Shannon's All Hallow's Eve Eve Party (costume required)
Saturday, October 30th, after 6pm

810 Sunrise Court
Ann Arbor, MI 48103

You and anyone you would like to invite also are cordially invited to my All Hallow's Eve Eve Party. Come celebrate fall colors, fall harvest, quasi-progress on the Brines Farm hoophouse construction, the pending election, the UM victory over MSU that day, and of course Halloween. Come catch the end of the big game on TV or come a bit later. There will be refreshment including Michigan Beer, homebrews, apple cider, secret-house-recipe punch, apples (bobbing optional), apple pie, pumpkin pie, and more. Halloween costumes are mandatory and we will be voting on the best costumes - winners will receive real prizes (of real value). Preceding the costume voting will be the All-Hallow's-Eve-Eve-Party Battle of the Performance IDOL competition (tentatively beginning between 8-9pm). So bring your guitar, harmonica, bagpipes, singing voice, tap shoes, drama routine, poetry, or whatever to compete - one winner will receive a real prize (of real value). If you wish to be a part of the performance competition please give me a heads up, each performer will likely get a handful of minutes depending on how many competitors total. In between all of this performing and voting there will be music spun by a live DJ for you to get your groove on. There's a lot going on that weekend but what other party is offering this much with no cover charge and real prizes of real value. Seriously, you'll regret it if you miss it, so after the game, hit this party and you'll still have time to catch that other party later on, go back to your party, or go waste money at a club, etc., etc..

(734) 913-8058
sjbrines@umich.edu

Directions: From downtown Ann Arbor (i.e. Main Street), take Miller Ave westward out or town. Turn left (south) onto Bruce Street (Bruce Street is west of the major intersection of Miller & Seventh and east of the major intersection of Miller & Maple). Turn left (east) onto Sunrise Street and then turn left (north) onto Sunrise Court. Sunrise Court is a no-outlet cul de sac. My house is the third house on the right, a blue and brick tri-level with a red fire hydrant in front of it.

There is plenty of on-street parking on Sunrise Court and Sunrise Street (just don't block anyone's driveway). To walk from central campus to my house takes about 35 minutes, biking takes about 15 minutes.





Party FAQs (Under Construction)

Q: Do I have to wear a costume?
A: Yes.

Q: Is it okay if my costume sucks then?
A: Yes. But you will have less of a chance of winning a real prize of real value.

Q: Do I have to partake in the All Hallow's Eve Eve Party Battle of the Performance IDOL competition?
A: No. But it would be fun and you would have another chance to win a real prize of real value.

Q: What are these real prizes of real value?
A: It's a secret. I'm the only one who knows until the prizes are awarded.

Q: Do I have to bring any food or drink?
A: No, unless I've begged you for something specific. You may of course bring some food or drink to share - there is a fall harvest theme going if you can match that.

Q: Who are you?
A: Thanks for asking. I'm the guy who's having the Halloween party you are going to Saturday October 30th. It's okay if you don't really know me, you can still come. You probably know someone who knows me. Some of you know me as the guy who manages the ESA Lab at SNRE, some of you know me as the guy trying to get a small hoophouse farm up and running on the side of my day job, and some of you just know me other ways. I guarantee a nice diverse crowd.

Q: Can I get a ride home if I need to?
A: Yes. Unless you live too far away, then, you can sleep on the carpeted floor and I'll figure out what to do with you in the morning.

Q: Do you really think UM is going to beat MSU?
A: Yes, the game is at the Big House so UM has the edge this year. If it was in East Lansing I wouldn't be as confident.

Q: I live in another state, do you really expect me to come?
A: Yes. One party-goer is flying in from Boston. This party-goer made it sound like she was coming into town on business for the beginning of the following week and it just so happened she could come earlier and make the party. So I've sent you an invite in case you can try an excuse like that too, but I know you will be really coming just for the party.

Q: Who is the DJ?
A: The Box (confirmed).

