While some people like to be in a relationship, others don’t have the time or flexibility to be in one. People get too busy with work or other activities and they just don’t have time to invest in a full relationship. There’s nothing wrong with that. Successful relationships take a tremendous amount of time, effort, and patience, and that’s why casual hookups have become mainstream.

With so many hookup sites to choose from, it’s important to note that different sites cater to different tastes. We’ve reviewed the best hookup sites and casual dating apps to get some action. Yes, this is another list, but we’ve actually tried them all.

Please note that when we say free, we mean you can use the basic features without cost. If you decide to meet up with someone, you’ll have to crack open the wallet. We’ve included each site’s pricing to help you choose the best option.

Let’s dive into the reviews and ratings.

16 Best Free Hookup Sites and Apps for Casual Dating in 2022

RankBrandBest For1.Adult FriendFinderBest overall hookup site2.BuddyBangRunner-up best3.BeNaughtyBest for flirtiest singles4.Ashley MadisonBest for affairs5.Seeking ArrangementBest for sugar baby/sugar daddy/mommy6.ALTBest for alternative and BDSM sex7.OKCupidTop choice for millennials8.HingeSomewhat serious, but mostly FWB9.ZooskBest for short-term dating10.BumbleSafest for women11.Plenty of FishBest for lots of options12.TinderMost popular app13.Pure AppBest for fantasy based14.FeeldMost open-minded singles15.Sex MessengerBest for anonymous hookups16.Reddit R4RBest completely free option

1.  Adult Friend Finder – Best overall hookup site

Adult Friend Finder is one of the oldest, so consequently most popular, hookup sites. It prides itself in being the best casual dating site to find adult singles for whatever arrangement you’re looking for.

This dating site caters to swinging, non-monogamous relationships, threesomes, and experimental experiences. Whether you’re looking for an NSA (no-strings-attached) relationship, a one-night stand to spice up your marriage, or a quick fling, you will find a plethora of options and arrangements on this site.

Once you create a profile on Adult Friend Finder, you can customize your search to narrow down people interested in the same arrangement as you. It also provides additional content such as webcam shows and erotic stories.

Pros:

1oo percent designed for sex, sex, and more sexYou’ll find any kink on the spectrumRelatively easy to find people into the same things as you

Cons:

Pro memberships are expensiveFree version has too many ads

Pricing:One-month membership: $39.95 total
Three-month membership: $26.95/month
One-year membership: $19.95/month

2.  BuddyBang – Runner-up best site

BuddyBang helps you find a buddy to sleep with. That shouldn’t be hard for you to figure out. This no-judgement site operates like an express train to the friends-with-benefits phase. It’s as simple as browse, chat, bang.

While you won’t find romance here, you will find passion. Lustful adults flock to BuddyBang to chat and make connections. Ultimately, the goal is to arrange a meetup with a saucy stranger in your area. If you’re lucky, that one-night stand might turn into a long-term arrangement.

With a relatively affordable monthly subscription and advanced search filters, getting laid on BuddyBang is a piece of cake. It’s way easier than shelling out tons of cash for dinner dates that may lead nowhere.

Pros:

Users are very responsiveEveryone is to-the-pointAdvanced search and filter functionsAffordable

Cons:

Annoying ads when you use the free versionHard to get to know users because they’re so thirsty

Pricing:One-year membership: $19.95/month
One-month membership: $39.95 total
Three-month membership: $26.95/month

3.  BeNaughty – Best for flirty singles

BeNaughty naturally draws some of the most frisky singles in your area. It’s in the name. Plus, breaking the ice is easy as BeNaughty gives users tons of ways to connect. Browse the gallery or enter a naughty chat room for potential dates. When you find someone you like, you can send a wink, a message, or start a live one-on-one chat.

BeNaughty works because it’s to-the-point. While users are looking for fast fun, there is no time for games. They want a hookup, and quickly.

Open-minded and discreet, BeNaughty gives you the option to seek out singles or couples for a fast fling. By adjusting your search filter, you can find your ideal scenario and weed out people who aren’t your type.

Pros:

Various ways to connectNo judgement when it comes to kinksGreat for finding singles and couplesCheap three-day trial

Cons:

Users tend to be appearance-drivenYou’ll eventually want a premium membership

Pricing:Three-day trial: $1.05/day
One-month membership: $27.01 total
Three-month membership: $15.15/month
Six-month membership: $12.24/month

4.  Ashley Madison – Best for affairs

Ashley Madison has the reputation of being a site for affairs and discreet married dating. Its slogan is literally “Life is short. Have an affair.” The brand has become notoriously known over the years for being a site for married people to flirt and hook up.

