#grand designs New Zealand

[mengjue]

Grand Designs NZ, The Checklist

I’ve been watching a lot of Grand Designs New Zealand, and I’ve worked out the official checklist for all the rich Pākehā on the show:

Backgrounds: your choices are exposed wood, grey concrete, and black paint. You can have whatever combo you want of the first two but the black paint must be included. Remember, colour is the enemy. You want to live in the black and white world of a first year photography student. If you want to go crazy maybe some white paint is an option.

Windows: this is what your house is for. It is merely a container for windows. These are floor to ceiling in every room possible. Your bedroom is a glass cube, your bathroom is an open stage. There must always be windows.

Furniture: minimal on minimal. Are there two of you? You will have exactly two disconnected leather chairs in your living room. Your dining table and chairs are made of the hardest uncushioned wood possible. There is a hard limit of 1 side table per room. If you must have bookshelves they are single, isolated shelves with two books you never read and a plant on them. Remember, houses are for showing people how little you have, not for living in.

TV: there is NO TV. TV is for poor people, who do not own brutalist mansions. You spend your time sitting in one of your two isolated chairs, staring out onto the land you won’t allow others to set foot on.

Chandelier: there must be a chandelier. You need to show your fun and colourful side (not with actual colour of course). Pick whatever is hardest to clean and put it somewhere impractical like over a bathtub. After all, your hands won’t be cleaning this, obviously.

Timeframe and Expectations: always remember, you are above others, for you have money. COVID restrictions? Not a consideration. Supply issues? That’s for the poors. Design flaws? You are flawless. Demand the most impractical design you can and ensure everyone knows you expect it finished by Christmas.

Setbacks: always tell everyone how put out you are by any setback. These are personal attacks on you, and your suffering is unmatched within this world. You have sacrificed so much, having to do things like taking the advice of professional builders or god forbid renting for a couple months while the house is built. No one knows pain like yours, and this must be explicitly stated every chance you get.

Completion: finally, it’s done! Make sure you mention how much you compromised your impractical designs and how grand this makes you. Now you can show off your house and exclaim how unique and out of the box your black metal roof is compared to other rich people’s black metal roofs, and how your empty living room with two chairs and a table is the cosiest space imaginable. Now you can enjoy your home for years to come, or at least whenever you aren’t overseas in luxury hotels.

[celebclippinz]

NZ TV Guide magazines

[crowcaws]

Inspired by a twitter thread i saw, I, Australian and certified dumb of ass, will now list every main American state and what I associate it with/what I think it's about/famous for WITHOUT GOOGLING. These thoughts will be stated as fact regardless of whether or not they are true.

Alabama - Banjos. Reese Witherspoon lives here. Shares a border with Florida for some reason. Fifteen people live here. I'm glad i'm not allowed to google because i feel like i'd find things i don't want to know.

Alaska - Mountains. Balto. State flower is a tree of some kind. The roads are just the tyre tracks in the snow of the vehicles that came before whispering "trust me". Kodiak is here, where Pitbull famously said 'keep fucking around, we'll be on the moon next.' I think this is where Mulder and Scully got fucked up by a brain worm.

Arizona - Desert but not the Las Vegas kind. The granyon canyon. State flower is a cactus. State bird also a cactus. Bella Swan got fucked up in a dance studio here. It seems very scenic.

Arkansas - The name of this state makes me think of rusty old utes and that's it, that's all I've got. "Pickup trucks" or whatever. Grow up.

California - The great Lucille Bluth once said, "I'd rather be dead in California than alive in Arizona" but personally I think i'm with Michael on this one. California has Hollywood and an ok tourist beach. Green Day are from here. San Francisco seems cool though, I like how it looks like a city designed specifically to kill skateboarders and cyclists. State flower is a grand theft auto PS2 disc. Population: more than Australia.

Colorado - Mountains. Elks and Deer and Eagles and Giraffes on ski slopes. Much domestic tourism, have never once heard of anyone from outside the US specifically visiting Colorado though idk. Verdict: America's New Zealand.

Connecticut - The dry weetbix of states. I think of monopoly but I can't remember why. State flower is a dandelion that has been stepped on. Biggest export is men's office attire, specifically brown two piece suits and those short sleeve button ups. I only found out today that there's a C in the middle of Connecticut I always thought it was 'Conneticut'.

Delaware - Delawhere the fuck is this state I have no idea. Probably still cooler than Connecticut. Famous for combination fast food chains and buildings that clearly used to be a pizza hut (you can tell by the roof). Idrk what Cracker Barrel is but I can tell you the employees spawn here.

Florida - Biscayne bay. Manatees. Shaped like a sock, or something else. Famous for hotels, motels, and holiday inns. Would be a fun state if not for the fact that every politician in charge of it is fucking it up so so bad. One of the few places in the USA where you can see the Southern Cross constellation. Miami Dale forever RIP Logan Horseman.

Georgia - peaches. atlantis. brisket. no other thoughts detected, moving on

Hawaii - Famous for killing James cunt Cook which is honestly a deserved and certified W for Hawaiians. Plagued (and I do mean plagued) by tourists, including Australian Prime Ministers ignoring national emergencies.

Idaho - Sleepy. Things don't happen here but when they do they happen so much because nothing happens here. National flower is probably like a daisy or something so so normal.

Illinois - Chicago bean. It's dark and we're wearing sunglasses. WatchDogs the game. Famous for girlbosses who kill their husbands. Population 11 millions.

Indiana - Rainy probably. Honestly I only remember this state exists because of Stranger Things, which I understand this is like someone saying they only remember Australia exists because of Crocodile Dundee but look. Population: At least 10.

Iowa - This is such a place to be from if you're moving to the big city because all the other waitresses at the diner back home said you got a voice worth payin for and you finally stopped letting your papa tell you what to do. Famous for crop duster planes. State flower is long grass.

Kansas - Famous for scarecrows, wheat and the like. Probably fun at Halloween actually. Great place to fake an alien sighting. I just remembered Dorothy is from here. Population: Yes.

Kentucky - Fried chicken. NASCAR. Speedway. Derby. State flower is a blown out tyre on the side of the road.

Louisiana - Very wet but in a pretty way. Birthplace of the Saxophone. New Orleans is officially the strongest reason I would ever be tempted to set foot in this country. New York wishes she was this beautiful. Famous for the Vampire Diaries spinoff The Originals.

Maine - Next to Kentucky. Lobsters are from here which means there's water, but don't ask me where. Famous for The Vampire Diaries. State flower is a rose, beautiful but generic, like a YA protagonist.

Maryland - Rural but in a manageable way. I think of letterboxes with the family last name on it. Grandmas love it here. Hairspray the musical.

Massachusetts - Ohhhh Legally Blonde. Boston. Harvarb Law. The colour brown. When pronounced it's a very nice name for a state actually.

Michigan - I reference 'can't have shit in Detroit' almost daily but I know almost nothing else about Michigan.

Minnesota - Mini Soda. Also a good state name. No idea what's here, deer or elk or beavers. There's no way to know for sure.

Mississippi - I like this state name less but only because it's hell on the lisp i battle to mask. It's named after a river. It's on the coast. Next to Pennsylvania.

Missouri - A lot of M states happening here. This place is famous for nothing. I don't know what the capital city is but it's definitely a place you move to for your job instead of like. On purpose. Population: 3 million. It's in the middle somewhere.

Montana - This state's main export is horse girls, very Saddle Club coded. It's on the Canadian border, but it shouldn't be like that. It should be in the middle. Hannah Montana's dad was all Nashville but he's basically from Toronto. Fucked up if you ask me.

Nebraska - When I think of Nebraska I think of those depressing Walmart carparks where there's nothing for miles except for the Walmart and one lady pushing a flatscreen in a trolley to the dodge ram she parked 600m away from the entrance so it won't get dinged by other car doors, because god forbid her utility vehicle show signs of wear.

Nevada - viva rock vegas (the flintstones). There's a salt lake here but NOT a salt lake city. That's somewhere else. I think there's motorsport here. NO WAIT THERE IS because i saw charles leclerc on the sphere on tv and he was so wide and i laughed so hard i choked on my own spit.

New Hampshire - What the fuck is New Hampshire that's not real. I thought it was like some beach suburb in New York state. What the fuck. Regardless. I bet you could pull up to the side of the road in New Hapshite and buy an avocado no questions asked. Probably like the USA's Byron Bay.

New Jersey - Everyone from here says it's bad. It makes me think of t shirts with a longer sleeve t shirt underneath and 2000s pop punk music. Gerard Way.

New Mexico - High School Musical is set in Albuquerque. High School Musical is also the only reason I can pronounce Albuquerque. This state is famous for High School Musical.

New York - She's talking over the rest of you and for what? Wall Street? Ugh. Kinda like the Melbourne of the USA.

North Carolina - I feel like cowbutch lesbians do numbers here for some reason. You could disappear into the hills with a woman in a tank top and assless chaps here if you were brave enough. Men do live here but they're treated like a new cast member on the fifth season of a sitcom, this one's for the girls.

North Dakota - Dakota is Carolina's femme girlfriend and they're in love.

