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Kristina Manente is a freelance journalist, audio engineer, podcaster, and all around nerd with a travel addiction and a tea obsession. Her focus is entertainment & lifestyle.
Most Recent
When it comes to weddings, people tend to be of two minds. There are the traditional, at-home sort and then there are the plane-hopping destination wedding couples. Whether it's a Mexico destination wedding or a three-day event on the Italian Riviera, destination weddings are popular and looking to be even more so in 2022.
Following every good event, is the after the wedding review. Here are 6 jobs you should do, when the wedding is over.
Building out a wedding planner business is no easy task. There's so much to consider about connections, vendors, and making sure you're up to date on all COVID-19 protocols and trends. And then there's the major question of how to get referrals from clients. Just how do you get wedding clients in the first place?
Weddings allow precious time for friends and family to celebrate the love between people they care for. Whether it is a full weekend wedding or a 3 day wedding, multi-day weddings are experiences guests and couples alike will remember for the rest of their lives.
A wedding trend that will exist long after COVID-19? Mini wedding cakes and other individual servings ideas. Cute and better than a buffet!
Entertainment
When it comes to the world of tabletop roleplay games, everyone knows Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. However, taking a step away from the big leagues of TTRPGs opens up a world of intricate and beautiful interactive stories just waiting to be explored.
When it comes to hearing things in games, a good pair of headphones will go a long way. But you know what will go even farther? A photo of your ear. How? Well, that's where the Immerse HIVE plugin from Embody comes in. It's time to game with your ears.
Welcome to Read This Fanfiction, a monthly deep dive into the world of fic: its history, its future, and all its splendors. In the world of fanfiction there are tropes - common themes and storylines that writers and readers flock to, be it out of interest or a desire to scratch a specific itch.
Welcome to Read This Fanfiction, a deep dive into the world of fic: its history, its future, and all its splendors. In the world of fanfiction there are tropes - common themes and storylines that writers and readers flock to, be it out of interest or a desire to scratch a specific itch.
Treasure Island is a beloved book of pirates, coming of age, danger on the high seas, and the thrill of adventure. Throughout the decades since its publication as a serial from 1881 to 1882, people have sought to adapt the Robert Louis Stevenson novel into various forms. It was first adapted in 1918 as a silent film directed by Sidney Franklin and then less than twenty years later as a talkie in 1934 starring Jackie Cooper and Wallace Beery.
Welcome to Read This Fanfiction, a monthly deep dive into the world of fic: its history, its future, and all its splendors. In the world of fanfiction there are tropes - common themes and storylines that writers and readers flock to, be it out of interest or a desire to scratch a specific itch.
'Tis the season of scary and spooky sounds: cracking floorboards and rattling windows, torrid screeches and droning moans, whistling wind, and the rumble of fear vibrating in your chest. Sound plays a huge role in horror, be it a video game, movie, television show, or podcast.
Why is the world so obsessed with Mothman? Is it the fuzzy antennae? The blood-red eyes peering out into the darkness? That allegedly his appearance is a sure sign of cataclysmic events and that's just on-brand for 2020?
There are some games that are so tied to one's childhood that any mention of them erupts in a miasma of nostalgia. Ocarina of Time will cause a few gasps of adolescent joy, The Sims a few cackles of middle school mischief, and then there's RollerCoaster Tycoon.
There are an astounding number of amazing women to be appreciated in Star Trek, and none more so than those in Voyager. The series gave us our first female captain, Captain Janeway, something long overdue. Seven of Nine bridged the gap between human and machine with a surprising look at the Borg.
smashed box office records and hearts back during the holiday season, so perhaps it was only apt that the documentary chronicling the final months of production would be heart-wrenching as well. Now available on Disney+, Into The Unknown: Making Frozen 2 is a surprisingly emotional six-part series journey that gives an in-depth look at the trials and tribulations of making a highly anticipated sequel.
Valentine's Day is this Friday. In celebration, we're spending the week celebrating love in all the forms it takes throughout the quadrants. L(ove)LAP 🖖 There are many romances in Star Trek: Voyager, some canon, some not.
