. They specialize in premium steaks, from dry-aged cuts to whiskey-aged prime rib eyes, and forgo traditional KBBQ flourishes like banchan at the beginning of a meal (you get a basket of bread instead). But they do offer a variety of Korean side dishes, like kimchi fried rice, kurobuta pork belly, and uni-topped marinated shrimp with smoked sweet potato foam (just in case you forgot you were in the Beverly Center).

 Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen $$$$ 229 E Commonwealth Ave Ste A

Khan Saab is a new restaurant from the chef behind Tumbi that has everything from a completely Halal menu and Wagyu steaks to a hand-painted mural featuring scenes from Pakistani films. Located in Fullerton, their expansive menu includes dishes from India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, like mutton korma, a goat curry made with yogurt and honey, fried butter chicken doused in a masala rub, plus a wide variety of steaks, kabobs, and biryanis.

 Surfer Rose $$$$ 2460 WILSHIRE Blvd.

Surfer Rose is a new late-night bar/restaurant in Santa Monica. Operated by the Pixies fan club/team behind The Cliffdiver in Malibu, expect a menu filled with food and drinks tailor-made for eating post-beach/escaping the Westside’s swarms of tourists, such as thin-crust pizzas topped with cheese, pepperoni, and prosciutto, local craft beers, and shrimp tacos.

 Tacos 1986 - Westwood $$$$ 10874 Kinross Ave

Congrats UCLA students - not only do you attend the most applied-to college in the world, you’re now also in walking distance of Tacos 1986’s new outpost in Westwood Village. In addition to their signature Tijuana-style tacos, their new, compact space also serves quesadillas, mulitas, and vampiros, all made with mesquite-grilled meat, then topped with creamy guacamole and beans.

 Holly Liss Winsome $$$$ 6080 Center Dr.

You win some, you lose some, and for Playa Vista, it’s the former. After closing the doors of their Echo Park outpost in 2019, Winsome is back. Now located on the Westside, the latest iteration of this sunny, all-day cafe is a bit more casual, with a new order-at-the-counter set-up and only breakfast and lunch hours to start. Expect a lot of the same brunch-y foods, like avocado tartines, smoked salmon wraps, and a fried egg breakfast sandwich, plus salads, soups, and a burger.

 Dylan + Jeni Kiss Kiss Bang Bang $$$$ 3515 Wilshire Blvd

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a new disco-themed bar located in Ktown’s Line Hotel. The huge, mega-saturated space somehow feels both retro and futuristic, and looks like a combination of Xanadu and the last act of Annihilation. In addition to an extensive cocktail menu, they also serve a few vegan dishes like cashew cheeseburgers and tacos made with lettuce and mushrooms. Although, if you’re not in the mood to eat plant-based, we recommend either watching Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscars speech, or heading upstairs to Openaire and ordering the sirloin steak.

Ste101 $$$$ 3450 W 6th St Ste 101

This suite new Ktown spot combines two of our favorite things - All You Can Eat Korean BBQ and a genuinely good wine selection. They’ve got all of the traditional cuts of meat, like belly and brisket, in addition to more premium options such as toshi-sal, or marinated beef, and USDA prime ribeye. Their late-night menu also includes an assortment of ramen, and a jajangmyeon-inspired bowl of noodles in a black bean sauce.

 Jon Anthony Tilda $ $ $ $ Wine Bar  in  Echo Park $$$$ 1507 Echo Park Ave Not

Rated

Yet

Tilda is a new restaurant, natural wine bar, and bottle shop in Echo Park. Located in a compact, cozy space, they definitely make the most of their tight quarters, featuring plenty of skin-contact bottles from California, as well as a variety of beers, ciders, sakes, and spritzers. They also have an assortment of small bites, including (the obligatory) cheese and charcuterie boards, smoked trout dip, picnic sandwiches with flaked tuna and haricots verts, and a unique dessert tray, which comes with goat cheese, tortas, and fig compote.

We checked out Tilda and put it on our Bar Hit List.

One876 Caribbean Restaurant $$$$ 20869 Lassen Street

If the nine-hour flight to the actual 876 seems a little too long for you, head to this new Caribbean spot in Chatsworth. The menu is filled with a wide variety of Jamaican dishes, such as ackee and saltfish, curried goat, jerk chicken, and oxtails. Plus, on Fridays and Saturdays, they’re also doing jerk chicken wings.

Mio Babbo $$$$ 11701 Wilshire Blvd

Mio Babbo is a new build-your-own pasta spot in Brentwood. The bright, casual space is decorated with an eclectic mix of orange and blue, which honestly kind of reminds us of the video game Portal. You can choose between a variety of noodle/sauce combinations, with pastas like spaghetti, linguine, and gnocchi, and sauces like pomodoro, Bolognese, and pesto. You can also add a protein (chicken, sausage, or shrimp), or just opt for mains like chicken Milanese or grilled branzino. There’s even a truffle shop inside.

January  Sogo Roll Bar $ $ $ $ Japanese ,  Sushi  in  Los Feliz $$$$ 4634 Hollywood Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

Sōgo is the latest addition to Los Feliz’s crowded restaurant scene, and comes from the people behind Sushi Note, the sushi/wine bar in Sherman Oaks that’s one of the single greatest sushi experiences in Los Angeles. The space is bright and airy, and features a 14-seat sushi bar (and shared outdoor patio space with Go Get Em Tiger), and they offer a variety of set menus, ranging from three to six rolls, as well as a la carte and cut roll options with fillings like toro, yellowtail, crab, and gravlax. Currently only open for lunch.

We checked out Sogo and put it on our Hit List.

Hyesung Noodle House $ $ $ $ Korean  in  Koreatown $$$$ 125 N Western Ave Ste 106 Not

Rated

Yet

Hyesung Noodle House understands something that the voting body of the Academy never could - that sometimes, less is more (ahem, Todd Phillips). Located in Koreatown, the first U.S. location of Seoul’s oldest noodle shop specializes in kalguksu, or Korean knife-cut noodle soup, which is served in either an anchovy or chicken-based broth. Their compact, four-item menu also includes bossam (boiled pork belly) and vegetable pancakes, as well as beer and soju.

We checked out Hyesung Noodle House, read our first thoughts here.

Uncle Paulie’s $$$$ 820 S Spring St

Although this is Uncle Paulie’s second location, their new DTLA outpost is no carbon copy - they’ve ditched the cold cut cases of the original Beverly Grove deli, and replaced them with a full kitchen. That means that in addition to their fantastic Italian combo and artichoke caprese sandwiches, they’ve got a bevy of new hot subs, like The Carmine (made with roast beef, mozzarella, and brown gravy on garlic bread) and The Franny (fried eggplant, broccoli rabe, and ricotta pesto).

Angelenos' Wood Fired Pizza $$$$ 6235 York Blvd

While we sadly had to say goodbye (temporarily) to Elio’s earlier this month, worry not. There’s a new parking lot pizza pop-up (a.k.a PLPPU) in town, this time operating out of the 99 Cents Only store on York Blvd. in Highland Park. Angelenos’ - run by “a couple of middle-aged dads with an entrepreneurial spirit and a killer pizza pie” - is firing up plain cheese pies for $10, with each additional topping, like pepperoni, smoked ham, and white truffle oil, costing an additional $1-2.

 Piccalilli $ $ $ $ Japanese ,  Indian ,  Thai ,  Southern  in  Culver City $$$$ 3850 Main Street, Suite A Not

Rated

Yet

Much like their pickled namesake, Piccalilli is a new restaurant that blends Eastern and Western flavors. Located in a colorful space in Culver City that looks like an after-hour night at LACMA gone off the rails, the menu here is influenced by the American South and various Asian countries. That means dishes like Thai banana hush puppies, grilled short ribs with sweet tofu and kimchi daikon, and a curiously spelled “Bangkock” chicken katsu.

We checked out Piccalilli, read our first thoughts here.

Totem Poultry $$$$ 7454 1/2 Beverly Blvd

Located in Beverly Grove, this new rotisserie is serving organic, fire-grilled chicken in a variety of combos (whole, half, leg and thigh, etc), as well as chicken salad and soups, including an Asian-inspired chicken and mushroom soup with enoki mushrooms and a baby bok choy broth. Have we just found our new spirit animal? (You’re right, that was bad - we should log off.)

 Holly Liss Prime Pizza $$$$ 603 N Hollywood Way

Not much has changed with Prime’s latest outpost. This one’s in Burbank, and you can still order a variety of their signature NY-style pies (we’re partial to the one with sausage and kale), as well as garlic knots, chopped salads, and, like, really cool merch. And, in what might be the best prime-related bargain since the introduction of two-day shipping, they now offer a family deal, where you can get all of the above (cheese pie, knots, and salad) for just $30. Beat that, Bezos.

 Father’s Office $$$$ 905 E 2nd St

The burger king has expanded his kingdom - Father’s Office is now open in the Arts District. This is their third location (they also have outposts in Santa Monica and Culver City), and while they’ve moved into a larger space, the menu - and their craft beer list - has remained the same. And before you ask, yes, that includes the burger.

 Erica Gould Kismet Rotisserie $ $ $ $ Mediterranean  in  Los Feliz $$$$ 4666 Hollywood Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

In a particularly delicious twist of fate, one of our favorite Mediterranean restaurants in the city has opened a roast chicken joint. Located next to - and operated by - the people behind Kismet, this new rotisserie serves quarter, half, and whole chickens, as well as a variety of soups and sandwiches, like pitas stuffed with tahini-roasted vegetables and bowls of lemony chicken soup. Plus, in a stroke of absolute genius, they’ve introduced a new “kids met” menu (we’re genuinely upset we didn’t think of this pun first).

We checked out Kismet Rotisserie and put it on our Hit List.

 Fat & Flour $$$$ 317 S Broadway

Ever since Fiona closed last year, we’ve been in a state of grief, desperately trying to distract ourselves with activities like knitting and deep-diving on Zooey Deschanel’s random relationship with a Property Brother. But luckily, those days are behind us - Fiona’s pies are back. Now called Fat & Flour, and located inside of Grand Central Market, they’re still baking that Key Lime pie that made the old Fairfax spot famous, plus treats like tangerine meringue pie and sugar cookies.

Met Him At A Bar $ $ $ $ $$$$ 801 South La Brea Ave Not

Rated

Yet

From the people behind the breakfast and brunch spot Met Her At A Bar comes a new Italian restaurant on La Brea, aptly named Met Him At A Bar (we think we might be sensing a theme here). Located across the street from their feminine counterpart, in a bright, colorful space that looks like it could double as a Mamma Mia! set piece, the menu is filled with homemade pastas like linguine alfredo, paccheri Bolognese, and white truffle ravioli.

We checked out Met Him At A Bar, read our first thoughts here.

 Jakob Layman Hotville Chicken $ $ $ $ American ,  Southern  in  Baldwin Hills $$$$ 4070 Marlton Ave Not

Rated

Yet

Between Dave’s Hot Chicken, Angry Birdz, Raging Hot, Chips N’ Chicks, Piping Hot Beaks, Hot Fried Chicken To Go (we swear we only made one of these up), and the perpetually long lines at Howlin’ Rays, Nashville hot chicken is having a certified moment. The latest addition to the city’s growing poultry movement is Hotville, a new restaurant in Baldwin Hills that’s certified chicken royalty - the owner’s aunt runs Nashville’s iconic Prince’s Hot Chicken. So expect a Southern menu full of everything from extra-juicy chicken to mac and cheese and fried fish (a.k.a. all the foods you want after a long day of work, and/or misplacing your right AirPod).