Ohio - This is like that town in Cars that lightning mcqueen gets stuck in and the tourist cars are like oh we're only here because of a wrong turn. Yeah. You might find fireflies here though. Also Ohio is for Lovers or something.

Oklahoma - Swear word for Christians. Absolutely nothing happens here and if it does i feel like it involves chasing livestock.

Oregon - Prairies. This is where the Prairies are. Famous for the people who died while trying to be Not In Oregon.

Pennsylvania - Famous for The Office. And Dracula jokes. That's all i've got.

Rhode Island - Famous for winning Miss United States with the flaming batons routine in Miss Congeniality starring Sandra Bullock. Very small state. Possibly the smallest one but who's to say.

South Carolina - If north is for the lesbians, south is for the gays.

South Dakota - As above.

Tennessee - Country music and whiskey and line dancing, which is actually kinda hot when goth girls do it. Overall, Tennessee is the USA's answer to Gympie, which is a question that nobody asked. Overall i just think of the colour brown. Famous for Hayden Penterre. Penetentiary. Pendulum.

Texas - A South Australian would say Texas is famous for it's adorably small cattle farms. Lucky for me, i am not South Australian. This is the state that other states call redneck and racist to hide the fact that they are also redneck and racist, perhaps more so. Contains two of the main cities to name boys after. Dave Strider lives here. (Sorry for the Homestuck jump scare so late in the game.)

Utah - Salt Lake City. That bass pro shop monolith was here. In general i think of the colour orange. Home of the Hellmouth Sunbeams.

Vermont - Vermont is a state in the same way the spleen is an organ. Population: Zero.

Virginia - Is this not the same thing as Vermont?

Washington - Famous for Bella where the hell you been loca. Twin Peaks is probably set here idk i forgot all parts of the show that were not log lady. White House. Effervescent.

West Virginia - From the lyrics "Mountain mama. Take me home. Country road" we can determine that West Virginia has Mountains, Milfs, Homes, and Roads. I know nothing else about West Virginia.

Wisconsin - Wiscaaaansin. Whis-cahn-sin. There are definitely elks here. That 70's Show is set somewhere beneath the surface of this place. Population: grandparents and elk. I feel like you could get fucked up by a creature here if you're not careful. It's got trees and lakes and shit creatures love those. I think Yellowstone is somewhere around here.

Wyoming - Great lakes? Great lakes. This state is actually all lake. Idk. I like the name though, the verbiage of it all. Wyoming my way downtown. State flower is an empty wrapper blowing by down the street. Population: 800,000. Definitely a place you could go missing and never be seen again.

[sailtomarina]

Firestarter

Playlist, AO3 | Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

The moment she’d informed Rebecca about her dilemma, they’d gone through a whirlwind of activity. She really should put in a request to raise her assistant’s pay; the witch was formidable and they couldn’t afford for her to quit over something like too-low pay.

In almost no time at all, she had a handful of Beltane-appropriate robes with coordinating accessories from which to choose. Where the woman had obtained so many flattering options on such short notice, Hermione had no clue, but there wasn’t a bad one in the bunch.

She tried each of them on, knowing after many years with Lavender in her ear, that most of the time it was impossible to know whether or not you liked an outfit unless you put it on. Fabrics draped differently on the body than the hanger; there were curves to account for and movement to consider.

“Oh, Hermione. That’s the one.”

Looking up at the mirror, she couldn’t help spinning in a circle. Rebecca was right. This was, indeed, the one.

She could do this.

She could walk through those double doors.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione stepped forward.

She let the breath out in a long exhale once she realised that there was no spotlight at the doors, no stuffy butler announcing her entrance. Crowds milled about at the base of the staircase, yes, but they didn’t stare at her as she made her descent. 

Hermione felt silly for her nerves. This wasn’t some grand ball, no matter her dress or the setting, which was, as expected, phenomenal.

The Malfoys hadn’t spared a single expense in the decor. Every inch of the hall shone like it was cleaned that very day. It likely had been, given the number of house-elves in their employ. Greenery abounded, long vines draping from the high centre to the many sconces lining the walls. Many more hung downward, giving the effect of a living ceiling in some exotic dreamland. Even more astonishing was the way in which the plants glowed from within. They reminded Hermione of the glowbugs she’d seen in the caves of New Zealand. 

“Granger. I’m glad you could make it.”

She jumped at the unexpected nearness of his voice. She’d been so entranced with her surroundings that she failed to notice Malfoy’s approach.

He stood before her in dark green wizarding robes cut in a modern style that emphasised his broad shoulders and trim waist. She’d snort at the overt Slytherin-ness of it all, but then recalled that she, too, wore the colour.

“So am I, to be honest. My invitation arrived only this afternoon. Might you know anything about that?”

She couldn’t help the accusing tilt to her question; she blamed the irritating way in which he towered over her.

“Mmm, I might.” To her further irritation, his lips twitched, like he meant to laugh but thought better of it. “My compliments to your designer. You look a vision.”

He followed up on the unexpected comment with a deep bow and an outstretched hand.

“What are you doing? Why are you holding your hand out like you expect me to take it?” she asked, flabbergasted. Hermione looked around in confusion, wondering if she’d been tricked into attending a ball. To her relief, there were no dancing couples in sight, but they were starting to gather an audience.

It wasn’t everyday that the Malfoy heir bowed to a Muggleborn, especially one who advocated for creature rights like Hermione Granger.

“Malfoy!” She dropped her voice into a frantic whisper.

While he tilted his head far enough to peek up at her with a grin, he maintained his pose. “The only way I’ll stand up is if you take my hand, Granger. We both lack escorts for dinner, so might as well make the most of this fortuitous meeting.”

She could humiliate him by ignoring his hand, but doing so would also reflect poorly on her as a guest. Normally, Hermione wouldn’t care about such things…

Another glance around the room proved her suspicions right. There were multiple Wizengamot members in attendance, many of whom she desperately needed to sway towards her side if she wanted to continue her string of successes. She had plenty more goals to achieve, some far more ambitious than the current political climate would easily accept.

“Fine.”

His hand felt cool to the touch.

The moment she took it, he stood back upright and tucked her fingers into the crook of his arm. “See. Was that so hard?”

Come Monday, Hermione would have a specially-crafted hex just for him.

The crowds parted to allow them space to move forward. It was the host’s responsibility to lead the way into the dining hall, meaning that Hermione soon found herself right at the front just behind Lord and Lady Malfoy.

If they were surprised at her appearance, they didn’t show it. They simply nodded at her with polite smiles. Warmth filled their eyes as they turned towards their son.

“Draco, don’t forget,” Narcissa murmured.

“I won’t.”

They turned away without elaborating, and Hermione was left burning with curiosity. What did they want Malfoy to not forget? Surely, it couldn’t have anything to do with her.

Her questions quieted as a second set of doors opened, Malfoy’s arm tightening just slightly on her hand. It was the sort of action one gave in encouragement. A silent communication between friends, which they were not.

Still, she took courage from the motion and allowed herself to be led forward. The hall was filled with several round tables and one long one at the head of the room she assumed was meant for the hosts. She was proven correct when Malfoy guided her towards a chair near the front and gently let go of her.

“I must join my family, but, please, enjoy yourself. You should recognise quite a few faces.”

The words would have been comforting, if not for the smirk and wink that followed them.

She took the time alone to admire the centrepiece, which featured a branch with odd trailing blossoms that she did not know the name of as well as a white star and a blush pentagon which she did from her mountain hikes. Edelweiss, for courage. Laurel, for victory.

She did, indeed, recognise the faces that came to sit at her table. The prick had thrown her into a nest of snakes: Pansy Parkinson, correction, Pucey, Theo Nott, Blaise Zabini, and Gregory Goyle. They converged on her like a shiny new toy.

“Very, very sexy, Granger,” Theo said. The man hadn’t said two words to her when they were students; now here he was, all glittering eyes and mischievous grin. 

“He’s right. Let me guess, Patil and Brown?” This time it was Pansy eying her appreciatively.

They flanked her on both sides making it clear that Hermione had nowhere to run. She was so going to curse Malfoy the first chance she got. Monday was too far away for punishment.

“Let the witch breathe,” Blaise said with a laugh. “I’m guessing Draco didn’t warn her about us before disappearing.”

“You would be right,” Hermione replied with a shake of her head.

“Told you so.”

“Why’d Draco escort you?” Goyle’s question was blunt, so much so as to earn him looks from his own friends. “What? I know I wasn’t the only one confused.”

“You’re always confused, love.” Theo patted the hulking wizard on the shoulder in sympathy, and Hermione had to stifle a giggle.

“If he hadn’t, I would have,” Blaise said. She believed him, too.

As out of place as she felt, Hermione also felt their keen interest, not because she was some sort of curiosity to be poked and prodded, but because they were Draco’s closest friends and they cared about him.

“It was pure coincidence, really. We were just talking and, since neither of us have partners, he suggested we escort each other to dinner.”

“And to the fire lighting,” Pansy said.

Hermione gave the other woman a sharp look.

“You do know it’s customary to pair up for the lighting, don’t you?” Pansy continued slowly.

