September 05, 2022

NEW LIVES  A Beloved’s Reappearance  In 2017, a lost portrait of the man whom English king James I referred to as his “husband,” “sweet heart,” and the one he loved “more than anyone else” emerged from conservation work and was authenticated, after having been mistaken for a copy for centuries. George Villiers, the first Duke of Buckingham, rose to prominence in court after catching the king’s eye at a hunt. This 17th-century painting of him, now known to be by the Flemish great Peter Paul Rubens, had been concealed by layers of dirt, as well as later “improvements.”  READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA Modern Mooncakes September 10th marks the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, an annual Asian folk holiday celebrating the fall harvest. Mooncakes are the signature dish, and are usually gifted to friends, family, and business acquaintances, as a symbol of gratitude and generosity. Traditional recipes vary by region, but modern bakers have taken the pastry and put their own spin on it, with mooncake fillings now including aged whisky, ice cream or even Angus beef, Parma ham, and truffles. READ MORE → WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA Seven Tubs at Pinchot State Forest To the west of the Poconos nestled in Wilkes-Barre you’ll find a glacier-cut gorge with a string of waterfalls and pools. This locally kept secret boasts clear water swimming holes and natural slides, and is named for a series of pools that were created by glacial meltwater as it cut across the land that is now Pennsylvania thousands of years ago. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Craft a Short Horror Comic Learn how to tell a horror story in graphic detail. In this course led by graphic novelist Mel Gillman, we'll cover everything from story structure and script development to creature design. By the end of our time together, you'll have completed a short horror comic of your own. ENROLL HERE → GEOGRAPHICAL WONDER New Zealand’s Lost Wonder There’s no shortage of green natural beauty in New Zealand. But in the 19th century, the Pink and White Terraces of New Zealand were one of the top tourist attractions in the British colony. Visitors came from around the world to admire the dramatic, colorful, cascading formations on the shores of Lake Rotomahana. “But I’ve never heard of New Zealand’s Pink and White Terraces,” you say. Of course not. It was buried under ash when Mount Tarawera erupted, and was thought lost forever. READ MORE → SAN PABLO CITY, PHILIPPINES Waterfalls Restaurant Located in the midst of the palatial Villa Escudero resort plantation in the Philippines, the Waterfalls Restaurant calls for a no-shoes policy as it is located right in the middle of a small river and waterfall. Careful where you step. READ MORE → BOX PRIZES, TECH WEAPONS Hackers and Cap’n Crunch Whistles Cereal companies have long used box prizes as an inducement for children to nag parents into buying sugary breakfast food. From movie tie-in toys to video games on CD-ROM (remember Chex Quest?), cereal box baubles tend to be momentarily thrilling and then quickly forgotten. Except when they’re used for hacking, which did happen in the case of Cap’n Crunch. READ MORE → NAGASAKI, JAPAN Gunkanjima Island Few places in the world have a history as odd, or as poignant as Gunkanjima’s. The tiny, fortress-like island (also known as “Hashima” or “Battleship Island”) lies just off the coast of Nagasaki. The island is ringed by a seawall, covered in tightly packed buildings, and entirely abandoned—a ghost town that has been completely uninhabited for more than forty years. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Explore Ancient Greece Explore all the must-see Ancient Greece sites from the Acropolis to the Monasteries of Meteora to Ancient Olympia, connecting these ancient sites with modern-day Greece by opening the door to modern-day culture. Be ready to connect with the community, experience traditions first-hand, and dig into hyper-regional food culture — this is Greece after all, a foodie’s dream! BOOK YOUR TRIP TODAY →