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Post by veu on Feb 11, 2023 18:16:22 GMT -5
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Post by veu on Mar 31, 2023 11:39:45 GMT -5
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Post by veu on May 10, 2023 5:49:24 GMT -5
The Little Mermaid inspires fashion. Source: www.iodonna.it/moda/tendenze/2023/05/09/ariel-principessa-disney-la-sirenetta-film-2023/9 Maggio 2023 Tendenze In fondo al mar. 3 look dalle sfilate Primavera Estate 2023 per sentirsi vere Sirenette Arriverà nelle sale italiane il 24 maggio la versione live-action de La Sirenetta. Le passerelle di stagione, intanto, sono inondate da interpretazioni e rivisitazioni della principessa Disney Ariel. Romantica e delicata oppure sensuale e audace
di Cecilia Caruso
È ufficialmente iniziato il countdown per l’uscita del nuovo film che vede protagonista la principessa Disney Ariel. La versione live-action de La Sirenetta arriverà nelle sale italiane il prossimo 24 maggio con protagonista Halle Bailey, cantante e attrice americana che anche sul red carpet non ha abbandonato i panni di Ariel. Sul tappeto rosso come sulle passerelle della Primavera Estate 2023, infatti, a trionfare è l’estetica mermaidcore.
Conchiglie, abiti in rete, capelli effetto wet: le donne si trasformano in divinità marine appena emerse dall’oceano, pronte ad esplorare la terra ferma. Per sentirsi come la principessa Disney Ariel nella vita di tutti i giorni.
Una Sirenetta in versione Y2K
La principessa Disney Ariel deve essere stata una fonte d’ispirazione primaria per Nicola Brognano, che da Blumarine ha immaginato delle dee acquatiche molto cool. Il denim slavato, proposto su cardigan profilati di borchie e minigonne dall’effetto used, incontra il reggiseno dorato con coppe-conchiglie e la lunga gonna impalpabile che ricorda il movimento delle onde.
A coronare l’effetto Sirenetta è l’acconciatura, lunghi ricci ramati che fanno subito pensare al cartone animato. L’universo mermaid è stato declinato anche su abiti traforati – come una rete da pesca – arricchiti da cinture gioiello decorate da conchiglie e charms dorati. Per Ariel contemporanee.
Il look da Sirenetta firmato Blumarine Primavera-Estate 2023
In fondo al mar con Nensi Dojaka
Sensuale e delicata. È così che la stilista britannica di origine albanese immagina la Sirenetta. Interpretata in passerella da top model come Vittoria Ceretti e Emily Ratajkowski, i cut out, le spalline e le scollature che hanno reso iconico il lavoro di Dojaka incontrano l’universo mermaid. L’abito trasparente e bicolore è contraddistinto da un bustier velato che riprende la forma delle conchiglie, rendendole parte di un insieme raffinato e moderno. A sublimare l’effetto sirena ci pensano gli orecchini pendenti con le perle e l’acconciatura bagnata. Come appena uscita dall’acqua.
La tendenza mermaidcore secondo Nensi Dojaka PE23
La principessa Disney Ariel di David Koma
Le divinità acquatiche del designer inglese sono un concentrato di grinta e seduzione. I motivi ricorrenti della collezione Primavera Estate 2023 sono conchiglie e stelle marine dall’effetto ultra realistico, proposte in versione tutt’altro che infantile. Danno infatti forma a crop top da portare sopra a bikini top e jeans a vita bassa, oppure decorano miniabiti con cut out da indossare con cuissardes in pelle sopra al ginocchio. Per Sirenette audaci e coraggiose.
La Sirenetta di David Koma PE23
Per sentirsi Ariel non serve poi molto, qualche conchiglia come accessorio, una stella marina a ravvivare il classico tubino nero. Alla ricerca di amici come Sebastian e Flounder. Per un’estate in fondo al mar.More photos here: www.iodonna.it/moda/tendenze/2023/05/09/ariel-principessa-disney-la-sirenetta-film-2023/
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Post by veu on Jul 1, 2023 16:10:03 GMT -5
Source: www.highsnobiety.com/p/shakira-mermaid/HALLE BAILEY FANS THINK SHAKIRA'S MERMAID COSPLAY IS SHADE TOWARD 'THE LITTLE MERMAID' 21 DAYS AGO IN CULTURE WORDS BY HIGHSNOBIETY
Well, the Halle Bailey hive isn't feeling Shakira's mermaid era.
