Kilted Community near me?

**TheBrus** · 25th August 11, 04:58 PM

After living in a beautiful college town (Ames, Iowa) for many years, where I was regularly seen kilted and belted and a', I moved my family to rural Tennessee. Folks there were pretty "country," as my wife would say. Most everyone we met were very friendly and welcomed us to the community. Even so, it made my wife very uneasy, to say the least, to let me wear my kilt outdoors. I got to wear it a few times to the Highland Games in Murfreesboro, to a Scottish dance class that I tried in Nashville, and to a concert featuring the Nashville Pipes and Drums. Let me tell you, you've never experienced excitement from a crowd like when they struck up "Rocky Top" on the pipes! Anyhow, now that I've moved back to Iowa, I was hoping to start wearing the kilt more frequently. I really enjoy visiting the XMTS website, but I wondered if there were any members who lived near me. I live in Eastern Iowa... but I travel between here (near Davenport) to Des Moines (Central Iowa) on occasion.

**macwilkin** · 25th August 11, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by TheBrus

After living in a beautiful college town (Ames, Iowa) for many years, where I was regularly seen kilted and belted and a', I moved my family to rural Tennessee. Folks there were pretty "country," as my wife would say. Most everyone we met were very friendly and welcomed us to the community. Even so, it made my wife very uneasy, to say the least, to let me wear my kilt outdoors. I got to wear it a few times to the Highland Games in Murfreesboro, to a Scottish dance class that I tried in Nashville, and to a concert featuring the Nashville Pipes and Drums. Let me tell you, you've never experienced excitement from a crowd like when they struck up "Rocky Top" on the pipes! Anyhow, now that I've moved back to Iowa, I was hoping to start wearing the kilt more frequently. I really enjoy visiting the XMTS website, but I wondered if there were any members who lived near me. I live in Eastern Iowa... but I travel between here (near Davenport) to Des Moines (Central Iowa) on occasion.

Yep -- there is this organization in DSM:

http://www.iowascots.org/

In addition, the Celtic Festival in Amana, sponsored by the Cedar Rapids organization, H.A.G.G.I.S., is fast approaching:

http://www.haggis-iowa.com/index.html

And don't forget, Old Main Brewing Company in Ames offers "Off-Kilter Scotch Ale":

http://www.oldemainbrewing.com/brews.html

Note the label.

There was a Scottish-American Society in the Quad Cities, but their web site is kaput now.

T.

**TheBrus** · 25th August 11, 06:39 PM

Cajunscot, I wasn't familiar with the festival in Amana until you mentioned HAGGIS. Did you by any chance know my old friend Tom Mulvehill? I believe he was active in HAGGIS as well as the Iowa Scottish P&D.

**LitTrog** · 25th August 11, 07:05 PM

This doesn't answer any of your questions (sorry!) but I spent the first 23 years of my life in Davenport/Blue Grass/Walcott...I try to get back at least once a year and would love to spot you a pint at the Front Street Brewery (or someplace similar).

Certainly don't know any other kilted in the area...

**LitTrog** · 25th August 11, 07:12 PM

But I do know MANY of the Brus clan.

**macwilkin** · 25th August 11, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by TheBrus

Cajunscot, I wasn't familiar with the festival in Amana until you mentioned HAGGIS. Did you by any chance know my old friend Tom Mulvehill? I believe he was active in HAGGIS as well as the Iowa Scottish P&D.

The festival used to be held at Usher's Ferry Historic Village in Cedar Rapids, but the flooding in '08 caused the organizers to cancel. Personally, Amana is a much better place, especially with Millstream Brewing Company, home of my favorite beer, not too far away.

int:

I'm afraid I don't know Tom, but I have been known to wear an Iowa Scottish P & D ball cap with my Iowa kilt in certain situations.

T.

**HeathBar** · 26th August 11, 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by TheBrus

After living in a beautiful college town (Ames, Iowa) for many years, where I was regularly seen kilted and belted and a', I moved my family to rural Tennessee. Folks there were pretty "country," as my wife would say. Most everyone we met were very friendly and welcomed us to the community. Even so, it made my wife very uneasy, to say the least, to let me wear my kilt outdoors. I got to wear it a few times to the Highland Games in Murfreesboro, to a Scottish dance class that I tried in Nashville, and to a concert featuring the Nashville Pipes and Drums. Let me tell you, you've never experienced excitement from a crowd like when they struck up "Rocky Top" on the pipes!

How long ago was it that you were in Tennessee? And yes, Rocky Top is a local favorite. I guess you have to be from Tennessee to understand it.

**Standard** · 26th August 11, 07:20 AM

Not too far from you here in western Illinois. Not a large kilted community here in my home town. Most times I'm about it on a daily basis, but there are several other kilted fellows here, although they are mostly the special occasion kilte type.

I'd not heard about the do up in Amana, I will have to check that one out.

**macwilkin** · 26th August 11, 07:26 AM

The Amanas and Herbert Hoover National Historic Site are two of my favorite places in Iowa. My Scottish ancestors first settled in SE Iowa (Washington & Keokuk Counties) and moved to Knoxville (Marion County) before moving to Des Moines and up north.

T.

**TheBrus** · 26th August 11, 07:24 AM

Hi, Heath,
We lived in Tennessee for five years in southern Middle Tennesse--a few miles south of Columbia. It was a good experience for us on the whole, but we missed the prairies of Iowa too much. But we came back with a souvenir... our daughter Madilyn, born in Columbia, TN, is three.

I remember the last time we went to the Heart of Tennessee games, there was an XMTS table. The representative was very friendly--as all Tennesseans are.

Nice to chat with you.
Jared Brus