The site caters to students in relationships, lonely wives, married men, and everyday people who want to find a safe space to maintain an affair and not be judged. This hookup site is excellent for those who are attached and seeking excitement from a monotone lifestyle and exploring the world of extramarital affairs.

Ashley Madison is the first married dating website and is committed to discretion. Despite the backlash and reputation, this site continues to be popular and has an immense database that crosses every major city in the world.

Pros:

Free for women to useVery discreetJudgment-free because nearly everyone is married and looking

Cons:

Not the most moral hookup optionExpensive for men to use

Pricing:Basic Plan: 100 credits at $0.59/credit
Classic Plan: 500 credits at $0.34/credit
Elite Plan: 1000 credits at $0.29/credit

5. Seeking Arrangement – Best for sugar relationships

Seeking Arrangement has a straightforward target audience: rich and experienced individuals seeking the young and gorgeous. This sugar daddy site is about helping daddies and mommas find sugar babies or cubs for hookups.

It has a much higher user base of women because the “sugar baby” theme brings many young women to the site. The site claims to have four times the number of women than men in their database. The prerequisite is that sugar daddies have to be wealthy and successful. They give priority to verified “elite members” who join with the sole intention of spoiling their sugar babies with money and attention.

Seeking Arrangements is a great site for beautiful young women looking for fun, attention, and a “daddy” to spoil them! This site is not the best to find a lasting love story—it’s geared toward hookups and has a more transaction-like nature.

Pros:

Free for women to sign upGreat for rich men because of the number of women using the siteGreat for women to find verified wealthy men

Cons:

Not for men who are on a budgetHookups feel almost transactional

Pricing:Women are free
One-month membership: $89.95/month
Three-month membership: $79.95/month
Diamond membership (more premium features): $249.95/month

6.  ALT – Best for alternative relationships

ALT is a full-on casual sex website. It’s not for anyone who is on the hunt for a serious relationship. This site is all about casual sex in every form to gratify any sex-seeker! The website’s community is made up of those who are into alternative bondage, who enjoy hooking up online, live, and in-person for sex dates.

It caters to people who want to find alternative, BDSM, bondage, and fetish partners who can connect online and meet in person. ALT speaks to swingers, dominatrixes, and mistresses looking for power exchange.

ALT is the leading BDSM site, with almost 2 million members. You can easily customize your fetish and find someone who is into the same kinks as you! Remember that this site is all about kink, such as orgies, being humiliated, or being tortured, and not about vanilla sex. So, if you’re looking for just plain sex, opt for another option on this list.

Pros:

Easily find people that share your kinkLots of X-rated content to browse throughLive cams and shows

Cons:

Too many fake profilesHave to buy a premium account to get the most access

Pricing:Silver Membership: $19.95/month (with longer plans available)
Gold Membership: $29.95/month (with longer plans available)

7.  OKCupid – Best for millennials and young people

OKCupid is a mainstream dating app that caters to many different kinds of relationships. It provides a multitude of choices for millennials looking not just for long-term relationships but options for short-term relationships, casual dating, and hookups. All you have to do is set that as what you are looking for, and they match you to like-minded people!

This site gears toward a generally younger audience—the age group between 18-29. This site is also one of the most inclusive mainstream dating websites that includes many gender and orientation options, helping you zero in on the particular pool of choices you want!

OKCupid may be a mainstream dating app that includes finding long-term relationships, but given its wide range of options, filters, and preferences, it’s a great app for hookups and casual sex as well. Just be up-front and be prepared to meet a great bunch of locals looking for the same things as you.

Pros:

Vast user base of peopleFind locals who are looking for casual sex and datingAffordable

Cons:

May find many looking for long-term relationshipsWill have to answer quite a few questions to see matches

Pricing:One-month membership: $19.95 total
Six-month membership: $9.95/month

8.  Hinge – Best for hybrid serious and FWB relationships

Hinge is a mainstream dating app that focuses on finding real romance—but it is also used to find casual sex and friends with benefits. The truth about Hinge is that it’s “designed to be deleted.”

But fear not! This app is incredibly popular with the younger crowd (18 to 29 years of age) and has filters to state the nature of the relationship you’re interested in. This setup is the best for friends with benefits because you have to answer questions about yourself and your preferences, which will bring you closer to meeting someone you share similar interests with and are attracted to!

Hinge is a great hookup app for those who want to find a casual relationship where you hook up with the same person a few times instead of just a one-night stand. Just be straight up with what you’re looking for—and you might just meet a new FWB with absolutely no strings attached.

