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[Still from Stranger Things, Netflix]

In the first episode of Netflix's binge-worthy series Stranger Things, aptly titled “The Vanishing of Will Byers,” a young boy with a fondness for X-Men comics and Dungeons & Dragons gets pulled into a creepy parallel dimension that his friends later dub the Upside Down. Throughout the series, several more characters wind up visiting the Upside Down, either in an attempt to get Will back or because they were dragged there against their will, with varying results. Some come away unscathed. Others… not so much.

Editor's Note: In an effort to keep Quirk E. Cat from napping at his desk, we have assigned him to Advice Column duty. We apologize in advance.

Editor's Note: We're bringing back one of our best loved pumpkin-y posts. Read on, friends, with a Pumpkin Spice Latte in hand. 

When it comes harbingers of fall, the pureed-squash coffee cocktail known as the Pumpkin Spice Latte looms large. Somewhere around the autumnal equinox, Pumpkin Spice hysteria settles over the nation like a miasma, with much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Lines stretch around corners. Bank accounts are liquidated. Pumpkin-deprived consumers sprawl in the gutter, eyes dull and devoid of spiciness.

But the cult of this artificially-flavored hot beverage is far from a modern phenomenon. Writers through time immemorial have devoted countless words of pen and page to this wondrous drinkstuff. The PSL has inspired more beauty, mystery, and whimsy in the world of literature than absinthe, opium, and upper-downer goofballs combined. Behold:

is a factual cliché that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. There are many people who spend their mornings cramming food in their faces as they haul butt down the freeway, or run off to the local train or subway station. There is nothing quite as nice as a calm breakfast with a cup of coffee and a little reading. We've decided to take a look at some of the geekiest cereal ever created. That isn’t all, though. For the bookish crowd, these taste sensations are being paired with the highest quality reads.

The season of Renaissance Faires has arrived, and it's one of our favorite times of the year. It's one of the few times you can wear period clothing (or, in some cases, fairy wings and steam punk outfits) and aren't ridiculed—you're celebrated. There are jousts, hilarious comedy shows, and most importantly, TURKEY LEGS. While we know Ren Faires are already pretty awesome, we think our excitement would be elevated even more if our favorite literary characters ran the festival.

It’s that time of year again! While students are sharpening their pencils and laying out that first day outfit, teachers everywhere are jogging their syllabi and redecorating the classroom, full of hope and the joy of knowledge. Except for these three. To be honest, they’re kind of dreading it. But they’re here. And they’re sticking around until students start chanting “No more pencils, no more books. No more teachers’ dirty looks.” Whether they like it or not.