Will I be able to get everything done that I need to get done in the next two weeks? We’ll find out!
As for attending the “memorial” event at BreyerFest, I am still undecided. As I mentioned in the last post, most of my bigger emotions are now packed into little tiny boxes in the attic of my mind, and I planned on keeping them taped tightly shut until I get to Wyoming.
BreyerFest is already a pretty intense event, so it might be in my best interest to stay away from things that might provoke yet another emotional outburst. (Everyone melts down at least once: the only question is whether it happens in public or in private.)
Speaking of other events I may not attend, I am utterly uninterested in the BreyerFest Car Show.
Part of the reason why I go to Kentucky every year is to escape the local car culture. A half dozen car shows spontaneously happen in random parking lots around here every weekend from April through October (and once a month at work!) and they’ve completely lost their allure to me.
I grew up around old cars, and I’ve already seen examples of even the rarest of them in person – heck, there was a local museum (not even two miles from our house!) that had a Tucker, and I had no idea it was that big of a deal until the movie came out….
It’s not something completely unexpected – I mean hello, this year’s theme is “Driving Forward” – but I have plenty else to do, so I doubt my presence will be missed.
I don’t know most of the Social Media Influencers attending the Social Media Meet, so that’s also probably a no-go. I guess I’m peripherally a minor social media type person, but unless I hear otherwise, you’re more likely to meet me in my Room in the 300s clear on the other side of the hotel. (Which is Room 312, unless something goes sideways.)
And I guess that’s it for today? I have some horses to pull out of boxes and pictures for various projects that I have to process, and every moment is precious right now.
Here’s a picture of the Unpainted Sherman Morgan that I bought; I thought I’d be able to see some of whatever the problems were that led to the mold getting decommissioned and then retooled, but I don’t see anything obvious.
It’s most likely he was tossed into the cull bin because the seams were poorly matched up in places, and were beyond the ability of the finisher to buff them away. Still a pretty neat guy to have, though!
This also means that, in spite of the fact that I am not the mold’s biggest fan, I own four examples of it pre-remodeling (all except Fashionably Late), and three post (Matte and Gloss Justin Morgan, and the 2014 BreyerFest Special Run Celebration in Silver Filigree.)
Funny how that happens.
32 comments:
Well now this is a mystery: why are people melting down??? I only ever had this happen once, at the show, and it wasn't an emotional meltdown but a mental one caused by the late night, early morning, heat, lack of food and totally bizarre things going on with the judging and management of the rings.
As for the car show, that too is bizarre, it's hard to think of a less appropriate place to have a car show. Breyerfest is becoming quite weird already, with the beer garden and booze trailer, completely inappropriate for a supposedly "family oriented" event. Booze and horses do not mix either.
It's hot, intense, you're standing in line forever, people are elbowing each other in the Covered Arena and the Store, you can't find a parking space at the hotel, you're dehydrated and haven't eaten a hot meal in a couple of days, your roommate decides at the last minute to bring her boyfriend's best friend, who snores like a rusty chainsaw...
That wasn’t me, everyone. I don’t have a boyfriend so I couldn’t bring him or his best friend to disturb Andrea. Plus, I’m not so ill mannered that I would impose on someone by showing up with other people.
People seem very divided about the car show! Many people travel to BF with partners, friends, whoever, who have no interest in Breyers, and many collectors have more than one interest. I’m not sure how many people got the reference of web special Nokota Shelby’s name, but many that did thought it was great. And as has been pointed out, the theme is Driving Forward…
And the beer tent/drink carts and social media influencers, demographics change. Good for Breyer for trying different things. I’m too old to be a fan girl of any influencer, but had Breyer done a meet and greet with someone I am familiar with, I would definitely check it out. Personally, I wouldn’t want to drink when it’s in the 90s and I’m already dehydrated, but if I was just chilling in the shade with a book to wait while my traveling companion ran around the park, it might be nice to enjoy a beverage!
