Saturday, February 13, 2010

Winter Wonder Fest



Kathee has been working so hard on the Winter/Wonder Fest that we wanted to be a part of it. Our main attraction was the soup tasting (Soup'r Bowl Taste) in a heated tent in the street in the 100 block of Front. It was very successful - the soups were all delicious! The tent was also "soup'r" crowded and it was a challenge to make it around to all of the tables, but it was definitely worth it!

Good Soup! I voted for the Tomato Bisque from the Grand Traverse Pie Company. Their bisque was so delicious and it was piping hot, which is an important quality for soup. The Reuben Bisque from the U&I was a close second. I also really loved the Butternut Squash Bisque from Phil's, and the Loaded Potato Soup from Bubba's, but the Pie Company got my vote.



The staff from the Visitor Center were selling the tickets - they really perked up when Dick walked up to take their picture! Joni is in the center.



At the Visitor Center, huge blocks of snow were delivered for the snow sculptures. It's amazing to me that sculpting the snow can be so artfully done. They are amazing to see.

It's hard to pick a favorite. The lion is spectacular. The two people playing the slot machines are really good, too. There's humor there - one of the players is pulling up his pants with one hand and playing the slots with the other - very clever! I liked the lion best.



This is the Viking face - very impressive. And the horns on his Viking hat were pretty impressive also.



Here's a gnome with a snowboard - I just can't imagine carving snow with such detail and precision. Wow.



In the Jay Smith Walkway there was a demonstration of ice carving - another winter artwork that seems impossible to us mere observers.



There are many ice sculptures downtown in front of the businesses that sponsored them. Here's one of my favorites.



When we got home, we really enjoyed watching the Winter Olympics - another example of excellence that is out of reach for most of us! Loved the speed skating and the ski jumping.