/LonghornNation Daily Off Topic Free Talk Thread

Today: 6/6/2023

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Your go-to place to talk about whatever you want. From the dumb shit aggies do on a near daily basis, to the latest whatever happening wherever. What ya got?

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1. 6/7 University of Texas Track & Field / Cross Country vs NCAA Outdoor Championships
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3. 6/9 University of Texas Track & Field / Cross Country vs NCAA Outdoor Championships
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1. This dumpling presser
2. A trans man in Ohio was beat up and arrested for using the bathroom associated with his sex assigned at birth
3. Got let go from my job, now they want a resignation notice.
4. Kanye and his new wife out for a stroll
5. TIL King Henry II of France participated in a jousting tournament in 1559 to celebrate the marriage of his daughter. A lance splintered on his helmet and pushed wood into his eye and brain. He died ten days later. His death led to the decline of jousting in France.

/CFB

1. University of Colorado Board of Regents' Tuesday meeting agenda features agenda item: "Legal advice on a specific matter - athletics matter at CU Boulder"
2. 2024 5* LB Sammy Brown commits to Clemson
3. [Jim Williams] Here are a list of the schools that have been vetted by the @bigten for possible future members. This is not in order of value just they are just they way I wrote them down. Cal, Stanford, Oregon, Washington, Georgia Tech, Virginia, North Carolina, Duke, Utah, and Miami. It should be
4. [On3NIL] Collectives from Clemson, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Washington are set to lobby Congress for uniform NIL laws this week. “We are confident the perspective from our group of collectives can help add value and direction."
5. 2024 4* RB Kedren Young commits to Notre Dame

/LonghornNation

1. [6/5/2023] Monday's Sports Talk Thread
2. [6/5/2023] Monday's Off Topic Free Talk Thread
3. Michael Huff is on the 2024 ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame! 🤘
4. [Post Regional Thread] Texas ⚾ wins the Coral Gables Regional and advances to the Super Regional
5. My Longhorn Brothers & Sisters, dish me a little advice
6. Streaming Texas Sports on Amazon Echo
7. Traveling to UT for the Rice game.

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my wife and i are currently planning an epic adventure, and are seeking any kind of trick of the trade or tip, or just straight up lecture. keep in mind our time allotted for this trip is 3 months.
The Vehicle:
2005 chevy suburban 300k miles. we've put a lot of love into it recently, fixing all known issues, and according to our mechanic it's in pretty good job for 300k. we would be buying new tires, changing out fluids, filters, and oil before leaving.
The travelers:
I am a large person, about 450 pounds, but i've lost a lot of weight in recent months, and go on 5 miles walks a few times a week. i'm a spur of the moment person, that can roll with the punches. i love people and food and culture, but more than anything i love true beauty in this world, aka the world itself. nature. my wife is in great physical shape but has never dealt with the cold. she's from the uk, and is also pretty spooked about the idea of snakes and bears and other dangerous creatures. she loves big cities and really loves museums and "china/korea/asian" towns in cities. we both detest tourist traps, and want to avoid feeling like tourists, but, sometimes it's ok to be a tourist.
the trip:
fort worth to santa fe/ to sedona/grand canyon/ to LA/ to san fran/ to portland/ to seattle/ to salt lake city/ to denve to pueblo (family there)/ to okc/ to fort worth.
we want to see many national forest in utah/cali/washington but are planning this trip in the winter and are unsure of the weather concerns. we plan to spend a decent amount of time in each location.

Welcome back to another Pick'Em thread!
This post can be used to discuss your picks for 06/06/2023. If you have any feedback or suggestions on improving the thread further, drop a comment below or message the moderators.
Don't forget: picks must be submitted during the twelve-hour window before Noon EDT on game day, you can only make one selection per day, and missed days count as losses, so choose wisely and don't delay!
Games for Tuesday, 06/06/2023:

Matchup and Team Records	Probable Pitchers (Season ERA)	Estimated Win Probability
Minnesota Twins (31-29) @ Tampa Bay Rays (43-19)	Louie Varland (3.51) / Zach Eflin (3.30)	42% / 58%
Detroit Tigers (26-32) @ Philadelphia Phillies (28-32)	Tyler Alexander (6.38) / Taijuan Walker (5.65)	37% / 63%
Kansas City Royals (18-42) @ Miami Marlins (33-28)	Zack Greinke (4.19) / Jesus Luzardo (4.05)	38% / 62%
Arizona Diamondbacks (35-25) @ Washington Nationals (25-34)	Tommy Henry (3.73) / Jake Irvin (5.67)	54% / 46%
Oakland Athletics (12-50) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (32-27)	James Kaprielian (8.12) / Mitch Keller (3.25)	36% / 64%
Chicago White Sox (26-35) @ New York Yankees (36-25)	Lucas Giolito (4.08) / Clarke Schmidt (5.01)	36% / 64%
Houston Astros (36-24) @ Toronto Blue Jays (33-28)	Hunter Brown (3.61) / Kevin Gausman (2.76)	48% / 52%
Boston Red Sox (30-30) @ Cleveland Guardians (27-32)	James Paxton (4.26) / Shane Bieber (3.72)	46% / 54%
Los Angeles Dodgers (35-25) @ Cincinnati Reds (27-33)	Tony Gonsolin (1.77) / Luke Weaver (5.36)	61% / 39%
New York Mets (30-30) @ Atlanta Braves (35-24)	Carlos Carrasco (5.74) / Bryce Elder (1.92)	43% / 57%
Baltimore Orioles (37-22) @ Milwaukee Brewers (32-28)	Kyle Gibson (3.89) / Freddy Peralta (4.62)	45% / 55%
St. Louis Cardinals (25-35) @ Texas Rangers (38-20)	Matthew Liberatore (4.91) / Dane Dunning (2.06)	43% / 57%
San Francisco Giants (29-30) @ Colorado Rockies (26-35)	John Brebbia (3.80) / Dinelson Lamet (13.17)	55% / 45%
Chicago Cubs (26-32) @ Los Angeles Angels (31-30)	Hayden Wesneski (4.81) / Tyler Anderson (5.47)	43% / 57%
Seattle Mariners (29-30) @ San Diego Padres (27-32)	Logan Gilbert (4.08) / Joe Musgrove (4.71)	43% / 57%

1. All columns are Away / Home. Records are typically current as-of the time of posting, and do not always contain the matchup results from the day of posting.
2. A bolded matchup means that there is a "Probability of Precipitation" greater than 50% in a non-domed stadium at the time of this post.
3. An italicized matchup means that it is Game 2 of a doubleheader, which for Pick'Em purposes will not be applicable (only Game 1 is counted, but Game 2 is still included above so that you can be aware that pitching management may be different than a non-doubleheader game day).
4. Probable pitchers and stats sourced from mlb.com (via the MLB-StatsAPI); weather data soured from the OpenWeather One Call API.
5. Estimated chance of winning percentages sourced from FiveThirtyEight’s 2023 MLB Game Predictions, an ELO-based, easy to understand ratings system.

Details such as probable pitchers, winning odds, and match certainty are subject to change. Note that a pick for a team in a cancelled game (weather or otherwise) is automatically counted as a correct guess.
View Poll

