Photo Friday: Opa! Fest recap

We revisit Opa! Fest this week for a recap of last weekend’s great celebration of Greek food, culture, dancing and singing at the beautiful St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Troy, Michigan.

We dropped by the festival Saturday for an early lunch of hot and cold dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves), sausage, feta cheese and kalamata olives.

The bakery counter was our next stop, where an enthusiastic young saleslady helped us choose some cookies to take home with us. When a kid behind the cookie counter immediately says “these are my favorites!” as I ask for suggestions—I listen! And she did a nice job of helping us select some yummy take-home treats.

We returned later that evening to catch a dynamite show from guitar great, Pavlo. The Toronto-based musician and his band brought a full menu of Mediterranean-style of music and dance to the Opa! Fest stage—a bill familiar to many U.S. fans because of Pavlo’s popular PBS television special “Mediterranean Nights” filmed early last year in Dearborn Michigan’s Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. The show aired multiple times on PBS stations, including Detroit’s public television station WTVS, last year.

I loved the band’s use of traditional and unusual (at least to me) instruments like the Afro-Peruvian box drum called a cajόn played by percussionist Gino Mirizio. The band’s easy onstage camaraderie carried the show along smoothly as the spotlight alternated among band members and their dancers came onstage for a couple of traditional salsa and belly dancing numbers.

Fun moments included an instrumental “duel” between guitarist Pavlo and bouzouki player, George Vasilakos, who answered Pavlo’s behind-the-back guitar playing with a short interlude of playing his bouzouki with his teeth—a la Jimi Hendrix.

Thanks to Debbie Dubrow of Delicious Baby for creating and coordinating Photo Friday to link travel photos and blog posts across the Web.

© Dominique King 2009 All rights reserved

Comments

[Wanderluster]

How absolutely fun! I can taste the baklava now!

[Cate]

This looks like a fun outing. No doubt ut sounded great as well.Haven't heard of an Afro Peruvian drum until now.

[Tim]

Opa! It was fun and the food is better than any Greek Restaurant.

[Lorraine]

I like how the American Flag is in the background of a couple photos - perfect timing for tomorrow's celebrations!

[marina villatoro]

that looks like such a fun fest. I love belly dancing!

[Dominique]

Wanderluster-The baked goods are a must-do at this festival! Lots of baklava and all sorts of other Greek-style cookies and breads!

Cate-Pavlo's show was great. We love a bit of world music, and I really love the use of unusual instruments. I had to do a little research to find out what the percussionist was playing that day.

Tim-Yup, I think the grape leaves are particularly good at this fest.

Lorraine-The American and Greek flags were on proud display that day. I happened to be at the angle that caught the U.S. flag in most of my pix...and the timing is right for today :)

Marina-This fest draws more than 10,000 over three days. The church is beautiful, the food is wonderful and we loved the dancing and music. It's one fest we try to make each year since we discovered it a few years ago.

[Sharon G.]

What great photos! You caught the dancer in mid-swirl. I'm inspired to try a few steps myself.

[Cindy L]

Delightful post! I was in a Greek wedding many years ago, thanks to a best friend from high school. I have loved the Greek culture ever since those days -- thanks for the memories and a trip back!

[Dominique]

Sharon-I figure if I take enough photos, I'll be lucky enough to get something good :)

Cindy-You should try to make Opa! Fest next year, then. Go early for the food and baked goods...and go back later for the music and dancing!