Intermezzo

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While the Hispanic festival was going on last Saturday, there was some goofy Flamingo Festival in progress two blocks west in Citygarden. Several large toy flamingos have been the de facto mascots of the sculpture park since it opened. This event had been scheduled for June but was postponed, I think because the temperature on the original date was around the melting point of lead.

So why an intermezzo? We're done with the Hispanic Festival for now. Tonight we have the annual balloon glow, the prelude to the Great Forest Park Balloon Race. Some pix should be up tomorrow (maybe later than usual). A few images from the balloon glow in 2010 and 2011 are at these links. So today's post is for in between. Any why post a picture of a man on stilts in a silly costume, wearing a flamingo hat, holding a large toy flamingo, sporting a fake mustache, tiger-stripe-frame glasses and blowing a pink kazoo? Well, because that's just how we are in The Lou.

Jueves Serie del Arco

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No Arch pictures for a while but I thought these would do. More snaps from the Hispanic Festival, illustrating how my favorite monument dominates the city center.

The cotton candy vendor was fun to watch. How did he work that long stack? The bags were all attached to a central pole. He pulled the treats from the bottom and then held the pole lower and lower. It would still be tough when he got to the top.

Everyone Marches To Their Own Drummer

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A couple more snaps from the Hispanic Festival. The light was so harsh - cloudless sky and hard shadows - that I thought B&W might be  more effective for these. Works for me.

Arch pic tomorrow, but not in the usual way.

Shall We Dance?

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Latin rhythms are infectious. Who can sit still? I once saw Tito Puente, the King of Latin Music, and his band play at The Blue Note in NYC. It was so stirring I may have bobbed my Anglo head from side to side. I was surprised, though, how few people ventured into the dance area during the time I was shooting at the Hispanic Festival. I'm more of a lurker, a voyeur at these events.

The man dancing mano a mano in the second picture takes a good portrait. I wondered if he was channeling Jimi Hendrix. The young guys with better haircuts than me (well, just better hair) in the last picture are Mormon missionaries having a bit of lunch. I didn't see them interacting with the crowd. Wonder what they do for fun?

Happy Monday, Or, Para Los Niños

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Hello to the beginning of the work week. Ever feel like this on Monday morning?

The Hispanic Festival had something for everyone, including children. Well, maybe not stiff, boring WASPS but definitely good stuff for the kiddies - face painting, balloon animals and hats, and puppets. They had a musical show so why en la tierra were they singing in English rather than Spanish? The music was recorded, of course, and it would have been so easy: para bailar La Bamba se necicita una poca de gracia...

That boy at the bottom is one of my better portraits, IMHO. Such liquid eyes.

¡Manos Arriba!

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Manos arriba - hands up! - the singer kept calling as people hit the dance floor at the first full day of our Hispanic Festival. Opening night Friday was cut short by the thunderstorms but Saturday's weather was simply perfect. Above, the drummer gives me his blessing. Below, everyone has a good time, including the photographer. Some video at the bottom.

Rain's Coming

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I mentioned that there is a lot going on around town this weekend. The annual Hispanic Festival was to start yesterday in Kiener Plaza, a block from where I work. The plan was to do some shooting at the end of the day but a violent thunderstorm rolled in. The top view looks southwest toward Market Street. The clouds broke open moments later and I ran back to my office (to the extent that my knees are able to do so).

The Cardinals were to play the Milwaukee Brewers an hour later. The stadium would normally be filling up with fans around that time. The bottom picture was taken from my office with a long lens. Empty, very wet stands.