Best part of 2013?

[ACfromSAC]

OK, so the 'worst' thread is in bloom and we can all agree the the portos have seen better years but for me personally, this was the best burn year yet. SO, how about a BEST OF 2013 thread to balance it all out.

There were several factors that made this my best burn year ever, so a few bests from 2013:

1. THE MAN! Wow. My favorite man yet and by far my favorite man burn. What a show!
2. Sunrise. The smoke in the air made for a-m-a-z-i-n-g sunrises.... like best I've ever seen. The deep, dark red made it feel like watching the sunrise from another planet. So great (see no-justice-doing pictue below).
3. Bringing my little brother to his first burn and watching him take so well to life on the playa.
4. The char-cade... wow!
5. My first year in a hexayurt. Burns will never be the same again.

Such an amazing, magical burn for me. Now your turn!

[Savannah]

I was wondering about the identity of the positive & awetastic Time Lord who'd eventually start the "Best of 2013" thread . . .

Sunrise. The smoke in the air made for a-m-a-z-i-n-g sunrises.... like best I've ever seen. The deep, dark red made it feel like watching the sunrise from another planet.

It did look like Tattooine, didn't it?

[JayBobBoy]

The best part of my ten days on the playa was each afternoon when I'd take my turn helping the citizens ride the zip line from our castle. Hours and hours of wonderful people having a great time. So many smiles and hugs! Thank you!

It was super rewarding to have been a part of it.

[Lonesomebri]

If the lovely half-nude half-crazy German/Maui beauty I hauled all over deep playa on my chariot is really just my imagination...
I'll see her again!!!

[Simon of the Playa]

arriving back at camp on thursday morning after another 1000 mile jaunt AND


going up in that itty bitty airplane for a ride over our beautiful city.


thank you to everyone who helped make that happen.


it is a memory that is BURNED into my mind.

[VultureChow]

Camp. Feeling comfortable enough to smile and joke and hang out. Just feeling welcome. It's not something I normally experience without reservation.

[Asquared]

those red sunrises were breathtaking. that, and meeting a very special, friend-for-life eplayan were the highlights of my burn.
but my best part actually happened in reno, after the burn. i met someone who has the capacity to change my life forever.
it just takes a second. one serendipitous encounter can change your world. to be reminded of that was the best part of 2013.

[Dr. Pyro]

Maybe not the best (by a long shot) but Graidawg coming up to me on Saturday with a huge smile on his face that he finally got laid at Burning Man by, and I quote, "…random strangers…" I recognize that most of you that would be a rather mundane experience, but Grai was so enthralled, I almost got a hard on. Good job Our American Cousin!

[pink]

Yay, Grai!

Damn near the whole burn. Even strike went super easy, and the weather was perfect, even with the rain. Not like last years strike in a whiteout!

[tinymystic]

My first burn, Wonderful, Success, Amazing! Best part was meeting everyone and being so welcomed by 'family'! I look forward to returning!
Also best... being able to get around to meet others, see the art and different camps. Driving around deep playa with trikken. Taco Tuesday!
All the hugs! Being inside the circle for the party at the Man Burn! It was great to live in the moment, with little expectation and seeing where the path led, and each experience that came with it. Couldn't have been better, unless it lasted longer!

[theCryptofishist]

How did the chair Figjam built hold up?

[tinymystic]

How did the chair Figjam built hold up?

Chair-yacht did really well! Got stuck 3 times in the deep sand, mostly on E & F streets, and the 4:00 spoke... bad dunes there. But, learned to avoid the sinking sand pits. I was a little 'shy' about adventuring out too much on my own though, but, now that I have a clue, I'll be all over next time! Was disappointed we didn't get a chance to talk... next time!

[ygmir]

My first burn, Wonderful, Success, Amazing! Best part was meeting everyone and being so welcomed by 'family'! I look forward to returning!
Also best... being able to get around to meet others, see the art and different camps. Driving around deep playa with trikken. Taco Tuesday!
All the hugs! Being inside the circle for the party at the Man Burn! It was great to live in the moment, with little expectation and seeing where the path led, and each experience that came with it. Couldn't have been better, unless it lasted longer!

Great meeting you TM!! and seeing you guys after at the gas station! glad all worked out!!!

[Eric]

I had a great Burn, in spite of my rib. Couldn't do anywhere as much biking around as I usually do, so I spent most evenings hanging out in Fandango and being loud with the best drunks on the playa. Met some amazing people, got a lovely little spin on the BAAAHS (Big Ass Amazingly Awesome Homosexual Sheep), just had a great time bonding with people this year.

[tattoogoddess]

We had our own burning girl on Sunday...





Tom and I some how managed to create all of this in one year of working our asses off.

[lucky420]

To bad it wasn't more enjoyable for you TG...

[Ratty]

Eric, Damn it! I meant to go see BAAAHS and I forgot. They were at Nimby's buying cheap costumes from me at their final party. The Sheep wasn't covered yet and I had so many invites from the boys. (Great group). Ahhh. Maybe next year.

[tattoogoddess]

Eric, Damn it! I meant to go see BAAAHS and I forgot. They were at Nimby's buying cheap costumes from me at their final party. The Sheep wasn't covered yet and I had so many invites from the boys. (Great group). Ahhh. Maybe next year.

I missed them all week then during exodus they were right next to us so I ran over and gave them all big hugs! I had been in contact with them all year and one of the guys is from Iowa as well. I got a tour of it in exodus. It was/is amazing! They did a great job! Love those guys!

