Busy Bridport Weekend

You'd think that things would quieten down a bit now that we're out of the tourist season and into autumn, but September has been a very busy month for Bridport. Recently we've hosted the first Hat Festival - check out this big crowd in Bucky-Doo Sqaure, as well as having packed Gala screenings of "Tamara Drewe" and "From Time to Time" at the Electric Palace, which has also had saxophonist Courtney Pine down to play.

This weekend has been particularly entertaining, starting with dinner on Friday evening at the new Cafe on the St Michael's Trading Estate, which the Jalopy pizza van has already make into a great venue over the summer. The Cafe is run by Anna and Joy, who provide delicious and very affordable home cooked food from Wednesday to Saturday.

Of course on Saturday we have the main Market on South street, which stretches all the way down South Street, and was packed once again. This was followed on Sunday by the latest Vintage Market on the St Michael's Trading Estate. It has an amazing atmosphere, with people of all ages, with their children and dogs, and this week live music from Mitch Norman and a Jazz Duo. If you haven't yet visited, then I highly recommend exploring this thriving antiques district just a little bit further on from St Michael's Studios.



Then I went to the opening of the freshly painted Bridport Arts Centre on South Street, and met with the new incoming Director Holly Gifford. Current Director Lindsay Brookes had asked Abbotsbury artist John Meaker to set up a life modelling session, only this time the models were the guests to the event. John also teaches at his studios in Abbotsbury and also leads life drawing sessions at the Bridport Arts Centre.

Next up was the two day event at the Jam Factory in Uplyme, organised by artist Gail Sagman, called "From the Absurd to the Ridiculous, a feast of Live Art." A few artists from Bridport were involved, including Jollyon Carter and Linzi Light, as well as various Lyme artists, amazing poet Sally Crabtree from Cornwall and wacky Martin Zet from Czchecoslovakia. (Please let me know if anyone has filmed the event, and I'll upload a link to Youtube.)