Q: Seriously, what are these real prizes of real value?
A: Seriously, I'm not going to tell you. Don't you know anything about how to build suspense? You can try guessing if you think you know me well. All I'll say is that their "retail value" exceeds $100.

Q: What's the secret-house-recipe punch?
A: A recipe I stole from Lidia, Aaron, and Sarah. So you really have to ask them about it. It's not mine. It's been in their family for generations and generations, or something like that.

Q: Why'd you have your party the same night as mine?
A: There's so many parties going on it was hard to keep straight who's I'd be conflicting with. No hard feelings, truly. The timing of mine is such that you can still stop by, your guests won't miss you.

Q: Do I have to RSVP?
A: If you want to. In theory it might be useful. I already know you're coming though, how could you miss real prizes of real value.

Q: Is it true that The Giddyup is coming and that resistance is futile and everyone needs to come to Shannon's All Hallow's Eve Eve Party?
A: I think so. I received this communication from The Giddyup.

Q: What is all this talk about a hoophouse?
A: See brines.org. Old-fashioned hoop raising Sunday after the party. Ask me more about it at the party Saturday.

Q: Is it true that Johnathon (real name changed under brines.net privacy guidelines) has a 'man-crush' on you?
A: Let the record show that I'm just about willing to address all questions and I will address this question to the fullest of my capabilities. That is to say it is not for me to discern whether all things are true or false, but for me to discern only one thing always to be true: that I am true to myself. After all what is a 'man-crush' really? Could it be that this Johnathon merely can see past the faults and character flaws, that we all have, and can appreciate whether one is genuine and authentic, whether one is seizing the day, whether one is striving to make the world a better place, whether one can make a tremendous website about an unbelievable party one is hosting? And if so, the question you need to ask yourself is 'why don't I have a 'man-crush' or 'woman-crush' for that matter on Shannon?' After all, if you look deep within yourself, I think you will see that you not only have a crush on me but a crush on all people who have the potential to be nice, decent, fun, and loving. I know that is what I've seen, why I have a crush on all of you and its why I see my role as a uniter, not only in this great nation of ours but in the world. In fact, I would like to take this opportunity, in this medium, that being the Party FAQs of Shannon's All Hallow's Eve Eve Party website, to re-launch my independent candidacy for President of the United States of America in the year 2012. While the official website of my bid for the presidency, 2012.brines.org, has not been updated since its initial launch in 1999, stay tuned because something is bound to happen one of these years. I mean after all, if America isn't the place where a middle-class, spatial analyst, part-time instructor, organic farmer, wannabe movie-maker, good with kids, all around nice person can't grow up to be President, I don't know what is.

Q: Is it true this year's award-winning jam from Ann Arbor Downtown Home & Garden jam contest will be part of the refreshment spread?
A: Yes, time permitting, we may be treated with HP's wonderfully unique award-winning Raspberry-Mango jam.

Q: Is it true that you may have cast the deciding ballot in that jam contest?
A: Yes.

Q: Did you ask those last two questions to apply pressure to get some of that jam to your party?
A: Yes.

Q: Is it true that someone asked you a question about farm animals, presumably in connection with their costume, but either you inadvertently deleted that question email or the sender is inept with email and really didn't send it?
A: Apparently, and this is the space where I will answer said question if I ever see it. Of course, if the question is about whether or not farm animals may be brought, the answer is sure, but for the safety and security of all farm animals, they need to be confined to a tall fenced in back yard and since my fence is not tall enough that leaves my neighbor Tomas Hook's yard across the street - he may pretend to not understand why you are putting farm animals into his back yard but I promise you that is just his idea of a joke.