We checked out Hotville Chicken and put it on our Hit List.

 Kazan Kazan $ $ $ $ Japanese  in  Beverly Hills $$$$ 111 N La Cienega Blvd 8.3 /10

Kazan is a new soba restaurant from the founder of Tatsu Ramen, and, according to the neon sign in their window, they’re the “pinnacle of noodle.” And while the jury is still out on whether or not they’ve actually achieved buckwheat excellence, what we do know is that their sleek, glowing Beverly Hills dining room looks like it could have been designed by Roger Deakins, and their menu is filled with an exceptional array of warm sobas - from traditional, thin noodles in a soy sauce broth to a “spicy but addictive” version that comes with lamb and cilantro.

We checked out Kazan and put it on our Hit List.

 Olivetta $ $ $ $ Pasta ,  Mediterranean ,  Italian  in  West Hollywood $$$$ 9010 Melrose Ave Not

Rated

Yet

We may have seen a lot of excess in 2019 (hello @ “Chicago Fire,” “P.D.,” and “Med”), but no one does exorbitance better than West Hollywood’s latest addition, Olivetta. Equipped with four different dining areas, turquoise walls, a banquet hall, and a functional fireplace, this new hangout is equal parts Italian/Mediterranean restaurant and Knives Out set piece. The menu contains a wide variety of dishes, from chopped black kale and bucatini in an arugula-cashew pesto to lobster spaghetti and baked seabass with caramelized fennel.

We checked out Olivetta, read our first thoughts here.

Death & Co. $ $ $ $ Bar  in  Downtown LA $$$$ 810 E Third St

A legend in the world of drinking has arrived in LA - and no, we’re not talking about Kathie Lee Gifford. Death & Co., one of New York’s first craft cocktail bars, is now open in the Arts District, and like their predecessor, they’re in a very, very dark space (literally a basement). This subterranean spot is split into two parts, with a casual standing room at the front, and a more formal main bar in the back. Each section offers a different array of food and drinks, with the standing room (open Thursday-Sunday) focusing on simple cocktails and small bites, and the main bar handling heartier dishes like uni on brioche, duck confit agnolotti, and a very lengthy cocktail menu (duh).

We checked out Death & Co. and put it on our Bar Hit List.

 Socalo $$$$ 1920 Santa Monica Blvd

From the people behind Border Grill comes SoCalo, a new, modern Mexican restaurant in Santa Monica. Located in the Gateway Hotel, this sleek, all-day outpost is filled with communal dining tables, overhead ring lights, and an impressive selection of Mexican spirits, including tequila, mezcal, pox (an ancestral Mayan drink), raicilla, and bacanora. As for the food, SoCalo serves a variety of traditional Mexican dishes, like carne asada tacos, Ensenada seafood mixta, and chicken dorados, as well as modern variations like burritos made with Impossible chorizo and oat milk plantain fritters.

 Citrin and Melisse $$$$ 1104 Wilshire Blvd

After a brief ten-month intermission, one of LA’s finest (and most expensive) French restaurants has returned - with a friend. The chef behind the original Mélisse, as well as Dear John’s and Openaire went full “Fixer Upper” on the old Santa Monica space, and has now reopened it to house two separate restaurants. On one side is the new Mélisse, which scaled back to a tight 14 seats, but kept their $$$ tasting menu, and on the other is Citrin, a brand new a la carte restaurant that features similarly expensive offerings, but claims to be a bit more casual (or as casual as you can be with hot-pink, tiger-print Gucci wallpaper in the restroom).

We checked out Citrin, read our first thoughts here.

Toku Unagi $ $ $ $ Japanese  in  West Hollywood $$$$ 1106 N La Cienega Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

West Hollywood’s newest Japanese restaurant specializes in one thing, and one thing only - traditionally prepared bowls of freshwater eel (OK, and sushi, too). And while there are plenty of non-eel dishes on the menu, like an eight-piece nigiri set, it’s clear that Toku’s pièce de résistance - and the reason why they’re such a big d-eel - is their signature unagi, which comes either in a lacquered box or an ohitsu (Japanese rice bucket). So maybe get that?

We checked out Toku Unagi, read our first thoughts here.

DECEMBER  Jennifer Chong Red Herring $ $ $ $ American  in  Downtown LA $$$$ 770 S Grand Ave Not

Rated

Yet

No distractions to be found here - Red Herring is now open in DTLA. After closing their original Eagle Rock outpost early this year, they’ve reopened in a new location, but kept much of the same verdant aesthetic. They’ve also expanded the menu, which now includes everything from ricotta dumplings and orata la plancha to crispy quail and a classic smashburger.

We checked out Red Herring, read our first thoughts here.

 Clark Street - Echo Park $ $ $ $ Cafe/Bakery  in  Echo Park $$$$ 311 Glendale Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

After successful openings at Grand Central Market and a recent takeaway counter on Sunset Blvd., Clark Street is finally bready for their first standalone outpost. Located next to Grá, in the intersection of Echo Park and Historic Filipinotown, their new bakery will be serving their well-known pastries and breads, as well as new hot foods like leek and comté omelettes, Nordic breakfast plates, and bagels with lox.

We checked out Clark Street - Echo Park, read our first thoughts here.

 Jakob Layman Verse $$$$ 4212 Lankershim Blvd.

If you’ve ever had a desire to eat in a restaurant where “sound is at the forefront of the design and intent” (whatever that means), then head to Verse. Located in a lush, jewel-toned Toluca Lake space that looks like it could double as the setting of a murder mystery, it was opened in collaboration with a Grammy-winning sound mixer and plans to host live music performances. The menu is filled with fanciful dishes like Wagyu tartare with pickled plum, bone marrow ravioli, and squid-and-chorizo lollipops.

Tom Bergin's $ $ $ $ Fairfax $$$$ 840 S Fairfax Ave

After more ups, downs, and plot twists than an M. Night Shyamalan movie, Tom Bergin’s is back. Following their closure last year, the 83-year-old Irish pub is certified as an actual LA landmark, and has reopened its doors on Fairfax. And they’re not changing much - expect a lot of the same pub food as before, like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, Dutch apple pie, and, of course, their famous Irish coffee.

 Gino’s East Of Chicago $$$$ 12924 Riverside Dr

The iconic Chicago deep-dish chain just opened their first West Coast outpost. Located in Sherman Oaks, Gino’s East (which, tbh, should maybe be called Gino’s West?) features an interior filled with whole lot of Windy City tchotchkes and, despite what you might think, a menu of pies for both sides of the ideological deep-dish debate. That means thin crust versions of all of their famous deep dish pizzas, plus other Chicago staples like Italian beef sandwiches.

Soprano $ $ $ $ Italian  in  Hollywood $$$$ 6263 Hollywood Blvd, Not

Rated

Yet

Located in Hollywood, this new Italian restaurant definitely feels like a place Tony S. would go for a meal before heading to the Bada Bing. From the owners of Hinoki & The Bird and Rosaline, Soprano is outfitted with Very Serious decor, like checkered tiles and all-black furniture. The menu features red-sauce Italian comfort dishes and pizzas named after celebrities, like Chevy Chase and Bill Murray (but, strangely, not James Gandolfini).

We checked out Soprano, read our first thoughts here.

 Game Over Pizza $ $ $ $ Pizza  in  Hollywood $$$$ 7065 Sunset Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to eat pizza at The Max from Saved By The Bell, head to Game Over Pizza in Hollywood. Much like Button Mash, this new bar/arcade is the definition of all things #nostalgia, complete with neon furniture and games like NBA Jam and Street Fighter. The menu, developed by the chef from Brooklyn standout Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop, is filled with both square and circular pizzas with toppings like butternut squash and sausage, custom pies like the Boomer - which comes with mushrooms, chili flakes, and mozzarella - and even vegan options.

We checked out Game Over Pizza, read our first thoughts here.

Eszett $ $ $ $ American ,  Austrian  in  Silver Lake $$$$ 3510 W Sunset Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

With its pastel color scheme and minimalist furniture, Eszett feels more like a cafe from the future than a restaurant in a Silver Lake strip mall. Located in the old Trois Familia space, this former pop-up’s permanent home features an ample selection of natural wines and local brews, and a wide-ranging menu of dishes like salt-packed anchovy and egg, glazed cod with roasted Tokyo turnips, and an Austrian knödel (boiled dumpling) served with Santa Rose plums, sour whipped cream, and brown butter.

We checked out Eszett and put it on our Hit List.

 Qi Steam Kitchen $$$$ 5966 W Olympic Blvd

Much like the beloved anthropomorphized tank engine, this new restaurant near Little Ethiopia runs on steam. From Chinese classics like pork bao and egg custard to more modern dishes like panda lava bun (made with red bean, not actual pandas or lava) and spiced-rice-coated ribs, everything on the menu here is steamed, which offers a healthier alternative to some of your favorite fried foods.

 Joyce Kim All Day Baby $ $ $ $ American  in  Silver Lake $$$$ 3200 W Sunset Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

In addition to being the mental state we were in after making the mistake of watching Marriage Story with our significant other, All Day Baby is a new diner, bar, and bakery in Silver Lake. From the people behind Here’s Looking At You, this spot on Sunset Blvd. is open from 8am-3pm every day, and is home to all sorts of twists on American classics, like yellow corn grits with shrimp bolognese, smoked pork belly with tomatillo salsa, and a vanilla bean milkshake with bonded bourbon and spiced pumpkin butter.

We checked out All Day Baby and put it on our Hit List.

 Sinziana Velicescu Andrew's Place $$$$ 1370 N St Andrew's Place

Andrew’s Place is the newest addition to Second Home, a “coworking campus” in Hollywood that, with its compact yellow pods and strategically placed trees, looks more like a base on Mars than a place where you would pretend to write a screenplay. Luckily, there’s no freeze-dried space food for sale - instead, the menu (from the chef behind Croft Alley), features a mix of Asian-skewed dishes like scrambled eggs with uni, and pork toro with kimchi fried rice.

Hank's... A Deli Of Sorts $$$$ 4315 W. Riverside Drive

Hank’s likes to keep things purposely vague, kind of like the job description you wrote for your three-month stint as an Executive Assistant. But the brand of ambiguity at Hank’s is the kind we actually like - their Instagram bio cryptically reads “Handmade bagels, sandwiches, spreads, and salady things. Sometimes soups.” To expound on that just a bit, they’re serving all sorts of bagels, including sandwiches with toppings like smoked whitefish, spicy maple-glazed bacon, and soppressata.

november Aduke African Cuisine - Inglewood $$$$ 1117 W Manchester Blvd., Ste. C

Much like our waistbands during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s eating cycle, Aduke African Cuisine is rapidly expanding. The catering-company-turned-full-service restaurant has just opened a second location in Inglewood, and if it’s anything like their original Pico-Robertson outpost, expect incredible Nigerian favorites like jollof rice combos, yam porridge, and pumpkin seed egusi.

Harold's Chicken $$$$ 6523 Hollywood Blvd

Chicago has brought us many things, from deep-dish pizzas to national treasure John Mulaney, with the latest addition to the pantheon being Harold’s Chicken. Located in that tourist-heavy section of Hollywood you swore you’d never return to after getting your car towed (the signs are very unclear), this upscale - as in, they have a bar - outpost of the Windy City chain will be serving their famous fried chicken and fish, drizzled in their signature sauces.