Shakira took to Instagram to seemingly tease new music on June 9, sharing a photo of herself dressed as a mermaid. The caption read, "You want thingamabobs? I got twenty," in reference to the Little Mermaid's Ariel, who called the things she found all types of names, including "dinglehoppers" and "thingamabobs."
While Shakira fans were thrilled to receive new music from their fave, Halle Bailey fans weren't too happy about the teaser. Actually, they found it to be shady.
"Is this shade?" and "She wants to be Halle so bad OMG" were just some of the comments spotted on Twitter in response to Shakira's mermaid cosplay.
Sure, Shakira's mermaid getup comes just days after Bailey's live-action film finally hit theaters — and proved to be as successful as everyone predicted. But Shakira shading Bailey's Ariel? Nah, we don't think so.
For starters, Shakira's mermaid moment isn't new. Photos of the musician dressed up as the half-human, half-aquatic creature surfaced in March as Shakira filmed a new music video.
The artwork for the alleged forthcoming song "Copa vacia" also leaked during that time, again seeing a fishtail-equipped Shakira grace the cover. Not to mention, she had pink hair (Ariel's is traditionally red).
Sure, by that time (again, March of this year), we were all anxiously counting down the days to Halle's debut as the IRL Ariel. But come on, have we also forgotten that The Little Mermaid is a certified classic that's been around for years now?
The original film came out in 1989, blessing us with unforgettable characters like Ariel and Sebastian and timeless hits you'll randomly find yourself humming to years later.
A bad example, but even the Kardashian-Jenner clan dressed up as Ariel for past Halloweens. Was it shady toward the cartoon? Not necessarily. However, Kylie's Fashion Nova-level costume and bad red wig is a different conversation in itself.
Since the first film, Ariel became one of those evergreen costumes. And we suspect to see lots of Little Mermaids trick-or-treating this year following the live-action movie, too.
In short, both Halle and Shakira look beautiful as Ariel. Simply, it looks like Shakira was showing love to the classic character while promoting new music, but the timing just fell right around the release of the new Little Mermaid. At the same time, there's no doubt that Halle was born for the role (we wouldn't have it any other way).
Also, could this mean a Shakira x Halle collab could be coming? After all, the "Hips Don't Lie" artist joined forces with Beyoncé, Chlöe and Halle's mentor, for "Beautiful Liar" years back.
Regardless, we say: support The Little Mermaid and "Copa vacia!" Everyone eats.
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Post by veu on Jul 3, 2023 14:23:11 GMT -5
Source: beauty.thewom.it/trucco/la-sirenetta-makeup-mermaid-eyesTrucco LA SIRENETTA ISPIRA IL MAKEUP OCCHI DELL’ESTATE: È IL MOMENTO DEI MERMAID EYES
03-07-2023 EMANUELA GHISLOTTI L’hanno già sfoggiato it girls come Gigi Hadid e Hailey Bieber ed è il makeup occhi che indosseremo fino alla fine dell’estate.
Sull’onda del successo del film La Sirenetta l’industria del beauty sta attingendo a piene mani dal #mermaidcore. Make-up cangianti ed effetto wet look sono il must indiscusso di questa stagione e chi siamo noi per non cavalcare questa meravigliosa tendenza perfetta per l’estate?
I Mermaid eyes sono un trucco che sta bene con ogni colore di occhi ed è piuttosto semplice da ricreare, l’importante è avere i prodotti giusti, ovvero un ombretto scintillante, iridescente e dal finish bagnato, una matita o eyeliner e ovviamente il mascara.
Idealmente i Mermaid eyes, proprio come ogni trucco ispirato al Mermaidcore, ha lo scopo di riprodurre i riflessi della luce e dell’acqua quando colpiscono le scaglie della coda di una sirena, rivelando meravigliosi effetti ottici che rendono difficile individuare un solo colore.
Più che altro si tratta di un’armonia di colori molto vicini da loro che appaiono diversi a seconda del punto di vista dal quale si osserva questo tipo di trucco occhi e di conseguenza anche sotto quale luce lo si percepisce.
Se dopo tutta questa premessa stai scalpitando per ricreare questo trucco da sirenetta, allora seguiamo le indicazioni della makeup artist Victoria Lyn, che lo spiega passo per passo in un video su TikTok.