No. She had not known. Just like she hadn’t known about this entire event until that same evening.

So, she lied. “Of course.” 

Pansy’s brow arched in disbelief, but she didn’t argue, for which Hermione was grateful. 

The rest of the meal passed in relative peace as her new friends, if that’s what she could call them, carried the conversation with quips about each dish and stories that frequently revolved around Malfoy. 

She couldn’t help but laugh along with them, though the joy was tinged with regret. That they could have had this had they grown up a little differently. Friendships despite differences, or perhaps even because of them. This was the sort of future she wanted to encourage.

He found her just as the lights dimmed in warning.

“Enjoying ourselves, I hope?”

Warmed up as Hermione was on an unknown number of wine glasses and unexpected companionship, she didn’t hold back the full smile that stretched across her face with ease as she looked up into silver eyes.

The sounds around them fell away.

He stared back at her, lips curling up to mirror her own.

A hand, palm up, offered.

As she took it, the sounds of laughter and shuffling chairs returned. So, too, did his voice. Low and smoothe. Inviting.

“Have you ever lit a Beltane fire before, Granger?”

“I can’t say that I have.”

He twisted his hand, summoning a cut of edelweiss from the table arrangement. She would have applauded the wandless magic, but her words had disappeared somewhere inaccessible as she watched him, wide-eyed and waiting. He pushed back one of her wayward curls, pinning it in place with the edelweiss and a sticking charm.

“Only the best for she who will not be deterred,” he murmured.

Hermione’s heart stuttered in her chest. There was no way he could have used that combination of words by coincidence. What were the chances?

“Now, let’s go start a fire.”

The Prophet reports the Malfoy’s Beltane celebration as the event of the season, attended by none other than up-and-coming creature advocate, Hermione Jean Granger. Even more shocking was her choice of escort in the family heir, Draco Lucius Malfoy, who stood aside to allow the witch first rites at the traditional fire lighting. No other blaze in recent memory has burned as bright. We can rest assured that the following year will be fruitful, indeed.

Written for the @hp-flowers week 4 prompt: edelweiss, laurel

1749 WC

Cross-posted on Tumblr and AO3 (MarinaJune)

[beautifulbizarremagazine]

💝 Beautiful Bizarre art magazine Issue 43 on Sale Now! 💝 Get your copy today 👉 https://store.beautifulbizarre.net/product/issue-43/

INSIDE ISSUE 43 Exclusive In-Depth Interviews: Kukula [cover artist], Riikka Sormunen, Brooke Shaden, Lo Chan Peng [Grand Prize Winner of the 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize]

Articles: Lesley Thiel, Emil Melmoth, Sarah Jarret, Takahiro Hirabayashi, Ed Binkley

2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize: Special editorial featuring this year’s Winners

Grand Prize Winner of the 2023 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize – Lo Chan Peng Winner of the RAYMAR Traditional Art Award – Markus Åkesson Winner of the INPRNT Photography Award – Petite Doll Winner of the Yasha Young Projects Sculpture Award – Forest Rogers Winner of the iCanvas Digital Art Award – Garis Edelweiss Winner of the Beautiful Bizarre Magazine Founders’ Emerging Artist Award – Sarah Lee

Curators Wishlist: Vicki Fox, Director of Quirky Fox Gallery in Hāwera, New Zealand shares what she would like to add to her personal collection.

Path to Creation: Juliet Schreckinger takes us through her creation process from conceptualization to completion.

Lookbook: Full page reproductions of Gabriel Moreno’s incredible drawings.

Quick Q&A: Dolce Paganne, Mary Perkins, Brad Gunn, Marc Le Rest, and Raul Guerra all respond to the same 4 questions which delve into their artistic practice:

- How do you approach the challenge of creating a cohesive body of work? - How do you balance the commercial aspects of being an artist with the creative part? - Do you compare your work to your peers? How does this affect you/your practice? - What are your goals and aspirations as an artist, and what do you hope to achieve with your work?

Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory: Discover exceptional, innovative and skilled artists from around the world with Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory – the leading platform for connecting with top talent.

Inside this issue: Brittany Markert, Barrett Biggers, Nicomi Nix Turner, Ryan Pola, Marco Santos, Eugene Varzic, Gina Matarazzo, Yulia Pustishkina, Theodora Capat, Jill Feenstra, Kayla Mahaffey, Robert Steven Connett, Allison Reimold, Liba Waring Stambollin, Lexi Laine, Yoann Penard, Ciane Xavier, Ingrid Baars, Sasha Krautman, Pausha Foley, Rob Domenech, Noah Adam Norrid

Some of our Favourite Things: We share some of our favourite artisan fashion designers including: Mr Mortimer’s Wife, Lance Victor Moore, Daisuke Tanaka, Falconiere, Accentuate and Ccwdmoss

Our Community: Our Instagram #beautifulbizarre community feature including: @alexandriaolivia, @angelikarasmus, @bysunnywu, @colleen_stapleton, @kesjatabaczuk, @rosannagaddoni, @signum.noir, @sonal.bakrania

#beautifulbizarre #artmagazine #art #photography #painting #drawing #sculpture #digitalart #artisanfashion #fashion #artinspiration #artist #artinspo #creativeinspiration #newcontemporary #figurativeart #surrealart #realism #magicalrealism #popsurrealism

[rubberizer92]

🌟 "Creative Crusaders Stand Out!" Top 9: Has New Zealand Secured a Spot in the Top 6? 🌟

Gentlemen, the grand spectacle continues as we unveil the Top 9 contestants of OBEY Season 8! These extraordinary men have teamed up with visionary graphic designers to craft hyper-masculine muscle superheroes, setting the funfair ablaze in their uniquely imaginative rubber suits! 💪🎡🦸‍♂️

As we journey through this exhilarating adventure, we must ask: Has New Zealand's contestant made a lasting impression and clinched a coveted spot in the prestigious Top 6? 🇳🇿🏆

Your voice is the ultimate catalyst! Share your thoughts in the comments below and make your vote matter. Let your choice echo through the virtual arena as we celebrate these awe-inspiring transformations together! 🗳️🌟

Embrace the creative crusade with these hashtags: #OBEYseason8 #MuscleMania #NewZealand #Top9Reveal #RubberizedSuperheroes #VoteNow 🌐🔥

[xtruss]

Travel Delays? These Sirports and Train Stations Actually Have Great Food

From Michelin-starred menus to gilded historic sites, these restaurants are worth a visit—whether or not you’re a tourist.

— By Joe Yogerst | June 26, 2023

Le Train Bleu opened in 1901, offering rail passengers an opulent dining stop in Paris’s Gare de Lyon train station. It’s one of several extraordinary restaurants inside busy transportation hubs around the world. Photograph By Jorge Garrido/Alamy Stock Photo

With one of the busiest summer travel seasons of all time already underway—and likely to get more hectic after the Fourth of July—travelers should steel themselves for longer-than-usual delays for flights and trains.

But unplanned waiting time doesn’t have to be wasted time. While many airports and train stations offer run-of-the-mill grub, some transport hubs are blessed with exemplary culinary offerings. From vintage cafés in train stations to fine dining rooms in airports, these places entice passengers to arrive early and dig into meals every bit as good (or even better) than restaurants at their final destinations. Here are 10 not to miss.

Le Train Bleu, Gare de Lyon, Paris

This culinary cathedral is adorned with elaborate carvings, chandeliers, etched glass, and frescoes depicting whimsical holiday scenes throughout France. Located on the mezzanine level of the Gare de Lyon (which serves trains to southern France and other Mediterranean destinations), the brasserie was built in 1900 and unveiled in 1901 to complement the Exposition Universelle, a world’s fair in Paris. Like that event, Le Train Bleu showcased the nation’s extravagant Belle Epoque style and culture.

The menu is just as enticing as the decor, with French classics including roast leg of lamb, steak tartare, Crêpes Suzette, and hazelnut soufflé. Prix-fixe options cater both to passengers in a hurry (a 45-minute traveler’s menu) and those who can linger (a seven-course feast).

Oyster Bar, Grand Central Terminal, New York City

Like the historic train depot that rumbles above, the Oyster Bar reflects the Big Apple’s coming of age as a global city in the early 20th century. An extensive seafood menu and extraordinary tile-arch ceiling designed by Spanish-born architect and engineer Rafael Guastavino made the restaurant an overnight sensation when it opened in 1913. It continues to dazzle with a menu that features at least 25 types of fish and as many as 30 oyster varieties.

Back in the day, many of the ingredients were harvested in Lower New York Bay. Now the menu is a veritable United Nations of seafood: oysters from Prince Edward Island and the Puget Sound, Icelandic arctic char, and New Zealand king salmon, plus lobster gazpacho and bouillabaisse. Don’t miss the small wood-paneled bar in the back, which pours a signature Habanero Bloody Mary with quite a kick.

