Science! Psuedo-science! Nature! Art! Nonsense!
July 10, 2017
party gem, photography, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, summer solstice 2017 Leave a comment
81 in July
The summer solstice weather could not have been finer. 81, sunny, perfect river weather.
kerosene distribution
Post river, it was time to light the fire.
2017 solstice fire
Lighting
The fire was perfectly constructed by JC.
The moon was full.
Children of the fire
Thanks to all who came.
December 18, 2016
fire, party, photography flag burning, nature, photography, shenandoah, shenandoah river, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party 1 Comment
Cold and rainy weather was a real possibility during the winter solstice party. But a day that started with a coating of ice everywhere turned warmer and beautiful before the party started. The next day was rainy. So boy are we lucky!
Before (a fat one)
The sunset was outstanding.
Impressionist evening
Impressionist Shenandoah
Party prep complete! Ready for the hard core solstice revelers. It’s way easier to come to the summer solstice!
Newly resurfaced footbridge
Tiki trail across the creek
Get lit: Winter Solstice fire 2016
After lighting, it was time for music. The music lasted all night, right up to 5am when the weather shifted and it started to sprinkle.
Music at the solstice
We decided that due to rampant political disgust we would burn some flags. Real ones. This is a new thing. Thanks Trump.
Flag burning time
Into the fire with you nazis!
Burn baby burn
And we’ve had it with racism too.
Flag two for the flames
Down with racism
Burn baby burn
Warning: exuberant potty mouth host on a mission (with a nice buzz) in this video!
Then it was back to the keg of dogfish head 90 and the fantastic potluck dinner in the barn. Super fantastic.
TURN SUN TURN.
Thanks to all who came.
After
July 4, 2016
dance, farm, music, party, river fire, gem, kilt, michael hobert, music, photography, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, summer solstice 2016, video 1 Comment
Before
A gorgeous Virginia summer evening was just what the doctor ordered for the summer solstice party this year. Food, friends, fire, and all night music. Thanks to all who came.
This year featured lots of next gens (over 30) wandering the property. Needless to say, the keg ran dry around 3am. And they ate ALL of the cookies.
So orderly
Absinthe hour ran from 4:45-6:15. We were ushered to bed by the blue.
(Special thanks to Micheal Hobert for some of the photos above.)
December 21, 2015
dance, fire, mixology, party berryville passage, bonfire, mixology, solstice fire, solstice party, team tartan, turn the sun, video, winter solstice 4 Comments
Winter Solstice Fire 2015
It all started out with champagne, celebrating Team Tartan’s 2015 Leukemia Cup accomplishment with a crop of Timex watches. (About which this.)
bubbles
Burn barrel before the lighting
Then it got dark, the keg was tapped, the cheesy xmas music was put on infinite repeat in the barn, burn barrels were lit, and off we went! Early birds got to see the bonfire lighting. Middle birds got to see music and sparkling guitars. Late birds shut down the bar inside with Berryville Passages at 6am. Are we too old for this? No we are not.
Fire
Who let the banjo player in?
Fire too
Thanks to one and all for coming! We turned the sun around again!
July 13, 2015
art, fire, party, river joel winstead, peacock, river, shenandoah, shenandoah river, sketches, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party Leave a comment
What a beautiful day Saturday turned out to be. The river was crystalline (and flowing fast), the beer was delicious, and the night was filled with fire and music. Joel Winstead captured the 2015 solstice party zeitgeist in some sketches.
The Shenandoah on the Solstice by Joel Winstead
Mr Pea on his usual perch (by Joel Winstead)
Music by the solstice fire (by Joel Winstead)
Firelit at the solstice (by Joel Winstead)
Thanks for coming to the solstice party! Support local music; come hear Where’s Aubrey’s CD release concert this Friday at the Brightbox in Winchester.
December 21, 2014
farm, film, party solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, time lapse, video, winter solstice 2 Comments
The longest night is over. We turned the sun again. Great solstice party, as ever, thanks to all of you. Of note this year, superior food in the random food pile and really tasty tunes by the fire.
I know, lets do it again!!
2014 winter solstice fire
The night was still and cold, and the fire took a couple of minutes to get going. Jack took some video that was transformed into this time lapse.
lighting (starts small)
Sadly, the keg was dead by 7:30?! It’s impossible to get the beer amount dialed in even after 11 years of practice. Oh well, there’s always bourbon.
December 20, 2014
dance, music beer cheese, bright box, coal stove sink, drum, live music, moon hooch, saxophone, solstice fire Leave a comment
Moon Hooch at the Bright Box
Moon Hooch is a supremely talented band built around two saxophones and a drum kit. Phenomenal talent and energy. The band kicked off its new tour with a show in Winchester, Va at the Bright Box. The show was great.
Such tight polyrhythm. Mike Wilbur and Wenzl McGowen both play a mean sax.
Moon Hooch sax overload
The drummer, James Muschler, is incredibly talented and a joy to dance to.
Moon Hooch 12.19.14
James Muschler drummer for Moon Hooch
Encore! We hope to see you again in Virginia.
After the show, it turned out that the band needed a place to crash. So we offered up Coal Stove Sink, some beer cheese, breakfast, some fiddle, and delicious cocktails (not necessarily in that order). The guys were delightful.
Beer cheese is good!
Quiet moment by the bar
Breakfast was peaceful and delicious.
Wenzl McGowen centers by the fire
Hi Y’all! Moon Hooch in the house
Too bad they couldn’t stick around for the solstice fire! Back on the road.
Go see Moon Hooch if you can.
December 17, 2014
animals, farm, fire dogs, nature, photography, river, shenandoah, shenandoah river, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, winter solstice, wood Leave a comment
Puck sez “Fire ready to light”
The solstice fire is ready. The weather report is improving (sorry cynthia). Time to turn the sun around!!
Spring-like day on the Shenandoah
Sunlight begets fire light
Before.
2014 fire
July 16, 2014
farm, fire garden, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party Leave a comment
Rocket launch? No, solstice bonfire!
Solstice fires take several months to build. After a big fire like the one we had July 5th, we start piling up wood for the next solstice six months out.
Here is what the “core” of the winter fire looks like so far. At the very bottom of the pile is a stack of huge locust logs that will cook all night.
1/4 of a winter solstice fire started in July. locust core.
And here is the garden. Because, well, just because.
The garden in mid-July.
July 7, 2014
fire, party bonfire, electric triangle, fire, joel winstead, sketches, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party, summer solstice 1 Comment
The bonfire as captured by Joel Winstead
What a blast the 2014 iteration of the solstice party was. Thanks for coming! And thanks to “electric triangle” for the new wrinkle…electric music at nightfall.
Electric Triangle as captured by Joel Winstead.
We kicked the keg (not bad for old people) and played acoustic music well past the wee hours into the pre-school hours.
Thanks for making the summer solstice 2014 party magical.
Gina and Gary play music by the bonfire (joel winstead)
