Aloha to the Maryland Renaissance Festival - The Royal Court

The merriment continues at the Maryland Renaissance Festival (link). 

From this year's storyline (link),

The year is 1520. King Henry VIII with his Queen, Katherine of Aragon, and their royal court visit the village as part of their annual summer progress.

Joining the English Court are visitors from Ferrara and Mantua: Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara along with his sister, the famous Isabelle d'Este, Marchesa of Mantua, her sister-in-law Elisabetta Gonzaga, Duchesss of Urbino, and the great poet, Ludovico Ariosto. Ariosto plans to present a copy of his epic poem, Orlando Furioso, to the King.

The royal jesters brought smiles to the crowds.

The Duchess of Buckingham laughed with the crowd.    Her maid looks like the Vermeer's GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING (link).

The Duchess entertains a French nobleman.  Perhaps the witch below enjoyed herself too much!

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to the Maryland Renaissaince Festival - Bagpipes, BellyDancing, and Stilts!

The crowd enjoyed the beautiful sun ....

... and eagerly awaited the hypnotic sounds ...

... of the Bagpipes! 

Cu Dubh delighted the audience with Highland Music ....

It is music for the warrior in all of us. The long boat is here. The wolves are loose. The Ould Ways are back!

Cu Dubh invited Courtney, a renowned bellydancer, to join the fun!

We watched in awe as this stilt walker managed the sloping ground throughout Reveler's Grove.

A great time was had by all!

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to the Maryland Renaissance Festival - Costumes Galore!

This weekend, I returned to the Maryland Renaissance Festival (link).   While I waited for my friend, I took pictures of the gorgeous costumes ....

How about a traditional Medieval dress and brocade vest?

Or something a little more whimsical? 

The family that dresses together, enjoys the Festival together!

How about the Little Princess?

Or a man in a kilt?

Above are costumed characters from the story line (link) - the Countess of Salisbury and the Countess of Devon.  

The year is 1520. King Henry VIII with his Queen, Katherine of Aragon, and their royal court visit the village as part of their annual summer progress.

Below is the Sirena (link),

Sirena is a theatrical stage show containing three mythic female characters, stylized movement, and all original music.

They came outside the gate to entertain those standing in line.  

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Fort Meade - Burba Lake

Fort Meade is home to Burba Lake.  

It attract the Canadian geese ...

... who populate the post during their winter migration.

The lake is a essential part of the post's ecosystem.

During our previous assignment on Fort Meade, my husband served as the Cubmaster.  He used this bridge for the Cub Scouts to "bridge over" to higher ranks.

Military families can fish from Burba Lake and host picnics at the pavilion.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to the Baltimore Book - Kilted Men, Scottish Romance, and Military Heroes

I noticed a giant Scrabble board near the Maryland Romance Writers (link) stage.  How appropriate that the word kilt had been played ...

... here is Eliza Knight (link) and her hunky hero!

These kilted men inspired the panelists for the Scottish Highlander Romance panel ....

... with Eliza, Diana Cosby (link), Kate Poole (link), and Terri Brisbin (link).   Watch that sword, Terri!

The military romance panel included Elisabeth Staab (link), Robin Covington (link), Geri Krotow (link), and Laura Kaye (link).  

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

The RomVets - Tamara, Diana, Geri, and moi!

Aloha to the Baltimore Book Festival - Maryland Romance Writers and Blogging About Books

After taking a few photos at the Comic Book Pavilion, I beelined to the Maryland Romance Writers (MRW) Stage.   I arrived just in time for the panel discussion, "Blogging About Books":

Book bloggers will talk about running a successful book blog, working with authors and publishers, how to keep their fans engaged, and offer authors tips for building successful relationships with book bloggers.

Let's do a few close ups ...

On the right is Stacey O'Neale, staceyoneale.com.

On the left is Jen Fisher.  Her personal blog is Jenuine Cupcakes, jenuinecupcakes.blogspot.com.   Thus, she brought cupcakes!   Jen also contributes to Young Adult Book Central, yabookscentral.com.

Here is Stephanie Sinclair, Cuddlebuggery Blog, cuddlebuggery.com.

On the right is Jillian Stein, Read-Love-Blog, read-love-blog.com.   On the left is Joy Harris, Joyfully Reviewed Blog, joyfullyreviewed.com.   

Not pictured individually is Hannah McBride, The Irish Banana Review Blog, theirishbanana.blogspot.com.

These bloggers were articulate, enthusiastic, and encouraging about books, reviews, and readers.  They believe in honest reviews while respecting authors.  The moderator, Lea Nolan, leanolan.com, noted that authors are often "intimidated" by bloggers.  These bloggers made it clear that it is not their intent to intimidate any author, but rather celebrate good books.   Thus, I suggest authors support these bloggers.

Next - Scottish Highlander Romance with Diana Cosby, Eliza Knight, Terri Brisbin, and Kate Poole.  

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

RT magazines were available at the MRW Stage.

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!