drcpunk

Posted by Athena Scalzi

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/17/the-big-idea-mallory-kass/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60249

The words “stress-free” and “wedding” aren’t seen in a sentence together unless the word “not” preludes them. The copious amount of stress and issues surrounding weddings fascinated author Mallory Kass, and she began to ask the question of why people do this to themselves. In her exploration of such answers, she wrote her newest rom-com novel, Save the Date. RSVP your invite to her Big Idea, and bring a plus one.

MALLORY KASS:

Why do weddings cause temporary insanity in otherwise rational people? Take a look around you. See that woman reading Middlemarch on the subway, the one who just smilingly offered her seat to an elderly man? In ten minutes, she’s going to text her sister, “Maddie’s dress is giving whore-of-honor instead of maid-of-honor.” Then there’s your affable co-worker, Brad, famous for his pivot tables. Over the weekend, he told his daughter that if he can’t invite all nineteen members of his pickleball league, he’s not paying for her wedding.

What turns these celebrations of love into referendums on our taste, friendships, finances, and even our bodies? That’s one of the questions I wanted to explore in Save The Date, a romantic comedy-of-manners about a lavish wedding in Maine that goes very, very wrong. Because it’s not just the bride and groom whose emotions go haywire in the lead up to marital bliss. Guests participate in their own small but significant melodramas: they navigate the fraught politics of the plus-one, take desperate measures to squeeze into a special outfit, and scour social media to see if one’s ex might show up with a date.

I’ve had plenty of opportunities to ponder these questions. I attended more than twenty weddings solo before I met my husband. There were times when I was literally the only single guest. Once, my friend’s very kind, very drunk mother shouted to a large crowd, “Who’s going to walk Mallory back to the hotel? She’s ALL ALONE!”

I generally enjoyed myself at these events, especially while dancing with friends, shouting the lyrics to cheesy pop hits from our childhood. But at some point, the band would inevitably transition to a slow song and everyone would drift towards their dates like magnets, leaving me to scurry off the dance floor. That’s when I’d refill my drink and take refuge in a shadowy corner where I could observe the spectacle unnoticed. I’d clock the bride’s single sister’s slightly-too wide-smile and slightly-too-short dress. I’d eavesdrop on conversations criticizing the décor, the food, and the bridesmaids’ botched Botox. I’d note the panic on men’s faces as their girlfriends pronounced what they’d do differently at their receptions. And I’d wonder why weddings push everything to the limit, from our relationships to our budgets—and in the case of my breakdancing cousin-in-law—our kneecaps.

And so, Save the Date was born—the product of my champagne-induced melancholia, fascination with social dynamics, and worshipful reverence for movies like My Best Friend’s Wedding, Father of the Bride, and Four Weddings and a Funeral. It follows the bride, Marigold, who’s not sure if she’s marrying Jonathan for love or to prove that she’s loveable; Natalie, her maid-of-honor, who’s terrified to admit to herself—let alone anyone else—that she still pines for Jonathan, and Marigold’s older sister Olivia, who’s always cleaned up Marigold’s messes and may have finally had enough this time.

The central challenge was making each woman’s observations feel honest and specific to them. I knew if I wasn’t careful, my complicated feelings about weddings would come through at a higher volume than those of my characters. I had to ensure my social anxiety didn’t seep into “It Girl” Marigold, or that my thoughts on the excesses of late-stage capitalism didn’t bias Olivia the corporate lawyer. (I channeled those into Olivia’s love interest, Zack.) And I had to let poor Natalie make mistakes that I (hope) I’d never make myself.

Almost as difficult was painting an entertaining yet passably realistic portrait of Marigold’s rarefied world, one full of yachts I’ve never sailed on and private jets I’ve never boarded. Like Natalie, though, I spent hours tutoring the children of Manhattan’s .00001 percent in apartment buildings with heavier security than many embassies, and townhouses with multiple Picassos. I’ve witnessed how that level of wealth warps anyone’s conception of reality, which made it the perfect backdrop for the disastrous wedding that brings out the very best and the very worst in my characters.

I’m not sure Save the Date fully answers the questions that inspired it, but I had a lot of fun examining them. And I hope you have a blast reading it whether you’re coupled-up, navigating the perils of online dating, stuck in a situationship, or relishing your singlehood. I’ve been there, and I’m raising a glass to you in solidarity!

Save The Date: Amazon|Barnes and Noble|Bookshop|The Ripped Bodice

Author’s socials: Instagram

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/17/the-big-idea-mallory-kass/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60249

Posted by John Scalzi

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/17/last-night-in-decatur/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60238

A couple of people showed up to see Brandon Sanderson and me have a chat.

