Our herald has posted his court report from the Schola in the Solar: http://blog.heraldicart.org/2017/10/28/court-report-whyt-whey-schola-in-the-solar/. Share and enjoy!
Cloisters demo THANK YOU!!
We had SO MANY VOLUNTEERS at our Cloisters demo at the Fort Tryon Park Medieval Festival the first weekend in October! I have been compiling this list ever since, and even then I know I am missing some people. Please forgive any omissions! You’ll notice I have also failed to record all the jobs people did — because everyone was hustling so hard! And our demo was HUGE. We collected almost 80?? new e-mail addresses from people interested in our activities.
Here are the 73!!! people who turned out and pitched in. Please correct any misspellings or titles — I checked the heraldic registry and the order of precedence where available, but those don’t necessarily list preferred spellings and have some omissions.
Lord Alexander MacLachlan, ably ran our fencing tournaments.
Lady Beatrice della Rocca, managed the children’s table, fencing mistress of lists, setup & takedown.
Lord Erich Guter Muth, our minister of lists for armored combat, herald for the fashion show, fencer, setup & takedown.
Hlæfdige Alienor Salton, who walked in the fashion show & watched in amazement as everyone did such a fabulous job!
Bóaire Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, youth combat marshal.
Baron Yehuda ben Moshe, wrangler of youths combatant.
Alaxandair Mórda mac Matha, youth fighter.
Kenneth the Red, youth fighter.
Odin, youth fighter.
Leo, youth fighter.
Samuel, youth fighter.
Galen, youth fighter.
Callum, youth fighter.
Lady Angelica di Nova Lipa, bearer of burdens, bringer of infrastructure, chatelaine, children’s table.
Avran of Northpass, armored fighter.
Lord Wilhelm of Northpass, dance master.
Lady Conandil ingen Donngaile, dance mistress.
Benjamin, teacher of period games, dancer.
Gabriel, dancer.
Lord Conor Ó Ceallaigh
Lord Brandr nefsbrjotr Aronsson, blacksmith.
Randvé Littill Hamar, blacksmith’s able assistant.
Lady Erlan skáld í Norðrlandi, lampworker.
Lady Godiva de la Mer, fashion show, hats!
Mistress Judith the Uncertain, masks, fashion show.
Lady Magdelena Caminante, chatelaine.
Lady Marion of York, fencer.
Lord Mongu Chinua, pointy weapons, herald for the provincial court.
Lord Miyamoto Jirou Tadayoshi, called Daishi, armored fighter.
Lord Rónán fitz Robert, fighter.
Lady Sáline baen Rónán fitz Robert, scribal demo.
Mistress Sofya Gianetta di Trieste, chatelaine, fashion show.
Lord Ervald La Coudre Edwardson the Optimistic, armored combat marshal in charge.
Count Jarl Valgard Stonecleaver, armored combat.
Caitlin of Østgarðr, children’s table, bearer of burdens, fast as lightning, setup & takedown.
Martin Harding
Lady Anneke Valmarsdotter, wire ring making teacher, fashion show.
Il-Kha’an Suuder Saran, pointy things, viceroy.
Il-Khatun Lada Monguligin, scribal demo, vicereine.
Lord Þórfinn Hróðgeirsson, spinning teacher, fashion show.
Jean de la Rue, bearer of burdens, setup & takedown.
Lord Seamus of Arindale, fighter.
Baroness Sorcha of Stonegrave, chatelaine.
Baroness Suzanne Neuber de Londres, chatelaine.
Lady Sorcha de Barry of Coill Tuar, chatelaine.
Lady Juliana le Chaluner of An Dubhaigeainn, chatelaine.
Lady Nyfain merch Coel of Rusted Woodlands, chatelaine.
Lady Aislinn of An Dubhaigeainn, chatelaine.
Stephanie of Østgarðr
Lord Reuben the Curious
Lady Branimira of the Isles, embroidery, taker of names, setup & takedown.
Lord Özurr the Bootgiver, armored fighter.
Lady Elizabeth nic Ian merchenting
Alysaundre Sherre de Saford
Gawain Enlil Mackay, fighter.
Luna Vega
Lord Muiredach of Ostgardr
Thomas Trueheart
Lady Zippora DuBois of Buckland Cross
Stanislaus Polanski of Buckland Cross
Michelle of Brokenbridge
Jade of Settmour Swamp
Kate Regina
Anne, setup & takedown.
Samantha Rosas
Bella of Carillion
Franklin of Gryphonwald
Bayan Hanover
Padraig of Midland Vale
Marta of Midland Vale
Frank Ehlers
Sarah McGill
Victoria, setup & takedown.
