One of the things I miss from South Florida is the Coconut Grove Art Show. I went every year and not necessarily for the art. While I would buy something if I had seen something I liked, I'm - ah let's see if I can choose the right term - how about FRUGAL Knowing me as I do though the word CHEAP really fits better. The show is held the weekend of President's Day and also is on Monday for those that have a 4 day weekend. It is a huge event with several blocks blocked off for the event. Also, you get a two for 1 because a church in the area also holds an art show as a fun raiser for them. There is one artist I love who makes people from acrylics that you need to touch (not permitted) to see if they are real. I don't know the man's name but I love looking at his work and can spend quite a bit of time looking. My expense is the wonderful food "court" which is set up in the park along the bay and people sit on the grass to eat. They serve everything from roasted corn on the cob, BBQ, fish sandwiches etc. Just like the artists, these vendors come from many states.

Because of its largeness, you can get buses at special rates that meet the "rapid" (can't remember what they call it there) etc. which take you directly there.

Here in Daytona Beach, they also have an art show, close off the street for several blocks where it's held and it is very small. It was held a few weeks ago and I was able to but a small pottery "nothing" dish (one that could be used for any number of things from a coaster to "whatever". I bought one there in blue and green to match the blue carpeting I will get in my new home. It was $2. I spent more on food, also from other locations and they set up chairs and long tables and it is in the area of the jazz band. (Coconut Grove also has free concerts during the festival.)

Cocoa Beach, Florida near theSpace Coast (where the shuttles take off) also has an art show and it is held on Thanksgiving weekend. My niece who lives in the Atlants area always comes to visit her mother and they go to the show. She brings her teen-age daughter. I had never been to this show before and while I knew it was smaller than Coconut Grove and larger than Daytona, I had no idea what to expect. In fact, I had never been to Cocoa Beach either. The closest was when I'd drive past the exit on the interstate. So, yesterday we went. Because my sister isn't fully recovered from her cracked pelvis, I let her use my rollator (and boy, did I walk and dray myself along. Was glad to get home. I didn't even find a $2 dish there. They had a similar one for $5 and that was the cheapest thing they basically had. The food prices were unbelievable too. I ended up getting curly potato chips for too much money. There were puddles of grease on the plate when I finished. Anything worthwhile was as much as a good meal at a restaurant. Neither my sister nor I bought any art (we were the older generation); my niece bought a gift she had to buy. It was a good buy for what she needed (generation 2) and her daughter, a 15 year old who was going to buy some gifts bought for herself 3 8x10 paintings or prints for $30 - $32 apiece! To my way of thinking, for that price they should have at least been beautiful. They were UGLY! I know "to each his own" but a statue in a church made of a skull and bones in black? The money should be spent on a shrink for her - and her mother for allowing it! Today's youth? or am I getting to be a grumpy, cheap old codger?