August 03, 2022

GASTRO OBSCURA  Hot-Air Balloon Restaurant  Creating hot-air balloon haute cuisine is the dream-turned-reality of Dutch master chef Angélique Schmeinck. After 25 years of restaurant experience (including a 12-year run at the Michelin-starred De Kromme Dissel) and several cookbooks under her belt, she found herself wanting to venture into new territory. Where better than the sky?  READ MORE → THE BEST BOY The Dog Keeping Invasive Mussels At Bay Zebra and quagga mussels are small freshwater mussels originally from the Black and Caspian seas. They sound innocent, but they’re invasive mussels, growing on everything from irrigation lines to hydroelectric dams. Only waterways in B.C. and a handful of other western provinces, territories, and U.S. states remain unscathed. Enter Kilo, an invasive species detection dog, whose full-time job is detecting these destructive mollusks. READ MORE → LONDON, ENGLAND The Duke of Wellington’s Mounting Stone Along London’s famous Pall Mall, amongst its many fashionable buildings, you can find one of Britain’s most famous private social clubs, the Athenaeum Club, which has encompassed the most powerful gentlemen of British society for almost 200 years. Outside this prestigious site, is a relic from the time of perhaps the most influential member of the Athenaeum Club. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES | STARTS TONIGHT Adobe Art and Architecture Explore the history and cultural context of adobe and learn the basics of designing and building adobe architecture. We’ll look at the history and cultural heritage significance of adobe in New Mexico, the politics surrounding it, and the people and organizations promoting it today. We’ll then dive into the methods of building adobe architecture. ENROLL NOW → SECRET OBSESSIONS The TikTok Sensation Covering the NSFW Animal World If you’ve been on TikTok lately, chances are you’ve come across Mamadou Ndiaye, who is known for his educational videos on the animal world… the extremely wild side of the animal world, that is. From covering terrifying scorpions bigger than people to answering the question, “What animal scares a shark?”, Ndiaye’s videos are equally outrageous and enlightening. More on his process and journey below. READ MORE → HONOLULU, HAWAII The Healer Stones of Kapaemahu In the heart of Waikiki, in between the Duke surfing statue and the police station, sit four large stones that represent a Hawaiian tradition of healing and inclusion that is all but unknown to the millions of locals and visitors passing by. READ MORE → ATLAS OBSCURA TRIPS Explore History This Fall Are you a history and culture buff? Travel back in time by taking an unusual historical tour with Atlas Obscura Trips. Whether you want to search for the living root bridges of Cherrapunji, India, stroll the castles of Romania, trace the life of Frida Kahlo in Mexico, wander abandoned ruins and monuments in Bulgaria, or climb into the tomb of King Tut in Egypt, our historical tours will take you there. PLAN YOUR TRIP → MAKING GROCERY SHOPPING FUN Attention All Shoppers The “Aisle of Shame” is the unofficial name Aldi enthusiasts have given the discount store’s middle aisle, home to a weekly rotation of curious edible and non-edible products available only while supplies last. We’re talking everything from vegan lasagna made from lentils to a churro maker and apple cinnamon latte-flavored dog biscuits. And if you’re in the vicinity and hear a “caw-caw!” sound? That’s just a member of the "Aisle of Shame" Facebook group sending out a call in their natural habitat. READ MORE → SOUTHERN ICELAND Þrídrangaviti Lighthouse Few places in the world are as lonely as Þrídrangaviti Lighthouse, located on tall cliffs off the coast of the Westman Islands, which themselves are about 4.5 miles from mainland Iceland. When building commenced in 1938, builders had to scale the cliffs to reach the pillar’s pinnacle, laying out the groundwork by hand. READ MORE → SPONSORED BY THE MAINE OFFICE OF TOURISM Obscure Maine Food Finds If you came to Maine for its fresh seafood, you’d be doing it right. While you’re at it, expand your culinary horizons and partake in wine made from apples, cranberries, and wild blueberries, chow down on Amish sausages, or take a seat at the oldest diner in the state. Don’t miss the ways Maine’s history creatively expresses itself in food, from a 1,700 pound chocolate moose (yes, you read that right) to a 30-foot tall bottle of Moxie. Dig in. LEARN MORE →