Here was our layout on the day — you can see what an enormous effort was required to meet & greet, entertain & educate the near-constant stream of visitors with our armored combat, fencing, youth combat, lampworking, blacksmithing, pointy weapons, scribal, dancing, fashion, hats, embroidery, masks, games, children’s activities (catapult, brass rubbings,…), wire ring making, spinning and MORE!
Evening in the Solar, October 2017
Please join us next Thursday, October 19th, from 7:30pm – 10pm in our usual location for a weaving workshop led by Lady Angelica.
We will also review the final schedule for our Schola in the Solar, coming up Saturday, October 28th. Please publicize the schola!!
For dinner, we will probably be offering a mushroom sauce pasta, with salad. There might be fruit tarts from Veniero’s.
Contributions of bread would be helpful. Also wine. Please comment on the post re: menu on the canton’s Facebook page or here if you know what are you bringing, so we can avoid tripling up on things. 🙂
Schola in the Solar
When: Saturday, October 28th, 10am – 5pm.
Where: 255 W. 105th St. (our usual Evening in the Solar location).
What: Arts & Sciences classes (schedule below).
Who: You!! (Up to 30 attendees, please RSVP to confirm space.)
Where: 255 W. 105th St. (our usual Evening in the Solar location).
What: Arts & Sciences classes (schedule below).
Who: You!! (Up to 30 attendees, please RSVP to confirm space.)
Come spend a pleasant Saturday afternoon immersed in arts & sciences classes in a gracious Upper West Side living room. Gate opens at 9:15!
There will be a dayboard and lunch interval with meats, soups, salads, and savory tarts, including vegetarian options (menu below). All ingredients will be labeled. Please alert the autocrat if you have other food needs.
There is no site fee. We will be soliciting an OPTIONAL donation to cover food costs. There is no deadline to reserve, however you MUST RSVP by emailing the autocrat, Lady Godiva de la Mer, at moas@whytwhey.eastkingdom.org. Site space is limited to 30 people.
Changing rooms will be available. Newcomers may borrow “Gold Key” loaner garb for the day by advance arrangement with the chatelaine, Lady Angelica di Nova Lipa, at chatelaine@whytwhey.eastkingdom.org.
Class Schedule
| 10:00 | Flat Gilding (2 hours) |
Heraldic Registration Basics |
| 11:00 | Stitch’n’Fix | |
| 12:00 | Lunch setup | 3:1 Twill Tablet Weaving |
| 1:00 | — LUNCH — | |
| 2:00 | Wire Rings | Basic Knitting |
| 3:00 | Mead | Florentine Flame Stitch |
| 4:00 | Armorial Display | Slung |
| 10-5 | Weaving Practicum (on-going) | |
Class Descriptions
Our eleven classes will cover a broad spectrum of arts & sciences.
Illumination
Flat Gilding
In this class will be taught both modern and period methods, materials and techniques for flat gilding. We will try various gilding bases on a variety of surfaces with the goal of using this technique on SCA scrolls. Please bring a pencil, eraser, ruler and a small round brush. There is a $5 material fee. 10 kits will be available.
Instructor: Il-Khatun Lada Monguligin
Duration: 2 hours
Needle Work
Basic Knitting
Learn to knit, or get a refresher course in the basics. Kits will be provided.
Instructor: Caitlin
Duration: 1 hour
Florentine Flame Stitch: Before & Beyond…
Needlework class focusing on the Florentine Flame Stitch, its history and creation. Do you like to color? Then come and learn how to color with yarn and MAKE A THING! A tiny pin cushion will be created using the flame stitch or its derivatives. No prior needlework experience necessary. Supplies & materials will be provided.
Instructor: Lady Godiva de la Mer
Duration: 1 hour
“Stitch n’ Fix” workshop (open to ALL LEVELS)
This workshop is designed to bring crafters of ALL LEVELS and skills together in an effort to problem solve on any projects that are giving them grief. Participants are encouraged to bring any projects on their list, either a “UFO” (Un-Finished-Project), a “PHD” (Project-Half-Done) or their “DOS” (Darn Overs). Printed references for knitting, sewing and crocheting will also be available for perusing.
Instructor: Caitlin
Duration: 1 hour
Brewing
Introduction to Mead
A brief survey of the history of mead and its use in period, and a hands-on demonstration of the production of a basic mead.
Instructor: Lord Þórfinn Hróðgeirsson
Duration: 1 hour
Cording
Slung: 4 Strand Plaiting with Bobbins
Learn how to make cord using 4 strand plaiting with bobbins (aka, slung, or Viking whip-cording). Teaching both 2-person and solo techniques. Will include comparisons with cords produced via lucet, tubular tablet weaving & finger loop braiding – aforementioned techniques can be demonstrated to attendees on request.
