Going to the D.O.G.S. 1999

The Hounds have decided to scale back the Dog Days Ale to what some of us Hounds have taken to calling to the Going to the D.O.G.S.. Instead of a two-night Ale with two full days of dancing as we've done in past years, we will be having a one-night party with stands on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

We will be basing the Ale at team member Peter Hoover's farm and orchard in Trumansburg, New York, about 10 miles northwest of Ithaca. This site was morris-tested last year when it served as base camp for the first Occasional Wine Trails Ale. It is a lovely farm with lots of room for camping and boasts a great sauna, a guaranteed fine campfire, great scenery and wonderful fresh air.

Attention Morris Dancers: Directions to Peter Hoover's farm from the New York Thruway and from Ithaca.

Check-in will be Saturday morning, June 12, after 10:00. People coming from far away are welcome to come on Friday night, June 11 after 5:00 pm if that is more convenient; we're glad to have early birds.

On Saturday, we'll have lunch at camp, you can set up tents then if you like, and then we'll begin our afternoon tour around 1:00. At day's end, we'll begin the "Puppy Party" with food, drink, singing and inpromptu dancing.

On Sunday, June 13, we'll break our fast and then head out for some more dancing. Although we haven't finalized the details of the tour, on both days we will take advantage of the Finger Lakes area's abundance of wineries, brew-pubs and beautiful state parks.

The cost for all this fun is the modest sum of $19.99. We'll be serving a largely vegetarian menu (something substantial, not just salad and steamed vegetables), but I'm sure the carnivores on the team will enforce some degree of animal sacrifice as well.

Check the ever evolving schedule of dancing for more details.

Please send the following information so we can plan our menus and tour details.

Numbers of dancers/musicians attending ___________________________

Numbers of guests ______________________

When will you be arriving? _____________________________

Is contact via email preferred over snail mail? (yes/no) _________
If not, please give me a good postal address where I should send materials.

Capers,

Tom Keays
Ale Invitation Czar