Both College Girl and I went down the the Main Street Arts Fair yesterday, me at around two o’clock at she around early evening. We had such good times there in the last two years, and we both wanted to shop. But unfortunately, at both times, the crowd was so thick that you literally couldn’t get to the stalls.

Apparently spring fever (this was bluebonnets-burst-out-week in North Texas, after all) combined with the promise of “free admission” lured out way more people to Main Street than could comfortably move in a shuffling line past the stalls, having to concentrate more on not bumping into people than was workable for viewing of fine arts and crafts.

We stopped and bought some food, a small bag of sugared kettlecorn ($6 for the small bag) and a funnel cake ($7) and sat on the curb looking into a store where small bronzes dotted the window next to a revolving door, right next to Jamba Juice. It was pretty bad, actually, one of those moments when you remember days that you had no money and realize that back then at least you were spared the pain of getting ripped off on carnival food which you eat while watching unusual people wearing unusual cowboy boots going by and not being able to get to the artists you came to see.

At least we could still hear the street musicians.

I have to ask the organizers of the event whether there is anything they intend to do about this overcrowding thing. It was bad — as bad as last year when we went to the zoo on half price day during spring break.  It was so bad, I wondered where the fire marshall was.

Did it dampen my interest in the art? Not completely. Actually, I’m thinking of going back this morning. But if it’s that crowded again, I’m coming straight home. This is supposed to be the wide open west our here, not the Tokyo subway.