March 2003

Editor: Deb Thompson deb@lightpatch.com

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

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The Artsy Site Of The Month: True Fresco Forums, supplies, articles, and shows featuring fresco painting.		Handy Site Of The Month: TravelMate Overview Female assistance for iffy restroom facilities--or no rest room at all.
Just Fun Site Of The Month: 20 Questions, The Classic Game Played with artificial intelligence. Sign up, or play as a guest.		Scientific Site Of The Month: American Petroleum Institute The U.S. uses up to one-quarter of the world's oil. Where does all the oil come from?

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March Events

For March Travelers

March 1-2, 2003 Mussel Fest various venues, Coupeville, Washington.	Music, art, scavenger hunt, chowder-cooking contest, cooking demonstrations, children's activities. Further Details: Call 360-678-5434.
March 1-2, 2003 Blossom Days Festival Sanger Civic Center Park, Sanger, California.	10K Run, 2 mile walk, quarter mile kids run, pancake breakfast, library book sale, Depot Museum tours, entertainment, arts and crafts. More: Call 559-875-4575.
March 1-2, 2003 Floral City Strawberry Festival Floral Park, Floral City, Florida.	Strawberry shortcake, other foods, music, arts and crafts. This is the festival's 16th year. Additional Information: Call 352-726-2801.
March 1-2, 2003 Winthrop Hot Air Balloon Festival various venues, Winthrop, Washington.	Balloon glow on Saturday night, early morning balloon launches. Details: Call 888-463-8469.
March 1-2, 2003 Downtown Venice Art Classic West Venice Avenue, Venice, Florida.	70,000 are expected to attend this event of fine art, music and food. More Information: Call 941-484-6722 or 954-472-3755.
March 1-2, 2003 Spring Craft Fair unknown venue(s), Cocoa Village, Florida.	Simply put, crafts. Additional Details: Call 321-631-9075.
March 2, 2003 Chocolate and Coffee Festival Adirondack Community College Gym on Bay Road, Queensbury, New York	Coffee and chocolate samplings, music, plus a raffle. Tickets: Call 518-793-1348.
March 2-9, 2003 Forsythia Festival Forsyth Park, Forsyth, Georgia.	Beauty pageant, golf tournament, entertainment, used book sale, organ recital, yellow dessert contest, fishing tournament, horsehoe tournament, 5K run, pancake breakfast, classic car show, arts and crafts fair. Additional Information: Call 478-994-9239 or 888-642-4628.
March 7-8, 2003 Camden Daffodil Festival unknown venue, Camden, Arkansas.	Garden tours, tours of historic homes, children's events, wild turkey calling contest, steak cooking contest, golf tournament, 5K run, arts and crafts, cemetery walk, foods. Further Details: Call 870-836-0023.
March 7-9, 2003 Florida Azalea Festival Downtown area, Palatka, Florida.	Helicopter rides, Shriners parade, kids casting contest, bike show, entertainment, bass tournament, talent show, arts and crafts show, rib cooking contest. Additional Information: Call 386-326-4001.
March 7-9, 2003 Bashas' Chandler Ostrich Festival Tumbleweed Park, Chandler, Arizona.	Music by groups such as America and Grand Funk Railroad, ostrich races, Xtreme Air Show, parade, storytelling, kids zone, ostrich products for sale, arts and crafts. This is the festival's 15th year. Details: Call 480-963-4571 Ext. 105.
March 8-9, 2003 Winter Carnival Kissing Bridge on Rt. 240, Glenwood, New York.	Treasure hunts, costume contest, on-snow mountain bike racing, and more. More Information: Call 800-367-9691 or 716-592-4963.
March 8-9, 2003 Hebron Maple Festival various venues, Hebron, Connecticut.	Self-tours of operating sugar houses, maple bake sale, used book sale, Sugar on Snow, nature walks, historic building tours, pancake breakfast, pony rides, ice cream eating contest, girl scout cookie sale, historical quilt exhibition and sale, teacup auction, roast beef church supper, coloring contest, maple cotton candy, other foods. The "blizzard dates" for the festival are March 15-16. Further Information: Call 860-228-5971.
March 14-15, 2003 Azalea Festival Drexel Park, Valdosta, Georgia.	Parade, KidZone, Circus, fireworks, bike ride, arts and crafts, Youth Expo, entertainment, food, home and garden tours. Details: Call 229-245-0513.
March 14-16, 2003 Zinfandel Festival various venues, Paso Robles, California.	Tastings, wine dinners, tours, seminars and cooking demonstrations, silent auctions. Additional Information: Call 805-239-8463.
