Friday, June 3, 2022

Updates and Info for Howard Days Next Week!

 Crunch time is here! As we prepare for travels and anticipate the upcoming Howard Days Fellowship, we've still got more last minute info to share.

First off, we'll tease you with a couple of items to be found in the Silent Auction. Scott Rowell of Colorado had this nifty laser engraved plaque made, showing Old Two-Gun hoisting a brew in honor of all his fans coming to visit him. It will be up for grabs at the Silent Auction on Friday Night! Also on the docket is a nice little engraved glass piece (unframed - shown here with a frame) that was made from a pane of the window from Bob's room at the house! (Renovations a couple of years ago made the glass available.) Another one-of-a-kind item only found at the Silent Auction!




The Waitlist for the Banquet has gotten a bit longer, but Project Pride is doing everything they can to accommodate as many folks as possible. Don't forget that you may still attend the Silent Auction and hear Guest of Honor Fred Malmberg's speech, so we hope you come and hang out.

The Robert E. Howard Foundation Press will be under their large canopy in the yard at the Howard Museum Friday and Saturday. In addition to a good quantity of the original 300 run of their Howard books, they will have two new offerings on hand, in limited quantity: The Collected Letters of REH Vol.2 and Steve Harrison's Casebook. These are the reprint editions that are offered when the original edition sells out, and now you can get your copy and save on shipping before they become available on Amazon June 14th. Plus, you get a prize with every purchase.

The Cross Plains Review newspaper offices will be open for visiting on Friday from 12 to 4. Come and see how newspapering was once done, view all the old-time equipment and stand where Bob Howard once had a brief job!

Don't forget that the Howard Days 2022 souvenir postal cancellation is only available on Friday at the C>P. Post Office (and they are closed for lunch between 11:30 and 12:30). 



The 30+ Minutes with HP Lovecraft pod cast recently interviewed Bill Cavalier about Howard Days. You can hear it all at https://anchor.fm/lcpl.

In addition to hosting The Whole Wide World movie at Treadway Park on Friday night, Cross Plains has put together a Spring Bash festival at Treadway Park on Saturday. There will be a classic car show, vendors and food booths for all to enjoy (especially the non-Howard fans...)

It looks like the weatherman is not going to cooperate much this next week. Temperatures in Cross Plains will be near or over the 100 degree mark, so be sure to use your sun screen and stay well hydrated! Some of us aren't used to such hot temperatures, so let's be careful out there!

While you're in town, be sure to support the Cross Plains Library and Senior Center with you donations, enjoy some frosty treats at DQ, great donuts at the Donut Hut, good food at Jean's Feed Barn, Mexico City Cafe, Bubba's BBQ and the Backwoods Grill, to name a few. Patsy's Flowers is also open with Cross Plains gifts & t-shirts, as is Salamander's. And Higgenbothams General Store has just about everything and it's like stepping back into the 1950's when you go there. (We like to buy a new pocket knife every year.)

And new this year, The Bunkhouse has opened up next to Mexico City with 3 bedrooms in a shared space. Call 817-913-3531 for info.

We'll be waiting for you when you come to Howard Days 2022. It will be another spectacular event as we honor and American (and Texan!) original, Robert E. Howard. Come join us!




Wednesday, June 1, 2022

HOWARD DAYS IS NEXT WEEK!


By this time next week, folks from all over the world will be arriving in Cross Plains, Texas for the annual Howard Days event.

Here are a few comments, tips and pointers for enjoying Howard Days as much as possible.

If you do come in on Wednesday (June 8) it will be ok to visit the Howard Museum. While the House is not open, the grounds are available for all. The Pavilion has some seating if you just want to hang out. This is a really good time to get clear photos of the House and grounds. There will be folks stopping by and enjoying some early Howard Fellowship there and this can go on until after dark. Some will gather at Jean's Feed Barn for lunch or dinner too. Believe me, you'll be able to spot fellow Howard fans!

Thursday is when things really start to happen. The Howard Museum and Alla Ray Morris Pavilion will be available during the day for all with tables and chairs. You may play games in the Pavilion at this time (see the Gaming Schedule below) and enjoy a refreshing beverage or bring-your-own-lunch along with the comradery of Howard Fans. Cool drinks will probably be available there, but bring your own just in case.