Left: A sign points travelers to Oyster Bar, the iconic restaurant inside New York City’s bustling Grand Central Terminal train station. Photograph By P. T. Photography/Alamy Stock Photo. Right: Diners at Oyster Bar dig into an extensive seafood menu sourced from all over the globe. Photograph By Jorge Garrido/Alamy Stock Photo

Tokyo Station, Tokyo

Half a million passengers make their way through Tokyo’s sprawling main train station each day, catching speedy Shinkansen bullet trains and connectors. When they get hungry, many head to the basement for food courts, such as Ramen Street, First Avenue, Kitchen Street, Nippon Gourmet Road.

Ramen Street is a highlight, with eight noodle soup vendors, including Rokurinsha, which dishes up tsukemen dipping noodles, and Soranoiro Nippon, offering vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free varieties.

Located a 10-minute walk south from the central station, the barbecue skewer stalls of Yakitori Alley are another Tokyo dining institution. Similar to Shinjuku’s famous Omoide Yokocho, the stalls are located beneath the old brick railway arches near Yurakucho Station.

People walk down Yakitori Alley Memory Lane, an area in Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood known for its many small barbecue bars. Photograph By Craig Ferguson/Lightrocket Via Getty Images

St. Pancras Bar, St. Pancras International, London

Connecting Eurostar, National Rail, and the Tube, St. Pancras is one of London’s busiest transport hubs. It’s also home to St. Pancras Bar by Searcys, a champagne bar and restaurant situated on the Grand Terrace of the Victorian Gothic railway station built in 1868.

Europe’s longest champagne bar serves its own private label cuvée, a classic Kir Royale, and special bottles like a £2,000 Nebuchadnezzar Taittinger Brut Réserve NV. The heated leather seats provide comfort in the cavernous station, while a “press for champagne” button on every table ensures speedy pours for travelers short on time.

The adjoining brasserie offers a Railway Express menu and a leisurely afternoon tea, plus British favorites like Scottish smoked salmon, Lake District beef, Gressingham duck salad, and Exmoor Cornish salted caviar.

Rosélys, Gare Centrale, Montreal

This stylish, modern restaurant above Montreal’s underground Gare Centrale replaces the venerable Beaver Club, where John Lennon, Fidel Castro, Nelson Mandela, the Queen of England, and thousands of ordinary folks dined over its half-century lifespan.

A fusion of the city’s French and Anglo food cultures, the New Canadian cuisine here features Quebec cheeses and charcuterie, hot smoked salmon, grilled asparagus with trout caviar, and Canadian prairie steaks. Afternoon tea is served on Saturday, brunch on Sunday, with a daily happy hour between 6 and 8 p.m. revolving around seafood and live jazz.

Globe@YVR, Vancouver International Airport, Vancouver

Airport hotels don’t normally inspire high gastronomic hopes. But the Vancouver Airport is an asset for the posh Fairmont Globe hotel, where the floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the tarmac backdropped by the snowy peaks north of Vancouver.

Chef Harris Sakalis specializes in Canadian-sourced surf and turf, highlighted in a three-course prix-fixe menu. Standouts include seafood towers, especially the over-the-top “Deep Dive” loaded with oysters, crab, caviar, lobster, and ahi tuna, plus an extensive breakfast menu paired with cocktails from the “Five O’Clock Somewhere” list.

Plane Food, Heathrow Airport, London

Located in Terminal 5, Gordan Ramsay’s eatery roams the globe with dishes like California roll sushi, lamb rogan josh, lobster linguine, and good old British fish and chips with mushy peas and tartar sauce.

Travelers dine on global cuisine at Gordon Ramsay’s modern Plane Food at Heathrow Airport.

The streamlined decor recalls the mid-20th century space age style. Dining options include an express menu promising two courses (including vegan options) in under 25 minutes and a breakfast special with a choice of egg dishes and cocktails. Alternatively, grab a three-course picnic with three main dish options (burgers, pasta) for munching on the plane.

Tortas Frontera by Rick Bayless, O’Hare International Airport, Chicago

Celebrity chef and James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Rick Bayless took a liking to Mexican cuisine while growing up in Oklahoma and relocated to Chicago in 1987. Now, his culinary empire includes three locations of Tortas Frontera in the Windy City’s bustling airport. Although tiny—with just a few tables and limited bar seating—they offer an impressive array of dishes.

Overstuffed tortas like the Cubana, chipotle chicken, and choriqueso are the main attraction. But there’s also a morning yogurt bar that morphs into an afternoon guacamole station. Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options, plus a full bar and aguas frescas round out the menu.

Changi Airport, Singapore

The Lion City is an undisputed cuisine destination, and its sprawling, futuristic airport is one of the best places to grab a bite. The hub has more than 200 food and beverage outlets, many of them tucked beneath the massive glass-and-steel dome of Jewel, a dining, retail, and entertainment complex with an indoor waterfall and a five-story tropical garden.

People walk through the tropical garden inside Jewel, a section of Singapore’s sprawling Changi Airport that holds restaurants, shops, and a hotel. Photograph By Derek Teo/Alamy Stock Photo

The culinary collection ranges from Michelin one-star spots like Kam’s Roast with its signature Chinese-style roast duck and Hot Tomato’s American-style steak and seafood, to Michelin-listed Birds of Paradise gelato and Chun Yang bubble tea.

Airbräu Brauhaus, Munich Airport, Munich

If you missed the Hofbräuhaus München or one of the other famous beer halls in Munich, the Airbräu offers one last chance to try before takeoff. Like every good Munich beer hall, drinks are served with traditional Bavarian dishes like pork knuckles, spaetzle, schnitzel, and pretzels.

Opened in 1999 as the world’s first airport brewery, Airbräu has a cozy indoor dining room and breezy outdoor beer garden, where you can sip golden ambers made on site. Options include the hoppy FliegerQuell, Kumulus wheat beer, the “1918” wort, and four seasonal options.

Colorful paintings adorn the ceiling of Hofbräuhaus, a famous beer hall in Munich, Germany. Airbräu offers a similar experience at Munich Airport. Photograph Efrain Padro/Alamy Stock Photo

Besides the main dining room with its copper brewing kettles, the Airbräu offers a cozier dining/drinking area called the Zirbelstube, a tiny 1890s tavern relocated from the Bavarian Alps. If you’ve got time, hop on the brewery tour. In the summer, catch live tunes in the beer garden while you wait for your boarding group to be called.

[chaletnz]

Puno: Amantani Island

From the floating islands it took about another hour and a half to reach Amantani Island located further out in Lake Titicaca, and in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t seem too bad considering from northernmost to southernmost points in the lake the travel time is 24 hours! The island has 5000 inhabitants and they all must be married. However, once married there is no divorce so they must be certain. After three years together, a couple will either marry or split up as is the custom. For couples marrying, it will be on a Sunday in August. Everyone on the island is invited and will celebrate together for 7 days as your once in a lifetime moment to be the centre of attention. Everyone has a turn to be elected as the leader, with a new leader every year as chosen by the people for the people but if you’re not married you cannot lead. Work is strictly designated as either women’s work or men’s work which is why marriage is so important on this island as a couple must have the combo to contribute to their society. There are no police though so it’s a very safe little island! Communities come together to build houses for each other, all hands on deck to build a house from the ground up in 2-3 days, they need only to ask for help and have their materials ready to go. Our walk was a steep uphill climb from 3,800m to 4,000m above sea level and then we were at the town’s main square with a small shop that opened once we arrived so that we could buy some drinks and snacks. We walked for about an hour around the terraces of the island, stopped by a herd of sheep walking past at least three times. It was very peaceful and quiet, small paddocks with a handful of sheep grazing and sunny skies over the water - I took photos and think you could easily mistake the scene for New Zealand. We’d walked the full circle of the island and it was time to return to the peninsula for lunch in Llachon at Casa de Oliver y Sebastiana. They prepared two courses for us, pita bread with pico de gallo and quinoa soup, and then the main dish which was grilled trout with rice, chips, and vegetables. It was pretty good but gave me a little bit of a stomach ache afterwards. We watched the storm rolling in over Puno and reluctantly made our way into it as we were returned to the city. I dropped off my bag and then headed straight back out to get some photos of the cathedral before it got too dark, and also picked up some pastries anticipating a full day on the bus tomorrow to reach La Paz. I treated myself to a passionfruit tart as dessert too. I’ll never know for sure what exactly did it but at some point here I ended up food poisoning, it started at 10:30pm and woke me up at least four times to throw up. I had chills, fever, the works- but somehow I got through the night, made it onto the bus the next morning at 7:30am, and lived to tell the tale!

[like-the-cut-of-your-jib]

It’s already January 1, 2023 in New Zealand, so Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to the one and only Peter (Pete) Burling!

Pete, you’ve had a terrifically busy year and I hope you’re celebrating today!

Let’s do a quick recap of your 2022 highs (and a few lows imho).

