Yesterday, DJ and I went to the The Great Dickens Christmas Fair at cow palace. Its by the same promoters as the people who do the northern cali renfests. Last year, drei2 and I went, had too many hot toddies, walked around, ate some pies, and then left. I really liked it, although Im somewhat embarrassed to admit that since it def. attracts a certain subculture of people who like to dress up in Dickens-era clothing and talk in british accents. Plus, I really liked it last time, but since everyone I know has thought it was lame or heard it was lame, or whatever, I was somewhat tentative to take DJ.
I should have known that I would have nothing to worry about–DJ loved it, just as I do/did. Im a sucker for fake disneyland like towns and artificial environments, and he is too. The Dickens Fair is actually pretty ambient and festive and jovial, especially when you first walk in and smell roasted chestnuts and cinammon nuts and hear a live band playing waltzes in a grand ballroom where people in period clothing are swirling around and around. Its almost as if we were watching a movie of that time period being made.
We watched people dance for a while, and then we walked around the “town,” liesurely entering shops to try on top hats and bonnets or to play with handmade puppets. Then we pigged out on their version english fair food–shepherd pies and haggis and bangers and mash. There were so many weird things we saw, but I know that if i were to describe them out of context, they wouldn’t be as funny or as surreal as being there in this strange created environment. Food was awesome. We followed it up with drinks in one of the many bars. Both of us were a little toasted, and it was then that we decided to get our “victorian” portraits done.