COME FARE IL TRUCCO DA SIRENETTA
Inizia con una matita dalla mina morbida e traccia una linea dritta ma non troppo precisa che parte dalla coda dell’occhio. In seguito insisti un po’ sulla rima superiore interna per intensificare lo sguardo, entrando bene negli spazi infracigliari. Infine, con un pennellino ad angolo, inizia a sfumare: questo passaggio serve non solo a creare la coda, ma anche a creare una riga dall’effetto diffuso.
Ora puoi passare all’ombretto, preferibilmente liquido, che puoi prima stendere su tutta la palpebra con il suo applicatore e poi sfumi con il pennello da ombretto. Quando scegli l’ombretto è importante che sia non solo iridescente e cangiante, ma che abbia anche una certa trasparenza che servirà ad amplificare l’effetto bagnato.
Una volta terminato di stendere l’ombretto prendi un mascara con la punta di precisione e ricalca la riga che avevi disegnato come primo step. Completa con una buona dose di mascara e, se proprio non vuoi farti mancare nulla, anche un ciuffetto di ciglia finte nella parte finale dell’occhio.
Un altro modo interessante per ricreare il trucco occhi da sirenetta, è stendere un ombretto in polvere dal finish cangiante e poi rinforzare l’effetto nella metà interna della palpebra (dalla pupilla verso il naso, per intenderci) con un ombretto shimmer o glitterato, come ha fatto Patrick Ta su Camila Cabello e Gigi Hadid.
Ecco qui un po’ di mermaid eyes inspo per aiutarti a trovare quello che più fa per te.Translation: Make Up THE LITTLE MERMAID INSPIRES THE SUMMER EYE MAKEUP: IT'S TIME FOR MERMAID EYES
03-07-2023 EMANUELA GHISLOTTI
Girls like Gigi Hadid and Hailey Bieber have already sported it and it is the eye makeup that we will wear until the end of the summer.
In the wake of the success of the film The Little Mermaid, the beauty industry is drawing heavily on #mermaidcore. Iridescent make-up and wet look effect are the undisputed must of this season and who are we not to ride this wonderful trend perfect for summer?
Mermaid eyes are a trick that goes well with any eye color and is quite simple to recreate, the important thing is to have the right products, i.e. a sparkling, iridescent eyeshadow with a wet finish, a pencil or eyeliner and obviously the mascara.
Ideally Mermaid eyes, just like any Mermaidcore-inspired makeup, aim to reproduce the reflections of light and water as they strike the scales of a mermaid's tail, revealing beautiful optical effects that make it difficult to pinpoint just one color.
More than anything it is a harmony of colors very close to them that appear different depending on the point of view from which this type of eye makeup is observed and consequently also under which light it is perceived.
If after all this premise you're pounding to recreate this little mermaid makeup, then let's follow the directions of makeup artist Victoria Lyn, who explains it step by step in a video on TikTok.
HOW TO DO THE MERMAID MAKEUP
Start with a soft lead pencil and draw a straight but not too precise line starting from the corner of the eye. Then, insist a little on the inner upper lashline to intensify the look, getting well into the spaces between the eyelashes. Finally, with a small angled brush, start blending: this step is used not only to create the tail, but also to create a line with a diffused effect.
Now you can move on to the eyeshadow, preferably liquid, which you can first spread over the entire eyelid with its applicator and then blend with the eyeshadow brush. When choosing eyeshadow it is important that it is not only iridescent and iridescent, but that it also has a certain transparency which will serve to amplify the wet effect.
Once you have finished applying the eyeshadow, take a mascara with the precision tip and trace the line you drew as the first step. Complete with a good dose of mascara and, if you really don't want to miss anything, even a tuft of false eyelashes in the final part of the eye.
Another interesting way to recreate the mermaid eye makeup is to apply a powder eyeshadow with an iridescent finish and then reinforce the effect on the inner half of the eyelid (from the pupil towards the nose, to be clear) with a shimmer or glitter eyeshadow, like did Patrick Ta on Camila Cabello and Gigi Hadid.
