Toronto Newbie Burner Picnic eats chocolate covered bacon

Toronto Newbie Burner Picnic

Last night was the Toronto Newbie Burner Picnic. The event is held by the Regional BMO to connect newbie or "virgin" Burners with local seasoned Burners to share advice and experiences so they can be better prepared for life on the Playa.

I went to see if anyone I knew was going and to offer any help to noobs I might meet.

There were at least 50 people that met in Trinity Bellwoods Park, and the mix seemed to be more veterans than noobs.

A lot of great information was shared, from entry to exodus.
They talked about the two Canadian art projects headed to the Playa, the Toronto C.O.R.E. project, and Super Street Fire from the people that brought us the Heart Machine.
I'm going to get involved with the Super Street Fire project in some capacity.

Being a picnic, there were potluck snacks. I made some Chocolate Covered Bacon to share. It went over well, as burners love bacon.

So much to do

Sunny J & "The Fire of Fires" Temple,
Burning Man 2009

I'm going to Burning Man 2012, but very little is ready. It's 39 days away and I haven't even done anything with this blog. My recent trip to England was expensive, and I will have to make it to Black Rock City with limited funds. 


My plan is to fly to San Francisco the week before the Burn. This way I can help my camp Shadyvil load up the gear (some go out to the Playa early to set up). I love Shadyvil, they are from San Francisco and New York and all over. 


I'm not so much blogging as I am thinking out loud. 


OUTSTANDING ITEMS 


-Flight to San Francisco (around $800)
Very essential. San Francisco is my base of operations. This is going on my VISA card.


-Ride to the Playa (about $100)
Since every hipster in the Bay area is headed to Nevada the last week of August, it shouldn't be too difficult to find a ride either from a fellow Shady or an aforementioned hipster. My last time out I scored a ride via Craigslist and made a great friend, Frank (He's going again this year, but leaving from Seattle). 


-Camp Fee ($200)
I don't have this money, and it has to be paid, like, now. 


-Keg ($80)
Shadyvil is one of the few camps with a respectable bar, which includes cold draft beer. The bar is tended by my good friend Bill W. The beer is only stocked through generous contributions of monies. I plan on contributing some cash, then generously consuming some beer.

These next things are from a list I made at the end of my last time at Burning Man of things to improve:


ITEMS FOR A BETTER BURN
-Be more fit (Go to the gym!!!)
-Sunglasses (no more cheap dollar store shades, it's too bright, get prescription shades).
-El Wire (Brighten up your world, and your bike)
-Bed roll (comfort issue, Playa surface is to hard)