Bassett Street Hounds

Dog Days Ale 2012

tom — 2012-01-29T06:29:55-07:00

Dog Days Ale 2012

July 13-15

The important thing right now is the date. We began our planning process for the Ale shortly after the new year. Invitations are typically sent out in January and February until we fill the performers' roster. If your team is interested in attending, contact us quickly.

Expect more details as the season progresses. Here you will find check-in information, directions to camp, tour schedules and driving directions, t-shirt pre-order information, and whatever else needs to be said.

Contact Us

Contact Julia Wittner, the Dog Days Ale Invitation Czar, for more information.

Past Ales

See the Ale List to get an idea what this event is about.

Dog Days Ale 2011 - [Green Man Ale Shirts]

tom — 2012-01-17T14:32:34-07:00

Dog Days Ale 2011

Green Man Ale Shirts

Every year, the Dog Days Ale has a theme. The 2011 ale shirt, designed by Susan Galbraith, honored the Green Man. The design also lent itself to other uses and was modified as a button and a logo for some other goodies.

Other Goodies

In addition, we created a CafePress shop where you can directly purchase Ale-related paraphernalia such as mugs, water bottles, and a tote bag with the Ale logo.

Take a look: http://www.cafepress.com/dogdaysale2011

Note: any items you order from CafePress must be delivered to your own address.

Dog Days Ale 2011 : Green Man Ale - [Goodies]

tom — 2012-01-17T14:27:45-07:00

Dog Days Ale 2011 : Green Man Ale

Schedule: June 17-19

Saturday, June 18

10:00 am - 11:10 am - Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen, NY
- Rain location: Watkins Glen State Park, Stone Pavilion
1:00 pm - 1:40 pm - Multiple locations:
- Leidenfrost Vineyards, Hector, NY
- Red Newt Cellars, Hector, NY
- Two Goats Brewery, Burdett, NY
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Wagner Vineyards Brewdeck, Lodi, NY

Sunday, June 19

11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Ithaca Commons, Ithaca, NY
2:00 - 4:00-ish pm - The Rongovian Embassy (Rongo), Trumansburg, NY

List of Performers

Bassett Street Hounds, Syracuse, NY
Belles of York, Toronto, ON
Greenwood Morris (Facebook), Gainesville, FL
Hart's Brook Garland Women, Hadley, MA
Heartwood Morris, Ithaca, NY
Pokingbrook Morris, Albany, NY
Red Herring Morris, Belmont, MA
Snowbelt Morris, Rochester, NY
Squash Beetle Morris, Lexington, KY

Photos

We will link to your photos if you send us the URL.

Goodies

Although the Ale is over, the CafePress shop lingers on with tote bags, coffee mugs, and water bottles adorned with the green man logo. Visit http://www.cafepress.com/dogdaysale2011

See also the 2011 Green Man Ale shirt design (no longer available for sale).

Past Ales

2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1994
More information

Dog Days Ale Shirts

tom — 2012-01-17T14:12:24-07:00

Dog Days Ale Shirts

In 2012, this became the homepage for the t-shirt design. Going forward, this will be a display of the past designs. Come back in February to see if it is done.

Dog Days Ale 2006 : Year of the Fire Dog

tom — 2012-01-17T14:09:31-07:00

Dog Days Ale 2006 : Year of the Fire Dog

Schedule : August 4-6

Saturday, August 5

10:00-11:00 - Museum of the Earth, Ithaca, NY
1:10-3:30 - dancers in rotation at two nearby wineries: Thirsty Owl Winery & Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery, Ovid, NY
4:15-5:15 - Wagner's Vineyards and Brewery, Lodi, NY

Sunday, August 6

11:00-12:00 - Ithaca Farmer's Market, Ithaca, NY
2:00-?? - Rongovian Embassy, Trumansburg, NY

List of Performers

Bassett Street Hounds, Syracuse, NY
Borderline Morris, Hilltowns of Western Massachusetts
Grindstone Creek Morris, Albion, NY
Handsome Molly, Princeton, NJ
Heartwood Morris, Ithaca, NY
Pokingbrook Morris, Albany, NY
Squash Beetle Morris, Lexington, KY
Thornden Morris, Syracuse, NY
Red Herring Morris, Belmont, MA
Snowbelt Morris, Rochester, NY

Past Ales

2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1994
More information

Tour Schedules and Driving Directions - [Saturday, June 18]

tom — 2012-01-17T13:53:38-07:00

Tour Schedules and Driving Directions

There really is no need to print these, as we'll provide them at the Ale. The are provided for late comers or guests who need to meet up with us on tour.