January

Negotiating personally and professionally (you know the ones) during your summer vacation

February

Re-signing with Team NZ (ETNZ) for the AC37 Cup cycle, with you as Skipper

March

Improving results to a respectable 5th place finish to the second season of Sail GP in San Francisco

Co-led the team to the inaugural win in the Sail GP Impact League

April

Launched Live Ocean Racing with the Women’s Race team to compete in the Open ETF26 Grand Prix series with Liv Mackey as inaugural Skipper

Partnering with Zhik in supporting Live Ocean Racing

Waka Hourua Voyage with Live Ocean Foundation up the Northland coast

May

Team NZ Live Ocean Racing lines up in Bermuda for the start of Sail GP Season 3

June

Frustrating Sail GP Chicago event, nearly reaching the podium race

Supposedly privately proposing to “your girlfriend” in New York City afterwards 🤢

Voices for a Healthy Ocean - a Declaration by sporting and ocean communities - presented by you and Blair at the United Nations World Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal

July

Partnering with Omega to support Live Ocean Foundation and Live Ocean Racing

Making your first final at the Sail GP Plymouth event and winning the event

Topping the Sail GP Impact League and sailing podium at the same event - first time ever for a Sail GP team (thumbs nose at the Aussies)

August

Being featured, along with the Team, in Sail GP Episode 3, “Cracking the F50 Code”

Dominating all three qualifying races, as well as winning the podium race in the Sail GP Copenhagen event

NZ team moves to second in the overall Sail GP standings

September

Co-Helming the new AC40 for ETNZ

Part of the Judging Panel for the 2022 World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award

October

Winning the friendly waka race on the Avon river over Blair’s team to promote the upcoming March 2023 Sail GP event in Otautahi-Christchurch

Testing and a gentle capsize of the ETNZ AC40 (boat and crew unharmed)

November

NZ Team awarded penalty points in scorching hot, light wind Sail GP Dubai event, but team remains in second place

Celebrating Jesse Tuke’s (finally public) win in Celebrity Treasure Island with the $110K NZ charitable donation to Live Ocean Foundation

Discovered the structural weakness in the bow of the AC40 (crew unharmed), making it safer for the entire one-design fleet to be used in the AC37 Womens and Youth Cups

December

Helming the second LEQ12 boat for ETNZ out on the Waitemata habour

Approving your engagement to be finally reported/leaked publicly 😝 lol

Being hailed as the ‘Biggest Sailing Geek’ by your fellow Sail GP sailors in their 2022 Yearbook posting

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 4.29

801 – An earthquake in the Central Apennines hits Rome and Spoleto, damaging the basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura. 1091 – Battle of Levounion: The Pechenegs are defeated by Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos. 1386 – Battle of the Vikhra River: The Principality of Smolensk is defeated by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and becomes its vassal. 1429 – Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orléans. 1483 – Gran Canaria, the main island of the Canary Islands, is conquered by the Kingdom of Castile. 1521 – Swedish War of Liberation: Swedish troops defeat a Danish force in the Battle of Västerås. 1760 – French forces commence the siege of Quebec which is held by the British. 1770 – James Cook arrives in Australia at Botany Bay, which he names. 1781 – American Revolutionary War: British and French ships clash in the Battle of Fort Royal off the coast of Martinique. 1826 – The galaxy Centaurus A or NGC 5128 is discovered by James Dunlop. 1861 – Maryland in the American Civil War: Maryland's House of Delegates votes not to secede from the Union. 1862 – American Civil War: The Capture of New Orleans by Union forces under David Farragut. 1864 – Theta Xi fraternity is founded at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the only fraternity to be founded during the American Civil War. 1903 – A landslide kills 70 people in Frank, in the District of Alberta, Canada. 1910 – The Parliament of the United Kingdom passes the People's Budget, the first budget in British history with the expressed intent of redistributing wealth among the British public. 1911 – Tsinghua University, one of mainland China's leading universities, is founded. 1916 – World War I: The UK's 6th Indian Division surrenders to Ottoman Forces at the Siege of Kut in one of the largest surrenders of British forces up to that point. 1916 – Easter Rising: After six days of fighting, Irish rebel leaders surrender to British forces in Dublin, bringing the Easter Rising to an end. 1944 – World War II: New Zealand-born SOE agent Nancy Wake, a leading figure in the French Resistance and the Gestapo's most wanted person, parachutes back into France to be a liaison between London and the local maquis group. 1945 – World War II: The Surrender of Caserta is signed by the commander of German forces in Italy. 1945 – World War II: Airdrops of food begin over German-occupied regions of the Netherlands. 1945 – World War II: HMS Goodall (K479) is torpedoed by U-286 outside the Kola Inlet, becoming the last Royal Navy ship to be sunk in the European theatre of World War II. 1945 – World War II: Adolf Hitler marries his longtime partner Eva Braun in a Berlin bunker and designates Admiral Karl Dönitz as his successor. 1945 – Dachau concentration camp is liberated by United States troops. 1945 – The Italian commune of Fornovo di Taro is liberated from German forces by Brazilian forces. 1946 – The International Military Tribunal for the Far East convenes and indicts former Prime Minister of Japan Hideki Tojo and 28 former Japanese leaders for war crimes. 1951 – Tibetan delegates arrive in Beijing and sign a Seventeen Point Agreement for Chinese sovereignty and Tibetan autonomy. 1952 – Pan Am Flight 202 crashes into the Amazon basin near Carolina, Maranhão, Brazil, killing 50 people. 1953 – The first U.S. experimental 3D television broadcast shows an episode of Space Patrol on Los Angeles ABC affiliate KECA-TV. 1965 – Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) successfully launches its seventh rocket in its Rehber series. 1967 – After refusing induction into the United States Army the previous day, Muhammad Ali is stripped of his boxing title. 1968 – The controversial musical Hair, a product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, opens at the Biltmore Theatre on Broadway, with some of its songs becoming anthems of the anti-Vietnam War movement. 1970 – Vietnam War: United States and South Vietnamese forces invade Cambodia to hunt Viet Cong. 1974 – Watergate scandal: United States President Richard Nixon announces the release of edited transcripts of White House tape recordings relating to the scandal. 1975 – Vietnam War: Operation Frequent Wind: The U.S. begins to evacuate U.S. citizens from Saigon before an expected North Vietnamese takeover. U.S. involvement in the war comes to an end. 1975 – Vietnam War: The North Vietnamese army completes its capture of all parts of South Vietnam-held Trường Sa Islands. 1986 – A fire at the Central library of the Los Angeles Public Library damages or destroys 400,000 books and other items. 1986 – The United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise becomes the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to transit the Suez Canal, navigating from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea to relieve the USS Coral Sea. 1986 – Chernobyl disaster: American and European spy satellites capture the ruins of the No. 4 reactor at the Chernobyl Power Plant. 1991 – A cyclone strikes the Chittagong district of southeastern Bangladesh with winds of around 155 miles per hour (249 km/h), killing at least 138,000 people and leaving as many as ten million homeless. 1991 – The 7.0 Mw  Racha earthquake affects Georgia with a maximum MSK intensity of IX (Destructive), killing 270 people. 1992 – Riots in Los Angeles, following the acquittal of police officers charged with excessive force in the beating of Rodney King. Over the next three days 63 people are killed and hundreds of buildings are destroyed. 1997 – The Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 enters into force, outlawing the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons by its signatories. 2004 – The final Oldsmobile is built in Lansing, Michigan, ending 107 years of vehicle production. 2011 – The Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton takes place at Westminster Abbey in London. 2013 – A powerful explosion occurs in an office building in Prague, believed to have been caused by natural gas, and injures 43 people. 2013 – National Airlines Flight 102, a Boeing 747-400 freighter aircraft, crashes during takeoff from Bagram Airfield in Parwan Province, Afghanistan, killing seven people. 2015 – A baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago White Sox sets the all-time low attendance mark for Major League Baseball. Zero fans were in attendance for the game, as the stadium was officially closed to the public due to the 2015 Baltimore protests.

[downstarr]

Stroke of Midnight - An OFMD New Year's Eve AU

Stede Bonnet usually goes home to New Zealand for the Christmas season. But this year, he's decided to stay in Victoria, BC where he's been living since he came to Canada for school. At a house party thrown by expats, Stede unexpectedly runs into his teenaged crush, Edward Teach.

Stede's been struggling with loneliness and a lack of belonging, and Ed re-entering his life hits him like a ton of bricks. 10k words, complete. CW: references to child abuse and homophobia. Referred to, but not seen.

Stede Bonnet never sought out his fellow New Zealanders on purpose. Usually, his trips home to Wellington from Victoria, BC where he’d been living for the past few decades would fill his Kiwi quotient quite satisfactorily. But life circumstances and various logistics meant he hadn’t been home in several years.

Which lead him to an Anzac Day gathering at a local pub that past April, and to an invite to a New Year’s Eve house party some months later.

The house, a grand affair in Brentwood Bay just outside of the city, had a wonderful view of the inlet and the twinkling lights across the water where snow drifted in the air instead of a haze of rain. It was an unusually cold late December by Vancouver Island standards. They’d had a few inches of snow that made the steep, winding roads up to the house that weren’t designed for snow quite treacherous. It also meant that Stede dug out his winter jacket usually reserved for ski trips up-island or to the mainland. 

“Just toss it in the spare bedroom,” said Arnie, one of the two hosts for the evening as he pointed the way down a long hallway. 

“This way?”

“Yep, first door on the right,” said Arnie.

