I received a letter from Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida thanking us for our efforts and for providing the equivalent to over 300 meals to those in need.

Defeat Evil!  Feed the World!  Because the World Should Eat Like a Hobbit!

Once again, it’s time to feed the world!  Join us Nov. 27th- for the 2nd Annual Hobbit Meals Moot!

This year we are pleased to have the Blibbering Humdingers with us, a fantastic Wizard Wrock band from North Carolina.  That’s right, apparently Gandalf called Dumbledore and Dumbledore apparated Scott and Kirsten right into the Shire!  They will be performing right in the Shire’s backyard as you and I and fellow hobbits all feast and feed the world!

Hunger remains an issue here in the States and worldwide.  And our mission here at Hobbit Meals remains the same.  We know every little bit helps.  We figured we defeated Sauron, why not take down an even bigger enemy?  So we need you.  Bring two bags of non-perishable food (canned food, pasta, etc.) and “set a place” for those unable to join us at the table, and defeat the enemy of Hunger which is all around us.   ALL food donations will be brought to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to feed those in need in our area.  Hobbit Meals is proudly affiliated with Second Harvest Food Bank and Feeding America.

November 27th.  4 pm.

Defeat Evil.

Feed the World.

Because the World Should Eat like a Hobbit.

Oxfam America: Haiti Earthquake Response Fund

IRC:  International Rescue Committee: Haiti Crisis

World Vision: Haiti Earthquake Relief

Greg Pyne, your humble Hobbit Meals founder, is turning 35 on Dec. 10^th, and he knows exactly what he wants for his birthday.

500 lbs. of food.

No presents, no cards, no cake (okay, well, maybe a cake).  He wants 500 lbs. of food to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Therefore, Hobbit Meals announces the 2^nd Ever Hobbit Meals Moot:  “The 500 lb. Birthday”

And you are invited.

Come join us at Bag End for a night of Hobbity goodness and a birthday celebration.  Entertainment for evening includes a double feature!  The Arthur Rankin animated version of the The Hobbit and since, ‘tis the season, The Muppet Christmas Carol!  Hobbits and Muppets unite to feed the world!  A raffle will also be offered for gift cards to Best Buy and other cool stocking stuffers!

What do you need to bring?  Just your kindly self, a small side dish, and a full bag (or two) of non-perishable groceries to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Last time we met, Hobbit Meals raised 247 lbs. of food for Second Harvest Food Bank, food which provided many meals for many families in need.  The goal this time around is to exceed that.  And I know you can do it.  Because we’re hobbits, after all.

Defeat evil.  Feed the world.  Because the world should eat like a hobbit.

Bell- Hobbit Meals

the scale at Second Harvest Food Bank

Elrond once said “This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great.”

In our world, Hunger is one of those towers.  Nothing is more evil to a hobbit than an empty plate, as I would imagine the Gaffer to say.

So we did our best to fill them and begin our small part to topple that tower.

Hobbit Meals is pleased to report that a total of 247 lbs of food was raised on September 19^th during the First Ever Hobbit Meals Moot.  All seven hobbit meals (breakfast, second breakfast, elevensies, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper) were served and all three extended versions of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movie trilogy were shown.  Price of admission was a full bag of nonperishable groceries for donation to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Approximately 30 people from all over Central Florida and beyond came to support the event and offer their help to those in need.

As the event organizer, the one worry I had hoped for was fulfilled.  I know that sounds like an odd statement, but let me explain.  At one point during the day, as the Fellowship set off from Rivendell and headed off to Gandalf’s inevitable battle with the Balrog, while people jostled around with plates, talking and laughing and meeting each other and sharing their love of LOTR, I thought to myself “There’s not enough chairs and we’re running out of room for the all the food that’s been donated.”  That is a worry one wishes for.  Which means we’ll need a larger venue for the next Hobbit Meals moot.  And I hope to see you there.

Many, many thanks to all who came to support the event.  Think about this: in addition to the seven hobbit meals we enjoyed by providing for each other, we provided dozens of meals for those in need wondering if there would be a single meal provided for them today.

Some photos of the event below.  Photo credits to Tara Dunn, Corey Sutherland, and Greg Pyne.  Check out more great pics from the event on our Hobbit Meals group page on Facebook!

