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Solstice Parade WTF?

(37 posts)

Started 11 months ago by Pokerguy
Latest reply from Corvus

Pokerguy

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umm, isn't it supposed to be in Fremont?

Posted 11 months ago #
MidWest

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Just enjoy the naked people. ;-)

Posted 11 months ago #
Edog

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They stage some of the nudies at the old library at 57th and 24th. They are dumb aand their act is tired.

Posted 11 months ago #
Silver

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The naked bicyclists had a great time, and so did we. The care bears were awesome, as was the female Darth Vader on roller skates! Several hundred people got painted up for the occasion. Lots of Marval comic book heros this year. Oh, and a couple of really well painted Aliens, as in Alien 1 and 2.

One woman had her body paint pixelated, which worked really well. Another guy was a cubist painting. The guys in charge were all painted up as mounties, and a couple had decorated their bikes as horses.

The parade, itself, was underwhelming. A couple of good bands, some lovely belly dancers, a fine lawn chair drill team, and of course the Flying Spaghetti Monster. There was a giant, beautifully constructed praying mantis puppet that was menacing the crowd. Not sorry I went, but it is a long parade!

Posted 11 months ago #
Corvus

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"They stage some of the nudies at the old library at 57th and 24th. They are dumb aand their act is tired."

I disagree. But just the kind of comment one should expect to see on the MB forum.

We enjoyed the parade. You have to expect some underwhelming - they are all just small town acts after all. But the belly dancers were very good and we liked the schoolbus quite a bit. It's all about the atmoshpere and celebrating the longest day of year.

Posted 11 months ago #
Edog

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I think its the kind of comment a person can expect after hearing the same joke with the same punchline every solstice. It is past its expiration date and is now about as original as a fratboy at a greatful dead show.

Posted 11 months ago #
Pokerguy

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Not trying to sound prudish, but I have a problem with all the morons who were on 24th. I expect it in Fremont today and choose to keep away. The whole naked bicyclist thing to me is really dumb as it is, but at least I can avoid it.

Posted 11 months ago #
Mondoman

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PG - In past years, they've ridden through Ballard before the parade; since it seems to be "normal" for the Festival, they should probably mention it in their promo materials.

Posted 11 months ago #
Pokerguy

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I guess I just never noticed before. I always thought they got "ready" by Fred Meyer.

Posted 11 months ago #
ballardpilot

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+1 Edog.

It's like a seven year old who keeps repeating the same joke over and over and over and over and over. Gee, how come it's not just as hilarious the 20th time you hear it? It's no different from seeing my 35th Henry mural painted across Ballard. OK, the childish, googley-eye whimsey was cute the first 5 times, but please give me a break, I can stand no more.

I have a bad case of "whimsey fatigue." Feh.

Posted 11 months ago #
Corvus

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It's a tradition I guess. I still like it. A little debauchery is good for the soul and the community too.

Posted 11 months ago #
GAM

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As Corvus said, it's a tradition. I don't anyone considers naked cyclists novel at this point. Anyway, I have a hard time arguing with a bit of silliness once in a while, which is all this is.

Posted 11 months ago #
racerX

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They are dumb aand their act is tired.
I guess someone with the same old dog took a poop today joke, knows a bit about dumb and tired.

If I had a nickle for every time I heard that one...

Posted 11 months ago #
Corvus

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Burn!!!

Posted 11 months ago #
Edog

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They keys to humor are exaggeration and incongruity. When something happens evry year it defies both. At this point, it would funnier if they dressed in full victorian costume on vintage iron bikes. As for my tired old line, I'm here all week! Enjoy the show.

Posted 11 months ago #
BuffaloHawk

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racer- OUCH

haHa

We had a great time at the fair and since it normally runs Father's Day weekend it is a tradition for me and my daughter to go

Posted 11 months ago #
Corvus

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I guess you missed the victorian costumes on (pseudo) vintage iron bikes. And by your own standard you haven't been exaggerating or incongruous for a very long time so you are consequently not funny and therfore dumb and tired. That pretty well sums it up. Thankfully I have better things to do all week.

