Ubi the Clown

Sunday in the Garden, Goldsboro NC

Ubi the Clown and Karen the hula hoop lady brought hoops and balloon animals to Sunday in the Garden for several years. The Arts Council of Wayne County sponsored the event.

The party was a regular part of the September calendar in Goldsboro.

Children and parents waiting for a balloon animal at Sunday in the Garden, sponsored by the Arts Council of Wayne County.

Children waiting in line for a balloon at Arts in Wayne park, during Sunday in the Garden.

Ubi in full makeup and dress stripes.

Give me a puff, please?

Ubi listening to a parent while he makes a balloon for a child.

Children playing with hula hoops at Sunday in the Garden, sponsored by Wayne Arts Council.

Unfortunately, Hurricane Irene (August 2011) felled several trees in the park. By the time the trees were cleared, the Arts Council had moved to a new location downtown.

Sunday in the Garden was transformed into the Art in the Park event now held at Herman Park during the spring and early fall months.

Balloon Hats at the Breasticle Festival, UNC-CH

John supports the American Cancer Society events. He was invited to participate in the student-run Breasticle Festival at UNC-CH (Chapel Hill).

Due to weather and space constraints, Karen the Hoop Lady couldn’t bring her hula hoops to the party.

John shopped for weeks to find the right hat and matching shirt for the Breasticle Festival.

Bye bye till next year!

Making hats at the Breasticle Festival, UNC-CH (Chapel Hill).

Thank you note from the organizers of the UNC-CH Bresticle Festival.

One of the organizers of the event was very happy with her hat.

Thank you note from the organizers of the UNC-CH Bresticle Festival, outside.

Dragonhigh flat, an original Ubi the Clown creation.

Event organizers showing off their new hats.

A more demure flower hat for a more demure festival participant.

Great breasts are worth fighting for! The ACS slogan for event.

Pink for breast cancer awareness; purple for testicular cancer awareness. John had a special order of balloons for the event.

Balloon hat with bunny ears and a teddy bear.

John worked the lobby of the event, making hats for the participants, while bands and dance troops entertained in the main ballroom.

John received a lovely thank you note from the organizing committee.

Snake Charmer at an India Party

Our friend Gretchen can throw a party! She has a great party space, loves to cook, and has interesting friends who will dress for a theme. The most recent theme was “India.”
When we asked if she needed anything for the party, she said she hadn’t found a snake charmer yet. John stepped up to the plate.

The snake charmer in action. (Live video nearby.)

Some of the hostess’ friends had taken Bollywood dance lessons earlier in the summer. They organized a flash mob dance, like the scene in the closing credits of Slumdog Millionaire.

Snake charmer works his magic. That’s a real clarinet.

And more dancing.

The paper mache tigers appeared courtesy of the Carolina Tiger Rescue organization, which isn’t far from the where the party was held.

That’s a golf cart dressed up to resemble an elephant. It could squirt water.

More dancing.

Snake Charmer in Action

Balloon Hats at a Birthday Party

I’ve always said, “Every event is made more special with festive multi-colored balloon hats!” Back in February, I had one more chance to prove this. I was invited to my partner’s father’s 80th birthday party. I took my balloon hat-making tools.

A table full of hats just waiting for heads.

Guests at a birthday party. — You can’t see the lady in red in the 2nd row but you can see she is wearing a hat. She is the oldest person at the party.

Allison in a hat with a sword. — Allison at her grandad’s 80th birthday party. With a balloon sword. So she can fight with her brother.

His and her balloon hats. — This couple would have to enter the witness protection program if their children ever learned they wore balloon hats, so we blurred the picture to hide their identity.

Concentrating on a difficult twist in the process of making a hat.

You can't get everyone into a balloon hat. — You can’t get everyone into a balloon hat.

Balloon hats at an 80th birthday party. The guest of honor is speaking.

After the party. Karen’s sister, Jan Swicord.

Birthday Party at the Swim Club

Ubi the Clown was hired to bring clown magic and balloons to a birthday party held at a Tennis and Swim Club.

The birthday girl was getting a purple and pink bicycle for her birthday.

The birthday girl knew John, and she knew Ubi, but she didn’t know they were the same person. She sure was surprised when Ubi brought a special purple and pink balloon bike that looked just like the bicycle her parents had given her in the morning!

Children settled down to watch some clown magic after the swimming part of the party.

The magic scarf trick--three scarves. One red, one white, one blue. — The magic scarf trick–three scarves. One red, one white, one blue.

At the end of the party, Ubi led singing Happy Birthday and the guests all joined in.

Ubi the clown serenades the birthday girl (while levitating). — Ubi the clown serenades the birthday girl.