| Comments:
pat the handyman - 2007-09-30 09:19:24
The most exciting part for us was the impressive orange fencing , that struck fear into the hearts of those drinking acholhol...an unknown ingredient in the fence composition make the drunkard docile and fills children with glee, much like a politician looking at a pile of money ...drunk, partially comatose, gleeful,all at the same time ...
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Ypsidixit - 2007-09-30 15:15:42
Hmm, we missed that bit of excitement, with our sober little cups of (excellent) Luwak coffee. The only suggestion I would make for next year is perhaps create a more cohesive food area near Rice St. There was the Italian ices man with his push-cart, and an ice cream push-cart, but I thought maybe the corn-roasting lady could be moved from the relatively secluded farmer's market (out-of-towners might not even have known it was going on) into a designated "food area," where you could get corn, ices & ice cream all together.
Kids were enjoying the cornhole toss, but perhaps one or two more similar kids games could be set up; even something as simple and fall-themed as toss the hula hoop around the scarecrow.
Also, I missed the scarecrow competition; was that in an area I overlooked?
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Mark Maynard - 2007-09-30 21:50:16
Clementine had a runny nose, so we skipped swimming class. Instead we headed down to the Shutes and Ladders game. We got there too late to take part in the big blogger game though. Maybe next year.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-01 00:14:59
I think I saw you there for a moment, but was engaged in something before I could say hello. It was fun. The Chutes & Ladders item really made the day. It was a nice way to spend a bit of a blue-skied fall Saturday. Fallapalooza still needs a bit more oomph, though. It's grown beyond what a friend called a "glorified sidewalk sale," but more is possible. More kids games, an arts and crafts area, perhaps a dance area with contra or square dancing; sounds corny but I think it'd be fun. Kudos to Old Man Gordon for successfully luring us from our Saturday torpor on the patio to come down and take part in the game.
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Steve Pierce - 2007-10-01 00:16:20
Hey Mark, we saw you guys walk up and we hadn't even started. You could have joined us. While I got second overall, I did get first place in the 'blogger' division.
Cheers!
- Steve
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-01 00:26:10
Yes, indeed, Steve, you did indeed get first place if one counts only the bloggers on the board; Brian, you, and I.
(whispers): never mind that we all lost to a tiny child who ran us all into the ground...
First place in the blogger division! Yes, indeed! :) If nothing else, you stole the show in terms of style. The rest of us just schlumped over the board whereas you glided with style and elegance on your Segway. I thought it was so cool, and humorous and fun. "Good on ya," as they say down under.
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Old Man Gordon - 2007-10-01 07:47:13
Thanks for your constructive criticism, all. There's lots of room for improvement.
I also would have liked to have the corn-roast on Cross St. I would even have liked to have all the farmers on Cross St., but they didn't go for it.
Aubree's will put up their food tent next year, in the open area east of the clock tower. This year they were already committed to the antique truck show.
I love the idea of other free kids games.
We would also like to coordinate with EMU to have the same date for little sibs weekend, but they don't schedule far enough ahead of time.
The scarecrow contest was left sadly behind. Volunteers dried up and moved away. Hay, old clothes, and corn stalks were ready to go, with no one to manage their distribution, usage, and judging.
While I seem to be giving my debrief, I'll go on. The visiting Plymouth Whalers didn't get much attention, and story time was attended by only a few. My opinion is that we should have a continuous event, rather than a series of events. e.g. If we want to have story time, maybe we should have 9 readers lined up for each half-hour.
The adult corn hole toss in Aubree's lot after the concert looked like it was well-attended and a lot of fun.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-01 08:37:22
Well, OMG, you certainly did more than your share I'd say. The game made the event; it was fun. That's a shame @ the scarecrow contest.
I do love planning events, and some other doodads that the Fallapalooza folks might perhaps consider throwing into the mix are:
--Outdoor pancake breakfast 9 a.m.-noon (I guess you'd need a food permit for this; would it be exempt from a permit if it were under the aegis of one of the food establishments?)
--Pie contest, of apple, punkin, or otherwise autumny pies donated by local residents, judging at noon, sell the rest by pieces after that
--Tug of War (Depot Town merchants team vs. downtown merchants)
--Margaret Schmidt the Farm Lady brings her pettable farm animals, set up in front of Olde Towne Coin and Gold (lamb., &c.)
--Silent Auction
--Kids' Decorated Bike Parade and Judging
--Supervised Horse Rides in Frog Island Park by Washtenaw County Buffalo Soldiers Regiment
I hereby volunteer to be a pie judge next year. :D
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-01 08:44:34
p.s. oh, and a fall-themed (more or less) poetry reading by the kids over at the 826 Michigan writing collective in AA.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-01 08:52:05
One more: All-Ages Leaf Print T-Shirts Craft (BYOT, leaves and washable dye in autumn colors provided)
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-01 09:02:12
Yet one more: a dressed-up mascot, Jethro the Wandering Scarecrow.
And here is an idea for small prizes for a game: wee bags contianing 1 cup popcorn with a tiny sheet with instructions on how to make it in a pan (1 cup corn to 1/3 cup oil; heat; that's it, but it's fun). I nearly doubled the recipe the first time I made it, thinking 1 little old cup wouldn't be enough--it lifted the (giant) pan lid and started spilling all over the floor. Popcorn available at People's Foor Co-op, for a pittance.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-01 09:04:46
I'm picturing a local blogger as Jethro the Wandering Scarecrow.
It's quite the mental image.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-01 09:43:36
OK, one more, then that's it. Marbles tournament; kids an buy small bag of marbles (from Gordon's) to enter.
Also, "Grandfather's Games" area, where kids can play or learn how to play 1. mumblety-peg 2. jacks 3. home-made stilts 4. Andy-over (at depot building) 5. Graces. One more craft: make a bullroarer.
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Unfiltered - 2007-10-02 09:10:51
I was home with the baby who was sleeping, but my wife and 5 year old had a great time. I think kid-friendly and pies is the way to go!
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Ypsidixit - 2007-10-02 09:15:03
Unfiltered, there were a lot of kids in that age range there, having lots of fun with the corn hole toss. Mm, more pies = a good thing.
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