Østgarðr Commons, Aug. 16, 2013
Transcribed by Stephen Bloch

Viceroy: Province well represented in Champions lists at Pennsic
An Dubh challenge will be at Huntington again next year; need autocrat
Seasons' Beatings 1/18… no, let's get back to upcoming events later.

Knight Marshal: Lou is running practices every week.  Several new fighters, not yet authorized.  Armor workshops productive.

Archery: 2 practices (Cedar Creek & Staten Island) continue.  Only 2 people at Og populace archery shoot at Pennsic; I was on the champions' team, which won all three of its possible points.  Arrow-building workshop at next Northern A&S.

A&S: Lots of stuff going on.

Brokenbridge: working on banners, Queen's favors, …

Vicereine: not much news

Lions End: no monthly meeting due to Pennsic, but two people showed up.

Lion in the Mediterranean event: no date, site, etc.

Chamberlaine: New G&W pavilion worked well at Pennsic; we didn't need to rent a Grimm's for that purpose.  It will be brought to Barleycorn

Chronicler: Seahorse nominated for Blackfox award (Best Overall Newsletter) again.

Web: nothing much.  Seeking a successor.

Exchequer: report was filed.  Handed over files to Richard (in front of witnesses).  "For the first time in 35 years, I hold no office in the Society for Creative Anachronism."

Seneschal: Bank has not actually processed signature cards we gave them months ago; Mitch & I will try again tomorrow.
EK posted a General Call for bids for Twelfth Night.
Photos of Ervald & Agrippa appeared in Riverdale press.
We are now official sponsor for Incipient Shire of Nordenfjord.
Current officers whose terms are coming up: Are you interested in continuing?  If not, are you willing to continue if we can't find a replacement?

Northpass: Barleycorn will happen.  Florentine event will probably still happen, despite conflict with Coronation.  Got several newcomers recently.

Whyt Whey: Cloisters demo will happen 9/29; watch this space for parking info.

Past events & demos:
Riverfest went well; total attendance seemed down.  Lori not sure she wants to do it next year.

> Upcoming events & demos:
Barleycorn: need volunteers.  Valgard running a couple of tourneys (and delegating some for when he can't be there).  Targai is Fencing Champ; will run a tourney to choose his successor.  Nordenhalle coming en masse.  Mitch doing feast; could use assistance.  Most information is on-line already.  Feast reservations 1/3 full.  Tents, yurts, etc. as in past years.

Florentine event: probably happening on originally-scheduled date, but still confirming staff availability.

Queens Farm demo: had on-site discussion this past week.  Can come in and set up on Friday.  9/21-22.  Some discussion of legality of archery demo near school.  Law seems to say "you can't do it," but there are lots of schools that teach archery or have archery clubs, so there must be an exemption somewhere.  Will research.

Bellmore Street Fair demo: Sherre plans to do only Saturday 9/21. 

Nordenfjord Novice Schola 10/26: Stan sent proposed budget.  Site is a senior center; in order to get it for free, we have to let in any senior associated with the center.  We'll comp them.  Total budget $300, requested in advance.  Budget approved 12-0-1.  Advance is small, but advances have sometimes caused problems in the past.  Mitch points out that we have frequently advanced for Og events; this is an Og-sponsored event in another group, so this would set a new precedent.

Musicians' Day: not happening this year; will aim for November 2014.

Considering doing a Brew U at Blue Mountain in Marchish.
Wilhelm points out that Tavern is currently scheduled for first weekend in March.

Val: need autocrat for An Dubh-Ostgardr Challenge (some time in Spring 2014).

Would like to resurrect Agincourt for 2014 (600th anniversary!); need autocrat and site.  Mitch & Debbie autocratted the first Agincourt, and volunteered to run this one.

Seasons' Beatings 1/18, free event.  Have "an idea of a site".

Twelfth Night: No interest in preparing a bid for Twelfth Night.  Motion passed overwhelmingly.