Unpacking the Light Police. Light Pollution News.
Show Link: https://lightpollutionnews.com/podcast/unpacking-the-light-police/
Subscribe: Apple Podcast Spotify Google Podcast
Social: Instagram LinkedIn
Guests:
John Barentine of Dark Sky Consulting, LLC.
Kaitlyn Evans, Conservationist.
Show:
I was busted by the light police. They had a point, Dana Milbank of the Washington Post.
Dana Milbank purchased a home in, soon to be not, rural Virginia. At night he kept the formerly vacant property lit to the degree that spurned one commentator to call it “spaceship lighting.”
Milbank recaps being visited by the “light police,” a group of concerned citizens who help educate neighbors and instill a sense of pride in the brilliance of their starry night skies.
At first, he was taken aback, but later, not only did he appreciate their efforts, but he also converted his blinding always on, white light flood lights to warm 2700 Kelvin motion sensing lights.
Per Ruskin Hartley, executive director of the International Dark Sky Association, “for 4.5 billion years there was no artificial light at night. It’s really only in the last five human generations that we transformed that. It’s one of the most profound transformations of our environment.”
Many of you may recall an earlier story, way back in our Hormone of Darkness episode, showcasing concerns by local residents prior to a 760 house (now 761) plus town center development moving into the Culpepper County, VA area. Per the Rappahannock News, this development features “a resort style swimming pool, clubhouse, tot lot, and multiple sports fields and sports courts, all connected by a network of biking and walking trails.”
The forgotten medieval habit of ‘two sleeps’ by Zaria Gorvett of the BBC.
Gorvett opened my eyes to something I never knew about, the medieval custom of two sleeps. For those of you unaware, two sleeps are exactly what it sounds like.
Folks would partake in a communal nap, complete with rigid sleeping arrangement conventions, between 9 – 11pm, then awaken for a few hours to do everything from hang out to brew beer! In fact, the idea of multiple sleeps crossed cultures and was found in places as far from Europe as indigenous South America.
How can one’s circadian rhythm make sense of all of this?!
Well, for starters, until the invention of the alarm clock, which humorously was invented by a clocks salesman so he could wake up and sell more clocks, people had no firm way to wake up at a consistent time. The industrial revolution enforced a new circadian standard.
And there’s some science behind this! In the 1992 study, In Short Photoperiods, human sleep is biphasic, researcher Thomas Wehr found that after four weeks of 10 hour days, his subjects began to engage in this two sleep cycle, involving a one to three hour period for which they became awake and engaged in between.
Want to Learn About Light Pollution? There’s a mini-course for that!, Jennifer Sensiba of Clean Technica.
Quoting Sensiba, “As I got older, I traveled a lot more and saw the problem more for what it is. Not only did I see that in many places there is no refuge from it, but I also saw that it was slowly growing worse. Places that had been dark 30 years ago had more and more light creeping upon the horizon.”
If you’re interested in learning more, or more importantly, know someone who might benefit from learning more, Sensiba links up to an International Dark Sky Mini-Course on light pollution, call it Light Pollution 101!
There’s a Play Date at the National Museum of Natural History: Lights Out exhibit!
But unfortunately, by the time you listen to this, and hell, by the time we talk about this, it has passed.
Ann Arbor named best place for sunrises, sunsets in Michigan. Sarah Parlette for Click on Detroit.
Evidently gambling websites have decided to honor April’s International Dark Sky week in a strange new content marketing campaign, which was to rank the best places in each state to see sunrises and sunsets. My favorite one, “Ann Arbor named best place for sunrises, sunsets in Michigan,” comes from Click on Detroit, whereby a quote “study” examined Michigan’s most populated cities.”
According to Click on Detroit, “to celebrate International Astrology Day on Saturday, staff at Great Lake Stakes, a Michigan online gambling news site, looked at light pollution in the five most populated cities around the Mitten state to determine which offers the best views every morning and evening.”
Star bathing is the new outdoor travel trend we should all be trying for Summer 2023, according to Amy Beecham at Stylist.
Evidently, as an attempt to destress and promote mindfulness, romanticism about sleeping under the stars has birthed a 70% increase in searches for the term ‘star bathing’ on Hipcamp. And to be sure, “Hipcamp recommends checking a stargazing calendar which outlines major astrological events – like supermoons, pink moons, and star showers.”
“Industry Must Face an Inconvenient Truth — Most LED Lights at Night are Unhealthy”
Dr. Martin Moore-Ede, a circadian clock expert, recently published an article in LEDs Magazine chastising the lighting industry for not recognizing and reigning in the negative externalities of its products. Per the piece, such effects are, obesity, diabetes, depression, cancer, and more.
He cites three categories of industry responses, making the correlation that long term Denial or outright Ignorance of the Facts, may result in “asbestos-scale liabilities or draconian regulations.”
Per the piece, a recent survey by the Circadian Light Research Center of 2,697 peer reviewed scientific articles confirmed that human circadian clocks are highly sensitive to blue wavelengths, and that exposure to such wavelengths leads to major health disorders.
Moore-Ede calls for the industry to harvest the “commercial opportunity” to greatly limit future liability by creating and managing its own standards for circadian modulated lighting.
Unpacking the Wallpack, by Dan Weissman in LD+A Magazine.
Weissman, who recently purchased a telescope for his family in Cambridge, MA, discovered that the scope could only afford him views of some solar system objects and a few brightly burning stars.
The ire of Weissman’s pen takes the shape of a rectangular fixtures, be it box like or simply a panel these days, that typically hang off the side of an exterior wall or above an exterior door. “Devoid of aesthetic value” this light is often put up under the “pretense of security and safety” by “recommended practices and adopted municipal codes.”
Weissman recognizes labels that often accompany, what he calls, “Glare bombs,” including “contractor-select,” “energy efficient,” or “light pollution friendly.”
Further, per an earlier LD+A article, such lighting driven by its extreme contrasts is exceedingly common in minority communities where light is weaponized as a tool of power. It becomes a “device of alienation, creating a zone of control and separation.”
Weissman recognizes that the true reason such fixtures are selected often comes down to cost. He recognizes that it may take equally as much cost to persuade building and homeowners away from such lighting into the realm of more responsible, lower lumen, shielded lighting.
Weissman calls for producers of these glare bombs to be labeled as polluters, putting them in line with fossil fuel manufacturers and PFAS makers.
Songbirds, dusk and clear skies: Scientists explore migratory flights, by Erin Blakemore.
Bird migration season is ending here in the Mid-Atlantic. I was lucky enough to catch several Baltimore Orioles and Indigo Buntings last week. Researchers looked at 400 songbirds from 9 major species, “including the yellow-rump warbler, American redstart and Bicknell’s thrush.”
The question they hoped to answer was how are these birds so darn precise in identifying the best time to take off for their nightly migration? Scientists found that 90% of the migrating birds in the study took off within 69 minutes of dusk. A “much narrower takeoff window,” that even shocked the research team!
Per the study, taking off at night is all about maximum flight time. In addition to being able to precisely schedule their take offs, a feat that every airline I’ve flown with over the past few years has proven inept at, birds also are apparently good meteorologists! They often depart when the atmospheric pressure rises over a day’s span. Other factors also trigger migration, including sex, age, and celestial cues.
‘Lights Out’ initiative appears to be saving birds from crashing into Philly buildings by Sophia Schmidt.
Preliminary results indicate that bird death counts are down 70% at one Market Street tower, since it began its participation in Lights Out. As we spoke about on a previous show, birds utilize the stars to navigate, but city lights can disorient the birds. Combine the lights with reflective or transparent glass, and that spells fatal trouble for our migrating warblers!
Per Keith Russell, a program manager for urban conservation with Audubon Mid-Atlantic, “We’ve lost almost a third of our birds – and [collisions] contributing to that. If we’re going to want to preserve the bird populations here in North America, we have to look at these types of problems. And this is a preventable one.”
The Knoxville, TN Zoo is offering up what they call “Twilight Tours” per WVLT 8. Each event will feature a guide to showcase nocturnal critters.
I did something similar in Singapore years ago. The zoo had very dim lights in the exhibits – and they kept those lights dim as you walked so that you didn’t lose your night vision. It was a very different and, might I say, peaceful experience than the typically chaotic daytime zoo.
Flashlights posing major threat to nesting sea turtles. Fox35 Orlando
Apparently, a single flashlight can deter female sea turtles from coming onto a beach and nesting. Florida, as I did not know, is home to 90% of the sea turtle nests across the world, so losing sea turtles can affect the global ecosystem.
One visitor to Cocoa Beach stated, “Just leave them alone. Stand back and look. You don’t need a flashlight.”
Another, “It’s not super surprising because more buildings go up, more technology. As it increases, nature and stuff like that decreases,” said Zoe Jovaag, whose grandfather used to take her on walks to see sea turtles.
Capture the Dark 2023 officially is under way!
The International Dark Sky Association opens up its annual photo contest complete with prizes across eight categories and an additional People’s Choice category. Voting begins on July 3rd, entries must be received by June 30th.
City Tests Traffic Light That Only Turns Green for Drivers Who Obey the Speed Limit. Erin Marquis for Jalopnik.
And hey, you better not speed in Brossard, Quebec….otherwise you may be waiting around for a while. Brossard is testing out a new traffic light that will stay red until it senses oncoming traffic. However, it will only change to green if the car is going the speed limit. Per the Jalopnik article, “FRED [the French acronym for “educational traffic calming light] forces fast drivers to stop and gives them a chance to reconsider their life choices.” Such lights are already used in Europe, but this will be the first for the Great White North.
Why the Greatest Threat to Star-Gazing Isn’t Light Pollution, and this comes to us from Dorin Elin Urrutia at Inverse.
Elin Urrutia writes, in her compelling piece, that the greatest threat to star-gazing is actually the weather. Citing notable examples of the Mount Stromlo Observatory in Australia (which burnt down due to bushfires) and the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico (which sustained structural damage following the winds of Hurricane Maria).
While the threat of human-caused climate change has presented new challenges, Elin Urrutia references proactive burns that saved Los Angeles’ Mount Wilson Observatory from flames in 2020.
On a similar note, ABC News (the Australian Broadcasting Company, not to be confused with the American Broadcasting Company), brings us “A World Without Darkness Could Be a Reality within a Few Years.”
Per Carol Redford of Astrotourism Western Australia, “There are some people in the world now who don’t actually experience darkness anymore. They’re in a city like Beijing, Toyoko, or London. In all those big cities, it’s never dark, it’s always light. During the day of course with the sun, but then during the night with all of the artificial light. They’re not experiencing darkness, and definitely not seeing those beautiful stars…”
In the 66 years since the implementation of the UN Convention on the Peaceful Use of Outerspace, around 11,000 satellites orbit the Earth. But it’s about to get wayyy busier. Driven by innovations that have led to dramatic reductions in costs, over the next ten years, Per attorney Steven Freeland, it’s anticipated that somewhere between 100,000 to 500,000 objects will be sent up. Let me pause on that for a second.
On the travel front, we stay in the land down under, “Aussie region determined to keep its darkness is a stargazer’s dream” by Chantelle Francis of News.com.AU.
The town of Swam Reach, population 270, resides in a 3200sq km region of Southern Australia that received its International Dark Sky Reserve status over three years ago. On a scale of darkness between 0 – 22, the River Murray Dark Sky Reserve at Swam Reach, measures in at a whopping 21.9!
Tourism has become a growing business. The reserve hosts numerous telescope pads and offers tours of the night sky. There’s hope that an observatory and/or planetarium may also arrive in due course.
Best smart lights for outdoors in 2023, Brittney Vincent of CBS Essentials.
Oh there’s a lot not to love here, but it does fall in line with last month’s ‘Lumens are Coming’ article.
For those of you who feel the need to light your trees, because for some reason they need light at night I guess…I’ll try and pretend it’s not solely for ostentatious and narcissistic reasons. By the way, does anyone remember when those were negative characteristics?
The article features spotlights that can be programmed to over 16 MILLION colors including…lucky for us, ALL shades of white….which you can also do for a 500 lumen flood light set.
And hey, Ring now has solar path lighting. Don’t worry though, the fixtures themselves put out up to 80 lumens of sideways light.
You know, it’s astounding when you look at some of these pictures. The amount of redundant lighting. It honestly makes no sense to me. You have a porch light, which lights up the path. Path lighting, which lights up the path. And, in the one picture, god awful frontward facing flood lights, which also light up the path. How bright do you need these paths!? I digress. But the lumens are indeed coming.
LDS Church will get to light up its Heber Valley Temple after all, but the faith didn’t get everything it wanted, Blake Apgar of the Salt Lake Tribune.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fought hard to rid itself of any nighttime lighting responsibility by pressuring Wasatch County, Utah officials to approve new lighting rules that would enable the church to light a proposed new temple the same way it does for every other temple.
The Church received permission to uplight the temple, enabling an exception to be made in Wasatch’s rather stringent nighttime lighting rulebook. However, the temple will be restricted by the level of lumens it can use, and it must have exterior lighting turned off an hour after sunset or an hour after normal business hours.
Smart Street Lights Market is Expected to Hit USD 14,751.1 million at a 23.4% CAGR by 2030, Market Research Future Press Release
The pandemic is officially over, smart street lighting is about to boom. Combine the rush to LED fixtures with the Internet of Things, and expect to see street lights moonlighting as traffic and parking monitors, air quality meters, and more. Not to mention, “it is anticipated that camera-connected smart street lighting will increase road safety by lowering the likelihood of accidents and criminality.”
Texas now has 7 dark sky communities for spectacular star gazing, Sana Ameer, MRT.
Let’s cheer on the city of Bee Cave, everyone! Bee Cave joins a growing list of dark sky places already in the Lone Star State, including 2 Dark Sky Sanctuaries, 5 Dark Sky Parks, and 1 Dark Sky Reserve. Nighttime is alive and well in some parts of Texas!
Our Afraid of the Dark article is a bit scary! Hilton Head’s dark roads and pedestrians are deadly combo. What the town is doing about it, Blake Douglas at The Island Packet.
Per the article, 9 pedestrian and cyclist fatalities occurred since 2018, with five occurring after dark. Prior to that period, there were 28 recorded deaths from 2000 – 2016, with 20 of them taking place after dark.
In 2018, an 11 year old resident was struck and killed while walking her dog across an intersection one night. Lighting advocates began taking shape in what otherwise is a very conservation focused island. Hilton Head, SC has a limited number of street lights, priding itself on “avoiding light pollution and blending nature with construction.”
Lighting advocates appear to be, at the very least, asking for flashing crosswalk lights on the island to indicate when an individual is crossing.
It should be noted that the article shows a chart of 9 after-dark-deaths since 2014, only two of them occurred at crosswalks. In fact, during the same time frame, 6 additional deaths occurred at crosswalks during the daytime.
As a whole, the National Safety Council reports that 74.5% of pedestrian deaths occurred at night, whereby 39.1% took place in lit areas and 35.38% took place in unlit areas.
Bryan Bloch, an auto safety expert, surmises that car companies bear some of the blame – producing cheap or ineffectual headlight fixtures, and drivers themselves, who don’t realize that they need to regularly clean their headlight lenses.
Despite opposition from residents, it appears that Hilton Head will be receiving lights at two new intersections and possibly more depending on engineering studies currently in progress.
Is lighting the key variable here? Is more light going to solve pedestrian deaths?
Our featured research article of the month comes to us from Animal Conservation, “Manipulating spectra of artificial light affects movement patterns of bats along ecological corridors.”
Bats are already known to have a wide range of responses to artificial light at night (also known as ALAN). Fast flying species tend to be more opportunistic in the presence of ALAN while slower ones tend to be more light averse. We know that “long wavelengths and reduced intensity” can minimize their environmental effects on bats. It’s not unheard of for bats to travel upwards of “tens of km per night.” Furthermore, bats are very dependent on the landscape and the structures within those landscapes.
Despite the nuances between species, the consensus is that ALAN, especially high intensity ALAN, negatively affects bats. This study attempted to answer what exactly bats do when they encounter ALAN – how do they react depending on different types of ALAN.
The study used three different light fixtures – one green, one red, and one white. The control was devoid of light fixtures. The researchers attempted to ascertain the behavior of bats as they encountered lights adjacent to woody areas. The researchers looked at three different bat groupings based on their foraging-echo location behavior, that being one of open field foraging, forest edge foraging, and narrow space – or more aptly forest foragers.
Researchers found that open and edge foraging bats increased their activity close to white and green lights, and to a lesser extent red lights. However, narrow space bats were more likely to veer away from all colors of lighting. Edge foragers were also less likely to cross a white light.
The positive effects of white and green light on open and edge foraging bats appear to be attributed to the accumulation of insects around light sources containing more blue light.
The nighttime sky over Oahu will be lit up with green lasers in the coming days. Here’s why. Hawaii News Now
Before we close up today, do you live in Hawaii? I know I wish I did!
If so, do you recall seeing green lasers streak across the night sky? Well, the Army Corps of Engineers was using lidar at night to complete a coastal mapping survey.
Why did they survey at night? Specifically, why did they do this between midnight to 5am? Simply b/c the airspace is so busy, that time was the only chance they had to complete the survey. The remaining survey was completed during daytime hours.