Pros:

Popular with millennialsMatchmaking algorithm is great (apt for FWB)

Cons:

Created for finding long-lasting relationshipsMay not find a large user base of casual sex enthusiasts

Pricing:One month: $12.99 total
Three-month membership: $20.99 total
Six-month membership: $29.99 total

9.  Zoosk – Best for short term dating

Zoosk is a great short-term dating site that is internationally famous. It has a community of 35 million users in 80 different countries, and it is open to singles of all ages, races, religions, and sexual orientations—making it one of the most diverse dating apps.

This app may not be the best for casual hookups and one-night stands, but it is a good contender for short-term dating. If you’re in your early to mid-20s, you’ll find a great selection of singles who are interested in short-term or casual relationships.

Pros:

Very active usersUsed in over 80 countriesDiverse selection to find what you’re looking for

Cons:

May not be the best site for casual sexAdditional features cost extra

Pricing:One-month membership: $29.95 total
Three-month membership: $19.98/month
Six-month membership: $12.49/month

10.  Bumble – Safest for women

Bumble has gained a reputation for being different from most other mainstream dating and hookup apps. If you haven’t heard of this app already, Bumble is one of the first and only sites where women make the first move and get to screen potential men immediately. Men simply cannot reach out to any women unless they’ve initiated contact and interest.

It is catered towards and attracts more women than men looking to mingle or find networking opportunities, friends, or hookups! Even though it has a relatively positive and clean rep, it’s a great site for educated, good-looking men who are searching for successful, bold women.

Pros:

More women than menWomen initiate contactComprehensive and easy-to-use interface

Cons:

Other relationships (friendships and business networking) get in the way of potentials

Pricing:
Premium Membership: $8.99/week

11.  Plenty of Fish – Best for lots of options

Plenty of Fish has the largest user base. POF was launched in 2003, being one of the oldest dating sites. Since it’s free and easy to sign up, you’re going to be exposed to a lot of different types of people, looking for different things, so you’ll have to filter through them all.

Since it’s been around for a long time, it has gained a reputation as a matchmaker site that will ask questions about your family, career, and interests to match you with similar users. It’s catered for people who want to dip their toes into dating and hookup sites to explore options.

Plenty of Fish may or may not have people looking for casual sex, depending on your luck. It’s a matchmaker site that is geared more for a long-term commitment. So you have to be prepared to screen different kinds of people.

Pros:

Multiple search filtersLargest user base of profiles

Cons:

May come across bots or fake accounts

Pricing:One-month membership: $19.99 total
Three-month membership: $9.80/month
One-year membership: $5.95/month

12.  Tinder – Most popular app

You didn’t think this list was going to end without this sex gem of an app, did you? Tinder is the most widely known hookup app of this generation. It boasts an infamous rep for finding casual sex ASAP.

Tinder caters to men and women looking to get laid based on appearance. It’s known for its classic swiping left to reject and swiping right to like someone’s profile. If you’re looking for sex, Tinder has a huge user base and a large number of locals, meaning you can probably secure a sex date tonight—but the catch is that your profile needs to stand out. If you’re not conventionally attractive, you’re going to struggle to find dates.

For men who can’t seem to find dates, Tinder has a large user base of escorts who will private message their rates. If you’re horny and want it—then maybe you can meet a potential escort on Tinder!

Pros:

Best starter app for quick sexLots of escorts

Cons:

Lots of fake profilesVery superficial and appearance-focused

Pricing: Free: limited swipes
One month: $9.99 total if you are under 30
One month: $19.99 total if you are over 30

13.  Pure App – Best for fantasy based hookups

Pure App was created for shameless and judgment-free fantasy and desire-based dating. This app is purely for NSA affairs and is completely secretive and anonymous. It encourages its users to be whoever they choose to be and still be themselves.

It caters to people who have wild fantasies or desires that aren’t celebrated on mainstream dating and hookup apps. It allows your individuality to shine through—choosing your gender and sexuality—and providing guaranteed privacy and safety to video chat and meet whoever shares the same fantasies as you.

Pure App uses your GPS location on your phone to find other Pure users looking for some NSA action. You just have to post a photo and an up-front headline and wait to see if anyone close is interested. When you’re done, your profile will vanish, along with all your messages and photos—no need to worry about deactivating or privacy issues.

Pros:

Profiles, messages, and photos shared will disappear once you’re doneStarting up is easy: post a photo and sentenceEmbraces individuality and authentic fantasies

Cons:

Only popular in major cities

Pricing:One week: $14.99 total
One month: $29.99 total

14.  Feeld

Feeld is a hookup app for couples and singles to explore their desires. It was created to be an honest and open platform where you don’t judge others and explore the potential of your desire.

It includes couples’ accounts where you and your partner can date a lover or meet someone for a threesome. It’s inclusive for all genders and sexual orientations. Overall, it’s a sex-positive space for anyone looking to explore beyond “the norm” in today’s society.

