INVITE YOUR FRIENDS! SPREAD THE WORD!
Southern California Tolkien fans are invited to join in the merriment of TORN’s Annual Baggins Birthday Bash, which will take place on Sunday, Sept 21 starting at noon in Griffith Park in the Mineral Wells area. If you need help finding this location, look at the Directions below and at the Map, which clearly shows Mineral Wells near the Harding Golf Course. We will be celebrating the Birthday of both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, and rejoicing in each other’s fellowship.
Costumes are encouraged, and we may have a prize or two for the most beautifully or most creatively attired lads and ladies. There will also be fun and games, as usual, and we are adding the ‘Pin the Black Arrow on the Dragon’ game this year. There will be some wonderful prizes to be won. There will also be the return of the Reading Corner where everyone will have the chance to read selections of The Hobbit to everyone else.
The picnic is potluck so bring something to share. RSVP by leaving a note on the Facebook Event Page, or send an email to Garfeimao@theonering.net. Please let me know what you plan to bring so I can make sure we’ve got all bases covered for a good, Hobbity meal. The list below will be updated over on the Facebook page with what people are bringing so everyone can see what’s coming and what is still needed. Please do take a moment to look it over and decide what you want to bring and RSVP, it makes it so much easier to plan for the event when we know what gaps need filling.
Baggins Birthday Potluck Requirements:
Standard things everyone may want to bring to the picnic include: picnic blanket, lawn chairs, hat and sunscreen and a smile.
Things we need to make a complete Hobbity event, anything you bring should be enough for 6 people, and at least every other person in large parties should bring an item to share.
1) Savory dishes (this would be pizzas, chicken, sandwich platters, etc) – we could use 5 or 6
2) Snack dishes (this would be chips and dip, cheese and crackers, fruit, veggies and dip, etc) we could use 10
3) Desserts (do I need to give examples?) – we could use 3-4
4) Beverages (water, sodas, beer and wine) – we need 10-12 to get a good balance (bottled items work best to keep the bees out)
5) Ice and ice chests – we could use 3-4 large ice chests and some ice
6) Supplies – we’ll need at least 2 packs of paper plates, 2 packs of plastic cups, 2 boxes of mixed flatware (plastic knives, forks and spoons) some napkins, trash bags and paper table covers.
7) Birthday Cake – Something new here, we are opening up Creative Middle-earth Cake decorations to all you lovely people. So get creative, bake a cake or cupcakes and have fun decorating it in whatever Middle-earth style you prefer. This will actually be a Juried event with a prize for the Cake or Cupcakes deemed the most creative. 
DIRECTIONS:
From south: Take the 5 North to the Griffith Park exit. At the first stop sign you reach, turn right onto Crystal Springs Drive and follow it into the park. When you reach the big stop sign where the road splits into Crystal Springs Drive and Griffith Park Drive, follow the road to the left (towards the Old Zoo and the Harding Golf Course). Stay on Griffith Park Drive past the Old Zoo and the Harding Golf Course. The road will fork again after the golf course at Mineral Wells. Keep on the road to the left, and you will find parking for the picnic area along the road.
From north: Take the 5 south to Los Feliz Blvd West. At the intersection with Riverside Drive, turn right. Riverside Drive will turn into Crystal Springs Drive. Follow Crystal Springs into the park. When you reach the big stop sign where the road splits into Crystal Springs Drive and Griffith Park Drive, follow the road to the left (towards the Old Zoo and the Harding Golf Course). Stay on Griffith Park Drive past the Old Zoo and the Harding Golf Course. The road will fork again after the golf course at Mineral Wells. Keep on the road to the left, and you will find parking for the picnic area along the road.
From Hollywood/LA: Take Western Ave north. It will turn into Los Feliz Blvd. When you reach the intersection with Riverside Drive, turn left. Riverside Drive will turn into Crystal Springs Drive. Follow Crystal Springs into the park. When you reach the big stop sign where the road splits into Crystal Springs Drive and Griffith Park Drive, follow the road to the left (towards the Old Zoo and the Harding Golf Course). Stay on Griffith Park Drive past the Old Zoo and the Harding Golf Course. The road will fork again after the golf course at Mineral Wells. Keep on the road to the left, and you will find parking for the picnic area along the road.
You can get a map of Griffith Park here:
Griffith Park Map
As always, the actual location won’t be confirmed until the day of the party, we will update the Facebook Event Page on the morning of the event in case of last minute changes in location.