 Spirit House Echo Park $$$$ 1801 W Sunset Blvd

We didn’t think that we could love Sticky Rice any more than we already do, but just like Awkwafina in The Farewell, they continue to surprise us. Head through the red curtains at the back of this Thai restaurant, and you’ll find Spirit House Echo Park, a new cocktail bar with live music, neon lights, and a scene that looks straight out of an A24 movie. The menu is full of tropical drinks like the Thai Shandy, which is made with Singha, lemon juice, tamarind, chili, and honey, and the Chiang Mai Mule, with white rum, lime juice, Thai basil, and ginger beer.

 Marco Polo $ $ $ $ Italian  in  Silver Lake $$$$ 4141 Santa Monica Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

From the warm, sandy color scheme and marble-topped bistro tables to the open, airy bar, Marco Polo seems custom-built for alfresco dining, which it undoubtedly was. Located in the newly opened Silver Lake Pool & Inn, this coastal Italian restaurant expands out onto the pool deck itself, and serves the kinds of food that are perfect for sun-drenched discussions on world-building and the importance of saving jazz, such as a salt-roasted whole branzino, rigatoni fra diavolo, and a nettle pasta with pesto, walnuts, and ricotta salad.

We checked out Marco Polo and put it on our Hit List.

 Josh Telles Pinky's $ $ $ $ Bar  in  Los Feliz $$$$ 1816B N Vermont Ave

Not to be confused with the ridiculously popular hot dog stand of (roughly) the same name, Pinky’s is a new cocktail bar in Los Feliz. Operated by the team behind Atrium, there’s really only one word to describe this place: lush. With green-tiled benches, plenty of gold accents, and feng-shui affirming plant placements, Pinky’s looks like someone took a bathhouse and put it in the jungle - but, y’know, in a good way. The menu is small, featuring carnitas, chicken tinga, and rajas tacos, and the cocktail list is full of drinks crafted with sour cherry-infused rye, pomegranate-fig cordial, and black tea.

We checked out Pinky’s and put it on our Bar Hit List.

 Holly Liss Loqui $ $ $ $ Tacos ,  Mexican  in  Arts District $$$$ 818 E Third St Not

Rated

Yet

Loqui, one of our favorite taco spots in the city, has brought their thick, chewy, Frisbee-sized flour tortillas to the Arts District. Not much has changed from their original Culver City outpost - you still order their excellent primo tacos and plates at the counter - but now they’re up against Eastside powerhouses like Sonoratown, Guerrilla Tacos, and Bar Amá.

 M. Georgina $ $ $ $ American  in  Downtown LA $$$$ 777 S Alameda St Ste 114 7.9 /10

From the chef behind Frances and Octavia in San Francisco comes M. Georgina, the latest addition to DTLA’s Maze Runner-esque Row complex. Between the open dining room, high ceilings, and walls that alternate between floor-to-ceiling windows and slabs of concrete, this new spot either looks like a modern art museum cafeteria or a place where you might genuinely encounter a Griever (or both). The menu focuses on seafood and heartier dishes straight out of their wood-burning oven, including a grilled squid ink pita with trout roe, bay scallop crudo, wood-baked black cod, and cotechino sausage ragoût.

We checked out M. Georgina and put it on our Hit List.

 Canary $$$$ 1301 5th St

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to party inside of a Halsey music video or, like, a really cool aquarium, head to Canary. Between the neon lights, leather booths, and so many plants there must be a real abundance of oxygen here, this tropical new bar/club in Santa Monica has everything you’d expect to see at a rave in the jungle, sans the snake from Britney Spears’ “I’m A Slave 4 U” VMA performance. That means plenty of appropriate cocktails, like the Gran Canaria, made with mint, lemon, passion fruit, rum, and yellow chartreuse, and the Fantasma, which is mezcal-based and comes with mole, orange blossom, honey, jalapeno, and chareau.

 Clark Street Coffee Shop $$$$ 1115 Sunset Boulevard

One of our favorite stands to loaf around in Grand Central Market (you can’t tell, but we’re patting ourselves on the back right now), Clark Street Bread has opened a small takeaway counter in Echo Park. While you wait for their full restaurant and bakery, which is opening later this year, you now can skip the Eggslut-adjacent madness Downtown and get your fill of country bread, avocado toast, sandwiches, and kouign-amann in the old Winsome space on Sunset Blvd.

 Emma Swanson Bar Restaurant $ $ $ $ French  in  Silver Lake $$$$ 4326 W. Sunset Blvd 8.5 /10

Bar Restaurant is a new, well, you know, that does away with the pretentious and, frankly, tedious task of selecting a clever moniker. Initially opened as just a bar, this Silver Lake spot is now ready to fulfill both aspects of its name, with a French-leaning menu that includes mushroom soupe a l’oignon, pork tonkatsu with wakame Béarnaise, and mussels with Dijon mustard and milk-bread toast.

We checked out Bar Restaurant and put it on our Hit List.

Tempura Carlos Jr $$$$ 1510 Cabrillo Ave

No, the West Coast version of Hardee’s hasn’t opened a Tokyo-style restaurant - Tempura Carlos Jr is a new spot in Torrance that is serving everything deep-fried. Named after their founder, a Peruvian-born, Japanese-trained chef who developed his own crispy, egg-based batter, they’re frying everything from shrimp to shishito peppers to king crab, over your choice of either rice or soba noodles.

 Found Oyster $ $ $ $ Seafood  in  East Hollywood $$$$ 4880 Fountain Ave 9.0 /10

You’ll discover/locate/uncover Found Oyster next to the recently opened Five Leaves in East Hollywood. With a wooden bar, checkered tile floor, and nautical interior, this feels more like a spot you’d find in a cheerier version of The Lighthouse, as opposed to their actual location, which is a mere block away from that big blue Scientology building on Sunset Blvd. In addition to the namesake oysters, Found also serves shucked clams, chowder, steamers, and a lobster roll with serrano chili.

We checked out Found Oyster and put it on our Hit List.

Berkshire House $$$$ 143 N La Brea Ave

Berkshire House is a new bar in Mid-City. Although this crowded stretch of La Brea Ave. has a decent amount of restaurants - Republique, Nong La, and of course, an obligatory Sugarfish outpost - this is one of the few casual spots in the neighborhood to grab a drink and watch a game. With a spacious interior, wraparound couches, and TVs that number in the double digits, Berkshire House has got everything sports fans need, plus a menu that includes a mix of chicken wings, pizza, and cheesesteaks, as well as $3 drinks (!!!) during Happy Hour.

OCTOBER  Dylan+Jeni Onda $ $ $ $ Mexican  in  Santa Monica $$$$ 700 Wilshire Blvd 7.2 /10

In perhaps one of the most ambitious crossovers of 2019 (sorry @ Endgame), the chefs behind LA’s Sqirl and legendary Mexico City restaurant Contramar have teamed up to open Onda. Located in the Proper Hotel in Santa Monica, the menu blends the two cities’ cultures and cuisines, with dishes like smoked trout tostada, and corn masa-battered kelp with anchovies, lemon fritto misto, and crema salsa verde.

We checked out Onda and put it on our Hit List.

 Needle $ $ $ $ Chinese  in  Silver Lake $$$$ 3827 W Sunset Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

Located on that busy stretch on Sunset Blvd., that’s home to Pine & Crane, 33 Taps, and that one La Colombe that Abbi from Broad City randomly once took a picture with her dad in front of, Needle is focused on Hong Kong-style cooking. That means dishes like wood ear mushrooms with chili oil and scallions, and pork-chop buns with pork loin, milk bread, and spicy relish.

We checked out Needle, read our first thoughts here.

Grá $$$$ 1524 Pizarro St

Grá is a new fermentation-focused spot in Echo Park, which means everything under the microorganism sun, from sourdough pizzas and kimchi to kombucha and natural wines. At first glance, it kind of looks like an Ikea showroom for Eastside coffee shops, with concrete floors, mismatched chairs and communal tables (and of course, hanging plants), and in the kitchen, you’ll find an Italian wood-fired oven baking organic pies with toppings like pistachio pesto and carnitas.

We checked out Grá, read our first thoughts here.

Holcomb $ $ $ $ Bar  in  Highland Park $$$$ 5535 York Blvd

Holcomb is a new wine bar from the people behind some of our favorite places to drink, like The Hermosillo, Bar Covell, and Oriel. Located in Highland Park, all of the wines here are served from a tap - to help keep prices low - and the menu includes the usual roundup of wine-friendly snacks, like beef tartare, salumi, and a pork rillette sandwich.

We checked out Holcomb and put it on our Bar Hit List.

 Jakob Layman Yapa $ $ $ $ Japanese ,  Peruvian  in  Little Tokyo $$$$ 236 S Los Angeles St Ste G 8.0 /10

Located in Little Tokyo, Yapa is a cocktail bar and restaurant that’s focused on Nikkei cuisine - traditional Peruvian ingredients prepared with Japanese techniques, like korokke (a deep-fried croquette popular in Japan that Yapa fills with corn and yellow peppers) and tiradito (a spicy Peruvian raw-fish dish that’s cut like sashimi).

We checked out Yapa and put it on our Hit List.

Goldburger $ $ $ $ Burgers  in  Silver Lake $$$$ 3319 W Sunset Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

After doing pop-ups all over the city, Goldburger has finally found a home - but only for a limited time. Based out of the space that used to be Haché in Silver Lake, this smashburger spot will only be around for the next six months - and is weekends-only at the moment - so get your fill of their thin-and-crispy double burgers (or the LA Special, topped with pastrami and dijonnaise slaw) while you can.

We checked out Goldburger, read our first thoughts here.

 Bondi Harvest $$$$ 8820 Washington Blvd Ste 101

Between the high ceilings, beach-related artwork, and those damn rattan lighting fixtures every single LA restaurant seems to have nowadays, Bondi Harvest’s new outpost in Culver City’s ever-expanding Platform complex feels more like a coastal Sydney cafe than a SoulCycle-adjacent restaurant. Compared to their Santa Monica location, this version of the Australian cafe is a little more upscale, with foods like butterflied barbecued prawns and a 32-ounce Aussie Wagyu tomahawk steak, and a bar filled with only beer and wine from Down Under.

Lolo Wine Bar $ $ $ $ Wine Bar  in  East Hollywood $$$$ 5140 Sunset Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

Cool, dark, and covered in greenery, Lolo is a new natural wine bar in East Hollywood that will surely be gracing an Instagram Story near you. The menu is filled with stuff that pairs well with all manner of wine (preservative-free and otherwise), from snacks like grilled focaccia and burrata, to larger dishes like ricotta cavatelli and steak au poivre.

We checked out Lolo, read our first thoughts here.

Swift Cafe $$$$ 4279 Crenshaw Boulevard

The newest addition to Leimert Park, Swift Cafe draws inspiration from Indian, Caribbean, and Central and South American cuisines, with a menu that is healthy and mostly plant-based. Dishes include ravioli made with sweet potato, almond milk ricotta, and sage butter, coconut chickpea curry, and jerk chicken with coconut rice and plantains.

 Vive La Tarte $ $ $ $ Cafe/Bakery  in  Silver Lake $$$$ 3515 Sunset Blvd

Originally hailing from San Francisco, Vive La Tarte has brought their portmanteau-filled menu to Sunset Blvd. That includes a “Breakfast Tacro” - which is equal parts taco and croissant - filled with egg, avocado, bacon, cheese, and salsa - fresh-baked loaves of bread, avocado toast, and a “Kalefornia” breakfast salad.

We checked out Vive La Tarte, read our first thoughts here.