Let’s be clear these are mostly Brandon’s folks; I was a value-add here. A very nice value add to be sure! But definitely the support act. Brandon and I have been pals for a couple of decades now and he used the event as an excuse to for us to catch up. I was happy to do it, because a) I wanted to catch up too, and b) I knew our chat would be a lot of fun. And it was a lot of fun, at least from my point of view, and it was especially delightful to see how Brandon connects with his fans. There’s a lot of mutual appreciation going on there.

Now Brandon’s off to JordanCon and I am off to Los Angeles, for the LA Times Festival of Books and then meetings next week. I’m glad we got the chance to catch up, in front of an audience and also away from it. Life keeps us all busy, clearly. You take your moments where you can get them.

— JS

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/17/last-night-in-decatur/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60238

Watch on YouTube

The Arenal Volcano tour guide had pointed at a ridge in the distance: "Do you know what that is?" He liked to quiz us on what we thought of the features, and inevitably we got it wrong, so he explained: that is the Continental Divide. Caribbean to this side, Pacific to that side.

( Days 8-9: Cloud Forest )

( Days 10-11: Pacific beaches )

( Days 12-13: the way back - with bonus El Salvador! )

Tags:

peregrinations

Today I am thankful for...

My families (chosen and birth). Mostly my chosen family right now.
My health problems not being worse. That's a very low bar, though.
Tax filing extensions.
Good weather (unlike Seattle yesterday).
Support groups.

NO thanks for brain weasels, procrastination (brain sloths?), and companies that don't answer their damned email.

Current Mood: grateful
Current Location: Schildhaven in Den Haag
Current Music: maybe tonight?

Tags:

thanks

For our 10th wedding anniversary we went to Japan, so for the 20th I felt obligated to plan us something no less epic. But also I was getting overwhelmed with my customary planning of all the details, and so decided to experiment with a packaged tour. As always the March-to-April timing limited our options. The closest new-to-us warm place that offered a variety of packaged tours turned out to be Costa Rica. Most tour itineraries and costs were relatively similar; we chose amongst multitudes of well-reviewed options based on date availability.

The package included hotel bookings, bunches of guided activities with hotel pick-ups, and shuttles to deliver one between destinations every other day, which is a pretty good pace for my travel preferences. One can WhatsApp the agency for clarifications and issues, and they respond reasonably promptly, even if there's not a whole lot they can actually do since all they do is book third-parties. Which is no small logistical feat, and on the whole while I might have chosen a few things differently, I appreciated the result. Also, I probably would have hesitated to book all the individual activities at their published rates if I knew what those were in advance, but somehow the package which rolled it into reasonable-compared-to-a-cruise pricing seemed reasonable, even if no doubt it added up to much the same thing plus a bit of overhead for the agency.

For a summary: a tropical paradise is a fun way to spend a couple weeks. The terrain is gorgeous. The cuisine is tasty - especially if you like tropical fruit. The folks are friendly, and their catchphrase, used liberally and unironically, is "Pura vida" - literally "pure life", serving as a mix of "aloha" and "hakuna matata" - hi, bye, life is good, don't sweat the small stuff. Which somehow comes across as charming and grows even on this curmudgeon.

( Day 1 - Arrival in San Jose )

( Days 2-3: Tortuguero )

( Days 4-5 - Caribbean Coast )

( Days 6-7 - Inland on Carribean side )

Tags:

peregrinations

Posted by Athena Scalzi

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/16/the-big-idea-cameron-johnston-2/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60229

The Scientific Method is immensely helpful, but so is literal magic. Would the power of science prove to be more powerful than the power of wizardry? It’s tough to say, but author Cameron Johnston certainly speculates on the idea in the Big Idea for his newest novel, First Mage on the Moon. Read on to see how the Space Race might’ve happened with the help of a wizard’s staff.

CAMERON JOHNSTON:

For a bunch of wise folk that meddle with reality and break the rules of standard physics on a regular basis, wizards and mages in fantasy media seem a remarkably uncurious lot. Sometimes magic users are far more interested in other dimensions and eldritch creatures than in the mortal world they themselves inhabit. How many of them look up at the stars and wonder what they are, or gaze at the moon and ponder what that shining silver disc really is…and how they might get there?

First Mage On The Moon was born from a single Big Idea (OK, OK…the idle thought of a fantasy-fan): Without science, how would wizards describe gravity? Inevitably, that grew arms and legs and tentacles and thingamabobs into: What would they make of outer space? How would they breathe in a spacecraft when they don’t even know what oxygen is or why air ‘goes bad’. What about aerodynamics? and a whole host of other questions I didn’t then have answers for. When you only have a magical understanding of the world and the closest thing to science is the semi-mystical and secretive practice of alchemy, well, then things get complicated if you want to build something to visit the moon. Magic is not going to solve everything if you fly straight up and try to hit a moving object like the moon, and don’t factor in the calculations for orbits, gravity… or indeed the speed/friction of re-entry.