Feeld prides itself on being responsible and ethical. It connects people with like-minded folk and encourages curious monogamous couples to link with partners who are also interested. It is a safe space that allows couples to explore their desires in the most honest way possible.

Pros:

One of the largest open-minded communities worldwideSex-positive and promotes ethical dating choices

Cons:

Premium version is not available on AndroidMust have a Facebook account to verify your identity during sign-up

Pricing
One-month membership: $14.99 total
Three-month membership: $29.98 total

15.  Sex Messenger – Best for anonymous hookups

Sex Messenger is an anonymous instant messaging app—like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. But you never share your name because it’s meant to be discreet and only for sexting and trading nudes.

This app is an adult social network that is much more than an online sex chat. It caters to people who want to connect with other people who want to engage in sex and dirty talk, and fulfill each other’s sexual fantasies. Instant messaging on this app and posting blog entries will help you gain the attention you want from like-minded people.

All members must verify their accounts, so this weeds out fake profiles, scammers, and bots. Members can contribute to the website through Sex Messenger’s forums, chats, group sections, sex stories, and blogs. It’s all anonymous and fully discrete. This app is a great way to sext, increase sexual tension, and finally meet up to do the deed!

Pros:

Safe way to send and receive nudesAnonymity is keyGoal is to meet up for anonymous sex—NSA!

Cons:

Need to pay for a premium account to access live chat or live cams

Pricing
One-month membership: $14.95 total

16.  Reddit R4R – Best completely free options

Reddit R4R is one of the best options for browse casual sex options for free. If you’re looking for a hookup but don’t want to sign up, post photos of yourself, and write out a bio to describe who you are and what you want . . . you found the site for you!

This site works as a personals subreddit. It works like any other subreddit. Anyone can post—no photos, no personal information needed! All you have to do is list some things about yourself and the type of person you’re looking for. And then you wait to see if anyone responds to your post.

Reddit R4R is free, so all you have to do is download the Reddit app, and you don’t need to worry about spending money. If you want to be a trusted member and not get blocked, just follow the posting rules! Users love this site to get laid because it’s easy to use, free, and starts an instant conversation with like-minded people.

Pros:

FreeNo membership neededLots of daily interactions and hits

Cons:

Hard to stand outCan’t pay to boost your posts

Pricing: Free

Hookup Site Guide

Still on the fence about whether or not you should start using hookup apps? Or maybe you’re already using them but want some more information? Check out this useful guide to answer any lingering questions you may have and walk away with some important safety tips about casual sex.

What Makes a Hookup Site Good?

It’s important to note that different sites cater to different kinds of people. So before creating a profile on any old hookup site, read the reviews to make sure it meets your needs.

Here are a few tips to find the best hookup site specific to you:

If you have a particular kink or preference, keep an eye out for it. (example: Looking for discreet affairs? Ashley Madison is the one for you!)Make sure the size of the user base is relatively large. More options mean a better chance of finding someone to hook up with.Find a site that allows users to be up-front about what they want. Usually, apps have preferences, and you can set yours to “casual relationship” or “hookup.”Make sure the customer service contact information is front and center. You shouldn’t have to go on an expedition to contact the site.

FAQs About Hookup Sites

Q: Are hookup sites dangerous?
Hookup sites and online dating can be dangerous if you don’t take proper safety measures. Generally, apps and websites catered to casual sex and sexual exploration try their best to regulate safety by banning bots and scammers and having options to report any bad behavior. So if you’re planning on joining, be aware and try your best not to be too gullible—you can never be sure who you will come across online!

Q: Are there any free hookup sites?It sucks that most dating apps and casual sex apps require you to subscribe to get optimum results. But sites like Reddit R4R and Craigslist Activities offer a free platform to chat, flirt, and arrange for sex dates. But the only downside is that there is no moderation and you won’t be talking to a verified profile and have to be extra cautious.

Q: What hookup sites are free for women?
The reality is that dating apps make it very easy for women to find sex. Most high-rated dating sites offer women free memberships (mostly to balance out the male/female ratio on their site). Sex sites that are free for women include Bumble, OkCupid, Tinder, Seeking, Hinge, Her, and Pure.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for some action tonight, welcome to the world of casual sex sites and apps. With so many different ones to choose from, all you have to do is pick the one that speaks to you, your individuality, and your desires the most, and sign up!

The best hookup sites are on top for a reason—everyone on there is eager to find sex and casual flings just like you! More than mainstream dating apps that cater to a plethora of things such as long-term dating, friendships, and so on, hookup apps are catered only towards sex and NSA fun!

The best hookup site on this list is Adult Friend Finder. It emphasizes anonymity, safety, a massive user base, and a brand name that is verified. Most people on this site are looking for a good time with so many different types of kinks and fantasies. So what are you waiting for?

