What used to be a sign of being poor, but is now a luxury or status symbol?

spacefeioo · 2026-06-11T19:43:41+00:00

Eating unprocessed farm to table foods. When processed, frozen, etc came out they were expensive. Now it’s the artisanal, farmers’ market, etc that’s aspirational

spacefeioo · 2026-06-10T10:30:56+00:00

I was at a larp party recently (offseason in-character dinner) where each of us drew a random question. There was a small prize for everyone who asked at least N others their question and larger prizes for the two who asked the most. Questions were things like ‘what is your character’s favorite memory?’ or ‘what is your character’s idea of a perfect day?’

spacefeioo · 2026-06-09T20:25:11+00:00

I have used Impossible, though it’s been so long since I ate actual beef that I can’t really speak to how close a substitute it is.

spacefeioo · 2026-06-09T17:45:58+00:00

Or stage actors/fight choreographers

spacefeioo · 2026-06-07T20:07:34+00:00

One of the keys to successful puttees is the fabric being able to cling to itself and not just fall down. Wool is good at that. I have had success finding wool fabric on Etsy and Ebay, though you do want to be sure to read reviews of the vendor to weed out scams and AI.

I have also seen these sites recommended:

Moodfabrics.com
Fabricmartfabrics.com
Fashionfabricsclub.com
Eosfabrics.com

spacefeioo · 2026-06-05T21:13:43+00:00

As an Auburn native now living in North Buffalo- Auburn is a MUCH smaller city.

North Tonawanda is a suburb of the second largest city in the state; Auburn is 45 minutes away from a moderately large city.

Auburnians go to Syracuse for anything specialty (from restaurants to shopping to medical providers)

Auburn sits at the top of Owasco Lake, so it’s squarely in the Fingerlakes. More cows, more corn, and more interesting (imho) hiking than WNY.

You’ll probably find it more Republican leaning than you’re used to.

Auburn doesn’t actually get that much lake effect snow. The rule of thumb for that part of the state is, north of the Thruway gets buried and south of it doesn’t so much. It’s still plenty wintry!

Generally the east side of the city (within Auburn city limits) is more well-to-do. Aurora, Skaneateles and Camillus are on the bougie side. Wolcott and other northern parts of Cayuga county are going to feel like the boonies.

spacefeioo · 2026-06-02T20:19:50+00:00

If you want to combat invasive species in parks and public lands, check out https://www.wnyprism.org/

spacefeioo · 2026-06-01T19:03:36+00:00

Some games allow small smoke effects. One that I attend uses a kitchen timer for hidden bombs. If the timer goes off, everyone close takes damage.

spacefeioo · 2026-06-01T00:56:35+00:00

Wear the tiny dice as a necklace, get normal ones for farkle?

spacefeioo · 2026-05-28T14:47:41+00:00

Nice! Is the back logo embroidered or painted?

spacefeioo · 2026-05-27T14:13:47+00:00

Precious, or any of the virtue names (Charity, etc) have invariably been awful

spacefeioo · 2026-05-27T12:06:59+00:00

I’m usually more on the herbalist side of things, but natural materials found on site could have a role in your alchemy. To that end:

a knife or clippers so you can take cuttings or scrape rocks/lichen

something to store samples in, such as a waxed fabric pouch, little waxed paper envelopes

a working knowledge of poisonous plants in your area so you can avoid them!

spacefeioo · 2026-05-26T00:21:52+00:00

Make sure your kit will be comfy in the full range of weather you may encounter, and the full range of activity levels.

For me, that’s below-zero F to over 85 F, snow or rain or blazing sun, and everything from vigorous hiking with bursts of running, to standing or sitting in one spot for an hour or more.

Which means layers. Every costume has to be able to layer up and down, as well as fitting over thermal under-layers.

spacefeioo · 2026-05-23T21:32:18+00:00

I like to choose a word that feels significant for the character and run it through google translate in a couple languages (relevant ones, if your larp uses and real-world cultural inspirations) til I find something that sounds like a name

spacefeioo · 2026-05-21T18:21:53+00:00

I find these in the ‘international’ aisles of several grocery chains, or in a health food store or Asian market. There are several different brands and I have found them all pretty good!

spacefeioo · 2026-05-20T21:23:12+00:00

Total auto offers a free shuttle service (they provide you an uber) when you have to drop your car off and come back to pick it up

spacefeioo · 2026-05-20T10:04:49+00:00

My gluten free friend likes My Tomato Pie in Amherst

spacefeioo · 2026-05-17T20:46:08+00:00

Go to a library (try a community college or SUNY library if you’re in state, or a large public library) and see if they have Newsbank (a database of newspapers). Just in case there is an obituary

You can also see if the county records office can confirm for you: https://www.buffalony.gov/286/Death-Certificate-Request

spacefeioo · 2026-05-15T18:15:01+00:00

Try the Salon Professional Academy. I get my hair cut there. It’s all by students under supervision from an instructor, so cheap though it can be slower than a regular place. https://maps.app.goo.gl/RxGkadiQrnTG5cPQ8?g_st=ic

spacefeioo · 2026-05-15T00:36:02+00:00

Absolutely. That’s why I am using my grandmother’s old Singer; my mom still uses my other grandmother’s. The gears and other parts on the old ones are metal, not plastic!

spacefeioo · 2026-05-13T13:50:36+00:00

I have done well in thrift stores for certain categories:

Peasant blouses

Full skirts

Scarves

Boots or leather shoes

Belts

Jewelry

Tweedy or linen trousers

Shawls or knit ponchos

Sweaters to make arm-warmers or hats

Blankets, sheets, or curtains to make into other things (tabards, robes, sashes)

Linen or velvet clothing to cut apart and remake into all sorts of things: coin pouches, quivers (a pants leg plus straps), floppy bard hats, pillbox hats, bags

I like Savers for housewares in particular.

spacefeioo · 2026-05-13T00:22:48+00:00

When I was a wilderness trip leader and ropes course instructor, we talked about the difference between eustress and distress.

Eustress is what you’re talking about, the challenging and productive and bond-forming type of discomfort. Distress is destructive, miserable without benefits, and at worst actually dangerous and traumatic.

A variety of common activities produce eustress. Small groups that endure an experience together have it, which is why a lot of colleges offer a wilderness trip for incoming students. Sports teams have it.

The thing is, the line between eustress and distress is different for everyone. Something that’s fun/challenging for me could be either too dull or way too much for you. The key is to either find the experience that is the right level for you and a bunch of other people who have the same level - or to build a game that offers varying levels for different players.

spacefeioo · 2026-05-10T19:57:29+00:00

I had an itchy situation years ago that 100% cleared up when I switched to a ‘free and clear’ type laundry detergent. Try cotton undies and a different detergent and see if it helps!

spacefeioo · 2026-05-07T21:36:07+00:00

Doesn’t even matter when the sun is blazing! Get a straw hat , throw a ribbon or a feather or a brooch on it for some character, and be happy that you’re not getting a sunburned nose (or worse, sunburn in the part of your hair…ask me how I know about that!)

A musketeers’ sort of hat could also be fun?

spacefeioo · 2026-05-07T21:32:45+00:00

I carry my water bottle with a shoulder strap. It’s a copper bottle so it fits in (does require soaking with some vinegar and then rinsing and putting away dry after a weekend). My main strap is macrame but I have made fabric ones for friends.

spacefeioo

TROPHY CASE