Mary Diamond

Ah, it seems I am in good company ~ Like Silkie and Kass, I was also a graphic designer for, wow, 15 years or something like that? Yeah, it sounds creative, but the reality is, you are just a monkey with a mouse, doing what the client wants (the red circle). Over and over and over again, stuck in a cube, for, oh, like 10-12 hours a day. So I left that to pursue a career and degree in horticulture. Wrapping up the Master's Degree (working on my final project), with April - September spent at a landscape supply / garden center doing sales, design and pest/disease ID. Much happier now! If only I didn't have to work weekends ~ but I love the work, and at least I am outside in the sun.

Lovely, lovely wood! And the metal details - should look absolutely splendid. Keep us posted!

Thank'ee, Callenish Truly, I'd love to. Every time I try to report them, though, I get a weird error from the Pub. And no response when I send an email to the powers that be... So I stopped trying.

Sad, indeed, if Kass cannot make it. Perhaps, though ~ her idea had merit. Would it be hard to put into motion?

Hoping that she will grace us with her presence again ~ safe journeys, madam.

Awesome idea, Lady B! Marketing/promoting would take some careful wording ~ don't necessarily want to "let the cat out of the bag" per se, but still want to let people know a BIG TO DO is scheduled, MUST NOT BE MISSED! Maybe should involve large quantities of opposing re-enactors (i.e. pirates vs. military) providing pre-action in a few areas, coming together (hopefully with audience following - captives, perhaps? ooohhh ) to one area for the main action, to ensure getting a large audience. Mind, I don't have experience orchestrating this kind of thing ~ just a few thoughts to throw darts at!

Welcome to the Pub ~ enjoy yourself! Oh, seems you already are... And thankee for the drink.

Ah, yes, as I helped decorate my sisters' wedding tent, I am aware of the limitations on "hanging". The great thing is the burlap and flags, banners can easily be strung up to the main crossbeam/pole, as they are so light. The other stuff is just propped and stacked up, laying around. Keep in mind - you must check with your FIRE MARSHALL! All this stuff, plus the booze, is uber flammable. He may ask for an additional exit. I have a spare palm tree from her event - I could be co-erced into renting it (renting: just because it is a hassle to bring and was expensive) should you decide to go that route. Love the pirate crewe flags idea - would really work well! If they are not inclined to give their own, repros of their (or indeed any flag) could be mocked up on cotton canvas with latex paint, and used again for next year ~ Not sure, probably not, were there Wanted posters back then? Wouldn't that be a hoot! XXX rogue character (attending) could be "wanted", to be turned in by Children, but he could buy them off with doubloons! The motivated kid who actually coerced him to the bar to turn him in could receive special commendation!

Welcome aboard! Have a look around, feel free to jump in with both feet - 'tis a very welcoming crowd! Tell us more about yourself ~ we promise, we won't bite!

Hey Sally, I had a few thoughts on your bar decor ~ Walls could be draped with burlap sacking (available in huge rolls for landscape contractors) - not period, but rustic. A raid to gather weathered planking and pier moorings (old barns, piers, boatyards, the local municipal forestry dept (for dead tree logs - i.e. fake moorings)), would provide vertical interest against the walls, over the burlap. Alternatively, railroad ties from the local home improvement can be roped together in 3's to create small moorings. Chunks of aged stone are nice, but harder to move. I don't think potted plants were bar fashion back then, but they always add a nice vertical touch - perhaps rented palms at the entrance? Spring is coming up - check with your local garden centers ASAP for bulb boxes (wooden slatted boxes) they might be throwing away. Easily aged with stain in a pressurized garden sprayer - drape with a bit of fish net, add a doo dad on top (something non-breakable, non-valuable, that can be affixed so as not to walk away with patrons - such as coils of rope or sea shells), and voila! a vignette. Don't forget flags, banners, and such for color. Placed strategically at the entrance, around the bar proper, and a few in the interior, these kind of groupings add a lot of character for a 6-8' wide x 8' high area (each), without the obligation to cover the entire space. Because they are grouped, they make more of an impact. If anyone has a great velvet captains chair, a vignette can be made around that, with additioal detail, like your rugs, brass tray, potted palm, etc. Great for photos or skits. Please, PLEASE tell me you guys are recycling at this event.

