Their Sentinel Excellencies, Master Ihon Vinson macFergus and Honorable Lady Isabeau Quiquandon invite all to the Barony of the Stargate’s Yule Revel

 ~ A Russian Christmas ~

The Festival is set in the 15th century after the first Sovereign of Russia, Ivan the Great, has asserted his independence from the Golden Horde. Celebrations are in order as the time for Father Frost approaches.

Championships
Compete for the honor of being the Stargate’s newest champions in:

Activities
Their Excellencies entreat performers throughout the land to come and practice their crafts for the populace.

CLASSES
A number of classes will be offered during the day at Stargate Yule. There's still room for more if anyone is interested in teaching something!

Assuming enough students are registered, there will be an all-day CPR and First Aid class starting at 10 am. There is a $20 charge for the class. The books can be purchased for an additional $10.00.  If you are interested in attending, you must sign up in advance at: http://www.chirurgeon.net/perl_unsecure/Training_select.pm.

Other classes will include:

  • Inkle Weaving (bring your own Inkle Loom)
  • History of the Barony of Stargate
  • Court Etiquette
  • Preparing for Gulf Wars

If you have questions or are interested in teaching, please e-mail Lady Maria at scarlettmb AT sbcglobal.net or call 281-433-0347.

MERCHANTS
Any who wish to offer fine goods for sale to the populace are invited to contact the Merchant Steward, Lady Maria,  at scarlettmb AT sbcglobal.net or by phone at 281-433-0347.

TABLE DECORATING CONTEST:
The theme is Russian and will be judged by Yule Revelers. Bring your imaginations and frivolity. Lady Vasalisa, coordinator.

COSTUME CONTEST:
Grab your needle and thread and hie thee to the solarium or pull up a seat at the hearth side. Contest is open to high and low born alike. As mentioned above, this year's theme is Russian, no particular (SCA) time period. The winner will be selected by the populace. Baroness Isabeau, coordinator.

So come join us to celebrate this joyous season and, since you'll be there anyway, participate in our costume and table decorating contests. You never know, you may be the one to walk away with a basket full of riches. You may register with the respective coordinators or at gate.

Toys-for-Tots will also be collecting toys to be given during the holiday season. Bring an unwrapped toy and for each toy donated receive a ticket for the prize raffle.

Feast
Lady Anne Delamare has assembled a fantastic array of dishes to warm the heart and fortify the body. A sideboard lunch is included as part of the site fee. Feast is limited. Please reserve early!!!! Site is Dry.

Menu
White and brown bread with 4 flavored butters
Beef and barley soup
Monastery lentils cooked in sherry wine for vegetarians
Beef stroganoff
Homemade noodles
Slavic pork stew or pork loin stuffed with garlic
Greens with bacon
Steamed cabbage with butter and paprika
Baked root vegetables in red wine
Herb tea
Baklava

A sideboard lunch will be provided to all. Her Excellency Ellisena de Bayonne will provide a beef stew, chicken soup, and a vegetable (vegetarian) soup as well as bread for all to eat.

Site
Site opens at 10:00 am on Saturday and closes that evening at 10:00 pm.

Site fee: $12; $6 (age 5-12); No charge under 5 yrs; $30 Family max.  Feast fee: $6; $3 age 5-12; No charge under 5 yrs

Make checks payable to SCA Inc., Barony of Stargate. Pre-pay through ACCEPS. Non-member $3 additional surcharge.

The site is dry. No alcoholic beverages are allowed, including those offered in competition. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. They may also attend with a 21 year or older adult with a signed and notarized minor event waver form from the parents. No pets, expect service animals. Merchants are welcome!

Directions
Yule will be held at the Resurrection Metropolitan Church at 2025 W. 11th Street/Houston, Texas. Take I-10 (to Downtown) and exit T.C. Jester. Turn north on to T.C. Jester and turn left onto 11th street. Church is on 11th and T.C. Jester on the left (SW)corner. (Map to site)

Event Steward:
HL Gerald of Leesville
Gerald Norris
281.773.7922
jerryn AT houston.rr.com

Feast Steward:
Lady Anne Delamare
Kim Smith
smithfamily AT aspect1.net

 

Titled Artisan Competition

The format of the competition is body of work. A single item will be judged and scored, but the breadth and depth of all the items displayed will be considered in choosing the winner. All artisans of Ansteorra are invited to participate in the glorious tradition of this competition.