Saturday, June 18

On Saturday, we all start out together for show dancing in Watkins Glen, then, in the afternoon, we split into three tours of 3-4 teams each, and finally, we meet up at the end of the day for show dancing at Wagners. Saturday's touring will be at locations around Seneca Lake, including several wineries along NY Rt. 414.

White Tour

Heartwood Morris, Red Herring Morris, and Squash Beetle Morris

9:15 am - Leave camp
10:00 am - 11:10 am - Massed Dancing at Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen, NY
- Rain location: Watkins Glen State Park, Stone Pavilion
11:30 am - 12:20 pm - Lunch: Watkins Glen State Park, Stone Pavilion
1:00 pm - 1:40 pm - Dance at Leidenfrost Vineyards, Hector, NY
- Dance, taste, or relax - leave for Wagner by 2:30 pm
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Massed Dancing at Wagner Vineyards, Lodi, NY
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm - optional tasting at Wagner Vineyards (cost covered by Ale)

Driving directions and maps

Yellow Tour

Snowbelt Morris, Belles of York, and Hart's Brook Garland

9:15 am - Leave camp
10:00 am - 11:10 am - Massed Dancing at Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen, NY
- Rain location: Watkins Glen State Park, Stone Pavilion
11:30 am - 12:20 pm - Lunch: Watkins Glen State Park, Stone Pavilion
12:30 pm - Leave Lunch site by this time
1:00 pm - 1:40 pm - Dance at Red Newt Cellars, Hector, NY
- Dance, taste, or relax - leave for Wagner by 2:30 pm
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Massed Dancing at Wagner Vineyards, Lodi, NY
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm - optional tasting at Wagner Vineyards (cost covered by Ale)

Driving directions and maps

Blue Tour

Bassett Street Hounds, Greenwood Morris, and Pokingbrook Morris

9:15 am - Leave camp
10:00 am - 11:10 am - Massed Dancing at Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen, NY
- Rain location: Watkins Glen State Park, Stone Pavilion
11:30 am - 12:20 pm - Lunch: Watkins Glen State Park, Stone Pavilion
1:00 pm - 1:40 pm - Dance at Two Goats Brewery, Burdett, NY
- Dance, taste, or relax - leave for Wagner by 2:30 pm
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Massed Dancing at Wagner Vineyards, Lodi, NY
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm - optional tasting at Wagner Vineyards (cost covered by Ale)

Driving directions and maps

Sunday, June 19

On Sunday, there is a single tour for all the teams. We'll be dancing in Ithaca and Trumansburg.

Green Tour

10:15 am - Leave camp
11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Dancing on the Ithaca Commons
12:45 pm - 1:30 pm - Lunch: Cass Park Pavilion, Ithaca, NY
- 1:30 - 1:45 pm - Traditional Dog Days Ale Auction
2:00 - 4:00-ish pm - Pub Stop: The Rongovian Embassy (Rongo), Trumansburg, NY

Driving directions and maps

2012 Performances - [April 22]

tom — 2012-01-17T13:51:18-07:00

2012 Performances

Our shows usually take place outside in public spaces so you don't need to do anything special to attend. Just show up and enjoy.

April 22

NEFFA Festival. Weekend Event. Mansfield, MA.

The New England Folk Festival Association (NEFFA) puts on its annual music and dance festival each April. It has become the first dance performance for many morris and sword teams throughout the northeast and features continuous performances at the main entrance throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. This year we perform on Sunday morning.

Schedule

Sunday, April 22 –10:00-11:00 am – performing with Great Meadows Morris and Sword and Griggstown Lock Rapper Sword

May 1

May Day Celebration, Thornden Park water tower, Syracuse, NY. 6:00 a.m. (dawn!)

This year is the 32nd May Day celebrated on Water Tower Hill by Syracuse's original morris team, Thornden Morris. It is the Hound's 28th appearance. We are joined by Ribbonsteel Rapper, Wild Blue Morris, and Heartwood Morris.