[danibel]

The man was amazing. The show at Ashram Galatica was hil-a-ri-ous (Save the man!). The microtch art piece in center camp was fabulous. I loved the temple, but it is very hard for me to not sob every time I go in. Hanging out Monday during the day with friends waiting for the "storm," and then hanging out at the man embers Monday night while Joyism mixed drinks and played musica. Driving straight out Tuesday morning for exodus. My Edward Snowden LED light gift from a new friend. Coming upon Elliot's bike repair camp on my mission for ice and getting a BIG HUG! <hug>

Over all it was a fabulous burn and I hope I get to do it again next year.

[havoc]

the red moon the first few nights

the portos at 3:00 and H (our neighborhood was amazing and these puppies were super clean every day until i left!)

the man was spectacular

the bunk bed in the deep playa...it was exactly where i needed it to be on sunday night.

finding the shangri-lounge in the deep playa on monday night, enjoying a lemon-drop and meeting some fabulous people

[Eric]

Eric, Damn it! I meant to go see BAAAHS and I forgot. They were at Nimby's buying cheap costumes from me at their final party. The Sheep wasn't covered yet and I had so many invites from the boys. (Great group). Ahhh. Maybe next year.

BAAAHS was incredible - the interior is the best "party bus" interior I've seen (obviously, no art car is going to surpass Neverwas Haul for interiors!), and the attitude of the crew was great. They let all genders, preferences & shapes on the bus with open arms, and the crew fit that description as well. I was lucky enough to have lots of friends associated with it, so I got a tour on Monday before her maiden voyage. My camera almost freaked out trying to capture the lurid pinks inside. *sigh*

[forty_eight]

Burning Man ... FUCK YEAHH!

Comment inspired by a super epic Bloody Mary from Blood Bath and Beyond. You guys made a great bloody mary! KUDOS to you! I was going to say hey to TG and Tom as they were chilling but it seemed odd calling out strangers by name. So, thanks you guys! Your camp was vibing real nice when I got my beverage on Saturday. I had a mixer to gift, but you guys were uber-stocked!

My best part probably happened in the lifeguard tower.

We went in and had three separate long conversations with other participants.

I loved that people had or made time to just chill and chat. No hurry, no fuss. I guess that is Immediacy at work. It was damn cool.

We had great neighbors that were just the perfect fit for me and my wife. They were English folks by way of Marin, and we enjoyed cocktails and champagne together.

There was a lot of cool stuff. We were pretty shocked how intriguing the Man burn was. Our area breaking into a 'safety third' chant as debris seemed to head for the 1:00ish area of the crowd.

Oh yeah, the Million Carrot March or whatever. That was so damn fun! Teaming up with Animal Control, we met the bunnies at the man and infiltrated their march and chanted and danced obnoxiously. Best part of that was when the bunny marching band was playing "When The Saints Go Marching In" and we sung the chorus "When the carrots come marching in". There were genuine glares of contempt from the band, and that just made it that much more delicious.

Funniest best thing is that we had already determined that we wouldn't likely attend next year ... yet, list making and brainstorming better ways to burn were had!!!

We may not be back next year, but we will be back. It's way too fucking fun out there. On to LA Decompression where dogs are allowed. That was easily the hardest part - missed my doggeh a whole freaking lot.

Enough best parts ... all the parts were the best parts!

[forty_eight]

One more thing: spoken word at Center Camp Cafe stage performed by Ready ... she was awesome.

A crazy made up creation myth and a Zambian folk tale told with a talent that shocked me. I wanted moar.

[tattoogoddess]

Burning Man ... FUCK YEAHH!

Comment inspired by a super epic Bloody Mary from Blood Bath and Beyond. You guys made a great bloody mary! KUDOS to you! I was going to say hey to TG and Tom as they were chilling but it seemed odd calling out strangers by name. So, thanks you guys! Your camp was vibing real nice when I got my beverage on Saturday. I had a mixer to gift, but you guys were uber-stocked!

Your doing it wrong!!!! You should have said hello!!!!

[Savannah]

Burning Man ... FUCK YEAHH!

Comment inspired by a super epic Bloody Mary from Blood Bath and Beyond. You guys made a great bloody mary! KUDOS to you! I was going to say hey to TG and Tom as they were chilling but it seemed odd calling out strangers by name. So, thanks you guys! Your camp was vibing real nice when I got my beverage on Saturday. I had a mixer to gift, but you guys were uber-stocked!

Your doing it wrong!!!! You should have said hello!!!!

I remember reading that you were nervous about venturing into camps your first year.

(But yes, he should've.)

[SaritaSyrah]

A best for me was slinging wine at the naked masses for the naked pub crawl (or whatever it's called)! SO MANY PENISES! At one point, after the alcohol had run dry, I was talking to two guys, one of which had dyed a scarf in the dye shop with me the day prior. Only now he had no pants on and his man parts were (are..?) terrifyingly HUGE, as are his companion's. Nervous to mention anything, blush, stutter, cry...I avoided looking down. Feeling absolutely awkward and making small talk....when another man walked up and said, with a glorious vernacular, "HOLY SHIT! you are huge." Then jumped into a conversation about how big it gets when erect.

Bless the gays for showing me how things are done.

[Savannah]

[Sundial]

My camp mates, the big pile of insights, the goddamn FREEDOM of expression and space, the rewarding challenges of coping, the fleshy eye candy, and unexpected grilled cheese. There's more I'm sure. Its just too much.

[mulch]

The best part that I didn't expect was that the immediate 10 or so couples/camps around us were, to the person, great fun and compatible with us. We made friends right away, explored the days and nights together, and felt like we had been friends before coming there and meeting up. Shared food, and gifts and insights and wine and such. I would have had a blast with just my travel buddy, but being immediately mixed in with a larger newly formed group of like minded people was a surprise and a treat for my social being.

[TomServo]

Hanging out with my campmates and neighbors. Roller Derby. The Absinthe shots...YGMIR I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU!