This past weekend marked perhaps the most important event of the summer: Blobfest 2012, an event so remarkable that I must write a blob post (this pun will never get old) about it.
Stage one of the adventure: drive into Phoenixville, PA. I have been to a couple other quaint little towns around the area, but this Pennsylvania town has the others beat. For one, their lampposts were bright blue. For another, almost half the storefronts had their own interpretation of the Blob on display.
Stage two: enter the Blobfest. On the block of the Colonial Theatre, vendors sold their bizarre merchandise ranging from ironic t-shirts to Blob-oriented prints. T-shirts featured references that the Blob community would enjoy like Star Wars, the Hunger Games, David Bowie, and monsters from outer space. Prints focused on 1950s nostalgia. The best, though, was certainly the Rockabilly Roadhouse booth (no bias here, of course not), as Hot Rod Scott and Professor Ouch were MC’ing and DJ’ing the Blob Streetfair.
Stage three: see a horrifying street show in which a dude stuck hooks in his eyes and swung an iron from side-to-side. Pictured below.
Stage four: Watch The Buzzards play a set of music. The Buzzards certainly know how to put on a show. First off, the bass player had a bass with COW PRINTS on it. Also, for the last song, the drum player came to the front and beat the crap out of his drums WHILE people poured water on him and his equipment.
Stage five: donate a dollar to a local clinic. In return for the dollar, I was able to ask the Blob one question. I asked what the meaning of life was, and he responded “Lucky Charms.” My fellow staffer asked what she should be when she grows up, and the Blob said to dig to the center of the earth and hunt for diamonds. The Blob is truly a divine creature. (NOTE: the Blob spoke to us via an amplifier. His form is too sacred to be manifested openly.)
Stage six: Purchase ironic buttons.
Stage seven: admire the beautiful Blob display on top of the Colonial Theatre, which was in fact one of the places the Blob attacked in the 1958 film. I wonder who took the time to design such a nicely inflated Blob.
Stage eight: Leave Phoenixville in wonder.
Thanks for visiting out little town. Anyone who has seen The Blob, featuring a young Steve McQueen (whose name appears as ‘Steven’ in the credits), will admit that it is no blockbuster. But it’s ours and we enjoy the nostalgic trip every July. We are a thriving little community because we are all about local talent, flavor, and services. Big corporate thugs?… not in PXV, that’s why Professor and Hot Rod Scott, The Buzzards, and The Violators Motor Club are such a welcome annual addition to Bridge Street. Thanks to you, all our town was that much better for a day. Oh, and the Colonial: the Blob tried to take it down but the 100+ year old theater – with balcony and pipe organ – lives on. See you next year.