Schedule

6:00 am – Thornden Park Water Tower
Other performances during the day (TBD)

July 13-15

Dog Days Ale. Weekend Event. Trumansburg, NY and environs.

We've held this ale pretty much annually since 1994. As usual, we will be hosting it in the Finger Lakes surrounding Trumansburg, NY. See the Dog Days Ale page for more detailed information.

Past Performances

2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997

Directions to Thornden Park - [Directions to Thornden Park]

tom — 2012-01-17T13:48:28-07:00

Directions to Thornden Park

Give yourself time to find a parking spot, especially if you come after 6:00 a.m. Parking get tight and you may have to walk a little way. (See map for location)

Take I-690 to Exit 14, Teall Ave.
At end of the ramp, turn south onto Teall Ave. (This will be a left turn if you are coming from the west; left if you're coming from the east.)
Stay on Teall Ave for 2 lights.
At second light (Erie Blvd), Teall Ave becomes Columbus Ave.
Stay on Columbus for 2 more lights coming to Genesee St.
Turn right onto Genesee St.
Go one short block to Bassett St (blinking amber light).
Turn left onto Bassett St.
Go one block up the steep hill to Madison St.
Turn right on Madison St.
Take Madison one block to Cherry St.
Turn left on Cherry St.
Cherry St ends at S. Beech St but there is an entrance into Thornden Park on the other side of the road.
Drive into the park and turn left onto the park drive.
Follow this drive past the swimming pool (on your right) and on up the hill; the water tower where we dance will be visible on your left at the top of the hill.
Take the park drive straight to the top and turn at the first left turn; that will take you to the tower itself.
Park somewhere along this road rather than on the circle. We reserve the space on the circle itself for the performance area.

Map

View Larger Map

Dog Days Ale 2012

tom — 2012-01-17T13:44:10-07:00

Dog Days Ale 2012

July 13-15

Contact Us

Contact Julia Wittner, the Dog Days Ale Invitation Czar, for more information.

Past Ales

See the Ale List to get an idea what this event is about.

Dog Days Ale 2010 : Silver Anniversary Ale

tom — 2012-01-17T13:40:35-07:00

Dog Days Ale 2010 : Silver Anniversary Ale

Schedule: July 9-11

Saturday, July 10

10:00 am - 11:00 am - Watkins Glen State Park main entrance (or in case of rain, the Iroquois Lodge), Watkins Glen, NY
1:00 pm - 1:40 pm - Two Goats Brewery and Finger Lakes Distillery, Burdett, NY
2:20 pm - 3:00 pm - Two Goats Brewery and Finger Lakes Distillery, Burdett, NY
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm - Wagner's Brewery, Lodi, NY

Sunday, July 11

10:30 am - Noon - Ithaca Commons, Ithaca, NY
2:00 pm - 4:00-ish pm - Pub Stop and Dancing: The Rongovian Embassy (Rongo), Trumansburg, NY

List of Performers

Bassett Street Hounds, Syracuse, NY
Cold Barn Morris, Hamilton, ON
Hart's Brook Garland Women, Hadley, MA
Heartwood Morris, Ithaca, NY
On the Border, Burlington, VT
Red Herring Morris, Belmont, MA
Snowbelt Morris, Rochester, NY
Squash Beetle Morris, Lexington, KY
Wake Robin Morris, Amherst, MA

Past Ales

2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1994
More information

Dog Days Ale 2012 - [T-shirt Orders -- Due June 11]

tom — 2012-01-17T13:33:21-07:00

Dog Days Ale 2012

July 13-15

The Dog Days Ale is approaching, and we are excited to have so many great teams and other friends attending this year's ale!

Please note these important deadlines:

Registration data and T-shirt orders are due June 11.
Ale fees and T-shirt fees are due June 18.

List of Performers

Bassett Street Hounds, Syracuse, NY
Heartwood Morris, Ithaca, NY

Registration Information -- Due June 11

By June 11, please tell us:

The names of everyone who will be attending this year’s ale, and their ages (if 18 or younger).

Names of those with food allergies or other food restrictions. (We will do our best to reasonably accommodate these needs and will post a menu with ingredients list. From that, people can decide if they need to supply their own food. The menus for this year’s Dog Day’s Ale are available at:
http://bassett-street-hounds.org/hounds/ale/menus.