March 15, 2003 Wild Chicken Festival Main Street area downtown, Fitzgerald, Georgia.	Boat exhibit, arts and crafts, pet parade, bird of prey show, food.. Further Information: Call 229-423-4321 or 800-346-4642.
March 15-16, 2003 Ocean Arts Fest Banyan Tree Park, Lahaina, Hawaii.	This event celebrates humpback whales and other marine life with art, kids' activities, entertainment and more. Additional Details: Call 808-667-9193.
March 15-16, 2003 Dandelion Days Downtown area, Jackson, California.	Outdoor peddler's faire with crafts and food. Further Information: Call 209-223-1706.
March 15-16, 2003 Maple Syrup Festival Mapleberry Farms, Mt. Tabor Road, Waverly, Ohio.	Guided walking tours of the farm, and pancake dinners (with real maple syrup, of course!) served all day. More Information: Call 740-947-2331.
March 16, 2003 Jewish Festival Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Ave., Melbourne, Florida.	Cultural displays, children's corner, art, pottery, books, jewelry, entertainment and plenty of Jewish food. Further Details: Call 321-636-1824.
March 20-23, 2003 Festival of Flowers Spring Hill College, Old Shell Road, Mobile, Alabama.	Exhibits by floral groups, designer tablescapes, landscaped gardens by professional designers and contractors, seminars, Southern Living Gardening School (must reserve a ticket in advance), Garden Cafe and more. Ticket Information: Call 521-639-2050 or 877-777-0529.
March 21-23, 2003 Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park, Houston, Texas.	300 artists participate in this event, with activities such as Mad Hat Making for kids, musical entertainment, and festival foods such as roasted corn, creampuffs, quesadillas and ice cream mixed on marble slabs. Proceeds benefit local charitable organizations such as the Art League of Houston and the (SNAP) Spay-Neuter Assistance Program. More Information: Call 321-636-1824.
March 21-23, 2003 Street Fair Fourth Avenue, Tucson, Arizona.	400 arts and crafts booth, 35 food vendors, entertainment on stage and street performances, kids' entertainment. Additional Information: Call 520-624-5004.
March 21-30, 2003 International Cherry Blossom Festival various venues, Macon, Georgia.	Cherry tree sales, helicopter rides, pony rides, ikebana displays, ball, lantern light tours, sea lion show, choral concert, flower show, bingo, horse-drawn carriage rides, riding tours, pink pancake breakfast, paper making workshops, fly-in, Mulberry Street Arts & Crafts Festival, food vendors, worship services, international food fair and more. More: Call 478-751-7429.
March 22-23, 2003 Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival Georgia International Horse Park, 1996 Centennial Olympic Parkway, Conyers, Georgia.	More than 400 crafts booths, international food court, entertainment, activities for kids, virtual reality games, cherry tree sales.. Additional Information: Call 800-CONYERS or 770-602-2606.
March 22-23, 2003 Atlantique City Spring Festival Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey.	More than 10 (indoor) acres of antiques on display and for sale. More: Call 800-526-2724.
March 28-30, 2003 Pittsburgh Arts & Crafts Spring Fever Festival Expo Center At Westmoreland Mall, on U.S. Route 30, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.	More than 220 booths will display original arts and crafts. More than 15,000 people attended last year's event. In addition to merchandise there are many festival foods with a large eat-in dining area. Further Details: Call 724-863-4577.
March 26-30, 2003 Tennessee Williams Festival various French Quarter locations, New Orleans, Louisiana.	The event showcases the playwright's work with panel discussions, lectures, literary walking tours, music, a book fair, theatrical performances, readings, and a one-act play competition. Some events are ticketed separately. Additional Information: Call 504-581-1144.
March 27-30, 2003 Louisiana Crawfish Festival St. Bernard Civic Center, 8245 W. Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, Louisiana.	This is the event's 28th year, and festival-goers are welcome to enjoy carnival rides and booths, plus many foods. More Details: Call 504-271-3836.