While standing in line and meeting new friends and talking to old friends is great, it’s nice if BF can have more options for those that want a little more variety. For those that just want SRs and to shop at CHIN, no one is forcing them to participate in anything else.
The cars don't sound like a draw to me. It seems like they're grasping for attendees, having an attraction within an attraction for people who aren't into the primary attraction. Also I remember being a horse-crazy six year old, resenting the automobile because that's the reason we didn't need a horse. "Horseless carriages".
The beer garden sounds wonderful, but probably not the best for a sweltering hot summer day. What a way to increase the line for the bathroom!
Yeah the alcohol, and cars do nothing for me. I don't think a beer garden is appropriate for the event at all. Just a sour smelling mess.
Breyerfest did wonderful for 30 years without alcohol being pushed.
EXACTLY! It smacks of desperately grasping for attendees and it's getting too far away from the purpose of the event. I would like to know, why has such a toxic attitude towards family-friendly events become so prevalent? It doesn't necessarily mean that everyone has to be surrounded by children and babies all day, but many adult people don't want to be faced with what is considered "adult entertainment" either. There are so few places left for children to go and play freely and for adults to also play without booze involved. Why couldn't the people in charge just let well enough alone? The event used to sell out, why wasn't that good enough? Is satisfying the group of boozers in the hobby really worth it to the company? I will say that I am quite surprised that the KHP even allows alcohol sales at all unless it's from their own concessions.
Right?!?!?I totally agree.
All of the above! We’ve noticed that the Disney properties have been putting more and more booze stands all over the properties. It used to be relegated to Paradise Island. Never in the parks except Epcot. Now there are drunk parents spilling beer all over little kids, it’s repulsive. Can you spend time somewhere without boozing it up? Gross! Breyerfest needs NO alcohol in my opinion, it’s hot as balls and people drop from heat exhaustion as it is, it just makes no sense to me. The only reason I can think of is when a partner joins you and is bored..but if my husband can’t spend a day at Breyerfest with me without getting hammered than I really don’t want to be married to him, just saying.. lol
What is the memorial service that is happening?
You know it! It's just getting disgusting that wholesome, clean, family friendly fun can't be had at places that are SUPPOSED to be targeted at kids as a primary audience and with this company in particular that keeps insisting that it is a toy company!
Ah, yes. Isn’t that a good point, it is a toy company. In fact, they’ve expanded their toy lines exponentially, I had the very good fortune of working a Collect-A booth recently and it was an absolute blast. Because I didn’t realize as an OF collector, just how MANY animals there are in this line. There were little boys lining up to get snakes and (the hedgehog seemed to be a huge hit) all types of wolves, bears, etc. The line is tremendous! I could be a complete addict for these little joyful pieces of painted rubbery goodness but I have to draw the line somewhere.
I digress. Back to disgusting humans. Yes, if Breyer had no alcohol at the event, I don’t think anyone would miss it. Would they? I don’t want to be drinking, I want to be ponying.
I enjoyed the beer garden last year and am looking forward to it this year. It’s a great place away from the crowds to sit and have a bite to eat/listen to music/organize purchases. I did my store special shopping while sitting there (paying shipping was better than standing in line). It’s too hot to be the wretched hive of scum and villainy that the CHIN bar used to be; people are under control. It’s a vacation and people like to have drinks on vacation.
Kelly W
So go to a bar somewhere if that's your thing and let Breyerfest be an oasis away from that atmosphere. There are too few places to go already where people aren't boozing it up. A couple hours without alcohol doesn't hurt anybody.
It’s nice to have an oasis away from the crowds, so I choose to do the museum or go inside the visitors center.
I’ve never been to the CHIN bar, and I guess I’m glad for that now.
I am so curious as to what exactly is happening to Breyerfest attendance that is requiring this shift over to a car show and Biergarten. Why are they diluting a horse event down like this? I get the Splash Dogs, there’s not a lot of venues but the car show-that’s curious as they sometimes have 1,000 cars-that’s 1,000 more people trying to park and get in-Breyerfest gates?