Any tour restrictions (e.g., do you need to tour with a particular team, etc.). The tour schedule will be on our website in early June.

T-shirt Orders -- Due June 11

The deadline for placing t-shirt orders online is June 11.

As usual, we will order a few extra short-sleeved shirts in L and XL. Those extras are usually sold by the end of breakfast on Saturday. We will not order any additional shirts after the event. Plan accordingly!

Ale Fees -- Due June 18

Julia will send the squire of your team, a list of the shirt orders that were placed along with the amount still due for registration fees. Please send us a check (made out to “Bassett Street Hounds”) that covers both of these fees for your whole team. Remember to subtract your team’s $100 deposit, if you paid one. To avoid late fees, please make sure the check arrives no later than June 18.

If received by June 18

$55 adults, full ale
$3/year age 18 and under, full ale

If received after June 18

$65 adults, full ale
$3/year age 18 and under

Sent Payment To

Julia Wittner
219 Wellington Rd.
Dewitt, NY 13214

Contact Julia by email for more information.

Past Ales

See the Ale List to get an idea what this event is about.

Ale Webpage Links

tom — 2012-01-17T10:25:15-07:00

Ale Webpage Links

This is mainly for the Hounds, to remember what links we need to send to our guests. No harm in anyone looking though.

Main Web Page

This should have the list of performers, announcements, links to the other Ale pages (time dependent), and the public schedule. In its final form, will only have list of performers, public schedule, t-shirt front artwork, and links to past ales. I'm trying to simplify the updating process and, instead of having a single page where we add and remove a succession of different content sections, most of this will be accomplished by a “Links for Ale Attendees” section. The only static sections would then be the “Watch this Space” introduction, “List of Performers”, and “Tour Schedule”. Obviously, these would be phased in as more information becomes available during the invitation, registration, and checkin phases leading up to the ale.

http://bassett-street-hounds.org/ale/ → redirects to http://bassett-street-hounds.org/hounds/ale/2012 (or whatever year)

Registration Phase

The main webpage needs to link to these pages. The shirts page has the order form until the pre-order deadline passes. The registration page is revised with appropriate deadlines and ale fees.

Site Information Phase

The registration page link is removed from the main webpage and site, directions, and tour links put in its place. Menus and shirts links stay up, but the shirt page only has the design. The public schedule goes live once the tour information is set.

http://bassett-street-hounds.org/hounds/ale/checkin
http://bassett-street-hounds.org/hounds/ale/directions
http://bassett-street-hounds.org/hounds/ale/2012/tours
- I may change this to http://bassett-street-hounds.org/hounds/ale/tours next year.
- Actual tour PDFs are archived at http://bassett-street-hounds.org/files/ale/tours/ .

Post Ale

After the Ale, the “Links for Ale Attendees” section with its links to all supporting pages can be removed. The final form of the page would the public tour schedule and list of performers. Interim, we would have a thank you message to attendees and lost & found, if necessary.

http://bassett-street-hounds.org/ale → will redirect to http://bassett-street-hounds.org/hounds/ale
http://bassett-street-hounds.org/hounds/ale/shirts – will be a display of past shirt designs.
http://bassett-street-hounds.org/hounds/ale/song – we've used this song as the interim page in the past.

Page Includes

Furniture for the Ale web pages – i.e., page snippets that can be embedded on other pages. For example, by including the contact snippet, you can change the contact person's name everywhere on the site instead of having to update individual pages. Because these are intended to be embedded rather than standing alone as pages, they use <h2> headings.

Contact Us – embed as {{page>:ale:contact&noeditbtn&nofooter}}
Past Ales List – embed as {{page>:ale:past-ales&noeditbtn&nofooter}}
Photos – embed as {{page>:ale:photos&noeditbtn&nofooter}}
Past Ales Footer – embed as {{page>:ale::ale-list&noeditbtn&nofooter}}

Dog Days Ale - [Dog Days Ale]

tom — 2012-01-17T08:36:43-07:00

Dog Days Ale

We've been holding the Dog Days Ale pretty much annually since 1994 (although there was a break in 1996 and 1997 as the team reorganized). The first three ales were held north of Syracuse, centered roughly on Cleveland, NY. Since 1999, we've based them at Peter Hoover's farm in Trumansburg, near Ithaca, NY.