Here is some mermaid eyes inspo to help you find the one that works best for you.Photos here: beauty.thewom.it/trucco/la-sirenetta-makeup-mermaid-eyes#comefareiltruccodasirenetta
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Post by veu on Jul 7, 2023 14:15:45 GMT -5
Source: themessenger.com/opinion/tv-and-movie-reboots-with-diverse-casts-are-making-a-strong-cultural-impactOPINION THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY CONTRIBUTORS ARE THEIR OWN AND NOT THE VIEW OF THE MESSENGER TV and Movie Reboots With Diverse Casts Are Making a Strong Cultural Impact Published 07/07/23 10:00 AM ET|Updated 18 hr ago Rachel Grant
Halle Bailey attends the UK Premiere of “The Little Mermaid” at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on May 15, 2023 in London, England. Joe Maher/WireImage
In the past three years, representation in reboots has boomed — with examples like a Mexican immigrant reinterpretation of “Party of Five” and a Black reimagining of “The Wonder Years.” Most recently, “The Little Mermaid” live-action Disney film featured a Black Ariel swimming into the mainstream psyche and hitting a global box office milestone. Why are these nostalgic narratives being rewritten in this way, and what is the cultural impact?
Reboots allow viewers to reimagine beloved time periods, but with more complete and complex content. And representation does matter in mainstream media, especially for children at early ages. When children see themselves onscreen, through characters like a Black Ariel in “The Little Mermaid,” it adds to the value of their identity.
As a young Black girl, I grew up watching the original animated film in 1989, which featured a white female protagonist. It was my favorite Disney movie, with its magical undersea world in which a young, defiant mermaid set out to seek adventure and love.
For young Black girls today, the current version of “The Little Mermaid” is taking on new layers of meaning. When the trailer for the film, starring Halle Bailey, first reached audiences, poignant videos of young Black girls watching the trailer went viral. Cameras captured their expressions of wonder and awe, as they digested the realization that Ariel resembled them.
While the storyline of the 2023 film remains mostly the same as that of its 1989 predecessor — with Ariel ascending to the surface of the ocean, connecting with a human prince, and encountering the devilish Ursula — it looks plenty different. Audiences are consistently craving that difference.
When we think of the original shows like “The Wonder Years,” they were focused predominantly on white families; now there is a story about a Black family during the civil rights movement in the reboot. Other shows like "One Day at a Time" have been rebooted to reflect different narratives as well; this is all helping us reimagine diversity and recognize advancements in marginalized communities.
But “The Little Mermaid” takes this concept one step further, because it is geared specifically toward younger audiences that are absorbing the message that representation matters early. Disney has taken the initiative to represent female characters and present diversity in media in a more multicultural way with films like “Moana,” “Mulan” and “The Princess and the Frog.”
Because of these films, children are able to feel empowered about their cultural backgrounds, instead of feeling like they’re not seen or that their community is not normalized. Disney has been instrumental in catalyzing this shift since the 1990s and has made much more significant leaps in the past decade when it comes to diversity in media.
Disney is one of the key players in trying to change stories around various aspects of culture. The idea that every young girl can be a Disney princess, that she doesn’t have to just have Eurocentric features or blonde hair, is a big deal. Halle has locs as Ariel, so the filmmakers did not even try to change her appearance to fit a Eurocentric understanding; she embodies her Black female identity as authentically as she is.
What happens when that authenticity is regularly embraced and emboldened? The cultural narrative shifts, and viewers learn and grow. We underestimate the power of TV and films and how they get through to people.
With “Mermaid” in particular, the message of authenticity, of finding your own voice, is profound. So, having that story placed with a Black female character, it empowers young Black girls and women to see themselves in different ways. And that changes people’s minds about what’s possible.
Rachel Grant, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Florida (UF), who has done extensive research on TV and film reboots with diverse casts.
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Post by veu on Jul 7, 2023 14:19:05 GMT -5
Beyoncé reference:
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Post by veu on Aug 24, 2023 4:15:26 GMT -5
Source: www.byrdie.com/halle-bailey-water-drop-nails-7807994Halle Bailey's Water Drop Nails Would Make Ariel Proud Mermaidcore is still going strong.
by ZIZI STRATER PUBLISHED ON 08/23/23 01:11PM
Halle Bailey selfie in car posing with duck lips @hallebailey/INSTAGRAM
Obviously, Halle Bailey is no stranger to mermaidcore beauty. After all, she played Ariel in Disney's live-action The Little Mermaid, and wore chrome aquatic nails, a pearl manicure with coordinating headpiece, and ultra-trendy seashell nails while promoting the film. Though her press run may be over, she shows no signs of stopping this "under the sea" style with her latest manicure: hyper-realistic water drop nails. On August 20, Bailey posted an Instagram carousel showing off the new nails. She wore a bright pink one-piece swimsuit while posing in a huge swimming pool with her hand fixing her hair. It was this pose that allowed us to see her nails: completely see-through tips with the texture of raindrops layered randomly on each nail to make it seem like all-natural water drops. They were square-shaped, and each also had a few tiny silver orbs intertwined with the clear drops to add a reflective, water-like shine.
