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Read the press release here.

Renaissance Faire's Mayor Is Chicago Proud, Even In A Blue Felt Hat

 Andrew Huttel (right) of Irving Park is the new Lord Mayor of Bristol at Bristol Renaissance Faire. Here he kisses the hand of Aly Mierzejewski, playing Elizabeth Throckmorton (wife of Sir Walter Raleigh).
Andrew Huttel (right) of Irving Park is the new Lord Mayor of Bristol at Bristol Renaissance Faire. Here he kisses the hand of Aly Mierzejewski, playing Elizabeth Throckmorton (wife of Sir Walter Raleigh).
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Ivan Phillips

CHICAGO — Andrew Huttel might be the only person in history who's earned a promotion from pub crawl tour guide to mayor in a single year.

"It's been a little bit different, but I love it," the 33-year-old Old Irving Park resident said.

Huttel's climb up the ladder has a catch of course. His roles are part of the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha, Wis., where Huttel has spent summer weekends for the last six years.

The first five were as a pub crawl tour guide, showing customers some of the Faire's nine pubs that distill cider, mead and other beverages from the late 1500s. For that gig, he donned a straw hat and spoke with an Irish accent, telling dirty jokes and signing drinking songs.

 Andrew Huttel of Irving Park is the new Lord Mayor of Bristol at Bristol Renaissance Faire.
Andrew Huttel of Irving Park is the new Lord Mayor of Bristol at Bristol Renaissance Faire.
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Wayne Hile

This year, Huttel is Lord Mayor Arthur Trewilliger Brimm III. He wears a felt hat and a cotton and felt shirt, and he's crafted an "upper class English accent" he uses to introduce Queen Elizabeth I to his town, 1574 Bristol, England. He also hosts the Faire's first jousting event of the day.

"I spend a lot of my day entertaining the patrons," Huttel said. "It's a celebration."

Since graduating from Valparaiso University, Huttel has lived all over Chicago, including Bucktown, Edgewater, Logan Square, Uptown and his current Northwest Side abode. Six years ago, when he moved in with roommate Shane Hill, he began to wonder where Hill and a bunch of his Chicago friends disappeared to every summer weekend. Hill was a pub tour guide and eventually asked Huttel to join him.

Huttel has a job as a tech support for an accounting firm Downtown. He also spends time as co-owner and artistic director at Locked Into Vacancy Entertainment, which performs plays live at Stage773 in Lakeview and also airs them on podcasts.

Huttel said the best part of his Faire work is meeting folks who are visiting for the first time.

"People really, really get a kick out of it," Huttel said. "There's a lot going on in our town, and people love it. ... It's a really unique theatrical experience."

The Faire is open weekends and Labor Day through Sept. 5. For more information, click here.

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