Pumpkiny Goodness

This weekend, I finally got to be in the presence of other people who are definitely feeling the Halloween spirit. I've been a bit down recently, because no one in my neighborhood seems to want to decorate. Heck, no one in the whole surrounding area seems to want to decorate. With the lack of holiday spirit combined with 80 degree weather, it barely feels like Halloween is near at all, let alone a week away. But this weekend, I attended the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival. I love this festival. It's just plain fun. You don't get the retarded losers who only go to festivals to get drunk and cause problems. There are no fights. It's just fun for families and people who want a laid back Fall festival vibe.

The Pumpkin Festival takes place on the main street of Half Moon Bay. It pretty much goes the entire length. There is booth after booth after booth of crafts, art, and strange homemade/small business made things. One of the more original booths was selling little animals and stuff made out of wool. Doesn't sound horribly original until you realize that the person made these little animals by compressing wool on itself with a needle. I can't remember what this technique is called. I also can't imagine how much time it would take just to make the 2 1/2 inch high penguin I liked.

There was a ton of food booths, several stages where people played lived music, and several performers that ranged from magicians to giant pumpkin carvers. The one thing that is unique about the festival is that they sell beer and wine. We walked around the whole morning with a commemorative champagne glass full of yummy mimosa. MMMmmmm. Most festivals in California don't allow alcohol or have very strict rules regarding it, because people tend to be idiots and get in fights. With the mellower family-based crowd that the festival attracts, there are few true buttheads.

On the way out of the festival, we stopped and bought the requisite pumpkins at one of the local farms. I can't wait to carve them up. What was not so awesome about our egress, however, was our choice of restaurant. We saw the Half Moon Bay Brewery on the way in and decided we'd check it out for lunch. It was a laid back atmosphere, so we thought it would be fun. NEVER, EVER GO THERE. It is the biggest waste of money I've ever been subjected to. We each got one beer, I ordered a crab/shrimp salad and a cup of chowder, and my boyfriend ordered a crab/shrimp sandwich. That's it. With tip, the bill came to just over $60...for lunch......FOR LUNCH!!!!! It wasn't even that good. Their beer was just so-so, and my stupid salad was merely a pile of romaine that they threw lump crab meat (probably from a can) and baby shrimp on. Total rip. I could have made that for 1/4 of the price. I officially give the Half Moon Bay Brewery a one star. Even the wait staff sucked.

All in all, though, it was a good day. I got my Halloween on, and it helped stave away the lack of spirit in my town. Get out there and DECORATE people! Don't be a Halloween scrooge!