Additionally, during the day, I will host a laurel and artisan roundtable to discuss topics of interest to artisans such as competitions and judging calibration. Light refreshments will be provided.

Lebewohl!
Dame Clara von Ulm
Stargate Artisan
Kingdom Artisan

Bardic Competition

Please join us as Bards compete for the honor of becoming the next champion for The Great Barony of Stargate. The competition will be held in three rounds as follows.

Bout the First: Bards Choice. Preference will be given to Russian or eastern European themes.

Bout the Second: Period or Period style piece. **must be well documented - this will make up 1/3 of the points for the round.**

Bout the Third: Bring your three best pieces. It will be judges choice as to which you will perform.

Other little tidbits: Though not mandatory, it is helpful if a bard can perform in more than one Tradition. So please, come prepared with a diverse bag. We want to be certain that there is something for everyone, so I am requesting that groups begin to prepare as well. There will be a gift basket for the best GROUP performance to be chosen by their Majesties. His Majesty will also grace us as a judge during the day.

Lady Mea Guilianna Passavanti
Stargate Bard

 

News from the Barony

Click for the Current Issue or Back Issues of the Two Towers.

The May Populace Meeting meeting is Monday May 5th, and the June meeting is June 2nd. The regular location for the meeting is Hope (formerly St. Michael's) Episcopal Church, 1613 W 43rd St, in Oak Forest. This site is next door to Oaks Presbyterian, the long time site for Sunday’s European Dance Practice. Park in the row of spaces on Cheshire at the corner of 43rd, by the small white buildings just down from Oaks - go past the nearest building to get to the meeting.

Stargate Sunday Fighter Practice (Chivalric and Rapier)
Sunday afternoons in Memorial Park from 3-5 pm (we often keep at it past 5!). See the Two Towers for details on the revival of this old tradition. The location - where N Picnic Lane and S Picnic Lane meet Memorial Drive - has main road access, parking and restrooms. Type in “sca fighter practice” at Google Maps to get custom directions.

Plan to attend the Sunday Tourney on May 18th! Armor inspection will begin at 3 and the list will begin soon after. Prizes and more! Classes will be held that day on a variety topics including "How to be a Fighter's Consort" and "How to Run a Tournament List."

European Dance Guild
Come join the fun at our wonderful new location! Practice is held the 1st and 3d Sundays of the month in the 2nd floor Community Room at the Central Market, 3815 Westheimer Rd (at Wesleyan Ave, inside Loop 610), from 5:30 to 8 pm. For more information contact Lord Antonello del Bello at (281) 850-2443 or antonello.sca AT sbcglobal.net. Please, no calls after 10 pm. Garb is not required, but is recommended as this is a public location. Food is available for purchase on-site and may be taken into the classroom; you may not bring in food from outside, per Central Market's policy, but individual drinks are okay.

Scribes Guild
The Stargate Scribes Guild is for learning the scribal arts, as well as to provide a service to the Barony and the Kingdom by creating award scrolls. The Guild meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month from 7pm till 9:30pm at  Hope (formerly St. Michael's) Episcopal Church, 1613 W 43rd St, in Oak Forest (same as Populace) in the freestanding building near the sanctuary. Come learn the ancient and beautiful arts of calligraphy and illumination.For further information, please contact Hillary Greenslade, by phone: 281-855-9447 or email: hillaryrg AT yahoo DOT com

Applications are being accepted for the following office:

Youth Rapier Marshal - Serves the Barony by training our young rapier fighters and maintaining the youth rapier loaner equipment.  Contact the Seneschal for more information.

Holding an office is a great way to become involved and meet your fellow Stargaters. Eligible applicants must have enthusiasm and a wish to learn and carry out their new office. Please send your application to the Stargate Seneschal, Lady Cristyana (clambright2000 AT yahoo.com), the corresponding Regional officer, and the B&B.