A while back, I was looking at this painting in the National Gallery of Art in D.C.. It was a painting depicting an Venetian casino. The plaque read that these rooms were typical places for gambling and lasciviousness. Patrons would come in costume with masks to hide their nature in true Venetian style. The painting struck me hard, “What a great idea for a Renaissance festival?”

Since then I've done a lot of brainstorming (though I can't remember the name of those “casinos”) on this idea. Today, I met with a friend and the idea grew a wee bit more.

So picture it a moment–a Renaissance, mask-themed event with live, bawdy music and Renaissance gambling (for prizes). Add to it a wee bit of faire-style acting, with almost like a murder mystery dinner. Does that sound as much fun to you as it does me? Would you come to Austin for an exciting night of music and entertainment if I put something like this together?