December 13, 2021

A Jazz Great in Ghana When jazz great Louis Armstrong’s plane touched down in Accra—the capital of what was then the British Gold Coast—on a spring morning in 1956, thousands of spectators awaited him on the tarmac. This was Armstrong’s first trip to Africa; the trumpeter had arrived at the precise moment that the citizens of this soon-to-be independent country were reclaiming both themselves and their sound. Listen closely, and you can still hear echoes of the trumpeter’s 1956 visit in Accra’s clubs today. READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA Brewing Historical Beers What did ancient kings and queens drink? At the Penn Museum, you’ll find an answer to that question in the form of Midas Touch, a beer-mead-wine hybrid that is the result of a collaboration between the Penn Museum molecular archaeologist Patrick McGovern and Dogfish Head Brewery. A peek into the past shows drinks far more complex than a typical IPA or pilsner, but what does it take to recreate these historical drinks? We spoke to the founder of Dogfish Head Brewery about the art and science of recreating ancient ales. READ MORE → NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT Pirelli Building One of the most infamous remnants of New Haven’s urban renewal period looms over an IKEA parking lot. The Pirelli Tire Building, designed by Marcel Breuer, has been a striking feature of the city’s harbor for decades, despite its unpopularity among locals. After decades of neglect, a brutalist icon is getting new life as an eco-friendly hotel. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA EXPERIENCES Free Members-Only Event Don’t miss this special holiday event! Join us as we celebrate the season with some of our favorite curious people and visit some wondrous places. We’ll look at curious holiday toys at the Strong Museum of Play; learn about the dances and celebrations of Matariki, the Māori new year; chat with special guests; and much more! It’s going to be the most wondrous holiday celebration of the season! Not a member yet? Join today to qualify for your free ticket to this wonderful event and all our upcoming members-only events. GET TICKETS → FROM THE ARCHIVES The Smartest Bug In The World Okay, but just to get it out of the way: This is a complicated question. (Did you expect it to have an easy answer?) Insects are a particularly difficult group of animals to study for, because they’re just so different from us, and there are a multitude of factors that go into determining what animals or insects are deemed as intelligent. That said, the leading three contenders are bees, ants, and cockroaches. Dive in to see what our pick for Smartest Insect is. READ MORE → CHESTERFIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE Madame Sherri's Castle The tragic tale of Jay Gatsby may have been a figment of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s imagination, but New England has its very own, very real version of the larger-than-life character: its local queen of scandal, Madame Sherri. Here are the ruins of the elaborate house where the enigmatic costume designer threw glamorous parties for New York's theatrical elite. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA EXPERIENCES Inside the Submarine Growler New York City's Intrepid Museum is home to the submarine Growler, the only nuclear missile submarine open to the public in the United States. During this special virtual event, we're going to head inside and explore some of the hidden corners that are usually off limits to visitors. You will see the submarine’s control center, living spaces, and top-secret missile center. We'll be joined by Ron Rousseau, who served on board Growler. GET TICKETS → GASTRO OBSCURA Sweet, Spicy, Explosive Punch Winter’s the time for hot toddies and eggnog, or any cocktail that combines fistfuls of spices with warm sweetness. But when it comes to sweetness, spice, and sheer boozy firepower, boilo has them all beat. For many residents of Pennsylvania coal country, the drink is an indispensable winter treat that began as a favorite of the area’s hardy miners. Today, it endures as a cold-weather cocktail and an unlikely soother of colds and the flu, but be warned—due to its main ingredient, 101-proof whiskey, boilo needs to be treated with wary respect, whether drinking it by the glass or heating it on the stove. READ MORE → HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT Sleeping Giant Observation Tower Sleeping Giant State Park gets its name from the Quinnipiac people due to its resemblance to a figure lying on its back. They believed the figure to be Hobbomock, a wicked figure in local mythology. Today, the area is one of southern Connecticut’s most popular state parks, and this unique stone tower, where climbers can see stunning views of Long Island Sound, is its main attraction. READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA TRIPS In the Cradle of Wine: A Georgian Culinary Adventure Tucked between the Black and Caspian Seas, Georgia is a tiny country with an astounding culinary heritage and a winemaking tradition tracing back eight millennia. This mouthwatering gastronomic adventure explores the capital of Tbilisi and the stunning Alazani Valley, dipping into some of the finest wine from one of the most underrated wine regions in the world. VIEW FULL ITINERARY →