diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4906a5f1..c84c65d3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ Checklist
 - [x] Fix images referenced in the JS
 - [x] Figure out how authentication of requests from the frontend to the API works
 - [x] Figure out how to combine the nodejs realtime server into server.js
+- [ ] Notifications: make sure loading states are working for popup and page
+- [ ] Notifications: make sure notifications either look nice, or redirect
+- [ ] Notifications: pagination
 - [ ] Get actioncable working
 - [ ] Request unreadNotificationCount
 - [ ] Request invite code
@@ -34,8 +37,8 @@ Checklist
 - [ ] Fix Request An Invite page
 - [ ] Make 'new map' action work
 - [ ] Modify the remaining rails templates into JSX templates
-  - [ ] notifications list
-  - [ ] notification page
+  - [x] notifications list
+  - [x] notification page
   - [ ] list metacodes
   - [ ] new metacode
   - [ ] edit metacode
diff --git a/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/Notifications.js b/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/Notifications.js
index 29908695..b907d00c 100644
--- a/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/Notifications.js
+++ b/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/Notifications.js
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 /* global $ */
+import { findIndex } from 'lodash'
 import GlobalUI from './index'
 
 const Notifications = {
-  notifications: null,
+  notifications: [],
   unreadNotificationsCount: 0,
   init: serverData => {
     Notifications.unreadNotificationsCount = serverData.unreadNotificationsCount
   },
-  fetch: render => {
+  fetchNotifications: render => {
     $.ajax({
       url: '/notifications.json',
       success: function(data) {
@@ -16,6 +17,25 @@ const Notifications = {
       }
     })
   },
+  fetchNotification: (render, id) => {
+    $.ajax({
+      url: `/notifications/${id}.json`,
+      success: function(data) {
+        const index = findIndex(Notifications.notifications, n => n.id === data.id)
+        if (index === -1) {
+          // notification not loaded yet, insert it at the start
+          Notifications.notifications.unshift(data)
+        } else {
+          // notification there, replace it
+          Notifications.notifications[index] = data
+        }
+        render()
+      },
+      error: function() {
+        GlobalUI.notifyUser('There was an error fetching that notification')
+      }
+    })
+  },
   incrementUnread: (render) => {
     Notifications.unreadNotificationsCount++
     render()
@@ -54,7 +74,7 @@ const Notifications = {
         }
       },
       error: function() {
-        GlobalUI.notifyUser('There was an error marking that notification as read')
+        GlobalUI.notifyUser('There was an error marking that notification as unread')
       }
     })
   }
diff --git a/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/ReactApp.js b/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/ReactApp.js
index 1b3d858f..b3dc3697 100644
--- a/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/ReactApp.js
+++ b/src/Metamaps/GlobalUI/ReactApp.js
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ const ReactApp = {
       openInviteLightbox: () => self.openLightbox('invite'),
       serverData: self.serverData,
       notifications: Notifications.notifications,
-      fetchNotifications: apply(Notifications.fetch, ReactApp.render),
+      fetchNotifications: apply(Notifications.fetchNotifications, ReactApp.render),
+      fetchNotification: apply(Notifications.fetchNotification, ReactApp.render),
       markAsRead: apply(Notifications.markAsRead, ReactApp.render),
       markAsUnread: apply(Notifications.markAsUnread, ReactApp.render)
     },
diff --git a/src/components/Notification.js b/src/components/Notification.js
index 22237aaa..a41bd307 100644
--- a/src/components/Notification.js
+++ b/src/components/Notification.js
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import React, { Component } from 'react'
 import PropTypes from 'prop-types'
-import outdent from 'outdent'
+import { Link } from 'react-router'
+
+import NotificationDate from './NotificationDate'
+import NotificationBody from './NotificationBody'
 
 class Notification extends Component {
   static propTypes = {
@@ -26,62 +29,6 @@ class Notification extends Component {
     })
   }
 
