Adorn Thyself!

From handmade jewelry to gorgeous costumes Carnevale Fantastico! has so much to offer by way of adorning yourself. Here are two of the Artists that you shouldn’t miss this weekend!

Honey&Ollie Designs:Globally inspired, handmade, urban-tribal jewelry. We make soulful and one of a kind adornments for dreamers, talismans for travelers and and charms for world builders. Sparkling gemstones, reclaimed and natural materials, vintage textiles and precious metals, our jewelry delights the senses and reminds you of one essential thing… you are SO much bigger on the inside! Reclaim your fire… be who you are today!

Faire Ladies, Faire Lords was founded in 1996 and is proud to be a retailer of American made artisan quality Renaissance costumes & historical clothing. All clothing is Made in the USA.
The romance of the Renaissance era is here for ladies AND lords! Costume yourself in renaissance bodices & doublets, breeches & more. European, German, English Renaissance costuming & lots of creative fantasy and masquerade attire will be in the booth at Carnevale Fantastico! this weekend!

Links:

Carnevale Fantastico!: http://www.carnevalefantastico.com
Honey & Ollie designs:http://www.honeyandolliedesigns.com
Faire Ladies, Faire Lords: http://www.faireladiesfairelords.com

Tutto Naturale!

At Carnevale Fantastico! we have procured artisans from all over the region to vend their wares. We also are proud to present artisans who specialize in items made from natural sources. You have read about our amazing wood workers, now find out about the rest:

Sapone Magico

Sapone Magico: Dana Scribner and Lauren Freitas are the lovely ladies behind Sapone Magico and they make and mold all of their own soaps. Their goal is to supply patrons with soap so fresh and natural you’ll never go back!  They’ll be mobile during the carnevale they have a cart that moves around during the event.

Illustrated Stone

Illustrated Stone: Natural Stone Coasters for wine and drinks – printed locally on imported Italian Travertine. The business is run by two artists and you may be lucky enough to find them singing Italian Sea music in or near their both! Designs feature wine and art themed stones, Italian heritage, commedia and more. Put your drink on a pedestal!

Aunt Kitty’s Jam: Quality and unique flavors set these apart from the usual preserves. Aunt Kitties Jam creates tasty preserves which have very low sugar, as low as 5 teaspoons per 1/2 pint jar (instead of the traditional 1:1 fruit:sugar). This allows you to taste the fresh-picked flavor of the luscious fruits & berries. Kitty Myers was voted Best Marmalady, Best of the Bay, she produces the jams & runs the booth.  You can also find her at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair , the American Craft Council Show in San Francisco, and the Oregon Renaissance Festival of Hillsboro.

The Woven Potter: The Woven Potter represents the work of two fine craftswomen. In addition to `show`casing their wares both give live demonstrations throughout the day and gleefully educate the public about their individual crafts. The potter’s work includes hand-thrown, altered and formed ceramics such as plates, bowls, mugs, goblets, jugs, gargoyles and flasks. The spinner/weaver’s work includes woven and crocheted/knitted goods such as scarves, shawls, hats, blankets, handwarmers and tams.

Links:

Carnevale Fantastico: http://www.carnevalefantastico.com
Illustrated Stone: www.illustratedstone.com
Aunt Kitty’s Jam: http://www.auntkittyskreations.com
The Woven Potter: www.wovenpotter.com
Great Dickens Christmas Fair: http://www.dickensfair,com

Mangia! Authentic wood fired pizzas!

Tuscan Sun Pizza Co. bakes individual size pizzas the Italian way for 90 seconds at 900º next to a real wood fire! Bacon & Bleu, Pesto & Artichoke plus our Meat Lovers are among the favorites. Real wood, real fire & real pizza! It’s all about the fire!

Vincent Larsen is the proprietor of this Savory Shop and he had this to say when we asked about his pizza’s, “I first discovered wood-fired pizza in Italy 15 years ago and never forgot how great it was. That’s when my flame was lit. I have been doing pizza next to a wood fire for over 2 years now after a couple of years of experimenting in my own kitchens’ gas oven and an open fire in the barbecue to explore the possibilities of pizza making.
Pizza has been called a “flavor delivery system” and upon a nice chewy dough an endless world of possibilities can be explored. We love these “special events” where outfits might be involved. We do pizza the Italian way next to a real wood fire baked at 900º in just 90 seconds! I like to think of myself as a time traveller where Steampunk or Victorian is the age we have travelled to so far. However, come May 2nd & 3rd we will be traveling back to the Renaissance period in Italy.
I have always loved pizza in its many forms from deep dish to thin crust, New York style to California style but Italian wood-fired pizza has been my all time favorite though. I am self taught although I learn from the greats such as Tony Gemignani and Peter Reinhart.
I write a pizza blog called Rediscovering Pizza a Pizza Journey that covers my travels and experiments as well as my discoveries and failures. http://pizzajourney.blogspot.com”

He also said he is excited about, “time traveling back to an exciting period in history when we were leaving the Dark Ages and exploring new possibilities from science to travel and from disease to awareness. Being an artist myself I have always had a place for Renaissance Art in my heart. It was a time when men were men like Leonardo and Michelangelo and the Medici’s.”