Hopefully, this list gives you an idea of what sex app is the best for you to get started on today!

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“The good news is that it could be worse,” woof. That comment was made by White Sox manager Tony La Russa this past Tuesday when he was asked about the Tim Anderson injury.

After an MRI, Anderson was officially diagnosed with a strained right groin and is expected to miss at least three weeks because of it. It’s certainly a tough blow for the Chicago White Sox who are currently 23-25 at this point in the season. 

Tim Anderson’s injury occurred last Sunday during the fifth-inning in a Crosstown Classic game against the Chicago Cubs. While the Sox ultimately won that game, we’re sure they’d trade that win in the record book to have Anderson not go down at all. So, on that note, here are seven reasons the White Sox will miss Tim Anderson during his injury.

We Need His Bat

First and foremost, the White Sox need Tim Anderson’s bat in the lineup. Badly. Despite all the talent, the team’s offense is performing like one of the worst in the league with the fourth-worst scoring output among all MLB teams. Anderson’s bat was a bright-spot in a stagnant offensive unit, posting a statline of .356/.393/.503 with 5 home runs. The three weeks are going to drag on if someone else doesn’t step up to the plate.

His Glove Is Just As Important

Another equally important part to Tim Anderson’s game is his defense. The shortstop is a valuable piece to any team’s infield, and with the Tim Anderson injury, the White Sox will need to find a way to replace him without causing too many defensive headaches. Given the value of the position, it’s highly likely that they turn towards a more gl0ve-first player. But, unfortunately, that means the offensive return might suffer. With Tim, it’s the best of both worlds.

Anderson Is A Leader

It’s no secret that Tim Anderson is the most important leader in the White Sox dugout. The almost 29-year-old shortstop has earned that designation after sticking with the franchise through their rebuild. And now, in his seventh Major League season, he’s the top guy in the clubhouse. Fortunately, they aren’t completely without their fearless leader. ESPN reported that Anderson is traveling with the White Sox on their road trip, so the team will have some of that TA7 energy with them.

He Brings The Energy

That TA7 energy is another reason the White Sox will miss Tim Anderson during his injury. Everyone’s seen all the highlights of Tim on the field, and what typically comes with those highlights is an equal amount of celebrating and jawing. The guy adds a new level of excitement to the game that few bring to the field.

The Sox Are Struggling As Is

Like we’ve said before, the White Sox are off to a bit of a slow start in 2022. Now, it’s not the worst start in the world being at .500. But for a team with expectations and dreams as big as the Sox have, it’s not the best either. While it’s true that you can point to a whole list of reasons like the delayed start, injuries, and whatnot, at the end of the day, those are all just excuses. Every team is playing the same 9 innings we are, and no one is completely at full strength. All we can do is quote La Russa at this point, “… it could be worse.”

We Need Healthy Starters

Joe Kelly. Lance Lynn. Dylan Cease. Eloy Jimenez. Yoan Moncada. And now, Tim Anderson. The Chicago White Sox are pretty beat-up a month into their 2022 season. So now, with Anderson out of the lineup, the matter only gets worse. Anderson is expected to return fairly quickly compared to some of the other guys *knock on wood*. Plus, their pitching rotation expects to be back at full-strength sooner rather than later. It’s only a matter of time before we start to creep up on the Twins in the standings.

Two Words: Bat Flips

The final reason that the Tim Anderson injury stings for us White Sox fans, is Anderson’s bat flips. Like that TA7 energy we talked about before, the bat flips Tim brings to the game are second-to-none. The offense, defense, leadership, energy, and bat flips, they all make Tim Anderson the special player he is. Despite how savage they are, we’d trade all the bat flips in the world to see TA7 return right away and remain healthy for the remainder of this season and his career.

Baseball gods, do your thing!

Featured Image Credit: Chicago White Sox Instagram

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The betting public is siding with the Golden State Warriors over the Boston Celtics as the NBA Finals tips off Thursday.

The Warriors were -150 favorites to capture the championship as of Thursday morning and have attracted the majority of bets to win the best-of-seven series at most sportsbooks. At online sportsbook PointsBet, 87% of the money has been wagered on the Warriors to win the Finals.

The largest reported bets, however, have been on the Celtics, including a couple from bettors whose opinions are respected by bookmakers.

2 Related

Jeff Sherman, a vice president of risk who oversees NBA odds for the SuperBook in Las Vegas, told ESPN that his shop accepted multiple bets on the Celtics to win the series at odds of +145 and +140 from influential bettors as well as a money-line bet on Boston to win Game 1 on Thursday in San Francisco.

