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Sunday, August 12, 2012

Dogs Take the Lead; Art Follows

Weekend posters
I know what you want. You won't take less, and you won't take anything else. You want the dog parade! But there was so much more going on, as these posters evidence--art and wine and more art and more wine.

But dogs. Okay. Dogs come first, as usual. And the weather was perfect!!!

Leg the parade begin!
Here they come, August of 2012, sponsored this year by the Northport-Omena Chamber of Commerce, with proceeds going to Black Sheep Crossing, a no-kill animal rescue farm. Cherry Scott and dog handler below with rescued Great Pyrenees represent the local nonprofit.

Guard breed represents "sheep crossing"

Here's the Chamber float with Cherryland guest aboard

Colorful canine and human walkers
There were dogs of all sizes, some experienced parade walkers and many enthusiastic newbies. The nautical theme, "Old Un-Salty Dog," inspired many. Moby-Dick below was hard to handle in the stiff breeze, but take it from me, he was brilliant.

Moby-Dick in the wind
Border collie rescue! Look at them! Wouldn't you rescue those darlings, too?

Border Collie Rescue
Then look! Here comes Bruce Balas, carrying one end of the Omena Mayor and Council banner!

He's wearing a Dog Ears Books shirt!!!
Mary and Nike
Dogs large, dogs small, dogs with and without hats, with and without bandanas, in floats, in arms, and on their own four paws.

Many more parade participants....

What's a parade without a band?

Friends of Library with Clifford (the big red dog) and Stanley Steamer
A sailor from the Northport Navy...

...and close on his heels, a pirate in arms!

Here were MORE pirates!
Antique fire engine followed by amphicar told us
the parade was almost over for another year

There it goes--and it was a great one!
Yes, another dog parade here and gone, but the day was not done. The wine festival was going on down by the harbor, with live music, and Waukazoo Street had live music of its own, thanks to Motovino adding to the ambience of our downtown neighborhood.

Musicians play jazz on Waukazoo Street
We were not just kicking back and resting on our laurels at 106, either. With two galleries in our building, we greeted the public from 5-8 p.m., with three live artists (as I like to call them) on hand. 

Which artist snagged the best parking spot?
It was almost 9 o'clock before we locked up for the night, but all in all I have to say it was a definite sweetpea of a day. One for the memory books, and all of it captured by my trusty old camera.

Wild sweetpeas for my friend in New South Wales


8 comments:

Bettie Komar said...

It looks like it was a truly delightful day all around. Lovely weather, dogs, wine, art, jazz - what more could one ask for? For this one, it's that I'd like to be there wit you again - next year, maybe??

P. J. Grath said...

It would be great to have you back for another dog parade, Bettie! Then Sarah could be in the parade again, too. And yes, it was the loveliest of days.

Gerry said...

I think I just anonymously said "Northport never disappoints" - but who knows. Anyway, it never does!

dmarks said...

Border collies? Yes. Borders collies might be another matter altogether, but they need a home after their big-box bookstore failed.

Kathy said...

My goodness, I've never heard of a parade completely with dogs! I like the pirate doggie best. And the idea of your community coming together like this.

P. J. Grath said...

The dog parade never disappoints, Gerry--that's for sure. Kathy, it's a Northport tradition, going back at least as far as 1996. And now, dmarks, you will have me nervously looking back for a typo in my text. But no, it is your mind, isn't it? Lightning associations! I should know, since I live with someone who has a mind like that....

Dawn said...

LOVE the dog parade! Thank you so much for sharing with us!

P. J. Grath said...

There have been a couple of corrections made to this post since it first went up, thanks to Jamie Covert of the Northport Bay Dog and Cat Company for organizing the parade and the Northport-Omena Chamber of Commerce, organizer of this year's memorable parade.