[T-PARTY12] Wonderland Homebaking Teaparty/ies

By Lowkey. 16/06/11, 07:09 am

Wasn't sure where to put this, so...

Would anybody be keen for a Wonderland-themed national CNZ meetup styled after a teaparty, where everybody would be requested to bring some home baking or some tea / coffee / lemonade &c? I know there are tons of bakers on the forums (brownies especially, brownies and cupcakes...) and while mailing baked goods is possible, there's nothing quite like sharing your favourite cookie, sponge, or cupcake freshly iced and decorated.

We'd have to pick a location (I'd vote Wellington because it means it will be easier for me to organize a venue) and a date - probably next year since this year is full up and people probably won't have time or money. We could tack it to the end of Wellygeddon, possibly, to reduce the number of flights people have to make, or something.

I'd possibly see about getting the Wellington population to get together to make a centerpiece tiered cupcake display or cake, and then everybody would be requested to bring either a baked good of some sort, a tea or beverage, their spare mis-matched china, or some sort of cover fee. South Island would be excused baking duties on account of how challenging airplaning with food can be. If scheduled for summer, there could even be a picnic or beach-barbecue theme instead, with the appropriate design challenge attached: mad hatter in a swimsuit? With the right venue and proportion of cosplayers to plainclothes, it would also be a neat photoshoot opportunity, potentially.

Been bouncing the idea off of people and most of them have said "yes," or "i am not opposed," but while I'd still be keen to do this for a small group, I'm interested to see how much interest is out there. I'd organize the heck out of it from here so all most people would have to do is show up with a top hat and a basket of scones, really.

Thoughts?

By Tails. 16/06/11, 08:42 am

I have to say I would definitely come along Very Happy

The trouble is everyone getting there if this is a nationwide CNZ event, but if you plan well ahead and time it right I think it could work. Good theme choice too btw, can't say I know many cosplayers that don't have something Wonderland themed in their closets!

By firecat70. 16/06/11, 08:52 am

This sounds like a really cool idea!

I am not 100% sure if I will be able to make it but I'd like to try. Wellington is neat! If it was around Wellygeddon, would it be on the Monday or something? (Is that holiday time?! I have no clue... if not I guess it would be a challenge for people who go to school/uni, especially since those of us who live outside of Wellington would probably need to take an additional day for travelling back home)
Since it is far enough in advance I am sure people from other places could try to organise group transportation, hopefully for cheaper than normal.

By **seraphik**. 16/06/11, 11:36 am

this actually sounds awesome! i would myself vote for it in the second half of the year, not the first half because it's just a cluster of too much now (chch, welly, hamilton, dunedin)... logistics shouldn't be too much of an issue if you give the community enough notice. but that's just me. :9

By Pura. 16/06/11, 01:05 pm

It sounds fun!

If you put baked goods in your suitcase in a container they don't care Razz

. I've carted cookies to Auckland on the plane before.

By Lumissne. 16/06/11, 01:38 pm

This would be pretty cool! But personally it would just be a matter of flights, accommodation and all that jazz. Having a bake-off would be pretty awesome c:

By Lowkey. 16/06/11, 02:13 pm

Clearly it would be useful to take a vote on when people would be able to make it out.

What we need to know is:

How many people?
When?
Where?
What do people bring?
What do we provide?

But for now an idea of how many people would be keen and when they'd want to see it happen - and in which city; Wellington is easiest but I should have at least my restricted by then and if so I'd be happy to drive up to Auckland if that's more accessible - would be sweet so I can start the planning process and lock something in.

Would anybody want to see a picnic or beach-barbecue variation or would a cute indoor location be better considering the weather variability?

By Icarus. 16/06/11, 03:16 pm

I'm keen! Wellington sounds good for me

Picnics are always nice and yea back up location/plans are a must.
I can try my hand at baking something too

By brunetteyes. 16/06/11, 03:45 pm

super cool idea! i heard about a group of cosplayers who had a wonderland themed tea party and they got super original with someone dressed as the caterpillar/butterfly character and another as their own creepy version of the Cheshire cat.

though it would unlikely that i could fly over from Auckland, unless i was planning on going to wellygeddon and it was during a uni break.