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Q: How'd the party go? Was your party a success?
A: Well, if by 'party' you mean Shannon's All Hallow's Eve Eve Party perhaps you should have been there to decide for yourself. Those of you who couldn't make it probably had a good excuse but you certainly did miss out (I believe in honesty). Some of you like Johnathon and Amy (real names still changed under brines.net privacy guidelines) were even missed and you may have been an addition to the party but now we'll never know will we. Nonetheless, I'd call the party a definite success. More than one person said it was the best Halloween party they'd ever been to or the best one since they were a kid anyway and these people aren't total losers so there must be some validity to their opinion. Of course, it doesn't matter if there isn't, because I had a good time.

Q: Will you have another party? Will you invite me to the next one?
A: Yes. Will see. Certainly, you can come to next year's Shannon's All Hallow's Eve x N Party (where N is number of days before the eve) but as for parties in between that we'll just have to see won't we.

Q: Who won the Shannon's All Hallow's Eve Eve Party Performance IDOL competition?
A: Well, all the performances were exciting especially that Luke Skywalker to Luke Duke strip tease but clearly the crowd favorite was the belly dancing Sabrina. Congrats Sabrina! I hope you like your Real Prize of Real Value!

Q: Who won the Shannon's All Hallow's Eve Eve Party Costume voting?
A: Well the top two Real Prizes of Real Value went to some piece of shit and a tree. Additional albeit lesser Real Prizes of Real Value went to Mr. Sticky, Cowgirl Man, Blue Man, Lukes, Clothesline, and perhaps some others. There were some complaints regarding voting irregularities which I agree is a bit suspicious but hey as long as everyone had a good time. At least we don't have to be bitter about it for four years before we get to vote again.

Q: And these Real Prizes of Real Value????
A: The Real Prizes of Real Value awarded to the top performer and top two costumes were 1/2 share of produce from Brines Farm for an upcoming season. After the completion of the hoophouse currently being constructed (see above) beginning next year Brines Farm will operate partly as a CSA farm in which customers can purchase a share entitling them to periodic portions of the harvest during a season. See brines.org and csacenter.org for more info about Brines Farm and CSA. Additional albeit lesser Real Prizes of Real Value were awesome activity books courtesy of The Giddyup (see above). Thanks The Giddyup! You're right, resistance is futile.

Q: Don't you think you should have had categories for the costume contest like "Best use of BeDazzler or other infomercial equipment in a costume?" Who would have won that category?
A: Yes. I don't know, there were so many bedazzling costumes - lets vote on it.Review the photos below and submit your vote to me.

Q: Can I get the recipe for the pumpkin pie? Can I get the recipe for the house punch?
A: Yes. Regarding the punch, don't you read the FAQs? sheesh.

Q: What were your last Lukes?
A: Well, if you couldn't bother to stay with us and dance the night away I'm not sure why I should bother telling you but if you must know Lukes may have gone something like Luke Skywalker to Luke Duke to Luke Perry to Luke Danes.

Q: Who the hell is Luke Danes?
A: I guess we know who is ignorant of the current pinnacle of American TV culture. Again, if you must know, Luke Danes runs Luke's in Stars Hollow, CT on a current WB television show which I allegedly watch.

Q: What's the name of that current WB television show you allegedly watch?
A: I forget.

Q: Will you post the theme song from that current WB television show you allegedly watch? It's been in my head since your party, but the words aren't very clear in my head.
A: I think the record industry would find me if I posted a song on my website but here are the lyrics and a sample of the song from Amazon.com. The lyrics come off kind of sexist at first glance but I'm sure Carole King was just singing about true love, you can flip the genders and the song still works. One could argue that the lyrics to the entire song don't necessarily fit as the theme song for the show and hence the reason they only play the middle portion of the song as the intro to the show.

Q: Do you have pictures from Shannon's 2004 All Hallow's Eve Eve Party?
A: Yes, stay tuned. If you have pictures or links to pictures, please let me know. | Lin-jye and Tao's pix from early in the night | Minako's pix mostly from the middle of the night | Tiff's and Heather's pix mostly from late in the night | more soon |

Q: My question is not listed here, can I ask it?
A: Yes. The FAQ section is under construction.