Odd ASOUE Real-Life Coincidence Thread

[Tiran O'Saurus]

In a book, some people went to a showing of La Forza Del Destino.

[Skelly Craig]

Semblance and GlitteryMisery have turned this thread in the last 5 pages into a battle of the inanities. I'm just observing, but I'm not liking it

[Venusian]

Not something from my life, but not too long ago I was watching "Gangs of New York". It seems real lifer Volunteer Fire Departments have a dark history. Even though I doubt these real life  gangs of volunteer firemen inspired Handler, I like to that in universe VFD does have some connection. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowery_Boys_(gang)

[bear]

[Esmé's meme is meh]

Some days ago I found this in front of a building and it reminded me of our logo

[Skelly Craig]

thread-relevant enough, i feel.

definitely a book and title that could have been invented by snicket. (and obviously a book that could feature snicket in it.)

[FileneNGottlin]

From a short story by Jean Stafford:
"The slow self-service elevator was an asphyxiating chamber with a fan that blew a withering sirocco... light, dim and reluctant, came through a fixture with a shade of some ersatz material made esoterically in the form of a starfish." Elevator, ersatz, ocean decorations (I believe the doorman decorates the elevator with a starfish?) The main character is said to have grown up in "squalor" and her name is Beatrice.

[Tiran O'Saurus]

And the author's initials are JS!

[J. S.]

My initials are JS which is a huge real-life coincidence.

[Skelly Craig]

Diptych by Ulises Carrión, 1975

Also used as book cover:

[Semblance]

I was at an aquarium, and these reminded me of Lake Lachrymose Leeches.

[Semblance]

I made brownies a few days ago, accidental V.F.D. eye.

[Uncle Algernon]

Spent quite a while — a matter of weeks — looking for a packet of small sewing needles which had been affixed to a bit of cardboard. Today, doing a bit of cleaning, where should I inexplicably find them but waiting inside an ornate antique sugar bowl recently purchased at a flea market?