For eight years the last week in July has been reserved for a visit from my brother and a friend to attend the Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF). Initially, the TCFF was an excuse to travel. Not that one was needed, mind you. However, when establishing an ‘annual tradition’ sometimes a ‘purpose’ (aka excuse) has leverage. Oh, for the record, it WAS going to be a couples weekend, but their spouses opted out. That is an important tidbit of information. So, it became their summer ‘mancation’. Such a stupid word – mancation. I blame women, of course. Who else would conceive such a jealous-ridden word?
Since it is July 29, I decided to commemorate this event with the Mother Ode, dedicating my post to them. And, wishing they were here. See, I told you that tidbit was kinda’ important.
Ode to the State Theatre
The State Theatre is owned and operated by the Traverse City Film Festival (TCFF), which completely renovated the shuttered historic downtown movie house, and reopened it in November 2007. The festival also renovated a shuttered, City-owned historic building that sits in idyllic Clinch Park on Grand Traverse Bay, and in 2013 turned it into a sister screen for the State, the classic movie house we call the Bijou by the Bay.
The State Theatre was voted the Best Place IN THE WORLD to watch a movie. Kudos to Michael Moore for kick-starting, then maintaining the State Theatre AND the TCFF – now in its twelfth year. Contractually, the State can only show Independent films. The Bijou, however, can show first-run, big budget pictures.
https://www.stateandbijou.org/
Ode to Volunteering at the TCFF
The TCFF is pretty much run entirely by volunteers. Yes, there are few head honchos, but the main ‘workforce’ is volunteer. There is a volunteer food chain, depending on each volunteers time commitment. I wanted to do my part, but also wanted to enjoy the annual visit. So I was very low on the food chain. Once I was the gatekeeper of the EXIT for the opening night party. I was told by management “No one ENTERS through the EXIT.” Simple enough, eh? No. Everyone in volunteer land seemed to have their own agenda. When the line for the ENTER became quite long, I became very popular. Still, NO ONE entered through the EXIT on MY DETAIL. Apparently, this was bothersome to some ‘privileged’ agenda benders. Stress was involved. No blood was shed, but I was relieved of my gatekeeping responsibilties.
Ode to the loss of yet another annual tradition
Right now, I SHOULD be enjoying good movies and even better company. But, I am not. Yes, this annual tradition fell victim to the same demise as MY annual ski trip. Please read any and everything into that you want. Once again, I blame women. And, if I sound bitter, that’s because I am bitter. Alas, I will get over it.
Since this post is dedicated to them, I asked my friend for ideas on how to end my Ode. He sent me this link, stating that he saw this group his first year and has followed ever since that visit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW3diVib7uo&list=PLUuDUnymxqmYO_JHRoTu5MmTSa4hEkgS-
