Ah, January. You're my favorite -Uary of 2011 (so far)!
My month began on a stoop in Manhattan with Anthony and I at odds with a young girl who works for Howard Stern and was bemoaning her lack of boyfriend in 2011. The rats were celebrating, too, it seemed, having taken to the streets in larger than usual numbers. Insensitive to the girls plight, my oldest friend and I simply teased her with the threat of a rat onslaught: Yes. I can be a caustic drunk. We lost our little peruvian friend, but knew if any one could navigate the city on new years, alone, it would be him. The first day of January was spent largely pantless eating Thai and playing Dragon Age: Origins.
A few days later was my biggest travel blitz yet: a 12 hour bus ride followed by a 2 hour flight. I took the China bus from New York to Charlotte. The China Bus, for those who have never heard, is a nightly 30 dollar trip from New York to Charlotte. They run to many cities up and down the east coast for really great rates. I discovered why on my inaugural trip with them. I knew I was in for something magical when I was in Chinatown at 10pm crossing East Broadway and both the Walk and Don't Walk signs were simultaneously illuminated. I approached the address on Canal st. to find a mass of luggage bearing people waiting on the street. A small shop was full of a yelling mass, 4 people behind the counter busily sorting through the confusion. I turned in my printed Eticket for a real ticket, and was directed 'Around the corner'. What followed was a free-for-all of passengers stowing their own luggage and storming the bus. I'd been assigned a seat, sure, but apparently that mattered little. I slept fitfully and was picked up behind the Oriental Seafood Market on Central in Charlotte 12 hours later. I returned to my parents house to quickly grab what I'd need for my Miami trip and hopped a plane for Saint Petersberg.
Jef and I spent the week leading up to FLARF dismantling the Decorating Elves work we'd done in December, and taking in the delicious cooking of the Hall's new roommate, Jeff S. There may have also been a sizable quantity of Bud Lite Lime consumed, but it's Florida- 'When in Rome...'- but I ain't complainin'! The time passed quickly, and we hit the road for Miami to begin weekend one of the Florida Renaissance Festival!
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The week between fair dates Jef and I spent taking down the last of our lighting installs and taking it easy. There's a new addition to my list of favorite places: Mazzaro's in St. Pete- an amazing deli/grocery. The food was amazing, and I was able to find a long-sought after cheese: Drunken Goat. Seriously- go find it. It's incredible. I also had a pretty tasty sparkling cucumber drink that was really refreshing! I finally managed to grab a camera to improve these journal entries, and soon enough the three days had passed, and it was time for us to hit the road again for Miami.
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On Saturday, we had some fans from BARF out to see us,and were incredibly supportive audience members at all of our shows! Saturday night, Jef and I had dinner with Tim and Cassy at the Rusty Pelican in Key Biscayne. I had a delicious Lobster and Crab pasta, and a Mexican coffee-Kahlua and lime- after dinner when we hung out by the fire pit on the beach outside the restaurant. I slept like a rock that night, thanks to all the friendly drinkin'.
Sunday was our best day at FLARF, with four really rockin' shows and a great day all around. One of the great things about this show-among many great things- is the presence of my good friends the Pantry Pirates. I worked with these darlings at NYRF selling the delicious Popeye Quesadillia, and here in Miami they were rockin' a delicious frybread stand. I enjoyed their food almost exclusively for two weekends, and Sunday night I joined them for a sushi dinner in Miami to celebrate the birthday of Mrs. Katy the Pirate captain.
Sunday was odd, because it was technically the last day of the fair, but Monday was a student day...so the energy was strange, but great. The last pubsing of FLARF ended with a massive superstar jam consisting of The Lost Boys, Wolgemut, The Iron Hill Vagabonds, and Manolete. They played 'Stairway to Heaven' and it was really incredible. Closing a fair is always so bittersweet.
Monday was a big crazy student day, as 5,500 middle school and high school students descended on the Fair. We had two shows and they went well, and as it was a short day, we were able to hit the road by three. The drive back was as uneventful as it should be, and we got back in the evening for some delicious left over steak and an early bedtime.
Back on the home front in Carolina, my darling cats have finally been successfully re-homed. Arlo has gone to live with a delightful woman and her family who responded to a Craigslist ad, while Macy has been adopted by the daughter of a close family friend. I'm thrilled for them both, though of course I'll miss them terribly.
In a few days I head back to NC for a week before flying out to Arizona to work a booth at AZRF. I'm excited to return to the desert, where all my current adventures began, and after that, the Twins have a few irons in the fire, so there's no telling where Lucio might end up. I'm incredibly excited for 2011, and can't wait to see what happens!