Halle Bailey swimming in a pool with see-through water drop nails. @hallebailey/INSTAGRAM
Her water drop nails are similar to the dewdrop nails that have been trending—Megan Fox and Doja Cat are fans—but with their own twist. While dewdrop nails typically have a vibrant base color to make the faux water drops stand out, Bailey's are totally clear, making them look positively drenched.
Unfortunately, the look isn't really one that's easy to copy yourself, mostly because the products used are salon-grade, and getting those water drops right takes lots of practice and precision. But, if you are feeling like a nail pro, we have you covered with the steps you need to get a similar look. To start, like any manicure, take off any polish currently on your nails with nail polish remover. Apply cuticle oil to your nails to soften and push back. Then, cut and file your nails to the desired length or apply press-ons with nail glue if you want them a little longer. If you want to do more of the dewdrop style, this would be when you add your base color. However, to match Bailey, skip the color and apply a clear base coat on freshly buffed nails. Then, once dry, use something like IBD's UV Pure White Builder Gel ($40) to create the drops, using a thin brush to apply small spheres to your nails. You'll likely need to apply a few drops on each nail, then wait for them to dry before adding more. Then, in between the crevices of the circles, add small metal beads or gems using nail glue, cover with a clear top coat, and you will have nails worthy of a Disney princess.
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Post by veu on Oct 14, 2023 4:47:20 GMT -5
Source: eu.palmbeachpost.com/story/entertainment/2023/10/08/fla-vacation-west-palm-beach-mom-introduces-kids-to-live-mermaids/70776101007/'The Little Mermaid' inspires West Palm mom to take family to see Florida's live mermaids Linnea Bailey | Special to the Palm Beach Post Show Caption We are sitting on three intimate rows of wooden benches in a dark, cool room, staring at a giant saltwater aquarium that stretches before us. An immense stingray, small shark and colorful fish glide past. My children stare in wonder, walking up and pressing their noses against the glass before sitting back down.
But we are not here for the fish. Steel drum music floats from speakers and we eagerly await an important arrival.
At the top righthand corner of the tank, the hint of an ethereal, rose gold tail appears in the water, moving ever so slightly to the music.
“It’s a mermaid!” my 3-year-old daughter breathes, transfixed.
She believes it. I can see it. The siren hasn’t even fully appeared, and yet my daughter’s face could brighten the world.
This is why we came here. And it is pure magic.
Disney's live action version of "The Little Mermaid" has brought renewed interest in the magical creatures. DISNEY
A quest for mermaids and manatees in Florida
Three Weeki Wachee mermaids Three mermaids perform for the audience at Weeki Wachee Springs. FLORIDA'S ADVENTURE COAST VISITORS BUREAU
Our vacation plans started — as family ideas often do — with a story.
My three young children, (ages 6, 3 and 3), had just seen Disney’s 1989 film "The Little Mermaid" for the first time, and I was filled with nostalgia from my own childhood of growing up in the ‘80s and seeing mermaids perform at the cavernous underwater theater of Weeki Wachee Springs. I spent years fervently believing that the shimmery tails of the graceful swimmers were real, and I wanted my children to feel that same sense of wonder while still young enough to believe that they just might be.
Located about four hours northwest from our West Palm Beach home, Citrus County (just north of Weeki Wachee) also beckoned with a new mermaid attraction: Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Encounter. When researching overnight accommodations, I discovered the Plantation on Crystal River, a historic resort located in the only place in the U.S. where visitors can legally swim with Florida’s original mermaids: manatees.
A zany idea took shape: drive to Florida’s west coast for the weekend, visit both mermaid attractions and stay in the resort where we can spot manatees. A siren-filled weekend, steeped in Old Florida charm. I somehow convinced my husband of this plan, and we booked our trip for the following weekend.