-  notificationTextHtml = () => {
-    const { notification } = this.props
-    let map, topic, topic1, topic2
-    let result = `<div class='in-bold'>${notification.actor.name}</div>`
-
-    switch (notification.type) {
-      case 'ACCESS_APPROVED':
-        map = notification.data.map
-        result += outdent`granted your request to edit map
-                 <span class='in-bold'>${map.name}</span>`
-        break
-      case 'ACCESS_REQUEST':
-        map = notification.data.map
-        result += outdent`wants permission to map with you on
-                 <span class='in-bold'>${map.name}</span>`
-        if (!notification.data.object.answered) {
-          result += '<br /><div class="action">Offer a response</div>'
-        }
-        break
-      case 'INVITE_TO_EDIT':
-        map = notification.data.map
-        result += outdent`gave you edit access to map
-                 <span class='in-bold'>${map.name}</span>`
-        break
-      case 'TOPIC_ADDED_TO_MAP':
-        map = notification.data.map
-        topic = notification.data.topic
-        result += outdent`added topic <span class='in-bold'>${topic.name}</span>
-                 to map <span class='in-bold'>${map.name}</span>`
-        break
-      case 'TOPIC_CONNECTED_1':
-        topic1 = notification.data.topic1
-        topic2 = notification.data.topic2
-        result += outdent`connected <span class='in-bold'>${topic1.name}</span>
-                 to <span class='in-bold'>${topic2.name}</span>`
-        break
-      case 'TOPIC_CONNECTED_2':
-        topic1 = notification.data.topic1
-        topic2 = notification.data.topic2
-        result += outdent`connected <span class='in-bold'>${topic2.name}</span>
-                 to <span class='in-bold'>${topic1.name}</span>`
-        break
-      case 'MESSAGE_FROM_DEVS':
-        result += notification.subject
-    }
-    return {__html: result}
-  }
-
-  getDate = () => {
-    const { notification: {created_at} } = this.props
-    const months = ['Jan', 'Feb', 'Mar', 'Apr', 'May', 'Jun',
-      'Jul', 'Aug', 'Sep', 'Oct', 'Nov', 'Dec']
-    const created = new Date(created_at)
-    return `${months[created.getMonth()]} ${created.getDate()}`
-  }
-
   markAsRead = () => {
     const { notification, markAsRead } = this.props
     markAsRead(notification.id)
@@ -95,19 +42,19 @@ class Notification extends Component {
   render = () => {
     const { notification } = this.props
     const classes = `notification ${notification.is_read ? 'read' : 'unread'}`
+    const onClick = this.props.onClick || function() {}
 