Speaking of schedules, the entire weekend schedule (+gaming) will be posted LARGE size at the Pavilion.

On Thursday, the Museum will be open from 2 to 4 pm. You may tour the house freely, but there are no docents that day. The Gift Shop will be open as well, filled with new items and Howard stuff you just can't live without. Don't forget that the Gift Shop doesn't take cards, just cash or checks.

And also on Thursday: the Cross Plains Senior Center is having a fund-raising Fish (and Chicken!) Fry from 5 to 7.The SC is easy to find right on Main Street and is a nice gathering place for all Howard Fans! Plus, your $8.00 will help out the Senior Center as you dine among the most friendly of folks!

On Wednesday or Thursday some folks like to take the drive to Brownwood to visit Howard's grave site. Howard is buried in the Greenleaf Cemetery. There are also a wide variety of restaurants and stores there. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/3931/greenleaf-cemetery.

A reminder for the Friday (only) Bus Tour of Cross Plains and environs: the Bus leaves from the Pavilion pretty close to 9am, so you'll want to be there early. We have to do this early morning while it's still relatively cool, so we appreciate your understanding.

Also on Friday: at dusk, the Howard bio-pic The Whole Wide World will be shown in Treadway Park (just west of the Howard Museum). And on Saturday there will be a Classic Car Show in Treadway.

A word about being outdoors in Cross Plains. It will be hot! no matter what the weatherman says, that Texas sun will broil you like a slab of meat if you're not careful. Sun screen and plenty of hydration will be the order of the day. Some bug spray will be available in the Pavilion as well - have you SEEN the size of bugs in Texas?!

Almost all of the information you need is available under the tabs at the top of this page. However, there's nothing like experiencing Howard Days for yourself. Project Pride and the City of Cross Plains have pulled out all the stops to welcome the fans of Robert E. Howard and honor his legacy. There's no hospitality like Texas Hospitality!

If this is your first time, you'll need to know that Howard Days is like a big ol' family reunion, where you know some folks and you don't know others. But when we all get together in the Pavilion, you'll know that all the folks there are family, come to pay respects to Ol' Uncle Two-Gun Bob. We're looking forward to seeing you and sharing much Howard Fellowship!

And here's that Gaming Schedule we mentioned:

A TENTATIVE GAMING SCHEDULE FOR HOWARD DAYS 2022 

Please note that this gaming schedule is not hard and fast and to expect changes, additions, extemporaneous and pop-up games to happen. Please enjoy the freedom to set-up your game and play or demonstrate to other gamers and interested onlookers. Be a Howard Game Ambassador!

Thursday June 9th: Open Gaming IN the Pavilion - ALL DAY.

Friday June 10th:

10 to 4: Open Gaming on tables set up IN THE YARD at the REH Museum. NO GAMING IN THE PAVILION UNTIL AFTER 4 PM. 

10 to 4: REH Table top & RPG gaming at the Cross Plains Public Library.

Check at the Library for specifics.

Tentative Games: Matt John - Conan board game.

                              Bob Byrne: Conan Munchkin card game

Plus other spontaneous games on site.

Also on Friday from 1-5: Mark Finn will present a D&D 5E Conan scenario in the meeting room at the First United Methodist Church. 8 players, pre-gen characters. Sign-up sheet at the Pavilion or at site appearance. FCFS

Saturday June 11th

10 to 4: Open Gaming on tables set up IN THE YARD at the REH Museum. NO GAMING IN THE PAVILION UNTIL AFTER 6 PM.

10 to 4: REH Table top & RPG gaming at the Cross Plains Public Library.

Check at the Library for specifics.

Tentative games: Jeb Boyt - Conan 2D20 from 11 to 3.

                             Matt John - Conan board game.

Other table top games To Be Determined on Site.

Open Gaming at the Library will be limited to table space. The adaptability of gamers to find space is noted and appreciated.

Open Gaming at the REH Museum is a little more viable, of course as weather permits.

Everybody have some fun with all of this!