The Remains of the Cupcake

31 October 2008
I took the day off work as it was my birthday. I feel a moral obligation to convince society that the only true holiday one deserves to have off is one’s own birthday. The rest of the holidays are manufactured and exist inside constraints of some sort. Your birthday, however, is truly your day and you deserve to spend it the way you want. I wanted to spend it NOT working; so I didn’t. Marita Beth & I slept in, then I ran a couple of errands while she finished some work. When done, we went to Early Vote (if you didn’t early vote and you live here in the U.S., I sure hope you will be voting on the 4th), then started the trip to TRF. The dogs went to the kennel and we headed South. Since we would be there so much earlier than typical, we arranged a birthday dinner at Rancho Grande, a decent Tex-Mex restaurant in Magnolia. MB and I were first where we met up with Sherrie, Susabella & Jo. Kelly joined us soon after and was quickly followed by George and Delaenya. Donny & Mary got there a little later bearing treats. I found, earlier in the year, a recipe for Guinness cupcakes. The recipe sounded too good to pass on and under Mary’s careful tutelage has indeed turned out to be a fantastic find. They are precious little Chocolaty, Guinnessy, yummy treats.
This one died in my belly.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 3 November 2008 )

Listening to:
Purple Haze by Brother
from Your Backyard

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire
Software: picnik.com

Halloween Weekend: Part 2 - Renfest

Saturday night after Bryan and Traci left, Corey, Cody and I packed up and headed over to Houston to Ryans place. We left around 6pm but the pics I took of the buildings at night came out horrible, digital cameras fail at night. I took this one the next morning:

We had never visited Ryan at his place in Houston so we took the opportunity to visit before the four of us left for Renfest. It also saved us the trouble of a hotel the night before, or driving all the way there in the morning. We were worried about getting there too late in the morning and having to deal with traffic and parking but they had more traffic control out this year as well as bigger signs to the location. The previous years it was a matter of knowing where the place was if you wanted to find it.

Cody and Corey dressed up, Ryan and I were the bums and didn’t. I like Renfest because you don’t feel so out of place not dressing up. I remember Scarborough Faire being a little snarky about not dressing up. The guys had gotten breakfast burritos before we left and wanting to steer clear of digestive distress I opted to wait to eat till we got to the Faire so the first thing we did was go and grab some Gyros and Mead from the Greek pavilion. (yeah i know mead and gyros but they are soo good together!) Here was my food:

Corey getting some mead: The cheapest place to get Redstone Mead if you dont have a Grapevine Market near your house.

While we were eating the Gypsies started playing and dancing over in the theater in the Greek section:

I love going to Renfest to see all the cool costumes everyone wears.

And for the first time I saw EVERY Renaissance being represented! See Grete below:

And of course the best part of the Faire is the fake jousting! Its like the rodeo for nerds:

My favorite thing about it is shopping, however the incense place we went to last year wasn’t there this year. They added some other cool artisan booths. The blacksmith was doing demos when we were there this time as well as the glass blower. There were a lot of new booths and vendors though, which was good because you see a lot of the same folks selling the same stuff you got last year. For instance we bypassed the leather cup store and the pirates sword shop because it was the same stuff we already had. This year was mostly about the mead and food. Both worth the trip.

To Err is Human; To Arrrr is Pirate!

19 October 2008

Another really beautiful day at the Texas Renaissance Festival.  I cannot figure out why the crowds this weekend weren’t much bigger.  It was perfect weather for being outdoors.  But, sales were fairly average, so again—I feel I cannot complain. 

At one point, late on Sunday afternoon, I looked out into the lane in front of our shoppe and saw a gaggle of young boys all dressed in almost identical pirate costumes.  I was so impressed that so many boys had cared enough to dress up!  So often today’s kids, especially boys, get all bent out of shape when someone suggests they might do something out of the ordinary, or different from what other kids do.  Of course, by the very nature of the group of them doing the same thing, I suppose there might have been some of that going on, anyway!  But, I was taken by it, and I grabbed my camera and ran into the lane to try to capture the sight.  The obviously saintly women herding these kids, had their work cut out for them, and it just wasn’t possible to get them all in a candid photo.  So, I complimented them on their outfits, found out they were all cousins (!) and asked if I could take their picture.  All but one were more than willing, and the group gathered, while the one front and center whined, “Why do we always have to have our picture taken?”