On Saturday at 2 pm there will be a ceremony for two memorial plaques honoring hobby giants, Marney Walerius and Linda Walter. The event will take place at the Miller Barn near the Alltech Arena.
The car show seems, to me at least, to be "Here's something for Dad to do while Mom and the girls are doing their plastic-horse stuff!" The beer garden may be the same thing. Breyerfest didn't exist until I was an independent adult, thank all the gods, but if it had existed when I was a kid, I know I would've been clamoring to go, and I know if my family had ever gone, my dad would certainly have headed for the beer garden and not moved for hours.
well that's sad your father would not have gone and enjoyed the vacation with his family but instead gone and sat in the alcohol tent.
I've never felt the desire to go sit and drink inst3ad of enjoying Breyerfest.
And really you're at the event but have to go sit and drink and order online?! Seriously? Wow. Why the hell bother going.
I wonder if Breyer/Breyerfest is "grasping for attendees" because of how much they've increased the number of tickets they want/need to sell? So any extra events to draw more attendees would be a good thing to Breyer.
Yeah, we DON'T need more competition for parking, that's for sure! Nor do the people competing in the horse shows! This isn't a catch-all summer festival, it needs to remain a horse event. If husbands, Dads and Grandpa can't be supportive of wives, Moms and Grandmas for a few hours at their big event of the year without a distraction then let them stay back at the hotels.
Definitely! It’s not called the Kentucky HORSE Park for nothing!!!
geez I hadn't even considered extra parking needed.
Too many changes and not for the better.
Definitely not for the better. They need to go back to focusing on what fun things are being offered...bring back the costume contest, early birds, cut the online entry crap for everyone and start blogging about fun things offered months before the event, instead of bringing in crutches instead and endlessly bugging people to buy tickets. Why on earth would in person attendees need to submit pictures? That just sounds rigged to me.
I was hoping to go to Bfest, but wasn't able to secure the dates until too late. The one thing I despise about the new set up is that I can't show up on Friday and buy a 3 day ticket and get the "tent" models. Everything has to be done so far ahead of time, models have to be picked out, etc, etc and the spontaneity is gone. But it saves me 3 days of driving there and 3 days driving back and I can cross my fingers for second hand buys...
yeah the online element can just go in the trash. Everything else the rest of the year is online. Breyerfest just needs to be Breyerfest.
I can see maybe the Best Customs. But honestly when it's primarily won by Breyer hired artist's what's the point. The judges are hidden. You don't know until later that business partners are judging and then the partner is winning. How is that freaking allowed?
Maybe it's a culture clash ,but here in Southern Louisiana alcohol is typically present at festivals, races, and gatherings even when it's hot. So beer being available at a horse park would be a natural fit especially considering that Breyerfest is not an explicitly child-oriented event.
I don't see a good reason why it shouldn't be available unless it becomes a hazard or nuisance.
As for the car show, I think Breyer is just trying to add something that would be of interest to the non-model horse people that are dragged along. I honestly don't mind them adding something extra for non-model attendees as long as it doesn't subtract from the model horse stuff.
Wow. Who knew cars would be so inflammatory? And the beer garden...well, I guess I'm not all that surprised. I take it from the horror it invokes, that it will be much less crowded than the average shade tree. Good. I need somewhere to hide for introvert recharging time. And there's snack there? Even better. ;)
Couldn’t have said it better Lydia. I will never go to BF because it’s expensive and I’m not selfish enough to drag my husband to a place he has no interest in. He and I can only afford occasional trips and we choose places we can both enjoy
So judgy!
I loved the beer garden !!! So what if the adults want to have a beee ? It’s my vacation. If you don’t like it, don’t go to the beer tent. It’s simple.
Exactly. There are different events throughout the park during the 3 days. No one is forced to go to every or any one of them. The beer garden was far enough away that it didn't disturb the family atmosphere. If you don't like it, dont go near it. But stop whining about it. Same for the car show. Just because its not your interest, doesn't mean others won't enjoy it. Go with the flow. Isn't Breyerfest for ALL?!
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