     if (!notification.data.object) {
       return null
     }
 
     return <li className={classes}>
-      <a href={`/notifications/${notification.id}`}>
+      <Link to={`/notifications/${notification.id}`} onClick={onClick}>
         <div className='notification-actor'>
           <img src={notification.actor.image} />
         </div>
-        <div className='notification-body'
-             dangerouslySetInnerHTML={this.notificationTextHtml()} />
-      </a>
+        <NotificationBody notification={notification} />
+      </Link>
       <div className='notification-read-unread'>
         {!notification.is_read && <div onClick={this.markAsRead}>
           mark read
@@ -117,7 +64,7 @@ class Notification extends Component {
         </div>}
       </div>
       <div className='notification-date'>
-        {this.getDate()}
+        <NotificationDate date={notification.created_at} />
       </div>
       <div className='clearfloat'></div>
     </li>
diff --git a/src/components/NotificationBody.js b/src/components/NotificationBody.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0fb17735
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/NotificationBody.js
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import React, { Component } from 'react'
+import outdent from 'outdent'
+
+import {
+  MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST,
+  MAP_ACCESS_APPROVED,
+  MAP_INVITE_TO_EDIT,
+  TOPIC_ADDED_TO_MAP,
+  TOPIC_CONNECTED_1,
+  TOPIC_CONNECTED_2,
+  MESSAGE_FROM_DEVS
+} from '../constants'
+
+class NotificationBody extends Component {
+  notificationTextHtml = () => {
+    const { notification } = this.props
+    let map, topic, topic1, topic2
+    let result =  `<div class='in-bold'>${notification.actor.name}</div>`
+
+    switch (notification.type) {
+      case MAP_ACCESS_APPROVED:
+        map = notification.data.map
+        result += outdent`granted your request to edit map
+                 <span class='in-bold'>${map.name}</span>`
+        break
+      case MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST:
+        map = notification.data.map
+        result += outdent`wants permission to map with you on
+                 <span class='in-bold'>${map.name}</span>`
+        if (!notification.data.object.answered) {
+          result += '<br /><div class="action">Offer a response</div>'
+        }
+        break
+      case MAP_INVITE_TO_EDIT:
+        map = notification.data.map
+        result += outdent`gave you edit access to map
+                 <span class='in-bold'>${map.name}</span>`
+        break
+      case TOPIC_ADDED_TO_MAP:
+        map = notification.data.map
+        topic = notification.data.topic
+        result += outdent`added topic <span class='in-bold'>${topic.name}</span>
+                 to map <span class='in-bold'>${map.name}</span>`
+        break
+      case TOPIC_CONNECTED_1:
+        topic1 = notification.data.topic1
+        topic2 = notification.data.topic2
+        result += outdent`connected <span class='in-bold'>${topic1.name}</span>
+                 to <span class='in-bold'>${topic2.name}</span>`
+        break
+      case TOPIC_CONNECTED_2:
+        topic1 = notification.data.topic1
+        topic2 = notification.data.topic2
+        result += outdent`connected <span class='in-bold'>${topic2.name}</span>
+                 to <span class='in-bold'>${topic1.name}</span>`
+        break
+      case MESSAGE_FROM_DEVS:
+        result += notification.subject
+    }
+    return {__html: result}
+  }
+
+  render = () => {
+    return (
+      <div className='notification-body' dangerouslySetInnerHTML={this.notificationTextHtml()} />
+    )
+  }
+}
+
+export default NotificationBody
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/components/NotificationBox.js b/src/components/NotificationBox.js
index 0c144b4e..b2315cee 100644
--- a/src/components/NotificationBox.js
+++ b/src/components/NotificationBox.js
@@ -16,10 +16,7 @@ class NotificationBox extends Component {
   }
 
   componentDidMount = () => {
-    const { notifications, fetchNotifications } = this.props
-    if (!notifications) {
-      fetchNotifications()
-    }
+    this.props.fetchNotifications()
   }
 
   handleClickOutside = () => {
@@ -28,7 +25,7 @@ class NotificationBox extends Component {
 
   hasSomeNotifications = () => {
     const { notifications } = this.props
-    return notifications && notifications.length > 0
+    return notifications.length > 0
   }
 