The British screenwriter James Moran has always had a keen interest in the history of Pompeii, so when he was asked to write a Doctor Who episode about the doomed Roman city, he was thrilled.
Canon compliant and beautifully illustrated, the comics build on the world of Thedas in a way that even the books can't. Not only do you get more stories from this universe, but you get to see them as well, thanks to the stunning artwork of Fernando Heinz Furukawa.
Welcome to Read This Fanfiction. Once a digest, now a deep dive into the world of fan-created written works. Join us twice a month as we examine authors, platforms, trends, scandals, and more from every corner of the fanfiction universe.
Welcome to SYFY WIRE's Decade in Review, a series of articles that will look to catalog the best, worst, and weirdest cultural and entertainment moments of the 2010s as we look toward the future. Today, we celebrate the movies that deserved more.
Welcome to Read This Fanfiction. Once a digest, now a deep dive into the world of fan-created written works. Join us twice a month as we examine authors, platforms, trends, scandals, and more from every corner of the fanfiction universe. "It's fine for creators to not like fanfic, but to punish fans for daring to write it is wrong."
David Nakayama has been a comics mainstay for years, known for his work on Marvel Adventures: Hulk and package illustration for Hasbro. He's drawn covers for nearly every major property, from X-Men and The Avengers to Star Wars, but his talent and resume are broader than you may realize.
Just in time for the spookiest month of the year, the godfathers of paranormal investigation are back with a new show and a new roster. Ghost Nation premieres this Friday, October 11, on The Travel Channel, and reunites Jason Hawes, Steve Gonsalves, and Dave Tango in the world of ghost hunting.
Black Canary - AKA Dinah Lance - is one of DC's oldest superheroes. Now, she'll be one of the youngest. The character is everywhere these days. She's a staple of the DC comic book pantheon, rocks the Arrowverse, and will be played by Jurnee Smollett-Bell in the 2020 film Birds of Prey .
Chances are that you've seen Alice X. Zhang's work. Her loose-brushstroke digital style using vibrant and evocative palettes has touched many a fandom and been licensed by more than one major property. All with good reason - it's sometimes whimsical, sometimes emotionally charged, occasionally hilarious, and always beautiful.
Welcome to Read This Fanfiction. Once a digest, now a deep dive into the world of fan-created written works. Join us twice a month as we examine authors, platforms, trends, scandals, and more from every corner of the fanfiction universe.
The worlds of audio and Star Wars have always been cornerstones of Nick Martorelli's life. As a child, he listened to audiobooks on cassette, a love that continued into his teenage years as he discovered the old-time radio plays of Jack Benny and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
The world of Doctor Who is vast, multi-dimensional, and spans all of time and space and every type of media known to man and Dalek alike. As the adventures of the Doctors and their various companions continue along, they take many forms, including an ever-broadening galaxy of comic books.
Asher Angel's first San Diego Comic-Con experience was nothing compared to this year's. With the world having now seen Angel's take on Billy Batson in Shazam!, his entire life has gone, well, super-powered. "It's like I didn't even do the first one," Angel told SYFY WIRE in an interview at Warner Bros.'
Neopets is 20 years old this year. The online world of adorable creatures for you to take care of and decorate is almost legal enough to drink. If all of that doesn't get you, take a moment to remember all the Neopets you've abandoned.
More than just dressing up, cosplay is an avenue for self-expression. In particular, it has allowed many of those who identify as LGBTQ+ to share their true selves, or selves they're curious about. Cosplaying can be a way of becoming someone else entirely, perhaps a person you identify more with than that of your day-to-day life.
The world of fandom is a celebration of all things we love. From fanfiction to fan art to vids and conventions, it's a multifaceted playground of enthusiasm and adoration. Fandom has no age, no nationality, no gender or sexuality. It's all of these things wrapped up in creativity and expression.
The idea of preparing a feast for the finale may seem odd at first. After all, you're likely to either throw food at the screen in abject horror, choke on it in a furious rage, or upchuck it all in an Game of Thrones Exorcist- worthy spew at the gruesome violence.
