#local Sushi bar

[gastronominho]

Roku Gin celebra a primavera no "The Best of Every Season"

Cinco casas em São Paulo e no Rio de Janeiro contarão com uma carta de drinks exclusivos durante o mês de setembro

Cinco casas em São Paulo e no Rio de Janeiro contarão com uma carta de drinks exclusivos durante o mês de setembro A primavera no Japão é marcada pela celebração das flores de cerejeira com o tradicional hanami, onde a comunidade se reúne sob as árvores floridas para piqueniques e festivais. Essa estação de renovação e beleza também se reflete em bebidas como o Roku Gin, que captura a essência…

[bunnyswritings]

50 (unconventional) date ideas for your otp

Attend an art fair together

Go on a hot air balloon ride

Furniture shopping date at Ikea

Visit an aquarium and have dinner in an underwater restaurant

Have a picnic at sunrise or sunset

Play 20 questions to get to know the other better

Take a pottery class together

Attend a silent disco party

Go indoor skydiving / bungee jumping

Take an aerial yoga class

Rent a couple bike and ride around town

Attend a poetry / book event

Have fun at a board game cafe

Visit a psychic and have fortunes read

Have a dine in the dark experience

Take a cooking / baking class together

Challenge each other at arcade games

Have a home movie night with popcorn and homemade nachos

Ice-skating when one doesn't know how to

Take a painting class / go for an art jam session together

Attend a play together

Go scuba diving together

Take a dance class together

Visit an animal sanctuary / shelter to volunteer together

Go for a kayaking adventure

Go to a comedy show

Organise a get-together potluck event with friends

Go to a drive-in movie theatre

Attend a beer or wine tasting event

Go to an escape room together

Visit an amusement park

Sign up for a themed run together

Go stargazing at a local observatory

Visit an art museum or gallery and have their caricatures drawn

Assemble a lego set together

Go on a scenic drive and have a picnic

Go on a nature trail walk together

Go camping together

Attend a themed costume party

Go to a local fair or festival

Take a horseback riding lesson together

Pet-sit a friend's pet together for a day

Play mini golf together

Have a spa day together

Take a sailing lesson together

Go rock climbing / bouldering together

Go to a karaoke bar

Take a sushi making class together

Visit an old bookstore or library

Play a game of laser tag

[petrapalerno]

✨Free Monster & Alien Smut✨

Hi, I'm Petra Palerno and write filthy otherworldly smut. I mostly dabble in novels but have recently decided to give erotic shorts a try here and on my patreon.

Pretty much all content on this blog is NSFW. Minors do not engage. For TW/CW check individual stories.

✨MASTER LIST

CURRENT FREE STORY

✨Abducted by Moonlight

A werewolf stalks his newly found human mate in the forest when a ufo abducts them both. What happens when the alien tries to stake a claim on her as well?

TW/CW [a WIP, will be added to]: Stalking, consensual sex, shifting, breaking bones, abduction, aliens, violence.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Like my writing? Support me by reading my other works!

✨Love on the Korlyan Moon

Out now everywhere books are sold

A bubble babe is unknowingly dropped into a mysterious ocean by the Deenz transport ship. Lena, a tattoo artist from the Twin Cities, is sure she's going to die as the bubble she's in sinks deeper and deeper. She's rescued by Kitaico, a color-shifting tentacled alien, and unknowingly takes his mating venom. She must cycle through heats all while trying to resist her attraction to Kitaico.

✨All I Wanted Was Sushi but I got Abducted By Aliens Instead*

Book #1 in the Bubble Babes Series

Opal is trying her best in the Midwest after the sudden death of her parents. Everything comes to a crashing halt as she's abducted by aliens and forced to work as a human dancer for extraterrestrial enjoyment. A chance encounter with an alien prince while stuck in a traffic jam might just change the trajectory of Opal's new life in space.

✨All I Wanted Was To Become A Scientist But Now I've Got An Alien Boyfriend*

Book #2 in the Bubble Babes Series

“Sometimes I think it would have been easier if I hadn’t accepted the free shower at the hot alien’s apartment.”

☆JESSY

For the past few years, my life has kind of blown. On Earth, I dedicated my entire existence to science, even if my peers dismissed me as a pretty face. When I got abducted by aliens, I was forced to dance in a bubble for extra-terrestrial enjoyment.

I can’t get anyone to take me seriously even in space.

When I escaped by crashing my alien captor’s bus, Gra’eth saved me from drowning and even offered me a place to stay. He keeps telling people I’m his mate, even though I keep telling him the human word for what we are is roommates, but he refuses to say it that way. Sometimes I can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic or serious—and for my very literal neurodivergent brain, that’s a big problem.

☆GRA’ETH

I never expected to have to save Jessy, and I certainly never expected for this strange human to be my mate. Her idea of fun would be to take apart my data pad only to see if she could put it back together again, which sounds like torture to me.

I’ve convinced her to stay in my apartment as what she calls a roommate. The mating bond won’t let me let her leave, but humans can’t even feel it. I don’t know how to keep things friendly when just the smell of her hair is enough to send me into a mating frenzy.

I don’t want to make her uncomfortable, but I can’t keep fighting the pull of this bond. This little speckled human will be the death of me.

✨All I Wanted Was a Glass of Vino but an Alien Duke Kidnapped Me Instead *

Book #3 in the Bubble Babes Series

The Bubble Babe series continues in this standalone novel. 

Will an aquatic alien duke be able to reconcile the fact that his fated mate is a small, mouthy, human woman who can't swim? Will that human be able to love him despite his scars and the fact that he's keeping her captive? 

☆MARTA

The reality of being a mob boss' daughter is anything but glamorous, despite what one might think. In the absence of true freedom, my only companion was my loyal dog, Bruno. When he passed, I felt like my life had hit rock bottom. But when aliens abducted me from my pity party in a local wine bar, I realized how wrong I was. As if things couldn't get any worse, I woke up in an alien duke's closet, forced to rely on a giant alien pleasure toy as my only means of defense. All I know is that the gaudy duke can’t stand me…and the feeling is mutual.

☆RAF’ERE

Throughout my dukedom, I have dedicated myself to restoring the fi'len species to their natural aquatic habitats. How in the goddess's name am I supposed to do that when this human is my mate? Despite her mouthiness, the tiny human cannot swim. Did that stop me from stealing her cryopod from a crashed ship and locking it in my closet? Absolutely not. I also didn’t expect her to wake up and demand answers, either. But I can’t expect my people to look at me to lead if a human stands beside me, despite how much my body burns for hers. The dilemma arises: should I prioritize the goddess's wishes or grant her the freedom she deserves, joining the other human refugees?