We have hikers in SoCal, the Sierra, NorCal, and even some in Washington :) I hope everyone is having fun out there (Type 1 & 2), wherever you may be!
General PSA: I have noticed that some people are signing up to be included on this list because they are hiking the trail this year. That's great! However, if you did not provide any social media links for me to follow you (public or private), you will not be included in weekly updates because I have no way of knowing where you are. Think less "Trail Register" and more "Observe and Report." Happy trails nonetheless!!
As always, we appreciate all of your updates from trail and wish you nothing but the absolute best as your embark and continue on your PCT journey. HYOH, LNT, and remember to thank your local Trail Angel.

VIBE OF THE WEEK: PERIPATETIC

*traveling from place to place*
JOIN THESE UPDATES
If you are hiking the trail this year (Thru or LASH) and would like to be added to these posts, please fill out the survey linked here or comment below and we'll get you added into future updates. These updates will come on a weekly basis and be put out on Mondays.
If for any reason you'd like to be removed from these updates OR if something does not look right, please message me directly.
Thread for hikers to post current trail conditions
Sierra Beta via Andrew Skurka (5/31)
Middle Fork San Joaquin River Bridge is Out (mile 912.2)
PCTA - Most Recent Trail Closure Updates
The below usernames are clickable links that take you to that hiker's social media page (IG, YT, blog etc.)

Hiker	Trail Name	Start Date	Current Location-ish	Week 12 Update:
u/Schrodingers-cat-30	Ditto	MAR 2 2023 (NOBO)	Sierra Nevada	6/5: no update posted
u/TrailNicks, Link 2	Golden	MAR 5 2023 (NOBO)	flipping to Old Station	6/5: took a detour to SanFran to visit mama after KMS, flipping up to Old Station
u/TrailHead42	Trailhead	MAR 10 2023 (NOBO)	No update posted	6/5: no update posted
u/juliozz59, Link 2	Spread	MAR 20 2023 (NOBO)	Sierra Nevada	6/5: should be arriving in Bishop soon if not already, summitted Mt Whitney!!!
u/emdem55	Keys	MAR 22 2023 (NOBO)	Off Trail!	6/5: off trail to await snow melt
u/Beefandsteel		MAR 22 2023 (NOBO)	Off Trail!	6/5: off trail to await snow melt
u/jacobburns		MAR 22 2023 (NOBO)	No update posted	6/5: no update posted
u/ThrowAwayTheAT		MAR 22 2023 (NOBO)	Sierra Nevada	6/5: Sierra Nevada
u/7-legged-octopus		MAR 27 2023 (NOBO)	Off Trail!	6/5: got to KMS and decided to flip to WA and SOBO. Taking a few weeks off for snow
u/frankiehikes	Tabs	MAR 28 2023 (NOBO)	NorCal	6/5: Flipped up to NorCal
u/particularamphibian, Link 2, Link 3		MAR 28 2023 (NOBO)	No update posted	6/5: no update posted
u/yourgirlbribri		MAR 29 2023 (NOBO)	Off Trail!	6/5: Completed the desert portion!
u/Intrepid-Ad-4770, Link 2	Sweets	MAR 29 2023 (NOBO)	KMS	6/5: hustled 200mi over 10 days, nero'd in Tehachapi and now KMS bound!
u/Future_Psychology_91	Dundee on the AT.. on the PCT?	MAR 30 2023 (NOBO)	NorCal	6/5: flipped up to NorCal, hit mi 1000 - blessed with running water high in the pines
u/Kalmes12345		MAR 31 2023 (NOBO)	Off Trail!	6/5: off trail to await snow melt
u/chroniclesofvanlife, Link 2, Link 3	Stitches	APR 1 2023 (NOBO)	Bishop	6/5: living up to her trail name and had to get helicopter evacuated near Pinchot Pass for stitches again. Currently in great care and getting back on at Bishop
u/nataliethisisnatalie	Bestie	APR 1 2023 (NOBO)	On Trail!	6/5: first marathon day! SOBO'd from Big Bear to Cabazon and officially closed their gap
u/Phantom_dong		APR 5 2023 (NOBO)	No update posted	6/5: no update posted
u/pelostrece	Spanish Inquisition	APR 5 2023 (NOBO)	mi 1200ish	6/5: "spectacular scenery, we saw our first bear ... dozens of frozen lakes, spectacular scenery and very variable but respectful weather"
u/UtahHiker69	Fry Pocket	APR 6 2023 (NOBO)	Sierra Nevada	6/5: "Man, I love this adventure. Every day is something new." heading into the sierra today. Best of luck!
u/shoebinn, Link 2		APR 7 2023 (NOBO)	Off Trail!	6/5: off trail to await snow melt
u/evoncassier		APR 7 2023 (NOBO)	No update posted	6/5: no update posted
u/RedNi12		APR 9 2023 (NOBO)	No update posted	6/5: no update posted
u/tomnomnom17		APR 10 2023 (NOBO)	On Trail!	6/5: hit mi 700!
u/Beccatravels	Pepper	APR 10 2023 (NOBO)	mi 550ish	6/5: night hiked LA AQ " The beginning is fun, the middle is a bit tedious, and by the end we are deliriously tired so it’s maybe fun again??"
u/jesshikes		APR 11 2023 (NOBO)	No update posted	6/5: no update posted
u/DrWolffe	Scrambles	APR 11 2023 (NOBO)	Sierra Nevada	6/5: officially in the sierra!
u/mikenikey	Water Taxi	APR 12 2023 (NOBO)	Sierra Nevada	6/5: hit KMS after a short jaunt off trail and ready to enter the sierra
u/woodsbearoutdoors		APR 14 2023 (NOBO)	flipping North	6/5: "Dipping our toes in the Sierras before we flip up north."
u/pollyf		APR 14 2023 (NOBO)	flipping North	6/5: "4am starts, walking through the night, Joshua trees, wind burn, sand, endless stretches with no water, buckets of sun cream (for me, no one else on the pct believes in spf), mountains, rattle snakes and to top it off yesterday we saw our first BEAR."
u/hallroosevelt, Link 2		APR 15 2023 (NOBO)	Sierra Nevada	6/5: made it to KMS! "Tomorrow I will set out into the high sierra to take on the first 90 mile stretch. I’ll be walking into a world of white snow. I expect this to be the most challenging push yet, but possibly the most rewarding 😌 Feeling excited, nervous and cautious. Oh what a feeling."
u/AgentDouble00	Doppler	APR 15 2023 (NOBO)	On Trail!	6/5: On Trail!
u/Bullish_bear000		APR 19 2023 (NOBO)	On Trail!	6/5: pulling consistent 20+ days churning out the desert
u/esahr	Guidebook	APR 19 2023 (NOBO)	flipping North	6/5: flipping north out of Walker Pass
u/Just_karo	Flamethrower	APR 20 2023 (NOBO)	On Trail!	6/5: flipping north out of Walker Pass
u/charles1503, Link 2, Link 3		APR 21 2023 (NOBO)	approaching KMS	6/5: "Got to experience faster days + more mileage. Saw a random tiger. Almost done with the desert section. We’re now getting ready and moving towards Kennedy Meadows South to start The Sierra."
u/B2Pats	Marine	APR 23 2023 (NOBO)	past Tehachapi	6/5: had some foot pain but rested in Tehachapi and onward to finish the desert
u/loganlaliberte	Juice	APR 25 2023 (NOBO)	Wrightwood	6/5: "sometimes you gotta close a door to open a window"
u/FishingFrank, Link 2	Papa Roja	APR 26 2023 (NOBO)	Tehachapi	6/5: "Have to turn back because of a wildfire on trail next to 58. Tehachapi didn't want us to go yet!"
u/Havasu-Hiker23, u/Havasu-hiker	Stix	APR 26 2023 (NOBO)	approaching KMS	6/5: "I am excited to walk up to the traditional “round of applause!” from the other hikers & get my cheeseburger and beer!"
u/MoonMoonMoonMooon		APR 27 2023 (NOBO - Section)	No update posted	6/5: no update posted
u/hejkathinka, Link 2	CEO	APR 28 2023 (NOBO)	past Tehachapi	6/5: pulling 30mi days like it's no big deal. Last week in the desert!
u/free-bobby-now	Worthy	APR 29 2023 (NOBO)	Flipping to WA	6/5: got off at Walker Pass to flip up to WA "I was a bit sad knowing I won’t be hiking with them anymore, but I am excited to cross paths with them again in the future when I am Southbounding."
u/Mschoee		MAY 1 2023 (NOBO)	past mi 300	6/5: "With all the adjustments as brought a lot of joy in challenging myself and seeing improvements as I get stronger and more confident everyday."
u/loombisaurus	Daisy	MAY 1 2023 (NOBO)	No update posted	6/5: no update posted
u/MoogyzHikez, u/environmental-pop-11		MAY 4 2023 (NOBO)	On Trail!	6/5: had pizza in Big Bear and made a friend
u/sharkdork		MAY 5 2023 (NOBO)	On Trail!	6/5: sunrises and sunsets on trail
u/Kristi_Tho		MAY 6 2023 (NOBO)	Wrightwood	6/5: "After two zero days we walked nearly 100 miles in 6 days. We finished Section C and today took our one millionth step since starting the trail 4 weeks ago."
u/jkeller52		MAY 10 2023 (NOBO)	Baden Powell	6/5: "Since Jacinto, I’ve been feeling stronger and averaging 20 mile days. The trail is starting to seem normal, and I’m enjoying what every day and section of wilderness has to offer."
u/Powerful-Plantain-84		MAY 10 2023 (NOBO)	Past LA AQ	6/5: Day hiked LA AQ, hit 500 mi mark!
u/kinn0n14	Jabberwocky	MAY 13 2023 (NOBO)	On Trail!	6/5: Switchbacks near Idyllwild
u/dgerken81	Hot Pink	MAY 13 2023 (NOBO)	On Trail!	6/5: posting in arrears (2 weeks behind)
u/innoutberger	Jenga	MAY 14 2023 (NOBO)	NorCal	6/5: "After 1,121 days and over 6,000 miles of hiking, I have at last reached the halfway point of the PCT!! So good to be connecting this footpath that stretches across the country, one step at a time."
u/spiderwinder23		MAY 15 2023 (NOBO)	Wrightwood	6/5: " I may have gotten a mile off trail by accident so I wandered to a highway were Kate, an amazing older lady, gave me a ride into town saving me 14mi of hiking. "
u/positiv3vib3z		MAY 15 2023 (NOBO)	Cajon Pass	6/5: Cajon Pass McD's.
u/niccolojoe		MAY 18 2023 (NOBO)	past mi 300	6/5: hit mi 300! "San Jacinto was beautiful"
u/packfullofgoldbars		MAY 20 2023 (NOBO - Section)	Big Bear	6/5: "PCT Scene Report, I’m officially Karaoke-Blazing "
u/bongwaterbaneRYO	The Bane	MAY 20 2023 (NOBO)	past Idyllwild	6/5: took a day off in Idyllwild
u/bbqbaconsandwich		MAY 22 2023 (NOBO)	past mi 200	6/5: hit mi 200 and doordashed Chipotle to the I-10 underpass. Legendary!
u/Big_Bad_Panda	Tinman	MAY 25 2023 (NOBO)	approaching mi 200	6/5: "151 miles in. Two things I’ve learned. 1. Check the bush for a snake. 2. There is a snake in that bush."
u/brick_50		MAY 25 2023 (NOBO)	On Trail!	6/5: "We got some miles behind us, the desert is cool, plenty of lizards and cool friendly"
u/margot380, Link 2		JUL 2 2023 (SOBO)	Not Yet On Trail
u/jocheeseburger11	Early Bird	JUL 7 2023 (SOBO)	Not Yet On Trail
u/Sea_counter8398		JUL 8 2023 (SOBO)	Not Yet On Trail
u/lilmisscactus		JUL 8 2023 (SOBO)	Not Yet On Trail
u/Agreeable_Ad_5423		JUL 10 2023 (SOBO)	Not Yet On Trail
u/canthinkofone9	Sweet Rinn	JUL 26 2023 (SOBO - Section)	Not Yet On Trail

