Friends 'R' Family

char59 · Global Moderator

Davenport, Iowa--USA is located on the Mississippi where the river runs east and west. We are on the eastern edge of Iowa. There really is not much to see except corn fields. Every few years, the river floods and this was one of those years.

The Isabel Bloom factory is in Davenport. John and Isabel Bloom lived in Davenport for much of their married life. He was a famous painter. I don't know if any one is familiar with these artists or not. John Deere tractors got their start in Moline Illinois, just across the river from Davenport.
We have the Bix Beiderbecke jazz festival every year. There is a 7 mile race that weekend. In fact that is coming up this weekend. (July 24-27)
I'm not sure what else to say about Davenport. We have about 100,000 people. We have a Guardian Angel group in town. Ask any other questions and I will try to answer them.

How I found you-- I was voting for another forum and noticed this one so I checked it out and liked it.

ResidentInsomniac · Site Admin

WoW! Char, how exciting! Were you ever fortunate to meet or see Mr. Bloom paint while he was still alive? His works are so simplistic and yet, shows his teacher and mentor Grant Woods' influence. There is also a similarity to some of the Impressionists. I am not as familiar with Isabel Bloom's work. I have seen some of it.

Boy oh boy. Michael and I both wish that we could be done there this weekend for the Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Fest! That must be something really awesome to see and hear.

Your little City, Char, is filled with so much history and has so many talented and cultured people from it.

I am actually a tad green with envy.

I know that the Mississippi does flood, but, I suppose that it is the romantic in me - I have always wanted to see the Grand Old Man himself.

Thank you for sharing with us and giving me an opportunity to travel right at home!

char59 · Global Moderator

Well, Lynne, My hubby had worked on the Bloom's house so he had met them. We are very good friends with their son. We have several metal art pieces the Mr Bloom had done around the city. I had met them once or twice. Their son is a very nice man. And single LOL, but to look at him you would not know he has money. and I mean a lot of it. The Blooms were very nice people.

The blues/jazz fest this weekend, we usually watch the vendors gate with the car club that we are in, but this year, due to the flooding, the park on the river where it is usually held is still too wet so they moved it to the ball park not far away. So our car club won't be helping this year. I do like to listen it this at times. We can still get in free because of the club. Not sure if we will this year. With the race held on Saturday, we are kinda stuck at home, unless we want to go several miles out of our way. We are below and east of the race course so we have to go around it if we want to go anywhere. Sometimes it takes me 45 minutes to get home from work when normally it takes me 5 minutes, if they start closing the streets before I get across. It is a pain during this weekend.