January 2004

Editor: Deb Thompson deb@lightpatch.com

Festivals for Travelers, Sites of the Month, Archives, Opinions, Rants, Praises.

What Do Writers Do All Day?       (Deb's Writer Cam)

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The Artsy Site Of The Month: Best of the Web: Museums Nominate museum web sites for the Best of the Web competition (and view past winners).		Handy Site Of The Month: Where To Stay For Mardi Gras Tips on New Orleans lodging.
Just Fun Site Of The Month: Summer Camp Jobs & Employment Swim, ride horseback, and craft with young people-and get paid for it.		Scientific Site Of The Month: Future Scientists And Engineers of America Get kids involved in a club in your area.

Buy great spices at great prices

January Events

For January Travelers

January 10-11, 2004 Cape Coral Festival Of The Arts Cape Coral Parkway, Cape Coral, Florida.	Music and other entertainment, 220 juried arts and crafts booths, festival foods. This is the event's 19th year. Further Information: 239-945-1988.
January 15-18, 2004 Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival Mesa Park, Fellsmere, Florida.	Carnival midway, food, entertainment. Further Details: Call 772-571-8622.
January 15-18, 2004 Winterskol various venues, Aspen, Colorado.	Fireworks, Apple Strudel (both race and sweets), freestyle snowboarding, sopapilla breakfast and eating contest, art after hours, snow sculpting, soup cook-off, parties, canine fashion show and more Further Details: Call 800-670-0792.
Sorry, folks. I'm unable to fulfill requests for personalized festival lists. (Unless you want to hire me for personal research!)
January 15-25, 2004 Florida Citrus Festival Orange Dome, Winter Haven, Florida.	Miss Florida Citrus pageant, grapefruit packing competition, karaoke, parade, antique crate label and postcard show and sale, cheerleading competition, police and firefighter chili cook-off, rides and more. Further Information: Call 863-292-8063.
January 16-18, 2004 Waukesda JanBoree unknown venue(s), Waukesha, Wisconsin.	Ice sculpting, Snow Ball, art, fireworks and more. More: Call 262-528-1703.
January 16-18, 2004 Fire & Ice Festival Uptown, Somerset, Pennsylvania.	Gingerbread House contest, Fire & Ice Photo Contest, sundae eating contest, ice sculptures, 5K Walk/Run, music and more. Information: Call 814-443-1748.
Colorful festivals are great for taking pictures. Please ask permission before taking photos of arts and crafts items at a festival booth.
January 16-18, 2004 Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival Downtown, Carefree, Arizona.	Wine tastings, work on display and for sale by more than 160 juried artists, entertainment, food. Additional Details: Call 480-837-5637.
The ABC Art & Craft Event Directory: 2003 National Edition by Mary Reed	Carnival Secrets by Matthew L. Gryczan
January 16-18, 2004 Crustacean Classics Factory Stores, Lincoln City, Oregon.	Live crab and oyster races (you can rent one!), musical entertainment, art, chowder cook-off, commercial vendors, and festival treats such as falafel, BBQ, kettle corn and strawberry shortcake. More: Call 541-996-1274 or 800-452-2151.
January 16-18, 2004 Ouray Ice Festival various venues, Ouray, Colorado.	Uncompahgre Gorge shines with ice as the area celebrates with ice climbing clinics, a Lions Club breakfast at the Community Center (on 6th Avenue), climbing gear demonstrations, fundraising dinner by the Ouray Volunteer Fire Department, films, silent auction, Ice Breakers Ball, outdoor bazaar, and more. Learn More: Call 970-325-4288.
January 17-18, 2004 Delray Festival of the Arts Pineapple Grove Way, Delray Beach, Florida.	More than 200 juried artists show and sell their work, plus you can enjoy music and international food treats. More: Call 561-279-1380.
January 17-18, 2004 Casa Grande Heritage Tourism Days Historic Downtown, Casa Grande, Arizona.	Music, food entertainment, arts and crafts, antiques, walking tours of the historic district. The town is celebrating 125 years in 2004. Details: Call 520-836-8744.
January 17-18, 2004 Flake Out Festival Downtown, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.	Candlelight walk, caroling, entertainment, Snowman-making competition, snow sculpting competition, turkey bowling, kite flying, pony rides, tricycle races, Eskimo pie-eating contest, music, food, hot air balloon glow, fireworks. This is the festival's 14th year. Find Out Details: Call 800-223-3557.
January 17-25, 2004 Tip-Up Town, USA Houghton Lake (& shoreline), Houghton Lake, Michigan.	Carnival rides, pony rides, parade, poker runs, horseshoes on ice, fishing contest, fireworks. Further Information: Call 800-248-5253.
January 17-26, 2004 Stowe Winter Carnival Main Street, Stowe, Vermont.	Fireworks, costumed characters, World Coldest and Wackiest Parade, chicken dinner, snowgolf, 5K run/1K walk, ice carving, youth hockey, snow volleyball, battle of the bands, turkey bowling, broom hockey, StowEggxtreme Challenge (egg relay race) and more. Additional Details: Call 800-237-8693.
