Pridefest is an annual GLBT festival (of the many Milwaukee summer festivals) and was held June 6-8, 2008 at the Henry Maier Festival Park along the lake in downtown Milwaukee. Tondalia, her son, and I met up at the festival in the middle of the day. Later in the afternoon I had to volunteer at a booth and sadly the giant thunderstorm (complete with tornado warning) and downpour put a bit of a damper on the event, but it was certainly an adventure! Later that evening Daniel and I visited our friend Beth and got to see her amazing octagonal barn near Cedarburg. IMG_7416 Tondalia poses at the fountain IMG_7424 It was still early in the day, but Martine Locke was performing on one of the side stages, it was an entertaining show. IMG_7429 Pride flags and the US Bank building IMG_7432 Equal opportunity in belly dancing! IMG_7435 A neat quilt/afghan in pride colors IMG_7438 Hmmm...I bet if you own a fry stand you could just put up different flags for each festival and have a very diverse summer IMG_7439 Even the sewer grates got a bit festive, I like the nice "No Dumping, Drains to Lake Michigan" but it is a bit small especially if I'm dumping something big I'm afraid I might not see the little fish but it's better than nothing and raises awareness IMG_7446 In the late afternoon all the nice rainbow boas and everything else was soaked! IMG_7447 While there were a lot of people in the dance pavillion and they were screaming with delight at the weather and/or music, I thought a tornado might like to tear down a big sheet metal structure much more than the main admission gate/merchandise brick structure where I weathered the storm. Also less danger of having to dance... IMG_7452 I guess this is an all weather golf cart IMG_7454 After all that it was nice to visit Daniel's friend Beth's house for a great dinner and tour of her great property. Here are remnants of chips and salsa/guac. IMG_7455 The quiche was also very yummy IMG_7458 The furnishings included some great antiques IMG_7461 IMG_7462 Lets hope these are drool-proof antiques... IMG_7466 IMG_7473 IMG_7474 Coffee bag window shades! IMG_7475 IMG_7478 Note the clock wasn't exactly on time IMG_7484 The cow says moo...even on the refrigerator - now IN the refrigerator the cow doesn't say much... IMG_7486 This was an entertaining interpretation of "pipe dream" IMG_7487 More antiques (and a bit spooky) IMG_7489 Beth's daughter Charlotte IMG_7490 This was evidently an antique blackface doll IMG_7491 This is the house's pet cemetery IMG_7495 This pet hasn't died yet, but it's tough to tell really IMG_7496 Foooooood! IMG_7497 Beth and Charlotte IMG_7499 Beth kindly making even more great guac! IMG_7504 Beth has an octagonal barn on her property and keeps her horses there - it's really neat IMG_7515 IMG_7528 IMG_7537_pano IMG_7574 Hay is for...horses IMG_7580 In a way this is also for the hay... IMG_7581 Downstairs level of the barn (where the horses have stalls) IMG_7582 Note to self...horses don't like flash photography (after this they freaked out for a second) but luckily that's why we have wooden fences... IMG_7584 Pretty horse IMG_7585 IMG_7591 An octagonal barn IMG_7602 Beth's non-octagonal house Return to Features