December 30, 2020

FROM THE ARCHIVES ‘Horn OK Please’ In 2015, the transportation department of Maharashtra, the state containing the city of Mumbai, attempted to diminish the noise pollution caused by cars honking by outlawing a phrase found on the back of almost all Indian trucks: “Horn OK Please.” The phrase itself is intriguing for two reasons: the first being that it doesn’t seem to make grammatical sense, and the second for the question it raises—why would Indian trucks be encouraging drivers to honk their horns? READ MORE → Under the Sea In the late 1860s, Eugen von Ransonnet-Villez pursued his fascination with zoology by developing a self-designed diving bell, which was made of sheet iron and inch-thick glass and had the user’s legs sticking out of the bottom so that he could propel himself along the seabed. Here, undisturbed, and drawing with a soft pencil on greenish-colored, varnished paper, Ransonnet could use a tin box to send up to the surface his finished pictures, which he later painted over in oils: the first depictions of the seascape executed by an artist under the sea. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA EXPERIENCES A Bat’s Life Echolocation. Subterranean survival. Swarm management. Flight. Guano. It's all in a day's work for the magnificent, misunderstood bat! During this one-hour online experience, Dr. Laura Kloepper, founder of the Kloepper Laboratory of Bioacoustics and Animal Behavior, will take viewers on an exploration of one of the incredible aspects of bat life using lively presentations, pictures and materials straight from her work in massive bat caves. GET TICKETS → SOLOMON ISLANDS The World Discoverer Both eerie and impressive to behold, this half-sunken ocean liner has been lying, tipped to one side, half-submerged since 2000. Once a globetrotting cruise ship, it was able to easily navigate the 8000 miles of the Northwest Passage. Unfortunately, a fateful date with an uncharted reef ended its seafaring career for good. READ MORE → GASTRO OBSCURA Mathematically Efficient Cookies For the last few years, Norwegian chemist Martin Lersch has attempted to solve a problem that often bedevils cookie bakers: namely, having to collect all the in-between pieces of dough post-cutting, before having to knead it together and roll out again. So, this holiday season, Lersch embarked on a quest for a festive yet efficient cookie cutter, designing a shape that can punch out neat ranks of cookies with minimal leftover dough. The solution: Tessellated Christmas trees. READ MORE → HOUSTON, TEXAS The Hobbit Café  At the end of a peculiar L-shaped turn off Houston’s bustling Richmond Avenue sits the nerdiest neighborhood gem in town. The Hobbit Café—so-named for its impressive array of Lord of the Rings memorabilia—is a piquant pitstop for anyone interested in a sandwich based on one of the most successful fantasy series in history. Great for second breakfast, elevenses, supper, or any other meal you might envision.  READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Tracing the Threads of Frida Kahlo’s Dresses Throughout her art and daily life, Frida Kahlo used dress to create and visualize her identity and multicultural heritage. In October 2021, we’ll travel to the regions that influenced her dress, from the bustling streets of Mexico City to the markets of Oaxaca City. Along the way, we’ll meet historians, artists, craftswomen, and artisans who continue the legacy of hand-crafting clothing, an intimate expression of cultural identity. LEARN MORE → BLAIRSVILLE, GEORGIA The Appalachian Trail Shoe Tree In North Georgia, near the southern terminus of the more than 2,000 mile long Appalachian Trail, many unsuspecting travelers are struck by the strange sight of hundreds of hiking boots hanging outside the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center. While they might initially convey a sense of unease, the elevated boots are actually a celebration for having completed one of the most epic journeys in hiking. READ MORE → MANHATTAN, NEW YORK New York's Oldest Phone Number Need to book a room at the Hotel Pennsylvania? Just dial up 6-5000. The Pennsylvania was designed by Manhattan’s leading architects McKim, Mead & White, and opened its doors in 1919. In the early 1930’s, it was given the phone number “PE6-5000”— in today’s phone parlance the letters P and E become 7 and 3 respectively, giving it the number 212-736-5000. Still in use today, it’s the longest continually operating phone number. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY NISSAN A Rogue Road to Pikes Peak It wouldn’t be quite accurate to say this route from Salt Lake City to Colorado Springs is paved by rogue trailblazers—in fact, much of it remains unpaved. But from pioneering artists to obsessive curators and bold builders, this unconventional itinerary that ends at Pikes Peak International Raceway follows in the footsteps of a bold few. LEARN MORE →