   showLoading = () => {
@@ -51,10 +48,11 @@ class NotificationBox extends Component {
       n => <Notification notification={n}
         markAsRead={markAsRead}
         markAsUnread={markAsUnread}
-        key={`notification-${n.id}`} />
+        key={`notification-${n.id}`}
+        onClick={() => this.props.toggleNotificationsBox()} />
     ).concat([
       <li key='notification-see-all'>
-        <Link to='/notifications' className='notificationsBoxSeeAll'>
+        <Link to='/notifications' className='notificationsBoxSeeAll' onClick={() => this.props.toggleNotificationsBox()}>
           See all
         </Link>
       </li>
diff --git a/src/components/NotificationDate.js b/src/components/NotificationDate.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b84adf7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/NotificationDate.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import React, { Component } from 'react'
+
+class NotificationDate extends Component {
+  render = () => {
+    const { date } = this.props
+    const months = ['Jan', 'Feb', 'Mar', 'Apr', 'May', 'Jun',
+      'Jul', 'Aug', 'Sep', 'Oct', 'Nov', 'Dec']
+    const created = new Date(date)
+    return <span>{months[created.getMonth()]} {created.getDate()}</span>
+  } 
+}
+
+export default NotificationDate
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/constants.js b/src/constants.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ead8b055
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/constants.js
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+export const MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST  = 'ACCESS_REQUEST'
+export const MAP_ACCESS_APPROVED = 'ACCESS_APPROVED'
+export const MAP_INVITE_TO_EDIT  = 'INVITE_TO_EDIT'
+export const TOPIC_ADDED_TO_MAP  = 'TOPIC_ADDED_TO_MAP'
+export const TOPIC_CONNECTED_1   = 'TOPIC_CONNECTED_1'
+export const TOPIC_CONNECTED_2   = 'TOPIC_CONNECTED_2'
+export const MESSAGE_FROM_DEVS   = 'MESSAGE_FROM_DEVS'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/routes/Notifications/NotificationPage.js b/src/routes/Notifications/NotificationPage.js
index f55aed3f..d35c6417 100644
--- a/src/routes/Notifications/NotificationPage.js
+++ b/src/routes/Notifications/NotificationPage.js
@@ -1,13 +1,89 @@
 import React, { Component } from 'react'
 import { Link } from 'react-router'
 
+import { MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST } from '../../constants'
 import NotificationsHeader from './NotificationsHeader'
+import Loading from '../../components/Loading'
+import NotificationBody from '../../components/NotificationBody'
+
+/* TODO:
+  allow / decline access loading states
+  make backend serve HTML for raw body too
+*/
 
 class NotificationPage extends Component {
+  componentDidMount() {
+    // the notification id
+    const id  = parseInt(this.props.params.id, 10)
+    if (!this.props.notifications.find(n => n.id === id)) {
+      this.props.fetchNotification(id)
+    }
+  }
   render = () => {
-    return <NotificationsHeader />
+    const id  = parseInt(this.props.params.id, 10)
+    const notification = this.props.notifications.find(n => n.id === id)
+    if (!notification) {
+      return (
+        <div>
+          <div id="yield">
+            <div className="centerContent withPadding back">
+              <Loading />
+            </div>
+          </div>
+          <NotificationsHeader />
+        </div>
+      )
+    }
+    const request = notification.data.object
+    const map = notification.data.map
+    const subject = notification.type === MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST ?
+      (<span><span style={{ fontWeight: 'bold' }} className='requesterName'>{request.user.name}</span> wants to collaborate on map <span style={{fontWeight: 'bold'}}>{ map.name }</span></span>)
+      : notification.subject
+    return (
+      <div>
+        <div id="yield">
+          <div className="centerContent withPadding back">
+            <Link to="/notifications">Back to notifications</Link>
+          </div>
+          <div className="centerContent notificationPage">
+            <h2 className="notification-title">
+              <img width="32" height="32" src={notification.actor.image} className='thirty-two-avatar' />
+              {subject}
+            </h2>
+            {notification.type === MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST && <div className="notification-body">
+              <p className="main-text">
+                {request.answered && <span>
+                  {request.approved && <span>You already responded to this access request, and allowed access.</span>}
+                  {!request.approved && <span>You already responded to this access request, and declined access. If you changed your mind, you can still grant
+                    them access by going to the map and adding them as a collaborator.</span>}
+                </span>}
+                {!request.answered && <span>
+                  <img src='/images/ellipsis.gif' className='hidden' />
+                  <a className="button allow" data-remote="true" rel="nofollow" data-method="post" href={`/maps/${map.id}/approve_access/${request.id}`}>Allow</a>
+                  <a className="button decline" data-remote="true" rel="nofollow" data-method="post" href={`/maps/${map.id}/deny_access/${request.id}`}>Decline</a>
+                </span>}
+              </p>
+              <Link to={`/maps/${map.id}`}>Go to map</Link>
+              &nbsp;&nbsp;
+              <Link to={`/explore/mapper/${request.user.id}`}>View mapper profile</Link>
+            </div>}
+            {notification.type !== MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST && <NotificationBody notification={notification} />}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+        <NotificationsHeader />
+      </div>
+    )
   }
 }
 
