Granny and G-pop are visiting from Missouri and took care of the pinkie while the Missus and I and went to the Waterfire. We had reservations at the Parkside and the Missus thought her rotisseri duck salad was one of the best she'd ever had. I had exotic mushrooms (of course) and they were excellent. We had creme brouillet for dessert.

We finished dinner just as the volunteers were lighting fuses to the baskets of wood on the river. It was solemn and intensely romantic as they cruised in their black boat, each dressed in all black, silent like kabuki kurogo. Before them the river was black and behind them it blazed and crackled. The sweet tang of pine perfumed the air. The music ranged from Ravel to Ibrahim Ferrer, "Dos Gardenos Para Ti." Not a bad date.

Waterfire is about as classy an event as I've ever attended. People from all walks of life line the river, either gazing into the fire or strolling along the side. I saw truck drivers, professionals, teenagers, and Harley riders all just enjoying the moment. It is democratic culture of the best kind. It sacrifices nothing in order to appeal to the masses - it just appeals. It is a ceremony of sensual beauty without dogma or pretense. It is the peoples performance art.

My favorite part of living in a new city is discovering the civic nuances. I remember discovering the Muny in St. Louis and delighted in how it captured the spirit of the city. After moving to Providence, our discovery two years ago of the Waterfire just blew us away. The experience was so strong and so different from anything else. Last night, as we watched the flames crackle on the river, the missus remarked that we could just stay in Providence. I agree. It is a very nice place to live.