Category Archives: attraction

WMEO Reports- The Pumpkin Regatta

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Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk reporting on the Goffstown Regatta. The orange tabby cat wearing a black bow tie has a small pumpkin beside his papers, while the black cat sits next to a toy mouse and teddy bear. A microphone stands between them. Behind the desk, a screen shows the Goffstown Pumpkin Regatta with people paddling giant pumpkins down a river surrounded by colorful autumn trees. A banner above reads “Goffstown Regatta,” and the desk displays the WMEO 9 logo along with a sponsor line for Dustyroads Mercantile and a small orange “Party with the Pumpkins” T‑shirt image.

⭐ WMEO 9 — Sunday Regatta Summary

Live from Goffstown — We Meow, You Listen.

Banner: “Good morning! We’re live at the Pumpkin Regatta, where today’s featured pumpkin weighs in at 2,294 pounds — impressive, but still far shy of the 3,156‑pound world record set last week in Warren, Rhode Island.”

Pumpkin Spice, an orange cat dressed in a WMEO reporter hat and “Boogie in the Bog” T‑shirt, sits inside a decorated green pumpkin boat floating on the water. He holds a WMEO microphone while the pumpkin boat’s painted eyes and colorful antenna-like decorations stand out against the shoreline in the background.Pumpkin Spice (already in his pumpkin boat): “I’m conducting maritime testing. This pumpkin is not seaworthy. I repeat: NOT seaworthy.”

Banner: “Crowds are gathering along the Piscataquog River as racers prepare to paddle their hollowed‑out pumpkins downstream. Conditions are ‘partly pumpkin with a chance of tipping.’”

Balboa (stationed at the pie tent): “I’m doing investigative journalism. The pies are excellent. I may need several samples.”

Banner: “The regatta finale begins at 3:00 PM, and WMEO will be monitoring all pumpkin‑related incidents, wobbling, drifting, and Balboa’s escalating pie consumption.”

Pumpkin Spice: “If my boat sinks, I expect hazard pay.”

Balboa: “If I win the pie‑eating contest, I expect a trophy.”

Banner: “Stay tuned for updates as the regatta unfolds. WMEO — bringing you breaking news… and baked goods.”

⭐ A Word From Our Sponsor

WMEO is proudly supported by Dustyroads Mercantile, where tees are up to 40% off this weekend during TeePublic’s sitewide sale. Pumpkin Spice insists you buy the orange ones.

Four cats dressed in costumes pose inside a rustic general‑store scene under a “Dusty Roads Mercantile” sign. A bow‑tie cat sits beside a barrel and a flour sack with a teddy bear on top, a black cat peeks from behind the sack, a cat in a PRESS hat holds a microphone behind a crate labeled “Fragile,” and a chef cat in a white outfit stands with a wooden spoon next to a metal pot

An orange T‑shirt featuring a festive Halloween design with three cartoon jack‑o’‑lanterns wearing green shoes and white gloves dancing under colorful musical notes. Below them, the text reads “Party with the pumpkins,” creating a cheerful, seasonal look perfect for autumn celebrations.

Find T shirt Here

Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk as if hosting a broadcast. The orange cat on the left wears a dark blue bow tie, while the black cat on the right sits beside a small gray mouse toy and a brown teddy bear. A sheet of paper with red markings lies on the desk. The front of the desk displays the text “WMEO 9” in large yellow letters and “Thank you for watching” in white. The blurred newsroom background features blue and red tones.

WMEO Special report- Punkin Chuckin Edition

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Two cats sit behind a WMEO news desk as anchors for a segment titled “Punkin Chuckin – A WMEO Special Report.” The orange tabby cat named Banner wears a black bow tie and sits beside a small pumpkin on the desk. The black cat, Balboa, sits to the right near a teddy bear and a gray mouse prop. Behind them, a large screen shows a pumpkin chucking event with wooden catapults and a crowd in a grassy field under a blue sky.