This erotic alien romance is part 3 of the Bubble Babes series. It can be read as either a standalone or as a continuation of earlier books. This book features a 5’2” plus sized Italian-American female male character and a 7’6” aquatic alien duke as the male main character. Tropes include Kidnapping, size difference, enemies to loves, reformed playboy, alien romance, fated mates, and forced proximity. This full-length novel (67K words) ends with a HEA.

[lexithwrites]

Fluff wolfstar headcannons?

(Fave thing to do tg, fave book to read, fave music to listen to tg ect) :D

I’ve missed my boys!

- Remus is really bad with alarms, he’ll set so many but still sleep through them whilst Sirius can wake up a minute or so before his (Sirius wakes him up with kisses when they start sharing a bed)

- Sirius, to me at least, loves rock but he also loves classics like 80’s and 70’s stuff too, I feel like he wanted to branch out with his taste when he met his friends and so he took a lot of inspo. I also love Sirius as a drag performer so he listens to a lot of iconic queer artists and songs too

- Remus loves softer indie music, but also David Bowie, the smiths etc, he will listen to ANYTHING Sirius recommends to him tho (he has a 12 hour playlist just of Sirius’ songs)

- they love getting ramen and sushi together, Remus always gets giddy over the food on the conveyer belts

- they sometimes swap clothes but because of their different styles it’s very obvious

- when Sirius has a gig at pride or at a local bar Remus is always helping him with makeup and his outfits, and always sitting front row for him

- Remus isn’t confrontational or loud but if he has a couple drinks his ‘Sirius side’ comes out (his boyfriend inspires him)

- I love picturing them both playing guitar and singing, I feel like they’ll play songs for each other all the time or duet

- Sirius taught Remus how to play piano

- Remus goes quiet a lot so he is always touching Sirius in some way to show him he’s there

- Sirius flirts with Remus constantly just to make him blush and flustered

- they hang out with other people a lot too, they aren’t always together, but being together alone is their favourite thing to do

- I’m a Remus loves pottery painting truther and do they go once a month? Of course

[sashaisready]

Chapter Seven - First time for everything

Bucky Barnes Mob AU x Femme Reader

You're hard at work in Pepper's Bakery when notorious mob boss James 'Bucky' Barnes darkens your doorway one typical afternoon, and life is never the same again.

18+ - see Masterlist for full list of warnings

Chapter 8

Series Masterlist

Back at your apartment that evening, you distractedly pick at your dinner with your fork as you scroll on your phone. The rest of your day had passed smoothly. Wanda had rushed back to the front after Bucky left, just as shocked as you were about how that had gone. You could tell she was concerned, worried about just what exactly you were letting yourself in for.

You were too.

There had been no accompanying SUVs on your journey home and you had decided to trust Bucky when he told you the trailing had stopped, but you couldn’t help the occasional peek over your shoulder to be sure.

You’d fallen down into a bit of a rabbit hole, scouring the web for anything and everything on James ‘Bucky’ Barnes. There were thousands of results. News articles, forum posts, photos, social media speculation, court transcripts. Violence, corruption, notoriety. It seemed he’d cleaned up his act in recent years, exploring more legitimate business options than mob activity – formal luncheons and galas rather than shoot outs and cement shoes. He had multiple companies in his name and owned a smattering of businesses throughout the city and along the east coast. Auto shops, nightclubs, construction. Still, there were suggestions that he wasn’t entirely on the straight and narrow – with accusations of fronts and money laundering littered across the web, although nothing proven. Occasionally his business rivals seemed to disappear into thin air, their digital trail coming to an abrupt end with a small news article about them going missing and police 'doing everything they can'.

You shuddered as you considered the implications.

But he also did a lot of good. He donated generous sums to philanthropic causes and charities. He ran fundraising events and sat on non-profit boards. He’d opened a centre for children in one of the city’s most deprived boroughs, and regularly paid college tuition for bright teens whose families couldn’t front the cash themselves.

He clearly enjoyed the finer things that his line of work provided. There were endless pictures of his sports cars, sprawling property and bespoke Italian suits. He was often photographed at the finest restaurants in the city, beautiful women on his arm basking in the paparazzi’s attention.

It was dizzying, intimidating. Worlds away from your rented modest one bed apartment and IKEA furniture, your simple job, your $30 hoodies and Target undies. A fancy night out for you was the local sushi restaurant, or vodka sodas at a dive bar with Wanda. You could barely afford a side salad at some of the places Bucky frequented.

One listicle that got your attention had the headline “The Dating History of  the Notorious James Barnes”. It was an endless inventory of photographs of gorgeous women – socialites, models, It girls…the occasional actress. Each more beautiful than the last, long legs and perfect bone structures, draped in expensive gowns and showing off flawless updos. The kind of women who never seemed to have a bad hair day or a hormonal zit outbreak, just relentlessly glamorous and immaculate. The article spoke about his known womanising, his playboy reputation cemented as he became linked to more and more beauties.

You felt foolish. Here you were shamelessly flirting with Bucky, fantasising about him, giddy with excitement that he’d asked for your phone number. You were nothing like these women, you couldn’t compete with them, or his chic lifestyle. You felt embarrassed for letting yourself get caught up, for briefly thinking you could fit into his world.

Your thoughts are interrupted by a buzzing on the table. Your phone is ringing, an unknown number. You sigh - probably a robot sales call but you answer it regardless.

“Hello?” 

“Evening, Doll” comes a low voice from the other end.

You jump to your feet, your chair squeaking on the floorboards as you feel yourself go rigid. You’re hyper alert, fleetingly guilty as if he is somehow aware of your web sleuthing. Not that he could be annoyed even if he knew, he’d done his homework on you – you could do yours on him.

“Oh…Bucky, hey” you respond timidly as you settle back down in your seat.

He chuckles. “Not quite the enthusiastic response I’d hoped for”.

“Sorry…I was expecting a robocall”.

“A what?”

“Oh you know…one of those automated spam calls you get? They always have a weird robot voice”.

He chuckles again, his laugh is syrupy and smooth and sends sparks through you. “Well, sorry to interrupt your big plans for the evening”.

You know he’s just teasing but in light of everything you’ve just read you cringe, it just further highlights how quiet your life is in contrast to his.

“What can I help you with, Bucky?” you ask tentatively, sitting back down in your chair.

“I’d like to put in a custom order” he says smoothly.

Your stomach drops slightly, disappointed this seems to be a business call rather than a personal one, but not surprised.

“Oh right, sure” you lean over the table to grab a pen and paper. 

