We went to the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra’s traditional Memorial Day concert on Monday evening, a great way to end the holiday weekend. They played the usual mix of light classical pieces and popular medleys, with heavy emphasis on all the patriotic faves: the Washington Post March, the Battle Hymn of the Republic (with the Voices of the Pops), the Armed Forces Salute (it’s always moving to see the military personnel and vets stand as the anthem of their branch of the armed forces is played), and ending, as always, with the Stars and Stripes Forever.
I have to say, though, it was the strangest venue: the Ambulatory Services Center at Mary Washington Hospital. The crowd set up on the road and parking lot in front of the building. Ah, nothing like an outdoor concert on asphalt. And the lovely landscaping in front of the building did a great job of screening the musicians from the audience. We sat on the far side of the orchestra, where at least we could see, even if the sound wasn’t optimal. Now I understand that MediCorp sponsored the concert, and I’m sure the Pops aren't about to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially one willing to cover costs and provide a spacious area to perform in. But really, aren’t there any open grassy areas they could have used? It’s not like the Fredericksburg area is short on parks or even open fields. Of course, I’d go to a Pops free concert no matter where it was, but hopefully next year, I’ll be able to feel a little grass between my toes.
3 comments:
Is it just me or do you always have something sour to say about the many free events you attend in the city? The half marathon didn't seem to do so much, you say. Ask the hoteliers and restaurateurs about their weekend. The localvore festival wasn't as much as you expected. What DID you expect?? The concert sponsored by Medicorp was on asphalt. Get over yourself!!
Wow, I can't believe you think I'm too negative. I have always tried to have positive things to say about everything I write about. I really love the variety of local events, and my conclusion is always the same: good stuff is happening in the area. In the post about the localvore festival, you picked out the one sentence that wasn't 100% positive. Same thing with the Marathon post...maybe one sentence that could be described as something less than positive. If you look at all of my posts, I think you'll find them to be overwhelmingly supportive of area events, with only a dash of critique here and there for balance. I've always thought people would find my posts overly positive about everything, and therefore dismiss me as too much of a cheerleader. I guess I don't have to worry about that. Ultimately, I'm not sure that being perfectly positive about every single thing is really all that edifying. But I will take your complaint under consideration, and I appreciate the input. Thank you for reading!
this is the best blog in the whole world, you shouldn't change a thing.
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