If a lot of people are keen but cant fly over, could someone in Auckland organise the same event at the same time so its still sort of a nationwide event?

By TinTango. 16/06/11, 03:53 pm

I support brunetteyes and second the Auckland Motion, though might be better organized by someone who is there full-time, as I only pass through.
Depending on the timing I might even make Wellington. Outdoors is good, but there is the issue of furniture as well as weather. You might have to look at a venue that already has some kind of furniture setup.

By brunetteyes. 16/06/11, 03:59 pm

would tables and furniture be necessary?
I was imagining picnic blankets with trays (or hard flat boards) underneath the tea sets to stop them from tipping.

I'm sure a lot of Auckland dwellers would be keen. maybe Nadi would be keen to organise? or one of the Mods? though they're probably plenty busy.

or maybe we could make our ACP a wonderland themed picnic next year?

By Lowkey. 16/06/11, 04:01 pm

There's a church in town I am 100% sure will let us borrow their conference room and kitchen (boiling water! fridges! ovens!) if I ask nicely -- it's a really boring room, but if the weather is good we could set up outside in their courtyard. A smaller gathering might be able to use the cottage. ZEAL would also be cool, as they have a kitchen as well, but I haven't been inside since the revamp and doubt how photogenic/atmospheric it'll be. The Botanical Gardens would be neat, but their facilities are costly buggers. Does anybody know if Staglands would have a facility we could use? 'Cause everybody knows Staglands is fun. Also, there is an emu farm / blueberry plantation / wildflower meadow / cute stream on the way there. But it's way out of the way of everywhere. If we are sure we can do it outside, we can just bring blankets to sit on?

There are versatile options out there, but I'll need an idea of attendance so I can scale, I guess it boils down to. I have people I can bug about help finding a place, so that won't be the problem. Tell your friends. Go vote. Optimistic guess 10-20 people?

Prizes for best dressed / best dish if we don't have to pay out the nose for a venue? LARP or some expansion on theme?

Location is an interesting thing. I'd love to bring everybody together in Wellington, but if that's too challenging we could host two simultaneously that might open up cool options about videochat between the two? Is there a mid-way point somewhere-- I imagine there are lovely scenic hotels or motels or, I don't know, wedding villages, halfway between Auckland and Wellington?

By TinTango. 16/06/11, 04:16 pm

brunetteyes wrote:: would tables and furniture be necessary?
I was imagining picnic blankets with trays (or hard flat boards) underneath the tea sets to stop them from tipping.

True. Hadn't thought of that as I was thinking of the MadHatter's tea party. I don't know how hot the tea would be, (probably from a thermos) but if no outdoor table/furniture, then hot tea could be a potential hazard.

brunetteyes wrote:: I'm sure a lot of Auckland dwellers would be keen. maybe Nadi would be keen to organise? or one of the Mods? though they're probably plenty busy.
or maybe we could make our ACP a wonderland themed picnic next year?

Incorporating as part of the ACP sounds good, see if we can sell the idea to the Auckland Mods. Will mention it next time I see them.

Ithurial wrote:: Prizes for best dressed / best dish if we don't have to pay out the nose for a venue? LARP or some expansion on theme?

Totally agree. First time you do this, you should do without any costs so that it goes ahead regardless.
Then when you evaluate, you can think of ways to make it better... possibly look into paying for a venue, by which
time you would have the support of all the people who took part the first time.

Ithurial wrote:: Location is an interesting thing. I'd love to bring everybody together in Wellington, but if that's too challenging we could host two simultaneously that might open up cool options about videochat between the two? Is there a mid-way point somewhere-- I imagine there are lovely scenic hotels or motels or, I don't know, wedding villages, halfway between Auckland and Wellington?

Interesting idea doing the broadcast. I'd support it and offer my laptop/broadband stick if I attend.

By brunetteyes. 16/06/11, 04:26 pm

awah! those sound like fantastic venues Uthurial! now I really want to make it to Welly. hmm I'll see what I can do.

TinTango wrote:: True. Hadn't thought of that as I was thinking of the MadHatter's tea party. I don't know how hot the tea would be, (probably from a thermos) but if no outdoor table/furniture, then hot tea could be a potential hazard.

