FAIRYLAND

There is always a back area at the Renaissance Festival known as the Fairy Village with lots of variations on that theme. There are usually people in costumes who take on the role but the scale was reduced this year for obvious reasons. As I approached this figure I thought it might be someone who coated herself in gray and stood still as a statue, like the street performers you see in Leicester Square or Times Square. We wandered the area for some time but saw not a twitch. I assume it was a mannequin.             

Faerie Queen

.
St. Louis celebrates Earth Day in Forest Park on the Sunday after the official date. There was a big turnout. I'm all for conservation, emissions control and renewable resources. However, it seemed like every New Ager, homeopath, herbalist, spiritualist, crystal purveyor and arcane healer in town had a booth there, hawking their ideas or wares. People can believe what they like - you pays your money and you takes your choice. Me, I'm a hard science guy. Gimme a double-blind, peer reviewed study every time.

To my delight, though, I met the local fairies. There were a number of people promoting the area Renaissance Fair, which takes place in late May and early June. It's full of re-enacters, trying to live the life of 15th and 16th Century Europe. I'm fully occupied enacting the 21st Century but it sounds like a lot of fun. I've never gone because it's out in the exurbs but the Faerie Queen from this group talked me into it. Makes me want to run out and see A Midsummer Night's Dream.