Favorite new thing/ what did you not like? at TRF 2012

[raevyncait]

I only drink Thorin's because so far it has been the only one I like. I can not stand Chauncers and that was all I could find Sat so I bought a bottle of that just so the others in my group could try mead for the first time. I am open to mead suggestions and locations I can try new ones!!

Oberhof is my favorite Texas mead
I also LOVE Bunratty's (and Irish mead)
Chaucer's will do in a pinch

Thorin's is just a bit too, umm sharp of a flavor for me, I like my mead sweeter.

[Yrose]

We walked right by the Barbarian Inn, stopped and asked and it's just past the falconers stage on the same side. Sholo's show always good.. Lots of new good looking places. The Fiat didn't bother me as it's outside the realm.  Didn't like the change in the parade route. The hookah lounge sounds good as does another coffee shop. I would have bought one but the line was WAYY out the door.

[Vixara]

I only drink Thorin's because so far it has been the only one I like. I can not stand Chauncers and that was all I could find Sat so I bought a bottle of that just so the others in my group could try mead for the first time. I am open to mead suggestions and locations I can try new ones!!

Glad to hear that you love (what I call) the golden nectar of the gods! (No Im not biased or anything  ) It IS only at the camp grounds this year unfortunately. But that shall not stop us from enjoying it's deliciousness, and with a wonderful price now too. Thorin's is a TRADITIONAL mead so, yes, it is much different, and not for everyone.

Strange: The Knightly is an English wildflower mead. It is not quite as sweet, in fact it is what we call the "semisweet." Some still find that too over powering. In fact I know a few people love to cut it half and half with white wine. If you will be back out I'd be more than happy to give you a sample if we run into each other! 

[Breandan]

Pros:
* cleaned up, rebuilt, repainted and refurbished stages and shops.
* campground upgrades and security presence
* new artisans in the Industrial Section
* New deck at the Sea Devil
* the Barbarian Inn

Cons:
* Gross over-commercialization seriously breaking the immersion
* The Brazilian restaurant. Not thrilled that the Art of Defense nook was bulldozed and replaced rather than refurbished, but the least they could've done was put a setting-appropriate restaurant there. Italian, German, hell, even Mediterranean would've been better than Brazilian, since Brazil was little more than a tiny sugar cane resource colony for Portugal until the 17th century and not exactly known for it's cuisine.
* The change in parade route with little forewarning. Bunch of us showed up at the PoW to watch the parade and got to listen to crickets chirp.

[Autumn Blaize]

Does anyone know anything about the Art of Defense / Museum? I have heard both they tore it down and it is no more and that they moved it. It was one of the most haunted places there  (although there are many ) and now I wonder if the Brazil place is having issues or if they moved the building did the ghosts go too lol

[scarletnyx]

Does anyone know anything about the Art of Defense / Museum? I have heard both they tore it down and it is no more and that they moved it. It was one of the most haunted places there  (although there are many ) and now I wonder if the Brazil place is having issues or if they moved the building did the ghosts go too lol

Husband and I went through the Museum on.. sunday? I believe. I'm -still- getting used to TRF's size, so I really can't give you clear directions as to where it is. But it's there... Now, the school of fighting I'm not too sure where that moved to.

and prolly a little of both. If I died/had some spiritual connection to any faire, and they plopped some not even remotely HA place with scantily clad women down where I chose to haunt, I'd act up a storm too.

[Zardoz]

Pros:
* cleaned up, rebuilt, repainted and refurbished stages and shops.
* campground upgrades and security presence
* new artisans in the Industrial Section
* New deck at the Sea Devil
* the Barbarian Inn

Cons:
* Gross over-commercialization seriously breaking the immersion
* The Brazilian restaurant. Not thrilled that the Art of Defense nook was bulldozed and replaced rather than refurbished, but the least they could've done was put a setting-appropriate restaurant there. Italian, German, hell, even Mediterranean would've been better than Brazilian, since Brazil was little more than a tiny sugar cane resource colony for Portugal until the 17th century and not exactly known for it's cuisine.
* The change in parade route with little forewarning. Bunch of us showed up at the PoW to watch the parade and got to listen to crickets chirp.

