Sunday, June 15, 2008

North Beach festival


I returned to the festival today to see world champion-class Tony Gemignani perform his amazing pizza tossing skills, and I have to admit, they are not kidding when they say toss dat pizza dough!!!

They had his table inside a small beer-drinking area and I arrived early to get a good spot for my pictures. You never know when those damn photographers will show up!! hahahahaaa He was already busying himself, rolling a few pizza dough to use during his show, and this was indeed a great show!

In a few moments, he had everything readied and began.... with a cordless microphone headset, he began with a few demonstrations showing how he can spin and toss the dough, and explained who he was.... the crowd, needless to say, was as impressed as I was. Then he asked for music and started a show in time to the music! This tossing and spinning of the pizza dough was just incredible! He even did a few spins and tosses while lying on his back on the ground, plus a few tosses behind his back from left to right, and even using his foot as a footrest to balance the dough, and even passing the pizza dough beneath his leg from one side to the other!

It was indeed impressive!!! I can now see why he has won the world champion title nine times! So, if you ever get a chance to see him in action, do so because you will not be disappointed!!

More pictures of his tossing are posted in my web in the events album.

I also had a chance to take a peek inside St Peter and Paul church next to Washington Square for a silent and quick respite from the crowds of people and blaring music - and while the church interior is different than those I've seen in France, Germany, Spain and Italy, it was still quite nice.




I also was thrilled to hear the vocals of Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers.... the great music of her band got people who crowded all of the grassy area of Washington Square, listening and dancing and moving to the smooth jazzy tunes....

click on the picture to see their myspace site

Enjoy the sights!!!