January 17-March 6, 2004 Pittsfield Winter Carnival various venues, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.	Queen pageant, cross country ski races, golf on ice, snow sculpture contest, ice fishing derby, kite flying, haywagon rides, snowshoe races, toboggan race and more. Learn More: Call 413-499-9343.
January 22-February 8, 2004 St. Paul Winter Carnival & Ice Palace Downtown, St. Paul, Minnesota.	Ice and snow sculpting contest (in Rice Park), parade, cat show (Roy Wilkins Auditorium), fireworks, torchlight parade, Minnesota Life Frozen 5K and Half Marathon, Medallion Hunt, sugar cube "ice palace" display, Disc Golf Hole-In-One Contest, kite flying, sleigh and cutter rally, storytelling, and more. You can obtain free or discounted access to some events by purchasing a button. Details: Call 651-223-4700.
January 23-25, 2004 Yuma Lettuce Days Main Street, Yuma, Arizona.	Produce, educational displays, lettuce box derby, and more. More: Call 928-783-0071.
January 24, 2004 Family Fun Festival A&B Amphitheater, Maui, Hawaii.	Food, gallery tours, entertainment, games for kids, crafts. Further Details: Call 808-242-7469.
January 27-February 1, 2004 2004 International Snow Sculpture Championships Riverwalk Center area, Breckenridge, Colorado.	Not a festival in the strictest sense of the word, this event still draws many people who participate in the fun, both those who sculpt and those who view. you can view some of last year's work here. Four-person teams work for 65 hours with 20-ton blocks of compressed snow, using only hand tools. This year 14 teams will compete, with some participants coming from Mexico City, Germany, England and Bulgaria. The sculptures will be on display for several days, weather permitting. For a $1.00 donation you can vote for your favorites, and receive a commemorative button. Enjoy the nearby ice village (which does include work made with chain saws). Children display their snow art, much of which has been inspired by sculptors having visited and instructed them on the basics of the art and science behind snow sculpture. More: Call 970-547-3100.
January 28-February 1, 2004 B.C. Snowdown Winterfest various venues, Durango, Colorado.	Put out a pie "contract" on someone (but they can buy insurance against you), and hunt for the silver bullet to win cash in this festival full of events. They've adopted the theme YabaDabaDoorango for 2004's celebration, and events include fun such as Cookie Stacking, bed races, Fire and Ice Run, outhouse race, pancake breakfast, mountain bike slalom, a golf tournament, a pool tournament, spaghetti dinner, Spam carving, Kave Krooner Karaoke, Ski Softball, Canine Fashion Show, Balloon Rally and Glow, Light Parade, Bedrock Cribbage, and much more. Learn Further: Call 970-247-3435 or 970-247-8163.
January 29-February 7, 2004 Voyageur Winter Festival various venues, Ely, Minnesota.	Cross Country Ski Races, art walk of local artists, voyageur encampment, craft and fiber arts fair, kids art fair, snow carving symposium, Mukluk Ball. Further Information: Call 800-777-7281.
January 30-February 8, 2004 Winter Carnival various venues, McCall, Idaho.	Mardi Gras parade, neon light parade, beer garden, teen dance, food court, staged entertainment, masked ball, senior center dinner, bingo, snow sculpting competition and display, dog sled demonstrations, pancake breakfast, wine festival and auction, snowshoe golf, spaghetti dinner and more. Learn Details: Call 800-260-5130.
January 31, 2004 Kumquat Festival Pascoe Fairgrounds, Dade City, Florida.	Pageants, recipe contest, antique appraisal, Kiwanis breakfast, BBQ dinner, Kumquat 10K Run, crafts, farmer's market, antique car show, activities for kids. More: Call 352-567-3769.
January 31-February 8, 2004 Ole & Lena Days various venues, Granite Falls, Minnesota.	Pancake breakfast, firefighter's dance, Lutefisk & Meatball Lunch (Kilowatt Commnity Center), 4-mile race, lefse fling, snow sculpting, medallion hunt, kids' snowshoe race, variety show, Scandinavian food fair, crafts, Buck Euchre and more. Additional Details: Call 320-564-4039.
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January Somethings! Brief, bare-boned last-minute festival listings:
January 3 The Great Fruitcake Toss, Memorial Park, Manitou Springs, Colorado, 719-685-5089 January 4 (Boston Bruins) Wives' Charity Carnival, Fleet Center, Boston, Massachusetts January 8 Winter Carnival, Grove Park Inn Resort, Asheville, North Carolina, 828-258-6130 January 8-10 Fur and Wildlife Festival, Cameron, Louisiana, 337-542-4110 January 9-11 Old Town Jubilee, Old Main Street, Yuma, Arizona, 928-782-5712 January 10 Lafayette Oatmeal Festival, Lafayette, Colorado, 303-926-4352 January 10-11 Texas Art & Rubber Stamp Festival, Convention Center, Grapevine, Texas, 817-410-3459 January 15-25 Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah, 801-328-3456 January 16-18 Kids' Winter Carnival, Salem Civic Center, Salem, Virginia, 540-375-3004 January 16-19 Morro Bay Bird Festival, Morro Bay, California, 805-772-4467 January 16-February 1 South Florida Fair, Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach, Florida, 561-793-0333 January 17-18 Nautical & Wildlife Art Festival, Convention Center, Ocean City, Maryland, 410-524-9177 January 17-18 Bavarian Ice Fest, Front Street City Park, Leavenworth, Washington, 509-548-5807 January 21-31 Taos Winter Wine Festival, Taos, New Mexico, 800-347-7414 ext. 1427 January 22-25 Greek Festival, St. Mark Greek Orthodox Church, Boca Raton, Florida, 561-994-4822 January 25 Low Country Oyster Festival, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, 843-577-4030 January 29-31 The Creative Festival, Denvermart, Denver, Colorado, 541-245-1296
