February 24, 2021

The Story of Patuxet  More than 400 years ago, the coastal community of Patuxet was one of dozens belonging to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, spread across much of what’s now New England. The Wampanoag called the region home for more than 12,000 years, but most history books have reduced them to a footnote. Today, schoolchildren typically learn only that the tribe helped the Pilgrims survive their first year at Plymouth, established where Patuxet once stood, with Patuxet-born Wampanoag Tisquantum, who happened to speak English, serving as translator between both parties. Missing entirely from the familiar history, however, are critical details, such as how Tisquantum learned English, and why Patuxet was abandoned before the Pilgrims arrived.  READ MORE → EAST SOMERTON, ENGLAND The Witch's Leg In the woods of East Somerton is St Mary’s church, the definition of a romantic ruin. In the center of the ruins stands a tree known as “The Witch’s Leg,” said to be created during England’s witch trials, when a suspected witch was buried alive in the church. In her suffering, it’s said that she enchanted her wooden leg to sprout a tree that would destroy the church above. But if you’re worried about the witch’s spirit getting out, fear not—that’s what the ghostly monks are there for. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA EXPERIENCES Environmental Embroidery Next Thursday, we’re diving into the world of environmental embroidery! In this four-week online course, we’ll learn how to use elements of our environments as the basis for designing stitching patterns, playing with color and scale as we go. We’ll cover the basics of hand-stitching, trace the history of regional techniques, learn to turn sketches into geometric patterns, and finally, bring these patterns to fabric. Sign up now before it’s too late! ENROLL NOW → GASTRO OBSCURA The Cutest Dumpling Goldfish While there are a myriad of dishes to partake in during Lunar New Year, one of the most beloved desserts is tangyuan: tiny rice dumplings with chewy, mochi-like wrappers and sweet fillings, served in a fragrant syrup. Tangyuan are a classic Chinese dessert with an ancient origin, but they’ve taken on a modern flair as edible art, such as this goldfish tangyuan. Click through for a full recipe on how to recreate this lucky, delicious dessert in your own kitchen. READ MORE → Forgotten Black Enclaves From the end of the Civil War until the last vestiges of the Jim Crow era were finally deemed illegal, Black Americans sought to obtain their sliver of the American Dream while facing violence and discrimination—a journey that continues today. Second-class citizenship forced many Black Americans to create their own communities, where they could live freely. These ranged from beaches where they could enjoy a summer day along the Jersey Shore during the height of segregation, to farming communities that helped Black ranchers, farmers, craftsmen, and business owners create a livelihood. Here are 9 places you can visit today that provided Black Americans with hope and community on the ongoing journey to equality and freedom. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY FLORIDA’S SPORTS COAST Zephyrhills Museum of Military History In the early 1940s, Zephyrhills Army Airfield served as a training ground for hundreds of Army pilots during World War II. Between January 1943 and January 1944, about 500 men from the Army’s 10th Fighter Squadron were stationed here to train in ground intercept missions, filling the skies with fighter aircraft that would eventually make their way to the European theater. Learn more how to travel safely to see this museum. READ MORE → LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Capitol Records Building Morse Code This iconic Los Angeles landmark has been emitting secret messages since it opened, and only those with a keen eye for Morse code can decipher what they say. The light has been blinking since 1956. Maybe take a look next time, and see if there’s an upcoming album release you need to know about. READ MORE → ‘Lake Stars’ They’re spindly, with spiky arms reaching outwards like tendrils reaching for something to grasp. They may resemble a squashed spiders, or the forking dendrites of a nerve cell. If you’re lucky, you’ll see these shapes across frozen bodies of water, from Boston to Boulder, Chicago to Sweden. These are what scientists call ‘lake stars,’ born only when warm water wells up from beneath a thin layer of ice, covered with a just-thick-enough coating of snow and slush—essentially a meteorological Goldilocks situation. READ MORE → MELLIEHA, MALTA Popeye Village The set from Robert Altman’s film Popeye, shot in Malta, was never fully struck and remains on the island as a sort of misplaced relic. The live-action film marked the film debut of Robin Williams in the title role, but though it was a box-office bomb, islanders embraced the set. Instead of leaving it abandoned, the islanders saw it for what it was: a pre-built theme park. They eventually took over the abandoned set, hired actors, and the Popeye Village was born. READ MORE →