Edwardian Portraits 2012
Every year in late January, the
Edwardian Ball rolls into town - two nights of the upmost decadence
held in the opulent Regency Ballroom on Van Ness. Last year, Ruben,
Eleanor, and I quickly deduced that the Edwardian Ball would be the
grandest event of the year. This time, Fiona, AJ, Greg and I dressed to
the nines for a night of fun. We strolled first down Valencia Street in
the Mission for a vegan Japanese meal at Cha-ya at which we were oddly
photographed. Back at the Hacienda, after a few drinks, we set sail for
the Ballroom. Fiona had skills at getting us the last parking spot in
an otherwise closed parking garage.
The Edwardian Ball did not disappoint. There was a parade of ascots,
pith helmets, ball dresses, pince-nez, top hats, monocles, spats, a
lightbrella, and one cartoonishly freaky stuffed bear. The organizers
opened up the Masonic attic for quieter insane revels. We listened to
ukelele-playing "Too Tall Paul" on head phones, smelled the steam from
the kinetic steam works, and heard the crunch of glass as
contortionists ate lightbulbs. By 1:30, the trusty Toyota threatened to
turn back into a pumpkin so it was time to return home.
In the race before dinner, I set the camera on a tripod in the bedroom
to take a few portraits of the four of us. San Francisco demands a bit
of wonder and buffonery from its citizens every once in a while. We do
have day jobs occasionally...
Page 1 | Page 2