The end of one of the biggest shows to ever to grace our television screens is nigh. Few shows have spawned more conversations, and regardless of one's opinions on the final season, it'll be a shame to see it pass into the long night.
If you were asked to name a classic monster, chances are you'd list the likes of Bigfoot, The Loch Ness Monster, vampires, or werewolves. Perhaps you might get a little creative and say chupacabra or basilisk. No offense to these hallmark creatures of mayhem, but there are so many more interesting monsters in the world, just waiting to be discovered and waiting to terrify.
Game of Thrones may be back, but this is its final season, and The Lord of the Rings series from Amazon is so far away you might as well walk to Mordor. But fantasy fans, never fear, there is a wealth of stories of elves, magic, knights, and bards waiting for your ears.
Once just off-shoots and continuations of popular anime or franchises, dating simulation games and visual novels have seen a popularity boom in recent years. These Choose Your Own Adventure-esque games are growing in popularity on Steam and other platforms for their engaging characters and storylines and loved for their ability to transport readers and make them truly feel like part of the story.
Nerds and geeks celebrate their fandom in lots of different ways - cosplay, fanfiction, and more - but slipping into a tunic and taking the stage in a cacophony of geeky songs about the nerd world at large is next-level. That's the way of The Library Bards.
It's not hard to appreciate the rich and mesmerizing lore and worlds of Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. These games are always changing, adapting, and bringing new stories, characters, and mechanizations to our tables. The people involved in that are plentiful, but who is it that actually writes these stories?
Once the stuff of underground zines, fanfiction has become a massive genre with many subgenres unto itself. They may be continuations, divergent plot lines, or simply tales from within that world. Maybe it's a coffee shop alternate universe or an AU in which the characters are in a war scenario a la " Two Two One Bravo Baker."
For nerds, attending conventions to celebrate stuff they love is one of life's greatest joys. There is little better in this world than geeking out about the latest season of a show with another fan, or seeing people dressed as your favorite character.
After a century and a half of solving crimes, Sherlock Holmes has near-universal name recognition in the English-speaking world. His adventures and mysteries are ingrained into our being from a young age. Every few years a new Holmes comes to our screens, be it Jeremy Brett in the much-famed Granada Sherlock Holmes series or Benedict Cumberbatch's whirlwind Holmes in Sherlock.
With the drop of the Detective Pikachu trailer and the release of the Fantastic Beasts sequel, I've been in a Pokémon and Harry Potter state of mind. So, of course, I had to combine them. I got to thinking, what Pokémon would Harry have chosen if Hogwarts was Pallet Town and Professor Dumbledore was Professor Oak?
It's smile time in The Adventure Zone People create all sorts of things to celebrate the things they love-fanart, fanfiction, cosplay, jewelry, even mock trailers and video games. All these things are wonderful, love-filled expressions of creativity, but occasionally something comes along that makes you gasp in utter delight at the uniqueness and sheer awesomeness...
Nov. 9-11, 2018 Durham Convention Center, Durham While I wouldn't call myself a hardcore comic-convention veteran, I'd like to think I know a thing or two about what makes a good con, based on my years experiencing the onslaughts that are San Diego Comic Con and New York Comic Con.
I found a community of creative, shy people like myself who all wanted to tell stories with one another. This place was Redwall Beach.
"The thing that the Doctor has taught me is that love and hope transcends time and space." Wise and wonderful words from Jodie Whittaker, the 13th Doctor.
Harry Potter: A History of Magic , the British Library's most successful exhibition, opened at the New-York Historical Society on Friday, Oct. 5. In a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the U.S. publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone , this exhibition showcases everything from original artwork and pages from J.K.
Tony Kim's origin story is like many nerds who catch the comic con bug. They discovered a place where they could celebrate things they love with other people who liked the same things.
It's always great when a young comic reader sees themselves in a story, but this can be a little harder for LGBTQ+ kids. Historically, there has been a real dearth of queer representation in comics, especially in children's and young adult books.