I told him it was because they all looked so great, and I thanked them for going to the effort to participate in the spirit of the faire.  The ladies seemed grateful for the praise, and the boys were off down the lane.  But, I got my photo, and although I don’t know anything else about who they are, I am charmed by it.

I love the youthful energy it captures.  I love the feeling of fun and adventure.  I am delighted anytime any patron has taken the time to play along and dress up to come to faire.  No matter how many “packaged” pirates . . .  no matter how many poorly-made Simplicity patterns . . . no matter how many “Witharrrrrds” in bathrobes and fake beards . . . I am happy to see them.  That a patron takes the time, energy, money, and imagination to buy or make or borrow whatever his or her idea of a costume is, and then wear it, is a gift to those of us who need the faires to be successful.  Without the people who have that sense of fun and participation, I wouldn’t have a job. 

Thank you, pirate clan!

~MB

Makers and Wakers and Fat Tires, oh my!

So it’s a big weekend, like you didn’t know (um, hello Texas vs. Missouri). But in case you missed the, well, boat on three majorly huge weekend-long events, here’s a rundown:

Maker Faire - Saturday & Sunday

So the Maker Faire expo thingy is a big crafty, makery, nerdy, trendy, roboty shindig. At the Travis County Expo Center, it’s a Maker’s delight. I don’t think they serve Maker’s though. They should. In any case, I hear it’s crazy-cool, so check it out this weekend if you can.

Tour de Fat - Sunday

Fat Tire + Bikes = Tour de Fat, no? New Belgium Brewing’s traveling celebration of the bike is pedaling into Fiesta Gardens for the final stop of 2008. The festival spreads the good word about the myriad benefits of cycling and celebrates mankind’s greatest invention - the bike. Wait, I thought this was about beer? Isn’t it put on by a brewery? Anyway, bring your bike and costume.

Waketoberfest - Friday, Saturday, Sunday

It’s not too chilly yet! Waketoberfest has perfect weather in Austin, and features demos from some of the best around the state. It runs Friday through Sunday at Pace Bend, and plenty of revelers and boarders just camp for the whole weekend!

Oh, and a bonus:

Texas Wine & Song Festival - Sunday

Despite the fact that I don’t particularly care for any of the acts playing this thing, it IS cool that it’s at the “Copper Tank Events Center,” aka the corner of 5th and Trinity that used to house the bar/brewery Copper Tank. The Second Annual Texas Wine & Song Festival is from 3–10pm.

Queen Anne’s Lace at TRF

12 October 2008

A lovely day at the Renaissance Festival, made lovelier by this group of beautiful women!  Queen Anne’s Lace is an energetic, talented group of ladies who sing like angels.  Whether they’re performing baudy songs at a renfaire, sacred songs at a funeral, love songs at a wedding . . . it doesn’t matter—-it’s all fabulous!  We are a bit biased, of course, as these girls are very dear friends.  But, one good listen, and there’s no denying we’re right!  I snapped this photo during an 11 a.m. show, just outside our booth (where the stage used to be), while the girls were performing my request:  “The House is Haunted!” 

Sunday of opening weekend was, of course, not as busy as Saturday.  Kyle and I were both feeling better, and we even got to take a quick walk in the early part of the morning.  We visited Kelly, at the secondary Excalibur shoppe, and we paid a visit to the new Merchant Prince Wine Bar—a lovely addition to the faire.

We had one really special experience, today—a couple who had travelled all the way from Germany to buy from us at Pendragon Costumes!  They had planned their holiday to coincide with TRF’s opening, and came into our booth, with literally dozens of pages they had printed from Nicole’s website!  I worked with them for nearly three hours, trying on garments, and dealing with a bit of a language barrier.  But, we had so much fun!  We have always been proud to be a part of Nicole’s business, but days like this really drive that home.