What he said!   on the Brazilian restaurant, it seemed like a nice place, but I feel like it's signage, colors and entertainment are a little more anachronistic than usual there

[Endestroy]

Ditto on the Brazilian restaurant. I was actually quite excited about it and went on Sunday, but it wasn't REMOTELY fitting for faire. The music was modern Brazilian with whistles etc, not more traditional Brazilian and the same with the outfits and general ambiance. My main complaint is it really pulled me out of the 'magic' of faire and I just felt like I was at any regular restaurant. Kind of bummed me out for a while 

[Zardoz]

Does anyone know anything about the Art of Defense / Museum? I have heard both they tore it down and it is no more and that they moved it. It was one of the most haunted places there  (although there are many ) and now I wonder if the Brazil place is having issues or if they moved the building did the ghosts go too lol

Not sure about the museum, but the School of Sword exibition is hidden back in Sherwood now

[Fenster]

Does anyone know anything about the Art of Defense / Museum? I have heard both they tore it down and it is no more and that they moved it. It was one of the most haunted places there  (although there are many ) and now I wonder if the Brazil place is having issues or if they moved the building did the ghosts go too lol

The museum has moved to the old Coppersage Bow location across from the coin mint, which is between the Odeon and the Arena.

[mrsmccunn]

Have any of you taken your wee ones to the Storytelling area? omg, delightful story time for the small ones! She was there last year but I missed it. Happened to drop by last weekend. Must take my granddaughter!

[SirRichardBear]

Brazilian restaurant the food was good but would perfer the show to be more period the modern show and music are just not what I go to faire to see.

The new band Vana Mazi was good

miss the school of Sword tournaments those were fun.

[Strange]

I only drink Thorin's because so far it has been the only one I like. I can not stand Chauncers and that was all I could find Sat so I bought a bottle of that just so the others in my group could try mead for the first time. I am open to mead suggestions and locations I can try new ones!!

Glad to hear that you love (what I call) the golden nectar of the gods! (No Im not biased or anything  ) It IS only at the camp grounds this year unfortunately. But that shall not stop us from enjoying it's deliciousness, and with a wonderful price now too. Thorin's is a TRADITIONAL mead so, yes, it is much different, and not for everyone.

Strange: The Knightly is an English wildflower mead. It is not quite as sweet, in fact it is what we call the "semisweet." Some still find that too over powering. In fact I know a few people love to cut it half and half with white wine. If you will be back out I'd be more than happy to give you a sample if we run into each other! 

I realize that you have a bias, and in the interest of not turning this into an argument of preferences, I'll make this my last response re: Thorin and his "mead".
I've been making mead for around 10 years, and been drinking mead from some of the finest meaderies and homebrewers in the nation since well before that.
I know that everyone's tastes are different, and what I like will not always be what someone else likes.
However, I have never, in my own work or with anyone else's, known multiple people to get sick from a mead UNTIL they had Thorin's.
And my acquaintances are not the only ones. Why do you think it got pulled from most of the faire shops?

I get that Thorin thinks it is "traditional" to not filter his mead, but even unfiltered, a bottle should not have a half inch or more of lees in the bottom, or have liquid so opaque that light won't pass thru it.
Even the actual Vikings would not have had that much yeast in the mead they drank.
The mead for drinking was taken from the top of the pot, which left the yeast behind to make more mead.
I think the only thing that makes it worse is that Thorin can't claim it was a mistake due to being a new mazer.
He PAYS a contract winery to make it that way. I actually surprised that they agreed to produce something that could make people sick.

As I said, I might be willing to give the Knightly a try, since it doesn't look foul, but given Thorin's long running history of alcoholic mishaps, I don't have much faith that it will change my mind.

Feel free to respond or defend or whatever. Mods can kill it if they like. I have said my piece.

[LibraryPrincess]

Favorite new thing
Stalking the Transylvanians - not new to faire, just new to me; I also highly recommend it.
Vana Mazi - not new to me, but it was nice to see familiar faces with Circa Paleo not around

What I did not like
No more combat arena or tournament
No Circa Paleo
(On a personal note) Not being able to be affectionate with my boyfriend whenever I like, because he's on cast, and his character is married. /end whining


*counting down the days till Sherwood*

[DonaCatalina]

I get that Thorin thinks it is "traditional" to not filter his mead, but even unfiltered, a bottle should not have a half inch or more of lees in the bottom, or have liquid so opaque that light won't pass thru it.
Even the actual Vikings would not have had that much yeast in the mead they drank.
The mead for drinking was taken from the top of the pot, which left the yeast behind to make more mead.
I think the only thing that makes it worse is that Thorin can't claim it was a mistake due to being a new mazer.
He PAYS a contract winery to make it that way. I actually surprised that they agreed to produce something that could make people sick.

As I said, I might be willing to give the Knightly a try, since it doesn't look foul, but given Thorin's long running history of alcoholic mishaps, I don't have much faith that it will change my mind.

Feel free to respond or defend or whatever. Mods can kill it if they like. I have said my piece.

I am not really a mead drinker as I prefer wine. I wanted to try Thorin's; but I couldn't get past the fact that it looked more like dirty lake water than mead.
I do miss the original Purple Possum mead; beacause it was such a 'Faire' thing to drink occasionally.