April 18, 2010

Medieval Times

We were hanging out with Meredith's parents one night when one of us mentioned in passing that a bunch of our friends had been planning a group-trip out to Medieval Times for someone's birthday, but we ended up deciding it was too much of a hassle. Meredith's mom said "Well, I have a birthday coming up! Why don't we go there for my birthday?" Uhhhh, sure?

chuck, joann — So that's the story of how we ended up headed to Medieval Times on Sunday afternoon! Mer's parents

meredith — Haha.

Spring.

IAC Headquarters in the distance.

I must admit. It's sort of interesting to be driving around the corporate office parks of Lindhearst, NJ and suddenly see a crenellated tower rise up out of nowhere.

Looking at the sign out front, it looks like you're arriving at a high school.

meredith — Elven-eared Meredith in front of the castle in all its glory!

me, meredith — Ready to get your joust on?

"Disneyland is there to conceal the fact that it is the "real" country, all of "real" America, which is Disneyland...Disneyland is presented as imaginary in order to make us believe that the rest is real, when in fact all of Los Angeles and the America surrounding it are no longer real, but of the order of the hyperreal and simulation." Baudrillard, Precession of Simulacra.

chuck, joann, meredith — Prepare to enter the ORDER OF SORCERY!

The ceiling when you enter the building is pretty impressive.

joann — Happy birthday, Jo!

After a warm-up drink, we were ushered into the main hall.

joann, me — Me and the birthday girl!

Ye olde napkin doubled as the menu.

jake b — After we'd gotten all settled in, this guy came out to explain that we had been seated in different colored sections, and each section had a knight that we were supposed to cheer for.

jake b — Then he tried to sell us Buckyballs.

meredith — Ready for the festivities!

Then the guy rode out on a horse and visited each of the sections...

...and introduced their knight.

The show was a little corny, but it's also really fun and the horse-riding skills were impressive. I have to say it was way more fun than I had imagined at the onset. (I'll bet this place is doing SO MUCH more business since Game of Thrones started airing.)

In between all the revelry of the knights, they had cool riding displays and horses jumping up in the air.

chuck, joann — It was pretty awesome.

The vegetarian option was pretty decent.

meredith — Haha.

After the meal had been served, the guy came out and asked if we were ready to see some JOUSTING.

Even "pretend" jousting is pretty insane.

Impact!

After one of the riders was "unhorsed," the two knights engaged in hand to hand combat.

chuck, joann — Jo and Chuck after the show.

me, meredith — Mer and me.

One last pic of the castle on the way out.

Driving back through NJ.

Team Bright Sneaks in the backseat.

The meadowlands is surreal.

Sunset! Happy birthday, Jo!