Saltwater mermaids and sea stars on Florida's Gulf Coast
The Bailey family visit Mertailors Mermaid Aquarium. The Bailey family awaiting a mermaid performance at Mertailors Mermaid Aquarium. LINNEA BAILEY
So that is how we found ourselves in the rural, unincorporated town of Lecanto, searching for the Mertailor’s lair. We passed by twice before spotting it: a sparkling gem along a sturdy, practical state road. From a distance, it could be mistaken for an aquarium shop; get closer, and you’ll realize it contains much more.
Along with a menagerie of land animals such as turtles and colorful macaws, the aquarium boasts interactive saltwater touch tanks that include encounters with sea stars, crabs and stingrays. My children lingered over the rays’ tank, sticking their hands in up to their elbows and shrieking as the flat, smooth animals glided past. At the sea star tank, we learned that the brightly-colored invertebrates often live up to 35 years, and my oldest carefully examined the hundreds of tiny tube feet along the underside of their muscular arms.
But of course: We were here for mermaids.
Linnea Bailey and her children at Mertailors Mermaid Aquarium Mermaid Serena, left, poses with the Bailey family at Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Encounter in Citrus County southwest of Ocala on Florida's Gulf Coast. CONTRIBUTED
With multiple 45-minute shows per day in the aquarium’s 30-foot tank to choose from, we gathered with other families as a mermaid performed graceful underwater tricks, lip-synching to songs and breathing through specialized underwater air hoses. With prime seating just a few feet from the glass, my children waved to the mermaid and were thrilled when she waved back. I even caught my 3-year-old son blowing her kisses. Her dark hair swirled as she blew bubbles and swam upside down in a perfect figure eight.
This remarkable business is the brainchild of Eric “The Mertailor” Ducharme, 33, a tailor and former performer at Weeki Wachee Springs who began designing and selling mermaid tails at age 9. His tails were a hit, and today, he has a full staff of tailors to help him keep up with the demand for custom-made, hyper-realistic swimmable silicone tails. Ducharme and his business are featured in Netflix’s 2023 documentary series "Merpeople," which played on televisions throughout the aquarium as we explored its depths.
After our first mermaid performance (we stayed for two), I noticed that one of the employees stationed at a touch tank was the mermaid we’d just seen perform. My children chatted easily with her about stingrays but didn’t seem to recognize her. I wondered where they thought the mermaid from the show had disappeared to (back to the ocean?). Out of earshot, I told her how much we’d loved the show.
From her, I learned that their beautiful silicone tails can weigh as much as 60 pounds — but since these trained divers perform in saltwater (which increases buoyancy), the tails help them stay submerged. Water also decreases visibility — something I had forgotten as I watched her easily wave to her young fans during the show.
It was incredible how easy these performers made it look, while I could scarcely imagine how many months of underwater training it must have taken to master.
On our way out, we stepped into the gift shop, packed with every mermaid-themed souvenir imaginable. An employee gave my children three tiny silicone mermaid tails, each just bigger than a thimble. They treasured those tails as if they were precious gifts. I was so happy we’d taken this trip.
Ancient mermaids and a seafood feast at Crystal River
Manatees in Crystal River, Florida: In the western part of Florida, Crystal River is the only place in the United States where you can legally swim with manatees. Tours can be reserved at the Plantation on Crystal River. Because the manatees are endangered and sensitive to human interaction, you cannot ride or even pet these animals. However, they are allowed to interact with you and often manatees will come up to humans to interact. In the western part of Florida, Crystal River is the only place in the United States where you can legally swim with manatees. Tours can … Show more PLANTATION ON CRYSTAL RIVER
Back in the car, we turned down a lovely street lined with oak trees to the Plantation on Crystal River, the entrance of which was highlighted with an ornate, Italian marble fountain. Stone manatee sculptures of all shapes and sizes sent water cascading into the fountain’s basin, encircled with colorful sidewalk murals.
Located in the “Manatee Capital of the World,” Crystal River’s 60-year-old landmark resort sits on 232 acres surrounding spring-fed King’s Bay.
We immediately dropped our bags in our room to walk along the water. It wasn’t long before we spotted a pair of people on standup paddleboards, staring intently into the water. As we watched the water ripple around them, the man lost his balance and plunged briefly into the bay. We saw an enormous grey snout surface as the surprised sea cow swam to our side of the water.
