In which America goes Green.

They're kind of Celtic heritage crazy over here. I thought the Scottish festival last year would be a highlight of Richmond's festival year. Turns out that ain't got nothing on St. Patrick's.

The celebrations start early:

 St. David barely got a look-in, nor time in which to check out, 

before St. Patrick was already making his mark on Monument in early March. 

(I got excited at 66pence Tree in buying dollar decorations for Emily, the Celtic roommate,
in honour of her favourite festival as well as shamrock straws & button badges for us all.) 

Then there's the festivals. Plural. This weekend had Shamrock the Block, a free event in Shockoe Bottom with bands playing, habitual beer & food vendors, a wee bit of Irish dancing, some crafty stalls & a whole load of stalls selling schizzle. Bring on the green hoof.

*does however shake head at the
inflammatory Orange choice.

What impressed me most on arrival being the  

Spontaneous Costume Flashmob.

So awesome. An entire sea of green. I liked the level of creativity. Items of clothing from out of people's own regular wardrobes: sweaters, socks, dresses, shirts, hoodies, leggings. Those who'd accessorised on arrival with hats or beads or newly-bought t's.
Others sporting shirts from previous years. There was maybe one person in every twenty who didn't subscribe to the colour code. 
A whole lot to look over & take in! I was glad I'd added my shiny sequinned shamrock hairpiece ~ a wee themed gift from Sue.

DASCH IN A HAT.

And as for the visiting dogs, 

Oh my.

They had 

a section of stalls all to themselves 

with biscuits 

& bedding & treats galore.

The word was out for rain but we got lucky with plenty of sun instead.

Enjoy responsibly.
And so responsibly, not even a drop!

  

Sunday itself - & that's Paddy, not Patty*  - 

 we enjoyed some Manly Man-made Irish coffee apiece.

*C'mon America, for once you get to legitimately keep your double d!

Sláinte!

Ah, would you look at that grin?!
(In top-layer green today. Much improved.)

Best food on this plate?  The soda bread. WIN.

Back at the apartment, my Celtic roomie had her mom visiting from MI 

& cooking up an Irish feast for us all. 

(Don't you love how festivals are generally
three-quarters all about the food?) 

 Then next weekend, the theme continues with the Church Hill Irish Festival, "traditionally held the weekend after St. Patrick's Day", there's the Parade, music, harpists playing in St. John's Church, dancing, drinking...  More craic yet to come!
 

An After-Work Adventure.

Friday was sunny, warm & bright. I received my orders at lunchtime:

Pick you up 5ish. Have walking shoes and pack some going out clothes, please.

 Our destination? Past sleeping trains, making-the-most-of-newly-Spring Forward nights 

 

with an evening walk by the James. 

 There's usually a way to boulder-hop & find a beach but the tide was high,
making such kind of progress unlikely.

End of Path. Beginning of Water.

Not to be outdone, we crossed the footbridge over to land on Belle Isle. 

... One big Bucket List tick!  

Hollywood rapids across from Hollywood Cemetery;

the lake beside the quarry;

 signs relating to the POW camp held during the Civil War 

('a prison without walls');

the disused hydro plant & the one remaining wall of the old mill: 

Mmm, decay.

 

Pretty darn lovely. 

Followed by tapas for tea at Emilio's with a sprinkling of Jazz.

Ah, Fridays.... 

A Pink Moment.

Partway through Tech & a bundle of costume notes, 

I was asked to add a "pink moment" to Freddy's fedora.

Ta-dah!

The wordage stems from my colleague Sarah's experience one summer. 

Following a slight mishap with a shirt, she was advised by the costume shop manager on 

a 'decorative moment' to cover up. Now we have magic with moments for everything!

A Week (or so) In Pictures

 We had a Snow Day...

... which meant work was off
but curling up in sofas & watching the snow fall & fall & fall

& the evening's weather report
plus endless repeats of Happy Days was very much on. 

There was Lots of Tech, 

& eventually, an Opening...

... which meant an awful lot 
as it reminded me an awful lot as to why we really do the jobs we do;
of light at the end of Tech Week's tunnel;

of theatre & friendships & gratitude.

Along with a Talkback on Opening Night,
including the lady behind the whole conception of the show, Eileen Mitchard.
Having the show at the Rep's still a pretty big deal, this being only
its second premiere since it first opened. We are happy to host it!

There's been review after review after review

along with a bunch of lovely photos from Jay Paul, including

the Red & Black attack featuring that oh-so-'sultry black dress' !

BC & I met up Sunday to tick off my Bucket List choice & ponder our future as joint boutique owners, owing to that "nice collection of costumes" we'd designed.

  ... I'd paused by the door of Strawberry Street café on the day of our dreary museum date as a ready escape from the rain-soaked streets. BC had told me then to hold out for a better time, for greater things ~ beginning with Brunch. 

