Go beaver!

Hey - check it out:

The Indy hearts the Beaver Queen Pageant.

Continue reading Go beaver!

Beaver Queen Pageant!

Beaver up, y'all!

The 6th Annual BQP, Wild Wild Wetlands, happens this Saturday at the Duke Park Meadow, Acadia and Knox Streets. Festivities get under way at 4:00 pm, and at 4:30 or so there will be special event that you won't want to miss.

Late Breaking News: Wool E. Bull is also going to be making an appearance at the BQP. The mainstream is getting wider, it would seem.

A couple of folks asked about my "official blogger" status, so here's the deal. This year, I'm going to be a judge, and with all the traveling i did last month and a couple of other things going on, it didn't seem feasible to blog the pageant.

The official pageant blog is located here, and everything you need to know about the pageant, its history, where to buy BQP swag, etc. is there.

As it has for the past several years, the BQP raises funds for the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, and awareness of Durham's streams, rivers, and wetlands.

Something new this year is that we're taking donations via PayPal. You can cast ballots for your favorite contestant, buy a judge, or be a sponsor of the Pageant here. Of course, i'd be honored beyond belief if you choose to be the buyer of my judgeship, and last i checked i was the most corrupt of the 7 judges, but regardless, be sure to mention Jack Johnson's "All at Once Foundation" in the message portion of your donation. The Foundation will match the first $2500 we receive that includes this note, so let's make sure that all of that money gets donated to ECWA.

See you on Saturday, and Go, Speed Beaver, Go!

Continue reading Beaver Queen Pageant!

Pssst, hey, wanna buy a judge?

The sixth annual Beaver Queen Pageant takes place next Saturday, June 5, at the Duke Park Meadow/Marsh. Read all the details here.

Seven celebrity judges, along with the hundreds of attendees, will choose the 2010 Beaver Queen, an event whose glory and hilarity can only be experienced, but never described.

You can preview the contestants here, and start stuffing the ballot early via PayPal here.

This year, i'm honored to have been asked to join the panel of judges, and you'll see me in the Meadow on the 5th as Speed Beaver. And yes, I'm for sale.

And there's some good news to go along with your (probably) tax deductible donation*. Jack Johnson, the musician behind the All at Once Foundation has added Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association to his list of supported non-profits. This means that any donations to ECWA that mention the All at Once Foundation will be matched 100%, up to $2500. So, buy a judge for five bucks, mention All at Once Foundation in the comments, and ECWA receives 10 bucks. It's that simple. And all the money goes to preserving and restoring streams, creeks, and wetlands in Durham.

So do it already.

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* Consult your tax adviser. ECWA is a 501(c)3 organization.

Continue reading Pssst, hey, wanna buy a judge?

2010 Beaver Queen Pageant Official Video Invite

Y'all need to be there.


And i'm now accepting bribes to choose your favorite contestant via PayPal donations to Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association here

Continue reading 2010 Beaver Queen Pageant Official Video Invite

Beaver Marsh cleanup

Thanks to the volunteers from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, and Hillside High School for their efforts in cleaning up ECWA's Beaver Marsh Preserve yesterday.

The new kiosk is cool, and features a "green roof" designed by Hillside High students. Eventually, the vines planted in the rooftop boxes will trail down and around the kiosk. it's a prototype for residential roof structures.



Lots more work to do at the marsh. You can see in the pictures that the water surface is covered with some invasive species whose name, no matter how many times i hear it, i can never remember.



The Beaver Queen Pageant is coming up next weekend on Saturday, June 5. It's a fundraiser for ECWA and will help clean up and preserve the marsh. If you've been to the pageant before, you know how much fun it is. If you haven't, you can watch video of previous pageants here, or read about it here.

This year, i'm going to be one of the celebrity judges and, in keeping with tradition, i'm taking bribes to vote for your favorite candidate. You can pass the bribe to me in person at the pageant (don't worry - it all goes to ECWA!) or you can make a contribution via PayPal here. Scroll down to "Buy a Judge" and click on "Speed Beaver" to help me reach my goal of raising $250 for ECWA.

Continue reading Beaver Marsh cleanup

BQP - HRM Elizabeaver I

Her Majesty's performance in the talent competition

Continue reading BQP - HRM Elizabeaver I

BQP - Wetlands Ready Wear

Here's the first half of this year's Wetlands Ready Wear competition, featuring Beaverella, Beave Whisperer, and HRM Elizabeaver.

Continue reading BQP - Wetlands Ready Wear

Dirty Beaver's Interpretive Slip 'n' Slide performance

Continue reading Dirty Beaver's Interpretive Slip 'n' Slide performance

Beaverella!

