Bumbershoot is not called Bumpershoot. There are no bumpers and there are no shootings (we hope!). Rather, bumpershoot is another word for umbrella. Obviously, for Seattlites, the umbrella is a common and useful accessory. But we grow weary of hearing the word, and of carrying one with us wherever we may roam. That’s why it is important to call this annual Northwestern event by its appropriate name: Bumbershoot.
Say it with us now, Bumbershoot.
Even so, it’s still our regional duty to recommend bringing your bumpershoot to this weekend’s Bumbershoot. That’s right, the forecast calls for rain…
Raining or not, thousands will gather to watch bands play. Some will go indoors to watch films, look at art, or attend comedy shows.
All of that sounds grand.
But something’s missing, you say?
It’s this right here: A fuggen literary line-up.
In years past, Bumbershoot has seen premier literary hosts grace its stages. But this year we are disappointed to hear the literary portion of the event is squished into the vague “words and ideas” category.
Ummmmm… doesn’t pretty much every artistic genre contain words and ideas?
Anyway, of this three day festival we are recommending two events. The biggest literary headliner is Rick Moody, who undoubtedly will give a straight-up, old fashioned and moderated talk on Saturday.
24 hours later, the folks from McSweeneys will make an appearance. Did you know this literary journal started out in 1998, and that it once only published works by those who had been rejected by other magazines?
We’re so there.
If you don’t own a bumpershoot and so won’t be attending this year’s Bumbershoot, perhaps instead you’ll feel like taking a trip to bookshelf porn, where the shelves are dry, the books are plenty, and the literary lineup is long and, ah, sexually charged?!?
– Lori Huskey