“What are you looking for? We do 6-12 inch cakes in any flavour you want – we can write personalised messages in the icing too. Or we have cupcakes…”

“No...no Doll…not that” he protests.

You wriggle in your chair, moving your phone to your other ear. “Ah…um….wha-”

“I’d like a date with the store manager. Maybe Friday, at Gambino’s…say 8pm?” he purrs.

You flush as your heart soars, hardly believing what you’re hearing. A date? With you? You’ve never been to Gambino’s but it’s fancy. Fancy fancy.

“Oh!” you utter in surprise. “Um…are you sure?”

“I’m always sure, Doll” he fires back without missing a beat. You’re glad you’re already sitting down.

You pause for a moment, not quite believing this is happening and that he has asked you out. Those thoughts of him come flooding back. You imagine what his mouth feels like…what it would be like to be held in his arms…how his stubble might scratch against your cheek…

“You still with me?” he asks, breaking you out of your daydream.

You open your mouth to speak. Yes. Yes of course, Bucky!  You want to say. I’d love to! I can’t wait! 

But then you think about that article, all those beautiful women. Those expensive suits. The fancy cars. The paparazzi clamouring for shots of him. You imagine yourself on his arm, your modestly priced evening dress making you stick out like a sore thumb amongst the well-heeled clientele. You imagine the slick restaurant staff giving you a double take, surprised at Bucky’s choice of girl for the evening, raising an eyebrow at you. You imagine that you use the wrong fork, mistake the palate cleanser for dessert, stumble on your cheap heels on the way to the bathroom. You see Bucky, meticulous and assured Bucky who likes everything just so, embarrassed that his date doesn’t understand the unwritten rules of this scene. There’s practically an illuminated sign above your head – a big arrow pointing down to you – She doesn’t belong.

You want to stay in your small bubble with him, harmlessly flirting together in the bakery where the stakes are low and you’re in control. The prospect of the next step, venturing out into the world with him, dipping your toes into the pool of the mob and all that comes with it – is just too daunting.

“Uh…I’m sorry Bucky, I don’t think that would be a good idea” you finally reply, your voice meek and resigned. You don’t even sound like yourself.

There’s silence on the line and you briefly wonder if the call has disconnected until he clears his throat.

“No problem” he growls. 

You can hear the barely restrained anger in his voice. You realise Bucky Barnes must not be used to hearing “no”. Certainly not from women.

“I-” you try to respond, you want to tell him the truth – that you feel uncomfortable, that you don’t fit into his world – either of them, not the mob one and not the affluent businessman one either. Regardless of how much you might want to.

“It’s fine” he interrupts sternly. “Have a good evening”.

He hangs up. You stare at your phone in disbelief for a short while, willing him to call you back so you can tell him you’ve made a mistake.

*

Bucky slams his phone down onto the mahogany table so hard it cracks the screen. His anger swells, furious and embarrassed at your rejection. He was so sure that you were on the same page when the two of you had spoken earlier. You seemed to have forgiven him for the tracking and he must be getting rusty as he was sure he was picking up all the right signals from you. He was so looking forward to getting to know you better, away from the prying ears of his men and Wanda. He wanted to hear that laugh of yours again – outside of your workplace and unrestrained when you were off the clock. He wanted to treat you to a nice meal, make you feel special with the finest food New York had to offer. Maybe later take you home and get to know you even more intimately...

This is why he shouldn’t flirt unless he knows for sure that it’s a done deal.

“That went well” mutters Steve from the desk across the room, not looking up from his paperwork.

Bucky ignores him, rolling his eyes and adjusting his shirt sleeve as he sits down.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that happen before…” Steve smirks. “First time for everything, I guess”.

“Shut up” barks Bucky, tracing the big crack in his phone screen with his finger as he huffs in frustration.

Steve looks over at his best friend. Bucky is fidgeting awkwardly, he looks as if he’s physically trying to shake it off, cracking his neck and attempting to concentrate on his computer screen.

“Can you arrange for this to be fixed please?” Bucky says bluntly, gesturing to his broken phone as his eyes remain on the monitor.

“This girl has really done a number on you, hasn’t she?” Steve smirks.

Bucky meets his eye. His face is stony, livid.

“What did I just say…” he warns.

Steve holds up a hand in surrender. “Sorry. Just…I can’t remember the last time a woman got you this riled up, is all…”

Bucky ignores him again, sighing as he reaches for his whisky tumbler.

[frostedshore]

welcome to the hood i'm currently playing! i used @kestrelteens westbrook cove & moved the deco buildings around to suit my preferences.

Meet Rio Tanaka, fortune sim, he owns the local sushi bar & i'm actually having so much fun running a restaurant in ts2. it is hard because he doesn't have any employee (i'm insane i know) so he needs to be the host, the server, and the chef. but because my hood is so small it's manageable to do all of that and I like the chaos lol. at the front of the restaurant he also have a sushi stand so he also works as the cashier & check out sims that orders take outs💀

Meet Clio Delicate, family sim. She's the prettiest (and the first!) sim i made in ts2. Anyways Clio is my too cool for this neigborhood sim. She paints (bc I wanna see all sims 2 paintings) as a hobby and later in her life i want to make her own an art gallery (which will be the hood's museum). Right now she just works as an artist though.

Clio is sooo messy bc she autonomously have TWO love interests while i was playing with my other sims. When I was playing with the town's baker, which i will introduce later, Clio autonomously kiss this random ass townie named Daryl that spawned in my game

I was so shook but also happy for her bc I want to make a couple & family as soon as possible in my hood bc i moved in a bunch of single sims. BUT THEN once i play Clio's household bc I wanna know the drama between her and Daryl, SHE AUTONOMOUSLY WOOHOO WITH RIO

uhm... clio, this is awkward. Your OTHER love interest is standing RIGHT THERE😭😭😭

I guess it's pretty clear now who Clio will end up with. Although Clio is more attracted to Daryl R.I.P. But because this is my FIRST hood drama, I will make Daryl move into my hood, give him a teeny nose job, and let him roam around for the sake of drama.

In conclusion, Sims 2 is so freaking scary. Anything can happen when you're not playing with your sims. But that's why I like it :3

Next

[copperbadge]

Hey Sam. If you're so inclined, could you recommend a few 'must eat' places in Downtown Chicago? My hotel will be near the Red Line (Grand station) and I'm fine walking a good 10 minutes for awesome food. I'm planning my trip and trying to put together a few food places for lunch and dinner and such. Pizza, burgers, bbq, donuts, steak, sushi..., I'm flexible!

