Q-MoB Easter Bonnet Mad Tea Party & Potluck @ Dream Away Lodge (Becket, MA)

The word Easter comes from an Anglo Saxon Goddess Eostre (or even older Old High German "Ostara"), who was the Goddess of the spring, fertility, creativity, dawn, and the miracle of rebirth. Many of our favorite ways of celebrating Easter, easter eggs, flowered bonnets, playful games, & brightly colored outfits date back to ancient pagan customs that mirrored the natural hope, playfulness, and creativity of spring.

Join queer men of all ages from all over the region in this Easter celebration of fun & creativity where you will have the opportunity to play in lots of creative ways that could (but need not) include:

• Making your very own Easter Bonnet
• Putting together your Mad Tea Party outfit
• Decorating, hiding, & hunting for easter eggs
• Participating in an Easter Parade
• Enjoying a Mad Tea Party & Potluck Dinner

Everything is optional, co-creative, free, and open to many interpretations and many levels of participation or conscientious objection. Shy people who think art, costumes, and Easter Bonnets are all stupid and even dangerous are certainly welcome. We need spectators and critics for any exercise of creative freedom to be really fun and full. Come as you are and experiment as much or as little as you feel comfortable. Sardonic smiles, arms akimbo, and raised eyebrows are all strongly encouraged.

CO-HOSTS:

• Daniel Osman, the brilliant former owner of the historic Dream Away Lodge. who often has been accused of being the Queen of Hearts
• Scott Jones, who is an amazing costume designer & artist
• George Pinney, who is a musical theater and all around incredible artist
• Arthur Oliver, who also is an incredible costume designer & artist
• Bart Church, who will reprise his role as the Dormouse & likely nap for most of the event

THE STORIED HISTORY OF THE DREAM AWAY LODGE: Rumored to have been a brothel and speakeasy during the great depression, The Dream Away Lodge has been a Berkshire legend for close to a hundred years. This two-hundred year-old farmhouse tucked away at the edge of October Mountain State Forest is renown for its colorful place in Berkshire history. It’s original, larger than life founder, Mamma Maria Frasca created an oasis of cocktails, food and drink in the middle of nowhere. Her three musically talented daughters helped her operate the restaurant and entertain the room. The 1975 visitation by Arlo Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Allen Ginsberg and the Rolling Thunder Review, led to the Dream Away’s prominent role in Part Two of Dylan’s epic film Renaldo and Clara–enhancing an already unmatched reputation as one of Berkshire County’s best loved and most closely held hilltown secrets. From 1997–2020 actor, Daniel Osman (also larger than life) owned and stewarded the Dream Away with a locally sourced menu, fine cocktails and entertainment every night.

WHAT TO BRING:

• Bring art supplies you might turn into an Easter Bonnet & creative clothing items you might turn into a Mad Tea Party outfit; NOTE: if you're not the arty type just bring yourself & you can do you (no pressure to come or be any way other than just as you are) or ask for help in perhaps sprucing up your Easter-look
• If you love decorating easter eggs, please bring easter egg decorating supplies, & if you hate easter eggs, just bring deviled eggs or chocolate easter eggs or your passionate distaste at all things Easter
• Bring spring-inspired dish to share with about 6 other people. Please make a small sign for your dish that discloses if it contains any of these common allergens/restrictions: dairy, gluten, eggs, meat/chicken/fish, nuts/peanuts, MSG, preservatives, food colors, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, soy, vegan, vegetarian, paleo, etc.
• Bring a tax-deductible donation of $10-$20 as cash or check made out to "Q-MoB, Inc," unless you: 1) donate online, 2) are already or become a Q-MoB Monthly Sustaining Donor, 3) are attending your very 1st Q-MoB event ever, 4) want to request a Low Income scholarship or work-exchange.

ALCOHOL POLICY: All potlucks are open to men 18 & older, and if anyone under 21 attends, we will card everyone who wants to drink alcohol and obviously not serve alchohol to anyone under 21, and we remind everyone it is a crime to give alcohol to someone younger than 21 and for someone under 21 to use alcohol. Q-MoB takes its commitment to preventing underage drinking very seriously. Men under 18 are not permitted at any Q-MoB event unless they have parental consent and this consent has been verified by Q-MoB.

CARPOOLING/RIDE-SHARE: Carpooling is a great way to get to know other men, save money on gas, and help to reduce your carbon footprint and save the planet. If you need a ride or are open to carpooling with men who live near you, please indicate that when you are registering, & our ride coordinator will try to match you with people nearby who are interested in carpooling or offering rides.

DONATE OR BECOME A MONTHLY SUSTAINING MEMBER: Please also donate $10-$20 online when you sign up for this class to help assure Q-MoB can continue to offer more than 20 activities & multiple resources & services to rural queer men all over the region. If you attend 2 or more Q-MoB events/month, please consider becoming a monthly sustaining donor member. By donating $25, $50, $75, or $100/month you can help to sustain the incredible variety of activities, services, and resources Q-MoB provides and assure all of these activities are accessible to men regardless of their age, income, or ability, and best of all you can avoid having to donate at each and every event you attend. Monthly Sustaining Members pay only once a month and then can attend all our activities with no further donation.

REACHING US DAY OF EVENT: If on the day of the event you have trouble finding us, will be a little late, or can't make it, please call/text Daniel at 413-441-0533 or Bart at 503-734-6508