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Mayor wants to eclipse city's mooning festival

by Alison Brick (RSS feed) on Jul 10th 2009 at 11:00AM

It's the type of event that a mayor might normally look forward to--one that brings people together and puts them in a celebratory mood. No matter that the celebratory mood makes the people here want to drop trou and start mooning trains.

This Saturday, Laguna Niguel, California will be celebrating its annual "Moon Over Amtrak." Last year, between 8,000-10,000 people participated in the day-long event. Revelers line Camino Capistrano, a road that parallels the railroad tracks, and moon the trains--sometimes waiting a few minutes and other times an hour between moons.

For the past 30 years, the event has been a city tradition. But this year the new mayor, Robert Ming, isn't liking it one bit--complaining of its crowds and drunkenness. Of course, 39 year-old Ming, who's been in office since December, has never even participated in the event. (Just a thought: maybe he should join his constituency and give it a whirl before he tries to shut it down, eh?)

City officials are limiting the revelry as much as they can without banning the event entirely. The city began the (ahem) crackdown in March, agreeing on an ordinance that bans on-street parking from Thursday to Sunday of this week. To cover even more bases, they also banned drinking alcohol or urinating in public.

A semi-official website is up that lists the train passings between 7:35 a.m. and 11:22 p.m.--a total of 37 times throughout the day. I like that the event still seems to have an organic, 'now what are we doing?' feel to it. The website recommends that people "bring a wire coat hanger to make a hook to hang your lantern from the chain link fence" for the nighttime moonings. And it also answers the question that I know you were begging to ask: "Can I decorate my butt?" The answer is yes.

Moon Over Amtrak started back in 1979 when a bar patron offered to buy a drink to anyone who would moon the next train. One man took him up on it and--flash--a tradition was born.

[Thanks, wsj.com]

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Filed under: Festivals and Events, North America, United States, Transportation

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

hello asca Jul 12th 2009 2:11PM

seems rather harmless to me , as by now amtrack officals have to know about and can and should give their passangers a warning about the moonings, tghe mayor needs to get the stick out and drop his drawers

bill Jul 12th 2009 2:27PM

sheriffs on horseback, a couple dozed other squad cars,close the street for parking,
- the place was a ghost town last nite, so much for preserving history!

STEVE Jul 13th 2009 11:26AM

SOME PEOPLE JUST HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE OF HUMOR!!!

Hillary Jul 12th 2009 2:31PM

This sounds like a terrific tradition! Far from ending the practice, I think it should be expanded, especially to Washington. I'd love to see scores of people mooning our distinguished legislators as they enter and exit Congress. Cannot think of a better time and place to do this! Plus, it will make the job of the Secret Service much easier when everyone moons B.Ob as he takes his wife out for date night--no concealed weapons here! Yup!

Duke Jul 12th 2009 2:48PM

We have so many real problems to resolve, why do all politicians waste their time on harmless humorous events? We have enough "Nanny" laws on the books already. If people want to moon the train let them, if someone is so offended by a naked butt I feel very sorry for them.

henry sena Jul 12th 2009 3:13PM

this is what happens when you deal with wealthy area in orange county. its been going all these years and i can bet it was the people getting on the council and mayor to get the police to get rid of the mooning.

justaguyinokc Jul 12th 2009 3:39PM

This is just another indication of the truth of the movie IDIOCRACY. I am not stating that people should be banned from doing it. I'm stating that its disappointing that anyone is stupid enough, or childish enough, or just lives such a worthless life that they would WANT to stand around and moon a train. Jeez, if you have such a boring worthless life that you count this as entertaining, I find THAT to be sad. Really sad. Beyond sad...tragic.

Bill Jul 12th 2009 4:15PM

Give the folks a break. Just because they don't think like you do doesn't mean they are idiots or pathetic. The great thing about this entire "tradition" is that it says, "Don't take life too seriously."

Alison Brick Jul 12th 2009 4:33PM

Good point, Bill!

Pete Oakley Jul 12th 2009 4:23PM

With State bancrupt and the Cities out of money, the extra police and expenses to stop the mooning seems like a good use of our tax dollars. I am more concerned with elected politicians with their head up their ass than I am with people showing theirs.

cyaml Jul 12th 2009 4:47PM

Sounds like fun to me

Bobo Jul 12th 2009 4:45PM

I think that we need a moon.com site to encourage people to join and start mooning all of the political motorcades, parades, demonstartions, etc.

Mrs. Mac Jul 12th 2009 4:55PM

Mayor Ming must be a Repubican. No sense of humor, and he wants to stick his nose in everyone elses pants

Carmen Jul 12th 2009 5:20PM

what an idiot!
and why did you guys elect him?!?!?!?!?!

peg Jul 12th 2009 5:27PM

you people are PIGS have some self respect

Armando Jul 12th 2009 5:28PM

nothing wrong with a full moon. one of the many spectacular views of nature. traditions are meant to stay around for years and years.

Goose Jul 12th 2009 5:38PM

I like the idea; and we should start mooning a lot more places.

Joe Jul 12th 2009 5:39PM

This is Total BS I've done it 2 times in years past and I've come from San Diego to do it. This new Mayor is an Idiot, if it was a problem it would have been stopped along time ago or Amtrak would of put up a wall in the area to block it. Just look at this guys name and you can see the reason.

keith Jul 12th 2009 5:54PM

There are traditions like this everywhere, they could be banking some needed municipal funds instead of showing ignorance by killing of a humorous, good natured event. The people there should go moon the MAYOR.