In Straight Trippin', OC friends and family share tidbits from their latest travels. This time, OC contributing writer Fiona Duncan traveled to Leeds, England and expounds on a sub-culture of the idyllic town.
Name: Fiona Duncan
Occupation: Writer
Travel destination: Leeds, UK
Carry-on necessities: I carry everything on.
Reading materials: Preacher by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, We Have Never Been Modern by Bruno Latour, The Wretched of the Screen by Hito Steyerl, Widow Basquiat by Jennifer Clement, Architecture/Astrology by Dan Graham and Jessica Russell, Nobody Is Ever Missing by Catherine Lacey, and Don’t Go Where I Can’t Follow by Anders Nilsen
Weirdest thing in your suitcase: Seven books; who travels with seven books? In their carry-on?
Most over-played track on your iPhone this trip: “Trouble Every Day” by Tindersticks
Favorite outfit to travel in: The heaviest shoes I’ve packed, the most voluminous clothes I’ve packed... liberates space in my carry-on.
Highlight of your trip: I’d say it’s split between visiting Vex at her home to document an Adult magazine Morning After and eating a full English breakfast the hungover morning after going to Whitelocks with Vex, Ales, and co.
Souvenirs you brought back: Me, nada. Ales brought back like a dozen comics though.![]()
While my boyfriend, Ales, manned his Thought Bubble table and spoke on panels and whatnot, I walked the pedestrian-friendly city of Leeds. Photos by Fiona Duncan![]()
My weekender backpack with more books than clothes![]()
My reason for visiting the idyllic town of Leeds was Ales Kot (boyfriend, comics writer); his was an annual comic-con called Thought Bubble, purportedly "UK’s largest event of its kind." As far as cons go, this one is quaint: the crowds are kind, the costumes are crafty, and comics come first; no Hollywood spectacle like in San Diego.![]()
Two things that are very common in Leeds: heteronormative binge-drunk clubbing culture and 24-hour CCTV surveillance.![]()
The old arcades in Leeds’ city centre are incredibly beautiful.![]()
In addition to your standard luxury (Vivienne Westwood) and high street (River Island) stores, the arcades are home to some cool speciality shops, like this one, which sold hyperrealistic Caucasian baby dolls, Ron Mueck style.![]()
Our friend Vex recommended this beer & Indian street-food joint Bundobust.![]()
Whitelocks is the oldest pub in Leeds—1715! It’s classic and impeccably maintained, with the original copper bar and as m
Name: Fiona Duncan
Occupation: Writer
Travel destination: Leeds, UK
Carry-on necessities: I carry everything on.
Reading materials: Preacher by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, We Have Never Been Modern by Bruno Latour, The Wretched of the Screen by Hito Steyerl, Widow Basquiat by Jennifer Clement, Architecture/Astrology by Dan Graham and Jessica Russell, Nobody Is Ever Missing by Catherine Lacey, and Don’t Go Where I Can’t Follow by Anders Nilsen
Weirdest thing in your suitcase: Seven books; who travels with seven books? In their carry-on?
Most over-played track on your iPhone this trip: “Trouble Every Day” by Tindersticks
Favorite outfit to travel in: The heaviest shoes I’ve packed, the most voluminous clothes I’ve packed... liberates space in my carry-on.
Highlight of your trip: I’d say it’s split between visiting Vex at her home to document an Adult magazine Morning After and eating a full English breakfast the hungover morning after going to Whitelocks with Vex, Ales, and co.
Souvenirs you brought back: Me, nada. Ales brought back like a dozen comics though.
While my boyfriend, Ales, manned his Thought Bubble table and spoke on panels and whatnot, I walked the pedestrian-friendly city of Leeds. Photos by Fiona Duncan
My weekender backpack with more books than clothes
My reason for visiting the idyllic town of Leeds was Ales Kot (boyfriend, comics writer); his was an annual comic-con called Thought Bubble, purportedly "UK’s largest event of its kind." As far as cons go, this one is quaint: the crowds are kind, the costumes are crafty, and comics come first; no Hollywood spectacle like in San Diego.
Two things that are very common in Leeds: heteronormative binge-drunk clubbing culture and 24-hour CCTV surveillance.
The old arcades in Leeds’ city centre are incredibly beautiful.
In addition to your standard luxury (Vivienne Westwood) and high street (River Island) stores, the arcades are home to some cool speciality shops, like this one, which sold hyperrealistic Caucasian baby dolls, Ron Mueck style.
Our friend Vex recommended this beer & Indian street-food joint Bundobust.
Whitelocks is the oldest pub in Leeds—1715! It’s classic and impeccably maintained, with the original copper bar and as m