Science is an amazing and collaborative process and Earth’s 20th-century Space Race was a species-defining moment, but what if that happened in a fantasy world of mages, golems, vat-grown killing machines and grinding warfare. What if a group of downtrodden mages sick of building weapons of mass destruction for their oligarch overlords decided to go rogue and divert war materials into building a vessel to go to the moon, the home of their gods, and ask for divine intervention in stopping the war. When you have no culture of shared science, where do you even begin?

All those thoughts and ideas stewed away in the back of my brain while I was writing my previous novel, The Last Shield. As all authors know, there comes a stage of writing a book when your brain goes “Ooh, look at the shiny new thing!” Very helpful, brain, coming up with magical rocket ships when I’m trying to write a book set in a fantasy version of the Scottish Bronze Age – thanks very much! That idea of wizard-science and magical engineering lodged there, immovable, and my next book just had to become First Mage On The Moon. Which was handy, as I was contracted to write another standalone novel.

While the US/USSR Space Race and modern science of our very own Earth was inevitably a huge influence on my novel, so too were the theories and writing of its ancient thinkers. Around 500 BCE, Pythagoras proposed a spherical world, and Aristotle later wrote several arguments for the same theory, such as ships sailing over the horizon disappearing hull-first and different constellations being visible at different latitudes (all of which may have given the Phoenician sailors and navigators certain thoughts too). And then comes Eratosthenes, Chief Librarian of Alexandria, and a very smart dude who was able to calculate the circumference of Earth by using two sticks in two locations and comparing the angles of their shadows. If those ancient Earth scholars could calculate such things, then surely fantasy mages, with all the magic at their disposal, could do more than fling fireballs at each other. There had to be some among them with the desire to explore beyond the bounds of myth and magic, gods and monsters, and given the opportunity to work with like-minds to build something that has never been done before, they would surely take it…despite the risks.

Found family, magical engineering, and mad ideas of actual science in a magical world all came together to form First Mage On The Moon. As much as I love my morally grey characters in realms of swords and sorcery, it was deeply satisfying to write something that little bit different, a hopeful story about human ingenuity in an increasingly fraught world.

Author socials: Website|Bluesky|Facebook|Instagram

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/16/the-big-idea-cameron-johnston-2/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60229

https://xkcd.com/3233/

Posted by John Scalzi

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/15/view-from-a-hotel-window-4-15-26-atlanta-metro/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60207

A very arboreal view today. It’s a little misleading, since if you look left from here you’ll find a not unbusy street. Still, it would be churlish to complain about a bit of green in one’s window.

I’m in the area for an event tomorrow in which I am in conversation with Brandon Sanderson, prior to him spending time at JordanCon, and me at the LA Times Festival of Books (which will not be in the Atlanta area, but in Los Angeles). Our event is already sold out, so if you missed getting tickets, I’m sorry. Perhaps there will be a audio or video recording of it at some point.

And what about today? Well, I have a hotel room to myself and no one expecting anything of me until tomorrow afternoon around this time. I think I’ll take a nap and then see where the day takes me.

— JS

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/15/view-from-a-hotel-window-4-15-26-atlanta-metro/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60207

Posted by Athena Scalzi

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/15/the-big-idea-a-z-rozkillis/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60202

When there’s a million and one paths in front of you, how do you know which decision to make? What if you don’t even have control over which one you end up on? Author A. Z. Rozkillis explores the idea of every decision we make, or don’t make, sending us on different paths throughout multiple realities. Journey on through the Big Idea for her newest novel, Fractal Terminus.

A. Z. ROZKILLIS:

In an infinite universe there are infinite possibilities. It’s a concept that has enamored me for decades, has led me into a career focused on space exploration and has fueled my endless love of science fiction. And that is probably why it is the Big Idea behind Fractal Terminus.

When I intentionally ended my first book, Space Station X, on a cliffhanger, I never truly intended to write a sequel. I liked the idea of leaving the speculation up to the reader about could possibly happen after an event like that. More to the point, I didn’t think I deserved to be the person to establish, canonically, what the future would hold for my main characters. But nature abhors a vacuum, and the same could be said for the space between my ears. So, I figured if I don’t want to write one follow-on outcome, and if I preferred the idea that any possibility could be canon, then why don’t I write a book where I do just that? Where I explore numerous possible outcomes from one, singularly massive event.

