Okay, I'm getting a bit dramatic here, but it was a dramatic event! We attended the Pit Fire Festival out at Cochise College on Wednesday night with our friends Jeff and Liz. As usual for Bisbee, the crowd was an interesting mix of cowboy hats and body piercings... the ceramics department from the college built a huge (I mean football field huge)bonfire of pallettes over their ceramics, and then the object of the evening was to set this monster on fire, to fire their pots and provide a spectacular blazing headache for the Bisbee Fire Department.
There was a silent auction of some remarkable ceramic works - I bought a piece of Mata Ortiz pottery from Mexico - and the culinary arts students fed the entire crowd with free food! As you can imagine, there was quite a line, and we feasted on truly delicious chili, clam and shrimp chowder, sandwiches, fruit veggies and out of this galaxy delicious chocolate mint cookies. There was a festive show with local bands and ethnic dances - then as the sun was setting, the college rodeo team galloped around the fire pit bearing the American and Arizona flags - an enormous cloud of dust turning pink and purple in the sunset as they tore down the field... goose bumps, for sure.
Before they started the fire, a pyrotechnic dance troop did an amazing fire dance featuring scantily clad girls and giant devil dogs on stilts, all juggling fire batons to feverish drumming... and then - at the signal -pit fire was set alight with a whoosh - the sparks flew in the air, the wood crackled and the whole world took on an orange glow, under the midnight blue, cloud streaked sky... a full moon looked like the glowing end of a cosmic cigarette, dropping sparks and ashes all around.
Imagine what this looked like the following morning... billowing clouds of taupe colored ash on the ground, colorful pots sticking out of the ash like newly sprouted plants. The whole evening was either an amazing tribal ritual, or proof that people will go to great lengths to entertain themselves in a small town. I prefer to think the former.
Showing posts with label Arizona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arizona. Show all posts
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Busy in Bisbee!
I was very cranky last week because we had made plans to go away and I was going to miss two writing classes, two USTA league matches, a lunch in Naco with friends and the Pie Baking Contest at the Farmer's Market. As it turned out, the week's birthday trip was absolutely wonderful and the best thing we could have done, but the fact remains... we are busy here! When my far away friends ask, "But what do you DO there?" - I hardly know where to begin...
So I'll begin on the weekend before vacation, which was the weekend of the Bisbee Bloomers Garden Tour. Sara and I had volunteered to be Suzi's slaves for the Bisbee Bloomers party at her house on Friday night, the evening soiree before the weekend's garden tours. All the ladies in the Bloomers, as well as people whose gardens were on the tour were invited. Since I was the bartender, I had the primo spot in the carport, next to the new desert mural Suzi had just painted on her carport wall... between the lovely wine I was pouring and the high level of interest in the mural, I got to meet just about everybody!
On Saturday's tour, the gardens we saw were astonishing... most of them tucked back behind unassuming walls and fences, so that walking into these hidden edens literally could make you gasp in surprise - so much beauty, so much care lavished on these lush islands of color, sound and aroma... I wanted to live in every one of them! Several of the garden owners offered refreshments, and some even employed musicians, including our friend Jack, who played his guitar in his very own shady bower.
This weekend was also the Plein Aire Painting weekend, so many of the painters went to the gardens for inspiration... I suspect their work will show up in local galleries shortly.
The best thing about the Garden Tour is that the money raised goes to supply Doggie Poop Bags at stations all around town, which probably explains why, although everyone in Bisbee seems to own at least two dogs, you very seldom see the unlovely evidence of their well-fed existence on the local streets and sidewalks. Thanks, ladies!
As for last week's vacation... that's worth a whole 'nother story... stay tuned!
So I'll begin on the weekend before vacation, which was the weekend of the Bisbee Bloomers Garden Tour. Sara and I had volunteered to be Suzi's slaves for the Bisbee Bloomers party at her house on Friday night, the evening soiree before the weekend's garden tours. All the ladies in the Bloomers, as well as people whose gardens were on the tour were invited. Since I was the bartender, I had the primo spot in the carport, next to the new desert mural Suzi had just painted on her carport wall... between the lovely wine I was pouring and the high level of interest in the mural, I got to meet just about everybody!
