A Whole Lot of Extraordinary Red Heads

TROY, NY — On Oct. 1, 2014, The League of Extraordinary Red Heads gathered for its second annual meeting at Brown’s Brewing Co. in Troy, NY.

Always shrouded in mystery, the highly visible League does not issue official head counts or any other information about its secret fellowship. Unofficially, however, there were more than 120 gingers of all shades assembled for “The Night of the Walking Red 2.”

group of several redheads

"Night of the Walking Red," Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

On display to inspire awe from all was an enlarged facsimile of Mayor Lou Rosamilia's official proclamation that on Oct. 1, 2014 the City of Troy NY shall also be known as "Ginger City, USA." This extraordinary proclamation was craftily mounted on a red velour foam board.

man with long  curly red hair and long red beard outside at Brown's

"Night of the Walking Red," Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

At 6:30 p.m., a message came over the loud speaker for all within Brown’s Brewing Co. to hear:

Attention: All Gingers, Carrottops, Cheez Doodle Orangies, Auburn Types, Strawberry Blondes and Distinguished White Heads.

The League of Extraordinary Red Heads requests your presence on our deck for its annual meeting and Pumpkin Ale “Toast of the Coppertops.”

All Reds on deck! I repeat: All Reds on deck!

Jennifer Krausnick looked fabulous as she modeled the new League of Extraordinary Red Heads T-shirt, which are available for purchase in our online store.

redheads at outdoor bar

"Night of the Walking Red," Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

LoERH Founder Duncan Crary facilitated The League’s always concise agenda. This year’s discussion of “1) Us 2) Them” included the important issue of appointing a dedicated member to the status of “High Ginger.” An exalted and official position within the fiery fellowship, the role comes with great responsibility. With cheers, huzzahs and shouts of aye, the League selected Margaret Young.

distinguished whitehead Jack Casey speaking at podium

Jack Casey sings a tribute to gingers for The League of Extraordinary Red Heads "Night of the Walking Red," Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

Distinguished White Head “Jumpin’ Ginger Jack Casey” performed a musical tribute to Red Heads titled “Gingers Rule.” The original lyrics were set to “Wild Rover (no Nay Never).” Mr. Casey is a Troy novelist, singer/songwriter and official lawyer for Santa Claus. As is the case with Kris Kringle, Mr. Casey’s ginger hair has turned white. But evidence of his extraordinary red headedness was submitted in the form of an enlarged photograph of himself as a young bearded bohemian lad galavanting in Edinburgh, Scotland.

At the conclusion of his tune, Mr. Casey instructed the League to raise their glasses for the pumpkin ale “Toast of the Coppertops,” an autumnal rite of the League of Extraordinary Red Heads.

two hands hold pumpkin beers above the crowd

The Toast of the Coppertops is an autumnal rite of The League of Extraordinary Red Heads. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

Photographers Andy Kainz and Neil Grabowsky, the ginger-haired host of the League’s website, were on hand to capture every moment and orchestrate the group photo. Think herding cats is hard? Try red heads!

You can see all of their photographs from the evening here.

group photo of redheads

The League of Extraordinary Red Heads gathers for its annual, Oct. 1 Pumpkin Ale Toast at Brown’s Brewing Co. Troy, New York. 2014. Photo by Neil Grabowsky.

Gingers love to tell stories, and after their meeting they gabbed about extraordinary and important things all through the night.

redhead women talking to each other outside at Brown's

"Night of the Walking Red," Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

Some traveled from far away to meet new friends.

redheads laughing

Ginger joke: How do you get a red head to argue with you? Say something. “Night of the Walking Red,” Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

And to see familiar faces, too.

two redheads talking and drinking beer

"Night of the Walking Red," Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

There were gingers with short hair, long hair, and hardly any hair left at all.

redhead with very long pony tail

"Night of the Walking Red," Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

Several wee members were inducted into the League and received their official “Member” card.

redhead girl on adult's shoulders giving a high-five

"Night of the Walking Red," Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

adult touching redhead baby's hair

Wee gingers have the softest hair of all. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

LoERH Founder Duncan Crary inducting wee members into The League of Extraordinary Red Heads. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

redhead men

Always stand tall in the crowd, little gingers!  Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

And very tall gingers, too…

Three tall redheads

"Night of the Walking Red," Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

Friends and family of extraordinary red heads joined in the fun, too.

redhead woman with unred man

“It’s OK. He’s with me.” — Ana. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

ginger woman and dark-haired woman

Jaime-Lee and Billie-Jean are sisters. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

As the sun set…

two redhead women

"Night of the Walking Red," Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

…they kept on blazing.

group photo of redheads

Kasey (center, white shirt) didn’t even know the League was meeting. She just happened to be at Brown’s. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

And then The Amazing Anasha Cummings wowed the crowd with an extraordinary feat. Turn up the volume, press play and behold:

Video caption: Ginger giant Anasha juggling intensely

group of redheads

"Night of the Walking Red," Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

So be there next time… or be left out in the dark.

LoERH agenda: 1) Us 2) Them

"Night of the Walking Red," Oct. 1, 2014. Photos by Andy Kainz & Neil Grabowsky.

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Oct. 14, 2015: Night of the Walking Red 3

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Gingers Rule, the Song