Eh, nevermind. I found it.
Duh duh duh.
I’ve never been to the Fremont Street Fair before…I assume it would be fun and appropriate for kids? So sure, PT,bring the kids!
We’d love to have you join us, Maneb! Yes, we’ll figure out the details by next weekend…by then I expect we’ll know who is coming. But I assume we’ll want to meet somewhere before the parade so we don’t miss any of the fun.
Sorry the rest of you can’t join us…but please let us know if your plans change.
Ooops. I told Scotti I’d watch for her to possibly start a thread such as this, and here I didn’t notice it for four days. Barring extraordinary events (and this is the month for them in my life), I’ll be there.
As far as the fair being OK for kids, I think it’s just fine. I’ve only walked through the booths and performance areas in the past though, I’ve never made it to the parade. I’m told there have been people there wearing only body paint, and there is a tradition of naked bicycling that the police say they won’t allow this year (but some may do it anyway, in protest). So, I guess the parade might hold a surprise or two for the little ones, if they aren’t used to excessive skin.
MsWhatsit, are the stories of unclad sun-worship true, or am I a victim of Fremont hyperbole?
Re: naked bicycle messengers- they usually pass down the route a couple times, with the crowd cheering all the way.
A few years back, there was really a stink beforehand about how the police were cracking down on them. One group of people faked it- some wore pseudo-police uniforms, chasing other cyclists wearing flesh-colored body suits with anatomically correct appendages. Everyone laughed at them; the real cyclist-chasing police got booed.
Last time I was at the parade, I’m standing in the crowd on the curb. This guy behind me says, “excuse me,” to go onto the street. I step aside, and see his completely bare, un-body-painted rear. In the parade, sure; close enough to touch, I didn’t expect!
OK, that seals it.
Naked cyclists are something the Smeglets simply mustsee to be well-rounded citizens! 
Bumping because someone is looking for this and I don’t know how to link.
This sounds like fun, but as my lovely wife says, we’ll be otherwise occupied on the date. Rafting the Skykomish. Or the Methow. Or one of them rivers. Wheee!
zoogirl: I don’t think so. The green/white costumes aren’t like, standard attire or anything; they’re just what we’re wearing for the Solstice Parade. Also, it’s not really “my troupe” – it’s just that my instructor has all her interested students do the parade every year. I don’t do public performance except for this. 
Saltire: As others have confirmed, yes, there are indeed nude cyclists. My favorite last year was the guy who did body paint in plaid. Very cool.
If the gathering is at a child-friendly restaurant, then we may stop in to make an appearance, although I am kind of reluctant to confirm for sure, because I don’t know how much I’m going to be up for after ~3 hours of belly dancing. So, chalk us up for a definite maybe?
Don’t forget, too, that there’s often a group of Utilikilt-wearing guys in the parade who circle up in the middle of the street (facing each other) and lift their kilts to the crowd.
FYI- for those who haven’t been to the Solistice parade or otherwise weren’t aware, the parade entries cannot include motorized vehicles, animals, and written words. Nothin’ but humans and human-power. Kinda neat.
[hijack]Do you teach or take lessons, and if so where/with who?
Thanks.[/hijack]
Heck no, I don’t teach. I’ve been taking lessons for several months, though, with Delilah. I like the lessons a lot. It’s a kick to get together once a week and shake your butt around the room with a handful of other like-minded women.
There are like a million belly dancing classes available in the Seattle area, if Delilah’s don’t work for you for whatever reason. Just do a Google search on “Seattle belly dance” and you should see a lot of results. I briefly took classes with Zanbaka, another area instructor, while Delilah was on winter hiatus, but didn’t like them quite as much – they felt more regimented, which is probably good for someone who wants to learn a lot of specific moves, but I personally just like dancing.
Feel free to send me email if you want any more info.
I should have bumped this before, but we shall now begin the actual planning of this event. Maybe we will pick up some more people along the way.