Stede nodded and held his blue puffer jacket aloft. “Cheers.” 

On his way back from the spare room where his jacket joined a growing pile on the bed, Stede slipped into the nearest bathroom and slid the barn door style door closed. It took him a few times to clasp it correctly. For a moment, he was worried he was going to throw the heavy piece of stained wood off its pretty wrought iron hinges. 

It was then that he realized that his hosts must be new money. Stede hated that snobbish part of himself, but he’d grown up with and around a lot of money. That meant he’d been to many parties at the houses of people whose wealth was gained in their own lifetime rather than inherited. 

Those people really liked barn doors. And marble countertops. And grand staircases. All of which were on display at the home of Arnie and Marlo. 

Door finally latched, Stede turned to survey his appearance. He slid a comb from his pocket and carefully rearranged his blond curls that had gotten tousled by the wind and wetted by snowflakes. He slid a hand down the fine fabric of his deep blue button-up to make sure there were no creases in the fabric. He was pleased to see that the impeccably tailored shirt highlighted the effort he’d been making at the gym the last few months.

“Now don’t look desperate,” Stede mumbled to himself. “And don’t be a peacock,” he paused, “...or too much of one.” 

The pep talk Stede was giving himself was necessary because he’d heard through rumblings that there were queer people at the party. He’d been having absolutely no luck on the dating or social scene. For a long time, he convinced himself he was bisexual, until his now-ex fiancee Mary finally helped him realize that any attraction to women was deeply forced and based on a foundation of self-delusion. 

Satisfied that he hadn’t gotten too rumpled from the trip over, Stede awkwardly pulled the impractical barn door back and stepped out into the house proper.  

Stede was no stranger to grand houses. But something about this one felt a bit much. After years away from home and the socialite scene in New Zealand, he’d forgotten how to move in posh circles. He didn’t know Arnie and Marlo very well at all. They’d only spoken a handful of times at the Fernwood Inn’s now-monthly informal expat meetups. But he had become friends with Declan Finch, who was an old friend of Arnie’s.

It was him that Stede sought out after tidying up his appearance. The house was the epitome of West Coast elegance - massive and A-frame with a staircase leading to the upper level, but with the kitchen, dining, and living areas offering views of the ink-black inlet below. Like the bathroom door, Stede found himself picking out various nouveau-riche touches that took the shine of the classiness. 

“It’s a lot more impressive in the daytime. Well, I mean, it’s impressive anytime. But less so in the dark,” said Declan as he appeared beside Stede with a beer.

“Ah, cheers! I was just coming to find you. This place is…” Stede paused as he tried to articulate his admiration at the style and grandeur of the place with the details his upper-crust self found tacky, “...quite something.”  said Stede as he took the beer. 

Declan grinned, “Mhmm,” Then he leaned in, “...I find it a bit magazine-y, m’self. But I don’t want to be a dick, so I hold my tongue. “ The other Kiwi was tall, with a mop of dark hair, strong features, black glasses, and a gap between his front teeth. He suspected the man might have a crush on him, which he didn’t reciprocate. He liked Declan well enough, but not as more than a friend. But they’d never had a conversation about the limits of their relationship. Stede felt it coming, and he feared the awkwardness and the potentially broken friendship that would follow.

For the moment though, the two men were still friends. 

“I appreciate the invite, by the way,” said Stede, finally.

“You look a little shell-shocked,” said Declan with a teasing lilt as he leaned in towards Stede. “I thought you came from richie riches. So this would be normal for you.”

“Came from, yes,” said Stede, eyebrows arching as he gestured with his beer. “But things have been strained with my family for years. I was supposed to go home after school, you see. But instead I stuck around. It was expected that I go home and do the whole Wellington society thing, but it wasn’t for me. So it’s been a long time since I’ve made a habit of being in houses like this,” he said as he gestured around.

“Well, they come by it honestly. Marlo’s an architect who made her own way. And Arnie’s…”

“...a marketing or social media guy?”

Declan grinned, putting the tooth gap on display, “Marketing manager for a bunch of restaurants.”

“I recognize a few people from the meet-ups. Are they mostly expats?” asked Stede as he gestured around the room. He exchanged a few nods or smiles with the people he knew. As he did, he caught sight of someone with long gray hair who turned away just as he was about to get a good look at him. 

“Not all of them. Some are work friends and stuff. To tell you the truth,” Declan leaned in towards Stede, “I don’t recognize a bunch of them. I think some of them are other parents at their daughter’s school, or work people. But Marlo likes to collect people from home. Says it helps keep her grounded.”  He swatted at Stede’s shoulder and motioned towards the kitchen where most of the people were retrieving drinks or snacking from the impressive spread laid out on the kitchen island, “C’mon, I’ll introduce you to some people.” 

Stede took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “All right.”

Then Stede did what he’d been doing all his life. He slipped on a mask of cheery confidence. As Declan introduced him around, he made friendly conversation and learned how each of the people he was introduced to knew their hosts. 

They were all nice enough, but from what Stede could tell, they all were straight, or at least in straight-passing relationships. As he met more and more people, he began to feel the heteronormativity of the room wash over him. That sensation, along with the conspicuous touches of magazine-glossy wealth began to wear him down and churn more of his loneliness to the surface. He began to think he was the only queer person in the room aside from Declan, and he wasn’t even sure about him. 

No one Stede spoke to would have any hint of his growing discomfort or disappointment. He was an expert at deceiving others about his own happiness, and continued to chirp friendly conversation and tell bad  but charming jokes. 

He’d always made acquaintances easily, but friendship, let alone something greater, had been evading him since his split from Mary. He hadn’t figured how to transition into queer social circles from the primarily straight ones he’d moved in before now. Drag shows and gay bars only introduced him to people he had little in common with aside from queerness, and many were often younger than him. 

Stede was hungry to meet people his age, who preferred pub trivia or a wine tasting over club nights and casual sex. He knew those people existed, but he had no idea how to go about finding them. He’d hoped the party would be a way to find those people, but so far he was just feeling how he always felt - like an imposter wearing a veil of straightness that he had to fight to keep from slipping clean off.

After a while, the effort to keep it up began to exhaust Stede, and he politely excused himself from a conversation with Naomi and Brett, a perfectly nice, but painfully straight couple who had spent the past thirty minutes talking about the psychological effect of paint colours in nurseries while both kept touching Naomi’s pregnant belly.  

For Stede, who’d spent almost every Christmas season of his life mired in the default straightness of the Wellington social scene, it was a special kind of torture.

He needed another drink.

Stede made his way to a giant, trendy cooler laden with craft beer and cider. He pawed through until he found a cider he’d had before. For that moment, he let the mask slip and he stared for a moment off into the middle distance, gaze fixing for a moment at another one of those impractical barn doors next to a wall that looked like it was set up specifically for Instagram selfies. 

He looked at his watch.

It was only ten. At least two hours before Stede could excuse himself. After all, why would he leave a New Year’s Eve party before midnight? 

He took a couple of hungry gulps of the cider, then took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, closed his eyes, and willed the mask of chirpy conformity to slip back over his face.

“Stede?” came a voice mid-way through this meditative exercise.

Stede turned, confused by his name in an unfamiliar voice. 

The man he saw caused Stede’s throat to clench and a shudder to slip down his spine. He was grateful for long sleeves, because they hid the cascade of goosebumps that raised every hair on his arms and his chest. He felt a flush of warmth dappling his cheeks, and he hoped that this man would just think it was the alcohol.

“Ah, yes?” Stede croaked.

The stranger was tall, warm-skinned, with a cascade of gray hair with streaks of black. He had a short gray beard and the sides of his hair were pulled back in a haphazard fashion. He’d either not expected the buttoned-up and date-night-dressy vibe of the party or he’d chosen to ignore it, because he wore low-slung moto jeans and a loose black t-shirt with a ragged hem. The shirt displayed arms covered in black tattoos. He wore a diamond stud in one ear with hoops higher up, and a necklace with a chunk of polished hematite. His eyes were deep and dark - chocolate brown and full of winking warmth. 

“I thought that was you,” rumbled the stranger.

Stede took a closer look, head canting, brow furrowing. Surely if he knew this man, he’d remember. He made every queer little synapse in his brain fire off happy chemicals.

Bit by bit, Stede started to piece it together. He mentally replaced gray hair with black, and removed the beard from his face. Then he peeled back the years and spun his memory back to Wellington. “Ed?” he breathed after an incredulous moment. “Edward Teach?”

Ed smiled and then chuckled. “Ah, yeah, it’s me. Fuck. What a coincidence.” 

Aside from breathing Ed’s name, Stede was at a loss for words. Here, thousands of kilometers away and decades later, he found himself staring into the eyes of his teenage crush.