List of Ales

Dog Days Ale, July 13-15, 2012, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : Green Man Ale, June 17-19, 2011, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : Silver Anniversary Ale, July 9-11, 2010, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : De Evolution of Morris Dancing, July 24-26, 2009, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : Solar-Powered Morris, June 20-22, 2008, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : An Inconvenient Woof, July 27-29, 2007, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : Year of the Fire Dog, August 4-6, 2006, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : Double DecaDance, July 15-17, 2005, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : Leap Year Ale, July 16-18, 2004, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : Prime Ale Howl, July 11-13, 2003, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : Palindrome Ale, July 26-28, 2002, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : 2001: A Dance Odyssey, July 6-8, 2001, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : CentenniAle, July 7-9, 2000, Trumansburg, NY
Going to the D.O.G.S., June 11-13, 1999, Trumansburg, NY
Dog Days Ale : Wag Your T'Ale, June 12-14, 1998, Cleveland, NY
Dog Days Ale : Sirius Morris Dancing, June 1995, Cleveland, NY
Dog Days Ale, June 1994, Cleveland, NY

Dog Days Ale 2011 : Green Man Ale

tom — 2012-01-17T08:35:50-07:00

Dog Days Ale 2011 : Green Man Ale

Schedule: June 17-19

Saturday, June 18

10:00 am - 11:10 am - Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen, NY
- Rain location: Watkins Glen State Park, Stone Pavilion
1:00 pm - 1:40 pm - Multiple locations:
- Leidenfrost Vineyards, Hector, NY
- Red Newt Cellars, Hector, NY
- Two Goats Brewery, Burdett, NY
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Wagner Vineyards Brewdeck, Lodi, NY

Sunday, June 19

11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Ithaca Commons, Ithaca, NY
2:00 - 4:00-ish pm - The Rongovian Embassy (Rongo), Trumansburg, NY

List of Performers

Bassett Street Hounds, Syracuse, NY
Belles of York, Toronto, ON
Greenwood Morris (Facebook), Gainesville, FL
Hart's Brook Garland Women, Hadley, MA
Heartwood Morris, Ithaca, NY
Pokingbrook Morris, Albany, NY
Red Herring Morris, Belmont, MA
Snowbelt Morris, Rochester, NY
Squash Beetle Morris, Lexington, KY

Photos

We will link to your photos if you send us the URL.

Past Ales

2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1994
More information

Dog Days Ale 2011 : Green Man Ale

tom — 2012-01-17T08:34:38-07:00

Dog Days Ale 2011 : Green Man Ale

June 17-19

Thanks to the teams that attended this year's ale! The dancing was great, the singing excellent, and the people wonderful. It's a big job to pull off every year and we couldn't do it without the willingness of many volunteers to pitch in where needed. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

We had a relatively small number of items found when we cleaned up. Contact us if you left anything behind.

Photos

We will add your photo album to the list below if you send us the URL. If you have a Flickr account, photos tagged ”dog days ale” will show up on our Photo Gallery page. We'll try to have our own photos up shortly.

Schedule of Performances

Saturday, June 18

10:00 am - 11:10 am - Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen, NY
- Rain location: Watkins Glen State Park, Stone Pavilion
1:00 pm - 1:40 pm - Multiple locations:
- Leidenfrost Vineyards, Hector, NY
- Red Newt Cellars, Hector, NY
- Two Goats Brewery, Burdett, NY
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Wagner Vineyards Brewdeck, Lodi, NY

Sunday, June 19

11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Ithaca Commons, Ithaca, NY
2:00 - 4:00-ish pm - The Rongovian Embassy (Rongo), Trumansburg, NY

List of Performers

Bassett Street Hounds, Syracuse, NY
Belles of York, Toronto, ON
Greenwood Morris (Facebook), Gainesville, FL
Hart's Brook Garland Women, Hadley, MA
Heartwood Morris, Ithaca, NY
Pokingbrook Morris, Albany, NY
Red Herring Morris, Belmont, MA
Snowbelt Morris, Rochester, NY
Squash Beetle Morris, Lexington, KY

Past Ales

2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1995, 1994
More information

Hunting the Ale

tom — 2012-01-17T07:57:37-07:00

Hunting the Ale

In the next few months, we will begin the planning for this year's Ale. In the meantime, if you would like to know more or suggest that your team be invited, please contact the Invitation Czar. To get a sense of the event and what kinds of tours we have done, visit our listing of past ales.