WMEO SPECIAL REPORT — Pumpkin Chuckin’ Edition

Banner (Anchor Desk):

“Ah, fall in New England. Crisp air, bright leaves, cranberries floating on the bogs… and pumpkin chuckin’. Yes, that’s a thing — and WMEO was on the scene at the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival in Stowe, VT on September 27.”

Balboa (Chaos Desk):

“Held at Mayo Farm Events Field, the festival is the ultimate game of fall one‑upmanship. Kids and adults compete to build the best trebuchet — a modern twist on the medieval catapult — and launch pumpkins across the field in a battle of engineering, accuracy, and pure autumn chaos… Tell me, do they have pies?”

Banner:

“That’s right, Balboa. It’s a high‑stakes, high‑energy game out there. Let’s see what Pumpkin Spice has for us from the field. Over to you, Pumpkin.”

Pumpkin Spice (Field Reporter):

“The energy is vicious out here. There are smashed pumpkins everywhere. They’re being catapulted… and even shot from guns! One family even has a child‑sized catapult.A small homemade catapult built from white PVC pipes sits on a concrete surface outdoors. The angled launching arm holds an orange ball in a plastic cup, with two more orange balls resting nearby. Fallen leaves scatter across the grassy background, showing a simple DIY setup for launching small objects.

Oh—wait. Not me. No. No.

Pumpkin Spice, an orange tabby cat wearing a black PRESS hat with a red band, is flying through the air after being launched from a large wooden trebuchet at a fall pumpkin chucking event. He’s stretched out mid‑jump, holding a small WMEO microphone in one paw. Behind him, spectators watch from a grassy field surrounded by autumn trees.

This job is hazardous.”

Two cats sit behind a WMEO news desk for a segment titled “Punkin Chuckin – A WMEO Special Report.” Banner, an orange tabby in a bow tie, sits beside a small pumpkin, while Balboa, a black cat, sits beside a teddy bear and toy mouse. Behind them, the studio screen displays a smaller framed image of the “Young Glory” Punkin Chunkin cannon mounted on a trailer. The headline remains visible above the screen.

Banner (Back at the News Desk):

“We hope Pumpkin Spice is okay after his first‑hand experience with pumpkin chuckin’.

And Balboa… I’m sorry to report we didn’t see any pies.”

Banner (Merch Desk):

“And in lighter news, Pumpkin Spice has authorized the release of the Boogie in the Bog T‑shirt. It’s available now for anyone who enjoys seasonal chaos as much as he suffers from it. Dustyroads Mercantile

A white T‑shirt featuring a playful design of three red cartoon bog creatures dancing beneath musical notes and a treble clef. The text below them reads “Boogie in the Bog.”

Balboa:

“Wait—Pumpkin Spice has merch now? Does it come in my size?”

Banner:

“Yes, Balboa. And no, it doesn’t come with pies.”

Banner (Closing):

“This has been a WMEO Special Fall Report.”

Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk as if hosting a broadcast. The orange cat on the left wears a dark blue bow tie, while the black cat on the right sits beside a small gray mouse toy and a brown teddy bear. A sheet of paper with red markings lies on the desk. The front of the desk displays the text “WMEO 9” in large yellow letters and “Thank you for watching” in white. The blurred newsroom background features blue and red tones.

 

 

WMEO — King Richard’s Faire Update

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This is a WMEO Faire Update- We Meow – You Listen

WMEO BREAKING NEWS: King Richard’s Faire Update live from the WMEO News Desk, where professionalism rules and metal clothing is strictly off‑limits.

Banner: King Richard’s Faire is now in full swing in Carver, Massachusetts. The kingdom is open weekends only — Saturdays and Sundays — through October 25. There’s one remaining Monday opening on Columbus Day, October 12, for those who enjoy jousting on a federal holiday.

Please note, that means no weekday jousting. If you show up on a Wednesday, you’ll be dueling with the empty parking lot.

Banner: What medieval mischief is this now?

Balboa: I am Sir Balboa of the Shiny Shirt, Protector of the Realm!