Continue reading on AO3

[laresearchette]

Friday, November 18, 2022 Canadian TV Listings (Times Eastern)

WHERE CAN I FIND THOSE PREMIERES?: INTERRUPTING CHICKEN (Apple TV+) SPIRITED (Apple TV +) ZIWE (Crave TV) DISENCHANTED (Disney + Star) BLUE’S BIG CITY ADVENTURE (Paramount +) EMERIL COOKS (The Roku Channel) MARTHA HOLIDAYS (The Roku Channel) INVENTING THE CHRISTMAS PRINCE (W Network) 8:00pm

NEW TO AMAZON PRIME CANADA/CBC GEM/CRAVE TV/DISNEY + STAR/NETFLIX CANADA:

AMAZON PRIME CANADA THE PEOPLE WE HATE AT THE WEDDING SUGAR WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING

CBC GEM THE CUBAN DOCUMENTARY NOW (Season 4) (!!!!) EXPRESS GRAND DESIGNS AUSTRALIA (Season 10)

CRAVE TV CANADA’S DRAG RACE: CANADA VS. THE WORLD (Season 1, Episode 1) A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS HARMONY GIRL (2020) GREMLINS HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS HOME HOT SEAT JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS L WORD: GENERATION Q (Season 3) LEGALLY BLONDE LEGALLY BLONDE 2 THE POPE’S APOLOGY: REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK BY CREESON AGECOUTAY AND JILL MACYSHON THE SCORE TO THE ARCTIC TURBO VEGHEADZ: HOLIDAY SPECIAL ZIWE (Season 3)

DISNEY + STAR BEST IN SNOW BREAKAWAY DISENCHANTED ESPN FILMS PRESENTS: 144 JUNE 17TH, 1994 MARION JONES: PRESS PAUSE MICKEY AND THE ROADSTER RACERS: DIGGITY-DOG (Season 1 premiere) MICKEY MOUSEKERSIZE (Season 1 premiere) MICKEY: THE STORY OF A MOUSE   ONCE BROTHERS STRAIGHT OUTTA L.A. THE TWO ESCOBARS UNGUARDED WINNING TIME: REGGIE MILLER VS. THE NEW YORK KNICKS THE WONDERFUL AUTUMN OF MICKEY MOUSE YOU DON’T KNOW BO

NETFLIX CANADA THE CUPHEAD SHOW! (Part 3) ELITE (Season 6) INSIDE JOB (Part 2) REIGN SUPREME SLUMBERLAND SOMEBODY THE VIOLENCE ACTION

NBA BASKETBALL (SN NOW) 7:00pm: Heat vs. Wizards (SN/SN1) 7:30pm: Bucks vs. 76ers (TSN4/TSN5) 8:30pm: Nuggets vs. Mavericks (SN1) 10:00pm: Knicks vs. Warriors

NHL HOCKEY (SNPacific) 10:00pm: Kings vs. Canucks (TSN4) 7:00pm: Penguins vs. Leafs

REINDEER GAMES HOMECOMING (CTV Life) 7:00pm:  Sparks fly between a Vermont biology teacher and her high school crush as they compete in a holiday fundraising tradition.

MARKETPLACE (CBC) 8:00pm: The cost of living is higher than it’s been in nearly 40 years and we’re all feeling the pinch. We reveal the ways we're paying more & getting less. An inflation survival guide you can't afford to miss. Reporter: Travis Dhanraj

RODEO NATION (APTN) 8:00pm: A few wrecks make Zachery King question the future of his season.

LOONS: A CRY FROM THE MIST (Cottage Life) 8:00pm: Biologists try to figure out why North American loons are in danger.

CHRISTMAS IN LOVE (Super Channel Heart & Home) 8:00pm: Ellie must decide if she should trust the big city CEO she is falling for, but more importantly, whether to take a leap of faith in making her own dreams come true.

TRAVEL MAN: 48 HOURS IN… (CBC) 8:30pm:  Richard Ayoade is joined by comedian Ellie Taylor for a 2-day meander around Madrid, following an itinerary rich in art, ham, history and histrionics.

STORIES FROM THE LAND (APTN) 8:30pm: The last two active traditional net fishermen on one of Canada's largest lakes wonder what the future holds as fishing operations dwindle to a sliver of what they used to be.

THE PASSIONATE EYE (CBC) 9:00pm: Wall Street Blues; A band of online day traders managed to completely disrupt the stock market, the global financial industry and maybe, the future of who gets to make big money and how.

TRANSPLANT (CTV) 9:00pm: Bash's life is scrutinized during his citizenship interview; when treating survivors of a building fire, Theo needs Bash's help with a scared young boy; Mags helps a recovering addict who swallowed her keys; June and Bash treat estranged brothers.

THE SCORE (Crave) 9:00pm: Two small-time crooks drive to a secluded cafe for a big score.

CANADA'S DRAG RACE: CANADA VS. THE WORLD (Crave 2) 9:00pm (SERIES PREMIERE): It’s an all-star season of sorts with Canadians, as well as, foreign nations featured including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

CRIME BEAT (Global) 10:00pm: Glen Davis was a multi-millionaire philanthropist, well-known for his generosity; he and his wife donated millions to charities, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

[lindsaywesker]

Good morning! I hope you slept well and feel rested? Currently sitting at my desk, in my study, attired only in my blue towelling robe, enjoying my first cuppa of the day. Welcome to Too Much Information Tuesday!

To help sex workers get more business during the 16th century, officials in Venice designated a bridge where women could stand and display their breasts. The bridge still stands to this day and is called 'Ponte delle Tette' or 'the bridge of tits'.

Clinomania is the excessive desire to lay in bed all day.

The word ‘friends’ is said in every episode of ‘Friends’.

Women burn more calories during sex if they reach orgasm. If.

The expiration date on water bottles is for the bottle, not the water.

‘Suckabob’ was a 19th-century variant of ‘lollipop’.

One billion people speak English. That's one in every seven on Earth.

According to her last wishes, Elizabeth Taylor arrived late for her own funeral.

There are more phone calls placed on Mother's Day than any other day of the year.

Ford has a robot called Robutt that simulates a large man sitting on its car seats.

Great news! Just got a job as senior director at Old MacDonald's Farm. I'm the CIEIO.

People who enjoy helping others and/or spending money on others tend to be less stressed and happier.

A waterside restaurant in Perth, Australia, hands out water pistols so that diners can repel the seagulls.

A study from the University of Warwick has determined that Britons are genetically predisposed to be grumpy.

4,000 children under the age of two are listed as owners of British companies.

Senior citizens in New Zealand can join ‘coffin clubs’, where they meet up once a week to make and decorate their own coffins.

In Japan, there is a hotel where you can stay for just $1 a night. The catch is you must agree to live stream your entire stay on YouTube.

There’s a caterpillar that eats coca leaves and vomits cocaine onto its predators.

In 2013, a man bought a house next to his ex-wife just to install a giant middle finger statue for her to see every day.

If you keep smelling something that is not really there, you may be experiencing the earliest symptoms of schizophrenia.

Mosquito repellents don't repel, they hide you. The spray blocks the mosquito's sensors so they don't know you are there.

The birth rate in Japan is so low that adult nappy sales are rapidly overtaking those of babies’ nappies.

37% of Britons think their jobs are meaningless and don’t contribute to the world.

The human anus can expand up to eight inches. A raccoon can fit through a four-inch hole.

If you commit a crime in North Korea, it's not just you that goes to prison, your children and your grandchildren get sent to prison too.

02.10.22: Boy George signs up for ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’ after landing the show’s biggest-ever pay check (rumoured to be a million dollars!)

A Californian couple named Helen & Les Brown were both born on December 31st, 1918. They married for 75 years and both lived to the age of 94 until they both died in 2013, one day apart.

Over thinking is a special form of fear. This fear becomes worse when adding anticipation, memory, imagination, and emotion together.

The first recorded use of the word ‘woke’ to mean well informed, was in a New York Times glossary of ‘words you might hear in Harlem’ from 1962.

Aretha Franklin was tracked for 40 years by the FBI, which used false phone calls, surveillance, infiltration and highly placed sources in an attempt to tie her to ‘extremists’.

At the 1967 South African Grand Prix, the Mexican national anthem couldn’t be found, so the organisers played the ‘Mexican Hat Dance’ instead.

“Stupidity is knowing the truth, seeing the truth but still believing the lies. And that is more infectious than any other disease.” (Professor Richard Feynman)

The rate of unexpected winter deaths in the UK is twice that of Finland, yet London’s January temperature is 10C higher than Helsinki. At least one death every 52 minutes caused by living in a cold house.

The script for award-winning series ‘Squid Game’ was originally completed by creator Hwang Dong-hyuk back in 2009, but was rejected by studios for 10 years for being "too violent" and "too unrealistic". Now, in 2022, it sits at No. 1 as the most-watched show in Netflix history.

In 1915, a woman arrived late at her sister's funeral. When she arrived, she demanded that her sister's coffin be raised so she could see her one last time. Upon opening the coffin, her sister, Essie Dunbar, sat up and smiled at her. She went on to live another 47 years.

Okay, that’s enough information for one day. Have a tremendous and tumultuous Tuesday! I love you all.

[ericduisme]

Hamilton Garden photoshoot in progress

I'm nearing the end of a long-awaited project. In recent weeks I've completed 80% of the project and the principal photography is now completely finished.