You know, honestly, I don't eat out much anymore so I'm not sure where the best places to get a bite are. I'm going to make some recommendations but they're about to be a mixture of "If you come to Chicago this is somewhere everyone goes" and "This is somewhere Sam personally likes to eat but which you may not go for." :D

So, if you're at Grand, you are pretty much on top of the Weber Kettle Grill. Weber Kettle Grill does GREAT grill food and my parents always want to eat there when they come into town. If you ask to sit at the chef's table, you'll be seated at what looks like a bar, but it also looks all the way down the row of giant indoor grills the chefs use to cook the food. If you want something quieter and less busy they also have a fairly large dining room.

If you want a real Chicago experience, there's a Portillo's pretty close to you (that one's called "Portillo's & Barnelli's"); Portillo's is a local chain that does burgers, dogs, and crucially Italian Beef. Italian Beef is my go-to Chicago food for people who (like me) don't want to eat Deep Dish Pizza. It's a crusty roll filled with shredded braised beef; you can get it with sweet peppers, hot peppers, or no peppers (they might call it "giardinera" which is the local term for the pepper relish they use). If you get it "dipped", once the sandwich is made it's dunked in a flavorful jus before being wrapped up; if you don't like wet bread I'd skip this, but I love it. If you REALLY don't like wet bread, maybe get a Chicago Style hot dog instead. Portillo's is also famous for being The Place Where they make you a milkshake with an entire slice of chocolate cake in it. You can also just get a slice of cake, which is fantastic.

There's also an Al's Italian Beef near you if you want a more local experience. Locals absolutely can and will eat at Portillo's, the food's not better at Al's, it's just a bit more tourist-friendly than Al's tends to be.

If you want that true authentic Chicago deep dish experience (pie crust filled with cheese and then topped with sauce) Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due are very close by; they vie for the dubious honor of having invented the deep dish pizza. I can't recommend it, but if you want it, hit one of those.

If you're not from the midwest and would like to sample a decent approximation of Detroit style deep dish (thick bready crust topped with cheese and then sauce) Jet's Pizza likely delivers to your hotel. I can't recommend going to a Jet's, many of them don't have anywhere to sit and eat, and for a pizza joint they're a bit costly, but it's very good pizza. My Detroit friends say it's a perfectly acceptable pie by their standards.

Volare Ristorante is a nearby hidden gem if you're in the mood for upscale Italian; I really like their pasta, but they are on the pricier end. If you're walking east on Grand to get there, you do have to go under Michigan, and you will likely fear that you will be stabbed and left for dead in this weird underground cavern, but I promise you, it's smelly but safe.

Goddess And The Baker and Beatrix are both good places to pick up breakfast. If you wish to glimpse Hell, the Starbucks Roastery at Michigan and Erie is one of the largest buxes in the country (possibly the world?) and is a FUCKING NIGHTMARE to navigate, but it's certainly an experience.

If you're venturing into the Loop, Russian Tea Time is a fun place to have afternoon tea and the a la carte food is also quite good; they're very close to the Art Institute. There's not much to eat if you're going to the museum campus, and my favorite Greek place closed down, but Minghin Cuisine is a good Chinese place (I've eaten there) and AO Hawaiian Hideout is supposedly some of the best Chinese in the city (I have not eaten there).

If you are craving Chinese, you can also catch the Red Line directly to the Chinatown stop and browse, I've never had a bad meal in Chinatown. When you get off the train, if you go north to the station exit with only stairs, you can exit, look left, and see the "new" Chinatown that's basically an outdoor mall; if you go south to the escalator exit, once you leave turn right and you'll see the big pagoda entrance to "old" Chinatown, which is more shops than restaurants. New Chinatown has some excellent bakeries, and also a Korean fried chicken place, Bonchon, that's extremely good. Usually when I take friends we go to Joy Yee which has a huge menu and also bubble tea.

As a final plug I'll list The Berghoff, which is in the loop (off the Jackson Red Line stop); it's pretty hefty German cuisine, all excellent food, and also is a top notch place to take anyone with gluten issues -- the owners have a kid with a gluten intolerance and the restaurant has an exceptional gluten-free menu with unusually strict protocols to prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen.

And if you want to get a little baked first, you are pretty close to Sunnyside dispensary, which is a very nice dispensary with super friendly people. If you take the Red Line to Roosevelt or are in the area, Grasshopper Club is less expensive, just as friendly, and Black-owned, and they've been my go-to for a couple of months now. At either one you can walk-in to speak to a budtender about what you'd like, or you can preorder online, but be aware that there are limitations on what out-of-staters can purchase. Having sampled most of the gummies out there, I'd recommend Mindy's (any flavor is good but the black cherry is my preferred). Do bring ID, you will be carded.

I hope you enjoy Chicago! If you have more questions feel free to hit me up here or at copperbadge@gmail.com if you'd like to have more of like, a dialogue :) Have fun and eat well!

[lgbtpopcult]

October 2024 wlw entertainment rundown

TV

Lucky My Love, First episode drops October 28th on YouTube

Everything Now, Netflix, October 5

The Fall of the House of Usher, October 12, 2023

Movies

Tripped Up, October 20,

Books, Games, Music etc.

In A World Of Our Own: Chasing Dreams And Love

Sophia Miller, an openly lesbian supermodel, enjoys her solitary life in the bustling heart of New York City. But when her gay millionaire best friend, Chris Anderson, requests her to play his pretend girlfriend for a family gathering in Texas, she can't refuse. After all, Chris is on the brink of becoming the CEO of the billion-dollar Anderson Corp.

Enter Alissa Anderson, the Oxford and Cambridge-educated, closeted lesbian daughter of the conservative and formidable Henry Anderson. With the CEO position at Anderson Corp now up for grabs, Alissa finds herself in a fierce rivalry with her own brother. Ascending to the top of the family business and shattering traditional gender roles has always been her ultimate dream. However, her well-laid plans begin to unravel when she encounters her brother's "girlfriend" at a pivotal family gathering on their Texas ranch.

When Sophia and Alissa's worlds collide at the Anderson estate, everything is on the line: the coveted CEO position, concealed sexual identities, a sham relationship, and a burgeoning real one that threatens to bloom amidst the chaos.

“Sushi for Empress Setsuko” is a cozy and comedic point & click adventure game and yuri dating sim set in a fantastical Japan-inspired land. Follow Mizumi Nagashima as she travels around the Empire, seeing gorgeous views, catching delicious fish, and charming beautiful women.

