My husband had been bugging me for years to go with him to Winfield, Kansas to the bluegrass festival. At first, I was reluctant to do so because I am not exactly a bluegrass music fan. But I decided to go. How can I explain the experience? I cannot. Words simply cannot describe the atmosphere of Winfield. You must go there yourself but it will be well worth your time because there is no event in the world that comes even close to this. Where else would you be able to see an outdoor jamming session, which is more like a huge outdoor orchestra (whose members dress for a particular theme, such as “jammin’ in the jungle”) that plays the hora (traditional Jewish folk dance) to which a man from Kansas with an orange wig on dances an Irish jig. This sounds crazy but it is true at the Carp tent (one of my favorite camp sites where the music is awesome and the atmosphere is even better!)
First, the raw facts: the Walnut Valley Festival (generally referred to as Winfield by non-residents or simply Bluegrass to Winfield locals) is a well-known acoustic music festival, held annually in Winfield, Kansas. The main genre of music is bluegrass but other acoustic styles are represented as well such as: Irish music, 20s-30s swing music, folk music, etc. The festival is held on the Wednesday through Sunday that includes the third Saturday of September. There are four simultaneous stages and many impromptu venues, notably “Stage 5,” that allow for a wide range of musical interests. Besides the world-class paid performers (the Dixie Chicks, Alison Crouse, Nickel Creek started here), Winfield is known for its instrumental contests. The headline contest is the National Flat-Pick guitar Championship. Other contests include the National Bluegrass Banjo, Hammer Dulcimer, fiddle, and Mandolin Championship.
Camping on the grounds of the Cowley County Fairgrounds opens one week before the Thursday when the stage acts begin. Even before that, many regular campers are in line for choice campsites. This event is known as the Land Rush after the Oklahoma Land Rush that happened nearby. Approximately half of Winfield campers bring a musical instrument, so the campgrounds are particularly conducive to all-night jamming. Many of these campers do not only come from different parts of the country but of the world. Other visitors to the festival, like us, stay at a nearby hotel.
Now, the personal impressions: the people you meet at Winfield are incredibly nice and laid-back -- be it a federal judge, a cowboy, an attorney or a surgeon. What binds them together is their love of music. Be it freezing cold or steaming hot, the people who come here to listen to their favorite music or jam until 4 am are not deterred by weather. They come here to Winfield to play and have fun.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Walnut Valley Festival
My husband had been bugging me for years to go with him to Winfield, Kansas to the bluegrass festival. At first, I was reluctant to do so because I am not exactly a bluegrass music fan. But I decided to go. How can I explain the experience? I cannot. Words simply cannot describe the atmosphere of Winfield. You must go there yourself but it will be well worth your time because there is no event in the world that comes even close to this. Where else would you be able to see an outdoor jamming session, which is more like a huge outdoor orchestra (whose members dress for a particular theme, such as “jammin’ in the jungle”) that plays the hora (traditional Jewish folk dance) to which a man from Kansas with an orange wig on dances an Irish jig. This sounds crazy but it is true at the Carp tent (one of my favorite camp sites where the music is awesome and the atmosphere is even better!)
First, the raw facts: the Walnut Valley Festival (generally referred to as Winfield by non-residents or simply Bluegrass to Winfield locals) is a well-known acoustic music festival, held annually in Winfield, Kansas. The main genre of music is bluegrass but other acoustic styles are represented as well such as: Irish music, 20s-30s swing music, folk music, etc. The festival is held on the Wednesday through Sunday that includes the third Saturday of September. There are four simultaneous stages and many impromptu venues, notably “Stage 5,” that allow for a wide range of musical interests. Besides the world-class paid performers (the Dixie Chicks, Alison Crouse, Nickel Creek started here), Winfield is known for its instrumental contests. The headline contest is the National Flat-Pick guitar Championship. Other contests include the National Bluegrass Banjo, Hammer Dulcimer, fiddle, and Mandolin Championship.
Camping on the grounds of the Cowley County Fairgrounds opens one week before the Thursday when the stage acts begin. Even before that, many regular campers are in line for choice campsites. This event is known as the Land Rush after the Oklahoma Land Rush that happened nearby. Approximately half of Winfield campers bring a musical instrument, so the campgrounds are particularly conducive to all-night jamming. Many of these campers do not only come from different parts of the country but of the world. Other visitors to the festival, like us, stay at a nearby hotel.
Now, the personal impressions: the people you meet at Winfield are incredibly nice and laid-back -- be it a federal judge, a cowboy, an attorney or a surgeon. What binds them together is their love of music. Be it freezing cold or steaming hot, the people who come here to listen to their favorite music or jam until 4 am are not deterred by weather. They come here to Winfield to play and have fun.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
A culturally saturated weekend: Stratford and Niagara-on-the Lake
We spent our Labor Day weekend with our friends in Canada. Every year we travel to Stratford (Shakespeare Festival) and Niagara-on-the Lake (George Bernard Shaw Festival) in Canada to absorb as much Shakespeare as we can during this 3-4 day trip. The entire trip to Stratford (from Chicago) takes about 8-9 hours but we usually split it in half. We drive either to Detroit or Windsor, Canada; spend the night there and the next day we drive to Stratford. This time we drove to Detroit and spent the night at the Westin Hotel by the airport. The hotel was wonderful, especially their famous heavenly bed. After a good night sleep we headed to Stratford.
