The Buried African Folklore behind the Pop Culture Zombie

There is a law still in effect in the Haitian criminal code that dates back to 1883, making it illegal to try to turn someone into a zombie. The word “zombie” in fact, comes from “nzambi,” a word that means “spirit” in the voodou religions of Haiti and the African diaspora, but the Haitian zombie…

Making a Miniature World for Marie Antoinette

Let them eat tiny cakes! Just when you think the world of miniatures couldn’t get any more impressive, you stumble upon the exquisite work of June Clinkscales. The Californian miniature artist has the kind of artisanal skills that we might have believed were almost lost to the world – not to mention, she’s working on…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. DXXV)

1. The Hedgehog Highway That Knits A Village Together With their miniature ramps, stairs and holes cut into fences and stone walls, the gardens of Kirtlington in Oxfordshire are a haven for wildlife … home to the UK’s longest volunteer-run hedgehog highway. It passes through 60 properties in the village, all linked by CD-sized holes…

All You Need is the Opossum Lady (the Undisputed Queen of Youtube)

This picture may not need any explanation. It is arguably perfect as it is. But in these strange and uncertain times, I had an inkling that this might be exactly what we all need. So allow me to formally introduce you to Pearl de Wisdom, aka the Opossum lady. She has been making spiritual opossum…

What We’d Bid on at the Historic Waldorf Astoria Hotel Auction

The Waldorf Astoria became an icon of Manhattan glamour ever since it first opened in 1931. One of New York’s oldest and perhaps grandest of hotels, it closed its doors as we knew it for the last time in the winter of 2017. We were there to say goodbye. Nearly four years later, the Waldorf…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. DXXIV)

1. Wife Selling The custom of Wife selling in England was a way of ending an unsatisfactory marriage by mutual agreement that probably began in the late 17th century, when divorce was a practical impossibility for all but the very wealthiest. After parading his wife with a halter around her neck, arm, or waist, a husband would publicly auction her to the…

Documenting the Disappearance of Small English Shops

It’s no secret that long before Covid made its way to the English isles, the British high street was withering. Big names and local names alike have been noticeably vanishing from communities ever since the internet got its wings. But of course, it’s always the erosion of a once proud little family business that hurts…

13 Things I Found on the Internet Today (Vol. DXXIII)

1. New York in the Rain Beautifully captured by Dylan Walker, found on his Instagram account. 2. Word of the Day: Umarell Found on Wikipedia. 3. “Grandpa Steel” In 1951 in Sweden, a 66 year-old man wasn’t allowed to enter a 1800km (1118 miles) long bicycle race because of his age. He showed up anyways…

MessyNessyChic’s First Podcast with Gucci Beauty

That’s right, I’m now podcasting on a pair of headphones near you. In this enchanting project with Gucci Beauty, I’m telling the story of a sleeping surrealist mini-city found deep in Italy’s Umbrian hills. I even got to make all my own sound effects like a bonafide foley artist! Listen to the podcast below or…

The Vault

A Hauntingly Good Guide to Autumn in New York

No one does Fall like the East Coast. The air grows perfectly crisp, and a tide of orange leaves sweeps the Catskills and Central Park alike in such cinematic fashion, you practically expect Meg Ryan to come sauntering around every corner with a jug of piping hot cider. Of course, this year is different in…

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