RELEASE DATE:

3 Oct, 2023

Iris Kelly Doesn't Date

A fake relationship after a horrible one-night stand is anything but an act in this witty and heartfelt new romantic comedy by Ashley Herring Blake.

Everyone around Iris Kelly is in love. Her best friends are all coupled up, her siblings have partners that are perfect for them, and her parents are still blissfully married. And she’s happy for all of them, truly. Iris doesn’t want any of that—dating, love, romance. She’ll stick to her commitment-free hookups, thanks very much, except no one in her life will just let her be. Everyone wants to see her settled down, but she holds firmly to her no dating rule. There’s only one problem—Iris is a romance author facing an imminent deadline for her second book, and she’s completely out of ideas.

Perfectly happy to ignore her problems as per usual, Iris goes to a bar in Portland and meets a sexy stranger, Stefania, and a night of dancing and making out turns into the worst one-night stand Iris has had in her life. To get her mind off everything, Iris tries out for the lead role in a local play, a queer retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, but comes face-to-face with Stefania, whose real name turns out to be Stevie. Desperate to save face in front of her friends, Stevie asks Iris to play along as her girlfriend. Iris is shocked, but when she realizes the arrangement might provide her with some much-needed romantic content for her book, she agrees. As the two women play the part of a happy couple, lines start to blur, and they’re left wondering who will make the real first move....

Moonlight in Garland is a cozy open-ended life-sim video game that sees you making a new life in the bustling metropolis of Garland. Find an apartment and make it perfectly yours, befriend your neighbours, grow your urban garden, solve community problems and experience all the weirdly wonderful stuff that city living offers.

Of course, city life isn’t all farmers markets and fancy coffee. Will you step in to stop the heritage building from being torn down and preserve a piece of history? Look after the neighbourhood so more residents stick around? Figure out which jerk is stealing packages from the mail room? Be swept up in a whirlwind romance along the way?

[tokyogems]

Japanese Local Foodie's Recommendations on What to Eat on Your Trip to Tokyo!

There's SO many good things to eat in Japan that it might be confusing or overwhelming. If you want to expand your options besides just ramen and sushi, please check out some of my personal recommendations of dishes and restaurants! I want everyone who comes to Japan to have the best food experience ☺︎

These are some shops I've picked that I would recommend to someone on a first or second visit to Japan, located in areas that you would most likely visit if you're in Tokyo. Please let me know if you'd like a separate cafe/sweets, or more niche shops/other cuisines list as well!

Check out my instagram & youtube for other Life in Japan content!

Yakiniku 焼肉 Japanese BBQ

Kintan | Bebu-ya | Fufutei

Gyukatsu 牛カツ Fried Japanese Beef Cutlets

Gyukatsu Motomura | Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu

Tonkatsu とんかつ Fried Pork Cutlets

Katsukichi

Gyutan 牛タン Beef tongue

Kamamoto Tanbei | Negishi | Isshin Tansuke

Okonomiyaki お好み焼き

Daikonman

Shabushabu しゃぶしゃぶ Japanese hot pot

Onyasai | Tsukada

Izakaya 居酒屋 Japanese local bar

Himawari | Chiba-chan |

Kushikatsu 串カツ Deep fried skewers 

Kushikatsu Tanaka

Teishoku 定食 Japanese set meal with several dishes

Ootoya | Yayoiken

Udon うどん　

Yamashita Honki Udon | Tsurutontan

Tsukemen つけ麺 Dipped Noodles

Enji

Mazesoba 台湾まぜそば Mixed Noodles

Kokoro

Hokkaido Soup Curry 北海道スープカレー

Suage

Bars/fancy chill night vibes (not Japanese food)

Rigoletto | Cafe Legato

I will update this whenever I find a new place to recommend!

[foreveratlas]

Find My Lost

There are thousands of little coffee shops just like this,

Nestled deep within the thousands of cities and towns that are just like mine.

Thousands of cute, quaint little parks, local book stores, and a brewery on every corner,

All done up and down in pseudo-originality yet eerily replicating some other source's design and heart.

Your favorite pizza place exists here, too, just like my favorite sushi bar can be found downtown there,

Every little novel concept is a facsimile of some unassuming creative concept.

So when I say, my time in this town is coming to a close,

That is not to say I wont find every comfort once more, nestled near wherever I call home next.

In fact, leaving to find a new sense of me, is more like I am leaving to regain something lost--

Because where it may not exist here, we know every city's heart beats the same,

Making my odds of finding myself all the more great than if I were to remain

Waiting for some conclusion to rain down upon me, negating all of the effort

I took in order to ensure that my story continues long after I am forgotten.

I'm ready to move on, to know peace, to know comfort.

Knoxville is hardly a place to sleep now

That nothing is keeping me tied to her.

[avengersfantasies]

A Night With Him in Bucharest - 2

Summary: It's been three years since your son was born. The two of you are out at dinner one night when you come across a ghost from your past. After telling him that James is his son, you make another confession to him once you realize who he is.

What to expect: making out

Author's note: Please let me know what you guys think! I love your feedback and comments

Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!

Taglist: @pattiemac1 @justsebstan @winterslove1917 @crist1216 @lady-loki-barnes-djarin

Being a single mom was complicated to say the least. It was, however, extremely rewarding. Any chance you got, you’d take your son out for some fun, whether it be to a movie, the park, or a simple dinner at a restaurant…that’s where you two were. James loved Chinese food – especially sushi, so you and he frequented a local restaurant where the staff knew you well. Almost as soon as you discovered you were pregnant, you made the move to High Town in Madripoor for the safety of you and your son.

            “I wanna try new sushi,” the three-year-old said as he looked over the menu. “Wanna try with me, momma?”

            “Sure buddy,” you smiled. “You pick.”

The brown-haired, blue-eyed boy looked over the menu and picked out a yummy sounding sushi, and you placed the order when the waiter came over. James was about to start pre-k, and the two of you sat and spoke about how you were going back-to-school shopping the next day.

“Can we go to that big store?” he asked – sipping his Sprite.

You chuckled – knowing exactly what store he was talking about. “Yes.” Listening to him talk about how excited he was made you smile as you simultaneously looked around the restaurant. Before long, you noticed a man sitting at the bar drinking. You swore he looked familiar. You must’ve stared at him too long because he turned his head and looked over at you – those piercing blue eyes bringing you back to that night in Bucharest. “Oh no,” you whispered to yourself – quickly looking away and back to the menu in front of you.

“What’s oh no, momma?”

You forced a smiled. “Nothing buddy.”

It was too late, however. You had drawn his attention, and unfortunately, he had recognized you as well.

            “Well, well,” he spoke – that voice making your heart flutter. “Long time no see.”

