Australian Cultural Evening 2002

Riot Police, Armoured Cars, Gay Bingo and Mardi Gras

The 2002 Australian Cultural Evening in Seattle was a night of unusual events, venue variety and new friendships. Eighteen participants departed the comfortable sophistication of the Sheraton Hotel on a fruitless quest for Australian Culture. The first stop was the Elephant and Castle, where initial indecision was followed by heated arguments over whether food should be eaten. In the end, mediation resulted in everyone (except Paul Trotter, who had been distracted at the bar) enjoying a hearty meal.

Paul at the Bar
Paul Trotter (right) finds the company of strangers from Indianapolis at the bar more interesting than his Aussie colleagues.

Table 1
The rearranging of furniture gave the bar staff some concerns, but we won them over in the end.



David, Martha and Jim were quick on the draw, securing a high table and a round of beers.




They're looking happy now, but how will they feel in 12 hours time?

After an uneventful meal, drinks were drained and the group headed off, determined to go downhill. The next stop turned out to be the Pike Brewery, complete with pool tables and unusual patrons with odd hair. Naturally, we fitted straight in, and got down to some intelligent conversation and important discussions.


More furniture arrangement, and the group finds that jugs (pitchers) represents good drinking value.


A game of pool brought out the animal instincts in Julie and Jenn, who fleeced some locals out of $100.

Scott, Alan and Trevor attempting to count the number of empty glasses on their table, wondering how they got there.
New Zealander Paul doesn't realise he's wearing an Australian cap. But he doesn't realise many things...  

In too short a time, it was time to move further downhill. The objective was the J&M Cardroom in Pioneer Square. But alas, no matter how well these events are unplanned, fate inevitably steps in. The Pioneer Square area was awash with police and mayors. Police on bikes, police on horses, police in cars, police in doorways. And occasionally, between lines of police, we could see one or two revellers. In fact, there were so many police and revellers that we couldn't get into J&M, and had to settle for a place that was so bad that no-one else wanted to drink there. The Pioneer Square Saloon.


The Aussies pose outside the Lusty Lady. But we're searching for something more...
The Pioneer Square Saloon. Never a cover charge, and we found out why. 


Ray was quickly employed as a barman. How did he get those Mardi Gras beads?

A world championship of darts was next on the agenda, with Australia winning once again. David is scratching his head in disbelief. (Or else those lice are back.)


Trevor wins hands down in an ad-hoc competition to see who could look silliest using Fosters coasters.

Jenn, Julie and Siobhan find out how much fun you can have with an oscillating fan. 

It soon became obvious that we were going to be at the Saloon for the duration. Any bar with an ambulance and a contingent of riot police parked at the door can't be all that bad. We soon met new friends, who were before long as confused as we all were. The Saloon featured a darts board and a pool table. Some cut-throat competition took place without a fight. 



Once again, Tony finds himself draped in girls, a jar of Vegemite close on hand.

Jenn discovers the Australian flag makes a great fashion accessory. 


Ray makes a new friend, April. How did she get all those beads?

And Siobhan makes a new special friend while proudly displaying her Gay Bingo poster. If only her Mum could see her now! (Yes, they're both girls.)

Alas, all good things must come to an end. At about 2 am, the barman called yet again for last drinks (only 15 minutes to go), and we were cast out into the cold Seattle night. The police were by now equipped with armoured cars and metre long truncheons, but the Aussies were full and happy. We ambled back towards wherever it was we came from, passing some more interesting sights and learning more about Seattle. We found, for example, that the Lusty Lady doesn't have women's toilets, and that women sitting on cars can be made to believe that Seattle is a better Mardi Gras destination than New Orleans.

We had lost two people at the Saloon: Mark, and later Paul. Mark didn't find his way back till 7 in the morning. He claimed he was kidnapped by aliens, and was suffering from a sore bum, but at least he was alive. Much more importantly, the jar of Vegemite that went missing during the night (much to Tony's distress) finally turned up in the hands of a dastardly New Zealander.



Not quite sure why, but this girl has got very long legs.

Scott and Mark


Scott and Mark discuss whether the one day cricket competition rules should be altered to favour the bowlers, particularly during day-night matches, and whether off-spin is truly effective against left handers.

So another successful event. No casualties, one marriage, and a fun night out.


Seattle mounted bicycle police form a guard of honour for the Australians.

Roll of Honour

More?

Haven't seen enough? Still hungry for more photographic memories (in case your biological memory has missing bits)? Mark Ploegstra's photos have also come in.

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