This past weekend, I had every intention of spending lots of quality time at the Decatur Book Festival here in GA. I planned to see a reading or two, listen to some live music, and maybe even catch a panel discussion. None of that happened. The family did finally make it on Sunday (the last day) after a rain storm that drove most of the exhibitors from the square. It looked like it may have been a happening fest at some point with beer tents, a wine garden, and food vendors. We just got there too late.
Nationally known authors that I might have caught: Arianna Huffington, Roy Blount Jr., Edward P. Jones. I missed John Wesley Harding playing for free in two separate venues. I did see the Wren’s Nest tent, which featured an elderly African-American gentleman reading aloud from Uncle Remus stories (earlier in the day, apparently, he had been reading under a tree in the grass). The super left wing earnest people were still in their tent (read Che in the original espanol!). The highlight for us, though, was stumbling across a new kids’ book store just off the square called The Little Shop of Stories, which shares space with a Jake’s Ice Cream. It was big fun for Toddler Cayenne, and it carries enough adult books that I was able to leave with a purchase. Fun for the whole family.

September 7th, 2006 at 5:05 pm
I feel guilty; I missed the entire festival. I opted for a weekend at Lake Burton instead. Why did they schedule it over a holiday weekend, when everyone in this town flees far and wide?
September 8th, 2006 at 10:13 am
Well, if you had gotten there when I did, you didn’t miss much. I hope that the event grows into a regular event. And a weekend at Lake Burton is a nice tradeoff.