Big news: Two Known World events in Bhakail on Columbus Day Weekend . . .

Both the Known World Academy of the Rapier and the Known World Costuming Symposium will be Oct. 9-11, 2009 in Philadelphia.

The events are co-sponsored by Bhakail and the Barony of Iron Bog.

For more information please keep checking KWAR or KWCS

Edited to add: Those are not up yet.

( Details, details . . .  )

There's always a beer tomorrow -- 2 p.m., Wolff's Bier Garten, Albany

It's been a long week, what with turning 50 and everything else.

I really thought about hibernating (after the trash run) tomorrow, but then I heard the dulcet tones of John Belushi as Bluto in "Animal House:"

"My advice is to drink heavily."

Well, that's *not* actually the plan. Drinking the .3 liter samplers and noshing on good, fairly inexpensive German food is the plan.

We will commence at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 4 at Wolff's Bier Garten.

Very casual, OK for kids.

It can be crowded,

It was cash-only a couple of weeks ago.

I would guess we will be there for a couple hours at the least.


(Note: If you are coming from Troy or substantially north of Albany, my favorite route is get off of I-787 at the Menands exit and follow Route 32 into Albany. That's Broadway. You will pass the building with the giant, white dog. Wolff's, which is at 895 Broadway, will be on your left, looking like a renovated firehouse with lots of European flgs.

There will be European football on, and the NCAA games if they are being played at that time.

Friday afternoon: Thoughts and links . . .

1. My friends' list amuses me. There must be at least 10 posts on the Iowa Gay Marriage decision, including a couple reminding California that it's now to the right of Iowa, and another chiding Minnesota.

Maybe the Vermont governor will notice and sign the Gay Marriage bill.

2. My friends' list humbles me and makes me feel really good at the same time.

3. Two Lumps has a guest artist *and* zombies.

4. hughcasey tells us it is National Cleavage Day in South Africa. What would we do without Hugh?

5. It's 2:03 p.m., and the Binghampton hotstage crisis is on-going, Hang tight and say prayers. I find Google News  and its "sort by most recent" option works best.

Better option: The local paper also has a live blog running.

6. It is in the 50s in the North Country. It's gonna rain, but it's in the 50s!

7. You might remember late last year I wrote about my favorite restaurant blogger being attacked in a restaurant parking lot. They have arrested someone. Check it out. At this point, the article does not mention Steve is openly Gay, but a lot of us wonder if it's part of why it happened.