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I’m taking a trip to Cape May, NJ Sunday, June 11 to Friday, June 16th.
I see there’s a lot of commotion in terms of weather right now. Apple weather app shows thunderstorms. I read a few articles saying the northeast area is gonna flip around and be cool compared to the last while of heat.
So I guess my question is this:
With how crazy the weather is looking currently, Is the weather a week out that accurate? I know distant forecasts get more and more guess-y, but is it even more-so that now? should I expect T-Storms and rain during my trip with how the jet stream is going?

I've moved back to TN from NJ last year, and have been trying to get out more and meet new people again. Work doesn't make that easy, especially with long overnight shifts, but it never hurts to try anyway. I'm into live music, biking/hiking/sports, exploring the city, and going out for drinks/food.
I have cats and plants, love black coffee and whisky, and binging streaming shows during bad weather. Music is my #1 though, and I'm always listening to something wherever I am. Trading playlists and finding new bands are a great way to get to know someone new. I’m looking for someone to talk to about my day and vice versa. New friends, casual chats, or any kind of consistent conversation helps pass the time and makes the days much better.

This is my current shelter + sleep system, coming in just barely under 9 pounds:
https://lighterpack.com/3l7guq
I am struggling to pick where to start in replacing items to lighten my load and increase my ability to hammock camp in colder weather.
Summer in Ohio: my first priority is improving my kit for the current situation, hot and humid Ohio summers. Daytime temps around 70-90F, night temps 40-60F (and I've had hot nights that get close to 70)
Shoulder seasons in Ohio: my next priority is extending my comfort hammock camping in colder seasons. Any large purchases (over $100) I would want to be versatile enough to take me down to freezing temps at night.
Late fall PNW: In late Septembeearly October I am taking a extended trip to Washington state and British Columbia. This is primarily a day hike trip (not camping or backpacking), I will have a dog, and I suspect it will be cold enough to send me to ground. I am also very afraid the dog will attract and fight a bear, which limits my enthusiasm to camp.
Budget: $200 for any single item. Willing to stretch a little if it is a quality investment that will come on every trip
Non-negotiable Items: At this point, I do not need feedback on other items. Not willing to replace the pack, it's brand new, very comfortable, and I really like it. I feel confident continuing to dial in clothing and gear.
Solo or with another person?: Solo + dog. Dog does not carry a pack but is low gear needs.

I know that there’s Washington Rock State Park in Green Brook, and a few drive ups in Palisade State Park by Alpine, but does anyone know of any other drive-up scenic overlooks in NJ? Can’t seem to find any in NW NJ at all, though you’d expect it.
Specifically talking about the overlooks like in California where you can just park really quickly and look at the view.
Thank you!

I've decided I'm going to hike Mount Washington solo in late June. I have experiencing hiking some of the high peaks of the east, such as Mount Marcy in NY. I know to expect dramatic weather and to dress warmly, even if it's hot out at the beginning of the trail. I was thinking about starting at the Joe Dodge Lodge and hiking the Tuckerman Ravine Trail (are there better trails?). I plan to bring plenty of food and water and to stay on the trails.
Is there anything I should be wary of while hiking Washington? I don't want to be the stupid hiker that gets himself hurt.

I was hoping to go down to the public sunstone collection area this coming weekend from Washington and was wondering if there was one of the fee mines nearby people would recommend to also visit. I also noticed right now the forecast has it raining all weekend and was wondering if it would be better to delay the trip to a weekend with better weather. Would also love any other advice or info thanks!

Hello! I'm a 29-year old Filipino guy who is about to move to Maryland in a few weeks. As an introduction, I was born in NJ, but our family moved back to Philippines when I was about 3, and I've been here pretty much all my life. All I've known about America is what I see TV and the internet.
I grew up in Manila, so in a nutshell, here's what I've experienced here growing up: concrete jungle, hot and humid weather year-round, everything important is within a 5-minute walk or ride from home, poor traffic, existent but imperfect public transport.
I've been planning to move out of the Philippines for a while now because of the lack of decent opportunities for people in my profession; the US being my top country of choice since I happen to be a citizen by being born there. Why Maryland? Two things: first, I work for an international company, so I applied for an opening in my company's Columbia office and was accepted. Second, I happened to have family there. Once I got the job, they were initally supposed to help me find a place to live, but my aunt was able to convince her landlord to let me stay with her, so now I'm renting a place with her for 600$/month.
I'll be moving to Fort Washington, but I'll be working from home, so I don't need to worry about the commute to the office all the way in Columbia. So far, here's what I'm expecting from the area based on my research: relatively rural, lots of green space, not much public transportation, and everything you need might take a bit of a drive to get there. Basically quite the opposite of Manila.
Is that an accurate assessment? If so, then I'm excited for cooler, cleaner environments, but a bit worried about how to get around. As an introvert, I do love staying at home, but introverts like me do need some sun every now and then. Will I need to drive if I wanna get around?
Also, what kinds of things are there to do around the Fort Washington area? So far I'm aware of National Harbor and Tanger Outlets, but other than that, the stores seem to be dotted all over the place. As a geek who's into video games and tabletop games, are there any places within the area that would encourage my hobbies?

