You would think after traipsing about Europe that I would be done traveling this summer. Nah.

For years, I traveled 3 to 4 days a week for 47 weeks a year. So, I’m really used to traveling. (I used to have two bags packed- one for warmer climes and one for colder climes. I’d be ready to leave on a moment’s notice.)

So, when we returned from Europe, I was ready for our next destination.  Ann Arbor- to attend the 59th Art Fair.

Oh, wait. Over the years, the Ann Arbor Fair has grown from the original show to also include South University, State Street, and the Summer Art Fairs. Most of the newer additions had lesser artists, but if you visit the fair every 5 years or so, you’d still leave amazed as what you saw. At least that was true until this year.

It’s not that the art was bad- it just didn’t inspire me- or Dennis. The colors many of the artists used caught our eye- but the subjects didn’t . There were a few landscape paintings that were pretty cool- but they depicted places I hadn’t frequented, so I had no desire to memorialize them in my home.

Each of the show has a “featured artist”.  Which really means their art is what is used for the Tee Shirts they sell.

This year, the artists were Alann C Boatright (who is really big on robots), Kathleen Willer (acrylic and pastels with semi-abstract landscapes), William Kwamena-Poh (bright colors, women subjects), and Linda Chamberlain (arts and crafts inspired Michigan-based artist).

Which brings up another’problem’ this year. When we got to the fair (early Friday morning, when it opened), there were very few XL or XXL sized T-shirts. it seems they elected not to stock those sizes. (I did get my T-shirt- but the color of the shirt was not my first choice.  And, I loved that it depicted Michigan- including the UP [Upper Peninsula].)

Our hotel was nice- but about 3.2 miles down State Street to the mall. But, we walked it – and walked around the various downtown streets sampling all the art work. Of course, we got our coffee from various local (not the national) vendors, sushi and Cottage Inn Pizza- we even went to the fruit and vegetable mart off State and Stimson. (That’s where I got a lot of our fresh stuff back when I lived in Ann Arbor.)

We also went to my favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor- the Gandy Dancer. It’s situated in the old train station, built back in 1886. (The last big train events at the station were the “whistle stop” rallies that Tricky Dick (Richard Nixon) and JFK (John F. Kennedy) held there during the 1960 campaign.) Back in 1970, the Michigan Central station was bought by Chuck Muer and was converted into a seafood restaurant.

We also checked out Detroit, since we were so close. And, while it’s been claimed that it is undergoing a renaissance, our impression was that there’s a long way to go.

From there, we went to Pittsburgh. Why Pittsburgh? Because it’s about halfway between Detroit and Ann Arbor. (I also went to grad school- for all of about 8 days- in Pittsburgh. The school- Carnegie Mellon- was great, my advisor was the best- but I just couldn’t tolerate Pittsburgh. So, I called the Cambridge schools to see if my fellowship was still available. I had until the end of the day to claim it. Whoosh- my Mustang whisked me all the way to Boston that day.)

But, I did recall with fondness the confluence of the Monongahela, Allegheny, and the Ohio Rivers. (Now there’s a park marking the spot- but that’s new- at least since the mid-1970s.)

We ate on the river at the Grand Concourse- which also houses the Gandy Dancer bar. (Yup! Chuck Muer bought this property, too.) Unfortunately, the wine choices were not up to the level of the Ann Arbor’s Gandy Dancer- but the fish certainly worked fine.

After our dinner, we took the funicular up Mount Washington to get a superb view of the river and parts of Pittsburgh.  A crowning end to our day. Oh, wait- the homemade ice cream we had for dessert was pretty good, too!

Next stop- DC and home.

Only 1 more planned trip this month.  To the Wine Country of California.  For a fantastic reason!