Loading ...Whew! I’m settling down from a lovely, eventful five-day weekend of sorts which began last Thursday.
Every three years, the Tall Ships Festival comes around. I know in parts of the East Coast these sights are more commonplace, but around here it’s a pretty big deal. I never thought it would be something I’d be too interested in (seems more of a guy thing), but that first year we had the festival, when I saw the first of the majestic fleet of restored ships of old sail into Commencement Bay… Wow! It was a very visceral reaction. They really are just so magnificent.
(This is a commercial pic of the Lady Washington, Washington State’s official state tall ship. The building overlooking her is Stadium High School, the high school my daughter attended and more affectionately known as “The Castle.”)
This year, I had planned to get out in the kayak and be among them when they first came in on Wednesday, but I wasn’t able to get away without completely ignoring some important business priorities. So on Thursday, I went down to the festival to do a bit of shopping and check out some of the festivities.
Besides being able to board the ships for tours and a quick sail around the Bay, there are all kinds of food and vendor booths and live music and entertainment along the waterfront. What’s also fun is there are clubs where people dress up and act like pirates–sort of like the Renaissance Faire folks. Pirate clubs from all over the state each had their own booths and the “pirates” walked around talking in pirate speak and had interactive demonstrations showing festival-goers how to do pirate-ish things. It was hoot!
Fourth of July was really fun. After doing some VACOC-related work in the morning, I got a little kayak ride in. With all the boats out there and the wakes they caused, I got more than a bit nervous and came back. Later, I got my day pack stocked (makeup for freshening up later–check; a bit of cash–check; mini-umbrella–check; ID and debit card–check; flip-flops–check), put on some layered clothing, as it was a bit overcast with a few sprinkles here and there, and walked all the way down to the waterfront where we have the Freedom Fair every year.
Oh man, I totally got my shopping on at the vendor booths. I found a lady from Equador selling these beautiful dresses and skirts and blankets and things. I bought two dresses, a skirt and some earrings. By that time, it had turned into another gorgeous, sunny day and I ended up being dressed far more warmly than necessary–so I just changed into one of my new dresses.
What a crack up–stripping almost nekkid at a festival with thousands of people milling around and nothing but a tapestry held up by the vendor lady to shield me from leering eyes, LOL! But it was so much cooler (and prettier) than what I’d had on and I got compliment after compliment all day long. What girl doesn’t love that.
My favorite “shoe lady” was also there, I was excited to find. The owner, Lisa, is a nurse in Seattle who also designs shoes and sells them on the weekends at fairs, festivals and, most commonly, at Seattle’s Fremont Sunday Market. She creates the designs and then takes a few trips to Bali each year to have them made and get new design inspirations.
I have several pairs of her designs made in suede with hand-card wooden heels. They are sooooo comfy and stylish. Anyway, she had the most fabulous green velvet “coach” type bag–one of a kind–that I snapped right up. I’ve so got to take a pic for you!
Can’t wait for my next business networking event. I’m going to wear the black and white patterned skirt I bought from the Equador lady paired with a simple black sweater set and my new green bag! I swear, sometimes I think I go to these things just for the fashion fun.
So after getting my very important fashion shopping out of the way, LOL, I strolled around, had a little taco salad, sat on the beach, gazed at all the boats (boy, were there a few monster yachts out there!) and did some people-watching. Later, I scored a choice spot right on the boardwalk at one of the local eateries and had some appetizers and a couple beers while watching all the people walk by. Ran into lots of old friends I hadn’t seen in many a moon.
Later in the evening, I slowly started making my return way back so that after the fireworks were over, I wouldn’t have so far to go. There was live music all day long at just about every venue along the way so I would stop and hang out at each one for a bit.
I got to my favorite waterfront restaurant and they had a big stage set up with a couple blues bands playing, one of which was an old friend’s band. I also ran into another friend (and former client) who acts and produces film and video these days; the City had hired his outfit to film the festival–pretty cool gig.
It was really fun hanging out at this spot. My daughter and her boyfriend had intended to meet me, but their real estate agent was throwing a bonfire party at his property and it was just too much trouble to get down where I was. But no worries… I met some cool, interesting people and we all chatted, grooved on the music and got beer-buzzed together, LOL. The fireworks were lovely and afterward everyone began the mass exodus for home.
On Saturday, I got a bit more VACOC work done in the morning. I was able to run several errands and get both a good bike ride and hike in.
Sunday, my daughter and I went to Tall Ships Festival together and did some eating, shopping and sight-seeing. Later, we sat in one of the beer gardens and listened to some sea chanties (horrible, horrible music, LOL). While we were there, a good friend of mine whose boat club was working the security detail called and invited my daughter and I out for a ride. It was so fun. We spent a couple hours out on the boat and I finally got the view of the tall ships from on the water I was after.
It was a lovely, filling, active weekend and I slept like a log!
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