The 2nd Annual Witches' Tea

Reading them the rights ... er, recipes.

Sunday the 28th was the 2nd Annual Witches' Tea, organized by my friend Ylluria, who also launched Portland's offshoot of the "Hexenbrut" Witches' Dance that went viral a few years ago. Most of my witchy things are packed, but my Snape clothes are not. Also, this year's theme happened to be ... Potions.

Do step aside.

In addition to my usual black, I added a witch nose I'd gotten, and of course I brought my own "potion book of dreams" with me, from which to read a recipe or two (and display my legit rep as Snape's apprentice).

My makeup wasn't quite the right shade to match the nose I'd found in Port Townsend, but it's nice to have a good "crone" accessory for future dances!

The event was held at one of my favorite Portland coffeehouses, The Pied Cow. The inside of this gorgeous house makes me think of Slytherin's living room and parlor, to be honest. Did I say I wish it was mine? We, however, sat outside beneath a peaked white tent, as there were so many of us. We ordered food and drink: me, a chai latte, plus mezza plate and cheese fondue to share with Wanda, Pat and Anne.

Our little group couldn't fit under the awning at first; we had to take a small battered side table made from a black-painted wire spool. The weather was dreadful! Pounding bouts of rainy downpour. We leaned as far forward as we could, me shielding Potus in my lap, so the raindrops would hit only the backs of our chairs. But the food and drink was tasty. Next time I'm going for Wanda's cardamom-honey steamer.

A handful of my friends and acquaintances were there, including Keeva, Gina, another Gina(!), Giovanina, and Thandiwe, all fancied up --- most of them far more "witchily" than I. Snape sticks to basics.

Gina with a mermaid skeleton on her hat.

Storytelling and cackles. Below: A cute red felt hat that's just witchy enough to wear for everyday, not overdone.

Prizes were given for the best recipe and best ancestor story. Wanda won the best ancestor tale prize, including a wine glass that read "My broomstick runs on wine!" and a black lipstick. A Colombian woman named Katalina got first place with a traditional recipe called Panela, for which I had felt the urge to split the prize with her if I had won it --- I'm a great proponent of preserving traditional and ethnic recipes. I got the only prize I needed or wanted, really (I have too much stuff as it is!): Recognition for most incredible potion book, and a couple new recipes for my collection.

It was fun, but as the Witches' Tea keeps growing, it's clear another venue is in order. The Pied Cow is too small, service was strained taut, and we were shivery and damp out there in the rain. I'm keen on returning --- with either just a friend or two, or even by myself with quill and book, in true Sev style --- and nestling into the dim, cosy parlor like a snake, savoring a cardamom-honey steamer (augmented by a hidden vial of spirits in my sleeve), and lighting a clove off one of the tiki torches on my way out. Perfection.

Snape's response to a cold, damp tea party.
"You want me to what, Albus?"
Above my head, my friend Kate's Aztec serpent on her wall!

I love doing Snape makeup. It's fast, simple, fun, and effective, aging me by at least ten years and accentuating both the eyebrow and natural sneer. People might compliment me, but as I mentioned, they don't catcall me. Big difference.

Use shading to change the shape of your face...

...and the shape of your mouth. Optional: a light wash of yellow-green to go "sallow" if only the face and hands are showing

The acid test is the wizard events, of course. The preliminary touchpoint is my grandmother: If she balks at me turning my hair black, she really hates it when I do this. Even Dad has second thoughts, mostly because people talk to him about what's going on. Old-fashioned ideas about sweet blonde womanly daughters or granddaughters, that sort of rot. Since when did he have a say in how I ended up? (Ah, wait, he did, when I was little. Bahahaaaa. See? Hugs are important.)

One of my friends, Ylluria, goes to even more fantastic lengths in the makeup department. Her partial visual disability makes her achievements in costume that much more incredible! One of my favourites so far is this very Kali reptilian naga, or snake-spirit from Hindu mythology. She didn't even know the mythos behind nagas, but still channeled serpentine energy beautifully! A female naga is, of course, a nagini.
Insider tip: Get those shiny scales by using fishnet tights.

Slytherins rock.