At end of Freemont event we all caravaned to “Feedback lounge” for our closing dinner event. I got to have a thrilling ride in David Crow’s electric hot rot and then join the others for the closing evening dinner there. Comradarie, pizza and delicious “Chili verde” were the hallmarks of the event as was the familiar sweet sadness of seeing my art car family “scatter to the wind.”
One more day of questions, music and merriment. This time, no drizzle! An absolutely gorgeous day was had by all. Those outsiders that had opted for drier activities the previous day came out in droves to see the art cars. The Bug got a warm reception again, another thousand FAQ’s (and a few small merchandise sales.) The day flew by. Mid day the event got even sillier with “donut jousting” (a rider on an impossibly small bike rides at a donut on a tripod with a pool cue.) Donned by fellows with silly hat and glasses, I had to take a stab at it (what fun!) good clean fun….
After a long day and a thousand FAQ’s we were treated to the most delicious Salmon I have ever had. A Seattle art car blowout tradition now, Saturday night’s dinner cooked by fellow artcartist: David Crow (Red Stiletto) on a giant salmon shaped wrought iron cooker (of his own design) fueled by premium cherry wood coals (for sweet smoky flavor) and grill tubes (filled with water) to render the salmon perfectly cooked, tender, amazing and succulent. On a full belly we returned to our art car lot and watched part of “the history of the world part 2” on the wall of adjacent building (thank you to the mermaid for setting that up:) until eyes heavy, we headed back to host’s haven and a long night sleep.
Drizzle, cold, gray, nasty. Felt bad for the “sky and paint clad” bicyclists but cheered them on, huddled with fellow cartists, bundled up under eaves at Kirby Lindsay’s (yay and thank you Kirby.) I kicked myself mercilessly for having forgotten my camera in the rush but enjoyed seeing: an octopus (made of coffee cups) a giant segmented salmon, marching bands (of every variety) fat belly dancers, skinny belly dancers, drag queens, a giant beach ball (where kids and adults would run out and lay down under) a giant dung beatle (singing “here comes the sun”) and Snow queens (in white paper gowns, heads adornde with stag horns and roses.) Mostly I loved the fact that any and all are allowed to join the parade, that no “words/mottos/ rhetoric” (motors, or guns) are allowed, no “guns” and even a group playing “kick ball” with the crowd are embraced in the spirit of play.
The art car caravan led us back through the “Mercer mess” where Seattle is painfully executing their own version of Boston’s “Big dig.” Our host was Steve Walker’s amazing studio and workspace: “Close enough engineering.” There we enjoyed an artsy ambiance created by our talented and sublime host featuring an incredible array of amazing graphic designs (his 1st love) art, and ecclectic furniture (vintage dental chairs and hydrolic “operating tables”) recycled into work tables and lounges. Music was eclectic, the grill was hoppin and the evening concluded with an explosion illustrating a “home enema” gone wrong. Good silly fun.
Thursday’s day trip was to “Snoqualamie falls” a site familar to anyone who has enjoyed the opening to David Lynch’s 1990s t.v. serial “Twin Peaks.” Countless visitors enjoy these absolutely beautiful falls, with their deep vein of green mist and the incessant thundering of ice cold mountain waters dissipating into a deep, cold pool. “Downtown” Snoqualamie displays a decrepet array of train cars from days gone by, a couple of quaint shops, a couple of seedy bars, a wonderful hardware store and, of course, kitsch (I couldn’t resist a silly, laughing, monkey- made in China, of course.)
Taking advantage of the few days before art car events I hit the road for day trips with fellow house guest. We took in sites to the North, stopped at a winery for a sip, waterside for a picnic then on to Vancouver where we discovered (to our surprise) that the Stanley cup was taking place. Downtown Vancouver mostly a “ghost town” until we made it to the waterfront where there were giant t.v. screens broadcasting the cup to a druken and boisterous array of jersey clad ruffians. Opting for the civility of a the Fairmont lobby we enjoyed (gulp) a 10 dollar beer and watched the home team get trounced by their own goalie. We hit the road before the mayhem began and stopped outside the epicenter to enjoy a bite of Middle eastern, watch the rabble rousers (and a transvestite in a Catholic schoolgirl outfit) and leave (just as the SWAT teams were arriving to put out the car fires and billy club the ruffians.) Icing on the Canadian cake was getting stopped by the border gustapo. We were instructed to park and go inside while they searched the van, top to bottom, inside we were quizzed on our identities, livlihoods and how come I have so much stuff in the van. Upon hearing about the Bug, they went on line and checked her out, had a good chuckle and threw us back for a bigger fish.
After jettisoning unnecessary items from van-n-bug we headed North to Seattle. We met Tom, in parking lot of Spagetti warehouse, on his his shift break (painting his art car) “Posi-kitty”- a pointilistic wonder, brightly colored and chock ful of whimsical inspiration and fun. On to our digs, where I was pleasantly surprised to find that the “studio/garage” far surpassed my expectations (I expected a studio/garage) instead I found a sweet cassita with an abundance of art, color, comfort and plush. To add icing to the cake was an enchanted garden between the cassita and the house, graced with an abundance of healthy plants:potted herbs, shrubs, lilacs all graced by beautific sculputures of the Buddah. Sitting on a porchswing, beside small pond, enjoying a cold beer,and watching a humingbird dart around the garden, I was convinced that I was in heaven (not Seattle.)
Monday evening was upon me before I knew it, and time for Portland Toastmasters, club 31. Like Austin, members were quizzed at the end (for prizes) fun idea (but potato chips?) In addition to a moment of inspiration we enjoyed a “joke of the day.” An elegant elder Brit gave an elloquent (albeit meandering) speech on “Freedom” while another gave a terrific motivational speech on determination and perseverance. When asked to introduce myself I realized a moment or two of shyness, and I purposely neglected to mention the Bug (parked illegally outside.) I realize that sometimes I really enjoy the annonimity of not admitting she’s mine. Is that wrong?
Like a home away from home, I find myself again, in the kitchen. This 1st drizzly day inspires a big pot of Mediterranean Chicken stew (calamata olives, artichoke, sun dried tomatoes) while inexpensive groceries became fruit and antipasto kabobs, brie and jam morphed into apricot “brie en croute”…. close friends bring perfect asparagus, amazing arrugula salad, procuitto and melon, and other delights. Home made rum punch puts a happy mellow shine on all to cap off another wonderful day in Portland.
