Speaking of walking for a cause, last Sunday was the Locust Street Festival, which began with a run/walk. The 31st Annual Beer Run/Walk was not for a serious cause (if you couldn’t tell from its title), but one that promoted morning inebriation and serious liver conditioning.
Although I’ve been trained in beer consumption for a number of years, I didn’t have the courage to test my iron stomach. Those who actually raced from the starting line at Locust and Booth continued on a 1.8-mile course complete with mandatory beer stops (as if vendors were twisting contestants’ arms to down booze, yeah, right.). I witnessed walkers/runners throw down their first shot of Miller, stagger to the second, stumble to the third, and crawl across the finish-line to claim their prizes.
The beer and fun didn’t stop at the finish-line. In fact, the afternoon continued with music, art, and family entertainment. The mix of song and dance was non-stop as I, along with hundreds of other festival goers, boogied to Fat Bottom Special, a band who belted out the best of The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and AC/DC on The Tracks Miller Lite Main Stage. In the distance I heard the bongo and steel drum pulse of Reggae Fire singing freedom love songs to the rhythms of bands like Bob Marley or Steel Pulse; and the acoustic lullabies of local singer/songwriter Heidi Spencer and her ensemble.
Taking a break from dancing, I found the Milwaukee Public Theatre’s Drum Circle on the corner of Locust and Bremen where I taught my (musically-challenged) self a thing or two about the free African-style cross-rhythms and improvised patterns on the djembes.
As kids strived to become the next Van Gogh at the nearby family arts and crafts area, I entertained their parents with my African drumming “skills.” My audience quickly encouraged me to allow a real musician to play and threatened to break my wrists if I didn’t step aside!
A plethora of arts and craft booths, clowns, balloons, and a variety of food and drink stands scattered the crowded blocks (providing beer, beer, and more beer, in addition to corn that was popped or, er, cobbed?), proving that my fun wasn’t quite over.
After brushing elbows with a diverse group of locals, I was drawn to the Cosmic Patterns block where festival-goers could get a glimpse into their future with tarot card or palm readings. Even though I’m a critic and a nonbeliever, I decided to unveil what my future had in store for me. The fortune teller claimed that I’m not only happy, but will travel in the future. This most likely is the same fortune for every Jon, Jane, and Mr. Smith who shares an apparent blind trust in a $10 palm reading as well.
I left the festival unsure of the validity of my future predictions. Yet, without a palm reading, I’m certain that I’ll return to the Locust Street Festival in the future, and that it will once again be a happenin’ time!
Whats your next adventure going to be?
Posted by: Eric | June 15, 2007 at 01:07 PM