Before we return to our regularly scheduled program, folks, I wanted to point out that May is chockfull of exciting events to attend — so many, in fact, that I expect to be writing about them well into June (which is also an eventful month). While the various Cinco de Mayo celebrations and Richardson’s Cottonwood Arts Festival are over, there’s still lots to do.
Tags: Art · Live Music · Events · General
Once more into the breach, dear friends, and I’ll be done with my report on Ye Olde Scarborough Renaissance Festival. While the bulk of this particular entry will be devoted to photos (primarily from the Grande Parade), there are a few more things I’d like to point out.
One thing you’ll need to check out is the glassmaking exhibit, which (much to my irritation) I was unable to get any decent pictures of. This blurry image of the glassblower rolling a molten blob of glass is about the best I could do. The pictures of everything else — including the roaring furnaces — didn’t really come out.
Tags: Art · Live Music · Attractions · Theaters · Events
When I last left you, Gentle Reader, I hadn’t finished talking about the wonders of Scarborough Faire — the yearly Renaissance Festival currently underway outside of Waxahachie, which is about 25 miles south of DFW. This is a great festival to visit. It’s a lot cheaper, admittance-wise, than most amusement parks, and it’s at least as much fun. Especially if you like such things as turtle races and falconry demonstration shows.
Speaking of falconry, the Royal Falconer was giving quite the demonstration about the time we walked in, and I was most impressed.
Tags: Art · Live Music · Attractions · Theaters · Events
Are you going to Scarborough Faire?
No, Paul and Art, I already did. On April 20, I had the opportunity to visit my very first Renaissance Festival — in this case Scarborough Faire, a great big festival located on permanent grounds just outside of Waxahachie, Texas.
Now, back when I was a lad, “the Renaissance Festival” meant the Texas Renaissance Festival, the one that’s been held down south in Plantersville since ‘74. I never got to go to that one, and I never even knew that Scarborough existed until a few years ago. Turns out that it’s the North Texas answer to the RenFaire I grew up with. This one’s been going on since 1981, and is set in the year 1533, during the reign of England’s King Henry VIII. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, this is he with his queen-of-the-moment.
Tags: Art · Live Music · Attractions · Theaters · Events
As long-time readers may recall, I currently live in Garland, which happens to be the tenth largest city in Texas (no, really). As such, it actually has a lot of good stuff going on, though by no means as much as Dallas, Fort Worth, or even, say, Plano or Arlington. Much of its cultural wealth is concentrated in old downtown Garland, which has existed as such since 1887, when the local post office was created midway between two rival towns, Duck Creek and Embree; the new post office was called Garland Station after the U.S. Attorney General of the time, Augustus Hill Garland. That’s him down there. Please note that I didn’t take this picture; I’m not quite that old. It was probably taken by the famous Mathew Brady, though no one’s sure.
Tags: Art · Memorials · Attractions · Architecture · Museums
When last I wrote, Gentle Reader, I was regaling you with tales of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, where the flowers are now in bloom and spring is in the air (intermittently, anyway). The Arboretum is in the middle of its annual Dallas Blooms festival, which will continue until April 13 (mostly on the weekends), so this is a great time to visit the place and get to know all 66 rolling acres.
Tags: Art · Attractions · Architecture · Events
I recently paid a visit to Addison’s Out of the Loop Festival, which is held yearly at the Water Tower Theater at the Addison Theater Centre; this year it took place from March 6-16. To be honest, it wasn’t quite what I expected; I knew there would be art, music, and theater performances, but I figured there would also be booths, food to be purchased, and maybe even games. But the closest thing to a booth was the table where the Girl Scouts were selling their cookies out front. Well, I’ve always been a fan of Girl Scout cookies, so I bought three boxes. They’re expensive this year — $3.50 per box. But wonderful as always, despite the fact that I couldn’t eat many, due to my diabetes.