Atlas Obscura - Places Newsletter

The “golden grass” that’s neither gold, nor grass

07-15-2024

	July 15, 2024

Wild Life

The ‘Golden Grass’ of Brazil

Crafts made of capim dourado, whose name is Portuguese for “golden grass,” shine like they’re spun out of a fairy tale. Artisans in the Brazilian Cerrado use capim dourado to weave everything from gleaming hats and baskets to luminous, sun-colored jewelry. But here’s a plot twist: Capim dourado is a double misnomer. It’s not gold, and it’s not grass either.

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History

Decoding Yankee Doodle’s Macaroni

“Yankee Doodle went to town a-riding on a pony, stuck a feather in his cap, and called it macaroni.” Think of this macaroni as less food and more fashion.

MUSEUMS

A Doomed Dino Museum

For decades, we’ve blamed a corrupt politician known as Boss Tweed for the destruction of the Central Park’s dinosaurs in New York City. But what if it wasn’t him?

Atlas Obscura Lists

Monster Museums

From a four-legged beast that terrorized 18th-century France to an amphibious water demon in Japan, here are a few of our favorite places to get up close to monsters.

Atlas Obscura Courses

The Truth About Sharks

In this five-part lecture series, dive into the world of these elegant, powerful predators, exploring the diversity of life that exists across different species of sharks.

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ICYMI

Preorder Your Copy Today

Nature’s coolest characters roar to life in our latest book, Atlas Obscura: Wild Life, a compendium of unusual creatures that’s sure to dazzle even the most seasoned of wildlife explorers. From peeping adorable leaf sheep (yes, really!) to chilling out with wood frogsicles, our book offers you a chance to walk on the wild side.

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Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland

An Isolated Icelandic Island

Internet rumors, often involving Icelandic singer Björk, have abounded regarding this isolated outcrop of rock.

Massachusetts

Behold, the Grave of Dunkin' Donuts Founder

Texas

Yes, That’s a Giant Matthew McConaughey

New York

A Humble House Where the FBI Worked to Confuse the Nazis

Sweden

Life-Sized Mosaic Reptiles Link The Past And The Future

Sponsored by West Virginia Tourism

Berdine's Five and Dime

When Berndine’s opened in 1908, the owners made a solemn promise to the Harrisville community: No item would be more than 10 cents. Prices may have ticked up just a little (wink wink) since then, but the store still retains the charm of the neighborhood five-and-dime, vintage candy scale, tchotchkes, and all.

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