Sibling Rival $ $ $ $ American ,  Brunch  in  Downtown LA $$$$ 1060 S Broadway Not

Rated

Yet

From the people behind NYC’s Sunday in Brooklyn comes Sibling Rival. Located in The Hoxton hotel, this all-day cafe features a gold-trimmed bar, mismatched tiles, and plush booths, making it look like what would happen if the hashtag #jungalow got hitched to a diner in the ’50s. But the menu is firmly rooted in this decade, full of dishes like the greenest Green Toast of all time (with avocado, spring peas, wheatgrass oil, and sprouts) and bone broth made with turmeric and ginger.

We checked out Sibling Rival, read our first thoughts here.

 The HRB Experience $ $ $ $ Sushi  in  Downtown LA $$$$ 529 W 6th St Not

Rated

Yet

“HRB” is short for “Hand Roll Bar,” and as such, this hand-to-table restaurant specializes in sushi rolls with fillings like yuzu spicy tuna with cucumber, salmon, toro, and blue crab. Located next to Pershing Square in DTLA (and precariously close to the similarly themed KazuNori) HRB’s minimalist, slate-gray interiors ensure your focus is on the fish, which presumably amplifies the titular Experience.

We checked out The HRB Experience, read our first thoughts here.

 Sunday Gravy $$$$ 1122 Centinela Ave

Named after the iconic, tomato-based sauce mama used to make, Sunday Gravy is a new Italian restaurant in Inglewood. With its traditional red-and-white checkered tablecloths, dripping-font logo, and menu filled with everything from arrabiata pasta to fries with short rib ragu and mozzarella, Sunday Gravy seems to check every box required to be considered a cool, hip Italian restaurant - which is sure to impress even the toughest of mamas.

 The Greyhound Bar And Grill $ $ $ $ Bar  in  Glendale $$$$ 933 S Brand Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

There are as many sports bars in LA as there are recent disappointing playoff losses by LA teams - but that doesn’t mean we don’t still investigate the interesting-looking new ones. The Greyhound’s a bar and restaurant in Glendale with darts, wings, a huge tap list, and plenty of TVs to watch Jared Goff to throw six-yard incompletions on. It’s the second location of the Highland Park spot famous for its game-day deals, so we expect a similar situation here.

We checked out The Greyhound, read our first thoughts here.

Izakaya Tora² $$$$ 8908 Santa Monica Blvd

This izakaya in the middle of Boystown serves a wide variety of Japanese bar food, including kushiyaki and donabe. In addition to skewered meats and hot pots, they also have a bunch of sushi and sashimi options - including a couple different omakase tiers - to go along with their sake list.

El Tejano $ $ $ $ North Hollywood $$$$ 11122 Magnolia Blvd. Not

Rated

Yet

Everyone’s favorite black-out-and-house-some-Tex-Mex bar in North Hollywood has opened another location in Weho. The food is fine, but what you’re really there for are the massive $11 margaritas - and the option to make them “Texas Size” (36 oz instead of 18) for $2 more.

 Frank Wonho Lee Original Cannabis Cafe $ $ $ $ Bar Food  in  West Hollywood $$$$ 1201 N La Brea Ave Not

Rated

Yet

Lowell Cafe is “the first cannabis cafe in the U.S.,” and while none of the food is infused with cannabis, it is designed to “complement the heightened senses.” This joint (haha) is 21+, and offers the option to either BYOW (bring your own weed), which comes with a “tokage” fee, or buy some on the premises. If you have any questions, pot sommeliers are available to guide you, and the rotating menu includes food like miso-glazed pork belly, jalapeno mac and cheese bites, and vegan nachos. If that’s not enough for you, there’s a Taco Bell 1.3 miles away.

We checked out Lowell Cafe, read our first thoughts here.

Haewah Dal $ $ $ $ Korean  in  Long Beach $$$$ 5020 E 2nd St Not

Rated

Yet

Although a good banchan spread can feel like a prix fixe meal, Haewah Dal is serving actual Korean tasting menus. Located in Long Beach, this new restaurant features three different prix fixe options (you can choose between five, six, and ten courses, ranging from $60-130), which include traditional staples like galbijjim (braised beef short rib) and japchae (stir-fried glass noodles) and modern dishes like black cod with crispy potato and Chilean sea bass with a berry chutney. Don’t worry, you can also order a la carte, too.

We checked out Haewah Dal, read our first thoughts here.

 HiHo Cheeseburger - Mid-Wilshire $$$$ 6245 Wilshire Blvd

HiHo is bringing their fantastic, back-to-basics burgers to Mid-Wilshire. Located next to recently opened branches of Uovo and Kazunori, their newest outpost is almost identical to the original - they’re serving burgers, milkshakes, and an excellent Key lime pie in a minimalist setting guaranteed to please your inner Marie Kondo. But most importantly, now you don’t have to travel to the Third Street Promenade to taste one of LA’s best burgers.

 The Cliffdiver $ $ $ $ Bar Food ,  Mexican  in  Malibu $$$$ 21337 Pacific Coast Highway Not

Rated

Yet

With its rattan furniture, mosaic tiles, and blue walls that are more vibrant and mesmerizing than Yves Klein’s famous monochrome, The Cliffdiver is the summer vacation you wish you’d taken. As the name suggests, the menu is filled with seafood like octopus tostada, marlin tacos, and pacific snapper ceviche, and as if living in Malibu wasn’t already enough of a prize, all residents of the area get a 15% discount.

We checked out The Cliffdiver, read our first thoughts here.

 Manolo Langis Uovo $$$$ 6245 Wilshire Blvd

Uovo has brought its affordable, handmade pasta to Mid-Wilshire. Although it’s not our favorite casual pasta spot in the city, there’s nothing wrong with any of their $16 bowls, which range from tagliatelle al ragu to cacio e pepe to ravioli di ricotta. Also opening next door, in similarly sleek, modern spaces are new locations of HiHo and Kazunori.

Azay $ $ $ $ Japanese ,  French  in  Little Tokyo $$$$ 226 E 1st St Not

Rated

Yet

There are many benefits to dining in the globalized economy, and perhaps no restaurant demonstrates them better than Azay. Located in Little Tokyo, one half of their menu is made up of Japanese staples like chawanmushi (savory egg custard), cha soba, and bento boxes, and the other features French dishes like boeuf bourguignon, a croque monsieur, and salade aux lardons. Who needs free trade?

We checked out Azay, read our first thoughts here.

 Jakob Layman Dave's Hot Chicken - Noho $$$$ 5166 Lankershim Blvd

Spiked seltzers and Phoebe Waller-Bridge projects have had quite a summer, but apparently the hottest trend in LA right now is hot chicken. Dave’s is by no means a newcomer to the pantheon (we like their Hollywood location), but they’ve just opened a new outpost in North Hollywood. Not much has changed with this second spot - you still order a combination of tenders and sliders (with spice levels ranging from No Heat to Reaper) at the counter - but the space is a bit bigger than its predecessor, which means there’s plenty of room to douse your head with water if things get too spicy.

 Thunderbolt $ $ $ $ Bar Food ,  Bar  in  Echo Park $$$$ 1263 W Temple St

Just as the sun continues to rise, Historic Filipinotown continues to open exciting new places to eat and drink. The latest is addition is Thunderbolt, a cocktail bar with a Southern/Filipino menu. Located next to similarly leaning BBQ spot The Park’s Finest, the menu is filled with cocktails like the La Frutera, made with tequila, mango, and tamarind, and foods like fried green tomato sandwiches and an 18-hour smoked brisket.

We checked out Thunderbolt and put it on our Bar Hit List.

 Andrew Bezek Fuku $$$$ 1315 Third Street Promenade

Fuku, the latest installment in the Momofuku Culinary Universe (a.k.a. the other MCU), is located in the new SocialEats space at Santa Monica’s Gallery food hall. It’s the first LA location of the East Coast cult fave, and they’re not changing much, serving fried chicken fingers, chicken boxes, and sandwiches.

Kappo Osen $$$$ 702 Arizona Ave Suite BB

From the people behind one of our favorite taverns on the Eastside, Osen Izakaya, comes Kappo Osen. The menu features a wide variety of dishes, including kushiyaki skewers, sushi, duck breast, Wagyu beef, and nabe (Japanese hot pot). There’s also an omakase option. Decorated to look like a ryokan, or Japanese inn, with its tatami mats and sliding doors that lead to private rooms, you’ll feel like you’re at the base of Mount Fuji, rather than downtown Santa Monica, where you just saw two people mount the same Bird scooter.

 V DTLA V $$$$ 515 W 7th St

When we first got wind of V, a new Downtown restaurant/bar that has been described as a “multi-sensory dining experience with a ‘scent strategy’,” we had a lot of questions. Why does the graffiti art on the walls remind us of the opening sequence of The Da Vinci Code? Do we need velvet couches in every color of the rainbow? And what the hell is a “scent strategy”? And while we don’t have all the answers, we do know that the “new neighborhood hangout set in a converted 1920s jewelry store” will be serving everything from coffee and pastries to cocktails, sourdough pizzas, and more.

We checked out V, read our first thoughts here.

Pasjoli $ $ $ $ French  in  Santa Monica $$$$ 2732 Main St 8.8 /10

The chef behind Dialogue has just opened Pasjoli, a new French restaurant in Santa Monica. Unlike the very tiny, very expensive tasting menu spot (where a meal for two can famously break the $700 barrier), Pasjoli is serving slightly more casual French food a la carte - like a caramelized onion and Gruyère tart and pressed roast duck - in a space that feels like what would happen if Jean Prouvé had done production design on Moonrise Kingdom.

We checked out Pasjoli and put it on our Hit List.

Roji Bakery $$$$ 807 South La Brea Ave

Roji Bakery is a new coffee shop that specializes in shokupan, a.k.a. “milk bread” that’s softer and fluffier than a Casper mattress. Originally from Kumamoto, Japan, their LA outpost is located in Miracle Mile, and is serving a wide variety of pastries like strawberry danishes, edamame cheese bread, and chocolate croissants.

 Wonho Frank Lee American Beauty $ $ $ $ American ,  Burgers ,  Steaks  in  Venice $$$$ 425 Rose Ave 8.1 /10

After months of operating as a takeout-only spot, American Beauty is finally open in Venice. If you’re looking for a sit-down experience, their wood-fired oven is now churning out everything from a 30-day dry-aged porterhouse steak and pork short rib to ocean trout and colossal prawns, and they’ve got a full bar, too.

We checked out American Beauty and put it on our Hit List.

Bianca Bakery $ $ $ $ Sandwiches ,  Mediterranean ,  Italian  in  Culver City $$$$ 8850 Washington Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

With every passing day, our running bit about wanting to live at the Platform becomes less and less of a joke - especially with Bianca Bakery’s addition to the “epicenter of fashion, culinary talent, and creative entrepreneurs” in Culver City. Between the wood panelling and the lush patio, this new daytime cafe feels like the backdrop of a Julia Roberts vehicle, with a French/Italian menu that includes croissants, pizzas, and mussels.

We checked out Bianca Bakery, read our first thoughts here.

 Sushi Miyagi $$$$ 150 S Barrington Ave

Sushi Miyagi is a new omakase-focused spot in Brentwood. At night, their dinner menu reads like a breakdown of the nations in Avatar: The Last Airbender (Wind, Wood, and Sky), with omakase sets that range from $120-$180. Their lunch offerings are a bit more relaxed, and include an $80 omakase special, and a la carte items such as chirashi, saba (mackerel), and salmon bowls. Plus, if you were concerned, their website wants you to know: “Don’t worry! We have a very nice selection of sake and wine!” Phew.

We checked out Sushi Miyagi, read our first thoughts here.

