Raven Jake Dawes

Big Plans for L.A.'s 230th Birthday

Folks, it's L.A.'s 230th and the San Gabriel Mission's 240th this weekend. We got over to the mission last night just in time for the bell ringing, but there is a full-blown fiesta in effect with food and carnival rides and the whole works.

The San Gabriel Historical Association Museum will be open on Saturday, Sept. 3rd. 1:00-4:00. They just received a copy of an oral history of Eulalia Perez de Guillen Marine, and Helen Salazar let us take a sneak peak at it last night. It's a copy of the 1957 typed English translation, and it's in Eulalia's section of the museum. This one's got a little extra info in it, maybe things that other people don't think are as important - a little anecdote about buried treasure, and some funny little songs she sang to Thomas Savage when he interviewed her. If you ask me, that's the best part. Here's the address of the museum - I'm fixing to meet up with some of the Old Spanish Trail Association Rancho Chapter around 1, then headin' out to the mission.
546 W. Broadway, San Gabriel, Ca. 91776, Museum phone (626) 308-3223 

The mission website is down with a virus, but they've got a jam-packed schedule over the weekend. I'm hoping to catch the blessing of the kids and animals at 1:45. If y'all have a particularly cute llama or offspring, or just one that's in dire need of being blessed, you ought to haul it on down there today. The mission staff is very accommodating and can handle a blessing in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, and they've got support staff that can bless in Chinese, if that's the language your Pekingese understands the best. They even have a super-tall priest, if you're bringin' a giraffe. (Sadly, that ain't me - this year. But it's on my list)

I heard that there's a Tongva tour of the mission grounds at 2, and John Fantz, docent extrordinare, is telling a mission story at 5. So there's something for everybody. After 5 we've got to clear out, 'cause Capt. Tim Ream is heading back up to Oregon and we'll need to swing by Lucky Baldwin's to see him off. There's a bunch of stuff goin' on in the Pueblo too, if that's where you'd rather celebrate. Come by and say "hi!"  - I'm wearin' my red Scully gambler shirt, so you can't miss me!

LA County Fair Coming Up Sept 3 - Oct 2, 2011

In keeping with my resolution to try to promote some events before they actually happen, LA County Fair's coming up. Now I've got to admit, I haven't really been over the moon about the fair for a while, so we'll see how this one goes. I like the animals and the more "country" aspects - the 4H kids etc. Don't much care for the "as seen on tv" product demonstrations, shows featuring the bands of the '70s, and spin-til-you-barf carnival rides. Now I know for a fact that Los Angeles County still has some agricultural soul left, but can we still hold a decent fair? I'm ready to be impressed, LA...

Raven Jake at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire

On Saturday, we took a little trip on over to the Renaissance Pleasure Faire which,  unfortunately, ended today. I'll make it a point to get over there earlier next season, which generally translates to April - May.

Over to the right, I'm in the stocks. Someone else got "naughty" as their crime description - I got the second best, Pig Thief. Know what? I didn't see your name on it, friend.

I haven't actually been to the Faire in years, and I'm pleased to see that it's grown a bunch. And ladies, there's nothing wrong with being a healthy mammal, so go ahead and flaunt it. I will be offering my quiet support.

Over here on the left, we have the Poxy Boggards, one of my favorite "specialty bands" - actually, they self-describe as a "drinking band with a singing problem," and that sums it up pretty neatly. Just in case you're not hearing all the innuendo and off- color references, there is a sign language interpreter to the left of the stage to illustrate all the lyrics in vivid detail. Yes, they have a PG-rated act as well, but we were short of time and ended up in the NC-17 area. Just in case you were under the impression that life was boring in the 1500s - it wasn't. Read Chaucer.

Also on my exciting firsts list - jousting.

That stunt crew surely earns it, what ever "it" is. Knights in full armor knock each other off their mounts, then have at it with a variety of medieval weapons. The fact that no one has been brained with a morningstar is rather amazing, all things considered.

Of course, there's the shopping and the beer, the leering and the educational displays and the Queen and the historical reenactors.

So there's something for everybody. The dress code is pretty darned eclectic too. Got your hard-core Renaissance realists, the steampunks, the retro-goths, the pirates, the faeries, the barbarians, and some looks that just defy genre. So come as you are or want to be, and have a good time.