Upcoming Meetings: 9/20 under G&W pavilion at Queens Farm.
10/18: Maria volunteered (in Astoria, near Triboro Bridge, Astoria Blvd subway stop)
If Kapajs' want to do it, Maria could do 11/15 instead.

Officers' Meeting: Nov. 10 somewhere up north.

New business: Guy discussed ideas about financial organization: An Dubh has separate funds dedicated to various activities (archery, fighting, fencing, regalia, etc.).  Would still need approval to spend money, but having it in a quasi-dedicated sub-account might psychologically encourage more activity.

River War is now conflicting with Barleycorn: not their fault, as their site changed the date availability on them.

September Commons will be Friday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, New York 11004-1129

The commons will be held under the Green and White (a.k.a. the provincial shade canopy) near the apple orchard.  If possible, please remember to bring light sources, chairs and bug spray.  Also, food at the commons will be pot luck.

DIRECTIONS

By Car
➦from Brooklyn, Manhattan , Queens (West):  Grand Central Parkway East to Exit 24 (Little Neck Parkway) make right onto Little Neck Parkway and drive 3 blocks to Museum or Long Island Expressway East to Exit 32 (Little Neck Parkway) make right onto Little Neck Parkway and drive 1 ½ miles to Museum.

➦from Long Island (East):  Northern State Parkway West into Grand Central Parkway West to Exit 24 (Little Neck Parkway) make left onto Little Neck Parkway, drive 3 blocks to Museum or Long Island Long Island Expressway West to Exit 32 (Little Neck Parkway) make left onto Little Neck Parkway, drive 1 ½ miles to Museum.

➦from the Bronx (North):  95 South to the Throgs Neck Bridge to Clearview Expressway south to Exit 1, Grand Central Parkway East to Exit 24 (Little Neck Parkway) make right onto Little Neck Parkway and drive 3 blocks to Museum.

or take Whitestone Bridge to Cross Island Parkway to exit 29 East, Grand Central Parkway East to Exit 24 (Little Neck Parkway) make right onto Little Neck Parkway and drive 3 blocks to Museum.

Subway & Bus:
E or F Train to Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike Station
Q46 Bus (eastbound on Union Tpk.) to Little Neck Parkway Stop
Cross Union Tpk and walk North on Little Neck Pky 3 blocks to Museum Entrance

Long Island Railroad (LIRR):

Take Hempstead Line to Floral Park Station, where Triple-A car service is located (24hr service, 7 days a week; call 516-328-8888) - approximately $10 for two people.
or take Port Washington Line to Little Neck Station, where Ollie's car service is located (24hr service 7 days a week; call 718-229-5454)- approximately $15 for two people.

Both LIRR stations are approximately 2-1/2 miles from the farm.

The Q36 bus runs from the Little Neck Station to the farm from Monday - Friday ONLY...not on weekends.  

Queens County Fair Demo, Sept. 21-22

Queens County Farm Demo - Ostgardr's longest running demo is held annually at the Queen County Farm Museum on 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy in Glen Oaks (Queens), NY. The demo will be held on both Saturday 9-21 and Sunday 9-22.  As in past years, there is a field for fighting and fencing as well as some archery (and possibly thrown weapons?) space. There is also plenty of covered space for arts & science demonstrations of various kinds. The fair runs from 11 am - 6 pm on both days.  Demo participants must arrive at least 1.5 hours early or risk being charged at the fair gate.

If you can help with the Queens farm demo, please R.S.V.P. the demo organizers Baron Ian of Clan Mitchell and Baroness Katherine
Gillesfleur at ostgardr@hotmail.com

Bellmore Street Fair Demo, Sept. 21

Bellmore Street Fair Demo - Held in Bellmore in the Canton of Lions End, this demo has been held in the past few years. The demo will be held only on Saturday 9-21. Setup will begin at 9:00 A.M. with the demo lasting from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.-ish. There is room for fencing and fighting (though a fighting marshal has not yet been located) and a 20 ft. x 15 ft. area for A&S displays.