Robert Downey Jr. went over the Reichenbach Falls in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows nearly seven years ago. BBC Sherlock is more or less over, with its leads locked into Marvel contracts for the foreseeable future and the showrunners off modernizing Dracula.
The world of anime is a diverse one, as the medium tells just as many deep, socially relevant and important stories as it does light heart-eyed or action-packed fare. What may surprise many who aren't terribly familiar with anime is the wealth of LGBTQ+ focused series out there.
Fans create amazing things. They collect, they build, and they show their love and appreciation in a beautiful myriad of ways. Whether they have the world's largest Hatsune Miku figurine collection or are trying to build every Doctor's TARDIS, fan collections and creations are simply marvelous.
From Deadpool dressed as Bob Ross to a Hawaiian Stormtrooper, people let their costume creativity fly this year Cosplay is one of the hallmarks of any fan convention. Cosplay, a.k.a. costume play, started back in the '60s and '70s at science-fiction conventions.
Reactions before and after the first female Doctor's appearance indicate that the future is female-and we all like it that way The line for the panel at San Diego Comic-Con started on Tuesday morning, a full two days before the cast would take the stage in front of 6,000 Hall H attendees.
Cosplay is a combination of the words costume and play (it was coined in Japan in 1984, if you didn't know, babe). It's a rapidly growing hobby in which all kinds of people create and wear costumes to represent a character.
With four parks to choose from, two water parks, and adult-only areas as well, the Walt Disney Resort is a monster of a leisure destination. How do you choose which park is worth your while? Park-hopping is possible, but not while also getting the full experience each park has to offer.
Reality TV
Robert Reeves, Mick Peterson, Bill Lyons, and Jessay Martin are taking their TikTok fame to reality TV! The quartet-collectively known as the "Old Gays"- is known for posting funny videos about living together near Palm Springs.
It seems that Jersey Shore's Mike Sorrentino has a situation with his brother. Maximo Sorrentino (former known as Frank Jr.) has lashed out at his family, claiming they don't love him and are making defamatory remarks against him, as well as stealing his identity.
When Judge Judith Sheindlin's new show, Judy Justice, was announced in March 2020, more than a few people were surprised. The courtroom series had been on air since 1996 and had become a staple of daytime television. Judge Judy's quick wit and lack of a filter became synonymous with the series, as did her quiet, but stalwart companion, bailiff Petri Hawkins-Byrd.
Tarek El Moussa and Heather Rae Young are really, really in love and, in case you haven't comprehended that from their constant swoony posts on Instagram, the couple has decided to put their love on display via a televised special.
is known for its plot twists, backstabbing moments, and strategy over morality. There are a few moments that stand out, however, and one of the most shocking happened during The Challenge: Rivals III when Johnny Bananas "betrayed" his teammate Sarah Rice in the finale by deciding to take all of the money they had won for himself.
Trigger Warning: Disordered eating, suicidal thoughts Olivia Plath revealed in an Instagram reel posted on Friday everything from disordered eating to thoughts of suicide, both worrying fans and receiving their support for her willingness to open up about her struggles.
Tensions are running high on the set of Flip or Flop between co-hosts and exes Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack after Tarek reportedly took aim at Christina after he disliked how she signaled everyone that it was time to start filming. In reaction, Tarek went after her relationship, looks, and overall stardom in an allegedly vicious tirade.
In what is sure to be a surprise to longtime American Pickers fans, co-hosts Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe apparently haven't spoken in two years. The discord between the pickers was revealed exclusively to The Sun by Frank, who disappeared from the History Channel show randomly in March 2020.
The Waldrop Family , made famous on Sweet Home Sextuplets, is saying goodbye to reality TV after three seasons of filming their TLC reality show. In a YouTube video posted on July 8, Eric and Courtney Waldrop dropped the news that they would not be doing a fourth season of the show.
Bill Hutchinson of Marrying Millions has been charged with one felony count of rape of an unconscious person and five misdemeanor counts of sexual battery following accusations made by two teen girls last month. A warrant for his arrest has also been issued in Orange County, California.