This is a guy that is passionate about pizza! Come find him at Carnevale Fantastico. It should be easy, just follow the heavenly smell of melting cheese and baked bread… wow, I need a pizza.

Links:

Carnevale Fantastico: www.carnevalefantastico.com
Vincent’s blog: http://pizzajourney.blogspot.com
Tuscan Sun Pizza: http://tuscansunpizzaco.com

But Will Kids Have Fun?

Adorn Thy Hair

Naturalmente!

That means Naturally! for those of you visiting english folk. There are dozens of things to do and see throughout the day. Here are a couple of things to do with the kids this weekend at Carnevale Fantastico!

Adorn Thy Hair: Not just for children, this activity is for everyone. Have long tresses? Bind them up! Is your bob to short for regular braids? Have these lovely ladies twine them up with ribbon! Is your beard sorely lacking in decoration? You get the idea.

They love to twist and turn peoples locks into individual works of art. Most of their decorative french braids last up to a few days with care, as well as being accented by colorful decorations.

Magickal Face Painting and Body Art

Magickal Face and Body Art: Kristen from Magickal face painting has been making magical creations on peoples faces and bodies for 31 years! She takes requests as well as allows you to choose from a slew of designs that she has created herself. She says that she is looking forward to painting custom masks, and using the durable makeup so people can wear it all day long and into the night.

Kristen has been a fine artist my whole life, and started painting faces professionally in 1984. She believes that painting faces and bodies is the perfect marriage of theatre and fine art, and she loves what she does. Her husband, Dean, manages the booth and entertains guests as they wait to be painted, so it’s a family business.

you can also find her painting faces at the Northern California Renaissance Faire and the Northern California Pirate Festival. She says,”Themed events such as these are my favorite, because they again combine my love of theatre and art, and most importantly… making people happy.”

Come out and discover your inner Italian beauty this weekend at Carnevale Fantastico!

Links:

Carneval Fantastico: http://www.carnevalefantastico.com
Magickal Face painting: http://www.magickalentertainment.com
Adorn Thy Hair: www.tressesentwined.com
Northern California Renaissance Faire:www.norcalrenaissancefaire.com
Northern California Pirate Festival: http://www.NorCalPirateFestival.com
The Great Dickens Fair: http://www.DickensFair.com

#carnevale #magickalfacepainting #tressesentwined

They are doing a Cooking Show…

No seriously, and it’s awesome.

Barilla brand pasta and La Famiglia al Dente presents: Cucina Dell’Arte!

Mamma Focaccia and her daughters, Argentina and Gianetta, teach you the art of the kitchen! Secret “La Famiglia al Dente” recipes will be revealed and delicious food prepared live on stage with the help of the cheese merchant Federico Formaggio and Pia the maid. The art of cooking is skill and preparation, but the heart of any meal is food, laughter and love. They have researched the history of food in the Italian states during the Renaissance and are bringing three recipes to life for today’s food lover.

This amazing act features real food! On the menu is; Antipasta Primavera con Marmellata Melanzana e Focaccia, Riso Torta Primavera, and Pasta Secca Primavera!

This show has all the makings of a festival favorite written and performed by the very same people who brought you Ballet Russe Spectacle Variété, and La Perduta Commedia–expect insanity.

Links:

Carnevale Fantastico!: www.carnevalefantastico.com
Ballet Russe: https://www.facebook.com/BalletRusseSF

#Carnevale #foodfun # thisweekend

Not your grandpa’s wood anymore.

Well, It might be actually. These Artisans take both raw materials and repurposed objects and create beautiful works of art. learn more about the wood workers at Carneval Fantastico!

Wine Cask Creations: Pete Troiani makes furniture and home decor items utilizing retired red wine barrels. He started out making gifts for family and friend but for the last ten years has been building artisanal quality items from his workshop. Find him this weekend!

As Wood As It Gets: A Bay Area native,Tony Fredericks started working with his hands when he was young, he specializes in “Functional Art” made from reclaimed/repurposed exotic hardwoods. Some of his more popular items are pepper mills, goblets, mugs, cutting boards, seam rippers, french rolling pins and bottle stoppers. Examples of his work can be seen on his website.

IL Ragazzo Violino (The Fiddle Guy):Steve Joynes is the Fiddle guy. His booth is intended to be a likeness of an Italian luthier’s workshop in the renaissance era. He makes, restores, and repairs stringed musical instruments, primarily of the violin family. Many of his instruments are over a hundred years old.You’ll find violins, violas, cellos, mandolins, lutes, harps, and assorted other instruments for sale. You’ll also find him fastidiously working away at his workbench.

