Ann Narcisian Videan's Blog, page 15

Coffee CommuniTea: Celestial Seasonings – Boulder, CO

Today’s Cup o’ Tea

Celestial Seasonings

Boulder, CO

Perks (what I really like!)

An all-natural tea manufacturer, with a tea tasting room, art gallery, café, and gift shop in one of my favorite eclectic U.S. cities. What’s not to love?

Share a cuppa (the stories about the owner, building, history, name)

Celestial Seasonings, headquartered in Boulder, is one of the largest specialty tea manufacturers in North America.

What’s Brewing (coffee, tea, food)

My family and I dropped by the Celestial Seasonings facility, expecting to pop in to buy a few of our favorite teas at a discount. We ended up staying a couple of hours enjoying the flavors of many teas, buying presents, and learning about teas.

Tea-tasting room and art gallery. @2013 ANVidean

I especially loved the tea tasting room. When you walk into the light, inviting room, a host hands you a small porcelain teacup. You carry it over to the tea station featuring a handful of featured pre-brewed teas. If the flavor you want is not available, you walk up to the counter, ask to try a particular tea, and they fill your cup with hot water and give you a fresh teabag to brew  your own.

They offer so many delicious teas! @2013 ANVidean

My new favorite: Jammin’ Lemon Ginger. Yum!

The Grind (what I would change)

Not a thing. My family thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

Tea tasters: Codi, Bob and Cutter. @2013 ANVidean

Percolation Factor (the activity/environment/energy/service)

Informative hosts are handy to provide answers to any tea-related question.
Free tours of the world’s most advanced tea production plant every day (except major holidays) show you how the finest all-natural ingredients from around the world become your favorite Celestial Seasonings teas. Tours leave on the hour and last 45 minutes.
A tea shop with discounted teas, all the tea-related supplies and gifts you can imagine.
The Celestial Café, serving fresh, delicious, home-cooked meals in a cozy atmosphere featuring beautiful Celestial Seasonings artwork. See Web site for special café hours.
My favorite surprise came in the form of tea art. The tasting-room and café walls, and lobby display cases, brim with beautiful packaging artwork and unique tea sets. The work is truly eye-popping.

This is a teapot! @2013 ANVidean

The Grounds (location)

4600 Sleepytime Dr.

Boulder, CO 80301

(303) 581-1202

Tea Times (hours)

M–Sa.  9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Su.  11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Yelp rating: 4.5 stars from 165 reviews

……………………

I love connecting people and ideas, so I’ve been creating small villages my entire life. Really, what better places can writers and musicians find to create “village” than independent coffee/tea shops? I wrote most of my Rhythms & Muse novel and Delfaerune Rhapsody series-in-progress in coffee/tea venues, so it seemed natural to create this blog. Whether you came here to find a new favorite hangout, or suggest a spot not yet not posted, may you find Coffee CommuniTea exactly to your taste!

Find your Dark Fae name

Delfaerune Rhapsody antagonist Mikk Stone. Can you guess what rock star’s name played muse for my antagonist’s identity? Comment below.

For my pending Song of the Ocarina novel, I picked Dark Fae character names based on famous, and even some burned-out, rock and rollers. Think long hair, studded black leathers, tattoos and piercings.

Use the first letter of your first name, for either a guy or a gal, then use the first letter of your last name.

Example:

As a gal, my first name starts with A, so my Dark Fae first name is Jett.

My last name starts with V, so my so my Dark Fae surname is Rotten.

That makes me Jett Rotten.

GUYS
GALS
SURNAME


 

A       Motorhead

B       Bowie

C       Davyd Lee

D       Vynce

E       Jym

F       Skidd

G       Iggie

H       Mikk

I        Ronney

J       Keyth

K       Stevinn

L       Blackie

M      Chrys

N       Alyiss

O       Myke

P       Kert

Q       Eddy

R       Black

S       Axyl

T       Ozzy

U       Iron

V       Chryss

W      Elvish

X       Def

Y       Phyl

Z       Motley
 

A       Jett

B       Nikki

C       Phair

D       Rhiki

E       Byorc

F       Siouxsie

G       Thyn Lizzy

H       Indigo

I        Boney

J       Jewyl

K       Sherr

L       Zola

M      Runaway

N       Janys

O       Inez

P       Tyna

Q       Mad Donna

R       Jhoan

S       Lyz

T       Cass

U       Exene

V       Chryssie

W      Shinayde

X       Queen

Y       Alanys

Z       Motley
 

A       Morryson

B       Joplyn

C       Hendryx

D       Moon

E       Lawless

F       Winehouse

G       Crue

H       Pretender

I        Hynde

J       Osbourne

K       Banshee

L       Maiden

M      Kreeper

N       Wild

O       Whitesnake

P       Cyclone

Q       Guns

R       Thorne

S       Ness

T       Leeroth

U       Sabbath

V       Rotten

W      Distortion

X       Ratt

Y       Sixx

Z       Poison

 

Can you come up with a better Dark Fae name yourself? Please share.