“Y-Yeah,” you stuttered. “I guess it has been.”

“Momma?” James wearily looked at the stranger. “Who’s this?”

“This is uh…one of momma’s old um…friends,” you explained hesitantly – hoping beyond all hope that he’d buy it and not question it anymore. If there was one thing he got from you it was his love of questioning everything.

“Oh!” James exclaimed and turned to look at Bucky. “Do you wanna sit with me and my momma?”

“Buddy, I don’t know if --,”

“I’d love to,” Bucky smiled – sitting next to the three-year-old.

“My name is James,” your son introduced himself.

Bucky chuckled. “Woah! That’s my first name!” he exclaimed. “I go by Bucky, though.”

Your cheeks burned red at the realization that you named your son after the man, whose first name you believed you knew, you had a one night stand with. “W-Wow,” you coughed. “That’s really cool, huh buddy?”

“Ya!” It was an awkward few moments as you, James, and Bucky sat at the table – the three-year-old eager to try the new sushi. “This is so good, momma!” You smiled and nodded. “I gotta go to the bathroom,” he slid out of the booth. “Can you walk me to bathroom?"

You couldn’t help but chuckle at his cuteness. “Of course, buddy.” With that, you walked James to the boys bathroom and stood outside the door as he went in – leaving you and Bucky a few minutes alone when he walked up.

“So uh,” Bucky began – causing you to look down. “How old is he?”

“Uh…T-Three,” you answered nervously, unsure about how he would react to the news.

“Three.” Bucky repeated and hummed. “Who…who’s his father?”

Your heart pounded in your chest. You knew you couldn’t lie to him – if nothing more, you did want him in James’ life in some way. He deserved to at least know who his father was.

“You are,” you exhaled deeply – your voice barely rising above a whisper. As if on cue, James came out of bathroom – excited to finish up his meal. Bucky’s eyes stayed glued on you and you fidgeted with the napkin on the table when you sat back down.

“We need to talk,” Bucky leaned over and spoke softly.

You nodded. “Yeah, we do.”

“Momma…you said it’s bad to tell secrets,” your son teased.

You feigned a look of shock. “You’re so right, buddy! But sometimes grown-ups have important things to talk about.”

            You and James finished your meals and decided to head out. When the waiter came over to collect your card for the payment, however, Bucky simply handed a $100 bill and told him to keep the change. The waiter smiled, and you gave Bucky an annoyed look before getting out of the booth and heading outside.

            “Hey, buddy?” you called out to your son. “Go wait in the car. Momma will be there in a minute.”

            “Okay, momma.”

Once James was in the car, you turned to face Bucky and sighed. “You didn’t need to do that.”

“Do what?”

“Buy our meals…I’ve been perfectly fine for the last three years with supporting him on my own.”

“Exactly,” Bucky answered. “You’ve been raising our son that we made all by yourself. How is that fair?”

“Would’ve reach out, but I didn’t even know your last name.”

“Barnes,” he answered. “And you’ve seen me before our night together.”

“Have I?”

“Remember the Winter Soldier?” he asked in a low voice. “That was me.”

Your eyes widened at the realization of who he actually was. “Bucky…we need to talk. Now. You’re in danger.” He looked at you with raised eyebrows. “Come with me.”

Quickly, you led Bucky over to your car and began driving to your apartment.

“Is your friend coming over?” James asked with excitement.

“Yes he is,” you answered – forcing a smile. The drive to your apartment was quiet – the tension between you and Bucky almost suffocating you two. “Hey, buddy? When we get home, I need you to go play in your room.”

“Okay, momma.”

You exhaled in relief – honestly happy that this was all coming out now.

You pulled up to your apartment – a nice two bedroom two bathroom. Once inside, James bolted off to his room, and you and Bucky sat down in the living room.

“So, what’d you mean I’m in danger?” he asked – genuinely concerned. Instead of responding, you took a folder out of a draw in the locked end table. “What’s this?”

“Open it.”

He did as told and only grew more confused. “What am I lookin’ at?”

“When we met in Bucharest, I knew who you were, but I didn’t know who you were,” you explained. “I only knew your face and where you could be found…nothing else about you.”

“So, how did you only know my face?” he questioned– flipping through the folder and noticing neither his full name or alias was anywhere in the file. Only his picture and possible locations were printed on the papers.

“Bucky…,” your voiced trailed and grew soft, “I worked for Hydra.” He looked at you upon hearing your confession. “I was sent to assassinate you...and now that I know you were the Winter Soldier, I understand why.” His eyes looked in yours for some kind of tell that you were lying, but there was no tell. “I’m like you.”

“You mean you’re a…”

“Yeah,” you interrupted. “I was a Sergeant in the Army for four years before I was captured by Hydra…they took control of my mind, and I was given my missions. Most went off without a hitch, but with you…somehow I broke free of the control and decided not to.”

“When?”

“When I kissed you…It woke me up,” you answered with tremors in your voice. You took a deep breath. “I knew that Hydra would come after me for failing…I couldn’t even imagine what they’d do to me.” Bucky’s eyes filled with tears – understanding completely where you were coming from and the pain you were feeling and holding inside. “When I found out I was pregnant with James, I came here…to keep us safe.”

Bucky put the folder down on the coffee table and held your face in his hands – looking deep into your eyes with his oceanic blue ones. Suddenly, you felt his lips on yours, and you allowed him access to your mouth – moaning as your tongues danced together. He pulled you onto his lap, and your arms found their way around his neck – your fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. His hands rested on your hips as he held you flush to his body – grinding down on him with a mischievous giggle.

He chuckled. “Remember what happened last time we had sex?”

“Oh believe me…I do.” Your breathing was heavy, and you cunt was soaked. You could feel his hardening length under his jeans which only served to turn you on more. “I also remember how big you are,” you kissed his neck, “How amazing you felt.”

“I remember that too,” he chuckled – kissing your lips once more. “I…don’t want just a hook up again.”

“What do you want?”

“Maybe…maybe we could try to be a family,” he suggested. “I hate that you’ve been on your own for the past three years, but…I want to be in our son’s life.”

You gave him a teary smile. “I want that too.”

He brushed a strand of hair behind your ear and held your cheeks. “I wanna get to know each other.”

You smiled and rubbed his back. “Do you like cuddling?”

“Love it.”

“What do you say we go to my bed, turn on a good show or movie, and get to know each other while we cuddle?”

Bucky smiled. “I’d say lead the way.”

[blueiscoool]

Bakhmut, Ukraine

Two years ago, this was a well-to-do city of 70,000, a Ukrainian regional center.