Chip and Joanna Gaines present a sweet, silly, and functional family and professional life on HGTV's Fixer Upper and throughout their entire Magnolia empire. However, over the years, racist and anti-LGBTQIA+ allegations have surfaced more than once against the couple. Chip and Joanna have never really addressed the claims, but are now speaking out about it in a new interview.
With house prices soaring and rentals near impossible to grab, Janelle Brown of Sister Wives is taking a different approach to home life post-pandemic. When the rental home where she was living went on sale by the owner, it left her scrambling to find suitable accommodation.
Well it turns out being on Jersey Shore Family Vacation wasn't a nightmare after all, because Snooki is back. Earlier this month, it was revealed that Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi' would return to the MTV reality show.
The Hills: New Beginnings is back for a new season of new drama, which, according to Spencer Pratt is real drama, unlike what you saw on The Hills years ago. The new season premiered on MTV on May 13, and continues following the lives of Spencer, his wife Heidi Montag and their friends.
Two reality TV stars are staging their comebacks via the Peacock streaming service! The Wrap reported this week that both JoJo Siwa and Paris Hilton will appear on new shows for the streaming service. The first show sees J oJo Siwa heading back to reality TV with her mom, Jessalynn Siwa, in tow.
Josh Duggar's family stood behind him back in 2015 after it was exposed that he had molested some of his sisters and another young girl. They continued to support him several months later when yet another scandal broke, and he admitted to being unfaithful to his wife Anna.
Life has been busy for Christina Haack. After the second season of her solo HGTV show Christina on the Coast ended she not only split from her husband Ant Anstead (hence the name change from Christina Anstead), but also put her gorgeous Newport Beach home up for sale according to TMZ .
Matt Brown hasn't appeared on Alaskan Bush People since the show's eighth season in 2018, but he recently dropped a shocking video about his time on the show, ranting for over nine minutes about how "everything" on the show was a lie, and how all the money the family earned for appearing went to his father, .
Games & Gaming
When it comes to the world of tabletop roleplay games, everyone knows Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder. However, taking a step away from the big leagues of TTRPGs opens up a world of intricate and beautiful interactive stories just waiting to be explored.
Ever wish you could pack up, leave the corporate world, and run off to an idyllic valley with a farm of your own? Well, in Stardew Valley, you can do just that. This open-ended country-living roleplaying game is about creating the life you want, all while accompanied by a soothing soundtrack and quite a few supernatural surprises and colorful characters.
Ever wonder what the best Titan subclass is in Destiny 2? There are three main subclasses, but multiple branches. Some are far superior to others, however, so to help you, we’ve put together a list of the 9 best Titan subclasses in Destiny 2. Take a look.
As with all first-person shooters, Call of Duty: Warzone players rely heavily on what you can actually see on the screen. After all, how else are you going to get that perfect shot? One way is to change the field of view (or FOV). A feature only given to PC players, changing the FOV can enhance your game and give you an edge. To help you change the FOV in Warzone on PC, here’s what you’ll need to do.
The Leviathan Raid in Destiny 2 is probably the most challenging, yet rewarding, tasks in the game. Knowing how to approach the raid is key to success. If you want to know how to conduct a Leviathan Raid in Destiny 2, here’s what you’ll need to do.
A lot of the time, once you choose your name in a video game, you’re stuck with it. That isn’t the case with Call of Duty: Warzone, where changing your name is entirely possible, as long as you’re not breaking any community guidelines. Changing your name in Warzone isn’t a complicated process, but you will need to follow a few steps. If you want to know how to change name in Warzone, here’s what you’ll need to do.
Every Friday, Destiny 2 players all have one mission: find Xur. The traveling merchant comes to the solar system every week with a stock of exciting and exotic wares in exchange for Legendary Shards. The problem is, you have to track him down, and he’s never in the same place every week. Herein lies the big question: how do you get to Xur in Destiny 2?
When one thinks of a superhero, images of well-muscled men in tight leotards and badass women typically sporting inappropriate footwear may come to mind. But have you ever considered a dolphin as the hero we need but do not deserve? If you grew up in the era of Ecco the Dolphin, you just might have.
