In June and July 2016, I had the immense joy to visit London and stay with my dear friends Melinda and Ben. Mel surprised me one day by taking me to Whitechapel to see the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry on June 29, 2016 - four years ago today! Me and Mel outside the Whitechapel Bell … Continue reading Visiting the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 2016
While in London in January 2019 for my dead celebrity research trip, I was able to spend an afternoon in Canary Wharf to visit the Museum of London Docklands with my friend, Ziggy. As a big fan of the main Museum of London location, I was keen to visit their Docklands outpost - specifically to … Continue reading London, Sugar & Slavery at the Museum of London Docklands
The main focus of my Masters research is dead celebrities and how fans react to their death and in memorializing them create and shape the narrative of that celebrity’s legacy. One of the main celebrities I focus on is David Bowie, and specifically how people interact with him through his hometown of Brixton, a neighborhood … Continue reading Researching David Bowie’s Death in Brixton, UK – January 2019
On April 5th, 2019, I participated in the MALS Lightning Talks. This is an event for Masters students at the Graduate Center, CUNY to showcase their research in three minutes. I spoke about the fandom rituals that memorialize David Bowie in Brixton, his hometown in South London. Watch my speech below, or read the transcript … Continue reading The Fan Rituals of Memorializing David Bowie – Presentation
In January 2019, I found myself in London on a research trip for my Masters thesis. On a day off from lurking around pilgrimage sites related to dead celebrities, I was able to visit London's iconic Somerset House for the first time with my friends Sarah, Danny, and Dave. The current Somerset House was constructed … Continue reading ‘Good Grief, Charlie Brown’ at Somerset House, London
In May 2017, my best friend Hindi and I were in London to attend Frank Turner's Lost Evenings festival. Before all the music kicked off, we made our way to the London borough of Chelsea specifically to have a few drinks at The Bletchley - a hidden bar that drops you into a WWII style … Continue reading The Bletchley: a code-breaking bar in London
In March 2018 I was in London with my friend Hindi for a week of music, friends, and mayhem. One day we met up with our dear friend (and ace musician) Dave Giles, and he took us to the Victoria and Albert Museum (aka, the V&A) to see a special exhibit: 'Winnie the Pooh: Exploring … Continue reading Winnie the Pooh: Exploring a Classic at V&A Museum, London
Sixteen years before the Revolutionary War officially kicked off, Ben Franklin resided in London acting largely as a mediator between Britain and America. The house he stayed at, 36 Craven Street, is the only house that he lived in that is still standing today. While in England in the summer of 2016, I had the … Continue reading Celebrating the 4th of July at Ben Franklin’s London Home
During my 2016 trip to London, my friend Mel and I visited Parliament Square and Westminster Abbey to get our nerd on. Even though I was battling high pain and fatigue this day (which is why this video hardly has us in it) we had a wonderful time touring the Abbey. It was especially cool … Continue reading A day at Parliament Square and Westminster Abbey
While visiting my wonderfully nerdy friends, Mel and Ben, in the UK in July 2016, we spent a lovely day at the British Library and the Museum of London! We saw many incredible documents at the Library - that, of course, I had a little cry over - and so many amazing artifacts at the … Continue reading Visiting the British Library and Museum of London
History Is Important 