The City of Maplewood hosted its 9th Annual Let Them Eat Art, Friday, July 11, 2014, from 6:00 PM until 11:00 PM. The event is a self-guided-anything-goes-street-festival, a whimsical tribute to Bastille Day somewhere between Mardi Gras and the Christmas Tree Walk. Live art, food, beverages, belly dancing, hoop dance performances, and other surprises awaited along with fabulous musical entertainment.
Unlike the common summertime festivals, Let Them Eat Art always has something for the entire family. Art exhibits, coordinated by Cultural Festivals, and live demonstrations by 35 participating regional artists and artisans occupied part of the scene. Throughout Manchester Road and Sutton Boulevard, 30 Maplewood restaurants promoted craft beers (Schlafly Bottleworks), sangria, French wines and liqueurs, complimentary hors d’oeurves, and special menus. Children could partake of specialty lemonade at Foundation Grounds, milkshakes and other treats at Tiffany’s Original Diner, and decadent chocolate samples from Kakao Chocolate.
Other diversions included Dream interpretation by Dream Seekers and the School of Metaphysics, Tarot Card Reading and Psychic Readings at Mystic Valley, now in downtown Maplewood. Kids’ activities happened in the Sutton Loop Park. This year, performers from the Everyday Circus, Top Spinning by Hi Tadah, and the CAM Art Bus participated.
Music performances spotlighted some of the region’s favorite musicians like Acoustik Element, Bryan & Lola, Colonel Ford, Down Home Blues Band, Phatz Jango, Sarah Bollinger and the B Sides, Terri Langerak, The Elliot Ranney Quartet, The Kevin Bilchik Trio, Busker Jason Black, and for the grown-ups, a late night show by Show Me Burlesque with Lola Van Ella at The Focal Point.
The headline entertainment featured Vote for Pedro and Joe Dirt and the Dirty Boys Band. Other local favorites like the Elliot Ranney Trio and Acoustik Element also performed. The Aalim Belly Dancers and the St. Louis Hoop Club showcased their talents, providing some extra amusement along with caricature and face painting artists. Even a live sketch model remained on hand for those so inclined.
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- Yokley’s Band
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- Betty Scheller, Gianna, Jen Roper, Mary Fulmer
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- Aaron, Savanna
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- Jim Kuskarer, Carol Grothe
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- Local artist on the street
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- Valerie Rippey, Frank Dries
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- Kevin Bilchik Band
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- Julia Wilbers, Katrina Utz, Wendy Casten
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- Festival goers enjoy samples.
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- Lucy and Mayor James White
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- Bear-of Human Society Fame with Renee Lalprla, Scott Smith, Deb Tauscatck
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- Lauren Book with Henry
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- Peggie O’Hare, Ginger Adkins, Valsa
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- Patricia and Gary
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- Angelina Fasano-local artist
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- Melanie Wolff, Joel Meyers
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- Genevive Esson – local artist
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- Local artist street display
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- Elliott Ranney Band
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- Ivory – St Louis Hoops Club
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- Ivory
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- Christa – St Louis Hoops Club
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- Ivory, Travis – St Louis Hoops Club
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- Besty Phillips, Craig Smith
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- Blaine Baker, Matt Vanleuven
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- Lann Ginalick with Teddy the Service Dog
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- Blaine Baker, Matt Vanleuven
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- Franny, Quin, Joe, Grant, Jen and Cole McCormack
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- Debbie Obak, Susan Hall
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- Franny, Quin, Joe, Grant, Jen and Cole McCormack
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- Food and drink inside and out
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- Shawn Booth, Robert Syalka, Molly Walsh, Katherine Humphreys
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- Kako Chocolate Store
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- Brenda and Harry Jones
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- Joanne Houle, local artist
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- Acoustik Element band
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- Acoustik Element band
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- Jennifer Hayes – local artist
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- Jennifer Hayes art on display
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- Leslie Sanazaro – local artist
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- Shaun Oheron, Suki Peters
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- Chris Rhein, Erin Holcomb, Laura Pearson, Chris Brammer
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- Tamika Dukes, Melantha Norton
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- Sampling various liqueurs at Vom Fass
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- Adam Reynolds, Kelsey Bedley
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- Cheri Nillisen, local artist, Spencer Phillips
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- Tammy Anderson, Colette Anderson, Gail and Steve Trippe
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- Stephanie, Violet, Jeff and Poppy Sutton and Bailey Outhuse
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- Laura Hanser, local artist, with Bailey Outhuse
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- Strange Donut Band
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- Kent Evans with Rachelle L’Ecuyer, director of community development, City of Maplewood
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- Live model painting on the street
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- Cerry and Steve Kennedy, Barb Barrett, Dan and June Bourque, with friend
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- Balconey view to the main stage
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- Kent Evans, Rachelle L’Ecuyer
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- Crowd waiting for the main stage band
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- Mayor White addresses the crowd
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- The moon looks on at a great concert on Sutton Ave.
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- Ivory – performing with fire
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- St. Louis Hoop Club
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- Dirt Band Plays on
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- St Louis Hoop Club
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- Aalim Belly Dancers
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- Fire Dance
