Post by MaxQuad on Aug 5, 2008 14:56:56 GMT -5
The hell that is exiting Blossom
Last night I had the good fortune of catching Radiohead at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. I write not about that, though the concert was worth writing about. Rather, I write about the hell that is exiting Blossom.
Multiple lots, many grass lots on the periphery - all official lots. I would estimate 20-25,000 folks heading to cars simultaneously. Cars started, lights ..ment of about 5 feet per car, then gridlock. Pure gridlock. Many had the right idea - pulling out chairs and tailgating. Many of us sat in our cars, looking with wonder at the sea of head lights and tail lights - none of which were moving. Then an optical illusion of sorts - noticeably less lights, which at first blush gives one the feeling of progress. But, no - it is nothing more than many people turning off their cars while they wait - very patiently, I might add.
The most fun was watching the following ritual: small groups of individuals walking by, looking a bit bewildred - all looking off to the middle distance. One in the party with car keys in hand, inevitably held shoulder high or higher - emphatically pressing a button on the remote. All in the party hoping that they would see the tell tale flash of lights that would identify their car in the midst of the chaos. More than once I saw a look of relief, a brisker, more confident pace of walking to a recently flashing car only to see a look of disappointment when they realized it was not their car at all. Someone else using the same strategy at the same time - with lights flashing while multiple parties looked at the same car. Funny.
After close to 80 minutes we finally moved forward a few feet, then a few more. Finally, after 90 minutes, we were set free on the dark back roads surrounding Blossom.
At another place and another time in my life, it would have been an infuriating experience. Now it was fun, in an odd way. It almost felt like a social experiment - and all surrounding us passed with flying colors.
Griff
Last night I had the good fortune of catching Radiohead at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. I write not about that, though the concert was worth writing about. Rather, I write about the hell that is exiting Blossom.
Multiple lots, many grass lots on the periphery - all official lots. I would estimate 20-25,000 folks heading to cars simultaneously. Cars started, lights ..ment of about 5 feet per car, then gridlock. Pure gridlock. Many had the right idea - pulling out chairs and tailgating. Many of us sat in our cars, looking with wonder at the sea of head lights and tail lights - none of which were moving. Then an optical illusion of sorts - noticeably less lights, which at first blush gives one the feeling of progress. But, no - it is nothing more than many people turning off their cars while they wait - very patiently, I might add.
The most fun was watching the following ritual: small groups of individuals walking by, looking a bit bewildred - all looking off to the middle distance. One in the party with car keys in hand, inevitably held shoulder high or higher - emphatically pressing a button on the remote. All in the party hoping that they would see the tell tale flash of lights that would identify their car in the midst of the chaos. More than once I saw a look of relief, a brisker, more confident pace of walking to a recently flashing car only to see a look of disappointment when they realized it was not their car at all. Someone else using the same strategy at the same time - with lights flashing while multiple parties looked at the same car. Funny.
After close to 80 minutes we finally moved forward a few feet, then a few more. Finally, after 90 minutes, we were set free on the dark back roads surrounding Blossom.
At another place and another time in my life, it would have been an infuriating experience. Now it was fun, in an odd way. It almost felt like a social experiment - and all surrounding us passed with flying colors.
Griff