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That Time I Visited Some MCU Filming Locations

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Let’s face it, no one is doing any traveling anytime soon. I’m pretty sure any Summer vacation plans I had are now off. That means now is the perfect time to revisit some past trips! If you know me, you know I love the MCU. That’s why back in April of 2015 I headed over to London to visit Katy with plans to visit numerous Marvel filming locations, and to hopefully take part in some “Avengers: Age of Ultron” premiere events. I’m going to break everything down by movie to make it a little easier and make the post flow better.

Thor: The Dark World: Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London



One of the first spots were checked out was the Old Royal Navel College in Greenwich. It’s where the big battle takes place in the movie. It was really exciting to see how movie magic was used and to imagine Dark Elves and Thor battling it out everywhere. I even took the time to stare out a window in the Painted Hall just like those dummies did in the movie. I mean, would your rather flee for safety or stick around and watch Thor fight? It’s an easy choice in my mind. We really lucked with perfect weather that day. Plenty of people were out and about. Remember when people would go out? And were allowed to be in groups? Ah, it feels like many moons ago.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Millennium Bridge, London

This bridge has been in a number of movies but you’ll recognize it as the bridge located on Xandar in “Guardians of the Galaxy.” You’ll really notice it during the large battle near the end of the movie where everyone is rushing to safety. If you search online you’ll find tons of filming photos which are really fun to see. It’s an interesting pedestrian bridge and if you find yourself in that area, I’d check it out.

Captain America: The First Avenger: Liverpool & Manchester & London

I could honestly write an entire post just about these locations. They were at the top of our list where where we spent most of our time. It’s a really weird and amazing feeling to see a place and just know. The interesting part of this is how far apart the two locations are in real life, but how in the movie they made them seem like they were just down the street from each other. Movie magic really is movie magic. The stretch of Dale Street between Port Street and Lena Street in Manchester were dressed (and re-dressed) for the car chase that then ended in Liverpool at Stanley Dock, which is now home to the Titanic Liverpool Hotel. That’s where we stayed during our trip but at the time of filming, there was no hotel there. And I must add it was a great stay and I highly recommend it! Our room was fantastic and of course we requested a view of the bridge. I’m sure people thought it was weird to watch two women randomly take photos of alleyways and a bridge. Manchester was just a day trip where we checked out the “store fronts.” It was hilarious to run around and try to match up the exact spots with screecaps from the movie. Luckily there wasn’t much traffic that day and it was easy to just randomly run from one location to the next.

Another spot that we checked out was the pub where Steve recruits the Howling Commandos. Now, it’s pretty easy to find if you search online but I’m not sharing it. I know, it’s weird. But I feel like this little spot belongs to myself and Katy. It’s changed owners and styles a few times. We’ve actually been there twice and our second visit was probably a more comfortable or better visit. We did talk the manager into giving us a little tour of the place the first time in order to see more of the pub. The second time around they had more of the bar open and we could sit anywhere we wanted. Of course that means we sat in the same spot that Bucky and Steve chatted and where Peggy made her appearance in her red dress. The drinks were pretty amazing and the bartenders were really nice. But that was a few years ago. It could be under new ownership again for all I know!

The funny thing is, when I started writing this I had no idea that when I would publish this post, it would fall on the 5 year anniversary of this trip. It was such a fun time and Katy did such a fantastic job of planning everything. She created an entire S.H.I.E.L.D file called OperationMAIL that included clues of where we were going, recommendations on what to wear. She really outdid herself. It’s just one of the reasons I love her and why she’s one of a kind. The Steve to my Bucky! I can’t wait to visit her again once everything is back to “normal” and we can make another trip to “our pub” and maybe try and see some new locations. There are still a few spots we missed out on the last time around and I know she’s been planning and scheming, trying to figure out ways to gain access to some of the locations.

Have you visited any filming locations for movies or TV? Let me know if you have!

5 Fandom Friday: Favorite MCU Moments

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I don’t know how I’m supposed to pick just 5 MCU moments. I mean, we’re talking 10 years worth of films here. Almost every movie has it’s own “moment.” Some do stand out more than others though. Here are the five that I picked.

1. “Avengers. Assemble.” (Avengers: Endgame)

I still get goosebumps (and a few tears) when thinking about this. Finally, after years of waiting to hear those words, it happened. And it happened in the most epic way possible. I still can’t believe we managed to see all those heroes in one movie, in one place coming together to save the world, and the universe. It’s such a special moment and probably something we won’t see again anytime soon.

2. “I Am Iron Man.” (Iron Man)

This line takes on a different feeling now after “Avengers: Endgame” but without “Iron Man” there’s no MCU. There aren’t any top moments or memories. This one line just perfectly sums up Tony Stark. He’s going to do things his way no matter what he’s told.

3. Black Panther In Civil War (Captain America: Civil War)

What an amazing intro for a new character! Plus it changed the way the MCU introduced heroes. It helped move them away from the typical introduction style movie. We easily learn what Black Panther is all about in just this scene, and movie. By the end T’Challa shows why he should be King of Wakanda. He shows empathy and understanding. But we see he’s an amazing warrior as well and just a hint about the technological advances we’ll see down the road.