Since the original Austin thread is a ways down now, I thought it might be better to start a new one.
Austin blew up inside a rapidly growing, low-tax red state. While Austin was booming, so were all the other large Texas metro areas (Dallas-Ft Worth, Houston, and San Antonio -- even El Paso, I think), so there really doesn't seem to be an Austin special sauce as opposed to Texas in general. Michigan is nothing like Texas and so I think Austin doesn't really work.
Wouldn't it be better to look toward a successful blue state that's more similar to Michigan? To me, the obvious choice seems to be Washington State. We've spent a fair amount of time out there and there seem to be a number of echos with Michigan, including the lattitude, gray winter weather, Canada adjacency, ports, coastline, bays and islands. There are also the spectacular National Park beaches, and the fruit growing. Both are big boating/sailing states. Both states have a legacy industry that's still big but has seem more prosperous days (autos here, aircraft there). Toronto is kind of our Vancouver and Chicago is our Portland. The University of Washington will soon be a Big 10 rival while the UW's medical center is comparable in size and rating to UM's. Both states are middle-of-the pack in overall tax burden, though they are structured quite differently (there's no income tax in WA). The states are similar in size (Washington is still a couple of million people smaller, but has been gaining steadily). In the Washington analogy, if Detroit corresponds to Seattle, then Ann Arbor would be something like, say, Bellevue.
Anyway -- so what are the critical differences that have resulted in Michigan stagnating in recent decades while Washington has been growing?

From bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-06-04/us-effort-to-help-homebuyers-get-affordable-loans-mainly-benefits-banks-instead

The first sign of deep trouble in US banking this year came from a sunbaked office complex in a San Diego suburb. There, a small firm called Silvergate Capital Corp. assured investors it was weathering a run on deposits. Its lifeline: about $4.3 billion from a Federal Home Loan Bank.
Heads turned across the financial industry.
Silvergate didn’t have a network of branches serving consumers, and it barely offered mortgages. It specialized in moving dollars for cryptocurrency ventures.
Soon it became apparent that a roster of troubled regional banks was leaning on FHLBs — a relic of the Great Depression originally aimed at ensuring financial firms have cash to lend to homebuyers. Yet the banks had little to do with everyday mortgage lending.
Silicon Valley Bank, catering to venture capitalists and tech startups, said it held $15 billion from an FHLB at the end of 2022. Signature Bank, with clients including crypto platforms, had $11 billion. And by April, First Republic Bank, offering mortgages to millionaires on unusually sweet terms, ended up with more than $28 billion. All four banks collapsed.
For many, that was a crystallizing moment for the 90-year-old Federal Home Loan Bank system, which has ballooned to more than $1.5 trillion while playing a growing role as a backstop for banks taking all kinds of risks — and a diminishing role in funding new mortgages. That’s raising questions about the purpose of FHLBs and why the private institutions enjoy so much government support.
This look at the system is based on interviews with more than 30 current and former FHLB officials, overseers, borrowers and other market participants, most of them speaking on the condition they not be named to candidly discuss confidential experiences. Many described an environment where loans are made quickly with little due diligence, generating billions of dollars a year in profits for FHLBs and the banks they serve — plus millions of dollars in bonuses and other compensation for their own executives.
It’s hard to imagine the Federal Reserve rewarding bosses for arranging industry bailouts, but that is in effect what now happens at FHLBs.
The FHLB of San Francisco, for example, more than doubled its assets last year as Silicon Valley Bank, First Republic and others embarked on their borrowing binges. Its chief executive officer, Teresa Bazemore, was awarded $2.4 million — much of it in bonuses — during 2022, her first full year atop the institution. SVB and First Republic now rank as the second- and third-largest bank failures in US history.
Bazemore's pay was tied to goals and other metrics the San Francisco FHLB's board set in consultation with a third-party expert and showed to regulators, said Elliot Sloane, a spokesperson for the San Francisco FHLB. “The level of advances to a member is based on a careful, thoughtful and conservative underwriting approach that takes all the relevant risk factors into account. That is our congressionally directed function,” Sloane said.
Many of the largest banks also have become accustomed to drawing financing from FHLBs, even as they pull back from lending to US homebuyers.
Wells Fargo & Co., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc. — among the system’s biggest users since 2010 — collectively tapped at least $62 billion during last year’s relatively sedate markets. Citigroup’s $19 billion amounted to 3% of the total cash pool, while the firm originated only 0.3% of the nation’s mortgages in 2022, according to bank regulatory filings and federal mortgage records. Wells Fargo borrowed $32 billion before announcing in January that it’s slashing mortgage operations.
The lion’s share of US home loans are instead issued by nonbanks, such as Rocket Mortgage, which sell them to free up cash to make new loans.
Those businesses generally aren’t eligible to tap the FHLB system.
More than 80% of the top 100 FHLB users borrowed more from the system than they loaned out as mortgages. Fourteen banks reported no originations.
One quirk of the system is that the government’s assistance doesn’t appear as a line in the US budget — sparing FHLBs the kinds of bitter congressional debates over expenditures that have gripped Washington in recent months.
Instead, government support starts with special treatment, giving FHLBs an edge in raising money cheaply. They gather most of their funding by selling bonds exempt from state and local income taxes. Buyers are also more comfortable with the debt because of the widespread assumption that if an FHLB ever runs into trouble, the government would jump in with taxpayer money to prevent default. Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s have said their credit ratings for the FHLB system would be several notches lower if not for the government's presumed backing.
“The implied guarantee is also not something that's conveyed by the government,” Ryan Donovan, CEO of the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks, said in an interview. “It's something the market perceives, that we're a safe place, that our debt that we issue is solid.”
Economists vigorously debate the value of the government’s support. Defenders of the system, such as former White House adviser Jim Parrott and economist Mark Zandi, estimate it was worth around $5 billion last year, while detractors peg the boost closer to $9 billion. Some of that is passed on to banks as a discounted source of financing. It also translates into higher profits for the FHLBs, which last year produced $3.2 billion in net income.
They held on to more than half that, lifting their stockpile of retained earnings to $24.6 billion.
A portion — about $1.4 billion — was paid banks and other “members” as dividends.
In the end, the $1.5 trillion FHLB system contributed a mere $355 million to a program supporting housing affordability last year.
“It’s embarrassing,” said Cornelius Hurley, an independent director on the board of Boston’s FHLB for about 14 years through 2021. “This is a public entity. We should be demanding more from them.”
Defenders acknowledge that the system is a quirk of history but say its ability to provide funding quickly is crucial, especially when crises erupt. FHLBs can start stabilizing lenders before they resort to tapping the Fed’s discount window, and before policymakers can meet to discuss other extraordinary measures.
Banks that do tap the discount window have to worry about stoking the very same public panic they are trying to quell.
“The members certainly could go to the Fed,” said Michael Ericson, CEO of the Chicago FHLB. “The challenge is there is a reputation risk associated with that. In talking with member institutions, they feel that the stigma is real.”
FHLBs didn’t always provide cash so freely. The system was almost comically risk-averse when President Herbert Hoover signed the law for its creation in 1932. In the first two years, hopeful borrowers filled out 41,000 applications for mortgages funded with FHLB money. Three were approved.
Back then, thrifts and insurers were the biggest lenders to homebuyers. The firms were supposed to go to local FHLBs and pledge collateral — such as home loans — to borrow cash and make additional mortgages.
But by the late 1930s, Franklin Roosevelt’s administration was creating an even simpler system: A new entity, Fannie Mae, would buy mortgages. About three decades later, Congress chartered Freddie Mac to help thrifts manage interest-rate risks. The pair gave rise to the mortgage-securities market, which funds most home loans today.
But in the 1980s, the savings and loan crisis erupted, prompting a government bailout. With so many thrifts failing, the FHLBs were losing too many members to sustain themselves. So in 1989, George H.W. Bush’s administration reached a deal to expand the FHLB system to serve thousands of banks — on the condition that 10% of profits would go toward supporting housing affordability.
FHLBs fought that requirement at the time, people involved in that process said. They now tout it as a core piece of their mission. Sticking to the Mandate
FHLBs have to set aside 10% of their profit for affordable housing grant programs. They rarely do more.
The number of lenders using FHLBs more than doubled to more than 8,000 by 2005 — while the system’s balance sheet swelled about sixfold to $1 trillion.
But after the 2008 financial crisis, the nation’s largest banks began pulling back en masse from mortgage lending.
Wells Fargo, JPMorgan and Citigroup collectively originated 4% of residential mortgages in the country in 2022, down from 13% in 2010. Rocket Mortgage increased its market share over the same period.
Still, FHLBs continued to swell as banks sought financing, especially in emergencies. The system’s total loans to members surged 28% to $1.04 trillion in this year’s first three months, beating a record set in the third quarter of 2008.
“What the home loan banks have become is a source of general liquidity to big banks,” said Bruce Morrison, former chair of the Federal Housing Finance Board. “They’ve made a great contribution for the last 50 years, but the market has changed. They’re doing a job that the Fed should be doing.”
Most Americans aren’t familiar with the arcane system.
A software engineer from a think tank recently went on National Public Radio’s “The Indicator” to take a quiz about this year’s turmoil in US banking. Asked to identify the industry’s “lender of second-to-last resort” from a list, she paused on the correct answer: the FHLB system.
“Sounds made-up,” she said.
When deposit runs at regional banks began making headlines around the world in March, few eyes were on the FHLBs as they furiously raised money to meet the incoming demand to aid banks, issuing $304 billion of debt in one week alone.
“People underestimate how much value they bring,” said Ted Tozer, the former president of Ginnie Mae. “The record number of advances this year when there was contagion shows a lot of it happens under the covers. The FHLBs are the shock absorbers.”
FHLBs can react so quickly because it’s hard for them to lose. They have a so-called super lien on the money they lend, putting them at the front of the line to get repaid if a bank collapses. The FHLBs note that any secured lender would take priority in the event of a bank failure.
But insiders say the super lien contributes to features of FHLB loans that can make them especially egregious. It's not uncommon for banks to bend accounting rules to get bigger advances. There's also little incentive to do thorough due diligence.
“You can look at who they are lending to and see it’s not because they’re doing a good job screening for bank quality,” said Kathryn Judge, a Columbia Law School professor who focuses on financial regulation. “It’s a byproduct of the fact there’s a mechanism in place to protect their interests.”
Two people who worked in different FHLBs for more than a decade said they never saw a loan turned down, no matter how poor the financial health of an institution. What matters, they said, is getting collateral — US Treasuries, home loans, mortgage-backed securities and other real estate assets.
*Though banks often have to pledge more collateral than they borrow, they have found ways to maximize the value of that collateral. Normally, firms label assets they intend to hold short term as “available for sale.” If the value of those assets fall in the market, the bank marks them down on its books and takes an immediate hit to its earnings. *
But firms may avoid markdowns by moving assets to a longer-term accounting bucket dubbed “held-to-maturity.” That allows them to preserve the value of collateral they present when borrowing from an FHLB.
Charles Schwab Corp.’s banking arm shifted $189 billion of agency mortgage-backed securities to that category last year. The firm borrowed $12.4 billion from the FHLB system through the end of 2022, and had the capacity to borrow $68.6 billion, according to an annual report. In the first quarter of 2023, its FHLB loans more than tripled.
The FHLBs don’t track how banks use their financing. The lifelines can help troubled banks avoid fire sales of assets. But if a firm’s balance sheet is in bad shape, collateralized lending may do little more than postpone the bank’s inevitable demise, potentially letting losses worsen. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is left to clean up the mess.
“That delay makes a difference,” said Judge, the law professor. “Fresh liquidity allows them to limp on longer rather than evaluate their own viability.”
After the Fed embarked on a rapid series of rate hikes early last year, Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic watched their assets lose value and their financial condition worsen until depositors panicked and FHLB lifelines were no longer enough. The FDIC estimates their failures will cost its main insurance fund more than $31 billion, including coverage of uninsured deposits that will be paid by a special assessment on the industry.
Meanwhile, the FHLBs and their lobbying arm boast that they’ve never had a loss on a loan in more than eight decades.
Large banks borrow from many sources, sometimes including more than one FHLB, putting the regional hubs under pressure to compete for business. A former official described how one of the nation’s four giant commercial banks played regional FHLBs off of each other, scoring better rates and terms.
Earlier this year, the FHLB of Chicago announced a sweetener for its members: “Early bird discounts.”
Through May 31, the FHLB promised better rates for loans given before 10 a.m. Banks could also get “volume discounts” if they took out advances larger than $100 million, according to its website.
Such gamesmanship irks policy advocates such as Aaron Klein, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. “No banks should be able to arbitrage the FHLBs against each other,” he said. “Members should only be allowed one.”
Chicago FHLB’s Ericson said that enticing members to come in the morning helps with planning and that it’s increasingly common for banks to borrow from just one FHLB.
Last year, the FHLB’s overseer — the Federal Housing Finance Agency — announced it would conduct a sweeping review of the system to consider whether it needs to be dramatically reshaped. The agency’s director, Sandra Thompson, later signaled dissatisfaction: “The status quo is not acceptable,” she said at a Brookings symposium in February.
But in the wake of March’s regional banking blowup, Biden administration regulators have been emphasizing the importance of FHLBs in stabilizing the industry’s balance sheets. “Through this period of market stress, the FHLBanks remained in a safe and sound condition and continued to serve their critical role,” Thompson told a congressional panel in May.
Her agency’s recommendations are expected later this year.
Some FHLBs are starting to voluntarily pay 50% more than required to housing affordability, and others are in the process of doing so, Donovan wrote to Thompson in March. That would raise their contribution to 15% of their profits.
Meanwhile, there’s a measure for consideration in Congress that would boost it to 20%. Housing advocates say that’s not enough, arguing that improving affordability should be a more central part of the business model than carving off a slice.
That wouldn’t include offering better financing terms to Community Development Financial Institutions, which fill gaps in lending to communities, such as minorities or people with low incomes or living in rural areas. The organizations often have to put up more collateral than banks and have a harder time accessing funding even though they more directly address affordability.
The FHLBs now have around 6,800 members. About 1% are CDFIs. At the same time, more than 500 insurers, including giants like MetLife Inc. that no longer play a pivotal role in housing, are some of the system’s biggest borrowers. On its website, investment firm Wellington Management urges insurers to burnish their profits by drawing even more FHLB money for leverage.
“You can be outraged but the outrage is in their purpose,” said Morrison, the former Federal Housing Finance Board chair. “The question is whether we really need this huge trillion-dollar institution or if they should be restyled. They serve a private purpose with public subsidy.”