Other January 2004 Events You Might Enjoy
January 2-February 2 Artists' Garage Sale, VSA Arts of Nevada Gallery, Reno, Nevada, 775-826-6100 January 2-11 Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show, Quartzsite, Arizona, 928-927-6364 January 3-4 Raleigh Antiques Show, State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, North Carolina, 757-430=4735 January 3-4 Huntsville Area Computer Show, Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama, 256-533-1953 January 4 Coin, Stamp, Jewelry & Sports Card Show, Am. Legion Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, 216-871-0118 January 4 Motorcycle Parts Extravaganza, County Fairgrounds, Belleville, Illinois, 217-864-9540 January 6-9 Macworld Expo, Moscone Center, San Francisco, California, 800-645-EXPO January 6-11 Sportshow, Bartle Hall, Kansas City, Missouri, 800-777-4766 January 7 Chinese New Year Parade, San Francisco, California, 415-982-3000 January 8 Millard Fillmore's Birthday Party, Roycroft Inn, East Aurora, New York, 716-652-8444 January 8-11 12th Night (vampire/fantasy), Radisson Clayton, St. Louis, Missouri January 9-11 State Home & Garden Show, Convention Center, Sacramento, California, 916-264-5181 January 10-11 Antiques Show, Knights of Columbus Hall on Gun and Rod Rd., Brenham, Texas, 979-251-9455 January 10-11 Florida Extravaganza (toy, comic, fantasy), Cty. Convention Ctr, Orlando, Florida, 941-360-6666 ext. 102/101 January 10-11 LaGrange Mall Arts & Crafts Show, LaGrange Mall, LaGrange, Georgia January 10-11 Pomona Valley Air Fair, 13th and Benson, Upland, California, 626-966-5282 January 11 Rice Capital Championship Gumbo Cook-Off, Crowley, Louisiana, 337-788-0177 January 11 Twelfth Night Handbell Concert, Academy of Performing Arts, Las Vegas, Nevada, 702-363-7428 January 11 Teddy Bear & Doll Show, Lafayette Hotel, Marietta, Ohio January 15-18 St. Joseph Sport Show, Civic Arena, St. Joseph, Missouri, 816-271-4717 January 16-18 Annapolis Heritage Antiques Show, Medford Armory, Annapolis, Maryland, 410-435-2292 January 16-18 Home & Garden Show, Yuma Civic & Convention Center, Yuma, Arizona, 928-373-5040 January 16-25 Seattle Boat Show, Seahawks Stadium, Seattle, Washington, 206-634-0911 January 17 Scottish Highland Games, Winter Springs, Florida, 407-273-1970 January 17 Winter Family Carnival & Dinner, Community Center, Angel Fire, New Mexico, 505-377-1544 January 17 Model Railroad Hobby Show & Sale, Twin City Model RR Museum, St. Paul, Minnesota, 651-647-9628 January 17-18 Rio Grande Valley Woodcarving Show, Civic Center, McAllen, Texas, 956-686-3942 January 17-18 Lebanon Antique Show, Lebanon High School on SR 48, Lebanon, Ohio, 513-932-1817 January 17-18 Mesilla Valley Balloon Rally, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 505-526-7528 January 19 Martin Luther King Parade, Civic Center, Lake Charles, Louisiana, 337-436-9588 January 23-25 105th Greensburg Antiques Show & Sale, Mountain View Inn, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, 716-741-8001 January 23-25 SC International Auto Show, Palmeto Expo Center, Greenville, South Carolina, 864-233-2562 January 24 7th Annual Le Chocolate Feast, Northwest Arkansas Mall, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 479-521-6152 January 24-25 Philadelphia Fountain Pen Show, Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 215-448-2000 January 27-29 Vermont Farm Show, Civic Center, Barre, Vermont, 802-828-3490 January 27-29 Colorado Farm Show, Greeley, Colorado, 970-356-9426 January 29-February 1 Garden & Patio Show, Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta, Georgia, 770-998-9800 January 30-February 1 Xena Convention, Burbank Airport & Convention Center, Burbank, California, 818-409-0960 ext. 225 January 30-February 1 Antique Show, Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 507-288-0320 January 30-February 1 Northeast Louisiana Antique Show & Sale, West Monroe, Louisiana, 318-324-0517 January 31 Eleventh Moon Storytelling Festival, Natchez, Mississippi, 601-446-6502 January 31 Rattlesnake Roundup (crafts), Whigham Community Club, Whigham, Georgia, 229-762-3774
It's always best to call ahead to verify festival information. Please tell them you saw the listing in Deb's Monthly Review.