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Magical Mystery Beaver

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Magical Mystery Beaver video

La Beaver!

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BQP - Evening wear competition

Some photos from the evening wear segment of the pageant. This will wrap up photos of last week's spectacular event. With luck, we'll start posting some video segments next week.

More photos are available for your viewing pleasure at the following links:
Michael Naclerio's flickr set.

Nirethak's blog.

Durham Magazine.

Barry Yeoman's flickr set.

Wenny Wigley's flickr set, featuring backstage photos of Beave Whisperer preparing for the big day.

Lisa Marie Albert's pictures.

And of course - the official Beaver Lodge photo album.

Beave Whisperer

Beaverella

Bupkiss Beaver

Dirty Beaver

Durga Beaver

HRM Elizabeaver I

And let me add, on a personal note, that the creativity and joy brought to the meadow by all of the contestants and judges, never ceases to amaze me. To think that all of this grew out of a couple of neighbors standing up to protect a handful of nocturnal mammals from destruction by the NCDOT.

Continue reading BQP - Evening wear competition

The Slicklog Beavonaires (formerly the Disco Beaver Fever Dancers)

Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding for the sensational Slicklog Beavonaires, who once again wowed the crowd with a stunning performance of "Jai Ho", from Slumbeaver Millionaire.

With luck, perhaps next year they will grace us again with a performance of the rarely seen "Dance of the Seven Beavers." Till then . . .

Continue reading The Slicklog Beavonaires (formerly the Disco Beaver Fever Dancers)

BQP Talent competition - Beave Whisperer

Although Beaverella took home the Most Talented award at this year's pageant, the new queen, Beave Whisperer, demonstrated his prowess at taming even the wildest beavers. Including littering and wasteful beavers, who were converted to ecologically aware beavers, and Miss California, who changed her tune on many social issues.






More Beave Whisperer photos, including backstage before the talent competition, here.

We're hoping his parting advice is heeded.

Continue reading BQP Talent competition - Beave Whisperer

Beaver Queen Pageant - Talent competition

Ah, the talent competition portion of the Beaver Queen Pageant. We've already looked at Dirty Beaver's mind-altering Interpretive Slip 'N' Slide performance, and Beaverella's winning ability to project Peace, Love, Joy, and Beaver onto an unsuspecting crowd.

Musical performances are always a hit at the pageant. This year there were two. HRM Elizabeaver I serenaded us with a Beaver Madrigal from the 16th Century


while Bupkiss Beaver performed some old school Beaver Klezmer music on the licorice stick.


Durga Beaver showed off her divine talents.



She was most impressive turning Fear and Hate into Love, War into Peace, and Greed into Generosity.



I'm hoping she sticks around for a while.

Continue reading Beaver Queen Pageant - Talent competition

Some links to other pageant photos

Michael Naclerio's flickr set.

Nirethak's blog.

Durham Magazine.

Barry Yeoman's flickr set.

Wenny Wigley's flickr set, featuring backstage photos of Beave Whisperer preparing for the big day.

Lisa Marie Albert's pictures.

Of course - the official Beaver Lodge photo album.

(Bumped to the top of the page on June 10)

Continue reading Some links to other pageant photos

The Beave Whisperer - Wetland ready wear

You've probably already heard from the underground just how spectacular the Beave Whisperer's costumes were. have a look for yourself at that magnificent tail.

Continue reading The Beave Whisperer - Wetland ready wear

BQP talent competition - Dirty Beaver's interpretive Slip 'n' Slide

I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that Dirty Beaver's unique approach to the talent portion of the show won over the crowd, which responded by giving her the People's Choice Award. Interpretive Slip 'n' Slide could very well be the new wave in performance art.





Can't wait for Tony Beaveroni to get the video of this online.

Continue reading BQP talent competition - Dirty Beaver's interpretive Slip 'n' Slide

Most talented - Beaverella

Beaverella won the coveted Most Talented Beaver prize this year. By the simple act of reading from the Book of Beaver Tales, she was able to inspire many members of the crowd to shed their inhibitions, and join in the dance of life. A rare talent indeed.

Continue reading Most talented - Beaverella

So long, and thanks for the memories

John Parton has MC'd the Beaver Queen Pageant for the past 4 years. Barring unforeseen developments, Saturday was his last pageant, as he's leaving Durham to minister to a new lodge up north. As a token of appreciation, John was presented with his own beaver tail, and serenaded by Beverly Woody (the first Beaver Queen, in a surprise appearance), Fabulous Fishscenta Beaver, the 4th Beaver Queen, and the Disco Beaver Fever Dancers.

Continue reading So long, and thanks for the memories