Fractal Terminus really digs down into the idea that with every flip of a coin, with every path chosen, with very outcome realized, there exists a separate universe (or infinite separate universes) in which the an alternate outcome could occur. I know it’s not a new idea, its just one I have felt, personally, immensely drawn to. The universe is so unfathomably endless, with there being no way for us to truly understand how vast it is. I feel that it is entirely plausible that somewhere, at the far reaches, there exists a reality in which I chose to study animal husbandry and not aerospace engineering. Or maybe I decided to eat that questionable leftover sushi rather than pitching it when I found it at the back of the fridge. Who knows? If the universe has no limit, then maybe every single possible reality is just wrapped around us.

For my characters, their personal universe is expanding too. My first book had a very narrow focus by design, because I had a main character who had reduced her whole universe down to the same five concentric metal rings of her space station. Jax refused to consider possibilities outside of that limited existence until she was forced to. Then she swallowed her pride and took the leap of faith on her feelings for Saunders. It could have gone either way, but canonically it worked out for Jax. Then they took a different plunge. Now Jax and Saunders are suddenly flung into a situation where they have to expand their view, because new experiences have that habit of broadening your perspective. This Space Station is no longer a cramped, desolate and lonely existence, but a cramped, desolate and overcrowded experience, where Jax has to dust off her social skills and mingle in order to survive. And as she lets her universe expand around her to include the souls locked in fate along side her, infinitely more universe opportunities unfurl.

Some of these are fates she realizes she can control. She can see where her actions can lead her and Saunders and she can tell when it might not be the best path. But more often than not, Jax and Saunders are at the mercy of the universe itself. Nature is a cold and uncaring master, and sometimes the coin flip is not even remotely something anyone can control.

We face these moments every day. Will this person I am talking to be an ally? Will they be my demise? Will I regret this interaction or not? Is there, even remotely, anything I could have done to change this outcome? There isn’t really a way for anyone to know, so you might as well take the chance. As the universe is expanding rapidly on a macro scale, we are, all of us, every day, making small decisions that expand our microcosm just as rapidly. Jax and Saunders expand their view on life to include the lives around them, while the universe expands to encompass every possible, even far-fetched idea of an outcome that could ever be considered. And that’s the big idea. The universe can you send you on an infinite number of outcomes, and you’ll never know which one you are in. So you are just going to have to take it on faith that you are on the right track.

Fractal Terminus: Barnes & Noble|Bookshop|Space Wizards

Author socials: Website|Bluesky|Instagram

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/15/the-big-idea-a-z-rozkillis/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60202

Just went to the store, spent over $90 for half a week's groceries just for me.

This is not sustainable, but it's not going to get better any time soon.

I could eat at work, but let's be clear, I don't much like the housekeeper's cooking, they rarely have in stock what I'd need to make my own food the way I like it (other than eggs), and also I have some weird food issues around... I don't really know. Eating other people's food? But not at a restaurant where it's okay? Maybe it's smelling the food? I honestly do not know, that's what makes these issues weird. (But even if I didn't, she boils the poor vegetables to death.)

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

Current Mood: awake

Tags:

One of the staff has the same name as one of the residents, and it took me an embarrassingly long time to figure that out.

Posted by Athena Scalzi

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/14/dilly-dallying-in-denver-day-3/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60156

The title of this post is partially inaccurate, as part of my third day in Denver was spent in Boulder. Before going into Boulder, Alex and I decided to kick the day off with a mani pedi, and get matching colors. Cat eye polish, of course:

My freshly manicured and polished gel nails alongside my friend's longer, acrylic nails. They are both painted purple and sparkly.

I was obsessed with this color, and I think it looked especially good on Alex’s longer nails. I mean just look at these bad boys:

My nails, sparkling in the sunlight.

Sparkly!

With fresh nails, we finally headed towards Boulder. Our first stop was the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. This art museum is “pay from your heart,” which means you can pay as much as you feel like for admission. I love this idea because it makes art so accessible, especially for Boulder college kids. Art museum prices can be pretty intense, so being able to price the admission for what fits into your budget is really nice.

While I didn’t photograph any of the actual artwork, I did capture the summary of this specific exhibition they had going on called “Yes, &…“:

A white wall filled with words talking about theme of the exhibit.

I liked the theme. It was interesting, and all of the pieces I saw were definitely very unique and full of different mediums and mixed media. Very cool stuff all around, and the gift shop was awesome. I got some cute cards and stickers!

Right next door to the museum was the spot I was most excited for, the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. I have a hard time liking tea, but I love tea houses and tea time. It’s more of an aesthetic thing, really. And Dushanbe is, in fact, an extremely aesthetic tea house. With an ornate, colorful, interior filled with plants, statues, and high, hand-painted ceilings held up by hand-carved cedar columns, the artistry pours out of every nook and cranny. On their website, this page talks about the 40 different Tajikistani artists that created the art that makes this tea house so beautiful, as well as the capital of Tajikistan, the teahouses namesake.