If you can help with the Bellmore Street Fair demo, please R.S.V.P.
the organizer Lady Alysaundre Sherrede Saforde
at sherre.seaford@gmail.com

Ft. Tryon Medieval Festival, Sept. 29

A Day in Florence, Oct. 4-6

Novice Schola, Oct. 26 [Incipient Shire of Nordenfjord, sponsored by Østgarðr]

We maintain a Webbed database of upcoming early-music concerts in the Østgarðr area. Click here for the latest.

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A Trip to Havre des Glaces

by Master Richard the Poor of Ely

At Crown Tourney this spring, I met Seigneur Jean-Oste de Murat, the Seneschal of the Barony of Havre des Glaces (Quebec City, QC). Impressed that someone would travel so great a distance to come to our Crown Province, I resolved to use up some of my vacation time to return the favor.

It happened that they would be investing a new Baron and Baroness on August 24 - the perfect time for me to drive up for a visit (during an extended weekend in Montreal - I wasn't going to make the trip up there all in one go).

One thing worth noting when you are driving in Canada is that the speed limit signs on highways serve as easy unit conversions. They use the metric system, and the highway speed maximum is 100 kilometers per hour. The minimum is 60 kph. This means that the speed limit signs will show, in big, bold numbers, both "100" and "60". This happens to be a convenient reminder that to the accuracy of your car's speedometer, 100 kilometers per hour is 60 miles per hour.

Anyway, the event itself was held at a school in the town of Levis, which is just across the St Lawrence River from Quebec City. It's the same situation as Hoboken and Manhattan... great views of the place you will never be able to afford to live in. Indeed, there was an awesome view of the city from the lot behind the school where the tourneys were held. I recalled the story of the Battle of Quebec in the French-Indian War, and commented to others in attendance how you could really see how the lay of the land forced the battle plan onto the British.

On display in the main hall was a hand-painted, actual size reproduction of the Bayeux Tapestry. I understand that it had recently returned from a visit to France, where it got to meet (and be displayed alongside) the original. This version was completed with a scene of William enthroned, followed by a group of a few people under the tituli (as I recall) "Omni Gaudiam" - or, in effect, "And there was much rejoicing"...

One other thing I liked that they did was that they had a room set aside as a "Quiet Room". The lights were turned off and cloth was draped over the windows. The only light was from small electric candles. Sofas and comfy chairs furnished the room. A well-covered CD player filled the air with soft Gregorian chants. A sign reminded people to keep quiet and not disturb the monks at their devotions. A great place to just rest and regroup for a few minutes...

Due to the necessity of bilingual presentations, Court was rather interesting - though no longer than it had to be. With one scroll, they actually had fun with the translation. The English reader was given lines saying that "this herald will not be paid for his work, since he is too dumb to understand what he is reading anyway..."

The feast started late and ran late (some things are universals). As I had to drive back to Montreal that same night (a three hour trip), I did not stay until it was truly over. But I must note that everything I had was unusual, interesting, and delicious. A sort of "parsnip porridge" started the feast. If you want to get people to eat parsnips, this is how to do it! In lieu of a salad, they had some sort of herb tart. It looked like someone had loosely packed lawn clippings into a pie crust, and then gently heated it. Didn't look appetizing, but boy was it tasty! The last thing I tried - and I had to stay until it was served - was the venison that had been spit-roasted on a grill all afternoon. No matter how late the feast ran, there was no way I was leaving without having a piece!

A quick farewell to my hosts, and it was back to Montreal. One other thing about driving in Canada. On the highways, the exits get their numbers according to the distance (in kilometers, of course) from the start of the highway. This makes judging your travel time easy. The difference between exit numbers is the distance in kilometers. And since you are travelling at the legal limit of 60 miles / 100 kilometers per hour, divide the distance in kilometers by 100 to get how many hours you have left to drive.