So, the parade starts at noon and I think we need to meet by 11AM at the earliest. I need some help from people who know the Fremont area…where should we meet? I am going to park at the Northgate Park’N’Ride and bus to Fremont. (I also need to find out what time the bus picks up there in time to get me to where I need to be, so if anyone has any idea I would appreciate that info. I am a small town lady, and the LAST thing I want to do is to get lost in Seattle…all alone, friendless and shivering with fright…but I digress :D)
So, anyone have any ideas on the best plan of action?
Looking forward to meeting all of you!
As far as busing, the most direct trip from Northgate to Fremont is the 5 route. Here’s a link to the Saturday schedule. You’ll be riding from the transit center to 38th and Fremont, which, on the map of the parade route, is about where the Fair Hotline black box is. It is a short walk from there to the center of the universe.
If you’re concerned about getting lost, I’d be happy to meet you at Northgate and bus down with you. Drop me a line if you want me to do so.
As far as a meeting place, I don’t know. There are several landmarks in the area. Two that are on the parade route are sculptures: Waiting for the Interurban and the Lenin statue (I don’t know if it has an actual title). Perhaps someone more familiar with the parade should pick the spot.
Actually, our rafting plans have fallen through, so Cervaise and I may be able to make it after all.
Count me in for 11:00 Saturday. I haven’t been to the parade for years, though, so I can’t help much with meeting place suggestions.
Saltire, you are a DOLLFACE! YES yes, a thousand times YES! Please meet me there. I’m such a wuss when it comes to Seattle. [sub]Scotti does the happy stork dance, which loses a lot when your legs are this short…[/sub]
So, pick a sculpture, hon. And that is where we will meet.
And…I am overjoyed that Cervaise and herownself might be joining us! For those who haven’t met them, they are just the BEST!
:):):):):):):):):):):)
Oh, and I see that they have food booths at this fair. Should we just eat there…or not? Either way, we need to pick a place to meet after the parade in case MsWhatsit and family decide to join us. Which I hope they DO, since I am dying to meet the MsWhatsitling. And MsWhatsit too, you understand.
Okay, no one who actually KNOWS anything stepped in, so I am making an executive decision.
We will meet at the statue called Waiting For The Interurban at 11AM Saturday. Let’s get a final post from everyone who will definitely be coming so we don’t miss anyone who runs a little late. Also, please email me at Scotticher@aol.com so I can send you my cell phone number just in case of any late change in plans you might have. I’ll also send those of you who don’t know me my pic so you will know who to look for.
I figure we can just browse the food booths…we can decide on the day whether or not we want to have an actual sit-down meal somewhere.
So far, I have on my list:
Definites
** P.T. Smegma **
Mrs P.T. and the little Putters
AudreyK
KKBattousai
Maneb
Saltire
Scotticher
Possibles:
herownself
Cervaise
MsWhatsit
MrWhatsit and Whatsit Jr
smaft? (I never did get whether you are coming or just helping me out here…)
amarinth
And if someone could kindly bump this tommorow for the daytime crowd, I’d appreciate it greatly. Oh, and MsW…please email me so I can send you my cellphone number…if you are up to it after the parade you can call me and we can figure out a place to meet. Otherwise, we’ll be on the sidelines cheering you on.
Thanks!
Oh, and of course anyone who hasn’t seen this before is VERY welcome to join us! The more the merrier.
Howdy all,
Well, The Smeglets, Mrs. Smegma, myself, plus probably two other kiddos will be in attendance. I don’t know if I can meet everyone at 11:00 because I have to attend a work-related inservice starting at 8:30. Might make it on time, might not.
I’ll email Scotticher for more contact info.
Hope to see you all there![sub]and finally meet some real live Dopers![/sub]
Okay! Meeting at the statue at 11:00 Saturday. I’ll probably be there early since I’ll be riding the bus all the way from Burien and I don’t trust Metro anymore.