Pirates of Wentzville

I mentioned that the Renaissance Faire takes place on the edge of the metro area. The town is named Wentzville. It's best known for a major highway junction, a huge General Motors plant and endless, soulless strip centers. To their credit, though, they have a park large enough to hold this event. 

For the last couple of years they've had a man wandering around who does a spot-on impersonation of Johnny Depp's role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. He's a chick magnet. Probably has experience as a model, too. Always keeps his eyes on the camera.

This has been an awful week at work but now it's break time. Up to Chicago this morning - our son gets his second masters degree tomorrow. This one is in education; the other was computer science. Mom and dad are pretty proud.              

Their Royal Majesties

So, this was supposed to be Lyon in 1518. Who was in charge? I don't have my kings of France memorized, much less the presidents of the United States. Well, Google and Wikipedia to the rescue. The monarch would have been François Ie.

The king and queen always preside at the Renaissance Faire, appearing at special occasions. One of the nice things their majesties do is spend some time in the children's area, knighting any tyke that was up to the challenge. I would have been thrilled if I were that age.

Kinda low comments this week. I'm just bombed at work. The tide will turn.        

Return Of Gratuitous Cuteness

Sometimes even I can't resist. The dull gray skies over the Renaissance Faire didn't help the color but the kids were irresistible. Love the whole ensemble of the girl at the top. The boy in the second picture has a couple of scoops bigger than his mouth. Didn't bother him in the slightest.

And anyway, I need to brush up on child photography since my first grandchild is scheduled to debut in August. She is going to be the most over-photographed baby in St. Louis. Better not be scared by fill flash. 

More gratuitous cuteness before this series ends. Two dogs and a cockatoo. At a minimum.         

Axel The Sot

The Renaissance Faire has lots of fun entertainment, although not much of it has to do with that period of history. Axel the Sot is one of our favorites. He sings boozy, bawdy tunes and has a wicked sense of humor. We caught his milder show on Sunday. There was a frankly lewd version later in the day but I wouldn't have brought the kiddies to the one we saw.

As you can see, Axel made a special friend before the performance. He's a friendly chap and quite outgoing when he has a drink in his hand.

TOMORROW: the return of gratuitous cuteness.
 

Delft, Via Uluru

We made it out yesterday to the St. Louis Renaissance Faire, which takes place in May and June on the edge of the metro area. The conceit is that this is "Petit Lyon" of 1518. The lords, ladies, peasants and knights of 16th Century France walk about with the most outrageous fake French accents, right up in this league. As we left, one of the cast bid me au revoir.  Jusqu'à l'année prochaine, I replied. Say what?

The young lady above might have posed for Vermeer. What she's doing with a didgeridoo I haven't the faintest. The man in the second photo could be looking for Velasquez's studio or a disreputable Mexican cantina. 

I'm going to run with this all week. Jousting! Sword play! Gratuitous cuteness! Shrek!           

And While We're On The Subject

This isn't quite like the wrecks in yesterday's post but some merchant has fallen on hard times. Maybe the proprietor should have broadened the product line. The place looks open for business in the photo on Google Street View.

This is at Jefferson and Shenandoah on the South Side. The area is a mixture of not-so-hot, hipsters and urban homesteaders. The photo was taken just a week ago so I think that tree out front is a goner.

       

City Daily Photo June Theme Day: The Beauty Of Decay

Hey, this is a Midwestern rust belt city. We got a good supply of decay (although no place can hold a candle to Detroit - see here for some brilliant video about that). I've been cruising The Lou's run-down industrial areas looking for images and found plenty.

I couldn't pick just one. Since, as Mae West said, too much of a good thing can be wonderful, I'm posting a few of my favorites. Pick your own. 

Have a look at beautiful examples of the second law of thermodynamics from around the world on City Daily Photo here.