+export default NotificationPage
 
-export default NotificationPage
\ No newline at end of file
+/*
+<script>
+               $(document).ready(function() {
+                 $('.notification-body .button').click(function() {
+                   $(this).html('<img src="{ asset_path('ellipsis.gif') }" />')
+                 })
+               })
+             </script>
+             */
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/routes/Notifications/Notifications.js b/src/routes/Notifications/Notifications.js
index 828de54a..4a8f71e0 100644
--- a/src/routes/Notifications/Notifications.js
+++ b/src/routes/Notifications/Notifications.js
@@ -1,78 +1,31 @@
 import React, { Component } from 'react'
 import { Link } from 'react-router'
 
+import Notification from '../../components/Notification'
+
+import {
+  MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST,
+  MAP_ACCESS_APPROVED,
+  MAP_INVITE_TO_EDIT
+} from '../../constants'
 import NotificationsHeader from './NotificationsHeader'
 
 // these come from mailboxer.rb in the api repo
-const BLACKLIST = ['ACCESS_REQUEST', 'ACCESS_APPROVED', 'INVITE_TO_EDIT']
+const BLACKLIST = [MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST, MAP_ACCESS_APPROVED, MAP_INVITE_TO_EDIT]
 
 /* TODO!!
   pagination
-  mark read/unread
-  receipts
-  fetchNotifications
 */
 
-function getNotificationText (notification) {
-  let map, topic, topic1, topic2
-  switch (notification.type) {
-    case 'ACCESS_APPROVED':
-      map = notification.data.map
-      return (
-        <span>granted your request to edit map <span className="in-bold">{map.name}</span></span>
-      )
-    case 'ACCESS_REQUEST':
-      map = notification.data.map
-      return (
-        <span>
-          wants permission to map with you on <span className="in-bold">{map.name}</span>
-          {!notification.data.object.answered && <span>&nbsp;&nbsp;<div className="action">Offer a response</div></span>}
-        </span>
-      )
-    case 'INVITE_TO_EDIT':
-      map = notification.data.map
-      return (
-        <span>
-          gave you edit access to map  <span className="in-bold">{map.name}</span>
-        </span>
-      )
-    case 'TOPIC_ADDED_TO_MAP':
-      topic = notification.data.topic
-      map = notification.data.map
-      return (
-        <span>
-          added topic <span className="in-bold">{topic.name}</span> to map <span className="in-bold">{map.name}</span>
-        </span>
-      )
-    case 'TOPIC_CONNECTED_1':
-      topic1 = notification.data.topic1
-      topic2 = notification.data.topic2
-      return (
-        <span>
-          connected <span className="in-bold">{topic1.name}</span> to <span className="in-bold">{topic2.name}</span>
-        </span>
-      )
-    case 'TOPIC_CONNECTED_2':
-      topic1 = notification.data.topic1
-      topic2 = notification.data.topic2
-      return (
-        <span>
-          connected <span className="in-bold">{topic2.name}</span> to <span className="in-bold">{topic1.name}</span>
-        </span>
-      )
-    case 'MESSAGE_FROM_DEVS':
-      return (
-        <span>
-          {notification.subject}
-        </span>
-      )
-    default:
-      return null
-  }
-}
+
 
 class Notifications extends Component {
+  componentDidMount = () => {
+    this.props.fetchNotifications()
+  }
+
   render = () => {
+    const { markAsRead, markAsUnread } = this.props
     const notifications = (this.props.notifications || []).filter(n => !(BLACKLIST.indexOf(n.type) > -1 && (!n.data.object || !n.data.map)))
     return (
       <div>
@@ -83,11 +36,12 @@ class Notifications extends Component {
             </header>
             <ul className="notifications">
               {notifications.map(n => {
-                // TODO: const receipt = this.props.receipts.find(n => n.notification_id === notification.id)
-                const receipt = {
-                  is_read: false
-                }
-                return <Notification key={n.id} notification={n} receipt={receipt} />
+                return (
+                  <Notification key={`notification-${n.id}`}
+                    notification={n}
+                    markAsRead={markAsRead}
+                    markAsUnread={markAsUnread} />
+                )
               })}
               {notifications.length === 0 && <div className="emptyInbox">
                     You have no notifications. More time for dancing.
@@ -110,30 +64,4 @@ class Paginate extends Component {
   }
 }
 
