good fireworks & music concert

Finally made it out to one of the St. Mary's College free concerts tonight. Basically they're your concerts in the park kinda events. Bring a chair and whatever food you want (or buy from the many vendors), come early for a good spot on the greens, and relax and enjoy. And did I mention they're free?

Scorching heat and unreal humidity aside, I picked a good one to attend. The music was great, but I'm a sucker for Independence Day style orchestral music so that was a given. But I was pleasantly surprised by the fireworks show. We were actually kinda close--not like other ones I've been to where you have to show up three hours early to get a seat with a decent and close view of the display. It lasted for a long time, probably a half hour or so and a good 10 minutes after the orchestra finished the 1812 Overture. (As a side note, the 1812 Overture is indisputably the best piece of classical/orhcestral/whatever music ever composed by anyone, anywhere.) And the best part was the admission price--can't beat free.

I expect to be back for a few more this season and maybe some of the other shows too. It's about all the cultured entertainment available 'round these parts, at least that I'm aware of, and membership isn't at all bad compared to what I remember of Walton Arts Center prices. But hey, membership or no membership it's hard to beat a free concert every Friday. More areas of the country need to catch on to this.

One thing I must ask, though, is why must some people insist on distracting everyone around them during the middle of a show? This happens everywhere--movie theatres, outdoor concerts, sporting events, you name it. Didn't happen too often tonight, and it was a music show after all, but it still sucks to be trying to watch the orchestra or the firemen displays on the side and have someone near you trying to set up their space, messing with their kids, or standing right in front of you gawking around the crowd for someone or something. Hello, wait until intermission or between songs. Or at least try to be courteous and quick about it. Or better yet, just freakin' show up on time, know who/where you're supposed to meet, and don't bring an infant you know won't deal well with the heat/noise/crowd/whatever. Fools.