 Tim Street-Porter Abernethy’s $$$$ 220 N Hope St

If you’re like us and have a (dangerously) short attention span, Abernethy’s might just be the place for you - both the chef and the menu change every three months at this new spot inside The Music Center in DTLA. First up is the chef behind Ms. Chi, the Chinese-leaning joint in Culver City. In addition her signature wontons, the first menu at Abernethy’s includes hot and sour sablefish, cacio e pepe with Northern Chinese-style noodles, and a condensed milk rice pudding with butter-roasted pineapple. Other chefs on the docket include the people behind Freedman’s, The Magic Castle, and Luv2Eat Thai Bistro.

 Ippudo - West Hollywood $$$$ 8352 Santa Monica Blvd

Ippudo’s new Weho location is the international chain’s second in the city. While they’re still serving their signature pork buns and ramen in tonkotsu broth, there are some notable differences from the Santa Monica outpost, such as an outdoor patio area and an expanded menu including dishes like takoyaki (battered octopus balls), chashu rice bowls, and fried tebasaki chicken wings.

Vow Burger $$$$ 519 N Fairfax Ave

Plant-based patties have taken over Los Angeles, and the latest addition is Vow Burger, a neon-lit spot that promises to make the fast food experience as guilt-free as possible, with an entirely vegan menu (which includes burgers, fries, and shakes), and a commitment to fight hunger by making a donation to the LA Food Bank for every meal purchased.

What The Cluck $$$$ 8281 Santa Monica Blvd

Much like Lindsey Adams Buckingham, What The Cluck is an LA transplant hailing from the Bay Area. But unlike the former Fleetwood Mac guitarist, this doodle-covered Thai restaurant in West Hollywood specializes in khao man gai - a popular chicken and rice dishe served with broth, sauce, and a side of cucumber.

August  Steep $$$$ 970 N Broadway

Located in Chinatown, Steep is a sleek new tea shop serving traditional Chinese and Taiwanese brews, from floral oolongs to earthy pu-erhs, microbially fermented teas produced in the Yunnan province. And if tea isn’t necessarily your cup of… anything, Steep also has a variety of snacks like pastries, sesame chicken cold noodles, and Taiwanese braised pork over rice.

 John Troxell Mid East Tacos $$$$ 5300 York Blvd

In addition to their regular Smorgasburg slot, Mid East Tacos has now expanded to a pop-up in Highland Park. From the people behind Glendale’s Mini Kebob, Mid East marries Middle Eastern and Mexican flavors, meaning tacos and burritos that come with your choice of falafel, steak, or chicken, cooked on a manghal, or charcoal grill.

 @foodsteez Monty’s Good Burger $ $ $ $ Burgers ,  Vegetarian ,  Vegan  in  Echo Park $$$$ 1533 W Sunset Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

The newest outpost of the very popular vegan burger spot, Monty’s in Echo Park doesn’t stray very far from the formula, and while it’s still order at the counter, this location is a lot bigger, with actual booths and multiple tables. Plus, they’ve added a new blueberry milkshake to the menu, which is presumably to pander to fans of the Dodgers (and blueberries).

 Wonho Frank Lee Fia $ $ $ $ Italian  in  Santa Monica $$$$ 2454 Wilshire Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

With a giant backyard patio absolutely dripping in string lights and a luxurious, library-like interior, Fia reminds us more of the Santa Monica we’ve seen in movies, and less of the Santa Monica where we got attacked by a flock of birds (and then a flock of Bird scooters) in the span of ten minutes. The menu leans towards Italian and seafood, featuring everything from big eye tuna carpaccio to lobster Bolognese, plus dishes that are neither, like braised rabbit and Flannery beef steak.

We checked out Fia, read our first thoughts here.

 Jakob Layman Triple Beam Pizza - Echo Park $$$$ 1818 W. Sunset Blvd

Our favorite pizza spot in all of Los Angeles has just opened up their second location. The new Echo Park outpost isn’t that much different from the original Highland Park spot - you still indicate with your hands how big you want your Roman-style pizza cut, then pay by the ounce. But the best part? Triple Beam is teaming up with The Echo/Echoplex to sell pizzas during shows. See you at the next Funky Sole night.

 Kelly Bylsma Bar Avalon $ $ $ $ American ,  Mediterranean  in  Echo Park $$$$ 2112 W Sunset Blvd 8.2 /10

Here’s another one for Echo Park - literally feet (1,584, to be exact) from the new Triple Beam location is Revelator: Bar Avalon. With its leather booths, exposed brick walls, and high barn-wood ceilings, it’s almost like it was designed straight from the “How to make an Eastsider fall in love” playbook. In the same vein, Bar Avalon is currently serving small plates like summer squash and burrata on seeded toast, Caesar salad, and a market frittata, with full dinner and wine menus coming soon.

We checked out Bar Avalon and put it on our Hit List.

 Bar Flores $ $ $ $ Bar  in  Echo Park $$$$ 1542 Sunset Blvd

It’s official. Echo Park is really having a moment. Bar Flores is a new cocktail bar on Sunset Blvd. Right above the recently opened Adamae and Lowboy, Bar Flores overlooks the neighborhood via an upstairs patio and serves homemade tamales and drinks like a mezcal cocktail with fresh carrots and oranges, and vodka sours with Jamaican flowers.

We checked out Bar Flores and put it on our Bar Hit List.

 Fisherman's Island $ $ $ $ Seafood  in  South Los Angeles $$$$ 4371 Crenshaw Blvd Ste A Not

Rated

Yet

Fisherman’s Island is a new seafood spot in Leimert Park where the slogan is “You buy, we steam.” Half market, half restaurant, your head to the counter and order off of the chalkboard menu, choosing between various raw offerings like shrimp, crab, lobster, and shellfish by the pound. You can probably guess what happens next: They steam it with a mix of veggies and cajun seasonings, and presumably, you spend the next hour licking your fingers.

We checked out Fisherman’s Island and put it on our Hit List.

 Liz Barclay Tartine Sycamore $ $ $ $ American ,  Cafe/Bakery  in  Hollywood $$$$ 911 N Sycamore Ave Not

Rated

Yet

Tartine Sycamore is the latest outpost in the San Francisco bakery’s carb kingdom. Compared to its huge, multi-restaurant complex, The Manufactory at Row DTLA, Tartine’s Sycamore location is a lot more casual. A daytime cafe, they are serving everything from coddled egg bowls and chicken katsu sandos to (of course) toasts, with toppings like smoked trout, tomato and beets, and figs.

We checked out Tartine Sycamore, read our first thoughts here.

Ela Greek Eats $$$$ 307 Lincoln Blvd

So your plans to spend a Mamma Mia-inspired summer on the Greek island of Skopelos fell through. Luckily for you, LA is still very sunny and Ela Greek Eats just opened in Venice. Located across the street from Casablanca, Ela is serving salads, gyros, and Greek classics like lamb soutzoukakia meatballs and melintzanosalata (eggplant and parsley dip).

 Jacqueline Fuller Colossus Bread $$$$ 2311 S Alma St

Opening next door to Chori-Man in San Pedro, Colossus Bread sells freshly baked loaves, seasonal fruit tarts, and several pastries, including kouign-amann, once described by The New York Times as “the fattiest pastry in all of Europe” (aka exactly our kind of pastry).

Tripp Burgers $$$$

It’s official - it’s a smashburger world, and we’re all just living in it. The latest to enter the fray is Tripp Burgers, a pop-up whose grilled-till-crispy, almost pancake-flat patties are made with a mix of chuck, sirloin, and bacon (!). They’re on the move weekly, and you can find their current location via their Instagram.

 Porchetta Republic $$$$ 1220 W 7th St

In our minds, Porchetta Republic is a sun-kissed Italian borgo where little piglets get nice and crispy beneath the Mediterranean sun. And maybe one day the new DTLA spot will turn its eyes to the travel destination business, but for now, Porchetta Republic is focusing on “Italian street food,” like the Arlecchino sandwich, which comes with provolone and wine-braised red onions, and the Maranello, with shaved parmesan and arugula.

 Courtesy of Mixtape Mixtape $ $ $ $ American ,  Bar Food ,  Bar  in  Fairfax $$$$ 7450 Beverly Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

Looking to join the pantheon of Da Drought 3, Earl, and The S. Carter Collection is Mixtape, a new restaurant/bar in Beverly Grove. And yes, they do love music - Robin Thicke created custom playlists for their brunch service, the walls are lined with artwork from Jaden Smith, Tokimonsta, and Vic Mensa, and the man behind the business is the first restaurateur to be signed by Roc Nation. The menu includes entrees like pastrami agnolotti, smoked salmon with latkes, and bar snacks like duck fat popcorn and beef cheek poutine.

We checked out Mixtape, read our first thoughts here.

 Emilia $$$$ 8500 Burton Way

Emilia is a new Northern Italian restaurant in Beverly Grove. During the day, Emilia functions as a cafe, serving Italian breakfast pastries, eggs, and Toast Francese (a.k.a. French Toast). At night, it transitions to its namesake’s regional Italian dishes, like tortellini filled with prosciutto di Parma, grilled pappardelle, and milk-fed veal.

The Court Cafe $ $ $ $ American ,  Brunch ,  Southern  in  Baldwin Hills $$$$ 5496 Centinela Ave. Not

Rated

Yet

Not only is The Court Cafe arguing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, they’re also arguing that it’s the only meal of the day. Located in Westchester, the full-service breakfast restaurant is serving foods like The Ocho burrito (which comes with lobster, chicken, sausage, and shrimp), taco omelets, and lobster and waffles.

We checked out The Court Cafe, read our first thoughts here.

 Bee Taqueria $ $ $ $ Latin ,  Mexican  in  West Adams $$$$ 5754 W Adams Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

West Adams continues to expand, and its newest addition is Bee Taqueria. The menu includes a variety of tacos ranging from tinga betabel (beets and onions) to media luna (shrimp and scallops), as well as sanguches, ceviches, and tostadas. They’re also rolling out a reservation-only “taco omakase” experience - the very first of its kind in LA.

We checked out Bee Taqueria, read our first thoughts here.

July  The Most Valuable Playa $$$$ 8321 Lincoln Blvd

The Most Valuable Playa is a new Taiwanese spot on the Playa del Rey/Westchester border that’s focusing on small plates and, apparently, dad-level puns. From the team behind the Japanese-influenced Humble Potato in Culver City, MVP has everything from garlic noodles to gua bao (a pork-belly bun) to salt-and-pepper fried chicken.

Joey DTLA $$$$ 700 S Flower St

Joey is the newest addition to the ever-growing, hydra-like mall complex that is The Bloc in DTLA. Located on the corner of 7th and Flower, Joey is the second LA location of a Canadian chain, and serves cuisines from multiple parts of the world, including miso ramen, Bollywood butter chicken, and spaghetti pomodoro.

 Menya Hanabi $$$$ 733 W Naomi Ave

The first U.S. location of Menya Hanabi, a popular Japanese ramen chain, is now open in Arcadia. Their specialty is mazesoba - brothless noodles topped with green onions, chives, spicy minced meat, seaweed, garlic, and a raw egg yolk, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Bomb Burger $$$$ 8360 Reseda Blvd

The latest in our parking lot pop-up series (see: Elio’s Wood Fired Pizza) is Bomb Burgers. Located across from Family Halal Meat Market in Northridge, Bomb Burgers specializes in third-pound Juicy Lucys (basically cheese-stuffed burgers), which you can get with chips and a drink for $10. Open Friday-Sunday from 6pm-12am, or until they sell out.

