Aoha to the Baltimore Book Festival - Comic Book Pavilion

On Saturday, I rode the light rail to the Mount Vernon neighborhood for the Baltimore Book Festival (link).

The Baltimore Book Festival features hundreds of author appearances and book signings, 100+ exhibitors and booksellers, non-stop readings on multiple stages, cooking demos by celebrity chefs, poetry readings and workshops, panel discussions, walking tours, storytellers and hands-on projects for kids, street theater, live music, and a delicious variety of food, beer and wine.

Comic books, manga, and graphic novels drew families to the festival!

Who doesn't want to be a super hero?!?!

This girls made their own masks ...

... as the Wild Thing make an appearance!

I loved these Snugglies!

 

I was tempted to join the giant Scrabble game ... tomorrow I'll post pictures of the authors/panels sponsored by the Maryland Romance Writers (link).  

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Notice the four letter word ..... how romantic!

 

Aloha to Kauai (and H50 Season 4 Premiere)

Hawaii Five O (H5O) returned on Friday night for its Season Four Premiere.  In celebration of Hawaii, I share pictures from Linda, who recently visited Kauai.  Linda gives us a tour ...

Since it seems there is rain someplace on the island a lot of the time, there are always rainbows.

Spouting Horn near Poipu on the south end of the island.

Poipu Beach...popular for snorkeling and sea turtles.

Red dirt making red water on the island....on the road to Waimea Canyon.

Waimea Canyon.

Jo Jo's Shave Ice in Waimea....directly across the street from Waimea High School. A must have is shave ice when visiting there.

The Na Pali Coast as seen from the Kalalau.....you can't drive into the Na Pali Coast as there are no roads. Helicopters and boat rides are popular for seeing it, along with hiking the Kalalau Trail into it.

Another view of the Na Pali coast as seen from the Waimea Canyon area from the Kalalau Lookout.

And one more view of Na Pali from the Pu'u O Kila Lookou.

Queen's Bath near Princeville. Snorkeling is only safe at low tide. At high tide waves will crash into the bath and could easily sweep you out to sea.

Hanalei Valley.

The Wailua River..... people kayak on it and boats take visitors to the Fern Grotto attraction via the river.

Wailua Falls.....These were seen at the beginning of the show "Fantasy Island" back in the 1980's.

Snorkel gear can be rented by the day or week for really cheap at Boss Frog's. (Also probably at Snorkel Bob's too).

Beautiful Anini Beach. 

Kilauea Lighthouse and bird sanctuary.

Nene (Hawaiian Goose) that we saw at the lighthouse. We saw several of them here.

Grilled Banana.....I am not adventurous when it comes to eating new things, so it took me a while to take a bite out of it. It was delicious!

Mahalo, Linda, for sharing your gorgeous photos! 

Hawaiian Sunrise

Aloha to Fort George G. Meade

We previously lived on Fort Meade before moving to Hawaii. When we returned to Maryland, we chose to live off post.  Yet we frequent Fort Meade several times a week for the commissary, exchange, and even the bowling alley (where my teens are part of the youth league).    As they bowled, I grabbed my camera ...

From its website (link),

Authorized by an Act of Congress in May 1917, Fort Meade was one of 16 cantonments built for troops drafted for the war with the Central Powers in Europe. The present Maryland site was selected June 23, 1917 because of its close proximity to the railroad, Baltimore port and Washington D.C. The cost for construction was $18 million and the land sold for $37 per acre in 1917. The post was originally named Camp Meade for Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade, whose victory at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 proved a major factor in turning the tide of the Civil War in favor of the North. The 5,400 acres of land on which Fort Meade sits was originally owned by Maj. Samuel Snowden, a Revolutionary War hero.

Fort Meade offers a wide range of housing, including the historic brick homes which are allocated to Colonels.

The brick facades continue at the library, 

historic chapel,

and garrison headquarters. 

Fort Meade is conveniently near BWI airport, where many military personnel arrive from overseas deployment.  Above is Miss Northern Maryland Teen with goodie bags from the USO.

Expect more pictures from Fort Meade in the coming weeks!

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to the Maryland Renaissance Festival (part 2)

It wouldn't be a Renaissance Festival without a Celtic band .... 

.... the Rogues (link) entertained the revelers with their drums and bagpipes.

The Squire on the Wire was scheduled to follow The Rogues. He waited paitently ... on the wire ... for his performance.

Love this "steampunk" couple ... the ye olde shop keeper tried to tried to sell the lady more eyeglasses!

  
We headed to The Globe Theater for Skakespeare's Skum ... they performed Antony and Cleopatra, tongue and cheek.

Here's Caesar, acting like an Italian mafia boss.

Last, but not least, the food is fabulous!

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City  

Aloha to the Maryland Renaissance Festival (part 1)

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is underway in Crownsville (link). This annual event is the second largest Renaissance fair in the United States.  Each year, Revel Grove comes to life in the permanent set to create a 16th century English village.   The cast recreates a year in the reign of Henry VIII.

Upon entering the village gates (where weapons are prohibited), we met one of the knights who partake in the daily jousting match.   The knight explained how his armor protects him in battle.

Many revelers dress up in costume - these costumes are perfect for Romance conventions!

The village offers numerous venues to watch "ye olde entertainment". Our first stop - the Gatehouse Stage to see ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - an improv routine.   The gentle lady asked for a volunteer ....

... so my family pointed to my husband.

A showman himself, my husband added to the comedy.

The comedy team recruited another volunteer - the group of men had to answer questions from the audience, each adding one word to the answer. The improv troupe noted the volunteers are often funnier than themselves.

Musicians are scattered throughout the village, including this harp player.

These lasses join in the fun with their costumes.

At first, I thought this was Buddha, stretching, but it is a leprechaun.   It brought us luck as the next act was .... the Rogues, a Scottish pipe and drum band (link).   

Sigh.  Scotland.

I'll continue coverage of the Maryland Renaissance Festival, including the Rogues, in my next post.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City