March 28, 2003 All That Jazz! A Taste Of Old Monterey! Double Tree Hotel, Monterey, California.	Music, a silent auction of products and services, wine and food samplings. This is the event's 3rd year. Ticket Information: Call 831-655-8072.
March 29, 2003 Elberta German Sausage Festival Elberta Town Park, Elberta, Alabama.	The Volunteer Fire Department sponsors this event, which includes music and dancing, games, children's rides, arts and crafts, and food booths. German sausages are the special focus. Additional Information: Call 251-986-5377.
March Somethings! Brief, bare-boned last-minute festival listings:
Mar. 1-2 Heritage Days Festival, Ft. Zachary Taylor Historic Site, Key West, Florida, 305-292-6713 Mar. 1-2 Gasparilla Festival Of The Arts, Downtown, Tampa, Florida, 813-876-1747 Mar. 2 Portuguese Day in the Park, Gilbert Carvalho Park, Hilo, Hawaii, 808-935-0547 Mar. 7-9 Dixieland Monterey Festival, various venues, Monterey, California, 888-349-6879 Mar. 7-9 Storytelling Festival, Mariposa, California, 800-903-9936 Mar. 8-9 Pleasure Island Festival Of Art, Lake Shelby (Gulf State Park), Gulf Shores, Alabama, 251-981-1852 Mar. 8-9 Bok Kai Parade & Bomb Day, Marysville, California, 530-743-4151 Mar. 11-16 Nederland Heritage Festival, Boston Avenue, Nederland, Texas, 409-724-2269 Mar. 13-16 Louisiana Purchase Motorcycle Rally, Sugararena, New Iberia, Louisiana, 337-365-4277 Mar.13-16 Canyon Country Western Arts Festival, Cedar City, Utah, 800-354-4849 Mar. 14-16 Unite-A-Fest, Lauderhill Mall, Lauderhill, Florida, 954-972-9628 Mar. 14-16 Jonquil Festival, Old Washington State Historic Park, Washington, Arkansas, 870-983-2684 Mar. 14-16 Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival, Downtown, Fairhope, Alabama, 251-928-2228 Mar. 14-16 Rabbit Festival, City Park, Iowa, Louisiana, 800-456-7952 Mar. 14-16 Catfish Festival, Downtown, Washington, Louisiana, 337-826-3627 Mar. 14-16 Taste of Solvang, various venues, Solvang, California, 800-468-6765 Mar. 15-16 Whale Festival, Fort Bragg, California, 707-961-6300 Mar. 18 Maple Sugar Festival, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo, Michigan 616-381-1574 Mar. 21-24 Aleutian Goose Festival, Crescent City, California, 800-343-8300 or 707-465-0800 Mar. 23-24 Georgia Art & Rubber Stamp Festival, 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy #100, Duluth, Georgia, 800-224-6422 Mar. 28-30 Creole Festival, City Park, Jeanerette, Louisiana, 888-942-3742 Mar. 29 Arts & Crafts Festival, County Fairgrounds, Norman, Oklahoma, 405-360-4721 Mar. 29-30 KidsFest, Bozeman, Montana, 406-522-0074 Mar. 29-30 & Apr. 2-6 Maple Festival, Meyers Avenue, Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, 814-634-0213
Other March 2003 Events You Might Enjoy
Mar. 1-2 Model Train Show, Maude Cobb Convention Center, Longview, Texas, 903-237-1231 Mar. 1-2 Arts & Crafts Show & Sale, Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, Madison, Georgia, 706-342-4743 Mar. 1-2 Kentucky Crafted: The Market, Fair & Expo Center, Louisville, Kentucky, 888-592-7238 Mar. 2-9 Philadelphia Flower Show, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 215-988-8899 Mar. 6-9 Birmingham Home & Garden Show, Birmingham-Jefferson Conv. Center, Birmingham, Alabama, 205-680-0234 Mar. 7-9 Home & Recreation Expo, Collins-Perley Sports Center, St. Albans, Vermont, 802-796-4010 Mar. 7-9 Spring Arts and Crafts Show, Fairgrounds, Spokane, Washington, 509-924-0588 Mar. 8-9 Kayak Expo, Okeeheelee Park, West Palm Beach, Florida, 561-881-7218 Mar. 8-9 Depression Glass Era Show & Sale, Concord Plaza, Northlake, Illinois, 630-734-9912 Mar. 9 Calle Ocho, Southwest Eighth St., Miami, Florida, 305-644-8888 Mar. 8-9 Buffalo Home and Garden Show, Convention Center, Buffalo, New York, 716-631-2266 ext. 213 Mar. 8-9 Red River Arts & Crafts Show & Sale, Rapides Coliseum, Alexandria, Louisiana, 318-640-7463 Mar. 20-23 Home & Garden Show, S. Florida Expo Center, West Palm Beach, Florida, 800-274-6948 Mar. 21-23 Bagwell Antiques Show & Sale, Fairgrounds, Jackson, Mississippi, 662-231-9654 Mar. 22-23 Used Book Super Sale, Marin Center Exhibit Hall, San Rafael, California, 415-892-0238
It's always best to call ahead to verify festival information. Please tell them you saw the information in Deb's Monthly Review. Please don't write and ask for personalized information on upcoming festivals, (unless you want to hire me for personal research!)