On Saturday's tour, the gardens we saw were astonishing... most of them tucked back behind unassuming walls and fences, so that walking into these hidden edens literally could make you gasp in surprise - so much beauty, so much care lavished on these lush islands of color, sound and aroma... I wanted to live in every one of them! Several of the garden owners offered refreshments, and some even employed musicians, including our friend Jack, who played his guitar in his very own shady bower.
This weekend was also the Plein Aire Painting weekend, so many of the painters went to the gardens for inspiration... I suspect their work will show up in local galleries shortly.
The best thing about the Garden Tour is that the money raised goes to supply Doggie Poop Bags at stations all around town, which probably explains why, although everyone in Bisbee seems to own at least two dogs, you very seldom see the unlovely evidence of their well-fed existence on the local streets and sidewalks. Thanks, ladies!
As for last week's vacation... that's worth a whole 'nother story... stay tuned!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
High Desert Summer
As I sit here, the cool breezes waft out of the canyons, raising the window curtains and softly shaking the perfume from the jasmine just outside. My friend Sara told me that Bisbee was paradise in the summer, but having spent my high school and college years in Arizona, I was dubious to say the least. Summer? In Arizona? Paradise? Growing up in the Phoenix area, summer was closer to that other final destination... the really really hot one. But it's true - we have glorious, sunny tennis mornings here, and then, just when the A/C is about to kick in - the perfumed breezes start, and they bring the rain.
Local legends add to the color, too... at my writing class the other day I learned about Marge, the former Phelps-Dodge secretary who was awarded a job as librarian at the Copper Queen Library when the mine closed. She was a cranky old curmudgeon who knew nothing about libraries, hated hippies, and would come knocking on your door in person if you had an overdue book. Luckily for us, Marge finally retired and my lovely friend Donna, of the sweet smile and Library Science degree, has brought the library into the 21st century... book groups, writing classes, kids' programs - all free to us lucky Bisbonians.
Dick's friend Mel came for a visit last week, and we took him on a tour of the mine and other historical venues, while catching up on his latest adventures. The wackiest moment of the week came when he and Dick were accosted during their photo safari to Old Bisbee by two traveling rabbis. These Lubavitcher proselytizers proceeded to give each of the guys a second Bar Mitzvah, right there on the street. Only in Bisbee...maybe the Republicans are right, this IS a dangerous place!
Speaking of dangerous, our tennis friend Naco George (so named because he lives right on the border in Naco, Arizona, just a few miles away) was awakened by a loud, repetitive twanging sound a few nights ago. He looked out his window and discovered that some enterprising Mejicanos were sling-shotting packages of dope across the border, right over his back yard... he went back to bed, hoping this was just a bad dream... when the local gang that couldn't shoot straight came to the rescue, guns blazing, they succeeded only in making noise... the hombres, armed with slingshots, ran giggling off into the night.
Fantasyland? Adventureland? Tomorrowland? Or Frontierland? You decide. I'm having a margarita.
Local legends add to the color, too... at my writing class the other day I learned about Marge, the former Phelps-Dodge secretary who was awarded a job as librarian at the Copper Queen Library when the mine closed. She was a cranky old curmudgeon who knew nothing about libraries, hated hippies, and would come knocking on your door in person if you had an overdue book. Luckily for us, Marge finally retired and my lovely friend Donna, of the sweet smile and Library Science degree, has brought the library into the 21st century... book groups, writing classes, kids' programs - all free to us lucky Bisbonians.
Dick's friend Mel came for a visit last week, and we took him on a tour of the mine and other historical venues, while catching up on his latest adventures. The wackiest moment of the week came when he and Dick were accosted during their photo safari to Old Bisbee by two traveling rabbis. These Lubavitcher proselytizers proceeded to give each of the guys a second Bar Mitzvah, right there on the street. Only in Bisbee...maybe the Republicans are right, this IS a dangerous place!
