Havre de Grace’s First Friday event, on hold for the better part of a year for tearing up the streets to replace ancientt water and sewage lines, is BACK. Heck, we lived with a gravel mountain right out our front door for months at one point – with very awkward exit and entrance back to the house. Downtown looks great though, better than before.

Only three First Fridays scheduled this year, but the the streets were almost up to a full crowd for the first one, August 1. The Drum Circle is back too, of course, just about dead center again. This first one was a slightly abbreviated event – I hope they see that they can go ahead and extend it. And good thing I’m baaaaack from my operation – there’s some long walking involved.

The intro shot is a wide-angle shot of the new Drum Circle set-up (it will probably evolve some). And yes, that’s pianist Duke Thompson on the washboard in the bottom corner. Check out the new pavement bricks, cool. This is followed by one of the regulars hailing a visitor mid drum-stroke and an addition to my collection of kids and family close-ups – this one is simply too cute…

These have been added to the front of the First Friday collection, where they can be viewed larger. A few more to come. As always, if someone I photograph here would like a fine printout, all they have to do is let me know and I’ll give them one…….