Look how wild these details are!

A shot of the interior of the tea house. The cedar columns, painted ceiling, plants, and skylight are visible.

The tea house is very popular, and their daily Afternoon Tea requires a reservation 24-hours in advance. Their even more coveted weekend Dim Sum Teatime is only offered on select weekends throughout the year, and reservations are required 60 days in advance.

As amazing as those sounded, Alex and I just went for their regular walk-in lunch, no waiting or reservation required. Though while we were there, they were actively setting up for their Afternoon Tea, and I got to see some of that unfold and peek at some snacks they were served. Plus each tea time table gets fresh flowers on their table:

A table with a white tablecloth, with a small glass vase full of pink, beautiful flowers, and a small paper that explains the afternoon tea.

Besides their extensive tea menu, they also have some different beverages and cocktails to choose from:

A beverage menu with a chai latte, London Fog latte, Vietnamese coffee, golden milk latte, etc.

A list of tea cocktails and mocktails!

I love that all of their cocktails (and mocktails) have tea in them, so fitting!

I started off with their house chai, as my friend highly recommended it:

A small glass mug filled with chai.

I actually ordered this iced but it came hot, and I wasn’t about to complain. It really wasn’t a big deal and it was delicious hot, so it’s totally whatever. Alex definitely didn’t steer me wrong, this chai was very nicely spiced and not too sweet like a lot of chai lattes end up being.

I also ended up ordering the Espresso Bliss cocktail, because you already know I adore espresso martinis:

An espresso martini served in a coupe glass with three espresso beans on top.

Tea infused vodka, Marble Moonlight espresso liqueur, Colorado Cream Liqueur, and espresso. I liked that this espresso martini had both espresso liqueur and cream liqueur, as a lot of espresso martinis don’t have any kind of cream component. Which is fine, too, just sometimes I like them creamier and sweeter rather than cold brew style.

And a quick look at the food before ordering our tea:

The small plates menu, featuring soup, salads, and other appetizer type dishes.

The tea time entree menu, consisting of noodle dishes, some sandwiches, and entree style dishes like saag paneer.

We actually did not get any food because we were trying to make sure we were hungry for our reservations at Shells & Sauce later that day, so we just stuck with tea (and a lil bit of vodka for me, evidently).

Finally, time for our actual tea:

Two white teapots, two white teacups with two white saucers, and two tea pot shaped dishes to put your tea bag in.

We decided to share two pots, one of their white peach tea and one mango tea. They brought out our sets and a timer, and when the timer was done our tea would be done steeping. Alex took their tea plain, while I added copious amounts of cream and sugar. I’m a menace, I know.

I also wanted to show y’all this table behind ours, though it wasn’t cleaned off yet, look how nice this seating area is:

A cushioned seating area with a raised table in the middle. There's lots of nice throw pillows and it sits in the corner by windows. It reminds me of a fancy conversation pit.

I would love to sit here with a big group of friends and experience their Afternoon Tea service.

After our tea session concluded, we checked out the shop and ended up taking some tea home. I really liked this tea house and definitely want to come back for food sometime!

Once we drove back to Denver, we chilled at the apartment before heading to our dinner reservation at Shells & Sauce, which they say on their website is a neighborhood Italian bistro. They weren’t kidding. This place is located in such a random little neighborhood next to a dry cleaners and a Chinese restaurant, and is just a little place absolutely packed with excited diners. Line out the door, yet nothing flashy on the inside. Just a small neighborhood joint, as advertised.

While we had originally come for their Restaurant Week menu, we decided to not pursue that menu and just order whatever we wanted instead.

I started off with one of their signature cocktails, the Pearfect Martini:

A martini glass filled to the brim with yellow liquid and a pear slice.

Grey Goose La Poire (pear vodka), pear puree, lemon, and Prosecco. Does that not sound like a nice, refreshing, crisp martini? It was pretty good, definitely a little spirit-forward but it honestly might’ve just been a heavy pour. I mean, the glass is definitely very full.

We split two appetizers: the garlic cheese curds, and the crab cakes.

A metal basket full of cheese curds served alongside a little stainless steel dish of marinara.

The texture of these cheese curds was really good, they were nice and squeaky curds, too. I will say there wasn’t a ton of garlic flavor, they seemed more just like plain cheese curds, but who doesn’t love a good curd?

Two round pucks of crab cakes served atop a remoulade sauce.

While I’m always happy to have a crab cake, these ones weren’t particularly memorable. They weren’t bad at all but were just very standard.

