FriendsOfMDRF.org - THE BLOG!

Link: http://www.renconvention.com

SPECIAL DISCOUNT OFFER FOR MARYLAND RENFAIRE FANS: Take 25% off ANY TICKET for Rencon: the Rencon Passport, Day tickets and the Masquerade Balls. Just use this Discount Code MDFAIR2010 when you checkout at the RenCon webstore.

Link: http://renaissancefestivalmusic.com/category/ren_fest_awards/

Once again, our faire (or lovers of it) showed up in the top five of almost every listing!

Of course we are most excited at our own Third Place showing in the top five RenFaire Communities! Here's some of the other listings associated with MDRF:

Best Renaissance Festival - #2 MDRF
Best Musical Group - #2 Pyrates Royale, #5 Rogues
Best Comedy Musical Act - #1 Hey Nunnie Nunnie, #5 O'Danny Girls
Best Street Performance - #2 Emrys Fleet – The Rat Catcher
Best Stage Combat Group - #1 Fight School
Best Bawdy Act - #3 O'Danny Girls, #5 The Interpreters
Best Children’s Act - #2 Patrick Franz – Robin Hood and St. George & the Dragon
Best Opening Gate Show - #1 Maryland Renaissance Festival
Best Closing Gate Show - #4 Maryland Renaissance Festival
Best Royalty - #1 Maryland’s Royal Court
Best Shop Vendor - #2 Moresca
Best Faire Web Community - #3 FRIENDSOFMDRF.ORG
Best Renaissance Festival Magazine - #2 Faire Magazine, #3 The Pyrates Way

We're now entering that phase where there's not a lot of news from MDRF and folks are starting to pack their garb away until next season. Vendors have begun to winterize their huts and the grounds of Revel Grove are growing silent as the last leaves are falling.

There's still a bit of paper trash here and there, mostly that have fallen from trees, blown there by several storms during the season. Critters have started returning in small numbers, snacking on whatever small bits of food were dropped in unseen corners.

So as the county of Oxfordshire settles in for a quiety 290 days or so, so does our blog slow down a bit.

But please come back every once in a while as you never know what might be in store for the next season . . . and how early the news might leak out!

Sir Black Fox

As in previous years, upon the Monday morning after the closing day of the season, I select who I think is a good representation of our membership and sings our praises.

Another man has been selected and will join the ranks of (2009) Sir Dragon/Ron Santos, (2008) Scotsman/Greg Moore, (2007) Captain Chelle/Michelle Campbell, (2006) Magpie/Angi Bynum, (2005) Amras Elfwine/Kevin Arrington, (2004) Lumpy/Ken Leyhe, (2003) Noir Cyn/Cynthia Kimball, (2002) Sir Black Fox/Steve Kimball as the 2010 Friend of the year. . . . . a mighty huzzah to. . . .

Sir Dante/Mike Dantuono

Mike is so devoted to our membership that he had the logo added to his RV's spare tire cover!

Mike is always at faire with his lovely wife Joanne (named after the fabric store) and is more than happy to share a story, a beer, and a smile. He's a wonderful friend and considered a brother to many of us.

Hearty Huzzahs to ye, Mike!

"I didn't think about posting this earlier (as I naturally assume that *everybody* watches Pub Sing to the very end), but yesterday was the last performance Drake Mallard/Paul DiBlasi as a member of the Pyrates Royale (at least at Maryland, and at least as a regular member - I wouldn't be surprised to see him show up like Damon/Louis once a year or so). He said that he wanted to work with Janie (Meneely) more to help get her music heard, and presumably to spend more time with her. "

Thus said our good friend Will Paisley about the retirement of Mallard Drake of The Pyrates Royale. To Check out the followup responses to this announcement, check here: http://fomdrforg.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=facts&thread=1214&page=1