When I say “great time,” I mean, “Couldn’t loathe humanity more.”
There were 80,000 people.
It was standing room only. Thumpy techno. MTV-style hosts. And just a CRUSH of people.
If you haven’t heard of Flugtag, it’s a giant, corporate sponsored event where people build human-powered flying soap box carts and send them over a ledge into a body of water. They wear costumes. And do little skits or dances. And jump in the water.
So, great. I would have really liked to be at the event and see this. But there were PEOPLE there.
Great, teeming, unwashed scads of them. And vapid MCs with microphones telling the crowd to go “Whoooo!” Somehow, we ended up standing behind The Largest Man in the Universe. And the Tom McCall Waterfront is not that enormous, but somehow we were standing three miles from the river. Most tragic, we could not find the beer.
Okay? They announced that a favorite local bar had a live feed of the event. And despite being minutes from the opening ceremonies, we turned and fled. We sat down at Kells and had a pint or two.
So. Much. Better.
We watched the silliness on TV. And I was not sad to not be there.
Meredith
on Aug 3rd, 2008
@ 12:46 PM:
The one in Santa Monica, Ca is like that, I don’t know about 80,000 people, but you’re standing shoulder to shoulder with people. I think someday, I’ll be in the water, knee high, just floating, watching the festivities.
Stretch Mark Mama
on Aug 3rd, 2008
@ 1:40 PM:
Those pesky people! They keep showing up!!!
MissKris
on Aug 3rd, 2008
@ 2:47 PM:
I must say I’m glad I stayed home and relaxed on the couch, reading “Olive Kitteridge”. I am NOT a crowd person! So sorry you had such a GREAT time, snicker! ;-P
kelli
on Aug 3rd, 2008
@ 10:08 PM:
god, i love your posts! whenever i am feeling like the only person in the universe who hates all the other people in the universe… there you are! making me feel loved and normal. god bless you.
Flugtag schlugtag
on Aug 4th, 2008
@ 8:22 AM:
[...] joined 79,998 other people Saturday at Waterfront Park to observe the 2008 Portland Flugtag. Read Heather’s blog to find out how much fun we had. Oregon [...]
Robbb
on Aug 4th, 2008
@ 8:40 AM:
Hooray for beah! Hooray for bahs!
Kip
on Aug 4th, 2008
@ 9:20 AM:
We watched the insanity from the Hawthorne Bridge, and parked on the eastside so escape was pretty easy after all was said and done. It was crazy to think that 80,000 people would come watch a “celebration of fail” but it was a good time. Only complaint was that there weren’t more spectacular crashes about, or at least one vehicle that tried to fly just a bit only to crash to the water…
Mary Sue
on Aug 4th, 2008
@ 9:38 AM:
And that’s why I stayed home, on my couch. Watchin’ Casino Royale.
Besides, the Mt. Tabor Soapbox Derby is in two short weeks, more crazy costumes, less corporate shilling.
BoggyWoggy
on Aug 4th, 2008
@ 10:05 AM:
My son wanted to attend. The commercials made it look so awesome. Then, I read a few blogs from folks who have either followed it around the US or who attended last year…and I knew it would suck. Thanks for confirming. Oh, I guess it was worth it for you because you got to have good brew!
Amy
on Aug 4th, 2008
@ 12:11 PM:
Might I remind the people of Portland that Flugtag was a completely FREE event – even the teams weren’t required to pay for the submission of their entries. If it had cost anything would you have gone? Red Bull may be a large company (although it is still a privately held company), but it has a fine history of offering free events to the public and sponsoring athletes, musicians and other artists who would otherwise be unable to make a career out of their passion.
Matt
on Aug 4th, 2008
@ 1:22 PM:
If you know you don’t like crowds, stay home like many of these posts and stop whining about showing up. I was there and had a blast! The fun was in seeing the creativity and craziness of the teams participating. Next time help everyone else with the crowds, stay home and watch the world go by.
Heather
on Aug 4th, 2008
@ 1:31 PM:
Take it easy, kids. I’m not indicting Red Bull or the event itself. It looked like fun and I would have liked to stay. But there were too many PEOPLE.
Kinsey
on Aug 4th, 2008
@ 4:06 PM:
I was in Flugtag this year, Team Bushwackers with the Flying Squirrel. I wrote all about it on my site http://www.kinseys-quest.blogspot.com. Check it out if you’d like the behind-the-scenes action!
Meredith
on Aug 5th, 2008
@ 9:22 AM:
Having people stand so close to you that you don’t have breathing space can put a damper on even the most entertaining event. Whose blog is this by the way and who is the one whining?
Dawn
on Aug 5th, 2008
@ 12:53 PM:
Hi Heather!!!
You gave it your best shot, and I would have done the same thing if the crowds were that huge… much better to watch it on TV at the pub.