End of Summer Slump
Sorry, everyone for not posting for two weeks. I really have no good excuse like vacation or anything like that. I guess I’m just in sort of an end-of-summer slump.
I haven’t even finished blogging about my summer beer-trip which took place at the end of June, beginning of July and here it is, mid-August already! It doesn’t help that the room that houses our computer is probably THE hottest room in our mostly non-airconditioned house during the summer. This makes it extra hard to get motivated to sit down and write.
One thing that I do always appreciate about the end of summer in Monroe, is of course the River Raisin Jazz Festival. This festival is probably one of the best events in Monore. I’d dare to say that it’s probably the only event that draws such a large number of non-locals to Monroe. That’s a great thing.
I have to confess that I’m actually not a big fan of the type of jazz they feature at the festival. I like jazz but I prefer old-school jazz like John Coletrane, and Miles Davis and classic vocal jazz musicians like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. I can’t really get into the smooth poppy-jazz that’s highlighted at our festival.
Nonetheless, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Or at least I wouldn’t miss just being down-town on Jazz Festival weekend - to people watch and to just feel like you’re really a part of something big happening.
What I like even more than the Jazz Festival is the Art Festival that’s been held for the past three years down at Lorenger Square. I’d have to say that some of the beste art this year were pottery pieces by students from Monroe County Community College and Henry Ford Community College.
My favorite artist this year was Angie Ouelette-Tower of Bedford who carves out organically grown gourdes into the coolest things. You can check out Angie’s work here, although I don’t think the photos do it justice. I ended up buying a cool purse made out of a pumpkin gourde. I’m not even that big of a shopper but when I see something cool and unique like this, I usually will splurge a little to buy it. You can keep your Prada. I’ll take my gourde bag any day of the week.
What’s even better about the Art Fair is that now that the Lorenger Square gazebo has been built you can get a nice taste of the jazz festival as you peruse the booths. I think I actually preferred the music at the gazebo better than the headlining acts at St. Mary’s Park. While we were there, there was a singer performing old standards.
I’m glad to see that both the Jazz Festival and the Art Fair continue to grow year after year. It makes me proud of Monroe.