True. The ordinary level of maniac hyperactive picnic activity would have to be dubbed down for a more civilised tea party as well.

By **seraphik**. 17/06/11, 11:35 am

can i just say... for events that are extra to the armageddons, i think wellington is a better choice of location-- it's a midway point in the country and is nicer (and less costly) for people in the south island to travel to. AGAIN JUST MY 2 CENTS. this all sounds very very awesome!

By **Admin**. 17/06/11, 12:27 pm

Oh you did put a thread up!

Keen, hurr.

Voting for Welly too. Extra to Welly could work if it was a long weekend or in the holidays, otherwise January? That's school holidays and generally (I think) when people are less busy...? Plus Jess and I are considering spending a week in Welly in the new year so. /selfish reasoning

By Lowkey. 17/06/11, 01:09 pm

Unfortunately no public holidays either end of Wellygeddon 2012.

I mean ideally this would all be in one place, but if that's going to be a travel impossibility...? Whatever the location, scheduling it for a school holiday would make it easier - but does that increase the cost of flights?

By Rehtse. 17/06/11, 01:56 pm

I would love this, but I don't think I could get all the way down to Wellington, unless I hitched a lift with someone -_-;;

By Lowkey. 26/06/11, 07:56 am

Okay been having a think about this and think I'm going to set the date for January. I know this is relatively soon, but it's during school holidays and we can always try to repeat it again later. I need to talk to some folk about when exactly, but the sooner we have a set date and faster I can start to ask around for locations, the sooner people can book flights, plan costumes, whatever.

Also, January should have warmer weather, so we'd be able to have the t-party outside. Here are some more options I've been mulling over:

Ngaio Gorge / Trellisck (god knows if this is the correct spelling) park: there's a sweet little meadow in the middle someplace and a ruined building at one end. Plus it's close to our place, which means people can stop to borrow our kitchen. Endless photoops if you're into nature.
Staglands or Wellington Zoo -- Staglands would be great because there are peacocks wondering about + other factors I mentioned earlier but it's a bit of a ways out of town so we'd need to organize serious carpool / bus charter. Zoo might suit too, but both of these would require lugging all our stuff around with us + paying entrance fees.
Botanical Gardens -- pretty, free, but also outdoors. There are conference spaces available, but they're expensive as heck.

I can also throw in that if people need somewhere to stay while in Wellington, if they can provide a sleeping bag we have masses of extra space for them.

I talk to some folks on Tuesday who have experience organizing all kinds of things and I'll ask them if they have any ideas: I will also be able to confirm if the St John's Church / Spinx cottage would be available. If anybody has ideas for places I should approach, speak up.

When is ACP usually?

By **Admin**. 26/06/11, 08:36 am

ACP is usually during Auckland Anniversary Weekend, which is the weekend closest to the 29th of January, I believe.

By Lumissne. 26/06/11, 08:42 am

Sorry to be annoying, but I think JVCA's Nonary Game is in January - So there might be a possibly of dates clashing :s

By Lowkey. 26/06/11, 08:44 am

What date is set for those? And when are you & Jess down here, Alex?

Somebody suggested to me that staggering Wellington Teaparty from ACP gives people the option of attending both / one or the other if one of the dates doesn't suit. How do we feel about this?

By **Admin**. 26/06/11, 09:02 am

Oh yeah, I forgot that was planned for January. I'll ask Jess about it, because I know she's having doubts about being able to run it for a while since she'll be so busy for the rest of the year.

We don't have a confirmed date for being in Welly yet, but we were thinking sometime in January. Maybe earlier in January so we can come back and go to ACP.

By Lowkey. 17/07/11, 04:10 pm

So guys this is still a thing, definitely January next year, probably a weekend last two weeks.

Started collecting mismatched porcelain, plates, cups, pots &c, will see about finding some cake stands too, and try to confirm a location when *somebody* gives me the dates I need to confirm a day. Does anybody have ideas about where it could be held?

By Rehtse. 18/07/11, 03:52 am

So, if anyone feels like carpooling down to Wellington and splitting the petrol, please let me know. >_<

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