Bizarro Balitmore

It was the third day of Artscape, and the first day that  it was not raining, so the Art Festival was packed with humanity. It was cool and comfortable and the sun was not shining, which meant that it was entirely comfortable. I wonder if it is because I am leaving Baltimore that the decor and the booths and the style felt entirely bizarre to me. Has it always been so quirky? Or has it become more and more unusual? 

I parked at the Montessori school Maya once attended, illegally of course, but did not get a ticket. I wandered down to the Charles Theatre, and right up Charles Street to look at the 'art cars' decorated in odd and rather disturbing themes. Everyone was taking photos, so I did too, but I did not appreciate the cars at all. There were circus booths with outrageous items, like the world's longest eyelash. I couldn't believe the long lines waiting to see the absurdities. I was entertained by a houseboat with a raucous band and its fans moving to the music. 

The art booths were familiar from former years, and I would probably have bought something except that I absolutely want to buy nothing for the next ten years, since I have so much and have so much more to pack away. I never want to buy anything again! I listened to Bach cantatas and watched a contemporary dance performance accompanied by dystonic music, which reminded me of Maya and her dancing. She called me in the middle of the show, and reassured me that she is happy and doing well. She had been having headaches and I simply told her to sleep longer, and that seemed to help. This is her first time on her own and she is doing wonderfully!

I was treated to soul, hip hop, funk, reggae, folk, rock, alternative; every sort of music one could ask for, sometimes in large venues, most often buskers on the sidewalk, except for the houseboat on the bridge. I was struck by the absurdity of the onlookers; the outfits, the hair, the makeup. Perhaps those who chose to attend the festival were the more adventuresome Baltimoreans. I was entertained.