The Tackle Box $$$$ 17620 Bellflower Blvd.

New to Bellflower is The Tackle Box, a Southern seafood spot that’s frying and grilling everything under the sea... and a few things that live on land, too. You can get cod, shrimp, lobster, or catfish po’ boys, as well as comfort food like chicken and waffles, a Buffalo chicken sandwich, and shrimp and grits.

 Jakob Layman The Pier House and Cartolina $$$$ 7 W Washington Blvd.

Sitting side-by-side at the end of Washington Blvd., The Pier House and Cartolina are kind of like Venice’s Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson - a package deal (did you know they’ve been in 13 movies together?). A sit-down restaurant and casual cafe, respectively, The Pier House’s menu is seafood-focused, with items like lobster rolls, crispy snapper, and cavatelli with crab and snap peas, while Cartolina has everything you want from a counter-service spot in Venice - sandwiches, pizzas, and a latte made with “adaptogenic mushrooms” (obvs).

Tarantula Hill Brewing Company $$$$ 244 E Thousand Oaks Blvd

Thousand Oaks is getting a craft beer boost. Tarantula Hill Brewing Co.’s new taproom serves their signature “Razzbury Park” (a blonde ale with raspberry), as well as guest beers from spots like Mikkeller and Modern Times, and thin-crust pizza and ice cream, too.

Proper Pizza and Pasta $$$$ 1011 S Alvarado Street

South of MacArthur Park in Westlake, Proper Pizza and Pasta has everything you’d expect from an actual NYC pizza joint - garlic knots, fried mozzarella, wings, pasta, and of course, 17 different types of pies.

Tacos Drama $$$$ 3901 W. 6th Street

Finding parking in Koreatown usually plays out like a three-act tragedy, so it’s fitting that the new neighborhood spot is called Tacos Drama. Located on the sidewalk outside of Here’s Looking At You, Tacos Drama is serving Mexican food like birria de chivo (braised goat), beef cheek barbacoa, and queso Oaxaqueño every Friday and Saturday.

 Adamae $ $ $ $ American  in  Echo Park $$$$ 1538 Sunset Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

Adamae is a new restaurant on Sunset Blvd., located next to the recently opened Lowboy. While its neighbor is dark and moody, Adamae is the Ashley to Lowboy’s Mary-Kate: It’s a brighter and lighter sit-down restaurant, serving small dishes like whipped goat cheese and grilled octopus with chorizo, plus bigger plates like harissa roast chicken and cast-iron branzino.

We checked out Adamae, read our first thoughts here.

Relentless Brewing & Spirits $$$$ 2133 Colorado Blvd

Relentless Brewing, a craft brewery located in Temecula, just opened a restaurant, taproom and sports bar in Eagle Rock. While they don’t brew on-site, the new location will be serving their signature beers, like “The Cherry Goes Pop” (red sour gose) and “An Udder One” (milk stout), as well as burgers with crispy pork belly, smokey poutine, and watermelon panzanella salad.

 Amácita $$$$ 9552 Washington Blvd.

The chef behind Bäco Mercat, Bar Amá, and Orsa & Winston has just opened Amácita. Taking over the old BäcoShop space in Culver City, Amácita is a sit-down restaurant serving updated Tex-Mex, with a menu that includes blistered okra, yellowtail ceviche, and carne guisada (stewed beef). Plus, like Bar Amá, they have a Super Nacho (Happy) Hour from 5-7pm.

We checked out Amácita and put it on our Hit List.

Gold Rail Bar $$$$ 1114 N Pacific Ave

Gold Rail Bar is a new dive-ish spot in Glendale. We say dive-ish, because there’s a pool table and a jukebox, but the space was recently renovated and has a sleek, modern look to it. They do refer to themselves as a “watering hole,” and have 20 different craft beers on tap, plus a pretty impressive happy hour - $5 for all beer, wine, and liquor - so regardless of what you want to call it, Gold Rail is worth a visit.

No Reservation LA $$$$ 1066 S Fairfax Ave

No Reservation LA is a new late-night Belizean pop-up in Little Ethiopia. Operating out of Annie’s Soul Delicious from Friday-Sunday, No Reservation LA’s mother-daughter team is serving up Caribbean classics like oxtail, salbutes (puffed, deep-fried tortillas with tomato, red onion, and pulled chicken), and a crab soup with shrimp, crab legs, coconut milk, and okra.

 Go Get Em Tiger $$$$ 767 S Alameda St

With its sixth store, Go Get Em Tiger is now officially as ubiquitous as those brightly colored photo-ops that masquerade as “museums.” This latest location is in the rapidly expanding Row DTLA complex, and like their other stores, they’re serving breakfast foods like ricotta granola pancakes and burritos with eggs and chorizo, plus a lunch menu with sandwich options like prosciutto with stone fruit and crescenza.

Vintage Wine + Eats $$$$ 12023 Ventura Blvd.

Great news for anyone working at a three-letter television network or staying at the Oakwood - Studio City just got a brand new wine bar. Located on Ventura Blvd., Vintage Wine + Eats has an expansive wine, cheese, and charcuterie menu, as well as a cafe that serves sandwiches, soups, and salads.

 Lanea $ $ $ $ Mexican ,  Bar  in  Santa Monica $$$$ 217 Broadway

New to the Westside drinking scene is Lanea, a cocktail bar in Santa Monica. Their menu features a variety of tequila- and mezcal-focused drinks, and food by the team behind Barba Kush - a barbacoa spot in Boyle Heights with a cult following. They are serving tacos with cecina, chicken, asada, squash flowers and mushrooms, and of course, their signature barbacoa.

We checked out Lanea, read our first thoughts here.

Seaweed Sushi Bar $$$$ 3450 W 6th St, Ste 107

Right next door to the galbi jjim king, Sun Nong Dan, is Seaweed Sushi Bar. The newly opened Koreatown spot is serving sushi, sashimi and hand rolls, such as seared Hokkaido scallops, Wagyu beef nigiri, and toro.

 Yasu Beverly Hills $$$$ 265 S Robertson Blvd

Yasu, an extremely popular sushi spot from Toronto, has come to Beverly Hills. It’s omakase-only, and features a mix of local, California seafood like Santa Barbara king salmon and uni, as well as Japanese firefly squid and shirako (cod milt). Your chances of seeing Drake there? Probably 100/100.

We checked out Yasu, read our first thoughts here.

Elio's Wood Fire Pizza $ $ $ $ Pizza  in  Silver Lake $$$$ 2517 Sunset Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

There is nothing that makes our little hearts sing more than the phrase “Secret parking lot pizza.” Operating out of the back of a truck in a Silver Lake parking lot, Elio’s Wood Fire Pizza sells Neapolitan-style pies starting at $10, and they’re open every day from 6-11pm.

We checked out Elio’s Wood Fire Pizza and put it on our Hit List.

 The Rooster $ $ $ $ Mexican  in  Santa Monica $$$$ 8809 W Pico Blvd Not

Rated

Yet

In a city with more excellent breakfast burritos than Midwestern transplants, The Rooster food truck has always made one of our favorites. Now, they’ve opened a restaurant in Pico-Robertson, where they’re serving everything we loved from their truck - especially their signature Rico Suave burrito with avocado and tater tots - as well as expanded brunch and lunch menus.

We checked out The Rooster, read our first thoughts here.

Mala Town $$$$ 2002 Sawtelle Blvd

There is truly no craving that can’t be fulfilled in Sawtelle Japantown - and Mala Town is proof. Located next to Mizu 212, it’s a new hot-pot spot that specializes in regional Chinese cuisine, like seafood broths from Guangdong and beef-ball hot pots from Chaozhou.

Formosa Cafe $ $ $ $ Bar Food ,  Chinese ,  Bar  in  West Hollywood $$$$ 7156 Santa Monica Blvd. Not

Rated

Yet

After two years of renovations, the legendary Formosa Cafe has reopened in West Hollywood. This isn’t like the Madame Tussauds on Sunset, it’s a real, proper Hollywood landmark - the original cafe was frequented by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Grace Kelly. We’re not too sure what the clientele is like these days, but the new menu includes dishes like General Tso’s cauliflower and honey walnut shrimp.

We checked out Formosa Cafe and put it on our Bar Hit List.

via The Infatuation Feed https://www.theinfatuation.com/los-angeles/guides/new-la-restaurants-openings Nhà hàng Hương Sen chuyên buffet hải sản cao cấp✅ Tổ chức tiệc cưới✅ Hội nghị, hội thảo✅ Tiệc lưu động✅ Sự kiện mang tầm cỡ quốc gia 52 Phố Miếu Đầm, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội http://huongsen.vn/ 0904988999 http://huongsen.vn/to-chuc-tiec-hoi-nghi/ https://trello.com/userhuongsen

Created March 11, 2020 at 11:35PM /huong sen View Google Doc Nhà hàng Hương Sen chuyên buffet hải sản cao cấp✅ Tổ chức tiệc cưới✅ Hội nghị, hội thảo✅ Tiệc lưu động✅ Sự kiện mang tầm cỡ quốc gia 52 Phố Miếu Đầm, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội http://huongsen.vn/ 0904988999 http://huongsen.vn/to-chuc-tiec-hoi-nghi/ https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xa6sRugRZk4MDSyctcqusGYBv1lXYkrF

[andrewdburton]

How couples can create a shared plan for the future

J.D.'s Intro Last December, I took a trip to Europe with my cousin Duane. Before I left, I received email from a GRS reader named Matthias. “If you come through Switzerland, let me know,” he said.

The stars aligned so that Matt was able to join us for several hours on a train across the Alps. He brought Swiss chocolate and a bottle of whisky. As we talked — and became pleasantly buzzed — he told me about how he and his wife tackle couple goals together via five-year plans for their future.

“I love this idea,” I told him. “Will you write about it for Get Rich Slowly?” He did. This is Matt's story about creating a shared vision as a couple. Enjoy!

In the spring of 2006, I'd been living and working in Taipei, Taiwan for two years and my contract was about to expire. Soon, I'd be returning home to Switzerland.

On a pleasant weekend evening in my downtown flat, my Taiwanese girlfriend and I were reminiscing about all of the wonderful memories we'd made. We waxed nostalgic about the two years we'd enjoyed together. But it dawned on us that if we didn't make some bold moves, our relationship might be coming to an end.

We opened a bottle of fine wine in order to enhance the depth and wisdom of our conversation. Before long, we'd switched from sweet nostalgia to dreaming about our potential future — together.

Imagineering the Future

My girlfriend had just graduated from college and was working in her first job. For my part, I’d just received an offer for my dream job — but it meant I'd have to move back to Switzerland.

The wine was an effective dream enhancer. We let our imaginations loose as we talked about how we could potentially live our lives together. The future took many shapes.

Where would we live?

What jobs would we work?

How could we both be as happy as possible together?

Honestly, it was overwhelming. Our lives three months ahead were like a blank slate. Everything seemed possible! Nothing was certain! Anything could happen!

In order to conceptualize our thoughts and concerns, we decided to write down all of our dreams and goals on yellow stickynotes. This mother of all brainstorming sessions took us half an hour. We each wrote down what was important to us, stuff we’d like to achieve, skills we’d like to acquire — in short, what we’d like to do with our lives in the next few years.

Next, we organized those dreams in terms of feasibility, urgency, and requirements. (To meet certain goals, we had to accomplish others first.) During this process, we tried to keep things fair. We both got the same number of stickynotes. All goals were open to debate, yet at the same time we tried to figure how to best help each other achieving them going forward! Our aim was to work together as a couple.

