Yesterday June 16th, Albuquerque had it's Summerfest Cenntenial Celebration in the downtown area closing off Central (part of Route 66) for most of the day.  They had many stages with music - a full range.  Saw Rock-a-billy music, Indian drumming with dancers, country western dancers and then Roy Rogers Jr. and others.

Food for sale and some booths of local businesses and museums.  We got there right as it opened and have very light crowds.  We were already downtown ushering at the Popejoy that morning so it made for a full morning downtown.

We thought it seemed sort of smokey and turns out a fire started a 11AM just south of ABQ and so it was smokey.  The sun only peaked through the haze occassionally.

We talked to the owner of the car I have pictured for a long time.  He told us a ton about what all he did to make this beauty of a car look brand new again.  He told us that he bought the car from three ladies in Arizona I believe who were the original owners - so the car has had a total of 2.  That's pretty crazy and it has less than 100K miles on it.  He insisted I sit in the car and asked what I thought the dial of numbers on the right was.  It looked like a second spedometer - but it turned out to be the radio.  Very fancy for it's time. 

I'm a bit of a fan of of street fairs and I've been to some really good ones.  I didn't linger at this one long enough to give it a grade honestly.  But the reason I didn't linger is it was just a bit too hot.  The best street parties I've been to happen in the evening when it cools down a bit.  Then you want to dance and eat and hang out.  I think ABQ needs to rethink the day time street parties in the summer.  This one started at noon and went to 6PM - total middle of the hottest time of day??  Why??

When I first got to town I was completely intrigued with people watching here.  Coming from Portland Oregon things were  the same in some areas and completely over the top in others, but now I'm totally used to it and not much draws my eye.  I'll never be a fan of tattoos. I've tried to stop thinking about what that tatoo will look on an old person, but it's hard.  I really hate seeing tattoos on old skin, it's so gross.  I saw a lady with so much tatoos on her chest going up to the top of her neck - just under her jaw line, that her head looked like it was floating.  Not pretty.  Okay that caught my eye and I really wanted a picture.  I think I should have asked, and I think she would have said okay.  I mean.... you don't have junk put all over your body and dress so that everyone can see it because you want to keep it private...?  Right?

They had an art area - but it wasn't anything that I was interested in.  There is so many great places to see art in this area.  What I'd really like to go to is the usable folk art show in Sante fe... need to get that on the calendar.