Joan Baez at Stern Grove with friends

What a memorable day for Savannah and I. My little wing-woman and I left for the Bay Area at 0930 this morning, and didn't get home to rest our weary feet until midnight tonight. The slide show below shows us at Stern Grove watching an American icon of folk music, Joan Baez, preceded by the local band "Blame Sally". Each gave an excellent show to a crowd of thousands who came out with their elaborate picnics for this free event.

We sat in the 'meadow' adjacent to the pavilion stage. We heard the music perfectly although we did not visually see what was happening on stage. The point was to have a space where the kids could be free to run around while we listened. Sarah and Saam live several blocks away from the park and Sarah took one for the team by trudging over early to get us a good spot.  Soul and I parked at their house and strolled Savannah on over with Saam and their 3 little boys.

Savannah and I had dropped by Amy's for a visit on our way to pick up Soul in Alameda before getting into SF, and she ended up joining us with little Skye and Orion an hour later which was fun for everybody. We were one big happy family for several hours.

There was such a sea of humanity at this concert, all the folks breathing easy with the winning combination of fine weather, picnic food, and dulcet sounds emanating from the stage. It could not have been better if I had paid for a ticket.

Savannah and I hoofed it over to the main audience area twice, as we were lucky to get there early enough to get a coveted 'hand stamp' which afforded us access. I took a few clicks with the camera before being instructed to stow it away. I kept telling Savannah that we were seeing Joan Baez, yessir, that's Joan Baez. Do you know who that is? That's Joan Baez. She loved the mommy and me time too. Well, mommy and me and the over 10,000 people surrounding us. I recognized two of Joan's classic songs, "Joe Hill" and "Forever Young". How does she keep looking so good?

I picked early girl tomatoes and basil in the garden this morning and so for 5 hrs we picnicked on Baguette/tomato/basil/fresh mozzarella/tapanade appetizers, chips and salsa, pb & j sandwiches, grapes, and adult-tasty-beverages.

After the concert, we made our way back through the lake-lined park and back to Saam and Sarah's home there in the Sunset district. We let Savannah get a good nap on one of the bunk beds as Soul and I chatted with our hosts and ate yummy cheese and crackers. We had to leave only too soon as we had another engagement over in Alameda. We said our goodbye's and had an uneventful traverse back across the bay bridge and met up with good friend Zoe and two of her children, Addair and Emma for pizza. They are moving to Virginia with Zoe's Coast Guard hubby next week, and I certainly wanted the chance for Savi and I to say our farewells. We got to know them over the past two years and they are family to us. We topped off the visit with a stroll down Park Ave to the famous Tuckers Ice Creamery for a cone.

Savi and I dropped Soul back at her boat, and made an easy journey back home to the delta, and warmer climate. This was certainly a memorable day for me, and I hope for Savannah as well. I will ask her tomorrow who we saw in concert. I did ask her what her favorite part of the day was, and she answered "having pink ice cream with Addair". She always mentions marrying Addair when his name comes up? He's only a year older. I guess she'll eventually open her own Facebook account and keep in touch with him.?

Comments

[Cactus Jack Jessen]

Try as I have to forgive (or comprehend?) Joan Baez for her steadfast anti-war blitzes (particularly, the Vietnam War), her musical genius is indisputable!! Being at the center of the "hippie" crowd, circa 1960s & '70s, perhaps she just experienced too much 'weed and more potent stuff. All in all, absolutely love her mastery of all-things folk music!
-Cactus Jack

[nina]

Love the photos! What a great way to spend a summer day! Hopefully, Savi is now a fan like the rest of us!