Week 3 - Friendship: BYO-Food and Drink to a free event like an art show, concert, air show, or race. Skip the vendors and have a picnic.
It’s only week 3 and already I have to admit that this date was only partially accomplished. Our plan had been to attend the Scottsdale’s Sunday A’Fair free outdoor concert and bring a picnic. Rain was predicted. It no longer seem like a particularly great day for a picnic in the park even though I liked the bands who were scheduled.
Early in the week, Fitz and I decided we would check out Glendale Glitters and Glow on Saturday night. It turns out that my dad was interested in going, too, so we all planned to go, hopefully before the rain hit Phoenix. In full disclosure, I told Fitz that my dad was interested in going, and clarified that we would be bringing our cameras (which can mean that others stand around waiting until we have our shot). I checked with Fitz to see if he wanted to have just us go as date night or go with my parents. He loves hanging out with my parents so he was totally fine with the cameras and having my dad or both parents join. Besides, the focus for this date is friendship. Perfect.
My mom knew what the cameras meant, but walking around with crowds in Glendale at night only added to her desire to stay home. She was out from the very beginning. The evening came. Fitz had a headache. Maybe the thought of dealing with us taking pictures added to the headache, but I think it really had more to do with nicotine withdrawals. My husband was out.
My dad and I carpooled, found an easy, free parking space in parking lot about a block away, and headed over to the glowing hot air balloons in the square. I had never been to see the mix of Christmas lights and balloons in the Glendale downtown square. It was a festive warm winter night. Kids enjoyed being lifted into the wicker gondolas as parents snapped pictures of their children in the glow of the fire blasts. There were plenty of food trucks and vendors. There were several bands playing various styles of music sprinkled around the corners. Most were pretty decent. One was stood out as painful to listen to, though I liked their idea; it was girl pow wow punk and metal group. Is that a thing? They may have found a gap in the market. It was student performance from the Phoenix Conservatory of Music college prep program. In an ideal version of their band, it would have been A Tribe Called Red doing Metallica.
My dad and I walked the square, played with our cameras and settings, and ended up buying a $5 bag of kettle corn to split. That was plenty for dinner, so even though we didn’t bring our own food or drink and have a picnic, we probably spent less overall.
The rain started to sprinkle just as we had seen the whole square. Perfect timing. The hot air balloons started packing up early. I can only imagine how problematic it would be packing away a wet balloon. Do hot air balloons mildew? We headed home and definitely beat any rush. No traffic.
Fitz and I will try this challenge again within the year (maybe even for the Sunday A’Fair this weekend). Even though my dad and I didn’t BYO-food, we got to spend some quality time together at a free event and ended up spending just $5 total.
Next week: Week 4 - Love: Appreciate the universe with some stargazing or sky watching.
We have the Supermoon lunar eclipse on Sunday night if you need ideas.
Glendale Glitter & Glow
Adventure is out there. - Up