May Day tomorrow!

[dreamshark]

minnehahak called to remind me that the Powderhorn Mayday Festival is tomorrow. This is one of our family's traditional holidays (the others being Christmas and Minicon). Every year for as long as I can remember we have started the day by putting together an ambitious picnic, had our traditional argument about what time the parade starts and what time it actually reaches the park, and then headed out slightly later than the optimum time. We park in front of Barb's house, walk over to the park, and spread out our picnic blanket. One person stays behind to guard the picnic stuff (usually me) and the others walk over to Bloomington to watch the parade come in. The person at the picnic blanket gets to watch the remnants of the parade straggle past, usually including a number of the big floats and stilt walkers. Then our friends start drifting by, stopping to chat and eat. People who like sitting on a slippery hillside surrounded by a huge crowd walk down to the end of the lake to watch the ceremonial pageant in which Nature and Goodness triumph over Corporate Evil, the Tree of Life is raised, and the crowd sings "You Are My Sunshine." Drummers drum, the leaves burst forth from the branches of nearby trees, and flowers explode into bloom. Spring is here!

Somehow, it had pretty much slipped my mind this year. Partly because I was consumed with a Big Release at work last week, and still recovering from Minicon before that. But most likely because last year was a total bust. It was cold and drizzly, but several people asked if we would be having our picnic, so we bravely carted in food and ponchos and sat down 5 feet from the path. Not a single person showed up. Then it started raining harder, so we went home, muttering things about never doing THAT again. But it looks like the weather will be decent this year, and minnehahak wants a picnic, so I guess we'll be back at it again this year.

No, I'm sorry, there is no way I can tell you where we will be. Every year there are more political and commercial booths along the lakeshore, and any place we might have sat last year is likely to have a generator parked on it this year. What we've been doing for the last 5 years or so is parking at Barb's house (34th and Columbus), walking to the lake by the most direct path, and turning right at the lakeshore. We then walk along until we find a clear area between the lake and the path and spread out blankets and picnic baskets. If you do the same thing, you should find us easily. I have no idea whether this is the North, South, East or West shore of the lake. The durn lake is oriented at a strange angle and I have never been able to figure out which direction is which once I'm down in that bowl. minnehahak seemed to think it was the north side, but that is the one shore I am almost positive it is not. All I can say is, if you're facing the lake at our picnic site, the park building is to your right, the Tree of Life is to your left, and the Sears Tower is on the other side of the lake.

Hope to see some of you tomorrow!

Comments

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

She's right. South side. By the piney woods, on the lake side of the path.

K. [we are bringing a small BBQ grill, so bringing grill-ables is OK. Also, I called a few people and told 'em to come]

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

Not a single person showed up.
Hey! I showed up! I even stopped for a few minutes to chat before heading home through the drizzle.

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

I miss the May Day festival so much!! How was it?

Thanks!

[eileenlufkin.livejournal.com]

Thank you and Karen & Bruce for the lovely picnic.