After my much needed break in Mystic, CT.... I headed back to Newport, RI to catch Steve Martin do his bluegrass thing.
The show was at the legendary International Tennis Hall Of Fame.
What a beautiful venue.... but, before I get into all that---JUST KNOW that if you park across the street from the venue,...they DO NOT validate parking... So, you have to go buy some gum at CVS to have your parking ticket validated, and then you have to do it again and again every two hours.... I dropped the ball the second hour, and ended up paying $12. to park on top of the $95. ticket to see the show (which I had purchased long before the trip---so it isn't included in the per diem situation).
The venue: Well,...not to tip off any jerky bad people....but, the "security" was EXTREMELY LAX. So, when I realized that no one was searching anything I feigned a need to grab my jacket and went ahead to grab my camera and flask in addition to the "much needed" jacket.
When you walk into the I.T.H.O.F., you are greeted by a pack of charming old guys who are seething charisma. One of them started singing Nancy Sinatra to me, due to the green boots I was wearing which were indeed "made for walking". Following the giggling Navy Jackets, you see the most manicured and beautiful grass tennis court you will ever see. Wimbledon isn't as gorgeous as this. It smells green and floral... Drinks and food are available. Mixed drinks, $7, beer and wine $5., Sodas, $2.
I paid full price for my first drink and eventually said fuck this. I then bought a couple of Diet Pepsis and rocked my virtually undetectable flask which mimics a palm-sized perfume bottle.... It saved me some money, though illegal. Do not do this if you have no finesse whilst breaking rules :).
I was ushered to my seat by another sweet person who obviously lives a happy life in gorgeous Newport, RI. My seat was Row E, Seat 41. I thought, COOL!!! I'll be on the 5th row.
NO.
It was on the FIRST ROW of my section---so nobody was between me and the love of my life, Mr. Martin.
The girl that started the show, Sarah Jerosz, was an amazing talent. Her voice and songs were truly humbling and fantastic. To start this huge show off with just herself and a guitar was just incredible. What grace and courage. She was probably 22 or something.
After another guy came out and I spent a great deal of time waiting for the Port-O-Let....it was time for Steve.
He looked so great.
Light suit, white hair, smart glasses...fit......younger than I remember him looking the last time I saw him.... WOW.
And his banjo skills did not disappoint whatsoever. Whipsmart song lyrics and the musical skills of a savant,.... naturally. I expected nothing less. He blew me so much further away than I thought he would. Funny, talented, handsome.....
I got a whole lot of pictures that were just okay, because they wouldn't let you just sit right by the stage and click until you got a great one. You had to be quick and sly about everything. I did get some video footage of the tail end of King Tut. IT ROCKED SO HARD, PEOPLE!!!
My friend, Nancy, was kind enough to host me one final night....before we had a Clam bake/ Lobster boil on the beach the next day and I had a blast with her after the show, as usual......
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The next day was really fun.
Nancy broke her back getting and preparing food and beverage, as well as holding down the fort of a fabulous waterfront table at the cleanest, dearest little beach by her house.
After a long day of prep and stress,....I finally saw her unwind over homemade (by herself) mojitos and freshly cooked New England clams and lobsters.
I alas got to meet the elusive Grandma Bev I had heard about for 20 years, and she was as beautiful and delightful as I had heard.
We drove by this exquisite lotus pond before I gathered my things and began the trek to Boston.
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