“I really respect the two [bettors] that played the sharp stuff with us on the Game 1 money line and the series,” Sherman told ESPN in a text message.

In addition, Caesars Sportsbook reported taking a $100,000 bet on the Celtics to win the series at +140 odds. It’s the largest wager the book had taken as of Wednesday.

Even with the big bet on Boston, Craig Mucklow, Caesars’ head of trading, said the book needs the underdog Celtics in the series and in Game 1.

Golden State is a consensus 3.5-point favorite in the series opener. As of Wednesday afternoon, 80% of the spread bets at FanDuel were on the Warriors.

Boston has been overlooked by the betting public from the start, though. The Celtics entered the season as 50-1 long shots to win the championship and received little interest from bettors. At PointsBet, there were more bets — and more money wagered — on the Detroit Pistons to win the NBA title than there were on the Celtics as the season tipped off in October.

Based on the preseason odds, if the Celtics win the title, they would become the biggest long-shot champion in the past 35 seasons, according to sports betting database SportsOddsHistory.com.

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Among the assets gathered in the James Harden blockbuster trade, the Brooklyn Nets are deferring acquisition of the Philadelphia 76ers‘ 2022 first-round pick at No. 23 to the 2023 NBA draft, sources told ESPN.

Brooklyn informed the league office of the team’s decision Wednesday, hours ahead of a midnight deadline, sources said.

Deferring the pick allows the Nets to keep flexibility over an extended period on using that pick in trades — and gives them a roll of the dice that the pick could land higher on the draft board next year based upon the success of the Sixers’ coming season.

The Nets traded Harden and Paul Millsap to the Sixers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and the unprotected 2022 first-round pick and top-8-protected 2027 first-round pick at the February trade deadline.

The Sixers will pick No. 23 in the draft June 23 and can use the pick in trades beginning on draft night. The Sixers won’t be able to trade another pick for seven years because of conditions owed to teams on several picks, including their 2025 first-round pick (top-6 protected to Oklahoma City) and 2027 first-round pick (top-8 protected to Brooklyn).

The Nets’ 2022 first-round pick is owed to the Houston Rockets for the Harden trade.

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“Not touching but joined in astonishment as two cuts lie parallel in the same flesh,” writes Anne Carson in the 1998 novel, Autobiography of Red. Breathing new life, ripping parts apart—it’s the painful, heart-wrenching reality of being alive, of being absolutely anything at all. This is the work of Finnish artist Kristoffer Ala-Ketola, whose first U.S. solo show, “Dreams & Delusions,” was on display at the Hyde Park gallery 4th Ward Project Space through May 29.

In Autobiography of Red, Carson reimagines the ancient Greek mythological monster Geryon as a queer teenage photographer (who is also a monster, red with wings). The pieces in “Dreams & Delusions” nod toward the teen and some are even named after him. The sculptures are quite literally being torn apart, with bits of flesh, skin, and muscle exposed. Bone appears through the rips of red. “My Geryon is in turmoil but quite peacefully so,” said Ala-Ketola in an email interview. 

Queerness and monsters have gone hand-in-hand for decades with society deeming the monster archetype as something “other,” something queer and not straight. The horror-film monster trope illustrates how queer folks are demonized and shamed, cast into isolation and ostracized.

Classic films and books like Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, or Dracula’s Daughter are queer-coded with themes of rejection, society’s anger, and the ultimate demise of many of these monster characters. The body, being torn and reimagined, reconstructed, stitched up, and tattered all resemble the monster—too horrible and terrifying for everyday life. 

In Geryon, the top half of the body has red-stained bones that connect to a head with two horns. Credit: Courtesy Kristoffer Ala-Ketola

But being a monster is not such a terrible thing. “I believe the grotesque itself evokes both empathy and disgust. I hope once the possible initial shock wears off the stillness and calmness of the unmoving object asks the viewer to stay. I tried to underline this conflict with the fake eyelashes of Geryon and the facial expression that for me communicates awe or wonder,” said Ala-Ketola. 

Autobiography of Red takes a mythical monster and the myth of Heracles (renamed Herakles for the book) and updates them into modern-day characters, with Herakles and Geryon recast as lovers (instead of enemies in ancient Greece). Ultimately, Herakles does not steal Geryon’s red cattle but instead steals his heart. Carson focuses on themes of trauma and learning to live in one’s body, even when someone you love discards it. 

For Ala-Ketola, the work in “Dreams & Delusions” represents healing. In the piece Geryon we see a body—made of papier-mâché from pages of a book, modeling clay, and silicone—being separated in the center of the gallery. Black jeans cover some of the bottom half, with a demon-like phallus straight from Dante’s Inferno, and knobby demented feet sticking out of the bottom. The top half of the body, less than a foot away, has red-stained bones that connect to a head with two horns. Eyelashes and handsome features resemble a human, a look of awe appears on the sculpture’s silicone face. Ala-Ketola reminds the viewer that while being pulled apart, while overcoming violence or pain, a person can also get better. 