It was well known for the Hotel Atlantic many people use to stay at. Many also loved a very good sushi bar called Izumi at Bakhmut's central square.

It was a city of coffee shops, soccer stadiums, flower beds, fountains, and a famous local sparkling wine brand.

Now see what Russia has turned it into.

It's now a giant grave that will never see any life again.

[hotcryptidsinyourarea]

Falling for the Frogman of Loveland, Ohio

story synopsis: Molly is a 30-something cookbook editor who has decided to move from New York to Loveland, Ohio after a bad breakup and a desire for a fresh start. She is instantly attracted to her neighbor Jeremiah's midwestern charms, but this local guy is much more than meets the eye...

human (she/her) + interdimensional humanoid frogman (he/him)

cw: aint-shit brooklyn hipster ex-boyfriend. millennial real estate angst. Ohio.

Chapter 1

I never thought in a million years I would end up in Ohio of all places. I’ve always fancied myself a real City Girl type. I grew up in the Houston metro area where I was more likely to be perusing the Galleria or eating sushi than I was engaging in any of the more agrarian behaviors outsiders assume Texans are wont to do but largely don’t. And then as soon as I graduated, I made my way to New York to officially start my life in the city I would never leave, as far as I was concerned.

But after 14 years of scraping by, 14 years of overpriced rent and skipping meals in order to afford the bills, I’ve had enough. I sold my furniture, wrapped up my loose ends, and made a break to escape the rat race. 

Okay, maybe I’m not some maverick refusing to buy into the capitalist hustle. My grand escape from New York is a little less Snake Plimson and more desperate-slash-dumped. I was supposed to move in with my boyfriend Mark, the gorgeous and brilliant photographer I had been seeing for three whole years. My lease with my last roommate was coming to an end, so Mark and I decided to do what grown ups supposedly do and finally get a place together to embark on the whole domestic bliss thing. I was absolutely looking forward to having someone to split expenses with, but even more so it felt like I was finally becoming a real adult. Moving in with your boyfriend in New York is, as far as lifestyle accomplishments go, the equivalent of getting married and having kids for people in the burbs. And I was ready to start this next chapter of my life knowing I was on track with the milestones expected of me. 

Unfortunately, Mark was not ready. At the big age of 36, he came to the conclusion that he didn’t know himself well enough to get tied down to a life of commitment– or even the eighteen months our lease would occupy. “There’s so much I still want to do,” he said. “It would be unfair to you if I was here physically, when my heart and soul are somewhere else,” he said. I wanted to deck him.  

Honestly, I can get over the rejection from a man who was self-admittedly only half present, but his dumping me put me in a position far more precarious than heartbreak: sitting there with just six weeks to find an affordable place to live in New York City. Not impossible, mind you, but a significant burden where I will absolutely be forced to make concessions regarding what I want. I was looking down the barrel of a too much for too little housing situation that I’d be stuck in for the foreseeable future. It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that I would end up in a street level roach motel with a toilet in the kitchen for no less than $4000/month. 

But after a few hours online searching for options, the algorithm gods smiled down upon me. I was scrolling through my feed having just double tapped on a high school friend’s baby announcement when I saw it: a targeted ad that read: GET PAID $30,000 TO LIVE AND WORK IN OHIO. 

$30k is not going to make me a wealthy woman, by any means, but it’s a hell of a lot more than I stood to lose trying to find acceptable lodging in the city. And while I had a decent social circle I didn’t want to abandon, my desire to go out and spend my free time (as well as my not-so-free-money) had dwindled as of late. I found myself avoiding the parties and bars where I more often than not spent the evening straining my voice just to have a simple conversation with someone I can barely even hear in favor of staying in to read with a glass of wine while brainstorming fan theories with other members of one of the several fandom Discord channels I belong to. And my job has essentially become 100% remote as of late. Any essential meetings I may need to attend could be covered as a business trip, but considering most of my job involves research and grunt work versus client-facing duties, it likely wouldn’t come up at all. I was free to leave New York. 

That is to say, my curiosity was piqued. So I clicked. And I applied. Then in what felt like a whirlwind courting, I was put into contact with a state worker who walked me through the grant application with the kind of midwestern charm I found refreshing after over a decade of city cynicism. I was then presented with a selection of eligible properties, mortgage options, and even connections to discounted moving services. Seemingly quicker than one could say “buckeye state,” I had a home lined up for me. 

A month later, here I am: driving west to Loveland, Ohio. I would never admit it out loud to my friends in New York, but when I saw the option for the little single story bungalow in a town called Loveland, I was instantly drawn to the romanticism of the name. I’ve never considered myself a romantic. After all, my last relationship was built more upon a desire to live a D.I.N.K. lifestyle than some sort of deep, burning passion between two souls made of the same. But finding this opportunity to start anew in an actual hand-to-god house that I could feasibly own felt more like a whirlwind case of woo than dating men ever did. After all, having a place of one’s own to which she can safely escape has been an unattainable dream for women throughout the recorded centuries. 

I am not so jaded as to deny the appeal of true romantic love; the security of a trusted partner and the comfort of consistent, pleasurable sex is not something I would turn away if it presented itself. But I also accept the fact that those ideals are born from a rather modern mindset born from the emergence of the bored middle class who desired a genteel way to express their own horniness disguised under the veil of “art.” 

Well, I mostly know that. Maybe it’s all I’m allowing myself to believe in order to keep myself from being disappointed when I inevitably never experience the kind of love that makes one write poems and paint portraits. I mean, there’s ample evidence in this world that some people truly do fall in love  I recently read that the English poet and surrealist patron Edward James was so in love with his dancer wife Tilly Losch, he had the impressions of her footsteps woven into the stair’s carpet in their home together, creating a tribute to their shared intimacy and the love he held not just for her physicality, but her contribution towards turning their house into his home. 

Of course, Edward and Tilly ended up divorced. To his credit, James didn’t destroy the carpet upon the dissolution of his marriage and her subsequent campaign to pin it on his bisexuality rather than her infidelity. Instead he ended up donating it to an arts’ college and replaced the one in his home with a new commission– this time, featuring the pawprints of his beloved dog. C’est l’amour! One day you’re in love with your gorgeous dancer wife and her elegant footsteps, the next, she’s outing you in divorce court and you’re making lobster telephones with Salvador Dalí. 

So with all that in mind, I find myself here in the Cincinnati suburbs, heading directly to my new life in a land of love smack dab in the middle of The Heart of It All. But despite how it sounds, I’m not holding out for a hero. I will happily settle for falling in love with my new life and my new house. 

