My city is a city of tradition, celebration, and seasons. It's April 3. Spring is finally making an actual effort to battle the waning winter for reign over my city. But see, this is Dubuque. Spring is not just a season of planting and renewal as you'd expect from a good Midwestern city. It's also the season of preparation and planning. It's difficult to admit, but that's the first step to recovery right? Dubuque has an addiction: festivals.
Now you may think I'm joking, but I'm not. Yesterday I picked up a copy of our free weekly entertainment guide type publication (365 Ink). The cover story? 2011 Festivals. Replete with a complete guide to the city's (and surrounding areas, lest we forget the smaller communities nearby) celebrations. This guide boasts no less than 55 unique events (I didn't count each edition of the regular events!) between May 20 and October 9. Oh and by the way, this doesn't include any of the local church festivals. If you grew up Catholic, you know what I'm talking about. There are approximately 10 Catholic churches in Dubuque. I'll let that sink in.
I love the show Gilmore Girls, but I was always amazed at the number of crazy festivals and own celebrations they had. Little did I know almost 3 years ago I'd move to a real live city that might rival the festivities of the fictional Stars Hollow.
Now this dear reader is where I must admit some guilt. Despite living here for almost 3 years (2 full festival seasons) I think I've only attended 7 events. Shocking and shameful, I know. I've hit Taste of Dubuque and Irish Hooley twice each, Summer's Last Blast once (which by the way is back to back days with Irish Hooley!), and the Art Fair in Washington Park portion of DubuqueFest (complete withe a gazebo that would make Gilmore Girls proud) twice.
So my BEDA buddies (and my other gracious readers), I think I might need to up my festival attendance if I'm going to claim myself a Dubuquer. (Not a true Dubuquer. For that distinction requires grandparents buried in the city's cemetaries, so I guess my imaginary grandchildren still have a shot at that lofty goal.)
That goes for you too! I've linked the Festival Schedule and descriptions here. (No weblink to just the schedule yet, but here's a link to the archive of issues.) Want to come visit Dubuque (and me?) this festival season? Now you can plan your visit accordingly. Fair warning (or welcome fact depending on your stance) Dubuquers tend to use festivals as an excuse to drink. (Irish Hooley especially. Just another reason, this city is my city!)
Note: Free guest room stay at the Apartment de Becky is included in any festival attendance. Reservations not required, but recommended for guaranteed availability. Optional guided tour of the indie coffeeshops and Becky's summer outdoor haunts also available on request. (The latter only between May 1 and October 1.)
Now you may think I'm joking, but I'm not. Yesterday I picked up a copy of our free weekly entertainment guide type publication (365 Ink). The cover story? 2011 Festivals. Replete with a complete guide to the city's (and surrounding areas, lest we forget the smaller communities nearby) celebrations. This guide boasts no less than 55 unique events (I didn't count each edition of the regular events!) between May 20 and October 9. Oh and by the way, this doesn't include any of the local church festivals. If you grew up Catholic, you know what I'm talking about. There are approximately 10 Catholic churches in Dubuque. I'll let that sink in.
I love the show Gilmore Girls, but I was always amazed at the number of crazy festivals and own celebrations they had. Little did I know almost 3 years ago I'd move to a real live city that might rival the festivities of the fictional Stars Hollow.
Now this dear reader is where I must admit some guilt. Despite living here for almost 3 years (2 full festival seasons) I think I've only attended 7 events. Shocking and shameful, I know. I've hit Taste of Dubuque and Irish Hooley twice each, Summer's Last Blast once (which by the way is back to back days with Irish Hooley!), and the Art Fair in Washington Park portion of DubuqueFest (complete withe a gazebo that would make Gilmore Girls proud) twice.
So my BEDA buddies (and my other gracious readers), I think I might need to up my festival attendance if I'm going to claim myself a Dubuquer. (Not a true Dubuquer. For that distinction requires grandparents buried in the city's cemetaries, so I guess my imaginary grandchildren still have a shot at that lofty goal.)
That goes for you too! I've linked the Festival Schedule and descriptions here. (No weblink to just the schedule yet, but here's a link to the archive of issues.) Want to come visit Dubuque (and me?) this festival season? Now you can plan your visit accordingly. Fair warning (or welcome fact depending on your stance) Dubuquers tend to use festivals as an excuse to drink. (Irish Hooley especially. Just another reason, this city is my city!)
Note: Free guest room stay at the Apartment de Becky is included in any festival attendance. Reservations not required, but recommended for guaranteed availability. Optional guided tour of the indie coffeeshops and Becky's summer outdoor haunts also available on request. (The latter only between May 1 and October 1.)
Irish Hooley DOES sound like a rockin' good time...
ReplyDeleteThere's some awesomely good live music at DubuqueFest this year in May. See www.dubuquefest.org
ReplyDeleteSouth Louisiana is all about the festivals. In fact, festival season is about to start here too. My favorite that I've never gone to but love because of the title is the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival. Weird combination.
ReplyDeleteAre any of these Founder's Day Festivals? If so, I will be in attendance...as you may know, the Salvatore brothers are constantly popping up at these things and evil werewolves or other such supernatural creatures are always reeking havoc. They are the place to be! Perhaps Dubuque is more of a Mystic Falls than a Stars Hollow..we shall see. ;)
ReplyDeleteGet on it! Would love to see some pictures from your local fests.
ReplyDeleteDo you know if the Apartment de Becky serves a free continental breakfast for their patrons? And do you know why it is called a "continental" breakfast when it has nothing to do with any continents besides America (which, technically, is neither a continent nor a country. There's a NORTH and a SOUTH America and a United States of America, but no plain America. I think it's a fake word that you can tack onto things. The Apartment de Becky should consider tacking on "of America" to the name. Makes it sound more authentic, apparently. This is a long side thought. Oops. LIterary violation.)
ReplyDeleteAccording to the OED, a Continental breakfast is "a light breakfast such as is eaten on the Continent, esp. in France;" So technically it probably still applies. However if you really want to know what's on the menu at the Apartment de Becky (of America) it is as follows: French toast made with homemade brioche bread, eggs (any style), bacon or sausage, rosemary-garlic breakfast potatoes, and your choice of juice, coffee or milk. :) Call it what you want.
ReplyDeleteMichael, I've stayed and dined at the Apartment de Becky of America. It's quite nice. You ought to look into lodging there in the future. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, how did you manage to move to a Stars Hollow-esque town? How do they exist? I think you should plan now to adopt/birth/steal a baby so that you can become Lorelai and your kid can be Dubuque's favorite daughter.
ReplyDelete