Help create Roshambo hand symbols for NZ fae characters

Image courtesy of Kittikun Atsawintarangkul at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

OK, friends, I could use your help again with content for my Song of the Ocarina novel. My heroine Lark has two bodyguards, Leif and Sonny, who Roshambo to decide who must carry Lark’s shopping packages. They each smack their palm twice and, on the third beat, open into a representative hand symbol. What symbols/hand gestures would these Noble Fae use?

In the U.S. we use these:

Rock (breaks scissors) with fist
Paper (covers rock) with flat palm
Scissors (cuts paper) with middle and index fingers extended like a peace sign

Consider:

My characters reside within the country of Zealynd (on a different plane, but the same geographical location as New Zealand in the human realm).
The fae are attuned to nature, magic, and animals.
They are influenced by the Maori culture.

So, maybe my fae could use fern leaves, daggers and stones? Or something more creative? What can you suggest?

In the comments below, suggest a set of symbols and hand gestures for my fae to use for this game in the realm of Delfaerune. If I use your suggestion, I’ll include your name in the Acknowledgements page of my published novel.

New music to enlighten and inspire

 I’m so thrilled for my dear friend Andrea Beaulieu, who just released this heartfelt song, “One Heart, One Mind” with Richard Palalay. Andrea wrote the lyrics and sings the lovely melody within the arrangement composed by Richard.

Honestly, this beautiful song will lighten your day. You can get it from Andrea, Amazon, or  through the iTunes store.

Fae react to iPod, in “Song of the Ocarina” excerpt

Lark and her ever-present iPod, as illustrated by John Taylor.

The first time I heard about an iPod, I thought, “Great. Another electronic contraption I’ll need to manage.” [sigh] Really. I could not wait not to have one. Of course, now that I understand how the elegant and useful device truly serves me, it never leaves my side.

In the first book in my Delfaerune Rhapsody series of young-adult novels, Song of the Ocarina, my heroine Lark Tūrehu (pronounced “to-are-air-who) introduces the concept of an iPod to her sister B’rook. Here’s a book excerpt showing her reaction:

Lark’s heightened emotion pushed all thoughts from her mind, and she suddenly blanked on how to start this conversation with her sister. Reaching for calm, she merged her energy with one of the ripples on the pond, now smoothing after its choreographed orchestration. The bright flare in her aura settled it into a calm glow. With a deep breath, she reached down to turn off her iPod.
“What the heck is that thing, Lark? You’ve had it on both times I’ve seen you since I got back. Another human habit you can’t quite get rid of?”
Lark touched the iPod attached to her waistband, and smiled begrudgingly.
“Actually, you’re right, B’rook. This is an iPod, an electronic music player. It goes with me everywhere now. I can pull up any song I want, from any of my favorite artists, at any time, as long as I’ve loaded them into this device.”
B’rook frowned, but with interest. She probably wanted to hate it, but couldn’t get past her weakness for human rock music, which the girls had developed as small children in their tutored Human Culture class.
“Beatles?”
“Yes.”
“Van Halen?”
Lark nodded, smiling. “Even Linkin Park.”
B’rook’s gaze devoured the device.
“Here, give it a try.” Lark held out the ear buds to her sister, who placed them in her ears. Lark dialed up “Faint,” her sister’s favorite Linkin Park song, wondering if B’rook’s eyes could widen any further.
After a few moments, B’rook grinned and returned the earbuds. “I may just have to pick me up one of those.”
“In the meantime, sis’, I have something to distract you.”
“Oh?”
“In honor of our return, and the successful retrieval of the Sacred Pākiri drum, our Magistra of Glamour and Administrator of Protocol are planning a masquerade ball.”

How did/would you react the first time you saw an iPod work?

Mikk Stone, Final Reveal (#5)

Delfaerune Rhapsody series’

full character profile of antagonist

Mikk Stone.

Debut of Delfaerune Rhapsody antagonist Mikk Stone, by John Taylor.

