Has anyone seen this horrible article?

[Taffy Saltwater]

I'll be honest & say that one of the great attractions for me is the men in kilts *swoon* - that's just sex on legs.  It's got to be the authentic(ish) kilts, though, not the costume variety.  Shows the wearer puts some time & attention to what he does, which is a verra good thing.

[KeeperoftheBar]

I enjoyed the article.  While little that was stated is accurate, I hope lots of soccer moms and dads read it and decide not to attend so that there will be more room for those of us who know not to believe such tripe.  Of course, I admit I am a bit warped.  I've been reading Playboy since I was 6 so anything that peeks out of chain maile is not shocking to me.  (Just the articles, honest...)

[ADraeger]

Honestly, I've seen more skin revealed on beaches and other places swarming with families and children.  As far as the adult-oriented shows go, I've seen kids WITH their parents at them.....went fine.  Why?  Because the kids didn't understand a thing.  Weren't listening either - just playing with their new swords/toys/etc.  And for the kids who might catch on, there are plenty of shows for them to see as well.   
P.S.  Where does this lady hide?  I've seen more skin sunbathing on front yards on a hot Houston day than I ever have at TRF.

[Taarna]

As a first time visitor to TRF (Pirates Adventure Weekend) and a 10 year performer of the circuit, I must say that I was wonderfully overwhelmed the first day ... and the second day ... and still to this day.  Two of the ladies who work for me travelled "down south" with me and we spent Saturday in mundanes gawking like tourists and madly snapping pictures.  Sunday felt 'more normal' (for us) as we donned our garb and headed out to mingle - still with cameras in hand ... and plastic cups of beer in hand ... and <gasp> cigarettes/cigars in hand!     Goddess but is it nice to be 'on vacation!' 

So there are folks there who enjoy wearing chainmaille and loincloths - big deal.  As Taarna stated, if you got it, flaunt it.  Personally, I don't much care for females in chainmaille - my ship doesn't float that way.  However, the lads in kilts, tights, and YES loincloths are definately up my alley.  But, to each his or her own.  Just don't expect me to trade in my boots and bodice for chainmaille anytime soon, I prefer being a pirate!

Will I go and enjoy all the sights, sounds, and ambiance of the Festival, you betcha!  Save some fried aligator for me (another first for this Okie girl)!  Regarding the Miss who wrote the article, I think she is in serious need of taking stock and she definately needs to not take herself oh so seriously!  She almost sounds as if she's frazzled and in need of attention from a loincloth wearing gent, tee hee.

Just my tuppence in defense of a faire that stole my imagination and heart.  Here's to seeing you all again.  Thank you all for giving me the recharge I needed; you reminded me why I got into faires 10 years ago.  And Taarna - THANK YOU for the wonderful pics you allowed me to capture of you - definately *love* the eyes!
My hat is off to all of you at TRF - cast, vendors, and stage shows - keep up the grand work and to hades with the nay-sayers!

Fair Winds,
Emerald

Now THIS is the type of article I like to read about TRF! I am SO HAPPY you enjoyed your visit here, and hope to see you back very soon!
I thank you very much for the compliment. I love being a faerie and interacting with little ones and adults alike. Alot of work and thought goes into my costume, and it's constantly changing. It will change again for Celtic Christmas weekend, although still be the Ice Queen Faerie.

As for the gents in kilts... it was our own Broadside (I've known him for sometime outside the realm of Faire) that helped me to encourage my dear husband to don one for the first time. I will be forever greatful!

[Tipsy Gypsy]

I was raised Christian fundamentalist, and for the most part, still am. However, I hardly consider myself "retarded"... That being said, I certainly don't consider myself a prude, either, and I've adopted a largely live and let live attitude to most people/garb choices/lifestyles, etc. I'm out there with a goodly bit of leg and cleavage bared too, enjoying my share of homebrewed nectar. (gasp! The hussy...)

I do, however, take umbrage at ignorant clods spouting judgment of faire folk based on a brief, uninformed and close-minded impression. I recently had a firm but gentle (I hope) confrontation with a coworker, who claims to be openminded and has been known to take others to task for being judgmental, for basically declaring rennies at large to be uneducated tree-worshipping vagrant hippies. Although he wouldn't admit it, I think he was a little surprised to learn that among my own aquaintances are Christians, a NASA engineer, marine scientist, several educators, a geologist, a Yalie...and a whole lot of ordinary working folks with day jobs and families. Just. like. him.

He says that he didn't mean it, was just "funnin' wit' ya"...but his source of comps just dried up.

If she can't unclench and try to have a good time she should save the 20 bucks and gas, and leave us to our fun.

[Praetorian]

I was expecting the article to be alot worse than it was. There will always be people that think like they do  when it comes to their kids and I think the jist of this writers problem is the kids. Personally, I doubt most young children even notice.

As far as the article itself, keep in mind there is no such thing as bad publicity. You just have to spin it your way. So write a blog or something and quote this guy as saying how wonderful the food is and the pageantry of the costumes and the ax throwing and then you turn a quasi negative article into a glowing article. Its all in how you spin it baby.

[LadyShadow]

I am one who takes my kids to faire.  And my husband and I notice the lack of clothes that others wear.  But it is in the aspect of when we go with out the kids I want to wear something like that.  Not the "OH MY GOSH!!! What does that person have on?!?!"  Some of my kids are reaching the age of noticing things, but not once has it been mentioned or much less even noticed in their eyes.  They are too busy with I wanna ride this, I wanna do that, I wanna...  The author of that article seems to have a distaste in their mouth about faire.  Is it because they are to ugly or insecure to wear such things and so everyone else is wrong?  I don't know.  But if you are going to be closed minded about something and try to pass judgement on very little knowledge of it, then please do the world a favor and keep your mouth shut.

