Can You Spell I-N-E-B-R-I-A-T-E-D?
By Sofia Resnick, 2:09PM, Mon. Oct. 22, 2007
It's that time of year again, when the sun sets a little earlier, the pie-eyed buttercups have to wear sturdier fishnets to protect themselves from frostbite, and curling up to a dictionary and an Irish coffee can be a form of convivial entertainment, or what the downtrodden members of the hoi polloi like to call "fun."
Wait … but these people don't (can't?) read, do they? But you do, you little gasconader you. So come down, this Thursday, Oct. 25, to the lovely Fadó Irish Pub (214 W. Fourth, 457-0172), and participate in the sixth annual Austin Chronicle/Fadó All-Adult Spelling Bee.
It began as a picayune spelling contest meant to shame the innocent into spelling malapropos words whose meanings were related to sexually transmitted diseases, fecal matter, and all forms of abominable behavior. These days, however, The Austin Chronicle/Fadó All-Adult Spelling Bee is taken a bit more seriously, and participants have every intention of rolling up their polyester shirtsleeves, chugging down a pint (you read me) of Jameson, and spelling s-u-s-s-u-l-t-a-t-o-r-y (characterized by up-and-down vibrations of large amplitude – used of an earthquake) or t-r-i-s-k-a-i-d-e-k-a-p-h-o-b-i-a (fear of the number 13).
Contestants must arrive at Fadó by 6pm with $3. Shortly after they will be given a written test, wherein they simply circle the words they believe to be incorrectly spelled. Those who place in the top 50 will receive another, significantly harder written test, wherein, again, they will circle the misspelled words. Those who place in the top 25 will be able to participate in the bee, and the fun begins! This year's proceeds will go toward augmenting the Austin Public Library's young adult collection. So come for drinks, potential prizes, laughs, words, and, of course, the young adult readers of Austin.
The bee will be led and pronounced by former winners Erika Allbright and Laurel Martinez and judged by The Austin Chronicle's proofreaders (who are all impecunious, so don't ask them for your $3 entrance fee).
All participants and spectators must be over 21.
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