Food appears in many a Final Fantasy game. had an entire system built around it, and more often than not, it offers a nice HP boost when you're able to get some grub for your hero to chow down on.
If you'd told either Bryan Dechart and Amelia Rose Blaire just a few years ago that thousands of people would watch them play video games for a living, neither would have believed it. And yet, here they are, the founds of Dechart Games, a Twitch community focused on positivity,
As someone who grew up with and has lost weeks, if not months, of my life to it and its many sequels, I have always been amazed at the creativity of the series' fans. Whether it's creating new hairstyles, eyelash accessories, or WooHoo mods that sometimes defy the laws of physics, has truly become a platform all in itself.
If you're looking to dominate the food chain in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, then you're going to need to impress a multitude of people and creatures alike. But if we're talking in a literal sense, there is only one inhabitant in Seliana that you really need to please: Grammeowster Chef.
Weddings & Wedding Planning
Wedding food doesn't always have a great reputation. There are a thousand wedding menu ideas out there, but so many of them are geared toward meat- and dairy-loving carnivores. What about those who have a plant-based diet? Or people who have celiac's disease or can only eat kosher or halal meat?
As COVID-19 continues to stick around, everyone has had to change their lives in some aspect. The wedding industry has, of course, been greatly affected as well. Clients lost out on deposits in 2020 for cancellations; venues lost out on events; and planners, well, the entire industry ground to a halt.
There are thousands of wedding planner business ideas out there, and endless ways to promote your business. It can quickly get overwhelming, especially when it comes to social media. How do you beat the algorithm to grow your business? When it comes to social media platforms, there are the big leagues that every wedding planner should use: Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
The COVID-19 pandemic changed life around the world as we know it, and that goes for the wedding industry as well. Between mass cancellations, delays, the sudden need for a small wedding, and having to pivot to new ideas, it has been a whirlwind for wedding planners and their clients alike.
Everything you need to know about planning a holiday wedding, from budgets to holiday wedding etiquette, to decorations.
What do Christmas decor, cinnamon, and cranberry have in common? They are all pieces to planning a winter wedding. Find more ideas here.
Halloween weddings are growing in popularity. They are a fun way to get creative with decor, food, and more. Here are a few ideas.
Fall wedding considerations include weather, warmth, decoration, and holiday timing. Also, you'll need to think about pumpkins.
Need some inspiration planning that next fall wedding? Whether your clients are into Hygge or Halloween, here are 50 inspirations
Learn how to guide your couple through a detailed wedding budget breakdown long before the big day. Nobody wants any surprises.
As you build your wedding planning business, what sorts of wedding packages should you offer? The more options you add, the better.
When it comes to creating a wedding budget for your clients, or even an example wedding budget to give them an idea, there are certain questions to ask. "How much money do you have?" It may seem tacky to ask outright, but it's the first in a long list of steps to take when getting everything they need for their big day.
Whats the best way to find, secure, and work with destination vendors? We provide resources and tips to knock your event out of the park.
As you guide your clients to a memorable destination wedding, you must also navigate destination wedding etiquette. Here is how.
With travel back on the table, help your clients decide between a destination vs traditional wedding. from destination wedding cost to guest lists.
Pinterest gives coordinators a space to plan, inspire, and get new clients. Planning a wedding on Pinterest is for wedding professionals.
What is a micro wedding? Micro weddings are intimate and can be pulled off for a much lower cost. A new service to add to your service roster.
In the peak of wedding season, with everything going wrong, its easy to get burn out. Avoid wedding burnout with these tips.
How do you become a destination wedding planner? Beyond knowing your destinations, there are a few things to consider. Find out more below.
Build your wedding day emergency kit to ensure your planned event goes off without a hitch. From chargers to bottle openers to mascara!
The day of a wedding planner is hectic. With the right tools & guidance you'll not only succeed but excel. Let's ask the experts!
Up your professional and organizational skills as a wedding planner with a tablet. Great for meetings, note taking, budget tracking and more.