“I see healing as something that isn’t always a straightforward, positive, and nice process,” said Ala-Ketola. “We need to break something to put ourselves back together whether it’s a synaptic connection in our brain to change the way we think or something in our appearance. I hope that in the sculpture’s world or inner logic the stillness makes it possible for the body to be both pulled apart as well as put back together.” If you’re going through hell, you have to—quite literally—keep on going. 

It’s not easy to walk away from Ala-Ketola’s works. A set of wings without the feathers hangs on the gallery’s rear wall in a piece titled, Geryon’s wings. A bulbous hand hangs from the spine of the wings with a cross-like chain necklace dangling from a finger. In literature, Geryon is described as having three bodies or three heads and is often depicted as having humanoid features, such as wings. And he is known for his red-colored cattle. In the exhibition, the works represent various parts of Geryon: his wings, his separated body, images on the walls, and Orthrus, a serpent-tailed dog that guarded Geryon’s cattle. In the piece Grasp, the head of a dog-like creature rests on a pedestal—it confronts you as you walk into the gallery. 

A set of wings without the feathers hangs on the gallery’s rear wall in a piece titled Geryon’s wings. Credit: Courtesy Kristoffer Ala-Ketola

Surrounding the sculptures are 2D works on the wall, pigment on paper, and a large print mounted on drywall—red-hued and veiny. It’s titled Erytheia, after the island where Geryon lives with his cattle. 

The work is like dreaming. They are deluded scenes in the corners of your mind. I’m reminded of Titane, a 2021 body horror film that represents queerness and the violence of the binary. For Ala-Ketola, movies like Crash, Videodrome, and A History of Violence have been influential to him, but The Fly has been the most significant for the exhibition. 

“I am interested in body horror, [the] grotesque, and I wanted to engage with these themes deeper with this show. I am drawn to semiotic opposition in order to create something new. I’m excited when a thing can be described as angry and calm, or funny and melancholic,” he said.

In Carson’s novel, she writes, “I will never know how you see red and you will never know how I see it,” which is a similar signal here in Ala-Ketola’s work. Something that may look vile and terrifying to one viewer may bring comfort and calmness to another. When the sculpture looks like it’s in pain, it’s actually healing. Geryon’s character quite literally chokes at the pain he feels. We will never know Geryon’s pain and he will never know ours. Carson’s queer romance represents the pain of being hurt by a loved one, and Ala-Ketola’s work displays the shambles of what remains. A visual representation of queer bodies and the absolute ache of recovery—from love, societal rejection, or body dysmorphia—are aligned here in Ala-Ketola’s retelling of Geryon.  

The works are fantastical as they resemble monstrous characters that weave in and out of reality, in and out of the dimension of Carson’s text, Greek mythology, and the artist’s own interpretation. 

“Dreams & Delusions” was on display at 4th Ward Project Space until May 29. More information is available at the gallery’s Instagram page and kristofferalaketola.com.

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“Not touching but joined in astonishment as two cuts lie parallel in the same flesh,” writes Anne Carson in the 1998 novel, Autobiography of Red. Breathing new life, ripping parts apart—it’s the painful, heart-wrenching reality of being alive, of being absolutely anything at all. This is the work of Finnish artist Kristoffer Ala-Ketola, whose first U.S. solo show, “Dreams & Delusions,” was on display at the Hyde Park gallery 4th Ward Project Space through May 29.

In Autobiography of Red, Carson reimagines the ancient Greek mythological monster Geryon as a queer teenage photographer (who is also a monster, red with wings). The pieces in “Dreams & Delusions” nod toward the teen and some are even named after him. The sculptures are quite literally being torn apart, with bits of flesh, skin, and muscle exposed. Bone appears through the rips of red. “My Geryon is in turmoil but quite peacefully so,” said Ala-Ketola in an email interview. 

Queerness and monsters have gone hand-in-hand for decades with society deeming the monster archetype as something “other,” something queer and not straight. The horror-film monster trope illustrates how queer folks are demonized and shamed, cast into isolation and ostracized.

Classic films and books like Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, or Dracula’s Daughter are queer-coded with themes of rejection, society’s anger, and the ultimate demise of many of these monster characters. The body, being torn and reimagined, reconstructed, stitched up, and tattered all resemble the monster—too horrible and terrifying for everyday life. 