Donated food from First Ever Hobbit Meals Moot

Enjoying the Trilogy

Second Breakfast, anyone?

Now Serving...

a small group of hobbits making a difference...

One of the highlights was a stop at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, where my wife and I saw Charles Ross’s One Man Lord of the Rings show.  Hmmm, I wonder if Hobbit Meals could persuade him to do a show in Orlando?  Perhaps a charity event with proceeds going to Second Harvest?  Just thinking out loud…

A Singular Lord of the Rings Experience in Scotland

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Friday, August 14^th, 2009

While spending part of my holiday in Scotland, I had the privilege of seeing Charles Ross perform his One Man Lord of the Rings show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, a performance consisting of all three movies by one single, highly motivated individual. “40 characters. 3 masterworks. 3600 seconds.  One Man to do it all.”

And he did.

Charles Ross is better known for his One Man Star Wars show (http://www.onemanstarwars.com), which has garnered acclaim from Spin magazine, Conan O’Brien, and The New York Times among others.  He has performed the show over a 1000 times across the globe.  Perhaps he never thought that another mega trilogy would come along that would have the same impact as Star Wars.

Then along came Rings.

I was happy just to sit down to anything related to LOTR, but I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical.  When Ross walked on to a bare stage (actually just a patch of ground around a makeshift amphitheater) wearing a jumpsuit- no costumes or props, not even a ring- an ever so slight “Hmm” crossed my lips.  Could he actually…

My thoughts were interrupted as Ross launched into Fellowship of the Ring.  I sat entranced, enthralled.  His impression of each character was dead on, from Gandalf’s gruff voice to Legolas’s airy exposition (each statement by Legolas including a motion indicating the brushing of Orlando’s blonde tresses).  His segue from scene to scene was flawless, and the dialogue between characters was seamless. With unique body language and sound effects, it was not hard to visualize the scene taking place.  Each jump, run, arch, stumble, clutch, reach, and pose struck seemed to paint the scene as Ross’s energy pulled us along the condensed narrative.  He paused only for a drink of water between movies, changing the lyrics to the end credits song to explain how thirsty he was.   Fellowship. Sip.  Two Towers.  Sip.  Return of the King. Sip.  On with the show.

Ross weaved in humor throughout.  My wife and I were left crying with laughter as he impersonated Denethor, with arched eyebrows and his two arms acting at both sides of his head in a V-shape indicating Denethor’s long hair.  As Denethor orders Pippin to sing in his chamber, Ross portrays Pippin as gagging his way through his song as he watches Denethor stuff his face with food.

Other highlights included his portrayal of Gollum: Andy Serkis could have a voice double if he needed one in Charles Ross.

Ross ended his show to loud applause and then talked to the audience about how he developed the show and his love for both Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. I had a chance to speak with him after the show, and we touched on how a work like Lord of the Rings inspires creativity: you want to add to the magic of the books, by adaptation or commentary, or you are inspired to create a unique work of your own.  His love for Lord of the Rings is a clear homage to Tolkien and the movies.

And hey, if the apocalypse hits, killing all the electricity on the planet, and we’re reduced down to sticks and stones and campfires again: there’s still two great trilogies to see.  Just find Charles Ross.

Greg Pyne, aka Fool of a Took

http://hobbitmeals.wordpress.com/

http://wanderingtree.wordpress.com/

Check out Charles Ross at

http://www.onemanlotr.com/

http://www.onemanstarwars.com/

Presents

The First Ever Hobbit Meals Moot!

Come enjoy all 7 Hobbit meals and a viewing of ALL THREE EXTENDED VERSIONS of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Breakfast!  Second Breakfast!  Elevensies!  Lunch!  Afternoon Tea!  Dinner!  Supper!

When: Saturday, Sept. 19^th, 2009 (3 days eve to Bilbo’s Birthday!) 10am-10pm

Where: Bag End, of course! (10652 Windsor Ct., Orlando, FL 32821)

Price of admission: bring one dish to share and one grocery bag full of non-perishable food to be donated to

Hobbit Meals is dedicated to feeding the hungry in our local communities by hosting “Hobbit Meals” in which food and monies are donated to local food banks and charities.

Defeat Evil.  Feed the world.  Because the world should eat like a hobbit.