My children were ecstatic. In the transparent water beneath the dock where we stood, the graceful manatee glided past, its sizable tail propelling it through the water. We then saw a mother and her calf, followed by another gentle giant. An employee later told us that since we’d come during the summer, there were an estimated 40 to 50 manatees in the bay — but during the winter months, that number swells to more than 1,000 as manatees from colder regions seek out the springs’ year-round 72-degree warmth. We vowed to return during the cooler months and swim with manatees on our next visit.
That evening, we feasted on fresh-caught seafood at the resort’s West 82° Bar and Grill. We ate hot buttermilk biscuits and gobbled up tender blackened scallops, shrimp, salmon and hush puppies. We ordered gator bites and crab cakes. We drank delicious tropical drinks in the waning summer light and watched local fishing boats arriving with their bounty. It was Florida much as it had been during its mid-century heyday, and it was perfection.
Freshwater mermaids and a classic Golden Age attraction at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Linnea Bailey's 6-year-old daughter with Mermaid Amanda at Weeki Wachee Linnea Bailey's 6-year-old daughter with Mermaid Amanda at Weeki Wachee LINNEA BAILEY
The next morning, we arrived early to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. I fiercely loved this park as a child, and I fell further in love with it when I worked as a newspaper reporter for The Tampa Tribune’s Hernando bureau and was assigned to cover the park as my beat.
On my last day of work, the park’s staff invited me to be a mermaid for an afternoon. It was unforgettable — and so much more difficult to swim with a tail than I’d imagined.
Now I had arrived with my children in tow, hoping that they would feel the same adoration I always had for this special place. The history of the park alone is mesmerizing, with many aspects that remain unchanged from its glory days as the first of Florida’s famous roadside attractions.
The iconic fountain sculpture of two underwater performers still sits high atop a 25-foot pillar at the park’s entrance, and a line of regal mermaid sculptures greets visitors. I imagine that Elvis Presley may have paused to admire them when he visited in 1961, or perhaps synchronized swimming star Esther Williams, who brought national fame to the attraction with the 1949 film Neptune’s Daughter.
With sloped ramps that lead down to an underwater theater with huge glass windows, the park has been offering its world-famous mermaid shows since 1947 — a tradition that has remained unbroken. A state park since 2008, swimmers still lip synch and perform intricate choreography to full-length musical shows (like the park’s original version of Hans Christian Andersen’s "The Little Mermaid") three times per day.
Unencumbered by diving tanks and breathing through free-flowing air hoses, these performers are beautiful and strong, yes, but also masters at breathwork and illusion.
We eagerly crowded into the 400-seat underwater theater, the view of the expansive limestone basin covered by huge curtains. The music swelled and the curtains rose, giving way to a sight that was just as wonderous as ever: a brilliant aqua, crystal-clear panoramic view of the spring-fed basin. Sea grass floated gently in the water as a school of fish darted past.
All at once, there they were: first one mermaid swimming up from the depths, then three more. They were breathtaking, with sleek fabric tails in shades of radiant purple and burgundy.
We watched, mesmerized, as three of the swimmers held onto each other’s tails and swam in a giant circle, creating a seamless underwater formation 20 feet below the water’s surface. The fourth mermaid swam through their circle, completing the display.
My children were utterly smitten.
The show so dazzled my kids that they pretended to be Ariel, Eric and the Sea Witch for weeks afterward.
The Bailey family with Mermaid Amanda at Weeki Wachee The Bailey family with Mermaid Amanda at Weeki Wachee. CONTRIBUTED
Marooned in the mermaid photo tent later that day as the rain poured down around us (a happy coincidence), our family posed for photos with one of the finned beauties. My children climbed into her lap, admired her bright pink tail and chatted about her life as a mermaid. I have similar photos of me as a child. I was struck by how time stands still here.
With a world so increasingly enamored with fantasy delivered on a screen, I'm grateful there are places my family can visit together, and "mermaids" we can see in person — be they performers at the state's oldest attraction, at a more recently imagined oasis, or the state's protected real-life versions in waterways just a drive away.
If you go
Weeki Wachee Springs: 6131 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee; www.floridastateparks.org
Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Encounter: 4100 W Gulf to Lake Hwy, Lecanto; http://www.mermaidaquariumencounter.com; 352-513-3278
Plantation on Crystal River: 9301 W Fort Island Trail, Crystal River; http://www.plantationoncrystalriver.com; 352-795-4211
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