When it comes to a wedding planner consultation, there is a long list of things to ask. After all, you want to understand precisely what your couple wants for their big day. They are putting their wedding day in your hands, so you need all the information you can get.wedding planner consultation The number of questions can seem overwhelming, so it's best to take it in stages.
Should you add a pop up wedding into your roster of services? Here are a few reasons why pop up weddings make a good service offering.
Learn how to guide your couple through a detailed wedding budget breakdown long before the big day. Nobody wants any surprises.
Wedding bouquet ideas for 2021 are wild, magical, and edible. Bridal flower trends are set to rebound this year.
Lifestyle
These ampoules, masks and oils should be on your beauty radar Famous for launching and popularizing skincare products such as BB creams and sheetmasks, Korean beauty has certainly made a name for itself globally. Even if you don't know what the steps are, you've probably heard of the country's famous 10-step routine.
Saving Grace Gift-Wrapping Fundraiser and Adoption Event Saturday, Dec. 15, 2:00 p.m. Dog-friendly bars and breweries dot the Triangle, but there's one that leads the pack not only in making Fido feel welcome (with dog beds and house-made dog treats) but fostering community.
Irene Ellis went from introverted nerd to reality show star on the UK's first ever bisexual dating show.
Korean beauty products are all about long-term skincare; see what these influencers recommend The world of K-beauty can be overwhelming. Do you know your sheet mask from your molding mask? Your BHA from your toner? With Korean beauty booming and entering brick and mortar stores in the U.S., it's fairly safe to say it's here to stay.
Whether you've never tried K-beauty or are an avid fan, we've got recommendations Have you ever used a Korean beauty product? You probably have-even if you don't realize it-because K-beauty has basically taken over the world. South Korean beauty has become an international export so popular that Korean brands are now opening U.S.
When Holland debuted as the first openly gay K-pop idol, to say the least, it caused a stir. His first song, "Neverland," wasn't all that strong vocally or even instrumentally, but it sent a powerful message with its uninhibited and uncensored presentation of his love life as a homosexual man.
When first generation K-pop boy band H.O.T. reunited earlier this year after 17 years away, it was a big deal. Never mind that no one expected the legendary group to ever reunite, but to do it to such praise and acclaim was something else entirely.
Chances are that you've heard a certain song playing in every shop and subway station recently, and no, it isn't BTS. BLACKPINK has finally had their long-awaited comeback, and they're back with a vengeance. And rightly so. Many fans had begun to worry that BLACKPINK would suffer the fate of many of YG's artists: the dungeon.
We took to social media to see what you all thought earned the title of 'Best Album of 2017,' and boy... that was an experience. Imagine your own humble Twitter being set upon by thousands, and I do mean thousands, of ARMYs. Well, that's what happened to me.
Music shows are plentiful in Korea. Award season makes this even more apparent as award show after award show is broadcasted and fandoms are pitted against one another in battles for awards that rarely end up going to who people voted for.
Last month, YG Entertainment released an official statement apologizing for the cancellation of the debut of the final group from JTBC's "Mix Nine." The reality show, much like "Produce 101" or "Idol School," had trainees from multiple agencies competing for a spot in a new idol group, voted on by judges and the general public.
When I walk in to interview K-pop group EXP EDITION, they are having a Korean lesson; notebooks are out, notes scrawled, and a patient Korean teacher was commending them for their work. Immediately my preconceived notions of the all-foreign boy band had been shattered. It was a very pleasant surprise.
On December 18, 2017, the world lost Kim Jonghyun, the main vocal of K-pop group Shinee, singer, songwriter, producer and artist. Devastated, distraught and searching for comfort, fans began immediately paying tribute to the man, bringing flowers, gifts and endless notes to SMTown at Coex.
K-pop fans have always been the enthusiastic sort, and the chance to get a glimpse of their favorite idol is an exciting one indeed. While there are many who would simply be happy having the chance to see them, there's others that will stop at nothing until their idol knows exactly who they are.