Stratford is nestled in the picturesque heartland of Perth County in rural southwestern Ontario; this picturesque town offers world-class theater, great shopping, and first-rate dining experience. Truly, this is a paradise for Shakespeare lovers and of other fine playwrights. This year the Stratford Festival of Canada season runs from April 10 through to November 4, 2007. This acclaimed theater company presents 14 plays in repertory in four distinct theaters around the city. We saw the musicals My one and only and Oklahoma and the plays Othello and Comedy of Errors. Indeed, we are like paratroopers who are on a mission of trying to see as many plays as we can – it means two a day. But of course, not everybody has to be like us. It is equally pleasant to just walk along the Avon River and feed the ducks and swans, have a picnic or shop in the lovely little boutiques on Ontario Street.
Naturally, we cannot forget to mention the dining here in Stratford. It is truly awesome. We especially love Bijou (French cuisine with an ever-changing blackboard menu), the Old Prune (superb food in a contemporary décor); and Rundles (the cuisine is based on French cookery with influences from Italy and Japan). I have to underline Bijou. It is absolutely our favorite restaurant in town and their braised, crispy duck leg is absolutely out of this world. I could eat there every night and the prices are very reasonable (they used to be even better when the dollar was stronger).
On Sunday morning – after we consumed our last breakfast at the Alexandra Inn (we stayed here seven years but this year the owners decided to close their doors to guests) we drove to Niagara-on-the Lake, which is about an hour and a half drive from Stratford. It is the home to the Shaw Festival’s three theaters. This little town seems to attract visitors of many kinds: shoppers, history buffs, epicures, wine connoisseurs, gardeners, and those just seeking a leisurely escape. The town, set in a landscape of vineyards and orchards, is rich with beautifully restored architecture, lovingly tended parks and gardens, imaginative shops and galleries, a picturesque marina, luxury hotels and charming bed and breakfasts.
We saw an afternoon performance of G.B. Shaw’s The Philanderer, which was a wonderfully performed witty play. The rest of the day we spent wondering around town and having a simple but scrumptious dinner (some awesome bread, salami, and cheese from DeLuca’s Cheese Market and Deli) at our B&B’s (The Guy Wilson House) back porch. Next morning -- after a super-awesome gourmet breakfast -- we headed over to the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls – a wondrous sight to behold – (a mere 15 minute drive) before we headed back to Chicago. I cannot wait to return next year!
Stratford is nestled in the picturesque heartland of Perth County in rural southwestern Ontario; this picturesque town offers world-class theater, great shopping, and first-rate dining experience. Truly, this is a paradise for Shakespeare lovers and of other fine playwrights. This year the Stratford Festival of Canada season runs from April 10 through to November 4, 2007. This acclaimed theater company presents 14 plays in repertory in four distinct theaters around the city. We saw the musicals My one and only and Oklahoma and the plays Othello and Comedy of Errors. Indeed, we are like paratroopers who are on a mission of trying to see as many plays as we can – it means two a day. But of course, not everybody has to be like us. It is equally pleasant to just walk along the Avon River and feed the ducks and swans, have a picnic or shop in the lovely little boutiques on Ontario Street.
Naturally, we cannot forget to mention the dining here in Stratford. It is truly awesome. We especially love Bijou (French cuisine with an ever-changing blackboard menu), the Old Prune (superb food in a contemporary décor); and Rundles (the cuisine is based on French cookery with influences from Italy and Japan). I have to underline Bijou. It is absolutely our favorite restaurant in town and their braised, crispy duck leg is absolutely out of this world. I could eat there every night and the prices are very reasonable (they used to be even better when the dollar was stronger).
On Sunday morning – after we consumed our last breakfast at the Alexandra Inn (we stayed here seven years but this year the owners decided to close their doors to guests) we drove to Niagara-on-the Lake, which is about an hour and a half drive from Stratford. It is the home to the Shaw Festival’s three theaters. This little town seems to attract visitors of many kinds: shoppers, history buffs, epicures, wine connoisseurs, gardeners, and those just seeking a leisurely escape. The town, set in a landscape of vineyards and orchards, is rich with beautifully restored architecture, lovingly tended parks and gardens, imaginative shops and galleries, a picturesque marina, luxury hotels and charming bed and breakfasts.
We saw an afternoon performance of G.B. Shaw’s The Philanderer, which was a wonderfully performed witty play. The rest of the day we spent wondering around town and having a simple but scrumptious dinner (some awesome bread, salami, and cheese from DeLuca’s Cheese Market and Deli) at our B&B’s (The Guy Wilson House) back porch. Next morning -- after a super-awesome gourmet breakfast -- we headed over to the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls – a wondrous sight to behold – (a mere 15 minute drive) before we headed back to Chicago. I cannot wait to return next year!
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