Posted 11 months ago #
GAM

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I like that idea - and I want to see someone trying to bike in full Victorian regalia.

Knights of the round table might be fun to try as well.

You all try. I'll watch.

Posted 11 months ago #
VeganBiker

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The naked bike ride is just a bit of fun and also a challenge that I have never taken up and I dare anyone of you with negative comments to try it, and come to that, I will if you will! It is not about the bikes it is about freedom, IMHO.

BH - many years ago I was at the fair with my daughter and she said "hey dad, let's get matching tattoos (she 21+ at that time) and I agreed and so we now we have Chinese symbols inked on us for both of our elements. Water (her's) and fire (mine). So be prepared. :)

Posted 11 months ago #
VeganBiker

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GAM - have you checked out bike jousting on YouTube?

Posted 11 months ago #
BallardGMa

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@ mondoman, it is not in promo materials because the bike riders are not an official part of the Solstice Parade.

Posted 11 months ago #
Silver

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Edog - is it "tired" to wear costumes on Halloween? It may just depend on how jaded and cynical you are. It's certainly possible to be creative, funny and artistic in one's execution of body paint, or in a Halloween costume. But then I am notoriously whimsy- friendly. ;-)

Posted 10 months ago #
Edog

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Are calling me unfriendly, Silver?

Posted 10 months ago #
Corvus

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Somebody hates these whimsies!

Posted 10 months ago #
dsomers

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Twas bryllyg, and ye slythy toves

Did gyre and gymble in ye wabe:

All <whimsy> were ye borogoves;

And ye mome raths outgrabe.

Apologies to Mr Carroll

Posted 10 months ago #
Silver

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Oh no Sir, Mr. Edog, Sir! I was calling you jaded and cynical! Sorry if that was unclear!

Posted 10 months ago #
Edog

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Oh, well that I can live with. Outside of those "faults", if we can call them that, I'm really quite pleasant and "Smurfy". It would really hurt me, if you could not see that, Silver.

Posted 10 months ago #
Silver

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I know you're really just a big smurf. No worries! ;-)

Posted 10 months ago #
dsomers

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Smurfy Edog? As in cyanotic? When was your last stress EKG and angioplasty?

<grin>

Posted 10 months ago #
iPlod

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No worries dsomers, he'll be alright, he's just had a little too much colloidal silver.

Posted 10 months ago #
Silver

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I beg your pardon! I hardly know the man!

Posted 10 months ago #
Edog

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My last EKG was normal, and my heart works great. No metal supplements for this boy!

Posted 10 months ago #
dsomers

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Silver,

I don't think any of us think of you as colloidal!

<grin>
D

Glad to hear your ticker is tocking in good order Edog. The thought of you cerulian lipped was scary!

Posted 10 months ago #
DustySW

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Agree with Silver. And the folks that find it tiresome, I'll bet if you left Seattle for awhile, you'd find that you miss it something awful -- the quirkiness, the imperfect naked people, the dork factor -- every bit of it. I had to leave Seattle to help a family member, and found myself feeling the need to watch the parade on a street view webcam. I was excited to even get to see friends as participants in the show via webcam. So, trust me, you'd miss it if you didn't have the option to go or be a part of it. It is an institution of Seattle. And I can't wait to get back there the split second I'm able.

Posted 10 months ago #
Pokerguy

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I wouldn't miss it one bit, but if looking at fat dudes dicks is your thing more power to you.

Posted 10 months ago #
Ernie

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Don't really care what Pokerguy thinks of fat dude dicks, but I just had to respond so that I could be at the bottom of every thread in the last 24 hours.

Posted 10 months ago #
Corvus

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Poker's favorite joke - "Dude you dropped the soap"!

Beware next year fat dudes, he's oggling you.

Posted 10 months ago #