March 29, 2022

HISTORY COMES BACK AROUND  Apologizing For Scotland’s Witch Trials Between the late 16th century and 18th century, 3,837 people were accused of witchcraft in Scotland—one of the highest numbers per capita in a Europe afflicted by a centuries-long witch panic. Now, more than 300 years later, the Witches of Scotland campaign is seeking a legal pardon, formal apology, and national memorial for those accused, tried, and executed (about two-thirds of those accused) for witchcraft.  READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA Steaming Food… In Hell Beppu is home to the highest concentration of hot springs in Japan: More than 100,000 liters of water gush from its 2,300-odd hot spring sources each minute. But besides being a bather’s paradise, the city is known for its high-temperature geothermal hotspots—known as “hells”—and a local culinary custom making use of its abundant hot springs known as jigoku-mushi, or hell-steaming. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Beyond Tree Identification In this four-part course, get to know the trees around you—from learning basic botany, tree identification, and performing self-led fieldwork. You’ll learn the fundamentals of how to practice local phenology by developing observation skills that go beyond leaf identification to a closer look at the characteristics of trees. ENROLL NOW → PORTO, PORTUGAL McDonald's Imperial Fast food and fine decor don’t always go hand in hand, but at Porto’s former Imperial Cafe, the two come together in what is often called the “most beautiful McDonald’s in the world.” The building retained many of the original Art Deco features including the ornate ceilings, chandeliers, and a large stained glass wall, which is currently behind the counter. READ MORE → PRECIOUS GEM HISTORY Amethyst Towns Piedra Parada is a somewhat obscure mountain town in the Mexican state of Veracruz that has carved out its own special corner of an international market. The region is known for its amethysts, a type of quartz crystal with color ranging from light to deep shades of purple, formed in sometimes impressive geometric shapes. The men of Piedra Parada (“Standing Rock”) have mined these crystals for the past 70 years for buyers all over the world who covet them for both their beauty and purported metaphysical qualities. READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA TRIPS Learn To Make Pasta In Italy Italy’s Piedmont region is home to a rich, centuries-old culinary culture rooted in local and seasonal ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and meals enjoyed with others. We'll learn to craft traditional tajarin, an extremely fine, delicate pasta made with eggs, during a hands-on pasta-making class. We'll zigzag through lively markets, sipping velvety bicerin and foraging for fresh truffles along the way. Come dig into this delicious corner of Italy with us. BOOK YOUR TRIP → WOMEN IN CONSERVATION Finding Innovation in Ancient Ideas A member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, Serra Hoagland is the first Native American woman with a Ph.D. to work for the U.S. Forest Service. She currently serves as liaison officer for Montana’s Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, which includes assisting on intertribal partnerships and tribal forest management projects. The issue of how to manage fire in forests is contentious, particularly as our climate becomes more volatile and the fire-suppression practices of decades past become obsolete or even dangerous. Add the long and difficult history between the federal government and Indigenous communities and the situation becomes that much more complex. READ MORE → LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Ennis House In the early 1920s Frank Lloyd Wright split his time between completing the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo and a variety of commissions in the Los Angeles area. The Ennis House was designed for Charles and Mable Ennis in 1923 and was completed in 1924. The exterior and interior of the house have been used in multiple film and TV productions, including House on Haunted Hill, Day of the Locust, and Blade Runner. READ MORE → THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST Bwindi Impenetrable Forest As part of Women’s History Month, The Atlas Obscura Podcast is bringing you classic episodes from the archive. In this one, hear the story of a national park in Southwest Uganda that is home to nearly half the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas, and learn about the veterinarian who’s been fighting for their survival. WOULD YOU LIKE FRIES WITH THAT Global Diversity of Fry Dips There is something about a french fry that begs to be dipped. Maybe it’s the fact that they’re shaped sort of like a finger, which is the ideal form for dipping. Maybe it’s that modern potatoes—at least those outside the Andes Mountains—are mostly neutral in flavor, and take to any combination of additions. How you choose to flavor your deep-fried starch says a lot about who you are, and how interrelated world cuisine has become. READ MORE → LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA The Skinniest House in America One of the skinniest houses in America is located in Long Beach, California, and is all of 860-square-feet, and just 10 feet wide. It’s a slender, three-story, Tudor-style house with two bedrooms, one bath, and a deck on the third floor. It was also built on a dare. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY VISIT ST. PETE/CLEARWATER Fairgrounds St. Pete “Art for all, play for all, and joy for all” is the bold mission statement of Fairgrounds St. Pete, a massive interactive art exhibit. Located inside a former factory, the space is split into a series of rooms, each designed and decorated in a unique style that reflects different aspects of Florida. LEARN MORE →