On the weekend before Halloween 'twas most exciting to watch the PA Renaissance Faire segment "Medieval Magic" which was featured on Good Morning America Weekend.  Not only was it an excellent compressed version of the fun at faire, to my surprise it contain a few close-up moments of my dark-armoured and handsome self watching the joust. 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeEUr12ax6w&feat...

Methinks the cameras always fall for a man in uniform!

It has been a while since I've blogged in this most busy year.  I've seen the wondrous sights at Sterling Faire, NYRF, MDRF, and of course PARF, my home shire numerous times the last few months.  'Twas most gratifying to see my friends at various places.  

Most recently this Oct 11th PARF weekend while entertaining the lovely Ladies Jax and Babette,

I ran into my good friend Blackwolf the Bard

at the Swashbuckler pub.  Besides visiting the shire with his lovely Lady Anita and friends Samhein and Lady Sandra, he was celebrating the release of his new CD Blood Red, a diverse collection of his medieval chanteys chronicling the glory, gore, love and lust of medieval Highlandia, a place which remindes me of Celtic Green.  I can say without question this collection contains the most gory and bawdy songs to entertain you either on the way to the faire or for the days leading up to Octobers end.  To share in these bard songs and stories go to:

www.cdbaby.com/cd/blackwolfthebard

and pick up your copy.  You too will learn:

1) Of the Color of Blood

2) Of the sights and sounds of Sady's Brothel

3) What to put in Goblin Stew

4) Of Love and Honor

To my faire friends I hope to see you again before the season ends and will probably do so at either PARF or perhaps MDRF.

Vlad

Sunday 'Twas an excellent final day for PARF's 2008 season.  The weather was a bit cool, but comfortable for those of us wearing armor.  Although some of our regulars were missing, most took advantage and enjoyed the weather, quite a contrast to Saturday's rainy condition.  In addition, I met the lovely renspace lady Artemissia and the beguiling pirate Jax.

Most enjoyably, I finally met the Reaver and Bard Blackwolf and his enchanting Lady Anita.  We knew each planned to be there that day but it took quite a while to run into each other given the size of the Shire.  Near the end of the day Blackwolf strummed his bardic instrument whilst singing the most bloodthirsty song methinks I have ever heard.  Most pleasurable and hopefully a harbinger of future get-togethers.   

I was able to attend a few hours on Sunday afternoon of the NYRF opening weekend.  I did not know until about 10:00 that morning whether I would be able to make the adventurous first time journey.  It came with some restrictions that I maintain contact with my guild (via Bluetooth) which substantially increased the level of difficulty.  I was unable to armor up with my regular helmet since it's weight turned off the device.  Instead I took another helm which would keep the device on, but was ill fitting and would fall in front of my eyes.  Thus I spent most of my jaunt pushing up the helm to see where I was going.  'Twas most annoying, (yet few would recognize my dilemma until I stumbled into them.)

My purpose was to meet a few friends have a few beers and see NYRF for the first time.  Unfortunately it was so last-minute, I didn't find out where to meet anyone.  My biggest mistake was to park in a remote parking area that I could not easily get back to without bringing any picture ID with me.  Not having been carded in 20 years, it did not occur to me that I would not be able to purchase an ale in the rather strict NYRF shire.  I bounced unsuccessfully from bar to bar hoping that some kind bar wench would take pity on a warrior clearly of legal age.  To no avail.  In the end I was forced to partake of a green liquid known as "a Dew."  In the meantime, the sky occasionally took the time (on a day scheduled for pure sunshine) to rain down on the shire, scattering the patrons and amusing the gods at the same time.

I did run into the wiley pyrate Macko whom methought would be there, yet missed pyrates Staples and Sassy and most unfortuitously the reaver Blackwolf whom I had hoped to meet for the first time.  Clearly for me to visit the shire again, I must rearmor (okay, come when I am not under the gun) and bring ID.  :)

Vlad

The planets aligned correctly and I was able to make it to the opening Saturday for the Sterling Renaissance Festival.  I've never been there before, ('tis at the edge of my traveling realm) however I'm glad that I went.  I believe there may have been issues in the past, however yesterday, with new owners, it was a very well-run faire with lots to do and a cast that was focused on making sure that the patrons had a very good time. 

I especially liked the street-cast of 2 shifty individuals carrying a net with the mischevious look that they would cast the net over unsuspecting patrons and carry them off.  Most amusing!  I'm not sure if they ever did but I kept waiting.

They've also instituted a new weapons policy which allows piece-tied weapons, a definite positive for warrior-types likely to attend. 

In summary, if you find the opportunity to attend you should take it!