Here is the most important information, and related articles, from this article.
Published on 2023-06-05 at 08:10, this article is written by oceane duboust and published by euronews. (3 minutes)
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The French Parliament adopted a bipartisan bill on Thursday to regulate social media influencers' activities in a bid to curb the promotion of dangerous products and trends. After lawmakers in the National Assembly voted in favour of it on Wednesday, 342 senators from across the political spectrum voted to pass the bill introduced by socialist MP Arthur Delaporte and Stéphane Vojetta, an MP from President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance. It tackles sports betting and gambling: influencers will no longer be able to promote subscriptions to sports forecasts, and the promotion of money games will be limited to platforms that technically restrict access to minors. While many successful influencers operate from abroad, such as in Dubai, the text aims to require those operating from outside the European Union, Switzerland, or the European Economic Area to take out civil liability insurance within the EU.

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Popular wedding venues in the western and central states were featured in Part 1 of US wedding venues. So in part two, we'll focus on wedding venues in the eastern states. Whether it's a luxurious hotel, a rustic barn, or a spacious meadow, all are included. Again, the features of these venues and the approximate prices will be written. Let's explore these beautiful wedding venues!

Wisconsin Wedding Venues

The Paine Art Center and Gardens

This is an art museum located at 1410 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh. It is an English-style country estate and has nearly four acres of gardens. It has perennial plants and is a great outdoor ceremony venue. Also, there is a historic mansion, charming carriage house, and greenhouse. The venue can accommodate up to 200 people and costs approximately $3000 to $4000 For 100 Guests.

The Lageret

This is a professional event venue located at 515 E Main St, Stoughton. This historic venue offers industrial and rustic charm with exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and wood beams. It has ample space for ceremonies and receptions. The venue offers event coordination, customizable lighting options, a bridal suite, and access to preferred vendors. Accommodations for up to 250 people start at $3,500 for a 12-hour rental.

The Enchanted Barn

Located at 1543 6 1/2 Ave, Hillsdale, this barn has an old-world rustic atmosphere around every corner. Featuring several indoor and outdoor venues, one of the most popular ceremony locations is located in Barn's upper-level Hayloft, featuring old wood timbers. Several wedding package options are available here and can accommodate up to 220 people. Off-season all-inclusive wedding packages are $5,000 plus $21 per person.

Illinois Wedding Venues

Danada House

This is a historic mansion located at 3S501 Naperville Rd, Wheaton. a short drive from Chicago. The mansion is also surrounded by a forest preserve that allows for nature-filled photos. There are seven ceremony locations in total, and the largest Magnolia Garden can accommodate up to 300 guests. Venue rentals start at $3,500.

The Morton Arboretum

This is a public nature garden and outdoor museum located at 4100 IL-53, Lisle. Inside there are not only mature trees and flowers but also a playground for children. Offering beautiful woodland and lakeside views. The large garden has a total of 12 venues to choose from and the largest room can accommodate up to 300 guests. Prices range from $600 to $9,000 depending on the size of the room and the time of year it is held.

Salvage One

Located at 1840 W Hubbard St, Chicago, this is a very unique location that serves as a store besides being a wedding venue. It preserves treasured furniture from the past. This old Chicago warehouse offers an enchanting vintage atmosphere. The ceremony and banquet space can accommodate about 200 people and space rentals start at $4,000.

Kentucky Wedding Venues

The Barn at Cedar Grove

The address is 1000 Brockman Keltner Rd, Greensburg, which has a rustic barn setting with picturesque scenery. Offering outdoor ceremony space, climate-controlled reception space, bridal suite, groom's quarters, and fire pit. The venue in the barn can accommodate up to 230 people. For fewer guests, the average budget for a wedding here is between $6,000 and $9,000.

The Brown Hotel

This 100-year-old hotel is located at 335 W Broadway, Louisville. The hotel has a striking Georgian Revival look and offers elegant ballrooms, luxurious accommodations, and a gorgeous rooftop garden. The hotel also has extensive experience in hosting weddings of different cultures, such as Jewish and Indian weddings. Prices are $18,000 in the off-season and can accommodate up to 300 guests.

Talon Winery & Vineyards

This winery has a large outdoor space at 7086 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington. Offers vineyard and winery backdrop, outdoor ceremony space, and rustic barn. The best part is the wine-tasting and vineyard tours. The venue can accommodate up to 250 guests and prices for ceremonies start at $1500.

Tennessee Wedding Venues

Butterfly Hollow

Located at 28 Bussell Rd, Gordonsville, our vacation accommodations are perfect for small weddings. Surrounded by scenic walking trails, mountains, and woods. This venue specializes in small weddings of 30 people or less, with a focus on an intimate and cozy experience. Wedding packages range from $1795 to $5000.

Dixon Gallery and Gardens

An art gallery on 17 acres of gardens located at 4339 Park Ave, Memphis, offers a romantic and artistic setting for weddings. The gallery offers two indoor reception venues as well as woodlands and gardens, both of which can accommodate up to 200 guests. Prices are approximately $4000 to $5000 For 100 guests.

The Bell Tower

The Bell Tower, located at 400 4th Ave S, Nashville, is almost 140 years old. The ballroom features large windows that provide plenty of natural light, creating a charming and historic setting for weddings. There are two floors beside the lobby. Seated dinners for up to 400 people range from $3,500 to $16,000 depending on time and venue.

Mississippi Wedding Venues

The Cedars

The site at 4145 Old Canton Rd, Jackson is the oldest residential building in Jackson, with a history of 175 years. The courtyard in front of the house with trees such as cedar, oak, and magnolia provides a natural backdrop for weddings. The venue can accommodate up to 300 people and costs $3,500 for a two-day weekend rental.

Dunleith Historic Inn

A National Historic Landmark located at 84 Homochitto St, Natchez, the mansion features Greek Revival columns and original pine floors. The event space has a main floor, courtyard, and South Lawn, which can accommodate up to 700 people. Wedding packages start at $6,500, not including catering.

The Gin at Flora Station

The address is 4819 MS-22, Flora. The refurbished cotton gin blends rustic charm with modern amenities. It offers indoor and outdoor spaces, including a covered gazebo and a patio with an old-fashioned truck bar. Rentals for ceremonies and receptions start at $3,500.