“We'll have an Ale,” says Risky Rob.
“We'll have an Ale,” says Robin to Bob.
“We'll have an Ale,” says Jack all alone.
“We'll have an Ale,” says everyone.

“Who will we invite?” says Risky Rob.
“Who will we invite?” says Robin to Bob.
“Who will we invite?” says Jack all alone.
“Who will we invite?” says everyone.

“Heartwood and Bassetts,” says Risky Rob.
“Cotswold and Border,” says Robin to Bob.
“All of of New England,” says Jack all alone.
“Invite the whole world,” says everyone.

“How will we invite them?” says Risky Rob.
“How will we invite them?” says Robin to Bob.
“How will we invite them?” says Jack all alone.
“How will we invite them?” says everyone.

“Snail mail and telegraph,” says Risky Rob.
“Facebook and email,” says Robin to Bob.
“Social networking,” says Jack all alone.
“That's how we'll do it,” says everyone.

“What will we feed them?” says Risky Rob.
“What will we feed them?” says Robin to Bob.
“What will we feed them?” says Jack all alone.
“What will we feed them?” says everyone.

“Granola and raisins,” says Risky Rob.
“Salads and burritos,” says Robin to Bob.
“Ungulates on a spit,” says Jack all alone.
“That's how we'll do it,” says everyone.

“How will we amuse them?” says Risky Rob.
“How will we amuse them?” says Robin to Bob.
“How will we amuse them?” says Jack all alone.
“How will we amuse them?” says everyone.

“Cartoons and puzzles,” says Risky Rob.
“Fish ponds and saunas,” says Robin to Bob.
“The flaming squire dance,” says Jack all alone.
“That's how we'll do it,” says everyone.

“How will we tour them?” says Risky Rob.
“How will we tour them?” says Robin to Bob.
“How will we tour them?” says Jack all alone.
“How will we tour them?” says everyone.

“On bicycles and canoes,” says Risky Rob.
“In Volvos and Fiats,” says Robin to Bob.
“In big 18 wheelers,” says Jack all alone.
“That's how we'll do it,” says everyone.

“What will we dance?” says Risky Rob.
“What will we dance?” says Robin to Bob.
“What will we dance?” says Jack all alone.
“What will we dance?” says everyone.

“Two person jigs,” says Risky Rob.
“Infinite Northumberland,” says Robin to Bob.
“The Stick and Bucket Dance,” says Jack all alone.
“That's how we'll do it,” says everyone.

“Let's build a bonfire,” says Risky Rob.
“Let's build a bonfire,” says Robin to Bob.
“I'll be the Fire Czar,” says Jack all alone.
“Don't topple in, then!,” says everyone.

“What will we burn there?” says Risky Rob.
“What will we burn there?” says Robin to Bob.
“What will we burn there?” says Jack all alone.
“What will we burn there?” says everyone.

“Old pizza boxes,” says Risky Rob.
“Obstreperous children,” says Robin to Bob.
“Peeps on a skewer,” says Jack all alone.
“That's how we'll do it,” says everyone.

“What will we imbibe?” says Risky Rob.
“What will we imbibe?” says Robin to Bob.
“What will we imbibe?” says Jack all alone.
“What will we imbibe?” says everyone.

“Coffee and soda,” says Risky Rob.
“Fullers and homebrew,” says Robin to Bob.
“Hard cider and tonsil wash,” says Jack all alone.
“We'll drink the whole lot,” says everyone.

2011 Performances - [2011 Performances]

tom — 2012-01-17T07:41:27-07:00

2011 Performances

April 16

NEFFA Festival, Mansfield, MA.

Schedule

Saturday, 4:00-5:00 pm – performing with Ring O' Bells, Vineyard Swordfish, and Clownfish

May 1

May Day Celebration, Thornden Park water tower, Syracuse, NY. 6:00 a.m. (dawn!)

This year is the 31th May Day celebrated on Water Tower Hill by Syracuse's original morris team, Thornden Morris. It is the Hound's 27th appearance. We are joined by Ribbonsteel Rapper, Wild Blue Morris, and Heartwood Morris.