K-pop is undoubtedly one of Korea's most vital exports, but at its core, it is a domestic business. The public craves idols and entertainment at an alarming rate, especially given how many new groups and subgroups debut every month. 2017 has seen the birth of a number of trends, from '80s and '90s fashion choices to music video aesthetics.
Gummy is finally back with her fifth album, "Stroke." While she came out with a mini album three years ago and has graced many a K-drama sound tracks, hit series "Descendants of the Sun" included, it's been nearly a decade since her last full-length album.
The Seoul Opera Festival ran June 20 to 30 at the special outdoor stage at Cheonho Park and at Gangdong Arts Center in Myeongil-dong. The festival was a celebration of all things opera with eight different events, presentations and performances, all of which were utterly delightful.
A K-pop concert is a spectacle so huge, it must be experienced to be believed.
Seoul and jazz music aren't two things you normally associate with one another, and yet there is a growing jazz scene in the city. Hearing the dulcet tones of saxophones and upright basses usually requires a trip to a high-end bar.
Travel
In the surprisingly cutthroat world of Korean cafes, smaller ones tend to have the kinds of opportunities that large franchises typically don't. They can fully embrace a theme or a concept and speak to a specific audience - an Instagram-obsessed one. When it comes to Seoul, South Korea, cafe culture is a beast of its own.
When looking for a place to stay, certain things may call to you. A nice view, proximity to local attractions, perhaps a pool ... or maybe a hobbit hole or Thor's hammer smashed into the wall. We all prioritize different amenities.
Having lived in Seoul for two years, one of my favorite things was enjoying the never-ending list of themed cafes that dot the South Korean capital. Everything from anime pop-ups to flower cafes to cafes devoted to poo, Seoul had it.
If you had a list of top fictional destinations, chances are that District 12 from The Hunger Games wouldn't be the top pick - it's probably not even on the list. No one would blame you, even if you were a fan of the series.
November 7, 2018Durham, North Carolina Basil, my little Maltese, and I usually sleep in until 9:30ish, have breakfast, go for a walk, throw around one of his 10,000 toys for a bit, and then I open up my computer and debate how long I'll last working at home before I cave and head to one...
There are few places in the world where being told you're guaranteed to have a miserable time would be a good thing. Yet, strolling up to The Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia, for their special Unhappy Hour is exactly that.
We're winding up a gravel road on Beech Mountain in North Carolina. It's the back road to The Land of Oz, the one that customers aren't allowed on - they have to go up the ski lift.
Anyone who has ever been to a convention or LAN party knows that geeks can drink. However, now there are actual bars catering to the geek community. From Brooklyn to Austin to L.A., there's nerdy dives and bars with board games, video games, and heated debates of Marvel vs.
Petal covered cupcakes, blooming teas, rose and lavender lattes, and even ice cubes with real flowers inside... flower cafes are popping up all over the world in the latest trend of Instagrammable food and drink you have to see to believe.
You must drive from England to Mongolia in a 1.2 liter engine car or less. You must raise at least £1,000 for charity. You are totally and absolutely on your own. This dangerously hilarious journey takes place ever year as part of The Adventurists' roster of insane treks across the world and is referred to as the world's greatest motoring adventure.
Jeju Island is a hidden paradise not known to many outside of South Korea. Crystal clear waters, volcanic beaches, and mountains rolling along the horizon, this is a destination everyone needs to put on their bucket list.
Teaching English overseas is a great way to not only see the world, but also to build up your resume, which could lead to a challenging and exciting career. If you're from a native English-speaking country (USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, etc), have a four-year degree, and an accredited TEFL certification, you are golden.
From robot cafes to ancient temples and shrines, the wonderful and wacky capital of Japan is a place everyone should visit at least once. With one of the best food scenes on the planet and a cultural heritage celebrated on every corner, Tokyo will delight the senses.
Insadong is Seoul's cultural corridor, filled with tea houses, historical palaces, and traditional homes running up the hills. Take Line 3 to Anguk Station and head to the exquisite Changdeokbokgung Palace. Make sure to see the 78-acre Secret Garden, only accessible by tour at 10:30 AM Tuesday-Sunday.