Banner: You look like you lost a fight with a colander.

Balboa:At least I dressed for the Faire. You dressed for a tax seminar.

Banner: I am dressed for journalism. You’re dressed for a Renaissance‑themed tin can recycling program.

Balboa: Jealousy is unbecoming of a peasant.

Banner:  Call me a peasant again and I’m reporting you to the Department of Cat Armor Safety.

Final Notes on King Richard’s Faire

Banner: King Richard’s Faire continues every weekend through October 25, featuring jousts, artisans, food, entertainment, and questionable fashion choices. Review ticket prices for your chosen date, enjoy free parking, and pick a costume that won’t make you sound like a bag of forks falling down stairs.

Balboa : Duty calls. I’m off to the jousting tournament — someone has to defend the newsroom’s honor.
>Banner: Just don’t poke anyone with your lance before the credits roll.

Banner : This has been your WMEO update. May your turkey legs be large, your jousts be loud, and your cats be… less like this.

 

A Throwback to King Richard’s Faire

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“Person dressed in medieval-style armor with chainmail and metal shoulder plates, resting a hand on a polished helmet placed on a blue wooden structure. Colorful flags and people appear in the background at a renaissance fair setting.”

✨Medieval Madness – King Richard’s Faire✨

Armored jouster riding a white horse draped in maroon and white cloth, holding a red‑and‑white striped lance. The rider wears a red tunic over armor. Spectators stand behind a blue wooden fence watching the event at an outdoor renaissance fair.”

 

Being Behind the Camera… Except This One Time

I don’t step in front of the camera very often. Most of the time, I’m the one behind the lens, chasing the moment, lining up the shot, and making sure everyone else looks good. But every now and then, someone catches a moment of me, and it becomes one of those rare photos I actually treasure.

This picture — taken years ago at King Richard’s Faire — is one of my absolute favorites. It’s not glamorous, it’s not staged, and it’s definitely not one of those “I planned this” moments. It’s just me, standing there with a Harris’s hawk perched on my arm, looking like I wandered straight out of a medieval falconry guild.

Holding a Raptor for the First Time

“Person standing outdoors with a large hawk perched on their shoulder, wings spread wide. The person is wearing a jacket and small horn-like accessories on their head. Green bushes and a dark fence appear in the background.”If you’ve never held a raptor, let me tell you: it’s unforgettable. There’s a weight to them — not just physical, but presence. This hawk was calm, steady, and absolutely aware of everything happening around it. Meanwhile, I was trying to look composed while thinking, “Wow… this bird could out‑hunt Banner and Balboa without breaking a sweat.”

The cats think they’re fierce hunters, but this hawk had the real credentials. If“Black cat sitting inside a cardboard box while wearing a metallic knight-style helmet that covers most of its face except the eyes and ears. A wooden bedpost and light blue wall are visible in the background.” WMEO ever expands into a “Raptor Division,” Balboa would volunteer immediately… right up until he realized the bird is bigger than he is.

The Faire Has Changed, But the Magic Hasn’t“Person dressed in a green medieval-style outfit with a white undershirt, brown belt, and pouch, wearing pointed elf-like ears and a leafy headband. They are walking outdoors on a sandy surface near a blue wooden fence at a renaissance fair.”

I haven’t been to King Richard’s Faire in years, and so much has changed — new location, new stages, new shops, new experiences — but the heart of it is still the same. It’s still a place where you can step out of the everyday world and into a kingdom full of jousts, jesters, artisans, performers, and yes… birds of prey who look at you like they know all your secrets.

 

You Still Have Time to Visit

If this post sparks a little nostalgia — or curiosity — you still have time to make your own memories. King Richard’s Faire runs weekends through October 25.

If you’re thinking about going, don’t wait too long. The kingdom doesn’t stay open forever.

Group of people dressed in ornate Renaissance-style costumes standing outdoors among tall trees. They wear velvet and brocade garments with crowns, hats, and capes. Timber-framed buildings decorated with colorful banners are visible in the background at a renaissance fair.”

