SC - Event Notice-al-hafla

[LrdRas at aol.com]

26 and 27 January, 2001 
al-hafla! 
The Wedding Celebration!

I am pleased to announce that the Shire of Nithgarrd is the sponsor for this 
event. I am also pleased to say that this is becoming an event with many 
traveling from the farthest reaches of the Known Worlde! 

137 Feast and 44 Offboard Reservation openings remain as of this date. (Jan. 
15)
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The year is 1201 (CE). Peace has begun to settle on the land, and life 
returns to normal. Well, as normal as it can be with romance and marriage 
running riot. This year, the theme is romance and marriage: all the customs 
surrounding the most significant cultural rite, including poetry, garb, food, 
dance, and, of course, the legal ramifications! Please consider this an 
opportunity to show off your wedding wealth, make proposals, arrange for the 
marriage of your children, tell stories of famous (and infamous) romances! 

The evening before the event (26 January), the hall will be open for guests 
arriving early to socialize at a henna party, and assist in the set-up of the 
site if they so desire. 
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Salaam alikuum! 

What is this event about?
 
Good question. Let me explain... al-hafla is Arabic for "The Party," a 
festive occasion, a social gathering... Now the Shire of Nithgarrd is hosting 
the third Known Worlde hafla for the populus. 

This event is a continuation of the Orluk Oasis evening haflas at Pennsic 
War, as well as the daily mulin (the place to go ask questions.) It follows 
the two basic rules of hospitality: 

The host will provide food and comforts for the guests 
The guests will be entertaining (sharing knowledge counts as entertaining!) 
Please bring cushions and carpets for seating and decorations for the hall. 
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Menu
I am exceedingly pleased to announce that Genevieve from Roxbury Mil, the 
famous cook of Feria de Verano and Ras, whose fame preceeds him as well, will 
be the Cooks for this event! Ethni By-the-Water will supervise the work of 
the kitchen. A suitable mix of meat and meatless dishes will be served. 

There will be a meze table during the day. This is appetizers and snacks of 
middle-eastern origin to tide you over till the feast (and for snacking after 
the feast.) 

Meze table 

Meze  
cheese & spinach pies  
meat pies   
radish & orange salat  
labna balls & dips (pepper, duhkah)  
stuffed eggs   
melon & orange & dates  
basarah (fava beans, olive oil, cilantro, pepper)
zarabara  (cheese, onions)
red lentil soup  
meklah (various pickles)
carrot puree  
khubz bread  

Bring cushions, as the feast will be served at floor level (in one course.) 

 This year, 12 of the trays manufactured for the event wi be raffled off at 
the event. All feast tickets automatically receive one entry, and others may 
be purchased for $1. Proceeds from the raffle will go to the kingdom 
newsletter, the AEstel. 

Feast 

salat  (spinach, beets, oranges, walnuts, sekanjabin) 
sharaz ((dry curds) w/vegetables )
nivik (chickpeas, spinach)
thumiyya  (chicken w/garlic)
various couscos  
goat shiwa  
eggplant w/ walnuts  
marinated cucumbers  
lentils  
fish curry on roz   
khubz breads 
taffy (candy w/pepper)
basbousa  (semolina cake)
judges mouthfuls   
almonds & apricots & dates & figs   

Copious ghalwa (coffee), chay (teas), and sakanjabin (sweet chilled teas) to 
slake your thirst. 

Troupes who wish to perform will have opportunity to display their talents 
during feast. A coordinator will be designated.  
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Classes and Teachers
Those with knowledge, and those with questions of things Arabic, Andalusian, 
and Middle-Eastern will find each other in the mulin (symposia and 
discussions) at al-hafla. Facilitators for these groups should contact the 
Host with a description of the material offered. (Information will be made 
available as it is collected.) Throughout the day, there will be:  Topic 
Mulin (Person to ask questions of...) 
Sulliman classical Arabic darbuka playing (technique, rhythm, and accents) 
Ghazallah Palestinian costume construction, design, and embroidery 
Zahira Arabic darbuka playing (technique, rhythm, and accents) 
Ghazallah and Zimra Henna and tattooing 

It was a custom of the pious to endow schools and libraries 
Bring your books and documents to share in a library at the event. 
Comemerative book-plates will be available to mark your texts. There will be 
a copier for the event so you can collect that much needed documentation. 
Separate Childrens-activities are not planned, as most of the activities can 
be of interest across the span of ages.  
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Merchants
Merchants are permitted. However, space limitations will require that 
preference be juried according to (1) reservations and (2) wares. Please 
contact the Host for arrangements.  
The AEstel is holding a silent auction to raise much needed funds. Donations 
to the cause are highly recommended!
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Directions, Accomodations and Crash Space
Directions
Take your best routes to any of the major cities or routes given below. 
>From I-80: * Exit 24 to PA 26 South. PA 26 South to PA 550 South. 
**PA 550 South for 1/2 mile, through two traffic lights, and turn left at 
second left, Blanchard Street. Go to stop-sign. Past that, turn onto the 
second street on right, Forge Road. Turn right into the parking lot. 
>From Harrisburg: US 322 West to PA 26 North (use the US 322 bypass when you 
get to State College.) 
*** PA 26 North to PA 550 South. Follow ** above. 
>From Bedford PA: **** I-99 North to US 322 East. US 322 East to PA 26 North. 
Follow from *** above 
>From Pittsburgh: US 22 East to I-99 North. Follow from **** above. 
>From Buffalo/Fort Erie: I-90 South to US 219 South. US 219 South (get gas in 
Antonio's in Salamanca!) to PA 255 South (in Johnsonburg). PA 255 South to PA 
153 East (in Pennfield). PA 153 East to I-80 East. I-80 East to Exit 24, and 
follow from * above. 
Accomodations
The following are within 5 miles of the site: 
Bush House 315 W. High St Bellefonte PA 16823. 11 rooms, with (German) 
resturaunt and bar. $45 plus tax per room, up to three adults occupancy ($5 
for each addtional adult.) This is a special rate (mention "Edward" or "Al 
Hafla" to get the rate 814-355-8400 
Colony Motor Lodge 476 Benner Pike Bellefonte PA 16823. Motel with block of 
40 rooms being held under the party name of "Al Hafla" for $35 plus tax. 
Rooms with king-size are $40. They wil begin accepting reservations after Nov 
18. 814-355-5561 ask for Connie (fax 814-355-0330) 
Holiday Inn, Milesburg I-80 (Exit 23) at US 220. Reserve through your local 
Holiday Inn. (Trying to get a party rate) 
Bestway I-80 (Exit 23) at US 220. 814-355-7535(Trying to get a party rate) 
Bread and Breakfasts in the area: 
Reynods Mansion 
General B and B in the region 
Local B and B infomation 
More regional B and B info 
There are numerous motels and hotels in State College, a mere 15 miles away. 
Crash Space
This will be at a premium. Please contact Lord Ambrosius, who is pleased to 
help you with this. 
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Official Stuff:
Official Name: al-hafla (The Wedding Celebration) sponsored by Shire of 
Nithgarrd, Kingdom of AEthelmearc. 
Location: Lambert Hall, corner of Blanchard Street and Forge Road, Bellefonte 
PA 16823 
The site is ADA compliant (handicap accessable) 
The site is Smoke-Free (a smoking area will be designated) 
Tolls: (Note that a limit of 200 seats for the feast will limit the number of 
seats sold at the door!) As there is a meze table, there will not be an 
out-board rate. 
(Refund Policy: Reservations cancelled prior to 14 January, 2001 will be 
refunded.) Postmarked after 14 January, 2001 and at the door: 
Adult Feast - $20 USD  
Adult Offboard (includes meze table) - $12 USD 
Youth, on- and off-board (Ages 10 to 17) - $10 USD 
Children and babes are free. 
(Family maximum is $50) 
 
Fees Made payable to "SCA Inc. - Shire of Nithgarrd", and sent to 
Vizziir of the Treasury - Baron Dur/durr al-jabal 
165 Fishburn Hill Rd 
Bellefonte PA 16823 

Host (Autocrat):  Baron Dur/durr al-jabal 
aka D. Edward Walter 
165 Fishburn Hill Rd 
Bellfonte PA 16823 

Date and Start-Stop times: 27 January, 2001. Event site to open at 10 A.M., 
and close at 11 P.M. The site will be open for socialization (a henna party) 
on the evening of 26 January for those who arrive early. Site setup will be 
in progress at that time. 

Ras