Loved the arts festivals, but . . .
Loved the Coconut Grove and St. Stephen's Arts Festivals this weekend, the art, food, music and friends I hung out with made it a perfect weekend.
I especially enjoyed the camaraderie of so many friends. I also made some new friends.
But I do have a few complaints, not many, but a few.
First off, the tea room at the St. Stephen's fair. I look forward to that each year, they have the most delicious scones and clotted cream. Addicting. Only this year, the couple of times I attempted to get some, they were out. At one point they tried to pass off some other cream as the clotted cream, and we would probably not have known if one of the ladies there didn't nudge the other lady into "shutting her mouth" about the clotted cream, and letting us think we were getting that. Not good.
So we missed out on the clotted cream and scones this year and will try to seek out some somewhere to get our fix.
Next problem are the artists who are prima donnas. They gripe about you taking photos of the art, even if you ask beforehand, they have to think and then say no as if they are protecting some prized possession, not having a clue that the job of an artist is to promote non-stop. Guess they are too big for media attention and their attitude and lack of sales show. I call them AWA, Artists With Attitude. Most of the artists are good sports and are in favor of people sharing their art through photos and social media.
One artist refused to give me his card or brochure, because he only had a few left. Say what? Did I look like that much of a bum? I did buy art this year, so his negative attitude was really not necessary or appreciated.
One thing that hit me wrong was the food vendors. It's bad enough that they are overpriced to begin with, but at the last second at the end of the shows, I was looking for something to eat. Most of the tents were down and the art was on it's way out. I wanted a gyro, but that booth was closed, so next door, as one lady literally was throwing the food out, I asked her to stop and asked for a chicken pincho (shish kabob). She practically took it out of the trash and charged me $7.00 without batting an eye. I found this very tacky. It also ended up being raw and I threw it out a block away. A raw piece of trash for $7.00. It wouldn't have killed her to sell it for half price, but she had to rip me off until the end and it wasn't even cooked.
Other than that, the shows were incredible and will be missed until next year.
posted by Tom Falco at 4:00 PM
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24 Comments:
Ok, I'm going to say it. WHY do people torture their young children/infants and the rest of us by bring strollers to the Show. Do they really think the kids enjoy
riding around at knee level getting bumped and shoved? Before everyone screams, I've raised 3 kids and I know baby sitters can be hard to find and expensive but think about your kids and the congestion you cause everyone else.
And even worse, the kids in strollers who are big enough but just too lazy to walk. If they're not old enough to walk, do them (and everyone else) a favor and leave them with Granny until they can enjoy the show. Strollers should be banned from the show just like bikes and skateboards.
What's up with not posting the prices @ the food stands?
You wanted a gyro, you should have gone to Alladins on Main Highway. Has Ouzo Blue Greek Taverna openned yet at Cocowalk? Why are there so so few local restaurants operating booths?
I agree about the strollers. Weren't they banned several years ago? My son is now 11, and I remember when he was a toddler, strollers were not allowed. That was fine with me, small children don't like crowds, and I could relax and visit each booth. the strollers, especially the double-wides, take up way too much space and they force the people who are walking onto the curb away from the exhibits.
I vote for banning them. Get a babysitter.
As a local food operator, we looked into having a booth and were told it was a 6 booth minimum and would cost around $10,000. No thanks. The Arts Festival doesn't do much for most businesses in the Grove. It is a self contained event.
I for one, would love it if the local businesses were able to have a booth to promote local fare. But no such luck.
I'm so over the arts festival. The last few years it just feels like a scam. Price increases; 2 festivals each with admission fees; vendors selling so-so food for NFL stadium prices. The art and alleged "artists" seem to have gone down hill too.
This happens with many festivals of this kind. They grow and grow until they become monsters that eat up everything that was once great about an event. I'll stick to smaller festivals in the future, where people are decent to one another, actually care about the art and aren't just trying to gouge.
Im with the poster above. Totally over the Art Festival. Now its just an excuse to go outside on a nice day. The artists bring the same stuff year after year and there just isnt much I find interesting. This year's event seemed smaller too. Prices for entry and food are kinda ridiculous too. The addition of music seemed like a good move and I heard the culinary demos were decent but I wonder why during art fest and not taste of the grove?
Odds are good that I'm skipping next year for the first time in a long time.
AMEN Grape totally agree, and oh yeah Admission prices too
I can't believe they did away with the resident weekend pass...if they are going to inconvenience us by having the thing in the first place at least let us in for less than half price. I ended up spending $30 in admissions alone between my wife and me.
I also totally agree that this was by far the worst show in years. We typically buy at least one item a year and this year we couldn't find anything that we liked. As for the food, limited choices and highly over priced!
Hopefully next year is better...
We've lived here for three years now and it was my first time walking down for the arts festival (my wife didn't want to go back after her first visit two years ago). We'd much rather head over to the design district walks. Way more fun and far better vibe.
What is in fact the deal with the Coconut Grove arts fest? Is it for corporate buyers? I honestly don't get it.
And yeah, all the kids and strollers. Why would you do that to your children?
Wow I never made it this year and after all these comments I am glad I did not go. I've thought "rip off" for the past few years. And The crowd is usually rude as well.
forget it.
I much rather support the Gifford Lane Art Stroll. That's what the C.G.Art Festival should be.
The Wine Terrace was a fabulous new addition! A great location, a great deal (15 wines from all over the world for $15, and specially priced bottles if you wanted to take some home). And it's For Adults Only...so no kids, no strollers. It was the perfect spot to while away the afternoon and wait for the crowds to thin out.
BTW best day to enjoy the fair is always Monday-- less people (and this one had the best weather too).
I am also thinking that next year it would be great to keep a section of the art booths open until 9 pm -- from Mary to McFarlane with artists willing to stay open later and the rest e from Mary to Pan Am Drive can close at 6 pm
As for the food-- One does not eat Outdoor Festival Food for the cuisine (I am still shuddering from the person who, upon being introduced to me last year, put down that obnoxious Turkey leg and shook my hand in full greasy glistening glory...eeeuwh! -- the best bet to get the most out of the day is to always walk the show and the go to a Grove Restaurant or vice-versa. the Festivals do not hurt Grove businesses, they actually promote the Grove and everything in it. Calamari was packed, and that is all the way out at the end, and every restaurant between the Festival and there was filled as well.
Congratulations to all involved on a wonderful weekend.
I visited Sunday for the first time in about five years. I certainly understand the complaints about it being the same all the time, because five years later I only found a handful of interesting new artists. One of those was invited to exhibit after a cancellation, though, and ended up with a blue ribbon, so that was cool.
As far as not being allowed to take photos, it's intended to minimize theft. A very large percentage of the art displayed is easy to copy, particularly if you have access to cheap labor. As many of these artists make most of their money through commercial sales, they want to avoid having their ideas knocked off and sold to Hilton. That's all.
It is still the biggest Art festival in the nation, we should be happy they show up every year. All businesses I asked made a bundle just because of the crowds. Is there room for improvement? Sure, nothing is perfect, except myself.
I also get peeved at artists who freak out about photography.
If someone really intends to copy a piece of artwork, then why wouldn't they just spend the money on it and hire the cheap labor to reproduce it?
I'm sure Hilton would pay more than enough to make up for the initial investment.
And seriously, if all it took was cheap labor to reproduce that particular piece of art, it's probably a piece of crap to begin with.
And let's face it, most of the art at these fairs is not worth hanging on your walls.
And let's not even get into the legality of it all. They have absolutely no right to forbid you from taking any photos.
If they're so hung up on that, then let them keep their art at home or inside a private gallery.
If you're going to display art in public, then shut the hell up if someone takes a picture of it.
I can go on and on about this, but I might just dedicate a blog post to it. And piss off all my artist friends in the process.
For now, I'll leave you with this tidbit on artistic arrogance.
http://carlosmiller.com/2010/02/15/seattle-artist-sues-man-for-photographing-public-art-work/
Interesting that "Howling at the moon" and
"Final day to enjoy the art, music and food"
evoked no comments but 14 gentle readers
did respond when you posted
"Loved the arts festivals, but . . ."
It cost $20 to park at Coconut Grove Bank,
another $20 to get in and $25 for a souvenir T-shirt.
There were no black velvet paintings of Elvis.
And while there is no accounting for taste, IMAO,
that's the ugliest poster i can remember.
Get more sky boxes or we won't be back.
On Saturday it was $30.00 to park at Coconut Grove Bank!
Skipped it this year entirely. Based on the comments, I'm glad I did. The Grapevine review wasn't very flattering either. As for the elitist artists and food rip-offs - why not name names? We always ate off site anyway, but the comments about the lousy, over-priced offerings at the show are spot on.
The Coconut Grove Arts Festival is # 1 in the country for a reason. We certainly should be glad they are staying in the Grove. This year was better than ever. Also think of all of the money that all of the Grove took in..St Stephen's, First Stop, CocoWalk and Mayfair. All of the restaurants and shops were full. So why complain and complain. Any show you go to will charge you admission. You go to the boat show- more than the Arts Festival. I am talking about a quality arts festival not an art festival of 10 artists. The price for Coconut Grove residents or zip code 33133 is $ 5.00 which is half off the price of regular admission.. What gives?? As for the food vendors being local, no one wanted to participate.. I did see a few locals- NY Pizza who was at ST Stephens last year and lost alot of money.. this year at the Arts Festival. This brought a lot of people into the Grove. Also for it closing at 6 p.m. the crowds spilled into our bars, restaurants for more..I am over the grove residents and not the Arts Festival who keep complaining all of the time. Grape- you had bad luck and asking for food when you know the festival was closed? How about the rest of the time and food you enjoyed..
I went all three days and had a great time. There was plenty of cream for me at the tea house also. I did not have anyone complain about me taking a picture either. Everyone was really nice to me and I found my standard two pieces and a gift for friend that i bought.
(The only rudeness I encountered was my neighbor making my friend pay five bucks to park on a property that did not even belong to him *grumble grumble*)
I enjoy both festivals but generally, St. Stevens has the better food court. I think the festival is one of the few success stories of the grove and we should embrace it.
I was not there to do anything about it at the time.
The high gate fee actually kept the crowd down enough to where you could actually see the art, which I liked. Last year it was just too crowded!
I do think they should have a three day pass for locals, we do go though a lot of inconvenience because of the festival being here, but it was nice to get half off at least.
I would like to see a bigger turnaround for art, but many artists are loved and looked for. There are some that I look for every year to see what new things they have. I would like to see more non metal jewelry and small scale glass and ceramic art. But these are just the things I like.
I go every year and get a small bowl (I collect small glass and ceramic bowls, useful and pretty!) I also get a new glass ball for my porch, this year I got two, and I got a gift for a friend of mine. Ran out of money but would have loved to buy more stuff.
I have no trouble finding great stuff to buy!
There were plenty of other lots that were not full and not charging $ 30.00- by the way it was $ 25.00 then went down to $ 20.00 then $ 15.00.
Mayfair had the best deal at $ 10.00 every day of the festival. Sorry you missed out.. The Arts Festival does not control the parking rates.
Park next tine at the Metrorail stations (Douglas or Coconut Grove) $3.00 and a free shuttle.
Best deal for all the festivals
The comment about the food from the garbage is so Grapevine. You buy things as if someone forced you to do it, then are bitter about it. The same thing has happened to you in Whole Foods, then in Chipotle or a place like that. Why not learn to just say no?
About the Festival, went back after skipping it one year and, in general, found everyone in a really good mood. No problems with photography at all. Actually, I took a few dozen portraits of the artist themselves. 90% of the time, if I asked nicely, they would have no objecttions.
Normally, I don't photograph art because I don't see the point; if I want to own something, I should pony up and pay the creator. Nevertheless, if you take a picture of a booth from the street, the law is on your side: as long as it is in a public space and has no reasonable expectations of privacy... fair game. Since 350,000 parading by deny any reasonable expectation of privacy, go ahead and take the shot.
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