-class Notification extends Component {
-  render = () => {
-    const { notification, receipt } = this.props
-    return (
-      <li className={`notification ${receipt.is_read ? 'read' : 'unread' }`} id={`notification-${ notification.id }`}>
-        <Link to={`/notifications/${notification.id}`}>
-          <div className="notification-actor">
-            <img src={notification.actor.image} />
-          </div>
-          <div className="notification-body">
-            <div className="in-bold">{notification.actor.name}</div>
-            {getNotificationText(notification)}
-          </div>
-        </Link>
-        <div className="notification-read-unread">
-          <a data-remote="true" rel="nofollow" data-method="put" href={`/notifications/${notification.id}/mark_${receipt.is_read ? 'un' : ''}read`}>mark as {receipt.is_read ? 'un' : ''}read</a>
-        </div>
-        <div className="notification-date">
-          {notification.created_at}
-        </div>
-        <div className="clearfloat"></div>
-      </li>
-    )
-  }
-}
-
 export default Notifications
diff --git a/views/notifications/show.js b/views/notifications/show.js
deleted file mode 100644
index d825d9a6..00000000
--- a/views/notifications/show.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,59 +0,0 @@
-import React, { Component } from react
-
-class MyComponent extends Component {
-  render = () => {
-    return (
-<div id="yield">
-  <div className="centerContent withPadding back">
-    { link_to 'Back to notifications', notifications_path }
-  </div>
-  <div className="centerContent notificationPage">
-    <h2 className="notification-title">
-      { case @notification.notification_code
-           when MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST
-             request = @notification.notified_object
-             map = request.map }
-         { image_tag @notification.sender.image(:thirtytwo), className: 'thirty-two-avatar' } <span style='font-weight:bold;' className='requesterName'>{ request.user.name }</span> wants to collaborate on map <span style='font-weight:bold;'>{ map.name }</span>
-       { else }
-         { @notification.subject }
-       { end }
-    </h2>
-    { case @notification.notification_code
-         when MAP_ACCESS_REQUEST }
-       <div className="notification-body">
-         <p className="main-text">
-           { if false && request.answered }
-             { if request.approved }
-               You already responded to this access request, and allowed access.
-             { elsif !request.approved }
-               You already responded to this access request, and declined access. If you changed your mind, you can still grant
-               them access by going to the map and adding them as a collaborator.
-             { end }
-           { else }
-             { image_tag asset_path('ellipsis.gif'), className: 'hidden' }
-             { link_to 'Allow', approve_access_post_map_path(id: map.id, request_id: request.id), remote: true, method: :post, className: 'button allow' }
-             { link_to 'Decline', deny_access_post_map_path(id: map.id, request_id: request.id), remote: true, method: :post, className: 'button decline' }
-             <script>
-               $(document).ready(function() {
-                 $('.notification-body .button').click(function() {
-                   $(this).html('<img src="{ asset_path('ellipsis.gif') }" />')
-                 })
-               })
-             </script>
-           { end }
-         </p>
-         { link_to 'Go to map', map_url(map) }
-         &nbsp;&nbsp;{ link_to 'View mapper profile', explore_path(id: request.user.id) }
-       </div>
-     { else }
-       <div className="notification-body">
-         { raw @notification.body }
-       </div>
-     { end }
-  </div>
-</div>
-    )
-  }
-}
-
-export default MyComponent