Step three was to put up an A3 formatted white paper on the wall, draw a timeline from 2006 till 2011 – yes, we were going to plan out the next five years of our life! – and arrange our couple goals in a meaningful way to our life’s “game plan”.

Our dreams included things like:

Get married.

Move to Switzerland.

Save for a new home.

Learn German.

Start a business.

Become parents.

In a nutshell, nothing extraordinary — the things young people usually dream of. It was clear that some goals had to be achieved before others. We agreed that pursuing them in a specific order made sense. Then we arranged them accordingly on the timeline.

Becoming a Dream Team

Planning our future was an ecstatic activity. In fact, doing so was the defining evening for our relationship.

That very evening, we actually decided to get married. We decided to chase our dreams together as a team. She was 23 years young; I was 26. Little did we know that this shared activity would help us tremendously on the path to our dream life. We had become a dream team!

We got married in early 2007. My wife started to teach Chinese in Switzerland, and she learned German while I pursued my career in banking. Together, we saved up for a home. In 2011, we became parents and moved back to Asia — this time to Singapore. It was exactly five years after having put up our dream map on a wall. Somehow, we'd achieved every single one of our couple goals.

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” – Earl Nightingale

We got so excited once all of our dreams had became reality that it wasn't the last time we’ve opened a bottle of wine while plotting our future. It has actually become a habit that we both enjoy and look forward to. We’ve done a new and updated five-year plan three times already. Currently, we’re in the middle of the 2016-2021 cycle.

Half-way through, we've made good progress toward our current couple goals. By mid-2017 we’d achieved financial independence. I was able to quit my job in Singapore, which gave me time to focus on a new business and on my blog, Financial Imagineer. Our family (now four!) moved back to Switzerland to enjoy more quality time with my parents and extended family.

Creating a Five-Year Plan

Before you can start living your dream life, you have to plan it. (And if you have a partner, you should plan it together.) They say that if you’re failing to plan, you’re planning to fail. It’s crucial to find the map to your dreams before you go into the woods! A good plan makes all the difference.

With your partner, pick a date to meet about a week or two in the future – preferably a nice evening where you won't feel pressed for time. Set aside two or three hours. Maybe make it a date night.

You both want to get your brains started in advance on what you want to do with your lives. Don’t share too much with your partner before that evening. Don’t think about limitations or potential difficulties. Dream big! Think outside of the box. Think about what you really would like to achieve in life.

As the big night approaches, prepare the following ingredients.

A fine bottle of wine (or any other fine adult beverage of your choice).

Two glasses.

A large piece of A3 paper. (For you Americans, that's about 12 inches by 18 inches.)

Some small stickynotes.

A pen.

Two open minds willing to share their dreams.

When the time arrives, tape the A3 paper to the wall, open your wine (or other beverage), and start a conversation about where your thoughts and dreams have drifted over the past couple of weeks.

As you talk, draw an x-axis with the next five years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. We like to use the y-axis to indicate urgency/importance. (The higher the goal is on the paper, the more urgent and/or important it is.)

Next, each person should take ten or twelve stickynotes. On each, write one of your dreams or goals for the next five years.

When you've both finished writing down your goals, share them with each other. Share why you believe certain dreams are worth pursuing. Share what kind of time or money or other resources it will take to fulfill each dream. Drink another glass of wine!

After you've discussed all of your dreams as a couple, start putting the stickynotes onto your dreamboard. If two (or more) goals conflict with each other, take the time to talk about them. A little friendly, loving debate can be good when developing couple goals.

When you're done, take a photo of your dreamboard, then “seal the deal” by finsihing your bottle of wine.

Going through this process will allow both of you to express your wildest dreams. Don’t be shy about expressing big ideas. Dream big. Think big. No limits shall be set in this part of the exercise. It’s all about letting your imagination flow freely. This allows both of you to fully understand the wildest dreams of your partner.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” – Albert Einstein

Plan, Take Action, and Persist

The next step is planning how to get where you want to go. Here, you ought to discuss the details. What will it take to accomplish what you want to accomplish? Where and when will you do these things? What do you need to change in order to realize your dreams? As a team, decide how to allocate and invest your (limited) resources.

After you've planned, it's time to take action.

Many people are living their lives on autopilot. The majority of humans will only change course in their lives if they don’t have a choice. Spelling out your dreams and making them into goals helps to switch that autopilot off — but you’ll have to learn to fly by yourself.

You won't actually be alone, though. You’re a team. This is very powerful because you can become each other’s cheerleaders. Together, taking (bold) action becomes half as frightening. Don’t fear failure. Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn. Then you try again. Fail more, fail better. Don’t stop trying. Don’t get stuck.

Once you've agreed to achieving your couple goals together, you’ll have the strongest partner you could ever imagine. Once you take the first baby steps, this bond will only get stronger. On the way towards your new goals, you’ll have to outgrow your comfort zone, you’ll have to learn new skills, you’ll have explore and grow.

It’s paramount to be persistent. A team of two has better odds at succeeding in the long run. So, stick together. Everything is figureoutable!

Think of this dream-teamwork as an alignment of forces or vectors. Only if you’ve discussed and agreed on how to move ahead as a team can you actually drive at full speed towards your future and make your dreams work.

The how, any potential issues or problems will shrink together to merely nothing if you align your lives. Understand your partner, empower him or her, permit each other to pursue dreams and support your choices going forward. Stop wishing, start doing. Be bold, don’t be afraid: Re-imagineer your life!

“Imagination has no age and dreams are forever.” – Walt Disney

Making a Pact

The following photo was taken in Japan in 2017, where we made our last dreamboard together before switching gears in our lives once more. My wife and I had made a pact to build our best life possible.

Time flies.

It’s already been two years since we agreed to pursue our next set of couple goals. We’re almost at half-time through this five-year period and I’m happy to report that we’re getting there! And we’re getting better as a couple. We’ve kept moving towards our dreams even stronger and more committed than before!

We sincerely hope that this article has inspired you to reflect on your dreams and shown you a way to pursue them with your partner. We all have different dreams, different hopes, different ambitions and goals in life.

If you’re in a relationship, don’t shy away from sharing what’s close to your heart. Communicate your innermost dreams, write them down, and agree to pursue them together as a team.

The post How couples can create a shared plan for the future appeared first on Get Rich Slowly.

from Finance https://www.getrichslowly.org/couple-goals/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

[siliconwebx]

VVV 3.0 Introduces New Ubuntu 18 Box, Support for VVV 2 is Discontinued

VVV 3.0 was released this week, introducing a new Ubuntu 18.04 LTS box. The project’s previous versions used Ubuntu 14, which has now reached end of life (EOL).

Support for VVV 2 is now discontinued, due to an unforeseen complication with its PHP dependencies. Ondřej Surý, who maintains all the PHP packages VVV uses, deleted the unsupported ones in response to Ubuntu 14 reaching EOL. VVV contributors had set up a package mirror but only 70% of them were mirrored. As a result, VVV 2 installs were no longer able to provision. VVV maintainers have stopped supporting it and it will not receive any fixes or updates in the future.

Tom Nowell said he and his fellow VVV maintainers had “a mini- Ubuntu 14-apocalypse of sorts when it reached EOL,” so the new Ubuntu 18 box is a big bump up that should cover the project until 2024. It includes Kernel improvements that make Ubuntu faster when used in a virtual machine. The 3.0 update came out of necessity but it includes changes the team had already intended to make.

“We wanted to move from 14 to 18 for a long time anyway, and Anton Vanyukov had written a PR starting that, so we went ahead,” Nowell said. “The internals are based on VVV 2 so 99% of things should still work exactly the same (but a bit better and a little faster).”

VVV now uses a leaner custom built box, but it requires users to destroy their VMs in order to update. Directions for updating to 3.0 are in the release post. This destroys the database but VVV creates its own backups that can be quickly restored with a simple command.

Another major change in 3.0 is that VVV no longer stores MariaDB data inside the VM. The data has been relocated to database/data, which has the added benefit of being preserved when using the vagrant destroy command.

The release also includes quite a bit of restructuring with the removal of the /vagrant mapped folder that eliminates overlapping vagrant shared folders. In addition to several dozen smaller improvements, VVV 3.0 adds a new teddy bear when it finishes provisioning.

The Future of VVV: Version 4 to Focus on User-Friendly Improvements to Provisioning

Although VVV doesn’t yet have a user-friendly interface and requires the use of a terminal, Nowell said the team is working towards making it easier to use. For now, VVV distinguishes itself from other development apps, like Local and DesktopServer, by being a community project that is free from commercial interests.

“VVV does a lot of the things DesktopServer does but for free,” Nowell said. “We don’t charge $99 for PHP7, SSL, or WP CLI. VVV won’t up sell you on hosting either, and you can have as many sites as you want out of the box.

“A lot of people like Local for using Docker containers, but all those containers are inside a boot2docker virtual machine using VirtualBox. They have a pretty UI, and it’s great if you use FlyWheel as a host, but it’s not the easiest to get set up for contributing to WordPress.”

VVV has a specific pre-built version that provides a development environment optimized for contributing to WordPress core. It can be copied onto a USB drive and set up on a user’s machine, even while offline. This pre-built version is often handed out at the beginning of contributor days at WordCamps.

“We’re a community driven project,” Nowell said. “People going to contributor days use VVV – the entire package can be pre-built and put on a USB stick and it runs in a lot more places than some of the docker based setups that some devs use. Until recently you needed to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro to be able to use Docker on Windows. Imagine 100 contributors downloading Windows 10 iso files over conference wifi.”

VVV maintainers and contributors are working on releasing version 3.1 in the next month with all the little things they want to polish. Nowell said they have the basis for what they want to accomplish in version 4. Instead of waiting for VVV to install and configure PHP/MySQL/nginx/etc, the install process will happen on a server somewhere and the user will be able to just download the result, similar to how VVV is pre-built for contributor days.

Nowell identified the major impacts of taking this approach:

It doesn’t matter if provisioning works for you, we’re doing that for you.

If someone makes a big slip up, that’s ok, users get the last working build and see nothing.

Getting everything set up should be much much faster, it will remove about 70-80% of the startup time for a lot of users.

Nowell said the general goal is to “just make it more fun to use” but his personal goal is for people to be able to use VVV without ever touching a terminal. He thinks it can be done with an Electron wrapper and has performed a few experiments with it. In the past, he spent a lot of time improving the messaging for provisioning errors, but the days of trying to preempt those problems may soon be drawing to a close.

“Why fix provisioning for users if they never have to do it in the first place?” Nowell said. “I’d say VVV 4 will come pre-built so it only builds the sites themselves, like how you can grab a docker image with PHP/MySQL already setup, and fill it with a site. Eventually the dashboard itself can become an Electron app where you can turn VVV on/off and adds sites.”

VVV maintainers have some ambitious plans for version 4 that will make it available to a wider population of WordPress users and save existing users more time on startup. The project needs more testers and feature requests. Contributions to the main project are welcome on GitHub. Developers and testers can also contribute to the meta environment to improve how it works with WordCamp sites and WordPress.org.

