Renton River Days 2011

Renton River Days takes over our downtown, brings smiles to many and entertains anyone open to the word "fun". The sights, sounds and additional pounds brought on by nibbling through Liberty Park are well worth my time each and every year.

 Speaking of food, the Queen of all that is natural and biodegradable was on site to remind the public to use your compost bins. Wearing an incredible gown trimmed in plastic wrappers and such, the gracious refuse royalty floated by and gave us all polite admonishments if we weren't already recycling.

Jr Cadillac played a stellar set on Saturday, just as they have been for the last 10 years. Hardly seen in these climes nowadays, Renton holds a special spot in the band's heart, and schedule, and for this we are blessed. This year, singer Nancy Claire rejoined the band for a coupla songs, after having sang back in the 50's and 60's with the band. Nancy's my neighbor's Mom and one cool gal - shout out to Nancy!

Another great 10 year veteran of the Renton River Days music scene is saxophonist Darren Motamedy - and man, can this cat wail! Darren plays with all his heart and soul, and connects with his audience making a free concert in the park feel like front row seats in Vegas, where he moved to be closer to all his gigs. Onetime Rentonite, having bought his first home in our dear town, Darren keeps coming back to show Renton some love. Thanks Darren!

Pam Chicoine is a face you see around town and usually with a drop spindle in her hand. The Rubber Ducky adorning her hat was made by Pam with a cookie cutter and some roving - it's a wool felted duck pin. Kudos for the most original yellow duck I had the pleasure of meeting this year.

Doing the festival up right, makes for hungry work. The Nibble of Renton is always a big success, even if you feel like you are about to starve waiting in those huge lines of hungry folk. This little kiddlin was not giving too many bites away. She ate the whole hot dog herself.

 

Miss Brandywine Divine, a frequent friendly face on The Picaroon.
Michael, her father, is in the hospital but loves to catch up with his daughter on my blog - Michael, this one's for you!! Feel better soon!

Even Pirates have to eat - and what a lovely set of swashbucklin' maidens are these! I love how many smiling faces I see as I wander about the event, soaking up another year's worth of downhome fun.

It's like the Big Top coming to town...

Cruising through Liberty Park on my way to the Renton Annual Art Show, I saw the dormant tents of our yearly celebration - Renton River Days.

A burst of welcomed sunshine lightened the sky and brought a smile to my face as I saw the beginnings of one of my favorite local happenings. There is an excitement that reaches back to your childhood whenever you see the big white canvas of a tent being erected. An as yet, clean canvas that will soon be painted in fun.

Here's your spot, #23! Today begins the Kid's Day at Renton River Days. Free fun and a focus on the young. The Wenatchee Youth Circus is performing for the next two days - see, the Big Top really has come to town! Today at 1pm and 6pm, tomorrow at 1pm and all for a buck or two, depending on your age.

I love a big tent.

I also love some great music - this group played the last two Renton Annual Art Show's that I have had pleasure of attending - Uptown Lowdown Swing.You too can attend - it's free and open 7/22 (today) and 7/23 from 10 til 6pm. Sunday noon to 5.

The evening was lovely, and nestled in on the elbow of the Cedar River, this deck was a buzz with art appreciators and artists. Catered by Gene Sens' The Redhouse, head chef Frank working his magic, it was a classy and tasty affair. I love being in this space - hey somebody, have a wedding here and invite me, will ya?!

No sneak peaks this year - you want art?? Go see some art!! Get inspired by incredible Renton talent and then go home and make a plan to enter yourself, next year.

reminiscing and a birthday

What I love about blogging and Renton - and how they coincide. I spoke of this being a shared birthday month for me and The Picaroon - so today is my celebration day and I have some plans (see me gleefully rub my hands together!), so I am going bypass my planned post and reminisce for a moment. With you.

Renton, so often overlooked, is an incredible blaze of green and blue. The Cedar River, the banks of Lake Washington and all of our green, green trees filling the hills. If you have traveled, you know that where we live is a cornucopia of nature and color. Love it. Love to take photos of it. And the rain does not bother me. That's the "greening" agent, and I'm not depressed over it. Ever.

Renton has bike paths, and walk paths and parks and water just waiting to be strolled or rolled by. Our town could lead us all to better health if we let it. It definitely provides a place to cast your worries aside and just breathe. Yeah - try that, daily if you can.

Community - I found it quickly here over a cup of good coffee and a bunch of diverse thinkers who realize that it takes all kinds to spice the pot of life. Live and let live. Keeps me sane, happy and coming back for more. I am a what you might call, returning Rentonite. I had lived here before, but it was years ago and I was young. Moving to our burg was the easiest transition I have ever made into a new town, new home. Thanks, Renton. You took me right in.

And let's not forget about the quirky bursts of color and activity that makes me giggle and want to get out the camera. You are all lucky that I didn't load one of my of flower photos up, as I am sure you have noticed that I am partial to them. Yep, whether it be people, place or thing, Renton has it's full complement of colorful and unique living.

So Renton, you are getting bigger by the annexation and you have a flavor all you own, no matter what the neighbors say. I walk your street, eyes wide open, with heart and camera in hand, and I am glad. Glad to share a corner of my Renton world.

Love the one you're with...

Back in 1976, a famous illustrator came up with a great slogan to help New York's economic development agency at a time when the recession was hitting everyone hard and the word bankruptcy was hanging in the air. Milton Glaser's design has lovingly been replicated and appropriated ever since, all across the world, even here in Renton. Mary Clymer, owner of Happy Delusions on S.Third, returned home to Renton last year and went to City Hall to get her "I Heart Renton" button, just like the one her grandfather wore everyday for 20 years back when she was growing up. None were to be had. So now Mary makes her own and sells them at her amazing store - for a dollar. At a time when many of our own pocketbooks are being hit and we are being called to spend locally, it doesn't hurt to show your good intentions on your sleeve - or jacket - wherever a cool pin for good 'ole Renton can be seen.