Then, it was time for our entrees. I got the Stuffed Shells Duo:

Four stuffed shells with two different sauces, topped with arugula, cheese, and walnuts.

The two shells on the left were six-cheese stuffed shells with marinara, and on the right we have the sweet potato, butternut squash, and goat cheese stuffed shells with pesto cream.

While the flavor of the stuffed shells fillings were really good, especially the sweet potato one, the pesto cream sauce was a broken emulsion, and made the dish feel rather heavy and oily. So while the filling was tasty, I think the presentation and mouthfeel of the dish suffered from the oily sauce. Which is sad because I love pesto cream!

My friend just got chicken fettuccini alfredo:

A bowl of chicken alfredo with fettuccini noodles and topped with parmesan.

We opted not to get dessert. The food was okay, the vibe was okay, and the service was just okay. Honestly, I’d rather go here when there’s no dinner rush, sit on the patio, and just have some wine and bruschetta.

Once again we returned to the apartment, and this time we partook in the lovely amenities of the apartment, that being the rooftop pool and hot tub. It was definitely too chilly for the pool, especially because of the wind, but the hot tub was so nice.

After that brief relaxing period, we knew it was time to hit the bars (we only hit two, haha).

First up on our list was a rooftop bar super close to Alex’s apartment called Sorry Gorgeous. You’ll know you’re on the right path when you see this doormat in front of the elevator:

A black floor mat that reads

I really loved the interior design of Sorry Gorgeous. Green velvet couches, huge moon lamps, plants, a low-lit bar area and a great view of the nighttime skyline.

I didn’t take too many photos, but here’s some to get a general vibe for the place:

A shot of the bar, in which all the shelves are contained with a half circle built into the wall like a cave, but well lit and also there's plants!

I love how the shelves are built into the wall like it’s some sort of cave full of liquor.

A shot of the inside of Sorry Gorgeous, showing about half the bar with wooden bar stools (but not in a dive bar type of way, like a sophisticated way), plenty of the moon lamps I mentioned, plus lots of plants, and dim lighting.

As you can see, it wasn’t very crowded, most everyone resided on that half of the bar while my friend I were practically all alone on our side.

We ended up moving to this corner booth to take some photos together!

A green velvet semi circle couch with a giant moon lamp overhead.

I actually ended up taking a selfie I liked pretty well:

A shot of me! I'm smiling!

This was about number five hundred and sixty-four and I shortly gave up on photos after this because I figured one that I liked decently was good enough.

I ordered their All Saints cocktail:

A small coupe glass with yellow liquid and a lemon twist in it.

Made with Botanist gin, pear, elderflower, rhubarb, lemon, and winter spices, this cocktail was refreshing and slightly sweet, and felt sophisticated. As you can see, I clearly like pear.

I really liked the service here. Since they weren’t busy we actually ended up talking to one of the staff members for a while and he was super nice and cool. I definitely thought this place would have more of a mean-girl bartender energy but that ended up not being the case at all!

Next time I go, I would love to try their pistachio guacamole and crispy mini tacos.

Onto our next bar of the evening, the Yacht Club.

A black wall with white lettering,

A warm welcome, no doubt.

While a little small, it more so just has that cozy dive bar feel where yeah, sure you might bump elbows with someone once or twice, but it’s all peachy keen, we’re all comrades, y’know? The bar portion of the Yacht Club is built right into the corner:

A bar split in half by a corner, with two shelves of liquor up top.

What I initially thought was just a dive bar turned out to be something so much cooler and more unique. The Yacht Club is a wildly interesting cocktail bar that also has hotdogs. Lots of hotdogs.

A very tiny hot dog menu, with a huge variety of dog types, including a caviar dog.

Look at this adorable little teeny tiny hot dog menu! From the classic dog to a dog with caviar, to one served alongside a Jack and Coke, you’re sure to find your preferred type. Personally, I really wanted a sampler platter of all of them.

Aside from the hot dog menu, they had this drink menu:

A drink menu listing their house cocktails and seasonal specials, as well.

I went ahead and ordered the Chew-Chu:

A small glass filled with white wine colored liquid and ice.

I had never heard of shochu before, but it turns out it’s a lot like sake and soju in the sense it’s a Japanese spirit made from the same sort of base ingredients like rice, barley, and sweet potato.

Though this drink was a little dry from the Sauvignon Blanc, it had really good, light flavors and was refreshing to sip on.

Oh, and here’s their menu of “dope shit we have rn”:

A letterboard sign that says

That amused me greatly.

Y’all. Look what Alex got:

A can of Gatorade. Yes, a 12oz soda can type of can. But Gatorade.

CANNED GATORADE. Have you ever seen such a thing before?! This was so mind blowing, Yacht Club is officially the coolest place ever.

