"In this sticky web that we're all in, behaving decently is no small task." -- Novelist Stacey D'Erasmo

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Goin' to the Country

     B was going to a baby shower for her niece last weekend, so I had the day to myself. B and I had just been to see singer Sarah Potenza, a standout on last season's "The Voice", as part of a concert series in our local park. In the program there was a flyer for the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, a three-day event in Hillsdale, NY, about an hour-and-a-half drive from home. Sarah Potenza was also playing in Hillsdale. I thought she was pretty good, so I decided to go to the folk festival for the day.

A view of the main stage

     It's a pretty drive up through the country, and as I arrived at the site, a big field sloping up a hill from the road, I was surprised to see so many tents and campsites splayed up across the grass and behind the trees. Most of these people, it seems, were campers, not day-trippers like me. They came from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts -- although I saw one car from Ontario and another from Minnesota -- and were making a long weekend out of it.

Bumper sticker philosophy for sale

     I expected a lot of ex-hippies. You know the type -- balding guys with a paunch and a ponytail, and women in flowing dresses with long curly gray hair. There were some of those; but I was surprised at how many young people were milling around, taking in the music, dancing to the songs. There were men and women in their 30s and 40s and parents with little kids. They were sporting a lot of sandals and lots of tie-dye. The crowd was peppered with Bernie t-shirts and bumper stickers.

I actually like kale

     I saw four different men wearing skirts. Not kilts, but skirts. The men were clearly not transgendered. Is this a new fashion statement among a certain set?

A fancy food truck

     There were plenty of tables and kiosks with people selling jewelry, photographs, homemade clothes, and other arts and crafts. The food trucks featured organic and local farm products.

Dancin' the afternoon away

     There was a dance tent where a surprisingly large number of people were learning a folk line dance. I might have joined in if B was with me, but she wasn't. That's one reason why, by and large, I do not like to travel by myself . . . and why I'm glad I'm not single.

You know what these are

    The music was country and folk, with a hint of blues -- all regional bands from around New York and New England. The Gaslight Tinkers were pretty good. .

The Gaslight Tinkers

     I did not stick around to see Sarah Potenza. She wasn't going on until 7:30 p.m., and I wanted to get home before dark. Besides, B and I had a dinner date at our new favorite restaurant called Prime Burger, where you can sit outside, enjoy the summer breezes, and watch people stroll through our new town in a much more "civilized" atmosphere.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

When I was single, I used to attend events alone. But, now that I am married, I appreciate not being alone.

DJan said...

That's a festival I would have enjoyed going to. I do wonder about men in skirts, though. Don't see that around here, unless it's a kilt. :-)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had a lovely time. It all depends upon what people want and can enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh you kid you. Wonder if those "hippies" will ever grow old?

Still the Lucky Few said...

I love country and folk, with a tinge of the blues. Lucky you to have such a concert within driving distance! About the men with skirts—hmmm, don't know quite what to say!

retirementreflections said...

Great post! I have seen a couple of articles on 'men in skirts', but have not yet witnessed this in real-life (I live in a VERY small town).
According to most of the articles I've seen, we can thank celebrities for this trend. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/04/jaden-smith-skirts-a-revolution-and-more-men-should-join-him.html

Pam said...

Hey Tom, those guys wearing skirts know a thing or two. There's nothing cooler to wear during the heat of summer than a skirt!

Barb said...

Yep, I keep telling people this. My long skirt makes me much cooler than your Short shorts.hence my four flowing skirts here in 110 degree texas.

As with anything else, the more you do it the more you will be comfy with it, and since I always did alone things as well as couple things when I was married, I appreciate alone things now. Even dancing.

Barb said...

Yep, I keep telling people this. My long skirt makes me much cooler than your Short shorts.hence my four flowing skirts here in 110 degree texas.

As with anything else, the more you do it the more you will be comfy with it, and since I always did alone things as well as couple things when I was married, I appreciate alone things now. Even dancing.

stephen Hayes said...

This event looked like lots of fun. I wouldn't dance without my wife either.

Barbara said...

Sounds like a fun event with just the right amount of nostalgia.

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

It sounds like a wonderful day -- a trip back in time, in a way, reminders of the present and the joys of not being single and, to cap it all off, a nice dinner with B. Perfect!

Meryl Baer said...

I have seen men in skirts in Scotland, but not in this country...As for kale, I have tried but cannot develop a taste for it.

Celia said...

I think it's always more fun when there's two but I try not to miss stuff just because it's just me.

Janette said...

One thing I have come to appreciate are the festivals! In all of our travels, few festivals like those in the area. A short parade to see who is running for office, ice cream (in the flavor of the current crop) and music until the sun has long gone down.
Haven't seen men in skirts- or maybe I just haven't looked.