😉SiliconWebX | 🌐WPTavern

[movietvtechgeeks]

Latest story from https://movietvtechgeeks.com/fact-checking-donald-trumps-gun-control-trade-happy-white-house-claims/

Fact checking Donald Trump's gun control, trade and happy White House claims

Stormy Daniels has got Donald Trump working overtime creating every shiny object possible, but news outlets have adjusted to his constant barrage of news. They are now able to keep coming back to the two biggest subjects he wishes would stop hanging over his head. The porn star and Russia. Stormy is the one woman who Trump treats like Vladimir Putin and has kept his mouth shut about his usual smear campaigns against those speaking out against him. Sources in the White House are now speculating that Daniels could wind up being the downfall of the president before Russia. Despite grappling with unparalleled staff departures, President Donald Trump painted a rosy picture of a smoothly functioning administration getting things done, pushing along gun restrictions and bringing jobs to the United States. It made for another series of grandiose claims this past week. Speaking at Cabinet meeting, Trump falsely proclaimed background checks were moving through Congress in response to the Florida school shooting and wrongly insisted that NATO countries were “delinquent” by not paying their fair share in a military alliance with the U.S. All of that helped cap a week in which he misrepresented his effort to create jobs for American workers as part of an announcement on new trade penalties and deflected blame onto former President Barack Obama for Russian activities in the U.S. election. A look at the Donald Trump's own words and claims: TRUMP: “Background checks are moving along in Congress, and, I think, moving along pretty well.” — Cabinet meeting Thursday. THE FACTS: There’s been plenty of talk of gun restrictions, but legislation is far from moving along “pretty well.” Action on background checks is stalled due in part to Trump’s shifting positions. After the school shooting, Trump called for stricter gun laws and hinted at support for a more sweeping background check bill backed by Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. But after Trump met with the National Rifle Association, the White House said Trump backs narrower background checks. Trump’s changing views have left Republicans divided in the Senate, where the party maintains a 51-49 majority. Without a clear path forward, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has shelved the gun debate for now. He had been preparing to push ahead with the narrower measure proposed by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., to strengthen the existing background check system. That bill has stalled amid objections from some Republicans who view it as an infringement on gun owners’ rights and Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who say the bill does not go far enough. TRUMP, on NATO countries: “Some owe billions and billions of dollars of money. They owe billions and billions from past years. Never paid it, and that’s not fair. They want us to protect, and they want us to be a good partner. And then they’re delinquent on payment or they haven’t made payments. Or they haven’t made payments which are fair.” — Cabinet meeting Thursday. THE FACTS: Most of that is flat wrong. NATO countries do not owe anything to the alliance. They’re not delinquent on payments. There’s no dispute about “payments.” The issue is how much NATO countries spend on their own armed forces. Trump wants them to increase their military budgets to relieve some of the burden of collective defense borne by the U.S., which spends more on its armed forces than other NATO members combined. So a case can be made that those countries have not contributed a “fair” share. Although he takes credit for persuading NATO partners to spend more, the results are not yet clear. They agreed in 2014, well before he became president, to stop cutting military spending, and have honored that. They also agreed then to a goal of moving “toward” spending 2 percent of their gross domestic product on their own defense by 2024. Most are short of that and the target is not ironclad. TRUMP: “You know, I read where, ‘Oh, gee, maybe people don’t want to work for Trump.’ And believe me, everybody wants to work in the White House. They all want a piece of that Oval Office; they want a piece of the West Wing. And not only in terms of it looks great on their resume; it’s just a great place to work. ...I have a choice of anybody.” — remarks Tuesday in news conference with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. THE FACTS: No, not compared with previous presidents. In Trump’s first year, the turnover rate among his administration’s upper-level officials was 34 percent. That’s higher than any other president in the past 40 years, according to an analysis by Kathryn Dunn-Tenpas of the Brookings Institution. The turnover rate in the first year for the top staff of Presidents Bill Clinton and Obama, for instance, were three times lower than Trump’s, at 11 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Trump’s turnover rate for top staff has since gone up from his one-year mark because of recent departures. It’s 43 percent as of Wednesday, according to Brookings. Among the latest departures: economic adviser Gary Cohn, deputy communications director Josh Raffel and communications director Hope Hicks, the third person to hold that post in the Trump administration. TRUMP: “You see it — the other day, Chrysler announced they’re leaving Mexico, they’re coming back into Michigan with a big plant. You haven’t seen that in a long time, folks.” — remarks Thursday announcing steep new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the U.S.   THE FACTS: This oft-repeated claim by Trump to suggest he is bringing jobs back to the U.S. is not entirely true. Chrysler did announce it will move production of heavy-duty pickup trucks from Mexico to Michigan, but the plant is not closing in Mexico. That plant will start producing other commercial vehicles for global sales and no change in its workforce is anticipated. TRUMP: “From Bush 1 to present, our Country has lost more than 55,000 factories, 6,000,000 manufacturing jobs and accumulated Trade Deficits of more than 12 Trillion Dollars. Last year we had a Trade Deficit of almost 800 Billion Dollars. Bad Policies & Leadership. Must WIN again!” — tweet Wednesday. THE FACTS: Trump persistently misrepresents the trade balance. The U.S. trade deficit last year was $566 billion, not almost $800 billion. He cites only the deficit in goods, ignoring the surplus in services. The U.S. in 2017 bought $810 billion more in foreign goods than other countries bought from the U.S., says the Census Bureau. That deficit in goods was offset by a $244 billion trade surplus in services such as transportation, computer and financial services, royalties and military and government contracts. As for manufacturing, Trump leaves out what is widely regarded as the main reason for the decline in factory jobs — automation and other efficiencies. Trade is certainly a factor as well. He’s in the ballpark when referring to how many factory jobs have been lost since January 1989, when George H.W. Bush became president: 5.5 million, according to the Labor Department. What he doesn’t say is that despite the loss of those 5.5 million factory jobs, the U.S. economy overall has added a net total of about 40.6 million jobs in that time. TRUMP: “If the E.U. wants to further increase their already massive tariffs and barriers on U.S. companies doing business there, we will simply apply a Tax on their Cars which freely pour into the U.S. They make it impossible for our cars (and more) to sell there. Big trade imbalance!” — tweet March 3. THE FACTS: He’s wrong that automakers can’t sell U.S.-made cars in Europe while European cars come into the U.S. “freely.” He’s right about a big imbalance but exaggerating. The EU applies a 10 percent duty on cars made in the U.S. The U.S. applies a 2.5 percent duty on cars made in Europe. The U.S. Census Bureau shows $13.8 billion in U.S. auto and parts exports last year to four leading markets in Europe while the U.S. imported $51.3 billion in vehicles and from five countries in Europe. TRUMP: “Why did the Obama Administration start an investigation into the Trump Campaign (with zero proof of wrongdoing) long before the Election in November? Wanted to discredit so Crooked H would win. Unprecedented. Bigger than Watergate!” — tweet Monday. THE FACTS: Despite his conspiratorial tone, it’s not unusual for investigations to start without proof. They tend to start with suspicions. Criminal charges brought in the past six months suggest that by July 2016, when the FBI opened its counterintelligence investigation into Russia and the Trump campaign, there were indeed reasons for law enforcement to be concerned. By that point, for instance, a foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign, George Papadopoulos, had learned that the Russians believed they had “dirt” on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the form of thousands of emails. Papadopoulos has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with people who claimed a relationship with Russian officials. No evidence has emerged that Obama used this matter to try to help Clinton in the election. Obama has actually been faulted — by some Democrats and by Trump himself in this same tweet — for not doing enough about the level of Russian interference he was being briefed about. For example, the FBI did not disclose the Russia-Trump campaign investigation before the election. If it had, that might have played to the advantage of Clinton, while exposing Obama to accusations of manipulation. Trump is accusing him of that anyway. TRUMP: “Plus, Obama did NOTHING about Russian meddling.” — same tweet, Monday. THE FACTS: Not so. Obama appears to have done more about Russian meddling than Trump has done. Before the election, Obama made public the discovery that emails of the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta had been hacked by Russian-linked players and he warned about the risk of compromised balloting in the November election. After the election, Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats suspected of being intelligence officers and seized two Russian country estates, in Maryland and New York, that the State Department said were used for intelligence activities. The Trump administration has not yet penalized any Russian officials for interfering in the 2016 election. Trump has only fitfully acknowledged Russian meddling. Mike Rogers, director of the National Security Agency and the U.S. Cyber Command, recently told lawmakers that he had yet to be given authority to strike at Moscow’s cyber operations as this year’s U.S. midterm elections approach.

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As I spend mroe time alone and working on my fulltime self I seem to be getting more insight into myself. Things seema  little bit mroe clearer in myself. I am more sentitive to my moods and when things are going well adn when things are not. I woke up today after having a restless sleep and felt down. I think not communicating with jesus ahs done this to me and my imagination has ben thinking up why the reason is. But I know objectively that it really is just my mind thinking things up. Discernment has been the word of the month; being able to  tell what voice is telling me what in my head and telling the diffrence between my insecurities and self. I am still learning adn it is easy for me to slip back into negative thoughts about the matter. while doing my ritual I have felt it difficuly to concentrate and seem to just be going throughthe meotions. But i still won’t give up. This is a test of dedication and i wonder how much calling on pluto has influenced this. I am going to work out after this writing and hopefully feeling my muscles work and getting more energy in em will help. I also didn’t wat very well and I think that plays a good part in all of this.I am alsways looking out for signs and today an elliott  hulse  video popped up and intially i stoped watching his videos because I was seeing too much fire enegry and too mcuh masculine energy in lie a slightly negative way? he wasn’t resonating with me so i stopped watching his videos but today he has changed. i sense a more fminine energy in him and the video really spoke to me. He taked about how you need to die to yourself inorder to give birth to the enw you. It reminded me a lot about scorpio enegery and the scorpion to pheonix path. I find it very interesting that scorpio energy is the topic of the week. growing and discarding old shells and giving birth to new versions of ourselves seems to e the theme of 2017. But like, i think its also important to remmeebr that ithis is not true for evryone and that that is okay. We all literally have our own path. I can never criticize someone for being at their low points. today i found myself reviewing his moon sign and how he gets to virgo like. so critical and nitpicky and before it annoyed the hell out of me because he always is the first to sy that things don’t matter lets move on. The contradictions from him are amusing to bring up to him because i don’t think he’s used to it. anyway as i was reviewing his virgo moon and thinking about how often he is so critical of me and shit (though he doesn’t hold onto it very long and he says he’s joking even though i know he’s not). It’s interesting because whne him and I first met i looked up to him like ‘damn i want to be just like him or at least similar inhow i aproach life’ and as I grow into that I’m noticing that as much as I ahd to elarn a lot from him and gained so mcuh new insighst and growth ebeing with him, he has a lot to learn from me too. my pices moon could teach him how to be more softer and caring instead of harsh and critical to those we like in our lives. To look past mistakes and see the whole of a person and seeing beyond the mistakes and still loving that person. My sagittarius sun energy could teach him to be a student who looks deper inseatd of stopping at the surface of things because it really is all about the details. I don’t think he’s ready to see that yet and its a shame.We are double sister signs and i feel like our karmas were brought together to help us out. I hope he sees that soon before we are both out of each others lives. I now know that our relationship is temporary and we will move separate and move on in our lives. i am still very happy I met him and we got to experience so much together. i love his soul and energy. I look past his physical self and just have so much love for him. It unfortunately transitions from possessive to unconditional but I am getting control over it and its a lot easiar to let that shit go.anyways I bought soem biton and will eb taking thhis natural hair journey more serious i wonder how neptune is doing with my soul. I found out that until 2024 (?) neptune will be in psices and like psices is my moon sign so I will and am destined to exprience a lot of spiritual growth. i love where I am at right now in my goal to spirituality and self improveemnt and look forward to how better I can be. I sometimes feel so ethereal and almost beyond this world. i amr eady for change but look forward to embracing the everyday journey. i love myself we will get through this day of low energy and melancholoy. We can do anything and I’m proud of how far we have come.