TCFF VIVA CUBA

We are Friends of the Traverse City Film Festival and try to go to as many films as we can every year during the Festival week in the last week of July.  Our favorite venues are those of the documentary series.  We were fortunate to be able to get tickets to a Cuban produced film called Viva Cuba.  

 This film played on several different days and was totally sold out within the first few hours that the reservations were open on-line for the Friends of the Festival.  We were a little slow to get on-line and we found all showings already sold-out so at first we had no ticket; however, we were fortunate to get a ticket by arriving 2 hours early to one of the showings to get a stand-by ticket.

The film director is Cuban, the main child actor and actresse are about 12 years old and it was filmed along the entire length of the island of Cuba.  It was an imaginative travelogue with fantasy and adventure as only a child can experience - an excellent film, that received one of the film awards at the festival.

The man in white is the producer, the three to the right are either actors or directors, and to the left of the director, is Michael Moore who was introducing the folks after the film where there is always a question and answer session which often is as interesting as the film itself..

Michael Moore (below) stops by many of the documentary venues to introduce the movie and give history and background of the making of the film.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE IN TRAVERSE CITY

Friday Night Live occurs every Friday from mid June to mid September.  The main street downtown is closed to traffic and all sorts of entertainment occurs, food booths, and craft booths. 

 It is a great time to mingle with folks and stroll down festive downtown Traverse City, Michigan.

TC SATURDAY MARKET - BREAKFAST

This glass case is filled with pies next to where we order breakfast.  Sometimes it is hard to resist ordering a piece of pie for breakfast!  Below, I'm on my way to our table with an egg and cheese wrap (honestly), a muffin and a cup of flavorful coffee.

TC SATURDAY MARKET - BURRITS & GRAND TRAVERSE PIE CO

These are two of our favorite shops in town.  Above, Burritts Market for fish, meat, and deli product among other great items.  And below is the Grand Traverse Pie Company a great place for Saturday breakfast after shopping at the Farmers Market, and a great place to get a superb piece of pie or pastry anytime.

Above the front porch of the Pie Company and Teri getting ready for breakfast.

TC SATURDAY MARKET - CLINCH PARK & MARINA

This Pedestrian Underpass, a tunnel under a 4 lane parkway alongside the bay front beaches, connects  the Farmers Market to the city marina and Clinch Park on the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay.

In the tunnel walls there are interesting traditional paintings of wildlife from the Chippewa, Ojibwa and Pottawatomie tribes that lived here as late as 100 years ago.  These native tribes still own property and live in the area, but are now integrated to some extent in the communities.

This is a view of Clinch Park with one of the beaches in the background along West Grand Traverse Bay.

The marina below is right next to Clinch Park.

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TC SATURDAY MARKET - MENNONITES AND BAKERS

Breads, muffins, pies, cookies, and even dog biscuits are for sale at this Mennonite booth

Below are flowers and plants sold along with the baked goods.  The Mennonite wear homemade clothing.  Notice the leather suspenders and pants worn by this bushy bearded fellow below.  The pants have an integral front flap and side pockets instead of a zipper, and the suspenders button behind the belt line.

The booth below is our very favorite fresh bread company from 9 Bean Row.  Don't know how that name came about.  They also have mouth watering croissants--double baked, crispy that just melts in your mouth.  This booth sells out every Saturday.

You can get a subscription to their bread production just like you subscribe to a magazine, and you can get shares in their enterprise and get your weekly bread as a dividend on your investment.

TC SATURDAY MARKET - VEGETABLES

The vegetables grown in this area are diverse and plentiful.  We can choose from among many organic farmers.  The countryside around this area is famous for its cherries, and the local blueberries, peaches, apricots, and apples and are also outstanding.

This morning, I also bought cabbage and broccoli from this vendor - Altonen Orchards.  There is really a difference in buying fruit and vegetables when they are just brought in from the farm.  There is a superior flavor and texture that makes for wonderful tasting produce.

TC SATURDAY MARKET - SOAPS, HONEY

This is one of my favorite stops.  These are the best soaps I have ever had.  They smell wonderful and have this creamy feeling when suds up while retaining the soap's firmness.

Below is one of several vendors who sell home grown honey.  Often when driving through the country side, we can see the hives in the fields.

TC SATURDAY MARKET - FLOWERS

For the past two two months we have seen all these brilliant flowers and flowering plants for sale every week at the Traverse City Saturday Farm Market

Behind the blueberries and tomatoes Skegmog, one of the large local nurseries is selling flower plants.   The building in the background is the TC Chamber of Commerce.

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TC SATURDAY MARKET - VENDORS BY THE BOARDMAN

This is the serenely flowing Boardman River the flows between the Farmer's Market and downtown Traverse City.

Below is the back of some of the buildings that house shops and restaurants in down town.

These two vendors above selling jams and below selling flowers, are situated along the Boardman River

TRAVERSE CITY SATURDAY MARKET - CROWDS

The down town Traverse City Farmer's Market is crowded Saturday mornings as people browse for the best blueberries, cherries, salad greens, and other fruits and vegetables along with plants, breads and pastries--even soaps made with all natural products.

Every Saturday and Wednesday morning June through October the market is held in the large parking lots across from Traverse Bay to the delight of the shoppers.

To the left of this picture above,out of view, is the visibly flowing clear and cold Boardman River, and to the right of the picture across the parking lot is the blue-green fresh waters of West Traverse Bay.

Below is a cat in its carrier enjoying looking at all the lovely fruits and vegetables.

Above is the bridge over the Boardman River that connects the Market area with downtown Traverse City shops and restaurants.