The Ren Faire and Me

The first Renaissance Faire I attended was in the Bay Area. While I am sure I went when I was in elementary school, probably with my best friend B, the earliest photo of me at a Ren Faire that I've found is from when I was in middle school, with my other best friend V.

Once I had my own car, I started attending more frequently. I remember going right before my last year of high school. I went with three friends who I would wind up spending my senior year with, plus one of my very good friends from my freshman year. On our way there, we decided to stop at Jack in the Box to get food, since we didn't want to spend all our cash on food inside the faire. So we pulled up to the window and ordered, and then I started driving to the next window. My friends all started yelling at me - turns out, there was only one window at this drive thru. Laughs all around, I backed up, we go the food. We weren't laughing so hard later, in the parking lot, after having finished. My car had a bad starter in those days, and wasn't always interested in getting back on the road. The Faire was a couple hours from home. It took a few tries, but it came back to life.

I don't remember a ton about what happened at the faire, except we saw a very bawdy show called Testicles and the Sack of Rome, and a lovely entertainer named Broon, who is still performing, and I now see every year at my local Faire.

During college, I doubt I attended a single fair, but in 2006, I started going back, and I haven't missed a year since. Even with the long drive, the expensive tickets and parking fee, and the heat and dust, it's quite enjoyable. This past May, I went with my friend and her eight year old son. I was fun to see the faire through his eyes. Almost overwhelming.

I think that's what keeps the Ren Faire interesting for me, is taking new people. Next year I'm hoping my boyfriend's sister and her boyfriend can make it, we've been trying to get them to for some time. There's really no other place where you can dress in ancient garb and eat a giant turkey leg while calling for someone's head.

Portland and Me II

We arrived while it was still early morning. We had no place to stay, and no specific plans (besides, of course, Powell's). We walked over to the tourist kiosk. After waiting our turn to speak to the woman who worked there, I asked her "So you know that thing where you go to the airport and you don't know where you're going and you just get on whichever plane and then you wind up someplace?" "No ..." she answered, "but that sounds awesome."

She proceeded to give us some names of hotels and things to do. We did wind up taking some of her suggestions.

After using the airport wi-fi to book a motel, we got on the light rail and headed into town. We checked in, then went off for food and adventure. We ate sushi, bought vintage accessories (me), drank coffee (the boyfriend), and spent the entire afternoon at Powell's. We went to the Blue Plate Diner, then back to the motel, exhausted, but ready to do it all over again the next day.

First up: elephant ears at the Farmers Market (basically a lot of fried dough, and then we opted to smother it in peanut butter), followed by a look around, purchases, a quick lunch, and then a walk along the river. Our next plan was the Japanese Gardens. They were on the other side of town, and we could have taken a bus ... but we decided to walk. Perhaps not the most energy efficient way of doing things, but we did arrive, and it and the rose garden we went through on the way were stunning. Now it was time for some dinner and local beer. Then back to the motel, to once again prepare for another day.

We spent much of the next day at the OMSI, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. They had a great many interesting exhibits, but the temporary exhibit about the history of video games, complete with a ton of consoles to play on, was most addicting.

Voodoo Doughnut's had to be attended before we left, and the haunted venue of Old Town Pizza.  Then back to the motel. My mom had warned us that leaving Portland wouldn't be easy, and indeed, we were up before dawn the next day to get back on the light rail to the airport. But it was worth it. Portland is a lovely town and I can't wait to return.