PIRATE PARTY

We kicked off the Pirate Party idea with last year's Feast, but the real possibilities aren't even half recognized yet.

GAMES

"Sharks"

"Sharks" is a game I think all of us recognize as a kid.  The idea is to hop from one piece of furniture to another because "the floor is shark infested water."  (The other common variant is "the floor is molten lava.")  Within a lodge, we can get lots of adults playing this, very freeform, trying to get from one picnic table "boat" to another.  rolled paper might improvise 'life boats' to be scooted along the floor... you're only limited by your own imaginations.

"Boarding Parties."

Another variant of sharks would be "Boarding Parties."  Two picnic tables would have to take one over from the other.  (Stealing the Wheel might be the objective to victory, or the mainsail, or crippling the mast...)  But again, they must all the while avoid the shark infested waters.

Volley Ball-and-Chain

Volley Ball-and-Chain was a weird and wonderful improvision of game on-the-spot last year.  It just goes to show how we really can be kids again when handed the simplest of props.  Imagine what we could build with a pile of wooden blocks?

MOONLIGHT

Last year's Blacklight was just the beginning.  It mainly was used for a graffiti wall we didn't even know would be blacklighted, so we were ill equipped to have adequate florescent markers.

This year, we could not only have a moonlit corner for graffiti and socializing of cursed pirates, but we could also include secret markings on several items from handstamps to marked coins to invisible secret messages and clues.

If i can get 50 UV LEDs from e-Bay for $3.50, I can wire them to AA batteries for blacklight flashlights costing about $0.30 each, given away to paid guests.  These can then be used to read invisible markings, from hand stamps to secret messages.  Everyone can have their own personal moonbeam to use in hunting treasure.

The Bar should be equipped with a 'Moonbeam.'  Those of age can wear the brand of a Pirate (The 'P' mark from the East Indian Trading Company), while underaged members can have a sparrow or similar 'consolation prize' to mark their admission.

OTHER PROPS

As fun as it would be to build the whole friggin ship, including lanterns and mermaids and other ornamentation... nothing transports easier than rope and cloth,  Sails, banners, nets, and similar riggings are just good sense.  Ya know, of the three Jolly Rogers we made, not one was hoisted up the flagpole sitting there the whole time.  More Jolly Rogers!  Paper rolls and packs easy too, so Maps, Posters, Newsprint, and the like, are also very practical ways to pack a lot of effect in very little travel space.

- joel