 

A Landmark, a Coffee Shop and a Steaming Kettle

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A large golden teapot sculpture hangs from the corner of a downtown Boston building, with real steam rising from its spout. The teapot is mounted high above the sidewalk against a brick façade with rows of rectangular windows.

The Mystery of the Steaming Kettle

Boston’s love affair with its oddball icons

Quirky Little City Treasures Bronze sculptures of a mother duck and her ducklings line a cobblestone path in a park, each duck wearing small decorative hats and ribbons. Benches and trees sit in the background, creating a charming Public Garden scene.

Boston is full of landmarks and statues — quirky little city treasures like the ducks in the Public Garden. When I first started working in downtown Boston back in the late ’70s, there was a little coffee shop in Government Center where we always grabbed a pastry on the way to work.

A large golden teapot hangs from the corner of a downtown building while pedestrians walk below. The street is lined with multi‑story buildings, including one with a “State Street Bank” sign, creating a busy urban scene.The shop was distinguished by a giant teapot that actually spouted steam. I kid you not. The shop was named for that teapot — The Steaming Kettle — and everyone knew it. Everyone recognized it. It was one of those things that made Boston feel like Boston.

From Scollay Square to Government Center A historic street scene of Scollay Square shows people walking along cobblestone roads with horse‑drawn carriages and early automobiles. A small building with a clock tower and a red‑tiled roof stands at the center, surrounded by brick storefronts and vintage signs, capturing the lively atmosphere of early 20th‑century Boston.

But as so often happens in life, things change. I changed jobs and became a suburbanite. Government Center was revamped yet again.

At one time the area was known as Scollay Square — you may remember it from the Kingston Trio’s song about Charlie on the MTA. “Charlie’s wife goes down to the Scollay Square station…” But alas, Scollay Square is no more.

We now have the big brick expanse of Government Center. But through all the upheaval, the Steaming Kettle stayed.

A Teapot With a Past

A vintage street scene shows pedestrians in early‑20th‑century clothing walking past a storefront with a large teapot mounted above the entrance. The shop’s sign reads “Tea Company” and “Home of Best New England Teas,” and surrounding buildings display period advertisements, creating a lively old‑Boston atmosphere.The kettle was built in 1873. It originally hung outside the Oriental Tea Company, whose owners quickly realized they needed a hook — and the giant teapot provided just the thing.

In 1875, they ran a contest to guess the weight of the kettle. Participants had to buy a ticket to log their guess.

Part two of the contest was even better: guess how many people could fit inside the kettle. When the kettle was lowered to the ground, eight boys and one very tall man popped out of it.

Then came the official weighing. Boston’s sealer of weights and measures recorded the result: 277 gallons, two quarts, one pint, and three gills. That weight was later inscribed right on the kettle itself.

The Oriental Tea Company lasted until 1966, when it finally closed its doors. But Boston doesn’t give up its icons easily. A large golden teapot hangs outdoors against a blue sky, suspended by metal supports beside a modern building. Text on the side lists its measured capacity in gallons, quarts, pints, and ounces. The owner opened another shop in the same area — The Steaming Kettle Coffee Shop — and brought the now‑famous kettle along.

The shop changed hands several times, eventually becoming a Starbucks. Except for a brief period in 2016 when the kettle was damaged, it hung proudly from its installation back in 1873.

And Now… a Boston Mystery

Today, the whereabouts of the kettle are a mystery. The Starbucks location closed in 2025, and after that the kettle seems to have gone missing.

But this is Boston, folks — a city that loves its oddball relics. Who knows? Maybe some historical group or an enterprising entrepreneur will locate that giant teapot and reinstall it in its rightful place, as iconic as the Old State House.

I hope they do. That kettle is a part of my Boston heritage.

A large golden teapot is mounted on the exterior of a curved stone building, supported by metal brackets. The shiny teapot stands out against a bright blue sky and tall windows, creating a striking landmark on the city street.