Folklife!

So yesterday I tossed the kids in the car and we headed out to the NW Folklife festival at the Seattle Center. Good heavens. More music and dancing and people and food than you can shake a stick at. We were there for something like six hours. Whew.

Swag: Two balloon swords and sword belts (kids); one program (me); two replica Chinese coins (Al); two paper dragons (kids); one caricature (me, caught at a moment of weakness and a heavily discounted rate).

Food eaten: Blackened salmon caesar salad (me, yum); chicken kabob (Al); cheese pizza (Will); hot dogs (kids); chicken gyro (me, not yum); mango lemonade (all around, OMG yum); bubble gum snow cones (boys); Mighty-O fresh mini donuts (all of us, YUM). Wanted shishkaberries but could not find them.

Things done: Walking. Arts and crafts. Much browsing. Rode the monorail (parked at Westlake Center and rode in. Highly recommended). Watched at the dance center where some people figured out how to tango but most people hadn't the least clue. Kids rode the Tornado and the carousel. Sat in on a drum circle.

Observations: I would like to go to this without kids one day. I believe David will be taking Memorial Day next year, and I will go and toddle around and actually get to see stuff. The kiddos had a great time, but "sitting and seeing stuff" is not one of their strengths. Also, even though admission is free, $60 is a ludicrously small amount to spend there for the three of us. I should have left two hours earlier given that amount of money... as it was, at the end the kids were still "can we do this, can we do that, I'm hungry, can we have X" only we were all more tired and grouchier, and I was at the end of my alloted money so I ended up saying "No" a lot. If it had just been me, it would have covered a whole day easily assuming I didn't go crazy at any of the stalls. As it was, though, I probably would have been able to buy something for me, even just if it were $20 and under. Yesterday on that budget I could not.

All the same, I had a good time and would go again. :) 3 and 1/2 stars.

Folklife, the cool part

I almost forgot about the coolest thing of the day. As we had retrieved lunch and were looking for a place to sit down, we found an inviting patch of grass next to where a couple of very skilled belly dancers (and less skilled drummer) were performing. It was very nice. The passers-by were appreciative, if not as forthcoming with money as the performers would have liked, but the day was early and their costumes were great. I had excellent hopes for their prospects.

I was the last one to get through a line to get food, so consequently I was the last one eating. The children had rambled off nearby to a magician doing slight of hand and a balloon vendor respectively, and one of our friends was riding herd on them while I finished eating. While my other friend and I sat, however, these two men came up. One carried a large sign emblazoned "Are YOU going to HELL!!!!!" complete with flame border and a side banner with some appropriate scripture. The other wore a sandwich board complete with a list of "sins," and the pair of them were "inquiring" with passing teens as to the security of their souls.

I have no particular issue with this. People feel compelled to witness and aren't doing any harm to anyone, that's their business. Assuming they're not totally loony, it might even be helpful, in a "any port in a spiritual storm, right place, right time" sort of way. Odds aren't particularly likely, mind you, but it's not beyond comprehension.

These people, however, were not totally clear on this "no harm to anyone" point. They saw women with bare bellies and hip movement and decided "Prime Targets for Sin!" They set up shop right in front of the performance, prosletyzing not only to the dancers but also to passers-by. No one would stop, certainly no one would hang around even if they did. So what did our dancers do? They stepped it up and took the fight to the schmucks. They started dancing around the guys, really playing it up, all the while ignoring them completely. The men started offering to "save" the dancers, but the show of bravado brought out the rebels in the crowd, leading to full-on (if suitably tame) lesbian make-out sessions and suitable heckling. I have never in all my life wished so much for a copy of the Bible, as I was moved by a desire to join in by quoting from the Song of Solomon.*

I think I'll have to print out some verses and carry them around, in case such an opportunity should present itself in the future. :)

*Oh, and yes, I donated a buck to the cause. Can't but reward moxy like that. :)