This is Alex’s drink but I genuinely can’t remember what the heck it is:

A small glass filled with whiskey colored liquid, with ice and an orange garnish.

Once we had our initial drinks, we were still so stuffed from dinner that I couldn’t have a hot dog, but I knew they clearly had caviar, so I asked if a caviar bump was available for purchase. I love a caviar bump, it feels so luxe and is so spontaneous and fun. Thankfully the bartenders, who were so much fun and absolutely hilarious, said yes, and even did one with us:

Three shrimp chips with caviar on them.

Yummy. You’ll never guess how much they cost, either. A cool and breezy five smackaroos. Have you ever had a cheaper caviar bump?!

After taking a house shot, which I definitely don’t remember what they poured us (and also did with us), I got this drink:

A small glass absolutely overflowing with pebbled ice and filled with dark pink liquid, served with an orange garnish.

I can’t remember the name of this one, but it was very good, with like, a ton of crazy flavors packed in. I know that’s not descriptive, I was decently drunk okay cut me some slack!

Okay, okay, one more, and this is in fact the final of the 36 photos. You’re all troopers. Here’s the final drink of the evening:

A tall glass filled with pale green liquid and topped with tons of pink pebbled ice. With mint garnish.

This one I do remember the name of. This is the Southside Swizzle. I actually really enjoy Southside cocktails, and this one was no exception. The mint with the strawberry and lime was an elite combo. I love the visual presentation here, too.

Just kidding, I have one more photo! Check out this flamingo wallpaper in their bathroom:

A bathroom wall covered in green and pink flamingo wallpaper!

Finally, we walked back to Alex’s apartment, had some snacks, and went to bed. It was a long but extremely fun and memorable day. I absolutely loved the museum, the tea house, Sorry Gorgeous, and the Yacht Club. Highly recommend all of them!

Have you been to Boulder before? Do you like rooftop bars as much as I do? Have you seen canned Gatorade before? Let me know in the comments, and have a great day!

-AMS

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/14/dilly-dallying-in-denver-day-3/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60156

Hampshire College has announced that they’re closing at the end of the fall 2026 semester (Why in the middle of the academic year? I have no idea, but it seems really odd.).

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/hampshire-college-closing-amherst-massachusetts/

I’ve never been there, but apparently it’s part of my emotional-geographical mental landscape anyway, given my need to post about it: so many years of listening to WFCR in the mornings, WBUR in the evenings growing up. (Apparently WFCR is just known now as the western MA NPR affiliate, not Five College Radio. And four starts with F, too.) This is yet another sadness in an already challenging time. I feel badly for the current students, and worse for the employees. Will the other four institutions in the five college area be hiring? What will happen to the campus? It won’t help the local businesses, either.

Closer to where I grew up, apparently Anna Maria College’s future is also shaky. I have a lot of the same questions, though presumably that not being definite gives people more time to plan?

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/anna-maria-college-massachusetts-risk-of-closing/?intcid=CNR-02-0623

Tags:

news

Count me among the noon risers who stumble,
dazed and bad-haired, from the nest midday,
pecking the crazed dirt for half-torn moth,
pear’s white core, severed worm. I’ve never
been one to trill at chink of dawn, to hop,
skip, chirrup before full sun. I’m better
at picking over crumbs, stitching a quilt
from what’s left, remaindered, given up
for gone. Better at betting the careless
will miss the best. Count me among
the nightbirds who sip starlight, a guitar’s
fading strains. Find me where moondust
swirls in streetlamp glow and stray dogs sleep.
What clings to the bone is most sweet.

***********

Link

Posted by Athena Scalzi

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/13/a-very-engaging-charcuterie-board/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60144

Hey, everyone! I was going to continue to post about my adventures in Colorado, but I decided a detour was in order today to show y’all this spread I did last night for my friend’s engagement party. Feast your eyes on my (mainly Aldi and partially Kroger) spread of goods for about fifty people to snack on:

A large spread of various meats and cheeses, as well as jams, olives, and nuts, all laid out on butcher paper. There's large piles of cubed and crumbled cheeses, a river of prosciutto, folded salamis, wheels of brie, a log of goat cheese, lots of good stuff!

So, while this isn’t everything I put out, this is the main event. I was very nervous to do a spread for so many people, as normally I deal in much smaller groups. Usually my boards are usually made for about ten people. I know you’re probably thinking, there’s no way that spread survived fifty people. And you’d be right! After the first wave of snackers, I snuck in to refill everything, and continued to refill as was necessary to keep it looking full and making sure everyone got a bite of what they wanted.

