Downtown bustled with major crowds all weekend. Friday night brought out-of-town UT fans into the city for the game, First Friday events and the usual Friday night craziness. Saturday offered the Farmers’ Market, Chess in Krutch Park, the game and gospel music on the square. Sunday crowds built from the earliest brunch times through the afternoon.
Friday night I got a late start because Urban Girl had her first soccer game ever, really rocked her pink shorts and successfully avoided the ball most of the game. As a result of the game, I missed some of the events I wish I could have attended, but I dropped in on UT senior Marta Lee and her exhibition at 800 Tyson St. (the building I wrote about last week). I got her to pose with my favorite of her paintings. Notice she works (sometimes) with uniquely-shaped canvasses. I like that.
Next I skipped across the road to Emory Place for an exhibition of found photographs which I found fascinating. It made me think of our boxes of old family photographs a bit differently. Not knowing the people in the photographs didn’t diminish the power of the images of lives lived and no doubt many passed on. I really could have spent the evening among the hanging and projected images. Nicely done.
I ended the night on Market Square with Jenna and Her Cool Friends, just a phenomenal line-up of musicians. Detroit Dave Meer played with a bloody leg and wailed on guitar. Ben Maney and Michael “Crawdaddy” Crawley gave their usual virtuoso performances and Jenna just continues to belt the blues like nobody’s business. She’s got the raw power, forever youthful exuberance and encyclopedic mind for the details of the genre that keep me coming back. The large First Friday crowd responded enthusiastically all night.
Saturday morning always means the Farmers’ Market. Urban Girl joined me as I picked up my regular cup of Java Old City Coffee and went to check out the chess on Krutch Park. Of course, walking through the park necessitated stops along the way to interact with the various sculptures. I may have created a mini-photography monster, as photographs were necessary at every stop. Chess was fun, but I’ll have more on that at a later time. I’m hopeful something more permanent on that front may emerge. I noticed none of you had the nerve to challenge me. I was 2-0 for the day, so you decided wisely, my friends.
The Sunflower Project on Krutch Park drew a lot of attention all week and deservedly so, it’s one of the coolest traditions on the park with the circle of seeds coming back each year to provide the backdrop for fun events before returning to see the next year.
I had to spend the afternoon and the evening in front of my television with some college football, which is one of the great pleasures of this time of year, especially early when we are all hopeful about our various teams. We watched UT for Urban Son-in-Law, Florida for me and, in a tip of the hat, LSU for Urban Father. Nice day for all involved.
Sunday morning Urban Woman and I had a nice brunch with old friends at Bistro at the Bijou, followed by lingering coffee in a beautiful downtown courtyard and then a delicious nap to end the day and the weekend. It was a great weekend and next weekend promises to be even better, at least as far as weather (which wasn’t bad at all this weekend), with temperatures dipping into the 50’s. It’s the best time of year. Get out and enjoy it.