Instructor: Hlæfdige Alienor Salton
Duration: 1 hour
Weaving
3:1 Twill Tablet Weaving
Learn how to make patterns with a tablet weaving technique common to Viking-era finds. Experience with tablet weaving strongly encouraged.
Instructor: Lord Þórfinn Hróðgeirsson
Duration: 1 hour
Weaving Practicum
A hands-on survey of common weaving devices, with hands-on instruction in inkle, framed rigid heddle and 8-shaft table loom. Make your own rigid heddles to take home. Material fee donations accepted, to be split between fencing loaner gear and the Østgarðr coronet fund.
Instructor: Lady Angelica Di Nova Lipa
Duration: Ongoing: drop-in when equipment is available, weave as long as you like
Metalwork
Creating Simple Wire Rings
Simple wire rings are easy to make and common in period, especially early period. I’ll be teaching a few different designs, and providing the materials (copper wire) and tools. Most designs can be made with just a large dowel and your fingers.
Instructor: Anneke Valmarsdotter
Duration: 1 hour
Heraldry
Heraldic Registration Basics (this is a GREAT class for NEWCOMERS)
Finding an historically-accurate name & unique coat of arms can be a fun part of getting involved in the SCA. Get an overview of the jargon, the registration process and timeline. Learn a few visual elements that match your persona’s time and place, then talk about how to work with a herald (locally or on Facebook) to nail down the details and move forward with a submission.
Instructor: Bóaire Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin
Duration: 1 hour
Armorial Display Options
So, you’ve registered a device, but do you ever show it off? Review different places your arms and badges can be displayed (banners, armor, clothing, favors, camp fabrics, other possessions) and multiple ways of making them (sewing, painting, printing, etc.) then brainstorm how you will make your armory more visible.
Instructor: Bóaire Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin
Duration: 1 hour
Menu
Bigos (Polish Hunter’s Stew)
Egg Noodles
Kabanosy (Pork Smoked Sausage)
Roast Chicken
Vegetable Soup
Ember Day Tarte
Tarte of Greens
Apple & Onion Salad
Green Salad
Assorted Cheeses & Bread
Apples & Apple Pie
Beverages
Water; Apple Cider; Mulled Red Wine
Cloisters Event Schedule
Here’s an overview of just some of the activities available at the SCA encampment at the Fort Tryon Medieval Festival on October 1, 2017:
Arts & Sciences: Fine art exhibits and hands-on crafts demonstrations will continue throughout the day.
Fencing: Tournaments at 12:00 and 3:00.
Armored Combat: Tournaments at 1:00 and 4:00
Youth Combat: Children fighting to the death at 1:00 and 3:00; alternating with pell practice open to younger members of the public.
Fashion Show: A thousand years of clothing at 2:00.
Chorus: Listen, learn and participate at 3:00.
Provincial Court: The viceroy and vicereine of the Crown Province of Østgarđr will introduce their next champion of armored combat at 5:00.
Parking for Cloisters demo
Parking near Fort Tryon park for the Cloisters demo is a challenge. If at all possible, you are better off taking public transit to the site.
If, however, you are one of the people loading in equipment, then here is what you need to know to park on the day.
You do NOT need a parking pass to drive your vehicle on & off site at the beginning and end of the day. The parking pass also does not guarantee you a spot. It simply allows you to look for parking in the cordoned-off parking area at the head of Cabrini Blvd. (or in an internal parking lot, depending on where we are assigned by the festival coordinator).
If you are delayed in transit, and arrive after 10am, you will not be able to drive your car into the park. Instead, find parking and haul your stuff in manually. If you need unloading assistance, come to our demo location and ask for help — we will have wheeled carts that we have used to lug stuff onsite, which you may borrow.
With a parking pass
If you have previously arranged a parking pass with the demo coordinator seneschal at whytwhey.eastkingdom.org, then you arrive at the south entrance to the park at 9:30am to check in with the festival coordinator and receive your parking pass. The park opens before 9:30, and I encourage you to unload before checking in, if possible! Cars must be headed to parking by 10am, to clear the park for opening to the public around 11am.
Without a parking pass
Once you have unloaded your vehicle, you may drive off to find parking, either at a garage or on the street. Parking nearby fills up quickly, but if you are early you may be able to find something. Here is a map of nearby parking garages: 
Parking garage #3 is not as useful as it appears in this aerial view, because you are walking straight up a hill (almost a cliff) to get into the park. The terrain is not your friend.
Post-demo loading
Cars will be allowed back into the park when the police indicate that it is safe to do so. We must wait for the public to walk out before we start driving in. The festival ends at 6pm. It takes time for 60,000 people to exit the very large park.
There is ALWAYS a traffic jam of entering vehicles. We are conveniently located just inside the south entrance, which eases our loading. Please take care not to block the roadway for others who are attempting to drive further into the park.