Age: 22

Stature: 6’9” tall

Race:

A Dark Fae—the tall, wingless, magical people sometimes called “Rotters” by their Noble Fae cousins in Delfaerune.

Residence:

Mikk lives on a plane parallel to Queenstown, New Zealand, in the fae land of Delfaerune.  There —in Queens’tyn, Zealynd—extinct and mythical creatures thrive, sentient foliage energize the Noble Fae, and speaking animals lend magical glamour to the Dark Fae. His current home is a cave with an every-day mosh pit concert.

Family:

Born to a well-known Dark Fae family, Mikk is the older brother to Noel who abandoned his family to join the Noble Fae. He works to magically control his brother, who defected to the Noble Fae to teach music to the future Maestra.

Job:

He’s a drummer in a band, but would rather jam and party with his friends than actually find gigs where he can play as a drummer. Power-hungry Mikk leads a group of Dark Fae in a subversive scheme to take over the human realm.

Strengths: Musical skill and powerful glamour (magic)

Flaw: Self-centered and egotistic

Quirk: Loves human rock stars, and emulates them

Animal familiar: “Eddy,” a young silver dragon (extinct in the human realm)

Love interest: Mikk likes to hang out with his groupies.

…………………………………………………

Mikk Stone is the young Dark Fae antagonist in the Delfaerune Rhapsody series—my young-adult, fantasy-adventure trilogy-in-progress. His story begins in Song of the Ocarina, the first book in the series, due out in late 2013.

Watch in the coming days for more character information about the trilogy. Also watch Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Back to Reveal #4             To Noel Stone Final Reveal           To Lark Tūrehu Final Reveal

Mikk Stone, Reveal #4

Can you tell from John Taylor‘s partial image Mikk is the story’s antagonist?

Reveal #4: Mikk’s band of troublemakers stole forbidden magical spellbooks from the Delfaerune leadership, and their misuse is unbalancing the worlds.

All of Mother Earth’s realms—including humans, fae and “extinct” animals like the moa, dragons and phoenix—become endangered by Mikk’s attempt to use dark spells.

The Dark Fae plans unfold in Song of the Ocarina — the first book in my young-adult fantasy adventure series — due out in late 2013.

Watch for more character image reveals this week of Mikk here in my blog, and also in my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.

Back to Reveal #3                                          Reveal #5

Mikk Stone, Reveal #3

Reveal #3: Mikk always carries drumsticks, and uses them to control Eddy, his dragon “familiar.”

Eddy hides behind Mikk in this partial image by John Taylor.

Eddy is a young silver dragon who takes battle direction from Mikk, who uses his drumsticks like conductor batons. In his direction, Mikk also incorporates legendary human rock-star moves like the windmill guitar strum, the runway strut, and others.

The Dark Fae antagonist’s story begins to unfold in Song of the Ocarina — the first book in my young-adult fantasy adventure series — due out in late 2013.

Watch for more character image reveals this week of Mikk here in my blog, and also in my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.

Back to Reveal #2                                          Reveal #4

Mikk Stone, Reveal #2

Reveal #2: Mikk is a drummer who loves to party. He uses his drumsticks as conductor batons to direct… something very unusual.

Mikk’s drumsticks are always tucked in a pocket. Illustration by John Taylor.

He and his rebel Dark Fae buddies stole magical tools controlled by the Noble Fae, and experiment with them to get what they want, even if the consequences lead to the breakdown of their own world.

His best friend, Axyl Thorne, is Delfaerune’s most famous—and handsome singer/songwriter.

His story begins to unfold in Song of the Ocarina — the first book in my young-adult fantasy adventure series — due out in late 2013.

Watch for more character image reveals this week of Mikk here in my blog, and also in my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.

Back to Reveal #1                                          Reveal #3

Mikk Stone, Reveal #1

A snippet of Mikk’s image, by John Taylor.

Reveal #2: Mikk Stone leads the Dark Fae movement to take over the human world.

He uses glamoured music and Earth connections long banned in the fae realm to influence human propogation.

Brother to the Delfaerune Rhapsody hero, Noel, this edgy Dark Fae role models himself after burned-out human rock stars, wearing black jeans, black leather jackets with silver  studs, and immersing his evenings in heavy metal music and groupies.

His story begins to unfold in Song of the Ocarina — the first book in my young-adult fantasy adventure series — due out in late 2013.

Watch for more character image reveals this week of Mikk here in my blog, and also in my Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn feeds.

To Reveal #2