A few months ago, I took a sea plane to the San Juan Islands. We went to Friday Harbor and had fish and chips overlooking the water. It's been raining all day and I'm particularly missing the summer, and this view, today. 

Medieval Festival

A few weekends ago, I went to the medieval festival at Ft. Tyron Park. Two of my friends came to NYC for the occasion, making it an even more memorable weekend. The festival was held right next to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Cloisters, which houses the Met's collection of medieval art. It's located on a hill overlooking the Hudson and includes a medieval-style cloistered herb garden. Ft. Tyron Park also happens to be far enough from Manhattan that it feels wild. So really, the perfect place for a medieval festival in NYC.

[Grand tournament stage where there was jousting and a live chess match]

Lately, I've just had a general appetite for Arthurian legends and medieval-inspired fantasies. Last spring, I wrote a paper interpreting Tristan und Isolde (favorite opera). Ever since recently learned that the Met Opera is kicking off their 2016 season with a new production of the opera, and working my way through Sir Thomas Mallory, I just love all things medieval fantasy right now. As such, spending a Sunday dressing up in  and wandering through a medieval festival/village couldn't have happened at a better time.

[Selfie somewhat (wishfully) inspired by this John William Waterhouse]

Also, I debuted the red wig I bought at New York Comic Con last year. I had my doubts about picking this color, but I am so happy I did. My friend spot-on in pointing out, when I was debating whether to go for red, that it was essentially that perfect shade of purplish-red that was clearly not a natural hair color, but just unnatural enough that it would work well as a fantasy, mage-type color. It's also really, really curly. One festival goer asked me if it was my natural hair. One can only wish.

[Picture of the full costume]

Sadly, we didn't get time to go visit artwork in the Met Cloisters. I've been before, so it wasn't too disappointing, but near the end of the festival, we popped in to see if we could wander around. The Cloisters were closing, but I did get the chance to look at the first set of displays. Seeing fellow festival enthusiasts wandering around, looking at medieval art, in Ren Faire garb made me so, so happy! It was an all around lovely day, and a really great first medieval festival in New York.

Lighthousekeeping

Tell me a story, Silver. 

What story?

The story of Tristan and Isolde.

In Tristan, the world shrinks to a boat, a bed, a lantern, a love-potion, a wound. The world is contained within a word - Isolde.

Where did love begin? What human being looked at another and saw in their face the forests and the sea? Was there a day, exhausted and weary, dragging home food, arms cut and scarred, that you saw yellow flowers and, not knowing what you did, picked them because I love you?

The world was made so that we could find each other in it. Already the world is fading, returning to the sea. My pulse ebbs with yours. Death frees us from the torment of parting. I cannot part with you. I am you.

The world is nothing. Love formed it.

The world vanishes without a trace.
What is left is love.

I just finished reading Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson, and her writing gives me chills. It's been a while since I've been so floored by a new book but this is such beautiful, poetic, passionate, perfect retelling of the operatic version of Tristan and Isolde, which I've always found doesn't get enough literary adaptation love. She absolutely captures the spirit of the opera and I just want to read it over and over again.

Also, so, so excited for the Met to do a new production of Tristan und Isolde in 2016. So excited.

Weekend Hiking

Hiking at Anthony's Nose this weekend was great! I love autumn in the East Coast. For reference point, we started at the level of the bridge.

Arthurian Legends

So recently, I've been making my way through a (translated/modernized) version of Sir Thomas Mallory’s version of Arthurian legends. Besides reminding me of how much I enjoyed my one medieval literature class in undergrad and how I wish I had more time to devote to the subject, it occurred to me that if this were a fandom, Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere would be the prototype of shipping wars. I'm sure the medieval fandom would have #TeamArthur and #TeamLancelot wars on Tumblr.

Also, Mallory's version of Tristan and Isolde prove that no matter what fandom I’m in, I will find side pairings much more compelling than the main parings, and they will undoubtedly be my OTP. Theirs will be the story that keeps me hooked on whatever I'm reading and watching. Inevitably, they will suffer what my friend has called the Curse of the Side Characters and be depressingly killed off before the finale, sometimes off-screen. (No, seriously, they die off-screen midway through somebody else's legend).

New York Comic Con 2015

So happy that I managed to buy a last minute three-day pass from my friend! New York Comic Con was a lot of fun. I'm never quite committed enough to make a cosplay, but I do love to play dress up. I've also recently discovered the fun of playing with wigs, so I re-used my Renaissance Faire costume from last weekend, including the flower wreath I bought from the medieval festival. I'm in a huge medieval/medieval fantasy/Arthurian legends mood at the moment anyways, so I was excited to have another chance to wear this costume. 

[I hugged a stormtrooper today]

[Javits Center, Outside of the Dealers Hall]

Princess Carolyn and Bojack! I was waiting in line for Eastern Championship tickets when I saw them. I ducked out of line and chased after them for a picture. Princess Carolyn had to forcibly pull Bojack into the frame because he couldn't hear through his mask. 

I actually made it to panels this year. On Saturday, we went to a panel on books to film adaptations. I came away with a good stack of books to read (the panel members mentioned a lot of books I hadn't read yet).

My friend and I managed to get tickets to the NYCC Eastern Championship of Cosplay on Saturday night. The costumes were amazing. The winner by far was a 9.5 foot tall Hulkbuster costume that moved and looked like it had come straight off of the movie set. Some of my other favorite costumes was a Zelda, a Queen Amidala (Senate gown) and a Lucy Westenra, who had taken apart an old chandelier to make her scepter.

[Picture of the winners of each category (film, anime/fantasy, video games, comics). These costumes were seriously impressive in person.]

Continuing the books theme, I went to a Sunday panel on Star Wars books. I was particularly excited to see Ian Doescher on the panel. He's the author of the Shakespearian Star Wars Trilogy, which rewrites each of the movies as a Shakespearian play. He read out loud from the latest, and last in the set, which was a reworking of Revenge of the Sith. Really great panel, even if I'm currently still heartbroken by the de-canonization of the Extended Universe.

[Ian Doescher reading out loud from his newest installment, "The Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge". ]

[Yay for Extended Universe representation. Also, envious of the amazing Mara Jade costume.]

On Sunday, I also did a closet Steampunk Alice in Wonderland cosplay with friends. I went as Alice, with a blue dress, black and white corset, steampunk goggles, lace gloves, headband, and curly wig that was obnoxiously bouncy.

[The group of us at Korea town after a successful con.]

I went to panels, dressed up, saw some amazing cosplays, spent a lot of time perusing the dealer's hall, and saw a Wookie riding by in a limo. All-in-all, an amazing, perfect, fandom-happy, nerdy weekend and I can't wait to start planning for next year!

Seattle

Seattle is one of the most picturesque places I know.

I mentioned to a friend that I know that I've been homesick when I'm not complaining about bridge traffic on the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge because I'm too busy enjoying how blue the water is. I really, really miss this place and I can't wait to spend the next month enjoying the Pacific Northwest in all its beautiful, summery, glory. Looking forward to time with friends and family, coffee, more coffee, bar-hopping in Capitol Hill, a Portland trip, wandering through Pike's Place Market, and visiting my advisors at UW again.