Alabama Wedding Venues

B&A Warehouse

This building, located at 1531 1st Ave S, Birmingham, is historic from the outside. With its industrial-inspired design and high ceilings along with red brick walls. Three indoor venues can accommodate up to 300 guests, and the cost of a ceremony starts at $4,000.

The Sterling Castle

This castle is located at 389 Deseret Dr, Shelby, and has been voted the best wedding venue in Alabama. The fairytale-style castle, elegant ballroom, charming courtyard, and lakeside and drawbridge venues. This beautiful venue can accommodate up to 300 guests and all-inclusive weddings are priced at $10,000+.

Huntsville Museum of Art

This is an art museum located at 300 Church St SW, Huntsville. With unique indoor and outdoor spaces, the museum is a contemporary art gallery. Offering outdoor spaces with a rooftop terrace, and five indoor hospitality venues. The starting venue fee for a wedding reception in high season is $1,500.

Michigan Wedding Venues

Colony Club Detroit

Located at 2310 Park Ave, Detroit, this Georgian-style, historic venue features stunning architecture and gorgeous interiors. The hotel features a grand ballroom decorated with crystal chandeliers and intricate details. The ballroom can accommodate up to 350 guests and is priced between $12,000 and $15,000.

Castle Farms

This historic building, built in 1918, is located at 5052 M-66, Charlevoix. With a total of four site combinations in the summer. It offers several ceremony and reception spaces, including a charming outdoor garden and a majestic stone courtyard. The largest of these, the East Garden and Queen's Courtyard can host up to 300 guests. And the price range is between $6,750 and $9,250.

The Inn at Stonecliffe

This is a Victorian village located at 8593 Cudahy Cir, Mackinac Island. away from the hustle and bustle of the area. With beautiful gardens and breathtaking views of Lake Huron and the Mackinaw Bridge. Accommodates up to 300 people and prices range from $4000 to $10,000.

Ohio Wedding Venues

Franklin Park Conservatory

This is a horticultural and educational institution located at 1777 E Broad St, Columbus. The most popular venue is the indoor garden with an all-glass ceiling. Besides, there is an industrial-style venue and a 200-year-old barn. The venue has plenty of space and can accommodate up to 500 people, with prices ranging from $7,000 to $11,000 for a wedding of 100 guests.

The Columbus Athenaeum

The historic building at 32 N 4th St, Columbus, was built in 1899. With a total of ten venues to choose from, the Grand Ballroom boasts gorgeous details and a stunning atrium. It is decorated with classical Greek art as well as soaring ornate ceilings. It can accommodate up to 230 guests. Prices for receptions start at $3,000.

Gervasi Vineyard

An oversized wine estate located at 1700 55th St NE, Canton. Picturesque vineyard setting and sparkling lake views. The open-air venue can accommodate up to 300 people, while the indoor venue can accommodate up to 120 guests. Full-service event planning, vineyard tours, and wine tastings are available. Prices for receptions will start at $1,450.

Georgia Wedding Venues

Barnsley Resort

This resort is located at 597 Barnsley Gardens Rd NW, Adairsville. With over 3,000 acres of land, it is a historic southern estate. With lush gardens, luxurious cabins, and grounds that can accommodate up to 250 people. Three wedding packages are available: $275 per person, $320 per person, and $350 per person. And a least of 150 people is required.

Summerour Studio

This is a renovated warehouse located at 409 Bishop St NW, Atlanta. The roof is supported by massive bow trusses, which allow for a spacious, open floor plan without columns or supports. Through a wall of windows running the length of the space, there are breathtaking views of Atlantic Station and the downtown skyline. Accommodating up to 425 people, prices start at $4,000.

The Biltmore Ballrooms

The ballroom is located at 817 W Peachtree St NW 208, Atlanta, and was established in 1924. The ballroom features a handcrafted plaster relief ceiling, ornate crystal lighting, and a marble floor. Capacity ranges from 50 to 1,500 people and offers eleven caterers. Rental rates range from $3,500 to $5,000, depending on the day of the week.

Florida Wedding Venues

The Ancient Spanish Monastery

Located at 16711 W Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach. This monastery was dismantled piece by piece from northern Spain and shipped to the United States, then rebuilt over 19 months. It offers a chapel and gardens for ceremonies. The garden can accommodate up to 300 guests for $6,500 and includes only the cost of the reception.

The Breakers Palm Beach

This is a luxury resort located at 1 S County Rd, Palm Beach. This luxury resort is located in Palm Beach and enjoys magnificent beachfront views, lush gardens, and an exquisite ballroom. It boasts a timeless and elegant ambiance. It can host weddings for a maximum of less than 500 people, and detailed prices need to be communicated with the hotel.

The Ringling Museum

The museum is located at 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, with a breathtaking view of Sarasota Bay. This venue offers unique views of art, culture, and the stunning waterfront. It includes many event spaces, including a large courtyard and an elegant ballroom. The largest art gallery courtyard can accommodate up to 125 guests and prices start at $20,000.

New York Wedding Venues

Mohonk Mountain House

Located at 1000 Mountain Rest Rd, New Paltz, this historic resort is surrounded by 40,000 acres of pristine forest. Featuring a majestic Victorian castle with panoramic mountain views. Choose from lakeside, garden, and mountain views for your ceremony. Wedding packages range from $275 to $375 per person.

The Foundry

The address is 42-38 9th Street, Long Island City, with a history dating back to the 19th century. Offering an industrial chic atmosphere, a garden courtyard and conservatory, a stunning main space, plus rustic interiors. Accommodates up to 180 guests, with receptions starting at $14,000.

The Garrison

Estate at 2015 US-9, Garrison, with superb Hudson River views and Catskill Mountain views. The venue offers a modern ballroom, outdoor ceremony space, and golf course. The venue can accommodate up to 200 guests for $12,000.

Pennsylvania Wedding Venues

The Curtis Atrium

The historic building at 699 Walnut St, Philadelphia used to be the Curtis Publishing Company. It is now a building with a mix of residential, office, and retail space. It features a stunning atrium, marble columns, and a stunning rotunda. Space rentals start at $8,000.

The Cork Factory Hotel

This boutique hotel is located at 480 New Holland Ave 3000, Lancaster, a converted historic cork mill with exposed brick walls. Offering industrial charm and modern amenities. The venue has a ballroom, a terrace, and a 2,300-square-foot warehouse. Space is available for up to 200 guests, and wedding packages start at $7,000.

Terrain Gardens at Devon Yard

A stunning garden is located at 138 W Lancaster Ave Suite 130, Devon. The venue is decorated with elements such as reclaimed barn wood floors, raised holiday lights, and skylights to create a unique aesthetic. Of course, there is an essential gardening setting and open-air venue that can accommodate up to 140 guests. Prices for receptions start at $4,525.

West Virginia Wedding Venues

Stonewall Resort

The entire resort is nestled beside a tranquil lake at 940 Resort Drive Roanoke, a place of scenic beauty and rustic charm. Wedding venues are available on the lakeside lawn or in the courtyard, with an indoor grand hall and stone-walled ballroom. Spa services, golf courses, and entertainment can also be experienced with wedding packages ranging from $3,500 to $12,000.

The Greenbrier

A luxury resort located at 101 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs. With stunning architecture, beautiful gardens, and breathtaking mountain views. The indoor venue has a dramatic chandelier and stage. The outdoor grounds feature expansive lawns and rustic cabins. Packages start at $10,000 and vary depending on the number of guests, season, and customization.

Sleepy Hollow Golf Club

The Club at 3780 Sleepy Hollow Dr, Hurricane. It is a private golf club for families. Featuring a scenic golf course, elegant ballroom, outdoor lawn ceremony venue, and picturesque countryside views. Wedding packages start at $3,500.

Virginia Wedding Venues

Maymont

Historic Manor River Park at 1700 Hampton St, Richmond. Inside are gardens, botanical gardens, and native wildlife habitats. The scenic setting includes 100-year-old Italian gardens, European-style manor houses, pavilions, expansive lawns, and the Robbins Nature Center. Prices range from $3,500 to $6,100.

Inn At Willow Grove

This is a rustic accommodation located at 14079 Plantation Way, Orange. It is unusually peaceful and romantic, surrounded by ancient trees and beautiful gardens. One of the gardens, Boxwood, can accommodate up to 175 guests and offers idyllic views. A versatile barn is also available as a hospitality venue, with rates starting at $7,500.

The Tides Inn

Located at 480 King Carter Dr, Irvington, the entire hotel is situated on a beautiful body of water with views of the Chesapeake Bay. It is a waterfront resort. You can also come here to take part in fun activities such as tennis, golf, paddle boarding, biking, and kayaking. Weddings start at $3,100.

North Carolina Wedding Venues

The Bradford

Professional wedding venue located at 523 Pea Ridge Rd, New Hill. It resembles a European town building with charming gardens and rustic barns. It can accommodate up to 250 guests for a ceremony in the gardens. Wedding packages will vary depending on the time of year and are priced at $8,000 on Fridays and $9,800 on Saturdays.

The Merrimon-Wynne House

The mansion located at 500 N Blount St, Raleigh was built in 1876 and has been well maintained and is now a venue for various events. The building has a main floor full of Southern charm. Inside are original floors and mantelshelves, ornate chandeliers, and a wide porch. The outdoor area is also large enough to host ceremonies in the garden and can accommodate up to 250 guests. Prices for receptions start at $5,000.

Fearrington Village

It's an English-style country hotel located at 2000 Fearrington Village Center. Besides the quaint country setting there are dense gardens with water features. The largest venue is the barn, which offers spacious dining and dancing space and can accommodate up to 250 people guests. Prices for ceremonies start at $2500.

South Carolina Wedding Venues

Middleton Place

This National Historic Landmark is located at 4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston. You can experience daily life on an 18th-century plantation and enjoy 65 acres of unobstructed views and private garden rooms. Also, enjoy the oldest landscaped gardens on the property. There are 7 ceremony venues, ranging from small weddings of 50 to 400 guests. Prices start at $5,000.

William Aiken House

The 1807 mansion is located at 456 King St, Charleston, a restored mansion that showcases Southern charm and architectural elegance. The yard features a magnolia tree that is over two hundred years old and an elegant terrace. It is also rated as one of South Carolina's premier wedding venues. The cost of a ceremony starts at $3,000.

The Cedar Room

Modern industrial event space at 701 E Bay St, Charleston. Featuring exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and large windows overlooking the cityscape. The indoor Cedar Room venue can accommodate up to 500 people for events, and the outdoor yard can seat up to 200. Events on Fridays or Sundays start at $3,500.

