October 25, 2022

FILM HISTORY  A Monumental Kiss  In 2017, a film archivist discovered a short, only 20 seconds long, showing a Black couple kissing, swaying, kissing again and just smiling at each other. This was a lost moment in film history: William N. Selig’s 1898 short film Something Good-Negro Kiss, the earliest known depiction of black intimacy on screen, starring actors Gertie Brown and Saint Suttle. Entertainment in the 19th century was filled with racist minstrel shows, with white people in blackface. Something Good flipped that narrative—and is now prompting researchers and curators to rethink the beginnings of Black cinema.  READ MORE → CRYPTID LORE ‘Rocky Mountain Hyena’ Something has been preying on domesticated animals across the plains of Montana for centuries. It has been given many names over the years: Shunka warak’in. Ringdocus. Guyasticutus. But it’s also been called the Beast and the Rocky Mountain hyena—in fact, any name but wolf, although the creature could easily be called a wolf. A settler shot one of these creatures in 1886, and it was eventually taxidermied and mounted for display until the 1980s—until it disappeared. Has it finally resurfaced? READ MORE → COUNTY ANTRIM, NORTHERN IRELAND The Dark Hedges You might recognize this passageway as a background from Game of Thrones. Planted in the 18th century by the Stuart family, the opposing rows of beech trees were meant to create an impressive, scenic road, though as their upper branches intermingled, they created a shadowy, sinistery arboreal tunnel. And in the spirit of the season: yes, of course there’s a ghost here. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY VISIT SEATTLE Seattle’s Local-Approved Hotspots From world-famous views to hundreds of hidden gems, whatever type of adventure you’re looking for, you can find inspiration throughout the Emerald City. From culinary corners bursting with bright flavors to stores fostering experimental music, here are local-approved spots to punch up your Seattle itinerary.  LEARN MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA Collecting French Cheese Labels Tyrosemiophilia is a mouthful to pronounce. Let’s break it down: in ancient Greek, tyro means cheese, semio is sign or label, and philos is love. The term describes the act of collecting the cheese labels that have been affixed to French Camembert’s round wooden boxes for over 100 years. Each label is a miniature work of art and is coveted by the Club Tyrosémiophile de France (CTF), which boasts a collection of several million labels. But the practice of collecting the labels is quickly dying out. READ MORE → LEXINGTON, MISSISSIPPI Grave of the Lady in Red In the summer of 1969, farmhands were digging on Egypt Plantation in Cruger, Mississippi when the backhoe operator felt a crunch. Just three feet beneath the topsoil, he had hit a very, very old coffin—made of cast-iron and glass. The body inside was visible. It was a young woman wearing a red velvet dress, white gloves, and square-toed boots from sometime in the previous century. To this day, her identity remains a mystery. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES Transform Everyday Paper Into a Book You have an extensive supply of book-making materials right in your home—if you know where to look. In this course with upcycler and book artist Bel Mills, we’ll explore four strategies for transforming ordinary envelopes into extraordinary books and learn how to think about paper like a book artist. ENROLL TODAY → ATLAS OBSCURA PUZZLES The Art of Illumination Akari was created in 2001 by Asaokitan, a reader of the influential puzzle magazine, Puzzle Communication Nikoli. Akari (light) was inspired by museums. In fact, in Japan it is still called Bijutsukan (museum), which makes it the only Nikoli puzzle (including classics like Sudoku) that have different names in Japan and abroad. PLAY NOW → SPOKANE, WASHINGTON The Campbell House Immerse yourself in an experience of mining wealth in the early 1900s by visiting this perfectly preserved mansion. Once owned by the illustrious Campbell family, the house, its grounds, and the ornate carriage house are now known as “the largest artifact” in the collection of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA TRIPS A Mexico City Culinary Adventure On this culinary adventure in and around Mexico City, immerse yourself in the complex cultural identity of a metropolis where pre-Hispanic, colonial, and contemporary influences collide. From enjoying tacos al pastor while taking in a hidden Diego Rivera mural to learning more about heady Aztec brews, our focus throughout will be food and the people who make it. BOOK NOW →