2/3/06 - Highlights from the Blues Festival / Blue Love

Thursday night was another busy night in downtown Ferndale. Tony's was full, again, and patrons sang happy birthday for the second night in a row, this time for MaryAnne, Tony's beautiful wife. Wednesday night the Brian Schram Blues Band and the Moll girls sang it for me.

Eddie "Guitar" Burns was magnificent last night at Club Bart...Im told he is 75 year old, but the crowd loved him. Dino's was full, and Rosies had a great fun crowd. The music at Buffalo Wild Wings was great as well, and the crowd was warm last night.

We have deposited nearly $9,000 in the bank so far for the Blues charities...expenses are around $5,000, so we have raised at least $4,000 in proceeds. Our goal is to raise $14,000 free and clear for Ferndale Youth Assistance and Midwest AIDS Prevention Project.

And speaking of MAPP, our staffers and volunteers began handing out blue condoms last night at some of the bars. What with thousands of tourists, sports fans, and partying locals mixing with great food and drink and music, it can't hurt to remind folks that if romance becomes part of the festivities, we want them to protect themselves and their partners.