4. Thor Goes Full Thor (Thor: Ragnarok)

Look, in all the MCU I don’t think there’s a more beautiful scene then this. It’s just perfect. The music, the style, the look. The fact we finally got to see Thor go full God of Thunder. It’s perfection.

5. Steve vs. Bucky (Captain America: Winter Soldier)

Having to see two childhood friends fight it out is heartbreaking, but who are we kidding? It’s hot too. This is probably my favorite MCU movie and watching these two highly skilled characters battle on a crashing helicarrier is just one reason why. To find out your friend is actually alive, and being used a weapon against the world? Just hit me with a truck while you’re at it.

. . . . .

This was a hard list to come up with. I could easily list five more. I mean, we have Spider-Man entering the MCU. Then there’s Carol Danvers realizing her full potential. Steve jumping on a grenade, showing what kind of person he is. Tony finding out who actually killed his parents. Black Widow and her hallway fight scene from “Iron Man 2.” Then you have a movie like “Guardians of the Galaxy” that finally takes the MCU to space and really introduces Thanos.

If you want to learn more about 5 Fandom Friday, check out . You’ll find the entire list of prompts for the year. I believe April is Marvel month! It’s a great way to find new blogs to read and give you a little something to write about to help break up any blogger’s block.

Finding Comfort In Rewatching Your Favorite Shows

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With everything going on in the world today, we’ve all been forced to pretty much stay home. That means we have a lot of time on our hands to watch TV or movies. Some of us are picking up new shows, maybe something you missed years ago, or something that had its release moved up. But some of us are revisiting shows that we loved. I find a certain comfort in watching something that’s familiar. There’s a lot of uncertainty right now. Our brains are overwhelmed with all the information we see on the news and online. The majority of it is important to know, my local Governor is hosting press conferences at least once a week, if not twice. But it’s a lot to handle and absorb.

That’s why I’m turning to shows that I know, shows that don’t need me to think or pay too much attention. A show that I can skip around and just watch the episodes that I really love. Maybe it’s a Halloween episode, or an episode that centers around a convention. I can revisit the wedding of my favorite couple. You know what else is fun to see while watching older shows? All the actors popping up that went onto have big careers! Or they became leads in their own shows. Just last night on an episode of “The Mentalist,” Sterling K Brown had a small role. Now he’s a Golden Globe and Emmy Award Winner! Reed Diamond pops up all the time. Out of all the shows I’ve watched he’s been in at least four of them. You could probably make a drinking game out of his appearances. But I can deal with minor frustrations too, like the early on “will they won’t they” of a show like “Bones.” The frustration of wondering who Red John might be on “The Mentalist.” Will Michael Westen ever get back into the good graces of the CIA on “Burn Notice?” Is Shawn ever going to get outed as a fake on “Psych?” But I know how all of these stories end. The frustration is minor and fleeting, I can skip multiple episodes until I get my answers. Right now, the real world has no answers. And I have no control over that, but I do have control over what’s on my TV. That’s why I’m going to find comfort where I can, and if that means binge watching 12 seasons of a series, then pass the popcorn.

What are you watching these days? Have you picked up a new series? Or are you taking a trip down memory lane? Let me know below!

Finally, A New Look For The Blog

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Do people still announce when they change themes and add stuff to their blogs? Is that a thing of the past? Too bad, I’ve hit a dry spot for post ideas. This is what you get. After searching around on Etsy for what feels like months, I finally landed on a new theme. I’m a little picky when it comes to them. I’ve noticed sometimes they just come across too “girly” and don’t fit my general vibe. Or they offer way too much when all I need is something pretty simple. But then sometimes the theme is just way too simple. I finally picked this one by HelloYayDesign. It was on sale, and simple without being too boring. Plus she offers to create a header to match the theme free of charge!

I’m still playing around with it and moving things around. I moved the “Categories” from the sidebar to the navigation bar you see above, and then moved the “Pages” to the 2nd navigation bar. I might play around with the pages a bit, just to give myself something to do. I still need to come up with a decent “About Me” page. I added a few social media links you see in that same menu bar. The Instagram link will take you to my pup’s Insta, and you can find mine at the very bottom of the blog. If you notice anything weird, please let me know!

I hope everyone is doing OK out there. I might write something up later about everything that’s going on but we’ll see. I feel like we’re probably all sick and tired of that. I might at least do a post linking to some small and online businesses that you can shop via the internet. I might focus a lot on tattoo artists because they’re pretty fucked right now. We’ll see! Enough rambling.

TMP Television Edition 298: Docu Series

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I love a good docu series! That’s the topic for this week over at Wandering Through The Shelves. I feel like these days there’s a new series out every other day, and something for everyone! I can’t wait to see what everyone has on their list. Maybe I’ll find something new to watch to help pass the time during all this social distancing. If you want to take part in Thursday Movie Picks, it’s easy! Just pick 3-5 movies (or shows), explain why you picked them, and link back to Thursday Movie Picks.

1. Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer (Amazon)

After nearly 40 years of silence, Elizabeth Kendall and her daughter Molly share their experiences with unsettling new details about Ted Bundy.

I know we’re all probably tired of hearing about Ted Bundy but what made this one different is the fact it’s about his girlfriend, Elizabeth Kendall, and her life with him. It really did show a different side to the story, and focused more on the women affected by this monster instead of just focusing on the crimes or the gruesomeness of everything. It did a really great job of showing just how different times were then. The docu series shared some “family” photos of Elizabeth and Ted, along with her daugher, and it was very jarring for some reason. There were clips of him playing with her on the beach and just being a…normal guy? It made me feel very uneasy but in an interesting way. If that makes sense.

2. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (Netflix)

A rivalry between big cat eccentrics takes a dark turn when Joe Exotic, a controversial animal park boss, is caught in a murder-for-hire plot.

I haven’t finished this one yet (I think I have 3-4 episodes to go) but GUYS, this entire story is insane. I’m hooked on just how outrageous everything and everyone in this series is. I’m hooked and can’t wait to look into this entire thing more. It isn’t something that would normally be on my radar but everyone online has been talking about it. I figured I had nothing to lose by checking it out and boy, the payoff is unreal. It follows the story of Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, and the world of big cats. And it’s a weird and wild world.

3. The Keepers (Netflix)

Netflix’s latest docuseries tackles the unsolved murder of Cathy Cesnik, a beloved nun and Catholic high school teacher in Baltimore. After disappearing on Nov. 7, 1969, Cesnik’s body was found nearly two months later — but to this day, the killer remains unnamed. In the ’90s, the case returned to the spotlight after one of Cesnik’s former students accused the high school’s chaplain of sexual abuse, and claims that she was taken to Cesnik’s then undiscovered corpse and threatened. Director Ryan White pieces together the story through conversations with friends, relatives, journalists, government officials and Baltimore citizens, hoping to uncover the truth.

This is a bit of a local story which is why I checked it out when it debuted. It was hard to watch and honestly, anything these days involving The Church just fills me with anger and rage. This came out in 2017 and the Church here is still fighting legislation on removing the statue of limitations on sexual abuse. I hope with the technology that’s out there today justice for Cathy happens.

I’m keeping my list short this week because otherwise it would be filled with way too much true crime. That’s my thing for the most part! I do want to try and branch out and watch some things that are of a different genre but it’s hard. It’s way too easy for me to get sucked into a good true crime show or documentary. And there’s no shortage! I very easily could have written a list that was nothing but Ted Bundy. Now it’s time to go check out the other lists! Fingers crossed I find something to help pass the time.

Thursday Movie Picks 297: Bad Boys

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I’ve skipped the past few Thursday Movie Pick prompts but I’m back for the bad boys! I mean, who doesn’t love a bad boy? If you aren’t familiar with Thursday Movie Picks, it’s pretty simple! As the name suggests, Thursday Movie Picks is held every Thursday. The rules are based on the theme of the week pick three to five movies and tell us why you picked them. I told you it was easy.

1. Bad Boys

“Miami-Dade detectives Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) blow a fuse when $100 million worth of heroin they recently confiscated is heisted from station headquarters. Suspecting it was an inside job, Internal Affairs gives them five days to track down the drugs before they shut down the narcotics division.”

I mean, can you have a list about bad boys and not include the movie “Bad Boys?” You could easily have an entire list filled with just these movies. I love Will Smith and Martin Lawrence together. The chemistry they have is fantastic and I’m a sucker for a good action movie, especially when it has some humor tossed in.

2. The Covenant

“In the 17th century, five families with supernatural powers make a pact of silence. Eventually one power-hungry family is banished. The descendants of those four remaining families are heirs to tremendous power. Known as the Sons of Ipswich, the boys attend elite Spencer Academy. When a student there is found dead after a party, unraveling secrets threaten to shatter the pact that has protected the boys’ families for centuries.”

It’s basically “The Craft” with boy bitches and not as great. I would have loved to see a crossover though. The entire reason I watched this movie was because Sebastian Stan plays one of the characters and turns out to be the ultimate witchy bad boy.

3. Cruel Intentions

“Annette (Reese Witherspoon) unwittingly becomes a pawn in Sebastian’s (Ryan Phillippe) and Kathryn’s (Sarah Michelle Gellar) deliciously diabolical wager of sexual conquest when she writes an article in Seventeen Magazine about how she intends to stay pure until she marries her boyfriend. However, Sebastian gets more than he bargained for as he attempts to woo Annette into his bed.”

One could argue he’s just an asshole, not a bad boy, but Ryan Phillipee is fantastic in this role. It’s not that easy to be a bad boy. It has to be believable and sometimes, it’s just not. I remember being obsessed with this movie when it first came out, and with Ryan. Ah, that teen life.

That’s the list for this week! Who are some of your favorite bad boys?