TRAVEL THERE: WHO KNEW SCOTTSDALE HAD A WATERFRONT?
Across the street from Fashion Square was a mixed use complex project. My husband the real estate photographer wanted to go take a look. Once across the street we saw signs pointing the way to the Waterfront Wine and Art Festival. I was thrilled. It had been on my wish list, but I didn’t have a clue where there was a waterfront was in Scottsdale or Phoenix. Having happened upon it without a commitment to be anywhere at any particular time, we decided to check our the art festival.
Admission With and Without Wine
Following the signs we wandered around until we found the Waterfront. It cost only $3 a person to get in, if you didn’t want wine. Bill didn’t want wine. Had this been a girl’s trip, Deb and I would have ponied up the extra $10 for wine tasting, but I was happy enough to enjoy the art sans the tasting. What an entertainment bargain it proved to be!
This was a completely different show than the Celebration of Fine Art we attended a few days before. Like the Celebration, this was a juried show, but the jury for the Celebration was a lot tougher. Instead of a studio setting, this was more of a retail opportunity with lots of hopeful artisans lurking at the edge of their awning. In spite of the lurking artists, we enjoyed the visit.
Worth the Time
Most of the wine was on one side of the canal and most of the art was on the other. Shortly after we arrived we made our way to the artsy side. I will confess, while most of the pieces on display were interesting, they didn’t pass the I’d-hang-it-on-my-wall test. We don’t collect art. We can’t afford to. But often we stand in a gallery or at a festival longing to take something off the wall and carry it home with us. That happened a lot at the Celebration of Fine Art. Not so much at the Waterfront Wine and Art Festival.
Periodically, there would be musical acts or various things to eat or drink. We were still very full from our late morning breakfast buffet, so we weren’t interested in the comestibles, but the entertainment was appreciated. This violinist was among our favorites. Bill took many pictures trying to capture her pure enjoyment of her own music. This is as close as he got.
Up Next?
After a sojourn at the festival, it was time to satisfy another of Bill’s requests. Yes, we made a potty stop at McDonald’s and enjoyed a little hydration break, but that doesn’t count.
Bill wanted to see some desert scenery. There had been plenty at the golf course the day before, but he’d been otherwise occupied. I’d hoped to go to the Desert Botanical Garden, but by the time we were ready to see it, there wasn’t much of the day left, so we doubted we’d get our $15.00 worth. We opted for the McDowell Sonoran Desert Preserve. Come back next week and enjoy it with us!
jane sadek 