Links:

Carneval Fantastico: http://www.carnevalefantastico.com
Wine Cask Creations: www.winecaskcreations.com
As wood as it gets: www.aswoodasitgets.com
The Fiddle guy: http://www.fiddleguy.com

Less than a week to go Pizano!

Salve!

See Manly Men in tights: When in Rome this weekend!

Only 5 more days until a beautiful Italian village is built for Carnevale Fantastico! This week we’ll begin a series of articles that answers the age old question- “What will I see?”

The Artisans and Entertainers of this spectacular event have all been placed under intense questioning so that our innate curiosity might be sated. Keep coming back because there will be so much to learn about in the next week.

Now, one of the acts that this author is looking most forward to (albeit with a little bias, I have laughed big body laughs because of this group for probably 14 years) “Manly men in tights: When in Rome”.

 Manly Men In tights: When in Rome

“Manly Men in tights” has been a comedic draw at Renaissance fairs for over a decade. In fact, it has delighted over 300,000 people since its first appearance 14 years ago.  When I first saw it at the original Rennaissance Pleasure Faire in Devore it was a slapstick, silly comedy celebrating the art of being manly. It was full of self-effacing silly comedy, dashing sword play, audience participation, and belly laughs.  This same show can be found at the Renaissance fair in Gilroy in the autumn and The great Dickens Christmas fair in SF in the winter. What you’ll see this weekend is this most manly show with an Italian twist, it follows the Brother Pazzo as they teach the men of Rome to be a Manly Man. Just like the boys back in Puglia! And what of the audience participation you ask? Ladies, bring your almost manly men to the show and you’ll have the opportunity to shove them onstage for manly finishing school. They ask for male “volunteers” towards the end, and you may not be able to stand the manly-ness that will ensue…  

Why should you go see this show? Well, these manly men fill the seats of their theaters and are one of the most popular shows in West Coast Ren Faire history! I can personally attest by my own actions and the actions of my friends that audiences return time after time to see them every year.  In fact the size of the MMIT crowds rival those of the Jousting arena.

Who ARE these manly men? Why none other than Vallejo’s own Maurice Browder who in his off-time from being a manly man (is there such a thing?) is a swordsman, musician, Commedia performer, and drives for UPS. Marc Hines Larrenaga is a swordsman, Ren Faire circuit performer, and works for Disney.  Michael Cawelti is a Sommelier at a Napa WInery, and runs a school in Stage Combat: The Albion Schoole of Defense. He is the mastermind behind MMIT: When in Rome. When I asked him what he is looking forward to he said that Carnevale Fantastico! is, “a fun and new concept produced by folks who know how to create quality entertainment in a historical context… and even in its first year I predict is will be fantastico!”

Don’t miss them this weekend May 2^nd and 3^rd at Carnevale Fantastico!

Links:

Carnevale Fantastico: www.carnevalefantastico.com
Albion Schoole of defense: www.albionschoole.com
Nor Cal Renaissance Faire: www.norcalrenfaire.com
The Dickens Christmas Fair: www.dickensfair.com

#wheninrome #manlymen #carnevalefantastico

No Parchment Needed- for real…

This group of entertainers is a traveling group of improvisational performers. Every one of their shows is as varied and unique as the audience. How? Because every show is tailored by the audience’s suggestions. Not only do these wacky kids offer unplanned spontaneity, but we as the audience gets creative input into each scene. The shows are not written before hand and audience is fully aware that they have never done the scenes before, and will never do them the same again.

So the long and the short? We get to watch these guys try and pull a show right out of their…heads. We get to help them write the story and every performance will be different depending on OUR interactions.  Kind of awesome.

By the way, in case you are wondering these guys are the real deal. The various troupe members are film & theater actors, graduates of Second City, and are experienced fight combatants. They are involved in other acting troupes, are teachers, musicians, and have a wide variety of skills that they bring to every performance. Since 2009 they have appeared all over the West Coast at various events including the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire, the Northern California Renaissance Faire at Casa de Fruta, Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Southern California, Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire in Oregon, and Fringe showcases along the West Coast.

He might have said something they didn’t like…

I was at one of their shows at the Washington Renaissance Fair and got to be pulled up onstage with them (this doesn’t happen to everyone, but I’m a special flower) Let me tell you it was fun, but difficult. The audience got to enjoy a spectacularly brilliant performance of improv that day. Before and after I was on the stage.

This type of comedy is fun for all ages. Just shout out suggestions when prompted! Be a part of the show! Come one, come all!

Links:

Carnevale Fantastico: http://www.carnevalefantastico.com
No Parchment Needed: https://www.facebook.com/NoParchmentNeeded
Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire: www.washingtonfaire.com
Northern California Renaissance Faire at Casa de Fruta: www.norcalrenfaire.com
Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Southern California: www.renfair.com/socal 
Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire in Oregon: www.shrewfaire.com

#NPNrulez! #carnevale #whatrudoingthisweekend #goingtocarnevale