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Looking for information on travel agents and other travel assistance? Travigator Their search engine lists over 7000 sites and you can sign up for their newsletter

You know how to barter--all you do is trade Something you have for something you want! Keep more of your cash-- And barter! Check out Santa Cruz Barter!

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	We're pleased to host the work of artisan Joan Garnand on our little patch of light on the web. Joan's creations are finally finding their way out of her Tennessee community and into the hearts of admirers everywhere. Joan also spends much of her time doing hand-painted stationery and face painting at private events and at Tennessee festivals.

The man in the banner below this text is not your average guy next door.

This man 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, which is now out on DVD. Scott got to show us his big bad work in the CBS special Return To The Bat Cave, which aired March 9.

Humans do strange things during the spring, and food always seems to play into the mix. One of these food traditions turns 50 this year. Have a closer look at the candy we call Marshmallow Peeps. You can enter a skill-based contest and try to win a year's supply of the treats. And in case you celebrate Purim, here's a great site with lots of Purim recipes. The Hamantaschen pastries sound tasty, and I could definitely feast nicely on the Chocolate Challah!
If you are troubled by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) you might benefit from increased light. Exercise outdoors may give even more relief. You can read more about this illness from the Mental Health Association of America's SAD Factsheet.		If you can't sleep, there is still good news. For about ten dollars, you can get your very own Serta Sheep. Head over to Serta and look for the link to Buy Sheep Stuff. More clever merchandising: Chevron introduced the little cars to help promote Techron. The cars are so popular that they now have their own site. Big kids and little kids will enjoy The Chevron Cars.
If Johnny still can't read, maybe it's because the mainstream school literature doesn't speak to his need to be tough. A few years ago Lawrence Baines did an article for The ALAN Review that listed 50 books the boys in the 'hood might read, in Cool Books For Tough Guys. I especially liked his technique of stressing the "coolness" of banned books.

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