Author: Ms. R.

Hipolito “Paul” Cerda was busily churning out churros at San Jose’s Excite Ballpark. Next to him, a vendor sold the orange-and-black jerseys and hats of the minor league San Jose Giants. But their hottest merchandise did not sport the team’s normal name and logo. Instead, they featured a churro-shaped mascot swinging a cinnamon-stick bat. The players on the field, smacking home run after home run against the Stockton Ports, all wore jerseys emblazoned with their alternative name: the San……

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This story originally appeared in bioGraphic, an online magazine about nature and sustainability powered by the California Academy of Sciences At 3 a.m. on December 31, 2019, the clouds hung low over Thwaites Ice Shelf, on the remote coast of Antarctica. A line of small tents reached into the distance, each flanked by a windbreak of snow blocks, though the air was still. The wan light left no shadows, and no clear horizon between the sky and the white……

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A private residence in Denver’s East Colfax neighborhood has been transformed into what Steve Hartbauer calls the “Enchanted Hart Haus.” Hartbauer has been working on his house for 10 years and estimates another 10 years until it is complete. The colors and themes of the mosaic tiles that wrap around the house represent the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. His folk art includes mosaic art, glass bottle sculptures, and metal sculptures. Hartbauer believes that art should be shared……

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The Basilica di Sant’Andrea in Mantua was built on a pre-existing church by Leon Battista Alberti in 1472, but it was completed only in 1790. During the centuries many architects (such as Juvarra) and artists help to improve the church. The main portal features an intricate bas-relief of leaves and small animals with symbolic meanings. The most famous is a hidden hare who is said to be a lucky charm.  There is an old saying among hunters in Mantua: “S’a t’è mia……

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Ballylagan Organic Farm located in the small County Antrim village of Straid is similar to other local organic farms, offering fresh produce, organic meats, and other products such as tea, coffee, and baked goodies for visitors. Ballylagan contains on-site tea rooms and plenty of walking space along its farm trails for exploration. However, Ballylagan Organic Farm does have one distinction from its counterparts: it is the first organic farm shop established in Northern Ireland. Ballylagan Organic Farm was the first……

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Olderfleet Castle ruins located along the shores of Larne Lough at Curran Point, the structure remains as solemn as it did when it was constructed during the 1600s. The name Olderfleet was derived from the Viking word Ukfrecksfiord, the Viking name given to what is now known as Larne Lough. The original castle was built in 1250 by the Scottish-Irish Bissett family from Glenarm and was originally named Curran Castle. In 1315, the castle and the Bisssett’s welcomed Edward Bruce,……

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At first glance, there is nothing special about the barrel jellyfish, also known by the rather undignified name of the dustbin-lid jellyfish. Sure, Rhizostoma pulmo is one of the larger jelly species—it can grow to about three feet across and weigh upwards of 70 pounds—but it’s not the biggest, or the most dazzling. (The lion’s mane jellyfish is a candidate for those titles, though a 2019 video of an exceptionally large barrel jellyfish swimming past divers made quite a……

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Underneath the Atlantic Boulevard Drawbridge in Pompano Beach sits an eight-inch tall troll made of clay clutching a tiny Matchbox Honda C-RV. The piece is a tiny, tucked-away homage to Seattle‘s 18-foot tall Fremont Troll, connecting the coastal cities across 3,500 miles of distance, and offering the cross-country traveler the opportunity to bookend their journey with a visit to a troll. Drawbridge up on your way to the beach? Head underneath to find this hidden little easter-egg, watch the boat’s pass……

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Jewish historian and archaeologist Théodore Reinach was also a politician from 1906 to 1914. The Reinach family, who lived in a chateau in Savoy, hired architect Emmanuel Pontremoli in 1908 to design a mansion in Beaulieu-Sur-Mer. Villa Kérylos is organized into different rooms through a large courtyard flanked by 12 marble columns. The personal rooms are dedicated to Greek deities: Eros, with respect to Theodore’s chamber where ocher and reds dominate, and the goddess Hera in Fanny’s room, where……

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To the local people of Aboriginal descent, the Ngarrindjeri people, the Bunyip is a thing of legend. Stories describe a fisherman who was greedy and catching more fish than needed, drying out the river. Local elders were displeased with this selfish character who was not respecting the rules of fishing. As punishment, the man was turned into a half-man, half-fish creature and banished to the depths of the river. The tale has played a role in educating children about……

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