Friday, August 19, 2011

A Girls Overnight

A couple of months ago the daughter of our closest friend suggested to my daughter that they go to Massachusetts to see a Maroon 5 and Train concert. This would of course mean that my friend and I would be driving the girls 2 1/2 hrs., staying overnight and seeing the concert. This was not my ideal way of spending the Weekend. Finally the weekend was here - we had reservations at the Holiday Inn in Mansfield, Ma which was just 3 miles from the outdoor concert venue - the Comcast center. On way up we lucked out by finding a craft fair that enveloped much ofvthe town of mystic Ct. We saw several really great craftspeople including Dinnerwear Jewelry who made beautiful jewelry from plate Patterns and Michelle ABC who made signs with letters made of photographs in the shape of the letter. ( great gift with either a word or a name)  After some clam fritters and clam chowder we were back on the road so we could be early to the concert. We checked in to the hotel and we had a large clean room




 overlooking the interior lobby  was very nice and we were told that we could take a shuttle for $10 per person each way and it would guarantee to get us back to the hotel. ( we were puzzled by that comment -was there a possibility that it wouldn't,) and felt maybe it would be better to drive the 3 miles.
On the way up I questioned what songs each of these groups did and was having a hard time remembering which band played Which songs. It reminded me of other bands that I have confused. Many years ago my husband and I went to jones beach to see steely dan- in my head I was thinking it was dire straits and was so upset when my husband said no they were not playing Telegraph road or Romeo and Juliet.


Upon arriving we instantly lost the girls and decided to sit at a picnic table and eat dinner. The center was filled with vendors selling food, a lot of beer ( all different kinds), vendors selling services like Eco friendly items, the NY times, and "help save buzzards bay".  After we ate, the substitute* opening act was over and we went to our seats. * It was a substitute because the original opening act - Gavin DeGraw was  unable to attend as he had been beaten up and seriously injured the week before.


Concerts have really changed over the years- they are now more of a mixed media presentation than ever before. There were always cool lights and even video monitors in very large arenas so that you knew there was a performer on the stage. While Maroon 5 and Adam Levine used the screen in that manner (showing closeups of the band) but Patrick Monahan and Train used it to highlight their name in one song started out with a video that distracted the audience from seeing that he was coming up into the audience and yet another time during "save me San Francisco" they had scenes of San Francisco on the screen.  I was not sure what to exact but really enjoyed the concert! After the concert we got to thinking the shuttle was not such a  bad idea as it took us over an hour to get out of the parking lot and even though we were 1 exit away- it took another 1/2 hour due to an accident (Guess the shuttle would have had to deal with that too)


On Sunday we stopped at the  Wrentham outlet mall where we shopped and dodged rain drops. I was very  successful at the Merrill Store where I got winter clogs, summer water/sneakers and cute sandals. All set for vacation.


We drove towards home in the rain with a lot of traffic and stopped t  really cute independent bookstore in Madison, CT called R.J. Julia  ending with a phenomenal seafood dinner at . Lenny and Joes Fish Tale in Westbrook, Ct. We had a great weekend and are waiting for the girls to pick their next concert.

1 comment:

  1. I'm so glad you had a good time at the concert!! I'm jealous - I love Maroon 5 and Train! Love the shoes too! :)

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