Hamilton Gardens is not just an ordinary botanical garden, but a cultural masterpiece located in Hamilton, New Zealand. Unlike traditional gardens, it is a series of themed spaces, each representing the artistic and historical significance of a different culture. The gardens are designed to be immersive, bringing visitors into a narrative space where the garden design, architecture, and plants work together to tell a unique story.

My concept for this project was to delve deeper into these cultural stories through my lens. Photography is a powerful medium that can showcase the grand design of each garden as well as reveal the intricate details of its cultural symbolism.

Hamilton Gardens is a 54-hectare park located on both sides of the Waikato River. It is the most popular attraction in the Waikato region, attracting more than 1 million visitors each year. This year is a brand new beginning. Since September 18, Hamilton Garden has ushered in a huge upgrade. Updated the graphics of many gardens, and added a new medieval garden.

[industrynewsupdates]

Plant-Based Meat Market Size, Share, Growth And Analysis Report 2024 - 2030

The global plant-based meat market size was valued at USD 7.17 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.4% from 2024 to 2030. 

As more individuals become aware of the health risks associated with excessive consumption of red and processed meats, they are actively seeking healthier alternatives. Plant-based meats are often perceived as lower in saturated fats and cholesterol than animal-based ones, making them an attractive option for health-conscious consumers. This shift in dietary preferences is supported by a growing body of research linking plant-based diets to various health benefits, including reduced risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Plant-based Meat Market 

As plant-based products become more mainstream, they are increasingly available in various formats, from ready-to-eat meals to frozen patties and deli slices. This wide range of offerings caters to different culinary preferences and lifestyles, making it easier for consumers to incorporate plant-based options into their diets. Additionally, the rise of plant-based meat in fast-food chains and restaurants has enhanced accessibility and visibility, helping to normalize these products and attract a broader audience.

Plant-based meat is becoming an integral part of a vegan diet, wherein the adoption of a vegetarian lifestyle that is devoid of animal-based foods becomes the norm. According to Redefine Meat Ltd., there are around 80 million vegans worldwide, and the number constantly increases yearly. Consumers are inclined towards veganism for health and ethical reasons, while some other consumer groups are opting for vegetarian ingredients to avoid animal cruelty and to consume sustainable food & beverage products. Furthermore, soy as a raw material consists of all the standard (nine) amino acids, which are essential for the growth of the human body. Its ability to enhance the water absorption, solubility, emulsification, viscosity, anti-oxidation, and texture of the final product is likely to drive the demand for soy in plant-based meat products over the upcoming years.

Plant-based Meat Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global plant-based meat market report based on source, product, type, end-use, storage, and region

Source Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Soy

• Pea

• Wheat

• Others

Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Burgers

• Sausages

• Patties

• Nuggets, Tenders & Cutlets

• Grounds

• Others

Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Chicken

• Pork

• Beef

• Fish

• Others

End-User Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Retail

• HORECA (Hotel/Restaurant/Café)

Storage Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• Refrigerated Plant-based Meat

• Frozen Plant-based Meat

• Shelf-stable Plant-based Meat

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

• North America

o U.S.

o Canada

o Mexico

• Europe

o U.K.

o Germany

o France

o Italy

o The Netherlands

• Asia Pacific

o China

o Japan

o Australia & New Zealand

• Central & South America

o Brazil

o Argentina

• Middle East & Africa

o UAE

Browse through Grand View Research's Processed & Frozen Foods Industry Research Reports.

• The global celtic salt market size was estimated at USD 685.1 million in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.0% from 2024 to 2030. 

• The global date syrup market size was estimated at USD 376.0 million in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2024 to 2030.

Key Plant-based Meat Company Insights

Some of the key companies in the plant-based meat market include Beyond Meat, Vegetarian Butcher, Amy’s Kitchen, Inc. and others.

• Beyond Meat products include Beyond Burger, designed to replicate the flavor and juiciness of beef burgers, and Beyond Sausage, which offers a similar experience to pork sausage. Additionally, they have expanded their offerings to include ground beef alternatives and various other products that cater to consumers seeking healthier and more sustainable dietary options.

• Amy’s Kitchen features an extensive line of plant-based meat alternatives that appeal to vegetarians, vegans, and flexitarians seeking healthier options. These products include veggie burgers, meatless meatballs, and various ready-to-eat meals that incorporate high-quality ingredients such as organic vegetables, grains, and legumes.

Key Plant-based Meat Companies:

The following are the leading companies in the plant-based meat market. These companies collectively hold the largest market share and dictate industry trends.

• Beyond Meat

• Impossible Foods Inc.

• Maple Leaf Foods (Field Roast & Maple Leaf)

• Vegetarian Butcher

• Conagra, Inc. (Gardein Protein International)

• Kellogg NA Co. (MorningStar Farms)

• Quorn

• Amy's Kitchen, Inc.

• Tofurky

• Gold&Green Foods Ltd.

• Sunfed

• VBites Foods Limited

• Kraft Foods, Inc.

• Lightlife Foods, Inc

• Trader Joe's

• Yves Veggie Cuisine (The Hain-Celestial Canada, ULC)

• Marlow Foods Ltd. (Cauldron)

• Ojah B.V.

• Moving Mountains

Recent Developments

• In September 2023, Novozymes A/S launched the Vertera ProBite solution, which aims to transform the plant-based meat sector. This new product enhances the texture of plant-based meat alternatives, making them more appealing to consumers who may be hesitant to switch from traditional meat products. By improving these alternatives' mouthfeel and overall sensory experience, Novozymes hopes to encourage a broader audience to embrace plant-based diets.

• In August 2023, Nestlé unveiled its first shelf-stable plant-based minced meat, marking a significant step in its commitment to expanding its vegan product offerings. This new range caters to the growing demand for meat alternatives among consumers seeking healthier and more sustainable dietary options.

• In May 2021, Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL launched its product line called “MEAT ZERO” The MEAT ZERO range aims to provide consumers with high-quality, meat-like products that are entirely plant-based, catering to the increasing number of individuals seeking healthier and more environmentally friendly dietary options.

Order a free sample PDF of the Plant-based Meat Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research. 

[travelloverr]

Auckland War Memorial Museum: A Comprehensive Guide

Overview of Auckland War Memorial Museum

The Auckland War Memorial Museum, also known as the Auckland Museum, is one of New Zealand’s most important cultural and historical institutions. Located in the Auckland Domain, the city's oldest park, the museum stands as a tribute to the country's rich heritage and its contributions to global history, particularly in the context of war and peace.

Significance and Appeal of the Museum

The museum is renowned for its extensive collections that cover a wide array of subjects, including New Zealand's natural history, military history, and Maori and Pacific cultures. Its architectural grandeur, combined with its comprehensive and engaging exhibits, makes it a must-visit destination for locals and tourists alike.

Location

Geographical Information

Auckland War Memorial Museum is situated in the Auckland Domain, a central location in Auckland City. The park provides a scenic setting with its vast green spaces, gardens, and walking paths, enhancing the museum's appeal. The exact address is The Auckland Domain, Parnell, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.

Nearby Landmarks and Accessibility

The museum is conveniently located near several other notable landmarks, including the Auckland Art Gallery, Sky Tower, and the Parnell Rose Gardens. Public transportation options, such as buses and trains, make it easily accessible from different parts of the city.

Read More Related Blog 

Top 15 Fun Things To Do In Auckland

History of the Museum

Founding and Early Years

The Auckland War Memorial Museum was established in 1929, originally conceived as a memorial to honor those who served in World War I. It was built with public donations and stands as a symbol of the nation's gratitude and remembrance.

Major Milestones and Expansions

Over the years, the museum has undergone several expansions and renovations. Significant milestones include the addition of the Maori and Pacific galleries, the construction of the atrium in the 2000s, and the continual development of its educational and research facilities.

Architecture and Design

Exterior Features

The museum’s exterior is an exemplary model of neo-classical architecture. Designed by Grierson, Aimer, and Draffin, the building is characterized by its grand columns, detailed friezes, and impressive façade that command attention from visitors.

Interior Layout and Galleries

Inside, the museum is thoughtfully designed with multiple levels and galleries. Each section is dedicated to different themes, from natural history and cultural artifacts to war memorials and contemporary exhibitions. The atrium serves as a central hub, connecting various parts of the museum and providing a spacious area for special events.

Read More Park Blogs

Thekkady Rose Park

Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park

War Memorials and Tributes

War Memorial Galleries

The war memorial galleries are a poignant part of the Auckland Museum. They feature a comprehensive collection of military artifacts, personal stories, and detailed accounts of New Zealand’s involvement in global conflicts.

Honoring New Zealand’s Military History

These galleries honor the sacrifices of New Zealand’s soldiers and civilians during times of war. They include exhibits on both World Wars, the ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) campaigns, and other military engagements, ensuring their contributions are remembered and respected.

How to Reach

By Public Transport

The museum is easily accessible by public transport. Several bus routes service the Auckland Domain, and the nearby train stations provide convenient connections to the rest of the city.

By Car and Parking Information

For those traveling by car, ample parking is available at the museum and within the Auckland Domain. Parking fees apply, and it is recommended to arrive early during peak times to secure. Continue Reading