Minutes of September 21, 2017 Canton meeting
Herewith, the minutes from the fall Canton commons meeting:
Whyt_Whey_commons_minutes_20170921
Topics covered included the upcoming Cloisters demo (Oct. 1); the upcoming Schola event (Oct. 28?); and officer transitions (both provincial and canton).
Directions to Cloisters demo
Getting To & From The Cloisters Demo
Take the A Train
The easiest way to get to the Cloisters demo, mundanely known as the Medieval Festival at Fort Tryon Park, is to take the subway.
The 190th St. Station on the “A” train sits immediately outside of Fort Tryon Park, and this is the way most of our participants arrive. (It’s also the way many of the other 50,000 attendees will arrive, so the elevator up from the subway to the park can be fairly crowded, but that only takes a few minutes.)
For those coming from outside the city via Amtrak, NJ Transit, or regional bus, you can board the A train at Penn Station or the Port Authority bus terminal; from MetroNorth or LIRR take the Shuttle from Grand Central to Times Square to connect to the A train.
Driving & Parking
Obviously the train is not going to make sense for folks who are lugging lots of gear or heavy equipment, and this particular train station is not wheelchair-accessible, so in those cases driving to the site is worth the hassle.
We’re able to wrangle a limited number of parking passes from the event organizers, but be prepared for delays getting on and off site, because it can take a long time to get vehicles into the parking area, you may have to park some distance away from our field, and when the event is over and you’re ready to leave you will find yourself in the middle of a miniature traffic jam that takes a while to clear.
If you need a parking pass, you must contact the event steward (Alienor Salton) in advance so we can try to reserve you a pass. If you don’t have a parking pass, you will need to find on-street parking some distance away from the event and then walk back to the site.
If you’re driving from outside the city, you might want to stop at some distance from the event and look for on-street parking (or pay $25 or more for a parking lot) and then take the city subway for a few minutes to reach the site. If you know several people who are coming in separate vehicles, it may be worth the effort to meet up somewhere just outside the city where parking is easy and then car-pool in from there to reduce the parking hassle.
Location
The closest street address to the park entrance is 799 Fort Washington Ave:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/799+Fort+Washington+Ave,+New+York,+NY+10040/
The place within the park where we will be set up is just south of the “New Leaf” restaurant:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/1+Margaret+Corbin+Drive,+New+York,+NY+10040/
The map attached below highlights some spots on this map to give you a sense of where we’ll be within the overall site area, and where the parking and transit options are.
Event Arrival & Departure Schedule
The event officially begins at 11:30, but if you are driving gear on to the site, you should arrive before 9:30.
• 8:30 Site opens for setup, and vehicles may be driven in through main site entrance to deliver materials.
• 9:00 We unload equipment and begin setting up tents and preparing for the event.
• 10:00 All vehicles must be cleared from the park to the parking area or further away.
• 11:00 Site should be ready as members of the public sometimes start trickling in early.
The event ends at 6:00 at which point we will begin packing up:
• 6:00 We begin breaking down tents and putting things away.
• 6:30 or 7:00 Vehicles are allowed back into the park to pick up equipment once the public has dispersed.
• 8:30 Everyone must be off site by the time the park closes for the night.
Commons meeting & Evening in the Solar, September 2017
Please join us this coming Thursday, September 21st, at 7pm, at our usual place, 255 W. 105th St., #21, for a canton commons, followed by an arts & sciences Evening in the Solar.
The Commons agenda will include planning for our upcoming Cloisters demo at Fort Tryon Park Medieval Festival, as well as discussion of provincial and canton officer positions turning over at the end of this year. We will also discuss the schola in the solar we have scheduled for the end of October.
The A&S portion of the evening will include sharing learning & handouts from Pennsic, as well as a knitting tutorial by Caitlin S. Kits will be provided. Please bring any handouts or URLs you would like to share.
Your hostess Alienor Salton is still suffering from a viral infection, so will NOT be offering the usual tastiness. Please bring your own dinner. (If I am still coughing too much, an alternate host will be provided for the evening.)
Evening in the Solar, June 2017
Our next Arts & Sciences gathering & social, on Thursday, June 15th, will be a garment making / repairing extravaganza for Pennsic. Join us from 7:30 to 10pm at 255 W. 105th St., #21 to review / repair / enhance your wardrobe for the upcoming great peace & war weeks. Perhaps you need a chiton for the heat and humidity? Or possibly a new cloak for the winds & rains & evening chill? Seams busting from your last adventures through the bog? Caps and purses all set for your university classes and shopping excursions?
Dinner will be a composed salad. Because we are SUPER TRENDY. What’s a composed salad, you ask? A veritable platter of delights. Please bring drinks and/or desserts, as you feel moved.