[brigaqueen1]

Just don't expect me to trade in my boots and bodice for chainmaille anytime soon, I prefer being a pirate!

I'm a pirate chick too...and hd a chain maille bodice made just for me pirate outfit I did! Being a pirate gal is too friggin cool ain't it?? 

Taarna...I don't drink...but one of those deep fried pb & J sammiches at the muffelata place....*shudder* melts by buttah it does 

It's amazing to me after all these years to still see & hear people's misconceptions of "rennies". Like we are all vagrant, poor, trashy people....HAH! I've never met cooler people in my life! We are colorful, funny, imaginative and wacky folk. I wouldn't change a thing!

[FaeGuardian]

....(what the hell was Darth Vader doing there anyway?)....

You forget, Darth Vader lived a LONG TIME AGO, in a galaxy far away... who knows what era it may have been on Earth, or how long it would take him to travel from his galaxy to ours.   

It is because TRF does not demand historical accuracy that it appeals to a larger audience and makes more people happy.  As for the article, it was fair for the most part, and it is expensive if you want to keep your kids entertained. But there is NOTHING at TRF that would scar your children's minds.

And what kind of idiot photographer wastes their time on graffiti and food signs?  Stupid graffiti can be found at any public place that attracts thousands of people.  Pictures should be used for the visually interesting such as jousting and garb, the text does a better job of selling the food than the pictures do.  Talk about some amateurish photo editors.

[Taarna]

Taarna...I don't drink...but one of those deep fried pb & J sammiches at the muffelata place....*shudder* melts by buttah it does  

You got it! We'll be rolling our butts up there "sometime" Thanksgiving day, driving a slightly used and abused 1996 used to be silver Dodge Ram, more then likely hauling a U-haul trailer. (Hey, my camping gear has outgrown the truckbed.) LOL

I can't eat the treat you speak of, but I'll take your word for how good it is. (allergic to peanuts)

It's amazing to me after all these years to still see & hear people's misconceptions of "rennies". Like we are all vagrant, poor, trashy people....HAH! I've never met cooler people in my life! We are colorful, funny, imaginative and wacky folk. I wouldn't change a thing!

Boy you got that right. Vagrant, poor, trashy people wouldn't be able to afford going to faire! Our habit can get quite addictive, very expensive, and strangly satisfying.

As an adult I have two favorite seasons I look forward to very year... Faire season, and crawfish season....God I love Texas.... I'm not originally from here, but I darn sure got here as quick as I could!

Looking forward to meeting you Brigaqueen!

[brigaqueen1]

Taarna sweetie...you are welcome in Brigadoon anytime!! Just come by and ask for me if Im not around (I like to hide in the dark and watch people muahahaha) I look forward to meeting you too! We'll be there Thanksgiving Day as well...hopefully with a pumpkin cheesecake...YUM!

I'm not a born Texan either...but I wouldn't live anywhere else but here!

[Obscura]

We'll be there Thanksgiving Day as well.

I don't know if we're going to make it or not.  Our tent is supposed to ship today.  Estimated delivery time is 3-5 days.  :-(

[Lala]

I went and read the article. It was so "ho-hum" I couldn't get up at arms about anything she had to say. C'mon... she couldn't even tell that it's the "Spanish" section, not the "Mexican" section!

I bring my kid out to TRF. She's 4 now, and has been out every year since she was 1. (She was born opening weekend 2004, so I couldn't bring her out that year!!) And do you know what lasting effect Faire has had on her? She likes to play bocce. She wants to get on stage. She loves to play drums (boudran, snare, dumbek (sp?)). Her favourite people are Randy from The Rogues, Blackhart "Papa Pirate" from TRF's Pride o' Bedlam, Richard from Sound & Fury, Claus von Cleaves (my ex Drew), and Kilber & Raven. She likes to get her face painted and wear pretty costumes and fairy wings, but so far she hasn't begged me to buy her lots of stuff  - well, except strawberries on a stick. We always do the pony ride and next year when she's bigger we'll ride the Dragon Swings, but mostly she just wants to run and dance. She's also Sound & Fury's youngest Poster Girl.

She doesn't notice the girls in chain maille or the guys with their cheeks hanging out. For my precious, precocious little girl, faire is just a place to run and play and be free... just like Mommy.

[brigaqueen1]

Sounds like you have one amazing daughter Lala!! 

[Bonny Pearl]

I don't consider the rides/games, etc. that our son (who is 6) wants to go on over and over again expensive.  I look at it this way.... we go to faire every weekend and what we spend on rides for our son doesn't even come close to the cost of taking the family to disney.  We have a 'mini vacation' in our backyard and I'll say 'ticket for one' any time he wants to get on the bungee or climb the rock wall.

As far as 'adult oriented' scenery...sure he has noticed the gals in chainmaille and giggles when he sees cheek.  He thinks it's funny and for a six year old boy, I'm sure it is.  No worries there.  I'd rather he giggle like a normal child.  Some people (and society) have become so uptight you'd think everyone is ready to implode any minute now.

The article... I only briefly scanned it due to the fact that it lacked the 'umph' to keep my attention...  yawn.....

I love faire and so does our son.  So bah hum bug to the author of that mediocre piece of work.  The author needs to take another class on how to write an article.