Trade something you have for something you want! Keep more of your cash-- And barter! Check out Santa Cruz Barter!

Look at this guy!

This is Scott L. Schwartz. If you ever get into trouble, you'll want him on your side. This guy means business. And his business is playing big and bad. Big may come easy, because he's 6'10" and weighs about 300 pounds. I'm not sure how he pulls off the bad part though, because he actually seems to be very... Well, never mind. Just click on the banner and get ready for some action. www.ultimatebadguy.com Scott played a camouflage wrestler in the highly successful film Spiderman

Once upon a time there was a man with a gentle voice and quiet charm. He made several movies and worked in a TV show playing a character who rode a motorcycle from town to town, touching lives, and singing a little here and there. Then some of us didn't hear much of him for awhile. We wondered if he would ever come to sing for us again.
Michael Parks is singing, and he recorded 17 songs for us to enjoy, including: I'll Never Be Free Basin Street Blues Don't Go To Strangers Easy Street This CD was a long time coming, but it was worth waiting for. Take a trip to Listen Recordings where you can order your copy.

Above: Metallic Choker Necklace Left: Dreamcatcher Earrings

Joan Garnand Creates from her home in Tennessee. Her design styles range from simple elegance to whimsical fun. Joan does hand-painted stationery, uses spare moments at festivals to paint faces, and entertains children at private parties. Only a small sample of her work is illustrated online. Talk to her about what you're looking for!

If you still can't figure out what someone means when they type NTIM or IMNSHO in a chat room, or you still don't know a .asc file from a .avi file, check out the High-Tech Dictionary at computeruser.com. Note that there may be a rude word or two involved, but most of the information is very useful. Just read it with your kids if you like to screen out sassy sayings.
The internet has spawned strange collections of things, or perhaps is just a good repository for the strange collections that already exist. You might enjoy a look at all the Phoons.		Think you've got snow this winter? How about a 15-inch snowflake?

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