We ended our Sunday with a trip to the Copper Rose—one of three restaurants in “Toon Town,” the rennie community adjacent to the TRF faire site.  We each ordered something different, from burgers to meatball sandwiches to pork loin, and none of us were disappointed.  It was a good wind-down from the weekend, and it didn’t take too long.  I was back at my paperwork by about 11 p.m. and in bed by about one!

Thankfully, the drive home will happen on Monday.

~MB

Maker Faire Austin is this weekend

Maker Faire Austin is happening this weekend, October 18 & 19, 2008 at the Travis County Expo Center in Austin, TX. Maker Faire is a showcase of all things DIY. You’ll see robots, sculptures, live performances, and other wonders including many of the projects we cover here every day. We enjoyed our time in San Mateo earlier this year and the show keeps getting better and better. You can see photos from previous events on Flickr. If you’ve got a chance to go, take it.

The Ren Faire

Just returned from the Ren Faire. It was a good day.
About three weeks ago, we attended the Media Olympics. It was for the Make a Wish Foundation. Our team won. Our costumes were horrid. I had an old pair of black dress pants and an oversized white costume shirt from four years ago. I had bought a pair of brown imitation leather boots in the women’s shoe section at Walmart the night before. I also had a black bandana with a rose design. I was supposed to be a pirate. I don’t think I was very convincing.
She had a black velvet dress. It was very hot that day, and our costumes didn’t agree with the heat. After the games, we upgraded our wardrobe. I got a tan and red checkered kilt with a very nice red long sleeve shirt, and also some very comfortable leather sandals. She got a stylish green dress with a worn colored white under garment. We looked good, very good.
Today we upgraded some more. I got a deal on a handmade red-dyed leather belt for the kilt, and she got a leather piece to hold her dress in place. I have yet to get the proper boots for the kilt outfit. It’s a $300.00 investment. I still wore the black bandana.
Sexy.

It’s about the moment, not necessarily a masterpiece

I loved the dynamic between these two brothers at ren faire.  They were just absolutely precious!

again, as I said earlier it’s not about the 100% masterful art photograph because these are pretty much anything but.  mostly I went for capturing a split second moment and mood.

My darling Moxie, who has currently gone out for adoption <3 Bless the family who gets this special little girl.  She’s truly a treasure!

Everywhere you go in NYC it seems to move, to breathe, to have a life all its own.

Fascinating little moments from day to day life.  The world around me is a beautiful place.

It’s about the moment, not necessarily a masterpiece

I loved the dynamic between these two brothers at ren faire.  They were just absolutely precious!

again, as I said earlier it’s not about the 100% masterful art photograph because these are pretty much anything but.  mostly I went for capturing a split second moment and mood.

My darling Moxie, who has currently gone out for adoption <3 Bless the family who gets this special little girl.  She’s truly a treasure!

Everywhere you go in NYC it seems to move, to breathe, to have a life all its own.

Fascinating little moments from day to day life.  The world around me is a beautiful place.

Fear and Loathing in Salem Ma or How Many Captain Jack Sparrows Can One Legally Have At The Faire?

I could sit here and complain about how bad my weekend was, really I could but I won’t. I mean who wants to hear about me getting into a car accident in my rental car 40 minutes after landing in RI. Or how about the family drama between my Mom and sister causing me not to be able to get a family photo of us with the new nephew. No one wants to hear about that right? Didn’t think so.

I did get to see pirates this weekend and well that pretty much made up for all the shit. I just wish I could have gone with my friend instead of my Mom who woke me that morning telling me she was going to end it all.

I did have a great time photographing all the pirates in their costumes, even the Jack Sparrows… because there were oh so many of them. I also got a little sunburn on the new tattoo because it was irritated and I had unbuttoned all of the shirt, you’re welcome you pervy bastards.

So here are some of my favorite shots, you can view all of them at my flickr account.

If I was in a better mood I’d have asked the Jacks to have a Jack off contest but my heart wasn’t into joking around. Maybe at PyrateCon.

A note about the photopgraphs… please don’t just take them, if they are of you and you want it just let me know and please give proper credit. I swear, I’m super nice, I won’t be a dick about it.

All photos taken at the Salem Pirate Faire on Winter Island MA

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