Speaking of dangerous, our tennis friend Naco George (so named because he lives right on the border in Naco, Arizona, just a few miles away) was awakened by a loud, repetitive twanging sound a few nights ago. He looked out his window and discovered that some enterprising Mejicanos were sling-shotting packages of dope across the border, right over his back yard... he went back to bed, hoping this was just a bad dream... when the local gang that couldn't shoot straight came to the rescue, guns blazing, they succeeded only in making noise... the hombres, armed with slingshots, ran giggling off into the night.
Fantasyland? Adventureland? Tomorrowland? Or Frontierland? You decide. I'm having a margarita.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
A reason for hope...
All right, my liberal friends - any of you who think that Arizona should be boycotted because it's the domain of only the small-minded, non-inclusive and mean-spirited (that's three hyphens - wow)should have been with us last weekend at my niece Kelsey's graduation from Flagstaff High School, high in the green, cool mountains of Coconino County. It was an experience that proved that no matter how idiotic our elected officials might be, the regular folk in Arizona, in particular those who actually live close to the border and the rez, are inclined to love their neighbors, no matter who they are.
The sense of excitement as we entered the venue for the graduation ceremony was palpable - families holding signs saying "We Did It!", "Go Chelsea!" and "Class of 2010" were armed with air horns and ready to scream their loudest at the mention of their graduate's name. Audience dress ranged from casual (jeans and tees) to flowery dresses and heels, to Native American families in velvet jackets and wrap boots, wearing thousands of dollars in huge, chunky turquoise. Speeches were brief and articulate, and introductory remarks were given in English, Spanish, Navajo and Hopi.
Two of the graduates, who have musical ambitions, performed original works that were inspiring in their intensity and surprising in their professionalism. One of the teachers who was asked to speak at the ceremony had a wonderful line that summed up the crowd perfectly: "You know you're from Flagstaff when you hunt, your kids are vegans, and you recycle."
When the Class of 2010 - all 400 of them, one at a time - crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, it was anything but boring. The spectacular combination of fresh young faces, beautiful costumes not quite hidden under robes, and fanciful names kept me entertained: Roxxi Dawn Begay, Omar Buenaventura Gomez, Skylan Sunjong Lew, and Infinity Rose Martin were among the best.
As the last names were called, the mortar boards flew into the air, the confetti was thrown, and it seemed that everyone in the class hugged everyone else - man hugs and high fives were in evidence, too. And none but the coldest could leave that auditorium without a glimmer of hope - maybe this generation will manage to clean up our messes and be kind to each other. I believe.
The sense of excitement as we entered the venue for the graduation ceremony was palpable - families holding signs saying "We Did It!", "Go Chelsea!" and "Class of 2010" were armed with air horns and ready to scream their loudest at the mention of their graduate's name. Audience dress ranged from casual (jeans and tees) to flowery dresses and heels, to Native American families in velvet jackets and wrap boots, wearing thousands of dollars in huge, chunky turquoise. Speeches were brief and articulate, and introductory remarks were given in English, Spanish, Navajo and Hopi.
Two of the graduates, who have musical ambitions, performed original works that were inspiring in their intensity and surprising in their professionalism. One of the teachers who was asked to speak at the ceremony had a wonderful line that summed up the crowd perfectly: "You know you're from Flagstaff when you hunt, your kids are vegans, and you recycle."
When the Class of 2010 - all 400 of them, one at a time - crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, it was anything but boring. The spectacular combination of fresh young faces, beautiful costumes not quite hidden under robes, and fanciful names kept me entertained: Roxxi Dawn Begay, Omar Buenaventura Gomez, Skylan Sunjong Lew, and Infinity Rose Martin were among the best.
As the last names were called, the mortar boards flew into the air, the confetti was thrown, and it seemed that everyone in the class hugged everyone else - man hugs and high fives were in evidence, too. And none but the coldest could leave that auditorium without a glimmer of hope - maybe this generation will manage to clean up our messes and be kind to each other. I believe.
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