I was informed ahead of time that there were no known allergies amongst the entire group (except, of course, my bestie having a gluten intolerance). With that knowledge in mind, let’s look at what we got!

We’ve got double cream brie, dill Havarti, smoked gouda, cranberry cheddar, espresso martini soaked cheddar, pimento cheese dip, honey goat cheese, and a garlic and herbs Boursin. For the meats I did a very simple prosciutto and salami. I also brought a garlic summer sausage but I couldn’t really make it work in my presentation so I gave up on it and just went with the two meats, which honestly who needs more meat than just prosciutto and salami? Those are my two favorites, anyway.

Accoutrements include fig jam, a berry jalapeno jam, Stonewall Kitchen’s Maine Maple Champagne Mustard, quince paste, a pear, cardamom, and pistachio jam, blackcurrant mustard, Truff hot sauce, and an orange whiskey jam. There’s also stuffed peppers and herby olives, dates, salted caramel black truffle peanuts, rosemary Marcona almonds, pistachios, hot honey cashews, and chocolate covered pomegranate seeds. Finally, front and center is Zeroe Caviar’s vegan caviar made from seaweed. I’ve never put it on a board before, but I figured caviar was needed at an engagement party.

As you can tell from the grapes all the way on the right, there’s more to see than this picture lets on. I just did some strawberries, blackberries, and grapes with fruit fluff, and then pinwheel striped and sliced some mini cucumbers and set those out with carrots and celery alongside tzatziki and feta dip, plus a creamy ranch dip. There was also a tray of various cookies like Walker’s shortbread, Pirouette cookies, and some strawberry and creme covered pretzels. Plus blue corn tortilla chips and salsa.

Here’s a different angle so hopefully you can somewhat see some other items:

The spread from a different angle, now showing the fruit and veggies at the other end.

At the end you can see the fruit fluff and fruit, and the veggies and dips further down. And look, someone brought hummus! How thoughtful. Luckily, I had pita chips to go with it. I also set out some cranberry crisps, rosemary flatbread crackers, and some other entertainment crackers but nothing really of note. I kept my friend’s gluten-free crackers behind the counter for her, as well as her gluten-free cookies.

So, there you have it, a spread from yours truly for my bestie’s engagement party. I am so excited for her, her fiancé, and to be in her wedding. She means the world to me and I was happy to feed those closest to her.

Which cheese sounds the best to you? Would you try the vegan caviar? Let me kn0w in the comments, and have a great day!

-AMS

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/13/a-very-engaging-charcuterie-board/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60144

https://xkcd.com/3232/

Yay.

********************************

( Read more... )

Posted by John Scalzi

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/13/the-shattering-peace-a-locus-award-finalist/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60131

The book (shown here in its “bedazzled” version sitting on a bookshelf next to John Harris’ art book, and a painting of Smudge) is a finalist in the category of Best Science Fiction Novel, along with these other worthy finalists (list scrounged from the Locus Magazine web site):

The Folded Sky, Elizabeth Bear (Saga; Gollancz) amazon / bookshop
Picks & Shovels, Cory Doctorow (Ad Astra; Tor) amazon / bookshop
Notes from a Regicide, Isaac Fellman (Tor) amazon / bookshop
When We Were Real, Daryl Gregory (Saga) amazon / bookshop
All That We See or Seem, Ken Liu (Saga; Ad Astra) amazon / bookshop
Where the Axe Is Buried, Ray Nayler (MCD; Weidenfel & Nicolson) amazon / bookshop
Slow Gods, Claire North (Orbit US; Orbit UK) amazon / bookshop
Death of the Author, Nnedi Okorafor (Morrow; Gollancz) amazon / bookshop
Shroud, Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tor UK; Orbit US) amazon / bookshop

What excellent company to be in.

The full list of Locus Award finalist for this year can be found here. Congratulations to everyone! It is an honor to be in this peer group with you.

— JS

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2026/04/13/the-shattering-peace-a-locus-award-finalist/

https://whatever.scalzi.com/?p=60131

The Big Idea: Mallory Kass

Last Night in Decatur

(no subject)

Trip Report, Costa Rica - Pt 2, Pacific Side

Thankful Thursday

Trip Report - Costa Rica, Pt 1 - Carribean Side

The Big Idea: Cameron Johnston

Make It Myself

View From a Hotel Window, 4/15/26: Atlanta Metro

The Big Idea: A.Z. Rozkillis

Jesus

self-recommendations?

At a different residence tonight

Dilly-Dallying In Denver: Day 3

A sadness: two MA colleges

Late Bird by Angela Narciso Torres

A Very “Engaging” Charcuterie Board

Countdown Standard

Welp, it's allergy season

The Shattering Peace a Locus Award Finalist

Profile

Most Popular Tags

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags