Mangos, and All That Jazz...

We went to the Jazz Festival tonight, oh, excuse me... LE Festival International de Jazz de Montreal. We'd be wanting to go since it started back on June 28th, but either because of conflicting schedules, prior engagements or crapola weather, i.e.. RAIN, we only managed to get there tonight.

It was nice, we walked from our place to the festival site, and since it was a Friday and the weather was on our side there were lots of others doing the same thing. We got their at about 8 pm and instantly got something to eat. Heh. Jazz-smazz there was a Mexican joint selling Mango Flowers... and me and Didz LOVES our Mango Flowers (the local Mexican Resto around the corner from us was selling them last year at Divers-Cite (Pride) and the Out Games. We couldn't walk past the place without buying some.) If you don't know what a Mango Flower is, take a look...

Didier...

Yours Truly (don't let the lack of Leopard Print fool ya, it's me)...

Now normal folk might have posed for the pics and smiled, looking into the camera holding the Flowers a staged distance from their mouths... not us, nosireebob, mango flowers were maid for eatin; not lookin at... If you get the chance to buy one do... it's such a refreshing alternative to an ice-cream (not that we have anything against ice cream mind you....) and if you do sprinkle your with the cayenne pepper/sour sugar... it makes it 1000 times more delish!

OK now where were we? oh yea, the Jazz fest.

...so with Mango in hand, literally, we waded into the throngs of people. We caught the last 30 minutes of Johanne Desforges at the Alcan stage. She was ok, not really our cup of tea. She did 'Summertime' from Porgy and Bess, and it was a little too 'scaty' for us. Scat is good, if you're Ella, but otherwise... Then we caught Ryan Shaw at the main GM stage. He was fantastic. From the Southern US. Great voice, and a crowd pleaser.

After that we took another stroll. Got ourselves a little something cool n' alcoholly to sip on at the Amarulla tent. If you've not had Amarulla before, you are missing out! (We got hooked on this stuff last year, it's great on it's own, in hot chocolate, and it makes a killer ice cream...) Didz took the Iced coffee and Amarulla and I took the Mango puree and Amarulla (YUM-MY!) and onwards we walked...

Ok now here's where my hatred of all things 'mass-o-people- took over. I wouldn't say I'm an agorophobe or demophobe... what I am a bit freakish about are throngs of stupid mouth breathers that constantly bump into you, need to be in the exact spot you are or are they type that walk at 1/10 the speed of the crowd, seemingly unaware of the reality of the fact that they are causing even more traffic and pissing off people a plenty.

So I am trying my best to NOT let all the idiots around me ruin my evening... but then this prig and his wife cut me off, not once, not twice but three times. And how might you ask is it possible to do this three times... well they were the aforementioned 1/10 speed people... They just HAD to cut in front of me and then WOULDN'T MOVE, so I maneuvered around them, only for them to miraculously appear in front of me again. After the third time, as we were approaching the stars I said to Didier, 'I'll be back...time for me to piss these people off' I managed to just cut in front of Mr. Prig as he was about to take his first step up the stairs. I then walked at 1/10 if THEIR speed up the 20 steps and then stopped dead in my tracks at the top to, look around... Call me petty, call me a bitch, I don't care, I enjoyed myself to no end! I live for those moments! :-)

...back to the Jazz...

We strolled around a few more minutes and at the Samsung stage enjoyed some jamming by a group called the Spam Allstars. They were comprised of a DJ spinning back beats, a percussionist, a Trombone, a Saxophone and a Flute. They were up-beat and had the crowd grooving and dancing, and just let the music take them were it would. It was a bit loud (god I am getting old) but otherwise very enjoyable. We took one last stroll around and then headed back home.

A short but Sweet (thank you Mango and Amarulla) evening at the Jazz Fest 2007.

When we got back the village we kept walking along Ste Catherine Street. For the next 6 weekends, Ste-Catherine Street, between St-Hubert and Papineau is closed to all automobile traffic. All the restaurants, cafe's and bars have set up terrases and even a lot of the small businesses have tables set up wit sidewalk sales. It's fun, relaxed and VERY enjoyable. I wish it was like this all the time. The street is full of people walking and watching. You see someone you know ever couple of black, chat a few minutes and then continue on walking. It's a wonderful way to spend a relaxing weekend, or afternoon. So anyone that's in Montreal, I highly recommend sauntering on over to the Village over the next 6 weekends and spend an evening or an afternoon. Promenade, and then take a meal or a drink ... or two... and just let the time pass. Watch the people walk past. Nothing better than a little people watching... and dog watching too! My god seems every 2nd person has a dog! If you want a recommendation on a great place to eat, I highly recommend Mi Burrito (Ste-Catherine and Panet.) if you go you might even see us there! They ALWAYS have 2 for 1 Margaritas... need I say more?