                                           What better way to spend a lazy Sunday morning?!

  

A buffet served out of a bath-tub!

The place being packed full proved its popularity
so I figured it had been
well worth the wait. 

 

We managed about six courses between us before it was time to head. 

Definitely worth a revisit.

It was a very sunny Sunday too. 

Cue a spot of afternoon rooftop sunbathing with the roomies.

My American birthday on '03/12/13' as well as my half year of RVYay!

 Drinks for Luke's birthday & an initiation into Beer Pong
(more Pong, more water; less Beer in our particular homemade version.)

Tunes & Pints for Molly's birthday (HF's "Myra"), coming over all Irish
with music & craic at Rosie Connolly pub on S.17th in Shockoe Bottom. 

Fancy beer glass.

Awesome signage.
-  You gotta be careful between London & the North East.

 (BC also made tree magic happen. ^ ^ ^ )

Joey had comps from his recent overhire at Richmond Shakes. so took his three ladies for a rare evening actually out & at the theatre to see The Tempest. Shakespeare's swansong has never been quite so well deconstructed 

as post-performance on our car journey home. 

                                 
(Question: What do you get if you put a chippie, a sparkie,
                                 a paint girl & a stitchbitch together? 
 
                                                                       Answer: Exactly!/See above.) 

Work-wise, my suits are now fully sized & in order!

You're looking at Chest 41" - 42" right here.

A visit to meet Mr. Marks on Grace & Third.

  

Making dresses fly to spruce up Front of House at Willow Lawn: 

 











 

Making the most of the lull between shows at
the November to replenish tour stock.
Marcia & I made a new dress between us;
my responsibility being the bodice.

Re-introducing Mrs. Cratchitt of  "A Christmas Carol"

  We've also moved onto preparations for the next fundraiser event:

The 16th Annual Fairy Tale Ball,
a benefit event for The Children's Theatre of Virginia (Willow Lawn).

This year's theme? Pirates & Princesses!

We've made acquaintance with Lyle, Lyle Crocodile.
Here's another storybook character for you all to meet...

The Paper Bag Princess.

(I'm working on her costume at present;
that's the fabric just behind the picture.)

Privileged.

Llandudno, January 2013

 "I am a warrior 

& they are my fallen comrades." 

                                                ~ "Breast in Show"

"Every relationship is a gift exchange."

 “He loved working in theatre - he lived and breathed it.
He just absolutely loved going to the shows and being a part of everything.
As well as shows in Scarborough, he worked on a number of touring productions
in cities such as London.

   He was just a really all-round nice, genuine guy. He was a true gentleman and would help anybody. He was popular, good fun and had a great sense of humour. He was a colleague and a great friend and we worked and played together and had good times. It’s such a shock. He will be very sadly missed.”

 Tributes.

He thanked me so many times for time spent together; a hug; an adventure; a listening ear; another chance to pick up our cameras & explore the current locality.
It was never any bother though, there was always pleasure to be found in his company,
his loyalty, his humour. He served me just as well by being there. By being himself. 
.....

 

Darling boy, I raise my glass to you. I chose this one for you.
I just wish you were here to share it with me.  xx

A Bliss-ful Breakfast & Cosy Canine Evening.

  Thought I'd share some backstage photos of the last three weeks
in Hay Fever, following all this talk of Tea, Breakfast & "Jaaaackie".

(Aaron Sutten took some wonderful ones in performance.)

My vantage point from SL, technically in "the library" where coffee cups get broken, sugar bowls are taken & people variously kiss or  hide. (Kind of appropriate as I spent most of our spare time reading.)
 

^ Up above my head at SL, the stairs leading to the landing
where I'd hide in Act I to collect Daddy Bliss's breakfast tray.

Act III. Breakfast is served.

Eggs, Bacon & "Haddock".

Rainman gets to work on spraying the windows for Act III.

This beautiful bit of 20s art inspired the design of Maggie's dress for Act II.

Due to Fauxpening, the Hay Fever cast never had the chance to celebrate properly the start of the run. Daddy Bliss set the matter straight in kindly hosting the After Show at his home on Sunday evening. It was a cosy, companionable evening as he regaled us with stories. 
He's also a man of film & television but it was talk of his theatrical touring career which provided the most conversational fodder & subequent laughter.

 

I was also happy 

to meet my 

poodle namesake, 

Nicky (left)

 & Charlotte, 

 a beardy beagle cross (right). 

Had lots of lovely hugs with them!

 

WiP....

Gown. Glittery? Check! 


Our fabric field trip on Wednesday proved a successful outing,
with additional highlights:

Drive-by photographing of Yarn Bombing on Broad.

 I ate my first Peep, in pink rabbit form.
(Sarah has been crafting in readiness with the same.)

_______________

From green sequins onto red ....

After my many endeavours of the week, I earned myself a promotion:
Co-Cos Des.