April 15, 2022

UNEXPECTED SPORTS  Is Sitting an Extreme Sport?  Robert “Robby” Silk thinks it should be. He’s pioneered a still-evolving endurance activity that involves sitting in extreme environments, from sun-up to sundown without any sort of time pieces or electronic devices. On June 21, 2020, Silk completed his longest sit to date: a 14-hour, 27-minute stretch in California’s Joshua Tree National Park. Although the “competition” part is a bit tongue-in-cheek—Silk is, to date, the only competitor—the sport’s overall objective is to complete the most difficult sit possible. And yes. There is training involved.  READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA Tasting Peanut Butter Fruit Our Gastro Obscura team has somewhat of a double-edged sword of a job. They often revel in the delight of discovering wondrous foods from around the world, but sometimes that means that there’s a specific craving for a food that’s not immediately available. That’s what happened with the elusive peanut butter fruit, a South American plump red fruit that tastes like peanut butter. For years, Gastro editor Alex Mayyasi has been on the hunt, and recently, he accomplished his goal of tasting one. Here’s the verdict, along with an exploration of how peanut butter fruit is used in its native South America. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Seeking the Mysterious in Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada has long had its fix of intimate brushes with the otherworldly, from Bigfoot sightings to hauntings that have earned Winnipeg the title of the “Ectoplasm Capital of the World.” Save 10% on the June 16–21 departure when you book today. BOOK YOUR TRIP → DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY, SCOTLAND Martyrs' Tomb Glen Trool The square bricked tomb in the woods of Glentrool commemorates six Covenanters—Scottish Presbyterians who objected to English Episcopalian interference in their worship—who were surprised while praying and shot on the spot. There is a plaque and carved stone within the walled enclosure and a large stone placed on the four outside walls to enable people to view inside. READ MORE → FAMILIAR BEDFELLOWS The Practice of Communal Sleeping Sleep has been a communal activity for millennia. In the days before central heating and alarm systems, bedmates were a necessity. Additionally, beds were expensive, and only the richest families could afford more than one, so entire families sometimes shared one bed, as well as the covers. But if anyone were to get any kind of rest while sleeping next to others, lines had to be drawn and rules applied. (As you do.) READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA VIDEO Real Colonial American Food In colonial America, anything that flew, walked, or swam was fit to be fried, roasted, or charred over open fire. On this episode of Gastro Obscura’s Sparked series, James Beard Award–winning author Michael W. Twitty takes us into Virginia's 18th-century time capsule known as Colonial Williamsburg, where the legacy of millions of African Atlantic people survives in food. By recreating meals at this living museum, Twitty illustrates how African Atlantic history is instructive to culinary culture, all the way down to the barbecue we eat today. WATCH NOW → NAPLES, ITALY Birthplace of the Pizza Margherita Plaque According to popular legend, the pizza Margherita was invented in 1889 by Raffaele Esposito, chef at Pizzeria Brandi. The pizza was allegedly created in honor of Italy’s unification, with the three toppings—basil, mozzarella, and tomato—respectively representing the green, white, and red of the Italian flag. The story also claims that Esposito named the pie after the Queen of Italy, Margherita of Savoy. While this is most likely fiction, today, a plaque near the Pizzeria Brandi marks the location as the birthplace of the pizza Margherita. READ MORE → CULINARY JOURNEYS The Origins of Fish and Chips The powerful pairing of fish and chips has long been considered a British staple. Dubbed “the undisputed national dish of Great Britain” by the National Federation of Fish Friers, it’s been enjoyed on the island for over a century, with an estimated 35,000 chip shops in business by 1935. Fish and chips’s origin story, however, is a bit more complex—and it all starts with Jews fleeing religious persecution. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Learn to Decode A Building's History Unlock the language of buildings, drawing from architectural history, microscopy, historic preservation, and archaeology. We’ll look at buildings across the U.S., from halls that hold the histories of people who were enslaved in Charleston, South Carolina, to buildings erected within Cherokee communities displaced by European colonization—learning how physical structures that have been preserved or destroyed can be central to understanding the history of a place. ENROLL TODAY → DUIWELSKLOOF, SOUTH AFRICA Sunland Baobab This baobab tree is a one stop shop for finishing off a bucket list. Physically, the giant tree ranks at the top of many lists. It is one of the largest baobabs in South Africa, and at a whopping 72 feet high and 155 feet around, the widest on the entire continent. It’s also one of the oldest trees on Earth. And now, there’s a bar inside. READ MORE → LETTSWORTH, LOUISIANA Birthplace of Buddy Guy George “Buddy” Guy was born on July 30, 1936, in Lettsworth, Louisiana. Guy started playing music on a diddley bow, a small stringed instrument that he made himself using wire, a piece of wood, and his mother’s hairpins. As a teenager, Guy began performing in Baton Rouge, then moved to Chicago at the age of 21, befriending other musicians and recording albums. Guy went on to become one of the most influential musicians in Chicago, and his style continues to inspire musicians today. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY LOUISIANA TRAVEL Fred’s Lounge For 75 years, this windowless brick bar has served as the uncontested “Cajun Music Capital of the World.” Canned beer, well-liquor, and “Fred’s Omelet” (Bloody Mary in a plastic cup) starts flowing around daybreak before a live Cajun band kicks up around 9. By 10, the dance floor is near-to-full and if you don’t have a dance partner by 11, resident septuagenarian party-starter Rita will come and find you. LEARN MORE →