In Geryon, the top half of the body has red-stained bones that connect to a head with two horns. Credit: Courtesy Kristoffer Ala-Ketola

But being a monster is not such a terrible thing. “I believe the grotesque itself evokes both empathy and disgust. I hope once the possible initial shock wears off the stillness and calmness of the unmoving object asks the viewer to stay. I tried to underline this conflict with the fake eyelashes of Geryon and the facial expression that for me communicates awe or wonder,” said Ala-Ketola. 

Autobiography of Red takes a mythical monster and the myth of Heracles (renamed Herakles for the book) and updates them into modern-day characters, with Herakles and Geryon recast as lovers (instead of enemies in ancient Greece). Ultimately, Herakles does not steal Geryon’s red cattle but instead steals his heart. Carson focuses on themes of trauma and learning to live in one’s body, even when someone you love discards it. 

For Ala-Ketola, the work in “Dreams & Delusions” represents healing. In the piece Geryon we see a body—made of papier-mâché from pages of a book, modeling clay, and silicone—being separated in the center of the gallery. Black jeans cover some of the bottom half, with a demon-like phallus straight from Dante’s Inferno, and knobby demented feet sticking out of the bottom. The top half of the body, less than a foot away, has red-stained bones that connect to a head with two horns. Eyelashes and handsome features resemble a human, a look of awe appears on the sculpture’s silicone face. Ala-Ketola reminds the viewer that while being pulled apart, while overcoming violence or pain, a person can also get better. 

“I see healing as something that isn’t always a straightforward, positive, and nice process,” said Ala-Ketola. “We need to break something to put ourselves back together whether it’s a synaptic connection in our brain to change the way we think or something in our appearance. I hope that in the sculpture’s world or inner logic the stillness makes it possible for the body to be both pulled apart as well as put back together.” If you’re going through hell, you have to—quite literally—keep on going. 

It’s not easy to walk away from Ala-Ketola’s works. A set of wings without the feathers hangs on the gallery’s rear wall in a piece titled, Geryon’s wings. A bulbous hand hangs from the spine of the wings with a cross-like chain necklace dangling from a finger. In literature, Geryon is described as having three bodies or three heads and is often depicted as having humanoid features, such as wings. And he is known for his red-colored cattle. In the exhibition, the works represent various parts of Geryon: his wings, his separated body, images on the walls, and Orthrus, a serpent-tailed dog that guarded Geryon’s cattle. In the piece Grasp, the head of a dog-like creature rests on a pedestal—it confronts you as you walk into the gallery. 

A set of wings without the feathers hangs on the gallery’s rear wall in a piece titled Geryon’s wings. Credit: Courtesy Kristoffer Ala-Ketola

Surrounding the sculptures are 2D works on the wall, pigment on paper, and a large print mounted on drywall—red-hued and veiny. It’s titled Erytheia, after the island where Geryon lives with his cattle. 

The work is like dreaming. They are deluded scenes in the corners of your mind. I’m reminded of Titane, a 2021 body horror film that represents queerness and the violence of the binary. For Ala-Ketola, movies like Crash, Videodrome, and A History of Violence have been influential to him, but The Fly has been the most significant for the exhibition. 

“I am interested in body horror, [the] grotesque, and I wanted to engage with these themes deeper with this show. I am drawn to semiotic opposition in order to create something new. I’m excited when a thing can be described as angry and calm, or funny and melancholic,” he said.

In Carson’s novel, she writes, “I will never know how you see red and you will never know how I see it,” which is a similar signal here in Ala-Ketola’s work. Something that may look vile and terrifying to one viewer may bring comfort and calmness to another. When the sculpture looks like it’s in pain, it’s actually healing. Geryon’s character quite literally chokes at the pain he feels. We will never know Geryon’s pain and he will never know ours. Carson’s queer romance represents the pain of being hurt by a loved one, and Ala-Ketola’s work displays the shambles of what remains. A visual representation of queer bodies and the absolute ache of recovery—from love, societal rejection, or body dysmorphia—are aligned here in Ala-Ketola’s retelling of Geryon.  

The works are fantastical as they resemble monstrous characters that weave in and out of reality, in and out of the dimension of Carson’s text, Greek mythology, and the artist’s own interpretation. 

“Dreams & Delusions” was on display at 4th Ward Project Space until May 29. More information is available at the gallery’s Instagram page and kristofferalaketola.com.

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The Chicago Blackhawks haven’t had a good goalie plan ever since they lost Corey Crawford. There have been some decent young goalies in there but none of them are the goalie of the future. They also had Marc-Andre Fleury for a little bit but they traded him at the deadline.

It would have been nice to see Fleury play for this team and take them to the playoffs but they weren’t good enough in front of him. Now, they have to look for someone to be the long-term solution. There might be one prospect in their system that can become a star.

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