By Vern Holmquist
It was a chilly early spring evening.
I hesitated going out but what I anticipated was too good to ignore.
It was Silverton Chamber of Commerce’s “First Friday.”
The main street was blocked off with booths, businesses were serving delicious food and drinks and music seemed to be floating in the air from every direction.
The sidewalks were crowded with mostly locals enjoying the entertainment, food and friendship.
The First Friday in April was special because it celebrated the various cultures in our world, our community. Silverton knows we are not alone.
That evening I enjoyed finding Fester with his guitar and friend Bill Geibel who could really pick the banjo.
Now I have heard James Read, (alias Fester) play in quite a few times in taverns in Mount Angel but under different circumstances. To be frank, in places that were too noisy, too uninterested and where his virtuoso could not be appreciated.
For First Friday I found Fester playing in Howard Hinsdale’s Wine Bar on Water Street, a rather quiet, sophisticated bistro where the dedicated customers sit in comfortable chairs and sip on their favorite beverage.
A little quiet conversation, a place to listen to great music and appreciate the better things in life. To compliment Fester, Bill Geibel’s banjo was a good fit. They made beautiful music together.
I enjoy Howard’s, but I am afraid my knowledge of fine wines is sadly lacking.
I remind myself of the man described in Herb Cain’s column in the San Francisco Chronicle many years ago.
He was sitting at a table in the well-known fine restaurants. The wine steward poured the man a sample of wine. Before tasting the wine, the man held the glass to the light, judged its color, swirl the wine around, waft his hand over the wine to bring out its true aroma, sipped the wine and then turn to the to the wine steward and said, “Wine, right?”
If you enjoy fine art, good music, craft beers and fine wine, a little poetry and people who love people, Silverton is your kind of town. It is mine.