Aha, the mystery is solved! I imagine he will be pressed to leave the hat at home for 2007. Maybe the pants, too, but... that would be "the other end of Duval Street" (eh, Silkie)! So, no comments on the kid aspect Well, should it have any appeal, I notice the Port Washington Pirate Fest (in Raids) folks (Scuttle Sally) have some pretty nifty ideas to keep the little buggers occupied: As for the children's area. I've been in talks with the owner of the local HobbyTown. He's really in love with the idea and we're working on getting him to set up a demo area where kids can play some of the various pirate games (like Quest for Davy Jones Gold and Dread Pirate) or even work on making easy model ships. We're also looking at a dig for treasure sandbox for the wee little pirates in training. For the Buccaneer Bar, we'll be setting up Pirates Dice and mancala...maybe Shut-The-Box if Hobbytown can get us one. Oh, and I'll give you a teaser...we have something really cool along the lines of the popular wooden dubloons that will give the kids another way to interact with the pirates. The wooden dubloons will continue as they were SO popular last year! We'll have a seperate booth for their redemption.

Thank you, I am glad you liked it! It was taken at Po Lin Temple on Lantau Island (just outside of Hong Kong). It was fantastically windy that evening, but made for really amazing photos. Yes, I like crows ~ find them to be quite fascinating, brash - was sad to see them dying off around here (along with the sweet little chicadees) due to West Nile, but they are making a comeback. Saw a lovely murder of them last season. Another photo for you ~ from Thailand. Theare so many wats (temples) there, and every one of them are encrusted with decoration, tiles, and gilding - so very much different from Japan (very reserved) and Hong Kong (in between - Chinese style).

Yes, I noted the proposed dates for RFIII as being in conflict with PiP, but then I realized - No Problem! They are still holding the one 15 minutes away from me, in February (ish). 2006 PiP was warm (learning that linen is the way to go) but a most thoroughly enjoyable experience for us newbies.

Agreed - did that once, never again! Go Taurus! 2 bulls in the same china shop = my hubby and I, 5 days apart.

While visiting a temple one evening in Hong Kong in 2003 ~

Hmmm, ah, (bite), well... where to go from there. Best to leave it alone, as I may be getting in too deep! Merry - I will be up at Port Washington with Archangel - I thought I saw in the thread that you'd be there with Fool's Gold? A few months, then! Busy, busy ones, at that.

Ah, thank you all for the many welcomes! Callenish, you blue-eyed rogue, you'll have to bend my ear when we next meet ~ I spoke with Silkie re: developing a brogue, and your name was mentioned. :)

selfish (ok, I said it with a lisp!)

Naw, Silkie, the other photo! Y've had too much rum, na' givit here! Drop it, drop it... The guy with the purple pirate pimp hat and fancy red n black striped breeches.

^ ah, the worst of them all - art geek < Looking forward to putting my talents back to use v Any other art geeks out there?

aHA! Now I will know him for next time! Hi, Harry! So who was I standing with?

Aha! See, I told my hubby it wasn't! My eyes aren't what's going, it's my hearing!

And a belated, but heartful nonetheless, welcome. Something cold to ease my parched throat!

And a magnificent display it was, indeed! Pictures are wonderful - you should have seen it in person. Made a great impression, not to mention a pretty cool impromptu pub!

Oh! I am SO HAPPY to see interest in seeing PiP taken to another level! 2006 was our first attendance, actually, our first reenactment/pirate attendance ever, and, while it was fantastically exciting, I was sad to see what I thought was a relatively low attendance (I mean, come on! There are pirates!). I know this can be so much more! Harry, please, I know we are in Chicago, but if there is anything I can do to help with marketing (designing flyers, etc.) please let me know. I am planning on attending the entire event, expecting my hubby and a friend as well - we can definitely hand out flyers and generate interest on Duval and generally help out. Patrick - I love the concept you have promoted ~ so many potential facets to work with! Now, I know that there are some differences with the way children are handled (yep, I read all the posts for PiP 2006). I myself am fairly tolerant of them (provided they are well behaved), not having any (and with no intent!), and rarely around them. BUT - they can be a driving force for attendance, especially given the PotC craze. Perhaps a one time 15 and under Dress Like A Pirate contest? Perhaps held in an area that caters to the smaller folk, offering pirate interaction that they can handle? Knot tying, make a pirate flag (black craft foam paper + white paint markers), "tattoos" (face painting), Walk the Plank game ~ Mind you, I am not a teacher, wannabe Mom, h@ll, I'm not even a good role model, so I shouldn't be involved with the young'uns. Too much of a potty mouth (REALLY - trust me on this. Ask my friends, ask my SISTER ). Just a thought. Now, for some fun ~ Harry, my dear, is this perchance yourself with me, returning from the beach? Someone did mention it was. :)