Schedule

6:00 am – Thornden Park Water Tower
10:00 am – Starbucks (Stop Clock Park), Downtown Syracuse
11:00 am – Onondaga Lake Park Marina, Liverpool

Photos

June 4

Snowbelt Morris Day of Dance, Canandaigua, NY

Snowbelt Morris is hosting a day of dance in Canandaigua.

Schedule

10:30 am-12:00 noon – Farmers' Market, downtown Canandaigua
2:00-3:00 pm – Continuing Care Ctr. of Thompson Hospital
3:30 pm - 4:ish – The Sand Bar @ Canandaigua Inn on the Lake

June 17-19

Dog Days Ale. Weekend Event. Trumansburg, NY and environs.

We've held this ale pretty much annually since 1994. As usual, we will be hosting it in the Finger Lakes surrounding Trumansburg, NY. See the Dog Days Ale page for more detailed information.

Saturday, June 18

10:00 am - 11:10 am - Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen, NY
- Rain location: Watkins Glen State Park, Stone Pavilion
1:00 pm - 1:40 pm - Multiple locations:
- Leidenfrost Vineyards, Hector, NY
- Red Newt Cellars, Hector, NY
- Two Goats Brewery, Burdett, NY
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Wagner Vineyards Brewdeck, Lodi, NY

Sunday, June 19

11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Ithaca Commons, Ithaca, NY
2:00 - 4:00-ish pm - The Rongovian Embassy (Rongo), Trumansburg, NY

Photos

July 30

Syracuse Stories, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY

Held as part of Syracuse ArtsWeek, Syracuse Stories is an All-Arts Festival that invites the people of Central New York, of every generation, neighborhood, ethnic group, new arrivals and longtime settlers to share their histories and experiences.

Schedule

4:15 - 4:35 pm – dance performance and demonstration

September 18

Westcott Street Cultural Fair. Syracuse, NY.

The Westcott Street Cultural Fair is a annual event celebrating the diversity of cultures in the free-thinking university neighborhood long known as the Westcott Nation.

Schedule

1:10 - 1:40 pm – we will perform at the Harvard Stage

December 18

Dickens Christmas, Skaneateles, NY.

The Hounds and Thornden Morris will again perform at the 18th Annual Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles, NY. As in past years, we will present a winter mummer's play, sing some carols, … and dance, of course.

Schedule

2:30 - 3:00 pm – Skaneateles Library, 49 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, NY.

Past Performances

2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997

Past Performances

tom — 2012-01-17T07:35:10-07:00

Past Performances

2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997

sidebar

tom — 2012-01-17T07:27:52-07:00

May Day - [A Syracuse Tradition Since 1981]

hounds — 2011-12-15T07:23:21-07:00

May Day

May 1, 6:00 a.m., Thornden Park Watertower Hill.

A Syracuse Tradition Since 1981

Every year since 1985, the Bassett Street Hounds have joined Thornden Morris and other local morris teams in presenting a May Day dawn celebration atop Watertower Hill in Thornden Park. (See directions to the park)

Although we never be sure of the details of what will happen, there are certain things you can count on:

We will dance up the sun. Festivities start at dawn, which on May 1 is 6:00 a.m. Our audience has shown up, often without any advance warning or publicity, in large numbers. From 100-200 people show up every year in all kinds of weather. Amazing!
There will be a processional dance performed by all of the morris dancers to start things off. A grand entrance.
The morris dancers will dance! Over and over. For an hour. We generally count on five ritual dance teams to perform, Thornden Morris, Ribbonsteel Rapper, Heartwood Morris, Wild Blue Morris, and the Hounds, so that means one or two dances per team.
We will perform the Mumming Play in which the themes of life and death, winter and renewal will be celebrated. Much hilarity for all.
Urchins will go among you begging money for beer. In return, we will give you the morris cake and branches of May with promises/threats of fertility and/or good luck. It's hooey but we can't seem to stop ourselves.
We will sing a May song or two; very likely the Furry Day Carol.
We end things up leading the audience in the Maypole dance. We use the Playford tune known as Sellenger's Round for the dance.

May Day Celebrations Elsewhere

If you can't make it to May Day in Syracuse, Ric Goldman's May Day Morris provides a listing of celebrations around the country.

Photos

See photos from past May Day celebrations. 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1995