This week's featured teapot racer is Sir Groot, built and raced by Lori Knott.
Lori has a wonderful sense of whimsy. Her previous teapot racer had a Minion theme, but unfortunately, became our example of why glass teapots are not a good idea, especially when racing on a paved street. The Minion survived its terrible accident and returned in Groot's adorable balloon support vehicle.
Another clever addition to Sir Groot's accessories was the leather remote control holster.
Baby Groot sat proudly in his copper teapot and bravely completed the obstacle course in 2 minutes, 50 seconds, despite the rain which started coming down in buckets just as the racer approached the Tunnel of Terror and the finish line.
Sir Groot had some steering issues and tipped over more than once, but that also made it fun to watch. There is more excitement and suspense when everyone is wondering if the racer will finish the race or run over the judges' feet.
A toast! To a fun steampunk Halloween, with wonderful people, and excellent live music!
It is easy to overlook The Junction on Monroe. It is a former feed store that, from the outside, doesn't look like it's changed much over the years, but once you step inside the door, you are transported to a night club with a great performance space. It's a lot like I imagine a high-end speakeasy would have been.
Now that I'm thinking about it, The Junction on Monroe would be the perfect setting for a 1920s Speakeasy themed party.
Last night, we went there for the first time, for their steampunk Halloween show.
Since Halloween was on a Monday this year, there were not big crowds, but that was all right. We all milled about in the bar, talking before the show and it had the feeling of a party at a friend's house. I met people I had only known from online interactions and some new people. Everyone was friendly and welcoming!
As with any steampunk gathering, there was plenty of costuming creativity to admire (I apologize for the quality of the pictures).
The Dormouse (above) won the costume contest.
DH wore his War Doctor (Dr. Who) costume and I went as steampunk Miss Frizzle, but we didn't take any pictures of each other.
Before the show began, there was a steampunk trivia contest. We were split into groups of three to compete and my group, The Steamy Sisters, won.
The Show opened with two numbers by bellydancer, Sapphire Sultana.
Then Clockwork Knotwork performed.
Their mixture of old time, celtic, bluegrass, and original music kept toes tapping and hands clapping.
It was a high energy show with some very unusual instruments.
I gave DH the VIP tickets for this show as part of his birthday gift (mostly because I wanted to go, which he says he saw right through) and I had to laugh as we were shown our table right in front of the stage, the only reserved table.
The Earl Grey was the old veteran racer at the Big River Steampunk Festival's Splendid Teapot Races. It had traveled a long way to get to Hannibal, Missouri and had experienced a pretty adventurous year before arriving there.
As far as we know, Earl Grey was the first teapot racer to be built in Florida, although several others quickly followed.
This pirate themed teapot racer was built by Lisa Rooney and Aidan Harwood and raced by Aidan. Its tiny crew consists of Captain Green, his daughter Jasmine, Mr. Brewer, and Mr. Baker.
It won the Grand-Champion trophy at its first two races at Renninger's Steampunk Industrial Show in Mount Dora, Florida, but has not done as well in subsequent races.
It is possible that damage was done to the suspension while the Earl Grey was having this dirt track experience. It did look majestic as it went off that jump and sailed through the air, landing upright, though (repeatedly).
It was already not preforming at its peak, when it competed in New Jersey at the Steampunk World's Fair.
In Hannibal, the Earl Grey did get quite a workout. Aidan used it to demonstrate teapot racing to people passing the registration table and competed in the races both Saturday and Sunday.
As you can see in this picture, even before the races, it had started tilting dramatically to the right.
By race time, it had become hard to steer.
Even good judges' bribes can't erase all sins, but Aidan tried:
On the second day of racing, Aidan won the coveted "Most Dastardly Driver" medal for most entertaining cheat.
At least for now, the Earl Grey has retired. Aidan has come up with a new idea for a teapot racer and he and his mother are in the early stages of planning their next build.
We have been enjoying a full week of Halloween activities, starting with a homeschool group field trip to a farm on Tuesday.
The hay ride:
The educational portion of the trip:
As soon as we got home, Blaze carved our pumpkin. This was the first time that my very cautious child has been willing to cut a pumpkin all by himself. He still thinks cleaning the pumpkin is discusting, though.
That same evening, we went to "Freeze and Fright" at the Mag Lab:
Wednesday, we stayed home, watched "Corpse Bribe", and baked cookies for Thursday's Halloween party.
Thursday morning began with festive cheese grits:
Then, we went to the homeschool group's Halloween party at the park.
Blaze and I set up a booth for "Freeze Dance" to Halloween songs.
Friday, Blaze and I went to Cascades Park for Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra's Halloween Symphony Spooktacular Family Concert.
Yesterday was all about Halloween food, even when we went to a lecture about the history of Halloween at the Challenger Learning Center.
Pumpkin-ginger soup:
Tonight's festive food is octopus-shaped sausage rolls.
