The Grand Finale. Another hot, sunny day, and we’re prepared to make the most of it. Two of the people I came specially to see are slated to play today and it’s all going to be fun.
First up is Gerald French and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band. Fun, swinging jazz sets the fun, dancy mood of the day. In this tent only, they have a dance floor set out and people are grooving over there all the time:
When that was done, I was feeling kinda lightheaded from the heat, so we decided to buy some food (the first, other than snowballs. i had brought enough fruit that we were eating each an apple and a banana during the day, after a great breakfast, and saving our bellies for yummy dinners). We tried some fried chicken with jambalaya, and it hit the spot.
How did we choose from among ya ka mein, alligator pie, muffulettas, po-boys, peppered crawfish, fried pork-chop sandwiches, sausage and jalapeno bread, pheasant, quail and andouille gumbo, tagine of lamb, grilled chicken livers with pepper jelly, fried okra and the like? Can’t really say, but can say that as soon as we finished, it was time to head over the the biggest venue (and my only visit there) to see the legendary Irma Thomas (see her on the left on the Jumbotron).
Found a small spot in front of a lovely young woman and her mom (and while chatting with her, found out she’s moving to Boulder in August, so of course I gave her all my contact into) and danced to the great R&B sounds. As we were making our way out, she struck up a tune and had everyone dancing and waving their hankies, and if you didn’t have a hanky, your hat would do:
Next, it was over to the Blues tent, to check out Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters. Didn’t know much about them, but who could resist that name? It turns out we could, because Rockin’ Dopsie’s decibel level made the tent intolerable for both of us. So, we wandered to the Jazz tent, and not crazy about that either, headed back to my/our favorite: the People’s Health Economy Tent. We enjoyed Ms. Ruby Wilson’s tribute to Bessie Smith and when she had finished, hopped up to secure some killer aisle seats for Dr. Michael White and the Original Liberty Jazz Band featuring Thais Clark (singing), one of my favorites, discovered last year. He’s well known all around town and the tent was jam-packed for his show. This video not only highlights the infectious music and Ms. Clark’s singing, but a young man who was expressed with his body how we all felt at the time:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQZ-D4_DHOA
My eyes welled with tears at a couple of points because of being enclosed in a tent with hundreds of people who were feeling and loving the music just like we were, and dancing and incredibly talented musicians and it filled all my senses and my heart, and, well, I just cried.
When the show ended, we walked over to the second largest stage, which was right by the exit to the shuttle, to hear Vampire Weekend, one of my favorites. We had seen them in the summer and they were pretty good (hard for them to stand out after the opening act, Of Monsters and Men, played an incredible set), so I figured we’d listen for a bit and then leave early. But when I got there, I was so damn excited and they were playing so well that I was dancing like a fool. Jumping like I was a spry 50-year-old instead of the creaky 57 year-old that we all know, and just loving every minute of it. We finally decided to head out and they plays Oxford Comma, so I signaled to Lance – not yet! – and we danced. I took a selfie video of us, but messed it up, so you’ll just have to use your imagination!
Dinner tonight is at my favorite spot from last year: August. We are seated in the wood-paneled wine room and enjoy and incredible vegetarian tasting menu. The amuse bouche is a whole egg shell with the top carefully sliced off, and it’s filled with garlic custard, topped with spring pea foam. First course is artichoke and green garlic soup, with stinging nettle. Light and springy. Next comes a charred broccoli salad with landrem citrus, shallot and cojita cheese (sorry it’s blurred):
spring pea yard egg raviolo with carrot and brown butter:
how was this? a picture is worth a thousand words:
and for the entree, grilled eggplant steak with fava beans, morels and truffled goat butter:
mmmmm good.
I didn’t want to leave desert to chance, so I had them bring me the menu. Had to order two to taste, a blueberry pavlova, and banana pudding with peanut butter, marshmallow and nilla wafer ice cream:
and new-like-Lance ordered one of his favorite deserts: cheese!
A glorious end to a fun, fun, fun trip. We walked back to the hotel, packed up, and awaited our (yikes!) 5 am wake-up call to get to the airport for an early flight. Thanks for joining us!