Vermont Wedding Venues

Inn at Mountain View Farm

The Inn at 3383 Darling Hill Rd, East Burke, has breathtaking mountaintop views. Enjoy mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and visits to animal farms, among many other activities. Venues can range from beautiful fields to cozy campfires. Weekend wedding packages start at $3,500.

Hildene - The Lincoln Family Home

The building at 1005 Hildene Rd, Manchester is full of meaning. The Lincolns built Hildene as a summer home at the turn of the 20th century. Here you can look out over the Taconic Mountains to the west and the Green Mountains to the east. The outdoor venue can accommodate up to 200 people and wedding reception prices start at $8,000.
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(Hildene - The Lincoln Family Home)

The Henry House

The historic house at 1338 Murphy Rd, North Bennington, built in 1769, is one of the oldest surviving houses in Vermont. Overlooks the authentic red-covered Henry Bridge. The site offers several vendors for you to consider. The large trees outside the house make for the best wedding photos. The venue needs to be contacted for a specific quote.

Massachusetts Wedding Venues

The Crane Estate

This is a Tudor Revival mansion located at 290 Argilla Rd, Ipswich. It was the summer home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Taylor Crane, Jr. with winding salt marshes, miles of barrier beaches, and a beautiful hilltop mansion. And of course the rolling lawns and gardens. There are three sites to choose from in all, with the beachfront site accommodating 200 to 500 people. Weekend weddings are priced at $6500.

Red Lion Inn

The Inn at 30 Main St, Stockbridge has a 250-year history. The entire Inn combines traditional New England hospitality with the amenities of a modern hotel. The largest Hitchcock room capacity is capacity 30-175 people. Venue rentals start at $4,000.

Liberty Hotel

A sophisticated hotel located at 215 Charles St, Boston. Located in the heart of downtown, just steps from shopping, dining, Boston Parks, and more. The hotel offers a private secret garden that can accommodate up to 200 people outdoors and an indoor 3000-square-foot ballroom. Wedding venue rates start at $26,000 for up to 100 guests.

Connecticut Wedding Venues

The Lace Factory

This historic factory is located at 161 River St, Deep River, and offers a charming and rustic atmosphere for a wedding venue. It has wood floors, high ceilings, and large windows overlooking the river. The Lace Factory offers event planning services, on-site catering, and a variety of rental options for weddings of all sizes. The Factory can accommodate up to 225 people and prices start at $5,000.

Eolia Mansion at Harkness State

The address is 275 Great Neck Rd, Waterford. Nestled on the shoreline of Waterford, Connecticut, this elegant mansion offers breathtaking views of Long Island Sound. It has manicured gardens, a stone terrace, and a beautiful ballroom. The price of $5,100 includes exclusive use of the mansion's first floor and south courtyard tent for 5 hours.

The Society Room of Hartford

This event venue is located at 31 Pratt St, Hartford, and the historic venue boasts magnificent architecture. It includes a marble staircase, beautifully frescoed ceilings, and crystal chandeliers. It provides a luxurious and timeless setting for weddings. The venue can accommodate up to 300 guests and prices start at 15,000.

New Hampshire Wedding Venues

Wentworth By The Sea Country Club

Country Club at 60 Wentworth Rd, Rye. This private club is near the shore and enjoys magnificent waterfront views and a romantic atmosphere. The hotel has manicured grounds and a historic clubhouse. It can accommodate up to 250 guests in this setting. Three options are available: lawn, clubhouse, and tent weddings. Reception prices start at $30,000.

The Preserve at Chocorua

This venue, located at 88 Philbrick Neighborhood Rd, Tamworth, is a rustic and secluded wedding venue nestled in the White Mountains. It offers scenic views, a charming barn, and plenty of outdoor space for the ceremony. Outdoor activities such as sleigh rides and hiking are also available. Approximate prices will start at $1000.

Bishop Farm

The Farmhouse, located at 33 Bishop Cutoff, Lisbon, is a historic and beautifully landscaped site in the White Mountains. It offers a restored 1876 farmhouse, a barn, and lush greenery. There is also a romantic bistro with a terrace to relax in. Accommodating up to 200 guests, prices start at $15,000.

Rhode Island Wedding Venues

The Chanler at Cliff Walk

A luxury hotel located at 117 Memorial Blvd, Newport. The Chanler offers luxurious accommodations and a grand mansion setting with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and access to their world-class restaurant. Specializing in weddings for up to 120 guests with access to their world-class restaurant. Site rentals start at $10,000.

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum

Historic mansion on 33 acres located at 101 Ferry Rd, Bristol with breathtaking views of Narragansett Bay. Large tents are available in the outdoor area, followed by sunset views. Accommodating up to 225 guests, weekend wedding rates start at $12,995.

The Dorrance

Situated in the heart of Providence, The Dorrance is a restored bank building with a sophisticated atmosphere and elegant decor. The most special feature is the long, luxurious bar, which can accommodate up to 200 guests throughout the venue. Venue rentals start at $7,500.

New Jersey Wedding Venues

The Ashford Estate

Located at 637 Province Line Rd, Allentown, this elegant property is nestled in a picturesque setting. Surrounded by hundreds of acres of beautifully preserved farmland, it features sparkling fountains, waterfalls, garden pavilions, expansive views, and of course, luxurious private suites. The wedding venue can accommodate up to 300 guests. Starting at $10,000.

Mallard Island Yacht Club

A club surrounded by water at 1450 NJ-72, Manahawkin. six more venues to choose from in the luxurious private island mansion. The center plaza boasts grand arches and ornate ceilings reminiscent of old-world glamour. The ballroom can accommodate up to 250 people, and prices for receptions start at $20,000.

Liberty House Restaurant & Events

This waterfront event venue is located at 76 Audrey Zapp Dr, Jersey City. It features unparalleled views of the New York City skyline, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and the Liberty Landing Pier. The Grand Ballroom features a marble floor and floor-to-ceiling windows. The venue can accommodate up to 300 people and venue rental fees start at $8,000.

Delaware Wedding Venues

The Queen Wilmington

This dazzling venue is located at 500 N Market St, Wilmington is downtown. It is a historic music venue that offers a unique and eclectic atmosphere. The venue features a grand ballroom with a stage, state-of-the-art sound system, and elegant décor. The venue can accommodate up to 200 guests and wedding reception prices start from $3,000.

The Cordrey Center

The address is 30366 Cordrey Rd, Millsboro, and its restored barn and surrounding gardens provide a rustic and charming setting. The venue offers a range of services, including in-house catering, bar service, and event coordination. It has indoor and outdoor options and can accommodate up to 200 guests. Venue rental rates start at $3,500.

The Waterfall Catering and Special Events

With an address at 3416 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, The Waterfall has a modern venue. Centered around a stunning indoor waterfall. The spacious ballroom features contemporary décor and customizable LED lighting systems. The venue can accommodate up to 500 guests. Prices for venue rentals start at $6,000.

Maryland Wedding Venues

Belvedere Hotel

Located at 1 East Chase Street and built-in 1902 as a historic landmark in Baltimore, The Belvedere showcases stunning architecture and classic charm. It offers a variety of event spaces, including a rooftop ballroom with panoramic views of the city. Inside, the décor is more vintage and ornate. Accommodating up to 500 guests, venue rentals start at $8,000.

Evergreen Museum & Library

This grand Gilded Age mansion is located at 4545 N Charles St, Baltimore. It is full of history with a house museum and research library. With beautiful gardens, this venue offers a mix of elegance and history. It's architectural details and scenic surroundings provide a unique backdrop. As well as a tour of the museum's collection. Accommodates up to 200 guests and starts at $6,000.

Chesapeake Bay Beach Club

Located at 500 Marina Club Rd, Stevensville, this venue offers stunning waterfront views and an elegant ballroom. It also has an oceanfront ceremony venue and luxurious accommodations. There are four ballrooms in total, three indoor and one outdoor. Accommodations for up to 300 guests start at $10,000.

District of Columbia Wedding Venues

Larz Anderson House

Located at 2118 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, the Anderson House, established in 1905, is a stunning Beaux-Arts mansion that offers a romantic and intimate setting for weddings. The venue features beautiful gardens, a grand staircase, and gorgeous rooms decorated with historic artwork. It can accommodate up to 200 guests and has access to the house's magnificent library. Prices start from $8,000.

The Hay-Adams

Located at 800 16th St NW, Washington, across from the White House, the hotel offers magnificent views of the iconic landmark. This venue has many event spaces, including a rooftop terrace from which the White House can be used as a photo backdrop. Wedding venues can accommodate up to 250 guests and prices start at $15,000.

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Located at 1250 New York Ave NW, Washington, this unique venue celebrates women artists and offers a distinctive setting for weddings. With its stunning architecture and world-class art collection, it provides an exquisite atmosphere for your special day. The venue offers a variety of event spaces, including an assembly hall and mezzanine level, and can accommodate up to 400 guests. However, the museum is temporarily closed for renovations.

Maine Wedding Venues

Hidden Pond

The resort's address is 354 Goose Rocks Rd, Kennebunkport, and is nestled in a secluded wooded area. Featuring elegant indoor and outdoor spaces. Surrounded by 60 acres of birch and balsam fir, it features two outdoor pools and a three-room treetop spa. It ensures an unforgettable wedding experience. Prices start from US$10,000.

Hardy Farm

The farm is located at 254 W Fryeburg Rd, Fryeburg. This rustic and chic site features a restored 18th-century farmhouse and a spacious barn with panoramic mountain views. Of course, there are also seasonal gardens and a woodland church. The most special feature is the provision of a cable car to reach the top of the mountain, which is also a popular backdrop for photos. It can accommodate up to 250 guests and prices start from $6,500.

Portland Regency Hotel & Spa

The address is 20 Milk St, Portland, and is centrally located, offering a blend of classic elegance and modern amenities. With many event spaces, on-site catering, and a spa, it can accommodate intimate and large weddings. Accommodations range from 10 to 220 guests, with rates starting at $3,500.

Conclusion

"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." When Harry Met Sally
Finally, we've rounded up our recommendations for wedding venues in each of the remaining states. Choosing the perfect wedding venue is an important step in creating your dream wedding. It sets the tone for the entire celebration and provides the backdrop for your special day. No matter what style of wedding venue you prefer, there is a venue above that perfectly suits your style and preferences.
Last but not least, don't forget to check out Quictent's wedding tent. we offer quality wedding tents for your outdoor wedding, containing various types and sizes.