I may not be in love, but I am definitely crushing on my new place. As I pull into the driveway, I feel my heartbeat quicken in excitement. It’s so BIG! I mean, I’m from Houston– I know how big houses can be and this isn’t a mansion by any means. In fact, the listing called it a “modern cottage” style, insinuating that it’s on the smaller side of homes. But I’ve been apartment dwelling in New York for so long, I feel unsure about what to do with so much space to myself. I don’t have even close to enough furnishings to fill this place. There shall be much shopping in my foreseeable future. And there isn’t just a yard– there’s two! I might take up gardening. Maybe I’ll get a dog. My head is swimming with the possibilities. 

I grab my bags from the car and saunter up to the front door. It’s not my first time across the threshold– I flew out here before closing to oversee the inspection and get to know the area. But none of that diminishes my excitement. After all, this is my first home! I get to have a little bit of romanticization within the experience. As a treat.

The first thing to notice when walking into the house is the spacious open-plan kitchen and living area. The kitchen is what really excited me about this house. As an editor for cookbooks, I spend a lot of time there developing and testing. And now with all this room, I can fill it with every specialized tool and rare ingredients my little heart desires. The kitchen island fills the space and features a dozen or so drawers and cabinets of all different shapes and sizes to accommodate all my storage needs. And the appliances are perfect. The refrigerator is a pistachio green color with a design that looks like it came straight out of the 1950s, but it’s actually brand new and energy efficient. The stove features a gas range as well as a griddle top– the kind my Nana used to make us pancakes whenever we’d stay with her over Christmas. There’s also plenty of room for me to set up a desk for when the actual writing needs to occur. I’m going to get so much done!

The rest of the house is perfect for me. The master bedroom faces the east, so the sun pours in as soon as it rises. The connecting bathroom has a huge clawfoot tub AND a corner shower with rain-style fixtures. The second-largest room features floor-to-ceiling built-in bookcases that basically called to me when I first saw them in the listing. I was planning on converting it into a dual-use library-slash-guest room, but now that I’m here, I wonder if I’ll be willing to share it with any guests. Is it considered gauche for a grown woman to commit an entire room to house her hardcover romantasy collection? Well, they might just have to call me fucking gauche because I am seriously considering it.

Besides, the smallest third bedroom could serve as a perfectly adequate guest room. It can barely fit more than a bed and a dresser, but it would work. Between the future library and future guest room is the second bathroom. It’s not as nice as the master bath, but all the fixtures are new and the tiling is a really cute black and white subway style that will go well with the modernist decor I have in mind. 

But decorating, working, filling up bookshelves– those are all to-do items for the near future. At the moment, I should really focus on the tasks at hand. First, I need to unload the rest of my things still in the car. The storage pod I have the majority of my possessions in is scheduled to be in my driveway in a couple days, but I brought the bare necessities along with me. After that, I will need to get some food in me. I make a mental grocery list while I unload the car. 

I got the entire $30k from the grant, but I only needed $20k for the down payment, leaving me with a nice chunk of change to invest in a new-to-me hybrid sedan. I haven’t owned a car since I sold the one I drove in high school after graduation. But considering I grew up in a city that is mostly a collection of zig-zagging freeways and pavement, I am pretty comfortable behind the wheel even after all these years of living by the graces of public transportation. The autonomy granted with a personal vehicle is not lost on me. No more showing up late due to MTA delays or having to avert my eyes from strange male passengers whose hands are conspicuously not in plain sight, though still in visible motion. Instead, I now get to enjoy the comfort of a working air conditioner and the freedom to belt out Beyoncé songs at the top of my lungs. Which is exactly what I do on my drive to the supermarket.

[laidee-flegman]

30 cute date-night ideas that won't break the bank

Picnic in the Park: Grab a blanket, some snacks, and enjoy the great outdoors.

DIY Pizza Night: Make your own pizzas with all the toppings you love.

Netflix & Chill (Literally): Build a fort and binge-watch your favourite shows.

Board Game Battle: Dust off those old board games or grab a new one for some friendly competition.

Stargazing: Head to a spot away from city lights and get lost in the stars.

Food Truck Frenzy: Hit up some local food trucks for a mini taste adventure.

Artistic Adventure: Try your hand at painting or pottery together.

Hiking Excursion: Explore nature trails and enjoy each other's company.

Bike Ride: Pedal your way through the neighbourhood or a scenic trail.

Trivia Night: Find a local pub or join an online trivia game for some brainy fun.

Thrift Store Treasure Hunt: Seek out unique finds in a thrift store.

Ice Cream Sundae Bar: Get creative with toppings and make your own sundaes.

Movie Marathon: Pick a theme and binge-watch a series of movies.

Outdoor Movie Night: Set up a makeshift outdoor theatre in your backyard.

Cook-Off Challenge: Have a friendly competition to see who can cook the best dish.

Bookstore Browse: Explore a bookstore together and pick out books for each other.

Karaoke Night: Belt out your favourite tunes at a karaoke joint or in the living room.

Farmers Market Date: Discover fresh produce and unique goodies at a local farmers market.

Mini Golf: Putt your way through a mini-golf course for some light-hearted fun.

Home Spa Night: Pamper yourselves with DIY spa treatments.

Volunteer Together: Give back to the community by volunteering your time.

Fondue Feast: Dip your favourite foods into a gooey pot of melted goodness.

Coffee Shop Chat: Grab a cup of joe and have a cosy conversation.

Beach Day: Enjoy the sun, sand, and each other's company.

Photo Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items to find and snap pics together.

Binge-Worthy Podcasts: Listen to interesting podcasts while chilling at home.

Outdoor Exercise Class: Join a free outdoor yoga or fitness class.

DIY Sushi Night: Roll your own sushi for a delicious and interactive dinner.

Visit a Free Museum Day: Check out local museums on free admission days.

Fishing Fun: If you're near water, try your luck with a fishing adventure.

[remindingpersephone]

Tequila Sunrise mocktail at Celery City Craft. It was delicious!

[ty-loves]

Simone’s fellowship starts in a few days so she’s using this time as a mini vacation. She’s staying in a beautiful Wakaba home courtesy of the Saito family & her first official day as a Mt. Komorebi resident was spent exploring the town of a thousand leaves🎋

The Saito’s are a locally renowned family. They work and live within their community and take care of it. Ami is the head archivist & curator at the Senbamachi Art Museum & Sculpture Garden while Ren is trauma surgeon at Mt. Komorebi National Hospital. Their son Kenji is the head chef at Kyoto Karaoke & Sushi Bar looking to open his own sushi restaurant.